The Sun. — London, England, 1864-01-05 00:00:00

Naval and Military Intelligence. THE NAVY. YFstarday morning the first of the third iron keel pLtes for the iron frigate Bellerophon, building at Cnat'nam, W 413 successfully bent in the factory ad- joining the dock in which the new vessel is to be constructed. The operation of bending the plates was carried out under the direction of Mr. Moore, the acting master shipwright, under whose super tendence the moulds for every part of the Bellero phon are now being prepared. On the occasion of Mr. Reed's visit to Chatham dockyard he went through the factory and inspected the new machi- nery and other appliances recently erected for pre paring the Belierophon's iron plates, with which he expressed himself well satisfied. The hydraulic press employed for the first time yesterday is similar to that used for bending the whole of the plates for the iron frigate Achilles, and was constructed in the dockyard. The iron plates operated upon yesterday were found to be of the best quality, and were se- lected from a large supply recently received at Chatham from Consitt ironworks. Mr. 0. W. Lang, the late master-shipwright at Chatham, has been presented by the Lords of the Admiralty with a gratuity of £5O for having suc cessfully launched the iron frigate Achilles, 35,1,079 tons, 1,250 horse power, at that dockyard, Mr. Lang having superintended the construction of that ves sel, which is the first iron ship built at any of the Royal dockyards. Commodore Hugh Dunlop, C. 8,, Superinten dent of Woolwich dockyard, accompanied by Staff- Commander Luke, commanding the Steam Re serve, and the newly-appointed Naval Secretary of the yard, Mr. Ponsonby, yesterday inspected her Majesty's ship Mutine, Captain Graham, to be paid out of commission this morning. After going through some portion of the storehouses in the yard he proceeded to an inspection of Mr. Reed's experi mental ship Pallas, rapidly advancing in her frame works, the whole of which are put together on the floor of the building shed, and are canted up to their places, in order to insure a greater amount of strength and durability after the principle on which the Roy al Albert and Agamemnon were constructed. The screw gunvessel Ranger, in basin at Wool wich, is fast advancing towards the completion of her fitment for the coast of Africa, and will be ready for a commander's commission about the end of the present month. The Vivid, steam tender to the Fisgard flagship at Woolwich, is under orders to go down the river this morning, to renew and continue the testing of Rear-Admiral Bullock's new l , g. A large quantity of shot, segment and common shells, trenching tools, &c., are in course of prepa _ _ ration at Woolwich for New Zealand and India, and war stores of various descriptions are awaiting tonnage for Gibraltar, Malta, Madras, the Cape of Good Hope, Hongkong, Trincomalee, Melbourne, the Colonial Government of Victoria, St. Vincent, Halifax, Nova Scotia ; St. John's, New Brunswick ; and many other stations on the Mediterranean, the Pacific, and Atlantic coasts. The screw steam sloop Cordelia, 11, made another trial trip of her engines and machinery outside Ply mouth breakwater on Saturday, and returned in the evening to Hamoaze. The lighter Hamoaze, J. Hutton master, left Plymouth on Saturday with stores for the training ship Britannia, 8, Capt. R. A. Powell, C. 8., at Dartmouth. The lighter Devon, T. Jennings, master, left Ply mouth an Satter day with stores for Pembroke duck yard. The screw steamship Prince Consort, 35, in Ha moaze, is waiting the reception of the pennant, for which she incompletely prepared. Her Majesty's paddle. wheel steam-sloop Hecate, 6, Capt. Henry Richard; from the Pacific station, arrived in Plymouth Sound on-Sunday - night. She left Esquimault, Vancouver's Island, Dec. 22, 1862; San Francisca, Jan.-15, 1863 ; the West Coast of Mexico, Feb. 19 ; the Sandwich Wands, April 21 ; Sydney, New South Wales, July 27 ; Batavia, Sept. 30 ; the Cape of Good'Hope, Nov. 21; Ascension, Dec. 7 ; and Madeira, Dece27. She brings. neither passengers, specie, nor stores. Capt. Richards, the newl3•appointed hydregrapher, and most of the officers belonging to this ship have been absent from England nearly seven years, having left in 1857 in the Plumper, which was commissioned expressly to determine the boundary line between the United States and British North America. The Hecate spoke Oct. 1, in the straitaof Sunda, the Northfleet, from Canton for London ; Oct. 11, lat. 52 S., long. 87 10 le., the ship Candia, from England, with troops, for Calcutta; Nov. 8, lat. 35 S., long. 22 E., the ship Seville, 56 days from C ticutta, with coolies, for Demerara, and the English ship Defiance, outward bound. Ttie Hecate arrived at Madeira Dec. 25, and left on the 27th. The Conqueror, with a battalion of Marines, touched at the island on the 26th, and sailed the same day for Japan. The sloop left at Madeira the Edgar, Warrior, Defence, Black Prince, and Wasp. The Hecate was appointed to leave Ply mouth yesterday evening for the eastward, and will probably be paid off at Woolwich. The War Department screw steamship Lord Pan mure, T. Moore master, from Woolwich, arrived yesterday at Plymouth, and proceeded at once to the gun-wharf to discharge. - The paddlewheel steam frigate Gladiator, fitted for the first division of the steam reserve in Hamoaze, was removed yesterday from the basin in Keyham. yard, and placed at her moorings in the stream. THE ARMY. The Guards have just entered on the occupation of the range of barracks for their use which have been in course of construction at Chelsea for sereral years, and are now completed. These buildings, in which accommodation has been provided for 1,000 soldiers, are situate on an extensive plot of ground adjoining Chelsea Hospital, the frontage being in the new road leading to new Caehert suspension bridge. They are acknowledged to be the most convenient, and in all respects the most perfect for their size in the kingdam. Viewed from new Chel sea-bridge they present a very imposing appearance. The site commands a fine view, and is very, healthy. All the barrack rooms are fitted up in the most com fortable manner, and gas has been introduced into all of them. Separate quarters have been specially erected for the married soldiers and their wives and families. Two large towers surmount the entrance to the barracks and parade ground ; they are con siderably higher than the barrack rooms, and are surmounted by a large striking ciock on one and a weather dial on the other. Leading to the entrance gate are two large blocks of granite, about 12 feet high and 5 thick, for lamps, which, with the guard room they adjoin, have a very good effect. The other buildings in the barracks, detached or other wise, are ablution rooms, washhouses, prisons, a hos pital, a church, cook-houses, school-rooms, stores,&c. Yesterday Mr. K. Spicer, the Government con• tractor, took possession of the site and commenced marking out the land on which the new quarters for the married non-commissioned officers and men belonging to the infantry corps at Chatham garri son will be erected. It is near the slope of the counterscarp of the fortifications which protect the western part of the, citadel, and will be in clone proximity to Chatham barracks, in which are always quartered the infantry troops, the pay - offices, and the other military establishments of the garrison. In preparing for the site it will be ne cessary to remove the building now belonging to the quartermaster's department, as well as the work shops in the Cave-yard, formerly used by the con victs before they were removed to St. Mary's Island. The carpenters' shops, which will also require t a king down to make way for the buildings, will be re.erected on another spot. The married quarters will consist of two blocks of buildings, each 180{1. in length, running parallel to each other, space third bloc,;, which it was originally being left for a proposed should be erected, should it be found here after necessary to make that addition. The build ings will have a depth of 18ft., and will consist of three stories, with verandahs running round the front and sides of each, the entrance to each being gained by means of iron stairs. The two main buikl ings will consist of 72 separate houses, and these will be again divided into rooms for each family. Each room will be 16q. in length by 13f.. 6in. wide, with a'height of 10ft. Sin. The most ample ar• rangements will be made for the proper ventilation of each room. A separate building will be devoted to lavatories, baths, and women's wash. -rooms, and there will be an abundant supply o water to all parts of the building, while gas wi.; be laid on in every room. The buildings will e completed in about 12 months. The promotion of Major Milward to the impor tant post of Assist.