The Sun. — London, England, 1863-01-12 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVgNING, JANUARY 12, 1863 • 0 YAL ENGLISH OPERA, COVENT u GARDEN. Under the Manage me nt of Miss Louisa Pyne and Mr. W. H ar rison, Sole Lessees. THIS EVENING, to commence with RUY BLAS : Miss Louisa Pyne, Miss Susa ,, Pyne, Miss Thirlwall. and Madame Laura Baxter; Messrs. Santley, Patey, Lyall, AynsleyCooke, E. Dussek, and W. Harrison. Conductor—Mr. A. Mellon. After which, the Grand Comic Christmas Pantomime, en titled SARLEQUIN BEAUTY AND THE BEAST. Doors open at hall-past 6—Commence at 7. THEATRE -R Y A 14, DRURY-LANE.- Lessee and Manager, Mr. Fdmnnd Falconer. THIS EVENING, the Comio Drama of THE NEXT OF After which, the Grand Pantomime of LITTLE GO DDT TWO SHOES. . _ Commence at 7. THEATRE-R 0 YAI HAY MARKET. Lessee. Mr. J. B. Buckstone. THIS EVENING, at Seven o'clock, will be performed Lilt AMERICAN COUSIN. Asa Trenchard, Mr. Buck stone ; Lord Dundreary, Mr. Sothern. After which, a new and original Extravaganza, entitled RASSELAS, PRINCE OF ABYSSINIA; or, The Happy Valley. Rasselas, Miss Louise Keeley. Concluding with MRS. WHITE. THEATRE -ROYAL LYCEUM OPEN, under the Sole Management of Mr. FECHTER. THIS EVENING (NIONDAY), January 12th, and every evening during the week. to commence with an Ori.anal Sketch, entitled A SUDDEN ATTACK. Messrs. Shore, Garden, H. Widdicomb, Miss llenrade, and Mrs. Lee. After which, at a Quarter to Eight, a New Romantic Drama, in Three Acts, and Pr)logue, entitled THE DUKE'S MOTTO, by Paul Feval and John Brougham. The principal character will be sustained by Mr. Fechter, supported by Messrs. G. Vining, J. Brougham, H. Ni Iddi combe, W. M'lntyre, F. Charles, Garden, Raymond, E. Butler, Dawson ; Misses Carlotta Leclercq, Kate Terri , • Lavenue, and Elsworthy. Mr. Phelps and Mr. W. Montgomery are eng,aged , a nd will shortly appear, t o commence Doors open at half-past Six, perform/ 01, r net £2 2s. Places at Seven. Private Boxes, £2 12s. dd.. 7; - ss. sd. ; Upper C registered. Stalls, 6s. 6d. ; Dress I 6 1. 4 ; 'Dress Circle, Cs. Circle, 4s. 6d. Prices at doors—Ste ila, is . No half-price. Box- Upper Circle, 4s. ; Pit, 2s. • GailerY, office open daily from The publio are entreated to 11 t 1 1 4 1 . 5 .. de the occupants of boxes, take notice that no char IV - a l bitls or for the safe keep box places, or stalls, either to that ay and the attendants in all parts ing of hats and cloak* -.. of the house are forbid; eau Vining.eceive any gratuities whatever . Mr. G. Acting-Manager, Mr. H. Stage manager, Barnett. _ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE, Lessee and Manager, Mr Lindus. THIS EVENING, THE TRIPLE ALLIANCE. Mr. H. Marston, Mr. Wallace ; Miss Constance Aylmer, Miss M. Oliver. and Mrs. B. White. A fter which, the New Grand CHRISTMAS PANTOMIME, A‘ RIQUET WITH THE TUFT; or, Harlequin and Mother Siiipton." Mr. G. Belmore, Mr. C. Seyton, Misses Gray and fi udspeth, Mr. Milano, Mr. R. Power, Miss A. Collinson, and Mr. Raiford. IVEW ITIRATRE-R0 YAL, ADELPHI.- -1-1 Sole Proprietor and Manager, Mr. B. Webster. THIS EVENING, THE LI I TLE THE X SURE. Mr Billington, Mr. R. Phillips, and Miss Marie Wilton. After which, A TICKET OF LEAVE : Messrs. J. L.Toole, r. Bedford, and Mrs. Billington. To conclude with " GEORGE DE BARNWELL or, Harlequin Folly in the Realms of Fancy." Miss Woolgar, Miss K. Kelly, Miss Seaman ; Messrs. J. L. Toole, P. Bed. ford, S'Sephenson, C. J. Smith. Harlequin, Mr. John Lauri Columbine, Miss Caroline Adams ; Clown, Mr. W. Hildyard a ntaloon, Mr. J. Paulo. The celebrated Arthur an' ertrand. Commence at 7. The VTBATHER.—Sun Office, Jan. 11, 1863. THERMOMETER. Highest since Noon yesterday Lowest during the night This day at Noon . Barometer-29.85. Wind—North-E.; light, with dull rainy weather. JANUARY 12. Highest since Noon yesterday .. 37 Lowest during the night .. 26 This day at Noon - - Barometer-30.14. Wind—S.-W.; light, fine but cold. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. THIS DAT.—Morning, 6b. 25m.—Afternoon, 6h. 47m, To-monnow.-Morning, 7h. 9m.—Afternoon, 7h. 30m, 4 4, , H.l qb .. - TZ I It LONDON, MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 1863, "Water," quoth that old Sea Porkypine and genuine Yarmouth Bloater, Mr. PEGGOTTY, in the penultimate chapter of David Corperfield," water ('specially when 'tie salt) comes nat'ral to me ; and friends is dear, and I am here.—Which i 8 verse,' said Mr. PEGGOTTY, surprised to find it out, though I hadn't suds intentions." A whimsical correspondent of our esteemed contemporary the Examiner has just now " found it out" for us. Meaning by it precisely such another undesigned breaking forth in rhyme: what some among the rhymsters of the last generation were wont to desig nate by the euphonious and sesquipidalian title of "unpremeditated verse." Our own 'opus salami, i n this wise, running the words into jingling har mony with each other, upon New Year's day, of all good days in the year—in celebration, as it happened, of the unusually propitious financial situation for the current twelvemonth. Reading our own words as they come echoed back to us in the columns of the Examiner of Saturday, by the facetious voice of its observant correspondent " X," we can only exclaim, surprisedly, in the language of Mr. PEGGOTTY, " Which is verse — though I hadn't such intentions ! " Descending, however, again to humble prose, as to a medium in every way more befitting the theme descanted upon, as well as more suitable to the unambitious manner of a Journalist, we cannot but still rejoice in unrhythmical accents over the unusually fair prospect immediately opening up just now before the Chancellor of the Exchequer. After a year of gloom, and even of disaster, there is a reasonable probability of the right hon. gentle man finding himself much more agreeably prepared to open his Budget before the House of Commons than circumstances have permitted him to be during several past seesions. A twelvemonth of royal and loyal mourning, of political stagnation, of mercantile calamity and social privation throughout the north west provinces of England, of fierce conflict among the divided States of the North American republic, of continued expenditure upon an enormous scale in all our warlike departments ! A twelvemonth thus painfully characterised from first to last has nevertheless closed—with a balance-sheet left in the r ands of Mr. GLADSTONE, showing something like a round surplus of two millions, upon a comparison of the national incomings and the national out goings. The uppermost thought with everyone on realising which especially gratifying fact—a fact especially gratifying, as we have intimated, from the circumstance of its coming to us at the end of so many and of such protracted privations — the first thought with everyone will be in the words of the Novelist ordinarily sitting opposite Mr. GLADSTONE, the Novelist who once upon a time sent this very Mr. GLADzTONE to Corfu in a moment of difficulty, as Lord Hig h Com missioner Extraordinary—the fi rs t and foremost thought with us all will be, " What wall do with it ?" With this surplus ." looming up so agreeably before the nation, to the extent of some where about £2,000,000? A