The Sun. — London, England, 1854-12-21 00:00:00

THEATRE ROYAL HAYMARKET. gilder the management of Mr. Ruckstone. THIS EVENING, Dsc. 21, van be performed the Comedy of PRESENTED AT COURT. Principal characters by Messrs. Buckstone, W. Farren, and Howe ; ![isles Reynolds, E. Chaplin, Grantham, and Lavine. After which, the Ba let of THE STAR OF ANDALUSIA, in which Senora Perea Nena will appear. To which wi..l be added THE BALANCE OF COMFORT. Followed by THE IRISH LION. To conclude wi'h THE STAR OF CURRA, by the Spanish Dancers. LYCEUM THEATRE. THIS EVENING, DEC. 21, Will be performed AGGRAVATING SAM. Principal characters by Messrs. C. Mathews, Roxby, Baker,-Swan, Williams, and Tem pleton; Mrs. Macnamara, and Misses Oliver and H. Gordon. To which will be added the new Comic Drama, called ACOMICAL COUNTESS. To be followed by TWO HEADS ARE BETTER THAN ONE. To conclude with the Farce entitled MY FELLOW CLERK. THEATRE ROYAL ADELPIII. Proprietor, Mr. B. Webster.—Directress, Madame Celeste. TIIIS EVENING, DEC. 21. Will be pertl - rmed an entire new Rustic Draina 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, a new Farce called THE SLOW MAN. To which will be aided a new farCO, entaled THE RAILWAY BELLE. ROYAL OLYMPIC THEITRE. Lessee and Manager, air. A. Wigan. TIIIS EVENING, DEC. 21, Will be Gated a new Comedletta, c tiled A WIFE'S JOUR N AL. Characters by Messrs Brown, Emery, Harcourt, and Leslie; and Mrs. Brown, and Miss Maskcil. To be followed by THE BEULAH SPA. Principal characters by Messrs. A. Wigan, Emery, P. Robson, and H. Cooper; M•s- Dtarston, Mrs. A. Wigan, Mrs. Fitzallan, and Miss Julia St. George To conclude with THE FIRST NIGHT. Characters by Me.- r- . A ed Wigan, Leslie, Harwood Cooper, anti Gladstone ; Miss Juli St. George, ani MISS Emily Ormorale. ASTLETS ROYAL AMNITTITEATIVC, Lowe and Msmeger, sir. William Cooke. The Wonderful PERFORMING ELEPHANT ; for this week (illy ! TIII3 THE BATTLE or THE ALMA.? After which, the varied SCENES in the CIRCLE. • Also, the Wonderful PERFOIi \II ELEP El ANT S, whose :leo /11111in; svacity and Iniese:P)able deve'opment of• the rersoning I , eco:ty have been the theme of universal admira' ion, To melee with the BAC IELOR. NP , —A MORNING PERFORMANCE cond3ting of the New 4'4l:ate Pantomime. and Szenea In tha Arena, will take place on Tv 'DAY, h (lt..xnrs Day) at TWO o'clock. HI WA:I7A A:7 LONDON BR '`A ? I- ^ 40rL0r..; S 314 , .,..ft,r 2 2.7on'n; 52 '-•a I. 4 lo:niti, 17 no;..nrtei 3 Fvez- , 114, 42 It W KATIII&B.--Ezat Orrlcs, Dec. 21 thigalf.,l4 P;TZa, SIZS.Da. 44 --I.i:.zhest since noon yesterday. _ this morning and during the night. •k4.—this day, at noon. BAROnXTEP, 30 08. W.S.W.—Light bre , 2z?, with rainy weather. 4 -• •••• e" - ,kl,ll LOIV)ON, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1854, The mlrtial enthusiasm of the rking genera Lion has been strongly displayed in the zeal an. devotioa with which rneu of all classes of society have flocked to the national standard. Rich and poor, the high born and the humble, hive all exhibited - equal, ardour. All their desire is to be led against the common enemy. The youth ful inheritor of honourable titles and wide-spread domain, is willing t) brave certain hardship and imminent danger to be allowed to participate in the death struggle. The solitary hope of many an ancient house is willing to be the last of his name, if that name be only embalmed in the me- rnories of his country as that of one who perished in the glorious campaign iu the Crimea. The tuiadi e c l imes are just as eager to "Seek the bubble reputation &en at the cannon's mouth." In vain are the most promising prOsp?cts of com mercial or legal eminence opened to their views. In vain does the peaceful sechtsiou of the com fortable vicarage or snug prebend invite attention, Law, physic, divinity, trade, commerce, manufac ture are all disregarded—"ilillitia ese potion is the general cry. The scarlet coat alone obtains attention, and the very dangers and hardships in cidental to its use apparently constitute its chief attractions. Nor do these spirited youths seek to come in 'on better terms than they were willing to submit to in " the piping times of peace," when the only duties were to appear at drill or parade, and to " flutter the hearts" of the softer sex. There are as many applications for purchase as ever ; the money would be promptly forthcoming for every vacant commission. Strong competition prevails for the .privilege of paying 4501. sterling, besides the expenses of outfit, arc., in order to be subjected to very harassing duties, accompanied in too many instances with severe privations and unceasing risk, not merely of a glorious death on the field of battle, but from disease, or the wearing effects of neglected wounds, or exposure to inclement weather, and all for ss. 3d. per diem, or 951. 16s. 3d. per annum. We may think the speculation not a very profitable one, but there is no lack of volunteers ready and willing to pay the price, and to accept the position with all its disadvantages. Now, the Germans who may be favoured with commissions in the new corps will have nothing to pay. It would be ridiculous to ask merceitarE's, whose sole object is gain, to enter into what might prove a very unprofitable project in a pecuniary point of view. There will be many Ger mans willing to accept commissions —few, if any, -willing to pay for them. Now, we may ask, are these men so much better than the rising genera tion in England, Scotland, and Ireland?—are they calculated to become more efficient officers, that they should receive gratuitously, nay, more, be solicited to accept, what ou r own less-favoured countrymen make the strongest interest to ob tain by purchase ? Is a German Ensign worth an English one plus 4501. ? We think that the, L. S. D. view of the case is by no means favourable to the Foreigners Enlistment Bill-.. nor will the undue favouritism, so conspicuous in this new phase of Germanism — the contemp tuous indifference to the claims of the mere Eng lish, when compared with " the more favoured nation." There is another matter which should not be disregarded while considering the pecuniary part of the question. Whatever half-pay pensions or Egatnities may be granted to the regular army 11111 in all probability be expended in the United The men will return to their native Place's' and the money with which they may be rewarded „ in be simply transferred from one pocket to another ; there will be no thi ng t a k en from the country h ; ile,en the oth er , th e Ger mans will return to w their own homes, and the entire funds will be dr awn, and in sterling by Our ill a a large propor tion of it another land thus adding to the evils dvised and inequitable currency laws. supposed f rom wint Let it not be t we have above stated that we are generally favourable to the system of promotion by purchase in the army ; but without entering on that broad ground, with out seeking a satisfactory solution of th e "vexed" question, we may unhesitatingly say that if it i s to be retained for English candidates for commis sions, it should be applied to GCMG= aspirants. The same measure should be meted to the one as to the other. But why not English officers alto gether, the same as in India ? If the military authorities seek to obtain a better class of recruits, well educated, energetic men, who would prove a credit to the service, let them take a further step in the path on which they have already entered. Let them promote a greater number of meritorious non-commissioned officers. Many persons now unable to enter the army in the regular way from want of money or interest, or both, would then enlist in the ranks in the hope of winning their epau lettes by good conduct, gallantry, and unceasing activity. Where could better officers be obtained than under such a system, which would also improve the tone and character of the