The Sun. — London, England, 1863-12-24 00:00:00

••••••••i ..- .A GE-Yrs REQUIRED. THE ROYAL 7 ; T,NSURANCE COMPANY is prepared to ent , 7,rtain applications for Agency Appoint ments from gentlem en having command of Fire, and Life Business. The Royal has ales •ays been conspicuous for its liberality and promptitude in t he settlement of claims. Ifs annual Income is now over .£500,00) £l,to ),000 And its funds in ha nc I exceed Transfers of Policie s from other Companies received with out charge for Policy, whatever the amount. AG'dresa, JOIIN B. JOIINSTON, Secretary. Royal Insurance Cr , anparty, 20, Lombard-street. _ _ ONNET'S 3. 1 I B XS A LYON.—Ever— y Article of commerce tc a t . , ,t 1 its title either from the inventor or iii e more perfect the production the w i, ich attaches to the originator. 'manufacturer. and grater is the credit ~ are, _said to be incapable of identifica lIONN ET'S SILK. S tfon to Etwia.uf ; but the iallacy of such an assertion is ex pos dby the very trad u mark of the firm, as exhibited by ' Messrs. JA Y, of Regent-street. Thf, fol l ow ing inter wos , en mark may be seen at th , . end of ~,,'h pies . :_,, 3.taut: I actu.re de C. J. Bennet et Cie., it. Lyon ii, Injarieux." We . r giat snteed. 11.0 L) .t{A;NG —Messrs. JAY would respectfully ani iounee that great .ec'nemy is effeeed by pure a-ing Mourni cog at their esTablishrnent, 247 and 249, lt.r.G ENT-STREET, - ;;heir Stock of FAMILY MOURNING b e ing the largest in Eu r , pe. Though Messrs. Jay professedly keep the best a7ticles for Mourning and Halt-Mourning—at all times the cheupes t —they supply a Complete Suit of Domestic Mourning fa r 2 guineas. MOURNING COliT UME of every description is kept Eeady ade, and can be forwarded in town or country at a moment's notice. Pb( most re.isonc.ble prices are charged, and wear of every artid 'e is guaranteed. TOE LONDON GEN RAL MOURNING WAREHOUSE, Regent-s 1 reet (next the Circus). JAYS'. ENGLAND'S CONGRESS, in the CFIRISTMA - ; DO ÜBLE NUMBER of FUN, on lv ha\ ESDAY. One Pen. ROYAL ENOLISII OPERA, COVENT- GARDEN. Under the Management ~ t Miss Louisa Pyne and Mr. W. HI irrison. On BOXING NIGHT (Satin. lay, Dec. 26), to commence with the second Act of Balfe's pr putar opera, THE BOHEMIA -N GIRL. After which, a Grand Christmas Pantomime, on a s3ale of unprecedented nianificence, ntit led HARLEQUIN ST. GEORGE AND THE DRAGON. Doors open at half-past Six— C ommence at Seven. THEATRE ROYAL DRU It Y-1, AN E. Managers, Messrs. Edmond'. Falconer and F. B. Chatterton . On BOXING NIGHT, Dec. 26. the _Farce cf A ROLAND FOll. AN OEIVEtr. Messrs. Walt - " !r Lacy, Addison, G. Lelmore, the Misses He.‘th, It. Leclerc q, Murray. To conclude with the new Grand Ct ,ristrnas Comic Panto mime ot SINBAD THE SAILOR. - .) r, The Seven Wonders of fir. World. Clowns, Messrs. Ell The and C. Lauri ; liarlequins, Messrs. J. Corma.ck and S. Saville ; Pantaloons, Messrs. W. A. Barns and J. ..orris :: Columbines, Madame Boleno and Misses Gunniss. Prices as usual. Box Office open fr , lm 10 till 5 day—. .._. , ------ y ----Management ( 3 E lj ‘1 of itirr.,ffvFnelEchbteAerr.elpreeßac...„:l: ---- R 0 YA 1, LYC EUM Under the S BEL DE NW NTIO (a Triumphant Suwess) on BOXING NIGIIT, Saturday, Dec. 26, MONDAY, and Every Evening during the Week. lioxiNG NiG irp, the performance . will commence with New and OrLrinztl farce, entitled 'l.llll LOST CHILD a : Messrs. 11. Widd e ic s o . T e b r e c , ,, Shore Gar Paud "n. F. Charles Collett, Moreland ; Miss ~ 1 ne Le4 erel, Wood, Mr Lee, s. and Antis E. Lav,..au: - After which, Story, at Eight o'clock, BEL DEITONIO, a Love taken from Stendhal's "Italian rt Chronicle Twelve Tableaux, le ." by Mr. John lirou, earn. srs. Principal charac ter by Mr. Fechter, suppo ed by' rcav4 h , ,in, Emery, Raymond il Collert, Sims* Miss Kate -Tore.'and, Smith, Clifford, miss Elsworthy. berry, E. Lavenu, 11.1 rs. Lee, and ... ... -- The Public are entreated to take notice that No Charge is made to the occupants of Boxes, Box-places, or Stalls, either for PLAY h 114 or for the safe keepin , of hat ant cloaks, and t, at the attendant s i n a l l parts of the house are forbidden to receive any gratuities Whatever. Box-office open daily from 11 to 5. Commence at 7. THEATRE ROYAL HAYNIARIiET.- Sole Lessee and Martarer, Mr, Buckstone. BOXING NIGHT, OUR AMERICAN COUSIN : Messrs. Fothern, Buckstone, Chipperalate,. Braid, Gordon, Rogers, Clark; Cullentord, &c. ; Mesdames nge 1, Snowden, Terry, Lindley, Hid, Arc After which, KING ARTHUR ; or The Days and Knights of the Round fable. Messrs. Cliipoendaio, Compton. Braid, Clark, Rogers, Tilbury, &c. ; Mesdames L. Keeley, Brough, Wright, Terry, Lindley, Rogers, &c. Commence at 7. ROYAL ST. JAMES'S THEATRE. under the Manswement of Mr. B. WEBSTER, will OPEN on BiXING NIGH r.—Amongst the artists engaged are Mr. Benjamin Webster, Mr. J. L. Toole, Mr. Paui Bedford, and Mr Cha-les Mathews; Mrs. Stirling - , Mrs. Frank Mathews, Miss Cottrell, Miss Fanny Josephs, Miss Wentworth, and Mrs. Cft ries Mathews. On BOXING NIGHT, the new Comic Drama of the HEN AND CHICKENS : Mrs. Stirling in her original character. At zer which, a Comical Conglome:atiye Christmas Absur dity, by Henry J Byron, Esq., and entitled lB6>. ; or, THE SENs'ATIONs OF IHE PAST SEASON, win_ a Shameful Beyela:ion of Lad/ Somebody's Secret. New Scenery by Danson a.id Sons. Appointments by Mr. Ireland. Music by M. Wallerstein. Principal characters by Mt..). L. Toole, Mr. Bedford, Miss Cottrell, Miss Fanny Josephs, &c. And the BIRTH PLACE OF PODGERS : Mr. J. L. Toole in his original character. iNT ENV TH E ATE. E-R0 Y . AL, Al)} ELPI-11.-• A: 11 Soie Proort.tor and Martagor. Mr. B. Wfthster. THIS EVENING, THE PRETTY tIOILSEBREAIi ER. Die,srs. J. L. Toole, Paul Bedford, and Miss Woolgar. tB, the New Drama of LEAH : Bth wee of Miss Bate man, supported by Messrs. Arthur Stirling', IL. Phillips, Bil linglon, Stuart, St;Thenson, Eburne; Miss 11. Simms, and Mrs. Billingten. fo conclude with ICI ON MIME FRANCAIS. Mr. J. L. Toole. Commence at 7. LEAH. -EVERY NIGHT. NIFISS BATEMAN.—LEAH.—Tms EVENING, VII the 71st appearance of the great Tragic Actress, Miss BA EMAN, in the character of LEAH. In c•msequence of the unbounded success with which Miss Bateman's imperso nation of the prii.cipat character in the new Five Act Drama of LEAH has been attended. Mr Webster begs to announce that it will be performed EVERY EVENING until further notice. ROYAL STRAND THEATRE. Mank,rer, Mr. W. H. Swanborough. THIS EVENING, MIRIAM'S CRIME. Messrs- Geo. Honey, Parselle, Belford, Turner, Miss K. Saville, and Miss Manners. Followed by (27th time) PATIENT PENELOPE ; or, The Return of Ulysses. Messrs. honey and Fenton ; Mesdames Bwanborough and Simpson. After which, Mr NEW PLACE. Mr. A. Wood. Commence at 7. THE SUN, LONDON, TH[TBSDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 24, 1863. THE THIRD EDITION OF " THE SUN," owii ontatning, the Latest SPORTING INTELLIGENCE, had Every Evening ot G. R. GLMNIE, Nrws AGENT, I TO. 4, Connaught-terrace, Hyde-park. 1.11(134 MATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. This Tcoktoßsaw.. 12h. 42m.—Afternoon, DI. 4m. X orning, lh. 30m.—Afternoon, lh. 51m. The Weather,sun Office, Dec. 24, 1863. This day at Tw o , l iatoldETEß. Bar x ~ 4B Taoderate, and hazy. o ti o_T f__ 8 ,,,,,411-!;c1 • - 11711 t. LOND'JN, THUB.SDAY, ' 2l , 1 As Ole practised swordsman was (lo w, to notice any flaw or chink in the armour of his mversary, so in the dipl oma ti c circular wh ich he h ash issued to his confreres, M. DROUYN DE L iu J 1: h'as not failed to avail himself with singular Ito 4 sagacious dexterity of the advantage presented t o his hand by the refusal of England to take a part faa a other in the recently p ro p ose d C ongress . 