The Sun. — London, England, 1863-01-03 00:00:00

ROYAL ENGLISHRDEN OPERA, COVENT GA. Under the Management of Miss Louisa Fyne and Mr. W. Harrison. sole Lessees. THIS EVENING, to commence with the Second and Third Acts of T FIE BOHEMIAN GIRL. Atter which. the Grand Comic Christmas Panto titled HARLEQUIN BEAUTY AND THE BEAST.mime, en- Doors open at hall-past 6—Commence at 7. T HEATR E-R OYA L, DRURY-LANE.- Lessee and Manager, Mr. Edmund Falconer. THIS EVENMG, the Comic Drama of THE NExr OF After which, the Grand Pantomime of LITTLE GOODY TWO SHOES. Commence at 7. THEATRE -ROYAL, HAY MARKET. Lessee. Mr. .T. B. Ruckstone. THIS EVENING, at Seven o'clock, will be performed OUR AMERICAN COUSIN. Asa Trenchard, Mr. Buck- Stone ; Lord Dundreary, Mr. Sothern. After which, a new and orif•inal Extravaganza, entitled RASSELAS, PRINCE OF ABYSSINIA ; or, The Happy Valley. Rasselas, Miss Louise Kelley. Followed by A DAY AFTER THE WEDDING. Mr. W, Farren, Mr. Rogers, and Miss Harfleur. THEATRE -ROYAL, LYCEUM, Will OPEN, under the Sole Management of Mr. PECHTER, on SATURDAY, 10th January, 1863, with a New Romantic Drama, entitled THE DUKE'S MOTTO, in which the prin cipal character will be sustained by Mr. Pechter, supported by Messrs. G. Wining, J. Brougham, 11. Widdicombe, Miln tyre, F. Charles, Garden. Raymond, H. Butler, Da ws on ; Misses Carlotta Leclercn, hate Terry, E. Lavenue, and Els worthy. Box-office open from 1t till 5. NEW THEATRE-R0 YAL, Sole Proprietor and Manager, Mr. B. Webster. =THIS EVENING, 3fARGERY DAW. After which, A TICKET OF LEAVE : M e ssrs. J.L.Toole , P. Bedford, and Mrs. Billinoton • D E BARNWELL ; E To conclude with 'Bth time)" GEOR`Z.n,• Miss Woolgar, ~ or, Harlequin Folly in the Realms of Toole, P. Bed- Miss IC. Kelly, Miss Seaman ; Mr. John Lauri ; ford, Stephenson, C. J. Smut .. Clown . Mr. W. Hildyard ; Columbine, Miss Caroli n g ..,l: " The celebrated Arthur and Pantaloon, Mr. J. Pa ul o. Bertrand. Commence at 7. Ro▪ l/AL PRINCESS'S THEATRE. Lessee and Manager. Mr Lindus. Tuts EVENING. TIME TRIES ALL: Mr. 11. Vezln and Miss Constance Aylmer. 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 • udspeth, Mr. Milano, Mr. R. Power, Miss A. Collinson, and • Halford. The WEATHER.—Sun Office, Jan. 3, 1863 THERMOMETER. Highest since Noon yesterday. .. 45 Lowest during the night This day at N00n..... . 39 Barometer-29.5 0 . Wind—S, W, ; light, with fine weather. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. Tam DAY.—/slorning, 12h. 59m.—Afternoon, lh. 25m To-MORROW:Moraing, lh. 46m.—Afternoon, 2h. 3m 4 ,)•11.11. L - sblz iONDON, SATURDAY, JANUARY 3, 18E3. There was a very interesting meeting yesterday at the Mansion House, concerning the Indian Famine Relief Fund. The LORD MAYOR inti mated that he had received a letter from Lord ELGIN, informing him that he would be prepared to honour his Lordship's draft for £20,000, a por• tion of the surplus of the fund raised by the noble charity of the people of this country. A letter was also read by the Secretary, stating that at a public meeting in Calcutta, it was resolved that the money should be devoted to the Lancashire distress, since there was no present probability of charitable ob jects in India requiring it. After a resolution had been passed agreeing to this appropriation, some objections were taken to the whole sum being applied to the exigencies of the North, on the ground that other places were also in great want of assistance. All these objections were overruled, however, and the Committee agreed on the original appropriation of the whole sum. This, under the circumstances, was the only way of meeting the difficulty, since altering or amending the prior arrangements would inevitably have led to confusion. Also it would have disappointed and irritated the parties in India who had so gene rously agreed to forego their own advantages and the claims of a local nature to bestow on those whose need was more imminent. Sir E. RYAN truly stated the difficulties of the case in his address, but he wisely argued that the only rational conclusion to adopt was to leave the sum for those for whom it had been inten ded. He said there was no other course to be pursued, and his argument will be best seen in his own words : " A committee was originally appointed for a specific purpose, and a large sum of money was raised, which was sent away, the com mittee was dissolved, and the affair brought to an end so far. It was now discovered that there was a large surplus, and it certainly appeared to him that they had no power to deal with the portion of that surplus that was offered to them in any other manner than for the object for which it was offered, namely, in aid of the fund for the relief of the distress in Lancashire. He believed that the application of the money to such a pur pose would be perfectly satisfactory to those who had subscribed to the Indian Famine Fund ; and believing that this was the most satisfactory course to be taken, he should cordially support the re solution." _ . Some considerations occur to the mind when the wisdom of this resolution is admitted. Right and fitting as it is to do all that is possible' far more than would ordinarily be convenient, for the benefit of the Lancashire operatives, still there are others whose claims must not be wholly put aside or forgotten. The opulent among us should remember that if they abstain this year from their ordinary donations to smaller communities, in order to aid the overhelm jog calamities of the North, these small circles will soon equal in misery their afflicted brethren, and if their numerical inferiority will prevent their sufferings being generally known, still they will not be the less severely felt, and the less deplorable to encounter. Care and caution are necessary even in the bestowal of chari ty , and it is to be earnestly trusted that the arguments of those Who advocated the cause of the detached bodies of the poor and distressed, though ineffectual at the time, and for many reasons de sirably unsuccessful, may not be wholly forgotten now that the meeting is over. Now that this princely sum has been added to the stores accumu lating at home, some of the wealthy among us may look around, and if they see any charity particularly in need of assistance, let them spare something from their intended amount for Lancashire to bestow on the humbler claimants who may be forgott en i n the excitement of greater and more important in terests at first, till at last it will be a new tax on the community to relieve those who were not at tended to in time. It is always ten times more difficult to assist those who have become exhausted in their resources from waiting too long for extra neous aid. The meeting of yesterday was eminently satisfactory in its primary object of appropriating the funds of the Indian Famine Relief Fund for Lancashire. It will complete the gratification to all well-wishers of the community at large if the secondary bubjcet there descanted upon is attended to in due time and place, The working men of Manchester have but too much leisure for attending public meetings, yet it is ono of the most remarkable facts in the history of this stoppage of employment that next to