The Sun. — London, England, 1857-01-20 00:00:00

THE SCOTTISH AUSTRALIAN INVEST MENT COMPANY (LIMITED). NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that the Transfer Books 0 this Company will be closed on and after Wednesday the 28th day of January instant, preparatory to the Half-Yearly General Meeting of the Company, and payment of the Divi dend, and will remain so closed until after the said Meeting, to be held on Friday the 6th day of February next. By order of the Directors. C. GRAINGER, Secretary. 24, Gresham-street, London, Jan. 19, 1857. UNITY FIRE and LIFE ASSURANCE.— BROTHER SHAREHOLDERS : Delays are dangerous—how dangerous is proved by the consequences to our interests of the present delay, by our directors, in appointing a successor to Mr. T. H. Bayliss, our late manager, who left the office now three months since. I call upon the directors at once to proceed to the election of a manager, nor longer peril the interests of our property. Should this not be effected within a week, I call upon yell to meet for the purpose of electing a manager yourselves, and, further, to receive the report of the Fire Inquiry Com mittee, which has been some time ready, which was due to us in December last, and which comprises an exposition of our accounts and finance up to June last. January 17, 1857. A SHAREHOLDER. THEATRE ROYAL, DRURI LAN &- 11 Lessee, Mr. E. T. Smith. Acting Manager, Mr. C. Mathews. Stage Manager, Mr. E. Roxby. Scenic Artist, Mr. W. Beverley. Second appearance of the eminent Comedian, Mr. Charles Mathews, since his late serious illness. Great Success of the Grand Christmas Pantomime, the Most magnificent ever produced on the English stage. THIS EVENING, her Majesty's Servants will perform TWO HEADS ARE BEFTER TH A.N ONE. Followed by SOMEBODY ELSE, in which Mr. Charlee Mathews will sustain his original character. After which will be produewl an entirely new and original symbolical, hyperbolical, parabolical, and extra-physiog nomical grotesque, statuesque, and picturesque Grand Comic Christmas Pantornime,which for some time past has employed the unrivalled resources of this extensive establishment, and which will be callSEE e , d SAW ,ov enti MARGERY DAWtled, as it is entitled to be called, Or, 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, &e. The masks, models, and physiog nomic:al devices designed and executed by the celebrated Dykwynkyn. The overture and music composed and arranged by Herr Anschuax. 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 m a n," " Jack and Jill," " Humming Top," " Fludibras," &c., and the who'e arranged and produced tinder the direction of Mr Robert Roxby. Ye anciente and truthful legend on ye which ye pantomime is story is founded : " See, saw, Margery Daw, " Sold her bed, and laid upon straw." MSS. of Nursery Rhymes in British Museum. rtagion of Reverses, in the Island of Ups and Downs. " Yea, the Great Globe itself." " Hero we go up, np, 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 Tighttitt, Master Sancebox, and Monsieur Chincine ; 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 on 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 Holyrlay 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 bees given under the Mistletoe, by upwards of 100 Ladies of the Corps de Ballet. Grand Ballet —Miss Rosina Wright, Wiles. J. and E. Osmont, and the Co. ryphees. The Golden Gates leading to the Palace of Huggamngga.—Herald (with a Proclamation), Mr. Hornogold ; Guards, Messrs. Stiffneck, Headsnp, Eyesright, Shoulderarras, 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 no'ion of work herself, and the contempt she shows towards those who do work. Interior of the Palace of IWng lingemmugga. King Huggamugga (Sovereign of the Land of Sixes and Sevens), Mr. Dawking ; Huryl-Burly (Lord Chancellor), Mr. Bigwig: Niminy-Piminy (the Lord Cham berlain), Mr. Noodledom ; Higgledy-Piggledy (Goldstick in Waiting), Mr. Muddle ; other Members of the Court, Mews, Bow, Scrape, Cringe, Crouch, Tame*, Merrywag, Perriwig, and Hatband; Court Milliner, Madame Crinoline ; Drawing Master, Professor Crayon ; Governess, Miss Frump ; Music- Master, Signor Hurdigurdi ; Maid in Waiting, Miss Sweet tnnper, Chef do Cuisine, Mr. Cook ; Prince Popinjay (of the Land of Prettistory), Mr. Finefeather ; his Retinue, Aessre. Glare, Dazzle, Gleam, Glitter, and Cntaahine. 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 ward Work in the Distance. Tho 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 Pius, Messrs, Sharp, Bent, Crooked, Pinaday, Groatayear, Sre.; Regiment of Needles (ready drilled), Messrs. Largeoye, Smalleyc, Longsix, Snapoff, &c. ; Thimble, Master Tom Thumb ; Worsted, Mr. Bawlaway ; Bodkin, Mr. Pierce ; Tape Mee sure, Mr. Inehbald; Hook and Eye, Messrs. How and Some hotlyelse ; Shirt Buttons, Mr. Earlypurly ; Scissors, Mr. Shearsteel. How Margery Dew makes an important discovery and the audience also, and how, led by Necessity, she is com pelled to alter her opinions and change herposition. The mi ne of Labour, leading to the Mine of Wealth.-Labour (the Parent of Health, Wealth, and Hanpinees), Mr. StrongTth'arm. What Margery Daw goes to see, what she saw, and the re ward that Flolyday bestows. Grand Scenic and Mechanical Effects, exhibiting (in proceseof construction) the Fairy Fac tory of Fancy, completed with th e assistance of Labour and Imagination. Brilliant Tableau. The Transformation :-Two Harlequins, Herr Deulin and Signor Veroni I two Sprites, the Brothers Elliott ; two Pautaleor s, Mr. Barnes and Mr. G. Tanner ; two Clowns, Messrs. Harry Boleno and Flexmore ; the Gent, Mr. Halford ; two Columbines, Madame Boleno and Visa Honey. The Ups and Downs of the Harloquinade, showing the Ins and Outs and Turns About of the Pantomime Rally ; - Toy Warehouse, Butcher's and Baker's Shop (Bolenos, 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 beekeeper Rite-flying- A game of Cricket, by which some of the players get bowled out, and afterwards stumped, which tura; out a long stop-The uses and abuses of the crin ohne -A .lack in the box-A. box of regular British toys and a basket of French bread (Yericks)-Aldershott a size smaller -Grand review of infantry-A military ball-Going in for a buster-Coming out with a roll-Clown make a peel t 3 baker's feelings-List, oh, List-Squaring a round of beef- Clown takes a steak and gets a chop in return-Pantaloon Wee his hand at a game and loses by it Cut and come again Clown takes a butcher's shop. which Harlequin makes too bet to hold him. Tailor's Shop anti Perfumery Warehouse (Ve roni, Barnes, and Honey). A gentleman in search of a tailor- A 'nit that is quite the ticket Tie Onde wrapper-Railway wrappers-•Traneferdepot--Washing machine-extraordinary- Someth in g that won't wash--Cleaned out-Scent in and sent ont- Foreign versus English toothpowder - Hungary water-A. Frangipani bouquet Wonderful effects of the Pistachio put pewder-A ease of real distress-Pantaloon in a fix-Fur nished Apartments for Single Men (Bolenos, Denlin, and Tanner).-Clown and Pantaloon in high life-A domestic re volution-'Turning the tables-To bed, to bed-A drop too much Clow" rtowbegine 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 altmication, which ends with a regular row in the house. Judkim'e Gas-regulating Machine and General Patent Office and Stationer's Shop (Veroni, Barnes, and Honey.)