The Sun. — London, England, 1857-12-18 00:00:00

HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE.I 11 THREE I..ICTRA NIGHTS. Piccolomini, Spezia, Ginglini, Belletti, Rossi, Vialetti, and Aldighieri. Tuesday, Dec. 29—Thursday, Deo. 31—Saturday Jan. 2. The following favourite operas will be given : Tuesday —IL TROVAT ORE. Thursday—LA TRAVIATA. Saturday—LUClA DI LAMMERMOOR. Prices :—Pit Stalls, 12s 6d; boxes (to hold four persens), pit and one pair, 24 2s ; grand tier, 31. 3 s ; two pair, 1/. 58.; three pair, 15s ; gallery boxes, 108; gallery stalls, 3s 6d ; pit, 3s 6d; gallery, 2s. fiER MAJESTY'S THEATRE. GREAT CLASSICAL CONCERTS. THIS EVENING (FRIDAY, December the 18th), will Positively the Last Night but One. A WEBER NIGHT THIS EVENING. Vocalist, Madlle. Jetty Troll's (her last appearance but one.) Violin, M. Remenyi. Pianoforte, Miss A. Goddard. be produced the New Grand Descriptive Composition, by M. Jullien, entitled THE INDIAN QUADRILLIII and GENERAL HAVELOCk'S TRIUMPHAL MAROC, performed by M. Jullien's Orchestra, assisted by the drums and fifes of the Grenadier Guards, the Coldstream Guards, sad the Scots Fusilier Guards ; and a Grand Chorus, " Rule Btitanuia," and "God Save the Queen." German Lied, " The Kiss " (third time), Madlle. Jetty Treffz. The magnificent decorations which were prepared for the Ba . , Masque will remain during the continuance of these Con verts. The whole theatre will be ornamented with wreaths and garlands of flowers, in gold, silver, and colours. The decorations have been prepared by Messrs. Chabot and Co., who were charged with the decorations for the grand ball at the reception of the Emperor Napoleon 111. at Stuttgart, and who were engaged, at a great expence, for the express rurpoee of arranging at her Majesty's Theatre a display which will be seen for the first time in this country. The Concert will commence at 8 o'clock. Prices of Admission—Promenade, is ; Upper Boxes, Is. ; Gallery, Is. ; Dress Circle, 2s. 6d.; Private Boxes, 10s. 6d. and upwards. Prospeetitses, with full particulars, may be had at the Box office of the Theatre ; of all the principal libraries ; and at Jullien and Co.'s, 214, Regent-street. 11rR MAJESTY'S TREATRE.— M. JIILLIEN'S GRAND BAL M AS Q II E.—ln consequence of the great success of the Bal Masque, M. Jullien will give a SECOND, and positively the last this seamen, at the end of the Second Series of Concerts, on MONDAY, Dec. 21.—Applications to be made at the Box Office of the Theatre. T HEATRE ROYAL, HAYMARKET. Lessee—Mr. J. B. Buckstone. THIS EVENING, to commence at Seven o'clock, with a new Comedy, entitled AN UNEQUAL MITCH. Princi pal characters by Messrs. Buckstone, Compton, Chippendale, W. Farren, Miss Amy Sedgwick, Mrs. Buckingham White, an Mrs. E. FitzwilliaTn. After which, a new farce, by the author of Box and Cox, entitled TAKE CARE OF DOWB, in which Mr. Bucketone will sustain an original character. To be followed by THE STAR OF ANDALUSIA. Orchestra Stalls (which may be retained the whole of the evening), 6s. each. (No charge for booking.) First Price. a. d. Second price. a. d Dress Boxes 5 0 Dress Boxes 3 0 Upper Boxes ... 3 0 Upper Boxes 2 0 pit Lower Gallery 1 0 Lower Gallery 0 6 Upper Gallery 0 6 o half-price to Upper Gallery. ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE. The public is respectfully informed that the play at RICHARD THE SECOND will shortly be withdrawn, and WILL NOT BE AGAIN REPRESENTED in this Theatre, with the exception of a few nights towards the ex piration of Mr. C. Kean's period of management. It will be repeated every evening during the week, and on Wednesday next, 16th inst., for the 100th time. R OYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE. Proprietor, Mr. Charles Kean. THIS EVENING, will be performed S'takipere's Tragedy of KING RICHARD 11. King Richard 11., by Mr. Chas. Kean ; Queen, by Mrs. C. Kean. Preceded by a new farce, in one act, entitled A CASE OF CONSCIENCE, T HEATRE ROYAL, A DELPHI. Lessee—Mr. Ben. Webster. - - THIS EVENING, will be performed THE GREEN BUSHES, in which Madame Celeste, Mr. Wright, and Mr. Paul Bedford will perform. Followed by the original Apropos Sketch, entitled THE DRAPERY QUESTION ; or, Who's for India I Messrs. Wright, P. Bedford, C. Selby; Miss M. Wilton and Miss Mary Seeley. ROYAL LYCEUM THEATRE.—Lessee, Mr. Dillon.—Under the joint management of Mho LOUISA PYNE and Mr. W. HARRISON. THIS EVENING, will be performed (for the Benefit of Miss Louisa Pyne) LA SONNAMBULA. To conclude with the new Farce, entitled A PAIR OF PIGEONS. Mr. Cl. Honey and Miss Cuthbert. Private Boxes, £2 12s. 6.1., £2 25., and £1 lls. 6(1. ; 6s, ; Drees Circle, ss. ; Upper Boxes, 4s. ; Pit, 25.; Gallery, ls.—The Box Office is now open daily, from 11 to under the direction of Mr. Chatterton, jun. ROYAL OLYMPIC THEATRE. Lessees, Messrs. Rob3on and Emden. THIS EVENING, will be performed a new and original Goraedietta, by Sterling Coyne, Esq., called WHAT WILL THEY SAY AT BROMPTON Y Mr. Robson, tire. After which, LEADING STRINGS. To conclude with BOOTS AT THE SWAN. Mr. Robson, Mr. H. Wigan, and Mrs. Emden. Commence at half-past Seven. STRAND THEATRE.—Lessee, Mr. T. Payne. —THIS EVENING, will be performed BLACS-EYED SUSAN. A Ballet Divertisesement. Followed by FOUNDED ON FACTS. After whist; the highly-successful and original burlesque, written by Leicester Buckingham ' entitled LA TRAVIATA; er. TEE LADY CAMELEON. Miss Craven, Miss Victer, Mr. F. Charles, Mr. G. Bolton, Mr. J. Howard, and Mr. J. Clarke. Commence at Seven. Stalls, 4s. ; Boxes, 3s. ; Pit, Is.; Gallery 6d. OYAL SURREY THEATRE. I 11, Lessees, Messrs. Shepherd and Creswiek. THIS EVENING, will be performed AMBITION : or, the Throne and the Tomb. After which, THE BARRISTER. To conclude with WELLINGTON FIGGS. CANTERBURY HALL, Wes tmi 113 ter-road . OPEN EVERY EVENING.--The follow. T company of Vocalists are engaged for the performance of /3,lections from all the popular OPERAS, MADRIGALS, CHORUSES, GLEES, DUETS, &c.,:—Nliss Russell, Mrs. Badzey, Madlle. Marietta, Mrs. Palmyra, Aiss Bro.- uell, and Madame Marietta; Herr F. Jong,hmans, Mr. Renshaw, R. Grover, T. Favant, S, o ,e,;, J. Barker, W. Melling, Senor AWonio, E. L. (lime, an 1 '-fr St. Atbyn; Messrs. S. Collins, W. I. Critchtield, and E. Mack ney. Pianoforte, Mr. Cecil Hicks; harmonium, Master Williams; Director, Herr F. Jonghralns. c,'orn.mence at Seven o'clock precisely. Suppers, &c., until twelve o'clock. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. THIS DAY —Mona., 56 min. aft. 2—Even., 15 min. aft. 3 To-Monnow—Morn., 31 min. aft. 3 —Even., 49 min aft 4 3 THE WEATHER—SUN 01 , 971 CE, DECEMBER 18. THERMOMETER., IN THE SHADE. 57—highest since noon yesterday. 52—lowest this morning and daring the night. 