private soldiers—each man remembering that he was for the time being in a state of pro bation, and that his promotion and future pro spects in life depended on his own exertions and his own good conduct. We know many men who, disappointed in their efforts to obtain com missions, or who, having served as officers and been obliged to sell their commissions to satisfy debts contracted through some juvenile impru dence, would gladly undergo any trials to regain the position they had lost. Such men, if willing to undergo the probation, to pass through the ordeal of a temporary sojourn in the ranks, should be almost invariably promoted. They would be experienced officers, their faults obliterated, and their characters purified by the trials they had undergone. We trust that these matters may receive the attentive consideration of which we are convinced they are so eminently deserving. There is to be no financial statement before Christmas ! It is true that a resolution respect ing Savings Banks was yesterday carried by the aancellor of the Exchequer, but as the bill is not to be introduced until after the recess there is ample time to consider the proposition of the. Right Hon. Gentleman, so far as the same was developed in his brief speech when introducing the subject, in order to obtain the fornittl assent of the House to the introduction of the measure. But no account is to be riven of the pecuniary position and prospects of the country. The anxiety of the people is not to he relieved by any - official intimation of the course to be adopted, in order to meet the extra expenditure occasioned, by what may, wo truzit, even at the eleventh hour, be found to be a vigorous prosecution , of the war. The financial crotchet of meeting the entire outlay from the annual revenue, of refraining from placing► a single shilling of the heavy charges on posterity, for whose exclusive benefit they were undertaken, and maintaining intact stringent money regulations, never intended for such a state of affAirs, has already created diffi culties sufficient to satisfy " a friend to the AUTOCRAT" of even MOTO than " forty years' dtandibg." It is, however, now very tertain that no pecu niary pressure, no difficulties of any kind what ever, will be sufficient to disgust the people with the War, or to lead to the anticipated demand for peace. Men of all classes and ranks in society cheerfully submit to any pressure, being willing to testify with their pockets the deretion which they would willingly seal with their blood if the occasion required it. To the rich and powerful these are but of trivial importance. At the out side they will merely be obliged to refrain from some uncalled-for luxury, or to surrender some passing fancy ; but with the great body of the people, those who earn their daily bread by their daily labour, the matter is very different. They must be contented to abstain from comforts, which habits had almost rendered necessaries, possibly to curtail, to thel utmost degree, the supply o f indispensable articles. They feel it very roi3ob. They see it in the garments of themselves and families, which have not received the usual renova- tion. No w these persons thus cheerfully submitting to these trials should not have the period unneces sazily protracted. Many capitalists are keeping funds hoarded up in consequence of their igno rance of the Ministerial intentions, and the thick veil of mystery in which the financial prospects of the country are enveloped. Any intimation given would be thankfully received, and might, very probably, liberate funds now locked up, and direct them into channels very beneficial to the trade and commerce of the country. Why, then, should Mr. GLADSTONE remain silent? Why should he, through an obstinate adherence to precedent, prevent the relief that might other wise be experienced by the industrious classes ? But if he seeks an example—if he is so strongly bound by red-tapist fetters that he cannot take the initiative in any case, but must act as his predecessors did under similar circumstances, he need not go very far back to find that which he requires. It is barely two years since the Budget was brought forward before Christ mas, the object being not the benefit of the community at large—not the relief of trade and commerce, or of the working population of the country, but merely to obtain the sense of the popular branch of the Legislature on the finan cial policy of the DERBY Administration. What a chivalrous desire to meet a challenge and to I afford a suitable field fcr she offered contest in duced Mr. DISRAELI to do in 1852 might cer tainly be followed by his successor, when so many and such important national interests are in volved in the result. If Mr. GLADSTONE, how ever, refuses to come forward, we must, however unwillingly, be contented to await his convenience to accept whatever he may condescend to offer. Surely, then, it is time that the nation should shake off the apathy to which it has long yielded itself ; that it should insist on greater a'Aention being paid to fiscal, financial, and monetary sub jects by the Representatives of the people. These matters are of paramount importance. Every man feels the gross injustice of the present In come Tax, and the equal apportionment of all receipts, no matter from what source they might arise ; and yet, although nine-tenths of the Mem bers of both houses anticipated a revision of the ini qui touslaw, al thoughliar. DrsnAzu had made a step in the right direction, which was only objected to for not going far enough, they patiently yielded to the dictation of Mr. GLADSTON; and allowed him to control the almost unanimous feeling the House. Again, there was the strongest objection to cast ing the whole burden of the outlay on the present generation, more especially as the Exchequer had just been denuded of its balances to pay off eight millions of old liabilities, which would remain undis turbed but for the total failure of the abortive conver sion project. Those eight millions were demanded back, but to avoid a trifling wound to the vanity of the Right Honourable financier the majority again submitted to abandon their own views, and to submit with edifying humility to the dictation of the Financial Minister. It is impossible within the space remaining available even to enter on the monetary question, ,far the most impo r t an t o f a ll, an d on w hi c h th e wel fare and prosperity of the nation chiefly depends. W e say eno ug h, h owever, to bespeak attention to t he subject, in reminding the community that provision must be mad© within the present ses sion for the renewal or. , :vithdrawal of the Bank of England Charter ; and, if the latter, the esta blishment of a fitting substitute in the shape of a really National Bank in its p l ace , THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 21, 1854. MORE LOSSES IN THE BLACK SEA. Yesterday the following communication was received by Captain Halsted, R.N., Secretary of Lloyd's, from the Admiralty, announcing the total loss of the transport ship Culloden, No. 86, and the capture of the crew and Turkish troops who were in board by the Russians : " Admiralty, Dec. 18. " Sir,—l am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of Admiralty to acquaint you that they have received intelligence from the Black Sea of the total loss of the transport ship No. 86, Culloden, near Eupatoria, on the 13th of November. She had on board 35 rank and file of Ottoman troops, 35 baggage horses, and about 300 cases of ammunition. The crew and the troops, who were all saved, are now prisoners on board the Russian ship Vladimer, at Sebastopol, from which ship the master, Mr. George Carrow, wrote on the 22d of No vember, announcing the occurrence to Captain Christie, R.N., at Balaklava. " I am, Sir, &c., " To the Secretary of Lloyd's." B. OSBORNE. The Culloden was registered in Lloyd's