The Sun. — London, England, 1854-12-22 00:00:00

THRATRE ROYAL HAYMARKET. Under the management of Mr. Buckstone. THIS EVENING, DEc. 22, WM be performed the Comedy of PRESENTED AT COURT. Principal characters by Messrs. Backstone, W. Farren, and Howe ; Misses Reynolds, E. Chaplin, Grantham, and Lavine. After which, the Balet of THE STIR OF ANDALUSIA, in which Senora Perea Nena will appear. To which will be added THE BALANCE OF COMFORT. Followed by THE IRISH LION. To =chide with POPPING THE QUESTION. THEATRE ROYAL ADELPHL Proprietor, Mr. B. Webster.—Directress, Madame Celeste. THIS EVENING, DEc. 22, Will be performed an entire new Rustic Drama called PIERRE THE FOUNDLING. Supported by Messrs. B. Webster and Kee ley, and Mrs. Keeley and Miss Woolgar. Followed by BONA FIDE TRAVELLERS. After which, THE CAMP AT CHOBIIA3I. To which will be aided a new Farce, entitled THE RAILWAY BELLE. ROYAL OLYMPIC TUE TRE. Lessee and Manager, Mr. A. Wigan. Tais EVENIN-0, DEc. 21, - - - Will he pregentee. a new Corn& letta, c Hied A. WIFE'A tTOURN Characters by Messrs Brown, Emery, Harcourt, and L es li e; and Mrs. Crown, and Miss Masts.cll. - . --- To be followed by - TIIE BEULAH SPA. Principal characters by Mevrs. A. NVl,..tan, Emery, F. Robsol, and 11. Cooperas Marston, Mrs. A. Wigan, Mrs. FR.1111411, aud Miss Julia o St . St. George. To conclude with TUE FIRS r NIGHT. Characters by Mr. Alfred Wigan, Le3lie, Harwood Cooper, and Gladstone ; Miss Julia St. George. and Mlas Emily Ormentle. ROYAL LYCEUM THEATRE. Under the management of Madame Vestris. Sole Lessee Mr. C. Mathews. On Tuesday, Dec. 2i3th, 1854, will be produced a new and original Fairy Extravaganza, entitled PRINCE PRET f YPET and THE BUTTERFLY. Box-olllee open from 10 until 6. Sole agent for Private Boxes, Mr. Allcroft, 15, New Bond-street. ASTLEY'S ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE. Lessee and Manager, Mr. William Cooke. The Wonderful PERFORMING ELEPHANTS for this week only THIS EVENING, THE BATTLE of THE ALMA! After which, the varied SCENES in the CIRCLE. Also, the Wonderful PERFORMING ELEPHANTS, whose asto nishing sagacity and indescribable development of the reasoning faculty have been the theme of universal admiration. To c•nclnde with the MARRIED BACLIELOR. N.R.—A MORNING PERFORMANCE consisting of the New Comic Pantomime and Scenes in the Arena, will take place on TUESDAY, 26th (Boxing Day) at Two o'clock. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. Tnie Dir —Morning 17 min.after 3 I Evening 42 min.aft. 3 To-Voslow Mornir g 8 min.after 4 1 Nvening 32 min.aft. 4 THE WEATHER.—SUN OYFICI, Dec. 22. THERMOMETER, IN THE SLUM 52 highest since noon yesterday. 46 —'owest this morning and during the night. 55—this day, at noon. BAROMETER, 29'93—falling again. WIND, W.N.W.--Light and variable, with dull hazy weather. k_ cv.4j 1411. LONDON, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1854. The Foreigners Enlistment Bill has passed through Committee without alteration, and tho grand struggle will take place this evening on the third reading. This certainly does not look like factious opposition, or a desire .on the part of the opponents of the measure to avail them selves of the forms of the House to obstruct and delay its progress, although they could not hope to reject it altogether. Never did any bill so obnoxious to the country pass so easily through both Houses. It was regarded as unconstitu tional, impolitic, and dishonourable to the Bri tish name ; and yet, although its opponents felt that, in justice to their own characters, they were precluded from suffering it to pass sub silentio, or - without exposing the numerous and, as they con ceived, insuperable. objections to its further progress, they were satiAflea with a. sin g l e division in the Upper House. It was currently, and we believe truly, reported, that Lord DERBY held sufficient proxies to swamp the bill on the third reading ; but in place of doing so he con tented himself with expressing an energetic pro test against the obnoxious principle, leaving to the chosen Representatives of the people the re sponsibility of deciding whether it should finally receive the legislative sanction. The consequence was that the bill, which was only explained on Friday evening to the Lords, was brought down to the Commons and read a first time on Monday evening. There was certainly nothing " factions' up to that time. Complaints might more reason ably have been preferred against the more than railway speed with which it was hurried through the House before the voice of public opinion could be fully expressed, or the popular indigna tion could penetrate into the secret recesses of Downing-street. Nor has there been hitherto greater justice in the complaint against the Commons. Brought down from the Lords a Jew minutes before the rising of the Commons on Monday evening it was forthwith read the first time. On Tuesday the discussion took place, and a division was had at the same sitting. On Wednesday it was suffered to go into committee, but was necessarily post poned in accordance with the rule as to time that exists on that day ; but last night it passed through committee without a single division taking place—all further opposition being re served for the third reading. That point will be decided one way-or the other this evening ;so that, in point of fact, if the Commons should again decide in its favour, it will have passed through both Houses of Parliament within a single week from the time when its nature and objects were first explained. What renders this extraordinary speed the more remarkable is, that the matter hid not been previously yen ti lated, but took the House and country completely by surprise. It was, in fact, first heard of on this day week —the secret previously having been so strictly kept that not the slightest hint was suffered to leek. out, even th rough the columns of ' the favoured organ or organ s . Let us for a moment consider the effects to be produced, should the measure pass into a law. How are we to obtain trained and experienced soldiers, who are expected to prove so much more efficient than our own raw recruits? and, secondly, how will they be treated, should they chance to become prisoners of war, and fall into the hands of the Russians? Mrs. GLASSE recommends that we should first catch our hare before the mode of dressing it be taken into consideration. It would be well if Ministers had profited by the ...hint, and considered how they were to enlist the new auxiliaries. The only hint as yet given is, that they expect to tempt a considerable propor tion the thirty thousand German a d u lt s w h o annuall y pass through this country en route to America. In this, however, they may possibly be mistaken, In the first place, this is not the season of emig rat i on. We should have to wait until the emergency had passed away, and all the So that eovfentliite reason s that led to th e a t ni lie e3 e s m ul ' e had been r emove - d. c: grants who, generally speaking, are • riled men, with families, cpuld be induced to abandon their wives and children, they would not have thc oppoitu nity of being tempted by the QuEEN' s shilling t o the adoption of so cruel and heartless a course. We must then go abroad to beg at the footst oo l s of petty princes for their sanction or endeavour t o Educe their subjects without their permission first had aid obtained. It is manifest that the permission of the SOTE SEIGN cannot be expected unless he can be Fer- 1 , 4, \ l / 4 7 ' ; t :I 2 ,; . vas v „ • 44.,. THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 22, lB6 4. even the President of " a Great Republic " can coolly place in a State document such reasons for bombarding a town. its sin was that free co loured men outstripped white Americans located on the other side of the river. There is little else to interest the general reader in this lengthy paper. We see it is re commended that the laws in regard to vessels carrying passengers be assimilated in principle to those which make railway companies and officials responsible for accidents occurring under their ma nagement, a hint on which perhaps our Home Secretary may be disposed to act. The peroration intended for a magnificent con clusion might pass very well, but it is impreg nated throughout with veiled