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

• AGENTS REQUIRED. THE ROYAL INSURANCE COMPANY is prepared to entertain applications for Agency Appoint ments from gentlemen having command of F ire and Life Business. The Royal has always been conspicuous for its liberality and promptitude in the settlement of claims. Its annual Income is now ov er .................... X 500,001 And its funds in hand exc eed ...................... Xl,Coi,ooo Transfers of Policies from other Companies received with- Out charge for Poli d cy es , , J B JOHNSTON, Secretary. 29, whatever the amount. Lombard-street. Royal Insurance Cr , . Address, mpallY, BONNET'S SILKS a.lOY—Every Article of commerce takes its title either from the inventor or manufacturer . and the more perfect the production the gr-esters is t h e credit which attaches to the originator. BONNET'S SILKS are said to be incapable of identifica tion in Englaad ; but the fallacy of such an assertion is ex pos d by the very trade mark of the firm, as exhibited by Messrs. JAY, of Regent-street. The following interwoven mark may be seen at thP en d °t eac h piec , :—" anutazture de C. J. Bonnet et Cie., k1,) , 0 n Injurieux." Wed' guaranteed. „miLy MOURNING.—Messrs. JAY sou l ii U respectfully announce that great economy is eflecte cl by purchasing Mournin g a t th e i r esta blishment, 2 , 7 and 24 9 , i..G EN T-STREET, their Stock of FAMILY MOURN IN , .3 being the largest in Eur •pe. Though Nlessra. Jay professed) 3 • keep the best a: titles for Mourning and Halt- Mourning—i ad times the cheapest -they supply a Complete Suit ( Domestic Mourning for 2, guineas. MOMIND4G COSTUME of every description is kepi: Ready Made, and can be forwarded in town or country at a moment's notice. The most reasonable prices are charged 1, and wear of every article is guaranteed. THE LONDON G-EN RAL MOURNING WARE lIOUSE Regent-street (next the Circus). JAYS'. 'ENGLAND'S CONGRESS , in the . CHRISTMAS DOUBLE NUMBER of FUN, on, WiDNESDAY. One Penny. ROYAL ENGLISH OPERA,, COVENT-GARDEN. Under the Management of Miss Louisa Pyne and Mr. W. Harrison. On BOXING NIGHT (Saturday, Dec. 26), to commences with the Second Act of Balfe's popular opera, THE BOHEMIAN GIRL. After which, a Grand Christmas Pantomime, on a sale of unprecedented magnificence, Entitled HARLEQUIN ST. GEORGE AND THE DRAGON. Doors open at half-past Six—,:ommence at Seven. THEATRE ROYAL DRIJ It Y-L A N E., Managers, Messrs. Edmond Falconer and F. B. Chatterton. On BOXING NIGHT, Dec. 26 the Farce of A ItOL . AND Felt AN OLIVER. Mes+rs. Walter Lacy, Addison, G. 13elmore, the Misses He-ith, It. Leclercq, Murray: - fo conclude with the new Grand Christmas even comic Wonder Panto mime of SINBAD T I-1143 SAILOR; or, The s of th ,- • World. Clowns, Messrs. 11. Bolen? and C. Lauri . ' - H arlequins, ,Messrs. J. Cormack a nd S. La vine 5 Pantaloon s Messrs. W. A. Barnes and J. naorr is ; Columbines, 3ladani Bolen? and Misses Gunniss. e n from 10 till 5 daily. Prices as usual. Box o ffice op -v: ,- -- ri, ---------____ . n OYAL LYCEU M T HEATRE. .1.%) Under the Sole Management of Mr. Fechter. BEL DE NIONIO (a Triumphant Success) will be reneeed on isOXING NIG HT, Saturday. Dec. 26, MOND AY , Dec. ^.B, acid Every Evening, during the Week. 80 x-ING NIGHT, the performance will commence with a ina j Farce, entitled THE LOST CHILD : Orig Ne w and Ate! „ s-s. 11. Widdicombe, Shore, Garden, P. Charles Collett, Morelan d ; Misses Percy, Pauline Le:lereq, Wood, Mrs. Lee, an d miss E. Lavenu : After which, at Eight o'clock, BEL DFNIO . NIO, a Love Twelve Tableaux,• Story,.in taken from Steudhal's "Italian Chronicle -," by Mr. John Brougtam. Principal charac ter by Mr. Fechter, supported by Jordan,' Messrs. Charles rn le Br ,u. , ,, ,. h. , , Emery, Raymond, Moreland, Smith Clifford, Collett, Sims ; Iri6, Kate 'ferry, E. Layenu, Mrs. Lee, and bliss Elsworthy. The Public are entreated to take notice that No Charge Is made to the occupants of Boxes, Box-places, or Stalls, either for play bills or for the safe keeping of hat and cloaks, and teat the attendants in all parts of the house are forbidden to receive any gratuities whatever. Box-office open daily from 11 to 5. Commence at 7. THEATRE ROYAL HAY NIARKET.- Sole Lessee and Manager, Mr, Buckstone. BONING IGHT, OUR AMERICAN COUSIN: Messrs. Bother!), Bnckstone, Chippeniale, Braid, Gordon, Rozers, Clark, Cullentord, &c. ; Mesdames Angel, Snowden, Terry, Lindley, Hill, &c After which, KING ARTHUR ; or The Days and Knights of the Round fable. Messrs. Chippendale, Compton, Braid, Clark, Rogers, Tilbury, &c. ; Mesdames L. Keeley, Brough, Wright, Terry, Lindley, Rogers, &c. Commence at 7. ROYAL ST. JAMES'S THEATRE, under the Management of Mr. B. WEBSTER, will OPEN on BOXING NlGHT.—Amongst the artists engaged are Mr. Benjamin Webster, Mr. J. L. Toole, Mr. Paul Bedford, and Mr Cha-ics Mathews; Mrs. Stirling, Mrs. Frank Mathews, Miss Cottrell, Miss Fanny Josephs, Miss Wentworth, and Mrs. Cti ,, rles Mathews. On BOXING- NIGHT, the new Comic Drima of the lIEN AND CHICKENS : Mrs. Stirling in her original character. Atter which, a Comical Cong•lomecative Christmas Absur dity, by Henry .1 - Byron, Esq., and entitled 186; ; or, THE b'ENBATIONB OF THE PAST SEASON, with a Shameful Revelation of Lad/ Somebody's Secret. New Scenery by Damson and Sons. Appointments by Mr. Ireland. Music by M. Wallerstein. Principal characters by Mi. J. L. Toole, Mr. Paul Bedford, Miss Cottrell, Miss Fanny Josephs, ,tc. And the BIRTHPLACE OF PODGERS : Mr. J. L. Toole in his original character. "NTEW THE ATRE-RO Y AL, ADELPIII.- AN Sole PronrlQtor and Manacrior. Mr. B. Wffbeter. THIS EVENING, THE PRETTY tin RSEBREAR ER. Messrs. J. L. Toole, Paul Bedford, and Miss Wool,szar. iNt 8, the New Drama of LEAH : Bth weer or Miss Bate man, supported by Messrs.Artitur Stirling, R. Phillips, Bil lington, Stuart, Stephenson, Eburne ; Miss H. Simms, and Airs. Billing ten. To conclude with ICI ON PARTE FRANCAIS. Mr. J. I. Toole. Commence at 7. LEAH. -EVERY NIGHT. MISS BATENIAN.—LEAH.—Tins EVENING, the 71st appearance of the great Tragic Actress, Miss BA TEMAN, in the character of LEAH. In umsequence of the unbounded success with which Miss Bateman's imperso nation of the priucipa I character in the new Five Act Drama of LEAH has been attended. Mr iircbster begs to announce that it will be performed EVERY EVENING until further notice. 11) OYAL STRAND THEATRE. Manager, Mr. W. H. Swanborough. THIS EVENING, MIRIAM'S CRIME. Messrs. Geo. Honey, Parselle, Belford, Turner, Miss K. Saville, and Miss Handers. Followed by (27th time) PATIENT PENELOPE ; or, The Return of Ulysses. Messrs. honey and Fenton ; Mesdames Bwanborough and Simpson. After which, MT NEW PLACE. Mr. A. Wood. Commence at 7. THE THIRD EDITION OF " THE SUN," Containing the Latest SPORTING INT EL L IGE NCE, "'Abe had Every Evening . of G. IL GLIc.NIE, NEWS AGENT, No. 4, Connaught-terrace, Hyde-park. THIS DUX WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. Mornino., 12h. 42m.—Afternoon, lb. 4m. To- volutcrit. - Moraing, lh. 30m.—Afternoon, lh. 51m. The Wee%er_Sun Office, Dec. 24, 1863. THERMOMETER. .. 