The Sun. — London, England, 1854-12-18 00:00:00

service, have established a claim to high consideration. In ag ‘in commending this meaciure to the favourable consideration of Congress, I would suggest that the power of placing officers on the retinal list be limited to one year. The practical op.-ration of the measure wou2 thus be tested, m:d if, aft , _.r the lapse (f years, there should be occasion to renew the provision, it can be re- produced with any improvements which experience may indicate. The present organisation of the artillery into regiments is liable to obvious objections. The service of artillery is that of batteries, and an organisation of bat teries into a corps of artillery would be more consistent with the nature of their duties. A large part of the troops now called artillery are, and have been, on duty as in fantry—the distinction between the two arms being merelynorninal. The nominal artillery in our service is entirely disproportionate to the whole force, and greater than the wants of the country demand. I therefore coin• mend the discontinuance of a distinction which has no foundation in either the arms used or the character of the 'F er vice expected to be performed. `` In connection with the propositton for the increase of the army, I have presented these suggestions with regard to certain measures of reform, ;s the complement of a system which would produce the happiest results from a given expenditure, and which, I hope, may attract the early attention, and be deemed wol thy of the approval of Congress. " Tae repreeentation of the Secretary of the Navy, be,ving reference to more nervAe provisions for the dis cipline and general improyeeient in the character of sea men, an d ter the reorgae cation and gradual increase in the olive - , I deem eminently worthy of your favourable cocsideration. The principles which have controlled our policy in relation tr, the permanent military force, by sea and land, are re And, consistent with the theory of our system, and should by no means be disregarded. But, limiting thy force to the objects particularly set forth in the preceding part of this Message, we should not overlook t'ae present .magnitude and prospective ex tension of ore- commercial marine, nor fail to give due _weight to tb.e fact that, besides the 2,000 miles of At lantic seaboard we have no ar a Pacific coast, stretching from Mexis eo to the British possessions in the north, teemin g weith wealth and enterprise, and demanding the constant 'presence of ships of war. The augmentation of the v avy has not kept pace with the duties properly ,and Pr ofitably assigned to it in tim e of p eace, and it is "d'Jquate for the large field of its operations, not mer ely in the present, but still more in the progres sly ely increasing exigencies of the wealth and commerce rt ( f the United States. I cordially approve of the pro posed apprentice system for our national vessels, recom mended by the Secretary of the Navy. " The occurrence, during the last few months, of ma rine disasters of the most tragic nature, involving great loss of human life, has produced intense emotions of sympathy and sorrow throughout the country. It may well be doubted whether all these calamitous events are wholly attributable to the necessary and inevitable dan gers of thu sea. The merchants, mariners, and ship builders es. the United States, are, it is true, unsurpassed in far-reaching enterprise, skill, intelligence, and courage by, any %)thers in the world. But with the increasing amount of our commercial tonnage in the aggregate, and the Is Eger size and improved equipment of the ships now 'constructed, a deficiency in the supply of reliable seamen begins to be very seriously felt. The inconve nience may perhaps be met in part by due regula tie u i for the introduction into our merchan t shi p s of in d'intured apprentices, which, while it would afford use fal and eligible occupation to numerous young men, `would have a tendency to raise the character of seamen as a class. And it is deserving of serious reflection whether it may not be desirable to revise the existing laws for the maintenance of discipline at sea, upon which ' the security of lite and property on the ocean must to so great an extent depend. Although much attention has already been given by Congress to the proper con struction and arrangement of steam-vessels and all pas senger-ships, still it is believed that the achievements of science and mechanical skill in this direction have not been ex:nausted. No good reason exists-for the marked distinct ion which appears upon our statutes between the laws for protecting life and property at sea and those for protesting them on land. In most of the states severe perrelties are provided to punish conductors of trains, eresineers, and others, employed in the transportation of parsons by railways, or by steam-boats on rivers. Why a ould not the same principle be applied to acts of in embordination, cowardice, or other misconduct on the part of masters or mariners, producing injury or death to passengers on the high seas, beyond the jurisdiction of any of the states, and where such delinquencies can be reached only by the power of Congress? The whole subject is earnestly recommended to your consideration. "The report of the Postmaster General to which you are referred for many interesting details in relation to this important and rapidly-extending branch of the public service, shows that the expenditure of the year ending June 30, 1864, including $133,483 of balance due to foreign offices, amounted to $8,710,907. The gross receipts during the same period amounted, to $6,955,586, exhibiting an expenditure over income of $1,755,321, and a diminution of deficiency as compared with the last year of $361,756. The increase of the revenue of the department for the year ending June 30, 1345, over the preceding year was $970,399. No propor tionate increase, however, can he anticipated for the cur rent Year, in consequence of the act of Congress of June 23,1554, providing for increased compensation to all post . masters. From these statements it is apparent that the post-office department, instead of defraying its expenses, according to the design at the time of its creation, is now, and under existing laws must continue to be, to no small extent, a charge upon the general treasury. The cost of mail transportation during the year ending June 30, 1854, exceeds all the cost of the preceding year by $495,074. I again call your attention to the subject of mail transportation by ocean steamers, and commend the suggestions of the Postmaster-General to your early attention. " During the last fiscal year 11,070,935 acres of the public lands hays been turveyed, and 8,190,017 acres brought into market. The number of acres sold is 7,035,735, and the amount received therefore $9,285,533 The aggelgate amount of lands sold, located under mili tary scrip and land warrants, selected as swamp lands by states and by locating under grants for roads, is up wards of 23,000,000 of acres. The increase of lands sold over the previous year is about 6,000,000 of acres ; and the sales during the first quarters of the current fear present the extraordinary result of 5,500,000 sold, exceeding by nearly 4,000,000 acres the sales of the cor respondeig quarters of the last year, thus increasing to an extent unparalleled during any like period in our past -history the amount of revenue provided from this source for the Federal Treasury. "The commendable policy of the Government, in re lation to setting apart a public i f rn oain for those who have served their cou n t r y in. times of war is illustrated by the fact, that since 1790 no less than 3,000,000 of acres have been applied to this object. • "The suggestions which I submitted in my annual • 'Message of last year, in reference to grants of land in aid of the construction of railways, were less full and explicit than the magnitude of the subject and subsequent developments would seem to render proper and desirable. Of the soundness of the principle then asserted with re gard to the limitation of the power of Congress I entertain no doubt ; but in its application it is not enough that the value of lands in a particular loca lity may be enhanced ; that, in fact, a larger amount of money may probably be received in a given time for alternate sections, than could have been rea lis ed for all the sections, without the impulse and influence of the proposed improvements. A prudent 'proprietor looks beyond limited secticns-of his domain, beyond p res e n t iesu l ts, to t h e ultimate effect which a par cular li ne o f po li cy i s likely to produce upon all his pos sesalons and interests. The government, which is trus tee in this matter for the people of the States , is bound to take the same w i se and comprehensive vie w, Prior to and during the last eeess i en ii,f Congress, upwards of 30,000,000 of acres of land were withdrawn ol i puc e ls h r sale with a view to applicati ons for grants of f of r meter pending before Congres s- A careful review of the whole subject led me to dir ec t th at all such ordersview so be • abrogated, and the lands restored to market ; and in structions were immediately given to that effect. The applications at the last session contemplated the con struetion of more than 5000 miles of road, and grants to the amount of nearly 20,000,000 of acres of the public domain. 