The Sun. — London, England, 1857-01-16 00:00:00

T HEATRE ROYAL, DRUM LANE.— Lessee, Mr. E. T. Smith. Acting Manager, Mr. C. Mathews. Stage Manager, Mr. R. Roxby. Scenic Artist, Mr. W. Beverley. Great Success of the Grand Christmas Pantomime, the Most magnificent ever produced on the English stage. THIS EVENING, to commence with the new and original symbolical, hyperbolical, parabolical, and extra-physiog nomical grotesque, statuesque, and picturesque Grand Comic Christmas pantomime, which for some time past has employed the unrivalled resources of this extensive establishment, and which will be called or entitled, as it is entitled to be called, SEE, SAW, MARGERY DAW ; Or, H ar lequin Holiday, and the Island of Ups and Downs . The scenery entirely new, painted by and under the direc tion of Mr. William Beverley and numerous assistants, The Machinery by J. Tucker and assistants. The properties, de corations, tricks, changes, and transformations by Messrs. Needham, Glindon, &c. The masks, models, and physiog. comical devices designed and executed by the celebrated Dykwynkyn. The overture and music composed and arranged by Herr Anschuez. The choregraphic arrangements under the personal supervision of M. Petit. The comic scenes con structed by and under the direction of Harry Boleno. The peculiar grotesque opening invented and written by E. L. Blanchard, author of " Harlequin and the Seven Ages of Man," " Jack and Jill," " Humming Top," " Hudibras,"&c-, and the whole arranged and produced under the direction of W. Robert Roxby. Ye ancients and truthful legend on ye which ye pantomime U story is founded :-- "See, saw, Margery Daw, " Sold her bed, and laid upon !straw . . l ' MSS. of Nursery Rhymes in British Museum. It3gion of Reverses, ,, in the Island of Ups and Downs. Yea, the Great Globe itself." " Here we go up, up, up, " Here we go down, down, down ; r, ri ve we go backwards and forwards, " And here we go round and round." Juvenile Chorus of the earliest period, supposed to belong to the One. Up, Mr. Topham ; Down, Mr. Low; Opera. box, Kid Glove, Tiger and Brougham, and Porte-monnaie (attendants upon Up), Signor Lorgnette. Herr Tightfitt, Master Sancebox, and Monsieur Chinque ; Hard Up, Dupla. sate Di s traint, and Rags (attendants upon Down), Mr. Friz hard, Mr. Popall, Mr. Quodham, and Mr. Patchwell. An anal a ppearance of Holyday in her Emblematic Car. Holyd a y (th e Genius of the Season), Miss Marian Stanley ; Sport and Pastime (her attendants), Misses Lovelaugh and Lightheart ; Dame Necessity (who is on this occasion made a virtue of by particular desire), Mrs. Selby. How Invention, the Daughter o f Necessity, is called upon to assist the development of the story, while Holyday invites both Up and Down to enjoy themselves. Holyday's Home in the Green Bower of Mistletoe and Winter Garden of the Fairies.—Mistletoe (the Fairy Queen), Miss E. Wadham ; Fairy Spirits of the Kisses that have been given under the Mistletoe, by upwards of 100 Ladies of the Corps de Ballet. Grand Ballet —Miss Rosina Wright, Mdlles. J. and E. Osmont, and the Co. ryphees. The Golden Gates leading to the Palace of Huggamugga.—Herald (with a Proclamation), Mr. Hornogold ; Guards, Messrs. Stiffneck, Headsup, Eyesright, Sheulderarms, Stand-at-ease, and March well ; Tailor, Mr. Broadcloth ; Cobbler, Mr. Waxend ; Black smith, Mr. Anvil; the Princess Margery Daw (afterwards Columbine), Madame Boleno ; Shilly and Shelly (her Maids of Honour), Misses Dithery and Dothery. How Margery Daw has no notion of work herself, and the contempt she shows towards those who do work. Interior of the Palace of King Huggamugga. King Huggamngga (Sovereign of the Land of Sixes and Sevens), Mr. Dawking; Huryl-Burly (Lord Chancellor), Mr. Bigwig ; Niminy-Piminy (the Lord Cham berlain), Mr. Noodledom ; Higgledy-Piggledy (Goldstick in Waiting), Mr. Muddle ; other Members of the Court, Messrs. Bow, Scrape, Cringe, Crouch, Tagnag, Merrywag, Perriwig, and Hatband; Court Milliner, Madame Crinoline ; Drawing Master, Professor Crayon ; Governess, Miss Frump ; Music- Master, Signor Hurdigurdi ; Maid in Waiting, Miss Sweet tlmper ; Chef de Cuisine, Mr. Cook ; Prince Popinjay (of the Land of Prettistory), Mr. Finefeather ; his Retinue, atessrs. Glare, Dazzle, Gleam, Glitter, and Cutashine. How the Princess is taught a wholesome lesson by Necessity, and of the change that takes place in consequence. Cottage of Necessity, with a Prospect of Hard Work in the Distance. The Enchanted Workbox—The Sampler and the Exemplar, and the pretty piece of work that Margery Daw makes of it. Inhabitants of the Workbox :—Row of Pins, Messrs. Sharp, Bent, Crooked, Pinaday, Groatayear, &c. ; Regiment of Needles (ready drilled), Messrs. Largeeye, Smalleye, Longsix, Splitup, Snapoff, &c. ; Thimble, Master Tom Thumb ; Worsted, Mr. Bawlaway ; Bodkin, Mr. Pierce ; Tape Mea sure, Mr. Inchbald; Hook and Eye, Messrs. How and Some bodyelse ; Shirt Buttons, Mr. Earlypurly ; Scissors, Mr. Shearsteel. How Margery Daw makes an important discovery and the audience also, and how, led by Necessity, she is com pelled to alter her opinions and change her position. The Mine of Labour, leading to the Mine of Wealth.—Labour (the Parent of Health, Wealth, and Hanpinees), Mr. Strong'i'th'arm. What Margery Daw goes to see, what she saw, and the re ward that Holyday bestows. Grand Scenic and Mechanical Effects, exhibiting (in processaf construction) the Fairy Fac tory of Fancy, completed with tli e assistance of Labour and Imagination. Brilliant Tableau. Tee Transformation :—Two Harlequins, Herr Denlin and Signor Veroni ; two Sprites, the Brothers Elliott ; two Patitaloor s, Mr. Barnes and Mr. G. Tanner; two Clowns, Messrs. Harry Boleno and Flexmore ; the Gent, Mr. Halford ; two Columbines, Madame Boleno and Miss Honey. The Ups and Downs of the Harlequinade. showing the Ins and Outs and Turns About of the Pantomime Rally ; Toy Warehouse, Butcher's and Baker's Shop (Bolenos, Denlin, Tanner, and Halford).—A pink of polite ness—Clown very toyish—Getting a nutcracker, which turns out a nobby toy—First and last toys for gambling—Marbles versus dice—Despatches, loaded, and off they go—Harlequin takes a private box—Clown takes Chatterten's situation as boxkeeper Kite-flying —A game of Cricket, by which some of the players get bowled out, and afterwards stumped, which turns out a long stop—The uses and abuses of the crin oline—A Jack in the box—A box of regular British toys and a basket of French bread (bricks)—Aldershott a size smaller —Grand review of infantry—A military ball—Going in for a buster—Coming out with a roll—Clown make a peel to baker's feelings—List, oh, List—Squaring a round of beef— Clown takes a steak and gets a chop in return—Pantaloon tries his hand at a game and loses by it Cut and come again —Clown takes a butcher's shop, which Harlequin makes too het to hold him. Tailor's Shep and Perfumery Warehouse (Ve reni, Barnes, and Honey). A gentleman in search of a tailor— A snit that is quite the ticket The Onde wrapper—Railway wrappers—Transfer depot--Washing machine--extraordinary— Something that won't wash—Cleaned out—Scent in and sent out- Foreign versus English toothpowder Hungary water—A Frangipani bouquet Wonderful effects of the Pistachio nut powder—A case of real distress—Pantaloon in a fix—Fur nished Apartments for Single Men (Bolenos, Denim; and Tanner).—Clo"n and Pantaloon in high life—A domestic re volution—Turning the tables—To bed, to bed—A drop too much Clown now begins to reflect—The looking-glass follows his example—Two heads better than one—Clown takes a turn en the sofa, which also takes a turn on its own account— Multiplication altercation, which ends with a regular row in the house, Judkie's Gas-regulating Machine and General Patent Office and Stationer's Shop (Veroni, Barnes, and Honey.)—Clown, being in Fleet-street. goes the pace rather fast—The language of the eyes (I-talian of course) which everybody understands—Bath post versus London post—Re gulators Wanted : railway regulators, army regulators, gas regulators, smoke regulators—Sewing, cutting, washing, pressing, and ironing done by a turn—Clown makes a shift which makes Pantaloon a little shirty—A box of common scents—A. fresh supply of blacks from America- - A Dred-ful scene ensues. Mechi's Model Farm (Bolenos, Denlin, and Taaner.)