The Sun. — London, England, 1857-12-31 00:00:00

3.85 —Fail not to W with a DIAL begin the NEW YEAR tY. LETTS'S are kept lom. Catalogues gratis. Those by every bookseller in the generally adopted by LADIES are Nos. 10, 12, 18, 20, ARMY and NAVY, 8,9, 10, 22. plain or elegantly bound. in perpetual sprg. lock cases, ENTLEMEN, 8,9, 13, 11, etc. MERCHANTS, BANKERS In perpetual sprg- lock cases. ENGINEERS, etc. 51,52, 53 CLERGYMEN, 9, 10, 12, 12 enl. 1,2, 3,6, 8,9, 11, with Dr. and Tablet, Sermon books, etc. Cr. forms, 3s, 4a, its, etc. ItEDICAL MEN, 1,2, 8,9, 10, TRADESMEN, 4,5, 11, 13, 15, Medical, Frofessional, etc. Dr. and Cr. forms, 32,11 a, etc. LAWYERS, 51, 52, 1,2, 8,9, the FARMERS. 4, 5,6, 7, 11.13, etc. Scribbling, plain or interivd. MECHANICS, Is. 6d., Is 9d., 6d. LETTS, SON, and Co.. Stationers & Mapsellers,B, Royal Exchange. H ER MAJESTY'S THEATRE. LA TRAVIATA. Piecolomini, Spezia, Giuglini, Belletti, Rossi, Vialetti, and Aldighieri. THIS EVENING (Thursday, Dec. 3 1 ), LA TRAVIATA. • Fiaturday—LUClA DI LA.MHERMOOR. Priens :—Pit Stalls, 12s 6d; boxes (to hold four persons) pit and one pair, 2/. 2s ; grand tier, 3/. 3s ; two pair, 1, 68, three pair, 15s ; gallery boxes, 103; gallery stalls, 3s 6d (1 pit, 35 6; gallery, 2s. /' ( THEATRE ROYAL, HAYMARKET. Lessee—Mr. J. B. Buckstone. THIS EVENING, to commence at Seven o'clock. with SPEED THE PLOUGH. Characters by Messrs. W. Farren, C om pton, Chippendale, Mrs. Poynter, Mrs. E. Fitzwilliam, and Kiss E. Tertian. After which, a new comic Christmas Pantomime, entitled TILE SLEEPING BEAUTY IN THE WOOD ; or, Harle quin and the Spiteful Fairy. Harlequin, Mr. A. Leclercq ; Columbine, Miss Fanny Wright ; Pantaloon, Mr. Mackay ; Clown, Mr. Charles Leclercq. ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE.-LAST NIGHTS OF KING RICHARD THE SECOND, THIS EVENING, and To-morrow. On Saturday, THE CORSICAN BROTHERS. On Monday next 4r. Charles Kean will make his first ap pearance these two years in the character of Hamlet. R OYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE. Proprietor, Mr. Charles Kean. THIS EVENING, will be performed Taakspere's Tragedy et KING RICHARD 11. King Richard 11., by Mr. Chas. lean ; Queeu, by Mrs. C. Kean. After which, a new grand comic Christmas Pantomime, entitled HARLEQUIN WHITE CAT ; or, The Princess Blanche Flower and her Fairy Godmothers. The Princess Blanche (White Cat), Miss Kate Terry ; Harlequin, Mr. Cor lIIAck ; Clown, Mr. Huline; Pantaloen, Mr. Paula ; and Columbine, Miss C. Adams. HEATRE ROYAL, A DELPHI, Lessee—Mr. Ben. Webster. THIS EVENING, THE WEPT OF THE WISH-TON WISH. Mr. Wright and Madame Celeste. After which, a Mythological Extravaganza, entitled B IRLEQUIN, OR THE LOVES OF CUPID AND PSYCHE. Jupiter, Mr. Paul Bedford ; Mars, Mr. Frank H ill ; Venus, Mrs. BillinTton ; Cupid, Miss Marie Wilton ; Psyche, Miss Mary Keeley. , OYAL LYCEUM THE A,TRE.—SoIe Lessee awl Manw , er , Mr. C. Dillon.— I, THIS EVENING, will be presented DON C.ESAR DE BAZAN. Principal characters by Messrs. Charles Dillon, Xtaart, Barrett, J . G. Shore ; Mesdames Woolgar and Buck ingham White. To conclude with the Burlesque and Pantomime, L LLAFI ROOKH. and the PRINCESS, the PERI, and the TROU BADOUR ' • or, Harlequin and the Ghebers of the Desert. Supported by Mesdames Charles Dillon, Buckingham White rim Webb, Maria Ternan, Esther Jacobs, and Woolgar ; Messrs. Barrett, Calhaem, Holston, Fitzhenry, Poynter, and J L. T,ole. Clowns, Messrs. T. Matthews and R. Stilt ; Harlequin, Mr. J. Ricketts; Pantaloon. Mr. A. Stilt ; Sprites, Herr Zeleski and Sons ; Columbines, Misses A. Malcolm and Lees. Gorgeous Feast of Lanterns.—Fenton's Grand Trans formation Scene. Doors open at half-past 6, to commence at 7. Morning Performance on Saturday next, •Jan. 2, on which occasion tho Boys of the Licensed Victualler? School wily sttend.—Doors open at 2, commence at half-past 2. 3ox•ofce open from 11 to 5 daily. OYAL SURREY THEATRE. yI, Lessees, Messrs. Shepherd and Crsswick. THIS EVENING, will be performed BROKEN FAITH. After which, QUEEN MAB ; or Harleq•lin Romeo and Juliet. Clown, by the Surrey Buck ; Pantaloon, Mr. Brad bury. TRAND THEATRE.--Lessee, Mr. T. Payne. I —THIS EVENING, will be performed HARLEQUIN NOVELTY AND THE PRINCESS WHO LOST HER HEART. Harlequin, Miss Craven ; Columbine, M vine. Denlin ; Sprite, Herr Kirt. The Lamt - ert Family and the Rod Man of Agar in their wonderful performance, ie. Commence at Seven. Stalls, 35.; Boxes, 23.; Pit, 18.; Gallery &I. CANTERBURY HALL, Westminster-road.— OPEN EVERY EVENING.—The follow- Ing company of Vocalists are engaged for the performance of 'actions from all the popular OPERAS, MADRIGALS, C lORUSES, GLEES, DUETS, &c., viz. :—Miss Russell, Mrs. Badzey, Madlle . Marietta, ifiss Brunell, Miss Ray, Madame Bartoletti, Mims Montague, and Madame Marietta ; herr F. Jonghmans, Mr. Renshaw, R. Grover, T. Farrant, B. Jonec, J. Barker, W. Melling, Senor Antonio, E. L. Bime, Mr. Badgey, Mr. Edwards, Mr. Bell, and Mr. Ber nard; Menem 8. Collins. W. 1. Crltekßeld , and F.. Mack ney. Pianoforte, Ms. Cecil Hicks; harmonium, Master Williams; Director, Herr F. Jonghmans. Commence at Lyon o'clock precisely. Suppers, dre., until twelve o'clock. Mr. Aceesrus BRAHAM will make his first appearance on Monday, the 25th proximo. FLIGH" WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. TITS Day—Morn., 47 min. aft. 1 —Even., 15 min aft 2 To-Moßnow —Morn., 45 min. aft. 2—Even., 110 min. aft. 3 THE WEA.THER -SUN OFFICE, DECEMBER 31. IRERMOMETER, IN TIM SAABS. 47—highest since noon yesterday. 37—lowest this morning and during the night. 40 —this day at noon. BAROMETER. 30.55. WIND, W.N.W. ; light, with fine cold weather, and an evident tendency to frost. Two O'CLOCK. The wind has gone round to E.S E. ; ratirr fresh, with fine sunshiny weather. _ _ g.,,. ; 7- , 1 - , • , .% ~, it A ,-,.. ~,„:1, G----0 (I=-q...');)f---47- c . -- $-• . ' < If 6„e _ _. ~ _J. i ,---- LONDON, THURSDAY, DEC. 31, 1857. The year now rapidly drawing to a cenclusion has been, in many respects, one of the most remarkable and important of those recorded in our national his tory. We have heen sorely tried, and passed trium phantly through a very formidable ordeal. No foreign war has ever pressed so heavily on our re sources as the intestine commotions produced by the Indian Mutiny and the Monetary convulsion. Our brethren, and what is far worse, our sisters, and their children, have been butchered, under circumstances of the most horrible atrocity. And that not by an enemy, but by miscreants whom we had pampered until their insolence got beyond all bounds, and they turned the arms with which we had provided them, and the discipline we had taught the n, not only against the officers whom they were bound to obey, and from whom they bad received nothing but kindness, but against the entire English race, who had proved such liberal paymasters and generous protectors. There was an organised determination to purloin one of the brightest gems from the British Diadem ; and that by means so diabolical, that the public jour nals have been unable to detail the heartrending particulars. Humanly speaking, it was astonishing that the deeply laid scheme, the cunning plot did not suc ceed better. It was proved beyond the possibility of doubt, that the entire army of Bengal was cor rupted to the very core, that 70,000 armed and disciplined troops had conspired to produce a ge• neral massacre of Europeans, concealing their sanguinary designs by unparalleled duplicity and treachery. It was, indeed, strange that a plot of which so many thousands must necessarily have boco cognisant should have been s) strictly c)n cei,led that not the slighte=t hint had 00Z id out, nor was there the most remote doubt entertained as to the loyalty and devotion of the double•dyed traitors an d mur d erers who had prepared their diabolical plans with 8.) Inuellnagrlto-I.l:,di:.aennEitinc;.ir 3 Under Providence the