48 This day at Tv, Nelock Wind— 10.18. moderate, and hazy. ei t g l*un, LONDON, THURSDAY., v i j 24, 1863. As the practised swordsman was r , %`litit to notice any flaw or chink in the armour of 1 1 ; adversary, so in the diplomatic circular which h e aregauelnar and to "" just issued to his confreres, M. -MOO" Dg i has not failed to avail himself with in sagacious dexterity of the advantagep te his hand by the refusal of England to take a p it , t in the recently propo se d Congress. The other European Sovereigns," he says, "in their reply to the letter of the EMPEROR. have rendered homage to that bold initiative which, laying bare the den gers of the situation, proposed th e Most pacinc and legal means to appease them." All the Courts have given either a reserved or an u nqualified assent to the Proposition. " One single Power, England, has refused." England has has therefore not only lost her voice—the emphatic voice which she was justly entitled to hold—in the Congress of Nations, but all the onus of any diffi- I eaity or dissension that may, and th a t a l mos t iinevi tablywill, arise, must nat ura lly, now , f a ll upon h er ! According to the sanguine representations of the French Minister, all might have been so unanimous end 63 "ai • cabl e! ‘ " Che probable result of these con ferene " have been a salutary and honour• able transaction." England, however, has chosen to coact the Part of MattrLoT and the whole pacific program me ifs disturbed. IVhat the result might have been Under other circumstances it is impossible to Ray. The various belligerent powers of Europe have not arrived at that I . ' ri s t a te of concord among antaget•liatic nature s attained by y FP Family" of the f : t o r nrdaetrhfeurl than and animal creation' E we believeveni r' that isolated examp le, is love—a wholesome dread of the master outside n the cage rather tha n an y particular frie d a - hip for the helpless brothers within -- that induces thy; cats and hawks to maintain such very amicable relations with the mice and sp arrows. By a 811111- - • %ram , ..... 6...1 ~,''G~ ilaely beneficial exercise of an equally efficacious ire finence, the French EMPEROR —if we are to bf ilieve • his own representations, and the protes . ti 4tion of his Minister—and we see no reason f .nr discrediting them—is desirous of curbing the r apacity and stifling the animosities now so painfully 1 Jrevalent among the' powers that be" in Europe, 1 ind which threaten ere long,: indeed, to involve the whole Continent in a disastrous " civil war" According to that beautiful definition of the great NAPOLEON, now happily recalled to us by his suc cessor, "to fight in Europe is to make civil war !" As an evidence that such a beneficial interference was not uncalled for, M. DROUYN DE LIIUYS cites, for example, very justly, the present troubles in Denmark. " Recent events, " he takes occasion to remark, " have justified sooner than we believed, the provisions of the EMPEROR. The King of DENMARK dies ; passions are aroused— people become agitated and undecided—Govern ments balance between the letter of treaties and the national sentiment of their country. A con gress po s ed could alone conciliate the duties of sovereigns bound by conventions an d the legitimate aspirations p o of the peoples." The re fusal of En glan d has an insuperable obstacle to the realisation of the first desire of the EMPEROR. " The second hypothesis now r emains—the restricted Congress. It s reali sation depend on the will of the Sovereigns." "It will not have the judicial authority which would have belonged to a European Congress," and conse quently many preliminaries will be discussed be tween the various Ministers for Foreign Affairs before the actual meeting can : take place. Having premised in the former part of his letter that "France, which had no advantage to gain for herself in the eventuality of a General Con gress would have made common 'cause with all the enlightened Governments to bring about reconciliation, extinguish rancour, &c.," the French Minister very adroitly takes advantage of the refusal of England to render the Congress unanimous and judicial, and observes, in conclusion, "'We should be able, after the decision of the British Cabinet, to consider our duty as accom plished, and for the future, in any event that may arise, only to take account of what may be suitable to us and of our private interests." Such a threat of what we might do is, perhaps, natural under the circumstances, and must ba pardoned in recognition of the magnanimity of the assurance that follows, that France will not avail herself of the opportunity offered by England, but in considera tion of " the good dispositions" manifested by the other Powers, will ba ready to enter frankly with them on the path of a common understanding. That such a happy result may be evolved from the present apparently hopeless entanglement must be the common desire of all, even of England, who has been placed by her minister in such an enviable position, that while no merit will be attributed to her, and no praise awarded to her in any contingence that may arise, all the blame and all the obloquy of failure will be cast in her teeth and fall on her self-devoted heed. The most important and useful institutions intro duced for the benefit of the public during the present century are the Life and Fire Insurance Companies. These societies are not only invaluable to the general public, but are also highly remune rative to the shareholders. Government has like wise stepped in to claim a share, and that much to the detriment of insurers. At present the duty on insurances is, in regard to the money received by the Company, about 150 per cent., and increases in proportion to the risk run by the insurers. With regard to life insurances we do not wish to advert at present, except to remark that while they are invaluable to the prudent tradesman, as a means of securing an independence to his family in case of sudden death, ho has but invested his savings as a provision for his successors. There are at present various forms and principles of investment, which may be made to serve any possible exigency; yet, as we cannot expect the good without the evil, Loan Societies of all descriptions have sprung up, many of which are mere shams, consisting 0 1 a secretary and a clerk or two, in a showy office, and an accommodating life assurance company, through which agency a policy is obtained and handed over to the Loan Society, large expenses incurred, and elaborate rules and regulations, and fines and penalties, the enforcement of which is placed in the hands of a sharp lawyer, on the no cure no pay system. We mention these facts simply as a warning to our readers not to be deceived by the many specious advertisements which daily appear in the public press. The fact to which we wish particularly to draw attention is the determination of the Fire In surance Companies of the metropolis to withdraw their support from the fire brigades, or more pro. perly to discontinue their maintenance, which has hitherto devolved (with the exception of the parish engines) entirely upon the combined London com panies, who maintain that the progressive extension of the metropolis necessitates an increase of expen diture which they cannot any longer submit to. They have therefore notified to the Home Secretary their coming determination not to hold themselves responsible for the extinction of fire, and suggesting that the brigade should be placed under the control of the police, as in Birmingham, Manchester, and other cities. The charge for its maintenance being met by a universal parish-rate, or if the police cannot under take the responsibility, that the Metropolitan Board of Works be requested to do so, that body holding jurisdiction alike in the City or the West-end, a control not exercised by the