The Sun. — London, England, 1854-01-07 00:00:00

L eO NDON & SOUTH-WESTERN RAIL WAY. In consequence of the rapid breaking up of the frost, th speed of the Fast Trains on this Line will be reduced until further notice. By order. ARCHD. SCOTT, Traffic Manager. Railway Office, 7th Jan., 1854. Inland Revenue, Somerset House, London, sth January, 1854. U NSTAMPED CARDS-WASTE CARDS TOT CARDS. The Commissioners of Inland Revenue call the attention of persons Selling Playing Cards to the provisions of the Stamp Act of last Session, 16 and 17 Vic., c. 59. A practice having prevailed of selling Playing Cards In packs with out a Stamped Ace of Spades, under the pretence of their being Waste Cards, by reason of a corner of each card being cut off, the Act above alluded to has provided against the continuance of this description of fraud upon the revenue. It exacts that no Playing Cards, except such as should be bona fide spoiled and rendered unfit for use as Playing Cards in the process of manufacture, and which shall have a corner cut off as provided by a former Act, nor any Cards eommonly called Picture Cards or Court Cards, shall be deemed Waste Cards ; and that no Playing Cards, except Waste Cards, shall be sold other wise than in packs, each pack containing fifty•two cards of the four usual suits of thirteen cards each, includ;ng an Ace of Spades duly Stamped, tied up together in the manner required by law. It is further provided by the said act, that if any person shall sell, or expose, or keep for sale , any Playing C a r ds, not being a pack of cards as aforesaid, and the same not being bona flde Waste Cards within the meaning of that Act , he shall , for every pack, parcel, or seperate quantity of cards so sold, or exposed, or kept for sale, for feit, if not a Licensed Maker of Playing Cards the sum of 101., and of a Licensed Maker, 201. ; and that all cards so sold, or exposed, or kept for sale, shall be forfeited, and may be seized and taken by any officer of Inland Revenue. a uestion shall It is thrther enacted, that if in any proceeding q arise whether any cards were bona fide Waste Carols or not, proof that they were so shall lie on the party selling or keeping the same for sale. The Board of Inland Revenue, having re ason to believe that, not withstanding the provisions above-mentioned, a practice still exists of selling Playing Cards, under the pretence of their ben Waste Cards, as also that Cards approaching In size to ordinary Playing Cards, and fit for use as such, are sold without a Stamped Ace of Spades, and without being tied up and lab h oo d as by law required, under the denomination of . 6 Toy Cards," think it right to caution T all shopkeepers and others selling Cards, that they will strictly en enforce the law as above stated. —By order of the Board, THOMAS KEOGH, Secretary. THEATRE ROYAL DRURY-LANE. Lessee, Mr. E. T. Smith. TaIS EVENING, JAN. 7, Will be performed the entirely new Drama of interest, entitled THE BEGGING LETTER. To conclude with KING HUMMINGTOP ; or, Harlequin and the Land of Toys. - • - -- - The New Drama having been received with universal approbat ion will be repeated every Evening until further notice. THEATRE ROYAL, HAYMARKET. Under the management of Mr. Bnokatone. THIS EVENING, JAN. 7, Will be performed THE HOPE OF THE FAMILY. Characters by Messrs. Chippendale, Compton, Buckstone, and W. Farren ; Mrs. Fitswilliam, Miss E. Grey, &c. After which, the Grand CHRISTMAS PANTOMIME, called HARLEQUIN AND THE THREE BEAR • ; or, Little Silrerhair and the Fairies. Columbine, Miss M. Brown ; HArlequin, Marsnall : Pantaloon, Mr. W. A. Barnes; Clown, Mr. H. Marshall. ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE, OXFORD-STREET. Under the Mansgem:nt of Ur. CHARLES KEAN. THIS EVENING, JAL 7, Will be performed TILE LANCERS; or, The Gentleman's Son. Principal characters by Messrs. Meadows, Ryder, Everett, H. Mellon, and D. Fisher; Mrs. Winstanley, Miss Daly, and Miss C. Leclercq. After which will be presented the new Grand CHRISTMAS PAN TOMIME, entitled H.AIILEQUIv AN t) TUE MILLER AND ILLS MEN; or, King SaLunandar and the Fairy of the Azure Lake. Harlequin, Mr. Cormack ; Clown, Mr. Hullne ; Panta'oon, Mr. Paulo; and Columbine, Miss De,horotigh. LYCUIL TITEATRE Under the Management of Madame Vettris. THIS EVENING, JAN. 7, Will be performed A BACHELOR OF ARTS. Characters by Messrs. C. Siathews, F. Matthews, and Balser; Miss F. Hughes. ......... . - . After which, an original Fairy Extravaganza, called ONCE UPON" A I IMP, THERE WF.RE TWO KINGS. Principal cha racters by f'dr. Wright and Nfadame Vestris. To conclude with PATTER VERSUg CL ITTER. TREATRE ROYAL ADELPRL Proprietor, Mr. B. WAster.—Direntress, Ma:lamt Celeste, Rare Christmas Amusements—The Gnat Attraction of London— " One of the Sights of London"—The :;ea of Ice and Jlarvellous Adelphi Effects im the exciting new Nautical Drama of "THE THIRST OF GOLD," every Evening—A new Grand Fairy Spec tacle, NUMBER NIP. THIS EVENING, JAN. 7, Will be presented the highly Popular New Nautical Melodrama, in Jive tauleaux, with new scenery, the Set of Icy, &c., new dresses and appointments; called THE TfIIRST OF GOLD; or, THE LOST SHIP AND THE WILD FLOWER OF MEXICO. Principal characters by Messrs. B. Webster, Keeley-, Paul Bedford, 0. Selby, Parselle, Marsden, &c. ; Madame Celeste, Mrs. Leigh Murray, Miss F. Maskell, &c. ; with an entirely new grand specta cular legendary Christmas piece, in two act,, with new scenery, dresses, machinery, and appointments, called N LINIBE It NIP, or THE SPIRIT BRIDE. Priacipal characters by Madam: Celeste, Mrs. Keeley, Miss Woolgar, Miss M. Keeley, Miss Cuthbert, Miss C. Harding; Messrs. Paul Bedford, J. Rogers, Romer, G. Lee, &c. ROYAL OLYMPIC THEATRE, Lem() and Manager, Mr. A. Wigan. THIS EVENING, J. 7, Will be perfirmed THE CAMP AT THE OLYMPIC. Charac ters by Messrs. A. Wigan, F. Robson, Morton, and Galli ; Mes dames A. Wigan, Stirling, P. llorton, Chatterley, &c. Followed by THE WANDERING MINSTREL. After which, a new htstorico-geographical CIIRI,;TMAS PAN TOM LAE, called HARLEQUIN COLUMBiN ; or, The Old World and the New. Harlequin, Mr. F. Moreland; Pantaloon, Mr. W. Rochez ; and Columbine, Miss Wyndham. STRAND THEATRE. ?Sole Lessee, Mr. F. W. Allcroft.—Directress, Miss Rebecca Isaacs, THIS EVENING, JAN. 7, Will be performed Lk SONNAMBULA. To be followed by TILE IRISII TUTOR. Afte• which, a new grand Comic Christmas Pantomime. entitled HARLEQUIN AND KING NUTCRACKER; or, The World of Toy'. Clown, by the inimitable Flexmore ; Harlequin, Mr. Bologna ; Pantajoon, Mr. Griffiths; Columbine, Miss Goward. Stalls, ss. ; Boxes, 45. ; Pitt, 2s. ; Gallery, ls. ; Private' Boxes, 11. Is., to be had of Mr. Aileron, 15, New Bond-street. .ASTLEY'S EUROPE'S NATIONAL AMPIIITEIEATRE. Lessee and Managei, Mr. W. Cooke. Crowded houses nightly to witness the unequalled Attractions. The most gorgeous and successful Pantomime ever produced in this Theatre. THIS EVENING, JAN. 7, The New Grand Equestrian Chinese Spectacle, entitled " THE WISE ELEPHANTS OF THE EAST; or, THE MAGIC GONG— in which the wonder of wonders, Mr. W. Cooke's performing Ele phants will appear. Followed by a series of novel and brilliant scenes of Equestrian ism in THE ARENA by talented artistes. After which, a New Grand Equestrian CHRISTMAS COMIC PANTOMIME, written expressly for this Theatre, by Mr. NELSON LEE, entitled BILLY BUTTON'S JOURNEY TO BRENTFORD ; or, Harlequin and the Ladies' Favourite. New scenery, dresses, decorations, and appointments, magnificent Car of Industry, &c. Harlequin, Mr. H. Hemmings ; Columbine, Mdlle. Christine; Pantaloon, Mr. Lehman; and Two Clowns, Mr. C. Adams and Mr. Croueste ; Sprites, Masters Gee and Bradbury. Boa-office open from Eleven tlll Four. Stage Manager, Mr. W. West. DAILY WEATHER TABLE. SATURDAY, JAN. 7, 1854. State of the wind and weather at each of the following places at nine o'clock yesterday morning. The stations are arranged in order of latitude. TuNsamaF,—W., strong breeze—overcast. GREENWICH—W., gentle breeze—overcast. STRoon—W., gentle brceze—rain. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. Tuns DAY —Morning 1 min.after 8 Evening 31 min.aft4 8 To-lioaftow— Morning 3 rain.after 9 I Evening 34 min.aft. 9 THE WEATHER.