The Sun. — London, England, 1853-12-10 00:00:00

AMICABLE LIFE ASSURANCE SOCIET Y, No. 50, FLEET STREET. MEMBERS,—Attend at the Special General Court to be held on Wednesday next, the 14th instant, at Five tainutes before One o'clock precisely. First —Elect your own Chairman Secondly—Decide if the representatives of the public Press ought or ought not to be present at year General Courts. Thirdly —Appoint a Committee from the general body to examine into tae state of your affairs and the management thereof. ONE OF YOUR. ELVES. December 10th, 1853. TREATER ROYAL DRURY-LANE, Lessee, Mr. E. T. Smith. TIIIS EVENING, Dsc. 10, The GREAT AMERICAN EQUESTRIANS will exhibit their . astonishing ' , eats, stomached in the history of such Performances , assisted by the unit renowned Gymnastic Artistes, 0. Dale and Barnes, the European ant American champions. To rencier the termination of the Equestrian Season equal Herr in a tt ract i o n to its commencement, Mr. T Smith has engaged Rengler, the most accomplished Tight-Rope Dancer in the World. Mons. De.saire's Troupe of Performing Dogs and ?donkeys every Evening. Reduced Prices as usual. THEATRE. ROYAL, HAYMARKET. Under the management of Mr. Bnekstone. THIS EVENINg, DEC. 10, Will be performed THE HOPE OF THE FAMILY Characters by Messrs Compton, Chipperidale, and Buckstone ; Miss E. Grey, and Mrs. Fltzwllliam. To be followed by A PRETTY PIECE OF BUSINESS. Cha racters by Messrs. Rowe and Buckstoue ; Miss Reynolds and Mrs. Fitzwilllaria. To conclude with ANY PORT IN A STORM. Characters by Misses E. Ormonde and Featherstone. ROYAL PRLNCESS'S THEATRE, OXFORD-STREET. - ender the Management of Mr. CHAstrs KLAN. THIS EVENING, Dsc. 10, Will be performed THE LANCERS; or, The Gentleman's Son. Principal characters by Messrs. Meadows, Ryder, Everett, H. Mellon, and D. fish'er ; Mrs. Winstanley, Miss Daly, and Mies C. Leclercq• To be forowed by MARCO SPADA. Supported by Messrs. W. Lacy, J. Chester, Graham, Ryder, and Everett; Misses Heath and C. Lsclercq. LYCEUM THEATRE. Under the Management of Madame Vestris. THIS EVENING, Dsc. 10. Will be performed A BACHELOR OF ARTS. Characters V Idessrs. C. Mathews, F. Matthews, and Baker; is F. Hughes. After which, THE COMMENCEMENT OF A BAD FARCE which, however (it is hoped), will. in the end, ilcw How TO !JAKE HOME HAPPY. Principal character by Mr. Wright. To be followed by A NICE FIRM. Principal characters by Messrs. G. Mathews, F. Illattlievirs, and Mrs. F. Matthews. To conclude with WRIGHT AT LAST. TiIEATRE ROYAL .."..DELPET.I. , :ropr i a tok, Air. B. Webster: —Direete,a3, MaJame Celeste. TaIS EVENING, DEC. 10, will be performed TUB TIIIRST OF GOLD ; or, The Lost Ship. Characters by Messrs. B. Webster, P. Bedford, and Keeley ; and Madame Celeste. After which, THE CAMP AT CHOBLIAM> To conclude with COMING OF AGE. ROYAL OLYMPIC THEATRE. Lessee and Manager, yr. A Wigan. THIS EVESENTG, DEC. 10, Will be performed PLOT AND PASSION. Principal characters by Mr. F. Robson and Mrs. Stirling. To be followed by THE CAMP AT THE OLYMPIC. Charac ters by Messrs. A. Wigan, Emery, F. Robson, Cooper, and Galli ; Mesdames A. Wigan, Stirling, P. Ilortmi, Chatterley, E. Turner, and Wyndham. To conclude with THE WANDERING MINSTREL. STRAND THEATRE. fk)le Lessee, Mr. F. W. Allcroft.—Directress, Miss Rebecca Isaacs. THIS EVENING, DEc.lO, Will be performed GUY MANNERING. Julia Mannering by Miss Rebecca Isaacs. After which, A PET OF TOE PUBLIC. Mademoisele de Laney (the Pet of the Public), Miss Rebecca Isaacs. to conclude with TEE FEMALE .MASSARONI or, 'the Fair Brigands 11! ASTLEY'S EU ROPE'S NATIONAL AMPHITHEATRE Levee and Manager, Mr. W. Cooke, Extraordinary No , elty. Sixth Appearance of Mr. W. Cooke's won droas TitAINr:D ELEPHANTS, and sixth Night f the New CHINESE SP , CT ACLE, Grand comoinistion of Equestrian Talent in the Arena. THIS EVENING, DEC. 10, Will be presented (on a scale of magnificence surpassing all former efforts) an entirely original ,ippo-Dramatic chin Spectacle, in Three Acts, with new and splendid scenery, cos urn st, and appoint rams, written expressly by the popular author, Mr. G ALMAB, to introduce those wonder of wonders, Mr William Cooke'-‘ Trained Elephants, an..l embodying the immen-e resources of this Esta blishment, entitled THE WIsE EL EP HAN FS OF THE EAST; ftr, The Magic Gong. In the course of t is gorgeous Spectacle the Singular cust ms, costumes, and ace lery of this country (China) Will be vividly portrayed, ant the marvellous fears of :he Elephants (hitherto unattempted tram their apparent impossibility of achieve ment until witnessed) will, it is trusted, render the Drama an un rivalled production in this Theatre. - - • ---- • Followed by Mr. Wm. Cooke's matchless scenes of the ARENA, by unequalled artistes. - - Supported by Mr. ALFIZED COOKE and the Elite of European Equestrian Talent, including Six popular Clowns. Concluding with (Last Night) JUPITF.II.'S DECREE; Or, The Fall of Phaeton. • - - Box-olllee open from Eleven till Font'. Stage Manager, Mr. W Weal. DAILY WEATHER TABLE. SATURDAY, DEC. 10, 1853. taa of the wind and weather at each of the following places "at nine o'clock yesterday morning. The stations are atmeged in order of latitude. TIINERIDGE—N., gentle breeze—partially cloudy. G B EENWICH—N.W., gentle breeze—partially cloudy. STROOD—N.E., light breeze—cloudless. CAMBRIDGE—N., gentle breeze--cloudless. The returns from the following places indicate the state of the weather on Thursday morning at nine o'clock : LIMERICK—E., calm—overcast. MULLINGAR—N.W., calm—partially cloudy. FOLKESTONE--N., calm —overcast. CAmErIDGE—S., foggy. YARMOUTH—S.W., gentle breeze—cloudless. HIGU WATEii, AT LONDON BRIDGE. Tuts DAY —Morning 4 min.after 10 I Evening 37 min.aft. 10 To-Moaaow—Morning 8 min.after 11 1 Evening 38 mln.nft. 11 OFNICR, Dec. 10. TEIERMOMETETI, IN THE SHADE. 47—'nighest since noon yesterday. 40—loweq this morning and during the night. 42—this day at noon. BAROMETER, 30'28. WIND, E.N.E.—Moderate breeze, an 1 fine weather. ~~~~ y t ; §2lll, LONDON, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 10, 18G3. A Protocol signed on the sth instant at Vienna has—recording to the Monitevr—established a perfect accord between the Four Great Powers of Europe, between France, Austria, Prussia, and Great Britain. Henceforth, if w e may credit the flattering assurances of the organ of the Tuileries, there can be no further fear of a divi sion among the principal states of Christendom. Good. If accurate as a prediction—which we very ranch question by-the-way ! We have the political history of the last half-dozen years before us too vividly not to hesitate in receiving with entire credulity a statement of this character—a character as startling as it is extraordinary. The intimation of the faithfulness of the Vienna Cabinet to this new compact, we cannot but swal low clini gran() sali,i, and with a wry face of ac knowledged hesitation. • Why, we all know per fectly well the tendency of the Austrian policy of late, and the rut of obligation into which the wheels of the car of the Kaiser has dropped since the Uungarian war of independence was crushed by the t aeon. of GoRGEY and the overwhelming weight ' 7ll the Cossack hordes under PASKIRWITCH. It is preposterous, therefore, to count with this implicit confidenc e upon the sincerity of these declarations made by the Ministers of the Imperial master of Schoennbru iln. Nevertheless, even supposing the good faith of these latest promises on the part of Austria to b e s atisfactorily established—it has still to be.shown by events whether the boasted re alliance of the Four p olders can in any way h e productiv© of P; diploma tie settlement of theit,Zl„, ur by .k-1 a - L3li difficulty —a difficulty so long protracted that it has be come more than ever involved in a deplorable and scarcely extricable complication. Why, in the name of common sense, should so many fair hopes be built upon so shadowy , unstable a found s _ tion ? Having failed so repeatedly and so egre giously in their former negotiations, is it rational for the Four Powers to expect that for that very reason we are to repose the utmcst credence in the efficacy of their last, desperate, sup plemental endeavour ? Because the Note of the Vienna Conference was abortive to an extent dis graceful to the reputation of modern diplomacy for ability, and astuteness—are we to believe, with