'Even admitting the right on the part of Con gress to be; unquestionable, is it quite clear that the pro posed gri.nts would be productive of good and not evil ? The diffi rent projects are confined, for the present, to 11 state' of this Union and one territory. The reasons ' assigned for the grants show that it is proposed to put the works speedily in process of construction. When we reflect that since the commencement of the construc tion, of railways in the United States, stimulated as they have been by the largedividends realised from the earlier wo - rks over great thoroughfares, and between the most irr , portairt points of commerce and population, encouraged Y state legislation, and pressed forward by the amaz it energy, of private enterprise, only 17,000 miles batebeen completed in all the States in a quarter of a , wor ' e Y—when we see the crippled condition of many de erne , ol 7 o t Tmenced and prosecuted upon what were when we ee be sound principles and safe calculations ; withdrawn tfirtemplate the enormous absorption of capital • extravagant rates tel.he ordinary channels of business, the tinue operations, t o h f e interest at this moment paid to con but in character, at,dbainkrupteies nol; merely in money doubted inevitable effect upon finances generally —e a , matterttbted that the tendency is to run! to excess in this sebef sudden wealth expected to cess by encouragi ng hop l es I: it wise to augment this ex flow from magnificent dePendent upon the ac "usatedt which has produced tion of Congress Does thrne or checked ? Is it such results need to be stint 7orks to private en • not the better rule to leave all th ex e• epen terprise, regulated, and, when tent, aided ' , co-operation of states ?If constructed by • b y the most effective - the stimulant end check go together, and P i r u w ate capital, tart' restraint against speculative schem es a r n a d ish e a "la' gance. But it is manifest that with the guards there is danger of goieg too fast and ton far• ctive " We may well pause before a proposition content Ia ing a simult aneous inovemeet for the con s tf uctio nOf railroads, which, in extent, will ett i lal , exclusive of th e Great Pacific Road and all its branches, nearly one third of the entire length of such works now completed, ip the United States, and which cannot cost, with eqiiipment, less than $150,000,000. The dangers likely to result from con,;.,inations of in' erects of this character can hardly be over-estimated. But, independently of these coneideratione, where is the accurate knowledge, the comprehensive intelligence, which shall discriminate between the relative claims of these 28 proposed roads in 11 states and one territory ? Where will you begin, and where end ? If, to enable these companies to exe c ite their o f the proposed works, it is necessary that the aid general government be primarily given, the policy will present a a problem so comprehensive in its bearings, and so as to important to ou r p o liti ca l an d s o c i a l we ll-b e i n g, claim, in anticipation, the severest analysis. En te rtaining these v i ews, I recur with statisfaction to the I THIS NUM'. LONDON, MOWOAY ovENTI•7O) DECEMBEIt 16, 1154. quiry into the circumstances attending the d.atb. of Count de Raousset Boulbon. A brig which had arrived at San Francisco re ported a heavy cannonade outside the Heads re sembling a sea fight. The report, however, needed confirmation. Her Majesty's sloop-of-war Trincomalee and frigate Amphitrite and the French corvette L'Arte mise, from the Sandwich Islands, has arrived at San Francisco. Letters from Tahiti state, that the epidemic which had created so much havoc among the natives had declined. The advices from Havannah contain a corre spondence between the Captain-General and the naval commander. The former impressed upon the latter the necessity of suppressing the traffic in slaves, and the latter promised to use his efforts energetically with that object. From Venezuela we learn that Monagas had been elected President ; he had proclaimed a partial amnesty, after causing the execution of Vasquez, who was tortured to death and afterwards burie - 1 outside the city like a dog. Small lots of new coffee had come in ; it was selling at 11i to na. Hides were avain in great demand, and selling at 13, and with a prospect of a still further advance. The President of the so-called republic of Nicara gua was still confined within the city of Ensenada, and intended to make a sally upon the rebels on the 221 ult., the day the passengers by the Star of the West crossed Lake Nicaragua. The People of Virgin-bay believed there could be no doubt of the success of this bold undertaking, as the loyal party was both pinched by hunger and urged by pride. The Earl of Elgin gave a farewell ball at Quebec on the Ist of December. The New York money-market wss still depressed, but it was generally admitted that the worst had been experienced in the stock-market. Owing in part to the severity of the weather, there had been little activity, but the tendency was towards a re covery of confidence. Leading railway shares had advanced one-haif to three-quarters per cent. In exchange depression in rates prevailed, and little business was transacted. Bills on London, 108 to 109 ; on Paris, 5-17 i to 13g. Cotton dull, but prices unaltered. Flour had declined 25c. per barrel. Wheat rather dearer. Provisions firm. Iron dull and drooping. 70 tons of Scotch pig sold at $34 for six months. Freights were without material alteration. NEW WORK ON TUE SEAT OF WAR. On Friday nest, la 1 vol. post Bvo., A MONTH in the CAMP BEFORE SEBASTOPOL. By A NON-COMBATANT. London : Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans. On Thursday next will be ready the One Hundredth Thousand of `DYER'S SHILLING COOKERY for the PEOPLE. This edition will contain entirely new receipts, which will be found most useful for the approaching Christmas Festivities. The best proof of its popularity and va'ue is the fact that the tale has a' ready reacbed the extraordinary number of ICO,OOO copies. London : George Routledge and Co., 2, Farringdon-street. R OYAL PANOPTICON of SCIENCE and ART, LEICESTER-SQUARE. • LECTURES for the WEEK :—Dr. Noad on Electricity, with de monstrations on the large electrical machine, Monday, 8.15. Dr. Latham on Languages, Wednesday, 8.15. Mr. G. F. Angell on Chemistry, Mon lay, Tuesday, Thursday, end Friday, at 3.15 ; Thursday, 8.15. Mr. L. Buckingham on the Arctic liegions, illus trated by dioramic views Irom sketches by Lieut. S. Gurney Cress well, Tuesday and Friday, at 8.15; Wednesdac and Saturday, at 3. 5. Principal Attractions :—Luminous Fountain, daily, at 4.55 and 9.55; Moving Panorama, and Dioramic Views of Verona, at 2.40 and 7.40 ; Grand Performance on the Organ, by Mr. W. T. Best, at 4.15; Cosmorama of St. Petersburg, Monday, Wednesday, and Fralay ; Cosmorama of Moscow, Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday; II chake's Diving Apparatus and the Subaque.us Light in the Crystal Cistern, 2 and 7.5 ; Distin's Flugel Horn Union, 9.15.