The Sun. — London, England, 1863-01-06 00:00:00

TH E IR 0 N Tlbi E S, a First-elo ss General MORNING NEWSPAPER, on MONDAY NEXT. ROYAL ENGLISH OPERA, COVENT GARDEN. Under the Management of Miss Louisa Pyne and Mr. W. Harrison, Sole Lessees. THIS EVENING Wallace's new Opera of LOVE'S TRIUMPH : Miss Louisa Pyne, and Mdme. Laura Barter ; Messrs. George Perren, W. H. Weiss, H. Corti, A. Cooke, and W. Harrison, After which, the Grand Comic Christmas Pantomime, en titled HARLEQUENT BEAUTY AND THE BEAST. Doors open at half-past 6—Commence at 7. THEA T R E-R OYA L, DRURY-LANE.- LesEee and 3fanager, Mr. Edmund Falconer. THIS EVENING, the Comic Drama of THE NEXT OF After which, the Grand Pantomime of LITTLE GOODY TWO SHOES. Commence at 7. THEATRE-ROYAL, HAY MARKET. Lessee, Mr. J. B. Buckstone. THIS EVENING, at Seven o'clock, will be performed OUR AMERICAN COUSIN. Asa Trenchard, Mr. Buck. stone Lord Dundreary, Mr. Sothern. After which, a new and original Extravaganza, entitled RASSELAS, PRINCE OF ARYSSINIA ; or, The Happy Valley. Rasselas, Miss Louise Keeley. Concluding with MRS. WHITE. LYCEUM THEATRE ROYAL, Will OPEN , under the Sole Management of Mr. PECHTER, on SATURDAY, January 10. The perfermances will commence with an Ori!ingl Sketch, entitled A SUDDEN ATTACK, in which Messrs. Shore, Garden, H. Widdicomb, Miss Henrade, and Mrs. Lee will appear. Romantic After which, at a Quarter to Eight, a New THE Drama, in Three Acts, and Pr3logue, entitled_... gbam, DUKE'S MOTTO, by Paul Feval and J.:4l%i'i irn " i ed by Mr. EBq. The principal character will be sust,l 3rough am, H. Fechter, sunported by Messrs. G. Vining, Raymond, H. Widdicombe, W. In tyre, F. Charles, G ar '' , Kate Terry, E. Butler, Dawson ; Misses Carlotta Lecie Lavenne, and Elsworthy. Mr. Phelps and M r. W a lt er Diontgonaery are engaged, and will shortly app ear. , c o ' c loc erformance to com- Doors open at half-past t e s ßoxes, £2 its. 6d., and £2 2s. Inence at Seven. Priva-es. 6d. ; Dress Circle, ss. 6d.; Upper Places registered. Stalls , doors—Stalls, 6e. ; Dress Circle, is. ; KCircle, 4s. 6d. Prices_ a2s. ;Gallery, ls. No half-price. Box pper ircle, 4s. ; Fit , a ro n r we l r t till 5. Stage-Manager, Mr. a °Mee open dallY is i Mr. H. Barnett. Vin'ig ; Ac ting- ' ' N EW THEATRE-R0 YAL, ADELPHI.- Sole Proprietor and Manager, Mr. B. Webster. THIS EVENING, A TICKET OF LEAVE : Messrs. J L. Toole, P. Bedford, and Mrs. Billington. After which, MARGERY DAW. To conclude with (9th time)" GEORGE DE BARNWELL : or, Harlequin Folly in the Realms of Fancy." Miss Woolgar, Mims K. Kelly, Miss Seaman ; Messrs. J. L. Toole, P. Bed ford, Stephenson, C. J. Smith. Harlequin, Mr. John Lauri ; Lolumbine, Miss Caroline Adams ; Clown, Mr. W. Hildyard ; !" antaloon, Mr. J. Paulo. The celebrated Arthur and liertrand. Commence at 7. ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE. Lessee and Manager, Mr Lindus. THIS EVENING, THE TRIPLE ALLIANCE. Mr. IL Marston, Mr. Wallace ; Miss Constance Aylmer, Miss M. Oliver, and Mrs. B. White. After which, the New Grand CHRISTMAS PANTOMIME, " RIQUET WITH THE TUFT; or, H arlequin and Mother Shipton." Mr. G. Belmore, Mr. C. Seyton, Misses Gray and Hudspeth, Mr. Milano, Mr. R. Power, Miss A. Collinson, and Mr. Halford. The NVEATHER.—Sun Office, Jan. 6, 1863. THERMOMETER. Highest since Noon yesterday 46 Lowest during the night This day at N00n..... Barometer -29.12. Wind—S.-Westerly; light, with rain during the nigh and this morning. Afternoon, fine. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. THIS DA 7 .—Morning, 2h. 58m.—Afternoon, 3h. 16m. To- woßaow.-Morning, 3h. 31m.—Afternoon, 3h. 50m. ) Tt LONDON, TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 18€3. Several years have elapsed since the Admiralty instituted a searching inquiry into the efficacy of various kinds of anchors. The trial was a severe one, and great credit was given to those who con ducted the investigation for the fair way in which it was carried out. The Admiralty anchor, although not the worst, was very far from being the best, and was proved to be not only far more weighty than TROTMAN'S and some others, but to be consi derably more expensive. The fiat was therefore given against it ; but notwithstanding the judg ment of the committee, until a very recent date, and, for what we know to the contrary, up to the present time, only two ships in the Royal Navy had been supplied with patent anchors, viz., the Victoria and Albert and the Black Eagle; the Admiralty having entered into a sort of dooms day contract with some firm some centuries ago to supply anchors at a fixed price until somewhere about the above -named date. We mention the above fact, not so much to hold up Admiralty short comings to censure, but to show that in a quarter where expense is seldom taken into account, the interest of the service has been neglected. Still, on the whole, our ships are well found, and if the anchors be not of the best quality, they in general answer their purpose, and the cables are always tested to a far severer strain than there is any probability of their being subjected to in actual service, and a man-of-war is far more likely to drag her anchor than to part her cables. How different is the case with the small fry of the merchant service a glance at the yearly wreck chart will painfully demonstrate. The larger class of merchant ships are as well found as those of the navy. There is a strict supervision kept over the equipment of the fleet of the Peninsular and Oriental Company, the Atlan tic Packet Companies, and all the leading mercan tile traders. The number of their ships renders it necessary for them to become their own insurers, and to replace the loss or decay of any particular vessel by a sinking fund yearly deducted from the profits of the company. It is therefore evidently to their interest to take every precaution to prevent disaster. The loss of any of the abovenamed ships is generally owing to thick weather, or a mistake in reckoning, and to vessels of this class intimation of danger is too often only given by the striking of the ship. These large companies possess fleets of ships equal to, and in many cases superior, to the navies of other nations, and are of vast service to our own Government in the con veyance of troops and stores, yet they form but a sma ll minority of the merchant fleets of Great Britain. The majority of our ships belong to firms who possess but a limited num ber ; these are, therefore, insured a t pri vate offic es; an d, as the owners will be indem nified for the loss of the vt ssels, they have not the same inducement to provide them with first-class stores. We do not charge all with being actuated by such unworthy motives; but it is the duty of insurance companies to put every restraint on those who have a temptation held out to them to neglect , the safety of their property. It is a melancholy fact that by far the greatest number of vessels I wrecked on our coast are of under 500 tons burden, and that of this number a large majority are lost by the breaking of their cables. We have mentioned above that in the Royal Navy all chains are tested, or, as the term goes, proved before being accepted from the maker. Now these chains, to resist the required strain, require to be made of superior iron, but oven then some flaw may exist in some part