The Sun. — London, England, 1854-01-02 00:00:00

THEATRE ROYAL DRTIRT-LASE , Lessee, Mr. E. T. Smith. THIS EVENING, JAN. 2, Will be performed the entirely new Drama of interest, entitled THE BEGGING LETTER. To conclude with KING HUMMINGTOP ; or, Harlequin and the Land of Toys. The New Drama having been received with universal approbation will be repeated every Evening until further notice. THEATRE ROYAL, HAYMARKET. Under the management of Mr. Bnckstone. r THIS EVENING, JAN. 2, Will be performed THE HOPE OF THE FAMILY. Characters by Messrs. Chippendale, Compton, Bnckstone, and W. Farren ; Mrs. Buckingham, Mrs. Poynter, Mrs. Fitzwilllam, and Miss E. Grey. After which, the Grand CHRISTMAS PANTOMIME, called HARLEQUIN AND THE THREE BEARS ; or, Little Silverhair and the Fairies. Columbine, Miss M. Brown; Harlequin, Mr. J. Marshall : Pantaloon, Mr. W. A. Barnes; Clown, Mr. H. Marshall. ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE, OXFORD-STREET. Under the Management of Mr. Citara.ss KEAN. THIS EVENING, JAN. 2, After which, Lord Byron's Tragedy of SARDANAPALUA, con siderably abridged for stage representation. Principal characters by Mr. and Mrs. C. Kean. After which will be presented the new Grand CHRISTMAS PAN TOMIME, entitled HARLEQUIN AND THE MILLER AND HIS MEN; or, King Salamandar and the Fairy of the Azure Lake. Harlequin, Mr. Cormack ; Clown, Mr. Huline ; Pantaloon, Mr. Paulo; and Columbine, Miss Desborough. LYCEUM THEATRE. Under the Management of Madame Vestris. THIS EVENING, JAN. 2, Will be performed A BACHELOR OF ARTS. Characters by Messrs. C. Mathews, F. Matthews, and Baker; Miss F. Hughes. After which, an original Fairy Extravaganza, called ONCE UPON A TIME THERE WERE TWO KINGS. Principal cha racters by Mr. Wright and Madame Vestris. To conclude with PATTER VERSUS CLATTER. TREATRE ROYAL ADELPEII. Proprietor, Mr. B. Webster.—Directress, Madame Celeste. Rare Christmas Amusements — The Great Attraction of London— " One of the Sights of London"—The Sea of Ice and Marvellous Adelphi Effects in the exciting new Nautical Drama of " THE THIRST OF GOLD," every Evening—A new Grand Fairy Spec tacle, NUMBER NIP. THIS EVENING, JAN. 2. Will be presented the highly Popular New Nautical Melodrama, in five tableaux, with new scenery, the Sea of Ice, &c., new dresses and appointments, called TILE THIRST OF GOLD; or, THE LOST dill? AND THE WILD FLOWER OF MEXICO. Principal characters by Messrs. B. Webster, Keeley, Paul Bedford, 0. Selby, Parselle, Marsden, &c. ; Madame Celeste, Mrs. Leigh cMular le rray, Miss en F. Maskell, &c. ; with an entirely new grand specta cugdary Christmas piece, in two acts, with new scenery, dresses, machinery, and appointments, called NUMBER NIP, or THE SPIRIT BRIDE. Principal characters by Madame Celeste, Mrs. Keeley, Miss Woolgar, Miss M. Keeley, Miss Cuthbert, Miss C. Harding ; Messrs. Paul Bedford, J. Rogers, Romer, G. Lee, &c ROYAL OLYMPIC THEATRE. Lessee and Manager, Mr. A. Wigan. • THIS EVENING, JAN. 2, To be followed by THE CAMP AT THE OLYMPIC. Charac ters by Messrs. A. Wigan, F. Robson, Morton, and Galli ; Mes dames A. Wigan, Stirling, P. Horton, Chatterley, &c. After which, a new historico-geographical CHRISTMAS PAN TOMIME, called HARLEQUIN CfLUMBUi ; or, The Old World and the New. Harlequin, 'Jr. F. Moreland; Pantaloon, Mr. W. Rochez ; and Columbine, Miss Wyndham. STRAND TH E ATRE, Sole Lessee, Mr. F. W. Allcroft.—Directress, Miss Rebecca Isaacs THIS EVENING, JAN. 2, Will be performed LI SONNIMMTLA. To be followed by THE IRISH TUTOR. After which, a new grand Comic Christmas Pantomime entitled. HARLEQUIN AND KIN V, NUTCRACKER; or, The World of Toys. Clown, by the inimitable Flexmorc ; Harlequin, Mr. Bologna; Pantaloon, Mr. Griffiths; Columbine, Miss coward. Stalls, 58.; Boxes, 48. ; Pitt, 2;. ; Gallery, Is. ; Private Boxes, It. Is., to be had of Mr. Allcroft, 15, New Bond-street. ASTLEY'S F.UROPF23 NATIONAL AMPIIITHEITRE. Le,st2e and Afanager, Mr. W. Cooke. GRAND JUVENILE NIGHT on TIJURSDA.Y, JAN. 5. Crowded houses nightly to witness the unequalled Attractions. The most gorgeous and successful Pantomime ever produced in this Theatre. THIS EVENING, JAN. 2, ( And during the week, Thursday excepted) The New Grand Equestrian Chinese spectacle, entitled " THE WISE ELEPHANTS OF THE EAST; or, THI SIAGIC GONG — in which the wonder of wonders, Mr. W. Cooke's performing Ele phants will appear. • Followed by a series of novel and brilliant scenes of Equestrian ism in THE ARENA by talented artistes. After which, a New Grand Equestrian CHRISTMAS COMIC PANTOMIME, written expressly for this Theatre. by Mr. NELBOI4 LEE, entitled BILLY BUT CON'S .;OURNEY TO BRENTFORD ; or, Harlequin and the Ladies' Favourite. New scenery, dre. , ses, decorations. and appointments, magnificent Car of Industry, &c. Harlequin, Mr. H. Hemmings ; Columbine, Mdlle. Christine; Pantaloon, Mr. Lehman; and Two Clowns, Mr. C. Adams and Mr. Croueste ; Sprites, Masters Gee and Bra liniry. Box-office open from Eleven till Four. Stage Manager, Mr. W • West. _DAILY WEATHER TABLE. MONDAY, JAN. 2, 1854 State of the wind and weather at each of the following places at nine o'clock on Saturday morning. The stations are arranged in order of latitude. LIMERICK—N., gentle breeze—cloudless — frost. MIILLINGAR—W., gentle breeze—overcast. TUNBRIDGE—S.W., calm—cloudless. CAMBRIDGE—N., gentle breeze —cloudless. The returns from the following places indicate the state of the weather on Friday morning at nine o'clock : FOLKESTONE -W., gentle breeze -overcast. TUNBRIDGE—W., strong breeze—partially cloudy. GREENWICH—W., strong breeze—overcast. STROOD—S.W., strong breeze—partially cloudy. SWINDON—W. fresh breeze —dough. CAMBRIDGE—W., strong nreeze—cloudy. FITGII WATER AT LONDON DT'uIDGE. Tuts DAY —Morning 5G min.after 3 I Evening 20 atin.aft. 4 To-Mossow— Morning 45 min.after 4 Evening 10 min.aft. 5 WEATIIER.—Sus OPFICII, JAN. 1. • THERMOMETER, IN THE SHADE. 40 —highest since noon yesterday. 28—lowest this morning and during the night. 33—this day at noon. BAROMETER, 29'46. WIND, N.W.—Strong breeze, with a heavy fall o snow. • JANUARY 2. 36 highest since noon yesterday. 31—lowest this morning and during the night. 36—this day, at noon. BAROMETER, 29'28—a great fall within the last two days. WIND, went round to S.W., with a heavy fall of snow, and thaw—now N.W., inclining to frost. t .Alll LONDON, MONDAY, JANUARY 2, 1854 However hopefully we may desire to begin the New Year which commenced yesterday, it must be acknowledged, at once, by us, on its very thres hold, that our brighter aspirations for England, under PROVIDENCE, are based upon our abiding confidence in the wisdom and energies of the peo ple rather than upon any reliance whatsoever on the possible discovery of those essential attributes in their Government. It were a mockery to affect otherwise under existing - circumstances. It were worse than a mockery—to' while we remember that twelve months have elapsed since we were eagerly demanding in these columns fair-play at the outset to the ABERDEEN Coalition--precisely as we had previously besought the multitude to grant a hearing, " a clear stage and no favour," to the DERBY Cabinet, we cannot but bear in our recollection also, how deplorably that reservation of opinion in regard to the new Ministry, until such time as its members should have revealed the warp and hue of their policy, has been responded to by the revelation of the utter absence of capa city, energy, and we might go so far even as to add of integrity, on the part of this notable Joint- Stock Administration. All these deficiencies, we mean, have been disclosed during the past year by the Aberdeenites in regard to the most essen tial of all points just now, namely, in reference to the nature of our foreign relations, a subject affect ing more directly than any other in these times the stability of our political strength and the dignity of our national reputation. Whatever may be argued by the official apologists of the