—SUN OPFICIII ) JAN. 7. THERMOMETER, IN THE SHADE. 43 —highest since noon yesterday. 37—lowest this morning and during the night. 45—this day at noon. BAEO3IETER, 28'97. WIND, S.—Light breeze, and thaw M~~ ng c'§llll. LONDON, SATURDAY, JANUARY 7, 1854. January finds events at last thickening. So rapidly, indeed, that we have scarcely leisure to regard otherwise than cu rsoril y those exhilarating but unhappily fallacious rumours of a thorough change in the administration of affairs at the Horse Guards—barely a moment to heave a pass ing sigh over the death, in his eighty-ninth year, of the illustrious PLuNKET—hardly more than a fleeting opportunity to estimate as it ought to be estimated this extraordinary rise, in the depth of winter, simultaneously in the price of bread and coals—matters, to a certain extent, of almost secondary importance when weighed in the balance against the probability of a general war among the chief States of Christendom. Sooner or later we have all along maintained that that war would come inevitably. During the last ten or eleven months we have insisted upon this, and we have asserted again, and yet aga in, and yet again that the struggle could only be rendered more disastrous by delay, the cause of contention being thereby deplorably compli cated, and the evil passio ns o f th e aggressor b e i ng consequently roused to an extraordinary increase of rage and temerity by the weakness evidenced by our prolonged diFlomatic negotiations. Unfortu nately, our warnings have all along been more clearly justified by events as the time has elapsed, and occurrences have become multiplied. Everything has failed in the way of pacific con trivances for the effecting of a bloodless reconcilia tion. Russia, has advanced both in the audacity and the criminality of that monstrous policy which was first announced to the world at large by the arrogant and lawless course pursued by the CZAR towards the Sublime Porte, through the mission of Prince MENSOHISOFF. There have been san guinary conflicts both in Asia and in Europe. There have been, meanwhile, as frequent evidences of moderation on the part of the SULTAN as there have, been reiterated indications of ferocity, obduracy, and implacability on the part of the Russian AUTOCRAT. Throughout all which the allies of Turkey have been drawing up fresh proposals, emending old notes, striking out pass sages in this ultimatum, and interpreting new ones in that—until the latest document from the hand of our Master-Diplomatists has borne some what of the blurred and withered aspect of an over-used palimpsest manuscript. Until — worse than that brutal massacre of the Turks has evidenced, more glaringly than ever the barbarity of the Government of St. Petersburg and the heinous guilt of our mistaken and monstrous procrastination. Throughout both France and England indeed, it has been at once recognised that the butchery at Sinope has been a deadly blow directed by Russia against the two Western Powers—the fleets of those Powers being. actually at the time of that disastrous inci dent quietly at anchor at Beycos in the Bos phorus—what for ?—for the protection against such assaults of the supreme councils at Constantinople. Thereupon Lord PALMERSTON retires from the ABERDEEN Cabinet in dudgeon, and is generally understood to have only been induced to return to it on condition of a more energetic policy being adopted by our Administra tion. While the Emperor NAPOLEON -hitherto restrained by an honourable remembrance 'of his famous speech at Bordeaux, anti still further by the timidity and the German leanings of the Bri tish Coalition—at length avows his determi nation no longer to tolerate the continuance with impunity of this • monstrous course of duplicity and political criminality on the part of the Autocratic Government of St. Peters burg. Whence, of course, it at length comes to pss—as we have insisted from the outset that it must ultitely—that more active measures are forced . upon the hitherto vacillating, and hesitating, and procrastinating, and temporising Allies of the Sultan Ann- TM' MEDJID. So that orders at last ° emanate from Downing-Street and the Tuileries that the combined fleets are—not to enter the Black Sea I No—not that, even now after all these wondrous provocations. No—but that they are to send two vessels, a British man-of-war and a French man-of war out of the•Bosphorus, and steaming across the Black Sea to Sebastopol—there to inform the Russian Admiral that in the event of his leaving that port and advancing with his fleet from the Crimea, he will at once be fired into by the maritime armaments of France and England. Armaments that will then, of course, hasten at length from their anchorage in their snug rallying nook of Beycos in the Bosphorus. So far at least this is good good at any rate when contrasted with the past stagnation. Happily, too, the announcement of these modifications of policy come to light simultaneously with the offi cial publication at Paris of that masterly State paper from the hand of M. DROUYN DE L' HUN'S —the circular, dated the penultimate day of 1853, announcing in dignified terms the blended vigour and moderation animating the Councils of the French Government. The modern efforts to establish Reformatory Schools for young criminals must attract the sym pathy and obtain the support of the whole com munity. The public, the press, and the Govern ment, all look upon them with deserved favour, and they are not unlikely next session to receive such support and encouragement as it is in the power of the Legislature to give. It is, ho wever, to be feared that, in a work of this nature, the difficulties in the way of legislative aid, however willingly it might be rendered, will turn out to be very formidable. Everything urges the vigorous prosecution of these efforts. The youth of the unfortunate subjects of them appeals to our com passion. We resent for the moment the clever wickedness of some young rascal guilty perhaps of a petty theft ; but we soon remember that, though young in years, he may be old in the discipline of crime ; that orphanhood, or, far worse, the com pulsion of dissipated parents, may have made him from tender years a vagabond and a thief ; nay, it is quite a possibility that he may have been, as a babe, hired out to a worthless female mendi cant to be rocked as it were into a life of sharping and roguery. At the very worst, the incorrigible young villain, with whom neither decent parents nor masters desirous to improve him could do anything, is but a young villain after all, and we cannot willingly surrender youth to ruin. In addition to these natural feelings for the young, we have now the weighty conside ration pressing on our very selfishness that we must keep the criminals we grow. We are no longer allowed to export them. The colonies have declined to become the sink of the mother country, and we must either produce fewer crimi nals or bear 'the sight of their chains and forced labour under our own eyes. For the latter a partial provision was made in the last sessions of Parliament, and it is a gratifying fact, that, for some little time previously, benevolent individuals had been giving special attention to the preven tion of youthful crime, by converting the depraved lad into an industrious and self-supporting member of society. The great meeting at Birmingham is a plain proof of the interest which the active friends of this movement have succeeded in creating ; and that conference will certainly be followed by some practical results. We heartily congratulate Lord SHAFTESBURY, Mr. HILL, Mr. STURGE, and the other benevolent labourers in this cause on their success thus far. One remark we think it im portant to make. There was some difference of opinion at the conference, as might be ex pected when so many gentlemen met who had all been working enthusiastically, but inde pendently, for the same objects. Now, we are all mere learners as yet in this department. Foreign institutions are by no means adequate tests of the best modes for English lads who grow up under such different