—Harvest-home —A rakish dance by rustic lads and lasses—The milky way—Harlequin makes a pump of himself —A strong smell of game—A farm-yard visitor—Clown finds the pig a very great bore —Pantaloon finds the dog gets greatly attached to him —Prize Poultry—Cochin China and *ouch in England —Novel hatching—The old mail—Full in side—Clown eff by the Express and Pantaloon by the Rocket—Mappin's Cutlery and Shilling Razor Warehouse, Ring William-street, City (th e w h o l e o f the double ' company will appear in this scene )—Pantaloon proposes to take a bus—Present and future—Weight of public opinion —A change for the better—The people's own bus—When fool meets fool then comes the tug of fun—Collision, crash, smash, and dash—Garotte preventive—Moustache move ment A pair of sharp blades—Clowns prove themselves a case for cutlery Holloway stopped by Holloway's oint ment—The duel—A cut direct—Forewarned, forearmed— Public nuisances of 1856—0 h, my Crinoline—A high wind. s regular blow up, and glorious termination to Ups and Downs in Holiday's Fairy Home. To conclude with the laughable farce, TWO HEADS ARE BETTER THAN ONE. The reduced prices as follows, varying throughout the helm to suit eve r y one :—Galleries, 6.1 and is. • Second Circle of Boxes, l s . Fd . ; Pit 2s. ; First Circle ' of Boxes, N ' . 6d. ; Dress Bo xes , 3s. • Stalls, ss. ; Private B oxes, 105. 6d., '. ls., 1/. lls. M., and 2/ 2s. A Morning Pe r f ormance of the Gr . eat . Pantomime every Wednesday, at Two o'clock. ROYAL LYCEUM TIiEATRE. Lessee, Mr. C. Dillon. THIS EVENING will be produced an entirely new and original combination of burlesque and pantomime, entitled CONRAD AND MEDORA; • or, Harlequin Corsair and the Little Fairy at the Bottom of the Sea. The burlesque opening by W. Brough, Esq., founded upon the ballet of Le Corsair, as produced at Her Majesty's Theatre. The harlequinado upon things in gene ral. The new and magnificent scenery painted by Mr. F. Fenton. Characters in the opening ; Conrad (the Corsair) Miss Woolgar Birbarto (his lieutenant) Mr. J. L. Toole Seyde Pasha Mr. Barrett Sing Smaul Mr. Holston Yus " iff ............................... Mr. S. Calhaem Med or a ......... Airs. Charles Dillon Gulnar .................................................... Mrs. R White Zuliem ....... Mrs. Melville Submarina. ................................... Miss Jessie Ryder Serene. Clowns ................................Miss Marie Wilton ........................... Mr. Tom Matthews and Mr. H. Marshall ........Mr. Stilt ..... ...Mr. J Marshall ....... The Brothers Nelson. Miss Clara Morgan and To be preceded by THE Miss L a dd . KING'S MUSKETEERS . D'Ar tagnan, Mr. C. Dillon. The boa-office open daily, from Itt ll to 5, un d er the super. endence Mr. Chatter of ton, jun. Carriages conveying parties t:o the Private Boxes to set down at the State entrance in Burleigh-street A Morning Performance every Saturday, at 2 o'clock. Puntaleo I ......... . Harlequin ......... . Sprites ......................... Columbines ...................... STRAND THE A.T RE.—Manager, Mr. T. Payne.—This Evening will be performed THE JEW'S DAUGHTER. After which, the immensely successful novel Burlesque Pantomime of THE MAGIC MISTLETOE ; or, Harlequin Humbug and the Shams of London. The Fairy ChriAmas, Miss E. Wilton ; Good Humour, Miss Norhui7; Mercury, Miss Cameron • Humbug, Mr. Herbert; Cant, Mr. Bolton ; Baron, Mr J. B. Johnstone ; Sir Roland, Mr. Clarke; Lord Love)., Miss Craven ; Addelp ite, Miss Cuthbert ; Crambo, Master W. Edouin ; Lady Antes, Miss E. Jacobs ; Baroness, Cdr. G. Lee ; Furbilosa, Mr. J. Howard. Novel Harle quinade :—Clown, Miss Cuthbert ; Little Clown, Master W FAlouin ; Pantaloon, Mr. J. Clarke ; Harlequin, Miss Craven; Columbines. Miss E. Jacobs and Mdle. Collison ; Premier Danseuso, Mdle. Marie Charles. To conclude with THE INTRIGUE. Now and magnificent Scenery, &c. New Curtain. New Act Drop. Commence at Seven. Stalls, 3s. ; Boxes, 2s. ; Pit, is. ; Gallery, 6d. A morning performance of the Pantomime every Monday at two o'clock. yIoYAL SURREY THEATRE. Lesgeeg, Messrs. Shepherd and Creswick. THIS EVENING, THE LIFE CHASE. After which, HAR LEQUIN ANT) THE SUMMER QUEEN. Harlequin Mr. F. Glover ; Clown , Mr. Luck ; Pantaloon, Mr. Bradbury; the Four Sprites , lily; Columbines, Mesdames Marie and Agnes. THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY Ei.ENING, JANUARY 16. 1857 ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE. THIS EVENING will be performed A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM. After which, a new grand Christmas Pantomime, called ALADDIN AND THE WONDERFUL LAMP; or, Harlequin and the Genii of the Ring. Harlequin, Mr. Cormack ; Clown, Mr. Reline ; Pantaloon, Mr. Paulo ; Co lumbine, Miss C. Adams. 1 HEATRE ROYAL, HAYMARKET. THIS EVENING, to commence at Seven, THE SCHOOL FOR SCANDAL, with Mr. Murdoch as Charles Surfaee ; Sir Peter Teazle, Mr. Chippendale; Sir Benjamin Backbite, Mr. Buckstone ; Crabtree, Mr. Compton; Josdph Surface, Mr. Howe ; Sir Oliver Surface, Mr. Rogers; Moses, Mr. Clark; Sir Harry (with a song), Mr. W. Farren ; Lady Teazle, Miss Reynolds ; Mrs. Candour, Miss Talbot ; Lady Sneerwell, Mrs. Poynter ; Maria, Miss E. Sabine. After which, a new comic Christmas Pantomime, entitled THE BABES IN THE WOOD, or Harlequin and the Cruel Uncle. The scenery of the openinc , story painted by Mr. W. Callcott. The music composed and arranged by Edward Fitz william. The pantomime produced under the direction of M. Milano. Harlequin, M. Milano; Columbine, Fanny Wright ; Pantaloon, Mr. Mackay ; and Clown, Mr. Driver. _ . A Morning performance of the Pantomime will be given every Tharsday : commencing at 2, concluding at 4. T HEATRE ROYAL, ADELPHI, Lessee—Mr. Ben. Webster. Great Hit of A Night at IN otting-Hill. THIS EVENING will be performed DOMESTIC ECONOMY. After which, A NIGHT AT NOTTING-HILL, in which Mr. Wright and Paul Bedford will appear. To conclude with the new and original union of modern burlesque and old English pantomime (as originated at this theatre), by Professor Wordspinner, Member of Every thing, with entirely new scenery, dresses, transformations, clvc., called MOTHER SHIPTON ; or, Harlequin Knight of Love, and the Enchanted Whistle. Harlequin and Columbine (h la Watteau), Madame Celeste and Miss Wyndham ; Clown, Mr. Garden ; Pantaloon, Mr. Moreland ; Scaramouch, Mr. Le Barr. Characters in the bur lesque by Mr. Paul Bedford, Mr. J. Bland, Mr. R. Romer, Madame Celeste, Miss Wyndham, Miss Mary Keeley, Miss Kate Kelly, Miss Arden, cite. THEATRE ROYAL, SADLER'S-WELLS. Under the Management of Mr. Phelps. THIS EVENING, TWELFTH NIGHT. Malvolio, Mr. Phelps ; Viola, Miss M. Eburne. To conclude with the pantomime, THE GENIE AND THE FISHERMAN. R OYAL OLYMPIC THEATRE. Lessee, Mr. Alfred Wigan. THIS EVENING, DELICATE GROUND. Messrs. G. Vining and Leslie ; Mrs. Stirling. A new Fairy Extravaganza, by J. R. Planche, Esq., called YOUNG AND HANDSOME. Messrs. F. Robson, Rogers, Leslie, G. Cooke, Danvers. Misses Swanborougb, Thirlwall, St. Came, Castleton, Bromley, Maskell, and Mrs. Melfort. After which, CRINOLINE. Commence at half-past Seven. A STLEY'S ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE JAL Lessee and Manager, Mr. W. Cooke. THIS EVENING, Shakspeare's Tragedy of RICHARD THE THIRD, with Mr. W. Cooke's Splendid Equestrian Illustrations. Richard, Mr. James Holloway. After which, the choice SCENES of Equestrian Skill in the ARENA. To conclude with the irresistibly funny equestrian comic pantomime, called PAUL PRY ON HORSEBACK ; or, Harlequin and the Magic Horseshoe, in which Mr. W. Cooke will drive Eight Golden-footed Steeds attached to the re splendent Chariot of Gold. Doors open at half-past six ; commence at a quarter be fore seven o'clock. ftor-o , fice open from Eleven till Four. Stage Manager, Mr. W. West. Equestrian Director, Mr. W. Cooke, jun. A Morning Performance every Saturday, at Two o'oloek. CANTERBII RY HALL, Westminster-road.— OPEN EVERY EVENING.