'European Sovereigns," h e says , "i n their reply to the letter of the EMPEROR have rendered homage to that bold initiative which, laying bare the dan gers of the situation, proposed the most pacific and legal means to appease them." Ad the Courts have given Either a reserved or an unqualified assent to the Proposition. " One single Power, England, has refused." England has has therefore not only rest her voice—the emphatic "f°ice which she was justly entitled to hold—in the eouaress of Nations, but all the onus of any diffi- Ilty or dissension that may, and that almost inevi te73lY w ill,arse,must naturally, now, fall upon her ! According te , the san gu i ne re p resen t a ti ons o f t h e ? retch Minister, all might have been so unanimous tArla 83 amicable! C,);;l.crviiesr, ould 1 : 4,e : v Vho probable result of these hero a salutary aral honour bit: transaction." a _ f,nataad, however, has chopen to enae the part of m AnPLOT, and the whole ,c Ai a prog,rarma c is disturbed. What the result have been under Other circumstances it, it impossible to Bay- The various belligerent of Earope have not arrived attliat powers „et state of concord amon g an t, gonjoic pi , f . l• attained by " The nAlDay. Family" natures of the Even in that wonderful and isolated example, we believe it is fear rather than love—a wl:Ulesomc of tho muster outside the cage rather than any particular triendraa p for the helpless brothers wilh - - that induc ts the cats and hawks to maintain such very amicable relations with the mice and sparrows. By a simi- creation. larly beneficial exercise of an equally efficacious influence, the French EMPEROR —if we are to believe his own representations, and the protes tation of his Minister—and we see no reason for discrediting them—is desirous of curbing the rapacity and stifling the animosities now so painfully prevalent among the " powers that be" in Europe, and which threaten ere long,; indeed, to involve the whole Continent in a disastrous " civil war." According to that beautiful definition of the great NAPOLEON, now happily recalled to us by his suc cessor, "to fight in Europe is to make civil war !" As an evidence that such a beneficial interference was not uncalled for, M. DROUYN DE LIIUYS cites, for example, very ju,tly, the present troubles in Denmark. " Recent events, " he tgites occasion to remark, "have justified sooner than we believed, the provisions of the EmrEßort. The King of DENMARK dies ; passions are aroused— people become agitated and undecided—Govern ments balance between the letter of treatiee and the national sentiment of their country. A . con. dress could alone conciliate the duties of sovereign s bound by conven tionsazd sa t l h o e f l E eg n i g ti l m an a d te haspo aspirations opsed of the peoples." The re an insuperableEo:psEteitcole l to , t , h T e h r e ea s l e i c s o a n ti d on h o y f the first hypothesis —the restricted Con gress. I ts reali ndesire o m f a t i h n e s sation,depend on the will of the Sovereigns." "It w ill not have the judicial authority which would have belonged to a European Congress," and cony:- v= tiy many preliminaries will be discussed be tween the various Ministers for Foreign Affairs before the actual meeting can take place. Having premised in the former part of his letter that "France, which had no advantage to gain jor herself in the eventuality of a General Con gress would have made common cause with all the enlightened Governments to bring about reconciliation, extinguish rancour, &c.," the French Minister very adroitly takes advantage of the refusal of England to render the Congress unanimous an I judicial, and observes, in conclusion, "We should be able, after the decision of the British Cabinet, to consider our duty as accom plished, and for the future, in any event that may arise, only to take account of what may be suitable to us and of our private interests." Such a threat of what we might do is, perhaps, natural under the circumstances, and must be pardoned in recognition of the magnanimity of the assurance that follows, that France will not avail herself of the opportunity offered by England, but in considera tion of " the good dispositions" manifested by the other Powers, will be ready to enter frankly with them on the path of a common understanding. That such a happy result may be evolved from the present apparently hopeless entanglement must be the common desire of all, even of England, who has been placed by her minister in such an enviable position, that while no merit will be attributed to her, and no praise awarded to her in any contingence that may arise, all the blame and ali the obloquy of failure will be cast in her teeth and fall on her self-devoted heed. The most important and useful institutions intro duced for the benefit of the public during the present century are the Life and Fire Insurance Companies. These societies are not only invaluable to the general public, but are also highly remune rative to the shareholders. Government has Like wise stepped in to claim a share, and that it uch to the detriment of insurers. At present the. duty on insurances is, in regard to the money received by the Company, about 150 per cent., and increases in proportion to the risk run by the insurers. With regard to life insurances we do not, wish to advert at present, except to remark ',hat while they are invaluable to the prudent tradesman, as a means of securing an independence 'co his family in case of sudden death, he has bu s t invested his savings as a provision for his successors. There are at present various forms and principles of investment, which may be made to serve any possible exigency; yet, as we cannot expect the good without the evil, Loan Societies of all descriptions have sprung up, many of which are mere shams, consisting of a secretary and a clerk or two, in a showy office, and an accommodating life assurance company, through which agency a policy is obtained and handed over to the Loan Society, large expenses incurred, and elaborate rules and regulations, and fires and penalties, the enforcement of which is placed in the hands of a sharp lawyer, on the no cure no pay system. We mention these facts simply as a warning to our readers not to be deceived by the many specious advertisements which daily appear in the public press. The fact to which we wish particularly to draw attention is the determination of the Fire In surance Companies of the metropolis to withdraw their support from the fire brigades, or more pro perly to discontinue their maintenance, which has hitherto devolved (with the exception of the parish engines) entirely upon the combined London com panies, who maintain that the progressive extension of the metropolis necessitates an increase of expen diture which they cannot any longer submit to. They have therefore notified to the Home Secretary their coming determination not to hold themselves responsible fur the extinction of fire, and suggesting that the brigade should be placed under the control of the police, as in Birmingham, Manchester, and other cities. The charge for its maintenance being met by a universal parish-rate, or if the police cannot under take the responsibility, that the Metropolitan