which will cause the chain to break, and it is forthwith rejected. To meet these necessary e xpenses a higher pri ce i s of course charged, but this, according to Mr. TROTMAN, does not exceed one shilling per hundredweight, yet eighty-two per cent. of merchant service cables when tested broke at a strain not equal to one quarter of What sound iron is calculated to withstand. The question may be asked, Is not the cure of this in the hands of the masters and crews of our coasters and other vessels who might refuse to sail in vessels not provided with proper and effective ground tackle Were such a question put to any skipper or mate ho would reply, / were to hint such a thing to my owners I should bo told to clear out, and that somebody else would be too glad to take charge of the THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY ENTNING., JANUARY 6, 1863. I craft. "This is too true ; competition renders men careless of consequences, and the British sailor is proverbially reckless. It is to the insurance companies that we must look for a remedy of the evil. They have suffered severely by the wanton destruction of ships by fire, but in these cases the safety of the crews has been cared for, and if, by their own negligence, the offices lose money, they alone suffer. But for one ship thus wantonly destroyed fifty are lost by defective ground tackle. We do not call upon public companies to do an act of humanity for humanity's sake ; i n di v iduals may have feelings, but public bodies have none, gore is a case in except for their own interest. which humanity and profit combine to put money into their pockets, and to give them credit for a good action with the world. Let a combination be formed by the various companies, with Lloyd s a t their head, to r efuse to grant an insurance to any vessel that i s n ot provided with pro ve d ca bl e an d nc a nd before the payment of any p o li cy on t h e lo f a , vessel, let it be show n th a t s h e sa i led with a s ound and proved ground tackle, This is a simple remedy for the evil, and would result in preserving more lives than all the efforts of that grand insti tution—the National Life Boat Society. Har bours of refuge are a great protection to vessels in bad weather on an exposed coast. But to our coasting trade good holding gear is far better. The master of a coaster knows his where abouts by a kind of instinct. No matter how thick and dirty the weather may be, his experience and his lead show him pretty well where he is, and he knows where to bring up if he can depend on his ground tackle. There was an instance not long ago of this fact. A vessel, unable to weather a headland on our eastern coast during a heavy gale, brought up in a most exposed position. The life boat, thinking her in danger, put off to her assistance ; but on reaching the vessel and in quiring whether she did not require assistance, the Master replied, " Oh, no, I have two good anchors down, and plenty of cable; I'll ride it out where I am ;" and ride it out he did in perfect safety. Let any one who doubts the correctness of these remarks take the trouble to examine the ac counts of wreck and disaster after each gale that takes place, and he will find that in nine cases out of ten the vessel lost has been a small one, and that in nine cut of ten of these cases the loss has been caused by the dragging of anchors or breaking of cables. We have some hope that one of the great battles of the session, now rapidly approaching, may be the battle of what we may term—efficient economy. It is always a difficult battle for the Opposition, partly because there is a general disposition to trust any Government, responsible as it is for the Itime being for the safety of the nation, and partly because those who are out of office have not the requisite latest financial information at command. There is also a party difficulty on the side of an Opposition, when there is a prospect of its advent to power, possibly, at an early date. The incoming Chancellor of the Exchequer does not like to hold out promises, failure to fulfil which would of course be damaging. And the incoming heads of de partments do not like debarzing themselves from the advantage of an ample expenditure. Look ing at the thing in a purely party light, the question will al ways be, shall we strengthen our selves most by offering the country diminished taxation, or by the well-known influence of a free governmental expenditure. We are always, of course, to suppose Oppositions to bA composed of patriots—still we also know them to be men ; and it is but natural that the man should con vince the patriot that economy, or expenditure, as the case may be, is best for the nation, if it is best for his party. Still, the nation's hope of reduction of expendi ture must generally lie with the Opposition. When the country feels, as it unquestionably has long felt, that SEVENTY MILLIONS and more per annum is far too large an expenditure for a time of peace, unless the Opposition will respond to that feeling, nothing will move the party in power. There probably never was a Minister less sensible of the pressure on the country of a heavy expendi ture than Lord PALMERSTON. His own easy nature, combined with his very easy circumstances, render him peculiarly unsusceptible to the suffer ings of those to whom a few pounds a year more or less of taxation, mean the enjoyment or the loss of some luxury just above the category of a necessity ; to the sufferings also of thousands, to whom his heavy war taxes make their humble incomes, in regard to a livelihood itself, very much like CINDE RELLA'S slipper—the few pounds, perhaps, of in come-tax, not more than Lord PALMERSTON would give as a Christmas-box to an old servant, compel the clerk, the clergyman, the struggling professional man, and the small trader, to leave, at Christmas, some little tradesman's bill unpaid. Lord PALMER STON is anything but an unfeeling man, but he has no eye for sufferings of this kind ; sufferings which occasionally almost amount to agony, when the tax for our vast army and navy is demanded from a man who feels, above all things, its com- pelling him to leave unpaid his doctor's or his shoemaker's bill. His heart is set on being Prime Minister of the strongest nation in Europe ; what he pays towards that object is a perfect bagatelle to him; he cannot comprehend that it is not the same to all. " What! can you grudge a five or a ten pound note, or double that, for our national armaments ?" is his feeling. We question whether he can understand the groan with which that five or twenty pounds is paid by thousands. Perhaps the leader of the Opposition in the Lords is liable to much the same danger in this respect as the Premier; but its leader and several of its best members in the Commons are not. Mr. DISRAELI is by mental temperament, and by his study of all classes, better aware of what a taxation of seventy millions means in the case of the thou sands it distresses, but who Cannot from their position proclaim their distress. While the mathe maticians and hard calculators all denied that there ought to be any difference of rate in the incom e tax, he first declared it to be not only e qu i ta b le but We imagine, too, that it was his p rac ticable. perception of the muel pressure of that tax on smaller incomes