The Sun. — London, England, 1863-01-29 00:00:00

ROYAL ENGLIS II OPERA, COVENT i;ATIDEN. T. - nder the Manacfment of Miss Louisa Fyne and Mr. W. 'Harrison, sole Lessees. THIS EVENING Wallace's new Opera of LOVE'S TRIUMPH : Miss Louisa Dyne, and Mdme. Laura Baxter; Messrs. George l'erren, W. H. Weiss, 11. Corti, A. Cooke, and VT, Harrison. Conductor—Mr. A. Mellon. . _ After which, the Grand Comic Christmas Pantomime, en- Oiled HARLEQUIN BEAUTY AND THE BEAST. Doors open at halt-past 6—Commence et 7. 11 HEAT RE-R YA L, DRURY-LANE.- Lessee and Manager, Mr. Edmund Falconer. TTTIS EVENING, the Combo Drama of THE NEXT OF KIN% After which, the Grand Pantomime of LITTLE GOODY TWO SHOES. Commence at ". 9MIEATRE-ROYAL, HAY MARKET. Lessee Mr. J B. Buckstone. THIS EVENING, at Seven o'clock. will be performed (UR AMERICAN COUSIN. Asa Trenchard, Mr. Buck• stone ; Lord Dundreary, Mr. Sothern. Atter which, a new and original Extravaganza, entitled RASSELAS, PRINCE OF ABYSSINIA; or, The Happy Valley. Rasselas, Miss Louise Ket , ley. Concluding with OUR MARY ANNE. THEATRE ROYAL LYCEUM OPEN, under the Sole Mana , gement of Mr. PECHTER. THIS EVENING, Jan. 21, to commence with an Orizinal Sketch, entitled A SUDDEN ATTACK. Messrs. Shore, Garden, 11. Widdicotnb, Miss Henrade, and Mrs. Lee. After which, at a Quarter to Eight, a New Romantic Drama, in Three Acts, and Pr.)loue, entitled THE DUKE'S MOTTO, by Paul Peval and John Brougham. The principal character will be sustained by Mr. Fechter, supported by Messrs. G. Vining, J. Brougham, H. Widdi combe, W. 111`Intyre, F. Charles, Garden, Raymond, IL Butler, Dawson; Misses Carlotta Leclercq, Kate Terry, E. Lavenue, and Elsworthy. Mr. Phelps and Mr. W. Montgomery are engaged, and will hortly appear. Doors open at half-past Six pe r formance to commence at Seven. Private B oxes , 22'12x. dd., and £2 2s. Places registered. Stalls, 6s. 6d. ; Dress Circle, ss. 6d. ; Upper Circle, 48. 6d. Prices at doors—Stalls, 6s. ; Dress Circle, ss. ; Upper Circle, 4s. ; Pit, 28. ; Gallery, ls. No half-price. Box office open daily from 11 till 5. The public are entreated to take notice that no charge is made to the occupants of boxes, box places, or stalls, either for playbills or for the safe keep ing of hats and cloaks and that the attendants in all parts of the house are forbidden to receive any gratuities whatever Stage-Manager, Mr. G. Vining. Acting-Manager, Mr. H. Barnett. ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE. Lessee and Manager, Mr Lindui. T HIS EVENING, LAW v. LOVE : Miss M. Oliver. - Followed by ONE GOOD TURN DESERVES AN OTHER. Mr. R. Roxby and Miss Amy Sedgwick. After which, the New Grand CHRISTMAS PANTOMIME, " RIQUET WITH THE Turr ; or, Harlequin and Mother Shipton." Mr. G. Belmore, Mr. C. Scyton, Misses Gray and Hudspeth, Mr. Milano, Mr. R. Power, Miss A. Collinson, and Mr. Halford. NEW TIT NATRE-R0 YAL, ADELPHI.- Sole Proprietor and Manager, Mr. B. Webster. THIS EVENING, THE LI I TLE THE A SURE. Mr Killington, Mr. R. Phillips, and Miss Marie Wilton. After which, A TICKET OF LEAVE : Messrs. J. L.Toole, P Bedford, and Mrs. Billing-ton. To conclude with " GEORGE DE BARNWELL : or, Harlequin Folly in the Realms of Fancy." Miss Woolgar, Miss K. Kelly, Miss Seaman ; Messrs. J. L. Toole, P. Bed ford, Stephenson, C. J. Smith. Harlequin, Mr. John Lauri; Columbine, Miss Caroline Adams ; Clown, Mr. W. Hildyard ; t'a ntaloon, Mr. J. Paulo. The celebr.►ted Arthur and :I,ertrand. Commence at 7. The Weather.--Sun Office, Jan. 29, 1863. THERMOMETER. Highest since Noon yesterday Lowest during the night This day at Noon . Barometer-29.83 ; fallen rapidly since yesterday. Wind—N.-West; weather fine and bright. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. THIS DAY.—Morning, 9h. 22m.—Afternoon, 10h. 3m. TO-monrww.-Morning, 10h. 41m.—Afternoon, 11h. 45m Ft Lp Z 1 / 4 e- 1 , 21 11i* 4.1,41,1,4 LONDON, THURSDAY, JANUARY 29, 1863. Nothing could be more temperate, more humane, or more dignified than the whole tone of the re markable despatch addressed on the 9th instant by M. DROUYN DE IMUYS, in the name of the EMPE ROR, his master, to the French Minister at Wash. ington. The argument is as symmetrical as could be in its arrangement. It has throughout it the most accurate logical sequence. There is no am biguity whatever in the language. The motives inspiring the whole correspondence of which this notable communication is but a part—though, as the sequel will doubtless prove, a most important part—are herein quite clearly and quite candidly explained. They are explained, moreover, with out one particle of affectation without any ostentation of generosity—without the faintest tinge of the consciousness, or of the mere suspicion of the consciousness, of anything at all partaking of the character of exceptional benevo. fence. M. DROITYN DE LIIITYS—who is in some respects second only to his Imperial master as a writer of State papers (and the Saturday Review recently remarked, with conspicuous truth, that NAPOLEON 111. is without any exception the most brilliant and successful writer of State papers now living)—M. DROITYN DE LHIJYS in this despatch to M. MERCIER, the EMPEROR'S ambassador at Washington, goes at once directly to the point with out apparently an instant's inclination to in dulge in the old diplomatic habit of circum locution. Ho first of all intimates that but for the friendship entertained by the Govern ment of the EMPEROR for the United States of America, the ill success of the recent overtures from Paris, with a view, if possible, to shorten the duration of hostilities, might be supposed to have " cooled down" (refroidir) the interest with which France, the EMPEROR, and his Majesty's Govern ment regard the incidents of that dreadful struggle. Any supposition of that kind, however, he repu diates as altogether erroneous. "We cannot be hold," he says, " without profound regret, this more than civil war, which may be compared with the most terrible i n t es ti ne commo ti ons o f the old re public, and the disast ers o f w hi c h mu l t i p l y i n p ro . portion with the resources and the courage dis played by each of the belligerents." Surprised by the ill success of those earlier overtures, the EMPEROR'S Government hastens to examine into the validity of the objections raised to the project of interposition on the part of the chief maritime Powers of Europe, of their interposition between the Federals and the Confederates. And here it is at once seen that the genial and manly recognition by France of the per fect reasonableness of those same objections cannot but go far towards winning the attention of both North and South to the new suggestions now prof fered in the name of France with a view to their 'ulterior reconciliation. The susceptibility of the American race is throughout borne especially in mind. While the French Minister does not hesi tate to maintain, still, quite frankly, We conceive that in offering to place ourselves at the disposition of the belligerents, for the purpose of facilitating between them negotiations, the basis of which we abstained from prejudicing, we ren dered