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

OMFORD UNIVERSITY ELECTION COMMITTEE ROOM, TEASALOAS HOTEL, SPIING GAZDENS, January 10. T HE LONDON and OXFORD COMMITTEE for conaucting the ELECTION of Mr. PERCEVAL, while they cannot but regret the result of the Poll on the Sixth Day, which shows a majority of 111 for Mr. Gladstone, consider that that result ought not to be the occasion of surprise or discouragement. With a standing Committee, and organised staff of Secretaries and Can vass, ra j Mr. Gladstone has only been able to poll 721 votes up to the present time. With an opponent occupying so prominent a position as the Chancellor of the Exchequer, supported by a powerful Govern ment, and, in spite of misrepresentations most industriously and un scrupulously circulated by irritated antagonists through a portion of the Metropolitan press, a private gentleman, because known to be a sincere and sound Protestant Churchman, an able and consistent Politician, will, if the unpolled Members of Convocation are but true to themselves, achieve a triumphant and permanent success for Church of England and Constitutional principles. The poll, which commences at 10 a.m., and closes at 5 p.m., will be kept open every day this week, in osder to afford every elector an Opportunity of recording his vote. Members of Convocation are earnestly urged to vote early, and success is then certain, inasmuch as that in July last, within four days,. Mr. Gladstone had 1,300 lOUs ; and on the present occasion, in six days, 721 only have been recorded in his favour. The London Committee sit here daily ; and the Oxford Committee in Magdalene Hall. C. LEMPRIERE, D.C.L., Hon. Sec. Trains leaving Paddington at 7.40, 9.45,10.15, 11.15, 12.40, 2.0,wi1l enable members to vote on the same day; a similar advantage may be obtained by trains leaving Euston-square at 6.30 and 10.0 ; and than Members who have not received Circulars are requested to attribute this apparent neglect to the difficulty in obtaining their accurate addresses on such short notice. The ;pedal from Didcot to Oxford, at 2.40, is for the exclusive use of Mr. Perceval's supporters, leaving London at 12.411, or travel ling from other places. SEVENTH DAT'S POLL, 12 O'CLOCK. Mr. Gladstone .. 761 Mr. Perceval .. 650 OXFORD UNIVERSITY ELECTION. (Extract from the "Morning Herald" of 11th January.) " Major Beresford has taken no part in the Election beyond the giving of his vote." illustration of the aim* assertion.—Letter received by a Clergy man in the country : "Oxford University Election Committee Boom, " Trafalgar Hotel, Spring-gardens, Jan. 1853. " Mr DEAZ Bll,—Pray go to Oxford, if possible, on Monday, when We make our push, and, if we exert ourselves, we can win. " Yours truly, " W. BERESFORD." CIRCULATION OF THE LONDON MORNING PAPER 9. THE MORNING ADVERTISER. The Stamp Returns of the circulation of the MORNING 111 E WSPAYERS in 1850, the latest published, give the following results : MORNING ADVERTISER . . . 1,549,843 Daily News ..... . 1,152,000 Morning Herald 1 139,000 Morning Chronicle . . . 912,547 Morning Post . . . . . 828.000 It will be observed from this statement that, omitting the " Times," the circulation of the MORNING ADVERTISER was then far above that of its morning contemporaries. Early in 1851 the MORNING ADVERTISER was permanently enlarged to a double sheet, and since that time it has met with a measure of success, both as regards the extent of its circa:aft:on, and the number of its advertisements, which has no parallel in the annals of English journalism. Were tte Stamp Returns to be given down to the present time, the relative circulation of the MORNING ADVER TISER to its four morning contemporaries (assuming that their eirculation has undergone no diminution) would be as follows : MORNING ADVERTISER . . Daily News Morning Herald 1 139,000 Morning Chronicle 912 547 Morning Post It will be seen that the present circulation of THE MORNING ADVER rIBER is nearly double that of the two greatest of its four contemporaries, and approaches to treble that of one of their num ber. This vast addition to the circulation of THE MORNING ADVERTISER, obtained in less than two years, is the result of its progress in all parts of the country, and among all classes of society. So proud a position among its contemporaries is to be regarded as the best t - ibute that could be paid to its thorough independence of all parties and Governments, and Its earnest advocacy of the popular cause. January, 1853. Published every Morning, at 127, Fleet-street, Londen. THEATRE ROYAL, HAYMARKET. Farewell Season of Mr. Benjamin Webster as Lessee and Manager. THIS EVENING WM be performed the popular and highly successful Comedy of 7:4AhKS A%l) FACES; or, Before and Behind the Curtain—by Messrs. Benjamin Webster, Leigh Murray, Stuart, Lambert, and Parselle: Mrs. Stirling, Mrs. Leigh Murray, Miss Fanny Maskell, and Miss Rosa Bennett, After which, the gorgeous Extravaganza, entitle.' LEO THE TER RIBLE. To conclude with the Farce of BOX and COX MARRIED and SETTLE ROYAL LYCEUM THEATRE. Under the Management of Madame Vestris. THT4 EVENING, Jan. IL will be performed the Comic Drama called A PHENOMENON tic A SMOCK-FROCK, Cha - acters by Messrs. C. Mathews, F. Matthews, and 11orneastle ; Miss F. Balser and 111 ss C. Nlitchell. After which (14th time). a new and original Fairy Extravaganza, entitled THE GOOD WOMAN IN THE WOOD, in which Messrs. F. Matthews, Suter, Horncastle, and Templeton ; Madame Vestris, Miss Julia St. George, Miss Robertson (her 14th appearance at this Theatre), Miss Martindale, Miss Ellis, Miss Wyndham, Miss Eglin ten (her I4th appearance at this Theatre), and Miss Rosina Wright will appear. • To conclude with LITTLE TODDLEKINS. Sole Agent for the Private Boxes, Mr. W. Allcroft, 15, New Bond-street. THEATRE ROYAL ADELPHL Proprietor, Mr. B. Webster.—Directress, Madame Celeste. THIS EVENING, Jan. 11, the already popular Drama of SLAVE LIFE ; or, Uncle Tom's Cabin—by Messrs. Alfred Wigan, Cullen ford, 0. Smith, and Emery ; Madame Celeste, Miss Woolgar, Miss Collins, and Mrs. Keeley. _ . After which, the gljrionsly successful Comic Pantomime, called NELL GWYNNE ; or, Harlequin Merrie Monarch. Principal Daaseuse, Mdlle. Auriol ; Clown, Flexmore. ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE, OXFORD-STREET. - Under the Management of Mr. C. Kean. THIS EVENING Will be performed Shakespere's Comedy of MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING. Principal characters by Messrs. Charles Kean, Har ley, Meadows, J. Vining, Addison, Ryder, and Graham ; Miss Heath and Mrs. C. Kean. To conclude with the new and original Grand Comic Christ mas Pantomime, entitled HARLEQUIN CHERRY AND FACE STAR; or, The Green Bird, the Dancing Waters, and the Singing Tree. Harlequin, Mr. Cormack ; Clown, Mr. Huline (14th appearance here); Pantaloon, Mr. Paulo; Columbine, Miss Car lotta Leclercq. ROYAL nYMPIC THEATRE. Lessee and Manager, Mr. Farren. THIS EVENING will be presented ISABF.LLE ; or, Woman's Life. Supported by Messrs. Compton, W Farren, jun., Hoskins, and Sbalders ; Miss H. Gordon and Mrs. A. Phillips. After which, ROMEO AND JULIET; or, Harlequin Queen Mab and the World of Dreams. Harlequin, Mr. Forrest; Colum bine, Miss Marie Charles; Sprite, Mr. G. Thompson; Pantaloon, Mr. G. Tanner ; Clown, Mr. Edwin Edwardes, who will introduce hie highly-trained dogs, Amy, Tasso, and Snarleyon. Box-utilice open from Eleven till Four, under the superintendence of Mr. Edward Chatterton. ASTLEY'S ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE. Proprietor and Manager, Mr. W. Batty. Open every Evening with the immensely successful Drama of *UNCLE TOM'S CABIN, followed by Novel and Extraordinary &ewes in the Circle. To conclude with the Grand Comic Pantomime of PORTENT° AND HIS HORSE COMRADE ; or, Harlequin and the Seven Gifted Men. On THUR. , DAY, January 13, a Grand JUVENILE NIGHT, on wi.tch occasion there will be an Entire Change in the Amusements ; commencing with the inimitable Comic Pantomime. A fte , which, a Novel Arrangement of the Scenes in the Arena, supported by the Juvenile Artistes, entitled THE INFANT EQUES TRIAN MARIONETTES. Conauding with UNCLE TOJ. boors open at Half-past Stx .•clock. To commence at Seven. Box-office open daily from Eleven to Four. Stage Manager, Mr. W. West. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. T• sy DAY .L-Morning 56 rain. after 2 I Evening 16 min.a ft . 3 T -Moaftow—Morning 38 min. after 3 I Evening 59 min.aft. 3 THE WEATHER.—Sum Orrice, JAN. 11. THERMOMETER, IN THE SHADE. 48— highest since noon yesterday. 40—lowest this morning and during the night. 44—this day, at noon. BAROMETER went down to 29'39—now up to 29'69. WIND, W.S.W.—Fresh breeze, and clear weather.