The Sun. — London, England, 1853-12-30 00:00:00

tne speed/ zed the )0 late, and I- 2 , blood of tae of Jo" eraliP r id tb 3v t audae n a xtlt?' )()ssiio Lsider3- mid ,t tothi n g t iu ths' the X6' no'" . MONEY MARKET AND COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE. CITY, TWO O'CLOCK. The sales of cotton at Liverpool yesterday were estimated at 7,000 bales, of which 500 American Were taken for export, and 500 American and 1,000 Surat on speculation. The market closed firmly, at full prices. The sales comprised 5,000 American, 50 Bahia, at 6±d. to 71d. ; 500 Egyp tian, at 6d. to 9d. ; 1,500 Surat, at 24d. to 41d. ; and 50 Sea Island, at ls. 3d. to 2s. 3d. per lb. ares Railway were Sh dull atlower prices. The Colonial and Foreign Produce Markets hav ing been closed this week, business has been re stricted to purchase by private contract. The prices of the leading staples are well maintained, and stocks are not heavy. The deliveries also continue good. In coffee there has been a tendency to ad vance, but tea has become duller. Tallow is also dearer. We are now much in the same position as at the close of 1852. Trade is sound and finan cial prospects are good, so that under ordinary circumstances full support might be expected to be given to the various markets, but there is the enormous drawback of politics which may overcome other favourable contingencies. Several cargoes of oranges have arrived since Christmas. The Challenge, from Fayal, brought 2 ,000 packages, a portion of which, together with two cargoes St. Michael, sold by Keeling and Hunt, at public sale, went at a reduction of 2s. to 3s. per package. Lemons sustain their value. Messina nuts have advanced 2s. per bag. Chesnuts ss. per barrel lower. The adverse wind has prevented several fruit cargoes from reaching this port, and a 'very indifferent supply for the Christmas consump tion was the result. This may be regarded as the last business day of 'the year 1853, and looking back at the events *which have arisen, one may discern abundant rea son for congratulation that commerce has proceeded so regularly, and that our traders have stood their ground against all disadvantages. It will be re- Membered that on the Ist of January the minimum rate of discount at the Bank of England was but 2 per Cent., that on the Bth of that month it was raised to 22, and on the 22nd to 3 per cent., at which it remained until the 4th of June, when it was raised to 3i. The amount of bullion in the Bank of England had, in the interim, sunk from over 20 to about 18 millions sterling, and Consols from 1011 / had been down to 991 in January, and up again to 100/ in May. On the 3rd Septem ber the discount was raised to 4 per cent., and Consols, which were about 98, gradually fell to 95i on the 17th of that month, when the Bank minimum charge was made 41 per cent. The Ist of October brought up the charge to 5 per cent., at which it has since remained, and in the same month Consols were done as low as 91. Although upon several occasions during the year, extreme apprehension has prevailed with respect to the Eastern question, it was not until September that it became so decided as to lead to anything resembling a panic, and then the public mind soo again became tranquillised. The ascertained deficiency in the crops, exercised, about this period, a great influence, as the bullion in the Bank was weekly declining, having been at its' lowest point within the last two months, and with the aggravation of strikes, and a rise in the prices of all the great staples, including . grain, meat, tallow, coals, and several articles of Colonial produce, it was a matter of as tonishment with many that the export trade of the United Kingdom continued astonishingly brisk, due in part, no doubt, to the Australian de mand, but likewise to our general foreign business, the United States proving large customers. The significant points which we have now before us to guide us in an opinion of the future, are that the bullion in the Bank, although larger in amount than it was a short time back, is still greatly below the sum at which it stood ,in the beginning of the year, that discounts have been advanced 3 per cent., that wheat has this day risen 2s. to 35., that large imports are still required, that coffee, tallow, tea, and other article's are at about the highest point attained this year, and that the war with Turkey is yet in progress. There is abundant room for caution therefore, though we trust also plenty for hope, and our merchants and capitalists stand well prepared whatever may happen. The English funds are firmer, upon an official announcement in the Afonit:eur that the Ottoman Porte has accepted the terms of arrangement pro posed by the allied powers. This was known, per telegraph, soon after the market opened, and Con sols, which were 93/ rose to 93i, 1 to 94 1 g. They have since been 93/ to 94, with very little doing. The speculators do not appear very sanguine as to what the Emperor Nicholas may do, and the public rather keep up the supply of New 3/ per Cents., which are 951 to 1. Bank Stock is heavy at 2171. Exchequer Bills are ss. to Bs. premium. Foreign securities have been dull. Mexican are flat at 24 to 4, and Spanish Deferred 3 per Cents. at 22. Dutch 4 per Cents. have been 97, and since 962. Russian 41 per Cents. 'are 97/. The English Railway Shares are about 1 2 per cent. better as respects the principal lines, the chief business being in Midland, North Western, Great Western, and Aberdeen. French shares are also better. The Gold Mine Shares are dull, the Banks firm, and the Land Companies' neglected. BRITISH FUNDS THIS DAY AT ONE O'CLOCK. (From the Official List.) Business done Bank Stock .. 3 per Cent. Reduced Annuities . ... 943 4 3 per Cent, Consols Annuities shut New 31 per Cent. Annuities 9si A i a Consols for Opening 18th Jan. 93.1 4 Exchequer Bills, ld. £l000 £5OO 5 8 p Small 5 8 p PRICE OF FOREIGN FUNDS AT ONE O'CLOCK. Mexican 3 per Cent. Ditto for the Account 24i 4 / Russian Bonds, 1822, 5 per Cent. £ St Ditto 4A per Cent 97i Spanish New Deferred, 3 per Cent 22 Dividends on the above payable in London. Dutch Exchange, 24 per Cent. 12 Guil C4I Ditto 4 per Cent. Certificates ...... _ HALF-PAST TWO. Consols for Opening 18th January......... 93i 4 x d LAW INTELLIGENCE-(THIS DAY). SECONDARIES' COURT. (Before Mr. Secondary Potter.) JOHNSON V. COOPER. A QUESTION AS TO COUNTY COURTS. This was an action to recover the sum of 121. 17s. on a Ibill of exchange. Mr. J. R. Chidley, Gresham-street, appeared for the Plt - tintiff, and proved the acceptance, &c., and the only objection taken was, that the action ought to have been brought in the County Court. Mr. Chidley, in reply, contended that there was a concurrent jurisdiction, and that the plaintiff could ru aintain his action in the superior court. The learned Secondary held to that effect, and refused to, grant any certificate to deprive plaintiff of costs, which Would only cause delay, and in this case it would appear to defeat justice. Mr. Chidley said he was perfectly open to discuss the qt testion before one of the learned judges at Chambers, bt it it appeared to him that the defendant must show Ye ry strong grounds before the plaintiff would be de prived of costs when circumstances had driven him to e Superior Court—indeed, in many instances, litigancy it ► the county courts led to very great expenses. A verdict was given for the plaintiff, the certificate to 3prive the plaintiff of costs being refused. .MARLBOROUGII-STREET-(THIS DAY. Richard Branwhite, who was brought up on Thurs day last, on a charge of sending certain anonymous :letters to Mr. Owen, the secretary to the London Trade Protection Society, appeared again to-day in answer to :his bail. The solicitor having explained to the magis trate, that a most humble apology had been made to lir. Owen, and that gentleman had been