The Sun. — London, England, 1863-12-10 00:00:00

KINAHAN'S LL WHISI(Y COGNAC BRANDY. This celebrated Old IRISH WIIISKY rivals the finest FRENCH BRANDY' It i= Pure, Mild , Mellow, De li c ious, and very Wholesome. Sold in Bottles, 3s. Bd., at the Retail }louses in London ; by the Agents in the prinuipal towns in England ; or wholesale 8, GREAT WINDMILL -STREET, iv. Obqerve the Red. Seal, Pink Label, and Cork branded "liinahan's LL Whisky:' E B S J u A nig Y ue ft a u n d a p C er O te . et havanow assortment of show mo st BONNETS, which their Manager has selected in Paris, and brought back with her to this Est +blishment. 247, 249, 251, Regent-street. viAMILY MOURNING.—Messrs. JAY would respectfully announce that great economy is effected by purchasing Mourning at their establishment. 2 , 7 and 249, ,tease T-S'lltbi ET, their Stock of FAMILY MOURNING 13, ing the largest in Eur pc. Thou4l Nlessre. Jay professedly ket p the best a - tees for Mourning' and Hall- ourning—at all times the cheapest -they supply a Complete Suit of p on icstic Mourning r , r 2, guineas. moCTIINLNG COSTUME of every description is kept Beady .Made, and can be forwarded in town or country at a momenta notice. The most reasonable prices are charged, and wear ct every article is guaranteed. TUE LONDON GENERAL MOURNING WAREHOUSE, .Regent-street (next the Circus). JAYS'. LIFEBOAT SERVICES. —Daring th e recent heavy gales some of the Coats of the Royal Na tonal Lifenoat Institution have been instrumental in rescuing the crews of the following wrecked vessels:—Schooner Theophi- Ins, of Aberdeen, 5 men ; barque Tamworth, of Norwayf St. , 17; sc h oon er Northern Lights, ut Preston , 4 • pilot boat, o Ives, 7 ; schooner Aron, of Workington, ; schooner Gipsy, of Drogheda, 4 ; smack Saucy Jack, of Inverness, 1 ; barque M a rietta, of Lisbon, 1 ; fishing boat , of Filey, ; Tenby fishing boat, 3; and barque Providence, of Dantzic,7. Total lives saved, .55. The lifeboats also assistel in bringing safely into port, with their crews, consisting of 20 m en the Italian brig Cameglino, the schooner S ir Colin Campbell, ot tuba, the schooner Guilia, of Palermo, and the ketch Snip, of Am ot S terdam. The lifeboats also wen t off in reply to signals distress on fourteen occasions , bu t their services were not u ltimately required. The amount of reward p ,id for all these services was £216. The Committee of the Institution earnestly AP PEAL to the public for ASSISTANLE to enable them to meet the con tinued heavy demands on the Society's 125 Web :at estab lishments. Contributions are receivsd by all the Lon.t9n and country bankers ; and by the Secretary, Richard Lewis, Esq., at the Institution, 14, John-street, Adelphi, London. _ . RO YAL ENGLIS II OPERA, COVENT-GARDEN. Opera UndeilhiManarr,ement ot Miss Louisa Fyne and Mr. W. Harrison. T.HIS EVENING, for the 16th time, Bslfe's new B.T,AN en i , ; DE NEVERSLouisa ryne, Miss Anna ' Co, its Emma Heywood; Messrs.W. 11. Weiss, H. Corri A. ok, A. tt. Albyn, C. Ly.ill, J. Rouse, and W. Harrison ' To conclude with the Second Act of THE n FLOWE R. DESERT Conductor, Mr. A. Mellon. Doors open at half-past Six—:.:ommence at Seven. iriiHEATRE ROYAL DRURY- LANE. - 31ana. , er s, Messrs. E. Falconer and F. B. Chatterton. EvENING. hPr Majesty's Servants will perform. THIS ?, ot BEAUTY- OR THE BEAST. Principal cha the F a " -e Messrs. Addison, G. F. Neville Barret, Spencer, . s wr bY eston ; Mrs Edmund Falconer and Miss Lecicrq. r a a fl o a t e a r After which. Lord Byron's Choral Tragedy, MANFRED. bLessrs.helps, Ryder, Rayner, M-agreson, Ward, Spencer ; iiae F.burne, Miss E. Atkinson, Miss Leclercq, and Mrs. E. realconer. Vocalists-3liss Poole, Miss hitter, Miss Cicely Nov, Miss Heywood, and Mr. Swift. Followed by MY IRART'S IN THE HIGHLANDS: characters by Mr. ,J. Neville, Mr. G. Weston, Mr. Warde, Mr. J. Marris ; Mrs. C. Melville, and Miss Harileur. THEATRE ROYAL HAYMARKET.- Sole Lessee and Manager, Mr, Buckstone. THIS EVENING, USED UP. Messrs. C. Mathews, Howe, Rogers, Braid, Clark , Cullenford, &c. ; Mesdames .3 Angel, Fitzwilliam, c. Followed by THE GOLDEN FLEECE. Messrs. Charles Mathews, Compton,Weathersby,&c.; Mesdames C. Mathews, L, Keeley. Griffith, &c. With COOL AS A CUCUMBER. Mr. C. Mathews. And MY HUSBAND'S G tiOST. Commence at 7. ROYAL LYCEUM THEATRE. Under the Sole Management of Mr. Fechter. BEL DEMONIO (a Triumphant Success) will be repeated Every Evening until further notice. THIS EVENING, the Comerlietta, by W. Gilbert, entitled UNCLE BABY: Mess's. Widdicombe, J.G. Shore, Charles; ;Hiss P. Le.dercg, and Carlotta Leclereq. After which, at Eight o'clock, BEL DEMONIO, a Love Story, in Twelve Tableaux, taken from Stendhal's "Italian Chronicle , ," by Mr. John Brougoam. Principal charac ter by Mr. Fechter, supported by Messrs. Jordan, Charles, Urougham, Emery, Raymond, Moreland, Smith, Clifford, Collett, Andrews, Sims ; Miss Kate Terry, E. Lavenue, Alrb. Lee, and Miss Elsworthy. Doors open at half-past 6—commence at 7. L EAH. -EVERY NIGHT. M ISS BATEMAN.-LEAH.-THIS EVENING, the 61st appearance of the great Trag,ic Actress, Miss BATEMAN, in the character of LEAH. In c.msequence of the unbounded success with which Miss Bateman's imperso nation of the prir:cipal character in the new Five Act Drama of LEAH has been atterhied. Mr Webster begs to announce that it will be performed EVERY EVENING until further tfotice. EW THE A.TR E-RO YAL, ADELPHL— soict Pronriotor and M anntror. Mr. B. Wohater. THIS EVENING, at 7, TIIE TItAGEDY QUEEN : Mrs. S e, the New Drama of LEAH : Bth wee,: of Miss Bate man, supported by Messrs. Arthur Stirling, R. Phillips, Bil lington. Stuart, Stephenson, Eburne; Miss H. Simms, and Mrs. Billingtcn. To conclude wrli THE IRISH TIGER, : Miss K. Kelly and Mr. 6teplienson. ROYAL STRAND THEATRE. Manager, Mr. W. 11. Swanborough. THIS EVENING, MiRIAM'S CRIME. Messrs. Geo. Honey, Parselle, Belford, Turner, Miss K. Saville, and Miss Ma:riders. Followed by (15th time) PATIENT PENELOPE ; or, The Return of Ulysses. Messrs. honey and Fenton ; Mesdames Swanborough and Simpson. After which, MY NEW PLACE. Mr. A. Wood. Commence at 7. R OYAL SADLER'S-WELLS THEATRE. Manageress, Miss Marriott. THIS EVENING, THE SCHOOL FOR SCANDAL : 3les4rs. H. Marston, E. Phelps, D. H. Jones, Bennett, Brooke, Denial, Miss Marriott, and Mrs. Wallis. To conclude with THE BRIGAND: Mr. D. H. Jones, Miss Mandlebert. Box-office open from 11 to 4. THE THIRD EDITION OF " THE SUN," Containinz the Latest SPORTING INTELLIGENCE, ban be had Every Evening of G. R. GLENIE, News AGENT, No. 4, Connaught-terrace, Hyde-park. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. ko R 11m.—Afternoon, lh. 3Cm. te:tatow.-Morning, 2h. 2m.—Afternoon, 2h. 21m. I , 4 " e Weather_ Sun Office, Dec. 10, 1863. THERMOMETER. This da.7 at Two o ' c l oc k 45 Bromter-3.15. W in -- S.