The Sun. — London, England, 1864-02-03 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 3, 1864. THE OPENING } OF PARLIAMEN T—The MODERN AIX R7STITS, ac., in FUN This aleck. One Penny. IIER AT ES TY'S THEATRE. Nights of Pea'forrna nce —Tuyesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdas. TO-MO ,ROW EVIMDIG, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4. F AUST (In English). Lemmens-Sherrir gton, Taccani, and Florence Lancia. Santley, Mar chest, Dussek, and Sims Reeves. Co nductor—Sig - nor Arditi. Commence at Eiz;ht. Box-office of the Theatre open daily. Tickets, also, at Messrs. Chappells and Co., 50, New Bond street. ROYAL ENGLISH OPERA, COVENT-GARDEN. Under the Man afrement of Miss Louisa Pyne and Mr. W. Harrison. THIS EVI:NING, BLANCHE DE NEVERS. Miss L. Fyne, Mr. W.. Harrison, &o. After which, a Grand Christmas Pantomime, on a scale of =precedent ed munificence, ntitled HAIMEQUIN ST. GEORGE AND THE DRAGON. Doers open at half-past Six— :ommenee at Seven. T" -1.71tE ROYAL DR U R Y-L AN E. 3lan agers, Messrs. Edmond Falconer and F. B. Chatterton. THIS EVENING, the Performances will commence with the New Serlo-Comic Drama, by Edmund Falconer, Pentitled .N NIGHT A D MORN. Principal character s by Mr. helps, supported by Messrs. Ryder, Raynor, Ft zjames, and Misses Leclercq, Atkinson, and Heath. To conclude with the new Grand ChristmasSeve Comic W Panto mime of SIN - BAD THE SAILOR ; or, The nWonders of the World . Clowns, Messrs. H. Boleno and C. Lauri ; B arlequins, ti [essrs. J. Cormack and S. Saville ;ines Pantaloons, Messrs. WA. Barnes and J. wo rris ; Columb, Madame Boleno and M isses Gunniss. Prices as usual. Box Office open from 10 till 5 daily. ROYAL LYC EUM THEATRE. Under the Sole 3lanagement of Mr. Fechter. BEL DENI.).NIO (a Triumphant Success) will be repeated Every Evening during the Week. THIS EVIINING, performance will commence with - a , entitled THE LOST CHILD New and Original Farce, Messrs. Vilddicombe, Shore, Garden, F. Charles Collett, iisses Percy, Pauhne LeJlerci, Wood, Mrs. Lee, )14reland ; an d Miss E. .Lavenu. t.er whirl 1, at Eight o'clock, BEL DEMONIO, a Love Story, in Tv, elve Tableaux, taken from Stendhal's "Italian Chronicle 4." by Mr. John Brougham. Principal charac ter by Mr. F echter, supported by Messrs. Jordan, Charles, Brougham, Emery, Raymond, 3.loreland, Smith, Clifford, Collett, Sims ; Miss M. Henrade, Miss E. Lavenu, 1 rs. Lee, and &Liss Els worthy. The Public are entreated to take notice that No Charge is made to the cccupants of Boxes, Box-places, or Stalls, either for play bills or for the safe keepinL; - of hats and cloaks, and tnat the attimdants in all parts of the house are forbidden to receive any gratuities whatever. Box-office open daily from 11 to 5. Commence at 7. THEAVRE ROYAL HAYMARKET.- S o'le Lessee and Manager, Mr, Buckstone. T IS KV 'ENING, OUR AMERICAN COUSIN : Messrs. Sothern, Buckstone, Chippendale, Braid, Gordon, Rogers, Clark, Culle ntord, &c. ; 3lesdaines Angel, Snowden, Terry, Lindley, Hi 11, &c. After whiuh, KING ARTHUR ; or The Days and Knights of the Roun cl Table. Messrs. Chippendale, Compton, Braid, Clark, Roge rs, Tilbury, &c. ; Mesdames L. Keeley, Brough, Wright, Terry, Lindley, Rogers, &c. Commence at 7. ROYA:L PRINCESS'S THEATRE.- Sole Lesee and Manager, Mr. Geo. Vining. THIS EVENING, DONNA DIANA. After which, HARLEQUIN LITTLE TOM TUCKER; or The Fiii Lady of Banbury Cross, and the Old Woman who Lived in a Shoe and Had so Many Children she didn't snow what to do NEW THE NTRE-R0 YAL, ADELPHI.— Sole - Prooriator and Manager. Mr. R. Webster. THIS EVENING, ICI ON PARLE FRANCAIS :Mr J L. Toole, Nt to Eight, the New Drama of LEAH Miss Bate man, supported by Messrs. Arthur Stirling, R. Phillips, P,il in:,•ton, Stuart, Stephenson, Eburne; Miss H. Simms, and Mrs. Billington. To conclude with LADY BELLE BELLE; or, Fortnnio and his Seven Mag,i; Men. Messrs. J. Clarke, It. Phillips, Stephenson ; Miss Woolgar, Miss K. Kelly, Miss Patti Josephs, Miss L. Laidlaw, Miss Seaman. Commence at 7. LEAM-EVERY MISS BATEMAN. NIGHT, ILMISS BATEMAN.-LEAH.-THIS EVENING, the 107th appearance of the great Tragic Actress, Miss BA TEMAN. in the character of LEAH. In consequence of the unbounded success with which Miss Bateman's imperso nation of the priuctpa,l character in the new Five Act Drama of LEAH bas been attended. Mr iirebster begs to announce that it will be performed EVERY EVENING until further notice. R OYAL ST. JAMES'S THEATRE, under the Management of Mr. B. WEBSTER. Crowded with rank and fashion.—The New Comedy of THE SILVER LINING every Evening.—Mr. and Mrs. Charles Mathews, Mrs. Stirling, sirs. Frank Matthews, and Mr. J. L. Toole every evening. The following eminent artistes are engaged :—Mr. Benjamin Webster. Mr. J. L. Toole, Mr. Paul Bedford, Mr. Frederic Robinson, Mr. Ashley, and Mr. Chas. Mathews ; Mrs. Stirling„ Miss Herbert. Mrs. Frank Mat thews, Miss A. Cottrell, Miss Fanny Josephs , Miss Went worth, and Mrs. Charles Mat!ftews. THIS b.VENING, and d=intr, the Week, at 7 o'c'ock, an entirely new Comedy, in a Acts, by Leicester Bucking ham, Esq., entitled 'I ME SILVER TANI : Mr. Charles Mathews, Mr. Frederic Robinson, Mr. Ashley, Mr, John s one. Mr. Montague; Mrs harles Mathews, Mrs. Frank Matthews, Miss Cottrell, Miss Wentworth, and Mrs. Stirling. To be followed by Mr. Charles Mathews just translated from the Prenchlin his eharaeleristiccharacter of Un Anglais Tirnide . , entitled COOL AS A CUCUMBER. To conclude with 1863; or, THE SENSATIONS OF TILE PAST SEASON: Mr. J. L. Toole, Mr. Paul Bedford, Mr. A. Cottrell, and Miss Fanny Josephs. ROYAL STRAND THEATRE. IVTanager, Mr. W. 11. Swanborourgh. THLS EVENING, UNLIMITED CONFIDENCE. Mr. Belford, Mr. Parselle ; Miss Marie Wilton, Miss Thorne. After which, the Grand Christmas Burlesque, ORPHEUS AND EURYDICE Messrs. Honey, Wood, James Fenton, Mesdames Swanborough, Marie Wilton, Hughes, &c. Followed by MARGATE SANDS. Commence at 7. TEE THIRD EDITION OF " THE SUN," Containinz the Latest SPORTING INTELLIGENCE, ban be had Every Evening of G. It. GLENIE, NEWS AGENT, No. 4, Connaught-terrace, Hyde-park. COALS. —The LILLESHALL COMPANY'S COALS. Direct from their own Collieries. Marqui5'.......268. per ton. Double 2ls. per ton. Top 25s „ Nuts .............19s. „ Deep 22 s. Well screened and delivered within five miles of their De pots, Westbourne Park-road, W., and 17, South Wharf, Paddington, W. Best Cole Terms cash. JOIN SCOTT, Sole Agent. .HIGII WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. THIS DAY.--Morning, 9h. 7m.—Afternoon, Oh. 50m. ro-moßnow.-Morning, 10h. 31m.