The Sun. — London, England, 1857-12-31 00:00:00

1858 —Fail not to begin the NEW YEAR • with a DIARY, LETTS'S are kept by every bookseller in the kingdom. Catalogues gratis. Those generally adopted by LADIES are Nos. 10, 12, 18, 20, ARMY and NAVY, 8,9, 10, 11 22, plain or elegantly bound. in perpetual sprg. lock cases, GENTLEMEN, 8,9, 11, 11, etc. MERCHANTS, BANKERS, in perpetual sprg- lock cases. ENGLNEERS, etc. 51,52, 53, CLERGYMEN, 9, 10, 12, 12 enl. 1,2, 3,6, 8,9, 11, with Dr. and Tablet, Sermon books, etc. Cr. forms, 3s, 4a, 11a, etc. MEDICAL MEN, 1,2," 8,9, 10, I TRADESMEN: 4,5, 11, 13, 15, . . . . „ Medical, Professional, etc. Dr. and Cr. forms, 3s, 118, etc. LAWYERS, 51, 52, 1,2, 8,9, the FARMER-1, 4, 5,6, 7, 11, 13, etc. Scribbling, plain or interlyd. MECHANICS, Is. 6d., Is 9d., 6d. LETTS, SON, and Co., Stationers & Mapsellers,B, Royal Exchange. H ER MAJESTY'S THEATRE , LA TRAVIATA. Piccolomini, Spezia, Giaglini, Belletti, Rossi, Vialetti, and Aldighieri. THIS EVENING (Thursday, Dec. 31), LA TRAVIATA. Saturday—LUClA DI LAMMERMOOR. Pri !---Pit Stalls, 12s 6d; boxes (to hold four persons) pit and one pair, 21. 2e ; grand tier, 3/. 3s ; two pair, 1/. ss. three pair, 15s ; gallery boxes, 103; gallery stalls, 3s 6d pit, 3s 6d; gallery, 2s. FIVHEATRE ROYAL, HAYMARIKET, Lessee—Mr. J. B. B uc k s t one . _l_ THIS EVENING, to commence at Seven o'clock. with SPEED THE PLOUGH. Characters by Messrs. W. Farren, Compton, Chippendale, Mrs. Poynter, Mrs. E. Fitzwilliam, and Miss E. Ternan. After which, a new comic Christmas Pantomime, entitled THE SLEEPING BEAUTY IN THE WOOD; or, Harle quin and the Spiteful Fairy. Harlequin, Mr. A. Leclercq ; Columbine, Miss Fanny Wright ; Pantaloon, Mr. Mackay ; Clown, Mr. Charles Leclercq. ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE.-LAST NIGHTS OF KING RICHARD THE SECOND, THIS EVENING, and To-morrow. On Saturday, THE CORSICAN BROTHERS. On Monday next Mr. Charles Kean will make his first ap pearance these two years in the character of Hamlet. R OYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE. Proprietor, Mr. Charles Kean. THIS EVENING, will be performed Shakspere's Tragedy of KING RICHARD 11. King Richard 11., by Mr. Chas, Kean ; Queen, by Mrs. C. Kean. After which, a new grand comic Christmas Pantomime, entitled HARLEQUIN WHITE CAT ; or, The Princess Blanche Flower and her Fairy Godmothers. The Princess Blanche (White Cat), Miss Kate Terry ; Harlequin, Mr. Cor maek ; Clown, Mr. Hubner; Pantaloon, Mr. Paule ; and Columbine, Miss C. Adams. THEATRE ROYAL, ADELPHI, Lessee—Mr. Ben. Webster. THIS EVENING, THE WEPT OF THE WISH-TON WISH. Mr. Wright and Madame Celeste. After which, a Mythological Extravaganza, entitled HARLEQUIN, OR THE LOVES OF CUPID AND PSYCHE. Jupiter, Mr. Paul Bedford ; Mars, Mr. Frank Hall ; Venus, Mrs. Billington ; Cupid, Miss Marie Wilton ; Psyche, Miss Mary Keeley. ROYAL LYCEUM THEA.TRE.—SoIe Lessee and Manager, Mr. C. Dillon.— THIS EVENING, will be presented DON C.ESAR DE BAZAN. Principal characters by Messrs. Charles Dillon, Stuart, Barrett, J. G. Shore ; Mesdames Woolgar and Buck ingham White. To conclude with the Burlesque and Pantomime, LALLAH ROOKH, and the PRINCESS, the PERI, and the TROU BADOUR ; or, Harlequin and the Ghebers of the Desert. Supported by Mesdames Charles Dillon, Buckingham White, Eliza Webb, Maria Ternan, Esther Jacobs, and Woolgar ; Messrs. Barrett, Calhaem, Holston, Fitzhenry, Poynter, and J. L. Tole. Clowns, Messrs. T. Matthews and R. Stilt ; Harlequin, Mr. J. Ricketts; Pantaloon, Mr. A. Stilt ; Sprites, Herr Zeleski and sons ; Columbines, Misses A. Malcolm and Lees. Gorgeous Feast of Lanterns.—Fenton's Grand Trans formation Scene, Doors open at half-past 6, to commence at 7. Morning Performance on Saturday next, Jan. 2, on which occasion the Boys of the Licensed Victualler? School will attend.—Doors open at 2, commence at half-past 2. 3oa•office open from 11 to 5 daily. iIOYAL SURREY THEATRE. Lessees, Messrs. Shepherd and Orsswick. THIS EVENING, will be performed BROKEN FAITH.] After which, QUEEN NAB ; or Harlequin Romeo and Jolliet. Clown, by the Surrey Buck ; Pantaloon, Mr. Brad. bury. TRAND THEATRE.—Lessee, Mr. T. Payne. k. - 7 —THIS EVENING, will be performed HARLEQUIN NOVELTY AND THE PRINCESS WHO LOST HER HEART. Harlequin, Miss Craven ; Columbine, Deulin ; Sprite, Herr Kirt. The Lambert Family and the Red Man of Agar in their wonderful performance, Commence at Seven.. Stalls, 38.; Bose; 2i.; Pit, Is.: Gallery 6d. CA. NTER T 3 Uit Y HALL, Westminster-road.— OPEN EVERY EVENING.—The follow- Lag company of Vocalists are engaged for the performance of B , lections from all the popular OPERAS, MADRIGALS, CHORUSES, GLEES, DUETS, &c., viz. :—Miss Russell, Mrs. Badzey, Madlle. Marietta, Miss Brauell, Miss Ray, Madame Bartoletti, Miss Montague, and Madame Marietta ; Herr F. Jonghmans, Mr. Renshaw, R. Grover, T. Farrant, S. Jones, .7. Barker, W. Melling, Senor Antonio, E. L. !lime, Mr. Badgey Mr. Elwarde, Mr. Bell, and Mr. Ber nard ; Messrs. S. denims, W. 'I. Critelineld, and E. Mack ney. Pianoforte, Mr. Cecil Hicks; harmonium, Master Williams ; Director, Herr F. Jonghmans. Commence at Seven o'clock precisely. Suppers, drc., until twelve o'clock. Mr. AUGUSTUS BRAITAX will make his first appearance on Monday, the 25th proximo. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. THIS DAT—Morn., 47 min. aft. I—Even., 15 win aft 2 To-Monnow —Morn., 45 min. aft. 2—Even., 10 min. aft. 3 THE WEATHER—Surf OFFICE, DECEMBER 31. THERMOMETER, IN THE SHADE. 4 7—highest since noon yesterday. 3 7—lowest this morning and during the night. 40 —this day at noon. BAROMETER. 30.55. WIND, W.N.W. • light, with fine cold weather, and an evident tendency to frost. Two O'CLOCK. —The wind has gone round to E.S E. ; rather fresh, with fine sunshiny weather. 5- 1 4 .:•:, :,)N", r "! ?.:f ''S 1,77,^ ~ : ...:,, ,- - 1 , ~ ,,t.n t - . 2 - , • - - , y 5 C,....,,,k,nc ;;;',.,:i' - 4....,_ .tt- . ,•‘.._ ~ , 0 ' e i tAf l / 4 ? -7 - t -- :;:-P- 14 .1. .`• - . 7S i- L j jilt -,- 1 '-' - '-: ;:. " '; ',: ' ; ' ;,,tt..;t * " 7 ::•-c)'4 - LONDON, THURSDAY, DEC, 31, 1857. The year now rapidly drawing to a conclusion has been, in many respects, one of the most remarkable and impertanfol those recorded in our national his tory. We have been sorely tried, and passed trium phantly through a very formidable ordeal. No foreign war has ever pressed so heavily on our re sources as the intestine commotions produced by the Indian Mutiny and the Monetary convulsion. Our brethren, and what is far worse, our sisters, and their children, have been butchered, under circumstances of the most horrible atrocity. And that not by an enemy, but by miscreants whom we had pampered until their insolence got beyond all bounds, and they turned the arms with which we had provided them, and the discipline we had taught the n, not only against the officers whom they were bound to obey, and from whom they bad received nothing but kindness, but against the entire English race, who had proved such liberal paymasters and generous protectors. There was an organised determination to purloin ono of the brightest gems from the British Diadem ; and that by means so diabolical, that the public jour nals hays been unable to detail the heartrending partienlars. Humanly speaking, it was astonishing that the defJply laid scheme, the cunning plot did not suc ceed better. It was proved beyond the possibility of doubt, that the entire army of Bengal was cor rupted to the very core, that 70,000 armed and disciplined troops had conspired to produce a ge• neral massacre of Europeans, concealing their aapluinary designs by unparalleled duplicity and treachery. It was, indeed, strange that a plot of which so many thousands must necessarily have I ' 4 ' l cognisant should have been so strictly cm coaled that not the slightest hint had oozed out, nor was there the most remote doubt entertained as to the loyalty and devotion