The Sun. — London, England, 1844-12-24 00:00:00

ELEGANT LITERARY PRESENT. NOW READY. I . IVES OF THE QUEENS _ OF ENGLAND. By AGNES STRICKLAND. ".117 REVISED EDITION, in Seven Volumes, price 10s. 6d. , eL:gantly bound, any of which may be had separately. ' , •41uable contribution to historical knowledge—to round per • .scially. It contains a mass of every kind of historical matter :st, which industry and research could collect. We have de ' nuch entertainment and instruction from the work."— Atheumum. Henry Colburn, Publisher, 13, Great Marlborough-street Orders received by all Booksellers. THEATRE ROYAL, DRURY-LANE. ON THURSDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 26, Will he repeated a Grand Opera Stria, called THI: DAUGHTER OF ST. MARK. Ltssignano, Mr. Burdini ; Andrea Cornare, Mr. Borrani ; Moncenigo, Mr. Weiss ; Adolphe de Courcy, Mr. W. Harrison ; Catarina Cornaro, Miss Rainforth, To conclude with a Grand Comic Christmas Harlequinade, called PUCK'S PANTOMIME; or, HARLEQUIN AND BOBINSoN CRUSOE. Robinson Crusoe. Mr. W H. Payne; Harlequin, Mr. Wieland ; C'own , Mr. T. Matthews ; Pantaloon, Mr. Howell ; Columhine, Miss Carson. The isox.ollice is open daily, from Ten in the Morning until Six in the Evening, where Private and Family Boxes, Stalls, Places, arid Tickets may be had on application to Mr. John Parsons. THEATRE ROYAL, HAYMARKET. Lessee, Mr. B. WEBSTER. ON THURSDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 2f), Will be pertorred a New and Original Comedy, in Five Acts, Called OLD HEADS AND YOUNG HEARTS. Colonel Rocket 31r. S, rickland 'Bob, Littleton Coke, Mr. Charles Math s - s ; Toni Coke Mr. Webster ; Bob, Mr Buckstone ; Jesse Rural, Mr. W. Farren ; The Countess of l'an-pion, Mrs. W. Clifford ; Lady Alice Hawthori, Madame Vestris; Miss Rocket. Miss Julia ennett. After which, a Gran , MOVING DIORAMA; or, PICTORIAL TOUR IN SWITZERLAND. To conclude with a New Grand Musical Fairy Extravaganza, entitled GRACIOSA AND PERCINET. Ring Uxorious Mr. J. Bland; Princess Gra'Atisa, Miss Julia Bennett ; Percinet, Miss P. Horton ; Duchess Grognon, Mrs. Stanley. Private Boxes, Two Guineas and One Guinea and a-Half each. kickets and Places to be had of Mr. I. T. Ar cher, at the Box-office, from Ten till Five o'Clock. THEATRE ROYAL, ADELPHL Under the Direction of Madame CELESTE. ON THURSDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 26, Will be repeated (by special permission of Charles Dickens, Eli.) a New Drama, entitled THE CHIMES. A Goblin Story of Some Bells that Rang an Old Year Out and a New Year In. Toby Veck, Mr. 0. Smith; Alderman Cute, Mr. Wright; Tugby, Mr. Wilkin. son ' S.r Joseoh Rowley, Bart Mr. Paul Bedford ; Will Fern, Mr. Hutton; Richard, Mr. Selby; Meggy Veck, Miss Fortescue ; Mrs. Chickenstalkcr, Mrs. Frank 7.qatthews. To be followed by a New Comic Operetta, called the FOX AND THE GOOSE. Principal Characters by Messrs. Hudson, Paul Bedford, and Mrs Fitzwilliam. To conclude with a New Grand Military and Comic Christmas Pantomime, called CAT'S CASTLE ; or, Harlequin and the Ki-g of the Rats. Harlequin, Mr. T. Ireland; Columbine, Miss Lons. dale ; Clown. Mr C. S. Smith ; Pantaloon, Mr. Sancrs. Prompter, Mr. °allot ; Principal Painter, 1 1r. Pitt ; Leader of the Ilan:, Mr. Mellon.—Box-octlce open from Eleven till Four. Private Boxes to be had at the Theatre, and at all the principal Libraries. PRINCESS'S THEATRE, OXFORD-STREET. LESSEE, Mr. J. M. MADDOX ON THURSDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 26, ; be repeated a New Comic Opera, entitled THE CASTLE • ll' YMON; or, The Four Brothers. Baron de Beamaneir, 'Jr. Walton; Olivier, Mr. Allen; Allard, Mr. C. H orn , J un. ; i,i,ttord, Mr. Him('; Relaud, Mr. Mattacks • Ivon, Mr. Leiner; Mdlle, Helen Condell ; Gertrude, Nit's. Fosbroke. After which will be produced a New Grand Romantic, and rather MEN t•c e l d e o s p qu t i.a Mr. ovrnalgitonnza, Lothair,cal ir t•l Oxberry; ITH IS ar, air tirmby; Riber, Mr, Corri , Go!otz, Mr. Walton; Claudine, MIAs E. Stanley ; Itavina, Mrs. Fosbroke. Circle, ss. ; Boxes, 45.; Pit, is.; Gallo Is. Half-price at • , 'clock—Dress Circle,2s. fid. ; Boxes, 2s. ; Pit, is.; Gallery, 641. Fr;v . ,'e Boxes, Two Guineas and One Guinea and a-Half ; Prose.- iloxes, Two Guineas and a-Half. Doors to be opened at Half_ vast Six, and the Performances to commence at Seven o'clock. The Box-ottice, under the direction of Mr. W. Massingham. Private Coxes and Free Admissions far the Season to be had at the Theatre. Great attraction every Evening—Squire Batty's Hounds meet on Thursday Evening, at ASTI. EY'S ROYAL AMPHII HEATRE OF ARTS. Proprietor and Manager, Mr. W RATTY. ON THURSDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 26, ".ill be repeated a New Spectacle, entitled THE ROYAL FOX rIUNT; or, The Race-Horse and Life's Course of Man and Steed ; aatr during unequalled National Fetes. Real Fox-chase on the Stage sod in the Circle by living For and real Pack of Hounds, purchased by Mr. Batty of Mr Tattersall, to realise this novel production. EPSOM IiNCCS and other Sporting Features. New scenes of the Circle, and entira change in the Feats of Horse. psinsh p. To conclude with a G , and Comic Christmas Equestrian Pantomime, e lied HARLEQUIN AND JOHNNY GILPIN'S RIDE; or, the Bitck W.tch of Edmonton. Harlequin, Mr. H. Lewis ; Columbine. Mrs. J. W. Colyer ; Clown, Mr. T. Barry; Pantalo,n, Mr. Bradbury. 1 ,- aing asi.i stage-in -onager, Mr. W theadfoot, itlx.effice open from Eleven till Five. Lessons in the Art of Riding by 41 , . R smith Mr. BATTY begs to a - quaint the Nobility, Gentry, and his Patrons, that, in compliance with numerous requests from the country, and by spacial desire, he has formed arangements to pre_ sent. during the Christmas Holdays, a S ries of EQUESTRIAN MORNING FETES and FASHIONABLE DAY PERFORM. A NCE, to commence at Half-past One, and terminate at Half-past Threw : consisting of Batty's S7,lend id Scenes of Equitation in the Cade. Tha first Three Morning Performances will take place on Monday, Dec.3l, Wednesday, Jam. 2,and Fr - day, Jan. 4. ROYAL VICTORIA THEATRE ON THURsDAY EVI•.NING, DECEMBER 26, Will he produced Two New Dramas, supported by Messrs. Osbal diston, H. Howard, J. T. Johnson, T H. Higgie. Seaman, Herb rt, Sesilc, E. Jones, and Watkins; MIA Vincent, Miss E. Torrey, and Mrs. Rignold. To conclude with a New Grand Christmas Pantomime, entitled HARLEQUIN HOT CODLINS ; or, The Little Old Wonsan and the Demon of the Metal Mine. Harlequin, M. Chapino; Clown, Mr. Blanchard; Pantaloon, Mr. Coney; Columbine, Mdlle. Le Vite. THE WEATHER.-SUN OFFICE, DEC. 23. TEERMOMETER, Lowest, 28 ; Highest, 35 ; Noon, 30. BAROMETER, 30.3.—W1ND, N.N.E. NOTE.—The figures which follow the words "Lowest" and " Highest" denote the lowest and highest state of the Thermometer during the preceding twenty-four hours. All the other observations are made at noon. Water freezes at ; 5S to Thermometers is marked "Temperate," and on Barometers "Fair" is generally placed opposite to 30, and " Rain" at 29 ; but there is no certainty of dry weather when the mercury falls below 30. -- HIGH WATER AT LONDON_ BRIDGE THIS DAY. marDirig ... 36 minutes after 1 1 Evening ... LS minutes after 1. e , '•1 . Spit 16 OVI•NA, 74 , 1' --: • ' O s. Aft W' ( E - ..411.11.04 . 11k• • - 4 4;;;AziliiicaoV ,7"7111. -" D IE U "„ , r, , i 4411 1 DROIT ' 6 A ti's_ • • lOW LONDON, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 24, 1844. %.:;,e Charitable Bequests Act appears to have crested nearly as great a ferment among the Catholic clergy of Ireland as the Tractarian schism has created amore;; the English clergy. The former, for the first - i:ne or many a long year, are split into two distinct ..artiA4, each of which seems to entertain no very laordieate amount of goodwill towards the other. Moreover, each party has the honour of being headed by an Archbishop, whose zeal in the views which he advocates is of a firm and ardent character. Arch bisf.op MURRAY is at the head of those who are in !avoar of the Charitable Bequests Act, while Arch bi-hep MiliaLE—" the lion of the fold of Judah," as i 4 styled by his admirers—leads the van of those who are opposed to it. The latter is warmly seconded in his opposition by Mr. O'CONNELL, aided by a majority of the priests of Munster and Connaught, and the great mass, apparently, of the Catholic Repealers, all of whom denounce the Act in question as a piece, not merely of ques tionable, but of mischievous policy on the part of the Government. As for Archbishop MURRAY he, it would appear, is supported by the most temperate and rational, but less noisy portion of the Catholic middle classes—men who have not yet sworn undying hustilily to the PEEL Administration, but are ready to accept of "good," even though it may "come out of Nazareth." In consequence of this dissension