The Sun. — London, England, 1857-12-28 00:00:00

IRELAND. DUBLIN, SATURDAY MORNING. THE GREAT SLANDER CASE. The evidence for the defence has at length closed, ' and the wearied public are respited from the flood of talk until Monday next, when the campaign will be re-opened by the speeches of Messrs. Arm strong and M'Donough on the part of their sepa rate clients. The "beginning of the end" of some sweeping change in the conduct of business in the Irish la l w-courts by which public time will be economised is not indistinctly predicted in the fol lowing conversation, which ensued before the rising of the Court on Wednesday : " Some of the jurors said they would prefer sitting on the day before Christmas, if the case could be finished by that means. " Mr. Whiteside observed that the remaining evidence in the case might be disposed of in another day, and then there could bean adjournment for the concluding speeches. " Mr. M'Donough expressed a hope that the adjourn ment would be arranged so that one of the two speeches would not be made before and the other a ft er it. "The Chief Baron said be would take cars to deal fairly with the parties in that respect. "A Juror—The only injured parties in the entire are the jury. I think if the supplies were stopped there soon would be an end of the case." THE IRISH SE?OYS. The Irish sepoy gazettes are reduced to the lowest depths of despair by the harrowing intelli gence of the safety of the garrison of Lucknow. There is, however, some " balm in Gilead," and one of those faithful exponents of public feeling (the Kilkenny Journal) consoles itself with the reflec tion that though "the white plumesare now dancing over many a homestead in England and Ireland," yet " but a little while, and we shall see the hearse and the corpse, and hear the groans of broken hearts." "As for the struggle itself," devoutly adds the sympathetic organ, " may God defend the right !" _ - THE LATE MEMBER FOR BETERI•EY. Mr. Lewis, jun., of the firm of Lewis? ell Lewis, attended at the Bow-street police-court, before Mr. Henry, to tender bail on behalf of Mr. Edward Auchmuty Glover, late member for Beverley, and now a prisoner in Newgate. It will be remembered that during last session of Parliament Mr. Glover was unseated by the decision of a commi , tee of the House of Commons, on the ground that he had not the legal qualification ; and the committee then recommended that proceedings should be taken against him for having made a false declaration touching his qualification, an offence which the law visits with the pains and penalties of perjury. An indictment was accordingly preferred at the last sessions of the Central Criminal Court, and a war rant was issued under the hand and seal of Mr. Justice Coleridge, on the lith inst. On that war• rant Mr. Glover was apprehended on the 23d, by Inspector Bray, of the F division, who found him at No. 30, Coleshill-street, Pimlico, and he was committed to Newgate by Mr. Justice Wightman, who fixed the amount of bail, ordering that 48 hours' notice should be given. It was thus impos sible for Mr. Glover to be liberated. till Saturday, as the stipulated term of notice, if give n immedi ately, would have expired on Christmas-day. Ac cordingly Mr. Glover was compelled to spend that day in prison. The bail tendered wore Mr. Chas. Harcourt, cf Great George.s . reet, Westminster, solicitor, and Miss Margaret Grace Toker, of " the Oaks," Ospringe, Faversham, Kent, and 38, Wil ton-crescent, Belgrave-square, described as a spin ster. The bail having la, ea approve 1, Mr. Glover was sent for to Newgate, and in a very short time arrived, and was brought into court. He was then bound over in his own recognisance for 5001., and his two sureties in 2501., for his appearance at the next sessions of the Central Criminal Court. With the exception of stating his address to be " 38, Wilton-crescent," Mr. Glover did not utter a word while in court. To the question, if be was content to be so bound, he replied only by a slight inclina tion of the head. The recognisances having been made out, Mr. Glover was set at liberty, and left the court with his friends. NAVAL AND MILIT.ABY INTELLIGENCE . The new battalions being raised at Winchester, to be attached to the 60th Riflcs and the Rifle Brigade as 4th battalions, are progressing rapidly in numerical strength, each being now nearly 000 strong, notwithstanding that they have given above 300 men to the service companies of the 60th, and the 2d and 3d battalions of the Rifle Brigade on service in India. The Diad e m, 32, screw s t eam f r i gate, Captain W. Moorsom, has taken in powder and shell, and will sail next week for a short cruise. She is still a few bands short. The Arrogant, 46, screw steam frigate, is almost out of the shipwrights' lands, and will betaken out of dock the early part of next month. On Saturday another order was received at Chat ham Garrison, again countermanding the order for the embarkation on that day of the reinforcements of the 18th Royal Irish, 51st Light Infantry, 72d Highianders, 83d, 86th, and 98th Regiments for India, the instructiou now received by command ing officers of the 2d and 3d battalions Leing that the detachments are to embark at Gravesend this day. In consequence of the illness of Captain G. H. Adamq, 86th Regiment, Captain J. Boyd, of that corps, is ordered to embark on board the Salamanca in command of the reinforcements. The paddlewheel steam sloop Geyser, 6, Com mander E. Power, from the Cape station, last from, Portsmouth, arlived, on Saturday at Plymouth, where she is to be paid off. The pilot of the troop ship Stuart Wortley, Capt. Dobson, belonging to Sir George E. Hodgkinson and Co., of London, landed at Plymouth on Satur day. This ship loft the Thames about ten days since with Artillerymen for the East Indies, and has experienced very heavy weather. Tue recent change of wind enabled her to clear the Channel. SHIPPING DISASTERS ON THE EASTERN COAST.— Several casualties more or less serious occurred last week among the ahipping on the eastern coast. The Elm Grove, from Sunderland for Swansea, has put inta Great Yarmouth with loss of bowsprit, dtc., having been in collision with the Merry Lass, of Shields. The schooner Seaflower, from Work worth for Boulogne, was ran into by the North S JP, - , of Whitstable, and sus tained considerable damage. The wreck of the Rapid steamer on the Cross Sands off Great Yarmout a has been inspected by divers, and it is possible that with favourable weather a good deal of the cargo may be Saved. The sloop William Clowcs was run into off Shields by the Briton stearntug, and was so much in jured that her crew abandoned her ; she was afterwards brought into harbour, however. Tne Juffer Eligonda, Brous master, from Newcasti) for Rotterdam, was driven on shore at Newbiggen, near Shields, and be came a wreck ; crew saved. WRECK 02' A FRENCH STEAMER IN THE BLACK SEA The Press d'Orient of Constantinople gives the f llowing details of the wreck of the Pharamond, which was men tioned' previously :—" The vessel was a good deal strained on leaving the Danube on the 7th, and had to encount:x bad weather in the Black Sea. As a thick fog prevailed she advanced with great precaution, but the wind and currents carried her irresistibly towards the land. At about half-past one in the morning of the B•At she ran on to a bank of sand covered with marine plants, at about a mile and a half from the shore, and at about two miles and a half from Mangalia. Her iron hull almost imme diately split open, and water rushed in. Several Greek sailors and pilots who were on board attempted to seize •ne of the boats to save themselves, careless of what be same of the others ; but the captain and crew prevent-d them. At daybreak the passengers were safely landed, no also were some specie, the letter-bags, and part of the *ergo. On landing the passengers proceeded to Man ville, the authorities of which kindly afforded them all lbe assistance in their power. A messenger was de patched with news of the wreck to the French consul at Tarns, and that functionary, after sending off a t.