unthinking and uninquiring credulity, that the new project will be in any respect happier in its consequences than its notorious predecessor ? The notion is preposterous. Especially, remem bering that now the CZAR has to redeem his THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 10, 1853. military position, he has to vindicate the tarnished reputation of his soldiers for valour, and of his captains for generalship. Haughty and arrogant as is the disposition of the Emperor NICHOLAS, it is not to be imagined that his ambition can be at once extinguished, that his demands can be thrust back upon his statesmen, that his armies can be compelled to withdraw from the Principalities— on the morrow of a disgraceful defeat—and simply in obedience to the portentous fact that on the sth instant the Four contracting Powers signed a formal Protocol. Stung by a sense of his own blundering, wounded by repeated discomfitures, irritated by the dignified calmness of the opposition presented to his diplomacy and his warlike• arma ments by the Turkish Government, NICHOLAS is not exactly in the mood rendering it probable that he will retire before the wave of four goosequills, in the hands of four bungling and stammering Plenipotentiaries. Besides —whatever may be insisted upon by the organs of ABERDEENISM_... the AUTOCRAT has recently betrayed more and more plainly his resolve to listen to no further negotiations. However, one result we do believe may be brought about by this redoubtable Protocol. The war m ay be reduced to the dimensions of a Wal lachian campaign. The Four Great Powers of Europe may be guarded from the dangers of a struggle w ith th e C ZAR i n b e half of the integrity of the Ottoman dominions. But, will such a result as this, of our boasted diplomatic negotiations, be creditable to the Allied Govern ments of the Northern and Western States of Christendom ? We think not. We believe that it must weigh like a crime upon the conscience of those hitherto magnanimous races—resulting in come inevitable and appalling retribution. Proof, more conclusive than any adduced before the Commissioners, has just been given of the im perative necessity for a sweeping Reform of the Corporation of the City of London. It has been positively asserted that the leading merchants of the British Metropolis deliberately abstained from taking any part in the proceedings of the Muni cipality in consequence of the mode in which they were carried on ; and it is deeply to be regretted that such a statement should have been so fully justified within so short a time after it had been put forward. But so it is. Mr. Deputy BENNOCH, one of the most intelligent, independent, and efficient members of the Common Council—one who has for eight successive years honourably and ably discharged the duties of his situation, and more than justified the choice of his fellow-citizens--has deemed it essential to the maintenance of his character to resign the trust confided to his charge in to the hands of those by whom he was selected. The temperate and able address in which the Honourable Gentleman announces his inten tion will be found in another part of this day's impression. It contains intrinsic evidence that the result has not been arrived at without consi derable pain, and that it is with deep regret the Honourable Gentleman has at length felt himself compelled to sever—let us hope only for a short period—the connexion from which so much benefit has resulted to the Electors of the Ward of Crip plegate-within, and so much honour to himself. Mr. BENNOCH was a consistent, straight forward, and energetic Reformer. The posi tion in which he was placed enabled him to investigate the various abuses that have sprung up during many successive genera tions, and a sense of duty to those by whom he was selected prevented him from conniving at their continuance. On every occasion he was ready, not merely to denounce the evil, but to offer an adequate remedy, whichhis sound practical common sense and indefatigable industry enabled him to devise and maturely to consider. He spared no thing. requiring attention and amendment. His exertions were not devoted to the interests of a clique or party by whom he would gladly have been chosen as a leader, if he would have accepted the position. No, the general good, that which would prove most beneficial to all—to the non freemen as well as to the freemen of the metro polis, was what he ever held steadily in view, and from which he never suffered any inducement to divert his attention for a single moment. This honourable independence excited animosity. This led to frequent annoyance to the man, who was too much in the habit of blurting out inconve nient truths at inconvenient times, who could not, under any circumstances, be turned from the straightforward course. Mr. BENNOCH had but too often ample for well - founded com plaint, but it was not until recently that the feelings of hostility passed the ordinary bounds of decorum, such as a Gentleman could Submit to, or by a necessary consequence such as Gentlemen ought to offer. The evi dence fearlessly and independently given be before the Commission by Mr. BENNOCH excited the wrath of the advocates of "things as they are," and many an envenomed shaft was aimed at the sturdy reformer, who stated " fearlessly and truthfully what lie knew to be the facts— facts which have not been, and cannot be contro verted"—stated them, too, in such a manner as to elicit the unanimous commendation of indepen dent men, and independent journalists of all parties. This was an offence not to be forgiven— this was a grievance demanding exemplary punish ment. And if, as we have been told in the olden time "the greater the truth the greater the libel," the offence of Mr. BENNOCH was of no ordinary magnitude. The climax was capped during the last deplorable altercation in the Common Council, reported in The Sun of yesterday. Mr. BENNOCH ~ vould not submit to such imputations and in sinuations, and hence the resignation, which, for the sake of the citizens generally, of all the in iabitants, indeed, of the " Great Metropolis," we trust he may yet be induced to withdraw. nch men as Mr. BENNOCH are wanting in the Corporation. He cannot be spared at a crisis like .the present ; and we trust that of the W ar d o f C r i pp l ega'e returning him unanim ous l y t o hi s sea t , I; a e g l a e i c a tors - may confer additional honour on their Represen tative, an d give further weight to his opinions. Goo forbid that we should suppose all or even inajority o f the Common Council should be supposed to hav e participated in the feelings com plained of by Mr. BENNOCH. Like that Honour able Gentleman, we find "much to admi re " i n the body. There are 4‘ many i men worthy of all respect ;" and it would be indeed hard if th e want of courtesy and conside r ation evinced by a ud ro • clique could banish from th e Court men of whom be the City of London may well p We pointed out the other day how completely the Municipal Franchise in towns satisfies the demands of those who wish to enlarge our con stituencies without venturing on untried ground. it had not occurred to us that the municipal mode taking the votes may, possibly, with but slight hiodification, be the nearest approach to the Bal lot which has, to any very large extent, been put to the test of practice. Decided as our opinions are on the necessity of the Ballot and large constituencies, we are neither bigoted nor im practicable, and any prOposal which, so far as it goes, is sound, shall have our hearty, if not our heartiest support. We believe TIO honest Govern ment needs fear the Ballot; but we are certain that thousands of honest-hearted electors cannot be honest without it, and that thousands of corrupt electors exult in the open voting which secures them their pay. We cordially welcome, however, on 'this as on who sincerely a i m ourselves—the secur i ng any other subject, the efforts of all at the same object with of a real vote to a real voter. We have been led to these re marks by a very able lett er w hi c h, after having been forwarded to Lord JOHN RUSSELL, w as inserted in a local paper, The M r. J. FL TILLETT, of Norwich. The • writer has had ample experience as a very active legal agent in both city and county election matters, an d i s well known, we believe, as belonging to the most advanced