which induced hi m to suggest just the sum—five millions—as a reduction, which Mr. GLADSTONE had said would enable them to dispense with the Income-tax alto gether. Mr. GLADSTONE has always been under stood to wish for such a reduction himself; but, as a matter of fact, he has not been master of the situa tion. He laid himself open to taunts from the Opposition, and met them, " in a Parliamentary sense," by accepting his joint responsibility for our huge expenditure. Mr. DISRAELI has, however, shown the great boldness of proffering reduction in words which will never be forgotten, and almost committing the next Tory Ministry to some sub stantial relief of the people. We hope his former Ministerial colleagues will be wise enough, on this point, to follow his lead. We observe that one who is rather prone to aot the rebel sometimes against his leader, Lord GEORGE MANNERS, now that he is appealing to a Tory county constituency, is disposed to accept his po licy, That healthful process, " a bath in a popular election," has cleared his vision and bra ce d his nerves. He says to the electors of Cambridgeshire in his address, " Our expenditure has become ex cessive, and if I should, by your favour, re-enter the House of Commons, I shall be ready to insist upon a more econoinical administration of our finances, as I am convinced that our expenditure may be largely diminished without at all impairing the real efficiency of any branch of the public ser• v i ce ." We trust this declaration may be taken as indicating not the views of Lord GEORGE MANNERS only—that it appeals to what he understands to be the feeling of the Conservative electors and their landlords in Cambridgeshire, we may be quite cer tain. But we hope it also shows that Conservative Members of Parliament are beginning to under stand that efficient economy will be the question of next session. Their ex-Chancellor of the Exche quer foresaw it last year; some of the Tories kicked at it then, to the great joy of Lord PALMERSTON, We hope they are coming to a better mind : if so, between the two parties the country will get it. Everything is now favourable to economy. The revenue has, indeed, proved elastic ; still, for the three quarters already gone by, it has fallen short of Mr. GLADSTONE'S estimate by a million and a quar ter. The state of Lancashire demands that not a sovereign of the nation's money should be wasted, and in aid of naval and military reduction the state of the Continent is every way favourable. All countries are finding out that the " bloated arma ments" into which the French EMPEROR frightened them are an unendurable bur den. The Prussian Parliament seems dis posed even to force its Sovereign to a revolution, if he will persist in maintaining a vast army. Austria herself is compelled by her new Parliament to revise her military expenditure, and is not unwilling to do it. And the cause of all this European war expenditure in peace—the restless EMPEROR of the restless glory-loving French—is ex ercising his troops and spending millions, no longer in threatening European peace, but in attempting to give peace to distracted Mexico. For our part, we do not know that we should be sorry to see him gratify his subjects by appropriating a handsome slice of Mexico as the payment of his expedition. The more extended the possessions of France, the more vulnerable and less quarrelsome she will pro bably become. What, however, will certainly in duce her to keep the peace at home is, a costly dis tant war on her hands, and, despite the high finan cial abilities of M. FOUL)), another heavy deficit. If in such a state of things our rulers will persist in a war expenditure, we should like to know when we are to return to a peace expenditure. It ought to be in EIGHTEEN HUNDRED AND SIXTY-THREE. The speech of the Earl of HARDWICKE on Satur day last, in the Town-hall of Cambridge, is one of the ablest descriptions of the state of affairs in Lancashire that has yet been laid before the public. Clear and concise in its language and temperate in its expression, it sums up the whole case with a force and simplicity whose logic is unanswer able. Evidently well versed in every branch of his subject, the noble earl brought forward statistics enough to satisfy the most determined follower of Mr. GLADSTONE. Some of these were startlingly put, as when he alluded to a district, containing 2,000,000 inhabitants, whose applicants for paro chial relief had risen in the short space of four teen months from 43,000 to upwards of a quarter of a million. In September, 1861, the weekly amount dispensed from the parochial funds was £2,250. In November, 1862, it was £17,681. Such facts speak for themselves, even without Lord HARDWICK E'S striking comment that we were called upon for charity alone, putting policy out of the question, to support an army equal to that of the Northern States, and a body of men equal in number to twice the army of the United Kingdom. After observing that these facts were such that the greatest exertions were requisite to meet the calamity, ho proceeded to consider the causes of the disaster, and remarked that it came upon us in a form that rendered it more acceptable to the mind of charity, than if it had arisen from overtrading or over-manufacturing, as some had foretold. But even in that case the unemployed labourer who is certainly not responsible for the imprudence or love of speculation of his master, would have still had a claim on our aid. Remembering that he was addressing an agricultural county, Lord HARDWICKE entered into some explanation of the difference with regard to the population of a manufacturing dis trict where owing to the immense masses collected in particular spots for a specific purpose, the raising of the rates is totally inadequate to meet a sudden emergency like the present. Without following the noble earl through his observations on the vexed questions of the amount of the rates and the assist ance given by the millowners, we may pass to the concluding portion of his speech, is which he refers to the genQral aspect of this great calamity in terms which will find a grateful echo in the breast of every Englishman. Turning from the painful details of the wide-spread suffering, to the noble qualities it has brought to light among us, the speaker said : " A great calamity has fallen upon a district and upon an honest and hard-working people. But 1 believe in my conscience that, by God's blessing, we shall come out of this difficulty with infinitely greater power, so far as regards any argument which we may hold towards the rest of man kind, in relation to the position of this country in the eyes of foreign nations, and above all with regard to our dependence upon one single State for the supply of that material which is well known to be one of the staple manu• factures of this country, employing as it does so large a body of men. We are supposed by many persons to be dependent upon the United States for our peace and happi ness for our security and our wealth ; but we have shown them, and we shall be able to show them for the future, that this country has a power which they never supposed it to possess; and that with its love of order, its obedience to the law, its great charity, and its powerful resources, there are no circumstances that can bring upon