The Sun. — London, England, 1856-12-23 00:00:00

THEATRE ROYAL, DRUM. LANE.— L?ssee, Mr. E. T. Smith. Acting M tuagcr, Mr. C. Mathews. Stage Manager, Mr. R. Roxby. Scenic Artist, Mr. W. Beverley. GREAT ATT;ACTION for the CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS. First Night of the Grand Christmas Pantomime, the most. .• • _l-1- raagnifiCent ever produced on the English stage. _ The .First Morning Performance of the Pantomime will take place on WEDNESDAY, Dec. :Al, at 2 o'clock. The great Comedian of the age, Mr. Charles Mathews, and a powerful Dramatic Company. On BOXING-NIGHT, Dec. 26, and kilo wing Evenings, her Majesty's Servants will perform AC GE XVATING S !Of, In wilich Mr. Charles Mathews and the talented Dramatic Company will appear. After which will be produced an entirely new and original symbolical, hyperbolical, parabolical, and extra-physiog nomical grotesque, statuesque, and picturesque Grand Comic Christmas Pantomime, which for some time past has employed the unrivalled resources of this extensive establishment, and which will be called or entitled, as it is entitled to be called, SEE, SAW, MARGERY DAW Or, Harlequin Ho.iday, and the Island of Ups and Downs. The scenery entirely new, painted by and under the direc tion of Hr. William Beverley and numerous assistants. The machinery by J. Tucker and assistants. The properties, de corations, tricks, changes, and transformations by Messrs. N ee dham, Glindon, &c. The masks, models, and physiog nomical devices designed and executed by the celebrated zDykwynkyn. The overture and music composed and arranged loy Herr Anschuez. The choregraphic arrangements under the personal supervision of M. Petit. The comic scenes con structed by and under the direction of Harry Boleno. The peculiar grotesque opening invented and written by E. L. Blanchard, author of " Harlequin and the Seven Ages of Man," " Jack and Jill," " Humming Top," " Hndibras," &c., and the whole arranged and produced under the direction of Mr. Robert Roxby. Ye anciente and truthful legend on ye which ye pantomime its story is founded : "See, saw, Margaret Daw, i 0 Sold herbed, and laid upon straw." MSS. of Nursery Rhymes in British Museum. Region of Reverses, in the Island of Ups a nd Downs• Yea, the Great Globe itself." " Here we go up, up, up, " Here we go down, down, down ; " Here we go backwards and forwards, " And here we go round and round. t belong to Juvenile Chorus of the earliest period, "PP° l s r ed Lo o w ; Ore the One. Up, Mr. Topham ; Down, box, Kid Glove, Tiger and Brougham,and .Porte-monlie (attendants upon Up). Sig nor Lorgnette and He d rr u Tig Du htfit l t i , Master Saueebox, and Monsie ur Chinque ; Harp, cate, Distraint, and Rags (attendants upon Down), Mr. Fnz hard, Kr. Pop ill. Mr. Quodliam, and Mr. Patchwell. An nual appearance of Holyday in her Emblematic Car, Holyday (the Genius of the Season), Miss Marian Stanley; Sport and Pastime (her attendants)' Misses Lovelaugh and Light2leart ; Dame. Necessity (who is on this occasion made a virtue rf by particular desire), Mrs. Selby. How Invention, the Daughieer of Necessity, is called upon to assist the development of the story, while Holyday invites both Up and Down to enjoy themselves. Holyday's Home in the Green Bower of Mistletoe and Winter Garden of the Fairies.—Mistletoe (the Fairy Queen), Miss E. Wadham ; Fairy Spirits of the Kisses that have been given under the Mistletoe, by upwards of 100 Ladies of the Corps do Ballet. Grand Ballet —Miss Rosina Wright, Mines. J. and E. Osmont, and the Co ryphees. The Golden Gates leading to the Palace of Huggamug,ga.—Herald. (with a Proclamation), Mr. Hornogold ; Guards, Messrs. Stiffneck, Headsup, Eyesright, Shoulderarms, Stand-at.ease, and March well ; Tailor, Mr. Broadcloth ; Cobbler, Mr. Waxend; Black smith, Mr. Anvil ; the Princess Margery Daw (afterwards Columbine), Madame Boleno ; Shilly and Shelly (her Maids of Honour), Misses Dithery and Dothery. How Margery Daw has no notion of work herself, and the contempt she shows towards those who do work. Interior of the Palace of King Huggamugga. King Huggamugga (Sovereign of the Land of Sixes and Sevens), Mr. Dawklng ; Hurly-Burly (Lord Chancellor), Mr, Bigwig; Niminy-Piminy (the Lord Cham berlain), Mr. Noodledom ; Higgledy-Piggledy (Goldstick in Waiting), Mr. Muddle; other Members of the Court, Messrs. Bow, Scrape, Cringe, Crouch, Ta.gsag, Merrywag, Perriwig, and Hatband ; Court Milliner, Madame Crinoline ; Drawing Master, Professor Crayon ; Governess, Miss Frump ; Music Master, Signor Hurdigurdi ; Maid in Waiting, Miss Sweet temper ; Chef de Cuisine, Mr. Cook ; Prince Popinjay (of the Land of Prettistory), Mr. Finefeather ; his Retinue, Messrs. Glare, Dazzle, Gleam, Glitter, and Cutashine. How the Princess is taught a wholesome lesson by Necessity, and of the change that takes place in consequence. Cottage of Necessity, with a Prospect of Hard Work in the Distance. The Enchanted Workbox—The Sampler and the Exemplar, and the pretty piece of work that Margery Daw makes of it. Inhabitants of the Workbox :—Row of Pius, Messrs. Sharp, Bent, Crooked, Pinaday, Groatayear, &c. ; Regiment of Needles (ready drilled), Messrs. Largeeye, Smalleye, Longsix, Splitup, Snapoff, &c. ; Thimble, Master Tom Thumb ; Worsted, Mr. Bawlaway ; Bodkin, Mr. Pierce ; Tape Mea sure, Mr; Inchbald; Hook and Eye, Messrs. How and Some bodyeise ; Shirt Buttons, Mr. Earlypurly ; Scissors, Mr. Shearsteel. How Margery Daw makes an important discovery and the audience also, and how, led by Necessity, she is com pelled to alter her opinions and change her position. The Mine of Labour, leading to the Mine of Wealth.—Labour (the Parent of Health, Wealth, and Happiness), Mr. Strong'i'th'arm. What Margery Daw goes to see, what she saw, and the re ward that Holyday bestows. Grand Scenic and Mechanical Effects, exhibiting (in process of construction) the Fairy Fac tory of Fancy, completed with the assistance of Labour and Imagination. Brilliant Tableau. The Transformation :—Two Harlequins, Herr Denlin and Signor Veroni; two Sprites, the Brothers Elliott ; two Pantaloons, Mr. Barnes and Mr. G. Tanner; two Clowns, Messrs. Harry Boleno and Flexmore ; the Gent, Mr. Halford ; two Columbines, Madame Boleno and Miss Honey. The Ups and Downs of the Harlequinade, showing the Ins and Outs and Turns About of the Pantomime Rally ; Toy Warehouse, Butcher's and Baker's Shop (Rolenos, Denlin, Tanner, and Halford).— A pink of polite ness—Clown very toyish—Getting a nutcracker, which turns out a nobby toy—First and last toys for gambling—Marbles versus dice—Despatches, loaded, and off they go —Harlequin takes a private box—Clown takes Chatterton's situation as leoxkeeper—Kite-flying-- A game of Cricket, by which some of the players get bowled out, and afterwards stumped, which turns out a long stop—The uses and abuses of the crin oline—A Jack in the box—A box of regular British toys and a basket of French bread (bricks)—Aldershott a size smaller —Grand review of infantry—A military ball—Going in for a buster—Coming out with a roll—Clown make a peel to baker's feelings—List, oh, List—Squaring a round of beef— Clown takes a steak and gets a chop in return—Pantaloon tries his hand at a game and loses by it - Cut and come again —Clown takes a butcher's shop, which Harlequin makes too hot to hold. him. Tailor's Shop and Perfumery Warehouse (Ye. roni, Barnes, and Honey). A gentleman in search of a tailor— A suit that is quite the ticket—Toe Oude wrapper—Railway wrappers- -Transfer depot—Washing machine—extraordinary— Something that won't wash—Cleaned out—Scent in and sent out- Foreign versus English toothpowder Hungary water—A Frangipani bouquet—Wonderful effects of the Pistachio nut powder—A case of re& distress—Pantaloon in a fix —Fur niched Apartments for Single Men (Bolenos, Deulin, and Tauuer).—Clown and Pantaloon in high life—A domestic re volution-Inraing the tables —To bed, to bed—A drop too much Clown nowbegins to reflect—The looking-glass follows Isis example—Two heads better than one—Clown takes a turn on the sofa, which also takes a tern on its own account— Multiplication altercation, which ends with a regular row in the house. Judkie's Gas-regulating Machine and General Patent Office and Stationer's Shop (Veroni, Barnes, and Honey.)