The Sun. — London, England, 1863-12-18 00:00:00

• ROYAL E NGL IST!. OPERA, COV 'ENT-GA/:DEN. Under the Mangm eent at 31 iss L ou isa Pyae and M r. W. Harr ;son. TINS EVENING, t or the 23d t ime, Balfe's new Opera, BLANCH Dl 4 NEV E JtS Miss Louisa Fyne, Miss Ana Hiles, miss Emma Heywood; Ntess rs.NV. ti. Weiss, Corri, DESERT A. Cook, A. d e Alm C. Ly al, J.lRou-;e, and W. Harrison. To conclude with the. Second .Act of THE FLOWER. Co ndu ctor, Mr. A. Mellon, Doors open at hal f-past Six--( 'ommence at Seven rirl EATRE R,OYAL DRURy_ LANE. Managers, Mes srs- - a E. Falconer nd F. B. Chatt er t on . THIS EVENING, he;- Majesty's Servants will perform the Farce of pLA _RT'S IN THE HIGHLANDS : charac t e rs by .j, Nc Alle, Mr. G. Weston, Mr. Warde, Mr. J. Marris ; Mrs. C. A lelville, and Miss Harfleur. Af rer which, Lord Byron's Choral Tragedy, MANFRED. assts, V helps,. Ryder, Ra yner, M-agreson, Ward, Spencer ; Miss Eburne.Misa E. Atk it son, Miss Leclercq, and Mrs. E. Falconer. Vocalists —Mis s Poole, Miss L itt er , Miss Cicely Not., Miss Heywood, and _lir. Swift. Vol-lowed by BEAUTY 0 R THE BEAST. Principal cha ractrs by Messrs. Addison,. G. F. tiesille, Parret, Spencer, and G. Westcn ; Mrs Edinun d Falconer and Miss K. Leelerq. THEATRE ROYAL HAY \I ARKET.- ole Lessee and Mai lager, Mr, Buckstone. THIS EVENING, USED UP. Messrs. Chas. Mathews, now, Clark, Braid, Gordon, Cullentord, &c. ; Mesdames yitzwilliam, Lindley, &c. Followed by THE GOLDEN FLEECE.. Messrs. Charles mathew4, Compton,Weathersby, &c. ;Mesdames C. Mathews, (, Keeley Griffith, &c. With CO )L AS A CUCUMBER. Mr. C. Mathews. And MY HUSBAND'S Gt.' OST. Commence at 7. riOYAI, LYCEUM THEATRE. it Under the Sole Management of Mr. Fechter. BEI, DE NIONIO (a Triumphant Success) will be repeated Eve:) , Evening until further notice. THIS EVENING, the Comedietta, by W. Gilbert, entitled UNCLE BABY: Mess - s. Widdicombe, J. G. Shore, Charles ; )digs P. Leclercq, and Carlotta Leclercq. After which, at Eight o'clock, BEL DEMONIO, a Love Story, in Twelve Tableaux, taken from Stendhal's " Italian Chronicle'," by Mr. John Brougham. Principal charac ter by Mr. Fechter, supported by Messrs. Jordan, Charles, Braugh,m, Emery, Raymond, Moreland, Smith, Clifford, Collett, Andrews, Sims ; Miss Kate Terry, E. LaYEDUC, 31ra. Lee, and at las Elsworthy. Doors open at half-past 6—commence at 7. ST. JAMES'S THEATRE-ROYAL, under new Management, will OPEN for the Winter Season on BOXING NIGH r. .1!1-4 fli.l_?,-R0 AL , AD ELPIII.— Ante Proorn:tor and Manager. M 7. B. Webster. THIS EVENING, THE P ItETTY cIOBSF.BREAN ER. Met.srs. J. L. Toole. Paul Bedford, and Miss Wool2 - ar. tB, the New Drama of LEAH : Bth weeic of Miss Bate man, supported by Messrs. A .r thur Stirlinz, IL Phillips, B i i_ linzton, Stuart, Stephenson, Eburrie; Miss H. Simms, an d Mrs. I3illingten. To conclude with ICI ON PAELE FRANCAIS. Mr. j. L. Toole. Commence at 7. LEAH. -EVE RY NIGHT, . riss EVENING, appe ,ance of the great T rag i c Actress, biles AI the 66th BATEMAN —LEAH.—THI S BA rEATAN, in the character of LEAH. In c , msequence of - the unbounded success with which 3 liss Bateman's imper.o nation of the priLeipai charac' er in the new Five Act Drama ot It has been attended. 3fr Webste begs to announce that it will be performed EVERY EVENING until further notice. ROYAL STRAND THEATRE. Manazer, Mr. W. IL Swanborough. THIS EVENING, MIRIAM'S CRIME. Messrs. Geo. noney, Parselle, Belford, Turner, Miss K. Saville, and Miss Mandel's. Followed by (22d time) PATIENT PENELOPE ; or, The Return of -Ulysses. Messrs. honey and Fenton ; Mesdames wanborough aad Simpson. After winch, MT 2.N . P.1V PLACE. Mr. A. Wood. Commence at 7. R OYAL SADLER'S-WELLS THEATRE. Manageress, Miss Marriott. THIS EVENING, Tlie, LADY OF LYONS. Claude, Mr. J. Stammers ; Pauline, Mi-s Marriott. Concluding with BELPHEGOR. Mr. D. H. Jones, Miss Blanche Stammers, and Miss Mandlebert. Box-office open from 11 to 4. THE THIRD EDITION OF " THE SUN,' Containing the Latest SPORTING INTELLIGENCE, San be had Every Evening of G. It. GLENIE, NEWS AGENT, No. 4, Connaught-terrace, Hyde-park. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. THIS DiY.—Morning, 7h. 43m.—Afternoon, Bh. 14m sio-goaßow.-Monaing, Bh. 50m.—Aftarnoon, 9h. 25m. The Weather—Sun Office, Dec. 18, 1863. THERMOMETER. This day at Two o'clock 4S Barometer-29.84. Wind—N.-W.; moderate, and fine. - T -, • :VZ, t r - 3 •4 , SI 44M LONDON, FRIDAY, DEC. 18, 1863. MEADE'S retreat again across the Rapidan is cer tainly a bit of an anti-climax. The more credulous believers in Federal boastfulness were on the tiptoe of expectation thatLEE and his lieutenants were upon the eve of being signally if not finally worsted— when lo ! and behold, like the King of FRANCE with his forty thousand men, Ge•aeral MEADE,with thrice that number, marches, if not up a hill, across the Rapidan—only, with all the pride, pomp, and cir cumstance of glorious wear, as creditably as he could possibly perform the manoeuvre, to march back again ! Perhaps the next time that the Northerners are chaunting premature pecans of triumph, no na. Atter how loudly—we would now suggest that—p arhaps the next time the m re in fatuated anaon g the still surviving hangers-on to faint ghost 'of a belief in the possibility of Federal truthfulness, - will moderate their credence and delay, for their a little 'while longer at least, the expression of inavilicit confidence in the tidings bruited to Europe fr om New York—tidings often so auspi cious f or 'ae North, and so disastrous for the South ! -y et somehow invariably coming forth in t t h h o e end jest joefetNi,,lthe rteeisely vice versa ! Seen through rn observation the news from the actual seat of war has rather more than once come to us just exactly inverted. The most bril liant succv ss, has turaeaezt almost a , edet fa il always, l t l o . a dead_ in c ertainty, about the Ncr magin able. The Co mman der -in.nv,; to con e qur everything, ha,-"LeA. who has gone forth e tmae back, figuratively speaking, with his spurs ahorn "la and his baton of command ig nominiously br o k en i twain. And while those successive Commander, -in -chief of the Northern army have contrived thas, lti lamentably rapid succession, to come like shadows, so to depart—the Southern Comm ande r-in-chief has continued uninterruptedly in his Nat of an_ preme responsibility, with his reputation steadily advancing, and enlarging—the prestige of aict ery, ever his, for hitherto LEE, in the field, has n ever upon one single occasion been defeated. 1J to the present period he has so played the terrible game of war, though confronted from first to last by immensely superior forces numerically, that, at his own pleasure, ho has advanced, or he has retreated ! Often advancing at the pas de charge never retreating, as his foes have done, quite undeniably more than once, in panic flight. The heaviest blow, indeed, that has yet befallen the cause of the Confederates—who does not know it ? Nut the discomfiture very recently of General . 