The Sun. — London, England, 1857-01-02 00:00:00

T HEATRE ROYAL, DRURY LANE.— Lessee, Mr. E. T. Smith. Acting Manager, Mr. C. Mathews. Stage Manager, Mr. R. Roxby. Scenic Artist, Mr. W. Beverley. GREAT ATT i:ACTION for the CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS. Seventh Night of the Grand Christmas Pantomime, the most magnificent ever produced on the English stage. THIS EVENING, her Majesty's Servants will perform A DAY AFTER, THE WEDDING. _ After which will be produced an entirely new and original symbolical, hyperbolical, parabolical, and extra-physiog nomical grotesque, statuesque, and picturesque Grand Comic Christmas Pantomime, which for some time past has employed the unrivalled resources of this extensive establishment, and which will be called or entitled, as it is entitled to be called, SEE, SAW, MARGERY DAW • , O Harlequin Holiday, and the Island of Ups and Downs. The scenery entirely new, painted by and under the direc tion of Mr. William Beverley and numerous assistants. The machinery by J. Tucker and assistants. The properties, de corations, tricks, changes, and transformations by Messrs. Needham, Glindon, dec. The masks, models, and physiog nomical devices designed and executed by the celebrated Dykwynkyn. The overture and music composed and arranged by Herr Anschuez. The choregraphic arrangements under the personal supervision of M. Petit. The comic scenes con structed by and under the direction of Harry Boleno. The peculiar grotesque opening invented and written by E. L. Blanchard, author of " Harlequin and the Seven Ages of Man," " Jack and Jill," " Humming Top," " Hudibras," &c., and ta l e whole arranged and produced under the direction of Mr. Robert Roxby. Ye anciente and truthful legend on ye which ye pantomime Its story is founded : "See, saw, Margery Daw, " Sold her bed, and laid upon straw." MSS. of Nursery Rhymes in British Museum. R - lion of Reverses, in the Island of Ups and Downs. "Yea, the Great Globe itself." " Here we go up, up, up, " Here we go down, down, down ; " Here we go backwards and forwards, " And here we go round and round." Juvenile Chorus of the earliest period, supposed to belong to the One. Up, Mr. Topham ; Down, Mr. Low; Opera box, Kid Glove, Tiger and Brougham, and Porte-monnaie (attendants upon Up), Signor Lorgnette. Herr Tightfitt, Master Saucebox, and Monsieur Chinque ; Hard Up, Dupli cate, Distraint, and Rags (attendants upon Down), Mr. Friz hard, Mr. Popall, Mr. Quodham, and Mr. Patchwell. An nual appearance of Holyday in her Emblematic Car, Holyday (the Genius of the Season), Miss Marian Stanley ; Sport and Pastime (her attendants), Misses Lovelaugh and Lightheart ; Dame Necessity (who is ou this occasion made a virtue of by particular desire), Mrs. Selby. How Invention, the Daughter of Necessity, is called upon to assist the development of the story, while Holyday invites both Up and Down to enjoy themselves. Holyday's Home in the Green Bower of Mistletoe and Winter Garden of the Fairies.—Mistletoe (the Fairy Queen), Miss E. Wadham ; Fairy Spirits of the Kisses that have been given under the Mistletoe, by upwards of 100 Ladies of the Corps de Ballet. Grand Ballet —Miss Rosina Wright, Mdllcs. J. and E. Osmont, and the Co ryphees. The Golden Gates leading to the Palace of Huggamugga.—Herald (with a Proclamation), Mr. Hornogold ; Guards, Messrs. Stiffneck, Headsup, Eyesright, Shoulderarms, Stand-at-ease, and March well ; Tailor, Mr. Broadcloth ; Cobbler, Mr. Waxend; Black smith, Mr. Anvil; the Princess Margery Daw (afterwards Columbine), Madame Boleno ; Shilly and Shelly (her Maids of Honour), Misses Dithery and Dothery. How Margery Daw has no notion of work herself, and the contempt she shows towards those who do work. Interior of the Palace of King Huggamugga. King Huggamugga (Sovereign of the Land of Sixes and Sevens), Mr. Dawking ; Hurly-Burly (Lord Chancellor), Mr. Bigwig ; Niminy-Piminy (the Lord Cham berlain), Mr. Noodledom ; Higgledy-Piggledy (Goldstick in Waiting), Mr. Muddle ; other Members of the Court, Messrs. Bow, Scrape, Cringe, Crouch, Tagsag, Merrywag, Perriwig, and Hatband; Court Milliner, Madame Crinoline ; Drawing Master, Professor Crayon ; Governess, Miss Frump ; Music Master, Signor Hurdigurdi ; Maid in Waiting, Miss Sweet temper; Chef de Cuisine, Mr. Cook ; Prince Popinjay (of the Land of Prettistory), Mr. Finefeather ; his Retinue, Messrs. Glare, Dazzle, Gleam, Glitter, and Cutashine. How the Princess is taught a wholesome lesson by Necessity, and of the change that takes place in consequence. Cottage of Necessity, with a Prospect of Hard Work in the Distance. The Enchanted Workbox—The Sampler and the Exemplar, and the pretty piece of work that Margery Daw makes of it. Inhabitants of the Workbox :—Row of Pins, Messrs. Sharp, Bent, Crooked, Pinaday, Groatayear, &c. ; Regiment of Needles (ready drilled), Messrs. Largeeye, Sraalleye, Longsix, Splitup, Snapoff, &c. ; Thimble, Master Tom Thumb ; Worsted, Mr. Bawlaway ; Bodkin, Mr. Pierce ; Tape Mea sure, Mr. Inchbald; Hook and Eye, Messrs. How and Some bodyelse ; Shirt Buttons, Mr. Earlypurly ; Scissors, Mr. Shearsteel. How Margery Daw makes an important discovery and the audience also, and how, led by Necessity, she is com pelled to alter her opinions and change her position. The Mine of Labour, leading to the Mine of Wealth.—Labour (the Parent of Health, Wealth, and Happiness), Mr. StrongTth'arm. What Margery Daw goes to sea, what she saw, and the re ward that Holyday bestows. Grand Scenic and Mechanical Effects, exhibiting (in processef construction) the Fairy Fac tory of Fancy, completed with tit e assistance of Labour and Imagination. Brilliant Tableau. T,te Transformation : —Two Harlequins, Herr Deulin and Signor Veroni; two Sprites, the Brothers Elliott ; two Pautaloor s, Mr. Barnes and Mr. G. Tanner; two Clowns, Messrs. Harry Boleno and Flextnore ; the Gent, Mr. Halford ; two Columbines, Madame Boleno and Miss Honey. The Ups and Downs of the Harlequinade, showing the Ins and Outs and Turns About of the Pantomime Rally ; Toy Warehouse, Butcher's and Baker's Shop (Holmes, Deulin, Tanner, and Halford).— A pink of polite ness—Clown very toyish—Getting a nutcracker, which turns out a nobby toy—First and last toys for gambling—Marbles versus dice—Despatches, loaded, and off they go—Harlequin takes a private box—Clown takes Chatterton's situation as boxkeeper Kite-flying—A game of Cricket, by which some of the players get bowled out, and afterwards stumped, which turns out a long stop—The uses and abuses of the crin oline—A Jack in the box—A box of regular British toys and a basket of French bread (bricks)—Aldershott a size smaller —Grand review of infantry—A military ball—Going in for a nnster —Coming, out with a roll—Clown make a peel to baker's feelings—List, oh, List—Squaring a round of beef— Clown takes a steak and gets a chop in return—Pantaloon tries his hand at a game and loses by it —Cut'and come again —Clown takes a butcher's shop, which Harlequin makes too hot to hold him. Tailor's Shop and Perfumery Warehouse (Ve. roni, Barnes, and Honey). A gentleman in search of a tailor— A suit that is quite the ticket—T (hide wrapper—Railway wrappers—Transfer depot—Washing machine—extraordinary— Something that won't wash—Cleaned out—Scentin and sent out- Foreign versus English toothpowder —Hungary water—A Frangipani bouquet—Wonderful effects of the Pistachio nut powder —A case of real distress—Pantaloon in a fix—Fur nished Apartments for Single Men (Bolenos, Deulin, and Tanner).—Cloves and Pantaloon in high life—A domestic re volution—Turning the tables—To bed, to bed--i drop too mueh Clown now begins to reflect —The looking-glass follows his example—Two heads better than one—Clown takes a turn on the sofa, which also takes a turn on its own account— Multiplication altercation, which ends with a regular row in the house. Judkia's Gas-regulating Machine and General Patent Office and Stationer's Shop (Veroni, Barnes, and Honey.)