-le graphic despatch to Constantinople, proceeded to Men guile. In consequence of this elespatch the French war steamer the Tage was sent to the scatie of the disaster, and her commander, Lieut. Guichon, found that it wou ld b e impossible to g e t the Pharamond cff the bank, and that When the wind freshened she must go to pieces. Oa this, the rest of her cargo was got out, and when the Tage lett only part of her bull remained above water." THE SUNKEN SHIPS AT SEBASTOPOL —No ships of War have yet been raised, but the Beaton Submarine Company have been at work upon an eighty-four gun ship. This ship has become deeply imbedded in t' lurid, the Russians before scuttling her having placed . h eavy gra n it e bl ocks upon her decks to prevent it jury • lato the vessel from the shot of the enemy. All this gra e t i r : l ll 4 been recovered, together with a large amount of 07 material, sufficient to lea ve a enrp l ue a f ter payirg tree urttu s . ,.' t Li: sh are o f the Gowen Company and of the Used, e ,„ 4 „in regard to the ship the Gwinn pump was a 4 ,7 0 :::t ily drew up water from the hold of tae et' 70,000 gallons :1 48 'net frain the surface at the rate The commande r ol tu ti i , ,u e nt e , w i thout starting the ye rea.l. pronxpciti,,tion confi•leet, however, that with the use of tohrebags of India rubb , r filled with air, introduced lune The Gowen th ey shall is al b so ! more succressful. Stated, have been quite succeestnl irna S n :n n ni w h a r i millions in aei:ofeer:t of which there are rial tom, and 'neither party have, *lghtest intention of abanchinicg the undertaking. t u he t, the 4th of November the weather hart 1, 550,x ? trernely pleas an t, an d on th a t day they were n ittint at Open windows ea'ing blackberries. The Russian ,c e .. yernment, it is s t a t e d, s till l oo k w ith favour upo n famous city, and are energetically at V. ork to restor e to it something of its former strength and efficiency. Nk st sprin g the Grand Duke Constantine, and others of the imperial family, will visit the place, to superintend the • ope ration s et rebuildin g , B co. O ne o f t h e vesse l s o f the (-)s • ton Submarine Company was at Constantinople tak ing in coal and provisions with w h ic h to re t urn to Sebas topol. This does not look like an abandonment of the expedition.--The Boston Traveller, Dec. 10. 1 rHE SON,. MR. T.H . ACKRTIAY AND THE COMMER CI AL TRAVELLERS. The annual festival to commemorate the esta blishment of the Commercial Travellers' Schools, in which 150 orphan and necessitous children are educated and maintained, was held at the London Tavern on Saturday evening. Mr. Thackeray, the celebrated novelist, presided ; and upwards of 100 principals of leading firms in the city and " gentle men of the road" sat down to dinner. In the course of the evening the scholars were led in procession round the room, and their healthy, intelligent, and cheerful appearance was the theme of universal praise. The usual loyal toasts having been duly honoured, TheCneenmax proposed " The Army and Navy," observing that the hearts of our brave soldiers at Delhi and Lucknow must have throbbed with pride, as they sat at their Christmas feast, when they thought of how their gallant services to their coun try would be appreciated in England that day. (Cheers.) The OHAIRILLN next rose and said,—l approach the toast of the evening with very great diffidence, remembering who have been my last two predeces sors in this chair (Mr. Dickens and Sir E. B. Lyt ton), and how consummate was the eloquence with which each of those distinguished men addressed you. Moreover, after all that has happened very recently, I feel it needful for me to be particularly cautious whenever I come to any meeting in the city which has to do with money and monetary affairs. (Hear, and a laugh.) It is seldom that I appear at all iu these regions, unless, indeed, it he occasionally to pay a pleasing visit to Messrs. Brad bury and Evans, in Bouverie-street, or to Messrs. Smith and Co., of Cornhill. But I read m y paper, like every good Briton, and from that I gather a lesson of profound caution in speaking to mercantile men on subjects of this kind. Supposing, for instance, that I have shares in Bundelcund Banking Company or in the Royal British Diddlesex Bauk, I come down to a meeting of the shareholders and hear an honoured treasurer and an admirable presi dent make the most flourishing reports of the state of our concern, showing to us enormous divi dends accompanied with the most elegant bonuses ; and proving to us that our funds are invested in the most secure way at Bogleywallah, Bundeleund, and Branksea Castle. (Laughter.) I go away delighted at the happy prospect before my wife and family, feeling perfect confidence that those innocent beings will be comfortable for the rest of their lives. What, then, is my horror, when, in one brief fortnight after, instead of those enot mous dividends aid elegant bonuses, I am served with a notice to pay up a most prodigious sum (laughter) ; when I find that our estates at Bundelcund and Bogleywallah have been ravished by the Bengal tiger ; that the Island of Branksea is under water ; that our respected president is obliged to go to Spain for the benefit of his health, and our eloquent treasurer cannot abide the London fog. (Renewed laughter.) You see I must be a little careful. But, granted that the accounts we have here have not, like our dinner been subjected to an ingenious culinary process—(a laugh—granted that you have spent, as I read in your report, 25,0001. in raising a noble school and grounds ; that you have in vested another 15,0001. in the funds ; that you have collected around you the happy juvenile faces which I see smiling on yonder benches, to be the objects of your honest, Christian kindness ; and that you have achieved this scheme among your selves—granting all this to be true, then gentlemen I am your most humble servant, and no words that I can find can express my enthusiastic admiration for what you have done, and for the excellent in stitution of which you are the hearty patrons and supporters. (Cheers.) I sincerely wish on behalf of my own class, the literary profession, that we had an institution to which we could confide our children, instead of having to send them about to schools as we do, at an awful cost. When the re spected Mr. Squeers, of Do-the-Boys Hall, an nounces that he proposes to take a limited number of pupils it is not because he is in love with the little darlings that he does it, but because he designs Ito extract a profit out of them. It always pains me to think of the profits to be screwed out of the bellies of the poor little innocents. Why have we not, as men of letters, some such as-ociation as that which you have got up ? 1 appeal to my literary brethren, if any of them are present, whether we, the men of the line, cannot emulate the men of the road (Hear, hear.) A week ago, a friend engaged in my own profession, making his 1,0001. a-year, showed me the half-yearly account of his two little boys at school. These little heroes of 6 and 7, who are at a very excellent school, where they are well and comfortably provided for, came home with a little bill in their pocket which amounted to the sum of 751. for the half-year. Now, think of this poor Paterfamilias earning his moderate 1,0001. a-year, out of which he has his life assurance, his income tax, and his house-rent to pay, with three or four poor relations to support—for, doubtless, we are all blessed with these appendages--(a with the heavy bills of his wife and da,ught -rs for millinery and mantua-makiug, to meet, especially at their present enormous rates and sizes. (Re. ne wed laughter.) Think of this over-burdened man having to pay 751. for one half-year's schooling of his little boys. (Hear, hear.) Let the gentlemen of the press, then, try to devise some scheme which shall benefit them, as you have undoubtedly bene fited by what you have accomplished for yourselves. I will not allude to the educatory process through which you put your children, and which was spoken of last year by the distinguished man who filled this chair in terms of most just praise, except to say that you appear to teach the pupils modern languages, mathematics, music, and the various other branches of instruction needed to fit them for the encounter of life which all are obliged to enter. We are all travellers and voyagers who must em bark on life's ocean ' • and before you send your boys to sea you teach them to swim, to navigate the ship, and guide her into port. The last time I visited America, two years ago, I sailed on board the Africa, Captain Harrison, an officer who has now' received a much larger command—tho Levia than ; and all that I can say is, I heartily wish him and his employers well out of the "fix." (A laugh.) The Africa, however, was steaming out of Liver pool one fine blowy October day, and was hardly over the bar, when, animated by those peculiar sensations not uncommon to landsmen at the com mencement of asea voyage, I was holding on amid ships. (A laugh.) Up comes a quick-eyed shrewd looking little man who holds on by the next rope to me and says, " Mr. Thackeray, I am the represen tative of the house of Appleton and Co., of Broad way, New York—a most liberal and enterprising publishing film, who will be most happy to do business with you." I don't know that we then did any business in the line thus delicately listed at, because at that particular juncture wo were both of us called, by