The Sun. — London, England, 1863-01-20 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, JANUARY 20, 1863. ROYAL ENGLISH OPERA, COVENT GARDEN. nder the Management of Miss Louisa Pyne and Mr. W. Harrison, Sole Lessees. THIS EVENING Wallace's new Opera of LOVE'S TRIUMPH : Miss Louisa Vyne, and Mdme. Laura Baxter ; Messrs. George Yerren. W. H. Weiss, H. Cord, A. Cooke, and W. Harrison. Conductor —Mr. A. Mellon. After which, the Grand Comic Christmas Pantomime, en titled HARLEQUIN BEAUTY AND THE BEAST. Doors open at halt-past 6—Commence at 7. T EATRE-R OYA L. DRURY-LANE.- Lessee and Manager, Mr. Edmund Falconer. THIS EVENING, the Comic Drama of THE NEXT OF Alter which, the Grand Pantomime of LITTLE GO DDY TWO SHOES. Commence at ". TREAT RE-RO YAi., HAY MARKET. Lessee. Mr. J. B. Bnckstone. THIS EVENING, at Seven o'clock, will be performed OUR AMERICAN COUSIN. Asa Trenchant, Mr. Buck stone ; Lord Dundreary, Mr. Sothcrn. After which, a new and original Extravaganza, entitled RASSELAS, PRINCE OF ABYSSINIA; or, The Happy Valley. Rasselas, Miss Louise Keeley. Concluding with OUR MARY ANNE. THEATRE -ROYAL LYCEUM OPEN, under the Sole Management of Mr. FECHTER. THIS EVENING, Jan. 20, to commence with an Original Sketch, entitled A SUDDEN ATTACK. Messrs. Shore, Garden, H. Widdicomb, Miss Henrade, and Mrs. Lee. After which, at a Quarter to Eight, a New Romantic Drama, in Three Acts, and Pnlogue, entitled THE DUKE'S MOTTO, by Paul Feval and John Brougham. The principal character will be sustained by Mr. Pechter, supported by Messrs. G. Vining*, J. Brougham, H. Widdi combe, W. M`lntyre, P. Charles, Garden, Raymond, H . Butler, Dawson ; Misses Carlotta Leclercq, Kate Terry, B. Lavenue, and Elsworthy. Mr. Phelps and Mr. W. Montgomery are engaged, and will shortly appear. Doors open at half-past Six, performance to commence at Seven. Private Boxes, £2 125. 6d., and f.. 2 2s. Places Upper , registered. Stalls, 6s. Bd. ; Dress Circle, 511. 6 c 1 •.• Circle, 45. 6d. Prices at doors—Stalls , 6 5 •:, Upper Circle, 45.; Pit, 2s. • Gallery, is. Dr lt- s p s ri C ci. ele hox .- office open daily from 11 till s. The pubilichaare entreated to take notice that no charge is made to . the upants of boxes, box places, or stalls, either for play bills or for the sate keep ing of hats and cloaks and that the attendants in all parts of the house are forbidden to receive any gratuities whatever Stage-Manager, Mr. G. Vining. Acting-Manager, Mr. H. Barnett. OYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE. Lessee and Manager, Mr Lindus. THIS EVENING, LAW v. LOVE : Miss M. Oliver. Followed by ONE GOOD TURN DESERVES AN OTHER. Mr. R. Roxby and Miss Amy Sedgwiek. After which, the New Grand CHRISTMAS PANTOMIME, RIQUET WITH THE TUFT ; or, Harlequin and Mother Shipton." Mr. G. Belmore, Mr. C. Seyton, Misses Gray and Hudspeth, Mr. Milano, Mr. R. Power, Miss A. Collinson, and Mr. Salford. - ATE W THRATRE-R0 YAL, ADELPHI.- _ Sole Proprietor and Manager, Mr. B. Webster. THIS EVENING, THE LI i TLE TREASURE. Mr Billington, Mr. R. Phillips, and Miss Marie Wilton. After which, A TICKET OF LEAVE : Messrs. J. L.Toole, P. Bedford, and Mrs. Billington. To conclude with " GEORGE DE BARNWELL : Or, Harlequin Folly in the Realms of Fancy." Miss Woolgar, Miss K. Kelly, Miss Seaman ; Messrs. J. L. Toole, P. Bed ford, Stephenson, C. J. Smith. Harlequin, Mr. John Lauri; Columbine, Miss Caroline Adams C L own, Mr. W. Hildyard ; l'antaloon, Mr. J. Paulo. The celebrated Arthur and Bertrand. Commence at 7. The ViTATIEML—Sun Office, Jan. 20, 1863. THERMOMETER. Highest since Noon yesterday. 4l Lowest during the night This day at N00n..... Barometer-29.23. Wind—,West; blowing a gale. Weather fine, but cold HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. THIEI DAL. Morning, lh. 24m.—Afternoon, lh. 54 n, TO-IfORROW.-MOrn.Mg, 2h. 20m.—Afternoon, 2h. 44m • I, • . :1 • • P g icy 01!"-_-00 4wkw J LONDON, TUESDAY, JANUARY 20, 1863. The question of what is to be done with our con victs, will undoubtedly be one of the first subjects to be brought under the consideration of the Legis lature. The urgency of the case was felt to be such that the customary delays of red-tapeism were set aside, and a commission of inquiry appointed, with out waiting for the coming session. The publica tion of the views of an authority like Sir WALTER CROFTON is therefore at this moment particularly opportune, and we are glad that before further dis cussion on this important question the public should have an opportunity of learning his views in his own words. A lecture recently delivered by him at the Philosophical Institution of Bristol, and since reprinted by desire, sums up very clearly and ably the difference between the English and Irish convict systems, and points out the indispen sable reforms that the former requires. He disposes of the whole question in little more than twenty pages, but those pages are eminently suggestive. "In Ireland," says Sir WALTER CROF TON, " the Ticket of Leave System has been carried out so as to protect the public, and act as leading strings to the criminal." The general public are, in that country, very ready to co-operate in his refor mation, while among us society is directly hostile to even the well-intentioned convict. In Ireland the system adopted meets with universal approval. It results in the protection of the public, the refor mation of the offender, and the decrease of the criminal classes. With us crime increases, life and property are notoriously insecure, punishment is ridiculed by the convicts, whom it only renders more hardened, and the whole system is truly styled by Sir WALTER CROFTON as "no system at all," and this with an annual outlay of four millions for the repression of crime. It is, therefore, high time to examine into the method which we are pursuing. Let us see in what the great difference between the English and Irish systems consists. In England the plan practically, if not theoretically, followed at present is to sen tence the offenders for a lengthened term, with the understanding that if they conduct themselves well in prison they will have a certain term of their sentence remitted. This is done, and twelve y ears' penal servitude is considered a substitute for a sen tence of penal servitude for life ; at the expira tion of the time fixed, a ticket of leave is given with certain conditions annexed as to its revocation through misconduct. Not one of these conditions is ever fulfilled ; on the con trary, an offender renewing his old course is often re sentenced for a short period within the unexpired term of his first sentence. One of cur learned judges alluded to this in a charge the other day as a fact that had often come under his own observa tion. No supervision is kept over the ticket-of leave man, no means to procure him honest employ ment are taken ; he is cast loose upon society with his old habits and feelings unchanged and undis ciplined, to live as he can, with the ter rible obstacle to his improvement that the very name of " ticket-of-leave man" offers in this country. There is some foundation for this I prejudice, for no steps are ta ken to ensure his amendment, and the Governme nt can give no gua rantee for the honesty of a man of whom all the public knows is that he has been a convicted felon. the colonise murmur at having. large bodies such men sent to their shores, and such has been of the character of the men we have sent there that only at one colony an outlet is at this moment open to us—that of Western Australia. In Ireland the directors set before them two ends to be attained. The co-operation of the publl.3 must be secured by rendering them willing to facilitate the absorption of the criminal into the classes of honest labour. Secondly, the training of the convict must be such as to give confidence to the public and secure his em ployer from injury. The SUCCCSS of the system is sufficiently proved by two facts stated by Sir WALTER CROFTON'. Ist. The large majority of discharged convicts employed in Dublin have been professed burglars and robbers. 