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

Countries, nor to discuss the commencement of the late war. Bat this I will say, that England entered into the late war Without any feeling or intention of self_eggTanclisement at all. For many years England had warred for freedom and for liberty—in support of the weak against the strong. (Applause.) On this occasion she entered on the combat with these and no other feelings. Contrary to all stipula tions of treaty, and in the face of all remonstrances on the part of England and France as well as of Turkey, Russia attempted to disturb that balance of power in Europe upon which the prosperity of this "country and its liberty and freedom so essentially depend. (Applause.) England would be no party to such an attempt. After such endeavours hid been made to induce Russia to forego her intentions on. this subject war was :declared, and then, gentlemen, was returned a despatch which must have proclaimed to al the world that England, when she wars with one mind, is invincible—(cheers)—even though all the world were atainst her. (Cheers.) We have seen great warlike sights in; former times, but be it remembered that that was in ti mss when our shores were threatened and when our homes lb; ad altars were supposed to be endangered. No wonder 11 lough England, Scotland, and Ireland then rose as one scan to defend interests so dear to them. (Cheers.) But It ?on the present occasion it was not so. Our formidable Ye ;es are now our most attached allies. (Cheers.) Long w ay they continue so—(bend cheers) —long may commerce a Ake us akin, and long may those ties of friendship ▪ ; firmly existing between us continue to sub si in their present strength. (Cheers.) She was formerly • nr formidable foe, but now, gentlemen, our hearths were no danger, our altars were free from risk of profane t: ;on ; we were in the enjoyment of the most profound p 'ace, and yet the nation awakened with one voice, arose sw ; one man to approve the declaration of this war, and her w word leaped from the scabbard to prosecute it. (Cheers.) y arty spirit vanished before the declaration of war; there II -as almost a lull of politics ; the Commons gave up their • conomy—(laughter)—and adopted an unbounded gene rosity, and the people exhibited a patience under taxation - —(laughter)—which was truly admirable. (Cheers.) And, p gentlemen, not content with exhibiting this patience under I exation, they voluntarily taxed themselves to form that 3 'striotic Fund which will ever remain a monument of what a people can do when their hearts are in their work. (Cheers.) And not only so, but they voluntarily subscribed funds to supply the wants of our sick and wounded soldiers and sailors abroad, whereby many a man who had sacrificed health in his country's service found comfort at their hands which he would not else have found. Gentlemen, there is another feature which has distinguished this war, upon which we must all look with pride and satisfaction. In for mer wars we had prowling about our ports things called pressgangs, and we had our militia driven to the parade by the compulsory ballot. On this occasion we have never beard a word of the pressgang or the compulsory ballot. Our fleets have been manned and our army recruited by the voluntary enlistment of the youth of tho country. And it is a matter of the greatest pride for the nation to be able to stand up in the face of the world and say that without conseription or pressing her sons in a just cause will ever rally around her. You have seen what our army and navy are capable of doing—you have seen a large army accumu lated on the shores of an enemy's country at a vast distance from their native shores. We owe that to the capability of the navy n and to the exertions of that sister service ; but we owe that sister service more—and I say it in the presence of my friend Sir Houston Stewart— we owe that sister ser vice a debt of gratitude for the manner in which she brought that army home from the East, and rescued it from the perils to which it would have been exposed. Under Sir Houston Stewart's able direction—for his senior officer was then at home—that army, of not less than 80,000 men at least, whatever more, was embarked from the Crimea and landed safely upon the shores of Europe. (Cheers.) And I may here add that, as a tribute to that army, there was not a regiment of it which landed upon English shores—whe tter English, Scotch, or Irish—that was not passed in re view before her Majesty herself, and to the mon in whose ranks she did not herself address some sympathising words. It was my good fortune to see the first formation of that army at Aldershot, when reviewed by her Majesty —it was my good fortune to see the officers of that army called together into a square ; and never till the latest day I live shall I forget the speech then made by the Queen to those officers, nor the tears which trickled ON er the manly beards of some of those officers when they heard those words fall from her Majesty. (Cheers.) And now, gentlemen, one word with regard to the future. You have seen, as I have stated, what your services of the navy and army can do for you when called effectively into action .Peace has now returned ; but although peace has returned, she is like a bird flying back at present to her tree, sad, although she may have alighted on the branch, her wings are not yet fairly settled to her side. (A pplause.) I would hope and trust that this country will not he in too great a harry to insist upon returning to what are called peace es tablishments—(cheers)— and not only to clean the sword, but to insist upon hanging it up to rust against the wall. (Cheers.) There is a medium in all things ; and I believe -we may study economy, and at the same time preserve efficiency. (Cheers.) I believe we may look forward to the maintenance of good efficient forces both in the army :end in the navy, but at the same time considerable relief Yrcan the taxation of the war. But I believe at the same time that it would bo the most ill-timed economy suddenly Ito cut clown that which you have so efficiently raised up, and to bring back the country into a state from which, - when war lately occurred, it coat millions to rescue it. (Cheers.) When my hon. friend who represented me in the House of Commons moved last year the army and navy estimates, they amounted to no less a sum than3e,oo ),000e; but to give you some idea that I am not exactly talking - without may book, when I am saying that great efficiency may be maintained and yet relief from taxation achieved, I cue promise you that these estimates this year will not come within twenty millions of what they did last year. (Cheers.) And all I ask and all I hope for is, that this country will well consider the necessity of maintaining in these unsettled times a navy sufficient to defend our coasts at home and our possessions abroad, and an army fitted to send troops to the field, as well as to perform the duties of those vast and extensive foreign possessions to which my noble friend the Commander-in-Chief fur Scotland so lately referred. (His Lordship sat down amid loud and protracted cheering.) After the toast of " Our allies in the field," which was duly honoured, Mr. Sheriff LOGAN proposed "The United States of America, and permanence to the friendly relations between the two countries." (Applause.) The toast was received with all the honours. Mr. T. STEZRE, United States' Consul, in reply, said — The toast proposed by the learned sheriff comprises two particulars—" The prosperity of America," and "Perma nence to the friendly relations between the two countries." Now, without detaining you for more than a moment with statistics, allow me to call your attention to the past growth of the country in a few points, as an indication of what may be expected in the future. According to tho re port of the Secretary of the Treasury of the United States the agricultural and manufacturing production of the country was, in round numbers, in 1840, 201,217,008/. ; in 1855, according to the census of 1850, and estimates, the production was 520,473,0001.