Coalition as to the substantial benefactions conferred upon the community since the advent of its mem bers to power at the close of 1852, it is impossible to shut our eyes to the heinous and enormous culpability of the ABERDEEN Cabinet in degrading the name and deteriorating the in fluence of England before Christendom. Nothing, indeed, can be said to compensate for the evil effects of the course pursued by our Administra tors in that Eastern Question which has been fos tered by them from a local difference into a cause of contention among the chief Powers of the Nuropean Continent. Nothing—not all the in ternal benefits secured to the population by the vigorous innovations carried out by the Home Secretary, not all the en lightened reforms effected in our • commercial system under the guidance of the Chan cellor of the Exchequer. Nothing of all this— not the remission of imposts on tea and on soap, not the closing of the intramural graveyards, not the revision of the hackney-carriage system, not the reorganisation of the , stamp duties, not the passing even of the memorable Act in regard to THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENT Corn Laws and Protection, had to do what these operatives must do sooner or later ; they had to yield to the irreversible laws of political economy— in other words, to the laws of PROVIDENCE. There is no reasonable and reflecting man of forty among us who has not had to change or modify his views, and who could therefore for a moment taunt the men of Preston, if the majority of them acknowledged that they had conducted their struggle hitherto on an unsound principle, that they were willing therefore to return to work, and to try a better one. It may encourage them to cast a glance on the " ruined farmers and their ruined landlords," and to mark how completely the abandonment of compulsory prices for food has been followed by results the reverse of those predicted by agriculturists, not only to themselves, but to th• rest of the community. Free Trade in corn has given prices for food, and that too with unexampled importation from abroad, such as have hardly been heard of by half the present generation ; and Free Trade in labour, there is every reason to think, would work precisely the same results. It could not, indeed, make wages high when labour is redundant, but it would rapidly direct labour into its most natural and profitable channels, would adjust most advan tageously the proportions employed in each trade, manufacture, and employment ; would thus in crease the consuming powers of the great bulk of the population ; and the circle would therefore be completed by greater general production, and greater demand for the productions. Disturbing causes, like war, famine, and pestilence there will always be ; but unfettered production in every department always means that each class has more to offer to other classes of the commodities it pro duces, and that other classes have also more to offer in return. All are wealthier when all are working, and working where the demand for their labour shows they are wanted. Lord PALMERSTON suggests to the men on strike, how much better it would be to let the causes which inevitably affect the value of labour "act silently and gradually in equitably adjusting, from .. _ time to time, the proper rates of the money re ward for labour." This is unrestricted competi tion in the labour market ; strikes and unions are protection ; and we believe, honestly, that they are as much the cause and the bane of the labour- ing classes as legislative protection was of every trade which enjoyed it. Operatives thus endea voured to get from the buyer of labour a price which it would not command were it left to each man to sell his labour as he pleased. A commit tee price for labour is as vicious in principle as a House of Commons price for wheat. Reverse the process. Let every operative free from threaten ing, free even from the awful punishment of being sent to Coventry by his own class, let him, as an independent man, accept such terms from the capitalist as the latter is pleased to offer. Sup pose they are lower than the capitalist can afford, and that the master is making undue profits ; the keen eye of his neighbour capitalist perceives it in an instant, up goes another mill or another fac tory ; the underpaid operatives now perceive their " good time coming ;" their labour will be wanted. A bidding for it forthwith be gins between the two millowners. Nei ther of them will allow, if possible, the capital sunk in his buildings and machinery to lie idle. Wages begin to go up, for there are fewer labour ers than are wanted, and up they will go till they reach the point when it is not worth the employ ers while to work his mill. This case between two mills applies equally to a thousand or to ten thousand. If heavy profits are made for any length of time, the capital of the country will flow Ito them as surely as water will seek the lowest level ; and if capital flows into any department of trade, employment in it must be brisk, and wages will rise whether masters like or not. No business now can long monopolise excessive pro fits. If the operatives who can work in it are few, then raised wages will soon swallow up a large portion of the gain. If its work can be done by anybody, the influx of capital and easily obtained labourers will soon bring its profits to the averave Jevel of other trades. The strike-men can abuse their masters freely enough, but after all they have little practical faith in their selfishness. Perfect faith in it would save them from all the follies and direct miseries of the strike, and from the far more serious danger of driving the very trade which supports them to lands where workmen are too wise to strike. Yes, we only ask them to believe their masters to be so selfish that they will bid one against the other, if they want labourers, till another bid would be their ruin. Does Mr. GEORGE COWELL believe this of them or not ? He may believe it to the letter. All the masters in the kingdom, if their concerns were short of workmen, would offer increased wages to attract them, as long as their profits would permit them to do so ; and they would care no more about other masters than one shopkeeper cares about another, if he thinks he can really in crease his profits by prices which allure his neigh bour's customers. It is only by this " silent and gradual" process that wages can safely or per manently rise. If the Preston men will only act on this practical hint from Lord PALMERSTON, they will gain all that they can gain from this strike, which is—never to strike again. This generation probably never will; but it were high time that their offspring should learn at the opening of the social catechism, that the price of their labour must depend upon the competition for it, or the absence of it, amongst those who need it, and that one of the social commandments most essential to the well-being of workmen is— "Ye shall not strike." Present ignorance on the subject among the working classes is little to be wondered at, when we remember with what infinite labour " The League" indoctri nated the masters themselves with Free-trade principles, and the little that has been done to show the working man how strictly those prin ciples apply to labour also, and how infallibly they will override all mistaken legislation on wages, whether by Governments or by Committees of Delegates. It will be some consolatory gain from all the discussions originated by the errors at Preston if workmen learn to trust to reason and to natural causes instead of resorting to protection. We fear, indeed, that temper has, in the present case, more to do with it than reason ; and that whilst other operatives throughout the kingdom mulct themselves of the money which should educate their children to keep the operative arm y at Preston upon half-pay, there is little hope of reason being listened to. For sixteen weeks has ignorance thus enabled ignorance to defy the laws of our social economy, and mistaken kindness embittered the hearts of men against their masters. How long this will go on it is impossible to say. We see that CowELL, who once said, " only get Christmas here," now says, " only get spring here"—just as poor DANIEL O'CONNELL used to defer his seasons for carrying repeal. We trust that such Irish blarney will soon op en the eyes of Englishmen. ay ENTRANCE OF THE ALLIED FLEETS INTO .THE BLACK SEA. We have just received the intelligence, that the allied fleets entered the Black Sea on the 21st ult. This information comes to us from a quarter on which we can rely. The question now comes to be, What will the united squadrons do, now that they have got there ?