it Was preserved, in the first instan ce , by the pre mature outbreak of a portion of the mutineers ; and secondly, by the wonderful ener g y, and bravery displayed by the British officers and troops engaged in the cause of truth and justice, honour and loyalty. We have, indeed, with rare exceptions, been truly fortunate in our Generals. It is true that there have been HEWITT and LLOYD, but on the other side both the LAW BENCES, CAMPBELL, WILSON, HAVELOCIi and OUTRAM, NI CHOLBON, NEILL, GRANT, GA EATMED, STUART, SHOWERS, GEttRARD , CHAMBERLAIN, and a host of others, " whose name is legion," afford a brilliant contrast, showing what zeal and daring can accomplish under the most adverse circumstances. The departing year commenced with the Chi nese difficulty, and the strange and, we must say, factious combination of the Yehites, against the PALMERSTON Ministry. It is true that the Go vernment had many vulnerable points. But these were unwisely disregarded, and the assail ants directed their chief energies against their very strongest position, where they were sustained and supported by public opinion. Mr. COBDEN, directed the onslaught, and by the aid of a motley collection of auxiliaries, obtained an unexpected, and, for his party, a very unfortu nate triumph. The wily chief of the Ministry perceived his advantage, and, in place of re• linquishing the seals of office to the eager hands ready to grasp them, at once announced a speedy dissolution, and an appeal to the country. This was at the same time a bold, and a constitutional course, which won golden opinions from all man ner of men, and the result was the unequivocal defeat of the Yehites, and the consolidation of the power of Lord PALMERSTON. The very leaders in the conspiracy were deprived of their seats, and many old members saw with regret that they had to make way for new and untried men. The second session of 1.85'T proved the vast accession of strength to the Ministry. Large majorities were obtained on every im portant question, while those which might have led to differences of opinion were postponed until next year. A Reform bill was promised, and permitted to remain in their hands, all instal ments of justice being resolutely refused by a house of which the large majority were professing reformers. The Currency question —the most important that could possibly be brought forward, and on which the welfare, happiness ? and pros perity of the people mainly depended —was hung on the shelf of a select committee ; and the Jewish Bill, after being carried by an overwhelming majo rity of the Commons, was contumeliously rejected by the Lords. All these matters will, therefore, have to be disposed of during the remainder of the session opened during the present month. We have already alluded to the Indian mutiny, and, in another article, to the all-important Cur rency question. These, with the promised and inevitable Reform Bill, will provide abundant employment for the Legislature, to say nothing of the many other topics that must be taken into consideration. We trust that matters will now improve. The omens are far more favourable than they had been even a week since, and we may look forward to the "good time coining," which we trust 1858 will produce. There was a time, and that within the memory of men who have not yet passed the middle age, when usury was regarded as contrary to public policy, and a . serious offence on the part of those who accepted more than 5 per cent, in the shape either of permanent interest or temporary loans or discounts. Under that system commerce, trade, and manufacture flourished, and it was for the protection of these important interests that the enactments were sanctioned. England then attained the high and palmy position which she has since occupied. No doubt usury was occa sionally practised, and that on a large scale ! But the usurers did so at their own risk, like men lend ing to minors, who were compelled to rely on the honour of the borrowers. The excuse for the large discounts sometimes charged was, that it was essential to establish an Insurance Fund to meet the lasses occasioned by repudiation, and the principles of free trade were loudly evoked in order to obtain a repeal of the obnoxious prc visions. The specious argument, that the trade in money should be made as free as in any other commodi . ‘,r, prevailed, and the restrictions were altogether 'Tsaoved, so far as securities for terms not excet.::tg twelvemonths were concerned. This was ;:ea first stage in the money-lender's progress. Na hell that was obtained all the former arguments were abandoned. Never was there a more striking case of tergi versation. The cry for free trade in money had served its purpose. Money-lenders were freed from all annoyance, and unrestricted competition was the order of the day. But that did not by any means satisfy the cravings of the acute party whose souls were panting for larger profits. They wanted " protection" to prevent ot'iers from interfering with their unholy gains ; accordingly the outcry then was fur a system that would prevent the fluctuations in the value of money, and preserve the currency in an equit able state. It was to give an uniformity of value to our paper currency, to establish a money in which the business of the country could at all times be transacted with safety and security —that was the avowed object of the PEEL. LOYD Bill. Its Parliamentary sponsor never at that time hinted at its being intended to en sure the convertibility of the Bank note, and for a very good reason. The security of the Bank note was never impeached. The argument, if put forward in 1844, would have been ridiculed and treated with the profound contempt it merited. However the alleged reason prevailed, and the iniquitous and impolitic Bank Charter Act re ceived the legislative sanction. This was stage No. 2 in the money lender's progress. The theory on which it was founded :was speedily proved to be thoroughly unsound. The Old Lady, of Threadneedle-street, being ob liged to purchase all the gold offered at a fixed price, was obliged, in order to maintain her dividends, *to find employ ment for it on any terms that could be obtained, money became a drug in the market. It was difficult to get good bills at even 2 per cent. In deed, we believe that finit elms paper, particularly if of a long date, was readily discounted at 1 or per cent. in Lombard-street. Thisled to the rail- way mania of 1845, the first fruit of the Act of 1844. We need not now speak of the excite- moot that prevailed during that period, until the matter had proceeded far enough, and it suited the purpose of " the hard calculators" of the day to bring about the collapse, which object was easily effected. Then came the terrible cbange. The wildest speculations were succeeded by the severest de pressions. Fluctuations in prices, and In the value of all kinds of property, were far greater than at any former period, under unlimited, irre- sponsible issues of paper money. The measure and representative of value practically disappeared, mills and factories were closed, operatives were thrown out of employment, and compelled with .heir families to undergo the most terrible priva ions. Although a famine was impending over ;he land, we could not purchase the flour and cereals tendered in unexampled abundance by our transatlantic brethren. And this arose from the abstraction of a few million sovereigns, while there was still a large quantity remaining uncalled for, and Perfectly useless in the coffers of the Bank. The Act which occasioned or greatly aggravated all these calamities was at length suspended, not for the sake of the industrial community, whose difficulties were completely ignored by Sir CHAS. WOOD, but to save the Rink of Engla n d, whose ¶HE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENiNG, DECEATBER 31, 18N7 deposits would have been drawn on to an extent far exceeding