The Sun. — London, England, 1864-12-27 00:00:00

To commence at 7. Doors open at Hall-past Six. The Box-office open daily from Eleven till Five. NEW THEATRE-ROYAL, ADELPHI.-- B,ole Proprietor and Manager. 117. B. VV".bster. THIS EVENING, TIIE WORKMEN OF PARIS. lir. Benjamin Webster ; Messrs. 13111111,t0n, R. Phillips, Stuart, Stephenson, Eburne, C. J. Smith; ;Mrs. Stirling, - Hiss Woolgar (Mrs. A. Mellon), Miss 11. ?.-imms. Mrs. Bil lington, Mrs. H. Lewis, and Miss A. Seamen. To conclude with THE AREA BELLE. Messrs. J. L. Toole,Paul Bedford, and Mrs. A. Mellon. Commence at 7. int sS BATE NI A N.-NEW THEA.TRE ROYAL ADEL PHI.— Mfr. Webster begs to announce that the great Tragedienne, Miss BAT KHAN, having per formed with unparalleled success the character of "Leah" br a period of nine consecutive months during the last season at this Theatre, and since won the plaudits of thousands in Liverpool, Birmingham, Dublin, Manchester, and Glasgow, she will RE-APPEAR at this Establishment JANUARY 2d, 1865, in her original character of the Jewish Maiden for a limited number of nights, previously to her appearing in other illustrations of the Cla-slc Drama, which are in prepa ration. The B x-office will be opened on Xonday, Dec. 19, when'places may be secured for lies Bateman's engagement a fortnight in advance. ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE.- Sole Lessee and Manager, Mr. Geo. Vining. THIS EVENING, a new Extravaganza, entitled THE MAGIC HORSE AND THE ICE MAIDEN I RINCESS. Atter which, THE STREETS Ole 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 STRAND THEATRE. Sole Lessee and Manageress, Mrs. Swanborough. Tlll3 EVENING, at 7, SHORT AND SWEET. After which, the Grand Christmas Burlesque, THE " GRIN" ES ; or, the Mrs. Brown of the Missis-sippi. Messrs. Stoyle, Thorne, James, Fenton, &c.; Mesdames Ada Swanborough, Raynham, Simpson, Johnstone, &c. To c3nclude with THE WILFUL WARD. Miss Palmer. GRATIS AND POST FRE E E. MOSES and SONS' New Pamphlet, THE PHILOSOPHY OF DRESS. MOSES AND SON • respectfully call attention to their large and well assorted stock of JUVENILE CLOTHING. The newest aorics are combined with the latest and most fashionable resigns, 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. Tnis depart ment is in a distinct part of the premises, which will be found a gre couv,nience for ladies and children, M OSES AND SON E• respectfully invite public attention to their large and well-assorted WINTEU, STOCK. EMOSES AND SON'S •"SANDRINGFIAM" and "DANISH " WRAPPER ;Introduced by them) is the newest and most fashionsh:e style of Overcoats for the season. EMOSES AND SON'S . READY-MADE and BESPOKE CLOTHING for all classes and all ages. L 1 MOSES AND SON'S /• CELEBRATED "INDISPENSABLE" SUIT, from 30s. MOSES AND SON'S HOSIERY and DR&PERY, for all classes and all ages. 11 IMOSES AND SON' S 4 • RATS AND CAPS, for all c asses and all ages. MOSES AND SON'S • BOOTS and SHOES, for all classes and all ages. 'I MOSES AND SON'S • OUTFITS, for all classes, all ages, and all climates. MOSES AND SON'S • LONDON HOUSES, 154, 1:55, 15a, 157, Minorles; 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, Aldgate ; 506, 507, 508, New Oxford--street ; 1,2, 3 , H ar t- street; 137, 138, 'fottenham-court-road ; 288, Euston-road Also, Bradford, Yorkshire. MOSES AND SON'S E• Establishments are closed cve-y Friday evening at sunset until Saturday evening at sunset, when business is re sumed un o'clock. l articles are marked the lowest prices in plain figures. Any article not appr ~ved of will be exchartged, or the money rPtarned. List of Prices with Rules for Self-measurement, Fashion Card, and our new pamphlet, " The Philosophy of Dress," gratis and post tree. COALS. —The LIi,LESHALL COMPANY'S COALS. ..... Direct from their own Collieries ~, arquis' ...... .255. per ton. I Double.. 21s. per to n . op 21% P:11 screened and delivered within live miles ot their De- OWN, Westbournc I'ark-road, W. and Al, South Whart, Pa ddlng t o n , W., and Malden-lane, N. Best Coke Terms cash, JOHN SCOTT, Sole Lent THE THIRD EDITION OF " THE SUN," Containing the Latest SPORTING INTELLIGENCE, Can be had Every Evening - of G. Et. GLXNIE, NEWS AGENT, No. 4, Connaught-terrace, Hyde-park. T HEpplied LATES I' EDITION of " THE SUN " su, as son as published everinz b W. ALEXANDER (lA o te BROOKS),sh Newspap y er Even Agent, 21, y Old Cavendish-street, Oxford-street. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. THIS DAY.—Morning, 12h. 40m.—Afternoon, lh. To- uortßow.-Moraing, lh. 26m.—Afternoon. Ih. 50m R 7 *IIIT LONDON, TUESDAY, DEC. 27, 1861. --.- There are few things more difficult than to make a reply in a case where angry recriminations hare g,vm a false turn to a subk_et, and invested a case with an aspect that is foreign to its original pur poso and et - taracter. It must he confessed, however, hat Lord Wt ARtiCLIFFE has succeeded in his arduous attempt, and that his letter which corn ments upon:Mr. 6EwARD's n o t e i s admirable in its way, and fully answers the requirements of t'le question. Conclusive, indeed, are the argu tnents which are put into this statement, and the most devoted partisans of the North, who p ossess impartiality an d di scr i m i na tion,naust allow that hie lordship's remarks are unanswerable. PolliaPla it was a consciousness of the real weakness of his case which induced Mr. SEWARD to make the haughty and unconrteoua rejoinder to his reply, which stated that henceforth the communications must cease between the correspondents. It never answers any purpose to Stiff-:3 explanations, and those who do to will prove that they are either ashamtd cr afraid of what they are about. Be tail as it may, it is very sAtistaotory to peruse 9 1 HEATRE-ROYAL DRURY-LANE, 1 Managers, Messrs. E. Falconer and F. B. Chatterton. THIS EVENING, and during the week, A YOUNG LAD FROM THE COUNTRY. After Which, the Grand Christmas Pantomime, HOP O'MY THUMII AND HIS ELEVEN BROTHERS; or, Harlequin and the Ogre of the Seven-League Boots : Messrs. G. Bel more, Tom Matthews, G. Weston, Master Percy Roselle, Szc. Misses Lydia Thompson. R. Lcclercq, Ate. ; Messrs. Boleno, C. Lauri, W. A. Barnes, T. Morris, CormaA, Savii e ; Mdme. Boleno, the Misses Gunnis, aad Signor Tescano. THEATRE ROYAL, DRURY- LANE.- Special Morning Performances.—ln answer tomumer ous applications from parties residing in the environs, and in order to allow the country visitors to London Suring the holiday week an opportunity of witnessing the grand Drury 'lane annual Christmas Pantomime, entitled HOP 0' MY THUMB AND HIS EL EVEN BROTHERS; or, Harlequin and the Ogre of the Seven-league Boots, .Messrs. Falconer and Chatterton have decided on givin , FIVE MORNING FERFORMANt ES, on TUESDAY, Dec. 27, Wednesday, 28, Thursday, 29, Friday, 30, and Saturday, 31, and on the morning of every Wednesday and Satur lay during the holiday season. Children and schools at reduced prices to The following parts of the theatre: First elide, dress circle, and stalls, for morning performances only. T HEATRE ROYAL, IIAYMARKET.