—D00rs open in the morning at 12, in the even•ng (Saturday exceptecD, at 7. — Admission, Is.; Schools, and Children under 10, Half-price ; Seascn Admission, U. Is. ; Life Admission, 10 guineas. THEATRE ROYAL HAYSEARKET. Uncle the management of Mr. Ruekatone. THIS EVENING. Drc. IS, Will be performed the Comply of PRESENTED AT COURT. Principal characters by Messrs. lia , :kstone, W. Farrea, and Howe ; Misses Reynolds, E. Chaplin, Grantham, and Lai ine. After which. the Ba let of THE STAR OF ANDALUSIA, in which Senora Peres :sena wla appear. To which'wl.l bo added THE BALANCE. OF COMFORT. Followed by TIM IRISH LION. To conclude wi'h THE STAR OF CIIRRi. by the Spanish Dancers. ROYAL PRINCESS'S TILEATRE. OXFORD-STREET. Under the Management of Mr. Caattase TUIS EVENING. Dact. 18. Wilt be perfarmed TILE COURIER OF LYONS. Characters oy Mr. C Kean, Messrs. J. Vininz, Addison, Graham, I). Fisher, Cathcart, and Sakai'; Misses Desborough, 1 ennui, and K. 'ferry. To conclude with T'IE HONEYMOON. Pt:neTpal characters by NfPssrs. %v. Lacy, Harley, Meadows, J. Vining, and Everett; :Misses Murray, Desborough, and .Heath. LYCEUM THEATRE. TUB EVENING, DEC. 18, Will be performed AGGRAVATING SAM. Principe'. characters by Messrs. C Mathews, Itoxhy, !taker, Swan, Williams, and Tem pleton: Mrs. Macnanisra, and uliver and 11. Gordon. which will b 3 added the new Conee D. arna, called A COMICAL COUYIESS, To be followed by TWO HEADS ARE BETTER MAN ONE. To conclude with the Farce entitled 13Y FELLOW CGEF:K. could venture on such a proposal. The good " CLIceoT" must have been deeply affected b 3 the predominating influence, when so wild a fancy crossed his brain, and his Ministers must hair( been even more than usually submissive when they endorsed a delusion so strange and unac countable. British diplomatists must have, in deed, fallen in the estimation of their foreign brethren when it could, even fora moment, he ima- gilled that the mere suggestion of Prussia's "stipt lating for the concession , of certain advantages in the - - North Sea and the Baltic" could be offered without bringing the meeting to a very summary and un pleasant termination—something similar to th• " hint" which the sturdy Milesian gave his un- welcome visitor "to leave the room." As, how ever, the Congress will not consist of Hibernian Plenipotentiaries, we may consider that the parties may be contented with the more temperate, although no less decided, course of pointing to the door and requesting the immediate departure cf the bearer of the untenable suggestion. What has Prussia done, or to what does she propose to bind herself, that can in any degree entitle her to demand concessions ? Hitherto she has exhibited a degree of vacillation and apathy disgraceful to any nation arrogating to itself a position among the first-rate Powers. By the narrow limits within which her views were bounded, by looking at every matter only in a " German" light, she abdicated her position as an European Power -- as one that was not wholly actuated by selfish impres sions, but sought to promote the interests of the civilised world. With her, the last speaker was, for the moment, successful, until the im pression stamped on the fickle and unstable mind had been obliterated by the more recent speaker. France and England demanded the four points, Prussia sent " a note " to the CZAR urging their acceptance. Count NESSELRODE, on behalf of his Imperial master, contemptuously rejected the suggestion, in terms that might have stimulated the circulation of even the coldest-blooded animal. Prussia admitted that he was quite right in doing so, and swallowed her leek with the most abject humility. The Vicar of BRAY appears to be the model which FREDERICK WILLIAM has set up for ina tation ; or, possibly, he is governed by the PICK WICK/AN maxim, which suggysts the propriety of " shouting with the strongest party." But, as we have already stated, France and England are not so far fallen as to be obliged to purchase nezi,- trality—fol that is all that can be obtained under the " previous Treaty "—and from him !! ! To purchase them, too, at a price which, while it gratifies his vanity, increases his power for good or evil. The concession of advantages in the North Sea and the Baltic went to obtain the recognition of the recent purchase of " Jande," and of some other similar bargain as yet involved in the mystery of the Baltic ; to assent to the crea tion of ports, where Russian Fleets may refit and remain under the shelter of a neutral flag, to come forth at any moment and injure the com merce of their chief opponent—where they may escape the blockade of Admiral Frost, that could not be evaded at Cronstadt, Revel, or Helsingfors ! No, these are matters that could not be surrendered on any terms, much less as the cost of a treaty binding Prussia to nothing—merely giving her the privilege of deliberating in common with those who have taken a more manly and decided part, and equalising the votes in the Congress•. This can not be. We have been sufficiently hoodwinked by Austria. No British representative could suffir himself to be still more closely blindfolded by Prussia, to be held up as " tom-fool" to all nations. On Saturday the Foreign Enlistment Bill. passed through Committee, the number of troops to be engaged being limited to ten thoustatd, in place of fifteen thousand as at first specified. Two great concessions have thus been made, which clearly show the Ministerial recognition of the grave mis take into which they have been seducel. In the fir:it place, there is an express stipulation that the obnoxious legion is not to be employed, but solely intbodie,d, here--that Government might afterwards yl:ichthtehenyumber is to be may pcssibly be obtain. their services in the Crimea, Bessarabia, o re r q a u n i yresot;hear placend reduced, seco in nd w l as we have already stated, to two-thirds of that originally contemplated. These matters, however, while they show that the et jections fairly and justly put forward against the measure are entitled to due weight cannot reconcile us to its provisions. As to the reduction to ten thousand, it is scarcely more ad missible than the excuse of 'Mr. Midshipman EASY'S nurse, who urged that the prenuptial child was " a very little one." If the necessity be really so great as to render a suspension of the constitutional ,principle indispensable, the more powerful the effort the better., If we ; socept the aid of ten thousand, why not seek that of twenty, thirty, or even forty thous; tnd. The moment the principle be ad mitted: there should be no restriction save that which the chosen representatives of the people, in their ewpacity of guardians of the public purse, may think proper to interpose. If German aid is to be invited, why limit the amount further than the. funds that must be voted for payment. As Lord_ ELnnsnoitouou justly remarked--" the bill in its present form seemed to be a limitation rather tthan an extension of the Royal preroga tive." But if the troops are not to be "employed . ' in this country w‘s cannot perceive the slightest use of their presenc s here. It cannot be considered that the classe s indicated—Swiss or German— could make En gland their route to the seat of war. If they require training, wo might get English, Scotch, or Irish as apt to acquire the preliminary lessons, and with a moderate amount of drilling to prove themselves to be as steady under fire, c.r in opposing the onslaught of the enemy, or as p r ompt to charge, as any Germtins win i A se e ver ; if, on the contrary, we arc to obtaii t men already trained and exer cised—why s hould they be brought out of their way by com', ing to England, or to have the aid that is so mg ently required thus delayed ? We confess that we cannot see our way ; the matter must fall. C )ne objection cr the other must be tossed on cif her horn of the dilemma. We adu id that there are circumstances under which we would gladly accept foreign aid, inns much as w, believe that by doing so a great moral influence w c uld be established that would lead to the speedy and satisfact.ffy termination of the war. If a Polish, a Hungarian, aye, or an Italian legi on were established, the men being selected fri •m those who had been compelled to seek reful :e in England from oppression and Persecutim • those who had a direct personal interest joining our standard were told that the 7 .would not merely be allowed to offer th ty disc; yes as champions in the sacred cause for whi tel l th e , v were willing to shed their hearts' - blood, . but -that they would obtain the means of ful filling thei c most earnest aspirations, then indeed the reattot ma y be worthy of mature consideration. We wont 1 g i ve a pledge to the Liberals of Europe, ranch required under the circumstances of our !:.ectdiar relations with Austria and Prussia ; and Ise men would be on the