the amount of notes in reserve. The letter of the 25th October was therefore issued, and the Act virtually repealed. Parliament was, of course, convened before Christmas, in order to sanction the step taken by Ministers, and a carefully selected or rather packed committee was appointed to inquire into the causes of the commercial crisis. It was then that Sir R. PEEL for the first time de clared that to ensure "the convertibility of the bank-note was one of the objects of the measure." A doctrine carried still further by " Mercator" in the Times, who declared that it was the sole object, and that it was never intended or supposed that it could prevent fluctuations in the value of money, which were inevitable. Thus practically abandoning the false and fraudulent pretext on which the act was obtained. This was stage No. 3 in the money-lender's progress. Again, a panic producing more disastrous re sults even than that of 1847 occurred. The Ministers clung longer to the bill, and therefore the mischief was materially enhanced. At length they yielded for the very same reason that their predecessors had in 1847—viz., to save the Bank that must have stopped cash payment, notwith standing seven millions of gold lying in its vaults —gold that was of no greater value than an equal weight of paving stones. And now the mists were at length dispelled, and the real object of the "hard calculators" was openly and unblush ingly avowed. The Times complained of the re laxation, because it prevented the increase in the value of what it was pleased to term " money" prevented the rate of interest from spring ing up to twenty or thirty per cent., and the " bard calculators " from obtaining pos session of the property of their softer brethren at very inadequate prices. Parliament was again summoned, and again the wooden dodge was re sorted to, of shelving the question, by referring it to a select committee, which will doubtless be very fudiciously chosen, and whose report may be re garded as a " foregone conclusion." This is the fourth stage in the money-lender's progress, and may be regarded as " the beginning of the end." They have now reached sight of the goal, as they fondly imagined. Already they grasp, in imagination, the property of their neighbours, but they may find the fifth stage very different from what they picture to their fancies. The commercial and manufacturing interests are the geese that lay the golden eggs. They are being rapidly destroyed, and when that destruction has been effected, and the revenue of the nation re duced to comparatively slender dimensions, and the ruined people are thoroughly exasperated, shay may discover that they are not quite so clever as they suppose, and that " honesty would ; after all, have been by far the best policy." EXCHEQUER NOTES. control were exercised over the issue of private and joint stock banks. It was accordingly pro tided by the Act of 1844, " That no person, other than a banker, who on the 6th of May, 1844, was lawfully issuing his own notes, shall make or issue bank notes in any part of the United Kingom." The privilege of those issues was continued to those persons; but the amount that may be issued in each case, was restr;cted to the amount which constituted their actual issues ripen the average of the two preceding years." The notes not exceeding 14,000,000 might be prac tical, but the issue on the bullion is the qu able part of this act. Its advantage to the Bank of England is undoubted, because it gives the Bank a double power over the r..st of the nation, their power of expansion is thus made doubly iapid, but their power of contraction is equally so, which is the very reverse of that which should be beneficial to the nation. Of all things, to make a law of such importance to be under the control of one body corporate, is an evil of such magnitude, that not a week ought to be allowed to pass with out its alteration. At the very time when gold is wanted, notes are wanted still more, yet, by this act, at the very time gold flows out of the coffers of the Bank, notes are withdrawn from circulation to just that very amount—at the very time they ale most needed they are taken away, as if by a con catenation of perverted ingenuity. The worst system seems to be made the law of the 1 tnd that could do that land the most injury. It might be thought, superficially regarded, that the Bank would suffer the most, since her issue to work with is doubly lessened and her means of discount equally shortened,but that is no injury to the Bank, since she can double her interest as rapidly as gold diminishes from her coffers, even in considerable anticipation of it, cau she benefit, before the gold is parted with, by raising her rates as a precautionary measure. Not so with the country merchants, manufacturers, and agricultural producers, they have, during this lessening of the means o f coeducting business, been paying for their castigation, they are not only made to pay the flagellatur double ; the farmer getting but half the price of his produce, the labourer thrown out of work, and all for what Not because there is less wealth and worth in the nation, unless, by-the-bye, the Banked England send it out in bars of gold without a quid pro quo (a thing they are not quite in the habit of doing) not because the merchant is overtrading, but, the truth must come- out, because the bankers find it :Dore profitable to be receiving high rates than low rates of interesr. Men of paper and nothing else are encouraged, because they can get off a large parcel of discounts, or can pawn thAt consignees' dock warrants to within 15 per cent. of actual value. The high rates of interest tempt the bankers to extend accommodation beyond prudence, as it tempts them also to use deposits beyond the limits of prudence and caution. But for whom is all this kindness on their part ? Not for the honest sons of toil, but for tee fast stag, the go-ahead man, caring but little what he pays, the large supplies of accommodation suit him and the banker together. The Government overlooked, or winked at the fact, that by allowing gold to regulate the addi tional issue, they leave a power in the bankers' and Bank of England's hands to cause a pretext for raising discounts whenever they like. The Bank has only to treat for large loans to Russia, Austria, East India Company, or Sweden and Norway ; the gold they themselves thus send from teeir coffers by millions, whenever in - ereA is like!y to become below their favourite price, is—the vely facility at the same time for raising rates—the high pressure valve, and is seen to work and indicate danger. No matter ; before the Bank fail, the Government and the country must. No matter who sinks, they swim. Rates of interest roust be buoyant, uniformly high. Low rates now are only exceptional. So says the Bank ; or, so acts the Bank, at all events. Tne crash of the banks of 1825 to 1826 was not owing to the inability of the banks then, but to the monetary laws. Sir H. W. Ridley declared, en 3d June, 1828, in thejlouse of Commons, " that in 1825 and 1826 there were 770 country banker-, and of these 63 had stopped payment, out of which 23 had resumed their payments of 205., and 31 were making arrangements for the pas went of their debts. The country bankers, at all everts, paid on an average 17s. 6d. in the pound. It is evident they were perfectly solvent when the crash commenced. It was brought about by the drain of specie, and it might have been entirely avoided by permitting the issuing of another species of pro perty to sustain the currency when the one on which all depended was withdrawn." Exchequer Notes would do this. One question 1 ask in all sincerity—Are the men that are so iu the habit of gambling on the Stock Exchange day by day, jobbing and tricking in inonttary practices, till trick-my-neighbour h s be come the familiar object of their embrace, are they being educated in a