The Sun. — London, England, 1844-12-28 00:00:00

~_ _ rium with Hospital, and not, as has . been s r-- ' of the Admiralty. All ' Ithe Lords SUMMARY OF NEWSI. the patrons.- a_avincrs . 'ill - a7t u v ° ere formerly or the la — ta - t EarCof Derwentwater, are gift of the Cotan:iissloners of Greenwich Hospital ; in it . tad navy chaplains are eligible to hold then". Lord Petre has distributed a quantity of beef attiring the poor of Ingatestone and In grave, Essex. The Lord tishop of the Isle of Man held a confirma tion is, St. .Mary's Chapel, Castletown, on Sunday week. and preached in the evening. His Lordship also visited the national schools morning and afternoon ; addressed the teachers of the Sunday-school, and visited the gaol of Castle Rtishen, from two to three o'clock. The building well known as Bonner's-hall, an ir.te resting object of architectural antiquity at the east end of the metropolis, the materials of la hich were sold on Monday last, is nearly levelled with the ground. A road 60 feet broad has bean marked out from opposite the Greyhovnd Tavern, Old Ford-lane, to the Regent's Canal, across the fields known as Bonner's Fields, which will form the chief entrance, to be surrounded by villas of an improved and uniform order of architecture. From hence the commencement of the park will be by a handsome iron suspension bridge across the canal. The sixth and last of the first series of musical soirees given by the Society of British Musicians during the present season occurred last night. The attendance was more crowded than on any previous occasion. The subscription for Tollington Park new Church, Hornsey, rapidly increases. The Metropolis Church Fund have given 1,0001., and, amongst a long list of con tributions, are the Rev. Mr. Venn 2001., Captain Parry 301., Thomas Dickinson, Esq., 211., Messrs. Bedgood and Johnson 101 10s. each, H. F. Richardson, Esq. 101. 10s., Lord Northampton (per Mr. H. F. Richardson, 501, &c. I ND übiti* 1-41ptittott. " Who runs may read." rentizacEsr. On Tuesday evening their Majesties the King and Queen of the French received Generals Schneider and L l elet, the Marquis de Radpont, the Counts de St. Priest, „katolet, do Montesquiou, and do Grave, the Viscount de ...44-njuinais, the Baron de Vanden], and MM. Raguet Fvuld, and Lebrun. Cunin Gridaine, wife of the Minister of Com received a sprain a few days ago, which will q blige.her to remain in an incumbent posture for some The Minister of the Marine has just decreed a gold medal to Captain Chausse, as a reward for his conduct in April last, when in command 'of Le Cygne, in the port of Aux Cayes (Hayti), at the time of the invasion of that Piaoe by the revolted negroes of the interior, and on Which occasion he gave refuge on• borrd his vessel to 45 0 women and children, who took refuge from the ex esses of the infuriated negroes. We read in the Constitutionnel—" The Prince de 4 oinville, it appears, has not renounced the intention of takin g the Princess to H 3 lees, for the benefit of the cli ; for it is said that apartments have been taken for their Royal Highnesses, that furniture has been sent off, *ad that they will take their departure for the island on January %5." akece of the Ahl4 de I'Er6e died on Saturday last in 1414 tiopital Necker. lir. David Salornons has arrived in Paris. The Chamber of Commerce of Boulogne has addressed a memorial to the Minister of Commerce, recommending t hat the Government should reduce the charge now made fo r Passports to foreign countries to that for passports to t i ll* interior of F rance , an d a l so p erm it the mayors of ,owns to grant passports for foreign countries, as they 2if no those for the interior. Should this recommenda a he complied with, very great delay will be saved to Prsons in the provinces, who cannot now obtain a pass- Port for a foreign country without passing through many "rolls formalities. he Globe says:—" The negotiations between the Cabinet of Vienna and the Porte, concerning a revision af the existing treaties of commerce :and navigation, are rag on very slowly, the Porte having constant recourse b,subterfuges, an d ever y ex p e dient to delay bringing l'aela2 to a conclusion. We have credible information, l awever, eclat the new treaty of commerce between the forte and Russia is concluded, and contains stipulations e P r favourable to the last-named nation. Y 4 our corr e sp o nd en t a t T ur in," s a ys the Presse, writes that on the 7th inst., about eighty men, gen darmes, forest-keepers, and officers of the Customs, in- Ned the territory of Sardinia with warrants to arrest Sardinians charged with coming and cutting wood in the r e'rett of the Chartreuse. Six or seven of these men *e.;'B seized, bound, and carried by force to Grenoble, in ;The of the protests of the Sardinian authorities. The Cabinet of Turin has sent remonstrances to the French Government; against this violation of territory. The G overnment has not yet received sufficient information -enable it to give any answer. It is probable, neverthe les s , ; that satisfactory explanations will be shortly given 44 1 64 :ying the conduct of the French authorities." Colonel Kuggenbugler, one of the chiefs of the late j a n '!arrection at Lucerne, died a few days ago at Lena tilk!g, in the canton of Argau, ;of an illness arising from " fatigue and privations which he sustained iu arriving ft, the icene o f conflict, and his subsequent grief at the *, .e of the outbreak. ,Letters from the frontiers of Catalonia of the 17th "Jteember state that the cold was at that time more Lev.ere in that province than has ever been remembered. 4, 4 courier from Puycerda had not been able to pro tO with his dispatches, and the conductor of the mail ad been obliged to leave it at Rivas on account of the APth of the snow, and convey the letters on foot. A ter from Vich of the 14th also states that the winter l ' , now mare severe than can be remembered by the oldest Ni in that part of the country. The thermometer was F ahrenheit). to 13 degrees of Reaumur (2 . 75 above zero of lathrenh e it). A correspondent at Bologna writes, 14th inst. : now has been falling incessantly for a week, and in atich quantity that the streets are blocked up. Several Intl; of houses have sunk under the weight, and some livers in the neighbourhood have been swelled above their banks." 1, The monument to the memory of Lucien Bonaparte, O ri nce of Canino, intrusted to the chisel of the cele ted 3e_ulptor Pampaloni, of Florence, is nearly finished. I tie formed out of a block of the most beautiful and Perfect white marble from the Monte Altissimo de Ser 'avezza. It comprises eight figures in alto-relieve, t r ouped with great harmony, and supporting an urn, in hich the remains of the deceased are to be deposited. Count Gonfalonieri, formerly chief of the Carbonari In the Austrian S ates of Italy, who, after passing the at years of his life as a prisoner in the fortress of ielb erg , was par d one d b y t h e E mperor , i s now li v i ng ~home , and, having entirely abandoned politics, passes %,.._ l5 time in a critical examination of the ancient monu , 'Mt& of the city. tter from Rome states that the Pope gave audience _ t° he agents of several Belgian bankers, who have offered to furnish him immediately with a loan of a million and half of Roman crowns (about seven millions and a half feanca): "We learn from Christina (Norway) that, on the 3d - inst., a sharp shock of earthquake was felt in several parts housesof that p rov i nce . The w indows of most of the were broken, the furniture was injured, and se "era' slight buildings were thrown down. The shock Rioted more than a minute and a half, and was accom -IPanied by a rumbling noise. A Vienna letter of the 19th states that a Russian ship tad recently captured on the coast of the Tscherkesses a Turkish vessel, laden with English arms and ammunition Tor the mountaineers of the Caucasus. The Ring of Hanover, says a German journal, has or tiered that a monument similar to that of Queen Louisa Prussia, and which will cost 200,000 dialers (760,000 e), shall be erected in honour of his late Queen, in 'rent of the Palace of Herrenhausen, near his capital. f A remarkably fine Pyrenean dog, which has been sent Pau to London, as a present to Queen Vi ctoria, has Alt Passed through Paris. The animal is only nine f %onths old, b u t s t an d s a b ou t th re e fe e t four inches Eng k..ll. Ile is entirely white except the head, which is COURSE OF EXCHAI Amsterdam CF. 12 6 Ditto, at sight l2 4 Rotterdam 2U. 12 6i Antwerp 25 95 Hamburgh M.B. 13131 Altona l3 13A Paris, 3 days' sight 25 70 Ditto, 3 months 25 95 Marseilles Bourdeaux 25 Frankfort on Maine l2l GE.—(YESTERDAY.) Gibraltar Leghorn .. 3O 50 Genoa Milan Venico . Naples ..• . Palermo, t,e• oz 1155 Lisbon s3i Oporto.. s3i Rio Janeir• Bahia 24 Buenos A y, NewYoik.:: - ..dyssight Philadtirbie .11J LLION PER 07. Foreign ili , A,bars...£3 17 9 Tortuga.: G•ld Coin 3 17 5 New Dl'u .... 