The Sun. — London, England, 1864-12-20 00:00:00

R OYAL ENGLISH OPERA, COVENT GARDEN.. .. .. (Opera Company. Limited.) Last Night but One before Christmas, THIS EVENING (Tuesday), Dec. 20, will be performed Benedict's opera, in one act, THE BRIDE OF SONG. Ranee, Miss Thirlwall ; Beatrix, Mdme. Fanny Huddart ; Adeltert, Mr. Henry Haigh; and Hannibal, Mr. Alberto Lawrence. After which, Hatton's new opera, ROSE ; or, Love's Ran som. Rose, Madame Lemmens-Sherrington ; Georgette, Madame Weiss; Theresa, Miss Poole; Stephen, Mr. G. Terrell ; Blancoec, Mr. H. Corri ; Captain, Mr. A. "cook ; ,Sergeant, Mr. E. Dus-sek ; and Jaques, Mr. Weiss. Conductor, Mr Alfred Mellon. The Incidental Divertissement will be supported by Mdlles. Du3hateau and Bonlanti. Commence at half-past 7 o'clock. Private boxes, from Vs. 6d, upwards; stalls, 7s. ; dress circle, ss. ; upper Loxes, 4s ; amphitheatre stalls, Is. and 2s ; pit 2s. lid. ; gallery, ls. No charge for booking places. The box-Office is open from 10 till 5. AIIEATRE ROYAL, DRURY- LANK- Managers, Messrs. E. Falconer and F. B. Chatterton. THIS EVENING, to commence with A YOUNG LAD FROM THE eouN TRY. Messrs. G. Belmore, Fitzjames, and G. F. Neville; Misses Helen Howard, R. Leclercq, &c. After which, Shaksnere's Play of CYMBELINE. Mr. Phelps ; Messrs. Cresi.vick, H. Marston, ►t'alter Lacy, 3. Neville, Edmund Phelps, A. Rayner, Lte.; Miss Atkinson and Miss Helen Faucit. Doors open at ha f-past Six—Commence at Seven. THEATRE ROYAL, HAYMARKET.- Lessee. Mr. Buckstone. THIS EVENING, THE SCHOOL FOR SCANDAL. Messrs. Bucksfone, Chippendale, Howe, Farren, Rogers, Gordon, Clark, Braid, Coe, ac. ; Mesdames Angel, Snowdon, Fitzwilliam, Lindley, &c. After which, NO SONG NO SUPPER. Messrs. Compton, Farren, Arttur Clark, Weathersby, ac.; Mesdames Keeley, Villiers, Moore, Lovell, &c. And OUR MARY ANNE. To commence at 7. ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE.- Sole Lessee and Manager, Mr. Geo. Vining. THIS EVENING, BORN TO GOOD LUCK. I addy O'Rafferty, Mr. Dominick Murray. After which, THE STREETS OF LONDON. Messrs. Vining, J. W. Ray, D. Fisher, D. Murray, J. Nelson, H. Forrester. H. Mellon ; Mrs. Henry Marston, Miss Emma Barnett, and Miss Fanny Gwynne. ROYAL LYCEUM THEATRE. Under the sole management of Mr. Fechter. THIS EVENING, at S, BUY BLA.S. Messrs. Fechter, Ryeler, Fitzpatrick, F. Ch rie.i, M'lntyre, Garden, Raymond, Collett, C Afford, Moreland; Misses Carlotta Leolercq, H. Percy, and Mrs. Winstanley. Preceded, at 7, by MY WIFE'S OUT. Messrs. H. Widdi- Comb, F. Charles ; Misses 11. Percy and E. Lavenue. To conclude with NURSEY CHICKWEED. Mr. H. Widdicomb. Doors open at half-past G ; commence at 7. The Box-office open daily from Eleven till Five. NEW THEATRE-RU YAL, ADELPHL -Bole Proprietor and MankTer. Mr. B. Webster. THIS EVENING, THE WORKMEN OF PARIS. 41r. Benjamin Webster; Messrs. Billimton, R. Phillips, Stuart, J. Clarke, Stephenson, Eburne, C. J. Smith; Mrs. Stirling, Miss Woolgar (Mrs. A. Mellon), Miss H. bimms. Mrs. Billington, Mrs. H. Lewis, and Miss A. Seamen. To conclude with DOING BANTING. Mr. J. Clarke, Mr. Stephenson; Mrs. Lewis and Miss A. seaman. Commence at 7. 11 i SS BATE MAN.-NEW THEATRE ROYAL ADELPHI.— Mr. Webster begs to announce that the great Tragedienne, Miss BAT N;MAN, having per formed with unparalleled success the character of " Leah" far a period of nine consecutive mor.ths during the last season at this Theatre, and since won the plaudits of thousands in Liverpool, Birmingham, Dublin, Manchester, and tilasgow, she will KE-APPEAR at this Establishment JANUARY 21, 1855, in her original character of the Jewish Maiden for a limited number of nights, previously to her appearing in other illustrations of the (.la-stc Drama, which are in prepa ration. The B.x-office will be opened on 3f onday, Dec. 19, when places may be secured for .Miss Bateman'. engagement a fortnight in advance. ROYAL ST. JAMES'S THEATRE. Manager, Mr. Benjamin Webster. Last Six Nights of the present Management. P TALENT AND COMEDY DRAMA. THIS EVENING, a new Musical Drama, entitled THE BARONET ABROAD AN.) THE RUSTIC PRIMA L ONNA : Mr. Frank Matthe A s ; Miss Constance Roden. After which, at a quarter to Eight, a new and original Comedy Drama, in three acts, by J. t'algrave Simpson, enti tled SYBILLA ; or, STEP BY STE?. Mr. and Mrs. Charles Mathews. To conclude with Mr. Maddison Morton's New Comedy Farce of WOOD:, OCK'S LITTLE GAME. Mr. Charles Mathews, Mrs. Frank Matthews. On Thursday, Dec. 2Z, Benefit of Mr. and Mrs. Char:es Mathews. On Saturday, Dec. 24, Benefit of Mr. Benjamin Webster. ROYAL STRAND THEATRE. Sole Lessee and Manageress, Mrs. Swanborough. THIS EVENING, at 7. WILFUL WARD. Messrs. Turner and Belford ; Miss Palmer. After which, at 8, MILKY WHITE. Messrs. Craven, Etoyle, James ; Miss Ada Swanbor ;ugh. To conclude with MAZEPPA. Messrs. Thorne and Fen ton ; Mesdames Rayuham, Simpson, and Jehnstone. GRATIS AND POST FREE E. MOSES and SONS' New Pamphlet, THE PHILOSOPHY OF DRESS. - L1 MOSES AND SON .4 ' • respectfully call attention to their large and well assorted stock of JUVENILE CLOTHING-. The newest taorics are combined with the latest and most fashionable designs, and the best workmanship. E. MOSES and SON give particular attention to this important branch of their business, and they can with confidence affirm that the prices Are such as must satisfy the most economical. This depart ment is in a distinct part of the premises, which will be found a great convenience for ladies and children, MOSES AND SON ~j. refipectfully invite public attention to their large and well-assorted WINTER STOCK. IVI.OSES AND SON'S •"SA ,NDRINGHAM" and "DANISH " WRAPPER :(atroduceol by them) is the newest and most fashionab!e style of Overcoats for the season. MOSES AND SON'S • READY-MADE and BESPOKE CLOTHING for all classes and all ages. 7AOSES AND SON'S 1~1• CELEBRATED "INDISPENSABLE" SUIT, t rom 30s MOSES AND SON'S LJ• HOSIERY and DRAPERY, for all classes and all ages. MOSES AND BON'S • HATS AND CAPS, for all c asses and all ages. ~MOSES AND SON'S • BOOTS and SHOES, for all classes and all ages. ~MOSES AND SON'S • OUTFI for all classes, all ages, and all climates. MOSES AND SON'S • LONDON HOUSES, 154, 155, 151, 157, Minories ; 83, 8.1, 85, 86. 87, 89, 99, Aldg - ate ; 506, 507, 508, New Oxford--street ; 1,2, 3, Hart-street; 137, 138, Tottenham-court-road; 288, Euston-road Also, Bradford. Yorkshire. MOSES AND SON'S iu.A• Establishments are closed eve 7 Friday evening at sunset until Saturday evening at sunset, when business is re sumed until lY o'clock. A 1 articlessra - 1;1;76cl the lowest prices in plain figures. Any article not approved of will be exchanged, or the money returned. _ _ List of Prices with Rules for Self-measurement, rashion Card, and our new pamphlet, " The Philosophy of Dress," gratis and post free. COALS. —The LILLESHALL COMPANY'S COALS. Direct from their own Collieries. Marquis'. 2ss. per ton. I Double . 21s. per ton. Top 245 . 1, Deep ....225. „ Well screened and delivered within five miles of their De- Pis, Westbourn e P ar k- roa d , W ., an d 17 , S ou th Wh ar f , addington, W., and Maiden-lane, N. Best Coke lss. per chaldron. Terms cash. JOHN SCOTT, dole Lent. THE THIRD EDITION OF « THE SUN," 1. Containing the Latest SPORTING INTELLIGENCE, lian be bad Every Evening of G. tt. GIANIE, NEWS AGENT, No. 4, Connaught-terrace, Ilyde-park. THE LATEST' EDITION of " THE SUN" supplied, as soon as published every Evening by W. ALEXANDER (late BROOKS), Newspaper Agent, 21-, Old Cavendish- street, Oxford-street. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. Txus DAY.—Morning, 6h. 28m.—Afternoon, 6h. 50m. To - troadtow.-Morning, 7h. 10m.—Afternoon, 7h. 30m. tis ILFO4/ 011 Ult • 5.