—Morning Advertiser. CAUTION TO LORD ABERDEEN AND SIR JAMES GRAIIA3I.—We have been informed, on excellent autho rity, that agents of Russia are at the present moment engaged in this country in search of ships and warlike stores for the Russian government. Agents have also proceeded to America on a similar mission. We can not calculate on the extent of their success across the Atlantic, but it is right to warn all British subjects that they will subject themselves to very heavy: penalties if they shall be found engaged in the prohibited commerce of arms, ammunition, or armed vessels, with any fo reign sta'e. This contraband trade is prohibited with parties in a time of peace. We are at this moment in what is termed a hostile attitude. Should actual hosti lities occur, all persons engaged in this dangerous traffic would be placed in a position of some danger. In such an event, which may come upon us any day, the crime and the punishment would be perilously increased. The warning, therefore, we hope, will not be thrown away, it the guilty parties may be assured that they will not be allowed to escape with impunity.--Observer. MONEY MARKET AND COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE. GITY, TWO O'CLOCK. The sales of cotton at hiverpool on Saturday were estimated at from 5,000 to 6,000 bales. The market was firm, and prices of all kinds fully supported. The sales comprised 100 Pernam and Maranham at Qd to 7id, 100 Bahia at 61d to 6id, 500 Egyptian at 6d to 9d, 500 Surat at 3d. to 3/d., and the re mainder American. Railway Shares were heavy. The railway meetings announced are the fol lowing : Company. Date. Place, &c. Great Indian Peninsular Jan. 11, 3, New Broad-st. Kilkenny andGt.Southern Jan. 11, 17, Gracechurch and Western (Ireland) street. London and Greenwich Jan. 10, 10, Coleman-st. London,Brighton,& S. Coast Jan. 26, Bridge House Hl. It is stated in a communication, from Mr. Joseph Whitaker, of Liverpool, that, " During the month of December, there have been despatched from Liverpool to the Australian colonies, 15 vessels, with an aggregate of 11,186 tons, and carrying 957 passengers, viz.:—Sydney, 3 vessels, 1,821 tons, 12 passengers ; Melbourne and Sydney, 3 vessels, 4,973 tons, 437 passengers; Melbourne, 8 vessels, 4,175 tons, 508 passengers ; Geelong, 1 vessel, 217 tons, no passengers. Freights to Melbourne are now quoted at 70s. to 80s. to the Bay, and 90s. to 110 s. to the Wharf. The state of the Manchester market, according to the report of Messrs. N'Nair, Greenhow, and Irving, is satisfactory. They inform us that stocks are light, and that last month a good demand has existed for the home trade. Cotton they expect to see dearer, and, in conclusion, they observe : " What the new year may bring forth it is, of course, impossible to say. 'Where- the influences attaching to the Eastern question fairly removed, we could confi dently calculate upon a year of renewed vigour and pro sperity. In case they were effected, the present value of money, unless increased, would not, we think, mate rially interpose ; added to these, the conclusion of the Chinese insurrection would afford a stimulus equal, if not surpassing that of the opening of the trade with that vast and unknown country. With its vast and really unknown resources we are yet unacquainted. "We close the year, according to our judgment, in confidence of existing sources of ascertained data for rea sonable and beneficial hopes for the future. Though money has been dearer, and restricted employment from that and other causes has ensued, we rely on the belief that, eventually, muck good will ensue. The various important markets abroad have, by these seemingly hard processes, become restricted essentially in their habitual and unnatural supplies ; and, as a consequence, new and legitimate enterprise will be encouraged, and for a time cultivated." Letters for India and Australia, to be sent by the overland mail, must be posted on the evening of the 3d, or before eight o'clock on the morning of the 4th ; by way of Southampton and via Mar seilles, at six p.m. on the 9th. The English Funds have been very weak this morning, although the intelligence that the Divan has accepted the Vienna propositions would pro bably at any other time have induced buoyancy. The impression, however, grows daily stronger that Russia will persist in her demands. Consols have been 931, and are now 93. The New Three and-a-Quarter per Cents. have been done at 941 to 94k, and the Reduced Three per Cents. at 93i to Exchequer Bills are ss. to Bs. premium, and India Bonds par. The Foreign Market presents a heavy appear ance, most securities being at reduced values. Mexican Bonds, however, are firm at 24. Grenada Deferred are and Danish Five per Cents. 102, being lower in both instances. Spanish Bonds are quoted ex dividend, the Three per Cents. being 441, and the New Deferred 211 Z. Austrian Bonds are markd 81. Dutch Two-and-a-Half per Cents. are 631, ex dividend. Railway Shares are very inanimate, and a further decline has in most instances taken place. Cale donian have dropped about 11., Eastern Counties 55., Midland 155., and Brighton 1/. Bristol and Exeter, North Western, South Eastern, and York and North Midland, are firm. French shares are dull. Luxembourg are about ss. under Saturday's quotations. Very little is doing in Gold Mine Shares, and generally there is no alteration in prices. Bank Shares are inactive. Australasia are about 10s. better, but Oriental 1/. lower. Land Shares are depressed, the Australian Agri cultural having receded about 11., and the South Australian to a like extent. The British American Land, however, pro an ezceptinr. • .614;.-€5 stbola.t It. higher. BRITISH FUNDS THIS DAY. (From th,e Official List.) - - Business done. Bank - ,Stock ................ ........ 216 18 3 per Cent. Reduced Annuities 93s b a New 31 per Cent. Annuities 94 ii4ii Long Annuities, Expire sth Jan., 1860 India Bonds, £lOOO ••• Consols for Opening 18th Jan..,,... 93.# 3 23 3i 23 Exchequer Bills, ld. £l000 1:500 Small 8 5 p PRICE OF FOREIGN FUNDS THIS DAY. Brazilian Bonds, 5 per Cent. — Ditto New, 1852, 4 3 / 4 per Cent 93k 2/ Buenos Ayres Bonds, 6 per Cent 63b Chilian Bonds, 6 per Cent lO3 Danish Bonds, 1825, 3 per Cent — Pitto 5 per Cent Equador Bonds Grenada Bonds, Ex. Dec., 1849, Coupon 2O Grenada Bonds, Deferred Mexican 3 per Cent. Portuguese Bonds, 5 per Cent 44 33 Ditto 4 per Cont. Russian Bonds, 1822, 5 per Cent. £St ll2b Ditto 4b per Cent 95 Spanish Bonds, 3 per Cent 44. I Spanish New Deferred, 3 per Cent. 2ll a 4 Spanish Committee Cert. of Coup. not fun. 4/ p c Venezuela Bonds, 3i per Ceat. 3O Ditto Deferred, 1 per Cent l3 Dividends on the above payable in London. Austrian Bonds 5 per Cent. 10 On.. 2 Bl Dutch Exchange, 2b per Cent. 12 Guil 63/ x d Ditto 4 per Cent. Certifieates _ 96b THREE O'CLOCK. Consols for Opening ISth January 92i 3 X d ACCIDENT AT THE EUSTON-SQUARE TERMINUS.