The Sun. — London, England, 1868-12-29 00:00:00

GRATIS and POST FREE. E MOSES and SON'S POCKET DIARY • for 1869, ADAPTED for PERSONS of all CLASSES, I A MONG a VARIETY of USEFUL INFORMATION, IT CONTAINS the FOLLOWING :--- A LMANACK. "TRANSFER DAYS OF PUBLIC FUNDS. WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. STAMP DUTIES. FOREIGN MONEYS. MINISTERS OF STATE. CORPORATION OF LONDON. POSTAL INFORMATION. gLIST OF BANKERS. ARMY AND NAVY AGENTS. CAB FARES. READY RECKONER. A DIARY, arranged on the most approved plan, And neatly Printed on good Writing Paper. IT MAY BE HAD, GRATIS AND POST FREE, ON APPLICATION. ADDRESSES BELOIV. FMOSES and SON. . EXCELLENCE WITH CHEAPNESS. EVERY ARTICLE of CLOTHING, READY-MADE or MADE to MEASURE, FOR ALL CLASSES. PRICES BASED ON READY -MONEY SYSTEM. A N UNEQUALLED STOCK for WINTER in EVERY DEPARTMENT. A SPECIAL DEPARTMENT for BOY'S CLOTHING. OVERCOATS IN EVERY STYLE AND MATERIAL. OVERCOATS from 19s. to £5. BOOTS and SHOES. HOSIERY and DRAPERY. AND HATS and CAPS, IN GREAT VARIETY. A LARGE STOCK of BLANKETS, at unusually Low Prices. COMPLETE OUTFITS for ALL CLIMATES, ALL GOODS MARKED in PLAIN FIGURES ARTICLES NOT APPROVED OF EX• CHANGED or the MONEY RETURNED. AN easy and accurate System of Sell-measure, introduced by E. MOSES and Son, has served to extend their connection to all parts of the kingdom, ORDERS by POST promptly and carefully attended to. LIST of PRICES, with Rules of Self-measure, Patterns and Fashion-sheet, gratis and post-free. MOSES and SON'S ESTABLISHMENTS .11j• are CLOSED every Friday Evening at sunset till Saturday Evening at sunset, when business is resumed until 11 o'clock. "El MOSES and SON, Ready-made and Bespoke Jul • Tailors, Habit Makers, Woollen Drapers, Hatters, Hosiers, Boot and Shoe Manufacturers, and General Outfitters for all Classes. The following are the London addresses of E. MOSES and SON:— CITY ESTABLISHMENT. 155, MINORIES 156, MINORIES 157, MINORIES 83, ALDGATE 84, ALDGATE 85, ALDGATE 86, ALDGATE 87, ALDGATE 88, ALDGATE 89, ALDGATE OXFORD-STREET BRANCH. 50C, NEW OXFORD-STREET NEW OXFORD-STREET LOS, NEW OXFORD-STREET 1, HART-STREET 2, HART-STREET 3, HART-STREET TOTTENHAM-COURT - ROAD BRANCH. 137, TOTTENHAM-COURT-ROAD 138, TOTTENHAM-COURT-ROAD 283, EUSTON-ROAD. Country Branch: 19, BRIDGE-STREET, BRADFORD, YORKS. 20, BRIDGE-STREET, BRADFORD, YORKS. SPECIAL NOTICE.—In consequence of frequent misrepre sentations, E. MOSES and SON find it necessary to state that they do not employ any travellers or agents, and that their my Establishments are the above-mentioned. THEATRE ROYAL, DRURY-LANE Sole Lessee and Manager, Mr. y. B. Chatt.rton. Special Morning Performances of the Grand Pantomime on every Wednesuay and Saturday during the Christmas Holidays. THIS EVENING, will be performed MY WIFE'S OUT. To he followed by the Great Christmas Pantomime, entitled GRIMALKIN THE GREAT; OR, HARLEQUIN Puss IN BOOTS, IND THE MILLER'S SONS, with new and magnificent Scenery ,y3lr. Wm. Beverley. Characters in the Opening by the entire lrength of the company. In the Harlequinade a Double Troupe v Pantomimists; and combining the grandest stage effects of t3Pantornime ever produced at this theatre. Doors open at )If-past ti, commence at 7. Box-office open from 10 till S daily. THEATRE ROYAL, HA YMARKET. Sole Lessee, Mr. Buckstone. THIS EVENING, A HERO OF ROMANCE. Messrs. Buckstone, Sothern, Compton, Chippendale, &c.; Mesdames Ada Cavendish, Chippendale, Burke, Fitzwilliam, &c. After which, THE FRIGHTFUL HAIR. M essrs. Compton, Kendal, Weaihereby, Buckstone, jun., &c.; Mesdames Gwynne, Burke, &c. Concluding with AN ALARMING SACRIFICE. Messrs. F. Buckstone, White, Clark, &c.; Mesdames Laws, F. Wright. &c. Commence at Seven. THEATRE ROYAL, ADELPIII. Sole Proprietor and Manager, Mr. B. WEBSTER. Directress, Mrs. Alfred Mellon. THIS EVENING, DID YOU EVER SEND YOUR WIFE TO CAMBERWELL. Mr. G. delmore, Mrs. L. Murray. ht a quarter to 8, MONTE CRISTO. Mr. Fechter, Mr. Benja min Webster, Mr. G Belmore, Mr. Arthur Stirling, Mr. Ashley, Mr. R. Phillips, Mr. Stuart, Mr. C H. Stephenson, Mr. C. J. Smith, Mr. Romer, Mr. W. H. Eburne, Mrs. Alfred Mellon, Miss Carlotta Leclercq,Mrs. Leigh Murray, and Miss Nelly Harris. R OYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE. Sole Lessee and Manager, Mr. Vining. THIS EVENING, THE SECRET. After which (at 8 o'clock) Dion Boucieault's new drama. in flur acts, entitled AFTER DARK, a Tale of London Life. Messrs. Vining, Walter Lacy, Dominick Murray. C. Harcourt, J.G.Shore; Miss Emma Barnet. and Miss Rose Leclercq. Entirely new Scenery by Mr. F. Lloyds and assistants. To conclude with MASTER JONES'S BIRTHDAY. Doors open at half-past 6, commence at 7. Box-office open daily from 10 till 5. ROYAL STRAND THEATRE. Sole Lessee and Manageress, Mrs Swanborough. THIS EVENING, at 7.30, THE WIDOW HUNT. Messrs. CI xrke. Belford, Joyce; Mesdames But ..an and Maitland. After which, THE FIELD OF TILE CLOTH OF GOLD. Messrs. Thorne, James, and Robson Mesdames M. Long more, F. Hughes, L. Maitland, &c. To conclude Frith A COMICAL COUNTESS. GEORGE'S THEATRE (ST. GEORGE'S j HALL).--Great Success of SARIDANAPALUS.—The new Drama, SAVED, and the oriFinal Ninevitish Burlesque of SAR DANAPALUS (received with roars of laughter and applause), every Evening at 7. ROYAL A3IPIIITHEA FRE AND CIRCUS, HOLBORN. The Proprietors of this elegant Establishment, in announcing to their patrons and the public their PROGRAMME for the Christmas and New Year Holidays, desire to draw attention to the high character and varied nature of the performances, and alto to the comfortable accommodation provided throughout the building. The Press has been unanimous in pronouncing the entertainment the best, and the Theatre the most comfortable, in London; and the Proprietors, encouraged by the success of their past endeavours, will relax no effort to provide an enter tainment unequalled and unsurpassable, and in which both old and young may participate with pleasure and delight. It must be remembered that the Proprietors of the Amphitheatre and Circus do not rely on any attempt at outside show, tinselled dis play. or gorgeous procession, having every confidence in the proved talent of the Company, and the well-known character of the performance, to insure for them the public support. Still, at this Festive seascn additional attra, tions are needed. and these the Proprietors have supplied. The Programme embraces every novelty which it has been pottible to obtain. The SCENES in the AR KNA will introduce the most TALENTED ARTISTES i. 2 the World, and a STUD of HottSEs which are the theme of universal admiration. The OLYMPIC REVELS are specially attractive, and embrace several new and astonishing Feats. OYAL AMPHITHEATRE AND CIRCUS. spectacular bit of Pantomimic Extravagance, entitled THE M AItVELs OF' ELECTRICITY, in which the whole strength of the establishment will take part, besides 250 troops, beautiful ponies, and the most extraordinary electric and lime light effects ever witnessed, will be produced THIS EVENING. Doors open at Seven, commence at h a lf past. F or the conve nience of those residing at a distance it has been decided, during the HOLIDAYS, to give Three Morning Performances weekly, viz., Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday. Door s open at T wo. The A mp hitheatre and Circus is easily accessible from all parts, and the Morning Perfortnancesuffordan excellent opp ortun i ty to give the little ones a treat. N.B.