The Sun. — London, England, 1844-12-26 00:00:00

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' - .. ... k.ECII OF THE KING OF THE FRENCH. \v s , nave received from our Paris correspondent a dated Tuesday, five o'clock, communicating a fa I outline of the King of the French's Speech, `, fie s poken at the opening of the Chambers this day, : d h ich we h as t en t o l a y b e f o r e o ur read ers i n f u ll e nce of its correctness :- 4 . he Ring's Speech will commence with an ex -1)11,!, ri of his M a j es ty' s pleasure at again finding 3tl surrounded by the representatives of the Majesty will recal to mind that at the close lut session, in consequence of the instigation Arb er letrly vanquished, but not put down, the 4 1 , 41 Possessions in Africa had been seriously , , e d; that F rance h a d, i n thi s c i rcums t ance , g i ven °f forbearance before she had recourse to hosti ;' b ut when commenced, victory promptly fol s,i the declaration of war ; and yet again his , ; ? , a ment so acted as to afford proof of his desire ' al k El tain peace. e ~,‘ t , u el Qng will felicitate himself and his country 'tie grave erences wh hly arisen a' ti e° his own diff Government hic andad near that of Great ' c 111 had been smoothed away; thanks to the mo kti°4 and goodwill felt by both Governments. , t gi s Maj es t y w ill re f e r t o the generous hospi t,psith which he was surrounded in England, w ith the gracious reception given to him by the of Great Britain. He will express his con k 4ti ° ll s, not only on his own account, but that of .dl -tl trY, that he had been the object of the most p t . ' and flattering attentions, as well upon the 1 the S overe i gn o f E ng l an d as o f th e E ng li s h e ' and he will add his hope that these reciprocal 't guts of - esteem and friendship will contribute a t t tn aintenace of good relations between the two e 4 ?") as w e ll as to general peace, that great of humanity. p` li e Kin g will - announce that the state of credit 'ttlee is most prosperous, and that the budget ' res ellt a surplus of receipts over expenses. ' . h " a t new projects of law relating to railways r l4 de SUbtnitted to the Chambers, while those pre / s ubmitted will be taken up and advanced.: will express his pleasure at the mar his son the Due d'Aumale with a Princess of 1 5 4 ,; 11111, 1 declare his devotion and that of his sons le k u kterest s of France. king will terminate with a general expres )ent7kiting upon th e l o y a l co - o peration of th e fi ttt ' t3 and Peers of France." 1 1 % e(l rrespondent adds that there will not, as he ' l Pi k . e lie d) be any particular reference to Spain or et . fu rther states that M. Billault, already famous a dvocat e of the Nantes slaveholders, will be 14 114 : 11 thPiece of the Opposition, so far as relates to a gainst England, about the right of search 's.:tifiation of Otaheitie. M. Thiers, holding his 'e ,21' virtue of the late French version of the aid Lichfield House compact, in imitation of N 1 , 44 0rd Palmerston swallows his griefs adminis alk. Thiers, as he formerly did Mr. O'Connell's , 1 4 1th 2/f "rang Chronicle received in Paris on Mon- Vtr surprised the public by its peculiar inti "4.*4/1 the tactics arranged in the camp of the ''kk iti °b, and w hi c h, no doubt, were described upon s_ authority.—Herald. - ItTANT NEWS FROM PERU, ..1 14 U , 111 )MENT OF TIIE GOVERNOR'S 't BY A BRITISH MAN-OF-WAR. LIVERPOOL, TUESDAY NIGHT. I : t a sel from South America, bound to Liverpool I L I) tl i - ,` ji lt° the Cove of Cork, where she is detained' Nk t revailing easterly winds. Letters have been L lt tk h ed , °n, to the owners here, representing that an li de - tli had been committed on the British Consul let th ' e tt Arica,. and that the authorities of the town 1100 Parties; the outrage is mentioned as being of .asest description. The British squadron en- Ni th. 'Pel kt blockade of Islay had information of the ;: a thke t° , llll nunicated by Mr. Wilson, the insulted ' , l r kttl Y i d t i, r , her Majes . ty's ship . Talbot was imme aed t i,`.. a tehed to Arica. It is said that water was Nes,h -13 -vessel. Our Peruvian Minister, Mr. t he to be on board the Talbot, and con tne circumstances of the case so flagrant as to s'qd an immediate apology, which was required in of the British Government by the com of the Talbot. The apology being refused, I'l4allot open e d fi re on the Governor ' s residence ; 1 'Wills were thrown in, and this was repre sl,l4s being only a beginning, and that the town bombarded. Thi s promp t mo d e o f d ea li ng '1 , 1 : the auth or iti es t o b etter b e h av i our — an ample S t ' was given, an d t ranqu illit y a t once res t ore d. t t ' t tr kentioned whether any persons were killed tkii a .shell s thrown from the Tal b ot. All the h tesidenta at Arica were well looked after and 11 4 4 11 board previous to opening fire ; but when Were settled they went on shore again. ) I A a. k — TE EARL OF LIMERICK. slie ex, DEC. 23.—The great bell of the Cathe- C„l ot ueen tolling at intervals, and every shop has ta s -e d here since Saturday last, from respect to 41 3 , 1 1 111 4 ° . rY of the late Earl of Limerick, whose for generations back been the great pro tbis vicinity, and benefactors to the city. shed m ains of the Noble Lord were brought from k:i‘ly to Limerick House, on Saturday evening, in V a Parisoned hearse, rawn by six black horses, 41 'hs o ci lsed by a train of carriages. On Sunday e i l L t he body laid in state in the great dining 's;latteiell was covered with black cloth, and illu lk1410,1)Y immense wax tapers placed in silver lea t t zt round the bier. It is computed that be- Ote W o and three thousand respectably-dressed oa,i, ° f Whom many were attired in mourning, It 4 t - "tted to pass through the apartments to view le t t i lliVnials, so great is the attachment felt here tel l i l ';:fierst family, by whom some of our first tket institutiops have been originally founded 44 4 s Wed . )P 4 ° rning, at ten o'clock, a grand funeral ser- N 11 perfo rme d i n t h e C at h e d ra l , t h e di gn i tar i es 4 1'4 1 t "e body at the great western entrance, and '4; letivservice being chanted by the choir. After Ora and anthem in the tedy of the cathedral, IN% el Preceded by a pursuivant bearing the coro ,le,Nl , h . e4 shion, was moved in procession to the Per i r is etthe south aisle, the organ playing Mozart si c e i quiern and was there solemnly deposited 'Se l kre at e of the three preceding . Lords Wentworth. ' l t's', th e 11 , 11 tnber of the nobility and gentry connected c at deceased noblemen were present, or sent Z it g, es to attend at this solemn ceremony, ra`bs e i""oni were Viscountess Glenthworth, Lord Ot el Sir Henry Calder, Bart., Sir Peter Pole, '.„de la Feld, George Russell, Esq., Sir A. Pe, I 3 the Earl of Dunraven, the Earl of ; 111 iam Maunsell, Esq., Sir Richard Bourke, , 1 1 ( k i% 4ti.Celideacon Maunsell, and many others.' t to that the late Earl has left a bequest of e i t ue distrib u t e d amongs t th e diff eren t c h ar iti es 4k, Y. I'b t tt~ b t hi° PAN WELL OF GRENELLE remarkable example of an Artesian well I fs i g :W e t e „ er ltly formed at Grenelle, a suburb at the ter of Paris, where there was a great want ttsf ol , It cost e i g ht y ears o f difficult labour t iv%ei‘ te . The surface at Grenelle consists Pebbles, and fragments of rock, which 't r i: ( k t o deposited by the waters at some . period i t . a ny historical record. Below this layer of ( 4,:etio k n e. he h "43 known to the engineer, by geological 1 „ ) " well as previous experience, that at 1 41"Ikes t a ni and clay would be found, instead of ki,,:kpiene which generally forms the immediately 440st r atuns. He was aware that he had to bore Pik eN, Yards deep before he should arrive at the e„!tee.4ter which flows in the gravel below the 41; 4 0) ett-',4d supplies the wells of St. Ouen, St. ti ky ubsi ti ' Steins. Underneath the marl and the clay 6,k b : seeVods had to perforate pure gravel, plastic t lte,A l t e chalk, which forms the bottom of the 4 44 fr erg rtiery basin, as we have seen. No calcula °f4d* thP"rogical data cou ld d e t e r m in e the thick kisietalie s tratum of chalk, which, from its powers tt tji" Th e ' might present an almost insuperable ob ,lt,r,velif; Itt'xperience acquired in boring the wells ikne„, °4 en, and Tours, was in this respect but °Yee — ,,,.'