The Sun. — London, England, 1850-12-19 00:00:00

,7 13 (':•rtai ce d w h ere th e y cuter) fr , rn. They woer.c -elrnd.l,YY watched down Pudding-lane by the police vrilo gave evidence in the previous ca , 3e, and 2 1 !pr 1 5c_mer was seen to join them with a hand-truck. w ine wai pl4ced in this truck, and th e prisoner iu the direction of London -bridge. Smith , s t a 'age, drawing the truck, following b he!ore - on 4 "d reached the bridge the pi isoner vvai lost sight E rd they ware , Therefor:;, taken into cuAely, or they ; I 'd Lave escaped too. 11 0 jury found the prisoner guilty of the second 4r go, but the Court d.f-rred nassinz sentence. 111 ,,ARLBIto'-STREET.—(T HIS DAY.) Iij u RDEROUs LTTACK AND STREET ROBBER Y.— * " l iam Thompson, who described himself as a ca bman, l'og brought bef ire Mr. Bingham, charged with the fel ,',ng daring street robbery : p r .he posecutor, Mr. Adolphus Dubois, dentist, 65, i,,, - , T Tegstiest, Leicester-square, deposed that on !he ti ' u nis night, about nine o'clock, ho was proceeding t h tipp er Norton-street, when suddenly from a w ay three one of whom wa; he prisoner, pus rl upon , ree men, him,s and the prisoner came in front of h i m a!sed some kind of an instrument round his neck : t sted it. Witness celled out, and the prisoner e lu ted it ti g ht er , t h e o th e r men at the time calling ," Give it him." Thu prisoner suddenly Ind'? helnd he (witne s) cane I ut " Murder," od, r oboe." d, a The other two i men, who o are not in eta '' then came firwerd and hell his hands down while P r isoner Forcibly t ire his coat open, and snatched his 4 4 0 teh 4 " , .(1 chain from his waistcoat pocket. The other P ri then ran away, and the prisoner gave the in to4rnent another twist, and witneqi became uncon to When prosecutor came to himself, ho found his %e c i t torn and his watch and chain gone. The watch 11 1 ;?ain produced were his property. Witness added 14;," Waa still suffering from the effects of the injuries " 0 hei received, and his throat was much swollen con sequence. Juba Tuning, 23, Charles-street, Middlesrx 14, - F P , Lt al, stated that about a quarter past nine last irj;,, he was in Upper Norton-street with a friend , th re ' n he noti ce d, opposite to where be was walking , Or four individual*, and almost immediately after e t , c ard a cry of " Murder," and " Police," and then tr k t _," men run down the street, arid the prisoner fri ° ,',;‘ , Over towards where he was walking. Witness's Ric then then called out, " Here is one of them," and iel d c3 , 3 caught hold of him by the collar. Witness ne n „ l " prisoner till a constable came and took him into vi t ,'",3'. They then walked over to the prosecutor, who op aneut forty yards from them, and he (prosecutor). rei n se ',lng him (th- prisoner), reccgnised him as the tli en "0 had attemwel to strangle him. A female te e „,, ea rne from Ne. 38, nearly opposite to where the l i , - , i r tnes took place, and handed to the constable the Al.1; 1 and chain produced, which she said she had te L l,' o d uP in the area of her house, clo'e to where the 4 !"1. was stopped. tee r s t til de Currell said she livel at No. 38, Upper Nor knit e er• Last night, about nine o'clock, she and her N,. 2 3 %, w ere at supper in the parlour, when she heard the dal " Murder," and " Police." She ran to the door, c'n the step of the next house she saw three mete th e w ere hold ing th e p rose cutor, and she heard one of Pei, til e s aYt" Giv e it hi m , do f o r him." She then saw the Itr i d ler Put his hand through the railing of the area, int e s e " h heard something drop on the stones. She went f itini lue area to e what it was, and on the atones she t'e h" , t ,a watch a se nd chain proclued. ti• eet ,33 E, stat e d that last night he was in Norlon `.poc when h e h ear d t h e cr i es o f " Murder," and Pre ae lce, and, on proceeding to the spot, he saw the te tte tutor standing against the railing of Nu. 38, in a Plc, 1 great excitement. On speaking to him he coin lii,'t"4? that he had been robbed and almost murdered. ~s c then creased over to where the :econd witness TC an ding and took the prisoner into custody. Ith, ) °Prisoner, who is supposed to belong to the gang ,tlit attacked Mr. Cureton, said he was perfectly intei °f the offence, and was remanded till Monday next. To SAVINGS BA:NKS. T HE RIGHT HON. LORD JOHN RUSSELL, ' li L M.P., &c. &c. &c. Lord,-1 remarked in my former letter that be nk ss not p oss ibl e f or th e d e p os it ors i n the savings th e a to receive every shilling of their money under le ? rese nt system, and therefore their being unable obj e ° so under. the plan I have proposed was no valid o e t s t ion to its being adopted. te etlt course it is unnecessary to enter into any argt!- k one to show that if all the depositors required their 14 itl Y it would be impossible to pay it, the amount the , 2g,0 00,000/. ; but then it may be said, although he 4 7 )1 1 ° 1 e would not be paid, yet the depositors would Vit erh ' e to get a greater amount under the present N n - , t han under the one that is proposed. kfly , - ",_°ae shilling more ; because a sum larger than tEt e i rs " ru ieb has been drawn in any one year would be 4 1 ,Zed, as in the present system ; and if any panic th e g e d a greater amount to be paid to the depositors, "" w ernment would retain the power which it has i e e l l ; the present Savings Banks Acts, of issuing Bp d Of up on w hi c h th e B an k s o f E n gland I, ° ,f Ireland are empowered to advance money. vieC n is Curious to observe how the adoption of a Ivin h u s principle renders contemptible all pro cee di ngs ivb ci s q, emanate from it. Thus, although every ma n has ha s ever written or spoken upon savings banks ag e i TPicted the benefits such institutions confer upon ol e ' ril Y , Yet the Legislature steps in, and with a 4t ed. ° voice proposesthat these benefits should be con- A t° the acquirement of 21. 15s. per annum. all e in h irgh le provision for the industrious classes, eot t , ri- g from want of employment, from casual the from the infirmities of old age ! Surely when - h rti san is o,pressed with these inevitable calarni vi,orn",°w grateful must be his feelings " to the benhee a:,,"nterest" (those were the words used by . t IN'rellor of the Exchequer) of legislators in having titil lti ' ed him in a saving what produces him 2/. 15s. per A o r something under twopence per diem. th e such moLierous absurdity is tolerated becauseda viei q gislature having in the first instance adopte it has been continued by succeeding b . '4% - " e oti, who hare found it very convenient to Jails large an amount under their control ; for , Aft Ltordshio will not forget that by Mr. Goulburn . s ) , 4 1J1t Istl i t 1828 , the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in his qti e n - Y,° l Commissioner for the Reduction of the the Debt, has full control over the deposits in le I °g3 banks. 1 1 %Di wi t would be useful to inquire how much the us e ; e °l thi s country h ave l os t b y t h e pl an which has that f l ) ,,UrsUed. Th e l as t returns t o P ar liament show •aaL" e 'e loss o f t h e cap i ta l amoun t e d t o 2,815,573/. h Taucell or o f t h e E xc h equer s t a t e d in his speech 14 ) ,1 0 qsion that the loss sustained by the Government that g more interest than it received was 2,441,0001., cli tltr , a sum h as b ee n lost by the people of this Nl., , Y4ll:lo Unting to 5,256,5731. it is Pooh ! says the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Ibrin-L absolutely lost, because the depositors in the 4104,,g5 banks have received 2,441,0001. of the `iltf;Y , and the remainder would not be lost " until t ,tib e e n iti ,, c ineY deposited in savings banks was required 4 °111 5 1„ ra4 off." Yes, but then the loss might be ktict Sol quadruple. Money invested to-day at 97, tlite - a d in tw o o r three years at 87, may not consti 41eq - ",,,,' °8 s in the eyes of the Chancellor of the Ex t,tl4-.--and I have quoted his very words—but 1114 Y1 without offence, entertain a different Ana 4 1th 0 ,; toe money which has been paid to depositors, the n ; L ao more than the funds yielded, yet is far less ti,rop o l,ueY would have received had the plan I now t'av e - } ,"' e been carried into operation, as it ought to '°at t , -ee ni in 1817. How much the depositors have pot - i n der this head it is difficult to say, but assuredly Paid Ps than thre e millions. So much has been r Can a the present system, besides the expenses of tl e tnent, to a fearful amount. l iPo tt C hancellor of the Exchequer was very chary 1 11)(1 this last point, but notwithstanding his conduct Ztat l d,! ii e Stamp Bill, I cannot conceive that he would bank: st ihely seek to make a profit out of the sa!inings s. },rt• te 4ti w ithout honestly stating that such was his tor, ° The maximum amount to be paid to d Proposes to be 21. 