—Clown, being iu Fleet-street, goes the pace rather fast—The language of the eyes (I-talian of curse) which everybody understands—Bath post versus London post—Re gulators Wanted : railway regulators, army regulators, gas regulators, smoke regulators—Sewing, cutting, washing, pressing, and ironing done by a turn—Clown makes a shift which makes Pantaloon a little shirty—A box of common scents —A fresh supply of blacks from America—A Dred-ful scene ensues. Mechi's Model Farm (Bolenos, Denil, and Tanner )—Harvest-home —A rakish dance by rustic lads and lasses—The milky way—Harlequin makes a pump of himself —A strong smell of game—A farm-yard visitor—Clown finds the pig a very great bore—Pantaloon finds the dog gets greatly attached to him —Prize Poultry—Cochin China and couch in England —Novel hatching—The old mail—Full in side—Clown alf by the Express and Pantaloon by the Rocket— Mappin's Cutlery and Shilling Razor Warehouse, King William-street, City (the whole of the double company will appear in this scene.)—Pantaloon proposes to take a bus—Present and future—Weight of public opinion —A change for the better—The people's own bus—When fool meets fool then comes the tug of fun—Collision, crash, smash, and dash—Garotte preventive—Moustache move ment—A wir of sharp blades—Clowns prove themselves a case for cutlery—Holloway stopped by Holloway's oint ment—The duel —A cut direct—Forewarned, forearmed— Public nuisahces of 1836—0 h, my Crinoline—A high wind, a regular blow up, and glorious termination to Ups and Downs in Holiday's Fairy Home. The reduced prices as follows, varying throughout the bongo to suit every one:—Galleries, 6(1. and ls. ; Second Circle of Boxes, ls. fld. ; Pit, 2s. ; First Circle of Boxes, 2s. 6d. ; Dress Boxes, 3s. ; Stalls, ss. ; Private Boxes, 10s, 6d., is., 1/. lls. 6d., and 2/. 2s. A Morning Performance of the Great Pantomime every Wednesday, at Two o'clock. R OYAL LYCEUM TIIEATRE. Lessee, Mr. C. Dillon. THIS EVENING will be produced an entirely new and original combination of burlesque and pantomime, entitled CONRAD AND MEDORA; or, Harlequin Corsair and the Little Fairy at the Bottom of the Sea. The burlesque opening by W. Brough, Esq., founded upon the ballet of Le Corsair, as produced at Her Majesty's Theatre. The harlequinade upon things in gene. ral. The new and magnificent scenery painted by Mr. F. Fenton. Characters in the opening : Conrad (the Corsair) Miss Woolgar Birbarto (his lieutenant) Mr. J. L. Toole Seyde Pasha... .............. ~,,Mir. Barrett Sing Smaul ......................... . Mr. Holston . ..... Yussiff Mr, S. Calhaem Med MA Mrs. Charles Dillon Gulnar Mrs. B. White Zuliem Submarina.... (her sixth appearnee)Mi ss Jessie Ryder Serena Miss Marie Wilton Clowns Mr. Tom Matthews and Mr. H. Marshall , Mr. Stilt ▪ Mr. J. Marshall ▪ The Brothers Nelson. • Miss Clara Morgan and Miss Ladd. To be preceded. by THE KING'S MUSKETEERS. D'Ar tagnan, Mr. C. Dillon. The box-office open daily, from 11 to 5, under the super. ntenclenee of Mr. Chatt,erton, jun. Carriages conveying parties to the Private Boxes to set down at the State entrance in Burleigh-street. A Morning Performance every Saturday, at 2 o'clock. Pantaloon Harlequin Sprites Columbines STRAND THEATRE.—Manager, Mr. T. Payne.—This Evening will be performed ROBERT MACAIRE. To conclude with the immensely successful novel Burlesque Pantomime of THE MAGIC MISTLETOE ; or, Harlequin Humbug and the Shams of. London. The Fairy Christmas, Miss E. Wilton,* Good Humour, Miss Norbnry ; Mercury, Miss Cameron ; .Humbug, Mr. Herbert ; Cant, Mr. Bolton ; Baron, Mr. J. B, Johnstone • Sir Roland, Mr. Clarke ; Lord Lover., Miss Craven ; Addelptte, Miss Cuthbert ; Crambo, Master W. Edonin ; Lady Agnes, Miss E. Jacobs ; Baroness, D fr, G. Lee ; Furbilosa, Mr. J. Howard. Novel Harle. quinade :—Clown, Miss Cuthbert ; Little Clown, Master W Eclouln . • Pantalion, Mr. J. Clark e ; H ar l equin, Miss Craven ; Columbines, Miss, E. Jacobs and Mdle. Collison •; Premier Danseuse, Mdle. Marie Charles. New . an d magnificent Scenery, dm, New Curtain. New Act Drop. Commence at Seven. Stalls, 3s. ; Boxes, 2s. ; Pit, ls. ; Gallery, 6d. A morning performance of the Pantomime every Monday at two o'clock. 110YA,L SURREY THEATRE. Lessees, Messrs. Shepherd and Creswick. THIS EVENING, DOUGLAS. After which, HARLEQUIN AND THE SUMMER QUEEN. Harlequin, Mr. F. Glover; Clown, Mr. Buck ; Pantaloon, Mr. Bradb urY; t h e F our S pr it es , th.o Fillis Fa. ; Ccdurabines, Mesdames Mario and Agues. THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY 'EVENING, JANUARY 2, 18167. Pr 11EATRE ROYAL, IIAYMARKET. THIS•EVENING, to commence at Seven with tlic comedy of WILD OATS. _ _ . Rover, Mr. Murdoch ; Sim, Mr. Buckstoue ; Lady Ama ranth, Miss Talbot ; Amelia, Mrs. Griffiths. After which, a new comic Christmas Pantomime, entitled THE BABES IN THE WOOD, or Harlequin and the Cruel Uncle. The scenery of the opening story painted by Mr W. Canna. The music composed and arranged by Edward Fitz. william. The pantomime produced under the direction of 31. Milano. Harlequin, M. Milano ; Columbine, Finny Wright (her 7th appearance in that character) ; Pantaloon, Mr. Mackay ; and Clown, Mr. Driver (nis 7th appearance in that character at this theatre). A Morning performance of the Pantomime will be given every Thursday throughout the holidays : commencing at 2, concluding at 4. ROY AL PRINCESS'S THEATRE. THIS EVENING will be performed A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM. After which, a new grand Christmas Pantomime, called ALADDIN AND THE WONDERFUL LAMP ; or, Harlequin and the Genii of the Ring. Harlequin, Mr. Cormack ; Clown, Mr. Huline ; Pantaloon, Mr. Paulo; Co lumbine, Miss C. Adams. OYAL OLYMPIC THEATRE. Lessee, Mr. Alfred Wigan. THIS EVENING, DELICATE GROUND. Messrs, G. Vining and Leslie ; Mrs. Stirling. A new Fairy Extravaganza, by J. R. Planche, Esq., called YOUNG AND HANDSOME. Messrs. F. Robson, Rogers, Leslie, G. Cooke, Danvers. Misses Swanborough, Thirlwall, St. Came, Castleton, Bromley, Maskell, and Mrs. Melfort. After which, CRINOLINE. Commence at half-past Seven. THEATRE ROYAL, ADELPHI. Great Attraction for the Holidays. THIS EVENING will be performed PAUL PRY : By Mr. Wright. After which will be produced a new and original union of modern burlesque and old English pantomime (as originated at this theatre), by Professor Wordspinner, Member of Every thing, with entirely new scenery, dresses, transformations, &c., called MOTHER SHIPTON ; . _ _ or, Harlequin Knight of Love, and the Enchanted Whistle. Harlequin and Columbine la Watteau), Madame Celeste and Miss Wyndham ; Clown, Mr. Garden ; Pantaloon, Mr. Moreland ; Scaramouch, Mr. Le Barr. Characters in the bur lesque by Mr. Paul Bedford, Mr. J. Bland, Mr. R. Romer, Madame Celeste, Miss Wyndham, Miss Mary Keeley, Miss Kate Kelly, Miss Arden, &c. A STLEY'S ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE. LI. Lessee and Manager, Mr. W. Cooke. THIS EVENING, Shakspeare's Tragedy of MACBETH, with its Splendid Equestrian Illustrations by Mr. W. Cooke's Trained Horses. Macbeth, Mr. James Holloway. After which, the skilful SCENES in the CIRCLE. To conclude with a new grand equestrian comic pantomime, replete with fun, frolic, risibility, and extravagance, called PAUL PRY ON HORSEBACK; or, Harlequin and the Magic Horseshoe. Doors open at half-past six ; commence at seven o'clock. Box-office open from Eleven till Four. Stage Manager, Mr, W. West. Equestrian Director, Mr. W. Cooke, jun. CA.NTERRIJRY HALL, Westminster-road,— OPEN EVERY EVENING.