2d. Many of their employers, after several years' experience of them, are still willing to employ the same class of persons at the ordinary wages of the labour market. In Ireland the guiding principles are few and simple. They are that the convicts are better trained in small numbers, and by being made to feel their ad vance depends on themselves; that the employ- ment of convicts in a more natural form before their liberation is a course obviously calculated to reassure the public; and lastly, that the institution of appliances to render the criminal calling more hazardous will tend greatly to the diminution of crime. The former of these principles is carried out by a strict classification of prisoners, and the first stage in the treatment is severely penal. A system of marks is adopted, by which the convict is made to see that his ad vance to a higher class depends upon him self. By the attainment of a certain number of these marks he reaches the intermediate stage in which the principle of natural labour is carried out. The great secret of these establishments is individualisation, and the number of inmates should not therefore, says t he late chairman, exceed 100. No more restraint is exercised than would be necessary in any well -regulated establishment. At Lusk Common, within 15 miles of Dublin, an esta blishment of this kind has been at work with great success for the last six years. The convicts are employed in the reclamation of land, the officers, of whom there are only six, work with them, and the whole tone of this esta blishment appears to be most satisfactory. When the ticket of leave is finally granted the conditions endorsed on it are rigidly enforced. The convict is bound to report himself to the constabulary station of his locality on the Ist of every month, and to give due notice of his re moval to another district. He is duly registered, and any neglect of these roles entails a revocation of his license. By the aid of a careful system of registration, police supervision, photography, 8,a. 1 ‘ lengthened sentences are entailed on old offenders, thus increasing the hazard of a criminal life, for, such convictions are not there, as with us, merely no minal. With regard to'transportation Sir WA.LTER'S views differ from those of the majority. Instead of regarding it as a means of getting rid of the worst offenders, he looks to it as a means of reward to the most deserving. He points out the unfair. ness to our colonists of sending them only hardened ruffians with whom we cannot deal, and the short sightedness of cutting off our only outlet. With regard to the establishment of new settlements, he observes that it would be hopeless to expect respectable emigrants to follow our garot ters to a new penal colony, and com ments upon the expense of guarding such a band of dangerous felons. Among the methods by which he proposes to transform our effete and un satisfactory system into one competent to deal with this grave question without legislative changes, Sir WALTER proposes a minute classification of con victs, so as to retain the worst class of offenders and those under life sentences in special prisons under more rigid discipline. In case of remission of a sentence, the public should have the safe guard which is offered by the enforcement of the condi tions of the licence. The difficulties to which the Irish system was exposed were great, one of the greatest being the laxity on this side of the Channel. This, indeed, offered and still offers such formidable obstacles, that Sir WALTER CROFTON is doubtful if his method can be maintained there without some salutary change among us. Yet with this great drawback, and with all the inherent difficulties of the question, the system has been as signal a success as our method has been a complete failure. Sir W. CROFTON steps forward in midst of the present panic to show us how to temper mercy with justice; to combine a due regard for the welfare of the offender with the safety of the honest citizen, who has the first claim on his Government. He shows, indeed, how the interests of bath are identical, by opening out the means of honest liveli hood to the worst offender, while he insures the public, as far as human caution can insure, against a repetition of his offences. The system proposed certainly offers a clue to the labyrinth, in which a mistaken system of indulgence and reprehensible laxity on the part of our authorities has led us, and we heartly commend its careful consideration to our Home-office. Another great battle has been fought at Mur freesborough, in Tennessee. Nashville, the capital of the State, in advance of which Murfreesborough lies, was the prize, held by the Federals, which the Confederates were desirous to seize. ROSEN CRANZ, who held it, determined not to await the attack, but, on the 26th, marched forth to meet the enemy. There was everything to stimulate both sides to do their best, and they did it bravely. JEFFERSON DAVIS had expressed himself as deter mined to recover all Tennessee, and had recently visited the Confederate camp there, and cheered on his troops. The Federal Government had also felt its importance, and had placed their able general, ROSENCRANZ, having taken him from the Mississippi, and given him a large force, while BRAGG, with a Confederate force about as large, so far as we can learn, was opposed to him. For once, too, the Federals seem to have sent us honest re ports. We conclude that they are so, from those of the North and the South, so far as both have yet been received, agreeing. If experience has taught Mr. STANTON that, in the long run, veracity is best, European editors, commenting on Northern mili tary news, will indeed be great gainers, and be saved a world of guessing and of correcting their guesses. RQSENCRANZ came up with the Confederates on the 29th of December, He had met with merely inconsiderable interruptions from skirmishers, but at length found the enemy strongly posted on the Stone River, one of their flanks resting on Mur freesborough. The ground was difficult, and, on the 30th—which he chiefly spent in reconnaissances —the Pennsylvanian cavalry were decoyed into an ambuscade, and suffered severely. On the 31st, the last day of the year, the attack began, and the battle, with considerable alternations, lasted five dam but with ultimate success on the part of the Federals, as the Confederates had to retreat and leave Murfreesborough in the possession of ROSEN CRANZ. He seems, however, to have