— Afternoon, rain. jt 314'' LONDON, TUESDAY, JANUARY 11, 1853. There are times when the public attention is almost entirely directed to a single point. It is difficult to obtain this exclusive, all-absorbing in terest ; but when once it has arisen, there can be neither doubt nor difficulty as to the result. Sooner or later the obstructives must surrender their op position and fight under the people's banner. That which a few short years previously had only excited a laugh of derision, will then be regarded as an incontrovertible principle, which it were heresy to deny or cavil at. Such was the case with the Roman Catholic Relief Bill and the repeal of the Test and Corporation Acts—both measures founded on the basis of civil and religious liberty, and the impropriety and injustice of persecuting any man on account of his religious . opinions. The broad doctrine was, that every man should be at liberty to worship his CREATO R in the manner which, in his soul and conscience, he deemed most expedient, without ox .. periencing active persecution in the shape of fine, imprisonment, or even death ; or that n o l ess disgraceful and indefensible persecution which contented itself with the exclusion of the victim from places of trust, honour, or emolument, casting ou him a petty slight in the face of his fellow-subjects. This persecution for conscience sake was thus abolished ; some enactments still remaining to in dicate the previous state of things, and to show the people how deeply thankful they should be for the improved spirit that had followed from the :pressure from without to which the popular Repre sentatives had been subjected. The next crusade was instituted against the rotten -borough system, and the anomalies of the then system,—when Oatton and Old Sarum sent each two Members to Commons House of Parliament, and Man el tester andßirmingh wore wholly unrepresented. There an easy vict-orc.faomrwtas obtained . The public mind was prepa re d " seed, which had lon., he agitation. The good remainedf barren and unpro ductive, lx to bear ; which, fostered by the warmth , of Ministerial f i a t ma turity with extraordinary w h o, a ft er a protracted exc r lu a ii i o ud n irtsy f r .s o P in run ofoffi eg c Wt e : h sa ig w s of ma ki ng a dashing ancaudpecimrprpeuhblic the necessity • thvour, brou gh t forward a large sive measure, which astonished and delighted even veteran Reformers—and thus obtained a long lease of the situations for which their hearts had been yearning during many successive years. Some time elapsed, during which measures of comparatively minor importance were brought forward, before public opinion was again concen trated on a single object. At length the Anti-Corn- Law League, which owed its initiative to seven energetic and determined men, sprang into exist ence in a small back room in the manufacturing metropolis of England. The iniquitous Bread Tax —the impost on the very staff of life, the article of primarynecessity—which compelled the over-toiled operative to bring home the dear small loaf to his children, and to see them pining and dwindling away from an insufficiency of nutritious food, was assailed. Here, however, there was no easy vic tory. Every position was defended with almost incredible obstinacy. A zeal and energy was ex hibited, which, in a better cause. would have been deemed highly meritorious, and deserving of the highest approbation. Inch by inch, and foot by foot, was gained ; and at length, after a seven years' contest, the citadel was conquered—the an ticipated triumph achieved. Even then tranquillity was not restored. A guerilla warfare was carried on, and more than six years were consumed before perfect peace was accomplished. A new point has at length arisen, of not infe rior importance, and on which public opinion is once more concentrated. Fiscalßeform is required. The people have discovered the incalculable ad vantages arising from the partial substitution of direct taxation for certain indirect burdens that pressed with destructive weight upon the springs of industry, and they desire that the system should be further extended. They find that the welcome boons accorded to them have not produced an empty Exchequer—but that, on the contrary, while they have enjoyed almost unprecedented comforts, the Financial Minister has had a con siderable surplus at his disposal, which, if judi ciously applied, would confer additional benefits on the industrious classes. There is, however, one point that creates a well-founded apprehension that this beneficial system may not be persevered in. It is based on injustice of the most flagrant and intolerable description. And with such a rotten foun dation it cannot possibly be extended, or even be maintained. In every country there has been extraordinary favour ex hibited towards the privileged classes—those from whim the legislators are selected, where there is anything like a shadow of representation, or who, in despotic nations, are permitted to approach the autocrat. But never, perhaps, was there a more extraordinary instance of favouritism than in the so-called equal taxation of every description of income, without reference to the source from whence it was derived—that taxed equally the hard earnings of the struggling artist—of the literary man, coining his brains into scantily supplied sovereigns ; and the dividends of the fundholder—the well-secured ground rents of the landed proprietor. The income of the one perishes with the effort by which it has been achieved. Not a single shilling may ever again be obtained from the same source. The hand that applied the brilliant colours with careful and discriminating taste, may become para lysed. The excited brain may have done its work, and the owner become as pitiable an instance of mental incapacity, arising from the over-pressure, as he had once been envied for his extraordinary attainments. They, with their helpless fami lies, may become dependent on the ten der mercies of the Union Workhouse ; the fund that might have made some provision for the emergency being absorbed by the inces sant demands of the insatiable tax-gatherer. Meanwhile the fundholder or the landowner may live up to his full receipts, certain that they will never fail—that he will be comfortably provided for under any physical or mental infirmity, and that the only loss his children can experience at his death is the absence of a " familiar face." The one has in the world but a single 3001. on which he •is taxed ; the other has the 3001. of dividend, and the 10,0001. capital from whence it is derived ; his property being thirty-four times that of the other, and yet with a monstrous ine quality—a total absence of equity—they are charged the same ! ! The system based on such a principle cannot stand. Every effort, then, must be exerted to obtain, if not perfect justice, at least such an approximation thereto as may be practicable. If the people resolve on this it will be accomplished. All that is required is "a long pull, a strong pull, and a pull all together." But any carelessness or apathy in the present instance will be attended with very injurious consequences, and if it do not altogether prevent, it will, at least, Materially retard the accomplishment of the na tional will. That spirit of enterprise and that love of pro gress which are dominant characteristics of the Anglo-Saxon race, were perhaps never more re markably displayed than at the present day, when thousands and tens of thousands are leaving their native shore to seek better fortunes in unknown lands. The emigration which is daily taking place around us is on a scale so enormous as to excite the astonishment of the careful inquirer. Not one of our readers, perhaps, but can, among his own acquaintances, cite numerous examples, con fined to no class or station. Young and old, rich and poor, the idle and the industrious—those who can at home find no work to do, and those who, already well-provided, seek to " better them selves"—all kinds and conditions of men swell the vast concourse which daily throngs the emi grant vessels. They go from a world in which every avenue to advancement is so crowded with eager claimants that only comparatively few can reach the goal. In another, and, as yet, scarcely populated land, they reasonably expect to find that opportunity which is denied them here —not wealth, not ease and relaxation, but oppor tunity of acquiring both the one and the other. This laudable ambition, stimulated by the pres sure of circumstances in many cases, is quite con genial to that adventurous spirit which our people inherit from their ancestors, that same spirit which in early times brought to our shores the warlike Danes, the vigorous Saxons, and the enterprising Northmen—that spirit which has extended the British Empire " far as the breeze can bear the billow's foam," and established our colonies in every quarter of the world, and peopled whole continents with men of English