—m0re than doubling in 15 years. In 1644 the estimated amount of gold and silver in the country was 20 million. In 1855 the Mint estimated the gold and silver at 40 millions, and the Treasury depart ment at 50 millions. Again, the effect of the reciprocal free trade is shown by the fact that in the year 1853, the year before the reciprocity treaty between the United States and the British North American provinces went into effect, the experts from the United States to said provinces was, in round numbers, 1,481,0001., and the im ports from said provinces 1,510,0001. In the year 1856 the exports of American products to said provinces amounted to 4,543,000/., and the imports from them into the United States to 4,262,0001. Now, the progress and policy of a tuition of 30 millions of people, whose material progres sion is such as this, cannot be to you indifferent or unim portant. (Cheers.) Both peoples will have free speech and a free press. They will not, as of old, go into the market streets simply to learn what has been said or done n their immediate neighbourhood ; they will have their newspaper to tell them the occurrences of the day, and of every day in their town, county, kingdom, and the world. They will grumble at it, dictate to it, laugh at it —do everything but do without it. (Cheers.) He must be a superficial reasoner indeed who does not perceive, wrapt in the thunders of the Time% and the genial hu mour and flowing wit of Punch, principle and philosophy which is continually carrying them, a s we ll as others, along towards a higher appreciation of truth, of others' rights, and universal justice, toward the end and aim of the press, the:diffusion of truth and the cultivation and advocacy of true manners and morals, and public virtue in society and Government. (Cheers.) I believe in the continuance and eonstantly increasing strength of the good feeling no w existing between us, because I recollect that during the pendency of moat of those questions which have agitated and divided the two countries, there have always been on both aides far-seeing statesmen and true patriots who have agreed in their views of the then existing question. (Cheers.) Mr. BAXTER, M.P. for the burghs, proposed "The Agri cultural Interest." (Great Cheering.) "V:erions other toasts of local interest followed, and the meet'ng separated before 10 o'clock. The failure was announced yesterday of the mercan tile house of Mr. G. B. Rocca,. Tee liabilities are be lieved to amount to at lout 50,000/., and the event is attributed to the suspension, advised yesterday, •f the house of Decio Trasciatti, of Trieste, in connection with which Mr. Rocca is said to be under commitments to the extent of 30,000/. [ADVERTIIEMENT.I —Holloway's Pills—Unprecedented cure of Indiestion.—Extract of a letter from I, B. M. 4 3 , st. Edward-street, Belfast, to Professor Hollows 7 Sir,—Gratitude impels me to address you and ti:.us make known to the world the healing qualities of your wonderful .medicine. I was afflicted for twelve years with indigestion and constipation ; the prescriptions of my several medical attendants proved in vain ; when, almost driven to despair, I obtained your medicine, won derfully and quickly restoring me to health, all the buoyancy and elasticity of youth returning.—Sold by all medicine vendors throughout the world, at Professor Holloway's Establishments, 244, Strand, London, and 80, Maiden-lane, New York; by A. Stampa, Constan inoPla ; A. Guidicy, Smyrna; and E. Muir, Malta. THE SUN - , LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, JANUARY 1, 1857. REPORT OF THE FEDERAL COUNCIL 'sr SWITZERLAND ON THE AFFAIR OF NEUF CHATEL. (Conttnued from, The Sum of yestercti iy ) We shall now, continuing our report, AI r. President and gentlemen of the Federal Assembly, communicate to you the definitive result of the negoCatio us attempted at Paris, after informing you that G-3reral Dufour had in the meantime returned from his missio n. The French legation transmitted to us a note from the Minister of Foreign Affairs, dated 2Gth Nov., in which the friendly disposition of the Emperor towards the Confederation was once more confirmed, "but in which, also, the demand for the release of the Neuchatel pri soners was repeated, and with still greater urgency. If, added the note, the Federal Assembly, relying on its sovereignty, would comply with that desire, and would pronounce the release of the prisone rs, the Empe ror would be ready to employ all his efforts to smooth over the difference which had arisen on the subject of Neuchatel, aad induce the King of Prussia to renounce the rights which treaties had recognised that he pos sessed over the principality of Neuchatel and the conte of Valangin. The measures thus reo =amended to Switzerland would be, in the opinion ol the Imperial Cabinet, a proof of friendly condescenlsi on, and would contain nothing which could lessen the dignity of the Confederation. The details of the arrangement would, in the opinion of that Cabinet, be easy to determine, and it would not be difficult to reconcile the settlement of the dispute with the interests of the two parties. Before mentioning our reply to the French note of the 26th November, we must make you acq tainted with an extract from a despatch addressed on t b.e 25th of Nov. by Lord Clarendon to the English Minister at Berne, and which will prove to you still more positively that the English Government thought fit to assume an atti tude which was essentially different from that of the French Government. The English envoy was instructed to inform the Presi dent of the Confederation that her Majesty's Government however great was its desire to contribute by every means in its power towards procuring an amicable settlement of the Neuchatel question, nevertheless did not think it right to acquiesce in the bases of negotiations that had been proposed at Paris, because those be.ses appeared to imply a knowledge of the intentions of the King of Prus sia not possessed by her Majesty's Government, and this circumspection in the decision of her Majesty's Govern* went was dictated by the motive that Switzerland ap peared to suppose that the King of Prussia would re nounce his rights on Neuchatel in case the prisoners should be amnestied. If the Government of her Ma jesty had contributed to create a similea inference in the minds of the Federal Council, it would :have done a thing it was not authorised to do, as it had not received from the Prussian Government any communication to justify such an instance, and was completely ignorant of the future intentions of the King of Prussia. The Govern ment of her Britannic Majesty was far from wishing to affirm that the liberation of the prisoners might not simplify the solution of this affair, or that the King of Prussia would not be bound to satisfy the wishes of the 'Federal Government ; but, on the other hand, her Ma jesty's Government could not take any engagement or give any assurance that this was really the case. Should, however, the Federal Government, on considering the circumstances, suddenly decide upon liberating the prisoners without te'trial, the Government of her Ma jesty, in common with the French Government, would take steps to induce the King of Prussia to put an end to the Neuchatel disputa according to the desire of the Swiss Confederation, and to recognise the inde pendence of the canter' of Neuchatel. Nevertheless, her Majesty's government felt it its duty to declare as well to the Confederation as to the Federal government, that it could not guarantee the success of its measures, and that had not as yet any ground to form an assurance as regards the result of its good offices. As regards the proposition of the Federal Council, that in case of a re fusal on the part of the King of Prussia to accept this arrangement, the British government should withdraw its adhesion to the London protocol, her Majesty's Government could not yet give a reply, and the Federal Government must consider that the protocol is binding upon the powers that signed it. On the sth of December we charted our minister at Paris to address the Count Walewski, in reply to the note of the 28th November, a communication, of which the following is a summary : We are grateful to his Majesty the Emperor of the French fur the friendly and benevolent disposition which he expressed towards Switzerland, and we particularly thank his Majesty for having been pleased to tender us his good offices to obtain a pacific settlement of the Neuchatel dispute. We regret the more that we are not able to comply with the renewed invitation which the imperial govern ment has made us to reiease the prisoners. The con• siderations, however, by which we are herein actuated are of such a nature that the imperial government itself will ❑ot refuse duly to appreciate them. The demand of a preliminary and unconditional re lease of the prisoners can only be founded upen the sup position that they have not rendered thems dyes guilty of any crime ; that the Confederation is in the wrong with regard to them, and that all the right is on the side of the King of Prussia. The Confederation, however, could by no means agree to such a proposition ; it could not admit that its posi tion with regard to the insurgents of the 3d September is founded only upon existing facts, and not also upon well-established facts. Without wishing to discuss in detail the Neuchatel question in a legal point of view, we may observe that, by the act of the Congress of Vienna, the canton of Neu chatel was reunited to Switzerland, and that by the spe cial acte d'accession executed between that canton and the Swiss Confederation, that canton was, in its relation with the Confederation, completely released from any princes residing out of the country, seeing that the par ticipation of the canton in the federal affairs, its vote in the Diet, and in general all its relations with the Con federation, depended solel♦ upon the government resi dent at Neuchatel. The canton of Neuchatel has ad hered to all the dispositions made by the Federal pact, even to those which provided that there should no longer be in Switzerland any territory in a state of subjection, and that the government could not be a privilege in the hands of any persons or any class of the citizens. The Prince of Neuchatel also has expressly authorised the concluding of this acte d'accession, and the consequent emancipation of the canton. The canton of Neuchatel has continual to occupy the same position in regard to the Confederation that all the other cantons of Switzer land occupy, and it has voted, together with them, in favour of the 'principle proclaimed by the Diet on the 27th Nov., 1830, which bestowed upon every canton the right freely to give itself a