The Sun. — London, England, 1863-02-05 00:00:00

L ONDON ASSURANCE CORPORATION, - NAT S. LINDSAY, M.P.—The Rising Genera for Fire, Life, and Marine Astillritnees. V • tion—Our Prize Essays—Mrs. Grundy's Gossiping, Incorporated by Royal Charter, AD. 1720. ( &c., in FUN this week. Offices—No. 7, Royal Exchange, and 7, Fall-Mall. One Penny. Of all Newsmen. Established 1837. - n RITANNI A LIF E ASSURANCE CO MPANY - 1 --F (empowered by special Act of Parliament, 4 Vict. cap. 9), and BRITANNIA MUTUAL LIFE ASSOCIATION (em powered by her Majesty's Royal Letters Patent), 1, Princes street, Bank, London. Major-General ALEXANDER, Blackheath-park, Chairman. Every description of Life Assurance business transacted, With or without Participation in Profits. ANDREW FRANCIS, Secretary. R OYAL ENGLISH OPERA, COVENT GARDEN. Under the Management of Miss Louisa Pyne and Mr. W. Harrison. Sole Lessees. THIS EVENING Wallace's new Opera of LOVE'S TRIUMPH : Miss Louisa Pyne, and Mdme. Laura Baxter ; Messrs. George Perren, W. H. Weiss, H. Corri, A. Cooke, and W. Harrison. Conductor—Mr. A. Mellon. After which, the Grand Comic Curistmas Pantomime, en ittled HARLEQUIN BEAUTY AND THE BEAST. Doors open at hall-past is—Commence at 7. LONDON and LANCASHIRE FIRE and LIFE INSURANCE COMPANIES. Capital—Fire, .£1,001,000. Capital--; ife, £lOO,OOO. 73 and 74, King William-street, E.C. CHAIRMAN—F. W. Russell, Esq , M.P. Fire—Mr. Alderman Dakin. DEPUTY-CHAIRMEN Life—J. H. Mackenzie, Esq. The Companies are under different Deeds, and separate Capital. Home and Foreign Fire and Life Insurances at Moderate Rates. Foreign residence and travelling allowed ander liberal con ditions. Commission allowed to Agents and others. W. P. CLIREHUGH, General Manager. THE ATR E-R OYA I DRURY-LANE.- Lessee and Manager, Mr. Edmund Falconer. THIS EVEN DIG, the Comic Drama of THE NEXT OF KIN. After which, the Grand Pantomime of LITTLE GO 9DY TWO SHOES. ESTABLISHED A.D. 1844. GREAT BRITAIN MUTUAL LIFE ASSURANCE SOCIETY. Empowered by Special Act of Parliament, 25 and 26 Vic., cap. 74. WILLIAM HENRY DICKSON, Esq., Chancellor House, Tunbridge Wells, Chairman. THOMAS R. DAVISON, Esq.,2,RoyalExchang,e-buildings, Deuty. This Society is established on the -Chairman tried and approved prin ciple of Mutual Assurance. The funds are accumulated for the exclusive benefit of the members, under their own imme diate superintendence and control. The profits are divioed annually. 101, Cheapaide, RC , C. L. LAWSON, Secretary. ROYAL INSURANCE COMPANY. Head Offices-29, Lombard-street. London , and Royal Insurance Buildings, Liverpool. Total Annual Revenue, exceeds £450,00 0 ; Accumulated Funds in hand, over 5,650,000. FIRE DEPARTMENT . The Receipt of FIRE PREMIUMS has been as follows :- 1855 1857 175,049 I 1861 292,402 Placing the Company among the yen/ largest Offices in the Kingdom. The Fire Revenue has been enhanced, in three yews, by the enormous sum of more than £96,000. Moreover, the latest Parliamentary Returns of Insurance Tax paid to the Inland Revenue Office (ordered to be printed by the House of Commons, Bth July, 1862) exhibits the ROYAL INSURANCE COMPANY, as respects increase of business, at the HE t D OF A 1.4., the Insurance Offices. LIFE DEPARTMENT. . -. The rapid progress and position of this Branch will be best shown by the following statement of the New Life Business effected for the Year New Premiums. Year New Premiums. 1855 £5. 9 ,918 6 1859 £13, 0 36 8 5 1857 10,270 8 6 I 1861 16,627 18 0 Large Bonuses declared 1855 and 1860—X2 per Cent. per Annum. The greatest Bonus ever continuously declared by any Company. PERCY N. DOVE, Manager and Actuary. JOHN B. JOHNSON, Secretary in London. STANDARD LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY kl was established in 1825, and during the last 15 years the annnal average of new assurances has exceeded half a million sterling, being the largest business transacted in that period by any life assurance office; From 1846 to 1851 the amount of assur ances effected was £2,245,461 13 0 From 1851 to 1856 the amount of assur ances effected was From 1856 to 1861 the amount of assur ances effected was. 2,802,958 14 5 2,541,840 5 1 Total in 15 years £7,590,260 12 6 Accumulated Fund £2,000,000 0 0 Annual Revenue The Directors invite particular attention to the New Terms and Conditions of the standard Policy. FREE ASSURANCE. The assured under these policies may proceed to and reside in any part of the world without payment of' extra premium; may serve in militia or volunteer corps, in time of peace or war, within the United Ki gdom ; and, further, no policy of five years' duration shall be liable to any ground of cuallenge whatever connected with the original documents on which the assurance was granted. Policies of Five Years' duration effected for the whole term of life at a uniform rate of premium may be renewed within 13 months of date of lapsing, on payment of a fine, during which period the risk shall be binding on the Company in the event of death, subject to the deduction of premiums unpaid and fines. Policies of Less than Five Years' duration may be renewed within 13 months on very favourable terms. Surrender Values granted after payment of one annual pre mium on "with profit" policies, or three annual premiums on those "without profits." Loans granted on such policies Within their value. Ey order of the Dire'lors. WILL. THOS. THOMSON, Manager. H. JONES WILLIAMS, Resident Secretary. London, 82, King William-street. PROVIDENT CLERKS' MUTUAL LIFE ASSURANCE ASSOCIATION. Established 1840. The 22d Annual General Meeting of this Association was held on Wednesday, the 4th February, 1863. The Income for the year 1862 wa5.......... £50,135 0 0 The Accumulated Fiind . 197,400 0 0 The Report and Balance-sheet may be had on application to the Agents, or at the Chief Office, 15, Moorgate-street E.C. WM. THOS. LINFORD, Secretary. February 5, 1863. THE EUROPEAN ASSURANCE SOCIETY issues guarantee policies or bonds at reduced rates of premium, on behalf of officials in or under the Treasury, Customs, Inland Revenue, General Post-office, Board of Trade, War-office, Admiralty, the - Home, Colonial, and India Offices, Poor Law Board, Office of her Majesty's Works, &c., and other public departments. Every . Facility will be given to substitute the bonds of this Society in lieu of existing securities. Life Assurance in all As branches at moderate rates, with or without participation in profits. Life Assurance, combined with guarantee, on terms most advantageous to the assured. Immediate Annuities, payable daring the whole of life, may be purchased on the following scale : Annuities granted at the undermentioned Ages for every £lOO of Purchase Money. • Ages 1 60 I 70 Annuity .... £7l7s. ed. 1 .£lO 3s. 4d. I £14165. 