- a "\V, ;moderate, and fine, („..r.:11: IC* oip LONTON , THURSDAY DEC. 10, 1863. _ Etir oN 111. recently It was an alternative that IST4lott submitted to the Sovereigns of momentous. alternative was one in every way nlci l : t • mcb And that Either-3 Gen eralWar or a general p, eir: icntio n Or _it not Chat precisely, at any rate Nvlatxt thus expri !ssed—Eit her an imm inent prob4Y i a t be ali but eel tainty of War, of a General war or pr an the Power s of Europe, or an attempt at least, mediate and strenuous effort at a General Paeifi,:. tion. Seeing :now that there is to be no such Congress as the one proposed by the French EMPEROR —for the refust.l of England to take part in it abstracts at once from the notion of that Congress, even sup posing any Congress at all to be held, its only authoritative character, that of its universality — seeing now, we repeat, that there is to be no such Congress es the one proposed by the French EMPEROR, the one inevitable conviction to be arrived at thereupon is—that there must be war. It is the admitted conviction beforehand of the despotic ruler of the greatest military nation upon the European continent. The Preach Emperor has avo we d suc h, qu i te f ran kl y, to be his lirra conviction—he did so, in effect, in the very „ et of submitting his alternative to the European b ., verei t s, or, in other wor d s , to the European I Na Government s . Wations and their res p ec ti ve War or Peace, he virt ua lly sub mitted to them as t e alternative—hi s court l y letter to the Euo p h : Sovereigns mea n in g s imply, Choose for Yourseles. England h has chosen. Curtly, rudely, precipitately, She will have n one of the Cong ress—she Will cons ent to no attempt andmor hopelessly and ,even at a pacific adj us tment of l ong-standi ng , e so me of them, of late, mor e entangled differen ces. The Italian Problem, the Polish Problem, the Greek Questio n , the Question, the diffic ult y about Veneti a, end the difficulty about Sch!eswig-Holstein—hil these things are to be left 8611 purely to the Chapter of Accidents. The problems are to o bttiin their solution— somehow. Questions, nig; nalical to the last degree many of them, tre to get answered as best they may, any- IP?' : whether satisfactorily or unsatisfactorily remain sto be seen. Difficulties, however tortuously involv 'ed in the cunning webs woven about them by 'ant agonistic and unsympathetic diplomatists, are to work out—if they can—their own disentanglement. En rland turns with hopeless bewilderment and wit. h mutterings of suspicion, from the mere sug ges• tion of a Congress—that might (there is no deny inc ; this), if ably conducted, have led to a pacific re adjustment of differences! And, despairing thus of ar 1y good coming from any such Con gress, England le ayes everything to the chances of—War ! What es •er may now come of these long standing and still es :istina., and some of them more than ever urgent, di f Farences—France may, with a certain show of re a son, charge England with having, by her refusal, rot dared war_inevitable—England cannot possibly accuse France, cannot possibly accuse the French E StPEROR of plunging Europe into war without pi. eviously making any effort whatever to discover if war might not, by possibility, be avoided b:r means of certain pacific discussions over the co uncil board of a Congress among the N a tions. By entering into these suggeste d discus si:,Es at the council board of the Congress, England we nild in no way whatever have stood pledged (any more than would F rance herself) to any decision at all upon any singl e p o i nt under discussion. It is idle to i ns i nuate that France, by suggesting this Congress, was di gging a trap for England, or for any other o f t h e P owers of Christendom. If digging a trap fo r any one, she was equally digging a trap for herself. France, as a continental Power, is more directly affected than England, as an insular Power, can possibly be, by.the various difficulties agitating the family of the European nations. The Danish Question, by reason of its complication with the Germanic Question, is brought to the very threshold of France geographically. The Italian Question affects France far more intimately in many ways than it can possibly affect England. It does so for one reason, because France is what England is not, a Catholic Power, the Catholic Power, after Italy, as the Eldest Daughter of Catholicism. It does so for another reason, because France, during the reign of the EMPEROR NAPOLEON 111., has shed her blood (which England has not),‘has squandered her gold (which England has not), in vindication of the political rights and national independence of Italy. It does so, for yet another reason, one more potent still to the comprehension of all Christendom— because France has an armed garrison at Rome France being thereby most intimately effected (as England could not possibly be) by the mere discussion of the Italian Question at this proposed Congress. Finally—is it not obvious that France would have appeared necessarily in a far more isolated character at the council board of any such Congress than Eng land could possibly have done—because, as NAPO LEON 111. long ago remarked, so modestly to all ap pearance, yet in truth so haughtily, he is a parvenu among the Sovereigns—because as he just now said to each of those Sovereigns he is the one to whom ambitious motives have been mainly attributed throughout Christendom—because he is, as we have already observed, at the bead of the greatest military power upon the continent--because he is a crowned democrat—in a word, because he is a NAPOLEON. England, however, through her judicious and courteous Foreign Secretary, has declined point blank to take part in the Congress proposed by the French EMPEROR. The alternativa submitted to Europe by the French EMPEROR comes back, there fore, rather vividly just now upon the general re membrance. If by declining to take par in a Congress we do not actually "cry havoc and let slip the dogs of war"—at any rate we refuse to attempt the adjustment of stronger leashes than the old ones in which those dogs have been so long and so fiercely straining. The news from Germany does not afford any indication of a speedy or pacific solution of the difficulties with Danmark. The Federal Diet has, it seems, passed the resolution for Federal execution in Holstein, for which many of the representatives of the smaller States have been eagerly pressing. The motion, it is true, was only passed by a small majority, but, nevertheless, it is a decisive step, and one likely to hasten the crisis that, thanks to the stubbornness and shortsightedness of the Germans, appears to be well-nigh inevitable. The Diet re serves to itself the settlement of the question of the succession, being content to leave that matter in abeyance so long as it has sufficient excuse for coercing Denmark without pressing for ward the claims of the Prince of A UGUSTENBURG. At the same Bitting of the Diet it was proposed by some of the minor members that neither King CHRISTIAN nor his rival should be recognised as ruler of Lauenburg, bat that the Diet should retain the administration of that duchy in its own hands. This proposal, according to the usual form, w as referred to the committee, but it is difficult to see what grounds it is based upon, since Austria and Prussia were themselves compelled to admit that the claim of King CHRISTIAN to Lsuenburg was indisputable, and the conduct of tho inhabitants of the duchy affords no pretext for interference. The KING has already expressed his sense of their fidelity to his throne, as offering a favourable contrast to the proceedings of their more turbulent neighbours. At the close of last week a meeting was held in the duchy of the nobility, peasantry, and mem bers of the Assembly, at which a resolution was passed declaring their intention to remain faith- ful to Denmark, and to recognise King CHRISTIAN. The conduct of Austria is anything but satisfac- ory. The Emperor has suffered the Danish Ex raordinary Ambassador to quit Vienna without bein g received at Court, although his office was to rify the accession of the new King. So marked f slight is certainly significant of mischief, and