—Afternoon, 11h. 16m. The Weather—Sun Office, Feb. 3, 1864. THERMOMETER. This day at Two o'clock Barometer-30.15. Wind—S.W.; moderate, and cloudy. A 44 • 1 9 t 4 I c a SUIT LONDOIsT, WEDNESDAY, FEB. 3, 1864. A Danish Victory has auspiciously inaugurated the War now actually commenced. It is something to have gained the first advantage. And it is all the more Propitious when the combatants are remembered to be two to one ! The one (that is, Denmark) b em . -Di thus, at the very earliest encounter that takes place among the belli gere ate, the two (that is, Austria and Prussia) unitoxl against her it, deadly array as the assailants. For the war now threatening to draw all Europ e into blo ody strife upon the soil of Schleswig-Holstein as the chosen battle ground— this miserable and most deplorable war, h should never be lost sight of, has been perversely commenced by Germany. Austria and Prussia, let it then be repeated, are the c ggress ors. Denmark is now in arms, opposed to them in an attitude simply defensive. The Germans, having drawn the brand, have at their very first assault been worsted in their hostile designs an d endeavours, The attack, it Will be seen by the telegrams, took place at ten o'clock yesterday morn ing, hen the lien:l - lan troops, having succeeded in driving back the Danish defenders of Missunde, from the outposts occupied by them before that stronghold, determined (rashly as itappears now) upon attacking Miss unde itself. Rashly, without any doubt of it, the facts having proved it to be so by the convincing of the result namely, that, after a six hours' en gag ament, the Austro-Prusssians were repulsed — a nd this with an insignificant loss to the Danes (after six hours' fighting, remember I) of one officer killed and four wounded. Which slaughter (!), in eff!ct, is nearly upon a par for numerical insignifi cance with what has so often before now been re corded as the result of prolonged and heavy bombard ments in Americo. The first bombarment inaugu rating the American war, it may be remembered, actually reducing the assaulted fortress to a heap of ruins without shedding one drop of blood among the garrison. Besides the battle which is known to have taken place yesterday before Missunde, there have already been several minor engagements on the frontier line, as, for example, at Breckendorf. Whatever else may be said in regard to these events, the fact is there, that the war has in truth literally and absolutely commenced. It is not simply that a line of demarcation has been passed by the aggressors—it is not merely that the first shot has been fired, that the first blood has been drawn, that there has been a preliminary skirmish, that an ultimatum has been presented and declined, and that, in consequence, the diplomatic representa tives of the opposing Governments have respectively left the capital to which each h...d been accredited. It is that the first Battle has been fought and fought out to a definitive nsult—to the defeat of the assailants and to the consequent triumph of the assailed. Not a drawn battle, not even a doubtful battle, but a battle at the close of which the attacking troops are shown to have been repulsed. Remembering that the conflict is one arising out of the commencement by Austria and Prussia of a War of Conquest, it is not for one instant to be imagined that the rest of the Great Powers of Europe can be expected to look on at these events with even an appearance of apathy. England, we know almost for certain, will be driven into it, if the fight continues. In which event, will the like occur in regard to France ? Can France look on with a show even of phlegmatic indifference ? We do not conceive it to be possible. But—at the same time--France in that contingency will choose her own opportunity. France will not—we may be quite certain of that— be in any way precipitate. She will, most wisely and judiciously, as it appears to us, chooselher own opportunity. And— what is surely not less wise, not less judicious—she will make the best of her opportunity. NAPOLEON M. has reason to bear very vividly in his recol lection, has reason to bear rather poignantly, in deed, in his remembrance, the singularly offensive discourtesy with which England rejected his pro position of a Congress—a Congress designed to pre vent the outbreak of the European war that then appeared to him very imminent, a War which has now, in point of fact, actually commenced. Some curious and important facts have been elicited during the experimental cruise of the French ironclads. We are in possession of no official report, but an interesting account of the trip has been published in the Revue des Deux ilondes from the pen of M. XAVIER RAYMOND, who enters minutely into all the details of the various experiments and trials between the vessels. One of the most important results of this cruise is the fact that the rolling of a vessel is not by any means increased by the weight of her armour plating; for, although the subject is still open to discussion, an important conclusion may be derived from an experiment made upon the Normandie, This vessel (which was the first ironcased ship that crossed the Atlantic), on her return from Mexico ; in 1862, encountered a severe gale of wind off Madeira, which lasted for upwards of 48 hours, throughout which she behaved remarkably well. Bat, with the object of rendering her still steadier, it seems that the weight of her deck tower was reduced from 50 tons to 15, and her masts and spars were shortened in order to lower the centre of gravity. The unexpected result of this proceeding was that in the first part of the experimental cruise she showed herself eo sensible to the motion of the sea that it was found advisable to raise the centre of gravity by bringing up 200 tons of cable, guns, &c., after which her rolling was much diminished. Although at first sight this may seem extraordinary, the fact has long since been familiar to merchant captains and shipowners, and the practice of stowing copper or other ore on alter nate tiers of casks is a practical exemplifi cation of the theory. In regard to speed the French ships acquitted themselves very satisfactorily ; the Solferino, with her 1,000-horse power engines, attaining a speed of 14 knots, and the smaller class, powerful vessels, in proportion. It may be said that this is a Frenchman's account, and that he possibly gives rather a couleur de rose to his history of the performances of his national fleet, but the same may be inversely said of English writers when describ ing French ships. Be this as it may, England must not stand still or be satisfied with what has been done, or what the Constructor of the Navy promises to do. If all that his admirers say of him be true, or even if he be able to fulfil his undertak ings to his own satisfaction, England cannot be too thankful for his services, but we confess we look forward with considerable doubt, not to say appre hension, at the sweeping innovations being about to be introduced into our navy. When ironplated floating batteries were first employed in the attack upon Kinburn, during the Crimean war, they suc cessfully resisted the fire of the Russian guns of the calibre then in use. These batteries were, how ever, only intended to be used against forts, possess ing, as they do, neither speed nor sea-going quali