blood, speaking the English language. But, while fostering this spirit of enterprise, let us not forget one important fact. Advancing civilisation brings with it its own responsibilities. In former days, when the sword obtained the territory for the colonist, martial law prevailed among the intru ders, and, obedient to the captain of their choice, they brought to their new settlements the same order and discipline which they had enjoyed at home. Now it is o th erw i se . Feudal tyranny and martial power have at home (riven way to the nobler dominion of law—law which no man is justified in disobeying, seeing that its object is the welfare and protection of all ; and seeing, moreover, that, in this our country, every reasonable man is supposed to have a voice in the making of that law. Whether or no this hypothesi s b e ess justified to the full extent, matters not at the p resent moment. No E ng li s h man will gainsay the bli ngs of that jurisdiction which makes his house his castle, gives him a right to " do what he will with his own," and surrounds his person with a panoply of defence more potdnt than the guard s at the Palace gates. If a so h m a e nd mi i sserraaibsleed outcastagst without home an n o a r n . infantamt name— the the terrors of the law are called forteh withgains the visited death. offender, and the crime is If some trifle is purloi ne d f rom its possessor, a handkerchief or a few stick s o f wood, again do Po li ce an d Magistrate exert all their dilig ence and display all their severity to maintain the sacred rights of property, and to chastise the convicted felon who has been guilty of the theft. Such facts hardly need enumerating. (alas of daily occurrence, they are of the daily press ; but while they give us continual reminders of the They the are standard topic prevalence of crime, they bear also convincing testimony to the vigilance of justice and to the efficacy of the law. We are so accustomed in this country to entrust our lives and goods to the protecting influence of that supervision, that we perhaps hardly estimate the full blessings of the privileges we enjoy.. In order to appreciate it, however, we have only to go with our emigrants beyond the seas. There, nominally, perhaps, English law and liberty exist; but the liberty has degenerated into licence, and the prevalent law is the right of the strong. Side by side with the stories, almost incredible, of gold acquired by the handful in a few hours' labour, are records, also, happily almost incredible in this country, of that same gold being torn from its possessor by stronger hands, with crowds, perhaps, looking on, and not interfering, because such incidents are so com mon ! Weapons there, are as much in use as walking sticks here ; and the prudent housewife will only open her door when she has reconnoitred from the window. Such are the stories which are brought to us from the gold regions ; and, making every due allowance for exaggeration, a fearful picture still remains. We earnestly exhort those in authority to lose no time in procuring for our fellow-subjects in those distant dominions of her MAJESTY the same blessings which the law affords to us here. What avail treasures of gold if they bring robbery and death upon their possessor ? Where are all the advan tages which the friends of emigration so reason ably anticipate, both for this' country and for the colonies, by the happy adjustment of the surplus population, if the first blessings of civilisation are to be denied to the unhappy emigrants? The Government cannot be too prompt and energetic in carrying out some means more effectual than any yet put in practice. The lives and security of thousands depend upon their measures ; and we trust that the present Colonial Secretary, the Duke of NEWCASTLE, will add to his well-esta blished reputation for business habits by leaving the department to his successors in a much better state than he found it. The labour is colossal, but so are the manifold benefits to be achieved ; and the glory to himself will be the proud reflec tion of the vast good his wise policy may have conferred not only on the new world, but on generations yet unborn. • EDUCATION. FROM A CORRESPONDENT.) It is with pleasure we welcome the intentions of the New Ministry on the subject of Education— the hitherto stumbling block of several Adminis trations, and the battle-ground of the bigoted and rancorous of every religious denomination. There are few who will deny that education for the poorer classes on a comprehensive human scale is the most pressing of our social necessities, and that that which is the best moral food during the growth to manhood is withheld from the lips, hearts, and minds of the majority of the children of the poorer classes. The absence of education forms the foundation evil, and is the parent of nearly all the crime and mischief that afflicts and contaminates society. The children of the poorer classes are growing up, in increasing numbers under the tuition of three of- the best professors from the Dark College, Messrs. DIRT, Runs - , and DEATH. Efforts certainly are being , made by the good and true men working on be half of Ragged Schools, but their labours are in significant in comparison with the work to be done, and the speechless cries for help from thou sands of our poorer child-brothers. The annals of our Police Courts—which may with some truth be called the " Annals of the Poor "—foim but the surface-sample of the want, destitution, and crime that lies buried in our great metropolis. We have our hospitals for diseases of the flesh, for the reception of insanity, for the rescue of saddened, fallen women ; but where are the adequate temples and shrines where truth and the nobler influences of humanity are taught to the wretched child of the streets We have prisons, and into . those darksome dens the convicted child is sent— a fine finishing school into which to usher an almost drowned child-soul. The principal causes acting as pre ventives to, the adoption of a noble system of Edu cation are two ; the foremost appears to be the want of sympathy and sincerity between man and man, and the influence of that hideous hydra sec tarianism. It is absolutely necessary that the consciences and hearts of men possessing power and influence be awakened, and the spirit of hate evinced by the sectaries crushed, ere the Gon-like work can in any way be commenced to advantage. We are surprised that the large body of Churchmen and Dissenters, who stand wrangling upon tenets and creeds—like tribes of uneducated Indians, whilst souls are perishing around them, upbraiding them in look and voice, and in many cases cursing Reli gion—have not ere this been put to shame, on viewing the unobtrtisive efforts of a few lowly, manly-hearted men in our worst localities, on be half of their poorer brothers. Little do the Christian wranglers think that while they are quarrelling in which way the work shall be done, they are swelling the ranks of Infi delity, and heaping coals of fire upon their own heads. We would urge the consideration of the follow ing —That the decay and fall of nations has ever commenced from the loss of the love of Truth, Virtue, and the Beautiful, as taught to man in his higher instincts, moral and spiritual capacities. That the small thoughts and aspirations of small men, have been the germ of many of the Hercu lean labours of after-men, who with wiser heads and larger hearts, have given tangible shape and utterance to them—that a few true-hearted and soul-strong men may conquer a nation in thought and feeling. Hit is our wish to keep our England at the head of the nations of the earth—to continue a free, thoughtful nation—a thought-giving, hand and-heart-helping people, to those who are borne down by despotism and Church tyranny, we must urge on the work of Education, not alone for its social benefits to all concerned, not alone as a duty, but as the fulfilment of the dictates of our consciences and hearts. THE FRENCH MAIL.