—The follow. ing company of Vocalists are engaged for the performance of Selections from all the popular Operas, Madrigals, Choruses, Glees, Duets, &c., viz. —Miss E. Pearce, Mrs. J. Caulfield, Miss Brunell, and Miss Summers ; Mr. J. Caulfield, Herr F. Jonghmans, R. Grover, T. Raino, T. Farrant, S. Jones, J. Barker, W. Melling, and P. Corrie ; Masters Austin, Ben nett, and Corri; Mr. Sam Cowell and E. Hackney. Piano forte, J. Harroway, R.A. ; harmonium, J. Caulfield, jun. ; director, Mr. J. Caulfield. Commence at Seven o'clock pre cisely. Suppers, &c., until twelve o'clock. In addition to the usual Vocal Entertainment, the celebrated SPANISH MINSTRELS will appear in costume at, Nine and Eleven o'clock Every Evening, and sing some of their favourite selec tions. RIGEL WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. Tan DAT—Mom. 43 min. aft. s—Evening 1 min. aft. 6 TeL-Monßow—Morn. 18 min. aft. 6—Evening 38 min. aft. 6 mend. Remember still further, and remember this •above all—that when, some time afterwards, with a view to test the veracity of the account fur nished by Dr. RAE, an expeditionary party was sent down the Great Fish River at a cost of 3,0001. (ac cording to the terms of a contract entered into with the Hudson's Bay Company)—although a few straggling articles which had belonged to the missing vessels were certainly obtained, no bodies were discovered on the spot indicated in Dr. RAE'S Report. No graves were found—no traces what ever, in fact, could be seen either there or any wheTe else in the neighbourhood justifying the Tale of Death for which Dr. RIB (unsupported by ;i particle of reliable corroborative evidence) had received 10,0001. from the Queen's Govern meat. Considering all these facts, we are not at all surprised, therefore, to observe even nowadays, in the middle of the January of 185/ nearly twelve years from the date when the " Erebus " and the " Terror " took their departure from the shores of England—that "An Earnest Appeal " has been addressed to the British Parliament by a Gallant Officer of the Royal Navy —an earnest and moving Appeal* to the Country at Large on behalf of the Miss ing Arctic Expedition. Lieutenant BEDFORD PLY, RN., P.R. G. S., the author of the very noteworthy pamphlet to which we are solicitous thus particularly to direct the attention of the general community, will, under any cir cumstances, derive from his efforts this satisfac tion--he will know that he at least has raised his voice in behalf of his brother-navigators and his fellow -countrymen, in behalf, if not of their lives, at any rate, of what many of them would have prized still more, their reputations. Lieutenant Plat—wholly a stranger to ourselves--deserves, for his humane argu ment, at least, we conceive, inquiry, at least attention, at least consideration. Abandon it, when examined into, if you will—that is to say, if you must—as not in any way feasible. But at any rate—examine it ! In all human pro bability, Sir JOHN FRANKLIN and his 137 com panions are dead by this time. Still, even now, for all we know to the contrary, they may yet be in existence, although as many as twelve years have elapsed from the time when they took their departure. Upon the very title-page of the pamphlet Lieutenant PIM quotes conspicuously as Sir JOHN FRANKLIN'S ipsissima verba, " Where Esquimaux do live out a fair period of life, it is but reasonable to suppose that Europeans may also subsist and survive for many years." But apart altogether from the possibility of any of those British Sailors being still alive in those wild Arctic regions of Eternal Frost—is there not cast upon their heroic memory the horrible imputation of cannibalism ? An impu tation, we repeat, not supported by one tittle of admissible evidence ! And ought there not at least to be some effort to demonstrate beyond the reach of doubt the truth or falsehood of state ments so frightfully involving the reputation of these brave Englishmen ? * An Earnest Appeal to the British Public on behalf of the Missing Arctic Expedition. By Lieutenant Bedford Pim, R.N., F.R.G.a, Pp. 32. Hurst and Blackett. A cock-and-bull story has just been foisted upon Europe by Le Nord, about some nameless pirates on the eastern coast of the Caspian de vastating the opposite or contiguous coasts of Persia ; carrying off the peaceable inhabitants (subjects of the SHAH) and selling them for slaves at Khiva ; pillaging, marauding, and in general terms playing the very devil--a party of blood , thirsty Turcoman Buccaneers 1 It is represented by Le Nord that the late obnoxious occupation of certain islands in the south-eastern corner of the Caspian is solely attributable to an amiable solici tude on the part of the CZAR to assist more effectually his dear cousin the SHAH against these abominable corsairs of the tribes of the Turcoman. Dont you believe it, say we ! As Sir ROBERT PEEL might say—That Cock won't fight! Or, as he might add yet more pithily in two syllables—Walker ! It is merely another miserable canard this pre posterous nonsense about Russia occupying any islands in that particular part of the Caspian in order to help the SHAH in his Sir-PETER-LAIIRIAN effort to " put down" a wretched little horde of Turcoman Pirates. The two-headed Russian eagle—trust our word for that—flies at higher game than this on the southern coast of the Cas pian. Has not Herat been recently seized by the SHAH at his good friend the CZAR'S instiga tion ? Was not War declared by England against Persia, in consequence, on the lst of last November at Calcutta ? Has not a British Fleet, with a view to the prosecution of that war, already entered the Persian Gulf ? Has not a Sepoy army, under Brigadier CHAMBER- LAYNE, already marched to the same westwards, through Affghanistan ? And —remembering these facts—for Le Nord to talk coolly about the CZA.R'S endeavour to cope with the pirates of the coast of the Turcoman ! England, at least, can penetrate at a glance through all that miserable Sham and Mockery. Justice has at last overtaken the perpetrators of the great bullion robbery. BURGESS, PIERCE, and TESTER have been convicted of the serious offence with which they were charged. It is needless to add the verdict of the jury has our full concurrence. We cannot see how, without violation of their oaths, they could have returned any other. The testimony of an accomplice is at all times, we admit, open to grave suspicion— more especially if he is a convict, with everything 'to hope and nothing to risk. But the testimony of AGAR bore such internal marks, and was sup ported by such a chain of corroborative evidence, that no doubt could be entertained of its substan tial truthfulness. Nor should it be forgotten that the motive of the man, though vindictive, had its origin in natural affection. It was not from cowardice—it was not from base envy —it was not, we incline to believe, in the hope even of a mitigation of punishment AGAR " split " on his confederates in crime. The woman he loved, and along with her, her child, his " own flesh and blood," were wronged by a fellow-criminal at large, who owed his personal liberty and his reputation, however little that might be, to his forbearance, we had almost said to his magnani mity. For such a man as AGAR, prompt in resource, determined, unscrupulous, and of strong passions, to know this was enough fully to account for what followed. Had FANNY KAY not been ill-treated by PIERCE there is every reason to believe they would all three have escaped the legal penalty of this particular crime. Their conviction, then, must be regarded as the triumph of natural feeling, perverted feeling, if you will, and not of justice, as represented by the police. The latter, with perhaps one excep tion, come shabbily out of the affair. They whose business it is to detect crime were utterly baffled and practically useless, until set on the right track by the convict, or rather till he pointed out his fellow-offenders immediately to their notice. Under such circumstances a glance at the general features of the robbery must be interesting, and can hardly fail to be instructive. we have first AGAR, a successful rubber and swindler, at large in 1854. He is joined by PIERCE, a discharged railway servant, who evidently knew his man, and had great faith in his abilities. PIERCE sug gests the robbery. AGAR declares it impractica ble. PIERCE believes he can obtain impressions of the two locks by which the iron safes are secured. This settles the matter—the only in superable difficulty, in AGAR'S opinion, is removed. The robbery is decided on—now for the execution. In May, the same year, the suspicions of the superintendent of police at Folkestone are excited by two bathing visitors, who manifest an extra ordinary interest in the movement of the trains. These visitors are AGAR and PIERCE, who speedily decamp, but not, it appears, before having ascer tained among other information where one of the keys of the safes was kept. How are the keys to be got at ? PIERCE knows a clerk in the traffic department,TESTEß—he can get the keys for them. In August the locks have new keys, and by means of TESTER an impression of one of them is taken. Au impression of the other is still wanting. An ingenious device, remarkable, however, chiefly for what it reveals of the pecuniary resources of AGAR, is resorted to. Out of a sum of 3,0001. in his possession, AGAR contrives to have a box of bul lion, value 2001., despatched by fail and delivered to him under a false name. During the latter process he succeeds in discovering where the second key is kept. Then, in October, A•AR and PIERCE take a trip to Dover, walk over to Folkestone, and arrive there just as the train is coming up. In the confusion PIERCE takes ad vantage of the momentary absence of the officials, goes to the cupboard, takes the key and hands it to AGAR, who instantly takes an impression of it, and it is straightway restored to its place. The great difficulty is overcome—what remains is to have keys made from the impressions. To the five months spent in obtaining the impressions are added two months' labour in filing. The next thing is to try the keys in the locks. This is done by AGAR, with the connivance of BURGESS, the rail way guard. The keys are made to fit ; and now for an opportunity. After such toil and perse verance no common plunder will suffice. In the third week of May, 1855, the commer cial world receives a great shock. A daring rob bery has been committed. 