2RAGG, a Guneral that LEE, unaccustomed to the bare notion of Southern discomfiture, I P.s, almost as a matter of course, at once %aperseded. No—that heaviest blow of all Tat dealt at the cau3c of the Confederates, was, not the bl'ilking of Gen era l B RAGG ' S am bi t i on ! io was that blow dealt inadvertently by a Souther n h and, that fatal blow which struck dow n ' e _ e.veral months back, the noblest, the mo st chivalrou s and enterprising among that group of paladins the lieutenants of LEE. Bat happily for the the cause of the South, LEE i s there still in the chief command in the f u ll v igour of hi s great Powers as a master of the deadly art of War, as perhaps th e greatest soldier of the age. altogether And there still around him are men like LONGSTREET, and JOHNSTON, end BEAUREGARO, aed others in many ways worthy of being brothers in arm s o f brave, dead and gone STONEWALL JAC KSON — every one of them, as unhesit atin g ly as JACKS ON was throughout his brief but brilliant and m o m et career, es he was, in simple truth , ' u p to t lae moment of his death, ready to obey implicitly the orders, the slightest hint, of the great Confederate Commander in-Chief. Another leviathan of the navy has just been launched. The Minotaur is the largest and best protected iron-plated frigate in the service. Her tonnage exceeds that of the Warrior and Black Prince by upwards of eight hundred tons. She is encased with five and a-half inch iron plates from below her water line to her bulwarks; she lies low in the water; and will be armed with some fifty formidable guns. We do not sup ' pose that any maritime nation can produce a vessel that could try conclusions with her on the high seas with any prospect of success, but here the prestige of invincibility ceases. A vessel of the Minotaur class may be invincible when she can get at her foes, bat the great draught which her inor dinate size necessitates renders her powerless against coast defences as an aggressive power, and likewise useless for intercepting an invading force conveyed in ships of light draught of water. It may be con tended that the Minotaur, and her two sisters nearly ready for launching, will, by the great power of their engines, command a speed which will enable them to intercept any hostile fleet while yet in deep water. But is England to rest contented to act on the defensive only ? Hitherto it has been our boast to carry the war into the enemy's country, and we should like the Lords of the Admiralty tell us why t h e y are building ships which will be useless :or purposes of aggression, excepting through the agency of their boats or tenders. Why has the Administration taken such a mania for defending ships ? The Armstrong guns and the Minie rifles have not made the artily less popular, and the youth of England enlist and " march to death with mili tary glee," as freely and as confidently as in the da, sof old " Brown Bess." Why are our seamen to be taken such unwonted care of? Cutlass and pistol have hitherto been the order of the day in our navy, and the cry of " boarders away" has been considered the conclusion of the action. Are we now to relinquish the prestige which three centuries of indomitable courage have given to the nation and follow the example of the Americans by trying conclusions with our enemies at five miles range, with what happy results the siege of Charleston may demonstrate. Again, for the sake of argument, let us suppose that our leviathans are manageable and handy, and that they can carry guns weighing twenty or even thirty tons. Of what avail would they be if exposed to the fire of the forts of Cron stadt armed with six or eight hundred pounder Blakely guns such as that gentleman is at present manufacturing for the Russian Government. Hav ing been neglected and rebuffed by the Government of his own country, he has been compelled in self defence to seek that support from a foreign Power which petty favouritism and underhand influence prevented him from receiving in his own country. Last week the first trial at long range with the Armstrong six hundred pounder took place at Shoe buryness. One shell only struck the target, but that one was sufficient virtually to demolish it ; the range was only 1,000 yards, but there can be no doubt that the effect of the shot would have been as destructive at 2,000 yards as it was at the shorter distance. In fact a six hundred pound shell would have passed through both sides of the :Nino• taur, scattering death and destruction on its way— the heavy plates and backing only serving to aggra vate the evil. The question, therefore, resolves itself into this—if armour plating cannot protect our ships from the impact of heavy artillery, why should they be encumbered wi..h it ? Speed is of more advantage to a cruiser than invulnerability, and by dispensing with armour-plating she may carry heavier guns and more powerful engines. We as yet know but little to what extent artillery range or calibre may be carried, but we do know how far we may load our ships. Sir WILLIAM ARMSTRONG'S 600-pounder cannot be fired three, or at most four, times in the hour, and then, even when the dis tance isknown and the angle of elevation calculated, two or three shots are thrown away before the target is struck. When we consider that each of these shells costa the country some £45, economists cannot be blamed if they advocate reserving such monsters for coast defences, where by the adapta tion of hydraulic cranes or steam power these heavy guns might be served as expeditiously and as truly as 18 pounders on board a ship. There can be no doubt that the Armstrong shells are unrivalled as destructive missiles, but the complication of their construction and the consequent expense naturally lead us to question the expediency of their uni versal employment, especially when we find that BLAK.ELY'S or WHITWORTH'S muzzle-loading guns have the same accuracy and penetrating powers without the same extravagant outlay in projectiles. For field service or boat guns we believe that the ARMSTRONG breech-loading g tins are unequalled,but for heavy ordnance we would rather place reliance on those of BLAKELY or WHITWORTH, and let practical utility have precedence of theory. We believe that our navy is in as high a state of effi ciency as that of any other Power, but we have yet to learn that the supremacy of Britain depends on her ships rather than on her seamen. Hitherto the chief demonstrations that have taken place throughout the country seem to have been held by the Conservatives. It is time then that the Liberals should have their say, and hence the meet ing at Yorkshire is appropriate, as affording an op portunity for retort and reprisal. Audi alteram partem is a well known adage, and a very good one ; it expresses the sentiments that always actuate the people of this country, and form the chief reason why we carry on affairs so much more quietly than our neighbours, and yet possess so much more in trinsic freedom than they whose excited demeanour an d vehement language might at first sight lead a '4130144d observer to think otherwise. Mr. ;set:a Evoke at som e l eng th, an d appeare d t o g i ve satisfaction to his auditors. In the first place, he commenced his speech in a somewhat novel mode the for H a o L u i s h e er and he did h a r a ngue. Instead o against 0 4 1 1 member,tor by sounding the praises of Lords. too was the toast he pro posed, %%ti t le justice to it, in his earnest endeavouring to put class h often. the practice among w-l3r n to particularise might be class, as from te , fo j r a m dg er in s, g d n a o n ta g b e l r e ou ß s most satisfactory to notice recent experience, g it is meet with such Public men doing IR ' llt jes, and remove Really yth we ewasyo doften grievances so t a h lW ei a r y b s est to prejudices. tirades against authorities, and other fiercely expressed, that the originality