constitution. - Resting upon these treaties, and upon the acts as well as upon the development of the constitutional relations which are the result of them, the rights of sovereignty belonging to the Confederation are quite as well founded in refer ence to the canton of Neuchatel as they are in reference to any other canton. The Confederation has a right, and it is its ditty, to guarantee the constitutions of the cantons, and to provide for the maintenance of good order throughout all the territory of the Confederation. The canton of Neuchatel, like every other, is subject to these principles. If Switzerland were to obey the demand of the prelimi nary and unconditional release of the prisoners, that act would amount to a renunciation of her constitutional position with regard to the canton of Neuchatel and of the exercise of the rights of sovereignty which belong to the Confederation. Such an act cannot be required of any state the independence of which is acknowledged. It cannot be expected that Switzerland will submit to such a demand, even under the hypothesis that the King of Prussia is still in possession of hi rights to Neucha tel • for it must, even in that case, be allowed that Swit zerland too b.as some important rights to be defended, as well as the Prince of Neuchatel. And it would be mistaking altogether the legal position of the two par ties, to pretend that Switzerland should renounce her rights, without any simultaneous corcession being ma n - fasted on the other side. We fully appreciate the assurance which the Imperial government offers us, in case of Switzerland deciding to release the prisoners. But we canrot avoid the convic tion that, although we have expressed ourselves in all sincerity upon the detailed conditions of an eventful arrangement, it has not been so en the side of the King of Prussia, who has seemed to practise the greatest re serve, even towards the Imperial Government, in this reepe o e. We are, consequently, warranted in raising some doubts about the real intentions of the King, and we might justly feel some apprehension lest any defini tive arrangement should fall to the ground in the pre sence of the conditions which the King might attach to the renunciation of his claim. A greater degree of cnnfidence in the assurance given -to us by the King would only be possible in case the Emperor of the French were informed of the conditions which the King designs to lay down, and if he were able to dee:are to us that those conditions are no w.v incompatible with the complete independence of Neu chatel. In any case, we were obliged to regard it as doubtful that the Emperor was aware of those conditions, and Switzerland must insist the rather upon some positive assurances in that respect, because the King's circular to the German states, and the speech which the King lately delivered, exhibit a tendency directly opposed to the claims of Switzerland. The liberation of the prisoners has been recommended to us also as an act of generosity. But apart from the consideration that there exists no particular motive for exercising generosity instead of leaving justice to take its course, their liberation would, under the circum stances, appear in the eyes of all the world, not as an act of generosity, but as an act of weakness. Lastly, there remains this consideration, that the libe ration of the prisoners without any reserve would cause serious detriment to one of the fundamental political principles of the organisation of Switzerland, namely, that all, whether they be rich or poor, of high or low degree, are equal in the sight of the law, of equity and justice. We be:.r you, gentlemen, to cast a glance at the signi ficant declaration whic'r we have authorised our Minister at Paris to crake to the Imperial Government, and to keep in view the following points : The King of Prussia has intimated, it is true, that he wou ld be ready to enter into negotiations as soon as Switzerland should have pronounced the release of the prisoners ; but he has not said a word of the bases upon which the negotiations would rest, nor of the conditions upon which he might make the renunciation of his pre tended rights depend. We did not insist upon that matter, and we have ceased for a long time to demand that those conditions should be directly communicated to ourselves ; we should have declared ourselves satisfied if the Emperor of the French had been informed of the conditions. We went one step farther, and we did not even ask that the Em peror of the French should communicate to us the condi tions that might have been laid down ; it was enough for us that the Emperor should give us his assurance that those conditions were compatible with the complete inde pendence of Neuchatel, and that they contained nothing which could impair the honour of Switzerland. In the presence of these facts, we may appeal to you gentlemen, and to the whole world, whether we have not limited ourselves to the very minimum of what must be required by an independent state which does not wish to deliver itself over, bound hand and foot, to its adversary. In the presence of these facts, which have until this day been veiled in diplomatic secrecy, we are not afraid to ask you, and to ask the world, whether the reproach can be made to us of having acted with obstinacy, and hav ing remained inaccessible to good advice ; or whether we have not rather afforded, by our concessions, a complete proof that we desired to show ourselves disposed to enter into an amicable settlement, if only such a thing were possible without impairing the honour and the rights of the Confederation But we did not even stop there, and we made yet another effort with a view to bring about an amicable settlement of the dispute. Under date of Dec. 10 we wrote to our minister at Paris that the Neuchatel question had now arrived at a point where means might be tried to ascertain whether a settlement could be obtained by the method of direct negotiations between Switzerland and the King of Prussia ; and the more so since there ap peared to be no repugnance felt in high quarters at Berlin to entering lulu an arrangement. It will have been foreseen that the proceedings of the trial cannot commence earlier than the middle of January, co that a compromise would still be practicable. When once the public pleadings had been closed, and the verdict de livered, the interval which separates the two parties from each other would be much wider, arid direct negotia tions would be more difficult to take up. But the sending of an envoy or delegate on our part to Berlin would have constituted an act of condescension so important, that we would not resolve to do so until we were informed, officially at least, of the King's inten tions with regard to the reception which might be reser ved for our envoy, and with regard to the basis of the deliberations. We charged our minister to communicate confiden tially to the Prussian ambassador resident at Paris, that we, for our part, were disposed to enter directly into negotiations in which we should have for our object the recognition of the independence of Neuchatel. If the King were disposed to listen to the overtures of that purport, we would send, i❑ case his Majesty desired it, a delegate to treat with him officially upon the subject. As early as Dec. 14, our minister at Paris sent us word that the Prussian envoy had declared to him that it was impossible for him to anticipate a communication from the Swiss government, but that he would, neverthe • less, make private inquiries at Berlin as to whether there was a disposition to take advantage of the time, before the trial should commence, to procure an arrange ; I ment between the two parties. Our minister has not received any further answer from Count Hatzfeld on the subject. On the contrary, the envoy of another Power has been enabled to give us a definitive declaration, to the effect that a delegation from Switzerland would be received at Berlin, but only after the release of the prisoners should have taken place, a declaration which agreed entirely with another communication which has reached us through a private channel, and without any steps having been taken by us to obtain it. Such was the situation of affairs when the envoy ex traordinary and minister plenipotentiary of Prussia to the Swiss Confederation, M. de Sydow, announced, by a note dated, from Sigmaingen, on the lfith December, that he had received orders from his sovereign to termi• nr,te his official relations with the Federal authorities. Simultanec usly with this communication, the chancery of the legation at Berne suspended its official functions. The moment seemed to have arrived for convoking t he Federal Assembly, and consigning the question to its ultimate decision. We will here call to mind that in order to elucidate every part of the question, we have caused a memoir to be drawn up, which discusses thoroughly the historical and judicial considerations that should serve as a basis for the full appreciation of this subject. This memoir has been communicated to all the governments of Europe, arid also to the cabinet of Washington ; and we have tn deavoured to make it as public as possible, at home and abroad. The memoir will also be communicated to you, and, not to repeat what has often been said already, we take the liberty of referring you particularly to the la-t chapter, in which the legal point of view from which we started is