a heavy lurch of the ship, to a casting up of accounts of a far less agreeable cha racter. (Lauglieer.) But, gentlemen, there are but few of us ,who are not travellers. I parted to-day from a near neighbour, and as famous and intelligent a traveller as any that I could name—l mean Mr. William Howard Russell, the traveller for a celebrated publishing firm in Printing-house square. (" Hear," and a laugh.) We all know how he travelled three years ago, when ho went out to inspe c t f or hi s emp l oyers the shot and shell and bayonet market at the Crimea, and reported on tLe state of French grape at the Malakoff, of British beef at Baleklava, and of Russi in hides at Inkermann. (Cheers and laughter.) He is now on his way to Marseilles. In another month he will be in India—(cheers)—and he will sea the slat teied gates around which the brave young engineers died at their duty, through which Wil•-on and his gallant comrades passed over heaps of enemies, until they reached the imperial palace of Delhi, in which, amid shouts of victory, the health of Queen Victoria was drunk. He will see the batter-el walls through which Havelock and Outram, and, !lastly, Sir CelinCa.nspb e ll and his relieving army, marched to rescue our women and children, crusting hosts of foes before them, and finally planting the glo. ions old flag of England on Lucknow's walls. That, gentlemen, was . a melancholy dinner of his }'eater day—his Christmas dinner, the last meal ho was to take here at home. The little children sat round the table on that sad evening, and the poor wife must have gazed at them with a wistful eye. But now the parting is over, and this day he has taken his first step cn his long journey. Many and many a time in the solitude of travel, in the lone liness of the desert; on ship-board et the morn ing-watch, when sea and sky are flushed with the golden sunrise ; or at midnight., amid the rushing waters, and under the stars of God, he will think with inexpressible tenderness of the dear being he has 1 •ft at home. (Cheer.) But for his children Ile might have been among us now, gentlemen, as ho was la ,t year. He separates from them in order to do h s duty—in order to toil that they may be comfortable—in order to earn the means of one clay coming back to them, and seeing them growing up around him educated and happy. (Rear, hear.) And you, gentlemen, in your several degts es, also supl'oit toil, privation, travel, and separation, iu order to make- your young ones happy ; and you commiserate, too, 'th e cause o f your b ret h ren i u dis (' rBB--yourcompassionate the poor and the unfor unate,' ietnemberine His divine ordinance who naar. e T thellittleehildr t ' en come unto Hi m . (Ch eers. ) m to en , '•ray- concluded by giving--" Prosperity amid l oaa ' a it taereial Travellers Schools." (Drank Various ~,Pn,l---"!1°.) liberal stibleriptilo'ra?ntary toasts followed, and a p tl ea T u a t ld of the charity was made by the company The treasurer (Mr Geo. Moore) stated thikt. the - uunding erected by the 80- 4 MO NID A Y VIET ENING ' n C R 4 2 It'7 4 " LONDON, _ "t 1 ciety at Pinney', which contains 100 boys and 47 girls, has now bl en paid for and freed from mort gage, but that while the annual expenditure of the institution amour': is to 5,000/. the gross income is only 4,3271. The musical arra. ngements of the evening were under the direction , of Mr. Lawler, assisted by the Misses Wells and MI Perren. Mr. Harker acted as toastmaster. SERFI)OI r IN RUSSIA. (F rom th e e seess) sndent of the Times.) BERLIN, Dec. 22—For expec tation has been grey/irk, some years past the t • more and more rife in Russia, and thence throvagjt Europe, that the abo'i tion of serfdom was soon about to be decreed. As long as the late Emper or Nicholas was alive the accession of his successor was looked forward to as the period for the advent of the new era ; and as long as the war lasted the return of peace was the event that was to herald in the removal of this in cubus on the productive pov. Tars of the State. These periods have come and gon e, but serfdom is not yet abolished ; Alexander I, who commenced the great work, was cut off sudde my in the midst of his reforms; Nicholas was divesed from following them up energetically by his fatuity for an enor mous army, and serfdom is the basis of the Rus sian recruiting system. Alexander 11, who at his accession found the nation at wnr, was by that cir cumstance prevented at that moment from realiz ing the fond hopes that had been entertained of him. At the conclusion of the peace lie was oven obliged to take a step apparently in the opposite direction —viz., to assure the Russian nobility of the inviol ability of their agrarian rights, which precluded the idea of any sudden abolition of serfdom. Since that period, however, a variety of innova tions have been introduced by the Emperor into the eternal administration of Russia, which like many others carried out in the reign of his father, are all converging to the same end of gradual abolition, though to the eyes of foreigners at a distance there often seems to be bui, little connexion between them and the end pro posed : the Russians themselves, however, are so thoroughly cognisant of their tendency and their number, that they have at length. fixed even the day when, according to their expectations, the total abolition of serfdom was to take place. That day was the 18th inst., the fete of the late Emperor Nicholas, a date which at least has this significance that it recognises the interest the late Emperor took in the subject, and it is also a matter of popu lar belief that the Emperor Nicholas on his death bed urgently recommended this abolition to his son and heir for speedy execution. Although the Emperor Alexander has not yet abolished serfdom in Russia, and although it may be many years to come before any measure can be passed that will realise the idea contained in those words, there is mot the slightest ground for doubt ing that he is labouring most strenuously towards that end, as most of his home measures and his foreign policy since the peace of 1856 abundantly prove. Within the last two months, unless a very generally received report is unfounded, a special committee has been formed in St. Petersburg, under the presidency of the Grand Duke Constan tine, for the purpose of expediting every measure in connection with this subject, and the experience of the last few days shows that its labours have not been without good rzsults. That the exis tence of this committee should be kept as secret as possible will excite no surprise, when it is borne in mind that the expectations of twelve millions of human beings in Russia are just now at the highest pitch of tension, looking for an almost immediate deliverance from bondage ; that local and sporadic revolts of serfs against their owners are no longer as rare in Russia as they used to be ; that the spirit of liberty is now abroad among the people ; that both in Kieff and in Moscow the students of the universities have lately made the boldest demonstrations, arid offered resistance to the military and police, and that in St. Petersburg language has been uttered at public meetings that reads like the ordinary clap-trap spoken at the public meetings in Eng land. There exists every possible reason of danger and difficulty for approaching this matter with the greatest secrecy, forethought, and precau tion. The abolition of serfdom is a subject of much less interest to the philanthropist than is usually supposed, for the Russian serf, born and bred in the position of a bondsman, is fir from the wretched being philanthropists think he must be, and his enfranchisement, while giving him an opportunity, and perhaps compelling him to work out his own independence, will, in all pro bability, at least in the first generation of these unheroic Sclavonians, produce them more mis e ry than happiness. To the economist, however, any measure must be of great interest that imme diately affects property valued at hundreds of millions of roubles, and which promises indirectly to open up and stimulate the productive powers of a country larger than all Europe. To the poll tioleax fe-w events can. be more xnemerirtteen %Amami a fundamental change in an institution which for up. wards of 200 years has served as the basis of the whole internal polity of a nation of 70,000,000 of people. He may well fear lest a too rapid impetus imparted to the aspirations of these impressionable Slavonians may bring Europe to witness a flood of uncontrolled liberty and revolution such as that produced in 1848 by the well-meant innovations of Pio IX. in 1846. As the subject bids fair to force itself soon upon the notice and interest of Europe at large, I send you herewith a few memoranda as to the nature and extent of serfdom in