—Clown, being in Fleet-street, goes the pace rather fast—The laugaage of the, ey9s (I-talian of course) which everybody uuderstands—Balepost versus London post—Re gulisors Wanted railway regulators, army regulators, gas regulators, smoke regulators—Sewing, cutting, washing, pressing, and ironing done by a turn—Clown makes a shift which makes Pantaloon a little shirty—A box of come on scents —Af fresh supply of blacks from America - A Dred-ful scene ensues. Mechi's Model Farm (Bolenos, Deul n ' and Tanner )—Harvest-home —A rakish dance by rustic lads and lasses—The milky way—Harlequin makes a pump of himself —A strong smell of game—A farm-yard visitor—Clown finds the pig a very great bore—Pantaloon finds the dog gets greatly attached to him —Prize Poultry—Cochin China and couch in England —Novel hatching—The old mail—Full in s_.,lde—Clowu off by the Express awl Pantaloon by the T e ket—Mappin's Cutlery and Shilling Razor Wafehouse, King William-street, City (the whole of the double totak.7* will appear in this scene )—Pantaloon proposes a lens—Present and future—Weight of public opinion foot . el '"ge for the better—The people's own bus—When snias in h e ,te fool then comes the tug of fun—Collision, crash, a nd dash--Garotte preventive —Moustache move ment—a, vat . case for mu of sharp blades—Cowes prove themselves a meut—The 4 7:Holloway stopped by Holloway's oint- Public waieaele:s A cut direct Forewarned, forearmed— a regular blew of 1 816-oh, my Crinoline—A high wind, Downs in liolidualy,:a!nd glorious termination to Ups and The reduced prle ra iry Home. as follows, varying throughout the house to suit eve ey " „Te :—Galleries, ed. and is, ; Second Circle of Boxes, as. ( t Pit, 25.; First Circle of Boxes, 2s. 6d. ; Dress Box es , . los. 6d.i i s., 1/. ; Stalls, ss. ; Private Boxes, 6 d-, and 21. 2s. ROYAL LYezulir T Lessiee, mt. ei.....Di110n.11 E 11.1 -. t - ' . ' - ‘ll. On BOXING NIGHT. Dec ember combination of will be produc e d a n entirely new and original comb t om ime entitled of burlesque and pan ; ', CONRAD AND y/E -t the Bottom of or, Harlequiu,Coisitir and the Little p u ya , ° i ß ryl : a ' • r.aint ß e r ci ough, Esq., pr t odn n egels)dyinmatrg.ellnFeer: the Sea. Thu buflegque openin founded upon thelaallet of Le Corsair, o „, Majesty's Theatre. The barlequinade u pon ral. The new and magnificent scenery Fenton. Characters in the opening : Conrad (the Corsair) ..... . ‘ Miss Woolgar Birharto (his lieutena nt ) .......... -Mr. J. L. Toolc Seyde Pasha Mr. Barrett Sing Smaul Mr. Holsto n Yuissite Mr. S. Calh a , e , Madera Mrs. Charles iliu m Gulnar ... . . . ..... . . .. .......Mr5. B. White Zuliem Submarina...(her first appearnee) Miss Jessie Ryder Serena Miss Marie Wilton Clowns Mr. Tom Matthews and Mr. H. Marshall Pantaloon Mr. Stilt Harlequin .... ..... ....• ..........• ...,Mr. J. Marshall Columbine Miss Clara Morgan On Boxing Night, and on Saturday, Dec. 27, the historical play of WILLIAM TELL will commence the performances. William Tell, Mr. C. Dillon. A Morning Performance of the Pantomime every Saturday, at 2 o'clock, commencing on Sa turday, Dec. 27. The box-office open daily, from 11 to 5, ruder the superintendence of Mr. Chatterton, jun. THEATRE ROYAL, HAYMARKET. THIS EVENING, will b© performed Bir Edward Bulwer Lytton's comedy of MONEY. The cim racter of Evelyn by Mr. 'Murdoch; Sir John Vesey, Ms. C UPPend t ale ; Mr. B. Stout, M.P., Mr. Buckstone ; Sir Frederick Blotint, Mr. W. Farren ; Graves, Mr. Compton ; Lady Franklyn Miss Talbot ; Georgiana, Mrs. E. Fitzwil hiam ; Clara Donglas, Miss Reynolds. After lohich, the STAR OF ANDALUSIA, when Perea Ilona will appear for the last time in this Spanish Ballet in which she first appeared before the Haymarket audience. Fonowed by Oast two nights) A FAMILY FAILING, in which Mr. Buckstone and Miss Blanche Fane will appear. To conclude with the GALICIAN FETE. Commence at Seven. • and Saturday T HE HONEYMOON; and the On Friday' . Haymarket Christmas Pantomime entitled THE BABES IN SHE WOOD, o r Harleghin and the' Cruel Uncle. OTAL ,OLYMPIC TREATRE -111) Lessee, Mr. Alfred Wigan. THIS EVENING, WIVES AS THEY WERE AND SIAIDS AS THEY ARE. Messrs. Addison, G. Vining ; Mrs. Stirling Misses Swanborough and Herbert. After which, CRINOLINE. ' And the new farce, JONES THE AVENGER, Menu, F. Robson, J. Rogers, and Miss Marston. Commence at ha!f-past Seven. VTIHEATRE ROYAL, ADE'LPIII. Genuine Success.—Unprecedenteti Attrac tion.—Last Two Nights before the Holidays of Janet Pride and the grand New Fairy Ballet Extravagansa, TRX ELVES, in which Madame Celeste will appear as the Stah l e Bride.— Mr. B. Webster as Richard Pride and Mr. Wrig as Dickey Trotter. _ THIS EVENING will be performed the celeb rate d:ama of JANET PRIDE. Messrs. B. W e bster, Wright, t, Paul Bedford, C. .elby, Parselle, Garden, Bland; Mesdames Celeste and M. Keeley. After which, with new scenery and appointments, the new fairy ballet extravaganza, called THE ELVES, or the Statue Bride, founded on the grand ballet spectacle, now perform. ing with unexampled success at the Theatra Imperiale de I'Opera at Paris, under the title of Les Elfes. Principal cha racters by Madame Celeste, Misses Wyndham, Mary Keeley, date Kelly, Chatterly, Arden, Messrs. Wight, Paul Bedford, C. Selby, Lo Barr, dr.c. Commence at Seven. A STLEY'S ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE. _AL Lessee and Manager, Mr. W. Cooke. A NEW GRAND EQUESTRIAN PANTOMIME FOR BOXING NIGHT. THIS EVENING, Shakspeare's Tragedy of MACBETH, with Mr. W. Cooke's Equestrian Illustrations. Macbeth, Mr. James Holloway. After which, the inimitable Equestrian SCENES in the CIRCLE. To conclude with Entertainments of Novelty and Variety. commence at seven o'clock. D o ors open at half-past Box-office open from Eleven till Four. Stage Manager, Mr. W. West. Equestrian Director, Mr. W. Cooke, jun. CANTERBURY HALL. Westminster-road. — OPEN EVERY EVENING.—The follow ing company of Vocalists are engaged for the performance of Selections from all the popular Operas, Madrigals, Choruses, Glees, Duets, dtc., via. :—Miss E. Pearce, Mrs. J. Caulfield, Miss Brunell, and Miss Sommers ; Mr. J. Caulfield, Herr F. Jonghmans, R. Grover, T. Bain°, T. Farrant, S. Jones, J. Barker, W. Melling, and P. Collie ; Masters Austin, Ben nett, and Corti; Mr. Sam Cowell and E. Mackney. Piano forte, J. ITarroway, R.A. ; harmonium, J. Caulfield, jun. ; director, Mr. J. Caulfield. Commence at Seven o'clock pre ciselY. Suppers, &c., until twelve o'clock. In addition to the usual Vocal Entertainment, the celebrated SPANISH MINSTRELS will appear in costume at Nine and Eleven o'clock Every Evening, and sing some of their favourit selec tions. TRE SUN, L'ONDON, TUESDAWQ EVENING, DECEWIREII, RIGA WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. This 1) . & —Morn. 57 min. aft.lo—Evening 27 min. aft. 11 :'n-gorta.ovir—Morn. 0 min. aft. o—Evening 56 rain. aft.ll THE WEATHER—SUN OFFICE, DECEMBER 23. THERMOMETER, IN THE SHAME. 50 -highest ohne noon yesterday. 41 —lowest this morning and during the night. 41—this day at noon. BAROMETER, 301 4—rising. WIND, N.