auspices ; and our own are but in their infancy. We need, therefore, full and fair trial of every method. It is a subject which will bear such trial, unless we foolishly venture at once upon some costly national project, with a costly array of commissioners, inspectors, and the like. The right way will never be found without sacri fice, n or w i t h ou t th e trials of numerous philan thropists, all full of confidenc e in their severa l schemes. A few, or even many, failures are of comparatively little consequence, as at the worst the lads cannot be injured. The grand thing, we believe, is to encourage at first every effort con ducted by persons whose character, station, and good sense warrant a . reasonable belief that they will do something. Some general powers, we think, might be conceded with a dva n tage to the Home Secretary for authorising occasional grants of money, and for empowering the local authori ties to place the lads for requisite terms at such schools. While, of course, the li berties of the subject must be g uarded, y et it is folly to be pedintic about the liberties of youths, at an age when they ought to be under some control, and when it is but too plain that they are beyond the control of parents or masters. Schools of this kind ought, indeed, to be fully open, as they are voluntarily at present, to the neighbouring magistracy, and to all respectable persons who may wish to inspect them. They are not prisons, but schools ; it is absolute go vernment for instruction, and not for punishment; and the eye of the public will be at once an en couragement to the scholars, and a check to any improper exercise of authority on the part of the master. These remarks have been suggested to us by the THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, JANUARY 7, 1854. deeply interesting paper of Mr. BAKER, a Glou cestershire magistrate, describin the operations of the Children's Friends' School AT ga Hardwicke, in that county. The interesting point is, that his plan is as capable of being carried into effect, wherever a sensible magistrate or two, and a few friends to help, can be found, as a Sunday school of being established in any ordinary place of worship. For 250/. he erected a Reformatory School and buildings, which is large enough to take in all the lads furnished by the county, thirteen in number, and ten more from other counties. The buildings can at any time, moreover, be converted into labourers' cottages. He hired (not purchased) all the land wanted, avoiding thereby enormous outlay and trouble. Beginning with one acre in March, 1852, and three lads, they increased the quantity to six, and then to ten acres ; and he now finds that fifteen little boys can work this quantity of " stiff blue clay," and make it produce respectable crops. The boys themselves have built the cowsheds, pigsties, barn, and carpenter's shop of waste slabs from a saw-mill. They have a schoolmaster (but it is quite evident they learn as much of " common things" as Lord ASHBURTON could desire), and a superintendent, properly termed a bailiff. The entire cost, however, has not exceeded 11/. per head for the twelve months. This Mr. BAKER indeed considers to be high, and explains that it includes all the cost of inex perience, and the alterations consequent on a first start. Mr. BAKER prefers spade hus bandry for the boys, partly as enabling them to do more for their own support, and partly be cause he considers it unfair to the children of honest, rustic labourers that crime should be •the means of teaching children to be tradesmen while the rest remain farm labourers. There is, more over, a growing demand, in consequence of emi gration, for well-trained farm hands, and he hopes to carry out a system of apprenticing the lads to suitable agricultural masters when they have quitted the school. It is obvious that Mr. BAKER'S method may be adopted in any county in the kingdom, but we think it equally obvious that no Government system could generate the care, the economy, the interest in the lads' welfare, and therefore all the elements on which the success of Reformatory Schools depends. So far as we can see at present, Government can only aid by con tributions of money, and by temporary legal powers granted for experiment, and renewed from time to time. MONEY MARKET AND COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE. CITY, TWO O'CLOCK. The sales of cotton at Liverpool yesterday were estimated at 6,000 bales, 1,000 of which were taken for export, and on speculation. The market was firm, at very full prices. Railway shares were dull, at rather lower rates. _ _ It appears that the importation of wood last year was the largest on record, and the consump tion has fully required the increase. Prices have ruled high, owing to the great demand for ship building, railway, and other purposes. The ton nage from the Prussian ports of Memel, Dantzic, and Stettin, has been nearly doubled. Should the supplies from these quarters, as well as from Fin land and Russian Poland, be suspended, our Canadian and North American possessions would receive immense benefit, and fortunately could supply all our wants, although at an increased charge, before the stocks on hand hero, which are ample for many months, would be exhausted. We have reason to look to such matters, when war is imminent. Everything that boars upon the Russia trade is now of surpassing interest, and according to a re port by Messrs. Smith and Charles, there was no business doing in tallow at St. Petersburgh on the 15th (27th) ult., when the rate of Exchange was 39 1-16 to 3-16. Adverting to the market here, they proceed to observe "We have scarcely a single new feature to report as respects probable supply and demand. The Russo- Turkish question being still in suspense, it is useless speculating on the probable export from Russia next season ; we can only repeat what we have frequently stated before, that the longer that question remains un settled and the aid of British capital in consequence de nied to the Russian produces, the less will be the quan tity produced for next season's shipments, supposing that there be a shipping season at all at Cronstadt this year. We forbear offering any opinion upon the issue of passing political events, but we may say that the feeling amongst parties well informed on the subject of Russian diplomacy is that the Russian Government, believing (or affecting to believe) that its demands upon Turkey are strictly just, will proceed even to the extremity of war in prosecuting those de mands. The demand for tallow has been very indiffe rent for some weeks past, but there is already evidence of improvement, and we anticipate that with the stocks in the hands of the trade, reduced to as low a pOint as at the present time, and with home production un doubtedly in this district, (and, we believe, generally) very scarce, we shall have a good spring trade." Referring to the prospects of the silk trade dur ing the present year, Mr. Henry W. Eaton, writes : " As regards future prospects, as far as one can judge from present appearances, I think there is every reason to expect a continuance f a good business, and that the consumption of 1854 • will be fully equal to that of former years, with little alteration in prices generally. The latter must of course depend on various circum stances, but it may here be remarked, that at no pre vious time has the pressure of the money market effected prices so little as during the last year." The Bank of England returns to the 31st ult., are such as might be looked for at the close of the year. The discounts increased, and parties strengthened their balances. The bullion was slightly augmented, and the circulation was brought out by the increased loans. The following is a comparison with the previous return : Active circulation Increase... .. £21,077,860 267,705 15,852,899 Bullion. Increase Rest . . 33,858 3,218,826 20,371 11,409,933 Increase Public Deposits Increase Other Deposits 252,209 11,041,049 Increase Seven-Day and other Bills Decrease... Government Securities Increase Other Securities Increase Notes unemployed 433,127 1,172,684 6,432 15,044,330 600 17,676,123 932,472 8,102,220 ]3ecrease.. 