ties. The Emperor of the FRENCH therefore deter mined to cover a frigate with armour-plating ; his object being to combine invulnerability with all the requisites of an ocean cruiser. The success of this experiment disconcerted all the maritime nations. The introduction of steam into their navies did not create a greater revolution than did the presence of this "ship in armour" on the deep. The first idea was that all ships must in future be plated, and doubts arose as to whether it would be pos sible to attack them with success, but this superiority was not suffered to exist long unchal lenged. Artillerists were aroused BLAKLEY, WHITWORTH, and ARMSTRONG, were contending for superiority at home, and engineers of other na tions have not been idle. The French, with a com paratively light gun, can pierce four and a half inch plates at the distance of 1,100 yards, and no plating has yet been produced which cannot be pierced by the guns constructed by any of our three leading engineers. With these facts before us, it seems in judicious to sacrifice every other requisite condition of a man of war, for the sake of obtaining a security at the best only doubtful, Mr. REED has remarked with great truth that vessels of the size of the War rior and Black Prince are too large, end draw too much water, to be employed either at home or against the shores of an enemy for coast service, and that a smaller and handier crass of ships are re quired. Ile stated a short time ago to an audience at Greenwi c h, t h at he would construct vesse l s swifter, handier, better protected, and in all points superior to our present ironclads, at a less cost to the country. The Enterprise is to be launched early next month ; and although it may not be alto gether fair to take such a small 950 tons vessel as a s ample of what his larger designs may realise, still the plan on which she is plated and armed, and the slow rate of speed which she is expected to attain, must create.surprise among all classes conversant w ith naval affairs. The Enterprise was originally intended to carry 17 32-pounders, but Mr. REED has sub3tituted in their stead four 110. pounders, and the space occupied by the battery is protected with four and a half inch plates similar to those of the Warrior. A thick belt will also be carried round the entire ship on the water-line ; in other respects she will be undefended. To enable a vessel of this class to be lively in a seaway, she will carry neither bow nor stern chasers. She will kewibe be rendered more buoyant at the extremi- ties by the substitution of iron for wood in the con struction of those portions of the hull above the water-line. The weight of propelling machinery has been reduced some 25 tons from what was de signed for her as a 19-gun wooden corvette. Al though in her new form the Enterprise will carry some 200 tons extra weight, her speed is not therefore expected to exceed some nine knots per hour. These details are, we believe, to be relied on ; and, we would ask, of what possible use such ship can be, unless it be to surprise an enemy in a fog, for, with her paltry rate of steaming, any sail ing clipper would walk away from her with a mo derate breeze, and if chased by an enemy of supe rior strength, she would not have the advantage of a long stern•chaser to cripple her antagonist, and could only bring a gun to bear by deviating from her course, and thus losing ground every time she fired. Again, a fast adversary, although less heavily armed, might steam round her at will, and, if necessary, close the engagement at pleasure by steaming away. In fact, she will be unable either to give chase or to run away. It contending with a ship mounting guns equal to her own, at close quarters, her armour-plates could be pierced et every shot ; if with a lighter and swifter vessel, her unprotected extremities might be riddled through and through. Owing to her slow powers of progression, she would be unable to come to close quarters. These strictures are no doubt severe, but they are nevertheless too true. The Research, which is a Sister ship to the Enterprise, has not been improved to the same extent, and although carrying 5 inches of armour-plating steamed round from Milford to the Thames in a satisfactory manner, attaining at times a speed of ten knots and a half, but as times go, this is too slow. Speed and han diness are of more consequence to small crafte than invulnerability. It is impossible to combine every desideratum, with a small tonnage. Therefore let our small vessels be provided with a belt of armour, extending above and below the water line; let all practicable protection, combined with lightness, be provided for the ship's company, but let the first care be for the safety of the ship itself, and the capture or destruction of the enemy. By reducing her armament to a very few heavy gnns, an accident may disable the ship's power of offence, or defence, most materially; therefore, we believe that a broadside in proportion to the light tonnage of the vessel, should be provided, and above all her engines should be powerful enough to give her a speed of at least 13 or 14 knots per hour. The constructor of the navy objects to the use of twin screws. But we agree with Admiral SARTORIUS that the advantages to be derived from their adoption are most important, and that as the screw-propeller superseded the paddle, slowly but surely, so will the twin-screws take the place of the single one. The advantage of being able to turn a vessel upon her axis is alone most impor tant, even in merchant services, and may often be the means of saving her, on a lee shore, or amongst breakers, but to a ship exposed to an enemy's fire, the benefits are incalculable. The first annual meeting of the Metropolitan Association for Promoting the Education of Adults took place a few evenings since at the house of the Society of Arts. The value and public benefits of this association are as yet but imperfectly developed or understood. That something of the kind was needed is an acknowledged fact, and the character of this scheme, and its connection with the Society of Arts, afford every prospect of an active and useful career. The early age at which the children of the lower classes are re moved from school, besides their irregular and uncertain attendance when there, renders it per fectly impossible that they should acquire anything beyond the mere rudiments of knowledge. It is useless to lament or wonder over this fact—it is better to accept it as inevitable for practical pur poses. It is useless to suppose or to hope that parents who can scarcely keep the rent paid and the mouths fed will continue to pay for the school ing of a boy who is old enough to earn a few shil lings a week, y et 12 or 13 is a very early age to leave off study for life. It is then that close appli cation should begin. It is enough, before that age, to exercise the memory, to train the mind to habits of diligence and attention, but