The Sun. — London, England, 1850-12-24 00:00:00

ANOTHER PLATE ROBBERY. NOTTINGHAM, MONDAY.— This tote n has for several Weeks past been the scene of several robberies of plate, Jewellery, &c., and the manner in which ass entrance has been effected into the premises so nearly accords that the police authorities are of opinion that the whole of the burglaries have been committed by one and the same gang. The present robbery of jewellery, !Sze., took place on the prmises of Mr. Joshua Driver, Jeweller, &c., Long-row, Nottingham, last night (Sunday), and the plan by which the robbery was effected is extraordinary. Mr. Driver's hack premises are connected with the Crown Hotel yard, and it appears that the thieves scaled a very high wall in that yard, brcke a pane of glass in Mr. Driver's kitchen, and the aperture thus formed was sufficiently large to allow of a boy's body being put through. It la supposed that the lad, having thus gained admission, supplied the robbers with all the valuables he could lay his hands on. Mr. Driver does not sleep on the premises, and the boy had therefore the whole range of the premises with out fear of being disturbed. Amongst the property stolen were upwards of sixty valuable brooches, a number of Geneva watches, a quantity of costly chains and watch-guards, &c. The value of the pro perty stolen has not yet been ascertained ; but from the quantity of plate and jewellery scattered about the premises, there is every reason to suppose the rob bers were disturbed. Similar small apertures, allow ing just sufficient room for the body of a boy, were made on the premises of Mr. es ulley and Mr. Travell, at Nottingham, whose robberies were noticed in The Sun a short time ago. Another daring burglary was effected on the premises of the late Mayor of Nottingham (W. Roworth, Del ), of Sher- Wood Hill, near this town. This robbery took place yesterday morning, while the family were attending Divine worship, and althcugh the property stolen Was considerable, comprising a valuable assortment of plate and 271. in gold, the thieves in this case also are supposed to have been disturbed. A bur glary was also effected on the premises of Mr. Wil liams, bookseller, &c., Carlton-street, Nottingham, on Friday night, and gold to the amount of 151. and other valuable property stolen. The police are actively on the alert, and we trust the burglars will, ere long, be apprehended. The town and neighbour hood were never, at any former period, so infested With thieves. IRELAND. DUBLIN, MONDAY MORNING..—ENCUMBERED Es- TATES CouaT.—Baron Richards announced at the sitting of the court on Saturday that Mr. Woulfe Flanagan bad been appointed a " Master," in order further to facilitate the dispatch of business. The routine of his duties was stated by the Learned Baron, and were analogous to those performed by the Misters in Chancery. According to the Limerick Chronicle, the Right Rev. Dr. Ryan, Bishop of that diocese, has received a letter f rom M r . Willi am Mansell , M.P., notifying he pleasure be felt its communicating to the Bishop t he happy event of the writer having been received into the faith of the Catholic Church, and anticipat ing the satisfaction it would afford to his revered diocesan. STATE or TRADE.—The Customs' duties for the last week are 21,1001., of which 9,7001. is on tea, 5,10 0/. on tobacco, 3,400/. on sugar, and 2,600/. on Wine. Trade generally is rather dull considering the Beason. AGRICULTURE IN THE WEST.—The Ballinasloe Agricultural Society, of which the Earl of Clancarty Is president, have just issued their tenth annual re- Port, which, notwithstanding the many causes of de pression, presents upon the whole a favourable pros- Peet of the future. Spade husbandry has been en • eouraged to an immense extent, by which means a vLat pal of empl o y men t h as b e en given to the peasantr3 reparations are being made for a more extended eu:tivation of the flax crop, and the opening of the railway from Galway to Dublin in the course of the next twelve months cannot fail to be of great advan tage to the farmer, and must encourage the invest- E n, exit of capital in the improvement of the adjacent la n d s. T , rd; he -HE Poo.—During the whole of yesterday t: Metropolis was enveloped in a thick fog, which,:as evening approached, became so dense as to render passage through the streets a service of danger. At an early hour of the ev ening the omnibuses in many parts of the City and its suburbs ceased running, and even in the more open streets, such as Regent -street, for example, it was impossible to see fr omlamp to lamp. The ground also was in a most 114 1 0 Pery condition from the prevalence of a white frost; and the fog itself occasioned a most penetrating cold, Wh ich no amount of great-coat, cloak, or wrapper could keep ou t. On several of the lines of railway communication was for a time interrupted, and some collisions took place, alt hough none were, we believe, attended with loss of life. FOREIGN CATTLE.—The Lords of the Treasury pave granted to Mr. Hartley, the proprietor of the Dublin, p inaouth, and Cork Steam Wharf, the privilege of landing eagle and live stock at his wharf on importation from the co ntinent, on the distinct understanding, that if any addi l';onal expense be thereby incurred to the Crown, it be de ,,raYeel by the owner of the wharf, and that the internal ar rangements on the ssharf be made such as will a ff ord all the Laedities required in the lancing, and inspection of the catt le sad live stock on all occasions, if any alteration in the pre- V°A arrangement of the place should be found requisite. r eign cattle will now be allowed to be landed at the said 'when under the superintendence of the officers of the Water guard Department of the Customs, who will render an offi ✓ial return of the number landed on each occasion to the proper o ffi cer, the expenses of the attendance of the revenue tweet's before and after the legal hours or bus ness being for erne by the proprietor of the wharf, and also the expenses the official visits of the veterinary surgeon to inspect the cattle on importation, when that officer does not attend at any ether place for that purpose on behalf of the Crown on the sa me day. PENSIONS ON THE CIVIL LlST.—Pensions on the Ci vil List of 1001. a y ea r each have been granted to Mr. Petri e Petrie, LL.D., and to Mr. J. Kitto, M.D. M r. is a Member of the Royal Hibernian Academy o f , and Vice-President of the Royal Irish Academy of Scl ynces- lie is author of the well-known treaties on th e R ound Towers of Ireland," and of many other antiquarian Works. Dr. Kitto has been deaf and dumb from an accident W hen a b o y, i n sp i te o f w hi c h dif fi culties he travelled through ma nyv e lands in conuexion with the Missionary Society. b iblical his phy s i ca l f a ili ngs he has done much for the cause of t he lite ra t ure , an d i s th e au thor of many works, such as s '' e " Pictorial Bibl e ," " Hi s tory of Palestine," " Cyclopxdia I3iblical Literature," &c. RIbIREzzLEMENT OF 3,oool.—This serious offence .a s • e j ust been brought to light through the agency of the I _eurt of Bankruptcy. The steward of Lord Ilenley up to I Vt Month was William eygate. He was a farmer at att brd, and an extensive brickmaker at Chadstock, in lor setshire. In both these counties he collected the rents, 8 1 1 121 . 1 Perintende the various farms belonin to his Lord- IP- The greatest confidence was reposed g in g him, and at !tild be seen by the subsequent examination of his books, lost he had for some time abused his trust. Several omis -118 " encroachment rent" and other cash payments, on a c c ount of his Lordship, are altogether omitted. Heygate received from the farmers at Long Buckley, and other Laces in Northamptonshire, 1,2041. 17s. 9d. on the 6th of "ember last ; and at Chadstock he collected rents to the amount of 687/. Os. 91d. That is the extent of his delin quencies as sworn to by his Lordship, but his defalcations are reported to be of much larger extent. SOUTH E F ATAL CoLLIERY EXPLOSION AT MORFA, WALES. The inquest upon the body of James B."'re, one of the sufferers by this explosion, has been held efore Alexander Robertson, Esq., coroner, and a very re eeenc_table jury, at the Globe Inn, near Aberavon. The of the tending to show culpable neglect on the part of the 104Perintendent of the colliery, the jury returned the fol ing special verdict :—" We find that there is not suffi :Cu' evidence to warrant us in bringing in a verdict of man -21, tighter but upon the bare testimony of Foster himself he nighly censurable, and not worthy to hold the important -iteation he is entrusted with, and that this unanimous c einion of th e j ur y b e conveyed to the Messrs. Vivian and Sons, his employers, trusting that they will deal with him Sir • he case deserves. And we are further of opinion that if dumphry Davy's lamps were exclusively used, the unfor jlnate accident which has occurred would have been avoided. den al thirefore, that the death of James Squire was acci -1 THE ROYAL ACADEMY OF Music.—On Saturday i!st the election to the scholarships of this institution was de eG m 4l ,,ed by the examiners, Mr. Potter, Sir H. Bishop, Mr. Mr. Elliott, Mr. Lucas, Mr. H. T. Bennett, and M r. i j3l4 grove. The successful candidates were Miss E. Stn.