spot, the farce of bringing them here, in the first instance, in order to be sent " back again," being avoided. It is only from the language of Minis ters that we can infer that such a plan is not in contemplation ; the words of the Act would admit of the interpretation. It is obvious that there can be no necessity for reckless haste in the matter. If the men are to be brought to England to be exercised and trained they cannot be available during the present crisis in the Crimea. Let time, then, be given, until the regular meeting of Parliament, so that the matter may be fully canvassed, and the public feeling ascertained on a question which has already been regarded with distrust by journalists of all classes of political opinion. If Ministers consent to the postponement of the bill, well. If not—if they force it to a decision, it must be rejected at any cost or under any circumstances. mARTLEBON.E •(THIS DAY). The nomination of candidates for the election of a member to serve in the present Parliament, in the room of the lamented Lord Dudley Stuart, deceased, took place this morning, in Park-cre , :c., Upper Portland place. The morning was exceedingly unpropitious for the occasion, the rain pouring down in torrents, and although the hustings were very much crowded with electors, there were but few of the "free and independ ents" outside. All the notabilities of the borough were present on the hustings, and had it not been for the courtesy and attention of Mr. Tamplin, the returning officer, it is doubtful whether the members of the press would have found seats or accommodation. That gent:einan, however, with his customary foresight, made ample provision foi securing the convenience of the reporters, and our thanks, which we most heartily tender, are due to him for his polite consideration. The proceedings of the nomination commenced at 11 o'clock, when upon a rough calculation we should say there were between 200 and 300 persons present, including those on the hustings. The necessary formalities were rapidly Kone through, and then the real business of the norni• 'Ration was entered upon. The candidates, Lord Ebring ton and Mr. Jacob Bell, attended by their friends and supporters, occupied either end of the hustings. The for• veer took up the right and the latter the left hand side ; but with the exception of a few "animated sandwiches" carrying the placards exhorting the electors to poll early to-morrow for Jacob Bell there were none of the ordi nary indications of a contested election. The RETURNING OFFICER opened the proceedings. of the day by .reminding the electors of the melancholy event which required them to return another member to Parliament, and in doing so be took the opportunity of paying a feeling tribute of respect to the memory of their late representative. Mr. BRITINGHAM proposed Mr. Jacob Bell as a fit and proper person to represent the electors of Marylebone in the Commons House of Parliament, and gave a brief history of his political career. The two can didates of the day represented the two principles of aristocracy and democracy. Mr. Bell was the representative of democracy; and the Russian war as well as most of the evils which the coun try was sufferingfrona wereattributable to the corruption of the aristocracy. The electorsof .Marylebone ought not to hesitate in electing Mr. Bell in preference to Lord Ebrington. (Hear, hear.) But there was another rea son why they should prefer Mr. Bell to Lord Ebrington, because the noble lord had stigmatised the Marylebone vestry as a coterie of low vulgar fellows, whereas the fact was that body numbered amongst them some of the best spirits of the borough, while it was only through the vestry that the borough could make its voice heard upon the momentous questions of the day. (Cheers.) The proposer of Mr. Bell being a publican in the borough was of course subjected to many interruptions, and a fire of cries, intelligible, no doubt, to the electors, but which could be little understood by the general reader. For instance, he was called upon to say what he knew " about the Anglo-Saxons," or how he could venture to propose a man to represent Marylebone when he must he more familiar with " Drawing a glass of heavy" than the affairs of the nation. experience and action of the last session of Congress, a s furnishing assurance that the subject will not fail to elicit a careful re-examination and rigid scrutiny. "It IN - as my intention to present on this occasion some rugge,tions regarding internal iinonvements by the general government, which want of time at the close of the la4t session prevented my sgbaiitting on the r::"..irn to the House of Representatives -vith objections, of the bill entitled An Act making appropriations for the re pair, preservation, and completion of certain pubic works heretofore commenced under authority of law ;' but the space of this communication already occupied with other matter of immediate public exigency Con strains me to reserve that subject for a special message, which will be transmitted to the two Houses of Congress at an early day, " The judicial establishment of thelUnited States re quires modification, and certain reforms in the manner of conducting the legal business of the government are also much needed - but as I have addressed you upon both of these subjects at length before, I have only to call your attention to the suggestions then made. " My former recommendations, in relation to suitable provision for various objects of deep interest to the in habitants of the district of Columbia, are renewed. Many of these objects partake largely of a national cha racter, and are important, independently of their rela tion to the prosperity of the only considerable organised community in the Union entirely unrepresented in Con- gtess. " I have thus presented suggestions on such subjects a 3 appear to me to be of particular interest or import ance, and, therefore, most worthy of consideration during the short remaining period allotted to the labours of the present Congress. " Our forefathers of the 13 united colonies, in acquir ing their independence, and in founding this republic of the United States of America, have devolved upon us, their descendants, the greatest and the most noble trust ever committed to the hands of men, imposing upon all, and especially such as the public will may have invested for the time being with political functions, the most sacred obligations. We have to maintain inviolate the great doctrine of the inherent right of popular self-go vernment ; to reconcile the largest liberty of the indivi dual citizen with complete security of the public order ; to render cheerful obedience to the laws of the land, to unite in enforcing their execution, and to frown indig nantly on all combinations to resict them ; to harmonise a sincere and ardent devotion to the institutions of religious faith with the most universal religious toleration ; to pre serve the rights of all by causing each to respect those of the other ; to carry forward every social improvement to the uttermost limit of human perfectibility, by the free action of mind upon mina—not by the obtrusive in tervention of misapplied force ; to uphold the integrity and guard the limitations of our organic law ; to pre serve sacred from all touch of usurpation, as the very palladium of our political salvation, the reserved powers of the several states and of the people ; to cherish with loyal fealty and devoted affection this Union, as the only sure foundation on which the hopes of civil liberty re:4 ; to administer government with 'vigilant integrity and rigid economy ; to cultivate peace and friendship with foreign nations, and to demand and exact equal justice from all, but to do wrong to none ; to eschew in ternieddling with the national policy and the domestic repose of other governments, and to repel it from our own ; never to shrink from war when the rights and the honour of the country call us to arms, but to culti vate in preference the arts of peace, seek enlargement of the rights of neutrality, and elevate and liberalise the intercourse of nations, and by such just and honourable means, and such only, while exalting the condition of the Republic, to assure to it the legitimate influence and the benign authority of.a great exaznple among all the powers of Christendom. " Under the solemnity of these convictions, the bless ing of Almighty God is earnestly invoked to attend