52 —this day at noon. BAROMETER, 30.18. Wm, S.W. ; fresh and squally with dull weather. f , ....V.., A - 7:• . • a l tno . ' LONDON, FRIDAY, DEC. 18, 1857. Russia, defeated in her great scheme of aggran disement, is now turning her attention to smaller gains. She has been compelled for a time to re linquish active operations against Turkey, but still she occupies herself with uprooting one of the moat formidable impediments to her progress in any future aggression. At present, her attention is directed towards Circassia, and she is endea vouring in every way to subvert the independence of its inhabitants. At the time of the Treaty of ' Paris 'We expostulated on the strange neglect that consign e d thi s A_lrroc_ ga r llant nation to the tender mercies of the " 4 by making no stipulation for its protection. Th© omission was generally no ticed, and interrogat or i es were exhibited in the Commons to the Premi er on the interesting an d i m portant topic. He, however, treated the su b-. ject in the true red-tapist spirit. The Circaesiar.s had done nothing for us, and we were not bound to do anything for the Circassians. Besides, the provisions for the neutrality of the Euxin e would virtually prevent any undue oper ations on the part of the greater Power. These were the excuses put for ward by the " First Lord of the Jokery," and, which, according to custom, were deemed quite sufficient 137 an overwhelming majority of the popular branch of the Legislature. We are really grieved at being compelled to disturb the pleasing hallucinations in which these very respectable gentlemen indulged at that time, with respect to the sufficiency of the alleged guarantees. Russia is already at work, just as actively as if the 12th Article had been expunged from the: Treaty. Although Consuls were to be appointed, ' and commerce liberated from all restrictions, she refuses to recognise the former, and establishes a virtual blockade, by which the latter will be, if not annihilated, at least subjected to serious re strictions. Three ports only are to be opened. All others are to be hermetically sealed against mercantile enterprise. And the pretext for this is " the internal state of the provinces of the Caucasus," or, in other words, the continued re sistance of the people to the intolerable yoke, un der which they would otherwise be forced. The pretext is founded on the exception respecting regulations of " health, customs, and police," which were to be framed "in a spirit favourable to the development of commercial transactions." But how has this been carried out ? " Health and customs" have been thrown overboard. The specious fallacy has been disregarded—the mask flung aside. "If, hereafter, circumstances shall permit, the establishment of customs and quarantine authorities at other points of the coast where foreign, vessels can be ad mitted, due notice will be given of the fact. In the meantime, the approach to the ports, bays, and harbours, with the exception of the three referred to, are interdicted to foreign vessels. The English Government have borne, and will bear a great deal ; but this is really too bad. We shall have other cases analogous to that of " The Vixen," if the sharp end of the wedge be inserted without remonstrance. The manly remonstrance of the Circassian chief points out the danger clearly and distinctly. It proves that Russia has no real authority—that its attempted usurpation is resisted to the utmost—that at most she only holds a few points on the coast, and that the fortifications which she is now seeking to re-build were deliberately abandoned and destroyed durin'g the late war. The following statement is perfectly convincing, and the demand for a " consul" to facilitate the traffic of his own countrymen, and the promise to maintain the requisite police and sanitary regulations, should decide the question. They are as follows : "But now, in defiance of the Peace of Paris, the treaty of which declared. the Black Sea to be neutral, the Russian Government prevents vessels from approaching our coast—and assigns as the reasons for this measure, that we Circassians will not maintain the requisite police and sanitary re gulations. " Now the 11th and 12th articles of that Parisian treaty forbid all hostilities in the Black Sea, and declares that trade shall be free at every harbour and for every nation. For this reason we beg your Excellency to adopt suitable measures to the end that Russia may observe the Parisian treaty of peace, and that our poor country may not continue to be devastated. "As for the organisation of a naval police, and a sanitary office, we engage to organise and main tain the same, as they are in Europe. " Lastly, we beg your Excellency to send to us a consul to facilitate the traffic of his own country men, and to instruct us, to the end that we may attain the same grade of civilisation as has been reached by other peoples." We trust that Lord CLARENDON will no longer maintain the apathy and indifference which he has hitherto manifested. But for his extraordi nary negligence, there would now be no difficulty. It is, therefore, his bounden duty to endeavour to repair, at the earliest possible moment, the de plorable consequences of his own carelessness. We trust that he may do so. If not, the matter will assuredly form a topic of discussion on the earliest day available after the 4th of February. While we look to the exemplary punishment of the Indian rebels, we must also see that the Go vernment of that important province be rendered as beneficial as possible, and best calculated to produce the safety, honour, and welfare of our Sovereign Lady the QUERN and that portion of her dominions. It is manifest that such a result cannot be obtained under the double, or rather the treble, government, to which the Anglo- Indian empire is subjected. Between the Boards in Cannon-row and Leadenhall-street and the Governor-General in Council, there is no efficient administration, no real responsibility. The mo dern Mogul, Mr. 'SMITH, excuses his gross ignor ance, and still grosser negligence, under the cover of the duties of the directors. He is a very small TEETER, discharging his pointless shafts under the protection of a Brummagem Ajax ; while, on the other, the spurious son of Telamon seeks to cover himself by exposing his puny half brother to the missiles of the enemy. At a proper distance, Lord CANNING and his coadjutors regard the contest with grim satisfaction, "It is a far cry b Lochou," exclaimed the CAMPBELLS of the olden time, when any threat was fulminated against their chief, and notwithstanding the in creased facilities of communication, the Governor- General, and the respectable old ladies with whom he is associated, rely confidently on the dis tance between Calcutta and the metropolis of the United Kingdom, which they hop ) and believe will afford them practical immunity. But there is a spirit abroad that will not easily be suppressed. Wo have too long remained apathetic and indifferent, have permitted our fellow-subjects to be misgoverned, and the whole of the miraculous natural resources of that mighty Empire to be appropriated for the benefit of a petty clique. The regular system was that India and all its products should be for the benefit of the Civil Service, and for the friends and relatives of its members. The rest of her MAJESTY'S subjects, English and Hindoo, were eliminated from the calculation. The prosperity or comfort of the natives was of no importance. They could be tortured with impunity, and their humble pro fits wrung from their hard hands by the most unjustifiable means. The so-called courts of jus tice were so many mockeries of their designation, being presided over by men ignorant of the primary principles of law. If a man made a bad magistrate, an indifferent collector, or a very so-so resident, he was forthwith pitchforked on to the judicial bench, which was the very refugiura peccatorum--the place where every degree of mediocrity could find shelter. These grievances must be removed. Adequate remedies must be provided. The meet ing at St. Martin's Ball, last evening, shows that the British People are at last in earnest, and *hen the pressure from without has been sufficiently potent, full redress must be afforded. The Indian question will form one of the great topics for discussion at the termination of the Parliamentary vacation, and it will be well for Lord PAL3fERSTON and his colleagues if they should be found in advance, rather than in the rear, of public opinion. The Overland Route is so terrible an ordeal— according to Mr. VERNON SMITH that the Minister who should seriously propose it for the transport of our troops to India would—again, observ e ! according to Mr. VERNON SMITH —be deserving of impeachment. Certainly, rather a bold assertion, to say the very least of it 1 And an assertion that im plies an