of the double•dyed traitors and murderers who had prepared their diabolical plans with so touch art and cunning. Under Providence tile Anglo-I n di aal E ,i E it was preserved, in the first iestan,,p, , by portion of th e mutineers ; the pre mature outbreak of a and secondly, by the wonderful en„. gY, ability, and bravery di s pl a y e d by the British ofn eera and troops engaged in the cause of truth and justice, honour and loyalty. We have, indeed, with rare exceptions, been truly fortunate in our Generals. It is true that there have been FIEIVITT and LLOYD, but on the other side both the 14 -I W EB:COE% CA3I2.IIELL, WILSON, HAVELOCK :IL (.1 0u11t.4111, NICHOLSON, NEILL, GRANT, GR EA SWART, SHOWERS, GE KRARD, CIIA3IBERL AIN I IHE SUN, LONDON, and a host of others, " whose name is legion," afford a brilliant contrast, showing what zeal and daring can accomplish under the most adverse circumstances. The departing year commenced with the Chi nese difficulty, and the strange and, we must say, factious combination of the Yehites, against the PALMERSTON Ministry. It is true that the Go vernment had many vulnerable points. But these were unwisely disregarded, and the assail ants directed their chief energies against their very strongest position, where they were sustained and supported by public opinion. Mr. COBDEN, directed the onslaught, and by the aid of a motley collection of auxiliaries, obtained an unexpected, and, for his party, a very unfortu nate triumph. The wily chief of the Ministry perceived his advantage, and, in place of re linquishing the seals of office to the eager hands ready to grasp them, at once announced a speedy dissolution, and an appeal to the country. This was at the same time a bold, and a constitutional course, which won golden opinions from all man ner of men, and the result was the unequivocal defeat of the Yehites, and the consolidation of the power of Lord PALMERSTON. The ♦ery leaders in the conspiracy were deprived of their seats, and many old members saw with regret that they had to make way for new and untried men. The second session of l85i" proved the vast accession of strength to the Ministry. Large majorities were obtained on every im portant question, while those which might have led to differences of opinion were postponed until next year. A Reform bill was promised, and permitted to remain in their hands, all instal ments of justice being resolutely refused by a house of which the large majority were protessing reformers. The Currency question —the most important that could possibly be brought forward, and on which the welfare, happiness, and pros perity of the people mainly depended —was hung on the shelf of a select committee ; and the Jewish Bill, after being carried by an overwhelming majo rity of the Commons, was contumeliously rejected by the Lords. All these matters will, therefore, have to be disposed of during the remainder of the session opened during the present month. We have already alluded to the Indian mutiny, and, in another article, to the all-important Cur rency question. These, with the promised and inevitable Reform Bill, will provide abundant employment for the Legislature, to say nothing of the many other topics that must be taken into consideration. We trust that matters will now improve. The omens are far more favour able than they had been even a week since, and we may look forward to the "good time coming," which we trust 1858 will produce. There was a time, and that within the memory of men who have not yet passed the middle age, when usury was regarded as contrary to public policy, and a'serious offence on the part of those who accepted more than 5 per cent. in the shape either of permanent interest or temporary loans or discounts. Under that system commerce, trade, and manufacture flourished, and it was for the protection of these important interests that the enactments were sanctioned. England then attained the high and palmy position which she has since occupied. No doubt usury was occa sionally practised, and that on a large scale ! But the usurers did so at their own risk, like men lend- ing to minors, who were compelled to rely on the honour of the borrowers. The excuse for the large discounts sometimes charged was, that it was essential to establish an Insurance Fund to meet the losses occasioned by repudiation, and the principles of free trade were loudly evoked in order to obtain a repeal of the obnoxious pro =visions. The speeiona argument, that the trade in money should be made as free as in any other comniodi'..y, prevailed, and the restrictions were altogether removed, so far as securities for terms not exceetZ:l4.; twelvemonths were concerned. This was •la first stage in the money-lender's progress. VI hen that was obtained all the former arguments were abandoned. Never was there a more striking case of tergi versation. The cry for free trade in money had served its purpose. Money-lenders were freed from all annoyance, and unrestricted competition was the order of the day. But that did not by any means satisfy the cravings of the acute party whose souls were panting for larger profits. They wanted " protection" to prevent others from interfering with their unholy gains ; accordingly the outcry then was for a system that would prevent the fluctuations in the value of money, and preserve the currency in an equit able state. It was to give an uniformity of value to our paper cu,rrency, to establish a money in which the business of the country could at all times be transacted with safety and security —that was the avowed object of the PEEL LOYD Bill. Its Parliamentary sponsor never at that time hinted at its being intended to en sure the convertibility of the Bank note, and for a very good reason. The security of the Bank note was never impeached. The argument, if put forward in 1844, would have been ridiculed and treated with the profound contempt it merited. However the alleged reason prevailed, and the iniquitous and impolitic Bank Chartar Act re ceived the legislative sanction. This was stage No. 2 in the money lender's progress. The theory on which it was founded :w is speedily proved to be thoroughly unsound. The Old Lady, of Threadneedle-street, being ob liged to purchase all the gold offered at a fixed price, was obliged, in order to maintain her dividends, :to find employ ment for it on any terms that could be obtained, money became a drug in the market, It was difficult to -get- good bills at even 2 per cont. In deed, we believe that first class paper, particularly if of a long date, was readily discounted at 1i or 1/ per cent. in Lombard-street. Thisled to therail way mania . of 1845, the first fruit of the Act of 1844. We need not now speak of the excite ment that prevailed during that period, uutil the matter had proceeded far enough, and it suited the purpose of " the bard calculators" of the day to bring about the collapse, which object was easily effented. Then came the terrible change. The wildest speculatians were succeeded by the severest de pressions. Fluctuations in prices, and in the value of all kinds of property, were far greater than at any former period, under unlimited, irre sponsible issues of paper money. The measure and representative of value practically disappeared, mills and factories were closed, operatives were thrown out of employment, and compelled with their families to undergo the most terrible priva tions. Although a famine was impending over the land, we could not purchase the flour and cereals tendered in unexampled abundance by our transatlantic brethren. And this arose from the abstraction of . a few million sovereigns, while there was still a largo quantity remaining uncalled for, a nd perfectly useless in the coffers of the Bank. all th ere T he Act - which occasi one d or great l y aggravated calamities was at length suspended, not for the H a k e ot the industrial community, whose difficulties we re