upon your deliberations, and upon all the counsels and acts of the government, to the end that with common zeal and common efforts, we may, in humble submission to the Divine will, co operate for the promotion of the supreme good of these United States. FRANKLIN PIERCE. " Washington, Dec. 4,1854." CALIFORNIA. The steam-ship Star of the West had arrived at New York, with Californian advices to the 9th nit., and upwards of three-quarters of a million of dollars. • THE ANGLO-FRENCH SQUADRON. The following report of the movements of the Anglo-French fleet, and of a rumoured engage ment in the Pacific, we extract from the Placer Times and Transcript of Nov. 29 : " Since the repulse of the allied fleet at Petropau- I lovski, the movem en t s o f th e respectiv e v essels have be come a matter of interest. The greater portion of the combined squadron now lie at anchor in our harbour. They comprise her Britannic Majesty's frigates Presi dent and Pique, sloop of war Amphitrite, and steamer Virago ; and the French frigates Forte and Eurydice. They are accompanied by their prize, the. Russian ship Sitka. Her Britannic Majesty'sdiscovery-ship Plover is also in port. The French brig-of-war Obligado, which constituted a portion of the squadron in its attack upon Petropaulovski, sailed from this port on Saturday last, for Guaymas, to make inquiry into the circumstances at tending the death of Count de Raousset Boulbon. - The brig Henry William, which arrived on Monday night from Sydney, reported a heavy cannonade outside the Heads, resembling a sea-fight, and last night there was a flying report through the city, said to have been brought by a pilot-boat, to the effect that the Obligado had encountered a Russian frigate. The report, how ever, needs confirmation, " In addition to the vessels above enumerated her Bri tannic Majesty's sloop of war Trincolualee, and the French corvette*L'Artemise, from the Sandwich Islands, arrived within a few days. The whereabouts of the Russian frigate Diana is not known, although it is presumed she is cruising somewhere in our waters—perhaps at no great distance from some of her antagonists , . The Russian frigate Aurora, and sloop of war Dwina, were left by the alivs at Petropaulovski, but where they nsay now be is a matter of speculation. The United States steam-frigate Susquehanna was reported at the Sandwich Islands, and s hourly expected in our harbour, she having put into Honolulu merely for a supply of coal. The steam-frigate Mississippi was to have left How , Tong three days after the Susquehanna, and may also be hourly expected. The United States sloops of war St. Mary's and Ports mouth were at Honolulu on the 20th of October, and will probably pay us a visit in the course of the winter. The English and French squadrons, it is understood, a ill winter at Monterey. " Her Britannic Majesty's frigate Amphitrite arrived at San Francisco on Nov. 8, 16 days from Honolulu. " Since the arrival of the British frigates in our har bour, 5 marines and seamen have deserted from the President and Pique. Their names are Charles Bulley, Isaac Dove, James Williams, James Tavey,,R. Elder, and Peter Wilson (attached to the Pique.) For the apprehension of Wilson a reward of 25 dole. is offered, and for the others 15 dole. The French fleet has not suffered as yet by desertion." CUBA. The steam-ship Black Warrior had arrived at New York with advises from Havanuab to the 28th ult. Government officers had searched the American sch ()osier lately arrested atßaracon and found her freighted with cutlasses, dirks, pistols, sabres, carbines, and other munitions of war ; so that the fact of whether she was fitted out as a slaver, a pirate, or a filibustero vessel, re mains in a glorious state of uncertainty. The United States warship Princeton had returned from a fruitless search for the missing sloop Albany. It was feared in Havannah that the vessel was lost, as no, tidings of her had beer. heard from any of the channels which cross the track of the British %Vest India Steamers. General Coecha had entertained Messrs. Eames and Robertson at dinner ; but we learn, at the latest moment, that the effect of the courtesy was nearly effaced by the Govern ment delays given to the passengers of the Black War ior from New Orleans. It was hoped that Louis Napo leon would have compromised himself in the Souk quar rel with the United States. From the space occupied by the President's message, the items of intelligence by this arrival may be briefly stated. The message was considered in Washington as an exceedingly tame document. Mr. Bright was spoken of as likely to be elected President of the Senate. This news, however, was received with caution in New York. Th• steam-sh Star of the West had arrived at New York from San Francisco, bringing over 787,000 dollars in specie. New Orleans advices state that the steam-ship Nautilus had arrived from the Brazos, bringing 555,000 dollars in specie. Unusual excitement was prevailing along the frontier of Mexico, but nothine, beyond mere ta!Eng was going on. A large force of Mexican troops had gathered at Matamoras, and General Wall had summoned the Seminole chief Wild Cat and his followers there, and it was sup posed that they were wanted for some secret mis sion. A vigilance committee had been appointed at Point Isabel. Our Galveston dates are to the 25th ult. General Rusk sustains Governor Pease in his refusal to receive Messrs. Walker and King's securities. Indian depredations were continuing, and three soldiers from Fort Davis had been killed. Winter has fairly set in, and a considerable quan tity of snow has fallen in various parts of the Union. Mr. Joseph Blount, a member of the New York Inittitute, had ast;er t e d th a t h e i s convinced there was a concerted plan entered into by the crew of th e lost Arctic to lower one end of a boat partly down, for the purp,ise of throwing out the women - who were placed in it by Captain Luce, so that . .iere might be room for-the crew. J. L. Norton, a resident of New York, re ported to be worth 500,000 dollars, was knocked down and killed by a car. The body not being recognised received a pauper's funeral. The mis take was not discovere,i for some time, when the remains were disinterred. Californian accounts to the 9th of November state that the greater portion of the com bi ne d squadron lay at ancho r in San F ranc i sco harbour. Her Britannic Majesty's discovery -ship Plover was also in port. The French brig of war Obligado, which consti tuted a part of the squadron in the attack on Pe tropaulovski, had sailed for Guaymas, to make in- THEATRE ROYAL A.DELPIII. Proprietor. Mr. B. Webstar.—Directress, Madame lielosta. THIS EVENING, DEC. IS. 11 be pert rmed an entire new Rustic Drama called PIEInE THE FOUND LINt I. Supporte Iby Messrs. B. Webster sal Kee ley, and Mrs. Keeley and Miss W, oiler. F , lloweil by BONA EWE TRAVELLERS. After which, THE CAMP AT CHOBHAM. To which will be added a new Farce, entitled THE RAILWAY BELLE. ROYAL OLYMPIC TUN tTRE. Lessee and Manager, Mr. A. Wigan. THIS EVENING. DEC. 11. Will be presented a new Comedtetta, called A WIFE'S JOURNAL Characters by Messrs. Brown, Emery, llarcourt, and. Leslie; aed Mrs. Brown, and Miss Maskell. To be followed by TIIE BEULAII SPA. Principal characters by Messrs. A. Wigan, Emery, E. Robson, and. 11. Cooper; Miss Marston. Mrs. A. Wigan, Mrs. Fitzallau, awl Miss Julia St. George. To conclude with THE FIRSP NIGHT. Characters by At ed Wigan, Leslie, Harwood Cooper, and Gladstone ; Miss Julia St. George, and Miss Emily Orinonge. STRAND THEATRE. Sole Lessee Mr. F. W. Aileron. THIS EVENING, Du,. 18, Will be presented THE CHRISTMAS CAROL. To be followed by TEd SPANISH D ANCES. To which will be added WHERE'S CiIIVELLI? To conclude with THE NEW WAGS OF WINDSOR. ARTLEY'S ROYAL AMPHITHEATI- , T.essee and Manager. Mr. William Cooke. The Wonderful rE aFORMILG ELEPIIANTi for this week cnly THIS EVENING.- THE BATTLE of TELE ALMA! After which, the varied SCENES in the CIRCLE, the Wonderful PERFORMING ELEPHANTS, whose asto nishing sagacity and indescribable deve'opement of the reasoning Lenity have been the theme of universal admiration, To conclude with the MARRIED BACHELOR. N.B —A MORNING PERFOR3IANCE consisting of the New Comic) Pantomime and Scenes in the Arena, will take place on TUEiDAY, 2ti.h ([using Dav) at Two o'clock. stun-office open from Eleven till Four. Stage Manager, Ms. W. West. Acting Manager. Mr. W. 11. Cooke. Equestrian Director, Sir. Wm. Cooke, Jun. lIIGU WATER Al LONDON BRIDGE. Tina DAY --Morning 43 znin.aftei 10 1 Evening 12 min.aft. ]1 To- •fonatow •Morning 40 min.efter 11 1 Evening 0 min.aft. 0 T 319 WEATHEII.