12,000/. worth of bullion have been abstracted from the van of a rail way carriage between London and Folkestone and shot substituted in its place. Criminal daring and ingenuity of a high order kave achieved a great feat. The police are "on the alert," detectives are "on the scent." Months roll on and nothing is discovered. No prospect of a discovery exists. In October, 1855, Aolo, somehow gets convicted of uttering forged cheques, and is transported for life. FANNY KAY, AGAR'S mistress, has shortly a story to tell of being fraudulently dealt with by Prznoil, the trustee whom AGAR had appointed to administer his effects for her and his child's benefit. The particulars of the robbery are revealed by AAA; his confederates pointed out, arrested, put on their trial, and finally condemned, nineteen months after the perpetration of the robbery. The robbery, it will be seen, was the upshot of a well-organised knavish conspiracy, headed by a clever, daring, and experienced thief. It has all the interest of a 'Victoria drama, while, to give it a greater air of reality, the police are nowhere. Some will be alarmed at the notion of such men as AGAR being permitted •to pursue their career so long unmolested. The fact may be regretted, but need. excite no great surprise. He is a man of superior wit, and to put down such men what is wanted is a quicker witted police. There is more cause for alarm, when the careers of Ron. sox and REDPATM are remembered, in the readiness with which individuals, supposed to be respectable, and certainly in positions of trust, gather round such a man. How far and how deep does the moral canker we have here indicated to us extend ? Is any large portion of society affected by it ? Or is it confined to officials employed by public companies, whose shares have been the shuttlecocks of the maniacs of speculation ? If the latter, we would fain hope the moral taint will speedily be stopped or more slowly die out, and our respective Public Companies will ere long have as reliable servants as their im portant trusts and the public interests demand. In speaking of the Police, we must not be under stood to mean they are of no service. This were as ridiculous as false. They have, unquestionably, narrowed the area of crime, but having stimulated, by necessity, the invention of the dangerous class, they voluntarily or involuntarily have suffered themselves to be left in the lurch. How many police officers in London are equal in professional skill and daring to AGAR ? There must be new importations of talent into the force, for as wealth accumulates, and in few hands, the temptations to a career like AGAR'S, to men of his stamp, will be proportionally great. T3E WEATHER—SUN 03710 E, JAMIAILY 16. THIMMONETIER, IN TIII4 SHADE. 45—highest sines noon yesterday. 39 —lowest this morning and during the night. 45 —this day at noon. BARD r aR , 3014. WIND, N.N.W. to N.W.—Light, with fine, sunshiny weather.' It rained all day and night yesterday, and this morning it was sharp frost. (1,)17:41,:. 1- ~.- :4 , ,. - _ ~, . 4 .,,, t -- "Z•,-- ,, '':. fl - :: : ,%);' 4p- .3 ' ci,1.111, I -,---„ , , , L ;-,., - L )YT,'ON, FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 1867. Very nearly twelve years have elapsed since the departure from this country, in 1845, of the good ships " Erebus" and "Terror," under the command of Sir JOHN FRANKLIN. On Sunday, the 26th of July, 1857, it will be fully twelve years since the date of the last tidings ob tained of that heroic and unfortunate expedition. Yet, up to this time, no authentic account has ever been received relative to the actual fate of those long-lost Arctic navigators. We repeat it--- No authentic account whatever. No account that can possibly be relied upon as positively conclu sive. And we say this with a vivid recollection of Dr. RAE'S harrowing Report, addressed to the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, and dated from Repulse Bay, July 29, 1854. We say it with a lively remembrance of the 10,0001. 'awarded to that voyager by order of the Go vernment, in accordance with the terms of the official announcement, published on the 7th of March, 1850, to the effect that that sum would he given "to any party, or parties, wha should, by his or their efforts, first succeed" in ascertain ing the fate of the missing navigators. We say it, in fact, with a painfully accurate remem brance of the extraordinary and, we may even venture to add, wholly unparalleled declaration in the London Casette, of January, 1854—a sort of a preternatural proclamation, making known to the world at large the astounding fact that if by the 31st of March following, nothing further should be heard of Sir JOHN FRANKLIN and his 137 companions, they were from that date no longer to he in existence—by Order of the Go vernment ! Nevertheless, remembering all this remembering Dr. Rae's veracious Report of the 29th July, 1854 —remembering the boon of 10,000/. awarded to him by virtue of the pro-mise publicly given on the 7th of March, 1850—remembering the January Gazette of '54, declaring the lost navigators to have officially expired on the 31st of March, 1854. we most distinctly and explicitly assert that up to the present day, January 16th, 1857, no yet been re ce i ve d i n authen tic Englan explanatory iatelii gence o h f a t s h Et fate of the bravo Sir -Rum FRANKLIN and his heroic companions. Remember that Dr. RAE'S Report to the Ad miralty, D r . R AE ' S a ppalling Report fixing u p on the gallant officers and crew who were missing in the Arctic Seas the hideous charge of Cannibalism, rested solely, rests to this day solely upon certain roundabout rumours received "second-hand" from a party of gabbling Esquimaux. Re member that Dr. RAE himself, who was the means of bringing this frightful rumour under the notice of the Admiralty, and who received from the Admiralty, as we have seen, in recompence for it, the magnificent reward of 10,000/., was actually nut more than a day's journey from the spot Where the bones of the dead Cannibal-navigators were (according to his own. Report) lying uninterred ; and that be, nevertheless, on the 27th of April, 1854, turned away from that terrible scene of calamity, without, on the contrary, hastening towards it, to the e n d that be might test the accuracy of the revolting narrative he was the means of communicating, three months later, to her MAJESTY'S Govern- THE .ROYAL BRITISH BANK AND THE "LUNCHEON SYSTEM." Among the extraordinary disbursements of the managers of the Royal British Bank, there appears an item for a considerable sum described as " lun cheons to directors." It now appears that, from the commencement of the bank in 1849, the directors and principal officers, with one or two exceptions, were in the habit of eating and drinking daily at the bank at the expense of the establishment. The system was commenced on an extravagant scale. Rare wines and brandies, Scotch whiskies, Edin burgh ale and Prestonpans beer, were ordered for the regaling of those gentlemen after they got through their usual official duties. And, as it was thought that it might conduce to the interests of the establishment, each director was allowed to introduce a friend. Although described as " lun cheons," those repasts were in reality substantial and sumptuous dinners, the fumes of which from the lower departments of the bank filled the nos: trils of customers and of famished clerks during at least two hours every day. The expense of these entertainments ultimately became so