- and Mr. W. 11. Aylward, an academy student. Mr. R. T he and Mr. Schroeder were also especially distinguished. - s ue meeting of the commissioners of the class for musical for for the Exhibition of the Industry of all nations w e , I ESI was held the same day, Sir H. Bishop presiding, wh en the necessary arrangements were made for the can didates,. SINGULAR CASE OF POISONING.—On Thursday a h ast M rs. H annah Pollard, a w i dow, 72 years of age, came to death under somewhat singular circumstances : —Her Veece, for some pu r pos es of confectionary, had purchased two r t nYworth of the essential oil of almonds, and having tasted tas te in rnotives of curiosity, and found it left an unpleasant in her mouth, mentioned the circumstance to her : s • nt who expressed a desire to taste the drug herself. The s _"all bottle containing the oil was handed to her, and she d wa llowed about two-thirds of the contents (fifteen or sixteen k i re l 3 s), and almost immediately dropped down dead, no 2111 st from the effects of the deadly poison she had so un wittingly drunk. SUSPECTED MURDER IN ,EAST-LOTHIAN.—About 2 4 e or ten months since a woman was found drowned in a quarry in the 'vicinity of Dunbar, under very suspicious cir cumstances. On examining the ground around the place, it b.. Wa s found that that there had been some struggling, and the ( 1 Y bore evidence of having sustained violence, which was lo account for its being put into the water. A respect tabie merchant in Dunbar, who was suppo. ed to have been onseen in that locality the previous evening, was apprehended v .,e,nspicion, and the most rigid investigation into the case failed, the view of establishing his guilt in the matter , having he was discharged by the order of the Crown agent. id town's folk were not so ready to exonerate him; the tinalty they iaflictwas the asing to d business with 0 7, and he bas no w ceasing become a ruined man in consequence In these suspicions; but it will be satisfactory for the corn unity to know, and no small consolation to him, that the *teeny guilty persons are in the course of being traced out by authorities. The relatives of the woman, who are rather notorious characters, having differed at some of their late carousals had commenced to accuse one another of the deed , 'or 'otherwise let slip something concerning it—information of reached the hearing of the authorities, and the parties hake been been apprehended.-- Cakdonian Mercury. _ViJRIOUS CIRCUMSTANCE —A person having pur sed some fresh herrings on Friday, found in one of them `si e `l! l `4" neat figure of a child with book on knee, reading. , 1 7 1 1gure - is rather less than a square inch, carved in a flinty Quulloafnee* Such a morsel may have bee nibbled in the 4soaf._. Venice ; or at the mouth of the Ti b er! —.Ellittimrylt THE SUN, THE PA CIFIC- SOUTHAMPTON, DEC. 23.—8 y the Royal Mail steamer Avon we have received our usual advices from the various Pa( ific ports. The dates from Val paraiso are to the 26th of October. The British mail steamer Chile arrived from Callao on the 6:h with specie value 96,000 dolls. on freight; the Peru arrived on the 21st with 325,500 dolls , of which 300,000 dolls. were the productions of the silver mines of Copiapo. The American ship Virginia arrived on the 16th with 75,000 dolls. in gold dust from San Francisco. In political affairs there was no novelty. The expected extra session of Congress had not taken place. The Finance Minister had visited Valparaiso, and a permission to bond sugar in that port had been granted. Don Vincente Perez had been named, by, a decree of the 1 ith of October, agent for the coin ' nizstion of Valdivia, and was about to take up his residence there to afford assistance to emigrants, a great many of whom were expected from Germany and from various parts of Europe. A company had been formed in Valparaiso, to whom the Chilian Go vernment had granted a contract for the settlement and cultivation of the island of Juan Fernandez, with the exclusive privilege of occupying it for a specified term of years. A regular communication with this island was to be established, and advantages held out to emigrants. The iMercurio of Valparaiso gives the following resume of the commerce of the re public:— " The imports of foreign merchandise during the first three montils of the pi esent year amounted to 2,778,666 dolls. " The exports of fruits and national produce amounted, during the same three months, to 2,369,528 dolls., to which must be added 322,951 dolls, of foreign merchandi,e. " Consequently there was a perfect balance between the imports and the exports of the first quarter of this year. _ _ _ " England, as usual, figures in the first line of all the nations with whom we hold commercial connexions. The English imports, during the quarter, amount to 948,802 dolls.—nearly 1,000,000 dolls. The national exports to England amount to 748 , 884 dolls. " California occupies the next place, whence we have received in gold during the three months 475,201 dolls., and from our ports have been shipped in effects 475,975 dolls., of which the sum of 540,961 dolls. is Chilian produce. "North America, including California, is our grerdest consumer, as England is our prim ipal purveyor. In the first quarts r England imports 948,802 dolls., and ex ports 748,884 dolls.; the United States imports 684,528 dolls., and exports 94,179 dolls." The department of public credit in Santiago had given notice that the funds of the 3 per cent. home debt, consolidated up to the 9th Oct.,amounted to 1,765,925 dolls., from which had been liquidated 301,075 dolls., leaving in circulation 1,464,880 dolls. The rains this year had been unusually heavy, and in the south of Chili great distress prevailed. In the Chilian papers the subject of coinage was under frequent discussion, and much was said about the relative value of silver and gold. The Valparaiso Neighbour of the 24th of October contains an article, recommending the estab lishment of an efficient mail communication between Chili and the United States by American packets, ria Panama. The Valparaiso Mercantile Reporter publishes a paragraph detailing the steps taken to establish the proposed Santiago and Valparaiso Rail way. Part of the line had been inspected by Mr. Allan Campbell, who proposed to lay the line by way of Concon, Quillota, and .San Felipe. From Peru we learn that the candidates for the Presidential chair are Echenique, Vivanco, Osma, and Elias, the first of whom it would appear com mands a mijority in the south of the Republic, although at present it is a mere matter of conjecture as to who will he the successful aspirant. Business wears but a gloomy aspect, although the markets are well supplied. The uncertainty of affairs in Bolivia is sensibly felt; nor can we anticipate brighter prospects until confidence in that Govern ' merit is re-established. Our accounts from Bolivia state that General Belzu was progressing favourably. A permanent court martial was sitting, from whose sentence there was no appeal. Colonel Laguna, President of the Senate, has been found guilty as an accomplice in the at• tempted assassination, and was shot on the 19th of September. Seven deputies, leaders of the Opposi tion, had been arrested, and it was feared would be condemned to the same fate by the same court. Ar rests and sentences of banishment were matters of daily occurrence, but tha principal conspirators were supposed to be lying concealed at Sucre, with the exception of Morales and Lopez, who it was thought had crossed the frontier at Tarija. Reports had been circulated that General Ballivian had made his ap pearance on the southern frontier at the head of 1,000 men, but nothing certain is known. The French corvette &dense, 25, arrived at Val paraiso, on the sth of October, from Talcahuano. The French corvette Capricieuse, 26, arrived on the 13th, from the same port, and sailed on the 16th for China. The United States store-ship Fredonia sailed on the 10th, for the United States. The American corvette Preble sailed on the 22d. The Hamburg barque Steinwaerder, from Cuxhaven, with emigrants from Valdivia, was seen in distress, and in a dangerous state, in the latitude of Cape Horn, by an English ship arrived at Valparaiso. COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE. VALPARAISO, OCT. 26. (From the Valparaiso Mercantile Intelligencer.) Our market during the entire mouth ha; been inac tive, and without animation, so that the hopes enter tained in our last report for a bettcr trade have not been realized. The chief causes of this inactivity we ascribe to the following motives : The orders for Bolivia, one of our principal customers, have not been executed, owing to the critical and un settled state of that country. The same remark is also applicable to Peru, where little will be done until after the Presidential election. The unprecedented long rainy season and the consequent bad state of the roads have prevented our smaller dealers from tho interior making their purchases, as they were wont to do, in the month of October. The season for shipping to California has too far advanced, and little has been done to that country. The only sales of any moment have been effected for Mexico at the beginning of the month, con sisting of 400,000 yards 36 inch white shirting, at Bc. to Bic., and 1,700 pieces of platillas at 4 dolls. Prints for home consumption in good patterns realize fair prices, but old patterns are without demand. Cotton drills, which are not abundant in the market, have fetched 160. to 20c. in bond, but only a small quantity, say 100,000 yard, have been placed during the month. English demins are gaining ground in the market, and preforred to the American dealing. Some sales have been effected at 13c. to 13ic., whereas the Americans cannot be sold under 14c. to 15c. The stock of bed-ticks is small in first hands. The stocks in general, however, in first, as well as in second bands, are not considerable, prices are firm, and the country being in a peaceful and prosperous state a good home trade during the next month must necessarily follow. We have had our price current revised, but from the above reasons we only find a few alterations in prices. Our quotations of sugar will be found 12 t o 15 per cent. lower than last prices owing to heavy importations, amounting to 8,000 barrels during the month, 24,004 arrobas of which have been dispatched for home con- sumption. Coffee may be quoted at 10 dulls. 