—StII Onto', Dec. 11. TEIERMONZTJIII, IN THE &TAAL 48— highest sinco noon yesterday. 33— . 0west this morning and daring the night. 44—this day, at noon. BAROMETER, 3002. WIND, W S.W.—Smart breeze, and fine cold weather. Afternoon—cloudy, with heavy scud rolling—rather fresh and looking stormy. DECEMBER 18. 46 —t ..ighost since noon yesterday. 46 —4 owest this morning and during the night. 42 this day at noon. 'aArriv, *ETRE, 29•08—a sudden fall of nearly an inch. in six ho az s. It b to w a heavy gale last night, with ra in and stormy weathE from the westward. Wind changed to N.N.W.; fresh, • Nit k a change in the weather t o sunshine. Heavy log in th e morning, with squalls of rain. HAI:a-PAST Two.—lt blows a strong gale from the sTorth wits the mercury down to 4 0 , and a shar p indica tion of f rost. Th e barometer has risen to 29.27—Very changes blo weather. 91 L~Y ~) ~ I t ~i i~ •'; 4 4 '•< d 7JA 51131, LONDOb ", MONDAY, DECEMBER 18, It is poi itively announced that at a Cabinet Council belt 1 at Berlin, on Thursday last, it was decided thai Prussia shoull juin in the now Treaty between A stria and the Western Powers, and in which he i co-operation was specially invited, "stipulati tv for the concession of certain advantages in the Nor VI Sea and the Baltic." And are France and Engl.: a_ld go far fallen as to listen to such insolent 1 prop ositions ? We use the term "inso lent" advi 'Bed ly and deliberately. It might have been even at zonger to express anything like the real extent'i of the presumptuous audacity that SPORTING NOTES. STEEPLECHASES AT WALTHAM ABBEY. Mr. Littler is a bold man. Undiscouraged by the present scarcity of steeplechase horses and the diminished popularity of " erois country" sport, he is about to re peat on a much larger scale at Waltham the experiment which he made with only partial success at Harrow. Two days' sport is announced to take place on Wednes day and Thursday, and the programme really promises well. Whether the expectations which are hell out will be realised, however, yet remains to be seen. Much care has been bestowed open the selection of the line of country, which is, I am informed, we'd adapted for steeplechase purposes. It is in close proximity to that used on the last occasion. The " Grand Stand" will be erected in a position from which an uninterrupted view of every fence will be commanded. The different "events" have yet been scarcely talked about. I shall not attempt to indicate the intended animals until I receive some hint of the secrets worth knowing. A very pretty quarrel seems to have grown out of the recent meeting at Harrow. The owner of the Hero has written to the newspapers a statement of certain over charges which were made in his winning account. The case deserves attention, for it is not so paltry as it ap pears. It affords, in fact, only a feeble illustration of the foul system on which clerks of courses generally conduct their business. They let slip no opportunity of mulcting owners of horses, sometimes to an extent little dreamed of by the public. The attention of speculators is almost equally divided between Seliastopol and The Derby. The betting rela tive to the former is occasionally somewhat brisk, but it is influenced by every rumour and canard. Speculation on the Derby is, however, somewhat steadier. The mystery relative to Graiculus Emriens deepens, albeit he is likely to maintain his position till the spring. A slight reaction has taken place in favour of his stable companion, De Clare. The only meeting which took placa last week was at Aylesbury, and that was merely promoted to afford some Oxonians a little excitement, and to gratify their equestrian ambition. So " snug" was the affair kept, that few metropolitan turfites knew of the gathering until they saw the return of the sport in the weekly papers. A FRESH MAN. December 18. RETURN OF SIR CHARLES NAPIER. PORTSMOUTH - , SUNDAY NIGHT. This evening, about nino o'cleck, her Majesty's steamer Duke of Wellington, with Sir Charles Napier on board, anchored at Spithead. The Admiral will probably land in time for the first express train in the morning. He left the rest of his fleet off the Scaw •n the 12th with the following orders : The Royal George, 120, Captain Codrington, to pro ceed to Sheerness. The Nile, 91, Captain Mundy, to proceed to Plymouth. Hogue, 60, Captain Ramsay, and the Blenheim, 60, Captain the Hon. F. T. Pelham, to proceed to Spithead. The Bulldog, 6, Captain W. K. Hall, has sailed for the Tyne. The Rosamond steam-sloop has sailed for Cromarty. The Driver steani-sloop has gone to Harwich. The E'linburgh, 60, Rear-Admiral Chads, the Eurya- Ins, 50, Captain Ramsay, and the Vulture, 6, Captain Glasse, were left at Kiel. The Imperiense, 50, Captain Watson, and the rest of the flying squadron, were coming home under the flag of Rear-Admiral Chads. Sir Charles Napier is in good health. RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE. LONDON AND NORTH-WESTERN AND GREAT WESTERN. SETTLEMENT OF DIFFERENCES. We believe we are correct itt stating that the authori-, ties of these two great railway companies have com pleted an arrangement by which all competition between them has been terminated. They are to carry at equal rates to and from all points to which they run in common. Dr. DILLON seconded Mr. Bell's nomination, but, although he appeared very warm in support of his can didate, the uproar was so great that we cou'd not hear a word he said. Mr. Cowen, M.P. for Plymouth, proposed Lord Ebrington, and, in doing so, he made a speech appealing rather to the judgment than the passions of his audience. He agreed with the high eulogium which the proposer of Mr. Bell had passed upon Lord Dudley Stuart, but he was surprised to hear them say the electors of Maryle bone would stultify themselves if they again returned a lord. These attacks upon the aristocracy were peculiarly out of place at this moment, when so many of that body were spilling their blood in defence of the rights of their country and the liberties of Europe. (Cheers.) Mr. Collier then went over the past political career of Lord Eb rington, contending that he had always been the friend of the poor and the supporter of liberal principles. He then read a letter from Mr. Hume, giving in his adhesion to Lord Ebrington, which elicited a hearty cheer, and concluded by recommending the electors to return his candidate in preference to Mr. Ball, who was a Quaker and a member of the Peace Society, and would never support measures for carrying on the war with vigour. (Cheers.) Professor KEY, of the University C ,Ileg,fe, seconded the noble lord's nomination, believing him to be an honest and thorough-going Liberal. (Cheers.) A week ago he had hoped to have had the opportunity ef pro posing Admiral Sir Charles Napier for their suffrages, but circumstances had occurred to prevent that; and now, in the absence of the gallant admiral, lie preferred Lord Ebrington in preference to Mr. Bell, who, within a few months, had openly and publicly protested against the war. (Cheers.) Besides, Mr. Bell was a convicted briber, and his presence on the hustings was an insult to the borough. (Oh ! oh !) There being no other candidate to propose, Mr. BELL presented himself in front of the hustings to address the electors, and, after some manifestations of disapprobation on the other side, he obtained a hearing. lle found fault with that part of the constitution which allowed titled members of the aristocracy who were amply represented in the House of Lords to hold seats in the House of Commons, and lie hoped the result of this election would not satisfy the Legislature that in that respect the electors of Marylebone agreed with him. The consequence of this aristocratic element in the Commons was mainly the cause of the evils which afflict the country in the shape of partial taxation and sinecure abuses, whereas, if the electors were true to themselves, and se lected commoners for their representatives, they would hear le,s of such abuses, if they were not eventually wholly abolished. He complained of having been unjustly attacked on account of his religious persuasion, while his opponents were so much at a loss for argument that they were compelled te assail his past career to