Register of Shipping as 583 tons, and classed A 1, for eight years. She belonged to Mr. Ferguson, of Glasgow, and was insured at Lloyd's. Another loss in the Black Sea was made known in the course of the day, that of the French transport Con stance, Captain Charrier, which was wrecked on the same night as that of the Culloden, near Eupatoria ; the crew succeeded in escaping from the vessel just before a troop of Cossacks reached the wreck and fired into her. The ship was afterwards burnt to the water's edge. OUR FLEET IN THE BLACK SEA. The following is a correct list of her Majesty's ships o war serving i❑ the Black Sea at the date of the lasi advices :—. ' LINERS. • Guns. ; Guns. .Agamemnon, screw 9O i London Albion Algiers, screw Bellerophon Britannia Hannibal, screw FRIGATES. Leander F-0{ Furious, steam Retribution, steam 2B Vulcan, steam Sidon, steam 22 Curacoa, steam 3O Sampson, steam Simoom, steam lB Diamond Terrible, steam 2llHighflyer, steam 2l Valorous, steam Firebrand, steam 6 i Sphinx, steam Gladiator, steam CORVETTES, &e. Arrow, steam • Banslze, steam _ Snake, steam Spiteful, steam Spitfire, steam Stromboli, steam Swallow, steam Triton, steam Vesuvius, steam Vulcan, steam Wasp, steam Wrangler, steam Zephyr, steam Fangio, steam Caradoz, steam Cyclops, steam 0 Harpy, steam Inflexible, steam Lynx, steam 4 Molina, steam 4 Megmra, steam . Modesto, steam IS Niger, steam l4 Aretlinsa, 50, left for Engl land on the Cth. THE COATING INVASION. The Allegmeine Zeitung, of the 13th inst., con tains the following : " GOTH A, Dec. 7.—At the sittin g , to-eay, of the Saxe Coburn Gotha Parliament, under the presidency of Count Councillor flccher, besides the proposition of various alterations which concern the constitution of the State and the Royal Household, other propositions also of rot less importance (nicht minder wichtige), proceeded frmn tho Government. It demanded, namely, a credit of 100,000 thalecs for the mobilisation of the contingent, and also 56,000 thalers for furnishing it more effective tile and sido.a.rms. The timely care of the Government goes yet further ; it has already caused its navy esti mates to lie prepared, and will account for the amount demanded with the Parliament. These propositions of the Government. are now being discussed in committee, and will be considered in the whole house at its next sitting." ACTIVITY OF THE FRENCH". Great activity continues to prevail in the dockyards of Cherbourg, where a reinforcement of 300 carpenters has within the last few days arrived. The screw line-of battle ship the Arcola is to be launched in the month of March. A. part of the workmen who were at work on this ves sel have been taken off for the building of the Fcrow transport the Meurthe, and of the gun-boats the Eclair and the Etincelle,f which aro to he launched and armed as soon as possible. The screw floating battery, the Devastation, with 10 guns of 50, will be nearly completed at the end of the month. The Cocyte has just brought from Havre the iron plates which are to cover her. Independently of these vessels, there are on the stocks at Cherbourg the steam line-of-battle ship, the Ville de Nantes, the steam-frigate, the Impkueuse, end the screw-vessels, the B.odeur and the Croiseur. The Virginie also is being fitted out for India and China ; the Pouranivante, frigate, will be able to leave for La Plata bet or a at. month, and thel3eaumanoir brig, intended for the same destination, has been dome days in the roadsted. FRENCH EELYFOI:CEMENTS. General Rostolan reviewed, on the 18th, at Mar seilles, the troops waiting to be embarked for the Crimea. Among them were two batteries of artillery and a detachment of engineers. The Steam Navigation companies of the Rhone have signed a contract with the Government by which they undertake to convey, in 10 days, to the Crimea, 100,000 tons of utensils, camp ap paratus, and huts for the army. Five hundred men of every infantry regiment of the Imperial Guard are to proceed forthwith to the Crimea. The artillery has already received its marching orders. It is also reported that a portion of the regiment of Guides, commanded by Colonel Fleury, will join the army in the East. The Ist and 2d regiments •f Carabi neers, in garrison at Versailles, are to form part of the army at Lyons. COURT CIRCULAR. WINDSOR, DEC, 20, The Queen and Prince visited the Duchess of Cam bridge at Kew yesterday afternoon, and returned to the Castle at a quarter past five o'clock. Her Majesty and his Royal Highness, attended by the ladies and gentlemen in waiting, dined with the Duchess of Kent in the-evening at Frogmore-house. The Queen, with the Princess Royal and Princess Alice, rode in the Riding-house this morning. His Royal Highness Prince Albert went to London by a special train of the South-Western Railway this morning, to preside at the meeting of a committee of the governors of the Wellington College. The meeting was held at a quarter past ten o'clock, in the Palace of West minster. Present : The Prince, the Earl of Derby, Sir Howard Douglas, the Re - r. Mr. Gleig, and Colonel the Hon. W. P. Talbot, The meeting broke up at half past twelve o'clock. His R , ,yal Highness returned to Windsor at a quarter past three o'clock. The Marquis of Lansdowne, the Earl of Aberdeen, and Major-General and Mrs. Be*tinck have been IL vited, and are expected this afternoon. The Prince Alexander Schoenberg has left Vienna, the bearer of the grand cordon of the Order of St. Stephex and an autograph letter of the Emperor Francis Joseph, which Baron Hubner is instructed to present to his Ma jesty the Emperor Napoleon 111. The Duke of Leeds has left the Clarendon for Hornby Castle, near Catterick, Yorkshire. The Marquis of Lansdowne left town yesterday, on a visit to the Queen and Prince Albert, at Windsor Castle. The Earl of Aberdeen left town yesterday afternoon, on a visit to her Majesty. The Baron Videl has left the Clarendon, on a visit to Sir Richard Sutton, at Lynford Hall, near Brandon, Suffolk. Major-General Bentinck and Mrs. Bentinck left town yesterday, on a visit to her Majesty at Windsor Castle. The Rev. A. Peyton has left the Clarendon for Dod dington rectory, near Chatteris. Mr. and Mrs. Baskervyle Glegg and family have left London to pass the winter at Pau, in the south of France. We read in the Independance Belge—" As to the adoption by Prussia nobody doubts of it, especially since it has been understood that the treaty is not considered to be a treaty of war." Yesterday, Robert Stayner Holford, Esq., of Wes tonbirt, a Conservative, was elected without opposition to represent the Eastern division of Gloucestershire in Parliament. The Trafalgar Life Assurance Company has ceased to exist as an independent company. The whole of its busi ness and obligations have been taken by the Unity General. IHE CABMEN'S SUNDAY STRIKE AT EDINBURGH. — Sunday last the strike was continued with considerable unanimity, though one or two vehicles might be seen at each of the principal stands.—. Edinburgh, Courant. TURKISH STOCK.—The whole amount having been paid on the original 2,000,0001. of Turkish stock, it was quoted yesterday in the ordinary form. The transactions were at 74, 74k, and 73i, and the final quotation was 73i to 741, or 6 discount. FRENCH FUNDS.