3c.; sales limited:to about 20,000 quintals. Saltpetre—Firm at 14 reds. and little stock on hand. Ccnception Flour—ls firm at our quotation, and has undergone no change. The contractors are selling here for home consump ti,n at 7 dolls. at six months' credit, and are shipping from Talcahuano to Califirnia in proportion to its de mand. The crop promises to be good, though we have had heavy rains in the south, but the grain not having far enough advanced no injury has been done as yet. We have only few vessels in the bay, but as little freight is offering prices keep down to our quotation in the Price Current— Copper in bars, 14.50 14.62 on board. Copper ores, 2.50; 25 per cent. Gold above ley, 11. Silver in bars, 9.7; all in the market bought up. Hard dollars, premium, 6-k: all in the market bought up. Exchange on London, 46-90 days. Freights—To Liverpool, 3/. 10?. 6d.; France, 95f. to 100 f.; Continental, 41.4'.; London, 31. 12s. 6d.; San Francisco ps., 16 dolls. to 17 dolls, to load in Talca huano, 3/. 10s. to 31. 15s. to load guano fir a direct Lott, 3/. 12s. 6d. to 31. 17s. 6d. to load in Paquica for orders in the Channel to a safe port—A 1 English vessels. Importation of gold dust from California during the month, 100,000 dolls. CASE OF DEATH BY AN INFURIATED BULLOCK.— Yesterday evening an inquest, adjourned from Thursday last, was concluded on the body of Thomas Fagan, labourer, who was gored in the abdomen by a bullock; on Month) , last, and whose death took place on the following Wednes day. The inquiry was adjourned to give the police an op portunity of discovering the owner or the drover of the animal. Evidence as to the circumstance of the accident having been given, policeman INl'Donald, G 150, said that he had not been able to discover either the drover or owner of the animal, which was still impounded in the parish of Islington. There were the letters" E. B." with two clips on the upper part of the B cut in the near hind quarter Frederick White, sergeant in the City police, said if a sales man sells a beast that is wild, he is liable to a penalty. He thought that the animal would not be owned in con sequence of the liabilities to which the owner would be sub ject from the extensive injury done by the beast. The jury said that they considered an adjournment unnecessary. Ver dict—" Accidental death." The animal is worth al.)(,ut 251. ENTHRONISATION OF THE NEW ROMAN CATHOLIC Bismor of CLIFTON. —On Sunday week, much to the surprise of even the Roman Catholic congregation pre sent, who had no previous notice of the new Bishop of Clifton, Dr. Hendren, was enthroned at the Church of the Holy Apostles, Meridian-place, with no pomp whatever beyond the ordinary routine of investiture, &c. Bristol Journal. SHADWELL Cnuaca. —We understand that the Bishop of Ripon has positively forbidden the continuance of the objectionable observances introduced into the services by the incumbent, and which formed the ground of com plaint to the bishop. It is to be hoped that the incumbent will not only obey the injunctions of his bishop in this re spect, but will confine his preaching and teaching to the pure Word c f God, and that the introduction of Romish doctrine into a Protestant church will no longer be practised, as it will certainly bo no louger.tolerated,—Leeds Mercury. LONDON, TUESDAY EVEN LNG, DECEMBER 24, 1850, CHRISTMAS BOOKS. THE STORY OF JACK AND THE GIANTS illustrated by Richard Doyle. Relieved from his weekly drudgery as a carica • turist, our inimitable draughtsman, the worthy son of a worthy sire, is now dedicating his abilities to the embellishment of the lovely literature of childhood. Jack the Giant-Killer, the most redoubtable of all the knights of the round table, at least in the estimation of our boyhood, has been selected by Richard Doyle as his subject for illustration. Aided by a pencil of such peculiar grace and fancy the nursery tale as • sumes to itself a new and irresistible fascination. Insomuch that we doubt exceedingly whether even an octogenarian could deny himself the gratification of a sly peep once more into those pages which years and years ago he had thumbed and dogseared. The terrible deeds of the giant-killer are pourtrayed here, indeed with a vividness beyond all misapprehension. From the first time we ever, to our recollection, witnessed any pencillings similar to these—namely in some of the daintiest woodcuts in the " Chimes " of Charles Dickens—we have not failed to recognise the genius of Richard Doyle in the embellishment of ima ginative fiction. Since then his hand has acquired the firmness and facility of a master. Once or twice, as in the vignettes scattered through the "Jar of Honey from Mount Ily hie," by Leigh Hunt, he has displayed a power peculiarly his own, or shared at least only by the great designer Retsch—that of deli neating more in mere outline than other artists might do with the most detailed and elaborated pictures. Here again somewhat of the same adroitness is re vealed—several of the initial letters being incom parable specimens of the style of drawing alluded to. The little sketches, for example, of Jack reposing on the colossal head of one of his defunct antagonists, of Jack measuring himself by the legs of another such monster of humanity, of Jack being dubbed a knight by King ,Arthur, of Jack going with company to court in the guise of chivalric equestrians, and of Jack slaking his thirst after many heroic achievements, are conceived and executed in this graceful and suggestive manner. Some, however, of the larger illustrations are of a very superior character, and in their way indeed may be considered as very masterpieces. Instance this the representation of the deceitful civility of the Welsh Giant—the mouths of the two-headed monster grinning with assumed cour tesy and at the same time running over with the avidity of its appetite. Cormoran, again, carrying off his booty, is admirably delineated. Jack slaying the other giant, who is dragging along by the hair of their heads a knight and his beautiful lady, is a sketch peculiarly vigorous ; as is also the fore shortened figure of the titan from whose grasp the little hero is rescuing some other unfortunates. The finest of all these embellishments, however, has not yet been mentioned—namely, the one at page 47, where Jack makes sport of his enormous antagonist ,before luring him on to the drawbridge. The huge and muscular form of the giant is pencilled with a master hand. Throughout the whole story Richard Doyle has caught the spirit of the original narra tor, whoever he may be, calling back to our remem brance all those wonderful incidents of hair--breadth danger escaped, which thrilled to the marrow of our bones in childhood. Under his guidance we listen once again with a recollection of former awe to the thunderous footsteps of the Giant Cormoran in his flounderings into the pit covered over,with leaves--we recall the familiar distich ushering in the later feats of Jack : " This is the valiant Cornish man, Who slew the Giant Cormoran. We remember his putting the wooden billet into his bed, and crouching in the corner, when the deceitful giant, among the Welsh mountains, tried to pummel him to death in the darkness. We remember the inquiry of the astonished host next morning—" Pray, how did you sleep last night ? Did you hear or see any thing in the dead of the night ?" " Nothing worth speaking cf,” says Jack, carelessly ; " a rat, I be lieve, gave me three or four flaps with his tail, but I soon went to sleep again." Then the hasty pudding for breakfast ! And Jack's leathern bag—filled and cut open, with the contents dropping down on the ground! And the Giant's " Odds splutters hur bur can do that hurself!" Who does not call all these things to mind ? Who is not still sufficiently a child at heart to smile at the recollection—and that neither sardonically nor derisively ? For bringing these pleasant memories of childhood back upon us thus agreeably at Christmas, we thank Richard Doyle. For under the magic of his pencil the dead delights of boyhood seem once more to assume an air of vi tality—" and rustling through the dust of years, come back green leaves of yesterday." What drawings might we not expect from the same artist on such a theme as Little Red Riding Hood or as Jack and the Bean Stalk. We hope to see the notion realized by their ultimate publication ; for as an illus trator of fary tales Richard Doyle is not only un approached but unrivalled. TABLE-TALK. By Leigh Hunt. What a glorious volume for Christmas! A book of table- talk, and by Leigh Hunt ! The very title is like the conjurement of a large-handed, warm-hearted friend, to