laudations of a union to perpetuate the hellish abomination of American slavery, and with covert denunciations of all combinations to defeat the recent odious law which made the formerly free States slave hunters for the South. Such language, worthy to match NESSELRODE'S feats of last year, is con cluded with pious appeals to HEAVEN in favour of so holy a cause, similar to those in which lie of St. Petersburg has dealt so liberally. We do not write thus of all Americans—happily there are noble and very numerous exceptions ; but they will be amongst the first to acknowledge that slaveholders and their shameless coadjutors in the Legislature are the cause of that apparent leaning to Russia rather than to the Allies, which has marked so much of American deeds and lan guage during the last year. To us, in this great contest of Civilisation and Barbarism, America seems to have occupied a position only less in glorious than that of Austria and Prussia. She seems indifferent whether the Allies triumph, and chiefly concerned like Prussia to enrich herself by the War. Luckily, as Mr. PIERCE tells us, she loses something by it as well as we. This will interest her if nothing else does. LATEST NEWS. PARIS, FRIDAY. The following despatch has been received from Admiral Hamelin, addressed to the Minister of Marine : BAY OF KAMIESCH, DEC. 12. Four thousand three hundred men arrived on the 10th, with ammunition. A brisk cannonade has been kept up for the last two days. The enemy has made some vigorous sorties on our own and on the English lines. They Were driven back by our musketry, and in some instances at the point of the bayonet, after a fierce resistance. Advices received from Berlin last night state that, according to a despatch from St. Petersburg dated Wednesday, nothing of importance bad occurred before Sebastopol up to the 13th of December. Some small sorties had been made with success. In one of them the Russians captured in the trenches of the Allies some small mortars, and spiked some others of larger dimensions. The fire of the Allies was feeble, and the Rus sian lose very slight. The following despatch was received in Paris last night :-- TURIN, Dac. 20. The rumour of a treaty of alliance between Sardinia and the Western Powers assumes the form of a certainty. Though the precise terms are not agreed on, we are assured that negotia- tions are opened with this view. The Moniteur of yesterday contains the follow. ing official notice : "Considerable stints have been offered to the Minis ters of War and of the Marine for the wounded of the fleet and army. Entirely appreciating the patriotic sen timent which has dictated these generous offers, these Ministers have not been able to accept them. " It is, at the same time, the duty and the privil ege of the whole country to reward the services of those who shed their blood for it ; such is the opinion of the Em peror, and his Majesty's Government has not shrunk from, and .will not shrink from, any sacrifice fully to satisfy this sacred obligation. " The same Ministers have also received numerous offers of articles intended to improve the condition of the troops. These gifts, which have an entirely dif ferent character from the others, have been accepted with gratitude. Although the magazines of the State are largely supplied, there are things which one cannot have in too great quantities, such as blankets, linen, lint, &c., and gifts of this kind will always be re ceived with satisfaction. The Ministers of War and of the Marine avail themselves of this occasion to address their thanks to the Prefects of the Lower Loire and the Seine, who have taken the lead in this respect." liance between England, France, and Austria, concluded at Vienna on the 2d of December. The Moniteur publishes a decree nominating the members of a commission charged with the exami nation of the Government accounts for tho year 1854. It also publishes a decree making some altera tions, in certain cases, in the import duties on sugar, oil, and grease. The dutyon sugars imported from the French colonies beyond the Cape of Good Hope remains as at present. Ordinary sugars imported from the undermentioned places are to pay as follows :—From China, Cochin-China, the Phillippine Islands, and Siam, in French bottoms, 48f. ; from other parts of India, 50f. ; from other places not in Europe, 53f. ; and from entrepots, 63f. per 100 kilogrammes. From the same places, in foreign bottoms, 68f. Sugars of a finer quality to pay 3f. per 100 kil. in addition to the above duties. Dried raisins to pay 25c. per 100 kil. in French, and 2f. per 100 kil. in foreign bottoms. Molasses intended for being converted into alcohol are to be charged as follows :—Molasses imported in French bottoms, from the French colonies, exempt ; from countries beyond Europe, 3f. ; and from the entrepots, Bf. per 100 kil. ; in foreign bot toms, 13f. per 100 kil. Animal fat of all sorts is to be imported in French bottoms from India at 2f., and from other places at sf. per 100 kil. ; in foreign bottoms, at 81. per 100 kil. Fish fat, the pi oduce of foreign fisheries, if imported in French bottoms, from the countries beyond Cape Horn or the Cape of Good Hope, 101. ; from other countries beyond Europe, 15f. ; and from the entrepots, 20f. per 100 kil. ;if in foreign bottoms, 30f. Pure fixed oil of olives, in French ships, from the producing country, 101. ; from other countries, 13f. ; if in foreign vessels, 151. Palm, cocoa, 'Hippo, and 1 other oils imported in French bottoms, f rom th e French colonies and the French establishments in India, lf. 50c. ; from the coast of Africa and other places not in Europe, sf. ; from the entrepots, Bf. ; and if in foreign bottoms, 10f. per 100 kil. Similar changes are made in oleaginous seeds, but they are too numerous to be particularised. Candles im ported are to pay 10f., and stereatic acid 25f. per 100 kil. The premium hitherto granted in France on the exportation of soap is reduced in proportion to the reduction in the import duties stated above; but this part of the decree will not be applicable for two months from the date of promulgation. suaded to join in alliance with the Western Powers, and to take up cudgels on our behalf against Russia. Looking, however, to the pro tracted negotiations and vexatious procrastination that has already t a ken place in a ll our d ea li ngs with German Potentates, we must feel a thorough conviction that the fate of Sebastopol, and the Allied Armies in the Crimea, must be decided be fore the ratifications of any new treaty can be exchanged. Nothing then remains but to seduce German citizens from their allegiance to their lawful Sove reigns. Now considering the just indignation already expressed against all sympathisers, priva teers-men, and others not absolutely concerned in the quarrel—recollecting, too, the tone adopted in the first instance, and the rose-water manner in which it was proposed to wage the War, the sentimentality that spared Odessa and the foreign trade of Russia, it seems strange that we should now at once plunge into the most obnoxious prin ciple ever promulgated—the employment of mer cenaries, who may be regarded as mere pirates, and not allowed the ordinary honours of war. This brings us to the second point. How will these men be treated by the Russians should they become prisoners, and what will be our course if MENSCHIKOFF should cause the ignominious execution of any of the number ? Will it lead to reprisals on our part ? Or, if not, what will be the course adopted by Lord RAGLAN and his colleagues? These are questions that should be considered, and a:satisfactory decision arrived at before we expose the unfortunate men to dangers far greater than those to which any man enlisted to fight his country's battles can be called on to en counter. These matters should be seriously con sidered before we adopt a principle in haste which it is more than probable that we may bitterly re pent at leisure. We ought, perhaps, to have noticed sooner the Message of the American President, which occu pied nearly six columns in our impression of the 18th. It is hardly to be expected that ordinary readers can spare time to wade through such lengthy documents, which, nevertheless, as dif ferent parts may be all-important to individuals, and as they