The Sun. — London, England, 1863-01-07 00:00:00

R OYAL ENGLISH OPERA, COVENT GARDEN. Under the Management of Miss Louisa Pyne and Mr. W. Harrison, Sole Lessees. THIS EVENING, Balfes popular Opera, THE PURI TAN'S DAUGHTER : Madlle. Parepa and Miss Susan Fyne; Messrs. Santley, W. H. Weiss, Patey, A. St. Albyn, J. Rouse, C. Lyall, E. Dussek, and W. Harrison. After which, the Grand Comic Christmas Pantomime, en titled HARLEQUIN BEAUTY AND THE BEAST. Doors open at hall-past 6—Commence at 7. THEA T R E-R OYA L, DRURY-LANE.- Lessee and Manager, Mr. Edmund Falconer. THIS EVEA ING, the Combo Drama of THE NEXT OF KIN. After which, the Grand Pantomime of LITTLE GOODY TWO SHOES. Commence at '. TREAT EE-R0 Y AL, HAY MARKET. Lessee. Mr. J. B. Buckstone. THIS EVENING, at Seven o'clock, will be performed CUR AMERICAN COUSIN. Asa Trenchard, Mr. Buck stone ; Lord Dundreary, Mr. Sothern. Atter which, a new and original Extravaganza, entitled ItASSELAS, PRINCE OF ABYSSINIA ; or, The Happy Valley. Rasselas, Miss Louise Keeley. Concluding with MRS. WHITE. LYCEUM THEATRE ROYAL, Will OPEN, under the Sole Management of Mr. FECHTER, on SATURDAY, January 10. The perfermances will commence with an Ori:inal Sketch, entitled A SUDDEN ATTACK, in which Messrs. Shore, Garden, H. Widdicomb, Miss Henradc, and Mrs. Lee will appear. After which, at a Quarter to Eight, a New Romantic 'Drama, in Three Acts, and Pr3logue, entitled THE DUKE'S MOTTO, by Paul Feval and John Brougham, Esq. The principal character will be sustained by Fechter, supported by Messrs. G. Vining, J. Brougham, ; N: W iddicombe, M'lntyre, F. Ch ar l es, Garden, Raymond, Butler, Dawson ; Misses Carlotta Leclercq, Kate Terri , Lavenue, and Elsworthy. 0 - 9 ged, and Mr. Phelps and Mr. W a lt er M ontgomery are en- Will shortly appear. ance to Doors open open at half-past Six o'clock, periodt:, and £2 2s. rnence at Seven. Private Boxes, £2 Places registered. Stalls, 6s. 6d. ; Dress circle, 6d. ; Upper , Dress Circle, 58. ; Circle, 4s. 6d. Prices at doors—start: , . No half-price. Box -I.7_pper irele, 4a.; Pit, 2s. ; Gallery, - stage-Manager, Mr. G. office open daily from 1, till 5 . FT Barnett. yining ; Acting-Mana,ger, Mr- ATEW T H F:ATRE-RO VAL, ADELPHL - Sole Propriator and Manager, Mr. B. Webster. THIS EVENING.A TICKET OF LEAVE : 3 fessrs. J L. Toole, P. Bedford, and Mrs. Billington. After which, MARGERY DAW. To conclude with " GEORGE DE BARNWELL : or, Harlequin Folly in the Realms of Fancy." Miss Woolgar, Mica K. Kelly, Miss Seaman ; Messrs. J. L. Toole, P. Bed ford, Stephenson, C. J. Smith. Harlequin, Mr. John Lauri ; Uolumbine, Miss Caroline Adams ; Clown, Mr. W. Illldyard ; 'a ntaloon, Mr. J. Paulo. The celebrated Arthur and Lertrand. Commence at 7. ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE, Lessee and Manager, Mr Lindw. _ - THIS EVENING, THE TRIPLE ALLIANCE. Mr. H. Marston, Mr. Wallace ; Miss Constance Aylmer, Mise M. Oliver, and Mrs. B. White. After which, the New Grand CHRISTMAS PANTOMIME, " RIQUET WITH THE TUFT ; or, Harlequin and Mother Shipton." Mr. G. B e l more, Mr. C. Seyton, Misses Gray and liudapeth, Mr. Milano, Mr. R. Power, Miss A. Collinson, and Mr. Halford. The WEATHER.—Sun Office, Jan. 7, 1863. THERMOMETER. Highest since Noo; yesterday Lowest during the night This day at Noon Barometer-29.27. Wind—N.W.; rain last night, to-day fine. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. THIS DAY.—Morning, 3h. 31m.—Afternoon, 3h. 50m. To-moußow.-Morning, 4 h. 3m.—Afternoon, 4h. 54m, ° a 1) .~ ~~~g~ Thfe LONDON, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7, 1863, Within a comparatively brief period Europe has been called upon to witness the overthrow of the governments of her two most ancient States. Though exciting the interest and sympathy of the higher class of politicians from the glory of their classie memories, heightened in the one case by indignation for the wrongs inflicted by an irre sponsible despotism, Greece and Italy have long been politically unimportant. It remained for the year 18.59 to prove, in spite of disorganised States, rival foreign interests, a long course of tyranny, and a people unused to self-government, that Italy was something more than "an idea ;" that without attempting to emulate the dignity of the CESARS her rulers might hope to take a prominent part in European politics, and to see their country duly ranked among con stitutional powers. The case of Greece is not alto gether similar. The hope, the interest, the indig nant sympathy which of late years we have given 8o freely to the Italians struggling for their liberty, we felt for Greece some thirty or forty years ago. The pages of two of our best known poets attest the warmth of English feeling in the days of the struggle with Turkey. The independence of Greece was as favourite a theme with liberal orators in the era of Navarino, as the unity of Italy was in the time of Magenta and Sol ferino. It must be confessed, however, that the result of the experiment was not similarly satisfactory. One great obstacle to the indepen dence of both kingdoms during many generations has been the fierce contentions, the jealous rival ries existing within themselves. The contest between Athens and Sparta, the war of the Chioggia between Venice and Genoa, have not been without modern instances in feeling, if not in deed. During the late outbreak, however, the Italians laid aside their internal jealousies and dissensions, and with a patience and a unanimity that did them honour, put every other object second to the unity and constitutional freedom of their common coun try, in a manner that leads us to hope for the best results, when time and experience shall have consolidated their constitution. The Greeks, unhappy in the King selected, unhappy, too, in the want of good faith and purpose in the pecple, have presented but a melancholy spectacle to Europe since their grand regeneration. The overthrow of the late unpopular and effete dynasty, swayed as it was by Russian influences, has been long looked for as a matter of coarse, and it remains to be seen whether the Greeks will learn from their past failures, and profit by the opportunity now fairly in their hands. Their almost unanimous choice of Prin ce A LFRED as th e i r f uture Sovereign, however extravagant in a political sense, indicates, we may hope, their determination to have some substantial guarantee for the inde pendence and constitutional tendencies of their new Ki ng . It was certainly not likely, after all the evils brought upon them by Russian intrigues, that they would have dreamt of selecting a nom i nee of the CZAR. But the unanimity with which all classes turned to this country, however little flatter ing to the two other great Powers of the Protecto rate, shows a faith in English disinterestedness and uprightness Which may be a lesson to more ambi tious States. This confidence has been rewarded on our part by the cessio n of the lonian Islands, which, after Mr. ELLIOTT'S memorandum in last night's Gazette, may be regarded as almost a fait accompli. The surrender of a doubtful Protectorate, which put us to heavy expense without certainly bringing us much increase of dignity, will be no disadvantage to this country. It will save us some thousands a year, and in no wise weaken our in fluence in Europe. Mr. ELLIOTT'S communication is couched in sensible and moderate language, re commending in the selection of a Prince the very qualities most desired by the Greeks themselves. Who this future Prince may be is yet uncertain ; but the proposed union of the lonian Islands will and as in th e naturally strengthen his kingdom , present disabled state of Turkey he has little to fear from foreign aggression, we may hope that he will turn his whole attention to the consolidation and improvement of his internal administration, and, in accordance with the declaration of the Pro visional Government, maintain for Greece consti tutional monarchy and the relations of all other States. peace with