fitting way on points of virtue, sufficiently to become bankers for the world ? Are they men to be held paratnvuut to All else—superior to the producers of the earth, teat yield yearly 300,000,0001., nearly twice as much as all trading and manufacturing classes put together, which in 1845 reached 180,000,0001.1 Are laws ever to be made especially to favour these sordid, self-seeking, huckstering, money traffickers at the expense of the whole melon besides ! Tue world Mot excluding Since the Bank of England has forgotten the excessive advantages they enjey over all else to the extent of 14, 000000/. of issue. Since they hav e converted that nationality into personality, selfishly appropriated, let a check be placed over them. Are principles entirely to be ignored in legislation, and secular principles to be raised up as a standard of action 7 For what, then, have we a Government, if it but encourage the secular and the vicious? As well might man question his Creator as question first principle , . Let Sir Robert Peel's Bill of 1844, and his expediency also, be hurled together into oblivion before secular motives of action become the rulingpower of t e day. Lord Palmerston might have been entitled to the best thanks of his country while the war lasted, that might have bten his mission then to b.: Pre mier ; but now that the war is over, him not touch the currency, for as sure as he does he will do harm--that is nut his forte. It would be hon ourable in him now to resign and give place to one that should be as efficient in currency as he was in the War Department. Now the remedy in the Bank Act of 1844 is to be founded in this. Since a cheek to the Bauk is found to be more and more necessary every day, let another issue replace the issue withdrawn when gold goes out of the Bank ; as gold is withdrawn make Exchequer notes constitute the issue up to the amount of bullion withdrawn from t e Bank. These Exchequer no es always payable in taxes and duties, the interest of the issue of which take care is reserved for the Crown. The Bank clarinet complain of such a modeof stopping the fluctuations and monetary convulsions that are now so dread ful to bear. This will prevent the sudden reduc tion of issue and gold at the same time, and keep in circulation a steady and even supply of currency; will endanger no inconvertibility, since no more in convertibility will exist then than now, all exche quer notes being convertible into taxes and duties to the amount of the debt of 11,000,000/. The Bank would have no inducement to advance larger loans to Sweden and Denmark, nor to Norway, be cause by parting wi h money they would not have the same power of raising discounts on what is left behind at home as now. The pressure would never be so great ou the Bank fur gold when another convertibility was adopted, such as taxation, be cause fear and mistrust of the ultimate results of stoppage in the Bank of England is now out of the question, whether she can pay in gold 10k at one time in the pound, or 10 at another. She i s always solvent, and no loss can ensue to the coun try uitimately. With a capital of such magnitude she is always safe, but that is no guarantee that she intends to keep to an uniform low rate of discount under 5 per cent. ; au contraire par We lt . I have taken great care not to be chimerical, and have tested my views by introducing the best autho rities on the currency. In concluding this letter, I quote Alison upon the encouragement given to speculation :—" To make paper plentiful when gold is plentiful, and paper scarce when gold is scarce, is not only a dan gerous system at all times, and under all circum stances, but is precisely the reverse of what should be established. It alternately aggravates the dan gers arising from over speculation, and induces the distress consequent on over contraction. The true system would be the very reverete and it would prevent the whole evils which the preceding pages have unfolded." (FROM A CORRESPONJANt) It appears that authorities upon the present system of currency are somewhat at a discount when such journals as the Times and Daily News seek con roboration from the exemplary elect perpetrator of slavery in order to justify their crotchet 011844. President Buchanan, the advocate of slavery, fur nishes these journals (at his eleventh hour of na tional calamity) with a grand secpe for congratula tion, as if it were a new enunciation that banks ought to be held responsible for their issue. These journals exult over the triumph they have achieved in finding the cowhide gentlemen proscribing the banks of the United Sta'es unless they retain a th rd of bullion to their issue. Do we require to go so far to find advocates of sound principles, or must we seek them only among the pro-slavery Presi dents of America ? I have no doubt in a year or two we shall find these journals bolstering up their usurious fraternity by referring to their much respected King of Oude, or some new King of Delhi. After all, had the banks of America reserved only one dollar in seven to their issue, upon bullion and deposits, it would seem not to have much exceeded some of our English and Scotch banks. The whole of this loose system is to be repudiated both here and in America. The advocates of an alteration in the circulation are not to be associated by these journals with the abuses of either America or England. Certainly, they can form no connec tion with either, but they can deplore the ignominy of both. All these disgraceful disasters have taken place unconnected with our advocacy. The panics and calamities have all taken place with the pre sent laws, whit I, for one, repudiate and de nounce as impracticable and unjust. It does not seem to answer the purpose of certain journals to distinguish between the advocacy of an extension of currency and that of inconvertible issue. It would be an insult to these journals to assign inexperience or a want of knowledge of sound principle of action for not acknowledging that an insufficiency of cur rency has at all times, and ever will, produce low prices, and high rates of discount with the absence of the usury laws. It is an old editorial trick, practised now 89 often, that the motive and object become promi nently evident, when leaders of certain interests associate something low with any principle in which they do not find their present i n t eres t s up held. It i s a trick that comes from the bar. It is quite evident that those who attribute the evils of this crisis to what Mr. Buchanan c died a "vicious system of paper currency," like him must have some sinister motive, for it is not true; neither England nor America have increased in paper currency ; the weekly returns of the proceed ings of the Bank of England prove the contrary with regard to us, as do the accounts just received prove the contrary in America. In 1852 the circu lation of America was in June 27,910,000 dole. ; in September, 1857, it had diminished to 27,122,000. But between those perio is we find the capital of the New York banks had increasof from 59,705,000 dole. in June, 1852, to 107,507 dol e , i n S eptember, 1857, aving very nearly doubled itself within live years. Specie has also increased from 13,304,000, in 1852, to 14,321,000 in 1857, Deposits have increased from 65,634,000 in 1852 to 84,527,000 in 1857, whilst their loans and discounts will be seen to have in creased only in proportion to the increase of their capitaland specie, leaving their deposits untouched. A sounder condition a country need not wish to be in ; a panic need no more take place there than here. England at the present time will be found to present a more sat,sfactory state of things ; and nothing justifies the panic of 1857 which has arisen not from want of wealth, nor on account of an excess of issue, but because of the r e d uu d ance o f acoumulatiou of wealth on our part, it having accu mulated into too few hands, by