The Sun. — London, England, 1863-12-24 00:00:00

larly beneficial exercise of an equally efficacious once, the French EMPEROR —if we are to belict ve his own representations, and the protes tation of his Minister—and we see no reason for t liscrediting them—is desirous of curbing the rapt mity and stiffing the animosities now so painfully prey talent among the' powers that be" in Europe, and which threaten ere long,: indeed, to involve the whole Continent in a disastrous " civil war.." ACC() rding to that beautiful definition of the great NAPOLEON, now happily recalled to us by his sue cess.,:#r, "to fight in Europa is to make civil war I" As ran evidence that such a beneficial interference was not uncalled for, M. DROUYN DE LHUYS cites, for example, very ju..tly, the present troubles in Denmark. " Recent events, " he takes occasion to remark, " have justified soolaet: than we believed, the provisions of the EMPEROR. The King of DENMARK dies ; passions are aroused— people become agitated and undecided—Govern ments balance between the letter of treaties and the national sentiment of their country. A con. gress could alone conciliate the duties of sovereigns bound by conventions and the legitimate aspirations of the peoples." The refusal of England has opposed an insuperable of etacle to the realisation of the first desire of the EMPEROR. " The second hypothesis now remains—the restricted Congress. Its reali sation depend on the will of the Sovereigns." "It w ill not have the judicial authority which would have belonged toe European Congress," and conse quently many preliminaries will be discussed be tween the various Ministers for Foreign Affairs before the actual meeting can take place. Having herself n c in premised in th e f ormer part o f hi s l etter t h at "F e which had no advantage to gain for the eventuality of a General Con gress would have made common cause with all the enlightened Governments to bring about reconciliation, extinguish rancour, &c.," the French Minister very adroitly takes advantage of the refusal of England to render the Congress unanimous and judicial, and observes, in conclusion, "We should be able, after the decision of the British Cabinet, to consider our duty as accom plished, and for the future, in any event that may arise, only to take account of what may be suitable to us and of our private interests." Such a threat of what we might do is, perhaps, natural under the circumstances, and must be pardoned in recognition of the magnanimity of the assurance that follows, that France will not avail herself of the opportunity offered by England, but in considera tion of " the good dispositions" manifested by the other Powers, will be ready to enter frankly with them on the path of a common understanding. That such a happy result may be evolved from the present apparently hopeless entanglement must be the common desire of all, even of England, who has been placed by her minister in such an enviable position, that while no merit will be attributed to her, and no praise awarded to her in any contingence that may arise, all the blame and all the obloquy of failuze will be cast in her teeth and fall on her self-devoted head. The most important and. useful institutions intro duced for the benefit of the public during the present century are the Life and Fire Insurance Companies. These societies are not only invaluable to the general public, but are also highly remune rative to the shareholders. Government has like wise stepped in to claim a share, and that much to the detriment of insurers. At present the duty on insurances is, in regard to the money received ba the Company, about 150 per cent., and increases in proportion to the risk run by the insurers. With regard to life insurances we do not wish to advert at present, except to remark that while they are invaluable to the prudent tradesman, as a means of securing an independence to his family in case of sudden death, ho has but invested his savings as a provision for his successors. There are at present various forms and principles of investment, which may be made to serve any possible exigency; yet, as we cannot expect the good without the evil, Loan Societies of all descriptions have sprung up, many of which are mere shams, consisting of a secretary and a clerk or two, in a showy office, and an accommodating life assurance company, through which agency a policy is obtained and handed over to the Loan Society, large expenses incurred, and elaborate rules and regulations, and fines and penalties, the enforcement of which is placed in the hands of a sharp lawyer, on the no cure no pay system. We mention these facts simply as a warning to our readers not to be deceived by the many specious advertisements which daily appear in the public press. The fact to which we wish particularly to draw attention is the determination of the Fire In surance Companies of the metropolis to withdraw their support from the fire brigades, or more pro- perly to discontinue their maintenance, which has hitherto devolved (with the exception of the parish engines) entirely upon the combined London com panies, who maintain that the progressive extension of the metropolis necessitates an increase of expen diture which they cannot any longer submit to. They have therefore notified to the Home Secretary their coming determination not to hold themselves responsible for the extinction of fire, and suggesting that the brigade should be placed under the control of the police, as in Birmingham, Manchester, and other cities. The charge for its maintenance being met by a universal parish-rate, or if the police cannot under take the responsibility, that the Metropolitan Board of Works be requested to do so, that body holding jurisdiction alike in the City or the West-end, a control not exercised by the Metropolitan Police. There certainly seems to be some reason in this de mand at first sight, but when we come to look into the case, the question naturally suggests itself, who \ "e so interested in the preservation of property as the companies, who are held responsible for its value? They make large profits by their business, and anat . ' 641 not to begrudge a, small outlay to pre vent as far as possible its destruction. It never can be to the i nterest of any householder to destroy wantonly his _ fromperty in the hope of obtaining a profit even the most .. liberal company that ever existed. The result of la fire in almost every case is a loss of mon e y , property, and time to the unfortu rietor, no ' matte r how heavily he may be tihnestaonfficee,ett to may be insured for nate prop a • 1 insured; which he may have Years has re ' £5,000, and the premiumpayn3ent n f o o t r hin g : loath, but . when paid the re ceived that . his property immediately en deavour to show that it was not worth above is destroyed they j a _ v £2,000, and refuse to pay beyo nd that amount. These a re the matters well known to the initiated, and, thanks to the recent celebrated trial, pretty well „ met, tained by the general public. it is complained a t that out of about 1000,000,000 of property in tub metropolis, not one-third is insured, so that the in sured pay for the uninsured as regards fire engines. Who, we would ask, is to blame for ifis state of things? Has not oar Government driven insur ances out of this country to Holland, Hamburg , and other places, by the opp ress ive duty levied upon these p rov id en t i ns tit ut i ons . L a t e in last session the hon. member for Dudley brought for- I ward his bill for the gradual reduction of the duty un insurances, and it was entertained by the House, notwithstanding the opp os iti on o f t h e Ch ance ll or o f I ' the Exchequer, and Mr, SHERIDAN promised to ROYAL STRAND THEATRE. Manager, Mr. W. H. Swanborough. THIS EVENING, MIR All'S CRIME. Messrs. Geo. Honey, Parselle, Belford, Turner, Miss K. Saville, and Miss Mandel's. Followed by (27th time) PATIENT PENELOPE ; or, The Return of Ulyeses. Messrs. honey and Fenton ; Mesdames Bwauborough and Simpson. After which, arr NEW PLACE. Mr. A. Wood. Commence at 7. I[ ll- 11: THIRD EDITION OF " THE SUN," ~,,,Sontaining the lAtest SPORTING INTELLIGENCE, had Every Evening - ot G. R. GLkNIE, NEWS AGENT, WO. 4, Connaught-terrace, Ilydc-park. D I WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. THIB jj" * .l 4orning, 12h. 42m.