„Yet guide. But supposing this obstacle t lt tat: hi; u th e i , was he sure of finding a supply of ,'*s es uele e „ te s mass of chalk ? In the first place, the 'zte, s ary ee "? chalk possessed, as we shall see, all the nditions for producing Artesian springs, ,liedand layers of clay and gravel, or of ee imPervious beds. M. Malot confidently I v °lll l ° haeisslif°rmee experience with Grenelle. M. ^en ne se "wn that the water of the spring here Is y at t i ssarity rise be l e , t o . the surface, because in the dope f the a e "lea is nearly 9 yards above the 1 :1 the water rises from 27 to 29 yards . C 'tie 1 8 y ttr ,,s of the earth, and, consequently, from thygame shr,'? the ocean , level. Now, as the neatievele,itefoiioGwrie , nelle is only 34 yards . above that if the identical spring be met with, the water must rise above the earth's surface at Grenelle. after having remained nearly four hours under water withr.ut intermission. On the day following they were equally successful, sending up a 12-pounder and a 6-pounder, and on the 11th Corporal Jones sent up another 12-pounder. At this time the divers gene rally worked three slack tides, as in the middle of summer, so that they were often out before daylight and when anything interesting occurred, they conti nued their work long after dark. The weather had frequently bsen so tempestuous as to oblige them to suspend their labours, but particularly on Monday, the 14th of October, when a violeut gale set into the har bour, accompanied by such a swell, that Major-Gene ral Pasley, who came from London on that day to inspect the work, was obliged to return in the even ing, without having been able to get out to Spithead in his boat. Next morning the weather was still too boisterous for sweeping, but the diving over the hull was resumed, and three slack tides were worked with great zeal. This day her Majesty passed alongside of the Success frigate hulk in her steam yacht on her way to visit the French war steamer Gomer, which had anchored near the same spot ; and as this took place during the interval between the first two slack tides, when the men employed in these operations were not at work, they saluted her Majesty and Prince Albert with hearty and loyal cheers, but not with manned yards, as the Success frigate, though cele brated in our naval history in former times, had neither mast nor yard at this period. On the 18th of October Corporal Jones was sent for with his diving apparatus to recover the mooring bridles by which the Gomer had been anchored in Portsmouth harbour, which by some accident had gone to the bottom on being cast off when that ship got under weigh. These he slung and sent up in half an hour, without even losing one of the regular slack tides at Spithead, though the usual mode of sweeping for them with boats, under the direction of the Master Attendant of the Dockyard, had been repeatedly tried and failed. This is one amongst many proofs of the superior uti lity of helmet diving. On the 28th of October, Major-General Pasley paid his last visit of inspection to Spithead, and find ing that the divers could not go on much longer, as the water was becoming too cold for them to work with comfort, he directed Lieutenant Barlow to con tinue the sweeping for guns only one day more, after which he was to go into harbour and break up the whole establishment ; which was done accord ingly. By this time the great mass of woodwork of the hull had been entirely removed, together with the greater part of the sheel in which it was embedded, the general height of which hal been reduced more than ten feet. Amongst the large timbers brought up were several pieces of the keel, measuring in all 72 feet 3 inches, out of 124 feet, its orig►inal length. The quantity of powder exploded during the whole season in small charges, placed 14y the divers and fired by the voltaic battery, was 6,222 lbs. A few of the largest charges consisted of about 130 lbs. each. None of the others exceeded 50 lbs.; many were smaller. But one other condition is requisite to ensure the rising of the water in an Artesian well, namely, that the feeding level of infiltration should be higher than the orifice in the bore above which the water is to ascend. This, however, turned out to be the case of the borings of the wells at Rouen, Elbeuf, and Tours, where abundant supplies of water had been found below the chalk, between similar strata of clay and gravel. The necessary works were commenced with boring rods about 9 yards long, attached to each other, and which could be raised or lowered by mechanical power, while an ingenious method was adopted for giving them a rotary motion. ['he diameter of the bore was about 6 inches. The instrument affixed to the end of the lowest boring-rod was changed according to the different strata which were successiTely attacked ; the form suited for passing through the softer materials near the surface being unsuitable for boring through the chalk and flint, as a hollow tube was used for the former, while a chisel-shaped tool was employed to penetrate the latter. The size of the rods was lessened as the depth increased ; and, since the subterranean water was not reached as soon as was expected, it be came requisite to enlarge five several times the dia meter of the bore, in order to permit the work to be successfully prosecuted. Accidents occurred which tried the patience of the projectors. In May, 1837, when the boring had extended down to a depth of 418 yards, the hollow tube, with nearly 90 yards of the long rods attached to it, broke, and fell to the bottom of the hole, whence it became necessary to extract the broken parts before any further progress could be made. The difficulty of accomplishing this task may be conceived; for the different fragments were not all extracted until after the constant labour of 15 months. Again, in April, 1840, in passing through the chalk, the chisel attached to the boring-rod got detached, and, before it could be recovered, several months were spent in digging round about it. A similar occur rence created an obstacle which impeded the work for three months; but, instead of withdrawing the detached part, it was forcibly driven down among the stratum of gravel. At length, in February, 1841, after eight years' labour, the rods suddenly descended several yards, having pierced into the vault of the subterranean waters so long sought after by the in defatigable engineer. A few hours afterwards he was rewarded for all his anxious toils ; for lo ! the water rose to the surface, and discharged itself at the rate of 600,000 gallons per hour ! The depth reached down was 602 yards, or about three times the height of St. Paul's. The pipe by which the water reaches the surface has been recently carried to a height nearly level with the source of supply. The portion of the pipe above the ground Is surrounded with a monumental pagoda of ornamental carpentry, and it discharges a circular cascade of clear water continually into a circular iron reservoir, to be thence conveyed by a lateral pipe to the ground. The water is well adapted for all domestic uses, and it will he unfailing, being supplied from the infiltra tion of a surface of country nearly 200 miles in dia meter. The Artesian wells of Elbeuf, Rouen, and Tours, which were formed many years ago, overflow in never-varying streams ; and the ancient Artesian well at Lillers, in the Pas de Calais, has for about seven centuries furnished a constant and equable supply. The opportunity of ascertaining the temperature of the earth at different depths was not neglected during the progress of the works at Grenelle. Thermometers placed at a depth of 30 yards in the wells of the Paris Observatory invariably stand at 53 deg. Fahrenheit. In the well at Grenelle the thermometer indicated 74 deg. F. at a depth of 442 yards, and at 550 yards it stood at 79 deg. At the depth finally arrived at of 602 yards, the temperature of the water which rose to the surface was 81 leg., corroborating previous calculations on the subject. For a descent of .572 yards there is an increase of temperature equal to 28 deg. F., which is 2044 yards, or 61.2 feet for each de gree of that scale. Now that the skilful labour of so many years is terminated, the Parisians regret that the subterranean sheet of water had not lain 1,000 yards beneath the surface, that they might have had an overflowing stream of water at 104 deg., to fur nish a cheap supply to their numerous hot-bath esta blishments.