which monopoly can be exercised to their own advance neat at the expense of mercantile interests ; also because of the bill of 1844 contracting theissue simultaneously with the contraction of bullion, the working of which I shall illustrate more tally shortly. Bankers and money-lenders are the only inte rests some journals now openly advocate, as if they felt quite secure in the continuance of the plodding merchant, whose everyday toil leaves him little time for reflection. But when this journal finds its circulation growing beautifully less, that it is forbidden to be brought into their counting-houses, let them learn that the Brit'sh merchant is aroused. One article in the Economist last week, 26th inst., is characterised by a much sounder tone, more in keeping with the principles of the respected Mr. Lzike. In an article, under the heading, "'The American President on the American Crisis," it does not fall into that wrong but popular error that the evil of this panic was that which Mr. Buchanan declared to be the " extravagant and vicious systems of paper currency," - while the Economist shows that the real clelihquenis are in the back-ground screened from public gaze. But it admits that when the act of I R 4 -1 --- was suspended in 1847, Sir Robert Peel acknowledged " that for the object of checking comm-rcial speculations the act of 1844 had failed!' Unfortunately for the country the cure was not then provided. It would then, as now, be found in the re adoptiou of the usury laws limiting the interest t, 5 per cent., or in a check to excessive rates of discount by the issue of Exchequer notes up to the exact amount of bullion going ou t of the Bank, which would have a similar effect on the rate as that of the Usury Law would, i.e.., the effect of keeping rates low and more uniform, simply arising out of this fact, that the country would not suffer from a loss of circulation ; as bullion went out of the bank. No greater demand would arise, because no depre,sion would be felt ; since none would exist, no rise of rates could take place. This would prevent gold going out into other countries. So much to our inconvenience at home, because then as gold went out Exchequer notes would go into circu lation, and would keep down rates of discount. High rates of interest will always give Ilse to excessive speculation, just as it assumes the appearance of stopping it. The Bank's putting up the rate of interest is only enabling ht r p a per. Hi g h ra t es t emp t th e to bankerdi discount u t o n t do doubtfuldoubtful he would not think of. It answers the purpose bills, which at 3 pe r cen t. Jec., and to rase dis coun t s a le t n h d om go e l ; d bu to t a u S c w h e d dn o e ub , double policy is England's doubl e loss, America and France seem to have discovered, ,hat it is better to tempt the old lady by high rate., and to get the gold from her, than allow England to use it at home. Alert they have obtained which they can be the first to relax the pressure, as they have done, reduce the rates in their own countries, whi'e misery and ruin, dreadful to centemplate, is protracted here in England ; even during this Christmas season when all should be joyous. For the eleven months of this year the excess of import s over exports of gold in France was 16,625,4241., that of last year, 13,470,0001., and in 1855, 8,041,644/. In the same article in the Economist it will be seen that the abuses that exist have no connection with any excessive issue of notes, corroborating all my preceding remarks. "The error of confound ing capital with currency throughout all these vari ous efforts of legislation is now well understood. Imprudent and extravagant credits which end in ruin to all connected with theta are at length seen to have no connection with them, and entirely un aided at any particular time by excessive issues of notes;—it is seen that in places where the banks of issue exist, and that with regard to banks of de posit only, the chief abuses have existed, and that in Hamburg, where a purely metallic currency only is in use, the crisis has been more severely felt than iu any other placs ; and now, at last, we are likely to have a more searching scrutiny." Much as I find the above remarks in accordance with my foregoing letters, I am sorry that I cannot ray, " the Bank has been perfect," nor that we may expect more practical conclusions from our closed doors instead of an open house. We know an Act was passed in 1844 renewing for ten years the chatter of the Bank of England, but as the particulars of the Act might not be quite familiar to all, I will here adduce them, in order that we may be agreed upon the principles. "The privilege of issuing paper money within a circle of sixty miles radius round London, was con tinued exclusively to the Bank of England, but with the following restrictions :—The establish ment was divided into two departments wholly , distinct from each other, placed under sepa rate officers and keeping separate accounts. One for the ordinary purposes of banking, the other for the purposes of regulating the issue of note' ) the amount of which was never to exceed fourteen millions, in addition to the actual amount of gold and silver lodged by the b - trikinl department in the diTartment of is me. This 14 million s is made up of 11,000,000, the amount; of capital which has been lent per manently to Government, at 2 per cent. interest, and 3,000,000 of public securities, bearing interest which the bank of issue is empowered to hold for that purpose. Porter himself could not refrain from remarking, "It remains, however, to be proved whether, under all circumstances that may arise, the seem ity of the public is thus equally well attained. As respects the management of the cur rency, and there are not wanting men of great practical experience in such questions, who have expressed doubts upon this sittject." It must be evident that any attempt to regulate the currency by controlling the issues of the Bank cf England, must fail of its object unless an equal Exchequer notes should be based on the principle of making paper a supplement to the: metallic cur rency, and a substitute for it when required, not a representative of Alison further says :—" Thus, over speculation.at one time, and monetary distress at another, would be alike avoided, and an equal circulation would naliatain the health of , the social system, as it unquestionably does of animal life." The important current of events or the past week calling forth so many remarks, precludes the possibility of my enteribg upon the statistics Allu ded to in my last. DANGERS OF TUE RED PETTICOAT,—Three ladies were last week walking on the Newmarket-road, two of • hem exhibiting the favourite under-garment of the day, when the ire of a passing bullock was excited by aieglar:ng colour,'and he made a dash at the party. The offending ladies succeeded in evading him, but their companion, though in a more sombre garb, was lifted : upon a gate by the beast, but sustained no injury beyond the fright.