The game preservers have met with a s light check in their over-exultant application of their Night Poaching Act. The magistrates have too generally been eager to show that this act, filched,, as it was almost, from the Legislature against the wish of the Home Secretary, and in opposition to some of the most respected members of both parties, does really override the most settled principles of English law. They have so interpreted it that the onus of proof of innocence is thrown on the accused, not that of the proof of guilt on the accuser. The act is one perplexed and difficult enough, as might be expected from its hurried passage, in the hottest haste, by the county squires hurrying up as on a life-or-death question to town, when most other members felt but too secure that the transaction of formal and routine business would alone be tole rated. Still it does contain the reasonable provi sion that " such game is obtained by unlawfully going on any land in search or pursuit of game." The country magistrates have maintained that if the game, nets, are found on any person, it is for him to show that he got them without "enter ing unlawfully" on land. The def en d ants ' legal a d v i s u er lw s a ha fll v u ec y" contended in vain that the trespass on th e land is a part of the offence under the statute, an d that therefore the mere possession of the game does not create the crime contemplated by the act. That unlawful entrance on land must be proved, in fact, as well as possession of game. This last view of the case has now been sustained for the first time, we believe, by an appeal to a le gally-qualified judge from a decision of one bench of the Great Unpaid. It was brought before the Stamford Quarter Sessions ; the bench of mag strates had convicted several undoubted poachers, who were seen leaving the town at night,were waited for by the police in the morning, and caught re turning to the town with game in their possession. The fact of their poaching no one could doubt. Their profession was well known. They had no land of their own to take game from. No one would authorise them to take even rabbits at night. And the game, with implements to take it, was in their bags. Many a man has been hung for murder on not clearer circumstantial evidence. But in the case of every murder the corpus delicti must be shown to exist. It must be proved that there has been a person killed—that the offence, that is, for which the accused is tried, has been committed. It is on this point that the prosecution here fails, It is a part of the corpus delicti that the possessor of the game should have been " unlawfully on land" for it. This might indeed be believed by everyone; it was believed by magistrates, recorder, and every one else in this case, but it was not proved before the court. A person suddenly missing under very suspicious circumstances might be presumed to be murdered, but no trial for murder could take place till the body or remains of the murdered man were found. On this sound principle the learned judge ruled that the conviction must be quashed. It shows how much the public resent the harsh administration of the un-English code termed the Game Laws, that this drily legal decision elicited the applause of the court. The applauding indivi duals had certainly ne sympathy with the poachers personally. They are a class of men all the com munity would be glad to be rid of. But it would like to be rid also of game preservers, arbitrary parish squires, and game laws. The prevalent feeling is that those who will pester the country with flocks of hares and pheasants, and tempt men to poach, by packing together wild animals like flocks of sheep or poultry, do not deserve the countenance of the public. It was also apparent, in this case, how the police of towns and counties will be withdrawn from their proper duties to perform the office of gamekeepers. A gentleman meets some men, whom he takes to be poachers, walking out of town in the direction of some extensive preserves. He informs the police. Forthwith the police, in stead of being employed in watching the property of those who pay the police rate, are set to watch the game for which the preservers pay no rate whatever, because game cannot be made property at all. The police are, as it was predicted they would be, turned, in fact, into gamekeepers, and the game, which is the training school for crime in the rural districts, and thus the heaviest indirect charge on the county rates, now becomes a direct charge on them. These Norman laws must be revised, and brought into accordance with our modern sense of justice. And in some way game preservers must be induced to exchange their present unmanly system for one of moderate preservation. The Earl of CARNARTON has come forward in a bold spirit to enter his protest against a system which is fast becoming intolerable in its results, and bids fair, if not checked, to rank among the national grievances. His lordship moved for " a select committee to consider the system of prison discipline in this country, and the expediency of any change therein." He denied all idea of con veying any censure on the Visiting Justices, whose duties he affirmed were to maintain the prison dis cipline on the system on which it is at present founded, whereas the task imposed on the committee ha wished to see appointed would be of a totally different nature, they would have to consider the principles rather than the details of the penal system. He did not intend to enter into questions which referred to sentences beyond two years, as they came under the class called penal servitude, and Parliament would soon be called upon to consider what course must be pursued by Government in relation to them. His lordship th en ex pl a i ne d in the clearest manner the reason which induced him to make this statement. It was 15 years since a committee had laid down the system upon which prison discipline in this country should be conducted; he reminded Viscount EVERBLEY, who presided that day at the Sessions, that he had been the chairman of that committee. In these earnest words his lordship proved the impossibility of considering it unnecessary to make that a neplus ultra arrangement. " since that time committees of both Houses of Parliament have sat, commissionshave been issued, reports published, and a very abundant and voluminous flood of evidence has been brought forward upon this particular subject, and, therefore, it would be preposterous to jump to the conclusion that, however well the subject was deliberated by the Committee to which I have alluded, its conclusions ought to be invested with any degree of finality, dO as to preclude the idea of a reinvestigation at the present day. During these 15 years various changeshav discipline;ebeenmad a e n i d n , the mode of administering prison al though it may be true that in themselves none of those changes have been ate, they really changes, yet, tak en i n th e agg reg great revolutionary do, in consequence of their uniform tendency and a nd operation being all in on e di rec ti on , constitute very considerable change in our prison discipline." He then proceeded to show how the original orders had fallen into disuetude, until they were mere apologies for punishment. The committee had laid down these rules. The prisoners were divided into four classes ; those serving their first month were to be allotted eight hours' hard labour a-day, the second class six hours, the third four hours, and the fourth three hours. As the case now stands, through the mitigations of the system, the work has degenerated into the following ratio :—The first class only labour three hours and a half, the second, third, and fourth receive about two hours' work a-day. " Well, then, I ask," exclaimed his lord ship, " is it not idle to talk of sentencing a pd. TEE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, JANUARY 7, 1863. soner to hard labour if this is to be the state of things in the prison ? What