•' - ' 4 74r kr, LONDON, TUESDAY, DEC. 20, 1864. The se'zurc of the Ftcrida was one of the most disgraceful occurrences that have taken place during the whole course of the American war. It was a dastardly act, and stamped its perpetrators with ignominy and reproach. Noth in g can extenuat e such a wanton deed of spoliation, nor excus e such a gross violation of the laws of netions and the rights of belligerents. It is only to b 3 expected so extraordinary an event should have occasioned great confusion, and given rise to much excite ment in the minds of many. We have some time since been favoured with Mr WEBB'S extravagant opinions on the subject, when he went out of his way to abuse a friendly Power, and to vilify those who in no way called for the condemnation. It does not appear, however, that his vehement ideas are shared by his countrymen, and indeed it is not probable that they would be. The New York Chamber of Commerce have just received a COM. munication from the principal merchants of Bahia, in which they set forth in a simple and straight. forward manner the details of the iniquitous occur rence of the capture of the Florida, and the wrong thereby inflicted on their trust and confidence. The case could not be better put than it is in these brief but emphatic sentences, and if anything could add to the indignation with which every one has heard of the affair it would be the perusal of this earnest address. The mere recital of the event is sufficient to explain its enormity without any excited expo. sition or violent declamation. It is simply stated that " they deplore the sad occurrence that has taken place, the Federal war steamer Nirachusett breaking the neutrality of the empire, and capturing and towing out of the harbour the Confederate steamer Florida, regardless of all international laws and the common laws of people." This passage in itself contains the strongest possible evidence against the commander of the Wachusett, and all who aided and abetted him in his efforts. Further on it is shown that by this conduct the captors of the Florida exhibited a contempt for the wishes, and defied the instructions of those whom they ought to have respected. The authorities of the place very properly intimated to them that the American Consul had given his assurance that no conflict should take place in their waters, but no heed was paid to the remonstrance. Perhaps they had reasons for so going out of the line' of official re strictions, for the said Consul has taken his depar ture, which at such a period, and considering the extraordinary circumstance that had ensued, is most peculiar and significant. It is a strange way of interpreting the duties that he owes to the Government who appointed him, or to the country which he represents. Surely a time like this is not the one for abruptly terminating a communi cation between the United States and the country which had been so grossly insulted and injured by one of their subjects. The merchants very wisely recommend the Charter of Commerce at New York to appoint a committee to inquire into the subject, and to investigate into the injury thus wrought to the commerce of New York. The authenticity of the signatures is attested by the English Consul of the place, and this circumstance has given rise to very imperti. nent suggestions in some quarters. However, the decision of the Chamber has been a wise one, to re fer the letter to a committee. Such a course will be the most sure and certain one in the end to attain the desired result, and to expose the real nature of the attempt which so scandalised and outraged all our feelings of propriety. The New York Times contains some very judicious remarks on the sub. ject,which are appropriate in themselves, and which it is to be hoped will have the effect of putting a stop to the indiscreet language and violent wishes of some thoughtless and excitable individuals. The proposal to return the communication of the mer. chants, because the British consul at Bahia had taken a part in it, was perfectly preposterous, and it was not probable that an important body like the Chamber of Commerce should so compromise its dignity as to carry out such a proposal. It is to be trusted that due attention will be paid to this affair, and the leading members have the honour of their country at stake in the matter, which should induce them to use speed in their deliberations. The Con federate Congress has passed a resolution to the effect of denouncing the seiz are of the Florida, and declaring that Brazil is bound to enforce the resto. ration of the vessel. For this purpose commis' sinners have been appointed to confer with Brazil. There can be no doubt of the validity of this claim, and the justness of the demand. All the laws of nations and the recognised principles that actuate the carrying on of warlike undertakings have been set aside, and the principle adopted has been that he should take who has the pawer and he should keep who can. The astound ing seizure on board the Trent was the first notable act of the Federal agents, and after some time has elapsed, they not inappropriately confirm its ten dency in the capture of the Florida. The Liberals of Essex are making active de monstrations of their political principles, and have given good earnest in their recent Maldon banquet of their determination to contest the representa tion of the county at the next election. In accord ance with the old saying, that the Weigs are always best in opposition, the addresses of the gentlemen who took part in Thursday's proceedings were, for the most part, commendable for the liberality and enlightenment of th e i r v i ews . Th e principal speech of the evening, that of Mr. CHICHESTER FCRTESCUE, M.P., Under Secretary for the Colonies, was decidedly the best ; and when the speaker claimed to represent the progressive rather than the reactionary temper of the Ad ministration, he certainly expressed the general views of a large body of his countrymen. His opinions on colonial questions are, of course, worth hearing, and their general tenor was just and senaie ble, readily admitting the claims which our depen dencies have upon our justice, sympathy, and kindness, while making allowance for the el travagancies and indiscretions not easily avoided by young self-governing nations. With regard to the war in New Zealand, which Mr. FORTESCUE regretted to confess was not so near its termination as had been hoped, he expressed his conviction thal every possible indulgence had been shown to the natives. Fears, he said, had been entertained in this country, that the colonists were inclined to en croach upon native rights, and wished to continue the war from various interested motives. He denied both these accusations. The Imperial Government had taken care that the rights of the natives should be studiously respected in the terms of peace ; while it was only just that those Maories who persisted in continuing hostilities, provoked by themselves, should be taught a lasting lesson. As for the rumoured anxiety on the part of the settlers to cone tinue the war, he dismissed it as altogether un founded. "His knowledge of the great sacrifices they had made and were making, of the shedding of colonial blood, of the spending of colonial money, of the paralysis of colonial trade, convinced him that neither the Colonial Government nor people would be inclined to continue the war a day longer than could be avoided." Mr FORTESCUE, in his general defence, went back so far as our original appropriation of those islands, but that is:rather superfluous at the present time. No ono proposes that we should surrender them to the Maories, i e., to the first European Power that felt inclined to take possession of them. The question is not how did we get them, but how are we to govern them now we have them. Mr FORTESCUE, like most others who have studied the subject, and do not base their opinions upon theories rather than on practical knowledge, is induced to think that our errors heretofore have been those of omission rather than of commission, doe to a lack of firmness and wisdom rather than to any spirit of oppression or tyranny. Still on the whole he asserts, and we believe with truth, that, our dealings with the natives o f New Zealand will bear favourable comparison to the relations of any other civilised sta e with a bar barous race. The summer campaign, now already in full action, will, it is to be hop. d, bring this disastrous and unprofitable War to a close, and put the relations between the colonists and the natives altogether on a better footing. Coming