should be weighty state papers, it is our duty to give entire. In apology for extra ordinary length, it should be remembered that FRANKLIN PIERCE is not a Potentate like our QUEEN, addressing her subjects ; he is but primes inter pares, a President of a Council and even a nation of sovereigns, who expect, therefore, to be made familiar with the why and the wherefore of all his doings. Wearisomely long as the Message is, it contains but little matter of general interest; certainly not more than an ordinary Royal Speech to our Parliament. The twdinm is, consequently, so much sheer loss. Mr. PIERCE, we are happy to say, informs us that, notwithstanding serious injury to their crops in certain districts they have not only an ample supply for their domestic wants, but a large sur plus for exportation ; and that, notwithstanding unusually severe pestilence, trade and commerce have resumed their natural - course. Amongst domestic matters, the fact most striking to English men is that their surplus revenue (about 3,000,0001.) is actually considerably in excess of the redeemable public debt. Their entire debt does not amount to more than 9,000,0001., and this cannot, except with the consent of the credi tors, be liquidated in less than fourteen years. Mr. PIERCE is necessitated, therefore, to take a step in the direction of Free Trade, and to pro pose &reduction of import duties. Of course, it never occurs to hicn that some millions of dollars spent in slave emancipation might, in process of time, convert his lauded country into a Republic of Freemen. The redemption of the debt due to the oppressed coloured Americans he never thinks of. He prefers to be a President of Kidnappers --to seize the bondsmen who would seek freedom in what are nicknamed the Free States, and at the muzzle of revolvers to lead them back to the whip, the rack, and the bloodhound, that under those native institutions they may bleed out their days in slavery for the sin of try ing to be free. We very much fear that the accursed love of slavery is also at the bottom of American sym pathies with Russia. The great majority of the American whites cherish a swaggering feeling of their right to flog niggers at their will. In re gard to coloured Americans they consider them selves as thorough autocrats as the CZAR does in regard to his serfs, and more so. The nation of autocrats, therefore, sympathises, unconsciously we believe, with Russian autocracy. It boasts of freedom, but it means a freedom to work niggers to death or to lick them as they please. Hence this very Message records how easily they and the CZAR come to terms, while with England and Prussia it is not found so easy. His Majesty of Naples, too, he who keeps the noble POERIO in fetters and chains heavier than a murderer's, hits it off, we are informed, most exactly with the pro slavery President. Mr. PIERCE comments largely on his zeal for securing the acknowledgment of the principle that " free ships make free goods," and is gratified that our country and France as sented to it as a " concession" for the commence ment of the War. He found, however, that Prussia demanded to include the repudiation of privateering also, and of course that Great Britain would wish the same. This he thinks specially objectionable for the United States to concede. It would place them, in case of war, at a serious disadvantage with the great naval Powers, as the latter would have ready for use the means of annihilating American commerce. True ; but then, it comes to this, that America will not join to give up a practice infinitely more barbarous and revolting than taking enemies' pro perty out of free ships just because she thinks it against her interest. America observes the single rule of undisguised selfishness in her proposals. Why should she expect, then, that we should vo lunteer international generosity without any re turn ? Mr. PIERCE opens his Message with commen dations of American policy as being essentially pacific. Surely, he must have forgotten the not very peaceful annexations of Texas and half Mexico ; the former the most inexcusable piece of brigandage in behalf of slavery ever heard of, and denounced so eloquently and indignantly by her own CHANNING ; the latter a transaction much upon a par with Russian annexations of Poland. Singularly enough, too, he defends, out and-out, the barbarous and bullying destruction of Greytown, so honourably condemned for its wanton and unmanly injustice by the American press, and so strongly protested against by her MAJESTY'S representative on the spot. We sup pose that when the New York papers and the commander of an English war schooner coincide in their verdict, England and the world will be slow to accept the judgment of the man who ar ranged the business. It was a piece of brutal cowardice, and nothing else. Sheer envy of the commercial success of the settlers. But, even _hmueor:rwethhpearrertloven-foot of the slaveholder peeps out. The commun ity , ibolfe black s must h e ab si d y t s ph. , cer w stai a oi s ins ‘ to ' ofcomposed mixed isxleadv ebrl blood o f dowrlht when THE GERMAN MERCENARIES. It is rumoured in military circles that the new Foreign Legion is to be trained after a peculiar German fashion, and . styled, by way of distinction--" THE HALBERT BUCCANEERS ! " THE FOREIGN ENLISTMENT BILL. The following amendments are to be moved on the third reading of the Enlistment of Foreigners Bill this evening : Sir Edward Dering—To move, as an amendment, that it be read the third time upon this day six months. Mr. Solicitor-General—To substitute the following clause for Clause H.:— 11. Provided always, that the men serving under this act shall not be employed in the United Kingdom except for the purpose of being trained, arrayed, and formed into regiments, battalions, or corps for foreign service, and except such bodies of reserve as may be kept in the United Kingdom, and which shall be kept and used solely for the purpose of training and arraying recruits, and for supplying vacancies in such regi ments, battalions, or corps ; and the men serving under this act shall not be billetted or quartered on any person or per sons ; and that there shall not be within the United Kingdom more in the whole than ten thousand men serving under this act at any one time. Mr. John George Phalli:lore—To add the following proviso to Clause 4 : Provided always, and be it enacted, that at least one-third of the officers of the said ten thousand men shall be British subjects, and that none of the said ten thousand men shall remain in this kingdom above one year from the time when they shall be enlisted under the provisions of this act. Mr. Packe—Amendment to the sth Clause : This act shall continue in force until the end of the next session of Parliament, or until one year after the ratification of a definitive treaty of peace, if such treaty shall have been sooner concluded : provided that the expiration of this act shall in uo way affect the service of each foreigner who shall have enlisted before this act shall expire. Mr. Locke King— (Officers, when reduced, not entitled to half-pay, but her Majesty may make provision for such as are wounded in the service, Ste.) VI. No officer serving under this act, when reduced, shall be entitled to receive half-pay; provided, neverthelees, that when any such officer shall be rendered incapable of military service by wounds or infirmities contracted while discharging his military duty during the period of his continuing to serve as such officer under the provisions of this act, then and in such case it shall be lawful for her Majesty to make such pro vision for such officer as she shall think proper and necessary, so that such provision shall in no case exceed the half-pay of the rank in the British service similar to that which such ofil, cer shall have 'held at the time of his becoming so incapable as Mermaid. MAILS FOR AUSTRALIA. GENERAL POST-OFFICE, Dec., 1854.