none have been convened. We can all well remember the time when the moors of Lancashire and York shire had, in times of difficulty, their silence broken by demagogue orators haranguing vast crowds whom I no building could contain, and holding forth to t hem on the selfishness and oppression of their masters and the aristocracy. We have ourselves, unnoticed and unsuspected, mingled with a multi tude, where the SOVEREIGN herself w Eta, with half satirical, half good-humoured banter, designated as the " Little lass in London," and where memorials to her were adopted, intended by their authors to dissatisfy the mob with the civil list of their QUEEN, by comparing her life of unqualified splen- dour with the squalid sufferings of their w i ves and daughters. To those who had visited the north at such times, the country now hardly seems like the same. The tall chimnies are there, though, alas! not pouring forth now so much as then of their unpleasing testi mony to pleasing industry below; the wild-looking country, wild-looking oft en when populous, is there ; and the unmistakeable northern figures and features and dialect are all there still ; but the discontent is no longer there. It is greater suffering, and deeper sorrow, b u t it is free from any rankling enmity an d from bitter speeches. The noted sturdy inde pendence, which then showed itself in every mode of threatening to all of the higher classes, now shows itself in patient enduring up to the very point of starvation, and in receiving, though with gratitude, yet with an averted look of shame, the charity which the donors themselves proffer, but as the debt of wealth to want. The employers are now honoured as generous benefactors, the aristo cracy as the collectors and distributors of the na tion's and the world's munificence; while our SO VEREIGN is adverted to by them as the sympathis ing, widowed Duchess of LANCASTER, who, in that capacity, can mingle her offerings with those of her wealthier subjects. The political and moral aspects of a season of Lancashire distress are indeed wholly changed. The ignorance of a naturally shrewd people is exchanged for knowledge to appreciate the conduct of the ruling classes in regard to the crisis. And, as Mr. HoRSMAN truly remarked, that knowledge and intelligence must be considerable, since we might, at one time, have legally refused to acknowledge the blockade, and national honour chiefly bound us to a different course. Former trials of this kind produced on the higher classes the strongest determination to refuse the franchise to these very men. " Will you give votes to such a blind mob ?" was, rightly or wrongly, the feel ing of both the aristocracy and the middle classes. Now, we find Statesmen of all parties—Statesmen of Conservative tendencies, perhaps more even than Whigs—pointing to the conduct of the masses, and declaring that some means must be found to bring such an intelligent and self-restrained population within the pale of the constitution. These thoughts naturally arose in our minds while perusing the report of a Manchester meeting in the Sun of Thursday evening—a crowded meet ing of operatives in the vast Free Trade Hall, not an ill-conditioned hot-blooded demagogue, but the Mayor, presiding—and the subject which collected such a monster meeting, not as we might in reason have supposed, their own distress, but, of all things in the world, the emancipation of four millions of American negroes ! We may well ask whether any parallel to this working class philanthropy can be found in history. Thousands of men, in deep dis tress, assembling, as the EMPEROR might say, " for an idea"—not the empty idea of military glory, for which Frenchmen can be beguiled into fighting, but the genuinely English idea of personal and political freedom ; and that for a race so different from their own, wrongfully enslaved by a portion of their own race. Negro slaving in America was sufficient to gather together the thousands who have lived hitherto by working up its produce, to demand that slavery should furnish that produce no longer. This operative meeting is also remarkable as a response to recent American commendations of the Manchester masses. Mr. ADAMS, even, has reported well of them to the North,contrasting them, favour ably, with the higher classes. The generous con tributors also of New York and the North to Lan cashire relief, in their speeches, spoke strongly on the fidelity of the starving operatives to the cause of the North; though we did not observe a single mention of the undisputed fact that the contribu tors who thus spoke had compelled Mr. LINCOLN to declare war, and, of course, to declare also a blockade of his enemy's ports, and thus virtually to declare that Lancashire should be idle ! While we frankly acknowledge the generosity, we yet must be pardoned for not overlooking that it is the generosity of those who have caused the need of it. The response of our operatives is, however, very instructive to their commenders. Their resolutions and their admirable address to the President, show him pretty plainly what is uppermost in their' minds—they barely mention maintenance of " the Union"—they dwell on, at large, and enforce in every way, the necessity of negro emancipation. Evidently, they would not care a straw for " the Union" if it was to be again a pro-slavery Union. They show him, unmistakeably, that their desire for the triumph of the North is a desire for the triumph of real freedom throughout the whole of North America. We apprehend the difference of feeling between Mr. LINCOLN, who is at heart an anti-slavery man, and all Englishmen, is just this :—He has said, " Save the Union ; whether with or without slavery is of secondary importance." Every Englishman, every operative at the meeting in the Free Trade Hall, would say—" Abolish slavery, whether with or without the Union is a secondary matter." In a word, we all place first what Mr. LINCOLN and the ' North place second ; and the operatives at Man chester, and all who care for the preservation of the Union, care for it but as a means to attain the nobler object. Apart from the slavery question, England unquestionably now sympathises with the South. We admire their skill and courage ; we cannot be indifferent to their wish for independence ; would they .but become Emancipationists, we doubt much whether another meeting at the Free Trade Hall would not demand their immediate recogni tion. What chills us all is the recollection, that they are not only a nation of slaveholders, but in stead of being ashamed, are proud of it. That theirs is an attempt, the first in history, as they themselves declare, to base a republic on the D:vine right, and the social and political advantages of JACKSON, of slav ery ! We are th rilled by the deeds STUART, and LEE; but we sicken at the thought that the object is—slavery from the Ohio to the Isthmus of Panama. Mr. LINCOLN and the Republicans, now be unable t o misapprehend the cause o f the goodwill of Manch es t er operatives to the Nort h. w however, They tell him frankly, that while honouring the free states as "a singularly happy abode for the working millions, where industry is ho noure d , " one thing