—Afternoon, Ih. 4m. lh. 30m.—Afternoon, Ih. 51m. The Weather ---Sun Office, Dec. 24, 1863. This day at Two 7a:taxomETEß. " Ba rn _ eter_ JO.lB. Wind moderate, and hazy. $ ----- U l l/ g •- •‘4 - " SUIT. LONDON, THURSDAY, -1)t, 21, 1863. As the practised swordsman was (leltlt:voenrsoatricye any flaw or chink in the ar mour of his e. so in the diplomatic circular which he bag lust issued to his confreres, M. DEOUYN DE u farrs has not failed to avail himself with singular a nd sagacious dexterity of the advantage presented to bis hand by the refusal of England to take a Part in the recently proposed Congress. cg The other European Sovereigns," he says, "in their reply to the letter of the EMPEROR have rendered homage to that bold initiative which, laying bare the dan gers:of the situation,proposed the most pacific and regal means to appease them" All the Courts Lave given either a reserved or an unqualified assent to the Proposition. " One single Power, England, has refused." England has has therefore not only lost her voice—the emphatic voice which she was justly entitled to hold—in the Congress of Nations, but all the onus of any diffi I I - c 2 ll tY or dissension that m a y, and th a t a l mos t inevi "Y will, ar i se , must natura ll y, now , f a li upon h er ! tLeordin g to the sanguine representations of the Frenoa Minister, all might have been so unanimous " amicable.! 1 Ile probable result of these conferences would have been a salutary and honour. able transactioe.” England, however, has chosen t o enact the p art f,IATIPLOT, and the whole pac if ic programme is disturbed. What the result m ight have been under other circumstances it is The various belligerent impo ssible to say. po wers of :Europe h ave not arrived at that p;r:f , c t, state °l' Concord f'moog entegardstic natures attained by " The nappy fwaomnidleyr'f'uolf and a nimal creati on. Even in that isolated example, we believe it IS fear rather than love—a wholesome dread of the master outside y particular triendiabip t o/ the cage rather tha n the helpless broth rs w i t hin -- that indu ces the t. oats and hawks to maintain su ch very ami ca b le relations with the mice and sparrolo. By Et bring it on again before the House early in the ensu ing session. The bill proposed the immediate reduction of the duty on insurances to two shillings in the hundred pounds in lieu of three shillings and upwards, as at present, and a further reduction in a few years to one shilling. The objection to this, that such a course would greatly reduce the Government revenue from this source, is answered by the almost conclusive argument that it is only the 'heavy duty upon insurances that deters so many householders from availing themselves of its advan te ges, and consequently that on the modification of I that duty the increase of policies would eventually more than indemnify the Exchequer for its first loss, just as the reduction of high rates of pos'age to the penny system changed the revenues of the Post_ office from a deficit to a surplus. Another advantage would also be gained; the increase of business thrown in the way of the insurance offices would enab e them yet further to reduce their charges. We trust that early in the ensuing session grave attention will be paid to this all-important question. If, as we hope, Mr. SHERIDAN'S motion be carried, we cannot see tlhat the parish authorities can throw any reason able obstruction in the way of the proposition for placing the maintenance and control of the fire brigade under the Metropolitan Board of Works, yet it must be clearly understood that on their undertaking that responsibility shall the Fire In surance Offices bear a proportion of the expense. They claim a right of placing their officers in charge of property injured by fires in which their offices are interested, and we cannot foresee any thing but difficulty in this proceeding unless to a certain degree they are connected with the Fire Brigade, Likewise it must be imperative upon, all companies to remit to the holders of their policies any reduction of the duty, and, furthermore, chat if the Board of Works undertake the responsibility they shall have full and undivided authority over all the districts of the Metropolis; that their officers shall have full access to the fire plugs and not be obliged to hunt up the parish beadle, and other holders of the keys. Also that the parish engines be improved and rendered more efficient than at present ; and if it be considered necessary still to leave them under the jurisdiction of the local authorities, that the officers of the Board be at liberty to inspect them when deemed requi site. The electric telegraph has practically trebled the number of our engines, by enabling every esta blishment in London to learn instantaneously the exact seat of any conflagration. Steam fire-engines have, again, greatly advanced the efficiency of our fire brigade ; and although nothing can surpass the activity and the daring of our firemen, there may vet be room for improvement in other branches of this important service. We have little doubt that the insurance companies and the parish authorities, jealous as both are of their supposed rights, would glad y agree to such an arrangement. With regard to the former, it needs only to empower the Board of Works to form a National or even a Metropolitan Insurance Company on an extended scale; in fact, a practically National insurance, the profits of which would more than defray any expenses of engines and of firemen, no matter how extensive, and enable proprietors to insure for a far less cost than at pre sent. weather, which strained her light framework ter ribly, and extensive rents became visible in her plates from the deck downwards on either side, which ominously increased. Iron ships were novelties in those days, and were not braced together as at present, but her officers and crew did not des pair. They did the best they could to secure the ship for the time, and on the first opportunity beached her in a sandy bay on an unfriendly coast, and repaired damages as far as possible. The ser vices of the Nemesis were invaluable during the China war of that period. Where would she have been if the commander had acted on the principle of the master of the Harbinger. No charge of wilful neglect is brought by the underwriters, and we are glad for the character of Mr. LINDSAY and his cap tain that the jury have done them justice in this respect, and we may pass over this unfortunate occurrence, feeling confident that the high standing so deservedly held by the officers in our merchant navy cannot be effected by the want of energy and