1,55. per cent. ; the Posi• Three Per: l ts.) even at the present high price , yield / 3s. is th -ti ta and therefore the difference , o r 8 p er cent., for m charged by the Chancellor of the Exche 'ihi Management. mOrC S ,upon 28 millions of money is considerably t v tu an 110,000/. per annum for management. h.. ' l ight. ' s ome economist in the House of C ommons tf t hink it worth while to ask for a detailed account li'110;alte s e manner this enormous sum is spent by e 'uch " benevolent interest" in savingsbanks. I have the honour to remain, Lordship', most obedient and faithful servant, RIGBY WASON. L ondon, Dee. 17. The AMERICAN STOICISM. following singular incident is related in the St. Intelligeucer of the 11th inst. : A tli fe w hour s p rev i ou s to th e arrival of the steamer t i tt i r s °4 l on Saturday, Michael Wynn, of Pittsburgh, sh ots Yivania, died on board from the effect of pistol citiz received at th e h an d s o f one D r . R. Cr a ne, a tt kt , in of Grand Gulf, Mississippi. The circum- N 4 rs attendi ng thi s me l anc h o ly a ff a i r a r e th us briefly e d to us by C a pt a i n M'B r id e : () t i e ° the upward trip of the Amazonia from New k r t rap whil e t h e b oat was l y i ng to at a wood-yard Of I €l night, between island 36 and 37, on the night . ‘ °l3 claY, the 4th inst., the deceased, Micbad Nl ed ", and Dr. Crane, both cabin passengers, quar a t a game of cards, and were on the point of Pre, -I 'g to blo ws , w h en th e ca pt a in stepped in and seent€(l a difficulty. Wynn left the cabin and Hnt below, and was soon followed by Crane, who bat he de s i gne d go i ng on b oar d t h e D uroc , which 1:114. 4 p . • W as lying alongside. On the lower deck the lae .les again quarrelled, Wynn using some abusive f q ! ll age, whereupon Crane drew a revolver and fired , s hots, all of which are supposed to have take n by tie The officers, crew, and passengers, alarme d W " firing, ran to the spot, and found Crane an d 1 4 .rl standi ng w ithi n fi ve f ee t o f each other, t h e itr e lViletry -smoking a cigar. The captain agai n - ; - , x4 d;and told the parties they must cease fight t7 4 / 9 to , their rooms, or both go ashore. Crane w 6ft the -deck and soon-retired kr the night. 31 "erustined up till a very late hour conversing SUN, and t,moking in the Social-hall, and to f.l - e repeated inquiries of Captain ill.‘l.3rifle and others as to hi; injuries, stoutly denied that he was hutl, although two bullet-holes were plainly viAble in his clothes. "On the following morning (Tue;iday) Wynn did not get up as usual, and, in the course of the fore noon, Captain M'Bride and several others called in his state-room, and insisted upon his wounds la?ing ' dressed, but he obstinately refused, and would not even suffer his clothes to be taken off. He remained in this condition, regularly receiving his meals from the cabin table, until Saturday morning, when he arose, was shared by the barber of the boat, put on some clean clothes, and again retired. Soon after be sent for the captain, and made some inquiries re garding hospital arrangements in this city, and ex pressed a desire to be sent to the best regulated, as soon as the boat reached part. An hour or so later, and but a few moments before the boat touched at the landing, some gentleman in the cabin called at his room and found him in the last agonies of death. Yesterday morning the coroner of our city was called upon by Captain ill• Bride and held an inquest, at which the above facts in substance were elicited, and a verdict was returned that Michael Wynn, the de ceased, came to his death trim the effect of pistol shots, tired by the hands of one Dr. It. Crane. " Upon stripping Wynn's body it was discovered that not less than four pistol bills had taken effect, all in the region of, the hips and groin, and producing frightful wounds. His coolness at the time of th., rencontre and subsequent conduct can alone be ac• counted for from the fact that he was partially in toxicated, and remained in that condition nearly up to the time of his death. He was destitute of means, the captain having but a short time previous to the difficulty lent him a small sum of money. " Dr. Crane, we are informed, was on his way to Louisville, Kentucky, to attend the medical lectures this winter, and when the Amazonia reached Cairo he got off and proceeded up the Ohio, and is, up to the present time, no doubt, unconscious of the fate of his victim." A lERICAN NEWS. TWO DAYS LATER. SOUTHMPTON, DEC. 18. The American steam-ship Franklin, from Nei; York, en route for Ilavre, arrived off Cowes this morning soon after eight o'clock, bringing letters anc papers to the 6th instant, being two days later than those brought by the Niagara. The Franklin brought a full general c ergo, and a large number of passen gers, and has made the voyage in less than twelve days. Both Houses of Congress had adjourned, after the delivery of the President's Message, until Monday. the Bth instant. Ni business of importance ww. transacted in either House. The Neu. York Morning Express says— " The President's mrsiage has had the most tooth ing effect upon Congress. flit declaration that he am. his Administrktion stand upon the Compromise Bills, and ail the Compromise Bilis, just as th, y ore, take from th southern DisunioniAs ail their influence for mischief and upon the northern Disuni,nists and Nullifier. throws a dash of cold water, which is cooling them off Nevertheless, Ihe Ohio Fcce Seders are foil of fire arm brimstone. itot.t and Cans b• 11 threaten terrible things and Thad. Stevens promises to work with them. New Yi•rkers are compara ivily cool. Amt rig all the New England Whige, there seems now to be a vein pure good senee4 "The messztie thus takes from Southerners Fei means of mischi. f, and northern Nullifiers their power to do mischief, and promises a more soothing session of Congress than many had expected. None of the Com promise Bills can be or will be touched, and it is only exciting a vain agitation to try to touch them. None but an enemy in disguise of the Administration will at tempt it. So, then, this turning out so, the coming three months may be expected to be devoted to the white man, in return for the last ten months devoted to"the negro. " The statement of the Postmaster-General, N. K. Hall, delights all sides here; they make sure of a re• duced postage this Congress. Mr. Hall, by the way, is working himself to death. Washington has never yet seen such a workie in a public office. He knows h 5 whole trade here from top to bottom, and all about ir." Jenny Lind, we are glad to learn, has entirely lost her hoarseness, and made her debut in Baltimore on the Bth instant. FRENCH RAILWAY TRAFFIC. The following are the last returns of the gross re c.ipts of the principal French Railways : NORTHERN.—From Dec. 5 to Dec. 9: Passengers, 175 1751. ; goods, 263.2021.; total, 438,377 f. ROUEN.—From Dee. 3 to D ,, c : Passengers, 60,156 , .; goods, 90.3931.; total, 150,549'. HavßE.—From Dec. 1 to Dec. 7 Passenger,, 18,9151.; goods, 36,846 f. ; total 55,779 f. ORLEANS.—From D. c. 2 to Dec. 8 : Passengers, 72,2531. ; goods, 128,602 E; total, 200,8551. BORDEAUX.—Froin Dec. 2 to Dr e. 8 : Passengers, 33,722 c; goods, 49,2821.; total, 83,0041. VIEIiZON —From Dec. 2 to Dec. 8 : Passengers, 34,667 f.; goods, 42,8331.; total, 77,5001. BoULOGNE.—Frouti Dec. 2 to Dee. 8: Passengers, 10,647 E; good,, 20,1791.; total, 30.826 c. DIEPPE.—From Dec. to Dec, 7: Passengers, 3.222 f.; goods, 11,8261.; total, 15,0481'. NANTES.--From Dec. 1 to Dec. 7 : Passengers, 17 7281.; goods, 10,785 1 *.; t0ka1,28,513f. :.,TuASBURG —From Deo. 2 to Dee. 8: Passengers, 63,1481.; goody, 62,6381.; total, 125,886 f. BALE.—From Nov. 25 to Dec. 1 : Passengers, 18 396. ; goods, 24,2571.; t0ta1,42,643f. MortTEREAu. —From Nov. 26 to Dec. 2: Passengers, 8,95111; goods, 16,2861:; total, 25,2371. LYONS. —From Nov. 24 to Nov. 30 : Passengers, 127,511£; goods, 34,3821.; total, 165,893'. CLIARTRES.—From Nov. 25 to Dec. 1: Passengers, 38,770 f.; goods, 11,985 E; total, 43,7551. A great fracas ocourred on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, near Summit Level, on the 4th inst., between the Irish and German labourers, in which three Germans were killed and several badly wounded. The military were called out, and arrested twenty-five of the Irish and lodged them in Cumber land Gaol. VILLAGE COURTSHIP DESCRIBED BY CHARLIS SWAIN. Tapping at the window, Peeping o'er the blind;— 'Tis really must surprising, He never learns to mind! 'Twas only y , ster evening, As in the dark we say, My mother ask'd me stmrply "Pray, Mary, who is that?" Who's that indeed—you're certain How much she made me start; Men seem to lose their wisdom Whene'r they lose their heart. Yes—there he is—l see him; The lamp his shadow throws Across the curtain'd window; He's stepping on his toes! He'll never think of tapping, Or making any din; — A knock, though e'en the slightest, Is worse than looking in! Tap! tapl—would any think it? Ile never learns to mind; 'Tis surely must surprising— He thinks my mother blind ! 'Tis plain I must go to him; It's no use now to cough;— I'll ope the door just softly, If but to send him off ! 'Cis well if from the door-step He be not shortly hurled— Oh, man, there no'er was trouble Till he came in the world! Tapping at the window, And peeping o',l- the blind; Oh, man, but you're a trouble, And that .e maidens find! .Devonport Independent. Tile LONDON UNION ON CHURCH MATTERS, AND THE REV. Mn. Re.NNETT.—The Guardian of last night says that at a meeting of the committee of the London Union on Church matters, held on Tuesday, the following; resolution was adopted :—" That inasmuch as misapprehensionfollowing; has arisen respecting the resolution expressive of sympathy with the Rev. W. J. E. Bennett, which was adopted by the ge neral meeting of the London Union on Church matters on the lOth instant, and it being a principle of this union to pay dutiful and affectionate deference to episcopal authority,' and nut to intrude itself into the office of 'judge in spiritual matters, but that such matters be left to the authorities of the Church'—this committee think it their duty to the union to make known that the resolution was adopted by the Lon don Union in reference solely to the disgraceful interruptions at St. Barnabas Church, and to the instigators and perpetra tors of those wicked acts, before the corrsspendenee between the Bishop of London and Mr. Bennett was in the hands of the members of the union, and did not, and was not intended to, express any opinion upon that correspondence, or upon the questions which were, or had been, under discussion be tween the Bishop and Mr. Bennett, upon which questions it would be contrary to the before-mentioned principles of the union to express any opinion either way." SMITHFIELD MARKET.