—The second grand morning perfo:mancp On Wedilefidan O Ealf - Past Two. GLOBE THEATRE-ROYAL. -At 7, GOOD FOR NOTHING. At a quarter to 8, Mr. J. Byron's original Comlrly, in five acts. entitled CYRIL'S SUCCESS: Messrs. Warner, Vernon, David fisher, Newbound, Andrews, Tindale, Hurlston, and J. Clarke; Mesdames Henrado, C. Thorne, Breman, Berend, Hughgs, and Stephens. LICENSED VICTUALLERS' GUARDIAN R. GLENIE, of the Sporting Library, tA • 4, Connaught-terrace, Hyde-park, London, W., begs to reform his customers, and the Licensed Victuallers in general, tat he bas been appointed Agent for the above-named paper in ddition to his agency for the Sporting Edition of " THE SUN," ind can supply the same on Friday evening, if required, in town ►r country. G. R. U. begs to inform the Trade that Lie is Agent for the ATEST EDITION of "THE SUN," and can supply it earlier • ;lan any other man in London or Country the evening of publi anion. No connection with any other persons. Daily's, Ruff's, trrig'lt's. and Mt:airs Guides. All the Daily Papers, Maga. cues, and Periodicals as soon as published. Agent for the Joint :3 , ..? 1 Company. Orders by post attended to. rim LATEST EDITION of " THE SUN " to I. be seen Every Evening by 810 at Mr. ItonEra MEACOCK'S, •itannia, Mensal New-town THE TIMID EDITION OF " THE SUN," giving all the SPORTIG NEWS of the day, may be seen at JEM YJI NTO 'S house, " The Swan and Horse Shoe," Little Britain, City, E.C. VII O'S GRAINGER? LICENSED y VICTUALLERS' TOBACCONIST, SHEPHERD'S-BUSH. t' SPOT TI G P.DI 110 NI of "TIHIi SUN " can be seen at GR NGE It'S Establishment, as above, every evening by Eight rFJfIE LATEST EDITION of " THE SUN"' _l_ supplied, as soon as published. Every Evening, by W. ALEXA'DER (late Brooks), Newspaper Agent, Ao. 4, Old Cavendish street, Oxford-street. TrHE LATEST EDITION of " TIIE SUN" II supplied as soon as published, containing all the LATEST SEWS and SPORTING INTELLIGENCE, by H W HARRIS, Newspaper Agent, 4, Blackfriars-road, London, S. THE "SUN" NE WSPAPER.-G. R. GLENIE, Sporting Library, 4, Connaught-terrace, Edgeware-road, tolivers the LATE EDITION of "THE SUN " at the earliest possible moment after leaving the press. He is able to deliver Jopies in Town, the Suburbs, and in many parts of the country at a comparatively early hour the same evening, say 40 miles by 9.45 o'clock Orders by pos punctually attended ttl SPORTING. —JOHN ROBERTS supplies the LAT KS r EDITION of "THE SUN " as soon as pub lished.-4, Bath-street, City-road, E.C. THE "SUN" NEWSPAPER.-G. R. GLENIE delivers the LA TE EDITION at Chelsea, 7.40; Kilburn, 8 ; Starch-green, 8; Woolwich, 7.30; Uxbridge, 9.20; Watford, 9.4 5. rrHE LATE EDITION of " THE SUN' at lI JAMES SPEEDY'S, "The Wellington," Wellington-street, Strand. THE LATEST EDITION of " THE SUN." J. IDLINIES begs to inform his friends and the public ventrally that he surplies the LATEST EDITION of "THE SON " as soon as published.—No. 10, Hampstead-road N.W. THE LATE EDITION of "THE SUN " at J. SMITH'S, 39, Bow-street, Covent-garden. THE LATE EDITION of "THE SUN" at W. SMITH'S ' , Camden Stores," 78, Park-street, Camden. town. THEATRE-ROYAL DRURY- L ANE. dole Lessee and Manager, Mr. F. B. Chatterton. THIS EVENING, at 7, MY WIFE S OUT. Followed by the Grand Pantomime, PUSS IN BOOTS. Commence at 7. THEATRE-ROYAL, HAY MARKET. Tars EVENING, A HERO OF ROMANCE. After which, THE FRIGHTFUL HAIR: And AN ALARMING SACRI FICE. Messrs. Compton, Buckstone, Sothern, Buckstone, jun., Kendal, &c. ; Mesdames Ada Cavendish, Chippendale, Burke, Wright, Fitzwilliani, &c. Commence at 7. THEATRE-ROYAL, ADELPHI. Tins EVFNING, at 7, DID Y( /U EVER SEND YOUR WIFE TO CA3I BERW ELL. Mr. G. Belmore, Mrs. L. Murray. At 7.45 MONIE CRISTO . Messrs. Fechter, B. Webster, G. Belmore, A. Stirling. R. Phillips, Stuart, Ashley, Stephenson, C. J. Smith, W H. I burns, R. Romer; Mrs, Alfred Mellon, Miss C. Leclercq, and Mrs. Leigh Murray. PRINCESS'S THEATRE. Sole Lessee and Manager, Mr. Vining. THIS EVENING, at 7, to commence with THE SECRET. At 8, AFTER DARK, a Tale of London Life: Mr Vining, Mr. W. Lacy, Mr. Dominick Murray; Messrs. C. Harcourt, J. G. Shore, Maclean, Holston; Miss Emma Barnet and Miss Rose Leclercq Concluding with MASTER JONES'S BIRTHDAY. GLOBE THEATRE-ROYAL. This EVENING, at 7, GOOD FOR NOTHING. At a quarter to 8. CYRIL'S SUCCESS: Messrs. Warner, Vernon, David Fisher, Newbound, Andrews, Tindale, Hurlstone, J. Clarke; Mesdames Henrade, C. Thorne, Bremen, Berend, Hughes, and Stephens. ROYAL STRAND THEATRE. Sole Lessee and Manageress, Mrs. Swanborough. Tins EVENING. at 7.30, THE WIDOW HUNT. Messrs. Bel ford, Clarke; Miss Bufton. THE FIELD OF THE CLOTH OF GOLD: Messrs. Thorne, James. Fenton; u esdarnes Maria Longmore, B. Goodall, Lydia Maitland, Claire, and Hughes. To conclude with A COMICAL COUNTESS QUEEN'S THEATRE, LONG-ACRE. Manager, Mr. W. IL Liston. THIS EVENING, at 7, THE LANCASHIRE LASS: Messrs. Irving, L. Brough, Stephens, Wyndham, Clayton, and S. Emery ►lesdames Hodson, Montague, and Nelly Moore. And THE GNOME KING. Mr. Toole. With A RACE FOR A DINNER. THEATRE-ROYAL, OLYMPIC. THIS EVENING, at 7, SLASHER &CRASHER: Messrs Atkins, Vaughan, G. Vincent, 4t:c.: Mies Lennox Grey and Mrs Caulfield. After which, at 7.45, THE YELLOW PASSPORT : Messrs. H Ne • tile, G. Vincent, E. Atkins, H. Vaughan, H. Cooper, and H. Wigan; Mesdames Furtado, Lennox Grey, and Caulfield , ROYALTY THEATRE. Under the. Management of Miss M. Oliver. Tills EVENING, at A LOVIN(; CUP. Mr. Dewar, Miss M. Oliver. To he followed by THE RISE AND FALL OF 't ICH ARD III.; or, A New Front to an Old Dicky: Mr. Dewar klr. Danvers: Miss Collinson, and Miss M. Oliver. To con• :Jude with THE ULOCRIMAKER'S HAT. PRINCE OF WALES'S ROYAL THEATRE. Under the Management of Miss MarieWiltonl THIS EVENING, TAME CATS: Messrs. Hare, H. J. Montague, Blakeley, Montgomery. and Bancroft; Mrs. Buckingham White, Miss C. Addison, and Miss 11: arie Wilton. After which, WHO SPEAKS FIRST Messrs. Montague and Blakeley ; Miss C. Addison. ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE AND CIRCUS, HOLBORN. This EVENING, The Great Carre Troupe and magnificent Stud of 50 Horses; also n Avolo, Alfred Bradbury, M. Clifton, Captain Austin, Miss Carrie, and Samwell's Performing Dogs. CHRISTY MINSTRELS. St. James's Hall, Every Night, at 8 Wednesdays and Saturdays, at 8 and 8 all the year round. ROYAL AL [IAMB R A PALACE. THREE BALLET& Promenade Concert. Band of 60. Begin at 8. ls. Box-office open from 11 to 4. ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS, Regerfs=paik, OPEN daily (ex cept Sundays). Admission, Is.; on Mrndays, 6d.; Children under twelve, 6d. • ..;• LONDON, TUESDAY, DEC. 29, 1868. The Conference proposed by Prussia and Russia, and accepted, as it is said, by England, France, and Austria, will assemble, according to one of the latest rumours in circulation, at Paris, and on the 2nd of January. A Circular, according to a telegram de spatched yesterday from Constantinople, has already been addressed by the Turkish Government to its diplomatic representatives abroad upon the matter of this very invitation to a Conference. And, if we are to believe the statement set forth tersely by the electric telegraph, the purport of that Circular is to the effect that the Sublime Porte, although by no means admitting the necessity for any such proposed Conference, will, nevertheless, be prepared to assent to its being holden, but with the distinct proviso that the five points of the Turkish Ultimatum, recently addressed to the Hellenic Go vernment, shall be recognized by the Powers of Europe as the basis of discussion—into which discussion, however, the Cretan Question is not on any account to be introduced. According to the Patrie of last night these very rigid conditions have been accepted as reasonable by the Great Powers ; namely, that the terms of the Turkish ulti matum, that the integrity of the Ottoman empire, that the maintenance coute qui coute of the status quo ante bellunz shall constitute, as required by the Sub lime Porte, the basis of discusion at the Conference. It is even added that only upon these conditions would England assent to the proposal of any such Conference. Certainly the restricting thus the scope of the problem to be submitted to the Conference, with a view to its solution, if possible, by the assem bled European Plenipotentiaries, would very much simplify the otherwise enormous, entangled, and almost bewildering difficulty which would have without those conditions to be brought immediately under their consideration. Nevertheless, at the same time, as has already been judiciously remarked, it is some what puzz!ing beforehand to draw very rigidly lines of demarcation beyond which the representatives of the great Powers are not to pass under any circumstances. It is from Berlin that the announcement comes to us that Paris is to be the scene, and the second proximo the date, of the new Conference which has been thus rapidly arranged. Conferences or Congresses it has long been known are among the favourite notions of the Emperor NAPOLEON ILL A Congress is his bobby. It is more than a whim with him ; it amounts—or has at any rate upon one or two rather memorable ocla sions amounted—almost to what Mr. COBDEN would have called a craze : so implicit, upon these occasions, has appeared to be the EMPEROR'S confidence in the capacity of a group of plenipotentaries, in Con ference assembled, to unravel any diplomatic knot that may be submitted to their subtle and dexterous manipulation. Besides his Majesty the Emperor of the FRENCH, however, there are but very few indeed, we should imagine, who have anything like this absolute reliance upon the skill or the capa bilities of an European Conference. Other knots besides the Gordian Knot are only unhappily to be disentangled by being cloven asunder by the stroke of a sword. It remains even now to be seen whe ther the Eastern Question is after all a knot of that particular character. The Schleswig-Holstein question proved to be so, and was only finally loosened when the last sword was sheathed, the last cannon limbered, the last needlegun shouldered upon the deadly field of Sadowa. Still, there is a possibi lity, of course, that, with regard to the Eastern Question, the wished-for result may even yet be ar rived at very differently—through peaceful discus sions at a Conference—not through blind ing fusillades upon another of the world's great battlefields. And it is in the thought of that bare possibility, of course, that the Powers of Europe are now proposing to assemble once more in solemn con clave in the persons of their representatives. That Turkey, before assenting to anything of the kind, should make the distinct stipulations already particularised, is only what might reasonably have been expected on the part of any Government having a proper regard for the preservation of its own cha racter for independence. Otherwise than by making some such proviso as this the Sublime Porte would necessarily have compromised its position before the whole world by consenting—as England would never consent, as France could never consent—to admit that the integrity of its Empire should, under any conceivable circumstances, become matter for discussion and deliberation before other great Powers, howsoever select or howsoever exalted. Therefore it is, precisely for that reason, in vindi• cation of its own honour and dignity as an inde pendent Sovereignty, that Turkey stipulates, most naturally and most reasonably, that its ultimatum to Greece should be the basis of the proposed discus sions. Under the actual circumstances of the case the probabilities are that the result of those proposed discussions will be that the Greek Government will be snubbed (as it richly deserves to be) by the final decision of the Conference, next week to be as sembled together iu Paris, for the examination of the Turco-Greek difficulty. If only for the shame less despatch of M. DELTANNI, the Government of Athens deserves the reprehension of the assembled Powers of Christendom. The vindication of the majesty of the law of nations demands that the Great Powers of the world, now about to be imme diately assembled together in Paris, in the persons of their Plenipotentiaries, should reprehend, with the scorn and indignation required, these recent acts of a so-called Christian but a certainly Piratical and Filibustering Government. THE desire for an improvement in the mode of conducting public worship has become general. Although it originated with a party in the English Church, it now belongs to no party. All sects have accepted the principle, Dissenters as well as Church men. English churches and chapels now generally boast some architectural merit, instead of being like unsightly warehouses or hovels ; and a better ordered ritual has been adopted at the same time. While, however, the eye is in most cases satisfied, the ear is not. The music of these services is bad. And here it should be noted that the ritualists can claim little advantage over their brethren. It is not an un usual thing, amidst clouds of incense and gorgeous vestments, to hear music which is simply intolerable. Perhaps as decided a movement has been made in the direction of better music as in other parts of the improved ritual. But it has as yet been attended with failure. The cause, we believe, is not difficult to find, and we will presently point it out. But before doing so it will be interesting to trace the history of church music, of course only in a super ficial manner, during the last twenty years. Twenty years ago, in most parish churches in towns, the music was chiefly restricted to the singing of a few hymns, special favour being shewn to the Psalter of STERNIIOLD and HOPKINS ; while of course the psalms for the day were read by parson and clerk, the con gregation exhibiting the most perfect indifference, whilst divine worship was conducted by deputy. In those days men deposited a short prayer in their hats before the commencement of the service, and then made themselves comfortable to the end, kneeling being out of the question and infra dig. In some village churches barrel organs had just been intro duced, and these were limited to a few tunes which would now put an Anglican precentor in a fit. They were "Mount Ephraim," "Shirland," "Devizes," and the like. Before this innovation of barrel organs there had been in many village churches no attempt at music whatever, but when local talent permitted, a very simple orchestra was formed, composed of the flute, played by the squire's or the parson's man-servant ; the violin, by the village shoe maker ; and the violoncello, by the village tailor ; while the parish clerk would lead the vocal part. When we take into consideration the effect of the tuning of these instruments during the service, and the occasional absence of the only man with the slightest pretence to capacity as a musical leader, the effect was astounding. The music of the Dissenting chapels was chiefly vocal, and, although of the most doleful type, was rather better than that