the learning before the teens can, especially in a large school, be little more than learning by rote. Yet the boy of 12 who has left his reading, writing, and arithmetic behind him on the forms of the National School, may be reluctant or unwilling to remain always ignorant. Perhaps he is a mechanic, and wishes to understand the great principles of science which rule the machinery he works with; perhaps he is anxious to know a little more about his own country, its history, its constitution, and its possessions, Or he may be fitted by. character and tastes for a higher position, but is debarred from reaching it by his ignorance of book-keeping, or his imperfect hand writing and orthography. A youth of solid tastes in the lower middle classes may desire to extend his knowledge of foreign tongues, dead and living, or he may have artistic talents which the great expense hitherto attending such studies debars him from exercising. Many chances have been lost, many tempers soured, many driven to Nice and dissipation through sheer idleness and lack of interest. To these and many more a helping hand is now stretched out. By es tablishing evening schools, which the busiest can attend, the means of education are now placed within reach of all classes. According to the sta tistics published the other evening, the association we have spoken of have within a short time brought no less than forty educational institutions into the Union with them, They have 230 candidates com ing forward for examination, and a still larger number is anticipated for next year. Seeing that the committee of management was only constituted in December, 1862, these results of their labours are extremely gratifying, Part of their efforts have been directed to the establishment of working men's clubs, police instruction classes, and other associas tions of the sort. The institutions now in connec- tion with the society extend to all parts of the kingdom, and all respectable institutions which promote the education of adults are free to enter the Union on liberal terms. The examinations and consequent prizes offer a great encouragement to the young student whose hours of application are most probably snatched from his brief time of leisure. It spurt each on to sustained exertion, and makes him feel as if some interest were taken in his individual progress. Such au association paves the the way for the enjoyment and appreciation of mechanics' institutes, working men's clubs, &c., which wi.l hold out a powerful attraction to the man who has cultivated his faculties, while the un lettered man, who can hardly understand what he hears, and does not care for reading, which is an effort and a task to him, finds no fascination so powerful as the public-house. It is satisfactory to find in the statement of affairs that the accounts of the society are very fairly b a l ance d, and that, consequently, it will act be crippled by debt, like so many other excellent under. takings. An interesting feature of this Irish annual meeting was the announcement of the Prince of WALES as patron. The services rendered to the country by the countenance afforded to art, science' and education during the present reign are very great, and the beneficial results of the extension of knowledge and refinement is everywhere felt. One of the strongest claims of the late lamented PRINCE CONSORT to the recognition of posterity is, that he gave every encouragement in his power to the cause of knowledge. It was always his desire to see it unrestricted by class or occupa tion—diffused throughout all grades, all profes sions, all ages. Such an institution as this would have received his warmest help, and it is grati fying to see the young heir apparent beginning to tread in his father's steps. He has been well qualified by education to appreciate the blessings of knowledge, and his travels must have taught him to compare the condition of his own country with those he visited. It will be a great advan- tage to the eager inquiring young generation now growing up, if the PRINCE will put himself at the head of a movement which has so unques- tionably the general good for its aim. It has been said by the poet, that a little learning is a dangerous thing, and the truth of the aphorism has been much a pplauded, but it would have been truer to have said, that ignorance is still more peril ous. If it be unsafe to walk in uncertain light, it is surely worse to grope on in total darkness. The mists of superstition, prejudice, intolerance, and error, can only be gradually cleared away by the advancing light of intelligence and knowledge, and every such effort as the present hastens on the better day, and deserves the support and sympathy of all who would further the true interests of the people. LATEST INTELLIGENCE. LREUTER'S TELEGRAMS.] THE WAR IN DENMARK, DETAILS OF THE BATTLE. PRUSSIAN HEADQUARTERS, WEDNESDAY MORNING. Prince Frederick Charles of Prussia employed 74 guns in the attack upon Missunde yesterday. His Royal Highness was convinced that the Danes will oppose serious resistance to the Austrian and Prussian advance. There were nearly 100 killed and wounded in yesterday's engagement. The troops behaved with great valour. The 'vanguard and the 11th Infantry brigade were under fire. Missunde was in flames. COPENHAGEN, FEB. 2, 11 P.M. According to reliable information a severe en gagement between the Danish and German troops has taken place near Missunde to-day, and minor engagements near Brackendorf. A thaw has set in. FEB. 2, 11.41 rem. The following despatch has been received here this evening : SCHLESWIG, Feb. 2, 8.30 P.M. The German attack upo❑ Missunde commenced at 10 a.m. and lasted until 4 p.m. to-day. Notwithstanding repeated assaults, all the works remained in possession of the Danish troops. One regiment and a half of the Danish infantry were engaged. The engagement between the outposts which took place near Breckendorf was unimportant. KIEL, FEB. 2, 9.15 F.M. A severe engagement, lasting three hours, took place this afternoon near Missunde, on the Schlei. Troops of all arms were engaged, more especially artillery. The Danes were repulsed at the tete.deTont. RENDSBURG, FEB. 3. The Danish prisoners taken in the attack upon Missunde were brought in here yesterday after- noon. Schmerling will speak to-morrow, with the view of obliterating as much as possible the great im pression produced on the public mind by the argu ments of the Opposition, but it is very doubtful whether they will succeed in dissipating the grow ing uneasiness. Attention should be drawn to a statement of one of the beet informed Opposition speakers, warning the house that the Government would demand another supplementary credit, alleging the neces sity of increasing the force in Venetia and upon the Gallician frontier. PRANCE. The tolls and half of the tonnage dues, abandoned by the Government to the town of Havre for the execution of the harbour works amounted during the month of January to 48,066!r. BOUICSE, Feb. 2.