—Last night a meeting of butchers and others connected with the trade of smithfield Market took place at Farringdon Hall, Snow-hill, at which Blacket presided. The meeting had been convened to take into consideration the proposed toll which the Corpora tion have intimated their intention to inflict upon cattle on their egress from the market of Smithfield when enlarged according to the corporate plan. Mr. Charles Pearson, with Deputies Bedford, Hicks, and several common councilmen, were presto:. After a few preliminary remarks from tile Chairman, he introduced Mr. Charles Pearson, who said he felt the greatest interest in the proposed extension of the market by the Corporation, who were desirous to do all they could to meet the wants and wishes of the public, and with respect to which he felt that those who objected to the existing market had not fairly considered such propositions. As to the sanitary part of the question, he thought that would be improved in the proposed alterations. Better arrange ments were proposed for the management of the market, for increased space, and getting rid of the alleged cruelties. lii conclusion, he expressed his opinion that nothing could be better than the proposed enlarged market for the sale of live and dead cattle. Other gentlemen addressed the meeting, and thanks having been given to Mr. Pearson, and also to the chairman, the meeting broke up. EXTRACTS FROM THE IRISH HITE AND Car.—Tony Gowan is advertised as having lost " a pig with a very long,ltail, and a black spot on the ti r ) of his snout that curls up behind."—A cow is described as " very difficult to milk, and of no use to any one but the owner, with one horn much longer than the other."—John Hawkins is alluded to as having " a pair of quick grey eyes, with little or no whiskers, and a Roman nose, that has a great difficulty in looking any one in the face."—Betsy Waterton is accused of having " absconded with a chest of drawers and a cock and hen, and has red hair and a broken tooth, none of which are tier own." The manager of the savings bank at Dunferry, near Goofowran, is spoken of in these terms: " He had on, when last seen, a pair of corduroy trowsers, with a tremen dous squint rather the worse for wear, besides an affected lisp, which he endeavours to conceal with a pair of gold spectacles."—A burglar has his portrait taken in the follow ing manner: "Ile has little or no hair, but black eyes on a turned-up nose, which is dyed black to conceal its grey ness."—Punch. REGISTER OF THE WEATHER AND STATE OF THE CROPS NEAR WORKSOP FOR NovEMßEL—November has been in general a tine month, the first portion of it being par ticularly mild and autumn-like. From the perturbed state and lowness of the barometer, from the 18th to the morning of the 20th, great tempests must have been raging in distant localities. Here a heavy fall of rain took place, with a mo derate gale of wind. The month ended with a very keen frost fur the season, the ice being an inch and a half thick in still ponds, and fit to fill ice-houses. Rain fell on sixteen days, the total amount registered by the rain gauge being 1 inch and 83 parts, or rather below the average fall. The thermometer was highest on the 2d, 62 degrees, •nd lowest on the morning of the 30th, 34 degrees or 8 degrees frost. The barometer was-highest on the 29th, 30 degrees 0 minutes, and lowest on the 20th, 28 degrees 3 mi nutes. The prevailing winds were from the S.W. and N, W. The mean temperature of the month, from 120 ob servations, was 51- degrees below the average. Owing to the fine open weather in the early part of November, all out of door operations in farms and gardens are well advanced. The sharp frost at the end of the month has checked the growth of the early sewn wheat, which on early soils was getting rather too far advanced for the season. There are few complaints this year o: the potatoes keeping badly where properly pitted and stored; we may therefore conclude from this circumstance, and from the reasonable price they are selling at in the market, that this admired esculent is plenti ful, and freer from disease than usual.— Sheffield Times. FINDING OF ONE OF THE 130D1E5 OF THE SEAMEN DROWNED OFF WORTHlNG.—Ytsterday afternoon as some of our Brighton fishermen were pacing the cliff in the brief intervals of fair weather, they observed a dark object float ing in the surge. Always on the look out, not "for squalls," but for the prizes that squally weather may bring them, they lost no time in inspecting the object. The inspection proved that it was the body of a fisherman, and no doubt was entertained of its being the remains of one of the un fortunate men drowned a fortnight since off Worthing. Which of them it was it was difficult to say, as the face and hands were entirely eaten away, mutilated trunk. It h a d on a ' and there remained o nl y a guernsey, a pair " of dr awers, and drawers and socks. The body was taken to the Town-hall, where it awaits an inquest. Two more bodies are reported to have washed ashore between Lancing and Worthing. The find ing of the bodies is not unexpected, for the weather being rough, and the wind W.S.W.,t hatis ' blowing up. —Brighton , the direction where the accident happened, it was con sidered probable that the bodi es would fl oat Guardian. THE TORNADO AT CAPE GIRARDEAN. CINCINNATI, DEC. 6.—The St. Louis:papers con tain full particulars of the recent tornado on the Mississippi river, by which the beatiful village of Cape Girardean, in _Missouri, was almost entirely de stroyed. The convent, Catholic church, and other buildings in the immediate vicinity, are heaps of ruins. The St. Vincent College is also prostrated, and the Methodist church, and all the other houses between that and the bridge are injured. The professors and students were at the college at the time of the awful visitati on , an d many of them were severely injured. One has since died. Upwards of one half of the residents of the place were left without a roof to p ro t ect t h em from the weather. It is said that for a distance of fifteen miles back and around Cape Girardean, every thing bears the aspect of utter destruction. Th e ac counts do not give the number of injured and killed. Prompt measures have been taken at St. L ou i s f or t h e purpose of extending aid to the distressed and suffer ing families who have been rendered houseles3 by this awful visitation. LONDON, THURSD Y EVENING, DECEMBER l9, 1850. 'HE BURFORD'S PANORAMA (THIS DAY.) THE LAKE OF LUCERNE. Every one acquainted with the pictorial exhibitions of London must bear in recollection the magnificent panorama, painted by Mr. Robert Burford, from drawings taken by him on the summit of Mount Righi, and embracing, in one comprehensive view, most of the celebrated localities of Switzerland. From the very magnitude of that undertaking it was impossible for the artist to indulge himself in those detailed delineations which, generally speaking, ren der his productions remarkable for their vraisenz blance, and invest them with all the sparkle and in terest of reality. In the present work, a work of smaller dimensions, but in its way of equal excel lence, Mr. Buif)rd has, with the assistance of Mr. 11. C. Scions, contrived to compensate his admirers for whatever disappointments were inseparable from the very grandeur of his former enterprise. He has portrayed again, it is true, though under a different aspect, the glorious scenery of the alpine countrie., but this time he has adroitly blended widi the geo graphical attractions of Switzerland the domestic in terest, as it were, of its population. Instead of viewing the subject of his artistic labours this time from the crown of Mount Righi, he has dune so at its foot, taking his place on the bosom of Lake Lucerne, and there, with an ever faithful pencil, sketching in the almost numberless beauties cf the panorama. Brought into immediate proximity with the vegetation and the habitations of S witzerland, Mr. Burford has transferred to canvass in glowing colours those adjuncts of moun tain scenery which lend to it such a peculiar and re sistless fascination. The spectator is supposed to be in a vessel floating on the water close to the town of Lucerne, among the principal edifices of which are conspicuously visible the cathedral and the Hotel des Suisse, besides which the eye wanders over the town walls, the quay, the pier, the S wan Hotel, the church of the Jesuits, the Kapel Briicke, the Stradthuis, an old watch tower, and another venerable fortification. Prominent, of course, among all the surrounding ac clivities, as you look down the lake with your back to the town of Lucerne, are, on the right the heights of Mount Pilate, and on the left the pinnacle of Mount Righi, that wonderful elevation called by the ancients the Mons Rigidus, and by enthusiasts the Reginum Montew. As the descriptive guide to the Panorama very truthfully expresses it—" The most powerful and etrikiug contrasts are here presented in every variety of scenery, from softness and fertility, to abruptness and barrenness, of all that is most imposing and ma jectic, with all that is most beautiful and pleasing. Oa all sides the rugged sublimity of towering