Russia, as well as of the mea sures that have already taken with a view to its eventual abolition. Serfdom has been of various kinds at different periods of the history of Russia, and at the present moment the position of the peasant is very various in different parts of the empire. In the Baltic provinces of Esihland and Liefland serfdom has been entirely superseded by a series of statutes en acted by Alexander I. between 1804 and 1819, which were subsequently amplified in 1849 for Liefland, and in 1856 for Estbland ; in Courland no advance has been made on the legislation of 181', and in this latter province the enfranchise ment is not yet complete. In the kingdom of Poland also ukases have made the enfranchise ment of the bondman dependent solely on his having the will and the means to pay the commu tation price for his services or the value of the fee simple of the land he occupies ; on his making due application to the local official appointed to arrange these commutations the owner is bound to accept the prices fixed by the Government sur veyor, and accord the serf his freedom. In Poland, therefore, serfdom is in process of self-abolition ; and in Russia Proper also serfdom has been abolished on the domains of the Crown and sorx.e private estates, and has generally of late years been much modified and mitigated. Serfdom originated in a ukase issued by Czar Boris Godunow in 1601, for the purpose of rest ra'n ing the nomadic, unsettled habits of his subjects, who, as many Arab tribes do in the present day, were constantly changing their places of abode for more promising localities or more fruitful pastures ; and he enacted that every peasant should settle definitively on the land he had cultivatzd on the previous Juriew's day. They thus became by this sole ukase (glebte adscripti) assign .d to the soil (in Rusian, Kreposttyi). The admiuistra ive mea sures necessary fur watching over the maintenance of this state of things entailed registration and offi cial surveillance ; and eventually in the course of years the lords of the soil, availing themselves of the inability of the peasants o change their locality, extorted from them compulsory labour on their own estates, and even menial services about their own dwellings. The relation, which had originally been that of "privileged villenage," was thus a. on con verted here and there into "pure villenage ;" and the two relations exist still side by side in Russia, and even on the same estate. It took a long period, however, to break down the vested intereet that the peasant originally bad in the land he cul tivated, and which amounted to the whole usu fruet, after deducting a small payment in natara or in 1 %hour. By constant encroachments on the part of the lords of the sea the state of these vil- ieius sank by degrees into that of " villeins regar dant,".ancl "villeins in gross," but the Russian serf was always a fixture on the estate, from]which he could be as little separated as the estate from him. It was not till the time of Peter the Great that the system of serfdom obtained its present form, which offen e -rtain features peculiar to Russia, and different from the villenage that for merly existed in England, or the Horigkeit, that hold its ground in Prussia even up to the com mencement of this century. One of these features of serfdom peculiar t) Rus sia, and which forms the tenure of the I trger Nut of the land in that country, is of a very commu nistic. nature ; a whol, villig-e or other community occupies a ceitsin tract of land, from which the whole number of male per.sants pays a fixed poll t.tx to the lord of the manor—that entire body offering an aggregate liablity for the shortcom ings of any individual member. The community miaow:, themselves diVide the whole area of the land out into homesteads according to the number of adult males or married couples among thew. Each such homestead occupied by a man and his wife, and children, if they have them, is called a tiaglo, and this one family cultivates the whole of the tiaglo, or as much of it as they can, until the increase of married couples in the community ren ders it necessary for the number of tiaglos to be in creased also, which is done by dividing or diminish ing the existing homesteads. As the land is, as a matter of course, of various excellence in the dif ferent parts of the estate, the various families are shifted about in compliance with communistic fair ness to all the different homesteads, so that each cultivates the good, bad, and indifferent land turn and turn about. Although this occupation of the land is about the most disadvantageous arrangement that can be conceived in an economical point of view, and is perfectly destructive of any feel ing of property or home, it is strictly in harmony with the instincts of a nomad tribe, and insures to each of its members at least an existence on a footing of perfect equality with his fellows. When in the course of time as many hands have been assigned to agricultural labour as the land requires, and there still remains a surplus of employable population in the serf village, certain of its members turn their att.2ntion to differenthandi crafts, but in all cases work for the common wealth, which assures them in return their existence in and a provision for their old age. Where large amounts of work require to be contracted for, the whole community, as represented by its Galowa, or chief, joins in seourity for the completion of the work or the fulfilment of the various conditions attached to it. Although it frequently happens that under this arrrangement, and favoured by auspicious circumstances, such as good harvests and an equitable owner, Az7c., these communities accu mulate wealth, chiefly in their surplus agricultural produce, not only are their individual members all kept down to the average degree of poverty of the whole number, but their accumulated wealth re mains unavailable for the purposes of further eco nomical improvement. In the interest of the State, therefore, this feature of serfdom as the most injurious to the economical development of the country calla most urgently for abolition. Another feature of serfdom in Russia which calls the most loudly for abolition in the interests of probably be th e first to b h a um ab a o ni li t s y h , edr d is w th h e iCh will oc i a l u l called Obrok system. This obtains incases where domains, formerly large, and with a large number of serfs allocated on them, have in the course of time been so split up and sub divided by sale or inheritances that small portions of them are to be found, on which ten, five, or even only three serfs are inscribed. These plots of land being too small, wad the number of serfs being too few to admit of agriculture being carried on there profitably, the owner either lets out his serfs for hire to other proprietors, or gives them his permis sion to fvllow any ha'sdicraft tney may have learnt, and exercise any talent they may possess on pay ment to him of an obrok or poll -tax. In this case the owner generally builds a dwelling-house on the land of that the serfs ought to have tilled, and lives on the obrok they pay him out of the earnings they make elsewhere. These two classes constitute the whole number of actual serfs in Russia, which amount to about 12,000,000 ; but it is usual, though not strictly correct, to include among the serfs six classes of peasants also, amounting to an equal number. There are, Ist, about 40,000 peasants who enjoy the usufruct of the land on which they are inscribed, •n condition of their supplying horses, vehicles, and drivers for theposting traffic; every 28 males supply one vehicle, three horses, and a driver; they receive a small money payment for the distance driven, and their land is free from any ether obligation than the above. 2. There are about 120,000 peasants employed in the forests of the State which supply timber for the fleet. They receive a small money allowance in addition to the usufruct of the land they cultivate, and are free from all taxes or other obligations than that of labouring in the forests. This is evidently the " common soccage tenure" of the law-books. 3. There are also about 800,000 peasants attached to the different appan ages or domains set aside for the support of the various members of the Imperial family. The peasants, however, who are the best off in Russia are, 4, those on the Crown dom a i ns , i n num b er about 9,000,000. They are not ylebce adscripti, and they are at liberty to leave their domicile and acquire personal pro perty in the prosecution of trades and professions. The greater part of them, however, are distributed in villages and the joint-stock communes, such as are described above. 