—The follow ing company of Vocalists are engaged for the performance of Selections from all the popular Operas, Madrigals, Choruses, Glees, Duets, &c., viz.: —Miss E. Pearce, Mrs. J. Caulfield, Miss Brunell, and Miss Summers ; Mr. J. Caulfield, Herr F. longhmans, R. Grover, T. Wan°, T. Farrant, S. Jones, J. Barker, W. Melling, and P. Conte ; Masters Austin, Ben nett, and Corri; Mr. Sam Cowell and E. Hackney. Piano forte, J. llarroway, R.A. ; harmonium, J. Caulfield, jun. ; director, Mr. J. Caulfield. Commence at Seven o'clock pro eisely. Suppers, &c., until twelve o'clock. In addition to the usual Vocal Entertainment,- the celebrated SPANISH MINSTRELS will appear in costume at Nine and Eleven o'clock Every Evening, and sing some of their favourite selec tions . HIGH VirATER, AT LONDON BRIDGE. THIS DAY—Morn. 52 min. aft. s—Evening 15 min.aft, 6 ro-lcnto w—Morn. 40 min. aft.6—.livening 5 min. aft. 7 THE WEATHER—SUN OFFICE, JANUAIT 2. THERMOMETER, IN THE SHADE. 52 —highest s!nee noon yesterday. 47—lowest this morning and dnrinz the night. 48 —this day at noon. BAROMETER, 29 81. WIND, Westerly—Light, with fine, eunshiny weather. rat3ro,l ,1 4" WI! LONDON, FRIDAY, JANITAMY 2, 1867. The origin of the new Chinese War really ap pears to be "a very pretty quarrel as it stands" —altogether as pretty a quarrel in its way as SHERIDAN'S memorable tiff in The Rivals between Sir Deems O'Tarocm. and Captain ABSOLUTE. Black and white are not more glaringly opposite than the British statements and the Chinese counter-statements. The nadir and the zenith aro not more obviously remote from each other. Looking at the facts of the case as recounted by the English "Barbarians"--and then reversing the inquiry, and looking at those same facts as related with precisely the same alluring air of candour and explicitness by the Chinese " Bar barians"—it is for all the world like examining the same ingenious article of verta, first on the one side and then on the other, first in "relief " and then in " intaglio !" Had we space for it we should produce elsewhere iu our impression of this evening the arguments to-day brought before the Bar of Public Opinion iu this country by the Times, acting as the C mnsel for the Plaintiff, and by the Daily News, acting as the Counsel for the Defendant. According to Sergeant Buterz —Nothing could be more manly, more dignified, or more straightforward from first to last than the conduct of the British authorities, as—Nothing (viewing the matter from the same point of view) could be more disgraceful, more insensate, or altogether more wholly unjustifiable than the course pursued by the Viceroy Year and his outlandish myrmidons. According to Sir geant Brawea, on the other hand, the tables aro turned with a vengeance the arrogance, the folly, and the brutality lying wholly on the side championed by Consul PARSES and Admiral SEYMOUR, while the native Governor of Canton is represented as acting throughout, for the most part in a dignified man ner, upon the defensive. Never was there a more startling or a more extraordinary discrepancy in the accounts given of the very same transaction simultaneously. Upon the principle inculcated by the grand old axiom audi alteram partem, we would (but that we are precluded from so doing by the sheer lengthiness of the special-pleading) have reproduced side by side the arguments for mally entered to day, as we have said, at the Bar of Public Opinion, by our contemporary the Times acting in its self-assumed capaeity as the Counsel for the Plaintiff, and by our contemporary the Daily News acting in its equally self-assumed capacity as Counsel for the Defendant. Be it the duty of The Sure--be it our office, however, on the contrary, to hold the Balance of Justice suspended equably between the disputants—to speak rather from the Bench than from the Bar-to sum up the evidence as yet adduced without prejudice and without predilection. It appears, therefore, upon weighing statement against counter-statement, that the plain facts, after all, are simply and literally as follows : That upon the Bth of October, 1856, a small trading vessel, or lorcha, called " The Arrow"— then lying at anchor in the port of Canton—was boarded by a party of Chinese soldiers, in obe dience to the orders of the Chinese Governor- General YEH. That these Chinese soldiers then and there carried away as prisoners, taken upon a charge of piracy, the crew of this small trading vessel, or lorcha, called " The Arrow," That " The Arrow," besides being manned by a Chinese crew, was built according to Chinese fashion, and was the property of a, chinese owner. That two at least of the Chinese sailors seized by Chinese soldiers through the order of the Chinese Governor-General--had really, noto riously, and undeniably been guilty of c 3rtain flagrant acts of piracy. That the whole crew of twelve were, immedi ately upon their capture, conducted before Vic eroy Yzn for examination. It appears, however, yet further--nc VT,,V that the Overland MAR which arrived yesterday, has brought in the full. detail of the particulars : That the national character of this lorcha "The Arrow," is a matter in dispute between the Chinese and the Englishmen : the latter main taining that, prior to its leaving the port of Hong Kong (the port from. which it was but just then very recently arrived) it had duly obtained a colonial register, constituting it, to all intents and purposes, a British vessel—the former bluntly denying this, distinctly and explicitly. It appears, moreover, from the data furnished by the Overland Mail received by us only yes terday— That the British Consul (PARRES) positively asserts, in his communication addressed to the Chinese Governor (YEnt), that when the seizure was made, the English flag was flying on board "The Arrow." That Viceroy Dill, in his reply to Consul PARKES, quite as positively, on his part, asserts that the British flag was not flying on board the lorcha at the time when the twelve sailors were taken into custody on the Bth of October. The Governor', letter of the 31st of October, remarking, " When the lorcha was boarded it was satisfactorily proved that no flag was flying," and his subsequent communication of the 2d of November, observing, "No foreign flag was seen by my executive at the time of the capture ; and as, in addition to this, it was ascer tained on the examination of the prisoners that the lorcha was in no respect a foreign vessel, I maintain that there was no mistake committed." So much for the preliminary parts of the quar rel, for the initial " data," for the introductory statements and counter-statements. As for the rest—the consequence of these particulars—that is soon told : the actual result of the quarrel being altogether beyond the reach of misstatement or misapprehension. The British Consul, Mr. PARKES, apprized of the occurrence by the master of " The Arrow," and indignant at what he conceives to be an out rage done to the British lag, at once demands from the Governor-General of the Two Kwangs the restoration of the whole of the twelve seamen 30 captured. The Chinese Viceroy, while denying, as we have seen, while distinctly and absolutely denying that " The Arrow" was a foreign vessel, sends back first of all to the British Consulate twelve ragamuffins with chains round their Becks, who are returned to him incontinently because they are not the real " Simon Pures"—and then finding his very characteristic ruse discovered, and conse quently of no avail, returns nine of the incarce rated sailors, retaining the two actually identified as the parties guilty of piracy, together with the witness necessary for their ulterior conviction. Whereupon, diss ttisfied. with the result of his negotiations, the Consul writes a peremptory letter on the 12th of October, demanding "within forty eight hours" the restoration of the whole number— the restoration, that is, of the two pirates and the witness, together with a letter of apology for their seizure Governor-General YEN takes no notice whatever of this haughty teltimatitm from Consul PARKES. On the 21st of October, in consequence of this silence, an ultimatissimum is sent in ; threat ening that Unless &c. ! At noonday, on the 22d, the twelve Chinese sailors, including the witness and the two pirates, are marched down to the British Consulate with a message from the Viceroy, that as two out of the round dozen are criminals, they at least are to be sent back imme diately. Consul PARILESI is unsatisfied—he will have the twelve, the whole twelve, and nothing but the twelve—except, in addition to them, the required letter of apology And so—in steps, at last, upon the stage of public affairs at Canton, no dealer in mere paper pellets, but, on the contrary, one whose arguments aro just a trifle more solid and authoritative —whistling-dicks, cannon-balls, and bomb-shells—His ExcAlency Admiral Sir MICHAEL SEIMOVE. YETI continues to say Nay !