—Rather sharp, with fine, cold, seasonable weather, inclining to frost. co, v_dg LONDON, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 130. LOUIS NAPOLEON has received a significant hint from the Minister of Finance. He is told that he must be a little more economical —or, in the euphonious language of Courts, must " put a limit to his munificence !" In 12i6 there was, according to M. ACHILLE FOULD, "an excess of receipts, which acts of liberality have nearly cancelled." The extra and unforeseen claims upon the Civil List arising from these " acts" have amounted, within the ye ar, to no less than 6,300,000 francs (252,0001. sterling). It is unquestionably pleasant to display great and profuse generosity. Economy is by no means a popular virtue. It is much more agreeable to give, than to hold what our Scottish brethren designate as 44 a tight grip on the world's gear.' But men must be just before they can be generous, and in these respects even Emperors are assimi lated to ordinary mortals. When the people are compelled to submit to serious privations any thing approaching to extravagance at head-quarters will be severely criticised, and such "little bills" as a quarter of a million sterling for un foreseen items, although arising from the great "liberality" of the Sovereign, may lead to very unpleasant comparisons between the expenditure of an Empire and a Republic. If Louis NAPOLEON desires to indulge in these displays of Imperial munificence he should be prepared to concede measures by which the national revenue may be so greatly enhanced as to justify the extraordinary outlay. But he seems to entertain profound objections to the only means by which this great desideratum can be achieved. He still clings to " Protection," and if not abso lutely' refusing any approximation to Free Trade, at all events procrastinates the period when the public finances may be ameliorated by its salutary aid. In place of realising large sums to the Imperial Treasury by duties charged for the purposes of revenue, he still sanctions a tariff in many respects absolutely prohibitory, and abides by a system of currency by no means calculated to develope the national resources. He has not profited in these respects by his English lessons. Although he has received salutary lessons in the school of industry, he still abides by the fallacies of monopoly and the mischievous theories of the PEEL-OVERSTONE currency quacks. Could he make up his mind to deal boldly and wisely in respect to these all-important questions, he might still indulge his " munificence," since that is the phrase, without injury to the great nation over which he presides, or loss of that popularity which he is so anxious to maintain. He has great power either for evil or for good, and his future will greatly, if not altogether, de pend on the mode in which it is exercised. Let him at once and for ever discard the incubus, Monopoly. Let him even send with it the minor demon of Protection. He may safely trust to the skill, ingenuity, and industry of the noble people of France. With the qualities they possess, they need not shrink from the ordeal of " unrestricted competition." Let him further supply a circulating medium adequate to the wants and exigencies of the na tion, that will give fair play to industry, and dis courage one of the gravest errors of the French disposition—a tendency to secret hoarding. The use of a well-devised system of small national notes for 20, 30, 40, and 50 francs, receivable in payment of every public impost, would liberate a quantity of gold sufficient to place the national finances in a truly satisfactory condition, and to enable him to indulge his munificence without remonstrance from the most cautious Minister. He cannot, however, at the same time, maintain enactments that lead to great tightness in the Money Market, and display a lavish and unli mited expenditure in matters where his own caprice or "generosity," to give it the best name, is concerned. The Bank R e t urns for the week ending the 12th ins tant are Cor poration very satisfactory, so far a s th e Cor itself is concerned. The bullion and the notes u nea , eyed. are again largely increased, while the cotes in tes circulation and the "other securities" are greatly diminished. The effects of the stringent application of th e screw are th us clearly exhibited. ; and were it a private establish ment there would be ample grounds for rejoicing at the changes exhibited. But we cannot forget that it is a quasi national institution, or the deplorable ef f ects produced on the trade and manufactures of the country by the reduction of legitimate accommodation, and the comparative scarcity of tile circulating medi um _ the very life• blood of industry—produced by these operations. The industrial community have received a h eavy blow and great discouragement; and although the minimum rate of discount has been reduced to 6 per cent., the alteration by no means compen sates for the diminished facilities afforded to the trading population. Within the week the bullion in both depart• ments was increased by 206,328/. ; within a month by 1,008,3691., for on the 14th of No vember it amounted to 9,684,1571., and on au) 13th December to 10,692,5261. The notes un employed were increased within the week by 671,805% They now stand at 5,823,185/., on the 7th November they were under 3,000,0001., thus showing an increase to the banking reserve of nearly 1,855,000/. The notes in the hands of the public have been reduced within the week by neatly half a million sterling (492,3307.), stand ing at 18,702,8101., while on the 7th November they were 20,239,000/. The private or " °their" securities eve been decreased within the week 560,9871., leaving on the 13th only 16,828,728/., while on the 14th November they were 19,054,000/. These simple facts and figures prove, beyond the possibility of doubt, the violent action produced on the commercial popula tion by the withdrawal, in a single establishment, of nearly 2,300,0007. of accommodation within four weeks, and the reduction of the active circu lation by more than a million and a half, which, according to Lord OVERSTONE himself, must " narrow the amount of bills of exchange in a very increased ratio." Is it jest or fair that such important alterations should be produced, within so short a period, at the mere will and pleasure of an irresponsible body, whose private interests are conflicting with those of the people ? It is greatly to their ad ♦antage to enhance the rate of interest, or rather discount, for there is an extraordinary difference between the returns obtaißable on permanent in vestments and temporary advances, and they spare no exertions to do so without reference to the welfare and prosperity of the general body of the people. They must make the largest amount of profits possible for their constituents, the pro prietors of Bank Stocks, and it is alike unfair to the Directors and to the community to subject them to such extraordinary temptation. The dividends paid by other judiciously-managed Joint-stock Banks clearly show that they would not suffer any pecuniary loss by the abolition of the anomalous and impolitic privileges so long conceded. England requires a really National Bank, the control and management whereof shall be vested in a public department, responsible to Parliament for the manner in which the monetary affairs of the empire and the national currency shall be administered. A golden opportunity exists for placing these all-important matters on a satisfac tory foundation. The Bank Charter Act has virtually expired. It only exists on sufferance, and at the termination of twelvemonths' notice the connection between the " Old Lady" and the State may be finally severed. This notice should be given as speedily as possible after the meeting of Parliament. There is no occa sion whatsoever for a Select Committee to inquire and report on matters that have long since been accurately investigated. A. domestic currency is required that will be exempted from inevitable fluctuations incidental to the existing oode—fluctuations which, according to Mr. Cos , DEN, have occasioned to the trade and manufac ture of the country " greater evils—pecuniary, social, and moral—than the direct failures of all the banks of issue since they were first esta blished." We have the admissions of the bul liouists themselves that such a currency would answer every possible requirement of internal trade. A deposit of stook—or the fact that they were receivable in payment of taxes—would insure their willing acceptance at all times. They would, in fact, be guaranteed not only by all the accumulated and realised property of the nation, but by the thews and sinews of its citizens. They could never be deemed worthless rags, re pudiated by butchers and bakers, while they would satisfy the claims of taxgatherers, whose visits, like those of angels, are unfortunately by no means few or far between. As Mr. JAMES WILSON, now Secretary of the Treasury, and unquestionably the best authority on mone tary concerns connected with the Ministry, declared "no Letter security could be offered. No more absolute representative of real capital, or a command over it could be found in this country." The issue of notes of small and con venient denominations, sly it., 21., and 31. ; it would be still better if, as in Ireland, fractional sums such as 1/. 