is the result ? Look at it in any light you please, e ith er as respects the prisoner, or'as regards the judge, it must have a very bad effect." He truly stated that as concerned the men themselves who were under sentence it was a perfect mockery, the inflictions imposed by the Court with due solemnity and gravity, went for nothing in the minds of those who had been committed like those last before him-18, 20, and 25 times. His lordship then went on to speak of the diet, which belongs to the sentence as much as hard labour does. His own words will best explain his meaning. " lam not one of those who are in favour of harsh and cruel rae isures towards criminals. I am not in favour of a star vation diet, but I think that what has hitherto been for. gotten or practically ignored in these discussions is the consideration that there is a medium between a starvation and an excessive diet. While I would give such a dietary as should sustain fairly the bodily vigour of prisoners, I would studiously refrain from giving anything like a luxu rious diet. I certainly think that the scale of dietary laid down in 1858 did not err on the side of starvation ; but even if it did, that dietary has been revised, and you will find that all the changes have been on the side of relaxa tion, and there has been a considerable increase in the amount of the meat given to the prisoners, who now have meat five days out of the seven. But that is not all; for there exists a system of extra diet, and that has grown to such an extent, that out of 300 or 320 prisoners the number on extra diet is no less than 59. I do not say that that extra diet is wrongly given, but I do say that we ought thoroughly to understand the principle upon which it is given ; for I assure this Court that, if they compare the prison diet with the workhouse diet, it will be found that the comparison is far from being in favour of the work house diet ; and I must say that when a poor man without a blot on his reputation, who has perhaps lived a long life without the slightest shadow of suspicion attaching to him, is at last obliged, either through misfortune or through old age, to resort to the workhouse and receive hardly sufficient to keep body and soul together, while the sturdy felon, who has been committed over and over again, is well fed and comfortably cared for, it is dealing with guilt and innocence in a most unsatisfactory manner." The force and truth of this, all must allow, and it is, indeed, a crying evil that the workhouses in general are so mismanaged. When the serious evil of the penal system has been remedied by the intervention of Parliament, it is to be hoped that the workhouse question will subsequently come under consideration. His lordship concluded his eloquent oration by stating that the consequence of all these indulgencies has been that during the last two weeks they have been on the brink of a serious conspiracy, which would inevitably have led to an outbreak occasioning bloodshed, and loss of life. He declared that his object was to see the system of prison discipline brought down to the level to which it ought to be. "We have rushed, as it were, from a system of excessive severity into one of excessive lenity and indulgence." It is eminently satisfac tory to know that the Committee was carried, though by a very small number. Lord CARNAR VON must be well pleased at the result of his efforts, and he deserves to be appreciated by all well wishers of the community for his zeal and discre tion in proposing the highly desirable reform. In this important movement, which will be one of the chief domestic questions of the ensuing session, he stands out the pioneer of progress, and it is to be hoped that he will be deservedly estimated, and that many lovers of the high and holy function of justice will bear in mind the well-known adage— " Judex damnatur cum nocens absolvitur." Mercy is quite another thing to inconsiderate clemency, and the evils and abuses that have sprung up, partly from mistaken motives and partly from carelessness in our prison system, must be remedied at once with a strong hand, and the result cannot be otherwise than a benefit to the country and a blessing to the community. The King of PRUSSIA'S New Year's Day was probably not a very agreeable one. His loyal Ber liners have offered him, as a New Year's gift, a homily which he will fully understand, possibly respond to in angry or martinet style, but which will probably more encourage the representatives of the people in a firm course than soften the stubbornness of the wilful monarch. With expressions as courteous as those with which the Parliamentary patriots of CHARLES L's reign approached their Sovereign, the Berliners address the Prussian STUART. But they declare it their duty to be frank, and frankness re quires them to tell him that they look to him to put an end to the " serious complications "—the "lamentable conflict" with which the year termi nates. They apprise him that it is a conflict which confuses the minds of the people, by rendering doubtful the " bases of the constitution," which lowers Prussia in the eyes of other nations, whose respect must rest on " the union of the King and People." " May it please your MAJESTY," they say, " to enter on a path which will take from us discord, and lead to conciliation ;" and thus they hope for the scattering of dissensions and illusions by the justice of their SOVEREIGN, and to see a new year a year of internal prosperity and external respect. We trust the KING will have many such New Year's salutations from the larger towns of the kingdom. They will be a suitable response from the centres of wealth and intelligence, to the hole and corner addresses got up by little bands of reac tionaries in obscure localities. They will teach the KING, if he be indeed capable of learning, that he is quarrelling with the very strength of his king dom, Already he has taught the smaller states of Germany to look to Austria as more likely to sup port constitutional liberty than Prussia, for the (EMPEROR has listened to his Reiclasrath, on the very points on which the KING has broken with his par liament. The KING is irritated beyond measure that the Northern, and even Protestant states should desert him, and Herr von BISMARK blusters to the Austrian ambassador respecting occupying, without warning, the States of Hanover and Hesse, and re calling Prussia's representative from the German Diet. But it is all bluster. He dare not do it. His own people would be against him. They them selves do not wish Prussia to lead Northern Ger many as a despotic, but as a genuinely constitu tional power. They point the KING themselves, in the address of the Berlin Municipality, to the only condition on which Prussia can be a leading Ger man power. The KING must no longer fight with his people's Representatives, twice elected to tell him the same truths—the monarch must govern the peopl e by yielding to the people, not by persisting in the right divine of Royal obstinacy. Frances Anne Marchioness of Londonderry is suffering from indisposition, at Wynyard Park, Stockton on. Tees. Viscount Palmerston arrived in town yesterday morning. His lordship returned in the afternoon to his seat, Broadlands, Ha n t s . The Earl and r l Countess osfeaPt,orßtalernl h in e g ima ton p b l a a v ete e ,i‘ le i f r t . the Duke r Wynyard Park, Stockton-on-Tees. Lord and Lady Arthur Hay are staying a and Lady Charlotte Sturt's seat, Critchill Hou se , Vim bourn, Dorset. The Hon. George Barrington comes to town to day from visitisg the Earl and Countess of Westmoreland, at Apethorpe. LATEST FROM SPIRIT LAND.—Our able contem. porary, Punch, has a capital illustration represent ing the ghost of George the Third asking an awkward question of President Washington :.-- •" Well, Mr. Wash ington, what do you thi n k of your fine Republ i c now, Eh P—What d'ye think ? Wh at d ' ye think, Eh ?" T o which the great Republican r e t urns no answer but the ex presliTe monosyllable—" bumph I" THE PRINCE OF WALES. WOLFERTON, TEESDAY AFTERNOON. His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, accompanied by Lieut.