5. nacre are also peasants who have been liberated from serfdom by their owners, to the number of about 1,400,000 ; these are free from all forced labour, or obrok, but are still liable to be taken as recruits, like all other peasants; they can even possess serfs attached to any property they may become possessed. of. There is stall further, 6th, a class of free peasants who have never been serfs, numbering about 225,000 males. Their position, however, is in realty nor nearly so free as that of the liberated se, fs, unless they have had a portion of land settled on them by the lord of the manor, or have themselves acquired some landed property. THE CRUSADE AGAINST THE MORMONS. The latest intelligence received in the united States of the progress of the expedition against Utah is contained in letters published by the St. Louis .Repubtican from the army to Nov. 3. The Hormonehad run off nix bunched .; Ec ht of Colonel Alexander's camp, near Hams Fork, Green River. At the date of the letter it was supposed that Colonel Johnston had concentrated his forces with Alexander, and that in a fortnight from that time Colonel Cook's command would be with them. They expected to winter on Henry's Fork, Green River. There was a gocd deal of suffering from want of provisions and clothing, and the horses were giving out from want of forage. Governor Cumming and the other territorial officers were de termined to get into Salt Lake C i ty if poss ibl e. The Mormons were determined on resistance to either the military or civil officers. A skirmish had taken place between Colonel Alexander's troops and the Mormons, and three or f)ur of the latter were cap tured. The St. LO2ti.3 Democrat learns that news has been received at Fort Leave nwort h f rom Major ' s and Russell's trains, that the government animals were dying in great numbers on the Plains. The foll•wing remarks are from the New York _Herald, written before the receipt of the above : " We observe that some little anxiety is expre-s ed in different quarters for the safety of the Utah expedition, under the command o f C o l . J o h nston. ec wheth er ar i sing from the t' that no f ears nee d b e enter - We apprehend, however, from a care f u l examina ttai%ned offotrhiets safety, subj Mor mons or the severity of the weather. Wh en l as t heard from, in the beginning of O c t o b er , th e mi l e body of the expedition, numbering over 1,000 bayo nets and two field-batteries —one a six and the were encamped ou side — of Salt L,ke City, H ot a h ra er ,s a Fo l r 2 k - , po l u 4 n 3 d m er ile h s at t t h e i r s y that vicinity an d go i nto win under command of Colon e l Al exander ; and it would appear from his repo r t t h at he i n ' ended to tseelrecqtuasortmer. There esplacein are many p oints, both on B ea r and Green Rivers—a few marches only from Ham's. Fork, where an abundance of fuel can be h id, and where our troops can make themselves coinpara tively comfortable for the winter, and where, also, by throwing up slight field works and arranging judiciously their 500 waggons and 12 pieces of artillery, they can defend them successfully against the entire Mormon ho,t, even if led on by the redoubtable Kimball, backed by his twenty-five sous and thirty wives. There is also an abundant supply o f provi s i ons , w ith th e ex peition, notwithstanding the loss' of the 78 wag gons which were burnt by the destroying angels under command of the saintly Bill Hickman, as the Government had taken the precaution to throw forward au extra quantity of subsistence stores to meet all emergencies. In addition to the force above alluded to, Colonel Johnston, on the 13th of October, was in the vicinity of the South Pass, 95 miles in rear of Colonel Alexander's command, with some 100 infantry and 125 dragoons, and long ere this he has no doubt joined , he araey and assumed command of it. Besides these troops, there were at the same time six companies of the 2d Dragoons under Colonel Cook e , making forced marches to join Colonel Johnston ; and we observe from the report of Indian Agent Forney, f otn Fort Laramie, that they passed the post on the 24th of October: . When Colonel Cooke joined the main body—which he doubtless succeeded in doing some time si nce, un l ess s t oppe d by the snows in the vicinity of the South Pass and the Wind River mountains—our Utah ft roes were swelled to over 1,600 efficient men. It is to be re ,retted, now that the Mormons have declared war and thrown down the gage of battle, that our troops did not arrive one month earlier in the season in front of the strongholds of the bellic ise saints ; for we believe that our gallant men could have forced the mountain passes, and either captured or de stroyed Brigham Young, thi s M a h ome t o f the New 'World, and his fanatical followers. It must be remembered, however, that when this Utah expe dition was organised no one believed the Mormons would offer any resist ance ; an d it was no t until the retura of Captain - Van "net from Utah that any opp -sision was anticipated, and even the great majority of the peopl e and the press remained incredulous; and it was only when the captain's judgment was backed u p by Brighatifs proclamation and the destruct'on of our provision trains, that the country was undeceived and the government found a Mormon war on its hands. Had the Mor mons offered no resistance, our troops would have had ample time to reach the Salt Lake Valley, and would now be bashing in tbe smiles of the Mormon beauties, instead of breasting the fierce winds and cold storms of a Rocky Mountain winter. In considering this sp ec k o f a re b e lli on an d civil war, it might be interesting to speculate as to the result. That the g o V ernment w ill grapp l e w i t h it with all necessary energy, and in one short 'and decisive . campaign W ill que ll it , i s qu i te cer t ain ; but that i n doing 80 We shall kill Mormonism, or - rather purify it of polygamy—for that appears to be the great objectionable feature, admits of a great doubt. The sword has never yet convinced a man his religion was false ; and we very much doubt if it will over convince the Mormon that it is wrong fur him to surround himself with a dozen wives, or that Brigham Young is not a true prophet. We are inclined to believe that a good strong corps of parsons would do more to suppress Mormonism than half a dozen regiments of the United States troops ; and we would recommend, now that Kansas has stopped bleeding, that Mr. Kallock, and ;the other three thousand New England parsons—their occupations being gone—be organised into regi ments, and sent to Utah, in order to teach the Mormons the errors of their ways. Should the church militant fail, we can then use the strong arm of the government. "We may not, however, have to fight the Mormons, after all, for already indications are abroad that the saints are on the eve of another hegira. Orders have been issued to the faithful in England and Wales prohibiting further emigration to the United States, as the Almighty has pointed out another place for them to go to. All their missionary establishments in the United States have been broken up, all their settlements on this side of the mountains andin California have been abandoned, and from every point of the com pass the Lord's annointed are hurrying to place themselves beneath the banner of his prophet amidst the valleys of the mountains. All these signs indicate, in our opinion, as we have just stated, that the Mormons are about to take at other flight. Having defied the authorities of the United States, Brigham is too keen an ob server not tc see the consequences. He is well aware th he must stand and fight it out or run the country. He is also well aware that he cannot contend with the United States Government with any hope of success, for when Captain Van Vliet, as he states in his report, told Brigham and his friends Atat if they opposed the United States troops this fall, the Government would send next year a force which would overcome all opposition, their answer was— ' We are aware that such will be the case, but when those troops arrive they will find Utah a desert— , every house will be burned to the ground, every tree cut down, and every field laid waste. We have three years' provision on hand which we will ' cache and then take to the mountains, and bid defiance to all the powers of the Government. " That Brigham will carry out his threat of making a Moscow of Utah is quite possible, but that he will shut himself up in the mountain canons with even three years' supply of provisions, and our troops occupying all the arable land, so that he must starve when his provisions are consumed, we do not believe. A. man might very well take care of himself in the mountains ; but if he had thirty wives and thirty or forty small children to look after and provide for, as has the vi r t uous H e h er C. Kimball, the undertaking would be much mote difficult. We are, therefore, of the opinion that the Mormons intend to favour some other country with their presence, where they will not be annoyed by the stars and stripes—and there is no country more inviting or more convenient than Sonora. The Mormons have been quieitly, but steadily pushing their settlements towards Mexico, and they already extend 400 miles to the south of Salt Lake City —more than half-way to the Mexican frontier —and should they decide upon moving iu that di rection they can be beyond our boundary before we can reach them, as the country to the south of Salt Lake City can be traversed at all seasons of the year. We trust the saints will decide upon such a move, and thereby relieve us of the disagreeable duty of exterminating them. In Sonora they would have the opportunity to develop the beauties of their religion, and if it contains within itself the seeds of its ()endestruction—as we believe itidoes— it will crumble to pieces and disappear, and will be numbered with the numerous false religions that have sprung up and had their day, and are now only known in history." ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE. NORTHERN CIRCUIT—NEWCASTLE, DEC. 26. (Before Mr. Justice Crompton.) Lavine Leipchitz was indicted for maliciously setting fire to his dwelling-house with intent to de fraud the Phoenix Insurance Company. There were other counts in the indictment, including one for the capital offence of firing a dwelling-house, some persons being therein. The Hon. A. Liddell, Mr. Davidson, and Mr. Blackwell prosecuted ; Mr. Dighy Seymour defen ded the prisoner. Mr. Liddell stated the case at some length. The prisoner came to reside in Newcastle in Feb. last, and took a small house and shop in Buckiegham stre t, where he and his son carried on the business of a pawnbroker. Shortly after entering into pos ses.ion the prisoner effected au insurance with the Phoenix Insurance for 8001. On July 5 the prisoner was seen in Houndsditch, London, where he called Upon a waterproof manufacturer named Kauffman. After obsr,rving that the brado of o. pawnbroker was very bad, and he wished to start as a waterproof ' manufacturer, Mr. Kauffman informed him that he must provide himself with a stock of naph ha for the purpose of dissolving the indiarubber. The prisoner bought 4,i gallons of naphtha, which was put in a large battle and packed in a box, and sent by sea to.. the prisoner's address at Newcastle. This box was subsequently found in the prisoner's house. The prisoner's business would be shown to have been ,of the very poorest description, the goods being of the commonest character; and on the part of the prosecution it was suggested that the whole stock was comparatively valueless, and the insurance for 8001. was effected for the sole purpose of defraud ing the company. An old feather-bed smelling strongly of naphtha was on the floor of the shop a few days before the fire. When the fire broke out it was shown to have burst out in different places, and the moment an alarm was given the prisoner would be shown to have been at the place, partly dressed, and two women who lived in the house came out with their dresses off, but were observed to have their stays on, laced. The prisoner would be shown to have taken no part whatever in endea vouring to put the fire out. After the fire the pre mises were shut up and placed in the charge of a police-officer. The next day a small vessel was found smelling strongly of naphtha, and on examin. ing the shop the wooden shelves were found partly burnt, the goods also, and on the floor, partly burnt, a feather bed, from which on analysis 2oz. of naphtha were extracted. No other tools or ma terials necessaty to carry on the manufacture of waterproof were found, and on the part of the pro secution it was suggested that the conversation in London was only a ruse, and the naphtha procured fur the express purpose of firing the shop. The prisoner made a claim against the company for 7801., which was refused, and on inquiries being made the prisoner was taken into custody. To prove this case the following evidence was called : Dinah Huudspeth, the owner of the house in Buckingham-street, proved letting the house to the prisoner. His son was with him on each occasion when be came, and the agreement was signed by the son. The policy was shown to have been effected by the prisoner for the sum of 8001.-6501. on the stock, and the remainder on the fixtures and fly nituro. . Mr. Kauffman proved that the prisoner called on Lim in Houndsditch early in July, and had a con versation respecting the waterproof trade; he told the prisoner he nutp,t provide a s:ock of indiarubber, naphtha, and nece4s iry to ds. The prisoner stated that he wasi short of money, and ho lent him 2/. The prisoner gave him a note of hand for 101. for the 21. lent, and the instructions he gave him as to the mode of managing the waterproof business. He went with him and purchased four gallons of naph tha. It was put iu a tin and carefully packed iu a wooden box. The box produced is the same. Joseph Sampson proved that the box was shipped from Hay's-wharf for Newcastle. The person at whose shop the naphtha was bought proved that -when she filled the bottle,. Kauffman, who acted as interpreter for the prisoner, ordered the bottle to be filled quite full, so that it might not make a noise, and the box to be tightly fastenel down, so that there might ba no smell Witnesses were called to show that the shop was one of the poorest description, and the general cha racter of the goods of very small value. Joseph Craigie was ou duty the night of the fire. He ha' been in the shop ou different occasions, and observed the stock was very small. On the 19 th of July he was passing the shop about half past 12 o'clock, and saw a light which appeared to se gas inside ;he pass--d the place again about 1 o'clock. Thsre was no light then. He got 300 or 400 yards past when he beard cries of " Fire 1" from the direction of the shop. tie ran back and found , he shop in a blaze of fire. The windows and k-hutteis were blown out. He produced a woolen vessel called a kit which was found in the house ; it smelt strongly of naptha, and it smalls still. Another police-officer saw the shop on the night of the fire. He looked through a crevice in the door, and the whole place seemed in a blaze'. He gtvo an alarm and ran for the engines. Tho pri soner gave no a.isistance in tryin to get the fire extinguished. Examined the house alter the £.•e. Everything was burnt. The ntxt day he found the remains of a bed on the floor, and everything mixed up. William Fleming lived near the prisoner, and was out the night of the fire ; he heard the alarm, and ran to the prisoner's shop. He broke in the doer, but could not get in for the flames. Ho went round to call the prisoner up. The top part of the house was entered by stairs outside. He met the prisoner and a woman coming out of the door. They were partly dressed. The prisoner had no trousers on, nor shoes, nor coat, nor hat. He had ion a shirt and drawers. Charlotte Brabant lived opposite, and saw the fire break out. She ran to the prisoner's door, and knocked, calling out " Fire !" In a few minutes the prisoner and his son and two women came out. The prisoner had on a shirt and drawers. The witness went away and dressed herself, and came back in five or ten minutes. When she got back she saw the prisoner and his family at the I,ot of the stairs. Could not say whether or no the worn* n had stays on. The prisoner was lamenting about his boy. She saw smoke before flames. Robert Brabant—Heard cries of "Fire" on Sun day morning, the 19th July, and went over to pri soner's shop. Did not see the prisoner. First saw him standing on the steps of the house door.. After wards went upst a i rs t o see k hi m. No fire on stair case. Prisoner was looking in the bed for a child. I told him the child was in my ho roe. I assisted in putting out the fire. Did not see prisoner assist in doing so. Short, police constable, was pre sent when I took the kit away. Cross-examined—Prisoner appeared to be in great distress for the child when I saw him. There was a little smoke on the stairs. I could see the prisoner. He was searching the beds for the child. He was shouting, " Sheptie," my child." There were plenty of people assisting in putting out the fire. Re-examined—Did not see prisoner attempt to rescue any goods. Sheptie, the child, was in his shirt. Thomas Story, police-constable—Got to the fire ten minutes before two. Saw the flames arise from the centre of the floor from something bulky lying on the floor of the shop. The shelves were on fire. A great deal of flame, red flame. Have been to a great many fires. This one was " more redder." John Jackson was present at the fire. Saw