section of the Liberal party. Although ready to go farther, apparently, himself, he sug gests to Lord JOHN the Municipal Franchise as a tried and trusted one, adapted to satisfy earnest but real Reformers who shrink from Universal Suffrage ; but, in addition to this, he points out that the mode of voting practised in boroughs may be made a very near approach to the secrecy of the Ballot, with the confessed advan tage of retaining a record of the votes for the cases in which the ends of truth and justice may require it. The votes for Town Councillors, in boroughs are taken by two Assessors and an Alder man. The Alderman is selected from the list by the majority of the Town Councillors in each ward ; but the Assessors are elected by the bur gesses, and as each burgess is only permitted to vote for one where there are opposite parties, one must belong to each. These three receive the voting papers and place them in a box ; and after the poll is closed the papers are examined, and the poll declared on the next day or the day after. Thus far the voting might be quite secret if the Alderman and Assessors were bound, like In come-Tax Commissioners, not to divulge the votes. By courtesy, however, certainly not by any re quirement of the Act, " check-card writers" on each side have been permitted to record the votes as the polling proceeded, a practice of course in compatible with secrecy, and also one of the greatest aids to bribery, it being well known that all the worst bribery begins when the honest elec tors have polled, and the venal portion, who have reserved themselves for the eleventh hour, are watching the bids of the rival parties. Mr. TILLETT, therefore, would pledge the Alderman and Assessors to secrecy, and banish the check card writers, but retain the voting papers under seal, to be used in evidence should a scrutiny or legal proceedings be required. In the event of the scrutineers having to give evidence before a Parliamentary Committee, or a court of law, he would also, no doubt, require that no votes should be divulged but those specially required by the proceedings. Now still retainingundiminished our preference for the short, simple, and effectual remedy of the Ballot, we cannot be insensible to the merits of a proposal like this. Those Reformers who would not concede such a modification of secret voting have little claim to be deemed Reformers at all. It secures responsibility wherever legal proceed ings could be instituted. In a proved case of bribery, the vote given by the bribed party could be struck off from the purchaser's majority ; all cases of subornation could be dealt with in like manner, but the honest voter would be "shielded from an oppressive landlord, or employer, and from the various forms of official intimidation, whilst the curious or the revengeful" would be disappointed. All this would be effected, too, without the creation of any new machinery, and by the simple adoption, with hardly a modification, of what is annually done in all the boroughs in the kingdom. Lord JOHN may, indeed, well be appealed to on the basis of his own act. We only hope he will give evidence next spring that all suspicions about the reality of his professed zeal for purity of elections, and a substantial measure, are quite groundless. If so, it must be by something better than a set of little Bills about Bribery and Treating ; by something better too than a great speech on our incomparable Constitution, and our intelligent democracy, followed by the best pro posals which would escape open derision. To in sure a better result, the country, however, must make its voice heard, and that before long. One objection to the above plan will occur to all who have hitherto looked to the impenetrable secrecy of the ballot box, as the only secu rity on which they could confidently rely. We mean, that, after all, the way a man voted would leak out. It occurred to us. On recon sideration, however, we dismiss it. There was a similar apprehension about the Income Tax. Everybody feared his income would be known to his neighbour. He thought, in telling his secret to the tax-gatherer, he had told it to the world. However, we all now feel pretty secure on that point. It is indeed unpleasant enough to most Englishmen to tell the cherished secret of his actual circumstances to any one ; still he finds, we are bound to confess, that the secret does not spread farther than it ought. And wo believe that hardly any Englishman whom his fellow citizens would select as an assessor on the pro posed plan could be induced, whatever his political zeal, to divulge a secret he had solemnly bound himself to keep ; nor do we think that the veriest political tyrant in the counties would attempt to tamper with another gentleman so pledged. The attempt to coerce or purchase a vote, unhappily, is not infamous. The attempt to induce another to commit perjury or its equivalent, happily is so, and would banish the culprit from decent society for ever. A few voters would, no doubt, very timidly give their votes in black and white at first, but as they found in time that the voting really did remain secret they would soon act with confidence. LA` EST FOREIGN NEW';) RUSSIA AND TURKEY. The following telegraphic despatch has been re- ceived from Vienna, dated Friday evening : " Baron Budberg, the New Russian Commis sioner, arrives at Bucharest to-day or to-Morro - vv. " General Osten-Sacken only received orders to march towards the Pruth on the Bth of November, consequently he cannot reach Moldavia before the end of this month. " Bucharest advices up to the sth, and Kalafat up to the 3d, bring nothing new. "The Bosnian Christians begin to refuse to pay contributions. " The Cabinet messenger, with the proposal of the Powers to the Porte, did not leave till Wednesday." • From Constantinople we learn that Sir E. Lyons arrived on the 25th of November, in the Terrible steam frigate. On Tuesday, the 22d. of November, at Constan tinople, Lord Stratford de Redcliffe having been admitted to the honour of an audience, to present to Lis Majesty the Sultan Vice-Admiral Dundas, and the officers commanding his ships, delivered the following address to the Sultan : " In presenting to your Imperial Majesty the Ad miral and Captains of the fleet that my gracious Sove reign has, on the demand of your Majesty, an 1 in con cert with the Emperor of the French, a powerful ally of her Britannic Majesty, sent to protect the rights and independence of this friendly Empire, I fulfil a duty as honourable as it is satisfactory to them and to my self. "Their presence here, under such extraordinary cir cumstances, shows how far your Majesty and your Go vernment have wisely appreciated the friendship and reckoned on the sympathies of the British nation. . "Sentiments so generous and so strongly tending to rivet the friendship of the two States, acquire greater motives for their growth in the just and clear-sighted benevolence that has been displayed in the administrative policy of your Imperial Majesty. " It is not alone in the successful maintenance of a great principle that the British Government will seek for a recompense for the sacrifices she may be compelled to make in contributing to the protection of Turkey against an unprovoked aggression. It watches with equal firmness over the prosperity and the strength that your Majesty cannot fail to acquire over all your dominions, in putting into execution a system of complete though gradual progress between all classes, and for the interests of your subjects. "The constant hope which does not abandon it, as well as the immediate object of its effective assistance, is peace. Not assuredly an illusory or precarious peace, but peace that, by the simplest means, shall establish on bases solid, honourable. and without injustice to any other Power, the sovereign rights of your Majesty, and the independence of your empire. "To obtain such a peace as early as possible is, I have a right to suppose, the lively desire of your Ma jesty, as it is the point most ardently desired by your allies, and I shall be happy to learn that this object is duly appreciated and warmly encouraged by your Ma jesty's Ministers in a spirit of continued moderation." The Sultan replied in the following terms to Lord Redeliffe " commence by thanking the Ambassador for having procured me the pleasure of seeing the Admiral