2d. List of Shareholders, Prospectuses, and Agency applica tions may be obtained on application to W. CLELAND, Manager and Secretary, 2, Waterloo-place, Pall-mall. FURNITURE AND DECORATION. PRIZE MEDAL, GREAT EXHIBITION OF 1851. MEDAL OF HONOUR, EXPOSITION GOLD UNIVERSELLE, PARIS, 1855. MEDAL FOR " GREAT EXCELLENCE OF DESIGN AND WORKMANSHIP," _ INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION, 1862. T ACKSON and GRAHAM respectfully inform PJ the Nobility and Gentry that they have recently made great additions to their former extensive premises, which renficr their establishment the largest and most complete of its kind in this or any other country. The spacious Show-rooms and Galleries comprise a super ficial area of 27,000 feet, and are filled with an unrivalled stock, the prices of which are all marked in plain figures at the most moderate rate for ready money. The extensive Manufactory adjoining, with Machinery worked by Steam Power, is fitted with ail means and appli ances to ensure superiority and econo raise cost. Each of the undermentioned Departments will be found as complete as if it formed a separate business, viz.:— Paper Hangings, Paintings, and Interior Decorations of all kinds. Experienced Workmen sent to all parts of the kingdom. Carpets of Superior Manufacture of every description. Cabinet Furniture, Chairs, Sofas, Ottomans, &c. Silk and Silk and Wool Damasks, .Aubusson and Venetian Tapestries Chintzes, Utrecht Velvets, Arras, Reps, Merino Damasks, Cloths, &c. &e. Bedsteads of Iron, B rass and various Woods, and superior Bedding and M a t tresses of all kinds. (Four Snow-rooms, each 120 feet long, rv ar in e l d ,a e n vo d ted Gil t di o n t g. his department.) Gallery ot Bronze F. Barbedienne and C Art (sole depot for the productions of and Ornamental Porcelain. Paris), Clocks, Candelabra, Vases, The Public are thus enaled t select their Paper Hangings or Decorations, Carpets, Curtainosse mony with each other at one establaistnFenuf niture all in har -11.3, 34, 35, 37, and 38, Oxford-street. and Newman-yard, a dj o i n i ng. Perry's-place, Preston-place, AS WEETHEART for Is.—RIMN IEL ' S NEW VALENTINES, the " Sweetheart," delightfully scented, and the "Floral Valentine," made from natural flowers perfumed, the prettiest novelties yet produced, price is. each ; or either free ypost for 14 stamps. sold by all the trade.-1:. RIMMEL, Perfumer to Her Majesty, 96 , Strand, 24, Cornhill, and Crystal Palace. TEA, DIRECT AT MERCHANT'S PRICES. MOORE BROTHERS' Mixed ASSAM, very choice, 4s. per lb.—quality considered, the cheapest Tea sold, MOORE BROTHERS' Choice SOUCHONG, 3s. 9d., suit able for superior purposes, full rich Souchong; flavour. id. per lb. deduction on 201 b. Bags and 45113. Chests. Prospectus free HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. THIS DAY.—Morning, 3h. 14m.—Afternoon, 3h. 32m. To-Moßßow.-Morning, 3h. 45m.—Afternoon, 3h. 59m. MOORE BROTHERS, 35, London-bridge, City, E.C. NATIONAL CHORAL SOMETY.—Eet fully attended last night to hear an a x dm er ira ll b a le ll wpears formance of Haydn's masterpiece, the " Creation," by the National Ch ora l S oc i ety, un d er the conduct o f M r . Av. Martin, The eminent position attained by this society in choral execution was fully sustained on this occasion. Mr. Sims Reeves, too,who is a "tower of strength" to any enter prise, joined his powerful aid to the perfecting of the ora torio. The organ under the manipulation of Mr. G. Board man, lends a substance, steadiness, and ensemble to the vo o cal se leading, which i s of great service to the general effect of th excellent performances. Every seafaring man is fully alive to the diffi culties and dangers attending the lowering of boats under some of the circumstances mentioned, besides many others by the tackles in common use ; that boats are liable to be swamped, or stove against the ship's sides, with per haps half their crews thrown into the water. These men must be picked up before another boat, which may h ave been successfully lowered, can go to the assistance of him who has fallen overboard, and whose struggles are probably at an end before it can reach the spot the delay. wa s l ast to h seen, and no vestige of him left owing Matters with these tackles are better manraognedg-oannboear,dmpae7tl-oy that men-of-war, partly on account of being neither confusion nor contradictory strong-handed, orders ever interfered with the duty, partly that the right moment was always chosen to d ro p th e boat into the water and unhook the hands of first-rate tackles, and finally th a t all was in the seamen. This s y s t em , h o wev e r, is nowchanged, of every ship in h er M a j es t y ' s ser vice being fitted with the patent disengagin g h oo k s, so th a t th e y can be lo wered without fear or r i sk whenever the sea is not too heavy for them to liv e i n . The merit of this invention belongs toThe a late Captain Kynaston, t b i fi r s e v and e withal much given to'scien ursuits. wound received a t th e bombardment of Sebastopol excellent The e t oinceta t shortr, an d of a a most promising career, but not before his invention had been tested successfully in every possible way. It would be well if the same order regarding his hooks as that issued for her Majesty's ships should extend to ail mail steamers and hired transports; with the former it should be a clause in the contract with the Government; with t h e l atter the remedy is apparent, not to take them up uuldes their boats are so fitted.— natted Service Itlaganne. Commence at 7. TREAT RE-RC - I Al, BAY MARKET. Lessee. Mr. J. B. Buckstone. THIS EVENING, at Seven o'clock, will be performed OUR AMERICAN COUSIN. Asa Trenchard, Mr. Buck stone t Lord Dundreary, Mr. Sothern. Atter which, a new and ori,T,lnal Extravaganza, entitled RASSELAS, PRINCE OF ABYSSINIA ; or, The Happy Valley. Rasselas, Miss Louise Keeley. Concluding with OUR MARY ANNE. T HEATRE ROYAL LYCEUM OPEN, under the Sole Management of Mr. FECHTER. THIS EVENING, Feb. 5. to commence with an Ortzinal Sketch, entitled A SUDDEN ATTACK. Messrs. Shore, Garden, H. Widdicomb, Miss Henrade, and Mrs. Lee. After which, at a Quarter to Eight, a New Romantic Drama, in Three Acts, and Pr3loome, entitled THE DUKE'S MOTTO, by Paul Feval and John Brougham. The principal character will be sustained by Mr. Pechter, supported by Messrs. G. Vining, J. Brougham, H. \' iddi combo, W. M'lntyre, F. Charles, Garden, Raymond, H. Butler, Dawson; Misses Carlotta Leclercq, Kate Terry, E. Lavenue, and Elsworthy. Mr. Phelps and Mr. W. Montgomery are engaged, and will shortly appear. Doors open at half-past Six, performance to commence at Seven. Private Boxes, £2 12s. dd., and £2 2s. Places registered. Stalls, 6s. sd. ; Dress Circle, ss. 6d.; Upper Circle, 4s. 6d. Prices at doors ; Dress Circle, ss. ; Upper Circle, 4s. ; Pit, 2s. ; Gallery, is. No half-price. ttox office oven daily from 11 till 5. The public are entreated to take notice that no charge is made to the occupants of blxes, box places, or stalls, either for play bills or for the sate keep ing of hats and cloaks : and that the attendants in all parts of the house are forbidden to receive anygratuities whatever Stage-Manager, Mr. G. Vining. Acting-Manager, Mr. H. Barnett. ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE. Lessee and Manager, Linda, THIS EVENING, LAW v. LOVE : Miss M. Oliver. Followed by ONE GOOD TURN DESERVES AN OTHER. Mr. R. Roxby and Miss Amy Sedgwick. After which, the New Grand CHRISTMAS PANTOMIME, ItIQUET WITH THE rurr ; or, Harlequin and Mother Shipton." Mr. G. Belmore, Mr. C. Se ton, Misses Gray and Hudspeth, Mr. Milano, Mr. R. Power, Miss A. Collinson, and Mr. Halford. MEW THEATRE-ROYAL, 1-1 Sole Proprietor and Manager, Mr. B. Webster. THIS EVENING, THE LI i TLE THE A SURE. Mr. Billington, Mr. R. Phillips, and Miss Marie Wilton. After which, A TICKET OF LEAVE : Messrs. J. L. Toole, P. Bedford, and Mrs. Billing - ton. To be followed by "GEORGE DE BARNWELL : or, Harlequin Follyin the Realms of Fancy." Miss Woole - ar, Miss K. Kelly, Miss Seaman ; Messrs. J. L. Toole, P. Bed ford, s , 4ephenson, C. J. Smith. Harlequin, Mr. John Lauri ; tiolunibine, Miss Caroline Adams ; Ciown, Mr. W. Hildyard ; 'antaloon, Mr. J. Paulo. The celebrated Arthur and Bertrand. Commence at 7. The Weather.—Sun Office, Feb. 5, 1863. TFIEB.MODIETER. Highast since Noon yesterday. 45 Lowest during the night This day at Noon • 16 Barometer-30.21. Wind—N.W., fresh:; with fine weather. gh API itirlitir es' —liordLt diem "igo 0•\:70 LONDON, THURSDAY, FEB. 5, 1863. The Imperial Parliament of these realms, having been formally opened this afternoon by Royal Commission, the Speech from the Throne, as but just now read from the foot of the Throne by the Lord Chancellor, can be already turned to in an other part of our impression, and there examined at leisure by those who list. From the nineteen paragraphs of this State document, it will be seen that our anticipations in regard to it have been realised in every particular. It announces no start ling programme for the session. ft hints at no great projected innovations. Its chief interest lies,in truth, in the references therein made, as usual, but this time with a peculiar significance, to the amicable charac ter of our relations with all the other Powers of the earth, not alone in Europe, bu-t alike in all quarters of the globe. Coupled with this pre eminently satisfactory reminder, comes also the opportune recognition by the Sovereign, through the medium of her MAJESTY'S Commis sioners, the singularly opportune recognition by her MAJESTY of the tranquility at this epoch pre vailing throughout all parts of her vast dominion. Grateful indeed is that consideration to every loyal subject of the Crown at this moment—now, when, simultaneously, in the old world and in the new, the most conspicuous and powerful states, whether republican or despotic, arc passing through an ordeal of apparent disruption. The giant democracy of North America more widely than ever it would seem rent asunder irreconcilably —North and South still contending with each other in deadly conflict. In an exactly opposite direction, both geographi cally and politically, the giant autocracy of Russia, moreover, is known to be engaged, at this very same juncture, with another of those periodical evidences of the hatred in which it is held by the various minor nations around it, who, at different intervals have been brought under its rule, either by diplo matic fraud or by sheer force of arms—the military despotism of the CZAR being now vigorously occu pied, in point of fact, in the suppression of another vast Polish Insurrection. In proof of which, Cossacks and Uhlans, regiment after regiment, and bearing with them a whole battery of artillery, have, it would seem, according to to-day's telegrams, been despatched in hot haste to the insurgent districts by express orders flashed with laconic precision from the Imperial Cabinet at St. Peters burg. Not only, however, is civil war raging within the dominions of the Republic of North a t l h i e pa military rts o f t h d e et t h i s n m o t o e f m R b u r a s s e i e a d , A but na erica, elsewhere an d in o r within the compass of the British Empire, there are, if not open revolt and bloodshed, overt or latent sources of profound disquietude. Turkey is still struggling with ber financial embarrassments —con strained while so engaged to keep th e unsheathed sword yet firmly within her grasp, with an eye perpetually turning askance to one part or another of her northern frontiers. Prussia ap pears to be unavoidably committed to a fierce com bat—the fatal issue of which must come sooner or later—between the SOVEREIGN and the Parliament. Germany and Scandinavia have still lying between them, as it were, upon the very verge of their inevi table struggle in the end, that long recognised pro vocative to war in the North, that constant plea of contention, more especially between the Councils of Berlin and Copenhagen —the Schleswig-Holstein difficulty. Turning southwards, there is Italy, still, ua a n s n caol a on n gs ooilundepi ad a te e d n . d e n A t S d ta t t h e i , s un mainlyt a n q n b i e l i c s a ed us , e b e o c f a use difficulty that perpetually appears to Preclude the nation from the possibility of anythiag like a secure and satisfactory settlement. The latest phase in regard to which diplo m atic difficulty is seemingly —to put the matter, in pl a i n terms—that Prance, Turin, the Papacy itself, have, for art interval at least, determined, at this latest mention of the Roman Question, to evade it, to i g nore if, in Parliamenta r y p h rase, to pass to the Order of the Day. And that Order of the Day, in reference to the Italian People and the Roman Peninsula, may, for the time being, be expressed THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 5, 1863 quite obviously in one word—postponement. Anxiety, war, rebellion visible elsewhere—peace, prosperity, profound tranquility are known to prevail throughout the length and breadth of our own dominions. Not only is it thus with regard to the actual situation of the British Empire inter nally, but, externally, that Empire is at peace with the whole world—holds amicable relations even with those powers whether democratic or auto cratic that might have been supposed to have had a tendency at heart to resent our non-interference in their behalf under the pressure of an emergency. No wonder can it be then, that what Mr. KINGLAKE is fond of calling (if he loves one word more than another—as he certainly loves this be yond any other monosyllable in the language)—a stress is for once laid upon the old stereotyped phrases in reference to our friendly relations with foreign powers, and the tranquility prevailing throughout our own empire—phrases possessing, we repeat, at this particular juncture, so very peculiar and exceptional a significance. Although but comparativelyfewlegislative improve ments can be hinted at in reference to the modification of the marriage law in Ireland and Scotland, to the revision of the criminal code so far as relates to the treatment of the more incorrigible class of criminals, and to the advancement yet further this session of some progressive and graduated efforts at law re form—the chief interest attaching to the Speech from the Throne but just now delivered by Royal Commis• sion will be found to relate to matters peculiarly affecting the domestic relations of the country, the actual or probable situation of things within the bounds of the United Kingdom. The loyal sympathy of her people—awakened so sorrovvtelly last year upon the opening of Parliament, by Her MAJESTY'S reference then in the Royal Speech of 1862, to her recent and most bitter bereavement, will as infallibly be called forth joyously this year by Her MAJESTY'S allusion, in the very first para graph of the Speech from the Throne of 