The Sun. — London, England, 1853-01-11 00:00:00

" THE PRESS AND THE PLAY.' TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES, Sir,—Your esteemed and merry contemporary Puncl yesterday published, under the above title, an excellent article (intended at my expense, but never mind that) on the subject of the "mischievous and much-abused sys tem of newspaper orders," suggesting that the " remedy for such things is to abandon that system." He then proceeds as follows : " Managers are too great cowards to do it, though they gr•an under it. The best part of the press can, and ought, to break it down for the sake of their independence which is incompatible with the order system as interpreted by Mr. Charles Mathews and other managers who might be mentioned. Let all the respectable journal, daily and weekly, combine to renounce the privilege' of writing orders, and let them signify as much to the managers. When the respectable, journals have once done this mana gers will perhaps better appreciate the value of a privi lege' which only the strugglers, sharpers, and outsiders the smallest of the small newspaper fry—will condescend to accept." Punch concludes a long article by complimenting Mr. Albert Smith " On having been the first public exhibitor bold enough to avow this, in a letter in which he announces to news paper proprietors his intention of abolishing altogether the privilege' of writing orders to his entertainment of Mont Blanc. Managers, the public, newspaper proprietors , and critics should be alike obliged to Mr. Albert Smith, for he has done good service to all worthy members of these classes, in thus making the first attack o n a de g radin g , misleading, much-abused, and in every way mischievous system." In all this I so fully concur, that I cannot resist asking you, Sir, the favour of inserting the following circular, issued simultaneously with that of Mr. Albert Smith (and one of which was addresssed to Puneh, himself), showing that, at any rate, I am not one of the "managers who are too great cowards " to remonstrate, however long I may have " groaned under" the infliction. " Mr. Charles Mathews presents his compliments to the editor of the , and will feel particularly obliged by his abstaining from writing his orders for the Lyceum during the first few weeks' run of the Christmas entertainment. Mr. Mattiewsris too happy at any time to offer him and his reporters admission—or a private box, for himself and family ; but when it is explained that press orders are nightly presented to the amount in money of 251. (being a paying public is of 1501. per week to the th ea t re ), w hil e the paublic i is actually turned from the d oors , an d this during n the only eight or nine weeks of the season when, unfortunately, now-a-days, anythin g lik e a p ro fit i s to he expected, he hopes that the editor of the object to follow the liberal example set by The Times, and refrain from giving indiscriminate, and frequently undated, orders, many of which are sold'at the doors, some of which have even been presented at the boxes by privates in the uniform of the Foot Guards, but the majority of which are professedly passed into the hands of country friends and persons wholly unconnected with the press,—persons who would otherwise cheerfully pay their money during the holyday period. " One hundred thousand individuals with press orders have been thus admitted.into the Lyceum Theatre during the five seasons' tenancy of Mr. Charles Mathews, and their money, had they paid 'for their admission, would have amounted to no less a sum than 25,0001. " Perhaps this simple fact will plead more eloquently in favour of the presont appeal than anything further that could be advanced upon the subject. " Lyceum Theatre, Jan. 1." This circular, lam happy to add, has been cour teously responded to by many of the leading journals, and I hope may be considered as a first step in the right direction. I am, Sir, your obedient servant, C. J. MATHEWS. (From the Times.) It will be seen from a letter in our impression of this morning that we have at length been addressed publicly on a subject which, though it immediately concerns our selves' is not without a more general interest and bear ing. Many persons—too many, indeed—will be aware of the fact that a certain privilege is conceded to the edi tors of the metropolitan journals by the managers of the several theatres and other places of popular amusement, but the description of the system actually in operation will probably take the majority of our readers by sur prise. As the character and proceedings of all public exhibitions are necessarily reported in a newspaper for the information of the country, and as the exhibitors themselves are more interested than any others in the effectual publication of this report, it is by no means *unnatural that the reporter should be welcomed to the spectacle, or that a person whose presence is so eminently desirable should receive a gratui tous admission. The practice in its origin is intelli gible enough ; nor will it appear very remarkable that other gentlemen connected, or supposed to be connected, with the journal, should ultimately have come to be in cluded in the exemptions at first intended for the actual critics of the performance. At present, however, the custom is, that every newspaper, whether daily or weekly, should be indulged in the privilege of issuing "orders" —that is to say, tickets signed by the editors or managers of the paper, which are to serve instead of payment at the doors of the exhibition. As there is no practical limit to the number of these orders, the conse quence is a species of universal " franking," and, exactly as members o Parliament in past days used to employ for the gratification of their friends, and to the detri ment of the Post-office, a privilege designed for the facilitation of their professional business, so have jour . nalists extended the prerogatives of their craft, to the woful damage of theatrical exchequers. For the actual result of this system, as now described on unimpeachable authority, we own we were scarcely prepared. Mr. Albert Smith states that the " press orders" take upwards of twenty pounds a-week from his small exhibition-room, and Mr. Charles Mathews as sures us that 1501. a week is not an exaggerated estimate of the tax thus imposed upon the Lyceum. The latter gentleman adds indeed, as a ge nera l v i ew o f t h e case, " that during his five years' tenancy of this theatre there have been admitted by press orders 100,000 individuals, whose money, had they paid for their tickets, would have amounted to 25,0001." Nor is this method of reckoning altogether unfair or pretentious. No doubt, on some occasions the places engaged by the bearers of these orders might, if not thus occupied, have been untenanted entirely, but generally speaking, whatever attracts the non-paying visitors would attract the paying visitors ; and, in point of fact, it was the compulsion of turning away solid money from the doors when these worthless tickets had gained admission which at length induced the complainants to make a move for redress. In the substance of the views expressed by Mr. C. Mathews and Mr. Albert Smith, we do not hesitate to express our entire concurrence. For ourselves, indeed, we should be perfectly willing to relinquish even those reasonable privileges in which the present system took its rise. If it be true that the reporter is acting in some sense for the public, yet this is no less true of every func tion of a journal, and immunities might just as well be claimed in one case as another. If the newspaper works for the public, the public pays for the newspaper, and there is no good reason that we can discover why we should be franked to Mr. Charles Mathews's theatre in the discharge of our own duties any more than we should be fra n k e d b y the South-Eastern Railway in procuring cur .. own i n f ormat i on. Th at we should enjoy a preferen tial title to admission in case of pressure, and should be ae_ eommodated, u n d er a ll c i rcumstances, w i th thefacilities requisite for observation, is due, we think, to our cha racter as representatives of the public ; but beyond this we should not be disposed to press our claims. If, how ever, it should be thought practically desirable to ex ript reporters from payment, we think the ivilee Should be strictly confined to gentlemen thus engaged, and that the discontinuanc e of the resent s ys tem should be distinctly understood. The present s ys tem Should be distinctly understood The reader will not have much difficulty in comprehendin why we should speak on this subject with some goodwgill. As long as these orders are sent to us in blank from the theatres for the purposes of circulation —as long as they are known to be in our possession, and only our signature to make them current_ wantingar, of course, liable to incessant applications for a share of the favours presurffed to be at our disposal ; nor is it alway s easy to withstand th e pertinacity of a candidate for attentions which he assumes will cost us nothin g In point of fact, however, it is characterali. of the press itself whi c h is chiefly at stake in thtese t transactions, and which is concerned, we ventur e abolition of a system no lea s discreditable to hink, i n the joum than unfairly onerous to theatrical prieto rnalis rs. It stands to reason that privileges so extensiver as are thus represented could not be granted Nvithoutatleast the presumptive acceptance of an obligation in return, do not mean to say that the operation of any,snh that theatrical as this is practically expeiieneed theatrical critiques are influenced by the considerationt of privileges which all critics enjoy iii common. Never theless, theless, the custom in question is obviously ne i ther more nor less than a species of favour, and it can hardly be consistent with the dignity or independence of jour nalism to accept at the reluctant hands of dramatic ex hibitors concessions which could not be received from other quarters without grave risk of suspicion. In ou r crwn interests, therefore, no less than in justice to the co mplainants, we desire to see the system abandoned, ,and the practice of exemptions either confined to re- Porters actually on duty or discontinued altogether. At the same time, we are of opinion that theatrical pagers are to a great extent responsible for the hard .,il,Ps against which they have at length protested. For t he two while, and especially during the predominance of procur e the attendance of as many visitors as possible, and distributed their blank orders with the view of the in tnoriug under all circumstance s a well-filled house, to thlto s eon the genera l au di ence. It is obvious, indeed, with system now found s o b ur d ensome to ex hibi tors limited accommodation, could never have originated except in the deliberate purpose of exhibitors of another class, for the managers of newspap ers h ave , a ft er a ll, done no more than accpt w h a t was sent to them. There are certain points, roiattr, besides, in which if a re-adjust ment of these satey matters is to be effected, we think the theatrical unison," as Parliaro m may be brought "more in ent ary the spirit of the age preformers say, " with insist too strongly on erhaps we should not mission, th oug h * the average pr i ces of ad except cab-fares, the yare almost th e on l y pr i ces, w tion in th ese times of cheapn ess . But there is another athews has been address ed, we think, once before, andon which he failed to con admission his opponent or the public. He asks ss. for achnission to his performance ; but, if an intending visitor goes to take his lace at the box-offic e of the theatre, Opened for this Pv purpose, he is charged 65., or 20 per cent, extra ery for the privilege of becoming a BCustomer. Thi s i s surely neither, defensible nor wise. If o . is a fit and proper price for admissio n to the theatre, to pers on should be charged an extra r sh i lli ng for asking to be a d mitted. If a book costs a book se ll er does not char ge 6 s. because it is ordered beforehand. Should have i mag i ned it in the interest of the proprietors t o encourage rather than otherwise the system of se curing seats, for it certainly must be advantageous to ascertain as early as possible the probable state of the house. With this, however, the public is not concerned; but we think Mr. Mathews would have some diffic . qlty in proving either the expedience or the propriety of hd vertising a seat for 5 5., and then levying a tax of ls.; on every person who comes to buy it. THE LAW AMENDMENT SOCIETY. A general meeting of the Society for Promoting the Amendment of the Law took place last evening at their office in Regent-street. Mr. Frederick Hill presided. After the transaction of the ordinary business, the fol lowing resolutions, passed by the Committee on Ecclesi astical Courts, were submitted for general consideration, the subject having been discussed at the last meeting " 1. That the jurisdiction of the Ecclesiastical and Pecu liar Courts in matters relating to tho grant of probate and of letters of administration be transferred to the Court of Chancery. " 2. That, in transferring this jurisdiction to the CoUrt of Chancery, it is proposed to give that court the additional power necessary to enable it to adjudicate upon wills both of real and personal estate, with or without the aid of a jury, as the case may require; such court to be clothed with all the power and jurisdiction which the Ecclesiastical and Peculiar Courts at present have. " 3. That, in connection with the administration of the Central Court, subsidiary jurisdiction should be given, to the County Courts." Mr. J. STEWART moved the following amendment : " That the present jurisdiction of the Ecclesiastical Courts, so far as testamentary matters are concerned,: is universally admitted to be unsatisfactory, and requires ex tensive reform ; that this reform should consist of a trans fer of their present jurisdiction in testamentary matters'to another court clothed with jurisdiction as well over wills of real as of personal estate ; that to create a new court for the purpose would be unadvisable, if any existing court can be found to which such enlarged jurisdiction may be properly intrusted, and to which complete powers can be given ; that the existing courts of common law and Coun l ty Courts have no equitable jurisdiction or power of dealing with trustees, or with equitable matters arising on the construction of wills ; that the existing courts of equity have no power of empanelling a jury or of conclusively de ciding issues of fact ; that in order to do complete justice in testamentary matters it is necessary that the court to which they are entrusted should possess the full and con joined powers of a court of law and of a court of equity ; that no thorough or satisfactory settlement of the questions pending with respect to the testamentary jurisdiction of the Ecclesiastical Courts can be come to except by the establishment of a court of conjoined law and equity, hav ing jurisdiction over wills of real and personal estate : that it is the bounden duty of the Government of this country to provide such a court for the proper adjudication of all testamentary matters • that, with the view of promoting this object, it is desirable that the present Law and Equity Commissions should be united, and that their attention should accordingly be called to this important subject by the society." A fusion of jurisdiction between the courts of law and equity was almost universally considered desirable, and there was reason to believe that the law of this country would, before long, be rendered in unison on this point, on the one hand, with the law of Scotland, and, on the other, with that of America. It was admitted by all that the Ecclesiastical Courts, so far as the testamentary jurisdiction was concerned, were in a defective state— (hear)—and that some alteration must take place. A new court had been proposed, but he did not think Par liament would consent to establish new courts while there were old ones in existence which were capable of dealing with the subject. Mr. LE BRETON seconded the amendment. Mr. COLLIER, M.P., proposed a further amendment, as follows ; "That the jurisdiction of the Ecclesiastical Courts to grant probate of wills and letters of administration should be transferred to the County Courts, provided that in all cases of disputed probate, where the property exceeds a certain amount, either party shall be at liberty to remove the will into one of the superior courts of common law." The amendment he had moved proceeded upon the as sumption that it was not desirable to have a new court, for the public would be likely to say there were too many courts already. (Hear.) The points he suggested for consideration were, first, should they give the jurisdic tion of the Ecclesiastical to the County Courts ; and, in the second place, whether, if they gave that jurisdiction to the County ourts, the appeal should be to the courts of common law or to the Court of Chancery. The prin ciple of the local administration of justice had been over and over again recognised by that society, and why should not the County Courts be able to exercise the jurisdiction in question as well as they had exercised every other jurisdiction which had been intrusted to them ? (Hear.) These County Courts would forni also, in addition to the central registry, a system of local registration of very great value. Ile thought the appeal should be to the courts of common law, which were better qualified to decide those questions than the Court of Chancery. The former courts visited the pro vinces