induced to foreg o the prosecution, on the prisoners entering into his recognizances, in the sum of 1001., to be of good be hayieus for the next twelve months. THE WEATHER AND THE PARKS. The frost which has prevailed during the past few days continues, and with increased severity, for from 12 o'clock on Wednesday night the mercury rapidly descended until it had fallen so low as 151 degrees be low freezing point—a lower temperature than has been known for many years. At 7 o'clock yesterday morn ing the thermometer indicated no higher than 17 de grees, being 15 degrees of frost, and during the day had not ascended to more than 27 degrees, again re ceding, up to 8 o'clock last night, to 25 degrees, with a wind at north-north-east, and, from the clear and bright starlight night, giving every indication of a frost of considerable duration. On Wednesday afternoon the wind slightly veered to westward,—the then cloudy atmosphere was cleared by a descent of snow, which was eventually frozen hard to the ground. The ice on the ornamental waters in the Royal parks, &c., had, from the intensity of the frost, gained such additional strength as to cause a great accession of skaters and sliders, as well as to draw to their banks a vast assem blage of spectators, particularly on the banks of the Serpentine. THE SERPENTINE.—On the surface of this piece of water there were during the day upwards of 7,000 skaters and sliders, including several members of the Skating Club. The ice was in admirable condition when cleared from the snow. Along the banks were innumerable stalls, occupied by men lending out skates, who drove a profitable trade. The only accident in this park during the day Was that to a young gentleman named George, residing at 68, Upper Berkeley-street, Edgeware-road, who, from a fall on the ice, received a severe concussion of the brain. During the morning, in consequence of an order from the Woods and Forests, a number of carts were employed to remove ice from the east end, in order to supply her Majesty's ice wells at Buckingham Palace. It was accordingly found necessary to place lines across to prevent the skaters and sliders from getting on that portion whence the ice had been abstracted. THE LONG WATER AND ROUND POND.—The ice at these places was in excellent condition, and was visited by, a great number of skaters and sliders. Fortunately there were no accidents. On the banks of the Long Water was erected the elegant marquee of the Skating Club. REGENT'S•PARK.—The attendance of skaters and sliders at this point amounted to some thousands, while from the brightness of the day the banks of the orna mental lake were thronged with innumerable spectators. There were no accidents from immersion, but several cuts and contusions from falls, which were promptly attended to by the medical officer of the Royal Humane Society. ST. JAMES'-PARK.--The ice on this piece of water had become materially strengthened by the intense frost of the preceding night, but was nevertheless considered to be dangerous in various parts. There were, however, not less than 6,000 skaters and sliders who ventured on, and the only accident which occurred took place about 3 o'clock, at the west end, near the fountain, when Mr. Hooke, 93, Felton-street, and his relatives, Henrietta and Mary Hooke, broke in, but were speedily rescued by Superintendent Parsons and several icemen, and at tended by Dr. M`Cann. On the Surrey Canal, Clapham-common, and various open waters in the vicinity of the metropolis, innumera ble skaters and sliders amused themselves without any serious injury. ANOTHER FIRE IN THE CITY. At two o'clock yesterday morning the vicinity of the City was again the scene of another devastating fire, making the third that has happened since Monday last. It orignated from some as yet unexplained cause, on the premises in the occupation of a Mr. Burgin, upholsterer and cabinet-maker, No. 26, Great Winchester-street, London-wall, a building of some antiquity, a relic of house architeeture long before the great fire in 1666. No person appears to have slept on the premises ; they were used as a kind of warehouse for upholstery, some of the upper floors being made into workshops. When closed on the previous night by Mr. Burgin the lights were properly extinguished, and the place was compara tively safe ; and so they continued till about two o'clock yesterday morning, when the policeman on duty in the neighbourhood, on passing the door, ob served a glare of light at the back of the warehouse room, and in a second or so saw that the place was on fire. Immediately alarming the occupants of the adjoining houses he proceeded to despatch his brother constables, who came to his assistance after hear ing the springing of the rattle, to, the brigade stations in Whitecross-street, Watling-street, and Jeffery-square, with information of its outbreak. The engines of those stations, with a full corps of engineers and firemen, quickly reached the spot, but in the meantime the fire had gained prodigious strength and power, arising from the circumstance of the extraordinary quantity of timber in the building. Its appearance when the firemen ar rived was truly terrific. Not only was the whole front age of Mr. Burgin's premises in one vivid sheet of flame, but it reached completely across the street, and fired the houses on the opposite side, numbering 11, 12, and 13, which were all burning fiercely, and a most direful con flagration was apprehended. Very fortunately the fire men obtained an almost instantaneous supply of water, and getting their engines into full play, the whole of their engines were directed towards preserving the row of houses opposite to that of Mr. Burgin, which was past saving. After considerable difficulty the men accomplished their task. They then conveyed their hose into the houses Nos. 25 and 27, the former occupied by Mr. Skee, general merchant, and the latter by Mr. Bowling, boarding - house keeper. The roofs of each building had taken fire, and the flames were'descending rapidly into the interior, but the men soon succeeded in checking the fire from proceeding further, although the main body of it, in Mr Burgin's premises, continued raging for upwards of an hour. When subdued all that remained of the premises were the walls ; the interior was entirely consumed, and the roof and floors had fallen in. An intense frost pre vailed at the time, so great, indeed, that the firemen were coated with ice, and icicles were hanging from their helmets, an occurrence that has not been expe rienced since the night when the Old Royal Exchange was burnt down, in January, 1838. Mr. Braidwood, the superintendent of the brigade who was present at the fire, has made the following re port to the different insurance companies on the cha ratter of the property destroyed and damaged :—The premises No. 26, Great Winchester -street, London. wall, tenanted by Mr. Burgin, upholsterer, for the most part destroyed ; cause of fire unknown ; insured in the Royal Exchange office. No. 27, in the same street, oc cupied by Mr. Bowling, boarding-house keeper, roof and upper part of the premises damaged by fire, and the contents by water ; insured in the Phoenix office. No. 25, occupied by Mr. Skee, general merchant, similarly damaged ; insured in the Atlas office. Three houses on the opposite side of the street, fronts much scorched, &c. Another fire broke out about the same time as the above did, in the neighbourhood of Chapel-street, West minster, which destroyed part of the house occupied by Mr. Baker before it could be got under. THE TURKISH QUESTION.---A requisition is in course of signature for presentation to the churchwardens of St. Pancras, calling upon them to convene a public meeting to protest against the supineness of the Govern ment upon the Turkish question, and to urge more active measures against the aggressions of Russia. A CHRISTMAS " GHOST" STORY.