55., 1/. 10s., and 1/. 155., were repre sented, to the extent of twenty millions, would liberate almost an equal amount of sovereigns, and we should immediately, as Mr. WILSON de clares, " add to the effective capital of the country, to our stock of commodities, or, what is the same thing, our command over them, to the extent of 20,000,0001., just as much as if we dug that amount of gold out of the centre of England!" Why, then, should we refrain from achieving this great desideratum, from conferring this inesti mable boon on the nation ? Nothing prevents us from obtaining it but what our esteemed cor respondent, that faithful and consistent monetary reformer, Mr. HAMER STANSFELD, justly describes as " the marvellous apathy of the commercial community on the subject of the currency." " Nothing," as he truly states, " but severe monetary pressure, approaching to a panic, will open their eyes to the absurdity and injustice of our system." Should the active circulation be much further diminished that panic must ensue. " The coverlet" is too scanty to cover all the family, and each will try to obtain more than his due proportion. There will be a scramble, and the natural results must follow. The temporary relaxation of the Threadneedle street screw should not lead to a cessation of the agitation. Let the people only make a decisive effort, give " a long pull, a strong pull, and a pull all together," and they will insure the permanent welfare and pro sperity of the nation, and the independence and happiness of themselvea and their respective families. Is the port made at last ? Are the wretched sufferers, the creditors of the Royal British Bank, about to be put out of suspense by the declaration of a dividend ? We sincerely hope so. They have been tossed to and fro, and made the sport of circumstances, in all conscience, long enough. Their case, in fact, is one of such hardship that even the judicial bench waxes wroth in dealing with it, and gives utter ance to much virtuous indignation at the state of the law. It is monstrous—no language can be too strong to designate it ; it is a blot on the national escutcheon of which every honest man should be ashamed, that there should have been such delay and grounds afforded for the calcula tion that the law expenses, from first to last, in connection with the administration of the effects, will amount to far on to 100,000/. It cannot be recorded without a blush. It was bad enough to find the unseaworthy vessel, freighted with the earnings of so many industrious citizens, turn out a wreck, in which, in many cases, their all was hazarded. To find the law, which ought to have been available for their protection, lotting loose upon them lawyers and officials, like so many Cornish wreckers, to pounce upon the vessel and appropriate its contents, which the shareholders must make good, as a prize is almost enough to disturb a man's ails- giance. Well might the Lord Justice KNIGHT BRUCE elicit the applause of his audience on Friday last, when he said—" It is to be hoped that the Legislature will take steps to pre vent the recurrence of conflicts and com plications such as the proceedings before us exhibit and portend—miserable conflicts, distress ing complications, which itself has created—con flicts and complications characterised by the grave frivolity, the costly uselessness, the sickening delay, in which chicanery rejoices—conflicts and complications which must embitter the anxiety and add weight to the impression of sufferers under nefariously-conducted schemes, such as the thing ironically called the Royal British Bank— conflicts and complications which to a civilised people are nationally discreditable, and in a well governed country ought not to be encouraged." It is a startling state of things indeed, deserving of the severest reprobation, and calling for the promptest and most effectual reform, when the law to which we submit as our shield against rogues and swindlers, is a ready instrument for the most shameless extortion on the part of its officers. What makes the matter worse, is the fact that there never was a case in which cheap and speedy justice was more desirable than in the case of the creditors of the Royal British Bank. The classes of which . they are composed, of all others, best deserved the protection of the law, for, besides the proof they have given of their good citizenship in husbanding the savings of to day against future emergencies, those savings were often comparatively small and always hardly earned, while too frequently the want of them could not but be attended with anxieties and sorrows of immediate application, and great in proportion to the desert of the sufferers. One's heart aches to think of the misery " thil thing," by no means ironically, but fraudulently called the Royal British Bank, has occasioned. One's blood boils at the misery our precious law has indirectly con tributed to the load. If the judgment delivered on Friday does not belie its promise, the suspense of the creditors will shortly be at an end, is so, indeed, so far as the rival Courts and their officials are concerned. By it the official assignee appointed under the fiat of bankruptcy is put in possession of the sole management of the affairs of the Bank. All the assets are to be handed over to him, and the result in all probability will be the payment of a dividend in the course of a few weeks. The defeated party is allowed his share of the expenses. The official assignee will not lose his expenses, and will, moreover, be entitled to the customary profits of his office. One way and another the creditors have to look forward to a diminished dividend. The necessities of many of them, however, are so great, that a small dividend will be accepted as a boon. Ultimately, it is to be hoped, all will be put into possession of their own, and the Royal British Bank will be finally numbered with the swindles of the past. How ever this may be, it will be well if so glaring an instance of fraud and oppression as it has afforded, be turned to good account, and lead to an im provement in the law, which cannot, for the general good, be effected too soon. The metropolitan ratepayer has reason to be grateful. Thanks to Sir B. HALL he may now •it his Christmas pudding in contentment ; He is not to be taxed, at all events exclusively, to carry down the sewerage works below Erith— so the worthy Chief Commissioner assures him ; and he is not, over and above every other source of congratulation, to be saddled with the cost of woska which, for anything he knows to the con trary, may have to be taken up and constructed over again. All the prestige which the star bedizened plan B could command has not sufficed to commend it to the approval of the Radical member for Marylebone. Of course it was cour teously received, but he nevertheless pretty broadly intimated it would straightway be put under surveillance. It was a suspicious character, and he must have the report of some trustworthy detectives, on it before he could take any decisive step. The appointment sought for it the plan might possibly be entitled to, but it was just as probable it might not, and others might have better claims. In other words, he is about to refer it to a competent board of three—two civil and one military—engineers, thoroughly to overhaul it and test its claims, and if they don't come up to the mark produce a plan of their own, or approve of some one else's that will. The Great Sewerage Question, in short, is to be referred to a competent tribunal, whose members will grasp it comprehensively and vigo rously, and we trust effectually, and give in their report as speedily aspossible. This is surely matter for rejoicing. Of all things your English citizen dis likes the prospect