—The Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company having repre sented that, owing in part to several of their vessels having been required by her Majesty's Government for the exigencies of the war, they are unable to provide a steamer for the conveyance from Singapore to Australia of the mails which should be despatched from London on the 4th and 9th of next month, the Postmaster• General has made a contract with the owners of the sailing ves sel Lightning, for the conveyance of the mails of January next, round the Cape of Good Hope. The Lightning, is appointed to sail from Liverpool on the sth January next, and all letters and newspapers for New South \Vales, Victoria, South Australia, and Van Diemen's Land, posted in London up to the even ing of the 4th January, or posted or received in Liver pool up to the morning of the sth January, and not ad• dressed to be sent by any other vessel will be forwarded by the Lightning. The packet rates of postage will be chargeable upon letters, but newspapers will not be liable to any postage. These postmasters whose instructions direct them to forward letters to Liverpool by cross post, will send in the same manner, on the present occasion, letters posted at their offices addressed to Australia. COURT CIRCULAR. WINDSOR, DEC. 21. The royal dinner party, yesterday, included her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, the Marquis of Lans downe, the Earl of Aberdeen, the Lady in Waiting to the Duchess of Kent, Baroness de Speth, Major-General and Mrs. Bentinck, and Colonel and Mrs. Craufurd. Her Majesty was unable to leave the Castle, this morning, owing to the unfavourable weather. The Earl of Aberdeen has returned to London. TAP ROYAL BOUNTY.—Hor Majesty's royal bounties to aged poor were distributed in the past week, and on Monday and Tuesday last, at the Almonry-office, "Whitehall, under the direction of the Lord Bishop of Oxford, Lord High Almoner, and the Rev. Dr. Jelf, Sub-Almoner, by Joseph Hanby, Esq., Secretary and Yeoman of the Almonry in Ordinary. CABINET COUNCIL.—A Cabinet Council was held yes terday afternoon at the Foreign-office. The Ministers present were, the Earl of Aberdeen, Lord John Russell, the Lord Chancellor, the Marquis of Lansdowne, the Duke of Argyll, Visc oun t P a l merston, the Earl o/Cla rendon, Sir George Grey, the Duke of Newcastle, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sir James Graham, Sir Charles Wood, Earl Granville, the Right Hon. Sidney Herbert, and Sir William Moleeworth. The Council sat one hour and a half. The Commissioners for the Reduction of tie National Debt held a meeting yesterday, at the official residence of the Chancellor of the Exchequer in Downing -street. Present—the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the _Governor of the Bank of England, and the Deputy-Governor. Sir Alexander Spearman, Secretary and Comptroller- General to the Commissioners, attended. A deputation of gentlemen interested in the drainage of the Thames marshes, consisting of Sir Culling Eard ley, Bart., Mr. M`Gregor, M.P., Mr. Renshaw, Mr. Bower, and the Rev. William Acworth, Vicar of Plum stead, transacted business at the Home-office, yesterday. A deputation from the borough of Stockport, consist ing of Messrs. James Kershaw and J. B. Smith, mem bers for the borough, the Mayor of Stockport, Mr. Al derman Orme, Mr. Alderman Williamson, Mr. Councillor Hampson, and the Town Clerk of Stockport, transacted business, yesterday, at the Home-office, on the subject of the removal of the head-quarters of the 2d Regiment of the Cheshire Militia from Stockport to Chester. His Serene Highness Prince Victor of Hohenlohe left London, on Wednesday night, for Germany. kinnon, M.P., in Hyde-park-place. The Marquis and Marchioness of Westminster, and the Ladies Grosvenor, passed through London, on Wednesday, en route from Eaton Hall, near Chester, to Motcombe House, Dorret. The Marquis of Lansdowne arrived in town, yester day, from Windsor Castle, to attend the Cabinet Council. The Earl of Aberdeen returned to London, yesterday, from a visit to the Queen. The Earl and Countess of Shaftesbury leave town, to-day, for St. Giles's, their seat in Dorsotshire, where they intend to pass the recess. The Countess Frances Waidegrave and Mr. Harcourt, M.P., have left Carleton-gardens for Nuneham-park, where a distinguished circle are about to assemble for the holidays. Viscount and Viscountess Mahon and family have arrived in town from Italy. The noble viscount and her ladyship leave town, to-day, for Chevening, the seat of Earl Stanhope, near Sevenoaks. Azimullah Khan has left Edwards' private hotel, in George-st ree t, f or B r i g h ton. LONDON SACRED HARM ONI C SOCIETY.—The grand oratorio, Messiah, was performed in Exeter Hall last evening, in a most admirable manner. The solo singers were tl..e Misses Wells, Mrs. Endersuhn, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Lawler, and Mr. Augustus Braham. THE NEW ROYAL STEAM YACHT.—By command of her Majesty, the new Royal steam yacht now nearly ready for launching at Pembroke is to be named the Victoria and Albert, and the present Victoria and Albert is to have her name changed to The Osborne. THE PRINCIPALITIES. BUCHARBST, DEC. 7.—Mussar Pacha starts on Monday or Tuesday. Thirty or forty thousand Turks, and a hundred guns, are to be embarked at Varna or Baltchik, under his superintendence. Next week Omer Pacha, too , will start for the Crimea. The 4troops will most probably be disembarked at Eupatoria. The prospect of entering on a campaign at this season is not very . pleasant ; but, taking it for all in all, it is plea santer for me than this stupid life at Bucharest. I have no doubt Omer Pacha's array will redeem the character of the Turks. Under his eye they are ready for anything ; which shows what they would be were they generally well officered. The Prussian Correspondence, which receives its information from authentic sources, says that Ge neral Coronini has opposed the demands of Omer Pacha relative to the ejection of Solomon, Floresco, and other individuals in the principalities, who have served and are notoriously implicated in serving Russia. RUSSIA. THE AFFAIR OF PETROPAULOVSKI. The following is the Russian official account of the attack by the combined squadron on Petropau. lovski : "The first intelligence of a rupture between Russia and England and France reached Rear-Admiral Zavioko, military governor of Kamschatka, about the middle of July. Measures of defence were therefore taken forth with, in case of an attack by the enemy's cruisers in the Pacific. The Aurora frigate, and P wina armed transport, which were in the harbour, were moored in an advantageous position in the bay. Seven entrenchments were also thrown up, and the civic functionaries and some inhabitants were armed to sup port the sailors and a small detachment of soldieri. On the 29th August the Engli s h s t eamer Vi rago, w i t h an Admiral's flag, appeared in the bay of Avatscha to re connoitre, and on the 30th she was joined by the Presi dent and four other ships. On the 31st the enemy put out boats to sound, and threw shells. On the lst of September he took serious measures for attack, neared the coast, and opened a vigorous fire, especially against batteries Nos. 1 and 4, which replied to the fire of 80 guns with eight only. Lieutenant Gavriloff having been wounded, Sub-Lieutenant Gonbareff took command of battery No. 1. The greater part of the men having been quickly put hors de combat, and the guns dismounted, the garrison retired to battery No. 2. Thereupon the enemy landed 600 men opposite the latter, in which Lieutenant Popoff had only 3 guns and 29 men. Pop off spiked his guns, and retired upon battery No, 2. (This is not very clear.) detachment of ,our sailors here assembled, ob serving a sudden stoppage in the movements of the enemy, took advantage thereof, and rushed upon the enemy, and routed him. The French fled to their boats and withdrew from the coast in great disorder. During this time the enemy s steamer twice laid itself opposite the Aurora, to bombard it, but was each time obliged to retire by the well-directed fire of our frigate. There upon the enemy's whole fire was concentrated on battery No. 2, commanded by Lieutenant Prince Maksutoff. 