to the patriotism of the United States the regard more than ever due to it now, after so many proofs of moral force a n d energy"—while insisting almost in a tone of in dignant self-vindication, " Assuredly, sir, there is nothing in recurring to the good offices of one or several neutral powers incompatible with the legi timate pride of a gent nation"—M. DROUYN DE LIIITYS immediately adds, " We are nevertheless prepared, in the desires we entertain in favour of peace, to m allowance for the susceptibilities of national sentiment, and we in nowise dispute the right of the Federal Government to decline the co-operation of the great maritime Powers of Europe." The next thought comes to view na turally, therefore, in this wise—ls that, however, really all that can be done with a view to the allevia tion of this frightful wa r ? In answer to which ap pears the new proposition. And that ? Wen—it is simply, as we know, the opening up, if possible, of between the belligerents themselves. Without a suspension of any arms ! Without the in terference for a moment of any third party no matter how friendly or sympathetic ! The military leaders of North and South still continuing their deadly strife. The opposing armies still striving to their very uttermost all the while to modify the condi tion of peace by the force of arms. That such a proposition might really be entertained with perfect seriousness, and with a due regard to national honour, is demonstrated by means of one conclusive prece dent adduced from the History of the United States; the French Minister recalling to mind the undoubted and indisputable fact that —" The negotiation which established the independence of the United States commenced long before hostilities had ceased in the New World, and the armistice was only esta blished by the instrument of the 30th Nov., 1782, which, under the title of Provisional Articles, con tained by anticipation the principal clauses of the final treaty of 1783." Encouraged by this remembrance, the French Government now hesitates not to follow up the failure of its earlier overtures, with a view to the reconciliation of the American belligerents, by very urgently but most courteously suggesting, that " Representatives, or Commissioners on both sides, should meet at a given place, which it might be desirable to declare neuter for that purpose ;" the purpose of negotiation. The only touch of anything like irony in the whole note is discernible in the sentence which hints that in lieu of " the accusations" at present interchanged between North and South, there should be instituted a simple "discussion" of the interests now unhappily separating them from each other. Those interests, apparently irreconcilable, there cannot be any serious doubt may, as they inevitably must, be har monised. The aspiration of humanity would obvi ously be, to hasten the advent of the date of their reconciliation. Having unfolded the EMPEROR'S revised plan—" Why," asks M. DROUYN DE LHUYS, in conclusion, " Why should not a suggestion, which pays all deference to the feelings of the United States, obtain the appro bation of the Federal Government? Persuaded as we are," adds the Minister finally, " that it (the new proposition) is in conformity with their real inte rests, we do not hesitate to recommend it to their attention; and not having desired to make any os tentatious parade of influence in the proposed media tion of the maritime Powers, we should re joice, without the slightest feeling of ameur propre, at the opening of negotiations sum moning the two populations to discuss the solution of their differences without the co-ope ration of Europe." Such is the precise nature, tone, and tendency of the second, and we would very earnestly trust more successful, proposition held out to the United States of America with a view to the prevention, if possible, of an indefinite continu ance of this truly disastrous effusion of blood. The " idea" of the Emperor NAPOLEON—for which he does not, in this instance, make war, simply con tenting himself with instructing his Minister for Foreign Affairs to write an exceedingly temperate and an eminently well-deliberated despatch—the " idea" of NAPOLEON 111. might surely be taken into consideration by the Federal Government without any derogation of their dignity. It might reasonably be responded to by the Confederates. It comes forth opportunely enough before the Euro pean public at this early part of the new year—a year, Heaven grant it, destined to mark the close of the tremendous conflict so long raging in the North American Republic. The publication of M. DROUYN DE LHUYS' despatch is especially opportune at this moment, so far as it relates to the sympathies and American proclivities of England, occurring as it does upon the very eve of the reassembling of our Legislature down at Westminster. Whatever re sult may come of it, this new French proposition can hardly be designated, like its predecessor, premature ! Second thoughts, it is said (rather un grammatically by the way) are often best. Why not these ? The Chambers of Commerce of Manchester and Liverpool held their annual meetings on Monday, to receive the report of their directors on the pro ceedings of the Chambers during the last year —a year unparalleled for the distress endured and the manly fortitude displayed by the patient and pa triotic sufferers. It was a year the like of which we hope in Heaven may never be again witnessed. It has taught a lesson severe in its infliction end manifold in the variety of its visitations both to rich and poor, but to the poor more immeasurably bitter in its desolation. The directors of the Manchester Chamber of Commerce, in whose extensive district the calamity has been more intensely felt, not only in their own immediate neighbourhood, but in the sur rounding hives of what were once happy industry and cheerful hope, lament the sad consequences oc casioned by the fratricidal confl:ct in America to the people of Lancashire. They cannot close the record of their proceedings during the year " with out expressing their profound sympathy with those members of the community who have suffered, and continue to suffer, so intensely by these unfortunate events; and they desire also to pay a tribute of ad miration on the one hand to the patience and heroic self-reliance displayed by the operative classes under their many and grievous privations, and on the other to that noble spirit of benevolence evoked by the distress pervading all ranks throughout the length and breadth of her MAJESTY'S dominions." And this tribute to the sympathy of the munificent donors is not more just to their feelings than it is due to the honest gratitude of the poor suf ferers. But, as the worthy President expressed in his straightforward speech—it is not charity they want, but cotton. True ; but were there no fore warnings in times past to prepare for a rainy day ? Yes, but in the midst of plenty he was laughed at as a fool or bird of ill-omen, who ventured to em bitter the cup of comfort by evil forebodings. But this applied to the employers infinitely more