hardly been in a condition, at the date of the last despatches, to follow them to Skelbyville, the next post on the where they intended to make Chattanooga Railway, a stand. The battle of the 31st was one of the nu merous ones of which history tells, in which a suc cess on one flank was counterbalanced by a defeat on the other. On the left and centre ROSENCRANZ had the entire advantage ; but the Confederates had massed their forces on the right, and by an over whelraing attack completely turned General COOK back on the Federal left, created of course not alittle confusion, and captured three batteries, and a large number of prisoners. ROSENCRANZ, how ever, substantially retrieved the day by charging iu person at the head of his eentrs, and more than recovered the lost ground. Again the Confederates rallied and attacked the centre with great vigour, and again the Federals repulsed them. The last day of 1862 closed, however, with the Confederates in possession of ground which the Federals had held in the morning. On the first day of the New Year the Confede- I rates were in a position to be the attacking party ; 4 i t h e y were, however, again repulsed. On the 2d, _ 1 R OSENCRANZ began advancing his army, and sent a small division across Stone River ; the Confede rates fell upon it in great force, are reported to have killed 80 and wounded 375, when Gen.NEGLEY, who commanded the Federal centre, came up and drove the enemy off the field and beyond their entrench MAWS, the officers being unable to rally them. The 3d was spent in obtaining and distribut ing the ammunition, of which there was a great want in the Federal army. It was in part occa sioned by the splendid first success of the Con federates on the right, when the ammunition wag gons were captured, and the right wing was actually in great danger for want of them. On the 4th rain seems to have prevented fighting till towards night two Federal regiments stormed the breastwork of the enemy, killing many and making many prisoners. This was the last act of this fierce five days' battle, one of the hardest and most bravely and skilfully fought of the campaign. The loss must have been heavy en both sides, though it is useless, as yet, to quote the numbers of killed and wounded. Both sides made many prisoners, the Confederates claim 4,000, captured in the successful attack on the Confederate right on the 31st. The Federals have gained, however, their main object ; they have driven their enemies away from Nash ville. The Federals appear in one instance to have imitated with success the Confederate cavalry achievements. Two thousand of their cavalry from Kentucky got into the Confederate rear, and besides making considerable captures, they destroyed nine miles of the railway by which BRAGG obtained his supplies from Richmond. STUART, however, was meanwhile returning the compliment behind BURNSIDE, at Dumfries. The Confederates also sustained another severe defeat at Lexington in Tennessee, losing six cannon, many prisoners, and 1,400 killed and wounded. One sad fact will call forth the reprobation of all Europe. ?he Confederates shot, immediately, all the negro soldiers they captured ! Just, however, as we hear of the termination of these American week-long battles in Tennessee, we receive the accounts of another still proceeding at the now famous position of Vicksburg. SEWARD, indeed, informs us that a telegram from GRANT, says that "Rebel newspapers at Grenada in Mis sissippi (on the railroad to Vicksburg) report that the Yankees are in the place." This is, probably, indeed, we may say, certainly premature. What is certain is, that, on the 30th, the Confederates re port four desperate attacks on the 27th, which were repulsed ; the same we heard of, no doubt, by the last arrival, But from Memphis we have accounts of five days' fighting, commencing, remarkably, as in Tennessee, on the last day of the year, and con tinuing till the 4th, the fighting being still going on with vigour. Vicksburg is not only on the Mis sissippi, on its eastern side, iu the State of the same name, but it has a railroad running through it from Jackson, and continued on the opposite shore of the river to Shreveport in the North of Louisiana. General SHERMAN was in command of an attacking force on the railway on the eastern side, and to have destroyed part of the railway on the other side of the river; probably, lest supplies should be brought up by it. By the last accounts, carried by an express boat to Memphis, direct from the army, SHERMAN had forced three lines of works on the Jackson and Vicksburg Railroad ; the firing from the fourth line had ceased, and there were indica tions that it had surrendered. The gunboats were also engaging the enemy's batteries on the other side. All looks, therefore, as if the statement in the Grenada Appeal, a Rebel paper, were likely to be true soon, if it could hardly be so on the 31st, indeed, the fighting we have just mentioned is all subsequent to that date. It would seem likely, indeed, that between the land army, which was wanting in the attack of last year, and the gunboats, Vicksburg, cut off from all supplies, must have fallen, however, bravely de fended ; but that Vicksburg is the key of the Missis sippi, and that it were better for the Confederates to lose one hundred thousand men than give up that advantage. Another account, however, states that on the 2d, after severe fighting on both sides, and taking and retaking of batteries and fortifications several times, SHERMAN was ultimately driven back to his first line of defence. As this account is from a Northern source it ought to be true, though hardly reconcileable with the contempo raneous or later accounts from Memphis. General BUTLER has been rewarded for his "good services" at New Orleans with a rather more diffi cult task. He has been appointed to the "chief command of the Southern department, to include South Carolina, Georgia, and other States." It would appear that he was to begin with Charleston! as an expedition of iron clads had sailed for Wil mington, there to destroy the direct railroad con nection between Charleston and Richmond. This we may presume to have been preliminary to an attack on the chief rebel city, by which BUTLER was to have been placed in the same position there as that which he so famously, or so tnfamoutily, filled at New Orleans. He would be a first-rate disciplinarian, in the estimation of the North, for the Charlestonians. It was in the voyage thither that the brave little Monitor—the Monitor to Eng land and Europe—went to the bottom. She proved to be unseaworthy. Her cheapness was boasted of at the time, but it appears to have been a dear cheapness. We do not remember ever hearing of such an accident to any of our ships as that which carried the Monitor to the bottom in 45 fathoms water. She leaked till the water beat the pumps, and sunk so fast, the storm all the time dashing the waves over her turret, that a large part of the crew were drowned, although she was in tow of a ship of war. She was found utterly defective in construction as a seagoing boat. Her " between decks" were insupportably close, and fans could not obtain sufficient air, while the salt water easily flowed over her, and dashed down every crevice in tended for