and the officers of tho fleet. " Tinder actual circumstances, the presence of the English fleet here, under command of an Admiral so distinguished, being a proof of the friendship of the Queen of Great Britain, my powerful ally, I beg the Ambassador to express my grateful acknowledgments. " England, under various circumstances, having given strong proofs of her goodness towards my empire, I doubt not but she will by every means repel the unjust pretensions of Russia, attacking my independence and my sovereign rights. The whole world may see what immense advantages may result from a strong power and a benevolent one, as is England, and the sympathies of a people just, enlightened, and generous, as is the English nation. "As to peace, my Government desires it as much as any other, but only as long as it is honaourable and com patible with my sovereign rights. " As to what regards the amelioration and the pros perity of my subjects, your Excellency, better than any one else, knows my feelings in this regard." A letter from Constantinople dated the 24th of Nov. says :—The rain and snow which have set in, both at the Danube and the Balkan, as also in Asia, will in all probability render the prosecution of the war impossible, or nearly, for some months. In this interval a final exertion might, and no doubt will, be made. During the last few weeks several items have, however, been added to the list of anti-peaceable occurrences, in the shape of the storming of Oaekvetil (Fort St. Nicholas), in Asia, and. the battle of Oltenitza, on the Danube—not to speak of a few other affairs of a similar nature. The British French, and Turkish squadrons have been displaying considerable activity for the last few days. The admirals have been inter changing visits. Last week Admiral Mahmoud Pacha and the Turkish vice -admiral, Ahmet Pacha, accompanied by the staff of Turkish naval officers, repaired on board the British flag-ship Britannia, at Beycos. Admiral Dundas showed them over the whole of the ships, and made the men go through their exercise before them. On leaving, the Capitan Pacha was honoured by a salute of nineteen guns. They afterwards paid Admiral Hamelin a visit, on board the French flag-ship Ville de Paris, where they were received in a similar manner. In return for these civilities Mahmoud Pacha gave a grand entertainment to the British and French naval officers on board his flag-ship the Mahmoudie, the night before last. The company of the Pera Opera was engaged for the occasion, and gave a representation of Verdi's opera, the Trovatore. The ship was decorated for the occasion, and music and festivity was kept up until a very late hour. By the appearance of Constantinople you would little imagine that war had but just been declared, mainly through a popular pressure. Hundreds of fresh recruits have arrived. They are fine men, but very miserably clad—evidently just come from a distant part of the interior. At the Seraskierate (War-office) there are a good many horses tied up, they are presents sent by pachas and private indi viduals to the Government. A list of the names of these persons has been published in Turkish, and circulated at Stamboul, as also a war song on the battle at Oltenitza. At the Seraskierate there is a room in which are strewn some hundreds of muskets, helmets, &c., taken from the Russians in that engagement, and sent here by Omer Pacha— some of them stained with blood. The helmets, swords, and bayonets are superior to the muskets, which were very old, and had been reduced from flint to percussion. It is a nasty sight—very like a room of horrors. " Winter is fast setting in at Constantinople. Heavy rains have fallen—a very good thing, inas much as there has been a dearth for the last month, water having become quite scarce. The wells were dried up, and the glass of water was publicly sold about the streets at five para. These rains bring, however, the disagreeable accompaniment of muddy streets—and what muddy ones ! No person who /las not visited this city can form an idea of it— beds of mud, ankle deep, through which you have to walk in overall jack-boots unless you prefer going about on the back of a I rse through the crowded alleys. As for a carriage there is no thinking of it. Some people have such things, but they are only used for excursions in the cow I try. The number of redifs and recruits that have ar rived at Constantinople during the last few months is something really astounding. The Stock seems inexhaustible.- Every steamer brings hundreds. Last week a great number arrived from Cartambol. The Austria, a, steamer of the Austrian Lloyd Company, brought 600 from Beyrout. The Russian prisoners who were brought to Con stantinople from Chekvetil have been sent into the interior of the country. They were marched off from Constantinople yesterday, with a little dis play, drums beating and trumpets blowing. They have been well treated. This morning the new ambassador of Spain, the Marquis Antonio Riqueime, arrived here. He was honoured by a salute on descending from the French postal steamer. The Turkish frigate which got astray in the Black Sea has not yet turned up. It is stated positively that a Turkish steamer has been taken by the Russians. Letters from Asia confirm the news of the (defeat of the Russians in two engagements whiclb. took place near Akeska, as well as the storming of the fortresses of Akeska and Saffa. Abdi Pasha has entered Georgia, and his army is marching upon Teflis. The Russian Governor of Erivan has imp' isoned the Armenian Patriarch of Etchmiadzin, b ecause that prelate declined putting a stop to the et ni gra tion of the Armenian Christians to Van. Tire Pa triarch of Aghsumar has addressed a pastoral to his diocesans announcing the above fact, and in viting the Armenian Christians to prayer for th eir brethren and co-religionists who are groaning tin der the despotism of Russia. The latest news from the Danube states that two companies of Wallachian militia had succeeded'_ in crossing the river during the night, and in reaching the camp of Omar Pasha. They 11 ave given some important information respecting the Russian army, which is far from being in sucht an effective state as that described in letters from St. Petersburg. From Warsaw, under date of the 3d inst., we learn that the 28th anniversary of the reign or the Emperor Nicholas was celebrated there on that day. In the morning, services were held at all -the churches : and a grand dinner, with a brilliant illu mination, and a free theatrical exhibition, closed the gaieties of the day. Such is the scarcity of bread at Warsaw that, by command of the Govern ment, meal is hereafter to be taken from the army magazine, and made into bread, which can be bought by every inhabitant at a fixed price. MR. ALBERT SMITH. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUL Sr, —With respect to the circumstance mentioned in your paper of last evening, viz., that a paragraph puff ing " Mont Blanc" was surreptitiously inserted in The Sim for a bribe of some paltry advertisements, I beg to give this a simple and indignant denial. Yours respectfully, ALBERT SMITH. [We leave the above gentlemanly contradiction to speak for itself—and, in doing so, we commend the matter to Mr. Albert Smith's conscience, and to his calm reflection in the hereafter. Our statement of last evening we here simply and explicitly reiterate. We have refrained, until now, from alluding to a transaction in regard to which further silence would have been culpable : but, having done so, we discard the occur rence as unworthy of more than this passing considera tion.—En. SUN.] THE SACRED HARMONIC SOCIETY.