-General Knollys, Captain Grey, and suite, ar rived here by special train at 3.30, en route for Sandring ham Hall, the new shioting-box of his Royal Highness, the rest of the journey being undertaken by the private carriages which were in waiting. The scenery where the Royal party dismounted is most picturesque. The greatest excitement prevailed at Lynn and 9.t the various stages of the Royal journey, but the curiosity of the vast crowd was doomed to disappointment, as the "special" did not stop at all. The greater part of his Royal Highness's household arrived on Saturday. It is confidently asserted that his Royal Highness joins the Nast Norfolk hounds to-morrow, the meet being at Hun stanton, and the draw being at Sandringham. The Approaching Marriage of the Prince of Wales. We have authority to state that upon the occasion of the arrival in this country of her Royal Highness the Princess Alexandra of Denmark, previous to her marriage early in March with his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, her Royal Highness will land from her Majesty's yacht Vic toria and Albert at Gravesend, where her Royal Highness will be received by the Prince of Wales. Their Royal Highnesses will then proceed to London, and will be convoyed in her Majesty's carriages, with mili tary escort, through the metropolis to Windsor Castle. We have also authority to state that it is the Queen's intention that, in the course of the year, Levees shall be held, on the part of her Majesty, by his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales; and that Drawing-rooms shall also be held, on her Majesty's behalf, by one of their Royal High nesses the Princesses, her Majesty's daughters; or, after her marriage, by her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales. It is also the Queen's intention that, shortly after their marriage, the Prince and Princess of Wales shall hold, in her Majesty's name, an Evening Reception at St. James's Palace, at which the ladies and gentlemen invited by the Lord Chamberlain, by the Queen's command, shall have an opportunity of offering their congratulations to their Royal Highnesses. FATAL STEAMBOAT ACCIDENT. THIS DAY. About ten o'clock this morning a shocking accident occurred through the dangerous practice that has been so general amongst young men arriving by those steamboats in the morning at all the City of jumping off the boat before she is properly secured. The young man who lost his life this morning was on board the Lotus penny steamboat, which, as usual at that period of the morn ing, was crowded with clerk and others engaged in the dif ferent commercial firms in the City, As the vessel approached the All Hallows-pier, the dangerous and reprehensiLle practice commenced; sev era l safely reached t h e shore, but just as the rope was being ma d e secure, prepara t ory to i ts being thrown to the pier men, the unfortunate young man attempted to jump from the fore sponson. In doing so his foot struck against the edge of the barge, and fell back, his head coming in contact with the paddle- wheel of the Lotus, when he sunk under the water, and was seen no more. The Thames Conservancy piermen lost no time in taking the most active steps to recover the body through the instru mentality of the drags, but up to half-past Il o'clock they had not been successful. The hat worn by the young man was picked up, and in the interior of it were the words " Victor Company." Just at the moment when the young man lost his life, a number of other passengers were engaged in the same dangerous and reprehensible practice in the after part of the vessel, one of whom narrowly escaped death by drowning. In jumping from the vessel his foot slipped, and he fell from the boat ; however he had the good fortune to seize one of the chains hanging from the steamer, and thus his life was saved. THE EMPRESS OF THE FRENCH AND THE LADIES OF MILAN.—When in 1859 Milan was delivered from the hands of Austria through the active intervention of France, the ladies of that city formed a committee for the execution of a marble group to be presented to the Em press of the French as a mark of gratitude to the nation that had so generously spilt its blood for the Italian cause. M. Vela, the sculptor, was entrusted with the task, and the conception of his genius, after having been exhibited for a few days in the rooms of the Albertine Academy at Milan, is now on its way to Paris. The group, entitled " The Kiss of Italy to France," represents two females, of the size of life—one being France, the other Italy, the latter in the attitude of imprinting on the former the kiss of grati tude. The figure of Italy is bare to the waist, the remain der of the person being concealed by the rich folds of a mantle spangled with stars : her hands are folded in an attitude of thankfulness. The figure of France is entirely covered with well-conceived drapery ; her left arm rests lovingly on the shoulder of Italy, while her right hand gathers some of the folds of her Imperial mantle. The group is of a single block of the purest marble, and the whole is described as unrivalled both in execution and conception. The Monarchic Nazionale of Turin announces the presence of Mr. Smith O'Brien in that city, and hints at his intention to deliver a "Lecture on America" there. This lecture was read originally to a number of mechanics in Dublin, and took the Federal and North side. Mr. O'Brien is also to go to Greece, for what purpose is not known. A Dublin journal jocularly asks—ls he about to offer himself for the gilded chair of Otho ? Mr. John Pender, the representative of Totnes. has placed at the disposal of a com m itt ee th e sum o f one thousand pounds, to be applied as they may see fit for the general welfare of the inhabitants of that borough. LOAN FOR TILE CONFEDERATE GOVERNMENT.-- It is understood that a member of the Confederate government has ar:ived in Liverpool, having the necessary official documents and full power to negotiate a loan in this country, It is proposed to raise the loan upon the security of cotton stored in the Southern States. SERIOUS RAILWAY ACCIDENT AT KNOTTINGLEY. —TWELTE PERSONS INJURED.--W e learn from the second edition of the Leeds Mercury that a serious collision took place yesterday morning at the Knottingley Junction, between the first Great Northern up •trains from York and Leeds. The s'ation is approached in a direct line from Leeds, but the York trains run into the main line by a loop from Burton Salmon. The weather was foggy, and on the two trains coming up to the junction, they ran into each other with great violence. Two carriages were smashed to atom, , , and about twelve persons were injured, several re ceiving severe fractures. Medical aid was immediately obtained from Pontefract, and the sufferers were attended to. The up-line was blocked, and the trains, it was under stood, only running as far as Pontefract when this account was written. VOLUNTEERS' SALUTES.—The following War office Circular has been addressed to commanding officers of Artillery Volunteers :—" Sir,—Complaints hav ing been made of the danger arising from firing salutes from heavy guns in small batteries belonging to Artillery Volunteers, I am directed by Secretary Sir G. Lewis to in form you that in all cases in which blank ammunition is fired from garrison batteries in use by Volunteers, which consist of less than four guns, the intervals between the firing should under no circumstances be less than 25 se conds, and that especial care should be taken in such case in sponging out the guns and serving the vent, with the view of obviating, as far as possible, any chance of acci dent.