the chimney corner. It is like having a chair wheeled into the favourite ingle nook for a dear old favourite, at once wise and merry. We welcome this contribution to our winter crop of lite rature as, perhaps of all, - ,the most genial and the most seasonable. Now that Dickens has refrained again from giving us one of his beautiful little rose-coloured volumes, embellished, as of yore, by Daniel Maclise and Clarkson Stanfield, by Doyle and by Leech—we can hold out both our hands in welcome to the coming of Leigh Hunt. Under any aspect he must have been hailed in truth as well met, but most of all under one so familiar and colloquial. For his books of criticism we thank him cordially ; for his table talk we are in a manner grateful. Turning over the volume we are charmed by the diversity of the sub j‘scts touched upon, " from grave to gay, from lively to severe," from north to south, from east to west, from winter and summer, from spring and autumn, the rare old veteran turns to us ever with a smile upon his face, sometimes light, and sometimes solemn, but al ways radiant, and on his lips a word of wisdom tasting of the honey of kindness, or of the salt of knowledge. What an exquisite saying that is, for example, at page 135, on the " Countenance after Death "—" A corpse seems as if it suddenly knew everything, and was profoundly at peace in conse quence." Listen to his story again of HOW LAWYERS GO TO HEAVEN. " There is a pleasant story of a lawyer, who, being refused entrance into heaven by St. Peter, contrived to throw his hat inside the door; and then, being permitted by the kind saint to go in and fetch it, took advantage of the laWr's fixture as doorkeeper, to refuse to come back again." What a beautiful thought, too, is that on THE SUN. "No mystery in creation need sadden us, as long as we believe nothing of the invisible world interior to what the visible proclaims. Life and geniality predo minate; death is brief; pain fugitive; beauty universal; order paramount and everlasting. What a shame to know that the sun, the greatest visible object in our universe, combines equal gentleness with power, and does us nothing but good, and at the same time to dare to think worse of its Maker." How deliciously comic, again, that definition of the " bagpipes"—" An air played on the bagpipes, with that detestable, monstrous drone of theirs for the bass, is like a tune tied to a post." Marken to his glorious panegyric on Bacon in a prose epigram— " If," says he, " I were asked to describe Bacon as briefly as I could, I should say that he was the libera tor of the hands of knowledge." Among the different celebrities passed under somewhat the same epigram matic treatment, we recognize those of Cicero and Waller, Handel and Montaigne, Raphael and Alxeen as. Handel he calls " the Jupiter of music ;" Voltaire " the god a cleverness ;" .otway "the poet of sen sual pathos." Added to the miscellaneous table-talk f orm i r g the principal portion of the volume, are a dialogue between Pope and Swift, and a colloquy in which the former is the principal interlocutor—both after the fashion of those " imaginary conversations" which have been rendered popular by the skill of Savage Landor. These, however, with all Landor's skill, have a genial tone about them which that heavy, deep-mouthed Bceotian could never hope to evidence. The volume before us must be commended to all lovers of literary excellence as a work in all respects worthy of Leigh Hunt, worthy of him who has taken as the purpose of his weekly miscellany the cul tivation of the Memorable, the Progressive, and the Beautiful. PILGRIMAGES TO ENGLISH SHRINES. By Mrs. S. C. Hall. An elegant contribution to the table of the library, the boudoir, or the drawing-room, written by Mrs. S. C. Hall and illustrated by F. W. Fairholt, must ssuredly be welcomed as a treasure of letters at Christmas. The contents of the hook under conside ration will be remembered by all who have scanned the pages of the Art Journal, they having been for the most part previously issued in instalments through the pages of that splendid and meritorious publica tion. From month to month, as those different instal ments appeared, we took occasion to mention them as deserving of the highest eulogium both for their literary and artistic merit, but, bove all, for their an tiquarian research. Among the different shrines visited in the course of these delightful: pilgrimages none,have been uninvested with interest, most of them have been in the highest degree attractive, and several have been utterly exhausted to all other curi ous arclimdlogists. Not a stone of any import relating to any o f the birthplaces or burial•places of the personages passed under review is forgotten either by the author or her attendant limner. Accompa nied by them we travel about England in all ima ginable directions, now entering the printing-office of Caxton, now the abode of Marvel, now the dwell ing of Barry, now the studio of Gainsborough, meet ing in one quarter with the ghost of Hannah More and in another with the shade of Hsmpden. Occa sionally in turning over the !eaves of the volume we light upon some delineation, for the accuracy of which we ours e l ves cou ld persona ll y vouch, seeing that the localities survive also in our own recollec tion. As a testimony of this we would direct espe cial attention to the woodcuts adorning Airs. S. C. Hall's charming paper upon "Chatterton." The old munirnent room has been sketched by Mr. Fairholt with admirable exactitude—also the tomb of Canynge—and we might say doubtless each of the other exquisite embellishments. The notion of the work, if we remember rightly, has been already carried out in the " Homes and Haunts" penned by William Howitt, a delightful and intel ligent compilation. In the present volume the most prominent mistake is, to our thinking, the absence of all order in the selection of the shrines to which the author and artist make their pilgrimage. The sub jects, indeed, would appear to have been chosen hap hazird, and hence, IA hen collected into a volume, seem to be rather scrambled than grouped together. This may be recognised at a glance, when we remark that Gray is placed cheek- by•jowl with Sir Thomas Gresham, John Kyrie with: Gainsborough, and Dr. Watts with Barry. As far as the display of sympathies is concerned, it must be confessed that those are eclectic enough in all conscience, but their eclecticism amounts, in the end, to something little short if confusion, contradiction, and bewilderment. As is is, v, e can sclreely bring ourselves to enter any exception whatever to a book so fascinating in its idea and its treatment. All faults of arrangement are forgotten in admiration at the skill with which Mrs. Hall and Mr. Fairholt have woven together their evi dences of homage for departed greatness. These " wanderings of a pen and pencil" are somewhat more to the purpose than others adventured upon ra ther earlier by Alfred Crowquill and his companion, and in the whole volume we observe an enthusiasm and an earnestness such as perforce elicit from us words of the most cordial commendation. ELIZA COOK'S JOURNAL. No. LXXXVI. A Chriitmls number of this popular miscellany, with four capital effusions by Eliza Cook herself, ap propriate to the season in their character, is surely another boon from the printing-press in these lounging times of holiday. Foremost among the charms of the number are three more poems re-issued from the editor's collected writings, and these three her songs of " Christmas Holly," and " Christmas Tide," and " Winter is H ere ." Add e d t o w hi ch we have soma exhilarating verses bight "Home for the Holidays," from which we transcribe the following : " Thank goodness, we shan't have to study and stammer, From nine till ten, over that nasty French Grammar; Lectures and classes, and lessons, are done, And now w e 'll h ave not hi ng b ut frolic aud fun; Home for the Holidays, here we go; But this Fast train is really exceedingly slow! " We shall have sport when Christmas comes, When 'snap-dragon' burns our finger and thumbs; We'll have the Polka they taught us last, And make the blind fiddler play it fast ; We'll hang mistletoe over our dear little cousins, And pull them beneath it, and kiss them by dozens; We shall have games at Blind-man's Butl;' And noise and laughter, and romping enough; We'll crown the plum-pudding with bunches of bay, And roast all the chesnuts that come in our way; And when Twelfth-night falls, we'll have such a cake, That as we stand rout.d it the table shall quike; We'll draw King and Queen„ and be happy together, And dance old Sir Rogtd with hearts like a feather; Home for the Holidays, here we go; But this Fast train is really exceedingly slow!" Prose contributions of a no less app ropr i a t e an d seasonable kind are c o mprised in the Christmas num ber of Eliza Cook's Journal. _First among these let us mention, "A Christmas Memory." " The Footfall of Winter," , with its delightful quotations from Spenser and Chatterton and Southey, will be read with zest ; as also the brave lines by John Critchley Prince on Christmas. Besides these, there are also contained in the number before us a story called " The Blind Man's Guide," some " Diamond Dust," and a second chapter of the tale, entitled fif,er its heroine, " Alice Vaughan." To all holiday folks of either sex, of old and young, we commend the portion here particu larised of this favourite periodical. PUNCHS ALMANACK