1863,:c0 the strongly contrasting theme of the approaching ma r riage of his Royal Highness the Heir Apparent. Never yet has the QUEEN appealed in vain, whether in joy or in grief, to the sympathy of her happy and grateful people. Never have her words of appeal in this way fallen more potently on the popular ear. And this, probably, because they come to us, these touching words in to day's Speech from the Throne, so to speak, accentuated at once by the joy and the grief of the Sovereign ! Grief, still as poig nant as ever in her MAJESTY'S heart in the cherished remembrance there of the princely husband, for over lost to her affections in this world ! Joy in the happy future now immediately opening up before the eldest of his sons, the heir to her MAJESTY'S Crown and Empire ! If pitying reference has still to be made to the protracted sufferings of the manufacturing operatives of Lancashire in the gracious Speech from the Throne, by the vicarious delivery of which the session of Parliament has this day been inau gurated, there is a solace, coupled at the same time with that pathetic remembrance, namely, that reference made to the noble spirit of resignation and of loyal endurance of their sufferings mani fested throughout their terrible ordeal by the afflicted population. Consolatory, also, is it to bear in recollection the extraordinary, but really indisputable fact that in spite of this sudden interruption of so large a branch of our manufactures, in spite of the simultaneous closing against our trade of the ports of one of the largest and most important of the nations who are habitually our customers—our resources are never theless abundant of their kind that, notwith standing the vast extent of our annual expendi ture, a considerable surplus actualq now remains on hand to be dealt with by our Chancellor of the Ex chequer. A surplus—not, as hitherto, for several ' years past an unmistakeable and sometimes a really embarassing deficit ! A surplus, moreover, suffi ciently considerable, as it would appear to hold before us the happy prospect of an immediate and notable remission of taxation—probably twopence in the pound sterling dropped from the detested Income Tax, and possibly coupled with this the dropping also of the war taxes upon tea and sugar. Brighter days open, in fact, before the Roy al Family and for the Nation with this day's opening of the British legislature. But—before the Ministry ? Well, that is quite another matter altogether ! And, in regard to that matter we shall have to remai❑ in doubt for yet a little while longer: namely, as we intimated yesterday, until after his Royal High ness's marriage. thers still ? Would he have dared the wrath of your united power ? Not he ; but now that both your combs are cut as his own had been before, he struts for ward and leetures you in your own divided house of representative weakness. In your day of greatness you taught him how to swagger, and now see how cunningly he copies you in the hour of your distress. AVill you make it up and avenge yoar quarrel—not on your cousin England, but on your warlike pacificator, and tender him your " me diation" if he will cut and run ? Mexico will join you heartily; and the world may be yet your own if you be content to part when that affair is over. We half suspect that the Emperor (to be) of the West will yet find that he had better have remained where he is, and cultivated his " Latin" cucumbers, with all their prestige, in a more congenial clime— their native Est We are not given to prophecy, but if NAPOLEON'S ill advised publication of his good intentions to wards not only Mexico but to North American am bition, and to the South in regard to Texas, do not complicate his web of wiles to his own confusion, we shall be more surprised than he will be pleased. Ambition has cooled hotter temper before now, and left— "Proud Gallia's legions whelmed in snows of fate ;" and a kindred Emperor, regardless of the lessons of the Past, may mourn the fate that lured him on for gold. Mr. LINCOLN and his "forecasts"—men about as reckless as himself—have "notified" the North that in sixty days the South would be crushed, and the Rebellion at an end. But when the time had run, the bill was extended to ninety days, and when that term had also expired there was nothing for it but to renew the promise, with the usual days of glace, and no mistake this time, for the "military measure," according to Mr, SEWARD'S " calcula tion," would make it all right. Thus they went on, still promising but always reckoning, we guess, without their host. If they could not command success, their perseverance certainly deserved it, for expedition followed expedition, and " strategy" more than once saved the army from annihilation. And still they rushed on, reckless of repulse—by land, by water, they renewed the charge—all with uniform result. Mr. LINCOLN, in his one idea of the Union— nothing but the Union—come what will, strongly reminds us of DAVIS, the celebrated sporting better —who had bat one idea also, and that was to win ; having calculated the doctrine of chances, he reduced his game to a certainty by taking the odds he found his " book" t o pay . I) Avis wen t round the betti ng ring (at Ep som ) ca lli ng out " Who'll bet ? Who'll bet ?" "Bet on what ?" " Why on anything !" The winner—for choice, says DAVlS—and so says Mr. LINCOLN, he will bat on Freedom or Slavery, so either wins—even if it end in a tie—so it ties the Union yet closer. But the "DAvis" on the other side of the " Post"—has made up his bet ting-book also, after a fashion of his own, and that is, to win the sturdy game of Inde pendence, against LINCOLN'S game of Empire—and the " betting" runs strongly in his favour. " The South" for choice is now the " call"—and the race promises in spite of many " ups and downs" in the course—to come off all right for the " nigger" in the long run. Mr. LINCOLN has opened the ball professedly for Union, but in reality for Empire—power and profit—power to whip all creation, and profit to revel in the sweets of slave labour. The Yankee, as a matter of morality, denounces slavery to tickle the taste of OBADIIH—but cherishes it care fully to suit the market of Manchester. Thus hypo crisy and credulity run hand in hand, taking the world into their confidence, while they are cheating the Devil in the dark. "Down with Slavery !