the admission of air. Captain ERicssoN may now claim for his brave little vessel the name he gave her for a double reason—she will prove a Monitor, not only to imitate her merits, but to avoid her fatal defects. She speaks from the bot tom of the deep sea off Cape Hatteras, as well as from the shallower and quieter waters of Hampton Roads. The monthly meeting of the General Committee of the Central Relief Fund for Lancashire was held yesterday afternoon. The details are most inte resting and deserve attentive study from all who would acquaint themselves with the particulars - of this affair. The appendix to the report, which has been furnished by Lord DERBY, is very comprehen sive, and reveals the intricate and difficult cases that are brought before the committees for settlement. The plans proposed by his lordship are very compre hensive and ap, ear to embrace most of the knotty points. He commences by stating that the com mittee have undertaken a deeply responsible task. He explains the arduous nature of the work by statin g that the object is to distribute the alms "that they may not place Cie honest and industri ous upo n the same footing with the idle and profligate; and that they may not abuse public liberality by making their funds contribute to the relief of those who have unexpended means of their own." To carry out this principle the course is anything but easy, indeed, on the contrary, hedged in by difficulties. A mere list of the plans pro- posed by Lord DERBY sufficiently illustrate the obstacles that have to be overcome. In the first place, he considers what are the disqualifications for obtaining relief, and foremost it unquestionably appears that, the relief being intended for those who have no other resource, the possession of pro perty must strike an applicant off the list. Here follow the difficulties, and cases requiring the greatest discernment are constantly coming under the notice of the committees. There are some whose industry has accumulated a small sum of money in the savings bank, others have invested in benefit societies, and others again in cottages, for which, however, they cannot now obtain the rents. There comes also the question of small shopkeepers dependent on any of the above. Here Lord DERBY lays down his first rule— " However harsh it may sound and however painful it may be to say that before receiving relief under such circumstances as the present, a man must be compelled to sacrifice the accumulations of a long life of industry, it is difficult to suggest any alter native." Also he states that it would be impossible to allow the funds that have been subscribed for the relief of destitution to be taken for t'le payment of sick clubs or other benefit societies. No portion of the relief must in any case be granted for the pay ment of rent, and it is essential, observes his lordship, that the committees stand firm on this point, since ‘‘ a knowledge moreover, a suspicion that any por•• tion of the funds was devoted to the payment of rent would at once check the flow of public charity." In dwelling on the question of modifying the rules his lord mentioned what he thought exceptional cases, where the holder had mortgaged his share in any benefit societies so that at the present time he was not deriving any actual benefit from them, and also the class who have property in cottages, which for the present yields them no return, in conse quence of their being unable to collect the rents; or, what is still worse, in some cases they have mortgaged them, so are in the awkward dilemma of having to pay on the one hand without deriving any benefit from the other. Then there comes the small shopkeeper, whose capital consists of his stock in trade, and who, from the distress of his customers cannot obtain sufficient for subsistence. These statements are concluded by the following paragraph, which aptly represents the spirit which has guided their suggestion " I am aware that some of the principles laid down in this memorandum are widely at variance with general rules; and I am not insensible to the danger of their leading to abuse, and encouraging too great a reliance on external aid. But the circumstances of the time are of a wholly excep tional character. The first object must be to preserve the population from absolute destitution ; the next, and hardly less important, is to draw a broad line between habitual pauperism and want, the consequence of an unforeseen national calamity. It may be necessary, in consideration for the poorer ratepayers, to supplement, from relief funds the amount given to the former from the rates ; but with regard to the latter, I feel confident that the lesser of two evils is, to err on the side of over -liberality, rather than too great strictness ; and I am persuaded that such is the policy which will most commend itself to the public feeling." There is something very touching in "these short and simple annals of the poor," and among these numerous instances isolated cases must exist of bitter suffering and sad regret. It is hard for those who, by industry and integrity, have saved what for them may appear a considerable sum, to have it swept away from no fault of their own; a nd perhaps it will be the harder to bear from the re flection that others not so deserving are being as sisted, while they are left to support themselves out of the sum put by for emergency. Still in general questions like these, individual interests cannot be be consulted ; and, as Lord DERBY truly observed, the greatest caution must be taken not to give to these who have any resources the relief intended for the preservation of life. The committee are not free agents; they are the trustees of a nation's bounty, and must act in conformity with the obli gations of their heavy responsibility and weighty obligations. The greatest credit is due to Lord DERBY for his conduct throughout these investigations ; he has assisted the dona tions in a princely spirit of liberality, but where many might have given money, they might not have bestowed so much time, thought, and care on so complicated and laborious an undertaking. It is to be trusted that this sad occasion for his ser vices will soon pass away, but with it cannot be obliterated the remembrance of his conduct which will long live in the grateful memory of the class he has so ably and efficiently served. No better claim can a statesman have on the respect and re gard of a country than when he devotes himself to the consideration of the welfare of the industrious classes of the community. That misfortune is not an unmixed calamity which brings good out of evil, and the distress in Lancashire has discovered so much of genuine and general liberality from all parts the couutry, so much kindness and care among the higher tanks of the community, and, above al, so much noble endurance and hopeful spirit among the operatives, that we can discern a silver lining to the cloud that hangs so darkly over us. When, through the blessing of Providence, the shade is withdrawn the lessons that we have learned in adversity, may yet profit as warnings and encouragements, not to fall into the same errors of commercial s hortsightedness, and when danger comes to have confidence in steady endurance on the one hand, and strenuous exertion on the other, that the joint efforts of those who suffer, and those who aid the sufferers, may combine to avert the worst of the evil, and mitigate the full force of the calamity which, unchecked by such preventive agencies, would have as3umed a degree of horror that would scarcely have had a parallel in the his tory of nations. SPINOZA, A KEMPIS, AND COLENSO,—Sp inoza and the author of the " Imitation of Christ," both satisfied this stamiard of criticism, that a book ought to be written either for the wor the many. Spinoza addressed the few, and ores for all rationalised the Bible. The author of the " Imitation" has helped simple souls, in one generation or another, to feel more, to grow nearer heaven, and thus to hold a slightly higher place in the scale of civilization. But a book like Bishop Colenzo's, which only tells the educated few what they knew before, and which scares and agitates the many, is a book which literary criticism altogether condemns. --SatUt day Review. THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT AND THE French PRESS.