us that depres sion which I will not say they desire to see,;but which they felt confident would be caused, if the supply of cotton should be deficient." In reference to the old real or supposed anta gonism between the manufacturing and the work ing classes, he went on to say : " I have stated that our present distress is likely to relieve us from future anxiety, and enable us to rely upon other parts of the world besides the United States for our re sew. ces. I b e li eve I may also congratulate you on its bringing about another most important feature in the happiness of this country. I mean the knitting together of all classes. In times gone by we, as purely agri cultural people, have suffered much from the tone and expression of feeling in the manufacturing districts. It is a very pleasant thing to be able to show them that we en tertain no ill-feeling towards them, and that we consider what has been said as so much idle wind that has passed by. We are ready to show them that under their circumstances of trial we enter deeply into their affliction, and are ready to aid them in throwing off the tremendous scourge which has overtaken them, It is important to laboure that throughout no p l platform o t r h n showcountry th e t here operativeexists an a d hvteine of charity which gentlemen, who address themselves to the passions of the people for the purpose of setting man against man, have yet shown. We are pron g to the operative class that there exists nothing but love and affection towards them in the bosoms of their superiors, or the classes that are placed above them. I think this is a very important feature, and one from which we may draw very great comfort. I may add that the subscriptions have reached £1,300,000, and I will express my belief that the worst is over, and my hope that this great calamity, NO Alarmiug i itself and which the opinion of some statesmen was calculated to bring about such serious consequence=, has been parried by the energy and the charity of the people of this country, coupled with the honest forbearance and patience of the operative class." Such reflections lighten a part of the bur3en, and prove that the cordial sympathy and fellowship which binds all classes of Englishmen together, is stronger than that bitter antagonism between the members of a kindred race which has brought all this suffering to our doors. In after years, when we may hope Americans will look hack with shame and regret to the fierce and mer ciless civil war which crippled their resources, wasted their population, and ravaged their fair and prosperous country, it is with no unstable hope that we trust that Englishmen may turn with gra titude to that Providence which brought them safely through such a trial, and taught them in the noble patience on the one hand, and the ready sympathy on the other, how "sweet are the uses of adversity." ROYAL ENGLISH OPERA. RUY BLAS. Mr. Howard Glover's very pleasing and successful opera of last season was reproduced at this house last evening, and, despite the unfavourable weather, attracted a very full attendance. Miss Pyne, Mr. Harrison, and Mr. Santley resumed, of course, their original characters, whilst the cast was weakened by the substitution of Mr. Lyall for Mr. St. Albyn, in Don Caesar, and greatly improved by Madame Baxter's replacement of Miss M'Lean, in the Page. On the various merits of this work we can have now no occasion to enlarge. Its graceful melody, dramatic spirit, and at times, brilliant instrumentation are sufficiently acknowledged to relieve us from the task of doing more than to record its admirable d i kecution on this occasion, and the very marked satisfaction with which it was received. Miss Pyne renewed all her great impressions in the young Queen. Mingling all that dignity and grace fulness which so peculiarly distinguish her, its pre sentment was not less marked by her equally unrival led feeling. Her delivery of the scena of the 2d act, of the exquisite ballad of the 3d, " Could life's dark scene," and her share in the superb trio of the last—the most dramatic feature of the opera, and the only one that rises to the poetic height of the sub ject—were all evidences of the substantial grounds on which she has won her high position. Mr. Harrison also resumed the hero with all the force of its first presentment. He has appeared in no character in which his dramatic feeling has been more evident. Were he to perform "Ruy Blas" without a note of music the public could not but consider it a very superior performance. His treatment of the vocal portion was not less meritorious—his delivery of the pleasing ballad " Beside her lattice every night" winning a well deserved encore. Mr. Santley was in excellent voice, and sang superbly, as he does always ; and :Mme. Baxter's delivery of the Page's song in the opening act confirmed every anticipa tion of her destined success at her debut. The band, chorus, and Mr. Mellon had all their usual excel lence. The Countess of Craven and the Ladies Craven have left Gormanbury, where they have been on a visit to the Earl and Countess of Verulam. for The Grove, x ear Watford, on a visit to the Earl and Countess of Clarendon. The Earl and Countess of Verulam have been receiving a succession of visitors at Gormanbury during the past week. Lady Harriet Vernon was safely delivered of a daughter on Sunday last. Lady Monson has arrived at the Queen's Hotel, - Upper Norwood. Sir John and Lady Thorold and family have arrived at the Palace Hotel, Buckingham-gate, from Syston Park, Grantham, on their way to their residence in the Champs Elysees, at Paris. Sir Robert and Lady Buxton are staying at the Pavilion Hotel, Folkestone. The marriage of Mr. Nugent with Miss Eveline Gascoyne is unavoidably postponed to the end of the pre sent month. Mr. and Mrs. Sewart Hodgson have arrived at Farrance's Hotel from Sparrows Herne, Herts. Mrs. Durant and family have arrived at Edward's Hotel from Florence Villa, Shanklin, Isle of Wight. THEATRE ROYAL, HAYMARKET.—The Prince of Wales honoured this theatre with a visit last night, His royal highness was attended by Count Gleicken, General Knollys, and Capt. Grey. The performances were "Lord Dundreary," " Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia," and " Mrs. White." THE PRINCE OF WALES.—His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales is expected to visit his recently acquired estat e a t S an dringham, N or f o lk, t o -d ay . It is understood that the Prince of Wales will travel from town by a special train on the Great Eastern Railway to the Wolterton station on the Lynn and Hunstanton branch, which is within easy distance of the mansion. In that case his stay at the Lynn station will be very brief, and it is intended that the visit shall be of a strictly private charac ter. A portion of the Prince's stud and carriages were to precede him, his Royal Highness proposing to devote some attention to field sports. The mansion at Sandringham has received several additions, &c., but it is expected that its interior fittings will yet be greatly enri c h e d. A great fire took place on Saturday morning, at Louth, in Lincolnshire, by which property to the estimated amount of about £16,000 was consumed. The fire broke out in the premises of an extensive firm of linen drapers, and both premises and stock were entirely burnt in spite of all the efforts which were made for their preserva tion. The property was only partially insured. THE GALES.