—On Saturday forenoon, a frightful accident occurred iu the coach-building department in the vicinity of the station, by which a man named George Lewis, a fitter, met with a shocking death. Lewis was engaged in working a belt for a shaft near a wheel, driven by an engine of sixteen horse power, which was at the time revolving at a rapid rate. A portion of the wheel caught his jacket, and in each revolution of the wheel his head was dashed against an iron girder with such force that it was bent by the collision. The poor fellow was heard to exclaim once or twice, " Oh, oh !" bnt before the engine could be stopped he was tightly wedged in the shaft. He was taken to the University College Hospital, but had ceased to exist before he was extricated from the machine. His head and legs were completely crushed, his ribs broken, and his body otherwise frightfully mutilated. He had worked in the factory three years. He resided at No. 7, Stanmore-street, Old St. Pancras-road, where he leaves a widow lying ill in bed with fever, and seven young children, one of whom, a little girl, a few weeks back fell out of a two-pair window, and was impaled on the iron railings, and by which she is rendered a cripple for life. ACCIDENT ON THE RIVER.— On Saturday Mr. W. Carter held an inquiry into the circumstances connected with the death of Mr. Charles Giamellii, aged 20, the son of the proprietor of the Warwick Hotel, Warwick street, Regent-street, who lost his life on Monday last by the swamping of an eight-oared cutter by the swell of a large steamer belonging to the North of Europe Steam Navigation; Company. Mr. Richard Freething, a jeweller, of 33, Gloucester-street, St. John's-street road, Islington, deposed that on Monday afternoon last he met the deceased and eight other persons at Mr. Ralph's, boat-builder, Lambeth, aad hired an eight-oared cutter to amuse themselves for a few hours. They intended to go as far as Greenwich, and had proceeded down the riveras far as the London docks when they observed a large steamer coming up the river. Witness turned round to the deceased and said it was customary for large steamers to ease their steam when passing a light boat, but the Ham burg did not do so. The swell caused by the steamer was very great. After passing the steamer some dis tance, a person named Bushby, who was steering, called to the rowers to hold up the boat, that was to keep the oars on the water for the purpose of passing over the swell. This was done and the boat passed over the first ; but, in doing so, the nose of the boat veered from the straight course, from there being no way on it. Bushby then called to the bow oars to row a stroke, to put the boat straight, to meet the second surf, which was also done, but the surf broke over their heads, filling the boat up to the seats. The boat then sunk, and witness and his companions, with the exception of the deceased, were rescued by several watermen. Coroner : Did you hail the steamer ?--Witness : No, sir. William Bushby, sta tioner, of 6, Herbert's-place, Beaufort-buildings, Strand, the steerer, gave a similar account. Coroner ! Have you been used to steering I—Witness ! Yes, sir, for up wards of eight years. Inspector Trickey, of the Thames police, said that steamers were allowed to go up and down the Pool at five miles an hour. He was of opi nion that the steamer was not going at a rate more than between four or five miles an hour. At the time of the occurrence it was about an hour before flood tide, and therefore very low. Coroner : How do you think the occurrence might have been avoided ?—Witness : By the persons in the cutter going inside the tier, instead of going outside, in the stream. Coroner :Is a steamer obliged to ease her steam when passing a light boat ? Witness : It is not compulsory for a steamer to stop when passing a boat, but many commanders and pilots do so. The jury, after a long consultation, returned a verdict to the effect that the deceased was accidentally 6 drowned. Successions. No—not one of these separately, nor all of them collectively, can be said with truth to compensate in any way for the ills otherwise flowing to the country at large from this unfortunate ABERDEEN Administration. It is not that the extension of the Income Tax over seven years constitutes a considerable counterpoise to the above enumerated advantages. It is that in the mismanagement of the Russo-Turkish difficulty from April to December Ministers have dragged the banner of England through the mire to no purpose—allowing her Turkish allies to remain unavenged, and - permitting the designs of Russia to advance unmolested and unimpeded in the course of their lawless and sinister development—until a squabble in the Danubian Principalities has be come complicated and magnified into war for entire Christendom. Remembering these things in regard to 1853, we look, nevertheless, with hope to 1854—reposing our hope at this perilous junc ture entirely upon the people of England, and not at all upon the English Government. A great meeting has been held in Liverpool for the purpose of taking into consideration the im portant question of a decimal coinage. With the objects of that assembly we fully and entirely concur. The present clumsy and elaborate system is not merely injurious to all classes in the com munity ; it is still worse, being positively dis graceful. We arrogate to ourselves the designa tion of a commercial nation ; and yet we obsti- nately persist in a barbarous and exclusive system, which creates daily impediments to our transac tions with other nations. We perversely ignore the improvements that have taken place in the coinage of every country, and cling with a despe rate fidelity to our X. s. d. The Russians were not more bigoted in their adherence to the old style than we have been to our currency. As they rejected the Gregorian calendar, notwithstanding its decided ameliorations, so we rejected a decimal coinage. We had a complicated system of weights and measures, too, which afforded ample occupation to the youths of many successive generations. We must all remember with disgust the hours de voted to the acquisition of—we cannot call it a " knossiedge," but rather a slight " smattering," of our " tables." How frequently have even the most diligent and intelligent pupils excited the objurgations of the indignant pedagogue for an imperfect acquaintance with " dry and liquid measures," and all the arcana of COCKER or VOSTER. If we could ascertain the numbers that have been driven from honest occupations, whose prospects in life have been ruined, and who be came " vagabonds by profession," in consequence of the difficulties attendant, we might almost re- gard it as the heavy toll required on the passage of these "pontes asinorum" of English—we should stand aghast at the appalling consequences of our national, stupidity and adherence to ancient forms which had nothing to recommend them but an- :iquity. It was not froth want of having public attention directed to the subject of having the enormous evils arising from the system clearly and dis tinctly pointed out, .and impressed upon every person of ordinary intelligence, that the nuisance was suffered to remain without abate ment. Every man perceived and under. stood the full extent of the grievance, but it was not his business to endeavour to obtain re dress, He might say— " Meliora video proboque, detviora sequor." Knowing the better course, he deliberately pur sued the inferior one. It was not so much from bad inclination as from bad habit, from a wish to do wrong as from sloth and indifference, from that vis inertice, the insouseance that made almost any thing, no matter how objectionable, tolerated, because it had been handed down from our fore fathers—because it was "an aged vice, a grey iniquity." It was the same spirit that induced us so long to submit to intramural interments, to the poisoning of the atmosphere with dense masses of smoke, that might have been consumed not merely without loss, but with very considera ble gain to the parties more immediately con cerned (as witness Messrs. TRUEMAN, HANBURY, and BUXTON, who for several years not merely got rid of the smoke nuisance, but saved more than 2,0001. per annum