among the members of his persuasion, Archbishop MURRAY hes deemed it fit to address a Pastoral Letter to the Roman Catholic Clergy and Laity of the diocese of Dublin, wherein he explains his reasons for consent ing to take a share in the execution of the Charitable Bequests Act, observing that he should consider it a gross dereliction of duty, were he to fling away any opportunity which this Act—im perfect as he admits it to be—places within his reach of guarding in safety the treasury of the poor, and of securing for the service of the Church whatever property benevolent individuals may choose to vest in the new Board, to be permanently dedi cated to that purpose. The Archbishop then enters into some details respecting the embarrassments by which Roman Catholic charities have hitherto been surrounded. It seems that, in the year 1763, an Act was passed requiring returns of all charitable be quests in the sister country to be made to the Pro testant Primate and the Bishops of each diocese at their annual visitation ; and subsequently a Commit tee of Charity of the Irish House of Lords was ap pointed under an order of that House. By the Act of Union this Committee necessarily ceased; and, by a law, which has never since been either altered or amended, the present Commissioners charitable donations and bequests were incorpo rated. consisting of the Protestant Archbishops and Bisle.,;‘s of Irelamd, the Dean of St. Patrick's, the incumbents of all the parishes in Dublin, and the Judges. The latter, as might be expected, never at tended the Board, consequently it was managed ex clusively by dignitaries and clergymen of the Esta blished Church, who gave altogether a Protestant charat.ter to its proceedings. Such being the case, the Roman Catholic Archbishops and Bishops of Ire land addressed in 1840 a memorial to Lord MORPETIT, 'wherein they intreated—and surely not without suffi cient reason !—that the Board of Irish Charities might be rendered more generally useful and popular by the introduction of Catholic Commissioners, and by some other measure which might have a tendency to place their charities upon the same footing as those of their Pro testant fellow -countrymen. " The recent Act," say s Dr. MURRAY, " app ears to have been intended to grant all that we then sought. It admits to the Board of Charity Catholic Commissioners in sufficient number to check any advers- influence which might be attempted regarding the application of Catholic charities ; and it takes away the dangerous power enjoyed by the former Board of alienating, under certain circumstances, Catholic bequests from the known objects contemplated by the testator, and of applying them to purposes which, if living, he would abhor. So far our prayer has been granted. The state of insecurity in which our charities were placed has been removed ; and had the Act stopped there, we could not, without the greatest inconsistency, utter one word of complaint against it." The Archbishop then goes on to point out the leading defects of the Act in question, but takes care to add that, not withstanding the partial blemishes whi , th tend to render it unpopular, no one can look into it with an unprejudiced eye, and not see that it confers advantages on the Catholics of the very highest value, giving them, among other things, the power of vesting property, without trouble or ex pense, in perpetual security, for procuring glebes for their clergy, and for building, enlarging, and up holding or furnishing their places of worship. Not withstanding the violent opposition raised among certain parties in Ireland to the Charitable Bequests Act, we incline to regard it, despite its admitted de fects, in the same favourable light as Dr. MURRAY, and to consider it as a step in the right direction. We are accustomed, in this country, to take credit to ourselves for this especial excellency in our social institutions—namely, the tenderness they manifest for human life. It is the beautiful theory of our law that this tenderness appreciates as highly the value of ex istence to the meanest and most abject, not only of our fellow-subjects, but of our fellow•-creatures (for its sympathy is not bounded by considerations of mere nationality), as it estimates the value of exist ence to the wealthiest, the most ennobled, or the most powerful among us. Pity! that this theory should be marred by occasional exceptions in practice ; and the more pity, because it is easy to perceive that, according to the spirit of those institutions and of that law, this humanity of intention was meant to be ho nestly developed in their practical working. But the practical exceptions we speak of are neither few, nor trifling, nor simply accidental, nor limited in kind, nor venial in their principle, nor unpernicious in their example, nor undestructive in their consequences. Tenderness for human life is not the positive charac teristic of the scheme, nor the crowning glory of the administration of our New Poor Law, and of our Model-Prison-and-Penitentiary-Silent-systems of dis cipline. It is not a power which withdraws the poor labourer from the hideous employments with which the calculating recklessness of cupidity too often tempts the uncalculating recklessness of poverty. It permits the famishing artisan, who heeds more the claims of his wife and his family upon him for the immediate demands for subsistence, than the deleterious influence of the occupa tion which is to provide it on the vital functions of his own frame, to labour in white-lead works for certain para lysis, visceral disorganisation, and speedy death. It encourages, by its apathy or its silence, the devotion of others to other labours, the mechanical processes of which are known to entail, inevitably, on all who en gage in them, the visitation, within periods more or less brief in their duration, of maladies that destroy the sight, cripple the limbs, vitiate the palate, ruin the digestion, or ulcerate the lungs. This tenderness of our law, unhappily, omits to set itself in action in re ference to a dozen or two of what are called by the gentle, yet significant name of " unhealthy trades ;" such as many departments of foundry, smelting, casting, distillation from noxious mineral substances, the ge• neration of certain gases, the composition of some chemicals, &c. Its solicitude for human life forces one, perhaps, out of a score of the owners of works set in motion by powerful in-door machinery, to pro tect the operatives employed under the same roof by the erection of galleries, or screens to ward off the fatal contact of revolving wheels, and shafts, and spindles. These are the excepted cases to prove the same theory ; unhappily the rule is rather established against it by a majority of appalling accidents, occa sioning a vast amount of bodily suffering and violent deaths. We might, if we chose to descend into our mines, or to explore our colliery pits, or to intrude even upon the privacy of the work-rooms of many of our principal dressmakers_ and Court milliners, mul tiply the examples in which the sacrifices of health, and even of life itself, to the excitement of trading competition, or the selfish importunity of vanity and fashion —every week or every month of the year. But there are some domestic calamities, the awful frequency of which we must rather reckon by every day of every week—that tear from us, in the heart of this great capital, their unhappy victims to mutilation, agony, and death of the most frightful kind, without either the " tenderness" of the theory of our law, the sym pathies of our common nature, the influences of a salutary fear, the warnings of experience, or the loss of property accruing from such incidents, arousing us, their survivors, to the duty of making well-organised and efficient provision, to the utmost practicable ex tent, against the recurrence of such disasters, or for the mitigation of their extent and severity when they happen. We allude to that class of accidents which we have so constantly to announce under the heading of " Destructive" fires, " attended with loss of human life." These terrible cases have been, of late, over whelming from their extent, their number, and their fatal termination. We need not pause for a moment except to notice, by name, the last we have had to an nounce—namely, the fire at Mr. FARBY'S, in Guild ford-street, Russell-square. It will occupy, however, a melancholy prominence on the list of these casual ties, for its destruction of life as well as of property. On the present occasion we advert to it simply to point our question-47:y is not an adequate and effi cient system of fire-escapes organised in this metro polis Shall we talk of our " tenderness for life" while whole hecatombs of human victims perish annually in this manner at the shrine of that bad deity—whatever