FOR 1851. In consequence of the recent withdrawal of Richard Doyle from his important share in the illustration of the " London Charivari," John Leech has had to tax bi 3 pencil of merriment to the very utter most. All but the first page, emblematic of the twelve months, is the produce of this one artist, unaided in any, except the literary, department. Although, occasionally, we cannot but perceive signs of the exaggeration consequent on an exhaustion of drollery from over-work, several of the comic illustrations are really capital, as for instance the in dignant look of the little boy, who is shown his bed in the chest of drawers. There is a certain similarity between the notion of this "cut," and of the drawing by Michael Angelo Titmarsh," Schlafen sie wohl" in Mr. Thackeray's new book about the Kickleburys. Mr. Briggs on his shooting pony, on the first of Sep tember, is a glorious conceit, as are likewise those relating to the possible consequences of the next year's Exhibition. Several of the minor literary wit ticisms, moreover, are especially ludicrous, such for example as the inquiry "How many clods make a wiseacre," or the remark referring to hats, "It is a significant sign of the times, that the wide-awake is superseding the nap." if, in short, Mr. Punch has failed in equalling many of his previous achieve ments of a .like kind, be has, nevertheless, produced for 1851 a very quaint and humorous almanack. THE ILLUSTRATED LONDON NEWS. A Christmas number of the Illustrated London News can never fail to arrest our observation, more espe cially when it comes before us, like the present, in vested with such a variety of attractions. Here we have, for instance, besides a diversity of other good things, a ballad, " Smile Old 'Winter," the words by Mackay, and the music by Blewitt ; an exquisite prologue to a "Masque," by Barry Cornwall; an ad mirable song about Christmastide, from the pen of Mary Howitt ; a story about " The Sick Giant and Doctor Dwarf," by Douglas Jerrold, with illustra tions by William Harvey ; together with other en gravings drawn by Foster, Mahony, Weir, Phiz, Gilbert, Duncan, Leech, and Crowquill. Ocher literary contributors of note figure, moreover, in the decoration of this magnificent gift number of the illustrated newspaper —such men as John Timbs, as Montalba, as John Oxenford, and various others too numerous to particularise. One of the most excellent of all the illustrations is the pi c t u re of the "Crow boy's Luncheon," by H a bl ot Knight Brown, the in comparable " I)uncan's sketch of the " Road side Scene," and Leech's sketch of "The Lonely Bachelor," are also admirable. The entire Christmas number is a splendid evidence of enterprise. THE CONTESTED WARDS. The following is the rosultofthe election for Com mon Councilmen in the contested wards of the city f London, yesterday : Ttio new candidates are distinguished by an as terisk (*). BILLINGSGATE (Eight Alembert).—Mr. Phillipps, 100; Mr. Bowes, 89; Mr. Williams, 88; Mr. Curling (deputy), 84; Mr. Roberts, 83; Mr. Knell, 80; Mr. Cruston, 78; Mr. Baint s, 77; *Mr. Gibi s, 56; *Mr. Graves, 51. CASTLE BAYNARD (Eight).—Mr. Hicks (deputy), 98; Mr. Muggrridge, 98; Mr. Catlin, 96; Mr. Barber, 95; Mr. Bailey, 95 ; Mr. Hoppe, 92; Mr. Fa: Tar, 88; Mr. A. Adlaid, 88; *Mr. U. HavtkitlP, 37; *Mr. T. Parlor, 30. CHEAP (Eight).—Mr. Watson, 199 ; Mr. Barnes, 99; Mr. feat!, 94 ; Mr. Hicit;on, 93 ; Mr. Oliver, 93 ; Mr. Fanning (deputy ), 90 ; Mr. Houghton, 89; Mr. Thorp, 86; *Mr. Bennett, 48; *Mr. Stewart, 39. FA MUNCH_ N «ITIIIv (Fount en). Mr. Eagleton (dcPuly), 186 ; Mr. Holt, 195 ; Mr. M.'Gregor, 161 ; Mr. Virtue, 161 ; Mr. M'Luuchlan, 152 ; Mr. B. S. Phillips, 154 ; Mr. C. Phillips, 151 ; Mr. Heaps, 151 ; Mr. Bake, 142 ; Mr. Rutter, 152 ; Mr. Young, 144 ; Mr. Morris, 136 ; Mr. Humplreys, 133 ; Mr. Nichol son, 130 ; Mr. Wheeler, 129 ; Mr. Hartley, 83. FARRINCDON WITHOUT (Skit en).—The two new eandidgtes were rejected, Clemow polling 195 only, and Mas•erman, 35. Lees, the lowest on the poll of the old members of the Common Council, obtained 214 votes. PORTSOYEN (Eight).—Messrs. Vile, Davies, and Annie, the new candidates were all returned. Mr. Jutsum, a former membar, was rejected. MEL4NCHOLY ACCIDENT.—On Thursday morning Mr. Dudgeon, forester and gamekeeper on the estate of Leatharn, was found drowned in a mill-pond of Ugstonrigg, a few miles to the west of Haddlington. It is supposed by some that while engaged in his duty of protecting the game he had gone too near the edge of the pond, and had slipped his footing: while others will have it that he had been en gaged with poachers, and that they, while endeavouring to effect their escape, had, in the struggle that ensued, thrust him into the pond ; but this is not borne out by any evidence. —Edinburgh Witness. ANOTHER ACCIDENT FROM FIRE ARMS—while an actress, named Miss Brown, one of the corps dramatique in Mr. Bostock's theatrical booth, on the Green of Girvap, was engaged in the performance, on the evening of the 10th icstant, a pistol, loaded, but only with powder, we presume, was taken up carelessly by one of the actors, who was stand ing close beside the lady, on the back part of the stage, and going off by accident, the discharge and wadding came full in the direction of her ear. She uttered a piercing cry and fell down. Medical aid was instantly sent for, and until the extent of the injury was ascertained, great alarm was felt by both the audience and performers, as it was for some time believed sha was killed outright. Fortunately, however, the wound is not dangerous, and although suffering con siderably, and not unlikely to bear the marks of the awkward accident, the young lady is recovering.—Ayr Advertiser. WINCHESTER COLLEGE.—THE GODDARD SCHO• LARSHIP.—This scholarship, the examination for which has just ended, has been adjudged to Edward C. Wickham (scholar). The examiners were the Rev. W. E. C. Austen, M.A., Fellow of New College, and the Rev. W. Bright, Fellow and Tutor of University College, Oxford. The prize annually given by the liberality of Mr. Philip B. liuncan, formerly Fellow of New College, for the encouragement of the study of the mathematical sciences, has, after the usual examination, been also awarded to the same scholar. THE COLOSSEUM OPENING OF THE NEW PANORAMA 0 THE LAKE OF THUN. We were last evening favoured with a private view of the new Panorama of the Lake of Triun, painted by Messrs. Danson and Son, and which will be opened to the public on Thure day. This magnifi cent work of art occupies the w hole of the immense rotunda of the Colosseum, and is of the same size is the panoramas of London and of Paris. The pwse,s sion of this immense space is of incalculable advan tage iu the delineation of the sublime scenery of Switzerland, where every natural olject is on a scale of immense magnitude, and this panorama of the Lake of Thus, therefore, gives, as might have been expected from its colossal size, a more just and adequate idea of the ensemble of Swiss scenery than any other similar exhibition that has as yet been presented to the publi3 ; for its accuracy we can vouch from our own personal know ledge of the locality. There is the quaint old town of Thun (from the northward of which the panorama is taken), with its picturesque old buildings and its elegant villas and cottages ; there is the lake, small though it be, yet one of the most beautiful in Switzerland, dotted with boats and steamers ; there are the sublime Alps of the Bernese Oberland in the distance, shutting in the valley and the lake ; and among them we distin guish the Wisterhorn, the Finsterhorn, and the Jungfrau, rendered classical to the lover of English poetry as the scene of Byron's Manfred, and here is Interlachen, the frequented of the tourist. The panorama is an accurate transcript of some of the most beautiful scenery of Switzerland, and is, as a work of art, decidedly the chef d'ceuvre of Denson. During the short recess the whole of the interior of this magnificent establishment has been restored and redecorated. The conservatories have received several valuable additions; the magnificent Hall of Sculpture has been completely re-decorated; the Swiss cottage and waterfall, the aviary, the Stalactite Cavern, and the silver mine have all been renovated, and the as cending room has been newly fitted up. The Colos seum will, we opine, form one of the most attractive of the Christmas exhibitions. THE EXHIBITION OF 1851. VISIT OF THE QUEEN. At a quarter before eleven o'clock yesterday morning the contractors of the great Exhibition building received an intimation to the effect that at eleven o'clock precisely her Majesty, accompanied by Prince Albert, would pay a visit to the works. No time was lost in preparing, as far as possible, for the Queen's reception ; but beyond laying down a few planks along the muddy avenues it was impossible for the authorities to perfect any arrangements. At eleven precisely the workmen were gathered in a crowd about the entrance, and the Queen's carriage came up amid loud cheers and other demonstrations of hearty loyalty. Oa alighting her Majesty was received by the follow ing ge ntlemen, representing the Royal Commissioners, with Lord Granville at their head :—Mr. Cubitt, Colonel Reid, Mr. Cole, Mr. C. Wentworth Dilke, Dr. Playfair, Colonel Lloyd, Mr. C. Wild, Mr. Owen Jones, and Mr. M. Digby Wyatt. Mr. Paxton and Messrs. Fox and Henderson, the contractors, were also present. This was her Majesty's first visit