—l hays the honour to be, sir, your obedient servant DE GREY AND RIPON." PIRACY IN THE SHANNON. —The Limerick corre spondent of the Freeman's Journal says :—" On the night of the 31st ult., while a boat laden with turf from Kilrush was lying at anchor at Coonagh Point, in the river Shannon, two of her crew who were in the hatchway thought they heard a noise as if turf was falling. One of them, named Flaherty, looked up and saw a man armed with a gun, which he discharged at him and wounded him with some shot in his head. Flaherty immediately drew back, when the top of the hatchway was fastened down, during which time about eight loads of turf were taken away in boats by some persons unknown. Flaherty's wounds are not dangerous, but he had a most Providential escape. Through the aid of a comrade he forced up the hatches, and discovered the turf to be stolen." SALMON IN IRELAND.LA fish-walk has been made for two miles over the rocky ground between Lough Corrib and Lough Mask, in the county Galway, at a cost of £650. By this means salmon are now enabled to pass up and down freely. The Galway Express says : " Within the last four weeks Mr. Miller has collected and deposited no less than 770,000 salmon ova in the streams of Lough Mask, in addition to those of last year, making a total of 1,429,000 ova. But in addition to this large supply, Mr. Miller has conveyed 40 adult salmon alive a distance of 23 miles in a large tub of water, and, by fre quently renewing the water on the way, they arrived as lively at the end of their journey as they were at the begin ning. Those were the first salmon that were ever known to inhabit the river Robe, a tributary of Lough Mask, which covers an area of ground thirty miles by ten." THE METROPOLITAN RAlLWAY.—Yesterday the experimental traffic on this line was resumed with the greatest success. Trial trains, consisting of first and second class carriages, each compartment well lighted with gas jets, which are supplied from the reservoirs on the roofs of the cars, were despatched regularly every quarter of an hour, under the direction of Mr. Tanner, the traffic super intendent, from the termini of Paddington and Farringdon street, commencing at 9 a.m., and continuing during the day till about 2.15 p.m. All the trains were regularly timed, the strictest punctuality being observed in their starting and the time allowed for stoppages. In the course of the afternoon Mr. Fowler, the engineer, with a party of friends, made a trip along the line by special train. Every thing worked smoothly and well. The rail way will be opened to the public on Saturday next. About 21 minutes were occupied by each train in performing the whole dis tance. LATEST INTELLIGENCE. AMERICA. (Per Edinburgh, via Roche's Point, January 7, 11.20 a.m.) NEW YORK, DEC. 27. Great frauds have been discovered on the Go vernment in the matter of army debts. Many mer chants and brokers in New York are involved. A secret investigation has been in progress for two months. The loss sustained by the GoNernment amounts, as far as known, to about 1,000,000 dols. The evidence given in the Court of Inquiry on General M'Dowell continues to show that all the insinuations against his loyalty and military capa city were without any foundation. A decision of the Attorney-General, Mr. Bates, fully establishes that colour is no bar to citizen ship under the United States constitution. Orders for supplies for the French army in Mexico oontinue to be received here. RUSSIA. The St. Petersburg Gazette announces the return of the Emperor and Empress from Moscow to St. Petersburg, where they met with the most enthu siastic reception. St. Petersburg was brilliantly illuminated in the evening. FRANCE AND PRUSSIA. The following appears in La France:— " Count de Goltz, who replaces M. de Bismark in France, has just arrived at Paris. Count de Goltz, in virtue of arrangements agreed upon between the Government of the Emperor and the Court of Prus sia, has received, as well as Baron de Talleyrand, our representative at Berlin, the title of Ambassador. It is said that M. de Goltz's instructions bear the stamp of the deepest sympathy f or France.'' La France also publishes the following : " All the Ministers have sent in their special reports, to form the general report on the state of home affairs, which is to be distributed to the Chambers on the opening of the Session. " The document is actually in the hands of the printers, at the Imperial press, and will be distri buted to the Senators and Deputies on the 13th inst." FRANCE. BOURSE, Jan. 6.—Sales for realisation produced at first a slight retrograde movement, but prices have since again rallied, and are now firm at yes terday's closing price, 70f. 80c. Railway Share Market quiet, and up to the present time prices pretty well maintained. Prices again receded before the close, and left off as follows :- 41 per Cents. 9B 65 Do. end month..., 98 70 3 per Cents Do. end month.... 70 60 New 3 per Cents .. Do. end month.... Credit Mobilier....ll9o Do. end m0nth....1181 25 RAIL' Bank Shares 3430 Credit Fonder ....1450 Piedmontese Fives. Italian Loan 73 25 Russian Austrian Spanish Threes 54 -.- florae Debt - MAYS. Cash. Account. Orleatul lO9O .. 1085 Northern New ditto Lyons and Mediterranean 1172 50 .. 1175 Geneva.. Southern 825 .. 825 Western Eastern .... Sardinian Austrian TAIT. bard North of Spain Saragossa 665 .. 665 Ditto to Barcelona POLAND. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) WARSAW, DEC. 30. Another arbitrary regulation, emanating from the Council of State, has been promulgated by the official journal of the 24th inst., in virtue of which the Administrative Council is empowered to nomi nate public functionaries, instead of the persons elected by the Districts, to act as a delegation on the part of the Government for the adjustment of the relations between the landlords and the peasants. Hitherto the law only granted this privilege to the proprietors, who are chiefly interested in this long pending question, and who naturally—guided by a sense of justice and patriotic devotion—are anxious to bring the matter to a satiSfactory end for 'all' parties ; but the authorities, ever eager to sow dis sensions, compelled most of the Districts to refuse their co-operation. The Government jumped at this opportunity, ana hence the fresh law investing all the power in the official nominees, the pernicious effects of which is contemplated by the public with no small alarm, as it destroys the chance of the peasant question being arranged, as it would have been, to the mutual benefit of the parties concerned. The new ukase of the Emperor, which presumes to restore all the confiscated property, of what has not been annexed to the Crown, to the exiles of 1830-31, if they return to Poland, has caused much amusement here; because it is notorious that every bit of the fortunes of the exiles had, by order of Nicholas, been ferreted out, and either made part of the State or distributed among the Russian generals, and that, were the authorities to search every house in Poland, they would find nothing that belonged to her pro scribed sons. The joke was merely for the Euro pean public, to show the magnanimity of the Rus sian Government towards the Pole's, who are little aware of the incessant tyranny and oppression they are enduring. As to the return of the refugees to Poland, though a" few and far between" cases of this kind occurred, no one is allowed to go back without, in a most humiliating strain, asking for the pardon; and rarely this pardon is given, because the Russian embassies in London and in Paris, through whom the petitions must be pre sented, decline forwarding them to Warsaw. It is to my knowledge that several emigrants, bowed down under an advanced age, or attacked with an incurable malady, such as paralysis, having solicited permission to return home and lay their bones on their native soil, the Czar's ambassador in Lon don would not forward the application for the con sideration of the Emperor. Such is the real worth of this ukase, which I perceive has been justly appreciated by the French press. The state trial of the 66 political