than to the workers, for out of their earnings the savings banks bear testimony to their prudence. The masters also were not remiss in their accumulations, for the full tide of prosperity flowed on as if it were never to ebb. Such is the happy indifference of human nature—it enjoys the present without much serious apprehension for the future. The wonderfully rapid increase in the cotton districts served but to stimulate enterprise the more in the busy march of successful moneymaking —and no one seemed or cared to give a thought that such " a roaring trade" was too good to last. The people generally left that matter to their masters—and masters, like men, too often trust to fortune without due care to keep a good look out, as sailors are bound to do even in the most prosperous voyage. A pro vident seaman must be prepared for all weathers for no one can foretell what mischief may be brewing in the distance, however gentle blows the favouring breeze. So with the greedy genius of Lancashire in its eager haste to grasp more and more of the golden harvest of gain. America was the boundless field that supplied the one thing needful, and that was enough. They looked no further, but heedless went on. It was idle to hint that circumstances might some day change, and leave the labourer on a barren field. The curse of slavery was repre sented as fraught with misery, and the trade of Lancashire in all its prosperity was founded on the labour of the slave, whereas free labour would pro duce the article, and prove more congenial to a free people. All that might be very true, but Lanca shire was satiz,fied, and that was enough. Now that the evil day has come, like a thief in the night, it is no use to hesitate; the struggle must be made, and so the amassed capital of slave labour must be distributed far and wide, to redress the balance of trade and fill the vacuum occasioned by neglect or indifference. But what a world of woe and distress has been opened to the sad gaze of wondering humanity. It is indeed a pity, and "pity 'tis 'tia true." The President entered into a luminous de tail of the various places where cotton was produced, and more especially referred to India, where abundance might be had, but many ob stacles interfered with a ready supply. Lately, indeed, a good prospect seemed to be open ing, occasioned by the price, for, as Mr. LAING said, Price was the sure stimulant; and price has now attained a range never dreamt of before, having actually quadrupled. The raw material costs from two shillings to half-a-crown the pound, while the manufactured article has only about doubled in price. This was the consequence of having trusted so long to one source of supply. But now they were busy in all quarters—Egypt, Turkey, Italy, in its southern parts, promised amply in due time, but time was the thing that pressed, and want could not wait for time. Then there were the cen tral States of America, the West Indies, Brazil, Buenos Ayres, and numberless other places, in some of which double crops could be produced yearly, such was the bountiful nature of the clime. But it was to India that at tention was now chiefly directed, for there everything conspired to meet the difficulty but for one perverse individual, who seemed to delight in his power of obstinate obstruction—the Secretary of State for India, Sir CHARLES WOOD-a name of evil omen to him who shares his councils, and who before the Ides of March shall have long passed away may regret that he sailed in the same boat with such a self-sufficient " individual." The President of the Chamber, among other mat ters, said that the Commissioner for Italy at the International Exhibition for 1862, himself a mem ber of the Italian Parliament, drew attention to what might be done in producing cotton in that country. He says " that there was an immense extent of land in Southern Italy, equal to 5,000,000 English acres, which has of great antiquity been known for its cotton-producing capabilities and the great abundance and cheapness of labour. He remarks upon the example of American success, he exhibits drawings of the cot ton plant, and proceeds to show that they can grow cotton equal to New Orleans at 4d. per lb. ; and he illustrates the advantages of commercial activity, which by this means may connect the for tunes of England with the destinies of Italy." Fol lowing such examples, you will naturally inquire whether or not the effect of the cotton famine has been felt elsewhere, and more particularly in the councils of India. It is true Lord CANNING took the alarm, being governor of India, and being fully aware of the consequence to England of the Ameri can war; and he appeared to find in some corner of his bureau a despatch which had been received some two or three years before from Lord STANLEY, ordering the sale of waste lands. He immediately issued a resolution describing the manner in which waste lands should be disposed of, also for the re demption of the land-tax, and he ordered immediate pains to be taken to prepare roads of the most con - venient character for the removal of cotton from the plantations to the seaboard. This is some indication of the readiness of that enlightened Governor to put India in motion to bring about some alleviation of 1 our distress. You would not only suppose that the Indian Council, at the head of which is Sir C. Noon, would have been equally alive to the emer gency, but that they would in this country, as well as Lord CANNING in India, have been put in motion, instantaneously, with a view, if possible, to minister to our relief. I am sorry to say, on the contrary, that what has been done by them has been the undoing of that which Lord CANNING had done. By an order from Sir C. WOOD, the sale of the waste lands and the redemption of the land-tax has been subverted. Sir C. WOOD him self will not see that it has been subverted, but it has been changed; and the change is of that character which amounts in reality to a prohibi tion of the sale of land. Under Lord CANNING'S regulations, the applicant for the purchase of land had three operations to undertake, viz.,—to mark out the land he wanted, to pay ss. an acre for it, and to wait one month to see if any other appli cant or owner happened to turn up. So that in one month the buyer might be in possession, and engaged in its cultivation, That which Sir C. WOOD says is not a prohibition is a regulation which contains no fewer than 77 clauses, which a man must carefully understand before he pro ceeds to purchase. When he has made himself acquainted with the 77 clauses, he may proceed to consider- whereabouts he will make his pur chase. He must then apply for a survey. It is impossible for any one to determine what length of time might be required to obtain that survey, but the applicant must first of all deposit the money to pay him with. The survey when made will, in all probability, have to be reported upon, and how long it may be before that report shall be understood or determined no one can undertake to say ; but should it appear that the land may be offered for sale, then it must be advertised to be sold