-Director of Ordnance was yes. terday officially announced at Woolwich. Major Milward has fulfilled the duties of Garrison Major of Brizade at Woolwich during the last five years in a manner which has elicited on various occasions the unqualified approbation of the Field-Marshal Commanding-in-Chief and the commendation of the War Department. He was appointed to his present post on his return from the expedition in China, in which he commanded a battery of Armstrong guns with acknowledged success. He will enter upon his new duties at the War Department on the 15th inst., and will leave Woolwich amid general regret. Major Hay, now commanding C troop of the Royal Horse Artillery, and who served with the Royal Artillery in Chinaas Assist.-Adj t.-Gen., is appointed ,o succeed Major Miiward at Woolwich. FISH CULTURE AT HOME. It is now over two years since we noticed the progress made in salmon breeding in the ponds at Stortmontfield, on the river Tay, near Perth. As we then stated, a breeding at these ponds can only be taken once in two years, because of circumstances developed in connection with the natural history of the salmon, which shows that only one-half of a brood migrate to the sea at the end of the first year ; and there being only one reception pond at Stormontfield there was the imminent danger of any newly-hatched fry being devoured by the two year-olds, which would be in waiting to make their exit to the sea. This blemish of the Stormontfield salmon nursery will, we believe, be speedily reme died, as another reception pond is about to be added to the suite. This will enable the conservator to produce a hatching of 300,000 salmon every year. These will be protected in the ponds till they change from the parr into the smolt stage, at which time they become imbued with the migratory instinct, and seek to visit the salt water. Many questions connected with the natural history of the salmon have been now set at rest by the experiments car ried on at Stormontfield. It is certain that the paer becomes a smolt, that the smolt in due time changes into a grilse, and, if not killed premiturely —for we kill even our virgin fish—that this latter becomes a salmon. These pisciculture' experiments also settle the dispute as to the fecundation of the fish—viz., that it is an external act entirely, hence the art that has arisen in France and elsewhere of artificial spawning and protected breeding. The total number of fish introduced into the Tay through the operations at the breeding ponds has been in round figures something like a million and a quarter, and the rental of the river has grown in consequencv; an increase of 10 per cent. being due to the ponds—the expense of these being only about £1 per week. We have the authority of Sir William Jardine for stating that pond-bred fish suffer no de terioration from the circumstance of their birth and artificial nurture ; on comparing the fish of the (Stormontfield) ponds with those in the river, that gentleman found a remarkable similarity and agree ment of the different stages in all respects with those of the same age. The first hatching on the artificial plan took place at Stormontfield in November and'December, 1853, the operations being conducted by Mr. Ramsbot tom, an eminent practical pisciculture' manipulator. It was eminently successful, the whole of the 300 boxes being stocked, at the rate of 1,000 eggs per box. The fifth hatching, which was performed in November and December, 1859, was also highly successful, resulting in the addition of 250,000 smelts to the salmon stock of the river Tay. The whole of the proCeedings connected with this sal mon nursery at Stormontfield have been watched with great interest' by the naturalists, as well as by sore interested in the development of the salmon fisheries in their commercial aspect. Various experiments have been made from year to year by Mr. Buist, the conservator of the Tay fisheries, with the view of 'escr.rtaining the rate at which salmon grow. These ponds afforded him ample facilities for watching and identifying the fish, which were marked in various ways before being let into the river. The pond-bred salmon were found to grow very rapidly. Of salmon fry liberated for their sea voyage in May Many' were taken in July of the weight of from 31b. to 71b. The most curious fact in the natural history of this valuable - fish is, that of two salmon spawned at the same time one may visit thei sea and become a grilse of 61b. weight, while the otlier is still a little parr of icz., and in the succeed , ing 12 months the one may be a nicely grown sal mon of 121 b., while the other, having only just as sumed the scales of the smolt, is timidly ventuting down the river to pay its first visit to the sea. he perfect results of the latest hatching at these ponds will not be ascertained for a few months yet. The spawning was begun on Martinmas-day, 1862, and was concluded on Dec. 2d of that year—the operation of spawning is thus protracted from the difficult of obtaining fish with the milt and roe per fectly ripe. Mr. Buist (conservator) found it neces sary to the success of this year's spawning to cap ture 119 full grown salmon, and 231 grilses, and out of these 18 salmon and 22 grilses were selected for manipulation, and the number of ripe eggs obtained froM the lot was 275,00. Most of the fish spawned were females, and it may be noted here that the milt of a single male fish will fructify the eggs of two or more females. These eggs, with a slight percentage of waste, all came to life, and in the comparatively short space of 115 days; former hatchings having taken from 15 to 25 days longer. The ponds a Stormontfield are beautifully situated on the banks of the Tay, about five miles from Perth, and are well worth visiting, either at the spawning or the migratory season. Peter Marshall, the keeper, thoroughly understands the art of pisciculture, and receives visitors with great urbanity. It is ne cessary in visiting the ponds to hire a conveyance at Perth, as there is no railway on the pond side of he river. Incited, no doubt by the success of the Stormont field experiments, the lessee of a salmon fishery on the River Ugte, in Banffshire, has commenced breeding on a small scale. He has modelled his ponds on those near Perth, and has provided ac cmnmodation for the hatching of 40,000 eggs. This experiment being as yet only in its infancy need not be further alluded to at present. We know of another experiment in salmon breed ing, now being carried on in the stewartry of Kirk cudbright, also in Scotland; but it is not yet ripe for chscription. But the best operations in salmon breeding are being carried on in Ireland. They are the best as regards their magnitude, and in the fact of their having introduced salmon into rivers which were formerly inaccessible to that fish. The fisheries we allude to are those of the Messrs. Ashworth, who take great interest in all questions relating to pisci culture and the natural history of all kinds of fish, and who have by means of artificial breeding in created the money value of their fisheries twentyfold. One of their experiments, a most economical one it must be confessed, consisted in stocking a suite of breeding-boxes with nearly 800,000 eggs at a cost of £lB sterling. But the great merit of these gentlemen consists in their having convertei Lough Mack and Carra into salmon ponds—ponds embracing an area of 25,000 acres of water. A large cut has been m ade through a natural barrier of rocks which prevented he ascent of the ealmon to a higher point than Lough Corrib, and Mr. Thomas Ashworthexpects in a short time that the salmon will be abundant in this new field of water. The fish passage alluded to above is nearly two miles in length, and was con structed at an expense of about £7OO, but an ample interest will in due time be returned both for this outlay and for the yearly expenses of the whole fishery. Mr. Ashworth says himself that it is much more profitable to breed salmon than sheep. Mr. Ashworth is still hard at work. In a recent communication he says—" We are now artificially propagating salmon as usual by collecting the ova and placing it in rills and ponds above Lough Mask." Nese Galway fisheries extent 1 over a large tract of country, the Loughs of Masi c and Carra being fed THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, JANUARY 5, 1864• by some very fine tributary streams so far a 5 salmon culture is concerned, and among