of this ais_ course is as welcome as is style. Mr. is. te es in beginning adverted to the great advantages We derived fiom the mixed form of government t — rit lil e j o lt . , Lords, and Commons. This may seem a servance, but surely this is the very time of which to take cognisance of the benefits thereby deduced. It is long since all who took large views on political subjects concurred in the opinion that no liberties could flourish under despotism, and that the exist ence of absolutism was incompatible with the growth of any lasting prosperity in a land ; but recently some other notions must have been subverted. Many well meaning innividuals entertained the idea that repub icaniem was the must correct form ct government. The deplorable events that have taken place beyond the atlantic must have evi- THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 18, 186'3, t l t but hem those from dwehnoceeed obtuseness se o fallacyess or rf obstinacy this t opinion nay pr prevent a e n seeing clearly or being convinced against their will. The character of the House of Lords was vindicated in this address from any aspersions that may have been cast upon it for inertness and inaptitude. There was great truth in the remark, that "Many a time and oft had the Peers of England prevented the liberties of the people from being swallowed up by the prerogatives of the Crown." From the barons of Runnymede downwards there has been many a warlike act and many a worthy deed that has lent lustre to its annals, and illustrated graceZully the motto, .Noblesse oblige. Mr. BAINES was very happy in his efforts to exemplify the particular character of our aristocracy as contradistieguisbed to some others, In some coun tries there were ranks which were quite separated from the rest of the community who could never ascend to their elevation. In England all this was very different, the sons of peers mingled with the people and were their representatives, while many Commoners were raised to the Peerage. A fitting compliment may be paid to the " youngest member of that assembly," Mr. MONCKTON MILNES. That noble lord furnished a good instance of what Mr. BAINES sought to convey, for he was essentially a man of the people as it were, identifying himself with institutions, and being connected with many popular undertakings which perhaps tended more to conduce to his reputation than his having a name that was " inscribed upon bright pages in all litera ture, and honourably known in the House of Com mons." Without being of the highest order of those who are admitted to " the first benches of the Upper School," Lord HOUGHTON is a fair specimen of the class who are constantly received into the high places of the community, and these prove them-. selves of signal service to the ranks they have left, by inspiring fresh and new energy among those they join. Thus the continual admixture of classes that forms the best security and affords the surest guarantee against the overgrowth of prejudices and the danger of corrupt innovations of power like those whose enormity occasioned the great French Revo lution. After passing these eulogiums, Mr. BAINES concluded by giving the upper branch of the legislature a piece of good advice. He told them not to impede the march of progress in the Commons, and that as they cheerfully gave to them their rights of many centuries, in their turn they demanded their privilege of a fair representation, It is to be hoped that this salutary warning will not be disregarded when the time comes to test its efficacy, and there seems some truth in the idea that the extension of the franchise will not meet with any very decided opposition in the Lords, for if the subject be successful in its discussion in the Com mons the chief obstacle will be overcome, and in deed, judging from vast experience, it is most likely that the most overwhelming obstacles will be en countered on Mr. BAINES'S side of the house, whether it be in power or in the cold shade of opposition. Lord HOUGHTON made some appro priate remarks on the occasion, and was very well received. He observed that he would indeed regret his change of position did he imagine he had entered an assembly which precluded him from sympa thising with the popular cause. Lord HOUGHTON'S gratulations as to the achievements of his party were, however, more ingenious than founded on fact, for it would be difficult to prove what the chiefs of the Liberal ranks have done to create the prosperity of the country. They have always been active enough when their opponents were in power ; but when they returned to office they emulated the renown of those sovereigns of th 3 Merovingia dynasty who have been immortalised in history as Rois Faineants. This meeting appears to have been remarkable for more energy than is usuahy appa rent in the meetings of the Liberal party. Doubt less, if Lord HOUGHTON and Mr. BAINES found more kindred spirits and more congenial natures among their friends, affairs would not be in the tame, quiescent state which now distinguishes them, and many a triumph that now graces their oppo nents might have been the pride and boast of their ovrn party. Bombardment and Capture of Osaca by the Daimios. We (illanchester Examiner) have been favoured by a Stcckport gentleman, whose brother is at Yokohama, with the following " Extra" of the Japan Commercial News, containing intelligence Which has not previously been published in this country. The dispatch is headed— " K inagawa, Oct. 10, 1863, 3 p.m. " Authentic information has just been received of the bombardment and capture of the Imperial city of Osaca (and some say of Kioto also) by the Daimios. The loss to the Tycoon's party is consi derable, including the two governors of the city and several commanding officers. "The Daimios are said to be advancing an army of 50,000 men for the capture of Yokohama. It is certain that they have expressed their intention, or, as others say, sworn to do so ; and that an attack on this place may be expected on the Bth of the next month—whether Japanese or foreig❑ date is meant we cannot tell. "The Tycoon's government proposes to erect at once three forts or batteries at Yokohama, for the protection of the settlement. " Her Britannic Majesty's steamer Racehorse leaves at 1 p.m. to-morrow for Nagasaki, and the Algerine for Shanghae at the same time.' FIRE AT WINDSOR CASTLE.