of the Established Church, because congrega tional singing was cultivated more. Some bold innovators in the Church now found that the Canticles should be chanted. The " Puseyites" went so far as to chant the Psalms, to the great in dignation of churchwardens and others. All this time the cathedral services had been unchanged, and had maintained to some extent the traditions of TAWS and other great masters of English church music. The cathedral service was not considered, as it is now, the pattern for other churches in the diocese, but was held to be a remnant of mediaeval profanity and frivolity not permissible elsewhere: Now, all is changed ; Churchmen and Dissenters alike recognise the importance of music in public worship. Some services are now entirely musical ; the Low Church party chant the Psalms, and even adopt choral service, while the chanting of the Te Deum and the singing of anthems may be heard in the conventicle. With all this we hold that the performance of Eng lish church music is generally bad. There are several reasons for this : among them the excessive meanness in providing for the musical portions of the services, the indifference of those to whom music has never presented itself as an intellectual study, the ignorance or imperfect training of the clergy, and the jealousy of those to whom the performance is allotted. But, above all, the great reason for the failure is to be found in the strange neglect exhibited in the cultivation of the human voice. We are nearly all of us born with a talent which we are con tent to hide in a napkin. We have a musical voice registering an average of twelve notes (an octave and a half) which a moderate education would easily qualify for the ordinary purposes of congregational singing. If schoolgirls, for instance, would devote a tithe of the time to this study which they now give to the torture of the pianoforte, to the great detriment of art in general and THALBERG in particular, the result would be eminently satisfactory. At charity schools children might easily be taught to read music, to their great advantage and pleasure in after life, There' ' would then be very few persons in a congregation physically incapable of taking part in the ordinary hymns and chants. The elaborate anthems, if adopted, might be left to the choir. What do we find now ? Our cathedral services, with well-paid choirs, are frequently slovenly. There can be no excuse for this if the choirmaster and the precentor know anything of their business, and will consent to work together on any terms. In the large parish churches may be frequently found the musical portion of the services conducted by an indifferent choir, the congregation making the lamest attempt to follow. In such congregations there is in one part of the church the well-known and energetic bass, who being perhaps deaf, and possessing original ideas upon the subjects of time and tune, betrays the misplaced confidence of those who follow him, and at last becomes a recog nised nuisance. At other parts of the church the solitary alto, treble, or tenor is heard, each leading a forlorn hope. In village churches the munificence of the congregation provides a harmonium at the price of five pounds, an organist is found in the village school master, and a choir in the schoolchildren. In churches which are recognised as " High," it is considered correct to chant Gregorian tones at a breathless pace, and horribly flat. If " Hymns Ancient and Modern " are sung as fast as they can be, the musical ritual is complete. In some celebrated metropolitan churches, where processionals and recessionals are the order of the day, MONK'S Hymns are not found sensational enough, and a debased and sometimes coarse ritual is accompanied by such monstrosities as " 0 Paradise !" A few Roman Catholic and Anglican cathedrals and churches will include all the really excellent con gregational singing in the country. In the metro polis good music can be heard at St. George's Roman Catholic Cathedral, the Brompton Oratory, All Saints Church Margaret-street, St. Andrew's Wells street, and a few others. At the Temple and the Foundling, and occasionally at Westminster Abbey, the music is good, but is in no sense congre gational. The Roman Catholics have the advan tage of the Anglicans in the use of the full orchestra upon festivals. There is no reason why Protestant churches should limit themselves to the organ. The trumpet is occasionally used in Westminster Abbey, and the harp in St. Andrew's Wells-street. There seems to be an idea that a man scraping a fiddle or beating a kettle-drum cannot be praising God ; but the same argument might be urged against the organist at the key-board and the man at the bellows. For all ordinary use, however, the organ is ample as an accompaniment. We are taught that music has ever been the holiest and chiefest employment of the heavenly hosts. The discords of chaos resolved themselves into harmonies as the Spirit of GOD moved over the face of the waters. " The morning stars sang together, and the sons of GOD shouted for joy." Occasionally we hear the echoes of— That undisturbdd song of pure consent, Aye sung before the sapphire-coloured throne. At this season we are reminded of the first " Gloria in Excelsis " sung by the hosts of heaven to celebrate the coming of the Author of all harmony in the natural and spiritualworld. Finally, we read of the time when, all things being madenew, the diapason of an emancipated universe shall thunder round the Throne of GOD, and every tongue and every heart shall join in those " Hallelujahs" which are like the voice of many waters and the roaring of the sea. LATEST INTELL MENGE. (REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.) TURKEY. CONSTANTINOPLE, Dec. 28, Evening. The Russian and Prussian Ambassadors here have received notice of the meeting of the Con ference on the 2d proximo. The other representa tives of For l eign Powers are still without official intimation from their Governments. There is no foundation for the rumour that M. de Boaree, the French. Ambassador, has been recalled. THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 29, 1868. SPAIN. MADRID, Dec. 28. The city of Madrid has contracted a loan with the banking firm of M. M. Erlanger. AMERICA. GREENCASTLE, Dec. 29. The Allan steamship Peruvian, from Portland on the 20th inst., arrived in Lough Foyle at 4.40 a.m. to-day, and, having landed the London mails, she proceeded for Liverpool with 53 saloon and 30 steerage passengers. INDIA, CHINA, AND AUSTRALIAN (HEAVY) MAILS. GIBRALTAR, Dec. 28. The Peninsular and Oriental Company's steam ship Pera arrived from Alexandria at 10 a.m., and leaves for Southampton at 1 p.m. this day. All well. She may be looked for on the 2d proximo. FRANCE. PARIS, Dec. 29. The Constitutionnel asserts that perfect harmony prevails between the Alinisters Rouher and Forcade de la Roquette. BOURSE, Dec. 28.—Three o'clock.—The market closed as follows : 44 per Cent. End of month — 3 per Cent End of month — Credit Mobilier 290 -- End of month 292 50 Credit Foncier 1537 50 End of month — RALLWA: Orleans Northern Bank Shares 3105 ItaFan Loan End of month — Mexican Loan Do. Bonds Spanish Threes Rome Debt Deferred 's. Cash ... 916 i 1205 Lyons and Mediterranean Southern-- 625 Western Eastern .. 