0 0 0 New Diva 0 4 9t Silver in 151. rs 0 4 11i Petersburgh, 3Us 37 Berlin 7 Vienna, effee. fi.3 M 954 Trieste, ditto Madrid 364 Cadiz Bilbao 36 Barcelona 36 Seville — A few days ago a youth aged 21, named Alex andre Richard, who is connected with some of the first families in the Morbihan, but whose conduct has been for some time exceedingly irregular, was tried by the Court of Assizes of that department, for the murder of a female named Pouty, who kept a shop at Vannes, and with whom he had entertained intimate relations. The victim was found in her bed, stabbed in twenty-one places, and Richard was seen, according to the evidence of one of the witnesses, leaving her house in the dead of the night of the murder. It was shown that he was the father of a child borne by the female, and there was rea son to believe that he was desirous of putting an end to the connexion between them. It was also shown that the murder could not have been committed by robbers, as nothing was taken from the house. The evidence was altogether circumstantial, but the jury found the prisoner guilty, declaring, however, that the murder was without premeditation. The sentence, therefore, was only ten years' imprisonment with hard labour. MALICIOUS AND MYSTERIOUS OCCURRENCE.-,—On Tuesday last some evil disposed person broke several squares of glass in the house of Mr. Hullah, chemist, of John-street, London-fields; and although the most rigid inquiry took place, nothing satisfactory could be learned. The attack being shortly afterwards re peated, information was forwarded to the police-station, and Inspector Cooper dispatched several officers, who were stationed in and about the house, and notwith standing their presence, large stones were hurled with effect at the back windows, which command a view of the brick-field adjacent to the canal. Every stratagem which ingenuity and experience could devise was re sorted to by Sergeant Han kes, and Francis, 221, a detective officer, but without success. On Christmas day the disgraceful annoyance recommenced, and about two o'clock a joyous looking plum-pudding, which was placed in the back kitchen to cool, was deeply indented by stony missiles, safely lodged in its sides. Attention was then especially directed to the rear of the house, and instantly the attack upon the front was renewed with vigour. The officers then made for the front, where they found their lookers-out at their post, but heard no tidings of the mysterious agent of destruction, when suddenly a large earthenware pan, full of water, was dashed into atoms at the back. Every effort to discover the malicious gang continued to prove unavailing, and, in consequence, Mr. Hullah is obliged to close his shep, to preserve his large variegated colour-bottles, the destruc tiou of which, from the inflammable nature or their con tents, might be attended with serious consequences. An opinion prevails that the stones are thrown from a sling, or fired from a gun. The door-lamp, which was broken, is removed. The aff ir is altogether" mysterious," and admits of a variety of conjectures and interpretations, but of the facts, verified by the police, there is no doubt. FIRE AT A UNION WORKIIOUSIL—At a late hour on Thursday night information was received at the principal insurance-offices in the City of a very serious fire having occurred on Tuesday morning at the Ban bury Union Workhouse, which was not sobdoed until considerable damage was done to the building. The re port states, that at about a quarter to six o'clock on the above-mentioned morning, one of the paupers was pass ing through the oakum-room with a lighted candle to the master's bed-room, when, through some unfortunate circumstance, she stumbled and fell to the ground, the candle falling amongst some oakum which lay on the floor, and which almost instantaneously became ignited. The alarm was instantly given throughout the establishment, and, as may be supposed, the most prompt measures were adopted in order to check the flames. The building is of great height, and the apartments in which the fire originated was in the very centre on the uppermost floor, immediately beneath a cupola tower. The engines of the town, and those be longing to Neithrop, at the onset of the fire were sent for, and quickly arrived ; but in the meanwhile the de structive element had made its way through the roof, and fired the cupola, where the bells were kept, which, being in the middle of the building, and contiguous to the three wings, the utmost apprehensions were felt for the safety of the house---in fact, its destruction at that juncture appeared almost inevitable. In about half an hour after the discovery the tower and bells fell in with a loud crash ; and the flames were still raging with much violence. The roof of the north-east wing caught flm The persons in charge of the engines, however, acted with considerable skill, and the fire being prevented from ex tending to the two other wings, all their exertions were directed to the preservation of the north-east one ; and the fire was at last got under, the wing having been saved with the exception of the top part of the roof and upper floor. There upwards of 300 paupers in the house at the tint',, the scene that arose among them was of a most distressing character. Nearly the whole of then: being in bed and locked in their rooms, their eicreams were piercing in the extreme, and many libe rated themselves by breaking open the doors, The first object of the authorities on the alarm being given was to remove the aged and infirm inmates to the more dis tant parts of the establishment, out of danger, which was effected by carrying them in blankets. A special court of guardians has been held respecting the fire, and they are clearly of opinion that it arose from acci dent. The workhouse is insured in the Guardian Fire office for 4,5001. SWAT AD POLIC3II. k At the Mansion-house a d man, named Benjamin Lam ueurn, was brought before the Lord Mayor, charged by t he Directors of the Commercial and General Life Insur "ee Office with having forged a bill of exchange for the kilLYlnen t of 150 L, with intent to defraud the Company. e charge was cl e arly established and the prisoner was ...R "ußlMitted for trial. f A young man, named Robert Hewens, habited like a $0w- street, labourer, was brought before Mr. Jardine at charged with having committed a violent and . provoked assault upon Mr. Thomas Cave Wilkinson, at Grapes, Duke-street, Lincoln's Inn-fields. The pri% 'eer had en t ere d th e p rosec utor's house and demanded a Christmas -box, and on the prosecutor's refusal to comply With his demand, he bad assaulted him. The prisoner /11 % committed for fourteen days. 'Richard Davis, a cab driver, charged at Clerken*ell Pllth being drunk, and having assaulted Mr. M o s e s ,kees, his employer, of Bowling-green-lane, Cle , :kenwell, h as fined Si. or two months' imprisonment, rand hi s li :Q,use was suspended for three months. Thomas York was brought up in cwitody at Maryle e upon the following charge :—Qn the previous night TPrisoner created a great distr.rbance at the Queen's heatre, by singing, standing veon the seats, and dancing 14 a style which he denomituu e d the " Polka." He was 14 length ejected from the, honse, and he then violently 11 . 41 aulted Bedford, one of the o ffi cers of the theatre, by ` t riking him several tr..emendous blows upon the face. A co nstable of the B dlyi s i o n w as ca lled on to as s i s t, an d ter much trouble he (prisoner) was cons eyed to the 61 : 410 n-house. The prisoner was fined 40s. ; in default Payment one month's imprisonment. rtAt the Tha mes P o li ce - cour t Al exan d er T ay l or , th e 1",.1ef mate o f t h e s hi p B roo k s b y , f rom M an ill a , now frig in the West India Docks, for assaulting Captain ones rsetts Thomson, the commander of the same t !!" 1 , Under very aggravated circumstances, was sen w7teed 't o p ay a fi ne of Si. Th e d e f en d ant h a d quarre l e d thethe steward of the ship, and was attempting to t uCe lin], when the Captain interfered to separate h." l , upon which defendant knocked him down with a FIRES LAST NIGHT.—An alarming fire broke out at a late hour last evening, upon the extensive ware. houses belonging to Mr. Lewis Woolf, china dealer, 215, Wapping High-street. The premises, which have a spacious river frontage of about one hundred feet, are situate a few yards below Ring Edward stairs, and, at the time of the outbreak, were well stocked with goods, the proprietor having shortly before housed a consider able quantity, which bad been brought up from the potteries. The discovery of the fire was made by a lad who was passing along the shore. He immediately gave information, and, upon entering the warehouse, it was discovered that three crates were burning rapidly, and that the flames had reached the joists and girders of the first floor, which was nearly burned through. The engines from Wellclose-square, Jeffery-square, andother stations of the brigade, quickly arrived, as did also the West of England from the Waterloo-road, and the fire was extinguished, but not before several feet of the flooring in the central part of the kuilding were cut away, and considerable damage done to the stock. Contents in sured in the Sun; building supposed to be covered by a policy in the Globe fire-office. Just as the engines bad returned from the above fire, information was received by Mr. Brookland, of Jeffery-square, that another had broken out in the cooperage and workshops in the occu pation of Mr. W. Beal, 1, Lower Chapman-street ) Cote= mercial-road. The fire was not extinguished, before a considerable quantity of staves of hard wood were de stroyed, and the roof of the shed burned off, Cooperage not insured 5 building, unknown. The origin of the fire not accounted for. TROTTING MATCH FOR FIVTIt POUNDS ASIDE. — The trotting match between Mr. Vanderstein's pony (The Wonder) and Mr. Griffin's pony (Merry Legs) came off at the Rosemary Branch ground. The con testing distance was two miles in harness. Much betting took place among the "sorting nobs," The Wonder being the favourite at ti to 4. The horses, harnessed to match carts were driven up to the starting mark, and immediately commenced the race, Wonder Asking the lead. One mile was comp l ete d i n three minutes and fourteen seconds. The horses kept nearly together during the whole of th e distance, tied trotted in very ad mirable style. On the app roac h to the winning goal they struggled for victory, when finally the race ter minated by Merry Legs coming in the winner by two lengths, after one of the finest trotting races ever wit nessed. From the great celebrity of the ponies as first rate trotters, and the sporting notoriety of their owners, much interest was manifested, and large sums of money changed hands. b COMM— FASIZIONA2I3.II. t Excellency Baron Brunnow left town on Thursday orjyra3 ten Manor, on a visit to Sir R. Peel. f o " 3 2 l :_en Palochay arrived yesterday at Miyart's Hot e l, liungary. ti,„„ a dY Dorer and the Hon. Misses Agar Ellis have ar 'ut 0 1x a visit to the Duke and Duchess of Sutherland, litTre:itham Hall, Staffordshire, from the Earl of Bur pne., Hockar Hall, Lancashire. lieAg , ord an d L ady Franc i s G or d on l e f t F arrance ' s Hotel, grave -street, yesterday morning, for Dublin Castle. 