—refuses to give up the two pirates—refuses to write a letter of apology for what he cannot, for the life of him see, admits of any apology—declines, at last, in the teeth of the first demand, of the second the ultimatum, and of the third the ultimeitissimum, to hold a personal inter view upon the matter in dispute with his "armed" Excellency. Thereupon Sir MAMA EL, like a true British sailor of the olden time—not the least bit in the world like one of your new-fangled Mari time Fire-eaters—blazes away at Canton, takes pos session of a few of the river forts, makes a breach in the city walls, and blows up the Tsing Hai gate. Playing the very devil, as the phrase is, with his antagonist, and then coolly writing to Viceroy YEll, " Your Excellency sent no reply to my message, and according to the intention of which I had given notice to your deputy, I breached the walls of your city, and thus obtained access to your Excellency's residence, which I visited yesterday afternoon. This object accomplished, I withdrew my troops." And so matters stood on the 30th of October. At the period, however, of the departure of the last mail, things were " moving on" again at a pace apparently somewhat accelerated—Canton being then, it would appear, still rather fiercely bombarded. And now, Gentlemen of the Jury, having sum med up the evidence given in open Court by the opposing witnesses, it .remains with you to pro nounce the Verdict—" Guilty or Not Guilty ?" Viceroy YEll—or Consul PARKES? His Excellency the Chinese Governor—or his Excellency the British Admiral ? Shall the Verdict be fur the Plaintiff or for the Defendant ? Is the voice of the public beginning to tell Last Tuesday we had a Lord of the Admiralty, who is an Admiral also, and therefore an out spoken sailor, assuring us that the Chancellor of the Exchequer would never take advantage of what he denounced as a paltry quibble, to gird a two years' War Income Tax fast upon our backs. This looked as if it was really feared that the " ignorant and impatient" taxpayers might kick rather dangerously under the operation. The gallant Admiral took pains to inform us distinctly, however, that he was not in Cabinet secrets, but he had unbounded confidence in Lord PALMER. STON'S superiority to " pettifogging tricks," and no little trust in that hard taskmaster, the Chancellor of the Exchequer himself, a confidence we quite share when the people do but hold firmly the reins, and mako them felt too. The same evening the War Secretary, a member of the Cabinet, was feted at Perth ; principally in honour of his official achievements during the late war. Re said not one word about the Income Tarr—yet, even he, contrived to insinuate hope that some great remission of taxation was to take p l ac e this year. Last year the army and navy esti mates amounted to 34,000,0001. This year Lord PAN ;ARE assures us they are not to come within 20,000,000 i. of that sum ! And this was stated to prove that "great efficiency may be maintained and yet relief from, taxation achieved." Now, as our army expenditure, including the Ordnance, ranged, in round numbers, from eleven millions and a half in 1835, Mr. COBDEN'S model year, to more than seven millions above that amount in 1848, during the twenty years preceding the war, Lord PANMITRE seems to proclaim that the Ministry mean to have a real, though efficient, peace establishment. Let not the good people of England, however, be lulled to slumber by the language of War Sec retaries and Lords of the Admiralty. We are at war with official love of ease. And as I it was justly insisted on in the spring that to relax our preparations for the possible campaign of 1856 would mar the terms of peace (in what respect it is now difficult to conceive), so we may be sure that to relax the agitation on the Income Tax would embolden the Chancellor of the Ex chequer to enforce far worse fiscal terms on the House of Commons. It were perfect folly, as we conceive, to give up one meeting, or to withhold one resolution or petition, for anything less than a declaration from head-quarters that the war is not to survive the war by more than one honest year. We agreed to pay that ; and if we are assured, on reliable authority, that we are to pay no more, we will be quiet on that point—not, however, forgetting that we have a far more im portant one to settle with both Sir G. C. LEWIS and his subtle predecessor. February is at hand, and what we see before us for the moment in clairvoyance is this : Aar I. Scene ; the House of Lords—Her MAJESTY reading her most gracious Speech, in which " she assures her faithful Commons that she has directed the estimates to be prepared with due considera tion for the efficiency of the public service, and es pecially for that of our gallant army and navy, and also with due regard to the necessity of discharging the bills for the late war—including the huge item of buying things at 50 per cent. above market price, and selling them at 80 per cent. under it." ACT. 11. Scene : the House of Commons.—Mr. WILLIAMS rises to inquire " whether the reduc tions of naval and military expenditure promised by Lord PANMURE at Arbroath ; and the con temptuous rejection of pettifogging quibbles on the part of Lord PALMERSTON by Admiral BERKE LEY at Gloucester, are acknowledged by the Go vernment as pledges that the War Income Tax will not be longer continued." (Loud cheers.) Admi ral BERKELEY rises to'explain—" He had earefully abstained, being but a subordinate member of the Government, and not in the secrets of the Cabi net, from committing the Government in any way whatever. He had assured his constituents, and he stood by his assertions, that Lord PAL MERSTON was incapable of prolonging the tax merely by a paltry quibble or evasion"—(cries of " Lord PALMERSTON"). The Premier rises—. " He could assure the House that the gallant Ad miral had only done him bare justice, and he might say as much ou behalf of his honourable friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whose unavoidable absence at this moment he regretted ; he did not believe that a single member of the House, not even on the benches opposite, could number evasion and pettifogging amongst his failings." (Cheers from the Treasury Benches.) Mr. WILLIAMS " must apologise for rising again, but he ventured to affirm that no one would say his Lordship had given any pledge as to the con tinuance or cessation of the War Income Tax." (Hear, hear.) Lord PALMERSON--." This is not the occasion Lr discussing the budget—if the b Honourable Member will be in his place at the right time my noble colleague will give him the satisfaction of —..-- a ---- Chancellor of the Exchequer." (Laughter, and cries of "Oh ! oh !") Act lll.