rnpletely ignored by Sir CHAS. WooD, but to save the Bank of England, whose I deposits would have been drawn on to an extent I far exceeding the amount of notes in reserve. The letter of the 25th October was therefore issued, and the Act virtually repealed. Parliament was, of course, convened before Christmas, in order to sanction the step taken by Ministers, and a carefully selected or rather packed committee was appointed to inquire into the causes of the commercial crisis. It was then that Sir IL PEEL for the first time de clared that to ensure " the convertibility of the bank-note was one of the objects of the measure." A doctrine carried still further by " Mercator" in the Times, who declared that it was the sole object, and that it was never intended or supposed that it could prevent fluctuations in the value of money, which were inevitable. Thus practically abandoning the false and fraudulent pretext on which the act was obtained. This was stage No. 3 in the money-lender's progress. Again, a panic producing more disastrous re sults even than that of 1847 occurred. The Ministers clung longer to the bill, and therefore the mischief was materially enhanced. At length they yielded for the very same reason that their predecessors had in 1847—viz., to save the Bank that must have stopped cash payment, notwith standing seven millions of gold lying in its vaults —gold that was of no greater value than an equal weight of paving stones. And now the mists were at length dispelled, and the real object of the " hard calculators" was openly and unblush ingly avowed. The Times complained of the re laxation, because it prevented the increase in the value of what it was pleased to term " money " prevented the rate of interest from spring ing up to twenty or thirty per cent., and the " hard calculators " from obtaining pos session of the property of their softer brethren at very inadequate prices. Parliament was again summoned, and again the wooden dodge was re sorted to, of shelving the question, by referring it •to a select committee, which will doubtless be vary judiciously chosen, and whose report may be re garded as a " foregone conclusion." This is the fourth stage in the money-lender's progress, and may be regarded as " the beginning of the end." They have now reached sight of the goal, as they fondly imagined. Already they grasp, in imagination, the property of their neighbours, but they may find the fifth stage very different from what they picture to their fancies. The commercial and manufacturing interests are the geese that lay the golden eggs. They are being rapidly destroyed, and when that destruction has been effected, and the revenue of the nation re duced to comparatively slender dimensions, and the ruined people are thoroughly exasperated, they may discover that they are not quite so clever as they suppose, and that " honesty would, after all, have been by far the best policy." THB LAYIATIIAN. The anticipated launch of the Leviathan did not take place this morning, in :consequence of the necessary arrangements for the accomplishment of so desirable an object not being completed in time for ;the afternoon's tide. Mr. Brunel was early this morning iu the yard, accompanied by Mr. R. Stephenson, M.P., whose assistance and ex perience will no doubt facilitate the operations. We believe it is their intention to continue the men at work during the night, so as to be able to attemptthe launch with the morning tide. Should they be successful the Leviathan will be in her proper element before daylight. NEW YEAR'S EVE, 1858-DECEMBER 31, 1857. The Old Year's hours are numbered, Fleeting—phantom guest ! With those that long have slumbered. Go--subside to rest. 2. The young heir peeps already Upon his dotard sire, Mocking his gait unsteady, Regardless of his ire. 3. The Old Year sayeth sadly— " Little now is left, The bells are ringing gladly, I am all bereft." Midnight is impending, Dear life waneth fast, Dark and dawn are blending— Future and the past. 5. Minutes grow more solemn, Fraught with shapeless fear, And a broken column Marks a perished year. ALFRED DE KANTZOW. MARRIAGE OF THE PRINCESS ROYAL.—Tickets for admission to those parts of St. James's Palace to which spectators will be admitted on the 25th ofJannary are to be had only at the office of the Lord Chamberlain, at St. James's Palace. THE MARRIAGE OF THE PRINCESS ROYAL.—lnvita- tions were issued yesterday from the Lord Chamberlain's department, by command of her Majesty, for a grand entertainment at Buckingham Palace on the 25th pros. The cards of invitation specify it to be a "full-dress" entertaiument. The Duke and Duchess of Buccleuch and family, who are surrounded by a large family circle at Bowhill, intend to come to town on the 18th proximo, from Scot land, in order to be present at the nuptials of the Princess Royal and his Royal Highnesa Prince Frederick William cf Prussia. The Duke and Duchess of Hamilton were to leave Nice on Monday last, accompanied by their family, for Rome, for the winter. The Duchess (Dowager) of Hamilton returned to town on Tue3day last, from Brighton, after a short visit to that - watering-place. Viscount and Viscountess Sydney are entertaining a succession of visitors at Frognall Lodge, near Footscray. The circle will not separate until after Twelfthnight. The Dowager Lady Duckett and Miss Meakin have arrived at the Queen's Hotel, Upper Norwood, from Gloucester-gardens. We regret to hear of the death, on Sunday last, at Upfield, near Stroud, of Edward Bullock, Esq., late Common Serjeant of the city of London. The Journal de Gard states that General and Madame Llmoriciere are certainly coming to France before the ht of January. They are selling their furniture at Gand, and intend to live in a country house belonging to them near Amiens. THE DANISH QUESTION.—A telegram from Frankfort, dated 30th December, announces that the Commission entrusted with the examination of the affairs of the duchies of Holstein and Lauenburg was to present its report to the Federal Diet on the following day. The report is said to be very satisfactory. Da KAHN'S MUSEUM.—We were somewhat surprised on entering this museum the other day to find that it presented so many novel features. We bad been accus tomed to look upon it simply as an anatomical museum, but, with its change of residence, it has changed its features also, and presents a complete and perfect Ga!- lery of Science. All that can illustrate the nature of the mysterious forces by ♦irtue of which we "live, and move, and have our being," is gathered together in the beautiful hall, once known as the " Salle Robin." The most varied and costly apparatus is at the disposal of the lecturer for illustrating the share which electricity, magnetism, chemistry, pneumatics, &c., possess in the growth and condition of the human frame ; and when we say that the lecturers avail themselves of these to the utmost, and that, consequently, the museum presents a tout ensemble unparalleled in the world, we have said enough to induce all our readers to pay it an immediate visit. Livitaro)L, Dec. 50.