explained in detail. Permit us, gentlemen, to direct your attention to another point, which must already have seriously en. gaged your attention,—we mean the military prepara• Coos. Prudence requ red us to be upcn cur gunrd. Our tniii tlry department had already laboured, though in si lence, to complete the military force of Switzerland, so that they could be rendered available at the first sum mems from the authorities. The cantons were invited to fill un such vacancies as might exist, and to complete the organisation of the troops. A certain number of superior staff-officers were summoned to the Federel cite, that they might, as a council of war, assist cur military department. A distribution of the Federal army, the plan of which had been prepared, wa s ao . provA of by us. By &grasp, the situation of affairs assumed a graver and more threatening aspect. Not only did the public journals, especially the German journals, announce that Prussia contemplated a hostile derirmstration against Switzlrland, but it was also offici ally communicated to us that Prussia had actually mobilised, or would mobilise forthwith two army corps, and that she was negotiating with the Southern of Germany for the passage of her troops. Serious warn ings reached us from various quarters, by which we were given to understand that the mobilisation of the Prus- sian forces was appointed for the beginning of January next. We could not but feel convinced that Prussia attached great importance to securing the success of the inter- vention before the trial. We were compelled, more over, to admit that Prussia would send an army corps to our frontier by the time the Federal Assembly was to meet, and that she would do this for the purpose of ex ercising an influence which for us was quite inadmissible over the deliberations of the Federal authorities. We know, finally, that there always has been, and still is, a question whether Prussia has an intention of seizing as a pledge some of the most advanced points of the Swiss territory ; we could not therefore wait fora decla ration of war to be addressed to us, and we were bound to take measures, so as to be able to repel an attack. Knowing:with what rapidity an army might be trans ported, from the most distant point to our frontiers, thanks to the rap;d means of communication, we were bound to consider the danger as imminent, and we thought we could not delay making preparations on a vast scale, as we did not wish to take upon ourselves an immense responsibility, that of having allowed ourselves to be surprised by events, and of having put it out of the power of the country to make an efficacious resistance in defence of its dearest interests. In consequence, under date of Dec. 18, we invited the high Federal states tp place the Federal army of the elite, and likewise the re serve and the militia (land wehr) on such a footing, that their services might be immediately employed in the cause of their country, and to fill up instantly whatever vacancies or deficiencies might exist in the ranks or in the equipments of the troops. On Dec. 19 we invited the cantonal governments, moreover, to complete their contingents without delay, and prepare to supply at the first summons their quota of horses in sound condition. Lastly, on the 20th December, we informed the cantons that in order to be ready for any eventuality, and not to allow ourselves to be surprised by events, we had ordered two divisions to be called out for the field. Tbese divisions are the 3d, placed under the command of the Federal Col. Bourgeois•Doxat, and the sth, commanded by Federal Col. Ziegler. Our military department was charged to assemble to gether the corps of these divisions, forming part of the Federal active army ; this order will shortly have re ceived its execution. On the same day (Dec. 20) the States were invited to call out immediately all the troops belonging to the active army and the Federal reserve, in order that this force might be rendered available, in case the country should require it. Since then we have also ordered the staffs of the Ist, 2d, 4th, 6th, and Bth divisions to be raised to their full complements. It is not without deep satisfaction that we inform you of all these arrangements having been received by the cantonal governments and the people with the enthusi asm that might have been expected from the generous patriotism of the Swiss nation. We have received the most unequivocal and touching proofs of civic devoted ness and self-denial ; young men, as well as those of a riper age, show themselves equally ready to respond to their country's appeal. The same enthusiasm has taken hold of all classes of the population, and from all parts of the country we have received those marks of sympathy which prove how the seriousness of the crisis is appre ciated, and that the Confederation can depend upo❑ being sustained by ardent hearts and by vigorous arms. Many of our military veterans have placed themselves at our disposal with laudable eagerness ; the students of the universities and academies request to be organised, and demand that they may be allowed to share the fatigues and dangers of the Federal army. The Swiss people comprehends that the hour of trial is approaching. It sees the moment draw near with caltrness, but without provocation ; and in this its atti tude, so full of dignity, we behold a manifestation really imposing. The Swiss recognise their Providential des tination ; they know their liberty is at stake, their right to a free constitution, perhaps their very existence ; and in order to preserve these precious rights, to defend this their ancestral inheritance, they are ready to offer any sacrifice on the altar of their country. Aisoon as it was known that the Federal Council bad made serious preparations, and that several cantons had taken analogous measures, which testified irrefragably the firm resolution of the people, diplomacy made fresh propositions, which brought into view the possibility of attaining a pacific solution. All the resident ministers at Berne sent to us on the 20th of December formal propositions, which in the course of neeotiations assumed the following shape : As the Neuchatel affair has hitherto been merely the object of isolated proceedings on the part of the differ ent legations, all the chiefs of the missions who reside at Berne have deemed it proper to take a collective step, addressing themselves to the Federal Council, for the purpose of giving it, in concert, the positive assurance that the instant the Federal authorities shall have, in virtue of their rights of sovereignty, ordered the imme diate and complete annulling of the legal proceedings, their respective governments will use their most zealous good offices towards inducing his Majesty the King of Prussia to accede to an arrangement in the sense of re cognising the absolute independence of Neuchatel of every foreign claim. An attentive examination of these overtures gave us the conviction that we had no reason for rejecting them; for on the one hand the concurrence of all the Powers, which they allowed us to look for, and especially that of the Powers which signed the London protocol, ought to have great weight in the scale to the advantage of Switzerland ; and that concurrence was for Switzerland a serious assurance, that she really might attain the object proposed. On the other hand it was a point of great importance that the proposition expressly ack nowleged Switzerland's rights of sovereignty, since, as is well known, it had been wished to contest the jurisdic tion of the Confederation over the Neuchatelese prisoners. _ _ _ The acknowledgment of that jurisdiction was made in term, which excluded all dispute touching the right of Switzerland, to whom all latitude was left to make such use of it as to her might seem to her fitting, since the proposition merely and simply gave it to be understood, that the powers were willing to employ their good offices provided Switzerland, acting in virtue of her sovereign ty, would declare the legal proceedings annulled. Finally, we have to notice as a favourable circum stance, and very opportune for Switzerland, the fact that the legation of the United States of North America declared itself ready to join in these collective assurances. We consequently declared that we were ready to pro pose to the Federal Assembly that it should decree, in virtue of the sovereignty of the Swiss Confederation, as follows : 1. The legal proceedings on account of an insurrer. tionary attempt at Neuchatel on the 2d and 3d Sept., of the present year are annulled. 