absolute oblivion of such a historical f4ct, for example, as that Lugo bodies of French soldiers have been conducted to and fr.) across that very route, through thaL identical cc h o wjirg wilderness" (about sixty years ago) by General NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. Conducted across the desert, remember, before railways were heard of, before the steam-engine, either by land or by sea had been applied to the purposes of locomo tion 1 And conducted, moreover, not simply down to the sea-beach to be leisurely conveyed on shipboard—but to meet a formidable enemy in battle array, first on one side of the de sert, and then on the other. Mr. VERNON SMITH, however, ignores the existence of General BONAPARTE, and afterwards of course of General A.BERCROMBIE—counts as nought the Egyptian campaigns of 1798 and 1799 — never heard, we suppose, of the defence of St. Jean d'Acre by Sir SIDNEY SMITH, or of the bloody fight at Mount Thabor has not even the superficial acquaintance of the schoolboy with certain feats of arms, said by one Cun- TIVS, and by another, ARRIAN, to have been accomplished once upon a time by ALEWDER of Macedon. No—the route by way of Suez is all but impassible to English soldiers ; or, at any rate, would be so fearfully haaardous and destruc tive that the Minister who should recommend it, would be deserving (Mr. &ma thinks) of im peachment. Now putting altogether on one side what has already been accomplished—before the age of steam engines, and railways, and screw pro pellers, and electric telegraphs by such men as NAPOLEON and ALEXANDER, let us consider candidly for a few minutes what the conveyance of troops across this terrible overland route nowadays really necessitates. Supposing our war-transports to have arrived at the end of their voyage across the Mediterra nean, and to have entered the harbour of Alex andria. It would then take just ten minutes to row a boatful of them from thevessel to the wooden pier or jetty at the mouth of the Mahmoudieh Canal—or less than ten minutes, supposing that interval of smooth water to be traversed by the light draught steamers, there, ready at all times to be employed. Disembarked on the wooden jetty at the mouth of the Mahmoudieh Canal, our soldiers could thence, easily, in another ten minutes—after gathering their baggage together—march straight on to the adjacent Railway Terminus. At the station of this railroad, 130 miles long, extending from Cairo to Alexandria, there is ample " room and verge" enough for a couple of thousand men to be readily and comfortably mus tered. Along this railroad, going even at a moderate pane, the distance of 130 miles might be easily accomplished in seven hours—making an allow ance for the non-completion of the line at the steam-bridge at Kaffre Azzayat. By means of which bridge passengers are transported over the broad bosom of the Nile pretty much in the same way, and with pretty much the same facility, that other passengers, nearer home, are conveyed across the gap of water at Portsmouth. Arrived at Cairo—carrying their own provi sions and supplied with water abundantly, when ever and wherever wanted—our soldiers could then proceed straight on (without quitting the line, without pausing beyond the time necessary to make a meal at Cairo) could proceed straight on fifty miles further—into the desert---by rail way Thence—from that railway-statiou in th• Desert—it is a march of just five-and-twenty miles across the sandy wilderness to Suez I And at Suez there would be our own steamers of course, in readiness to receive the troops on board and to carry them along the waters of the Red Sea, on their way towards Hindostan. And this is the Overland Route, the selection of which, for the transport of our British Warriors towards India, at a very fearful crisis in the his tory of oar Bengal Presidency, Mr. VERNON SMITH conceives would render any Minister de• serving of impeachment ! i TEARS AND GLORY. MEMORIAL SAPPHIOS.—BT W. Cg&iu KENT. Tears for the fallen! glory for the victors ! Rapturous paeans ringing thro' her dirges, England fresh garlands strows of interwoven • Cypress and laurel. Garlands of honour, won and worn by heroes Brave as the bravest poet ever fancied, Grand as the bards of eld e'er sang to harpstrings Trembling with passion. Tokens of tender pity and remembrance Scattered with drops of reverent affection Over you' grimly dens of buried slaughter— Delhi and Cawnpore. Scenes of despair and unutterable anguish, Haunts where the Hindoo glutting his abhorrence Dragged thro' the filth and scorn of foul dishonour Innocent maidens: Delicate matrons, gentle wives and mothers, Tended from birth with exquisite devotion, Guarded by love as sacred for their weakness Outraged—derided. Mourn for yon' Dead—the calm, the grand, the dauntless Martyrs to duty who sublimely perished, >ied by the thunder-blasts their brands had lighted-- Willoughby, Scully ! Weep for the noble Heart that fell is harness, Fell with his glaive yet dripping red with vengeance ; Fell with his manly eyes yet dim with pity— Neill, the Avenger Mural the crown of purest gold awarded— Radiant with triumph—for thy helm' untarnished, Dinted and starred with lightning-b3lts of battle, Wilson, the Victor I Long shall the records of One fiery Exploit And of Inaction grandly self-forgetting 'Blazon, for aye, as types of knightly valour Greathed and Outram ! Vilest and loathliest Chief of the Assassins; Dreadliest name of infamy and horror ! Whose but thy miscreant title Nana Sahib ? Monster of Bithoor I Brightest and bravest 'mid the throng of heroes Twined with our heartstrings like some home affection : Ruthless, resistless—as the flamey lightning Cleaving the storm-cloud : Leading his phalanx of veterans right onward Straight thro' the raging tempest of rebellion, Fluttering his banner bullet-tattered, blood-stained, Desperate—dauntless I Who but,the Saviour of the sore beleaguered, Saviour and Champion of imperilled Luoknow ? Whose bat the genius—keen and bold—inspiring - Havelock's Death-March ? Tears, then, and glory blending, as the deluge Rolls back from Bengal, leaving calm reconquered Hope, with celestial sheen of dew and sunbeam, Shines like a rainbow ! About 64,000/. In gold was taken to the Bank yes• terday. The Patna, Sir James, and Mirage have arrived from Ckina, bringing in the aggregate 1,336,5001 b. of tea and 2,780 bales of silk. The Pays says dates from China up to N0v. 1 6 announce the expected arrival of 1,200 men sent by the Governor of India to Lord Elgin. This is the force which with► others must arrive before Canton can be occupied. The indictment preferred by Stowell against Joseph Bingham', an attorney, for perjury, came on for trial yesterday, before the Common Sergeant, at the Central Criminal Court, but it entirely failed. The Bank of France have - reduced their rate of dis count to 6 per cent. for all descriptions of bills. Since the 6th instant the rates had been 6,7, and 8 per cent. respectively f , ,r bills under one, two, and three month,. TOLL REFORM IN SCOTLAND.—Lord Elcbo has given notice of his intention to bring in a bill whed Parliament re-assembles for the abolition of turnpikes in the Scotch counties. Last year the government passed an ant for the extinction of the system in Ireland. INCENDIARISII Numerous incendiary fires have occurred at lakbarrow, an agricultural parish on the War wickshire border of Worcestershire, and although a reward of 501. has been offered for the detection of the perpetrators they have up to this time escaped. No less than nine fires of this description have broken out in and around lokharrow with tie last thr...e an - 1 agri cultural property a considerable extent has been destroyed.. Accordingly, at tho earnest request of the parishioners, backed by the rev. vicar of the parish, the Rev. G. R. Gray, a fire-engine has now been stationed in the Tillage. 