for a comparatively trivial outlay), to the adulteration of what was once " the silver-winding Thames," with an abundance of feculent matter—the rinsing out of our sewers—the manure which, properly applied, will have rendered our land fertile in place of our water impure—to the various abuses, in fact, which still continue exciting numerous complaints, but no really energetic or efficient efforts for their removal. This may be ascribed to the system of leaving everything in this country to " private enterprise" —of not only not assisting, but decidedly dis couraging, every improvement. How heavily were the introducers of the railway system mulcted before they received the legislative sanction to these useful undertakings. What Parliamentary opposition had the promoters to encounter before their bills were passed. If considerable profits were not anticipated by the parties, we might still have had advertisements informing us that the journey from Exeter to London would be performed (D.V.) by heavy waggon in six days, in place of by express train in as many hours. The accuracy of the old proverb, that " What was everybody's business was nobody's," would have received an additional and powerful illus tration. Now, there could be no individual profit rea lised by the introduction of a better and more rational system of currency—the ordinary stimu lus to energetic agitation was wanting. We all perceived and deplored the evil, but we took no effective steps to provide an adequate remedy. At length there is a prospect of a movement. The inhabitants of Liverpool are up and doing, and we have no doubt that the beneficial step will be very generally followed, now that the initiative has been taken. As we have already stated, we do not altogether agree in the details of the contemplated alteration. We have ex plained our views that " the florin," and not the " pound," should be the unit of the new decimal coinage ; and, moreover, that " theflorin" adopted should be one of 20 pence, in place of 25., by which considerable losses to the working classes would be averted, and there would be no excuse for adding 400,0001. per annum to the Post-office revenue, and a large but unascertained sum to the receipt stamp revenue. Any discussion must, however, serve to elicit truth, and we, therefore, hope that eventually the system most beneficial to the community at large may be adopted.--a system that will look to the interests of the of rokXot, as well as to the commerce of the great merchants and bankers that will leave the value of the penny unaltered, and will make the changes in the gold and silver rather than in the copper coinage. We have shown that this m easily be effected without confusion or difficulty ; but if our own views should not be recognised and carried into practical execution, we should hail the adoption of a decimal system, even with the pound unit, as a vast amelioration, which would be very advantageous to persons of all classes throughout the length and breadth of the land. It may be easy to ridicule Lord PALMERSTON'S lecture on political economy to the Preston ope ratives, and to represent him as giving them a stone when they asked for brea•l. The plain truth is, however, that Preston operatives need nothing else from Lord PALMERSTON but the very advice he gave them ; all they need be sides the good temper, namely to yield to it, must be their own contribution. A valuable con tribution it would be. It would immediately put earnings into their pockets to double the amount of the charity on which they are now idling and starving ; and they would sacrifice in reality no thing by it. They would yield to truth, not to their masters ; truth discovered, sadly late it may be, but that is the lot of most of us short-sighted mortals. Sir ROBERT PEEL and the vast phalanx of legislators, who changed their opinions on the s __ ___..ii::..Y L wr - _ LATEST FOREIGN NEWS RUSSIA AND TURKEY. The Porte accepted the Note of the Four Powers on the evening of the 20th. It is agreeable to an armistice, it insists on the evacuation of the Principalities, it consents to a congress in a neutral town, to the revision of ex isting treaties, and to reforms tending to the ame lioration of the condition of the Christians. The conferences of the Grand Divan on that day and on the 21st and 22d were, it is said, remarkable for the calm and dignified way in which the pro posals of the mediating Powers were discussed. The modifications proposed in the Vienna proposi tions by the Divan are not, it is added, to bear the character of an ultimatum. 2,500 Softas created a riot in the evening of the 21st, and the English and French steamers and marines were called to Constantinople. The night, however, passed over quietly. The Softas are theological students, and their rising was owing to the pacific resolutions of the Divan, which they say have violated the scheriat, or fundamental law. The Sultan has ordered the recruiting of Chris- an volunteers to cease. It was said that Reschid Pacha, now supported by Halil Pacha in the Council, was in favour of peace, which the Sultan also desired. The combined fleets were still at Beycos. A despatch from which the above is obtained says ;hat rough weather had forced a Russian war cutter into the Bosphorus. The English fleet had re ceived reinforcements. The Russians were ap proaching Kars. Official intelligence was received at Vienna on Saturday from Constantinople of the 19th, to the effect that the Grand Council had given the Mi nisters authority to enter upon peace negotiations, subject to the following conditions : " That the Danubian Principalities be evacuated. " That the independence and integrity of the Ottoman Empire and the Sovereignty of the Sul tan be perfectly secured." Halil Pacha, says the same despatch, is Minister without a portefeuille. The Belgrade correspondent of a contemporary writes as follows The deliberations of the Divan continued for three days. An adjutant of the Sultan has been sent with two firmans to Servia. The Russo-Turk ish treaties annulled ; all previous rights volunta rily confirmed. Servia has the option of claim- ing the Protectorate of all the Powers. The Fremden-Blatt publishes advices from Bu charest of the 29th December, to the effect that the Turks have taken Karakal in Lesser Wal lachia by storm, after an obstinate battle. The Nouvelle Gazette Prusse states that the Czar has ordered the troops to be put in motion throughout the whole of the Empire. The letters from the Black Sea state that an epidemic very common in the Crimea, arising from the malaria, is now prevalent at Sebastopol. The Indus, which arrived at Southampton from Alexandria, on Saturday, brings word that there aro steamers daily expected from Constantinople to take away more troops which the Pacha is col lecting to the number of 12,000 Or 15,000, in addi tion to those already sent. Public feeling is very great against the Russians. The Lloyd of Vienna, of the 26th, says :—" A letter from Odessa, of the 15th, states that Sheffi Khan, formerly charge d'affaires of the Shah of Persia at the British Court, had arrived in that town on his way to Teheran, where he was received with great distinction. lie will probably continue his voyage on board a Russian steamer. The Rns sian Colonel, M. de Kewalewski, has left for Mon tenegro, having been charged on the part of the Czar to present Prince Danilo with some vases and other church ornaments. According to letters from Semlin, of the 24th, the Danube is full of drift ice beyond Widdin. Letters from Cattaro state that the Turks are increasing their army of observation on the frontiers of Montenegro, but the troops forming this corps are almost all Redifs." The Emperor has addressed the following letter to Prince Woronzoff, dated the 16th : " Prince Michael Semenowitsch,—The hostile inten tions of the Ottoman Porte against the district placed eedersonr_administratiotiwexe manifested in tuv of last