to the Australian colonies, Mr FORTESCIIE could not re frain from regretting the injudicious want of tem per shown by some of the colonists in send ing back some expirees, as those convicts are termed whose sentence has expired, but he thought, on the whole, the Imperial Government had judged wisely in resolving to discontinue the system. The newly proposed Confederation of the British American provinces he spoke of with un qualified approbation. If any confirmation were needed of the prudence and foresight of the colo nists in organising such movement, it is given by one or two significant paragraphs in the American news of to-day. Mr FORTESCUE, from his official position, did not allude to the great incentive to that Union—the reckless, aggressive spirit of the American Government, end the probability that before long they will be left with a large army idle on their hands. He dwelt rather on the magnificent prospect opening before the young Anglo-Saxon nation, and the satisfaction which the mother country would feel in seeing its growth and pro gress. Our duty to our colonies was, he said, clear enough. Having acquired them from motives of policy we are now bound to retain and to protect them, but, in fact, the interest is still as clear as the duty. Great Britain deprived of our colonies would be Great no longer,and in spite of the theories of Pro fessor GOLDWIN SMITH, the wilful abandonment of her magnificent dependencies would at once sink her from the level of an Empire to that of an inferior Stete. It is impossible, as the Under-Secretary for the Colonies justly observed the other evening, "to suppose for a moment that the country which had been able to acquire those magnificent regions in America, in Australia, and in South Africa— those customers for her goods, those faithful allies at distant parts of the globe, those homes for her superabundant population for many generations to come, could be sacrificing her own interests in doing her duty towards those de pendencies." Coming to home questions, Dir. FORTESCUE disposed very briefly of the topic of Reform, but as he calls himself an advanced Liberal, we must hope that his silence does not proceed from any desire to evade the subject. On religions questions he was more explicit, and, from hie intimate connection with those fellow-subjects who held for the most part a different faith from himself, he was well qualified to refer to the claims of the Irish Catholics upon the consideration of the great Liberal party. A good understanding between these important bodies was, he remarked, a strong and valuable tie between these islands. Having considered the various departments of home and colonial politics, Mr. FORTESCUE naturally touched upon foreign effsirs, and we are glad to find that he puts some restriction on that doctrine of non-interven tion which some politicians appear to consider to be the sumurn bonurn of modern statecraft. But Mr. FORTESQUE'S theories about the duty of Eng land toward the smaller Powers are rather late in the day after the dismemberment of Denmark. As for the part which England has played in the American war, that may redound less to Lord RUSSELL'S honour than his colleague believes; but the coming session will probably afford the noble earl some indication of the growing feeling of the public. Mr. FORTESCUE'S speech is a very fair ex ponent of the general policy of the Ministry, and upon colonial matters more especially it is straight forward and satisfactory; but, coming as the re presentative of a professed Liberal Government to a pre-arranged Liberal demonstration, a little more open and cordial advocacy of Reform would not have been inappropriate. Mr. Cobden, whose exertions at Rochdale re sulted in great prostration, is now nearly restored tc health. ACCIDENT TO MR. JAMES MURRAY, OF THE FOREIGN OFFICE.—We are informed that Mr. Murray, Assistant Under-Secretary at the Foreign•ofiice, met with a serious accident on Saturday last, at Aldermar ston-court, near Reading, while out shooting wish Mr D. Higford Burr and a party of friends. One of the shooting party, in firing, accidentally discharged his gun, and one of the shots lodged in the left eye of Mr Murray. It is feared he has quite lost the sight of his eye. PROFESSOR ANDERSON'S CHRISTMAS ENTER• TAINMENT.—Amongst the public entertainers now making preparation for the celebration of the Christmas holidays, none are more active than Professor Anderson. The entertainment he will produce will, we believe, be one of the most pleasing and extraordinary ever presented to the holiday folk during the approaching festival. He has for some time been carefully superintending the growth of a Christmas tree, which has now attained prodigious dimen sions, and promises a crop of the most splendid description. The Saturday morning performances have been an extra ordinary success, mainly because the presents, distributed with such a liberal hand by the Professor, are peculiarly appropriate and beautiful. The great hall was filled to overflowing last Saturday with an assembly of juveni lea By the kind invitation of Professor Anderson, the fehow ing schools were present (admitted free), to share .ne treat so generously afforded :—All Saints, Islington, 108; Asylum fcr Fatherless Children, 108; Bloomsbury Chapel Day School, 56 ; Scottish Central School, 80 ; Training Refuge for Destitute Girls, 33; St Bartholomew's Girls School, 46; St Thomas's Charterhouse School, 410, making a total of 841. The Wizard announces his last week but two, owing to the unfortunate circumstance of the hall having been previously engaged for other entertainments. How ever, the Wizard has determined to make the best of the time that is left him, and to close his brilliant season with the utmost eclat. LATEST FROM THE BLOCKADE,—Bermuda de. epatches to the 26th of November furnish informa tion of the blockade runners as follows :—The Armstrong and Talisman had arrived, the former with 700 and the latter with 400 bales of cotton. The Chickamuga had ar rived safely at Wilmington, after a slight brush with the Federal fleet ; and the Tallahassee was safely in port, load ing with cotton for Bermuda. The following were at Nassau on the 12th :—Will-o'-the- Wisp (chased back) ; Colonel Lamb (do.), Caroline (do.), Stormy Petrel (put back leaky), Wild Rover (chased back, and afterwards sailed), Owl (loading), Ella (do.), Gem (put back in consequence of heavy weather), Star (in the dry dock), Kate Gray, Druid, Coquette, and General Clinch (from Charleston), Little Hattie and Beatrice (from Wilmington), Mars (laid up), Marmon, Syren, and Laura (toading),Falcon (broken down), Ptarmigan (machinery damaged), sailed for Havana. THE - DEAN AND THE RAILWAY WHISTLE.-- DJan Close of Carlisle has published an appeal touching the fearful yell of the locomotives, especially of luggage trains, as they enter the city of Carlisle. He says the screams of our railway trains are increasing to a fearful extent, and nothing but unavoidable duty would prevent him from flying out of the reach of the screeches. He asks " Have the citizens of Carlisle no ears ? Or are they con tent to be finally deafened at the caprice of an impatient engine driver? Are railways alone to be allowed to disturb the rest and probably shake the nerves of hundreds, and is nothing to rule them ? I have known oases where a man has left his engine to get up her steam, and to play upon her scream-pipe for 20 minutes, while he was regaling him self in a neighbouring house. is this justifiable? A run away engine will, perhaps, discover some of their practices. As I write three, now four, engines are screaming. Our railways are increasing; and if it be a proof of increased traffic and the enlarged prosperity of our city, I rejoice in it; but as our station promises to rival that of Crewe in magnitude, in engine-house, goods shunting, &c., surely the citizens should do something to protect themselves from the indescribable disturbance of the railway whistle—far, far worse than all Mr Bass's organ grinders and Italian monkey boys put together." POSTAL COMMUNICATION WITH THE CAPE.