7..EHE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, DECE: , iBER 18, 1857. GOLD AT THE MARBLY PRICE. (FROM A CORRESPONDENT.) The object of money is to act as a measure of value in order to an interchange of property. As men exchange their properties for equivalents, they must first of all ascertain, by measurement, the amount of valub on either side, before the exchange can be made. As a yard measure is a measure of length, a thermometer of heat, so is money the measure of value. Now, in all cases it is essential to a measure, that it be invariable. For example, an elastic band, capable of extension, can be no true measure of length ; a porous and absorbent article, as sponge, is unsuitable for a measure of weight ; on the same principle, the measure of value, to be perfect, must be an article of determi nate and invariable value. Now, it has been a source of perplexity in all ages to discover a suitable substance having this quality. The precious metals have usually been selected on the ground of their portability, their incorruptibility, and their nearer approach to a uniform value than anything else that has been discovered. The definition of value has itself been a source of perplexity ; but, without discussing the nature of any other value than the " value" of commerce, we submit that " value" is composed of three ingredients, viz., cost of produc tion, supply, and demand. Now, in all these par ticulars it must be admitted that the precious metals do vary, and to the extent of their variation are they defective as a standard. If the Monu ment were measured to-day, and found to be 200 feet, and again to-morrow and found to be 250 feet, we should conclude that the variation was not in the Monument, but in the measure. And so it must be obvious that gold, in recording a general variation in prices of things, known not to have varied intrinsically, records, not their varia tions, but its own. If, then, the precious metals be adopted as a standard, they can only be admitted as confessedly imperfect, and in default of a better. But to argue from the general analogy of standards and measures, we inquire whether a similar variation is found in other standards, ren dering them defective ; and if so, by what means the defect has been cured. I answer that the defect in some such cases has been cured, by introducing a second fluctuating element varying in the inverse proportion. By way of example, I will adduce a few instances. Tne vibrations of a pendulum of a certain length fur nish a standard of time ; but whereas, the tempe rature dilates and contracts the metal, the pendulum becomes variable, and thereby defective—Allow is this cured ? By introducing a second element varying in the inverse proportion ; viz., a column of mercury ; and the mercurial pendulum is a per fect instance of this simple law, viz., that two incon stants, acting inversely and proportionally, form one constant. The same principle may be observed in chronometers having a compensation apparatus. It may be observed again in the hydrometer. How is the strength of spirits ascertained 1 By testing the specific gravity. The stronger the spirit, the lighter the fluid. Therefore plunge a graduated staff, with a knob at the end, into the fluid, and you may read off the strength. True, but the tem perature effects the specific gravity of the spirit, and the bulb of the hydrometer, and the same spirit would, therefore, exhibit different strengths ac cording to the temperature. The thermometer must, therefore, be introduced, and a sliding scale graduated therewith, which shall act in an inverse proportion with the hydrometer, and so a perfect measure is obtained. These illustrations will suffice to illustrate the action of a most simple law, though many others might be adduced. Let us apply this analogy to gold, and start the inquiry—wanted a similar con trivance for rectifying the variations in the value of gold. Mr. John Taylor, of currency renown, seems to furnish a solution to this problem, in his theory of the market price of gold. In 1797 the Bank of England was really drained of its gold, and was only saved from bankruptcy by a Govern ment order prohibiting cash payments, which order was followed by the Bank Restriction Act, which was repealed in 1819. In this interval, then, of 22 years, the bank note was not con vatible on de- I wand into gold, but exchange against gold at the market price, on the principle of quantum valeat. True, this was not the intention of the rulers ; their wish was that the pound paper should be as good as the pound gold, and any shortcoming thereof was regarded as a depreciation of the paper. But we think Mr. Taylor has shown that this was no depreciation properly so called, but simply the general enhancement in prices, consequen t u p on h ' in which enhance ment,t e taxationgold being of free the to move, shared with all other things ; and from the experience of these 22 years, Mr. Taylor arrives at his theory of currency, which may ba briefly stated as fol lows :—Let the Government be empowered to issue notes to the amount of the annual taxation. The form of the note would be, not "I promise to pay 51.," but " this note is to pass current for 5/." It Nroisld be a legal tender between man and man, be• tween Government and subject, and subject and Government. If the amount corresponded with the year's taxation, it would all return to the Exche quer in the year's course, and so could not be de preciated ; nor would it be described as au unli mited or enormous issue of paper, being strictly limited and governed by rule. But here arisesthe great question of Sir Robert Peel, which has sorely perplexed many of the paper currency school t ) give a short and easy answer to. If the "pound" IPe not a definite amount of gold, what is it ; is it the ideal unit ? Tho answer is, that by Mr. Taylor's plan, the note would always be convertible into gold on demand, but not always at the same rate : the rate would vary with the market, and would be declared by the Bank at stated intervals. The pound paper would therefore be the pouad of account : it would always represent a definite amount of gold, but not always the same amount. And referring to the law of analogy with which we set out, we submit that if gold have intrinsic value, and vary in value, a uniform amount of gold can naver continuously be the ex ponent of a uniform value, but a fluctuating amount be, and if the fluctuation be inversely pro ' portionate with the value, it certainly wilt be a true and invariable measure of value. The plan, therefore, seems to have this to recommend it—it was practically in use for 22 years ; it seems to be philosophically correct, and in analogy with other standards ; and it renders us secure against panics and frequent paralysis of trade, whenever, by the operation of the ex c h anges, th er e is a drain of gold. The obligation to p ay i n gold at a fixed rate is toler able only so long as th e grea t ma jority of creditors refrain from asking for it, but in times of panic, either in this or any other country, it is a physical and will always result in a desperate struggle and comp e titi on f or the precious metal (only one form of wealth out of a million), to the ruin of numbers of merchants, and to the advantage of those who do nothing else but watch markets, and fatten upon other people's disasters. The bearing of this plan upon private banks is simply that they would be bound to take up their notes on demand, in the Government paper money, or in gold at the market price, like the Bank of England. Credit can do great things for a country ; the most important form of credit is paper money, and the present moment affords lamentable evi dence of the mischief which results from a curtail ment thereof. The subject is admitted to be per- plexing ; and we do not pretend to have fathomed all its depths, but we feel that a true theory of currency, well e , tablished and well elucidated, is a desideratum of the first class, and if we think we see truths partially and imperfectly, we a lso think it may be advantageous t o e xhibit what light each may possess, in the hop e th a t some more powerful mind may gather all the scattered rays into a focus for the advancement of the common good. ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS. The following members of the Coll ege h av i ng un d er gone the necessaryexammatiors, were ad m it te d I cen tiates in midwifery at a meeting of the board on t h e IGth inPt. :—Mesers. ?Samuel Oliver, Guildford- atree t R uv ell-square; Charles -. 1_): t-L id Doig, l 1 ' -- g at e ; Thomas' Edwin Edwards, Glocester-crescent, North, Westbourne•pa,rk ; Frederick Thomas Wright, Assembly row' Mile-end ; Jarnef John Beer, Holborn ; William Sly, Whicanton, Smnereet ; and Charles Theophilus KF lland, Plaistow, Essex, COURT CIRCULAR. OSBORNE, DEC. 16. Prince Alfred visited the Quee❑ yesterday, and returned to Alverbank in the afternoon. There was no addition to the royal dinner party. The Countess of Gainsborough has succeeded the Duchess of Athol as Lady in Waiting to the Queen. A Cabinet Council was held yesterday at the official residence of the First Lord of the Treasury in Downing street. The ministers present were : Viscount Palmer ston, the Lord Chancellor, Earl Granville, the Mar quis of Lansdowne, the Earl of Harrowby, Sir George Grey, the Earl of Clarendon, Mr. Secretary Labouchere, Lord Pann3ure, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sir Charles Wood, the Right Hon. R, Vernon Smith, Lord Stanley of Alderley, the Duke of Argyll, and the Right Hon. M. T. Baines. The War Committee of the Cabinet had a meeting yesterday at the office in Pall-mall of the Secretary of State for War. Present : Lord Panmure, the Duke of Cambridge, Viscount Palmerston, Sir George Grey, Sir Charles Wood, and Sir Charles Yorke. SOUTHAMPTON, DEO. 17. The Prince of Wales accompanied by the Prince Consort, and attended by Captain Du Pratt, Equerry to the Prince Consort, and by Mr. Gibbs, his royal highness's tutor, landed here this morning from the royal yacht Fairy, for the purpose of inspecting the Ordnance Map-office in this town, where the operations for completing the Trigonometrical survey of the United Kingdom are carried op. A splendid fire proof building has j ust been erected at a cost of 8,0001., and now forms one of the Ordnance Map-office buildings. This place has been erected for the purpose of preserv ing the engraved plates of the maps, and the maps themselves ; and also for the purpose of providing additional accommodation for the officials employed in the survey. Until very recently nearly 400 persons were employed in the Southampton establishment, comprising engravers and computers of the sides and areas of triangles. The computations are of the most rigorous character, their accuracy being proved by a variety of methods. One of the officials is distinguished for remarkable powers of mental arithmetic, and can detect numerical errors at a . glance. The triangulation is per formed by the Sappers and Miners, who travel all over the country. Latterly the official staff at Southampton has been somewhat reduced, in consequence of a parlia mentary decision respecting the scale of maps of the survey. Prince Alfred inspected the Ordnance-office a few days since. The royal barge from which the Prince of Wales and the Prince Consort landed at the docks was steered by a boyelooking naval officer in full uniform. This was Lieutenant Hewitt, who distinguished himself in the Crimea. When the Turks, who were stationed in an advanced position, retreated before the Russian cavalry at the battle of Balaklava, a 64-pounder from one of her Majesty's ships, in charge of Mr. Hewitt, quite a yduth, was in danger of being captured. A military order was received by him to spike the gun and make good his retreat. He declined to obey the order, because it was not sent by the captain of his ship. Instead of spiking the gun, he loaded it to the muzzle, slowed it round, and fired it at the Russians, amongst whom it caused fearful havoc. Although so young, he has the Victoria Cross and other honorary distinctions. The Prince courteously acknowledged the attentions of Mr. Levy on the part of the dock authorities as his Royal Highness left the docks, in company with the Prince Consort, to proceed to Osborne. HER MAJESTY'S THEATRR.—Our favourite Giuglini returns to us on Tuesday, December 29, in the " Trovatore," one of his favourite characters. The verdict of the London public, which has been so amply confirmed by the critical Germans will be again appealed to. Re port says his voice and style are more beautiful than ever. The command of the 3d Buff, vacant by the death of Lieut.-General Wodehouse, has been conferred on Ma jor-General Sir Henry Havelock. SOUTHAMPTON DOCK COMPANY.—The directors have we understand, decided on declaring a dividend for the etarrent half-year at the rate of 4 per cent. per annum. THE OUTWARD PENINSULAR MAIL.—The Peninsular and Orsental Company's steamship Tagus, Captain Christian, left Southampton yesterday, with the usual Peninsular mail, 24 passengers, a small cargo, and 6,3841. in specie on freight. THE OUTWARD WESI INDIA MAILS.—The Royal Mail Company's steam-ship Magdalena, Captain Abbott, left Southampton yesterday, with the usual West India and Pacific mail, 111 passengers, a full cargo, specia of the value of 10,4001., and jewellery 3,5181. Among the passengers are Dr. Lyall, Captains Miller, Margesson, and Barachievet, and Ensigns Currie and Eyre. THE ELGIN BURGHS. —The Hon. George S. Duff bay. ing resigned the representation of the Elgin Burghs on account on continued bad health, Mr. Grant Daff, Younger of Eden, a local proprietor and barrister-at law, has himself as a candidate in the Liberal interest. Sir James Weir Hogg, late M.P. for Honiton, is also in the field. The nomination takes place at Elgin on Saturday ; the contest is likely to be a keen one. EMIGRATION.— Her Majesty's emigration commission ers chartered four ships yesterday afternoon (17th inst.) wiz., the Northern Star, 1,283 tons, to sail from Liver pool for Sydney, New South Wales , at 14f. 9s. ld. for statute adults ; the Storm Cloud, 907 tens, from Ply• mouth for Adelaide, South Australia, at 141. 155.; the Parsee, 1,170 tons, from Southampton for .Melbourne, Victoria, at 141. 19s. sd. ; and the Emma Eugenia, 383 tons, from Plymouth for Perth, Western Australia, at 151. 19s. TRADE IN AMERICA,—The advioes from New York yesterday were again very favourable. Although the present steamer has brought 340,0001., it was expected that the Africa, which will be due at Liverpool on Mon day, would have a larger sum. The two leading houses would ❑ot draw on England except at 111 to 1111, and every one, therefore, preferred to send gold. The pros pects of recovery among the various suspended houses were rapidly improving, and it is said the losses will prove infinitely less than could have been believed in October last. The stock market was without much alteration. Erie was quoted 16, Reading 52, New York Central 72, Panama 93, Michigan Southern 19], Michi gan Central 55, and Illinois Central 931. FUNERAL OF MR. DANIEL GOODALL.