rocks, and the harmonous beauties of smiling valleys, alter nately claim attention, and together with the ancient and picturesque town at the western extremity of the lake, form the finest coup crceil that can well be imagined." This coup d'ceil has, moreover, been here wonderfully represented by the brush of Mr. Robert Burford. "Here," as the guide again remarks, " the spectator at one glance embraces the whole expanse of the noble lake, the dark blue crystal waters of which are enlivened by many of the clumsy but picturesque boats of the country. The immediate margins of the water, if not so profusely ornamented with towns, villages and orchards, as many others are, yet exhibit a vast va riety of irresistible attractions and pleasing beauties ; rich spots of fertile cultivation, with flacks of sheep and goats grazing on the abundant pasturage, emerald green ravines, and valleys, sunny warm and rich. In the second distance are charming eminences, and gracefully undulating hills, whose sloping sides are clothed with luxuriant foliage, and dotted with villas and chalets, nobly backed by a magnificent amphi theatre of majestic and finely grouped mountains, ridge above ridge, as romantic in form as fancy could portray, each with its own particular colour, present ing rich varieties of light and shade ; others more lofty stiel rise behind, clothed in the deep purple shade that distance gives, and the snowy alps of Uri and Schwyz crown the whole." Considered merely as a landscape, the panoramic view revealed to us in this very admirable production, is sufficiently attractive, but, regarded in addition to this with an eye to its historical and political associations, it ap pears before us with an air of matchless and arresting attraction. it must be remembered, for example, that the town of Lucerne, besides being the capital of the canton, is one of the Vorort, or otherwise every third year the metropolis of the Diet of Switzerland. Pounded originally in 695 by the building of a Bene dictine convent, it gradually rose into a place of no inconsiderable importance. Its local abbot, some where about the middle of the fourteenth century, resigned his authority over it, and the canton, in 1332, abandoned the sway of Austria, sending forth a contingent of its citizens to aid the troops of the forest cantons in the memorable battle of Setnpsch. It can scarcely be forgotten that Lu cerne was conspicuous among the seven cantons who fought for the interests of the Jesuits, being, in fact, the chief of the armed league of the Sunderbund. As recently as the November of 1847, the town was stormed arid captured by the antagonists of the Son derbund. Su that the artist has selected in Lucerne a spot for representation,not only invested with the charm of antiquity, but also with the fascination of political end historical recollections. Added to all which the aspect cf the town itself, the lake and the surround ing scenery are of a beauty altogether commensurate with its reputation. B,sides the mountains already particularized as observable in this very interesting panorama, should be mentioned also Ftossberg, re nowned as the scene of the, terrific landslip in 1806, when " a moss of the mountain, three miles in length, and 1,000 feet in width, came down with au awful crash, completely burying three villages, two churches, and 111 houses, together with 450 human beings, and 325 head of cattle." There are likewise Achsenberge rising above the rock where Tell leaped on shor from Gessler's boat and escaped ; Hapsburg, for merly the hunting seat of the famous Count Rudolph, the founder of the Austrian dynasty; Meggenborn, where once stood a monument to Tell, ultimately destroyed by lightning ; Seclisberg, near the field of Grutli, where the first confederates held their secretmeetings ; Rosstock, Oberbauen, Burgen stock, Urner-Bothstock, Bouchserhorn, Titles, Esel, Oberhaupt, ,and Widderfeld. A little group in a boat to the left of the foregroand (or rather we should say of the forewater), will be observed with interest by all the frequenters of Burtord's Exhibition, repre senting, as it does, the veteran artist sketching one of the eight drawings which, assisted by Mr. Selous, he afterwards elaborates into a panorama. THE CAPE MAIL. PLYMOUTH, DEC. 16.—Tu-day being fixed upon for the first departure of the Bosphorus, Captain Hall, one of the screw steamers belonging to the Cape Mail Com pany, from this port, it was determined by the authori ties and inhabitants here to join in a public procession with the mails, from the Guildhall, down to the pier at Millbay. Accordingly, at twelve o'clock, the Mayor of Plymouth (Mr. D. Derry) and the Mayor of Devonport (Mr. M. W. Jeffery), together with the town clerks of the two boroughs, entered a ca rr i age an d f our , driven by postilions, and having the mace bearers in front. This carriage was followed by a g rea t man y o th er car riages, in which were members of the town council and other gentlemen. They were pr ece d e d by th e b an d s of the 4th King's Own Regiment, that of the 28th Regiment, and the Royal Marine band, and headed by a great number. of sailors and others, carrying ban ners and flags. The procession then wended their way to Millbay, passing along the Union-road. On arriving at the pier, the weather, which had been very bad throughout the day, became worse, and a very heavy shower of rain fell, so as to deluge all who had not the good fortune to be in carriages. The authorities, after waiting till the heavy rain had somewhat abated, then left their carriages and went on board the steamer, where they were reoeived by two of the directors of the com pany, Mr. Balfour and Mr. Laming, by Captain Hall, and the other officers of the ship. Mr. Markes, the postmaster, then handed over the mail bags to Captain Woolrycb, R.N., and expressed his congratulations on the mail being dispatched from Plymouth. Mr. David Derry next addressed the directors, and congratulated both them and the town-on their having chosen this port as the port of arrival and departure for the Cape mails. He telt that the capacity of the port for such a species of traffic would be found in every respect equal to it. Mr. Gill also delivered a short address, expressing the plea sure he felt ou being present on this occasion. The Mayor of Davenport also expressed his cordial concur rence in the congratulations that bad been expressed by his brother mayor; after which the company returned to the Guildhall. There will be a dinner at the Royal Hotel this afternoon, to which the officers of the ship, the directors of the company, and the passengers going to the Cape have been invited. THE FATAL ACCIDENT AT THE GREAT NORTHERN RAILWAY TERMINUS. —Yesterday morning Mr. Wakley, jun., held an official inquiry at the City of York, Maiden-lane, into the precise cause of the death of Abel Wynne, who was killed on Monday last whilst engaged in tunnelling between the present goods station and the permanent passenger sta tion to he erected for the Great Northern Railway at King's cross. The jury proceeded to view the body of the unfortu nate deceased, which presented an awfully mutilated appear ance, the head being completely smashed, and the brains !pattered over the back of the body. It is almost difficult to conceive that the fall of so small an amount of earth should have so completely destroyed all outline of the human coun tenance, and have occasioned such a shattered wreck as the body presented. There can be no doubt, however, that the witnesses did not much underrate the quantity of earth that fell, and that the height of the fall did not exceed four or five feet at most. The evidence given was simply confirma tory of the account given at the time of the accident. The jury pronounced a verdict of " Accidental Death." WINDING-UP OF RAILWAY AND JOINT STOCK COMPANIES.—SeveraI new companies have been referred by the Court to the Masters in Chancery to be wound up. but they cannot be proceeded with this term as the Masters' Courts are full, independently of the fact of not one of the 130 companies under the operation of the Winding-up Act having yet been finally wound up. His Honour Master Brougham ; has declined to make a call specially for payment of the costs of winding-up, being of opinion that a first call to be made under any estate should be to pay the claims of the creditors. The new Master in Chancery (HumphrY) will, as junior master, sit for dispatch of bminess during vacation. NEW YORK MARKETS, DEC. 5. Cotton—The private letters per Arctic do not read so favourable as the printed accounts. On the day the steamer sailed the market was quoted dull at prices cur rent at the sailing of the previous steamer. One account says:—" The advance of id., which was paid on Satur day and Monday, has been lost, and there ate plenty of sellers at the rates current at the sailing of the Europa. Yesterday between 3,000 and 4.000 bales changed hands, including middling at 71i. to 70. for Uplands, Mobile, and New Orleans. The sales are confined to the trade, tbere being no speculative or export inquiry." The market, however, has been comparatively active to-day, the sales reaching 1,300 to 1,400 bales, at previous prices, including middling Orleans at 14c., and fair ditto at 144 a. Flour, &c.—The inclement state of the weather has a depressing effect on the market for State and Western, and prices are scarcely so firm, tbough there is no special change in quotations. The transactions are limited to 8,500 bbls., 4 dolls. 25c. to 4 dolls 44c. for No. 2 super tiiie,4 dolls. 68c. for common and straight State, 4 dolls. 75c. to 4 dolls. 