—Up to the hour of our going to press the French mail of yesterday had not arrived. The Lord Chancellor and Lady Cranworth attended divine service on Sunday morning at the parish church of Erith. The duty was performed by the Yen. Arch deacon Smith, who has lately been instituted vicar of Erith by the Archbishop of Canterbury. Lord Wodehouse, the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, is the youngest member of the present Administration, having been born in 1826. His lord ship succeeded to the title on the death of his grandfather, who was for many years lord-lieutenant of the county of Norfolk, which high office was conferred upon him dur ing the Earl of Liverpool's Administration. The present noble Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs married Lady Florence Fitzgibbon, daughter of the present Earl of Clare. • The Right Hon. Edward Strutt, M.P., Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, has appointed his brother-in law, Mr. W. M. James, of the Chancery Bar, Vice- Chancellor of the Duchy. THE SOLITARY SYSTEM. Yesterday afternoon, a lengthened inquiry was held before Mr. Bedford, the coroner for Westminster, 'and a respectable jury, in Milbank Prison, on the body of Thomas Wilkinson, aged twenty, a convict under sentence of transportation, who committed suicide by nearly severing his head from his body with a razor. It appeared that the deceased, described as a cloth-dresser, was, on the 12th July, 1851, convicted of robbery and wounding, and sentenced to twenty years' transportation at the York assizes, pur suant to which sentence, on the 25th of August last, he was received into the above prison, apparently in good health. After being three two months, being ill, he was removed to the infirmary, where in a short time recover ing, he was transferred back to the prison, and placed in separate confinement, to follow the tailoring trade, of which he had some previous knowledge. He never ap peared desponding, or intimated by his demeanour that he meditated self-destruction. On Saturday last, War den Thomas Roach gave him into his cell some shaving tackle, which he left with him while he proceeded along the passage, when on returning he found the cell door shut, and on looking through the signal-hole discovered that the prisoner had nearly severed his head from his body. Dr. Bailey, physician to the prison, said that he considered the act of suicide by the deceased was in duced by the impression on his mind of his length of sentence, and the separate confinement he underwent ?dual gave the opportunity to the prisoners of self-vio lence. The jury, after a few minutes' consideration, re turned the following special verdict :--" That the deceased Thomas Wilkinson destroyed himself by cutti ng hi s th roa t with a razor, while in a state of temporary insanity pro duced by separate confinement." THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, JANUARY 11, 1853. ARRIVAL OF THE AUSTRALIAN. (3Y ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.) The steam-ship Australian, which had been looked for with so much anxiety during the last eight or nine days, arrived this forenoon at Plymouth. All well on board. She left the Cape on the 30th November. Her dates are—Sydney, Sept. 20 ; Melbourne, Sept. 28 ; Adelaide, Oct. 5. ; St. George's Sound, Oct. 19 ; Mauritius, Nov. 15 ; Cape, Nov. 30 ; St. Vincent, Dec. 27. She brings no news of importance from the Cape. She has on board 250 ounces of gold dust, a heavy mail, and many passengers. OXFORD UNIVERSITY ELECTION. SEVENTH DAY.--TWO O'CLOCK. GLADSTONE PERCEVAL 680 Majority for GLADSTONE . COURT CIRCULAR. WINDSOR, JAN. 10. Mr. Thorburn attended at the Castle to-day, by com mand of her Majesty, to take the first sitting for a por trait of her Serene Highness the Princess Adelaide of Hohenlohe. Lord Byron has relieved Viscount Hawarden as Lord in Waiting to the Queen. The Earl of St. Germans had an interview with the Earl of Aberdeen yesterday at his official residence in Downing-street. Mr. John C. King, from Victoria, had an interview with the Duke of Newcastle yesterday at the Colonial office. A deputation, consisting of Mr. R. M. Fox, M.P., Mr. Rolt, M.P., Sr. Herbert Maddock, M.P., Mr. J. H. Brooking, Mr. Robert Gillespie, Mr. Robert Carter, Mr. Robert Lamont, Mr. Robert Gillespie, jun., Mr. J. W. Woolridge, Mr. Wm. Prinsep, and Mr, J. S. Wadeson (solicitor), had an interview with the Right Hon. Edward Cardwell yesterday at the Board of Trade. Lord Dudley Stuart had yesterday an interview with the Duke of Newcastle. Mr. Boyd had also an inter view with his ►race at the Colonial-office. The Lord Advocate of Scotland had yesterday an in terview with the Earl of Aberdeen. Captain Donatus O'Brien, director of convict prisons, is doing the duty of Private Secretary to Sir James Graham, waiting the return from abroad of Captain Henry O'Brien, Royal Artillery. Mr. Caird of Barldorn, had an interview with the Right Hon. Edward Cardwell yesterday at the Board of Trade. The Earl of Aberdeen had a dinner party yesterday at his residence in Argyll-street. Dispatches were received yesterday, at the Colonial office, from the Governors of the West India Islands, and also from the Governor-General of Canada. MIDDLESEX SESSIONS.-(THIS DAY.) VIOLENT ASSAULT UPON A POLICE CONSTABLE. .Tolin O'Brian, 24, pleaded not guilty to an indictment charging him with unlawfully assaulting and beating Thomas Pope, a constable of the metropolitan police force, in the execution of his duty. There were several other counts charging him with doing grievous bodily harm. in w the wta t in n g . t l h t will bs pri soner n Tr e he r mm The to efactst hbee remembered station already rte house,hadepolicemany appearedw hen a scuffle ensued, and the policeman's greatcoat was torn. The constable, however, would not let go his hold of the prisoner, when he deli erately kicked him in the abdomen, in consequence of which the constable had been unable to attend to his duty for some time. The prisoner at the time he com mitted the offence was drunk, but the inspector of police said that the prisoner was not known. The jury found the prisoner guilty of a common as sault ; and the Court sentenced him to be kept in the House of Correction for nine calendar months, with hard labour. SURREY SESSIONS.-(THIS DAY.) AN OLD THIEF CAUGHT AT LAST. Ann .11 f Toy, alias Julia Sullivan, 19, a notorious street thief, was indicted for stealing a silver watch from the person of Joseph Firth. Prosecutor said that on the night of the 3d instant he was passing through Park-street, Borough-market, to wards his home in the Blackfriars'-road, when the prisoner came up and asked him to treat her. He refused to do so, and while he was conversing with her she suddenly pounced in her hand and stole his watch, with which she ran away. Witness pursued her some distance, and saw her throw the watch into the street, just as a constable came in sight, when she was secured. A constable of the M division said he heard cries of " Stop thief" on the night in question, and on turning the corner of Union-street he saw the prisoner running towards him, followed by the prosecutor, who said she had robbed him of his watch. Witness took her into custody, and received the watch from him. In defence, the prisoner denied having the watch in her possession. The jury, without any hesitation, returned a verdict of guilty. A former conviction having been proved against her, the Court sentenced her to ten years' transportation. ROYAL POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTION.—A special•gene ral meeting of the proprietors of this institution was held on Saturday last to determine upon the new by laws in connection with a supplemental charter just ob tained, by which each 100/. share has been converted into ten shares of 10/. each, a holder of two shares having a free admission for himself at all times, the effect of which will no doubt be that the proprietary will be greatly extended, and the institution proportionately benefited thereby. THE LAW OF - DIVORCE.--A very important measure will be introduced into the House of Lords immediately on the re-assembling of Parliament, by Lord Brougham, by which the present tedious system of divorce will be abolished, and a new statute framed, doing away en tirely with the enormous fees which are now paid, thereby bringing the law within the reach of the poor. By the new law, the proceedings in the Ecclesiastical Court, and also the action at law, which are now neces sary, will be abolished. ST. DAVID'S COLLEGE.—The late Mr. Thomas Phil lips, of Brunswick-square, has left by bequest a sum of about 6,000/. for the purpose of founding a professorship of the physical sciences in this college. From a consider able number of candidates, the principal and professors have elected to the office the Rev. Joseph Matthews, M.A., of St. John's College, Cambridge, whose recom mendations are of a very high character. With this handsome bequest Mr. Phillips closed a series of munifi cent donations, which for several years have testified his interest in the colleges of the principality. To his generosity it has been indebted for the enlargement of the library, by the addition of more than 22,000 volumes, including among them many works of costly price and high literary value. A few years before his death he also conveyed to St. David's College, by deed of gift, the sum of 4,800/. to found si x sc h o l ar ships, for th e benefit of natives of Wales and Monmouthshire. DRAMATIC SUCCESS.