The Sun. — London, England, 1847-12-28 00:00:00

• NOTICE. THE GOVERNMENT PLAN FOR THE DEFENCE OF THE COUNTRY. BENTLEY'S MISCELLANY (to be Published on FRIDAY next, the 31st inst ) Will contain THE PLAN OF HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT FOR THE DEFENCE OF THE COUNTRY. *** Orders should be forwarded to the Booksellers immediately to Secure the early delivery of this Publication. 8, New Burlington-street, Dec. 28, 1847. ILLUMINATED PRESENT BOOK. Published This Day, square fcp. !Ivo., uniform in size with " Parables of Our Lord;' and "The Good Shunammite," lt. is. in carved binding; or 11. lOs . in morocco. THE MIRACLES of OUR SAVIOUR. With rich and appropriate Borders of original design, a series of illuminated Figures of the Apostles from the Old Masters, Six Illuminated Miniatures, and other Embellishments. By the Illuminator of the " Parables." London : Longman, Brown, Green, and Longman. • RAILWAY SHARES BY PUBLIC SALE. MESSRS. LAMOND and Co., RAILWAT SHARE AUCTIONEERS, beg to thank their Friends and the Public for their continued support and patronage, and to announce that their Public Sales of Railway Shares, &c., take place every WXDNICSDAY, at One o'clock, (instead of Tuesday and Friday, as hitherto), at the Hall of Commerce, Threadneedle street, London, to which place, favours, containing instructions (with a reference), are respectfully requested to be addressed. All Scrip and Share Certificates must be deposited, the day previous to their being offered ; and advises of results will be f...rwarded by the first post after the sale, and the proceeds imme diately disposed of according to instructions. N.B. Sales and purchases of all descriptions of stook and shares affected by private cantract, every day, as usual. 011 ices. Hall of Commerce. Threadneedle-street. London. THEATRE ROYAL, HAYMARKET. Un ler the Management et Mr. B. Webster, sole Lessee. THIS EVENING Will be presented the Comedy of SPEED THE PLOUGH. Sir Abel Handy, Mr. Farren ; Bob Handy, Mr. H. Farren; Sir Philip Blandford, Mr. Rogers ; farmer Ashfield, Mr. Webster ; Henry, Mr. H. Vandenheff ; Gerald, Mr. Tilbury ; Dame Ashtield, Mrs. Glover ; Miss Blandford, Mrs. L. S. Buckingham; Lady Handy, Mrs. W. Clifford ; Susan Ashfield, Mrs. Seymour. After which, the new Comic Drama, called THE ROUSED LION. Characters by Messrs. Webster, Howe, Wigan, H. Vanden hot! ; Mrs. Keeley, Miss Reynolds, Mrs. Seymour, and Mrs. Stanley. To conclude with a New and Original Burlesque Spectacle entitled THE WORLD UNDERGROUND; or, the Golden Flute and the Brazen Waters. Stage Manager, Mr. Farren; Acting Manager, Mr. F. Webster. J. T. Archer, Box-book keeper. Boxes, ss. ; Pit, 3s. ; Gallery, 25 . ; Upper Gallery, 15. Doors open at Half-past Six, Performance to commence at Seven. • THEATRE ROYAL, ADELPHI. Under the direction o 4 Madame Celeste. THIS EVENING Will be presented an entirely new Piece, entitled the PEARL OF THE OCEAN ; or, the Prince and the Mermaiden. Principal cha racters by Messrs. Wale, P. Bedford, Wright, Munyard, Glonnaire, Cullenford, and Worrell ; Miss Woolgar, Miss Emma Harding, Miss Ellen Chaplin, Mrs. Laws, aid Madame Celeste. To conclude with an Italian Pantomime, entitled PIEREOT, the Married Man ; and POLICHINELLO, the Gay Single Fellow. Boxes, 45.; Pit, 29.; Gallery, Is. Doors open at Half-past Six. Performance to commence at Seven. ROYAL LYCEUM THEATRE. 'Under the 31anagement of Madame Vestris. bole Lessee, Mr. Charles Mathews. THIS EVENING Will be presented new Comic Drama, entitled THE TRA GEDY QUEEN. After which, a New Fairy Extravaganza, entitled THE GOLDEN BRANCH. To conclude with a Romance of Real Life, called BOX and COX. Principal characters by Mr. Harley, Mr. Buckstone, and Mrs. Mac. uamara. Dress Boxes, ss. ; Upper Boxes, 4s. ; Pit, 7e. ; liallery, is. half-price to any part of the house. The New Box-office, No. 2, Wellington-street, is spelt to the Public every day, from Ten till Six. The Interior of the House has been entirely re-designed by Mr. W. Bradwell of the Colosseum. PRINCESS'S THEATRE. Mr. J. M. Maddox, sole Lessee and Manager, Duchess-street, Portland-place. Madame ANNA THILLON. THIS EVENING A new Comic Opera, entitled THE AMBASSADRESS. Duke de Valberg, Mr. Bodcla ; Benedict, Mr. Barker ; Fertunatus, Mr. Lef fler ; Countess de Ficrschomberg, Miss Villars ; Madame Barneck, Mrs. Selby ; Charlotte, Miss Anne Bonier ; klenriette, Madame Anna Thillan. To conclude with a new Christmas Pantomime, entitled OLD LATHERHarlequin and the Four Seasons. Dress Cirele, be.: Boxes, 45.; Pit, 2s. ; Gallery, Is. ROYAL SURREY THEATRE. Lessee, Mn. F. Davidge, N.. 1, Davidge-terrace, Kensington-road, Surrey. THIS EVENING, Will be performed the Tragedy of THE EARL OF WARWICK. King Edward, Mr. F. Vining ; Earl of Warwick, Mr. 11. Hughes ; Duke of Clarence, Mr. Constantine; Earl of Pembroke, Mr. H. Horn castle ; Margaret of Anjou, Mrs. W. West. To conclude with a new Pantomime, entitled BATTLEDOOR and SHUTTLECOCK ; or, Harlequin Trap, Bat, and gall. A distinct entrance to the private boxes has been made (which have been re-fitted). Private boxes may be had nightly .f all the !Principal Librarians ; and at the Box-otlize of the Theatre, which is open daily trom Ten until Four. Boxes, 2s. ; Pit, Is. ; Gallery, 6d. ROYAL VICTORIA THEATRE. THIS EVENING Will be presented an original Drama, entitled The CARPENTERS OF LAMBETH, in which Miss Vincent, Mr. Inas, and Mr. For man wi.l appear. After which, THE JACKET OF BLUE. To conclude with the grand scholastic and instructive Pantomime, ontitled THE WORLD OF WONDERS; or, Harlequin Caxton and the Origin of Printing, with wonderful scenery and decorative ap pointments. Clown, Mr. Paul Herring ; Pantaloon, Mr. Morelli ; Harlequin, M. Lupino ; Sprite, Signor Molino; Columbine, Wile. Shona. Boxes, is. ; Pit, 6d.; Gallery, 4d. No Half-price to any part of the house. Doers open at Six, to commence at Half-past Six. ASTLEY'S ROYAL AMPIIITH E ATRE, Proprietor and Manager, Mr. William Batty. Mr. Batty's performing Elephants. THIS EVENING, The Grand Spectacle of THE CIAIIP OF SILESIA. Entirely new Scents in the Arena, by the talented Artistes of the ":stablishment, in the carious modes 01 equestration. To conblude with a Grand Equestrian Comic Pantomime entitled HARLEQUIN DOCTOR SYNTAX AND HIS DAPPER GREY 3IARE, in which those popular artistes Herr Dentin,lle. Theo dore, Mr. Anderson, and Mr. Bradbury, as Harlequin, Columbine, Clown, and Pantaloon, which will exceed in splendour and effect all former prOduotions at the Amphitheatre, Box-office open from 11 till 5 Acting and Stage Manager, Mr. W West. TLIE WEATTITIII.—SuN OPTICE, DBC. 28. THERMOMETEB, Lowest, 32 ; Highest, 34 ; Noon, 33. BAROMETER, 30 26. WIND N.N.W.; morning, slight fall of Snow: afternoon, hazy. MGR WATER AT LONDON-BRIDGE THIS DAY. Morning.. ID minutes atter 5. I Evening .. as minutes after 5. °- trotting ''slllt. LONDON. TUESDAY. DECEMBER 28, 1847. A. frightful system of retaliation is threatened to the Irish priesthood—a system of retaliation as fiendish in audacity as it promises to be devillish in rigour, and such as must, if not prevented by legal interference, deluge the land with the blood of ad ditional assassinations. The nature of this extraor dinary scheme of revenge cannot be more fully ex plained than by literally transferring to our columns the anonymous document in which it is announced. The letter appears to have been posted in the capital on the 15th instant, and was addressed to the Parish Priest of Mountrath, Queen's County. It runs as follows : " Rev. Sir,—l am directed to inclose you a copy of this resolution of a body of Protestants Resolved : That since we perceive the Government so backward in defending the lives of its present Protestant land lords, tenants, and clergymen, we do form ourselves into a body, and swear by