—Dr. tire's Supplement to his Dictionary of Arts, Manufactures, and Mines. After the Success frigate and the two mooring lighters had been towed into harbour, the stores were delivered into the dockyard, and on Saturday, the 2d of November, Lieutenant Barlow conducted his de tachment of Sappers and Miners to London by the South-Western Railway, whence he took the Royal Sappers and Miners to Woolwich by steam-boats, and sent the East India Company's men by the Eastern- Counties Railway to their depot, at Warley, in Essex, the same evening ; both parties thus performing in one day a journey which, in former times, would have re • quired at least five or six days' march. On the Ist of September, Quartermaster Germain and a second party of volunteer seamen from her Ma jesty's ship Excellent had been sent out to Spithead to practise diving, which they did till the end of the season, under the direction of Lieutenant Barlow, and gave no less satisfaction by their zeal, good conduct, and improvement, than the first party of men from the same ship had done. Besides Lieutenant Fair holme, of the Excellent, Lieutenant Peel, R.N., also practised diving this season, before he sailed for South America in the Collingwood, as had previously been done by Lieutenant Barlow himself. Major- General Pasley, who was prevented by his duties as Government I ns p ec t o r-G enera l o f R a ilways from giving so much personal attention to the operations at Spithead as in former years, was so ably seconded by Lieutenant Barlow, the executive engineer, and all the men employed, whether Sappers and Miners, riggers, or naval pensioners, of whom that officer reported most favourably, and the service was so efficiently promoted by the aid afforded from the dockyard, by order of the Admiral Superintendent, that the General had no cause to regret his own ab sence from the scene of action. The Master-General and Board of Ordnance have approved of a portion of the guns recovered from the Ldgar being preserved as memorials, at the principal ordnance stations, and also at the East India Com pany's depOt, at Warley, and at their military semi nary at Addiscombe, the guns having been recovered by military divers of the Sappers and Miners of both services; and the Admiralty have approved of pieces of the keel, &c., both of the Royal George and the Edgar, being preserved in her Majesty's dockyards, or in public museums. The original armament of the Edgar was 70 pieces of ordnance, of which 54 whole guns and five frag ments have been recovered in the course of Major- General Pasley's operations, each of the latter being usually the breech part of the gun, broken off in front of the trunnions, and therefore larger and heavier than the corresponding part of the same gun at the bottom. MAJOR-GENERAL PASI.EY'S OPE RATIoNS AT SPITHEAD. In our former notices of the operations against the wreck of the Edgar we described all that had been done from the commencement in May last till the 23d of August, on which day two guns were sent up. We shall now continue our narrative to the end of Octo ber, when the diving, that had been carried on with the utmost vigour, five military divers generally and one naval diver often being employed, was discon tinued as a matter of necessity, though the sanguine expectation of recovering the whole of the guns that had been entertained at the beginning of the season was not realised. After the day before mentioned, the divers were occupied for a fortnight in getting up timber from the hull of the wreck, and the half-anchor creeper and rake were frequently drawn across the shoal in which it had been imbedded, whilst a couple of boats were employed in sweeping all round whenever the weather permitted, in order to discover the re maining guns, if possible. This method not being so satisfactory as at first, when the re mains of the wreck and guns were more abundant, divers were afterwards sent down, one from each of the launches, to walk about the bottom in va rious directions to endeavour to discover guns, whilst the others were employed in getting up the timber of the hull. By this method several guns were ob tained ; but this also failing, a new system of sweeping by divers walking along the bottom occurred to Lieu tenant Barlow, which was tried for the first time on the 19th of September, and continued till the end of the season, whenever the weather permitted, the ar rangements being as follows :—Two guiding lines, each sixty fathoms in length, and twenty fathoms apart, were sunk parallel to each other, in the direc tion of the run of the tide, by means of pigs of ballast at their ends, to each of which a buoy and buoy-line were attached to mark its position. Two divers, Corporal Jones, of the Royal, and Private Sticklen, of the East India Company's S a pp ers an d Mi ners , de scended each to his respective guilding-lin e , fr om a launch in which his air pump and attendants were placed, and moved along the bottom from west to east and back, or vice versa, according to the tide, parallel to one another, each holding in his near hand the end of a sweep rope and chain, which dragged along the bottom between them, whilst in his far hand he held the line that guided him in his course. At the same time the two launches a b ove were warped along in the same direction as their respec spective divers, by whom their motions were regu lated according to preconcerted signals. This mode of sweeping was much more sensitive than the former, as any very small object, such as a stone or piece of wood, that would have escaped observation entirely in sweeping from boats, was immediately felt by the divers, who made the signal for the launches to stop, and then walked towards it until they met at the spot. This progress was very fatiguing, as it took them an hour to sweep from one end of their guiding lines to the other, though a distance only of sixty fathoms, as before mentioned. The second day that they carried on this process those two excellent divers fell in with a leaden scupper of the Edgar, and a sinker or large mooring -stone, of one of the old wreck-buoys, though at a distance of ninety fathoms to the northward of the position of the shoal in which the hull was imbedded. On the 23d of September, whilst sweeping to the northward of the Success frigate hulk, Corporal Jones slung another buoy stone ; and in the evening he was employed about an hour after dark in slinging and sending up what proved to be one of the anchors of the Edgar, hav ing the two palms and the stock broken off, so that it nearly resembled the form of the broad arrow marked on Government stores. The ex treme distance between the ends of the broken arms was a little more than five feet, whilst the dia meter of the shank varied from about 8 to 10:4 inches; its length, as measured from the broken end to the crown, being 6 feet 2 inches. This curious relic, found about 120 fathoms to the north and eastward of the same shoal, shows the violence with which it must have been propelled by the explosion of the ship's magazines; but this was proved in a still more striking manner on the 28th of the same month, when, after having swept before day, by a beautiful moonlight, without success, Corporal Jones and his assistant, on resuming the same process in the fore noon tide, sent up what proved to be a large frag ment of an 18-pounder gun, 7 feet in length, which they found about 160 fathoms to the north and east ward of the position of the hull, whilst the first group or nest of guns of the Edgar, as the seamen termed them, nearly twenty in number, had been found 80 fathoms to the southward of the same spot; so that, making allowance for the difference of bear ing, this isolated gun, launched into the air from the larboard side of the wreck of the Edgar, must have fallen at the distance of 200 fathoms from the group of guns that were thrown from her starboard side. From that time nothing of importance occurred till the sth of October, when privates Sticklen and Herbert, of the East India Company's service, who were employed sweeping about thirty fathoms south-east of the position of the hull, discovered and sent up two guns, a 12-pounder and a 32-pounder. Next day Corporal Jones and private Sticklen sent up one iron 12-pounder and a fragment of another seven feet in length, and the tide ran so strong during part of the time they were employed about this frag ment, that private Sticklen was obliged to hold Cor poral Jones to prevent him from being carried away, whilst the latter was digging round it with a spade, and afterwards slinging it, which they did not ac complish until half-past eight o'clock in the evening-, The first guns of the Edgar lay in groups or masses near the same spot, and there was no trouble in find ing them by the common process of sweeping from boats, but the last guns were at such great distances apart, and discovered with so muck difficulty, that if we were not possessed of an authentic account of the number, it would be natural to conclude that all were got up; instead of which it is known, from the records of the Ordnance Department, that 11 whole guns and five fragments are still at the bottom ; and, judg ing by those already found, none of which were en tirely buried under the mud, it is to be presumed that the guns and fragments which still remain must also lie nearly on the level of the surface of the bottom ; and, consequently, though the chances are perhaps 1,000 to 1 against the contingency, yet, however im probable, it is net impossible that a man-of-war's an chor being cast at this part of Spithead might strike one of them. A doubt, therefore, naturally suggested itself, whether the safety of a ship would thereby be endan gered, which having been submitted to the Lords of the Admiralty by Major-General Pasley, in his report of the concluding operation of the season, as a naval ques tion upon Which he would not presume to give an opinion himself, but upon which it would depend whether his operations should finally close, or be re sumed next summer on a small scale, their Lordships decided that the anchorage at Spithead might now be considered safe, in spite of those guns. In fact every man-of-war is provided with