- Lessee. Mr. Buckstone. THIS EVENTNG, Tuesdav, DAVID GARRICK. Messrs. Chippendale, Sothern, Buckstone, Rogers, Clark, Coe, Wea thersby, &c. ; Mesdames Moore, Snowdon, Fitzwilliam, &c. After which, LORD DUNDREARY MARRIED AND DONE FOR Messrs. Sothern, Buckstone, Braid, Gordon, Clark, White, Coe, weathersby, ; Mesdames Snowdon, Hill, &c With PRINCESS SPRINGTIME. Mr. Compton, Miss L. Keeley. And A KISS IN THE DARK. ROYAL LYCEUM THEATRE Mr. FECIITER will perform his universally allowed great impersonation of RUY BLAS EVERY EVENING until further notice. THIS EVENING, Tuesday, Dec. 27, to commence with MY WIFE'S OUT. Messrs. Widdicomb, Charles; Miss B. Percy and Miss E. Lavenu. After which, at 8 o'clock, RUY BLAB. Buy Blas, Mr. Fechter. Messrs. Ryder, Fitzpatrick, F. Ch fies, M`lntyre, Garden, Raymond, Collett, C Ilford, Moreland; Misses Car lotta Leclercq, B. Percy, and Mrs. Winstanley. To conclude with a Farcical Oriental Extravaganza, en titled BAREFACED IMPOS roßs. Schahabaham (a pasha of three tails, Mr. Raymond; Mustapha, his vizier, Mr. Garden ; Bill Stumps and Jack Hocus, quondam proprietors of the oricinal untied happy family, Messrs. Moreland and "Viddicemb ; Ali, chief guardian of the ladies of the Harem, Mr. Collett ; Osman Khan. chief executioner, Mr. Bunch ; Achmet Aga, an officer of the Sultan, Mr. Kelly; Mirza Hajji Baba, chief keeper of the monkeys, Mr. Regan; Ayesha, formerly Jemitua Stumps, but no first favourite of the pasha, Miss Lavenu ; Fatima, second favourite of the pash,, Miss B. Percy ; Shekerleb, third favourite of the pasha, Miss Travers; Beda, fourth favourite of the pasha, Miss Watson; Zenobia, formerly banou of the harem, chief wife of the pasha, but now discarded for Ayesha, Miss Hatch. Various choice specimens of zoology, guards, slaves, and attendants, by he numerous and talentei Smith family. Divertissement des Odalisques. this letter before us, for it is worthy alike of the cause it represents, and of the country from which it emanates. A calm and dignified tone is the only true mode of dealing with bombastic tirades and insolent demands. It is conspicuous that in Lord WHARNCLIFFE'S letter he keeps to facts, and con. tents himself with mentioning what it is abso lutely necessary to know of the affair, but in Mr. SEWARD'S we meet with whole passages of irrelevant matter, put in for no earthly pur pose but to insult and irritate those who have done him many great services. First of all, Lord WHARNCLIFFE takes pains to show the foundation that unfortunately only too plainly exists for the opinions so prevalent relative to the sufferings of the Southern prisoners. In support of this he quotes from a letter that was published in the Northern papers, which was written by a New England Unionist, who gives his name. In this we meet with the following em phatic declaration—" From every prison in the North, from Rock Island to Fort Warren, goes out this wail of suffering humanity," and after having mentioned the fearful effect which the ghastly faces had upon him, he says " that tears of shame for my country men who permit these outrages upon humanity, tears of pity for these poor sufferers blind my eyes." Well may an honest and straightforward man be ar o u se d w ith feelings of mingled indignation and regret when he beholds such_ despicable practices; and if any thing can add to the enormity of the crimes which already disgrace the Federal character, it would be the manner is which they deny their guilt, and declare that black is white with all the effrontery imaginable. Lord WHARNCLIFFE truly states the full significance of the case when he says that it these reports are untrue, as the Federals state, the best way to disprove them would be to allow the visit of a third party, accompanied by witnesses, to study the real facts of the case, but Mr SEWARD declines to allow this test to be made. Nothing can more effectually disclose the weakness of a cause than for its advocates thus to parry attacks and to prevent the real issue of a question from be ing inquired into. In reality, Mr SEWARD has done his best, or perhaps we should rather say his worst, to verify the most hostile statements that have been made against his party, but in his ignorant infatuation he doubtless believes that he has done wonders. The overbearing demeanour and unparalleled impertiner co of the Washington Government has much to learn before it mends, but in nothing can it realise more important ad vances than in the conviction that the civilised states of Europe will put their own construction on events, and not regard them through the medium of over bearing self-conceit and extreme prejudice. The voice of afflicted humanity has gone forth from the great Continent, where the mighty Republic of the Western World once flourished, and across lands and oceans it has reached all cities and states. It is quite impossible to hush up the horrors of the case now; and it is an additional error with which to tarnish their character, that we must regard this shameless assertion of Mr SEWARD'S, relative to the condition of the Southern prisoners. The ex treme part of the remarks made by Mr SEWARD, in his reply to Mr ADAMS' communication, is demon strated here in an excellent manner. The contri, butions that were received came from all parts of the United Kingdom, from the Continent, from Canada, even from the Northern States. The Southern ladies in England were the chief promo tors of the scheme; and is it likely, as it is here for cibly put, that they are concerned in foreign trade, hence how groundless the assertion that those who traded with the South were the main supporters of the affair. As to the pes3age which affirms that the War has been promoted by British subjects, that is properly met by the remark that this can only really apply to the assistance efforded by the Irish and Germans who have been induced to join in it by all sorts of inducements. It is curious to compare the styles of the different communications which have taken place on this staject of the Relie Fund. Lord WHARNCLIFFE'S first letter addressed to Mr ADAMS is a straightforward epistle, which plainly states its purpose, and is expressed in a spirit worthy of its cause, and does honour to those who have undertaken to forward its interests. Compared with Mr SEWARD'S petulant and pas sionate retort it shines forth conspicuous. It is also noticeable that Mr ADAMS did not appear to discern any such "grave insult" in the proposal of the committee, and, on the contrary, in some measure, appeared to acquiesce in the advan. tage and desirability of the undertaking. He must have been struck with the manner in which it was taken up by Mr SEWARD, and the extreme stiffness of his reply the second time to Lord WRARN• CLIFFE, tends to confirm the idea that he was unprepared for the fiery rejoinder he met with. Two things may be learned by this episode concern ing the Relief Fond for the Southern prisoners; one is that the great cruelty practised towards them is designed and not unintentional, because if it were produced by unavoidable circumstances, it would not be necessary to refuse aid that costs nothing for th€ir captors to bestow. Ano. ther lesson is the rancorous and revengeful feeling which evidently runs in the minds of the Federals towards this country. It is high time that the Confederation of the British provinces should take place speedily, since mitchief is cer tainly brewing, and it is the