—On Sunday even ing, about half-past nine o'clock, the pedestrians near Everton-crescent were startled by hearing strange s ounds proceeding from the chapel o f the R ev . J. Kelly, at the corner of Field -street. At first the noise was only indistinct, and passers-by stopped and wondered, but, intent on their own pleasure, went their way and thought no more about it. Not so, however, a number of curiosity-hunters, who hung about the chapel-yard. They followed the sounds round and round the edifice, indulging in a variety of strange conjectures, and speculating as to what they could be, one or two of the more experienced hazarding the remark that they had " seen something" flash across one of the windows. At length the noise ceased altogether, and although this fact was more remarkable, still the coldness of the night drove the ghost-hunters away, one old woman alone retaining her post, positive th ,t there "must be something" in it. Her patience was also giving way, and she was in the act of moving from the spot when a loud rumbling noise was heard, fol lowed by a tremendous knocking at one of the doors, and immediately succeeded by loud shrieks and cries for help, which caused the old lady to shudder. Still she kept her presence of mind, and induced a young man to climb wow the railings, and make inquiries as sto whence the untimely sounds proceeded, for she was now certain that no ghost ever made such a noise before. The young man soon ascertained that the " spirit-rapper" was a little girl, who had been sent to chapel by her parents, where the effects of the Christmas cheer she had partaken of at dinner had caused her to indulge in a quiet nap. On the congregation dispersing she did not awake, and being so very little (only four years old) she had been overlooked by the chapel-keeper in his rounds, and locked in. Her screems on being dis covered were fearful, and it was no easy matter to pacify her. At length the chapel-keeper was found, the doors opened, and the unwilling prisoner released, when she flew, rather than ran, home, none the worse for her im prisonment, though dreadfully frightened. The strange noises which first attracted the notice of pedestrians in the street were caused by the child wandering about the chapel in search of a place of exit, in the course of which she several times stumbled against the pew-doors.— Liverpool Timm THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 30, 1853. SHARE MARKETS-(THIS DAY). PREFERENCE BIIARES. MARKET NEWS-(THIS DAY.) 'Aberdeen . BRITISH RAILWAYS. 'Do., No. 2, 7 p. IBlyth & Tyne 10 pert et. pref. (iss. atX5O)l Bristol & Exeter 4 pr cent., stock... CORN EXCHANGE. Fresh up to this morning's market, the arrivals of Eng lish wheats were very limited ; hence, the show of samples was comparatively small. The attendance of both town and country millers being good , the demand for all kinds ruled active, a t an a d vac in the prices of last week of from 2s to 3s per quarter, and a clearance was speedily effected. IDo. Do., shares i Caledonian £lO ! Chester dr. Holyhead Guar. 5} per cent Cork&Bandon 5 p.c Dundce Perth &Aber deep Junction 6 7 ibi shi T p h in e e re nt wx t egood n n i n q en try tr fn per quarter higher th an on Friday last. The imports are only 4,570 quarters. gn s Floating cargoes sold f ree l y , an d th e quo t a tions had an upward tendency. we li re e a f t rO In a r t 2s ly t o f 3 or s a o a r f p o r r i e ee i We had rather an active inquiry for barley, and fine parcels advanced is per quarter. Malt was in short supply and good request, at extreme quotations. The oat trade was rather active, and good dry corn pro duced 6d to is per quarter more money. White peas were is to 2s higher. Grey and maple, as well as beans, moved off readily at extreme rates. The flour trade was firm, and American barrels were is dearer. EastA nglian (£3los)' 6 per cent....... .....' 61 -- 6i 4 44 5i -- 6 -- 1 p lh --i 1p -- Lp 151-- 14 20 -- 21 Do: (/',5) 7 per cent.. Do. (1.17 17s) 7 p ct.. Eastern Counties Ex tencion, 5 p. c. No.l Do., No. 2 Do., New 6 p. C St.. Eastern Union, Scrip Guar. 6 per cent.... Do. .£lO Debeu. Sh... EastLancash. 6 p.cts East & West Yorksh Junction Fifths Edinb.Prth.4Dundee 4 per cent. Glasgow & S.Western guar. 5 per cent Great Northr sp. e Do. 5 p. c.,Redeem., at 10 p. c. prem Do. 4, 1 percent. Scrip ' Gt.N. of Scot. ,lst Prefl Gt. Southn. &Westn 1 (Ireland) Eighths ' Do. 4 per ct. pref. St , Gt. IN estn. (Becks ct) Hants Ex. 5 p. c.) t Do. con. & red. 41 p.e( Do. do. 4 per cent 1 Do. irredeem. 4 p. c Lan. & York. F. £2O, Do., 6 p. c., Stock—. Leeds Nn. 6p. c. No.l' Do. Quarters,lB4B 1 London andlßrighton i Guaranteed 5 p. C Do. Pref., 5 p. c. St Do. Convertible, 5 p c., 1852.. . Do. New Guar. 6 p.c. Lond. & N. W., Coy. & Nun., 5 per cent. London & S.Western, Con. Thirds Wheat. 1,110 ARRIVALS THIS WERIE. Barley. I Malt. Oats. Flour. 1,720 f 1,640 3,240 890 - 2i English .. Irish .... Foreign .. 4,570 1 1,780 8,250 I 9,76 - T) brs 120 - 122 SMITHFIELD. ;109 - 110 To-day's market was fairly supplied with beasts as to number, but their general quality was inferior. Prime Scots, &c., sold steadily, at full prices. Otherwise, the beef trade ruled dull, at Monday's currency. Prime Down sheep were scarce, and quite as dear as last week. All other breeds were in moderate request on former terms. Calves—The supply of which was limit': d—sold slowly ; but no actual change took place in their value. Milch cows were very dull, at from 141. to 191. each, in cluding their small calf. 8 - N 61 7 101 103 95 100 93 100 id par '143 145 Per Sibs to sink the ofthls. s. d. s. d. Inferior Beasts.... 3 2 to 3 4 Second quality.... 3 6 3 10 Prime large oxen 4 0 4 4 Prime Scots, &c. 4 6 4 8 Inferior Sheep ...3 0 3 4 Second quality ...3 6 4 4 Prime crse.-wlled.4 6 4 10 s. d. s. d. Prime Soutl- down 5 0 5 2 Large erse. calves 3 6 4 4 Prime small d 0... 4 6 5 0 Large hogs 3 4 4 0 Small porkers 4 2 410 Sucklingealves ..22 0 28 0 ',Quarter old pigs 21 0 26 0 2i - 3 Londonderry& Coler. Shares ...... Londy. & Ennis. ,Shef., &Lin., Shaves, No. Do. New, £lO Do., £6. ..... Yfarypt. &Carl. 4 p. c Do. 4a per cent Do ...... ..... 1'24 - ii 7 8 9i - Di 4 - aP Mid.Consol. 6 p.c. St. Do. Cousol. Bristol dz., Birm. 6 per cent Do. Pref. 4 per cent Norfolk Debent. Sh Norfolk Extension Do. Pref. 5 per ct Do. Way. Val. 5 p c North British 141 143 i id R 66 -110 Rl2 - 116 North Staffordshire Oxford Worcester & Wroiverh. £15,6p. c Do 2i . C.: 25 102 - 104 i - .iP Scot. Cm., New Pref. Shrews& 13irm. N. G. Shrewsby. & Chester, (Nor. W.Min),B P.C. Do. 5 per cent.. South Devon Do. New - 104 15 - 164 9 - 104 13 - 15 d- ip 5. Eastern (Reading Ann.,) of £1 Os.6d. S.Yorksh.4p.c.Gnar. Watered. &Ktlk. 6p. c. York Newcastle and Berwick,l p.e.Pref Do York& N. Midland H & S. Purch 23 24 17 19 1 d 96 - 99 4 - 44 id pail THE MILITARY STRENGTH OF RUSSIA. The Speetateur Militaire contains an article on the armies of Russia, of some value at the present moment. It is an analysis, with comments, of a pamphlet recently published by Baron Auguste de Haxthaussen ;% the pamphlet itself being an extract from a work in three volumes, published originally in 1848, under the title, Etudes sur la Situation Interieure, la Vie Nationale, et les Insii tutions Rurales de la Bussie. The Spectateur observes, that the author seems designedly to have chosen such burning epochs as 1848 and 1853 as fitting seasons to lay before Western Europe a work in which the strength and resources of the Muscovite Colossus, as we have been accustomed to think him, are detaled with an enthusiasm amounting to exaggeration. Whatever, however, may have been the author's motive, his book deserves attention, as from its perusal we may attain to a fair approximation to a knowledge of the numbers which the Czar can actually call into the field ; as to the quality of these