—Bury Post, LATEST NEWS Ad vices from Alexandria state that negotiations entered into by the English representative with the Chinese government have failed. The perse cutions of the Chinese against the Christians were increasing, and several of the latter have fallen victims. Commodore Read, the American envoy, had arrived at Hong Kong. The English steamer Abeona, with the 94th Regiment on board, destined for India, arrived at Malta on the 24th inst. FRANCE. PARIS, WEDNESDAY EVENING. Important despa,tchea have reached Paris from China. The authoriti , ,s of Canton are preparing for a defence. Proclamations have appebr«..d order ing "all Christian and foreign dogs to be killed." It is now said that the Conferences will not take place in Paris before February. There are many preliminary difficulties to set le, especially about the n svigati , n of the Rill vibe. The Governor of the Credit Fancier of France, M. L. Ftemy, announces to the shareholders the payment of a provisional dividend of 6f. 25c. per share for the second six months of 1857, which is equivah-nz to 5 per cent. on the sum paid up. "The final dividend for 1857, will he fixed at the general annual meeting in the month of April next. Toe payment of 6f. 25c. per share will take place at the office of the Socie y, 19, Rue Neuve des Cspuciens, after Monday next, the 4th January." The Moniteur contains a decree appointing a umarnission of inquiry into the organisa , ion of the Irupelial library. MM. Merimee, General Allard, Lehut, of the Institute ; Maichaud and Chaix d'Este-Ange, Councillors of St tte, an L six other savants, ar,t named as members of the commission. -----------• The ceremonial of the Imperial receptions, on the occasion of the Jour de l' An, are given at length in the official paper. The French papers contain the following facts : "An affair, in a sli g ht degree similar to that of Jeufisse, has just taken place at Hs.bouvilie, in the Moselle. A young man, n••wed Basset, nut quite 18 years of age, made Forn e time ag.) the acquaintance, in a wood, of Mlle. aged 16, daughter of the mayor of the village of Saint-Ail, who ►esides at Habou villa. They had frequent meetings in the wood, and . at length, in October last, the girl began to admit Bas set to her chamber of a night. The c nnexion between them continued unknown to the girl's parents to the 25th, when these latter were toll of it by two of their nieces. The father said nothing; but at night, when the hour for retirin4 to rest had arrived, he told his daughter to go and sleep in her brother's chamber, and the brother to sleep in his sister's room. She obeyed, and he then went to the son, and ban ling bioa a double barrelled gun which was loaded, told him that his sister was dishonoured, that the man who had ill-treated her would perhaps that very night attempt to enter her chamber, and that if he did so, he (the brother) must fire at bius, The , young man placed himself is the watch, and alter a little while he huarti a noise as of a wan ciinabing up t.) the window by means ~of the shutters ; prese,.tly he saw a wan standing on the shutter at the win io - w,; ors which he open'-d the window, fired, and the man, who %las Ba-se , fell dead The father at once sent for the gendarmerie, and calmly related to them the preceding circumstances. He was surprised when tie gendarmes proceeded to arrs-t his s, n and himself." BOURSE, Dec. 30.—The money market con tinues buoyant, and securities were in demand at the opening. After a slight reacdon produced by reallsations, the tendency again became favourable, though the English Consols had arrived with a tall of Z. Threes have been done at 68f. 35c. to 68f. 55c. ; Mobilier improved to 855 and 860 f. ; Aus trian, 745 f. and 750 f. 50c. ; Lyons, 880 f. ; Or leans, 1,3801. ; Southern, 560 f. ; Northern, 9651. ; Eistern, 792 f. 50c. ; and Geneva, 700 f. The up ward movement continued with increased rapi just before the cl 'se, when it was checked by sates for realisation, prices, however, closing firm. THE DANUBE. The 7‘ .. ord of Brussels contains the following rela tive to the question of the Danube, but it must not be forgo•ten that the journal just named never to=es an opportuni , y of running down the Austrian Go vernment "The Commission of the States on the Banks of the Danube assembled at Vienna under the presi dency of the Austrian delegate, M. de Blumfeld, and decided on the regulations which it had been charged to draw up. These nego-iaions were conducted wan great tact, and to the predominant advantage of Austria, and alt the stipulations were worded in a souse favourable to Austrian monopoly. The Servian commissioner proposed that it should be stipulated that the companies established ou the territory of one of the States could not prevent the foundation of (idler compa• nies by the neightouring States, or in other words that the right of the former should hot ex tend over all the course of the i iver to the exclusion of i.cs neighbours. This c ausa was intended as a check to Austria, which was opposed to the forma tion of French, English, Russian, or indeed any companies except her own. The proposition was strongly objected to by the president, and a very stormy discussion folio wed. The Servian com missioner refused to take part in the labours of the commission, and for mally protested against its €l , - cisions, and his example was followed by his col leagues of Moldavia and Wallachia. Turkey hesi tated for some time, but at length yielded, and the ascendancy of Austria once more prevailed. Tee convention was ratified by the German States and by Turkey, bu t the three commisaionersot the States of the Danube did i ot sign the definitive document. This arraugement, therefore, acco.d.ng to the spirit of tine treaty V Paris, is radically defective, and ought to regarded as null and void. Alter these incidents, explanations were exchanged be tween the different cabinets. France, it is said, energetically protested against the validi y of the docum , nt signed at Vie,na. Count de B - uol, iu a note of the 7th Dec., is said to have claimed fur the Sta . es on the banks of the Danube the exclusive right of regulating the navigation of the upper part of the river, and pointed out the &stifle ion which he made at the Congress of Paris between the Danube at its mouth and the upper part of the river. He besides stated that the European Congress had nothing to do with the question, and that the document which had been signed would only he presented to the Conference a• Paris as a simple no t ific dine. To these s trange pre elisions the French cabinet is s rid io have replied by a circular address- d to its represtatives at the courts of the powers which sign the treaty, and in which it strongly ins sted on the necessity of maintaining the rights of the conference, of having a revision of the convention of the States on the river, and of settling the question by a decision of the European Congress. Such is the subject of the fresh difference which has arisen through the tactics of the cabinet of Vienna." AUSTRIA. The Vienna journals vote that the reduction of the militiry police force has now been effected at Vienna, Pogue, Posty, and other large towns, in which category are tome of upwards of 40,000 souls ; it is to be completely suppres•ed, and the civil police are alone to be charged with the unainter.ance of order. These measures are to be applicable to Hungary and other States, as well as to Austria proper. THE LAYIATHAN. Tho anticipated launch of the Leviathan did not take place this morning, in consequence of the necessary arrangements for the accomplishment of so desirable an object not being completed in time for !the afternoon's tide. Mr. Bamel was early this morning in the yard, accompanied by Mr. R. Stephenson, M.P., whose assistance and ex perience will no doubt facilitate the operations. We believe it is their intention to continue the men at work during the night, so as to be able to attempt the launch with the morning tide. Should they be successful the Leviathan will be in her proper element before daylight. NEW YEAR'S EVE, 1 8 58-DECEMBER 31, 1857 1. The Old Year's hours are numbered, Fleeting—phantom guest ! With those that long have slumbered, Go—subside to rest. 2. The young heir peeps already Upon his dotard sire, Mocking his gait unsteady, Regardless of his ire. The Old Year sayetiissdly— " Little now is left, The bells aro ringing gladly, I am all bereft." Midnight is impending, Dear life waneth fast, Dark and dawn are blending-- Future and the past. Minutes grow more solemn, Fraught with shapeless fear, And a broken column Marks a perished year. ALFRED DE KANTZOW. MARRIAGE OF THE PRINCESS ROYAL.