4( Ei g ht Russian guns, directed with the same coolness resisted th e fi re o f 80 but one was sunk eleven hours. Som e abc a na s o nda a tn t tsoh o tneh r d ooe f i tn n ht a a ehp r re y spe rfl p noe r ead a mc c . hyt Nightie practice e o rb b am y t taoe h lrr i oes m n tei h paoun. t 3 an end to the combat. The damage suffered by the ene m y must b e consider able, for they required three days to repair it. During this time we also repaired our batteries. On the sth the combat was renewed. The steamer towed the enemy's frigates nearer shore opposite the battery com manded by Lieut. Prince Maksutoff, and No. 7, com manded by Capt. Coraloff, both of the navy. Both commanders were soon wounded, the guns dismounted, and the carriages buried in the earth. The enemy then landed again with 650 men, who advanced against bat tery No. 6, en the Nicholasky.hill, north of the town. Twice the enemy advanced, but was driven back with grape, Several detachments of sailors under Lieut. A nkudinoff and other officers of the navy, amounting in all to 347 men, attacked the enemy sword in hand, and, notwithstanding their bravery, routed and put them to flight, so that they threw away their arms and one colour. " A part of the enemy were driven into a ravine, and the rest succeeded in getting to their boats under the fire of our musketry. On the 6th and 7th the enemy buried I their killed in Tarrinskai Bay, and repaired damage, and •n the Bth put te sea. Besides the killed and wounded on board the enemy's ships, he lest 300. We found among the dead four officers, and made four pri soners. W e h ave 37 killed, and three officers and 75 men wounded ; in all 115 hors de combat. Among the officers, Prince Maksutoff is mortally wounded. The damage done to our ships is trifling. In the town the fish magazine is burned, and 13 houses and buildings in jured with shot.". No mention is of course made of the capture of the Sikta, and a small steamer which fell into the hands of the squadron. THE BALTIC FLEET. The Arrogant, 47, screw frigat e , arr i ved at Spit head, from the Baltic, on Wednesd ay n i ght, and anchor e d at 9.50. Sh e l e f t El s i nore on Wednesday, the 14th i ns t., in company with th e P enelope, Dragon, D espera t e, an d ot h ers of the late Baltic blockading s qu ad r o n , an c h ore d next day under th© S ealy ' , and remained 48 hours ; sailed again on Saturday mornin g . She has m a d e th e passage almost entirely under steam, in very inclement and boisterous weather. This serviceable frigate stands in need of exten sive repairs in her hull, and a thorough Lefit aloft ; her h ea d k nee is started ; her false keel/and fore foot considerably damaged, from getting on shore during her memorable trip to Eckness. The Magicienne remains for the present in the Baltic to escort a convoy from Elsinore to Memel. The Basilisk is reported to be oruising off Born holm. FRANCE. PARIS, THURSDAY MORNING. The Moniteur promulgates in its official columns the decree for the ratification of the treaty of al. CONJECTURES ABOUT THE FALL OF SEBASTOPOL. Some English officers from the Crimea, who are invalided, have passed through Paris. They expres sed an opinion that the English troops would eat their Christmas puddings in Sebastopol, and there are letters from French officers in the camp in which it is stated that the fall of Sebastopol before New year's-day is certain. It is said in the political salons that the Emperor Napoleon has expressed the same opinion. Such, however, is not the general impression here, nor do some of the su perior officers of the army in Paris, who receive letters from the Crimea, believe that it is possible, after so many disasters from the season of the year, and the long and heavy rains which have retarded the operations of the Allies, for the Allies to become sufficiently formidable for the speedy reduction of this great stronghold of the Russians. On the other hand, there can be no doubt that the army of Prince Menschikoff is in a very bad condition. Even the Soldiers' Friend, of Vienna, which has systematically related everything favourable to Russia and unfavourable to the Allies, has changed its tactics, and now tells us that Prince Menschi koff has informed his Government that he is un equal to resist any very serious offensive operation by the Anglo-French army. ITALY. ROME, Dec. 14.—The news of the signature of a treaty between Austria and the Western Powers has produced the most favourable impression at Rome. One sees in it the strongest guarantee which, in the critical circumstances wherein Europe is now placed, the wisdom of the sove reigns can offer for the foreign and domestic secu rity of the different States. PRUSSIA. BERLIN, Dec. 19.—There is no truth whatever in the reports of this Government having acceded to the December treaty. The intention of the British Government to raise a foreign legion has produced a great sensation among the public, and has set all the Russian sym pathisers to work in order the counteract the pro ject by every means in their power. Their fears are not so much awakened by the amount of men to be enrolled as by apprehensions of the effects of the moral link and example. It is on this side also perhaps that the project will be most beneficial. Meantime not a doubt can exist that the authori , ties of this country, and, indeed, of the greater part of the German Governments, will strain every nerve to hinder their subjects of all classes from enrolment. It is even said that orders have already been issued to this effect, and that in case indivi duals known or supposed to be employed on the recruiting service should take up their residence in any given place, they are to be ejected (ategetviesen), unless entitled by law to domicile in such places. A report is current that this Government has addressed notes to Paris and London, appealing, among other things, to the love of peace of the Western Powers, and pointing out that the Rus sian declarations of the 28th ult. ought to set aside all distrust as to the sincerity of Russia, and as to her having any mental reserves in regard to the four points. HOLLAND. THE DUTCH BUDGET. THE HAGUE, Thursday.—The Second Chamber of the States General has adopted the provisional credits claimed by the Goverment for the Marine Department, and rendered necessary by the refusal by the Assembly of the ordinary Budget. The Budget of Ways and Means was adopted by a majority of 47 to 13, and the house adjourned to February 13. The First Chamber has adopted, by a majority. of 89 against 13, the proposition of the Count It zenplitz, for abrogating all the articles of the con stitution which guarantee the free testamentary disposition of their property, as well as those which abolish the signorial rights, and other claims of the like nature. The accounts from Darmstadt of the health of King Louis of Bavaria are somewhat more satisfac tory. The Hetmann of the Don Cossacks, General Cho mutoff, has issued an order to the Cossacks of the Don, in which, after setting forth the religious cha racter and objects of the war, he says, " Let all of you, friends, saddle your horses, sharpen your sa bres, fasten firmly your dreaded pike on its shaft, and, in the name of God and the Czar, come on !" CITY COMMISSION OF SEWERS. On Tuesday a court, which waw very numerously at tended, was held for the despatch of public business ; Mr. Deputy Peacock occupied the chair. VOTE OF THANKS TO THE CHAIRMAN. Deputy LonKIN, the senior member of the court, moved, "That the cordial thanks of this commission are due and are hereby presented to Walter Anderson Pea oock, Esq., deputy, for his zealous and persevering at tention to the business of this commission, for his ur banity to every member, a►nd for the valuable services he has rendered for a period of ten years to the inhabi tants of this city and the public at large, whilst presiding over this court, and aiding in carrying out the many and varied works of public utility confided to this commis sion." (Hear, hear.) Deputy DA IN said he had very great pleasure in se conding the motion, which was carried unanimously, amidst applause. The CHAlRMAN—Gentlemen, I am not much of a talker at any time, and to talk about myself is rather beyond my power. It is impossible for any man to feel more gratified than I am by this kind and unanimous vote. All the wealth in the world I would not appre ciate so much. (Hear, hear.) Whether I hold ray present position for a► long or short period, or whether my con duct will continue to merit your approbation, I cannot tell ; but so long as I preside over this court I will do the best I possibly can (and I only wish I had more