largo as to excite alarm in the mind of a nervous director, who remonstrated against so much extravagance, and insisted on some regard to economy. The " luncheons" subsequently were not marked by the same reckless profusion, and the privilege of inviting friends was abolished. It was very com mon, however, with some of the directors, on (lays when their attendance was sot required at the bank, "to drop in" about the " luncheon" hour, and partake of their share of the " good things." At the end of every half-year the late general manager uniformly gave a grand party, at which l iv as the the most practicalex u he per s o na ll y appeared is a romantic costume, and un paralleled prospe r it y of the institution, of which he y b e e h r i a e n c t ._ s i Ad r v it e s rti d s e er sc . ribed the p -- - R E PRESENTATION OF SALFORD. - A meeting of the electors of Salford was to be held last night, to take steps for presenting a requisitio n to Mr. Aiderman Lang worthy, to put himself in nomination for the represen tation of the borough. The requisition had received up noon about 1,400 signatures, out of a e t to , y t i e t s u t e e n n e l ay y of 4,000 electors, and as the signatures include the names of men of all s h a des of polities, there - is no probability of an opposition, and no whisper of anything of the kind h as been heard of. The meeting would appoint a deputation to present, the requisition, it was expected, and there was no don' at that Mr. LAng• worthy would accept it. Mr. Langw .ortfty is of liberal politics, but stands high in the estima ,tion of all classes 1 of people. The Speaker's warrant wil I probably issue on the 27th or 28th inst., so that th e nomination and election may be expected to be fixed for about the 3d and 4th of February. DARTMOUTH PACKET STATION.-7 the new lighthouse at tha entrance of D ar t mouth harboi ir, ' built more espe cially for the accomm o d at i on of the i .na it packets, is com peted. From the p rominence of itFc p, )sition, indicating as it does the safe and easy appr oad h to the harbour, the light will prov e Of great value to the shipping interest generally, as a l l ships making the Start 14 ht ~,u easily find their way, if necessary , by the aid of the Dartmouth lighthouse, il , aeious harbour. into th e wa l ;ers o f it s sa f e and LATEST NE WS. VIENNA, JAN. 12. The Osservatore Triestino confirms the news of the Trieseteitung relative to the occupation of the islands on the eastern coast of the Caspian Sea. Some years since Russia " borrowed" the island of Dagada from Persia, as a station against the Turcoman pirates. The pirates were long ago annihilated, but the island in question, which is at the mouth of the Oxus, is still in the hands of Russia. CONSTANTINOPLE, JAN. 9. The Shah of Persia is said to insist on the con tinuation of the war with England. General Chesney has received a concession for the construction of the Euphrates Valley Railroad. THE OVERLAND MAIL. We (Daily News) have received our despatches by the Overland Mail, via Marseilles, telegraphic summaries of which were published in our columns of Monday last. The advices by this arrival are to the following dates :—Bombay, Dec. 17 ; Cal cutta, Dec. 8 ; Madras, Dec. 13 ; Ceylon, 17 ; Hong Kong, Nov. 20. CHINA. The China Mail of Hong Kong, of November 20, contains intelligence from Canton four days later than that brought by th e l as t ma il. W e read : The principal incident during the week bas been the proceeding of the United States squadron, consequent upon an unjustifiable attack made upon a party of naval ()inners and civilians by the " braves" occupying the Barrier Forts, and which is likely to involve the Ameri cans also, much against their will, in a quarrel with the Chinese. The particulars are as follows : "On Saturday, about half-past four in the afternoon, the Portsmouth's six-oared pinnace, in which were Com mander Foote, his First Lieutenant, Mr. Sturgis, and the Rev. Mr. Macy, was pulling up from Whampoa to Canton, and when abreast of the lower fort, a gun was dis charged at them, which crossed the bow a little ahead. Mr. Sturgis took the flag from the stern of the boat, stood up, and waved it, to show the Chinese they were Ame ricans, and then told the men to " pall away—it most have been a mistake ;" but scarcely were the words ut tered, when a second bullet passed close to, followed by a shower of shrapnel, which dashed up the water all around them. The men pulled ahead, and as soon as they neared the second fort, the party received from it the like treatment, the guns in the latter instance being, if possible, better served, so that it was miraculous how the party escaped. They did so, however, put about, and retarned to Whampa, where they reported the circumstance to Commodore Armstrong, and he promptly determined to destroy the forts, and then write to the G overnor- G eneral what he had done, and his reasons fo r d o i ng i t, and intimate at the same time his contentment with the satisfaction he bad taken. In execution of this resolve a boat was des patched on Sunday morning to sound, and ascertain whe ther the depth of water was sufficient to permit of the Portsmouth and Levant anchoring within a close dis tance of the forts; the boat, ic doing so, was fired upon and one man killed, his head being t a k en o ff by a round sh o t, O n Sunday both vessels got under weigh, the Portsmouth being taken in tow by the Williamette. The Commodore was on board the Levant, but merely as a spectator, the vessel being under the command of Capt. Bell, of the San Jacinto, Capt. Smith, her own commander, being absent on duty in Canton. guarding the factories. The Levant unfortunately grounded before she could be got within range; but the Portsmouth was towed up to the station fixed upon, and as she approached in tow of the steamer, the forts opened fire upon both vessels, thus affording a second confirmation that there was no mistake on the part of the Chinese in their Saturday's attack upon the party of Americans in the pinnace. "At length, after several shot had struck the Wil lamette, the sloop was cast off, and Captain Foote, with great coolness, dropped his vessel up (still under fire) till within 450 yards of the large fort, upon which the Ports mouth poured her broadside. The engagement with the two forts within range, lasted an hour and three quarters, by which time the forts were silenced, but the sloop con tinued her fire half an hour longer, until 230 shot and shell had been thrown into the forts. The resistance, it will thus be seen, was of I he most determined kind, but their firing could not have been equal to that upon the Barracouta the other day by French Folly and the twenty-three war junks, which were silenced in thirty five minutes, y:'.; not until the steamer had been struck by shot in fifty places, one man killed and three wounded ; whereas, after nearly two hours' engagement, the Portsmouth bad only a dozen shots in her, and one man mortally wounded. The firing on the part of the Americans !asted until dark, and it not being deemed prudent to land a force in the night, the storming of the forts was delayed until morning, when the Commodore, considering his force inadequate, determined to recall his men from Canton, and wait their arrival. The ships lay quiet the whole day, the Chinese making as great a display as possible, both inside and outside the forts, six guns being actually placed in position under the walls, flags waving, &c. The Commodore left the vessels at noon, and proceeded on board the San Jacinto at Whampoa, where he met Dr. Parker, the U.S. Commissioner, after a consulta tion with whom, he wrote a letter to the imperial com missioner, demanding satisfaction within 24 hours—a most extraordinary proceeding, it seems to us, at such a moment. The men from Canton had meanwhile arrived, but orders had of course been issued to suspend operations to the intense disappointment and disgust of every man on board the squadron, from the commanders downwards. The letter reached Canton on Tuesday morning, and had then to be translated, so that it would nut reach its destination till yesterday morning. Yeh will of course give explanation enough to satisfy Dr. Parker—and there the matter will rest. The feel ings of the Americans on the subject may be judged of by Honesty's letter, subjoined ; and we have only to say theat, in our opinion, the attack having been once commenced, the forts should have been taken, even if they were not destroyed ; that thus the Chinese might not have had it in their power to