—There exists in Paris a firm (MM. Louat and Co.), whose professed business is to procure dramatic success by judiciously packing a theatre with " claquers," who steadily applaud a piece for a cer tain number of nights, after which public enthusiasm is accepted as a fait accompli. This firm recently made a treaty with MM. Wcerner, the directors of the Ambigu, by which, in consideration of the sum of B,ooof. paid down, MM. Louat and Co. w er e to receive a certain number of tickets, at greatly reduced prices, for the next two years, it being understood that the persons admitted by these tickets would systematically applaud the per formance. At the end of a month, however, M. Des noyer succeeded MM. Wcerner in the direction of the theatre. The new management repudiated the contract with MM. Louat, who thereupon brought an action to enforce it. This action was dismissed by the Tribunal of Commerce, upon the ground that a treaty, the real ob ject of which was to produce fictitious applause in a theatre, must be considered illegal, and contrary to pub lic order. MM. Louat then sued MM. Wcerner, and M. Desnoyer, as their assignee, for the restitution of B,OOOE, and the French law not going so far as the Eng lish, which will not allow money paid for an illegal pur pose to be recovered, they have succeeded in the latter suit. AUSTRALIAN GOLD--According to Mr. Stirling, the total annual supply of gold to be expected from Australia and California is about 43,000,000/ ; and of that amount he calculates that the annual consumption is about 8,240,0001., leaving a surplus of 34,760,000/. for commei - cial purposes. Now, if the same law regulates the ex changeable value of gold as governs that of other commo dities, it is plain that so great an annual increase of the supply must have a very great effect on prices. Taking for granted that the ordinary estimate of the whole of the gold circulating throughout the commercial world is about 250,000,0001., an annual supply of 34,760,0001., would add upwards of one hundred per cent. to the total amount in seven years, so that, if no disturbing cause interfered, the prices of food and all other com modities might reasonably be expected to double during that period. THE JEWISH PREss.---Eleven years have now elapsed since tue Ango-Jewish periodical press was ushered into existence. Slender was its beginning, and great were Its struggles. The dangers besetting its infancy were neither few nor mean. But as it was the spirit of the age which had called it into life, and as it supplied a deeply-felt want of the community, its vitality was not easily extinguished ; but the delicate, slighted, brow beaten nursling grew and grew, and at last lived to feed its own power—to conquer ground for itself to stand upon —and recognition of its right as a Jewish organ. From a semi-monthly small-sized paper, it became weekly, extending its contracted form into the more portly dimensions of double crown quarto.—Hebrew Chronicle. PARIS THEATRES.—The official return states that the receipts of the Paris theatres, which receive allowances from the Government, were, for the first 11 montlis of 1852, 2,663,871 fr. ; those of the secondary and minor theatres, 5,884,745 fr. The public concerts and balls produced 1,223,849 fr., and the different exhibitions 393,868 fr., making a total of 10,166,336 ft. HILARY TERM. This being the first day of Hilary Term the judges pf the different courts of law and equity and the Queen's counsel breakfasted with the Lord Chancellor, at his re sidence in Upper Brook-street, Bond-street, previously to the opening of the courts at Westminster. They reached the hall, which was crowded by a considerable number of professional and non-professional persons, shortly after two o'clock, and proceeded at once to their respective courts. Since the hall was last vacated by the legal fraternity, there have been three important changes in Chancery, namely, the appointment of Lord Cranworth, formerly one of the Lords Justices, to the highest seat in the judicature of the country, the appointment of Vice- Chancellor Turner to be one of the Lords Justices, in the place of Lord Cranworth, and the appointment of Sir W. Page Wood, Solicitor-General under Lord John Russell's late administration, to the place vacated by Vice-Chancellor Turner. Great curiosity was evinced to see these learned functionaries make their appearance on the bench in their new characters. THE QUEEN'S BENCH. The judges presiding in this court were Lord Camp bell, Mr. Justice Coleridge, Mr. Justice Wightman, and Mr. Justice Crompton. Lord Campbell on entering the Court said—l have the satisfaction to inform the bar and the public, that the judges have this day signed a new body of rules for regulating the practice of the three superior courts of Westminster-hall. They have adopted this plan, which I hope will be generally approved of, viz., to abolish all the written rules, from the earliest times down to the present, and to begin with a tabula rasa to enact a new body of rules for the uniform regulation of all the courts. There is another body of rules, which we have not power, according to the common law authori ties, to at once bring into operation. They have been framed for the purpose of carrying into effect the provisions of the late Procedure Act, and with the view of rendering the administration of justice more speedy and economical. They must first be laid before Parliament ; ,but unless they be disapproved of, they will come into operation in three months. In the other courts of common law nothing of im portance was transacted. STATE OF TRADE. The accounts of the state of trade in the provinces throughout the first week of the new year furnish indi cations of a more uniformly satisfactory kind than have, perhaps, ever before been presented on a similar occa sion. At Manchester the market has been quiet as regards prices, but the business transacted has been large, and chiefly for home wants. The prospects of the market are considered favourable, and holders are firm At Birmingham increasing activity prevails in all de partments, and a further advance is talked of in manu factured iron. The controversy is still kept up as to the existence of undue speculation ; but, supposing such to be the case, the conclusion may be entertained that it cannot be to any very dangerous extent, or the balance of testimony would not be such as to leave the matter in any doubt. Apprehensions, however, are expressed, and perhaps with reason after past experience, that there will soon be a too rapid augmentation of the number of furnaces in Scotland. Tin-plates and copper are also showing a tendency to a further advance. The demand for coal continues to be unpre cedently large, but, the wages of the colliers having been raised to ss. per day, it is hoped that all probabi lity of a strike has been removed. Evidence is fur nished on all sides of the prosperous condition of the people generally, and the poor law returns, as well as those of the savings -banks, provident societies, &c., present very striking results. In the woollen districts the year has Commenced with remarkable animation and great firmness in prices. Among many persons appre hensions appear again to be gaining ground of a short supply of wool, since, even assuming that the Australian shipments, as was the case last season, should show no falling off in 1853, it is contended that, with the rapid increase of demand, a stationary supply is virtually a very deficient one. From Nottingham mention is made of the receipt of large additional orders from Canada, the United States, and South America, and the conviction is stated that there is nothing in the general aspect of monetary affairs to mar the hopes that have been entertained for 1853. In the Irish linen markets the supply of goods has been small, and higher prices have been demanded. MARKET NEWS-(THIS DAY.) COLONIAL. SUGAIL—The market looks firmer, as there is less offer ing. The quantity of British plantation landed last week at the East and West India Docks was 1,183 hhds., 7 tierces, and 187 barrels • there were taken f or h ome con sumption 1,228 hhds ., 60 tierces, and 316 barrels. The stock in the same places is 11,206 hhds., 1,229 tierces, and 2,468 barrels. COME.—This article is steady, and good ord Native Ceylon is wanted at 475, at which there are no sellers. liicE.--490 bags Madras at auction realised 10s to lOs 6d for mid and good Corringa. SPlCES.—Pepper, 901 bags Alepi mostly sold at 3d to 3id for mid and good half heavy greyish mixed. Ginger, 34 cases 29 bags cultivated Madras, sold at 30s to 31s for mouldy. SALTPETRE.—At auction 5,247 bags l3engal, nearly all sold at 275. to 295. 6d. for mid. and good, 8i to 5i per cent.; at 255. 6d. to 265. 6d. for low ord., 204 per cent. refraction. Madras, 333 bags sold at 245. to 245. 6d. for ord., 26i per cent. refraction. ARROW ROOT.-St. Vincents, 244 tins sold at 3d. to 6d. per lb. for ord. to good. Rum.