once or twice a-year, and he saw no reason why they should not do so oftener, and why the cases involved in testamentary jurisdiction should not be tried at the assizes, either before a single judge, or before a judge and jury, as the parties thought fit. The proposition having been duly seconded, Dr. WA.DDILOVE, LL.D., moved another amendment, as follows : " That it is desirable that one testamentary jurisdiction should be formed in lieu of the various ecclesiastical and peculiar courts at present exercising jurisdiction through out England and Wales, and that for such purpose a tri bunal be established, which shall have legal and equitable jurisdiction in all matters relating to wills and intestacies, whether of real or personal estate, which court shall be styled `Her Majesty's Court of Probate and Succession for England and Wales.' " He believed it was impossible that the County Courts should exercise testamentary jurisdiction in such a way as to give satisfaction. Mr. W. D. LEWIS seconded the amendment. Dr. BAYFORD asked what was to be done with the Ecclesiastical Courts in respect to the other jurisdictions belonging to them—those of dealing with cases of divorce, with offences committed by clerks, and those of the Ad miralty Court I Ho suggested that the whole matter ought to be referred back to the committee who made the report upon which the various amendments were founded, to consider, supposing testamentary jurisdic tion were withdrawn from the Ecclesiastical Court, what effect would be produced upon the jurisdictions he had mentioned, and which must be carried on somewhere or other. • _ _ After some remarks from Mr. WISE, in support of the amendments proposed by Mr. J. Stewart, The further consideration of the subject was, at the suggestion of the Chairman, again adjourned until the next meeting of the society. EXTRAORDINARY MARRlAGE.—Yesterday morning a most extraordinary scene was presented at the church of St. Peter's Walworth. In Kings-row, Walworth, a small building ordinarily used as a cooper's shop is occa sionally occupied as a sort of chapel by a congregation akin to the followers of the late Johanna Southcote. The leader of this band an elderly female named Vaughan, deemed it advisable to become betrothed to a young man named Peacock, said to be one of the priesthood of the above sect. Accordingly, yesterday morning, about 11 o'clock, a procession was formed and set in motion to wards St. Peter's Church, some of the males wore jackets of light material, others a species of coronet, and several singular-looking caps, while around the waist and across the shoulders of most were polished leather and other bands and belts, inscribed with apparently cabalistic and zodiacal characters. The females about 12 in number, were attired in white, with various singular decorations, and from the head of each depended long showy veils. In this singular, procession were borne 16 various ban ners, comprising the standard of England, the union jack, one for each of the twelve tribes of Israel, one of the sun, and one of the moon and stars. In the midst of these was a sort of shepherd's crook, and tlie bride groom, who, together with his venerable companion, headed the procession, bore on his shoulder a species of mace, surmounted by a crimson velvet cap with gold fringe. On reaching the church porch the bridal party were compelled, by; order of theminister, to deposit their flags, &c. The Rev. F. F. Statham, the incumbent performed the marriage ceremony, and the entry in the register at the vestry was John Clearlight Peacock Pea cock, aged thirty years, married to Elizabeth Fairlight Vaughan, aged sixty years. At the conclusion the bride conversed very freely with the rev. minister, whom she urgently endeavoured to convert, declaring that it had been revealed to her that she was to introduce the Shiloh to the world. Th e procession then departed in the same order as it arrived, amidst the hooting, laughter, and Jeering of the assembled crowd. MONMOUTHNG AND Ross RAILWAY.—IMPORTANT AR RAEBIENT.—We hea r f rom a t rustwort h y source th a t a very im portant compromise h as b een e ff ec t e d i n refe reenneeiheat othe proje c t e d un d ertaking, by which a threat ,Ty parlia mentary contest and a renewal of the terrible battle of the guages" will happily be avoided. Our information has reference to certain overtures made None.:e_p,ailway art of th e " D ean Forest, Monmouth, Usk, and e d tha 13,4-G R ICompany" to Mr. B rune l, an d w hi c h to g of joined bases the c ompany at N ew p or t, w h ere the su b- Ross, and Gloweu eeest definitely adopted. Th e H ere f or d, Forest of Dean h tor er Compa n y agrees to a b andon the only for powers auch uP to Lydbrook Valley, seeking construct a line of railway from Ross to Monmouth, in return for which concess i on , an d i n further consideration of the South Wales Company un dertaking forthwith to coemrtplete their branch from Mon mouth tad Usk to N ewp the Dean Forest and Ponty pool promoters abandmononamlloputorions of their projected line, excepting from tO Coleford, which is now to be constructed on the br oad rryi!groce,nt will doubtless be of this highly important ar ral , guage- The effect to ensure the successful ea of all-the takings referred to, and fortunateluwithout the under singharas- and costly alternative of ay protracted contest through the ordeal of Parliament.—Cambria of last, AFFRAY WITH POACHERS.—On Sunday mo n ; • between two and three o'clock, a g ang armed entered the preserves of Mr. J. Evans eight t yr en of Ferney-hall, near Ludlow, for the purpose of killing game. They were shortly after encountered by the u head keeper and three assistant keepers ; a scuffle ensued between the parties, which, as might be expected, the poachers being twice as numerous as the keepers, ended in the discomfiture of the latter, they were all knocked down by the poachers and most murderously assailed by them with the butts of their guns, which they actually broke upon them. When Mr. Lloyd ascertained what had occurred, he immediately, at four o'clock a.m., set off for Ludlow, and sent Mr. Hodgson, surgeon, and his assistant to the keepers, and also set the police in motion. The parties are known, and it is to be hoped will soon be apprehended. A reward of 501. has been offered for their apprehension. Fortunately, notwith standing the violence which was used, none of the keepers have been mortally injured. 20 50 20 20 1.0.61 40 100 100 100 all' all all 3 100 100 100 all 33 100 100 100 100 100 all 100 all 15 101 a] 20 I a] St. 10 5 I a] ~ s st.J 1~ St. 11 , St.l II St. 1101 20 1 1: St.il 54AJ 12 11 j al 1 1 20 a ] 5 a] 10 I a] 10 i 11 25 THE SHARE MARKETS. BRITISH RAILWAYS. RAILWAYS. Closing Prices this Day BHS'ness done this day. 31. I 6i 7 1084 74 684 8 23 17 42 133 i a 9 -- 75 7 1 -- 76A i 6 7 GA 76 - 28 - 29 63 81i 44 122 80i - 42 - 20 - 94 6§ - 88 - 11i 83 . - 3 1 2 1 -.2- 9 - 94 108 - 10 9 1231 -123 i 3 -4 p 1 - 1 91 1 2 p 91 - 5 4d 4 —3 d 11 12 191 201 30 304 3 79 —79 i 46 48 51 -- 52 4 -- 36 (I 21 -- 28 81 -- 55 -- 57 8 -- 86 2 -- 3 39 -- 2 40c16; -- 6i d 2i d 4 • 3 d gi p 51 52 95 97 67 - 65 66 68 75 - 80 19 - 20 9 - 10 14 - 15 n - 2i. 23 - 24 82 - 83 381 - 391 13 - 13 4 - 4 12 3 ?! 9 -- 10 27 -- 28 9i -- 10 0. 71 - 6IT 344 2 - 58 -59 i SHARE 1109 - 11. Los 19 20 d 3 3 1 -- p -- 1 p 14g -1 4 i 18 -• 18 1: 1/6 --: lig 114 8 1 - 9 - li 09 - 1.10 par p 152 154 I 3i - 4 p 8 - 84 134 -- 134 , 9 -- 10 11 -- 111 r 1 - 13 p 150 -- 152 23!3a 1) 6 -- 6A 2 - 21 101 - 102 25i - 26, 2 ,--! 2i pl 11 - 11. 11 17 1p 16 —17 i par — i P 261 - 26 19 - 20 id par 103 - 105 -5; - BPI BANKS , 81~ ss li - li 2 1 1 - 36 ,„ - ..• •••. .-- 48 - 50 72 - 73 - 9A St i 1 !DM 5i 93/ 4 83 i i 104 123 4 38 4 3 91i 2 li i 30/ 79 1 ii 48 x. d. THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, JANUARY 11, 1853. IDo., New.. St. VD St. lb 20 St. I t 5 a] 6 a] Northn. Counties Un North British ......... North Devon, N 0.1., Do., No. 2. IDo., A Deferred 'Do., B Guaranteed North Staffordshire North Western N. dz S. Westrn. June Oxford Worcester di Wolverhampton Scottish Central Scottish Midland Shrewsbury & Birmg. Do., L. & N. Westu. Guaranteed Stock... Shrewsby. & Herefd. Shrewsby. & Chester (Nor. W. Min.)...... 160. Halves, d 0... Do. Oswestry ......... Shropshire Union. . Do., A . B. C. &D. fuLIY paid up at p. e...... South Devon South Ea5tern......... South Wales S. Yorksh. River Dun D 0............ ....... .... Stockton & Hartlepl. Thames Haven Dock and Railway....., ... Vale of Neath ...... ... Waterfd. & Kilkennyl Waterford&Limeriek West C0rnwa11........ IWest London, Woodford ...... ........ York Newctl. & Berw. Do. Extensions. Do. G.N.E. Purchase York & N. Midland.. PREFERENI 0 Aberdeen [1 Do., No. 2,7 p• c 0 Bristol & Exeter 4p, cent. Stock . p.c. ..... 5 Do. 4 .._. ._. _ __ _. 1 Caledonian .