of paying more than he ought for having his work properly done, next to that of so paying, and having it all done so as to necessitate his having to pay twice over, and possibly oftener than that. The inhabitants of Erith and other places down the river have abundant cause for congratulation also. Their interests are to have Imperial consideration, in stead of metropolitan no - consideration. The question of how far the works should be carried in justice to all parties is referred to the same Commission for solution. They have but to put their ease clearly before its members, and have it supported, as it can be, to be delivered from the apprehensions they have so warrantably entertained of being scandalously victimised. Common sense is outraged by those who say an outfall at Erith can be otherwise than most pernicious to them and theirs. Nothing but ignorance can palliate the culpability of such an assertion. This ignorance they must do their best to dissipate, especially must they take care the Board of Engineers are too well armed with facts to share it. Let them remember the question which most concerns them is to be considered first, and pre pare themselves accordingly. Nor let it be forgotten the display of liberal feeling in rela tion to the question of contributing towards the extension they desire will go a long way to insure it. The metropolitan ratepayers' objections cease when the extra amount is provided. The wisdom of affording as few grounds of objection to the taxpayer as possible, viewed in this light, must be palpably apparent. REDPATH OF THE GREAT NORTIIERN. TO THE EDITOR OF TUE SUN. SIII,—The report which has been going the round of the public journals during the past week, that Leopald Red path was a member of the Athenaeum, is inaccurate, that person's name never having been even entered in the candidates' book. Requesting the favour of your insertion of this contra diotion,--I am, sir, your obedient servant, J. C. WEBSTER, Secretary. Pall-mall, Monday. DISTRIBUTION OF THE QUEEN'S CHEISTIIAS BOUNTY Royal her A To THE POOL—Yesterday several hun dred of the aged poor of both s e xes, above 60 years of ag e, attended at the Majesty's lmonr Christmas y Office, chr M m i aa ouddlbeSnetoy, which tland-y wa ard, to receive 9 distributed by the almoners and sub-almoners, assisted by the yeomen. Each person was presented with two new half-crowns, coined at the Mint expressly for this purpose. Amongst the recipients were ten above 90 years of age and two centenarians. The distribution will be continued this day and to-morrow. Her Majesty has also issued orders for a substantial Christmas dinuez of beef and pudding to the poor of Windsor. LATEST NE WS. BERLIN, DEC. 22. Preparations are being made for the assembling of 135,000 men, by the 2d of January. General Grobier is appointed Commander-in-Chief ; the reserve will be appointed by Prince aohenzellern ; the Guards by Prince Frederick Charles of Prus sia. Four divisions are to take the field. Intelligence has been received that the Russian army has not yet stirred from its position on the shores of the Caspian. It amounts to 40,000 men complete, and is still in cantonments. The Russian General had, however, sent three superior officers —viz., one of the staff, one of the engineers, and one of the infantry—into the nearest province of Persia, to examine the situation of the towns and forts, and to take plans of the routes by which a passage might be made for an army. The Paris correspondent of the Times (second edition), in his letter dated yesterday, says : " I have just heard that a letter has been re ceived by the Emperor from Gen. Dufour, men tioning the effect that has been produced in Swit zerland by the note in the Moniteur. The inference drawn from this communication is, that the Swiss will be obliged, under this double pressure, to grant the concessions demanded of them. " I am informed that the precise day for the opening of the Conferences is not yet fixed, but that it will be made known before the end of the present month." A letter from Vienna of the 19th, in the Debats, says :—" The circular despatch respecting Neu chatel, which the Cabinet of Berlin lately addressed to its representatives at the courts of the powers which signed the protocol of London, with the order to communicate it to the respective govern ments, was communicated by the Prussian minister Count d'Arnim, to Count Buol at the end of last week. It would perhaps be indiscreet to state the precise reply given by Count Buol to Count d'Arnim, but it is very certain that Austria, whilst desiring a pacific settlement of the dispute, will not take the part of Switzerland in this matter, whatever may be the opinion of England. A very important subject is now spoken of here—namely, the establishment of more intimate relations be tween Prussia and France. It will be remembered that since the establishment of the empire in France Prussia affected to celebrate the victory of Leipsic with greater solemnity than before. Other symptoms indicated that the general opinion, par ticularly that of the army, was hostile to France. It appears, however, that the visit of the Prince of Prussia is connected with the probable esta blishment of a better understanding between Paris and Berlin." TURKEY. CONSTANTINOPLE, Dec. 12.—The following is the official project for a railway from Varna to Rust chuk, by way of Shumla, which may be considered in its present form as so much waste paper, for it is not very probable that anybody will embark iu such an undertaking under the conditions laid down by the Turkish Government. PROPOSAL OF THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT FOR THE CONSTRUC'TION 0F A RAILWAY FROM RUSTCHIIK TO VARNA BY SIMLA. "Tile Imperial Government informs capitalists that it is purposed to construct a railroad, which, passing through an important place like Shuwla, connecting thus Varna with the Danube, and ending at Rustchuk, would likewiie unite the Danubian Principalities with Varna. This route would diminish the distance between Con stantinople and Vienna by 100 hours ; it would obviate the difficulties which navigation encounters at the mouth of the Danube, and would consequently be of great advantage for the future. - " The advantages and conditions granted to the com pany which would undertake this line are as follow : - "I. The railroad will bear the name of Imperial Ottoman Railroad, and will be subject to the regulations of the empire. "2. When the surveys on the spot will be finished, the company will receive 5 per cent. guarantee on the sum which will have been fixed for the expenses of con - structin7. the line. "3. The company will have the right of cutting gratuitously the wood required for the construction in the forests of the State, situate in the environs of Varna and Shumla. "4. Al 4 the uncultivated land belonging to the State and necessary for the construction of this line will be likewise given gratuitously to the company. For the private property through which the line will have to run a price will be fixed according to the regulations, which price will be repaid to the company. "5. The materials and machinery which the company will bring from abroad for the construction and the working of the railways will be exempted from Customs dues. 6. The Imperial Government has the intention of transforming into a maritime port the Lake of Varna, which offers all the advantages of a large and sure harbour. "7. The moment the company receives the grant it will have to deposit a sum equivalent to 2 per cent. on the capital, on which the Sublime Porte will have guaranteed an interest of 5 per cent. " E. If on the capital on which the Sublime Porte will have guaranteed an interest of 5 per cent. for the con struction of the railway and the port, the profits, after the deduction of expenses, should surpass 5 per cent., the surplus will not belong to the company, but well be, in the first instance, employed to repay the sum paid as guarantee by the Imperial Government, and after this shall have been done, the profits exceeding five per cent. will be divided equally between the Sublime Porte and the company. "9. The concession will be granted at most for 99 years. The company which will most diminish this term, as well as the interest to be guaranteed, and which will, besides, give the most favourable conditions in other respects to the Imperial Government, will have the preference. At the end of the term fixed in the conces sion the railroad, with all its dependencies, will s become the ome gratis the property of the Sublime Porte. Government for eng n ines and ether accessories the Imperial will buy them at a fair valuation, and the in the in this respect will be discussed inserted the firmans at the time of the concession. NAPLES. NAPLES, Dec. 18.