111Z1110EZZIAMBOUNI. • 4 , circul ar h as b een i ssue d f rom th e Stamp office, to the district distributors and sub-distributors directing a I'ductio n in the charges for all blank forms for docu ',ems to which stamps are attached, to take place from s t d after the sth of January, 1845. These reductions a ," 111 he a source of great saving to professional and com trreial men. For parchment, such skins as are now -4 ,rged at Bd., will henceforth be 6d. ; those at is. Bd., Al those at 25., Is. 6d.; those at 45., 3s. 2d. ; and the er3 in proportion. For paper, folio post is reduced ° IA 2s. to Is. F 6d., and Is. according to quality, demy aer from 2d. t o Id. per sheet ; and bonds, bills of lie& marriage licenses, transfers, and protests, from A t o. id. and id. per sheet. ~_lPotig the costly presents st by the Emperor . of . 1 41 4 to Sir Robert and Lady F eel was a superb chins anS . • NP l ece of Siberian jasper. gu,, less than sixteen couples were united " for weal wo in Colchester, on Wednesday last, the 25th inst. s ae of Society for relieving Destitution has . plac e d th e g e T h of 1001. with each of the resident incumbents of itelienfl-Frcen parish during this inclement season. pota to °I a very extensive nature in coals, bread, and tfi,t the e s, and a seasonable donation of blank e t s , was q!nited f or Chr i stmas, throug h out the whole of i r trict. the st Rectory of G reystead, Northumberland, v acan t ve r e death o f t h e R ev. George Renne ll , is one of the in th" t 'riQa which were created by Act of Parliament, bur t i: Sear 1811, when the extensive parish of Simon /.)._04 the confiscated est a t es o f th e u nf o rtun a t e E ar l thteZ .,en twater was divided. Previous to the divi s i on wh o elritual cure was forty miles in length. Clergymen eli gi b le been c h ap l a i ns i n t h e R oya l N avy are only of th„._ t e' bepresented to these rectories, and the whole are in the gift of the Commissioners of Green- THE SUCCESSOR TO SIR CHARLES ADAM.--ViCE- Admiral Sir Francis William Austen, K.C.8., is ap pointed to succeed Vice-Admiral Sir Charles Adam, K.C.8., as commander in chief of the North American and \Vest Indian station. Sir F. Austen's date of enter ing the navy is 1786, and he became a post - captain in 1800, to which rank he attained while in command of the Peterel sloop of war, for performing many gallant exploits in the Mediterranean in the year preceding, and particularly for the capture of La Ligurienne from under a battery near Marseilles. He subsequently commanded the Canopus at St. Domingo. The gallant commander in chief hoists his flag'in the Vindictive, 50; frigate. - Portsmouth. !ollUn it ‘ i t .96 0 . v tbos 9 (13st /II 1 oug lil aid /° gr. by ice 1- ed lo ins irriea' ttee } P . 're inn I: ced i n ew 111 wish to co Pe rs is.o3/ 0; tb o org 6 :; ere ` r Th ° need , ited to to n— ro Ir cb• t w os' rsig re a l/4 ,ncle r ell ' Ase is Pe ral csr. ..,,, L0 3 .4Y1:6i4, SATURDAY EVEN NG, DECEMBER 2B 1344 . MONEY MARKET and CITY NEWS. FROM Till iIIoRNING perrriS F THIS DAt. CITY, FRIDAY EVENING. TIMES.—We have received a communication from Messrs. Rogers, Olding, Co., stating that the night fol lowing the robbery committed oti their premises, Mr. Hobler dispatched his prititipal clerk to the Continent, to stop the circulation of the stolen notes, and that that gentleman has just returned, after having visited the chief commercial cities of France, Belgium, Holland, and Germany, in all of which the various bankers, money changers, tavern-keepers, and traders have been served with notices, legally authenticated, so as to render any one of them " who," as it is said, " might unfortunately change a note " personally liable for the loss of the amount. The communication concludes by adding— " Independent of this, the assistance of the British Con sulates and police of each town has been readily and extensively given in furtherance of the object." The gentleman who undertook this task must have had a very arduous duty to perform, and the only wonder is, how, in the course of so short a time, he was able to surmount all difficulties, and get the entire communities of the places he visited so securely within the grasp of the law as the statement above alluded to would lead us to suppose. It therefore appears that no clue to the robbery or the disposal of the proceeds has at present been traced. One thing is commonly noticed in respect to this matter, which has afforded much room for com ment, and that is, that little or nothing is heard of the activity of the Forresters in the business. Annexed are seine remarks made by a correspondent on the new Royal Exchange, which, aa they refer to an inconvenience capable of a very simple and easy remedy, will no doubt have attention paid to them : " On a visit to the Royal Exchange I was astonished to find the entrances were without doors, and that a sharp current of air must be produced even on a calm day. It is true the old building had four entrances in the same position, but they were protected by doors, which were occasionally shut, and Sweeting's-alley and Castle court have vanished into open space. " Pray call the attention of the authorities and the public to this evil, and I am sure its cure will save the lives of many." The returns of the circulation of the private and joint stock banks in England and Wales for the four weeks ending Nov. 16, 23, and 30, and Dec. 7, as published in the Gazettes, when added together, form the aggregate cir culation of the month ending t he 7th December instant, and give an average circulation as follows : Private Banks £4,437,557 Joint-stock banks Total average of private notes in Eng land and Wales On a comparison with the return for the month ending the 9th of November, this shows— A decrease in the notes of private banks of £197,484 A decrease in the notes of joint stock banks of 141,611 Total decrease last month £339,095 And as compared with the month ending the 9th of December, 1843, it shows— A decrease in the notes •f private banks of £95,491 A decrease in the notes of joint-stack banks of 82,473 Total decrease as compared with the same period last year ... The fixed issue allowed by law to the private and joint-stock banks in England and Wales, as given in the Banking Almanack for 1845, is as follows ; Private banks allowed to issue £5,153,407 Joint-stock banks allowed to issue Total £8,648,853 From a comparison of this statement with the above monthly averages, it appears that the Private banks are below their allowed issue £715,850 Joint-stock banks below their allowed issue 416,886 Total below the fixed issue £1,132,736 A few banks hare made arrangements for issuing Bank of England notes since the publication of their fixed issue in the Gazettes, and this causes the fixed amount as quoted monthly in the Bankerb' Magazine to be somewhat under the limit above stated. HERALD.—Money continues in great abundance in proportion to the demand, and first, and oven a good deal of what is usually considered second-class paper, is discounted daily below the Bank of England rate. The consequence is, that all descriptions of solid secu rities are buoyant, and, as customary in such a state of things, speculators take the advantage, and extend the stimulus to many that hare no solid foundation whatever. CHRONICLE.—An opinion is entertained amongst those interested in the proposed lines of railway, that the Government intends to issue a Crown commission, for the purpose of instituting an investigation, by commis sioners possessed of adequate practical knowledge of rail way science, into the merits of each line, including the probable cost of construction, taking into view the loca lities through which they would pass, the public advan tages which would result from their formation, the in fluence which they would produce on capital invested in the competing lines, the reduction in fares, and all rela tive contingencies. The adoption of such a step would be tantamount to a supersedence of the functions of the Rail way Department of the Board of Trade, and would be attended with an inconvenient delay and suspension of railway business in Parliament, as the various Commit.