£lO IChester__4r Holyhead Guar. 5. per cent... 3.1 Cork&Baudonsi p.c. 611 Dundee Perth&Aber deen Junction ....... ,11 EastA nglian (2310 x) 6 per cent Lll Do. (25) 7 per cent 2 Do. (7175) 7p. et 611 Eastern Counties Ex tension, 5 p. c. No.l al Do., No. 2 ,11 Do., New 6p.c. St 11 Eastern Union, Scrip Guar. 6 per cent 11 Do £lO Deben. Sh )0 I Easi Lancash. 6 p. cCs: 611 East &West York shire Junction, Fifths.. Edinb.Prth. &Dundee ( Glasgow & S.Western, guar. ..5 per cent. ...1 Great Noithn. 5 p. c. Do. 5 p. c., Redeem., at 10 p. c. prem....' IGt. Solithn. &Westn, (Ireland) Eighths... 6 Gt. Westn. (Berke & Hants Ex. 5 p. c.).. _ 'Great Western, fixed) 4i per cent.. ....... . 6 Lancash. & Yorksh., F. £2O. ►0 Do., 6 p. e., Stock 3, Leeds Northern, 6 p cent., No. 1 .7 Do., No. 2.... 5 Do., No. 3. 9 Do. , Quarters, 1848. 10 London and,Bright'on l Guaranteed 5 p. c... )0 Do. Pref., sp. C. St. di Do. Convertible, sp. c., 1852. . 10 IDo. New Guar. 6 p.e.l Lon.&N.West.Cov.&l Nun., 5 p. c. Stock. 5 !London & S. Western, Con. Thirds Londonderry& Coler Shares 11 Londndry. dr Ennisk Shares 11 Manch. ,Shef., & Lin., Shares, No. 1 J 1 Do. New, £lO 3 Do. , 26 . Lll Marypt. &Carl. 4p. c. 11 Do. 4i per cent 8i Do Mid.Consol. 6 p.c. St )0 Do. Consol. Bristol & Birm. 6 per cent 5 Do. Pref. 4i per cent ll Norfolk Maelision_ a Do. Guar. 5i per et.. Do. Waveney Valley 5 per cent D Nohh British I North Staffordshire D Oxford Worcester & Wolverh. £15,6p. c 9 Do Shrewsbury & Birm. New Guaranteed.... dl Shrewsby. & Chester (Nor. W. Min),B p. c. .0 Do. 5 per cent all 'South Devon 1i Do. New 11 S. Eastern (Reading Ann.,) of £1 Os.6d. 10 Do. 4i per cent 11 S.Yorksh.4p.c.Guar 11 Stock.& Hartl. Guar sp. c. till 1 Ju1y,1856 3 Waterfd. &Kilk. 6p. c. K) York Newcastle and Berwick, 4 p.c.Pref. 5 De 0 York& N. Midland H & S. Purch JOINT-STOI all Australasia all British N. American 25 Colonial 20 Commercial of Lon- 4 English don Scottish and Australian 2i Loud. Chart. Bk. of Australia 20 London and County 10 London Joint Stock 20 Lond. & Westminster 35 National Prov. of Eng. 10 Do. Now 22 National of Ireland all Oriental Bank of Corporation. 5 Do. New 15 Provincial of Ireland 11 Do. New 1 Royal Australn.Bkg & Gold Importing Company . 11 South A us t ralia .. . 11 Union of A.ustralia. . 2i Do. New .. .0 Union of L0nd0n...,, 504 1 65 4 20 19i 7 3 2 i 3:2i 2 1 9 1 59* 9 Pm. 141 i 18k all 100 all 100 11 .00 .00 18g LINES LEASED AT FIXED RENTALS, Leasing Company, Closing this tlaY• Prices 30 - 31 29 - 30 30 - 31 29 - 30 109 - 111 54 56 148 - 150 33 - 34 113 .114 56 -- 57 27 -- 28 14 -- 14 25i -- 26 194 -- 20 24 -- 26 3 - 31 LO7I -- 1084 64 -- 66 - ^ Prn A d RAILWAYS. Bedford and Bletchley Birm. & Oxfd. guarantee ... Do. without gr Birm.Wolv. & Dudley guar. Do.wtht guar. Buckghamsh . Clydesdale Jc. E.Lincoln. gr. 6 p. cent__ Glstr.&Dn.Pr. Glas. Barr. & Neilsn.Direct Do. New .. .. Hrtlpl. Dk. _Railway...... Hull & Do. Shares. Do. Shares. Lon.&Greenw Do. Preference Lowestoft gr. 4 per cent... Do. 6 per et... Manch.Bxton. and Matlock Middlesbro' & Redcar ....... M ua idl s d te .B ri :a s d p f . d c. . Northern and Do. 6 per et.. Do.Fixedsp.c Prest. & Wyre Do. i Shares., Roystn. & Hit. Do. Shepth . St. Shef. Roth. & Goole g. 6. p. e S. Staffordsh WearValleygr 6 per cent Do.. Wilts &Somrstll RAILWAYS. Antworp&Rotterdam BelgianFastn. Junct. Charleroi &Erqueliu Demerara Dijon and Besanon Dutch Rhenish East Indiar Gt. Indian Peninsula Gd. Junct.ofFe ance Gt. Western of Canada Shares Do.Bds. (Ist i55.)1857 Do. Bds. (2d i55.)1862 Luxembourg Do. (Railway) Do. London &: N. West. Gt.Westn D 0........ Do Do L. dr N. W. Caledon • Gt. Notrhnl Gt. Westn. I Caledon Do Yk. New. & Berw.. Y•dIN.Md. D 0......... S. Eastern, Do Norfolk Do ...... En. ;ii , . W. & Midid. Stckton & Darlingt. Midland... E. Count. D 0......... L. di / : W: dzLndzYkl' Do Gt.Nol:ihn Do ..... Lancasii.di Yorksh.. MrMelean Stockt. Darling.. Do ...... IGt.Westn, - 32. - 1061, FOREIGN. Closing Prices this day. i -7_ . i 14 -_ 15 -- 7 pan 2i p 1 p 11 - 6. -,, 2 1 - 1i p _ . 6 r 7 , 44- -- 51 7 - 11 9 -- 11 p - 2 p -- 8i -- 35 14i -- 154 lit =-1 - 164 p 39 41 38 —39 a 31i 32 20 204 9 t 101 34. —34 p -- ip;n 5 51 i d par 9 i - 7. 10IP Busines, this day. 1491 150 32 la Business done this day. 26i i ex new 8i a 201 101 10 i pm. x. o n 5i Do. (Canal)... 'Lyons . dr Mediterran. 'Madras (Maria Antonia. Do. New 'Namur & Liege (with interest) Do. (ex interest) Northern of France Do. 201. 3 p. c. Bds. (fmy. B. &Ams. Shs.; NorwegianTrunkPrel Orleans & Bordeaux Paris and Lyons Do. Bonds . Paris and Orleans Paris and Rouen Paris and Strasbourg ParisCaen & Cherbrg. Quebec &Richmond Rouen and Havre Sambre and Meuse Southern of France St. Aud. & Quebec(A) Tours and Nantes Upper India Scrip West Flauders Do. 5i per c. Pref.... Western of France... West. of Switzerland A.gua Fria Anglo Californian Australasian Australian Australian Cordillera Australian Freehold Ave Maria Baden (GO .Duchy of) British Austria. Gold British Iron Brazilianlmp.(issued at £5 pm Do. Cocaes & Cuiada Do. St. John Del Rey Carsons's Creek Cobre Copper Colonial Gold Copiapo English and Austin Copper Smeltg. Co General Golden Mountain..., Great Polgooth. Lake Bathurst Liberty Lond. &Californ. Gold Quartz Crush. Co Mariquita Mexican&S.Americn New Granada Nouveau Monde Port Philip Quartz Rock Rhymme Iron Santiago de Cuba...., South Australian...., Tin Croft ........ United Mexican Waller West Mariposa ,Yuba 14 - i - 7i P rr P par 7 R i 31 lf i all 13.5 24 30 20 1 40 4 - 5 2 - ;9 - 30 iti - 4 42 1 i 7 7i -- 1d i - p )ar 14P li i i is i P 4 4i i i P 2lp ip 6i 7t p 6 7 2i i 30 424 li 48 5 4Z li 2 all all all 10i all all an all all - 4 r _. P P MISCEL: :ous Australian Agricult 'Canada Crystal Pa1ace.,,.,,, Eastern 5team.....,,, Electric Teleg. of Ir. Gen. Steam Navigat, General Screw Steam Irish Beetroot Sugar Netherlands Laud.... Peninsular & Oriental Do. Do. CrystPalace of France Royal Mail Steam ... South Austral. Land Univeral Emigration and Colonization.... Van Diemen's Land Submar. Telegraph .. ;6 17 i ... - 5 ..... - ... 6 9 _ ii 20 = 22 li i 2 ifi 3 iii 1 i ad 6416 sli 67 70 68i 70i 21 20 2 LLOYD'S SHIPPING (THIS DAT.) LONDON, Jan. 11.—Wind at Noon, S. W., W fresh breeze, and fine clear dry weather. LIVERPOOL, Jan. 10.—Wind, S. Arrived—Elvira, Owen, New Orleans ; Walton, St. Domingo ; Grafton, Hondnras ; William 111., loon, St. Robert Peel, New Or leans • Provincialist, Philadelphia. Sailed—Auldand, New 'Orleans ; Carthagena, C harleston.—Jan. 11. (By Electric Telegraph.) Wind, W. strong breeze, and clear. Off Port—Pelican (s), from Rotterdam, with a schooner in tow. Arrived—Crown, Calcutta; Ara'rtha Rio de la Hache. DEAL, Jan. 10.—Wind, S. W., a gale. Arrived from the River— Royal Alice, for Sydne N.s . W. ; London Singa pore ; Lady of the Lake, Port Natal; Sapphire, GeelongSinga ; Warrior, Africa ; Helen Munro, d o. • Orion, do. ; Brown, New Orleans ; Victory, Sav annah ; Wm. Stetson, Boston, Sailed Rifleman, South Seas. Put back—Rifleman, Queen Adelaide and the Mary South Seas ; San Francisco, Sydney, N.S.W. SHIELDS,IO.—The Robert and Ellen of this port An M n l h L a F v o e u b D e , e J n a g n o . t l o O ff .— sh Th ore e . was abandoned in a sinking state, Dec. 29, off the Naze of Norway ; crew saved and landed here The Mary of derland has been abandoned in a sinking state. Sun- Mentor,Sailed— New York. Jan. 10.— The Pilgrim and Earl of Dur- BERWICK, Jan. 10.—The Aid is on shore, and expected to be a total wreck. QUEBEC, Dec. 24.—The Mount Vernon (American ship), ha ß m A a ß r it e IN on a s T hO N re. Saguenay to England, has been on shore, received consider able damage, and must winter here and refit. da,Owl v hard gal e a ll bound ride safely. / 7 , ligt; a The outward RAMSGATE, to Van couver's ll, ap J p a e n a . ran lO ce . o l f t a h dirt y bl ni o requires her topsails caulked. JERSEY, Jan. 9.—Wind, W. Arrived__ Amelia, Shep 3gGAYE, Island, Jan. 10.—The Otter (s pigan. QUEENSTOWN, Jan. 9.—Arrived—Esther, Rio Grande. CHRISTIANSAND, Dec. 28.—The Twee Oreender, Dantzig to London, is leaky, disabled, and must refit. BOSTON, Dec. 28.—The wreck of a full rigged brig, water-logged and abandoned, was passed near Cape Look out on the 19th inst. ; and the wreck ofa larg e vesse l, an d i a piece of timber, m ar k e d " Hollander," n large gilt letters, was passed on the 24th of Nov., lat. 41, long. 25. DINNER TO AGED MEN AT PRESTWICR.__The aged men of Prestwich on New Year's Day were again for the sixth time entertained by the noblemen and gentlemen rsiding in the vicinity with a substantial old English dinner. Upwards of 140, whose average ages would be about 70 years, partook of the good cheer so liberally provided. Many still hale and hearty had seen more than four score winters, and none were under 60. MURDERERS.