-" THE MESSIAH." Yesterday being the third Friday before Christmas, this society gave their annual performance of the Messiah at Exeter•hall, and, as is usually the case, the chef d'oeuvre of Handel attracted thither an immense crowd of the lovers of sacred music. The performance was perfect in every respect, all alike—conductor, orchestra, chorus, and soloists—exerting themselves to the utmost to do justice to this great work of the im mortal composer. The principal singers were Mrs. Lockey, Miss Birch, Miss Dolby, Mr. Lockey, and Mr. Weiss. The society has issued a new edition of the libretto, with an historical account of the oratorio, and an analytical commentary on the music by Mr. G. A. Macfarren. COURT CIRCULAR. OSBORNE, DEC. 9. The Queen and Prince, accompanied by the Duchess of Brabant, drove out yesterday morning. The Hon. D. de Ros attended on horseback. The Hon. Lucy Kerr has succeeded the Hon. Mary Seymour as maid of honour in waiting. Lord John Russell returned to London this morning. A deputation from the deputies of tlbe three denomi nations of Protestant dissenters had an interview with the Earl of Aberdeen yesterday, at his official residence in Downing-street, on the subject of the abolition of church rates. The deputation consisted of Mr. Apsley Pellatt, M.P., Mr. Pewtress, Mr. J. Remington Mills, Mr. Alderman and Sheriff Wire, Mr. ;,;amuel Morley, Mr. E. Clarke, Mr. R. H. Terrell, and Mr. William Reddome. Colonel Sabine (general secretary) :and Mr. J. P. Gassiot (chairman of Kew committee of the British As sociation) had an interview with Sir "William Moles worth yesterday at the office of Works and Public Buildings, in Whitehall-place. The Commissioners for Inquiring into• the State of the Corporation of the City of London sat yi3sterday, at the official residence of the First Lord of It he Treasury, in Downing-street.- Present the Right II "on. H. Labou chere, Sir J. Patteson, and G. Cornewall l Lewis, Esq. Sir De Lacy Evans, M.P., Sir Jo hn V. Shelley, M.P., and a deputation, had an intervies r yesterday with Sir W. Molesworth. Despatches were sent yesterday fro m the Colonial office to the Governors of the North t American Pro vinces. _ _ The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council sat yes terday. The Chancellor of the Duchy 0 f Cornwall gave judgment on an appeal from Canada, " Barnhart v. Greenshields." An appeal from the 03nsistory Court of York, " Rowley v. Rowley," was heard. The lords present were the Lord Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas, the Chancellor of the D uchy of Cornwall, the Judge of the Admiralty Court, and. 'Sir E. Ryan. The Queen and Prince Albert have: signified their intention of subscribing 1001. towards the erection of a mo nument at Grantham to the memory of ti e great Sir Isaac Newton. The Duke and Duchess of Saxe- Coburg-Gotha were placed in great danger on the 3d inst. The duke was driving his consort from a palace net Lr Coburg, when the wheel o the carriage passed over a la rge stone, and he was thrown out, losing hold of the reins.. The frightened horses ran 'away with the carriages down a hill, and brought the vehicle into violent collision with a post. The carriage was completely destroyed, yet the duchess, who was in it, was not in the least hurt. 'I he Duke escaped with a sprained foot. _ The Duke and Duchess of Richt aond and Lady Cecilia Gordon Lennox have left Portlan d-place, for Good wood Park, near Chichester. The Duke of Newcastle, Colonial Secretary, has just given the site and 200 i. towards the erection of a chapel of ease at Rastord, Notts. The Duchess of Sutherland's youngest brother, the Hon. Henry George Howard, the n e wly-appointed Se cretary of Legation at Paris, is on the eve , of leaving Vienna, where he is Secretary to Lord WestmoreCtand's mission, for the French capital. _ The Earl of Derby is entertaiaing a shooting party at Knowsley. The following is gri ven by the Liver pool Chronicle as the result of a dads: park shooting on Wednesday :—Lord Malmesbury shot i )heasants, 5 hares, and 98 rabbits; Lord Anson, 13 pheasa ,nts, 6 hares, and 155 rabbits ; Lord Oesulston, 20 pheasants, 8 hares, and 181 rabbits ; Hon. Colonel Stanley, 7 pl aeasants, 4 hares, and 160 rabbits ; the Ron. Mr. Talbd t, 9 pheasants, 6 hares, and 219 rabbits. The earl was present, but not sufficiently recovered from his recent in disposition to join in the sport. _ _ The Earl of Yarborough has left Arlington-street, for Manby Hall. His lordship is ex p ected to preside at the annual soil* of tie Gainaborougl Literary Institu tion, on tho 19th of January next. The Earl FitzwilEam is entertaii ling a numerous family circle at 'Wentworth House. _ . The Marquis and Marchioness .of Ailesbury are entertaining a few select friends at Totetenham Park. near Marlborough. The Hon. Mrs. Georg(' Anson and Miss Anson have been amongst the guests. The venerable mar quis has improved in health. The noble Ministerial Leader of the House of Commons, Lord John Russell, is undeilitood to have re spectfully declined the insignia of the, Garter from the Sovereign, vacant by the death of the Duke of Beaufort, and the insignia of the illustrious order : , we believe, was subsequently conferred on Lord Carlisle, now on the eve of returning from a tour in the Ottoman Ea Tire and Greece to England. Lady Dalmeny and family have arrived at Eaton square, from the Earl of Rosebery's, Daimeny Park, Lin lithgow, N.B. The Hon. Henry George Howard, Secretary of Legation at Vienna, has been appointed Secretary of Em bassy at Paris, in the room of the Hon.. G. Stafford Jer ningham, now her Majesty's representativ+e at the Court of Sweden. _ _ _ Mr. Augustus Stafford M.P., and a few select friends are staying at Blather wyke Park, Northampton- shire. vY The Rev. Edward Mortimer Clissold, 8.A., has been instituted to the Rectory of Wrenth am, in Suffolk, on the presentation of Sir Edward Shmiock Gooch, of Benacre Hall, in the said county, Bart. APPOINTMENTS. — The Limerick Chronicle says : " John, son of Mr. Francis John O'Neill., of Limerick, is appointed to a clerkship in the Office of Ordnance, Pall mall, London. Mr. Thomas Sydney Smith, son of Mr. Carew Smith, Baggott-street, Dublin, late Recorder of Limerick, is appointed Advocate-General. in Madras, at a salary of 3,6001. a-year." DREADFUL FIRE AND LOSS OF LIFE.—(THIS DAY.) — This morning (Saturday), between the hours of 8 and 9, a fire, attended by fatal consequences, broke out on the premises belonging to Mr. Innsterd, a bread and biscuit baker, situated at No. 24, Grafton-street, Fitzroy-square. The flames, when first discovered, were raging in one of the upper rooms, but several persons who were then in their beds asleep could not be aroused for some conside rable time, and when that was at length accomplished, the flames were rushing up the staircase with the greatest impetuosity. A man lodging on the second floor was prostrated by the body of flame, and in the course of a few minutes was burned literally to a cinder. Another man was also forced down by the heated air, and the flames burned him in such a shocking manner that he was obliged to be removed to the hospital, where he at present remains without the least chance of recovery. The engines of the London Brigade and West of Eng land Office quickly attended, but some time elapsed be fore they could make any impression upon the fire, and not until it had extended throughout the premises. The origin of the melancholy catastrophe is unknown. THE BRAZILIAN MAILS.--SOUTHAMPTON, FRIDAY.— To-day the Royal Mail Company's steam-ship Thames, under the command of Captain Strutt, left with the cus tomary monthly Brazilian and River Plate mails. She has taken, besides a general cargo, 8,3751. in specie and seventy-seven passengers, amongst whom are Sir C. and Lady Lyell, Hon. and Rev. A. S. Rice and lady, Chevalier Vianna de Luira and party, Mr. Commodore Hull and Miss Heid. The Great Western, with the homeward portion of the above mail, is expected to arrive on or about the 16th inst., and the next West India mail will be looked for by the La Plata on the 14th or 15th of the present month. THE SHIP DALHOUSIE.—The corpse of a man, attired in a red Guernsey shirt, with a leather strap attached, and brown jacket, was found a few days ago on the shore at Broomhill, near Winchelsea, by a labourer named Adams. The body was in a state of decomposi tion, and was supposed to have been one of the Lascars belonging to the ill-fated ship Dalhousie, which sunk off -Beachey Head. An inquest was held before Mr. Henry- Stocks, when a verdict of "Found drowned" was re turned. The remains were interred in St. Thomas's churchyard, Winchelsea. THE SMITHFIELD CATTLE SHOW.—Yesterday the show closed—the number of visitors during the four days having been considerably over 100,000. It is a re markable fact, however, that not a single robbery has been committed, or a single accident taken place. Sir H. Verney's " monster" ox, which, wonderful as it may seem, has really survived the innumerable pinches and pokes it has received from its multitude of admirers, has been bought by Mr. Cooper, of Millstreet, Macclesfield. The animals are to be removed to-day. INDIAN ARMS FOR THE TOWER OF LONDON.