—Scene : ct crowded House of commons. Time—Night of the Budget. A few preliminary matters having been disposed of, amidst profound silence, the Chancellor of the Exchequer raises himself from his seat. A heavy exordium and minor announcements having been listened to a long time with exemplary patience, the Honour able Gentleman proceeds to observe—that " to meet this deficiency, it was obvious he should need some sixteen millions more. (Sensation.) How would they have him get it ? Was be to lay afresh on the springs of industry the load which had been removed from them by the wis dom of Parliament ? Was he to put a spoke in the wheels of Manehester, or to put her spinning jennies on short time ? Was he to take the wind out of the sails of com merce —or, should he rather say, shut the steam off its paddles and screws ? What remained, then, for him to do but to ask them to bear with in telligent, with enlightened patience, the taxation of their incomes for another year at the rate of six , - tempenoe in the pound ? (Cries of BERKELEY and to ; b u t h a d PALMERSTON.) He knew what those cries re ferredhe taken advantage of a pettifogging quibble, and would his noble friend the Premie r suppo rt him if he had done so ? Had he s a id o ne word about the differ ence between s i gn ing the Treaty and exchanging the ratificati ons o f peace ? Had he not shown ;hem their financial position, and called upon them on that g ro und, quibbles, to not on the ground of verbal r ene w the Property Tax at its present amount for an ot h e r year ? (Cries of " Not the Property Tax," an d "Go to Cocker.") At length the Member f or S a lford rose, and, it being past 12 o'clock, moved th a t " the debate be adjourned ;" Mr. Wrudams adding, "for one fortnight at least, to give time to the constituencies to express their opinion a second time." (Hear, hear.) The only m ag i c which can reduce this our vision to a mere vision, is that of universal public meetings and petitions. Let Sir G. C. LEWIS and his Premier but see what cloth we intend to allow them, and they will not forget the wine old proverb. We have borne the screw pretty severely during the war; it is for us to put the screw on our Government during peace. We have entire confidence in their capacity to do what they know they must do ; and equal confi dence in their determination to tax us as much as we will let them, and spend all the proceeds when they get them. To find the ways and means without such inquisitorial, ex t or tionate, and 'unequal taxes as the present Income Tax, is entirely within their power; but they shrink from the trouble and the loss of electioneering patronage. They will do it if necessary to retention of office, or obtain ing a re-election at the impending dissolution of Parliament. We repeat, therefore, the old advice .—AGITATE, AGITATE, AGITATE. ROYAL VISIT TO THE PHOTOGRAPHIC EXHIBITION, PALL-MALL. (THIS DAY.) This morning H. H. H. P r i nce Albert, accompanied by the Prince of Wales, the Princess Royal , and the Princess Alice, honoured the Photographic Exhibition in Pall hall with a visit previous to the public opening to morrow. The royal party were attended by Colonel Seymour, and were received at the Gallery by a deputa tion of the Photographic Society, including B aron Pul• lock, Sir William Newton, A. Roslyn, Esq., &c. The exhibition this year is a very extensive one. The w alls and screens are hung with some hundreds of p ho- Ogra phs, displaying the improvements recently ma d e in this interesting art, both as regards p ortraiture and landscapes. Conspicuous in the gallery are the tables of Stereoscopic pictures shown by Mr. Williams and the Ltereoscopic Company ; alio the portraits of Mr. Mayall, of Regent-street, as they include some interesting pic tures of the Royal Family of Oude, the Bench of Bishops, and several well-known statesmen. The Marquis of Waterford is fast recovering from hi late accident. The Earl and Countess of Miltown, family, and suite, have arrived at No. 15, Upper Fitzwilliam-street, Dublin, from Rusbborough, F4 AI I EST NT EW's S. PARIS, J. 2, 8.30 A.M. The Moniteur announces that the Senate and Legislative body are convoked for the 16th of February. BERNE, DEC. 31. The Council of Stato has unanimously adopted the decisions of the National Assembly. The Federal Assembly, at it 3 evening sitting, has appointed General Dufour General-in-Chief of the Federal army, and M. Freyherone General in-Chief of the Superior Staff. The President of the National Assembly has delivered a speech which produced a powerful impression. General Dufour has taken the oaths. The Federal Assembly has yet three times to meet. The latest news received at Vienna from Berne is that the French Government has again offered to intervene, but it is here believed that every one-sided attempt to settle such an important question must fail. The Paris correspondent of the Times (second edition), in a letter dated yesterday, says " Very little of a positive kind is known of the deliberations of the Congress yesterday. It has transpired, however, or rather it is rumoured, that the question of the evacuation of the Black Sea was mooted, and that the English Plenipoten tiary, while admitting the principle of the evacua tion, stated that he would refer to his Government before fixing the precise date. The Vienna correspondent of the Times (second edition) says : " A person who is well informed of what has recently been done by the Paris diplomatists states that the word Bolgrad will hardly appear in the new protocol, although both the places of that name will be ceded by Russia. The assur ance has been given me that the evacuation of the Danubian Principalities will begin towards the end of this month ; but if the weather is as mild on the Lower Danube as it is here, it will be im possible to move a gun." SWITZERLAND. The Suisse of Berne says :—" The federal mili tary department has addressed to the government of the cantons a circular in which it enjoins the municipal authorities to send immediately to the commanders of divisions a return of the state of the buildings, the condition of the populations, &c., of their communes, together with information respect ing all the edifices which can serve for the estab lishment of guard-houses, workshops, hospitals, and stables. The communes, moreover, are re quested to make known the number of horses they possess. If war be declared, the general-in-chief and the commanders of divisions will have the right to take from private persons all the horses they may require. A letter from Frankfort of the 28th Dec., in the Prosse of Brussels, says : It is positive that Prussia has signified an ultimatum to Switzerland, according to which, if by the 2.1 Jan. the prisoners of Neuchatel are not released without trial, the Cabinet of Berlin will not receive any further proposition for an arrangement, but will trust the decision to the fate of arms, and exact from Switzerland the pay ment of the expenses of the war from the day when the definitive order of the mobilisation shall have been given. The Band of the 28th ult. says :—" We are assured that in all the communes of the Black Forest gigantic petitions have been got up, intended to be sent to Carlsruhe, praying earnestly that the government would prevent the passage of the Prus sian troops through the territory of Baden." A Munich letter, in the Swabian Mercury, states that, in case the Prussian troops should march on the Swiss frontier, a Bavarian corps, composed of two regiments of infantry, a regiment of chasseurs, another of cavalry, and a third of artillery, will be formed on the southern frontier of Bavaria. "According to rumours in circulation here (says the Universal Gazette of Leipsic), in the event of war breaking out between Prussia and Switzerland, Austria intends to enter the latter country, and occupy the Tessin. Another report speaks of an alliance being on the point of being concluded be tween Switzerland and Sardinia." We have already given the address of the Presi dent of the Swiss Federal Council at the opening of the extraordinary session of the Federal As sembly. On the same occasion, in the Council of States, M. Dubs, President, spoke thus : " Gentlemen,—The Federal Assembly, convoked ex traordinarly by the Federal Council, will have to enter into grave discussions. Our country, the most peace able in Europe, is menaced with war by a foreign power. Ought we to elude this war or accept it ? Such is the difficult question which the councils of the nation will