summer by the assemblage of troops on the Trans- Caucasian frontier, and by measures for the propagation of revolt amongst the mountaineers. Under these circum stances, you had to take simultaneous measures for the expulsion of the foreign enemy and for the repression of domestic foes. This undertaking has been accomplished by you with full success. According to your measures not only have the brave troops of the Caucasus annihi lated the presumptuous attempts of Schamyl on the Les ghine line, but penetrating to the heart of the Trans koubanian tribes, have prevented them from co-operat ing with the Turks. Your able measures on the frontier of Asia have been crowned with a series of brilliant victories. The glorious combat of 14th Nov., near Bay audourg, was the prelude of the defeats of the Turks, on the 18th of the same month, at Atskhour, the 26th before Akhal Tsiche, and the I st on the right bank of the Arpatchai. The 37 pieces of artillery, the flags, the arms, the two camps, the large quantities of stores and ammunition taken from the enemy, testify to the bravery of the troops placed under your command—namely, the Caucasian corps, the 15th division of infantry, the Cos sacks, and the militia. It is specially to your expe rience' and to the great firmness with which you ani mated the troops placed under your orders, that I owe such a favourable commencement of the campaign. I beg of you on this occasion to express to them my sin cere gratitude, and my conviction that in their ulterior operations they will, with the aid of God, cover them selves with new glory, which will shed lustre on you and on the Russian arms. —I remain for ever and invariably your affectionate " NICHOLAS." The Invalide Busse, of the 21st, publishes a re script of the Emperor of Russia addressed, " our well-beloved son the Grand Constantine Nicolaie witch," which, after alluding to his useful services, says :--- "All these facts, by giving pleasure to our paternal heart, give you a right to our particular kindness, in testimony of which we name you Knight Grand Cross of the Ist Class of the Order of St. Vladimir, of which we herewith send you the insignia, ordering you to wear them according to the statutes. We are certain that b., continuing to act with the same zeal, you will bring the branch of the administration confided to you to the de sired degree of perfection, and render yourself worthy, should circumstances require it, of leading our fleets to acquire fresh glory against the enemies of the country." It is said the only military movement in Finland is, that 6,000 sailors have been sent from St. Peters burg to Helsingfors, to man the ships that are lying there. Recruiting, however, is going on briskly, but not in the usual compulsory manner of Russia, as Finland is free from that system for a period 50 years after the annexation. No one can be sur prised that Russia replaces the Finnish regiments by Russian. The former are employed in Russia— perhaps against the Turks. FRANCE. The levee usually held on the Ist of the new year took place yesterday (Sunday) at the Tuileries. The Ministers, grand functionaries of State, the Judges of the Courts of Law, the Cardinals, and Bishops, Canons, Marshals, Generals, and superior officers of the National Guard, the members of the Diplomatic Corps, all in the costume of ceremony, were punctual in attendance. The reception was held in the throne room, where the Emperor and Empress stood under the rich canopy. It was stated on Saturday the probability that the Em peror would address a few words at the moment the representatives of the foreign Powers presented the salutations usual on such occasions, and, as may be easily believed, a good deal of suriosity was manifested on the subject. After saying a few words to the Nuncio, which were not overheard, the Emperor addressed the other members of the Diplomatic Corps, and said in substance, and very nearly in words, as follows :—"I sincerely hope to be able to maintain the relations of amity which now subsist between my Government and the Sovereigns whose representatives you are ;" and, turning to the Ottoman Ambassador, he added, " My good wishes, my sympathies, an d my efforts are in favour of your Sovereign, and you will be good enough to communicate what I say to him." He then bowed to the Ambassadors, and the rest of the ceremony proceeded. The expression of the human countenance is not always an infallible means of ascertaining what the secret thoughts are, and the features of the Emperor less than those of any other man can be taken as an index of what is passing in the mind ; but one or two persons standing close to him at the moment he spoke the words, the substance of which is just given, thought they could read in his race the convic tion that the Emperor of Russia does not or will not imitate the Porte in its acceptance of the propositions of the Vienna Conference ; but they could also see that the mind of Louis Napo leon was made up to the worst, and that he will I not flinch whatever be the consequence. No intel ligence of an official character has been received from St. Petersburg announcing the intention of the Czar, and it is stated that what has been already said on that subject is premature. Such may be the case, though the belief is that that decision is too truly guessed. at ; and it is certain that evn among official people nearly all hope of his accept- ance is given up. There had been a great crowd at the Tuileries yesterday (Sunday) in consequence of the official receptions. The AI oniteur announces the nomination of eight general officers and fourteen colonels, on the list of the Etat-Major-General, and the distribu tion of a great number of crosses and military medals. Many couriers were overdue. The commission of the Universal Exhibition a-- sembled on Thursday, at the Palais Royal, under the presidency of Prince Napoleon. His Imperial Highness, after reading the decrees instituting the commission, pointed out the programme of its labours in the following terms : " Gentlemen—The Emperor confides to us a noble and honourable mission, in which France will show herself worthy of her name by the eagerness with which her artists and her manufacturers will respond to the appeal which is made to them. Our duty towards foreigners is to receive them with a liberal and friendly hospitality. All opinions in matters of political economy are repre sented here, not to enter on fruitless discussions, which are foreign to our mission, but to co-operate with equal ardour, whatever may be our point of view, for the success of that work, which is to illustrate the France and Europe of the 19th century. On this point, gentle men, we must all be agreed. The Emperor has testified his high impartiality in assembling in the same body the leading men in politics, sciences, arts, manufactures, and commerce. For the first time a universal exhibition of the fine arts will be added to one of industry. h be longs to our country to set the example of this alliance, which so well suits our initiatory genius. I hope, gentlemen, that the most entire confidence will preside over our relations, and I ask from you for your Presi dent that indulgence of which he stands in need. Feel ing my insufficiency for the great mission which the con fidence of the Emperor has confided to me, I shall at least devote to it my most ardent zeal and a firm will to perform it well, which is the first condition of suc cess. The questions which we shall have to solve are numerous and complicated, and are connected with a multitude of different interests. I propose to submit them successively to your decision, as they may present themselves, in order not to overburden ourselves uselessly at the commencement of our labours. They naturally divide themselves into two great parts : those which may require decrees on the part of his Majesty, and those which we can solve on our own authority. In execution of the decree our