talent to call to my aid) to fulfil the obligations and duties of my office. (Cheers.) VENTILATION OF THE SEWERS. Mr. ABRAHAM said that several plans for ventilating the sewers had been forwarded to him, one of which h e thought was worthy of th e a tt en tion of the commission. His object in mentioning the matter was, that this very simple and ingenious plan might be referred to the en gineer and medical officer. It had two pipes, one run ning from the sewer, the other from the gas main, up a common shaft, at the top of which were two stop cocks, which might be turned on and off, and by which the noxious gases might be consumed by gas. Deputy DARIN-With reference to that plan, is there any calculation of the r elative proportio n s o f sulpluretted hydrogen to the common gas, to show how much is necessary of each for the purpose of perfect combustion ? The general principle wo all recognise, but the great thing is the practical consideration how the two gases could be admitted together so as to insure the perfect destruction of both. (Hear.) Mr. ABRAHAM said that to ascertain what quantity of gas would be generated in a given length of sewer was certainly a very nice question to be determinated, and that, as other plans for the ventilation of the sewers had been referred to the engineer and medical officer, he trusted that the same course would be followed upon the present occasion. Mr. H. L. TAILOR and Deputy HOLT both expressed I themselves in favour of the matter being referred to the above-mentioned officers.—Referred accordingly-. The court then adjourned. THE FOREIGN LEGION. It could hardly have been imagined last spring that by Christmas-day we should have a Foreign Legion. This is the toy which has dropped from our Christmas tree, and, if we cannot be unfeignedly thankful, we must be content with our portion. Government has pro claimed it a necessity, and we have no help for it but to submit to it, as the least of two evils. They must have been well aware how unpalatable the proposition would be, and how requisite it was that the bitter draught should be gulped down at once, for never was so grave a measure so abruptly announced, so peremptorily en forced. Without one word of preparation to anybody, withoat a hint in the Queen's Speech, the Minister of War gets up and informs the House of Lards that he must have a Foreign Legion, and, as the means thereto, the power of keeping a depot of foreign troops in this country. The measure is pushed fast enough through the House of Lords, and without loss of time brought into the Commons, where this evening—exactly ten days after the opening of the session—the bill is to pass into law. Not a minute is lost. Nec neoro, nec requics. No time is allowed for the indigeation of the provinces, for the remonstrances of half-pay officers ready for employ ment, and economists dreading the flow of British money to f 3reign troops, foreign courts, and foreign pensioners till A.D. 1900. Children are accustomed to he sur prised. It is one of the iniquitous modes of action pur sued towards them by their superiors, and they know they mus,: - , bear it, as they bear all kinds of follies and barbarities. Men do not like to be surprised, and, having the power to resist, act accordingly. An Indian officer, much to the amusement of his host and fellow-gusts, was almost frightened into fits by a tame leopard springing on his shoulders as he sat at the dinner-table. He had to redeem his credit for courage by challenging and shooting his host. So, we think it a very great mistake to surprise England into a Foreign Legion —a foreign army-10,000 at home, 30,000 abroad, gathered from all parts of the world. It is announced one night, and the next the people are told that Government will resign, and throw everything into confusion, if it is not allowed its 40,000 foreign soldiers. We shall now, probably, be told that the surprise has succeeded. Unhappily, there are surpries that answer at first, but somehow lead to nothing, There is the famous flank march to Balaklava. People have not yet done puffing it, and now that the famous " flank march" is exactly three months old what has come of it ? Only the necessity for another famous " flank march," not on Sebastopol, but on the British people, in the sudden and peremptory demand for a foreign army. We are accused of inconsistency. If it is inconsistent to say that we bate the thing intensely, that we distrust it, that we expect it to bring discredit on,our army both abroad and at home, yet feel that we must acquiesce as a matter of confidence in the powers that be, then we confess we cannot satisfy those who a b use th e Govern ment, whatever it does, and for the present measure only as much as for all its measures. It is not pleasant to find ourselves thus early as deep in a European war as we were in 1804. Think of all the old names— Hanoverians, Hessians, Brunswickers, Danes, and twenty other denominations—reviewed in Hyde Park ! What a host of German princes and barons will turn up ! All this is on the most favourable hypothesis. It supposes that we have caught our hare and have only to cook it. But it is possible we may not catch our hare ; and if we go out recruiting over the continent, and do not succeed in bagging more than a few wretched criminals and vagabonds, the good cause we are fighting for will be considerably damaged by the failure of this appeal. What next ? If we are compelled at last to trust to ourselves, there will then arise the question bow to get up our own army and make it more efficacious. Of all the social questions that " loom before us" in the mist of futurity, that is not the least diffi cult. We dropped a few words the other day about increasing the inducements to enlist by open ing promotion to the ranks, and so far surrendering the aristocratic character of the British officer. Fur this, of course, we have, as we expected, the hearty approba tion of physicians with half-a-dozen fine tall sons, small placemen without promotion, and everybody whose soul is above his condition, and whose family is too large for his purse. But then what becomes of the messroom, the little community of military peers, respecting one another, and all but worshipped by their soldiers ? Olympus could not be more alarmed and indignant at the imprudence of the Titians than the messrom would be at the prospect of an invasion of corporals and ser geants. Think of a sergeant—a man who keeps accounts in a neat schoolmaster's hand, and who thinks it a great grievance that his wife is not allowed to keep a mangle and take in washing, seated at table by the side of his Colonel, Lord Chargeagain ! Except that the British ofllcer would not know where to go, the service would soon be intolerable. But so many other places and occupations are intolerable also, perhaps, as a choice of evils, our lords and honourables would consent to shake hands and receive the word of command from respectable men who had once stood in the ranks, and whose wives had actually taken in washing. But, before we part with the peculiar characteristics of the British army, there are various resources as yet untried for increasing the number and efficiency of the forces at our command. There is the militia, which is already doing its work and promises to give us still further aid. Much has also been done, and mere may still be done, by improving the condition of the soldier and by increasing the bounty. Much remains to be done in this respect. To improve the condition of the common soldier in barracks is of comparatively small importance. The great object is to improve his condition in the field, and, to our cost, this has not been done in the present campaign. A day of examination will come sooner or later, and somebody or other will be called to account for the terrible maladministration which has frustrated so much trouble and cost, and thrown away so many lives in the Crimea. With comfort in the camp and on the march, and victory in the field or the assault, we shall never want recruits. Even if the pos session of Sebastopol should cost us fire thousand men, in addition to the ten thousand British, French, and Turks that have fallen or sickened before its walls, their places would soon be supplied. War, indeed, often begins with these fearful sacrifices, and, as the first authors of a revolution are said to perish and make way for another race of men with less principle and more tact, so it is possible, the first army destroyed and its first generals passed away, another nay reap its triumphs. If there is any truth in the boasted common sense of our race—if there is any virtue in a responsible Government and a representative constitution, we shall at least learn something by this glorious but disastrous year. We shall so improve the organisation of our army as not to waste the valuable lives we soon confess we want. Government in the present instance has taken the country by surprise ;—it has prepared an am buscade, as we may call it ; it will soon have to prepare for a more deliberate and solemn encounter. The whole administration of the army will be scrutinised by a Par liament and a nation excited, and possibly by disgrace ful failure. Out of that examination good must cer tainly come, but it would be far better for the country if we could obtain the good without the lamentable cost at which we learn of such blunders and shortcom ings as had to be confessed last night. —Tames. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. SIR, —May I request, as an act of justice to my friend Sir Wm. Napier, space for a few remarks upon Lord John Russell's speech, when moving the vote of thanks to our gallant army and that of our Allies. The fol lowing extracts are from " Napier's Peninsular War," Ist, page 400, vol. 2d : "From nine o'clock in the morning until mid-day the field of battle offered no appearance of hostility ; the weather was intensely hot, and the troops on both sides descended and mingled, without fear or suspicion, to quench their thirst at the little brook which divided the positions ; but at one o'clock in the afternoon the French soldiers were seen to gather round their eagles, and the rolling of drums was heard along the whole lino." Vol. sth, page 142 :—" Many men of both sides perished in that labyrinth (the wine caves of Itueda), an'd on both sides, also, the soldiers, passing the Duero in groups, held amicable intercourse, conversing of the battles that were yet to be fought. The camps on the banks of the Duero seemed at times to belong to one army, so difficult is it to make brave men hate each other." Again, vol. 6th, page 142 :—" On the 9th of Decem ber the 43d was assem b led in column on an open space within twenty yards of the enemy's out-sentry, yet the latter continued to walk his beat for an hour without con cern, relying so confidently on the customary system that he placed his knapsack on the ground to ease his shoulders. When at last the order to advance was given, one of the British soldiers, stepping out, told him to go away, and helped him to replace his pack ; the firing then commenced. The next morning the French, in like man ner, warned a 43d sentry to retire." Now, sir, Lord John quoted, with scarcely a variation, much of the foregoing, adding (" as said the Duke of Richmond"), either himself saying, or your reporter omitting, what should have followed, namely, Napier." "quoting The Duke of Richmond is I am sure, the last person to accept a leaf from a Napier ' wreath—a friend-connexion and brother in arms. I have thought deeds so honourable to the private soldier of the French and English army cannot, at thi s moment, be too often repeated, for if such feelings governed them when in arms against each other, it goes far to prove how worthy they are to be combatin g s id e by side, shoulder to shoulder, in the same just cause.— Your obedient servant, C. CLAXTON. a . s T i ohne. house, Mt the y e o representatives e e p n r t e e s r e t n a t t i a n t e i d v , e last s o f so en , and i also those of Bil- Te us M ic evening, d ( Port so . ) sardw,artogether with a select circle of private hi n s g i s o g r a d t s e h friends. BURFORD'S PANORAMA.--Mr. B ur f or d h as made the a dditi o n to his exhibition in Leic es t er square of a very a ttractive panorama of the battle of the Alma. For the r epresentation of a great battle, in which a wide extent of landscape is necessarily included, no style of painting i s so effective as the panoramic, where the spectator is supposed to stand in the midst of the scene of action, and to survey the prospect on all sides as far as the eye can reach. The present panorama is painted, we are assured by Mr. Burford, from accurate drawings. SHIPWRECKS BY LlGHTNlNG.—Yesterday a Parlia mentary paper was issued on the subject of Shipwrecks by Lightning. There are two engravings in the docu ment, pointing out the operation of the electric fluid. It seems that as many as 280 ships of the Royal Navy have been damaged by lightning, and the Lords of the Admiralty have directed their attention to the important sebject, and the report now presented to Parliament is the result, THE _RESULTS OP ITE BARVEST• (Front the Constitutionnel.) The wants of the different States may be estimate all 10,450,000 hectolitres. These figures are thus divided., :- —England, 5,800,000; B e lgium, 750,000; 0 Hollandooo. 1,200,000 ; Switzerland, 1,000,000 ; Tuscany, 7 00, and the Sardinian States, 1,000,000 ; in all, 10,450,00 Thus, according to our calculation, the deficit in Europ! this year must be 10 millions of hectolitres, whereas last year it was 40 millions. France and England alone juv ported nearly 29 millions. Th e s hare of Italy, Sw itzer. land, Belgium, and Holland, must have been 11 millionos which certainly is net an exaggerated amount. In that paring the two years of 1853 and 1854, it is clear t the situation of Europe is better this year even withoutb her having at her disposal the granaries of the Blin, Sea. The United States a l one would be sufficiently rims to suffice for every want, if there did not remain the Baltic, Spain, Egypt, and the Danubian provinces, offering nearly as great an amount of resources. These coi derations f u ll y j us tif y t h e d ecree o f N ov . 30. The hi gh prices in the markets around us imposed it as a the Governm en t t o suspen d t h e ex iior t a tion of corn, 4 " without that measure our wheat irvould have - bee s son abroad, and we should have been left without resources to satisfy the demands of consumption. Thanks to . protecting me asures o f t h e G overnmen t, France, i t : cruelly tried last year, will not this year have et struggle against the horrors of scarc't Tba bane y. of corn leaves over and a b ove th e wants a considerable reserve. If it be admitted with us that this resale makes up for the deficit left by maize, buckwheat, and tatoes, it may be said that prices have reached their bigl iel loint. Already even they are beginning to decreuset for since November an average decline of lfr. SOc. tbe hec i tolitre may be perceived. It is towards the north t h e i, centre that the fall has been the most marked. in tb tpfil. east, where Switzerland had made some pnrc bus— ' the decline does not exceed 50c. According to : official statistics, the hectolitre of wheat costs o n an average 15fr. 85c. in production. Bvit on caj o side of that price, there is, on the one hand, on Var, where the hectolitre costs 23fr. 50c., u n lfr, the other, the Moselle, where it costs only sl at b But in comparing the average of the cost wit h t • ; eft' of the sale, which is at present 26fr. 93c., it ' 8 ,h e dent that the prices are sufficient to remunera te agriculturist. In the midst of the critical circU.S. stances in which the country is placed, duty 80 I I ; terest alike counsel the producer not to agg dis• exorbitant pretensions, which are certain to be b ., appointed, a situation rendered already so difficult the dearness of food. Let the farmers, therefore, place of waiting for higher prices, sell their product° the present rate of quotations, for in doing so they W• ti 8 a find it doubly their .. Ft raVate J other citizens they have need of tranquillity to pros Pei THE LATE M LEON FAUCHER. • tk The French papers have re c ently announced the dea cf M. Leon Faucher, which took place a few dal° a g at Marseilles, where he was attacked by typhus fever, on hii way to Hyeres in search of a milder climate for t" relief of his already broken health. As a member of Chamber of Deputies and a Minister of the Republic; a Fellow of the Institute of Frunce for