his other feats, and to make assurance doubly sure, Mr. Ashworth, in addition to sowing salmon eggs in barren rivers as he would sow wheat in a field, transports the live fish from stream to stream. Mr. Miller, the fishery superintendent, conveyed 40 adult salmon in a tub a distance of 20 miles, in order to place them in the River Robe, a tributary to Lough Mask, a lough which, by means of the cut connecting it with Lough Corrib, has now a communication with the sea, an object that is highly essential to salmon life; and the success of Mr. Ashworth's experiments was ac knowledged to be complete when the smolts were seen migrating to the sea in April last. On the principle, then, of making a blade of corn grow where one never grew before, the proprietors of the Irish fisheries are certainly national benefactors. With reference to the article on "Fish Culture in France" which recently appeared in The Sun, it may be as well to state here that the French people eat all kinds of fish, whether they be from the sea, the river, the leke, or the canal. In Scotland and Ireland the salmon only is bred artificially, because it is a valuable and money yielding animal, and no other fish is regarded in that country as being of value except for sport. In France large quantities of eels are bred and eaten, bat in Scotland, and in some parts of England the people have such a hor ror of that fish that they will not touch it. This of course is a mere prejudice, as the eel is good for food in a very high degree. In all Catholic coun tries there are so many fast days that fish food becomes to the people an essential article of diet ; in France this is so, and the consequence is that a good many private amateurs in pisciculture are to be found throughout the empire, but the mission of the French Government in connection with fish cul ture is apparently to meddle only with the rearing and acclimatising of the more valuable fishes. It would be a waste of energy for the authorities at Huningue to commence the culture of the carp or perch. In this Protestant country there is no de mand for the commoner river or lake fishes, except for the purposes of sport; and with one or two ex ceptions, such as the Lochleven trout, the charr, &c., there is no commerce carried on in these fisher. One has bat to visit the fish market at Paris to; ob serve that all kinds of fresh-water fish and river crustaca3a are there ranked as saleable and largely purchased. Some schemes for the extension of pisciculture in England are now being matured. Dr. Buckland has himself described in a lecture (reported in the Times) his experiments of fish hatching in the Thames; how they will succeed must be left to time to develope. If a great series of breeding ponds were constructed to feed the Severn, it would tend to the multiplication of our finest salmon, and assuredly raise the fish rental of that fine river to a high point. THE SCOTCH IRON TRADE, The past year has been one of the most properous the pig-iron trade has ever witnessed. The production has been the largest, and the shipments and consumption have much exceeded those of any former year. The average price has been the highest since 1857, and the present price is lls per ton higher than the average of the last five years. For the first six months nothing of any importance influenced the market, and prices fluctuated within the range of 50s to 555. per ton. The demand for manufactured iron was steady, but not brisk, and common bars could be bought at at £6 10s to £6 15s. per ton. The trade continued dull during June, July, and August, the price still keeping down; and not going beyond 558, cash for warrants. There was little speculative life, and only a hand-to-mouth busi ness was done by merchants and consumers. It was only at the beginning of September that any activity worth not ing began to 'exhibit itself. By this time the strike among the puddlers and miners in Staffordshire, which resulted in the concession of 'the masters, began to affect the work men here, and as an advance was also conceded to the men in Yorkshire and Wales, it became obvious that no successful resistance could be made to a rise in wages in this district. Higher prices immediately began to be looked for, and more attention was attracted to the low' prices and the state of supply and demand. It is important to note that a great part of the briskness which succeeded this period arose from considerations of the price of labour. Skilled workmen in the manufacture of iron are undoubtedly scarce, and mestere have to" regret. the fact that ,emigration. and other trades holding out better inducements, have with drawn the boys who used to be trained as puddlers from the iron districts, and their places are filled up by rough grown hands, who do their work much less efficiently. Until a high standard of wages is established, we believe labour will become one of the most serious obstacles which iron masters will have to contend with, especially as the profits on iron will now largely stimulate the erection of new works. The average rate of wages this year has been 3s 6d per day; in 1856 it was 4s 31; in 1855, 4s 4d ; and in 1853 it was 53 per day. The effect of the movement among the men was to cause merchants who have con stantly, since 1857, kept bare of stock, to rush into the market and buy bars, sheets, and rails. The demand for shipbuilding-iron, which has been the . backbone of the trade since the autumn of last year, became more vigorous, and orders which had been kept back by merchants who had contracted with shipbuilders had to be given out. The consequence was an advance in Staffordshire of 30s. per ton on Manutactured iron, which was quickly followed here. Large purchases of pig-iron were made from day to day by parties who took the substantial state of the trade as a basis, and who were not discouraged by the vain attempts repeatedly made to rally the price since 1857. Daring September the price advanced from 545. 6d. to 61s. 6d ; in October 635. 3d. was reached ; in November, 675. ; and this month we close at the highest point, 695. 6d. per ton. 1 his is an advance of 183. from the lowest price of the year, and 15s. within four months. The state of the money mar ket during the last five weeks caused cautious holders quietly to realise, and the iron has now been bought principally by English firms. The strin gency, however, did not affect our market se riously, and its disappearance has furreshed a fresh reason for a further advance. The stock is now about 12,000 tons more than last year. This is only a small addition when it is considered that 100,000 tons were added last year, and that this year we estimate that 70,001) tons more have been produced. The furnaces in blast have been 127 as the average of the year, and the number now blowing is 135. The remunerative prices now ruling will no dcubt cause as many furnaces to be put up as possibly can; and should 62s 61 be maintained as an average next year, we may expect to see fully 50,000 tons more iron produced. It is interesting to observe the progress which is making in this respect in the rival district of Yorkshire. As many as 30 furnaces are spoken of as to be erected next year. As they can produce the iron at so much less cost, a greater stimulus will be created there than here, so long as present prices are maintained. We look upon Yorkshire as the future centre of the iron trade, and within ten years we expect that its production of pig-iron and manufactured iron will be double its present capacity. We have imported thence during the present year fully 10,000 tons for forge purposes, and we estimate the same quantity of Hematite pig-iron from Cumberland. Manu factured iron has been in excellent demand during the whole year, particularly ship plates and angle iron, which are £3 per ton higher than at the opening of the year. The mills round Glasgow have been unable to meet the demand, and considerable contracts have been made for farther quantities from Staffordshire and the Cleveland district. Foundry iron has not participated in the increase of prices to the same extent as malleable iron, and contracts are taken at low figures for chairs and general castings to keep order books full. The shipments show an increase of 50,000 tons. Pre sent prices do not lead us to hope that next year wiil show any increase over these figures. There have been built in the Clyde 170 vessels, of 120,700 tans, against 128 vessels of 72,000 tons in 1862, and against 86 vessels, of 63,000 tons in 1861. We can only reiterate the remark which we made on this subject in our Circular of last year, that " BO powerful an impetus has been given in this direction, and the preference for iron ships has now taken so firm a hold upon European Governments and the public, that we can only look forward to, and hope for, still greater activity in this branch of the trade." Next year's prospects are in every way favourable, and we expect that a good deman for iron will be maintained. At the same time, it must be borne in mind that much of this advance in manu factured iron is owing to heavy purchases made by mar • chants who were before bare of stock and are now full, and that not a small portion of the contracts has been made by spculators. This iron has to find its way into consumption still, and before this takes place we expect to see at least a partial reaction. If 62a. 6d. be maintained as the average price of pig-iron next year, it will be a more healthy con dition of the trade than if prices run up so as to farther stimulate a production which threatens to be overgrown, and which will only the sooner bring about the depression from which we have so recently emerged. There is a strong speculative feeling in this country—every staple, and almost all articles of importance, have more or less been influenced by it. It is not our wish to see this carried further in Scotch pig-iron, and we are convinced it cannot be done with safety.