a crucified Christ, that for the life of every Protestant landlord, tenant, or clergyman, we will take the life of the parish priest of that perish where the deed was committed ; and this we swear to perform by the truth of the Gospel throughout all the counties in Ireland, we being de termined to see what effect making a few parishes vacant will have.' . _ _ " To Rev. Patrick Fitzpatrick, parish Mountrath. " We would request you to make this known also to your curate, Rev. John M'Mahon." We should be guilty of a heinous injustice were we to attach, even by insinuation, any portion of the odium inseparable from this appalling missive to any number of respectable men terming themselves Pro testants. The factious sentiments inspired by the fanatical and incendiary doctrines of Orangeism— passionate as they might be rendered by opposition— could never by possibility generate anything 'so hideous, so dastardly, so diabolical, so unutterably andinexcusably monstrous as this. The de votees of Thuggee could not by the most inge nious device of barbarity imagine to themselves a plan of vengeance more ruthless and execrable. Even . the morbid i mag i nation of the author of the Alf Errata t and th e itl ysteres de Paris could hardly h a ve conceived a more dreadful project w of retort — the repartee of the blunderb uss h gn depicting the infernal characters of " The Schoolmaster" and "The Strangler." FARINGIIEX seems tohayss have taken up his abode in Dublin ; the footprint of the atic murderer is not only visible in highway, its gory outline is becoming traceable upon the very pavements of the metropolis. Landed proprietors, at this rate, will not only be liable to fall at the snap of a pistol while strolling through their avenues, but the ministers of Christianity will totter upon the brink of eternity while administering to their parishioners the consolations of religion. Satisfied as every one must feel that the document above transcribed is the resolution of a gang of i ruf fians rather than of " a body of Protestants," t is, nevertheless, quite reasonable to believe that in the present condition of Ireland the ghastly vision of a few wretches, however ignoble and uninfluential, may be realised—and that it may be realised indeed at noonday and within a stone's throw of a provincial barrack. Knowing this, must a communication of this character be scorned as the effusion of an impotent and fantastic sense of animosity ? Major ALuteN re- ceived a warning as horrible and deadly, and very soon afterwards he perished. Mr. LUCAS perished in like manner in King's county; Mr. ROWE, in Tip perary ; Mr. HAZARD, in Fermanagh ; and the Rev. Mr. LLOYD, in Roscommon—all of them having been previously threatened by the scrawl of the hired mur derer. It is essential that the Executive should at length interpose in these spectacles of deli berate bloodshed, and vindicate the outraged majesty of the law while proclaiming the unutterable sanctity of human life. It is es sential that deeds of such ineffable blackness should no longer be allowed to desolate the island, and to profane GoD's earth, that the innocent should be sheltered under the segis of the constitution from the weapons of an insensate and brutalised rabble. Far from us be the intention to implicate in this detestable transaction the mass of a still honest, religious, and long-suffering peasantry. Far from us be the design to picture Ireland as the abode of eight millions of marauders and assassins. The constancy with which the Irish labourers have borne for a pro • longed series of years every possible deprivation and every conceivable debasement, the patience with which they have toiled for a subsistence the most scanty and precarious, the obedience they have shown to those laws which have chiefly aimed at their op pression, all appeal to our judgment for the most favourable construction even to their most questionable proceedings. The recollection of their past virtues should induce us to attribute their connivance in the escape of murderers to a sort of superstitious terror rather than to a criminal complicity. While, however, we regard the majority of this impoverished multitude under the most lenient aspect, we would to GOD that the voice of their dead Liberator could again resound over the island he loved so much— that voice upon which, as Mr. SHEIL has beautifully exclaimed, a whole people hung in rapture, and a senate in admiration—that voice which at first con jured, and at last cemmanded, the population of Ireland to prove, under all circumstances, subor dinate to the law—that voice which perpe tually denounced the promoters of agrarian outrage, and dedicated the names of the assassins to the execration of Christendom ! Could O'CoNNELL again be heard by the peasantry in whose cause he struggled so grandly and so bravely during the lapse of half a century, what words would not penetrate to the most secluded corners of Tipperary and Roscommon! If these men would only meditate for an instant they would feel that the oratory of O'CONNELL IS still audible, that his heart still speaks to them from the page of history ! Let them but reflect upon his many adjurations and denunciations —his adjurations for the maintenance of public tran quillity, and his denunciations of murderers and their accomplices—let them remember these things, and prove themselves worthy of DANIEL O'CONNELL and of Ireland as it used to be. We refer our readers to a letter (which appears in another column) addressed by Mr. Joux l'ExcavAL, the Secretary of the Alleged Lunatic's Friend Society, to Sir GEORGE GREY, for proof, if any further proof were wanting, of the absolute necessity that exists for an immediate reform of the present law of lunacy. It appears that on the Bth December last Mr. OWEN, a chemist, residing in Marchmont-street, Brunswick square, was forcibly seized in his own shop, by order of his brother, handcuffed, forced into a cab, and driven off to Mr. WARBURTON'S Lunatic Asylum, at Bethnal-green. On his arrival there, the proper medical certificates were shown to the proprie tors of the asylum, and although they could not, during the whole period of his residence in that asylum detect any symptoms of mental derangement about him, yet they were bound to detain him upon the order of his brother, backed by the certificates of " two skilful persons" which his brother had pro cured, vouching for his insanity. In the meantime his neighbours in Marchmont-street, who had long known and respected him, and who were perfectly convinced of his sanity, formed themselves into a committee, employed a solicitor, who procured the affidavits of eleven persons who had been long ac quainted with him, and who all swore as to their belief of his sanity, and having laid those affidavits before Mr. Justice ERLE, that Learned Judge issued a writ of habeas corpus to bring the al!eged lunatic before him, and after a solemn inquiry, or dered his liberation. Various questions naturally suggest themselves in considering this very remark able case. First, who were the two exceedingly " skilful persons," upon whose certificates a sane man has been incarcerated in a lunatic asylum? Secondly, how were those certificatas worded ? Were they worded according to statute law or to Denman-made law ? Did they state dis tinctly the grounds upon which " the skilful per son " had formed his opinion as to the sanity or in sanity of Mr. OWEN—or, taking, as an authority, the judgment of Lord DENMAN in the case of Mrs. SIIUTTLEWORTII, did each " skilful per son" content himself with giving it as his opinion that Mr. OWEN was insane ; and, thirdly, in what manner did these " skilful persons" answer the affi davits of the eleven on which the writ of habeas was procured—what reasons did they give for the faith which was in them—did they merely reiterate their opinion, or ,did they shrink even from doing that? Whatever course they may have adopted the result shows that Mr. Justice ERLE thought they were wrong (and Mr. Justice ERLE, as was proved in the case of Mrs. SHUTTLEWORTII, is not a judge who would decide against the opinion of " skil ful persons" without the strongest evidence), and it is the duty of the Legislature to prevent the possibility of the incarceration of sane persons in lunatic asylums, by depriving " skilful persons" of a power which is so liable to be abused, as is this power of ordering imprisonment without preliminary in quiry. But it may be said that the visit of the Com missioners afford a sufficient safeguard. 