-Clown, being in Fleet-street. goes the pace rather fast-The language of the eyes (I-talian of course) which everybody understands-Bath post versus London post-Re gulators Wanted : railway regulators, army regulators, gas regulators, smoke regulators-Sewing, cutting, washing, pressing, and ironing done by a turn-Clown makes a shift which makes Pantaloon a little shirty-A box of coma eon scents- A fresh supply of blacks from America -A Dred-ful scene ensues. Mechi's Model Farm (Bolenos, Deulin, and Telmer. )-Harvest-honao -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 wench in England -Novel hatching-The old mail-Full in side-Clown off by the Express and Pantaloon by the Rocket-Mappin's Cutlery and Shilling Razor Warehouse, King William sttreet, Oity (the whole of the double consPeLnY win appear in this scene )-Pantaloon proposes to take a bus-Present and future-Weight of public opinion -A change for the better -The o - p pl s hue-When fool meets fool then comes the tug people's e ffun- o C w ollision, crash, smash, and dash-Garotte preventive-Moustache eio move ment pair of sharp blades-Clowns ns ease for cutlery Holloway stoppedw prove themselves a Holloway's oint ment-The duel -A cut direct-Forewarned, forearmed- Public nuisances of 18.56-Oh, my Crinoline-_A high wind, s Downs regula in Hol w day's Fairyr blo np, and gHomoloriou . s te rmination to UpS and i t the The reduced prices as follow s , varying throughout /tense to suit every one:-Galleries, hd. and Circle of Bose% ls. ed. ; Pit, 2s. ; Flat Cirel l e a. o ; s S g e s l n s d , gs ; Private Ilexes, 2s. ; Dress Boxes, 3e. ; Stalls, 10s. M., I'. Is., It. Ils. 64., and 2/. 25 . , A Morning Performance:, of the Gro a t P antomime every Wednesday, at Two o'clock, ROYAL LYCEUM TE ritt. 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, rsq., Sounded 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 Seydc Pasha Mr. Barrett Sing Smaul Mr. Holston Yussiff Mr. S. Calbacm Med ora Mrs. Charles Dillon Gulnar Mrs. B. White Znliem Mrs. Melville Sobmarina Miss Jessie Ryder Serena Miss Marie Wilton Clowns Mr. H. Marshall Pantalea Mr. Stilt harlequin ........ ............... Mr. J Marshall The Brothers Nelson Snrftes ................................. * ra Columbines ......................... ..Mie m g iss Lad M d o . rgan and TO be preceded by THE KING'S MUSKETEERS. D'Ar. taraan, Mr. C. Dillon. The box-office open daily, from Il to 5, under the super. Mendeuce of Mr. Chatterton, jun. Carriages conveying parties 1.. - . the Private Boxes to set dawn at the State entrance in Burleigh-strect. Meriting Performance every Saturday, at 2 o'clock, THE SUN, LONDOW, TUESDAY EVEININGI JANUARY pp OYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE. THIS EVENING will be performed -A-A) 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 Fling. Harlequin, Mr. Cormack ; Clown, Mr. Huline ; Pantaloon, Mr. Paulo ; Co lumbine, Miss C. Adams. 1 HEATRE ROYAL, HA.YM..A.RKET. THIS EVENING, to commence at Seven, THE SCHOOL FOR SCANDAL, with Mr. Murdoch as Charles Surface; Sir Peter Teazle, Mr. Chippendale; Sir Benjamin Backbite, Mr. Buckstone ; Crabtree, Mr. Compton; Joseph Surface, Mr. Howe ; Sir Oliver Surface, Mr. Rogers; Moses, Mr. Clark ; Sir Harry (with a song), Mr. W. Farren ; Lady Teazle, Miss Reynolds ; Mrs. Candour, Miss Talbot ; Lady Sneerwell, Mrs. Poynter ; Maria, Miss E. Sabine. After which, a new comic Christmas Pantomime, entitled THE BABES IN THE WOOD, or Harlequin and the Cruel Uncle. The scenery of the opening story painted by $r W. Callcott. The music composed and arranged by Edward Fitz william. The pantomime produced under the direction of M. Milano. Harlequin, M. Milano; Columbine, Fanny I Wright ; Pantaloon, Mr. Mackay ; and Clown, Mr. Driver. A Morning performance of the Pantomime will be given every Thursday : commencing at 2, concluding at I. T HEATRE ROYAL, AD EL PHI. Lessee—Mr. Ben. Webster. Great Hit of A Night at Notting-Hill. THIS EVENING will be performed DOMESTIC ECONOMY. After which, A NIGHT AT NOTTING-HILL, in which Mr. Wright and Pant Bedford will appear. To conclude with the new and original union of modern burlesque and old English pantomime (as originated at this theatre), by Professor Wordspinner, Member of Every thing, with entirely new scenery, dresses, transformations, cicc„ called MOTHER SHIPTON ; or, Harlequin Knight of Love, and the Enchanted Whistle. Harlequin and Columbine (a. la Watteau), Madame Celeste and Miss Wyndham ; Clown, Mr. Garden ; Pantaloon, Mr. Moreland; g c aramouch, Mr. Le Barr. Chaeacters 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. THEATRE ROYAL, SADLER'S-WELLS. Under the Management of Mr. Phelps. THIS EVENING, THE GAMESTER. Beverley, Mr. Phelps; Stukeley, Mr. H. Marston ; Mrs. Beverley, Miss Atkinson. To conclude with the pantomime, THE GENIE AND THE FISHERMAN. R OYAL OLYMPIC THEATRE. Lessee, Mr. Alfred Wigan. THIS EVENING, DELICATE GROUND. Messrs. G. Vining and Leslie ; Mrs. Stirling. A new Fairy Extravaganza., by J. R. Manche, Esq., called YOUNG AND HANDSOME. Messrs. F. Robson, Rogers, Leslie, G. Cooke, Danvers. Misses Swanborough, St. Canso, Castleton, Bromley, Maskell, and Mrs. Melfort. After which, CRINOLINE. Commence at half-past Seven. DP OYAL SURREY THEATRE, 111 Lessees, Messrs. Shepherd and Creswick. THIS EVENING, an original play, in three acts. entitled A BIRD IN THE HAND WORTH TWO IN THE BUSH. Roderick Preiseworthy, Mr. Shepherd. After which, HARLEQUIN AND THE SUMMER QUEEN. Harlequin, Mr. F. Glover ; Clown, Mr. Buck ; Pantaloon, Mr. Bradbury; the Four Sprites, the Finis Fa. wily ; Columbines. Mesdames Marie and Agnes. A STLEY'S ROYAL AMP HIM EAME. AL Lessee and Manager, Mr. W. Cooke. THIS EVENING, Shakspeare's Tragedy of RICHARD THE THIRD, the last week of its performance. Eques trian Illustrations by Mr. W. Cooke's Horses. Richard, Mr. James Holloway. After which, the SCENES in the CIRCLE. To conclude with the succeasful equestrian comic panto mime, called P kUL PRY ON HORSEBACK ; or, Har lequin and the Magic Horseshoe. Doors open at half-past six ; commence at a quarter be fore seven o'clock. Rox-office open from Eleven till Four. Stage Manager, Mr, W. West. Equestrian Director, Mr. W. Cooke, jun. A Morning Performance every Saturday, at Two o'clock. CANTERBURY HALL. Weetminster-road._ OPEN EVERY EVENING.—The follow ing. company of Vocalists are engaged for the performance of ' , elections from all the popular Operas, Madrigals, Choruses, Glees, Duets, &c., viz. —Miss E. Pearce, Mrs. J. Caulfield, Nriss Brunel], and Miss Summers ; Mr. J. Caulfield, Herr F. longhmans, R. Grover, T. Reino T. Farrant, S. Jones, J. Barker, W. Melling, and P. Carrie ; Masters Austin, Ben nett, and Corri ; Mr. Sam Cowell and E. Mackney. Piano forte, J. Harroway, R.A. ; harmonium, J. Caulfield, jun. ; director, Mr. J. Caulfield. Commence at Seven o'clock pre sely. Suppers, die.. until twelve o'clock. Last week of the celebrated SPANISH MINSTRELS, who will appear in costume at Nine and Eleven o'clock Eve' Evening. and sinz some of their favourite selections. Mr. C. Morton's Annual Full Dress Ball will taku place on Wednesday, Feb. 18. Gentleman's ticket, 7s ; lady's ditto, 53; double ticket (lady and gentleman or two ladies), 11)s. iIIGR WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. Tans DAT—Morn. 33 min. aft. B—Evening 9 min. aft. 9 T....-imutow—Aforn. 45 ann. aft. 9 —EveniN 22 lain. art 10 THE WEATFIEIs—:FUJI OFFIott, J.I.2sWARY 20. THERMOMETER, IN THE SHADE. 51—highest knee noon yesterday. 44 lowest this morning and during the night. 46 this day noon. PAROMRTER, 29'50—a fall of nearly an inch since yes ter.lsy. WIND, S. to S.W.