Metropolitan Police. There certainly seems to be some reason in this de mand at first sight, but when we come to look into the case, the question naturally suggests itself, who are so interested in the preservation of property as , the companies, who are held responsible for its and? They make large profits by their business, and ,_ tight not to begrudge a small outlay to pre vent 44 far as possible its destruction. It never can be to th e • interest of any householder to destroy wantonly L is Property in the hope of obtaining a profit even free, ex isted. The e the most liberal company that ever exult of a fire in almost every case is a loss of money, propertyno matter how heavily he may be and time to the unfortu insured; fur a man tl may . be insured for nate which he may have £5,000, paid the Premium for 60 and the o . fß co payment nothin years has re ceived that g loath, but w h en his property ehe t s l is destroyed they i en deavour to show tha t it woe not worth above £2,000, and refuse to pey beyond v that amount, nn the matters well known t o the initiate4ollid,he ail are cb to the recent celebrated trim, pretty We l l etic er tained by the general public. It is complained of, that out of about £900,000,000 of property i n the metropolis,' not one-third is insured, so that the in. sured pay for the uninsured as regards fire engines. Who, we would ask, is to blame for ois state of things? Fins not our Government driven insur ances out of this country to Holland, Hamburg, and other places, by the oppressive duty levied upon these provident institutions. Late in last session the hon. member for Dudley brought for ward his bill for the gradual reduction of the duty un insurances, and it was entertained by the House, notwithstanding th e oppos i t i on of the Chancellor o f the Exchequer, and M r , S lIERIDAN promised to THE SUN, LONDON, THUESDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 24, 1863 bring it on again before the House early in the ensu ing session. The bill proposed the immediate reduction of the dutron insurances to two shillings in the hundred pounds in lieu of three shillings and upwards, as at present, and a further reduction in a few years to one shilling. The objection to this, that such a course would greatly reduce the Government revenue from this source, is answered by the almost conclusive argument that it is only the heavy duty upon insurances that deters so many householders from availing themselves of its advan tages, and consequently that on the modification of that duty the increase of policies would eventually more than indemnify the Exchequer for its first loss, just as the reduction of high rates of postage to the penny ;system changed the revenues of the Post. office from a deficit to a surplus. Another advantage would also be gained; the increase of business thrown in the way of the insurance offices would enab e them yet further to reduce their charges. We trust that early in the ensuing session grave attention will be paid to this all-important question. If, as we hope, Mr. SHERIDAN'S motion be carried, we cannot see that the parish authorities can throw any reason able obstruction in the way of the proposition for placing the maintenance and control of the fire brigade under the Metropolitan Board of Works, yet it must be clearly understood that on their undertaking that responsibility shall the Fire In surance Offices bear a proportion of the expense. They claim a right of placing their officers in charge of property injured by fires in which their offices are interested, and we cannot foresee any thing but difficulty in this proceeding unless to a certain degree they are connected with the Fire Brigade, Likewise it must be imperative upon all companies to remit to the holders of their policies any reduction of the duty, and, furthermore, that if the Board of Works undertake the responsibility they shall have full and undivided authority over all the districts of the Metropolis ; that their officers shall have full access to the fire plugs and not be obliged to hunt up the parish beadle, and other holders of the keys. Also that the parish engines be improved and rendered more efficient than at present ; and if it be considered necessary still to leave them under the jurisdiction of the local authorities, that the officers of the Board be at liberty to inspect them when deemed requi site. The electric telegraph has practically trebled the number of our engines, by enabling every esta blishment in London to learn instantaneously the exact seat of any conflagration. Steam fire-engines have, again, greatly advanced the efficiency of our fire brigade ; and although nothing can surpass the activity and the daring of our firemen, there may yet be room for improvement in other branches of this important service. We have little doubt that the insurance companies and the parish authorities, jealous as both are of their supposed rights, would glad ' y agree to such an arrangement. With regard to the former, it needs only to empower the Board of Works to form a National or even a Metropolitan Insurance Company on an extended scale; in fact, a practically National insurance, the profits of which would more than defray any expenses of engines and of firemen, no matter how extensive, and enable proprietors to insure for a far less cost than at pre sent. The protracted trial in the Court of Queen's Beach, Which so much affected the interests of our merchants and shipowners, has at length been brought to a close. The verdict of the jury is, all things considered, highly satisfactory, inasmuch that, although ostensibly for the defendants, they have yet so qualified it thlt no official slur rests either upon the plaintiff or his agents. It would be much to be regretted if a long and honourable career should not stand a man in good stead when he enters upon a doubtful contest, in which, to say the least of it, he has not a good case. So far as private interests are concerned, the matter might rest here ; but there are circumstances connected with the loss of the Harbinger, and the subsequent trials, which must result, sooner or later, to the ad vantage of our mercantile marine and the nation at large. The case in question is simply this :—The Harbinger, an iron steamer of some 600 or 700 tons, originally built for her MAJESTY'S service, vas sold out of the navy, and eventually came into the pos session of Mr. LINDSAY'S firm, and was despatched to trade between Calcutta and China, on which ser vice she was engaged for upwards of two years. In February, 1859, she sailed from Calcutta for Eng land, and at this epoch her misfortunes began. Encountering bad weather on approaching the Cape, she put into Algoa Bay for shelter. On the weather moderating she again put to sea, only to be driven back—this time with a leak in ono of her bottom plates, which, on examination, proved to have been caused by one of the rivets having given. This defect being temporarily repaired, she once more started upon her voyage, but with no better success than before, for having again to return to Algoa Bay she was considered to be strained, and several boltheads were reported to have given way. Upon this the captain decided upon the extraor dinary course of proceeding personally to England to consult the owners as to how he was to act. He reached London in safety, obtained some £4,000 from the underwriters, and returned to Algoa Bay, where he found the ill-fated Harbinger still