216,060 The rates for bills of exchange upon the princi pal Continental cities were yesterday afternoon, in most instances, rather firmer. Gold is still in command for the Continent. By the ship Francis Henty there are accounts to October 11 from Melbourne, and 66,481 ounces of • gold. The rate of exchange had declined from 2to 1 per cent., and gold had, in consequence, fallen to 765. per ounce. There was more activity in the import markets, as the summer labours at the " diggings" were about to recommence. . No re petition of former excitement, speculation, and high prices was, however, anticipated. The spirit market had risen, owing to the probable augmen tation of the duties by the Legislature. Brandy had been sold at 13s. 6d. per gallon. Flour was unsteady. Timber was decidedly falling. Hard ware was in good request, and also galvanised iron, paint, and oils. Building materials had a fair sale. The Walter Hood brings Sydney accounts of Oct. 13, and 31,759 ounces of gold. Her letters are not yet in town. The Legislature harari journed, and the Constitution question would be re-considered. The important news from Paris, of the warlike declaration of the French Government, has occa sioned a further decline in Consols, which have been 92i -a, after opening at 924 There is a more marked feeling of uneasiness. The New 3/ per Cents. have been 94, and since 931 /. Bank Stock is heavy at 217. Exchequer Bills are 6s. to 9s. premium. The exports of specie direct from London during the week to Thursday last, were only 1,050 ounces of silver, and 8,140 ounces of gold, all to Boulogne and Belgium. Foreign Stocks are dull, and have declined gene rally. Mexican are 23 to 231, being flat, and Danish Three per Cents. are heavy at 84. Russian Four-and-a-Half per Cents. are 1 per sent. lower, being 921 to 93. Sardinian Five per Cents. are quiet at 90. Spanish Three per Cents. are 44, and the New Deferred 201, being weaker in both in stances. Dutch Two-and-a-Half per Cents. are lower, being 621 ex dividend. French Four-and-a- Half per Cents. are marked 97f. with the exchange at 25.10. There is less animation in Railway Shares, and the tendency in prices downwards. Caledonian have declined fully 11., Great Western ss. to 10s., Lancashire and Yorkshire 11., North-Western 10s., Midland 155., North British 10s., South Eastern ss. to 10s., York and North Midland 10s.1 French lines are weaker, Northern of France have receded about 10s., Paris and Lyons 11., Pans and Stras burg are active. The Gold Mine Shares are quite neglected, and prices are consequently nominal. No transactions are recorded in Joint-Stock Bank Shares. Land Companies' Shares are very inactive, but not lower. BRITISH FUNDS THIS DAY. (From the Oficial List•) Business done. Bank Stock 3 per Cent. Reduced Annuities .........•••••• 93 2g g 3 per Cent. Consols Annuities New 31 per Cent. Annuities ........ L ong Annuities, Expire sth Jan., 1860 5 5-16 ,i. Ditto 30 Years, Expire 10th Oct., 185 9 . 5 1-16 India Bonds, £l000 Ditto, under £lOOO .. . Consols for Opening 18th .... .............. Exchequer Bills, ld. £lOOO £5OO Small 6 10 p PRICE OF FOREIGN FUNDS THIS DAY. Danish Bonds, 1825, 3 per Cent B4 a Mexican 3 per Cent. Ditto for the Account. ............ . Russian Bonds, 1822, 5 per Cent. £ St Ditto 44 per Cent Sardinian Bonds, 5 por Cent.. ...... ..•• Spanish Bonds, 3 per Cent Spanish New Deferred, 3 per Cent 2oi Dividends on the above payablelin London. -- • - - - French Renter, 4i per Cent. .......... ... 97f. Ex. 25f.104 Dutch Exchange, 2A per Cent. 12 ..... 62A 3 x & TWO O'CLOCK. Consols for Opening 18th Janu ar y 92a 1 x EFFECTS OF THE INCLEMENT WEATHER.—On Thurs day afternoon Mr. William Baker, the coroner, held an inquest in the board-room of the London Hospital on the body of a Lascar seaman, name unknown, who perished from cold and exposure to the inclement wea ther. The jury returned a verdict of " Died from ex posure to cold and the severity of the weather." Mr. William Baker held an inquest in the same institution respecting the death of George Ward, aged 40, who was found by the police lying in the snow on Tuesday night last. The jury returned a verdict of "Died from expo sure to cold and the severity of the weather." LATEST FOREIGN NEWS. RUSSIA AND TURKEY. On the 26th of December Constantinople was perfectly tranquil. Trieste was mentioned as a neutral town probable to be selected for the meet ing of a congress. No mention was made of the entrance of the combined fleets into the Black Sea. Mohemed Pacha, the leader of the Opposition, still retained office ; so did Reschid Pacha, whose resignation had not been accepted. Besides the conditions already known, the Porte is said to have proposed, as a basis for the negotia tions, a confirmation of privileges for all its Chris tian subjects. Mr. Marsh, the United States Minister, had a farewell audience of the Sultan. He is replaced by Mr. Brown. Lord Dudley Stuart had arrived. General Prim had taken his departure, on an ab sence of some months. The Persian Government had ordered two arma ments, as necessary effectually to meet eventua- lities. M. Kanikoff and a Russian General were on . their way to Teheran, on a diplomatic mission. The • troops of the garrison at Constantinople were consigned to their barracks, and reinforce ments had been called in from the neighbourhood. Strong patrols prevented assemblages in the streets. The Ministers were sitting in permanency. The war party has been strengthened by the re ceent demonstration of the Softas. One hundred Softas have been exiled to Candia ; many of them are sons of respectable men. • On the occasion of the late disturbances, the Sultan, it is said, declared to the French ambassa dor that he would rather abdicate than accept foreign assistance against his own subjects. The Trieste Zeitung publishes advices from Kra jowa to the 30th Dec. The peasantry had risen in insurrection along the Danube, from Kalafat to Turnul, extending as far as the Aluta. They were partly supported by Wallachian irregulars. The Russian minor officials had been everywhere turned out. The Ostdetctsche Post says that warlike news may be shortly expected from St. Petersburg. The Russians have occupied the Austrian Wal . . lachia.n frontier from Orsova to the Torburg-pass near Cronstadt. The Russians are also permitted to make purchases within the Austrian frontier. Serious news has been received from Bucharest. Russia has, it is said, replied by a fresh movement of forces, and by extraordinary warlike measures, to the last propositions of peace which were made to her. According to instructions received from St. Petersburg, the army of invasion of the Danu bian provinces, which does not now exceed 80,000 men, is about to be immediately carried up to an effective strength of_ 240,000 men. A great number of general officers recently appointed to commands in that army have just joined, and entered on their duties. _ _ The Austrian Correspondenz publishes the fol lowing from Orsova, Jan. 5 :—" Two battalions of Russians, under General Belgarde, were attacked on the 31st ult., at Osestan, by some Turkish cavalry from Klafat. The Turks were repulsed, and forced to retreat, leaving several dead and prisoners behind." We read in the Constitutionnel :—" A report has been in circulation that news has been received that the Russians were making imposing arrange ments for attempting to cross the Danube. These accounts are still vague, and we must add, on the faith of letters from Jassy, that at the date of the 21st ult. there had only entered into the capital of Moldavia 9,000 men of the corps of Osten-Saken, and not the slightest detachment had passed the Wallachian frontier. It is true that since - that time the frost may have favoured the movement of Rus sian troops towards the Danube, which before had been very difficult on account of the bad state of the roads." The National Gazette of Berlin, under date of Warsaw, let, says :—" The estimate of the Russian troops at two millions must be considered as an exaggeration. It is even, according to all appear ances, a typographical error. The following is