—Yesterday morning between 1 and 2 o'clock, policeman Money and Sil ver, who were on duty in Thames •street, observed extensive flames of fire issuing from the Brunswick Tower and as cending high above the Castle. These men promptly gave information to the police on duty at the Porter's Lodge of the servant's entrance, also to the Hon. General Grey and Capt. Ellis, the officer of the Castle guard. They imme diately turned out the soldiers, and ordered a party of theta to proceed to the infantry barracks for the barrack engine In the meantime, Mr. Walker, inspector of the Castle police, caused the engine at the Castle to be brought to the Terrace, and Inspector Eager had the Windsor parish engine also quickly brought to the spot. Mr. Turn bull, the architect, Mr. Averlanti, the head cook, Mr. Frankling, engineer, and Mr, Seabrook, storekeeper, with others, ascended the top of the tower, and as there was an excellent supply of water laid on in all parts of the Castle, which is brought from the reservoir at Cranbourne, they had extinguished the fire by the time the engines arrived. It will be remembered that the Brunswick Tower, which adjoins the Prince of Wales's Tower, was on fire some time since. The day before some plumbers and glaziers had been working on the roof of the Brunswick Tower, and intended to remove the shavings and rubbish. After the Queen had loft for Osborne they had piled it up against one of the chim neys, and it is conjectured that a spark from the chimney must have fallen on the rubbish and caused it to ignite. The damage is inconsiderable. A TROLL OF THE JoKUL, (OR ICE MOUNTAIN) Two men who were out mosslithering camped one night on the fells ; one of them lay awake, and saw the other rise in his sleep and stalk out of the tent. He went so fast that the making man could not overtake him, and he bent up towards the Jiikul. The pursuer stopped at the foot of the Jaitul, tor on a peak of it sat a giant hag, and now stretching her hands straight forwards, and now drawing them back to her breast, she drew the sleeper into her arms. The next year this man came down to some moss -gatherers on the same spot; he was very moudy, eo that they hardly got a word from him ; they asked whom he believed in, and he said, in God. The second year he stood in awe of him —vet they asked whom he came again —by this time he had grown so like a Troll 14 t1 : 1 4 a i t ev th ed ey in, but ho gave the m no answer. The third year he came on" more at ; las he was now a d ownr i ght Troll, and excee ding grim ; t Borne one d are d to ask whom he b e li e ved in, and he said, , rrunt I Trunt I and the Trolls in the fell," and thereupon he disappeared. He was never seen again; but they did not go to gather moss there for many years after, LATEST INTELLIGENCE. (REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.) CALCUTTA, CHINA, AND AUSTRALIAN MAILS, SOUTHAMPTON, DEC. 17. The Peninsular and Oriental Co.'s steamer Pera, with the heavy portion of the above mails, has ar rived here, She brings 72 passengers and 1,532 packages of cargo, including raw silk value £lOO,OOO sterling. Off Malta she experienced a heavy gale with tremendous rain, which detained her 25 hours; also a strong north-easterly gale from Ushant up the Channel. On the 11th she spoke the British bark Selina. The Ripon left Gibraltar for the East on the 10th inst. GIBRALTAR, Nov. 13 . —Exchange on London, 90 days, 501; Paris, 5.25 ;Marseilles, 5.27 to 5.28 ; Madrid, 7 days, per cent. premium. FRANCE. PARIS, DEC. 18. _ _ The bulletin of the Moniteur this morning, speaking of the proclamation of the King of Den mark recalling soldiers on furlough, says : " Private despatches, however, continue to affirm that Denmark will not oppose in arms the Federal troops undertaking the execution. She will only continue to occupy the tete-de•pont of Rendsburg and Frederickstadt, which are upon Holstein ter ritory," BOURSE, Dec. 17.—N0 improvement has taken place in the tone of the market, which still remains very heavy. In the little business done prices have receded, Threes, for the Account, being now at 66f. 40c. Mobilier are also slightly lower. Railway Market also dull. The market continued weak to the close, and left off as follows :—. 41 per Cents. 94 30 Do. end month 3 per Cents Do. end month 66 25 Credit Mobilier 1027 50 Do, end month 1027 50 Bank Shares 3360 Credit Foncier l2lO Roman RA ILI ( Italian L0a n ...... 71 50 Do. end month.... 71 45 New ditto ........ Do. end month.... Russian ........ Austrian ........ 82 Spanish Threes.... 52 5C', Flame Debt ...... 51 50 'Deferred ........ 471 rAYB. Cash. Account. 970 970 9G5 970 Orleans Northern New ditto Lyons and Mediterranean 927 50 .. 928 75 New. ditto .. 880 Geneva 498 75 S Althorn 682 50 .. 682 50 Western Eastern „ 475 .. 473 75 Sardinian 395 .. 392 50 Austrian ...... Lombard = 522 50 .. 521 25 North of Spain Saragossa 615 617 50 Ditto to Barcelona 300 .. 302 50 LITERATURE, Sir E. Bulwer Lytton's New Work. Caxtoniana : A Series of Ebsays on Life, Litera ture, and Manners. By Sir E. Bulwer Lytton, Bart., Author of "The Caxtons," &e. Two vols. Blackwood and Sons. Although far from being Sir Edward Lytton's greatest work, Caxtoniana is certainly, in many respects, among all his numerous and various writ ings, to our thinking, one of the most remarkable. In some respects, even, we would go so far as to say, it is, among them all, in our own estimation, almost the most remarkable. During the lengthened in terval within which these seven-and-twenty Essays upon Life, Literature, and Manners, were being pub lisped by instalments in the pages of Blackwood, the author's design appeared to us, we will confess it, rather vague and. straggling—a wondrous, if not a mighty, maze, and altogether without a plan. Now, however, that the whole series has, imme diately rpon its completion, been collected together, being, here, laid before us in its entirety in the shape of these two singularly handsome volumes, we will acknowledge ourselves to have been, in this, in a very great measure mistaken. What, even then, to our precipitate judgment, when Caxtoniana first came to be regarded only piecemeal, bit by bit, bore an aspect ; almost we might say, of incoherence, now that we have been enabled to regard it as a com prehensive whole, not only at once assumes to itself a readily appreciable coherence, but wins anew our admiration by reason of the harmony of its propore tiuns and the symmetry of its general arrangement. Descanting in the first instance—(with the subtlest sympathy for the thought he thus undertakes to articulate in the inaugural essay of the seven-and twenty)—upon a certain marvellous evidence of in creased attention to Outward Nature he has ob served among thoughtful men towards the Decline of Life, Sir Bulwer Lytton here takes from what thus seems to him, as he charmingly expresses it, distinctly indicative, that " life in age rounds its completing circle towards the point at which it touches the circle of life in childhood," our Author takes that one mystic point in the rounding orbit of human existence, as his own starting-point in these his deeply thought-out meditations upon Life. For Essays, they are, it should be particularly borne in mind while reading them, it should certainly be borne in mind by us while commenting upon them thus analytically, Essays they are peculiarly and essentially and above all—upon Life. The other two themes mentioned upon the title-page of Caxtoniana, are altogether subordinated to that far grander theme of Haman Life, to which those added minor themes of Literature and Manners are, as it were, but accessories and adornments, are here, in a certain sense, so to speak, but supplemental, and subsidiary. Upon Manners and upon Literature, the philosophic mind of Pisistratus enlarges, no doubt, repeatedly, in Caxtoniana, with a charming discursiveness. Instance, his ninth essay " On Style and Diction," his eleventh, " On the Moral Effect of Writers," his fifth, in which he delineates so delight fully the salient attributes of that social paragon the " Superior man," and his eighth, " On Rhythm in Prose as conducive to Precision and Clearness." But, if we might so express it without any appearance of affectation, the thread of the whole discourse—the thread upon which are hers strung together in such curious contrast, and in such affluent abundance, thoughts as varied both in outward appearance and in intrinsic value as a chequered succession of pearls, and berries, and pebbles, and precious stones—the