—The quantity landed last week at the East and West India Docks was 193 puns. 33 hhds., there were taken for home consumption 322 puns. 3 hhds., and exported 41 puns. 216 hhds. The stock in the same places is 11,603 puns. 833 hhds. TALLOW.—P.Y.C. is 46s 9d per cwt. on the spot, and Town 47s 9d. TEA.—The market is steady, and, the deliveries increase. HAY MARKETS. SMITHFIELD.—Meadow hay, 2/ 15s to 4/ 2s ; clover ditto, 3/ 15s to 5/ Os ; and straw, 1/ Os to 1/ 12s per load. Trade steady, at full prices. CIIMBERLAND.—Mead ow hay, 2/ 17s to 4/ 4s ; clover ditto, 3/ 15s to 4/ 15s ; and straw, 1/ 6s to 1/ 13s per load. Supply tolerably good, and trade dull. WHITECHAPEL. —Meadow hay, 2/ 15s to 4/ Os ; clover ditto, 3/ 15s to 5/ Os ; and straw, 1/ 5s to 1/ 12s per load. A full average supply, and a steady demand. MR. INSPECTOR FIELD OF THE DETECTIVE POLICE. — This active officer has had the satisfaction to receive from Sir Richard Mayne, C. 8., her Majesty's Commis sioner of Metropolitan Police, a first-class certificate of good conduct, and from the late Government, a pension of 1261. per annum. An annuity so liberal, together with the property which Mr. Field has been fortunate enough to save during twenty-four years hard service, will enable him to live comfortable the remainder of his days. We are, however, glad to learn that the Inspec tor's experience is not to be altogether lost to the com mercial and railway world, and that these two important bodies are likely, by Mr. Field's suggestions and advice, to be saved from numerous " robberies and depredations" on their respective exchequers. The C o mmander-in-Chief of Portsmouth, Vice-Admiral Sir Thomas Cochrane, K.C.8., was married on Saturday morning to Miss Rosetta Wheeler Cuffe, daughter of Sir Wheeler Cuffe, Bart., of Lyroth, county Kilkenny, and niece of the late Earl of Mayo. MYSTERIOUS SUICIDE.—On Thursday afternoon last a gentleman arrived at the Peahen Inn, St. Albans, from the Watford station of the London and North-Western Railway. He ordered a private room, stating that he had a considerable amount of writing to do. After his dinner, which he had about five o'clock, he asked for a postage stamp, and walked out, it is supposed to post a letter. He retired to rest about ten o'clock, and the fol lowing morning, at nine o'clock, the chambermaid went into his room with a letter, directed, " Mr. Bowden, Peahen Inn, to be delivered immediately," and asked if it was his. He replied, " Oh, no, no, no," and added that he should lie a little long er . Hi s room door was open then, but about twelve o'clock, finding that he did not come down, she went to his door again, and found it fastened. She knocked several times, but receiving no answer, an entrance was effected into the room, when the unfortunate gentleman was discovered to have com mitted suicide by cutting his throat. An inquest was held on Friday evening, before Mr. R. G. Low, coroner, but adjourned, with a view of procuring evidence as to the deceased's identity, as he was quite unknoWn to any one in St. Albans. The deceased was a man of gentlemanly appearance and manners, was well dressed in mourning, and had a band of crape round his hat. He was upwards of six feet high, and was a remarkably handsome man, with dark hair, and whiskers meeting under his chin. Beneath the lining of his hat was writ ten, " Bailey, August 12, '52," with the letters "H. W. D." written above. The inquest was adjourned. STABBING IN MANCHESTER. —It is with unfeigned re gret that we have observed of late an increase in the cowardly and ruffianly use of the knife amongst the lower classes -of Manchester and Salford. Scarcely a week has passed over of late without Some brutal assault of this character being brought under the cognizance of the magistrates. On making inquiries, we find that in these cases there have usually been intoxication and quarrelling ; and the instrument with which the offence committed had not a sharp-pointed blade, like the was stiletto, poignard, or bowie knife—so that it does not seem to have been carried for purposes of violence, but to be a broad-bladed strong clasp-knife, chiefly used for cutting provisions, and commonly called a " junk knife" —a knife to cut lumps or thick pieces. This is so far a circumstance in mitigation, as indicating an instrument not carried specially for unlawful purposes. Still, as almost every working man carries a knife of this sort, which, under the influence of irritation and intemper ance, becomes at once a deadly weapon, there seems the more need to repress the abuse of it. On various occa sions, at the assizes for this county, the judges have deemed it necessary to declare, in their opening charges t o grand juries, and in their sentencing of prisoners con victed of this unmanly offence of stabbing, that they felt it necessary, from the great increase of this crime i n Lancashire, to visit it with the heavi es t pun i shment which the law would allow. Accordingly, the sentences in some cases have been justly heavy ; but this fact is one which does not sufficiently reach the knowledge of the ignorant and disorderly classes,_ who supply th e g reat majority of these delinquents. — Manchester (Mardian. MONEY AND COMMERCIAL NEWS. CITY, Two o'CLocit. The sales of Cotton at Liverpool yesterday were estimated at 6,000 bales, of which 500 American were taken for export. The market closed heavily. The sales comprised 5,000 American, 220 Perham and Maranham, at bid. to 6id. ; 200 Egyptian, at 5/d. to Bd. ; 300 Surat, at 34yd. to 4-id. ; and 20 Sea Islands, at 2s. 2d. to 2s. 6d. per lb. Railway Shares were quiet. The failure which was announced on 'Change yesterday afternoon, of the firm of .Collman and Holsterfoht, long connected with the United States, and well known in the cotton trade, has excited a marked sensation, the liabilities being estimated at 300,0001. This appears a very formidable amount on paper, but the actual loss to the creditors may, after all, not be large, inasmuch as the firm is said to have a surplus ca pit a l of 40,0001., after meeting all liabilities except the forgeries of Mr. Preis, which are said to amount to 80,000/. or 90,0001. It is a lamentable circumstance that a respectable firm should, by the delinquency of one firm, be involved so seriously • but it appears that Mr. Preis was an intimate friend of many years' stand ing with the managing partner of the house, and this will account for the extraordinary confidence displayed. A branch house exists at Liverpool, doing an extensive busines s , similar to th e concern in London, and the London firm was joined by a partner eighteen months ago, the son of one of our eminent brewers, with a capital of 25,000/. The author of all this mischief, as our Mansion House report will show, has defrauded other firms, and as the whole pro ceeds seem to have been lost in corn speculations, and the sales of cargoes received were known to be made at a heavy loss, it is unlikely there is any " purse" or property to which the houses that have been defrauded can look for indemnification. The speculations supposed to be for the French Government, may not, very possibly, turn out to be entirely Mr. Preis's. We presume he did hope to get clear with some very large amount, at the first favourable opportunity. Other houses may suffer, but no test of the real state of trade is to be derived from this unfortunate affair. Commerce, generally, was seldom more prosperous ; and, except in iron, and perhaps grain, there was rarely less speculation. The Mexican accounts, from Mr. Falconnet, al though reading better, do not seem to have inspired much confidence. A new loan on the security of the Clergy property would no doubt be useful. There is a very weak market for English Secu rities, and prices have been about per cent. lower. Consols have been brought to market rather freely now about to . For the at 100 i to g, being settling day the same quotations have ruled. Bank Stock is still rising, having touched 225 and 226. It is now apparent that the Corporation is expected to make better profits with the advance in the rate of discount. The New 3f per Cents. have been marked 1041 to 11 ; and the Three per Cents., 101 to A- ; Exchequer Bills are 675. to 70s. premium, and India Bonds, 78s. to 81s. premium, being about the former rates. In Foreign Stocks there is no elasticity. Th e Turkish Loan has sunk to to premium ; Mexi can Bonds are 23i to ; Grenada, 12i ; and Equad or, 5i ; Portuguese Converted have been at 42/ this is for the Five per Cents. ; Spanish De ferred are 23-i ; Belgian Four-and-a-Half per Cents. have realised 981 and 99 ; and Dutch Two-and-a- Half per Cents. have fluctuated from 66 to 67. In the Railway Share Market there have been moderate dealings, but prices generally have given way a little. The lines best supported are Cale donian and York and North Midland. Eastern Counties are also rather steady. The French Shares ,are quite neglected, and merely nominal. Upper India Scrip keeps at g premium. The Gold Mine Shares have been much less dealt in, and are all the turn lower. The South Australian Copper Mines are steady, but there is scarcely anything doing in them. The Australian Agricultural Shares have fallen as low as 263, but they are now up again nearly 101. per Share. The South Australian also, after being down to 67, have rallied to 701, the arrival of the steamer being likely to solve the doubt as to the discovery of gold there to any extent. BRITISH FUNDS THIS DAY. (From the Official List.) Business done. Bank Stock 3 per Cent. Reduced Annuities... ...... 