numbers, events in actual progress will soon give us some practical knowledge. Baron Haxthaussen gives most im portant informaticin as to the heterogeneous ele ments which compose the Russian army--it 3 re sources of every kind, prepared now for a long time —its formation and numerical strength. He considers the Great Army of Operations, as the active army is called, to be remarkable for the speed of it s movements,—" Son armee active,. Bite Grande A rm e e d'Operation, est d'une mobilite re marquable ;" upon which the Spectatcur observes that experience has always proved the contrary. However rapid the movements of a Russian army may have been wh en f a i rly in an enemy ' s lan d ,— witness Suwarrow's brilliant campaign in Northern Italy and Switzerland in 1 799 ,--yet history always tells us, at the commencement of a war, of allies looking with anxious glance to the North for their expected succour, and . in imminent d anger of utter destruction pending its arrival. We m ust, i n d ee d , except the prompt and rapid movement of the Russians when called to the suppression of the Hungarian insurrection. We must observe that Baron Hanthaussen is absolutely carried away by his enthusiasm. for Russia. His comparisons are ill-chosen. Surely, in comparing the military organization of Russia of the present day with that of France, it is not with the administration of Louis XIV. or Louis XV. that the comparison should have been made, but with that of his Imperial Majesty Napoleon 111. On this subject the Spectatcur justly remarks,— " Why speak of the Sybaritism and lax discipline of the French troops during the seven years' war ? Com pare the Russian soldiers who fought in the Caucasian wars with our soldiers daily engaged at the foot of the Atlas range ; speak to us of our army of Italy, which has saved the capital of the Christian world." The Baron attaches great importance to the names given to each regiment: in the Russian army, in stead of a simple.number, as in the French army. It is rather characteristic 'of our gallant neigh bours over the water to attach much importance to such a small matter ; but the Spectator re marks, — "This system has been kept up in Russia in order to perpetuate the historic souvenirs of each regiments, and to revive at the moment required the passive courage of the Russian soldier. This system, which may be well suited to nations among whom men are slow and difficult to be aroused, was suppressed in France at the great re volution, as it recalled the ancient divisions, feudal and seigneurales, and was opposed to that amalgamation of the French people which produced strength by unity. Great advantages have accrued in the recruiting of the French armies by this change, and the mem ora bl e b a t t l es of the Pyramids, of Arcola, f Rivoli, Marengo, Auster litz, Jena, Eylau, Friesland, Wagram, Mo scowa , L utzen, Bautzen&c., prove that the mere numbering of our regi ments has not lowered the intrinsic courage of our soldiers. If at a later period the restored familyresumed the plan ofre cruiting by departments. as formerly the recruitment had been by provinces.; and if we had the legion of Calvados, of L'll6rault, of the Cantal, &c., it was evidently done to please the old Courts of Europe ; for as soon as France was again free in her movements she got rid of the re maining marks of feudalism to return to the plan of simple numbering of regiments, which admits of an equalisation of physical strength." The Spectateur then proceeds to say that the Russians regiments, already locally named, receive a number to show their place in order of battle, whether they be cavalry or infantry, just as our Scots Greys are the 2d Regiment of Dragoons— nulli secumdus, as they proudly add on their achievements—just as our Enniskillen Dragoons are our 6th Regiment ; just as our East Kent re giment (the Buffs) is our 3d Re g i men t o f I n f an t ry our Ist Warwickshire is our 6th Regiment, our East Norfolk is our 9th, our Yorkshire East 'Riding is our 15th, our Leicestershire our 17th, our Royal Irish our 18th, our Cheshire our 22d, our Royal Welsh Fusiliers our 23d, and so on to the 99th. The Spectateur continues,— " We inSnitely regret that a deplorable partiality pervades this pamphlet, in which the author be comes the apologist of all the measures of the Rus sians—political, administrative, and military—and the depreciator of every Western idea. If M. de liaxthaus sen were not an admirer of quand 'unite of the Russian Government, he would certainly have expended his criticisms, not on the measures exported from Paris to St. Petersburg, but their unreasonable application to men unable to appreciate their value, -or who, in their imprudent pride, thought it was sufficient to copy what vas done in France in order to raise a Russian to the elevated position of a French soldier." These are but French opinions of Russian sol diers ; but, as we are quoting a military periodical in high repute in France, and a devoted Bona partist organ, we think we are not wasting time in recording such opinions. Our French editor pro ceeds to say,— " We have too high an opinion of M. de Haxthaussen not to be convinced .that .he well knows that every poople.has its own peculiar stamp, and that, in spite of the efforts of the Emperor Nicholas, the Russians have to undergo many a change ere they reach the level of soldiers of Western Europe" —that is to say of French soldiers, as we do not suppose that our military editor means to assert the inferiority of Russian troops, either to Spaniards or to Portuguese. Whether Eno.lislimen are included under the name Western Europlans, or whether we are still to be classed as " des fieres insa laires," and nothing more, we know not. . The Spectateur continues,— " That part of the work which relate to the Cossacks, seems to us to be written truthfully, and in great de tail. The author, after conferring the highest praises on these troops, finishes by somewhat qualifying his estimate of their real value, and what he says of their utility in war is incontestable, and has b een already pointed out to th e Emperor Nicholas by a Russian gene ral officer in a memoir, entitled " The Cossacks, and their Usefulness in War." The Speetateur's Comments on the eoneludieg portion of Baron Haxthaussen's book, which treats of the naval strength of Russia, we translate ver batim : " " Our author (Ilaxthaussen)," always aboundi ng i n courtesy to t a h y e theczar , Sp ex ec ci ta a t i e m s s r without attempting to prove what would indeed be most difficult of proof, that the fleet is completely equippe d and efficiently manned (complaement equipde, et pour vue d'un nomhreux personnel). We willingly admit that the Russian navy is well equipp e d, but M. de Haxthaus sen must agree with us that good materials alone are t not sufficient to constitute a good navy, as men t must, above all, be thoroughly accu stomed to the se any use. Now, ' surely it is not in the . Bla n ck a Se o l that the Russian navy can acquire this .n ex t p h e e ri fi e n n e c t in , coasting - is all that can be learnt there. As to Bal tic, the ice holds it pr i so nermonths, and when for it is in vain that it looks the tardy thaw doe s set it fre e, .. on the distant horizon alnid the mighty waves of the its younger sister of the Eu x i ne Sea. ,Wh a t Can we ocean, for its other half, t i hin k of the state of a fleet whi c h can only re for one single month in the ye ar ?" ance L e nv done with our French edit ors 's com ments on h i s We have pow countryman's bo o k, an d we will proceed to an analysis of the letter. We shall b ear a the Muscovite predilection with w hi c h hi s own in n ll7° charges him, and take a ll hi s s t atements with countrymanT pportionate grain of salt. The re markable institutions which actually exist in Russia may be traced back to the reign of Peter I. ; but since