—The market continues very heavy, and Stock having been offered the business done has been at a decline. Threes, for the end of the month, are now at 66fr. Mobilier has receded to 980 fr. Railway Shares are dull, and in some cases lower. The market improved towards the the close, and left off as follows : 4t per Cents. 95 20 Do. end month 3 per Cents Do. end month 66 20 Credit Mobilier 932 50 Do. end month 1042 50 Bank Shares 3272 50 CrediUoneier 1192 Roman RAIL' Italian Loan 67 35 Do. end month — New ditto .. Do. end month.... Austrian .. 79 Spanish Threes 5O Home Debt Deferred VATS. Cash' Account. Orleans.. Northern New ditto Lyons and Meditorranean 915 915' New ditto . 880 Southern Western ]astern .. 478 75 .. 477 50 982 50 .. 980 - 940 - 942 50 Sardinian Austrian Lombard 497 50 .. 525 North of Spain Saragossa.. Ditto to Barcelona .... 297 50 .. 292 50 LITERATURE, Travels and Adventures of an Officer's Wife in India, China, and New Zealand. By Mrs. Muter. Two Vols. Hurst and Blackett. The experiences of an officer's wife, if ahe chooses to follow the fortunes of her husband, are usually varied and interesting ; but it is not often that a lady undergoes such rapid changes of scene and climate, or passes through so many startling adven tures. Mrs. Muter had need to be gifted with an amount of courage and coolness very rare to the feminine nature ; for, during the brief interval when the din of battle and the anxiety of watching the enemy did not form part of her daily pro gramme, she was subjected to perils and disasters that might well affright the most hardened travel ler. She tells us her story pleasantly and simply, having, as we learn, made her notes her companion on shipboard, when she and her husband beguiled the monotony of a tedious voyage by arranging and correcting them. To this joint supervision we owe the occasional introduction of professional topics, and the free expression of Lieut.-Col. Muter's views on many points eonnected with the soldier and the service. Mrs. Muter's narrative of her resi dence in India, which opens the book, begins simply thus :—" On Sunday, 10th May, 1857, I was at Meerut." These few words lead us to the history of the following days of terror through which Mrs. Muter and her husband happily escaped unhurt. Even at this lapse of time those days can hardly be thought of calmly by those who had no active part in them, and the fearful scenes and deeds of blood, then too familiar to English eyes, can never be effaced from the recollection of the witnesses. Our authoress, a fully competent authority, although she gives few details, fully confirms the ac counts of the barbarities practised by the Sepoys. The horrible character of the outbreak is not yet, she says, fully understood in England. From the ex treme of credulity people passed to the extreme of unbelief, and this tendency to underrate the horrors of the mutiny was increased by the accounts of those " who saw the retribution but not the provocation ; who beheld the cringing figure and elapsed hands of the wretch mercilessly consigned to the gallowe, but not the yelling fiend, with dripping sword and hands red with blood, mutilating the bodies of those who had never injured him." According to Mrs. Muter, the mutiny broke out at Meerut, owing to an attempt to punish the 3d Cavalry. It is well known that its commencement was precipitated, and the authoress tells us that the original scheme would have been most disastrous. On the celebrae tion of the Queen's birthday, a fortnight later, it was intended that the conspirators should, while professing to fire the customary salute, load with ball and aim at the heart of the English soldiers around them. This, "if carried out with secresy and resolution, would have swept every European soldier from the face of India in one and the same hour." After the memorable 10th, many anxious days and nights had to be passed. " The very air of India was charged with horrors. The weary watching, the sickening expectation, and the wear ing effects of the climate had a depressing effect that required much resolution to struggle against, and all the consolations of religion to sustain. The men were relieved by action, but for the women there was not this resource." From time to time, too, came the news of fresh horrors, and the massacre of Cawnpore lent additional strength to the resolve of all Englishmen to conquer or die. After the fell of Delhi, Mrs. Muter joined her hiss baud, whose duties placed him in that city. She gives an interesting account of its appearance after the siege, and of the palace of the Moguls, which she describes as a mixture of splendour and dirt. From Delhi the authoress subsequently ac companied Colonel Muter to Murree, a hill station in the Punjab, a long and tiresome journey, rendered doubly uncomfortable by the unruly conduct of the palkee bearers, who had grown insolent and extor tionate, with the news of the outbreak. To add to her uneasiness, the Colonel's health had been much affected by his exertions, and the tricks played by the bearers were by no means likely to improve it. But they were not destined to have peace when they arrived at the depot, for shortly after the cholera broke out with the fearful virulence belong ing to the climate. Those attacked in the day could hardly hope to see the sunset, and in asking for the orderly who had brought a message it was to learn that he was dead and buried! So severe an attack of the epidemic was remarkable at a hill station, but Mrs. Muter records her conviction that these sanitary establishments are by no means the most healthy of the stations. It would be well, if such is the fact, that this should be examined into. The intense cold of the winter in the Himalayas proves a singular contrast to the summer in the plains. After describing the dazzling brilliancy of the landscape when the rays of the sun were every where reflected on snow and ice, Mrs. Muter ex claims, " Could any one believe this to be India — was it not rather Siberia or Spitzbergen ?" One evening she was terrified to hear the bugle give the alarm, and on looking out saw the glare of fire. We can fancy the feelings of one who had passed through the horrors of Meerut on beholding such a spectacle. Happily, however, it was nothing but an accidental conflagration. After some time Colonel Muter and his wife pro ceeded to England, turning their backs on India with feelings of relief and gratitude. 