The Sun. — London, England, 1857-12-18 00:00:00

HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE. THREE EXTRA NIGHTS. . . Pim)lomun, Spezia, Giuglini, Belletti, Rossi, Vialetti, and Aldighieri. Tuesday, Dec. 29 —Thursday, Dec. 31—Saturday Jan. 2, The following favourite operas will be given : Tuesday—lL TROVATORE. • Thursday—LA TRAVIATA. Saturday—LUClA DI LAMMERMOOR. Prices :—Pit Stalls, 12s 6d; boxes (to hold four persons) pit and one pair, 2/. 2s; grand tier, 3/. 3s ; two pair, 1/, ss. three pair, 15s ; gallery boxes, lOs ; gallery stalls, 3s 6d pit, 3s 6d; gallery, 2s. HER MAJESTY'S TREATRE, GREAT CLASSICAL CONCERTS. THIS EVENING (FRIDAY, December the 18th), wil Positively the Last Night but One. A WEBER NIGHT THIS EVENING. Vocalist, Madlle. Jetty Treffs (her last appearance but one.) Violin, M. Remenyi. Pianoforte, Miss A. Goddard. be produced the New Grand Descriptive Composition, by M. Jallien, entitled THE INDIAN QUADRILLE, and GENERAL 'HAV BLOC h.'S TRIUMPHAL MARCH, performed by M. Jullien's Orchestra, assisted by the drams sud fifes of the Grenadier Guards, the Coldstream Guards, and the Scots Fusilier Guards ; and a Grand Chorus, " Rule Britannia :. an d God Save the Queen." German Lied, Th e Kiss " (third time), Madlle. Jetty Treffz. The magnificent decorations which were prepared for the Bal Masque will remain during the continuance of these Con ceits. The whole theatre will be ornamented with wreaths a wl garlands of flowers, in gold, silver, and colours. The decorations have been prepared by Messrs. Chabot and Co., - who were earged with the decorations for the g rand ball at the reception of the Emp eror N a p o leon 111. a t Stuttgart, sad who were engaged, at a great expence, for the express purpose of arranging at her Majesty's Theatre a display which will be seen for the first time in this country. The Concert will commence at 8 o'clock. Prices of Admission—Promenade, ls ; Upper foxes, Is. 1 Gallery, Is. • Drees Circle, 2s. 6d.; Private Boxes, 10s, dd. and upw ards. Proepectases, with full particulars, may be had at the Box. office of the Theatre ; of all the principal libraries ; and al Julien and Co.'s, 214, Regent-street. ITER MAJESTY'S THEATRE.— M. JULLIEN'S GRAND BAL M AS Q Tj E.—ln consequence of the great success of the Bal Masque, M. Jullien will give a SECOND, and positively the last this season, at the end of the Second Series of Concerts, on MONDAY, Dec. 21.—Applications to be made at the Box Oillee of the Theatre. T HEATRE ROYAL, HAYMARKET. Lessee—Mr. J. B. Buckstone. THIS EVENING, to commence at Seven o'clock. with a new Comedy, entitled AN UNEQUAL MATCH. Princi pal characters by Messrs. Buckstone, Compton, Chippendale, W. Farren, Miss Amy Sedgwick, Mrs. Buckingham Wnite, an Mrs. E. Fitzwilliam. After which, a new farco, by the author of Box and Cox, entitled TAKE CARE OF DOWB, in which Mr. Buckstone will sustain an original character. To be followed by THE STAR OF ANDALUSIA. Orchestra Stalls (which may be retained the whole of the evening), 6s. each. (No charge for booking.) First Price. s. d. Second price. s. d Dress Boxes 5 0 Dress Boxes 3 0 Upper Boxes ... 3 0 Upper Boxes 2 0 Pat 2 0 Pit 1 0 Lower Gallery 1 0 Lower Gallery 0 6 Upper Gallery 0 6No half-price to Upper Gallery. ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE. The public is respectfully informed that the play of RICHARD THE SECOND will shortly be withdrawn, and WILL NOT BE AGAIN REPRESENTED in this Thsatre, with the exception of a few nights towards the ex- Oration of Mr. C. Kean's period of management. It will be repeated every evening during the week, and on Wednesday next, 16th inst., for the 100th time. R OYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE. Proprietor, Mr. Charles Kean. THIS EVENING, will be performed S'salccspere's Trazcdy of KING RICHARD 11. King Richard IL, by Mr. Chas. Kean ; Queen, by Mrs. C. Kean. Preceded by a new farce, in one act, entitled A CASE OF CONSCIENCE. T HEATRE ROYAL, AD EL PHI, Lessee—Mr. Ben. Webster. THIS EVENING, will be performed THE GREEN BUSHES, in which Madame Celeste, Mr. Wright, and Mr. Paul Bedford will perform. Followed by the original Apropos Sketch, entit:ed THE DRAPERY QUESTION ; or, Who's for India 1 Messrs. Wright, P. Bedford, C. Selby; Miss M. Wilton and Miss ]nary Keeley. ROYAL LYCEUM THEATRE.—Lessee, Mr. Dillon.—Under the joint management of Miss LOUISA. PYNE and Mr. W. HARRISON. THIS EVENING, will be performed (for the Benefit of Miss Louisa Pyne) LA SONNAMBULA. To ceuclude with the new Farce, entitled A PAIR OF PIGEONS. Mr. G. Honey an t Miss Cuthbert. Private Boxes, £2 12s. 6d., £2 28., and £1 lls. 6d. ; Stills, 6s. ; Dross Circle, ss. ; Upper Boxes, 4s. ; Pit, 20.; Gallery, 16.—The Box Office is now open daily, from 11 to I, under the direction of Mr. Chatterton, jun. OYAL OLYMPIC THEATRE. Lessees, Messrs. Robson and Emden. MIS EVENING, will be performed a new and original eGinedietta, by Sterling Coyne, Esq., called WHAT WILL THEY SAY AT BROMPTON ? Mr. Robson, dtc. After which, LEADING STRINGS. To conclude with BO YTS AT THE SWAN. Mr. Robson, Mr. H. Wigan, and Mrs. Emden. Commence at half-past Seven. STRAND THEATRE, —Lessee, Mr. T. Payne. —THIS EVENING, will be performed BLACK-EYED SUSAN. A Ballet Divertissement. Followed by FOUNDED ON FACTS. After whi4h, the highly-successful and origina' burlesque, written by Leicester Bnckiagham, entitled LA TRAVIATA; cr, THE LADY CAMELEON. Miss Craven, Miss Victor, Mr. F. Charles, Mr. G. Bolton, Mr. J. Howard, and Mr. J. Clarke. Commence at Seven. Stalls, 45.; Boxes, 35.; Pit, Is.; Gallery 6d. )OPAL SURREY THEATRE. Lessees, Messrs. Shepherd and Creswick. THIS EVENING, will be performed AMBITION : Or, The Throne and the Tomb. After which, THE BARRISTER. To conclude with WELLINGTON FIGGS. CANTERBI7RY HALL, Westminster-road.— OPEN EVERY EVENING.—The follow- Ag of Vocalists are engaged for the performance of 13 ilections from all the popular OPERAS, MADRIGALS, CHORUSES, GLEES, DUETS, dec., viz. :—Miss Russell, Mrs. Badzey, Madlle. Marietta, Mrs. Palmyre, Miss Bru nell, and Madame Marietta ; Herr F. Jonghmans, Mr. Renshaw, R. Grover, T. Farrant, S. Jones, J. Barker, W. Melling, Senor Antonio, E. L. Hime, and Mr. St. Albyn ; Messrs. S. Collins, W. 1. Critchueld, and E. Mack !ley. Pianoforte, Mr. Cecil Hicks; harmonium, Master Williams ; Director, Herr F. Jonghmans. Commence at Seven o'clock precisely. Sappers, (ke., until twelve o'clock. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. Tills DAY —Morn., 56 min. aft. 2—Even., 15 min. aft. 3 To-Siounow—Morn., 31 min. aft. 3 —Even., 49 min aft. 3 THE WEATHER—SUN OFFICE, DECEMBER 18. THERMOMETER, IN THE SHADE. ST—highest since noon yesterday. 52 --lowest this morning and during the night. 52 —this day at noon. B.utomrrza. 30.18. WIND, S.W. ; fresh and squally with dull weather. tk, .( •-, - J,v , ,N..., rily • 1,„..t. , :.:::,V'f';:!" -- __ (c. - z kt,TIC • 0 . ..,, , -..,..r..,._,-..