not the real effective strength, but such as it is indi cated by the muster rolls. The corps .of the guards, the corps of grenadiers, the six corps of the active army, the first and second corps of cavalry of the reserve, and the corps of dragoons, in all eleven corps, are composed of 368 battalions of infantry, 460 squadrons of regular and 14 of irregular cavalry, and 996 pieces of artillery. Thus, ac cording to the written list, the army ready to take the field is 486,000 men and 996 pieces of artil lery. The first levy gives 98,000 men, with 192 pieces of cannon ; the second levy, 115,000 men and 280 pieces of artillery. Total, 699,000 men and 1,468 pieces of artillery. In adding the army destined for local purposes, and the reserves, which are put down at 315,000 men in the returns we should have in point of fact an effective of a million of men with 1,800 guns, whom Russia could call out in the event of a European war. All the corps of Cossacks form an army of 93,200 cavalry and 33,000 infantry,-with 224 cannon ' • 60,000 of them and 110 guns could be employed in a European war. Our readers see that, large as the Russian army is, we are still very far from an effective of two millions." IMPORTANT CIRCULAR OF TTTI FRENCH GOVERNMENT TO ITS DIPLOMATIC AGENTS. The following is a translation of the important circular, addressed by the French Government te its diplomatic agents, a summary of which ap peared in the The Sun of yesterday " PARIS, DEC. 30, 18537 "The affairs of the East are taking a too serious turn not to recall your attention, even at the moment' when circumstances impose new duties upon the Government of his Imperial Majesty, to the efforts which we have not ceased to make, for the purpose of preventing the complications with which Europe is so seriously me- na,ced. " The question about the Holy Places, either misre presented or misunderstood, had excited the apprehen sions of the Russian Cabinet ; we have tried to calm these alarms by frank and complete explanations. It did appear to us that in preserving the rights of the Porte, a question of such a nature might well be cleared up at a•distance from the scene where it originally arose, Our opinion, however, was not shared by Russia, and Prince Menschikoff received the order to repair to Con stantinople. I will merely say, that had we really en tertained the exclusive views which are imputed to us —if the claiming of our ancient and incontestable rights had not been sustained by so much moderation—the mission of that Extraordinary Ambassador would at once have become the object of a conflict, which we knew how to avoid. " The affairs of the sanctuaries at Jerusalem were hardly settled, and, by the admission of Count Nessel rode himself, regulated in a satisfactory manner, when another difficulty presented itself. Prince Menschikoft demanded guarantees for the maintenance of the privi leges of the Greek Church. The Cabinet of St. Peters burg did not prove by any particular fact that these privileges had been violated ; while the Porte, on the contrary, confirmed solemnly the religious immunities of her Christian subjects. Animated by the desire to appease a difference which, if it concerned on one hand the sovereign rights of the Sultan, touched on the other the conscience of his Majesty the Emperor Nicholas, the French Government, in concert with the English, have assiduously tried all means to conciliate the in terests, at once so delicate and so complex, engaged in the affair. The Russian Cabinet cannot have forgotten the zeal and loyalty with which we have endeavoured to accomplish this difficult task. Neither can it deny that the resistance of the Porte to accede to a first plan of arrangement, as emanated from the Conference at Vienna, was not the only cause of our failure. In the course of these various negotiations serious events took place. A Russian army had crossed the Pruth and invaded in full peace two pro vinces of the Ottoman Empire. The fleets of France and England ought to have approached the Dar danelles at that moment ; if the French Government had desired to do so, its naval forces might have anchored in the roadstead at Constantinople. How ever, though it thought it necessary to establish its right, it showed all the more its moderation in the step. The nature of the relations of Russia with the Porte had become too abnormal not to allow war to succeed peace, or rather, to call the subject by its real name, that the aggression on the Turkish territory should not produce its natural consequences. This change in the situation has necessitated a new movement of our fleet, and, at the instance of the Sultan, the French flag has appeared in the Bosphorus simultaneously with the British. " However, sir, we had not renounced the hope of an arrangement, and, together with Austria and Prus sia, as already previously with England, we pursued once more a pacific end. New propositions, for the suc cess of which we shall not cease to employ our efforts, have been addressed to the Porte by the representatives of the Four Powers. " None of the treaties concluded with Russia inter dicted to 'our men-of-war the navigation of the Black Sea. The treaty of the 13th of July, 1841, in closing in time of peace the passage of the Dardanelles and the Bosphorus, reserved to the Sultan the right to open them in time of war, and from the day when the Sultan gave us free permission to enter the straits the Euxine became equally open to us. The same motives which had kept us for a long time at the Bay of Besika, stopped our fleets in the road of Beycos. "The French Government was most anxious ,to mani fest its friendly sentiments towards Russia, and to reject before the world the responsibility upon aggravation in the actual state of things, which, despite all considera- tions, could not be modified. The French Government thought, moreover, after the contents of the recent de spatches of General Castelbajac, that the Russian Cabi net, satisfied with the possession of what she considered as a pledge, would not have taken any offensive part in the struggle which she has so unhappily commenced with Turkey. It seemed to as sufficient that the presence of our flags in the waters of Constantinople ought to have attested our firm resolution to protect that capital against a sudden danger, and we did not wish that its premature appearance in the quarters nearer the Russian territories should pass for a provocation. The state of war rendered, no doubt, possible a collision between the belligerents hoth by sea and land, but we had a right to think that our reserve would be imitated by Russia, and that her admirals would avoid with equal care the occasion for a rencontre, in abstaining from proceeding to aggressive measures when, had we supposed the Russian Cabinet to be animated by different sentiments, our fleet would certainly have exercised a more active vigilance. The event of Sinope, sir, has realised all our apprehensions, and this deplorable fact modifies equally the attitude which we ought to have taken. The agreement which has recently existed at Vienna between France, Austria, England, and Prussia has established the European cha racter as regards the difference existing between Russia and Turkey. The four Courts have solemnly acknow ledged that the territorial integrity of the Ottoman em pire was one of their conditions of the balancing policy. The occupation of Moldavia and Wallachia. constitutes the first attempt against that integrity and there can be no doubt that the chances of war might still more en danger it. Count Nesselrode represented, a few months back, as a nececessary compensation of what he has since called our maritime occupation,' the invasion of the Da nubian Principalities. On our part, sir, we believe that it has become indispensable for us to measure ourselves the extent of the compensation to which we are entitled by right as the Powers interested in the existence of Turkey and the military positions already taken by the Russian army. Wo must have a pledge which as sures us the re-establishment of peace in the East on conditions which do not change the distribution of the respective