'They em barked in the Eastern Monarch, said to bo the ficest merchant ship afloat. They arrived safely within sight of Portemouth, and the night before they were to laud Mrs. Muter listened with a thankful heart to the sound of letting go the anchor. Musing on their escape from the dangers of India she fell asleep, to be roused by the shock of a catastrophe as perilous and as unexpected. The vessel went on fire, and being loaded with saltpetre a fearful explosion took place, killing some, and ir.juring many more. A scene of great danger and anxiety had to be passed through before Colonel and Mrs. Muter were safely landed in their native country, without any of their possessions. This scarcity procured them but a sorry welcome from the hotel -keepers, and it is not surprising that Mrs. Muter'a long-tried health and spirits gave way when she was at length safely housed. Her ad. BOMBAY MAIL. MALTA, FEB. 2. The Valetta and Syria will leave Malta to-mor row evening wita the Bombay Mail. The former may be expected at Marseilles about the sth, and the latter Southampton about the 12th instant. The Talsette brought the mail to Suez, arriving there on the 28th ultimo. DESPATCH OF THE WEST INDIA MAILS SOUTHAMPTON, FEB. 2. The Royal Mai[ Company's steamship La Plata, Captain Sawyer, 8.. N., sailed hence to-day with the mails for the British and Foreign West Indies, Mexico, the Pacific, California, Central America, 8:c. The La Plata took out 83 passengers, and on freight English gold coin value £14,054, French specie, £49,418; English jewellery, value £2,700, French jewellery, £10,070 ; also 481 bottles of quicksilver, value £3,307, and a full cargo of French and English merchandize. THE SCHLESWIG-HOLSTEIN QUESTION, VIENNA, JAN. 3L The debates upon the Schleswig question in the Lower House are not yet ended. The Opposition has spared no pains to open the eyes of the Minis ters to the danger of their policy, but without effect. The Presse of this morning gives the key of the position, when it states that no longer men, but events are now charged with the regulation of the great Schleswig-Hoistein question. It is a mistake to imagine that a vote of the majority in the Lower House would bring about an immediate change of policy, or a resignation of the Ministry. Constitu tionalism in Austria has not advanced far enough for such results. Neither the Lower House nor public opinion have yet as much influence as they will some day unquestionably attain. The notabilities of the Opposition know full well that the Emperor will never form probably correct, that o a f n t e h w Ca net pr b es in se e from ,t therefore, ranks. The supposition , r is should his Majesty do so, a Ministry thus put to gether would not last three days, opposed on the one side by purely German Liberalism, and on the other by the anti-centralist Libaralism of the Poles, Bohemians, Transylvanians, Sze- The Ost Deutsch e Post does not credit the news of a Dano-S wedish alliance. Private letters from Stockholm, coming from a reliable source, however, confirm the existence of a considerable agitation in that capital for active steps favouring the integrity of the Danish monarchy. 'tumours are even cur rent of preparations being already set on foot to place Swedish troops at tho disposition of the Danes. Nearly all the German papers are unanimous in thinking that neither Count Rechberg nor Herr von Bismark have arranged their future plans in the case of a general conflagration, and that they have not foreseen the consequences of thcir present policy and the grave eventualities to which it may give rise. "Itis a game at hazard cried one of the sp3akers recently in the Lower House of the Iteichsrath, and the applause which greeted the remark showed the direction of the general opinion. It is believed that Count Rechberg or Herr von ventures, however, had not damped her spirit, for it was not long after that she accompanied the Colonel to Canada, of which country she gives but a brief account, and subsequently to Hong Kong, on the occasion of the Chinese war. Of this place, less often described by English visitors, we have a fuller account. Its unhealthiness is terrible. "In Hong Kong men take to their beds and die, and neither they nor the doctors who attend them can tell what is the matter. There is some great element of life wanting in the atmo sphere; what it is I cannot tell." The explanation which some have found for this, in the dissipation of the victims, is not accepted by the writer. The health of the soldier is, she maintains, a fair test of the salubrity of a climate ; and she compares the condition of a regiment in New Zealand and Hong Kong. In the former they are quartered in sheds, and exposed without thought of weather or season ; in the latter, every care and precaution is taken, even to the supp'y of coffee or wine when on night duty. " Yet, years en years of New Zsalaud pro duce little effect on the battalion ; while a few sea sons of Hong Kong sweep out of existence the soldiers that landed with the regiment on its bane ful shore." Mrs. Muter penetrated as far as Pekin, being one of the only three European ladies who have entered that city, but her impressions of the Celestial Empire were by no means favourable, and she was glad to leave it. Not, however, to rest ; for after a brief period we find her visiting New Zealand, en route to India once more, though only for a short time, as the regiment which her hus band went to join was about to return to England. A trip round the world, however, had no terrors for a lady of such varied experience, and, accord ingly her last chapters are devoted to recording her visit to New Zealand, which she considers the finest colony we possess. Her work is animated, and interesting alike from its descriptions of foreign parts and from its narrative of personal adventure. It has fallen to the lot of few ladies to pass through such startling scenes, or to visit so many places ; and in her double capacity of heroine and tra veller, Mrs. Mater has powerful claims on the attention of the public. Sir Goodwin's Folly. A Story of the .Year 1795. By Arthur'Socker. Three Vols. Chapman and Hall. This is a most complicated narrative, and will puzzle the reader who does not take pains to study its numerous dranzatis persona, and to bear in mind all the chief points of its elaborate plot. Being in the last century, it of course brings before us quite a different style of society to that which exists nowadays ; and as the epoch described is a very critical juncture, we meet with some very notice able incidents in the lives of individuals, and trace some important events in the history of nations. It was a trying time for English rulers when the great French Revolution broke out in all its vio lence and vehemence. Even many well-disposed individuals became infatuated by the notion that a glorious era had dawned upon the world, and that the establishment of freedom in one country would be but the herald of regeneration in another. Too soon was the bright dream dispelled, and the fair vision vanished away. While the rapt enthu siasts were exclaiming with delight, and spreading the glad tidings through the land of the liberation of one country from oppression, which should be the signal for the happy deliverance of another, sober and earnest men learned a different lesson, and, sadder but wiser, they strove to impart their intel ligence to others. While they had been singing