562k Sardinian Austrian 647 Lombard 4221 North of Spain Saragossa Roin - an 54 THE PARSON AND THE CABBY. A friend of mine, who is a parson in the country, and a sort of modern y icar of Wakefield in his ways, came up . to town last week, and reaped the advantages -of change, in this respect, that somewhere or another he got a bad half-crown palmed off upon him. This annoyed him ex ceedingly, but most of all because he feared it might somehow get into circulation, and per haps reach hands that could less afford to receive it than lhis own. He would have thrown it into the gutter, but for this consideration, and he was pondering how to get rid of it, when it suddenly struck him that he was late for dinner with your humble servant, and there fore took a Hansom cab with all speed. So nervous was ho at the idea of keeping my other guests waiting, that when the cabman said, " Eighteen-pence, sir," he gave him the bad half-crown (which happened to be his only piece of silver) in change for a shilling, and the poor fellow drove away. However, before he was out of sight, my benevolent clergyman remembered what he had done, and fled down the street after the vehicle, shouting, " Cabby ! cabby !" wildly and waving his alpaca umbrella. The cabman, however, though he turned round only nodded good naturedly and drove away, leaving my poor friend inconsol able at the idea of having thus robbed an honest man. He told us the story at dinner, and most of us agreed that it was strange enough that the man bad paid no attention to his signals ; but a police magistrate, who happened to be at our table, asked to look at the shilling that the man bad given our vicar, and then quietly remarked, " Yes, I thought so ; he has given you a bad shilling."—Chambers's Journal. .4 SELF-ACCUSED POISONER. John Cope, a sergeant in the 17th Brigade .ttoyai Artil lery, now stationed at Dover Castle, delivered himself into the hands of the police at that place, on Satur day evening last, stating that he had murdered his wife by poisoning her. He was very rational at the time, and signed the following statement, which he made to Mr. Coram, the chief constable : "I, John Cope, sergeant 17th Brigade, R.A., do now state that on February 22, 1867, I caused the death of my wife Elizabeth, by ad ministering to her a drug in a pure state, callel nitric acid, for the purpose of destroying her life." The prisoner was confined in a celluntil Monday, when he was brought before the magistrates at Dover. Mr. Comm then said that he had made inquiries, and found from papers in the possession of the prisoner, that on Tuesday, the 26th of February, 1867, an inquest was held at Woolwich on the body of his wife, who had died from the effects of poison. Cope was then called as a witness, and stated that the deceased had confessed to him before her death that she had taken nitric acid in order to procure abortion, as she dreaded her approaching confinement, and had a great aversion to children. The jury returned a verdict that the deceased bad died from the effects of poison administered by herself. Cope soon after this deserted, enlisted into the 10th Hussars, and subsequently gave himself up at Woolwich as a deserter from the Royal Artillery. He had since been very abstemious, and was of a religious disposition ; but recently be had been drinking, and Mr. Coram had doubts as to his sanity. The magistrates determined to remand the prisoner for a week. Cope, who is a decent-looking young man, on being made acquainted with this decision, said, "It is right enough if you will only take my word for it, and you can save yourselves the trouble of remanding me." Among his papers were "An Ode," addressed to his dead wife, and several pieces of poetry, in all of which he, in sneaking of her, used the most endearing terms 4 DETECTIVE OFFICER SHOT. About half-past ten o'clock on Saturday evening last, Police-detective James Kemp, of the Northampton Constabulary Force, was shot in the public street at Northampton by a man named Bridgewater. Kemp had just left the police•station, and was proceeding home in company with two young men, when on going past Vic toria-street his attention was attracted by a man whose movements were somewhat suspicious. Kemp stopped for a moment, and the man immediately called out, "Keep back, or I'll shoot you." The detective thought he was joking, and said he didn't want to be thought a coward, so he advanced towards the man, who immediately raised a double-barrel gun to his shoulder and deliberately shot Kemp in the left breast, the distance between the two at the time being only some ten yards. Kemp staggered and fell to the ground, and ,the culprit endeavoured to make his escape. He was, however, pursued and taken into custody. The wounded man was taken to the infirmary, where he now lies in a hopeless state. The medical officers of the institution having ex pressed the opinion that he could not live, the Mayor (Mr. M. Vernon) attended at the infirmary on Sunday morning and took his depositions. The name of the prisoner is William Bridgewater, a machinist, who formerly resided at Northampton, but who for some months past has been living at Wellingborough. The man's family is a respectable one. His father resides in Victoria-street, near the place where the shot was fired, and the prisoner had come over to spend the Christmas holidays. A quarrel had occurred between his brother and himself, and shortly before Kemp was shot the prisoner went to his father's house and attempted to shoot his brother by firing at him through the bedroom window, happily without effect. Kemp, who is a young man about 34 years of age, was formerly in the Birmingham constabulary, when he exchanged into the Northampton force on account of his wife's health. He was one of the most active and efficient officers of the force. The prisoner was brought before the borough magistrates on Monday morning, and the dying man's deposition was read over. Mr. Keenan, the chief constable of the borough, applied for a remand until Wednesday, and stated that Kemp was sinking fast, and there was no doubt that when the prisoner next came before them it would be on a charge of wilful murder. Prisoner was remanded accordingly. Kemp has a wife and two children, and a mother over seventy years of age, who is partially dependent on him. It is stated that the prisoner knew Kemp, and therefore it has been inferred that he may have thought the detective was coming to apprehend him on the charge of shooting at his brother, and that to avoid apprehension he committed the dread ful deed. The vacancy on the Board of Inland Revenue caused by the death of Mr. J. Disraeli will not be fille d up, the appointment having been abolished. The effects of the storm at Wick have been greatly exaggerated. Messrs. Stevenson have now ascertained that the damage to the masonry of the breakwater will not exceed £4,000. As erroneous statements have appeared in print as to what the election judges have determined on with reference to particulars in cases of petitions alleging corrupt practices, we may state that what the three election judges for England have agreed upon is, as to such petitions as are fixed for trial, to require that the particulars which used to be given in on the opening of the case should be sent in three days before trial ; but this is not to exclude cases coming to the petitioner's know ledge later and up to the conclusion of the trial. The judges have not made a fixed rule on this matter, but propose to try the effect of the three days' notice, and may revert to the old practice if they find the effect of this notice bear hardly on respondents. THE SIAMESE TWINS.