—In the county of Middlesex alone, there were from 1810 to 1826, 34 criminals convicted of murder and executed, notwithstanding 188 murders were com mitted. From 1806 to '42, out of 27 convictions only 17 were hanged, and but 90 persons committed for the crime. Iu England and Wales, all who w ere conv i c t e d of murder in 1815, 17, 'lB, and '29, were executed, and in the four years following, the crime increased to 12 per cent. In 1836, '3B, '4O, and '42, 31 were executed out of 83 condemned, and in the succeeding years the crime of murder increased 17 per cent. MUNIFICENT ENDOWMENT. Sir Michael Shaw Stewart, Bart., has endowed the church at Greenock with 3001. per annum, and 1001. for a cura t e , on con dition that daily service shall never cease to be per. formed. $ - 0 _ 31A 1051 1711 25 ll 100 100 all all 45 all Aberdeen ............. Ambg. Nottng. Bost & Eastn. June....... Birmng. Wolverh. & Stour Va11ey......... Birkenhd. Lancsh. do Cheshire Junct...... Do. Chesh. & Birk., £5O dr £25 Cons.... I Do., £20.........•••••• Bristol & Exeter.. Caledonian. Chester & Holyhead Cork and Bandon.... Dublin&BelfastJunc. Dundee Perth &Aber deen Junction ....... Do. New East Anglian (£25 L. & E. & L. & D.)..... Do., (£lB E. & H.).. Eastern Comatieci.,-., Eastern Union, Class A. late E. U. 5h.... ~ Do do ... ...... ........ Do., B. & C.: !East Lancashire East & West Ind. Dk. & Binning. June Edinburgh & Glasgow Edinb. Prth . &Dundee Glasgow & S. Western Great Northern Stk Do., A. Stock Do., B. Stock Great Southern and Western (Ireland) Great Western leh South-Easters. Lancaster & Carlisle Do., Thirds Lancash. &Yorkshire Do., Fifths . ...... Do., Wst. Riding Un. Leeds Northern...... Liv. Crsby. & So tithpt. London & Blackmail Lond. Tilb. & Sthend. Loud. Bright. & S.Cst. London & N. Western Do. Fifths D0.,10/.5h.,M&8...0 London & S Western Lndndrry.&Coleraine Lndndrry. & Ennisk. Manch. Shef. &Lineln . Do., Man. & Lin. Un. Midland Do. Birming & Derby Midland G. West. (Ir. ) Do. i Shares Newcastle & Carlisle Newmarket Newpt.Aberg.&Htfd Newry & Enniskillen Newry Warrenpoint & Rostrevor N0rf01k......... ....... 31i - 6i -- 10i -- 6i -- 107 - 67 - 23 17A - 3 22i cl 109 68 23i 18 8h - 51 - 44 134 - 131 13 91 10 1071 1127 8 1153 6 4 1102 1 42 11 50 491 72i i 267 1 75 68 TH / E DARIEN SHIP-CA NAL. The attention of the leading merchants and capitalists of Great Britain has been for some months turned towards a scheme for the junction of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, by means of a ship canal to be cut through the Isthmus of Darien, between Port Escosses on the Atlantic and San Miguel on the Pacific. The parties who have accorded their support to the project include many of the most well-known commercial, financigl, and political names, and it appears that considerable progress has been made in the requisite arrangements. A full preliminary concession has already been obtained from the republic of New Granada ; a report has been pre sented by Messrs. Gisborne and Henry C. Forde, civil engineers, who were specially deputed to make a preli minary survey of the proposed route ; an extremely inte resting pamphlet upon the subject has just been pub lished, written by Dr. Edward Cullen ; and the whole of the documents and plans have been privately circulated amongst the most influential merchants of Great Bri tain. The route proposed is the shortest yet discovered, being only 39 miles across. The concessionaires are Sir Charles Fox, Messrs. John Henderson and Thomas Brassey, and Dr. Cullen. In the report addressed to these gentlemen by Messrs. Gisborne and Forde, three modes of effecting the inter-oceanic communication are presented, calculated to cost 12,000,0001., 7,000,0001., and 4,500,0001. respectively, but for the two last-named sums only a very inefficient canal could be constructed, involving the necessity of locks, and mechanical appli seescaatele. On the which other is ha tw elve elv thee mil lions deep :11mthoeeunledtimd cost of be no less than 30 f ee t d ee p a t l ow tide,lai cuttingneece appli ancesienocr feet would broad at the bottom, an d 160 f ee t a t l ow water's surface. Such a cu tti ng , it i s s t a t e d , carr i e d from sea to sea, is not larger than the trade of the world requires, and would form a permanent, safe, and rapid mode of transit. The material to be cnt through is de scribed as being chiefly rock—a stratified shale, with thinnish beds—which, though easy to cut through, would form an excellent side lining to the canal, and render the cost of its maintenance merely nominal. This, accord ingly, is the description of canal which the engineers state they can confidently recommend to their employers, and it is to the furtherance of this project that so much at tention is being directed. By the route proposed great ad vantage is taken of the natural formation of the coast. and the rivers Savannah and Caledonia will also be of essential service. This portion of the Isthmus of Darien is likewise stated to be in one of the most healthy dis tricts, owing to the absence of swamps or overflowings of the river banks out of the range of the tide, and to the generally dry character of the surrounding district. Up to the present time it is somewhat remarkable that, although so much attention and writing has been devoted to this question of inter-oceanic communication, very little progress has in reality been made towards carrying it out. The agitation in favour of the Nicaragua canal route was the most remarkable yet noticed, but the scheme appears to have definitely fallen to the ground, nor has any succeeding project as yet met with influen tial support. According to its charter the Nicaraguan Canal] Company was bound to construct a canal suffi ciently large to accommodate vessels of all dimensions, whereas the surveys and estimates that have met the public eye are all framed for the construction of a canal only 17 feet deep, 50 feet wide at the bottom, and 118 at the top. A work of this nature would be ludicrously inadequate to meet the requirements of the very vessels for the accommodation of which it is especially designed, that is to say, those engaged in trade with the East and the Pacific coast. As the cost of so inadequate a canal by the Nicaraguan route would be considerably upwards of six millions sterling, it is by no means sur prising that the capitalists of England and America have refused to commit themselves to the undertaking. It is obvious that no attempt must be made to corstruct 'so gigantic a work as a canal of communication between the Atlantic and Pacific unless there is every prospect of the work being executed in a manner calculated to accom modate the commerce of the entire world. For a canal of the large dimensions required it does not appear that the Nicaraguan route affords any facilities, unless, in deed, the parties engaged were determined to vanquish every obstacle regardless of cost, in which case the capital sunk in the work would probably be so enormous that the undertaking would at once be divested of all pretensions to a remunerative character, the engineering obstacle--including the construction of harbours at points where nature presents no facilities for such works, and the damming of the lake and river San Juan—being of the most serious nature. In the facts that, out of the twelve years within which the entire canal was to be completed, according to the terms of the charter, there have already elapsed without any commencement of operations, and that the special protection accorded to the Canal Com pany by the instrument known as the Clayton and Bul wer treaty was forfeited in July, 1851, we have further proof of the total failure of the Nicaraguan Canal scheme. This isthmus of Darien ship canal is accordingly brought forward, and the statements of its promoters are cer tainly of the most favourable character. By the pro posed deep canal, it is stated that the transit of the largest vessels from sea to sea could be effected in five hours instead of two days, as by the Nicaragua route. The promoters enumerate the shortness of the route, the excellence of its harbours, the low elevation of the land, the absence of bars at the Savannah and Tuyra mouths, the depth of water and great rise of tide in the former, its directness of course and freedom from obstructions, the healthiness of the adjacent country, the exemptions of the coast from northers and hurricanes, the feasibility of cutting a canal without locks, and the general absence of engineering difficulties, as fully justifying them in asserting that it is the shortest, the most direct, safe, and expeditious, and in every way the most eligible route for intermarine communicatio n for large ships. One of the not least important advantages possessed by this route, it may be observed, is the entire absence of political diffi culties, the territory in question being universally recog nised as a part of the extensive Republic of