2. The prisoners now in detention are set at liberty ; nevertheless (for the sake of order) they will have to quit the canton until a definitive arrangement of the Neuchatel question shall have occurred. It is a matter of course that the legations which pre sented this proposition had to ask their respective go vernments previously for full powers formally to present their collective note. We here fulfil an agreeable duty in expressing our sincere gratitude for the friendly sentiments displayed in these conciliatory propositions, and for the good will which several of the foreign diplomatic representatives have evinced in their efforts for drawing up the collec tive note. The steps that followed Lad not the desired result. The collective note has not been drawn up, because some of the powers have considered they ought to re fuse the authorisation to acquiesce in it, which had been asked of them. We ought also to say a few words respecting the steps we have taken with a view to secure for the Con federation the financial resources it might in any even tuality require. It was an imperative duty for us to devote to this object the most serious attention, since the military preparations could have no value whatever without the necessary resources. We may now inform you that we have the prospect of contracting abroad a loan of 12 millions, on tolerably advantageous conditions. Our financial department, moreover, is charg e d to examine other plans for con tracting a second loan. Certainly we could not defini tively conclude a loan, since, by the terms of the con stitution, that right appertains solely to the Legislative Councils. But, as you see, the preparatory steps have been taken. For the rest, we leave it entirely to your just appreciation. . . We have now given a fair account of all the negotia tions. You see that the aspect of the matter remains unchanged. Prussia demands the preliminary anduncondi tional liberation of the prisoners ; we, on our side, declare ourselves still willing to abandon the trial, provided the independence of Neuchatel be declared at the same time, or, at least, guarantees given to us that it will be s 3. We cannot and must not relinquish this condition with out compromising the right of a free constituaon and the sovereign rights of the Confederation. We confi. dently leave to you the appreciation of our conduct, cer tain that impartial history will one day render us justice. Permit us to give you main a summary view of the different phases through which the negotiations have passed. The Prussian Legation demanded at first the libera tion previously to any further proceedings, and then the unconditional discharge of the Neuchatelese prisoners ; at a later period that measure was recommended by the French legation. We answered that we were ready to propose the liberation demanded, the instant a positive assurance should be given to us concerning the absolute independence of Neuchatel. Tn° offers of mediation by England, which we have minutely described in this message, form the second phase of the negotiations. We declared our readinest; to accept these propositions; but they were not communicated to Prussia, because it could be foreseen that her answer would be in the nega tive. In the third phase of the affair, France demanded the release of the prisoners, enagin;:f in return to do her best to obtai❑ from the Sing of Prusi,ia a renunciation of hi; claim. We do not think we could accept this proposition, for the reasons set forth in this message. In the fourth phase of the negotia ions, PrusPia de mantis the unconditional Lberation of tho prisoners, declaring that in that case she would be ready to enter in to ne2otiationp. We reF•ly that we are equally ready to negotiate, but that we canuet consent to the preliminary and uncon ditional release of the prisoners. — in the fifth phase of the matter we are endeavouring to enter into direct negotiation with Prussia ; but that p owe r refuses to to do so, so long as the preliminary release of the prisoners shall not have taken place. The sixth phase of the question is distinguished by the projected " collective note," which we were willing to tak e a s a basis cf negotiation, but it came to nothing in consequence of the opposition made by certain powers. We shall conclude our report, and rsturn into your hands the settlement of this grave and important ques tion. N e vertheless, for the sake of dissipating every kind of doubt, and giving a solemn contradiction to all rumours of the contrary, we declare in the most formal mann er that the Federal Council has been unanimous upon all the principal questions, and that all its resolu tions h ave been taken with the same unanimity. May t h e same unanimity crown your deliberations now! May G o d bless your resolutions, and protect our dear country ! We submit the following - project of a decree for your adoption, in conformity with the propositions that w e h av e the honour of presenting to you. The F e d e ral Assembly of the Swiss Confederation, after having heard the report of the Federal Council, Decrees : 1 . The Federal Council will still continue to en deavour as hitherto to procure a pacific solution of the Neuchatel question by every means compatible with the honour and dignity of Switzerland, and which is of a nature to procure the recognition of the inde pendence of Neuchatel from all foreign ties. 2. Th e military levies ordered by the Federal Council, and the other measures of safety taken by it are approved. It is authorised to take any ulterior measures deemed necessary to defend the country to the last extremity, in case an honourable and pacific solution cannot be obtained. An unlimited credit is allowed to meet all expenses. 3. Th e Federal Council is authorised to negotiate and conclude on account of the Confederation one or more loans to an amount not exceeding 30,060,000 f. 4. The Federal Council is charged to communicate these propositiOns through the proper channels to the people of the Swiss cantons. When they have been adopted, the Commander-in-Chief will be named. The Federal Council finally expresses the wish that the Federal Assembly, after having terminated its de. L, the President o f the Confederation.Co u liberations, may be not dissol ve d, b u t s i mp ly p rorogue d. nei' l In the s name rAExrp p of r SCMIESSI Chancellor of the Confederation. Berne, December 26, 1856. Navel and Military Intelligence. The volunteering for the several depots at the provi sional battalion, Chatham, has been attended with great success, several of the colonial and Indian depots having received a large number of volunteers from other regi ments. The 3d Buffs and the 68th Light Infantry have given 25 volunteers to the 52d Light Infantry and the 7Oth Regiments, both of which are on the Indian esta blishment ; and the 26th Cameronians and the 35th Royal Sussex Regiments have also received a number of volunteers. Yesterday th e t roops stat i oned at St. Mary ' s Barracks, Chatham, having been assembled for inspection, an order was read from the War-office directing the discharge of 250 non-commissioned officers and men, who had been inspected by the Board of Commissioners from Chelsea Hospital and declared unfit for further service. A large number of the men to be discharged served in the Crimea during the whole of the campaign, and are decorated with the Crimean medal with four clasps. The Stromboli, 6, steam-sloop, Commander Burgess, was officially reported and the crew mustered yesterday in Portsmouth harbour by Vice-Admiral Sir G. F. Seymour, K.C.8., the Commander-in-Chief, prior to being dismantled and paid off. The Pembroke, 60, screw block-ship for coast-guard service, Capt. Fraser, bent sails yesterday in Portsmouth harbour, and goes to Spithead this day. The Victor Emmanuel, 91, having been proved suf ficiently, has now been placed in the first class in the steam fleet in reserve in Portsmouth harbour, under the superintendenc e of Capt. the Hon. F. T. Pelham, C. 8., of her Majesty's ship Blenheim. The Sitnoom steam transport, is expected to arrive in Kingstown harbour in a few days to take on board the service companies (800 strong) of the 33d (Duke of Wel lington's) Regt., for conveyance to the Mauritius. Her Majesty's paddlewheel steam vessel Pluto, 4, Lieut.-Commander Swinburne, sailed from Plymouth on Tuesday for the w es t coa st of Africa. The following appointments were made at the Admi ralty yesterday : E. Grey to the Pembroke. Naval Cadet—H. C. Walker to the Hermes. Midshipmen—F. L. Wood, C. E. Martyn, and E. Rice, to the Iris. LAW INTELLIGENCE. COURT OF BANKRUPTCY.—DEC. 31. (Before Mr. Commissioner Holroyd.) THE ROYAL BRITISH BANK. A private meeting was fixed in this matter to-day. Mr. James Johnstone, the messenger of this court, has just returned from Wales, where he bad been to inspect the mines which the assignees now hold. There are two coal-mines and one iron-mine--that is to say, one part of the tract of ground produces iron and another coal, for they may be said to run one into the other. The works at the iron mine, which, of course, are of an ex pensive and heavy character, have been stopped for the present ; but about a hundred men are daily employed under the superintendence of Mr. Bowater, one of Mr. Johnstone's principal assistants. About 400 or 500 tons of coal and coke are weekly produced, and find a ready sale. There is a railway station within a few miles of the mine, and there is also a depot on the coast. On the whole the Welsh prospects are rather cheering to credi tors, shareholders, and all interested in that unfortunate concern—the British Bank. SUPPLEMENTAL DIVIDEND. Mr. Linklater—Perhaps your Honour will allow me to take this opportunity of making a❑ application in the matter of the Royal British Bank, which it is necessary should be made on or before Friday. In consequence of the short time which some of the creditors think they have for proving their debts in this Court, we find that a great number have been shut out from the dividend which was declared on Tuesday last. Several of those creditors have complained of this, and no doubt there are a great many more in the same position, of whom we have not heard. If your Honour will be kind enough to appoint a dividend meeting, to be advertised in next