—but up with prices r —is the cry of ►h. Union, be it Republic to-day or Democratic to. morrow. Abolition, or extermination, so it con duce to the Union, is Mr. LINCOLN'S doctrine; aeo therefore he makes emancipation a military, not a moral measure. Here's Christianity exemplified by the PRESIDENT of a religious people, for the Yankees profess themselves as religious as mty be—surpassing all other people in godliness as they do in domineeri►,g independence. With them—bounce is principle —as assertion is pro f, in their dealings with the almighty dollar. Bur let us be just, while we cannot but lament their uu scrupulous audacity of character. We admire their many good qualities—their bold spirit—and un tameable resolution to go ahead, be it in the right or not; but while they assume more merit than is due, they ought not to engross all virtue to them selves, leaving so little to those who lived before them, and have no wish to die forgotton in the Old World, while they flourish so wondrously in the New. Live and let live is our maxim, and may yet become theirs when they can afford to be charitable. We may envy their " opportunity," while we regret their bad use of it—the bloody struggle for empire, under the mask of Unity, and power for themselves, at the sacrifice of independ ence for their fellow-men and brothers. The slave must yet become free, but, like a child as he grows to manhood, by degrees and culture, so that he may serve his master while he benefits himself. Freedom is man's inheritance, and, as a volunteer is worth two pressed men, so a liberated slave will in time be doubly valuable to his master. Thus, if JEFFERSON DAvis were to proclaim a real emancipation, to commence gradually after the termination of the war, he would find his reward in the gratitude of the slave, while it would be a present stimulus and a future boon to the master. Let us hope the South will adopt this policy, and so enlist the sympathy of mankind in their cause, while it will hasten the recognition of their inde pendence—so dearly fought for and so bri.vely won. As Parliament re-assembles this evening, the range of debate will take a wider scope than the Address ; embracing not only topics of domestic interest at home, but many of national concern abroad. Of these the American war will engross much, nor will attention be confined to the two belligerent parties—North and South; but will ex tend to Mexico and the doings of our neighbours in that disjointed quarter. Nor shall we be sur prised to learn, before long, that matters become more complex. than many lookers-on expected. The French may find that it is much easier and far safer to plan than execute. Am bition may find it difficult to reconcile theory with practice among the Mexicans—a peo , pie of unsteady habits, and more apt to suspect the kind intentions of unwelcome visitors than to place confidence in professions of friendship, and the sooner they take French leave the better. NAPOLEON, with all his affectation of frankness, has just volunteered too much. His policy to set Mexican against Mexican, and so spare his own men, may please his soldiers, where they will have to be more careful of their health than solicitous about obtaining laurels. The EMPEROR seems to have overlooked one consequence, that the Mexicans will be forewarned by the knowledge vouchsafed in his instructions to General FORM And they will not fail to profit by the lesson so magnani mously promulgated for their especial edification. We wonder if the publication of that letter was acci dental or a piece of spontaneous good nature ? But whatever the motive we suspect that the con sequence will yet sorely plague the impolitic scribe. I The Greeks Resident in London. TO THE EDITOR OF TILE SUN. Sir,—l have the honour of forwarding you a trans lation of the unanimous address which the Greek residents in London are about to send to the Nd. tional Assembly of Greece, and I shall feel obliged by your inserting it in your columns.—l am, sir, yours, &c., , Nor is it the Mexicans alone that are favoured with gratuitous information. President LINCOLN, too, is honoured with an imperial hint, not much to the liking of one who has set his heart on Empire far and wide,—not for himself, dear modest man, — but for his darling Union. What will he now think "To the most Honourable the National Assembly of of NAPOLEONIC mediation when he learns the kind i, w e , thc undersigned Greece. intention of the Greek community intention of his benefactor to curb his further pro- i n L o ndon, prompted by our solicitude for the welfare of gress in the march of territorial aggrandisement 5 our beloved country, hire resolved to communicate to your Poor England, 80 well-abused,d esp i sed, and threat- vaug ustiews an b d od ‘ y ,;sh w e i s th as t r h e e ut d mo s t s h t e on d e i l ffi ec d t e i nce of a a n and pr r t e n s c p e ect to , our the seed---has never dared to question the grandeur vacant throne of Greece. still expanding—and promising to expand to the "We understand that his Serene Highness the Duke of ... Saxe-Coburg. and Gotha is willing to become our King. wo very bounds of creation, for what England has said regard this circumstance with feelings of intense satiefac to the contrary—not she from deferential coax.- tion, inasmuch as we derive from it the hope that Greece test', no doubt, hut here—his own belov e d will obtain a ruler f avoura bl y k nown to E uro p e f or hi s con summate ability and rip e exper i ence , an d for his fidelity to Imperial ally and arbiter steps forward, and puts th e cause of Constitutional Government. Possessing,as he his foot down saying—" Thus far nast thou gone, but does, many of the qualities of heart and mind for the sake no farther Mr. LINCOLN ! Mexico is mine—and of whi c h th e people of England honour and love the memory , of his lamented brother, the late Prince-Consort, we feel Texas too, for a c o tton p l an t a ti o n—whether the " assured that his accession to the throne will confer on Greece th e same benefits as those she fondly anticipated in S outh like it or no t." P oor M r . LINCOLN ! why uroclai ' did you quarrel with Mr. DAVIS ?—what will he say ' „ wo m r i t u li g y, P ep rte Alfred her King. entatives of the nation I may the Almighty to it, think you? Had you not quarre lled like the who has . s t o often rescued Hellas from danger, and relieved Kilkenny cats, till there is little left of you, would s h t e e r p sintdhastryeosus, may b inspire your counsel:. a .c n e d o d n ir a ee p t your ince the mighty Gallic Cock have crowed 60 defiantly ? who, we believe, ha y s t e h l e ea to rest yo a u li r ac c ,ation a for the task Would, he have acted u Lug, had you remained bro. , of making our fatherlarri requisite PI g and free," -- happy, Prosper"-, M. E. MAVROGORDATO. 5, Copthall-eourt, sth Feb., 1863. OPENING OF PARLIAMENT THIS DAY. concluded with the Emperor of tla. French has already been productive of results highly advan tageous to both the nations to which it applies ; and the general state of the Revenue, notwithstanding many unfavourable circumstances, has not been un satisfactory. Her Majesty trusts that these results may be taken as proofs that the productive resources of the country are unimpaired. It has been gratifying to her Maj sty to ob serve the spirit of order which happily prevails throughout her dominions, and which is so essential an element in the well-being and pro sperity of nations. Various measures of public usefulness and im provement will be submitted for your considera tion; and her Majesty fervently prays that in all your deliberations the blessing of Almighty God may guide your counsels to the promotion of the welfare and happiness of her people. HOUSE OF LORDS. Parliament was opened by Royal Commission to day. There is a marvellous difference in the scene which the House of Lords presents when her Ma jesty meets her Legislature with all the accessories of rank and wealth and power; then nobles of long lineage, some of whose titles have been preserved through successive changes of