Board of Works be requested to do so, that body holding jurisdiction alike in the City or the West-end, a control not exercised by the Metropolitan Police. There certainly seems to be some reason in this de mand at first sight, but when we come to look into the ease, the question naturally suggests itself, who "e se interested in the preservation of property as Th e _ v companies, who are held responsible for it s a.l 11" They make large profits by their busine ss , tielve and e b X not to begrudge a small outlay to pre vent as eat es possible its destruction. It never can be to the inter e of any householder to d es t roy w antonly hi s re fit even tree, pttii:erty in the hope of obtai n i ng a p ule, f a fire in almost every case is a loss of money, nrop, tt no ma j te , r an , d ow tim h time to . the unfortu heavily he may be insured; Pr° nate pfroiertoirn,stauce, a man £5,000, and t - I , e office to may be insured for I Thish h e may have premium for 60 paid the p years has re ceived that pa yment nothing destroyed theloath but when y immediately his property is en deavour to show that it was not worth eibove £2,000, and refuse to pey beyond that amo unt. 1 ' 1105 5 art ' the matters welt known to the initiated, and, thanks to the recent celebreted trio], pretty well to „, er tamed by the general piddle. It is complained of, that out of about £900,0011,000 oh propvrty in the metropolis, not one-third is insured, so that the in sured pay for the uninsured as regards fire engines. Who, we would ask, is to blame for `l is state of thing. ? IT CI not, our Government deison insur ances out of this country to Holland, Hamburg, and other places, by the oppressive duty levies: upon these provident institutions. Late in beet session the hoc, member for Dudley brought for ward his bill for the gradual reduction of the duty on insurances, and it was entertained by the House, notwithstandi ng the opposition of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and Mr, SHERIDAN promised to the immediate reduction of the duty on insurances bring it on again before the House early in the ensu ing session. The bill proposed to two shilli ngs in the hundred pounds in lieu of three s hilli ngs andupwards, as at present, and a further reduction in a few yearsto one shilling. The obje c ti on to this, a course would greatl y re d uce the Governmentrevenue from this sou rce , i s answered that such by the almost conclusive argument that it is only the heavy duty upon insurances that deters so many householders from availing themselves of its advan to ges, and consequently t h at on the modification of that duty the increase of policies would eventually more than indemnify the Exchequer for its first loss, just as the reduction of high rates of pos`age to the penny system changed the revenues of the Post_ office from a deficit to a surplus. Another advantage would also be gained; the increase of business thrown in the way of the insurance offices would enab e them yet further to reduce their charges. We trust that early in the ensuing session grave attention will be paid to this all-important question. If, as we hope, Mr. SHERIDAN'S motion be carried, we cannot see that the parish authorities can throw any reason able obstruction in the way of the proposition for placing the maintenance and control of the fire biigade under the Metropolitan Board of Works, yet it must be clearly understood that on their undertaking that responsibility shall the Fire In surance Offices bear a proportion of the expense. They claim a right of placing their officers in charge .of property injured by fires in which their offices are interested, and we cannot foresee any thing but difficulty in this proceeding unless to a certain degree they are connected with the Fire Brigade, Likewise it must be imperative upon all companies to remit to the holders of their policies any reduction of the duty, and, furthermore, that if the Board of Works undertake the responsibility they shall have full and undivided authority over all the districts of the Metropolis ; that their officers shall have full access to the fire plugs and not be obliged to hunt up the parish beadle, and other holders of the keys. Also that the parish engines be improved and rendered more efficient than at present ; and if it be considered necessary still to leave them under the jurisdiction of the local authorities, that the officers of the Board be at liberty to inspect them when deemed requi site. The electrin telegraph has practically trebled the number of our engines, by enabling every esta blishment in London to learn instantaneously the exact seat of any conflagration. Steam fire-engines have, again, greatly advanced the efficiency of our fire brigade ; and although nothing can surpass the activity and the daring of our firemen, there may yet be room for improvement in other branches of this important service. We have little doubt that the insurance companies and the parish authorities, jealous as both are of their supposed rights, would g l a d y agree to such an arrangement. With regard to the farmer, it needs only to empower the Board of Works to form a National or even a Metropolitan Insurance Company on an extended scale; in fact, a practically National insurance, the profits of which would more than defray any expenses of engines and of firemen, no matter how extensive, and enable proprietors to insure for a far less cost than at pre sent. The protracted trial in the Court of Queen's Bench, which so much affected the interests of our merchants and shipowners, has at length been brought to a close. The verdict of the jury is, all things considered, highly satisfactory, inasmuch that, although ostensibly for the defendants, they have yet so qualified it that no official slur rests either up on the be much plaintiff or his agents. It would to be regretted if a long and honourable career should not stand a man in good stead when he enters upon a doubtful contest, in which, to say the least of it, he has not a good case. So far as private interests are concerned, the matter might rest here; but there are circumstances connected with the loss of the Harbinger, and the subsequent trials, which must result, sooner or later, to the ad vantage of our mercantile marine and the nation at large. The case in question is simply this :—The Harbinger, an iron steamer of some 600 or 700 tons, originally built for her MAJESTY'S service, was sold out of the navy, end eventually came into the pos• session of Mr. LINDSAY'S firm, and was despatched to trade between Calcutta and China, on which ser vice she was engaged for upwards of two years. In February, 1859, she sailed from Calcutta for Eng land, and at this epoch her misfortune© began. Encountering bad weather on approaching the Cape, she put into Algoa Bay for shelter. On the weather moderating she again put to sea, only to be driven back—this time with a leak in one of her bottom plates, which, on examination, proved to have been caused by one of the rivets having given. This defect being temporarily repaired, she once more started upon her voyage, but with no better success than before, for having again to return to Algoa Bay she was considered to be strained, and several boltheads were reported to have given way. Upon this the captain decided upon the extraor dinary course of proceeding personally to England to consult the owners as to how he was to act. He reached London in safety, obtained 801110 £4,000 from the