surplus tolerably sure of being still further enhanced by certain as yet undetermined modifications in the extent, as well as in the distribution, of the National Ex penditure. For, without iu any way diminishing cur military or maritime forces as they are at present constituted —a diminution, this, which no true 'yin - lot amongst us cAn be in any way desirous of witnessing—it is still perfectly within reason that there should be divers abatements in t "Se gigantic disbursements that we all wot of but too wall—disbursements that have drained qar the Exc.:he ,of late, so lavishly and copiously : but that need drain it now no longer, at tiny rae, upon the same gigantic scale. v Enhancing the actual surplus that may be found in hand, when the right hon. gentleman, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, shall have unfolded his final • cial scheme for 1863-'64, enhancing the realized £2,000.000 by(say)another£2,ooo,ooo realizable by some rational determination at last to economize--11 " What will he do with it ?" He, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with it, this doubly-welcome ant.- plus of, we will suppose (not unreasonably let us Lope), a substantial total of £4,000,000 ? It is ann- ther only of the more agreeable kind of dilemmas in which a Chancellot of Exchequer (always in dilemmas of some sort, good, bad, or indifferent) gladly groans to find himself! What remissions will he make under these pleasant contingencies And how w ill he make them ? While Mr. GLAD STONE'S plans are yet determining, in his mind, in his own heart, and judgment, and conscience, it is allowable, and at the same time can hardly be either idle or impertinent, to conjecture by anticipation. There are those cruel war duties still levied, pertinaciously upon tea and sugar, durin g years for England (happily andthanks b t e be to heaven !) of peace. Duties tha t, u p on tea alone ' might readily enoug h with s uch a surplus as we hand—be dropped at once to the extent of a n annual million and are talking of in a half. Mr. GLADSTONE has done so much of late years for the increase of the comforts of all th e wine-bibbers in this community that, ifjonly by way of compensation to the genius of sobriety, he might facilitate the access now of poor and rich alike, but especially of the hard-working poor, to "the cup that cheers but not inebriates." There is then, we repeat, a possible, nay, we will venture to express it a probable diminution of the tea duty at any rate, to the extent of an annual sum of £1,500,000. The war duty on sugar might, in some way also, be modified. And as affording another and a very considerable section of the industrious classes in this country the opportunity of more readily smoking the calumet of peace in celebration of the peace, the Chancellor of the Exchequer may even find it in his heart to lower the import duty upon tobacco—doing this even, we might suggest to him, to the material advantage of the revenue. Above all there is the abhorred, and with many, we fear, the almost accursed Income-tax. Levied during this last year at the rate of three and three-quarters per cent., or ninepence in the pound sterling, upon the incomes of the population, it has yielded, rather surprisingly, a sum of upwards of £11,000,000 altogether. Surprisingly, we say, because in the calculations made for some years past in regard to the proceeds of the Income-tax, that Tax is well known upon the average to yield for every penny £1,100,000 or thereabouts. Conse quently ninepence in the pound would at this rate ordinarily pour into the Exchequer £9,900,000, or as near as possible £10,000,000 altogether. This year it has produced, however, as we have said, more than £11,000,000, probably from the circumstance of certain hitherto unpaid arrears dropping in. How ever this may be—there is the fact—and there, in con nection with that fact, comes back to us the all wel come reflection that now at length Mr. GLADSTONE has before him a portion at least of his long looked for and, for some time past, almost despaired of opportunity. He may ease the boot precisely where it most sorely pinches the goutiest member of poor burly old overburdened JOHN BULL. Re mit the War Tax among War Taxes, this Income Tax in toto (meaning no pun)—he cannot be ex pected to do, of course. But modify it—allay the cruelty of it—he may very readily now do, if he so pleases. Dropping twopence from the ninepenny rate at present imposed upon the community, he would relieve the nation at once to the extent of about two millions sterling. A ninepenny Income Tax still securing a goodly sum to the Exchequer of nearly £8,000,000 altogether. Before the momentous evening can arrive when the House of Commons shall again have mustered in unusual num bers to listen to the great annual oratorical display of our Arch Financier, let Mr. GLADSTONE "think well on 't," and that betimes. All his shortcomings of late years—and they have been numerous, Heaven j knows, in regard to the revision of the Income Tax, if in regard to nothing else—may at length, if he but wills it, be swept out of view and forgotten. In which event—though we affect not in any way to be numbered amongst his more infatuated ad mirers—none would rejoice more he artily than ourselves. The Scotia brings ns news which completes the American year. The details both military and political are of some interest, but we cannot see in them, as some do, anything indicating an approach to the termination of this monster war. It is singu- lar that we receive at the same time a solemn long worded proclamation of JEFFERSON DAVIS against General BUTLER and all his commissioned officers, and the announcement that General BANKS has arrived at New Orleans to supersede BUTLER, and, doubtless, to inaugurate a better reign over New Orleans and Louisiana. The proclamation of DAVIS is one of the weakest things we have yet seen issued by that able man. Its principle is retaliation for injuries to rebel citizens of New Orleans, the proof of which must be very imperfect, while to resort to vengence on other innocent persons is a precedent equally bad and futile. It can but embitter the war without doing anything towards expediting its termination. With one consent in England we have reprobated some acts of General BUTLER; but the one which excited such indignation here was ex plained in a very different sense to that in which it was at int understood. Let, however, any of our readers turn to the undeceiving accounts of New Orleans, furnished by the invaluable, because impartial, as well as graphic pen of the Times' late correspondent from America, Dr. RUSSELL, in his book recently published, and he will see that Gen. BUTLER has had to keep in order what was little better than a rebel Sodom. Dr. RUSSELL, we must confess, opened oar eyes to the meaning of the New Orleans bitterness against BUTLER, and we cannot believe it to have, in the main, any other source than that of ruffianism and rascality finding itself suddenly brought face to face with a sharp but half-humorous fellow who would " stand no nonsense." I n all probability BUTLER was very fond of the tit for-tat sort o f school- g irl treatment of the un manage ables whom he