by auction. When sold the highest bidder re ceives it, whether it be the applicant or not; and if the applicant does not himself become the purchaser, he receives back the money he has paid as deposit for the survey, and he may then go about to find some other place that shall be more near to his expectations, more within his power to obtain. Any squatter may come and dispute a title, and no matter whether it be in India or in Ireland, we find very few titles that are not disputed. In this country we have a very ready way of dealing with that description of dispute—we have passed an En cumbered Estates Act, and did not wait a century, as we have done in India, before coming to a deter mination that good titles shall be made out of bad ones. However, Sir Charles Wood having thus placed what we feel to be obstacles in the way of becoming possessed of waste lands, it is very evi dent that if the people of this country are to starve until cotton is grown under the arrangements laid down by that Minister, we shall have very few persons left capable of undertaking our industry at the end of that time. Centuries may elapse before any sensible impression has been made upon the sale of waste lands. The land-tax redemption also has been entirely overthrown. Lord CAN NING arranged that the land-tax should be saleable at twenty years' purchase. Though at present an occupier in India may be said to be in the same position as a tenant at will in this country, who dares not lay out money for fear that the year afterwards he may have to pay additional rent for his own investment, Sir C. WOOD has quite put a stop to the redemption of land-tax." And so on ; but we will not enlarge on the ob stacles which Sir CHARLES WOOD has determined to put in the way. All the good which Lord STANLEY endeavoured to do for India has been THE SUN, LONDON, THUR S DAY EVENING, JANUARY 29, 1863. jealously prevented by his successor, and thus the present sufferings of the people of Lancashire and Cheshire have been wantonly aggravated by the overweening dictatorship of our Indian Secretary. The Earl of CARNARTON made a most interesting speech last night at Southampton, on the subject of the Working Men's Institutions. He observed that, whenever he addressed assemblies like the one before him, it had generally fallen to his lot to propose some new plan, or to suggest some change in the constitution of the Society; but, on the pre sent occasion, he was happy to find that so complete was their system, and so harmonious its working, that nothing needed alteration. The system seemed to combine two objects which, apparently distinct, were not so in their case. Personal freedom of action and great recreation, with that degree of self restraint which was essential to all much under takings. The noble lord then adverted to the chief points of importance which distin guished their rules. He thus alluded to the primary principles of their foundation : "Putting aside religion, which is enthroned above every other consideration, there are but three great influences probably by which men are much moved. These are their minds, their bodies, and their own substantial material existence, and the principles of these associations tend to attain all these three ob jects. In your reading-rooms, in your work-rooms, in your libraries, and in your classes you have laid down some of the principal elements which go far to refine, to cutivate, and to improve the mind. Be sides these, you have what is commonly called a discussion class. That I consider a most valuable class, but it is valuable only on one condition, and that is, that you have the self-control and self restraint to abide rigidly by the laws which you have already laid down for yourselves and never allow any political questions whatever to creep into your debates." This last hint was a most serviceable one, and the noble lord went on at some length to explain his meaning by stating that while every man in this land had a right to his own opinion, politics often engendered such angry feelings, and so much irri tation of spirit and manner that it was never aught but deleterious to peace and order to allow their discussion into such places as that before him. Next Lord CARNARVON passed on to minor topics, and made some amusing remarks on the subject of smok ing. Of this practice he evidently entertains a , good opinion, and d epreca t es th e unfortunate pre judice of confoundi ng "th e moderate use of that divine weed with the immoderate indulgence of the vicious taste of drinking. I might cite the gravest writers, I might quote the most learned philosophers, I might bring forward the deepest divines, I might appeal to the poets who have sung so sweetly, and th e y wou ld e ach and all subscribe to the sovereign virtues of that wonderful plant." He then summed up the various items referred to, and declared the most satisfactory result therefrom. He said that these workmen's halls, with their games, privileges, and advantages, create relaxations and indemnities for the toils in which many are engaged. After descanting upon the ad vantages of some break and interruption to monotonous labour, or else the continuity of inces sant toil would occasion the most disastrous effects, the noble lord thus forcibly advocated the merits of such interludes, at the same time acknowledging the great and good effects of work, exemplifying the truth of the motto Laborare eat °rare :—" They make you, by the very force of contrast, appreciate that work; for after all, no matter what that work is—whether menial or mental—it is one of the pre scribed conditions of our human nature. No man who attempts to do his duty, however imperfectly, however feebly, can dare to escape it. Work is not only not inconsistent with the duties of religion, but, if it be honestly, fairly, conscientiously done, it is region itself. I believe it to be the very salt and savour of life, without which life ' itself would be miserable and meaningless." Lord CARNARVON next alluded to the benefits pro mulgated by such institutions in bringing different classes of society into contact with each other. This union, he truly said, was productive of the greatest benefits, and resulted in the most inestim able advantages. There must always be inequali ties of fortune and position. It was idle to attempt and presumptuous to assume the responsibility of altering them, but the more the separate classes came into any communion with each other the better for the welfare of all concerned. "It re moves prejudice, misapprehensions van ish,sympathy is created on either side." Finally, Lord CARNARVON complimented and congratulated the members of the institution on their happy and honourable combination of the true characteristics of English men, which combine obedience to the law with perfect self-independence. He then forcibly con trasted the difference that existed between the sublime endurance of the Lancashire people and the reckless outrages of the Anglo-Saxon race across the Atlantic . The former had been a population s lowest possible d e pth s o f poverty. The other, on the first