underwriters, and returned to Algoa Bay, where he found the ill-fated Harbinger still afloat, notwithstanding that several heavy gales had been experienced in that roadstead. It was discovered upon the arrival of the captain that the ship had somehow or other sprung a considerable leak in her bottom plates under the pumps, add, to make a long story short, although there was a chance of saving the vessel, either by heaving her down in Algoa Bay (the cargo having been previously tran shipped), or else of running for Simon's Bay, a dis tance of about 500 miles, where she could have been properly overhauled. The captain, acting on his own judgment, sold the ship and engines for an old song in the interest of the underwriters, and his owners forthwith claim from them the full insurance, as though the vessel had foundered at sea, or been dashed to pieces on an iron-bound coast. This is but a short summary of the events, but upin these and the verdict of the jury we wish to make a few observations. We ought not tc be surprised, when medical men of the highest standing have the assurance to assert that a man is insane because he commits a murder, that. gentleman of nautical experience should gravely maintain that a captain is justified in abandoning his ship because she has sprung a trifling leak. The usages of the service require that the captain, es the responsible agent fur the owners and most experienced man on board, ought to stand by his ship when she is in difficulty. If it were necessary to refer to the owners fur ulterior inetructiens, he could surely have sent a substitute. HA the state of the Hai bioger been as critical us the withesses for the plain-- the roadstead " would hav e us b e li eve , it i s not pro b a bl e t h at she cowu . t haVe oi W . A Ca ig t o he a r i d ay a du su ri e n c g es t s i i j o e n pe o r f io g d a w le h s ic i l n i must necessarily have elap s ed when the ca pt a i n was absent. i t is absurd to suppose that during that interval there were not abundant opportunities of running to Sirnou's B ay. Again, even when the capta i n a t l as t re j oined his ship, ho had no excuse lth n h o v re s ttro.eipli Nemesia,tg her r for fear t h at she might be lost. t h e first of the light draught India service, made her voyage round the Cape, she en iron steamers b uilt for the 'East countered heavy weather, which strained her light framework ter ribly, and extensive rents became visible in her plates from the deck downwards on either side, which ominously increased. Iron ships were novelties in those days, and were not braced together as at present, but her officers and crew did not des pair. They did the best they could to secure the ship for the time, and on the first opportunity beached her in a sandy bay on an unfriendly coast, and repaired damages as far as possible. The ser vices of the Nemesis were invaluable during the China war of that period. Where would she have been if the commander had acted on the principle of the master of the Harbinger. No charge of wilful neglect is brought by the underwriters, and we are glad for the character of Mr. LINDSAY and his cap tain that the jury have done them justice in this respect, and we may pass over this unfortunate occurrence, feeling confident that the high standing so deservedly held by the officers in our merchant navy cannot bo effected by the want of energy and discretion evinced in the case of the Harbinger. The very fact that the underwriters of Lloyds' have felt it incumbent on them to dispute the claim of one of the largest and most respected firms in the kingdom, shows us that they are at length awaking to a sense of the responsibility which their position entails upon them. Let them persevere in this course honestly and without favour as in the present case. Let them refuse all insurances without a certificate of seaworthiness, and a guarantee that the ship is properly found from an authorised agent, and the loss of life and property wilt diminish in proportion to the rigour with which such regula tions are enforced. LATEST INTELLIGENCE. (REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.) THE POLISH INSURRECTION. BRESLAU, DEC. 23. Advices received here from Warsaw state that Gen. Berg has ordered twenty-five Prussian sub jects imprisoned at Kalisch to be transported to Siboria, The insurgent chief Chemski, also a Prussian subject, has been shot. Two new convoys of political prisoners have been sent away to Siberia. MEETING OF POPULAR DELEGATES. FRANKFORT, DEC, 21. For the first time since the German Parliament of 1848, deputies from the different legislative assemblies of Germany met is this city to-day to discuss the question pre-occupying the popular mind. The provisional committee sat yesterday from 4 in the afternoon until past midnight. The resolutions lately taken at Nuremberg were unanimously adopted, the deputies engaging to support every Ministry whose acts accorded with their tenor; but, at the same time, to oppose, by every legal means, such Governments as should adopt a different course. The sitting commenced at half-past 10 this morning, Herr Muller, a Frankfort lawyer, having been chosen President. The first resolution brought forward by the committee was to the following effect : "This meeting declares that the rights of Ger many in Schleswig-Holstein can only be effec tively preserved by the separation of the Duchies from Danmark. The death of Frederick VII. has dissolved their union with Denmark. The Treaty of London of May 8, 1852, concluded with out the assent of the Representative Assemblies, and of the Agnates, whose consent was legally re quisite, and which has also not been recognised by the Germanic Diet, constitutes no title to Christian IX. to succeed to the throne in Schleswig-Holstein. In virtue of certain rights, Frederick of Schleswig- Holstein-Souderburg-Augustenburg is called to assume the succession in these Duchies. By ren dering valid the succession to the Throne in the person of Duke Frederick, the rights of Germany in Schleswig-Holstein will at the same time be established. The obligation is, therefore, incum bent upon the German people to make every necessary sacrifice for its offended honour, for its endangered rights, for its brethren of kindred race, and for their legitimate princes. " Unanimous in this view, the Members of Ger man representative bodies here assembled bind themselves to bring about the following objects by every legal means within their power and sphere : —l. To cause the reorganisation of Duke Frede rick's rights wherever it has not yet taken place, as well as to obtain its acknowledgment by the Fede ral Diet; 2. To render these rights valid without regard to foreign protests, to effect the separation of the Denmark, and to re-establish immediately their independence and indissoluble union. " They further bind themselves to support those German Governments who loyally and actively take in hand the rights of the Duchies, and to oppose, by every constitutional means, those Governments which abando❑ the rights and honour of Germany in this question." The resolution was supported by Herr Edel, a professor at Wurzburg, who endeavoured, in a fer vent speech, to demonstrate the illegality of the London treaty, and reviewed the cases in which it had been violated by Denmark. The speaker, who was frequently interrupted by the applause of the meeting, foretold that the signature of the London treaty might become the epitaph of the Federal Diet, and