had to control. His reported pro ceedingstherefore, too much of the air of smartness for the doing s of a public administrator. have, I'll be even with you, and ha ve the lau g h on m y A r ather undignified side," seeme d to b e hi s motto. one for a General governing by martial law and commanding th e army o f th e Gulf. yet it is re markable th at even the letters of complaina nts which have r eac h ed us from New Orleans h a ve be trayed that th e i ndividuals who smarted un d er BUTLER had endeavoured first to make him smart, all they could. In many cases his re tribution wanted dignity, or was too severe, but, by the informant's own showing, in no case was it unprovoked. The aew General and the old one met as old friends. From the antecedents of BANKS, whom we knew before as Speaker in the House of Representatives, and as a General since the war, there is no reason to expect anything from him of the undignified irritation and tit for-tat' policy of BUTLER. His proclamation, on taking the command, is couched in conciliatory language; all possible respect to private rights and feelings is promised, and half his remarks are devoted to rea soning with the people. He adopts, of course, the Washington view, and shows that the vast Valley of the Mississippi will never consent to be deprived of its outlet to the ocean. He calls, therefore, on the people of the South-west to accept the condi- tions imposed on them by geographical and com mercial necessities, and thus to become the entre pots of the wealth of such a vast region. The war in the South-west—now becoming as important as that on the Potomac, perhaps more so —is in a doubtful position. BANKS' squadron was plainly intended to strengthen the expedition which is to attack Vicksburg, and to complete the opening of the Mississippi. It has already begun to operate • for that purpose, and Baton Rouge and Port Hudson, still higher up the river, have been occupied by an expedition from New Orleans. The military and land news is not, however, favourable to the Federals. The destruction and evacuation of the works at New Madrid by the Federals can scarcely have had other than stra tegic reasons, as they are so near Cairo, and so easy to be supported thence. Bat General GRANT, though not surrounded, as was at one time feared, had been compelled to fall back, to make Memphis itself, instead of a more advanced position like Holly Springs just captured by the Contederates, the base of his operations, and thus the military aid which he could render to the expedition about to move on Vicksburg is considerably delayed. Perhaps he may be effectually kept back, and it must be remem bered the fleet alone, last year, could not capture Vicksburg. Perhaps, as reinforced by BANKS, it may be, however, strong enough for that purpose. We find also the Confederate Generals again at Corinth, and also holding the railroad between Columbus and Jackson ; that is, cutting off an important line of communication of the Federals in Kentucky and Tennessee. In this quarter we also read of balanced successes ; General MORGAN, the famous Guerilla Captain, captures Elizabeth Town, quite in the north of Kentucky, destroys a portion of the rail road which connects it and Louisville with Nash ville, the capital of Tennessee, still occupied by the Federals, and rides off with 600 prisoners. On the other hand, General HERRON, in Arkansas, captures the town of Van Buren, much war material in that far west state, and 100 prisoners; both successes occasioning more temporary in convenience,probably than altering at all the relative position of parties. On the Potomac all is quiet enough, if we except the beating up of the Federal quarters, their rear we should rather say, by STUART and his cavalry once more. This is the second time since BURNSIDE has been on the Rappahannock that STUART has visited .Dumfries far in the rear of the former. Bu he visited also other places yet further north, towards Washington; Accotick, the most northerly not being more than twenty miles from it. BURN SIDE has the river to keep up his supplies, but the Washingtonians will hardly like to have the Con federate ca., alry riding almost up to their gates. The Alabama continues her " raids" at sea, which must be very galling to the merchants, as it has sent up marine insurance two per cent. We have no authentic information respecting the Proclamation for the Ist of January. The Demo crats are doing their utmost to denounce it, and to prevent its appearance. They have summoned a convention of the loyal States—requesting New Jersey to take the lead in an endeavour to arrest the war; the proposed place of meeting is Louisville, in Kentucky, by which it appears the Border States are to be made prominent in the proposed convention. The time proposed is "February next," but by that time events may have occurred which will only fan the flame yet hotter. If the Mississippi should by that time be quite opened, or if the proclamation should have been issued, and begun to tell on the Slave States, it is hardly probable that the North will be likely to listen to any terms of accommodation. On one point the PRESIDENT is showing his usual caution. He hesitates to sign the bill constituting Western Virginia a sepa rate State. His Cabinet are formally con sulted on its constitutionality and expediency. It is in truth a ticklish question, on the constitu tional ground the PRESIDENT has always taken ; and so strong is his feeling in that direction that it is expected he will veto the bill. The announcement that Parliament will meet on the sth of February naturally disposes one to think of the prospects of the future. At a momentous epoch like the present what might appear to the un initiated trifles light as air become to the more ex perienced proofs of confirmation strong. It seems a significant threatening of some change in the political horizon, this list in the Gazette of a new " batch of Baronets." Of course there is nothing official or orthodox on which rumour can speculate, but as straws show which way the wind blows, so this trivial occurrence may be the precursor of an event that is of some importance. We have often seen how shortly such a circum stance as this has been followed by the retirement of the Ministry who conferred the dignities. Know ing too well the secrets of the situation before a minutest hint has been whispered in outer circles they at once seek to secure the services of those whose aid and assistance may stop the fall, or at least avert its consequences. There is nothing to find fault with in this ; and, if there were, it would be one of a universal kind, for all parties follow the same course and adopt the same tactics. It is a natural feeling in human nature to avail oneself of every opportunity before the day for the exercise of power has gone by. In some of the instances referred to there is every reason to be pleased with the selection of Ministers. Foremost among these is Mr. WILLIAM BROWN, of Liverpool. This gen tleman's name is too well known to need much comment, and his merit is too well recognised for the new dignity conferred to increase its lustre. Such a man imparts more honour to his title than the acquisition can confer upon