—Fresh, with doubtful weather, in• alining to rain. Two O'CLOCK.—Heavy rain srtt • I Ftli _ §Alln L N DON, TUESDAY, JANUARY 20, 18t7 It is gratifying to observe that the Prime Minister has recently awarded a pension of 501. per annum to CHARLES S - warli, the eminently graceful and popular lyrist of Manchester. It is still more gratifying to remark that 'Viscount PALMERSTON has accompanied the official intima tion to Mr. SWAIN of this substantial, though inadequate, tribute to his literary industry and to I his poetical abilities, with a regret that the Fund at his disposal annually, in his position as First Lord of the Treasury, precluded him from making a larger grant than this, to the Author of the "English Melodies." That Fund, as we all know pretty well by this time, being restricted to a niggardly sum of 1,2001., to be yearly awarded by the First Minister of the Crown to those who may appear to him at the time most deserving of consideration, in the way of either recompence or encouragement, among the living cultivators of Art, Science, and Literature. Nevertheless, we must really venture to remark at once that while we perfectly coincide with Lord PALMERSTON'S implied regret as to the insufficiency of the Fund in question, we cannot but think that even this annual dole of 1,200/. might be much better applied than it ever has been applied yet, by the Prime Minister's adopting a wholly different system in the manner cf its distribution. To be plain—How infinitely more rational it would be, surely, if—instead of this 1,2001. yearly at the Prime Minister's disposal being frittered away, as it has been frittered away hitherto, as it is still being continually frittered away, by excessive division and sub-division among a host of annual recipients—it were portioned out more reasonably among a comparative few: each of whom might thus be really "aided" instead of being (as many literally are, according to the pre sent system)actually "insulted" by her MAJESTY'S Government ! Don't we recollect, all of us, a very glaring case in point, in the instance of the late Mr. JOSEPH HAYDN, the laborious compiler of the well-known " Dictionary of Dates" and of the almost equally well-known " Book of Dignities r' Had we been able, indeed, to lose a recollection of the flagrant manner in which that most de serving, but unfortunate man of letters was in the grant t o hi m of a beggarly pi stilted, literall y i nsulted, upon his death-bed by t should r h o a w v f e u b l been r e e a a i n d d d e r d e s o s e f d t ht toe pittance of 25/. l c p i e r r eu a m nn sta um n= w by e the British public by his widow, throughe d the s wl medium of the Times, only yesterday,enfnr c that appeal was by the generous plea put forth in her behalf, simultaneously, by our contemporary. As we ourselves took occasion to intimate, by m eans of the simplest arithmetical analysis, at the very time when that miserable grant was awarded to the late Mr. JOSEPH HAYDN, it was a grant of one shilling and fourpence-halfpenny a day—of nine shillings and sevenpence a week—of two pounds, one shilling, and eightpence a month—this pit tance, this dole, this alms of 251. a year, awarded by a great nation to a scholar who had toiled for the general advantage during many years in some of the least inviting and the most rugged of the diversified fields of literature ! The notoriously, undeniably, and glaringly insufficient aid, accorded only when too late to Mr. HAYDN himself, and since then pitifully extended to his widow and her three orphan children (251. a year, recollect, for the whole surviving family of this poor dead scholar l)—may, it is true, be yet expiated as a wanton insult to literature. It may at last be enhanced to something bearing the semblance at least of " assistance "—and let us hope that it will be so enhanced through the generous and genial interposition of Viscount PALMERSTON. But, beyond the reparation due in this one pain ful and distressing instance, wo conceive that the whole system upon which the 1,2001. yearly at the Premier's disposal is distributed amongst its various recipients ought, in reason as well as in humanity, to be altogether reorganised. If we cannot have more than an annual aggregate of 1,2001. to be shared among the meritorious cultivators of art, science, and literature, at any rate let us hit upon some more judicious distribu tion of the inadequate sum actually at the dis posal, for those purposes, of the Leader of her MAJESTY'S Government. Let not the sum, we repeat, such as it is -1,2001.—be frittered away according to the mistaken plan hitherto in vogue: that, dropping it out in miserable driblets of 501. and 251., and the like wretched scraps and shreds, to the tune of so many halfpence per di at, ! In stead of this—we would presume to suggest that each year the aggregate sum of 1,2001. should be divided into some six or eight pensions really worth receiving by a man of letters, art, or science, pensions really worth awarding by a dis cerning and magnanimous Government. Divide this annual sum of 1,2001., for example, let us say into seven portions, thus—into one pension of 3001., into one of 2001., into four of 1501., and into one of 1001. Then some good might be effected even by the 1,200/. a-year, then some honour might be done through it to the deserving cultivators of art, science, and literature. Particularly if with the inauguration of some such improved method of distribution, we were to recognise the evidence of greater discri mination in the selection of the names of the different recipients. At present, the real " Intel lect of England" gets an occasional 501. or so by way of recognition, as in the instance of CHARLES SwArar, the amiable and very charming poet of Manchester. But all the while the bulk of the 1,2001. nominally set apart for the encouragement of the " Intellect of England" is awarded to all sorts of obscure persons, in no way at all con nected with either art, or science, or literature. Lord PA LMER STON may win glory to himself when ever he pleases by putting an end to this system of most cruel mockery to men of letters, and their compeers of the atelier and the laboratory. Let us beseech him earnestly so to do ! And if he cannot increase that annual sum-total to an amount somewhat worthier of its object, say 5,0001. at least, we would hope to see a wiser and a more generous distribution of it thin any that has yet been adventured upon even by the most liberal and sagacious of his predeceasora. Pen.iions, too, we cannot but think a most unsuit able term for what ought by right to be regarded as Acts of National Recompoux. Let the phrase be dropped. Let it, in legal phraseology, cease and determine. Let us talk in future of these things as " Rewards" or " Tributes." Let us hear no more of a wretched 504 per annum, or of a beggarly 251. par annum ; but in lieu of this (as we have already suggested) of awards ranging from 1001. as the minimum to 3001. as the maximum. According to which improved mystem something like real encouragement might at length be accorded to the interests of art, science, and literature, in a manner honourable, instead of as hitherto derogatory, to the dignity of her MAJZSTY'S Governmen t. Many zealous advocates for the convertibility of the Bank Note are still. strenuously opposed to the provisions of the Act of 1844, and the unwise and impolitic prohibition of the smaller denomi nations of Bank paper. They are suffering under the delusion so industriously propagated that our