boast, as they are cer tain to do, that the ships did make ,the attempt, and failed. " The pluck displayed by the Chinese on this occasion may in some measure be accounted for, if the rumour mentioned in the accompanying letter from Whampton be true, of white men being engaged along with the Chinese in the fort. The forts them-elves are said to be manned by junk-men under the command of Shap-'ng tsai's, lieutenant, and a gunner, a deserter from the Salamander, is reported to be with him. That seamen are being engaged for service by Chinese is certain ; and if for the rebels, why not for the imperialists ? There are hundreds of idle scoundrels in Hong Kong at present ripe for anything. , Our correspondent speaks of the pirates on the river sometimes disguising themselves in European clothes. A closer examination would perhaps show them to be Europeans in reality, and not merely in appearance:— " Nothing has been heard here to the present time (18th, 5 P.m.) of the doings of the Levant and Ports mouth, which went up on Sunday to take the Barrier Forts. It is said the delay was caused by one of them taking the ground on Sunday evening, and that further delay takes place on account of the Chinese being better prepared to receive them than was expected. It is re ported by Chinese that the forts re-occupied are now far better manned and armed than over they were, and some affirm there are white men amongst them. When the Barrier Forts were first taken, I was told by an officer then present that one white man was seen running away along with Chinese. "'The river is much infested with pirates now, and about thirty boats are prowling between this and the Bogue, some flying ayellow fig with Chinese characters on it. They are small pilot boats, and boats similar to such as used to run as Murrow's post-boats, with white sails ; and the crews sometimes dirge' se themselves by wearing European hats or other clothing. The Chinese inhabitants say (apparently with truth) that they are all fitted out from Hong Kong. " • The master of a British merchant ship, returning from Blenheim Reach on Sunday evening, at about 8 o'clock, was attacked by a long piratical boat containing about twenty men. He attempted to fire on them, but his musket missed • and before he had time to re-cap he al found himself with a rather uncomfortable-looking three-pronged pike at his breast and another at his back, silently intimating that he had better remain quiet and allow the thieves to strip him—which they very speedily did of his watch and chain and other articles. This occurred within pistol-shot of the Sybille.' " We must now proceed to give a brief account of Admiral Seymour's proceedings, so far as we have gathered them. " After the capture of the Bogue forts, the Calcutta and Nankin remained behind for the purpose of blowing them up—no easy job ; and the fort at Ty-cock-tcw having fired upon the Hornet, Captain Stewart took possession of it on the 16th, after driving out the Chinese, and spiked its 65 gene. " On Saturday, early in the morning, the steamers wore annoyed by a number of long pull-away war-junks, which came out of the narrow creeks, fired, and retired. The boats chased them, but returned unsuccessful. The Sa-meen fort also fired upon the steamers, and several shot reached as far down as opposite the actorie - i, but without doing any damage. A body of artillery was sent to destroy the fort, and the party having been molested by some of the enemy's sharp-shooters, the Samson sent a few shells among the houses, which dislodgtd them. One shell went right through the roof of Dr. Hobson's Hospital, and must have done much damage, al the building is known to have been filled with " braves" at the time, and a hideous yell issued from it immediately after the explosion. The business was completed in the evening, when the trains 'were fired, and tour mines which bad been sunk exploded. During the night, one of the N an ki n 'e b oats astern of the Barracouta was towed under water, and two poor fellows drowned. "Capt. Cowper of the Royal Engineers has been busily engaged in arrang e m en t s f or the defence of the Factories. Chains, it is said, are to be sent up in the Barracouta, in. tended to be stretched across the river as a defence against fire rafts. The Barracouta will also take up four officers and 100 men of the 59th Regiment, to replace the Americans, withdrawn, and relieve tho Winchester's crew, who are to return to Hongkong. Dutch Folly, in addition to the Sybille's 68-pounders, is armed with the Samson's 92-cwt. gun, and garrisoned by the Sybille's men under Lieuts. Dent and Nares, Mr. Hudson, mate, and Messrs. Jackson, Brice, and De Beigh (midshipmen.) French Folly is still in the bands of the et i iese, strongly manned, and heavily armed. The Calcutta aid Nankin are en gaged in the destruction of the Bogue Foit4, the Sam son and Comus are at the Barrier in the Macao passage ; the Coromandel off the lower Sa-meen fort ; the Niger and Hornet nbremt of the Factories, with two junks anchored ahead, a boom being carried from the junks to the shore, leaving a very large passage for the boats, which must bear a pass from the British Consulate, and have the British flag flying. The Barracouta leaves this to-night, or early to-morrow, with men and am munition. Yesterday, while a cargo-boat was load ing with gunpowder, &c., at the Ordnance Wharf, two lads strolled down with baskets filled with chips of wood, with the intention, apparently, of emptying them into the sea, instead of which they suddenly set them on fire, and threw theta into the boat ; and the sentries were so astonished that they allowed them both to escape. The gunpowder being in tins, no damage was done ; but the very act itself shows there is more d ar i n g in Chinese than foreigners are inclined to give them credit for. " P.S.--We have just heard that replies from Yeh were received yesterday afternoon, to despatches from Sir John Bowring and Dr. Parker, but their contents had not transpired. A party of braves' made their appearance yesterday at the barricade near Acow's Hotel, beating gongs, waving flags, and shouting va liantly. The guard was turned out, but the enemy bad retired—frightened, probably, at the sight of the Winchester's field-piece." TO THE EDITOR OF THE " CHINA MAIL." Canton, 19th November, 1856. Sir,—On Saturday the 16th instant the first cutter of the U.S, ship Portsmouth, containing Captain Foote and others, was proceeding from Whampoa to Canton, when she was fired upon from the Barrier Forts. It was half-past 4 in the afternoon when this occurred ; the American flag was in a position that does away with all chance of a plea of mistaking it, while no less than two round shot, and three charges of grape after the round shot, were fired into the boat by the Chinese "braves !" At the first discharge of grape, the boat was turned for the ships, where she arrived at 6 o'clock, and after an hour Commodore Armstrong decided upon taking possession of the two forts, and then advising the Go , vernor of Canton of what had occurred. The insult having been avenged, the " property " might then have been returned to the rightful owner, or retained, accord ; ing as the reply from Governor Yeh might indicate a wish for war or peace with the Americans. Who can doubt that the result would have been peace, and that on return of the forts, the American flag might pass in a Thames wherry without danger ? However, we will follow the matter, and learn how valuable is the assistance of able advisers, particularly where they have a strong spice of the Anti-Imperial-in favour-of-piratical-" Rebelism ! At daylight on Sunday, the San Jacinto's cutter com• tnenced sounding the river from Whampoa tu the Barrier, which was accomplished after the loss of a man from a shot while throwing the lead. At 4 p.m., 24 hours after the Portsmouth's boat had been fired into, that ship and the Levant were nearly in position to open fire. With only water enough to float the Portsmouth, she was towed up to her berth by the Williamette, in the most gallant style on Captain Curry's part, who was for many minutes in the midst of a hot fire from the forts, which had opened long before the ship was near enough to suit Captain Foote. After the steamer bad been ordered to " cast off and take care of herself," Capt. Foote dropped with the flood for five minutes, till with in 450 yards' distance of the nearest fort (the large one at the right end of the barrier), having been then under heavy fire some time. " Starboard"—" Let go anchor"—" Haul in