afloat, notwithstanding that several heavy gales had been experienced in that roadstead. It was discovered upon the arrival of the captain that the ship had somehow or other sprung a considerable leak in her bottom plates under the pumps, and, to make a long story short, although there was a chance of saving the vessel, either by heaving her down in Algoa Bay (the cargo having been previously tran shipped), or else of running for Simon's Bay, a dis tance of about 500 miles, where she could have been properly overhauled. The captain, acting on his own judgment, sold the ship and engines for an old song in the interest of the underwriters, and his owners forthwith claim from them the full insurance, as though the vessel had foundered at sea, or been dashed to pieces on au iron-bound coast. This is but a short summary of the events, but upon these and the verdict of the jury we wish to make a few observations. We ought not to be surprised, when medical men of the highest standing have the assurance to assert that a man is insane because he commits a murder, that gentleman of nautical experience should gravely maintain that a captain is justified in abandoning his ship because she has sprung a trifling leak. The usages of the service require that the captain, as the responsible agent fur the owners and most experienced man on board, ought to stand by his ship when she is in difficulty. If it were necessary to refer to the uwuers for ulterior instructions, he could surely have sent a substitute. Had the state of the Har binger been as critical as the witnesses for the plain tiff would have us believe, it is not probable that she could have weathered a succession of gales in tae roadstead of Algoa Bay during the period which mast necessarily have elapsed when the captain was absent. I t is absurd to suppose that during that rejoined Bay. Again, interval th ere were not abundant opportunities o f fear that she running to Simons A sh g i a p i , n h , e e h v a e d n n w o he e n xcu th se e captain at list isf,urthe fi rst of the light draught East India serv i ce , ma d e might be lost. for vv h el en est h •oy e z . N ny em h e e s r h er voyage round the C ape, she encount ered heavy ) weather, which strained her light framework ter ribly, and extensive rents became visible in her plates from the deck downwards on either side, which ominously increased. Iron ships were novelties in those days, and were not braced together as at present, but her officers and crew did not des pair. They did the best they could to secure the ship for the time, and on the first opportunity beached her in a sandy bay on an unfriendly coast, and repaired damages as far as possible. The ser vices of the Nemesis were invaluable during the China war of that period. Where would she have been if the commander had acted on the principle of the master of the Harbinger. No charge of wilful neglect is brought by the underwriters, and we are glad for the character or Mr. LINDSAY and his cap tain that the jury have done them justice in this respect, and we may pass over this unfortunate occurrence, feeling confident that the high standing so deservedly held by the officers in our merchant navy cannot be effected by the want of energy and discretion evinced in the case of the Harbinger. The very fact that the underwriters of Lloyds' have felt it incumbent on them to dispute the claim of one of the largest and most respected firms in the kingdom, shows us that they are at length awaking to a sense of the responsibility which their position entails upon them. Let them persevere in this course honestly and without favour as in the present case. Let them refuse all insurances without a certificate of seaworthiness, and a guarantee that the ship is properly found from an authorised agent, and the loss of life and property wilt diminish in proportion to the rigour with which such regula tions are enforced. LATEST INTELLIGENCE. (REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.) THE POLISH INSURRECTION. BRESLAU, DEC. 23. Advices received here from Warsaw state that Gen. Berg has ordered twenty-five Prussian sub jects imprisoned at Kalisch to be transported:to Siberia. The insurgent chief Chemski, also a Prussian subject, has been shot. Two new convoys of political prisoners have been sent away to Siberia. __ MEETING OF POPULAR DELEGATES. FRANKFORT, DEC, 21. For the first time since the German Parliament of 1848, deputies from the different legislative assemblies of Germany met in this city to-day to discuss the question preoccupying the popular mind. The provisional committee sat yesterday from 4 in the afternoon until past midnight. The resolutions lately taken at Nuremberg were unanimously adopted, the deputies engaging to support every Ministry whose acts accorded with their tenor ; but, at the same time, to oppose, by every legal means, such Governments as should adopt a different course. The sitting commenced at half-past 10 this morning, Herr Muller, a Frankfort lawyer, having been chosen President. The first resolution brought forward by the committee was to the following effect : "This meeting declares that the rights of Ger many in Schleswig-Holstein can only be effec tively preserved by the separation of the Duchies from Denmark. The death of Frederick VII, has dissolved their union with Danmark. The Treaty of London of May 8, 1852, concluded with• out the assent of the Representative Assemblies, and of the Agnates, whose consent was legally re quisite, and which has also not been recognised by the Germanic Diet, constitutes no title to Christian IX. to succeed to the throne in Schleswig-Holstein, In virtue of certain rights, Frederick of Schleswig- Holstein-Sonderburg-Augustenburg is called to assume the succession in these Duchies. By ren dering valid the succession to the Throne in the person of Duke Frederick, the rights of Germany in Schleswig-Holstein will at the same time be established. The obligation is, therefore, incum bent upon the German people to make every necessary sacrifice for its offended honour, for its endangered rights, for its brethren of kindred race, and for their legitimate princes. "Unanimous in this view, the Members of Ger man representative bodies here assembled bind themselvts to bring about the following objects by every legal means within their power and sphere : —l. To cause the reorganisation of Duke Frede rick's rights wherever it has not yet taken place, as well as to obtain its acknowledgment by the Fede ral Diet; 2. To render these rights valid without regard to foreign protests, to effect the separation of the Denmark, and to re-establish immediately their independence and indissoluble union. "They further bind themselves to support those German Governments who loyally and actively take in hand the rights of the Duchies, and to oppose, by every constitutional means, those Governments which abandon the rights and honour of Germany in this question." The resolution was supported by Herr Edel, a professor at Wurzburg, who endeavoured, in a fer vent speech, to demonstrate the illegality of the London treaty, and reviewed the cases in which it had been violated by Denmark. The speaker, who was frequently interrupted by the applause of the meeting, foretold that the signature of the London treaty might become the epitaph of the Federal Diet, and stated that the German nation must maintain its right, even at the risk of an European war. After communicating several telegraphic mes sages to the