whisper of alarm, rushed into a s ped n t r rich beyond comp are , an d h a d now the open warfare, and were having recourse to all kinds of unconstitutional measures for the furtherance of their plans and designs. In the course of his concluding remarks his lordship alluded to personal character, and foremost amongst private individuals who on public affairs he mentioned have WELLINGTON. No one was t sethe Duke e r 0 f stamp ever more impressed with a sense of duty than was this illustrious man, and hence his vast influence and the secret of his important services. Though dead, he still speaks to us in the voice to which we can never be indifferent. Also, wisely added, his lordship, desirous of improving the opportunity, he has left us an example which we may all follow in the active discharge and zealous performance of the duties devolved upon us, and which without any great gifts or shining talents, on our parts we can conscientiously perform :—" It is given to each and all of us, if we would ac cept it, to discharge those duties which come upon us within the sphere of our own private life, in that way in which, if hie life had been cast in private paths, he would undoubtedly and unquestionably have discharged it ; and in so far as we in our per sonal lives give force and effect to those principles —in so far as we interweave them with the objects, the interests, the institutions, of other men—so far we are adding our fraction of labour towards the accomplishment of those great ends at which society is ever aiming; We are fulfilling the law ofour own being, and are each, to the best of our power, be queathing those parts of the constitution under which it has ben the boast of Englishmen to live, and under which it is their constant prayer to die," This speech o f L ord CARNARVON reflects the greatest credit upon him, and there can be no doubt that all w h o were pr i v il ege d to h oar hi s eloquent and Eti rr i ng address agreed in the truth of . its statemen ts , t h e force o f i ts argumen t s , an d the eloquence whi c h character i se d an d ornamen t e d its delivery. Those in high ranks who come for ward to aid an d assist the a d vocac y of such societies, con f er a grea t b ene fit upon the classes whi ch are intimately concerne d, and also reflect the hig hebt lustre on their own order. " Noblesse oblig e " cannot be forgotten without serious detrime n t to all branc h es o f th e community, and therefore we welcome such judicious and well timed harangues as this one here referred to, tend ing as they do to awaken sympathy, arouse energy, and dissolve prejudice among the important and often overlooked class to whose Interests they directly appeal, and whose claims they specially set forward. LATEST INTELLIGENCE. FRANCE. PARIS, JAN. 29. The Moniteur of to-day says:— "Lord Cowley has been instructed by Earl Rus sell to express to M. Drouyn de Lhuys the satis faction felt by the British Government on account of the late speech of the Emperor to the French ex hibitors, and its strong desire to see the sentiments of mutual esteem daily strengthen the ties of friend ship which unite the two nations as well as their Governments." The Moniteur also says : "Letters from St. Petersburg, dated 27th inst., state that the nobility and peasantry have kept aloof from the movement in Poland." The same journal also publishes a letter from Rome, announcing that several leaders of brigand bands had been arrested by the Pontifical gendarmes. These facts, says the ITloniteur, testify to the activity of the Government of the Holy See to pre vent the Roman territory from becoming the refuge of the instigators of brigandage in the Neapolitan States. SPAIN. MADRID, JAN. 28. It is considered probable that Senor Isturitz will be appointed Spanish Ambassador at Paris. Marshall O'Donnell has had a conference with Senor Olozaga. Many conjectures are afloat in reference to this circumstance. Marshal O'Donnell continues to enjoy the confi dence of the Queen. FRANCE. L' Opinion Nationale says that it has learned that the Jews, who are extremely numerous in Poland, have taken part with the insurgents. Another re markable fact in reference to the recent outbreak is noticed. The German press, which has hitherto shown itself so hard, so unjust, and even so insult ing towards Poland, has now become sympathetic. The same journal announces among its latest intelligence the arrival of Admiral hares at Hong Kong on the 12th of December, where he had seve ral conferences with the English authorities, after which he left on the 15th for Shanghae. It is said that, from his instructions and from the result of these conferences, it was decided by him, in concert with the English officers, that the combined forces should more vigorously assist the Imperial troops against the rebels, and lay siege to Nankin. Last night, about eight o'clock, as the train from Paris for Cherbourg was expected at Poissy, several oxen broke the barriers and got upon the lines. The train soon arrived, and unfortunately the shock was so great as to throw it off the lines, and occa sion serious delay and inconvenience. None of the passengers were hurt, but one of the men had his arm broken. .Le Constitutionnel quotes the views of the Eng lish press on the Emperor's speech to the exhibi • tors with great satisfaction. .Le Pays conjectures that the distinguished young Protestant Prince spoken of by the Morning Post as a candidate for the throne of Greece to be Prince Edward of Saxe Weimar, and observes somewhat satirically that this is the fourth candidate (including Prince Alfred) patronised by England, and probably not the last. Our Parisian contemporary is, however, mistaken in his supposi tion. BOURSE, Jan. 28.—Prices remain with but little change, and a very limited amount of business doing. Threes are now at 69:r. 80c. Railway Shares quiet. The market closed as follows : 41 per Cents. .. 98 60 Bank Shares 3400 Do, end month.... Credit Fancier 1465 3 per Cents Do. end month 69 75 Italian Loan 7O 45 New 3 per Cents .. RuPsian - Do, end month.... Austrian Credit Mobilier.... 1152 50 Spanish Threes Do. end m0nth....1157 50 }Lome Debt BAIL 'ATEI. Cash. Account. Orleans Northern New ditto . —.— .. Lyons and Mediterranean 1156 25 .. 1157 50 Geneva.... Southern Western - • • -- Eastern .... 527 60 .. 528 75 Sardinian — • • Austrian Lowbard North of Spain Saragossa .. Ditto to Barcelona 32.5 .. 