one unbroken, elastic, devious thread of the dis course upon which these thoughts are all strung to gether in Caxtoniana, is that marvellous, mysteri ous gossamer thread of Life, manipulated by the weird sisters of the old mythology, the fated thread touched successively by the distaff, the wheel, and, at the last, by " the abhorred shears." A noble topic of discourse, in truth—and one which, with manifestly the profoundest sense of its awful import, the reverent genius of Bulwer, here, in some of the finest pages he has ever written, most nobly discourses. Not merely has it appeared to us, as already intimated, that, with a tender significance, the mystic meeting-point in the rounding circle of human life, above indicated, has been selected by the author as his own starting point in these meditations of his upon Life (and in a lesser sense also upon Literature and Manners)—but it seems to us that we have, at the very close of that first essay " On the Increased Attention to Outward Nature in the Decline cf Life"—a key to the innermost meaning, purport, tendency of these same earnest, more than heart-born, soul-born meditations. A key, it is, to their innermost mean ing : and, beyond that, otherwise to express it, the keynote, likewise, to the dominant harmony run ning through these, ever most musical, often most melancholy, musings upon Life, these seven-and twenty Essays of Caxtoniana. Allusion being here made to what appears to us the subtle significance of that double echo at the close of the first of these thoughtful Essays—that concordant echo of words human and divine—lovely words from an old poet, sacred words from the New Testament—here Sir John Davies instilling into our heart's core the benignant truth, "Death is nought but the Soul's Birth"—here Holy Lips breathing into our very soul, "Make yourselves as little children, for of such is the Kingdom of Heaven." Having said thus much upon the general design of Caxtoniana, upon the pure tone and elevated character of the work as a philosophic and artistic whole, we have already, we conoeive,justified to the full whatever we have before remarked in com mendation of it, as a worthy expression of the matured genius of the Author. How far it really does afford evidence of his genius in its maturity might, perhaps, be rendered the most readily ap preciable upon a comparison of Caxtoniana with a former collection of Essays penned by the same hand. Whereas in the two volumes of " The Stu dent" written by our author, now a good many years ago, when he was, for a very brief but a very bril liant interval, Editor of the New Monthly, in which magazine those earlier essays appeared, from month to month, as the Editor's own contributions to his periodical—whereas in those two volumes of " The Student" the reader could wander, as he listed, so to express it, through an orchard in the spring time, in its first tender verdure and abound ing efflorescence—here in these two volumes of " Caxtoniana," Bulwer's reader has hardly so much wilful inclination to wander fitfully as he lists — the orchard is no longer of the spring time, it is in the full wealth of an abundant autumn, the richest colouring on the leaves, the ruddiest fruit clustered thickly in the boughs—the ripest of it all drop ping about us as we pass onwards. Or, to adopt yet another simile, one of Pisistratus Caxton's own, that wonderful simile of the River which he has recently worked up into so exquisite an allegory in Us Schiller-like poemuf " The Boatman" in the last number of Blackwood—whereas in " The Student," the current of thought, along the margin of which we loitered years ago with such unaffectedly pleasur able emitions, was so near the fountain head of the stream as to be, here and there, shallow perhaps, but wondrously crystalline in the sunlight, sparkling among the reeds, dimpled by the pebbles in its bed, of ruffled but by the breeze or by the passing wing the midge and the dragon fly —that same curbrernotao__ thought now rolls by tis, here in Caxtoniana, the d the ened, deepened, impetuously, no longer midst en st of the pastoral landscapes, but through thei g irt a lmost say, roaring oity,with at intervals, "e ranee of the ocean a briny sense, as by a tidal inthr . '_ ommon with awaiting it, and towards which it, in u NATIONAL CHORAL SOCIETY, The Christmas performance of this society took place on Wednesday evening in Exetet-hall, and was very fully attended. Mr. Martin as the conduc tor proved himself an accomplished chef, and the chorus went through their difficult duties very sa tisfactorily. The popular favourite, "Unto us a child is born," was sung with so much spirit and precision as to win an unanimous encore. The wonderful Hallelujah was also given with good effect. The long and trying chorus " All we like sheep have gone astray," was very well gone through until the close, where, at the sudden change from the florid vocalisation of the prevailing theme to the solemn strain accompanying the words" And the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all,', the singers flagged. "The Lord gave the word" was finely given, and the general effect of the choruses did honour to Mr. Martin. The solo singers were Miss Spiller, Miss Palmer, Mr. Sims Reeves, and Mr. Thomas. Miss Spiller has a good clear voice, but is scarcely equal to the requisitions of the soprano part of the " Messiah," being almost devoid of expression. Some of her efforts were, however, highly applauded. Miss Palmer was not in the best voice, but gaiued an encore. Mr. Sims Reeves fully maintained his reputation as a classical singer, and created a perfect enthusiasm in the hall by his rendering of " Thou shalt break them in pieces." The unanimous encore which it elicited from the audience he declined to comply with, in accordance with his usual custom--a refusal which was only acquiesced in from the fact o f th e " Halle lujah', f o ll ow i ng i n quick succession, Mr. Thomas has a good bass voice, although not equal to Mr. Santley, whose assistance is promised for the next oratorio. He went through his pa r t cre dit a bl y ,: an d acquitted himself especially w e ll i n t h e famous air "The Trumpet shall sound," which was accom panied as usual by Mr. Harper. Altogether the performance went off remarkably well, and the lovers of Handel's music may congratulate them selves on obtaining such efficient exponents of it in the members of this society. STRAND THEATRE. Mr. Byron has chosen the story of "Orpheus and Eury dice ; or, the Young Gentleman who Charmed the Rocks," as the subject of his Cbristmas extravaganza at this theatre. The piece opens with the abode of Orpheus, and Orpheus (Miss Marie Wilton) returns to Eurydice (Miss Ada Swan borough) after an unsuccessful attempt to get his plays ac cepted and his novels pub l ished. Eurydice is per secu t e d b y Aristams (Mr. D. James), a rollickin g young sportsman, who, under pretence of introducing Orpheus to a publisher, worms himself into his good graces, and lends him some money to go and purchase wine. In Orpheus's absence Aris tams attempts to carry off Eurydice, who, in running away from him through the garden, receives a fatal bite in the heel from a serpent. Feeling herself settled, she goes to th e Styx, followed by Aristzeus, in a most dejected condition. Orpheus returns, and learns from Clotilda (Mr. A. Wood) the fate of his wife, and determines to follow and, if possible, bring her back. Apollo