- tees, to whom the immense mass of applications for new lines must be referred, could not usefully proceed with their labours until such time as the report of the supposed commission was placed before them. The appointment of such a commission has, probably, been suggested by the apprehensions entertained respecting the fitness and qualifications of the gentlemen forming the railway department of the Board of Trade, to discharge with efficiency the im portant duties confided to them. The reasons which have caused so much anxiety in the public mind on this subject are now familiar to those interested. As they do not take due evidence, nor can be supposed to have examined personally the districts through which the new lines are to be made, it is to be feared that a report emanating from such sources cannot be the groundwork for solid and impartial legislation. These objections are not without weight. A report from the Board of Trade hostile to any of the numerous competing lines, either as respects the sufficiency of the estimates, the engineering difficulties or other points, adopted without personal exa mination, and based upon no other evidence than the plans and sections, or other voluntary information given by its promoters, may be attended with much injustice. A fa vourable report upon any particular line, grounded upon such incomplete materials, may be also equally unjust, and it is not enough to know that such injustice or de fects in the report of the Board of Trade may be reme died before a Committee of the House of Commons. The parties concerned have that tribunal open to them, it is true, but they would appear before it in a disabled state, and would incur much labour and expense in re covering their position. But the railway department of the Board of Trade are ; no doubt ; perfectly aware of all this, and will make it their study to avoi4 any statement in their report which is not based upon corroborative facts. They must set furth in the preamble of their report, or in att appendix ; a succinct account of the data on which it is drawn up, and should it appear that their conclusions are not warranted by the premises, full oppor tunity will be afforded to those who may have reason to complain, to take steps in order to get the obnoxious passages expunged. It would be premature to condemn the powers granted to the board of Trade with respect to railways, before we have seen how they perform their work. That they are entrusted With extraordinary powers, and that immense interests are intolted in the stakes which they have in their hands; is a truth well known, and must hate impressed those who hold the scales with a deep sthse Of the responsibility which attaches to their office. There is every reason to suppose that.they are fully alite to its importance ; and we shall therefore ab stain from pre-judging the manner in which they may execute the duties entrusted to their keeping. If no such tribunal had been established ; had no preliiiiinary forms, at least in the shape of provisional registration and de posits on shares, been enforced by Parliament, it is very plain that; during the prevailing thirst for speculation whiCh hits ekisted for sothe tithe past; thilltitudes of vi sionary schemes and bubble companies would have been set on foot, and a monetary crisis, accompanied by the usual disastrousrevulsions ; would have been experienced, which has been pretented j and fot this escape from panic the public is much indebted to the stringent action of the Legislature; through the authority assigned to the Board of Trade Di the last session of Parliament. ABUSED PORTUGAL. TO THE EDITOR OP THE SUN. SlR,—Although an Englishman, conceding to no one a greater love of his country than I am proud to cherish, I have resided one half of my life in Portu gal, from whence I have but lately returned; and I hate been much surprised to observe how much of fallacy and misrepresentation, in respect of the affairs of Portugal, finds its way into the newspapers, which I ascribe to the proneness of correspondents to disre gard the golden rule of " the Duke," which enjoins that no one meddle with subjects that he does not understand. Considering that long experience of the commerce of Portugal may exempt me from the danger of any undue meddling, I venture to addre•is you on the sub ject of that trade, in respect of which, above all other trades, it appears to me that the British public has been most grossly abused; and I am induced so to address you by the strange assertions of the City Article of The Sun of Tuesday last. That article complains that the Queen of Portugal, in the recent speech closing the Cortes at Lisbon, said not one word on the subject of any alteration in the tariff duties, as affecting: British manufactures ; and further pretends that " Great Britain bas made con cessions in favour of the wines and other produce of Portugal, whose Government seems doggedly disposed to make no return." As to concessions in favour of the wines of Portu gal, the only one ever made was in the year 1703, when in return for the admission to consumption in Portugal of British woollens, the wines of Portugal were favoured by a reduction of one-third from the rate of duty paid on the wines of France. But no further concession was made in favour of Portugal wines by the treaty of 1810, which opened the vast market of Brazil to British commerce at a time that the " Continental system" gave a tenfold value to any new market for our manufactures, which were admitted then, for the first time, into Brazil at the low duty of 15 per cent. ad valorem, while 30 per cent. was levied on the manufactures of all other countries. By that treaty Great Britain enjoyed for a con siderable number of years a monopoly of the Portugal and Brazilian markets, which she knew not how to appreciate, but became enamoured of a restless theory, professing, and only professing, the principles of free trade, which her practice broadly contradicts, from a want of courage to fellow out those great principles. In 1831 the partial advantage formerly conceded to Portugal wines was wholly rescinded, when those of France were allowed to enter at nominally the same rate of duty ; but this apparent equalisation of the duty has the effect of a most onerous differential duty on the wines of Portugal. The present impost of ss. 9d. per gallon is only 45 per cent. on the value of the wines :of France, the consumption of which is confined to the rich and the luxurious ; while it amounts to 150 per cent. on the value of Portugal wines, which are chiefly consumed by the industrious middling classes, who appreciate the invigorating quality of the generous wines of Oporto, which in spite of all the caprice of fashion, and the suggestions of prejudice, are still acknow ledged to be the best tonic and restorative for the sick. Thus it will be seen that Portugal wines, so far from enjoying any favour, are actually charged with more than treble the amount of duty paid on the wines of France, on a comparison of their respective market value! Notwithstanding this crying injus tice, Portugal still admits at feasible rates of duty not only the produce of the British fisheries, of which she imports 12,000 tons annually from Newfoundland, but almost every article, from the rudest to the most finished of our manufactures; while France, on the contrary, almost confines her importations to the very first conversions of our industry, such as linen, yarns, cotton-twist, pig-iron, cake-copper, and coals, so indispensable to her own manufactures, and klarge amount of our invaluable machinery. The great increase of our exports to France, con sisting chiefly of such articles as I have enumerated, so far from being a subject of gratulation, only proves her gigantic progress in the march of competition, which in competition with the Zollverem threatens to exclude us from the markets of Europe; while the growing industry of the United States is already un dermining our commerce in the Pacific and Eastern Oceans. After this statement, the accuracy of which I am prepared to demonstrate, I would ask, where is the justice or the policy of these unceasing attempts to excite in the public mind a prejudice against Por tugal, whose trade with us is pining for want of those reciprocal modifications of tariffs which were stipulated for by the treaty of 1842 ? Do the markets of Portugal become less important to us, in proportion as hostile competition is extending itself on every hand ; or, will her harbours be less valuable to our naval interests and security, when prostrate Spain shall have closed her ports, and the Mediterranean be converted into a French lake? I would desire to meddle with nothing beyond my province, and to confine myself to the mere question of trade ; but the correspondent of The Sun bas made a sickly appeal to the " sympathy due to an Old Ally, who at a vast expense of blood and treasure defended the interests of Portugal." 