alone has lessened their sympathy with the Union and their confidence in it. The one thing was the ascendancy of pro-slavery politicians in their Congress—an ascendancy, we may observe, which seems likely to be regained by the triumph of the Democrats, who are pro-slavery men, at the late elections. The operatives proceed to recount all the numerous anti-slavery deeds of Mr. LINCOLN up to his last proclamation, as steps practically exemplifying his belief in "all men being created free and equal." They tell him they "assume that he cannot, now, atop short without uprooting Slavery." They remind him that if in any state it THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY ' , 'EVENING, JANUARY 3, 1863. be done gradually, yet_that at once the rights of husbands and wives, the equal protection of the negro in law courts, and the prohibition of " slave breeding" must be secured. And finally they tell him that one people, as we really are by descent, the one thing which would do most to cement good will between us, would be, the removal of " that foul blot on their civilization and Christianity— chattel slavery." Whether we agree on all points, or not, with the operatives of Manchester we shall all agree in the noble and happy contrast which this monster meeting presents to those of times gone by—gone by, we trust, for ever. A meeting was held a few days since by the mem bers of the National Lifeboat Instution, on which the accounts of the damage done to our shipping by the late gales is the best comment. From the islands of the "storm - tossed Hebrides" to the southern coast, from Wick to Holyhead, the de stroyer has been playing havoc with the life and property entrusted to the waters. In the far north the storm has raged with destructive violence. We read of the boats of poor fishermen on the Scottish coast being dashed to pieces, and vessels of a larger size being carried ashore and driven into parks and highroads. Walls that have stood the blasts of thirty years have been overthrown and the whole coast is one wide spread scene of devastation and ruin. The poor inhabitants of some of the northern islands, who get their living chiefly from the sea, have been heavy losers. In the small Island of Stromoc, on the coast of Caithness, near which are dangerous currents, two fishing herring boats, two pilot boats, and four lobster fishing boats have been com pletely destroyed. The loss in this small island approaches £2oo—a mine of wealth to the frugal and humble inhabitants. Some of them had to ave their houses owing the advancing tide, which in many cases washed the cabbages out of the soil. Throughout all this neighbourhood the damage was great ; the tides in the Pentland Firth, in which the Island of Stroraa is situated, rising to an 'almost unprecedented height, and sweeping away the fishing-boats from their places of security for the winter, to return them to their owners in fragments along the shores. Yet, melan choly as it is to read of the devastation of pro perty on which so many industrious families depend for their livelihood, the loss of human life is yet more startling. A large vessel came to anchor on the coast of the Rabbit Islands, Kyle of Tongue, during the late storm, but the strength of the gale swept her away and drove her on the bar across the mouth of the Kyle, where she went to pieces, and the whole of her crew perished. Still more ter rible is a recent disaster in the Hebrides, where seven boats containing fortytwo men are missing, leaving the little fishing village they belong to half depopulated, and the relatives of their unfor tunate crews in the most painful state of suspense. One of the boats was driven on the opposite main land, with the crew so much reduced by fatigue and want that one of them died. This news has doubtless prolonged " the hope that keeps alive despair" among the sorrowing relatives. Among such a catalogue of disasters it is some satisfaction to turn to the report of the meeting of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, to which we have referred, whose members have as sisted so largely in the rescue of human life, and sometimes in saving the vessels also. During the year which has just terminated the lifeboats of this insti tution have rescued 358 persons on our coasts, and as a proof that they combine skill and efficiency with daring, it may be mentioned that though the boats have during that period been manned on oc casions of service and exercise by nearly 6,000 men, only one has lost his life. An interesting incident was mentioned in the subscription list. A con tribution of 2s. 6d. was received from the wife of an old Scotch sailor, said to be a good sailor herself. She thought that every one should give something to the Institution to which her craft owed so much,' and therefore sent her humble donation. We should like to see her ex ample more largely followed, for there are few associations which have more claim on the inhabitants of a maritime nation whose obligations to our sailors of every grade none are anxious to deny. The value of the lifeboat stations on our storm-beaten coasts must be apparent to the most superficial observer, and although few can afford to follow the generous ex ample of Miss BURDETT COUTTS and Mr. JAFFRAY in presenting the Society with the boats re quired, most of us can contribute some aid by influence and exertion. It is proposed to place forthwith a new lifeboat at Bude Haven, in Corn wall, and to renovate the station there. We trust the society will be enabled to continue and extend its labours, and to increase the number of its life boat stations on all the more exposed parts of the coasts of the United Kingdom. His Highness the Prince Sehakoffskoi and the Count Krakinsoff have left the Brunswick Hotel, Jermyn street, for Paris. His Excellency the Saxon Minister has returned to town from Dresden to resume his diplomatic duties. The. Duchess of Hamilton has left Paris for Nice. His grace, who arrived in town a few days since from his seat in Suffolk, will leave early next week to join the duchess and family, The Earl Deiawarr is much better, but stil remains at his lordship's house in Upper Grosvenor-street Lord West is staying at Buckhurst Park. The Countess Cowper, the Earl Cowper, and the Ladies Cowper have arrived at Broadlands, on a visit to Viscount and Viscountess Palmerston, from Panshanger, Herts. The Countess of Sefton and Lady Cecilia Molyneux have arrived at their residence in Grosvenor place for a few days. The Countess Gifford has left town for Lord Dufferin's seat, Clandeboye House, Belfast. Count Charles Kniphausen, nephew to the Hano verian Minister, has left town for The Grove, Watford, on a visit to the Earl and Countess of Clarendon. The Hon. Cnarles Barrington has left town to joi n the circle assembled at Broadlands, Hants. Mr. Adolf Schmettan is appointed Secretary to the Hanoverian Legation, in the place of the late lamented Mr. Carl Klingeman, who was secretary for upwards of 30 years. Mr. and Mrs. Hicks have left Fenton's Hotel for Liverpool, A notice has been issued that an International Agricultural Exhibition will take place at Hamburg next June. THE NASHVILLE.