—Messrs. Shaw, Thomson, and Moore' s Circular, Glasgow, Dec. 31. ACCIDENT IN THE HUNTING FIELD.—On Wed nesday last, while hunting with the Ted worth hounds near Dauntsey, in Wiltshire, Lord Clanmaurice, son of the Marquis of Lansdowne, was thrown from his hurse, and severely kicked in the face by the animal. His lordship was assisted to Bowood, where medical assistance was obtained ; and we hear that his lordship is progressing favourably. RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE. THE OPENING OF THE CHARING.CROSS. Yesterday morning Capt. Tyler, R.E., the Government inspector of railways, made his final inspection of this rail way. The examination commenced at the London -bridge extremity of the line, where Captain Tyler minutely in spected the working of the signals and points. After some time had been spent in these operations, the Government inspector and the officials entered an experimental train, and made a short run to the Cannon-street West signal-box, close to the junction of the main with the short line or arm which is to connect the former with the future Can non•atreet or City Terminus. Here the inspector entered the bor, and rigidly examined the working of every pair of points, as well as Mr. Walker's admirable system of train-signalling, which appeared satisfactory in every re spect ; after which the officials re-entered the train, which then proceeded on its way at the rate of about five miles an hour to the Blackfriars station, where the same experiments were gone through. The whole party then walked along the permanent way to the Charing-cross ter minus, inspecting the signals and points at the Waterloo junction on their way, the train following, and finally com ing to a standstill on the immense bridge which spans the Thames and carries the iron road from the south to the north bank, or Middlesex shore of the river. On arriving at Charing-cross Captain Tyler examined most critically the state of this immense building, and the arrangements for the safe working of the line. It should here be mentioned that the Cannon-street traffic to and from Charing-cross will be worked on a single line of rails for a short distance between the termini not neces sitating a double line; while from the Charing-cross ter minus along the whole length of the Thames-bridge as far as the Belvedere-road, Lambeth, where an immense water tank has been erected, there is an engine siding. The massive iron work of the bridge and that of the roof of the termini is being painted of a chocolate colour, the large nuts and other portions being gilt in order to relieve the monotony of a single colour. The booking and station masters' offices are complete, andeverything is ready for the opening day. This, it was settled, at the close of the inspection, which lasted from about ten o'clock till two in the afternoon, should be next Monday, and the Charing-cross Railway will, therefore, on that day be thrown open for public pas senger traffic. It was at first intended that trains should be run through from the West-end terminus at Chafing cross along the North and Mid Kent lines ; but it has now been arranged, in order to get the railway into safe and good working order, that at present through trains shall only be run in connection with the Greenwich line at first, so that passengers will, for the present, have to re-book at London-bridge for stations on the main and other branch lines of the South-Eastern Railway. CHARING CROSS-WESTERN AND NORTHERN EXTENSIONS._ The Western Extension is intended to commence in the pariah of Lambeth by a junction with the existing line of the Charing-cross Railway, and to terminate in Kensington by ajunction with the West London Railway. There will then be two branches--one entirely in the parieb of Lam beth, and the other at Kensington. The Northern Exten sion is to commence , in St. Martin-in -the-Fields by a junc tion with the main line, and terminate with the Great Northern in the parish of St. Pancras. Two branches are to be carried to junctions with the Midland Company's Ex tension into London, and from St. George, Bloomsbury, to the London and North-Western. The estimated cost of construction is £4,0110,000. .-,-. NORTH-EASTERN. The proposed Leeds Extension line of this company, de. signed to rediloe the distance between Leeds and York and Hull,is likely to b q vigorously opposed in Parliament. The company proposes to extend the Leeds and Selby line destroying a great amount of p!op ert y , and crossin g some through the heart of the town of Leeds to a new s t at i o n, of the best streets by bridges. The nhabitants appear de termined to resist the invader, and the 1111gYor is called upon to hold a general meeting of the vatepayers- ! . . 0 organise a Parliamentary opposition. KINGSTON, TOOTING, AND LON T)ON. The proposed new line, according to the plans and-sec- tions deposited, is to commence in the parish of Kingston, at Orchard-road, and terminate in St. Mary, Lambeth, by a junction. with the London, Chatham, and Dover at Aare lane and at Clapham. The proposed capital is £264,000, with power to borrow £BB,OOO on mortgage, and £20,000, 'or 8 Pet 'cent of the estimated capital, is to be lodged by way of bond for the completion of the railway with the Court of Chancery. • R,IDISGATE. The'estimated cost of the proposed new line, from the Kent Coast and South Eastern Railway to Ramsgate, with a central terminus there, is £256,600. GREAT WESTERN. This company proposes to establish a snpArannuation and retiring allowance loud by subscription among their offi cers and servants, and to encourage the same by contributing to it themselves; toge . ther with a fund in connection there with, pioviding s guarantee to the company for the good conduct of its officers. THE HIGHLAND RAILWAYS.—At a meeting of the directors of the Inverness and Aberdeen Junction Com pany held on Tuesday, it was resolved to lay down a doubla line of railway between Inverness and Forres. The in• creasing traffic, and the great anticipated increase next year, render this necessary, and we need hardly point out the great convenience this increase of accommodation will afford to the public and to the ordinary passenger traffic. The detention of a goods train, or any other accidental obstacle on the line, will no longer have the effect of delaying all the trains between north and south. The section between Inverness and Dalcross is to be commenced forthwith. All the bridges along the line, except that across the Findhorn, were originally constructed with a view to ultimately laying down a double line.