—Some misapprehension exists as to the value of the new mail packet arrangements between this country and the Cape of Good Hope. According to these at rangements a letter for the Cape of Good Hope via Plymouth can now be posted in London on the 9th of the month, and will reach its destina tion in 38 days ;•and a letter for the Cape via Southampton can be posted on the 20 , h of the month, and will reach its destination by way of Mauritius in 51 days, or via Mar seilles, on the 26th, in 45 days, The outward Cape mails by the eastern route leave Mauritius about the 24th of the month, Natal the 4th, Port Elizabeth the Bth, and reach the Cape about the 12th. The homeward Cape mails by the eastern route leave the Cape about the 18th, Port Elizabeth the 23d, Natal the 27th, and reach Mauritius, on their way to Suez, about the 6th. A letter for the Cape, therefore, posted on the 20th or 26th of the month, will reach its destination by the Mauritius or eastern route about a week before it will reach if posted on the 9th of the following month by the Plymouth or western route, THE MJN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVE NIAG, DECEMBER 20, 1864.1 LATEST INTELLIGENCE. [REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.] PORTUGAL. HURRICANE AT LISBON. LISBON, DEC. 14. On the 13th inst. at about nine a.m., a hurricane burst with fury over Lisbon. Ia a very short space of time great damage was done principally to the shipping. Several ships have been sunk in the river and damaged considerably,:among which may be mentioned the Portuguese brig, Feliz, Mafalda; and the brig Lusitano ; the bark Linda has been injured; the French brig Boildicu, from Rouen, has been sunk. The vessels of war in the harbour did not suffer any damage, but ail the steam vessels kept steam up throughout the day. The lighters, of which a large number are employed in the harbour in the discharge of vessels, suffered very much. It is said as many as 42 have bean sunk. The chief loss occurred at the Custom house Quay, where several lighters with valuable cargoes from vessels in the harbour were waiting to be discharged, all of which were almost instanta neously capsized by the violence of the wind. Lighters with goods from the Ville de Brest, from St. Ndzaire ; the Ailsa Craig, from Glasgow; and the Lusitania, from Oporto, were sunk, and the loss of goods is estimated at something like £40,000. Several lighters belonging to the Royal Mail Com pany, which were moored at the buoy coal laden, waiting the arrival of the Magdalena, were sunk and their cargoes lost. I❑ the Aloantara gardens and other exposed places large trees were blown down, and in Lisbon generally and the suburbs much damage has been done. It is long since Lisbon was visited with such a gale as that recorded above. The Gazette has not yet published the decree relieving Senhor Mendez Leal from the post of Minister of Marine, but it is considered certain that his excellency has resigned. AUSTRIA. VIENNA, DEC. 20. Baron Halthuber, formerly Agstrian Commis sioner for Jutland, has been appointed Civil Com missioner for the Thichies. Herr von Lederer has returned to his post in Hamburg as Representative of Austria at the Hanse Towns. EGYPT. CAIRO, DEC. 19. The Egyptian Government has formally denied the rumours current in the London and Paris Ex changes that it was about to issue Treasury bonds to the amount of £2,500,000, AMERICA. SOUTHAMPTON, DEC. 20. The agents of the Hamburg American Company at this port have received the following telegram ;I— YORK, DEC. 8. The steamer Bavaria, appointed to sail hence on the 10th inst., has been detained. She will sail on the 14th for Hamburg, and may be expected off Cowes on the 26th inst. FRANCE. BOURSE, Dec. 19.—Tae market has been firm, and with a fair amount of business doing. Threes. for the Account, are unvaried at 65f. 30c. Mo bilier shows a slight improvement, being now at 927 f. 50c. R tilway Market rather quiet, but with the closing rates of Saturday up to the present time pretty well maintained. The markbt improved towards the close, and left off as . follows : 11 per Cents. .. 94 'ltalian Loan 65 40 Do. end Do. end month 65 55 3 per Cents - Do. end month.... 65" 40 New Mexican 51 redit Mobilier.... 930 Russian Do. end month.... 903 75 Austrian .. Bank Shares 3570 Spanish Threes.,.. 44 Credit I oncier 1225 Debt Roman HAIL WAIN. Cash. Account, Orleans 846 25 ~ 850 Northern Lyons and Mediterranean 880 .. 881 25 Southern 585 .. 585 Western Eastern .... 492 50 .. 492 50 Sardinian .. Austrian Lotrbard North of Spain Saragossa 437 50 .. 432 60 Ditto to Barcelona - .. 190 PATTERN POST TO THE BRITISH COLONIES IN THE WEST INDIES AND THE BRITISH S ETTLEMENTS ON THE — Oll the Ist of Jan. next, and patternsoF AFRICA. —pa mitted by post between England and the und ermen ti one d st of t a mhandise may b e trans . merchandise British colonies in the West Indies, riz,—Antigua, Baha• max, Barbadoes, British Guiana, Carriaco u , D om i n i ca, Gre nada, Honduras, Jamaica, Montserrat, Nevis, St. Kitt's, St. Lucia, St.Vincent,Tobago, Tortola,Trinidad,Turks Islands; and the following British settlements on the West Coast of Africa, viz., Gambia, Gold Coast, Lagos, Sierra Leone, The following will be the rates of postage which must be pre paid by means of postage stamps, ch argeable upon such packets of patterns, viz.:—Fur a Pa c k et not exceeding 4 oz, 3d—above 4 oz and not exceeding ilb, 6d—above ilb and not exceeding Ilb, is—above llb and not exceeding lilb, is 6 I—above lilb and sot exceeding 21b, 2s—and every additional i lb, 6d. Special attenti on i s di recte d to the following rules and regulations, which will be strictly enforced :-Ist. No packet of patterns must exceed two feet in length, breadth, or depth. 2d, T he patterns must not bo of intrinsic value. This rule excludes all articles of a saleable nature, and, indeed, whatever may have a value of its own, apart from its mere 11 , 18 a s a pattern ; and the quantity of any material, sent ostensibly as a pattern, must nut be so great that it can fairly be considered as having, on this ground, an intrinsic value. 3 d, There must be no writing or printing other that the address of the person for whom the packet is intended, the address of the sender, a trade mark and numbers, and the prices of the articles. 4th. The patterns must be sent in covers open at the ends, so as to be easy of examination. Samples, however, of seeds, drugs, and so forth, which cannot be sent in open covers, may be enclosed in bags of linen, or other material, tied at the neck; bags so closed that they cannot ba readily opened, even although they be transparent, must not be used for this purpose. Non-com pliance with either of the foregoing rules will subject a packet of patterns to be treated and charged as a letter. In all other respects the regulations of the colonial book post will apply to the pattern p os t with the above colonies. Under these regulations, in order to prevent any interrup tion to the regular transmission of letters, a packet of pat terns may, when it is necessary, be kept back for 24 hours beyond the time when, in the ordinary course, it would be forwarded. N.B.