1 shall only reply to such puling remarks by re ferring to the Treaty of Alliance, offensive and defen sive, which still subsists between England and Por tugal ; and without ascribing the magnitude of our efforts in Portugal to the obligations of that treaty, I would ask, whether any other theatre could have been found, more favourable than the Peninsula, whereon to enact at a distance from our own shores, the horrors of war, in defence of British interests, against the overwhelming influence of Napoleon ? I would presume to ask " the Duke," whose love of manly truth is so well known, and who can best answer whether our allies of Portugal then proved faithless ; or, whether the generous bands that tra versed her mountains to co-operate in the rescue of the Peninsula failed to contribute to his triumphs on the plains of Salamanca and Vittoria? Let him say, who so long suffering under every privation as the Portuguese soldier ; who so docile under foreign command, and so enduring under the rigour of an unwonted discipline, which might have been considered the more intolerable as being foreign ; who braver than they whose generous emulation so largely contributed to that devotion and efficiency of the allied army, which enabled the Duke to say " he could go anywhere and do anything with such an army," with which at length he dissipated the op pressors of the Peninsula I Finally, I would presume to ask his Grace calmly to reconsider the claims of Portugal to a more equitable regulation of her commerce with England, and to inspire his colleagues with the desire to do justice to such claims, with more of generosity rather than of neglect, in proportion as the claimant is thought to be weak and powerless. The Government of Portugal has made every effort to meet the claims of her foreign creditors, while her domestic creditors, the unhappy holders of the Go vernment paper-money, which formerly constituted one-half of the circulation of Portugal, receive neither principal nor interest upon an enormous amount of that paper-money, which was withdrawn from circu lation in 1833, upon a promise of redemption which has never been fulfilled. It requires only better information, and a more dispassionate consideration of the conduct and affairs of Portugal, to ;arrive at a conviction of her good faith towards England, as evinced by the preceding statement, which should be viewed in contrast with the conduct of the repudiating States, before we exact from suffering and abused Portugal the full penalty of our bond. MERCATOR. London, Dec. 26, 1844. QUESTION OF PRIVILEGE. IMPORTANT DECISION RELATING TO THE ROYAL RESIDENCE AT WINDSOR. WINDSOR, FRIDAY EVENING.—For a period of up wards of four hundred i years, persons residing within the precincts of Windsor Castle have not only been consi dered to be privileged from arrest for debt, but their goods and chattels have also been considered quite as i secure as their persons from civil process. From a knowlcdge of this fact, many "gentlemen in difficulties," acid ladies too, are constantly in the habit of taking houses or securing lodgings within the privileged circle. A short time since, however, a gentleman who resided in the Regent's Park took up his abode at one of the military knight's houses, and about a fortnight ago be *as visited by one of the officers of the Sheriff of Berks, and arrested (notwithstanding the privilege he claimed as a resident within the Royal precincts) for a judgment debt amounting to between 3,000/. and 4,0001. The officer immediately conveyed his prisoner to the county gaol at Heading. This was considered to be an ex ceedingly bold step on the part of the officer, and in the very teeth, too, of a rule which had been observed in similar cases for centuries before. We understand, however, that the sheriff was indemnified from all consequences which might result from it. The defendant, immediately after his arrest, acting upon the advice of his solicitor, took out a summons calling upon the plaintiff and the sheriff to show cause, before one of the Barons of the Exchequer, in which Court the proceedings were taken, why he should not, be discharged out of custocy, upon the ground of the arrest having been illegal, the defendant having been captured within the (privileged) precincts of a royal pa lace. The case was heard by Mr. Baron Rolfe, in cham bers, on Friday, the 20th inst., Mr. Carrington and Mr. J. J. Williams appearing as counsel for the defendant, in support of the summons, and Mr. Taprel as counsel for the plaintiff. The sheriff 'appeared by his attorney. An immense number of authorities were cited by coun sel on both sides, in support of the cases of their respec tive clients. The arguments lasted nearly the whole day. At their conclusion, the Learned Baron desired to have handed to him the authorities referred to and affidavits sworn on both side's, and also the summons, stating that he should deliver his judgment on the following Monday. On Monday last the whole of the parties attended at Mr. Baron Rolle's chambers, when the Learned Baron stated- that he had examined all the authorities which had been referred to by the Learned Counsel for tle plaintiff and defendant, and also the affidavits which have been put in,'and that his decision was that the sum ' mons be discharged. POLISH FRONTIER, DEt. 14.—Sotne time ago a report was spread iii the. German . newspapers of arrests which were said to have taken place in the kingdotti of Poland, and of an extensive conspiracy there. A letter which we have just received, from a quartet to he depended on, gates satisfactory accounts on this stibject. It states that Russian Commissioners are engaged at VeySeb, a ittissian Polish frontier town, in endeavouring to trace a revolutionary asso ciation among the inferior Polish nobility. This association is stated to have ramification even in Cau caSia; IthiCh trOhld COnfifm and account for the state ment lately given in a German parer, that a &Milder able number of Poles had embarked in an Italian port, with the intention to proceed to Circassia. The Russian authorities describe the Matter as follows : Two Polish noblemen, P--- and A--, living as fugitives, tinder false nettle, oh the frontier of Russia and Poland, were engaged in smuggling foreign books into Poland. M. Von Suchorzewiski, a landowner on the frontier, had received from Paris three packets, which these noblemen thought of smuggling into Poland. They arrived at Peysen, the town above-mentioned, opposite the Prussian frontier town of Witzemburg, on the 20th of October, at two in the afternoon. They remained there in company of the frontier officers till midnight. They were certtinate iti reaching the Polish town of Landeck, where they breakfasted, and were enjoying, their cigars, when an inspector of the excise came in, and, smelling the cigars, said to himself, " These are Prussian cigars," and immediately caused search to be made in the carriage of the two noblemen. The result was, that the three packets of books and pamphlets were discovered, and the carriage, with its contents, the horses, and the coachman, were taken. The two noblemen escaped, and it is not known whither they have fled. Many noblemen have been arrested and carried in chains to different parts. It is said that noblemen in the Prussian territory are implicated. We regret to learn that his Grace the Duke of Beaufort has been seriously indisposed during the last few days with an attack of gout. The Noble Duke. has been obliged to remain at Hampton Court Palace since Monday last, the day on which his lamented relative, Lady Anne Culling Smith, was interred at Egham. The defendant (who, it is stated, intends to bring the whole matter before the full Court, next term) conse quently still remains in Reading gaol. Mr. Baton decision of Monday last has caused great consternation on the minds of those persons who had previously fondly imagined that they were living in a state of privileged security. The royal residence at Windsor is no longer privileged from the intrusion of an officer of the Sheriff of the county. THE CHURCH. TO THE EDITOR OF TEE SUN. Sis,—Thanks are dtieio - yoiifor keeping the Church question constantly before the public, and for the zeal and moderation with which you have written. The intense interest I take in the subject forces me to write to you, although I am aware that the reading of past years has faded from my memory, and that I have not at my command any leisure for research. Longing as I do, not for the destruction of the Church, but for its thorough reform and con sequent extension, I cannot keep silence at a time when the imbecility of some, and the tyranny of others are encouraging the enemies of the Church to raise the cry " Delenda est Carthago." The controversy which now agitates the country, and which must before long rend the Church, is not a mere rag question, it is not a contest for black or white gowns, otherwise it might easily be settled by one of two compromises—the grey or the magpie. It is not a question of candles nor candlesticks. The question does not concern the points of the compass, nor is it one that can be solved by the nautical skill of Blomfield. The question is What is the Rule of Faith?" and before this question is answered it will become plain to all men that what we at present in courtesy call the Church of England is not in any intelligible sense an Ecclesia. Should the bishops meet, summoned by the Archbishop of Canterbury, any decision of theirs will be no more binding upon us laymen than one made by the assembled sextons. The Church at present has neither head, hand, or voice, to think, to act, or even to speak. Each of the two contending parties can prove that their views are those of the Church by print, either red or black. History would explain this, and show that the unamalgamating materials of the unfinished work were derived from places which yield only arti cles of antagonistic qualities. We have taken the right of private judgment from Geneva, and the au thcrity of the priests from Rome. You, Sir, cannot deny that the Evangelical party are sustained by the Thirty-nine Articles. Lord Chatham long since de clared what was nearly tantamount in the House of Lords. It cannot be necessary to write a line in proof of the fact, that the Thirty-nine Articles are in favour of the views of the Evangelical and popular party. But it is of great importance to show that the Church of England supports the claims of those who would lord it over us as priests. It i , essential to every one who would judge correctly on this point to pay attention to this mischievous and ambiguous word, whereby they tamper with us in a double sense. Priest is our translation of " hiereus" and of presbyter. Heathenism had its hiereus—Judaism had its hiereus; but no Protestant Church can allow that any of its ministers are hiereus.