New Granada. As regards the benefits that would be derived from the execution of a ship-canal on the scale proposed, very little difference of opinion exists, the suffrages of the entire mercantile world being in its favour. The vast saving of t"ne that would be effected by the adoption of such a passage would enable ships to make two voyages where they now make one ; other great benefits, consist ing in the saving of expense in their navigation, of wear and tear, of interest on the value of ship and cargo, of insurance on ship, cargo, and freight, and in a great diminution of shipwrecks and loss of life at sea. The saving of time is not merely to be estimated from the direct diminution of the distance to be traversed between Europe and America and the east and west coasts of the Pacific, and vice versa, but also from the avoidance of the loss of time occasioned by calms in the low lati tudes, hard gales off the Capes, the very long tacks to the eastward and westward, and beating against the trade winds and monsoons. Another great bene fit to shipping would consist in the facility with which they could re-victual, or take in water or coal —an arrangement by which they would have a much larger portion of their capacity available for the stowage of merchandise. It is further expected that the emigrants to Australia would take the Isthmus route, as Sydney could be reached by steam in from 50 to 55 days from Southampton, and that would also accommodate the rapidly extending trade with that important portion of the British empire. The prospec tive advantages to New Granada are so immense, that not a doubt can be entertained of a continuance of the cordial co-operation already accorded by the Government to the ship canal project. The scheme indeed involves the regeneration of that portion of the American con tinent, as the uncultivated and uninhabited tracts in the vicinity of the canal territory would be quickly covered with population, and the necessities of commerce would soon establish large commercial cities at the termini of the canal. New Granada would thus take much higher ground in the family of nations, and in the increased value of the lands and every description of security or property connected with that republic, there is ample room for speculation to reap a rich return. This great undertaking, however, is not to be at once definitively brought forward for public support. It ap pears that its promoters, duly impressed with the mag nitude of the enterp r i se , f ee l t h e necessity of proceeding with every possible caution, and that we hear it has been determined to have full corroboration of the surveys and plans before any attempt is made to carry out the pro ject. In this sense, it is stated a preliminary association will shortly be brought forward to raise 75,0001., which sum will be applied to depositing the caution money with the Government of New Granada, making a mule road across the proposed route, and making a second survey on the most detailed scale. The subscribers to this fund, • it is stated, will have a prior claim to the shares in the great ship canal ; and as, it is under stood, a great number of influential names has already been placed on the subscription list, only a small proportion of this 75,000/. will be raised from the general public. It would appear that the cos mopolitan character of the work is to be fully recog nised, and that, conlsequently, the co-operation of the chief commercial nations of the world will be enlisted In its support. It is even stated that measures will be adopted for obtaining direct assistance, probably in the shape of a guarantee on a portion of the capital, or the absorption great favourableeoenmm ereia l et t a e t r e m e, s i o n f el a ug portion m eorfe especially Great from Great Britain, France, and the United States. In ac cordance with the provisions of the Clayton and Bulwer treaty, the Governments of Great Britain and the United States will probably extend their joint protection to any company undertaking the construction of a ship canal, and Dr. Cullen states that the work will most likely be a united British and American enterprise. For the pre sent, however, as already stated, only a preliminary sub scription list is to be formed, to raise the comparatively insignificant sum of 75,0001., of which a large portion will be subscribed by the promoters, with a view to defi nitively maturing all the requisite arrangements for this great commercial enterprise. It is also confidently ex pected that a more minute examination of the route will show the formation of the country to be suc h that a great reduction may be mad e from the estimates hitherto formed as to the cost of the work. SINGULAR CASE OF ROBBERY. —On Saturday, in formation was given, with a description of Joseph Rogers, a miller, who had absconded from Whitehaven, charged with stealing a cash-box containing upwards of 901. He is a native of Eg remont, in Cumberland, and on New Year's-eve was seen in a small plantation near that place looking anxiously about him, but, finding that he was observed, he made a precipitate retreat, and the spot where he had been standing. being approached and examined, it was discovered that in his haste he had dropped between 501. and 601. in gold and silver. ROYAL ASSENT, &C.—The last time the prerogative of rejecting a bill, after passing both Houses of Parliament, was exercised, in 1692, when William 111, refused his assent to the bill for Triennial Parliaments. Two years after, however, he was induced to allow the bill to be come the law of the land.—Notes and QuerieB. NAVAL INTELLIGENCE. MA ne In naval matt ers th ere i s but little ws. LTA, Two of the steamers lately employed in the packet-service are or dered home—the Medina, Lieutenant Reynolds, and the Banshee, Lieutenant Hoskin. The former will leave on Wednesday morning, with invalids ; and Lady Dundas proceeds by her to join her husband at Gibraltar. The departure of the Banshee is not fixed. The Peninsular and Oriental Company's steamer Ripon arrived here on the afternoon of Thursday last, and moored to her buoy at half-past 4 p.m. In proof of the rapidity of her dispatch for Alexandria, we need but observe that she left port at a quarter past 11 o'clock, having remained here only six hours and three quarters. During this period she discharged her mails and 180 packages, comprising carriages, bale goods, cases, &c. She also received on board the Indian mails brought by the Banshee from Marseilles, as well as the local bags, 177 tons of coal, 35 tons of water, 325 chests of opium, watches, &c., 86 packages of treasure, and her sea stock of provisions. The Indus, on a former occasion, received dispatch in six hours after her arrival, and at night-time, she having got in at 8 o'clock and left at 2 o'clock a.m. The Tiger left port on Thursday last for Tunis. The Artesian (Austrian schooner) arrived on the 31s1 ult. from Tunis. PORTSMOUTH, JAN. 10. Capt. George Bohun Martin, C. 8., late of her Ma jesty's ship Vi c t ory , i s appointed to succeed Captain the Hon. R. S. Dundas, C. 8., as 'Superintendent of her Ma jesty's Dockyard at Deptford. This intelligence has na turally created the most lively satisfaction in this port, as during the time Captain Martin fulfilled the duties of Flag-Captain to.the late Commander-in-Chief he endeared himself by his kindness, courtesy, and hospitality to all who enjoyed his acquaintance. His premature removal was a subject of the deepest regret. Fearfully foul weather has again set in upon us. At 10 a.m. half a gale got up from the southward, accom panied by a soaking rain, which continued till sun se t. There has been but ittle communication with the squadron at Spithead. Phaeton and Simoom have not got under weigh, nor could it answer any purpose to do so ; in fact, nothing short of the most urgent necessity could warrant their putting out to sea in such frightful weather. Dragon, 6, paddle-wheel steam-frigate, having cop pered up to the 14-foot mark, hauled out of the north dock and into the steam basin. Every preparation is being made for the early launch ing of the after body of the Marlborough. The iron stringing was cut through this day. A court-martial, consisting of Rear-Admiral A. L. Corry, commanding the Channel Squadron, president ; Captains Graham, C. 8., of the Rodney; Lord Edward Russell, of the Vengeance ; Mundy, of the London ; E. H. Scott, of the Neptune ; Henderson, C. 8., of the Bleheim ; Kingcome of the Simoom ; Elliot, of the Phaeton ; Sheppard, of the Victory ; King, of the Leander ; Fremantle, of the Arrogant ; Goldsmith, of the Sidon ; Hutton, of the Prince Regent ; and Mr. George L. Greetham, Deputy-Judge -Advocate of the Fleet, assembled this morning on board the Victory, to try Patrick Brady, a g ed 27, a private of Marines belong ing to the Woolwich division, forming one