have to decide. I believe that I express your sentiments and those of the Swiss people in saying that Switzerland desires peace with all her heart, if it be compatible with honour, for Switzerland bas neither an obstinate and exaggerated opinion of her rights, nor a sentiment of vengeance against the unhappy prisoners. But if peace be not compatible with honour, Switzerland would a thousand times prefer war, with all the evils it carries with it, to a peace which would be a stain on the honour and independence of the country. It is with that spirit that we shall commence our deliberations—one hand ex tended to accept peace, and the other ready to suppt.rt war. May the God of our father, who has hitherto so marvellously conducted Switzerland through dangers, be also with us in these circumstance ! I now declare the extraordinary session of the Council of State to be opened." FRANCE. Thursday being New Year's Day, the Bourse and public offices were closed. A Council of Ministers, at which the Emperor presided, was held on Wednesday at the Tuileries. The Moniteur contains a decree, making a fur ther number of promotions and nominations in the upper ranks of the magistracy. PRUSSIA. Inimensa activity prevails in the various offices of the Ministry of War here, and of the adminis trations of the regiments, says a letter from Berlin in the Dresden Journal. "In the Ministry of War and in the general staff, deliberations, in which the officers of provincial staffs take part, are held on the preparations necessary to be made by the entrance on a campaign of an expeditionary army. The medical organisation in particular is being completely transformed in consequence of the experience attained in the Eastern war." PERSIA. A letter from St. Petersburg, in the Debais, says : —" Thera is no doubt that a convention has been concluded between this Government and Persia with a view to certain eventualities. The Court of Teheran will probably accede to a wish of Rus- sia, and give up to her on the Araxes a point which forms the limit of the two States. This point is of i great importance as regards the unsubdued Tun comans who seriously disturb the Russian frontier. At the place where the Araxes falls into the Caspian Sea, there is a small island which Persia recently allowed the Russians to occupy. The negotiations relative to the cession of a small por- tion of territory on the Araxes are still pending. Under any circumstances Persia will endeavour, before having recourse to Russia, to arrange her differences with England. It is thought here that Persia will consent to abandon her conquest of Herat, if England will make some concessions which are necessary for the safety of the Persian frontier." EGYPT. ALEXANDRIA, DEC. 22. The Peninsular and Oriental Company's steamer Valetta arrived here this day with the London mails of the 10th inst. The Bengal, from Calcutta, and the Ganges, from Bombay, reached Suez on the 16th and 17th inst., and will have to wait the contract time for the Southampton mails, due by the Ripon, of which there were no tidings at Malta when the Valetta left that island at Loon on the 19th inst. _ _ The captain and crew of the Myra, of Sunder land, have brought intelligence of the total desti 11'3- tier' by tire of that vessel, while on her way hither with a cargo of coals from Newcastle. The fire appears to have been the effect of spontaneous com bustion, and its existence in the hold of the vessel was first discovered on the 4th inst., when she was in longitude 284 deg. east, and about 40 miles from the coast of Egypt. Water was poured down upon the cargo, but without effect, and Captain Hunt soon found himself compelled to have the hat3he reclesed. All sail was kept on, in the hope of reaching Alexandria; but, unfortunately, little progress could be made, owing to light winds. Meanwhile, large quantities of gal appear to have been generated, and on the 6th inst. an explosion took place, by which the decks of tLe vessel were completely torn up. The captain and crew took to the boats, and half-au-hour .after they had left the vessel she was enveloped in one sheet of flame. They made for the nearest part of the coast, but in landing the boats were stove in. At Arabs' Tower the crew were furnished with provisions, as also with camels and horses, by which they were conveyed to Alexandria, were they arrived on the 10th inst. The pilotage arrangements in the harbour of Alexandria have often given rise to complaint among both English and foreign shipmasters. The reforms that are demanded seem, however, to re solve themselves into the two following points— namely, that the pilot boats should receive strict in junctions to display a conspicuous signal, enabling vessels to recognise them, without fear of the peril ous mistakes to which they are now liable ; and 2dly, that they should be required to go farther out to sea, at least sufficiently to be quite clear of the en trance to the channel ; but in order to enable the pilots to accomplish this, especially in rough wea ther, when the precaution is most needed, it will become necessary to provide them with decked vessels of greater tonnage than the boats now in use. It will, perhaps, appear strange that ships should still be so dependent upon the assistance of pilots, considering that the principal channel leading into the harbour has been marked off with buoys and beacons, but it is doubtful whether pilots could ever be entirely dispensed with, and the absence of either charts or sailing direc tions renders the buoys under present circum stances almost quite useless. Some instruc tions have been published by the French Moniteur de la Flotte, but it seems unaccountable that nothing has been promulgated either by the British Ad miralty or by the Egyptian Government. The survey conducted by her Majesty's ship Tartarus will probably lead to the,publication by the Britisk Government of the requisite details. The Peninsular and Oriental Company are about to introduce a steam-tug into the harbour for towing lighters to and from their ships and the Customhouse-wharf, and it may be hoped that their example will promote the introduction of improve ments of a similar nature for the general benefit. As mentioned in my last, the Sultan has granted an " irade" authorising the formation of the Red ' Sea Steam Navigation Company, by which regular intercourse is about to be established between Suez, Jeddah, and the other chief ports of the Red Sea. The capital of the company will be 800,0001., divided into 40,000 shares of 201. each, and the privilege is granted for a term of 30 years. The necessary measures for carrying out the undertak ing are in progress, and an office has been opened at Constantinople for receiving the subscriptions of those desirous of becoming shareholders. Mr. Robert Stephenson, the celebrated engineer, has arrived here from Toulon in his yacht the Titania. Mr. Stephenson is travelling for the bene fit of his health, but his visit to Egypt is also understood to be in connexion with the railway bridge about to be constructed across the Nile at Kafr Laiss. AMERICA. LIVERPOOL, THURSDAY. This day the United States mail steam ship At lantic arrived in the Mersey with the mail, 22 passengers, and 63,369 dols. in specie on freight. She left New York on the 20th ult. On the 18th December the Senate passed a re solution, awarding medals to Dr. Kane and his associates in the Arctic expedition. Mr. Collins had aske.l the Senate for permission to discontinue the steamers, and wished the Government to pur chase them. It is expected the request will be complied with, and Vanderbelt awarded the con tract. A preliminary meeting to concert measures for sending relief to General Walker had been held, and another meeting at the Tabernacle convenes. Colonel Titus, of Kansas, is reported to have ar rived at St. Louis, on his way to Nicaragua, with 100 men for Walker. HALIFAX, Dec. 20.