—The screw steamship North American, belonging to the Montreal Ocean Steamship Company, Ballad to-day for Portland, Maine, with the mail for the British North American provinces and 50 passengers. The royal mail steamship America(Cunard) sails for Halifax and Boston on Saturday, the post-office remaining open until 8 a.m., but letters are received with late fee until 9 a.m., and at the landing stage at 1) a.m. There will be no Collins steamer for New York before the 16th of January, after which date the service fur that lice will be monthly instead of fortnightly, so tar at least as the first fuur months of the year are concern , d. FIRE AT THE DIKE OF PORTLAND'S. Yesterday morning, at half-past 10 o'clock, a fire broke out in the bedroom of the Duke of Portland, at his mansion, 19, Civendish-squar6. grace bas for some time been suffering from a chronic disease of rheumatic gout in the nip, and %vas accustomed to allay the pain by inhaling the vapour from a spirit of wine lamp, and had been doing so yesterday morning, attended by Mr. Lewis, his house steward, when, from a slight accident, the curtains of the bed caught fire from the flame of the lamp, and the spirits of wine being upset, soon com municated to the other portion of the bedding. Mr Lewis promptly obtained assistance, and succeeded in conveying the duke to the library; he then took Oe precau ion to close the door of the bedroom, the servants and firemen, who had in the meantime arrived, pouring in buckets of water until th• fire was subdued, but not before the entire furniture of the room was destroyed. THU'IISDAr EVENING, DECE"Inft 21, 18:17 EXCHEQUER NOTES. control were exercised over the issue of private and joint 'stock banks. It was accordingly pro vided by the Act of 1844, " That no person, other than a banker, who on the Gth of May, 1844, was lawfully issuing his own notes, shall make or issue bank notes in any part of the United Kingom." The privilege of those issues was continued to those persons; but the amount that may be issued in each else, was restricted to the amount which constituted their actual issues upon the average of the two preceding years." The notes not exceeding 14,000,000 might be prac tical, but the issue on the bullion is the question able part of this act. Its advantage to the Bank of England is undoubted, because it gives the Bank a double power over the rest of the nation, their power of expansion is thus made doubly rapid, but their power of contraction is equally so, which is the very reverse of that which should be beneficial to the nation. Of all things, to make a law of such importance to be under the control of one body corpoiate, is an evil of such magnitude, that not a week ought to be allowed to pass with out its alteration. At the very time when gold is wanted, notes are wanted still more, yet, by this act, at the very time gold flows out of the coffers of the Bank, notes are withdrawn from circulation to just that very amount—at the very time they are most needed they are taken away, as if by a con catenation of perverted ingenuity. The worst system seems to be made the law of the land that could do that land the most injury. It might be thought, superficially regarded, that the Bank would suffer the most, since her issue to work with is doubly lessened and her means of discount equally shortened, but that is no injury to the Bank, since she can double her interest as rapidly as gold diminishes from her coffers, even in considerable anticipation of it, can she benefit, before the gold is parted with, by raising her rates as a precautionary measure. Not so with the country merchants, manufacturers, and agricultural producers, they have, during this lessening of the means of conducting business, been paying for their castigation, they are not only made to pay the flagellator double ; the farmer getting but half the ptice of his produce, the labourer thrown out of work, and all for what 1 Not because there is less wealth and worth in the nation, unless, by-the-bye,the Bank of England send it out in barsi of gold without a quid pro quo (a thing they are not quite in the habit of doing) not because the merchant is overtrading, but, the truth must come out, because the bankers find it more profitable to be receiving high rates than low rates of interest. Men of paper and nothing else are encouraged, because they can get off a large parcel of discounts, or can pawn their consignees' dock warrants to within 15 per cent, of actual value. The high rates of interest tempt the bankers to extend accommodation beyond prudence, as it tempts them also to use deposits beyond the limits of prudence and caution. But for whom is all this kindness on their part ? Not for the honest sons of toil, but for the fast stag, the go-a-head man, caring but little what he pays, the large supplies •of accommodation suit him and the banker together. The Government overlooked, or winked at the fact, that by allowing gold to regulate the addi tional issue, they leave a power in the bankers' and Bank of England's hands to cause a pretext for raising discounts whenever they like. The Bank has only to treat for large loans to Russia, Austria, East India Company, or Sweden and Norway ; the gold they themselves thus send from their coffers by millions, whenever interest is likely to become below their favourite price, is—the very facility at the same time for raising rates—the high pressure valve, and is seen to work and indicate danger. No matter ; before the Bank fail, the Government and the country must. No matter who sinks, they swim. Rates of interest must be buoyant, uniformly high. Low rates now are only exceptional. So says the Bank ; or, so acts the Bank, at all events. The crash of the banks of 1825 to 1826 was not owing to the inability of the banks then, but to the monetary laws. Sir H. W. Ridley declared, en 3d June, 1828, in the3House of Commons, " that in 1825 and 1826 there were 770 country bankers, and of these 63 had stopped payment, out of which 23 had resumed their payments of 205., and 31 were making arrangements for the payment of their debts. The country bankers, at all events, paid on an average 17s. Gd. in the pound. It is evident they were perfectly solvent when the crash commenced. It was brought about by the drain of specie, and it might have been entirely avoided by permitting the issuing of another species of pro perty to sustain the currency when the one on which all depended was withdrawn." Exchequer Notes would do this. (FROM A CORRESPONDENT.) It appears that authorities upon the present system of currency are somewhat at a discount when such journals as the Times and Daily News seek cor roboration from the exemplary elect perpetrator of slavery in order to justify their crotchet of 1844. President Buchanan, the advocate of slavery, fur nishes these journals (at his eleventh hour of na tional calamity) with a grand sccpe for congratula tion, as if it were a new enunciation that banks ought to be held responsible for their issue. These journals exult over the triumph they have achieved in finding the cowhide gentlemen proscribing the banks of the United States unless they retain a third of bullion to their issue. Do we require to go so far to find advocates of sound principles, or must we seek them (Italy among the pro-slavery Presi dents of America? I have no doubt in a year or two we shall find these journals bolstering up their usurious fraternity by referring to their much respected King of 0 ude, or some new King of Delhi. After all, had the banks of America reserved only one dollar in seven to their issue, upon bullion and deposits, it would seem not to have much exceeded some of our English and Scotch banks. The whole of this loose system is to be repudiated both here and in America. The advocates of an alteration in the circulation are not to be associated by these journals with the abuses of either America or England. Certainly, they can form no connec tion with either, but they can deplore the ignominy of both. All these disgraceful disasters have taken place unconnected with our advocacy. The panics and calamities have all taken place with the pre sent laws, which I, for one, repudiate and de nounce as impracticable and unjust. It does not seem to answer the purpose of certain journals to distinguish between the advocacy of an extension of currency and that of inconvertible issue. It would be an insult to these journals to assign inexperience or a want of knowledge of sound principle of action for not acknowledging that an insufficiency of cur rency has at all times, and ever will, produce low prices, and high rates of discount with the absence of the usury laws. It is an old editorial trick, practised now so often, that the motive and