—A Scotch paper says : "The object which Chang and Eng, otherwise known as the Siamese twins, had in view in visiting Edinburgh was to obtain the advice of Professor Syme as to the advisabilty of severing the intercommunicating band by which they have been so long held together. On Wednesday morning Chang and Eng, waited on Professor Syme at the university for this purpose. After a careful examination, Pi ofessor Syme was strongly of opinion that such an operation would prove highly dangerous to their lives, and ac cordingly advised that the operation should not be performed. Fir James Y. Simpson, Burt., also entertains the same view, and the opinions of the two learned pro fessors may, we think, be taken as conclusive evidence on this hitherto debated point. It is intended, however, to take the opinion of a Paris professor on the subject; but doubtless the opinions of the two northern professors will have considerable weight with the twin brothers in what ever course they may ultimately adopt." Facts are multiplying in disproof of the late Pro fessor Edward Forbes's theory that the depths of the ocean would be found devoid of life and colour. More than fifty years ago General Sabine witnessed the bringing up of a living star-fish of large size from a depth of 800 fathoms in Baffin's Bay, and since then other evidence, similar in kind, has been brought forward by Dr. Wallich and other investigators. The latest facts bearing on the question, gathered by Dr. Carpenter and Dr. Wyville Thomson, were laid before the Royal Society last week, when Mr. Gwyn Jeffreys stated in confirmation that shells brought up from the deepest dredgings, off the Shetlands, were as brightly coloured as those found in shallow waters. It appears, indeed, that, so far from being lifeless, the deep-sea bottom teems with animal life and with creatures of a very remarkable kind, some of which connect long-past geological periods with the geo logical action going on in our own time. The high im portance of this fact will be manifest to all who have studied the question frdm a scientific point of view. And now fresh corroboration comes from abroad. The sound ings and dredgings under the United States Coast Survey were resumed last year ; and though, through interrup. tion by yellow fever, the season was but a short one, the fact was clearly ascertained that, in the sea between Key West and Havana, " animal life exists at great depths in as great diversity and as great an abundance in shallow water." And in the exploration in the present year the dredge brought up, from a depth of M 7 fathoms, "a very handsome Mopsea, a crab, an Ophiurian, and some annelids."—Athentrum. SUICIDE OF AN ACTRESS. —The Melbourne journals record the suicide of a young lady named Mae; who was born in Malines, Belgium, in 1848. Four years ago her widowed mother, who was an Englishwoman, and her daughter lived together in Melbourne, in poor circum stances. The daughter, impatient of poverty, and being accomplished, commenced as a governess ; but the tedium of such a life soon disgusted her, and she eventually entered upon a theatrical career. After performing with great suc cess in secondary parts, she failed to get an engagement for " leading " characters, and her wayward ambition pre vented her from taking anything less. Her private life would not bear rigid examination ; in religious matters she professed to be an atheist, and in social life her course was made eccentric by her strange characteristics. Some months since she attempted to kill herself with laudanum ; but she recovered, and for some time all seemed well again. But she was determined to do away with her life, and on Friday, October 23, her affairs being settled, she poisoned herself, having bought the poison two days previously. She left several notes to her friends, in one of which she expressed a desire that both her own and her stage name (Mademoiselle St. Denis) should be placed on her grave, with these lines :—" One who lov'd not wisely, hut too well."—Othello (Shaksperc). Act V. ; Last Scene." The jury returned a verdict of felo de se. She entreated that she should not be thought " mad," and declared that she could not live without " him," meaning a certain married man whose name had been improperly associated witkherswik MUTINY AT SEA. -- - A serious case of mutiny on the high seas is reported rom Hobart Town. On the Ist ultimo the ship Western Empire, Captain J. T. Rogers, from Bombay to Callas, )ut into that port, the crew being reported in a ;tate of mutiny. The vessel was one of the Abyssinian ;ransport ships, and was subsequently chartered at Born )ay to Callao. On the 26th of August a number of :xtra men were shipped, making a crew of thirty men all ;old. The men shipped at the port refused duty, and ifter being brought before the magistrate at Bombay, were sentenced to imprisonment, and were ultimately ;ent on board the ship in irons, and confined in the fore mstle. After getting clear of the port the men consented to return to work, and all went quietly until October ZS, when a mutiny arose, and the life of the master was threatened. He armed himself with a revolver, and, returning to the poop, said he would fire at the first man who came on the poop to injure him. On this two or three of the men rushed at him and struck him in the face. Ire fired a shot or two over their heads, thinking to frighten them, but he was knocked down, beaten, and at last put in irons and kept in confinement till the vessel reached the port of Hobart Town. The police having been made acquainted with the circumstances of the case, boarded the vessel, and the mutineers, sixteen in number, were taken into custody. LIVES SAVED FROM SHIPWRECK IN 1868, ---o The year which is now closing will long he remem bered as one of the stormiest on record. It is, however, satisfactory to find that the year will also be well remembered for the great exertions which have been put forth to save shipwrecked persons. It appears that during the past twelve months the boats of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution have been instrumental in saving, during boisterous weather, the lives of 570 persons, being the crews of distressed vessels on the coasts of the British Isles, in addition to 24 vessels saved fr3m destruc tion. During the same period the Lifeboat Institution granted rewards for saving 259 lives by fishing and other boats, making a grand total of 829 lives saved mainly through its instrumentality. In the same period the crews of the lifeboats of the society, at a very large expense, have either assembled, or put off in reply to signals of distress 150 times to ships not eventually requiring their services. It often happened that on these occasions the lifeboat crews had incurred much risk and exposure throughout stormy days and nights. The number of lives saved either by the life boats of the institution or by special exertions, for which it has granted rewards since its formation, is 17,800, for which service 90 gold medals, 792 silver medals, and £28,900 in cash, have been given as rewards. When we remember that nearly every life saved by lifeboats has been rescued under perilous circumstances, it will at once he seen what great benefit has been conferred by the Lifeboat Institution—not only on the poor men themselves and on their country, but also on their wives and children, who would otherwise be widows and orphans. Since the beginning of the present year the institution has spent £18,813 on its 194 lifeboat stations on the coasts of England, Scotland, and