more anchors than one, so that if the first, in being cast at this part of Spit head, should strike on one of the Edgar's guns, and thereby be broken or rendered unserviceable, which is very doubtful, the spot would be marked by a buoy, and in the meantime a second anchor would be dropped, which in such good anchoring ground would be sure to hold ; an d a nava l di ver f rom h er M a j es ty' s ship Excell en t, w h ere t h e pract i ce o f h e l met di v i ng will be kept up, might be sent for, who would remove the gun, as well as the injured anchor, if necessary, with ease. The goodness of the anchorage of the port of Spit head, hitherto obstructed by the wreck of the Edgar, was sufficiently proved by the circumstance of the Success frigate hulk and the two mooring lighters having been securely anchored there tor six months last summer, though such very violent gales prevailed from time to time that it was often impossible for the men to work, and the communication with the shore was suspended ; but, though the anchoring ground of the Edgar may therefore be considered as good as that of the Royal George, yet the latter would be preferred for a man-of-war coming to Spit head, as it is nearer to the harbour and town of Portsmouth as well as to the do c kyard, a n d con sequently snore convenient than the former; but in the event of Spithead again becoming the rendezvous of a large British fleet, which must necessarily be the case sooner or later, the one would not br more im portant than the other. Upon the whole, the removal of these two wrecks from Spithead, which has cleared the whole of that excellent anchorage, and rendered it available for the use of the Royal Navy, may be allowed to be an im • portant national object, though it has been attended with greater difficulty, and a much greater expen diture of money, labour, and time, than was originally contemplated by the officer with whom the plan originated, and by whom it has been successfully carried into effect, after the incessant labour of five successive summers and part of another, under the auspices of the Lords of the Admiralty, and at the expense of that department, aided by the valuable services of officers and men supplied from the Royal Engineer Department by permission of the Master- General and Board of Ordnance, and of volunteers of the East India Company's Sappers and Miners. A BRAYB Fiii.Low.—A grenadier of the 47th re giment, named Viriville, was remarked for his daring and coolness at the late fire in the Rue Cadet. When on the roof of the burning building, finding it inipos sible to retain his positio❑ on account of the intense heat, he passed a pump-hose round his neck, and then, by means of a ladder with hooks at the ends, he got nr, the roof of a neighbouring house, and by his presence of mind prevented the flames from communicating with it. This brave fallow has before on several, occasions distin guished himself by acts of courage a'.ld devotedness. In 1839 he saved a woman and child ',vim drowning in the Canal St. Martin : and in 1843, the occasion of a fire breaking out in the Rue Ventridour, hearing that a man had remained in a room of th e burning house, he rushed into the flames, and, after sc,me minutes' absence, re-ap peared, bringing the person for whom ho exposed his life safely out.—Galignani. TFIE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 26, 1841. the reigning dynasty, had no alternative but that i of retiring from politics, and applying their undi vided energies to their sacred duties. From that time until within a very recent period, the growth of their influence was as rapid and as steady as its effects were wholesome. A religious spirit appeared to extend itself throuvhout all classes of the com munity ; the tone of scepticism and mockery be came unfashionable ; a respect for religion was professed even where belief was not avowed ; the churches began to be filled ; and it was a novel sub ject of triumph to the clergy of Paris that even in that capital of civilization and dissipation, at least half of the congregation in every church was composed of men. A sudden taste for building, repairing, and beautifying churches struck the eyes of every traveller as indicative of this remarkable change in the national feeling. Nor were there wanting to the clergy some indica tions of returning favour on the part of the Court as well as of the people. The Queen of the French fur thered the efforts of the clergy with the zeal of a firm and ardent faith ; and it became apparent that the King himself was animated by a sincere conviction that by showing favour to the clergy he might pro mote the interests of his dynasty. In fine, a year ago the state of France afforded the most satisfactory prospect to the friends of religion. There could be no doubt of the existence of a more extensive and whole- some state of religious feeling than had prevailed since the revolution of 1789; and the most sanguine hopes might reasonably have been entertained that, by the continued zeal and moderation of the clergy, the good work which they had so successfully begun might be carried to a happy issue. A year ago ! It was just a year ago that the incon ceivable rashness of the heads of the French clergy destroyed in a few days the labours of the past and the hopes of the future. Elated by the palpable evi dences of the extended influence of religion and in creased consideration for themselves, they seem to have imagined that the time was come for asserting with safety the pretensions which ,they had so long been compelled to withhold. The wise counsels which in general regulate the policy of the Roman Catholic clergy, have at all times been liable to be marred by the rashness of individual members of a hierarchy, whose duties and associations are apt, at least in con tinental countries, to render them alien to the sympa thies and opinions of their fellow-countrymen. But never were the evil consequences of this defect more signally exhibited than on the occasion on which the bishops of the French Church thought fit to make their re-entry in the arena of politics, and to make the question of education the subject of their agita tion. It is not to be denied that the clergy had some grounds for proposing reforms in the national sys tem of education at a time at which, independently of them, the subject was to be brought under the consideration of the Legislature. In spite of the boasted improvements which philosophy had intro duced into education, it is now universally admitted that, as far as elementary teaching was concerned, the system adopted in the schools of the clergy had been more successful than any other that had been tried in France. The clergy had a perfect right to demand a freer play for the experiment of their own system than was allowed by the restrictions of the existing law; and public opinion would undoubtedly have gone with t:iem, had they urged with temper the liberty of education. But, instead of doing this, all of a sudden, and as if by concert, bishops in various parts of France startled the public with man demens and letters containing the most unprovoked and outrageous attacks on the existing system of education and all concerned in it. They denounced the system as atheistical; held up individual profes sors to obloquy as notorious infidels; exhorted their flocks to agitation against the law ; and went so far as to declare that they would withdraw the chaplains from the " infidel" colleges and academies. There was no question on which a similar movement would have brought the clergy into collision with prejudices so fatal to their influence. The con nexion of education with the clergy naturally re vived the idea of the Jesuits; and all France was agitated from one end to the other with a notion that men whom they regard as the eternal enemies of human progress were to be" re-invested with the power of fashioning the youthful mind to bondage. Suddenly the work of thirteen years seemed to be undone ; the fears and animosities of the days of Charles X. started again into existence; the priests became again the objects of popular indignation, and it is too much to be feared that religion itself has been once) more confounded with its teachers in the public dislike. An irreligious reaction has been gaining strength in France for the last twelve months ; the exterior of Christian observance has lost its tone of fashion ; Voltaire is restored to honour ; and if you wish to ensure the circulation of a novel, you must fill it with monstrous fables of the ma chinations of priests, and the dark villany of Jesuits ! Political parties have unfortunately seized hold of these religious strifes, and mixed them up with the contest for office. In the Bill which lust session passed the Chamber of Peers, and 's ill in the ensuing form an early subject of discussion in the De puties, the Ministry endeavoured to moderate be tween the contending parties, and do justice to each. M. Thiers, who was entrusted with the report of the Committee of the Chamber of Deputies, saw his opportunity, and turned it to account. In the very able report which he presented at the close of last session, he contrived, with great semblance of fairness and reason, to throw himself entirely into the current of popular feeling, to stimulate the prevalent sus picions and animosities against the clergy, and by almost imperceptible insinuations to involve the King and his Ministers in the unpopularity of the Jesuits. The utmost success attended his efforts. He and M. Cousin have become the most popular men in France. Nor do they mean to quit their hold of this question. They know that an inbread jealousy of the clergy pervades every portion of the middle classes of France; and that feeling, if once roused into full activity, would enlist on their side more than half of the Con servative supporters of M. Guizot. If, by keeping the Minister to his proposal of last year, they can apparently place hi:n on the side of the clergy, they deem, and rightly deem, their victory secure. And hence, as we said a few days since, the present posi tion of the education question is the foundation of a large portion of their hope of defeating the Minister in the ensuing session.