discretion evinced in the case of the Harbinger. The very fact that the underwriters of Lloyds' have felt it incumbeht on them to dispute the claim of one of the largest and most respected firms in the kingdom, shows us that they are at length awaking to a sense of the responsibility which their position entails upon them. Let them persevere in this course honestly and without favour as in the present case. Let them refuse all insurances without a and a guarantee that from an authorised agent, etheretisfilaciapteisopfrospeaerwlyorftohuinnedss, and the loss of life and property wilt diminish in proportion to the rigour with which such regula tions are enforced. io (REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.) The protracted trial in the Court of Queen's Bench, which so much affected the interests of our merchants and shipowners, has at length been brought to a close. The verdict of the jury is, all things considered, highly satisfactory, inasmuch that, although ostensibly for the defendants, they have yet so qualified it that no official slur rests either upon the plaintiff or his agents. It would be much to be regretted if a long and honourable career should not stand a man in good stead when he enters upon a doubtful contest, in which, to say the least of it, he has not a good case. So far as private interests are concerned, the matter might rest here ; but there are circumstances connected with the loss of the Harbinger, and tke subsequent trials, which must result, sooner or later, to the ad vantage of our mercantile marine and the nation at large. The case in question is simply this :—The Harbinger, an iron steamer of some 600 or 700 tons, originally built for her MAJESTY'S service, was sold out of the navy, and eventually came into the pos session of Mr. LINDSAY'S firm, and was despatched to trade between Calcutta and China, on which ser vice she was engaged for upwards of two years. In February, 1859, she sailed from Calcutta for Eng land, and at this epoch her misfortunes began. Encountering bad weather on approaching the Cape, she put into Algoa Bay for shelter. On the weather moderating she again put to sea, only to be driven back—this time with a leak in one of her bottom plates, which, on examination, proved to have been caused by one of the rivets having given. This defect being temporarily repaired, she once more started upon her voyage, but with no better success than before, for having again to return to Algoa Bay she was considered to be strained, and several boltheads were reported to have given way. Upon this the captain decided upon the extraor dinary course of proceeding personally to England to consult the owners as to how he was to act. He reached London in safety, obtained some £4,000 from the underwriters, and returned to Algoa Bay, where he found the ill-fated Harbinger still afloat, notwithstanding that several heavy gales had been experienced in that roadstead. It was discovered upon the arrival of the captain that the ship had somehow or other sprung a considerable leak in her bottom plates under the pumps, and, to make a long story short, although there was a chance of saving the vessel, either by heaving her down in Algoa Bay (the cargo having been previpusly tran shipped), or else of running for Simon's Bay, a dis tance of about 500 miles, where she could have been properly overhauled. The captain, acting on his own judgment, sold the ship and engines for an old song in the interest of the underwriters, and his owners forthwith claim from them the full insurance, as though the vessel had foundered at sea, or been dashed to pieces on an iron-bound coast. This is but a short summary of the events, but upon these and the verdict of the jury we wish to make a few observations. We ought not to be surprised, when medical men of the highest standing have the assurance to assert that a man is insane because he commits a murder, that gentleman of nautical experience should gravely maintain that a captain is justified in abandoning his ship because she has sprung a trifling leak. The usages of the service require that the captain, as the responsible agent fur the owners and most experienced man on board, ought . to stand by his ship when she is in difficulty. If it were necessary to refer to the owners for ulterior instructions, he could surely have sent a substitute. Had the state of the Har binger been as critical as the witnesses for the plain tiff would have us believe, it is not probable that she could have weathered a succession of gales in the 'roadstead of Algoa Bay during the period which must necessarily tuied have elapsed when the captain wa s absent. I t is , aoesruard to suppose that during th a t interval there ware not abundant opportunities of r unning Bay, thatAg ai , n s h , e e vm b e he e n lo the ight . When the at captain Nemesis, his . ship , he had no excuse (ordstrm°Yieg her f or the fi rst of the light draught ea to la Ssti rejoined in 3 East India service, made h er vo yage round the Cape, she encountered heavy ironsetnrs built for the THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 24, 1863. BRESLAU, DEC. 23. LATEST INTELLIGENCE. THE POLISH INSURRECTION. Advises received here from Warsaw state that Gen. Berg has ordered twenty-five Prussian sub jects imprisoned at Kalisch to be transported to Siberia. The insurgent chief Chemski, also a Prussian subject, has been shot. Two new convoys of political prisoners have been sent away to Siberia. __ MEETING OF POPULAR DELEGATES. FRANKFORT, I)Ec. 21. For the first time since the German Parliament of 1848, deputies' from the different legislative assemblies of Germany met in this city to-day to discuss the question pre-occupying the popular mind. The provisional committee sat yesterday from 4 in the afternoon until past midnight. The resolutions lately taken at Nuremberg were unanimously adopted, the deputies engaging to support every Ministry whose acts accorded with their tenor; but, at the same time, to oppose, by every legal means, such Governments as should adopt a different course. The sitting commenced at half -past 10 this morning, Herr Muller, a Frankfort lawyer, having been chosen President. The first resolution brought forward by the committee was to the following effect : " This meeting declares that the rights of Ger many in Schleswig-Holstein can only be effec tively preserved by the separation of the Duchies from Denmark. The death of Frederick VII. has dissolved their union with Denmark. The Treaty of London of May 8, 1852, concluded with out the assent of the Representative Assemblies, and of the Agnates, whose consent was legally re quisite, and which has also not been recognised by the Germanic Diet, constitutes no title to Christian IX. to succeed to the throne in Schleswig-Holstein. In virtue of certain rights, Frederick of Schleswig- Holstein-Souderburg-Augustenburg is called to assume the succession in these Duchies. By ren dering valid the succession to the Throne in the person of Duke Frederick, the rights of Germany in Schleswig-Holstein will at the same time be established. The obligation is, therefore, incum bent upon the German people to make every necessary sacrifice for its offended honour, for its endangered rights, for its brethren of kindred race, and for their legitimate princes. " Unanimous in. this view, the Members of Ger man representative bodies here assembled bind themselves to bring about the following objects by every legal means within their power