stated that the German nation must maintain its right, even at the risk of an European war. After communicating several telegraphic mes sages to the meeting, the President read a letter from a number of members of the Austrian Reichs rath, who were prevented from attending, but expressed their entire sympathy with Schleswig- Holstein. The first resolution being unanimously adopted without alteration, the second, brought forward by a minority of the committee, was next put to the meeting. It was the following ;—" This meeting appoints a committee of 36 members, as the centre of the legal activity of the German nation in pur suing the rights of the Schleswig-Holstein Duchies and of their legitimate Duke, Frederick VIII. This committee shall be authorised to appoint a sub committee consisting of a few of their number, to transact current business. The committee can, should circumstances require, convoke another general meeting of the members of the German Re presentative Assemblies." The resolution was supported by Dr. Loewe, of Berlin, and was adopted by a large majority after speeches from Herren Moritz and Mohl of S tutt gard ; Herr Schulzedelisch, of Berlin; Herr Prinz, of Prague, a member of the Austrian Reichsrath ; Herr Haberkorn, of Saxony ; and Herr Wiggers, of P.endsburg. The members of the committee were then chosen. Among them were Herren Muller and Varrenhappe, Frankfort ; Herr Lang of Wiesbaden ; Herr Metz of Darmstadt; Herren Benningsen and Mignet of Hanover; Herr Godefray, of Hamburg; Herr Wig gers, of Rendsburg ; Herren Rulsbower and Gross, of Vienna; Herren Unruh, Loewe. Schulze-Delitzzch, Franz Duncker, Von Hornbeck, Tvvestcn, and Von Sybel, of Prussia. The third resolution—perhaps the most important of the three—was carried amidst loud acclamations. It ran thus : " This meeting considers it a solemn duty to avow itself in favour of the right of the German nation to obtain at the earliest possible period the re-esta, blishment of a common representative assembly (Parliament), which present circumstances render above all necessary.' A cheer for Germany, proposed by the President, was heartily given by the 500 members who had come to the meeting from all parts of Germany, and vociferously repeated by the great numbers of spec tators crowding the galleries of the Saalban. THE EXECUTION IN HOLSTEIN. HAMBUttG, DEC. 23, Evening. Tlle military dispositions are being continually changed. At five this morning the Austrians assembled to march to Attune, where contrary orders were re ceived, and they are now to remain here for the presEnt. Up to 9 p.m. the chief military post of Altona was still occupied by the Danish troops. THE SCHLESWIG-lIOLSTEIN QUESTION. FRANKFORT, I)F.c. 23 (Evening). An extraordinary sitting of the Federal Diet has resolved, upon the urgent demand of Bavaria, to request the committees upon Schleswig-Holstein to come to a resolution on ,the succession question as early as possible. FRANCE. BOURSE, Doc. 23.—The *market continues in the same state of inaction, bui prices are well main- United Kingdom. 37,887,9481 38,766,596' 878,648 And, as compared with the month ending the 15th Nov., 1862, the above returns show an increase of £859,201 in the circulation of notes in England, and an increase of £1,068,372 in the circulation of the United Kingdom. On comparing the above with the fixed issues of the seve ral banks the following is the state of the circulation : The English private banks aro below their fixed issue The English joint-stock banks are below their fixed issue £275,514 Total below fixed issue in England.... £1,169,110 The Scotch banks are above their fixed issue .. £1,777,431 The Irish banks are below their fixed issue .... £338,793 The average stock of bullion held by the Bank of Eng land in both departments during the month ending the 11th Nov. was £14,085,759, being a decrease of £948,585 as compared with the previous month, and a decrease of £1,475,463 when compared with the same period last year. The following are the amounts of specie held by the Scotch and Irish banks during the month ending the 14th Nov.: — Gold and silver held by the Scotch banks £2,493,742 Gold and silver held by the Irish banks 2,070,535 X 4,531,277 Being an increase of £303,309 as compared with the previous return, and a decrease of £88,855 when compared with the corresponding period of last year. PLYMOUTH, Dec. 22.—The Saxon, taken off Pen guin Island by the Vanderbilt, was supposed to have on board the cargo of the Conrad, captured by the Alabama, and renamed Tuscaloosa, or of the Sea Bride. The vessel with her crew had not reached Table Bay ; her mate was re ported to have met with his death, but it was not known by what means. The Vanderbilt appropriated 250 tons of coal on Penguin Island belonging to a firm at Cape Town. She was refused coal by the authorities at Table Bay, consequent on her having coaled within three months at St. Helena, Simon's Bay, and Mauritius. She boarded a coasting ves sel on the 4th Nov., examined her papers and cargo, and then steetel for Angra Pequena. Her Majesty's ship Valo rous was then sent to protect any British property, and re turned with the news of the capture of the Saxon. Cape Town, Nov. 23.—The captain of the Alabama sold the Sea Bride and the cargo of the Conrad. The former, it appears, was delivered at Saldanha Bay, and a rendezvous made at Angra Pequina ; and it is understood that some part of the cargoes must have been landed at that place, or at Penguin Island, close by. It is said that a vessel had loaded and sailed from Penguin Island with part of the Conrad's cargo before the capture of the Saxon. The Isabella, the vessel that has on board the crew of the latter, hats passed Ichaboe to go to Hottentot's Bay to fill up with cargo for that place. The :semen. Was sent away for New York in charge of the prize crew on the 25 November. TOWNLEY IN THE CONDEMNED CELL.—The Rev. C. R. Gordon, who had been sent for specially to visit this unfortunate culprit, thus writes of his state of mind :—" The conclusion to which I have come con cerning him, and that, too, after lengthened interviews, is, that the criminal is not a responsible agent. Again and again he has expressed delight that his life is to be taken. His manner at times is decidedly maniacal ; he rolls his eyes, his countenance flushes unusually, and he talks incoherently. At other periods he is as gentle as a child, and appreciates kindness. When sitting in his cell with him last Monday, his manner quite alarmed me, and but for the presence of another I should imme diately have called in the two warders who are constantly with him. He justifies murder without giving a reason. He contradicts himself repeatedly, acknowledges at one time what he denies another. It is a useless effort to endeavour to instruct him in religion, for he has no mental capacity to receive it. His conduct from the time of his committing; the awful crime for which he is now doomed is in keeping with this. When asked in his calm moments how be could ever have brought himself to commit it, he answers, All was dark before my eyes ; I don't know anything about it.' Much as the death of the victim is to be deplored, I say it would be more horrid still if an irresponsible agent now were to be taken to the gallows. According to Blackstone's Commentaries,' this is a suffi cient cause to arrest the capital sentence. It is alike con sistent with humanity as with justice, that a further medi cal examination should be made before the law is allowed to take its course. It would suggest, also, that the prison officers be examined. There are other rea sons which it appears to me might be urged in his behalf, but on this it is now unnecessary to enter. I have given a stern, impartial, and conscientious consideration of his con dition, and I can come to no other conclusion than that which I have now expressed." PERMEABILITY OF IRON.