3 per Cent. Consols Annuities New 31 per Cent. Annuities....... ...... Long Annuities, Expire sth Jan., 1860 6s i Ditto 30 Years, Expire 10th Oct. 1859 Ditto 30 Years, Expire sth Jan., 1860 6l 3-16 India Bonds, £lOOO 7B 81 Consols for Opening 18th January Exchequer Bills laid. March. June. £lOO0.. £5OO 67 70 Small 67 70 PRICE OF FOREIGN FUNDS THIS DAY. Brazilian Bonds, 5 per Cent. Ditto New, 1852, 4i per Cent 99 8i Equador Bonds si Grenada Bonds, Deferred, ____ Mexican 3 per Cent... ' 23s Ditto for the Account, Peruvian Deferred 3 per Cent 64 Portuguese 5 per Cent. _ Ditto Converted, 5 per Cent., 1841 Ditto 4 per Cent 4 4gl Russian Bonds, 5 per Cent. Ditto 4i per Cent..... Spanish Bonds, 3 per Cent 49 x d Ditto New Deferred, 3 per Cent .... ... . Spanish Committee Cert. of Coup. not fun 4 p c Turkish Loan, 6 per Cent., 1852 g i p Belgian Bonds, 4'A per Cent. Ex. 25fr oBi 9 Dutch Exchange 2i per Cent 664 7 x d Ditto 4 per Cent. Certificates. THREE O'CLOCK. Consols for Opening 18th January look k ex al. THE CONSERVATIVE LAND SODIETT.—At the first bal lot for right of choice on the Society's estates, on the Bth instant, at the offices in Norfolk-street, one hundred unexempted shareholders in Middlesex, Surrey, Hert fordshire, Kent, Essex, Suffolk, Sussex, Herefordshire, Berkshire, Nottinghamshire, 'Warwickshire, and Derby shire, were fortunate in the drawing, and will shortly have to select their allotments. Fifty shareholders have the same privilege by seniority of membership, besides one hundred completed shareholders. THE SPRING ENTRIES.—The various lists of entries for the spring handicaps present a most cheering pros pect for the coming season. The entries are the largest that have ever been known, and the increase in some of them is very great indeed. Almost every horse in training in the country is engaged, and a good many that are in training out of the country figure amongst the entries. In eighteen stakes, the entries for which have been published, there is an aggregate increase of no less than two hundred and nine horses above the number in the same stakes this time last year. The entry for the Chester Cup comprises six aged horses, nine six year olds, thirty-five five year olds, eighty-nine four year olds, and seventy-eight three year olds.— Racing Times. PRAYERS FOR FINE WEATHER.—Notice was given out on Sunday morning, from the pulpits of the several Ro man Catholic places of Divine worship in the metropoli tan district, that his Eminence the Cardinal Archbishop Wiseman had given directions for certain prayers to be publicly sung and said after the usual public offices of the church for the cessation of rain and stormy weather, which -vas, from its long continuance, threatening serious injury, in addition to the damage already sus tained in various parts of the country, and the shocking disasters at sea. These prayers for fine weather are to be continued until further orders are promulgated by the Cardinal for their cessation. PASSENGERS LANDING IN THE SOUTHAMPTON DOCKS FROM FOREIGN PARTS.—The following is a return of the number of passengers who have landed in the Southamp ton Docks by the various lines of steamers from differ ent parts of the world during the year 1852 :—From all parts of India and China, via Alexandria, 1,236 passengers, 70 distressed British subjects, and 6,060 packages ; from the Levant, including Constantinople, Smyrna, and Malta, 366 passengers, 80 dist resse d B r i t i sh ' subjects and 1,739 packages ; from Gibralt ar , Cadiz, Lisbon, Oporto, and Vigo, 1,258 passen gers, 327 distressed British subjects, and 5,289 packages ; from the West Indies, 1,553 passengers, 269 distressed British subjects, and 7,162 packages ; from the Brazils, 739 passengers, 46 distressed British sub jects, and 3,639 packages ; from the United States, 233 passengers, 12 distressed British subjects, and 700 Pack ages ; from Maderia, 169 passengers, 17 distressed British subjects, and 902 pack ages ; from Jersey an d Guernsey, 12,725 passengers, 450 distressed British subjects, and 27,953 packages ; from France via Havre, 6,060 passengers ; 225 distressed British subjects, and 13,988 packages—making a total of 25,346 p as sengers ; 1,505 distressed subject s ; and 67,882 package - s . The dis tressed British subject s represent chiefly ahipwrecke d sailors, &c. The returns of the general passenger - tra ffic flowing into this rapidly increasin g port show a larg e and constant increase, and th e add it Good Hope and I n di an lines of communication (to be maintained by th e G eneral Screw Steam Company)' together with th e establishment of an em i g rant depo t, a line of ste amers to Australia, and a genera l Oriental extension of operatio ns on t h e part of the Peninsu l ar and of Company, w ill , i t i s anticipated, au gment the number e passengers landing at the por t in a very i m portant d gree du r i ng 1853 and the succeedintr ars. be remarked AUSTRALIAN AND CAPE WOOLS. it y and fluctuations to as a singular feature of the c hanges th which inatnthlse which our commercial relationsr imports of Australian and Ca pe nqdlb' a total importation of only amounted to 97,-- . 13,634,6671 b., had, e wools, su t supply from Australia weight of 47,626, 7081 b. in 1851, increased to the enormous alone (41 810 1171 b.) mo re than half of the entire , , imports of the Unite Kingdom in that year. ANOTHER OVERFIA ) FLOW O F THE THAMES, &c.—Yester day afternoon, shortlybefore high water time, owing to the excessive showers of rain which have fallen durin g the the water ran off the hills abo ve bridge in such p ast few ". va st daye 'bodies, as to cause the river Tha mes again to overflow its banks in many places, which, as may be supposed , did a considerable am ount of damage, to say nothing of the inconvenience occasioned thereby. DRb r RY-LANE. Last night, " her Majesty s servants" performed for the first time a new five-act play, entitled Gold. Drury lane, it appears, is now professedly handed over to the domestic drama, and if Mr. Smith finds this innovation to be a better mode of filling his benches than clinging to the " legitimate," we cannot quarrel with his choice, though we think it would be better to plunge boldly into the gulf than advance by slow and timid steps, such as that of last night. Gold is essentially in character and construction one of those dramas which we have been in the habit of associating with the Surrey and Victoria stage, but without the broad, unmitigated features which give those productions so much zest and flavour. The incidents and the dialogue have been slightly toned down for the taste of a cispontine audience, and the appella tion of "five-act" which has been applied to it, gives it a farther claim to be considered legitimate. It is intended, so far as we can judge, to develope the dramatic theory of Australian emigration, but the plot itself, without the modern and contemporary features which are introduced into it, is as old, we may almost say, as the first melodrama. George Sandford, a young Berkshire farmer, ruined by the repeal of the corn laws and wheat at 40s. a quarter, resolves to mend his fortunes by emigrating to Australia. He is madly in love with Susan Merton, his cousin, who, however, pro mises fidelity until his return, which is not to take place until he has amassed one thousand pounds, and he sails, leaving her in charge of his brother William. In the third act we rejoin him in Australia, in company with one Robinson, who was introduced to us in England avowedly as a thief, and bodily carried off before our eyes by two officers of justice, but who in Australia -- wonderful effects of convict discipline —we find transformed not only into an honest man, but to a leader and lawgiver. Shortly after their arrival the discovery of gold in Australia takes place, and, as might be ex pected, George Sandford at once makes his fortune by the discovery of an immense " nugget," with the pro duce of which both at once embark for England, where they arrive just in the nick of time. Early in the first act we had been introduced to a Mr. Meadows a " respectable" corn-facto r , w h o , b y var i ous mutterings and "aside" speeches, makes us aware that he ispeorge's ...