--The Liverpool Journal of Commerce states that the Nashville, which has been for some time caged in the Cgeechee River, has been sold for 120,000 dollars to a private company of merchants. She has been cut down and armed with one 100-pounder gun forward, and a smaller one aft, and she is intended to fight her way, laden with cotton, through the blockading fleet. ACCIDENT TO THE CROWN PRINCE AND PRIN CESS OF PRUSSIA.—A letter from Berlin notices, that on Monday afternoon, about four o'clock, the Crown Prince and Princess met with an accident while riding a l o ng Teropelhofer Strasse. The carriage, which was drawn by two horses, was proceeding at a very mo d era t e pace, in order to avoid coming in contact with some fire engin es which were passing by at the time. A careless driver, ffora the country, however, managed his horses so clunr,t.ily that the centre pole of the waggon to which they were attach e d was carr i e d r ight through the window of one of th e d oors of the R o yal carriage, shattering it to pieces. The Crown Princess, in the terror of the moment, put out her hand to seize the door, and was cut by the broken glass. The injury is not considerable, and the accident m'ght have been greater but for the exertions of the Crown Piince. It is to be hoped adds the writer, that this occurrence will call th e attention of the autho rities to the abominable carelessness of drivers in Berlin, who seem to delight to drive the more recklessly the more crowded the crossings are with Yehielcs and foot passengers. LATEST INTELLIGENCE. AMERICA. ;Per Arabia, via Roche's Point, Jan. 3, 11.30 a.m,) NEW YORK, DEC. 24. The Ministerial crisis is at an end. Messrs. Scward and Chase, at the request of the President, have resumed their portfolios. There is no longer any talk of the resignation or dismissal of Gen. Halleek or Mr. Stanton. The President, in a letter, returns his thanks to the Army of the Potomac, and compliments the troops upon their courage, and asserts that the attempt to dislodge the Confederates was not an error nor a failure other than an accident. The committee appointed by the Senate to inquire into the disaster at Fredericksburg have presented their report. They examined Generals Burnside, Sumner, Hooker, Franklin, Halleck, and others, and have presented the evidence without comment. Gen. Burnside assumed the whole responsibility. He stated incidentally that he had not been pro perly supported by General Halleck and Meigs. He did not consider his troops demoralised by the re sult. Gen. Sumner expressed a contrary opinion. No movement of importance has taken place on either side of the Rappahannock. The Confederates are strengthening their front. General Foster, according to his despatches to General Halleck, continues to gain victories over the Confederates in North Carolina, and says he has fought four engagements at South-west Creek, Kingston, Whitehall, and Goldsborougb, and whipped the enemy handsomely each time. It is denied that the expedition down the Missis sippi has been postponed. General Sherm in is reported to have replaced General M'Clernand in command, and to be at the head of 25,000 men. He will be aided by a flotilla of gunboats. Other news from the south-west indicates that General Grant's army is in a critical position, and in danger of having its communication with its base of operations cut off. It is believed the President will persist in his pro clamation of emancipation. Mr. Lane, of Kansas, has given notice of a bill to authorise the President to raise 200 negro regi ments. Secretary Chase has sent to the Committee of Ways and Means his Financial Project, and recom mends a loan of 900,000,000 dols., at rates of interest not exceeding those autb orised by law. He does not suggest any augmentation of Treasury notes. The Committee have not yet considered the subject. ANOTHER ACCOUNT• NEW YORK, DEC, 22 (Evening). A Cabinet crisis has occurred in Washington. The Republican members of the Senate, in a caucus, declared want of confidence in the Government, their action being principally directed against Mr. Seward. Mr. Seward immediately tendered his resigna tion, which was followed by a similar step on the part of Mr. Chase, the Secretary of the Treasury. President Lincoln accepted neither resignation. and requested both to resume their offices. Mr. Seward and Mr. Chase have accordingly resumed their functions in the State and Treasury departments. General Burnside assumes personally the whole responsibility of the movement on Fredericksburg. President Lincoln has informed the Border State Committee that he issued the emancipation pro. clamation from a belief that it would effect good results; but if convinced of the contrary he would modify his position upon that subject, as he de sired to do the best under the circumstances. The Secretrary of the Treasury has completed a Finance Bill, recommending a loan of 900,000,000 dots., at not over 7.30 per annum, and the repeal of the 5.20 Conversion Act. He adheres to the opinion that money can be raised by loan. NEW YORK, DEC. 23 (Evening). General Burnside has tendered his resignation, but President Lincoln refused to accept it. It is supposed in some quarters that a reconstruc tion of the Federal Cabinet will yet take place. The hostile public feeling against General Halleck and Mr. Stanton daily increases. General Burnside admits that he attacked Fredericksburg from Falmouth instead of from Warrentown, contrary to the advice of President Lincoln, General Halleck, and Mr. Stanton, and at an earlier moment than they directed. He esti mates his loss at 1,100 killed, and 9,000 wounded. A large Federal expedition has left Memphis to attack Vicksburg, or Granada, Mississippi. Federal General Foster announces that he has captured Kingston, North Carolina, with 11 pieces of artillery, and 400 prisoners. It is reported that the Confederates have ad vanced in force through Pound Gap, from Western Virginia into Kentucky, with the view of attacking Lexington. Despatches from Mobile state that eight Federal transports from Lake City have been captured at Carson's Landing, Mississippi. In Congress Mr. Vallandigham has introduced a resolution urging the adoption of measures for the restoration of peace. Congress has passed a reso lution directing the Government to inquire if the American Minister in Mexico used his influence to favour the French. The steamer Herald, arrived at a Southern port on the 17th. Two barques, apparently privateers, have been seen off the west edge of the bank of New fon ndland . The New York journals assert that the officers of several British war steamers were present with their steamers' bands, at a ball given by the Con federate Consul at Havana. General Duke arrived at Havana on the Bth, and General Serrano embarked for Spain on the 12th inst. CHINA AND AUSTRALIA. POINT DE GALLE, DEC. 17. The Japanese Ambassadors have arrived here, on their way to Japan. CANTON, Nov. 30. There has been a violent gale off Manilla, during which 10 Spanish ships were lost. MELBOURNE, Nov. 25. There has been a run on the Colonial Bank, but it subsided the day after it commenced. The English bank notes lately forged have been discovered in circulation