—Chronicle. THE BISHOP OF EXETER AND THE BISHOP OP WORCESTER. The dispute between the bishop and residentiaries of Exeter is relieved by contrast with the Bishop of Worcester's admirable and well-timed charge to the candidates for ordination. We have, in the first in stance, a bishop at war with his dignitaries ; in the second, another bishop expressing sentiments con trary to the Bishop of Exeter, and that, too, on the very questions that are fraught with so much interest at this time, and have created so much excitement among the laity, as well as among the clergy. All this is fresh cause for dissatisfaction and regret; but we must not forget that it is the consequence solely of art attempt to revive obsolete and antiquated usages in which the people have firmly and properly refused to coincide. We have never assumed that a congre gation are to dictate to their teacher, or a vestry to prescribe to the clergyman what doctrine or discipline he should maintain ; indeed, we never yet heard of such an attempt, as it has always been supposed a settled matter that the Prayer-book is the rule of worship, and the articles and homilies (generally) the true standard of faith for the Church of England. But we do think that the question is alto gether distinct and of a very different character when a body cff the clergy take upon themselves to alter the forms of Divine service, so long, so universally, and so beneficially adopted, and introduce what are con fessedly so many novelties ; and, by the aid of strong sermons and incessant personal agitation, try to gain over their parishioners to their measures, or set them at defiance if they do not succeed. This was borne with considerable patience for a while, till the pros pect of one encroachment upon another induced the lay members of the Church to discuss the subject se riously among themselves ; and when they found that so little hope was there of the abandonment of these usages, that they were even authorised and enjoined by episcopal mandate, then, and not before, they be took themselves to public meetings, and showed a decisive but respectful opposition to the obnoxious in novation. This has now gone on for some time— quite long enough certainly to have softened the as perities of wilful rule, and taught reason where no thing but prepossession could before be heard The Bishop of Exeter, however, finds in all this disaffection only a motive to persevere in his intention, as a duty which he dares not evade. Let us see how the observances for which he is content to run this fearful risk are regarded by his Rev. Brethren on the bench. His first point is the continued wearing of the surplice. On Saturday last the Bishop of Worcester, while addressing the candidates for ordi nation at their final examination, with a manliness of avowal that claims our freest praise, openly declares, in respect to the habit in which they ought to preach, " This is a question so utterly unimportant that I have never hitherto thought it worth while to express my opinion on the subject." Nay, he advises them, for fear of offence, " to continue the practice which has so long prevailed, of preaching in their academical habit, even though by so doing" they " deviate from the precise directions of the rubric." lie argues, in deed, and with great clearness, that the sermon never did, and never could, according to the rubric, form part of the Communion-service ; and he further ob serves, that had the surplice ever :been in general use for preaching, we should have found some remnant of it in one or both of the Universities ; but such is not the case. Again, the Bishop of Exeter enjoins the use of the prayer for the Church militant, as strin gently required by the rubrics ; the Bishop of Worces ter conceives the various rubrics to be " certainly incon sistent," and uses the fact that this prayer had really been discontinued as a proof that the surplice was not CHRISTMAS FESTIVITIES. The Queen Dowager is surrounded by a select party at NVitley Court, Worcestershire Their Serene Highnesses Prince Ernest of llesse Phillipsthal and Prince Edward of Saxe Weimar have arrived there to pass the Christmas with their illustrious relative. As was the case last year, the poor of that neighbour hood have partaken of her Majesty's extended boun ties, having been supplied with many comforts to ren der this festive period of the year one of enjoyment. Her Majesty's health continues satisfactory. The Duke of Rutland has a numerous circle as sembled at Belvior Castle, Leicestershire, participating in the pleasures of Christmas. In addition to the Marquis of Granby, Lords John and George Man ners, Lady Adeliza Manners, Lord Charles Manners, &c., Earl and Lady Katherine Jermyn, Lord Fores ter, and Mr. A. and Lady Elizabeth Drummond have joined the party. The Archbishop of York is at Bishopsthorpe, near York, surrounded by a select family circle. Sir J. V. B. and Lady Johnstone and Miss Johnstone are there. His Grace, in the beginning of the week, caused his usual bounties to be distributed amongst the necessitous families of Bishopsthorpe and York, and by his instructions the poor families on the family estate in Oxfordshire have not been forgotten. The Duke and Duchess of Northumberland, at Alnwick Castle, have observed the customary bene volence to the numerous aged and infirm poor, by a considerate distribution of excellent cheer, in beef, bread, &c. It is generally calculated that above 100 poor families are relieved every Christmas, besides other extensive charities in the shape of warm clothing, which is liberally distributed to the deserving poor. The Marquis of Anglesey has a numerous family party met at Beaudesert : the Earl and Countess of Sandwich, Viscount and Viscountess Sydney, Earl and Countess Cadogan, and Ladies Augusta and llonoria Cadogan ; the Earl of Uxbridge and Ladies Paget ; Lord Alfred Paget, Lord George Paget, &c. &c., have arrived there for the Christmas holidays. The Marquis and Marchioness of Westminster have the Earl and Countess of Grosvenor and family, &c., passing the Christmas at Eaton Hall, Cheshire, that holiday tieing kept up at that splendid seat in the true old English style. On Monday last the Marquis and Marchioness made their annual visit to the Grosvenor schools at Cheshire, established thirty years ago, by the munificence of the Noble Marquis, for the education of children of both sexes. After the customary examination, at which the Bishop of Chester, and many of the local clergy and gentry were present, and an award of prizes by the Marquis and Marchioness, the whole of the scholars were bountifully regaled with roast beef and plum pudding. Viscount and Viscountess Palmerston's party, at Broadlands, assembled on Monday and Tuesday last. Lord and Lady Ashley have arrived there from the Earl of Shaftesbury's seat in Dorsetshire, and the Marquis and Marchioness of Normanby, Lady Hol land, &c., have arrived from town. Sir Robert and Lady Peel have a select party at Drayton Manor. The circle is confined to the diffe rent connexions of their family. CHRISTMAS AMUSEMENTS. " Christmas comes but once a year !" This is one of those satisfactory apothegms which there is no gainsaying, and though it might, perhaps, be as truly applied to other seasons, yet Christmas has appro priated it exclusively ; therefore, this undeniable fact is made an especial season why, for this once, every one should indulge in the festivities within his reach. There are few modes more agreeable of spending a " merry Christmas," and none more harmless, than in visiting the exhibitions, of which so many open their portals in the metropolis ; and at this season, also, there is generally some extra attractions to make them the better worth seeing. We shall, therefore, as it is our wont to do, present a catalogue raisonnee of