it be—which is the impersonation of parochial carelessness or apathy, stupidity or parsimony ? An unfortunate youth, of high promise it may be, in the profession into which he has just been instituted, shall be consumed to ashes, it seems, for want of some external means whereby he might have escaped from his dormitory at the top of the house in which he slept into the street ; and active officers, appointed for the conservation of the peace and property of the residents within their appointed district, perish beneath the flaming ruins below, for want of the same assistance in carrying out their spirited design of rushing to the relief of those above. There can be awarded no praise too great to such a body as the fire brigade, or such a public servant as their admirable superintendent, Mr. BRAIDWOOD but if a competent, vigilant, prompt, and most effec tive force can be thus organised, equipped, and main tained for extinguishing fires, why not a body, equally well appointed, for the higher object of rescuing the lives which these fires put in such eminent jeopardy ? Hitherto all the machines prepared for the purposes of escape from fire have proved comparatively use less, in the very small and almost fractional number of cases in which they have been employed—or even thought of. This result we are not disposed to at tribute to such causes of inefficient working as their incompetent structure, their inadequate height, or strength, or application, which CHARLES DICKENS somewhere puts, in his sarcastic manner, into the mouth of a Professor "No-go," for some of the machines we have seen are simple, and cleverly adapted enough. But there is no one establishment for them ;—no stuff for such an establishment. When half-a-dozen people have bean burned to death in one of these devouring fires, we may, perchance, see half-a-dozen charity boys exemplifying the merits of the last new invented " escape" in safe descents, at broad noon, from a two or three story window into the street of some tradesman, who speculates on the sensation produced by the recent calamity to dispose of a few score yards of questionable bed-ticking. But for any purposes of practical escape—the inmates of any house, on fire, that very night, in that very street, would have as little chance of saving them selves by THE " escape" which had that afternoon amused the passengers who had had leisure enough to look at the young exhibitors in it, as a skater tumbling through the ice of one of the Hampstead- heath ponds would find of being helped out again, by vociferating for the Humane Society's men, or their drags, or their skiff, stationed on the Serpentine in Hyde Park. Really the deficiency we speak of is becoming an alarming public grievance. If the parish authorities will not endeavour to remedy it, we hope the Legislature will speedily enforce its remedy. _ Madrid Journals of the 15th have been received, from which we learn that more executions and arrests have take n place, The Gazette contains a dispatch ".4 4 .4.144) '•: from the Captain General of Arragon, dated the 11th inst., announcing that the Sergeant VICENTE LABA RUZ, one of the chiefs of the late revolt, and the mur derer of the officers slaughtered on the night of the 18th ult., had been shot by a party sent in pursuit of him. Senor CABALLERO, late Minister of the Interior in the LOPEZ Cabinet, and six of his neighbours, have been arrested at Barraca, half way between Teruel and Valencia, and conducted to the strong castle of Mur riedron, on the Mediterranean coast. The following letter from Vittoria, of the 16th, shows in a melancholy light the atrocious system adopted by NARYAEZ of shooting prisoners without a trial : " Amon,,o.st the grounds assigned by the partisans of the Spanish Ministry for the execution of the two sons of Zurbano, it was stated that they had addressed letters to various wealthy persons demanding money, and threatening death in the event of a refusal. Three inn keepers of the environs of Salvatierra have been ar rested on various charges of robbery in the province of Alava, and it appears, from what has already transpired, that they were the authors of the letters bearing the forged signatures of the two Zurbanos." The Three per Cents. closed at 31i for cash, and 32i at 60 days ; the Five per Cents. at 22i. at 60 days; and the Coupons at 26k at 60 days. We are glad to learn, from the Paris papers, that the Protestants of Switzerland are making prepara tions to resist the encroachments of the Jesuits, and, following the example of the laity of England in their determination to maintain the Reformed religion. On Sunday, the 15th, notwithstanding the severity of the weather, a meeting, amounting to 3,000 per sons, chiefly citizens of Berne, Soleure, Argau, and refugees from Lucerne, was held at Fraubrunnen, when, after several speeches in favour of liberty; an association was formed to watch the movements of this cunning and deceitful sect. A petition was also adopted, in which the Government of Berne is re quested to place itself at the head of the cantons op posed to the re-establishment of the Jesuits in Switzerland, and at the same time avowing the de termination of the association to support the Govern ment with all their means, in averting such a dan gerous intrusion. It is a singular coincidence that these enemies of liberty should be making almost similar movements in England (for the Puseyites belong to the tribe), in France, and in Switzerland, and that they should exhibit their wicked inten tions in such an open manner as to rouse against them the laity of the three coun tries. This is a favourable symptom of the times, and a proof that the days are gone by when the people were enslaved by the Church, and de barred from all useful instruction for the purpose of keeping them obedient to a selfish and tyrannical priesthood. The state of Spain, however, forms a melancholy exception, for while in other States eccle siastical power is held in check by the Government or the people, it is now daily increasing in that unfor tunate country. For two days the writers in the Paris papers have almost entirely refrained from politics and directed their attention to nobler subjects. The Constitutionnei has a long article on the contraband trade, suggested by a Parliamentary return moved for by Mr. HOME last session ; and the Journal des Debate has another, on post-office reform, recommending a great reduc tion on the postage of letters. It will be seen from the following extract that it reoemmends a graduated scale of charges : " The Committee on Postage had to examine the new modes of taxation which were proposed, and to point out that which it considered most advantageous and equitable. In a prudent spirit of reserve it does not think that in such a matter it is proper to make use of the Parliamentary right of initiative. It contents itself with calling on the Administration to speedily pay atten tion to the question, and bring a Bill concerning it be lore the Chambers. It however expressed its leaning to wards a ~y stem establishing a uniform charge of 20c. for all letters, except those put in the Paris Post-office for Paris, and in any town for the town itself, the first of which should pay 15c., and the second 10c., as at pre sent. The Committee is of opinion that if the tax %%ere reduced to 20c. it would be well to abolish the present system of sending letters free for official purposes; and, finally, it observes that if England, in place of adopting a tax of 10c. had left it at 20c., postal reform, iu place of injuring the British treasury, would have given it an in crease of revenue. To simplify communications of diffe rent kinds, to accelerate them, to render them accessible to all by their cheapness, ought to be one of the most constant cat es of the Administration. It is for this mo tive that are opened on all sides canals and roads, that railroads are down in the budget for 75 millions, the companies adding at least an equal sum. It is for this also that the present stupid system of quarantine will, ►without doubt, be soon altered, and undergo the same fate that has visited that of England and Austria. For the same reason, we hope that M. Come will be anxious to join his name to a complete modification of the post age of letters, and will respond, as is fitting, to the en lightened wishes of the Committee." The following intelligence from Belgium appears in he Siec le:— " The treaty concluded between Belgium and the Zoll verein, of which the Belgian Cabinet was so proud, has in the end proved fatal to them. It could not support the trial of a discussion. M. l)elhougue, then Member for Ghent, had already exposed its anti-French' ten dency in a very able and sensible speech, and the re inainder of the debates demonstrated that the advan tages ceded by