94c. for mixed to choice Michigan, &c.; and 5 dolls, to 5 dolls. 6c. for pure Genessee. Canadian flour is in active request for export, and the sales reach 4,600 bbls, at 4 dolls. 6Sc. to 4 dolls. 75c. Southern is i❑ good &mend, and prices have advanced 61c. to 12ic.; the sales are 2,100 bbls., including HHoward•street, at 5 dolls. 12i-c. Rye flour is q toted at 3 dolls. 37c. to 3 dolls. 50c , with 400 bbls. sold. Corn meal is qu'et at yester day's quotations. Grain—There is a fair it quiry fur wheat, and the sup ply of common descriptions is large. Prime is firm, but dull. The sales include 10,000 bush. Canadian for ex port, at 1 doll. 06/c.; and 6,000 ditto Genessee, at 1 doll. 15c. to 1 doll. 18c., as in quality. Rye is lower, and 7,000 bush. were sold at 73c. to 75c., closing at the for mer figure. There is still an upward tendency in corn. °win.; partly to the favourable advices from abroad. The sales aggregate 18 000 bush, at, 630. for new mixed; 671 c. to 68ic. for old Western mixed and Southern yel low; and 68ic. to 70c. for old Jersey. Barley is without movement or change in prices. Oats are selling mode rately, at previous quotations. Lime—Common Rockland is in fair supply, and we note sales of two cargoes at 83c. Navel Stores—The sales of common Wilmington rosi❑ reach 1,000 bbls., at 1 doll. 40c. to 1 doll. 42ic., deli vered. Other descriptions aro without much movement, and prices are uni'orm. Piovisions—The demand for pork for the local trade is limited, but for speculation the demand continues fair. 500 bbls. were sold at 11 dolls. 62c. to 11 dolls. 75c. for mess, and 8 dolls. 76c. for prime. Rumps were sold to a moderate extent at 8 dolls. 25c. Of beef hams there were sales of 100 bble., at 14 dolls.; also 106 tierces city smoked hams, at 81-c. Beef is quiet and steady, ith a fair demand from the trade, at 8 dolls. 50c. to 10 dolls. for mess, and 4 dulls. 75e. for prime. Lard has advanced, with a good inquiry, and the sales are 500 bbls. and 100 tierces at 71c. to Bc., the latter figure for choice lots. Rice is held firmer, with small sales, at 3 dolls. 37c. to 3 dolls. 50c. Prime lots are scarce, and would com mand 3 dolls. 62ic. Whisky—The market is a shade firmer-200 bble. Ohio and Prison were sold at 25c. to 25ic., and 50 casks Drudge at 25c., time and interest. Freights—We notice engagements of 8,090 to 10,000 bushels wheat to Liverpool at 4d. to 4id.; 509 bbls. 11)ur at Is. Id.; and 100 tcs. beef at Is. 3d. To other European ports there is no change to notice, and the market is quiet. THE GAS QUESTION. We perceive that one of our evening contemporaries. the Globe, has very properly directed attention to the agitation that has been got up in the parish of St. James's, relative to the notice which thus) of the metro politan gas companies have given to Parliament for an amalgamation of their interests, the object of such union, as the Globe correctly states, being to secure a position which shall enable those companies so to concentr ate their means as to supply gas at the cheapest poss ib le remunerative price, and to prevent the ever-recurringin convenience resulting from the breaking up of the public thoroughfares in various parts of the metropolis, in order to lay down immense lengths of gas pipes. There can be no doubt, as cogently urged by our con temporary, that gas companies who have expended enor mous sums of money in constructing works and laying down their mains are seriously interested in supplying gas, even at as low a rate as any new company can possibly furnish it. "To them," as the Globe pithily puts it, " half a loaf is better than no bread at all," and existing companies, rather than be driven out of the field, and have their entire property destroyed, must feel it to be the wisest policy, in fighting against the intro duction of new competitors, to sacrifice much that they may secure something to their shareholders. Our con temporary refers to the quotations of gas shares in thv market as the best evidence that the flourishing state ments sent forth by new companies, of certain large profits open small outlays of capital, can more reasonably be ascribed to the imagination than b our really deduced from any actual profits derived from the working of gas companies; contempory might have gone fu ut we think rther It would not, we believe, be very difficult to discover gas shareholders, who with their shares quoted at, say some 30 or 40 per cent. discount, would, to avoid future re sponsibilities, in the shape of calls, be heartily glad to pay handsomely to have such shares transferred to other parties. As far as we can gather the stated opinion of the opposition in St. James's parisb, from th e re p or t s of the proceedings as published in the daily papers, it appears that they allege the amalgamation of the three gas companies is simply a combination for monopoly objects. Looking at what has been done in th e City in the way of reduction in the price of gas, and taking into consids ration also the fact that the amalgamation which the St. James's opposition complain of will put the three companies, as itbe latter state, in a condition at once to reduce their prices at least 20 ter cent.; we are inclined to think that the cry of monopoly in this i ns t ance h as been unreasonably and ui,justly raised. Human nature is very fallible in monetary matters. Most of us like to make the largest possible:i>rofits—on the other hand, none of us like to be deprived of every vestige of remunera tion; and there are none but the very insane who, wish a large capital invested in business, would suffer destruc tion rather than sell, even at the lowest profit, as cheaply as their neighbours.—Railway Record. DINNER TO LORD JAMES STUART, ALP;011 Thursday evening a dinner was given in the Bute Arms Hotel, Rothesay, to Lord James Stuart, M.P. for the burghs of Ayr, Irvine, Inverary, Campbelton, and Oban, and Lord- Lieutenant of the county of Bute, by a numerous party of his friends and admirers, in token of the great respect and esteem in which he is held. Archibald Sharp, Esq., Provost of Rothesay, occupied the chair. The company numbered upwards of 170, including a few from London, Edinburgh, and Glasgow.—Srotsman. • SURREY THEATRE We have great promise here of a pantomime worthy the reputation of the theatre. The opening is Shaksperian, of the burlesque order, its title The Merry Wives of Windsor ; or, Harlequin and Sir John Falstaff, and the Demon Hunter of the En chanted D e ll, an d i n t ersperse d w i t h a i rs se l ecte d from Shakspere's melodies. The scenery is most g•orgeous, taken from views in Windsor-park and its ieighbourhood, which will form an ensemble of great interest in the present day. In the first scene of the opening is a splendid view of a fairy dell, by moon light, in Windsor-park, with enchanted lake a 'airy ballet—while Titania (Miss H. Coveney) an iounces to them the loves of Fenton, afterwards Harlequin (Mons. Lupino), and Sweet Anne Page, ,fterwards Columbine (Mdlle. Beaufort), her Hench man Puck (Miss Jane Coveney) arrives with news of r,hem and of Falstaff and his friends, at the same time, .ssis!ed by Peasbloom (Miss Laporte), Titania's at endant, he gives his opinion of the doings of the day. ill things are arranged for the ,protection of the lovers. We have a magnificent change to Winthor orest, and grand chase with huntsmen and Fer,toli— ne meeting of Fenton and Anne—pursuit of them by ,Id Page and Ford—the lovers escape—the fathers ofet in c mcus.,ion—they resolve to invoke the power ,f the Demon Hunter Herne (Mr. J. Parr)), whose appearance with bis attendant Sprite (Herr Deani) o terrifies them that they fly. Now, as demons always love pretty girls, so of course Herne loves .meat Anne, and with the assistance of his fa 'niliar departs in search of her. We then have the merry Wight, Sir John Falstaff (Mr. J. W. Collier), and Mrs. Ford (Mr. Anderson, afterwards Clown). But Ford and his friends arrive, the buck-basket is called for, and the unfortunate knight is sent off, while the husbands, Ford and Page, carry off their wives. Poor Jack Falstaff is then borne to Datchet-mead, and has a dip in the Thames water, which of course is made a ve hicle for a hint of what a man swallows in imbibing that temperance beverage. We leave Jack Falstaff, and meet Ann Page in Herne's power, who, left in the care of his sprite, is rescued by Fenton, and he in turn by Puck and the fairies. Falstaff is then found at Herne's Oak, ready horned for the Windsor wives, but wofully annoyed at the lack of gas in that neigh bore-hood ; by the means of Puck he is hunted by supposed fairies, when the wives arrive—Ford and Page, the Demons—having pursued and seized upon Anne, Titania appears, and the transformation takes place from Herne's Oak to the gorgeous Pavilion of Butterflies, illuminated by the prismatic radiance of variegated fires, and emblazoned with the coloured crests of fairy heraldry. The comic scenes then corn meace, with humorous hits at the varied matters of past and present, amongst which the building of the coming Exposition forms a great feature. ST. MARTIN'S HALL. HULLAITS MONTHLY CONCERTS. The second of the current series of these concerts was given last evening, i❑ the great room of St. Mar tin's Hall, before a crowded and fashionehle audience. The work produced was Handel's oratorio, the .Ifessiah, and it would be sufficient to say that, in every particular, the performance was worthy of the master, did not each of the vocalists upon whom de volved the task of giving expression to the rich and passionate melodies of this noble composition deserve some marked and especial notice for the