himself. The establishment of a Free Library et Liverpool was a noble act, and he could hope for no better monument to be a lasting testimony to his name and fame throughout the length and breadth of the land. Mr. FRANK CROSSLEy of Halifax is another local benefactor. He gave a fine park adjoining the town for the benefit and recreation of the working classes. The 1 other gentlemen are doubtless estimable men in a private capacity, but it is to be questioned if they have not been chosen for this honour more on account of their probable services to Government 1 I than of their claims on public gratitude, or peculiar aptitude for high places in the community. If merit had been made the sine qua non in the selec tion,a there ar e man y' others more deservin g of the rs as if those in authority had honour. It bppt 4 gone as far as poz3ible to seek for rec i pients of their favours, and in every i n stance it is in politics, that honours have been taken. No other claim has been all owe d to we i g h in the balance, but that of the ca ndidate being qualified to prove h is g ratitude afterwards in the letter as well as the spirit, It may be that nothing more will transpire of this accession to the Baronetage of the United Kingdom and when the on dit s of the nine days' won d er are over, the affair m a y l apse i nto oblivion, and be on l y regarded as a minor event. It may be, however, and only time can prove the contrary, that it is the forerunner of greater things, and will hereafter be ranked among the signs and tokens that herald the advent of coming changes. It is a melancholy fact that both the Admiralty and Board of Trade have failed to enact regulations to prevent collisions between vessels. Stringent laws have been passed regarding the lights to be carried by steamers, sailing vessels, and ships at anchor. The rules for the steering of ships meet ing, or in proximity, are strict; but, notwith standing all this, a sort of secret magnetic influence seems to prevail—we should call it the attraction of collision, which in an unaccountable manner causes vessels to come in contact, although they may have sighted each other a mile apart. A fatal accident occurred last Friday in Southampton Water, by which three lives were sacrificed and other individuals injured. It would be unfair while the inquest is unconcluded to make any comments on the conduct of those concerned. The probability is that nobody was to blame, but that the accident was brought about by some mis conception of the course taken by one of the vessels, or some deviation from the course laid down to be followed by the respective ships. The question then ' aris?s, are the regulations as clearly defined as is necessary for the safety of human life and valuable property. The pilots of all our ports have to pass a strict examination to test their competency before they can obtain a certificate, and it is but natural to suppose that they understand their duty. But the question may be asked—dothey not stand too much upon punctilio, as to the rights of the vessel they are for the time being in charge of. We do not suggest that in the above accident such was the case. Two of the unfortunate pilots lost their lives in the dis charge of their duty ; but how should the collision have come about in fine weather on a clear morning, or night, for the collision o o morek place properly,t 20 minutes and the morning is perhaps, to even, reported to have been a beautif u l b r i g h t one . Th e t facts are simple. The Peninsular and Oriental l i Company's steamship Ceylon, which had just ar rived from Alexandria, ran into and cut down the brig Ridesdale, which was being towed out of the river on her way to the West Indies. The Ceylon sustained but little damage; the brig foundered in a few minutes. How was it that this collision could not have been prevented. Perhaps some light may be thrown on the matter before the Coroner. In the meantime can no plan be thought of and applied to enable steam-ships to speak to each other, or give warning of their proximity in the dark, and thus call atten tion to their lights, as a locomotive railway engine can ? Surely their lungs are as powerful, and all Europe, and in fact all the world, is by this time acquainted with the whistle of a steam engine. Why could not signals be arranged to signal the whereabouts of a ship the ' same as of a train ? They Ilug • ht be laid down, for instance, at Southampton, for all steamers rounding Calshot Castle to give a particular whistle, and although perhaps incomprehensible to lands men, a " boatswain's pipe" would be under stood by pilots and seafaring men. A fog shell is a nautical institution, yet we doubt if it can be heard nearly so far off as the whistle of a railway engine. Some alteration, and that speedily, is re quired in the system which enables vessels in clear weather to try conclusions as to their powers as rams, as it would seem, without the authority of their commanders or crews. LYCEUM THEATRE. MR. FECHTER'S MANAGEMENT. The great theatrical event of the day, to which all play goers have been looking forward for several months with so much interest—Mr. Fechter's entrance on managemen t —occurred at this theatre on Saturday evening, under every circumstance of success. As it was known that Mr. Fechter had associated Mr. Phelps with his experiment, and was also in treaty with Miss Helen Faucit, our most poetic tragic actress, it was supposed he would commence with Shakspere, in which he had won so much celebri, y, both with the view of confirming his position in the highest pathway of the drama, and also carrying out in a general system of production that peculiar principle of a refined realism which is so distinctive of his genius, and which has given rise to so much controversy. The particular period, however, at which he opens, and his inability to produce a Christmas novelty, owing to the alterations required in the theatre, seem to have rendered it more politic that he should commence with a romantic drama, as a prelude to the more honourable and arduous efforts of the season. Mr. Fechter's first step has been to entirely renovate the theatre. At the hands of Mr. Hurwitz, well known for his taste and cleverness, he has transformed one of the dirtiest into one of the most elegant houses in London. Adopting the style of the Renaissance, with white and gold for the prevailing tints, upon a ground of rose and cream colour, he has adorned the front of every circle with a series of medallions and enrichments which are not more remarkable for their breadth and their distinctness than their delicacy. Tho ceiling is, especially, quite a triumph of artistic grace. On a ground of rose colour graduated from its light eentre to its deeper edge, is painted an imitation of white lace falling over a robe of fluted silk, which, with its divisions, formed by ribbon bows connecting gold curds that run from the centre, compose one of the most novel and attractive ornaments that we have ever seen employed. The ceiling is also divided into twelve compartments, containing the names of our greatest dramatists—the let ters being very ingeniously interwoven in the lace work ; and, together with the richness of the