meeting, the President read a letter from a number of members of the Austrian Reichs rath, who were prevented from attending, but expressed their entire sympathy with Schleswig- Holstein. The first resolution being unanimously adopted without alteration, the second, brought forward by a minority of the committee, was next put to the meeting. It was the following ;—" This meeting appoints a committee of 36 members, as the centre of the legal activity of the German nation in pur suing the rights of the Schleswig-Holstein Duchies and of their legitimate Duke, Frederick VIII. This committee shall be authorised to appoint a sub committee consisting of a few of their number, to transact current business. The committee can, should circumstances require, convoke another general meeting of the members of the German Re presentative Assemblies." The resolution was supported by Dr. Loewe, of Berlin, and was adopted by a large majority after speeches from Herren Moritz and Mohl of Scutt gard ; Herr Schulzadelisch, of Berlin ; Herr Prinz, of Prague, a member of the Austrian Reichsrath ; Herr Haberkorn, of Saxony ; and Herr Wiggers, of Rendsburg. The members of the committee were then chosen. Among them were Herren Muller and Varrenhappe, Frankfort ; Herr Lang of Wiesbaden ; Herr Metz of Darmstadt; Herren Benningsen and Mignet of Hanover ; Herr Godefray, of Hamburg ; Herr Wig gers, of Rendsburg; Herren Rulsbower and Gross, of Vienna; Herren Unruh, Loewe, Schulze-Delitz , ,ch, Franz Duncker, Von Hornbeck, Twesten, and Von Sybel, of Prussia. The third resolution—perhaps the most important of the three—was carried amidst loud acclamations. It ran thus : " This meeting considers it a solemn duty to avow itself in favour of the right of the German nation to obtain at the earliest possible period the re-esta, blishment of a common representative assembly (Parliament), which present circumstances render above all necessary." A cheer for Germany, proposed by the President, was heartily given by the 500 members who hod come to the meeting from all parts of Germany, and vociferously repeated by the great numbers of spec tators crowding the galleries of the Saalb an. THE EXECUTION IN HOLSTEIN. HAMBUKG, DEC. 23, Evening. The military dispositions are being continually changed. At five this morning the Austrians assembled to march to Altona, where contrary orders were re ceived, and they are now to remain here for the present. Up to 9 p.m. the chief military post of Altona was still occupied by the Danish troops. THE SCHLESWIG-HOLSTEIN QUESTION. FRANKFORT, DEc. 23 (Evening). An extraordinary sitting of the Federal Diet has resolved, upon the urgent demand of Bavaria, to request the committees upon Schleswig-Holstein to come to a resolution on 'the succession question as early as possible. FRANCB. BOURSE, Dec. 23.—The market oontinues in the same state of inaction, but prices are well main- And, as compared with the month ending the 15th Nov., 1862, the above returns show an increase of £859,201 in the circulation of notes in England, and an increase of £1,068,372 in the circulation of the United Kingdom. On comparing the above with the fixed issues of the seve ral banks the following is the state of the circulation : The English private banks aro below their fixed issue - The English joint-stock banks are below their fixed issue £275,514 Total below fixed issue in England.... £1,169,110 The Scotch banks are above their fixed issue .. £1,777,431 The Irish banks are below their fixed issue £338,793 The average stock of bullion held by the Bank of Eng land in both departments during the month ending the 11th Nov, was £14,085,759, being a decrease of £948,585 as compared with the previous month, and a decrease of £1,475,463 when compared with the same period last year. The following are the amounts of specie held by the Scotch and Irish banks during the month ending the 14th Nov.:— Gold and silver held by the Scotch banks £2,490,742 Gold and silver held by the Irish banks 2,070,535 X 1,561,277 Being an increase of £303,309 as compared with the previous return, and a decrease of £88,855 when compared with the corresponding period of last year. PLYMOUTH, Dec. 22.—The Saxon, taken off Pen. guin Island by the Vanderbilt, was supposed to have on board the cargo of the Conrad, captured by the Alabama, and renamed Tuscaloosa, or of the Sea Bride. The vessel with her crew had not reached Table Bay ; her mate was re ported to have met with his death, but it was not known by what means. The Vanderbilt. appropriated 250 tons of coal on Penguin Island belonging to a firm at Cape Town. She was refused coal by the authorities at Table Bay, consequent on her having coaled within three months at St. Helena, Simon's Bay, and Mauritius. She boarded a coasting ves sel on the 4th Nov., examined her papers and cargo, and then steered for Angra Pequena. Her Majesty's ship 'Valo rous was then sent to protect any British property, and re turned with the news of the capture of the Saxon. Cape Town, Nov. 23.—The captain of the Alabama sold the Sea Bride and the cargo of the Conrad. The former, it appears, was delivered at Saldanha Bay, and a rendezvous made at Angra Pequina; and it is understood that some part of the cargoes must have been landed at that place, or at Penguin Island, close by. It is said that a vessel had loaded and sailed from Penguin Island with part of the Conrad's cargo before the capture of the Saxon. Tee Isabella, the vessel that has on board the crew of the latter, has passed Ichaboe to go to Hottentot's Bay to fill up with cargo for that place. The `axon was sent away for New York in charge of the prize crew on the 2d November. TOWNLEY IN THE CONDEMNED CELL.—The Rev. C. R. Gordon, who had been sent for specially to visit this unfortunate culprit, thus writes of his state of mind :—" The conclusion to which I have come con cerning him, and that, too, after lengthened interviews, is, that the criminal is not a responsible agent. Again and again he has expressed delight that his life is to be taken. His manner at times is decidedly maniacal ; he rolls his eyes, his countenance flushes unusually, and he talks incoherently. At other periods he is as gentle as a child, and appreciates kindness. When sitting in his cell with him last Monday, his manner quite alarmed me, and but for the presence of another I should imme diately have called in the two warders who are constantly with him. He justifies murder without giving a reason. He contradicts himself repeatedly, acknowledges at one time what he denies another. It is a useless effort to endeavour to instruct him in religion, for he has no mental capacity to receive it. His conduct from the time of his committing; the awful crime for which he is now doomed is in keeping with this. When asked in his calm moments how he could ever have brought himself to commit it, he answers, All was dark before my eyes ; I don't know anything about it.' Much as the death of the victim is to be deplored, I say it would be more horrid still if an irresponsible agent now were to be taken to the gallows. According to Blackstone's Commentaries,' this is a suffi cient cause to arrest the capital sentence. It is alike con sistent with humanity as with justice, that a further medi cal examination should be made before the law is allowed to take its coarse. It would suggest, also, that the prison officers be examined. These are other rea sons which it appears to me might be urged in his behalf, but on this it is now unnecessary to enter. I have given a stern, impartial, and conscientious consideration of his con dition, and I can come to no other conclusion than that which I have now expressed." PERMEABILITY OF IRON.