—Admiral Fitzroy has despatched three telegrams since Saturday evening to the dif ferent outports, with notice to hoist the warning signals. Heavy gales from the S. S. W. prevailed yesterday at Scar. borough, Jersey, Lorient, Plymouth, Portsmouth, and He ligoland. DISTRESS IN NOTTINGHAM.—SO much distress at present exists in the town of Nottingham, that the Mayor has issued a circular soliciting subscriptions to " raise a fund of about £l,OOO for affording relief by the distribution of soup, and in some instances bread, and which are to be given after careful personal inquiries." SHAMEFUL FACTS.—A private letter from a sol dier in Burnside's army to his mother in this city, written from Falmouth a day or two previous to the disas trous battle of Fredericksburg, states that on the day when the letter was written there were brought into the dead house 12 dead bodies of our soldiers who had been frozen to death while on guard duty. He says several of the men were on guard duty without pantaloons, having had for two or three weeks only overcoats and drawers. The mercury on two nights sunk to 13 deg. and 14 deg., and ice six inches thick floated in the river. Their shoes were in many instances almost worthless, being Massachusetts contract shoes, with soles glued on; and the men were, moreover, half starved. The writer had just received some money from home, and he says he devoted 25c. of it to the purchase of a quart of meal, which he stirred up with water and boiled ; and he adds that it was the best dinner he had had for two or three months. There is a terrible responsibility resting on the heads of guilty contractors, quartermasters, and shoddy patriots generally, who have directly done so much to cause these evils. While white soldiers are absolutely freezing to death in Virginia, our Government is having 50,000 suits of clothes made in New York for negros. And many thou sands of dollars' worth of life-necessaries aro sent abroad to help the suffering poor of Great Britain, while our own poor soldiers dio of nakedness and starvation at home.— Mr/Joni Times. PORTSMOUTH, Jan. 5, 6 p.m.—The anticipations raised hero yesterday by the state of the barometer, and the general appearance of the weather, Nv,ro realised last night by a fresh gale from S.W. round to S.S.E. Since daylight the wind has moderated. During the forenoon the wind got in to S.S.W. It is now at W. The eone and drum signal from Admiral Fitzroy is hoisted, indicating a gale from the northward. Towards this quarter the wind is now working round, and Portsdown, which lies north of the harbour, is hid by dense black banks of clouds. Al though there is almost an utter absence of wind at present, it is evidently but a lull between the gales, which, from appearances, may be expected with renewed force, The barometer on the Victoria Pier now stands at half-a-tenth below 29.0. GREAT CONFLAGRATION AT BROMPTON.—Be tween 4 and 5 o'clock this morning a fire broke out in the Royal Restaurant, 4, Queen's-buildings, Brompton. The fire engines were soon in attendance, but before their ar rival every room in the spacious building presented an f.' the International unt7c-ir.n sheet of fire, and the reflection was so great th a t person s a t a s h ort disial:lC thought Exhi bition buildin g h a d ta k en f i re. The firemell enrted them selves to the utmost to save the houses on each side, but they ply partially succeeded, as they sustained considerable damage. The front of the house in which the fire began gave way, and Ihe flames rose higher than before, and the restaurant was entirely destroyed. The whole of the sufferers were insured. The exterior of the Royal mausoleum is rapidly progressing, but the interior will remain in the same state as when her Majesty left Windsor until the return of the Queez3,— Court Journal. LATEST INTELLIGENCE. AMERICA. NEW YORK, DEC. 26. The President has not signed the Bill for the admission of Western Virginia as a separate State. The Conservative party is using all its pressure to induce him to veto it. The Republicans insist that the President must and will adhere to his emancipation policy, and that he will issue a new proclamation in that sense on the Ist of January. The Democratic party asserts, on the contrary, that he will take further time to consider. The position of the Federal armies in the South- West is exciting apprehension. The Confederates have re-captured the town of Holly Spring, and destroyed 200 waggons, cotton, commissary stores, ammunition, &c., valued at 500,000 dole., and burned Union City. The Federals state their loss at Holly Spring at 200 killed and wounded, and 150 taken prisoners. In a raid upon Memphis, the Confederates carried off 100 cattle and 180 mines. A force of 7,000 Confederates is reported to be advancing upon Columbus, their original stronghold on the Mississippi. It is supposed that the Confederates will make an effort to crush the army of General Rosecranz at Nashvillc, Tennessee, and recover that place, and defeat General Grant's campaign against Jackson and Vicksburg, Mississippi. General Grant is already so situated that he can not send an order 20 mike in any direction from his own camp. No change has occurred in the position of affairs on the Rappahannock. General Foster's army has returned to Newbern. The results of its four victories, in which it sus tained heavy losses, has been the destruction of a portion of the Wilmington and Weldon Railroad and telegraph, and of a large amount of private property. Intelligence from Key West states that more than 50 large vessels of the Banks' expedition had been seen passing into the Gulf. A large steamer, with a full freight of supplies for the Confederate Government, is reported by the Richmond papers to have entered Charleston, South LITERATURE. Colburn's New Monthly. "The Shadow of Ashlydyat is continued at some length. The present instalment is a very sad one. First we meet with Maria gradually learning the awful truth concerning the state of affairs. Then Thomas Godolphin is represented " bearing the brunt" of the evil. His iniquitous brother has absconded, leaving those whom he has ruined to meet the evil as they best may. The authoress comes out powerfully in her delineation of these scenes, truly depicting the misery occasioned to the innocent by the designing schemes of the guilty. " It is rather with what may be called the domestic phase of these tragedies that I would deal; the private home details, the awful wreck of peace, of happiness caused there. The world knows enough (rather too much sometimes) of the private part of these affairs; but what does it know of the part behind the curtain?