the division e' Moral and Political Science, and as the author of se/ e ; ral works, besides having been one of the 02°5 4 active and able contributors to the political press " France when it flourished in the fullest enjoyment ante' dom and of power, the name of Leon Faucher deserft not to pass unnoticed here. Sprung from obscure parr, age in the south of France, and acquainted from childh 01`` with every form of adversity, Leon Faucher gav e ear F r )of of his indomitable energy and application, for eve in the benches of the school to which he was sent .a' Toulouse, such was his confidence in his powers, that 1 boasted he should one day be a Minister of Sta te ; 2130 in the extraordina r y vicissitudes of human affa irs j 1 lived to realise that boast, and to govern his coup% at a period of extreme agitation and danger. obtained in early life a rem ar k a bl e proficiency cialis t b l e cal studies ; and his care er i n P ar i s commenced la humble capacity of tutor to the sons of M. Day , t h .: Postmaster of the capital. Early in the reign °f I ' l°l o Philippe he became connected with the leading or g al _ of the Liberal press ; first is a contributor to t,i; Temps, and afterwards as principal editor of the Ca nt u,, cancais ; but always a steady supporter of the adhered of his party, the Gauche, to w hi c h he inflexibly adhere through life. His style was clear, pungent ) and argu mentative. ANOTHER NEW MUSKET. The Prussian manufactory of small arms has, ieb pears, invented and turned out a new musket, Nb of is declared to excel the " Ziindnadel" in distan°°_... range, force, and precision of fire. Experiments "Ti t made on Friday at the Potsdam shooting-butts iv, these weapons, in the presence of the King, an u ,„a veral of the princes, generals, and military tech.°,7oo personages. The trials are understood to have °: id, every way satisfactory, and orders have, it is s" es been issued for the manufacture of muskets and !ill", upon the ,new principle, of which the constructio n for the present a secret. It was stated yesterd% that the Emperor of R uss i a h a d g i ven or d e rs l e his military envoy to apply for one of th en muskets as a mo d e l, an d i t i s not i mpo ssibrn seeing the inti ma t e - re l at i ons ex i st i ng between the too Governments, that his Imperial Majesty's request ' oll ho accorded. Russian generals are perfectly s atisfie d ' and on most ju s t groun d s, w i t h their artillery, both a; regards constru c ti on , serv i ce, and practice ; but tubpef . make most doleful compl a i n t s o f th e i neff i cacy of t'-- small arms, wh en compare d w i t h those of the Allies, ° whom not a man ought to be without a Minie or Dela vigne musket or rifle. The Moscow regiment of O r , t : nadier Carbineers, which it is u n d ers t oo d has joined tu t ; Russian Crimean army, an d b een pus h e d on t o the ° II ., posts, has b een f or th e most part furnishe d w ith 0 8 ; model muskets and rifles, either made at Liege, Pei c. Liege mod e l s . O ur s ki rm i s h ers will do wel l to ' this. Of HAYMARKET THEATRE.—Th e l as t t wo p er f o rmanes 9 ;gh the accompli s h e d P era Nena and her troupe of SPa n '' dancers, takes pl ace thi s even i ng and to - morro w. The f„, is no doubt b u t th a t i n reality these are the last P et,. 0 formances, for we u n d ers t an d that they l e ave Lend% for Madrid on M on d ay morning, On these occasio ns Pera Nena w ill, owing to the enthusiasm creat ed n her first performance, dance the cachuca—we say tit cachuca, for, till we saw Pera Nena, we never sal/ danced at all. We recommend those who wish to 136 real Spanish d anc i ng to ava i l themselves of an opPn/.• tunity that may not occur again for a long time... a Ti oratorio,t SACRED ~ThHar Messiah "will be e oS,ocwiEiTv.— H p a rfmd again n e d r ers e ma ce this evening. Mi ss Dolby, Madlle. C. Novello, Mr. Sr,,i g Reeves, and H err F ormes sustain the solo parts. splendid compos i t i on, rendered by such talented artiete!' will be a rare treat for those fortunate enough to g alil admission to the hall. MADAME TOSSAUD'S EXHIBITION.—The hero of Alfa s !, Lord Raglan, Omer Podia, and other militaryloha ni rt e ters, have been lately added to this exhibition. The Commander-in-Chief of our Army in the East is 11 1 ) q t rented in the unif orm o f a Field-Marshal, decorated /11 " a numerous military orders. The likeness is good, 511 reflects great credit on the artists employed. THERE WAS RECENTLY at the horse market, B?, ii ,rt yard de l'Hospital, an inst ance o f a h orse which h a d an ear having been supplied with one in caoutchou e * - Galignani. THE WIDOW OF COLLARD.—Mr. F. J. Smith writes to say that a fiv e - s hilli ng su b scr i pt i on which he set on font at the Baltic Coffee house for the relief of the unhal sl 4 widow has prod uce d fift y gu i neas. He trusts t h a t tm example thus set may be extensively followed. In consequence of the circulation of a statement thsti, the Emperor of France is about to decree a reduction 50 per cent. in the duties on tallow, cocoa- n ut oil, a n greases, an ad vance i n cocoa - nu t oil took place yesterday of about 1/. per ton. THE CANADA COMPANY.—A dividend of 3/. per Aa re was declared yesterday at a meeting of this col:1313OP the report having been unanimously carried. nt A CLEVER SWINDLES.—A wealthy Ly ons merc... 3 0 arrived in Paris about a fortnight ago on a pless i . lr trip. Chance threw hill in the way of a chorall y a young man, named, according to his own accoun t s Count de Sillery, who offered to show him all curiosities. The count proposed to begin operations by visiting the Bois do Boulogne, and the merchant stir gested that they should take an omnibus to go there., " omnibus I my dear sir, you must no t think 0 ' such a thing. I will hire a coupe !" "But the e xpens e —" "Oh ! I must beg that you will have nothing at all to say to the coachman ! " An offer so graei' ously made could not be refused, and the two friend s drove about the wood for several hours. "I am getting hungry," said the merchant at last, "sup' pose we go to the P a l a i s R oyal, and breakfas t 21 ' one of the cheap restaurants for lf. 25e." g 4 Break' fast for such a sum Can you think of such a thing ! No, my dear friend, I will take you t• a bett er , place." " B u t t h e expense I " " Not a word—l beg °' you not trouble yourself about that I" But, monsieur le comte, I cannot think of encroaching on your kin d ' ness in such a way !" The count only replied by taking his friend to one of the first-rate restaurants, and ordering a splendid breakfast. The bill came to 118 f. 7 5e- When it was presented, the count rushed to the dame de comptoir. Madame, I am very anxious to pay this hint but I have forgotten my purse ; so, pray let a waiter accompany me to my hotel in the Faubourg St. /E°' nore, and I will pay him." A waiter got on the box of the coupe, which had been kept waiting, and the part , ' drove to the faubourg. Arrived at a large building, th e count alighted, and left his friend from Lyons in the vehicle. An hour passed away, and the latter began to be impatient. At length he got out of the carriage with the intention of asking for the count. But the waiter seized him by the arm. "It is enough for one to have got off," said the man, "you must not go too. Now pay me, or I will take you before the Com missary of Police." " But, my good friend, lam only the going into the hotel to ask for friend count." "An hotel ! why it is the Hospital Beau jon, and the count has gone off." The mortified pro vincial went to the concierge, and the am ke o p u t nt s e il d en t c o e lf. about count certainly did not live there, and that; had enter man told _ him the e entered by one gate and gone out by another. On this the u n l u cky merchant had to pay the waite r, and he had to p a y the coachman also, no whos d e eu d b ei t n haiaidve s misadventure, but three day s after h e met the coun t, who laughed in his face. Indi g na nt at being ridicule d The th Lyonese wouldi as well as swindled, he had the co unt arrested. On Sa turday the count wa s brou g ht t o trial before the Tri bunal of Correctional Police as a swindler, and several acts of the same kind were proved against him. Ile was !sentenced to, P 4 F l9 _ l _ lo lie koprimument. I