proscenium, and the design of the drop curtain, which is a repetition of that of the ceiling, the entire effect has a grace and lightness that could scarcely be exceeded. Nor has the comfort of the audience portion been forgotten amidst its beauty. The private boxes have been given an obliqueness which adjusts them to the line of sight ; the dress circle has been given space by a diminution of the seats; whilst the stalls and pit seats present every feature of ease and elegance. The lighting is also a great improvement, being the substitution of a central " crystal sunlight," which diffuses a radiance equally soft and brilliant for the row of blinding chandeliers which used to surround the upper boxes. Another great improvement is—in accordance with the good example of the English Opera and the Adelphi--the abolition of fees to boxkeepers, each seat being numbered and secured to its possessor for the evening. The drama Mr. Fechter has commenced with—after the prelude of a slight farce, which might have been more lively—is an adaptation by Mr. Brougham of the present Porte St. Martin novelty, by Messrs. Anicet Bourgeois and Paul Feval, which, under the title of "Le Bossu," has been running for several months. This drama is one of the best of its class that has been presented for some time. It is full of incident and picturesqueness—and, in addition to its general merits, has a leading character which affords unusual scope to Mr. Fechter. Mr. Brougham, whilst tie has generally adhered to the outline of the origi nal, has, in some respects, improved it, by compressing, in the first place, its six acts, including the prologue into four —by uniting three of its miner agents into one, whom he makes an Irish soldier of fortune, and by introducing as a real personage the character of the Hunchback, which, in the original, is simply an impersonation by the hero of the piece. The interest of the story may detailed as fol lows :—Henri de Lagardere, a captain of cavalry, in the reign of Louis the XIV. has an appointment to fight a duel with Phillipe Duke de Nevers, in the fosse of the Chateau de Caylus, adjoining the Spanish frontier. The Duke is secretly married to Mademoiselle de Caylus, and they have an infant, who is to be given to him on the night of the encounter. Henri, on arriving at the spot, discovers that the Duke is about to be assassinated by a band of ruf fians in the pay of the Duke's cousin—the Prince De Gon zague, who proposes, by this method, to get possession of the family estates. The Prince is awre of the secret mar riage, and also the secret interview, and mistaking Henri, in the dark, for one of his own people, sends him to the chateau to receive the infant, whom he intends also to dispose of. Henri goes, and giving a sig nal, "I am here," which is "The Duke's Motto," and which forms the title of the play, is mistaken for the Duke by Madlle. do Caylus, and put in possession of the child. The sight of the infant and the Duke's peril disarm Henri of all hostility; and on his antagonist arriving for the en counter, he acquaints him with his position, and tells him it is his intention to defend him. This heroism establishes a mutual friendship on the spot : the assassins enter, and are speedily dispersed by the swor is of the two associates, when Gonzague, who has watched the struggle, fires a pistol at his cousin, aad the Duke, expiring, calls on tienri to guard his child and avenge his murder. Thus terminates the prologue, which is full of life and character ; and, com bined with its striking scene, the fosse of the cha teau, gives to the opening of the drama a more than ordinary interer. Twenty years are supposed to elapse before we arrive at the first act, during which the Prince has married his cousin's widow, but has been unable to obtain the estates, owing to the necessity of proving the death of her daughter, who is their heiress, and whom, faithful to his trust, Henri has carried off to Spain. At the opening of this act, which occurs in the Pyrenees, Henri is returning to France with his charge in order to establish her rights—in company with a party of Spanish Gipseys, and during their momentary halt sees Gonzsgue also arrive after a further search for the missing girl, attended by his people, One of them is an Irish sol dier of fortune, who is secretly the friend of Lagadere; the other is a Hunchbabk, who has been celebrated in Paris as a fencing master, and who recognises Henri in his Spanish dress as one of his old pupils. The Irishman warning the latter of his danger, Henri confronts, in order to avert it—insults the Hunchback, and is challenged by him—and they retire for an encounter, in which the latter is killed, and from which Henri returns assuming the Hunchback's dress and bearing. Undetected by the Prince, he is thus enabled to obtain his confidence, and learns that the latter, not being able to find the miss ing heiress, whom he has promised to produce at a family council which is about to be held in Paris, has resolved to provide a substitute in the person of one of the gipseys, whom he tempts to her unconscious ruin by the bribe of wealth and rank. Whilst the Prince there fore proceeds with the false heiress to Paris, Henri dispatches the true one in the charge of his friend the Irishman, and we then arrive at the family council, at which the Regent Orleans himself presides, and where the Prince presents the missing daughter, to see her to his great amazement rejecied by her mother, who has been apprized by Henri as the Hunch back, that her child will be presented to her that ec ening, at a ball given by the Regent. Here the se cond act concludes, and with an amount of interest which raised the audience to an unusual height of excitement, the curtain falling on its close amidst very vehement applause. In the following acts, which are full of incident, but which rather too long delay the catas trophe, Blanche de Nevers, the true heiress, is discovered, and secured by the Prince, whilst Lagardere is thrown into prison, from which, however, he escapes to resume his form as the Hunchback, and to succeed at length in the fulfilment of his trust by the retoration of his charge to her mother, and by the avenging her father's murder in an en counter with the Prince. The acting of this drama was singularly good through out. Mr. Fechter in its leading character found scope to break on the audience with a very gratifying surprise. As the young and buoyant captain of cavalry, who so happily embodies the spirit of the daring and ad venturous time of the Regency, he exhibited of course all his usual, and, need we say, wholly unrivalled characteris tics. The ease, the grace, the picturesqueness, the vivid and elastic mode of treatment, which give to everythitz he does so much significance as well as beauty, were here applied in the presentment of a character, that made it in the highest degree historical. Still for this we were prepared. It was in his assumption of the Hunchback that he took its entirely by surprise, and not merely in tho external traits of a bent back and a crippled gait, but in the furtive look and sinister speech which seemed to harmonize so thoroughly, the mental and physical deformity. This con