--Seve ral cases have arrived from India, consigned to the East India Company, containing arms intended to be depo sited in the armoury of' the Tower of London, and the necessary arrangements have been made with the Go vernment authorities for their admission for the intended purpose. MR. DEPUTY BENNOCH. Mr. Deputy Bennoch has addressed the following to the freemen and non•freemen of the ward of Cripplegate Within : " Gentlemen,—For eight years I have endeavoured in the Court of Common Council to represent faithfully, not only the interest of the privileged freemen, but also the interests of that large body of non-freemen within this ward, who, to the disgrace of the corporation, possess no voice in the elections. "On entering the Common Council I soon found, that by the large majority of members real independence was little respected, and that a man to be anything must be all things to all men. He must mingle with the cliques that pervade and the coteries that abound in connection with that, body. While I met with much to admire, I met with more to lament. I found many men worthy of all re spect, but many more with whom I could never cordially co-operate ; and discerned without difficulty, that, if true to my own nature, the area of my influence must be very circumscribed. Seldom concealing my opinion, I was looked upon as an interloper, and I rejoice to say, that little, if any, of their confidence was intrusted to my keeping. " When, a few weeks ago, I felt impelled to offer evidence to the Royal Commissioners, and was sum moned before them, I uttered fearlessly and truthfully what I knew to be the facts—facts which have not been and cannot be controverted. Then the hostility of the mass was unleashed—every corrupt motive was imputed —I was denounced as a traitor, and had every imagin able insult heaped upon me. " Now, however much I may respect Cripplegate Within—however much I may be obliged to those friends, of all parties, who have so kindly and so uni formly given me their support and unwavering confidence - --I am, nevertheless, bound to avow, that notwithstand itnr, all these gratifications, I am indisposed to subject myself to secret, cowardly innuendoes, or to open brutal attacks. The doubtful honour is not worth the posi tive annoyance ; and so long as the Common Council is constituted as at present, I am resolved to enter it no more. "My conduct for eight years is before you,—l have never been a silent member, and I am•not aware of any pledge made that I have left unredeemed, nor am I con. scions of having ever given a vote that I now would wish to see annulled. The trust confided, and seven times renewed, I return into your hands, I hope untar nished ; and should the time come—which probably is nearer than many of us imagine—when I can promote your interests, without dishonouring myself, which is not now the case, you may command my services. Until then, I am, Gentlemen, your faithful servant. "FRANCIS BENNOCH. "Dec. 8, 1853." SUDDEN DEATH IN MANCHESTER.—Yesterday morn ing, whilst Mr. John Phillips, son of Alderman Phillips, of Old Traffor d, Manchester, was sitting at breakfast with the family, he suddenly fell from his chair, and ex pired before medical aid could be called in. Mr. Phillips had recently returned from a tour in Egypt and other parts of the East, where he had been the fellow-traveller of Sir John Potter, and had complained of rheumatic pains in the chest, but with this exception had been in good health up to the moment of his death. It was thought he had died from some disease of the heart. FOG AT MANCHESTER.— Manchester was again visited by a fog yesterday of a very dense character. It made its appearance on Thursday evening, so that for three whole days and four nights this week the city has been completely enshrouded in a mist, for the most part so dense that it was not possible to see five yards in ad vance. As if to add to the horrors of this state of things, the excessive demand for gas drew upon the supply so much that it became deficient. The actual consumption of gas on Tuesday, Wednesday, and yes terday was not less than 25 per cent. greater than the ordinary demand, and would have been much greater if the means of supply had existed. Several accidents, fortunately not attended by any loss of life, have oc curred in Manchester during the visitation. FRANCE. The following appears in the non-official part of the Moniteur of yesterday "On the 17th of May last we said, that if the question opened at Constantinople by Prince Men schikoff were to lead to certain complications, it would thereby be converted into a question of general European policy, in which the other Powers which signed the treaty of the 13th of July, 1841, would be concerned with the same right (au merne titre) as France. The events have justified what we foresaw. That union, which common interest and respect for the same principles would, in our opinion, establish between the great Powers, has now become a fait accompli. " The intimate union of the Emperor's Govern ment with the Government of her Britannic Ma jesty has already hall a tranquillising effect upon the public mind. Doubts remained, nevertheless, as to the position which the other Powers would take at the commencement of a war, which they had ear nestly laboured to prevent, but the scene of which, by the very force of circumstances, might possibly be enlarged. " To obviate this danger, to concert a course of action common to all, and to coalesce the interests of the European States, have been the objects of the persevering solicitude of the Emperor's Govern ment, and this loyal policy has accomplished the object it had in view. " It would savour of presumption if we were to consider the Oriental question as settled. We must even be prepared to watch its progress through various phases. But the understanding (accord) which Austria and Prussia acknowledge to have come to with the Cabinets of Paris and London will henceforward suffice to dispel the apprehen sions which have kept Europe in suspense for the last ten months. Indeed, the real danger of the situation lay in the possibility of a division of the Powers into two camps. There is now no further I cause for such a fear. "France, England, Austria, and Prussia cherish the same views, and are inspired by the same de sires ; and a protocol which, on the sth of this month, was signed at Vienna, in a conference of the representatives of the Four Courts, records the resolutions they have jointly taken. " To restore peace between Russia and the Sub lime Porte under conditions honourable to both ; to maintain the territorial integrity of the Otto man empire, the independent existence of which within the limits assigned to •it by the treaties has become one of the essential conditions to the balance of power in Europe—such is the two fold object to which the four Powers propose directing their joint endeavours. To protest be forehand that the war which is now being car ried on cannot in any one case lead to modi fications in the state of possession which time has consecrated in the East, must of necessity narrow the sphere of that war, and reduce, we trust, the differences between the Cabinet of St. Petersburg and the Sublime Porte to terms which allow European diplomacy to exercise an effica cious action, and to re-establish, under a collective guarantee, a solid peace between Russia and- the Ottoman empire." The note published in the Afoniteur of yesterday on the conferences at Vienna, is the great event of the day in Patis ; it will be seen by the subjoined. account of the proceedings on the Bourse, that in the financial world it has produced a great effect. A rise of upwards of 1 per cent. in the French Funds shows the increase of confidence with which it has inspired the speculators. There is, however, an alteration of some importance in the article of the Moniteur. It states that the double object of the conference is " to re-establish peace between Russia and the Sublime Porte, on conditions honourable to both parties ; and to maintain the territorial in tegrity of the Ottoman empire ;" while it appears that the protocol signed on the sth December is much more general in its language, and speaks of the