—Oar readers may re collect our having, some months ago, mentioned certain experiments made by MM. H. Sainte-Claire De ville and Troost, from which it appeared that, by a kind of endosmosis scarcely to be suspected in the case of a metal, hydrogen would pass through the pores of a platinum tube. Last week, the Academy of Sciences received from them a new paper, in which they announce a similar property in iron. The great difficulty was, to find a tube answering to the various conditions required for the experiment. The best iron to be found in the market might still be open to some objection, since in point of fact it is a mere sponge flattened by a hammer, like common platinum. They succeeded at length, through the kindness of a friend, in obtaining a tube of cast steel containing so little carbon that it did not admit of being tempered. It was in reality rather iron than steel, and so soft that it was drawn into a tube without heating or sol dering, though its sides were of a thickness of from three to four millimetres. To the ends of this tube two other tubes of aniuch smaller diameter, and of copper, were soldered with silver; the whole was then introduced into an open porcelain tube, which was put into a furnace ; a glass tube luted to one end, established a communication with an apparatus gene rating hydrogen completely deprived of atmospheric air; while at the other end, another glass tube, bent at right angles, dipped into a mercury bath, its vertical branch being 80 centimetres long. For the space of eight or ten hours a current of hydrogen was driven through the apparatus, which was maintained at a high temperature, so as to exhaust the action of the hydrogen on the sides of the iron tube, and to drive away all the atmospheric air, as the moisture eontained in the tube, or likely to be pro duced there. This done, the communication between the iron tube and the hydrogen apparatus was cut off by melting down the glass tube by the aid of the blow-pipe. No sooner was this effected, than the mercury, no longer kept down by the stream of hydrogen, yielded to the pressure of the air, and rose in the vertical glass tube to the height of 740 millimetres, or very nearly the usual barometrical height. This would not have happened had there not been a nearly va cuum in the tube the instant the supply of hydrogen ett cut off. But what had become of the hydrogen e sibl, naludY, before? There is but ono explanation f po the atmosphere, complentew that notwithstanding the pressur of pores of the the hydrogen has passed through e d oat powerfulin t o a furnace g gas"'dir„,,en. s w t h ee e l re tu th b e e. re alrioenrceoduacniniron tube.sinatinro copies Y e s t ot r a d l l a y private W a instru ment for carrying off all the h eNe.vdpd the DEPOSIT OF P e number far plans were rt 'jutted f depo&its at the the last to 1 17 1 L °'Ig N e E f : the So P U I' deposit. `'PALES ABol ho nLi:3LeUdS lIRANGERS. —The bills for d tl a i y e whel„ gives an account of the i / o u o r s t ity✓ bushrangers,hferadl Gilbert, B en H a ll, B ur k e , f,S.rvyaeduien:eoytaoniird O'Meally, entering Mr. Itothery's house, at Limestone Creek, just as that gentleman was sitting down to dinner. They handcuff:xl hini and ate his dinner, call ing for champagne. After dinner they played the piano - forte, and, before leaving, tried two or three horses, so as to select the best. Mr. Rothery is a magistrate of the colony, anti an extensive squatter in the neighbourhood of Carew. 4 4pt`; dital • v,i HER MAJESTY. OSBORNE, Dec. 23. Their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales arrived at Osborne yesterday, on a visa to the Queen. His Royal Highness Prince Alfred returned with the Prince of Wales. The Judge Advocate-General had an audience of the Queen yesterday afternoon. The Marquis and Marchioness of Ailesbury are entertaining a small party of friends at Tottenham park, Wilts. The Earl and Countess of Yarborough are enter taining a - family party at Brocklesby, the seat of the familY in Lincolnshire. The Earl Cowper, accompanied by the Countess and the Ladies Cowper, has arrived at Rome from Florence for the winter. The Earl and-Countess of Morley, aft er a tour in the South of France, have arrived at Rome. The Earl and Countess de Grey have ma de arrangements to pass the Christmas in London. Hi s lord ship is the only Secretary of State resident in to wn. The Countess of Chesterfield has left Grosvenor street to visit the Earl and Countess of Carn arvcn, at Highclere Castle, near Newbury. The noble ear l remains in town. The Earl Beauchamp, who has recently retired from the Life Guards, has gone to Gibraltar for t he benefit of his health. circle The Earl of Powis is entertaining a larg e at Welshpool, the family seat in Wales. The Countess Dowager of Mount-Edgcumbe and Lady Ernestine Edgcumbe have arrived at Curzon-street' Mayfair. The marriage of the Hon. Leonora C. D i g bl : second daughter of Lord and Lady Digby, with Mr. A , L e-- ander Baring, M.P., is fixed for the sth of next mont h ' The Right Hon. T. Milner Gibson, left town l e ' . terday for his seat, Theberton House, Saxmundhana. The Right Hon. B. Disraeli and Mrs. Disr aeli have left Grosvenor-gate for Hatfield House, on a vis i t to the Marquis anti Marchioness of Salisbury. HEALTH OF THE POPE. —A letter from rOnie says the Pope is in excellent health, and his usual WO spirits. His happy temperament knows no depression. CARDINAL WISEMAN.—A paragraph has aPP earea , in some of the papers stating that Cardinal Wiseman' health is so bad that he is likely to be removed from tb ° position he holds, and to be succeeded by Dr. Mann irjg. The best commentary on the report is that the Cardinal 113: undertaken to preach at St. Mary's, Moorfields, to -morrow (Christmas) morning. —Times. WINDSOR CASTLE.—On Tuesday Morning Luv Royal baron of beef was sent up to the Cast le by Messrs. Bedbrough and Son. It was cut from a choice 0,-, fed in the Windsor Great Park, under the direction Major-General Seymour, deputy-ranger, and cha r g e Mr. G. Grav a tt. Thi s noble joint was placed before the fire to roast at nine o'clock in the morning and taken up at four o'clock in the afternoon, the process of ro asting occupying seven hours. It was sent from the Castle 00borne yesterday (Wednesday), and will form the pal Christmas joint on the side table in the dining -113° where it will remain, together with the boar's3A' bead e l '• woodcock pie, until New Year's-day. Her Majesty has given directions to the above Royal butchers to send, 011 . New Year's-day, the customary Royal annua l presenton- ot beef to the ex-Royal Family of France, at Claremont, c sisting of two handsome sirloins. EXLTER HALL.—The "Creation " formed be per formed with a band and chorus of 700 performers, by tho l National Choral Society, on Wednesday next, Princip e soloists Madame Parepa, Mr. Sims Reev es, and Mr. Santley. Organist, Mr. John G. Boardman. The Wil°l6 under the direction of Mr. G. W. Martin. THE ,LEGAL VACATION.