some thing like a bed in the middle of the shop. By the Judge—Nobody had been in the shop then. When he next saw it the shop was in a blaze. Never saw the prisoner assist in putting the fire out. First observed smoke, and then some flame : a few minutes afterwards a burst of flame. Prisoner cried out, " rm ruined." George Allison, police-constable--I was present at the the. Saw flames arising from " all over" the floor—flames dark red, mixed with smoke. Prisoner was standing in front of thq people doing nothing. I examined the place on the 31st July with Inspector Potts. Prisoner and his son turned over remains of the fire with shovels. Found re mains of bed-tick, pillows, &c. Did not find any tin can, or remains of one. Found an empty box in the cellar-kitchen on the morning of the fire, but no tin can anywhere. Did not look for the can particularly. As we turned up the tick and feathers there was a considerable smell. Returned to the shop on the Ist of August. Potts and witness put portions of feathers, &c., into a box and took them to Mr. Richardson's surgery, and gave them to Dr. Adriani. Afterwards received them from him. Inspector Potts—Went with the hat witness to the prisoner's shop on August 1. Was there on the night of the fire. The fire had not extended to the cellar. In the office found some sticks (produced). The table in the office was charred—shelves in the shop were burnt down—furniture upstairs was not damaged. When we turned over the things foui.d a strong smell of naphtha in two places ; from the bed in the middle of the shop, and ft om a child's frock. If there had been a tin case of the size de scribed I must have seen it. Found nu traces of indiarubber or gutta-percha. Adrian Adriani, an assistant to Dr. Richardson, analytical chemist, received some feathers from Potts, from which he extracted a liquid which smells strongly of naphtha. The feathers when re ceived smelt strongly of naphtha. Cross-examined—Never heard of naphtha used for bed-ticks. Have heard of bees'-wax and soap being used to prevent feathers coming through. Can't say but naphtha and indiarubber might be used for the same purpose. Naphtha is highly in flammable. Re-examined—Have no doubt - that the feathers were strongly impregnated with naphtha. Naphtha burns with a smok§ red flame. Thomas Richardson, analytical chemist—Cm smell a faint trace of coal naphtha in the kit now. It smelt more strongly when before the magistrate, the feathers and child's frock smell strongly of coal naptha. Naptha produces a sooty and reddish coloured flame. The smoke is very dense and black. When the air is admitted there is less smoke, and the flame is bright er . With an am pl e su pply of air there would be no smoke. Elizabeth Daglish was called to identify the tick of the bed, as one she had pawned with the prisoner. Had never put any naptha on the tick. Robert Davison noticed a smell of naptha while he assisted in putting the fire out, but did not call attention to the fact then. Witness was assistant in a chemist's shop. Isaac Pattinson, an appraiser, said—On Aug. 13 I went to prisoner's house and -valued furniture. Its value was 311. 4s. The gas fittings and bench and small table in the value were worth about V. These articles were valued at the price they could be replaced at. Mr. Seymour addressed the jury for the prisoner and commented forcibly ou the improbability of the prisoner's purchasing naptha for the purpose of set ting fire to his houseat a shop where be was known. Why should the prisoner use naptha for such a purpose when a lucifer match would have pro duced the same effect, and not been so liable to de tection The policy of insurance became void by the introduction of so inflammable a spirit, yet the pro secution would wish the juryto believe that prig, nor set fire to his house by means of naphtha, with a view to obtaining the insurance money. The learned counsel remarked on the absence of all evi dence of the amount of business the prisoner was doing, the only evidence on - the point being that of the observations of policemen on the night of the fire. As to the origin of the fire he would attri bute it to accident, the subsequent heat igniting the naphtha. The prisoner's conduct on the night was exactly what you would expect from an inno cent man surprised in the middle of the night by a fire in his house. Had be been guilty, would he not have affected anxiety to quench the fire, and been foremost among those working to subdue the flames ? After sifting the evidence for the prosecu tion in a most searching manner, the learned coun sel concluded his addres to the jury by cal ing upon them to say that the case on the part of the prosecution bad not been proved, and return their verdict of not guilty. His Lordship summed up the case with great care, and at considerable length. The jury retired for a few minutes, and then brought in a verdict of not guilty. This case brought the business of these unusually protracted assizes to a close ; judge, bar, witnesses, and public officers having been kept away fi °in their Christmas cheer—a fact that, from some of the ob servations which reached our ears at the rising of the court on Christmas Eve, seemed to have any thing but a beneficial effect on the tempers of some of the persons already named. The jury were more fortunate, being all inhabitants of Newcastle, and consequently at home. GLASGOW CIRCUIT COURT. (Before the Lord Justice Clerk.) THE EAGLESUA3/ POISONING CASE. THIRD DAY—THURSDAY. The court met this morninc , at nine o'clock. Frederick Penney, Professor of Chemistry in the Andersonian University was examined . by Mr. Clark. The reports of the analysis had satisfied him of the presence of prussic acid. "I am aware," he added, "it has been said by Orfila that prussic acid may be produced by decomposition alone, but I don't concur in that view. Special investigations have been made to decide the point, but the re'ults, without exception, have been aegatived. More over, we would be frequently meeting with prussic cid in our analysis of substances after death, if this specula ion had any foundation." This closed the case for the Crown. There was no evidence for the defence. Mr. Herriot then addressed the jury for the Crown, and Mr. Moncrieff for the defence. The Lord Justice-Clerk having summed up the evidence, The jury retired, and, after an absence of ten minutes, returned with a verdict unanimously finding the prisoner guilty of murder as charged in the first count of the indictment. Tire Lord Jusice-Clerk then addressed the pri soner, imploring him to spend the remainder of his time in exercises suited to his position at tLe foot of the scaffold. He then assumed the black cap, and sentenced the prisoner to be hanged, at the public place of execution in Paisley, on Thursday, the 14th January. His lordship, in passing toll thrice, appeared much affected. We understand that the prisoner, while Leing conveyed to Paisley, in aceordalice with the sen tence, confessed to the officers that were with him that he was guilty of the crimes which were laid to his charge, and of the murder for which he was condemned, but he seemed to be at a loss to explain what motive c mld have prompt©d him to perpe trate such an at, ocious GREAT WESTERN AND SOUTH WESTERN RAILWAYS COMPETITION.—W e have been given to understand that the competition between these companies for the Wer mouth traffic, 4:ending, of course, that of the Channel Islands, revolts in a loss to the latter company of some thing like 2001. a week, or at the rate of 10,000/. a y ear, and to the former company of 400/. a week, or at the rate of 20,000/. a year. Have the companies no mutual friends who can step in between them, aP lkiut an end to so costly a game 7 —Scraped.. PRIVATB AND JOINT-STOCK BANKS. The Bankers' Magazine furnishes the returns of cirGu• lation of the private and joint-stock banks in England and Wales,for the four weeks ending the 21st of Nov., 1857, and gives the following as the average weekly cir culation of those banks during the past month, viz.:-- Private banks fp , — dt•-• 3,026,590 Joint-stock banks.., Average weekly circulation £6,682,161 On comparing the above with the amounts of the fixed issues the following appears to be the comparative state of the circulation : The private banks are below their fixed issu £ 762,676 The joint-stock banks are below their fixed issues Total below the fixed issue £1,068 ,413 The returns of circulation of the Irish and scotch banks for the four weeks ending the 21st of Nov., 1857, when added together, give the folloiVing as the average weekly circulation of these banks during th e past month, viz.:— Average circulation of the Irish banks £6,772, 6 0 ,i g Average circulation of th e S co t c h banks ... Average circulation during past month ...211,116,867 On comparin g th e a b ove w i t h t h e f i xe d i ssues of the several banks, as given i n th e B an ki ng Al man ac, the following app ears t o b e th e state of the c i rcu l at i on :-- The Irish banks are a b ove th e i r fi xe d i ssue E418,16 1• The Scotch banks are a b ove th e i r fi xe d i ssue 1,257 ,013 Total above the fixed issue X 1,675,164 The amounts of gold and silver held at the head offices of the several banks during the past month have been as follows : Gold and silver held by the Irish banks 22,4 1 4 , 5 L9 Gold and silver held by th e S co t c h b anks... 2,057,17" Total of gold and silver held £4,471, 731 The above statements complete the returns of the cir culation in England, Scotland, and Ireland for the month ending the 21st of Nov. These returns, of the Bank of Er the following resu . United Kingdom, month : 3onabined with the average circulation igland for the same period, will give its of the circulation of notes in tha when compared with the previous - -- 0 1 c 8 t 5 . 