in their rejoicing exultation of spirit— " O'er the vine-covered hills and gay yanks of France See the day-star of liberty rise," the dictates of reason bade them know that what they had hailed as the advent of mercy was the introduction of a reign of terror. These sentiments are fully discussed and fairly exemplified in these pages. In a vivid manner and with a glowing style the author puts before us some of the chief characteristic of the times. We thus meet with a work that blends historical inte rest with romantic sketches, and puts before ns most stirring and animated picture of adventures. These chronicles of " Sir Goodwin's Folly" belong to a past generation, but the pride and passion, the deceit and cunning, the vanity and envy, appertain but too truly to every time, and form part of every phase of human society, and every condition of mortality. It would be quite impossible to give an account of the plot, it would be a work of superero gation to undertake it, but some of the chief points of interest and excitement in it may be enume rated. In the first place there is an excellent moral to be deduced from the finale of Sir Good win's attempts at matrimony. It is always most presumptuous for any one to fashion his own doom as it were, and to resolve that all shall give way to his desires. Time, place, and circumstance, the chances of life, the changes of death, must all work together to accomplish the desires end fur ther the ends of such excited and infatuated indi viduals. Sir Goodwin was spared the mortification of rendering himself amenable to the laws of his country for uniting himself to one whose husband was alive, and also he escaped the shame of bestowing upon his daughter a second mother, who was not worthy to bear that title. Yet he was morally guilty in the sight of all, and he further more might reflect that he had by his vile machinations hurried three individuals into the grave. Are there not many, nowadays, who for greed or gain, ex cited by the lust of the eye, the lust of the flesh,or the pride of life, press madly on to wreak their own doom and ensure others' ruin. Mrs. Norland was a sad proof of the fatal effects of sin, in luring the thoughts from rectitude, and making the downward road of sin all too easy and enticing. She and her confederate in crime sought to compound felony, as it were, with their ingenious contrivances, and after all were completely foiled in their efforts. Major Norland himself was a dexterous sharper, who outwitted himself at last with his machinations and mysteries. His inveterate desire to get the bribe, Sir Goodwin held out so improperly, incited him to lay plots for the destruction of his friend. Thus one crime leads to another, and too much craft will always betray itself in the long run. The author of this work may be congratulated for having brought out so skilful a story, and described with such eloquence and earnestness his exciting pas sages of romantic incident. Besides the graver portions of the tale, there are several secondary personages introduced with much skill, and the adventures of little Chiqwood aro most ludicrously painted. Altogether there is enough to suit all tastes in the contents of this remarkable novel, and it may well aspire to attract notice from its various events, vivid details, and ingenious illustrations of character, all given in a spirited style and a sparkling manner. The New Scientific Quarterly, The Quarterly Journal of Science, No. I. Church and Sons. • We have no distinct remembrance of any new Quarterly making so auspicious a commencement. It is as the chipping of the shell, not simply when the bird is fully fledged, but when it is already strong upon the wing. There is no 'prenticework any where apparent in the whole of the goodly number before us—the initial number, as we cannot but feel persuaded it will turn out to be, of what must in all human probability grow year by year into a very voluminous publication, Half-a -dozen Original Articles lead uff the contents—highly elaborated articles almost every one of them. Before the be ginning, however, as one may say, without much extravagance—certainly before the beginning of the regular staple commodity in the way of contribu tions, there is prefixed to the inaugural number of the journal a very noble and admirable well-written and carefully -thought-out " Scientific Survey," by way of introduction. It is beyond any prospectus that could possibly have been issued by the originators of the entire enterprise. Besides which it has a dig nified air of self-respect that seems wanting some ho w to almost every preliminary prospectus that ever came under our observation. There is in this Intro ductory Scientific Survey none of that egotism that j ars so offensively upon the reader of almost any, ii not indeed of every, prospectus. Instead of fair pro mises, moreover, as to the future numbers of the new Quarterly, we have here a series of thoroughly excellent performances in the very number actual:), rac published. After the Survey come the s ix o rigina l articles already alluded to as the prominent attci tions of the periodical thus ushered f ull grown and at once completely organised) into th e world of theet ters. "The Coal Resources of Great Britain," first of these six papers, deals with a masterly coy' aw akelle , .; prehensiveness with the anxietie s in the public mind, nearly a yea r ago, bY William Armstrong, as President fo r 1863 of the British Association. " Oceanic Telegraphy'„ h:l.se allucion, of course, to the project of a sub-Atiall',A cable of electric communication be tween the e'"'s world and the new. The Late Earth:Va l° li t :, called forth an exceedingly clever paper 11 P °11 ho s subject of earthquakes generally, fr om one wile r _ evidently not contented himself wit h merely OP° o log r ficially skimming the curious study f seisca othe: Besides these three ticks, there ar e three that demand at least some brief passing eirall3er tion—one a paper on Magneto-Electricity 0.4 • means of Vivid Lighthouse Illumination, auto another on the Relation of Light and Heat t° t er vital powers of vegetation—the concluding P8?