—The letters from Paris attribute the prolonged fall in the French funds to the general im pression that a large loan, probably to the amount of 20,000,0001., is imminent. Railway shares are still maintained with comparative firmness, owing to the continuance of satisfactory receipts on the various lines. THE DEATH OF MRS. O'HARA AT BRISTOL. — A n inquest was held yesterday at Bristol before Mr. W. J. Ellis, respecting the death of Mrs. O'Hara, who, as will be recollected, was discovered in a state of filth and destitution and suffering from disease, and had been re moved from her house to the Clifton Union. The evidence given formed a recapitulation of the circum stances already mentioned, and proved that the death of the deceased arose from dropsical effusion, but that the immediate cause of it was the drain on the system and the mortified state of her body. The jury returned a verdict—" Died from natural causes. At the same time we express our great indignation and disgust at the filthy state in which Mr. O'Hara allowed his wife to remain." LATEST NEWS. THE NEW TREATY. We have received the following despatch, dated yesterday, from our correspondent in Berlin "In the Second Chamber this morning it was unanimously resolved to throw open the Prussian coasting trade to English vessels. " Herr von Usedom, lately Prussian Minister at Rome, left Berlin on Tuesday, on a special mis_ sion to London, to sound the English Cabinet with reference to Prussia's joining the treaty of December 2." ST. PETERSBURG, DEC. 17. The proposal made by the Minister of Finance to raise the price of salt from 28 to 44 copecks has been accepted by the Czar as a profitable finan- cial measure. THE BALTIC FLEET. ELSINORE, DEC. 15. H.M.S. Edinburgh has arrived here from Kiel, via the Great Belt. Two British war-steamers arrived here to-day rom the Baltic. Her Majesty's steamer Dragon left here yester. day for the Southward. THE CRIMEA. STATE OF AFFAIRS AT SEBASTOPOL. The Invalide Russe gives the following account cf the state of affairs before Sebastopol : " Aide-de-Camp General Prince Menschikoff an nounces, under date of the Ist of December, that since the 27th of November no particular change had taken p!ace in our position or in that of the enemy. The fire of the siege batteries is still very weak, as heretofore, and occasions us scarcely any loss. The enemy . con tinues to fortify the defences of his position. OPERATIONS AGAINSTSIMPHEROPOL The Soldiers' Friend of Vienna, of the 16th, sa y s :—" Several letters from Odessa inform us that the Bus:naps keep themselves strictly on the defensive at Sebastopol, and that they feel great uneasiness at the operations which may be directed from Eupatoria. It is said that Prince Monschikoff has pointed out to tke Government of St. Petersburg the dangers which threaten his army and the fortress from this point, and that he has declared that he was not in a state to resist any considerable offensive operation directed from Eupatoria against Simpheropol. General Osten- Sacken was, in consequence, charged to fix his headqnarters at Perekop, and to defend the isthmus with the troops under his command. The Allies continue their preparations for an expedi tion to some other point ; at Ode" it is expected . that it will be directed against that place, and at Varna it was thought that a considerable corps will be landed at Eupatoria." THE WAR ON THE DANUBE A letter from Bucharest, 6th inst., in the Wan derer of Vienna, says :—" It is said that the Princes Gltika and Stirbey have resolved to form a Moldo- Wallachian carps, which will be placed at the dis posal of the Sultan. It will be composed princi pally of cavalry, and will provisionally be 20,000 strong. The princes have themselves furnished the greater part of the funds necessary for the organisation of this corps, so that the public trea sury of the provinces will only have to bear the remainder. The expense of keeping up this corps will be during the war taken from the funds which form the tribute due to the Porte." Tito Press of Vienna, of the 16th, says :—" A telegraphic despatch from Galatz,throughßuohareAt, states that the Russians are fortifying the posi tions of Reni, and the other positions of the Pruth. Prince Gortschakoff was on the 9th at Ismail, and on the 10th continued his journey t• Odessa. The works of fortification of the Turks, near Toltcha and Jaktchi, are not as yet terminated. Omer Pacha arrived on the 12th at Schumla, where he remained some hours, and then took his departure for Varna." R.USST A . On the 11th inst. an extraordinary supplement , of the Invalide Busse was published at St. Peters ! burg, for the purpose of giving currency to the fol lowing intelligence transmitted from the Crimea by Prince Menschikoff : " According to a report received this day from Prince Menschikoff nothing fresh occurred before Sebastopol between the Ist and sth of December. The fire of the enemy's batteries is in general very weak, and the losses on our side are nil. Our works of defence are being successfully carried on, notwith standing the heavy rains that fall every day. During the nights detachments of volunteers have been sent out to annoy the enemy. These partial sorties were made with considerable success. Thus, for example, on the 2d of December, before day break, the Sub-Lieutenant Polevoi, of the in fantry regiment of Volhynia, with five non-com missioned officers, and 66 privates s ca l e d the heights the hsouthern bayonet, bay, killed in it a number charged the ene my's of English, took three pr is oners, and possessed trench with th themselves of 14 rifles. In the following (be tween the 2d and 3d) Lieutenant Vassilieff, of the same regiment, with volunteers taken from dif ferent regiments, fell upon one of the French bat teries, where he slew as many as 30 of the enemy. During the same night 60 volunteers of the Tomsk Regiment of Chasseurs, together with four sailors, under the command of Lieut. Jarinoff, wound their way as far as a trench occupied by some English riflemen, who took to flight on the sudden appear ance of our chasseurs, leaving 11 dead upon the spot, and one prisoner with four rifles in our hands. All these bold sorties have been made nearly With out loss on our side. According to information received. from Eupatoria the enemy has not suc ceeded in ge tting afloat again a s i ng l e vesse l stranded near that town during the tempest of Nov. 14." A letter from Odessa, of the 4th inst., states that, from the 12th to the 30th of November last, the army of Prince Menschikoff had been rein forced by two divisions, consisting of from 28,000 to 30,000 men. PRUSSIA. BERLIN, Dec. 1 8 . — Som e idea m ay be formed of the extremes to which the Russian or gans here and caotloVienna bandied from one to the other an a bsurd re p or t of the Allies being occupied in re - em barkin g th eir battering carry acts a t n h d ei f r ac w th i , ldbyatthteemirpts to give false having train, and thence preparing to abandon or post pone operations against Sebastopol. The remarks openly made on Friday night in the British Parliament, upon the brutal murder of British wounded soldiers by Russians, has stung the Russian party to the quick, and none show themselves more vexed than that portion of Ger man diplomacy who rank as Russia's German subjects. Their Majesties gave the usual full-dress banquet this afternoon at Potsdam, in honour of the Em peror Nicholas's name-day. The members of the Royal family Ministers, and high Court func tionaries, with the whole of the Russian Legation, of both sexes, were invited. The banquet given yesterday by M. de Budberg, in the state apartments of the Russian Legation, is said to have been unusually splendid. FRANCE. PARIS, WEDNESDAY. .._ The Moniteur states that despatches have been 1 'lles of are the days fixed for the departure from 11 , arsei received from Sebastopol of the 13th. Nothing important had taken place since the to the French packets in the Mediterranean, communicated GENERAL POST -OFFICE, Dec., 1854.—The following the Pestmaster-General by the French Post-office, date of previous intelligence- The weather had and printed for general information :—ltalian liee—Ge improved. non, Leghorn, Civita Vechia, Naples, Messina, and Malta, TheAl F on ra it n e c u e r also contains the following article: leave Marseilles every Monday, due o n r eturn every Wed "AllonBsYt a r an will be deeply affected by the nesday. Levant Line (Ordin G ar a y l thanks which England has just voted by acclama- Smyrna, Mytelene, Dardanelles, tion to General Canrobert and our army, to A.dmi ral Hamelin and our for their valiant Co-avy,turn every Saturday. Levant Line (Supplementary).