The Sun. — London, England, 1854-12-29 00:00:00

CONTRACT FOR SHOES. Department of the Comptroller for retooling and Transport Services, Somerset-place, 26th Deceml,er, 18.54. THE Commissioners for Executing the Office of Lord High Admiral of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, do Hereby Give Notice, that on SATURDAY, the 13tH o f Janusz:, lasb, at One o'clock, they will be ready to treat with such persons as may be willing to Contract for supplying :tad dellvertaT into her Majesty's Victualling Stores at DEPTFORD, the undermen tioned articles, viz.: 5,500 pain, size No.lol suoE s . 5,500. „ „ No. 11,3 One half thereof within six weeks, and the remainder within six weeks afterwards, or earlier, if preferred by the parties tendering. Tenders may be made for the whole or any portion of the Shoes. Their Lordships reserve to themselves the power, when the ten ders are opened, of contracting either for the whole, er for such part thereof orly as they may deem fit. Patterns of the Shoes aid the cooditions of the Revised Contract may be seen at the said office. No tender will be received after one o'clock en the day of treaty, nor any noticed, unless made on the Printed feral provided for the purpose, and which may be obtained on application at the said Office. livery tender must be addressed to the Secretary of the A.drairalty, and bear in the left-hand corner the words " Tende r for Shoes, " and must also be delivered at Somerset-place. GIUND JUVENILE NIGHT of the success f u l PANTOMIME. DRIIRY-LANE.—Leasee, Mr. E. T. Smith.- - Redua•td Prices as usual.—. Morning Performance every Wednesday, at Two o'clock. THIS EVENING, Duo. 29, a rties of distinc- Being, in compliance with the request of several Pra, the Perfec tion, THE FIRST GRAND JUVENILE NIG Inc. mances will commence with the entirely origi a n n al d . t . ex c t u r l a i ° a ra rly racy, traditionary, comical, gastronomical, pantomime, entitled and fantastic domestic grand comic Christm JACK AND JILL; or, Harlequin King M as ustard and the Four- The extensive scenery, and-Twenty Blackbirds Baked in a Pie- . en tirely new, by Messrs. Nicholls, Cuthberr T , Cooper, Gordon, Wilson, and Moore. The machinery by Messrs. neker. The extraordinat y properties, decorations, tricks, changes, and transformations by Mr. Needham. The choregraphic arrangements by Madame Louise. The overture and music composed and selected by J. H. Tally. Leader, Mr. Hayward. The whole of the designs, models, and sketches furnished from the studio of Dikwynkyn, who for many weeks past has been personally supervising their execution. The novel grotesque b urlesque opening invented and written by E. L. Blanchard ; and the wnole arranged and produced under the immediate superin tendence of Mr. Edward Stirling. Principal Ingredients in the Christmas Bill of Fare : —The Hall of Hypochondria in the Domains of Dulneas.—Misanthropy (Genius of Gloom), Mrs. Raiford. Fog, Drizzle, Taxes, Spleen, Indigestion, Quarter -day (his Ministers of Melancholy), Messrs. E. V. Dent, E. V. Wet, E. V. Load, E. V. Day, H. T- Weight, and E. V. Bills. Azure Diabolicals in attend ance, Messrs. Croak, Quake, Fret, Fidget, Worry, Flurry, Fume, Vex, Groan, Growl, Grumble, and Grizzle. Apparition of Misan thropy on her favourite Nightmare, and Magical Appearance of Good Humour in her Christmas Car, Good Humour, Miss Alder ; Lightheart and Sunshine (her Attendants), Misses Honey and Brown; Mrs. Glasse (the original " Cook's Oracle," and the well known adviser of the " First catch your hare," &c,), Miss Regina Collins. The receipt given to snake a good pantomime, and its con coction accordingly. Cottage of Jill on the borders of Fairyland (by, Sunrise), with Enchanted Kitchen, Garden, and Region of Preserves. "Sing a song of Sixpence, " Pocket full of rye, "Four-and-twenty blackbirds, " Baked in a ple."—Ancient Nursery Legend. Jack (the interesting hero of the olden story, who went up the hill to fetch, &c ), aderwards lI triequiti, a. Milano ; Jill (the heroine of the adventure, in love with Jack), afterwards Columbine, Mdlle. Bolen; Marmalade (the Fairy Qu.en of the Preserves), Miss K. Warrington ; Pineapple, Raspberry, Lemon, Cherry, Apple, and Greengage (her Assistants), Misses Clifford, Gower, Johnson, Love, Innis, and Richardson ; Strawberry, Cranberry, Gooseberry, Cur rant, Apricot, Damson, Qain - e, &c. (Fancy Preserves), Misses Grace Honey, Ellen Honey, Laurance, Louise, Therese, Charles, Hint, Sidney, Gordon, Barnes, E:nlly Barnes, Richardson, Eliza Richard son, ROM Sidney, Emily Moore, Elizabeth Smith, Lila Ellis, Rosa Harrison, E. Box, Tayler, Matilda Chenley, Martiney, St. Clare, ns, John Levines, S. Jolinsoa, and Roberts ; Preserved Ginger their warns elly), 'e aster l'ungent ; Fruit Blossoms by a Blooming Selection of Coryphdes. The Will and the Way—the Talismanic sixpence—'t he Chalice. Grand Bat et. Principal Dancers, Mille: Therese and Annie Cushnie, '1 herese, Smith. &c The Four-and- Twenty hlacicbir Is, Masters fweet Tweet, Toot TO), Loodle Loodle, &c. Thu Reading of the Will— "Jill must not a hnslmnd take, Till she a pie can make and bake." Interior of Jill'." Cottage (by Meonllght) —Coal, Mr. Nobbs ; Rundle of Wood, Mr. Ha'ipenny ; Congreve Pox, Mr. Fizzer ; Peilows, Mr. Leathertongne Dutch Oven, Mynheer Von Tan ; Rolling Pin, Mr. Smoothpaste ; Gridiron, at r. De Bar; Frying Pan, Mr. Broadrim ; Soye, 's Three-legged Iron Pot, Herr Potluck. Cruet Castle In the Table Cloth Territory (by Moonlight), and Golden Palace of King Mustard.—King Mearard (afterwards Clown), Harry Boleno ; the Empress Vinegar (aftern'a ds Pantaloon), Herr Kohl ; Black Pepper hk ei and White Pepper entlnels on duty at Cruet Castle), hir us and Mr. sneezums ; Sweet Oil, Mlss Florence . Cayenne, M . Capsi cum ; Harvey's Sallee (attendant in waiting) , Mr. teavenry ; the Army of Zests, Messrs. Lilian Soy, Curry, Capers, Ketchup, Meshrocm3, Gerlic, Shalot, Sweet Herbs, Potted Tongue ; Potted Beef, Potted Bloaters, Potted Anchovies, Potted Shrimps, &c.: Horse Radish (from the King's stab*.e), by a Racine Na r. Iteviere—Ter rifie Attack upon the Appetite, and Rally of the Relish's—Great Progress of Jill in her Culinary Career. The Abode of Chutn-e in the Province of Pickles (by Sunset).—Chuteee (Chief of the Pickles), Mr. Fiery Facies ; the Pickle Army, Messrs. Onions, Walnut, Gher kins, Cauliflower, Red Cabbage, &c.; Small Jar, Master Fiecalilli. Great demand for Pickles and determination of the Door to Stand a Jar. Interior of the Stupendous Salt Mine (by Moonlight). —Salt Rock (a bright White Sprite), Herr Willikind 'Afoleno. Imminent danger of Jill in splitting upon a Rock of Salt— Treachery of Vinegar —Upsetting the Pail above, and Evaporation of the Saline Stalactite Ceumns, disclosing The Emerald Temple of Salad.—Magical Union of the Sweets and Sours, and " a Pie" termination of the Loves of Jack and Jill. The Transformation. -Harlequin, M. Milano; Columbines, Mdlle. Bolen and Miss Ellen Honey; Pantaloon, Mr. Cole; Sprite. Herr Willikind Moleno ; Clown, the celebrated Harry Boleno (his first appearance in London for many years) ; Aerial Evolutionists, by the Inimitable Italian Brothers. The Turk's Head Public-house and Hairdresser's Shop.—Hairdresser, Mona. Pomade ; Publican, Mr. Billy Williams ; Customers, Messrs. Rednob, Smockface, Owen Swift. Beardless, Whisker Want, Baron Nicholson, and Tom Steed; the British Pub lic by themselves; Policeman A. I, Mr. Vigilant. Approach of tho Great Rugged Russian Bear—How he Whines after the Porte, which, being rather old, turns out somewhat crusty—A Dose of Turkey Rhubarb—A Don-e Cossack —Pure Circassian Cream—How one Sham 11l makes all well—The Great Bear turns out a Great Boar --Russian Attachment to Grease—Clown Cuts his Customer's Hare and afterwards Dresses it a la Soyer —The Great Moustache Move ment—A Close Shave —Clown shows his high attachment to the Polo —Sadden Rise in Porter—An af.T.M.P.—A Patten Lock at 10 o'clock —A. Bona Fide Traveller—Ginger Beer and Gin without ger —A Mill, a Esight, a Regular Row, and Station-house for Two. Great American Baby Show.