duty as well as the policy of those who are threatened to be prepared against the storm. We did not need to be informed bat the Yankees were pretentious and perverse, but it is a sad reflection to dwell upon that the descendants of the Anglo-Ssxon race should exhibit in a new world traits of cruelty and oppression which are foreign to its original charac ter, and must stamp those who display them as unn worthy and degenerate scions of a noble stock and a great inheritance. The Calcutta mail brings us very little sews o: aiy kind. The principal Indian topic is the aspect of affairs in Bhootan, where it seems probable that the ultimate adjustment of the quarrel will not be so difficult as was at first supposed. There is a [arge party in the country who are anxious to adopt a conciliatory policy, and consequently they will not only withhold their assistance from their more warlike brothers, but they will, it is thought, be likely to receivb the British in an amicable manner, and endeavour to tffcet a settlement of the dispute without recourse to arms. The naturat antagonism between the war and the peace parties has been heightened by the Extravagant and arro- gant conduct of the former. It seems that the movements of the British troops have excited much alarm and anxiety among the Bhooteas who watched the plan of the campaign with consternation. It will be remembered that it was intended to divide the invading party into several columns, so Rs com pletely to cut Bhriotan proper from the cuter pro vinces, on which it entirely depends for its snpplies. By this ingenious device the strength and inacces sible nature of their country, which 'he Bhooteas in their arrogance relied upon hen hey affronted ad, would be turned against them, and they had no p r ospect but of being starved in:. eubnalesion. great importance, excepting as to the disbanding o. the Anglo and Franco• Chinese forces, which indi, cates that little is feared from the rebels. It ib said that a large body of them remain in the field, though their whereabouts is uncertain ; but this is thought to mean that their scattered bands have re-united for purposes of plunder. At any rate, the Impe rialists would not have willingly res4ned the assistance of the disciplined mixed force had they any reason to suppose that hostilities were likely to continue. It is to be hoped that the cessation of this long protracted struggle will restore the silk districts b something like their former prosperity, and so revive the trade of the empire. It would be rash to hope for a final settlement of disturbances in China, but the more the people are convinced of the necessity of peace for the development of their natural resources, and the increase of their material wealth, the more averse will they grow to these internal wars which hinder the civilisation, while they retard the commerce of an industrious and prudent people. The Royal Speech at the opening of a represen, tative assembly is usually very much a matter of course, and often little more than a string of well turned platitudes. Still it is always looked to with some degree of interest, since if any great innova• tion or a considerable measure is contemplated by a constitutional Government, a reference to it can hardly be avoided in the Speech. However much it may be the work of Ministers and the expo. nent of their views, it is nominally the utterance of the Sovereign, and the pledges which it gives are promises from the Sovereign to the people, and as such not to be easily put aside or forgotten. The address of the Spanish Queen to the Cortes on opening their Session has nothing in it specially interesting to Englishmen ; nevertheless there are some points in it that cannot fail to attract atten. tion. In the first place, it is noticeable that Spain, who has been for many a long year notoriously one of the worst debtors in Europe—being neither able ❑or willing to pay her debts—is beginning to find out that honesty is the hest policy, and that if she ' hopes to retain her place among European nations ' it must be by a complete change in her mode of ' conducting her financial operations. "Causes of divers characters," says the QUEEN i❑ her Speech, "have placed our finances in a position which re quires ripe and serious consideration ;" and she further adds that the prosperity and progress of uations demand efforts which cannot be refused by intelligent and energetic peoples, and that by the measures which will be introduced to the Cortes the public oredit will be placed on an indestructible basis. The general condition of the Monarchy, the Speech admits, is not as satisfactory as could be wished—a confession whose frankness might be praiseworthy if the fact were not already so patent. The disputes with Peru and with Mexico are to be amicably adjusted, so that the expense of war will not be added to the de mands on the overburdened Treasury ; and her MA JESTY congratulates her subjects on the conclusion of a treaty with China. The Ministry finds it de sirable to turn its attention to the development of the commercial resources of the country, and the construction of railways is especially dwelt upon. Nevertheless, in spite of the improved tone, the condition of Spain is anything but hopeful either financially or politically; and so long as she mani fests such extreme reluctance to pay her debts, all the measures that the Cortes can devise or sanction will not raise her credit in Europe. The high sounding phrases in which the address is couched are common to all Royal speeches, and we naturally look for an increase of verbal dignity when deli- - vered in the stately tongue of an old Castile. All the elcquence possible, however, will not serve to make a country great without a solid basis; and despite many noble qualities, the Spaniards of our day have not yet shown that they possess the re-. quisito capacities for raising their country out of her fallen condition into a powerful and respected State. Shocking A ccident at Hartlepool. On Thursday, a melancholy accident occurred at e new rolling mills, on the Millbank estate, at the outskirts of Hartlepool. The rolling mills belong to a company, and are as yet only in course of construe. tion, and, being on a large scale, the machinery necessary for the works is of enormous dimensions. In order to provide for an easy and expeditious mode of fitting up and erecting all the machinery, &re, an immense moving crane runs on lines at the bottom of the roof along the entire length of the mein building, at an elevation of about 20 feet from the ground, and with a span of about 40 feet. O❑ the top of the crane there is a wide staging to ac commodate a number of workmen when employed at the " winch," which is in the centre of the crane, and weighs upwards of three tons. The crane was immediately over an enormous engine, and had been so, for some time previous, as the workmen were engaged in placing on the segments of the fly wheel, which is 26 feet in diameter, and above 30 tons in weight. Two of the segments had been safely lodged in their places, and es the fly-wheel was being revolved in order to piece another seg ment on, the crane came down with a crash that shook the whole building. There were six men on the crane working