— operation and their cordial assistance in the war Messina, Piraeus, Gallipoli, and Constantinople ; leave tinople ;; leave Marseilles every Thursday, due on re of the East. Marseilles every Monday, due on return every Tuesday. 4‘ To this • important and hitherto unexampledlip—oli,Maanldtac, Mar manifestation man . nof the sentiments entertained by a in alternate week, commencing eines on Thursday every great the 21st inst , due en return Sunday in every alternate s Eriyptian Line.—Malta and Alexandria ; leave Mar- People towards its loyal ally France has week. Algiers Ling.—Algiers, leaves Marseilles, sth, already replied by its admiration of the brilliant 10th, 15th 20th, 25th, and 30t of each month, due on valour of the , English army and fleet. France return 2d, 7th, 12th, 17th, 22d, and 27th of each month. has warmly applauded the eulogiums which Oran Line.—Oran, leaves Marseilles 3d, 13th, and 23d our generals-in-chief, after the battles of Alma, of each month, due on return Ist, 11th, and 21 st of each Balaklava, an d Inkerman bestowed on the intre- month. Tunis Line.—Stora, Bona, and Tunis, leaves nations, like the two armies, have done each other pidity of Lord Raglan and his troops. The two L d e u t e ter o s n , Marseilles Bth, 18th, and 28th of each month, sth, 15th, and 25th of each month. packets, must the most frank, the most cordial justice. While &c., intended to be forwarded by these date of two clear days before the their soldiers and seamen vie with each other in h d e posted i f n r London m Marseilles Thusa letter for the packet each other in generosity, each giving the other the courage and devotion,the two nations appear torival p t r ' o p c ' eeding to the Italian coastard :Ar , ,lta, leaving on the return eine, on I , l,nClay, niu,L be po,ted in Londun greatest share of the glory acquired in common. Nothing is better Calculated to cement their al- ordinary Levant line, leavinb . Marseilles o the evening of the preceding Friday ;and letnte;huOforlsrdtaby: liance that the exchange of these noble sentiments, I must be posted in London on the evening of preced nothing can. better assure to them the sympathies ! ing Monday. RANKIN PACKETS. and concurrence of all civilised nations nor more speedily effect the final triumph of the sacred cause they defend." The IVloniteur publishes a notice that the Minis ter of Foreign Affairs has received an official com munication of a despatch addressed to the English Admiralty, by Rear-Admiral Chads, the Com mander of the English naval forces in the Baltic, announcing the raising of the blockade of the Russian ports in that sea and on the coast of Fin land. The Minister of the'SMarine has received a de spatch from Rear-Admiral de SuM, the commander in-chief of the French naval division on the Brazil and La Plata station, dated on board the Andro meda frigate, at Rio Janeiro, the 14th ult., in which he states that the captains of French and English merchant - vessels navigated those seas in the fullest security, feeling sure that they would everywhere meet with efficacious and energetic pro tection. BOURSE, DEC. 20.—CLOSING PRICES. Cash. in ,;. End of Month. 4:1 per Carts 94 —94 f. —c. 3 per Cents 63 50 68 75 Credit Mebilier 740 Roman Credit Foncier 560 Austrian Belgian Fives ...... .. 91i Spanish Threes Pied montese ...... ... 87 Home Debt . 34 RAILWAYS-FOR CASH. fr. c. fr. c. Orleans Western... 630 -- Rouen 992 50 CAtte 5BO -- Strasburg - AleditelTanean B6O Havro 535 Northern ITALY. CORONATION OF THE MADONNA BY THE POPE. ROME, DEC. 10.—The extraordinary solemnity, which has called together so many Catholic digni taries from various parts of the world to this centre of Catholicism, took place at St. Peter's on the morning of the Bth inst., with all the pomp and splendour for which the papal court is so justly celebrated. For five days preceding the ceremony, by express command of his Holiness, the relics of the holyface, the lance, the cross, the inscription of the cross, the cradle of our Saviour, and the chains of St. Peters; were exhibited to the veneration of the faithful, with due advantage of indulgences at tached, and triduos and fasts prepared the way for the great event. - Earl on the morning of the Bth, the ponderous equipages of cardinals and prelates shook the streets of the city in all directions, rattling hastily towards the castle of St. Angelo and the Vatican, whilst the multifarious vehicles of foreigners, and of polio/ citizens, crowded along the prescribed line of the Lungara. Fortunately the day was very fine, so that enormous numbers of pedestrians contributed to the vain effort to fill the unfillable vastness of St. Peter's. It must be candidly confessed, how ever, by the oldest habitues and sight-seers of Rome, that the ample church was never seen so nearly full as on the present occasion. The procession, having been duly marshalled in the halls of the Vatican, descended by the Sala Regia into the church, presenting an unexampled train ofinitred bishops, archbishops, patriarchs, and cardinals, followed by the Pope himself, on foot and un crowned. His Holiness gave utterance to the all-important bull during high mass, after the reading of the gospel. It took him about a quarter of an hour to get through, but ho was so much affected in vari ous parts of the document that he was obliged to interrupt the reading of it to dry his tears with a pocket handkerchief. With the exception of this and an occasional shriek from some one squeezed or fainting in the crowd no particular emotion was observable. The decorations of the church were most gorgeous. The next ceremony was that of crowning the Madonna, which seemed to interest the mass of spectators more than the previous dogmatical de claration. The procession of bishops once more led the way to the cardinals' chapel, where a crimson platform had been prepared before the altar-piece, so as to allow of the Pope's ascending to the figure of the Virgin, as depicted in the clouds in the upper part of the picture. The cannon of St. Angelo thundered out applause as his Holiness at tached the precious diadem to the painting, and the crowd, kept at bay by a Battalion of Chasseurs, reeked and panted in vain endeavours to catch a sight of the proceeding. It is not for me to hazard an opinion whether.curiosity or devotion urged the thousands of spectators on this occasion ; but cer tainly the numbers collected together far exceeded anything I ever beheld before in St. Peter's. In the evening the cupola of St. Peter's, and the facades of most of the other churches, as well as public buildings and private residences, were abun dantly illuminated. THE BALTlC.