—lnverness Courier. EFFECTS OF AN ECCENTRIC WILL. Yesterday an inquest was taken by Dr. Lankester, at the New Ina Tavern, Tottenham-court-road, on view of the body of Anne Kate, aged 32, who was living with her hus • band at 18, Howland-street, Fitzroy-square. The evidence showed that about three years ago the de ceasud, who was the daughcer of a wealthy tradesman in Great Marylebone-street, lost her father. She expected that at her father's death she would some into possession of con siderable property, but the will, which was read as usual after the funeral, declared that the property should be available to the intended possessors in about three years. The deceased in consequence gave way to habits of intem perance and was scarcely ever sober. A witness stated that she had seen the deceased daily under the influence of liquor for 11 weeks. On Saturday morning when her husband got up he discovered her on• the floor by the side of the bed quite dead. Mr. Lawson, a surgeon, who was called in, made a post mortem examination of the body. He found all the eviden cei of the deceased being immoderately addicted to the most intemperate habite. There was no food in the stomach, and ' ' the heart was full of water. He was astonished how it could. act. The lungs were almost consolidated, and the liver crumbled into duct.. He had no doubt but that death was the effect of excessive drinking. A verdict was returned to that effect, Alarming Occurrence at a Menagerie. —A Girl Seized by a Lioness. On Saturday evening, between eight and nine o'clock, an accident took place at Edmonds' (late Wombwell's) Mena gerie, now exhibiting at Kingsland g'reen, which caused the greatest consternationin those who were pre sent. Dur ing the performances of the elephants, who were taking their accustomed walk up the middle of th e b o oth, which is a very large one, loud shrieks were heard from that part of the show where the lion cages are, and the audience were horror-stricken to see that the lioness had a girl about 13 years, of age in its claws, and was dragging her up to the bars of the. cage. In an instant thelion-tamer, an Indian, who exhibits with the collection, went to the front of the cage, and with the greatest coolness and courage beat the beast about the feet and forced it to relinquish its hold, but it was not until the pool girl had been very much lace rated about the arms and left side of the head. She was im mediately taken to the surgery of Dr. Donelly, who at once advised her removal to the German Hospital, where she was immediately attended to by Dr. Baumer, who ascertained that she was very much injured about the side of the head and one of her arms. It was then discovered that her name was Sophia Moorshed, and that she lived with her parents at 5, Spencer-terrace, Spencer-road, Hornsey New Town. It appeared that she had gone to the menagerie with her friends, and from some cause not ascertained that she incau tiously got within the ropes in front of the lions and tigers' cages. The lionegs forced her paws out flatways and caught hold of her bonnet, and the girl putting out her hand to pro tect herself had that seized by the other paw of the lioness, and had it not been for the assistance which was immediately rendered the consequences would have been fatal. Not the slightest blame is attributable to the proprietor of the mena gerie, for Every precaution is used to keep persons from getting near the cages where the beasts are at all dangerous, cautionary placards being placed in all parts of the show, and in front of the dens there is run up a double set of ropes, at least four feet from the bars, and about five feet from the ground. Upon inquiry at the hospital this morning it was ata!ed the girl was very bad. [ADVERTISEMENT.] , Holloway's Ointment. All varittirs of ulcerations, sores, wounds, and eruptions can be cured by the diligent use of this cooling, soothing, and healing wiguent. The old and Often failing fashion of strapping the edges of ulcers together with plaister has entirely given way before the more reasonable treatment of Holloway's ointment, which builds up from the bottom of the wound with sound and healthy granulations. These gradually grow till they react, the level of the surface, then contract, harden, and immediately become covered with a new and wholesome skin. The proper application of this ointment diminisnes the inflammation, causes the unhealthy discharge first to grow thick, then to cease, when the swelling disappears and the natural shape is restored, Romantic Suicide through Love and Jealousy, at Homerton, Yesterday morning Mr. H. Raffles Walthew, deputy coro ner, resumed, at the Adam and Eve Tavern, Lower Homer ton, an inquiry respecting the death of Esther Austin, aged 19 years, who was alleged to have committed suicide under very painful circumstances. It appeared from the evidence taken on the previous occa sion that the deceased was a waitress at Kinsley's Coffee house, in Angel-lane, Temple Mills. • George Austin, the father of the deceased, said that she used to return home to his house in Stratford every evening. She was keeping company with a young man named Henry Hoggett, to whom she was deeply attached. She did not return home as usual on the night of last Tuesday week, and he never saw her again until a week afterwards, when her body was found in the river Lea. He heard that she was last in the company of Henry Hoggett. The latter had known her for two yews, and he had frequently called upon deceased, especially when she was ill. But latterly he had taken to courting another, and on the Tuesday night in question deceased called upon him to know about it. They left to walk together, and that was the last that was seen of her. She was a steady, good girl, and was not at all of a suicidal turn. Sbe was of a cheerful disposition. Henry Hoggett, the young man in question, said that when he and deceased walked out and got as far as the stiles at Homerton-hill, he said, "I must now leave you, as I want to go and see Jane Shrub, who is waiting for me at the top of the hill." She replied, "Mind, wrap her up well ;" and he turned away to go to Jane Shrub. He had not gone far when the deceased said, " Good night—good night!" in a tone that gave him a turn. He looked back and saw her running down the hill. He was at first going to follow her, but seeing a man'and a woman driving along the road he thought that they would look after her. He had, no doubt that she committed suicide through being so fond of him. He had never promised to marry her, and he had told her about Jane Shrub before. She then said, " See me home at night now, for when you are married you will not be able to walk with me along the lanes." She also said she "would like to creep into a forest and never be seen again by any one." He loved her, but his love was the love of friendship, and nothing more. She was always very jealous of the other young woman. George Austin recalled, said that Hoggett was certainly paying his addresses to deceased. Witness had since said to Hoggett, "If you did not put her to death, you were the cause of it," and he said, " I have no doubt I was." Hoggett said that he could not say that he was the cause of her suicide. She had met Jane Shrub before, There was certainly something strange in the way she left witness when he said he was going to see the other young woman. He only considered her as a friend. He had taken her to a theatre. He had never deceived her or misled her. He did not know whether he would have spent the New Year's day with his second young woman. John Ting, 383 N, said that last Tuesday some persons came to the station and asked him to drag the river Lea. After an hour and a quarter's dragging he got deceased out. In her pocket was found a portmonnaie containing two six pences and a part of a tradesman's bill with an address nest deor to Mr. Kinsley's, in Angel-lane. No doubt she had put it in her pocket in order that it might lead to her iden tification. Mr. G. Miller, M.R.C.S., said that he had made a care ful examination of the body of deceased, and he found no marks of violence. She was perfectly healthy, and had been a virtuous girl. The Coroner said that there was no doubt that the poor girl had been driven almost into a state of madness by the extraordinary conduct of the young man Hoggett. Her feelings on the night when he so abruptly told her he was going straight to meet another were no doubt agonising, and she committed suicide, but of course there was no direct evidence of the fact. The jury returned a verdict that deceased was found drowned in the river Lea, but there was no evidence as to how she came into the water of the said river. POLICE INTELLIGENCE —Yesterday. MANSION-HOUSE. THE CABBY'S PEPPER'S GHOST AGAIN.