—the, if it may be so said, the inner aspect ?" High as is the authoress's reputa tion, this story will enhance it most considerably, from its lifelike details and vivid illustration of cha racter. "Damon and Pythias," is a peculiar sketch translated from the Danish, about a man who pos sessed a mania for securing a friend, and in his absurd ideas and morbid notions made of such ac quisitions a curse instead of a blessing. " About a Sensation" is a well written paper, which justly satirises the mania of the day in the rage for excitement, and concludes with the wise advice to the young not to attempt to cut a figure unless they are well assured of their com petency to succeed. Then they must persevere, otherwise they had better confine themselves to a humble walk of life, and "travelling onwards, doing a little good here, and a little there, and nothing great any where, come at last in a very peaceful mind to a very peaceful home." " Ruined Abbeys and Castles of Great Britain" is a brief summary of the Howitts' interesting book, some of the chief points of which are discussed. " Granville de Vigne" is continued, and the details of this part are very exciting in their nature. The wretched wife of Sahretasche is dying, and the curtain falls on general gloom. " The Prussian Opposition" is an elaborate article, which seeks to convey a right understanding of the important events now taking place in that country. It states that " the Prussian King and Prussian Chambers are disputing upon a matter of money, much like Charles the First and Hampden, and it is quite certain that we have as yet only seen the beginning of the struggle." " Umbria and the Marches" discusses Mr. T. A. Trollope's work on the subject. Sir Nathaniel this month discourses on " Frederick, Prince of Wales," and we also meet with a paper on the "Explora tion of the Yang-take-Kiang," lately written by Capt. Blakiston. Macmillan's Magazine. This magazine commences with a Dream of Christmas Eve, entitled "The Pines at Hampstead." We had rather leave the writer to explain his ob ject himself, for we confess to having no very clear insight into it ourselves. One thing is, however, certain, that certain verses introduced into this article are by no means of a high order, nor can we sympathise with the phantom. We suppose the gentleman in question is one who, to prove his ad miration for the girl of his choice, converts one of her shoes into a goblet, from which he drinks to her. Kissing a shoe is bad enough, but to drink wine from one, fresh from a heated foot, is too much. "The History of Almanacs," by Thomas Wright, F.S.A., contains much matter of interest. The best writers on the subject agree that the word almanac wtis brought in by the astrologers, and that they took it from the Arabs ; and it was to astrological calenders that it was first applied, but they were gradually abridged into a more popular shape. One of the earliest of those in the British Museum dates back to about the year 1430. The folding almanacs continued in use during the whole of the 15th century, and when of less elaborate make appear to have had a rather extensive circulation, for they were among the first productions of the art of printing in its rudest forms. " Vincenzo ;or Sunken Rocks," is continued. In December, 1861, an article on " Games of Curdle" was published in this magazine, and the editor states that its re ception was so favourable that he has been tempted to return to the subject again at the festive sea son of Christmas, and he this year devotes his attention exclusively to the game of whist. He states that it is curious that while so many of all classes play at whist, so few can play it well; mend proceeds to explain the .probable cause, and to lay down certain rules for the guidance of young players, in which he quotes the authority of Hoyle, Cavendish, and others. The article contains matter of interest to experienced players, and much infor mation to the unskilled. " The Water Babies ; a Fairy Tale for a Land Baby," by the Rev. Professor Kingsley, has reached chapter VI. It is a curious combination of nonsense and sense ; the object is moral and the purpose good, but such uncongenial characters are met together that the best way is to select a few passages, for example : The children were very much surprised, and asked the fairy whether that was her doing. " Yes, and no," she said, smiling. "It was only those who could use their feet as well as their hands who could get a good living ; or, indeed, get married ; so that they got the best of everything, and starved out all the rest; and those who are left keep a regular breed of toe-thumb men, as a breed of shorthorns, or skye-terriers, or fancy pigeons is kept up." " But there is a hairy one among them," said Ellie. "Ah I" said the fairy, "that will be a great man in his time, and chief of all the tribe." And, when she turned over the next five hundred years, it was true. F r this hairy chief had had hairy children, and they hairier children still ; and every one tried to marry hairy husbands, and have hairy children too ; for the climate was growing so damp that none but the hairy ones could live ; all the rest coughed and sneezed, and had sore throats, and went into consumption, before they could grow up to be men and women. And the fairy turned over the next five hundred years. And they were fewer still. " Why, there is one on the ground, picking up roots," said Ellie, " and he cannot walk upright." No more he could ; in the same way that the shape of their feet had altered also. "Why," cried Tom, "I declare they are all apes." " Something very like it, poor foolish creatures," said the fairy. " They are grown so stupid now, that they can hardly think; for none of them have used their wits for many hundred years, and they have almost forgotten how to talk. For each stupid child forgot son eof the words it heard from its stupid parents, and had not wits enough to make fresh words for itself. And beside, they are grown so fierce, and suspicious, and brutal, that they keep out of each other's way, and mope, and sulk in the dark forests, never hearing each other's voice, till they have forgotten almost what speech is like. lam afraid they will all be apes very soon, and all by doing only what they liked." And in the next five hundred years they were all dead and gone, by bad food and wild beasts, and hunters, all except one tremendous old fellow with jaws like a jack, who stood full seven feet high ; and M. Du Chaillu came up to him, and shot him, as he stood roaring and thumping his breast. And he remembered that his ancestors had once been men, and tried to say, "Am I not a man and a brother 2" but he had forgotten how to use his tongue ; and then he had tried to call for a doctor, but he had forgotten the word for one. So all he said was, "Übboboo I " and died. And that was the end of the great and jolly nation of the Doasyoulikes. And when 'rom and Ellie came to the end of the book, they looked very sad and solemn; and they had go,-,d reason so to do, for they really fancied that the men were apes, and never thought of asking, in their simplicity, whether the creatures had hippopotamus majors in their brains or not ; in which case, you know, they could not possibly have been apes, though they were more apish than the apes of all aperies. A chapter is devoted to " Maritime Rights of Bel ligerents and Neutrals." This much discussed sub ject will be before the public, we suppose, until the termination of the American war. There is also to be found a paper on " Political Economy and the Gospel," as well as a review of the Bishop of Natal's book. Good Words. Edited by Norman Macleod, D.D It is with great satisfaction that we see this excellent magazine begin a new year with unabated spirit and unflagging interest. The names of the principal