—lnformation was received yes terday, from Memel, that several Russian steam gun-boats have been seen cruising off that port since the raising of the blockade. The Wanderer of Vienna has the following from Sebastopol dated the sth :—" The besiegers and the besieged have received considerable reinforce ments, the latter principally in cavalry and Cos sacks of the Don. General Liprandi has fallen into disgrace." The Prussian Minister of War has ordered tele graphic wires to be laid down to connect all the principal fortresses with Berlin ; also the military stations situated along the coast. Some of the German papers announce with con fidence that Omer Paella's army will land at Eupa toria and march to Perekop, there to intercept the Russian supplies and reinforcements. The Madrid journals of the 16th contain no news of importance. A MERICA. • LIVERPOOL, DEC. 21, 1 A.M. The steamer Baltic has arrived, with the mail from New York of the 9th inst. She has brought no specie. The Union, from Southampton, arrived on the Bth. The proceedings in the Congress were unimpor tant. Mr. Bright had been elected President of the Senate. Secretary Dobbin in his annual report on the navy, demands an increase of war vessels. Several disasters by fire and storm had occurred. There was no confirmatory news relative to the discovery of the remains of Sir John Franklin and his party. A Washington letter of the Bth states that the motion for the total repeal of the duty on coals will be carried by a large majority in Congress. A party of Sioux Indians had attacked the mail from Salt Lake, murdered the men in charge, and rifled the la;gs of their contents. The New York money-market showed a slight improvement. The stock market was better, with extensive transactions. Exchange heavy ; bills on London, 106 k to 108 ; Paris, 5 15 to 5 20. Cotton declined lc. ; business limited. Flour had advanced. The cold weather had closed the rivers and canals in the neighbourhood of New York, and the winter stock was lighter than for many years past. Provisions without change. Iron dull. Freights were a shade lower. To London—flour, 2s. to 2s. 3d. ; heavy goods, 20s. to 255. ToLiver pool—cotton, 5-32 to 3-16 ; flour, ls. 9d. to ls. ; grain, Gd. to Gid. To lavre—Cotton, 1.48 c. to 3c. ; grain, 10c. NEW ORLEANS, DEC. 8. Cottol. declined 1- c. to lc. The increased receipts at this port over last year at this time are 44,000 bales. DIiPARTURE OP FRENCH MEDITER- DEATHS AT THE SCUTARI HOSPITALS. The following is the nominal return of deaths at the Scutari hospitals from the 24th ult. to the 4th inst.:-- OFFICERS. Lieat. Thistlethwayte, Scots Fusilier Guards, of fever, Nov. 26. Surgeon Brown, 95th Regt., remittent fever, Nov. 28. Ensign Ha!ford, 28th Regt., acute laryngitis, Nov. 28. Chief Apothecary Reade, acute diarrhoea, Nov. 28. Major Champion, 95th Regt., wounds, Nov. 30. NONCOMMISSIONED OFFICERS AND PRIVATES. Serjeant Charles Gordon, Scotch Fusilier Guards, vulnus, Nov. 25. Serjeant George Lackton, Ist Battalion Rifle Brigade, dysentery, Nov. 27. Serjeant Wm. Clinton, 77th Regt., diarrhoea, Nov. 27. Serjeant Thomas Alger, Grenadier Guards, feleris, Dec. 1. Corporal John Hodgkinson, 2d Battalion Rifle Bri gade, wounds, Nov. 28. Privates. Thomas Phillips, 7th Regt„ diarrhoea, Nov. 24. J. Richardson, Grenadier Guards, diarrhoea, Nov. 24. Thomas Trinden, 4th Regt., diarrhoea, Nov. 24. Thomas Day, Grenadier Guards, diarrhoea, Nov. 24. John Allen 80th Regt., wounds, Nov. 24. W. B. Sutcliffe, 4th Light Dragoons, wounds (ampu tation), Nov. 25. Samuel Nichols, Royal Artillery, vulnus, Nov. 25. Peter Dyer, 30th Regiment, fracture, Nov. 25. James Murrin, 23d Regiment, vulnus, Nov. 25. Charles Fizard, 4th Regiment, diarrhoea, Nov. 24. James Stringer, 23d Regiment, diarrhoea, Nov. 25. Jessop Taylor, 33d Regiment, diarrhoea , Nov. 26. Jos. Page, Coldstream Guards, wounds, Nov. 24. Chas. Newton, Coldstream Guards, diarrhoea, Nov. 24. Moses Pudwell, , 23d Regiment, diarrhoea, Nov. 25. James Kirdwell, 68th Regiment, dysentery; Nov. 25. James Wyne, 33d Regiment, wounds, Nov. 25. John Blucken, 38th Regiment, diarrhoea, Nov. 25. Martin Madden, 63(1-Regiment, diarrhoea, Nov. 25. William Carter, 2d Battalion Rifle Brigade, diarrhoea, Nov. 25. Richard Mason, 23d Regt., diazr'hma, Nov. 26. James Roberts,-30th Regt., diarrhoea, Nov. 26. Joseph Wilson, 41st Regt., wounds, Nov. 26. William Dirlridge, 19th Regt., diarrhoea, Nov. 26. Richard Mathews, 4th Regt., dysentery, Nov: 27. Zachariah Case, 20th Regt., wounds, Nov. 26. Thomas Davies, 38th Regt., diarrhoea, Nov. 26. Patrick Kennedy, 33d Regt., diarrhoea, Nov. 27. Thomas Ford, 2d Battalion Rifle Brigade, diarrhoea, Nov. 26. John Mosson, 50th Regt., vulnus, Nov. 26. John Adams, Coldstream Guards, wounds, Nov. 27. Charles Williams, Grenadier Guards, wounds, Nov. 27. Wm. Barnes, Royal Artillery, debility, Nov. 26. Thos. Tyler, 30th Regt., Asiatic cholera, Nov. 27. Martin Petty, 88th Regt., wound, Nov. 27. Joseph Thursfield, 2d Battalion Rifle Brigade, diarrhoea, Nov 27. Thomas Curti, 41st Regt., _dysentery, Nov. 27. Thomas Francis, 95th Regt., diarrhoea, Nov. 27. Francis Abbott, 68th Regt., diarrhoea, Nov. 27. Thomas Bennett, 77th Regt:, Nov. 27. Janes Thompson, 63d Regt., dysentery, Nov. 27. Robert Anderson, 42d Regt., dysentery, Nov. 27. John Wilson,, 21st Regt., Nov. 27. Edward Mason, 77th Regt., dysentery, Nov. 28. Richard Manus, 63d Regt., fracture, Nov. 28. Humphry Ross, Royal Artillery, vulnus, Nov. 28. Edward Jackson, 20th Regt., wounds, Nov. 27. John Connors, 55th Regt., diarrhoea, Nov. 28. Samuel IVl'Mahon, 30th Regt., dysentery, Nov. 28. James Welward, 63d Regt., diarrhoea, Nov. 29. George Garrett, 63d Regt., wounds, Nov. 28 Rd. Alliston, 4th Light Dragoons, diarrhoea, Nov. 29. Samuel Arnel, 33d Regt., amputation, Nov. 29. John Whitsey, 41st Regt., diarrhoea, Nov. 29. William Read, 933 Regt., diarrhoea, Nov. 29. Geo. Ebelbhite, 2d Bat. Rifle Brigade, fever, Nov. 29. William Doust, Ist Foot, diarrhoea, Nov. 29. George Allridge, Gren. Guards, diarrhoea, Nov. 29. William Parker, 95th Regt , diarrhoea, Nov. 30. Martin Coghlin, 63d Redi. ' diarrhcea, Nov. 29. John Sharp, Scots Fusilier Guards, wounds, Nov. 30. John Joy, Coldstream Guards, amputation, Nov. 29. • Thomas Latler, Grenadier Guards, febris, Nov. 29. Samuel Ward, 4th Light Dragoons, cholera (Asiatic), Nov. 29. Joseph White, Royal Artillery, diarrhoea, Nov. 30. David Scholer, 79th Regt., cholera, Nov. 30. Robt. Porter, sth Dragoon Guards, diarrhcea, Dec. 1. John Wrighall, Grenadier Guards, diarrhcea, Dec. 1, Samuel Taylor, 77th Regt., debility, Dec. 1. Geo. Budden, Royal Artillery, diarrhcea, Nov. 30. Gustavus Bradstreet, 44th Regt., diarrhcea, Nov. 30. Edward Goodman, Grenadier Guards, diarrhcea, Nov. 30. George Ellis, 95th Regt., diarrhcea, Nov. 30. John Corleva, 49th Regt., diarrhcea, Nov. 30. John Patterson, 79th Regt , diarrhcea, Dec. 1. William Day, Royal Artillery, diarrhcea, Dec. 1. J. Marriatt, 4th Dragoon Guards, febris, Dec. 1. James Rawlinson,,49th Regt., diarrhcea, Dec. 1. Geo, Shepherd, Royal'Artillery, wounds, Nov. 30. Edward M'Guire, 7th Regt., wounds, Dec. 1. Cornelius - Palmer, let Battalion Rifle Brigade, wounds, Dec. 1. George Webb, 19th Regt., diarrhcea, Deo. 2. Charles Goodwin, Royal Artillery, diarrhcea, Dec. 2. Charles Field, Royal Artillery, vulnus, Dec. 2. Owen Vokes, Scnts Fusilier Guards, diarrhcea, Dec. 2. Thomas Cahill, 95th Regt., wounds, Dec. 2. George Marshall; 33d Regt., wounds, Dec. 2. R. Conway, 95th Regt., vulnus, Dec. 2. John Allen, Coldstream Guards, amputation, Dec. 2. Henry Showier, 20th Regt., wounds, Dec. 2. Timothy Sullivan, 63d Regt., wounds, Dec. 2. Francis Gray, 33d Regt., febris, Dec. 2. • Charles Clayton, 95th Regt., diarrhcea, Dec. 2. John Smith, 95th Regt., diarrhcea ' Dec. 3. Michael Carroll, 20th Regt., wounds, Dec. 3. Thos. Corawall, 7th Regt., dysentery, Dee. 4. Thos. Horne, Ist Bat. Rifle Brigade, wounds, Dec. 4. Wm. Whiting, 20th Regt., amputation, Dec. 3. Henry Tingle, 28th Regt., , diarrhcea, Dec. 3. Chas. Bentley, 11th Hussars, febris, Dec. 4. The above return is imperfect, the total number not corresponding with that of the burials. The fault lies with the medical authorities, who have never been able since the commencement of active hostilities to overtake this detail of duty. RUSSIAN PRODUCE. The delay sought and obtained by the Goverment, re garding the announcement of their intentions as to the overland traffic in Russian produce, has apparently ex cited a feeling of dissatisfaction both among those who desire the trade to be stopped, and those who wish it to continue. It is an axiom in the conduct of the mercantile affairs of nations that anything is better than uncertainty, and the fact that, from the commencement of the war down to the present moment, almost all the commercial intimations given by Ministers hive proved vague, con tradictory, or delusive, is therefore strongly commented upon, notwithstanding the