—Tickets for admission to those parts of St. James's Palace to which spec' ators will be admitted on the 25th ofJanuary are to be had only at the ocfice of the Lord Chamberlain, at St. James's Palace. THE MARRIAGE OF THE PRINCESS ROYAL —lnvita tions were issued yesterday from the Lord Chamberlain' , . department, by command of her Majesty, for a grand entertainment at Buckiogbam Palace on the 25th prox. Tne cards of invitation specify it to be a "full-dress" entertainment. The Duke and Duchess of Buccleuch and family, who are surrounded by a large family circle at Bowhill, intend to come to town on the 18th proximo, from Scot land, in order to be present at the nuptials of the Princess Royal and his Royal Highneis Prince Frederick William of Prussia. The Duke and Duchess of Hamilton were to leave Nice on Monday last, accompanied by their family, for Rome, for the winter. The Duchess (Dowager) of Hamilton rethrned to town on Tuesday last, from Brighton, after a short visit to that watering-place. Viscount an'l Viscountess Sydney are entertaining a succession of visitors at Frognall Lodge, near Footscray. The circle will n t separate until after Twelfshnight. The Dowager Lady .Duckett and Miss Meakin have arrived at the Queen's Hotel, Upper Norwood, tom Gloucester-gardens. We regret to hear of the death, on Sunday last, at Upfield, near Stroud, of Edward Bullock, Esq., late Common Serjeant of the city of London. The Journal de Qand states that General and Madame L►moriciere are certainly coming to France before the let of January. They are selling their furniture at Gand, and intend to live in a country house belonging to them near Amiens. THE DANISH QUESTION.-A telegram from Frankfort, dated 30th December, announces that the Commission entrusted with the examination of the affairs of the duchies of Holqtein and Lauen burg was to present its report to the Federal Diet on the following day. The report is Raid to be very satisfactory. DR KAHN'S MUSK:W.—We wtre somewhat surprised on entering this museum the other day to find that it presented so many novel features. We bad been accus tomed to look upon it simply as an anatomical museum, but, with its change of residence, it has changed its features a'so, and presents a complete and perfect Ga'- lery of Science. All that can illustrate the nature of the mysterious forces by virtue of which we " live, and move, and have our being," is gathered together in the beautiful hall, once known as the "Salle Robin." The most varied and costly apparatus is at the disposal of the lecturer for illustrating the share which electricity, magnetism, chemistry, pneumatics, &c., possess in the growth and condition of the human frame; and when we say that the lecturers avail themselves of these to the utmost, and that, consequently, the museum presents a lout ensemble unparalleled in the world, we have said enough to induce all our readers to pay it an immediate visit, LIVERPOOL, D 3c. 50.—Tbe screw steamship North American, belonging to the Montreal Ocean Steamship Company, BOA to-day for Portlacd, Maine, with the mail for the British North American provinces and 50 paesengerct. The royal mail steamship America(Cunard) sails for Halifax and Breton on Saturday, the post-of ee remaining open until 8 a.m., but letters are received with late fee until 9 a.m., and at the landing stage at 10 a.m. There will be no Collins steamer for New York before the 16th of January, after which date the service for that line will be monthly instead of fortnightly, so tar at least as the first four months of the year are conc-rnsd. FIRE AT THE DEICE OF PORTLaND . S. - Yesterday morning, at half-past 10 o'clock, a fire broke out in the bedranua of the Duke of Portland, at his aulsion, 19, Cavendieb-7quare. Hir grace has for some time been suffering from a chronic disease of rheumatic gout in the hip, and was accustomed to allay the pain by inhaling the vapour from a spirit of wine lamp, and had been doing so yesterday morning, attended by Mr. Lewis, his house steward, when, from a slight accident, the curtains of the bed caught fire from the flame of the lamp, and the spirits of wine being upset, soon com municated to the other portion of the bedding. Mr Lewis promptly obtained assi-tance, and succeeded in conveying the dukra L to the library; he then took th e pr, cant ion to close Re door of the bedroom, the servants and firemen, who had in the meantime arrived, pouring in buckets of water until the fire was subdued, but not before the eatirOtpriture of the room was destroyed. assets show a fair and reasonable chance of paying 20e. in the pound. The evident object of the Minis ►er of Coininbice is not only to repress all over speculation, but to compel all traders to keep not only within, bu , very tar within, their real means, which, considering that the capital at the commend of Prussian commerce is rather scanty, is by no means favourable to the rapid development of com merce and industry. SWITZERLAND. THE MARRIAGE OF THE PRINCESS ROYAL. WINDSOR; DEC. 30. The marriage ceremony of her Royal Highness the Princess Royal and Prince Frederick William of Prussia will take place at the Chapel Royal, St. James's, on Monday, January 25. There will be present on the occasion besides the Royal Family, his Majesty the King of the Bel gians, their Royal Highnesses the Duke of Brabant and the Count of Flanders, their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Prussia, Prince Frede rick Charles (nephew of the King, son of Prince C rarles), Prince Albert (brother of the King), Prince Charles Albert (son of Prince Albert), Prince Adalbert (cousin of the King), and the Prince of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen, their Royal Highnesses the Grand Duke and Duchess of Baden and Prince William of Baden (brother of the Grand Duke), and their Royal Highuesse. the Duke and Duchess of Saxe Ouburg, the whole of whom will arrive ;from the Continent on the 15th or January and the following days, and will be her Majesty's guests at Buckingham-palace, while apartments have been eneaged for their respective suites at Farrance's and Fenton's hotels. There will also be present on the occasion their Serene Highnesses Prince Edward of Saxe Weimar, the Prince and Princess of Hohenlobe Langenburg, Princess Feodore and Prince Victor of Hohenlohe, and the Prinr.:e of Leiningen. Her Majesty, his Reyal Highness the Prince Consort, and the royal family will arrive in town on Friday, the 15th of January. A series of theatrical r epresentations will take place at her. Majesty's Theatre on Tuesday, the 19th, Thursday, the 21st, and Saturday, the 23d of January, at which her Majesty, the royal family, and foreign visitors will be present. Her Majesty will g ive a State Ball, at Bucking ham Palace, on Wednesday, January 20. His Royal Highness Prince Frederick William will arrive on the 23d. Af er the marriage ceremony on the 25th, the Prince and the Princess Roy-. 1 will leave Bucking ham Palace for Windsor Castle, attended by A mited suite. Her Majesty will give that evening a State Con cert at BuckinghainPalace, to which the persons present at the marriage ceremony, the corps diplo matique, the members of the Government, and a number of i he atistecracy will be invited. On the 26th most of her Majesty's guests will return to the Continent. On the 27th her Majesty and the Prince Consort, with the junior members of the Royal Family, will join the young married couple at Windsor Castle,- where on the 28th her Majesty will hold a Chapter of the Garter, for the purpose of investing Prince Frederick William with this distinguished order. The Knights of the Garter attending the Chapter will be her Majesty's guests at the castle, and will be present at a grand banquet to be given in honour of the occasion. . _ O❑ Friday, January 29th, her Majesty, his R-tyal Highness the Prince Consort, and the Royal Fatally, with their Royal Highnesses Prince Frederick William and the Princ-ss Royal, will return to town and be present in State at a representation at her Majesty's Theatre in the evening. On - the following day (January 30) her Majesty will hold a Drawing-room at St. Jawes's Palace, for the pur pose of receiving congratulations on the happy even t. - - The departure of their Royal Highnesses is fixed for Tuesday, February 2d. Their Royal High m s•e• will embark at Gravesend in her Majesty's yacht Victoria and Albert, and cross over to Antwerp. PRINcE ALPHONSO AND THE LEGION OF HoNoUB. GAS MONOPOLY.