—Yesterday about midday the entire city was alarmed by a most awful concussion and report. It resembled the united noise of 50 cannon. The alarm created was . universal, and people fled on foot and in carriages mall directions, for it was believed to be the signal of another re volution. On inquiring into the cause, it was ascertained that it arose from the explosion of the powder magazine at the end of the new Mole, at the extremity of the Arsenal. It was said that 80 can tari (a can taro is equal to 100 rotoli, the ro t o li be ing 33 ozs.) were deposited there. It appears that the Sannita, a Government vessel, brought up more pow der yesterday from Messina, which w as t o h ave b een consigned there immediately . Ho wever, on the officer putting .the key into the lock of the door of the magazine the horrible explosion took P • lace A great part of the new fortifi ca ti ons in that direction have been completely de stroyed ; two Government steamers have been damaged ; one or two Custom-house vessels have disappeared ; people walking in the neighbour hood. were thrown down by the shock, or by the debris, which fell like a sh ower at a great distance. In this wayi some were kill e d or had their limbs broken. The loss of life it is difficult to estimate at present, some putting it down at from 15 to 20. The damage which has been done to the Government works is estimated at 500,000 d uca t s , while an architect, w e ll acquainted with the city, calculates the number of windows broken at 60,000. Every hous e h as suffered in many i p l ace s, as n the Royal P a l ace, ent i re windows being blown in, and the ground was literally pow dered with glass. FRANCE. PARIS, MONDAY. The Moniteur contains the following report to the Emperor from Ihe Minister of State. It is pub lished by order o f hi s M a j esty : " Sire,—l submit to the examination of your Majesty the budget of the Civil List for 1857. Your Majesty will see that after providing for all servic es , and leaving a large margin for extraordi nary and unforeseen expenses, this budget will at least be in equilibrium, provided circumstances should not as in 1856 force your Majesty to order large sums to be paid, in addition to the estimates now made. In fact, the experience of the year which is about to terminate prescribes to me the duty of calling the attention of your Majesty to the neces sity of imposing limits to your munificence. The estimates of the budget of 1856, adopted by your 1866 Majesty, left at the end of the year a certain sur plus; which repeated. acts of liberality have now caused almost entirely to disappear. Several of these expenses consist in pensions and annual pay ments, which will be repeated in 185'/ ; and there would be danger of compromising the equilibrium which your Majesty has always recommended me to maintain, in granting too readily the demands which are daily. addressed to you for subventions and acts of relief of all kinds. It is not without utility to place before your Majesty the list of the sums which in 1856 have been placed at the charge of the Civil List for such purposes. That outlay, great part of which was not foreseen, amounts - to more than 6,300,000 fr. Nothwithstanding these charges, however, no service has been neglected, no payment delayed ; all contractors and tradesmen have been paid with exactitude, and yet the provi sional accounts of 1856 still leave a surplus, though it is true not a very large on©. It is only in order to protect the future, as we have succeeded, thanks to the prudence of your Majesty, in pre serving the past, that I feel myself called on to persist in recomme n di ng y our M a j es t y t o res • ra i n within prudent limits your acts of munificence. The accounts of the Civil List for 1853 have been examined and verified by the commission insti tuted by the Imperial decree of the 26th May, 1853 ; and its report was presented to your Ma• jesty on the 3(1 May, 1855. At this moment she accounts of 1854 are under the examination of that commission, and those of 1855 will soon he sub mitted to it.—l have the honour to be, Sire, & - c., "Paris, 17th Dec." " ACHILLE FOULD. Annexed to the preceding report is the following detailed account of the donations of too Emperor during the present year : Relief distributed by the Emperor to the victims Fr. of the inundations Pensions to amputated soldiers Fourneaux Econorniques (cheap eating distri buting houses) of Paris Civil pensions Sums distributed by the First Chaplain to reli gions institutions Relief distributed by the Bureau des Sicours to old soldiers, wounded or infirm ; to widows of workmen killed by accident ; to infirm workmen out of employment ; to victims of fires, storms, and fallings in of earth ; to artists and schoolmasters ; and to professors burdened with large families Indemnities for lodgings and allowances to employes whose salary is less than 2,000 f, of part of the stoppages ordered by the law of BLb July, 1852 Societe pour le Patronnage des Jeunes Detenus, Societe de la Cherite Maternelle, hospital., and donations to the towns of Versaille, , , Rambouillet, Compiegne, Fontainebleau, Biarritz, Plombieres, and St. Cloud Expenses of educating poor children Purchase of ground and advances for building houses Boulevard Plazas Subvention to a benevolent society, whose ob ject is to assist workmen who suffer from high house rent Subscriptions to charity balls, etc Gifts to various officers amputated ; for cau- 100,000 420,000 900,000 92,000 60,000 40,00',:,' 96,000 tion-money Loans without conditions, payment of debts for soldiers, artists, or traders Relief to the wounded of the army Allowances to officers of the Guard for first ex penses of equipment Officers' private clubs and bands -• • Omnibuses for tie camp of Boulogne Encouragement to the arts Subscriptions to new publications Grants to the societies of authors, composers, literary men, dramatic authors, painters, musicians, sculptors, and inventors on the occasion of the Imperial Prince's birth Grants to charitable institutions on the same occasion 93,000 Performances given at the theatres of Paris, do 44,500 Gifts of medals, do 102,500 Gratifications in various palaces, do 136,210 Gratifications to physicians, do 68,000 Gifts of jewellery, do Relief to fathers and mothers of children born the 16th March, 1856 Repairs of the churches of Rueil, St. Jean de Luz, St. Laurent-en-Gatine, Define Ecom moy, &c 230,000 Prizes for regattas, crdheons, and aaricultural associations Stakes for horse races Prize for the cultivation of cotton in Algeria Donation to the commune of An2lef for plant ing the Downs 490,000 120,000 28,000 200,000 40,000 70,000 76,000 60,000 63.000 20,060 30,000 Total fr. 6,361,411 BotrizsE, Dec. 22.—The following were the last quotations : Cash. fr. C. End of Month. 4i per Cents 3 per Cents 66 25 C 6 50 New Loan — Bank Shares 4,103 Roman (ic. d) Cr6dit Alobilier 1,380 Austrian Belgian Fives ...... ... Spanish Threes Piedmontese (5) 9l 50 Home Debt RAILWAYS-FOR CASH. fr. c. ft. c Orleans 1,305 Western Northern 907 50 Strasburg Lyons 1,350 Now Ditto Mediterranean 1,715 Grand Central Lyons Geneva Cetto SPAIN. 