foreign trade and commerce would be greatly in jured unless gold could be obtained at a fixed and certain price under any possible combination of circumstances. The Times, in October, 1855, put this argument forward clearly and distinctly, so that we are enabled to discuss its real weight, and to take it quantum va/eat, exactly for what it is worth. On the 26th of that month the following re• markable passages occurred in its Money Article —" Supposing this circulation to be required solely for internal commerce, no necessity could exist for gold being held against any portion of it. A deposit of Government Stook, or the fact of its being receivable for duties, would at all times keep it from fluctuation, in value. But as we re quire gold to meet the balances of debt to foreign nations at periods when our exports have not been fully sufficient to pay for our imports, we must have some means of converting our circulation into this material. The Bank note professes to be good for a certain weight of gold. It is on the payment of a certain weight of gold that every contract throughout the kingdom is made contin gent. If, when the merchant wants this gold to send to his foreign correspondents, he finds that he cannot change the notes in his possession for the full amount they purport to represent, ho is a loser precisely to the extent of their deficiency. Absolute and immediate convertibility is therefore a necessity admitted by all except the few dream ers who find a voice in moments like the present." The question is thus fairly raised ; the important issue on which the nation must speedily decide is before us. The first point that naturally arises is, " Why should the interests of persons solely engaged in " internal commerce" be rendered altogether sub servient to the views of foreign traders ? It is notorious that five-sixths of the transactions of the country are purely domestic. The classes who earn their d a il y b rea d b y t h e i r d a il y l a b our—t h e shopkeepers, clerks, traders, and professional men —have but little to say to foreign trade. But yet they are subjected to the most fearful calami•l ties, to loss of employment, inadequate remunera tion for their labour, and too frequently bank ruptcy or insolvency, from the extraordinary fluctuations in the value of money, and rate of in terost or discount, occasioned by the stringent regul; itions respecting the circulating medium, the sole r aeasure and representative of val ue . O ver this they have no control whatsoever, and y e t over,they ti ;c r o e u o r ; n h d a e o r d e d a o p d e r f f o e o c t t , l y to helpless—delivered of the usurers, who seek to obtain exorbitant profits for the use of their capital, to achieve a doubtfwl advantage fur foreign traders, which, even if li Yell founded, would by no means consti tute a sufficient ground for the Act of 1844. But lei:. us see what is the real extent of that sni)Posed , advantage— which is founded more on assump' „ion than reasoning. All that can be said in its f Avour is, that it simplifies the business of the for eigu merchant by excluding one element, the possible price of gold, from his calculations. But in place of that he has another of even greater magnitude, and subject to more extensive va.ria isions even than the price of bullion. The rate , of discount may, and has, ranged between 2 and 10 or 12 per cent. We use the term "discount" advisedly, inasmuch as when it was at the most extravagant rate scarcely 3i- per cent. could be obtained on Government security. Indeed, even during the Irish famine, the Chancellor of the Exechequer was enabled to borrow 8,000,0001. at 31. 7s. 6d, per cent., and even during the panic of 1847 but little more could be obtained on permanent investments of an unexceptionable character, while advances for temporary purposes were charged 10, 12, or even 15 per cent. A clear preof that it was currency, not capital, that was wanting. This, then, is a more serious difficulty in the way of the foreign merchant even than a possible, but by no means probable, premium on bullion. As an article of merchandise it may safely be left to the enterprise of our traders. Besides, large amounts of specie would naturally come into the hands of the Government depart ment charged with the regulation of the currency, which, in any emergency, would support and sus tain the Money Market. It is absurd to say that without absolute and immediate converti bility on demand there would be no means of ex changing the national currency into gold or silver. The utmost that could be anticipated would be a trifling premium for gold that would measure the full extent of the loss, and under the most adverse circumstances would be far less than would be endured from the consequences of an extravagant rate of discount, and the total want of pecuniary accommodation oven to the most solvent firms. It is notorious that the foreign trade of the country was seldom, if ever, in a more satisfac tory condition than during the time that the entire domestic circulation consisted of what have been facetiously denominated " worthless rags." The foreign traders were certain of obtaining a speedy and satisfactory market for their goods or consignments. They were not compelled to sub mit to "alarming" sacrifices to sell for whatever the articles might fetch, in order to meet their liabilities. If a remunerative price could not be obtained at one time they could afford to wait, and they wore certain of obtaining advances pro portioned to the value for any reasonable period. So far, then, as even the foreign traders are con cerned, a sound domestic currency that would prevent the ruinous alternations in the rate of dis t count would be exceedingly beneficial—while it would be an incalculable boon to the rest of the community, insuring the welfare and prosperity of the nation, and the comfort and happiness of the labouring population. Mr. C. PEA.R3ON, the City Solicitor, is one of those men who, whatever be the subject on which they treat, are entitled to a hearing. Never chal lenging public attention when he has nothing to say, and bringing to every subject a more than ordinary intelligence, backed by conscientiousness, and an industry which no amount of labour can overcome, he pursues his way until be arrives at some definite conclusion, which he advances in a manner at once forcible, and involving the mini mum possibility of misapprehension. To one subject he has long devoted his special attention, and on it he has bestowed more conscientious labour and deliberate thought than on any other, and this despite much discouragement from quarters to which he had a right to look for countenance and support. The subject referred to is that of Penal Punishments, which is now engaging the attention of the best and wisest among us. Mr. BURSON may be assured of a respectful hearing, all the informa tion and collision of thought that can be brought to bear on it being required to insure a satisfac tory result. For our own part we have great pleasure in inviting the attention of our readers to the very able communication he has just made to the Lord MAYOR, which will be found else where under the head of "Mr. C. PEARSON on Penal Punishments." The learned gentleman, it will be seen, classes ;them under three heads, viz., the system of past days, the present system, and the future system —or that which should obtain am ong us . The first he describes as the cheap a n d crue l sys t e m ; the second as the expen sive a n d e