----,..... LONDON, FRIDAY, DEC. 18, 1857. Russia, defeated in her great scheme of aggran disement, is now turning her attention to smaller gains. She has been compelled for a time to re linquish active operations against Turkey, but still she occupies herself with uprooting one of the most formidable impediments to her progress in any future aggression. At present, her attention is directed t3wards Circassia, and she is endea touring in every way to subvert the independence of its inhabitants. At the time of the Treaty of Paris we expostulated on the strange neglect that consigned this gallant nation to the tender mercies of the AnTom tit .; by making no stipulation for its protection. The omission was generally noticed, and interrogatories were exhibited in the Commons to the Premier on the interesting and i m p o rtant topic. He, ho wever, treated the sub ject iu the true red-tipi3t spirit. The Circacisiaps had done nothing fur us, and wa Were not I• oun d to do anything for the Circa.ssians. B,sid e s, th e provisions for the neutrality of the Euxi ne Would virtually prevent any undue op erations on the p art of the greater Power. These were the excuses put f or _ ward by the " First Lord of the Jokery," and, which, according to custom, were deemed quite sufficient by an over whelduing majority of the popular b ranc h o f th e L eg i s l a t ur e. We are really grieved at being compelled to disturb the pleasing hallucinations in which these very respectable gentlemen indulged at that time, with respect to the sufficiency of the alleged guarantees. R u ssia is already at work, just as actively as if the 12th Article had been expunged from the HE SUN LONDON , PRIDA I Treaty. Although Consuls were to be appointed, and commerce liberated from all restrictions, she refuses to recognise the former, and establishes a virtual blockade, by which the latter will be, if not annihilated, at least subjected to serious re strictions. Three ports only are to be opened. All others are to be hermetically sealed against mercantile enterprise. And the pretext for this is " the internal state of the provinces of the Caucasus," or, in other words, the continued re sistance of the people to the intolerable yoke, un der which they would otherwise be forced. The pretext is founded on the exception respecting regulations of " health, custom; and police," which were to be framed "in a spirit favourable to the development of commercial transactions." But how has this been carried out ? " Health and customs" have been thrown overboard. The specious fallacy has been disregarded—tbe mask flung aside. "If, hereafter, circumstances shall permit the establishment of customs and quarantine authorities at other points of the coast where foreign vessels can be ad mitted, due notice, will be given of the fact. In the meantime, the approach to the ports, bays, and harbours, with the exception of the three referred to, are interdicted to foreign vessels. The English Government have borne, and will bear a great deal ; but this is really too bad. We shall have other cases analogous to that of " The Vixen," if the sharp end of the wedge be inserted without remonstrance. The manly remonstrance of the Circassian chief points out the danger clearly and distinctly. It proves that Russia has no real authority—that its attempted usurpation is resisted to the utmost—that at most she only holds a few points on the coast, and that the fortifications which she is now seeking to re-build were deliberately abandoned and destroyed during the late war. The following statement is perfectly convincing, and the demand for a " consul" to facilitate the traffic of his own countrymen, and the promise to maintain the requisite police and sanitary regulations, should decide the question. They are as follows :-- "But now, in defiance of the Peace of Paris, the treaty of which declared the Black Sea to be neutral, the Russian Government prevents vessels from approaching our coast—and assigns as the reasons for this measure, that we Circassians will not maintain the requisite police and sanitary re gulations. " Now the 11th and 12th articles of that Parisian treaty forbid all hostilities in the Black Sel, and declares that trade shall be free at every harbour and for every nation. For this reason we beg your Excellency to adopt suitable measures to the end that Russia may observe the Parisian treaty of peace, and that our poor country may not continue to be devastated. " As for the organisation of a naval police, and a sanitary office, we engage to organise and main tain the same, as they are in Europe. " Lastly, we beg your Excellency to send to us a consul to facilitate the traffic of his own country men, and to instruct us, to the end that we may attain the same grade of civilisation as has been reached by other peoples." We trust that Lord CLARENDON will no longer maintain the apathy and indifference which he has hitherto manifested. But for his extraordi nary negligence, there would now be no difficulty. It is, therefore, his bounden duty to endeavour to repair, at the earliest possible moment, the de plorable consequences of his own carelessness. We trust that he may do so. If not, the matter will assuredly form a topic of discussion on the earliest day available after the 4th of February. While we look to the exemplary punishment of the Indian rebels, we must also see that the Go vernment of that important province be rendered as beneficial as possible, and beat calculated to produce the safety, honour, and welfare of our Sovereign Lady the guitar: and that portion of I her dominions. It is manifest that such a result cannot be obtained under the double, or rather the treble, government, to which the Anglo- Indian empire is subjected. Between the Boards iu Cannon-row and Leadenhall-street and th• Governor-General in Council, there is no efficient administration, no real responsibility. The mo dern Mogul, Mr. SMITH, excuses his gross ignor ance, and still grosser negligence, under the cover of the duties of the directors. He is a very small TEuc, discharging his pointless shafts under the protection of a Brummagem Ajax ; while, on the other, the spurious son of Telamon seeks to cover himself by exposing his puny half brother to the missiles of the enemy. At a proper distance, Lord CANNING and his coadjutors regard the contest with grim satisfaction, "It is a far cry t Lochou," exclaimed the CAMPBELLS of the olden when any threat was fulminated against their chief, and notwithstanding the in creased facilities of communication, the Governor- General, and the respectable old ladies with whom he is associated, rely confidently on the dis tance between Calcutta and the metropolis of the United Kingdom, which they hops and believe will afford them practical immunity. me, But there is a spirit abroad that will not easily be suppressed. We have too long remained apathetic and indifferent, have permitted our fellow-subjects to be misgoverned, and the whole of the miraculous natural resources of that mighty Empire to be appropriated for the benefit of a petty clique. The regular system was that India and all its products should be for the benefit of the Civil Service, and for the friends and relatives of its members. The rest of her MAJESTY'S subjects, English and Hindoo, were eliminated from the calculation. The prosperity or comfort of the natives was of no importance. They could be tortured with impunity, and their humble pro fits wrung from their hard hands by the most unjustifiable means. The so•called courts of jus- tice were so many mockeries of their designation, being presided over by men ignorant of the primary principles of law. If a man made a bad magistrate, an indifferent collector, or a very so-so resident, he was forthwith pitchforked on to the judicial bench, which was the ♦ery refugiunt peccatortcm—the place where every degree of mediocrity could find shelter. These grievances must be removed. Adequate remedies must be provided. The meet ing at St. Martin's Hall, last evening, shows that the British People are at last in earnest, and whin the pressure from without has been su Relent!) , potent, full redress must be affirded. The Indian question will form one of the great topics for discussion at the termination of the Parliamentary vacation, and it will be well for Lord PALMERSTON and his colleagues if they should be found in advance, rather than in the rear, of public opinion. The Overland Route is so terrible an ordeal — according to Mr. VERNON SUITE that the