and sphere : —l. To cause the reorganisation of Duke Frede rick's rights wherever it has not yet taken place, as well as to obtain its acknowledgment by the Fede ral Diet; 2. To render these rights valid without regard to foreign protests, to effect the separation of the Denmark, and to re-establish immediately their independence and indissoluble union. "They further bind themselves to support those German Governments who loyally and actively take in hand the rights of the Duchies, and to oppose, by every constitutional means, those Governments which abandon the rights and honour of Germany in this question." The resolution was supported by Herr Edel, a professor at Wurzburg, who endeavoured, in a fer vent speech, to demonstrate the illegality of the London treaty, and reviewed the cases in which it had been violated by Denmark. The speaker, who was frequently interrupted by the applause of the, meeting, foretold that the signature of the London treaty might become the epitaph of the Federal Diet, and stated that the German nation must maintain its right, even at the risk of an .European war. After communicating several telegraphic mes sages to the meeting, the President read a letter from a number of members of the Austrian Reichs rath, who were prevented from attending, but expressed their entire sympathy with Schleswig- Holstein. And, as compared with the month ending the 15th Nov., 1862, the above returns show an increase of £859,201 in the circulation of notes in England, and an increase of £1,068,372 in the circulation of the United Kingdom. On comparing the above with the fixed issues of the seve ral banks the following is the state of the circulation : The English private banks aro below their fixed issue The English joint-stock banks are below their fixed issue £275,514 Total below fixed issue in England.... £1,169,110 The Scotch banks are above their fixed issue .. £1,777,431 The Irish banks are below their fixed issue .... £338,793 The average stock of bullion held by the Bank of Eng land in both departments during the month ending the 11th Nov. was £14,085,759, .being a decrease of £948,585 as compared with the previous month, and a decrease of £1,475,463 when compared with the same period last year. The following are the amounts of specie held by the Scotch and Irish banks during the month ending the 14th Nov.:— Gold and silver held by the Scotch banks ... L 2,491,742 Gold and silver held by the Irish b an ks 2,070,535 The first resolution being unanimously adopted without alteration, the second, brought forward by a minority of the committee, was next put to the meeting. It was the following ;—" This meeting appoints a committee of 36 members, as the centre of the legal activity of the German nation in pur suing the rights of the Schleswig-Holstein Duchies and of their legitimate Duke, Frederick VIII. This committee shall be authorised to appoint a sub committee consisting of a few of their number, to transact current business. The committee can, should circumstances require, convoke another general meeting of the members of the German Re presentative Assemblies." The resolution was supported by Dr. Loewe, of Berlin, and was adopted by a large majority after speeches from Herren Moritz and Mohl of Stutt gird ; Herr Schulzedelisch, of Berlin; Herr Prinz, of Prague, a member of the Austrian Reichsrath ; Herr Haberkorn, of Saxony ; and Herr Wiggers, of Rendsburg. The members of the committee were then chosen. Among them were Herren Muller and Varrenhappe, Frankfort; Herr Lang of Wiesbaden; Herr Metz of Darmstadt ; Herren Benningsen and Mignet of Hanover; Herr Godefray, of Hamburg; Herr Wig gers, of Rendsburg ; Herren Rulsbower and Gross, of Vienna; Herren Unruh, Loewe, Schulze-Delitzech, Franz Duncker, Von Hornbeck, Twesten, and Von Sybel, of Prussia. The third resolution—perhaps the most important of the three—was carried amidst loud acclamations. It ran thus : " This meeting considers it a solemn duty to avow itself in favour of the right of the German nation to obtain at the earliest possible period the re-esta blishment of a common representative assembly (Parliament), which present circumstances render above all necessary." A cheer for Germany, proposed by the President, was heartily given by the 500 members who had come to the meeting from all parts of Germany, and vociferously repeated by the great numbers of spec tators crowding the galleries of the Ssalban. THE EXECUTION IN HOLSTEIN.' HAMBURG, DEC. 23, Evening. The military dispositions are being continually changed. At five this morning the Austrians assembled to march to Altona, where contrary orders were re ceived, and they are now to remain here for the present. Up to 9 p.m. the chief military post of Altona was still occupied by the Danish troops. THE SCHLESWIG-HOLSTEIN QUESTION, FRANKFORT, I)Ec. 23 (Evening). An extraordinary sitting of the Federal Diet has resolved, upon the urgent demand of Bavaria, to request the committees upon Schleswig-liolstein to come to a resolution on ithe BUCCCEdiOO qu estion as early as possible. FRANCE BOURSE, Dec. 23.—The market continues in the same state of inaction, but prices are well main- L 1,561,277 Being an increase of £303,309 as compared with the previous return, and a decrease of £88,855 when compared with the corresponding period of last year. PLYMOUTH, Dee. 22.—The Saxon, taken off Pen. guin Island by the Vanderbilt, was supposed to have on board the cargo of the Conrad, captured by the Alabama, and renamed Tuscaloosa, or of the Sea Bride. The vessel with her crew had not reached Table Bay ; her mate was re ported to have met with his death, but it was not known by what means. The Vanderbilt appropriated 250 tons of coal on Penguin Island belonging to a firm at Cape Town. She was refused coal by the authorities at Table Bay, consequent on her having coaled within three months at St. Helena, Simon's Bay, and Mauritius. She boarded a coasting ves sel on the 4th Nov., examined her papers and cargo, and then steered for Angra Pequena. Her Majesty's ship Valo rous was then sent to protect any British property, and re turned with the news of the capture of the Saxon. Cape Town, Nov. 23.—The captain of the Alabama sold the Sea Bride and the cargo of the Conrad. The former, it appears, was delivered at Saldanha Bay, and a rendezvous made at Angra Pequina; and it is understood that some part of the cargoes must have been landed at that place, or at Penguin Island, close by. It is said that a vessel had loaded and sailed from Penguin Island with part of the Conrad's cargo before the capture of the Saxon. Tne Isabella, the vessel that has on board the crew of the licitly, has passed Ichaboe to go to Hottentot's Bay to fill up with cargo for that place. The axon was sent away for New York in charge of the prise crew on the 2d November. TOWNLEY IN THE CONDEMNED CELL.