—The Brussels Independance of the 16th observes :—" The Temps was warned yesterday, the Revue .IVationale, a periodical publication, is so to-day. The In dependance was detained yesterday at the Post-office. In view of this p iinful recurrence of rigour, and above all in the absence of precise definitions of the offences which may be committed, the non - officious press has formed a resolu tion to abstain henceforth from any reflection upon the action of the Government, The Opinion Aatioxale, which has given numerous pledges of its devotion to the empire, but which is not alway s in a humour to approve eTtry thing, entered some time ago upon this path, the only honourable ono when securities for independence are want ing. As the Presse remarked yesterday, the journalist is only responsible ior the liberty which is allowed him, and undor present circumstances silence is not dishonourable. Outside the question of actual politics there aro sufficient questions open to his study ; and when he shall limit him self to registering the acts of ruthority and the facts most indispensable to history, the absence of all criticism will only serve the bet ter to elucidate the value of certain sys tematic enigmas," PLYMOUTH,Sunday.—A collision has taken place at the entrance of the Channel between the Minerva, from Zapas Sulina, with barley, for Falmouth, for orders, and the Danish schooner Solo Lociskense, from Hull, for Ma laga, with coals. The Dane is supposed to have sunk. Her crew have been saved, LATEST INTELLIGENCE. SPAIN. PROGRAMME OF THE NEW MINISTRY. MADRID, JAN. 19, ETENING. The new Ministry announced to the Congress to-day that their programme will be to continue the poiicy of maintaining the union of all the fractions of the Liberal party, and of also endea vouring to bring about the union of all men of constitutional principles. The Ministry will also maintain the existing good relations of Spain with foreign Powers, and will observe neutrality in all questions which do not affect the honour of the country. In the same sitting of the Congress Marshal O'Donnell, in reply to a question from Senor Gon zales Bravo, declared that the Ministry would follow the same policy as had hitherto been adopted. Respecting Mexico, Marshal O'Donnell said that as that question had already been judged by the Chambers, the Ministry would only occupy itself with those incidents which might arise in connexion with it. Senor Bustillos has refused the portfolio of Minister of Marine. It is asserted that Senor Posado Herrera will proceed as the new Spanish Minister to Paris. The members of the Opposition, in a meeting held at the house of Senor Rios Roses, resolved upon supporting the new Ministry. INDIA AND CHINA MAILS. MARSEILLES, JAN, 20. The Messageries Imperiales steamer Labourdon nais left Matseilles yesterday, with 60 passengers and 854 cases of silver (value £340,000), and with the above mails. FRANCE. The Pays of this mot ping gives the following ac count of Horace Vernet's funeral :—" It is known that the wishes of M. Vernet were that his obse quies should be conducted with the greatest sim plicity, without military escort or official cortege. His desires were religiously respected. No one held the corners of the pall; his numberless decorations reposed on no pompous cushions ; and no uniforms, no deputation accompanied his remains to their last resting-place. But the members of the various sections of the Institute, a considerable number of artists and men of letters, eager and effiicted, has tened to this mournful ceremony, and the Church of St. Germain des Pres was thronged by a crowd of friends, known and unknown, obscure and distin guished, of the illustrious dead. The procession left the palace of the Institute at half-past nine. Th e coffin, covered with black drapery, was drawn in a carriage with two horses; then followed four or five hundred people, and a carriage which contained one of the Chamberlains of the Emperor. Seven mourning coaches closed the procession. The ser vice for the dead was read in the church of St. Germain des Pres, in the middle of a crowd that was increased by the presence of many curious spectators ; The cortege then proceeded to the cemetery of Montmartre, where it was followed, notwithstanding the distance, by all the persons who had formed part of the procession. No dis course was pronounced over the tomb of Horace Vernet. This was one of his last wishes." Le Siecle tells us that many of the artisans of Paris are working overtime in order to give the proceeds of their extra labour to the sufferers in the cotton districts. Others, among them the com positors and printers of the Opinione Nationale, have set aside a weekly sum from their usual earn ings. Such gifts belong to the mercy that blesses both giver and receiver. A grand ball at the Tuileries is announced for Thursday, the 22d of January. The Constitutionnel offers some suggestions on the American war which appear to be very worthy of consideration. It states that many have objected to any foreign interference, on the ground that the Americans would feel hurt by such a course. Why then not adopt a different means to arrive at the same end ? Why not have emissaries sent from the North and the South meet is some neutral place, and debate on the question; to bring delibe rately forward the serious points of difference, and consider, finally, what mode had best be adopted to settle this grave affair and terminate these fright ful sufferings. Under the new aspect that affairs assume in this dark day of desolation, the Commis sioners can decide definitively whether it is neces sary or not for the States to separate ; and, while allaying the fears of the civilised world, restore in some measure the name of the United States to it s integral significance, a name which still young in history is surrounded with so much distinction. BOURSE, Jan. 19.—The market has been rather more buoyant, and the business done showed an im provement on the closing rates of Saturday, Threes, for the Account, being now at 70fr. The Rail way Share Market has been quiet, and the varia tion in prices trifling. The French and Spanish Credit Mobilier have been in demand at improved quotations. The market continued improving to the close, and left off as follows : It per Cents. 