'What safeguard did they afford in this case? What was the report made to them by the Messrs. WARBURTON when Mr. OWEN was received into their estab lishment ? Was Mr. OWEN seen and examined by the Commissioners during his residence there ? If so, what was their report ? But the Commissioners themselves prove that it is physically impossible that they can afford that pro tection to the inmates of lunatic asylums which the law supposes them to afford, and that the whole sys tem of inspection is " a mockery, a delusion, and a snare." On the 15th of the present month the Com missioners presented their half-yearly report to the Lord Chancellor, and from that it appears that Dr. TURNER visited 167 asylums, saw 8,270 patients, and travelled 3,877 miles ; and Mr. W. G. CAMPBELL visited 165 asylums, saw 9,939 patients, and travelled 2,798 miles, during the six months ending August 4, 1847. After such a statement as this, is it not evi dent that the visits of these Inspecting Commissioners to asylums must be a mere show. It is physically impossible that they can devote the time to each case which is necessary for its due investigation, and we caa readily believe the statement that on one of the inmates of an asylum announcing his intention to make com plaints, he was told that the Commissioners were much pressed for time, and begged to postpone his statements to another opportunity, such postponement being tantamount to a sentence of six months' additional imprisonment inflicted upon the unfortunate complain ant through the laches of the Commissioners. The more the subject is considered, the more obvious will beconie the necessity for the institution of some public prelimi nary investigation into the case of everyperson accused , of insanity before his or her incarceration in an asylum The Alleged Lunatics' Friend Society seem inclined to recommend an investigation before a magistrate and a clergyman as a substitute for the present certifi• cate system. We cannot agree with them on this point. This plan, after all, is merely the substitu tion of two men for two men—of, in many instances, the country squire and the country curate for the country physicia n an d th e country apot h ecary — a sub stitution not in all cases desirable, as any one who has witnessed that tragi-comedy miscalled the administration of justice at country quarter sessions must be perfectly aware. This power of ordering the incarceration of one of the QUEEN'S subjects for an unlimited period is one so liable to abuse that it ought not to be entrusted to any two men whatever, and should only be exercised by a sworn executive officer of the Crown, upon the verdict of a jury, after a public examination of witnesses upon oath in the presence of the alleged lunatic, wh o by himself or his counsel should have the right of subjecting such witnesses to cross-examination, and of bringing forward other evidence to rebut their testimony. Nothing short of this can be any safeguard to the liberty of the subject. We resume the consideration of the Mirfield mur der case. In order to test more fully the degree of credit that should be given to REID'S statement, the first inquiry will naturally be, whether there was any powerful motive that could influence him to take upon himself the undivided odium of the shocking affair, and to shield his fellow-convict at his own expense. Was M'CABE in any degree related to or connected with him? Had they been old friends or acquaint ances ? Had they previously been associated in the commission of crimes, even of an inferior degree ? If any of these questions should be answered in the affirmative, it might induce us to examine the con fession with greater doubt and suspicion, but it does not appear that the prisoners were even ac quainted with each other before the fatal day. MTANE, too, had on the former trial borne his testimony against Rain, and had the jury believed him, there must have been a conviction. It would appear, therefore, as if under the circumstances an abandoned and reprobate character, one who would concoct and abide by a wilful falsehood in the last hours of his existence, would rather seek to punish the party who was willing to betray him, in order to save himself. The evidence of the other witnesses also proves that REID and M'CABE were not in com pany together a very short time before the butchery of the unfortunate family. MARTHA. SHEARD proved that REID had been at her father's house about half•past) twelve o'clock, that he remained three or four minutes, and then went down the footpath leading to Mr. WRAITH'S, and that about twenty minutes afterwards M'CABE came up, and went in the same direction. The witnesses, &UTLEY and HARRIET WEBSTER, also saw REID going alone to the house. MORTON also proved that they were separate, although he thought, that they were closer to each other than the other witnesses supposed. We can scarcely believe it possible that two persons, strangers to each other, would within a few minutes have mutually agreed upon the perpetration of so frightful a murder on three of their fellow creatures without previous concert. Much weight was deservedly attached to this point by the Learned Judge who presided during the trial. The only evidence that in any degree brought the prisoners together was that of the little girl, MARY HALLAS, who stated that about a quarter after one she saw them standing together under the apple-tree, which is not many yards from Mr. WRAITH'S front door. Now, if the witness was perfectly correct, this would not, at the very outside, do more than make MTAnz responsible as an accessory after the fact. But the girl might have been mistaken in the identity of the parties, and the Learned Judge, in his charge to the jury, stated that if the witness AMIN.- NELL and the girl were both correct in point of time, it could hardly be possible for M'CABE to have been the man in company with REID, as she described. ;There was no other evidence of any importance against him. Judge PATTESON felt that little reliance could be placed on the evidence respecting the chemical experiments, and that that relating to the garters was perfectly ridiculous. It would therefore appear, from the strictest examina tion into every circumstance connected with the case, that the matter detailed in REID'S confession is not , only possible, but extremely probable ; that there is not only a reasonable doubt, but that the balance of evidence is in favour of M'CADE'S innocence, at least of any previous knowledge, and that therefore the royal prerogative should be exer cised in his favour. It should not be forgotten either, that A/MAIM had himself been examined on the former trial as a wit ness for the Crown ; and it is a matter of public policy that persons coming forward as approvers should not, at any subsequent period, be made respon sible for the offence, any particulars of which they have detailed. Many of the most grievous offences against society would remain wholly unpunished but for the revelations that have been obtained from accomplices. Unless it could be shown that the testi mony given by the party was wholly and entirely false ; that he was himself the principal delinquent, and had attempted to transfer the chief guilt from his own shoulders to one of his less guilty companions, or to a perfectly innocent man, he should never afterwards be questioned for his share in the transaction. The punishment of a criminal would be dearly purchased if any suspicion was to be cast upon the public faith. Nothing could warrant the execution or even trans portation of M'CAne, but his being a principal in the murder, aiding and abetting in its commission ; and were he even an accessory after the fact, his admis sion as QUEEN'S evidence should save him from any penalty. There is one other point connected with the case which we put forward, not with the desire of shel tering a person who has acknowledged himself the wilful murderer of three of his fellow-creatures from the punishment due to his fearful transgression, but that, as a matter of public policy, it is desirable that if the law, which forbids a person to be brought to trial a second time for the same offence, is erro neous, it should be amended—but that if it is just and proper, it should be adhered to, not merely to the letter, but in its spirit and integrity• Although no redeeming point could be urged on behalf of REID, or in extenuation of his guilt, far better even that he should escape his merited punish ment, than that the law should be unduly strained to bring him within its meshes—a precedent that might be followed under very different circumstances, the most dangerous to be admitted in a free country. As the law now stands, no man can be twice placed in jeopardy for the same offence. If he should be a second time brought to trial, he may plead " autrefois acquit," or " auterefois convict ;" and such will be a good answer to the charge. It has been decided (in ItEx V. CLARKE, 1 B. and B. 473, and in other cases), " that the true test by which the question, whether such a plea is a sufficient bar in any particular case, may be tried is, whether the evidence necessay to support the second indictment, would have been sufficient to procure a legal conviction upon the first." Now, if we examine the present case by this test, we shall find that the same evidence was exactly ap plicable in both cases—that the prisoner could not have been guilty of the one without having also been guilty of the other and thus, that although, according to the letter of the law, he might be brought to trial for the second murder, the doing so was contrary to its' spirit. It is said " that strong cases make bad precedents ;" this is peculiarly the case in the present instance. The public indignation is so strongly excited against the criminal, his punishment is so richly deserved, that his escape from justice would be regretted; but better that fifty such criminals should escape, than that an example should be set which might be strained so as to lead to the persecution of a person who has once been declared " Not Guilty" by the unanimous ver dict of twelve of his countrymen. Letter from Berne, of the 23d, state that the Neufcha tel Government had given bills on Paris for the 300,000 francs levied on the canton by the Vorort, and that Colonel RILLIETT, commander of .the Federal troops occupying Friburg and the Valais, had established his head-quarters at Vevay. The Frankfort Gdzette states that the Austrian Ambassador, in Switzerland, left Basle on the 20th, for Neufchatel ; and that K 8018-LE..COMTE was on the point of joining him there on the following day, but was prevented from doing so by dispatches which arrived from Paris. A convention has been concluded between the Austrian Government and the POPE, by which the Austrians consent to withdraw their troops from the city of Ferrara, but without abandoning or relin quishing their right to re-occupy it at any future period when it might become desirable to them. The Piedmontese Gazette, of the 23d instant, states that, pursuant to this convention, two companies of Swiss in the service of the POPE left Bologna on the 17th for Ferrara, to replace the Austrian troops to be with drawn: Letters from Lisbon of the 15th inst., state that the elections are over, and had all terminated in favour of the Cabral, party. At Lisbon the Septembristas, 4 QUI • 5l l, L R- - 1;47.1 1 ,4% •-41, "0,0 , i lk 4 r - hto *4 ,‘4,Zoz , " , 40 ,`2,1t0 TIIE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EIrIING, DECEMBER 28, 1817. having protested against the illegality of the pro ceedings, retired from the ballot. A new Ministry is appointed with SALDATSHA at its head, but without the CABEALS being included in the Ministerial arrangements. _ _ The new currency has been established by a Ministerial decree. Lisbon was perfectly tranquil, and the election ;ook place in the most perfect order.; Madrid papers of the 20th have arrived. The Gaceta publishes dispatches from Catalonia of the 12th and 15th inst., announcing that several rebels, and amongst others the Cabecilla Pacaroba, had made their submission, and that a party of in surgents, under the command of the Cabecilla Estartus, had been put to flight by a column of royal troops, and forced them to swim across the river Ter, after having lost some men. It is said that NARVAEZ, disgusted with the con duct of CHRISTINA. and the Afrancesados in pressing forward the impeachment of SALAMANCA, was about to tender, his: resignation, and that a Mon and Pidal Ministry would be appointed. Intelligence has been received from the Canary Islands, announcing that the epidemic which had ap peared at Las Palmas had not spread, and that it was beginning to subside. MADRID BOLSA, DEc. 20.—The Three per Cents. closed on the 20th at 27 5-16 cash ; the Five per Cents., at 15k cash; Passives, 4 cash. We have received the Paris papers of Sunday. The Reform banquets continue to be held in all parts of France, and increase in frequency as the opening of the Chambers approaches. Banquets have recently taken place at Grenoble and Vienne. At the latter the KING'S health was not drank, but a toast to Governmental Probity was substituted for it. The KING is completely recovered. It is said that his MAJESTY has received a letter from Queen CHRISTINA announcing that her influence is now paramount in Madrid, and that she intends to appoint a purely Afrancesado Ministry, with MoNZand PIDAL at its head. Lord BROUGHAM left Paris on Sunday for his chateau at Cannes, after having had an interview with the KING. The Three per Cents. were done in the Passage de l'Opera, Paris, on Sunday last, at 75f. 65c. The belief was general that the forthcoming Speech of the KING would be of a popular kind. MARSEILLES, DEC. 22.—Marseilles and Avignon, 571 f. 25c.; Nortbern, 556 f. 25c. BUSINESS DONE IN FOREIGN RAILWAYS AT THE _ LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE, DEC. 27. Boulogne and Amiens 14(—Dutch Rhenish, 2 1 / i — Northern of Frame, 124—Orleans and Bordeaux, 5% —Paris and Lyons, VA—West Flanders, 1%. - THE PRINCE DE GONZAGA, AND THE DYNASTIC CHANGES OF ITALY. [Solicitous, as we are, to witness the perfect emancipation of the Italians, and sympathising, as we do, in the misfortunes of an illustrious Prince, we have much satisfaction in transferring to our columns the following article from an Italian Contemporary, the Alba. Whatever advantage we have anticipated from the elevation of the ex-Duke of Lucca to the Grand ducal crowns of Parma, Piacenza, and Guastalla is, as we observed yesterday, at the best, as yet but hypo thetical and supposititious. In the event of the transference of the sovereign authority of Guastalla to the last descendant of the Gonzagas, a new advo cate will be added to the Royal League of the Pe ninsula, whose heart is with the people, and whose ambition is kindred to that of Pius, of Charles Albert, and of Leopold.