object become promi- . nently evident, when leaders of certain interests associate something low with any principle in which they do not find their present interests up held. It is a trick that comes from the bar. It is quite evident that those who attribute the evils of this crisis to what Mr. Buchanan called a " vicious system of paper currency," like him must have some sinister motive, for it is not true; neither England nor America have increased in paper currency ; the weekly returns of the proceed ings of the Bank of England prove the contrary with regard to us, as do the accounts just received prove the contrary in America. In 1852' the circu lation of America was in June 27,940,000 dols. ; in September, 1857, it had diminished to 27,122,000. But between those periods we find the capital of the New York banks had increased from 59,705,000 dols. in June, 1852, to 107,507 dols. in September, 1857, having very nearly doubled itself within five years. Specie has also increased from 13,304,000, in 1852, to 14,321,000 in 1857. Deposits have increased from 65,634,000 in 1852 to 84,527,000 in 1857, whilst their leans and discounts will be seen to have in creased only in proportion to the increase of their capitaland specie, leaving their deposits untouched. A sounder condition a country need not wish to be in ; a panic need no more take place there than here. England at the present time will ba found to present a more satisfactory state of things ; and nothing justifies the panic of 1857 which has arisen not from want of wealth, nor on account of an excess of issue, but because of the redundance of accumulation of wealth on our part, it having accu mulated into too few hands, by which monopoly can be exercised to their own advancement at the expense of mercantile interests ; also because of the bill of 1844 contracting theissue simultaneously with the contraction of bullion, the working of which I shall illustrate more fully shortly. Bankers and money-lenders are the only inte rests some journals now openly advocate, as if they felt quite secure in the continuance of the plodding merchant, whose everyday toil leaves him little time for reflection. But when this journal finds its circulation growing beautifully less, that it is forbidden to be brought into their counting-houses, let them learn that the British merchant is aroused. One article in the Economist last week, 26th inst., is characterised by a much sounder tone, more in keeping with the principles of the respected Mr. Tooke. In an article, under' the heading, " The American President on the American Crisis," it, does not fall into that wrong but popular error that the evil of this panic was that which Mr. Buchanan declared to be the " extravagant and vicious systems of paper currency," while the Economist shows that the real delinquents are in the back-ground screened from - public gaze. But it admits that when the act of 1844 was suspended in 1847, Sir Robert Peel acknowledged " that for the object of checking commercial speculations the act of 1844 had failed." Unfortunately for the country the cure was not then provided. It would then, as now, be found in the re adoption of the usury laws limiting the interest t - 5 per cent., or in a check to excessive rates of discount ' by the issue of Exchequer notes up to the exact amount of bullion going outof the Bank, which would have a similar effect on the rate as that of the Usury Law would, i.e.., she effect of keeping rates low and more uniform, simply arising out of this fact, that the country would not suffer from a loss of circulation ; as bullion went out of the bank. No greater demand would arise, because no depression would be felt ; :since none would exist, no rise of rates could take place. This would prevent gold goingout into other countries. So m uc h t o our inconvenience at home, because then as go ld went out Exchequer notes would go into circu lation, and would keep down rates of discount. High rates of interest will always give rise to excessive speculation, just as it assumes the appearance of sopping it. The Bank's putting up the rate of interest is only enabling her to discount doubtful paper. High rates tempt the banker to do doubtful bills, which at 3 per cent. he would not think of. It answers the purpose to lend gold to Sweden, Ise., and to raise discounts at home; but such double policy is England's double loss. One question 1 ask in all sincerity—Are the men tlkat are so in the habit of gambling on the Stock Exchange day by day, jobbing and tricking in monetary practices, till trick-my-neighbour ban be come the familiar object of their embrace, are they , 'being educated in a fitting way on points of virtue, sufficiently to become Bankers for the world Are they men to be held paramount to all else—superior to the producers of the earth, that yield yearly 300,000,0001., nearly twice as much as all trading and manufacturing classes put together, which in 1845 reached 180,000,C00/. Are laws ever to be made especially to favour these sordid, self-seeking, huckstering, money traffickers at the expense of the whole nation besides ! The world unt excluding ! Since the Bank of England has forgotten the excessive advantages they enjoy over all else to the extent of 14,000,0001. of issue. Since they have converted that nationality into personality, selfishly appropriated, let a check be placed over them. Are first principles entirely to be ignored in legislation, and secular principles to be raised up as a standard of action ? For what, then, have we a Government, if it but encourage the secular and the vicious? As well might man question his Creator as question first principles. Let Sir Robert Peel's Bill of 1844, and his expediency also, be hurled together into oblivion before secular motives of action became the ruling power oft'te clay. Lord Palmerston might have been entitled to the best thanks of his country while the war lasted, that might have been his mission then to be Pre mier ; but now that the war is over, him not touch the currency, for as sure as be does he will do harm—that is not his forte. It would be hon ourable in him now to resign and give place to one that should be as efficient in currency as he was in the War Department. Now the remedy in the Bank Act of 1844 is to be founded in this. Since a check to the Bank is found to be more and more necessary every clay, let another issue replace the issue withdrawn when gold goes out of the Bank ; as gold is withdrawn make Exchequer notes 'constitute the issue up to the amount of bullion withdrawn from the Bank. These Exchequer no 4 es always payable in taxes and duties, the interest of the issue of which take care is reserved for the Crown. The Bank cannot complain of such a modeof stopping the fluctuations and monetary convulsions that are now so dread ful to bear. This will prevent the sudden reduc tion of issue and gold at the same time, and keep in circulation a steady and even supply of currency; will endanger no inconvertibility, since no more in convertibility will exist then than now, all exche quer notes being convertible into taxes and duties to the amount of the debt of 11,000,0001. The Bank would have no inducement to advance larger loans to Sweden and Denmark, nor to Norway, be cause by parting with money they would not have the same power of raising discounts on what is left Lehind at home as now. The pressure would never b e s o great on the Bank for gold when another convertibility was adopted, such as taxation, be cause fear and mistrust of the ultimate results of stoppage in the Bank of England is now out of the question, whether she ; cap pay. in gold 101 s at one time in Abe pound, or 10 at another. She is always solvent, and no loss can ensue to the coun try ultimately. With a capital of such magnitude she is always safe, but that is no guarantee that she intends to keep to an uniform low rate of discount under 5 