—To - day (Thursday) the legal vacation for Christmas commences. I n the common. law offices business will be resumed on Wednesday, and ea the 7th January in the Chancery offices. GOVERNMENT EMIGRATION.—The Government emigrant ship Peerless, 1,005 tons, Captain Thos e - Flavin, belonging to Messrs. Dixon and Wynne, Liver pool, and which sailed from the Mersey on the 23d of Jun last, arrived at Sydney, New South Wales, on the 23d of September, having on board 29 married couples, 131 single men, 131 single women, 21 boys, and 23 girls, between the ages of one and twelve, and 14 infants, numbering in all 378 souls, equal tt) 342 statute adults, under the care of Mr. Charles H. Graham, M D., surgeon-superintendent, assisted by Mr. Thomas Hickey, schoolmaster, and Miss Dickson, matron? fix births and four deaths took place on the voyage. SUBURBAN PARIS.—This poor artificial Paris, which hardly knows what the country really is, is clearly athirst for the country. 1 was amazed at the amount of traffic to the intermediate stations on one of the Versailles lines, and at the omnibus traffic again from seve ral of these. Yet the railway company actually gives no encouragement to return tickets (the price being simply double that of a single ticket), and to season-tickets so little that it is said not to be worth while taking them, un less one has to go to Paris every day, including Sundays' Still, dapper looking brick houses are springing up on all sides. ;Brick seldom stone. Whole fortunes are no being made out of the clay bottoms of old exhausted stone pats, worth nothing before. A regular ring of brick is thus rapidly forming round the stone nucleus of old Paris, eh:: even in Paris streets brick houses are beg-Dal:U.l'o to be far from rare, Deben ham, Storr, and Sons dispersed by auct ion, at SALE OF JEWELS.—Yesterday Mes srs ' Mart in Covent-garden, a remarkably cho ice and ex o wive' collection of bijouterie, the chief portion belonging tett: lady of fashion. Among the more important lots vier ° t , following :—Lot 673, a diamond collet necklace , of 6 2 t o : and lustrous stones, was knocked down for £425 Si. -,t,ot their 633, a magnificent brilliant tiara, brought £23 4 I.9b t i .2el 684, a necklace, of 130 oriental pearls, with ewer b a wd diamond locket, £36 15s. Lot 687 , a coloured g°l' -135 armlet, set with fine emeralds and brilliants , i n ease: 1--1 14s. Lot 694, a pair of brilliant star ear-rings, .. 67 ' Lot 695, a cluster brilliant pendant, with ruby centre 8'; P ar -shaped pearl drop, £72 9s. Lot 696, a brilliant back': or brooch, of nine splendid stones, the centre stone r - Nterj , large—this choice ornament was knocked down, nite spirited competition, at £367 10s. Lot 697, a matci'lless brilliant full dress brooch, of beautiful design and wor , manship, the centre ston e of remarkable size and lust re, surrounded by scrolls of brilliants, with ribbon tie pendantt £630. Lot 698 a superb brilliant, we i g hing 6 carats , finest wate r , se t a s a n ear-ring, £lBO 1 2 s. Lot 703, a mag - nificent brilliant and pearl ring, £ 5B 16s. Lot 712 a , an, acorn pin, formed by a remarkably f i ne oriental pea rl, in cup of gold and diamonds, £2l. Lot 648, a brilliant ring, £47 15s 6d. Lot 650, a pair of oriental p earl ear-rings, 80 guineas. Lot 665, a brilliant heart necklette, 52 guin eas' PHOTOGRAPHY.—It is well known that in the exercise of this art there is a certain waste of silo er , owing to the nitrate of that metal, used for sensitising Oa plates. Various methods have been proposed for re-ex.traeV ing the precious metal from the residues of the operation ; and when it is considered that in some o f the great photo' graphic establishments of Paris the waste amounts to s' couple of hundred francs per month, it will be ea oily un derstood that the question is one of some importance' The method now employed is to add an excess of 1 101°° .; nia to the solution of the nitrate, and then to The with a solution of ammoniacal chloride of copper. °tic i latter is prepared by dissolving five parts o f black oxide four parts of copper filings in hydrochlor ic acid. After d's° solution, an excess of concentrated ammonia is added. When it is required to extract silver from a bath which hats been long in use, it is only 'necessary to add ammonia until the oxide of silver is re-dissolved ; the copper solution is theta added in excess, the pure silver thus r educed is washed/ then dried and kept for use. As for the baths of hyposn/ - phite, they are treated by first adding p a little ammonia, and then much water; after w hich the copper solution is added. The mixture is then left to stand for two or three hours, then this case cat mus t be taken not to add too much a mmonia, filtered and the silve r deposited is washed and dried. , to dilute the mixture with a great deal of water, and lastly, to let it stand sufficiently. Mr. Blair has lately published paper with charcoal. 11° certain modifications introduced by him into the process of lays a sheet of paper on the surface of a warra getting photographs on and weak solution of gelatine with a little corogoll salt i n it. When dry, th e wren ,- s id e of the shee t onlaid last N i v v at () r for a few seconds, theta on damp blotting p aper ' aw " a on a pane of glass, where the gelautised surface receives coating of albumen prepared as follows. To certain quantity of albumen (the white of an egg) pour little or water and syrup, then add some colour , s uch as sienna, lake, or indian ink reduced to powder, which is to form the general tint. Beat up the albumen. into froth, and apply it with a brush. When the second coating is dry' put the sheet again upon water, then upon dater' blotting-paper, and equalise the moisture by pressing with a sheet of dry paper. Now sift a little charcoal, 6 1101 ? r powdered, ever the albumin ised surface; distribute it equelly with a soft lan=3l). awl then sensitise with a solution 111 Cu() parts of water, one of acetic acid, and one of bichro" mate of potash. On this lay the wrong side of the sheet, leave it there for half an hour : then expose it in the camera for the space of front 5 to 20 minutes. To develop the imag er e , dip the sheet into cold wate r, then p ass a soft brush dyer the surface : and if the charcoal sticks to the lights, dip the sheet into warm water strengthened with acetic acid of alemonia, gr. The Academy of Sciences at its last sitting elected W. Laurence, of London, a s its foreign correspondent tor the motion of Medicine an d Surgery, in the room of the late Sir Benjamin Brodie. The other candidates were Rokitansky, of Vienna, and M. Simpson, of Edinburgh' THE CRAWLEY COURT-MARTIAL. The finding of the court-martial, held under the Presidency of General Sir G. Wetherall, K.C.8., fur the trial of the charges against Lieut,-Colonel Crawley, was yesterday submitted to the Queen, and received the Royal approval. The decision is in the following terms " The Court, having duly considered the evidence in behalf of the prosecution, the evidence the pri soner has adduced, and what he has stated in his defence, and the prosecutor's reply, is of opinion, with regard to the first charge, that he, the prisoner, Lieut.-Colonel Thomas It. Crawley, of the 6th Dra • goons, is Not Guilty. " With regard to the second charge the Court is of opinion that he, the prisoner, Lieut.-Colonel Thomas R. Crawley, is Not Guilty. " The Court does, therefore, fully and honourably acquit him, Lieut.