that period the military power of this empire has extended vastly. With the exception of the Cossacks and the militia, all the regul ar arm y may d e l oo k e d upon as the work of his (Peter's) hands. Peter I. was not the first Russian monarch who saw the superiority of Western military art, and who endea voured to introduce it into his own army. Ivan 111., between 1462 and 1503, had attempted to organise a per manent army ; but the scanty intercourse between Rus sia and Western Europe kept Russia from a thorough acquaintance with the progress of the art of war, and opposed various obstacles to the military reforms pro posed by the Czars. The national spirit of the Rus sians, moreover, repels, with an antipathy often fanati cal. whatever comes from a foreign source. The Russian army was composed at that time of a feudal arrive ban, ± of an effective force of about 260,000 men. This army, which had all the defects in herent in feudal arrays, and which was strongly marked with the military manners of Asia, was grouped, in time of war, around a nucleus of permanently levied troops, the greater part of which were composed of the famous Strelitz. The Strelitiz, who were raised by Alexis Michaelo witz, father of Peter 1., to about 40,000 men, bore a strong resemblance to the Janissaries, not only in their organization and privileges, but also in their qualities and in their defects. Like the Janissaries, the Strelitz formed the nucleus of the army when they manifested bravery and usefulness in time of war; like the Janis saries, demoralized by their privileges in time of peace, they became an arrogant and factious soldiery ; and, Paid 1 RAILWAYS. !Aberdeen ..... Ambg. Nottng. Bost & Eastn. June. Belfast & Ballymena Birmng. Wolverh. & Stour Birkenhd. Lanesh. & Cheshire Junct Do. Chesh. & Birk., £5O & £25 Cons Do., .£2O. ..... ißlyth & Tyne original -£2s(iss. at £45) Bristol & Exeter Caledonian. :Chester & Holyhead 'Cork and Bandon Cork, Black. & Pass Cornwall Dublin&BelfastJunc,. Dundee Perth &Aber deen Junction ....... Do. New .. . East Anglian (X 25 L. & E. & L. & D.)..... ,Do., (XlB E. & H.).. !Eastern Counties..... lEasternUnion,A.stk. IDo., do. 8.......... ... ;Do.NewA(lateThirds) !East Lancashire ...... 'Edinburgh & Glasgow Eclinb. and Peebles... Edinb.Prth.&Dunde Forth and ClydeJunc. !Glasgow & S.Western Great Northern Stk.. !Do. A. Stock IDo. , , B. Stook Gt. Sth.&West.(lre.) Great Western i Irish South-Eastern. P i Lancaster &Carlisle Thirds !Lancas &Yorksbirt !Do., Fifths ...... Do., Wst. Ridiug Un. Leeds Northern Liv.Crsby.&Soutbpt London & Blackwell Lond. Tilb. & Sthend. Lond.Bright.&S.Cst. London & N. Western Do. Fifths D0.,1G/.5h.,M&8...0 Do. Eighths London do S. Western Do., X5O Do., Lndudrry.&Coleraine Lndndrry. & Ennisk. Alanch.Shet&Lineln. Do., Man. &Lin. Mi Midland Do. Birming.& Derby Midland G. West.(lr. ), Do. 4 Shares Newcastle & Carlisle No wm.ark et ..... Do. Bury Extensions New - pt. Abe rg. d.;lltfd Newry & Enniskillen Newry Warrenpoint & Rostrevor N0rf01k..... Northn. Counties Un North British . . North Devon, N 0.1.. Do., No. 2 •Jc., a A Deferred.... Do., : 1 „ B Guaranteed North London ..... N. & S. Wstn. , Hamp stead, and City Ja..l North Staffordshire.. North Western N. & S. Westrn. June Nuneaton, Hinckley, and Leicester Oxfo:A Worcester di, Wolverhampton.— pPortsmouth Scottish Cential Scottish Midland..... Shrewsbury dr Birrng. Do., L. ck N.sWestn; Guaranteed Stock Shrewsby. dz Herefd Shrewsby. ez Chester (Nor. W. Min.) Do. Halves, do. Do. Oswestry Shropshire Union Do. A, B,C, Rti D, fully paid up at per cent. South Devon South Ea5tern......... South wa1e5...... ..... S. Yorksb. River Dun D 0...... ....... .......... Staincs,Wok.,&Wok Stockton & Stockton & Hartlepl, Taff Vale IDo. £lO shades IDo. Prof., No, 1 Thames Haven Dock and Railway... Vale of Waterfd. & Kilkenny Waterford&Lizneriek 'West C0rnwa11.......,, West End of Londoi and Crystal Palace. West London . Arnabled on &Croydon, York Nowctl. & Berw. Do. Extensions Do. G.N.E. Purchase York do N. Midland... 100 8 Closing Prices yesterday. 201 - 21 - 9 - 9i 11 - 9 3 18 19 5i 4id 98 - 100 54i -55 i 16 .--- 17 14 - 15 , i 6 -47 8i - 9 4i - 4 134 13i 3s 42 29 31 64 - 66 63 - 65 2i' - ii 83i -84 i 59 - 61 (29 - 131 104 - 106 83i - 83 93 98 1 13 —l4 p 66 66 6i 6ic! 13 -13 i S -- 81 lip 99 -- 100 1031 -103 i par g 77 78 124 llid 9 8d 21 4 22.1 62 -62 i 36 38 54 56 i d par 5 4 d 2t 34 6 8 48 —52 3i 34 d 30 31 8— 10 - 2i fi - it 50 ... 52 5i Net 84 9 1 d par 35 - 37 91. - 93 57 - - 58 5S - 60 55 60 2 2diu 14 - 16 7 - 8 11 - 12 3i - 3i t: 15 17 60 61 324 33 3 2 d 4 5 ••• - ••• 27 - 30 2i 3 15 16 5} 27 29 8 • 8b 63i - 64 sz Biit ! 4 -- 46i - 47 Basiness done this day. 21,f i MINES. lAgua Fria Anglo Austrin. Gold Anglo Californian ... Australasian Australian Australian Cordillera Australian Freehold. Ave Baden (Gd Duchy of) Blmnarvon Iron and Coal . British Austrin. Gold 'British Iron Braziliaulznp. (issued at £5 pin Do. Comes & Cuiada Do. St. John Del Rey Cftrsous's Creek Cobre Copper Colonial Gold ,Copiapo . Copper Min. of Eug. Do. Pref. 7. p. cent. English and Austin. Copper Smeltg. Co !General iGt.Nugget VeinScrp Do. Registered Great Polgooth . !Lake Bathurst.: Liberty Linares.. Lond.S.:Galiforn.Gold Quartz Crush. Co Mariquita Mexican&S.Amerien New Granada New Linares Mining and Smelting Co !Nouveau Monde IPontgiband Lead. Min. & Smelt Port Philip Quartz Rock Rlry mney IDo. New !Santiago de Cuba... South A us tralian... ;Tin Croft ....... United Mexican Waller West Grauada West Mariposa , Worthing Mining o: Australia jYuua.. JOIN P-STOCI Australasia British Colonial Lank and Loan Company British N. American Chrtd. Bnk.of Austral., and China Chrtd. Bnk. of Asia Colonial Commercial of Loud English Scottish and Australian Chrtd London Chrtd. o: Australia Loudon and County London Joint Stock Lond.andWestmiust National Provincial of England Do. New 'National of Irelani„, 'New South Wales , Oriental Bank Cor poration Provincial of Ireland Do. New ißoyr..lAustraln. Bkg, and Gold. Imp. Co , South Australia Union of Australia._ Do. New Union. of London Union of Madrid MISCEL: Aubin ulal and Iron Australian Agricult. AusLralsn.Pcific Mail Australn. Royal Mail Berlin Water Works Brit. American Land Brit. & Coln. Smeltg. and Reduction Co :Canada Company (Crystal Palace IDo. New 'Crystal Pal, of France Eastern Steam Electric Telegraph (A) Do. (B) Electric Tel. of Irel Gen. Steam Navigat General Screw Steam Irish Beetroot Sugar Magdalena St. Navig. Nat. Pt. Steam Fuel Netherlands Land..,. N. S. W. Coal & Inter- Stem. Nay. Co 42 - 44 ••• '''' 6 7-- - io la-1 p 11-1 p 16 - 18 11 - 13 fa N. B. Australasian ,Do. Now par— i p INrth.ofEuropeFteam Peel Rr. Ld. & Peninsular & Oriental. ••• .....• ... par ip Do. d 3. Portland Iron Co Royal Mail Steam.... Scot. Austral. Invest. Soutlt Austral. Land Submarine Telegraph Van Diemen's Land) GO all 25 all 28; lh laP 36 38 ea— p 14 15 141 i 111TH STAFFORDSHIRE ELECTION.—Lord Paget, the idate for South Staffordshire, in the course of his canvass, which he is pursuing with great vigour, visited Birmingham yesterday. His visit is not of a public nature, but merely to the electors resident in that town, by whom he was most courteously received. His lord ship was met by Mr. Bolton, of Wolverhampton, and Mr. W. J. Beale, of Birmingham, solicitors, and by Mr. R. Serle, of Stourbridge. His reception is extremely gratifying, and little doubt is entertained by hie friends but that his return for South Staffordshire will be most triumphant. The great strength of Lord Paget lies in the increase of the constituency since the last contest for South Staffordshire. Lord Ingestre, his opponent, has not yet arrived from North America, but is daily expected. Both parties are providing the sinews of war (for it is understood that neither candidate will be subjected to the payment of expenses), and a sharp if not a close contest may be expected. P 2 d ... par d la 3 3i - 6 d d d 10 12 d 8 10 5 6 2 2i 32 34 x par 45 47 12 13 70 80 6 8p 24 3 d 14 —l6 $ d d -11 ... 