spring"—" Fire 1" came in quick succession, and to cut my story short, the ship fired 220 8-inch shells in the following two hours and fifteen minutes. All were well placed at their nearest neighbour, and at the round fort on the left, some 1,500 yards distant. At dark, firing ceased, the forts keeping it up till 15 minutes before the ship stopped, and giving a sample of what is in store at the French Folly at this time ! The two forts are said to be filled with English guns and junk-men crews, and certainly we have never seen anything in the way of Chinese gunnery before to equal them. During this time the Levant was aground, out of fire, and could not take part in the action. The Portsmouth was hulled three times, one marine mortally wounded, and her rigging badly cut. After the fire it was not deemed prudent to send away boats from the ship, as the latter required their whole crews to take care of them in the position they held, and having no steam to move down with. On Mon day morning the Cum Fu embarked the balance of men from Canton, for the purpose of manning boats and taking possessi on ; b u t , t h a t d a y, b e f ore th e y h a d ar rived from Canton, arrived the mighty doctor Peter Parker (that extraordinary compound, as a worthy member of our community dubbed him—semi-clerico, semi-politico, semi -medico, semi—. N.B.—lt was only want of fire-wood that saved his effigy last night from throwing more light on this community than the original ever succeeded in doing, on board the San Jacinto, and cunningly detecting the peaceful promised end of a matter thet he felt would deprive his rebel friends of an ally in the Americans. What does he do ? Stops all proceedings at a point where the Chinese are sure they have whipped the Americans—(as far from the truth as it is !)—and writes a despatch calling on Yeh to beg pardon in twenty-four hours INDIA. The following is the general summary of the Bombay Times of the 17th Dec. :—" The intima tion that the steamer Assaye, with the transport Rajah of Cochin in tow, had passed Muscat on the 20th of November, is the only tidings that has reached us from the Persian Gulf since the depar ture of the fleet. The force of Brigadier Chamber layne, which was within five marches of Cabul, is said to have proceeded against some recusant tribes. There is a talk of troops mustering at Peshawur with a view to an advance on Candahar. There have been some disturbances in the Madras Presi dency ; but, on the whole, tranquillity prevails throughout the British dominions in India. COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE. BOMBAY, DEC. 16. The money market during the past fortnight has become if anything, a little tighter, and the banks in consequence have raised their rates of interest 1 per cent. all round, and the rates now rule from 7 to 9 per cent, on bills not ex ceeding three months. Government securities are still lan guid, but first class joint stock shares have improved in consequence of the near approach of the dividends which will be due on these shares. With regard to the imports of Cotton piece goods the market continues steady as before, and a fair amount of busi ness has been done. There has been, however, little re j o a r coes alteration in value. Grey long cloth s , 71b s, are dull; those above this are in fair inquiry. Grey dome s ti cs, 30 inc 13 and of heavy make, are in very good demand. G nets up to eight pick are in fair in qu i ry ; higher o y nes are dull of sale. Grey shirtings, 40 inches up to 8i lbs., in good demand ; 45 inches u p t o 9 lb s. are in fair requeasrt: and higher ones are in slight money. Grey madapollams, 31135., are in good dem an d ; an d 2 10-16t1, 34 to are in slight request. Bleached shirtings and madapollams up to middling are in good demand.; those of the hi g h er aqruaailnityfaairreradquulle.atßalnedacshcaedreJelcaotnheetrss, from arr lowtier dull. S a tin l to middli ng , Turkeyspots an red d stripespl plain n i are i n i nfagood request, demand eda continue scarce. twl i lls are scarce and in good demand, as also mulls. Of a f n ar L l g e oods all descriptions of Lappets, Dhoties, both Gzey pollams, 28 yards, dyed mulls, low lappetached, dir s ed 2 z i naja 3 - yards, low book muslin, Turkey red, and c s o c la r velvet, are in good dem an d . B leached cambrics are in fair request. In cotton yarns, both mule and water are in fair inquiry as before. Dyed Turkey red and green are in good demand, and orange is dull of sale. In the metal markets iron, British bar and nail rod, round are dull and have declined, while square nail rod hoop, and sheet, are in value as last reported. Swedish steel in tubs and faggots, and s pelter are in good demand and have advanced. Tinplates are in fair inquiry. Cop per of all descriptions is dull, except tiles, which have ad vanced in value. Lead, red and white, is in very good demand and has advanced. In Exports we have to report that after the arrival of the English mail, the prices underwent a temporary de cline, but the demand again increased, and the prices have accordingly advanced. Various purchases have been re ported, mostly of commodities to arrive. We quote Dhollera at Rs. 119-20; Surat and Broach Rs. 118-20; Compta Rs. 113; Omeravuttee Rs. 110-11; and Mange role Rs. Rs. 104-8. Linseed, Rape, and Teel are in good demand and have advanced in price. Niger is in little or no enquiry, and the supplies are also limited. Mustard is in fair request. TONNAGE.—Freights have declined to 2/. 108 and 2/. 12s 6d per ton for cotton to Liverpool and London, and have a downward tendency. EXCHANGE.—On the arrival of the China mail bills sold at 2s 2 5.16 d, and advanced at 2s to 2s 2id ; locrl drawn paper has sold chiefly at 2s 21d. On Calcutta Courts bills, 60 days' sight, 988. Madras, 30 days' sight, 984. China, 50 days' sight, 214. CALCUTTA, DEC. 8. During the past fortnight, our Produce Market has scarcely shown signs of activity, and on the whole we have but a limited amount of operations to report. Indigo cons tinues in good request, many of the parcels fetching ,nigher prices than previously anticipated. Little has boon done in sugar for Great Britain, the high prices still paid by the native shippers for Bombay preventing English buyers from opera ting. We have had little inquiry for saltpetre either for the United States or Great Britain, and the market has assure. ed a downward tendency. Silk continued neglected until the last few days, when some parcels of medium and fine sorts wore placed at previous figures, there being hardly any demand for the low qualities. In coraha very little has been done, although the value is considerably lower than at the date of our last. Jute has been in better request, and prices have an upward tendency. Lac dye and shell lac remain unaltered. Hides and skins have improved both in demand and value. A fair amount of transactions have taken place in our import market. For British piece goods we have had a steady demand, though iu soma instances holders have sub. mitted to a reduction in prices. Grey skirtings have been placed to a fair extent, but at a decline of two annas a piece Turkey red goods, together with prints and chintzes, have likewise been in less request, and sales have been effected at lower prices. In mule twist we have not had much doing, and dealers have succeeded in securing their de mands at a slight concession. All sorts of metals excepting copper continue very firm, and an improved demand iu ful filment of orders from the Upper Provinces has in some instances enabled holders to effect sales at an advance. MONEY MARKET.—We reported in our last that money was becoming slightly tighter in the bazaar, in consequence of which, we believe, the directors of the Bank of England, at their meeting on the 27th ult., reduced the rates interest and discount 1 per cent. all round, and increased the margin on loans of government Securities by 5 per cent., making the same 20 per cent. This will naturally ; tend to render the money market tighter, and has already effected the value of public Securities. We insert below the statement of liabilities and assets of the Bengal Bank for the week ending on the 3d instant which in comparison to the statement of the 12th ult. inserted in our last, shows a decrease in the amount of cash from Co.'s Rs. 168,53,817-15.0 to Co.'s Rs. 136,25,497-7-3. The 4.3 per cent. Loan continues to draw subscriptions very slowly, scarcely 20 lakhs having been it is said, subscribed to date. EXCHANGE.