9B 60 Do. end month 3 per Cents Do. end month 7O 10 New 3 per Cents Do. end month — Credit Mobilier 1170 Do, end month 1175 Bank Shares 3450 Uredit koncier l4BO Piedinontese Fives Italian Loan 7O Russian - Austrian Spanish. Threes 52 25 Rome Debt 'AYS. Cash. Account. Orleans IC9O 1087 60 RA IL' Northern New ditto . Lyons and Mediterranean 1165 1167 50 Geneva.. Southern 815 .. 818 75 Western Eastern .... Sardinian Austrian I,otrbard North of Spain Saragossa .. Ditto to Barcelona GLASGOW, Jan. 17.—Cotton—The cotton market has been fluctuating during the week, but closes dull. Goods and Yarns—The markets for goods and yarns has been brisk this week, without change in prices. Iron —The pig iron market opened firmly on Monday, and dur ing the day great anxiety was shown to secure iron, thus driving the price of warrants to 55s 9d cash, and forward delivery in proportion. Since then, however, under influ ence of American accounts and the advance in the rate of discount, the feeling has changed to dullness, and quota • tions are to-day is 3d per ton lower, with a limited inquiry. Business in warrants took place flail:, forenoon at 64s 6d cash, closing rather buyers. For shipping parcels the quo tations are --G.m.b., No. 1,54 s 3d ; No. 3,42 s 6d ; No. 1, Gartaherrie, 57s 6d ; Coltness, ;,8s ; Calder, 55s 6d ; Glen garnock, 54s 5d ; Eglington, 545. THE BRISTOL COUNTY COURT.—On Monday last the members of the legal profession at Bristol met in large numbers to bid adieu to Sir Eardley Wilmot, on the occasion of his vacating the judgeship of the County Court. Mr. Edlin, on behalf of the Bar ; Mr. S. L. King, on behalf of the attorneys ; Mr. Harley, Senior Registrar, who represented the officers of the court; and Mr. Thick, on behalf of the attorneys of the outlying courts, each ex pressed the satisfaction generally felt wit h the manner in which justice had been administered d urin g the nine years Sir Eardley had sat on the Bench. The y ex p ressed the i r high sense of the advantages they had derived from his kindness and good temper, and his conscientious and pains ta ing endeavours to do justice in all matters brought be fore him, and they wished him every success in his new occupation. Sir Eardley, in reply, expressed his satisfac tion with the honour dene him by those with whom chiefly his duties had brought him in contact at Bristol. After some general remarks, he said he thought the institution of county courts a great success. He did not see, however, why their jurisdiction should not ba extended to £lOO. He was in favour of giving them an equitable jurisdiction up to L• 500. The expenses of the Court of Chancery often de terred the poorer classes from resorting there, and so put ting up with losses, which were there a jurisdiction in the county court to deal with, they would often resort to. In deed, he saw no reason why in all common law actions of simple contract it should not be allowable to a plaintiff to bring his action in the county court, leaving it to the de fendant to remove it if he liked, After stating that he did not seek this new appointment, which was voluntarily offered him by th e L or d Chancellor, and express i ng hi s b e • tief that his successor was all the y cou ld desire, he cordi ally and affectionately bade those present farewell. INDIA, CHINA, AND AUSTRALIAN Mans. The Peninsular and Oriental Company's "st9am ship Delta, Capt. J.Weeks, arrived at Southampton at 2 30 p.m. on Saturday, with the heavy portion of these mails, and also 108 boxes of mails saved from the Colombo, in charge of Mr. B. Perkins, of the General Post-office. She brought 52 passengers, among whom were Admiral Sir J. Hope and secre tary, Colonel and Mrs. Butt and family, from Cal cutta; Mr. and Mrs. Tooth and child, Capt. Sir M. MiGregor, R.N., from Sydney; Mr. A. C. Barkly, from Melbourne; Captain and Mrs. de Butts and family, from Ceylon, &c. On freight she had £425 2s. Bd. in specie, four packages of valuables, 1,261 bales and 217 boxes of silk, 190 chests of oran gas, and 152 packages of general merchandise. The Delta left Alexandria on the 4th inst., Malta on the 7th, and Gibraltar on the 12th. From Alex andria to Malta she had fine weather; thence to Gibraltar strong westerly winds and heavy sea; to Cape Finisterre light variable winds, with fine weather; through the Bay of Biscay strong N.E. winds and heavy sea; and from Ushant to the Needles strong easterly winds and fine weather. On the 6th inst., at 4.30 p.m., the Delta ex changed colours with the Peninsular and Oriental Company's steamer Ellora, standing to the south ward and eastward ; on the 12th, off Tarifa, her Majesty's ship Meeanee and the British ship Triumpho, steaming up the Gut of Gibraltar; and off Lisbon she passed the steamship Lisbon, steering to the north. Her Majesty's ship Trident, and the French . . transports Seine and Perdrix, were at Alexandria when the Delta 'eft; and also the merchant steamers Cairo, Albanian, Egyptian, Falcon, Czsr, Winder mere, and Lloyd's. The British vessels of war at Malta on the 7th were the Hibernia, Marlborough, Magicienue, Phoebe, Psyche, Firefly, and gunboat Alacrity ; and the Firebrand and gunboat Procris were at Gibraltar on the 12th. The steam line-of-battle ship London left Gibraltar on the 7th inst. for the westward ; the transport Meglera on the same day for the eastward ; and the steam-ram Defence during the night of the 9th. The Prussian steam corvette Gaulle and the French troopship Horatio were at Gibraltar on the 12th inst. The Chronicle of the 9th has the fol- lowing relative to the object of the Gazelle's visit : " His P: ussian Majesty's steam corvette Gazelle has been for some days anchored in our port, and it may interest some of our readers to know the ob ject of her visit to Gibraltar. The Gazelle is on her way to Japan, and has touched at Gibraltar in order to land and place over the grave of a Prussian naval officer and three seamen a monument which the officers of the Prussian 'navy determined to erect to the memory of their comrades who fell under the foi -1 )wing circumstances :—On the 7th of August, 1856, the Prussia steam corvette Danzig, com manded by his Highness Prince William of Hesse, and having on board his Royal Highness Prince Adalbert of Prussia, was off Cape Tres Forcas, on the coast of Riff, and the Prince, with some of the officers and men, imprudently landed. The moun taineers of Riff, who have a strong natural love of fighting, soon swarmed on every rock and eminence commanding the shore, and the Prussians who had landed, after sustaining for some ,ime an unequal contest against overwhelming numbers, got back to their ship with the loss of Lieutenant Niesemann and three seamen killed, and several wounded. The former were interred in the cemetery at the North Front, and the latter were cured of their wounds in the Civil Hospital at Gibraltar. The monument to the memory of the deceased officer and seamen is a cast-iron column, surmounted by the national emblem, an eagle with outspread wings. The monument and the space containing the four graves are surrounded by an iron railing. Yes terday the short but very impressive ceremony of dedicating the monument