first operation is the nomi nation of the vice-president of the General Commission, and of the two vice-presidents of the sections of manu factures and the fine arts. I shall afterwards request you to give me a sub-committee to assist me in the exe cution of the measures which you shall have decided upon. The business can only be managed in a practical manner by a small number of persons, who shall devote to it their special aptitude and their time. The first question to be examined by that sub-committee will be the drawing up of regulations for the prompt despatch of the numerous affairs which we shall have to settle." The Commission, and the two sections of which it is composed, then proceeded to the election of the vice-presidents. President Troplong was chosen vice-president of the General Commission, M. Baroche, vice-president of the section of the Fine Arts, and M. Billault, vice-president of the section of Agriculture and Manufactures. The Commis sion having requested Prince Napoleon to appoint the members of the sub-committee, the Prince, after conferring with the Ministers of State and of Public Works, and the vice-presidents 7 ap pointed as members of the sub-committee--MM. General Morin, Legentil, Schneider, Emile Pe riere, *Leplay, de Lesseps , D uke de ouchy, Vis conti, and Henriquel Dupont. Lord Cowley assured the Commission of the co-operation of England in this grand solemnity, of which she had furnished the first example, and congratulated himself on being called on to take part in the labours of the Commission. Prince Napoleon, in his own name, and in that of the Commission, thanked Lord Cowley. Matters having arrived at that point when all hopes of a settlement of the question, except by means of an appeal to arms are now nearly at an end, the moment is come for energetic action. France is not idle. Her preparations for every emergencyhave been going on for some time steadily, surely, but without noise or bustle ; and letters received from Toulon state that the greatest acti vity reigns in that harbour with a view to mili tary as well as naval preparations. Three screw steam frigates have been just despatched to the Levant, and, should it become necessary to send a military division to the East, there will be no deficiency of transports. When the combined fleets enter the Black Sea it will not be for the mere purpose of cruising, but to remain there pre cisely in the same manner as the Russians have established themselves in the Principalities. The Assemble& says—" Lord Edward Seymour, well known in racing circles in Paris, has just died at Boulogne-sur-Mer. He was 52 years of age, smd nnmarri... l ." Tlact Taws+. Toe.l-tal -ay raca. Henry Seymour who has lived at Boulogne since the revolution of 1848. At two o'clock on Saturday afternoon the bands of the National Guard and all the regiments of the garrison of Paris, assembled in the court of the Tuileries to give their Majesties a newy-ear's sere nade. The Emperor and Empress appeared in the balcony " d'Horloge," and bowed their ac knowledgments to the troops. They afterwards took an airing in the Champs Elysees in the Emperor's new sledge a la Russo. The Emperor of the French some time back gave directions to the Minister of War to prepare a re port for him, giving an exact detail of the present situation of the French army, to be accompanied with a statement of the number of men that France could, if necessary, place without delay en a war footing. This paper, it is said, has been lately sent in, and the number of men which could be em ployed as just stated is set down in it at 1,250,000. An analogous document has been applied for from the Minister of Marine, relative to the naval force of the country in vessels and men ; as well as a special report on the best means of conveying by sea 40,000 men. That Minister's report is expected to be ready before long. Public securities declined again at the Bourse on Saturday, in consequence of the quotationsfrom the London Stock Exchange coming lower. The Three per Cents. opened at 73f. 60c., and fell to 73f. 30c., at which they closed for the end of the month ; the Four-and-a-Half per Cents. closed at 100 f. 75c. ; Orleans Railway shares, 1,165 f. ; Rouen, 1,040 f. ; Havre, 492 f. 50c. ; Great Northern, 867 f. 50c. • Paris and Strasburg, 810 f. ; Paris and Lyons, 907 f. 50c. ; Lyons to the Mediterranean, 745 f. ; Western of France, 680 f. ; Bordeaux and Cette, 6151. ; Great Central, 5121. 50c. ; Lyons and Geneva, 505 f. ; Shares of the Bank of Credit Mobi l Tier, 7301. SWEDEN AND DENMARK The late outrageous " post-convention" enacted or submitted to by England has almost stopped all English newspaper reading. Since the ukase ap peared nine-tenths of the British journals have been given up as a matter of necessity. The German Bund, at the formal request of Prussia and Austria, have solemnly agreed to grant pensions to invalid Schleswig-Holstein officers, and their widows and orphan children. They will do this in the shape of a " free contribution" from each state. This is in addition to the immense BUMS raised privately, and to the appointments given many of these men in various parts of Ger many. So it i f s clear that rebellion is a better trade than loyalty, when it is used for getting the German empire new provinces. The last news received from the East has strengthened the hands of the Russian party. They justly observe that England merely plays the double of Russia, which has all along acted with energy and consistency, and that it is merely suicidal to be the ally of Great Britain, especially when Russia is in the way. There is to be a great Industrial Exhibition in Christiania next summer, to which all Norway will contribute specimens of its produce. The Norwegian Government has sent two of its high officers, Li e utenant-Colonel Wergeland and First-Lieutenant Nielsen, to Stockholm, to confer on a uniform plan for telegraph lines in the two countries. A part of Stockholm was lit with gas, on trial, on the 19th. The effect was very fine. The whole was to be opened in a few days. A new and elegant translation of Sir W. Scott's novels is appearing in Stockholm. Each volume contains a whole romance, and costs only 2s. The best English romances appear immediately iu Swe den, well translated. ITALY. The Chamber of Deputies elected, on the 27th ult., for its President, M. Boucompagni, by 74 votes out of 107 voters for its Vice-Presidents, Messrs. Benso and Lanza—the first. by 73 votes, and the second by 69 ; for its Secretaries, Messrs. Cavallini, Farina Paolo, Airenti, and Lonaraz ; and for its Questors, Messrs. Valvassori and Bottone. The Parlament° considers those elections as the most conclusive reply the Chamber could make to the appeal of the Crown, the list presented by the Liberaldeputieshaving btained a complete success. The Giornale di Roma, of the 21st, announces that the Pope has conferred the cardinal's hat upon Monsignor Pecci. The Piedmontese Gazette of the 28th ult., an nounces that a number of farmers had assembled tumultuously at Champercher and near Aosta, under pretence of the land tax, which possibly will not be collected in that district. Those farmers were proceeding to Aosta, and had compelled the inhabi tants on their way by threats to join them. The Intendant-General of "wee and the Commander. in-Chief of the Royal Carabineers had hastened ,to": the scene of the disturbances. The Government, os being apprised of those proceedings, took the necessary precautions for the restoration of order. At the sitting of the Chamber of Deputi es , at Turin, on the 27th ult., after the installation of the President, the Minister of Finance presented the budget for the year 1854. The Minister of Justice presented a bill for the organization of the judiciary orders. The Minister of War presented a bill to modify the law on military promotion. SPAIN. Our accounts from Madrid are of the 24th nit. No resolution of any interest was adopted at the Cabinet Council, held the day before, under the pre sidency of the Queen, it being her Majesty's desire that no measure of importance should be brought forward until the Count de San Luis was suffi ciently recovered to take part in the delibera tion s. General Canedo, former Captain-General 0 Cuba, had arrived at Madrid. On the 23d the Duke and Duchess of Alba paid their homage to the Duke and Duchess de Montpensier. The Three per Cents. were done at 43/ ; the New Three per Cents. at 22 ; the Debt of the First Class at 8 ; and that of the Second at 44. The Marid mail of the 25th ult. had not ar rived in Paris on HOLLAND. THE HAGUE, DEC. 28.