--'' rival for the hand of Susan, and who, immediately the .` coast is cleared by the departure of the favoured one, commences operations both by open siege and secret un dermining. Mr. Meadows is the villain of the piece—in ~ top-boots and a buttoned-up coat, and therefore we are not surprised to find him intercepting letters and practising ' other stratagems, which, however, on the principle that all is fair in love, are but venial after all. How nearly he succeeds may be inferred from the fact, that he and Susan are on their way to church to get married when George arrives, an unexpected event, whi c h, to all appearances, would have utterly destroyed the well-laid plans of the corn-factor. Not at all, however ; that gentleman was a greater villain than we took him for. When George and Robinson proceed to display their ready cash, the product of the nugget and sundry private washings of Robinson's, they discover to their horror that they have been robbed, and instead of being the possessors of some 10,000/. are pennyless and rui ne d. Of course , this at once makes matters as bad as before, and Meadows is again triumphant, until a, Deus ex machind appears in the shape of a magistrate, who, with some slight help from the electric telegraph, makes it apparent that Meadows is the thief ; and the result is that Susan is at last assigned to her rightful suitor, and all ends happily. It is but fair to say that the actors made the best of this well-worn story. Mr. G. Davenport played the young far mer with much ability, and Miss Vining was an admirable representative of the not very clearly or strongly-drawn Susan. Mr. H. Wallack, as Robinson, had much to do, • and achieved, perhaps, the most decided success of any. Mr. E. Stirling played Isaac Levi—the most incompre hensible character in the piece—a benevolent Jew, who walks about as a sort of fairy, setting everything right when it goes wrong, paying people's debts to save them from going to prison—turning up suddenly in Australia, apparently for the purpose of delivering scientific lec tures for the benefit of the diggers ; and, lastly, appear ing again in England to assist in the conviction of Mea dows. Mr. Levi is a very scientific man indeed throughout the piece he is continually delivering lectures on ethnology, mineralogy, geology, and winding up with a somewhat facetious dissertation on the moral and scien tific advantages of the electric wires as applied to the " snaring" of criminals. Indeed science is pretty plenti' fully scattered through the dialogue. Mr. Robinson seems to be perfectly .up to the marks of genuine g old, —quartz, mica, iron pyrites, and granite formations are as " familiar in his mouth as household words." Though it fell somewhat fiat last night on the ears of the audience, we think that, as a melodrama, Gold wilt have a pretty fair success. The scenery and other ac cessories are all good —a scene in the fourth act which is stated in the bills to be an attempt to realise a scene at the diggins, on the banks of the river Mac - quarrie was well managed, and will of itself be a great attraction, as everything was done to make it natural and effective. Indeed, this part of the piece was in every way the strongest and most successful. Despite some i slight manifestations of disapprobation, the pl a y wa , r a announced for further repetition. ,k STRAND THEATRE. The tragedian, James Anderson, having entered into a brief engagement with the lessee of this theatre, appeared hero for the first time last evening, in the , character of Claude Melnotte, supported by Miss Fanny. Moxant as Pauline, and Mrs. Brougham as Madame Deschappelles. He was most warmly received, and re-. peatedly applauded throughout his performance, which it is needless to say was very spirited. After the Lay of Lyons there was produced a new and original operetta, by Robert Stopel, entitled The Sentinel ; being an episode in Napoleon's campaign in Austria in 1814, cleverly dramatized by Dion Boucicault. The scene is laid in a village in Germany, where all the rustics are celebrating the marriage of Lucie, the miller's daughter, to Andre, a soldier of the French army which has overrun the neighbouring country. Andre happens to have been placed as sentinel on a bridge close to the mill three weeks ago, and, being still unrelieved, he sticks to his post with the tenacity of one of the Old Guard, the attractions of his bride and the pleasures of the honeymoon not being strong enough to divert him from his martial duty. The marriage ceremony takes place in view of his sentry-box—an inverted water butt —and he passes the night cold comfortlessly on the bridge. The festivities of the villagers are diversified hY the arrival of their patron, the Count, who is a general in the Austrian army, and who claims their protection from the French enemy. He has succeeded in depriving one of Napoleon's aide-de-canips of some dispatches, which he wishes to convey to the Austrian head-qu ar ters, but the only road open to him is that to Presbury, which is guarded by Andre. It is agreed that Lucie shall en deavour to draw him aside to allow the 'Count to pass, and failing in this, that her unhappy bridegroom shall be shot. The promise of a sweet embrace from his newly made wife is too much for the soldier ; he tempo rarily leaves his position, and the strategem is suc cessful. The Count, however, is intercepted by a picket of guards, and retreats back again, when Andre threatens his life if he does not surrender. The villagers are aroused, and are disposed to immolate the sentry, in order to procure the release of the Count ; but the latter delivers ;up the stolen dispatches, which turn out to be a proclamation of peace under the sign manual of the Emperor himself. Of course all ends happily. The piece is very nicely constructed, and the way in which it is placed on the stage does credit to the taste of the management. Miss Rebecca Isaacs, in the part of Lucie, is the only prominent actor in the operetta; but she is afforded an excellent scope for the display of her vocal powers, which are of a rather high order. Several pretty ditties, introduced into the characte were sung by her with much sweetness and av izna o t ri . The music does not make much pretensionswitioie, the nality, but it is light and pleasing. -A 8 production was eminently successful. -----o. The suspension that STOPPAGE OF AN EMINENT Ill S of Messrs. Collmann announced this morning was great respectability, and Stolterfoht, a mercantile firm ,bou 300,000/. The event with liabilities amounting to _.`.. a series of frauds and for has been occasioned s olely DY in connexion with which then' , genies committed uP° ll ,, m erchant of Crosby-hall-ohm:a l:Theo mansion -house, and remanded. Mr. Robert F. P ries ' ' c orn transactions, has been ex dr d i a n v t ' a b m er i s n , e e d n y g e a s g t e e rnsa,or'botained by him from Messrs. Collmann stated to have reached a total of u erf ss o u ht; /. and, with the exception of these ad ere made upon forged bills of lading and which w documents, the firm was in a prosperous state, aa T bn h od e u v ts a t r Bo i Ol o t, 000 vances, capital of about 40,000/. It is hoped, there with a t the loss to the creditors will not be serious. fore, that extent of the delinquencies with which Pries The entire be charged is not yet known, but it appeared, from will police examination yesterday, that two other houses the suffered to the extent respectively of 9,000/. and have 18,0001. other Tee BRANDY. Since April last the price of brandy in France has experienced a rise of 75 per cent.—namely, from 4s. 3d. to 7s. 6d. per gallon ; and the quantity bought for this country between October and the p r esent time has been larger than at any former period. Th e difference in the quantity imported during th e m onth ending the sth o f D ecember would alone amount, in money value, as compared with the corresponding month of 1851, to little short of 150,000/. DEPARTURES FOR AUSTRALIA. —The departures from the port of London for the Australian colonies during the past week consisted of two vessels to Syd n ey, of an aggregate burd en o f 1 ,202 tons ; one to Victoria, of 25 4 tons ; one to Adelaide, of 343 tons ; and one to Law' ceston, Van Diemen's Land, of 670 tons. SALE OF PAINTINGS. —Yesterday a number of modern pictures belonging to the estate of Louis Philippe were sold by au c ti on at Paris. The collection was on the whole by no means a choice one, but there were a few' pictures of real merit by Leopold Robert Coignet, an d some others of th e F rench school. The gem of the col lection was "A Neapolitan mother and child sitting 03c ; the ruins of their house, destroyed by an earthquakel.n. The collecti on o f t h e Duchess of Orleans will be on view_ on Saturday an d Sunday next, and the sale will ta ke place on the Monday after.