—ED. Sun.] " Recent events at Lucca, the incorporation of the greater part of that state with Tuscany in conse quence of the abdication of the last Duke, and also the proposed annexation of the Duchies of Parma and Piacenza, will soon attract the attention of the high Powers of Europe. It may be asked whether this is not a favourable opportunity for repair. ing a great injustice by re-establishing in the inheritance of his fathers the last offspring of a celebrated family, who was excluded by an incompetent tribunal (the Diet of Ratisbon, held in 1708), composed of the creatures of Austria,. which, judging its own cause, declared Charles IV de Gonzaga, Duc de Mantoue and de Montferrat, &c., a rebel to the Emperor, and deprived him of his estates, because he had pronounced with France in the war of succession in Spain. It is well known that Charles IV. was neither cited nor judged, he having died, poisoned, at Padua, July 5, 1708. It is, consequently, by a manifest violation of the rights of nations, that the house of Gonzaga has been de prived of its sovereignities. Since that epoch all the de scendants of the Gonzaga, Dukes of Guastalla, &c., and after the extinction of that branch, in 1746, all the princes of Gonzaga de Castiglione have continued to protest against the arbitrary sentence which deprived them of their rights, and against the usurpation of their states by Austria. The treaties of Rastadt, in 1714, and of Cambray, in 1723, those of Turin and of Baden, and especially that of Vienna, of November 18, 1738, may be adduced as evidence. The absence and the minority of the true heirs of the Dukes of Guastalla and Castiglione alone prevented them from making their voices heard at the treaties of Vienna, in 1815, and other times. " The Emperor Leopold, struck with the injustice manifested towards the sovereign house of Gonzega- Castiglione, so closely united to him by ties of blood, had resolved, in 1792, to reinstate them in their rights to the duchies of Mantua, Castiglione, Guastalla, and others, when his death frustrated his design. Prince Joseph Louis de Gonzaga received from Napoleon an equally promising assurance in 1812. That great captain, after a careful examination of the rights of the Princes of Ganz Aga-Castiglione, declared to Prince Joseph Louis that he considered them incontestable, and solemnly promised that he would see justice done to him. The fall of that great man, and the death of the Princes of Wilna, in 1818, again overthrew these expectations. The Prince Alexander, the present claimant, is too well known for it to be necessary for us to pen his eulogy : an intrepid soldier and ex perienced general ; created an officer of the Legion of Honour at the age of fourteen, on the field of battle, by Napoleon himself ; a participator in the policy of Pius IX.—a policy which unites liberty with religion ; brought up in the school of misfortune and exile—Prince Alexander unites all the qualifica tions desirable to insure the happiness and tranquillity of the numerous population who would, without doubt, rejoice in the government of so worthy an heir of their legitimate Sovereigns. "If Europe, again assembled in Congress, were about to occupy herself with a par tition of the Italian sovereignties, which popular agitations, and the retrogression of some states seem to render necessary, the great Powers would have a grand duty to perform by restoring to Prince Alexander a part of those territories which have been so unjustly usurped. Such a compensation would be an act of policy also, for the cause of the Gonzagas is the cause of all sovereigns—an act of injustice against th e :rights,of one:establishes a pre cedent which may b e a c t e d upon against any other in the time of adversity." Since the date of the above article, the death of the ex-Empress Maria Louisa leaves the opening reserved to the Great Powers in the Treaty of Vienna, 1815, and justice may be rendered to the claims of his Serene Highness Prince Alexander de Gonzaga. Besides that, the treaties of Vienna have been broken with regard to all the nations concerned in t execution, and what is enacted in the minority of the true heirs, without their consent, is null, according to the laws of nations and of equity. THE RAJA BROOKE.—We are requested to state that the new work on Borneo, entitled " SARAWAK ; its INHABITANTS AND PRODUCTIONS," by Hugh Lowe, Esq., Private Secretary to his Highness the Raja Brooke, is published this clay by Mr. Bentley (pub lisher in ordinary to her Majesty), and may now be had of all booksellers throughout the kingdom, iu Bvo., with numerous plates, price 14s. bound. DEATH FROM THE CHOKE DAMP AT DOWLAIS.— Three men, whose names we have not heard, fell victims to this insidious enemy on Saturday last, in one of the pits at the above place. It appears that there was an opening from some old work, through which a consider able quantity of gas escaped, and the men, in going into it, fell senseless. So powerful was the gas, that Mr. Martin, and some men who went down to examine the place, had a very narrow escape. They were obliged to be left there until Sunday morning, when it was found that they could be reached with safety. Death had taken place from the effects of carbonic acid gas, and a verdict of " Accidental Death" was returned.—Monmouthshire MONEY and COMMERCIAL NEWS. CITY, QUARTER TO THREE. The sales of Cotton at Liverpool yesterday were 5,000 to 6,000 bales, of which 4,500 bales were Ame rican, at 40. to 6d. per lb. There was some animation, and prices were id. per lb. higher. Railway shares were firmer, with a very limited business doing. The advices by the Trent steamer were delivered yes terday afternoon, and do not appear to be more satisfac tory in respect to the state of feeling in the different colonies. The numerous failures at home, the stoppage of the Barbadoes Bank, the low value of produce, and the apprehension that a strong indisposition would exist on the part of British capitalists to invest money in, or loan it upon, West India properties had, combined, a very natural tendency to excite uneasiness and depression of spirits, but we may hope that, by a little decision and promptitude, this will be relieved ere long. The accounts received from the United States appear to be satisfactory in respect to money and commercial matters. In Mexico the events of the war were not of moment. The following are some interesting remarks concerning the mining resources of that country:— " The Mexican confederacy is composed of thirteen states, four territories, and the federal district of Mexico. The federal district and Zucala produce indigo, dye woods, &c. Chiapa, Tobasco, Oaxaca, ;Vera Cruz, and Puebla, raise wheat, tobacco and maize. Mexico, Quere taro, Michoacan, Guanaxnato, lalisco, Sans Luis, Potosi, Zacatecas, New Leon, Tumanlipas, Durango, and Coahuila, are confined mainly to gold and silver mining. though they all grow maize and large herds of cattle. Senora and Sinaloa, New Mexico and California, have gold:and silver mines, some iron and lead, and produce corn, wine, and great herds of cattle. Tampico is the principal outlet to the mining districts. The mines of Sombresete, in Zacatecas, are celebrated for the richness of their veins, which in the space of a few months have produced a net profit of four millions of dollars. There are some very wealthy mines near the capital, which were long since abandoned, in censequence of the terrible fires which have occurred in some of them. The mineral district of Durango is exceedingly valu able. In one real, in the vicinity of Chihuahau, there are thirteen silver mines, one of gold, and one of copper, and at Maiepernie seven silver mines and one gold mine. The Mexican gold is for the most part obtained from alluvial grounds, by means of washing. These grounds are common in the States of Sonora. In the plain