trast was also assumed with such rapidity as well as force that the two beings stood before us —soldier and Hunchback, hero and villain—in the light of the two halves of humanity —spiritual and animal. It wsg s, mo,t original conception, and its au eess was equal to its merit. Mr. Pechter was . _ received with the greatest exahttelasav on his ant eutranoe in the drama, and loudly called for at the close of every act, as well as at the end. He was admirably supported by Mr. George Vining, in the Prince ; Mr. Brougham in the Irishman, and Mr. Widdicomb in a cowardly retainer; and even more by the various ladies— by Miss Elsworthy's most affec.ing and most striking portrait of the mother ; by Miss Kate Terry as Blanche de Nevers—a moat graceful and engaging effort ; and by Miss Carlotta Leclercq in the young Gitana, which was full to the lips of piquant vivacity. The drama was placed upon the stage with extraordinary beauty and completeness —every dress and every scene contributing some happy illustration, and achieved a great success with an audience which, we need not say, crowded the theatre to the very roof. LATEST INTELLIGENCE. FRANCE. PARIS, JAN. 12. The Moniteur of this morning announces that Monsignor D.rboy, Bishop of Nancy, has been ap- pointed Archbishop of Paris. The Moniteur, in its bulletin, remarks that the movement in favour of peace is acquiring increased strength in America. The Opinion Nationale of this morning has the following remarks on the opening of the Chambers : —" The new session opens with a crowd of impor tant questions for debate. The affairs of Italy and of America will doubtless give rise to very ani mated discussions, since the country, however tran quil, is impatient to know precisely the policy of the Government on these two questions, which in volve such great principles and such important interests. " Matters relating to the Isle of Madagascar will most probably be btought under discussion, and the Chambers will certainly not fail to give its careful consideration to the Eastern Question, which may perchance one day startle us by a general outbreak among the Slave and Greek na tionalities. Besides these topics there are others that concern us more nearly. The suffering among us is great; the distress has reached many of our chief centres of industry, and grave and earnest discussions will be held on this subject. The EM PEROR will, it is said, leave for Rouen immediately after the opening of the session, and a bill will be presented without delay to the Chamber, opening a credit of 12 millions for the relief of the labouring classes in the Seine-Inferieure." The French Ministers held a Council at the Tuileries yesterday, at which the Emperor presided. The grand gallery of the Louvre was closed yes terday owing to the preparations being made in the State Saloon for the opening of the Sessio❑ of 1863. BOURSE, Jan. 10.—Stock has been offered from the opening of the market, and the business done shows a further decline, Threes, for the Account, being now at 70f. 40c. The Railway Share Market also heavy, and quotations generally lower. The market closed as follows: 11 per Cents. 9B 40 Do end month 3 per Cents Do. end month 7O 45 New 3 per Cents - Do. end month — Credit Mailier..., 1150 Do. end month 1145 Bank Shares 3425 Credit oncler 1485 Piedmontese Fives Loan 7O 40 Russian Austrian Spaniel' Threes 5l 75 Home Debt BAIL' 'AY& Cash. Account. Orleans lO9O 1087 50 Northern New ditto Lyons and Mediterranean 1185 1187 50 Geneva.. 370 Southern BlO .. 810 Western . Eastern .... Sardinian Austrian Lou.bard ITALY. * TURIN , JAN. 10, Evening. The committee appointed to inquire into the causes and extent of brigandage has arrived at Naples. The national subscription for the relief of the sufferers from brigandage has been a complete SUCCPSS. The municipality of Milan have appealed to their fellow-citizens to join in the subscription, and thus by an act of charity repeat the plebiscite in favour of the Constitution of Ira y, The Remains of John Hampden. TO THE EDITOR OF THE BUN. Sir,—l have been much shocked by reading in your excellent journal of the 3d inst. (which is always read with much interest in this place) of a wanton insult offered to my esteemed friend, John Hampden, in July of the year 1828. With characteristic reticence Hampden had never mentioned the matter to us ; and, but for the hardi- hood of the man Smith in publishing an account of so gross a transaction, it might probably have alto gether escaped us. It appears that on the 21st of July, 1828, the said Smith, Mr. (afterwards Lord) Denman, and Lord Nugent presented themselves at the door of Great Hampden Church, where they were met by the Rev. Mr. Brooks, the rector, and others. Immediately upon entering they fell to rummaging the graves, and finally determined upon forcing a coffin, without name or date, which they had struck upon four feet below the floor. A snort inspection convinced them that they had secured the object of their search—the remains of my re vered friend. After cutting off some of the hair from the head of the corpse, and manipulating the body in the grave, for greater convenience, " the coffin was raised, and set upon tressels in the middle of the chancel. The body was placed in a sitting posture, with a shovel to support the head. The shoulde 7„ , and arms were then carefully inspected, and the result proved that Lord Nugent's foregone con clusion' that Hampden's death was occasioned by a gunshot wound in the shoulder, was at once dissi pated. There did not appear any discolouration, or the slightest injury to the shoulders or arms; but, in order to be perfectly satisfied, Lord Nugent him self, with a small pocket-knife borrowed from me at the instant, made several incisions in the parts adjacent to the shoulder-joint, without finding any fractare or displacement of the bones." Further examinations of the hands, &c., are detailed, and all appears to have been done to gratify the curiosity of my Lord and others as to the truth of their speculations upon the precise cause of death. Now, sir, I wish to ask you, as the representative of good sense and the upholder of right in the British nation, ought we, who did our best, for the old coun try, and held life cheap for it, or actually offered it as a sacrifice —ought we to be considered fair game for antiquaries or literati ? Is this to be added to the other penalties of greatness, that our corpses should be probed and incised by the pocket-knives of the curious ? Is the dictum which protects the graves of the obscure, " Let him alone, let no man move h:s bones," to fail of protecting those who, ss happy, have earned a name inscribed in their country's annals? And does your establishment tolerate that a parson such as Master Brooks should offer so unholy an entertainment to his friends, and dare, without fear of penalty, to preside at such dismal orgies ? Pray, sir, let us know the best or worst of this —whether our countrymen have lost all sense of reverence for the deal, or whether they execrate this deed of desecration. If you cannot give us satisfaction upon this point you may at least permit those who hereafter have greatness within their grasp to think twice before they subject themselves by their achieve- ments to such post mortem butchery and dishonour. —I am, sir, your constant reader, THE SHADE OF PYM. Hades, Christmas Eve (Old Style). P.S.