maintenance of the territorial division of Turkey—that division being fixed, by the divisionof 1815. The omission of all mention of the treaties of 1815 by the ,Vianiteur is no doubt on purpose ; the confirmation of the treaties of 1815 not being particularly palatable in France as the basis of a negotiation, although it probably has had consi derable weight with Austria and Prussia. A letter was received in Paris yesterday by an eminent banker, which states positively that M. de Mey endorff has declared that Russia will not recog nise the acts of the conference. If this be the case, the question at once arises—are the four Powers agreed, in the event of the refusal of Russia to conclude a peace on the terms which they think reasonable, to force her to accept those terms ? Then it appears that the conference has sent a despatch to Constantinople, calling upon the Porte to declare the conditions upon which it will consent to a peace ; but if those con ditions should not be acceptable, not only to the representatives of the Powers, but to Russia, nothing will have been done. In short, if Russia do not completely change her tone, and show a moderation of which -we have seen no symptoms for some months past, affairs will remain in pretty much the same position as they are now, and the war between the Czar and the Sultan will continue as active as ever. One good effect, however, of the formation of the conference is, that the distance and coldness which have existed for some time past be tween England and Austria and Prussia are greatly diminished. England has once more got other allies in Europe besides France. There are articles in two Ministerial journals, the Pays and the Constitutionnel, on the "fusion." Eight columns of each are filled with thisnew production, from the pen of M. de Laguerroniere. But though it bears his signature, it has every mark of its being in spired by another head, and retouched by another hand. Whose hand that is, it is almost superfluous to say. In some passages, particularly the third paragraph, the Imperial pen may, in ouropinion, be easily traced. It is said that the Emperor himself read the despatch at table to his guests at Fon tainebleau the moment it was received from Vienna ; among these guests was a well-known Legiti mist, who has had much reason to complain of the Court of Frohsdorf. The Emperor is reported to have observed that it gave him satisfaction to see the discord which had so long subsisted be tween the Princes of the House of Bourbon termi nated ; but so far as it had a political meaning it was indeed too late. It seems it was not originally intended to take any particular notice of this family reconciliation (perhaps a more proper term than fusion, which appears l o have been borrowed from the railway companies) but for the statement in some foreign journal that the Imperial Court had been thrown into great alarm by the announcement, and that it was then the resolution was formed of noticing it in one of the journals. Except among the parties more immediately interested the fusion passed without much remarks. The present long notice of it in two Ministerial journals invests it with an importance it bad not before, though the fact as alleged, of its having been effected at the instance of the Emperor Nicholas since the union of France and England on the Eastern question, does not recommend it to people who see in it evidence of a contemplated restora tion of the Bourbons by foreign influence, if not by foreign bayonets. Some curiosity was felt as to whether the article of the Pays and Constitu tionnel would be replied to. It is said that the directing committee of the fusionist organ, the A ssemblee Nationale, and which is compose of of the Ministers of Louis Philippe as would again look to power under a Royalist restoration, has decided that it shall be replied to, and further that M. Salvandy is the person to whom that task is entrusted. It may be remembered that on the occasion of the marriage of the Emperor the Municipal Council and the Chamber of Commerce of Lyons conceived the idea of presenting to the Empress some rich specimens of the manufacture of their city. Circumstances have hitherto prevented the completion of these articles, but they have now been finished, and yesterday a deputation from Lyons was received by their Majesties at the Tuileries to present them. The president of the de putation made a suitable speech to the Empress on the occasion, in which he begged her Majesty to accept the articles offered "as a testimony of the gratitude of the city and commerce of Lyons towards the Emperor, who had procured for them the enjoyment of the order and security which are so essential to their interests." Their Majesties expressed in the most flattering terms the admira tion they felt at the beautiful specimens of Lyonese manufacture, and thanked the deputation for the sentiments they had uttered. It has been whispered amongst parties who gene rally obtain the first information on such subjects, that Namik Pasha is likely to succeed in negotia ting the Turkish loan with a great Joint Stock Company in Paris. The conditions are said• to be, that the loan is to be issued in stock bearing in terest 5 per cent. ; for every 100 f. the contractors are to give 60f. The Ottoman Government is to have the right to pay off the debt at par. Monsignor Sacconi, Archbishop of Nicea, had an audience yesterday of the Emperor to present his credentials as Nuncio of the Apostolic See. Im mediately after the ceremony the Nuncio was re ceived by her Majesty, to whom he delivered a brief from his Holiness. A telegraphic despatch arrived yesterday from Turin, which states that the elections are going 11 1 favour of the Cabinet. At Turin twenty-one of the Government candidates out of twenty-seven have been returned. The first act of the new majority will be.to vote the Civil Marriages Bill, which has occasioned a rupture with the Holy See. M. Brenier left Paris yesterday on a secret mis sion to Italy. It is said to be in connection with the political position of that country. The visit of 'Prince Napoleon (Jerome) to Italy has been abandoned. On the 6th inst., the steam-vessel Napo leon arrived at Toulon from Constantinople. On the 7th the steam-frigate Descartes left the harbour of Toulon to take the place of the Napoleon in the French squadron at Constantinople. The Minister of the Interior has addressed the following circular to the Prefects : " Monsieur le Prefet,—ln placing the telegraph at the disposal of the superior functionaries, for matters con- nected with the public service, the intention of the G-overnment was to accelerate it in cases which might suffer injury from the delays in ordinary corresponden ce, and to be informed as rapidly as possible of all impor- - taut facts which required to be laid before it. What' ever may be the power and extent of electrical m eans, communications, both official and private increase in such a manner that its .object cannot be atta ined if this mode of transmission be made use of withonti; measure and for all kinds of despatches indiscr imi• nately. I think it my duty, therefore, Monsieu r le;, Prat, to remind you that telegraphic transmissions do not take the place of ordinary correspondence ; that they ought only to be made use of for urgent affairs of ser' vice which could not be usefully forwarded by the mail ; that, even in this case, it is proper to reduce theta as much as possible, and to abstain carefully from all those expressions or forms of politeness and of deference used in ordinary correspondence. I also remind you of my instructions of the 18th May, 1851, stating that the gratuitous use of the telegraph is only authorised for affairs connected with the public service, and that any transmission for private affairs was to be rigorously sub; jetted to the charge according to the law of 18th an d 20th November, 1850. In recommending these diposi tions for your personal guidance, I beg, Monsieur le Pr4fet, that you will give instructions in this sense to the sub-prefects, or other functionaries under your orders, who are authorised to make use of the telegraph -Receive, &c., " F. DE PERSIGNY. BANK OF FRANCE.