—Arrival of the Infantry—Sudden Squall—Ma's upon the Eve or Battie—Generat Attack—Awardirg the Prizes—Clown and 'Pantaloon's Offsprings—me Prettiest Baby in the World—A Model Baby and a Spirit Child—The Weaadortul Effects of Dr. De Jongh's Cod Liver Oil—Clown's Great Prize Baby —Fresh Arrival of 301) more Babies—The Judge Confounded—Great Uproar—An Unwelcome Visitor to a Ladles' and. Juvenile Party— and Extraordinary case of Suspended Animation by the Ita lian Sprites. Scott's Oyster Shop. Newspaper-orrice, and Parson's Biscuit Baking and Confectionery Establishment, Cernhlll —" Up rouse ye then, my merry men, it is our opening day"—A Holster for one end a Lobster for two —A Mussulman and a Man for a Auricle—Duty and Custom—A Bride Cake and a Wedding Cake— First Edition and Second Edition —Left Out f •.r Want of Ro m Born— Press of the Privilege and Privileges of the Press —" Oh, what a row, a rumpus, what a rioting." Baker, Mr. Crus'y ; Fishmonger, Air. Scales; Master Newahoy, Christulas-box ; Printers, Messrs. Typo and Chapel ; Editor, Mr. Catemdown : Critic, Cutemnp; Pas sengers, Messrs. Trot, Cosey, Strutalong, Lounge, Loiter, and Walk about; Boardman, Mr. Bobaday. Host, r's Shop and New Wing of Somerset-house.—Here we are—Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year —High Prices and Low Prices—Manchester Stuff—Eng lish Comforters—Stocks on Hand and Handsome Stocks—Ford's Eureka Shirts—Reform In the Civil List and Uncivil Treatment of the Clerks—Transfer-day at the Bank, and General Mayday at Somerset-house.—llosier, Mr- Stoeken ; Shopman ' Mr. Early bird ; Boy, Master Toddles. Soyer's Magic Kitchen.—Chef de Cuisine, Mons. Soyer; Kitcheamalds, Misses Basteaway and Drippingsell ; Guardsman, Corporal Loneshanks ; Policeman, Sergeant Podger. Cupboard Lovers--Soyer's Last Soup Where's the Knives and Forks ?—Boiled and Unbolled Lob sters—Headless Swains—Lobster Patty lied Gillet Soup—Clown Gone all to Pot—Harlequin Gets well Towelled and afterwards Mangled—Clown and Pan!aloon in a Stew--A Regular Broil— Thou comest in such an unquestionable shape, that I will speak to thee (Soyer, or rather Shakspeare,--Teo Many Cooks Spell the (Clown's) Broth—Tbe scene finishes in a very spirited manner. An Illuminated Page of the History of England.—Grand Allegorical Tableau with Panoramic Effects, illustrative of the Triumphs of the Allle 1 Forces. Young Jullien's " Allied Army Quadrille," by the doable bands of the English and French. "God save the Queen," " Partant pour la Syrie," and " Rule Britannia." Daughter of the Regiment, Miss Rebecca Collins, in which character she will sing the spirited patriotic effusion, published in " Blackweod's Magazine" for December, and written by Corporal John Brown, of the Grena dier Guards, when the men got some drink for the first time at Balaklava, Sept. 23t11 : " Come all you gallant British hearts that love the red and blue, And desk the health of those brave lads who made the Russians rue. Then fill the glass, and let it pass, three times three, and one more, For the twentieth of September, eighteen hundred and fifty-four. Vestibule of the Temple of Victory. The Tribute of England to the Brave Patriots. Distribution of Laurel Wreaths, Gorgeous and Electric Scenic Climax, with R evolving Columns and Variegated Illuminations. Terrific Flight of th e Italian Brothers. The whole scene presenting a coup d'ce*l never before witnessed on the English stage. Admission :—Stalls, 58.; dress circle, 4e. ; second price, 2s • upper circle, 3s: ; second price, Is. 6d.; pit, 2s. ; second price, Is ; lower gallery, Is. ; second price, Id. ; upper gallery, 6c1.; private boxes, 10s. 6.1 , I 55., 214., and upwards. Doors open at hal:-past 6, performance at 7 o'clock. Half-price at 9 o'clock. The box cake open daily, from 11 till 5 o'clock, under the direction of Mr. Edward Chatterton. Notice.—The following pt ces are approved and in preparation, and will shortly he prJduce(l: —The Grand Christmas Pantomime, by E. L. Blancriard, Esq. ; a Drama, by Dion Bourci cault, Esq ; Two Dramas, by A. Harris, Esq. ; an Adaptation from Meyerb ier's Opera, L'Etolle du Nord, with new scenery, properties, and effects; to be succeeded by an English version (by Mr. Reynold son) of Ginck's Iphigenia in Tauride. The Grand Historical Egyp tian Drama, many months in preparation, will also shortly appear. To conclude with the Farce of PERFECTION'. THEATRE ROYAL HAYMARKZT. Under the management of Mr. Tineketone. 11113 EVENING, rcc. 29, Will be performed the Drama of THE KNIGHTS OP THE ROUND TABLE. Characters by Messrs. Chippendale, Howe, ChW. Ferran, Compton, and Backstone ; Miss e s R e yn o lds and E. aplin. Followed by a new grand Chr:stmas Pantomime. entitled LITTLE 80-PEEP; or, Harlequin an 4 the Girl who Lost her Sheep. Little 80-Peep, Miss L. Thompson; Harlequin, Mr. Chapino ; Pantaloon, Kr. W. Barnes; Clown, Mr. Appleby; Columbine, Mies M. Brown. ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE• Under the Management of Mr. Cnalmas SEAN. THIS EVENING, Dec. 29, To be followed by THE RIVALS. Principal characters by Messrs. W. Lacy, Harley, Meadows, J. Vining, H. Mellon, Addison, and Everett ; Mrs. Winstanley, Mrs. W. Lacy, and Misses Heath and C. Leclercq. After which will be produced a New Grand Christmas Pantomime, entitled, HARLEQUIN BLUE-BEARD; or, The Great Bashaw, , Harlequin, Mr. Cormack ; Clown, Mr. Mane; Pantaloon, Mr. Paulo ; •nd Columbine, Miss Desborough. THEATRE LOYAL ADELPHI. Proprietor, Hr. B. Webster.—Directress, Madame Celesta. THIS EVENING, Dee. 29, _ _ Will be performed an entire new Rustle Drama called PIERRE THE FOUNDLING. Supported by Messrs. E. Webstor and Kee ley, and Mrs. Keeley and Miss Wcolgar. ♦fter which, a new grand Eccentric Extravaganza, called ZIG ZAG : Travels et Messrs. Danube and P••uth. To which will be added a new Farce, entitled THE RAILWAY . BELLE. L BOYAL OLYMPIC THE 1. TRE. Lessee and Manager, Mr. A. Wigan. THIS EVENING, Dac. 29 be presented a new Comedietta, c tiled A WIFE'S JOURNAL . Characters by Messrs. Brown, Emery, klarcourt, and Leslie; and No ` B rollit, and Miss Maskell. Ater l ihttlk. a new Fairy Extravaganza. entitled TEN YELLOW DWARF AND TIIE KING OF THE GOLD MINEq. Charac ters by Mr. F. 4 "'.11. Mias Julia t , t. Georca, Miss E. Ormonde, miss Manton. Miss Bromley, and Mrs. Fitzallan. To conclude with the Farce, called A BLIGHTED BELIG, in which Mr. Robson will appear. ROTA'. LICTLIIIE THEATRE. Miler the reanagerneat of M adame Vestrls. Sole Lessee Mr C. Mathews. THIS EVENING, D ta. 2.3. Will be performed AGGRAVATING gAx . by Mr. C. Mathews. and P air 7 -Extravaganza Principal character Will be produced a new original r and THE Burrx",„ . . en titled PRINCE PRETTY PE To be followed by TWO HEADS ARE BE TTER THAN ONE. Box-otilea open from 10 until 6 . Bale agent for Private Boxes , Mr . Allcroft, 15, No w Bond -street. ASTLEY'S ROYAL AMP/lITLIEATtte.. Lessee and Manager, Mr. Willisna Cooke. Tremendous success of the Comic Pantomime! NOW.TINO PERFORMANCES will take place on the Monday Mornings of January let, Bth, and 13th. THIS EVENING, THE BATTLE of THE ALMA! After wh'ch, the SCENES in the ARENA! To conclude with an entirely new Harlequinade by Nelson 10, with new music, scenery, dresses, tricks, transformations , called, GULLI YER'S TRAVELS THROUGH THE JIORSE ISLANDS ; or, Harlequin and Britannia! Boa-office open front Eleven till Four. Stage Manager, Mr. W. West, Acting Manager, Mr. IT. H, Cooke , Equertan Dirgetor, W, Cooke, AL. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. ToS DAY —Mornir g5l min,after 9 1 Evening 23 min. £f . 10 To- Nioz elortun,. 55 rnin.aftex 10 1 Evening 29 min-sit. 11 Tlll WEATHER.—Sox Oilwi, Dee. 29. THEIMOMICTIIII, IN VIII SNEAD'. 42 highest since noon yesterday. 34—lowest this morning and during the night. 42—this day, at noon. BAROMSTIII3, 30'53. WIND, W.N.W.