• Colonel Thomas R. Crawley, of bum the charges preferred against him.'' To the finding of the Court were appended some unfavourable comments upon the manner in which particular witnesses for the prosecution had given their evidence at Aldershot. These expressions o: censure, however, are not given to the public at present, as they will doubtless be embodied in the remarks of his Royal Highness the Commander•in- Chief upon the case generally. It is not considered likely that any further courts-martial will grow out of that which has just terminated; but it will probably be left to a Medical Board to determine under what circumstances the erasures and mis placed entries found their way into hospital books of the 6th Dragoons. Obviously there must be a sweeping alteration in the list of officers of that re giment. Such of the senior officers as are retained in the service will, doubtless, be moved into other regiments, and their places filled by exchange. Ex tensive importations will be made into the junior ranks. For such a course abundance of precedents may be found; for instance, the case of the 10th Hussars and of the 85th Foot, which when recon structed took for its motto—"Aucto splendore resurgo," The Emperor's Speech in reply to the Address of the Senate. (From the French Correspondent of the Times.) The Emperor's speech in reply to the Address of the Senate, which appeared in the Moniteur, does not seem to be appreciated as much as it deserves. This is an incredulous and a suspicious generation. Here is the absolute Sovereign of a great country, with power to act as he pleases, and responsible only to his own conscience, assuring the Senators, and through them the nation, that the general good is the only motive of his conduct; that his anxious desire is that the great questions of States is l s nc the l' worst of all wars— that a conflict be tweenthe day shall be solved by peaceful i n t erven ti on , adopting idea E ing u t r h op e ean of h a civil war ; that he considers it an honour to pro mulgate a principle which will put an end to the prejudices of other times--that is to say, his great scheme of a Congress would end in peace and pros perity to the world. Will it believed that these igngceartfaeienlliyagcaonf confidence be nobler a d n e cdl asecurity fail p in N o e t v h o i k n than the opinions put forth by his Majesty, end nothing more obvious than the truths he has enun these noble moral a c e ia n t t e i d m . en l ta f you seek to no kn e o o w rre w e h p y ondiog emotion in the public who read them, whatever they may have done in the 20 gentlemen who beard them, you are abruptly reminded of the Bordeaux declaration, that the "Empire was peace," and that no such blessing, at least for any considerrble period, fol lowed it. If you observe that this is somewhat captious and unjust, and that because wars followed after no long interval that celebrated declaration, you aro met with an argument which I admit has some force. Granting that the real and the sole object of the Emperor in Convoking a Congress is to dissipate the fears of other nations, to put an end to general uneasiness, to remove the great causes of discontent between Sovereigns and their sub jects by lightening the burdens which press so heavily upon them, the Emperor Napoleon, you are told, can to-morrow effect that great object without the encumbrance of a Congress, or without consulting anybody, but simply by a decree of five lines the Moniteur or dering the reduction of his armaments. And he can do this in perfect safety, beuause few know better than himself that no human being dreams of attacking France. If to-morrow it were an nounced that 200,000 men were to be released from military service, not a Power in Europe but would follow his example; and these five lines in the Moniteur would be far more effective than any sentiments he could utter, however paternal, patriarchal, and worthy of St. Vincent de Paul himself. Without in the least throwing a doubt on the sincerity of the Emperor, I cannot but admit that there is something in that view of the matter. "Let us think of obstacles only to overcome them, and of incredulity only to confound it." If there are obstacles which it may not be easy to overcome, such a plan would spare him the labour of contend ing with thou]; and as for the incredulity which unhappily prevails, at least in Paris, the cutting down of overgrown armaments would convert the most hardened unbeliever. COL. CRAWLEY'S EXPENSES from the pending court martialThave been variously estimated at £3,000 and £5,000. Mr. Vernon Harcourt's retainer was £5OO, and £5O is to be paid for every day he may be em ployed. There is a rumour at the clubs that a subscription has already been commenced for the purpose of protecting him from loss. Lord Cardigan, it is said, has headed the list with £5OO. However that may be, there is no doubt. that the news of Col. Crawley's acquittal would be the signal for the immediate opening or a subscription, the con tributors being of every class, sex, and rank, but chiefly military men.--. British Army Review. TEE SIR HUGII AiYDDELTON LIFEBOAT. —A few weeks ago two concerts were given at Deacon's Music. hall, Clerkenwell, for Iho purpose of rt.i,ing the cost of a lifeboat to be called the Sir Hugh Myddelton. The pro ceeds, in conjunction with some contributions collected in the locality, have realised £lOO, which amount, as an in stalment, was handed yesterday by the committee to the National Lifeboat Institu:ion. Mr. Deacon, Mr. H. W. Underhill, Mr. Hele, and other friends, are very sanguin e of realising during the present winter the full cost of a lifeboat and its transporting carriage, which amounts to £lOO. The Salut Public of Lyons states that the first day of winter, the 21st, has just shown itself in that neigh bourhood by a slight fall of snow, Which raehed as it reached the ground. tained. Threes, for the Account, are now nnvaried at 66f. 40c. Mobilier have improved to 1,040 f. Railway Market firm, but little doing. The market closed as follows : 41 per Cents. 94 05 Do. end month 3 per Cents • 66 35 Do. end month 66 40 Credit Mobilier 1037 50 Do. end month 1037 50 Bank Shares 3350 Credit Fonder 1212 50 Roman I Italian Loan 7l 70 Do. end month 7l 55 New ditto Do. end month 7l 25 Russian Austrian Spanish Threes 52 Home Debt .. — Deferred rAYS. Cash. Account. 970 970 966 25 .. 965 Orlear H Northern .... New ditto LyouN and Meditcarane,an 925 927 .50 New, ditto .. BB4 75 Cl‘miava, . SJuthern Western ... _ _ Eastern •• • ..... •• • 476 25 • • Sariliniar Austrian Lorpbard North of Spain Saragossa 613 75 .. 615 Ditto to Barcelona 677 50 680 - 50.5 - .„ 505 - BANK RETURNS. The Bankers' Magazine furnishes the returns of the cir culation of the Private and Joint-Stock Banks in England and Wales for the four weeks ending Nov. 14. These returns, combined with the circulation of the Scotch and Irish Banks for the same period, and the average circula tion of the Bank of England for the four weeks ending the 11th Nov. (the nearest date furnished by their returns) will give the following results of the circulation of notes in the United Kingdom, when compared with the previous month : t., ct. 17, Nov. 14, 1863. 1803. Increase. !Decrease I - : : Bank of England... 21,514,213 21,553,803 309,590 i Private Banks 3,33 i ,715 3,374,546 33,831' Joint-stock Banks 3,013,250 2,9,8,7,44 14,405 1 Total In England. 27,889,1;8 28,224,193 335,015 Scotland 4,338,36u 4,526,702 158,342' Ireland 5,660,410 6,015,701' :355,291 RA IL anc the the a p M e 8 1P In(