Minister who should seriously propose it for the transport of our troops to India would—again, observe ! according to Mr. VERNON deserving of impeachment. Cextainly, rather a bold assertion, to say the very least of it 1 And an assertion that im plies an absolute oblivion of such a historical fact, for exa mp l e, as that--large bodies of French soldiers have been conducted t) and fro ac ross that ve r y route, through that identical "howling wilderness" (about s i xty years ago) by General NA POLEON BONAPA AT e. Conducted across the desert, remember, b e f ore railways were aernO heard of, before the steam-engine, either by land or by sea had been applied to the purposes of locomo tion ! And conducted, moreover, not simply down to the sea-beach to be leisurely conveyed on shipboard—but to meet a formidable enemy in battle array, first on one side of the de sert, and then bn the other. Mr. VERNON SMITH, however, ignores the existence of General BONA PA RTE, and afterwards of course of General ABEncnommE—counts as nought the Egyptian campaigns of 1798 and 1799 never heard, we suppose, of the defense of St. Jean d'Acre by Sir SIDNEY SMITH, or of the bloody fight at Mount Thabor -- has not even the superficial acquaintance of the schoolboy with certain feats of arms, said by one CUR TIUS, and by another, ARRIA.N, to have been accomplished once upon a time by ALE:Lamm. of Macedon. No—the route by way of Suez is all but impassible to English soldiers ; or, at any rate, would be so fearfully hazardous and destruc tive that the Minister who should recommend it, would be deserving (Mr. SMITH thinks) of im peachment. Now putting altogether on one side what has already been accomplished—before the age of steam engines, and railways, and screw pro pellers, and electric telegraphs —by such men as NAPOLEON and ALEXANDER, let us consider candidly for a few minutes what the conveyance of troops across this terrible overland route nowadays really necessitates. Supposing our war-transports to have arrived at the end of their voyage across the Mediterra nean, and to have entered the harbour of Alex andria. It would then take just ten minutes to row a boatful of them from thevessel to the wooden pier or jetty at the mouth of the Mahruoudieh Canal—or less than ten minutes, supposing that interval of smooth water to be traversed by the light draught steamers, there, ready at all times to be employed. Disembarked on the wooden jetty at the mouth of the Mahmoudieh Canal, our soldiers could thence, easily, in another ten minutes—after gathering their baggage together—march straight on to the adjacent Railway Terminus. At the station of this railroad, 130 miles long, extending from Cairo to Alexandria, there is ample " room and verge" enough for a couple of thousand men to be readily and comfortably mus• tered. Along this railroad, going even at a moderate pace, the distance of 130 miles might be easily accomplished in seven hours—making an allow ance for the non-completion of the line at the steam-bridge at Kaffre Azzayat. By means Of which bridge passengers are transported over the broad bosom of the Nile pretty much in the same way, and with pretty much the same facility, that other passengers, nearer home, are conveyed across the gap of water at Portsmouth. Arrived at Cairo—carrying their own provi sions and supplied with water abundantly, when ever and wherever wanted—our soldiers could then proceed straight on (without quitting the line, without pausing beyond the time necessary to make a meal at Cairo) could proceed straight on fifty miles further—into the desert—by rail way ! Thence—from that railway-station in the Desert--it is a march of just five-and-twenty miles across the sandy wilderness to Suez I And at Suez there would be our own steamers of course, in readiness to receive the troops on board and to carry them along the waters of the Red Sea, on their way towards Hindostan. And this is the Overland Route, the selection of which, for the transport of our British Warriors towards India, at a very fearful crisis in the his tory of our Bengal 'Presidency, Mr. YFAINON SMITH conceives would render any Minister de serving of impeachment ! TEARS AND GLORY. MEMORIAL SAPPHICS.—BY W. CHARLES KENT. Tears for the fallen! glory for the victors !-- Rapturous posans ringing thro' her dirges, England fresh garlands strows of interwoven Cypress and laurel. Garlands of honour, won and worn by heroes Brave as the bravest poet ever fancied, Grand as the bards of eld e'er sang to harpstrings Trembling with passion. Tokens of tender pity and remembrance Scattered with drops of reverent affection Over you' grimly dens of buried slaughter— Delhi and Cawnpre. Scenes of despair and unutterable anguish, Haunts where the Hindoo glutting his abhorrence Dragged thro' the filth and scorn of foul dishonour Innocent maidens: Delicate matrons, gentle wives and mothers, Tended from birth with exquisite devotion, Guarded by love as sacred for their weakness— Outraged— derided. Mourn for yon' Dead—the calm, the grand, the dauntless : Msrtyts to duty who sublimely perished, Died by the thunder-blasts their brands had lighted— Willoughby, Scully ! Weep for the noble Heart that fell is harness, Fell with his glaive yet dripping red with vengeance ; Fell with his manly eyes yet dim with pity— Neill, the Avenger ! Mural the crown of purest gold awarded— Radiant with triumph—for thy helm' untarnished, Dinted and starred with lightning-bilts of battle, Wilson, the Victpr Long shall the records of One fiery Exploit And of Inaction grandly self-forgetting 'Blazon, for aye, as types of knightly valour Greathed and Outram ! Vilest and loathliest Chief of the Assassins ; Dreadliest name of infamy and horror Whose but thy miscreant title Nana Sahib ? Minster of Bithoor ! Brightest and bravest 'mid the throng of heroes Twined with our heartstrings like some home affection : Ruthless, resistless--as the flamey lightning Cleaving the storm-cloud : Leading his phalanx of veterans right onward Straight thro' the raging tempest of rebellion, Flattering his banner_ bullet-tattered, blood-stained, Desperate— launtless ! Who but the Saviour of the sore beleaguered, Saviour and Champion of imperilled Luoknow ? Whose but the genius—keen and bold—inspiring Havelock's Death-March ? Tears, then, and glory blending, as the deluge Rolls back from Bengal, leaving calm reconquered— Hope, with celestial sheen of dew and sunbeam, Shines like a rainbow ! About 64,0001. In goli was taken to the Bank yesd to rday. The Patna, Sir James, and Mirage have arrived from China, bringing in the aggregate 1,336,5001 b. of tea and 2,760 bales of Bilk. The Pays says dates from China up to Nov 3 announce the expected arrival of 1,200 men rent by the Governor of India to Lord Elgin. This is the force which with others must arrive before Canton can be occupied. The indictment preferred by Stowell against Joseph Bingham, an attorney, for perjury, came on for trial yesterday, before the Common Sergeant, at the Central Criminal Court, hut it entirely failed. The Bank of France have reduced their rate of dis count t) 6 per cent. for all descriptions of bille. Since the 6th irstant the rates had. been 6,7, and 8 per cent, respectively for bills under one, two, and three montht. TOLL REFORM IN SCOTLAND.