the whole. THE PANORAMAS. Though science has yet failed to construct Fortu natus's telescope through which may be seen any spot that the spectator desires to behold, we are at least able to view, by walking to Leicester-square, many of the scenes on the face of the globe that are generally interesting. To the admirable panorama of Hong-Kong and Baden Baden, Mr. Burford has this week added a view of Naples, from the bay, by moon light, during an eruption of Mount Vesuvius. This is, we believe, the first time that the effect of moon light has been attempted to be represented in a pano rama. As the painting is entirely on the surface presented to the spectator, and is seen altogether by reflected light instead of the light being partly trans mitted through the material as in a diorama, it is much more difficult to render the effect of moonlight and of self-luminous bodies than when the artist has the power of concentrating lights on particular objects behind. Mr. Burford has, however, overcome the difficulty successfully in the greater portion of his design, and he has very artistically contrivei to avail himself of the glare of the volcanic flames for the pur pose of giving the effect which the light of the moon alone might have been inadequate to produce. THE DIORAMA. The beautiful paintings of the church of Notre Dame and the Abbey of St. Ouen, with the extra ordinary and almost miraculous effects of varying light and shade, have on more than one occasion been noticed in this journal ; it is, therefore, only neces sary now to remind all sight-seers that these paintings remain open for only a short time longer, and that if they fail to take advantage of the present opportu nity they will have to regret not having witnessed two of the most attractive and extraordinary views that even this exhibition has ever presented. THE COSMORAMA. This long-established favourite exhibition continues to maintain its ground amidst numerous competitors, and the proprietors endeavour to make improvements suitable to the advancement and acquirements of public taste. There are eight views, which, being seen through large and powerful lenses, appear to be of the natural sire, and present may objects of in terest with great fidelity. The present subjects are the colossal statues of gemnon on the plain of Thebes, the exterior of the Pantheon at Rome by moonlight, Le Mer de Glace, in Savoy, the exte r i or an d the in terior of St. Peter's at Rome, and Eruption of Mount Vesuvius, the Lake of Thun, in Switzerland, and the Hippodrome at Constantinople. In some of these the effects of varying lights and shadows are represented in imitation of the diomma. C lIINF4 SE COLLECTION'. A visit to the Chinese INlUSeinit at Ityde rAtk corner will convey a better idea of the people, their habits, and customs, and the manufactures of China than some years since could have been obtained by such a peep into the celestial empire S 5 WPS then allowed to those who actually took a six months' voyage to that mysterious land. Be it by day or by night, the visitor will be amply gratified and in structed; but if the keen and frosty air of a winter's night be not an obstacle, we recommend seeing the emporium of most that is curious and beautiful and strange in China by the artificial light of hundreds of Chinese lanterns, with the additional attrartion of a good rcp.sical bend, aid the illutninated monster dragon that presides every evening during Christmas over the imperial dragon fete. 1111 D:01E TUSSAUD'S ENIRBITIOX. Sterlins) indeed Mint Le the Merit of an exhibition in London which maintains its popularity season a ft e r season—that remains till fresh generations rise up to go and see, for the first time, the most perfect exhibition of waxwork that.emis ete pits'dntui, and till thOSe *he are growing old repair there to recal past delightful recollections, and to be placed au courant, with the present improvements and additions. Very recently two itnportvt accestions have been made in the flgiires of George I. and George 11., in their coronation robes. They are placed within the reception-room at the end of the large saloon, which George IV. and his coronation robes formerly occu pied alone. His anceotor tio.t share titli hint this peculiar f Mtn Of Stfit, and add much to its brilliant effect. We so recently noticed the late addition of Napoleon's carriage and the other mementos of the former Emperor of F t ranee that iP urlileedia.ry now to do mere thail remind those who have not yet seen these grea interesting tnesithattheyandnobweauf:rifutul a re p lig t o o f t Tussaud's nnelutilled eXhibition. (leipadaartmede OLYII C 1 TIC INSTITUTION. This excellent instittttion NS made some alteration in itS programme to suit the Christmas visitors. A new collection of dissolving views is exhibit e d ; and the proteoscepe, or mode 4f thaivirig opaque objects with the hydio-oxygen microscope, has been improved, so that now one image dissolves into another with most curious effect. A new application of the micro scope has been introduced ! called the tedttiattepe, wherein a t'aritty of brilliantly coloured figures are seen revolving and constantly varying their forms in most beautiful patterns. The whole models in the institution have been recently re-arranged, and nume rous new ones have be added, whilst th e o ld favourites remain. On two evenings of the week, ndnuriningustiehe; andhol iday ev s e e r a y son, Mr. Horn deliv e r s l ec t ures day lectures on a tt rac ti ve subjects, and-illustrated by brilliant experiments, are delivered, THE ADELAIDE GALLERY. The curriculum of amusement and instruction at this institution has also been specially arranged for Christmas, and with even greater regard to the enter tainment of the year than the Polytechnic. Science for the time holds company with magic and music. A. conjuror diversifies the lectures on chemistry and astronomy by showing the deceptions of art, and the properties of different bodies in colouring flame are exhibited in brilliant fireworks. There are also dis solving views, the microscope, and some mechanical wonders to amuse, whilst the electrical eels continue to shock with their usual force. At night the en tertainments consist of " Concerts a /a Jullien," in which forty performers are engaged. BRITISH MUSEUM. This national repository of curiosities, and of re mains of the works of nature and art, comprising the productions of the present time and those of ages long past, even beyond the creation of man, will not fail to have its crowd of visitors at this season. The collections of specimens of natural history, and the gallery of antiquities, are the parts of the Museum now in the most perfect order—and, compared with former years, the Museum is, in these departments, far better than it was ; nevertheless, the confusion produced by the new buildings, and the never-ending arrangements, give the stranger an unfavourable idea of this great national establishment. A short winter's day is over before one half the objects worthy of notice can be examined. For those, therefore, whose time is limited, it will be better to walk first through all the rooms and return to those that most interest them, for to see all in one day is impossible. NATIONAL GALLERY. The charm of " nothing to pay" operates wonder fully, perhaps as much from its novelty as from the parsimony of the public at holiday times, consequently the National Gallery is always crowded at these seasons. There have been no important additions of late ; but the many productions of the best ancient masters in the collection may be admired again and again, whenever opportunity occurs, as at this time of general holiday. THE WEATHER—THE PARKS, &c. The wind throughout Tuesday was exceedingly variable, but blowing chiefly from the eastward, though occasionally due south. The weather was of an undecided character, the temperature being too high for the continuance of the frost, but notwith• standing that some slight rain fell about eight o'clock, when the moon changed, yet a cold easterly wind prevailed, and the mercury was at 35 degrees ; yet shortly after midnight it descended to the freezing point, and during the night the various waters were slightly skimmed over with ice. Yesterday morning, at seven o'clock, the thermometer, at the Royal Humane Society's Receiving-house, in Hyde-park, stood at 34 degrees ; and at eight o'clock last night it was 33 degrees, the wind during the day blew chiefly from the east, and was occasionally very cold and piercing, though somewhat milder than the three days preceding. The atmosphere, however, was rather hazy, and apparently humid, giving indication of a thaw. It being a holiday, and the weather rather fine and dry for the season, a considerable number of persons congregated in the vicinity of the ornamental waters of the metropolitan royal parks, some being engaged in the amusement of skating, and others promenading as spectators. On the Round Pond and Long Water, Kensing ton-gardens, there were, during the day, about 