Prussia to Belgium were much inferior to those granted by Belgium to Prussia. The discussion continued amidst universal expressions of discontent, and in a manner calculated to weary the Ministry itself. After a Secret Committee upon the question, in which high words were exchanged between some of the mem bers, had sat, a division manifested itself in the Cabinet. The Ministry is now in a state of dissolution, and a courier had been dispatched to Paris to inform King Leopold of that crisis, which will necessitate his presence at Brussels. The character of the parties in the Chamber of Representarives has become more distinct. The tiers parti, represented by M. Nothomb, and which had ren dered public service, is keeping aloof ; and the Liberal party, now- triumphant, will find itself in presence of the compact and well-drilled phalanx of the Catholic party. If M. Guizot were bold and skilful, he would avail him- self of the crisis to bring about a re-action in favour of France; but when has the French Ministry taken advan tage of any of the chances which fortune has thrown in its way?" The Journal de Cherbourg says that the Reine Blanche is expected at Cherbourg about the end of this month or the beginning of January, and that Admiral DUPETIT TUOUARS will come by her as a passenger. The same journal adds : " A great number of the National Guards and other citizens of Cherbourg, are determined to go in procession to meet the Gallant Admiral on his arrival, and at his entrance into the town they will present him with a crown of laurel, preparatory to his receiving the sword of honour voted to him by France. On the Reine Blanche being signalled, the National Guard will at once meet in the market place in grand tenue and under arms." TIIE BOURSE-SATURDAY, DEC. 21. First Highest Lowest Last • - Price. Price. Price Price. French Five per Cents•—• • • 120 80 .. 120 80 .. 120 55 .. 120 65 Four-and-a-half.... 113 2.5 .. 113 25 .. 113 25 .. 113 25 Fours.. 107 2.5 .. 107 25 .. 107 25 .. 167 25 Three per Cents..... 84 35 .. 85 50 .. 85 30 .. R 3 40 Bank of France•.•... 3275 • • 3275 • 3275 —9275 Lafiltte Bank, I,ooof. Shareslll2 50 —lll5 ..1112 50 1115 5,000 f. Sharesso9o ..5090 ..5C90 .• 5i.90 Belgian Bank.. • • .• • . 655 .. 655 .. 640 .. 640 1841.........1110 —llOO ..1100 ..1100 1831 Belgian Fives.lB4o •• •• 104 i 104} • • 104} • • 104 k Spanish Threes 3* .. 31 • • 38 .. 38 Active .•• • • . 33: • • 33: . • 33: Passive Neapolitan • • 33/ •• 6 • . 98 Itozia.n THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAT MORNL7k-TG, DECEMTIER 24 1841. .. 104 .. 1041 .. 174.1 RAILWAY SHARES. St. Germain .......• •• •...1030 ..1030 Ver5ai11e5,R.8............. 520 .. 520 ..1030 .. 515 .. 517 50 L. 8.•• •• .. 395 .. 398 78 .. 395 .. 396 25 Rouen . e.:.: • .. :: 8 107 2 7 5 50 :. 3 10 8 87 2 8 5 0 0 • . 825 •• 532 0 1077 50 ..1087 590 Rouen to Havr Orleans . Strasburg to Bale.. .... •• •• 317 50 —:318 75 • 317 50 .. 315 75 Avignon to Marseilles.... •• 940 .. 94/ 50 .. 940 .. 942 50 RAILWAYS FOR THE ACCOUNT, JAN 3. Ft. Germain .......• • • • —.1027 50 ..1031 25 ..1027 50 —lO3l 25 Versailles, R. 8..... • . L. 8....... • • Rouen ..... • • lOBO ..1087 50 ..1880 ..1085 Rouen to Havre....... • • 833 75 • • 840 .. 830 .. 835 Orleans 1147 50 ..1152 50 ..1147 80 ..1150 Strasburg to 8a1e...—. •• • • 318 75 .• 320 .. 317 50 .. 313 75 Avignon to Marseilles 935 .. 942 50 . 927 50 .. 940 HEE LATE ROYAL HIGUNESS TUE PRINCESS SOPIIIA MATILDA OF GLOUCESTER.—The establishment of her late Royal Highness the Princess Sophia Matilda of Gloucester, at the Ranger's-house, Blackheath, and also at her residence in Curzon-street, are to be broken up on the 6th of the ensuing month, until after which period the vacancy in the Rangership of Greenwich Park will, it is understood, not be filled up. Lady Alicia Gordon and Miss Cotes, Ladies in Waiting on the late Princess, are still at the Ranger's-house, Blackheath. THH LATE SMITHFIELD CLUB CATTLE SHOW.-It may be interesting to many of our readers to know the exact weight of the old-improved short-horned steer bred by Mr. Robert Smith, of Burley-on-the-Hill, near Oakam, in Rutlandshire. and purchased at the show by Mr. Minton, of Windsor, purveyor of meat to her Majesty, which gained the first prize in class 1 of 20/., and the silver medal. Its weight, by many celebrated judges at the show, was estimated to be from 200 to 210 stone. Upon the carcass being weighed on Saturday the result was as follows:—Each hind quarter weighed 601- stone, and each fore quarter 50 stone, making in the aggregate 221 stone, or I,76tilbs. In addition to this, the loose fat weighed 24 stone (1921 b.), and the hide 12 stone (96.6.) The short-horned cow, one of Lord Spencer's stock, bred by Mr. Beasley, near Northampton, which gained the first prize of 204 in class 7, and killed by Mr. Al derman Banister, of Windsor, weighed 156 stone, ex elusiTe of 20 stone of loose fat. 31oNLY AND Cor4l3lEitt - AI: S CITY, MONDAY EVENING. Stocks close quietly this afternoon, Consols being 100* 4. Thi ee-and-a-Quarter per Cents were 1031-• to s ; and the R&uced 1001 The Unfunded Debt was the same as in the morning. The animation in Foreign Bonds continued up to the termination of business, Spanish Fives advancing, owing to large speculative purchases, to 27* 1 ; the Three per Cents. remaining at 381 ; and the Passive being 6* to ; Belgian were 1021 ; Brazilian, 89 to 4 ; Buenos Ayres, 39* ; Colombian, 14.1 ; and Dutch Four per Cents., 98. The additional transactions in Railway Shares have been these :—Bristol and Gloucester were 8 to 7f; Cam bridge and Lincoln, a ; Churnet Valley, 14 ; Edinburgh and Glasgow, 1 ; Great Southern and Western (Ireland), 51; Birmingham, 129 ; Brighton, q; South- Western, New, 7* ; Croydon, 34; Lynn and Ely, 14 ; Manchester and Birmingham, 124 to 12; Midland, 13k; North Kent, I* 4-; Northern and Eastern, 134 *; Rich mond and West-end Junction, 11 1; Shrewsbury and Birmingham, 4 *; South-Eastern, 71,; Ditto, New, 91; Trent Valley, 8*; York and North Midland, Halves. 26*; Ditto, Selby Extension, 12; Boulogne and Amiens, 3i; Orleans and Vierzon, 91; Paris and Orleans, 24 to 4-; Paris and Lyons, 1*; and Paris and Strasburg, * premium. Eastern Counties have been 10*; and Stras burg and Bale, di count. London Joint Stock Bank Shares were 4; and Union of Australia, 21 premium. (From The Sue of Last Night.) A large business was done in Cotton at Liverpool on Saturday, at very steady prices ; but there was no ad vance. Sales, 12,000 bales, including 5,000 on specula tion, and comprising 1,000 Pernams. at sd. to 51d. ; 200 Surat, at 21(1 to 3d.; and the rest American, at 3d. to sd. per lb.—Shares were firm. Birmingham and Gloucester, 94*; Dublin and Belfast,q; Eastern Counties, 144; Do., Perpetual, No. 2,20 s. 6d.; Grand Junction, 224 ; Ditto, Halves, 112 ; London and Birmingham, Quarter Shares, Bahia, at 54d. to Id.; 300 Egyptian, at 54-1. to 614 d ; 500 271 ; Ditto and South-Western, 133 ; Ditto and York, 4* ; Manchester and Birmingham, 52* ; Midland Coun ties, 112* ; North Wales, 61; South-Eastern, 46; Ditto, Halves, 121 ; Trent Valley, 9* ; Paris and Lyons, 3 6-20; Paris and Rouen, 41i ; Paris and Strasburg, 2/. ISs. 9d.; Strasburg and Bale, 124 ; Orleans, Tours, and Bordeaux, 8. The private accounts received this morning from the West Indies, brought by the Thames steamer, most fully bear out the informatian in the papers with respect to the prospects of the yield of the crops. One difficulty only appears to be in the way, and that is the contingency of a lack of labourers when the c. ales arrive at maturity. It may, unfortunately, happen that, from an undue atten tion having been paid to the great purposes of immigra tion, at harvest time hands will be more in demand than the supply, and hence very considerable losses may be incurred, as crops of this description brook of no delay in the cutting. There is a healthy tone in the accounts received this morning, and we are glad to perceive that, between the employer and employed, confidence is repre sented to be on the increase. There is not any other facts of importance beyond what appears in another part of The Sun of this evening. The Mexican mail is not brought by the Thames, and we have, therefore, nothing to com municate from South America, except that complaints are made on this and the other side of the Atlantic of a want of regularity in the forwarding of the mail bags to the Sea Board. We are assured that the letters and papers from Chili, Peru, &c., now received by the Thames, might have been brought by the Avon. From the Mauritius there are advices this morning to September 26th. The state of the crops was very fa vourable, but the colony was not in a very flourishing condition, as money was extremely scarce, the banks having curtailed their issues of notes very