Nor man, Plantagenet, Tudor, and Stuart dynas ties, are assembled ; the benches of the house are occupied by the fairest of women, who, with their many-coloured dresses and jewels, dimmed by the lustrous beauty of the wearers, give grace, beauty, and animation to the scene; the re presentatives of foreign Courts, dazzling in their bright uniforms and glowing orders, then attend ; and the Commons crowd the bar, and form part of the grand assemblage of Lords and Commons that pay fitting reverence to the Queen of England. If any one would desire to see a perfect con trast to all this, we would recommend them to the scene of the opening of Parliament by commission. In place of the splendid array of beauty, we have a score or two of ladies in morning dress who occupy the seats on the benches of the Opposition. There are the three Clerks of the House, in long black gowns and wigs, seated at the table, and a very thin attendance on the Minis terial side of the House. The Lord CLancellor and the other Peers named in the Royal Commission having taken their seat on a bench in front of the Throne, the Usher was commanded to summon the Commons to the bar of their Lordship? House. In a few minutes the Speaker and the principal members made their appearance. Her Mjesty's C mmission was read in their presence, at the termination of which Ti e LORD CHANCELLOR read HER MAJESTY'S SPEECH, MY LORDS AND GENTLEMEN, Her Majesty commands us to inform you that since you were last assembled sbe has declared her consent to a marriage between His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales and Her Royal Highness the Princess Alexandra, daughter of Prince Christian of Denmark; and her Majesty has concluded thereupon a treaty with the King of Denmark, which will be laid before you. The constant proofs which her Majesty has received of your attachment to her person and family persuade her that you will participate in her sentiments on an event so interesting to her Majesty, and which, with the blessing of God, will, she trusts, prove so conducive to the happiness of her family and to the welfare of her people. Her Majesty doubts not that you will enable her to make provision for such an establishment as you may think suitable to the rank and dignity of the Heir Apparent to the Crown of these realms. A revolution having taken place in Greece, by which the Throne of that Kingdom has be come vacant, the Greek nation have ex pressed the strongest desire that her Majesty's son Prince Alfred should accept the Greek Crown. This unsolicited and spontaneous manifestation of good-will towards her Majesty and her Family, and of a due appreciation of the bene fits conferred by the principles and practice of the British Constitution, could not Jail to be highly gratifying, and has been deeply felt by her Majesty. But the diplomatic engagements of her Majesty's Crown, together with other weighty considerations, have prevented her Majesty from yielding to this general wish of the G,...ek ndtion. Her iliojesfy trusts, however, that the same principles of choice which red the Greek nation to direct their thoughts, in the first instance, to wards His Royal Highness Prince Alfred, may guide them to the selection ot a Sovereign under whose sway the Kingdom of Greece may enjoy the blessings of internal prosperity and of peacaul relations with other States; and if in such a state of things the Repubtic of the Seven Islands shoutd declare a deliberate wish to be united to the KLugdom ot Gri tee, her Majesty would be prepared to take such steps as may be necessary for a revision of the Treaty of November, 1815, by which that Republic was reconstituted and was placed under the pro tection of the British Crown. Her Majesty's relations with foreign Powers continue to be friendly and satisfactory. Her Majesty has abstained from taking any step with a view to induce a cessation of the conflict between the contending parties in the North Ame rican States; because it has not yet seemed to Her Majesty that any such overtures could be attended with a probability of success. Her Majesty has viewed with the deepest concern the desolating warfare which still rages in those regions ; and she has wit nessed with heartfelt grief the severe dis tress and suffering which that war has inflicted upon a large class of her Majesty's subjects, but which have been borne by them with noble forti tude and with exemplary resignation. It is some consolation to her Majesty to be led to hope that this suffering and this distress are rather dimi nishing than increasing; and that some revival of employment is beginning to take place in the Manu facturing districts. It has been most gratifying to her Majesty to witness the abundant generosity with which all - classes of her subjects in all parts of her Em pire have contributed to relieve the wants of their suffering fellow-countrymen ; and the libe rality with which her Majesty's colonial subjects have on this occasion given their aid has proved that, although their dwelling-places are tar away, their hearts are still warm with unabated affection for the land of their fathers. The Relief Committees have superintended with coustant and laborious attention the distribution of the funds entrusted to their charge. Her Majesty commands us to inform you that she has concluded with the King of the Belgians a treaty of commerce and navigation, and a conven tion respecting joint-stock companies. That treaty and that convention will be Laid before you. Her Majesty has likewise given directions that y there shalt be laid before yo u pipers relating to the affairs of Italy, of Greece, and of Denmark, and that papers shall also be laid before you relating to occurrences which have lately taken place in Japan. GENTLEMEN OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS, Her Majesty has directed that the Estimates for the ensuing year shall be laid lefore you. They have been prepared with a due regard to economy, and will provide for such reductions of expenditure as have appeared to be consistent with the proper efficiency of the public service. MY LORDS AND GENTLEMEN, We are commanded by her Majesty to inform you that notwithstanding. the continuance of the civil war in North America, the general commerce of the country during the past year has not sensibly diminished. The Treaty of Commerce which her Majesty' LATEST INTELLIGENCE. THE GREEK THRONE. GOTHA, FEB. 4. The Coburger Zeitung of to-day gives an official confirmation to the news that the Duke of Saxe- Coburg has definitely declined to become a candi date for the throne of Greece, and announces that his Highness will himself make public a full account of the negotiations which preceded this refusal. Al HENS, FEB. 4. The Nati anal Assembly has unanimously passed resolutions decreeing the Throne to have been I or teitt d by 0, ho, bib Queen, and dynasty, and to havt , become vacant. Tne National Assembly also declared Prince Alfred to have been elected King of the Greeks by 230,0110 vote-. FRANCE. PARIS, FEB. 4. Thd debite on the Address in reply to the Em peror's Speech commenced to-day in the Curps M. Plichon, who opened the debate, principally spoke upon home affairs, and ,en-ured the Govern ment system