325 London, Brighton, and South Co a st Railway, HALF-YEARLY MEETING—(THIS DAY.) The ordinary half-yearly meeting of the shareholders of this company was held to-day at the Bridge House Hotel. LEO SCHUSTER, Esq., chairman of the board of directors, presided. The report, which has already appeared in The Sun, having been taken as read, The CHAIRMAN in moving the usual resolution for the reception and adoption of the document, said it was a matter of congratulation that notwithstanding the high rate of interest, they had succeeded in placing out a considerable amount of their debenture stock, and the directors anticipate that the time would shortly arrive when the whole of their mortgage debt would become perpetual debenture stock. It was a matter of con gratulation that the gross increase of revenue for the last year over that of 1861 amounted to £77,303, and although the directors had made no increase in the dividend, the reason was to be attributed to the interestand dividend pay able on the additional capital that had to be raised to make the new lines upon which they were then engaged. The traffic on the line had been also highly satisfactory, for out of 13,600,000 passengers carried during the year they had not had a single accident which had been attended with lass of life. (Hear, hear.) The gross receipts from passengers for the year amounted to £1,025,423, but although their line was called " The Brighton," yet that place contributed but one-fifth of that sum. He mentioned this circumstance to show that their great source of traffic was not the town of Brighton. The directors had kept up their stock of locomotives by the addition of twelve new ones, and the permanent way was in the best possible con dition. The reduction that had been announced in the fares of third• class passengers had taken place, and the result had been satisfactory, That being the case, the directors had determined to make a further reduction in the charge for first-class passengers after the Ist of February next. From that date the reduction would be at such a rate that the holder of an annual ticket from Brighton to the Victoria Station would be enabled to perform the journey for is. lld„ instead of as now 2s. sd. Correspond ing reductions would be made in the second-class fares, but the third-class were at present as low as they could rea sonably be expected. The reduction would extend to the suburban lines, by which an immense number of residents, such as clerks would be greatly benefited. The directors had made more than two thousand alterations in fares, but he would not trouble the meeting by going into detail. In five years he confidently expected that these reductions on their line would be quite as exten sive as that which occurred in postage when the charge was reduced to a penny. The directors intended in the summer to separate the London-bridge from the Victoria, so that the journey, in either direction, would be per formed in an hour and five minutes. Having touched upon the other subjects mentioned in the report, the chairman concluded by moving the usual resolution. Mr. SCOTT, the deput3 chairman, seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. A resolution was then adopted, authorizing the payment of a dividend of 3i per cent. for the half-year amounting to £162,253, leaving a balance to the credit of the current half-year of £8,360, and making the dividend for the year 1862 amount to 6 per cent. It was then ordered that the dividend declared should be payable on the 12th of February, - The directors retiring by rotation, W. Coningham, Esq., M.D., and P. N. Laurie were re-elected. THE FRENCH MINT. —The presses at the Mint of Paris are at the present moment working with great activity. The coining of money by hand and with dies has been discontinued for the last 25 years. The operation is now effected by means of small presses, scarcely larger than a man's head, moved by a steam en gine, of from 20 to 30 horse power. • q(: - , - ,V'''''..•'.0: 611111 ~ ' - TiratTat HER MAJESTY. OSBORNE, Jan. 28. The Queen drove out yesterday with Princess Louis of Hesse. Major-Gen. the Hon. A. Hood was in attendance. The Prince of Wales. His Royal Highness tho Princo of Wales, attended by Captain Groy, left town about one o'clock yesterday, for Osborne, Isle of Wight. SOUTHAMPTON, Wednesday. His Royal Highness the Pr,nce of Wales embarked from the docks this afternoon, at four o'clock, on board her Ma jesty's yacht Fairy, Master Commander Welch, for Os borne. His Royal Highness appeared in tho best of health. _ _ Earl Russell embarked at the same time for Osborne, with the Prince, to have an audience of the Queen. THE MARRIAGE OF THE PRINCE OF `VALES.—Yes terday the Town Council of Leeds held a full meet ing to determine what would be the most appropriate man ner in which to celebrate this event. The Mayor (Mr. March) presided, and a committee was appointed, who in a fortnight are to make a report on the subject, and especially as to the legal means by which £l,OOO or £2,000 can be voted out of the borough fund for providing public amusements. A general holyday seems to be a foregone conclusion, and also a review of the Leeds Volunteer Artillery, Engineers, and Rifle, which is to be attended by the Mayor and cor poration, with their insignia and robes of office. The Volun teers are to be provided with dinner, as a a sort of recogni nition of the great personal sacrifices they have made from purely patriotic motives. It is very probable that the whole town will be illuminated, but that will particularly be the case with reference to the town-hall, which stately edifice will be illuminated at night on a scale of unusual magnifi cence. One or more displays of fireworks cn a large scale are also spoken of, and the programme will doubtless con tain many other appropriate items. Foreign Courts. VIENNA, Jan. 24. The health of the Empress progresses in so satisfactory a manner that her Majesty is enabled to take equestrian exercise daily in the riding-school attached to the palace. The Queen of Naples is expected at Venice in the course of a few days, in order to meet her consort, who will pro ceed thither from Rome. They are expected to reside at Venice for some time, and it is stated that the Empress of Austria will visit her Royal relatives whilst they remain there. BERLIN, Jan. 26. The celebration of the festival of the Coronation and other orders commenced to-day by order of the King, when those persons who had been nominated since the festival of the preceding year, as well as those on whom orders were to be conferred, assembled in the Royal palace. The ceremony of decoration took place in the Hall of Knights, where were present besides their Majesties, the Crown Prince and Crown Princess, and most of the Princes of the Royal house. A banquet took place in the evening, at which the Crown Prince presided in the room of his Ma jesty, whose state of health, it is presumed, prevented his attendance. About 800 persons received the insignia of the various orders on the occasion; an unusually large number. PRINCE ALFRED and his brothers and sisters have been brought up in the businesslike and simple way which is usually supposed to belong to the strongest sort of royalty. It is everywhere understood that there is more formality and exclusiveness in the habits and manners of constitutional sovereigns and their families and courts than is seen where the monarch has such entire possession of power as not to have to think of the appearance of it : but, in the case of our royal family, while there is all possible watchfulness over the dignities and claims of all its mem bers, there is none of the helplessness of grandeur, none of the pernicious leisure for dreaming, and temptation to a relaxing egotism—which are the worst liabilities