rare com pleteness and truth of their execution. For, even amidst the excellence which we recognise and admire in most of the orchestral and choral presentations at our public halls and concert-rooms of the present day, we rarely find any whole work delivered with such exact perfection i❑ every part as Mr. Hullah has suc ceeded in sustaining throughout all the details of the great works brought forth on the first two evenings, ❑ow expired, of his series. His management and training of his choir are beyond all praise, and the results displayed by his pupils furnish a sufficient answer to all the cavils and professional denunciations which have been poured upon his system, himself, and the noble member3of the Privy Council who have had the courage and the taste to patronise and up hold him. On these present occasions his selection of subjects evinces a confidence in his materiel, most proudly justified by the faultless excellence with which this oratorio was delivered—complete, unabated, en tire, in force, spirit, sentiment, dramatic energy, and musical truth. It would be no damage or disparage ment to pass over the recitatives of lenry Phillips with no more than the mere mention of them. Who ever may be his superior in the range of high opera, it would indeed be difficult to find his equal for that peculiar tone of dignity and feeling i❑ an especial manner belongink to, and demanded by, the dis tinctive character of sacred compositions. Par ticular eulogy of his airs would be superfluous, almost impertinent—it is enough to say that he never sang better. Mr. Lockey, also, wes in excellent voice, and in his recitative displayed very great judgment, power, and a thorough feeling of the text. The airs allotted to him were given with un common sweetness, and with the elaborate fidelity characteristic of the true musician and the mister artist. This admirable fidelity pervades every branch of the corps, and is nowhere more conspicuous than in the charming performance of Miss Birch, whose powers and graces seem, on every successive appearance, to improve, by wide degrees, upon that excellence which was before supposed to admit of no improvement. ,Nor must it be supposed that here was any eclipse, or that this lady's brilliancy caused Miss Williams to appear a star of lesser magnitude. In truth nothing could sur pass the finished style, the deep feeling, the exquisite tenderness, the melodic pathos, and fine judgment of the latter accomplished artiste in the choice passages which were, with skilful discrimination, committed to her delivery. And, again, the masterly judgment of the manager in the choosing of his instruments, and the apportioning of their respective tasks, were further and very remarkably illustrated, both in bringing forward, this second time, the re cent debutante, Miss Kearns, and assigning to her precisely those portions of the oratorio which fitted with delightful exactness her powers, her taste, and, if one may so say, her temperament. For we may observe that a less careful distributor of the vocal parts in this oratorio might have made a less happy arrangement of the oratorio amongst his vo calists without any obvious disparagement of the whole. Her voice is a soprano of the finest quality, already educated to a high degree of perfection; of which, however, her youth and earnestness would in duce us to anticipate her rapidly increasing excel lence. Her articulation is of that character, the want of which is too generally a distinguishing vice in our English singers, the experienced as well as the young —hers is entirely faultless, clear, distinct, and flow ing. Her emphasis, judicious beyond her years, gives force to an expression which a fine 'Musical feeling dictates, and a voice of rare flexibility realises to the fulness of the soul's intent. It may be hoped that this great work will be reproduced before the close of the season, and, in dramatic parlance, with the same caste. We doubt if the oratorio has ever before re ceived so much justice—Mr. Hullah having restored Handel's score in places where it has heretofore been superseded, and having remodelled the harmonies in passages where the original bass bad been lost, or the counterpoint of the inspired composer presumptu ously corrupted. Yesterday Mr. Payne, the City Coroner, received information at his chambers, in the Temple, of the death of Thomas Fagan, late in the employment of Mr. Johnson, the builder, Seckforde-street, ,Clerkenwell, who was injured by an infuriated bullock, on Monday last, near the House of Detention (the particulars connected with which appeared in The Sun of Tuesday), and who died in St. Bartholomew's Hospital yesterday morning. He hid been some years in the service of Mr. Johnson, and has left a widow. Mrs. Hughes, the pew-opener of St. Phillip's Church, Granville-square, still suffers internally from the serious injuries she has re ceived. When she was conveyed home on Monday night her medical attendant had not much hopes of her ; she, how ever rallied the following day. She had just recovered from an attack of illness, and in consequence, the shock and fright she has sustained have rendered her state precarious. The bullock is now in the possession of the superintendent of the N division, at Islington, and should no one come for it it will be sold, when the proceeds will be appropriated to reimburse those who have suffered by its violence ; among these being the man and woman opposite the John of Jerusalem, who had some money on their stalls when they Were upset by the beast. EFFECTS OE MASKING.—TWO CHILDREN TER RIFIED TO DEATH.—About three weeks since two children, belonging to a man named Brown, formerly a waiter at the Globe Hotel, Exmouth, the one four and the other a few years older, were sent by the mother, who keeps a mangle, after a basket of clothes, and were met on the way by some boys, one of whom had on a most hideous looking mast. The boy, seeing the children frightened, ran after them, repeating some gibberish, which frightened them more, and having followed them until they turned the corner of the street, transferred the mask to another boy, who managed again to come in contact with the poor children who returned home instantly, when their parents, seeing them so pale and trem bling very much, inquired what the matter was, which they explained as well as they could. The shock, however, was so great that they never recovered it; their health declined daily. The one died three weeks after, and the other died on Wednesday last. Each of them in his illness often exclaim. ing," Ile is coming," " I see him," " There he is," with other like expressions. The father and mother have been most unfortunate, having had one son, who was a great as sistance to themdrowned, and themselves so afflicted as lat terly :o be almost dependent on the parish fur support.— Exeter Gazette. PUSEYISM IN THE DIOCESE or RlPON.—Repre sentations having been made to the Bishop of Ripon that, in many of the churches of his diocese, practices prevailed which were more in accordance with the principles of the Romish Church than with those of the Church of England, his Lordship, in connexion with the Rev. Dr. Martineau, immediately made an official inquiry into the method of performing the services at Shadwell Church, near Leeds, the incumbent of which is the Rev. F. Hathaway, who, at a recent meeting, said ha had taken active measures for b. ing ing about a union between the Churches of England and Rome. The Bishop has proved that the statements made to him were correct, and has taken steps for putting a stop to the practices complained of. His Lordship has also icsti tuted an inquiry into the manner of performing the service at St. Saviour's Church, which has always been notorious for its Puseyite ferras.—Advertiser. 111 R. COBDEN AND SIR T. HASTINGS. TO TILE EDITOR 01' TUE TIMES. Sir,—May I beg the favour of your inserting the enclosed letter, being my reply to Sir Thomas Has tings's challenge ? I received his combustible missive on Sunday morning —not exactly the day for answering an in vitation to a duel. On Monday I was the whole day engaged in running from libraries to newspaper offices, and thence to the houses of Members of Par liament, inquiring for the Blue-book containing the evidence in question. On Tuesday I procured a copy from my friend Mr. Henry, and had prepared the enclosed letter of explanation, when Wednesday morning's post brings me another detonating epistle from Sir Lucius —no, Sir Thomas Hastings, conclud ing—" Yours, with supreme contempt," informing me that he had anticipated me, by sending his letters for publication. The public has now an opportunity of forming an opinion of the cool ju'iginent, the prudence, temper, and ability of a man ho has been plscf d at the head of a commission for giving us an improved gua rantee against a war with France, and upon whose re cotninendation, in a great degree, many millions of public money has been expended upon our nationt:l thfenccs. I remain, Sir, your obe(lint servant, RICHARD COBDEN. Manchester, Wednesd of Morning, Dec. 18. " Crumps ill .hou,e, near Manchester, Dec. 18. Sir,—lf in my earlier days my admiration fur the genius of Sheridan had not tempted me to witness the mimic exploits of Sir Lucius O'Trigger, I might have been at a loss to comprehend the meaning of your letter. Aided, however, by my recollections of that model duellist, I understand you to propose that we should lay down our p ans an d h ave a personal in terview, not to talk over the matter in dispute, nor even to approach within speaking distanc, but to take our stand at twelve paces apart, with pistols