the winch, and several others were employed in various ways underneath. The crane was broken in two, and the winch and other ironwork about it was lying scattered around i❑ broken fragments, intermingled with the bodies of the poor fellows who were pitched from the crane into various positions. Of the six men who were on the crane two escaped uninjured ; the others were more or lass injured. Two men below also received scalp wounds and other bruises. A work man, named George Haines, who was standing near the wheel, was caught by the falling winch and killed on the spot, being jammed between the fly. wheel and the wall. Another man, named John Ruudell, had his leg broken in three places, and he died in the afternoon. Under these prospects the Rajahs were all for peace, and held a council under the DEH and DHURM RAJ, the two rulers, to consider how it might best be brought about. Some thought that the time for conciliation was now past, but while they were de liberating the leaders of the war party entered the council and declared that they would not submit to the British. The foremost of them, TOUNGSOO PILLO, insolently assured the DEH and DHURM RAJ that he had power enough to dethrone them if he liked, and snatching the signal sovereignty from the head of the DHURM RAJ, he placed it on the head of a dog beside him. As might be supposed, such insolence caused great indignation in the council, and in trying to avert foreign war a civil war was nearly brought about. The result at pre sent is a complete breach between the parties, and as a large portion of the people side with the more pacific party, there is every prospect of an early and satisfactory settlement. The avoidance of a war is always a matter of congratulation, even it be of no more formidable nature than a strife with the Bhooteas. The British are of course still pushing on their arrangements for the occupation of the llooars, and the force is proceeding towards Bhoo tan. From the North West we learn that the threatened combination of the chiefs has induced the Ameer of CABUL to release his captive brother, who is, however, under strict surveillance. It is rumoured that some of the hill tribes have resolved on supporting the cause of AFZUL KHAN, but this is uncertain. From China we gain intelligence of no LATEST INTELLIGENCE. [REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.] ITALY. TURIN, DEC. 26 , It is reported that a decree will shortly be pab lished reorganising the administration of the war department. The staff officials are to be diminished and considerable reductions are to be cffected. ITIE SUN, LONDON', TUESDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 27, 1864. FRANCE. BOURSE, Dec. 26.—The market continues in the same inanimate state, with prices well maintained. Threes, for the Account, ure unvaried at 65f. 30c. Mobilier have improved to 932 f. 50c. Railway Market quiet, bat firm. The market closed as fol lows : 4i per Cents .. 93 80 Do. end month.... 3 per Cents Do. end month 65 35 Credit Mobilier 935 Do. end month..., 935 Batik Shares 3500 Credit Foncier 1245 Roman RAIL 1 Italian Loan 65 40 Do. end month 65 60 Ditto Threes .. 66 New Mexican .... 50 25 Russian Austrian Spanish Threes — Home Debt Deferred irAYB. Cash. Account. Orleans... ........ 855 . .. 860 Northern 996 25 .. 1000 Lyons and Heditarranean 882 50 BB2 50 Southern ... .•. 590 75 Western Eastern Sardinian .. 315 _ Austrian Lombard North of Spain - .. 373 75 Saragossa 435 .. 440 Ditto to Barcelona The Confederate Raiders in Canada. ' On Tuesday, the 13th of December, the case of the alleged raiders in the St Alban's affair was re opened at Montreal, before Mr Justice Coursal, in the presence of a large number of spectators, by whom the greatest interest was taken in the pro ceedings. At the outset of the investigation Mr Kerr took an objection to the jurisdiction of the Court, and denied his honour's right to sit there at all on this matter. Mr Darlin, on the other hand, contended that, after having granted a delay of a month, they were now in a position to hear evidence for the defence, and not a legal argument. Mr Kerr, after a brief discussion, was allowed to go into the argument as to the jurisdiction of the court. The Judge said that this was a matter of the gravest importance, involving the validity of the proceedings from the commencement. For the purpose, therefore, of considering it further, he would adjourn until two o'clock p.m. At two o'clock the Court reassembled, when Mr Justice Coursal said he had given the argaments on both sides his most serious consideration, and had arrived at the conclusion that he was bound to obey the Imperial authority. In a national question like that before him, the Imperial Act was absolutely supreme and must be his guide. The case, he said, was an exceptional one —and being a treaty matter between the two nations he could do no other than allow their own provincial Act to give way to the Imperial Legislature. The Imperial Act must rule herein, and that Act required that the warrant under which the prisoners were arrested should be signed by the Governor-General. If the court could have reserved the point for a higher tribunal, it would gladly have done so—but, inasmuch as the liberty of the subject was involved, there admitted no delay, and as he had not had the warrant of the Government, he had come to the conclusion that the court had no jurisdiction in the case, and he must order the immediate release of the prisoners. The announcement of the Judge was received with applause by many persons in the densely crowded court, but the demonstration was instantly suppressed. Mr. Derlin then, in an earnest and impassioned speech, implored his honour not to discharge the Prisoners upon the remaining indictments, but in justice and fairness to the counsel for the United States, and to those for the private prosecutors (the banks), to allow of a hearing. Should it be said in an English court of justice that the judge, having • decided in favour of the prisoners in one case, im mediately discharged them in six others ? What would be said outside? The counsel for the defence themselves knew that the course which the court had taken was unprecedented. Had not his honour issued six warrants, and yet he had but one warrant before him ? He called solemnly on the court to hesitate. He (Mr. Derlin) could not remain silent while thirteen men, charged with robbery and even murder, were allowed to go at liberty without their several cases being investigated. Our good name for justice and fair play was at stake, and though some among us might b e sympathisers with the prisoners he had yet to learn that they set at naught the jewel, fair play. He again called upon the court to hesitate before discharging these men, and give the counsel for the prosecution a chance of being heard, for here the most important interests of all were at stake, viz., international ones. If the court should persist in doing this, then we must be prepared to take the consequences. No country had dealt fairer with England in extradition matters than had the United States. Their judges combined to give effect to the Extradition Treaty. The judges of our Supreme Court had concurrent jurisdiction with