forces of the great States of Europe. The French and English Governments have consequently decided that their fleets should enter the Black Sea, and combine their movements in such a manner as to prevent the territory or the Ottoman flag from being exposed to a new attack by the Russian navy. The Vice-Admirals Hamelin and Dundas have just received orders to com municate to all those to whom it concerns, and we hope that this loyal step will prevent conflicts which we should see with but deep regret. The French Government, I repeat, has but one object—that of contributing to bring about honourable conditions and a reconciliation between the two belligerent parties ; and as circumstances oblige us to arm ourselves against terrible casualties, we still hope confidently that the Russian Cabinet, which has given such numerous proofs of wisdom, will not expose Europe to useless wars—to trials of war from which the Sovereigns have saved her for so many years. DROUYN DE LHIJTS." FRANCE. The Moniteur of this (Saturday) morning pub lishes a decree calling into active service all the young soldiers available under the second portion of the contingent of the class of 1852. It has already been stated that a corps d'armee, of 70,000 men would be sea to Turkey, in case of war being formally declared against Russia. It is be lieved that that number of men or more, will be ready to move at the shortest notice. A consider able portion of that number will be taken from the army of Africa. In Paris, the circular of M. Drouyn de Lhuys, given in another column, is looked on as nothing less than a delaration of war from France and Eng land against Russia. M. de Kisseleff, the Russian Ambassador at Paris, had received his instructions as to the line of conduct which lie would have to follow on the official notice appearing of orders havin g been given for the occupation of the Black Sea by the French and English fleets. There is every reason to be lieve at present, from the information received, that M. de Kisseleff, at Paris, and M. de Brunow, at London, will not delay in demanding their pass ports. Likewise, if confidence can be placed in the declarations of the Russians, who are in a position to be well informed, the reply of the Czar to the manifesto in the Moniteur will be an order to the Russian troops to cross the Danube. The aide-de-camp of the Minister of Marine, who was to have embarked at Toulon in the Vauban steam-frigate on the 2d inst., was stopped by tele graph, to wait a few days for further orders. He is to carry out with him new instructions, more categorical and firm in their nature than those which he had previously received. There is still a rumour of a loan. The closing of the College of St. Michael (St. Etienne) alluded to some days past, has occasioned a good deal of surprise. The College contains 150 resident pupils, and a still greater number of out pupils. The families of the students are wealthy, and many of Legitimist opinions. The superior of the college, M. de Da mas, is a member of the order of Jesuits. He is brother of the Count de Damas, who is attached to the Count de Chambord, and is son of the Baron de Damas, governor of the Duke de Bordeaux, and formerly Minister of Foreign Affairs under Charles X., after M. de Chateaubriand's summary ejection from office. It is surmised that some thing connected with the fusion or with Frohsdorff politics was the cause of the suppression of the college. The Count de Peyronnet, formerly Minister of Justice under Louis XVIII., and Minister of the Interior under Charles X., at the time of the fa mous ordonnances, has just expired at his seat of Montferrand, near Bordeaux, aged 77. We have more than once had occasion, says Galignani, yesterday, to notice the attempts of the organs of the Legitimist party in France to create distrust of the alliance with England, and to make the public believe that the Government has com promised the interests of the country by making common cause with England on the Eastern question. Why the Legitimist journals should be constantly attacking the English, is, to a certain extent, a mystery, and we shall not enumerate even those motives for such a line of conduct which are evident; it is painful enough, considering the claims which the English have to very different treatment to notice the fact itself. In the two Legi timist journals of this day, the Assemblee Nationale and the Union, we find long articles on the Eastern question, in which it is again asserted that it is the interest of France to leave to England alone the task of protecting the Porte against Russia, she alone having, according to these journals, a vital inte rest in giving that protection. By going with England in a naval warfare, France, they say, will only increase the supremacy of the British navy. Either these journals are exceedingly ignorant of the real state of the question, or they wilfully shut their eyes to the truth, in the expectation that their readerswill accept falsehood in its stead. France has more than any power in Europe an interest in pre venting the further aggrandisement of Russia, for, if the supposed views of the Emperor of Russia were to be realised, the whole of Germany would be under his sway, and France would have to struggle against all the continental sovereigns. As to the pretended fear of increasing the naval power of England, by assisting her against Russia, these journals, ought not to forget what has been said in England by those who dis approve of the alliance with France. They have said that the English government, by accepting the naval aid of France, will afford to her an opportu nity of distinguishing herself which will make her a very formidable naval power, and one day ex pose England to disaster. This is, perhaps, quite as absurd as the argument of the Assembee Na tional and the Union, but it is a good set-off to what they advance on the present occasion. The circular relative to the Eastern question, published in the Moniteur yeste,rday, produced an unfavourable effect on the Bourse, which was fol lowed by a serious fall in the price of public secu sities. The Three per Cents. opened at 70f. 750., rose to 71f., and fell subsequently to 70f., at which they closed for the end of the month, being a de cline of if. 40c. as compared with the closing price of Thursday, The Four-and-Half per Canis. closed at 98f. 80e. ; Orleans Railway shares , I,loof. ; Rouen, 970 f. ; Havre, 470 f. ; Great Northern, 800 f. ; Paris and Strasburg, 747 f. 50c. ; Paris and Lyons, 850 f. ; Lyons to the Mediterranean, 695 f. ; Western of France, 632 f. ; Bordeaux and Cette, 580 f. ; Great Central, 490 f. ; Lyons and Geneva, 480 f. ; Shares of t he Bank of Credit Mo bilier, 640 f. THE FLEETS IN THE BLACK SEA. (From the Press of this day.) Orders have been sent out for one ship from the English and one from the French fleet to enter the Black Sea, and under flag of truce to approach Sebastopol. When there they are to inform the Russian Admiral that if he leaves the port of Sebastopol he will be immediately fired into. RUSSIA.