ff em i na t e s y s tem --generally known as the sep ara t e or so lit ar y system. Both of these it is his endeavour to show as utter failures ; the first being cond e mned by the verdict of enlight ened lsumanity, and the seco nd b y experie n c e of its worse th an i nu tility. The third or future system is his panacea ; the system which, in his opinion, ought to he adopted, and to its exposi tion h e earnest l y a dd res ses himself. The costli ness of the p resen t s y s tem is forcibly pointed out. Seventy thousand criminals pass annually through our prisons, and the annual maintenance of each gaol bird costs something between 301, and 401. A heavy burden this on the community. Mr. PEARSON proposes that the amount of " confis cated labour" thus represented shall be turned to useful account, and he sees no reason why the industry of the criminal in prison should not approximate closely in value to his industry out of it. Ho would have a couldprisons,inwork-carried Thisclassificati on, &c., be properly done the general aim of his scheme is, " that the right hand of his industry shall be the instru ment by which the reforming criminal shall ap pease his bodily wants and minister to his bodily enjoyments," and that "the same right hand of industry shall also be the instrument of his resto ration to freedom, not by being put forth by fits and starts of exciting activity, but by constant and continuous exertion, cancelling hour by hour the sentence under which he is confined. It is proposed, instead of a Judge condemning the criminal to so many years or months of impri sonment, that the sentence shall be a labour sen tence of so many thousand hours of labour as the character of the criminal and the crime shall appear to warrant." A reference to Mr. PEAR SON'S letter will supply the rest. In conclusion, without committing ourselves to absolute ap proval, we may say if transportation, as we would have it, be impossible, there is much in Mr. PEARSON'S scheme to ponder over and subject to rigorous, but not necessarily unfavourable, judg ment. The punishments he would inflict, at all events, are not without hope, and his scheme may be supplemented. We are enabled to announce that a project is on foot for constructing a railway from Durham direct to Lon don. —Mining J6urnal. Very nearly 10,000 invalided French soldiers obtained pensions in the course of the year 1856, most of them from regiments which have been in the Crimea. Upwards of 1,500 applications have been made to M. Detangle, the president, for places at the trial of Verger. CONSEORATION. — Yetterday the Right Hon. and Right Rev. the Lerd Bishop of London consecrated the church of St. Philip the Evangelist, Arlington-square, Islington. The attendance was very numerous. NEW CORONER FOR THE DUCRY OF LANCASTER. --The Right lion. M. T. Baines, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancester, has appointed W. J. Payne, Fig., coroner for the City of London, to be coroner fo r the Duchy of Lancaster, in the room of the late unfortu nate Mr. Thomas Higgs, who committed suicide a few days ago. deputy. TEE BRITISH POSTAL GUIDE. January, 1857, has brought to us a new and greatly improved sixpenny Postal Guide, such as we cannot but recommend at once to the general public as a perfect marvel of compilation. It comprises, in a pamphlet form, within less than 200 pages octavo, all the informa tion capable of being grouped together, catalogued and tabulated for instant reference—in regard to the working of the complex machinery in our vast and ever-toiling Post-office Establishment. The puolication, it should be remarked, is issued quarterly by command of her Majesty's Postmaster-General, under the personal in spection, of course (cela va sails dirt), of Rowland Hill, the all-important Chief Secre tary. Whoever has acted in the present in stance, however, under Mr. Hill's scrutiny, in the extraordinary labour of bringing together the mass of attractive and valuable information compressed into the narrow compass of this new and really remarkable Guide-book, has revealed in so doing those evidencies of industry, assiduity, and research, which are assuredly the very best qualifications for any one acting immedi ately under such a Chief of such a Department ! " The Right Man in the Right Place"—with the Right Man again under him, I That is the ratural, and, indeed, almost inevitable inference deducible from an examination of this " British Postal Guide,"pp. 173, price fid., published under the authority of the Duke of Argyll ; revised, or rather supervised, by Rowland Hill, the Secretary ; and printed by the official printers to the Queen's Most Excellent Majesty, the Messrs. Eyre and Spottiswoode ! The Guide-book is subdivided, small as it is, into no less than sixteen separate sections, beginning with a list of the Chief Officers of the Department, and ending with an ample and most comprehensive Index. The one solitary section relating to the new " Postal Dis tricts," would be enough of itself to render any one grateful for this sixpenny publication. Altogether it is just precisely what was wanted, this British Postal Cuide, for the purposes of instant reference and reliable information. SACRED HARMONIC S9CIETY. Last evening a very large audience were attracted by the performance of Mendel'ssohn's " Hymn of Praise" and Mozart's " Requiem." These two wonderful com positions were executed with care and effect. The beau tiful introductory sinfonia to the "Hymn of Praise" was performed in a manner that reflected great credit on the orchestra, which, as uEuai, was under the efficient direc tion Gf M. Costa. The solo performers were Madame Clara Novello, Mrs. Lockey, Mr. Sims Reeves, and Mr. Thomas. Madame Cara Novello's beautiful voice was heard to great effect, in the " Hymn of Praise," in the air "All that have life and breath." A duet, sung by Mrs. Lockey and Madame Novello, was rendered with taste and expression. Mr. Sims Reeves displayed his usual ability in the tenor part, the most remarkable feature being the solo of " The sorrows of death." In the second part, " The Requiem," the solo performers were necessarily less conspicuous. The chorus through out was unusually successful. All lovers of classical music are much indebted to this society for bringing the works of the greatest masters so frequently before the public. The performances last night would scarcely seem so calculated to attract the unscientific, but never theless the hall was crowded. OJT? BANK-MEETING THIS DAY. The second ordinary general meeting of the share holders of this corporation was held this day at the London Tavern, Bishopsgate-street—Sir R. W. Carden, the chairman of the board of directors, presided. There was a large attendance of shareholders, The report, amongst other details, stated that after deducting current expenses, a proportion of building expenses, making ample provision for bad and doubtful debts, and also alter allowing interest to the amount of 14,951/. 