his honour, and had the counsel known of the pro bable course of his honour they wo u ld h ave desired court the to allow these judges to have a seat on the bench along with him. Mr Derlin again, for the last time, besought his honour to hesitate be 'ore he finally ordered the liberation of the pri- soners. Mr Johnson, Queen's Counsel, after remarking upon the responsibility 74 hicli attached to those representing the United States, and those who re presented private interests merely, expressed his opinion that Mr Derlin was mistaken in the view he took of the judgment of the court. The court meant that the prisoners were discharged on the one charge which had been investigated. The Judge here observed that Mr Derlin had rightly understood the judgment of the court, which was that the prisoners were discharged on every case before him. • The counsel for the prisoners objected to any call ing in question the judgment pronounced by the court, and Mr Rose, counsel for the United States, said he did not intend to call his honour's judgment in question. The Judge declined to hear further, saying that if he had no right to arrest these men on one charge, as he held that he had not, then neither had he a right to detain on any other. These men had been arrested on magistrates' warrant, upon his own, and then on motio❑ of the police, and now, when his honour's own jurisdiction was called in question, because his warrants were null and void, he saw that he bad been mistaken. And it was the duty of every British judge, on find ing that, to rectify his error:. The court there• fore, ordered that the prisoners be immediately discharged, and was prepared to incur the respon sibility of its own act. The prisoners were released a few minutes after wards, and were congratulated by their friends and acquaintances on their liberation. The Tribune, in reference to the above judgment, says :—" We know nothing of what actio❑ the Canadian authorities may now be disposed to take, but the Administration at Washington may now, perhaps, inquire of Great Britain whether she jus tifies this refusal of one of her judges to try a case of arson and robbery committed by men within her jurisdiction, because the acts were perpetrated within our borders ; and whether, if the refusal is to rest on the ground that these were the acts of belligerents, she means to permit war to be waged upon the United States from her territory and by men amenable to her laws ?" THE FOREIQY•OFFICE.--Mr. Murray, the As sietant-Under•Secretary at the Foreign-office (whose accident wh le out shooting on Saturday, the 10,h inst., at Mr Higford Burr's, Aldermaston Court, near Reading, has already been noticed in our columns), sus tained such injury to his left eye as completely to destroy the sight. By the advice of the eminent surgeons called in he has undergone the operation of having the eye re moved. This operation was skilfully performed, and he is going on favourably, The Late Inundations at Sheffield. consideration of these and other collateral circum stances we are unanimously of opinion that the acci dent was occasioned by a landslip which occurred in the ground immediately on the east side of the embankment, and extended beneath a portion of its outer slope, involving in its consequences the ruin of that portion of the bank and producing the catas trophe which followed. To this conclusion we severally came on our first examination, and every subsequent investigation, and the more intimate acquaintance we have since acquired with all the evidence and facts connected with the subject, have only the more firmly convinced us that to no other c AWE) can the destruction of the reservoir be rightly attributed. We are, moreover, of opinion that all the arrangements made by your engineers were such as might have been reasonably expected to have proved sufficient for the purposes for which they were intended, and that if the ground beneath the bank h2d not moved, this work would have been as safe and as perfect as the other five or six large re- servoira of the company, which have been con. strutted in a similar manner, and which have so long supplied the town of Sheffield and the rivers Kivelin, Loxley, and Don witli water. With regard o the propriety of repairing the broken embank- went, or of abandoning it and forming another elsewhere, we are not in a condition to report fully on this q iestiou.l THE VOLUNTEERS, Yesterday morning the members of the Queen's Westminster Rifl?s paraded at half-past 11 o'clock at the Duke of York'i Column, St. James's Park, and after blank ammunition had been served out proceeded, accompanied by the bands of the regi ment, to Hampstead, where the corps was pat through the movements of a field-day, in the pre sence of a large number of spectators. The annual distribution of prizes will take place in Westminster Hall on Saturday week. It is believed, but not yet positively known, that Lady Vonstance Grosvenor, the wife of Earl Grosvenor, colonel of the regiment, will, as usual, perform the ceremony. This evening the Lord Mayor will preside at a dinner of the Hampstead Rifles, at the Assembly Rooms, when he will present the prizes won during the year to the successful shots. The prize meeting of the 6th Company of the St. George Rifles, which has been delayed by unavoid able causes up till now, has just been held at the ranges on Wormwood Scrubs. The interest of the meeting was marred by the unfavourable state of atmosphere, a dense fog occasionally rendering it difficult to distinguish the outline of the targets at 100 yards. Under these circumstances, Capt. Wim penis resolved to limit the competition to third class ranges. The first series of prizes, open to all effi cient members of tho company, was disposed of at 300, 200, and 150 yards, five rounds at each range; the distance being reduced as the light failed, as follows :—Priza 1, Ensign Stewart, 44 marks; 2, Ensign Crooks, 43; 3, Private Torr, 43; 4, Private S. Lesdbetter, 43; 5, Sergeant-Instractor of Mus ketry Lintott, 42; 6, Private Leah, 41; 7, Private W. Leadbetter, 40; 8, Sergeant Campbell, 37; 9, Private Cutler, 37; 10, Private White, 34; 11, Pri• vate Donald, 33 ; 12, Private W. Smith, 32. The second series, consisting of eight consolation prizes, open to all who had failed to secure a prize in the first, was then competed for, et 159 and 100 yards, with the following results:-1, Private Thurst ; 2, Private Weekes ; 3, Private L. Jones; 4, Captain Wimperis; 5, Private Thorpe; 6, Sergeant W. J. Pearnaan ;7, Private J. Parsons. The prizes will be presented to the winners on the occasion of the annual supper of the company, which will take place early in the coming year. During the present month the members of the Victoria Rifles have shot off several matches. The first match was between ten members of No.l Com. pang and ten members of the 2d Inland Revenue Company of the Civil Service Corps. The ranges were 200, 600, and 600 yards, five shots at each range, Wimbledon 1864 targets and marking. The match resulted in favour of the Victories by 27 marks, they having scored 305 marks to 278 made The cause of the giving way of the embankment of the Bradford reservoir, near Sheffield, by which 238 lives were lost, and £400,000 