prisoners is proceeding, and every day discloses the subterfuges, the savage treatment of the accused in the Citadel, in order to compel them to admit the charges which, when once before the open court, and with the help of the counsel, they immediately deny. To give all the particulars of this trial, which may be classed among the most remarkable that has taken place in Europe, would be tedious ; but it is surprising what moral courage and determination have been exhibited by the accused, however humble the sphere of life to which they belong, being mostly artisans and young workmen, and the fervid eloquence with which they were defended. All the efforts of the Russian Attorney• General, M, Avo naska, have been unavailing to deny the statement of one of thd prisoners named Budony that, while under examination in the Citadel, he was both threatened with corporeal punishment and offered a bribe of money if he would confess what was pro posed to him, and at last the Attorney-General had to confess himself having employed those means by order of a higher authority. This gives a fair idea of Russian justice, and consequently the result of the trial may be easily guessed. Perhaps two or three prisoners will be liberated, but the rest is sure to be condemned. In my former letters I described the mode in which the conscription or rather proscription of the population of this country for the Russian army was to be effected. It has been represented in the imperial ukase as a benevolent measure, tending to have regard to the present political and social trans formation, and to spare all th ose Whose presence the country required. However, when the veil thrown over this blind had been remved, the true object of the proscription was palpable, viz., to get rid of the more intelligent part of the popula tion, particularly the workmen and the artisans inhabiting the towns, and whom the Government found the most troublesome during the last events in Poland. That such is the case it has been proved, since a long and most elaborate circular from the Director of the Department for Home Affairs to the Civil Governors of the kingdom on the subject has been forwarded, marked " strictly confidential." The document, the authenticity of which is beyond doubt, being very profuse and dry, I am obliged to contract it, and reduce it to the following extracts : " Considering that the persons whose business it will be to select persons for the military conscription from the no minal lists drawn up with this object should possess the necessary information, not only respecting the social position and occupation of those included in such lists, but also of their political conduct,inasmuch'as one of the chief principles of this conscription is to be to get rid of those people who aid by their conduct in disturbing public order, the,e func tions are to be performed : "In towns : by the civil governor, the councillor of the military police department, the military governor or his assistant, and the president of the town. "In districts : by the chief of the district, his assistant for the recruiting business, and the local commandant of the gendarmes, with the power of calling in cases of necessity on the presidents or magistrates of towns to give the neces sary information. The Council of Administration also brings to notice that it will be the duty of every recruiting district to provide a certain fixed number of recruits, who should be especially chosen from among people having no permanent occupation, without work, and at the same time unfavour ably noted as to their conduct during the late disturbances irrespective of the circumstances of some particular town or district having, relatively to other to wns or districts,a greater or smaller portion of recruits. The following are to be erased from the list of persons exempt from military duty by the 9th art. of the law of 1859." Here follows a list of 29 professions, &c., whose members are, by the existing laws, exempt from military duty, but whom the arbitrary will of the Government declares eligible for the conscription. To guard against " arbitrariness" and " partiality" (I) in the case of the persons with regard to whom the law is to be thus violated, the chiefs of districts are next directed to for ward lists of their names, with the reasons for their selec tion to the civil governor. It is obvious that these reasons will be easily found and approved of where persons obnoxious to the Government are in question. Then come directions for the formation of a " reserve" list, with the view of supplying recruits in the event of the numbers selected not being sufficient. The military " are to give every possible assistance to the civil authorities, with the view to the proper conduct of the conscription, and observe that the fulfilment of this conscription, in present circumstances, will require the use of extraordinary means, and the exercise of energy and provision." After some administrative arrangements, " the closest se crecy" is ordered in the preparation of the lists, &c. Then follow other arrangements for giving the civil power the assistance of the military, after which the attention of governors is called to the "necessity of selecting the majority of the recruits from the town populations." "Finally," so ends the despatch, "you will warn the employes concerned, that tho business relating to the con scription should be carried on with OR greatest quickness, energy, and firmness of conduct, and that all instances of neglect or failure in this matter will entail severe responsi bilities on their authors." Instructions, such as those contained in the above document, need no comment, they speak for them selves, and disclose the ma'hinations employed, and the wickedness of the Russian Government in all its glory. Some time since the Governor of Wolhynia ordered lithographed copies of an address to the Emperor from the peasants to he signed by them. The address purposed to explain that the peasants are from a different origin than the landowners, and soliciting the Emperor's particular solicitude. The peasants not knowing how to read or write, passed the address from one hand to another with out any concern for it. The Russian ministerial journal, the Northern Bee, makes of this address, which, by the bye, has ❑ever been sent by the peasants, a state document, showing the great love for the Czar and hatred to the Polish nobles. In publishing this, the Northern Bee had the modesty to mention the real and bona fide addresses of the nobility of the kingdom, of Padolia and of Minsk, which all reached the Em peror, and for which many Polish nobles are now imprisoned in St. Petersburg, awaiting their trial before the Russian Senate. Such is the impartiality and respectability of the Russian official journal. LIFEBOAT SERVICES. SHIPWRECK OFF DUNDEE BAR.-DUNDEE, Jan. 5. Yesterday morning, when blowing a gale of wind from E.S.E., and a heavy sea, a small vessel, a ketch, named the Nueha, belonging to Berwick-on-Tweed, bound from North Shields, with a cargo of whiting, was entering the mouth of the river Tay, and was driven on the Abertay Bank. After drifting about over the bank for some distance, she made so much water that she heeled over and sank. At the time she first :struck it was not daylight, and it was raining heavily and the weatber thick. The captain was unable to distinguish the upper lights, and thus lost the channel. After making all the efforts in their power to keep the vessel from sinking, and finding them ineffectual, the crew, when the water had reached the deck, put off in their boat, and with considerable difficulty, on account of the roughness of the sea, managed to make their escape from the wreck about 10 o'clock. The signal gun was fired from the light. house a little before 9 o'clock. The Buddonness lifeboat, belonging to the National Lifeboat Institution, was soon got afloat, manned by 15 men, and as they were nearing the wreck they observed the crew in their own boat, which was in a sinking state among the rollers. The lifeboat came up just in time to save the three men from, probably, a watery grave. PORTMADOC, Monday Night.