12 * par 7 7i p ... -- ... i - LP A 31 --33 P 9 10 5A 6A id 5 7 41 4i - d d A 4d. di K BANKS. 78 - 80 ••• ••• i Adis li iclis lid P '42= 44 46 - 48 4 d— par 73 - 75 7/ -7/ Cs. TOTAL SUPPLY. Beasts .......... Sheep .•• •• .. •• •• .. —.. 4,260 Calves . ..... ............ 129 Pigs ........ • • .......... 300 27i 22 25 all all 100 1100 10 St. St. St. 50 163 St. 19i 14, 50 25 1.00 St. 2.2 100 100 100 1100 10 26 133 20 20 all 100 all 15 20 20 50 20 all Ms. 1.00 '2O 111 100 St. 25 25 St. FOREIGN. 10 6 Antwrp&Rotterdatu 2 lAd 4' 5 3 Belgian East. Junct, 1 20 8 Beziersto Graissessac 3 - 2 d Central of Italy — 20 all Charleroi & Erquelin 13 15 • 171 all Demerara — •20 10 Dijon and Besap i on 2A - 3ip 20 8 Dutch Rhenish - 2tl 20 ,all East Indian 3 - 4 4 20 2 . Do. Extension id p 5 all Gt. Indian Peninsula lap 20 10 Gd. Junct, of France 2A 3 p ... 10 Cd. Trunk, of Canada Shrs. and Bc-ds 4 3d 6k 20 8 Ct. Centrai l if France 23a 20' 2 •Gt. Westn. of Canada Shares ld par ..„ ... Do. bonds(l i55.)1857 Do. bonds (2 i55.)1862 201 10A Hamilton & Toronto id 4 p 1(0 all Do. 6 per cent •• ••• 20 5 Lake Coust. & Basle ... 5 4 Lucca and Pistoja, 5 per cent. pref. 20 15 Luexembourg IC —11 A 10,f 10 13 Do. (Railway) 7 74 7 5 2Do la 2i 44 5 3 Do, (Canal) l4 2A 10 5 Do. 6p. cent. pref. ...p 20 12 Lyons & Mediterran. ...p 20 101,Madras A 1 p 33k, 29 "illaria, Antonia 10 10 'Do. New 20 2 ; Melbourne Dk. & Ry. 20 all ;Namur & Liege (with interest 7i 8 4 20 all Do. (cx interest) — 16 all NorLhern of France.. 34i 35 20 all Do. 201. 3p. c. Bds [fmy.B.&Ams.Shs 'i - 10 all 7 .sTorwegiaderuh.P: . e . i 7i 81 20 10 Paris and Lyons 1 16 —161 p, 263 40 40 Do. bonds 20 all Paris and Orleans 46 48 20 all Paris and Rouen 4l 43 20 all ,Paris and Strasbourg! 324 321 20 4 IPark;Caen& Cherbrg. 3 4 p 104 104 Quebec & Richmond id 4 d 20 all 'Rouen and Havre 20 9 Royal Danish ld par 5 2 Royal Swedish l— a d 20 all. Sambre and Mouse Bi 94 8i 10 6 Do. 5A per cent. pref ... 20 2 S.E.i of France - •.. 20 6 Southern of France 4 6 p 20 6 St• Andrews &Quebec 20 2s. Upper India Scrip 8i all West Flanders 20 10 Do. 51 per c. Prof d 20 10 Western of France, 7 .4 —Bi p 16 4 West, of Switzerland 1 —14 d 20 2 Wiesbaden 20 12 ,Zealan4 . ..... 41 4 d LINES LEASED AT FIXED RENTALS. Sbr. Paid' RAILWAYS. Leasing Closing Prices Business Compans. yesterday. this day. 50 all Bedford and Ln.&N.W. Bletchley St. 100 Buckghamsh L. &N.W. 101 103 50 all Clydesdale Jc Caledon... 51 52 St. 100 E. Lincoln. gr 6p. cent ... . Gt•Northn 142 145 25 all Glas. Barr. & Caldonian. Neils. Direct. •.• ••- 25 all Do. New Do . ...... 25 all Glstr.SrDn.Fr Gt.lYes ... 30 32 100 all Hrtlpl. Dk. & Yk. New. Railway & Bervr.. •• • 50 all Hull dr Selby YAN.Md. 109 111 25 all Do. 2 1 Shares Do s4i 55, 1 , 4 1 12. i all Do. Sh are s. Do 27 28 12 all Lon.&Greenw S.Eastern 13.4 14. 20 all Do. Preference Do — 25. St. 100 Lowestoft gr. 4 per cent... Norfolk St. 100 Do. G per ct.. Do — 5i all Maneh.Bxton. and Matlock & Midlcl. 2 - 3 50 all Mid(llesbro' & Stckton & Redear . Darlingt. 100 all Miclld.Bradf I.,Midland 99 101 50 all Northern and Easter - 115p. c. E. Count GO 62 5 all Do. 6 per ct. IDo - -5 -, all IDo.Fixeclsp.c Do 2 ,5 all IPrest. 6rWyre L. &1\ .W &Ln& Yk •• • 1 12 Do. Shares. Do S 100 Roystn.drHit.lGt.Northn 142 145 S 100 Do.Shepth.St. Do.. .. . 142 145 2 , 18 k Shof. Roth. dr Lancash. Goole g.5.p.c Yorksh ••• a 12 92 S. Staflordsh.. MrMClean 2 lid 50 all WearValleygriStockt. & 6 per cent ...1 Darling. ••• 25 all Do.. r)o 3O —3l St. 100 Wilts&SQmrst t.Westn. 99 100 55i 13i .j 65 65i 5 84A I 14 66 I 101. 1048 3i 62i i 3 49 4 i 2/ if 36 i St. 20 12.1 St. ni l 12A 25- 12 12 12 St. St. I all 100 11-00 100 100 100 100 all 100 15 BAI S 10 10 1.0.61 H 17 25 all 1 13.5 24ti all all all all all 1 10 1 1 all all 15 all all all all all 12s. 25 100 100 20 50 50 100 100 20 50 20 25 20 10 20 35 10' 22 1 1 all i all 25 all 2! , , 10 all S cam 101 i 1411 42 Silve: 151 / Li i 5 1 i FOREIGN SUPPLY. Beasts...... •• . ••• • 320 Sheep .. • •• Calves.... •• ...... 94 NEWGATE AND LEADENHALL. A full average business was transacted at this market to-day, at full prices. Per Blbs by the carcase. s. d. s. d. Beef, inferior 3 0 3 2 Do., middling 3 4 3 8 Do., prime large 3 10 4 0 Do., do. small ...A 2 4 4 Pork, large 3 4 4 0 s. (1. s. d. Mutton, Inferior 3 2 3 4 Do., middling 3 6 4 2 Do., prime... 4 4 4 8 Veal 3 4 4 8 Pork, small 4 2 5 0 BOROUGH HOP. NDuring the present week there has been a slight improve• meut in the demand for medium hops, at very full prices. Otherwise the sale has ruled inactive. The imports are 193 bales from Gluckstadt, 180 ditto from Antwerp, 418 ditto from Ostend, and 4 ditto from Havre. The prices are— Mid and East Kent pockets, 141. Os to 171. 17s ; Weald of Kent ditto, 10/. 5s to 121. 12s ; and Sussex ditto, 10/. Os. to 12/. ; foreign, 71. Os to 91. Os per cwt. COLONIAL. There have been no public sales, as the markets are closed for the holidays. TEA.—Business has not been brisk, and common congou remains at about the previous rates. COFFEE.—Private sales of good native Ceylon have been made at 49s 6d to 50s per cwt. The stock of coffee in London is 17,300 tons against 21,000 at this time last year. The deliveries for home consumption this year have been 16,800 tons against 15,650 tons in 1852. SUGAR.—Prices continue nominally about the same. Brazil and Havannah are in request. Refinedihas been at 44s for brown lumps. TALLow.—P.Y.C. has been at 59s to 59s 31 per cwt. on the spot. COTTON.—The market is rather dull but firm. LLOYD'S SHIPPING.-(THIS DAY.) LONDON, Dec. 30.--There has been a sudden and great change in the weather. The wind is'inow at W.S.W., ac companied at times with light rain, and it thaws fast. NEWPORT, Dec. 29.—Wind, N.E. Arrived—Auguste, from Hamburgh ; Eagle, Clyde, both for St. Thomas ; Prince Frederick, Bremen, for Rio Janeiro. Sailed— Claussa, for St. Thomas. HULL, Dec. 28.—Wind, N.W. Arrived—Doctor, from Richibucto. Sailed—Asia, for St. Michael's. BRISTOL. Dec. 29.—Wind, E. Arrived—Emerald, from Berbice ; Tweed, Ons.ga. SALCOMBE, Dec. 29.—Wind, .N.E. Arrived—Madeira Packet, from New York. CLYDE, Dec. 28.—Wind, N. Sailed—Margaret Mitchell, for Bombay ; Robena, New York. FILET, Dec. 28.—Yesterday, a small ship's boat, eon taing three or four men (without oars), was seen behind the bridge. The life-boat was immediately lautehel, but before it reached her a heavy sea struck the boat, and the men were seen no more. The boat is marked " Margaret, of Newcastle—William Southeron," in black ground, with white letters. WISBY, Dec. 145.—The Sir Charles Forbes, from Stock holm to Lisbon, was wrecked on S o lf oo Reef, near Faro, on the 12th Dec., and thero is but little hope of saving either materials or cargo ; crew saved. ST. IVES, Dec. 27.-The Princess Royal (smack), of and from Milford, for this port, drove on shore on the beach this afternoon, during a strong gale from N. to N.N.E., and is expected will break up ' • crew saved. BOSTON, Dec. 27.—The Daisy, from hence to London, got on the Long Sand, and is likely to become a wreck; crew saved. LowEsroFT, Dec. 29.