85 88} 93 39i A letter from Madrid of the 17th states as follows : " It is amid the great scarcity of food, and the desti tution which prevails, that the saloons of General Narvaez have been opened with the greatest splendour. The contrast between the magnificence divlayed on this occasion and the misery of the labouring clas4es is too striking not to have attracted attention, and increased the public discontent. It is no less remarkable that many of the influential men of the party to which the General belongs were not present. The Cortes have preeeted their,warmest congratulations to the Que. non . the suppression of the insurrection in Sicily, just as if her Maj€ sty had herself suppressed it, and a i n i n d na France la a very piquant kind were made to England. r .. is on the occasion. The state of the press l e l‘ h ]. d 1 1 deplorable. y writers eregulatean There is t h n e o i r l a e w e them morning e g o rtehheiyptewidnhtinche Una fixed publish 4 is pro b y x th eT o d u h. g ar h tu g ew e hh nerally arei the allow ed eveni evening, ment invariably single out the Norte are subject to this arbitrary caciinnd'uct,Esyetanteh;l fGeroveesprn; b e General O'Donnell. The plan is deredlas the organ of cial severity, from the fact of that pap g COnSi stifle the liberal portion of the evidently to the press. In completelymeantime i A b b e r s t o y l t b i Absolutist t a n in d Cmaarril many e t c j a 0 3 7 - e t n u h a ct e l a g c e n : a t n i t d e eunecn.tlyoTfahntjehoecy Court t a e t a rn e l m d Government i G s o r e e e g r u n l m a t e e n d t by aw a their the arrival of the Ambassadors of France and Eng arid with great anxiety. They were apprehensive that a conflict would be produced in the progress of reacti first x B is e a f r ov e i n a e ci . T d i w e se p v r te u hr d e, e a n zt c st e pr aaaenntaedd and t e nh s d e e r i r v o e naet o t f eon t r t h i these o d ip Fork other tal It M ei t i papers did their best to rouse the sentiment of nation ality against the attitude which it was str i o c sed the patriotic ssim e p ; people butple harangues, t h e r A a m lly ba l s a s e a g d h o e rs d awtotuhldeiremanating,public humbleas every before one Louiseknew , Philippe, tr gene m who were ever ready who were always lick the dust off his Ambassador's shoes, and l;) now prefer prefer friendship and alliance with the En ) w f Russia who signed the treaty ofNaples quadrupleto t at o alliance. France and ih e conduct England, and the King of , r- r of Lord Bowden tied of his collee,ues deserves the highest praise. It is i m p oss ibl e f or any one to say that either o f them offers any pretext for conflict with the Government. The Ministers are quite sufficient of themselves to raise up numerous difficulties and dangers by their reactionary policy. They are fairly entering on the path of the celebrated Calomarde Ministry under Ferdinand VII. Their conduct is quite as arbitrary, and their rule is quite as despotic. They have recently issued orders fur the early closing of the shops and cafes, precisely as he did ; and these measures, which are considered by them as precautionary, produce great irritation among the public without any advantage whatever to the Go vernment. The Ministers do not stir out without being accompanied by police agents. Each Minister is attended by three of them as a body guard, and when his carriage stops at the door of a house two policemen place themselves at the corner of the street, and the third at the entrance of the house. All wear large cloaks, and carry under their arms a leaded blun derbuss. " General O'Donnell had an interview with the Queen last night. Some of the Ministers who saw him in the ante-chamber got much alarmed, and a Cabinet Council was held at midnight. As in this country Ministerial changes are almost always the result of Palaee intrigues, no Minister can consider himself as secure for a single day. He invariably looks forward to being turned out by the same intrigues which he has employed against others. During the conference General O'Donnell informed the Queen that he was aware that his name was made use of to his injury, and that plans of military conspiracies were attributed to him with which he bad nothing whatever to do. He wished to inform her Majesty of the fact, and hoped that she gave no credit to such rumours. He well knew that the motive for propagating such false hoods was that he should be sent out of Madrid. He then alluded more to the Government, and particularly to General Narvaez, whom he knows well from his hav ing been his brother conspirator on other occasions. The Queen calmed O'Donnell's anxiety ; she told him he might remain perfectly tranquil, as she did not believe a word of these rumours, and that she was satisfied with his services. The conversation then turned on the loan, and O'Donnell explained to her Majesty the bad effect produced in public by that measure." PORTUGAL. LIVERPOOL, DEC. 23. The Braganza brings Lisbon dates of the 15th inst., when the following English and foreign ves sels of war were anchored in the Tagus :—Her Majesty's steam-ships Cresar , C a ptain Robb ; C en turion, Captain Fanshaw ; 2 Colossus, Captain Thomson ; Exmouth, Captain Eyres ; and Sans ,11 pareii, Captain Key. French steam-ship Auster litz, steamer .Pncenix, and Dutch frigate Prins, Aleicander. When the Braganza left Lisbon neither the Penin sular mail packet, which left Southampton on the Bth, nor the Avon, which left with the Brazil mails on the 9th instant, had reached Lisbbn ; no doubt in consequence of the contrary gales, which kept the French steamer Franc Comptois out 10 day , from . Havre, and obliged the steamer Arno, which left Liverpool for Gibraltar and Genoa on the 3d, to put into the Tagus for coals on the 13th. The Arno had not suffered damage, and left on the 15th for Gibraltar ; but the Franc Comptois was making water, and was not expected to be , able to go on for the Brazils in less than a week. WHAT IS A CERTIFICATE OF NATU LALISATIUM Ls Chevalier de Chatelain writes to a Contemporary as follows : Permit me to inquire through your channel whether soy of your readers can solve the above question, which interests all foreigners naturalised Englishme❑ ? Having married in this country, in which I have taken up my abode from predilection, I became naturalised in 1848, long before the Presidency of Louis Napoleon, and consequently the establishment of the second empire. From that time I have exercised all the rights of an English subject, voting both at vestry and Parliamentary elections, considering myself de facto an Englishman. I was therefore much surprised this morning on reeei4• ing the following circular : " Whitehall, Nov. 29. " Sir,—As there is reason to believe that some miscon ceptiou prevails as to the extent of the privileges conferred by a certificate of naturalisation, I am directed by Secre tary Sir G. Grey to explain to you that no certificate, or other act of naturalization, granted by the British Govern ment to an alien, places him beyond the lawful power and control of his native country, unless he have received from the Government of such country a certificate of denation alisation' or been released from his original obligations as a subject or citizen in some other legal way. —I am, sir, your obedient servant, "H. WADDINGTON." Now if, in 1848, the period of my naturali,ation, the Secre tary of State had desired me to obtain my denationalisation from the French Government, it would have be easy for me to do so, but since the coup d'etat, not regarding the Empire as founded on a legitimate basis, I cannot of course solicit any favour of the said Government. I pledged allegiance to Queen -17ic4.0r • via, as to a constitutional monarch, who has kept her oaths. I decline pledging any such allegi ance towards Louis Napoleon, for the contrary reltsoa. I therefore beg to inquire of you and your readers, after perusing the Secretary of State's letter, am I an English or a French subject? I believe myself to be an English subject, and that the circular in question is merely an attempt on the part of the second empire to take stops against Frenchmen naturalised since the second of December. But I repeat that my naturalisation dates from 1848—viz , before the existence of the second empire. I shall esteem it a favour if any one can enlighten me on this subject, which is highly interesting, principally to those Frenchmen