—The Rev. C. R. Gordon, who had been sent for specially to visit this unfortunate culprit, thus writes of his state of mind :—" The conclusion to which I have come con cerning him, and that, too, after lengthened interviews, is, that the criminal is not a responsible agent. Again and again he has expressed delight that his life is to be taken. His manner at times is decidedly maniacal ; he rolls his eyes, his countenance flushes unusually, and he talks incoherently. At other periods he is as gentle as a child, and appreciates kindness. When sitting in his cell with him last Monday, his manner quite alarmed me, and but for the presence of another I should imme diately have called in the two warders who are constantly with him. He justifies murder without giving a reason. He contradicts himself repeatedly, acknowledges at one time what he denies another. It is a useless effort to endeavour to instruct him in religion, for he has no mental capacity to receive it. His conduct from the time of his committing; the awful crime for which ho is now doomed is in keeping with this. When asked in his calm moments how he could ever have brought himself to commit it, he answers, All was dark before my eyes ; I don't know anything about it.' Much as the death of the victim is to be deplored, I say it would be more horrid still if an irresponsible agent now were to be taken to the gallows. According to Blackstone's Commentaries,' this is a suffi cient cause to arrest the capital sentence. It is alike con sistent with humanity as with justice, that a further medi cal examination should be made before the law is allowed to take its course. It would suggest, also, that the prison officers be examined. There are other rea sons which it appears to me might be urged in his behalf, but on this it is now unnecessary to enter. I have given a stern, impartial, and conscientious consideration of his con dition, and I can come to no other conclusion than that which I have now expressed." PERMEABILITY OF IRON.—Our readers may re collect our having, some months ago, mentioned certain experiments made by MM. H. Sainte-Claire De vine and Troost, from which it appeared that, by a kind of endosmosis scarcely to be suspected in the case of a metal, hydrogen would pass through the pores of a platinum tube, Last week, the Academy of Sciences received from them a new paper, in which they announce a similar property in iron. The great difficulty was, to find a tube answering to the various conditions required for the experiment. The best iron to be found in the market might still be open to some objection, since in point of fact it is a mere sponge flattened by a hammer, like common platinum. They succeeded at length, through the kindness of a friend, in obtaining a tube of cast steel containing so little carbon that it did not admit of being tempered. It was in reality rather iron than steel, and so soft that it was drawn into a tube without heating or sole dering, though its sides were of a thickness of from three to four millimetres. To the ends of this tube two other tubes of a much smaller diameter, and of copper, were soldered with silver; the whole was then introduced into an open porcelain tube, which was put into a furnace ; a glass tube luted to one end, established a communication with an apparatus gene rating hydrogen completely deprived of atmospheric air; while at the other end, another glass tube, bent at right angles, dipped into a mercury bath, its vertical branch being 80 centimetres long. For the space of eight or ten hours a current of hydrogen was driven through the apparatus, which was maintained at a high temperature, so as to exhaust the action of the hydrogen on the sides of the iron tube, and to drive away all the atmospheric air, as the moisture eoutained in the tube, or likely to be•pro duced there. This done, the communication between the iron tube and the hydrogen apparatus was cut off by melting down the glass tube by the aid of the blow-pipe. No sooner was this effected, than the mercury, no longer kept down by the stream of hydrogen, yielded to the pressure of the air, and rose in the vertical glass tube to the height of 740 millimetres, or very nearly the usual barometrical height. This woiulte vat have happened had there not been a nearly cony e e n sw a in cuum in the tube the instant the supple' of 113 : , d , r ). t u pplied cut off. But what had become of the 119( 1 ,3 T e e, before ? There is but one explanation _P°thse hi namely, atmosphere, that notwithstanding the pressure the the pores of the the hydrogen has passed thbreou is a most powerful instru ment into a furnace steel tube. Hence an iron Base", where there are reducinigt BlLLs.—Yesterday was h hydrogen. printed copies of all private ment for carrying o p ff it a i l vAitTi:f DEPOSIT 0F the last day for tho &pas bills for the nest session,. , ade, where plan s were requ i red el:Ph:t lodged. The number far exceeded the THE N E W SOUTH WALES EUSIIRANGERS.—The Sydney Illornzny Herald gives an accoun t o f the ' i ati h eßoard ofl fi ve notorious bushrangers, Gilbert, Ben Hall, Burke, Vane, and 0 Meally, entering Mr. Rothery's house, at Limestone Creek, just as that gentleman was sitting down to dinner. They handcuffed him and ate his dinner, call ing for cham pagne. After dinner they played the p i ano • forte, and, before leaving, tried two or three horses, so as to select the best. Mr. nothety is a magistrate of the colony, and en extenqive squatter in the neighbourhood of Carcoar. AGENTS REQUIRED. HE ROYAL INSURANCE COMPANY is I _lll._ prepared to entertain applications for Agency. Appoint ments from gentlem , n havin g command of Fire, and Life Business. Roal ha , 4 always been conspi cuo us for its liberality and The promp y titude in the settlement of claims. Its annual Income is now over ................... £500,101 And its funds in hand exceed ..................... T ra nsfers of Policies from other Companies receiv ed with- Dut charge for Policy, whatever t he amount. B. JOHNSTON, Secretary. Address, JOH N Royal Insurance Company, 29, Lombard-street. BONNET'S SILKS A LYON. --very Article of commerce takes its title either from the inventor or `manufacturer, and the more perfect the production the eater is the credit which attaches to the originator. g BONNET'S SILKS are said to be incapable of identifica tion in E ng land; but the fallacy of such an assertion is ex pos d by th e very trade mark of the firm, as exhibited by Messra. JAY, of Regent-street. TI T , following interwoven mark may be seen at the end of eac h . pieee Manufacture de C. J. Bc,nnet et Cie., a Lyon 4 Ito urieux. Weer gLaranteed. FNMILY NIOUR\ING.—Messrs. JAY would respectfully announce that great economy is effected by purctia,mg, Mourning at their establishment, 2 , ,7 and 249, R t.(ir ENT-STREET, their Stock of FAMILY MOURNING being the largest in Eur. pe. Though Messrs. Jay professedly keep the best articles for Mourning and Halt- Mourning—at all times the cheapest —they supply a Complete Suit of Domestic Mourning for 2 , guineas. MOURNEsiG COSTUME of every description is kept Wady blade, and can be forwarded in town or country at a moment's notice. The most reasonable prices are charged, and wear of every article is guaranteed. THE LONDON GENERAL MOURNING WAREHOUSE, Regent-street (next the CLrcus). JAYS'. ENGLAND'S CONGRESS, in the CHRIST3IA• 4 DOUBLE NUMBErt. of FUN, on WiDNESDAY. One Penny. ROYAL ENGLISH OPERA, COVENT-GARDEN. Under the Management of Miss Louisa Fyne and Mr. W. Harrison. On BOXING NIGHT (Saturday, Dec. 26), to commence With the second Act of Balfe's popular opera, THE BOHEMIAN GIRL. After which, a Grand Christmas Pantomime, oft a scale of unprecedented ma4niticence, Entitled HARLEQUIN ST. GEORGE AND THE DILAGO'N. Doors open at half-past Six—jommence at „9.4 wen. ITIIIEA'FRE ROYAL BR U R Y-TA AN E. JR- Managers, Messrs. Edmond Falconer and, F. B. Chatterton. On BOXING NIGHT , D ec. 26. the Farce acy, Adelson, of A R OLAND FOR AN OLIVER. Mes..rs. Walter I. G. B e lmore, the Misses Ife,th, B. Leclercq, Murray. To conclude with the new Grand Christmas Comic Panto rnimo