-:--The official journal announces that M. Mutsaers, formerly member of the Second Chamber, and ex-Minister of Public Worship, is again named Chief of this Depart ment, in the place of M. de Lightenvelt, who has demanded and obtained his resignation. M. de Lightenvelt replaces M. le Baron Fagel as Minister of Holland at Paris. M. Mutsaera is one of the most distinguished men of Northern Brabant. He has resided at Bois-le-Duo and at Tilbourg for a considerable period. Such is the severity of the winter that at Maw tricht the Meuse is almost entirely frozen over. BELGIUM.—BRUSSELS, DEC. 31.—The Budget of Public Works was voted unanimously in the Senate yesterday, The law on the Importation of Foreign Coal was voted by a large majority : 32 members voted. for and 7 against it. The discussion of the Bill on the Revision of the Tariff of the Electric Telegraph also took place. The Minister of Public Works decalred that a reduction of the tariff would at present be impossible, as the. small number of efficient employes possessed by the Government were incapable of transacting the in crease of business which would follow a reduction. The contingent of the army for the year 1854 has been fixed at 70,000 men. The bUdget of war for the same year, amounting to 33,129,930 f., was unanimously adopted. A deputation, charged to present the felicitations of the Assembly to the King on the occasion of the new year, will assemble on Sunday, at the Cham ber, whence they will set out for the Palace. THE CAPE OF GOOD► HOPE. (BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.) PLYMOUTH, Mortrat. The General Screw Steamship Company's mail packet Bosphorus, Commander Robert Maynard, arrived this morning ; she left Point de Gallo, October 4th ; Mauritius, November 6th ; Cape, November 21st ; St. Helena, 29th ; Ascension, December 3d. ; St. Vincent, 12th, and Corunna, 28th. Within the. CaPe colony everything is peaceful. and progressive. In the Orange River Sovereignty Sir Georges Clerk proceeds steadily in maturing arrangements for the withdrawal of British authority from the. north side of the river. The election for the Legislative Council was to commence on the 9th of January. The copper mines on the Orange River appear to• be productive. 200 tons of ore were on the beach. ready for shipment. Great inconvenience is experienced by the ship ping in consequence of the desertion of seamen, 186 of whom were brought before the police autho— rities at Cape Town in 6 weeks. The frontier mail arrived at noon, on the 21st. The Dee and Hydra were at Algoa Bay on the 18th. The Hydra was to embark the 74th for Table Bay when the weather moderated. The Sir Robert Peel, with the Natal mail, was still there. _ _ The Barracouta war steamer, which arrived on. the 18th of November, would leave for the fron- Lioz-tmx-Ivriu g 4.l....,rontitlutb3r - Of then troops on the 22d. The Dee, with the 12th Lancers who embarked in the .Queen, was expected hourly. The Simooni, with the Rifle Brigade, sailed for Eng land on the 15th of November. Her Majesty's ship Meander was in Table Bay. The Nerbudda is cruizing in the Mozambique Channel. The United States squadron, consisting of the Vincennes, Porpoise, and Kennedy, left Simon's Bay for India on the 9th of November. The Lady Jocelyn, with the English mail, had not arrived. The American Commodore, in the Constitution, arrived at St. Helena 29th November. The fol lowing arrived there on the 22d :—The Eclipse, from Shanghai, for London ; the Blundell, from Batavia, for Rotterdam ; and the Berbice, from Mauritius, for London. The screw steam ship Peninsular put into Co runna on the 27th of December, owing to some slight accident to her machinery. She would have to perform three days' quarantine. Stations of her Majesty's ships on the. West Coast of Africa :—On the Sierra Leone diviiiiOn were the Penelope, Teazer, Britomart, • Plumper, and Antelope. The Penelope and Teazer • 'were shortly, expected at Ascension. In the Bights : Alecto, Polyphemus, Ferret, Waterwitch, Myr midon. On the South Coast :—Crane, Commander Miller, senior officer ; Pluto, and Linnet. The Linnet was returning to England. The Atholl was daily expected at. Ascension. Some changes were shortly to take place in these stations consequent on the Admiral's visit to Sierra Leone. • On the Ist of November, between Point de Galle and the Mauritius, the crank pin of the main shaft of the en-ines of the Bosphorus, which is solid cast iron, about a ton in weight, broke in two pieces. The engineers under ~the direction of Mr. T. Turner, chief engineer, manufactured a steel plate, and ingeniously forced it one-half ' into the crank, and the other half into the crank pin, in a hole one inch and three quarters in dia meter and six inches deep, which had been pre viously drilled to receive it. At the Mauritius a ' spare steel pin two inches in diameter was obtained. On arriving at the Cape the manufactured steel plate was discovered to be broken ; it was replaced by the pin obtained at the Mauritius. The Bos phorus has not been able since the accident to her machinery to proceed under steam, and has been obliged in heavy seas to shut it off entirely ; with these disadvantages, however, she arrived at the Cape 36 hours before due. On leaving St.. Vincent she was 18 hours before contract time. The Bosphorus was only six and a half days' sail from Plymouth on the 18th of December, from which to the 30th she had experienced fresh northerly winds and two gales from N.E., and the 26th she was obliged to bear up for Corunna, where she was detained 48 hours by bad weather. Left on the 28th, at midnight, and at 6 p.m. was hove to in a heavy gale from north-east, '- which lasted two days ; since then she has had north-west winds. The Bosphorus has a cargo of four-fifths of silk, the remainder indigo, &c. She conveyed a quantity of specie between the Indian ports and Mauritius. THE UNITED STATES. ARRIVAL OF THE ANDES. By the screw-steamer Andes, we have advices from New York to the 17th ult. The steamer Asia arrived at New York from Liverpool on the 15th ult. The steamer Humboldt, which was ashore at Halifax, had entirely gone to pieces. From Washington we learn that the "difficulty" between Senator Gwin and Mr. Guthrie had been amicably settled. The Naval Committee had unanimously voted a bill for presentation to the house authorising the construction of six steam-frigates, to be built under the surveillance of the Secretary of the Navy, and appropriating $3,000,000 for the purpose. One hundred and eleven persons had died at New Orleans of cholera in the week ending the 15th ult. No change worthy of notice had occurred in the New York money-market. The stock-market had exhibited a further decline in prices, with very little business doing. Nothing was doing in foreign exchanges, and qtiotations were nominal. A good demand had existed for flour, to fill up large orders on French account, and prices ad vanced. 25c. per barrel. Wheat was very firm, the stocks being light. Indian corn in good demand, at advancing prices. In provisions no alteration. Scotch pig-iron firm at $34 to $34 60c. cash, and $36 50c. to $37 50c., six months. Freights to London.—Tobacco, 608. ; flour, 45. per barrel ; turpentine, Ss. per 2801 b. J ; &Ad grain ) 1,35. to 14s, per bushel. 4 is I