obtain support for their noble candidate. (Hear, hear.) He admitted that, in the first instance, he was opposed to the war, but it being once begun he could not possibly have any other desire than that it should be carried on with such vigour as to insure a speedy and honour able peace. (Loud cheers.) With regard to the charges of bribery which had been made against him in connection with other elections, he said he was betrayed into it by one of his agents ; but, although he had unwittingly done wrong once, he would take good care never to fall into the same trap again. (Hear.) The honourable candidate then entered into an explana tion of his political views and opinions, whicli must The Lord Mayor and a deputation, including Sir already be tolerably familiar to the public, and perhaps James Duke, M.P., and Mr. Masterman, M.P., had an therefore it is no great loss that the noise which pre interview with Lord John Russell on Saturday. veiled prevented our hearing what h e said. He ac- The Postmaster-General lied an interview with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on Saturday, at his official cased his opponent of being the advocate of centrali residence in Downing-street. cation, having only recently adopted the principle of Despatches from her Majesty's Ambassador at Con- local self-government, for the purposes of this election, ota.ntinople were received yesterday afternoon at the but he was sure the electors of Marylebone were . too Foreign-office. Despatches were also received from far-seeing to be captivated by such sudden conver- Lord Raglan in the Crimea, for her Majesty's Secretary signs. (Hear.) He had never had any of th e l oaves of State for War. CABINET COUNCIL—A Cabinet Council was held on and fishes of the Government, nor had be any Saturday afternoon, at the Foreign-office. The Ministers desire for them, and he promised the electors that if they present were the Earl of Aberdeen, Lord John Russell, returned him he should ever remain free and iudepen the Lord Chancellor, the Duke of Argyll, Viscount dent, acting according to the dictates of his own con- Palmerston, the Earl of Clarendon, Sir George Grey, the Duke of Newcastle, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, science, and the wants and liberties of the people. Sir James Graham, Sir Charles Wood, Earl Granville, Lord EBRINGTON next presented himself to the elec the Right Hon. Sidney Herbert, and Sir William tors, and was received with loud cheers from his friends, Moleswortb. The Council sat two hours and a half. but when he commenced explaining his political creed The Earl of Aberdeen gave an andience on Saturd a y to several members of the Cabinet, at his official resi- the uproar on the other side became so great that it was dence in Downing-street. The no bl e Premier w ill rema i n quite impossible to catch a word. The noble lord said in town during the greater part of the holidays, the he was not surprised at this, because the opposi urgency of public affairs demanding his presence. tion had nothingsay to for themselves, and they were The Earl of Clarendon was detained at the Foreign determined no one else should be heard. The office until a late hour on Saturday evening, and left town by thelast train the same evening for the Grove, near noble lo r d h av i ng s t oppe d t o condole with th e elec- Watford, Herts. The noble ear l returns to t own this tors on the loss they had sustained in the death of Lord morning. Dudley Stuart, went on to state what his notions were The Lord President of the Council, accompanied by of a libe ra l can did a t e . It was better , he thou g ht, to Lady John Russell and family, intend to p ass th e look to ant ece d e nts Christmas holidays with the Duke and Duchess of Bed ford,tither at Woburn Abbey, Beds, where a large and dis- not words ; and, point;_ngto his past political career, he tingnished circle will assemble. aske d the el ectors to decide between him and his oppo- The Marquis of Lansdowne leaves Lansdowne House neat. For a Que:ker to advocate a vigorous prosecu on Thursday or Friday next, for Bowood Park, Wilts. tion of the war seemed almost a contradiction, and he The Earl and Countess of Shelburne and a select party thought Mr. Bf 11's declaration in that respect should will pass the holidays with the noble marquis. convince the ec t or s that his other Professions were no t Viscount Palmerston returns to Carlton - gardens this forenoon, from a visit to the Queen, at Windsor Castle. to be trusted.. (Hear, hear.) He did not present him- It is the intention of the noble viscount to spend the self to the elt;ctors as a political cameleon ; he was a holidays et Broadlands, near Romsey. liberal in its 'true sense, and this lie bad shown not by The Duke of Newcastle intends to stay in town dur- words but t deeds. He was an advocate for purity of ing the holiday e, so that the department of state over election, arid had made sacrifi ces i n f avour o f that prin cip i le. ie c eee afraid he, a t present, cou ld not say the which he presides may not sutler any delay from h is grace's absence from the metropolis. The greatest ac tivity still prevails at the Minister of War's, and g reat same, rend e the electors were wise they would select exertions are required from all the staff, high and low , their representative rath er b y hi s past career than pro of that department. sent professions. .;13.dis;,(;q•Ciiisiece, would die veteran Liberal Cheers. , ) He had been accused of The Marquis of Bread a lbane, Lord Chamber lain, left iiei s ii , Park-lane on Saturday, on a visit to the Q ueen, at y Windsor Castle, until to-day. Jo Joseph a Tor Hume support him if that were so. (Nei no. He was not a s b ellie d o f hi s past career ; l ie h a d a l wa y s In the list of the kille a id d t nd 'wounded iu th Crime published by us on Fray, he name of Captaie n Baddc- a, been a Liiieral - while with r war, rear to the he ley, Royal Artillery, who was severely wounded at In not only appr . Oved of it but lie was a supporter kerman, was omitted. THE WRECK or THE CHIRLOTTE.—Captain Affleck, of its policy. (Hear, hear, and cheers.) The tyrant late of the Charlotte, from London and Cork for Cal- of Russia roost be• checked in his aggressive movements, cutta, with troops, wrecked in Algoa Bay in September the liberties of the world demanded it, and if he were last (as previously reported in The Sun), landed at Deal ag am • sent to Parliament he should support the vigorous last Friday morning from the s hi p She p herdess, r eports prosecution a the War, in spite of the fact that some of his son, chief officer, steward, and butcher, and three of the ship's company saved ; 113 souls lost ; saved. 5 off. his nearest and dearest relatives were actively engaged cers, 102 men, and five women, of the 27th Regiment. 1 1 in the struggle et while others had already become its COURT CIRCULAR. WINDSOR, DEC. 16. There was no addition to the Royal dinner party yes. terday. The Queen, accompanied by Prince Alfred, walked in the grounds adjoining the Castle this morning. His Royal Highness Prince Albert went out shooting. The following arrived this afternoon—the Marquis of Breadalbane, Viscount and Viscountess Palmerston, and Major-General Barnard. The dinner party this day included her Royal High ness the Duchess of Kent, his Serene Highness Prince Victor of Hohenlohe, the Marquis of Breadalbane, the Dowager Marchiones of Downshire, Lady Mary Hood, Lady. Fanny Howard, Baronness de Speth, Viscount and Viscountess Palmerston, Major-General Barnard, and Captain G. K. Seymour, R.N. The band of the Royal Horse Guards played during dinner, and her Majesty's private band afterwards. DEC. 17. The Queen and Prince, the four elder Royal children, and Prince Victor of Hohenlohe, the ladies and gentle men of the Court, and the domestic household, attended Divine Service this morning in the private chapel of the Castle. The Hon. and Very Rev. the Dean of Windsor offi ciated. The Marquis of Lansdowne was invited to Windsor Castle yesterday, but was prevented by indisposition from obeying her Majesty's commands. victims—.