—One of the vessels reported yes terday on shore north of Corton, proves to be the Juliana; of and for Wells, from Shields ; she has become a total wreck ; crew saved. (BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.) - LIVERPOOL, FRIDAY, 10.30 A.M. Wind N.W., strong breeze, and squally. Arrived—Panama, from New Yerk ; Quebec and Jane, Danzig • Gannet, Ocean steamer, Lisbon, Off the Port—The Duke, from Calcutta; and ship Mar mion. A telegraph has just been received here, stating that a steam tug was putting into Beamuaris Bay, at 10 a.m., with a large three-masted steamer in tow. The Gannet reports that the Matilda Wattenback, which sailed from Liverpool on the 4th with mails for Australia, put into Lisbon on the 19th, with fore and mainmast gone close to the rigging, The ship Elizabeth was also at anchor inside Lisbon bar, with maiumost gone. A schooner capsized on West Hoyle Bank at 8.30 this morning, and there is reason to suppose all hands are drowned. HOLYHEAD, FRIDAY, 10 A.M. Wind, N. N. W., a strong gale. DUBLIN, DEC. 29. The Eva, screw steamer, from Greenock to Australia, foundered yesterday 15 miles E.N.E. off Lambay. Seven of the crew saved by the fishing smack Emerald. The captain, his wife, and her sister, second mate, and five men drowned, and another of crew died on board the smack. This is the vessel reported by the Prince steamer yesterday. The screw steamer Times, which sailed for Liverpool on the 27th, broke down near Holyhead and had to put back to Dublin under canvass. (BY SUBMARINE AND EUROPEAN TELEGRAPH.) GRAVESEND, FRIDAY, 10.20 A.M. CUSTOMS RETURN. Wind W. ; thaw, with rain ; half flood. Arrived—Annie Kairnes Minde, from Saidobing ; Eagle, (s.) Boulogne. DEAL, FRIDAY, 9 A.M. Wind W.N.W., fresh, and cloudy. Anchored—Alegra, from London for Oporto ; West Kakella, London, IPort Philip ; Eclipse, London, Ma deira ; James Holmes, London, Bardadeos ; Watchword, London, Barbadoes ; Scindian, London, Calcutta ; Hamil ton, London, Cardiff ; Carphine, London, Madras ; Mar garet Pollock, Bathurst, London ; Rattler, Callao, Lon don ; Prince Edward, from westward. PROCLAMATION OF OUTLAWRY.—At the Sheriffs' Court, Red Lion-square, yesterday, the following per sons were called upon to surrender to the custody of the Sheriffs of Middlesex, according to the exigencies of the several processes against them, under penalty of outlawry Charles Earl, Edward Case, Chas. Mathias Gunnell, John Robins, G. P. Papa,nicolas, Sir Augustus William Hillary, Bart., John Gifford, James Moon, Sir Sandford Graham, Edward William Coleman, Geor g e Swaby. and Sir Wyndham Carmichael Anstru ther,Bart. The next proclamation will take place on the 26th of January. THE LONDON DOCKS.—The new building at the en trance of the London Docks, which is being erected by the directions of the Government for the accommodation of the Customs department, is nearly finished, and W ill shortly be ready for occupation. It is intended to de vote it entirely to the wine and spirit delivery depart ment of the Customs. When completed, greater 13 1 ,8 es will be afforded fo r th e wor ki ng of the several depart ments, and import an t f ac ili t i es afforded to parties trans acting business. INDICATIONS OF A SEVERE WINTER. — If t he " truth in what old people say respecting large flocks of birds being an indication of a e winter, we have never seen stronger be any symptomsesveorf one than in the present season. Fieldiares, redwings, s tarlings, larks, &c., were never known to be more numerous or in larger flocks ; and, within the last few days, we have known an extraordinary number of the latter kind of bird killed at a single shot. The season appears to promise plentiful sport for minor sportsmen.—Brighton, Gazette. Witor.EsALE EXECUTION. ---At Este, in the Lombardo- Venetian province, on the 19th, fifteen men were shot, in execution of a sentence of court-martial, for murders and acts of brigandage. They were all executed at the same time. They formed part of a band of 39 men, and the remaining 24 were condemned to periods of im prisonment, with hard labour, varying from four to 18 years. Tres CHOLERA IN SCOTLAND.—SO far RS the reports of the parochial authorities of Edinburgh go, the city is at present free from cholera. I n Gl asgow , h owever , i t h as greatly increased. In the city parish there were on Friday seven cases and three deaths ; on Saturday, twenty cases and seven deaths ; on Sunday, seventeen cases and six deaths ; and on Monday, thirty-seven cases and ten deaths ; while in the barony parish, on Satur day, Sunday, and Monday, sixteen cases and four deaths were reported. The virulence of the disease is lessening in Dundee, where on Friday there were sixteen cases and two deaths ; on Saturday, one case and no deaths ; and on Sunday two cases and two deaths—making since the commencement of the outbreak, 539 cases and 311 deaths, —Scotsman. " Les Forces Militaires de la Russia sous les Rapports Ristoriques, Statistiques, EthnograPhiquess et Politiques." Bvo. Paris. t " 139;n 7; and " Arrie re Ban," convocation of vassals under the Crown, who were obliged to march and have in their suite, according to their quality, so many men-at arms and archers. ; • ' , . -7 ----- 4 • 1 tof4l. ial like them, they became a forykidable.obOac 6 I ' --' reforms contemplated by the state .and evecittilt 4 o) l the army. i . . :- 5 -. , )7..' Peter I. soon had to sufftkl(on i thar n nden o c s i , the Strelitz. He got rid of the auxbitionalsaiiio bloody, but efficacious manner, in Ike m i us siad* 0 g the most dangerous wars w hi c h R bfor A time sustained. Kf long From the feeble nucleus of the compaigne d' agrement which in his early years he had organised, Peter I. had commenced the formation of an army after the European fashion, destined to supersede the Asiatic troops which existed in Russia. The regiments Proobajeuski and Seemenowski, which now a days form the Imperial Guard, were the first regiments of the new army.* They were created by voluntary enrolment, chiefly from among the lesser nobility ; but; in consequence of the unwarlike character of the Russians, this system of en rolment did not keep pace with the wants of the new army, and Peter I. introduced the recruiting system as it exists at present. The obligation of the nobility to serve in the feudal army was extended to the permanent army, and the only choice allowed to a gentleman was the particular troop or regiment into which he was to enter as a common soldier. This system was maintained until the reign of Catherine 11., who abolished the direct obligation, and substituted for it the indirect obligation which is in force at the present day. Peter reaped the first fruits of his military reforms, even before the suppression of the Strelitz, in the con quest of Azoff and in a victory gained over the Turks and Tartars by the Black Sea. Ile then attempted to give weight to Russian power in the political balance of Europe ; but he was made to feel the superiority of European tactics at the battle of Narva, where 15,000 Swedes compelled 80,000 Russians to lay down their arms. This defeat, and the symptoms of internal de-organisa tion which it revealed, did not discourage Peter I. The very greatness of that disaster turned to his profit, for Charles XII. ' despising hi s a d versary, l et s li p t h e occa sion for completely humbling Russia: Peter assembled a fresh army, enrolled officers, and learnt from the Swedes the art of conquering at the cost of great defeats and some feeble successes. Niue years later Charles XII. learnt at Pultowa the mistake he bad committed at ti area. After the death of Peter 1., the Russian army found in Ilentschikoff, Munich, and Keith, men able to carry on the work of the great reformer. The successes of Russian army were for a long time confined to victories over the Turks and the Poles, troops which at that time were not held in high consideration in Europe ; but be fore the battle of Zorndoff, Keith wrote to Frederic, " Pour vaincre les Itusses, it faut lee battue en breche et les demolir comrue une forteresse." The Russians had stood firmly at Zorndoff and at Kunersdorf ; and Europe learnt that an obstinate de fence was well suited to their national character. This opinion has obtained credit by the great defensive bat tles of the Russians against Napoleon. Suwarrow also proved that the Russian armies, like all good troops, only require exercise and an able commander to distin guish themselves in attack as well as in defence. The march of this