of Cineguilla; grains of gold of such a size were found, nineteen inches below the surface, that some of them weighed nine marks each, and valued at more than 1,000 dollars; in several other places large pieces of gold have been found, it is also found in the veins which intersect the mountains of primitive rock; these veins have been found a foot and a half thick. There is scarce a silver mine in Mexico that does not contain some gold. " Of the inferior metals, there are mines in great abun dance, and of almost every description, which only need science and enterprise to bring forth their hidden trea sures to the surface. '• The position in the financial world which the posses sion of these mines will give us, will be equal to that of the Emperor of Russia, and whatever influence the Go vernment of Russia may exert in relation to the affairs of Europe, by means of his immense gold mines, the United States will have a very great conservative influ ence in connexion with any European Government. In the event of Russia attempting to crush any of the more liberal Governments of Europe, we shall be in a position to aid the distressed, and relieve them from the financial power of the autocrat. The two great specie countries in the world are Russia and North America." There is very little business doing in the Public Secu rities, and the quotations remain firm. Consols for Account have been S5l f ; the New Three-and-a- Quarter per Cents. are 861 1 ; and the Three per Cents., 85* to 851; Bank Stock is worth 186*; Exchequer-bills have been 99. to 12s. premium ; and India Bonds have advanced to Is. to 2s. discount. In the Foreign house the transactions have been of the smallest possible amount. Spanish Three per Cents. have realised 30 ; Mexican, 181 to 18} ; and Brazilian, SO ; Dutch Two-and-a-Half per Cents. have realised 56 to 56/. The Railway Share Market has been firm, although the bargains are not extensive. BRITISH FUNDS THIS DAY AT ONE O'CLOCK. (From the Official List.) Bank Stock 186 1 ,4 3per Cent. Reduced Annuities ... 85A itA New 3! 4 ( per Cent. Anas. B 6 l / 2% Long Annuities, Exp. Jan. sth, 1860... 8% India Stock Do. Bonds, 1000/ Ditto under 1.0001 Consols for Account 85% Exchequer Bills. 3d. 1,000/. 5004 Small PRICE OF FOREIGN FUNDS AT ONE O'CLOCK.. Brazilian Bonds, 5 per Cent BO Mexican Bonds, 1846, 5 per Cent lB% Spanish Bonds, 3 per Cent — Ditto for the Account Dividends on the above payable in London. Dutch 2% per Cent., 12 Guild 56 56 1 4 Ditto 4 per Cent. Certificates BUSINESS DONE, IN RAILWAY SHARES AT ONE O'CLOCK RAILWAYS. PAID. rim SHAM. Aberdeen Amber., Notting., Boston, &c. 2% — to Ayrshire and Galloway Belfast and County Down .. 10 .. .. Birmingnam & Oxford June... 20 Birmingham, WO., & Dudley 10 ... . Birnsing., Wol., & Stour Val. 10/.145.... Birkenhead, Lancashire, and Cheshire Junction.. Boston, Stamf., & Birming... 5 Bristol and Exeter Do., Thirds ...... ... ..... ... 20 Buckinghamshire.. Caledonian Ditto, Half Shares Ditto. Clydesdale Junction 50 Chester and H01yhead......... 37 1 ,4 ..... 19% to Ditto, Preference 8 Clarence. Do., let Class, 6 per Cent lO Do., 2d Class, 5 per Cent... 10 Do., Gov. Loan, 4 per Cent. 10 Dublin and Belfast Junction.. 20 Dundalk and Enniskillen ... 15 East Anglia, 251.& L. , E. aid L. &D. ... 25 ...... Ditto, 18/., E. & H lB ...... Ditto, 31. 108., E. & IL.. 2 Eastern Counties Ditto, ditto (B) Do. Perpet.,s per ct. No. 1,6/. 13s. 4d... % p to Do., do N 0.2,61. 13s. 4d... ...... to Do., York Extension Do., Northern & Eastern 5O - Do., Quarter .... .. .......... . 124.... Do., New East ersn Union 5O Ditto, Quarter Shares ...... 12 1 ,C — Ditto., Thirds ...135. 4d — to Di.to (guar. 8 per cent.) ... ...... East Lancashire Ditto, New Do., New Quarters East Lincolnshire l2 %...... Edinburgh and Glasgow 5O — ..• •• to Ditto, Half Shares Ditto, Quarter Shares 1 2 1, 12 ..... Edinburgh and Northern ... 22%.....• Ditto, New..... ... ..... ...... 34...... ...... to Ditto, New port 9% ...... ...... to —_ Ditto, ditto, New ...... 2 1 4 — ...... to Exeter, Yeovil, & Dorchester 2% — ...... to Ditto, New Glasg., Dumfries, & Carlisle..Bl. 6s. 8d... —.. to —. Gl asgow , Kilmarnock, & Ayr 50 Ditto, New 4O — Do. 1 A Shares (5 per ct,. gua.) 12% ..... .. Great Northern lO% 4%••• to Do. London & York Eaten. 21/3 — ...... to ...... Gt. South. & West. (Ireland) 35 ..._ to Great North of England 100 Ditto, New N N telw 401 y 530 ... o Ditto, New 151...... ...... 61 4..-•• ... to Great Western ... 85 Ditto, Half Shares Ditto, Quarter Shares Ditto, Fifths Do. New 171. 7 ...... VA to Huddersfield and Manchester 22 .. ... Dittc, Thirds Hull and Selby 50 Ditto, Half Shares Ditto, Quarter Shares l 2 l¢ — to Ipswich & Bury St. Edmunds 15 Do. do. and Norwich Do., do., Extension Scrip (late (Climb. and Ely) 24...... to Lancaster and Carlisle.... ... 50 Do., Thirds lO ...... Lancashire and Yorkshire ... 93 Ditto, ditto Ditto Half Shares Ditto Quarters Ditto Fifths Ditto Sixteenths ........... 614...... to Ditto Thirds (Reg.) ... 101.4 s — Do. Liverpool and Bury... 34 •••• • to ....... Do. (Hudders. and Shelf.) 33 Do., Wakefield, Pontefract, and Goole 4 7 1,% — Do., West Riding Union ...4/. 25..... 3 dis to 3%dis. Do., Preston and Wye ... 25 ...... Do., do., Half Shares (A) 9 Ditto ditto Leeds and Brad:ord 5O ..... 89 1 / 2 ..... to Leicester and Bedford l6s. Leeds,Dewsbu, & blanches. 37% — to Do., Branch 4 Shares 12% to Ditto, New Branch (blue).. 2% — to Ditto, Extension (green)... 214 — to • -k* 2% — to— Do., New Exten. (Pink)... z Ye • - - - - -- Leeds and Thirsk 36 Ditto, New Do., do., Prefer., 6 per Cent. 3%..... ...... to -- Liverpool. Crosby, and Sout h port. - Liverpool, Manchester, and Newcastle Junction. ...... ... 2% — to London & 131ackwa11...16/. 13s. 4d — to Ditto New, No. 1.. Ditto New, No. 2 .....31. 13s. 4d — . .... to Do. Extension Load., Bright., & South Coast 50 Do. Consolidated Eighths... 30 to -- Do. Guaranteed 5 per Cent. 9 ~,.., 9 to Do. Pref. Cony. 5 per Cent. 50 ...... to Ditto, ditto 1852 50 ..... to London and Greenwich... 12/.155. 4d... Ditto Preference lBl 17s 2d... London and North Western..loo ......150 Do. Quarter .....L. and B. 17 ...... _ ...... Do. do. New ................2 71/ i to Do. do. Fifths Do. Quarters ... G. J. 25 Do. 40/. Shares L. &M. 15 ... Do. 401. Shares...M. and B. 40 ...... Do. 10/.... 51. and B. (A.' 7 1 / 2 . • .) Do. 10/. .. M. and B. 11,) Ph . — ...... to Do. 101.... M. and B. (C.) 1 London and S. Western.... 41.. 6s 8d 5l Do. New Consolidated Bths. 40 Ditto New 501. Ditto New 40/...- ..... .. .. 26 Do. Tenths (Consolidated) 50 Do. Tenths (Consolidated) 40 Ditto, Thirds ... 6l. 13s. 4d... ...... to fAndon, Salisbury, & Yeovil 11 % — to Londonderry and Coleraine... 27% — ...... to Londonderry and Enniskillen 23% Manch, Buxton, & Matlock 3 , - Manchr, Sheffield, and Linc.loo Ditto 1 / 4 Shares (No. 1) ... 13 Ditto, ditto (No. 2) 25 Ditto,'/ Shares (No. 3)... 7%..... Ditto Grimsby 25 — to Ditto, ditto. Ditto, ditto ... 4% — to Ditto, Sheffield, and Line. 7LA ...... Manchester and Southampton 2 1 4 — .. ... to IMid,and 100 IOB Ditto, Consol. Preferenco...100 Ditto, 40/. Shares Ditto, 50/. Shares lO ... .. 8 Midland, Birm., and Derby...loo ... .. Midland, Consol. Bristol and Birmingham 6 per ceit....100 Midland, Bristol and Glouc. 34 Ditto ditto 71.95.... .. Mktland, Leices. and Swan- RingtOn (8 per ct. gua.)....100 .... . Midld; Great Western(lrish) 35 Newcastle and Carlisle lOO ...... Ditto Quarter Shares Newmarket and Chesterford 11 1 / 2 — Ditto Extension Newport Abergy., and Heref. e Norfolk 100 Ditto New '2Ol. Ditto Extension Do. Scrip, 1847, N. of Norflk 'I Do. do. Waveney Valley... 2 Newry and Enaiskillen ...... 7 Newry, Warrenpoint, and Rostreyor 12% — ... .. to Aorthera Counties Union .... 4 North British Ditto Half Shares... ...... .. 