3s. 3,1. on current and deposit accounts, the directors are en abled to declare a dividend, for the half year ending the 31st December last, at the rate of Si. per cent, per and thetpor c a a t r ry a forwardand loss n t e h w e e that being the termination of their financ i a l y ear. suma ac n c n o u u mo n f3 : 7e4o b 2fl e . nl d oc i m l t d Ni t. i a t r h on the 30 th June next, t:o In reference to the amount of dividend, the chairman stated that the directors were of opinion that as far as possible a fixed dividend of 5 per cent. should be paid half-yearly, and that the surplus profits should he divided by way of bonus at the meeting in June, which termi nated the financial year. had the available profits been divided upon the present occasion the directors might have declared a dividend at the rate of 8 per cent. par annum, but that course they did not think proper to pursue. It appeared from the accounts that the deposits and balances on current accounts amount to 044,4751. The report was unanimously adopted, and thanks tendered to the chairman and board of directors, and to Mr. White, the manager. ALARITIWG ACCIDENT AT THE MANCHESTER (;ATIIEDRAL. During the celebration of divine service at the cathe dral on Sunday afternoon, the congregation being a large one, an accident occurred—sufficiently alarming in its nature—which caused for a few moments a consider able degree of panic amongst portions of the congrega- tion, but fortunately it was unattended with any personal injury, as far as we have heard. The preacher, a rela tive, we believe, of the Rev. Canon Wray, had pro ceeded for about a quarter of an hour with the sermon, when the occupants of the pews in the westerly portion of the north gallery were startled by hearing a slight crack overhead. Looking up to the ceiling of the gallery, they almost immediately afterwards saw the whole of the ornamental plaster moulding, which covered a beam crossing the gallery from front to back, suddenly separate from the beam, and fall upon the pews below with a loud crash. Great was the alarm, especially amongst the ladies occupying seats in this part of the church ; indeed most of the occupants in the pews throughout the north gallery left them on the instant, some gentlemen even climbing over the tops of the pews, and rapidly made their way towards the two flights oistairs at the extremities of the gallery. The preacher, thus suddenly arreste 1 in his discourse, re mained silent, looking with some anxiety towards that part of the gallery where the crash occurred ; but this state of suspense was judiciously terminated by the Rev. Canon Wray r:sing in the reading-desk and quietly pronouncing the benediction usual at the close of the service, which was thus brought to a sudden termi nation. The alarm had, however, to some extent, by this time subsided, and many of the congregation so far from quitting the church, remained to see and in• quire for themselves as to the nature of the accident. We learnt that all the plaster which had covered the oaken beam with moulding fell away from it, leav flieiergt e an a m m .ng as s s t o f th epes: feet in length, weighing probably 12 to 14 cwt. That so ing the beam bare ; and that it would be from 15 to IS plaster should fall from a height of many without injuring a single indi vidual, is remarkable but it seems that the line of the beam was precisely over the line of partition which separa tes the block of pews i nto two sections, havin g entran ces at opposite ends ; and so the p laster fell in ma s s es upon this partition, thus breaking its fall bef ore it dropped in large fragments into the pews. One of these pieces is said to have been of the weight of at least 1. cwt.—Manchater Examiner. THE PRESENT PARLIAMENT. The present Parliament does not expire, by efflux of time, till the 20th August, 1859, so that it cannot yet be considered as moribund, so long as the Minister of the day finds it practieable ; and, as Lord Palmerston's principle of action is to be the Minister of the majority, it will be hard if he cannot find a working majority on one side or the other of any question that may arise. The last Parliament which approached its extreme limits was that which ended in 1826. During its existence no fewer than 140 members have been elected to supply the places of a like number of vacancies caused by deaths,• promotions to offices under the Crows, and resignations. At the present moment there are nine seats vacant for which new elections will have to be made forthwith, or as Soon as Parliament re-assembles. They are the following : Do wnpatrick...vice Lord Hardinge, succeeded to a peerage. Dumfriesshire „ Marquis of Queensberry ditto. Clonmel „ Daniel O'Connell, accepted office under the Crown. Greenwich „ Peter Rolt, ditto. Newport Salford Southampton „ Sir A. Cockburn, accepted office under the Crown. Kent, West Hull under the Crown. THE MEETING OF PARLIAMENT. The following circular has been addressed by Lord Palmerston to each of the Liberal Members, urging their attendance on the first day of the session : Downing-street, Jan. 16, 1857. Sir,—The meeting of Parliament having been fixed for Tuesday, the 3d February, business of great importance will then come under the consideration of Parlinment ; and I trust, therefore, that you will allow me to express my earnest hope that it m a y b e cons i stent with your con venience to attend in your place at the House of Commons at the opening of the session. I have the honour to be, Sir, Your obedient and faithful servant, PALMZIMON. 11 - 6 T. 21 Fri ntj 1. 114 >73 A despatch from Berne, dated the 18th inst., announces that the Neuchatel prisoners, escorted by a detachment of Swiss troops, were conducted on the preceding night to the French frontier, which they crossed at Pontarlier. The Federal Council has issued orders for immediately dis banding the troops already'assembled. On the 17th General Dufour announced to the army the pacific conclusion of the dispute. The result of the general election in Hanover for the Second Chamber, so far as yet known, is that of 18 electoral districts ten have returned Oppositioß members. The Paris correspondent of the Morning Post :second edition), in a letter dated Monday, 7 p.m., says "Important despatches have reached me from Athens, dated Dec. 22 (Jan. 31). Mr. Wyse, her Britannic Majesty's Minister, had received instructions from the Home Government ordering him to make representations to the King concern ing the affairs of Greece generally. Similar in structions were expected from Paris, as the Cabi nets of England and France are united in their policy towards Greece. The Russian Minister was invited to join them in addressing King Otho. His Excellency said he had no instructions to address to his Majesty personally, but that he would be happy to join them in interrogating the Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs. On this, the representatives of England and France observed that they never could hope to obtain the objects in view from the existing Government of Greece. They held the King alone responsible. So for the moment the affair rests. Meanwhile M. Mercier's instructions are hourly expected to reach Athens, when the influence of France and England would be brought to bear on questions which the Allied Cabinets think proper to settle before the evacuation of Greece shall take place. "His Excellency the Persian Ambassador reached Paris last night. The mission is composed of the following personages :—Ferouk Khan, ambassa dor ; Mirza•Zeman-Khan, first councillor ; Mirza- Malcolm-Khan, second councillor ; Mirza-Beza, dragoman ; Mehamed-Aali-Aga, second dragoman ; Neriman-Khan, first secretary ; Mirz9.