—The steam ship America, now in her 14th day, has not yet haen heard of. The weather is clear and cold. PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 19.—The captain of the steamer City of Baltimore reports that he saw the Collins' steamer Baltic at nine o ' clock on the morn ing of Thursday, the 4th inst., off Minie Head, bound from New York to Liverpool. The United States receiving-ship Union, at anchor off the Navy-yard, was so badly cut by thin floating ice, that she sunk in about 30 feet water. The United States sloop-of-war Preble was at anchor close by, and succeeded in saving the stores, ammunition, and all hands. The Union is a very old vessel, and has been unseaworthy for many years. She will be raised and broken up. _ BALTIAIORE, Dec. 19.—The rumour of slave in surrections in Florida is positively denied. BALTIMORE, Dec. 19.—The schooner Andrew Masterton has arrived at Old Point from Florida, with Company F, Second Artillery. MONTREAL, Dec. 19.—1 t has been excessively cold here for the last few days. The thermome• ter yesterday morning was 20 degrees below zero ; to-day 16. At Quebec yesterday 22 degrees be low zero ; to-day 20. A woman was frozen to death in coming from the country this morning. The river opposite Montreal is full of drifting ice. COMMERCIAL. The sales of cotton yesterday embraced about 2,000 bales, the market closing firm at about 12ic. for mid dling uplands, and rc. for New Orleans ditto. Flour was firm, with an upward tendency in prices for common to good, and extra grades of States and Western brands, while the sales were moderate. Wheat was quite firm, with limited sales, at about the previous day's prices. Corn was rather dull, with sales of Western mixed at 70c. to 72c. from store and delivered. Pork was firm at 10 dols. l2ic. for old mess, and 19 dols. 621 c. for sew do. The sales of sugar were confined to about 400 to 500 Cabamuscovado at *. to 91c. Freights were dull, and flour for Liverpool and Lon don taken at a slight concession in rates ; while the small engagements in grain varied from sid. in bulk to id. in bags. Rates to Havre were ucchanged. ARRIVAL OF THE CITY OF MANCHESTER, LIVERPOOL, THURSDAY EVENING. The steam-ship City of Manchester is now coming up from Philadelphia, after a passage of 13 days and a few hours. Her news has been antici pated by the Atlantic, which left New York about 36 hours after her, and has just arrived. The City of Manch ester has 150 passengers. LATER FROM AUSTRALIA. The Overland Mail brings later intelligence from Australia, brought to Ceylon by the Marion, which left Melbourne on the 11th October. __ The Coloinbo Observer gives the following sum mary of the intelligence received :—From our Mel bourne papers we gathered that during the week ended 4th October 170,0161 b. of coffee had being warehoused at Melbourne, and542,5981b. de livered for home consumption, leaving the stock i n bond at 387,7511 b. At Beechworth the price of gold was 3/. 15s. 9d. per ounce ; of " black sand, good sample" (?) 381. per tou ; good Ceylon coffee, Is. Gd. per pound. This, of course, refers to an inland station. In Victoria 44,500 acres under wheat were calculated to yield at 20 bushels per acre, 20,200 tons. It would appear that Victoria will yet take a high position as an agricultural country. The amount of gold expected by escort was heavy-13,031 ounces from Bendigo alone, notwithstanding the rusk to Dunolly. The escort which had arrived on October 11th had brouirht down 45,000 ounces from the various gold fields. In 12 months it is anticipated that Melbourne will boast of a patent slip suited for vessels of the largest class. The Sailors' Friend and the Golden Era were both to have sailed for Ceylon Oct. 11. On the 30th of September the liabilities of the Bank of Australia were 2 , 1 67,000/. ; the assets 2,265,0001. In the week en d e d 4th O c tober the value of imports at Melbourne was 254,000/. ; ex ports 130,0001., including 18,060 o unces of gold. Twenty-eight memb ers o f t h e New A s sembly had been already elected. Th e Argus b e lieves the elec tions to be in favour of the Haines Government ; the Herald holds the opposite opinion. At a meet ing to oppose State aid to religion it was asserted that thirteen members of the Upper House and fourteen in the Lower were opposed to State aid. The first cattle fair in Victoria had passed off well. The duties on gold exported from Melbourne in the year ended 30th of September, 1856, were 381,0001. The total Customs' revenue for the same period reached 1,607,0001., being an increase of colony o S I y p t f e o m r , b t e h r e , 1582515,0.00T1.hoevetrottahle r y e e v a ; n e u n e d e f d or 3O th tl e i 2 792, 00/ in the • 0 . year ended 30th of September, 1856, was no less than 3,042,000/. against , year. T h e total credits for the quarter were 826 00/. ; debits, 766,000 1 . w a ges being high and the necessaries of life cheap, the deposits in the savings banks were in ,o crea sing largely. Large auriferous deposits near Malmesbury were reported. We notice that the Annie Wilson had sailed for Ceylon on October 3d with 10 ) 000 ounces of gold. The price of gold at Melbourne varied from 755. 6d. for Castlemaine to 775. for Ballarat. We find the following notice of a good sample:... o " We were yesterday indebted to Messrs. Mantel and Willis, pld brokers to the Bank of Victoria, Market-hill, for the sight of a remarkably pure and beautiful piece of gold, weighing 64 ozs. 19 dwts. nett. It was originally purchased by Mr. Moly neux, at new store, Main-street, opposite White's restaurant, and was found in ten feet sinking, and not far from the main road. We trust, and have reason to believe from miners' reports, that many such nuggets will be found." The following paragraph is interesting : DUNDAS.—A correspondent of • the Portland Guardian communicates the following :—The abo rigines in the vicinity of the Dundas ranges persist in affirming that there is a fine country far away towards where the sun sets, which the foot of white man has never trodden. " Black fellows," they say, are there as plentiful as sand on the sea-shore, and the mountains are speckled with black sheep. This had led some people to entertain an idea that Arden's black sheep, which escaped many years I ago, have established a colony far in the interior, where they have propagated their species to a vast extent, as they were known to be a flock of twin getters. Some lucky adventurer may possibly throw some light on this subject before many moons had passed. Tl►e Government of New South Wales had passed an act to enable "the Governor, with the advice of the executive council, from time to time to raise by the sales of debentures, secured upon the conso lidated revenue fund of the colony, and bearing in terest at a rate not exceeding 5 per cent. per annum, such sum or sums of money not exceeding 200,0001. as may be required for carrying on of railway works." The Cowper Administration seems to have lasted only a fortnight. The Governor refused to dissolve Parliament. Mr. Hay endeavoured to form a Go vernment, but in vain. Mr. Watson Parker seems to have been more successful. Great excitement had been created in Sydney by the announcement of a nugget of gold weighing five hundredweight. It is stated, however, to be merely a mass of quartz, with a veil of gold run ning through it. The revenue of New South Wales for 1857 was estimated at 1,277,0001. DEATH OF MR. JOHN BRITT ON, F.S.A. We regret to have to record the demise of Mr. John Britton, which took place yesterday morning, at 10 o'clock, at his residence, Burton-street, Burton-crescent. He had attained the advanced age of 86. His autobio• graphy is left unfinished. It is singular that during his last illness he expressed a wish that be might live till New Year's Day, in order that he might be enabled to complete that work. Mr. Britton was born on the 7th of July, 1771, at Kington St. Michael, in Wiltshire, where