Ireland ; and since its first establishment in 1824 it has expended £212,820 on its lifeboat stations. We would strongly urge on all who recognise the sacredness of human life the duty, and even the privilege, to help forward the lifeboat work—a work which has hitherto been manifestly blessed by Providence, and which has brought relief to many thou sands of men who, instead of being this very day valuable members of the community, would have been long ago engulphed in the raging waves of the tempest, leaving, in many cases, widows and orphans to suffer not only the misery of bereavement, but the pangs of 4estitution. THE GALE AND ITS DISASTERS,. During the past week the weather has been of an ex ceptional character, and the variations of the barometer have forewarned the weatherwise that mischief was at hand. On Saturday and Sunday most destruc tive gales occurred all round the western coasts, inflicting much serious damage. From Liverpool many disasters are reported, and the state of the Mersey is described as most extraordinary. At high water on Sunday morning the tide was no less than 23ft. 10in. in height, and, owing to the wind, it remained even at low water Bft. above its ordinary ebb. The appearance of the river is compared to that of a gigantic steam boiler, and old residents in the vicinity put the storm on a level with the remarkable gale in 1839. Happily, no serious casualty occurred in the river, the American steamers and others at anchors riding out safely. Off the North-west lightship, however, No. 9 pilot - boat was run down by the Royal Mail steamer China, belonging to the Cunard line. Several pilots are missing, the exact number being yet uncertain. In the various docks round Liverpool great mischief has been done, and every vessel which arrives has a fresh record to bring. The City of New York, from Halifax, had the misfortune to lose abag of mailswashed overboard opposite the Rock lighthouse. The destruction on land has also been very great. At Bolton the walls of a new Baptist chapel in course of erection were blown down, at a loss, it is thought, of £l,OOO. A still more serious accident is reported from Rochdale, where service was being held in a newly-erected Sunday-school, on Sunday afternoon, when the building was completely blown down, and many persons were buried in the ruins. Portions of walls and houses were blown down in many places, and the tele graphic posts and wires much injured. More remark able was the effect produced by the force of the wind upon the railway wires. The progress of the trains was actually delayed by its violence, and the train from London due in Liverpool at 6 p.m. on Sunday afternoon did not arrive till nearly an hour later. The great quantity of rain which has lately fallen has produced another element of disturbance in the prevalence of floods. The Trent has overflowed its banks and sub merged the neighbouring meadows. The erection of the new bridge at Nottingham has again been stopped in con sequence, and as the old Trent bridge on the Nottingham side is giving way through the saturation of the ground, traffic has become very unsafe. The Ribble, which has been much swollen during the whole of this month, has also overflowed its banks. Hundreds of acres in the Croxton and Mawdesley districts are now under water, and low lying lands in other parts are also inundated, to the injury, it is feared, of the young wheat. The waters of the Thames at Windsor and Eton have flooded the Windsor racecourse, the playing-fields at Eton, and several other parts. It is said that a third letter from Earl Russell to the Right Hon. Chichester Fortescue on the state of Ireland will be published early in January. Birmingham was on Saturday and Sunday threat ened with Irish riots. The row indeed began. But the polico arrangements were so good that the disturbances ware quelled. The local journals hint that Fenianism has someth'ng io do with the affair. DEATH OF MR. CHALMERS. —We regret to record the death of Mr. Chambers, the inventor of the Chalmers Target, which took place on Saturday morning last. Mr. Chalmers has left behind him works that cannot but make him remembered and regretted by the British public. He has been cut off just as his target is about completed and his Channel Railway scheme likely to come into notice. It is hoped that these labours of his life for the public weal may not be slighted by those in posiiton to reward them. Mr. Chalmers leaves a widow with two daughters and two sons. The metropolitan correspondent of the Sheffield Independent says ,—" I am glad to learn that there is a pro bability of Mr. Beales's appointment to a County Court Judgeship. Whether one agrees with all that he has re cently done, or otherwise, there is no doubt that ho laboured hard and successfully in the cause of reform, and that in c( nuection with it ho has made personal sacrifices of no ordinary nature. These labours and the loss of his Be icing Barristership will only be modestly rewarded by such an office as that which, according to rumour he is des tinod to fill," Several of our contemporaries "are given to understand" that there is no foundation for the state ment in a paragraph copied from the Examiner, to the effect that Mr. F. J. Scudamore, the Second Secretary of the Post Office, is about to be removed to the Treasury, to work in conjunction with Mr. Stans feld. The mistake has probably arisen from the fact that Mr. Stansfeld has recently joined the committee to inquire into the state of the office of her Majesty's Customs, which was appointed by the late Government, and of which Messrs. Scudamore and Forster, C. 8., were originally the enly me-übers. how far election bets are valid was instanced in a case which came before the judge at the Blackburn Coutty Court. The plaintiff, a factory operative, named Abraham Knowles, had bet a weaver, named Thos. Hall, 20s. previous to the elections, that Mr. Gladstone would not have fifty of a majority of Liberal supporters. The money was placed in tho hands of a fellow -operative, named George Haworth, as stakeholder. On the result of tho elections throughout the country showing that Knowles bad lost, Haworth handed the money to Hall, tho winner. Knowles, however, demanded his money back, ac knowledging he had lost, on the ground that the bet was an tuilawful one, and not being able to get it he put up Ilaworth, the stakeholder in court. His Honour said, as the law stood, he must give a verdict to plaintiff, although, according to plaintiff's statement, he was not in e_csity_entitled tole agEaßklegigigualkuttit Cirtulgt HER MAJESTY. OSBORNE, Dec.:2B. The Queen, accompanied by Princess Louise, walked and drove in the grounds this morning. Their Royal Highnesses the Crown Prince and Princess of Prusssia (the Princess . Royal), with their children, took leave of her Majesty this morn ing, on their return to the Continent. MILI7ARY AND NA VA L INTELLIGENCE• Her Majesty's screw Indian relief troopsbili Serapis, Capt. John C. Soady, with troops on board for Alexandria, saild from Portsmouth harbour early yesterday morning, but shortly after noon re. turned and anchored at Spithead for shelter from a westerly gale of great violence which swept the Channel, accompanied with thick rain, and which increased in strength as the thy wore on. The sailing of the Ariadne, screw frigate, Capt. Colic A. Campbell, for the Mediterranean, appointed for yesterday, was also deferred from the violence of the gale. The Agincourt, armour-plated