follows strangely on the withdrawal of the patent of the zo th the • March. It is not easy to understand views of Austria i n thi s matter. She is acting with he r woot may chance t ed inconsist ency an d d upl i city, and part in a strife Ns r , ea. p unpleasant results from he r both e has ve r y lit t l e rea l concern afoorishteerin. sh l e n is ro g iind otirertaagiti.ng Federal exe cu ti on i n a serio us respons ibili ty, and very probably emb ro i ling a nciherself with Eng o difactit necessary and useful to explain encouraged the projectdted of by ex the e two great how it t l her. whose She alliance will .oii Ger man P owers was that her representativecuth c io at the °lste i° g a step of which no one can foresee the cen se , luences. tone The with reference to the prete nsio n s of tone t " Prin e3 of ' AUGUSTENBURG indicated moderation and good sense ; but the favourable signs were of brief d nra _ tion, and the Governments appear to have already yielded to the foolish clamour of the people. It is certainly tempting to transform an unpopular Ad ministration into the leaders of the people by sup porting those views of pretended liberty and real ambition which all Germany has gone mad about. The Austrian Emperor, however, does not seem to be much inclined to stand popular suggestions, to jndge by his reception of the Municipal Council o£ his capit a l. A d eputation having presented him with Et petition relative to the much-vexed question of the Danish duchies, FRANCIS JOSEPH 445 ared the members of his dotermication to fulfil THE SCN. LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 10, 1863. Ihis duties as a Prince of the Confederation, but politely intimated to them his opinion that it would be much better if they restricted their energies to the consideration of nzunicipal questions. It is to be feared that the influence of Prussia will hare some weight on the Austrian Government, and so l ong as Kiel remains the object of Prussia's ambi tions, and Herr von BIsMARK retains the office of First Minister and royal confidant, that influence is sure to be mischievous, Yet Austria and Prussia ire neither of them prepared for the consequences of the rash and hasty step to which they are now giving their sanction. The order for the advance of the Federal troops into Holstein was despatched immediately on the passing of the resolution in the Diet, and Denmark, as we have known for some rime, has expressed her intention of regarding such an act as a casus beld. The withdrawal of the royal patent leaves the complainants entirely without excuse, and that act indicated a spirit of concilia tion and desire for a pacific settlement which it is but too evident is not reciprocated by the German Powers, small or great. There seems now but little hope of avoiding hostilities, though if we reckon on the proverbial tardiness of Federal movements, there is still room for diplomacy to make another effort. Unfortunately, it is impossible for Denmark to satisfy Prussia without surrendering the port of Kiel, and as she will not, of course, do that, the Schleswig- Holstein question, whose very name has become a bugbear to politicians, has not been heard the last of. Earl RUSSELL, to whose extraordinary conduct last year much ot the present complication may be attributed, had better follow np the despatch in which he disposed of the pretensions of the Prince of AUGUSTENBURG, by another communication re minding the German Governments of the obliga tions which they incurred by the Treaty of 1852, and the right which England has to expect that they will abide by their engagements. If Austria and Prussia support Federal execution in Holstein and Lanenburg they are certainly not observing their guarantee of the integrity ot Denmark; and it would be well to convince them that, although their memories may be conveniently short, England has a more faithful recollection of the terms of the agreement solemnly ratified by most of the Euro pean Powers. A curious case was tried at the Southwark police-court on Tuesday. A poor woman was proved to be determined to get into prison, and for this purpose she employed herself in smash ing windows. She made a regular system of this, as it was shown that she gained her end in a surprising manner. She had been convicted before for destroying a considerable quantity of glass, and had been sentenced to six months' hard labour. From this she was only discharged on Monday, and now recommenced her game. Grown reckless by success, however, she had become a little incautious, and actually went so far as to tell one of the witnesses that while at Wandsworth she had " gammoned " the autho rities. Her list of luxuries is sufficient to create astonishment in the minds of those initiated into the mysteries of these arch-deceivers, and will excite the just indignation of all capable of re cognising the incongruity of such occurrences. The following is the communication made by the prisoner—" She had daily half a pint of wine, one pint of stout, a .quart of milk, one quart of tea, two eggs, one custard pudding, one pint of beef tea, two oranges, eight ounces of bread and butter, and fuur ounces of bread." Strange as this may appear, it was corrobarated by applica tion to the governor, and the relieving officer very truly added that it was not to be wondered at that she preferred the House of Correction at Wandsworth to the workhouse. In a smart sketch published some years ago, which satirised the manner that prevailed for pitying criminals, and affording to them the privileges denied to the low,st and deserving members of society, it was said—" Strange age that thus offers a pre mium, and surely if this sumptuous fare for crime" is to be enjoyed by those who exercise their skill in "smashing windows" the punishment will scarcely hold a deterring influence suffi • cient to render glass windows other than very precarious property indeed. It was very truly observed that she had great success in imposing upon the medical authorities of prisons. It is greatly to be regretted that such things should be permitted. Here is no isolated instance of wrong-doing—no misdemeanour which arises from temporary irritation or traceable misfortune—but a systematic course of swindling which unfortu nately is suffered to succeed, and thus prove a scandal to the treatment of offenders. In this case it is satisfactory to find that Mr. BURCIIAM was a match for the wily deceiver, and hardhearted enough to prevent her enjoying the luxuries of the suburban retreat she eo delighted in. He directed her to find bail for six months, and in default to be committed to Horsemonger-lane gaol, where he did not think the surgeon would be gammoned." Such was the proper treatment of so notorious a cheat ; but it is worth while to con sider the defects of a system which gives rise to these impostors, and is so rife with all kinds of deception. The game is always being played by such prisoners this JANE MAYOR; their name is legion, and they abound in all places of criminal resort. So long as the powors that be persist in making prisoners as comfortable as they possibly can, and supply abundantly to the thief, the mis creant, and the ruffian those comforts and luxuries which are denied to the pauper, and unheard of by suffering virtue and honest poverty out of doors, so long will the avenues to the prison be thronged with eager applicants, and the sombre entrance to the grim abodes regarded ar the portals which lead to the possession of unparalleled benefits. There