—Our readers may re collect our having, some months ago, mentioned certain experiments made by MM. H. Sainte-Claire De ville and Troost, from which it appeared that, by a kind of endosmosis scarcely to be suspected in the case of a metal, hydrogen would pass through the pores of a platinum tube, Last week, the Academy of Sciences received from them a new paper, in which they announce a similar property in iron. The great difficulty was, to find a tube answering to the various conditions required for the experiment. The best iron to be found in the market might still be open to some objection, since in point of fact it is a mere sponge flattened by a hammer, like common platinum. They succeeded at length, through the kindness of a friend, in obtaining a tube of cast steel containing so little carbon that it did not admit of being tempered. It was in reality rather iron than steel, and so soft that it was drawn into a tube without heating or sol dering, though its sides were of a thickness of from three to four millimetres. To the ends of thi4 tube two other tubes of a much smaller diameter, and of copper, were soldered with silver; the whole was then introduced into an open porcelain tube, which was put into a furnace ; a glass tube luted to one end, established a communication with an apparatus gene rating hydrogen completely deprived of atmospheric air; while at the other end, another glass tube, bent at right angles, dipped into a mercury bath, its vertical branch being 80 centimetres long. For the space of eight or ten hours a current of hydrogen was driven through the apparatus, which was maintained at a high temperature, so as to exhaust the action of the hydrogen on the sides of the iron tube, and to diive away all the atmospheric air, as the moisture contained in the tube, or likely to be pro duced there. This dune, the communication between the iron tube and the hydrogen apparatus was cut off by melting down the glass tube by the aid of tho blow-pipe. No sooner was this effected, than the mercury, no longer kept down by the stream of hydrogen, yielded to the pressure of the air, and rose in the vertical glass tube to the height of 740 millimetres , or very nearly the usual barometrical height. This would not have happened had there not been a nearly va cuum in the tube the instant the supply of hydrogen was cut off. But what had become of the hydsrseiricel: before ? There is but one explanation ° _Pc ) the b atmosphere, that notwithstending the pressure of t fl u , pores of the compl,outeu3 the hydrogen has passed through a most powerful inetru steel tube, Hence an iron tube where there are reducing- gases, 16 introduced into a furnace the hydrogen. P R IVATE • lh nmnber tar exceeded the meat for carrying off all s _yesterday was DEroarr oF . pes all the last day for the deposit printed " private deposits at the B9e.r Trade, to be lodged. bills for the next seassoiefuL where plane Were rovited THE N E w SOUTH WALES BUSIIRANGELS.—The Sydney Mornzny Herald gives an account of the five n otorious , bushranger s , Gilb ert, Ben Hall, Burke, Vane, and o,Meally, entering Mr. Rothery's house, at Limestone Creek, just as that gentleman was sitting down to dinner. They handcuffed him and ate his dinner, call ing for champ agne. After dinner they played the p i ano • forte, and, before leaving, tried two or three horses, so as to select, the beet. Mr. Itothery is a magistrate of the colony, and an extensive squatter in the neighbourhood of Carew. • . ...--, ,--.---- , . 4 , , i -, /f rie, tialill p, tlllll.ltat ~,,..., nti --..-e ~ HER MAJESTY. OSBORNE, Dec. 23. Their Royal llighnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales arrived at Osborne yesterday, on a visit to the Queen. His Royal Highness Prince Alfred returned with the Prince of Wales. The Judge Advocate-General had an aud ience of the Queen yesterday afternoon. The Marquis and Marchioness of Ailesbury are entertaining a small party of friends at Tottenham Park, Wilts. The Earl and Countess of Yarborough are enter taining a family party at Brocklesby, the seat of the family in Lincolnshire. The Earl Cowper, accompanied by the Counteo and the Ladies Cowper, has arrived at Rome from Florence for the winter. The Earl and Countess of Morley, after a tour in the South of France, have arrived at Rome. The Earl and Countess de Grey have made arrangements to pass the Christmas in London. ilia lord ship is the only Secretary of State resident in town. The Countess of Chesterfield has left Grosvenor': street to visit the Earl and Countess of Carnarvor, a; Highclere Castle, near Newbury. The noble earl remains in town. The Earl Beauchamp, who has recently retired t from the Life Guards, has gone to Gibraltar for the bonefi of his health. The Earl of Powis is entertaining a large at Welshpool, the family seat in Wales. The Countess Dowager of Mount-Edgcumbe end Lady Ernestine Edgcumbe have arrived at Curzon -stret/ Mayfair. The marriage of the Hon. Leonora C. n i g i bl : second daughter of Lord and Lady Di g by, with gr. A' e "' . ander Baring, M.P., is fixed for the sth of next m onth' The Right Hon. T. Milner Gibson, left town Y e " . terday for his seat, Theberton House, Saxmundhara- The Right Hon. B. Disraeli and Mrs. Disr ae : have left Grosvenor-gate for Hatfield House, on a v isit - the Marquis and Marchioness of Salisbury. HEALTH OE THE P OPE. —A letter from PI says the Pope is in excellent health, and his usual l ai ° spirits. His happy temperament knows no depression. a CARDINAL WISEMAN.—A paragraph has aPPe are in some of the papers stating that Cardinal Wisema l/ :. 14 health is so bad that he is likely to be removed from t" position ho holds, and to be succeeded by Dr. The best commentary on the report is that the Cardinel''- undertaken to preach at St. Mary's, Moorfields, to-rner° (Christmas) morning. —Times. WINDSOR CASTLE.—Oh Tuesday morning th e Royal baron of beef was sent up to the Castl° bsf Messrs. Bedbrough and Son. It was cut from a choice el fed in the - Windsor Great Park, under the direction of Major-General Seymour, deputy-ranger, and c harge ° Mr. G. Gravatt. This noble joint was placed before t be fire to roast at nine o'clock in the morning and taken up er at four o'clock in the afternoon, the process of ree stino occupying seven hours. It was sent from the Cas tle Osborne yesterday (Wednesday), and will form the V i t .- pal Christmas joint on the side table in the dininger°°7; where it will remain, together with the boar's head °a ; woodcock pie, until New Year's-day. Her Majesty 1 / 1 1 ,1 given directions to the above Royal butchers to sen d ' 11-- i New Year's-day, the customary Royal annual present o f beef to the ex-Royal Family of France, at Claremont, con sisting of two handsome sirloins. EXETER HALL.—The " Creation" will be Per formed with a band and chorus of 700 performers, by National Choral Society, on Wednesday next. Fri nc e , iPa ,. soloists Madame Parepa, Mr. Sims Reeves, and ~`"." Santley. Organist, Mr. John G. Boardman, The wh °lo under the direction of Mr. G. 'W. Martin. THE LEGAL VACATION.—To-day (Thursday) 01° legal vacation for Christmas commences- In the cernejea law offices business will be resumed on Wednesday, and °II the 7th January in the Chancery offices. cnt GOVERNMENT EMIGRATION.