to the works, and her expressions of hearty ad miration were frequent. Her Majesty's attention was particularly drawn to the men employed upon the transept; and while her Majesty was on the ground the first panes of glass were fixed in this part of the building. On leaving the ground, after a stay of an hour's duration, the royal party were loudly cheered by the workmen. After the departure of her M jesty Lord Granville clia.bed to the highest scaffolding in the building with the object of getting a view of the entire works; other eminent men have, in their en thusiasm, we are informed, dared the giddy height and defied the muddy ladders. On the 26th of September the first column of the building was fixed in its place, and on the 26th of this month the contractors have determined to fix the last; on this day, also, the last girder will be fixed, and after a few days' labour on the part of the gla ziers the great structure, to all external appearance, will be finished. On the 31st, as we have already stated, the Society of Arts have been invited to hold a meeting in the building; we may add, that an emi nent professor of mechanics, of King's College, London, will read to the meeting a scientific lecture on the mechanics and economy of the building. The rooms erected near the transept, for the Royal Com missioners, are commodious as well as numerous. COURT CIRCULAR. WINDSOR, Dim 23. Her Majesty and his Royal Highness Prince Albert, attended by the Hon. Miss Macdonald and the Hon. Miss Cavendish (Maids of Honour in Waiting), and Colonel Hon. Charles Grey and Col. Bouverie (the Equerries in Waiting), left the Castle at ten o'clock this morning for London. Her Majesty and his Royal Highness and suite travelled by a special train on the Great Western Railway, and on reaching the Paddington terminus entered two of the royal carriages, and proceeded to the building in Hyde-park for the Exhibition of the Works of Industry of all Nations in 1851. Lieutenant-Colonel Reid, R.E., Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Royal Commission, re ceived the Queen and the Prince, and conducted her Majesty through the different parts of the building. After inspecting the building for the Exhibition, the Queen and Prince Albert went to Gloucester House Piccadilly, to pay a visit to h e r R o y a l High ness the Duchess of Gloucester. Soon after twelve o'clock her Majesty and Prince Albert drove from Gloucester House to the Padding ton terminus, and, attended by the Hon. Caroline Cavendish, Hon. Flora Macdonald, Colonel the Hon. Charles Grey, and Colonel Bouverie, left by a special train on the Great Western Railway, and returned to the Castle at ten minutes before one o'clock. The Royal Family took their accustomed airings in the Slopes and Windsor•park. Lord and Lady Ashley and Lieutenat Colonel Reid, R.E., took their departure from the Castle to day. The Royal dinner circle this evening will include her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, Lady Fanny Howard, Baroness de Speth, the Earl of Lin coln, Lieutenant-Colonel C. B. and Mrs. Phipps. Her Majesty's private band attend in the Castle after dinner. Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cambridge visited her Royal Highness the Duchess of Glouces • ter yesterday, at Gloucester House. The Right Hon. Lord Ernest Bruce, M.P. (on be half of the Marquis of Ailesbury), attended at the Home-office yesterday, and delivered loyal and duti ful addresses against the late Papal aggression, for presentation to her Majesty through the Right Hon. Sir George Grey, from the mayor, aldermen, town council, and other inhabitants of the borough of Marlborough; from the rector of St. Peter's Marl borough ; from the ancient borough of Great Bedwyn; and from sixteen adjacent parishes in the county of Wilts. Mr. Alderman Salomons attended at the Home office yesterday, to deliver, through Secretary Sir George Grey, an address against Papal Aggression, from the Ward of Cordwainers, for presentation to the Queen. Mr. Thomas Johnson attended yesterday at the Home-office, to deliver, through Sir George Grey, an address on the Papal Aggression from Runcorn (Cheshire), for presentation to her Majesty. A deputation, consisting of Messrs. William Routh and Ravenshaw (Directors of the new British Iron Company), and Mr. Robert Roy (Director of the Shrewsbury and Chester Railway Company), had an interview with the Commissioners of Railways yesterday, at their office in the Board of Trade. Dispitches were received yesterday at the Colonial office from the Governors of the North American Provinces. SPORTING INTELLIGENCE. TAT FERSALL'S—YESTERDAY. Business yesterday was not of a character to call fur more than an:enurne ation of the bets:— CHESTER CUP. 500 to 10 apt Lord Cl:film's Walifl , wer—taken 600 to 10 ag,t Mr. Meiklam's Reby—taken 1,000 to 20 agst Mr. Howard's Brother to Dough—t 1,000 to 15 agst Mr. J. Scott's Clinchtr—taken 1,000 to 15 agst Sir J. B. Mills' Won't-you-come-out -to-night—taken DERBY. 600 to 100 agst Mr. Halford's Prime Minister—taken, 13 to 2 afterwards offered 350 to 25 agst Mr. A. Nichol's Newminster—taken and afterwards offered 2,500 to 50 agst Sir J. Hawley's Balsamo—taken THE GREAT MATCH. Even betting. Offers to take a sovereign a hundred for choice. ABOLISHMENT OF CHRISTMAS-BOXES IN GOVERN MENT OFFICES.— Yesterday afternoon circulars were sent from the Home-office to all the Police-courts, and other offices connected with Government, directing that no Christ mas-boxes shall in future be given away to those persons who have for many years been in the habit of receiving them. In the police-courts a saving will be effected of about thirty shillings a year to each. DISTRIBUTION OF HER MAJESTY'S CHRIsTMAS BOUNTY.—Yesterday, according to annual custom, the dis tribution of her Majesty's Christmas Bounty took place at the Royal Ahnonry Office, in Middle Scotland-yard, Whitehall, when between 600 and 700 poor men and women, who are of good characters, and whose ages varied from sixty years and upwards, were recipients—the sum received by each individual consisted of two new half crowns. We have been informed, on good authority, that a measure has been at last prepared by the law officers of the Crown in reference to " Papal aggression." This Bill, we understand, provides a punishment of two years' imprison ment for any person who shall assume as a prelate the title of any place in Great Britain ! If, as we have reason to be lieve, these are the penal pri,visions of the measure, then is Ireland thoroughly abandoned to Rome.--lierald. not stop between the terminus and Totten The Hertford train was behind its time on arriving at Stratford, but this was unavoidable from the density of the fog, and while the Stratford passengers were alighting, and be fore the Enfield train was in fact seen, it suddenly dashed into the rear of the liertfbrd train, doubling up a second•class carriage, wherein were seated about twenty passengers, and threw the latter part of the train off the line. The cries of the injured occupants are described to have been of the most painful character, and, as if to add to their suf ferings, the fog, together with the steam and smoke of the Enfield engine, completely enveloped them, so that although the staff of officers attached to the works at Stratford immediately collected, much delay neces sarily ensued before they could all be extricated. It was then discovered that the greater portion of the persons in that carriage had more or less sustained injuries. These were removed to the waiting-rooms of the station, and, several medical gentlemen having been sent for, it was found necessary to dispatch several to the London Hospital, while others were attended to at the station, and removed to neighbour ing taverns. Amongst those conveyed to the hospital were two men and a woman, but the extent of their injuries could not be ascertained. The second collision took place shortly before 11 o'clock, close to the Brick-lane goods station. It was the last train up from Colchester, and was due at Bishopsgate at half-past 10. It was proceeding at a very cautious rate ; but a short time after leaving the Mile-end station it was run into by the Norwich express with a fearful shock. The last carriage of the Colchester train was a third-classs one, in which were a number of passengers, and so great was the con cussion that it appeared a perfect wreck, the end, roof, and sides were demolished, and many of the passen gers were bleeding from wounds in their heads and other parts of the body. Several passengers in other parts of the train sustained severe contusions, and in one instance a lady received severe bruises by coming in contact with the head of a gentleman sitting op posite, and the blood flowed copiously from her face. On the arrival of the train at Bishopsgate many more were seen in a similar condition, but, from inquiries since instituted, it is gratifying to find that no limbs could be ascertained to have been fractured. Mr. Hancorn, a surgeon residing near the terminus, and who had be en called in by the company to attend upon those ii.jured on the previous occasion, was in the train at the time, and rendered effective service in alleviating the sufferings of the passengers most hurt. Whether either accident was occasioned by the culpable negligence of the drivers or signalmen, or was solely the result of the density of the atmosphere, did not clearly appear, but an inquiry, it was stated, would