—Light breeze, aid hay frosty weather. Tob,g, ay, Aw4,4YO LONDON, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 29, 1854. We still carry on matters according to the jog trot system prevalent in " the good old times, when GEORGE the Third was King." If a step in advance be taken—if there is the slightest de parture from the specified course, it can only be regarded as the exception to the general rule— aud means are invariably adopted by those in authority to render it, if not absolutely abortive, as little beneficial as possible. Men in office will not cordially co-operate with mere civilians, or willingly assist in advancing an object, the success whereof must cast a certain slur upon themselves. In fact, as we have already urged, usque ad nauseam, " Red-tapism" prevails in every de partment. The substance is sacrificed to the form. The prolonged peace, in place of leading to improve ments, has only occasioned a more stringent adhe rence to established routine. Ameliorations which the exigencies of a protracted war had produced are now impossible. If the nation were so fortu nate as to have another WELLINGTON and a NEL SON in its service, neither could be placed in the position where their exertions could be really bene ficial. The one could not obtain a command on land or the other on water. If at the ages when they achieved their highest triumphs they could not now look for more than a Lieutenant-Colo nelcy in command of a regiment, or a Post-Cap taincy. The rues of the services, the regulations of "My Lords " would forbid any more exalted positions. What avails it that the interests of the country demand a change ? These interests have ever been sacrificed, and will, we fear, for a long series of years continue to be sacrificed to etiquette, or red-tapinn, the demon which, although it makes an excellent servant, invariably proves a most imperious and inexorable master. We still re fuse to entrust men, in the pride and vigour of manhood, with supreme command—we will not place confidence in their efficiency until they have fallen into the " sere and yellow leaf "—until, in the language of the P. R., they have become " stale and used up," when their vigour has departed, and their science, once of a high order, totally failed them in respect of the more recent "dodges" introduced by younger men, who started at the points where they had left off. The same thing is applicable to our Generals and Admirals. We look not for a man in ad vance of the age, who knows more than any of the present generation. On the contrary, we seek a " laudator temporis acti"—one solely guided by " the light of other days," who, although dis tinguished as a young man and in a subordinate situation some forty or fifty years since, has suf fered the accumulated rust of nearly half a century to impair the knowledge he once possessed, and who has not kept progress with the advanced enlight enment of the age, and who is totally ignorant of matters familiar to younger and more ener getic minds. The chief care of men of this class is to fling discredit ; or, according to the official sling, to ' "cast cold water" on every recent improvement. And why ? The reasons are obvious. First, be cause any great improvement produced by a GRIFFIN casts an implied censure en the " de partment" which, with superior advantages, suf fered strangers to take the lead. Secondly, be cause the additional element would render new calculations indispensable, and all the knowledge so painfully and laboriously acquired would go for nothing. They would themselves be obliged to continue students, still to learn in place of resting under the shade of former laurels. Now, this system is painfully perceptible in the Crimea at this moment. Our men have proved themselves fully equal to any that have ever fought the battles of old England in all the qualities of the soldier. But we regret to be obliged to add that they have been very unneces sarily tasked—aye, alai many valuable lives have been sacrificed, in consequence of the stub born adherence to precedent. We doubt not that Sir JOHN BURGOYNE is a brave soldier, that he is as willing to risk his own life, or the lives of the officers and men under his command, as any Englishmen have ever proved themselves to be —nay more, we believe that he is an excellent officer of the good old school—and that few men could be found better acquainted with science as it was known in 1815. Our quarrel is not with the man but the system, and it is with deep regret that we find ourselves obliged to introduce his name into the controversy. But, unfortunately, we are compelled to do so. We cannot expose the evil without referring to an example, and Sir JOHN B URGOYNE at present constitutes one of the most striking illustrations of the objectionable system, that gives everything to mere seniority and nothing to merit. In our impression of Tuesday we inserted a letter signed " GunwooDlENsis." We did so freely and willingly. It is always our desire to give fair play to every man, and to publish his defence against any attack. Audi alteram partem is an excellent rule, which we have invariably acted on. We, therefore, gave the defence in the very words of the advo cate, in order that the public might judge for itself of its validity. The chief point was that, with other officers, Sir JOHN BURGOYNE had ren dered every assistance, and that the failure of success was not to be attributed to him, and, also, that he had been successful in other important sieges. Now, this scarcely merits the objection put forward by " Onsicron.' , This very praise of officers of rank is a portion of the objectionable system. Every person in a cer tain position must be noticed, while those of in ferior rank cannot be referred to, however exem plary their conduct. We did Rot hear of Colour- Serjeant Davis, or of other gallant non commissioned or even subaltern officers. Not a word of encouragement could be bestowed on their exertions. The General has not an eye sufficiently " microscopic" to recognise any one under the rank of a field officer. But those in high position must be alluded to, and the extract from the despatch referred to by " Gurwoodiensis" seemed very like a" damning by faint praise." But even were it otherwise, it would not meet the ques tion for although Si r J. B URGOYN E cou ld no t th en b e in held. responsible for the extraordinary and unanticipated effects produced by the earthworks so hastily thrown up, he ought to have profited by the leason, andto have prevented similar defences by the Russians-in 1854. That of 1812 was a sur priso7of WA an . error Let us hope that the incubus may at length be shaken off, and that we may be able to obtain the services of men whose object will be to foster and assist, in stead of smothering and repudiating modern im provements. Ministers have given the tax-payers of England three or four weeks to think for themselves before the bewildering conflict of Parliamentary debate begins. 1!o the tax-payers of this country, there fore, with. Count VALERIAN KRASINSKI, in his calm and well-reasoned pamphlet, " Russia, Po land, and Europe,"* we intend to address our selves. Do you mean, then, we ask, to see your millions " muddled" away by official stolidity, and by Holy Alliance politics ? The country shows that it grudges no amount of money which is spent directly, and without favour, to the despots, on the great object of the War ; but let our Cabinet know that we will not sacrifice our earnings in income taxes and other taxes—first, to save super annuated and incompetent routinists from giving place to men of capacity ; and secondly, to humour Austria and the petty Courts of Germany. Bad as the waste of money is through the first cause, it is not to be compared with the sacrifice occa sioned by the second. Moreover, our contem porary, who sneers at the second, is just now in its utmost wrath against official mismanagement, and we leave it, therefore, to watch that half of the business. Ia all probability it will work it self in time—too late, however, to save the loss of oceans of money and blood—into a patriotic advocate of the necessity of Polish independence. This is the question which is now become the great practical one of the War. It is no longer a matter of noble aspirations, or sentimental dis quisition. If we apprehend it rightly, Poland, and the course taken in regard to it, are now the turning point of the War. The issue of the next campaign, and indeed of the whole contest, de pends upon how Poland and the Poles are dealt with. Count KRISINSKI well observes that if the restoration of Poland to an independent State were merely to be a passive result of the War, the tax-payers of England might well hesitate in prospect of the sacrifices which might be required. But he desires, as we have done all along, that it should be a prime agent in the War ; and as he thinks, and we think so too, it must be a most effective agent. It is not proposed merely to add Polish emancipation to the objects of the War, but to use it also to shorten its duration and to lessen its cost in money and in life. It is at the same time the only reasonable guarantee for Euro pean peace, or from disturbance of it by the bar barians on the other side of the Dnieper, and. the most statesmanlike means of compelling the CZAR to sue for peace. At the present moment, when the whole country is heart-sick with the legerde main by which it was tricked