his father once enjoyed a fair share of patronage as baker, maltater, shopkeeper, and small farmer. A change, however, came o'er the scene ; the business failed, and the family was involved in circumstances of difficulty, under which the parents of the late John Britton were unable to afford him much of a school education. In his autobio graphy Mr. Britton thus speaks of his birthplace : " Without a regular clegyman to advise and admonish, or a magistrate, or private gentleman residing in the principal house of the village, the inhabitants were undisciplined, illiterate, and deprived of all good example ;" and again he observes, " I do not think . there was a newspaper or magazine purchased by one of the inhabitants before the year 1780, when the London riots were talked about, and wondered at." He was first consigned to the care of a schoolmistress, and was subsequently placed under four successive masters, net one of whom seems to have been able to administer a large amount of knowledge. On the 25th of October, 1787, he quitted the home of his childhood, and accompanied an uncle to seek his fortune in the great metropolis. He was then apprenticed as cellarman to Mr. Mendharn, of the Jerusalem Tavern, Clerkenwell-green, where he was initiated into the mysteries of " forcing or fining wines, bottling, corking, and binning the same." He was wont to steal as much time as he could to visit old book stalls, and make small purchases ; but, we are told, "All the reading I could indulge in, during my term of legal slavery, was by candle light, in the cellar, and at occasional intervals only, not of leisure, but of time abstracted from systematic duties." The vicissitudes, privations, and hardships which he expo• rienced during the next seven years could not be re lated without exciting sympathy. In obscure lodgings at eighteen-pence per week, he still indulged in study, and often read in bed during the winter evenings, being unable to afford a fire. When in his 22d year, and with a purse containing about six pounds, he walked home to Wiltshire, and found his native village much altered—his mother had died broken-hearted, his father had become idiotic and was no longer in the land of the living, and his brothers and sisters were scattered abroad. His old home being thus de stroyed, after having endeavoured in vain to procure em. ployment in the West of England, he returned to Lon. don almost penniless, shoeless, and shirtless. Soon after wards he was engaged as cellarman at the London Tavern, and next as " clerk to a widow in Smithfield." We then find him in the service of an attorney in Gray's-inn. In 1799 he W 33 engaged by a Mr. Chapman to " write, recite, and sing" at a theatre in Panton-street, Hay market, at three guineas per week. From that date hi■ literary career may be said to have commenced. His first production of any importance was a volume on "The Life and Adventui•es of Pizarro," suggested by the then popularity of Kotzebue's favourite German drama. In his work on the " Beauties of Wiltshire" he was emi nently successful ; and his " Architectural Antiquities of Great Britain," and " Cathedral Antiquities of Eng land," gained him a considerable reputation. THINGS WHICLI NO OLD BACHELOR WILL EVER DO IF HE CAN HELP IT. To begin with—Got o - atside an omnibus to accommodate a lady. Go to a theatre on a Juvenile Night. Assist in drawini , up a Christmas Tree, or be present at the distribution of gifts. Escort his married sister when she goes to buy a baby. j um per. Throw away his cigar when he comes in contact with a lady. Take a walk down Regent street at the time when the perambulators do mostly congregate. Accept an invitation to stanit godfather, for fear of its being cited as a precedent. Give up a dinner party for the sake of escorting his friend's wife to an evening one. Take his country cousins shopping, for fear of being asked to carry home their parcels for them. Attend a juvenile party, and submit to be made a blind man's buffer of. Oblige his married sister at a railway station by "just holding baby for a moment." Burn his fingers at snap-dragons, because "it will please the children so." Run the slightest chance of ever being caught beneath the mistletoe. And to end with—Dine twice with a f am il y w h ere he finds the baby handed round with the dessert,—Punch, A general meeting of the Royal Swedish Railway Company is called for the 21st inst., when a report will be presented by the directors. Her Majesty's annual gifts to the poor were distribut ed in the riding school at Windsor Castle yesterday morning. The recipients consisted of about 600 poor persons, residing in the parishes of Windsor and Clewer. Sir Colin Campbell arrived in Berlin on Wednesday. He is charged to deliver to the Prince of Prussia the insignia of the Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath. A number of generals of division are now there. ROYAL BRITISH BANK._Formal notice has been given that Vice-Chancellor Kinderaley proposes, on the 10th of January, to make a call of 751. per share " on all those contributories of the Royal British Bank who Inive been settled on the list of contributories up to Wednes day." There is good reason for believing that the Austrian government has resolved to place corps of observation on the frontiers of Tessin and of the Vorarlberg as soon as the Prussians begin their march to Schaffhausen and Basle. COUNTY CoURT APPEALS.—There are no appeals on points of law from the County Courts to the superior Courts, and the reason is stated to be the expense and trouble attending the same as the law now stands. The explosio n a t N a ples was so terrific that th e : ta bl e at which the King and Queen were breakfasting wag covered with the glass of the windows, which were shivered to atoms by the shock. PENSIGN TO THE ROYAL FAMILY p OUDIL—It is rumoured that despatches have haveisreacsesnitglnyedbeteon the e w ß ar o d y e al to India, by which a pension F amily o f Oude on a most liberal scale- If report be correct, l2oooo. It he grant amou n t s t o 12 lace of rupees, or per annum, and is in perpetuity. A slur. SHOT IN THE THAMES.—A. few days ago, Ben Dukes, the attendant on the boats at the Feathers, Wandsworth, shot a large seal in the Thames, near tho above place. It is a beautiful specimen of the species, and is the only one of the kind that has been seen by any one of the Thames fishermen above bridge. It measures 4 feet in length, 2 feet 1 inch in breadth, and is 2 feet 3 inches in girth. The fish may be seen at Mr. H. Salter's, the Feathers Tavern, Wandsworth. THE IMPERIAL FAMILY OF FRANCE.—In the portion of the garden of the Tuileries railed off from the public, family groups may sometimes be seen of no small interest to st_augers and sight seekers. Passing in that direction lately t a somewhat early hour, I witnessed the Imperial circle taking the morning air with a freedom they seemed greatly to enjoy. The Emperor, in a stout pea -jacket, was amusing himself with, and helping to amuse his infant heir, who sat smiling in a superb coach drawn by a couple of goats, magnificently caparisoned, and whose possible caprices were duly restrained by two dapper little grooms or pages with gold laced hats standing at the heads of the animals. The Empress herself looking down from her ma r window upon th e groun d , c h atti ag and laughing w imperial sposo. High health, merriment, and perfect ease and security cbaractersied the happy looking party. Napoleon grows stout on his prosperiiy, and gives the lie by his hale and hearty appearnce to all the vain prognostication s of those enemies who are for ever killing him by the course of nature. Her Majesty, too, shows signs of a recruited health; and as to the future hope of France even the tongue of envy cannot refuse to his plump cheeks and twinkling pair of orbs the desig• nation se dear to matrimony of an " uncommonly fin e obild."—Correspondent of Guardian.