is something very unsound in this system, and it is time that we should dispel the illusion that has hitherto surrounded us in regard to this ques tion. Let prisoners who are really sack or sulfuring be treated with care, consideration, and kindness. No needful alleviation should be refused, and no necessary means denied, but due restrictions ought to be imposed, and where the line is drawn which declines to afford luxuries to the distressed, it should leave unsupplied the prisoner and not the pauper. The commission of crime and the perpetration of minor offences must not convey a cares blanche to the offenders to seize on all the alleviations which the authorities can bestow. It is really quite out o character that such impostors as this woman referred to above should be suffered with impunity to out- rage public propriety time after time, rind her re- tribution should b 3 an entrance to comparative comfort, and an enjoyment of luxuries that many a mother would give the world to obtain for her suckin g child, and many a starving family would rEjoice in. It is as well that this should have oc curred ; it may perchance open the eyes of those well-me aning pe rsons w h o have been so grossly decei ved by such specious pretenders and would-be martyrs. Allowing for the sake of argument that her illness, as She called it, required such careful treatment, the best lesson for her would have been to dismiss her from the prison altogether, and then s h e would not have bee s a burden upon funds re quired for worthier persons. There is no more cruel injustice to tue deserving than to encourage cr i mo in the way that is now 60 prevalent 5 there is . no more dangerous course of dealing with offenders than to expose them to the lax rules and modified discipline that false benevolence has instituted; also there is no more grievous injury to society than to confuse right and wrong in this obnoxious style ; the honest poor aro indignant and become bitter against all regule ions that seem to be made to restrict them, while they aff,ird ell possible latitude to the wrong doer and evil thinker. If the extra ordinary forbearance that prevails in regard to criminals arises in some measure from the idea that they will thus become more tractable and give less trouble to the authorities, the notion is a most fallacious one, and the experiment will assuredly faii utterly and entirely. Instead of checking the progress, discouraging the attempts, and putting down effectually the man ceavres, machinations, and essays of crime, these vacillating and timorous time servers are in reality speeding the reign of evil, and sowing broadcast the seeds of crime. The con siderable increase in offences that has recently taken place must be attributed in a great measure to the very faulty mode of dealing with prisoners that have unfortunately obtained among us of late years. It is evident that there is no time to lose in rectify ing the error of our ways, and atoning for the mis chief created by such tame and tardy legislation. Let all whom It concerns look to it, end put a period to this anomalous state of things. There is every possible inducement to make them do so; at present many feel insecure in their journeys to and fro in the streets of the naetropo is itself, owing to the law less class who have infested the thoroughfares of late years. In minor cases there seems no effectual means of stopping criminals, and ail because the period of incarceration is not one of stern discipline, but too often a state of mental and physical relaxa tion that their out of door life never witnesses. The more promptly remedial measures are adopted the better will it be for all classes of the community, and the surer prospect will there be of restoring among us that wholesome terror of incarceration which is the only true and unfailing preventive of crime. So far as possible our systems should foster that purpose, and then we should stand a better chance of attaining at home and abroad more secu rity, and of en j oy i ng the benefits an d t h e blessings of the rei gn o f or d er , which is "heaven's first law," and which can never be neglected with impunity by any people, or disregarded by the most potent State without producing the most unpleasant conse quences, and bringing about a whole series of disas ters. From time to time of late many appeals have been made to the authorities regarding our penal system, but it will be found that the rules and re gulations of the minor offences are in quite as much need of reform, and call for improvement as much as anything can do. The longer the abuses are suffered to exist the more difficult will be the task of reinstatement, and the more uncertain the success of a change. It is incumbent on those in respon sible positions to exert themselves and come to the rescue. Wiley's New Tongued Gold Pen, About metallic Pens we must acknowledge our selves to be very fastidious. Beyond that —we have an old-fashioned predilection for the "grey goose quill." Were we still in those—" teacup times of hoop and hood," when there was vastly more leisure than in these days of railways and electri city, we have a rather shrewd suspicion that we should cling to the use of the goosequill, it only for the sake of splitting it, paring it, and nibbing it pre cisely to out liking. And this with all due apprecia tion for the extraordinary skill evidenced, in their various ways, by enainent houses like those of Gillott, of Perry, and of Mordan in the combination of durability and flexibility in the fabrication 01 steel pens, gold pens, and pens of mixed metals, as substitutes for the time-honoured but now almost wholely abandoned luxury of a goosequill. A won derful little box has just now come to hand, however, from a manufactory at Birmingham, the contents of which almostreconcile us to the notion of a permanent abandonment henceforth of the quill as a writing implement. Wiley's gold pen, but more especially his gold pen armed (in the scoop of it) with a magical little tongue of the same incor rodible metal, seems to us to realise, in very truth, for the first time, the possibility of writing Currents calamo ! Its advantages are numerous, and the chief among these advan tages deserve at once at our hands, every simple and explicit then, Wiley's New T ongue d of delay hi therto in wi get the n ecess it y o f t h at principal Pentio n s 0 . In oubr vc the at e s fi s a t 1. t place, o iting— the perpetual dipping of the pen -point into the Standish for a fresh supply of ink. Armed with one of these pens, a ready writer has but to take a single dip into the inkstand (holding the pen there, in the ink, for just one passing instant), and thereupon he can write, di hand, according to the English "on end," acco r di ng to the Yankee idiom, " at a streak—" without anoth e r dip o f the pen —not several lines only, but several sentences. The economy, here, both of time and of labour, must be obvious upon the instant. Added to this immense and distinguish ing advantage, Wiley's gold pen appears to us to combine all the other advantages with which the steel pens of Gillet t and the gold pens of Mordan have long familiarised us. To wit—those of flexibility, of durability, and, in the latter instance, in the in s t ance, that is, of Mordan's exquisite gold pens, of inc orrod i bility. So far as we are enabled to judge, from the specimens here submitted to our judgment, all varieties of hands may be supplied, ac cording to choice, by the manufacturer. It is tree that not