out of a Foreign Enlistment Bill, one step, and one only, can re gain any measure of the lost confidence (where there was any to lose), and that is to turn it prac tically into a Polish Enlistment Bill. Could our Premier and his Peelites but take that honest and manly step, the country would forgive the secresy and surprise, and begin to trust instead of sus pecting. They would try and believe that the stealthy assaulL on Parliament was rendered ne cessary by "reasons of State," and console them selves with the near vision of a regiment or legion of Poles leading an assault on Sebastopol itself. Count KRASINSKI has his own modus operandi, and it is a carefully-considered one. Ho thinks Austria may be persuaded (if the Allies determine on a free Poland) to give up Gallicia. There he would at once establish the nucleus of a Polish national Government, and commence the forma tion of a Polish army, taking its first soldiers and officers from the Poles already in the Austrian servics. To these, of course, would be rapidly added all the exiles from other countries and the deserters from the Russian army and Russian Poland. In a war with Russia, Austria would thus have all Poland with her, and the Poles in Russian service, instead of being her enemies, would desert to their own standard, and aid or cover the advance of Austria. To effect this would require a loan from the Allied Powers ; but it would be a loan which would be doubly repaid—first, in paralysing the legions of Russia by the desertion of the Poles, and strengthening the Allied Armies, and thus saving us both sol diers and money ; secondly, by guaranteeing it on the future revenues of Poland, which when freo could easily afford its interest, and in no long time its principal too. But there is another supremely important as pect of the case. Few of us but must have been struck with Mr. LAYARD'S description of the ex posure of Turkey in Asia, in the next campaign, to the arms of Russia. The picture was drawn by one certainly not ignorant of Turkish resources in Asia, of a Russian army advancing in that direc tion to the very shores of the Bosphorus. Now the step which would weaken Russia most in Asia would be the simple unfurling of the Polish flag. The armies of the Caucasus are filled with Poles, and the soul-stirring prospect of fighting under their own colours, and against their hated oppressor, instead of for him, would cause them one and all to desert. Even the few, whom mili tary rigour might be able to retain in the Russian camp, would be dreaded as spies, who at the first favourable moment would carry fatal knowledge to the enemy. Count KRASINSKI would collect and discipline these soldiers to united action in the Crimea, and would bring them to act upon the southern provinces of Russia. He shows very strong reasons for concluding that the greater part of the Cossacks, whom Russia has lately subjected to a galling deprivation of their rights and national liberties, would gladly fraternise with the Poles in that quarter, and thus weaken Russia on the side adjacent to the Crimea. Perhaps the Count has too much made the renunciation of Gallicia by Austria the key of his plan, and he would even compensate her by the gift of Moldavia and Wallachia. This, we think, would be buying her aid too dear. It is no point of honour, no in crease of military strength, but the contrary, for Austria to retain Gallicia, and she has no more right, to it than the other sharers of Poland. She could not keep it if the Allies espoused the Polish cause. She has reason enough to follow the wish of METTERNICH, and to contribute her portion towards an efficient barrier between herself and the wrath of NICHOLAS and his savages. It were madness, we think, to enslave provinces, free under the SULTAN, to the leaden yoke of Austria. * " Russia, Poland, and Europe ; or, the Inevitable Consequences of the Present War. By Count Valerian Krasinski." Chapman and Hall, Piccadilly. --- - An elegant and valuable service of communion plate was presented on Christmas-day by Mr. W. W. Haw kins, M.P., for use in the parish church of Alresford. The service consisted of flagon, chalice, paten, and alms dish, silver gilt, of the Camden pattern, and each en• graved with a Scripture text from the Latin. The ser vice was enclosed in an oak case, bearing the simple in scription—" Presented by William Warwick Harking and his wife Harriet, of Alresford Hall, to the parish . of Alresford, on Christmas-day, 1854." INVERNESS AND ELGIN IZAILIVAT.—Great exertions are being made at various places in the district through which this line is intended to pass with a view to secure subscriptions for the requisite capital, and to enable the promoters to make the necessary deposit, in compliance with the standing orders of Parliament. The landowners are favourable to the undertaking. The promoters have made satisfactory arrangements with the Great North of Scotland Railway Company, so as to avoid all op position, ENTERTAINMENT TO THE OFFICERS OF L. 4 .REINE HORTENSE AT SOUTHAMPTON. - The commander and officers of the Emperor Napo leon's steam yacht La Reine Hortense, now lying at Southampton, were entertained yesterday by Mr, Samp- son Payne, the mayor of Southampton, at a grand de jeuner at the Audit•house of that town. Many of the principal inhabitants were invited to meet the French officers. The hospitality of the chief magistrate of South. amption seemed to be most gratifying to the feelings of these gentlemen. The sentiments interchanged, and the speeches delivered on the occasion, typified in the strongest manner a warm appreciation of the Anglo- French alliance. The following address from the Mayor and corpora tion of Southampton was presented to Count Excel mans, the captain of the Reine Hortense, previous to the banquet : "To M. LE COMTE EXCELUANS, CAPTAIN OP THE FRENCH STEAM-FRIGATE LA IiEINE HORTENSE. " We, the Mayor, Aldermen, and Burgesses of the an cient and loyal borough of Southampton, be , 7 leave to offer to yon and the officers of the steam-ship La Reine Hor tense, under your command, our cordial welcome to the shores of England, and to express to you the gratification we experience on your arrival in our port, and our hearty goodwill and sympathy in the errand of mercy in which your visit is concerned. We gladly avail ourselves of this opportunity t• express the good feeling of the corporation and inhabitants of Southampton (and in which the Bri tish nation heartily concur) towards his Imperial Ma jesty the Emperor of the French, as well as to wards the French nation and people ; and we ear nestly hope that the alliance which now exists between France and England may tend to cement the feelings of mutual respect and esteem which should unite two of the most powerful and enlightened nations of Europe. While wo should rejoice to find that wars ware less fre quent, and tkat peace had become the common desire of all nations, we acknowledge with pride and gratitude the gallantry and courage with which the brave navy and army of France, in conjunction with the navy and army of our most gracious Queen, have been Jed forth to victory, have upheld the national character of both countries, and de fended the rights and liberties of Europe ; and we fer vently pray that, with the blessing of Divine Providence, the arduous struggle in which the two nations aro now en gaged against the unjust aggression of the Emperor of Russia may speedily be brought to a successful termi nation. " Given under our common seal at Southampton, the 28th day of December, 1854." The following is the reply to this address : " Mr. Mayor of Southampton—l received with great pleasure the manifestations of national sympathy with which, in the name of your fellow-citizens, you have honoured me towards the navy, army, and the Govern ment of my country. " My officers join with me in the thanks which are due to you as well as to the members of the municipality of your town. " No one in France can be indifferent to such noble sentiments as those of England. Our Emperor knows how to appreciate them, and the heart of all France has the same feeling as hii. " In future, therefore, we shall all have the same sym pathy for you. Wo arc happy and proud at •the intimate alliance between the two nations. No intrigue can de stroy it. For the honour of humanity and the triumph of civilisation, we will victoriously repel the barbarous Mus covite. __ " Accept, Mr. Mayor, with the a;surance of these senti ments, that of my highest estesm. " The Commander of La Reine Hortense, " EXCELMANS." The French steamer La Reine Hortenve is awaiting the loading at Southampton cf several ships with wooden huts for the French troops i❑ the Crimea, one of which he is to accompany and assist by towing, when neces sary. The ships to be loaded are the Sumroo, Saladin, and Swiftsure, but, as the houses come down very slowly, thci first-named snip has not yet received her complement. Who has caused this great delay it is im possible to say. THE FRlncal SOLDIERS AT GLOCESTER.