per cent. ; au contraire par bloc. I have taken great care not to be chimerical, and have tested my views by introducing the best autho rities on the currency. America and France seem to have discovered, that it is better to tempt the old lady by high rate', and to get the gold from her, than allow England to use it at home. After they have obtained which they can be the first to relax the pressure, as they have done, reduce the rates in their own countries, while misery and ruin, areadful to contemplate, is protracted here in England ; even during this Christmas season when all should be joyous. For the eleven months of this year the excess of imports over exports of gold in France was 16,625,4241., that of last year, 13, 4 70,000/., and in 1855, 8,041,644/. In the same article in the Economist it will be seen that the abuses that exist have n 9 connection with any excessive issue of notes, corroborating all my preceding remarks. "The error of confound ing capital with currency throughout all these vari ous efforts of legislation is now well understoot Imprudent and extravagant credits which end in ruin to all connected with them are at length seen to have no connection with them, and entirely un aided at any particular time by excessive issues of notes ;—it is seen that in places where the banks of issue exist, and that with regard to banks of de posit only, the chief abuses have existed, and that in Hamburg, where apurely metallic currency only is in use, the crisis has been more severely felt than in y other and now, at last, we are likely to guy e place;amore searching scrutiny." Much as I find the above remarks in accordance with my foregoing letters, I am sorry that I cannot say, " the Bank has . been perfect," nor that we may expect more practical conclusions from our closed doors instead of an open house. We know an Act was passed in 1844 renewing for ten years the charter of the Bank of England, but as the particulars of the Act might not be quite familiar to all, I will here adduce them, in order that we may be agreed upon the principles. " The privilege of issuing paper money within a circle of sixty miles radius round London, was con tinued exclusively to the Bank of England, but with the following restrictions :—The establish ment was divided into two departments wholly distinct from each other, placed under sepa rate officers and keeping separate accounts. One for the ordinary purposes of banking, the other for the purposes of regulating the issue of note 4, the amount of which Was In concluding this letter, I quote Alison upon the encouragement given to speculation :—" To make paper plentiful when gold is plentiful, and paper scarce when gold is scarce, is not only a dan gerous system at ail times, and under all circum stances, but is precisely the reverse of what should be established. It alternately aggravates the dan gers arising from over speculation, and induces the distress consequent on over contraction. The true system would be the very reverse, and it would prevent the whole evils which the preceding pages have unfolded." Exchequer notes should be based on the principle of making paper a supplement to the metallic cur rency, and a substitute for it when required, not A representative of Alison further says :—" Thus, over speculation at one time, and monetary distress at another, would be alike avoided, and an equal circulation would maintain the health of the social never to exceed fourteen millions, in addition to the actual amount of gold and silver bullif,n, lodged by the ban.lcing departmaiit in the department of issue. This 14 millions is made up of 11,000,000, the amount of capital which has been lent per- i a n n li t ie 3 l: o t o ly m to oo G o o f v i e ) r u n ti m lic ei which the bank of issue is empowered to hold for at 2 per cent. interest, securities, bearing interest that purpose. Porter himself could not refrain from remarking, "It remains, however, to be proved whether, under all circumstances that may arise, the security of the public is thus equally well attained. As respects the management of the cur rency, and there are not wanting men of great practical experience in such questions, who have expressed doubts upon this suljeet." It must be evident that any attempt to regulate the currency by controlling the issues of the Bank of England, must fail of its object unless an equal system, as it unquestionably does of animal life." The important current of events of the. past week ealling forth so many remarks, precludes the possibility of my entering upon the statistics allu ded to in my last. DANGERS OF THE RED PETTICOAT.—Three ladies were last week v.alking on the Newmarket-road, two of hem exhibiting the favourite under-garment of the day, when the iro of a passing bullock was excited by the glar'ng colour, and, he made a dash at the party. The offending ladies succeeded in evading him, but their companion, though in a more sombre garb, was lifted upon a gate by the beast, but sustained no injury beyond the fright.—Bury Poo'. LATEST NEWS Advices from Alexandria state that negotiations entered into by the English representative with the Chinese government have failed. The perse cutions of the Chinese against the Christians were increasing, and several of the latter have fallen victims. Commodore Read, the American envoy, had arrived at Hong Kong. The English steamer Abeona, with the 94th Regiment on board, destined for India, arrived at Malta on the 24th inst. FRANCE. PARIS, WEDNESDAY EVENING. Important despatches have reached Paris from China. The authorities of Canton are preparing for a defence. Proclamations have appeared order ing "all Christian and foreign dogs to be killed." It is now said that the Conferences will not take place in Paris before February. There are many preliminary difficulties to settle, especially about the navigation of the Danube. The Governor of the Credit Foncier of France, M. L. Fremy, announces to the shareholders the payment of a provisional dividend of 6f. 25c. per share for the second six months of 1857, which is equivalent to 5 per cent. on the sum paid up. " The final dividend for 1857, will be fixed at the general annual meeting in the month of April next. The payment of 6f. 25c. per share will take place at the office of the Society, 19, Rue Neuve des Capuciens, after Monday next, the 4th January." The Moniteur contains a decree appointing a commission of inquiry into the organisation of the Imperial librtry. MM. Merimee, General Allard, Lebut, of the Institute ; Marchand and Chaix d'Este-Ange, Couneillors of State, and six other savans, are named as members, of the commission. The ceremonial of the Imperial receptions, on the occasion of t. 4c Jour do PA/4 aro girtou wb length in the ofticia paper. The French papers contain the following facts : "An affair, in a slight degree similar to that of Jeufosse, has just taken place at Habouville, in the Moselle. A young man, named Basset, not quite 18 years of age, made some time ago the acquaintance, in a wood, of Mlle. P--, aged 16, daughter of the mayor of the village of Saint-Ail, who resides at Habou ville. They had frequent meetings in the wood, and at length, in October last, the girl began to admit Bas set to her chamber of a night. The c •nnexion between them continued unknown to the girl's parents to the 25th, when these latter were told of it by two of their nieces. The father said nothing; but at night, when the hour for retiring to rest had arrived, he told his daughter to go and sleep in her brother's chamber, and the brother to sleep in his sister's room. She obeyed, and he then went to the son, and handing him a double barrelled gun which was loaded, told him that his sister was dishonoured, that the man who had ill-treated her would perhaps that very night attempt to enter her chamber, and that if he did so, be (the brother) must fire at him, The young man placed himself oa the watch, and after a little while he heard a noise as of a man climbing up to the window by means dof the shutters ; presently he saw a man standing on the shutter at the window,; on which he opened the window, fired, and the man, who was Ba,set, fell dead. The father at once sent for the gendarmerie, and calmly related to them the preceding circumstances. He was surprised when the gendarmes proceeded to arrest his son and himself." BOURSE, DEC, 30.