a pen in the box is what we should pronounce precisely suited to ourselves. Our choice being for the very broadest nib manufactured. That, however, we are perfectly aware, is an exceptional peculiarity For the ordinary run of writers, any hand almost, blight, we are satisfied, be readily suited from this ono collection hard, very hard, like Wackferd Squeers's—soft, " very soft " (with a giggle) like his daughter Fanny's, who, it may be remembered by the readers of Nicholas IVickleby, hinted to the handsome young usher (by that giggle and by those words) that her heart was soft, and that she wanted a pen to match I Those who have touch writing to d o, end who are in consequence of that not unwilling to d a d some comfort, some facilitation, some economy both of titre and labour, in tho mere process of writing, will cer t a i n l y do well at any rate to try these new-tongued gold p ens of Wiley's of Birmingham. They are certainly i n t eresting enough to be turned to, while new to the wr i ter, as mere curiosities—and, as certainly, in the majority o f i nstances, they are likely, when once written with, to b e treasured and habitually used, until old, as pocket c ompanions. The simple ingenuity of the tongue is something quite exceptionally remarkable. M. NAIlArt'S GIANT is certainly the largest bal loon ever constructed, and probably the strongest ; in point of fact it is a double balloon, one inside the other ; both are made of silk of the very best quality From the crown of the balloon to the bottom of the car is nearly 200 feet, and the greatest circumference of the balloon is about 300 feet. It is pear-shaped, as usual ; but below the larger b a ll oon ia a small one, attached to the stalk, so to speak, whi c h i s placed there for the purpose of receiving the gas as i t di lates in the upper par t , an d so preserv i ng i t, instead of all ow i ng it to escape i n t o th e a t mos ph ere as here tofore, thereby ena bli ng t h e a eronaut to remain in the air apparentl y as long as his provisions hold out. The car is the most n ove l part of the mac hi ne . It s appearance i s th a t of a four w h eeled caravan, an d i t i s uns i n k a bl e i n water. The interior i s di v id e d i n t o six compa r t men ts. At one is the c apta i n ' s cabin, w i t h a b erth, and b eneat h t h e berth a rec e p tac l e f or luggage ; at the other end the pas senger& cabin, with three berths. The other compart ments are-1, larder ; 2 dressing-room ;3, photographic room; 4 printing-office; all of them well stocked with materials,--Nce a Week. CANDIDATE FOR BODAIIN.—At the next general election Mr. C. :Locock Webb, barrister-at-law, will be a candidate for the representation of the borough of Bothnia in Parliament. Mr. Webb is a Liberal-Conserva tive, and is somewhat of au airhority on mining and rail way questions, the former being a subject of much interest in Bodmin, from the many neighbouring mikes existin;; in that locality. The learned gentleman is the author of two pamphlets, one on "Railways, their Accounts and Divi dends," the other on "The Condition of Ireland and on Government Aid for Carrying Out an Efficient Railway System." STONEWALL JACKSON AND LEE !—Talking of the just admiration which the English newspapers accorded to Stonewall Jackson, a Confederate one day expressed to Coloael Fremantle ,vide his "Three Months in the Southern States") his astonishment that they should have praised so highly his strategic skill in outmanaluvring P ope at Manassas, and Hooker at Chancellorsviile, totally ignoring that in bath cases the .ovements were planned and ordered by General Lee, for whom (added the Southerner) Jackson had the most " child-like reverence." Lady Don is playing at lath. LATEST INTELLIGENCE. (REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.) FRANKFORT, FRANKFORT, DEC, 7. Notwithstanding the violence with which the orators in the Berlin Chambers attacked Herr Von Bismark's policy, the bad Effect produced at Vienna by Count Rechberg's tortuous declarations, the marked bias of the greater number of German rulers, and, lastly, the unanimous desire of the people, who claim the independence of the Duchies to seat the Prince of Augustenburg upon the throne —notwithstanding all these opposing influences, the majority of the Federal Diet adopted the Aus:ro- Prussian propositions in its sitting to-day. These it will be borne in mind tend, not to the occupation of the Duchies, but to Federal execution simply, as decided on the 15th October last. This result has not been achieved without opposi tion, witness the two recent adjournments of the Diet; but it is more than probable that the two great Powers have refused to subordinate their action to the vote of the Diet, that they have reite rated Count Rechberg's declaration that execution would in no way prejudge the question of succes sion, and that they have also been forced to make certain concessions to their confederates. However that may be, it is stated here to-night that they were supported in the Diet by Hanover, Saxony, Electoral Hesse, and one or two smaller States, among others by Nassau. It remains to be seen whether after the Danish protest of the 4th, withdrawing the proclamation of the 30th March relative to the constitutional poeition of Holstein, Federal execution ought slid to be carried out. By this step the King of Den mark has complied with the resolution of the Diet of the 7th July, requesting him not to carry into effect the patent of the 30th March. It is true, that the question of Schleswig remains, but Count Rech berg has himself declared that this did not come within the competence of the Diet, Schleswig not appertaining to the Germanic Confederation. Vehement manifestations are expected throughout Germany with regard to this vote, which destroys many hopes and restores 1848. Matters now are in exactly the same position as at that period, when the smaller States also gave the signal for patriotic manifestations. The threats conveyed in the day before yesterday's proclamation of King Christian to the Holsteinere are not calculated to throw oil upon the waters in spite of the promise the docu ment contains to confer upon the Duchy thorough constitutional liberty. The appal of the committee lately formed here to further the Schleswig-Holstein movement Las been stuck up at all the street corners. Here is a translation : "It is a patriotic duty universal in Germany which will be ardently felt by every one to labour for the rights and independence of Schleswig- Holstein, to utilise the propitious moment of a change of the Crown in Denmark, and to seize an opportunity which never will return. All true Germans, without distinction of birthplace and political parties, are agreed upon this point. All are ready to make sacrifices according to their power and their means. The inhabitants of Frank fort, who have always belonged to our great coun try, will not be backward in this matter. The country has its eyes fixed upon the free city of Frankfort, the rallying point of patriotic life. The country hopes in her. The foreigners must not be again allowed to appropriate German soil, to op press the German race, to destroy the German spirit, to proscribe the German tongue, to despise the German laws. But it is, above all, indispen sable to collect pecuniary means for arming and equipment of volunteer defenders of right and honour, and for the support of those who have -fallen, and who shall fall, victims of their resistanoe to Danish usurpation." Upwards of 50 