in hand, and endeavour to blow out each other's brains. Now, I am satisfied, without any such experiment upon my head, at least that half an ounce of lead pro pelled by less than a quarter of an ounce of powder is quite sufficient to shatter the human skull to atoms, and extinguish in a moment all powers of reason, all sense of justice, and every religious sentiment. But how such a process would satisfy me that I had acted unjustly towards you, or convince you of the con trary, is, I confess, quite beyond my comprehension. "So soon as I had recovered from the fit of laughter into which I must confess your challenge threw me, and after I had mastered the temptation I felt to name for my second my much esteemed friend Mr. Punch, I endeavoured to procure a copy of the report of the Committee, which with considerable difficulty, and after the lapse of a couple of days, I succeeded in obtaining, and, having refreshed my memory by a perusal of your evidence, I will endea vour to state the facts of the case, as between you and myself, in such a way as shall admit of no further misapprehension. " Xfter the committee had heard your evidence at considerable length, as to the preparations which had been made (partly under your directions) to repel an imaginary invasion from France, I requested you to state upon what authority you assumed that the French nation were eager to go to war with this country. Your answers were somewhat vague, which induced me to press you more closely, when at last you quoted, as a proof of the belligerent disposition of the French, certain warlike sentiments which some body had heard on board a steam-boat fall from the lips of the French Bishop of Japan. The uplifted eyes and hands of more than one member of the Committee led to the interposition of the chairman. The room was, if I recollect correctly, immediately ordered to be cleared of strangers, and you were requested to withdraw. I was then appealed to by some of the members of the Committee to allow the above part of your evidence to be expunged ; others, on the con trary, wished it to be retained, as exposing the trivial grounds on which professional men are disposed to advocate an augmentation of our armaments. At last it was agreed that your evidence, when written out by the shorthand writer, should be submitted for cor rection to Lord Seymour (the chairman) and myself. Two or three days elapsed before the report was placed in my hands by his Lordship, when I agreed that the passage respecting the Bishop of Japan should be expunged ; in the meantime I had mentioned the incident to Mr. Bright and several other Members of tile House. " The above state ment of facts you will not call in question. You do not deny having quoted the au thority of the Bishop of Japan ; you merely correct Mr. Bright's error in .calling him the Bishop of Ma dagascar. You do not presume to call in question my right to mention to a Member of the House of Commons, in his seat in the evening, anything or everything which transpires in the morning in a pub lic Committee•room of that House. You do not even complain of the evidence which was expunged having been afterwards made public, for which I could have expressed my regret. 'What, then, is your complaint? Why, that Mr. Bright alleged that the authority of the bishop was the only proof brought for ward by you of the warlike disposition of the French nation. In the perturbed state of, your feelings you seem to be unable to perceive that this is a question to be de cided by reference to your published evidence, which has been in the hands of every Member for two years. I am not Mr. Bright's authority for the contents of the Blue bock, I am responsible only for having com municated to him that part of your evidence which was suppressed, the truth of which you do not deny. Nor am I accountable for any criticisms or argu ments he may deduce from it. " Your grievance is then confined to one word, the word only.' Now, since the receipt of your last letter I have felt it my duty to see Mr. Bright, who says that in reply to your second letter to him he has informed you that the report of his speech is not free from verbal inaccuracies. Why did you not send me a copy of that letter ? It appears to me that the whole question at issue is involved in its contents ; and had a further opportunity been af f orded to Mr. Bright he might possibly have removed the whole ground of complaint. For myself, I have not another syllable to say upon the subject. Yes, I must add a word or two before I come to what I trust will be the close of our correspondence. " You are a public servant, filling a very responsi ble office, and in receipt of a liberal public stipend. As chairman of the commission for increasing our coast defences, you were largely instrumental in promoting the expenditure of many millions of public money for purposes and in a manner which, whether right or wrong, are open to discussion. Your volu minous evidence before the Committee on the army, navy, and ordnance, invites criticism ; and much of it, in my humble opinion, is open to animadversion. Such being your position you must, like all public men, expect that your conduct will be freely can vassed ; and your fate will be a luckier one than that of most of us if you do not find yourself often misap prehended, and sometimes misrepresented. " If, unable to restrain the ebullitions of an irascible temper, you must needs challenge a member of the Legislature to mortal combat, merely because another member is reported to have made a mistake in a single word in a speech of an hour's length, or because a re porter's pen may have slipped at a critical moment, then you have mistaken your vocation, and you would be consulting your own reputation and the interest of the country by retiring from the public service, and seeking security for your susceptible nerves within the inviolable precincts of your own domestic circle. "I remain, Sir, yours, &c., " RICHARD COBDEN. " Sir Thomas Hastings, R.. N." TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES. Sir,—ln the correspondence between Sir Thomas Hastings, Mr. Bright, and Mr. Cobden, published in the Times of to-day, Mr. Bright, in his second letter to the Gallant Admiral, in allusion to my condensed report of his speech at the Birmingham Peace meet ing of the 27th of November, says— " The extract you send me is not a correct report of what I said, and I am not able to give you the exact words. I instanced your evidence as a proof of the exceedingly vague statements on which it was sought to influence public opinion in favour of exten sive armaments." Will you, as one whose veracity is in some mea sure impugned, allow me a few lines in reply ? 1. The report of Mr. Bright's speech in the Times did not pretend to be literal, but was stated to be an abstract. 2. The passage quoted by Sir Thomas Hastings as reported is substantially and almost verbally " correct," as proved by contemporaneous reports in others of the morning papers. 3. The substantial correctness of my report is fully admitted in the correspondence of Mr. Cobden, and the implied acquiescence of Mr. Bright in his first lotter to Sir T. Hastings. 4. My notes are more likely to be accurate than Mr. Bright's memory, when he innocently, but some what inconsistently, confesses his inability to recollect his own words. 5. The aim of Mr. Bright was evidently to ridi cule Sir T. Hastings; in that he succeeded, and in hip own words he was reported. 6. I could have no other object in view than giving a fair epitome of Mr. Bright's opinions, and, if any portions of his speech at the point r.lerred to were omitted, it was not with the view of doing in justice to the speaker, but to make a consistent, but at the same time impartial, condensation of his address. Your obedient servant, Dec. 18. THE RETORTER. 1 Reading Gaol is so full that the visiting justices have issued dir ec ti ons t o t h e clerks of the several petty ses sional divisions throughout the county that all prisoners for trial are to be committed to Abingdon Gaol. THE ARMY IN IRELAND.—This month the forces in Ireland cons i ct o f 9 regiments of cava l ry infantry, and 24 of and 5 infantry depots, or 24,600 men. GENIUS AND GENEROSITY. (Frcm the Morning Pust.) Sir Edward Bulwer Lytton, as the public has been informed, is again writing a play, but undercircumstanees very different from those which attended any of his for ruer dramatic productions. It seems that, at the cicse of the very interestiag en tertainment recently given at Knebworth, in which Mr. Charles Dickens and his company of amateurs performed before the guests of Sir Edward, the latter proposed that he himself should write a play, and that Mr. Dickens and his company should perform it as often as might conduce to profitable and beneficial results; and that the proceeds should go to the formation of an endowment fund for some establishment of the nature of a refuge Or retreat fur destitute literary persons. It is impossible to endow a property which does not exist. Sir Edward, therefore, added that, if the propo sal were accepted, he would give certain land on his es tate, and enjoining his residence, to the objects of the intended bounty, in fee for ever. This was ;he property a hich he suggested might be amply endowed, or at least clothed with the ample beginniag of an endowment, by means of the dramatic work which the giier should produce, and of the fame, popularity, and histrionic talents of Mr. Dieke - ras and Lis " flee company." The public synipatliy would accomplish the rest. The public edmi ratiou would have la en a truthful expression, thorgh not