of princes. The Queen's children have done real work of head and hands all their lives. After school hours, their play was another sort of work—the boys building a dairy with their own hands, and their sisters afterwards serving the dairy as real milkmaids. They have set their butter and cream before the Queen ; they have made the stirabout in High land cabins ; and there is no member of the family who does not know that the moon is not made of green cheese. Thus, any one of them whom fortune addresses as she has now greeted Prince Alfred is pretty safe from the dreamy selfishness which would be found in a pampered and spoiled boy of some Royal houses, and in our own— some hundred years ago. Still, the thought recurs, that our young Prince is at the very age when the offer of a throne is most tempting, and when the prospect of diffi culty is least discouraging. So, if there has been some struggle, nobody would think the worse of him for it. — Owe a Week. Lord Ribblesdale arrived at the Pavilion Hotel, Folkestone, on Tuesday, from the Continent. The Countess and Madlle. de L'lsle and the Abbe Vanderville have left the Brunswick Hotel for Paris. Sir Edmund and Lady Prideaux have arrived at Howchin's Hotel from Essex. Sir George and Lady Houstoun Boswell have arrived at blowchin's Hotel. MR. CHARLES DICKENS.—The announcement of our eminent countryman Mr. Charles Dickens's two additional soirees at the British Embassy has created a universal sentiment of gratification throughout the read ing public of Paris—not at all confined to the English, for it is a subject of general remark that many of the celebrated writer's warmest admirers are to be found in French society, who are one and all authentic in their opinions of his former reading. The demand for tickets is, as might be expected, very great, and the promised introduction of the renowned " Sam 'Weller," with his mingled wit, wisdom, and quaint philosophy, is certain to command the same success among Parisians as has ever attended the unequalled humourist wherever the immortal pages of "Pickwick" are known.— We may remind kur readers that the first reading is fizzed for to-morrow evening.—Galiqnani. HORACE VERNET.—The Moniteur de l'Arnzee, in an article on Horace Vernet, mentions the two following anecdotes of that artist :—" The late painter was eminently kind and hospitable. One day a stranger called on him, and begged to be admitted among his pupils. The applicant was a captain of the ex-Imperial Guard, placed under the surveillance of the police in consequence of his Bonapartist ideas. ' What can you do ?' asked Horace Vernet. ' Nothing yet; but I am determined to learn.' From the moment that you are resolved,' returned the painter, examining the firm countenance of the visitor, no thing more is to be said. My studio is henceforth open to you.' In fact the officer laboured with such perseverance that in a short time, by the aid of his master's counsels, he became a distinguished painter, and later created for him self, in a special branch of the art, a position in which he is without a rival. To him we owe the splendid panoramas of Navarino, Moscow, the Pyramids, and Sebastopol, and to him we shall soon be indebted for that of Solferino. We refer to Col. Langlois. A cuirassier called upon HoraceVer net osie morning at Versailles. The soldier wished to have his portrait taken in full length to send home, but wished first to know what it would cost. ' llow much can you give P' asked Vernet. Thirty sous,' said the soldier. ' Agreed,' replied the artist. With a few strokes of his pencil the painter terminated a charming sketch of the cuirassiers who carried it off delighted, remarking, however, to a com rade who was waiting for him in the street, ' I was wrong not to bargain ; he would have perhaps let me have it for a franc.' " We have heard the story told differently. The cuirassier in question was one of the handsomest men in the army, but not overstocked with brains. His com rades set him on to get his likeness taken, and sent him to Vernet, with the purpose of laughing at him afterwards for his folly. Vernet saw through the trick, and painting for the handsome soldier a magnificent portrait, turned the laugh against the plotters." THE METROPOLITAN RAILWAY.—The success which has attended the working of the traffic on the Metropolitan Underground Railway has occasioned the directors of that company to determine upon running ex press through trains in addition to the ordinary traffic which has been carried on since the opening of the line. The trains had hitherto called at each of the intermediate stations, but the directors gave notice yesterday, that on and after Mon day next, the 2d of February, there would be a series of express trains running daily—twelve each way —commenc ing at 8.40 " up," and 9.10 " down," and being continued at about half-hour intervals (excepting from about noon to 4 o'clock) until 8.40 "up," in the evening at 7.10 "down." The whole of the trains will be first and second class, and will stop at the Edgware-road (or Chapel-street) Station. The whole distance of these express trains will be run over in 13 minutes, whereas the ordinary trains have averaged about 24 minutes. REPRESENTATION OF REIGATE.—The candidates, Mr. Leveson Gower and Mr. W. A. Wilkinson, are actively engaged in canvassing, and have each issued a circular assuring the electors of their individual success. Mr. Wilkinson has stated that he has received actual promises of votes to the number of 300, and this, in a con stituency of only 735, of course shows a majority of pro mises. How far they are to be relied on remains to be proved on the day at polling. On the other hand, Mr. Gower has published the names of his committee, which comprises those of 150 of the most influential gentlemen in the borough, a great many of whom were supporters of the late member. Although the fight will no doubt be severe it is believed that Mr. Gower will be the successful candi date. An ox was slaughtered in the isle of Purbeck last week which stood upwards of . - ;ix feet high, and weighed 2,4081b5, avoirdupois. THE WAR IN AMERICA. ARRIVAL OF TIIE CITY OF WASHINGTON. QUEENSTOWN, Thursday. The Inman steamship City of Washington, from New York on the 17th, has arrived here. She brings 88 passengers and 936,720 dols. in specie. (Per City of Washington.) NEW YORK, Jan. 16. Jefferson Davis's Message has been sent in to the Confederate Congress. He declares the anxiety of the South for peace, but says that its determination against submission is unalterable. He denounces the conduct of the Union armies as atrocious and cruel. Referring to 111 r. Lincoln's emancipation proclamation, he says he may well leave it to the instincts of the com mon humanity of men of all countries to pass judg ment upon a measure by which millions of human beings of inferior race, peaceful and contented labourers in their sphere, are doomed to extermi- nation, while they are encouraged to commit assas sination by an insidious recommendation to abstain from violence unless in self-defence. Commissioned Federal officers