of SINBAD THE SAILOR H. or. The Seven Wonders of th, World. Clowns, Messrs. H. Bolen° and C. L aur i , Harlequins, Messrs. J. Cormac dS. Saville ; Pantaloons' Messrs. W. A. Barnes and J. motis ; Columbines, .3 ladaree . lioleno and Misses Guhniss. en from 10 till 5 ch P r ices as usual. Bo x Office opi! 3 '. —_____ R 0 YA L LY(IE U NI T HEATRE. Under t h e Sole Ma.nagement of Mr. Fechter. ' A by . :ete e a c. te , d B, B EL DE Ito 7110 (a Triumphant Suc 2 c 6 e , s m s) O w N il D l on tioXING NIGHT, saturday. Dee. i ery Even i ng during the Week. and Ev “ ox - ING NIGHT, the performance will commence with N c nr and Original Farce, entitled THE Ii LOST commence 11. Withlicombe, Shore, Garden, Charles Collett d r lan e,s - s. Moed; N ti s ses Percy, Pauline Leaereq, Wood, .311 7 5. Lee, an d taliss E. Lavenu. After which, at Eight o'clock, BEL DFIMNIO Love i n Twelve Tableaux, t a k en from StendliaPs''' a "Italian Story, Chronicle ," by 31r. John BrougHtm. Principal elarac ter by Mr. Fechrer, supported by Messrs. Jordan, Charles, B n(i r ugh , m, Emery, liaymo Moreland, Smith, Clifford, Collet, Sims ; Miss Kate Terry, E. Lavenu, Airs. Lee, and bliss Elsworthy. The Public are entreated to take notice that No Charge is made to the occupants of Boxes, Box-places, or Stalls, either for play bus or for the safe keeping of hat- and cloaks, and toar the attendants in all parts of the house are forbidden to receive any gratuities whatever. Box-otlice open daily from 11 to 5. Commence at 7. THEATRE ROYAL H AY NI ARKET.- Sole Lessee and Manager, Mr, Buckstone. BOXING .A 1 G T , OUR AMERICAN COUSIN : Messrs. Sothern, Buckstone, Chinpeniale, Braid, Gordon, Rogers, Clark, Cullentord, &c. ; Mesdames Angel, Snowden, Terry, Lindley, Hill, &c After which, KING ARTHUR • or The Days and Knights of the Round fable. Messrs. Clifpnendalp, Compton. Braid, Clark, Rogers, Tilbury, &c. ; Mesdames L. Keeley, Brough, Wright, Terry, Lindley, Rogers, &c. Commence at 7. ROYAL ST. JAMES'S THEATRE. under the Mana , rement of Mr. B. WEBSTER, will OPEN on BOXING NIGHT. —Amongst the artists engaged are Mr. Benjamin Webster, Mr. J. L. Toole, Mr. Paul Bedford, and Mr Cha-les . - vlathews; Mrs. Stirling, Mrs. Frank Mathews, Miss Cottrell, Miss Fanny Josephs, Miss Wentworth, and Mrs. La -.ries Mathews. On BOXING NIGHT, the new Comic Drama of the HEN AND CHICKENS : Mrs. Stirling in her original character. Atter which, a Comical Conglomemtive Christmas Absur dity, by Henry J Byron, Esq., and entitled 1861; or, THE SEN. , AT lONS OF TILL PAST SEASON, with a Shameful Revelation of Lad/ Somebody's Secret. New Scenery by Danson aud Sons. Appointments by Mr. Ireland. Music by M. Wallerstein. Principal characters by Mt. J. L. Toole, Mr. Paul Bedford, Miss Cottrell, Miss Fanny Josephs, &c. And the BIRTHPLACE OF PODGERS : Mr. J. L. Toole in his original character. EW HEAT RE-ItO Y AL, ADELPI - 11.— SolP Pronrbator And Manaavr. Mr. B. 'Webster. THIS EVENING, THE PRETTY IInIZSEBREAK ER. 31e,srs. J. L. Toole. Paul Bedford, and Miss Woolgar. At 8, the New Drama of LEAH : Bth wec,: of Miss Bate man, supported by .31ssrs.Arthur Stirlinz, R. Phillips, Bil lington, Stuart, Stephenson, 1 - Antrne; _Kiss E. Simms, and 31rs. B iiiin ;ten. To conclude with ICI ON PARLE FRANCAIS. Mr. J. L. Toole. . Commence at 7. LEAH. -EVERY NIGHT. MISS BATEMAN.-LEAH.-THIS EVENING, the 71st appearance of the great Trade Actress, Miss BATEMAN, in the character of LEAH. In consequence of the unbounded success with which Miss Bateman's imperso nation of the priEcipal character in the new Five Act Drama of LEAH has been attended. Mr Webster begs to announce that it will be performed EVERY EVENING until further notice. THE CRAWLEY COURT-MARTIAL. The finding of the court-martial, held under the Presidency of General -Sir G. Wetherall, K.C.8., for the trial of the charges against Lieut.-Colonel Crawley, was yesterday submitted to the Queen, and received the Royal approval. The decision is in the following terms : " The Court, having duly considered th e ev id ence in behalf of the prosecution, the evidence the the prison e r, pri soner has adduced, and what he has stated in his d w e i f t e h n r c e e g , a a r n d d to the fl p r r s o t s c e h c a u r t g o e r l s th re a p t l h y e , is of opi n i on , , Loieounts.: is Not Colonel G T u h i o l m ty a . s R. Crawley, of the 6th Bra g" With regard to the second charge the Court is of opinion that he, the prisoner, Lieut.-Colonel Thomas R. Crawley, is Not Guilty. " The Court does, therefore, fully and honourably acquit him, Li eu t.-C o l one l Thomas R.. Crawley, o f both the charges p re f erre d against him." To the findin g o f th e C ou rt were appended some unfavourable comments upon the manner in which particular witnesses for the prosecution had given their evidence at Aldershot. These expressions of censure, however, are not given to the public at present, as they will doubtless be embodied in the remarks of his Royal Highness the Commander-in- Chief upon the case generally. It is not considered likely that any further courts-martial will grow out of that which has just terminated; but it will probably be left to a Medical Board to determine under what circumstances the erasures and mis placed entries found their way into hospital books of the 6th Dragoons. Obviously there must be a sweeping alteration in the list of officers of that re giment. Such of the senior officers as are retained in the service will, doubtless, be moved into other regiments, and their places filled by exchange. Ex tensive importations will be made into the junior ranks. For such a course abundance of precedents may be found ; for instance, the case of the 10th Hussars and of the 85th Foot, which when recon structed took for its motto—"Aucto splendore resurgo," The Emperor's Speech in reply to the Address of the Senate. (From the French Correspondent of the Times.) The Emperor's speech in reply to the Address of the Senate, which appeared in the Moniteur, does not seem to be appreciated as much as it deserves. This is an incredulous and a suspicious generation. Here is the absolute Sovereign of a great country, with power to act as he pleases, and responsible only assuring the Senators, and t t o hr h o i u s g o h w t n h c e o na ntic t i h e e ne n e' ation, that the general good is the only motive of his conduct; that his anxious desire is that the great qu es ti ons o f solved by peac e f u l i n t ervent i on, a th d e op d t a in y that a conflict be tween European States is the worst of all wars— gshthaellildleea of his uncle, a civil war ; that he considers it an honour to pro mulgate a principle which will put an end to the prejudices of other times—that is to say, his great. scheme of a Congress would end in peace and pros perity to the world. Will it believed that these declarations fail in evoking a fee!ing of confidence and security P Nothing certainly can be nobler than the opinions put forth by his Majesty, and nothing more obvious than the truths he has enun ciated. If yuu seek to know why these noble moral sentiments produce no corresponding emotion in the public who read them, whatever they may have done in the 20 gentlemen who heard them, you are abruptly reminded of the Bordeaux declaration, that the "Empire was peace," and that no such blessing, at least for any considerrble period, fol.. lowed it. If you observe that this is somewhat captious and unjust, and that because wars followed after no long interval that celebrated