signatures, many belonging to the first people of the city, were appended to this proclamation. RUSSIA AND SWITZERLAND, ST. PETERSBURG, DEC. 5. Prince Gortschakoff has addressed the following Note to the President of the Helvetic Confederation, in reply to an appeal for the protection of Swiss residents in Poland : " Monsieur le President,—l have received from Consul-General Bonenbliss the Note you were kind enough t o address to me upon the 11th November. " The appeal made in this document to the imperial authorities for protection of the Swiss residing in the kingdom of Poland and the adjoin ing provinces of the empire, and who, remaining strangers to politics, confine themselves to their occupations in a manner to conciliate general respect, is too natural and too just not to be taken into consideration. " Although persuaded that Swiss subjects coming under this category have not ceased and will not cease to be objects of the solicitude of the Imperial authorities, I shall, nevertheless, consider it my duty to bring to their knowledge the request you have made, recommending it warmly to their attention. "I have already stated this to Consul-General Bonenblust. This step will, without doubt, suffice to assure to the resident Swiss the efficacious pro tection due to the subjects of a State with which Russia is upon friendly terms.—Receive, &c., (Signed) " 0 ORTSCHAKOFF." AUSTRIA. DEMAND OF AN EXTRAORDINARY CREDIT. VIENNA, DEC. 10. It is said that an extraordinary credit of 15,000,000 florins is to be asked of the Reichsrath, to meet the expenses of the Schleswig-Holstein expedition and the establishment of troops in Gallida. FRANCE. PARIS, DEc.,lO. The replies of Austria, Prussia, the Pope, Hanover, and Bavaria to the Emperor's invitation to a Congress have been published to-day. The King of Prussia declares himself ready to participate in a Congress the object of which would be to effect the modifications which might be con sidered necessary in the treaties of 1815, which, however, none the lesscontinue to form the founda • tion upon which the political edifice of Europe at present rests, The miuieters of the various coun tries should prepare the propositions which would be submitted to the Congress. The Pope in his reply concurs in the project of a Congress, and will use his endeavours in order that the principle of justice unrecognised and trampled under foot may be re-established, and violated rights vindicated. The Pope also states that be should especially demand the re-establishment is Catholic countries of the real pre-eminence natu rally appertaining to the Catholic religion, as bein g the only true faith, PARIS, DEC. 9. The cash balance in the Bank of France was 211 million franca this morning, being a rise of ono million since yesterday. First-class bills are discounted at 61 per cent. BouusE, Dec. 9.—The market has'lhewn greg firmness in spite of the arrival of the English Funds with -1,-- decline, and the business done marks an advance on 'yesterday's quotations. Threes, for the Account, are now at 67tr. 40c. Mobilier have improved to 1,0621 r. 50c. Railway market firm Closing prices as follows: 41 per Cents 95 30 Do. end month 3 per Cents Do. end month 67 40 Credit Mobilier 1055 Do. end month 1066 25 Bank Shares 3330 Credit Fonder 1265 Roman Italian Loan 7l 65 Do. end month 7l 80 New ditto Do. end month.... Russian Austrian Spanish Threes — Home Debt Deferred RA-ILWAY4. Cash. Account. 970 977 50 975 972 50 Orleans Northern New ditto Lyons and Mediterranean New ditto Geneva Siuthern Western Eastern .. Sardinian Austrian 11•••• Lombard North of Spain Saragossa Ditto to Barcelona 942 50 .. 940 - 885 - - - 498 75 .; - - 688 75 .. 692 50 506 25 .. 510 - 475 - .. 480 - 405 - .. - - 398 75 .. 397 50 526 25 .. 626 25 525 50 .. 627 50 630:- .. 627 50 310 - .. 310 - LITERATURE. Th. Gladiators. A Tale of Rome and Judaea. By G. J. Whyte Melville, author of "Digby Grand," &c. Three Vols. Longman. The author of "Digby Grand" and " Holmby House" has here adventured upon an ambitious task. In this new work—a classical and historical novel —he has endeavoured to bring before us the pomps and luxuries of Imperial Rome, when Vitellius de graded the purple, and the sanguinary conflicts of the amphitheatre were the chief deligt,t of the Roman citizens. Although there are flaws in the picture, here and there, the result has been suffi• ciently successful. Types of the various characters of that memorable period of imperial history, are portrayed with a very discriminative hand. There is Licinius the commander of the Tenth Legion, a noble Roman well worthy of his name, and Julius Placidus, the Tribune, a man of craft and cunning but of marvellous astuteness and sagacity—a man who could join con amore in the luxurious banquets of the Caesar while planning with the gladiators for the assassination of his host. There is Hippies, the chief of that formidable band, the fencing-master and favourite of the maids and matrons of Rome—the degenerate daughters of Lucretia and Cornelia. There is old Hirpinus, one of the band, a favourable exception to his class. There are Clams and Damasippus, the freed-men and fawning flatterers of Placidus, and others of their class. Contrasted with these despicable myrmidons are Eleazar, the Jew—the Lion of Judah, a stern, unyielding, uncompromising son of Israel—and his aged brother Catches, the Christian, who boldly and unflinchingly bears witness to the truth, whether he be a prisoner in the Roman camp, or a stranger among the fiery gladiators, or an ac cused before the formidable council of his own peo ple—the Sanhedrim. The chief hero of the book is Esca, a youthful British chieftain, who had been taken prisoner by the invading Romans, and sold I for a slave in Rome. Esca is described as of stalwart size and symmetrical figure, and is the admiration of all beholders. His dauntless, manly character is very incompatible with his position as a slave, and it is somewhat repug nant to our British sentiments to find a countryman in such an ignominious position, and apparently so well resigned to his degradation The heroines of the history do not find favour in. our eyes. Valeria, the haughty and beautiful patrician lady of Rome, surrounded by lovers of all ranks, on whom she turns a cold disdainful eye, is captivated at last by the graceful figure of the slave Esca, who is unmoved by her most unwomanly condescension. After attempting the murder of Placidus, in a scene of great dramatic power, in order to save her beloved from death, Valeria turns for consolation to the admiring Hippies, and from her elevated dignity sinks into the mistress of a gladiator ! Perhaps such a character and career may be true to the manners of that degraded epoch, but the picture is certainly not a pleasing one. The other heroine, the beloved of Esca, is Mariamne, the Jewish maiden, who, to save her lover fora death, betrays Jerusalem into the hands of the invaders! Truly Captain Whyte Melville's ideas of womanly devotion are not the most complimentary to the sex ! As a specimen of the eloquent style of the descriptions which abound in these volumes, here is a finished portrait of— JULIUS PLAOIDVS, TAE TRIBUNE. But with its courage, the Tribune possessed the cunning of the tiger, not without something also of that fierce ani mal's outward beauty, and much of its watchful, pitiless, and untiring nature, A brave soldier should have con sidered it a degradation, under any circumstances, to play a double part; but with Placidus every step was