7 2 . 4, N0 18 1, 5.7 2 . 1 ' • ------. X X Increase. Decrease. X X Bank of England .... 19,971,724 20,557,120 585,396 Private Banks Joint-stock Banks Total In England Scotland 4,248,221 4,344,222 96,001 Ireland ..•• ---.--... United Kingdom .... 38,466,449 38,356,154 110,295 Showing an increase of 283,0181. in the circu lation of notes in England, and a decrease of 110,2951. in the circulatiop of the United Kingdom, when compared with the month ending the 22d of November, 1856, the above re t urns s h ow a n increase of 207,3891. in the circulation of notes in England, and a decrease of 546,1861. in the circulation of the United Kingdom. The average stock of bullion held by the Bank of Eng land in both departments during the month ending the 18th of Nov. was 7,720,9841., being a decrease of 2,195,7431. as compared with the prev i ous month; an d a decreas e of 1,956 , 086/ . when compared with the saute period last year. The stock of specie held by the Scotch and Irish banks during the month ending the 214 of Nov., w O , 4,471,7311., b e i ng an increase of 413,9091. as compare d with the previous return, and an increase of 94,262 1 . when compa re d w ith t h e correspon di ng period last year. CAPTURE OP ELEVEN RUNAWAY NEGRO, (Front the St. Joseph (Mis.) Gazette.) During the past week we heard, through a gentleman living near this city, the following interesting account of the capture of 11 runaways :—About a fortnight since, a gentleman stayed at our informant's house on his re turn from lowa, whither he bad been in pursuit of the fugitives above alluded to. The negroes made their escape from Clay, Jackson and Platte counties, several months since, and have eluded all pursuit unt il last three weeks. The gentleman of whom we speak we believe lives in Clay or Platte, and owns five of the negroes. He relates that he first heard of them at or near Topeka, Kansas, some time since, whither he went to capture them. The people of that famous burg au& ceeded in defeating his efforts to get his property. ll° then applied to the authorities for a force sufficient to effect his purpose. When this was ascertained the no• gross were secreted and assisted to again escape. Se then hired a free . negro of Jackson county to pursu e them. This fellow being shrewd and having some know* ledge of the character of an abolitionist, went to Topeka and represented himself as a fugitive. This be knew to be the key to the hearts of this philanthropic, race of negro-lovers. A horse was furnished him and information given where he might join the party he wag in quest of. The master, a ft er receiving this information, again made purduit, and overtook his negroes, i n come pany with six others, about two weeks sine*, in lowa, at a bend of the Missouri river, clear Nebraspkacceietdye.d at In company with three other gentlemen, he proceeded once to capture them, as they had determined upon re sistance. The leader of the negroes fired three times without effect, when he was shot down. The other negroes were summoned to give up their arms, whoa they threw down 30 odd revolvers and surrendered themselves. The negro who did the shooting-is the same who killed Myers, at Brownville, under similar &mum* stances, some six months since. It was not ascertained whether he was fatally wounded or not. The whole party of negroes, we understand, passed through this city under convoy of their captors about two'weeks ago. LADVERTISEDIENT.I—HoIIoway's Pills a moat excel lent remedy for indigestion.—Charles Strong, bricklayer of Burghfield, near Reading, Berkshire, with great gratiqide informs Professor Holloway that his pills have cured/him of indigestion, accompanied with all its .hor rors, after several physicians had been consulted in vain. For three years he was troubled with these terrible symptoms, frequent vomitings, and want of rest, until be accidentally heard of Holloway's Pille,,and, per severing steadily with the same, in a few weeks he was restored to perfect health.—Sold by all medieine vendors throughout the world ; at Professor Holloway's' Establishment-, 244, Strand, London, and 80, Maiden lane, New York ; by A. Stamps, Constantinople A. Guidicy, Smyrna ; and E. Muir, Malta. - • Country Markets. DALKEITH GRAIN MARKET—NO. 24. Qrs. Best. Current. lnfer inr 418 Wheat 45s 3d 368 id 2061 Oats 2ss 6d. 2OB 9id. . 163 Od 105 a Barley 345 Od 2 ss ma 213 Od 50 Peas & beans 37s Od 34s 9d 3211 6d HADDINGTON GRAI. MARKET-DEC. 25. VIIICAT. 1 RAMAT OATS. I BEAD. First 4Bs Od 33a 63 25s 6d 1 375 Od Second 3Bs 7d 1 27s 7d 21s 10d 134 2d Third 303 Od 1 203 Od 19s 641 30s Od Total quantity of wheat in market, '648 qrs., 614 sold PP PP barley ~ 970 qrs., 839 sold , oats ,; 373 qrs., 332 sold ~ OP beans 111 114 qrs., 109 sold AVERAGES PER IMPERIAL QUARTER. Wheat, 1/. 18 7 9-12ths 1 Barley, ...11. 7 7 10-12th1 Oats, ... 11. 110 4.l2ths 1 Beans, it. 14 2 7-12tbll ABEP.DEEN-Dm. 25. Potato oats 19s Od to 20s Od 1 401bs or build Common oats 18s Od to 18s 6d Bero 23s Od to 25s Od 1 os — lbs Barley 23s Od to 25s Od Wheat, red (spring)3os Od to 33s Od 1 621bs , w hit e 28s Od to 44s Od •op Oat'meal 15s Od to I's Od per boll. Flour 38s Od to 39s Od per sack. PROVISION MARKET. Beef, per lb Gd to 8d Butter, p lb. s 10d to is 04 I Mutton, per lb 6d to 8d Eggs, p doz. is Od to is 4d Lamb, do., Os Gd to O'i 8d I Hens, p pair 3s Od to 3s 64 Veal, per lb ... 6d to Os 8 I I Chickens,do. 23 Od to 2s 64:1 Pork, perlb...Os Od to Os Od Ducks, do., Is 6d to 2i• Od Salmon, per lb .... ... Os Od 1 Ducklings,do2s Od to 2s 6d Grouse, per brace.., 0s to Os Turkeys, each 3s Od to 3i 64 Tallow, p stone, Os to —s 01 Potatoes, pr peck, —d to 12d Rabbits, each 8d to lid. Butter for exportation (present cure) per cwt....80s to —1 Eggs, wholesale price, per dozen ___. .--d to 124 RETAIL PRICES: Flour,l4lb 0s Od to 2s 2d Oatmeal Os Od to is 7d Barley flour,l4.lb.Os to le 8d „ dust, ..... Os to OA led Beremeal ....Os Od to is 6d I Peasemeal... Os Od to 2s 4d Cheese, per imperial st( 4-lb. 10af...6d. J per lb 2d to 2id Sids, 7d one, 4s. Od. to 4a 6d 2-Ib. 10af...3d. BIRTHS. ASHEY—On Christmas-day, at Jeffreys-square, the wife of Mr. Richard B. Ashby, of a ion. BEATTIE—On Christmas-eve, at the London Orphan ANY• lum, Clapton, the wife of the Rev. Henry Bee" M.A., chaplain and head master, of a son. LICIIFIELD—On the 22d inst. , at 10, Grosvenor -1106r° ' the Countess of Li c hfi e ld , of a son. TANCUED—On the 23d inst , at Howick-grange, borland, Lady T ancre d , of a son. bAItIAGES. MABSDEN—WILso N — I R On the 25th inst. at the parishchurch, church, Ec c l es , J o h n M ars h a ll , E sq ., of'Sorsforthgalls to Miss Mcry Wilson, of Gild s Book. Ch b uro MILLS — SANDS— On the 24th ins t at ~St. Giles Es of Lower. Camberw e ll, W. V an d er l ure Mills, c l" • l a t e green, Tanbrid ge - we ll s , t o Mary, widow of t he Sands, Esq., of P on t onv ille. Northura. DEATHS. ASIITON—At High Wycombe, Mr. Charles Ashton, for more than 40 years steward to th© late and to the prod sent Lord Carington. BAr ird ER so — n O o n f th te e h 24 l, tn te in j s o t h . , n a u t aHtgaesrt,iniss,q7iollfiain tr il at e f n BIIuEAREY—On the 25th inst., Thomas Brearey, Esq., of Haluaker Lodge , East Brixton, and Alderman bur y . D ENT ON--On the 25th inst., the Rev. R. A. Dent on, rec tor of Stour Provost, and T o db er , aged 60. HEARSEY—On the 30th O c t., a t B a rrackpore, near Cal " cotta, Malian , second daughter of General Sir John 13. SorT t green, Essex, aged :. 3 . Hearsay, Le.B., H. E.I.C. S. WnicriT---On the 25th inst. ' at Church street, Hackney Mr. Thom as W r i g ht, age d 80. _ -- LONDON ; Printed and Published by MURDO YOUNO of No, 112, Strand, Printer, at 2714 Sun Office. 21°i 112, Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy, in the comity of Middlesex, Monday, December 28, /65L