in Australia. New South Wales has won the Intercolonial Rifle Match. The Australian Company's ship City of Sydney has been totally lost at Cape Green. The shipments of gold since the departure of the last mail amount t 0•121,250 oz. Trade has decidedly improved. CANTON, NOV 30. Tea firtr. Total export to date, 72,500,0001b5. Exchange on London, 4.71. SHANGHAI, Nov. 23. Tea and silk firm. Settlements of silk during the past fortnight, 3,000 bales. Total export to date, 51,250 balee. Exchange on London, 8.1. CALCUTTA, DEC. 15. Imports rising. Freights firm. BOMBAY, DEC. 16. Cotton piece goods and mule twist lower. Five-and-a-Half per Cent. Government Securi- Les, 112 k. JUBAL, JAN. 1, 7 45 P.M. The Penininsular and Oriental Company's steamer, with the above mails, has passed here en route for Suez. THE BOMBAY AND MAURITIUS MAILS. MARSEILLES, JAN. 2. The Euxine, with the above mails, arrived this day, at 9 p.m. The mails leave for London by the 10.30 p.m. ;rain. CHINA. SHANGHAI, Nov, 23, via JUBAL. Alarming reports are current of the rebels being in the neighbourhood of the city, and an engage ment has taken place at Paokong between the Burrge7ine (?) and the rebels, in which the latter lost 2,000 killed. The Russians have offered their assistance for the capture of Nankin. FRANCE. BOURSE, Jan. 2.—Business has been heavy, but with trifling change in quotations from those of Wednesday. Threes for the Account, are now at 69r. 90c. Railway Share Market also heavy. The market closed as follows: It per Cents. OS Do. end month 3 per Cents Do. end month 69 85 New 3 per Cents Do. end month — Credit M °biller .. , 1175 Do, end month 1170 - RAIL • Bank Shares 3330 • Credit Foncier 1397 50 Piedmontese Fives 72 Italian Loan 72 75 Russian • Austrian • Spanish Threes — • Home Debt - MAYS. Cash. Account. Orleans 1072 50 .. 1073 75 Northern lO4O .. 1040 New ditto Lyons and Mediterranean 1160 .. 1160 Geneva .. Southern B2O .. 823 75 Western Eastern Sardinian Austrian Lowhard North of Spain Saragossa 665 657 50 Ditto to Barcelona SPAIN. MADRID, JANUARY, Evening. In to-day's sitting of the Congress, Senor Mazaredo most strongly appealed to Senor Sala verria not to arrange the settlement of the English coupon before England should have delivered up Gibraltar to Spain. Senor Salaverria stated in reply that the Govern ment was not about topropose the settlement of the English coupons. ITALY. ROME, JAN. 2. The Pope, in receiving the officers of the French army of occupation yesterday, eulogised the French army, which he said was valorous in war and dis ciplined in peace, and thanked it for the protection it afforded against the enemies of the Holy See. He alluded to the Emperor and the virtues of the Empress, and expressed great solicitude for the Imperial Prince, his godson. In conclusion, the Pope invoked the blessings of Heaven on the officers and soldiers and their families, and the whole of France. COURT CIRCULAR. OSBORNE, JAN. 2. The Queen drove out yesterday, accompanied by Princes, Helena. Major-General the Hon. A. N. Hood and Colonel the Hon. A, Hardinge have arrived in waiting on her Majesty, in succession to Major-General Seymour and Lieutenant- Colonel Du Plat. The directors of the Union Bank of Australia have resolved upon a dividend at the rate of £8 per cent. for the past half-year. The Aventre of Naples states that a merchant of Salerno, called Albano, was carried off a few days ago by a party of brigands, who informed his wife that she must pay 200 ducats for his ransom. The poor woman managed to scrape together 70 ducats and sent them, but received in return a bit of her husband's ear, with a mes sage to the effect that his head would soon follow if the rest of the sum wore not forthcoming. She then applied to her friends, and at length succeeded in collecting the re maining 130 ducats, upon which her husband was re leased. SAVINGS-BANKS.—From statements laid before the trustees and directors of the Bradford Savings bank at their last annual meeting it appears that the num ber and amount of the deposits in the bank are increasing at a steady rate. Since the opening of the institution, in 1818, about 30,000 persons have made deposits, amounting, with interest, to £1,165,461, Of this amount £943,492 have been withdrawn, leaving still due, on 9,472 accounts, the sum of £221,969, lodged in Government securities, being an increase during the past year of 138 accounts and of £8,638 in deposits. During the last year 17,667 deposits and re payments were made, amounting to £106,963. WESTMINSTER ABBEY.—The enormous access of visitors to Westminster Abbey during the past year having made a thorough cleansing of it necessary, the fol lowing arrangements have been made that this may be effected with the least interruption of Divine service From January 5, inclusive, to the end of the month, the usual week-day services will be carried on in Henry Vll.'s Chapel. On Sunday, the 11th, the south transept, and on Sunday, the 18th, the north transept will be closed to the public ; and on Sunday, the 25,h, Divine service will be entirely suspended. About the time of those desperate plans against England on the part of the first Napoleon, which his nephew has since so candidly revealed, King George sent for Nelson. The great admiral was consulted upon the subject of the French designs, and particularly upon the probable point of the menaced descent. "How will they come, think ye ?" asked the anxious monarch ; "how will they come ?" The answer is w3rth remembering, and has a moral in it. "I don't know, your Majesty," said Nelson, " how they will come; but I know one thing, and that is that they shan't come by sea." CHRISTMAS CONUNDRUMS.—What makes every body sick but those who swallow it P—Flattery. What is the most indigestible supper f—To bolt the street door just before going to bed. What is the difference be tween forms and ceremonies ?—You sit upon forms and stand upon ceremonies. What is the difference between Charon's boat and an old hen ?—One is a foul old wherry, the other a wery old fowl. Why cannot the Emperor Napoleon insure his life ?—Because no man can make out his policy. Why is a bishop never likely to eat his apron ? —Because it goes against his st,mach. If you wish to fatten a thin baby what should you do with it ?—Throw it out of the window, and it will come down plump. How should Love enter the door ?—Always with a ring and never with out a rap. Of what gender is the National Anthem?— Masculine. It is a hymn. What war was Jupiter waging when he couldn't get his boots on ?—The war with the Titans. When is a man sick of his children ?—When he is bringing them up. Why is a fleet always supplied with fresh eggs ?—Because every captain is obliged to lay to (two) whenever the Admiral gives an order.—. Riddles by a Cantab. ADVERTISING FOR WIVES.