Friday's Gazette, and the dividend to be paid within three weeks, we shall have ample funds to pay all those cre ditors the amount of dividend already declared. Commissioner—So as to put them on the same footing as the others ? Mr. Linklater—Just so. It appears that great com plaints have been made, and we think this the most effectual way of remedying them. Mr. Lawrence—l suppose this will not interfere with the payment of your former dividend ? Commissioner--Of course not. It will merely be putting the other creditors on the same footing as those who proved their debts before the last dividend meeting. Mr. Linklater—Having done that, if we have enough for a further dividend, we shall declare it at the same time. Mr. Lawrence—A. creditor was complaining to me that the dividend had been made upon proofs for only 200,0001., while in Chancery there had been debts proved to the amount of 400,000/. Mr. Linklater—The dividend was made upon debts proved of 360,0001., and we do not expect that we shall have quite 100,000/. more of proofs. I thought it best to apply at once for another dividend meeting, as some of the creditors who have recently proved appear to be under apprehension that they should lose the past divi dend. Commissioner—That, of course, is out of the question; that was once the law. If creditors did not prove at a certain time they were shut out altogether. Mr. Linklater—Will your Honour give us a day for the dividend meeting ! Mr. Bagley—l think the amount of the dividend seems to have given universal satisfaction. Mr. Lawrence—lt seems to have made the creditors more clamorous, I think. Mr. Linklater—lf all the shareholders will pay their calls, no doubt we shall have a further dividend very Soon. f 0 r e t o h m e In 2 4 i s t s h i o 3 a e r ulTa L r y e , the dividend meeting b e appointed PO LICE INTELLIGEA CE—Dec. 31, GUILDHALL.—CharIes Edkins, described as an agent and process server, was brought up belore Alder- man Rose, for further examination relative to the charge of stealing a bill of exchange for 241. 145., belonging to Mr. Johnson, a cabinet-maker, of Moorfields. Mr. Denny appeared for the prisoner, and, having commented upon the circumstances of the case, which have already appeared in print, submitted that, although the prisoner's conduct was reprehensible, the charge, it an offence at aii, was merely a breach of trust. It could not be made a criminal offence, as at the time the bill was given there was no letter of instructions given with it to the prisoner. Mr. igartiu said the charge was that of stealing the bill. Mr. Denny said there could not be the shadow of a pretence for such a charge, and the prosecutor's story was improbable in the extreme ; for he said he had been sued upon this bill, and had let judgment go by default ; when by defending it, by putting a plea upon the record that he had never received value for it, and that it hal been stolen from him, would have been au ample answer to that action. He also said that he had seen the pri soner since the bill had been stolen, and had been drink ing with him in a public-house, but did not give him into custody. It was hardly possible to believe that the prosecutor could have acted so from stupidity, even if it were not, as he had already suggested, been a matter of accommodation between them—a men exchange of ac ceptance. Alderman Rose said it was a very suspicious case all through, and he therefore ordered the bill to be im pounded. The prosecutor had acted very stupidly in this matter, and had been taken advantage of accord ingly ; but there was not sufficient evidence to support the charge, and he therefore dismissed the case. In doing so, however, he could only say that it was a case of very grave suspicion to all the parties concerned. The prisoner was then discharged. BO W-STREET.—Juban Payne, a newsboy, formerly in the service of Mr. Pavey, of Holywell-street, news• vender and publisher, was charged with obtaining 3d morning papers, by false pretences, from James Morgan, one of the clerks to Messrs. Smith and Son, , wholesale newsvenders in the Strand. The prisoner, who was known at Messrs. Smith's, having frequently been sent for newspapers when in Mi.. Pavey's service, called that morning and asked for " Pavey's papers." The clerk, supposing him to be still in the employ, handed him the number of papers Mr. Pavey had ordered—namely, 18 with the impressed stamp, and 18 " blanks," or unstamped copies. The value, at the selling price, was 1/. 4s. 6d. Afterwards Mr. Pavey sent for the papers, and the trick was dis• covered. The prisoner's address being known to Mr. Pavey there was no difficulty in finding him. Whe❑ apprehended he said he got the papers to oblige Mr. Pavey's boy, to whom he had given them. The prisoner had been discharged by Mr. Pavey about two months back. The prisoner said he was asked by a boy, whom he believed to be in Mr. Pavey's service, to get the papers, as he was better acquainted with the establishment, and could get served more readily. He did so, but on seeing Mr. Pavey's boy in court, he found that this was not the person to whom he had given the papers. Mr. Henry thought it very unlikely the prisoner would take that trouble to serve an employer who had discharged him. He (Mr. Henry) would send the case for trial, bat for the present a remand would be necessary that in quiry might be made as to his character. Remanded accordingly. WORSHIP-STREET.—DARING SACRILEGE.—John Staunard and James Deller, journeymen masons, were placed at the bar before Mr. Hammill, charged with a most daring attempt to rob West Hackney Church of the sacramental plate. Mr. Alfred Dunn Meredith, the sexton, stated that shortly before seven on Tuesday evening his children directed his attention to a light that appeared to be burning in the vestry, and having sent for Williams, the beadle, they went together to the lobby, the door of which was locked. He unlocked it, and Williams quietly approached the vestry, but hearing persons inside, hastily returned, and went for further assistance, and on enter ing the vestry presently afterwards they found the large iron plate chest pulled out from the wall and turned upside down, and with every appearance of a desperate effort having been made to force it open—one of the handles as well as the hasp and scutchen plate of the keyhole being broken off. It was still locked, however, and the witness anxiously opening it, found the contents undisturbed, comprising a silver flagon, two chalices, two patens, the bread-plates, spoons, alms-dish, and other articles used at the communion service, valued at 180 i. While engaged in that examination his little girl called his attention to a noise at the back door like somebody trying to open it ; he hastened back through the lobby, and distinctly saw the prisoner Staunard and another man not in custody endeavouring to make their way down a staircase leading to the vaults under the church ; and the vaults were entered and searched, but the men had then escaped by forcing up and removing a grating. He knew the men, and had employed them and the prisoner Deller that day in putting down grave stones in the churchyard, but they had no business what. ever in any part of the church. The plate chest weighed 7 cwt., and very great force must have been used to detach it from the wall. A smaller iron chest had been taken down, and the lid forced up at the ends sufficiently to admit a man's hand—the lock having withstood the attempt to force it, but it contained only tools; and a wooden chest had also been forced, but it only contained a metal tankard and chalice, which were left in it, the robbers evidently being intent upon getting possession of the valuable silver plate. While they were making the investigation in the vestry the prisoner Deller entered and said, "Dear me, what have they been doing ?" but witness told him that he had no business there, and the seoner he went the better, and he accordingly went away; Thomas Williams, the beadle, corroborated the sexton's evidence, and produced a crowbar which he hail found left in the chest, which the villains were evidently in the act of breaking open when disturbed. He afterwards went with the police to a house in Sandford-lane, where both the prisoners were apprehended, and when told what they were charged with they both declared that it was all false, and denied having been at the church at all. Inspecto Langdon, of the N division, stated that he found Delnr at No. 1 cottage in S.andford-lane, and, leaving him in charge of another officer, went out intu the lane, where he presently afterwards met with Staunard, who, in reply to his question, denied that he lived there, but on being tak en i n was identifiedby the other witnesses. When told of the charge against him, he said, " You are mistaken, my friend" and declared that he was innocent. The prisoners were remanded for a week, for the com pletion of the evidence for their committal. ••••••••••.• CLERKENWELL.