be immediately instituted by the company into the circumstances. THE FATAL COLLIERY EXPLOSION IN WALES. The inquest on the bodies of the unfortunate men who were killed by the explosion at the Middle Duffryn New Colliery, on the 12th instant, has now occupied two days. The catastrophe has unhappily proved more fatal than had been at first reported. The number of men killed is eight, viz., Edmund Beard, William Davis, William Saunders, William Jones, David Thomas, James Morgan, James Bur gam, and Matthew Tingle; and there are eight more men seriously burnt ; viz., Henry Jenkins, William Meredith, Thomas Meredith, Richard Wiggle, George Meredith, Peter Price, John Ruck, and James Williams. The two first-named of the wounded men (Henry Jenkins and William Meredith) are the fore man and under-ground agent, and they were so seri ously injured that it was deemed advisable to take their depositions as soon as practicable after the acci dent. They were both in the pit at the time of the explosion ; and Henry Jenkins gives the follow ing account of the cause and effect of the explosion :—" The top of the middle stall in the first cross-heading was bad, and likely to fall, and Ruck and several more were engaged in trying to prop it up, while I was engaged in opening a fresh wind-way. When we were so engaged a part of the roof fell, and a ' blower' came out against my candle, and an explosion took place. I had been in the stall five minutes before, and there was no gas there then. I had my lamp with me, but, as it did not give sufficient light to enable me to remove the plates, I had a lighted candle. I had been engaged about an hour before taking up the plates. The roof of the stall had shown symptoms of falling, and that was the reason I had taken up the plates. The stall in question formed part of a wind•way, which was the reason I was anxious to keep it open. I fell down directly I saw the explosion ; and, as soon as it was over, I got up and ran to the bottom of the pit. I was quite sensible the whole of the time. The top of the stall was very unusual, and several men were collected near the spot, looking at the precau tions I was taking, and that is bow they were injured. I was in the pit seven hours after the explosion before I was carried up." Mr. Meredith, the agent, corroborated this state ment, and added that they only used the safety-lamp in the morning, and " when there was occasion." It was explained by the several witnesses subse quently examined, that the cause of the delay in bringing the men to the surface after the accident was from a quantity of masonry having been blown by the explosion upon the stage used for conveying the miners up and down. They were therefore obliged to have recourse to a more tedious means, a bucket and crab. One of the deceased came by his death in a singular manner. He was on the surface of the ground, and was proceeding by the mouth of the pit at the time of the explosion, when he wes killed by a gate blown upon him. His father had just sent him in quest of an axe, and he related the melancholy scene of his son's death to the jury. The top of the pit was seen to fly into the air at the moment the young man reached it. A moment's difference in time either way ‘1 ould have saved his life. Mr. Blackwell, the Government Inspector of Mines, who attended the inquest, questioned the witnesses with regard to the menus used for rescuing the miners after the explosion—the bucket and crab. He im pressed the necessity in all such cases of using every exertion to bring the men out of the colliery, and was of opinion that the apparatus used was insufficient. Mr. Williams, the principal viewer of the colliery, described the measures which he was taking for im proving the ventilation of the works. This was part of his duty. He had not been i❑ the colliery for a fortnight before the accident. There was only one existing airway in the colliery. There had not been time since the colliery had been opened to snake a second, but it was intended to make two. The col liery was quite in its infancy. He judged the quan tity of air circulating in the works at from 6,000 to 7,000 cubic ft et per minute. He was afraid that the seam of coal which they were working in this col liery was a fiery seam. Mr. Powell, the ()weer of the colliery, employed altogether on his works from 1,400 to 1,500 men and boys. Only about 2,000 tons have as yet been got in this mine. The inquest was again adjourned for a few days. THE LATE RIOT AT BIRXENHBAD.—Yesterday the examinations in this case were concluded at Chester, and the magistrates committed the men charged with the riot. Sir George Stephen, for the prisoners, objected to their being committed to take their trial at the sessions, where they would be subject to the jurisdiction of the Cheshire magis trates, who had taken such an active part in connexion with the meeting. After consulting together, Mr. Case, the chair man of the magistrates, said they had no objection to comply with the request that the committal should take place to the assizes; but they should certainly feel it their duty to have heavier bail. Sir George Stephen objected to this, on the ground that the bail already was excessive. Mr. Case— That is a matter for the magistrates to decide. We shall require, in the case of Mr. Brown, himself in 2001., and two sureties of 1001. each. With regard to Feehan, we have put him down at 1001., and two sureties at 501. The other pri soners, themselves in 501. each, and two sureties of 251., and 24 hours' notice to be given. Sir Ge or g e Stephen—Very well, but I - shall advise an application to the judges to re duce the amount. After the necessary arrangements rela tive to receiving the bail had been made, the Court dis solved. FATAL COAL PIT 'ACCIDENT AT BORROWSTOUN NESS.—At the Schoolyards pit, in the middle of Borrows tounuess, an engine was put up about two years ago to pump out the waste water, and thereby allow access to the lowest seam of coal. This was accomplished some weeks ago; and on Saturday last three colliers, who were employed to open up the roads in the old waste, having failed to make their appearance . above ground, a m an was sent down t h e p i t , w ho, en proceeding about 20 ya r d s f rom the b ottom o f t h e s haft, and within a few yards of another pit, at the turn of a road, got the three men lying above each other, quite dead— to all appearance suffocated with choke damp. 'Their names were Charles Robertson, and his son James, and Richard Robert son, his nephew. They were all married men,. leaving widows, and two of them families.--Edzabergh W itness. ST. ALBAN'S ELECTION.—The nomination took place yesterday. Mr. Alderman and Sheriff Carden and Mr. Jacob Bell, of Oxford-street, are the candidates; the show of hands was in favour of Mr. Alderman Carden, The poll takes place to-cloy, COLLISIONS ON THE EASTERN MEXICAN BONDHOLDERS. COUNTIES RAILWAY. Yesterday a meeting of Mexican bondholders was Last evening, during the density of the fog, two held at the London Tavern, for the purpose of consi serious collisions occurred on th e ELeter n Counties dering a proposition from the Executive Government Railway, Which, although not attended with any of the Mexican Republic for the adjustment of their actual loss of life, involved serious injury to a number foreign debt. There was s numerous attendance of of persons. Dense as the fog was in the metropolis, bondholders. Baron Lionel Goldsmid occupied the it tell considerably short of that which overhung the chair. The advertisement calling the meeting having neighbourhood of Stratford and that part of the line. been read, Even at mid-day it was impossible to discern objects The CHAIRMAN said the proposition of the Mexican at a few yards distance ; and, although the company , Government would certainly entail heavy sacrifices adopted every precaution to secure the transit of the i upon the bondholders ; but it was for them to consider trains, it was deemed necessary eventually to take off whether they had any hopes of obtaining better terms, a quantity of what is termed the local traffic short and whether or not they would accept the present trains. When dusk set in the difficulties became ten- offer. Trusting to the honour of the Mexican Go fold. All the signal lights were obscured, and it was ver nmen t, an d h op i ng that they would do justice to only by a liberal use of fog-signals that the traffic the confidence reposed in them, the conathittee now could then be carried on. Notwithstanding these recommended the bondholders to accept the terms precautions, however, two trains were run into. The proposed. first mishap happened to the half past four o'clock train Mr. J. CAPEL then read the report of the commit to Hertford, which stops at the intermediate stations tee, setting forth the decree of the Mexican Govern between Bishopsgate and Stratford. A quarter of an ment for the settlement of its foreign debt, and recom hour after its departure from Shoreditch, viz., a quarter mending the bondholders to close with the Mexican to 5 o'clock, the train to En field leaves, and it appears dor_ s Government's overtures. The CHAIRMAN said he had now to submit to the bondholders a series of resolutions which the commit tee themselves had adopted, and which were framed for the purpose of carrying out the views recom mended by the committee's report ; and in doing so he thought it but justice to the committee to state that, although he had been accustomed to meet fre quently in committees, he had never seen a body of gentlemen who so zealously devoted themselves to the utmost to promote the object which the meeting was so anxious to attain as did the committee of Mexican bondholders.