4,000 skaters and sliders who were disporting themselves upon the ice which had not been melted from the first frost of this season, and which the frost of these last few days had rendered sufficiently firm. No accident occurred. In the Regent's Park there were about 5,000 skaters and sliders in the course of the day, though the ice was only about two and a half inches thick, and in so very dangerous a condition that the Humane Society had deemed it necessary to engage extra men; but still they could not keep persons on terra firma. In attempting to do this they were partly prevented by a gang of fellows connected with pick pockets, who, for the sake of obtaining plunder by the confusion consequent upon accidents, were continu ally urging persons to go on, saying it was perfectly safe. About half-past eleven o'clock Mr. Clements, coal-merchant, of William-street, Hampstead-road, with his infant son, aged two years, were, while walking across the ice, suddenly immersed in eight feet water. Mr. Clements, who is a good swimmer, had the presence of mind to hold the infant out of the water in one hand, until rescued by icemen John Hall and Joseph Knight, with the aid of an ice sledge and ladder. The child was conveyed to the marquee, placed in a warm bath, and afterwards in a warm bed. Such attention the father declined, and, shortly after, with the child enveloped in blankets, placed it in a cab, and conveyed it home. At one o'clock Mr. Shires, of Grove•street, Lisson-grove, became immersed in seven feet water, and was promptly res• cued by iceman Clapson. COURT CIRCULAR. WINDSOR, WEDNESDAY. - The Queen, Prince Albert, the Duchess of Kent, the ladies and gentle ': _n of the Court, and the domestic household, at tended Divine service this morning, in the private chapel of the Castle. The Holy Communion was afterwards adminis tered. The Hon. and Rev. Charles Leslie Courtenay officiated. Her Majesty and Prince Albert took their accus tomed exercise in the course of the day. The Rev. Dr. Sleath preached the sermon yester day morning, in the Chapel Royal, St. James's. The Rev. Dr. Wesley and the Rev. Dr. Dakins offi ciated at the service. The anthem was " Behold I bring you glad tidings" (Purcell). The Mar chioness of Westmeath, Lord and Lady Wharncliffe, and Lord Charles Fitzroy, were among the nobility present. FASHIONABLE INTELLIGENCE. DEPARTURES. The Hon. Sydney Herbert, M.P., from the Admiralty, on a visit to the Dowager Countess of Pembroke, at Wilton House ; Colonel and Miss Colvile, for Windsor ; Mr. and Mrs. D. Heming, from Fenton's Hotel, St. James's-street ; Colonel French, for Brighton ; the Rev. E. R. Eardley Wilmot, for ditto ; Lord Thurlow and the Hon. Captain Thurlow, from the Burlington Hotel, Cork-street, for Ashfield Lodge, Suffolk ; Lieutenant• Colonel Clitherow (Coldstream Guards), on a ♦isiting tour in Norfolk. CHANGES. Sir Watkin Williams Wynn, Bart., M.P., from Wynn stay, Denbighshire, on a visiting tour ; Sir Henry and Lady Webster and family, at Westfield Lodge, from Brunswick-terrace, Brighton ; Lord and Lady Delamere and the Hon. Miss Cholmondeley, at the Vale Royal, Cheshire, from Denbighshire ; Sir J. Cunningham Fairlie, Bart., at his seat, in Ayrshire, from a visit to Mr. Wallace, M.P., at Kelly, Renfrewshire ; the Hon. J. N. Delaval Ashley (2d Life Guards), at Lord Hast ings' sent, Melton Constable, Norfolk, from a tour ; Capt., Pechell, M.P., at Castle Goring, Sussex, from Brighton ; Lord and Lady Abinger and the Hon. Miss Searlett, from a visiting tour in Norfolk, for their seat in Sussei ; the Bishop of Oxford and Lady Harriet Bagot, at Blithfield, Staffordshire, from the Deanery, Canter bury. 1 1 fit rRENCII CHURCH. The history of the Church of France, wince the period of the great Revolution to the present day, is fraught with instruction to all who would learn by what huniari the rower of religion may most effectually be extended and established. Its various vicissitudes, whether of deep depression or transitory influence, alike impress on us a conviction of the deep m and aestrtiale influence of Christian faith, when left to its own unaided operation on the hill - Ilan heart. But they also show us that the most effectual ob stacle to this good influence is generally created by the ambition and errors 6f tilt clergy, and by their being permitted to interfere in political conceriiS. The vitality of Christianity was never more signally exhibited than in the stronghold which it was found to have on the French natidti after the long proscrip tion and complete spoliation to which it had been sub jected during the Revolution. After its churches had for ten years been desecrated, its priesthood driven into eiild, its r,dftices discontinued,, its holy days blotted out of the calendar, the French peasant was still found retaining the faith of his fathers and his childhood. A deep sense of this fact induced Napoleon to re-,ostablih the Catholic Church as one of the institutions of the Cdtintry, But it suited neither his love of power nor his deference for the feelings of revolutionary France, to restore to the priesthood the splendour or power which they had enjdydd timid the old regime. During his . reign, therefore, their lot was one of modest competence and political obscurity. In retirement they devoted them selves to the labours of their sacred calling ; and, in spite of the force of recent prejudices and recollections, they succeeded in recovering a considerable amount of influence over the national mind. The Restoration came, and the first act of the re stored Bourbons was to re-establish the ancient con nexion between the altar and the throne. 'Wealth and honours were heaped do the clergy of the Estab lished Church ; and they were not only called upon to bear an ostgnsible part in the ceremonies of the Court and the councils of the State, but a more substan tial authority was secured to them by the secret in fluence which they were allowed to exercise it, all politi cal matters. From the bishops:and confessors who guided the eccrrt deliberations of the " Pavillon Marsan," down to the curate of the remotest village, the clergy became the chief agents of polical intrigue, and distributed almost the entire patronage of the Crown. From the hour in which power and importance were thus conferred on them, is to be dated the total and almost immediate loss of all hold on the na tional mind. Thoughout France the clergy be came the objects of general distrust and hatred ; and, what was worse, the obloquy which they had called down on their own heads was extended to the religion which they taught. From 1815 to 1830 a feeling of irreligion or deism pervaded France; and while the higher literature of t he countr y exhibited the most marked re-action against the philosophy of the eighteenth century, the creed of the people ex hibited the fanatical infidelity of the period of the Revolution. The Revolution of 1830 was celebrated throughout France as a triumph of the people, not less over priestly influence than over arbitrary power. Th e very existence of the national church was for some time in danger ; and it purchased its safety only by the abandonment of all political power, and of a considerable portion of its income. The priests, ter - rifled by the ill-will of the people, and opposed to I worn in the pulpit. He even supposes one reason for the omission of the prayer yvas the use of the gown in the pulpit, which rendered it awkward to have again to change it for the surplice. The Bishop of Exeter, at all hazards, would compel the collection of the Offertory. The Bishop of Worcester thinks that, with the consent of the congregation, but not with out, it might be fairly employed on behalf of our Church Societies. The " consent of the congrega tion " he holds to be " a material element in the pro priety of adopting such a practice," and that the' clergy have no " right to force upon a congreFation without their consent what is not strictly legal.' He quotes, too, the important decision of fir L. Powys, to which we first called attention, as a sufficient proof that it is not legal to apply it to any other purpose but the relief of the poor of the parish. Here, therefore, the Church is at a stand. A clergyman ordained or beneficed in the diocese of Exeter would be required to use the surplice, prayer for the Church militant, and Offertory. If transferred to, or promoted in, the diocese of Worcester, he must use the gown for preaching, and leave out the prayer for the Church militant and the Of fertory. A report has indeed reached us that Dr. Phill potts, from respect to the hostile feeling it has en gendered, condescends to the wishes of the laity in declining to insist upon the surplice. We hope it is true, and we trust also he will not repeat the offen sive expressions by which he designates the respectful remonstrances that have reached him. A clergyman of his diocese, in forwarding some parochial resolu tions on the subject, has addressed to him a very earnest, and, at the same time, a properly deferential letter to second their entreaties. Ilis Lordship can not, we think, long resist the tide of objection and remonstrance now so obvious. Some strange mis representation, we have reason to believe, led him into the error of the postscript that was appended to the first issue of his letter to the Dean of Exeter. Surely he must now know something of the danger of taking too much for granted, or accrediting all that he is told, and thereby being convicted of errors which it is very difficult to explain or repair. He believed what his prebendaries asserted, and out came his pastoral letter. He heard some curious tale of a clergyman preaching in a great-coat, and put, it in print. It was all a mistake, and he called in the impression of his pamphlet. 