12% Do. Quarters 4 34 4% to -- Ditto, Extension % 1, 42 Ditto Thirds ... ......... ...... 2 North Staffordshire... .. ...... VA 7% to North Wales 334 ..... . .... to North Western 6 - to Oxford, Worcester, and Wol- __ yerhampton Reading,Gaildfd., & Reigate 7% 7 14...... to Royston and Hitchin Scottish Central Scottish Midland .... ....... .... 17 1 / — ...... to Ditto,New lO Sheffield, Rotherham, and , . Goole 5 - . to Arewsbary and Birmingham 6 Ditto. ditto, Claes B. 8 Shrewsbury and Chester (Nor. W. Alia.) Ditto Halves, Ditto... 8 ... Ditto, Oswestry Ditto (New) 1 Ditto 8 per Cent. Pref 5 Shrewsbury and Hereford ... 2 Shropshire Union . South Devon ....... ...... ... 40 Ditto, Preference 2O South Staffordshire South Eastern and Dover 33% — to Ditto, New, No. 1 Ditto, New, No. 2 Ditto, New, No. 3 ls Ditto New, No. 4. ...... ... .. 7% — to South Wales South Yorkshire, Doncaster, and Goole Swans. and Loughor and Ca meron's Stm. Coal ...... .. 4 Chames Haven Dock and Railway 1 7 1,E — t• Caw Vale Extension Vale of Neath Waterford and Kilkenny — to Waterford and Limerick 40 to Waterford,Wexford,Wicklw, and Dublin West Cornwall Nbitebayen and Furness l2 ..... Windsor, Staines, and South Western s2s. Wilts,Somerset,&Weymouth 30 York, Newcastle, and Berwick 25 . 33 1 ,4 to Do. Original New & Ber'ck 25 .. 30% to Do. NorthShie'ds Purchue 25 .. 110. Exton. No.l (Y. & N.) 10 Do. do. No. 2, New &B. 10 Do. G. N. E. Pur. or Pref. 3 l'ork and North Midland .. 50 ...... 73 1 ,y to Ditto, Preference lO Ditto East and West Riding Extension .... FOREIGN RAILWAYS. Boulogne and Amiens 2O ...... 14 1 4 1 ... to Central of France ( Orleans _ and Vierzon) - Central of Spain Ceylon Demerara. ............ ........... 5 Dendre Valley Direct Bombay and Madras ss. .... . - Dutch Rhenish 7 . .... 2 East Indian Great Indian Peninsular Italian and Austrian - Jamaica S. Midland Junction 1 Louvain ila Sambre ••• 7 Luxembourg Lyons and Avignon (Con stituted) - Madrid and Valentia Namur and Liege l4 ...... ... . to Northern of France Orleans and Bordeaux ... .. 6 Over Yssel 4l3s 4d .. Paris and Lyons - to Paris and Orleans... Paris and Rouen .. - Paris & Strasbourg Rouen and Havre 2O Sambre and Meuse Strasburg and Bale l4 Tours & Nantes ... .. ...... .. 8 Tournay, Jurbise, Landen, and Hasselt West Flanders B l /2 — JOINT STOCK BANKS. Australasia British North American .... 50 Colonial Commercial of London London Joint Stock .... ...... JO London and Westminste r .., no to National Provincial of Engld. 35 - Ditto, New - National of Ireland Provincial a Ireland Di.`,o3, New Union of Australia Ditto, New 2% to Union of Loudon ... 10 Union of Madrid MINES. Anglo Mexican 100 Astrian Mining Company ..• 11. , ..... Australian Blaenarvon Iron an Coal ... 50 Bolanos Scrip British Iron Brazilian Imperial .... .. ... 21 Galvanized Iron Ditto, New Real del Monte, Unregistered —. .. 14 to 2 LLOYD'S SHIPPING—(THIS DAY.) LONDON, DEC. 28.—Wind this day at noon N.N.W., light breeze and thick weather. DEAL, DEC. 27.—Wind N. to E.—Arrd. Urania, Berg, Jamaica. Arrd. from the River and sailed, Richard Dart, New Zealand ; Indus, Morton, Cape of Good Hope ; William, Loadman, Aden ; Carrol, Smith, Callao ; George, M'Lean, St. Lucia • Sussex, Cousins, Jamaica ; Highbury, W aller, ' ditto ; Fantome, Bourne, ditto ; General Sir William Nott, Outerbridge, Havan nab ; Serena, ditto; Sophia, Bartlett, Honduras; Fasiele, Potts, Savannah ; Yorktown, Sebor, New York. POOLE, DEC. 23.—Arrd. Flora, Pidding, Newfound land ; Ceres, Tewkesbury, ditto. FALMOUTH, DEc. 27.—Wind N.E.—Arrd. Crane Packet, Brazil mails not landed. LIVERPOOL, DEC. 27.—Wind S.S.E.—Arrd. --, of Greenock, from Barbadoes; Packet, St. Domingo; Bathurst, Honduras; Mary Ann, Patten, Boston, sailed 6th inst. The Charlotte, Hawkins, from Bombay to this port, was towed in to-day, dl,masted, from Long Island Channel. Two masts, apparently belonging to a schooner of about 80 tons, and attached to the wreck, were passed yesterday, two miles N.N. W. of the Bell Beacon. PLYMOUTH, DEC. 27.—Wind N.E.—Arrd., 25th, Cor nelius, Batavia; Abbotsford, Sampson, St. Andrew's, N. 8.; Mountaineer, Small, Richebucto; Indus, Morris, Quebec for Hull. 26th, Rowley Mary, Berbice ; Sld. 25th, Sabraon, Sydney, N.S.W. WHITEHANEN, DEC. 26.—Arrd, John, Bathurst. SOUTHAMPTON' DEC. 27.—Arrd. Hindostan s t eamer, Alexandria. Sid. Montreal steamer, Gibraltar. 25th, Orestes, llavannah. WARRENFOINT, DEC. 26.—Sld. Brothers, New York. LONGHOPE, DEC. 12. —Arrd. Retreat, Allen, St. John's, New Brunswick, leaky, &c. 16tb, Salem (of Dundee), ditto, leaky, &C. CARDIFF, DEC. 24.—S1d. John French, Valparaiso; Alfen, Havanna'', CARNARVON, DEC. 27.—S1d. Royal William, New Orleans. BE.►r)IARIS, DEC. 24.- - 7 ind variable.—Arrd. Eliza Caroline, Bell, St. John's. Sld. Wasp, Africa. Conti, DEC. 25.—Wind E.—Arrd. Betsy, Cardiff for Valparaiso, leaky and loss of sails. Sld. Switzerland, New York. BELFAST, DEC. 25.—Wind S.S.E.—Arrd. Columbia, Quebec, with damage. 24th, Columbia, Russell, St. John's, New Brunswick. BALTIMORE, DEC. 21.—The Pearl, Kenney, from Prince Edward's Island, arrived at Cork, reports having passedi a great quantity of timber and wreck about ten miles S.W. of Cape Clear. WESTPORT, DEC. 24.—The Clyde, Duncan, of Glas gow, from Troon to this port, was stranded on the Island of Achill, 22d inst., and is likely to become a total wreck; crew saved. STRANGFORD, DEC. 23.—The Dispatch, Murray, from Whitehaven, which was put on shore in Milian Bay, was got off 20th inst., after discharging about twenty tons of coals. SOUTII RONALDSHAY, DEC. 22.—The Adele, Fouque, of Marseilles, from Antwerp to Newcastle, was driven on shore on the east side of this island 20th inst., during a severe gale from S., and went to pieces; three men drowned. HULL, 26.—The Sykes, Leedham, from Stock holm, to this port, has put into a port near the IMO of Norway, and it is expected will have to heave down and repair. _ _ _ GRIMSBY, DEC. 24.—The Elizabeth Maria Drock from Riga to Harlingen, has put in here leaky, and wil discharge. BOSTON, DEC. 26.—About 40 rails have been got out of the Catharine, which sunk in the Welland, 21st instant, there is a possibility of her being weighed. MARSTON, DEC. 26.—The bottom of a vessel, sup posed to have been a schooner, with a woman figure head, drifted on the beach, near Blackeney, last night. MARKET NEWS.—(THIS DAY.) EAT MARKETS. SIIITHFIELD.—Meadc,w Hay, 21 103 to 31 12s ; Clover, ditto, 31 lOs to 4/ 14s ; and Straw, 11 4s to 1/ 85 per load. Supply moderate, and trade dull. CUMBERLAND.—Meadow Hay, 21 12s to 9/ 15s ; Clover ditto, 31 lOs to 41125; and Straw, 1/ 5s to 11 105 per load, A full average supply, and a sluggish demand. WnrrEcitArEL.—Meadow Hay, 2/ 10s to 31 13.,; Clover di to. 3/ lOs to 4/ 163 ; and Straw, 1/ 4s to 11 9s per lu.d. Trade dull, at the above quotations. COLONIAL. The Colonial Markets will remain closed till the 4th of January. SUGAR.—The quantity "of British Plantation landed last week at the East and West India Docks was 1,041 hhds 112 tierces 397 barrels; there were taken for home consumption 745 hhds 76 tierces 114 barrels. The stock in the same places is 19,306 hhds 2,057 tierces 6,111 barrels. Rum.—The quantity landed last week at the East and West India Ducks was 521 puns 10 hhds; there were taken for home consumption 277 puns 42 hhds, and ex ported 148 puns 156 hhds. The stock in the same places is 14,232 puns 1,995 hhds. TALLOW.—Y.Y.C. is 46s to 46s 3d per cwt on the spot, and Town 49s 6d. TEA.—The market is steady. -YESTERDAY. Braddyll's Hetton 240 id Hetton Lambton Leasingtborne Russell's Hetton 24. 6d Hudson's Hartlepool 245 Od Adelaide Tees 245 34 Cowndon Tees Seymour Tees Tees .......... 245 6d West Het ton 235 6d Whitwell :et, 37—sold, 3]. COAL MARKE' Buddle's West Hartley 22s Od Carr'e Hartley New Pelton Ord's Redheugh Wall's End, &c Elm Park ... . 