-MEETLVO OF DELEGATES Yesterday a meeting of delegates from the vari ous metropolitan parisheswas held in the Vestry room of the Marylebone Vestry, for the purpose cf considering what steps should be taken to frustreto the late attempt on the part of the gas cower' is to establish a monopoly, and to adopt such ite-• ...r -sures as would t ffectually protect the gas cons - totem and the parishes generally from the irnposttiona to which they were about to be subjected by the ex tortionate charges the gas companies were beginning PRUSSIA. to impo,e tit on them, now that they had succeeded BERLIN, DEC. 28. in abolishing all competition It will be remembered that the city of Hamburg, Mr. FREETH occupied the chair, and havi ng ex 'calor° obtaining a recent loan of 10,000,000 marks plain.ed to the m eet i ng th e reasons f or calling them , anco from the Austrian Government Bank, made together, suggested th a t a pe ti t i on should be pre _Lnsuccessful at . empts to obtain an advance from sented to Parliament, 'praying for powers to enable Prussia and Saxony. The circumstance tbat pro the metropolitan p ar i s h es to make their own -gas bably contributed most of all to produce willi ng - He considered th e y h a d a very strong case to ' go to all with, as the parish binatiof M h ness on the part of the Austrian Bank to part with B. B. conse S i in of the comon of aryltheasebone co ad, an article article so much in demand evetywh e re as s il ver q uenee g was the happy state in which that inetit uJou f oun d parries, been co mpe ll e d to /sa y lie. fi li g ht more than they were in the h a bit of paying when there itself at the time, of not being required t o honour its notes with a corresponding value ‘ in c o i n ; w hil e to was competition. They had been the first tbat that had been s h o t at and hit, but the rest of t he ' : the Government itself (and we are giv en t o under _ parishes wo u ld b e similarly dealt with as soona . f their contracts run out. • stand that the Emperor himself was am ong th e l ore most to suggest it) doubtless th e o pp or t un i ty gaining some popularity in G ermany presented con- I Mr. A DDERSLEY entered into a statemen i. t. Which siderable att t action—the mo re so as th e two North , showed th a t gas c ou ld b e made cheaper than in Manchester or Shrewsbury, in L" t u la °n German States were losing ground a little in popu- a nd y.et they spoil- ' lar feeling by their unwillingness to come forward. charge ! more for it in London than in either of those places, and he did not see why It was probably with the amiable motive ofthe metropo ing the joy felt by the rec i p i ent of the loan and li tan par i shes should not have the same power s that the pride felt by the lender, as well as of be tt ing , those places h a d t o mi k e gas f or th e mselves. itself right in the e y es of Germatiy, that th e ,i Atter a lengthe n ed discussion, resolutions wer e Prussian Government recently th..light it desirabl e 1 adopted appointing a sub-committee of delegates t o to publish a despatch forwarded. by Baron Von draw up a petiton to Parliament embodying the i r Manteuffel to Herr Von Kamz, the representa- ' views, tive of Prussia at Hamburg, which contained an the South London Gas-consumers' Mutual Prot ec expose of the mo ti ves t h at b ad withheld the Pius- tiouand inviting Dr. Challica, the chairman of A ss ociation, to co-operate with them and give wan Government from, according the aid required. his valuable assi s tanceinda jd. in ou f r u n r e thering that object. Consistently wi t h e.the self -protecting, timidly , The meeting then cautious course the Prussian Government took in :Team, Diro. 21.—The murderous attack upon Count the Hamburg matter, it has declined also to Assist the city of Lubeck'with a loan of 6) ),000 tha!ers ; eGtterrWeisePareevulebalti' of Bergamo, who . was stabbedn.e a nd the amount has, however, since been obtained w , th - Damian() out much difficulty from the wealthy money m a ; s r ; a t M I; i i njuredayn, bas u a s lo t a g at t u n ug San t,h e Liberals of the ceased la,t-named city great he Count has the re- th! ctiants of Hamburg. Toe Government te h as ptitation of being in too dose connexion' . 11 no nsadored Austrian police authorities ; but it is justly refused, on tWo occasions, the importuna te request of the corporate merchants of this place .f or a . spe- that his assassination could only serve to cast discredit ii cial and temporary modification of . the_ bankrupt upon the party by a member of which it if! nature y law witlirespect to houses in difficulties, but whose supposed to have been committed. - • 3 . . _ . • • The President of the National Council of Switzer" land, M. Keller, in closing the session, a few days ago, delivered an address, in which he recapitulated the labours of the council, and remarked that by tl!e re-election of the members of the executive government and of the judges it had given its un equivocal approbation to the manner in which they had cwt.'. d out the principles of the constitution of 1848. He also remarked that in setting aside the co n fli c t of jiirsdiction ra i s ed by the grand council of th e can t on o f V a ud, it bas preserved the authority o f th e Confederation, and at the same titre acted kindly towards one of its members. He then announced that unless extraordinary and unforeseen events should occur, the chambets would not reassemble until the ordi nary session of July, and that then the Federal Ass mbly would meet in the Federal Palace, in stead of in the Hotel de Ville, at Berne ; the latter being destined for the sittings of the grand council of the canton. In the conned of the States, the president, M. Staelin, of Bale, delivered a B 0 ate what similar address. The Madrid journals of the 26th inst. contain no political news. M. Gonzalez Bravo, Minister at the court of London, had arrived in Madrid. Since the birth of Prince Alphonso (the heir to the Spanish Crown) the good people of Madrid have been waiting for the Emperor Napoleon to confer the grand cordon of the Legion of Honour on the Royal infant. Those expectations have not yet b, en fulfilled. Now, when the Imperial Prince of France was born the Spanish Government, at whose head Espartero then was, lost no time i n s.-nding to the Tuileries the insignia of the Golden Fleece, which had become vacant by the death of the Emperor Nichohis ' • and it was only fair tha t the compliment should be reciprocated. leis Petits cadeauxentretinnentl'amitte, as is taken for granted that the French and Spanish Courts are on the most friendly terms. This forgetfulness, for it can hardly be anything else, has, however, produced soma surprise, if not mortification in Madrid. It is not - that the Prince of the Asturias is in want of decorations. Quite the contrary. The innocent babe has more than he can well bear t he has the Golden Fleece, Charles 111., Isabella Catolica to which, by-the-hye, are attached collars of no light weigh. , or small dimensions; not to speak of the orders of St. John, Calatrava, die. It is right to add that his Royal Highness himself is not the party who makes an% complaint on the subject. According to authentic accounts he bears the slight with much equanimity; and, apparently, sets more value on the caresses of his nurse than on all the Decorations that could be offered to him, in chiding even the awful Lion of ZAringhen, the Gulden Spur of Rome, or the blazing Sun of Faustin I.