-GERMAN CONNECTIONS. It is a fact which we have not yet seen noticed in any of the public journals, that the Duke George of Mecklenburgh-S trelitz, first cousin to Prince Albert, brother of the reigning Duke, and brother-in-law of the Duke of Cambridge, is married to the Grand Duchess Catherine of Russia. This is another link, as a correspondent justly remarks, in that chain of German enthralment which has been thrown around the people of this country. How could it be expected that with so many hostile influences in operation, there could be any real Englishfeeling at the head of affairs in this country orning Ad vertiser. COURT CIRCULAR. WINDSOR, JAN. 6. The dinner party yesterday included the Duchess of Kent, the Lady in Waiting to her Royal Highness, Lady Frances Bruce, the Earl and Countess of Shelburne, the Right Hon. W. E. Gladstone, Sir Charles Eastlake, and the Hon. Mary Bulteel. The band of the Scots Fusilier Guards was in at tendance in the Castle during dinner, and played the following selection : Overture, "Ferdinand Cortez" Spontini. Selection, "Don Juan" Mozart Marian Quadrille, Selection, " Le Domino Noir" Auber. Overture,' " Giralda" Adam. Her Majesty's private band attended in the evening, and performed the following compositions : Overture Masquerade Scene, " LaPre aux Clercs" Herold. March, " Zweikampf" The Queen, attended by Viscountess Jocelyn, drove out in a sledge this morning. The Prince of Wales, accompanied by the Earl and Countess of Shelburne, followed in a second sledge. The Hon. Flora Macdonald and Colonel Bouverie were in attendance. Prince Albert went out shooting. Tho Marquis of Lansdowne vas unable to obey her Majesty's commands yesterday, from slight indisposition, but will arrive to-day. The Right Hon. W. E. Gladstone left the Castle this forenoon for London. The Hon. Flora Macdonald and the Hon. Caroline Cavendish have succeeded the Hon. Lucy Keir and the Hon. Mary Bulteel, as Maids of Honour in Waiting to her Majesty. The Right Hon. Sidney Herbert left town yesterday for Wilton House, Salisbury: Viscount Palmerston has left town for his seat, Broad lands, Hants. . The Chancellor of the Exchequer left town after the Cabinet Council on Thursday afternoon for Windsor Castle, and returned to London yesterday. Despatches were sent from the Colonial-office yester day to the Governors of the North American Provinces, and also to the Governor of Gibraltar. THE COURT.—Her Majesty, we understand, intends to give a series of brilliant fetes at Windsor Castle after the 17th inst., during the theatrical performances, to which the nobility and gentry residing in the immediate vicinity of the Castle are invited. The sojourn of the Sovereign at Buckingham Palace, when her Majesty comes to town to open the Session of Parliament, on Tuesday, the 31st inst., is not expected to exceed two days the palace being still under extensive repairs and embellishments. WINDSOR, FRIDAY.—THE ROYAL TWELFTH CAKE.— Her Majesty's twelfth cake this year is manufactured by Mr. Le Blond, the Royal confectioner, and-luny main tains the artistical skill of the confectionery department, so much admired in former years. The cake measures four feet and a half in circumference ; it is about a foot in height, and weighs upwards of thirty pounds. The base is richly ornamented with rosettes of eastern design, and beautifully embroidered in frosted sugar. The or nament on the top represents the Arabs and the dying lion, where the affrighted horses, the palm tree, and a crystal fountain are artistically introduced. The Royal cake will be placed on the table at the Castle this evening. The Earl and Countess of Jersey and Lady Clemen tina Villiers are still staying in retirement at Mid dleton, near Bristol. The Prince Nicholas Easterhazy and his youthful family, grandchildren of the noble earl, are staying at Vienna. Lord Crewe has returned to Hill-street from the Mar quis of Lansdowne's, at Bowood, where the party has separated, the noble Marquis having received a royal in vitation to Windsor Castle. Lord Londesborough, we hear, is on the eve of retir ing from the turf. His Lordship is said to have dis posed of his stud to Mr. Rudston Read. The Hon. Captain Dudley de Res left the Earl of Wilton's, in Grosvenor-square, yesterday, for *Windsor, where Lady Elizabeth is staying, to do duty with his regiment, the Ist Life Guards. Lord Brougham is expected to leave his chateau at Cannes, at the close of the ensuing week, for Paris, en route to London, to attend Parliament. The noble and learned peer, who is now in his 75th year, is, we believe, in the enjoyment of good health. During the last week the following noble and distin guished personages have been visiting the Marquis of Lansdowne, at Bowood :—The Duchess of Sutherland, the Duke and Duchess of Argyle, Lord and Lady Can ning, Lord and Lady John Russell, the Count and Countess de Flahault, and Miss Georgiana de Flahault, Lady Stewart de Rothsay, the Earl and Countess of Beeborough, Lord Crewe, the Countess of Kerry and Lady Mary Fitzmaurice, the Hon. C. Gore, Captain Warburton, Messrs. Sneyd, Byng, Twopenny, Senior, &c.— Wiltshire Independent. Miss Burdett Coutts has arrived in Stratton-street, from Brighton. THE REVENUE.—We are requested to state that there were two errors in the comparative statement of the Revenue for the year published yesterday. The Post office receipts were returned on the year as a decrease of 18,0001., whereas it should have been an increase of 82,0001., making a discrepancy in the year's account of 100,0001. The Miscellaneous for the year was returned as a decrease of 17,3511., instead of a decrease of 117,3541., making a difference of 100,0001., which balances with the aboYe error. The remainder of the account was perfectly accurate, showing an increase on the year of 1,315,925/. ITALY. The Opinione of Turin, of the 2d, states that an Austrian corporal of gendarmes being accidentally with a private to an inn at Cogolo, in the Venetian territory, where several strangers had arrived, saw a bottle on the ground filled with gunpowder. This c i rcum stance exciting his suspicion, he searched the rooms of the travellers, and found several pis tols and poniards in their possession, besides am munition, and a quantity of revolutionary papers , including original correspondence between Kossuth and Mazzini, and incendiary proclamations. He immediately arrested the strangers, who turned out to be G. Meyer, a painter, from Zurich ; Ma rino, a student, from Paduaa ; Fontan, a music master, from Brescia ; and one Moralti, from Cas tigliano. The Piedmontese Minister of the Interior has issued a circular to all the intendants of provinces recommending them to encourage as much as pos sible the progress of public ; works, in order to afford the labouring classes the means of earning their bread during the present season of scarcity. A violent shock of earthquake was experienced at Castelnuovo di Cattaro on the 13th ult. It was undulatory, and a slighter one occurred about an .hour after. Several houses were damaged, and the earth split in several places. Near the sea shore, water was seen to issue abundantly froin one of the cracks to the height of a foot. The shocks also occasioned some damage in several v: the environs. By the notification of his Excellency Monsignor Medici Ottajano, Magg,iordomo of his Holiness, J. H. O'Byrne-Redmond, Esq., of Killoughter Hall, Ireland, has been honoured with the appointment of Chamberlain to his Holiness Pope Pius IX. SPAIN. The Madrid journals of the 31st ult., which have arrived in due course, contain nothing of interest. The directors and editors of the opposition jour nals had drawn up an address to their readers, in which they complain that they do not enjoy the guarantees to which they are entitled for their publications. The Duke of Parma had arrived in the capital, and was about to be received by the Queen. Having, after many years' refusal, acknowledged the Queen, he was some time ago restored to the dignity of an Infante of Spain. A letter says that the Marquis do Turgot had not passed so good a night, and that the pains in his leg had increased ; but his wound presented no gravity. The following are the prices of Stocks :—Three per Cents., 42i ; ditto Deferred, 21 13-16 ; Re deemable ebt, first class, 8i ; ditto second class, ; Coupon Certificates, Exchange on Lon don, 51 80. There is nothing of interest in the Madrid jour nals of the Ist. The Queen had received in private audience, with the customary ceremony, Count de Azinhaga, Portuguese Minister, who. presented credentials from the King-Regent of Portugal, con firming him in the Post of Envoy Extraordinary' and Minister Plenipotentiary. The Stock Exchange was not open on the Ist. Three sentinels had died of cold in the night of the 31st ult. AUSTRALIA. By the arrival of the Walter Hood, Aberdeen clipper, at Portsmouth, we have dates from Sydney to the 30th October. This fast-sailing vessel brings a freight of wool and tallow, very valuable at this juncture, and gold from the diggings, to the amount of 32,0001. She landed a very heavy mail at Portsmouth, and passengers, among whom, in the first-class list, were Lieutenant M'ilenry, Dr. Geddes, Mr. Kay, Mr. Bordier, Mr. Tooth, Mrs. Norman