—GIocester, Wednesday.—The little band of French soldiers, under the command of Lieutenant Leshville, who have been here superintending and learning to erect the wooden houses for the French army, left Glocester, to day, accompanied to the last with demonstrations of cor dial sympathy on the part of the inhabitants of Gloces ter. It being known that they would take their depar ture from Glocester to-day, some two or three thousand people assembled to give them a hearty valediction. At about 11 o'clock the band of the South Glocester Militia having assembled at the head-quarters of the French (the King's Head Hotel), escorted them to the railway stati.m. They were headed by their commnuding officer with drawn sword, and the men marched with fixed bayonets, the band playing " The British Grenadier " and " Partant pour la Syria." Oa their arrival at the station the mei faced about to their escort of citizens, and, "God save the Queen " being phiyed by the bind, they presented arms, after which there was a general shaking of hands, and the citizens gave their visitors three hearty cheers on their departure. ARRIVAL OF THE ADELAIDE AT PLYMOUTH. PLYMOUTH, Thursday Evening. The hired steam transport Adelaide, Captain Young, from Portsmouth, arrived at Plymouth on Wednesday evening, and is ap pointed to sail this (Thursday) night for Baiaklava. She embarked at Deptford and Greenhithe 44 large guns, ordnance stores, clothing, and provisions for the land forces, ammunition for the fleet, and 4t guns, shot, shell, and ammunition, for the Ottoman Government ; at P ortsmouth debt.cascramnat a for the 19th, 38th , an d 88 t h Regiments and 2d Battalion of the Rifle Brigade (in all six officers and 315 men) ; and at Plymouth a detach ment of the 34th Regiment, consisting of 120 privates, three serjeants, and seven officers—viz., Major Kelly, Lieutenants Campbell, Boyce, Jordan, Ensign Alto, and Surgeons Dwyer and Worthington. The screw steam-sloop Malw:ca left Plymouth under steam and canvass this day, at noon, with troops and a mail for the Crimea. COURT CIRCULAR. WINDSOR, DEC. 28. The dinner party yesterday included her Royal High ness the Duchess of Kent, the Lady-in-Waiting to her Royal Highness, Baroness de Speth, Baron and Baroness d'Usedore, the Earl of Clarendon, Viscount Canning, Sir James Graham, and Major-General the Hon. C. and Mrs. Grey. The band of the Royal Horse Guards played in the Castle during dinner, and her Majesty's private band afterwards. The Queen and Prince walked in the Castle-gardens and slopes this morning. The Royal children took their accustomed exercise. Baron d'Usedorn was presented to her Majesty yes. terday afternoon at an audience, by the Earl of Cla rendon. The Baron and Baroness d'lTsedom, the Earl of Cla rendon, and Viscount Canning, and Sir James Graham, left Windsor this forenoon for London. Tho Marquis of Br eadalbaneis expected this afternoon. The Queen has been graciously pleased to grant a pension of 50/. a-year to the widow of the late Dr. Kitto, the well-known author of many important Biblical works. Despatches from the governors of Hong Kong, Cey lon, and the Mauritius, were received yesterday at the Colonial-office. Sir De Lacy Evans arrived in London yesterday morning from Dover. This distinguished Crimean hero was recognised at the London-bridge station by Captain Barlow and Captain (Nemesis) Hall, and took his depar ture thdnce amidst the cheers of these present. The Duke of Sutherland has left Trentham, on a ♦isit to the Marquis and Marchioness of Stafford, at Lilies ball, Salop. The Duchess of Sutherland has arrived at Stafford house, from Trentham. The Marquis of Lansdowne has arrived in London, from his seat, Bowood-park. The Marquis and Marchioness of Kildare have arrived at Stafford-house from visiting the Duke and Duchess of Sutherland at Trentham. The Earl and Lady Constance Grosvenor have arrived at Calverley-park, Chester, from Trentham. The Earl of Stamford and Warrington has arrived at Enville-hall. Lady Blantyre and family have arrived at Stafford House from Erskine House, N.B. Lord Blantyre will arrive in London early in the ensuing week. The Bank of France has declared a dividend of 82f. for the last six months of 1854. hrmsliici -- irTEc;;;;;.--Mr. Stephen E. De Vere, of Currachase, Adare, has been returned without opposi tion as member for the county of Limerick, in the room of the late Mr. Wyndham Goold. MACAULAY'S PORTRAIT.—Sir John Watson Gordon's admirable portrait of the Right Hon. T. B. Macaulay is about to be presented to the University of Glasgow by Mr. James Keith. This portrait was painted during Mr. Macaulay's occupancy of the Lord Rector's chair. VESSELS LOADING AT LIVERPOOL FOR AUSTRALIA.— There are only twenty-three craft on the berth at pre sent, a smaller number than for a considerable period. The enterprising French company who recently pur chased the South American screw•steamers Lusitania and Braziliera have become the owners of the Mediter ranean screw -steamers Danube, Syrian, and Rhone, and it is understood that they are in treaty for others. REPRESENTATION OF SUNDERLAND.—A correspondent informs ns that it is intended to put Admiral Sir Charles Napier in nomination for the seat in this borough, va cated by Mr. William D. Seymour's appointment to the rectorship of Newcastle-upon-Tyne. At a meeting of shipoweers, held on Wednesday to consider the subject, it was unanimously resolved that the admiral should be supported heart aid soul. TEE GREAT BRITAIN.—This noble screw steam-ship, from Australia, may now be daily looked for. She was to have left Melbourne on the 28th of October, and is now 61 dap at sea. She will bring a month's later ad vices. Loss OP A. COASTING VESSEL—It is feared that an Inverness vessel, the Isabella Anderson, has been lost during the recent storms. She left Louth about three weeks ago, and has not since been heard of. THE EAGLE.—The Eagle, Captain Murphy, started yesterday on her fourth voyage to the antipodes from the Mersey, with a full cargo and 250 passengers on board. TIE RED JACKET.—This ♦essel sailed yesterday fore noon at half-past eleven o'clock, for Melbourne, with 350 passengers, and a very fall cargo of merchandise on freight. She will be towed past Cape Clear, and is ex pected to make a very rapid run. She took a large num ber of ships' letter-bags. The succeeding clipper from this port will be the celebrated Black Bali liner Light ning, Capt. Anthony Enright, which sails on the sth proximo for Melbourne, with the January mails, which she engages tcp ddiver in 66 ON% LATEST NEWS. BERLIN, DEC. 28. Accounts from St. Petersburg state that Prince Menschikoff writes from Sebastopol on the 20th of December,— " Nothing new has taken place here. " The weather is bad, and our well-directed fire interrupts the enemy's works." MARSEILLES, DEC. 28. The Lougsor, which left Constantinople on the 14th, and the Egyptus, on the 19th, have arrived with despatches for the Government. The news brought by them from the Crimea is unimportant. VIENNA, DEC. 28. Conferences of a positive character, at which M. Gortschakoff and Count Arnim will be present, take place to-day. The Earl of Westmoreland being still indisposed the discussion will take place in his apartments. We have received the following despatch, dated yesterday evening, from Vienna : " The Oest. Correspondenz has dates from Con stantinople to the 18th. The Royal Albert, with 1,800 troops on board, had passed through the Bosphorus. "Up to the 18th the number of English and French reinforcements to the armies in the Crimea am.unted to 18,000 men. " The Duke of Cambridge was better. " The Turkish army at Kus was hard pressed by the Russians." MADRID, DEC. 23. The Cortes has to-day voted the bill fixing the effective force of the army at 70,000 men. The Three per Cents. were done at 34.70. PARIS, FRIDAY MORNING. Yesterday evening, the President of the Bureau