—The rule which forbids the transmission through the post of any article likely to injure the contents of the mail bags or the person,Of any officer of the post office is, of course, applicable to the pattern post ; and a packet containing anything of the kind will be stopped and not sent to its destination,--h 1 command- of the Postmaster General. THAMES ANGLING,— Th e following Stationinforma as to the state of th e f i shery is from t h e wee kly reports of the assistant r i ver keepers of the Th ames A ng • 15, 1864. From ling Preservation Soci e ty t or the week en di ng December 15, 1864. From StainoB but few fish of any s or t t a k en this week. O ne gen tl eman to.)k six jacks, on e we i g hi ng 61b. T he water st ill h o ld s , Fletcher says, "There have been good." Harris reports of Lalehaui :—" The fish iug has been bad. No one comes to fish at Laleham. The water is in good order for jack and perch." Ron • well observes, "I have seen two or three brace of very fine trout lying in holes spawning, There have been some very good jack taken in Walton-sale this last week. Roach fishing is very bad. Smith says, "There have been some very good jack caught in Hampton-preserve as largo as nine pounds each, and a few perch," From Kingston, John son writes, " 1 have got emu good roach with one gentle man, and with another gentleman a jack of twelve and a half pounds weight. This is all the fishing I have had this week. The water alters more or lees every day. The dace are dropping down to Kew,and Mortlake." Errieker says, " There have not been many anglers out this week at Ted dington. One gentleman took seven and a-half dozen of dace in one day, and there have been some more jack taken under the weir. The r.ver is in good fishing order. Howard, from Richmond, gives an account of several days' takes—.one four and a-half dozen, fine dace, another two doen, and seven roach ranging from half to one and a half pounds weight ; another day seven dozen of fine roach and dace ; another day five and a half dozen roach and dace, the heaviest roach weighing one pound and six ounces. There have been quantities of fine dace taken from the bank dttily,— Wist Surrey 2'fines, The Dwarfs at the Crystal Palace. It is recorded in the veracious chronicle of the adventures of Mr Lemuel Gulliver, of Emanuel College, Cambridge, and elsewhere, that when he fell into the hands of the Brobdignagian farmer, that worthy could find no better use for him than to exhibit him. Probably the inhabitants of Brob dignag were more surprised at the littleness of Gul liver than the Lilliputians were at his bigness, and there was in their case this further advantage that they could handle him without any fear. A giant . is an uncanny animal to deal with ; he may do one a damage in case he gets v. xed, but a dwarf is a very different thing, quite as curious and not half so alarming,. No wonder, then, that several thousands were yesterday attracted to the Crystal Palace to see no fewer than four dwarfs, all related, or to be related—one of them famous when most of the men of the present generation were still in their teens, and the rest even smaller than the famed Tom Thumb. The general gives e very sensible excuse for breaking through his original intention of keep ing quiet during his visit to Europe. People, he says, won't let him alone when he goes to see any of the wonders of the " Old Home," and he thinks if he shows himself and his wife for a week or so at the Crystal Palace that he will fairly earn the right to go about as a private visitor to this coun try, and may at the same time do a good turn to his sister-in-law and her intended husband by showing how much smaller they are than laimse.f. It is no wonder, then, that so many people were at Sydenham yesterday ; the wonder is, rather that there were not very many more. The Palace is such a capital place to spend a winter day in that very many went down early and passed away the time in seeing the Shakspere House, in b❑ying toys for Christmas, in admiring Mr Brown's really beautiful medals to commemorate the opening of the Clifton Suspension Bridge, in having their portraits taken—in doing some of the thousand things which are open to all who go to Sydeaham. Three o'clock was the hour named for the levee of the little folks, and by that time the space in front of the great orchestra was pretty well filled, while in the reserved seats below the organ there was a goodly throng. Four chairs of green and gold were placed on a little raised platform on the orchestra, and hither, soon after the appointed time, came Mr and Mrs Stratton and Miss Minnie Warren, with " Commodore" Nutt, and their spokes■ man, introduced to those assembled by Mr Bowley, the energetic manager of the Crystal Palace. The small folks were very well received, and several children occupying places in the reserved seats were placed beside them by way of contrast, the Crystal Palace band the while playing some pleasant music. The levee lasted about half an hour, when " the dise tinguished strangers" made their bow and retired. To-day, we believe, they will give, at half-past two o'clock, a levee in the board-room of the Palace, when they will appear in the dresses worn at Tom Thumb's wedding ; and at halfepast three they will show themselves to the general visitors es they did yesterday. We ere assured that it is only at the Crystal Palace and during this week that Mr and Mrs Stratton will appear in company with Mr Nutt and Miss Warren. Those, therefore, who desire to see the whole party must go to Sydenham before the end of the week, Mr and Mrs, Charles Kean in California, (From the San Francisco Gleaner of Oct, 28.) These admirable artists have appeared during the week in " King John " and " Hamlet." The former tragedy was, until late years, rarely played upon the London boards; the elder Kean did not play it at all at the late period of his life; and during the early career of Macready it was the only Shaksperian character in which he attained success— his talents being hemmed into the limited space interven ing between Charles Young and Edmund Kean, To enter into an analysis of the performance of those accomplished artists would be a superogatory task. If our readers can imagine perfection, they are that in ever , point of view, and this must be conceded by many who, not entering into the beauties, consider this tragedy heavy and unadapted for the stage. Observers cannot fail to notice the vast improvement in the stage direction ; a master spirit is plainly discernible ; the fall of Arthur from the battlements, for instance—the height and concealment of the point of contact with the earth aro Geis tically managed, but more worthy of remark is Mr Kean's medihival knowledge as exemplified in costume. The dress in which he takes the field is precisely copied from coins in a cabinet that was many years ago familiar to us. This exactitude in apparently slight matters marks the artist, and to whose research we owe tribute—at least with the pen. Mr Cathcart's " Hubert" was a good performance, and Int y upholds his reputation. Of the rest of the dramatis personal, we cannot say much ; the princes and nobles made up in stiffness what they lacked in nobility; but this deport ment was perhaps common to the time when princes' " mouths were the only parliament," and of which Shak- Spero himself seems to have had but imperfect notion. What are we to say of Mr Mayo's Faulconbridge P Any thing but to the purpose. Shakspere threw his whole soul into this character, and since his time many a King John may hale convulsively writhed his last, and been remem bered, but very few Faulconbridges exist in the annals of the stage. To look for a brilliant impersonation of such a character from so young and inexperienced an actor as Mr Mayo, is to expect too much, a part for which possibly he never had a model, and he naturally trod timidly when he knew his footing was uncertain. We quote a passage which, though he might have carefully studied, he did not com prehend. Constance concludes a withering reply to Austria, who bids her to piece : Const.—And dost thou now fall over to my foes ? And wear a lion's skin ? doff is for shame, And hang a calf's skin on these recreant limbs. Austr.—O, that a man should speak those words to me Fazelc. —And hang a call's skin on those recreant limbs, Austr.