arriving opportunely, presents him with a celestial lyre, which is only to be used in cases of the very greatest emergency, and which possesses the power of compelling all present to obey the wish of its possessor. Armed with this valuable instrument, Orpheus seeks Charon (Mr. C. Fenton) and crosses the Sty; having previously assisted in paying out the perfidious Aristams, who has given him bad money and got him into consider able trouble with the wine-merchant. Pluto and Proser • pine happen to be giving a little evening party on the evening of Eurydice's arrival, and Pluto falls desperately in love with the new comer, much to the indigna tion of Proserpine, who is aroused to a sense of her slighted position by the Fates and the Furies. On the arrival of Orpheus, however, Proserpina falls in love with the handsome young visitor, and on the discovery of the double attachment an embroglio results, which is not to be found in Letnprirlre, but which serves, viz., materially to increase the " dramatic" element of the piece. As the oc casion appears to warrant the employment of the lyre's magic power, Orpheus plays it, at the same time expressing a desire that the opposition party shall dance, despite their will. This ha s th e d es i re d e ff e ct, and O r p eus is about to escape, when th e pleadings of his wife restrain him. Pluto at last, h owever, urge d by the j ea l ous P r oserpina, determines to allow Orpheus to depart, promising him his wife shall join him if can quit Hades without look ing back. This, at the first blush, appears easy enough to accomplish, but Orpheus finds it a difficult task, from the fact of its containing so much of the "no compul sion but you must" element, and he turns, and is conse quently retained as a prisoner. He, however, again employs his lyre, and a charming melody which he performs not only softens the hearts of his enemy, but mollifies the rocks, which split asunder, and disclose the brilliant transforma tion scene, which brings the extravaganza to a climax There is an underplot, detailing the love-making of Clotilda and Aristicus, in which they are assisted by Apollo, and this is worked in with the leading plot in a natural and effective manner. The scenery, which is by Mr. Fenton, promises to be rich in the extreme, the dresses will be in excellent taste, and the entire mounting of the piece worthy the liberal management of this most popular theatre. AN opera by Mr. Benedict, called " Esmeralda," is now said to be the new piece to be next produced at at Covent Garden. Mr. Macfarren's " She Stoops to Con quer," is also said to be destined for the same stage. The Court Journal. Established 34 years.—See the Court Journal of Saturday, which contains a vast amount of exclusive news of public interest, and perfectly original Courtly, Faqiicinable, Theatrical, Naval, Military, an,l Sporting Intelligence, Club On Das, &c.; not to be found in any daily or weekly paper•—Price 5d.; Stamped, 6d.—W. Thomas, 26, Brydges-street, Strand ; sold b y all news-agents; and at the Railway Stations. our own, is ever rapidly hastening. Turning, however, from any mere illustrative figures of speech, which, after all, at the nest, bat dimly hint the really marvellous contrast observable between " The Student" and " Caxtouiana''—we may say at once of the latter that as a collection of Miscella neous Essays, they occupy a very high, and, at the same time, a very exceptional position. Pisistratus Caxton, by right of these Essays of his, will take high rank among the world's Great Essayists—among the Great Essayists, and even, we might say (bearing in mind the terseness of some of the utterances here encountered not infrequently in Caxtoniana) among the great Epigrammatists of various literatures. Sur passed by them all, that is by all the greatest among these Great Essayists and Epigrammatists, sur passed by them all, ,in the distinguishing merit peculiar to each—in the quaintness of his delight ful humour by the inimitable Ede, in the glitter of his poignant sarcasms by the cynical and caustic Rochefoucault, in the fullness of meaning discernible in every pregnant sentence, in every pregnant word of Lord Verulaw, in the endless suggestiveness of every seemingly chance and casual touch of Montaigne, and so forth, through the whole glorious catalogue. Pisistratus, so far "holds his own" among them ail, by the combina tion, very wonderful of its kind, of qualities the most diversified in these seven and twenty multi farious essays of Caxtoniana. Alternately, and that, too, with a very rapid,alternation, they are humour ous and pathetic, impressive and whimsical, full of the shrewdest worldly wisdom (instance, in regard to this vii. "On the Management of Money") didactic, metaphysical, analytic, and, wails elo quent always, eloquent sometimes with the capli voting eloquence of so much written day-dreaming ! Upon the very threshold of Caxtoniana, however, it should be here remarked, what indeed we had purposed remarking much earlier, that we encounter upon a preliminary fly-leaf, as charming a specimen of Sir Edward Lytton's, almost at times, perfected style of composition as any, perhaps, that could be found in the whole range of these two volumes. We refer, in saying this, to the dedication of Caxtoniana. But then, it should be said, in all truth, that Sir Edward, throughout his extended and remarkable career as an author, has ever shown himself to be particularly felicitous in his Dedications. They crowd upon our recollection, these most graceful and courtly de dications of his, at this mere casual mention of his skill in an art as difficult, we should suppose, to succeed in as he succeeds in it, as the art of well conceiving a mural or monumental inscription ! Among the many happy dedications he has already penned,.who that knows his writings faMiliarly but bears in remembrance his exquisitely tender dedi cation of his collected works to his mother, his dedication of The Pilgrims of the Rhine to one of his brothers, his humorous dedication of Money to John Forster, the man of letters, of The Last Days of Pompeii to Sir William Gall, and of another romance to John Gibson, the sculptor? Several others we here pass over unnoticed. And now, there finally comes from his hand this most charming dedication (to a rarely- gifted and world-famed artist) of the two volumes of Caxtoniana. How does it run, this gracetullest and courtliest of Dedi cations ? Simply thus : " To Henrich Ernst.--My dear Ernst,—Accept the de dication of these ' Es,ays.' You will recognise in some of them subjects on which I have not unfrequently convet sed with you and the charming critic who so worthily bears your distinguished name. The friendship I have formed with natures so noble as hers and your own has added a new charm to my life; and all who have the privilege to know you will comprehend the affectionate pride with which I inscribe to thatfriendship this gratetulmemerial.