contributors are in themselves a sufficient guarantee fe.r the high moral tone and literary ability of the contents, since their list includes Dr. Guthrie, Rev. Charles Kingsley, A. K. 1 - . L 8., Laurence Oliphant, John Caird, D.D., Anthony Trollops, and the editor himself. For popular science we have such writers as Sif Divid Brewster and Sir John Herschel, while feminine genius is ably represented by the pens of Sarah rytler, Ade laide Proctor, Isa Craig, and the author of " John. Halifax." One remarkable feature in this serial is the entire absence of anything approaching to sec tarianism, which distinguishes it, although many of the articles are on religious subjects. To this peculiar merit not often found in similar publica tions, is probably due the widely-extended circu lation of " Good Words." We heartily commend this pleasant and profitable number to the public, assuring them that it fully carries out its motto, " Good words are worth much, and cost little," taken from the pages of quaint George Herbert. Caro.ina. Thirty-nine out of the 300 Sioux Indians impri soned at Dakoa, Minnesota, are to be hung to-day, and fears are entertained that the whites who will witness the execution may break open the prison and lynch the remainder. The Colonel command ing the post has invoked the aid of the citizens to maintain the law. ITALY. TURIN, JAN. 5 (Evening). A circular of the Minister of the Interior pub lished to-day directs the Prefects to push forward the formation of 220 battalions of the mobilised National Guard, and not to defer it later than the 20th inst., at which date all the operations neces sary for carrying out this measure will have been completed. NAPLES, lAN. 5. Yesterday evening some individuals belonging to the lower class of the population endeavoured to get up a demonstration, and raised cries hostile to the Government. About 15 of them were arrested, among whom were two curates, some priests, and a colonel formerly in the Bourbon service. Docu ments were found upon the latter relating to a re volutionary conspiracy. A petard was thrown down and exploded near the house of the General of the National Guard, but without doing any damage. The population remained perfectly quiet. SPAIN. MADRID, JANUARY 5, Evening. In to-day's sitting of the Congress, a Bill was introduced by the Government for modifying the Customs' tariff on iron, cotton, and other articles. It is asserted that Senor Coello y Qnesada Spanish Minister at Brussels, has sent in his resig. nation. Marshal O'Donnell has received fresh proofs o the confidence placed in him by the Queen. FRANCE. BOURSE, Jan. s.—The firmness apparent in the market on Saturday has been well maintained to day, and the business done shows a further im provement in prices. Threes, for the account, are now at 70f. 65c. The Railway Share Market has not been very animated, but prices have been pretty well maintained. The upward movement continued to the end, when the market closed as follows : 41 per Cents. OS 25 Do. end month.... 3 per Cents .. 70 20 Do. end month.... 70 80 New 3 per Cents Do. end Credit Mobilier....l2oo Do, end m0nth....1210 RAIL Bank Shares 3410 Credit } oneier 1460 Piedmontese Fives. Italian Loan 73 45 Russian Austrian - Spanish Threes — Home Debt .. 5O 50 WAYS. Orleann Cash. Account. ICB7 50 .. 1090 Northern New. ditto Lyons and Mediterranean 1170 .. 1172 50 Geneva 371 25 .. 372 50 Southern Western Eastern ... . ,.. 526 25 .. 525 Sardinian Austrian T,owbard North of Spain 525 - .. 530 - 607 50 .. 608 75 547 50 .. 548 75 _ Saragossa Ditto to Barcelona 667 50 .. 677 . 50 327 50 .. 330 - WINDSOR.—This town, celebrated for its choir, possesses great advantages for getting up classical concerts, and they have been well cultivated under the accomplished Dr. Elvey, of St. George's Chapel, who presides over a Glee and Madrigal Society, which is under the immediate patronage of her Majesty. Miss Banks sung at the first of this season. Miss Roden is engaged for the second, Friday, the 9th inst. THE FORGERY UPON THE BANK OF ENGLAND.- It is expected that the trial of the six prisoners, George Buncher, Robert Cummings, William Barnett, Richard Brewer, James Griffiths, and Henry Williams, who are charged with stealing a quantity of Bank of Eng land note paper from the mills at which it is manufactured, at Laverstoke, in Hampshire, and also with having endea voured to carry out an extensive system of forging Bank of England notes, will take place on Wednesday morning. Sir Fitzroy Kelly and Mr. Bovill, Q.C., are specially re tained, with Mr. Giffard and Mr. Matthew, to conduct the prosecution on behalf of the Bank of England ; Sergeant Ballantine is specially retained, with Mr, F. H. Lewis and Mr. D. D. Keane, to defend the prisoner Brown, Mr. Pater and Mr. Greenoak are retained to defend Bun cher, and Mr. E. T. Smith will defend Cummings. The other prisoners are undefended. Among the charges that will be preferred against the prisoners are that of feloniously forging certain notes of the Governor and Company of the Bank of England, with having feloniously and without lawful excuse and authority in their possession divers sheets of paper, the words "Bank of England" being visible in the substance of such paper ; they will also be charged with fe loniously having in their possession divers sheets of paper, upon which there was an impression of certain works, figures, numbers, and ornaments resembling a Bank of England note. The prisoners will also be charged with having forged Bank of England notes feloniously in their possession, and likewise with being feloniously in posses sion of plates, upon which portions of the contents of a Bank of England note were engraved. There are more than 60 witnesses to be atmined for the prosecution, and the trial will last two, if not three, days. SOUTH KENSINGTON MUSEUM,—D uring the week ending Jan. 3 the visitors have been as follow : On Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Satur day (free days), open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m , 12,571; on Friday, students' day (admission to the pubic 6d), open from 10 a.m. till 4 p.m., 298 ; total, 12,869 —from the open ing of tlao museum, 3,661,185. Routledge's Illustrat6d Natural History. The forty-seventh part of this able and compre hensive work is devoted to spiders, eentepedes, scor pions, and similar unattractive topics. However, we have as much to learn from these humble and unsightly creatures as from nobler animals, whose construction is often less wonderful. " There's a mission no doubt for the worm in the dust, As there is for the charger with nostrils of pride ; The sloth and the newt have their places of trust, And the agents are needed, for God hath supplied." In accordance with this philosophy we may look with equanimity on the frightful creatures dis played in the clever illustrations to this part. The work when finished is likely to rank among the first Natural Histories in the language. The British Workman. The yearly part of this excellent and well con ducted periodical comes before us with an illustrated cover representing a scene of distress in Lanca shire, 1862. Many other woodcuts of large size are contained in this number, one of the most effective showing a portion of the terrible disaster in the Hartley Colliery. There are two beautiful