took place. Captain Heldt, and the officers, marines, and seamen of the Gazelle, landed at the stone jetty on the North Front at 11 o'clock, and, accompanied by the Prussian Consul, proceeded to the cemetery. Here the party formed a circle round the monu ment, and Capt. Heldt made an appropriate ad dress, recounting the circumstances under which the deceased met their death. The ceremony con cluded with a prayer, after which the party re embarked." The Chronicle announces that the British Go vernment has forwarded to M. Cros, surgeon of the transport Charente, a marine telescope, as an ac knowledgment of the services rendered by him to three seamen of the English vessel Woodman. It has also awarded a gold medal to M. Maze, mer chant captain, second in command of the Charente, who commanded the boat sent to the assistance of the men on board the shipwrecked Woodman, and silver medals to the six sailors who accompanied him. Latest quotations of exchange at Gibraltar were as follows :—London, 90 days' date, 50 5-168 ; Paris, ditto, sf. 28c. ; Marseilles, ditto, of. 20c.. Genoa, ditto, bf. 29c.; Brussels, ditto, sf. 29c. Madrid, eight days' sight, a pm. ; Cadiz, ditto, -7,- dis. ; Seville, ditto, -I- dis.; Malaga, ditto, par; Barcelonia, ditto, * pm.; Almeria, ditto, par ; Valencia, ditte, * pm. Premium on five-franc pieces, I per cent. The Peninsular and Oriental Company's steam ship Pera, Capt. T. Jamieson, from Southampton on the 4th inst., with the India and Chita mails, arrived in the Bay on the night of the 9th, and anchored on the Algesiras side on account of the threatening state of the weather, crossing over to Gibraltar at daylight on the morning of the 10th, when she exchanged mails, &c., and proceedea up the Mediterranean. She had a heavy gale in the Channel after leaving Southampton. The British merchant steamer Cadiz., Capt. J. Russell, 10 days from London, arrived at Gibraltar on the 7th; and the Milan, Captain W. Bain, seven and a half days from Liverpool, on the 9th. The schooner Shearwater, Captain J. Askam, from Newcastle ; the schooner Nancy, Captain A. A mbrosen, from Newcastle ; the brig John Sanchy, Captain L. Nelson, from Swansea. FEDERAL SEARCH FOR THE ALABAMA.—DEAL, Jan. 18.—The William Mitchell, from Whampoa, arrived in the Downs, reports having been boarded on the Ist inst., when in lat. 35 30 N., long. 30 45 W., by a Federal steamer of war in search of the Confederate steamer Alabama. She also reports having experienced severe northerly gales, veer ing from north-north-west to north-east, since passing the Western Isles. THE IRISH AT FREDERICKSBURG.--A Canadian journal (the Sherbrooke Leader) publishes a letter from the captain of a company of the 88th (Irish regiment), a young man who resigned a situation of 1,300 dols. a year in the Custom-house and raised a company. The letter was written after the battle of Fredericksburg. He writes : "Dear Father,—Thank God for Hia great mercy. I came out of the most terrible battle to-day of this war without a scratch. My brother Edmund is also unhurt. I can hardly realise the fact that I am so blessed. Oh 1 it was a terrible day. The destruction of life has been fearful, and nothing gained. The battle opened about 10 o'clock yesterday morning with a terrible fire of artillery. As we were drawn up in line of battle on the front of the city, General Meagher addressed us in words of inspiration and eloquence I never heard equalled, after which he ordered every one of the brigade to place a bunch of green boxwood in his cap, himself showing the example. Every man appeared fired with determined zeal and a firm resolution, which the result proves to have been ca rr i e d out i n a man: ner scarcely paralleled in the annals of war. The 88th Regiment this morning numbers 10 officers and 41 men; the 69th, 7 officers and 59 men ; th e 63d , 6 officers and 64 men ; the 116th, 13 officers and 57 men. Tile 28th Massachusetts also suffered heavily, but I have not the returns. Irish blood and Irish bones cover that terrible field to day, for Irish regiments were placed foremost, as the reports and returns will prove. Lieutenant O'Brien of my company of brave men is I believe mortally wounded . All I can find of my once fine company is two sergeants and three men. That noble, brave Major Horgan was one of the first to fall, shot through the head. Every field officer of the brigade in action was killed or wounded, except Col. Kelley, and he had a very narrow escape. Lieut, Granger was struck by a piece of shell , tearing !hrough all his clothes and the flesh over his bowels ; one inch closer and he would have been killed. A piece of shell struck my haversack, tearing it off me and throwing me over. I do not know what disposition will be made of us now in our shattered condi tion. Col. Kelly is in command f t e remnant of the bri • gade, which does not number half a regiment. I have got cold in my limbs, and have felt very sick alt morning, nut it is nothing more than the results of exposure and want of regular food, which a couple of days' rest will remedy." THE TOTNES ELECTION. TOTN ES, Monday. The nomination of candidates to fill the seat ren dered vacant by the death of Earl Gifford took place this morning on hustings erected in front of the Seven Stars Hotel. The candidates were John Dent, Esq. (Conservative), and Alfred Seymour, Esq. (Liberal). The former was accompanied to the hustings by Capt. King, Capt. Dent, R.N., Mr. J. F. P. Phillips, J.P., Mr. W. H. Mitchell, and a. large number of other friends. Mr. J. F. P. Phillips, J.P., proposed, Fuld Mr. Seaman seconded the nomination of John Dent, Esq. Mr, Seymour was proposed by Mr. Boardman, and seconded by Mr. Huxham. JOHN DENT, Esq., who was received with loud cheering, said—Mr. Mayor and gentlemen, in presenting myself before you a second time as a candidate for your suffrages, it may pos- sibly be expected that I should explain to you and justify my abrupt retirement on the last occa sion. This, gentlemen, I should be perfectly ready and willing to do, if I could possibly do so without entering into personalities and recrimination which would only serve to embitter still further the pre sent contest. (Hear.) I will therefore say no more on the subject than this—that so far from having betrayed the Conservative cause on that occasion I was complimented and thanked by the executive chiefs of our great party in London for my prudence and forbearance. I was complimented for having mystified myself and my own feelings rather than prejudice the great constitutional cause in which I feel so deeply interested. With respect to my political views, gentlemen, I have really very little more to say to you on the present occasion than I had on the last. I have taken pains to lay them before you broadly, openly, and honestly, fully aware that my creed is what is called an old.. fashioned one in the present day; though why it should be called so I am at a !oss to understand. (Hear.) For what is my creed ? I accept our con stitution as it is. lam satisfied with it as it stands. (Cheers.) I would not undo any one single act which has served to give it its present specific shape and form, but I certainly would not hand over that sacred " ark of our liberties," that treasury of all that we