—The Governtn-- emigrant ship Peerless, 1,005 tons, Captain Thee' Flavin, belonging to Messrs. Dixon and Wynne, Live" pool, and which sailed from the Mersey on the 23d of Jen ° last, arrived at Sydney, New South Wales, on the 23d of September, having on board 29 married couples, 131 single men, 131 single women, 21 boys, and 23 girls, between the ages of one and twelve, and 14 infant's, numbering in all 378 souls, equal to 342 statute adults, under the care a Mr. Charles H. Graham, M D., surgeon-superintendent, assisted by Mr. Thomas Hickey, schoolmaster, and MisS Dickson, matron. Six births and four deaths took place on the voyage. SUBUREAN PARIS.—This poor artificial Paris, which hardly knows what the country really is, i 9 clearly athirst for the country. I was amazed at the amount of traffic to the intermediate stations on one of the Versai;les lines, and at the omnibus traffic again from seve ral of these. Yet the railway company actually gives 1 1 ° encouragement to return tickets (the price being simP l Y double that of a single ticket), and to season-tickets se little that it is said not to be worth while taking them, Lin less one has to go to Paris every day, including Sundays' Still, dapper-looking brick houses are springing up on all sides. ;Brick ; seldom steno. Whole fortunes are ile ° being made out of the clay bottoms of old exhausted stone- Os, worth nothing before. A regular ring of brick is th il l ra pidly forming round the stone nucleus of old Paris, 0" even in Paris streets brick houses are beginning to be far from rare, SALE OF JEWELS.—Yesterday Messrs. D eb e .; ham, Storr, and Sons dispersed by auction, at the se Mart in Covent-garden, a remarkably choice and exten'i a collection of bijouterie, the chief portion belongitig tto. lady of fashion. Among the more important lot s ~,„a r a h e , following :—Lot 673, a diamond collet necklace, a 6 Z l g t and lustrous stones, was knocked down for L 4 25 s ' s ' Lot 683, a magnificent brilliant tiara, brought £ 234 19sici a nd 684, a necklace, of 130 oriental pearls, with ern era— d diamond locket, £36 15s. Lot 687, a coloured gol d b x ali 3 s armlet, set with fine emeralds and brilliants, in ea 2 ,,, e 1 l ig. 14s. Lot 694, a pair of brilliant star ear-rings, „fid Lot 695, a cluster brilliant pendant, with ruby centre pear-shaped pearl drop, £72 9s, Lot 696, a brilliant tic k l e or brooch, of nine splendid stones, the centre stone ve ry a large—this choice ornament was knocked down, a fte i r es g spirited competition, at £367 10s. Lot 697, a ina tell e - xa brilliant full dress brooch, of beautiful design and w e.. e an d lust o r t ' manship, the centre stone of remarkable size surrounded by scrolls of brilliants, with ribbon tie pen da o : o £630. Lot 698, a superb brilliant, weighing 6 carats', e i finest water, set as an ear-ring, £lBO 12s. Lot 703, 3 13:3:0, nificent brilliant and pearl ring, £5B 16s. Lot 71-.ri is acorn pin, formed by a remarkably fine oriental pear 4 cup of gold and diamonds, £2l. Lot 648, a brilliant ril) £47 15s 6d. Lot 650, a pair of oriental pearl ear-rillgess, guineas. Lot 665, a brilliant heart necklette, 52 ggi'le3to PHOTOGRAPHY.—It is well known that exercise of this art there is a certain waste of S , "' o owing I o the nitrate of that metal, used for sensitisi n -e'Lt ot e plates. Various methods have been proposed for reloa ; ing the precious metal from the residues of the opere tl ota , and when it is considered that in some of the grea° 0, 0 graphic establishments of Paris the waste amow Its, couple of hundred francs per month, it will be elL` to o. derstood that the question is one of some irnPor 6 0.. The method now employed is to add an exce ss of trea t it nia to the solution of the nitrate, and then to 'ThO with a solution of ammoniacal chloride of copPe r do a nd latter is prepared by dissolving five parts of black el . ' ate^ four parts of copper filings in hydrochlo ric acid. ekftnciej, frotriltalihselittle ammonia, aja°l solution, an excess of concentrated ammonia b W ee h n en lo i n t g is in re u q s u e ir , e i d t t is o o e n x l t y ra n ct ec s e il s y sa er ry fr t o o m ar um a w i o g r r i - cb- un h t aa ii a c d o d pper solution untie the oxide of silver is re dissolved ; s ed o i f s h w y a p te u el l : then n a dardideeddainadexkceepstsiotrheupseu.re 8117 phite, they are treated by copper solution is added' o aA t id2 t in a g dd th t e o r o aebdab m utah u tc c h h then much water; after which for two or threw hours, the ° The mixture is then left to elan deposited Is washed and dried. filtered, and the silver this case care must bo take lastly'' to dilute the mixture with a great deal of water, and 0, to let it stand su fficiently. Mr. Blair has lately publish e; first copper od' . fieat i o ns introduced by him into the process c"• cer t a in m Photo graphs on pap er w ith charcoal. process getting lays a sheet of paper on the surface of a War ° and weak solution of gelatine with a little contr3=°,°' s alt in it. When dry, the wrong side of the sheet 16 laid on water for a few second s . theta on damp blotting' Pap o t an d lastly on a p ane o f glass, where the gelanti sed :Atria •" it receives a c • oatuag of albumen prepared as fol lows. certain quantity\ flour of albumen (the white of an cgi;) little water and syrup, then add some colour, such: e ie , n- ro or lake, or indian ink reduced to powder, which is Lc' the general tint. Beat up the albumen into froth, d ';` ,, apply it with a brush. When the second coating 1e,_ 14 , put the sheet egain upon water, then upon blotting-paper, and equalise the moisture •by pre. try with a sheet of dry paper. No w pin a little charcoal, $t powdered, powdered, ever the albunrinieed ourface ; distribuinsiort equally with a soft brush, and then sensitise with a solutions of two pirts of water, one of acetic acid, and one of 0 191 , l ect , mate of potash. On this lay the wrong side of the she leave it there for half an hour ; then expose it in the iro rn` ...e, for the space of from 5 to 20 minutes. To develop the imager dip the sheet into cold wafer, then pass a soft brush:dip the surface : and if the charcoal sticks to the lights the sheet into warm water strengthened with acetic ammonia. The Academy oft is last sitting elected dt' VT. Laurence, of London Sciences a , as its- t foreign correspondent ll3t the section of Medicine and Sur g ery, in Vie room of tli° 31. late Sir Benjamin Brodie. The other candidates 'col Rokitansity, of Vienna, and M. Sim p son, of E.:lin/Argil' THE CRAWLEY COURT-MARTIAL. The finding of the court-martial, held under the Presidency of General Sir G. Wetherall, K.C.8., for the trial of the charges against Lieut,-Colonel Crawley, was yesterday submitted to the Queen, and received the Royal approval. The decision is in the following terms : " The Court, having duly considered the evidence ip behalf of the prosecution, the evidence the pri soner has adduced, and what he has stated in his defence, and the prosecutor's reply, is of opinion, with regard to the first charge, that he, the prisoner, Lieut.-Colonel Thomas R. Crawley, of the 6th Dra • goons, is Not Guilty. " With regard to the second charge the Court is of opinion that he, the prisoner, Lieut.-Colonel Thomas R. Crawley, is Not Guilty. " The Court does, therefore, fully and honourably acquit him, Lieut.