—Roundhead and Royalist feel that they must make common cause i❑ this matter, and Vis cunt Falkland begs me to state, in the hope of saving► himself from the hands of the curious, that he was shot in the stomach at the battle of New bury. Another Confederate Raid into Maryland. Stulrt's cavalry has made another raid. The Washington Star gives the following version of the " A force of rebel cavalry.with a battery of artil lery, suddenly appeared at 8 a.m. on Saturday (27th) in front of Dumfries, then held by our sth, 7th, and 66th Ohio Volunteers, with a section of two pieces of Mthvey's battery. The rebels were at first estimated at 4,000 strong. They cut the wires leading to Falmouth, attacked our troops, who had three men killed, and were driven off. In the meanwhile information reached these head quarters, per telegraph, before they succeeded in cutting the wires leading in this direction. Troops from this quarter were instantly put in motion to, if possible, cut off their retreat. To that end Gen. Geary marched from Wolf Run immediately to the relief of the troops engaged at Dumfries. After being worsted before Geary's arrival they pushed directly for Occoquan, where they had a slight en gagement with 1,500 troops stationed there under Col. Candy, resulting in considerable loss on either side, ours maintaining their position. They next decamped up Bull Run, crossing it at Wolf Run. Thence they went to Annandale, via Burke's sta tion, where they encamped on Saturday night, thus avoiding points where we had troops stationed. At daybreak yesterday morning they were again in the saddle, making for the vicinity of Vienna. In the meantime our troops at Fairfax Court house did their best to head them off in that direction, but, being infantry, could not get up in time to do so. They were last seen in the vicinity of Lewinsburg, where their number was estimated at but 1,000 cavalry and tour pieces of artillery, at nightfal yesterday, when they were under whip and spur, evidently bent on escaping in the direction of Lees burg. Trey certainly got nothing for their pains but 15 empty waggons belonging to Col. Kellogg's cavalry command. Throughout the line of their raid they had occasional skirmishes with Col. Kellogg's cavalry, who, though forced to fall back, exchanged many shots with them, with no damage to his command that we have been able to hear of. His heaviest skirmish with them was at Accotink. At one time they had possession of one of our guns at Dumfries, but were forced to aban don it to us again in their retreat. " Latest.--We have just received reliable infor mation that the rebels were badly repulsed on Sa turday at Dumfries. On their retreat they fell in with our troops under General Geary,between Dum fries and Wolf Run, and were driven by them south of the road. They aimed to take the direct road to the shoals. They took the telegraph operator at Burke's station and his instrument, and burnt the Orange and Alexandria Railway bridge at Accotink, an inconsiderable structure. Besides the 15 empty waggons of Colonel Kellogg's command that fell into their hands, they took eight or ten sutlers' waggons, which they came across, the drivers in nearly all cases having succeeded in escaping by cut ting the traces, mounting their teams, and flying before them. They seized all the citizens along their path who they thought might give prompt in formation of the proceedings. They passed through Vienna at about 12 last night, their rear guard pas sing there about 3 a.m. They had 5 guns and about 25 waggons and ambulances, nearly all of which they had doubtless picked up. They went from there to Hunt's Mills, and then struck over to the Ox Road, at Frying Pan. Including the citi zens they caught, they were carrying off about 40 prisoners in all." A Washington despatch of the 29th says : " There was great excitement in Alexandria lat e yesterday evening, growing out of the hurried ar rival there of several of our cavalrymen and team sters, the latter being mounted on horses cut from their own waggons. They represented that Stuart's rebel cavalry, with some light artillery, appeared at Pohick Church, several miles from Mount Vernon, on Saturday night, and on Sunday proceeded to Accotink, which is only 12 miles from Alexandria, and there attacked two or three companies of our troops, and that they captured a waggon train at Oceoquan on Saturday. There is difficulty at arriving at the precise truth, owing to the many conflicting rumours in circulation in regard to the matter. But that a rebel reconnoissance appeared in that neighbourhood is beyond question, and that the rebels created much alarm is equally certain,. Military men who have seen brief official telegrams from Dumfries say that it was the same rebel force which, several miles from that place, made a recon noissance, driving in our cavalry pickets, and killing four or five of them. The rebels, fearing capture by our troops, which at one time was pro bable, left for Occoquan and Accotink, where they made their alarming demonstration. Due allow ance, it is claimed, must be made for the statements of frightened teamsters and others, as all such ac counts are unavoidably exaggerated. The bold raid of Stuart along the Potomac, in a line from the Rappahannock to Leesburg, was not as success ful as previous ones, though equally rapid and desperate. The frightened teamsters who came in reported that the entire rebel army was moving to wards Washington, which led to much excitement and innumerable rumours yesterday and to-day. Beyond the capture of a few prisoners, several army waggons, and the burning of one small rail road bridge, this raid does not amount to much." A despatch of the 30th says:— " Intelligence from Alexandria represents that Stuart's cavalry force, with artillery, were yester day encamped 12 miles from that city, not far from Burke's station, on the line of the Orange and Alexandria Railroad. Two rebel cavalrymen, wearing uniforms similar to our own, came into and rode about Alexandria on Sunday. They did not remain long. A telegram from head-quarters of the army of the Potomac says matters continue quiet on the Rappahannock." The New YorkkTribune has the following special despatches : " Stafford, Virginia, Dec. 30. " Information was received yesterday that Stuart's cavalry, after leaving Wolf Run Shoals on Sunday passed to Burke's station on the Orange and Alex andria railroad, and from there between Fairfax Court-house and Annandale to Vienna. Yesterday they were at Chantilly, and to-day report says in. the vicinity of Warrenton. Last night the wires were down between this place and Washington." " Washington, Dec. 30. " In the recently cavalry raid to Dumfries, Occo quan, &c., the 2d Pendsylvania Cavalry lost 50 men killed, wounded, and missing, and three officers. One of these was the surgeon, who stayed behind to take care of the wounded. An officer of Major Stagg's command, who, in the fight five miles across the Oc coquan, was thrown from his horse and lay concealed i❑ the bushes, counted