* It is not justice to the igno rant to call them priests, although this word is often taken as a translation of "presbyteri." I will now add a few remarks to show that those clergymen who call upon us to obey them as hiereus are justified by the Church of England. In confirmation of the assertion, let me call your attention to the absolutions which cannot be given by any clergyman who is not a priest. In unison with the claims of priestly power are the views of the Lord's supper taught by the Church, that' "the body and blood of Christ are verily and indeed taken and received by the faithful." In unison with the claims of the hiereus is the whole of the rubric in the Com munion service. Duport, in his Greek translation of the Prayer-book published in 1665, translates the word priest by hiereus. The hiereus consecrates the elements, lays his hand upon all the bread to be used, and upon the vessels containing the wine to be used. If more is required a new consecration. If any con secrated bread or wine is left it must not be taken away, but reverently consumed by the hiereus and the communicants. No wonder the communicants kneel at such a supper. To multiply proofs that the Church of England presents to the people all her clergymen who are in full orders, not only as presbyteri, but also as hiereus, is surely needless ; but it is very painful to dwell on matters where we are tempted by frauds and decep tions to speak with levity on topics associated with the memory of Jesus, and with " the glad tidings for the poor." There has too long existed in our Established Church a compromise between two great but opposite principles, and I will conclude what I have to say on the subject, by expressing a wish that issue may be joined, and that the year 1845 may witness the down fall of priestly power in our establishment, and that the Church may become a Church not in name, but in reality—not as some would have it the lergy solely, but the people also united in faith and love, and zealous for good works. There are two other questions ccnnected with the Church on which I should be glad to write to you, but I must delay until the present controversy has prepared the minds of men for Church Reform. In the mean time, I beg you, Sir, to call upon Lord John Russell. We have not in this country what is so mush needed, a minister for the affairs of instruction. His Lordship is now out of office, but enjoys the confidence of moderate men of all parties. He would earn the gratitude of his countrymen throughout all generations, and bless our vast colo nies as well as our native land, if, without party poli tics, he would devote himself to the infinitely im portant questions of the Church and the school. Sir, your obedient servant, AN ENGLISH MECHANIC. * The word " hiereus" does not occur in any one of St. Paul's Epistles. DARTMOUTH ELECTION. DARTMOUTH, FRIDAY, FIVE O'CLOCK.—This election has terminated in the return of Mr. Somes. The re turning officer made the official declaration immediately after the close of the poll, when the numbers were— Mr. Somes 125 Mr. Moffatt Majority for Mr. Somes ... THE GUANO TRADE.—Advices received in the City to-day, from Ichaboe, state that previous to the 23d of October, several vessels unable to procure cargoes had left for India. Ships were paying 1L a-ton for guano, taking their turn with the other vessels in load ing, and their own crews employed in shipping it. Arrivals still continued. The following is a list of some of them which arrived previous to the 18th of October: —'The Tom Cringle, of London ; Fifteen, barque Hope, and schooner Hope, of Liverpool ; Hampton, of Wick low; Millman, of Belfast; Ferris, Butterford; Claremont, Tremayne, and Panay, --. Fiats AT BRAINTREE. — The itihabitants of Brain tree and Bucking were greatly alarmed on Tuesday night, about nine o'clock, by the cry of " Fire," it being discovered that a thatched barn, situate in Panfield-lane, in the parish of Bocking, and very near to the back premises of Mr. Smee, coach-builder, and the Horse and Groom public-house, was in flames. The engines were promptly conveyed to the spot, and with a good supply of water from a pond near, and pumps on the neighbouring premises, they were most efficiently worked, but by eleven o'clock the barn and its con tents—a quantity .of straw—were reduced to ashes, and all apprehension of an extension of the damage ceased. At one time fears were entertained that the flames would communicate with Mr. Smee's premises, but most providentially the wind lay in a direction to carry them from that quarter, and no other buildings were near enough to be in any danger. A small wheat stack, only a few yards from the barn, was preserved by a plentiful discharge of water from the engine and the indefatigable exertions of those present. The building destroyed was the property of the late Mr. English's trustees, and is insured in the Sun-office ' • it was in the occupation of Mr. Durrant, of the White Hart Inn, who is insured in the Essex Equitable. There is every reason to believe that the fire was occasioned by an incendiary. .—Chelms ford Chronicle. . . A burglary of a most daring character was com mitted a few days ago, in the residence of Miss Cham bers, of Radway, near Kineton, on the borders of War wickshire and Worcestershire. The villains, who were three in number, with blackened faces, and armed with pistols, having made a forcible entrance into the house, two of them proceeded to Miss Chambers's apartment, whilst the third kept watch at the stair-foot door, leading to the apartments of the servants, who were disturbed, and whose brains he threatened to blow out if they made any noise. The same threat was made to Miss Chambers by the two men who entered her room ; they then pro ceeded to rifle the house, and carried off cash, plate, and other property to a considerable amount. A reward of 201. has been offered for the ap p rehension u and conviction of the offenders. — Ten Towns Messenger. pOGREAT STEEPLE-CUASE FOR ONE HUNDRED UNDS.—On Thursday a very large concourse of per sons assembled at the race-ground of the Rosemary Branch, Peckam, to witness the race between the two celebrated steeple-chase horses, Moonraker and Robin Hood, the former belonging to Mr. Griffin, and the latter to Mr. Ball. Large sums of money were specu lated on the race. The distance to be ran over was one mile, and to clear five gates, four feet high. At the start Robin Hood took the lead, and cleared the first gate in an admirable manner, closely followed by his opponent. They ran nearly together till nearing the third gate, when they increased the speed, and Robin Hood, in taking a flying leap at this gate, fell with great violence. The jockey of Moonraker availed himself of this advan tage, went ahead, and rode in the winner in a canter. The backers of Robin Hood appeared much disappointed at such an unsatisfactory termination of the race.. The Marquis of Lansdowne is recovering from his recent accident to his foot, and from the attack of gout with which the Noble Marquis has been troubled. His Lordship is entertaining a family circle at Bowood during the holidays, including the Countess of Kerry and her youthful daughter, the Lady Mary Fitzmaurice. The Earl and Countess of Shelburne are staying at Lans downe House. COURT C IitCULAR, WiNnson,VRIDAy.--TTio Earl of Aberdeen and the Ron. J. tool: their departure from the Castle this morning. His Excellency the Mexican Minister transacted business yesterday at the Foreign-office. Lord and Lady Franeis ClofclUil left Farrance's Hotel s Delgravt-street, yesterday morning, for Dublin Castle. The Queen and Prince Albert, attended by the Countess of Charlemont, Lady in Waiting; Lady Caroline Cocks, Maid of Honour in Waiting; Viscount Hawarden, Lord in Waiting; Lord Charles Wellesley (Clerk Marshal), Equerry in Waiting; and Major- General Sir Edward Bowater, Equerry in Waiting to Prince Albert, left Windsor Castle at a quarter be fore three o'clock yesterday afternoon, for town. The royal party proceeded from the Castle in their carriages and four, escorted by a party of Royal Horse Guards, commanded by Lieutenant Grant, to the Slough station, and were conveyed by a special train on the Great Western Railway to the Paddington terminus. The royal party arrived at Buckingham Palace at ten minutes before four o'clock, escorted by a party of Lancers. Her Majesty and Prince Albert were in the first carriage, Lord Charles Wellesley and Sir Edward Bowater were in the next carriage, and the Countess Charlemont, Lady Caroline Cocks, and Viscount Hawarden, were in the next carriage and four. The Queen and Prince Albert honoured Drury lane Theatre with their presence last evening. The royal suite included the Countess of Charle:nont, Lady Caroline Cocks, Viscount Hawarden, Lord Charles Wellesley, and Sir Edward Bowater. COVENT-GARDEN THEATRE. Mr. Laurent seems determined to manage this theatre with spirit during his short season. His patrons cannot, at all events, complain of lack of novelty. On the opening night he produced a new pantomime, last evening we had two first appear ances at this theatre, and to-night young Henry Betty makes his debut in Hamlet. The play last evening was the