—Thou dar'st not say so, villain, for thy life. Fauk —And hang a calf's skin on those recreant limbs. Now, Faulconbridge, in the first instance, merely reite• rates the taunt of Constance, but in the second, it is in direct answer to a challenge from the craven Austria, and demands, as may be readily inferred from ordinary observa tion, a pecuFar intonation. To this Mr Mayo failed to pay regard, uttering both the taunt and response in the same measured key. Many other points might be remarked, but " a word to the wise," &o. On Wednesday night an immense house assembled to witness Kean's first appearance in " Hamlet," and strange as may seem our statement, we nevertheless assert that the Prince of Denmark had never till that night been seen in California. We had been satisfied to see his ghost, and we mistook that incorporeality for the reality. We find our self totally incompetent to express our own feel ings at this performance, and we venture to affirm with respect to the audience, that the most san guine expectation was realised, and no greater prof of this could be adduced than that a crowded audience sat under uncomfortable circumstances the tragedy throughout, and among whom scarcely the slightest shifting was visible; and this was a remarkable circumstance, for though we have the highest respect for the patrons of the legitimate dams, we have still hitherto failed to see in them the aesthetic people who have love or even taste for the higher order of art. We may congratulate ourself that we see Mr Kean at the period when he has attained to the acme of his art, and that he is likely to retire from public life at the point of time when his laurels are not only unfaded, but in mature freshness, wait ing no culmination, and avoiding those painful scenes that too often accompany the late phases of an actor's life; we have the privilege to see within the compass of a few weeks the whole successes of his career—the studies of his life—and this we should not fail to do. We have never had a finer dramatic treat than the per•• formance of which we now write ; it contained excellencies upon which we might dilate interminably, and we might be tempted to enter into comparative analyses between the talents of Mr Kean and artists of renown who have preceded him upon our boards in "Hamlet," and for whom we have high respect ; but we dare not. 'We saw in them melancholy gentlemen who infused something of the same sentiment into us, but the soul—Hamlet's living principle—the Prince interiorly, if we may use the term, we never saw. These words may be, to quote Hamlet, " wild and windy," but they are tine, and not biassed by either theatrical friendships, or other motives. In Mr Kean it was an embodiment of art, and must maintain a place in tho remembrance of even the duller sort of men who, ignorant of the text, or the hundreds of subtle disquie sitions that have arisen from it, were entranced by the magic of the scene alone. We now make a statement, and do so after carefully weighing relative merit, that we never saw the part of Gertrude acted till that occasion. It appeared like the breaking forth of a new life—a diamond to which additional lustre and refrangibility had been given. Taking this performance as a whale, we may safely say that one more elaborate and finished has eever been seen in the city, and many years may elapse before newer artists may damp its brilliancy. The only real deficiency was found in Aldrich's Claudius ; this part has an individuality that this gentleman failed not only to convey to others, but himself t o realise. REF.'S IMPROVED DIARY AND ALMANAC FOR 1865.—The thirty-fourth number of this little annual has just been published. The present edition is a great im provement on its predecessor, and to commercial men it will be found of great value. as it contains a diary for every day in the year. Hooker v. Burnaby. TO THE EDITOR OP THE SUN. Sir, —My attention having been directed to a letter from Mr Burnaby, contained in The Sun of this day, I trust you will give me the oppottunity of replying thereto. 1 could have wished that he had not made it necessary for me to do so, but, as his account of the of sir is so totally opposed to the sworn testimony given on the trial, a substantially correct report of which appeared in The Sun of the 15th inst., I have no alternative. Mr Burnaby appears to imagine that, by starting with the denial of that which was never stated to have occurred, either by me or my witnesses, his task would be somewhat easier in endeavouring to convey to the public an impression that the expression of feeling exhibited by bath judge and jury was called forth by a misrepresentation of the facts. Another impression Mr Burnaby would in like manner attempt to convey in his statement that he had no opportu nity affirded to him on the trial of saying a word or two in his own defence. Why, sir, whose fault was that ? Surely he had, in instructing his own solicitors and counsel, given to them his own version of this unpleasant affair, and can it be conceived that they would not have called upon him and his alleged witnesses to enlighten the jury with that Version if they had . not felt assured that the evidence they were prepared to give would not in the least degree refute the testimony given by me and corroborated by several inde pendent witnesses ? So much, then, for Mr Burnaby's alleged reasen for de siring still to continue before the public, who must attach such weight to it as it deserves. It would be a very unpleasant occupation to again go through the evidence given by me on the trial, but I must with your permission refer to some portions contradictory of Mr Burnaby's assertions, lle says that I commenced the dispute "as admitted by my own evidence." In no por tion of that evidence will there be found any such admission. Oa the contrary, Mr Burnaby commenced the affair by an offensive remark and gesture respecting the shooting, ac companied by a coarse and vulgar expression. My reply contained no such expression, and could only have been offensive to him by the truth of the desire it expressed— viz , that the sooner his friend did give up the shooting, as he recommended, the better I should like it if he brought down such sport: men as him. This was followed by an insulting and offensive rejoinder by Mr Burnaby—" the war of words then waxed wroth." I deny most positively that I ever invited him to fight, and this denial was corro borated on the trial by the evidence of Mr Walmisley. The fact was Mr Burnaby was himself the challenger—he fired off his gun and commenced to square up to me, and it was only from my threat to use my gun that . he did not then strike me. A reference to your report of the evidence will corroborate the truth of this statement. What Mr Burnaby means by his allegation that I offered to " . give him a sound thrashing," and that when he expressed his willingness to accede thereto, I threatened to blow his brains out, I do not know. But does not even this vague expression contradict what he desires should be inferred from it ? I also deny most emphatically, Sir, that the defendant, through his two friends and brother officers, in any way expressed his willingness to withdraw any expression of his calculated to hurt my feelio gs, upon my doing the same. As I stated in my evidence, and as was the fact, an apology was demanded of me, and as an inducement for giving it I was told that Burnaby was a queer fellow to deal with. Feeling, sir, that the apology ought to have come from him, I declined to make one. This, however, is merely begging the question. My com plaint was, and is, that we afterwards proceeded with our shooting, and after the lapse of two hours, the dispute hav ing apparently ended, Mr Burnaby, taking advantage of my having parted with my gun, came up to me, and what then took place I will give from your own report of my evidence, which is strictly correct. "Mr Burnaby then walked up to me and said, 'Do you mean to apologise ?' I said, Certainly not.' Before the words were out of my mouth he struck me with one hand under the eye and with the other on the temple, and almost stunned me. Ha then kicked me with all his force on the hip, and followed up the blows. He .struck me in the face two or three times without stopping. I endeavoured to parry the blows as well as I could, but did not attempt to strike the defendant. He then stopped to take breath and again proceeded to strike and kick me. He kicked me in the groin inside the thigh. He hit me on the side of the head and otber parts of the body. He again stopped and asked me if I had had enough, and would I apologise, I said, ' Certainly I should not apologise, but that he should hear of the matter again.' He then commenced hitting me again, and struck me a violent blow in the mouth. He then kicked me on the top of the knee, and, as he did it, I caught his foot and tried to throw him. 1 could not do so. He hopped on one leg, and kept hitting me with all his