the enemy, and reported them to be about 4,000. Two rebel officers were killed at that point, one of them a major. His horse and equipments are here. Several privates were shot, too, while crossin, , , for in the several skir mishes where the enemy's cavalry stumbled on our Iforces, or were heaped by them, they lost about a ( hundred_ Now for news that gives a peculiar inte rest to his raid. A prisoner taken, belonging to the 3d Virginia Cavalry, and now in the Capitol Prison, says that Lee, Stuart, and Hampton left Ginney's station on the 24th with 7,000 cavalry and six pieces of artillery. This force was divided; Stuart with 1,000 and two guns Went to Dumfries, Hampton and Lee with 6,000 and four guns went —where ? A despatch received this afternoon irom an officer near Monocacy, iu Maryland, states that a large body of cavalry was crossing the Poto mac at H rrison's Island—that is, about 17 miles this side of Harper's Ferry. Mr. RUSSELL was told in America that a bird about the size of a thrush with a yellow breast and a harsh cry was "the skylark," and on his complaining of the sharp noise it made, a young lady exclaimed, " Oh my I And you not to know that your Shelley loved it above all ether things I" In like manner a colonel drew his attention to the use of the telegraph in the camp as a splendid Ame rican invention. Mr. Russell replied that Lord Clyde had always used a telegraph wire in the same way in India. To which the colonel rejoined that he believed that Mr. Russell would say next that "your General Clyde and our Benjamin Franklin discovered lightning simultaneously." Importing Tea without, colour on the leaf pre vents the Chinese passing off inferior leaves as in the usual kinds. Horniman's Tea is uncoloured, therefore, always good alike, Sold in packets by 2,280 agents, Royal Glee and Madrigal Union. The second concert this season of the Royal Glee and Madrigal Union took place at the Town-hall, Windsor, under the direction of Dr. Elvey, on the evening of the 9th instant. From the high pa tronage of this concert, her Majesty honouring the Union with her support, and the Belgian Minister, with his family, being constant attendants, the gathering is naturally of the first class. On Fri day last the concert was unusually attractive. The choir of St. George's Chapel furnished an abundance of talent ; the tenori and bassi being accomplished singers, and the voices of the boys which, as soprani, can only be depended upon for a limited period, at this moment chancing to be of the highest order, it followed that Dr. Elvey took the musical field in force. Miss Roden was the singer engaged, and from the warm reception her vocal efforts received and the unmistakeable determination for repetition, her success was complete. The choir were most happy; the fine old madrigal, "The Nightingale," by Wielkes, the date 1600. Bishop's glee,"With H iwke and Hound,'' and Galena's splendid, " Chief of the Windy Morven," were among their most approved efforts. Rossini,s " Cara dorata Im magine" (extremely well sung), and the French melody " Waters of Elle," with a new ballad by G. R. Powell, were in the care of Miss Roden, as also a duet for tenor and soprano, by Campana, nicely sung by her and Mr. Whiffin. Miss Roden received in all her music a large share of applause, and was honour, d by a rapturous encore. The hall was extremely well attended, the Belgian Minister and his &Indy forming part of the audience. ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE. That popular actress, Miss Amy Sedgwick, is announced to appear at this theatre on Monday next, the 19th instant, in the highly successful drama of " One Good Turn De serves Another." A new and original play is also in active preparation, in which the principal part will be sustained by Miss Amy edgwick, supported by Miss Aylmer and the other mem bers of the company. The theatre has been very largely and fashionably at tended during the past week, and so many additional no velties will ensure to the management a continuance of pa tronage and success. Their Royal Highnesses the Duchess of Cambridge and the Princess Mary, and his Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge, leave town to-day for Badminton House, Gloucestershire, on a visit to the Duke a d Duchess of Beaufort. A select party are invited to meet their royal highnesses. The Duke and Duchess of Manchester are about to receive a succession of visitors at Kimbolton Castle, Huntingdonshire. The Earl of Fife leaves Poweracourt Castle, county Wicklow, this day, on a visit to Mr, and Lady Louisa Brooke, at Acton Park, near Wrexham. Count Charles Kniphausen, who arrived in town on Saturday from Brighton, leaves town to-day to join the circle about to assemble at Kimbolton Castle, on a visit to the Duke and Duchess of Manchester. Lord and Lady Cal t h orpe left Grosve nor-square on Saturdayolonel the for Hon.their J ames and Mrs. Macdonald seat, E lvatham, Hants. Colonel leave town to-day on a v i s i t to the Duke and Duchess of Beaufort at Badminton House, Gloucestershire. Sir Charles and Lady Clifford have left Brown's Hotel. In the Masonic Lodge, at Alexandria, U S., is preserved the knife that the mother of Washington pre sented to him to induce him to abaxdon his design of en. tering the British navy.- - Allissouri bemocrat. Mr. James Morison's memory is commemorated, says the Saturday _Renew, in that dismal tho roughfare, the New-road, by a lion which looks very much as though it were suffering under an over-dose of the hygeist's celebrated pills. Mts. Wragge, in No Name, has her wits all astray, her cap awry, one shoe invariably down at heel and the other in the next room, offeniing her has. band's sense of propriety by her habit of falling asleep crooked, and e n d eavour i ng to shirk the responsibility of her intellectual sh or t com i ngs by the unmetaphy s i ca t apology, "Please, sir, it's my head ; •it isn't me." Mr. Charles-- Kean's visit to his native city, Waterford, has' been made the occasion of great festivity. Sir Benjamin and Lady Morris invited 40 of the elite of the neighbourhood to meet him and Mrs. Kean at dinner on Wednesday, all of whom were pre ented with tickers for the reading s o f Sh akespeare, and 400 cards were issued for a bill in the even i ng, which was held in the Town-hall immediately after the p er f ormance . D anc i ng took place in the Council C hamber, and supper was Jail out in the Town Clerk's-office. The band of the 86th Re giment attended, Dancing was kept up till morning. A vari e( Thi Mark not of tende but i bei ng opera ceedir and tl less b W, al Three India] Enfac Esch( have I gueee, to any Th e o been shown b e i ... 68 .2 NI kidlal In t has be, embou Cisco a Bombe IVeste Join 'Were N don Bank 2 Per c ; 4New3 c Ditt o Ditto India S Ditto Ditto Ditto C onsols . nclia S i .v Di Ditto I talian bittO consols, Ditto Lo /it tioderat ; (1 .4.1 tr Baron e , fro. 4-'arone, ,TR oc 41avanx &rriv ,Arenta Sail; Paqueb, Passe azai ra kelin a bark derl , 4 alid h4°4l- hc Wit tio aded kerltio) e 4 1 3 tail 'Pune] m ore for hi s tellderi rat billh the Ale: silvE noor arm Mani biliti di~i~ in try Tt the / raet e dean has ii acted early expec will 1 Inc Mark, SIIII Artiv Fp,a