in regard to the public press, and the interference of the Administration in electoral matters. M. Kolb-Bernard delivered a speech upon foreign questions, in which he drew attention to the dif ference between the policy of England and that of France. M. Kolb-Bernard eulogzed the policy of France in China, Cochin-China, and Japan. He then touched upon the Eastern question, and said that England was too powerful at Constantinople, and endeavoured to maintain the status quo in Turkey from purely selfish motives. He said that England alone sympathized with the Druses after the massacres of the Lebanon, and continued : "England wishes to make the onerous gift of the lonian Islands to Greece in order to insure to herself dominion over the Hellenic Peninsula. England remains the ally of the Sultan ; she places herself as the shield of Turkey, and thus strengthens her position. England has occupied Perim and covets Lemnos and the Dardanelles." M. Kolb-Bernard also said that he hoped Austria would unite with France to bring to a solution the Eastern question. "Russia," he said,— " Wishes to conquer Constantinople, and at the same time odiously oppresses Poland. She has also just inaugurated man-hunting under the title of a conscription. (Applause from several benches.) Russia proclaims a liberal policy in the East, aspires to the Protectorate of the Christians in the East, endeavours to hasten the work of dismember ment of Turkey, and has becime an ally of Pied mont for this purpose. Tne policy of France in the E .st is conservative. She must protect the in terests of the Christians, and plate herself between the cliff, rent ambitious parties whieli covet the pro vinces of the Empire which is falling to pieces." In reference to Italy, M. Kolb-Bernard said that the policy of France in Italy weer to protect Catho licism. He maintained that Italy did not. wish for unity, and believed it impossible to reconcile the maintenance of the temporal power with the pre tensions of the domination of Piedmont. In con clusion, M. Kolb-Bernard expressed a hope that France would return to her historical and tradi t onal policy L' Opinion Nationale learns that M. Guyard Delataine has presented to-day to the Chamber of Deputies an aieendment relative to Poland, and applauds the step thus taken as an initiative reflect ing honour alike on the deputy and on France i•. whose name he speaks. It observes that the Prus sian Cabinet has only confirmed its anticipations by issuing a proclamation against the insurgents, since nothing else could be expected from a government which makes Divine Right its ideal. It says that King William has despatched one of his aides-de camp and a superior officer to Warsaw charged with a mission relative to the affairs of Poland. He is at the same time concentrating his forces on the Polish frontier, and the Prussian railways are encumbered, it is said, with soldiers directed towards Posnanie. It has been thought that Austria was less hostile to the insurrection ; but the Court of Vienna could not isolate itself from Prussia and Russia, and it is announced that the chef de police has published a manifesto, threatening the penalties of the law against recruiting agents for the Poles. It is rumoured that the Russian Government was en deavouring to provoke an insurrection in Gallicia, in order to force Austria to co-operate with her in repressing the national outbreak. The movement is constantly spreading. The insurgents are already tolerably organised, and commanded by old officers General Vysocki is said to have taken the direction of the movement. General Cza3 kows, who has left Turkey in haste, where he had joined the army, is at the head of the bands which have penetrated Volhynia. A war of words is raging between the different organs of the French press on the subject of Poland, some observatioes of Le Constitutionnel having ex cited the anger of Union, suoport, , d b 3 Le Steele and Le Pays, who accost' Le Constitutionnel of Russian sympathies. Le Constitutionnel indig nantly declares that it is on account of its love for Poland that it beholds these outbreaks witn affixtion, and asks which are the truest friende of Poland, those who encourage her to hopeiebs attempts or those who strive to convince her that such efforts only retard the era of pence and re generation which, according to Le Constitutionnel, has already commenced. Le Steele gives a list of the principal contribu tions to the thud for the distres-en cotton operatives, and announces that the subscriptions received at its own office for the purpose realised yesterday the amount of 155,0001 r. lii the same j , urnal csie. find en interesting article from the pen of M. Ferdinand de Lastegne, recommending the erection of a grand central tne , eutn of the Industrial Ar similar in design 10 our South Kensington Museum. The Minister of Public Instruction has trans mitted to the Minister of the Interior the sum ot 200 tr. as a uew subscription from the Imperial Lyceum of Rouen in favour of the Orphelimat of the Prince Imperial. The Archbishop of Canterbury and the Misses Langley have arrived at Lambeth Palace from Addington Park. Her Highness the Princess Marie de Philippesco and Sir Stephen Bartlett Lakeman have left the Bruns wick Hotel, Jermyn-street, for the Isle of Wight. the Duke and Duchess of Marlborough and family have arrived in St. James's -square from Blenheim Palace, Oxon. The Duchess of Beaufort cornea to town to-day from Badminton, triliart C 111117 ,111 H R MAJESTY. OSBORNE, Feb. 4. The Queen drove out yesterday, accompanied by Prince and Princess Louis of Hesse and Princess Helena, and attended by Lieut.-Colonel Du Plat. Sir Andrew Buchanan remained at Osborne yes terday after the Council, and returned to London to-day. The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council sat yesterday. An appeal from Madras, " Ramasaurmy Jyen and others v. Veneata Achari and others," part heard, was roumed and concluded. The lords present were—the Lords Justices Knight Bruce and Turner, Sir J. Coleridge, Sir L. Peel, and Sir J. Colvile. Despatches were received yesterday at the Colo nial Office from the Governors of Canada and Malta. The Marriage of the Prince of Wales. The marr,age of his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales with Princess Alexandra of Denmark will take place upon Tuesday, March 10. By her Majeloy's command the ceremony will be per formed in St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, in which chapel the Prince of Wales was christened, and by which arrangement the Queen will be enabled to be present in private, which could not, under existing circumstances, have been the case at the Chapel Royal in London. Upen the 7th of March the Princess Alexandra will arrive in England, and upon her arrival at the Bricklayers' Arms station will drive, accompanied by the Prince of Wales and the members of her family who come to England with her, and totended by her suite, through the City and West-end of London to the Paddington terminus, on her way to Windsor. The arrangements will be much the same as on the occa sion when the Princess Royal left England after her mar- riage. Drawing-Room and Levee. The Queen has commanded that