attempting to execute the procla mation will, if captured, be delivered to the state authorities to be dealt with according to the state laws for the punishment of criminals inciting in surrection. The Alabama has captured two more vessels off Port Maria. NEW YORK, Jan. 16, Evening. It is supposed that a large portion of the Con federate army has been withdrawn from Fredericks burg. The Philadelphia Inquirer says that numbers of negroes are deserting from the Federals at Port Royal. COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE. Money easy; gold, 461 prem. Exchange, 161. Stocks steady ; New York Centrals, 1161 ; Illinois Shares, 90 ; Erie, 731. Cotton very firm ; Middling upland, 72c. Flour heavy and sc. lower. Wheat, good inquiry. Corn inactive, at a decline of lc. Provisions quiet. Coffee, sugar, and molasses very firm. (Per City of Washington.) NEW YORK, Jan. 17, Morning. The telegraphic summary of Jefferson Davis's message which appeared in the New York papers was imperfect. Mr. Davis complains that the European Powers declared neutrality without acknowledging the sovereignty of the seceded states, thus injuring the South and prolonging the war by admitting the doctrine that the Federal Government had a right to coerce the seceded states. If these states were independent the refusal to entertain the same international intercourse with them as with the North was unjust, no matter what may have been the motive prompting it; He does not complain of any treaty being concluded between the United States and Europe for the abolishment of privateer ing, although the prohibition to either belligerent to dispose of its prizes in European ports operated with intense severity against the South, by depriv ing her of the only means of maintaining, with some approach to equality, a struggle on the ocean. Rumours are current of an early movement of the army of the Potomac. General M'Clernand's expedition has captured an Arkansas post 50 miles up the Arkansas River. Seven thousand Confederates, with stores and am munition, are reported to have surrendered. Six Federal vessels have left New Orleans to re capture the Harriet Lane and to destroy the Con federate gunboats at Bayou, Buffalo. Nearly all the troops under the command of General Banks are at Baton Rouge. The Confederate General Bragg is superseded by General Longstreet, whose corps d'armee is trans ferred to Tennessee. The Confederates are encroaching upon the Union lines at Donaldsville. The motion which was made in the House of Representatives to lay a bill on the table autho rising an enlargement, for the passage of gunboats, of the Mississippi and Michigan canals, and of other canals connecting the lakes of Erie and On tario R ith the Hudson River, was rejected. It is rumoured that Secretary Chase will resign if the Finance Bill of the Committee of Ways and Means passes Congress. No Speaker has yet been elected in the New York Assembly. George Francis Train has narrowly escaped lynching at Jamesville, Wisconsin. THE THRONE OF GREECE. A telegram in another column mentions tha Prince of Leiningen as having been proposed as a candidate for the Throne ofGrecce. We are able to confirm this statement; indeed it was to this prince that we alluded a few days ago. His Serene Highness is a grandson of the late Duchess of Kent, who was first married to Charles Louis, Prince of Leiningen. Ho is conse quently related by half blood to her Majesty the Queen, but in no way forms part of the Royal Family of England, and does not, therefore, fall under the exclusion of the protocol of 1830. His Highness, who is a Protestant, is in his thirty third year, and was married in 1858 to the Prin cess Marie of Baden. He is a post.captain in the British service, and commands the Magicienne on the Mediterranean station. It is difficult to see what objection can be raised to a prince so fitted by age, character, and training for the high position to which he will probably be called. His Highness, excei tin not belonging to the Royal Family, possesses every qualification that could have been looked for in Prince Alfred, besides being of more sui.able age, and a married man. The throne has now remained vacant so long that it becomes of the highest importance that a term should be put to this period of suspense. We therefore trust that the Greek people, as well as the Powers interested, will find in this nomi nation a satisfactory solution of the difficulties that have hitherto surrounded the question.— Morning Post. TURKISH POSTAGE STAMPS.—Turkey has just issued postage stamps, having long been the only Power in Europe that had not adopted that mode of paying for letters. The Turkish stamps are of four different colours, and all bear the signature of the Sultan Abdul- Aziz, the Mahometan religion interdicting the representa tion of the face or person.—Galignani. AN AMERICAN STAGE SCENE,—A writer who has travelled extensively says that he witnessed rather a strange scene in Shakspeare's beautiful tragedy of " Romeo and Juliet;" it was at one of the Western Theatres. The piece had passed off well without inter ruption until the last scene. The character of Romeo was excellently enacted and loudly applauded. The very model of the lover was before the tomb of the Capulets, gazing upon the motionless form of her who had so attracted his soul, and meditating upon committing an act which would send his spirit to that undiscovered country where he supposed Juliet's had gone. Just as he exclaimed, Here's to love I' and at the same time raising the vial which contained the poison to his lips, a stalwart young country man jumped upon the stage,seized him,dished the vial from his hand, crushing it into atoms, and yelling, ' Yer darned fool,she ain't dead! Only been takin' a little sleeping medic no. Didn't yer get the parson's letter P' Sirrah ' growled out the enraged tragedian, while the house fairly shook with laughter. ' Why, yer gal ain't dead, I tell yer. The way it was, they wanted to make Julie marry that chap thar,' pointing to Paris, whose business you have just settled; but I tell you Julie war pluck—she got her back right up and vowed she wouldn't do it, even if while she war lying in the vault the ghost of the other feller wheel you kilt should dash her brains out with the bones of some of her dead cousins, Wal, her pluck war up, and she took the stuff the parson fixed ; so she could play possum till you got ham. That's the way it war,' replied the countryman, giving the desperate lover a tremendous poke in the ribs with his elbow, at the same time loosing his hold. ' Curses on the fellow muttered the raving tragedian as he stalked behind the scenes. Wal, now,' said the countryman, fronting the audience, if that ai'nt a leetle the dod darned meanest cuss I ever did see, I hope to be swowed. That's all the thanks I git for stopping him from pizanin himself. Hope to be tarnly swashed if ever I go to interfere again when a feller wants to murder himself,' he continued, as he clambered back to his seat, just in time to prevent upper story from coming in contact with the curtain as it descended.