—Captain Mathew, hon. secretary of the National Lifeboat Institution at Portmadoc, reports that a Dutch vessel was wrecked, during a gale of wind on the Sarn Badrig Sands, on Friday night last. The crew of six men and a woman took to the boats, and are re ported to have been picked up by a Fleetwood craft. The late Mr. John Jolly, farmer; of Enstone, Oxford, has left a legacy of 200 guineas to the National Lifeboat In stitution. THE DERBYSHIRE MAGISTRATES AND THE NIGHT POACHING BILL —At the quarter sessions held at. Derby yesterday, Mr. T. 0. Bateman, according to pre vious notice, moved—" That petitions to both Houses of Parliament respecting the game laws be adopted by the court, and signed by such magistrates as may approve the same, bearing in mind the declared intention of Sir Joseph Paxton, M.P., a magistrate of the county, to move in the next session for a committee of the House of Commons on the above subject." Mr. Bateman, in the course of his speech, alluded to the practice of calling upon the country gentlemen for presents of game upon the occasion of a pub lie dinner; which game, he said, was consumed by alder men, town councillors, and editors, who quarrelled with them for using their best endeavours to preserve it. A dis cussion took place, during which it soon became evident that the greater number by far of the magistrates present were in favour of more stringent means being adopted against the poachers. Upon division, the numbers were -21 for Mr. Bateman's motion, and 5 against it. A petition praying for a general consolidation of the various enact ments against poachers was then signed by nearly all the magistrates present. Mr. T. W. Evans, M.P., voted against the motion. Mr. Mundy, M.P,, who was present, did not vote. ATTEMPT TO UPSET A RAILWAY TRAIN.—A few days ago a wicked attempt was made to upset a train on the North British Railway, near Millerhill sta tion. A goods train from Carlisle had just pissed along the line early in the morning, and at that thus the rails were all right. Shortly afterwards, however, on the sur facemen making their usual inspection of the line before the passenger trains for the day commenced to run, it was found that the keys of one of the rails had been loosened and the rail itself displaced, thus rendering it absolutely certain that the first train attempting to pass would be thrown off the rails, with what tragical result no one can tell to a number of lives. Investigation is being made into the matter, and it is sincerely hoped that the perpetrators of this horrible crime will meet with the punishment they so richly deserve. The occurrence is an example of the great utility and necessity of the constant inspection of the " metals ;" and it is a most fortunate circumstance that the regular system of inspection pursued on this railroad led to the timely discovery of the diabolical act.—Edinburgh Courant. THE HOUSE OF CHARITY, SOHO.—The sister related a touching story to me, as we stood before the long dining-tables. A poor Pole, who in his time had occupied the position of a gentleman, had fallen into ter rible distress. lie had six children and a servant. This servant had been at the wife's death-bed, and the dying woman had implored her to be a mother to her children. The servant had promised, and she was true to her trust. She was found with the starving family, and was brought to this House of Charity. Not one of these eight unfortu nates could speak English. They sat week after week at this table spread by charity, and the servant remained true to her late mittress's children. They occupied a family room upstairs, in which the devoted creature performed, without reward, all the duties of a nurse. The sister ap peared to be greatly touched by the story of their misfor tunes, and told me bow they all remained in the house dur ing six months, and were at last sent at the society's ex pense (amounting to £5O) to Queensland, where the father might earn money in the vineyards. Had this house been closed upon this hapless family of refugees they must have perished ih the streete,--X9rning se" THE CAREER OF THE ALABAMA. The Scotsman gives the following account of the prectedings of this ve, , ,sei in a letter from St. Thomas, West Indies : While the deeds of the Confederate war steamer Ala , bama—or, as she is more commonly called, the 290—have -o lately been the theme of every tongue, and while the consternation and loss amongst American merchants and shipowners, caused .by her wholesale destruction of their property on the ocean is so recent, it may not be unin teresting to your readers that there should be laid before them a description of the vessel herself, with a short narrative of her departure from England, the successful manner in which she eluded the Federal men-of-war sent to capture her or compass her destruction, and a few of the ruses by means of which she was manned, armed, and commissioned. The account lam about to submit is taken down from the late boatswain of the 209, who is now secon•t officer .of the British steamer Thistle; and as he sits beside me as I write, the authenticity of the state ment will not be questioned. The 290 was built by Mr. Laird, the eminent ship builder, of Birkenhead, under contract with a Mr. Butcher. She was regularly contracted and paid for; and as nothing transpired during her construction to warrant the supposi tion that she was destined to hoist the ensign of the Southern Confederacy, no laws of neutrality were in fringed (indeed, it was hinted that the vessel was intended for the service of the Emperor of China). Her keel was laid in the beginning of 1862, and she was launched in April thereafter, though she was not ready for sea for the succeeding three months. The 290 is not, as is com monly supposed, an armour-plated vessel. She is simply a large wooden screw gunboat; such a vessel as is in Euro pean navies styled a corvette. She is very strongly built of the best materials, and is constructed to carry ten guns— viz., one rifled 100-pounder, one 68-pounder, and eight 32- pounders—i.e., four 32-pounders on each broadside, throw ing collectively 1281bs, solid shot at each discharge—and two pivot guns. She is barque-rigged, and fitted with a pair of very powerful engines, by Penn, of London. At her launch, her owners not having finally decided on the name she should bear, she was then, and fer some time subsequently, distinguished as the 290. She left Birkenhead at the end of July, ostensibly on a trial trip, having on board a large party of ladies and gentlemen. On getting out of the Mersey, this party was sent back in a tug boat, and the 290, as had been previously arranged, neg lected to return to Birkenhead, but steamed direct for the island in the Atlantic where she was to take in her guns, ammunition, &c. On leaving England, the 290 bad a crew of 93 men, for the most part belonging to tha English Naval Reserve, all being trained gunners, and the majority old men• of-war's men. She was temporarily commanded by Capt. Bullock (a strange coincidence), who had under him the proper complement of commissioned and petty offi cers. Capt. Bullock having learned that a Federal man of-war (the Tuscarora) lay in wait for him in St. George's Channel, took his departure by what is known as the North Channel, thus eluding his Federal enemy; though even had he been intercepted, the Northerner would have found himself in a dilemma, as the 290 had a set of &lig lish papers and other presumptive proofs of her neutrality, in the face of which it might have been difficult for her cap tor to have acted. The 290 at this time carried no guns or other warlike stores, but consisted merely of the hull, spars, and engines, excepting, of course, coal and other requisites to enable her to reach her destination, which was Tarissa, one