-Colonel Thomas R. Crawley, of both the charges preferred against him." To the finding of the Court were appended some unfavourable comments upon the manner in which particular witnesses for the prosecution had given their evidence at Aldershot. These expressions ot censure, however, are not given to the public at present, as they will doubtless be embodied in the remarks of his Royal Highness the Commander•in- Chief upon the case generally. It is not considered likely that any further courts-martial will grow out of that which has just terminated; but it will probably be left to a Medical Board to determine under what circumstances the erasures and mis placed entries found their way into hospital books of the 6th Dragoons. Obviously there must be a sweeping alteration in the list of officers of that re giment. Such of the senior officers as are retained in the service will, doubtless, be moved into other regiments, and their places filled by exchange. Ex tensive importations will be made into the junior ranks. For such a course abundance of precedents may be found ; for instance, the case of the 10th Hussars and of the 85th Foot, which when recon structed took for its motto—"Aucto s . plendore resurgo." The Emperor's Speech in reply to the Address of the Senate. (From the French Correspondent of the Times.) The Emperor's speech in reply to the Address of the Senate, which appeared in the Moniteur, does not seem to be appreciated as much as it deserves. This is an incredulous and a suspicious generation. Here is the absolute Sovereign of a great country, with power to act as he pleases, and responsible only to his own conscience, assuring the Senators, and through them the nation, that the general good is the only motive of his conduct; that his anxious desire is that the great questions of the day shall be solved by peaceful intervention, adopting the idea of his uncle, that a conflict be tween European States is the worst of all wars— a civil war ; that he considers it an honour to pro mulgate a principle which will put an end to the prejudices of other times—that is to say, his great scheme of a Congress would end in peace and pros perity to the world. Will it believed that these declarations fail in evoking a feeling of confidence and security P Nothing certainly can be nobler than the opinions put forth by his Majesty, end nothing more obvious than the truths he has enun ciated. If you seek to know why these noble moral sentiments produce no corresponding emotion in the public who read them, whatever they may have done in the 20 gentlemen who heard them, you are abruptly reminded of the Bordeaux declaration, that the "Empire was peace," and that no such blessing, at least for any considerrble period, fol lowed it. If you observe that this is somewhat captious and unjust, and that because wars followed after no long interval that celebrated declaration, you are met with an argument which I admit has some force. Granting that the real and the sole object of the Emperor in convoking a Congress is to dissipate the fears of other nations, to put an end to general uneasiness, to remove the great causes of discontent between Sovereigns and their sub jects by lightening the burdens which press so heavily upon them, the Emperor Napoleon, you are told, can to-morrow effect that great object without the encumbrance of a Congress, or without consulting anybody, but simply by a decree of five lines the Moniteur or dering the reduction of his armaments. And he can do this in perfect safety, because few know better than himself that no human being dreams of attacking France. If to-morrow it were an nounced that 200,000 men were to be released from military service, not a Power in Europe but would follow his example; and these five lines in the Moniteur would be far more effective than any sentiments he could utter, however paternal, patriarchal, and worthy of St. Vincent do Paul himself. Withovt in the least throwing a doubt on the sincerity of the Emperor, I cannot bat admit that there is something in that view of the matter. "Let us think of obstacles only to overcome them, and of incredulity only to confound it." If there are obstacles which it may not be easy to overcome, such a plan would spare him the labour of contend ing with them; and as for the incredulity which unhappily prevails, a t least in Paris, the cutting down of o vergrown armamen t s wou ld conver t the most hardened unbeliever. COL. CRAWLEY'S EXPENSES from the pending court martial:!have been variously estimated at L 3,000 and £5,000. Mr. Vernon Harcourt's retainer was £5OO, and £.30 is to be paid for every day he may be em ployed. There is a rumour at the clubs that a subscription has already been commenced for the purpose of protecting him from loss. Lord Cardigan, it is said, has headed the list with £5OO. However that may be, there is no doubt that the news of Col. Crawley's acquittal would be the sienal for the immediate opening of a subscription, the con tributors being of every class, sex, and rank, but chiefly military men.—British, Army Review. THE SIR HUGH MYDDELTON LIFEBOAT.—A few weeks ago two concerts were given at Deacon's Music• hall, Clorkenwell, for the purpose of raising the cost of a lifeboat to be call e d t h e Si r H ug h My c ldelten. The pro ceeds, in conjuncti on w ith some con t r ib u tions collected i n the locality, have reali se d £lOO, w hi c h amount, as an in stalment, was handed ye s t er d a y by the committee to th e National Lifeboat Institution. Mr. Deacon, Mr. 11. W. Underhill, Mr. Hele, and o th er friends, are very sangui ne of realising during the present winter the full cost of a lifeboat and its transporting carriage, which amounts to £4OO. The Salut Public of Lyons states that the first day of winter, the 218 t, has just shown itself in that neigh bourhood by a eligkt fall of snow, which me te d Rs i t reached the ground. tained. Threes, for the A at 66f. 40e. Mobilier h .ccount, are now nnvaried lye improved to 1,040 f. little doing. The market Railway Market firm, but closed as follows :- 41 per Cents. 94 05 Do. end month 3 per Cents' Do. end month 66 40 Credit M0bi1ier...,1037 50 Do. end month 1037 50 Bank Shares 3350 --- Credit k oneier 1212 50 Roman Italian Loan 7l 70 Do. end month 7l 55 New ditto Do. end month 7l 2:5 Russian Austrian .. — Spanish Threes.„ Rome Debt Deferred RAILWAYS. Cash. Account. Orleans 970 .. 970 Northern New ditto — Lyons and INleditexranean 925 New. ditto . 884 75 .. Geneva S )uthern Western Eastern .... Sarilinian Austrian Lou'berd North of Spain Saragossa.. Ditto to Barcelona .. 927 50 677 50 .. 680 - 505 --- .. 505 - 47G 25 - 400 - 400 50 406 25 520 - 521 25 520 - .. 520 - 613 75 .. 615 - 298 75 .. 300 - BANK RE T URNS. The Bankers' illagazine furnishes the returns of the cir culation of the Private and Joint-Stock Banks in England and Wales for the four weeks ending Nov. 14. These returns, combined with the circulation of the Scotch and Irish Banks for the same period, and the average circula tion of the Bank of England for the four weeks ending the 11th Nov. (the nearest date furnished by their returns) will give the following results of the circulation of notes in the United Kingdom, when compared with the previous month : uct. 17, I Nov. 14, I 1863. 1863. Increase. .Decrease 14,406 Bank of England 21,514,213 21,853,8031 309,590 Private Banks Joint-stock Banks ; 3,013,250 2,9:8,1411 I _ Total In England j 27,889,178 28,224,193 335,015 Scotland 4,338,36u 4,526,702, 188,342 Ireland j 5,620,410 6,015,701 355,291 United Kingdom. 37,857,948138,766,596 878,618 un ba an • t