and family, Mr. Davies, Miss Burge, Mrs. Hunter, Mr. and Mrs. Menzies and child, and Mr. Goulding. The Council stood adjourned to the 6th Decem ber, when the discussion on the constitution was to be resumed. PLYMOUTH, JAN. 6. The Francis Henty, 432 tons, Alexander Cairn cross, passed up Channel for London this after noon, landing 10 of her passengers here. She left Melbourne on the 11th of October, and cleared the Heads on the 13th. She brings 35 passengers, and 66,4810 z. of gold, 487 bales of wool, 36 casks of tallow, 9 casks of copper, and 20 hogsheads of cocoa-nut oil. She had light winds ever since she rounded Cape Horn, and has had a capital run home in 85 days. There was a very heavy mail brought ashore, which has gone on by the evening's train, and will bo delivered in London to-morrow morning. Her Majesty's ship Electra was on the station. The Hurricane, the Imbrosine, and Mercia were to leave Melbourne for London early ; the Ballarat on Nov. 1, the Hanover, Dec. 1, and Frances Rid ley early. Arrived—The Statesman, from Southampton, Killermont from the Mersey. The gold fields are spoken of by the passengers, all of whom bring home large quantities of dust, as being as good as ever. One passenger has more than 3,000 ounces of gold, and another states that he was one of eight men who dug in a hole at Ballarat, called the Jeweller's Shop. The first half-packet of dust taken up was 211bs. 9 oz., and when they divided there was 401bs. 8 oz. for each man. This party sold the hole for 501., and the seven men cleared 3001. each, and then they sold it for 401., and were working it when our informant left. It was 104 feet deep, and gave our informant the asthma. He says he was out only a year, has bought five or six acres of land at Gee long, brings home 336 ounces of gold, and would have made 10,0001. in three years if he could have stayed ; but he could get no letters from his family, and that brings him home. In his opinion the diggings will last for years. Of all that have come home by this ship, not one has less than a thousand pounds. The produce market was badly supplied. Gold at Geelong had fallen during a week from 31. 16s. 9d. to 3/. 16s. per ounce, with rather a decrease in supply. At Melbourne, in consequence of a re duction in exchange, the price had fallen to 765. There is a general complaint of business being dull at the whole of the gold fields, and very little gold offering for sale. The reduction in price may in some measure account for this, by the diggers withholding it in expectation of a rise ; but this cannot take place so long as the exchange con tinues at the present rate. The escort brought from Mount Alexander and Bendigo 29,287 ounces; Ballarat, including Gee long, 3,389 ounces ; M'lvor and Goulburn, 2,308 ounces :—total, 34,984 ounces. Gold shipped from Victoria :-1,841,134 oz. ; per Francis Henty to London, 66,481 oz. :—total, 1,907,615 oz. ; or 79 tons 9 cwt. 2 qrs. 17 lbs. 11 oz., which, at 755. per oz., amounts to 7,152,5551. The intelligence from the different digging localities continues good, although on the Ballarat side they complain of the late heavy rains having greatly impeded operations. The late discoveries there have been at a much less depth than hitherto, in fact, extensive surfacing has been met with, thus holding out some encouragement for the digger of small means. The line of the last disco veries is towards Buningyong. That which has been long since predicted is now pretty well esta blished, that all the ground between Golden Point and Buningyong is one continuous field. In the week ending October 8, there had arrived by escort, at Geelong, 43,552 ounces from Castlemain Mount, M'lvor, the Ovens, and Ballarat diggings. The Melbourne Argus, of October 10, says " During the week business has been dull, but very extensive trade has nevertheless been done, espe cially for the diggings and the country generally, and should the weather prove moderately dry there will be a considerable reaction. Numbers are now beginning to move, both from the neighbouring colonies and from town, for the summer diggings campaign, and this movement has caused an in creased demand particularly; but there appears no , chance and no expectation that the excitement, speculation, and high prices of former years will be again experienced. The labour market was very active, there being a great demand for all kinds of labour, at increased wages. Seamen for the coast ' abundant, but for home few offering, as most men seem unwilling to leave the colony." THE WAGES MOVEMENT. PRESTON, JAN. 6. The Operative Weavers' committee have issued a re• joinder to the address of Messrs. Birley Brothers : in which they say : " Enough has been said on previous occasions in jus tification of our position ; anything further on the sub ject is, therefore, at present useless, beyond this, that we are yet willing to abide by any of the means we have previously offered to bring about an amicable arrange ment of the present unhappy dispute. In conclusion, we have only to say that we have no desire to interfere with the management of any mill or mills, and that as soon as the wages we seek can be obtained, we shall be willing to resume work, allowing each employer to be sneonditionally • master' of his own establishment." To-day the manager and w eaving -master in the employ of Messrs. Birley Brothers have issued a placard, in which they assert that the advance offered and accepted was three farthings per cut, and not one penny, as re presented. They challenge the Weavers' Association to prove that any promise made by the firm was not honourably fulfilled. A MAN LOST IN THE SNOW.—On Tuesday night last, a man named Humphries, carter to Mr. Butcher, was sent from Woodbridge Mill to Heytesbury, with a wa ggon and two horses, and has not since been heard of. The waggon and one horse were found on Wednes day, jammed in between a bank and some iron railings, near the monument, at Chitterne Downs, and the other horse was found this morning much cut and injured. It is supposed the poor fellow in seeking help to extricate his waggon got bewildered, and is lost in some deep drift of snow.— Wiltshire Independent. ACCIDENT AT THE GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY STA TION.—As a railway labourer, employed at the Padding ton terminus of the Great Western Railway, named Win. Hammond, was carrying a sack of coke from 'the coke-shed across the metals, his foot slipped as he en deavoured to pass before an engine that was creeping out of the station after shifting some carriages on the table, and before he could get out of the road the engine passed over both his legs, crushing them in a frightful manner. He was immediately conveyed to St. Mary's Hospital, where it was found necessary to amputate the limbs as the only chance of saving life ; but that proved unsuccessful, as the unfortunate man expired after en during several hours excruciating agony. Deceased, who was about 40 years of age, has left a widow and four orphans to deplore his untimely end. SUDDEN DEATH.—Between ten and eleven o'clock yesterday morning the messenger of the Duchy of Lan caster office left home in his usual health ; when opposite Waterloo Church he was observed to stagger, and Mr. Powell instantly went to his assistance, but found him insensible. He was conveyed to a surgeon, who used every means to restore animation, but life was quite ex tinct. The deceased had held the office for more than twenty years. An: t4rda: ThurE althat were being drippi remaz upon house meter Guari mark( was tl quenc Fleet- ,cover Jderab "other mud of pei such ,and f • The `less t cabs, worn . impos the in did ri four Some they previc to 6d. of pas vionu YeE noon, The vi The of slee even Son businc but nc days, slimed state The day sc entire quent —wel Jame: than I the it climb( Water ling o] Yes during entire] ons fl( up fix aftern under in the them, rent c the th ploye< The n left by not se lation nnfort Yes Cam& an ho howei beyoni train, five m at 12 hind ii snow five in this cu to last remov The variot amour day. At line r, The tiO72 l E any i T 1 Emir clew and rep N as u beii tha 3 i bale also ball