Legislatif, accompanied by all the Deputies, waited on the Emperor at the Tuileries, and pre sented the bill for the loan voted on that day, with au assurance of their devotion and unre served co-operation. The President also laid be fore the Emperor an expression of the high sense they entertained towards the English army, its fleet, and illustrious chiefs, as alio their solii tude and admiration for the valiant armies of France on land and sea. The Emperor, in re turning thanks, concluded by saying that France, with the loyal and energetic assistance of its Allies, might wait with confidence the issue of the war in which she was engaged ; and, sup• ported by her brave Allies, by land and sea, she will know how to maintain the rank due to her in the continent of Europe. FLAN CE. PARIS, THURSDAY EVENING. The following telegraphic despatches have been received here to-day : " Warsaw, Dec. 27. " The Russian Government has interdicted un til further orders the export of salt meat, cattle, cordage, sail cloth, or Flemish cloth, as well as all other articles manufactured from linen or hemp, from the ports of the Sea of Azof, the Black Sea, and the Danube." " Vienna, Dee. 28. " A. report is current that Prinee Mensoltikoff iq indisposed, and that General Osten-Saclien will replace him. It is also said that the dismissal of Omer Paella OR his arrival at Constantinople had been rescinded. The laud-tax will shortly be applied." " MADRID, DEC. 27. " Yesterday the Queen distributed the standards to the national militia. Her Majesty was received with enthusiasm." There never has been such a busy time in the French arsenals as at the present moment. Letters from Metz state that the carriages belonging to the artillery train in that place are found to be insuffi cient for the transport of the projectiles despatched from the arsenal for the Crimea. The Government has consequently been obliged to hire private car riages. Besides this, all the workpeople of the town are occupied in making a large quantity of sheepskin clothing for the army in the East. In the seaports and other arsenals the activity is equally great. The following are the names of the members composing the committee on the bill relative to the loan of 500 millions :—MM. Lequilm, Gouin, Schneider, Taillefer, Count Prosper de Chasseloup- Laubat, Count de Morny, and Baron de Montreuil. Count de Morny was appointed reporter. M. Drouyn de Lhuys was absent from illness from the Imperial sitting at the opening of the Legislative Corps, and is still confined to his room. His complaint is, however, only a severe cold, and he is not considered in any danger. The Legislative Corps met to-day at two o'clock; Count de Morny in the chair. MM. Cazellez de Beauchamp, Creuze, General Boulle, Busson, and the Marquis de Chaumont-Quitry took their seats. Five bills were presented relative to exchanges of property, three others concerning delimitations of communes, and two others authorising the depart ment of the Ain" and the town of Cornpigne to contract loans. A bill was also presented to accord as a national recomponco on the widow of Marshal de St. Arnaud a pension of 20,000 f. a-year ; and another bill to accord to the widow of Marshal Bugeaud de la Picoverie a pension of similar amount, with reversion of 6,000 f. of it to her son. The president then read the report, which he had been charged to draw up by the committee en the bill relative to the loan of 500 millions. This document was most warmly applauded, and particularly the paragraph in which a marked en comium is given to the bravery of the English troops, and in which the committee declared, in the name of the Chamber, that the French soldiers have merited well of their country. The bill was then brought forward, and adopted unanimously by 241 votes. The announcement of this result was greeted with loud cries of "Vive l'Empereur !" The Chamber then decided that all the deputies should accompany, the same evening, to the Tuileries, the members of the bureaux, when taking up the bill to the Emperor. The proceedings then ter minated. The lifoniteur publishes the postal treaty con cluded between France andthe united kingdoms of Sweden and Norway. The charge for a single letter either way between France and Sweden is to be If., and between France and Norway if. 20c. The charge for a newspaper in the former case is to be 20c., and in the latter 24c. The Moniteur also pub lishes a decree giving effect to the postal treaty lately agreed to between France and Great Britain. The Malta Times of the 19th says :—" Orders have been received by the authorities here to pre pare barrack accommodation for 12,000 troops. Quarters are being prepared for an adjutant general and a major-general ; a quartermaster general is also expected. These troops will, we believe, consist for the most part of the depots of the different regiments serving in the East, and the raw recruits will be sent out from England to this island, to be drilled in the necessary military exercises before joining the army in the Crimea." BOURSE, DEC. 28.—CLOSING PRICES. Cash. fr. c. End of Month. 4i per Cents 92 80 —f. —c. 3 per Cents 66 60 66 65 Credit Mobilier 722 50 Roman Credit Foncier FiO Austrian Belgian Fives ...... .. Spanish Threes Piedmontese B6 Home Debt 331 RAILWAYS-FOB CASH. ..._......- ....... ____ fr. c. fr. c. Orleans ........ ...... 1,133 Lyons ., . . 957 50 Western 620 Rouen 977 50 Cetto Mediterranean B4O Havre 520 Northern RUSSIA. The Augsburg Gazette publishes the following letter from Vienna of the VA :—" The accounts from St. Petersburg, which are in circulation at aovoral of the orabassioa here, agree is oayiug that the Czar rejects all idea of concession ' and that he is resolved to pro secu t e t h e war with vigour. The reports from Gallicia, in their turn, state that the Austrian troops are abandoning their winter quar ters, and concentrating themselves at Cracow, Lemberg, and Stanislaslow. General Hess is about to establish his head -quarters at Lemberg. The preparatory arrangements for the recruiting of 1855 have terminated, and the conscription will take place next month. The Russian Councillor of State, M. de Kotzebue, arrived here yesterday from Wiesbaden. He had a conference with the Russian Ambassador to-day, and to-morrow he will leave for St. Petersburg." The following is a summary of Russian news from the seat of war given by the Solduten Freund : —The recent expedition of the Russian steamers, which was merely a reconnaissance, lasted nine hours. The Russians only discovered that they had no chance of effecting anything by sea against the French, as strand batteries completely protect their transport ships ; 120 fresh guns of the largest calibre have been placed in the batteries, and the works in the third parallel are completed. In a letter of the 13th from Odessa is the following pas • sage :—" The unfavourable weather has made the roads so bottomless that two mails from the Crimea are over-due." It is also certain that the two Grand Dukes passed Perekop on the 9th, on their way to St. Petersburg. General Read, and not General Offenberg, has been definitively appointed to the 3d Corps, which was formerly under Osten- Sacken. Until General Read arrives, Lieutenant- General Monthesor will have the command. Twenty thousand mon are occupied in fortifying Kiew. PRUSSIA. BERLIN, Dec. 25.