Hunchback, with Mr. Rae as Master Walter, and Mr. Hield as Sir Thomas Clifford. Both these gentlemen are from the Liverpool Theatre. Mr. Rae possesses a good voice, and is in person not unlike Vandenhoff. He is evidently an experienced actor, and in second-rate parts will be an acquisition to the theatre. There was nothing very striking about his delineation of Master Walter, but on the whole it was a creditable, even performance. Mr. Iliad seemed somewhat nervous. His conception of the character of . Sir Thomas Clifford was good, but he hardly gave himself fair play. His acting would have been all the better had it been more energetic. The scene with Julia in the fourth act, for instance, was sadly wanting in intensity. There is, however, great promise about Mr. Hield, and he may, if he pleases, become an accomplished actor. Our old favourite, Mrs. Brougham, appeared as Julia. This was her first appearance since her return from Ame rica, and we are happy to say she appeared in excel lent health and spirits, and all the better for her transatlantic trip. The pantomime concluded the evening's entertainment, and went off gloriously. There was a very good attendance in the boxes, while the pit and galleries were crowden to excess. ROYAL POPYTECHNIC INSTI TUTION. Never, since the establishment of this superlative amongst the magnificent institutions of instruction and entertainment which enrich the greatest metro polis in the world, have its ample hall, its galleries full of the treasures of art and nature gathered from all parts of the earth, from pole to pole, and from the surface to the deepest bowels—its commodious thea tres and rich saloons—been so thronged with curious and admiring visitors, as they have been from hour to hour since the commencement of the present holi days. If there be any of our readers who have not yet passed a day of the most profitable and elevating amusement in this at once grand and beautiful temple of science and art, we will assure them, that if London contained no other attraction, it would repay a journey from the remotest part of the island, to enjoy the riches of the Royal Polytechnic Institution. We have o n former occasions mentioned the valuable and most interesting collections of objects in natural history and of artificial productions—the vast variety of working models, machines, steam-engines, cotton mills, railway carriages, steam-boats, and the most elaborate specimens of ingenious manufacture and scientific engineering. The exhibition of the diving bell, and the exploits of the very, very patient diver (who, by the bye, is not quite neglected by his ad mirers young and old) seem t,,) be nearly the most attractive of the varied and really wonderful subjects of contemplation which are here presented in close succession from hour to hour, or rather from minute to minute. Amongst the most remarkable of the novelties recently added are the eloquent and learned lectures of Mr. Horne on the Music of England, illustrated by choice and delightful performance of the most appropriate specimens ; and a very ingenious and inter/sting invention of Mr. Childs, called the " Chromatrope," from the extraordinary and beau tiful changes and combinations of colours which it presents. The Dissolving Views are new, and very beautiful. Mr. Longbottom's Proteoscope and Physio scope, with the hydro-electric machine, and the microscope, afford fresh varieties of entertainment and information alike to the merest idle and the most seriously inquisitive. The lectures of Dr. Ryan and Professor tiachhoffner could not be praised too highly, not merely for their profound learning, but also, and if possible more, for the clear, concise, and elegant style in which the difficulties of science are made attractive and intelligible to the young and the unin structed. The experiments by which those lectures are illustratted cannot be observed without delight and admiration. On the whole, it is most gratifying to witness that so many thousands can appreciate, and are eager to avail themselves of, the great good which is here afforded them. DRURY-LANE THEATRE.—The Queen and Prince Albert, attended by a numerous suite, honoured this theatre with their presence last evening, to witness the performance of Harlequin and Robinson Ct-toot , , which is the molt successful harlequinade that has been produced for years. GENERAL COURT-MARTIAL—CHA i rIiAat, DEC. 27. —Yesterday the following sentence Cf it general dotirt martial Watt promhtgated in this garrison by order of the commattdaht, Sir Thomas Wiltshire K.C.B. The Com mander-in-Chief having had the honour to lay before the Queen the proceedings of a general eoutt-inartial held at Chatham-barracks eh the ed of Novehtber last, for the trial of Jatnefi Bents, No. 1,243 of the 68th Regiment, who was arraigned upon six distinct charges of Insubordination and outrageous conduct, in offering violence to Assistant-Surgeon C. Irving; of the 68th Light Infantry, and alto to the Hospital Sergeant, James Ireton, of the same cores and tier rotting the sentry over_ thY hospital door at Walmer-barraelts, and ab senting himself from the regimental hospital whilst under medical treatment, and not returning until brought back by an escort the settle day in a state of intoxication, being the fottrth time of his being dettnk Within twelve months, thereby notittituting an act of habitual drunkenness ; upon which charges the Court came to the following de cision :—The Court having duly weighed tied Considered the evidence in support of the prosecution ; together with the prisoner's plea of guilty to the seeond charge, as well as what he has 114(11101d anti stated in his defence, that the prisoner, private James Barnes, is guilty of the whole of the charges against him, and which being in breach of the articles oewar, does itt %drake thtretif sen tence him, the said prisoner ; private James Barnes, to be transported as a retort for the term of se%'en years. Her Majesty Wee pleased to appeoire died confirm the finding and eentente of the Court, and to command that the prisoner be transported accordingly beyond the seas to such placcas her Majesty, by the advice of her Privy Council, shall think fit to appoint and direct.—.l. Mac donald, Adjutant-ileneral," The prisoner was handed over to an escort of one sergeant, and two privates of the 11th Regiment, ana marched for tiravesenci en route for the Pepitentiary at Miltbank. The prisoner's regi ment it, lying at Dover. A Belgian paper mention that Wilschozk, of Archangel, who is admitted to be the most eltpert skater ii Russia, had, arrived in rii.ttglS, and was to exhibit his talent on Sunday (the 15th), on the basin of St. Josse ien-Noode. Wilschozk enjoys a vast reputation in St. Petersburgh, where, in the art of skating, so highly cul tivated in that capital, he is acknowledged to be without a rival, In 1838 he Woh a match in skating against a reindeer, on the sledge-drive on the Neva. This race was won in the presence of the Czar, who on that occa sion presented to Wilschozk a magnificent pair of skates, set with precious stones Since that time he has, by dint of the meat laborious practice, attained such perfec tion that he can perform ail sorts of feats and gambols on the ice.' He can skate on all fours—that is to say, having skates on his hands as well as his feet, at the same time imitating perfectly the movements of the polar white bear, whose habits he has had the opportunity of observing in the frigid regions of hit native country. Court Journal. A SC/EXTIVrc Is a remarkable fact that the tolegalla (an Australian bird, somewhat resembling our domestic fowl) does not hatch its eigg's by incuba tion. in order to effect this object it assimilates in some degree to the practice of the ostrich, yet upon a totally different principle. The toletalla collects toge ther an immense quantity of tlicaying vegetable matter as a depoSitory for the eggs, and then trusts to the heat engendered by the piocess of decomposition for the hatehir,g them. The heap employed for this purpose is (. - :ollected by The birds during several weeks previously to the period of laying ; it varies in size from two to four cart loads, and is of a perfectly pyramidal form. The construction of the Mound is not the work of one pair of birds, tut is effected by the united labours of several ; the lame site Appears, from the great size and the entire deco-- to fo' the birds adding a fresh s in succession , *everal years h evasion previously to laying is on eitg g - ' /supply of materials the lower part, to be resorted 1 . - • ...over, ~,..,110Sitioh of LICENSED VICTUALLERS' PRO POSED CONFERENCE AT NOTTINGHAM. (From the Birmingham Advertiser.) An important meeting of delegates, appointed by the licensed victuallers throughout the kingdom, at the suggestion of the Licensed Victuallers' Protection Society of Birmingham, and other societies of many large boroughs, will assemble at the central town of Nottingham, on Tuesday, the Bth January next, for' the purpose of determining on an address to both Houses of Parliament, and of adopting such mea sures as may fully expose the monstrous injustice certain contemplated changes in the laws relating to their trade would inflict upon them, and of organis ing such plans as may tend best to preserve their interests. "* It appears that two most important innovations (for such they are) are sought to be effected with respect to matters of vital consequence to this great branch of trade, and we feel called upon to make a few re marks thereon. In the first place, then, it is an nounced " that it is