(cheers)—and was it to be said that he was not fit to be a representative of the people because ho was a lord ? Why, all his life he had been advocating the rights of the people, he wished them to be indepen dt of ; and entertaining that opinion he was " for a fair days wage for a fair days' work ;" he was the advocate of independence, not charity amongst the poor ; and if he was elected, his best exertions should again be devoted to furthering the rights of the many in preference to the interests of the few. (Cheers.) The show of hands was then taken, and declared to be in favour of Mr. Bell. A poll was, of course, demanded, and fixed fur eight o'clock to-morrow. On the motion of Mr. BELL, seconded by Lord EBRINGTON, thanks were Toted to the returning, officer and the proceedings of the day terminated. CRIMINAL COURT.-(THIS DAY.) The December session of the above Court was opened to-day by the Right Hon. the Lord Mayor, the Right I or. the Recorder, Aldermen Hunter, Sir R. W. Car den, and Kennedy, the Sheriffs, Under-sheriffg, and the usual city authorities. The first edition of the calendar contains the names of 56 prisoners, this small number being attributable to the short period that has elapsed since the last session. The Recorder addressed a very few observations to the grand jury, and they then retired to their room. Ann Maria M'Guiness, 33, widow, was charged with having obtained money by means of false and fraudulent pretences, The jury found her guilty, and the Recorder sentenced her to four months' imprisonment in the jail of Newgate. LAW INTELLIGENCE.-(ThIS DAY.) COURT OF QUEEN'S BENCH. ;Before Lord CuiefJustice Campbell and a Special Jury.) CHALLIS V. THE GREAT NORTHERN RAILWAY COMPANY. This was an action brought by Mr. Alderman Challis, late Lord Mayor of London, against the Great Northern Railway Company, to obtain compensation for personal ;njuries and pecuniary losses sustained by the plaintiff through an accident while travelling on the company's line. The Attorney-General and Mr. Hawkins appeared for the plaintiff; and Mr. Watson and Mr. Wordsworth for the defendants. The defendants had paid 301. into court by way of compensation. Sir Charles Trevelyan, assistant secretary to the Trea sury, was examined by the Attorney-General, and stated that in the latter end of August last he left London by the five o'clock p.m. express train of the Great Northern Railway Company. In the same carriage with witness were the plaintiff and Sir James Duke. When the train reached llornsey there was a collision with a coal train, the express train at the time going at full express speed. When witness recovered from the shock he saw Alderman Challis, the plaintiff, who sat oppo site to him, had got a deep cut across his nose, and was otherwise very much injured, a consider able quantity of blood being on the floor of the carriage, and on some newspapers that they had been reading• Witness assisted Alderman Challis out of the carriage to a tavern close by. Alderman Challis was next examined by the Attorney- General, and said one or two medical men attended him at the tavern alluded to, and attempted to stop the bleed. ing from his face ; he s•.uffered very much, and remained at the tavern for two or three hours. He even now con tinned to feel great inconvenience, and could not suffer any excitement, and was obliged up to the present time to abstain from attending to his private business. Shortly after the accident a gentleman in the service of the rail way company called upon him, and in the course of con versation, having asked him what expense he had been put to, and being told by him (plaintiff) that the mere travelling expenses were 231., the gentleman said he would make that right, and soon after the company sent him a cheque for 141. He (plaintiff) had given his servant 231. to pay the expenses of the journey to Sheffield and back. Plaintiff was at that time Lord Mayor of London, and having been invited to the Cut ler's Feast at Sheffield, he was going down there, with his state carriage, horses, and servants. He had paid, besides, 101. or 151. f)r medical attendance. He had an entire suit of clothes spoiled by the accident, and lost his hat. Altogether he was 451. or 501. out of pocket by the accident. Cross-examined by Mr. Watson—Dr. Child attended him about seven or eight days after the accident. He (plaintiff) attended to his magisterial duties for a few days after the accident, but he was obliged to desist from doing so ; he resumed those duties in about three weeks afterwards. Dr. Miller, of Enfield, the plaintiff's usual medical attendant, and Dr. Jefferson, who had been called in the day after the accident, described the effect of the accident on plaintiff to be a very serious shock to his system, and an injury to his health generally, ever since it occurred. Mr. Watson having addressed the jury on behalf of the defendants, pleading the inevitable risks men must make up their minds to encounter while travelling by express trains at a velocity of 50 miles an hour. Lord Campbell briefly summed up the case. He said the learned gentleman who had conducted the case for the defendants, admitted the plaintiff had incurred a loss of 451. by the accident ; but surely the jury would not —in point of law they ought not—confine the damages to the mere pecuniary loss ; they should consider the anguish endured by the plaintiff and the shock sus tained by his constitution, shich if they were satisfied with the evidence, entitled him to a reasonable compensation at their hands, though they should take care at the same time that it should not be excessive. The jury, after a few minutes' consideration, found a verdict for the plaintiff ; damages 2001. (including the SO/. pail into court by the defendants.) COURT OF CHANCERY. COOPS V. ARNOLD. The Lord Chancellor was occupied the whole of the day with hearing the further arguments in this part heard appeal. Mr. Wigram, Q.C., was addrdssing the Court when our reporter left. VICE-CHANCERY. (Before Vice Chancellor Sir R. Kindersley.) GILLINGHAM V. BAKER. This part heard case was resumed this morning, and had not concluded at two o'clock. The arguments do n3t call for a report, as they are only interesting to the parties immediately concerned. DISCOVERY OF THE REMAINS - OF SIR JOHN _FRANKLIN. A telegraphic despatch from Albany, under date Dee• 3, contains the following : " Ike Lake Superior Mining News of the 27th ult. gays We learn by private letters that the bodies of Sir John Franklin and his men have been found by Dr. Kane's party, completely frozen, and in a perfect state of preservation.' It adds—' From the authority whence we have gained the information, we have the right to believe it as perfectly true.' " DEATH OF M. LEON FAUCHER. M. L e on Fau cher died at Marseilles on Fridal m C ai,n, o r o c u r t :n et ::: w e e L re eo w n it F h an h c u li n er in an h d io. belrasbtrt Lute. M. L. Faucher before being known as a statesman was eminent e from m journalist. 84H5.e Thatcondnjeotuerdn journal w e a sCoaui always forward to advocate liberal opinions. It was one of the principal organs of the press that supported M. Thiers, but when, in 1840, that minister nearly involved France in a war with England, and sent a bullying diplomatic note to the French ambassadors in foreign courts,stat ing that France would never allow the Pacha of Egypt to be deposed, M. Leon Faucher, disg usted with the gasconading misrepresentation of the object of the four powers, wrote a snot which became celebrated :—" 31 - Tillers, vous enfoncez une porte ouverte." His career as Minister of the Interior under Louis Napoleon, Pre sident of the Republic, is well known. The indepen ence of his character was displayed in a letter written shortly after the coup d'etat, and which m ade a great sensation at the time, in which Ile indignantly reject ber ed the offer of a se,:t in the Senate. Ever since Decem 2, 1851, he has lived in retirem ent, writing occasionally articles on political economy in the Revue des deux Illondes. He was scarcely 55 years of ag3. The specie arrivals of the week have amounted to acebi,,,t0.151f,07030,0/,ooolf.which the whole is gold, with the ex tiTh3 United States Mail steam•ship Atlantic, Captain James West, sailed fron the Mersey on Saturday ore cco aut half-pa,st eight o'clock. She had not p Lded far when she split her rudder head, and the cap tain deemed it prudent, under the circumstances, to ro tmo to port to ' repair daina,ges. It was believed she would be r ea,ly for sea yesterday forenoon. CUSTOMS AND EXOISE.—On Friday, the Government acc ount wag printed, showing that in the year ended the 10th October last the net revenue from the customs in cmased to •20,193,614/. 18§. 91, and ;rom the excise, 15,526,892/. Is. 4d. r