—A man who gave his name as Henry 4 70 race Linguard, 30 years of age, and described himself as an a ,:ltor, of 9, Buttlees-buildings, East Smithfield. was brought.' before the Lord Mayor, charged with obtaining a coat, value' 275., from 'Messrs. Mills and lothieis, 'Ald gate. , " The prisoner, it will be remembered was before Mr. Nor ton, at Lambeth Poiice- court one day last week, where he underwent an examination upon a charge of a similar nature, but was discharged, the evidence not being able to establish a clear case of fraud, - Mr. Milli:tones, the manager to Messrs. Mills, said as fol lows :—On Saturday afternoon, at about half-past 2 o'clock, the prisoner came to our shop. He was an entire stranger to me. He asked to be shown .sme'clothes, and was shown some, acd selected coats. trousers, And waistcoats, to the amount of £2l 17s. The bill was made out, and he said he would write a cheque for the amount. H e wrote a cheque for L2,l 17s. on a piece of note-paper, addresse,:.l. to the Pro vident Savings Bank, St. Martin's-lane. The cheque *" signed "IL H. Linguarde." On trying on the clothes the prisoner kept one suit on, including an over coat. The pd goner then wanted to be shown some hosiery, and he was shown. into the hosiery department. I sent the cheque on to the Provident Bank, and told the prisoner I had done so. While I was showing the prisoner the goods, he complained - _ of being thirsty, and I sent for wine and cigars for him. (Laughter.) He selected goods consisting of shirts, drawers, stockings, and other articles ,of hosiery, to the amount of £•i3 14s. He ordered the whole of the goods, with the ex ceptioii of what he was wearing, to be sent to No. 4,.Oving ton •square. Brompton, where he said he resided with his wife. After he had selected the goods he said he wouldlike _ _ to go and have some dinner, and asked me if I could re commend him to a place. I told him a place a few doors from the shop, and he asked me if I could dine with him, and I said I had no objection. Mr. Goodman (chief clerk)—He had your suit of clothes on. Witness—Yes, and I did not want to lose sight of him We went and had some dinner, and when we had done he got up to leave. The waiter came to him and asked him if he had paid, when he replied, " My friend will pay," re ferring to me. He requested me to pay and put it down in the bill, and I paid Bs. 7d. (Laughter, in which the pri soner himself joined, and seemed evidently to enjoy the fun.) We returned to the shop, snd information arrived that the bank was closed and the money for the cheque could not be obtained. I told the prisoner, and said that, under those circumstances, he must pay cash for the clothes which he was wearing. He replied that he had no cash about him, but if I would ride with him in his carriage (which was at the door) to No. 4, Ovington-square, he would give me the money for the clothes he had on, and also give me a cheque on Coutts's for the balance. The other cheque was to be given back to him. He said he had a balance of £2OO at Coutts's. I goc a carriage with the prisoner— The Lord Mayor—What kind of carriage was it ? Witness—An open carriage with one horse. We were driven to 4; Ovington-square, where the carriage stopped, and the prisoner alighted. I fo‘lowed him, and he knocked at the door of No. 4, and asked for some name which I could not catch, but whatever it was, the ska vent said no, and shut the door. He then got into the carriage again, followed by me, and told the coachman to drive to the livery stables in Russell-square. Mr. Goodman—But were not your suspicions excited by that time ? Witness—Yes, they were rather.' We arrived at the stables, and the prisoner was about to leave, without paying for the carriage, which it turned out he had hired from there—but he was detained, and asked to pay 255. He said he had no money, and offered to write a cheque, but that would not be accepted. The proprietor was called, and told the prisoner that he had better leave his watch, or chain, or ring, or anything for security. The pri soner, however. had neither one nor the other; and he was then asked to leave a coat. This I protested against, saying that all the clothes he had on belonged to me. The prisoner, however, took off his undercoat, and left it. The coat was worth 275, and belonged to Messrs. Mills. The prisoner then said we had better take a cab, and go to his sister's in East Smithfield. I did not like to go to this neighbourhood, so made an excuse to call at the shop first. The prisoner, how ever, wanted to go to East Smithfield first, but we stopped at Aldgate, and I got out. The prisoner went upstairs with me, and I then told him that he came to the shop with the full determination of swindling, and told him to take off the things which belonged to us. - A policeman was then sent for, and the prisoner was then given into custody. Mr. Goodman said the charge would resolve itself into stealing the coat, value 275, attempting to steal the other part of the suit, and alscrwith attempting to obtain the other goods by false pretences. The prisoner when asked if he had anything to ask the witness, said to him in a very soft and persuasive manner, "You are mistaken when you say I said I lived at 4, Oving ton-square. The address I gave you was Goat's Head Hotel, Parnham, was it not ?" Witness--I asked you if you were marred, and you said you were, and resided with your wife at Ovington-square. I asked you if you had any family, and you said you had one child. Mr. Goodman (to witness)—This is the man the cabmen call " Pepper's Ghost," is he not ? Witness—He is the same man. A cabman then stepped forward and said the prisoner was several shillings in his debt for cab fare. The prisoner got into his cab on Saturday morning in Tavistock-street, and wanted to know where he could get a dogcart. He told him, "At Hicks's, in Russell-square, and at the prisoner's request drove him there. He was supplied there with a phaeton, and when he, after being kept waiting for some time, asked the prisoner for his fare, he told him he would send it to him in postage stamps. He declined, however, and it was agreed that the prisoner should leave it with Mr. Hicks, When he sent, however, there was the dispute about the amount for the phaeton, and he had not got his fare yet. Mr. Goodman told the cabman to go to the police-station in the district and get a warrant, which would be lodged a that court, and if the prisoner got off on the present charge he would be taken on that, The case was then remanded, and the prisoner asked with the coolest effrontery whether he would be The Lcrd Mayor said, " Certainly not;' The prisoner said, in a very off-hand well, then, I shall immediately commence these parties." He was then removed to the cells. when manner, " Very an action against SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS. POST.—It is well that, at the commencement of a year of which the political horizon may be generally characterised as stormy, we should cast a glance at the means at the disposal of Old England which are available for the vindication of her time-hon oured claims to be " mistress of the seas." At the present moment we need hardly remind our readers that we are actually engeged in hostilities in China, in Japan, and in New Zealand, while the unsettled state of affairs nearer home renders indispensable the maintenance of a comparatively large force upon an active footing, or in an advanced state of prepara tion in case of any emergency. Our Admiralty, whatever may be its shortcomings, cannot at least be accused of a propensity to undue official reticence. Punctually on every succeeding New Year'seday issues the yearly return of the number, name, ton nage, station, horse-power, and armament of every steam and sailing vessel which we possess, down to the veriest cockboat stamped with the authority of the Lords High Commissioners. Our bitterest enemy has only to cast his eyes over the familiar document to have at a glance what preparations we have made to receive him, and to compare the means which he knows to be at his own disposal with those which we gratuitously inform him are at ours. There is no pretence whatsoever either of mystery or concealment, All the world is wel come to know how England stands as regards the vexaga quastio of naval supremacy, what she has already done in the way of adapting her armament to the necessities of modern warfare, and what she is prepared to accomplish in the same direction. We think that the first impression of any one who rises from the perusal of this interesting document will be a conviction that, in dealing thus fairly with all comers, Britain exercises a wise audacity. "Si via pacem para bellum" is a motto which, if inter preted aright, has not lost its significance even in the latter half of the nineteenth century. It will do neither ourselves nor our neighbours any harm to know that on the Ist January, 1864, the effective fleet at our disposal amounted to nine hundred and seventy-five vessels of all classes, not inclusive of harbour ships at home and abroad, which would be available for purely defensive purposes, or of a large fleet of iron and wooden gun and mortar boats laid up in ordinary at Chatham. Of course in the sum total which we have given is reckoned a large proportion of those comparatively pigmy craft, which are not, in the