in contemplation to apply the clauses of the Metropolitan Police Act to large towns." The effect which the extension of this Act to all large boroughs will produce, has been thus briefly, and, in our opinion, correctly : described:— The peculiarity of the Metropolitan Act, as affect ing the interests of the trade in country towns, is this —that all houses within the boroughs proposed to be included, must be shut up at twelve o'clock on Satur day night, and not to be opened until one on Stfinday afternoon ; thus driving persons requiring accommo dation during that period to coffee-houses, or others of a disreputable character, or to such as are situated without the borough, and not within the jurisdiction of the magistrate. The effect of this must be obvious —it will deprive the established trade of a consider able portion of its fair and legitimate business, and have no other result to any party than the injury of the present proprietor of houses situated Within boroughs. We give place to no public journalist in our advo- , cacy of the proper observance of the Sabbath, and, if we thought this measure likely to do away with any portion of its desecration, it should have our warns support. But to us it appears but a choice of evils ; travellers and others (a numerous class, it is to be feared) make this day too often subservient to worldly cares and worldly business, and, unless a general law be passed prohibiting Sunday travelling and Sunday trading in toto, it is idle and worse than useless to at tempt these partial forbiddings. Driven from decent and respectable inns and taverns,,the keepers of which are well known, responsible, and ofteptimes most worthy and conscientious persons—the traveller, the wayfarer, the hungry, and the thirsty, must resort to some coffee-house, or perhaps low place of light and disgraceful character, for the necessary rest or the in dispensable refreshment. Besides, by the law now in force, all licensed places of public entertainment, such as hotels, taverns, &c., are closed during the hours of •Divine service. But, as in immediate connexion with this branch of our argument, and most intimately connected with the working of the prohibitory part to which we have just alluded, what, we ask, will be thought of the following clause, which is also to form a part of the new measure ? It is proposed to empower whosesale dealers; or any persons taking from the Excise the requisite licenses, to sell wines and spirits in so small quan tities as a reputed quart bottle (actually less than three half-pints). Shut out, as would be the case by such an enact ment, from inns and taverns, on the Saturday night and the Sunday morning, the traveller or the public-house visitor, at the very next door could and would be received as a guest, a friend, or relation, and there might legally obtain wines and spirits sufficient to satisfy the wants of nature, or administer to intoxication. Let us here remark, however, that beyond the abuse of the pro posed privilege, the advantage (?) goes not a step further. At these new " wine and spirit, vaults," which would abundantly start into legal existence ire all the squares, streets, and alleys, hamlets, and vil lages in the empire, where would the occasional fre quenters find either proper security or necessary accommodation ? We ask, is the publican, with these fearful odds against him, still to be expected to furnish extra accommodation at all hours ?, Is no reduction contemplated in the amount at present paid for his licenses ? Are all his burdens to remain ? Are soldiers still to be billetted upon him ? and is he to fight against a host of fresh opponents and enemies, shackled as before ? Leaving out of the question the moral effect of opening a multitude of new gin-shops in every quar ter, without requiring the sanction of the local ma gistrates, it is a fact well known that, from the arti cles wines and spirits (both, let it be remembered, in a cold, wet, and uncertain climate like ours, in con stant requisition) :is derived a very considerable por tion of the profits of the licensed victuallers:-..T0 re duce these without a manifest and imperative public want as regards their supply, would be such a wanton exercise of legislative power as ought not, and must not, be tamely submitted to. We are gratified, then, to find thkt, sufficiently alive to this wholesale jeopardis ing of their interests, and determined respectfully, yet firmly, to resist this attempted inroad upon their first sources of legitimate profit, the licensed vic tuallers of England are about to respond to the call of their brethren in Birmingham, Liverpool, Leeds, Sheffield, and other large towns, and send delegates to join them in conference, on Tuesday week, at N ot tingham—then and there to discuss calml.yj s uid dis passionately the proposed new enactments. THE CASE OF POISONING AT ASHFORD. The interest in this extraordinary and mysterious affair appears unabated, and during the whole of yes terday a great number of persons from the adjacent villages, and for several miles round, came to Ashford for the purpose of making inquiries into the sad affair. No public allusion has yet been made, for obvious reasons, to one of the reports that was very generally circulated as to the cause of the deaths of the de ceased persons, viz., that they were occasioned by starvation, and that the union had refused to grant the necessary relief to the deceased and their family ; but it is satisfactory to state, from the most careful inquiry, that there is not the slightest foundation for such a rumour; and it appears that, en the Friday be fore the melancholy occurrence, five quartern loaves were given to them, together with other necessaries. The village of Ashford forms a portion "of the Staines Poor-law Union, and although its labouring population has, in common with that of most other agricultural parishes, suffered a good deal from want of employment, yet it has been very favourably situated by reason of having a most humane and cha ritable minister, and several resident gentlemen who have been most ready to relieve any case of real dis tress in their neighbourhood. One gentleman in particular, Mr. Higlet, has recently behaved in a most munificent manner, having at his own expense given a new suit of clothes to every poor boy in the parish ; and upon a suit being shown to him as a pat tern which was made at the workhouse, he is repre sented to have said that the poor boys should : have no workhouse clothes or any of the same pattern, and he very liberally ordered them a good useful wit, equal, in fact, in quality to those worn by the children of the tradesmen and farmers of the parish. In addition to this act of liberality, it appears that finding the pro ceeds of some land appropriated to charitable pur poses in Ashford was sufficient to provide a little more than two sacks of coals for each poor family, he gave directions that it should be made up three sacks to each, and paid the difference out of his own pocket. Although the deceased man and his wife bore a very indifferent character, they were constant recipients of Mr. Higlet's bounty, and on the day before they were found dead, the woman applied to him and received'_ half-a-crown, so that it is not possible they could have suffered from want of necessaries ; and indeed the children state that they were not, but on the con trary, they had as much foOd as they.wanted. Although the most diligent inquiry has been insti- . tuted, up to the present time no discovery has been made of the purchase of any poisonous ingredient by either of the deceased persons. So tar as the woman is concerned, it does not appear probable that she at all contemplated self-destruction, as on the day before her death she had carefully cleared up the sitting room, and decorated it with holly, intending, as she told a neighbour, to enjoy herself at Christmas. The children of the deceased are still in the union workhouse, but they are both now quite recovered. Sir William Follett, and Lady Follett and family have, according to the last letters, arrived at Rome from their tour in Sardinia and Tuscany. The Learited,Gen tleman is, we are happy to learn, in improved health. Viscount Clifden is also among the recent arrivals in that city. The Countess of Flahault (Baroness Keith and Nairne), lady of the French Ambassador at the Court of Austria, and the Hon. Misses Elphinstone; are • pro longing their sojourn at Hastings, and are not expected to return to Vienna until after the accouchement of her Ladyship's daughter, the Countess a Shelburne. Viscount Barrington, Lord Camoys, Sir Robert Throgmorton, Mr. W. C. Blackstone, ALP. • Mr. Walter Long, M.P.; Mr. C. Russell, AI.P.; and Mr. J. IL Sotheren,ALP., have accepted the stewardship of a ball, which is to take place at the Swindon station-rooms of the great Western Railway, and which ig•i.qterided to be given on the 15th of the ensuing month. The Earl of Eldon has made a donation of 01. to the funds of the Durham Infirmary. The Marquis of Exeter has forwarded 251. to the Mayor of Stamford, to be added to the fund for the relief of the poor of that town during the present incle ment season. The Earl of Glengall, who has been indisposed at Dublin, is now convalescent. The Noble Earl , and . the Countess are not expected to return to Grosvenor-street until the meeting of Parliament. The Earl and Countess of Gainsborough have re cently sent 201. to the Oakham and Barleythorpe clothing club, and last week 20l to the poor of those places, ae well as 204 to the Uppingbam poor. Ili; ads 0 11 . recd