—(Hear, hear.) Throughout their deli berations there had been the most perfect unanimity among them, the only species of collision that had ever occurred being their rivalry as to who should strive the most to accomplish their common purpose. The resolutions were then read. The first was merely for the adoption of the committee's report ; the scond embodied the acceptance by the meeting of the terms offered by the decree of the Mexican Execu tive Government, promulgating the Act of Congress of that state, dated the 14th of October last, and au thorised the committee to make the necessary arrange ments to complete the settlement on the conditions proposed by the said decree. The third resolution trusted that, in consideration of the generous sacri fices of the bondholders, the earliest opportunity would be taken by the Mexican Government to grant a modification of the second article of the decree, so as to confine the reduction of the rate of interest to a period of years, and not to enact it in perpetuity. The gucceeding resolutions were merely for the purpose of formally carrying out the foregoing. Mr. BEACON wished to ask the chairman what se curity the bondholders would have if the Mexican Government did not perform their engagement ? The CHAIRMAN said he knew of none ; but they relied OH the good faith of the Mexican Government not to recede from its engagement. Mr. BEACON did not see, then, what advantage the proposed arrangement would give. The CHAIRMAN said if the Mexican Government should fail to keep their word, at all. events the bondholders would have gained a share of the money now in hand. Mr. D. ROBERTSON thought the bondholders ought to take care how they parted with their 5 per cent. bonds; otherwise, if the Government of Mexico failed to perform its engagement, the bondholders would have nothing to fall back upon. Mr. RICHMOND (3 member of the Committee) said, that if any lache occurred on the Fart of the Mexican Government, it would do no injury to the bondholders, because then they would revert to their original position.—(Hear, hear.) But he had no fear that the Mexican Gavernment would fail in their en gagements. The army, which had been the main cause of the intestine divisions that had long dis turbed that country, was now reduced to a mere police establishment of 10,000 men ; and a new era of prosperity was dawning upon the commerce of the republic. The whole of the resolutions were agreed to, with but one or two dissentient voices; and, after voting thanks to Lord Palmerston, for the support his Lordship has invariably given to the interests of the bondholders, and also to B aron G o ld sm id , f or his conduct in t he chair, the meeting broke up. RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE. SOUTH WALES. Active preparations are being made for the exten sion of the South Wales line, westward from Swan sea. The contracts are being let, and it is under stood that the portion lying between Swansea and Loughor has been taken. There is a formidable obstacle to the rapid formation of this part in the form of a tunnel 1,000 yards in length, and the time of opening to Carmarthen will depend upon the ra pidity with which this tunnel is carried on. The chairman of the company, Mr. C. R. M. Talbot, has addressed the following letter to Mr. A. B. Starbuck, of Milford, in answer to a memorial forwarded from that town, praying that the haven may be selected as the terminus of the railway : " Margam, Giamorganshire, Dec. 1850. " Sir,—l beg to acknowledge the receipt of the me morial which accompanied your letter, and which I have communicated to the board of the South Wales Railway. I have no doubt whatever that Milford Haven is the finest harbour in great Britain, and I sincerely wish the South Wales Railway Company may have funds suffi cient to reach it as their terminus. " I am, Sir, yours obediently, " A. B. Starbuck, Esq." " C. R. M. TALBOT. Mr. Talbot has recently visited Cardiff for the put. pose of inspecting the docks and shipping, with a view of deciding upon a plan for connecting the Taff' Vale and South Wales Railways either by a branch or a junction from the latter line. - DIRECT WEST-END AND - eROYDON.-011 Saturday there was a meeting of the parties before his Honour Master Tinney for the declaration of a call of 751. per share on the members of the provisional commit tee. The financial statement of Mr. Holland, the official manager, required under the Act, set forth that the debts and claims likely to be anmitted amounted to 1,520/., and those disputed or likely to be rejected to 3,8501. There were 37 names fixed on the list of contributories, 21 having paid, but 16 having paid no money, and the object of the call of 7111. each was to equalize the payments previously made with the call now sought to be made, from which a sum of 6001. was likely to be produced. The official manager does not say whether a further small call will be re quired, but, should such be the case, he thinks it can not exceed 20/. DIRECT BIRMINGHAM, OXFORD, AND READING.— Yesterday his Honour Master Brougham fixed the payment of the call of 2/. 129. 6d. per share payable on the 15th of January. His Honour then proceeded to review the cases of the following provisional com mitteemen : —Messrs. J. B. Bankhead, W. H. Cooper, IV. Hunter, J. Onions, S. E. Sichell, and J. Thorn. The terms of the letter of acceptance being vague his Honour, in Mr. Beinkhead's case, struck his name off the list. The other parties were re-settled on the list, it being intimated that there was nothing to dis tinguish their cases from that of Upfill. Notice of appeal was given against the finding of the Master, and it was arranged that pending the appeal the call as regards them should be suspended. SUDDEN DEATH AT PonTsmoutu.—For many years past the visitors at the Quebec Hotel, Portsmouth, must have noticed a hard-working, industrious waterman, of the name of Rex—his boat was always ready, always neatly kept, and he always attentive and obliging. No weather daunted him—where a boat could live there was he ready to go. It appears that during the heavy weather that pre vailed last week, poor Rex was hired by the captain of the Mary Bannatyue to proceed to Spithead. He had a hard pull against wind and tide; and on his return, Just as he had reached Point, he was observed to fall back, and on assist ance being procured it was found that he was lifeless. He has left, unfortunately, a widow and four children perfectly destitute. The cause of his death was doubtless attribut able to the rupture of a blood-vessel, and induced by the violent exertion he had undergone in working his boat without any extra assistance. REGULATIONS OF THE POST-OFFICE ON CHRIST.. mas-nAv.—To-morrow being Christmas-day notice was is- - sued yesterday at the Chief Money Order-office, Aldersgate, that it will be closed on Wednesday either for the payment or granting of orders. Also the various money order offices throughout the metropolis and vicinity. There will be no delivery of letters in town or within the London district after twelve o'clock at noon. The boxes at the receiving -houses and at the General Post-office will remain open until the usual time for letters and newspapers to the country, France, Belgium, &c. At the Stamp-cffice, Excise, Customs (an officer will be in attendance for the facility of passengers arriving by the steamers from abroad), and all the public departments at the west end, the Bank of England, Sock and Royal Exchange, Lloyd's, South Sea-house, East India-house, the docks, banking. houses, &c., it will be kept as a close holiday, and at the different police offices, law, &c. courts of TUB BISHOP Under this OF LOND ON AND MR. BBNNETT.- head, we last week stated that information had reached us front a quarter on which we could rely, that, startling as the a nnouncemen t might seem, matters were, after all, in a fair way of being made up between Mr. Bennett and the Bishop of London. We are now in a posi tion to vouch for the accuracy of our information. Will it be believed—could any one have deemed it possible, after all that has taken place, that Charles James has agreed to allow Mr. Bennett to remain in his two churches, and to practise all his other Popish ceremonies, on the condition, that he shall consent to snuff out the candles on the altar, instead of having them lighted? We assure our readers that this is no joke. The subject, indeed, is much too serious for jocularity. It appears that the sole matter of controversy in the latter stages of this business, between the Bishop and Mr. Bennett turned on the question of the candles. On that alone depended the fact of Mr. Bennett's remaining in the Church, or retiring from it. At last the matter was compro mised, by the Bishop agreeing that the candle* along with all the other parts of the Runtish ritual, should be tole rated, provided only they were not to belighted !—Achtertiser. Beauty cannot inflame the fan6y so much in a month, as ridiculous folly can quench it in a moment. - Eliza Cook's Journal. Captain Milne, one of the Lords of the Idtniralty, is on a matrimonial tour, the gallant captain haviugl ately married his cousin, Mist Cochrane, datighter of the late Ad miral Sir Alexander Cochrane.