—The money market con tinues buoyant, and securities were in demand at the opening. After a slight reaction produced by realisations, the tendency again became favourable, though the English Consols had arrived with a fall of Threes have been done at 68f. 35c. to 68f. 55c. ; Mobilier improved to 855 and 860 f. ; Aus trian, 745 f. and 750 f. 50c. ; Lyons, 880 f. ; Or leans, 1,3801. ; Southern, 560 f. ; Northern, 965 f. ; Eastern, 792 f. 50c. ; and Geneva, 700 f. The up ward movement continued with increased rapidity until just before the close, when it was checked by sales for realisation, prices, however, closing firm. THE DANUBE. The Nora of Brussels contains the following rela tive to the question of the Danube, but it must not be forgotten that the journal just named never loses an opportunity of running down the Austrian Go vernment : " The Commission of the States on the Banks of the Danube assembled at Vienna under the presi dency of the Austrian delegate, M. de Blumfeld, and decided on the regulations which it had been charged to draw up. These negotiations were conducted with great tact, and to the predominant advantage of Austria, and all the stipulations were worded in a sense favourable to Austrian monopoly. The Servian commissioner proposed that it should be stipulated that the companies established on the territory of one of the States could not prevent the foundation of other compa nies by the neighbouring States, or in other words that the right of the former should not ex tend over all the course of the river to the exclusion of its neighbours. This clause was intended as a check to Austria, which was opposed to the forma tion of French, English, Russian, or indeed any companies except her own.' The proposition was strongly objected to by the president, and a very stormy discussion followed. The Servian com missioner refused to take part in the labours of the commission, and formally protested against its de cisions, and his example was followed by his col leagues of Moldavia and Wallachia. Turkey hesi tated for some time, but at length yielded, and the ascendancy of Austria once more prevailed. The convention was ratified by the Gerthan States and by Turkey, but the three commissioners of the States of the Danube did r of sign the definitive document. This arrangement, therefore, according to the spirit of the treaty of Paris, is radically defective, and ought to be regarded as null and void. After these incidents, explanations were exchanged be tween the different cabinets. France, it is said, energetically protested against the validity of the document signed at Vienna. Count de Buol, in, a note of the 7th Dec., is said to have claimed for the States on the banks of the Danube the exclusive right of regulating the navigation of the upper part of the river, and pointed out the distinction which he made at the Congress of Paris between the Danube at its mouth and the upper part of the river. He besides stated that the European Congress had nothing to do with the question, and that the document which had been signed would only be presented to the Conference at Paris as a simple notification. To these strangepretensions the French cabinet is said to have replied by a circular addressed to its representatives at the courts of the powers which sign the treaty, and in which it strongly insisted on the necessity of maintaining the rights of the conference, of having a revision of the convention of the States on the river, and of settling the question by a decision of the European Congress. Such is the subject of the fresh difference which has arisen through the tactics of the cabinet of Vienna." AUSTRIA. The Vienna journals state that the reduction of the military police force has now been effected at Vienna, Pague, Posty, and other large towns in which category are some of upwards of .40 , 000 souls ; it is to be completely suppressed, and the civil police are alone to be charged with the maintenance of order. These measures are to be applicable to Hungary and other States, as well as to Austria proper. PRUSSIA. BERLIN, DEC. 28. It will be remembered that the city of Hamburg, before obtaining a recent loan of 10,000,000 marks Banco from the Austrian Government Bank, made unsuccessful attempts to obtain an advance from Prussia and Saxony. The circumstance that pro bably contributed most of all to produce willing ness on the part of the Austrian Bank to part with au article so much in demand everywhere as silver was the happy state in which that institution found itself at the time, of not being required to honour its notes with a corresponding value in coin ; whila to the Government itself (and we are given to under stand that the Emperor himself was among the fore most to suggest it) doubtless the opportunity a f gaining some popularity in Germany presented con siderable attraction—the more so as the two North ' German States were losing ground a little iu popu lar feeling by their unwillingness to come forward. It was probably with the amiable motive of spoil- , ing the joy felt by the recipient of the loan and the pride felt by the lender, as well as of setting • itself right in the eyes of Germany, that the Prussian Government recently thought it desirable to publish a despatch forwarded by Baron Von Mauteuffel to Herr Von liamptz ' the ropresenta- ' tive of Prussia at Hambur g , which contained an expose of the motives that had withheld tle Prus sian Government from according the aid required. Consistently with the self-protecting, timidly cautious course the Prussian Government took in the Hamburg matter, it has declined also to assist the city of Lubeck with a loan of 600,000 thalers ; the amount has, however, since been obtained with- , out much difficulty from the wealthy money mer chants of Hamburg. The Government has also refused, on two occasions, the importun at e of the corporate merchants of this Place foraa requestnk spe cial law with respect to houses in difficulties, but whose b and temporary modification of the b ankrupt assets slow a fair and reasonable) chance of paying 20s. in the pound. The evident object of the Minis ter of Commerce is not only to repress all over speculation, but to compel all traders to keep not only within, but very far within, their real means, which, considering that the capital at the commsnd of Prussian commerce is rather scanty, is by no means favourable to the rapid development of com merce and industry. SWITZERLAND. The President of the National Council of Switzer land, M. Keller, in closing the session, a few days ago, delivered an address, in which he recapitulated the labours of the council, and remarked that by the re-election of th e mem b ers o f th e ex ecutive government and of the judges it bad given its un equivocal approbation to the manner in which they had carried out the principles of the constitution of 1848. He also remar k e d th a t i n getting aside the conflict of j ur i s di c ti on ra i se d by the grand council of th e can t on o f V au d, it . has preserved the authority o f th e C on federation, and at tho same ti me ac t e d ki n dl y t ow ards one of its members. He th en announce d th a t unless extraordinary and unforeseen even t s s hould occur, the chambers would no t reassem bl e un til the ordi nary session of July, and that then the Federal Assembly would meet in the Federal Palace, in stead of in the Hotel de 'Ville, at Berne ; the latter being destined for the sittings of the grand