portraits of the late Prince Consort and her Ma jesty, the former taken from Wyon's medallion. The letterpress is as varied and attractive as pos. sible, evidently with the view of preventing the attention of its less cultivated readers from flagging. Some may think that there is too much of teetotal ism in this woik, but at the same time it is cap able of doing great good, and ought therefore to meet with encouragement and receive respect. Good Words. Edited by Norman Macleod, D.D. It is with great satisfaction that we see this ex cellent magazine begin a new year with unabated spirit and unflagging interest. The names of the principal contributors are, in themselves, a suffi cient guarantee for the high moral tone and literary ability of the contents, since their list includes Dr. Guthrie, Rev. Charles Kingsley, A.K.H.8., Law renca Oliphant, John Caird, D.D., Anthony Trol lope, and tho Editor himself. For popular science we have such writers as Sir David Brewster and Sir John Herschel, while feminine genius is ably repre sented by the pens of Sarah Tytler, Adelaide Proc. tor, Isa Craig, and the author of " John Halifax.' One remarkable feature in this serial is the entire absence of anything approaching to sectarianism which distinguishes it, although many of the arti cles are on religious subjects. To this peculiar merit, not often found in similar publications, is pro bably due the widely extended circulation of Good Words. We heartily commend this pleasant and profitable number to the public, assuring them that it fully carries oat its motto, taken from the pages of quaint George Herbert Good Words are worth much, and cost little." Cassell's Illustrated History of England. A new volume of this popular history has just been commenced, in compliance with the wish of the subscribers, who desired its extension from the death of George 111. to the present day. The troubled times succeeding the accession of George IV. are clearly and ably treated, Extracts from some of the chief speakers and writers of the day being interpolated. The illustrations, if not of a very high class, are numerous and effective, and well cal culated to extend a knowledge of our domestic his tory in the homes of the people. MISCELLANEOUS MAGAZINES. Newton's London Journal of Arts and Sciences has an article on French and English patent law reformers, which quotes largely from some recent remarks of M. Michel Chevalier on the obstacles which he considers the patent law opposes to the progress of the industrial arts. From his view of the case the writer before us differs in toto, and those interested in the matter have here an opportunity of comparing their arguments. The usual scientific notices and diagrams of recent pa tents are given. Colman's -Magazine is a new comer of no very high order, bat it has plenty of light reading, interspersed with sundry discourses on the topics of the day, among which the Ameri can war and the London garotters are of course prominent. The Englishwoman's Domestic Maga zine offers its subscribers a New Year's gift, in the shape of an illustrated supplement, devoted to the two fascinating subjects of fashion andlieedlework. A handsome coloured design for braiding, a large sheet of mysterious patterns to assist adventurous amateurs in cutting out their own ball dresses and bonnet curtains, and other details of grande toilette, besides some elegant specimens of fancy embroidery, are to be found in this number by those wise maidens and matrons who like to combine the acquisition of some useful domestie knowledge with a little pleasant reading. Le Follet, long a stan dard in matters of fashion, preserves its attractions, but has now a rival in The Paris Elegant, which chronicles the vagaries of fancy in the City of the Seine with a vivacity and minuteness that will de light many fair English readers. Beeton's Diction ary of Universal Information has reached its 60th part, and promises, when completed, to be a valuable work of reference. Boys seem to be especially favoured by the New Year, for we have before us no less than five different serials wholly and solely devoted to the benefit of that comprehensive and unquiet class of our fellow-subjects. Two of those are published by the enterprising Mr. Beeton, whose Boys' Own agazine, an established favou rite, has been recently raised in price beyond the reach of some of its subscribers, in whose favour he has started The Boys' Penny Magazine, also good of its kind. The continuation of Curio sities of Savage Life in the Boys' Own Library is handsomely and profusely illustrated, and adapted fir boys of maturer age. The Boys' Journal is a new publication, with plenty of pleasant reading for holiday hours. Kingston's Magazine for Boys contains some varied and interesting matter, chiefly devoted, as befits its readers, to the narrative of perils by sea and land. The lovers - of the ancient game of chess can supply themselves with Beeton's Book of Home Games, which is now treating of the science and practice of this game. The National Magazine is chiefly remarkable for the really beau tiful photographs with which it presents its readers. We have this month a view of Osborne House, from which it appears to be a commodious and pleasant dwelling. During the year 1862 the population of Algeria has risen to 3,062,124 inhabitants, being 476,769 more than in 1856. In this increase are comprised 33,441 Europeans, who have immigrated within that period. The village of Trembles, near Aumale, was peopled last year with Piedmontese families, and others are expected, in order to create a considerable centre of population in the neighbourhood of Cherchell. The receipts effected at the Havre Custom-house during the month of December amounted to 1,425,215 f., against 1,880,878 f. in the corresponding month of 1861, being a decrease of 458,663 f. For drawbacks on exportation 821,496 f. were paid during the same period, against 393,302 in December, 1861, constituting an increase of 428,19;f. Mlle. Livry, who so narrowly escaped being burnt to death at the Opera in November last, has, in gratitude to the fireman Muller, whose prompt interference saved her life, just presented to him a handsome gold watch and chain, with the date of the accident-15th November —engraved on the case. A Havre journal states that the steamers running between Southampton and Havre have within the last fort night brought to the latter port 71 iron cases, containing 20,000 kilos. of blank 10-centime pieces, which are to be coined in France for the kingdom of Italy. The waters of ;Ito .'Sine have risen to seven fee and a half above the lowest, level at the metrical scale of the Dalt• Royal. ings i latter Al and beard inst. Thl °Pone Ac Edinl naorrc the al of the Th with bales. At op enc an it 'nark, of i 1 enterl Et verl Whiet tions are n( 93 i I al so tl doted at Bs. contir Caled and Norsk North Th( main( Austr 23 1 2 , Penis 124• nlitin e Bank 3 per i 3 Per ( New. 3 India Ditt Ditt Ditt Ditt Volum] India Exche Brazil JksPpt: Ditt Gre e k Italian Maxie, Ditt Moori f ISTeNV Ditt , Portui bat, 41 1881 E Ditt Ditt Dig Ditt Bardil 4ani; bit Dist Ditt B Paui, Turki Diti Diti Diti Diti Ven es Dit Diu Dit Aantr Dutch Dit oonsc Dit do„ jSm Tract t 3 Both Ste Ti 131U6 to OF at th eight Gen( Antc truti his r were third but shotl who sow,