declaration, you are met with an argument which I admit has some force. Granting that the real and the sole object of the Emperor in convoking a Congress is to dissipate the fears of other nations, to put an end to general uneasiness, to remove the great causes of discontent between Sovereigns and their sub jects by lightening the burdens which press so heavily upon them, the Emperor Napoleon, you are told, can to-morrow effect that great object without the encumbrance of a Congress, or without consulting anybody, but simply by a decree of five lines the Moniteur or dering the reduction of his armaments. And he can do this in perfect safety, because few know better than himself that no human being dreams of attacking France. If to-morrow it were an nounced that 200,000 men were to be released from military service, not a Power in Europe but would follow his example; and these five lines in the Moniteur would be far more effective than any sentiments he could utter, however paternal, patriarchal, and worthy of St. Vincent de Paul himself. Without in the least throwing a doubt on the sincerity of the Emperor, I cannot bat admit that there is something in that view of the matter. "Let us think of obstacles only to overcome them, and of incredulity only to confound it." If there are obstacles which it may not be easy to overcome, such a plan would spare him the labour of contend ing with them; and as for the incredulity which unhappily prevails, at least in Paris, the cutting down of overgrown armaments would convert the most hardened unbeliever. COL. CRAWLEY'S EXPENSES from the pending court martial:!have been variously estimated at £3,000 and £5,000. Mr. Vernon Harcourt's retainer was £5OO, and £5O is to be paid for every day he may be em ployeo. There is a rumour at the clubs that a subscription has already been commenced for the purpose of protecting him from lass. Lord Cardigan, it is said, has headed the list with £5OO. However that may be, there is no doubt that the news of Col. Crawley's acquittal would be the signal for the immediate opening of a subscription, the con tributors being of every class, sex, and rank, but chiefly military men.—. British Army Review. THE SIR HUGH MYDDELTON LIFEBOAT.--A few weeks ago two concerts wero given at Deacon's Music • hall, Clerkenwell, for the purpose of raising the cost of a lifeboat to bo called the Sir Hugh Myddeltou. The pro ceeds, in conjunction with some contributions collected in the locality, have realised £lOO, which a mount, as an in• stalment, was handed yesterday by the committee to the National Lifeboat Institution. Mr. Deacon, Mr, IL w . Underhill, Mr. Hele, and other friends, are very sanguine of realising during the present winter the full cost of a lifeboat and its transporting carriage, which amounts to £lOO. The Salut Public of Lyons states that the first day of winter, the 21st, has just flowa itself in that neigh bourhood by a slight fall of 800 W) Which welted as it reached the ground. - tained. Threes, for the Account, are now nnvaried at 66f. 40c. Mobilier have improved to 1,040 f. Railway Market firm, but little doing. The market closed as follows : 4t per Cents. 9l 05 Do. end 3 per Cents' Do. end month 66 40 Credit MobiHer 1037 50 Do. end month 1037 50 Bank Shares 3350 Credit k oncier 1212 50 Roman ' Italian Loan 7l 70 Do. end month 7l 55 New ditto Do. end month 7l 25 Russian. Austrian .. — Spanish Threes 52 Rome Debt Deferred rAYB. Cash. Account. 970 .. 970 -- 966 25 .. 965 Orleans Northern .... New ditto Lyons and Mediterranean New. ditto .. . Geneva S Althorn Western Eastern Sardinian .. 4OO ~ 400 Austrian Lorpbard North of Spain Saragossa 613 75 .. 615 Ditto to Barcelona 92.5 - .. 927 50 884 75 .. - - BANK RETURNS. The Bankers' Magazine furnishes the returns of the cir culation of the Private and Joint-Stock Banks in England and Wales for the four weeks ending Nov. 14. These returns, combined with the circulation of the Scotch and Irish Banks for the same period, and the average circula tion of the Bank of England for the four weeks ending the 11th Nov. (the nearest date furnished by their returns) will give the following results of the circulation of notes in the United Kingdom, when compared with the previous month : ct. 17, Nov. 14, 1863. 1863. Increase. (Decrease Bank of England 21,544,213 21,53,803 309,590' Private Banks 3,331,715 3,374,546 39,831 Joint-stock Banks I 3,013,250 2,98,644 14,400 Total in England 27,889,1;8 28,224,193 335,015 Scotland 4,338,360 4,526,702 168,342 Ireland 5,660,410 6,015,701 355,291 United Kingdom. 37,887,9181 38,766,596 878,648} BAIL" ~b Y 1 gin n HER MAJESTY. OSBORNE, Dec. 23. Their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales arrived at Osborne yesterday, on a visit to the Queen. His Royal Highness Prince Alfred returned with the Prince of Wales. The Judge Advocate-General had an audience of the Queen yesterday afternoon. The Marquis and Marchioness of Ailesbury are entertaining a small party of friends at Tottenham Park, Wilts. The Earl and Countess of Yarborough are enter taining a family party at Brocklesby, the seat of the family in Lincolnshire. The Earl Cowper, accompanied by the Countess and the Ladies Cowper, has arrived at Rome from Florence for the winter. The Earl and Countess of Morley, after s tour in the South of France, have arrived at Rome. The Earl and Countess de Grey have made arrangements to pass the Christalas in London. His lord ship is the only Secretary of State resident in town. The Countess of Chesterfield has left Grosvenor street to visit the Earl and Countess of Carnarvon, at Highclere Castle, near Newbury. The noble earl remains in town. The Earl Beauchamp, who has recently retired from the Life Guards, has gone to Gibraltar for the benefit of his health. The Earl of Powis is entertaining a large circle at Welshpool, the family seat in Wales. The Countess Dowager of Mount-Edgcumbe and Lady Ernestine Edgcumbe have arrived at Curzon-stree t, Mayfair. The marriage of the lion. Leonora C. Digbli second daughter of Lord and Lady Digby, with Mr. Alex" ander Baring, N.P., is fixed for the sth of next month. The Right Hon. T. Milner Gibson, left town yes terday for his seat, Theberton House, Saxmundham. The Right Hon. B. Disraeli and Mrs. Disraeli have left Grosvenor-gate for Hatfield House, on a visit to the Marquis and Marchioness of Salisbury. HEALTH OF THE P OPE. —A letter from Rome says the Pope is in excellent health, and his usual high spirits. His happy temperathent knows no depression. CARDINAL AVISEMAN.—A paragraph has appeared in some of the papers stating that Cardinal Wisenian'S health is so bad that he is likely to be removed from the position he holds, and to be succeeded by Dr. Manning. The best commentary on the report is that the Cardinal has undertaken to preach at St. Mary's, Moorfields, to-morrovr (Christmas) morning.—Times. WINDSOR CASTLE.—On Tuesday morning the Royal baron of beef was sent up to the Castle by Messrs. Bedbrough and Son. It was cut from a choice ox fed in the Windsor Great Park, under the direction of Major-General Seymour, deputy-renger, and charge O f Mr. G. Gravatt. This noble joint was placed before th e fire to roast at nine o'clock iu the morning and taken tip at four o'clock in the afternoon, the process of roasting occupying seven hours. It was sent from the Castle to e will s e r rj d eom a f n y at (Wednesday), ino7ttohgee thsieside e witha tablen d w tihn i l e l t bh f 0 00 r a m de i h hn e ega p ..dr r o i a n o c ur a i d: wp O oh s l b ec o r e r h n it e ti s y t s woodcock pie, until New Year's-day. Her Majesty ha ° given directions to the above Royal butchers to send, on New Year's-day, the customary Royal annual present of beef to the ex-Royal Family of France, at Claremont, con sisting of two handsome sirloins. EXETER HALL.