—E.B.L. —Knebwor,h, October, 1863." Simply expressed and brief though the wording of this dedication is, we are much mistaken if it is not, in the estimation of the eminent artist to whom it is addressed, beyond all the garlands that could be flung before him, in homage to him and to his art, with this advantage, that it is one that is perennial. Abundant illustrations of the truth of the remarks we have here taken oecasian to indulge in, with reference more especially to the extraordinary diversity of the contents compacted together in these two volumes of " Caxtoniana," might be adduced. Yet—to what end, in point of fact, need one other passage be cited from a work as secure of winning its own audience, as the former writings of its voluminous author have done, almost equally abroad and at home, almost equally, it might even be asserted, in both hemi spheres. In one of his former works, we have a remembrance of Bulwer alluding to the fuller mead of recognition awarded to his more serious contri butions to literature among the Germans than among his own countrymen. In a speech delivered by him some years afterwards from a public platform in the metropolis, it was upon the occasion of a meeting in reference to the Question of Copy right, we have a distinct recollection of his remark ing that the absence of any copyright treaty be tween England and the United States, had involved a loss to himself, individually, even then, of, at the very least, some sixty thousand pounds sterling. With such a public to address, by right of his fame, upon either side of the ocean, upon either side of the channel, Sir Bulwer Lytton needs now less than ever that the material out of which he has con structed any new literary fabric should be evidenced or rather exemplified, by the exposition to that end, as abstracted from it, of yet one other of those everlasting bricks or boulders of Hierocles' Skolas tikos. If we were, by a hackneyed hyperbole of com pliment, to speak of *he words composing these two volumes of Caxtoniana es in any way comparable to the fabled gems dropping from the lips of the Arabian Princess, we should be oonstrained to add ; in the way of a yet more extravagant hyperbole, that here, too, all of them, diamonds, rubies, sapphires, garnets, amethysts, emeralds, have been previously cut by the cunning nand of the intellec tual lapidary. Some amongst them are, in truth, not unworthy, as it appears to us—though here but in a prose setting (prose, however, with a " rhythm")—of ranking by reason their lustre with those— " Jewels, five words long, That on the stret hed forefinger of all Time Sparkle for ever I" In Caxtoniana Sir Bulwer Lytton's Genius dis ports itself in all its variety. Grave though the general tone of the Essays undoubtedly is, even to the gravity of a homily, here and there, for example, as an indication of its diversity in contrasting styles, the drollery of illustration introduced; at intervals, is kindred in its breadth to that evidenced long ago in the delineation of the young lover's veteran henchman in " Eugene Aram," in the portraiture of the worthy provincial linendraper in "Night and Morning," in the inci dent even of 'qr. Pelham dropping in at pudding time in the small shopkeeper's back parlour, when that most fastidious of fine gentlemen is undergoing the purgatorial infliction of a diligent per sonal canvass. Now that the admirable Lib rary Edition of the Novels and Romances of the Author of " The Caxtons" and " Caxtoniana” has been completed according to the promise of the prospectus issued by the publishers at the time of its commencement, we would here put it to those publishers whether it might not be advisable to append, volume by volume, to that same Library Edition of Bulw er's Novels and Romances, revised reprints of the pick at least among his miscellaneous writings. Suggested, of course, by this first collec tive appearance of Caxtoniana—"The work®,reprints n osi e ps and some such form as the one we are here sug in g tiu an ion namely, as a companion volume, or as twoo°o volumes, to the forty-odd volume s of the o s acceptable. Romances, could hardly fait t o be from the press most Afterwards there might bee issu success ion, as supple mentary volumes to the cornprene at monthly intervals in d f is Poems, of History Athens, and o f hi s p r incipal Speeches both ve Library Edition of Bulwer' s wor ku y , of his Plays, of his both in and out o f P arl i ament, Reverting, h, ow ever, for a mom en t to the work imme diately bniefeornrebraunse, this series of essays ent itled (in Ye e of that Family now, perhaps th e i r author ' s master- Ppiieccten)rec, a w xt h o i n c t h .an t , we any h after a very caref u l here, on laying it aside, perusal and analysis of its that it will often h 4 turnednt ly predicatebak to in h by its read er , a l ternately in its he regard reai te, fore co nsolation and for eneoUragement f m , c,, u. ~ ~,,,, ~,,,,, Onni _..,,,---,- . -T---D' ,, , - Cirtnlat .c..--.,---- ~-,.. HER MAJESTY. WINDSOR CASTLE, Dec. 17. Her Majesty was prevented from leaving:Windsor Castle to-day, owing to the unfavourable state of the weather. Their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales visited the Queen. THE COURT.--Every preparation had been Made at, the Windsor Terminus of the Great Western Railway for the conveyance of her Majesty and RoYal Family to Portsmouth. Yesterday moaning, at a quarter past 11 o'clock, many of the domestics had left by an ea rlier train. AI); w the time, however, when her Majesty intend , a to leave a - telegraphie despatch had reoched the castle, ad vising that she should delay her journey, as it was const dared dangerous to cross the Solent in the yacht, under the command of the Prince of Leiningen, in cons , quenc3 of the chopping sea, caused by the recent high winds. Tier Ma jesty will not proceed on her journey until the weather is more favourable. THE CROWN PRINCE AND CROWN PRINCESS OF PRUSSla.—Their Royal Highnesses the Crown Prince and Crown Princess of Prussia, who lett England on Tuesday last, arrived at Mussels the same evening. Their royal highnesses were to remain on a visit to the Belgian royal family for a day or two on their way to Berlin. His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge will arrive in town this evening from Longleat, Wilts, where his royal highness has been on a visit to the Marquis atd Marchioness of Bath since Monday last. His Excellency the Austrian Ambasador end the Countess Apponyi will return to ( handos House to-daY from visiting the Marquis and Marchioness of Bath at Longleat, Wilts, during the visit of his Royal Highneas the Duke of Cambridge. The Duke and Duchess of Montrose and the Marquis of Graham have left town to join the party at Powis Castle. The Marquis and Marchi mess of Exeter 80d Lady Victoria Cecil leave Grosvenor-square to-day for Burghley-park, near Stamford. The marquis is in ira" proved health. The Duchess (Emily) of Beaufort and Lady Geraldine Somerset leave town in a few days to join the Duke and Duchess of Beaufort at Badminton for Christmas. Tne Duchess D)wager of Sutherland and Lord Ronald Leveson Gower are expected to leave Stafford House, St. James's, for Clifden, Bucks. The Earl and Countess of Derby will entertail3 a distinguished party at Knowsley-park, Lancashire, ne-t mouth. The party will assemble the first week in the .month. _ _ Tine Earl of Powis left Berkeley-square yesterdaY) accompanied by the Countess of Powis and Ladies LucY and Harriet Herbert, for Powis Castle, Welshpool, where a large family gathering is about to take place. Viscount and Viscountess Palmerston are eX pected to leave Cambridge House to. morrow for Broad lands, near Romsey. The D.:wager Lady Clinton will leave St. James's" place to-morrow for her residence at Hampton Court Palace. The Right Hon. Sir Charles Wood, Bart., iki•ro leaves town to-day on his return to lliekleton Hall, his set' in Yorkshire. DEATH OF CANON SIR GEORGE SHIFFNER BART' —A residentiary canonry in the Cathedral Church of Ch i " chester and tha valuable vicarage of Amport, Hampshire, aro placed at the disposal of the Dean and Chapter of Cnichester by the death of the Rev. Sir George Shiffuert Bart. The rev. gentleman, who was second son of 00 second baronet, was born May 17, 1791. THE EMPRESS OF THE FttENCIL—The Insurance Record observes that several offices in the City are aocq t , - iug proposals for an insurance to a large amount on the life of the Empress of the French. The risk is being divide d among French and English offices, and the total amount o' insurance is £200,000. COLONEL CRAWLEY's DEFENCE.