—1 t is known that Baron de Budberg has already mado communications to M. do Manteuffel on the contents of the answer ex pected by onr Cabinet on the subject of the notifi cation of the conclusion of the treaty of the 2d December. It is said to be certain that Russia will only repeat her declaration of the 28th of No vember—that is to say, that she will express her readiness to accept simply the four points as the basis of the negotiations to be followed ulteriorly. We also learn that Count Buol has rejected, in a formal manner, the complaint of several small Ger man Governments, that they were not m a d e aware of the conclusion of the treaty of the 2d of Decem ber, and that the right was not reserved to them of taking part in the negotiations. Austria has justified her conduct by giving notice that, as a great Power, it was incumbent upon her to fulfil other duties besides those due to the States of se condary rank. POLAND. The Independance Bclgo publishes the following letter from Hamburg, of the 22d inst.:— " We received the night before last the Warsaw mail of the 11th. It was stated in that capital that the last order from St. Petersburg enjoined the military en gineers to terminate the additional works of the citadel of Alexander, commenced three months ago, in the first fortnight cf January next. Marshal Paskiewitch had ordered the organisation of three parks of flying artil lery. The Inspector-General of that arm in Poland, Lazareff Stanischtsheff, whom he had especially charged with that organisation, returned on the 10th to War saw, to report to the Marshal the result of his inspection in the Government of Mohilev, where one of those batteries had been completely organised at Bodrojsk It appears that, in the two provinces bordering on Prus sian Poland, the number of Russian troops is very small. A. few squadrons of cavalry, which arrived there lately, ()Idly stopped a few days. Detachments of Lancers and Cossacks assist the Customs officers in repressing smug gling, which is organised on a large scale along that frontier. The recruits of the new levy, decreed by the Czar, are intended to create a second grand army of reserve, which is to be concentrated at Moscow and in the neighbouring provinces. Those recruits are not to lee incorporated into the reserve battalions of the regi ments formed, in virtue of an imperial ukase, issued in March last, with the soldiers sent home on unlimited furloughs. Those battalions are included i❑ the different divisions of the corps of infantry of the six active armies which Russia has now in the field." AUSTRIA. VIENNA, DEC. 24. It was yesterday known that Colonel Manteuffel was the bearer of the congratulations of his Sove reign to the Empress Elizabeth on her birthday, and in the evening it was related that the military diplomatist was also charged to explain to the Aus trian Minister for Foreign Affairs the nature of M. von Usedom's mission to England and France. Such is the version which has been given by a per son generally well informed, but a Government organ of the press this morning hints that Col. Man teuffel and M. von Usedom have probably been sent " to endeavour to find out the true nature of the secret conditions which have been made between the three Allied Powers." Not more than 20,000 or 25,000 Turks would 1 e left in the Debrudseha and Moldavia, as all doubt as to the resolve of Austria to defend the lines of the Pruth and Danube against any aggressive operations on the part of Russia was entirely removed. Not only the whole of the British Embassy— with the exception of its chief, who is still unwell —but many other persons of distinction, as well civil as military, were present at General Duplat's funeral. Among others were M. de Bourqueney, the Turkish Minister ; Baron Hess, General Letang, and a great crowd of generals and staff officers. Our local papers tell us that all the qua rantines between Orsova and Galatz have been abolished, and consequently the communication between the two banks of the Danube is perfectly free, which was not the case under the former regime, because the Russian Consul-General ob jected to it. The communication between Tultscha and Galatz has also been restored. A more satis factory postal communication is likely to be estab lished by the Austrians in the Danubian Princi palities. Another letter from Vienna states that the answer of the Russian Government to the last pro positions had been expected there for two days, but had not arrived. The Russian Ambassador, however, had stated that he should soon re ceive it. The last bulletin of the health of the King of Bavaria, dated the 24th, states that his Majesty is in a fair way of•prompt recovery. The Constitutiounct states, on the authority of a Warsaw informant, that the news of the recent calling out of the battalions of reserve of the Rus sian corps of grenadiers is incorrect. The resource in question was exhausted as long ago as February last. A letter received in Paris yesterday from Bala klava, of the 10th says—" The arrivals of troops, ammunition, and provisions go on incessantly, and wooden houses for receiving them are rising up on all sides. We expect by the Christophe Colomb a number of draining pipes, which will carry off the water into the ravines, and improve the salubrity of the camp. The sanitary condition of the troops is excellent. Our friends the Turks are full of zeal, and perform with the most perfect goodwill all the work which is assigned to them." The military engineers at Warsaw have positive orders from St. Petersburg to finish the citadel of Alexander by the middle of January. Paskie witch has ordered the formation of three parks of flying artillery. The frontiers of the kingdom of Poland next to Prussia are denuded of troops. The field hospitals of Austrian mobile army have been placed under the command of a colonel. The 3d Artillery Regiment is being placed on a full war footing, and in a few weeks is to proceed with a powerful staff to Gallicia. Several companies of engineers and pioneers have also recently received orders to be prepared to march. THE MEDITERRANEAN. MALTA, DEC. 22. We have had several arrivals of steamers with wounded and shipwrecked men. Our streets have had quite a melancholy appearance from the num ber of wounded that are moving about, many, I regret to say, with the loss of a limb. The Himalaya cleared us out of invalids, and the women who awaited a passage to England, and this fine ship gave them ample accommodation. Since then we have had the Hydaspes, Jura, and Taurus. After coaling they proceeded on, th e t wo first for Marseilles, the latter for Liverpool, f a ki ng most of the wounded with them, though som e of the worst cases remained for the benefit to be de rived from our fine climate. A vessel has arrived from Alicante with 96 mules S am pson, which arr i ved from . Con for the army. The Trent is r apidly repairing H er Majesty's ship stantinople in a very sad state, is to b e repaired and sent to England ; she looks, without roasts, a per f ec t wreck. The Retribution is said to be in a worse plight. The French steamer left Constanti nop l e on the 14th instead of the 15th, notwithstanding which s h e did not arrive at Malta till the 22d, owing to boistoious weather. , Ec. . I enclose a li s t o f the numbers of troo D 19 ps, both French and English, that have gone through here lately . The Taurus came in yesterday, and the Jura to day, both filled with wounded men and officers. • The Constantinople mail is again behind, though we have a f e w l e tt ers b y the ra, of which I will give you a few extracts : OA the )noruipg of Nov. 12 ) when B, 1, fillips. Tribune, Highflyer, and Lynx were cruising off Anapa and the Straits of Kertcb, a large white building, which was afterwards discovered to be a marten() tower, was observed on a spit of sand about ten miles to the westward of Anapa, as the ships neared the shore two smaller ones, so placed as to flank the approach to the larger one, came in view ; and when within half-a-mile from the beach a gun was fired from the tower. The ships were immediately anchored in four fathoms water, with their broadsides bearing on the tower, and after a few rounds of shot and shell the party in charge evacuated it, and fled along the sands in the direction of Anapa, leaving behind them many accoutrements, muskets, &e. The boats were then manned, and a party landed to destroy the works and endeavour to bring off the guns, one iron 30-pounder and one brass 18-pounder, with instructions to blow up the fort afterwards. The brass gun was lowered down and placed in a cart but the wind and sea had increased so quickly that all hope of carrying it off was abandoned, and the boats' crews were compelled to re-embark as speedily as possible. This, however, was not effected without considerable difficulty ; but the Hon. Capt. Carnegie, who was in command, by his energy and decision embarked every man, the surf rising so fast and strong that several boats (and among them his own) wore swamped four or five times in the attempt. The tower, and the ammunition within it, was blown up and destroyed, but from some unex plained cause the explosion took place prematurely, and Capt. Moore and Lieut. Smith were both most severely scorched and injured. Both, lam glad to say, aro recovering. - The Cossacks watched these operations from a distance, bnt did not interfere. The detachment occupying the village or town, which is called Djimete, amounted to about 200 men, of whom the greater part were cavalry ; only three prisoners were taken. On the 11th a