materially. As the Colonial markets are now closed for the Christmas holidays, the attendance of merchants and others in the City is very thin at the usual places of public resort—a very short attendance to-day, nor is it expected that, for a week at least, there will be any large amount of business done, except by retail. There was exhibited at Mr. Banister's, the Queen's butcher, the son of the Alderman of Windsor, (the Queen's butcher) portions of the splendid animal, the baron of beef cut from which will be placed on her Majesty's table on New Year's day. The meat has re ceived unqualifie d approbation. The Funds are a shade low- -r this morning. Consols for the Account are at 1004 (the only price of the day), and the Reduced Three per Cents. have receded to 100*. The premium:upon Exchequer Bills has advanced to 645., and that upon India Bonds to 795. Bank Stock for Money is very firm at 209. The New Three-and-a- Quarter per Cents. are 34- 4 per cent, above par. Business has been very brisk in the Foreign Funds to-day, and the prices are on the . advance. Sp an i s h Five per Cents- have risen to 274 for Account, and to 264 for Aloney, being 2 per cent. above what they were a week ago; the Three per Cents, have touched 383. It is reported that another financial scheme is in operation by the Finance Minister at Madrid, but the question is, will it be for the benefit of the foreign creditors of that country. We think not. Portuguese Stock has advanced to 60 for the Three per Cents.; Buenos Ayres have been at 38* ; the French Scrip at 14 premium ; and all the other Foreign Funds are firm. A good business is doing in the Railway Shares this morning, and prices are looking up in mos instances. The latest quotations are annexed : PRICES OF BRITISH FUNDS AT ONE O'CLOCK. (From the Official List.) Bank Stock. 3 per Cent. Reduced Annuities New 3i per Cent. Annuties Long Annuities, Expire sth Jan. 1860 l2 1-16 1 ilndia Bonds, 1,0001 79 Ditto under 1,000/ 77 Consols for Opening Exchequer Bills. 14d. ILA. 1,000/. 500/. Ditto Small — Ditto Advertised........ PRICES OF FOREIGN FUNDS AT ONE O'CLOCK. Buenos Ayres Bonds, 6 per Cent...... 37ii 38.1- Portuguese Bonds, 5 per Cent Ditto Converted . Ditto for the Account 591 60 Spanish Bonds, 5 per Cent., 1840 26ii Ditto for the Account Ditto 3 per Cent... Ditto for the Account 3BAiiil - 8 1, Dutch 2 per Cents ......•••••••• Ditto 4 per Cent. Certificates Ditto 5 per Cent.... .................. PRICES OF SHARES AT ONE O'CLOCK. ItAiLwAYs. PAID. PEP. SIIARIC. Bristol and Exeter Bristol and Gloucester 3() 37. .. .. to Cambridge and Lincoln .1 4 to Chester and Holyhead 5 ...... st, Churnet Valley 2 Direct Northern Dublin and Galway 2 ...... 2i f 3 ...... to 24 Dublin and Mullingar 2i ... 24 Eastern Counties .... 144 Eastern Union Great South and W. (Irish)... 5 ...... 11114 Great Western Ditto i Shares Ditto Fifths London and Birmingham 100 ......227P t0228 Ditto, New Thirds 2 ..... 39 Ditto, New Quarters...... London and Brighton.... ...... 50 ...... 52ii to London and Greenwich ...... 124 ...... 94 •.. to London and South Western.. 41i .... 7546 to -- Ditto, New 6 . 8 London and Croydon •....... 16 i 1 Ditto, Guaranteed, 5 per Ct.. 2 i ...... •*a ..... London arid Y0rk........ 2,„ .. 414 Manchester and Leed5......... 70 ...„..120 1 to Midland lOO 112 Newcastle &Darlington June. 24 North British 71- North Kent .. . 3A to Norwich and Brandon 8 ...... 13 ... ...... to Ditto New 1 Rugby South-Eastern and Dover... 331 Ditto, New . Trent Valley ... . • 2 ... 1041' . Yarmouth and N o rwich York and North Midland... 50 Ditto, Half 5hare5......... 25 Ditto, Extension — Boulogne and Amiens Orleans and Bordeaux...... 2 Paris and Orleans 2O ...... 444•....... to Paris and Rouen MANCHESTER STOCK EXCIIANGE, DEC. 21.—We have had an animated market to-day, and a large business has been done at improved prices :—Eastern Counties, 141- ; Ditto Perpetual. No. 2,19 s. 6,1.; Manchester and Leeds, 120 ; Ditto, Sixteenths, 4# ; Ditto and Bir mingham, 514 ; Ditto, Quarters, 4 15 16 ; Midland, 401. Shares, 5i ; South-Eastern, New Creation, 10A- ; Great Northern of France, 375. 6d. premium ; Paris and Stras. burg, 3 ; Birkenhead, Manchester, and Cheshire Junc tion. 6#; Blackburn, Burnley, and Accrington, 3; Cam bridge and Lincoln, 475. ; Churnet Valley, 3# 11-16 ; Ely and Bradford, 1 ; Leeds, Dewsbury, and Manches ter, 5# ; London and York, 4,i ; Shrewsbury, Wolver hampton, and Dudley, 3 ; Trent Valley, 9i ; West Yorkshire, 6i. - CLOSING PRICES. TiRITISH FUNDS. Bank Stock 3 per Cent. Reduced ••• 1001 New 3i per Cent .. .. . 1031 Long Annuities to expire Jan 1860 12 1-16 India Bonds 1,0001 79 pm. Ditto under 1,000/ 77 pm. Exchequer Bills, 1,000/., 11d 65 pm. Ditto 5001. Ditto Small ... 63 pm. Consols FOREIGN FUNDS. Belgian Bonds, 5 per Cent ...... ... 1023 Brazilian Bonds Buenos Ayres Bonds 6 per Cent 39} Chilian Bonds 6 per Cent. Columbian Bonds 6 aer Cent l4l Mexican Bonds, 1837, 5 per Cent 36 Spanish 5 per C en t . 1840 . Ditto 3 per Cent. SHARES. Bristol and Gloucester, 30 paid .. Cambridge and Li nco l n, 1} pa id 24 Churnet Valley, 2 paid 4l- Eastern Counties, 25 paid .. 148 Edinburgh and Glasgow, 50 paid 6l} Great Southern and Western (Ireland), 5 paid 10} London and Birmingham (Stock) 239 London and Brighton, 50 paid 5ll London and Croydon, 131. 15s. 93. paid l7 Lynn and Ely, li paid Manchester and Biriniugham, 40 paid 52 Ditto Quarter Shares, 2 paid Midland, 100 paid ,„ Newcastle and Darlington:Junct!on. 24 paid 621 SUIU NNW'S m .41 .~ ~. tJzttitu .4 Who runs may read.' On Saturday evening the Duke de Montpensier, accompanied by M. le Comte de la 'four du Pin, honoured the performance of Othello by the English company with his presence. M. Gamier Pages, lately residing at Madrid, has declared that he intends to make a vigorous attack upon M. Guizot's policy in Spain in the impending debate on the address. M. Gander Pages has added that he has so large a number of "monstrous" facts to allege before the Chamber of Deputies that the least clear sighted cannot resist his evidence. The Patrie states that the Minister of Marine has received an official notice of the arrival of Admiral Dupetit Thouars at Rio Janeiro, on his way to France, where, adds the Patrie, he is daily expected. An earthquake of sonic violence was felt in Savoy during the night of the 10th instant. At Rum]lly and Chautagne the furniture in the apartments was so shaken that the glasses and other articles left on tables were thrown down. At Chambery, however, it was so slight, that it was perceived by only a very few persons. A letter from Nismes of the 17th instant represents that town as being kept in constant commotion by conflicts between the rival coinpagnons of the dif ferent trades. On the 12th upwards of eighty stone cutters caaght three or four bakers' men near the Place du Grand Temple, and, assailing them with stones, would have probably killed them but for the timely interference of the police. M. Duris, editor of the Legitimatist journal Her mine, has been condemned for libel on the Govern ment, by the Court of Assizes at Nantes, to three months' imprisonment and I,ooof. fine, notwithstand ing an able defence presented by M. Berryer. Prince Gaston de Montmorency has addressed a letter to the Gazette de France, which it publishes, declaring that as he is convinced that the Govern ment is determined to have a judgment against him, he had resolved not to appeal against that which has been pronounced upon him, -but will contentimself with leaving his conduct to public opinion. The title of Duke, which has just been conferred by the King on the Chancellor of France, is to be transmissible to his nephew, M. Gaston d'Audiffret. According to a recently-published statement of the Bureau de Bienfaisance of the first arondissement of Paris, which is considered as one of the wealthiest, it appears that the number of its indigent inhabitants has increased, and is still increasing. From the official returns in 1835, this Bureau had to relieve 1,645 families, comprising 3,599 individuals. In 1841, the numbers were 1,742 families; in 1842, there were 2,127 families ; and in 1843, there were 2,245 families, comprising 5,242 individuals, viz., 1,097 men, 2,065 women, 1,025 boys, and 1,065 girls. A letter from Vienna, of Dec. 8, in the Universal German Gazette, says—" We understand that, in the course of next year, Prince Frederick will make a voyage to China. It is reported that the Austrian Government is not averse at present to acknowledging Queen Isabella. General Prim had arrived at Cadiz, and was con fined in the fort of St. Catalina, where he will re main till a ship of war happens to be going to the Philippine Hanes. The Progress du Pas de Calais states that the ports of Calais and Boulogne are on the point of com ing to a friendly