graceful in the mouth of the persou who made the remarkable proposal in question. We shonld add that the manner in which it was received by the audiekse entitles them to a share in the application of the remarks which the whole scene is calculated to suggest. There is no literature of modern times with which that of England may not fearlessly be set in comparison. And certainly, of all the various departments of Enlish literature, the most teeming and the richest is our drama. We have one dramatist who, if all the others were removed, might singly be opposed to the whole body of tragedians and comedians, we do not say of any other modern country, but of all modern countries united, and of all antiquity besides. And yet, on the other band, were he, as being too great, taken out of the account, the dramatists that remain to us might, in their turn, fur nish an array worthy of being opposed to any that :the world can elsewhere point to. This splendid branch of English literature, loaded with flower and f ru i t , h as, f or many years back, been suffered to prove its intrinsic im mortality by not withering under baneful neglect and more baneful attentions. But, more recently still, there has been a happy reac tion, amounting to a partial revival. Among many names, Sheridan Knowles, Westland Marston, and Bul wer Lytton may be mentioned as instances at once and illustrations of what we mean. Nor is Mr. Dickens's amateur company without its significance; nor is the fa vour with which its representations have been on so many occasions greeted. Even the favour with which royalty has, of late, treated dramatic productions must acoelerate the return of the national taste towards one of the greatest and least equivocal gloriefeof England. We are glad of so commendable a tendency; and we are glad that one such incident as that to which we allude should, as it happens, be calculated to advance the cause of the modern English drama. It is pleasant to see the finest and noblest of the muses of England (the English drama) associating itself spontaneously with a cause of enduring beneficence, and walking hand-in-hand with charity—charity in its truest form, in that form. in which it ministers to the pains of the bruised and a :fated spirit, as well as to the wants of the body. For, in the plan of which we speak, we have, as far as it goes, the necessities and miseries of the literary body assuaged and relieved—by what? by some strange hands, whose gifts are the bread of bitterness? No, but by literature itself, and in that form in which, in this country, it has achieved it principal successes and brightest triumphs. Literature in full victory comes to the rescue of defeated literary men. It is impossible, in the limits of a newspaper article, to give even a digest of the characteristics and the history of that great department of the great calling which is here playing ao beautiful an episode. We must turn to the merits of the offer itself which was made by Sir Edward Bulwer Lytton, received so warmly by his invited coadjutors, and applauded so enthusiasti cally by his distinguished audience. It has not often, we must confess, fallen to our lot to notice a more really excellent proceeding. We see a flourishing author moved by sympathy for his be ten rivals, his distanced compe titors, who bear their load of adversity with humbled and wounded hearts. This sympathy, however limitedly proved, would be a good thing. But we must acknow ledge, in the second place, that the sympathy is most munificently evinced. And, in the third place, its mu nificence is far from being its only commendable charac teristic. Not only with his lands, but with his genius, Sir Edward is anxious to come to the relief of the unfortunate literary man who has done what in him lay to add a ray to the glory of his country, and to contribute to the useful information or intellectual entertainment of the hublic. He may h ave f a il e d i u hi s str i v i ng. He may ave seen another do the good service, produce the bril liant work, and carry off the palm of fame, popularity, and opulence. Other talents may have eclipsed his. Well, those very talents shall help him. They have, perhaps, mortified him. They shall now work to afford him consolation. The public has preferred them. The preference of the public for them shall now turn to his advantage, and to the advantage of those similar to him, fur generations to come. One successful and highly gifted literary man shall minister to the comfort and support of successive races of unfortunate authors. And he shall do this by the use of his literary talents, as well as by the gift of his hereditary lands. It is an idea worthy of the glory which it will confer upon its generous pro poser. Sir Lytton Bulvver bee often written for fame, not without success. But we doubt whether his most brilliant production will be remembered longer than this one noble act of charity, sympathy, and beneficence. Often has he seen lurga sums of money gathered from the fruits of his labours. His present production may truly be said to be a labour of love ; but we trust tt will far surpass, in its realised proceeds, the most lu crative work that he ever before executed or conceived. The popular band of gentlemen who so readily under took to perform what Sir Edward should compose might have been expected to do so, for acting in this gratuitous fashion is, with them, a favourite vmusement and their well-known delight. But they still deserve all praise for the alacrity with which their kindly sympathies induced them to pledge themselves to the support of a plan the mere sketch of which drew forth a spontaneous round of cheers from tbose who heard it. Surely this is one of the prettiest and most graceful passages in the modern history of literature, whether in this country or in any other. We wish success to th• future play, and to the honourable objects which it is designed to subserve. COURT CIRCULAR. WINDSOR, Thic. 18. The Queen walked this morning in the Slopes. His Royal Highness Prince Albert went out shooting this morning, accompanied by the Duke of Bedford, the Marquis of Exeter, and the Earl Spencer. Lieut.-Colonel Hon. C. B. Phipps and Colonel Bou verie were in attendance on his Royal Highness. Their Royal Highnesses the Prince of Wales and Prince Allred took an airing in a pony phaeton this morning in Windsor Park, attended by Mr. Birch. The younger members of the Royal Family took their usual walking and pony exercises. The Marquis of Granby, the Earl and Countess Granville, Lord and Lady Seymour, and the Hou. Miss Seymour, and Sir William Gibson Craig, Bart., are expected to arrive at the Castle to-day, on a visit to the Queen and the Prince. The Marchioness of Douro has relieved the Vis countess Canning in her duty as Lady in Waiting to the Queen. The Royal dinner party this evening will include her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, the Duke and Duchess of Bedford, the Marquis and Marchioness of Westminster and Lady Octavia Grosvenor, the Marquis and Marchioness of Exeter and Lady M. Cecil, the Marquis of Granby, Lady Fanny Howard, Baroness de Speth, the Earl and Countess Spencer and Lady G. Spencer, the Earl and Countess Gran ville, Lord and Lady Seymour and the Hon. Miss Seymour, Lord George Lennox, Sir William Gibson Craig, and Lieut.-Colonel non. C. B. Phipps. The band of the Royal Horse Guards will attend during dinner. Her Majesty's private band will afterwards attend in the Castle. The band of the Coldstream Guards attended dur ing dinner in the Castle on Tuesday evening, and performed the following selection : Overture, "Maritana" Wallace. Valse, " The Pearl of England" Jullien. Selection, " Mountain Sylph" Barnett. Coldstream Guards' " Quick March," composed expressly for the Coldstream Guards Chant National des Croates Blumenthall. The Queen's private band afterwards attended the Castle, and played the following pieces : Overture, " Le Domino Noir" .. A.uber. Selection, " Le Songe d'un Nuit d'Ete" Thomas. Adagio and Polonaise, " Gras au das Vaterland" Lieutenant F. R. Stack (St. Helena Regiment) had an interview with E ar l G re y y es terday, at the Colo nial-office. Mr. Alderman Hooper waited on Sir George Gray, at the Home-office yesterday, to deliver the address from the ward of Queenhithe, upon the Popish eg gression. - Lord John Russell returned to his residence, Pem broke Lodge, Richmond•park, yesterday, from Wind sor Castle. Mr. Shepherd, Chairman of the Emit India Com priy, had an interview with the Chancellor of tha Exchequer yest e rd a y. M r . Willcox, M.F., bad also aninterview with the Right Hon. Baronet yesterday, at his official resiience in D o wning-street. The Rector of Liverpool and Mr. Cardwell, KY., transacted business yesterday at the Board of Trade. -------- - THE METROPOLITAN SEWERS COMMISSION.-0 0 Tuesday evening an adjourned and influential meeting of delegates and representatives of the various metropolitan parishes took place at the Marylebone Court-house, for the purpose of taking further steps for securing from the Co vernrnent or Parliament a measure for the abolition of the present sewers commission, and to make it a representa tive body. J. A. Nicholay, Esq., of Marylebone, ag.ls presided, and all the principal parishes were again repre sented by deputations. The result of the meeting was Ihe appointment of a committee to draw up a Bill for the dep 'ci tation to present to Government, embracing the views , the meeting. THE DUKE OF NEwcasTus.—The health . of hi i Grace has considerably improved, so much so that his Graa a is enabled to sit up and transact business.—Derby afertvrY.