esteemed honourable so long as it was on the ascent. The successful winner had no scruple in deceiving all about him at Rome, by the eagerness with which he assumed the character of a mere man of pleasure, while he lost no opportunity the while, of ingratiating himself with the many desperate spirits who were to be found in the imperial city, ready and willing to assist in any enter prise which should tend to anarchy and confusion. While he rushed into every extravagance and pleasure of that luxurious Court—while he vied the Omar himself in his profusion, and surpassed him in his orgies—he suffered no symptoms to escape him of a higher ambition than that of excellence in trifling,—of deeper projects than those which affected the wine-cup, the pageant, and the passing follies of the hour. Yet all the while, within that dainty reveller's brain, schemes were forming and thoughts burning that should have withered the very roses on his brow. It might have been the strain of Greek blood which fil tered through his veins, that tempered his Roman courage and endurance, with the pliancy, essential to conspiracy and intrigue. A strain that was apparent in his sculptured regularity of features, and general r ymmetry of form. His character has already been compared to the tigs r's, and his movements had all the pliant ease and stealthy freedom of that graceful animal. His stature was little above the aver age of his countrymen, but his frame was cast in that mould of exact proportion which promises the extreme of strength combined with agility and endurance. Had he been caught like Milo, he would have writhed himself out of the trap, with the sinuous per sistency of a snake. There was something snake-like too in his small glittering eye, and the clear smooth ness of his skin. With all its brightness no woman worthy of the name but would have winced with womanly instincts of aversion and repugnance from his glance. With all its beauty no child would have looked up frankly and confid ingly in his face. Men turned, indeed, to scan him approvingly as he passed; but the brave owned no sym pathy with that smooth set brow, that crafty and malicious smile, while the timid or the superstitious shuddered and shrank away, averting their own gaze from what they felt to be the influence of the evil eye. And yet in his snowy tunic bleeched to dazzling white, in his collar of linked gold, his jewelled belt, his embroidered sandals, and the ample folds of his deep violet mantle, nearly approaching purple, Julius Placidus was no un worthy representative of his time and his order, no mean specimen of the wealth, and foppery, and extravagance of Rome. Such was the man who now stood up in his gilded chariot at Valerie's door, masking with his usual expression of careless indolence, the real impatience he felt for the tidings of its mistress. And here is a companion picture of A ROMAN LADY. Too fastidious a critic might have objected t. Valerie's form that it expressed more of physical strength than is compatible with perfect womanly beauty, that the muscles were developed overmuch, and the whole frame, despite its flowing outlines, partook somewhat of a man's org n a cult Lion, 12tid a man's redundant strength. The might might ha ve seen found in a less degree with counten ance. There was audacity and energy la a little too much l aquiline nose, somethilrg of manly d the well-formed mouth, - f of the fullest and redden of lips coula brow, smooth and 41 its broad white teeth that the wh- hnortecsoonluctelaoln—hi conceal--amh shade a o l masculine sternness at the l? l ,, w _ nd se :ccely softened by white, but somewhat prleolanegbirtrieoataw:Bo,al6,2:notheey::::: sweep l t a h s e h a e arch c that o f fringedt e mr k e thed And yet it was a facia that a man, and still snort' a hey, h s e cmoiuglh h d t t a o t o d , l , oyeriveedrluookt oe dlonognfowriitthsougtlanmciessg,iviitnsgerimitih;..::l a pproval, and its l ove. There was such a glow of health on the soft transparent skin, such a freshness and vitality in the colour of those blooming cheeks, such a sparkle in the grey eyes, that flashed so meaningly when she smiled, that gleamed so clear and bright and cold when the features resumed their natural expression, grave, scoi:itul, almost stern in their repose; and then such womanly sotiZes* in the masses of rich nut-brown hair that showered down neck and shoulders, to form a framework for this lovely, dangerous, and too alluring picture. Even the little negro, wearied as he was, peeped at intervals from the back of the mirror he upheld, fawning like a dog for some sign of approval from his haughty, careless mistress. .At length .5110 bade hiw keep still, with a half-acoruful smile at his antics ; and the sharp white teeth gleamed from ear to ear of the dusky little face, as it grinned with pleasure, while the boy settled himself once more in an attitude of patience and steady submission. Nor was Valeria's apartment unworthy of the noble beauty who devoted it to the mysterious rites of dress and decoration. Dverything that luxury could imagine for bodily ease, everything that science had as yet discovered for the preservation or the production of feminine attrac tions, was there to be found in its handsomest and costliest form. In one recess, shrouded by transparent curtains of the softest pink, was the bath that could be heated at will to any temperature, snd the marble steps of which that shapely form was accustomed to descend twice and thrice a day. In another stood the ivory couch with its quilted crimson silks and ornamented pillars of solid gold, in which Valeria slept, and dreamed such dreams as hovel round the rest of those whose life is luxury, and whose business is a ceaseless career of pleasure. On the table of cedar wood, fashioned like a palm-leaf opening out from a pedestal that terminated in a single claw of grotesque shape, stood her silver night-lamp, exhaling odours of perfumed oi l, and near it lay the waxen tablets, on which she made her mettle randums, or composed her love-letters, and from which, 321 from an unfinished task, the sharp-pointed steel pencil had rolled away upon the shining floor. Through th e whole court -- for court it might L be c alled, with its many entrances and recesses, its cool and shady nooks, its lofty ceiling and it s tesselated pavement,—choice vases, jewelled cups, bur nished chalices, and exquisite little statues were scattered in systematic irregularity, and graceful profusion. E ven the very water in the bath flowed through the mouth Of e marble Cupid; and two more winged urchins ,wrought bronze, supported a stand on which was set a formidable array of perfumes, essences, cosmetics, and such material for offensive and defensive warfare. The walls, too, of this seductive arsenal, were delicately tinted of a light rose-colour, that should throw the most becoming shade over its inmates, relieved at intervals 139 oval wreaths wrought out in bas-relief, enclosing divers mythological subjects, in which the figure of Venus, god dess of love and laughter, predominated, Round the cot" vices stretched a frieze representing, also in relief, the fabulous contests of the Amazons with every description of monster, amongst which the most conspicuous foe the well-known gryphon, or griffin, an abnormal quads' ped, with the head and neck of a bird of prey. Here, again, is a beautiful thought, commemor ating a kindred truth to that immortal exclamati on Keats— • " A THING OF BEAUTY IS A JOY FOR EVER! " is . It is pehaps one of the most consoling and merciful eLD . pensations of Providence, that the human mind is se CO stituted as to dwell on past pleasures, rather than past P 7 . 