—The following extract is from Artemus Ward's lectures on " The Children in the W oods ;"—" Advertising for a wife is about as absurd as getting measured for an umbrella. It is absurd—it is mean—and I suspect that the most of those follows who adopt that method of securing domestic bliss ought to ham mer stones in some well-regulated penitentiary. Once in a while, however, there may be a simple-minded but unfor tunate young man among these advertisers, and to him the lecturer would say—Why advertise ? There is probably some young lady of your acquaintance for whom you have a certain regard. Why not go to her boldly, and tell her there is a commodious apartment to let in your heart, with board. If you get the mitten do not despair, but charge elsewhere for another mitten. You may as well have a pair of mittens. One mitten is no possible use. I know a young man out West who has got mitts enough to go ped dling, and he is yet healthy. Don't be bashful, young man. Don't be like the Young person who rode ten miles in a sleigh with a pretty girl one bright moonlight night, with the intention of popping the question, but all he said was, It is quite moon e y to-night.' Yes,' she replied, ‘muchly.' And there was not another word said.' " American paper. Accident to the Princess Louis of Hesse. We are sorry to learn that an accident occurred to her Royal Highness the Princess Alice on Wed nesday last, and it was at first feared that it would be attended with serious consequences. Her Royal Highness, attended by the Hon. Miss Bruce, was proceeding in a waggonette from Osborne, by the Cowes road, and round the neighbourhood of New port, for a morning drive, when the postilion at tempted to drive between two other vehicles which were on the road. The wheels of the vehicle came into collision, the waggonette was overturned, and the Princess and her companion were thrown out with considerable violence. The ankle of the Princess was sprained and she was severely shaken, but sustained no further damage. Her attendant was also considerably shaken, and the muscles of her hand were severely lacerated. The unfortunate ladies were removed to the resi dence of Mr. H. Nunn, close by, being assisted to the house by Mr. Groves, a medical student, who was passing at the time. Her Royal Highness and companion were subsequently removed to Osborne. The Prince of Wales a Merchant Taylor. At a Special Court of Assistants of the Worship ful Company of Merchant Taylors of the Fraternity of St. John the Baptist, in the city of London, held at their hall on Monday, the 22d day of December, 1862, it was resolved unanimously : "That this Court, ever anxious to evince its devoted loyalty and firm attachment to Her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen and her illustrious family, avails itself of the earliest opportunity to offer its dutiful congratulations to his Royal Highness Albert Edward Prince of Wales upon the attainment of his majority ; and, desirous to mark its high respect and esteem for his Royal Highness, respectfully tenders for his acceptance the honorary freedom of this ancient and loyal company, of which his revered and deeply lamented father, the late Prince Consort, was an illustrious member," By order of Court, SAMUEL FISHER, Clerk to the Company. " Osborne, Dec. 23, 1862. " Sir,—l have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of the 22d inst., forwarding for the in formation of his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales the resolution of the special Court of Assistants of the Worship ful Company of Merchant Taylors. "I have received the commands of his Royal Highness in acknowledging the same, to convey to the Master and Wardens of the Merchant Taylors' Company the Prince of Wales's great gratification at receiving the freedom of so ancient and loyal a company, and to express his Royal Highness's sense of the flattering terms in which the com munication has been made, " I have the honour to be, Sir, your most obedient servant. "W. KNOLLYS. " Samuel Fisher, Esq." New Year's-Day at the Tuileries. The Moniteur of yesterday contains an account of the grand State reception at the Tuileries on New Year's-day, in which the names and dignities of the principal persons present are enumerated. After receiving the members of the Imperial family, the chief officer of the household, the superior clergy,, the ministers, the members of the Privy Council, and a few more privileged persons, the Emperor and Empress attended mass in the chapel of the palace, and then withdrew to their apart ments. At one o'clock the members of the Diplo matic Corps were received in the Salle du Trone by the Emperor, the Papal Nuncio addressing his Majesty in their name to the following effect : Sire,—The members of the Diplomatic Corps beg your Majesty to accept the respectful homage which I have the honour to offer you in their name on the occasion of the New Year. We are delighted, Sire, whenever we have an opportunity of expressing the desire we feel for the happi ness of your Majesty, for that of your august family, and for the prosperity of France. To the above address the Emperor replied in these words : The sentiments that you express in the name of the Diplo matic Corps deeply move me. I am happy to see myself sur rounded by the representatives of all the Powers at the commencement of the New Year. They will be enabled to testify to my desire to maintain with them those friendly relations which are so essential to present and future security. The members of the Diplomatic Corps then with drew, and the general receptions afterwards took place. Progress of the Main Drainage Works. Mr. Bazalgette presented his monthly report of the pro gress of the main drainage works to the Metropolitan Board of Works yesterday, as follows : "The progress of the main drainage works, making allowance for their partial stoppage in the Christmas week, has been satisfactory during the past month. "Messrs. Brassey and Co. have now completed about 7 miles 2,900 feet of sewer in connection with the middle level line, at a probable cost of about £205,000, of which £15,000 is due to the past month. " Mr. Furness is proceeding with the brickwork of the treble line of sewers forming the northern outfall, and is closely following up the embankment of the same. The ironwork of the bridges has been delayed, owing to the difficulties into which the party undertaking it has fallen. Mr. Furness has, however, made arrangements with another firm to resume this portion of the work on Mon day next. The outlet work into the river is going on well, the dam having been completed, and the excavation for the sub-structure and side wall of the reservoir being nearly finished and the concrete put in. The value of these works is about £500,000, of which about £2C,000 was due last month. " Mr. Webster has excavated about 66,000 cubic yards of earthwork, and put in about 25,000 cubic yards of concrete for the foundations of the Crosness engine and boiler houses and the reservoir ; and he has also executed about 160 rods of brickwork, making a total amount of £40,000 for the work done, and being £lO,OOO more than was reported last month. " Messrs. Aird and Son have now completed most of the works embraced in the Deptford pumping station contract, so far as they can be furnished before the engines are fixed. With the latter work Messrs. Slaughter and Co. are now proceeding, the boilers and pumps are fixed, and the heavier parts of the engines are being got into the building. The total cost of the works executed by Messrs. Aird and