of the Azores or Western Islands, belonging to Portu gal. This destination the 290 duly reached, atter a fine run of eight days, and came to an anchor in Tarissa Roads, nothing of any moment having occurred to break the usual monotony of a sea voyage. Some time before the departure of the 290 from the Mersey, a large barque left the Thames (cleared for Demerara, West Indies), to meet the 290 at Tarissa, and there transfer to the latter vessel the guns and stores destined for her, and which formed the cargo of the barque. Some reason required to be assigned to the Portuguese authorities for the 290 having anchored in their bay, and accordingly the excuse furnished to them was, that her engines had broken down. This plea was accepted as a valid one, and during the week that inter vened between the arrival at Tarissa of the 290 and the barque the crew of the former vessel were engaged, osten sibly in repairing her engines, bat really in preparing her to receive her guns, warlike stores, &c. During this interval large parties of the inhabitants of Tarissa made daily visits to,the 290, their curiosity evidently excited by the warlike ap pearance of what laid claim to be an English merchant vessel. Many pertinent questions were asked by the Portuguese and were as ingeniously evaded or met by the officers of the 290. Amongst other things, the Portuguese wanted to know why the vessel had so many ports; and were told that, as she was bound to a warm climate, they were necessary for ventilation; and when they asked why there was such a numerous crew, the reply was, that as she was going on a surveying expedition she required to be well manned. Many similar questions were put, and in like manner answered ; but it was all in vain to attempt to undeceive the Portuguese, and they would persist in calling her a " Frigata Inglesi." About the lapse of e week from the arrival of the 290, the barque above" mentioned sailed in and anchored, her captain alleging a 0 a reason to the Portuguese officials that his vessel had sprung a leak, which would require to be repaired ere she could resume her voyage ; and on this understand ing the Portuguese at once placed her in quarantine (which in the Azores lasts three days), On the day after the barque's arrival, Captain Bullock, being anxious to get his guns on board, hauled alongside the barque, and erected a pair of large shears to effect the transfer of her cargo from the barque's hold to the 290's. This brought off the Portuguese in a fury that their rules should have been broken by the 290 having dared to communicate with a vessel that had still two days' quarantine to run, and they angrily demanded to know the reason why their regulations had been infringed. They were told that the barque was in a sinking state, and the erection of the shears was accounted for by urging the necessity for an immediate temporary transfer of her cargo that the leak might be reached and stopped ; and Captain Bullock finally succeeded in bearing down all oppo sition by feigning to get into a passion, saying he was doing no more for the barque than any Englishman would do for a countryman in distress. The Portuguese left the vessel, and the transhipment proceeded without further hindrance from those on shore. About the afternoon of the second day, and when the transfer was nearly complete, the British screw steamer Bahama came in, having on board Captain Semmes and the other late officers of the Sumter, besides the remainder of the 290's armament, and an addition. of 20 odd men to her clew. On the Bahama's arrival and anchorage on a somewhat similar pretext to those given by' her two predecessors, the Portuguese fairly lost all pa tience, and peremptorily insisted on the instant departure of all three vessels. The Bahama at once communicated with the 290, a& having handed over to the latter vessel everything destined for her, got up steam and left, followed by the 290, towing the now empty barque. All three went not to sea, as they had been ordered to do, but to Angra Bay (a bay in the same island, and only a few leagues dis tant from Tarissa Roads), Here they remained unmolested until noon the following day (a Sunday), when, for the second time, all three vessels were ordered out of the Portu guese waters. All the 290's guns being now mounted, and the vessel otherwise ready for a cruise, the order was obeyed, and all took their departure, the barque, as before, in tow of the 290, which having convoyed her well ouG to sea, cast her off, and with a favouring breeze she steered for Cardiff to bring out a further supply of coal for the 290's future use. The 290 and the Bahama noW steamed round the island, and Capt. Semmes, conatig ou t of his cabin, ordered his first lieutenant to muster the crew aft. This having been done, and all the officers assembled on the poop in their full uniform—i.e., Confederate grey frock coat and trousers—Capt. Semmes enjoined silence, and read his commission as post-captain in the Confederate navy- It was a document duly attested at Richmond, and bore the signature of " Jeff. Davis, President, Confederate States of America." He then opened and read his sealed orders from the President, directing him to assume command of the Confederate sloop-of-war Alabama, hitherto known as the 290, in which (having been commissioned) he was to hoist the Confederate ensign and pendant, and " sink, burn, and destroy everything which flew the ensign of the so-called United States of America." Capt. Semmes then ordered the first lieutenant to fire a gun and run up the Confederate flag. The gun was fired by the second lieutenant (Arm' strong, a relation of the famous inventor), and ere its smoke had cleared away, the stars and bars of the young Confede-- racy were floating on the breeze, and the ceremony was complete, Captain Semmes declaring the vessel henceforth to be known as the Alabama to have been duly commie' sioned, The next step was formally to engage the crew to serve and fight under the ttouthern flag, which laving been done, the men were addressed by their captain in an eloquent and stirring speech, in the course of which be said there were only four ♦essels in the United States navy that were more than a match for the Alabama ; but he said that in an English-built heart of oak as she was, and sur rounded as he then saw himself by British hearts of oak, he would not strike his newly-hoisted flag for any one of the four. Of course this elicited a hearty burst of cheering for Pre sident, States, and captain, and when it had subsided, Cap tain Semmes said that the Bahama was OR the point of leaving for England, and intimated that if any of his crew repented of the step they had taken, they were free to re turn in her. This alternative none would accept, and Capt• Bullock and a few of the other officers who had taken the 290 from England to the Azores, finding their occupation gone, through the arrival of those who had held similar ap pointments in the Sumter, havinggone on board the Bahama, that vessel and the Alabama, amidst hearty cheering from the crews of both, parted, the former pursuing her course back to England, the latter in chase of a Yankee whaler, which she captured and burned. This was her first plize, and her subsequent career is now so famous as to render a sires remark thereon superfluous. The Alabama's crew receive from the Confederate Government half the value of every American ship and cargo they destroy, and each of her crew is now worih several hundred pounds. All oblige' tions to them have hitherto been faithfully discharged 10 gold. The Alabama is supplied with coal from Wales /39 three sailing vessels thus constantly employed. The boat swain of the 290, to whom I referred above, having been superseded by the late boatswain of the Sumter, returned to England in the Bahama, Porte to ,$ and I do., g M Moor tugue Passi Th have sh ow Nortt 10 8 . ; tern s , Britie Th 4 Chang bards _Canac . 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