understanding on the subject of the northern railroad. Calais, it says, is ready to con cede to Boulogne what it has been demanding for five years, in exchange for the advantage which its competitor, now become its associate, solicits it to accept. Calais assents to the system sustained by Boulogne in 1842—the uniting of all the seaports— in consideration of the Amiens and Boulogne Com pany's continuing that line to Calais, and maintaining the same fares to and from Paris and Calais as to and from Boulogne and Paris. COVUT rAmaxort Her Majesty, it is understood, will honour the Duke of Bucki►►ghatn with a visit at Stowe, about the 7th of January, and afterwards pay a similar compliment to the Duke of Wellington at Strath . fieldsaye. The Marquis and Marchioness of Normanby, who have returned to the Clarendon Hotel, from a visit to Earl and Countess Cowper, at Pansanger, are ex pected to pass the holidays with Lord and Lady Pal merston, at Broadlands, near Romsey. The Marquis and Marchioness of Douglas (Prin cess Mary of Baden) have returned to Hamilton Palace, after paying a round of visits to their friends in the north. The Noble Marquis and Marchioness are expected to conic to London early in the ensuing year. The Duke of Cleveland has rejoined the Duchess at Raby Castle. his Grace has recently given 1001. to the fund for erecting a mechanics' institution at Barnard Castle. The Duke of Devonshire has left town for Brigh ton, on a visit to the Earl and Countess of Granville. His Grace does not return to London until after the Christmas recess. The Duke of Manchester has returned to Kim bolton Castle, Huntingdonshire, from Lisbon, where the Noble Duke accompanied the Duchess and Lady Olivia Montagu, who are proceeding to Cadiz with the view of benefiting the Duchess's health. Lord Stanley, who is staying with Lady Stanley and family on a visit to the venerable Earl of Derby, at Knowsley Park, during the holidays, is expected to return to St. James's-square at the close of next week. The Noble Lord will, we believe, take his seat in the House of Lords on the first day of the session, the Parliamentary business of his department being, it is understood, intrusted to Mr. George W. Hope, the Joint Under-Secretary with Mr. Stephen. The Marquis of Northampton has left town for Castle Ashby, Northamptonshire, where a select party will assemble this week for the Christmas holidays. The Countess of Portmore has gone to Bath with the intention of residing in that city during the winter. The Earl and Countess Brownlow have arrived Belton Hall, near Grantham, from visiting the Mar quisof Salisbury, at Hatfield House. _ _ The Earl and Countess of Lisburne and family are paqsing the winter at Crosswood Park, near Aberyst with. The Earl and Countess of Amherst have arrived ai Knowle Park, the Countess's seat, from town. SllSCanizazrisorra. The contest for the representation of the borough of Dartmouth is proceeding with vigour on both sides. The precept was received by the mayor on the 20th inst. ; and as three days' notice at least is required previous to the election, the nomination will not take place until Thursday, the 26th, in conse quence of Christmas-day being on Wednesday. The polling will be on Friday, the 27th. The wind figs now continued so long from the eastward, that many homeward-bound vessels will be collected at the entrance of the Channel ; and the Admiralty last week gave directions to dispatch any small vessels unemployed to proceed to their relief. Mr. O'Connell left Dublin very unexpectedly on Friday evening, to spend his Christmas at Derrynane Abbey. The Monitor states that the Hon. Gentle man made his exit in a downright " huff" at the signal failure of his parish agitation against the Be quests Bill. The most pressing of the Irish " difficulties" at the present moment would seem to be the agrarian out break, which is rapidly extending from one end of the country to the other. The outbreak assumes the cha racter more of an insurrection than of isolated crime, and is rapidly increasing in intensity, instead of seem ing to have met with any check. The Hague was lighted by gas for the first time a few days ago. The journals of that place state that the gas works, although on a very extensive scale, and combining all the most useful improvements which have been introduced into the manufacture of gas, were executed in the almost incredibly short space of five months, including the laying down of twenty five miles of pipes. The splendid baron of beef, which will form the chief dish at the royal banquet-table at Windsor Castle on Christmas-day, is a portion of an extra ordinary Scotch ox, fed by his Grace the Archbishop of York, at Nuneham, Oxfordshire. It is of the enormous weight of one hundred and seventy•nine pounds, and measures three feet six inches in length and two feet eleven inches in width. The subscriptions towards the Manchester testi monial to the Right Hon. Major-General Sir Henry Pottinger, K.C.13., now aniounts to about three thou sand pounds. ST. JAMES'S CHURCH, DUICR'S-PLACE.--Sunday morning this church, which has long been closed for re pairs, was re-opened, the Lord Mayor, Mr. Alderman Musgrove, and Mr. Alderman Sidney (the Sheriffs) attending. The sermon was preached by the rector, the Rev. Dr. M'Caul, whose installation to a canonry in Saint Paul's was recorded in The Sun of last Tuesday. The church is situate in a locality inhabited almost exclusively by Jews, several of whom have been converted to the Christian faith since Dr. M'Caul's ap pointment to the incumbency. During the services the sacred edifice was crowded in every part, a large number of persons being attracted by the civic pageantry. A collection was made, to which the Lord Mayor 40 Sheriffs liberally contributed. The Duke of Norfolk, the Earl of Arundel and Surrey, Lord Wharnelitre, Lord Morpeth, Lord Milton, TORQUAT.—A very fine Dolphin, rather a novelty the lion. Stuart Wortley, M.P., G, Ward, Esq., M.P., in these seas, was caught at T orqua y on Tu esc iny ; and, and Colonel Fullerton, are the patrons of the gr a nd b a ll on Wednesday was exibited about the streets of Exeter, to take place in Sheffield on the 9th of the ensuing to the great gratification of the curious.—Somerset County month, the whole of the proceeds of which are to be ap- Herald, propriated to the Michanacs'-hp,ll 713049§ . Fpit, UL A It WINDsoa, MONDAY.—The Queen and Prince Albert went out for their early morning walk. On the return of her l'=:ittjesty and his Royal Highness, the Prince left the Castle to shoot in the royal preserves, attended by Mr. Anson and Sir Edward a , water. Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent visited the Queen and Prince Albert this morning. Her Royal Highness the Princess Royal went out for a carriage airing this morning. Their Royal Highnesses Prince Alfred and the P. incess Alice were taken a walk to-day. The Earl of Aberdeen and Sir Henry Wheatley arrived at the Castle to-day, on a visit to the Queen. The Countess of Gainsborough is expected to arrive this evening at the Castle. Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, Lady Fanny Howard, and the Countess Wratislaw, joined the royal circle at dinner. Her Majesty's private band was in attendance at the Castle after dinner, and performed during the evening. The Queen honoured Mr. Thorburn with a sitting to-day for her portrait. The Queen and Prince Albert inspected, on Satur day, an engraved portrait of the Princess Charlotte of Belgium, engraved by Robinson, from an original miniature painted by Sir William Ross, R A., for her Mak sty the Queen of the Belgians, which was sub mitted by Mr. David Thomas White. Her Majesty and his Royal Highness were pleased to express their approbation. A deputation of the promoters of the Redcar and Wear Valley Railway had an interview with the Earl of 1 )alhousie yesterday, at the office of the Board of Trade. Mr. Hart Davis, Deputy Chairman of the Excise, had an interview with the Chancellor of the Ex chequer yesterday, at his official residence in Down ing-street. The Hon. Sidney Herbert transacted business yes terday at the Foreign-office. A deputation to present memorials from Mon mouthshire and Breconshire had an interview with the Earl of Dalhousie yesterday, at the Board of Trade. The deputation presented memorials from Monmouth county, from Monmouth town, from Abergavenny, from Usk, from Brecon, and from Crickhowell. The Earl of Aberdeen left town yesterday after , noon for Windsor Castle. Lord Granville Somerset had an interview with the Chancellor of the Exchequer yesterday. Dispatches from the Governors of the West India Colonies were received yesterday at the Colonial office. A deputation from the Rotherham, Bawtry, and Gainsborough Junction Railway, had an interview with the Earl of Dalhousie yesterday. DUTCH MAIL. NIMEGUEN, DEC. 17.