'Will he still remain obdurate on his former and more perilous misap prehension ? lie has had proof enough, and more than enough, to undeceive him. Let him recal his inj unctions, and insure peace and uniformity together. —Times. THE CASE OF MR. C. C. WILSON. (FROM A CORRESPONDENT.) JERSEY, DEC. B.—lt is strange that, notwithstand ing the high and varied talent employed on the press, such gross ignorance should prevail respecting our laws and the wcrking of them. This ignorance seems to extend to everything respecting us. The other day The Sun gave us Napier for our Lieutenant-Governor, whereas he is Governor of Guernsey. None of the English papers seem to be armre that Mr. Wilson was condemned to pay a fine of 101., whilst the law only sanctions one of about half-a-crown (supposing him guilty of contempt, and the court a competent one). Notice has bees served upon the jurats who met and concocted the resistance to the habeas, that applications will be made to the Queen's Bench for a rule calling upon them to show cause why criminal informations should not be fired against them. If Lord Denman does not shirk the case, the battle will soon be fought in earnest, for the " Wilson Fund" is going on glo riously—one gentleman sent }Jim 501. last week. If a writ of quo warranto is applied for and fairly argued, it will be found that our pints have no legal right to sit as a court. Before many months have passed we shall excite even more attention than we have already done. The writer of a letter to a Londoq paper stated he " could safely affirm that the pro ceedings are very much less costly than in England." Last Wednesday week a cause occupied our court, in which the amount litigated was only eight shillings ; it was sent " to proof," and the costs will amount to 40/. or 50/. before it is finally decided! This is cheap, is it not ? It is very remarkable that Mr. Le Breton's affidavit (upon which Thesiger moved for a rule to show cause why a writ of supersedeas should not be issued), does not contain any answer to Mr. Wilson's. . . • • • • • . One of the most learned and talented advocates of our court (I may say the most learned one), Mr. who is a Jerseyman, stated openly in the court last week, during a stormy debate, " If Government were to send a lawyer to watch the proceedings of this court, I do not hesitate to say that the whole concern would be capsized, for it is utterly impossible to obtain anything like justice at the hands of such a tribunal." THE POACHING AFFRAY AT CROOME. DEATH OF ONE OF THE KEEPERS. WORCESTER, TUESDAY EvesuNG.—The unfortu nate gamekeeper, Thomas Staite, who' was so inhu manly beaten by the gang of poachers at Croorne on the morning of the 21st inst., has (as we anticipated) died from the injuries received. After the operation of trepanning, which was performed with great skill on Saturday, the poor fellow lingered in a hopeless condition until ten o'clock this morning (Tuesday), when death put an end to his sufferings, to which it was supposed, however, he could not have been acutely sensible, the unfortunate man's brain having received considerable injury. The inquest on the body of the ,ill-fated deceased is appointed to be held at the Worcester Infirmary on Friday next, before J. B. Hyde, Esq., the coroner for this city. The rumour (mentioned in my last communication) that one of the poachers had been captured proves correct. His name is Joseph Turvey, he is a native of Per shore, in which town it is thought a large portion of the gang reside. On Saturday (he was taken on Friday night) Turvey was conveyed by Petford (one of the superintendents of the Worcestershire consta bulary) to Upton-on-Severn, where he underwent an examination before E. G. Stone, Esq., a county ma gistrate, and was identified by some of poor Staite's companions as one of the party which attacked them on Friday morning. It is said that Turvey is the only one of the party who is positively known, and one feature in his favour is the fact that he dissuaded his companions from carrying into execution a threat which they made to throw the maimed keepers into a pool. A representation has been made to the Home Secretary that it would be desirable for Government to add 501. to the sum already offered by the Earl of Coventry's trustees (501.) for conviction of the guilty parties. DESTRUCTIVE FlRE.—Yesterday (Christmay-day) morning about half-past 3 o'clock a fire was discovered by the police-constable on the beat, raging in the exten sive workshops belonging to Mr. Michael 11f ahoney, cabinet-maker, 31, Iligh-street, Iloxton Old Town. In formation of the occurrence . was without delay furnished to the several engine stations, and in a very short space of time five brigade engines and the West of England were on the spot. The one from Whitecross-street and another from Jeffery's-square, under the direction of Mr. Crookland, were speedily got to work ; and an abundant supply of water from the mains of the New River Com pany being readily furnished, the fire was confined to the building in which it originated. Before it was ex tinguished, however, the whole of the workshops, 40 feet long by 16 broad, with the contents and roof, were destroyed. Fortunately, the building was detached, - or the damage would have been still more serious, from the great body of fire in the building, and the great heat of the walla during the fire. The premises are insured in the West of England office. The origin of the fire is unknown. SUCCESS OF THE PENNY-A-MILE SYSTEM.—The alteration mac7oo in the fares and accommodation of the Eastern Counties Railway has been attended with the greatest success. Already two large omnibuses and coach have started in conjunction with the Company running from Ipswich to Colchester, and scarcely a day passes without every one of them being filled with pas sengers. In addition to these, a number of fast coaches run from Norwich and various other towns in the dis trict, and it is anticipated a few weeks more will see others on the road. The inhabitants of Ipswich look upon this as a surprising change, and no wonder, when it is considered that only two coaches passed through the town some few years back. As the spring ap proaches three or four more conveyanees will be started, and seeing that the experience of the last six weeks jus tifies the belief that the passenger traffic will, before tha* time, have been nearly doubled, there can be little doubt they will turn out profitable speculations. THE REFUGE FOE THE DESTITUTE.-FRAITING or THE POOR. —Yesterday being Christmas-day, the iu mates of the Asylum for the Refuge of the Destitute, ii Ylavhouse•yard, Whitecross-street, St. Luke's, received the following entertainment at the expense of the Society, exclusive of a butt of beer, which was forwarded gra tuitously by the Messrs. Whitbread and Co., the brewers, Chiswell-street. There were 450 of the houseless poor, men, women, and children, each of whom bad one pound of bread and half a pound of boiled beef. with a pint of beer, for dinner. In the afternoon the men also had a cup of coffee, and the women and children coffee and buns, with cheese at supper. 81r. Edwards, the Chair man of the Committee of the Institution ; the Secretary, Mr. Sard ; and the Superinttaident, were present during the distribution of the meals, the utmost order being ob served by the numerous recipients. In the forenoon Divine service was performed by the Rev. T. W. Edwards, the chaplain to the Institution, at which the Chairman attended. At this asylum, since the 7th of December, 1,683 of the destitute poor have been ad witted, the most of whom have been in repeatedly. At the asylums of the Society in Glasshouse-street, East Smithfield, and Ogle street, St. Mary lehone, the inmates, amounting to between 600 and 700, were also bountifully regaled in a similar way. Last year the Society ex pended above 6,000/. in its benevolent objects, but .its receipts amounted to no more than 2,500/. ; it was, in consequence, obliged to draw upon its funds. LLOYD'S.—The business of the Underwriting De partment of this establishMent commenced, at the Ned Royal Exchange for the first time, this morning. The area for the transaction of public business, is expected to be opened to merchants on the Ist of January.