opinion of com petent judges, likely to be in future the least im portant among our naval defences. There are, in tact, no less than 500 vessels carrying from 4 to 21 guns each, although among these are many iron ships of a power and tonnage which is altogether out of proportion to an armament scanty in number, but formidable in its calibre and in the character of the guns. Besides these, there is a squadron of one hundred and eighty-fine screw gun -boats, each fitted with a couple of Armstrong guns, and pro pelled by high-pressure engines of not less than sixty horse-power. Of the old line.of battle ships we have still seventy-two specimens left, mounting from seventy-four to one hundred and twenty-one guns a piece. Many of them would have been regarded but ten years age as models of naval architecture, yet they are already well nigh num bered among the things of the past. We have 42 vessels classed as second rates, and carrying from 60 to 74 guns each, and 94 steamers and other ships, which would have passed in old times for frigates, but which are both of a size and tonne ge more than equivalent to the line-of battle ships of the com mencement of the century. Below this, again, we have 25 screw corvettes, a comparatively new and very available 'okras of vessels, which carry 21 guns each. The,whole force may be divided, roughly speak ing, into three distill et categories. One third, an round numbers, of it is actually employed on active ser vice in every part of the globe. The second division is attached to the reserve squadrons at the different, dockyards, and ought to be able to proceed to sea within a few weeks, if necessary. The third, or reserve, properly so called, is laid up in ordinary, and would not be available for some months after the breaking cut of hostilities. Strictly speaking, the ships which are in course of building should constitute a fourth class, consisting of hulls in every stage of preparation, from those which are just ready td be launched to those of which the keels are but rece2tl9 laid, and which, although named and figuring in ti:' official returns, are as yet only ships upon paper. Nines such, however, haVer beer completed and launched the past year, in• eluding, as we are happy to obsera7; n° less than half a dozen iron-clad or armour-plater: vessels.. Four iron clads have been commenced within ta, tame - period, and seven more are in various stages of their stence, or in process of conversion into experiments; f_hield ships. What the demands are upon our navy may , t, est be gathered from the names of the dif f erent stet:aria to which they are attached. For ,practical purpo;." these may First, be grouped under nine different heads. of course, would come ships employed on home :.!'" vice, or attached to the different dockyards, which 'ate perhaps the most numerous of .11. Then we have the six vessels composing the elite of our navy and constituting our present Channel fl et. The East India and China squadron, under the command of a vice admiral and a commodore, figures for fifty one in the list. Twent-nine vessels compose our strength on the North American and West Indian station ; and as many more under Vice-Admiral Smart, form our Mediterranean fleet. We have still a commodore and twenty-two vessels, mainly of low ratings, employed in the suppression of the slave trade on the West Coast of Africa. The same number, divided, under the command of a rear-admiral a piece; into the Pacific and the South Eastern Coast squadrons, are in various parts of South America. Lastly, we have eight ships under the order of the admiral at the Cape of Good Hope, and seven under the command of a commodore in the Australian waters. We need hardly say that a mere glance at any map upon which these names will be found inscribed ought to be sufficient to convince the most rigid economist of the unprecedented demands made upon its naval service by "an empire upon which the sun never sets." It is true that, from henceforth, we shall have to look rather to quality than to quantity. But, inasmuch as one new ship costs about as much as three old vessels, while it has yet to be proved whether iron will in the end last as long as "hearts of oak," we must not be too hasty in deciding treat the change will operate as a saving of expense. However this'may be, we are at least told fairly what we have got for our money. There the ships are at the service of any one who is bold enough to assail them, whether the attack comes from a foreign foe, or, upon the score of expense, from a homebred financial reformer. Ttetas.-of, the year just expired the most charit able record cannot say that " its end was peace." It has taken its farewell of a world rife wig h wars or rumours of wars, and died in the midst of a tem pest, like some historical personages who are said to have sold themselves to the Powers of Darkness. But the storm is raised by human passions, and we fear the conflict will continue though the year has passed away. We can scarcely congratulate the nineteenth century, as it glides by us, on a decided moral superiority to all its predecessors. We admit all the material improvement it can claim as its own work, but it has not shaken itself clear of much for which it accuses former ages of barbariim. A good deal of the experience of the last ten years is well calculated to check the pride of philosophy, and it begins to be doubtful whether the events of the next decade may not deprive it of all ground of 'exulta tion. All our enlightenment has done little to di minish one of the oldest evils that have affiitted mankind. The world has learned much, but net enough to enable it to live in peace. From the East and West, from the most ancient empires and the newest republics, the reports are of the same war-. like character. They come fast and,faster-upon us. From Germany, Poland, and Italy, from Mexico, from China and Japan, we hear of hostilities, or the animosities that tend to hasten them ; and from the great Western continent of America the tale of vio lence and battle is the fiercest of all. The Ameri can civil war has entered into the fourth year of its duration. So far the predictions of European ob servers have been verified, and it now seems incom prehensible how American authorities could have taken such an inadequate measure of the calamity. Which side has suffered most in the conflict, or is at the present moment most capable of sustaining the terrible pressure on all the resources of the nation, is open to dispute; but that a pacific settlement of the quarrel is less possible now than in the first year of the war is certain. All the evidence compels us to assume that the struggle must con tinue. By the last intelligence we can at least form an estimate of how Much of its avowed objects has been attained. The submission of the Southern Confederacy to the old central power of the Republic is the great end the war is to secure. The occupation or conquest of as much Southern territory as may compel that submission is the means by which the Federation is to re-establish its autho rity. The abolition of slavery was combined with the war as a" military measure" only, though it is now made to appear the principal motive of the hostilities. The war commenced in the summer of 1861. The campaigns and battles of 1862 and 1863 are now matters of history. At the opening of 1864 how much Southern territory has the Northern Fede ration gained, what has been the effect of that occu pation on the policy of the Southern S tato, and what progress has been made in the abolition of slavery ? The greatest success of the North was the capture of Vicksburg, which, it was asserted, opened the wt.ole course of .the Mississippi, and divided the revolted States to the east and west of that river. Yet by the last eccounts it is evident that the great river of t _he West is not " open" to navigation. The Federals hold New Orleans, at the mcuth of the Mississippi, and many other points in its course, but the stream is as much closed for traffic as when the Confederates garrisoned Vicksburg. Not a steamer can pa as up or down without therisk of being attecked by the Southern guertila, bands on both banks. The immense territory through which the river winds baffles all attempts to occupy it. The whole army of General Grant now concentrated in East Tennessee would not suffice to " command" e; the Mississippi and "keep its navigation open." , For the greater part of its course it runs through .1 a territory of which the people, as our corre spondent says, are "bitterly hostile" to the Federals, and, as the actual consequence of such I hostility, the river is closed. The same difficulty