—To London : A large business has been done for the outgoing mail at steadily advancing rates. The first sales of credits were made at 2s2d, but these rates gradually crept up to 2s 2id, and latterly to 2s 2gd, at which our market closes. Some transactions have likewise taken place in credits at the last mentioned figure, i.e., 2s 2d. per rupee for the mail of the 22d inst. Document bills have been placed at 2s 2d, FRElGHTS.—Notwithstanding the numerous minis from different quarters during the past fortnight, our rates have continued steady. For London and Liverpool, tonnage to a fair extent has been taken up at almost our last quotations, though in some instances when cargo was required immediatbly, a slight concession has been ob tained by shippers of rice. The new crops of table and ballam rice have commenced to arrive and if prices rule moderate, the rates of freights to Great Britain might assume an upward tendency, though the available tonnage in our port is still large. For America, offers are not vtry abundand, and for a large ship nothing above 10 dollars a ton would be given. In country freights we do not ob serve any alteration with the rate of cotton to Ob.iaa, of which a quantity has been engaged at 275 dollars a bale. AUSTRALIA. The present mail brings intelligence from Mel bourne to the 20th of October. Continued wet weather bad interfered with business, but improved wages and lowered prices of such necessary articles of food as flour and potatoes were leading to in creased consumption, and the tendency was t) higher rates than for the last two months. Ballarat gold is quoted 775. 3d. FRANCE. PARIS, THURSDAY. BOURSE, Jan. 15.—The following were the last quotations : Cash. ft. c. 4i per Cents 3 per Cents 67 75 New Loan — Bank Shares 4,125 Credit Mobilier 1,405 Belgian Fives 992 Piedmontese (5) 92 50 End of Month. —fr. —c. 67 95 Roman (a d) Austrian Spanish Threes Home Debt 87} 87 4111 374 RAILWAYS-FOR CASH. Orleans 1,380 -- Northern 945 -- Lyons 1,367 50 Mediterranean 1,765 -- Lyons Geneva - Cate 755 -- fr c Western Strasburg New Ditto ... 770 Grand Central Teste Austrian Com. me ,. 773 75 AMERICA. ARRIVAL OF THE CITY OF BALTIMORE. LIVERPOOL, THURSDAY. The screw steam-ship City of Baltimore, Captain Robert Leitch, belonging to the Liverpool and Philadelphia Steam• Ship Company, arrived off Holyhead at 11.30 a.m., and entered the Mersey this afternoon, after a very good run (considering the season) from the Delaware. She left 'Philadelphia on the Ist instant, and has brought 81 passengers and a large cargo of bread. stuffs on freight. _ _ At the time of the departure of the City of Bal timore there was a good deal of floating ice iu the Delaware, although the navigation was fres. The advices to hand are three days from Phila. delphia, and two days from the other towns of the Union, later than brought by the Canada. She encountered very heavy weather. Passed the Royal mail steamer Asia hence on the 7th. The Kangaroo arrived at Philadelphia on the Ist ; the Fulton at New York, on the 31st ult. Mr. Sumner has recovered sufficiently to return to his duties at Washington. Several fires and accidents are reported. Despatches received at Louisville state that the reports of the negro insurrection are mere humbugs. It is said that President Comonfort had proposed an alliance with the United States in order to strengthen his posiVon in Mexico. Money at New York on the 31st opened stringent, but became a little easier. Stocks were firm. Exchange quiet on London, 108 to ; Paris, 520 to 5 23g. Cotton continued firm, with moderate sales. The English news caused a decline ix the breadstuff market. Provisions unchanged. Freights steady. PHILADELPHIA, Jan. I.—Stocks steady and firm, without much movement. Flour dull and settled. Not much wheat offering; millers holding off for lower prices. Little doing. NEW ORLEANS, Dec. 31.—There was a moderate business doing in cotton, without a quotable change in prices. Breadstuff market very full. Provisions quiet. Exchange on London, 107 A. WEST INDIA MAILS. SOUT The Royal Mail Comps Capt. C. G. Weller, arri . the mails from the West charge of Lieut. Dennehy dates are— 'HAMPTON, JAN. 15. lay's steamship La Plata, tved this afternoon with E Indies and Mexico, in r, Admiralty agent. Her Nassau Deo, 13 Belize Santa Martha.. 2 Martha.. 24 0 Greytown Carthagenaolon 2 ... 2 264 Colon Jamaica ..... ....... 26 Jacmel ............. 28 Porto Rico ......... 31 Berbice ........... 0 5 Demerara - Tobago ......... . • 25 ......... —• ' 24 Trinidad ............. —• 6 This steamer brings 27 passengers, among whom are the Rev. A. Finlay, from Jamaica, and Cadi Espana, Secretary of the Spanish Legation to Cen tral America, and on freight gold-dust value $ 3 77,711, British coin (copper) $B9O, specie $156,869, gold bars $54,453, silver bars $286,011, platapina $15,425 ; pearls, s2,soo—total, $893,859. The cargo comprises 382 serons of cochineal, 214 serous of indigo, 79 bales of tobacco, 614 bags of cocoa, ono package of vanilla, 22 cases of suocades, 163 bales of bark, two bales of hats, 28 kegs of arrow-. root, 58 packages of merchandise, and 56 packages of sundries. Barbadoes Dec. 2S Grenada ..... 27 St. Vincent ......... 28 St. Lucia 29 Martinique — 29 Guadaloupe — 30 Dominique — 20 Antigua Montserrat - 27 Nevis St. Kitt's — 31 St. Thomas Jan. 1 s t o e r r n l i y n g g a o l f e s the . the homeward 12th inst. a fearful hurricane from W.N . w . and Plata experienced voyage, n s d t strong gthewem N.W., during which the vessel had to round to for 12 hours. During the latter part of the voyage the wind was northerly, with fine weather. On the outward voyage, at noon on Fridasyt,rotohke sth of December, during a fresh gale, a sea the ship forward and washed two men overboard —George Brinsby and fifth officer,William having put on a Watts. Mr. May, s upernumerary life buoy, leaped ov er b oar d with another to one of the men. A fearful sea was ru nning nning at the time, but he succeed e d i n placing the life b uo y over Brinsby. Th e starboard cutter (manned by the chief officer, fourth officer, carpenter, b oa t swa i n , and three m en who volunteered) ' was lowered, and succeeded in picking up Mr. May an d G eorge Brinsby, but Watts was not to be seen. Messrs. Joseph and Archibald Tre • goning t two gentlemen from Cornwall connected with min i ng in Centi:al America , have returned in this steamer from that country. During their stay there they th e c el e b ra t e d ruined city of C scribed by Stephens in hi s " T ravels ino C u e' nt d r e a a l America. They have collected f rom these ruins various specimens of sculpture, which they bring with them. Jamaica advices are to the 26th ult., but they contain nothing o f i n t erest . T he Hous o . r bly continued in sess i on, an d the financia Assem -1 state ment for th e y ear , presented by Mr. %sack, was considered very satisfactory. From De Cordovas's Merc an til e A t elligencer we learn that sales of pimento had be made at 2d, but little was offe r i ng . For coffee 404 was being 1 paid. Sugar sold at 2 18 to 235, accor di ng to quality. Irish butt er, in 8 14d, and American was dull mall parcels, gold at of sale at lld. In corn a sale of Savanilla had t aken ... plac e at 3s , and Awe rican was held at 7s 6d . bare of hams • sales had xhe market was quite American, and is 3d to 1 been made at 104 d for on London were quoted, s 4cl for York. Exchanges banks, 90 days, 4 per for Jamaica and colonial cent. pm. • 30 dap, 14 cent. pm.; 60 da y s ' 1 per at par. IVlerchante bpier cent. pm. Private bills cent. pm. Is 1 nn New York, 14 per From Demerara we have papers to the 25th ult., but nothing of public i the colony since the last portance had occurred in dinance was in o peratio n mail.)and ail. The registration Odifficulty had been D or experienced in carrying out its provisions. Mr. T. counties of Demerara a appointed registrar of the of Mr. Schrack, wh o irs ti , d Essequibo, in the room Europe. Air. J. W. .0 resigned and returned to Goodman had been appointed a stipendiary magistrat retired on a pension e) in the room of Mr. Lyons, Heavy rains had fallen throughout the colon. she mail left, and the d uring the fortnight before siderably with the manufacturing wet weather interfered con manufacturing operations on con many of t he estat ° favourable for th es. The weather, however, was exbibited ever y w h e growing canes, and vegetation ere a luxuriant appearance. The exports from the colony during the fortnight had Sugar 1,684 hogsbea,ds, 17 tierces, 692 barrels, 200 li . ags ; rum, 698 puncheons 73 hogs heads, 122 barrels • molasses, ) 167 puncheons,, 33