—This veteran, who was drowned in Dunsappie Loch, near Edinburgh, on Friday last, was intemd on Wednesday afternoon, at the Grange Cemetery, the ground having been purchaSed by the Caledonian Youths' Friendly Society. He was clerk to the society for the long 'period of 30 years ; and the funeral was attended by upwards of 300 of the members. The society purpose erecting a suit able monument to his memory. The deceased, who was severely wounded and lost a leg in an engagement with an American frigate, during the last war with that country, had a large circle of acquaintances, and was much respected. _ _ ANOTHER EXPERIMENT BY THE CORK MATTEABS COMPANY.--An experiment with Ritchie's Patent Cork Mattrass took place at Greenock a few days since, and oas, as that at Woolwich Dockyard some little time ago, eminently successful. But on the present occa sion the eucce-sful result was considerablymore marked. 0:1 the former occasion the experimenter was merely launched for a month, on the present, ho was rather suddenly and forcibly thrown from a large teamer, the Ruby. The exp-rite enter, Edward Smith, was in the water nearly three-quarters of an hour, and upon his being taken on board so tar way he fresh al to have expressed a wish to further try the powers of the mattrase. The attention of ebipowners generally throughout the kingdom is at length being, as it should be, drawn to this valuable patent. If anything could be suggested to further try the powers of the patent, it would be at once adopted, but nothing has been left undone, and the mattress is without doubt the one thing needful for all seafaring folk. At all events, whatever suggestions have been made, even against the powers of the mattress, have been carried out by the patentee with marked success. A !ergo factory is in course of erection on the other side of the water. THE LATE SIR GEO. CAYLEY.—The death of Sir Geo. Cayley took place on the 15th inst., at the advanced age of 84. As a scientific man ho held a very distinguished reition. His inventive genius first displayed itself in the successful analysis of the mechanical properties of air under chemical and physical aetion. His papers on this sutject were published in the philosophical journals of toe day, and gave rise to a number of experiments both in this country and abroad on the navigation of balloons, which then took up much of the public attention. He pointed out the fallacy of any hopes of success in the absence of a given power within a given weight ; and, being well acquainted with the steam engine, on which he had made experiments with a view to the construction of the disc and rotatory engine, he showed that there was little chance of obtaining sufficient power from steam. These inquiries led to his invention of the air-engine--a masterpiece of original conception, which proved the great advantage of using expanded air instead of steam, where a eight was an important consideration—a discovery that the Americans are now endeavouring to apply, and one that engaged his attention up to the period of his death. Lately he made some discoveries in optics, which were followed by the construction of an instrument for test ing the purity of water by the abstraction of light—an instrument which has been lately used with success in investigating the waters of the Thames. Another of his contributions to scientific knowledge was a remarkably ingenious arrangement for obtaining and applying elec tric power to machinery. He was one of the original promoters and chairman of the Polytechnic Institution. He also originated and carried out, nearly 60 years ago, an extensive system of arterial drainage, embracing 40,000 acres on the neighbourhood of his Yorkshire estates, on a principle previously unknown in this coun try. He was, we believe, between 40 and 50 years since, one of the first, if not the very first, promoters of the drainage and improvements in husbandry which now much distinguish Lincolnshire, where one of his estates was situated. He was also the first promoter and adopter of the cottage allotment system for the purpose of improving the condition of the poor on his property. As a pelitican he exercised an important influ nce as chairman of the Whig Club at York. Through his in strumentality while in that positioa Mr. Wyvil was re turned as an independent member for York, which had up to that period been a close borough in the hands of one or two noble houses. He also took an active part in favour of the Liberal candidate during the celebrated election of Wilberforce, Milton, and Lascelles, and, sub sequently in the election of Lord Brougham. Upon the passing of the Reform Bill he was himself returned to Parliament for Scarborough, but he was then at too ad %teemed an age to assume a leading position in public pursuits titter occupying retired to philosophical his seat for a single Parliament. The late baronet was the father-in-law of Mr. E. S. Cayley, one of the mem. bees for the North Riding of Yorkshire, and he is succeeded in his title and estates by his son, Sir Digby Cayley. LATEST NEWS Intelligence has been received from Constan tinople to the Bth. NT. Pelissier, French Com missioner for settling the frontiers on the Asiatic side, was about to return to France ; Sir Henry Bulwer, English commissioner at Bucharest, was also preparing to take his departure. Tha com mercial crisis was continuing at Constantinople. The meeting of the Spanish Cortes is postponed to the 10th January, when the Queen will open the session in person. FRANCE. PARIS, THURSDAY. A Council of Ministers, at which the Emperor presided, was held yesterday at the Tuileries. The following is an extract of a letter from Cal cutta, dated 9th Nov., received by a gentleman in Paris : " You will be surprised to bear that hundreds of our countrywomen and men are flocking back to their old homes, and although they can geb no passage on board the steamers they are travelling by boats. Those going up do not go beyond Patna, where the country is considered safe. Troops by thousands are pouring in, and right glad are we to see them. For 400 miles, or from near Calcutta to Benares, the road is as the natives say ' a fair ;' there are nearly 20 officers on duty along the mai merely to feed the soldiers, and at every 30 or 40 miles there are thousands of bullocks, sheep, bread, wine, beer, beds, &c., &c., for our brave men, who are all carried in horse or bullock waggons —not one is allowed to tire himself by marching. How fresh they will arrive at their destination I Tae muti neers are all collecting in Oude, where I suspect they will receive their last and complete overthrow ; they number perhaps 100,000 strong of all sorts, sepoys, bad characters, zemindars, and all sorts of vagabonds. We shall lose many officers and men, for the wretches are going to fight, but as many columns of troops are to enter Oude simultaneously, there is no possibility of their escaping." Instructions have been forwarded to Baron Gros to act in concert with Lord Elgin in all things, and to be guided by the counsels of our diplomatist. BOURSE, Dec. 17.