naturalised since the coup d'6tat. His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge left St. James's Palace, yesterday, for Seakeley Park, near Uxbridge, the seat of Mr. Clarke, where the Marquis Of Donegal and a select piney were to meet his Royal Highness. In the evening the Royal Dike dine d w ith . the Marquis of Donegal at Harefield-place. The Duchess of A tholl has arrived at the St. Goorge'a Hotel from Windsor Castle. The Earl and Countess of Lichfield have left the Ste George's Hotel for their seat in Staffordshire. We are happy to hear that his Grace the Duke of Rutland'shealth is somewhat better, and that he is net able to sit up in his arm-chair the greater part of Lb' day. Ghalib Pasha, bringing the full powers far the Tot', kish Ambassador who is to represent Turkey at the Conferences, reached Paris last evening. DEATH OF THE REV. J. HARRIS, D.D,---It is with sincere and deep regret that we have to annoence the place at S h t. is John's-wood. t t T h h o e c o melancholyllege, death of the Rev, John Harris, D.D Principal of I s l e t on a ; r o o gi i- t half past five o'clock. DEATH OF GENERAL THE HON. WM. H. Gagnergge-- . General the Hon. Wm. Henry Gardner, Colonel COto' S- event u n d mandant of the 10th Battalion of the Royal Artillery, died on the 15th instant, at his seat in Devonshire. The venerable General was eldest surviving son of Also, ° rat Baron Gardner, and was born Octobe'r 6, 1774, so that he had entered his 831 year. GREENWICH HOSPITAL.—We regret to annonten t h° death of Admiral Sir il. Hart,K.C.II ', Commissioner of Greenwich Hospital, which took place yesterday morn ing at a quarter-past 7, at his apartment in the Qtteeare Howe, at Greenwich. DEATH OF THE MARQUIS OF QUEENSBERRY.---We have to record the demise of the Marquis of Queensbertle which took place at Edinburgh on Friday morning' Tbe deceased John Deuelae. Marquis and Earl o f Q ueens ; berry, Viscount of Drumlanrig, and Baron Dougl as a " Hawick and Tibbers, in the peerage of Scotland, and se Baronet of Nova Scotia, was third son of Sir William Douglas, Bart., of Kellhead, descended from the Hon. Sir William, second son of the first Earl of Queensberry. , He was born in 1780, and married 16th July, 1817, his cousin Sarah, third daughter of Mejor James Sbolto Douglas, who survives him, and by whom he has left issue a son and daughter, namely, Viscount Drurolanrig . M.P., and Lady Genrgiana Douglas. The late peer suet seeded to the family honours on the death of his elder brother Charles, fifth marquis, the 3d The., 1837. The deceased marquis is now succeeded in the marquieate by his only son, Archibald William Viscount Drunelanrige ACCIDENT TO LORD ABINGDON. —n Saturday m ore. ing, as the Earl of Abiegdon was returning on horse - back from Waterperry-house, the seat of the Right Hone J. W. Henley, 3 ,1,1 e., where he bad slept the previous ' night, his horse stepped upon a stone and fell, wberebf his Lordship sprained his ancle. His Lordship w as tee., moved to the Angel Hotel, Oxford, and Mr. W. Bugber— and Mr. F. Sy monds, surgeons, having been sent for ' adopted the necessary treatment. His Lordship as ° I enabled to proceed the cares evening to Wytbam Abney' The noble earl is going en satiefactoeily, and the iejurieS he has sustainre net of so serious was a t first appreheneo a ded. a character as H ER MAJESTY'S THEATRE. M. J leg 13 4 1 ' . MASQUE. —The seventeenth annual b I "LIE of Jullien was given last night within the emasqu ll e s --r Majesty's Theatre, with a splendour WS ellen° of arrangement that made the la and an ex° .cciit of the long series of these e t last entertainmentsenterprise, whica_ade,, taste, tact, and Inau eo el e , meat of the popular m The dancing maestro who presided over the lau d this was spirited, and well sustained, and was very numerous. FATAL ACCIDENT.—LIVERPOOL, Dec. 22.—0 n s t : r. day afternoon, whil e th e Persia was coming ' to --- "6 ode : moorings in the river, the capstan suddenly spuo rbel • and one of the bars struck the second officer, Mr. Ge arg e e . Downing Stanley, in the aleiomen, producing iajuris e , . which he died last night. The deceased was one of tu; picked men of the service, to which his death is a g rail Rosa. ESCAPE OF CONVICTS FROM WOOLWICH ABentaD. Last night, between the hour of nine and ten, three 01; victs, named James Taylor, James Wright, and JoseP ‘ ,, Wright, escaped from the Defence, hospital hulk hae ia er first obtained possession of the gig belonging to the Oa r ' mender of the vessel, Cepa Warren, in which it is sell posed they sailed down the river in order to land at ' secluded spot. The fu g itives recentl y arrived h ere s 6 nvalids. A meet ANTI-INCOME TAX MEETING AT PUTNEY.--... ing was held last night at the National School-r00n.3: Putney. It was an adjourned one from the 11th ins_re r• when, it may he remembered, the proceedings u w tbe adruptly brought to a conclusion on account of ..._ awful sudden death of Mr. Lord, who expired willif . commenting on the resolution he had the moveo . , and reso —H. Dodgson, Esq., was called to the a_ lotions in accordance w ith the objects of the meet 1 5 es ere carried. f Christ Church, Dr- OXFORD, Dec. 22.—The Dean o the loot Liddell. will be ab sent from Oxford during. tbst _ h a term, his medical a dviser deeming i t desirable _ is nm a w armer climate. et should pass the cold seaso his seat in the Hob understood that he intend t o resign t be absent f or so lar g e a domadal Coun cil, sinee he mus Letters relating to the portion o f the academical year. bus i nes s of the college shoul d be sent to the su b -dean. a r ecent decision New PASSPORT REGULATION. —By coming from Eng' of the Fren ch Government, travellers land, and proceeding direct to Belgium or Germany b y are not required to Boulogne and Calai or vice versa, but can _ base their passport vised by the French consul, ntwaar.! exhibit it without that formality with their r h il Y the ticket, to prove that they are only passing throug ilar country, and not intending to stop in it. A sun facility is afforded in Belgium. mail steam- LIVERrOOL, Dec. 22.—The United States' , __ ship Ericsson sails fur New York on Wednesday, wpm'. 8 pul'? the post-office box closes at 2 p.m., and finally at _ the at the landing-stage, with late fee, at 4 p.m. us k &rt... same day the Montreal Owen msteamer ...,, American sails for Canada, via Portland, the post•T i . u ; box closing at 7 a.m., with late fee at 8 a.m., and as t' ...... landing-stage at 9 a.m. T Mkel l GREAT DEMONSTRATION AGA INST THE -NCO e °....''.', —We have much pleasure in a nnouncing that pr . P_ln tions are far advanced for a great metropolitan dear:. • • t the Income-tax, which is to take Paa:: strewn against oat GAP — about the middle of next month, and in the 111 0 _ bo cious place which can be procured. We have reef! 1 1 0 1 ' w believe, from what we know of the arrangenaen a t e s e ill g° king for the intended demonstration, that it ma will h e far to seal the doom of the iniquitous impost. It , 5 o f followed by great popular demonstrations in ail pa' the country. tes th at A correspondent of the North British Mail pta tire Dr. Li,vingston was born in the village of B ot her, where his father, Neil Livingston, and his 13, _ ther Agnes Hunter, were married ; both his father nael" WO having resided there a long time previous ii,, r i, marriage and about thirty years after it. The fa a V te ete moved from Blantyre Works to Hamilton about sio_b,_r• years ago, where Dr. Livingston's mother and two i lo l' re , at present reside. Dr. Livingston's young fa Illtne• siding just now with their grandmother i gar boy, Dr. Livingstone wrought in: the mill as a pier;,.ooo and, before he left, as a spinner, attending th t r_ ;oo in Glasgow during the winter months and re s s to r ' f or his work as a spinner in the worering the the aloe vacations. He left Blantyre about .t!nr he was engaged by the London Missionary Some e y. i c i er Livingston has two brothers in America--.-th elder • C. eaesi his Ye e 5 brother John,. in business le •,:t . ' brother, Charles, a mini ster in the United Staten• , .