--UNFouNDED CHARGE OF ROB' BERT AGAINST A FEMALE —Amelia Westhall a band , some, well-dressed gir l , l l7 years of age, was p l a ced at the bar bef ore M r. T yrwhitt, charged by Charles Rich° Waddell Watkins, an elderly eccentric-looking man, who was described iu the police street as a "gentleman, residing at No. 43, Burford-street, St. Pancras, on sus picion of staling 3/, in qnl,3, The prosecutor having Leda SWOI'II, in a .viid manner said—l live at No. 43, Burford-street, St. Pancras. On Tuesday, at two o'clock, the prisoner visited me, as she was in the habit of doing. She prepared dinner, and we dined. We went to bed together, and afterwards she said her hand was bad, and she must go to a surgeon to have it dressed. While we were in bed my trousers were on the bed. I felt in the pocket, and I missed 11 sovereigns, but charged her only with stealing three. I entreated her to return the money, telling her I could not afford to lose so much, but she refused aed resisted. I locked her in the room and brought a policeman, and charged her with stealing three sovereigns. The police. man went to make a search in the bed, and he found an empty purse and several sovereigns on the carpet. I complain of the policeman picking up three and putting them into his coat pocket, which he refused to deliver up to me. Police-constable 92 E, sworn, said—l accompanied the prosecutor to his house in Burford street. He said he had been robbed of 101. He (Mr. Watkins) unlocked the door. I then saw the prisoner sitting on a chair near the fire. I told her she must consider herself my prisoner on a'cbarge of robbery. I began a sdarch, and saw several sovereigns lying on the carpet of the room. She said nothing. The prosecutor was in the room at the time. I did nct put any of the money in my coat pocket. I put my hand behind to get my pocket hand kerchief, when he charged me with putting some sove reigns in my pocket. He wanted to search me, but I would not submit until at the station-house. Sergeant Chamberlaine, E division, was in the station house when the charge was brought there. The con stable was searched, and no sovereigns were found, but only ss. in his purse. It was his voluntary offer to be searched. Mr. Tyrwhitt, after a long and patient investigation, said a more unfounded charge was never brought before a magistrate. He believed the poor girl to be perfectly innocent. A more gross charge was never made, and the police constable was free from any imputation. He would discharge them both. It was evident the case was brutal and sensual, and, addressing the girl (who shed tears), told her never again to have anything to do with such a fellow as the man Watkins. Watkins addressed the bench insolently, saying, "You are wrong," and the parties left the court. SOUTHWARK. —CHARGE Or STABBING.—Henry De Courcy was brought before Mr. Combs, charged with maliciously stabbing James Clare, his stepbrother, a young man about 16 years of age. It appeared from the evidence of Hough, 112 M, that on Tuesday morning, about three o'clock, his attention was attracted to a court in Long-lane, Bermondsey, by bearing cries of murder. He proceeded there, and saw the injured lad bleeding from wounds on the left arm and the right side of his face. The prisoner was given into his custody, and the lad was conveyed to the hospi. tal, where he remained until that morning. The pri soner was his step brother, and witness was informed that he inflicted the wounds with a knife or other sharp instrument, which could not be found. The complainant, whose left arm was bandaged up, and the whole side of the right face covered with ad hesive plaster, was sworn, but he had evidently been tampered with, as he gave quite a different version to the magistrate to that which he told the constable. The father of the lad, however, positively swore that no one else stabbed him but the prisoner. The surgeon from the hospital was in attendance, and he said the wounds were inflicted by a sharp instrument, and the lad told him the prisoner was the person who stabbed him. Mr. Combe, after hearing that evidence, decided on remanding him for a week for further examination. LAMBETH.—ROBBERY BY A SOLDIER.—A CRIMEAN MEDALIST.—Joseph Curtis, a private, belonging to the Fusilier Guards, and the possessor of a Crimean medal with one clasp for taking Sebastopol, was further exa mined on a charge of being concerned with another man not in custody with robbing Mr. John Dougal Leap, a respectable tradesman, residing at 10, Park-road, P ec kh a m, of three 51. notes and nearly Si. in gold and silver. From the evidence it appeared that on the sth of last month the prosecutor got change of a cheque for 201. at the Stafford-place branch of the London and Westmin ster Bank in three 51. notes and 51. in gold. On his return he got drinking, and ultimately fell in with the prisoner and a discharged railway porter at the Lord Hill public-house, opposite the Waterloo station. There he treated them and drank freely himself, and they ulti mately took him in a cab.to the Black Prince public house in Walworth-road, where they discharged the cabman and induced the prosecutor to drink more ; and ultimately he, with much difficulty, made his way home covered with mud, and minus the whole of bis money. On the same evening the prisoner exhibited two 51. notes at the Queen's Head public house in Griffen. street, York-road, which notes were two of those stolen from the prosecutor, and which he left in the care of the landlord's daughter. He subsequently obtained change for one of them, and wrote his name on the back, eo that there could not be a shadow of doubt of the prisoner's guilt. The other suspected person, the discharged rail way porter, still keeping out of the way, and the wit nesses necessary to prove the identity of the notes not being in attendance, the prisoner was again remanded. CHARGE OF MURDER ON THE HIGH SEA S. On Tuesday, at the Plymouth Guildhall, Hugh Orr, a robust looking man, with a profusion of beard and moustache, was charged before the Mayor (F. F. Bulteel, Esq.) and C. Cardew, Esq., with causing the death of Edward Do Bugle on the high seas, on the 3d of July. Mr. Kelly said that he appeared for the prosecu tion under the instructions of the Board of Trade, and the charge was brought under the 269th sec tion of the Merchant Shipping Act. The prisoner was the master and part owner of the ship Hannah and Jane. In the earlier part of the present year he left Newcastle in this vessel, bound for the Cape De Verd Islands and Rio Janeiro, and from thence back to the first-mentioned port. De Bugh ship ped at Newcastle, as the cook and steward of the ship, and sailed in her up to the 3d of July, when he died. There was, however, no entry in the official log stating the cause of death, but in look ing over it he found on the 4th of June Orr became displeased with De Bugh, and he was fined 3t. 10s. for insolence and waste of provisions ; and between that date and the 3d of July there was also a large number of entries and fines, the latter amounting in all to 45/. There was also the following entry in the log, dated the 3d of July, and signed by the master :—" The cook is in the sulks, will not do anything. 7.30 a.m., 3d July. The mate and crew told me he was dead. I gave orders to lay him on the deck, in the heat of the sun, to see if he was really dead. Got a looking-glass to try if he could but steam the glass, that I might really know if he was dead. Found the glass not anything stained ; h owever I gave orders to let him lay until afternoon, so that I could make sure about it. At 1 p.m. he was sewn up and buried, and all his effects thrown overboard, being in a very dirty state." Mr. Kelly then asked for a remand of the case until the next day, on the ground that he was not prepared for any investigation, as he had no time to examine the men who were to be brought for ward as witnesses. H e did not w i s h t o inconveni ence any person, but it being in his opimon a case for investigation that was the reason he wished to pay particular attention to it. Mr. Edraonds7wcoappeared for the defence, objected to the remand, remarking there was no evidence brought forward, which could warrant them in keeping his client in gaol until the day the case was adjourned to, and he wished to know why it could not be at once proceeded with, as all the witnesses concerned were in Plymouth, and in his opinion it would not be right to keep his client, unless they heard one witness who could give evi dence to the effect that the deceased had been struck by the prisoner. The case was not brought forward at Queenstown, where the vessel lay ni n ,, days, but now when the crew were being fined and certain deductions made from their wages, a came forward with the statement which threwthey facie - evi dence into prison. He was ready to answe r his der ~, the question They co u w l a d s n 6 o ‘ statement, unless they brought prima tdriedmparnisdonhmon t u h r e : he was not prepared for this. a de xi nc r e . to K s t l h ly e fact. Mr. Mr. Edmonds said there had been an inquiry int o the cause of De Bugh's death in Rio Ezra Atwill, the mate of the v Janeiro, when the consul said he would essel i ran away, and Board of Trade. report the vessel t o the Mr. Edmonds then re Mr. Johns, the quested Mr. Kelly to call bench should hear shipping master, in order that the was acceded to what he had to say. re questT'endistha he received the offic'' l and Mr. Johnstau of the crew of the ship Hann a h la d log and drolmist the prisoner who was mate of her, In jalcionsequence of entries in the log, I "le Was led make inquiries concerning the cause of the death° of the deceased, who was stated to have died on the 3d . 