—Lord Elcho bas given notice of his intention to bring in a bill wbed Parliament re-assembles for the abolition of turnpikes in the Scotch c'...unties. Last year the government passed an act for t'ae extinction of the system in Ireland. INCENDIARISM. Numerous incendiary fires have occurred at Inkbarrow, an agricultural parish on the Warwickshire border of Worcestershire, and although 'a reward of 501. bas been offered for the detection of the perpetrators they have up to this time escaped. No less than nine fires of this description have broken ont in and around Inkbarrow with the last three months, and agri cultural property to a considerable el.tent has been destroyed. Accordingly, at the earnest request of the parishioners, backed by the rev. vi.ar of the parish, tLe Rev. G. R. Gray, a fire-engine has now ,been stationed in the village. GOLD AT THE MABKET PRIOR. (FROM A CORRESPONDENT.) The object of money is to act as a measure of value in order to an interchange of property. As men exchange their properties for equivalents, they must first of all ascertain, by measurement, the amount of value on either side, before the exchange can be made. As a yard measure is a measure of length, a thermometer of heat, so is money the measure of value. Now, in all cases it is essential to a measure, that it be invariable. For example, an elastic band, capable of extension, can be no true measure of length ; a porous and absorbent article, as sponge, is unsuitable for a measure of weight ; on the same principle, the measure of value, to be perfect, must be an article of determi nate and invariable value. Now, it has been a source of perplexity in all ages to discover a suitable substance having this quality. The precious metals have usually been selected on the ground of their portability, their incorruptibility, and their nearer approach to a uniform value than anything else that has been discovered. The definition of value has itself been a source of perplexity ; but, without discussing the nature of any other value than the " value" of commerce, we submit that " value" is composed of three ingredients, viz., cost of produc tion, supply, and demand. Now, in all these par ticulars it must be admitted that the precious metals do vary, and to the extent of their variation are they defective as a standard. If the Monu ment were measured to-day, and found to be 200 feet, and again to-morrow and found to be 250 feet, we should conclude that the variation was not in the Monument, but in the measure. And so it must be obvious that gold, in recording a general variation in prices of things, known not to have varied intrinsically, records, not their varia tions, but its own. If, then, the precious metals be adopted as a standard, they can only be admitted as confessedly imperfeA, and in default of a better. Bat to argue from the general analogy of standards and measures, we inquire whether a similar variation is found in other standard;, ren dering them defective ; and if so, by what means the defect has been cured. I answer that the defect in some such cases has been cared, by introducing a second fluctuating element varying in the inverse proportion. By way of example, I will adduce a few instance 4. Tie vibrations of a pendulum of a certain length fur nish a standard of time ; but whereas, the tempe rature dilates and contracts the metal, the pendulum becomes variable, and thereby defective—How is this cured? By introducing a second element varying in the inverse proportion ; viz., a column of mercury ; and the mercurial pendulum is a per fect instance of this simple law, viz., that two incon stants, acting inversely and proportionally, form one constant. The same principle may be observed in chronometers having a compensation apparatus. It may be observed again in the hydrometer. How is the strength of spirits ascertained ? By tasting the specific gravity. The stronger the spirit, the lighter the fluid. Therefore plunge a graduated staff, with a knob at the end, into the fluid, and you may read off the strength. True, but the tem perature effects the specific gravity of the spirit, and the bulb of the hydrometer, an I the same spirit would, therefore, exhibit different strengths ac• cording to the temperature. The thermometer must, therefore, be introduced, and a sliding scale graduated therewith, which shall act in an inverse proportion with the hydrometer, and so a perfect measure is obtained. These illustrations will suffice to illustrate the action of a most simple law, though many others might be adduced. Let us apply this analogy to gold, and start the inquiry—wanted a similar con trivance for rectifying the variations in the value of gold. Mr. John Taylor, of currency renown, seems to furnish a solution to this problem, in his theory of the market price of gold. In 1797 the Bank of England was really drained of its gold, and was only saved from bankruptcy by a Govern ment order prohibiting cash payments, which order was followed by the Bank Restriction Act, which was repealed in 1819. In this interval, then, of 22 years, the bank note was not convertible on de -1 mand into gold, but exchange against gold at the market price, on the principle of quantum valeat. True, this was not the intention of the rulers; their wish was that the pound paper should be as good as the pound gold, and any shortcoming thereof was regarded as a depredation of the paper. Bat we think Mr. Taylor has shown that this was no depreciation properly so called, but simply the general enhancement in prices, consequent upon the taxation of the time, in which enhance ment, gold being free to move, shared with all other things ; and from the experience of these 22 years, Mr. Taylor arrives at his theory of cu-rency, which may be briefly stated as fol lows :—Let the Government be empowered to issue notes to the amount of the annual taxation. The furor 3l.,, , butof the "thisnote n sovtoeul isto pa d b', notss current for ti." I. "I promise to pay would be a legal tender between man and man, be tween Government and subject, and subject and Government. If the amount correspon led with the year's taxation, it would all return to the Exche qaer in the year's course, and so could not be de preciated ; nor would it be described as au unli mited or enormous issue of paper, being strictly limited and governed by rule. But here arises the great question of Sir Robert Peel, which has sorely perplexed many of the paper currency school to eive a short and easy answer to. If the " pound" be not a definite amount of gold, what is it ; is it the ideal unit ? The answer is, that by Mr. Taylor's plan, the note would always be convertible into gold on demand, but not always at the same rate : the rate would vary with the market, and would be declared by the Bank at stated intervals. The pound paper would therefore be the pound of account : it would always represent a definite amount of gold, but not always the same amount. And referring to the law of analogy with which we set out, we submit that if gold have intrinsic value, and vary in value, a uniform amount of gold can never continuously be the ex ponent of a uniform value, but a fluctuating amount be, and if the fluctuation be inversely pro portionate with the value, it certainly will be a true and invariable measure of value. The plan, therefore, seems to 'have this to recommend it—it was practically in use for 22 yea rs ; it seems to be philosophically correct, and in analogy with other standards ; and it renders us secure against panics and frequent paralysis of trade, whenever, by the operation of the exchanges, there is a drain of gold. The obligation to pay in gold at a fired rate is toler ab'e only so long as the grea t ma jority of creditors refrain from asking for it, b u t in times of panic, eie her in this or any other country, it is a physical impossibility, and will always result in a desperate struggle and competition for the precious metal (only one form of wealth out of a million), to the ruin of numbers of merchants, and to the advantage of those who do nothing else but watch markets, and fatten upon other people's disasters. The bearing of this pla n upon