a Levee shall be held at St. James's Palace on Wednesday, the 25th of February, by his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, on behalf of her Majesty. All presentations will be considered as being made to her Majesty. The usual regulations will be observed. The Queen has commanded that a drawing room shall be held on Saturday, February 28, at St. James's Palace, by her Royal Highness the Crown Princess of Prussia, Prin• cess Royal of Great Britain and Ireland, on behalf of her Majesty. All presentations will be considered as being made to her Majesty. Th e usual regulations will be observed. ... . W e are authorised to state that the Queen, having gra ciously taken into consideration the interests of trade, does not require any Ladies to appear in mourning at the Draw ing -room announced on the 28th inst., excepting the Ladies of the Corps Diplomatique, the wives of the Cabinet Minis ters, and the Ladies of her Majesty's Household. Parliamentary Entertainments. Viscount Palmerston gave a full-dress banquet, last evening, at Cambridge House, Piccadilly, to the Right Hon. the Speaker, the mover of the Address, the Hon. F. H. W. G. Calthorpe, and the seconder Mr. Thos. Bazley. Covers were laid for 30, and the Premier's guests included the Right Hon. Viscount Castlerosse, Lord Bury, Lord Proby, Lord Clarence Paget, the Right Hon. Sir R. Peel, the Right Hon. Sir Charles Wood, the Right Hon. Edward Cardwell, the Right Honourable Mr. Brand, Mr. Layard, the Right Hon. T. M. Gibson, the Right Hon. William F. Cowper, the Right Hon. Robert Lowe, Mr. Gilpin, Mr. Bruce, the Attorney-General, the Solicitor- General, Mr. Headlam, Mr. George Baring, Col. Kingacote, Mr. Knatchbull Hugessen, Mr. Barrington, and the Hon. Evelyn Ashley. The Right Hon, Sir George Grey was prevented by a domestic bereavement from joining the circle,and the Chan cellor of the Exchequer, by the illness of a near relative,was also absent Atter dinner Viscount Palmerston read, as customary, she Queen's Speech to be delivered to-day by commission. Earl Granville, Lord President, gave a full dress dinner as Ministerial leader of the House of Lords last evening, at his residence in Bruton-street, to a party of 30 peers. The company consisted of his Royal Highness the Duke of Cam bridge, the Earl of Dudley, the mover, and the Earl of Granard. the seconder of the Address in the Upper House ; the Dukes of Somerset and Newcastle, Marquises of Bris tol and Ailesbury, Earls of St. Germans, Russell, CoWPer , Caithness, Fitzwllliam, Albemarle, De Grey, Strafford, and Cork, Vi-counts Sydney, Eversley, and Totrington; Lords MOnf eagle, Stanley of Alderley, Harris, Cawoys, Cran wot th, Foley, De Tabley, Methuen, Llanover, Taunton,and cremorne. The Earl of Derby had a dinner party last evening, as customary o. the eve of the meeting of Parliament, at his house in St. James's-square. There were present the Duke of ltickmond, the Duke of Marlborough, the Duke of hut land, the Duke of Mon rose, the Duke of Manchester, the Duke of Buckingham, the Marquis of Salisbury, he Mar quis of Bath, the marquis of Abercorn, the Earl of Shrews bury, the Earl of Sandwich, the Earl of Carnarvon, the Earl of Hardwicke, the Earl of Cardigan, the Earl of Lons dale, the Earl of Malmesbury, Earl Vane, the Earl of Lucan, the Earl of Wilton, Earl Fowls, the Earl of Strad broke, the Earl of Beauchamp, Lord Colchester, Lord Redesdale, Lord Chelmsford, and Lord liingsdown. The Queen's Speech was submitted to the company; for, as many of our readers may be aware, the Royal Speech is always forwarded to the leader of the Opposition in both Houses of the Legislature. The Right Hon. B. Disraeli entertained yesterday at dinner, at his residence, Grosvenor-gate, a party of mem bers of the House of Commons. There were present—Lord John Manners, Lord Galway, Lord Stanley, Lord Lovaine, Lord Robert Cecil, the Hon. Henry Wyndham, General Peel, the Right Hon. Spencer Walpole, the Right Hon. Sir John Pakington, the Right Hon. Sir John Trollope, Sir Stafford Northcote, Sir Matthew White Ridley, Si Lawrence Palk, Sir William Codrington, Mr. Low ther, Mr. Ormsby Gore, and Col. Taylor. SMALL BEGINNINGS. A shorf time since a very amusing and instruc tive article under the above heading appeared in one of the periodicals of the day. It traced from the first work of the tiny coralline insect the coral branch, the reef, the island; from the minute shell it showed the rise of the chalky cliffs of our isle, and from many other examples showed " what great events from little causes spring." Our columns of to -day contain the report of an association whose past history and present condi tion entitle it to rank under this heading. Just twenty-three years ago it occurred to a small knot of gentleman, chief clerks in some of the "great city houses," that while every trade had its " guild," every handicraft its " union," and every procession save their own had i'ai fund or common link of brotherhood, the clerks, a body numbering some hundred thousand educated men,whose sole capital was their brains, end their intelligence, had no institution of any kind identified with their body or devoted to their interests. To cure this and to do it inost. effectually, ONO kindred institutions were at Duce formed, a Mutual Life Assurance Association and a Benevolent Fund. Starting without, a penny to any " promoter," and without a traction for " preliminary expenses," with per teeny st.pArale and independent incomes and clpilals, but under one management, the two twilit u, ions have put sued a career marked with ste dy but constant and undeviating success, while the Lite Office, whose doors are of course open to general assurers, and whose meeting we have this day repotted, h a s gradually secured such au amount of p..tronage trove the public at large u s to price it among the best offices of the day. It has fur many years a fforded us sin cere pleasure to record I,s progress, but tew of those wno watched its unpreteuuitig commencement Would have foretold that the Provident Cierks Lite Office of 1862 would have exhibited a bona fide income of more than .t;50,000, a solidly invested rued ut £:200,000, and a ,Ist of „ ea rly 7,000 assurers, comprising among them e very cuss ci eoclet3, irom the Royal Family to the Notking-clubs of the Yost-office, and other great depit inmate and public establishments. That it hab done this speaks volumes for the energy both of the niantehienL and the executive, while the fact that one of the bounciest and mast cautious actuaries oft e day has certified toe divisable surplus of £;30,000, as the realm, of the past five ye-firs working shows that good, and not simply great business has been their object, and that in seeking to extend the sphere of their opera tions, they have ut the same time been enabled to confine them to a safe aunt legitimate area. in these days of mere puffery and adventitious splendour it Is p:easant to find that an office which does not pro cess to achieve impossibilities, or to do more titan give all its members the full and fair value of their money, is so highly appreciated, not only by the body by w h om i t was or i g i na lly f or med, but by the great awes of society at large. 1 I