worth of property destroyed, in March last, has been keenly speculated upon by engineers. The Waterworks company consulted several of the most eminent hydraulic and other engineers of the day, and the report of those gentlemen was issued to the shareholders on Friday morning. The document is prefaced bf a corress pondence with the Home-office, in regard to the resumption of work on the Agden reservoir, which was stopped by the directors immediately after the accident at Bradfield. It may be interesting to state that Mr. Rawlinson (government inspector) stated at the inquest that the substance of that bank was as" porous as a sieve." He attributed the failure of the Bradford bank to a fracture or dislocation of the pipes, which are embedded in the solid earth beneath the Lase of the bank. In his reply to a letter from the directors, after they had received the report of the engineers, Sir George Grey says:-- .' I am to acquaint you, in reply, that as Sir George Grey understands the works at Agden to be now precisely in the same state as when they were ins specte,d in March last by Mr. Rawlinson, and as hie report of the result of his inspection of these works is in the possession of the directors, to gether with the report of Messrs. Rawlinson and Beardmore on the bursting of the Bradford re servoir embankment, and a espy of the evidence given at the inquest held at Sheffield. Sir George Grey does not see what additional information could be obtained by a further investigation made at the instance of the Government. The directors, with this information in their possession, having now decided, as you infer Sir George Grey, that they are justified in proceeding with .the Agden embankment, Sir George Grey can only re• mind them that he has no power to interfere with their decision; and that if the works are proceeded with it must be upon the undivided responsibility of the company, and without any sanction expressed or implied on the part of her Majesty's Govern ment." In their report to the shareholders the engineers (Messrs Simpson, Hawksley, Bateman, Fowler, and Harrison)"enter at some length into the circum• stances attending the construction of the Bradfield reservoir, and conclude as follows :—" The filling of the reservoir commenced in June, 1863, on the occa sion of a heavy flood, and from that time, with some intermissions, the reservoir gradually increased in depth, and at the time of the accident, on the 11th March, 1864, it had attained to a height which was within three inches of the top of the weir. During the whole of this period no imperfection of any kind had been perceived, the embankment and the reservoir being absolutely water-tight; for although a small spring of ochreous water issued from a shale b,24:1 in the escarpment on the south side of the river below the bank, yet this equally appeared whether the reservoir was full or empty, and was therefore fed from other sources. Moreover, this water still continues to issue, although the reservoir has been emptied of its contents for many months. There was no fracture of the pipes, nor any creep of water along the outside of them. The embank ment was composed of materials which would not have slipped if the base on which it rested had been immovable. We must, therefore, look for causes other than supposed imperfections in the quality of the materials or workmanship for the failure of the reservoir. The weather during the fortnight previs ous to the accident had been exceedingly wet, the rain so swelling the rivers as to inundate all the low country in the East Riding of Yorkshire. It is in such seasons that masses of earth, commonly called landslips, become saturated with water or fabricated on their bases, and although at other periods com paratively or altogether stable, now begin to move. That the ground outside the embankment has moved is evident, not only from the tears and fractures which are to be observed in the lower part of the mass, but also from the significant fact that one cot tage situated high on the hill, and another nearer to the foot, and both remote from the bank, give unmistakable proofs of the recent movement of the ground on which they stand. From the testimony of the occupiers of these cottages this movement must have immediately preceded or been concurrent with the burning of the reservoir. After a ful by their opponents. The second match was be tween the corps and the 2d Middlesex Administra tive Battalion. The match was arranged for 20 competitors on each side, but the 2d Administrative Batalion having been disappointed of three of their number, it was agreed that three of those present should be allowed to shoot over the ranges twice, their names to be drawn. The distances were 200 500, and 600 yards, five shots at each range, Wim-' bledon 1863 targets and markieg. After a good contest—conducted throughout the day in one of thecoldest and most searchingnorth-easterly winds, the Victories were declared the winners by 64 marks, they having scored 675 to 611 made by the 21 Administrative Battalion. A S:lver Pewter agreed to be given by the losing side to the cempe-' titer on the winning side making the highest score. was won by Sergeant M. H. Smith, who made 42 marks; Private J. .IVcholas also made 42, but lost the tie. Lieut. Thrupp, of the Royal Ettborne Light Infantry, acted as umpire on the occasion. The Victories have also competed for three prizes granted by the committee from the funds of the corps, The competition took place at Kilburn, at 200, 300, and 400 yards, five shots at each range, Wimbledon scoring. A thick fog prevailed during most of the day, rendering the targets indistinct. The first prize —value £7—WCs won by Captain Jaques, who made 45 marks; the second—value £s—by Mr R. Jackson, with 44 marks ; and the third—value £3—by Mr Luxmoore, with 42 marks, The annual distribution of prizes to the Ist Middlesex Artillery Volunteers took pace last week in the large hall at headquarters, Leicester.. square, which was decorated for the occasion with trophies of arms and flags, Col. Erskine officiated. Colonel Creed, the commanding officer of the brigade, opened the proceedings by congratulating the corps on the presence of Colonel Erskine, the Inspector-General of Volunteers. He said Colonel M'Murdo was prevented by an engagement from attending, and regretted the fact because he had never had an opportunity of meeting an artillery corps on a similar occasion. They must not suppose on that account that the Inspectors General had either neglected or passed over the artillery branch of the service. It was impossible to have a warmer friend or a more persevering supporter than Colonel M i Murdo had been to them. It was entirely owing to him that they now possessed the fine field battery and harness, in addition to the guns first given to the Volunteer Artillery. Colonel M'Murdo was a thoroughly pracical artillery officer. He must re mind them that the Ist Middlesex Artillery Brigade during the pact year had been present, with its guns fully horsed, at Guildford, at Hyde Park, at Stowe Park, Bucks, and at Wimbledon, At the last place they were under canvas, and were in spected by a colonel of tree Royce; Artillery, who had been pleased to bestow the greatest