—The follONVing is the letter referred to in the address. Not hay ing been put in evidence during the trial its contents could only be distantly alluded to by Colonel Crawley My dear Sister and Brother,—This is, indeed, a pain ful moment—a task I never expected to have to tell you. My beloved husband is no more. He died of apoplexy on the morning of the 25th of May. It was so sudden; he was tolerably well the day before. Dear sister, in mercy go to our father and mother : I cannot write to them. The blow will be too much for them. I am staying with Ser geant-Major Cotton and Mrs. Cotton. I was to have gone into hospital, but doctor says I shall not last long, so I don't think I shall be removed before anything happens. I can not write any more. I cannot sit up, My best love.— Your loving and affectionate sister, CLARISSA LILLEY.-- Mhow, June 7." SUPPOSED SUlClDE.—Yesterday the body of a respectably-dressed female was discovered floating in the water of the Regent's Canal, near the New Globe- bridge. The deceased was seen by a surgeon, and had been in the water a fortnight. The description of the deceased has beet' circulated, and the body was removed to the Mile-end - Workhouse, Bancroft-road, Stepney, to await an inquest. In a letter from Brisbane, giving an account of his passage out, an emigrant says :—" Among t he female passengers in the second cabin was a young la d y who frequently had hysterics, and who would burst sud denly into tears in the dead of night. When asked her reason for so doing she would reply "her young man had poisoned himself." It turns out that she is known here ag the notorious Madeline Smith, of Glasgow, whose trial for murder some years since caused such a sensation. 511° r yas not the best conducted young lady in the ship." MUNIFICENCE OF AN ARTIST.—The distinguished marine painter, Mr. E. W. Cooke, A.R.A., has forwarded to the National Lifeboat institution £2OO, to pay the cost of a lifeboat, to be stationed on the coast. M l. ' Cooke said in his letter :—" Having felt for many ye r 5 b greatest interest and sympathy in the cause of the •Lb°: National Lifeboat Instituiion, and in admiration of the gallant deeds of the crews of its numerous boats established on our dangerous coasts, I am desirous to place a li teboO on some point where one is required. I beg, therefore, t° forward a check for £2OO towards the establishment of a ne w lifeboat. I trust ere long that some good friend to th is noble cause may be induced to assist i n a ddi ng the b o athouet with its appropriate gear, to c om pl e t e th e object I have in view. We shall doubtless re a dily find a crew of Heartds of Oak' who will ch ee rfully m a n the ' Van Kock , " and who may be the m e a ns , u nd e r Divine Providence, of s avia many a valuable life." ECLIPSES OF THE SUN IN 1864.—Next year til er@ will be two eclipses of the sun. The first will be 0/. the sth of May. It will begin on the earth at 930 P-V i i of London time, in 126 deg 56 min of east longitude, an d p , deg 23 min of south latitude. It ends on the earth on th; following day at 3 3 a.m., in longitude 130 deg 2 5 11 % west, and 20 deg 9 min of north latitude. The tota l felil7l.l will be visible only in the North Pacific Ocean, and it wr.. be visible as a partial eclipse in part of Siberia and the o °ia. thernmost part of North America and the north of A ustral The second eclipse of the sun will be on October 30. will begin on the earth at 3 31 p.m. London time, in I° q:, tude 100 deg 14 min west of Greenwich, and 6 deg. 2 a'l • rt north latitude. It will end on the earth at 6 3 0 P* lii c i e ,' 1 19 longitude 6 deg 26 min west of Greenwich, and let" cre sa deg 25 min south. The line of central eclipse pass cs , i %de, South America between 20 deg and 30 deg of south l l ' sou th and will also be visible in the South Pacific a nd for Atlantic Oceans A partial eclipse will be visible coast short time in the United States and on the yo ern of Africa, at the first for a tew moments after sunrise, " at the latter just before sunset. HIERATIC PAPYRI LATELY DECIVIE that Chagas, appears, says the Spectator, _ Dennkuidlor")! upon the saw , ' French Egyptologist, has been some portions of papyri (which are facsimiled in.teetnPigosn':;;;; and has just published his tran..n with that which )Ir. thew. This agrees, in th® tly , the differencs beins ii in io t e: ,: en :y dle o n' ccur between two trans* Goodwin has arrived at no greeter than thoee labors of a Hebrew or her translated is not a short nsc trip lob, concerning the me an " two sc holars might by ac c id en t blunder in to ocher i ancient text, And the tex t ins of which agreement—it. is a story of three hundr e d li ne s, relating th e of au Asiatic wanderer about B.C. 2,400, that is, before the date usually assigned to Abraham , person flees from the Co ur t o f K ing Anaraenem os I. int ° Et hi o pia, where he is ho sp it a bl y en t er tained, marries th° d au ghter of a chi e f, he longs to retur n t o E gypt, and wr i tes t o the Kin returns Bing I°l' pardon. rh o and grows a rich wan. In his old ago rcturns a gracious one% er, an d a OP, of his letter is given. The adventurer describes his return to Egypt, the awe with which the King's prestree e inspire ta him, the mistaken zeal of the courtiers, who, fan( ying' the King is about to punish the fugitive, cry out that Lc,: guilty; the turning of the tables by the Ring, who p with a him innocent, instals him in a s p lendid house avf a handsome pension, builds him a magni f i cen t tomb, l ; continues to smile upon him till the d a y of his death. This story has all the appearance of genuine history. n ., h3 GLASGOW INSTITUTE OF THE FINE ARTS. 100 guineas, offered in three premiu ms for the be pictures exhibited, were awarded as f ollows :-50 netiss b A .; fur the best figure picture in oil , to J. Noel Paton, 30 guineas for the best landscap e in oil, to Samuel eSO . 130 A R.S.A. ; 20 guineas for the bes t water-colour irra t s i P _ „4 of subject, to Henry Tidey, Lond on. The competition ou confined to British artists and to p ictures painted witlr rn the last two years. d 11. ETTINGt,HAUSEN has recently pr.:we: es , eie large work, illustr a t e d with magnific e nt plates, on th ton of leMres (Blattskelette der Dicotyledonen.) • st ead , 106i' €zhit Ba Coun and 1 have It Th, aesna positi retur i Capit tile el short] opera th e oi first.( Th bro tii Tt; th e N at o s, 41teci rie - e, vari at tone tatio r an 14 An place owing and t increl kith tionB fa vou are n, a ecou are 1 A value ne s , i 'MI i (heel Certii 881 I In _ have hit Norti and lo s.; .deciir stock and I Com] Ita nk 1.)„ bit r , Oil 4 tlat 13 razi bit 131 1 e, r ,Dii ••010, Di , „13ttai ,Di t'qrvi bi 'tree Di riva Di ItAti, &lex; Di Moo Nam Pan Por 111: D u FrE ZtQ 60 go