-0 of the half dozen being an ingen ious disquisitl°o upon the Reputed Fossil Man of Neanderthal. Tberb, are Reviews (some of them hardly searching en°" o ,, as it appears to us), and there are No tes and o°r r cii , spondence here in this Scientific Quarterly ii n T e the ately before its conclusion. But the featct e the whole publication, to our thinking—at cu e° o f most valuable and the most interesting divisiouof the Scientific Journal, as affirding us the anaa ls its Science of all kinds, progressively, according to regular development, is observable in the dl e, headed simply " Chronicles of Science." Ilere ,;# this wonderfully useful and singularly attrlie-ef division of the Scientific Quarterly, we ila v° , te sr cord, a luminous and reliable record, of the advances made in Agriculture, Astronomy, Botany, copy► Chemistry, Geology, Palaeontology, y, :4 ° 1 0 : Mining, Mineralogy, Metallurgy, pilot Physics(such as Light and Heat), Sanatory Scie4 r. and Zoology. Surely—a feast for a PlailosnYhe Can you Forgive Her ? By Anthony Trollops. Part IL Chapman and Hall. Hardly do we think it likely that we can fergit„ her, unless her course and. her character very wonderfully indeed as the ree l of the a s turns—from the which reel is now b eitig o ter wound the thread of the narrative. N ot a cll . a l l to here introduced, but has already coli trlce l it. , become odious to us. The heroine hers el f % 5 0( 1 Alice Vavasor is acting shamefully — p la Y ieo the into ler eble isce loose between her rejected lover, George, and her accepted lover, the eotat ° 4 °° ,, P John Grey, who is actually her betrottErwthso possible, more disagreeable to us, heivecer; Litt any of those three individuals, is the h orr i d female Marplot, George's sister Lite, vlb .° ' 6 , - "for the close of the number on a visit down mouth with a manoeuvring w idow, enf v iler Greenow, who is evidently bent upon setthfaioat widow's zap at any eligible comer, arT months from the date of the intermen t of her " e Or. beloved and tearfully-lamented " - op Cheeseacre, the stout farmer, who has g t ape S y Pic-nic with Mrs. Greenow's co - op eration a mouth Sands, gives promise app arentli n ishing the reader of " Can You Forgi/e I•°' the with a little broad fun in the next---41° March instalment. .-- ~ 01. Le Correspondent. No. 100. Ch. 9° ',,r rt 3i' Now that we look in vain for anY fu rtilw- iso ° a tinuance (immediately, at least) of the l a : g til e p ge f s contributed to Le Correspondent dtlr7)(Ao d last ew months, first of all by Charles the, t i l e e Montalembert, and afterwards by armed I Bishop of Orleans (Dupanloup), We are ell ar- _OO Oll of Tel les :de o f east to find a heart-thrilling copy as the Amende Honorable, by V. de Pe - . ' tiii' 4 the French Academy. There are Passag,e°6ll:l the ° poem that are conceived in the loftiest' " li g , Po tenderest erest spirit—passages that coma fr°,;,lol3° soul of the writer, and that find an iu sttaw- ers in our own. Among the miscellaneous l'Ps e ries °if this hundreth issue of the new' nlitiel/' Le Correspondent are:—.Leon Renar d's , (1 1)0 ° : treatise on "Le Japon et les EuroP6ens'n 100" mant's "La Question Danoise," and the de Pt: of Audeval's nouvelle, " Un Changenielirtf:ved,,s, a tune." The glance taken this month by reeding-gi tv r 50 01 1 9 dtatthe e of the of the one immediately P the magazine's publication, is tin : tl, brief. Yet, what little is said there ab t j ar events is said boldly, and with an adm ire peddence. - - STATE OF TRADE. r i lit tle r ,---- oing here in yarn to-day, d MANCHESTER, Feb. 2. There has been° "ratlle an d prices iare r ster weaker, but spinners say they would Prefetiatol//: ping their mills altogether than make e ° cl a efl tt a h change. The state of Continental affairs e11e,:,,013i0 ave scared buyers almost out of the 31°raall I .p but few offers are making for export, th°"' eel 0 thought that had affairs assumed a tn° lo O ect cl oi j aspect a considerable business might ha l° - ,:asiV fi t s o o name any decline, t -day. In home trade yarns sellers are 3 „ 0 0 0 .. listen to offers. In the cloth market sellecarse to hardly to have made up their minds Whs t e er pale e j but state their sellers see; take. There are some offering goods at 1 0 `g e gaot e t i and at lower prices only could buainese b . o re ro °fi e , but such cases are few. Many Ina33l°e„,:ll 6I:110 holders of cloth are still very' Out ..-. of . 0 rally speaking, buyers are keeping os iti° ll a u market till they shall be in a better . 13 xe ly to ° 0 form an opinion as to how things ar e c it e act s , li t1) 0 on the Continent. Very few raah u l - n t a 3" DO dispcsed to accept any decided redn;;,eloi consequence is that the business de ll ° 3 been of re bil l a very limited character. , et the - r ed LEEDS, 2d.—For a Tueslays Ilharlle aoleor, been a satisfactory trade done in both t or rae r re . and the white cloth-halls to-day. 3 til(3 „ierrP i x e diary cloths, chiefly whites, were in L i - tti ore b e l , quest, at late prices. In the coloured hahl ar ijog 0 0 fair active demand for spring goods, in ° oria s g, o g, tons, tweeds, and ladies' cloths. Tb e i ,' ia te , c p l i t ; trade in the home houses is gradusLiJ „rt o `, 0 0 Still there is great caution used on the P ro s o%s' b ot wholesale and retail buyers, and goOCP El ia tOe co r ordered in general in smaller bulk ths 3 eO, 0 4 0 , of seasons. Some of the German he lls a 0 a d, Uer o3° 10 sequence of the latest aspect of D 3110 hacioa,toteo are suspending the shipping orders thei: f t ao ° io 10 and are refraining from sending to an9oo, V i jo 0 of Northern Europe goods on specalat,.l oarsteoed deemed a prudential measure, althnao_u threa•,bir hopeful opinion entertained that tbe"..derte.°Ar war will be averted. There are still rftie o ol t ; ia meets of goods making for Canada. . 1 1,0 s aid co ket keeps steady, and the same ay ao the flax trade. c od a ttell " d e' NOTTINGHAM, 2d.----There Was a ‘-'s.,erab la e .. frol, at this Exchange-hall to -day. Con e ' w u al . a e iv l e ii3 e: ment prevailed in consequence ef t h aea cted 1 , 1 , 00 ea t j, Germany. Buyers would have rollerstransact re/.,,,ite in lace yarns at lower prices, but _ ver y , 1 . 1 , Y ; t0 0 0 make any concession ; ConscqueotlY a .,i, 00 0 0 ,0 al 0 ( st , ac a a g, trade was done at late rates. as. 40) has' ao)` its vale®; thrown silks (China c.e)tuia/0t le iC br oo 4 way 2s. to 33. per tb. during Teipalia fee6toad'il There is a limited consumptive G oa i s at th ao he e af nets, an& the inquiry for speenbltioriot 11 ' t oo a , ROCHDALE, 16t.—The liana°. van th© ote e i rather dull today, and such hits t , ,)30t. Theriocil):, affairs in the warehouses for a Weies.atd the F le e aci e j ante of buyers to-day was 5 011 :, jo est t ° ,, t ,:act e° , l l ,l , inquiry was for fancy flan artier ',, . 0 , 3 to '''_ r gfl ' li sion of other goods. All partiesii,;‘, to , Da , sc iac &oats' DO ba; extreme caution, and al . is.‘rfe6;.l,oliiro a Vet , o ii 1 o ci wog ru n ; to o ri ate verse effect upon business in until lately the high price of these g oods g " are eoa ll ro asse purpos es : ) , wo ol es , % red ar have had a anis° oparate,a. la 40 , their sale. New orders w hich ,iiDaugb ~ .' ) tP" 1 / Ig ,l chiefly fur shipping turera are net buying freelY.olselling ild'opaild' growth is wea la ra, ia material of English prices. Foreign wiaat _ o va - ea might be bought on sona_______ a A g e t ee lll , sorts are 10,0,- tc 1 ' .40 1 A TRUE .-------1)111--------LAINITIOttleS;;;;16telict-P,li?.! Paddington has given cowpwol! ;,000 , i! 10 , 0 £l,OOO towards the cost of _ of 0 0 , 17 .0 d oor schools. There was a delie!e_ca);tia. 11;iebecl. now a sum of £9OO is s till v uot be Public quested that his narae should ip /~ I