praise on the brigade for its efficiency. Tete numbers of the brigade were steadily increasing, and the propor tion of effectises was vet y much larger than last year. A school of arms had been established at the headquarters, and had been very beneficial. He thought it doe to his own brigade to assure them that the Ist Middlesex were prospering and not in debt—(cheers)—and, with the assistance of the Government grant, be had not the slightest doubt that they would keep clear of pecuniary difficulties. Colonel Erskine, being then invited to address the assembly, referred to the sacrifices of time, leisure, and pecuniary means made by the Volunteers as a reason for their receiving both the moral and material support of the community that they represented. On the lst of December, 1863, they mustered 325 enrolled members; of whom 226 were efficient, At the same date this year the enrolled strength had increased to 373, and the efficients to 271. That be called a very satis factory state of progress. He then handed the several prizss to the successful competitors, except° ing the Ladies' Prize, which was presented by Mrs Creed. Victor Hugo's Christmas Fete (From the Guernsey Mail.) Tuts distinguished individual is now as popularly known for his liberality and kindness to poor chil. dren as for his literary taste and productions. Forty. one children are entertained fortnigbtly—say twenty on the Thursday of each week—at Haute. vine House, the residence of the poet, where they partake of a substantial dinner, being waited upon by Mme. Hugo and her noble family, with kind courtesy and condescension. In addition to this these children are entertained each year to a Christ- mas fete. The children were received at Heu'eville House at noon on Thursday last, when they were re• galed with an excellent luncheon, which they thoroughly enjoyed ; afser which they w ere con ducted into another apartment, in which, on a large table never employed to better purpose, were ranged different lots of warm and useful wearing apparel, each lot bearing the name of the child for whom it was intended. The distribution of clothing having tcken place, the folding doors were thrown open, when the children, together with the guests present, had the gratification and pleasure of the better than "fairy sight of a flue Christmas fir tree, gloriously lit and loaded with choice toys, beautiful flags, and delicious oranges; the unio❑ jack—" the flag which, for a thousand years, has braved the battle and the breeze "—being the top crowning ensign of them all. The tree was soon stripped of its gems, each child receiving such toys as fell to its lot, but although this was a lottery there was not a single blank, each child held a full ticket which infallibly drew a valu able prize. The joy manifested in the happy coun tenances and bright eyes of these young children, on receiving so many proofs of kindness, may be well supposed—and it was a most gratifying sight to behold. Toe children were waited upon by Mere. Hugo and Mine. Cheney with hearty goodwill, assisted by several ladies and the domestics of the house. VICTOR HUGO, just before the distribution of the clothing took place, gave an eloquent address to the guests present, in French, of which, in the fol lowing report, we give only a brief and imperfect outline of its line of argument, beauty of concept Lion, and force of illustration. " Ladies, to you I would address myself for a few minutes on the subject of this, what I call my little Christmas feast. I admire charity, it is a Christian virtud, and as sueh its exercis has done and is doing much for the relief of human suffering. However, this little weekly entertain ment which I have established for children of poor parents, irrespective of country and of creed, I look upon not as an act of charity but of fraternity. This is the third year of its anniversary, and each time I have only the same thing to repeat. It is but a very small act, a very small seed which, how ever, may and, I am hapyy to say, has borne fruit. Children are an interesting class, because of their comparative helplessness and their innocency; but they are not all equally so. The children of the poor, those whom we call poor children, are doubly interesting; their very inequality as to position and advantages demands and excites a different and a greater interest on our part. Oar duties to the children of the rich are the cultivation of their moral powers and intellectual faculties; but in addition to these, in reference to poor children, it is our ims perative duty to supply their physical nature with a sufficiency of good wholesome food. Material and moral misery demand, each of them, our attention, our interest, and our help. The poor child is under a moral fatality, and we should ask, What can I do to remove it ? Some take one way, some another— I take this —to improve it. The commissioners appointed by the Republican Government of France to examine and report on the cause of sickness and death of so large a proportion of the children of the poor born in that kingdom, stated in their report that the chief cause was the want of nourish. ing food. They added, that if even one good sub stantia) meat dinner, with one glass of pure wine, were given monthly to each poor child, the health and strength would be greatly promoted, and their lives preserved. It struck me that it would be well for one to carry out the suggestion practi cally, but the public duties which I had to fulfil in Paris prevented my doing so then. I have to thank M. Louis Bonaparte that, owing to my exile I Nape been enabled to do so now that t am away from the bustle and political duties of Paris• He has thus thus unconsciously been the means of enabling me to do what was in my heart. (Hew the guests were sensibly affected, some even to tears.) Fortyeone children, whom you see around you, come i❑ two divisions, to 20 of whom we give a dinner each Thursday of the week, so that each of them has, to my knowledge, not one bat two sub• stantial meat dinners every month of the year. In all of them we see marked improvement ; their heal►h is good, their strength much greater. This physical improvement is, at the same time, moral and mental improvement. It is a well-known fact, that the robust and healthy child will possess a superior degree of moral power and intellectual development to the weak end sickly one. We further insist, that all those who would cantinue to be our guests must learn to read, or else they will have to be replaced by others; hence their anxiety to learn. We wish to teach them the divine doctrines of equality and free ternity. To do so, we, the menaba's of my family, wait upon them arid serve at table, so that finding themselves waited upon by those whom they are taught to look upon as rich and noble, they may in early life understand the sublime doctrine of the equality of mankind, the divine fraternity of the human family. There some philosophers who find 16 or 17 original Adams. I. do nut participate in such views ; I hold to the Scriptural doctrine of one Adam only, the father of all mankind. We are thus one family, one sacred brotherhood, sprung from one stock. partakers of one nature; hence there is not, properly speaking, the