private banks is simply that they would be bound to take up their riots s on demand, in the Government paper money , or in gold at the market p r i ce , like the Bank of England. Credit can do gr ea t thi n gs for a country ; the most important form o f cre dit is paper money, and the present moment affords lamentable evi dence of the mischief which results from a curtail ment thereof. The subject is admitted to ho per plexing ; and we do not pretend to have fathomed all its depths, but we feel that a true theory of currency, well e t iblished and well elucidated, is a desideratum of the first class, and if we think we see truths partially and imperfectly, we also think it may be advantageous to exhibit what light each mly pose: s 3, in the hope that some more powerful m'nd may gather all the scatt er ed rays into a focus for the advancement of the common good. --- ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS, - The following marnbers of the College having undergone the necessary examinations, were admitted licentiates in midwifery at a meeting of the board on the 16th inst.:—Messrs. Samuel Oliver, Guildford-street, Russell -square ; Charles David Doig, Aldgate ; Thomas Elwin Edwards, Gloceeter-crescent, North, Westbourne-park ; Frederick Thomas Wright, Assembly row, Mile-end ; James John Beer, .11olborn ; William Sly, Wincanton, Somereet ; arid Uharlls Thsophilui Kelland, Plaistow; E 88", DECF 13 L -1 P COURT CIRCULAR. OSBORNE, DEC. 16. Princs Alfred visited the Queen yesterday, and returned to Alverbank in the afternoon. There was no addition to the royal dinner party. The Countess of Gainsborough has succeeded the Duchess of Athol as Lady in Waiting to the Queen. A Cabinet Council was held yesterday at the official residence of the First Lord of the Treasury in Downing street. The ministers present were : Viscount Palmer ston, the Lord. Chancellor, Earl Granville, the Mar quis of Lansdowne, the Earl of Harrowby, Sir George Grey, the Earl of Clarendon, Mr. Secretary Labouchere, Lord Pannaure, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sir Charles Wood, the Right Hon. R. Vernon Smith, Lord Stanley of Alderley, the Duke of Argyll, and the Right Hon. M. T. Baines. The War Committee of the Cabinet had a meeting yesterday at the office in Pall-mall of the Secretary of State for War. Present : Lord Pannanre, the Duke of Cambridge, Viscount Palmerston, Sir George Grey, Sir Charles Wood, and Sir Charles Yorke. SOUTHAMPTON, DEC. 17. The Prince of Wales accompanied by the Prince Consort, and attended by Captain Du Platt, Equerry to the Prince Consort, and by Mr. Gibbs, his royal highness's tutor, landed here this morning from the royal yacht Fairy, for the purpose of inspecting the Ordnance Map-affico in this town, where the operations for completing the Trigonometrical survey of the United Kingdom aro carried on. A splendid fire proof building has just been erected at a cost of 8,0001., and now forms one of the Ordnance Map-office buildings. This place has been erected for the purpose of preserv ing the engraved plates of the maps, and the maps themselves ; and also for the purpose of providing additional accommodation for the officials employed in the survey. Until very recently nearly 400 persons were employed in the Southampton establishment, comprising engravers and computers of the sides and areas of triangles. The computations are of the most rigorous character, their accuracy being proved by a variety of methods. One of the officials is distinguished for remarkable powers of mental arithmetic, and can detest numerical errors at a glance. The triangulation is per formed by the Sappers and Miners, who travel all over the country. Latterly the official staff at Southampton has been somewhat reduced, in consequence of a parlia mentary decision respecting the scale of maps of the survey. Prince Alfred inspected the Ordnance-office a few days since. The royal barge from which the Prince of Wales and the Prince Consort landed at the docks was steered by a boy-looking naval officer in full uniform. This was Lieutenant Hewitt, who distinguished himself is the Crimea. When the Turks, who were stationed in an advanced position, retreated before the Russian cAvalry at the battle of Balaklava, a 64-pounder from ono of her Majesty's ships, in charge of Mr. Hewitt, quite a youth, was in danger of being captured. A military order was received by him to spike the gun and make good his retreat. He declined to obey the order, because it was not sent by the captain of his ship. Instead of spiking the gun, he loaded it to the muzzle, clewed it round, and fired it at the Russians, amongst whom it caused fearful havoc. Although so young, he has the Victoria Cross and other honorary distinctions. The Prince courteously acknowledged the attentions of Mr. Levy on the part of the dock authorities as his Royal Highness left the docks, in company with the Prince Consort, to proceed to Osborne. UER MAJESTY'S THEATRE.—Our favourite Giuglini returns to us on Tuesday, December 29, in tho " Trovatore," one of his favourite characters. The verdict of the London public, which has been so amply confirmed by the critical Germans will be again appealed to. Re port says Lis voice and style are more beautiful than OVE r. The command of the 3d Buffg, vacant by the death o Lieut.-General Wodehouse, has been conferred on Ma , jor-General Sir Henry Havelock. SOUTHAMPTON DocK COMPANY.—The directors have we understand, decided on declaring a dividend for the current half-year at the rate of 4 per cent, per annum. THE OUTWARD PENINSULAR MAIL.—The Peninsular and Ozsental Company's steamship Tagus, Captai❑ Christian, left Southampton yesterday, with the usual Peninsular mail, 24 passengers, a small cargo, and 5,384/. in specie on freight. TELE OUTWARD WEST INDIA MAILS.—The Royal Mail Company's steam-ship Magdalena, Captain Abbott, left Southampton yesterday, with the usual West India and Pacific mail, 111 passengers, a full cargo, specia of the value of 10,4001., and jewellery 3,M81. Among the passengers are Dr. Lyall, Captains Miller, Margesson, and Barachievet, and Ensigns Corrie and Eyre. THE ELGIN BURGHS. —Toe lion. George S. Duff hav ing resigned the representation of the Elgin Burghs on account on continued bad health, Mr. Grant Duff, Younger of Eden, a local proprietor and barrister-at 11w, has announced himself as a candidate in the Liberal interest. Sir James Weir Hogg, late M.P. for Honitoa, is also in the field. The nomination takes place at Elgin on Saturday ; the content is likely to be a keen one. EMIGRATION.— Her Majesty's emigration commission ore chartered four ships yesterday afternoon (17th inst.) —viz., the Northern Star, 1,283 tons, to Bail from Liver pool for Sydney, New South Wales, at 141. 9s. ld. for statute adults ; the Storm Cloud, 907 tons, from Ply mouth for A delaide, Smith Australia, at 141. 1.55.; the Parsee, 1,170 tons, from Southampton for Melbourne, Victoria, at 141. 19N. sd. ; and the Emma Eugenia, 383 tons, from Plymouth,for Perth, Western Australia, at 151. 19.,. TRADE IN AMERICA,—The advises from Now York yesterday were again very favourable. Although the present steamer has brought 340,0001., it was expected that the Africa, which will be due at Liverpool on Mon day, would have a larger sum. The two leading houses would cot draw on England except at 111 to 1111, and every one, therefore, preferrel to eend gold. The pros pects of recovery among the various suspended houses were rapidly improving, and it is said the losses will prove infinitely less than could have been believed in Oetober lest. The stock market was without much alteration. Erie was quoted 16, Reading 52, New York Central 72, Panama 93, Michigan Southern 194, Michi gan Cenral 55, and Illinois Central 931. FUNERAL OF MR. DANIEL GOODALL.