universal wish to avoid com plaining of such evils as the progress of the struggle may render inevitable. On the question of the blockade of the Black Sea, the confusion that has existed might have been lessened if the Government had stated their own uncertainties, instead of allowing notifications directly at variance with each other to proceed from different de partments, and to be followed by rather abrupt and positive answers, which were never subsequently verified to any member of the house of Commons' who might desire an explanation. Again, with regard to the stores of wheat lying within reach of the Danube, and which are alleged to be prevented reaching this country by the allied squadrons at the Sulina mouth, unnecessary loss has been inflicted, from the absence of any statement to satisfy the public of the necessity for the restriction, which, while it inflicts serious injury upon the people of this country, is equally damaging to Turkey, and is looked upon, according to some statements, as impolitic both by Turkey and Austria. Great, however, as have been the perplexities from these eircumstances,the doubts suffered to prevail on the question of the continuance of the transit of Russian produce overland to Memel and elsewhere are calculated to lead to results nearly as un desirable. In the Black Sea, throughout the past season, the prohibition by the Czar of the export of grain, combined with the absence of actual knowledge as to whether at any specific moment a blockade would be found to exist, tended considerably to diminish the effects of the want of action on the part of our ships, but the overland trade is subject to no such hindrances, and has gone on, and will continue to go on, steadily, unless dis tinct measures be taken. Every day, therefore, dur ing which this point is left in doubt our merchants, who, under impressions produced by former Ministerial state ments, have embarked in procuring substitutes, are car rying on a hazardous trade, while those who, on the contrary, are endeavouring to extend their business at the frontier Baltic ports are equally kept in anxiety. Of the extent of the interests involved an idea may be formed when it is stated that even under the small ex isting impediments to the arrival of Russian produce the supplies of linseed sent from Calcutta have increased from 440,733 maunds in the 12 months ending Sept. 30, 1853, to 1,025,595 maunds up to the like date in 1854, while, as regards hemp, from the same quarter, and palm oil, &c., from Africa and elsewhere, the move ment commercial bultimatelyn feeling communityt hattthhee has been equally striking ; and not onlyisa gam blingy character imparted to the whole of this trade, the risk is also incurred of dispiriting foreign produc b e ti rs these circumstances, it are to be disappointed. Under by allowing them to be stimulated by expectations which are will be admitted that the not unreasonable in expressinga postponing their Go vernment can justify themselvesnl decision for several weeks n sweer3r:ble and Peremptory adduc ing reasons of an etewsPeeecnialtlyheinAllie pre sent s and kind . s t T a That t suchnf the e re asons rea n t a i exist,o.ns b. whatever soreness • may prevail as to added that, Prussia, there is every edxisppeorsieitnicoendtboybterlaiedveers; during d in i g t may be the various arm the past year, there isthsetimllsaelfveeesl,inegntthhaet twhheeplree,sdeenstirGnuon to attend and recog nise an y representations co nnec t e d s i h t ow is n not expedient, h owever, that the the mer can til e i nterests of with thevermont have the country . aarvaemount claims of desire to avoid cavilling at a time wh en f or b earance i s dema nded on all sides should lead to a suppression of criticisms such as on points of this nature have lately ' been prevalent. ROBBERY OF A CO UNTING - HOUSE.—Some thieves en tered the counting house of Messrs. Robert Hyde, Greg, and Co., cotton-spinners, Quarrv.hank, Cheshire, a few nights since, picked the lock of the iron 'safe, and carried away 300/. To avoid detection while engaged in the rubbery, the thieves had taken with them three blinds, and placed them before the three windows of the count ing -house, MR. CHARLES DICKENS AT _READING. On Tuesday evening last the members of the Reading Literary, Scientific, acid Mechanics' Institution were de lighted by a visit from their newly-elected president, Mr. Dickens, who had kindly consented to inaugurate his connexion with the society by giving them a drama tic reading of his charming story of "The Christmas Carol." The presidency of the institution was held for many years by the late lamented Justice Talfourd, whose an nual visits and occasional lectures were regarded with peculiar pride and satisfaction by the inhabitants of his native town ; and when the melancholy death of the re vered judge deprived them of his valuable aid, the direc tors of the institution, remembering the affectionate re gard of their late president for the gifted author of 'Pickwick," at once determined to request that gentle• man to succeed him in the vacant office. The invite.- tion, thus conveyed, was cordially accepted by Mr. Dickens, although he had declined a hundred similar applications ; and in lieu of the formal services commonly ' associated with the office, he promised to read one of his Christmas books to the members. Accordingly, on Tuesday evening, the spacious ball - 6f - the institution was filled in every part long before the allotted hour, and notwithstanding the judicious ar- : rangements of the committee to accominodate the largest possible number without overcrowding, hundreds were unable to procure tickets. Nearly 1,000 of•the members and the leadin g families in the town and neighbourhood were present. Mr. Dickens was accompanied by several of his London friends, distinguished in literature, and having been introduced by the hon. secretary of the so ciety, Mr. Boorne, in brief and appropriate terms, was greeted with a degree of enthusiasm which the oldest favourites of a Reading audience might well have en vied. Mr. DICKENS began by observing, in reference to the immediate cause of his acceptance of the presidency, throb it was neither the time nor the place to speak of private griefs. They had all mourned the loss of a valued friend, of a great, good, and generous man. (Hear, hear.) It .was over now, and he could not trust himself to recall the past. He would proceed at once to the agreeable task which he had undertaken to perform, merely promising that when on a former occasion he read the " Christmas Carol" to an audience of 3,000 persons, he begged his hearers to regard themselves, for the time being', as a small snug party assembled round the Christman fire side. All he asked of his friends that night was, that they should indulge the same pleasant fancy—giving utterance to their emotions without restraint, and in their own accustomed way, without the slightest fear of disturbing him. (Loud cheers.) Mr. Dickens, taking! up his little volume, then read the complete story of thee " Christmas Carol," which, inclusive of an interval of ten minutes, occupied upwards of two hours and a half. He caught the entire sympathy of his audience in the very first page, and he held it unflagging to the very last. Dr. COWAN came forward at the close of the reading, and said he had been asked to propose the vote of thavhs. But he would do nothing of the sort. If the presence of Mr. Dickens, and the treat which he had given them,' did not extort their thanks without solicitation on hitv part, it would be a cruel satire upon themselves. The cheers 6f the audience, prolonged for many minutes, drowned the remainder of the doctor's speech, and anti cipated those of the mayor, Mr. E,all, who rose to thank Mr. Dickens on behalf of the town; and, after a brief acknowledgment from that gentleman, the assembly dia., persed. A