force on both ears." The above, sir, is an account of the attack made upon me by the defendant, whose demur that he ever kicked me while upon the ground, and that I never was on the ground at all, was entirely gratuitous, because I never asserted anything of the kind, either on the trial or elsewhere. As much reliance may also be placed upon his statement as to kicking me twice behind. My back was never towards him. All the wounds and bruises about my person as dr3posed to by the surgeon on the trial were in front. With reference to the assertion that I " proposed to accept £5O damages prior to the hearing of the case," I beg to give this my most emphatic and unqualified denial. Neither I, toy solicitors, nor counsel at any time ever solicited any arrangement, nor were any overtures ever made on behalf of the defendant until after khe jury had retired to consider their verdict, when, as my solicitor informed me, an offer had been made to him by the defendant's counsel to give me a verdict for £5O and an ample apology, but I declined acceding thereto, considering that the offer had come too late. Mr Burnaby very ingenuously acknowledges and appears to be proud of his proficiency in manly exercises. I would ask him, sir, in what do these consist ? If in striking, kicking, and otherwise brutally ill-treating one who offers no defence, I leave you and your readers to judge whether it is a proficiency to be proud of or for which he will find many admirers. In conclusion, I beg to state that the defendant's last as , . sertion as to my height, six-, and age is as equally erro neous as the other staten•enta contained in his letter,--I have the honour to remain, sir, your obedient servant, JOHN M. HOOXER. Brenchley, Kent, Dec- 19. The Weather in the Parks, A marked change took place in the weather during yes terday morning. The thermometer at the Royal Humane Society's receiving -house in Hyde-park, on Saturday night, was as low as 19 deg., and yesterday morning the glass was not higher than 30 deg., and by noon the mercury rose to 37 deg„ being 5 deg. above freezing point. The barometer yesterday morning at nine o'clock was 29,7, and the wind at that time was E.S.E., but in the evening it veered round to south, indicating a storm of wind or a fall of rain, Later last evening the thermometer indexed 38 deg., with soft clouds rising from the south, threatening wet. The sudden and unexpected change in the weather has caused a remarkable difference in the appearance of the royal parks and the streets of the metropolis, Instead of the snow crepitating under the feet of pedestrians, nothing but im mense Eliebts of mud could be seen, which caused a great annoyance to passers along the footpaths of the London streets. The parks are hardly much better, for the carriage drives are several inches deep in mud, and Rotten-row has carried out its name to perfection, that it is at present so rotten that persons on horseback can only with difileulty pass along the drive, In spite of the change of the weather a great number of boys ventured upon the royal Round Pond, in Kensington-gardens, end had it not been for Mr, Superintendent Williams sending a number of icemen to drive them off, the probability is that several lives would have been sacrificed. As it was, several of the more ven turesome broke through the ice and fell into deep water, and one of them got immersed up to his arm-pits, and another had the water over his head. Fortunately, the timely aid afforded was the means of getting the parties out in safety. The Regent's -park and the Serpentine still remain partially frozen over, and in the event of the frost setting in with increased violence, Mr. Young, the secre tary, and Mr. Williams, the superintendent of the Royal Humane Society, were actively engaged with a number of workmen in raising the canvass tents so as to form tempo rary hospitals. POACHING AFFRAY NEAR MALTON.—The Mal ton magistrates, on Saturday, investigated a charge cf night poaching preferred against two labourers, named James Kitchiug and Joseph Cooke. The affray occurred on Sunday night week, in a wood at Easthorpe, the pro perty of the Earl of Carlisle, and occupied by Mr G. A. Legard. John Cockerill, coachman to Mr Legard, stated that the gardener, James Botterill, had come to tell him ho had heard shots in the woods about 7 o'clock. Witness got the assistance of two other men, one named John Hard.. wick, and another Charles Kirby, son of Lord Carlisle's bailiff. About 8 o'clock, witness and Botterill heard ano ther shot in the middle of the wood, and went there. He saw two men standing with guns, looking up into the trees, and he at once seized Cook, struck him in the neck, and both fell together. A struggle then had taken place to gain possession of the gun, and witness was being over powered, when Botterill came up and hit Cooke two blows on the head with a slick, which "quietened" him. When Hardwick came up the:prisoner Kitching met him,holding his loaded gun by the muzzle, and threatening to strike with the butt end if the watcher did not keep back. Kirby, however, was up directly afterwards, and at once rushed at Kitchiug, and made him a prisoner. Cooke was a good deal hurt about the bead. Both men denied that they had been in the wood before eight o'clock, and alleged that only one shot had bean fired, and that was by Cooke. Kitching said that seeing his mate "ham mered'' on the head and bleeding, he was coming to his assistance, and only raised his gun to defend himself. Both said it was their first offence, and pleaded hard for mercy. Kitchen had a wife and It children, and Cooke had a wife and four children. The Bench said as the prisoners had not injured the watchers they would send them each to two months' hard labour, then to find sureties for twelve months' or elle months' longer im prieo;amen t, A T ) ditatrt TirtilllNT HER MAJESTY. OSBORNE, Dec. 19. The Queen and Princess Helena drove out this morning. Princess Louise also drove out, attended by the Hon. Florence Seymour. Prince Leopold and Princess Beatrice walked in the grounds. The Ear'. and Cunntcss Grey have arrived at Rome. It is said that the noble earl and countess will remain abroad until after Easter. The Eirl of Coventry has left Thomae's Hotel, Berkeley-square, for Paris. _ Viscount and Viscountess Holmesdale have been receiving a succession of guests at Linton House, Kent) during the past week. Mr and Lady Charlotte Schreiber and Alien. Guest have left Exeter House, Roehampton, for Orton Longueville, on a visit to the Marchioness of Huntly The Hon. Mrs. Charles Hay was safely delivered of a son on the 18Lh inst., at her residence, 33, Cadosan.- place. Accounts have been received from Japan announc ing the death of Captain the Hon. Adolphus Edward r Vereker, of the 20th Foot, fifth and youngest son of Viscoun t Gort. Be was formerly in the oth West York Militia, and in 1855 entered the 20th Regiment as lieutenant. The gallant young officer served with his regiment in the Crimea. COMMUNICATION BETWEEN RAILWAY PASS EN' anus AND GunnDs —The railway companies have, we are infortael, been given to understand that they must adopt some means to establish a communication he twcon passengers and the guards of trains, or the Govern ment itself will prescribe a method for effecting that object. A committee of railway managers has beeu formed, and they have received plans from upwards of 200 persons, none of which, however, have given entire satisfaction. The best submitted are those called Tattersall's and Woodfields ; the former effects the communication by means of mechanical force, and the latter by means of electricity. Mr Preece, the superintendent of the Electric and International Company at Southampton, has submitted a plan to the London and South Western Rail way Company, who immediately under took, at their own expense, to give it a fair trial. Accord ing to this plan a tassel is hung just above the passenger's head, connected by a rope to catches at the opposite corner of the carriage, and these catches in moving cause two small concealed semaphore arms to project from the carriage. The arms are connected with a small