—The following was the situa tion of the Bank on Thursday, Dec. 8 : Cu. Cash and ingots Cash at the branch banks .. Overdue bills Fr. e ; 216,786,391 84 100,186,6 64 559,187 46 Bills becoming due in Paris, of which 67,594,121 f. Oc. are from the branch banks 177,718,286 62 Bills in the branch banks - Advances on coin and ingots - Do. in the branch banks Do. on public securities of France 32,745,236 1-v Do. by the branch banks - Do. on railway shares and bonds 67,590,3 00 --- Do. in the branch banks - Do. to the State by treaty of June 30, 1848 - Rentes of the reserve fund Rentes of disposable funds Hotel and furniture of the Bank - Real property of branch banks 4,084,907 -- a Expenses of administration 1,459,585 Spy° Sundries , 'I 985,508,622 DE. Capital Reserve fund - Reserve iminobillere Notes to bearer, in circulation 60i0:000 14 00 Do. of branch banks 148,258,125 --6* Do. to order (Post bills) Bills payable at sight Account-current of Treasury Creditor 59,372, 890 ? ig i Various accounts-current 127,797 ,069 ' Do. branch banks 28,902, 704 ---;: Dividends to be paid 417 ,045 ?7 j 5 Discount, interest, and expenses Fees on the care of securities 25,295 lv Re-discounts of the last half year Sums received over and above the value of the protested bills , Sundries 2 , 4 5 1 2 83: 3 6 1 61 l'o 985,508,6 22 It appears, from the preceding account, that the cash in hand has been decreased by 13,970, 00 ' The commercial bills discounted have decreased 11 9,926,000 f. The deposits on public securities hai r° decreased by 2,544,000 f. The deposits on railwst securities have decreased by 5,302,000 f. The benZ notes in circulation have decreased by 23,166,000 i The balance to the credit of the Treasury has iry creased by 9,022,000 f., The sundry credits ha ve decreased by 16,528,000 f. The receipts of the Orleans and Bordeaux Rail way, with its extensions for the week ending.the 3d of December, amount 699,751 f., being an ill' crease of 193,544 f., as compared with the ~corresp onding week of last year. t he The article in the IVloniteur of yesterday on Eastern question produced a considerable ris„,%; the price of public securities at the Bourse. Three per Cents. opened at 75f. 60c., and r°s to 76f. 15c., at which they closed for the end ° the month. The Four-and-a-Half per Cen , s ts ' closed at 102 f. 15c. •, Orleans Railway Sha y :A 1,210 f. ; Rouen, 1,092 f. 50c. ; Havre, 510 f. Northern, 897 f. 50c. ; Paris and Strasburg, Paris and Lyons, 935 f. ; Lyons to the Meal ranean, 785 f. ; Western of France, 7201. ; Bordes", and Cette; 647 f. 50c. ; Great Central, 532 f. 5 0 2' n 1 Lyons and Geneva, 5301. ; Shares of the Bank Credit Mobilier, 785 f. SPAIN. Our accounts from Madrid are of the 4th into The sitting of the Senate on the preceding oe was opened by a speech from the Minister of P 11 '" a Works. M. Esteban Collantes, in whichhedeveloc e a at considerable length the reasons that had incl.°, to the Government to present the. Cortes a cornr e , railway system. M. Collantes concluded byan te dh' peal to the patriotism and wisdom of the Senate' s e entreated it to adopt the agreement proposed it of , Government, in order to avert evils the grav e o , which would be incalculable. Count de Velle B o ff ceeded the Minister, and combated the opini° ll o f the minority of the committee. The Minis te W Justice replied to him. M. Ros de. Ol a no v or , followed ; but, owing to the lateness . of the h i bis he was only able to deliver one portion • speech, the Senate having adjourned to the S' eo ' A telegraphic despatch from Cadiz annonllo, the election, as deputy, of M. Tomas Garcia PLia . the Ministerial candidate, by 233, to 78 obteie, by M. Manuel Quesada, the Progresista cand id ! It bein g Sunday, the Bourse remained close MINING INTELLIGENCE. (From the Mining Journal of this day) t bi3 The market has been pretty brisk, generalli.c,' iCb week, but the principal rage has been for mines ill:bleb' gold is said to have been discovered, and lea a : 0 gossan all at once has become inexhaustible. this class of mines, South Devon Consols sha res ris e advanced from 12s. to 2/. per share—an enornios° tit in one week, considering there are 21,000 share° mine. The Gold Mining Shares this week have been -- a or neglected, but the prices of the preferable stock°, ia tinue steadily supported ; and some descrip tiose vo eluding more especially Colonial Gold and AlPr he have shown rather an improving tendency. In " en at accredited stocks sales can scarcely he effJeted,_,Vio , discount. The meeting convened by Mr. G ueu d Thursday, was most numerously attended e° t ere° bably now that a movement is made, the ai r° s lat the several companies impugned will make o ,, ra f e 3 gda°, ments. The results of the experiments et 40 0 9 ; machine, by Professor Ansted has been of the te ° ',;ve .cr e c,,. factory nature ; and if his machine is so eu• tio a v stated, a new era will be created in the reda c 4 b ores. and "be In the Metal Market,—lron is in demaa-P iiv g t a a decidedly upward tendency.—Notwit hstanu o , rise in Copper, orders continue plentiful.—ln o d a° advance of . 3/. per ton has taken pl.ace. Spelter are firm and steady. 9a. P et In the Bullion Market,—Bar gold, 775. per 'd standard. 'Spanish doubloons, 775. 6d. to 78s. ri in ite a, South American, 775. 3d. to 775. 6d. Per o 1" ss. States gold coin, 765. 4d. per oz. Bar silver, _l3 ]add ge° le 'firice ' per oz. standard, last price, market fiat. l a st r ble South American dollars, ss. ld. per oz./ ous ider a t i l e Spanish pillar, ss. 7d. to 55.. Bd. per os. to ° ,,, for quantity of bar silver has been taken 7; u a f Continent at ss. lid. per oz., being a reda " per oz. ~ of ,nnorta tit FOREIGN CATTLE.—An extraordinary the f. live stock from abroad, has taken place d f ° 4 ll : l o g io bee t :4r ° week. The arrivals comprised upward ° with pf oxen and cows, and nearly 13,000 sheePg 0 00 hoe° stock, amounting collectively to nearly 2 v , • all kinds. THE CUSTOMS' LOCKERS.—An o fficial ii n a t: W ata ss beep i ll; ceived on Wednesday last at the Custonl; _ ha st e _ Ac e the Service that the claims of the Liverpool loct the granted ; that in future they would ra 2 nar wa y r th , as salaried officers, and be paid in a elm i l ld er stall a t iog same class of officers in London. I ' 9 anal ° th e c rierg9 by this result is mainly owing to the ort lawn, perseverance of one of their own body' s t L-P P -„,o1 m. combined p.,and infl m ue r n . ce T. an dB. asnsisotrasnfacell, nt . 01 ... 0 ": F r ' . __jeer 0 0 ' 1 ' Mercury. Oetiz e 4 FORESTS ON FIRE. — A letter fro . l : l , ck a smokeo fi re, vania) of November 2 3 stat es that so tat hich a re ittir: l from several forests of tha t country; ,_ .. ; r3 , agr!ch acrid that it is impossible to ca rr y on the o tu rated sv i tbia' the c°°3pheyreaffiesetstosh he s s a iabt ann la d b r r ib ea tioo4ri by , epinursanuaittsiOnsTahse serious]attomos It is found impossible to extingiriiities, c ivil a° coo ide' ordinary means • and the auth the o Subject into have been convoked to take tion. .................... \". mo COM . The sale; estim ated tak eu for e: Was quiet. Prices. There is turn from ex pected a lunch stres stat ement amount of ... cr ease, insi 40 tes Was stances. lchecpier %tee, an d u pon it f o . t klaY place an indicat Compared We re as fol Active el] DE 13n11i 0n... ~„ In -nest DI Nike DI Other De In 'even-Da ri DI ""3V ernin In Other Se( In Notes un In Rather , aoou accei tal 'citie s ; 25 to 30 of toion The am( durin g th o unces, al All the abl , The E buoyant a teen paid. count, ex triee s hav 4 Netv Thr 9 7A to 98 Bank St( 221. Ex( Premium, premium. a good dal easier out In For( doin g , bu New` P lend ; an( cent., viz, are dull a 251, and quiet, bui 3 p er Cen Sia n and ] The et are quote The EI more doi 10s. ; N. Eastern, land are early in t Since. The G generally The La BRITISI Bank Stocl „ 3 Per Cent , ZPor Cent 'lev° 3} Pe India Stocl India 130 m 'Ditto, n. South S ea Consols fo i Exelleqt £looc £5OO Small PRICE Brazilian Ditto Sn Ditto N. Buenos A3' Grenada B Mexican 3 Peruvian Sardinian Spanish B Attent position , nlissione the igeric The Star Post ack prornisso duty. in the subst an c Val of se the lette to accoi advised practice ways st and no however missions his corr tnittanc hnowle( that he Npondet if le ac no stat credit I jects th be seen chant s and, al turers, lar fort stam p rnent counts, several The parties letter stamp , they, i Justice this in that a last. 2, stamp Of k ' ° nS C office Cons Rio / tip/ the is not lo s pri