screw man-of-war' 26 guns, 6,621 tons, 1,350-horse power, arrived at Sheerness yesterday afternoon from Devonport to take the place of the Formidable as flagship at the Nore. The Agincourt was accompanied from Devonport by her Majesty's ship Terrible, 19 1 paddlewheel frigate, 1,850 tons, 800-horse power, Captain Travenen P. Coode, and entered Sheerness harbour during a heavy gale of wind , accompanied by heavy gusts of rain, from the south west, the barometer being at 28.30, and still fall ing. It was found next to impossible to safely moor the Agincourt. Her anchors were, therefore , dropped, and fortunately they held the ground. At the time of the despatch of our parcel, however, the Government riggers were still endeavouring to moor the ship on the west shore. The Terrible proceeded farther up the harbour to Backstakee Reach, where she anchored. Before returning t° Devonport with the seamen riggers who navigate d the Agincourt to Sheerness the Terrible will re-coal. Staff-Capt. Spain, assistant-master-attendant of Pe' vonport Dockyard, had charge of the Agincourt oil the passage round from Devonport. The Cumberland, guardship of the Steam Reserve at Chatham and Sheerness, has returned the who le of her guns, shot, shell, and stores into the dock' yard, and is completely stripped and dismantled, preparatory to being put of commission on t he 31st instant. Her officers and troops will be transferred to the Royal Naval Barracks, it bei e g intended to abolish the guardship of the Steam oe serve in the Medway, the duties connected with th e superintendence and charge of which will in futu re devolve on the superintendent of Sheerness Dock' yard. No orders have yet bee n r e ce i ve d from th e Admiralty as to the fate of the Cumberland, but n report of her condition will be made in order to e° - able the Board to decide whether she shall be brok en up or retained in the navy for an hospit a l ship ° other purposes. The Formidable (the last of the old class of 84- gun sailing line-of-battle ships in commissil Capt. D. M. Mackenzie, flagship o f Vi ce -Admir al Sir Baldwin W. Walker, at the Nore, i s Fartialill dismantled, and, according to existing orders, be put out of commission on Thursday next, Wh en her officers and crew will be turned over to the lr °ll ' clad ship Agincourt. The private steamship Una, Mr. Smith, mast er ' arrived at Portsmouth yesterday morning fro Malta, with a quantity of Government stores a n " the following officers and troops on board from WI serving on the island :—Brevet-Major Francis, 84t , Regiment, in command, and Mrs. Francis a n child ; Lieut. Aylen, 64th Regiment ; Capt. Ca l !' well and Lieut. Corcor, Ist battalion 24th ; Sta', Surgeon Mears, in medical charge; 385 invalided and time-expired non-commissioned officers a° men. The roughness of the weather yesterd a y prevented the disembarkation of the troops the Uua, but that will be effected this morning !, the weather sufficiently moderates, and she 111/ immediately afterwards sail again for Woolwich W e deliver up her cargo of Government stores. Sh sailed from Malta on the 13th inst. The following appointments were made Yes ter ; day at the Adtniralty :—Capt. W. A. R. Pears° t, the Egmonf, vice Capt. Ingram, whose period to °' service has expired ; Capt. Edward Harding° the Juno, vice Capt. Yearse ; Lieut. Harry F. to . Hallett and Lieut. Frederick W. Bayly Jones the Excellent, for study. THE RIGH7 BON. MILNER GIBSON ON PEACE. " There was a growing opinion that the pres env naval and military armaments which were re 3 ' v e tamed in a spirit of national rivalry were oppres s ' and enormous burdens that ought to and must a diminished. That sentiment was gaining groo very rapidly in France, where branches of the Be?' lish Peace Society were to be found, and he b i e l i lieved the day would come when the world We ° see that that society had done great service, b e ' cause, by spreading information throughout B l f.; land and Europe, it was assisting to form a Pe b , l o opinion in favour of a new policy, namely, to r ts down those excessive military and naval amain° which were at present main tained—(hear)---ar rati i ments which were not supported by the voice ° I , the people of Europe, but were, in fact, due sinW ai i to the military class having acquired, in neadY the governments of Europe, an undue ascenda ncy ; They would hardly find anybody in Fra ii h e e who was not ready to express his astonishment , Z ia might almost say his disapproval, of the excese l 'i armaments that were being maintained in time of peace. (Hear, hear.) Then was not this a nioln el3 which should be taken advantage of to make P ro, posals to foreign Governments to bring about to , mutual disarmament? It was his firm belief tu a unless the electoral body took the matter in ban 13e themselves, so great were the ascendancy and t ,,f power of the military element in the governmen t ; the country and the control of the departale v ld that no material reduction in the expenditure ee u take place. A gentleman for whom he (Mr. gil net Gibson) had a great respect, had made an italn .e ; sive remark upon the effect of that silent, slow P ro cess of the formation of opinion upon the impor t subject of peace. He (Mr. Milner Gibson) k° t o it was frequently said that it was all nonsense 00 talk about peace and a peace policy, that man W ire a fighting animal, and we should always l it/ to wars, and it was therefore not worth whil e take any trouble about the matter. The gen tle, ~ man to whom he referred said, 'lf 1 e" .- asked what effect we (the Peace Soc iety) have produced by our teaching on general opia ioo in England, 1 answer that it is difficult to me 0 : 1 : 0 mora l influence. You cannot m ove f or a pe r ' - ; mentary return of its operations —you cannot P them into a schedule or statistical tables. i t i s ubtle, impalpable, lik e th e li g h t of heaven and t o „ 0 , air we breathe ; but, lik e t h em also, i t i s p enetfr ing, diffusive, irresistible.' He b e li ev ed that °Li ll process was goi ng on, an d h e h ope d t h a t elect i would support th e po li cy o f peace, i n which t trade policy if were so much i n t eres t e d . Wh at b ecame o f our fr a if a war system was to be persele r o , in ? They m us t reco ll ec t th a t wars upon the ef io tinent were almost as prejudicial to them as wa r- t he which England was actually engaged, because ,; A general stock was thereby injured. Ile had se e t ," e j calculation that the Russi a n war ac t ua lly destr o y o f in Europe no less than 340 millions sterling capital. If Ministers were really in carnestoo making peaceful declarations, they ought to fly them up by action, and use their diploaaatie i e ba t ence to bring about a reduction of armaments; de it was very hard to get any representations n l era to foreign Governments in that sense, because t h o r were so many persons interested in keeping t% o lo# establishments. The only occasion on which Abe rnacy had been used in that sense was vine ° of Earl of Clarendon suggested to the Congr e "l l Paris that the great Powers should estab lis bs system of international arbitration which T i p. prevent the resort to arms for the settlement 01 putes."—Speech at Ashton. per Dit per Now Now Do, ♦unu Do. Do Exch, Do. Do. lank Do. Cana( liter• Do. Do. Do. =Do. Do. Do. Do. Di A.r;en Do., Au nr: Br ail 00. Do. Do. Do. Do. Lo, poo Pos' dir( a-y can bet due (bei half the Con pow viz. Mai Jul. the (i 6, Gov men Mes forn and Cen beer gap The 171( India