Son amounts to about £95,000, £l,OOO in excess of my last report. "About 1,000 feet of the Bermondsey branch of the low level sewer have been completed by Messrs. Aird and Son, and an equal length is in an advanced state. The value of the work done under this contract, up to the present time, is nearly £B,OOO, being £3,000 for the past month. " Messrs. Lee and Bowles have at last finished the southern high level sewer, the works of which have been in hand for more than three years. The paving and repairing of certain streets and reads, and the cleaniag-up of the sewer are the matters yet remaining to be done. The total cost of the work amounts to about £193,000, £2,000 more than at the date of my last monthly report. " Mr. Pearson has completed about 2 miles 1,560 feet of the southern high level extension sewer at a total cost of about £12,000. " Mr. Webster's work in connection with the diversion of the Effra sewer at Brixton has been kept back by the flood waters, which will now, however, soon be diverted into the southern high level sewer at Dulwich. The total length of sewer constructed is about 4,600 feet, at a pro bable cost of about £8,500. " Mr. Downs has completed both the roadway and sub way of Southwark-street, between High-street and Great Guildford-street. The length of the subway is 514 yards, and of the sewer in connection therewith 1,415 feet, with which there has been formed about 2,400 feet of pipe branches. The roadway paving comprises about 12,600 square yards of granite, and the footways about 4,400 square yards of York stone. The total cost of the whole is about £24,300, being an increase of £1,300 upon last month. SERIOUS ACCIDENT TO A FEMALE ACROBAT.-- In accordance with a previous notice by bills that a Female Blondin would give a series of performances on Thursday afternoon, a rope, 20 to 25 feet high, having been stretched across a vacant spot adjoining the road and near the church at Northfleet, near Gravesend, a female, about 18 years, ascended by means of a ladder and traversed it twice. She next proceeded to blindfold herself, and had partly crossed the rope again, when one of the gymnastic party, a man of colour, climbed the poles by which the rope was suspended at one end to receive her, and had no sooner arrived at the top than he called out to her to go back, and at that moment the pole broke in two, and preci pitated both into the road. The man received very severe injuries from the fall, one arm being broken in three places. He was conveyed to the Gravesend Infirmary, after receiv ing temporary assistance from Dr. Crook. The female was less seriously injured, though much bruised and shaken by the fall. A notice from the Prefect of the Seine has been posted up, stating that 37 houses, expropriated, in the Rue du Faubourg Poissonniere, Rue Montholon, Rue de Provence, Rue de Faubourg Montmartre, Rues do la Victoire, Bellefond, and Rochechouart, wil, be sold for demolition on the 16th instant. The sites of those houses are required for the continuation of the Rue Lafayette. Mr. and Mrs. Rosenthal lam left Fenton's Hotel for the Continent:, SIR R. ALCOCK ON JAPAN. At the second general meeting of the members of the Leeds Philosophical and Litora; y Society, held on Tuesday night, a lecture on Japan was delivered by Sir R. Alcock, K.C.8., her Majesty's Consul to that empire. Mr. T. P. Teale, the president of the society, was in the chair, and there was a large and fashionable audience. Sir Ruther- ford having given a brief geographical description of the Japanese empire and of its discovery and its resources, said while the Europeans desired commercial intercourse the people of Japan desired nothing so much as to be let alone. Th e Government of Japan had come of late years to the conclusion that the time had arrived when it could no Longer carry out its traditional policy, or, at all events, it Felt that if it did attempt it there would be a forco and power brought to bear upon it much too strong to resist. A large portion of the ruling classes in Japan had never reconciled themselves to this change, and whether the struggle of civi lisation with opposing principles would end during this generation was a very serious question. The decree had gone forth that this isolation should not be, and it was for them to endeavour to ascertain the facts which would en able them to arrive at a conclusion as to what were the future destinies of Japan and the prospects of foreign trade and commerce with the people. Sir Rutherford said that the events which followed the first introduction of Euro peans—Portuguese and Spaniards—in the 16th or 17th cen tury, the readiness and hospitality with which they wore received, the introduction of Christianity, the erection of churches ; schools, monasteries, &c., was followed, however, by the utter expulsion of foreigners, from the fear that they would subvert the power of the Sovereigns of the empire. Now that foreigners were again admitted they must hope it would be with better result— that, warned by the past, they would avoid its errors, and seek through commerce and civilisation to bring good and not evil. The similarity of the geographical distribution of the Japanese empire and the British Islands suggested a striking view of similarity and of contrast in the development of the industrial arts and manufactures of the two peoples. In pure workman ship, in beauty of design, in command over the powers of nature, and in many other respects the Japanese were able to rival the best product one of Europe, and yet, side by side with this, they had a feudalism exactly cor responding with that of our Anglo-Saxon and early Nor man forefathers. Having entered at some length into a comparison of the points in which the Japanese resembled the Anglo-Saxons, he gave an amusing description of the dual character of the Government and the empire. There were two Sovereigns, one to look after the temporal affairs and the other after affairs spiritual ; two Foreign Ministers, two Councils of State; and indeed every man had his shadow, producing a most complex Administration, which it was sur prising could be made to work. The Japanese were not in tolerant or bigoted on religious subjects; indeed, they cared too little upon the subject to trouble themselves about it. He could not say much for their veracity, for the last thing hoped to hear from them was the truth. He believed there was very little corruption among the judges, and what was most extraordinary, there were no lawyers. He could not say much for the temperance of the Japanese—they were very quarrelsome over their cups, and as they always wore swords (which had the t eputation of being equal to Damas cus blades), and as life was regarded as of little value, fre quent fatal encounters occurred. The Japanese boasted of their valour, and death was always accepted in preference to disgrace. If a noble were convicted of any offence, his property was confiscated and his family degraded ; and therefore, to avoid this, a man charged with crime assem bled his friends, and in their presence made away with himself. Turning to the progress of civilisation, tested by the industrial arts, he observed that, notwithstanding