—This veteran, who was drowned in Dunsappie Loch, near Edinburgh, on Friday last, was interr d on Wednesday afternoon, at the Grange Cemetery, the ground having been purchased by the Caledonian Youths' Friendly Society. Ile was clerk to the society for the long period of 30 years ; and the feneral was attended by upwards of 300 of the members. Tee society purpose erecting a suit able monument to his memory. The deceased, who was severely wounded and lost a leg in an engagement with an American frigate, during the last war with that country, had a large circle of acquaintances, and was much respected. ANOTHER EXPERIMENT BY THE CORK MATTRASS COMPANY.—An experiment with Ritchie's Patent Cork Mattrass took place at Greenock a few days since, and was, as that at Woolwich Dockyard some little time ago, eminently successful. But on the present occa sion the succe-sful result was considerably more marked. On the former occasion the experimenter was merely launched for a month, on the present, he was rather suddenly and forcibly thrown from a large steamer, the Ruby. The experimenter, Edward Smith, was in the water nearly three-quarters of an hour, and upon his being taken on board so far was he fresh as to have expressed a wish to further try the powers of the mattress. The attention of shipowners generally throughout the kingdom is at length being, as it should be, drawn to this valuable patent. If anything could ba suggested to further try the powers of the patent, it would be at once adopted, but nothing has been left undone, and the mattress is without doubt the one thing needful for all seafaring folk. At all events, whatever suggestions have been made, even against the powers of the mattress, have been carried out by the patentee with marked success. A large factory is in course of erection on the other side of the water. THE LATE SIR GEO. CAYLEY.—The death of Sir Geo. Cavity took place on the 15th inst., at the advanced age of 84. As a scientific man he held a very distinguished position. His inventive genius first displayed itself in the successful analysis of the mechanical properties of air under chemical and physical action. His papers on this suject were published in the philosophical journals of the day, and gave rise to a number of experiments both in this country and abroad on the navigation of balloons, which then took up much of the public attention. He pointed out the fallacy of any hopes of success in the absence of a given power within a given weight ; and, being well acquainted with the steam engine, on which he had made experiments with >i view to the construction of the disc and rotatory engine, he showed that there was little chance of obtaining sufficient power from steam. These inquiries led to his invention of the air-engine—a mastereiece of c riginal conception, which proved the great advantage of using expanded air ins . .ead of steam, where weight was an important consideration—a discovery that the Americans are now endeavouring to apply, and one that engaged his attention up to the period of his death. Leta . ) , he made some discoveries in optics, which were followed by the construction of au instrument for test ing the purity of water by the abstraction of light—an instrument which has been lately used with success in investigating the waters of the Thames. Another of his contributions to scientific knowledge was a remarkably ingenious arrangement for obtaining and applying elec tric power to machinery. He was one of the original promoters and chairman of the Polytechnic Institution. lie also originated and carried out, nearly 60 years ago, an extensive system of arterial drainage, embracing 40,000 acres on th e ne ighbourhood of his Yorkshire estates, on a principle previously unknown in this coun try. lie was, e e believe, between 40 and 50 years since, one of the first, if not the very first, promoters of the drainage and improvements in husbandry which now much distinguish Lincolneliii e, where one of his estates was situated. Ha was also the first promoter and adopter of the cottage allotment system for the purpose of improving the condition of the peer on his property. As a pelitican he exercised an important influence as chairman of the Whig Club at York. Through his in strumentality while in that position Mr. Wyvil was re tained as an independent member for York, which bad up to that period been a close borough in the hands of one or two noble 'maim He also took an active part in favour of the Liberal candidate during the celebrated election of Wilberforce, Milton, and Lascelles, and, sub sequently in the election of Lord Brougham. Upon the passing of the Reform 81l he was himself returned to Parliament for Scarborough, but he was then at too ad vanced an age to assume a leading position in public life, and retired to philosophical pursuits after occupying his seat for a single Parliament. The late baronet was the father-in-law of Mr. E. S. Cayley, one of the mem bers for the North Riding of Yorkshire, and he is succeeded in his title and estates by his eon, Sir Digby Cayley, LATEST NEWS. Intelligenco has been received from Constan tinople to the Bth. M. Pelissier, French Com missioner for settling the frontiers ou the Asiatic side, was about to return to France ; Sir [lenry Buiwer, English commissioner at Bucharest, was also preparing to take his departure. The com mercial crisis waa continuing at Constantinople. Tho meeting of the Spanish Cortes is postponed to the 10th January, when the Queen will open the session in person. FRANCE. PARIS, THURSDAY. A Council of Ministers, at which the Emperor presided, was held yesterday at the Tuileries. The following is an extract of a letter from Cal cutta, dated 9th Nov., received by a gentleman in Paris : " You will be surprised to hear that hundreds of our countrywomen and men are flocking back to their old homes, and although they can geh no passage on board the steamers they are travelling by boats. Those going up do not go beyond Patna, where the country is considered safe. Troops by thousands are pouring in, and right glad are we to see them. For 400 miles, or from near Calcutta to Benares, the road is as the natives say a fair ;' there are nearly 20 officers on duty along the road merely to feed the soldiers, and at every 30 or 40 miles there are thousands of bullocks, sheep, bread, wine, beer, beds, &c., &c., for our brave men, who are all carried in h orse or bullock waggons —not one is allowed to tire himself by marching. How fresh they will airive at their destination l The muti neers are all collecting in Oude, where I suspect they will receive their last and complete overthrow ; they number perhaps 100,000 strong of all sorts, sepoys, bad characters, zemindars, and all sorts of vagabonds. We shall lose many officers and men, for the wretches are going to fight, but as many columns of troops are to enter Oude simultaneously, there is no possibility of their escaping." Instructions have been forwarded to Baron Gros to act in concert with Lord Elgin in all things, and to be guided by the counsels of our diplomatist. BOURSE, Dec. 17.—A notice has been posted up at the Bourse, stating that the Board of Directors of the Bank of France had decided in their sitting of to-day that the rate of discount should be fixed at 6 per cent. This announcement produced a cer. tain buoyancy on all securities ; but several sales having been afterwards effected for realisation, the upward tendency was momentarily checked. The following were the last quotations : Cash. fr. End of Month. 