love and venerate, to be pulled to pieces to-day and put together again to-morrow by rash and irreverent hands. (Loud applause.) I cleave, gentlemen, to those ancient landmarks which have made Old England what it is—the envy of the world, the sanctuary and resting place of liberty. (Cheers.) If this is an old-fashioned creed I avow it, I am proud of it, and I will cling to it, and if you send me to Parliament, understand me clearly, I will vote dead against all elementary or organic change. (Cheers.) At the same time, gentlemen, I avow myself an earnest administrative reformer. (Hear.) I know of no institution, whether in Church or State, that can be held as exempt from the necessity of periodical repair and amendment. (Hear.) Abuses will creep in. The inroads of time will make themselves felt in all human arrange ments, and all such abuses and all such inroads I would as earnestly correct as my hon. opponent, or any other man. (Cheers and laughter.) Need I say, gentlemen, that I have been all my life a Free trader P (Hear.) I was a Free-trader in principle at a time when it was not the popular creed ; and I myself, and the house to which I belong, were in bye-gone years amongst the earliest and foremost advocates for breaking down two of the most per nicious monopolies in the world at that day—that of the old East India Company, in conjunction with the ancient Co-Hong of China. (Hear, hear.) I can boast of this, gentlemen, as practical service in a bye-gone 'day to a then unpopular cause— (cheers)—though I cannot, like my honourable opponent, boast of having shaken the hand of M. Michael Chevalier, or of having drawn an in spiration from its contact. (Cheers and laughter.) And now, gentlemen, I have but one word more to say to you. My canvass has exceeded my most sanguine expectations. (Cheers.) Let our watch word be union. (Hear.) Rush to the poll to-morrow with one united effort, and we shall rescue this fine old borough for ever from the thraldom which has for the last dozen years so lamentably distinguished it. (Cheers.) _ _ Mr. ALFRED SEYMOUR then came forward, and was received with cheers from his friends and all kinds of uproar from th© crowd. He expressed him self in favour of the progressive policy of the Liberal party, referred to the principal measures passed through their aid—the Catholic Eman- cipation Act, the Reform Bill, Free Trade, and all those measures of finance which had sea cured for this country so high a position in the eyes of the world; and after referring to the peaceable manner in which the operatives in Lancashire bare their distress as a proof chat is was no fault of the Legislature, said he was in fa vour of further extension of the franchise and mea sures of progress generally, and not like his oppo nent, who wished to see things remain as they were. (Several of the crowd having interrupted him in the course of his remarks, he delivered to them some severe remarks.) The Mayor then called for a show of hands, when fully two-thirds were held up for Mr. Dent, where upon his worship declared the show to be in that gentleman's favour. The announcement was re ceived with loud cheers. A poll was demanded for Mr. Seymour, and the mayor fixed it to begin at eight to-morrow morning• LISBURN ELECTION.—Mr. Bateson, the Conser vative candidate, has retired, his canvass disappointed him. The Liberal candidate, Mr. Barbour, is receiving veil wide support. No successor to Mr. Bateson has yet been found. THE VOLUNTEERS.—Yesterday the important contest for the honour of holding, for the first year s the Challenge Cup, of the value of 60 guineas, presented by Lord Fermoy and Harvey Lewis, Esq., the members for Marylebone, for competition between the Rifle Volunteer Corps representing that borough, came off at Wormwood Scrubs, and excited deep interest. The corps between whom the competition rested were the West Middlesex (Maryle bone), the North Middlesex (St. Pancras), the 36th Middle.- sex (Paddington), and the 20th Middlesex. Lieut.-Col. Whitehead, 29th ,Yorth Middlesex, Lieut.-Col. Bigge, 20th. Middlesex, and Lieut.- Col. Wood, Paddington, and a large number of officers of each regiment were present. The terms of competition were of an extraordinary chatacter, the highest points of excellence to be decided by the average number of marks made by the representatives of each corps, in the ratio one for every 50 enumerated as the strength of the corps in the adjutant's last returns to the War Office. Capt. Williams, of the 19,h Middlesex, acted as umpire, and the ranges were 200, 500, and 600 yards, five shots each. A perfect gale of wind blew from the right front throughout the contest, and rendered anything like steady shooting out of the question. Under these unfavourable auspices the contest commenced and proceeded to the close, when the state of the score stood thus:—West Middlesex, 10 men, 287 marks; average, 26 70. 36th Middlesex (Pad dington), 5 men, 130 marks ; average, 26-00. 29t0 North Middlesex, 11 men (1 short), 270 marks ; average, 24-54. 20th Middlesex, 19 men, 435 marks ; average, 22-88, The West Middlesex are therefore the winners of the Borough Cup for the present year.--2d City of London.—On be turday evening the above corps matched from headquarters, East Harding-street, headed by their two bands, to Somer set House, and were put through a series of battalion move• ments by Major Spottiswoode, their commandant. After an hour's drill they marched through the Strand, St' James's Park, Hyde Park, and Oxford •street, back to their head-quarters. TERRIBLE DEATH.—On Sunday evening, at about ten o'clock, a man named John Willan, living in Salter-street, Preston, and employed at the gasworks in th a town as foreman of the firemen, and night attendan t to the ammonia still, met his death under the following cir cumstances :—lt was his duty to supply the still, when necessary, with vitriol, which is largely used in the manu facture of ammonia, and which he had to pour into the still from large carboys holding about 10 gallons each. I° order to do this he had to ascend a platform raised about seven feet above the ground, and on a level with the mouth of the retort. It is conjectured that he went to the top of the platform about ten o'clock for the purpose of filling the retort, and then while holding the carboy, which was half full of vitriol, he stepped back incautiously and slipped ell the platform, which was not railed round or defended in any way. In his fall he must bavo dragged the carboy with him, and the burning liquid poured down upon his face and the front of his body. Ahout half-past ten o'clock a person going past the gasworks heard some one moaning inside. Assistance was procuted, and the still room was entered , when the unfortunate man was found lying on the ground just under the platform in a pool of vitriol, which was gra` dually consuming his body and clothing, the glass vese° l that had held the vitriol being close to him, smashed int o pieces by its fall. Medical aid was speedily procured, L.' it was of no avail, for the unfortunate creature, who nyve r spoke from th e t i me he was found up to his death, exp i r ed at four o'clock yesterday murnieg, in the gre,test agea ° He had been employed at the gasworks many years. tii Pt be re 9 tw Ti