general through Switzerland shows what can be done by Russian troops. In 1700 the Russian army was the laughing-stock of Europe at the battle at Narva. ' The same army quitted the field of war in 1799 greatly to the regret of its allies. This army (we are still translating from Hax thaussen), like all other European armies, was unable to withstand the superiority of French troops commanded by Napoleon ; but even in succumbing it had the glory of giving more trouble to the great captain of his time than any other. Since this period the Russian army has made some great and glorious expeditions in Asia and in Europe. A sovereign who is every inch a soldier, says our Baron, tout militaire—as energetic as he is intelligent, has, dur ing 25 years, spared neither trouble nor expense to strengthen and to perfect his army and to get rid of numberless abuses. In short, the Russian army, both as to numbers, organisation, and instruction, is very different from what it was in Germany and even in Poland. * The Ismailowski Regiment was also of this number but it was not formed until 1730, by the Empress Ann, to support the old regiments. FATAL COLLISION NEAR MANCHESTER. A railway collision, attended by the loss of one life and serious damage to several others, took place yester day (Thursday) morning, at a quarter past 10 o'clock, at a station recently opened upon the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway, called the Newton-heath station, between three and four miles from Manchester, and intended for the accommodation of the inhabitants of a large manufacturing population at Newton-heath, a vil lage on the road to Oldham. The details of the acci dent are in themselves quite simple. The train for Yorkshire left the Victoria station at Manchester at 0.45 a.m., and reached the Newton-heath station within a quarter of an hour of that time. It con sisted of an engine, tender, and four carriages, the last having the guard's van incorporated with it. The carriages were tolerably well filled. It stopped at New. tonheath to take up some passengers, that being usual, and Mr. Whittaker, the station-master, says, that as soon as it arrived he went to his signal -post and turned on the double red light, signifying, " a train at the sta tion.' Notwithstanding this precaution, however, in less than a minute after a train for Oldham came rushing along the same line of rails, at the rate, as near as can be calculated, of 15 miles an hour, and without stopping dashed into the Yorkshire train with such force as to propel it 50 yards beyond the station, and to bring itself to a stand-still. The signal which Whittaker put on is 400 yards on the Manchester side of the station, and there will therefore be two things to be examined into---whether the signal was put on by Whittaker ; and if so, why the engine driver of the Oldham train paid no attention to it. The morning was foggy, and the account now given is, that he did not see it. The result to the Yorkshire train was, that the last carriage was completely broken up, and all the pas sengers were scattered about upon the line or thrown down an embankment, on which the rails run at that point. Henry Tidy, the guard, was in his box, and he was picked up labouring under severe concussion of the brain. Jane Sykes, a girl aged about 17, on her way home to Lindley, near Huddersfield, was found in an insensible condition, and expired in the station a few minutes after she was conveyed there ; her grandmother, with whom she was travelling, Ellen Lord, wife of Richard Lord, tailor, of Syke's-hill, Preston, was taken to the Manchester Royal Infirmary, dreadfully cut up ; and seven other persons received serious bruises and personal injuries. We hear that much blame attaches to the company for their arrangements is respect to this station. It is said that the Oldham train, which does not stop at the Newton-heath station, only starts five minutes after the Yorkshire, which does stop at the Newton station, so that there is a continual danger of accident arising from that source. SNOWSTORM IN THE Wen.— Winter has set in with extreme rigour in Worcestershire, Gloucestershire, Monmouthshire, and South \Vales, and at the present moment the ground is covered with snow to the depth of nearly a foot. The snow began to fall on Tuesday, and continued without intermission until night. It wag accompanied by a biting north wind, which increased occasionally on Tuesday and Wednesday to a brisk breeze, and has drifted the snow considerably in exposed places. Tuesday night was fine, and the thermometer has been ever since Monday night several degrees below the freezing point, and the sunshine on Wednesday made no impression on the snow. The road traffic is much impeded, but the railways are clear, though the slipperiness of the rails and the usual incidents of severe weather have caused the trains to be generally behind their proper time. AN EXTRAORDINARY [TREE.—The Gardeners' Ohre, niele announces the disco very in Cdifornia of altno: t mai,. nfficent coniferous tree, 300 feet high. " This magnifi cent evergreen tree, from its extraordinary height ar d large dimensions, may be termed the monarch of th e Cali fornian forest. It inhabits a solitary district on the ele vated slopes of the Sierra Nevada, near the head waters cf the Stanislau and San Antonio rivers, in lat. 38 N., long. 120 10 W., at an elevation of 5,000 feet from the level of the sea. From 80 to 90 trees exist, all within the cir cuit of a mile,-and these varying from 250 feet to 320 feet in height, and from 10 to 20 feet in diameter. Their manner of growth is much like Sequoi (taxodium) sem pervirens, some are solitary, some are in pairs, while some, and not nnfrequeutly, stand three and four to gether. A tree recently felled measured about 300 feet in length, with a diameter, including bark, 29 feet and 2 inches, at 5 feet from the ground ; at 18 feet from' the ground it was 11 feet 6 inches through; at 100 feet from . the ground, 14 feet ; and at 200 from the ground, 5 feet 5 inches. The bark is of a pale cinnamon brown, and front 12 to 15 inches in thickness. The branchlets are round, somewhat pendent, and resembling Those cypresshoseof h tore juniper. The le ave s are pale grass gr e en . Young trees are spreading, with a sharp acuminate point. The cones are about 21 inches long, and 2 inches across at the thickest part. The trunk of the tree in question was perfectly solid,. from the sap-wood to the centre.; and judging from the number of concentric rings, its age has been esti mated at 3,000 years. The wood is light, soft, and of a roddish colour, like redwood or taxedium seinpervirens. Of this vegetable monster, 21 feet .of the bark, from the lower part of the trunk, have been put in the natural form in San Francisco for exhibition ; it there forms a spacious carpeted room, and contains a piano, with seats for 40 persons. On one occasion 140 children were admitted without inconvenience. An exact representa tion of this tree, drawn on the spot, is now in the hands of the lithographers, and will be published in a few days." What a tree is this !of what a portentous aspect and almost fabulous antiquity ! They say that the specimen felled at the junction of the Stanislau and San Antonio was above 3,000 years old—that is to say, it must have been a little plant when Sampson was slaying the Philistines, or Paris running away with Helen, or An3as carrying off good pater Anch,isie upon his filial shoulders. And this may very well be true, if it does not grow above two inches in diameter in 20 years, which we believe to be the fact. At all events we have obtained the plant. The seed received by Messrs. Veitch has all the appearance of vitality, and since the tree is hardy and evergreen, it is a prodigious acqui• sition. 3 ° °13 ,,,i Bret Of the i rir 9 00 01" .vrier edito r sts te ; ha l° (0 0 oeo, 0 0 0 ' NA 0