1 per Cents 3 per Cents 66 95 67 15 Bank Shares 3150 Credit Foncior 5BO Credit Mobilior 7,:0 Roman Do. Account 730 Austrian - Belgian 41 97 Spanish Threes 4l— l 9O Rome Debt RAILWAYS-FOR CASH. tr. c. tr c. Orieans Northern New Ditto Lyonsand Mod :ti... 840 Grand Central New Ditto... qz 825 Sardinian Geneva 640 Austrian Cora- ...... 690 BELGIUM. The Belgian Senate, in its sitting of Wednesday, took into consideration several measures which it had not had time to bring to a vote in the last seasion—namely, the grant of a credit of 255,000 f. to the department of Public Works ; a modifica tion•in the Pension Bill ; cession to the province of Hainault of the buildings of the old prison of Char leroyi and some local bills. A Brussels letter in the Constitutionnel says : " Although the elections are over, it is natural that the result of thq vote should be for some time the object of discussion in the journals and in poli tical circles. The strength of the different parties is at present being calculated. The number who voted is estimated at 77,000, and the number of voters inscribed 89,600. In 1848, after the esta blishment of a uniform qualification for voting, there were about 59,300 electors inscribed, and the votes given amounted to 50,200. In 1852 and 1854 there were nearly 64,000 votes given out of 83,000 electors inscribed. The electoral movement has therefore been greater this year, and it may be seen' that the different parties had been active in recruit ing votes. It now remains to be seen how these 77,000 votes have been divided. Some people esti mate that the difference between the liberal and the clerical votes is 12,000, while others set it down at not more than from 5,000 to 6,000. It is ' difficult at present to form an exact estimate, if it can ever be arrived at, but the prevailing opinion is that the simple displacement of 3,030 or 4,000 votes from one side to the other may change the state of things, and make the two parties equal in strength. The lesson to be drawn from these figures is therefore this—that it is the duty of the party which has now the upper hand to follow the mode rate path which it has traced out for itself, and to maintain the conditions of the programme by la bouring to promote union and conciliation." SPAIN. The Madrid jouTnTtlsCiftfie 13th have arrived. The Espana again complains that the recent recep tion of the French ambassador by the King to pre sent the congratulations of the Emperor and Empress of the French on the birth of the Prince of the Asturias, no minister being present, was un constitutional. Yet the same journal publishes an article whilst expressing admiration of constitu tional institutions denounces what it calls the abuse which, it says, has been made in Spain of parlia mentaryism and of the liberty of the press. Amongst the bills to be presented to the Cortes by the tovernment is one for regulating the conditions relative to admission to public offices and an other relative to public health. A grand cere mony, called " the Ceremony of the Mantles" of the Order of Charles 111. had taken place in the palace, the King representing her Majesty on the occasion. One part of the proceedings was taking an oath to defend the doctrine of the Im maculate Conception. The _lberia states that among the persons who, in virtue of the recent amnesty, will return to Spain, is M. Patricio Escosura, the ex-Minister. The number of vessels which entered Spanish ports in the course of last year was 5,146, and of foreign vessels, 3,599. The amount of quarantine dues paid was 1,448,257 roils. A letter from Frankfo r t o f th e 13 t h sa y s : " It is rather remarkabl e th a t d ur i ng th e l as t fortnight, the Diet, at each sitting, has been specially occupied with the military affairs of the Germanic Cenfederat ion. Reports relative to the situation of the contingents or to the state of the five federal forces are daily read and dis cussed, and nevertheless there is nothing toindi cate that the peace of Europe is likely to be soots disturbed. The plan of new fortifications to be constructed in the fortress of Luxembourg has been approved of, and military hospitals on a new model, and bomb proof, are to be built there. A considerable sum has been voted by the assembly for these purposes. The fortresses of Ulm and Rastadt, which since 1856 have swallowed up enormous sums, may be now considered in a per fect state of defence," "It may be remembered," says the Patric, " that the English some months ago took possession of the Island of Perim, at the entrance of the straits of Babelmandel, between the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. The remonstrances which the Porte has made against this occupation have lately be come more urgent, and the Turkish Minister of eoreign Affairs is said to have submitted the com plaints of the Ottoman Government to the repre sentatives of the great powers at Constantinople." A letter from Rome statei that Mgr. Viteleschi, the Papal nuncio at Naples, will not proceed to his post. He is replaced by the diplomatist who had been sent to Florence to bring about modifications in the Leopoldino laws, Mgr. Alexandre Franchi, but who failed in his attempt. The Pays announced some days since that a measure for the emancipation of the slav e s i n their Cro sn possessions had been adopted by the Govern ment of the Netherlands. Letters from the Hague (says yesterday's Independance), formally deny the truth of this. The Second Chamber of the States- General has not even yet had the report presented to it on the three projets de toi for abolishing slavery. It is further stated, that if the Legisla ture did pass such a declaratory law, the Govern ment has no funds at its disposal to indemnify the owners of saves. THE LAUNCH OF THE FANTAlSlE.—Yesterday a v er y beautiful vessel , called the Fantaisie, and destined t o become the pleasure yacht of his Imperiel Majesty the Emperor of Au s t r i a , was l aunc h e d from the Tham es Iron Wo r k s , Orchard-yard Black wall. A goo d' many distinguished vi s it ors were ' present, including the Aus triani;C Ambassador, Counl d'Apponyi, the C ountess Junt Caeolly, Captain Ma g otti, Austrian navy o f the i ; Lady Bellingham Graham and Miss Graham, &o. Her length is 180 feet between the per pendiculars, and on the keel 169 feet 2 inches, her breadth for tonnage 18 feet, dep th in midships 11, and burthen 291 tons, notwithstanding which ber draught of water is expected to be under sfeet. Sheis intended by her imperial proprietorfor his summer voyages on the Adriatic, , THE WEST INDIA MAILS. (By ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH. SOUTHAMPTON, FRIDAY MORNING. The Royal Mail Company's steam-ship Parana, Captain Bevis, with the West India mails, has arrived. She passed Hurst at 10.10 last n i g ht, but brought up in Yarmouth roads on account of the heavy wind and Sea. The dates of the Parana are : —Grey Town, Nov. 19th ; Carthagena, 24th ; Colon, 23d ; Jamaica, 27th ; Demerara, 26th ; Trinidad, 26th ; Barbadoes, 28th ; Grenada, 27th ; Thomas, Dec. Ist. The Parana brings 41 passengers, 58 6 , 181 dols. in specie, jewellery (value 600 dols.), and general cargo. The Jamaica Legislature was opened on the 10th ult. Much sickness in Kingston, and several fatal cases of fever. Mining operations favourable. Sugar crops looked healthy ; maikets generally dull. Exchanges on London, 90 days, par ; 40 ; per cent. prem. ; 30, 1 per cent. prem. At Barbadoes the weather was fine, canes ous and promising an early crop, and one of the largest ever reaped. Two meetings of the Court of Policy at Deme rara had been held since last mail, but nothing particular was done, the whole colony being plunged in gloom by the death of Dr. Blair, Surgeon-General of the colony, from disease contracted during the late expeditionary mis sion to the