-Aali-Negui, second secretary ; Mirza•Ebol-Gassem-Khan, first writer ; Mirza-Hussein, second writer ; Mirza- Hussein, and Mirz-Reza, actors. " In addition to these personages there are up wards of 20 others in his Excellency's suite. Six magnificent horses have also arrived, presents from the Shah to the Emperor." The Paris correspondent of the Times (second edition) says : " I have to correct an error in my letter of yesterday with reference to Verger, who now lies under sentence of death. He has but 40 days after the rejection of his appeal by the Court of Cassation—if, as is all but certain, it be rejected. He had three clear days after the sentence to appeal. Generally speaking, persons in his con dition wait for the last day ; Verger sent in his this morning. The Court of Cassation will, lam told, meet to-morrow, and the appeal will doubtless be taken into consideration. If the Court come to a decision during the sitting, and the decision be negatived, he may be ordered for execution on Thursday. He has intimated a wish to petition the Emperor for a commutation of the sentence, or even pardon. No one believes that the prayer will be granted, as no extenuating circumstances, real or imaginary, have been found in his case. The execution will probably take place some day this week at the prison of La Roquette, near the Pere la Chaise, on the esplanade outside the gates. " The dejection of Verger is greater to-day than yesterday. He signed his appeal to the Court of Cassation to-day at 12 o'clock. The strait waistcoat was removed for that purpose. Verger then asked the Director of the prison whether that measure of precaution might not be dispensed with as it was real torture,. and it pre vented him from writing. M. Leveille, the Di rector, said it was impossible to indulge him, and he submitted. He has asked to-day to see the physician of the prison, as well as the chaplain, and he appears to await with impatience the re sult of his appeal to the Court of Cassation.'' FRANCE. PARIS, MONDAY. Feruk Khan, the Persian Ambassador, arrived here last night with a suite of 31 persons, and is lodged in a private hotel in the Champs Elysees. The Monitcur announces that on Sunday their Imperial Majesties received a large number of foreigners of distinction, -who were presented by the Papal N unc i o , the Russian and Turkish Am bassadors, the United States and Wurtembery Ministers, and the Greek Charge d'Affaires. His Majesty received Count Kisseleff, the Russian Am bassad. r, and Baron Brunow, Envoy Extraordi nary from Russia. A Paris correspondent of the Nord of Brussels offers the following explanation relative to the reported changes in the organisation of the Bank of France :—" M. Schneider, one of the governors of the bank, has been requested to draw up a re port on the modifications which might be intro duced into the statutes of that establishment with respect to the extension of the charter, which ter minates in 1868, to the year 1900 ; and to the increase of capital, which from 91 millions would be carried up to 250 millions. This would permit the bank to dispose of a more respectable sum for making reports, or carrying over 3 per cent. stock at the Bourse at a low rate. BOURSE, Jan. 19.—The following wore the last quotations ; Crib. fr. c. Ewl of 3ronth. 44 per Conte 3 per Cents 6B 20 68 15 New Loan — Bank Shares 4,200 Roman (a d) B7l Credit Mobilier 1,405 Austrian Belgian Five 5......... 995 Spanish Threes 42 Piedmontese (5) 92 50 Home Debt RAILWAYS-FOR CASIL fr. c. 1r c Orleans 1,390 Western ............... 877 50 Northern 950 Strasburg ............ 840 Lyons 1,387 50 New Ditto ........... 776 25 Mediterranean 1,775 Grand Central ..... 610 Lyons Geneva Cetto Cum. ...... 767 50 PIEDMONT. A letter dated Turin, Jan. 15, contains the following :—This morning has been fi xe d by the Emperor of Austria fo r his solemn entrance into his Lombard capital. The Emperor Francis J osep h has fared but in differently in his triumphal progress through his Italian dominions. His sojourn at Venice was so far from leaving an agreeable impression upon him that he gave vent to his displeasure in some very sharp and wrathful words addressed to the pDdesta or mayor of tke city, whom he seemed to hold re sponsible for the evident disloyalty of his fellow citizens ; and when the luckless mayor tried to er.ac count as he best could for t' - se absence o f thep sons who ought to have been present to do obeisanceand em to their ruler, and for the lukevrarnmes_se present, barrassment of those who actilllY the Emperor cut him short with g Italian— and the following burst Of idiomatic,-, a vender lucciole Italian— " Signor Podesta, non mi v w r e e l a t disdain, . en ' a ,, Don't you try to per laterne ;" in plain English, awder." The anec come over me with y o ur si°thority. At Vicenza it dote rests on very g ood a' ce of the Emperor at the is a fact that the app i e f ar r au the whole population to theatre was a signal the pit and most o . f the leave the house, boxes remained -p for one hour, because only empty. At Brescia the Emperor only st l o e p- o f an old employe, was found in oue lady, the wi t() wait upon the Empress.. .The the whole town - of the whole Lombard population in e s n ° ti e r a ely determination. . 11 11 to the Autocrat and to his s h ow i ng its ill-will troops exceeds at,l belief. Lamp°6ns and pasqui nades, some of them so outrageous that they could not be translated literally into English, and would convey no meaning except to those initiated in the worst slang of those Italian dialects, are posted up es ery night at every street corner in Milan. A triumphal arch made with hums skulls, drawn with the very greatest skill iu the Fischietto, the Italian Punch, was published in Turin a few weeks ago. The Government here deemed it right to seize the paper for that day, so that we might be allowed to suppose that the ob noxious print is out of cirulation. Nevertheless, hundreds and thousands of copies have found their way into Lombardy ; they are stuck up at every corner of the streets almost daily, and this morn ing they will be seen at every street corner where the Emperor is to pass, whatever efforts the police may make to tear them down. A crown made of real human skulls has been hung in the night on one of the many triumphal arches with which the Lombard capital has been decorated for the occasion A duel has taken place between a Milanese noble man, of the name of Viola, and an Austrian officer, in which the former was severely wounded, and the latter behaved towards his fallen enemy with the greatest brutality, striking him repeatedly with his sabre when he was on the ground. Many of the Lombard nobles, well known for their antipathy to the Austrian rulers have been or d ere d t o a b sen t themselves from Milan during the Emperor's stay. The exasperation on both sides is immense ; more than 4,000 or 5,000 of the low©' t classes, many of the most desperate characters in that town, are armed to the teeth, especially with revolvers, which have been smuggled across the frontier by the same means by which prints, caricatures, and all sorts of seditious writings are brought in under the very nose of those keen-sighted bloodhounds of the Austrian police. . _ _ Under these circumstances it is felt that some appalling news may reach us at any moment. From Modena, from Parma, from Milan, from most Lombard towns, incessant and lavish sub scriptions come in for the hundred cannon destined for the fortification of Alessandria. Cavour and his colleagues are in danger of being crushed by the very excess of their popularity. TURICEr CONSTANTINOPLE, Jan. 9.