large sum will accrue to the exchequer of the society. MATRIMONIAL ALLIANCES OF TATE RUSSIAN IMPERIAL FAMILY. We have seen the "Revue des Deux Mondes " our. the subject of the matrimonial alliances formed between the Imperial family of Russia and the petty princes of G er many, and believe it will be difficult to find one of ti\e latter who is not in some way or other enclosed in SI case of Russian binding. Male and female branches' on one side are intermingled with the same degrees of affinity on the other, and where .marriage is not the connecting bond, the junior members of reign ing families in Germany, its dukes and its onier 'nobles, are serving in various ranks in the Czar's household and armies. Recollecting that these Ge'. man families, so aptly personified in Voltaire's " Baront and Baroness von Tondertentronok," are all more or less connected by intermarriages, we fee! convinced that each is in some degree or other mixed up with Russia. A German auxiliary, it is seen, ought not to be r eshly taken into the confidence of England or France. E•Yen this country has not entirely escaped from the Czar's match-making policy. Though the Earl of Aberdeen may not hales been more than an old personal friend of the Emperor, some other members of the Administ ration are united b y ' marriages to Russian families of great distinction ; and it was stated, soon after the courteous bombardment at Odessa, that the gallant Admiral who performed that extraordinary exploit, had a Rteesian relation then residing in the town, which was carofAly preserved, and in which he possesses large property. The German States, whose reigning families are most closely connected by single and double marriages with . .. the Imperial line of Russia, are Baden, Oldenburg,. Wurtemburg, Electoral Hesse, Grand Ducal Hesse, the . D u chy of Warsaw, Saxe Altenburg, and Mecklen burg Strelitz ; and it is remarked, that " where there are no intermarriages with the Imperial family, there are princes, dukes, and archdukes attached to the Mu's• covite army by military dignities and employments. It is startling to see how many chiefs of Russian regiments and colonels of Russian dragoons and Uhlans there are among the haughty nobles who surround the German Sovereigns." The states above named are connected with Russia by two or three cross-marriages, and besides, in some .of them, members of the governing families are dignified by' holding commissions in the military service of Russia. Thus Prince Frederick, eon-in-law to the King of Wurtemburg, is a Colonel of Uhlans ; Prince Eugene, the King's cousin is a General of Russian infantry and one of the King's uncles, Duke Alexander, was a Russian General in -Chief, and at the head of the di- rection of the roads. Two sons of this Duke Alexander have both been Major-Generals in the Russian army. 1 In the Grand Duchy of Hesse, the Princess Mary, the sister of the reigning Grand uke, Louis 111., is mar ried to the Hereditary Grand Duke Alexander Nicolas witsch ; and her brother, Prince Alexander, issa Major. General in the service of Russia, and head of the Rus sian regiment of Borissoglebski. In the electorate of Hesse, Prince Frederick, a cousin of the Grand Duke, is son-in-law to the Emperor Nicholas, and Colonel of the Russian regiment of Mariapolsk ; Prince Emile, one of his uncles, is Colonel of the regiment of the Dragoon,`' of Khasan. Prince Ernest, one of the collateral branch of Hesse Philippstal Barchfield, is a retired General of Russian cavalry. In Oldenburg, Prince Pierre, son of' the Czar's sister, Catharine Paulowna, is a General of infantry in the Russian service, President of the Senate, Director of Civil and Ecclesiastical Affairs, and an " Impe rial Highness" by virtue of a special ukase. ln.short, it would be exceedingly difficult to find WY German family of note that is not connected with Russia by marriage or military and civil employments. We might go a little way out of Germany, and we shall find Belgium manufacturing weapons of war for Russia. Yet, with all these proofs of ties with Russia, it is pro posed that we shall hire the vagabond nobles and cut throats belonging to the small princes of Germany. What could be expected of suchlforces in case of another assault like that of Inkerman but they would imme diately side with the Cossacks, and turn against us the very arms with which we had provided them I—Morning Advertiser. THE MARYHILL MURDER.—Alexander, alias Stewart, who stands charged with this cold-blooded murder, is still at large. We observe that the autho rities have announced a reward of 251. for his apprehea sion —a step, we think, that should have been taken a fortnight earlier.—North British Daily Mail. EXTRAORDINARY PRIZE.—Mr. George Mansfield, son of the late Mr. Mansfield, shipbuilder, of Lyme Regis, has had 5,0001. awarded to him as salvage for recover ing 60,000 sovereigns from the ship Sacramento, wrecked at Port Philip on the 28th of April last. His boat's crew, six in number, were also awarded—one 2,0001., and the others 1,5001. each ; making a total of 14,5001.. The Grand Duke of Tuscany has issued a decree, dated the 12th, in which, after stating that he is con stantly intent upon making the expenses of the State: balance the receipts, he imposes a duty upon all animal"' slaughtered for sale or otherwise throughout the state. ST. PETERSBURG. —The advises from St. Petersburg reach to the 12th inst., but contain nothing new ex cept that a little tallow had been bought for shipment to Finland, whence it may probably reach this country through Sweden. From Odessa the dat es a re t o th e Bth inst., at which period there was no attempt at blockade. Two cargoes of tallow were loading, and the arrival of several vessels was expected, since it was asserted that several captai ns a t C onstant i nop l e h a d Av o E f z to t ,ffs h , e ARussianandr o , load without i o ßt r he t usf fore rt ofo molestation. the r . B c l a o ck m m Sea a n been advised by the Briti s h E m b assy t h at t h ey m i g h o t h sailem StevensonSeatr ao onLfyi could give judgment (at the LiverpoeilsaCt n u e r r t of Bankruptcy) yesterday, in the matter of Mr. Oliver, the petitioning creditor—Mr. Evans, of Chirch—who had obtained an extension of his time forfiling a petition till to-day (Thursday), sent a Message to the Court stating that he should not prosecute the matter further. Such, at least, was the rumour about the Court yester day, but upon what grounds or in what manner this re sult has been obtained must beleft entirely to conjecture. We find, on inquiry, that the act of bankruptcy was clearly proved, and that, though some difficulties presented themselves in the course of the discussion, the Court had intimated an opinion that, so far as regarded the act of bankruptcy, adjudication would follow. It ap pears that the deed of the 7th of October, assigning Mr. Oliver's property to trustees, was not produced throughout the inquiry, though every gentleman in any way connected with the document was severely exa mined upon oath as to what had become of it. This Is the more strange, as the deed is said to have been seen in the office of one of the trustees so late as yesterdsy week. It was then contended by the counsel,. on the o i t f i l s d o ,b the aff received ail; authority of several cases, that he was entitled to give . secondary evidence of the contents of the deed. is was the point of law on which the Court reserved. its judgment till yesterday, when the learned commissioner decided that such secondary evidenacendw, Another difficulty then arose with r egard to the . shippi ng . 1-It oceessfully combated. Tt is reported o'oer t.1,-.,1.1.s oulibid.:rabla aii,ow:t arc likel y to be substituted for Mr. Evans'' , of Mr. Oliver will still como wader the cont ro l o f th e Court, unless every diss entient creditor can be arranged with as easily as Evans,