of the detach ment serving , on board the Leander, 50-gun frigate, for highly mutinous and insubordinate conduct, in having threatened the life of his superior officer, Sergeant Saunders of the Royal Marine corps, serving also in the detachment ;on board the Leander. It appeared from the evidence that the prisoner (who has only been in the Marine corps five years, having enlisted on the 23d of July, 1847) has been a troublesome and mutinous cha racter, and that just before the date of the present charge he had been guilty of grossly insolent and insubordinate conduct, which was officially "reported " by Sergeant Saunders, upon which report the prisoner received three dozen lashes. This punishment seems to have formed the groundwork in the prisoner's mind for the expressed in tention of murdering the author of it, as will be seen by the following testimony : Sergeant James James de posed, that on the morning of the 3d of January inst., he was standing at the bottom of the main ladder on board of the Leander ; the prisoner was there washing himself ; he stood up, and pointing towards Sergeant Saunders (who was on the port side of the deck), and then pointing towards his pouch, said "The first ammu nition I get into my pouch, I'll blow your brains out." Witness again saw prisoner, while receiving cor poral punishment, turn round, and, looking towards Sergeant Saunders (who was then sergeant of the guard) heard him say, "The that brought me to this— I'll send him to his grave before sunset." Prisoner was placed in irons after that. This evidence was corrobo rated by several other witnesses. The prisoner asked none of the witnesses any questions, and had no defence to offer, except that from the time they took him out of irons till they placed him in again he did not know what he was about. The Court was then cleared for the members to deliberate. It remained closed for upwards of an hour. On re-admission, the Judge-Advocate pronounced the charge fully proved, and recited the sen tence of the Court, which was " That the prisoner receive 48 lashes on his bare back, and be imprisoned for 18 months in the county gaol of Hampshire, at Win. chester." The Vengeance, 84, Captain Lord Edward Russell, is to proceed to !Plymouth, instead of coming into this harbour to refit. PLYMOUTH, JAN 9. We have a favorable change in the weather ; the wind is now a point to the north of west, and the sea has gone down considerably. Vulture, steamer, Captain Glasse, has drawn her charts for the Channel. She went:out of harbour on Saturday, and is now in the Sound. An alarm of fire was raised this morning on board the barque Duncan, unloading timber in Stonehouse Pool. It appears on lighting the fire proper precaution was not taken, and the funnel took fire, which being very foul, the flame rose to a great height, and was also communi cating with the woodwork near it. Boats were soon on the move, but as there was assistance from the other ships moored in the tier, the fire was extinguished before their arrival. WOOLWICH, JAN. 10. The Imperieuse, 50, screw steam-frigate, Captain R. B. Watson, C. 8., having been reported ready for trial, and to go round to Chatham to be masted, rigged, and made ready for sea at that port, the detachment of Royal Marines of the Woolwich division ordered for service in her march from their barracks to the dock yard, headed by the fine band of the division, and under the command of Brevet-Major Stransham, with Lieutenant Tomlin, the officers of the Royal Marines appointed to the Imperieuse. The band continued playing on the wharf wall of the basin while the Royal Marines embarked on board the frigate. Colonel Ellis, C. 8., Commanda n t o f th e W oolwich division, ac ' companiedMajoi Stransham and the detachment to the place of embarkation, and subsequently went on board the Imperieuse, and was present while Captain Watson inspected the men selected for service on board the frigate. After the inspection Capt. Wat son expressed to the Colonel-Commandant his approbation of the ex cellent appearance of the detachment, the men having arrived in heavy marching order ; and they were imme diately placed for duty on board the ship. At 10 minutes before 2 o'clock p.m., the Imperieuse, having previously her steam up, steamed out of the basin by back turns of her screw, and on entering the river immediately started for her trial trip, the screw almost getting up to full speed at starting, and on pro ceeding down the river the engines worked remarkably well, making up to 68 revolutions per minute with the greatest ease, and causing the Imperieuse to leave the Monkey and African steam-ships, sent to attend her, far behind. Captain Watson, with all the officers, was on board, and Capt. Hood, R.N., Lieut. Robertson, of the steam department afloat at Woolwich ; Mr. Dinnen, inspector of steam machinery afloat ; Mr. Taplin, second assistant to the chief engineer at Woolwich dockyard ; Mr. John Penn, Mr. Mathew, and Mr. Hartrees, of the firm of John Penn and Son, the constructors of her engines of 360-horse power, on the patented trunk principle by that firm, and so successful in the Arrogant steam frigate ; and Mr. F. P. Smith, long connected with the introduction of the screw-propellor into the naval ser vice. The Imperieuse went down the river in fine style, and ultimately left the Monkey and African far out of sight, and, on testing the speed of the Imperieuse at the measured mile, it was found to be upwards of 101 knots per hour, the engines working most satisfactorily, without the slightest symptom of heating or anything going wrong. On casting anchor below Gravesend this afternoon all on board were much gratified with the manner in which she was brought up, as, notwithstand her size, she appears as manageable as a small boat ; but a look on board would at once afford evidence that she is a most powerful vessel, with ample room to mount and work with freedom guns of the largest calibre. Her armament will fconsist of 8 guns, each 9 feet in length, and weighing 65 cwt., with an 8-inch bore, and 22 32-pounders of 56 cwt. and 9 f ee t 6 i nches long each. On th e upper deck she will have one pivot gun of 95 cwt., and 10 feet in length, for 68-pound shot, or 10-inch shell (already mounted) ; two 8-inch guns of 65 cwt. each, and 18 32-pounders of 45 cwt. each, and 8 fe e t 6 i nc h es long each. Captain Watson is very popular i n th e serv i ce, and has had the offer of man y men, but he has d ec li ned them, so as not to preveia other officer s comp l et i ng their crews, as he has no of being able to man his ship with the greatest doubt by the time she is ready for sea. A number of his easeb hands were on leave to-day, and will join the ship at Chatham, for which port she will leave Gravesend at daylight to-morrow ; but, previous to going up the Med way, she will be tried several runs between the Nore and Mouse Lights, to test hers peed in deep water. The Resistance troop-ship, Master Commander Brad shaw, will not be ready at this port to receive troops on board for at least 10 days from this date. This notice may prevent troops being hurried on from Dublin and other places under orders commanding to embark in h er , an d w h ose officers may be misled by th e not i ce which appeared in some of the naval and military papers that she would be ready for their reception on the 13th inst. APPOINTMENT. Assistant-Engineer William Pilcher to the Hogue screw steam guard-ship at Plymonth. PROMOTONS. Second Master 'William H. I Harris (1845), acting mas ter of the Waterwitch, 8, sloop, on the West Coast of Africa station, is confirmed in the rank of Master ; Alfred Balliston (1847), acting master, borne- on the books of the Royal Victoria and Albert steam-yacht for service in the Fairy steam-yacht, is confirmed in the rank of Master. THE WEST INDIA SQUADRON. We have letters this afternoon from the above squad ron. The following were the latest movements : The Cumberland, 70, Rag of Vice-Admiral Sir George Seymour, K.C.8., Commander-in-Chief, was towed out of Bermuda harbour on the 27th of November by the Devastation steam-sloop, 6, Ciiiiiinander C. Y. Camp bell, who parted company on the following day, the Cumberland proceeding to Barbadoes, and the Devasta tion to St. Thomas's, for the Admiral's dispatches from England, which did not arrive until the Bth of Decem ber, when she took on the Barbadoes mails, and rejoined ,the flag-ship at Trinidad. The Dauntless, 28, screw-frigate, Captain Halsted, by these accounts, had - lost 16 officers and 60 of her crew by yellow fever. The ship's company had encamped on shore at Barbadoes, and the decease was abating, the cases being daily fewer and less violent. On the 13th of December the Cumberland, 70 (flag); the Calypso, 20, Captain Forbes ; the Highflyer, 21 (screw), Captain Matson ; and the Devastation, were at Trinidad. All well except llie - Highflyer, which had about 1A eases .of. lever on' board, and had lost three men. Captain Matson had been ill, but was better when the packet sailed. On the 13th the Calypso sailed for La Guayra and the Devastation for Antigua, the lat ter .soon to rejoin the Admiral. - The Daring, 12, Commander Napier, had been with the Admiral also, but sailed on the 12th for Grenada— all well. The following is a list of the changes among the officers of the squadron in consequence of the death vacancies : To THE DAUNTLESS. W. H. I.o—netlss,eofrtsileAdumOb. er S l u an ttr to C b . e G L . i L eu in te dsa nan y ts , .and Chief Engineer.