electric battery in the guard's van, and as they fall from a concealed vertical psi lion to a horizontal projecting one they cause an electric cur rent to be completed and ring an alarum bell in the van. This bell continues to ring while the arms project, and the latter are placed so that they can only be restored to a vertical position by the guard coming to the carriage. On his look ing out these arms are very obvious by day, and by nigh t could be made so by small lamps fixed and lighted near them. A hand-rail runs along the carriage, which lifts up or down at the doors, and by which the guard can easily and safely pass to the carriage from which an alarm proceeds. The semaphore arms, when in a horizontal po sition, are concealed in a neat frame which is an ornament to the carriage, and the electric wire with a hook at the end runs from the frame under the carriage, the wire of one carriage being coupled to that of anothor in a moment by means of the hooks. Some persons have thought that the use of electric batteries would be an objection, but these batteries are now constructed so as not to require any attention for months together. The expense of fitting up the passenger rolling stock of the London and South Western Company would not, it is said, average 40s. a carriage. NEWSPAPERS FOR RUSSIA.—Since issuing the notice No. 38, dated the 24th October last, respecting the conditions under which alone newspapers can be forwarded by the post to Russia, the Postmaster General has been in formed that an exemption from the ordinary regulations exists in favour of poltical newspapers, or of any other publications, addressed to members or the royal family of Russia, to the imperial ministers, and to members of the diplomatic corps. Such newspapers, &c., it is now stated, will be admitted into Russia although not subscribed for at one of the Russian post-offices, It appears, also, that non. political newspapers and publications may be received by the post, not only when addressed to established book sellers in Russia, as already announced, but also when addressed to the higher schools, to the Imperial Public Library, and to the Academy of Sciences in Russia,—By commend of the Postmaster-General. 'IRE EARL OF HARROWBY ON BIBLE DIFFICULT TIES. —The Eirl of Harrow by has been presiding a t a meeting of the Stafford branch of the Bible Society. His lordship took the opportunity of recounting an interview which he had the pleasure of holding with that distin guished and venerable man, the late Lord Lyndhurst, who had been engaged much in his advanced years in studying the Bible and all the controversies which had arisen about it. In conversing with him the late distin guished nobleman took the opportunity of saying these controversies don't trouble me; the difficulties that are raised here and there by controversialists about the num ber of the Jewish people and various minor points do not trouble me, for I think it ought to be, and is, enough for me that our Saviour said, ' If a man believe not Moses and the prophets, neither will he be persuaded though one rose from the dead.' That is enough for me, and settles all my doubts." Ile thought if that declaration of Christ was enough for so distinguished a man as Lord Lyndhurst, with all hikacuteness of intellect and his habit of strict in vestigation of evidence, it ought to be enough for them, w hO could not pretend to rival him in those qualities. It was no doubt distressing to have doubts and difficulties raised, come of which we were not always able at a moment to satisfy; but he thought that when anyone looked back to the his tory of the Scriptures, that had been received as the un doubted record of Divine truth from the time of our Saviour to the present moment—upwards of 1,800 years—unques tioned by any church or any heretic, acknowledged by all to be the authentic record of what our Saviour and his apostles said and did, and to contain all that was warranted by our Saviour and his apostles as the inspired records of the Jew ish nation before him, he thought when they remembered this they must feet we had sufficient evidence to satisfy our selves that, although doubts might arise which we could not instantly quell, the difficulties of unbelief would be in finitely greater. (Applause.) Recently men have been led to deplore the appearance in Franco of a popular work which although expressing for the character of Christ the utmost admiration, associated with that character the extraordi nary supposition that one who preached and practised every virtue was at the same a person who palmed upon others miracles and pretensions which were totally unfounded. It was shucking that a book of such a nature should circulate —it shocked every Christian feeling—but at the same timer from all accounts we heard from France, the effect appear ed to have been just the reverse of that which might have been at first expected. People were buying Bibles and Tea: temente for the purpose of hearing more of this Jesus, an d seeing whether it was possible that a man of whose life and doctriue so much had been said in praise could possibly b e the imposter he was represented, and it so happened th at controversy, with all its evils, had the grea t a d va ntage °, stirring and awakening inquiry, which they, who believed in the Scriptures, had, no doubt, would result in the cote' plete victory of truth. MILITARY CHANGES.—A meeting has taken pla ce between the Secretary of State for War, the Cora wander in Chief, and the principal officials of the 11 ", s, se Guards, in order to see if any dinainutf on of number mig ht be made without any undue interference with the efficiency of the army, The first branch of the service in which it a peered some sacrifice to economy might be cheaplY ra ecie !, consisted of the depot battalions. It was felt that there Aga' really no necessity for keeping up separate depots for regi' merits serving in the United Kingdom ; and as there was ° necessity for theNlepets, there could be none for the d e P °c battalions which they constitute. We have 35 battalions on home service, and the six last depot battalions—fro nd' : 17th to the 23d—contain 35 regimental depots. It raaJ therefore ke regarded as certain that six depot batt alions will be reduced from March 31, 1865. We are unable to speak with accuracy of the manner in which the reduction will be effected as regards particular battalions. The retitle: tion will probably involve an entire re-organisation Of depot system. With regard to the reduction of the staff° the six battalions, it may be anticipated that the six jaelh°r officers of each rank will be placed on half pay, with understanding that the very earliest opportunity will taken of replacing each as vacancies arise in other deP°,"o in line battalions, or in staff situatians for which the , se placed officers may be required. The following are the Lieutenant Colonels, Majors, and Adjutants who w ill be placed on half pay :—Lieutenant Colonels Inglis, Fe r t moy—Fraser, Belfast—Newdigate,Chatham—lion. Gilb Buttevant—Rickman, Chatham—and Eir ribl , r ; ',„ Colchester. Majors Swinburne, Colchester—Bold ero, ling—Hughes, Walmer—Padfield, Cork—Blackett, cheater—and Meredith, Templemore. Adjutants c. _ u t : Belfast—Tarte, Birr—M'Clueen, Waluter—Colthurst,beinie've ham—Hare, Aberdeen—and Northey, Fertnoy. We a __ lt h, that this is the only reduction as yet settled ; but in c r" regi ., as the two depot companies will be struck off ea _ rl e „ 0 meet, it is not unlikely that the battfo two junior captains, lieutenants, and ensigns of e t a lac great lion at home may be seriously entertained. But n that alarm need be felt, as we have good reason t u" t rega rd , i t° whatever may be the change agreed upon, is' supsrz l...4 individual interests will be exercised, and that the r . e _ s question of reduchci g delay, it is not the least probable that au d y e r d, a 0 _ ectii merary officers will be absorbed without any v e s d r u y o s t e ion "h o f regiments or battalions will take place. la. ov e r tiaat estimate of our colonial and Indian wants will 4 carryiog out tobaemiterLe„oin. , , , f awno4axre:voykaz word