—On Wednesday last, the ith inst., another conference was held in the French Palace on the firman to be issued for the convocation of the Divans ad hoc in the Danubian Principalities. The object of it was the final revi sion of the whole document, which had been dis cussed point by point in the former conferences. It was the last of its kind. There will be, indeed, some more conferences in which the Commissioners are to participate, but these will be taken up rather by giving the necessary explanations on the spirit of the whole document and hearing any observa tions which members of the Commission may think fit to make, than by any discussion on the tenour of the firman itself. Mr. Layard, M.P., left Constantinople on Wed nesday last, on hi 3 route to England. His railway project, connecting the Danube with the Archi pelago, may be considered as settled. It has passed all the series of councils, has the consent of the Grand Viziers, and the Trade, which is already drawn up, has only to be signed by the Sultan. It will be sent after him as soon as this is done. That this railway excites great hopes you may judge from the circumstance that 1,000,0001. sterling have been subscribed in the place. This is a better guarantee for its paying than the 5 or 6 per cent. which the Turkish Government could have been made to promise. SPAIN. The Madrid letters of the 14th inst. announce that the Bishops of Osma, Vich, and Astorga had presented addresses to the Queen, thanking her Majesty for the services which she has lately rendered to the Roman Catholic religion. A visit of the Queen to Andalusia in the spring was again talked of, but nothing had been settled on the point. It having been resolved to draw up a complete statistical return of all matters interesting to the country a census of the population had been ordered. The Tribunal cf War and Marine had decided that there was ground for prosecuting General Prim for the publication of his recent letter ; in consequence, a Court, com posed of Generals, was about to be formed to try him. Seditious proclamations of a Republican cha racter were every day circulated in the capital, but according to the Ministerial journals nobody paid any attention to them. These papers, however, say that the Government was on the qui vive, and that if there were to be any outbreak it would repress it with the greatest energy. A band of insurgents, under the orders of Villalain, which had for some time been infesting the province of Burgos, had disappeared ; it was supposed the persons comport. ing it had fled into France. Accounts from the Philippines (date not mentioned) say that an at tempt had been made to create an insurrection, but that it had failed. Letters fr om P orto Rico to the 13th state that the situation of the island was satisfactory. A letter from Galatz, of the 20th ult., in the Moniteur, states that the Europe an D anube Explo ration Commission had com menced its labours. A. number of details are given to show that the St. George's mouth would be preferable to the Kilia or Sulina mouths as a permanent channel. company Wakefie The Earl Lo dge, Stoney Stratfo r d. in a few and Countess Craven are expec t e d i n town The Early das from Ashdown-park, Berks. and Countess in a few day s , f rom Cawdor are expec t e d i n t own Cawdor Ca s tl e . The Earl and Countess of Lanesborough are expected in tewn on the l et of February, from Mount Sorrel, near Loughborough. The Earl o f St. Germans has arrived at his resid e n ce in Dove r - street. Viscount and Viscount Palmerston arrived in town last night, from Broadlands. His lordship has quite recovered from his attack of gout. Viscount and Viscountess Emyln are expected in town on the 3d February, from Golden Grove, Llan dilo' South • W a l es. Lord and Lady Ashburton are still sojourning at Nice, South of France. Lord Forester has taken a mansion in Audley-square, late the residence of Viscount Maidstone. In the general business of the port of London during the past week there has been increased activity. The shares of the Nassau Railway Company have been dealt in at 1 pm. ROYAL BRITISH BANK.—A. circular has been issued l o 2 ff s e in n t g h et pound buy un d l u e p s 8 any depositdividend u ad accountgalready r a m rte c i t n ehiev the er(ai t. c e i toyf, ROYAL FREE HOSPITAL, GRAY'S-INN ROAD. The number of patients relieved at this hospital during the week ending the 17th of Ja nuary, 1 857, is 2,391, of which 668 were new cases. THE TEA TRADE, Jan. 19.—The deliveries in London estimated 32f0r1021b. the week were 642 , 82 71 b,, being a de pared with the previous state• ment. LORD GOUGH. —lt is stated that the veteran Lord Gug lat o e h has Mr. V. purchased whole the of therepresentative,property boughtof theby them in the Encumbered Estates Court from Lord Gort, which comprises most of the town of Gort and the land connecting it with the extensive demesne of Loughcooter s The precise amount of specie shipped by the Penin sular and Oriental steamer Pera, which sails to-morrow, is 307,327/., the whole, with the excepdon of 7,8821., gold, being silver for Bombay, Calcutta, and Madras. Height SCULPT URE - ROOM AT THE NATIONAL GALLERY.— Sculpto rs w il l be glad to learn that plane have been obtain e d b y the Council of the Royal Academy for con. t seems gthte main difficultyhehallsin into a , andsculpture l d g gallery. e k r y e p in view, . —The Builder. APPROACHING MARRIAGE IN HiGri LIFE.—A ma rr i age is a rranged to take place xcellency th e Hano verian the Countess H e l ene Excellency Kieltnansegge, daughter of his Minister, an d the Lord Arthur Hay, se con d son oft the M arqu i s o f T d The marriage Wi ll b e solemnised e a rly in February. e. . LivERPooL, Monday.—TheMOVEMENTS OF S t r he specie brought b y the Europa, w e e greater portion oi , and was transhipped on board Tiler Italian,Captain crew steamer Harrison,arri which arrived yesterday from New York, was on account for Havre. sailed this afternoon Sebastopol states that the city • is gra duallyA letter from repeopled. It now contains about becoming • habitants ; Kamieech 2,000. Three hundred 7,009 in the e Cunard merchantsrin Havre' during the siege have been rebuilt, and 80 new ones constructed. houses partly destroyed d • b The Cape Town Mail, of Nov, 13, says :—" Madame Ida Pfeiffer, the celebrated lady traveller, has arrived again in Cape Town, from Holland, in the Zalt Bommel, and intends proceeding to Madagascar, via Mauritius, in the Governor Hig g i ris ,, e, which was to have left yes terday, but was det a i ned by the south-east wind. " The departures from the port of London for the Au stralian Colonies during the past week have comprised five vessels, three to Port Philip and two to Sydney, with an aggregate capacity of 3,821 tons. The rates of freight exhibit a tendency to heaviness. It is with much pleasure we (Manchester Examiner) learn that Lord Palm rston has conferred upon Mr. Charles Swain, author of "The Mind," and other poems. a pension of 501. a year ; at the same time expressing his regret th at the fund at his disposal will not allow him to m a k e a l arger grant. The half y early meeting of the Union Bank of Ans. traliai was h e ld yesterday. The report showed a net divisible profit of 83,47 0/. 15s 2d., from which a divi dend was now made of 21. 10.. per share equalling 20 per oent. per annum. It was stated that the trade of the colo n y was improving, but the great competition of the b m k s i n Vie purchase of r lugh gold had diminished profits. Only a moder a t e b u t sa f e bu s ines s h a d, there fore, bee n d one by the managers on the part of this com pany. After a very short discussion, the report and dividend were agreed to uuanimotc,ly.