3-11.1 Y* Mr. Johns then read those entries, one of which is given in M r . Kelly's opening address, and the other is as follows ; The cook died 3d July. I do s not kno w th e ca use, if not ulks. Latitude 28.52.36 ; longitude 44.45. (Signed) , Ezra Henry Atwill an d Joseph yong. He then further (mate), stated that having examined the crew, and finding they accused the master of the vessel of having killed De Bee! , Ile wrote to the Board of Trade, ii,- to have the prisoner taken into who ordere d h cuMstodry. Phillips asked this witness whether he . thou ght from what he knew that the deceased died from foul play . ? Mr. Johns answered in the affirmative. Mr. Edmonds said that he did not want the belief of people, but the evidence. He then asked Mr. Johns whether the men who made the state ments alluded to by him were or were not in Plymouth ? Mr. Johns said ho believed they were. Mr. Edmonds observed, if that Were the calve, he BIRTHS. 01 A SON. On the 30th ult., the wife of William Berry, Esq., of Spring-grove• On the 30t.h ult., a_t Clapham .road, Claph of R o bert q• Esq. -road, th e wilt/ OF.A_DAII4HTER, 30th ult., at Abbotsfield, near Tavistook, Devon, Lt c he of Thomas Morris, Esq. Poole Keynes, Ciro' th e w --e On the the wife of the Rev. Richard Lowndes. ccster, MARRIED. 30th ult., at the Rectory, ' On the 30th ult., Captain Nisbet, Ist Dragoon Guard%, to Rosabelle Frances, eldest (laughter of the late Jolla Bishop, Esq., of Sunbury H ouse, Mi ddlesex, and Asot o ivare, L on d on. Lodge, Berks. On the 30th tilt., at Dove r , R o b ert Edward Wellingtons only son of the lat e Lient.-Col. Ga mbol)), of Ashfiela , youn g er daughter of t he it Lo e a v g . e A , .sTuff.oN'Akaosht,oof emssoinetMagatir.lisn t DIED. On the 2Rth ult., at Half-moon-street, the Lord John of Graftonaged 72. t son of the late A.ngustus Henry, Duke On the 28th ult., at Roche s t er, half-pay unattached, formerly of Captain S amue l K err . the 60th Rifl es an d 47th Foot. On the 29th ult., at 10 Lionel. Prime, Esq., aged 67. On the 29th ult., at Lower r • Tooting, of decline, b ' Barnsbury grove, Islington, Angus his Wingrove, youngest son of the late George Augustus Bond, Esq., 11.E.1. Coll:1 1'4We Maritime Service aged 19 ' . On the 30th ult., at Tockholes Lancashire, ° the Rev. Gilmour Robinson aged 62. gistrvte and for On the 30th ult., the Rev Edward Power, M.A., of Atlterstone, Warwickshire, aged 56. ' Ir larlY years incumbent of that place, On the 30th ult., at Pxf o a John Thorp, Esq., a ma age,' 70. • On the 3ist ult., at Tottenham, Thomas Henry, the at years an alderman of that city, eldest son of Samuel Betteley, Esq., aged 29. Mil ,,, On the 31st nit., at 24, Gloucester-terrace, New-road, ' ••-end, Mrs. Elizabeth Deane, widow of the late Edward D • "de, Eici., aged 90. LONDON : Printed and Puttlighed by MURDO YOUNG, of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at 27e Sun Office, . o. 112, Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy, in the aoT to ty of Middie E ex, Thurs3xy, January 1, 1857. did not see there was any impediment in proceed ing wiji t,ll Mr. Kelly said he was expecting the ship's paper from London, and, if he did not oval wish to exa mine the witnesses, he would have to wait for those papers. It was determined by the bench ultimately that the case should be heard to-day at 12 o'clock, to which hour the prisoner was remanded. Country Markets. EDINBURGH HAY AND STRAW 31ARRET- ------- DEO. 30. Supplies of all kinds these last six days again large. Oat straw, from 7s 6d to 13s Od per kemple of 16 stores tron; wheat do., 9s Od to 12A Od; b ar l e y d o ., 7 s 6cl. to 100 Od. Hay from 12d to ls. 3d. EDINBURGH MEAL—DEC. 30. There were in the market to-day 12 sacks oatmeal, each weighing 2801 b imperial, which sold at 40s and 395. Average of the whole, 1/. 19s. 6d. DALKEITH MEAL MARKET—DEa. 29; There were in the market to-day 11 bags ofioatmoal, oof barleymeal, and 0 pot barley. Sales dull. Oatmeal, per sack of 2801bs First. Second. Third. imperial Barley - meal, per ditto -s Od —s Od —s On Peasemeal, per ditto Flour, new, per ditto —s Od —s Od —s Od Pot-barley, new, per ditto —s Od --s Od —s Od DUBLIN, DEC. 30. Our corn exchange to-day was but moderately supplied, and the general tone of the market was firmer for every thing. We note the best qualities of wheat, oats, and barley about 6d dearer than on this day be'nnight. Rather higher rates were demanded for Indian corn, but there was not business to justify any change in our last quotations. White wheat, 32s Od to 35s Od; red ditto, 31s 6d to 33s Od; ditty new, —s; barley, malting, 16s to 25s Od ; grind ing, 15s to 203 6d ; oats, old, —s to —s ; ditto, new, ns Od to 15s Od ; oatmeal, 14s to 15 s 6d ; b ere , new , 16 s t o 18s 01; rape,- d, 303 Oct to 32s Oct per brl ; bakers' flour, 20s Od to 263 Oct per cwt; Indian corn, 32s Oct to 36s Od per 480 11x. BRISTOL—DEc. 31. The offices closed for the Christmas holidays on the 24th inst., and will reopen on the 6th of January next. At the close a few sales of Demerara crystals were made at 53s to 54s per cwt., leaving some few parcels still unsold, which is the only West India in first hands in the port. During the past year this market has been but indifferently sup plied, and other ports have been drawn upon largely by both grocers and refiners iu the absence of sufficient direct imports. There is a firm and healthy feeling in the market for rofined and manufactured goods, and prices are well maintained. COAL MARK Moss of Coal per ton at s. d. Bebside's Hartley 16 3 Davison's West Hartley 16 3 Hastings' Hartley l6 0 Longridge's Wst Hartley 16 3 Tanfield Moor l5 0 Tanfield Moor Butes 15 0' Walker Primrose l4 6 Grey's West Hartley l5 9, :ET.—DEo. 31. the close of the market. Wallsend, &o. 1 s d [Eden Main lB 3 Braddyll lB 0 Haswell 19 3 iLambton 19 0 South Hetton 19 0 Caradoc... 18 0 Kelloe 18 6 Tees l9 0 Wallsend, &c. Riddell l7 0 Phips at market... 4! I Sold 32 LOCAL SHARE MARKETS. LIVERPOOL, DEC. 31. STOOK EXCHANGE.—The market is steady, at a slight ad• vance. Belfast and Ballymena, 54—Birkonhead, Lanca shire, and Cheshire (late Chester and Birkenhead, 271. half shares), 18—Ditto (221. shares), 141. 3s. 9d.—Black• burn, 8 3 / 4 115.31. 2—East Lancashire, 232—Great Western, 69i—Lancashire and Yorkshire ' 97 3 / 4 a—London and North- Western, 107 6i—Ditto 1-sth shares, 20j--Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincoln, 34 4—Midland, 83 2—South Eastern, 222 4—North Union A, 237—Grand Trunk of Canada, 14 3 / 4 —Great Western of Canada, 242—Ditto (ned shares), 2 3 / 4 p. MANCHESTER, DEC. 31. STOUR EXCHANGE.—There was a good market, at ratber better prices. Blackburn, Bi, 9-16, 11-16, Cheshire Junction, 204—Leeds, 974—Sheffields, 34 4—Midlands► 83 4—East Lancashire, 233 i—Londons, 107—Chester and Birkenhead, 18--Dovers, 22g—Great Western of Canada, 24 —Ditto New, 23—Belfast and Ballymena, 534—Great Western, 69g. BIRMINGHAM, DEC. 31. STOOK EXORANGE.—The new account opens with lin: proved prices. London and North-Western stock viol quoted at the close, 106 B—Great Western, 69i 79—Great Western Stour Valley Guaranteed stock was done at 63 —London and North-Western, 1061—Birmingham Old Union Mill, 148. Of Stour Valley shares there wel:, buyers at B—and Birmingham Banking C o mp an y a t 30' SEABORNE MAILS. [When the date remains open until mail, via Southan evening previous.] for making up a mail falls on a Sunday, the Ma_ the day followi ng; except i n the case of the Dal apton, which, on su c h occas i ons , i s made up ti 3 FOR I :FROM ........, Mad the e up at Whence By whi t Post Office. patched. what When By, des- Vessel. expected :Velia'" South- Alharn- Jan. 4 Sulta n ....... o°. S pain Lisbon 7th,l7th,&) Gibraltar '5 Gibraltar 1 Malta - - - I Egypt .. • • • . I 4th & 20th 4th and 01 South- 20th of Ripo Ceylon •• • • }-11i of the ~ Colombo ampton the India ••..•• 1 month, Mauritius month. (viaCeylon)J ampton China , ntl Penang SoWh- Co'um- , Singapore Australia(vial m lan. 12 -} „ 0 10 Mow , ' the Cape)• • evnpton bian Jan. — rend Cape of Good Hope Mauritius Ceylon Da-t- Lindsay W.S. Jan, 25 Eng litl34 India •• .. .• Lisbon....., "1 ) Madeira Brazil .... - M Jan. 9.... I South- BuenosAyres 1 amp . on Tamar Jen. 12 Ir e Falkland Is- lands J J West Indies - ) ) (except Ha- i vana and Honduras). Venezuela 2d and 17th 'I st and .' Grey Town M of the . mp.o • n lens the 0110 000 New Granada Month. ' a month. South- Magda- 16th of Chili . as •• /.m 17 Peru .... Hondo* California • • :16th of Jam • • ampton •• ' ..... the ...... ls, assau ...• month. } South- Afexico - Magda- Jan. 1 OrinoC° J“ - • ' • • ampton lens Havana • • 03 Madeira .. • • Ply- Teneriff,, t E Jan. 23 •• } mouth Gambia Jan. 6 Candle W.C.otAfrica British North America E Every Fri. Liver } A United States pool merica Jan, 5 Africa United States 1 Jan. 6 and British North E alternate Liver- T.,‘„, At lantic Jan. 1 AGO O America United States British North M Jan. 14 .. South } • America Canada 1 E ran. 27 .. Liver. A ng l o - Atigic' il Pool Saxon. sass o ampton Arage.. . ..... .. ..:.•••• Jan. 7 M—Mondrig. E—Evening, ...-___ FOREIGN EM BROIDERY.—The value of embroider , and needlework imported in 11 months was 72,937 1 . last year itwas 47,6141. C ERIST Carßoil SCHOOLS, ST. GEORGE'S EAST.' 500 children attending these schools were entertained on Monday eveni ng , the 20th inst., with tea, plum.calc!! 4 e-, !magic lanterns, and other amusements. 40 pric , were dist r ib u t e d t o th e most deserving . The scboo ' , are ind e bt e d to th e lib erality o f Mi ss B ur d e tt C ou tt s 'of this seasonable Christmas treat.