—Though, as we hear, the ice is still standing firm below the city, it is, how ever, broken up here. The water in the river has fallen considerably, and is now clear of floating ice. We fear that that part of the bridge which was car • ried away is dashed to pieces. AMSTERDAM, DEC. 20 . —The accounts that we have received from Dordrecht, and other places, state that the thaw, which we have had for s om e d a y s , has in general had a considerable effect, and that the ice is for the most part broken up. We have not received to-day either the French or the English mails. Our London news has arrived through Belgium. KONIGSBURG, DEC. 10.—In contradiction to some accounts from St. Petersburgh, it is stated to be posi tively known, from persons who come from the North, that the Emperor attends to public business with his usual energy, and that no change is observed in his health. He very much wishes to see his favourite daughter contract a brilliant marriage, and only the po sitive will of the Grand Duchess Olga to remain, for the present, with her parents has hitherto prevented her marriage. NATIONAL MERCANTILE ASSVJ ANCE SOCIETY. The Directors, members, and friends of the Ns' timid] INlercantile Assurar.c3 Society, dined together yesterday evening at the London Tavern, Bishops' gate-street, Robert Wilcoxon, Esq., presiding. The objects of this Society, which is largely a' liberally supported by eminent mercantile men, an ,1 the great b o dy o f mercant il e trave ll ers, are too Fell known to require description—it is a life assurance office, which is rapidly extending its business an d connexion. The respected Chairman was support ed by Mr..Bedmayne and Mr. Baker ; the Vice Pee sv dents were Mr. Stokes and Mr. M'Culloch. Among the gentlemen present were M r . G. M oor e, r. Pellatt, Mr. Baker, jun., Mr. Baden, Mr. Newbon , Mr. Evans, Mr. Bankart, Mr. Morse, Mr. Mr. Stockdale, &c., &c. An excellent dinner wa s provided by Messrs. Bathe and Breach, whose ar' rangements for the comfort of the guests were noel' ceptionable ; the wines were also of first-rate qualitP On the removal of the cloth, Non Nobis was adtni' rably sung by the professional gentlemen engaged for the occasion. The CHAIRMAN gave as the first toast, the " I l ea lth of her Majesty the Queen," which was drank with all the honours. Air—" God Save the Queen." The CHAIRMAN gave as the second toast, th e " Health of his Royal Highness Prince Albert." ,6 Air—" Here's a health to the Prince and the Queen' The " Health of th e Q ueen D owager, " i n gion: n, which the Chairma n p asse d a hi g h eulogium the charitable dispo s iti on o f h er M a j esty, was t h en draum in conjunction with the rest of thelßoyal Fatal' The toast was received with the utmost cordiality'. The CHAIRMAN then said he had a toast to propos e which was of the greatest importance to this country —it was that of the " Army and Navy" of Engla nd i They must all allow th a t th ese t wo serv i ces w ere ° the most essential importance to the nation in ever"' point of view ; to them, in a great degree, they mighttrace the rise of this gre a t em pi re , an d to t h em be ascribed the peace and quietness they then en' joyed.—Drank with loud cheers. The CHAIRMAN said it was now his pleasing "I_ to propose a toast in whi c h th e y were a ll, more °' less, much interested, and many of them very deeply l so.—(Hear, he a r.) It was th e t oas t o f a b o d y throug t , the instrumentality of which he had the pleasure seeing himself surrounded by this large and respef l able assembly.—(Cheer s .) Th e t oas t h e h a d to r a was " Prosperity to the National Mercantile 0 Life Assurance Society."—(L ou d cheers.) UP°ll occasion of this kind, and more part i cu l ar ly und er the circumstances in which th e y h a d recen tly be en placed, it was but natural th e y s h ou ld expec t fre g to him something like an account of the rise I d progress of the Society.—(H ear , h ear .) H e beli? l , The were all pretty well aware th a t th e M e rcanti le ; Travellers' Life A ssurance Office was origin al /. formed by comparatively a very few influential i' °ll / 4 mercial gentlemen, fr om mo ti ves roost dl o i n tereg , t towards their fellow-travellers. After some time the Society was am a l gama t e d i n t o anot h er S oc iety et about equal standing the National Endowill el3 e Society—und e r th e titl e o f th e N at i ona l M er canti i d Assurance Society. Since that time the Society ha had much to encounter ; many troubles and 1112 .7; trials await e d it ; b ut t h e vessel was htil and it had surmDunted every obstacle.- - ( llf 2 4 „ f t e [t was, th e n, a mos t p l eas i ng part o f his du t 6 evening to be able to present to them, not shipwrecked institution—(Hear, hear) —not wit li but fragment or p o rti on o f thi s great un d erta king, i 6 with the whol e an d en ti re N at i ona l Mercautilf Pebe Assurance Society.—(Cheers.) It was usual, en present occasion, to give something like a s tateme Pi i though not in d e t a il, o f th e present prospects ape condition of the Society. Immediately after th settlement of the diff erences b e t ween th e gentleul who had r e ti re d f rom th e B oar d an d t h e Prese n : Directors, the latter had co ns id ere d it their duty, i° r order to satisfy, n o t on l y t h emse l ves , but the "' t prietors also, to have a full va l ua ti on ma de of the wh °ie of their affairs. Thi s th e y i mme di a t e l y g ave i mt rollP 4 to have done, and th e t as k h a d b een - a veo mplished their actuary, and tested by th e ac t uary o f the vereal Life Assurance Office. It was his Ple3sl°F duty to tell them th a t th e account more than anti,cl, , pated all their best expectations.—(gear, hear.) W ri.l ,.; # out going into anything like detail or figure s , he It' delighted to be able to tell the p - lesenp won -Tway tbal at the end of the year [4.5 - they wonl4 be able t° , declare a most liber a l bong to policy-holder s and shareholders.—(Loud cheers.) Thus the Directors had been able to t rea t lib era ll y a ll those who had l e ft them, and also to take ample care of nose who re ,, mained.—(Cheers.) d ie was going to say two three words on th e su bj ect of l i fe assu rance itself , but there wer e many gent l emen presen t much. more capable than h e was o f dil at i ng on this topic t would, therefore, merely state that he did consider: this instit u ti on t o b e a most excellent one . He wl quite satisfied it h a d b een t h e means o f d o ing 3 va s t , deal of goo d, an d many a poor family an d desolat e widow had h a d reason to re j o i ce i n the ex i s tence f such an institution as this ; but for it, inle er Yl want, and all the evils that were their consequee:, must have ensued ; and he would urge all —for a_Let of them had some ability—to do their best to supP e , r _ it. There was not one of them but was able to al something; he would say to all of them, 6 , do What you can," and then he was satisfied, if they were f t spared to meet another year, that they should u` able to present to th em thi s S oc i ety i n a far mo m flourishing condition than it had ever yet attained to• ; (Hear, hear.) H e gave , as t h e toast, "P ros perity the National Mercantile Life Assurance Social' The toast was drank with enthusiasm. e r Mr. G. MooRE proposed the next toast. e- e said experience . taught them that they could not have * the gratification without some alloy, and at pres ent i st gratification he felt at being entrusted with the °it+ was abated by the inability he felt to do justice toed It was " The Comm erc i a l T rave ll ers o f t h e to! he Kingdom."—(Loud cheers.) He knew not whY be • had been selected to give this toast, unless it wa s life cause he had been for a great many y ea rs of his e 0 associated with them.—(Hear, hear.) He ha d ht connected with them nearly t wen t y year s, an d arf could bear testimony to th e i r c h aracter for gb and persever ance b e i ng unequa ll e d . Of ten , thr° ll ,o4 the hours of a winter's midnight, when others ' s a il. taking th e i r re p ose , th ey were travell i ng on the 1 ::; r 's way, or in the steam-boat, advancing their einea w ee interest or their own. By this body of gen''' 10 he had th a t d ay b een h onoure d w i th a plac-„ ge the Board of Directors of the Society. , by could assure them he felt hi g hl y fl a ttered o re this honour th us con f erre d upon him ; he vve ‘ , ss l ea that they might have f oun d many gen`,74o, who would h ave d one more j ust i ce to them.--"t r , n er no.") lie had been told in a very f orc ible hi e r o t, that the body o f th e S oc i e t y w i s h e d to h ave , at ' e d it one Director who had risen from the ranks ; was his proudest gratification that he had been " - lie elated with them fur many years.