—A notice has been posted up at the Bourse, stating that the Board of Directors of the Bank of France had decided in their sitting of to-day that the rate of discount should be fixed at 6 per cent. This announcement produced a cer tain buoyancy on all securities ; but several sales having been afterwards effected for realisation, the upward tendency was momentarily checked. The following were the last quotations : Cash. fr. End of Month. li per Cents 3 per Cents 66 93 67 15 Bank Shares 3150 Credit Foncier 5BO Credit Mobilier 730 Roman B51 — Do. Account 730 Austrian - Belgian 4i Eriedniontese(s) 9O Home Debt RAILWAYS-FOR CASS, tr. C. tr C. Orleans Northern New Ditto Lyons and Med B4O Grand Central New Ditto... ....... ' 825 Sardinian Geneva 640 Austrian Corn. BELGIUM. The Belgian Senate, in its sitting of Wednesday, took into consideration several measures which it bad not had time to bring to a vote in the last session—namely, the grant of a credit of 255,000 f. to the derartment of Public, Works ; a modifica tion in the Pension Bill ; cession to the province of Hainault of the buildings of the old prison of Char leroy ; and some Ipcal bills. A Brussels letter in the Constitutionnel says : " Although the elections are over, it is natural that the result of the vote should be for some time the object of discussion in the journals and in poli tical circles. The strength of the different parties is at present being calculated. The number who voted is estimated at 77,000, and the number of voters inscribed 89,600. In 1848, after the esta blishment of a uniform qualification for ♦oting, there were about 59,300 electors inscribed, and the votes given amounted to 50,200. In 1852 and 1854 there were nearly 64,000 votes given out of 83,000 electors inscribed." The electoral movement has therefore been greater this year, and it may be seen that the different parties had been active in recruit ing votes. It now remains to be seen how these 77,000 votes have been divided. Some people esti mate that the difference between the liberal and the clerical votes is 12,000, while others set it down at not more than from 5,000 to 6,000. It is difficult at present to form an exact estimate, if it can ever be arrived at, but the prevailing opinion is that the simple displacement of 3,000 or 4,000 votes from one side to the other may change the state of things, and make the two parties equal in strength. The lesson to be drawn from these figures is therefore this—that it is the duty of the party which has now the upper hand to follow the mode-. rate path which it has traced out for itself, and to maintain the conditions of the programme by la bouring to promote union. and conciliation." SPAIN. The Madrid journals of the 13th have arrived. The Espana again complains that the recent recep tion of the French ambassador by the King to pre sent the congratulations of the Emperor and Empress of the French on the birth of the Prince of the Asturias, no minister being present, was un constitutional. Yet the same journal publishes an article whilst expressing admiration of constitu tional institutions denounces what it calls the abuse which, it says, has been made in Spain of parlia mentaryisin and of the liberty of the press. Amongst the hills to be presented to the Cortes by the Government is one for regulating the conditions relative to admission to public offices mad an other relative to public health. A grand cere mony, called "the Ceremony of the Mantles" of the Order of Charles 111. had taken place in the palace, the King representing her. Majesty on the occasion. One part of the proceedings was taking an oath to defend the doctrine of the Im maculate Conception. The _lberia states that among the persons who, in virtue of the recent amnesty, will return to Spain, is M. Patricio Escosura, the ex-Minister. The number of vessels which entered. Spanish ports in the course of last year was 5,146, and of foreign vessels, 3,599. The amount of quarantine dues paid was 1,448,257 realc. A letter from Frankfort of the 13th says : " It is rather remarkable that during the last fortnight, the Diet, at each sitting, has bee n specially occupied with the military affairs of the Germanic Cenfederation. Reports relative to the situation of the contingents or to the state of the five federal. forces are daily read and dis cussed, and nevertheless there is n othin g to indi cate that the peace of Europe is likely to be soon disturbed. The plan of new fortifications to be constructed in the fortress of Luxembourg has been approved of, and military hospitals on a new mode], and bomb proof, are to be built there. A considerable sum has been voted by the assembly for these purposes. The fortresses of Ulm and Rastadt, which since 1856 have swallowed up enormous sums, may be now considered in a per fect state of defence." "It may be remembered," says the Patric, " that ithe English some months ago took possession of the Island of Perim, at the entrance of the straits of Babelmandel, between the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. The remonstrances which the Porte has made against this occupation have lately be come more urgent, and the Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs is said to have submitted the com plaints of the Ottoman Government to the repre sentatives of the great powers at Constantinople," A letter from Rome states that Mgr. Viteleschi, the Papal nuncio at Naples, will not proceed to his post. He is replaced by the diplomatist who had been sent to Florence to bring about modifications in the Leopoldine laws, Mgr. Alexandre Franchi, but who failed in his attempt. The Pays announced some days since that a measure for the emancipation of the slaves in their Crown possessions had been adopted by the Govern ment of the Netherlands. Letters from the Hague (says yesterday's Independence), formally deny the truth of this. The Second Chamber of the States- General has not even yet had the report presented to it on the three projets de loi for abolishing slavery. It is further stated, that if the Legisla ture did pass such a declaratory law, the Govern ment has no funds at its disposal to indemnify the owners of slaves. THE LAUNCH OF THE FANTAlSlE.—Yesterday a very beautiful vessel, called the Fantaisi©, and destined to become the pleasure yacht of his Itnperiol Majesty the Emperor of Austria, was launched from the Thames Iron Works, Orchard-yard, Biackwall. cludi A goo the Ana many distinguished visitors were prese nt, inng trian Ambassador, Count d'Apponyi, t he Countess Austrian navy ; d'Apponyi, Count Caeolly, Captain Magotti, of the an .l 1\11 , ..s Lady 13ellinghaan Graham Gral:atu, &c. Her length is 180 feet between the per pendiculars, and on the keel 169 feet 2 inches, her breadLh for tonnage 18 feet, depth in midships 11, and burthen 291 tons, notwithstanding which her draught of water is expected to be under sfeet. Sheik; intended by her 1 imperial proprietorforhis summer voyages on the Adriatic, THE WEST INDIA MAILS. (BY ELECTrRIC T ELE GRAPH.) SOUTHAMPTON, FRIDAY MonNINo• The Royal Mail Company's steam-ship Parana, Captain Bevis, with the West India nails, has arrived. She passed Hurst at 10.10 last night, but brought up in Yarmouth roads on account of the heavy wind and sea. The dates of the Parana are :—Grey Town, Nov. 19th ; Carthagena, 24 th ; Colon, 23d ; Jamaica, 27th ; Demerara, 26 th ; Trad, 26th ; Barbadoes, 28th ; Grenada, 27th Thomas, Dec. Ist. • 686,18 1 The Parana brings 41 passengers , dols. in specie, jewellery (value 600 dots.); and general cargo. The Jamaica Legislature was opened on the 10th ult. Much sickness in Kingston, and several fatal cases of fever. Mining operations favourable. Sugar crops looked healthy ; maikets generallf dull. Exchanges on London, 90 days, par ; 60, per cent. prem. ; 30, 1 per cent. prem. At Barbadoes the weather was fine, can es vigor ous and promising an early crop, and one of the largest ever reaped. Two meetings of the Court of Policy at Deme rara had been held since last mail, but nothing particular was done, the whole colony being plunged in gloom by the death of Dr. Blair, Surgeon-General of the colony , from disease contracted during the late expeditionary raja" sion to the gold districts in the Venesuelan territory. Dr. Magret had been appointed his successor as surgeon-general. Sir Wm. Holmes and Mr. Campbell, his colleague iu the above mis sion, had also been very ill, but were recovering. The weather was dry and the colony healthy. There were three or four cases of cholera in the city, but not of a dangerous type. The St. Lucia Legislative Council was in sex- sion. The country round Mexico, particularly' towards Vera Cruz, was in a very unsettled state. News from Grenada contained little of interest, the expected reappearance of General Walker being the principal topic of