1, The sorrow that ie done with, returns indeed at inte rn '" vividly and bitterly enough ; but every fresh occurrence is less cruel than the last, and we can look back to our sag er ; ings at length, with a calm and chastened humility wh i „; the first step towards resignation and ev e nt ua l peace. ' l l the memory of a great happiness seems so interwoven gi T„, the imperishable part of our being, that it loses none o f reality by the relapse of time, none of its brightness from the effect of distance. Anger, sorrow, hatred, contentions, fleet away like a dream ; but the smile that glacidened us long ago, has passed into the very sunlight of noon't i t the whisper that softened our sternest moods, steals 911 the breeze of evening to our heart, gently and tenderly as of yore, and we know, we feel, that while crime, and misery' and remorse, are the temporary afflictions of hunien it ''' pardon, and hope, and love are its inheritance for Wi er ' more. fhe conflicts in the amphitheatre are very vi vidli a , described. Here, as our final quotation, is a pa ewa3P glimpse of— THE GLADIATORS. And now the arena bec omes a g h as tl y an d forbidding sight. They die hard, these men, whose very trade 11 slaughter; but mortal agony cannot always suPP resB :- 6roan, and it is pitiful to see soma prostrate giant, st I PP :I °- a d mg himself painfully on his hands, wi t h drooping L. and fast closing eye fixed on the ground, while the '— stream is pouring from his chest into the thirsty san d ' It is real sad earnest, th s representation of war , , 6 resembles the battle-field in all save that no prisoners 1" taken, and quarters but rarely are given. Occasional -if' indeed, some vanquished champion, of more than col:aloe° beauty, or who has displayed more than common beel or who has displayed more than commanding address all courage, so wins the favour of the spectators that they . g e for his life to be spared. Hands ara turned outwards, Wrth 6 the thumb pointing to the earth, and the victor sh eetile his sword, and retires with his worsted antagonist frail. the contest ; but more generally the fallen man's 04 1231 f° ,,, mercy is neglected : ere the shout " A hit I" has died itc'e— ears, his despairing eye marks the thumbs of his judge e l : pointing upwards, and he disposes himself to " welcome th steel" with a calm courage worthy of a better cause. The reserve, consisting of ten pairs of picked gladiator" has not yet been engaged. The green and the red 11( 1 fought with nearly equal success ; but when the trump et has sounded a halt, and the dead have been dragged rise;! by grappling-hooks, leaving long tracks of crimson in o°l- wake, a careful enumeration of the survivors gives the /ie .; tory by one, to the latter colour. Hippias, coming forci et i ,: - in a suit of burnished armour, declares as much, An d greeted with a round of applause. In all her preoccaPe; tion, Valeria cannot refrain from a glance of aPPr e t a l o the handsome fencing master; and Mariamne, vr" that Esca's life hangs on the man's skill, and rb e e in;; gazes on him with mingled awe and horror, as s°l°- of another world. - waste tb.e But the populace have little inclination ia t° o precious moments in cheerinc , Hip i as o r made on loss and gain. Fresh wagers p are P indeed matches about to take place; but the prevailing feel .Lotag.. over that numerous assemblage, is one of morbid e3' ment and anticipation. The ten pairs of men now ma fight so proudly into the centre of the lists, are pledged to gg to the death. The siege of Jerusalem, and the burning of the , Temple,in the third volume,ar• described with gree! vigour. The whole fiction is a thing apart a nd lculatir.ige complete. We congratulate Captain Melville o 1 the spirit and power evinced by this cla ssical nove l of his, which, if flawed here and there, as we have shown, is but flawed thus very rarely, very excelp" tionally ! The whole romantic picture of the antiq ue , past conjured up to view, thus, in " The Gladiator le A being sketched in ma nifestl y with the ra p id han g of a master of h is craft, alwa y s with the boldest Oat' lines, often with the most gorgeous colouring. Serious Illness of Mr. Justice Wightraay. We regret to state that we have received a tel.c... gram from York, announcing the serious ill earst ness or app o Mr. Justice Wi g ht man . Hi s recovery be despaired of. _-- MARKETS—.This Day. MARK-LAN' MIL WEEKLY AvgßAGEs.—Wliest, 408 9I; THE SIX WEEKS' barley , 33s 6d; oats, 19s sd; rye, 29s 7d ; beaus, 55s 3 di and peas, 338 7d. barley, 3::ts 10d ; oats, 19s 2d ;29s 2d; beans, 35s 10 a; barley, 132,260 ; oats, 14,739; rye, 45 ; rye, peas, 34s 4d. -., qs; ENGLI:;11 GRAIN SOLD LAST WEEK.—Wheat, ...u,2.. AvEu.s.azs. -- Wlieat, 40s 1d; beans, 4,543; pe , s 6 2,761 quarters. METROPOLITAN CATTLE. For the time of year, the supply of beasts on offer int o' day's market was tolerably good as to number, and in prig Of condition. The demand for all breeds was in a alugg:i O P, state at barely Monday's currency. The top figure was P . : per Blbs. The show of sheep was moderate, but prima quality. The mutton trade was in a sluggish state, and P; s ome instances prices were rath er drooping. The extrel ilk quotation for Downs was 6s per Blbs. We have to rep , l ': a dull sale for calves at barely previous rates. Pigs wcro tolerably firm in price, (8) b 44 u t i m o6 i 1 Lr e harrilegeo;w6cart shed. ruled ow heavy. ndo4 0 I 0 0. d. a. d• Crao. &inf. beasts 3 6 3 W rrime7s-wool d 0.5 4 ',' 0 S L•dquality do. 4 P P i r i ima mo .Iler°6 " es ' o'en -- • 4 0 4 6 Large Crse. & in .f. sheep 4 WV , 'lit do. porkers .... 4 3 64 1 6 1 8 5 2 ISmE hogs 2c 5 060teno.d2. Suckling .......................................... t 1 ( 5 ) 81 2 20 0 00 0 s ; sß i la r n e i e r a d p FOREIGN STIFFLI. 420 and lambs .... 90 Beastirs"..A.-.11 ...... 'PLY. ) east, .............. 50 e l quarter-old doves store .: s 1 1 0 d; v p s i g . 1 i beep .......... . • 3,700 1 Calves ......... , .., c a lved ........ .... 10 5 1 Pigs ................ Pigs.. .. 360 1 MEAT MARKETS. , n s3 o NEWOATE. AND LEADEND ALL.—The supplies o. —, s ; iSouTnALL, D. are moderately good and the demand is inactive, as toll° 7..,i; —Beef, froo 3$ Od to 4s 4d , mutton, 3s 8d to 5,„:"64 lamb, 0.3 0(1 to Os Od; veal, 4s Od to Os Od; au d pork. " to 4$ Bcl per 81bc, by the carcase.to' derato, and the trade ruled sieady. Beet, froiii, ( i.'! iti et 53 (A ; mutton, 4s Oa to 6s Od ; veal, 4s 4d to 4s ° I3, V, siJA D.'c• 9.—The suply of stock was on ly sj t o Os Od to Os Od; and the offal.:iv at off steadily te. RompoßD, Dec. 9. .__F . ritao stock moved 1 oh t o ol, Beaf, from 3s 6d to 58 Od ; full prices; otherwise, tho I , ork, 43 Od to 45 6d per 810 trade ""sirOdat: °d; :el° 4s' 2d to 4s 8d; and pork, 3s ,'Od to 4s 6d Per 8111 9 ; 15 ,760; old store pigs, ling' calves, 14s to 205; quarter- • h. and ini!lch cows, £l4 to £lB Os eaL Os f ° '' ---- a. HAY 11.A.131C- 2 4T . SmaimET ;D.—Meadow hay, £3 Os to £4 lbs.l Od ► clgacit, £4 Os to £5 lOs Od ; and straw, il 6s to 41 1. 28 O r Trade inactiv 'e• s • 0 10' 0 ; 9 CIMIBEILL tlND:—Metvlow hay, L 3 Os to £4 12e 6a t - l°• £4 Os to £5 10* Od ; and straw, i.:l 6s to 11 12s P l ' A moderate demand./overt WHITECHA YMeadow hay, £3 Os to £4 100 oa ; e'ocl; £4 Os tCls•jOsOd Mes $5 • 10s Od ; and strAw, £163 to 1 12s per. Supvly good . B 4 3 t 31/ NE N \ll 1::4