—(Hear, hear:) tic a assured them he would endeavour to do all the e 1 54 he to them hi s h um bl e a biliti es wou ld permit; ana,:iek had a littl e i n fl uence i n t h e mercantile world, an - d it some knowledge of the market towns of En/4, l3l ''nd would be hi s grea t anx i e t y to exert hi s a bility the influence to their advantage.—(Cheers.) A s b a il% Chairman had told them, there had 0 0 some seceders from the office, in c onseV e arg s of a misunderstanding. He had some L r et by from w hi c h h e was warranted in expecting tn a , t ~ the next month they wou ld b e a bl e t o ma k e up r o ts° office the in come it h a d b een d epr i ve d of. beool3 hoped th ey s h ou ld go on on a principle t h a t Iv d p• bring them an increase of business every month. Ilh e dividu a ll y h e wou l d endeavour to set som ethuig, vin g an example.—(H ear , hear.) He concluded by g f i the , " Health o f th e C ommerc i a l Travellers we st United Ki ng d om ," w hi c h was drank w i t h t h e war demonstrations of feeling. Bald hO Mr. Moen acknowledged th e t oas t. -110 o l io would not affect a n y p art i cu l ar modesty) as tide' occasion he thought it ought to he threw" (re The event was one of very great importance, _ (ire more so, perhaps, than his friend Mr, ° .„ had. imagined. It was a very coror s ,",ehe"j sive one; if what he said should ' rer io rt t e it would find its way to the a sset of every man b y.. provinces —to th. ' man le cl ocotland and Ireland. 'Every one w w oll a the speech in which the toast was proposed,. Ile feel grateful to Mr. Moore for proposing oeart of every commercialhgoen;lo it. fey/ (Mr. Morse) would show, in the course of 9 _ 05 . minutes, that the body of commercial travellers, trlelo sessed . more importance than many persons giof. lol , of credit tor. Travellers, in the ordinary accep!al f r og' the word, were looked upon as men j o urneying_ an d town to tcwn, merely in pursuit o f business± ob i e ! havin g no views beyond it. Now they had 11 . : ibe ir object ; th e y a ll f e lt that they owed a du t y wae wives and families, and a great proof of thisr re' offer e d t h em to d ay i n t h e grea t n umber. ha d spectable gen tl emen th ere a ssembled, W ho h 0 insured their lives in this office, All' FLANDERS MAIL. BRUSSELS, r Ec. 20.—The Chamber resumed to day, in its pumic sitting, the debate on the project of law relative to the treaty with the Zollverein. After se veral Members had spoken, the Minister of the Interior addressed the Chamber; his discourse turned chiefly on the state of parties in France. This sitting may he considered as the most interesting of those which the Chamber has devoted to the examination of the treaty of the Ist of September. The debate was ad journed till to-morrow (the '2lst, at ten o'clock). (N.B.—The 21foniteur Beige, and other papers, published on the morning of Saturday, the 21st, of course contain no accounts whatever of the continu ance of the debate on that day.) Since yesterday a report has been in circulation in the political circles, of the possibility of some Minis terial modification. We refrained from noticing it at first, being unwilling to aggravate a state of things which has excited the regret of all those who were witnesses of the fact. To-day we cannot avoid men tioning it, on account of the results which may be foreseen. A difference appeared in the Secret Com mittee, the day before yesterday, between two Mem bers of the Cabinet, on the explanations relative to article 19 of the treaty. The opinion which seems to us the most generally entertained at this moment, is that the change, if it takes place, will only affect the Minister whose opinion, on that occasion, was found to be in a minority in the Cabinet, and, at the same time, the farthest from that of the majority of the Chamber.—Courrier Beige, Dec. 21. The reigning Duke and Duchess of Saxe Cohourg, and the Prince of Wurternburg, left the King's Palace at Brussels, to-day, and continued their journey to Germany. A special train will take them to Cologne. The Moniteur Beige publishes the law which fixes the budget of the public debt at 32,057,128 f. for 1845, and the budget of dotation at 3,301,258 f. The cold returned last night, and the mercury fell below friezing point. ALEXANDRIA, Nov. 26.—His Highness the Viceroy accompanied by some of his officers, arrived here this afternoon at five o'clock, in excellent health. He per formed the journey from Cairo in twenty hours. The steam-frigate The Nile, is to be brought into the new dock the day after to- morrow ; every thing is ready. Some persons doubt the complete success of this great work, while the two engineers are quite confident about it. In my next I shall be able ..o give you something positive on the subject. DARTMOUTH ELRCTION.—The nomination for this election is fixed for Thursday, and the polling for Friday next Viscount Villiers, M.P., has given 1001. for the pur chase of blatleta and warm clothing for the poor of Cirencester. STATE or TRADE.--The news from the West Riding continues of a cheering nature ; not se, we are sorry to say, that from the hosiery and lace districts of Nottinghamshire ; and in Lancashire, the intelligence of the complete closir , of the Elbe by ice has put a sudden stop to purchases of yarn for Germany. The accounts from India, too, not being considered favourable, the yarn market at Manchester has become exceedingly dull, though, as yet, without any material change in prices. The same market for manufactured goods is also inactive, for which the season may sufficiently account. Reverting to Yorkshire, the demand for winter clothes at Leeds is active, and prices have undergone no change. At Bradford we hare much pleasure in stating that a great number of woolcombers who had been on " stint," and others who were entirely out of work, have received orders to resume their labour. On the whole, there is a more encouraging prospect for the operatives during the winter months than was previously antici pated. On Thursday there was a very good attyndance of merchants, and their purchases were more extensive than on any market day for some weeks past. For yarns there was a fair demand, and as the spinners have resolutely kept down the supply by diminishing their hours of labour, prices were firm. The wool market presented no new feature, late prices being fully obtained, with a steady though limited demand. At the last Halifax market there was a large attendance of buyers, and a good deal of business done in the heavier fabrics, especially lastings, damasks, and moreens. Both comb ing and blanket wool was in request, and prices firm. There still continues at Wakefield an animated demand for all deep combing wools, and the turn is in favour of the seller, and this has imparted more confidence to the buyers of the better description of combing wools, as well as to those of short wools. This is the bright side of the picture ; at Nottingham, however, the distress in the machine-knitting manufactures is so far from de creasing that, upon the whole, the hands are worse than they have been for some months past. The drawer and pantaloon branch, which is the largest carried on in Nottingham and the suburbs, is still in a most depressed state, the frames being scarcely half employed. The cotton glove branch is in the best condition of any in the hosiery trade ; still it is much and seriously depressed. The silk hosiery trade has not, nor is it imagined that it is likely, to recover from its present depressed state. The bobbin-net lace trade has become :o seriously de pressed that a perfect panic has taken place amongst the manufacturers, some of whom, it is asserted, contemplate a cessation of business for a period.—Hull Packet. LOBSTER FIBIIING.—Within the last few years the attention of the fishermen belonging to the Hebrides, but more particularly to the islands of Mull and Islay, has been directed to the fishing of lobsters. with whi4:h the coasts of the Western Isles abound. A good "Lioer of individuals have embarked in that 1 , ;:4 1 .._ of fishing, and have been, up to the present year, abundantly remune rated for their labour by exporting the produce of the fishings from this port by the steamers to Liverpool. This ,yet bqweyer, the lobsters have increased on the i1a,1144 o.f tne fishermen ; and the Liverpool fishmo ngers, taking advantage of the supply being only once a fort night from Scotland, have reduced the price, and sub jeeted the fishermen to other deductions, which bid fair to cripple, if not altogether to destroy, this branch of employment for the inhabitants of the Western Isles. On Saturday evening opwartia of 20 large boxes, crammed full of Inhaters, from Mull alone, were sent by the fleimer frall tbis to Liverpool—Grecnoch Advertiser. I tr: ttl4