—M r , G. M. Burt, of the third class, serving in the Devastation, to be chief of the second class in the Dauntless. TO, THE IMAI7M. Mate.—Mr. John Jenkins, of the Devastation, to be Acting-Lieutenant, vice W. J. Smith, to the Scorpion, vice H. Kelham, deceased. TO THE CALYPSO. Mate.—Mr. F. J. Wilson, to be Acting-Lieutenant, vice E. Algar, invalided. Mr. Benjamin Bennett, of the Devastation, to be car• penter, vice the former carpenter, invalided. TO THE DEVASTATION. Mr. W. Damns, to be acting-carpenter, vice Bennett, removed on promotion. Lieutenant C. R. Robson, additional of the Cumber land, has volunteered to do duty on board of, and is lent to, the Dauntless. HER MAJESTY'S SHIP DAUNTLESS. We have been f a v oure d by th e Ad m i ra l ty.w i t h the following :- Nominal list of - cases of fever and death of officers and men of H.M.S. Dauntless, from November 8 to De cember 6, 1852. Arthur C. Cooper, mate, November 17, yellow fever. William Simpson, mate, November 17, ditto. James J. Henwood, assistantengineer, 3d class, Nov. 18, ditto. Alfred Neale, lieutenant, Nov. 22, ditto. Alexander Langlands, chief engineer, Nov. 22, ditto. Henry T. Nuttal, second master, Nov. 23, ditto. W. W. H. Richards, assistant-engineer, 3d class, Nov. 24, ditto. Charles Martin, assistant engineer, 2d class, Nov. 25, do. Ross Moore Floud, senior lieutenant, Nov. 28, ditto. Joseph Crispin, midshipman, Dec. 1, ditto. Charles Kent, lieutenant, Dec. 2, pato. St. George C. S. D av i s, assista.rit qpgineer, 2d class, Dec. 2, ditto. Edwin Death, passed clerk, Dec. 6, ditto. William Yates, boy, 2d class, recovered. - John Last, boy, Ist class, ditto. James Buist, captain mizentop, Nov. 17, died on way to hospital. Thomas Wilding, A. 8., Nov. 14, died abroad. Thomas Williams, carpenter's crew, Nov. 13, ditto. Henry Scott, R.M.., Nov. 14, ditto. Edward Conroy, R.M.A., recovered. ' James Baxter, R.M., ditto. John Lupphen, R.M., ditto. Mat. Eagan, R.M., Nov. 15, died aboard. Richard Neale, R.M., recovered. Henry Allnutt, A.8.,N0v. 17, di e d a t h osp i tal. James Arthur, sick oy attendant, still at hospital. John Smith, A. 8., Nov. 19, died at hospital. John Strugnell, boatswain's mate, recovered. William Hebditch; R.M., Nov. 14, died aboard. George Weston, ordinary, recovered. John Hellendale, ordinary, recovered. Daniel Colson, A. 8., recovered. William Oliver, boy, 2d class, ditto. John Stagg, boy, 2d class, Nov. 17, died at hospital. Mr. A. Cowper, mate, Nov. 17, died aboard. Mr. W. Simpson, mate, Nov. 17, di e d on way to hospital. William Evans, A. 8., recovered. William Elsay, ship steward's assistant, Nov. 16, died on board. William Tucker, R.M., Nov. 16, ditto. William Howard, ordinary, still at hospital. Charles Allerton, R.M., Nov. 16, died aboard. Henry Elliot, ordinary, Nov. 17, died at hospital. William Crossman, boy, Ist class, recovered. William Bird, boy, Ist class, Nov. 17, di e d a b oard. Dennis Coglan, A. 8.. Nov. 18, died at hospital. James Lightfoot, blacksmith, Nov, 21, ditto. Robert Wilson, R.M,, Nov. 17, died aboard. Robert Braine, boy 2d class, recovered, Thomas Williams, A. 8., recovered. Mr. J. Crispin, midshipman, Dec. 1, second seizure, died at hospital. Mr. Starr, Ist lieutenant R.M.A. Mat. Hogan, boy, 2d class, Nov. 18, died at hospital. W. Leverett, bay, 2d class, Nov. 20, died at hospital. Mr. A. langlands, chief engineer, Nov. 22, died at hospital. Charles Day, stoker Nov. 20, died at hospital. Duncan Manson, leading stoker, recovered. Jem. M c Carthy, A. 8., recovered. Thomas Head, ship's cook, Nov. 24, died at hospital. Henry Allen, caulker's mate, r ecovere d . Mr. H. Neale, lieutenant, Nov. 22, died at hospital. Benjamin Webb, ordinary, recovered. Mr. Seccombe, clerk, recovered. Ambrose Archer, boy 2d class, Dec. 1, died, at hospital. Patrick Sullivan, ordinary, r ecovered. Mark Arnold, A. 8., ditto. Pat. Driscoll, ordinary, recovered. Sam. Johnson, A.B. ditto. William Swain; sailmaker's %Tew, Nov. 24, died at hospital. Edward Spearing, A. 8., tecovered. Henry Doggett, stoker, Nov. 24, diedtat hospital. John Dorey, carpenter's crew, recovered. Rev. Mr. Edwards, chaplain, ditto. Mr. Nuttall, second master, Nov. 23, died at hospital. Mr. Richards, assistant engineer, Nov. 24, ditto. Henry Sumpter, boy, Ist class, Nov. 25, ditto. William Lyall, stoker, Nov. 25, ditto. Thomas Joyce, ditto, still at hospital. John Wakeham' . A.B, re covered. Joseph Irwing, R.M., ditto. William Porter, stoker, still at hospital. Mat. Booth, boy, , Ist class , ditto. William Pass, R.M., Mr. Floud, lieutenant, Nov. 25, died at hospital. John Flynn, ordinary, Nov. 25, ditto. Wm. Fowl, R.M., still at hospital. Mr. Parker, master, still at hospital. Mr. Martin, assistant engineer, Nov. 25, died at hospital. Mr. Henwood, ditto, Nov. 18, ditto. Charles Vanam, boatswain's mate still at hospital. John Kinchin, R.M. Nov. 25, died at hospital. Mr. O'Connell, midshipman, recovered. Joseph Williams, ordina r y, s till a t h osp i ta l. John Spraggs, R.M.R ditto. Robert Higginson Nov. 26, died at hospital. Thomas Fleming, ' R.M.A. Nov. 29, ditto. John Reed, fifer, Nov. 29;ditto. Henry Frampton, A. 8., still at hospital. Mr. Twiss, midshipman, ditto. John Page, sailmaker's mate, Dec. 2, died at hospital. James Venables, captain's steward, still at hospital. Mat. Fitzgerald , midshipma n ' s s t eward, Dec. 2, died at hospital. Mr. Davis, assistant-engineer, Dec. 2, ditto. George Barber, R.M., still at hospital. Mr. Kent, lieutenant, Dec. 2, died at hospital. Samuel Robson, R.M., still at hospital. Mr. Armstrong, lieutenant, recovered. Freeland Levett, stoker, still at hospital. Peter Sheridan, ordinary, TJec. 5, died at hospital. Robert Roberts, A.B. still at hospital. John Jones, A. 8., dittr..). William Payne, caulker, ditto. Mr. Death, clerthiDnaeryc.,6B,tidllieadt a h t o h s o i s ta pi l ta . William Thorn, boy 2d class, still at hospital. Francis Lehy, William Oliver, boy, 2d class, ditto, second seizure. William Bassett R.M., Dec. 6, died at hospital. James Murray, stoker still at hospital. James Strugnell, captain mizentop, Dec. 5, died at hos. Mr. Selby, caidsbi John Revill, R.M.A , pman, still at hospital. still at hospital. Thomas Weem, stoker, still at hospital. Samuel Talbot, R.M.A., still at hospital. John Sullivan, stoker, still at hospital. Charles Knight, gunner's mate, still at hospital. (Signed) G. V. Srnxoun. The following letter from a surviving officer speaks melancholy enough for itself : " Barbadoes, December 16, 1852. (In camp of 34th Regiment.) " My dear —,—l know not whether has had time to write to you. Poor fellow, his has been the me lancholy duty of writing to relatives of our deoeased mess and shipmates. He is very far from well, having had a severe fall into the afterhold. Out of the gun-room, tfor merlyh eleven, seven are a li ve ; t h e two doctors and e yellow fever. lam sorry to say, although only yesh the paymaster are the only three that have not yet l had hf the ship's company are on board, there are dai ly cases, plainly pro v i ng th e di sease t o be in th e e A shz u . taltG ep e e n o e p ra le l on shore, how ever , are s uffering. l'h was buried thi s morn i n g, after 48 hours ' illness. From our attacks, dead. h uMyselft, for t unate l y, and the mess, Lieut. Floud, '-Lieut. Kent, Lieut. Neale, and poor Rev. Lang la m n r d . s E , the chief had sharp hief engineer, are got through. Poor Kent died in my next room ; and themwmt a v y sonforto quar t er s (firingmv e r very o h bv e eei rnm being cheering h d o s en l i r rl i y p tg m o3r ao e hv n e 'y:s graves). the e s i s fl , had rtaohs w iitnn h k o stahtdhe : rites churchyard, good health to see me, were buried before I left my bed; a 1 145 iI where 16 officers from the ill-fated ship are buried. . It paid' to we have buried 58 men and officers. The disease is in the after-part, or the mortality would never be so great with the officers. We are ordered to Bermuda, £hen home in the s T a h y e s r . e a; e h o o p n l e y p ra r y n two g ' assistant bu t of o f s g e e v t en th l e e re ft: d next will be more satisfactory. ' " I am on the hill, living in a tent with the 34th Rea meat, who have behaved exceedingly well to a 11.7 12. 12 20 20