—The " Creation" will be per" formed with a band and chorus of 700 performers, by th e National Choral Society, on Wednesday next. Principal soloists Madame Parepa, Mr. Sims Reeves, and Nr• Santley, Organist, Mr. John G. Boardman, The whole under the direction of Mr. G. W. Martin. THE LEGAL VACATION.—To-day (Thursday) the legal vacation for Christmas commences. In the comm on law offices business will be resumed on Wednesday, and 01 1 the 7th January in the Chancery offices. GOVERNMENT EMIGRATION.—The Government emigrant ship Peerless, 1,005 tons, Captain Thos. Flavin, belonging to Messrs. Dixon and Wynne, Liver' pool, and which sailed from the Mersey on the 23d of June last, arrived at Sydney, New South Wales, on the 23d of September, having on board 29 married couples, 131 single men, 131 single women, 21 boys, and 23 girls, between the ages of one and twelve, and 14 infants, numbering in all 378 souls, equal to 342 statute adults, under the care of Mr. Charles H. Graham, M.D., surgeon-superintendent, assisted by Mr. Thomas Hickey, schoolmaster, and Miss Dickson, matron. Six births and four deaths took place ore the voyage. SUBURBAN PARIS.—This poor artificial Paris, which hardly knows what the country really is, is clearly athirst for the country. I was amazed at the amount of traffic to the intermediate stations on one of the Versailles lines, and at the omnibus traffic again from seve ral of these. Yet the railway company actually gives no encouragement to return tickets (the price being simPlY double that of a single ticket), and to season-tickets 6° little that it is said not to be worth while taking them, tat' less one has to go to Paris every day, including Sundays. Still, dapper-looking brick houses are springing up on all sides. ;Brick; seldom stone. Whole fortunes are no vr being made out of the clay bottoms of old exhausted stone' pits, worth nothing before. A regular ring of brick is t hus ra pidly forming round the stone nucleus of old Paris, sod even in Paris streets brick houses are beginning to b e flit from rare, SALE OF JEWELS,—Vesterday Messrs. Deb o ham, Storr, and Sons dispersed by auction, at th el a Mart in Covent-garden, a remarkably choice and exten sil , collection of bijouterie, the chief portion belonging t t ° l , o lady of fashion. Among the more important lots wer e t o following :—Lot 673, a diamond collet necklace, of 6 2 1 ,0 e and lustrous stones, was knocked down for £425 ss. Lo t 683, a magnificent brilliant tiara, brought £234 19s. and 684, a necklace, of 130 oriental pearls, with emerald xi-o, diamond locket, £36 15s. Lot 687, a coloured gold 1) / 3 5 armlet, set with fine emeralds and brilliants, in cas e ' / i s . 14s. Lot 694, a pair of brilliant star ear - rings, £ 74 a n d Lot 695, a cluster brilliant pendant, with ruby ce ntre yla pear-shaped pearl drop, £72 9s, Lot 696, a brilliant h e or brooch, of nine splendid stones, the centre stone large—this choice ornament was knocked down, dteit:esa spirited competition, at £367 10s, Lot 697, a ina te t r ge brilliant full dress brooch, of beautiful design an d vf e tre, raanship, the centre stone of remarkable size and Ae.; surrounded by scrolls of brilliants, with ribbon tie p ence do £630. Lot 698, a superb brilliant, weighing 6 carats, 0 ' so ,, finest water, set as an ear-ring, £ l BO 12s. Lot 703, e l m ;0. nificent brilliant and pearl ring, £5B 16s. Lot 7/ 0 acorn pin, formed by a remarkably fine oriental pearl' •,g, cup of gold and diamonds, £ 2l . Lot 648 , a brilliant I ' l s o £47 15s 60. Lot 650, a pair of oriental pearl ear-rinns's. guineas. Lot 665, a brilliant heart necklette, 52 g uil lhef PHOTOGRAPHY. —lt is well known that 011 exercise of this art there is a certain waste of 00 owing to the nitrate of that metal, used for sensitising rot, plates. Various methods have been proposed for re-W .. , 00 ing the precious metal from the residues of the operattor and when it is considered that in some of the great Ph.° graphic establishments of Paris the waste am ounts t° ,:e 50 111 couple of hundred francs per month, it will be tal c& derstood that the question is one of some lnll3°.,rovelo: The method now employed is to add an excess of ; ea t ie nia to the solution of the nitrate, and then to The with a solution of ammoniacal chloride of conli e _ r : ide and latter is prepared by dissolving five parts of black. A. "^ fter d is ' four parts of copper filings in hydrochloric acid, ad d e d, solution, an excess of concentrated amrabolatiha is ich ha When it is required to extract silver from :d ammonia until been long in use, it is only necessary t h ° o 6 , o pper solution the oxide of silver is re-dissolved r l th t us reduced is washed then added in excess, the pure silvaefor the baths of hyposill' then dried and kept for use. li n g a little ammonia, an d phite, they are treated by first .eh the copper solution is added• then much water ; after w o h a t tand for two or three hours, thoo The mixture is then posited is washed and dried. 11/ ttdaetken not to add too much atuluou it4 th agreat deal and Wive) wi of water, testier, to dilute the faciently. Mr. Blairhas lately published to hod filtered, ti s case and a the) mustsi vbleeerf to let it stand au. di g e stions introduced by him into the process °f certain . Ile Photographs on paper with charcoal. getting P lays k solution an d weak of gelatine with a little ccauro°,a salt in it. When dry, the wrong side of the sheet . 7 paper on the surface of a wool laid onawashteeretforoaffew seconds, then et t damp blotting Pr; and lastly receives a coating of albumen preparea as follows. T ur a on a pane of glass, where the gelantised bllllO5 certain quantity of albumen (the white of an egg) 1 ) ! 3 _ 0 , little water and syrup, then add some colour, such as s o ietl o or lake, or indian ink reduced to powder, which is t an the general tint. Beat up the albumen into froth,is ,r P e, apply it with a brush. When the second coating put the sheet again upon water, then upon re a s s e r i : g blotting-paper, end equalise the moisture by 0 , 1 1 3., 4 , 10 01. with a sheet of dry paper. Now sift a little ch d ar i I {:tritaite -- powdered, over the allniminised online° ; e a 5011100 A equally with a soft brush, and then sensitised with 0 , , ic hec• of two parts of water, one of acetic acid, an . I 0. the ~cets mate of potash. Ore this lay the wrong side in f e s : era leave it there for half an hour ; then expose' ft . 1 : 660 , for the space of from sto 20 minutes. To desvoeft the P brush dip the sheet into cold water, then Pa, - " a te ligh ts ' diP f the surface : and if the charcoal ticks the s heet into warm water strengthened with acetic acid ° ammonia. The Academy of Sciences at its last sitting, elected gr' W. Laurence, of London, as its foreign correspondent Or the F eedon of Medicine and Surgery, in tile room a of late Sir Benjamin Brodie. The other candidates were and M. Simpson, of E dinbargb* Rokitansky, of Vienna, -..~.. X( The Veekl: rate of which This ii 81Irpri affairs on Tt Pear eZeee lion, securii rent ir basin, excluc has tj doubt terpri Ab( sank Th( this d Perio, extre At teleg Hea, T 1 ing We r & Cc Ba BIT