23s WI Gosforth 23s 9d Medley Hilda 23s 6d Northumberland Eden Main 24s Od Belmont 24s Od Ships at mark, THAMES.—(THIS DAY.) Thomas Burton and Thomas Baybury, two power fully-built young men, were charged with the fol lowing outrage on Mr. Henry Wood, landlord of the Dog and Partridge public-house, Bow : Mr. Wood stated that ever since he had taken pos session of the Dog and Partridge, the prisoner Burton had been in the habit of annoying and insulting him. Yesterday evening he came in accompanied by the other prisoner, and walked into the parlour. Witness told Burton he could not allow him in his house, when they both struck at him. Burton then walked into the bar, and abused witness's wife, swearing that he would do for Mr. Wood and all his family. Haybnry had this morning expressed penitence for his conduct, and witness did not wish to press the charge against him. The evidence was corroborated. Mr. YARDLEY discharged Haybury, and ordered Burton to find two good sureties in the sum of 201. each to keep the peace towards Mr. Wood for six months.—He was locked up. CHARITT.-Mr. Sedley, the junior clerk, handed our reporter a memorandum of the receipt this morn ing of one sovereign, for the use of the poor-box of this Court, per Mr. Yardley the sitting magistrate, and requested that the same might be acknowledged in The Sun newspaper. WORSHIP-STREET.—(THIS DAY.) Richard Smith was placed at the bar before Mr. Hammill, for final examination, charged with stealing a portmanteau, containing property of the ♦alue of upwards of 201., belonging to Dr. Adam Sedgwick, Professor of Geology at Cambridge, from the plat form of the Eastern Counties Railway. The depositions having been read over, the prisoner was ordered to be committed for trial. ATHLONE ELECTION PETITIONS Three petitions had been presented against the return of Mr. William Keogh, the Member for Athlone, and separate recognizances entered into by Mr. Thomas Behan, barrister, and the Rev. Edwin Biron in one case; by Messrs. Tipping and Cullen in another ; and by Mr. O'Beirne (late candidate) in a third. Objections were lodged on behalf of the sitting Member in all the cases, and the inquiry which has just terminated was prosecuted for some days back, before Mr. Booth, the examiner of recognizances. The case excited considerable interest, as the sitting Member conducted his own case ; and, in the opinion of all present, by whom he was warmly congratulated, did so with great ability and tact, fully maintain.. ing the high character he has already acquired at the Irish bar. The result was in every one of the cases unfavour- able to the petitioners, the objections having been allowed, and in the first case with cost;. Mr. Keogh is now secure in his seat, as the petitions cannot be proceeded with further. NAVAL INTELLIGENCE. PLYMOUTH, DEC. 25.—Colonel Edward Smith Mercer, Colonel-Commandant of this division of Royal Marines, expired at his official residence in the Royal Marine Barracks, Stonehouse, on Friday morning at four o'clock. Colonel Mercer entered the corps on the 25th of March, 1797; became First Lieutenant, July, 1803 ; Captain, Sept. 22, 1810; Brevet- Major, July 22, 1830 ; Lieutenant-Colonel, July 10, 1837 ; C o l one l, Feb. 12, 1842. He belonged to the Topaa when she engaged two French frigates off Corfu, and served in her boats in cutting out several armed vessels at Santa Maure in 1809, and also in Albania in various cutting-out expeditions. Colonel Mercer had been forty-four years on full' pay service. Colonel John M'Callam, Second-Com mandant of the Portsmouth division, is the next in seniority. Up to Sunday afternoon no definite arrangements had been made in reference to the funeral. The Adelaide, Brazilian brigantine, detained by her Majesty's ship Waterwitch, on the 12th of August, off Mayumba, fitted with slave equipments , arrived at St. Helena, on the 6th of September, for adjudication, in charge of Mr. George Pearce Selo* cold, midshipman of the Waterwitch. DEATH OF Miss EMMA STANLEY.—We regret to record the death of this amiable and clever actress, which took place on Sunday morning last, atter an illness of but short duration. So sudden and unexpected a•as the demise of this favourite performer, that she was even announced to appear last night, at the Princess's Theatre, in a new piece, called Above and Below. Notwithstanding an attendance at rehearsal on Chi istmas• eve, she unfortunately became so much worse on the following day, as to render a change of performance evidently necessary, and the next message conveyed the melancholy intelligence of her decease. • LEITH.—The amount of shipping and tonnage within the harbour and docks of Leith is at present un usually large for the season of the year. In the old harbour there are at present 42 vessels, 3,764 tons ; in wet dock, 129 vessels, 18,100 tons—total, 171 vessels, 21,864 tons. The harbour and docks are so incon veniently crowded, that the Queen's Dock has been con siderably opened to the use of merchant ♦essels ; and the state of the port in this respect indicates the neces sity which exists for the additional accommodation now in active preparation. Some of the above vessels have put in wind•bound, and there is besides a large fleet in the roads, detained by the same cause.—Caledonian Mercury. STEAM COMMUNICATION BETWEEN LIVERPOOL AND THE UNITED STATES.—The British and North Ameri can Royal Mail steam-ship Cambria, Captain Judkins, will leave this port for New York on Saturday next, with the mails and passengers. She will be the first vessel belonging to that company to piy regularly be tween this port and Now York. On the same day the company's steam ship Hibernia will leave New York for Liverpool.—Liverpool ELECTIONS FOR MARRIAGE PORTIONS.YeSterdRY three young women, educated in the schools founded by Mr. Rainey, the celebrated brewer, in St. George's-in the-East, were elected to the marriage portion of 1001. each, for good and virtuous conduct since leaving the establishment. These marriage portions are annually given, by order of the benevolent founder of these schools. _ . ----___ A BLACK. DRLUGHT.—The other day a respectable looking man walked into a druggist's shop in this town, sod, in a confused and hurried manner, asked for an ounce of laudanum. The shopman did not like the ap pearance of his customer, and, fancying that he intended to make his own quietus, refused to execute the order. The - man pressed his demand with much importunity, and, at last, said he would be content with only half the quantity. A lucky thought crossed the mind of the druggist, and he turned round to his bottles, apparently with the intention of furnishing the laudanum. Instead, however, of taking hold of the bottle containing the som norific poison, he handed down that containing black draught, which in appearance is not much unlike a strong tincture of opium. Having transferred the de sired quantity to a small phial, the man in the shop eagerly seized it as it lay on the counter, and, " before you could say Jack Robinson," swallowed the contents. A police officer was immediately sent for, and to his tender mercies the would-be suicide was consigned, but, as the statute law of England affords no punishment for drinking " black draught." the poor fellow was set at liberty, and :it is hoped that, having repented of his folly, he has spent a " merry Christmas," and will live to enjoy " a happy new year."—Liverpool Albion. THE WEATHER.—Throughout the greater part of the past week the weather in this vicinity has been cold and gloomy, with biting winds from the 0 tstward. Slight frost has prevailed during the mornings, and, from the misty state of the atmosphere, snow has bean daily predicted, but has not yet made its appearance. There have been slight falls of snow.in the north, which clitiekly passed off, --Liverpool