council of the canton. In the council of the States, the president, M. Staelin, of Bale, delivered a some what similar address. The Madrid journals of the 26th inst. contain no political news. M. Gonzalez Bravo, Minister at the court of London, b a d arr i ve d i n Madrid. THE MARRIAGE OF THE PRINCESS ROY AL. WINDSOR, DEC. 30. The marriage ceremony of her Royal Highness the Princess Royal and Prince Frederick William of Prussia will take place at the Chapel Royal, St. James's, on Monday, January 25. • There will pr....ank um. the occasion besides the Royal Family, his Majesty the King of the Bel , gians, their Royal Hi g h nesses th e D u k e o f Brabant and the Count of Flanders, their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Prussia, Prince Frede rick Charles (nephew of the King, son of Prince Charles), Prince Albert (brother of the King), Prince Charles Albert (son of Prince Albert), Prince Adalbert (cousin- of the King), and the Prince of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen, their Royal Highnesses the Grand Duke and Duchess of Baden and Prince William of Baden (brother of the Grand Duke), and their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Saxe Coburg, the whole of whom will arrive from the Continent on the 15th of January and the following days, and will be her Majesty's guests at Buckingham-palace, while apartments have b een engage d f or their respective suites at Farrance's a nd F en t on ' s h o tels. There will also be pres e nt o n the occasion their Serene Highnesses Princ e Ed war d of Saxe Weimar, the Prince and Princess of Hohe n lohe Langenburg, Princess Feodore and Prince Victor of Hohenlohe, and the Prince of Leiningen. ' Her Majesty, his Royal Highness the Prince Consort, and the royal family will arrive in town on Friday, the 15th of January. A series of theatrical representations will take place at her Majesty's Theatre on Tuesday. the 19th, Thursday, the 21st, and Saturday, the 23d of January, at which her Majesty, the royal family, and foreign visitors will be present. Her Majesty will give a State Ball, at Bucking ham Palace, on Wednesday, January 20. His Royal Highness Prince Frederick William will arrive on the 23d. After the marriage ceremony on the 25th, the Prince and the Princess Royal will leave Bucking ham Palace for Windsor Castle, attended by a limited suite. Her Majesty will give that evening a State Con.- cart at Buckingham Palace, to which the persons present at the marriage ceremony, the corps diplo matique, the members of the Government, and a number of the aristocracy will be invited. On the 26th most of her Majesty's guests will return to the Continent. On the 27th her Majesty and the Prince Consort, with the junior members of the Royal Family, will join the young married couple at Windsor Castle, where on the 28th her Majesty will hold a Chapter of the Garter, for the purpose of investing Prince Frederick William with this distinguished order. The Knights of the Garter attending the Chapter will be her Majesty's guests at the castle, and wilt be present at a grand banquet to be given in honour of the occasion. On Friday, January 29th, her Majesty, his Royal Highness the Prince Consort, and the Royal Family, with their Royal Highnesses Prince Frederick William and the Princess Royal, will return to - town find ho present in Sato at a representation at het Majesty's Theatre in the evening. On the following day (January 30) her Majesty will hold a ➢rawing-room at St. James's Palace, far the pur pose of receiving congratulations on the happy event. The departure of their Royal Highnesses is fixed for Tuesday, February 2d. Their Royal High- nesses will embark at Gravesend in her Majesty's yacht Victoria and Albert, and cross over to Antwerp. PRINCE ALPHONSO AND THE LEGION OF HONOUR. Since the birth of Prince Alphonso (the heir to the Spanish Crown) the good people of Madrid have been waiting for the Emperor Napoleon to confer the grand cordon of the Legion of Honour on the Royal infant. Those expectations have not yet been fulfilled. Now, when the Imperial Prince of France was born the Spanish Government, at whose bead Espartero then was, lost no time in sending to the Tuileries the insignia of the Golden Fleece, which had become vacant by the death of the Emperor Nicholas ' • and it was only fa i r that the compliment should be reciprocated. Leis-Petits cadeauxentretinnentl'amitte, as is taken for granted that the French and Spanish Courts are on the most friendly terms. This forgetfulness, for it oan hardly be anything elsb, has, however, produced some surprise, if not mortification in adrid. it is not that the Prince of the Asturias is in want of decorations. Quite the contrary. The innocent babe has more than he can well bear t he has the Golden Fleece, Charles 111., Isabella Cattolica, to which, by-the-bye, are attached collars 'of - no light weight or small dimensions ; not to speak of the orders of St. John, Calatrava, &o. It is right to add that his Royal Highness himself is not the party who makes any complaint on the subject. According to authentic accounts he bears the slight with much equanimity ; and, apparently, seta more value on the caresses of his nurse than on all the decorations that could be offered to him, in oluling even the awful Lion of Zohringhen, the Golden Spur of Rome, or the 'blazing Sun of Faustin I. GAS MONOPOLY.-MEETING OF DELEGATES Yesterday a meeting of delegates from the vari ous metropolitan parishes was held in the Vestry room of the Marylebone Vestry, for the purpose of considering what steps should be taken to frustrate the late attempt on the part of the gas companies to establish a monopoly, and to adopt such mea sures as would effectually protect the gas consumers and the parishes generally from the impositions to which they were about to be subjected by the ex tortionate charges the gas oompaati , eB w are begianiug to impose upon them, now that they had succeeded in abolishing all competition Mr. FREETH occupied the chair, and baying ex plained to the meeting the reasons for calling them together, suggested that a petition should be pre sented to Parliament, praying for powers to enable the metropolitan parishes to make their own gas. He considered they had a very strong case to go to Sir B. Hall with, as the parish of Marylebone bad, in consequenee of the combination of the gas com panies, been compelled to pay 11. e. ,a light more than they were in the habit of paying when there was competition. They had been the first that that had been shot at and hit, but the rest of th e parisheswould be similarly dealt with as soon their contracts Tun out, w hich than l w i showed t m ha a t ne g h a e s s e te o r uld or b s e , Mr. ADDERSLEY entered into a statement • London y a , p a er nu in y, A e t they h m re a w de sb c u h r e •ther of charge 1 more Tor it in London than in ei those places, and he did not see why the metropo litan parishes should not have the same powers that those places had to mike gas for themselves. Atter a lengthened discussion, resolutions were adopted appointing a sub committee of delegates 10 draw up a petition to Parliament embodying their . views, and inviting Dr. Cuallice, the chairman of the South London Gas-consumers' Mutual Protec tion Association, to co-operate with them and give his valuable a ssistance in furthering that object. The meeting then adjourned. TUBIN, Dim 27.—The murderous attack upon Count George Brembati, of Bergamo, who was stabbed and otherwise severely injured when passing along the San Damian° at Milan, has caused groat disgust *along the Liberals of the last-named city. The Count has the re• putation of being in too close connesiong with the Austrian police authorities ; but it is justly that his a ls a es i na ti on cou ld o nly serve to cast d iscredit upon the p ar ty by a mem ber of which it is natura lly supposed to have been committed. considere.d