rich and the poor, for all are from one original father ; the difference being that one brother has more of this world's goods than another, which, however, is of an uncertain, fleeting, and transitory nature. Indeed, I have sometimes thought that if ' one Adam' had not been made known to us, it wound have been necessary to invent or at least to desire one. Rich children may become poor men and women. Well, if during their prosperity they have ministered unto others, and some of these poor children may become rich and noble, they may then remember these days, and from these they may be prompted :o act in a similar manner towards the poor children of their futnre years. Bat we do not forget that the children of the rich have their toys at this festive season of the year, nor can we forget that poor children love toys equally as much as their more fortunate brothers. We provide them with clothes, as you see; first, because necessaries before all things should be provided and bestowed, and when these have been distributed, we shall proceed to a distri bution of toys. I s id that this weekly meal was a small seed sown, and that already it has borne fruit. lam happy in being informed, that from it similar institutions on a large scale are in active operation in South America, in Sweden, i❑ France, i n Switzerland, i❑ England, and several other coun ties. A report or one established in London by worthy clergy man was sent me yesterday, with a drawing of the room and children at table (the draw• ing was then hanged round for inspection to the come piny present), in which, as you will find, supported by generous contributions, two substantial dinners are given weekly to 1,400 children." This agreeable fete reminded the guests present of the conduct and commands of our Lord, who went about doing good ; and its ef&ct cannot but prove an incentive to all to go and do likewise. At the conclusion an unerpected but highly appreciated act of kindness took pace. The ladies present drew lots for a beautiful illustrated album of music, in which the distinguished poet had inscribed, toge ther with his valuable autograph, a memorial of the fete. The Students at Edinburgh University. The following circular has been issued by the Senatus Academicus of the University in regard to the disgraceful uproar which took place on the occas sion of the venerable Principal's inaugural address to the students :—The Senatus Academicus, in the discharge of their duty as entrusted with the diss cipline of the university, have to inform the students at large that on Saturday, the 19th ult., one of their number was brought before the Senatus for inter rupting the Principal's annual address—a breach of discipline which it was impossible for the Senatus to pass without notice and punishment. As the offender was a first year's student, and acted under the influence of evil example shown by not a few of his comrades, and as he spontaneously and promptly addressed to the Principal a letter of regret and apology for his offence, the Senatus have seen it to be consistent with their duty to inflict, in this par ticular case, the most lenient punishment which it was in their power to pronounce—viz., that of cen sure and reproof before the Senatus. Under other circumstances it might not have been possible to exercise this leniency ; but even if they had felt constrained to use severity, the Senatus Academicus trust that the students would not fail to see that in upholding the discipline of the university the Senatus are influenced by no other consideration than affection for the students and sincere regard for their interests. Conscious themselves of no other feeling, the Senatus Academicus take advantage of this opportunity to impress upon the students genes rally the mischief which is certain to arise if they do nor, by their own act and sense of right, put an end to the conduct, so unlike that of gentlemen and scholars, which has disgaced this university on the occasions of the annual introductory address of the Principal for several years past. It is true that this misconduct has been confined to a portion of the students. But, in the fact that it has been at all tolerated by the students, the disgrace fails upon the whole body. The students ought to know that repeated acts of the same kind on former occasions have called down upon them the censure of the pub lic beyond the walls of the university. The censure has been repeated by parties at a distance; and an impression prevails very widely that the students of the University of Edinburgh are sys' tematically turbulent and uncontrollable. Ths Senatus need not say this impression is erroneous , since the same students, who have acted so indecor• ously on such occasion as that of the 14th ult., conduct themselves in their classes in an orderly and becoming manner. But the unfavourable im pression thus received by , the public is not unrea sonable, and unfortunately the university has suf fered in consequence. These considerations wil l compel the Senatus to use greater severity if nn' fortunately any serious breach of academic disciP line should occur in future. They have hitherto' been very unwilling to do so, because the rustles' tion or expulsion of a student suspends or stePE I altogether his education at this or any other univer sity in the United Kingdom, and consequently pre vents him entering any learned profession. But such injury to an individual must not be permitted to interfere with the interests of the whole body of the students, The Senatus Academicus look with confidence for the sympathy and co-operation of the great body of their students in preventing, for the future, such scenes as were enacted this year. Th is is a matter in which all the members of the waiver' city, as well students as professors, are co ncerned , and it is earnestly hoped that the present prove the last occasion on which it may be found necessary to allude in any way to an offence so childish in itself, yet so fruitful of bad consequences to all concerned. Foreign Mail Packet List, MAILS DUE. 18, Australia and Mauritius, via Southampton .. San - via Marseilles' Jam 12 . Brazil and Cape Verds, by British paOiet. Jan. Cape of Good flop©, Ascension, and St. Helena D"' China, Penang, and Singapor e , v i a S o uthampton an ` 4. - , via Marseilles Dec. ' Falk ra la it n a d r, l v sl i India (Calcutta), India (Bomb7y), and Ceylon, vik. So '.- ***** Jan. 2 ' Gib a a liti S B outhan t :. * **** *** ************ 27. p.....ri uthampion. . 7 via Mareeillet;,....Dec, 4,4 via Southampton ........... . Dec. Zi . Dec. r• via Marseilles ................ Portucrei a, _,gypt, and Aden, via Southamptoi. ...... o •••• :vlalt I? ................ • via Marseilles ........ Dec. ---• Newfoundland ..................... .. Jan. 2 Dec. 27. Oporto dll(i Vigo ............ • .............. U. S. and British N. America, ty tirit. packet.... Dec 29. by U.S. i.acket.... ac ,ket•Pec. SO by Canadian p W.U. of Africa, Madeira, and Teneriffe .......... Jan. 1 .) ": . \Vest Indies and Pacific ............... , ......... Dec. ~,.j . Bahamas (via New York) ..................... Ji• . 1 „t . Bermuda (ditto) ............................. ..I . a e ll e. .;. Cuba and Mexico ........ ~................v