is encountered on the inland lines of communication. All the troops the North catild raise would not be enough to fight and protect many hundreds of miles of railway at the same time. It would re quire 100,000 men to keep the single line from the Mississippi to Chattanooga in working order. The distances appear to baffle all military skill,- and so diminish the value of a successful operation that it is followed by very slight results, A country may be too large for decisive war, and the weste of whole armies in America seems to prove the tact. Napoleon swept over everything before Paris and' Vienna, but Spain and Russ!et defied him and ex hausted his troops in a conflict with nature itself. Gen. Grant is now contending with the same kind of difficulties, while the Soutern forces appear to be rallying in his front and rear, It is evident that the Federal occupation of Eastern Tennessee, even if it can be maintained, will not bring the war nearer to a cone'usion. In Virginia the Southerners have lost nothing in all the campaigns, and every attempt to penetrate their country in this direction has been defeated. The real task of the Army of the Poto mac is to defend Washington, which has been as frequently in danger of capture during the war as Richmond. The siege of Charleston has failed, and the fleet of Monitors has suffered so much damage during the operations that it cannot venture within range of the Confederate batteries. The blockade of the Southern coast does not deprive the Ile ople of an ample supply of imported articles, nor does the depreciation of their currency appear to disable them from purchasing. Goods to the value of a million dollars arrive in the port of Wilmington every four and-twenty hours. The contraband trade must be profitable in spite of c iptures and in convertible Southern notes. It seems also that the descriptions of suffering and want endured in the South, given in the Northern journals, have been grossly exaggerated. The general state of affairs of the Confederacy, and, what is more important, the feeling of the people, indicate both ability and deter mination to continue the struggle. They consider Mr. Lincoln's last proclamation as a mere device to secure political support in the North. Its terms they regard with contempt. 'Time enough has now elapsed to test the effect of his first proclamation in reference to slavery. From Mr. Lincoln's Message to; Congress it appears that the total number of slaves the Federal armies have liberated is 100,000. This is the whole result of three years of war in the name of Abolition. And at an awful price it has been obtained. For every negro thus freed it is calculated that three white men have been killed in the contest. If the four millions of Week are only to be emancipated at the same cost, the calculation becomes something terrible, and the feelings of humanity will be appealed , to on behalf of a supe rior race. Toe worst evil that has grown out of the system of slavery is the war carried on to extin guish it, To be succeseterl,_the conquest of the Soup:tern territory must be complete, and, after all the; , waste of life and' money, most of the task has still be done. What Las been effected in the work of abolition is even less 'in' 'proportion. me war has liberated , one hundred thousand negroes, leaving the condition of millions of slaves unaltered. Can the most bigoted philanthropist assert that, as a war of emancipation, the conflict 'has' been marked by s'icceseP Or, taking it as'a War of conquest, has the North gained territory enough from the-South ic destroy its power of resistance and make its return to the Union inevitable P If eithereof the objects of the struggle had been obtained, the fourth year of the war would not have found these questions open and unanswered. COUNTRY MARKETS. COLCHESTER—Js.II.,2. There was a very short supply of wheat at our market to day, and tho currencies of last week were well maintained. Trade inactive. In barley, which comes' scarce, fully is per ,i". 7 more money .was made. Beans and peas were again, rather lower. Wheat, white ..44s Os neans,Mazagan..2Bs 32s red 40s 44s middle & small.32s 36s Barley Oats GLOUCESTER-J. 2. There was a fair show 'of English wheat to.dity froth the farmers which mostly sold at rather Ifni roving prices. Fo:Ag whe t Oats,w sty eau arle dull, with noand advance peas were n w t e he last - week. still unai:ered in value. - ctu r li c , es but of CHELMSFORD-JAN. 1. At this corn exchange to-day there was a moderate show of wheat, with an inactive.business doing, and , the prices of las week were maintained, but no increase in price was obtainable. Other grain unchanged in -price, with a dull trade. Wheat, old white...3os 46s Peas, Partridge 36s 395 new .....,448 49s White 38s 39s old red.... 348 39s Boiling .. 398 410 new 3Ss 41s Dun 33s 36$ Baxley 27s 37s Ditto new —a --1 Chevalier ..285. ,398 , J3ean.s, Tick, old ..34s 398 Grinding 22 5 " 31 s new..—s --- 0 Malt.... Chevalier , 64s 69i Oats 20S 28s -- new ..—s -4 Mazagan .......308 381 . KIRKCALDY GRAIN—JIrr. - 2. We had good supplies of barlsy, Oats, and wheat at our mullet to•day. S.les were brisk 4 Wheat. .Barley. Oats. First.„.3ss Od " 25s Od . 16s 6d Second —37 s Od 26s Od I 17s Od Third....4os Pd . 29s Od 18s 6d COAL ?noes of Coal . per 1 on at • Cowpen Hartley 17 3 West Hartley l7 3 Hastings Hartley - 3 Eden Aidin ' 20 . 0 Wylam 17 6 West Wy1am....... _l6 6 ‘‘ alker Primrose "l4 6 Itil3llK ET. tne close 01 the marktit N. d. Walls End. Tunstall l9 Hartlepool l9 9 • South fiartlepool 18 v Reugh Hall 19 ' 0 Kel loe .... 19 0 South Kelloe l9 0 Hetton 20 0 Riddell .. Hatton 'lB 0 et, 30; sold, 28. : Walls End. Gosforth l3 0 Cassop Ships at marks A letter from Brest,. in the Journal du Rave, states that the confederate corvette Fiorita, having completed her repairs,,has anchored in, the roadstead about 200 yards distant from the Federal corvette Itearsage. The former will commence her er.perimental trips on the 10th, and proceed to sea in the early part of February. A FrenG vessel of war will eonanct the two corvettes beyond the limits of the French waters, putting an interval of 24 hour between the departure of east, in.conformity with the re gulations of international-law. Births. COLT—On the 2d inst., the wife of rrederick Hoare Col t ' Esq., of a snn. RANKEN—On the 2d inst., at Blackheath, Mrs. Rankenf of a son. DEW—On the 3d inst., at Whitney House, Herefor dshirel the wife of the Rev. Henry Dew, of a son. PARKER—On the 3d inst.-, at 7, Gloucester-gardens I Hyde . park, the wife of. Joseph Parker, Esq., of a son. Marriages. HOLCOMBE— THACKERAY—On the 2d inst., at Gabriel% Pimlico, by the Rev. IL Percy Smith, M.A., incumbeu S of Yorktown, Surrey, Colonel Holcombe, Royal WO. , to Mary Eiizabeth, youngest daughter of the late Gen' Thackeray, C. 8., R.E., and Lady Elizabeth Thacker's'' , of The Cedars, Windlesham, Surrey. RABY—FORSTER—On the 31st Dec., at Holt. Wilts,' the Rev. Drummond Percy. Chase, M A., Principal ° ,l St. Mary Hall, Oxford, assist e d by th e R ev . R i cnara Umfraville Lambert, M.A., Henry J. Raby, Efq., 0 11 tain is the Royal Navy, V.C., Knight of the Legion ?„ Honour, &c., to Judith, youngest daughter of t h e lal Colonel T. W. Forster, o f H.M.'s 24th R e gi men t, and° Holt Manor, Wilts. Deaths. r DOLMAN.—On the 31st ult., in Paris, very suddenly, Charles Dolman, the publisher of Lingard's E D glao Dedd's Church. History, More's Catholic and ethei standard Roman Catholic works, and late of 61, Bond-street, aged 60. R I.P. ALDERSON —On the 4th inst., at 10,Lancaster .place, Strand' Thomas John Alderson, aged 72. BURMESTER—On Saturday, the 2d inst., at bis'residen c „ e ' Springwell, Clapham, comm on , Ed wa rd Bur th ester, in the 76th year of his age. CAMPBELL—On the 2d inst., at 9, Randolph-cliff, Earn burgh, Miss Ann Caroline t:ampbell. COOPER—On the 9d inst., at 16, College•terrace, Islingt° N., Ann, wife of Mr. G, J. Cooper, aged 45. TUDOR — On the 4th inst., of bronchial influenza, at DO"' ley, Kent, Henry Tudor, Esq. London: Pritiz,;(l and rub.lisheO by WILLIAM AN DU 6;1 ; ot tio. 112, Strand, Printer, at THE SUN Office AN°' Strand, the Precinct ot the Savoy, .n the Count/ Mithllersex —TuesdlY, January 5, 1864. admitted to bail. FL the kin•J' o , la at from. d'.i Ev,.ry CL I NilSif F CO. are equalled admirab Bed,tea, post-fre, complet, Beale : - ir 'op:,eth( 'of valna carpets, linen an Chiches Wells, Minster St Alb ch Britain C( bridge, ONI Were 29th di the .T 1 01 d 3 of L' f 25 of 2G of 51 of lay coven rewar to the R. an Inapo Loud Lot 'rh( Mr 1 M t V Mon d -Equit S' tLinni tP;En New LON W Es bIIR NEB Thi going Plete Mart 1.0 Po Altrc