the existence of feudalism, the people had advanced in material civilisation to an extent scarcely inferior to our own. In the applied sciences, in steam machinery, &c., they were far behind Europeans; but some of the results of skilled labour in silk and textile fabrics, in lacquer, metals, porcelain, &c., would bear comparison with those of any other nation. Sir Rutherford exhibited a large variety of specimens of Ja panese art, illustrating the ingenuity, the graceful design, and the marvellous workmanship expended in their produce um. The Japanese were thus able to supply all their wants, and though this was highly honourable to them, it was little favourable to foreign commerce. It was the upper class, the nobles, who were most hostile to trade and foreign intercourse; they remembered the designs of the first fo reigners admitted into the empire, and they regarded the introduction of commerce as being the precursor of social disorder and revolution, and as certain to lead to their im poverishment. As to the chances of admission for English cottons, woollens, &c., he said that, the Japanese having been self. satisfied for many years, it was clear they must wait until there had been time to create new wants. At present any wants Europeans could supply, they (the Japanese) could supply better and cheaper. We must wait until new wants were created. It was possible, with time and patience, and if the necessary force were main tained, that the opposition to foreign intercourse would greatly diminish and even finally disappear ; but it was impossible to conceal that life was insecure, and at any moment the people might determine to risk everything upon the hazard of war with foreign Powers rather than allow them to establsh friendly and peaceful relations. They could only hope for the best, and resort to no means which would bring about any such calamity as he had referred to if they could avoid it. The dress of the upper class was principally silk, and that of the lower classes entirely cotton. As Japan was a cotton-growing country, and labour was cheap, it would be difficult for English merchants to compete with the natives, except in the finer class of goods. Nothing would take in Japan that was not cheap, but in the northern parts, where the winters were of Siberian severity, woollen and mixed goods would be very suitable and acceptable. A factory for the construction of machines had been established at Nagasaki, and the Go vernment had purchased six or seven steam-vessels at ex tortionate prices; but the Japanese were not yet suffi ciently advanced to possess steam-engines on railways. The opposition to foreign commerce he believed to be en tirely confined to the governing classes. With reference to the important subject introducedby Mr. Baines, he hoped he was not understood as giving any decided opinion as to whether it was or was not justifiable that Europeans should force themselves upon other nations. He simply wished to show the position in which they stood. They had forced themselves upon the Japanese ; they had began by force, and if they wished for commerce they must estab lish it by force. If they did not wish for commerce at that price, then they should be consistent, and withdraw from the Japanese empire. A. vote of thanks was then passed. by acclamation, and the audience separated after inspecting the beautiful objects of Japanese art exhibited by Sir Rutherford. THE TOBACCO TRADE. The following, with regard to the tobacco trade, is from Messrs. Grant, Hodgson, and Co's. monthly circular : A less active demand prevailed during last month for American descriptions, and with the exception of Kentucky leaf, business was principally of a retail character. Apart from the general disinclination of the trade to increase their stocks at this period—the present high prices, and the state of American affairs, have influenced buyers, in many in stances, to limit their purchases to immediate requirements , that circumstances justify the present position of the' market, and the extreme prospective views of holdero and importers, may, probably, be admitted ; but i cannot be doubted, that sales have consequently been mate rially contacted, and the introduction and use of varios growths of continental tobacco considerably increased ; nevertheless, the business in and consumption of American will present a very favourable statement when the year's returns are made up. The deliveries may be estimated at 16,147 hhds. against 18,409 hhds, in. 1861; viz., for ex portation 4,373 hhds; home trade, 7,486 hhds.; and bonded, 4,288 hhds. Stock has diminished during the year to the extent of 6,209 hhds,, being no% 21,320 hhds. against 27,529 hhds. at the corresponding period of 1862. Sales during the last month were 872 hhds,, viz.: 7 hhds. Virginia Leaf, 16 hhds. and tierces of Strips, 524 hds. Kentucky Leaf, 99 hhds. Maryland. In taking a retrospective view of the market for the past year, we may tate that prices in January, for Virginia Leaf, were 7d. to 11d. and Strips,.lld. to Is. 2d. Kentucky Leaf, sd. to 10d., and Strips, 10d, to l s. Id.; at these prices holders were very firm, and it was with some diffculty that purchases could be made at these quotations. As the year progressed each successive month presented an advance in prices, and the great difficulty the trade experienced was, that holders almost invariably confined their sales to limited lots or parts of parcels, and would not progress unless at a further advance. All sorts of " substitutes" have met an active demand at extreme quotations. The stocks in Hol land and Germany are materially diminished, and at pre sent no probability of lower prices. Latest advices frog% America represent demand less active, but higher quota tions are given for heavy Clarksville; ordinary leaf and lugs are easier to purchase at a reduction of to 1 cent* per lb. TOBACCO -GROWING COUNTRIES.—It is a well known fact that the light soils of Great Britain and Ireland are particularly adapted for the growth of tobacco, which was extensively cultivated on the Cotswold Hills in Gloucestershire, and in Yorkshire, till its growth in, Great Britain was prohibited by an act of the Legislature• It is cultivated extensively in France, Germany, Hol land, Belgium, Austria, Hungary, and the Levant, but it thrives best, as far as the stronger varieties are concerned, between the 40th and 47th degree of latitude, though ts. somewhat warmer climate is required for the more delicat sorts. The finest tobacco is undoubtedly that produced $ the Havannah. That known as Manilla is chiefly growri in the Island of Luzon, one of the Phillippines. Lataks tobacco comes from Syria, and is grown in the neighbour' hood of that town, the ancient Laodicea, from whence it takes its name. Persian tobacco is chiefly cultivated at Shirza ; and large quantities of the tobacco of commerce are obtained from India. But our great supply is brought front the other side of the Atlantic, from Cuba, Tobago, St.Vity cent ; from Virginia, Kentucky, Maryland, and Louisiana from Columbia, the Brazils, and Porto 41 0 ,,,.....2' 0 bacc0t L ief cra anci ,gibusw. to 110 i on 1* pr) sai fro th( sai an( Mi an( 3 pi 3 p, An.