sortie was made by the Russians ; it was well met by our people ; only 5 of the naval brigade were wounded, none killed. Capt. Lush ington, as usual, was at his post, and was not taken by surprise. our force, with the French, now nearly approach to 100,000 men, and they expect in a few days we shall march to the attack of Sebastopol. Jura leaves to-night, so I send by her. An accident had occurred to the condensing ma chine of the Royal Albert, and she was in con sequence temporarily detained at Constantinople, but would proceed on immediately. Emeu, Ripon, and Cambria are to come to Malta as soon as possible, the orders being that each alternate one should be sent to Marseilles, the other to England, there being about the same de mand for steamers at each place. Himalaya left for England with invalids on the 19th. TROOPS WHICH HAVE PASSED THROUGH MALTA. FREE CII. Oeo!)er 17th, 10 officers, 348 men ; October 21st, 14 officers, 145 men ; October 25th, 501 men ; October 30th, 4 officers, 480 men.; October 31st, 3 officers, 24 men ; November sth, 7 officers, 45 men ; November 16th, 7 officers, 140 men ; November 25th, 16 officers, 250 men ; December 33, 17 officers, 1,159 men ; De cember 4th, 24 officers, 667 men ; December sth, 40 officers, 1,200 men ; December sth, 35 officers, 1,089 man ; December sth, 35 officers, 255 men ; December 10th, 10 officers, 390 men ; December 10th, 25 officers, 802 men ; December 10th, 16 officers, 1,084 men ; De cember 15th, 16 officers, 1,074 men ; December 18th, 5 officers, 25 men. Total, 10,160. ENGLISH. Oct. 31st, 4 officers, 24 men, drafts; Oct. 31st, 1 officer, 89 men, drafts ; Nov. sth, 29 officers, 1,198 men, drafts-12 doctors ; Nov. 10th, 15 officers, 781 men, Guards and drafts ; Nov. 18th, 8 officers, 459 men, Guards and drafts ; Nov. 20th, 10 officers, 613 men, Guards and drafts ; Nov. 26th, 7 officers, 355 men, drafts ; Nov. 28th, 27 officers, 852 men, 90th :Regiment; Nov. 28th, 5 officers 109 men, Royal Artillery ; Nor. 30th, 2 officers, 99 men, Royal Artillery ; Dec. sth, 8 officers, 306 men, Royal Artillery ; Dec. sth, 8 oncers, 99 men, Royal Artillery ; Dec. 6th, 20 officers, 719 men, 17 11 Regiment ; Dec. Bth, 4 officers, 120 men, Itoyal Artillery ; Dec. Bth, 18 officers, 720 men, Guards ; Dec. Bth, 10 officers, 417 men, 71st Regiment ; Dec. 8 th, 4 officers, 113 men, Royal Sappers and Miners ; Dec. 14th, 18 officers, 666 men, 39th Regiment ; Dec. 17t1', 1 5 officers, 457 men, 39th Regiment ; Dec. 18, 27 of Eicers, 816 men, 18th Regiment. 62d Regiment, 550 ; 9th Regiment, 550 ; 97th Regiment, 980. Total, 10,' Z 44. MOVEMENTS AT CHERBOURG. The Phare de Cherbourg of the 24th inst. ha a the following :—" The frigate Virginie went into the :rotcle yesterday and hoisted the flag of Rear-Adyniral Guerin, who is to command the station of I (ndo- China. Rear-Admiral Laroque do Chaufray, 1 Jorn wander of the naval division on the coast of the Br stills and La Plata, who is to hoist his flag on board the fr igate Poursuivante, now arming in our port, arrived at 1 Jher bourg on the 22.1. The steatn-aviso Lucifer, rhieh sailed for rest on the afternoon of the 21st, reta irned yesterday morning in consequence of the contrary I winds she encountered since her departure. She was 71 nable to double Les Casquets and lost one of her boats, -which was swept away by the sea. The steam-aviso f Docyte sailed on the 21st for Havre, where she is going t o load iron plates for the floating battery Devastation. The steam corvette Phlegeton is now coaling, and will leave in the course of the week for Toulon. IVe hav a bad for the last three weeks gales and westerly winds, a vhich render the navigation in the Channel extremely dill icult. A vessel was thrown on the coast of La Hague 3 -4 !ate day morning, and another was wrecked near Cart egret. We read in the Monitncr de la Flotte : " During the last twelve months nine ships or the line, one brig, and four steamers have been laun a ched. During the same period three ships of the line, six steam frigates, thirteen screw transports 01 the largest size, 20 steam-gun boats, five floating bath eries and five sailing bomb vessels, were placed on the stocks. The first result of the labours of our arse male during the year has consequently been the launchii , g of 14 ships, and the laying on the stocks of 52 m ore. On the other hand, the naval department purchaa sd in 1854, for the use of the fleet, 11,300,000 kilogram Imes of wheat, 7,520,000 kilogrammes of flour, 1,601 ~ 000 litres of spirits, 13,300,000 litres of wine, 1,7.P1 ) , 000 kilogrammes of salt p rov i s i ons, 5 23,000 k i logram! n es o f coffee, 397,000 kilo grammes o f c h eese, 5 53,00 0 kilo• grammes of sugar, and 3,492 , 400 kil ogrammes o f d r ied vegetables,—which articles cost the State 22,500,0 VOL OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS FROM TI r$ ARMY IN THE CRIMEA _._.... GENERAL ORDER RESPECTING THE (COON• DUCT OF FLAGS OF TRUCE. GENERAL AFTER ORDER. Head-quarters before Sebastopol, Dec 10, 185 4. The following rules are to be strictly observed resilpect• ing communications with the enemy's outposts : No flag of truce is to be sent in to the enemy witNout orders from the Commander of the Forces. No letter or other communication is to be sent in by a flag of truce which may have been ordered by the Com mander of the Forces, unless such letter, which mu st be open, shall have been first transmitted to head-quar tore. Flags of truce from the enemy must be received by the officer commanding the first post at which they laity arrive. The officer commanding the post is to receive the flag of truce, or the officer coming with it, to take from him the letter or communication with which he may be charged, and to give him a receipt for it ; And be is then to send him back to his own lines, taking care, in no case, to allow bim to advance beyond the spot et which he may have received him. .. An officer employed upon this duty is required to con • fine his conversation with an officer of the enemy entirely to the subject on which he may have to communicate, viz., the receipt of the letter or message from the email]; and he is to see that the departure of the officer deliver. ing it is not delayed. By order. (Signed) J. B. B. ESTCOUBT, Adj.-General. The following notification carries with it its own Com ment, and illustrates some of the observations sent by our own correspondents : MEDICAL MEMORANDUM. The French ambulance have promised to take 1,100 sick down to Balaklava to-morrow morning.; you will therefore warn and have ready [number stated] of the -- Division to put on the mules by 8 o'clock, so that the ambulance may not be kept waiting. The men should have breakfast and be dressed before that hour. Each man will take his blanket and greatcoat with him, and you will detain a medical officer to accompany the party, mounted, if possible, who should carry aeme re storative with him, such as a portion of spirit or wine, and a small drinking-cup. (Signed) J. HALL, Inspector-General of Hospitals, Dec. 10, 1854. In charge---- -, Division. SUICIDE IN BETHLIIIAM HOSPlTAL.—Yesterday Mr. W. J. Payne held an inquest at Bethlehem Hospital, on the body of Martha Day, an inmate of the asylum, who committed suicide by hanging herself. The deceased was admitted on the 15th of June last as a maniacal and suicidal patient, and was labouring under great depres sion of spirits. She had twice attempted the life of her husband. Since her admission she had betrayed no in dication of making any attempt on her life, nor had ever spoken on the subject of the past. Oa Tuesday night she went to bed in rather better irits than usual, having had a glass of wine and a pieces cake given to her by the nurse of the ward. The nurse on going into de. ceased's room at six o'clock on the Wednesday morning found her hanging by the neck from the window frame, To accomplish this object she had tied one of her stock ings and a silk apron together. The rule of the institu tion was to take all the patients' clothes away at night, but this woman was allowed to sleep in her own stock ings, as she always complained of her feet being cold. Vcr,liet, "Insanity." " UNCLE SAM" is dead. Hi s name was Samuel Wilson, and be died in Troy, New Y or k, i n A ugust, aged 84. He first labelled Government goods "U. 5.," for which practice the soldiers originated his RAMO of "Uncle Sam," instead of "Jonathan," THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 29, 1854.