conversation. The official paper of Grenada publis hes a decla ration of war against Costa Rica, for the purpose of pressing its rights to'the whole line of transit from San Juan del Norte to San Juan del Sul, as well as the district of Juanacosta. The same paper names the Provisional Government during the time that General Maratinea and Xeres take charge of the army. The commercial distress at New York was being felt at Colon and Panama. The United States steamers Wabash at Colon, and Saratoga at Greytown. At Callao the National Convention had been dissolved by actual force. No favourable alteration had occurred in the money-market at Chili. Provisions were dear and scarce, and the labourin g p o p ulation in great distress. The affair of the Sportsman, captured in the port of Santa Maria , l o adin g copper o without a Chilian permission, still remained in abeyance. The American Minister and the Fr ench Consul had demanded satisfaction. The master claims 100 dols. per day as damages and losses. The steamer Maria Isabella, bought from the English governors, had arrived, making the voy age in 102 days. She experienced bad weather , and was out of fuel. The barque Sarah Ann, bound for the Island of Oceania, with passengers, tkc., was wrecked on one inhabited by savages, who devoured every person on board. Details were not yet published. The steamer La Plata, from Southampton, ar" rived at St. Thomas on the lst inst., at 7 a.m. THE INDIA AND CHINA MAILS. (BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAM.) SOUTHAMPTON, FRIDAY *ORNING. The Peninsular and Oriental Company's steamer Nemesis, Captain Black, has just arrived in the river, (10.30 a.m.) Despatches not yet ashore. THE ENGLISH PRISONERS AT SALERNO. Mr. Watt, of Newcastle, the father of one of the British engineers confined in the dungeons of Na ples, has received the following letter from the chaplain to the British Embassy at that place "Naples, Deo. 9. " Sir,—l received your letter on Monday, the rthr and knowing how anxious your son was to hear of all his dear relatives at home, I took the very first oppor tunity (i.e., yesterday) of going down to Salerno to show it to him ; though it was a testa, or holiday, and I was in danger of going for nothing, as all officials are gene rally absent from home on those days. I found that the Procurator-General was from home, but after sending for him in various directions I gained admittance to the prison. The delay, however, was the cause of my being longer with the prisoners, as it made me too late for the afternoon train, and so I stayed for the evening one, and spent considorabletime in conversation with them. Your eon seemed better in health than he was before—though he made no complaints to me—but he now looks stronger. with more colour, and more cheerful. This, I suppose, arises from their having been removed into a larger room where they can take exercise, and have the company of all their fellow-prisoners. Indeed, they all seemed quite cheerful, and conversed freely with the officer who ac companied me, as well as with myself. Your son and his companion, Parks, assured me that they acted by my counsel, and constantly prayed to God to support and relieve them, and read their bible every day; they also returned 16 religious tracts I had lent them, and dwired to have some more. So I really trust that their affliction may, with God's grace, be turned to good ac count, and that they will for the future be more sincere and earnest disciples of Christ than they have hitherto been, and be abietosay with the Holy Psalmist, Blessed is the man, 0 Lord, whom thou chastenest ; before I was afflicted I went Wrong, but now I have kept thy statutes.' I paid them a second visit the week after I wrote last (Thursday, 26th ult.), and found they had been moved two days to the larger apartment. You perhaps have seen in the news papers a report that one of the prisoners had attempted suicide. I heard this after I re turned from my ht first thou vis to them ; and , therefore , o n m y second visit, I g it right to question them about it. Your son ledconfess that ue d t. makeso, hehad the an attempt d as , far by a asl could melancholy dchefeeling w as of despondency, which led him to imagine that all was against him. His companion told me it arose from mis understanding what was said about him by his com panions through his not understanding the Italian lan guage thoroughly. On the 26th of November I talked very earnestly and seriously to him upon the subject, and he assured me he would never attempt anything of the kind again, and I have good reason to hope he sees it in its true light, and will keep his promise. I talked to him again about it yesterday, and he said cheerfully that there was no danger of such a thing again. He is evidently of a silent and nervous dis position. I suppose they did not like to confess this sad thing, and so said nothing about it on my first visit, Being permitted by the king of Naples to visit them as a minister of religion, when nobody else was allowed to see them, I did not cross-question them about anything, as it would have been dishonour• able to act in any way as a spy. I merely desired them to tell ma anything th e y wished voluntarily ; and their statements I gave you the general summary of iu my last letter. Besides, my object was chiefly religions, to lead them to take their affliction patiently, and to bear up courageously, in dependence upon God's help and protection ; whereas, if I had spent my visits in qua& tinning them about grievances, they would have fancied themselves, perhaps, worse treated than they have been, and been irritated and more cast down in spirit, instead of being calmed or cheered. I therefore, I repeat, only heard and have written t o y ou what they told m® of their own accord. Yesterday .your son said he was very much comforted by your letter and those of his friends, which I let him read for himself. He begged me earnestly to write directly, and cheerful. ed u all his love, and tell you he was well an n ite. tw ; sa nd a letter r e e e d r h h a e p g s ahvoe did m e I obtained leave for him to write hours for him to send it to me if h n e d o by me, and I promised to wait inahnndtehne to to w w r to understand that he could not did not get any letter from him, A a s n i have very much to on is rather shy and nervous. not like writing with so m fats as a minister, and so c ane my time and thhug the q into t . I ues ion, have made cannot go thoroughly the arrest, politically and inter about the justice of waritei.nd r y It was not my business, and I should do no al g gl l ut iSoPnwwGi subject, otna e r co ttot i hl alv i edaeco nt i e nuun rn i b l d krdn e a wo y o l q m i ta tl bti ally:beets. Procurator-General interfering to lohftrkdearmai hern: nb ts v i m n ei on a e sr o seug l i : we e ti° : 2 wify an tn e e j oj hw on r e ul f 1 yesterday Majesty's lat bLe a l s d: ie n er s c h g : P yt t s be , : t aa h t t u‘ w a v o h y e A t o rcn ei m peY n ef e eh c a a o s g e : r i n f e lrd i ito l o i mna ni v yrwno gn e o ogtftt pd s r uihhh c n ae reeea v rt o o l n t ts t s h e ru noi har r e r o :c i s y iok t r u s u al lo we i6e , on s tk e u ' ay huw' k a c l ioenysaha:ctks:l B r itis h ara , o o ey e sgsr : dh b : ei l op P u et, i : t n a bsho e l t ll ar tion for you, and let your son have your letters. " I have written in very great haste, and have not time to look over my letter, as I wish to save the post to-Jay, otherwise I cannot send my letter before Satur day ; but I hope I have written so as to be understood by yiiu. "Youis faithluEy, , IP p Er a l f, enapiai s. ''''..--------------- PRINCE ALBERT'a PRIZE Pc:atm.—The subject of the poem for which Prince Albert annually ves 1, "Dew g" medal at Cambridge wi ll for the coming year be