gold districts in the Venezuelan territory. Dr. Magret had been appointed his successor as surgeon-general. Sir Wm. Holmes and Mr. Campbell, his colleague in the above mis sion, had also been very ill, but were recovering. The weather was dry and the colony healthy. There were three or four cases of cholera in the city, but not of a dangerous type. • The St. Lucia Legislative Council was in ses sion. The country round Mexico, particularly towards Vera Cruz, was in a very unsettled state. News from Grenada contained little of interest, the expected reappearance of General Walker being the principal topic of conversation. _ The official paper of Grenada publishes a decla ration of war against Costa Rica, for the purpose of pressing its rights to the whole line of transit from San Juan del Norte to San Juan del Sul, aa well as the district of Juanacosta. The same paper names the Provisional Government during the time that General Maratinez and Xeres take charge of the army. The commercial distress at New York was being felt at Colon and Panama. The United States steamers Wabash at Colon, and Saratoga at Greytown. At Callao the National Convention had been dissolved by actual force. No favourable alteration had occurred in the money-market at Chili. Provisions were dear and scarce, and the labouring population in great distress. The affair of the Sportsman, captured in the port of Santa Maria, loading copper ore without a Chilian permission, still remained in abeyance. The American Minister and the French Consul had demanded satisfaction. The master claims 100 dols. per day as damages and losses. The steamer Maria Isabella, bought from the English governors, had arrived, making the ♦oy age in 102 days. She experienced bad weather, and was out of fuel. The barque Sarah Ann, bound for the Island of Oceania, with passengers, arc., was wrecked on one inhabited by savages, who devoured every person on board. Details were not yet published. The steamer La Plata, from Southampton, ar rived at St. Thomas on the lst inst., at 7 u.m. THE INDIA AND CHINA MAILS. (BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.) SOUTHAMPTON, FRIDAY MORNING. The Peninsular and Oriental Company's steamer Nemesis, Captain Black, has just arrived in the river, (10.30 a.m.) Despatches not yet ashore. THE ENGLISH PRISONERS AT SALERNO. Mr. Watt, of Newcastle, the father of one of the British engineers confined in the dungeons of Na ples, has received the following letter from the chaplain to the British Embassy at that place : " Naples, Dec. 9. " Sir,—l received your letter on Monday, the fth, and knowing how anxious your son was to hear of all his dear relatives at home, I took the very first oppor tunity (i.e., yesterday) of going down to Salerno to show it to him ; though it was a Testa, or holiday, and I was in danger of going for nothing, as all officials are gene rally absent from home on those days. I found that the Procurator-General was from home, but after sending for him in various directions I gained admittance) to the prison. The delay, however, was the cause of my being longer with the prisoners, as it made me too late for the afternoon train, and so I stayed for the evening one, and spent considerabletime in conversation with them. Your arises n s wwh o e nhr s emefed they oho more em e ny d o et better coohaloeonmi ra tpr take kaa i aei n v nni endt h xsg e mte a bor l oce t u ori k e seene t 7 h c eah a bmne n udeot h r vhhf e euae dl w vn. ie a nn s wtTt o b hl h e neai before — though r oas e lmr — gn pt eur t arop h nrop o yogo t i oes g omer h f: all their fellow-prisoners. Indeed, they all seemed quite cheerful, and conversed freely with the officer who ac companied me, as well as with myself. Your son and his companion, Parks, assured me that they acted by my counsel, and constantly prayed to God to support and relieve them, and read their bible every day ; they also returned lii religious tracts I had lent them, and desired to have some more. So I really trust that their affl ction may, with God's grace, be turned to good ac count, and that they will for the future be more sincere and earnest disciples of Christ than they have hitherto been, and be able to say with the Holy Psalmist, Blessed is the man, Q Lord, whom thou chastenest ; before I was afflicted I went wrong, but now I have kept thy statutes.' I paid them a second visit the week after I wrote last (Thersday, 26th ult.), and found they had been moved two days to the larger apartment. Yon perhaps have seen in the news papers a report that one of the prisoners had attempted suicide. I heard this after I returned from my first visit to them ; and therefore, on my second visit, I thought it right to question them about it. Your son eonfeesed that he had so, and, as far as I could learn, he was in duced to make the attempt by a melancholy feeling of despondency, which led him to imagine that all was against him. His companion told me it mime from mis understanding what was said about him by his, com panions through his not understanding the Italian lan ' guage thoroughly. On the 26th of November I talked very earnestly and seriously to him upon the subject, and he assured me he would never attempt anything of the kind again, and I have good reason to hope he sees it in its true light, and will keep his promise. I talked to him again about it yesterday, and he said cheerfully that there was no danger of such a thing again. lie is evidently of a silent and nervous dis position. I suppose they did not like to confess this sad thing, and so said nothing about it on my first visit. Being permitted by the King of Naples to visit them as a minister of religion, when nobody else was allowed to see them, I did not cross-question them about anything, as it would have been dishonour able to act in any way as a spy. I merely desired them to tell me anything they wished voluntarily ; and their statements I gave you the general summary of in my last letter. Besides my object was chiefly religious, - to load them to take their affliction patiently, and to bear up courageously, in dependence upon God's help and protection ; whereas, if I had spent my visits in ques tioniug them about grievances, they would have fancied themselves, perhaps, worse treated than they have been, and been irritated and more cast down in spirit, instead of being ca'med or cheered. I therefore, I repeat, only heard and have 'written to you what they told me of their own accord. Yesterday your son said he was very much comforted by your letter 'and those of his friends, which I let him read for himself. lie begged me earnestly to write directly, and send you all his love, and tell you he was well and cheerful. I obtained leave for him to write and send a lette r by we, and I promised to wait in the town tes?. hours for him to send it to me if he chose to stfrite! rue did not get any letter from him, and indeed he e n to ot un li t e rst v a i n ri d tin t g ha w t h t e h cx m ld a n n o y t i w n ri t t h e e . rather shy and nervous. As I have ver y . much copy my a minister, and so a t cls o u f e3 y t o l ur ton's case, or cannot go.titulhouroa ug nd hly th i o n u t g o h t t h s e 0 D,room,h Perhaps avag es a t he mh eadodoi ado little inquiry about the legal par the a i s r trial was going nationally. It was not my busuie but f or Li. sake I asked the about the justice of the arrest, s p s ol a i n ti d ca l lly ah a a n u d ld inter nationally. by interfering in it ; o P n r , o a c ua r d a qu ickly as pos sible. The forms of justice are Blow in this country, but I think the utmost will be done for them, as the British Government have exerted theinsi lees very much on the ltiueriGoledniee7li it yesterday was Proceedi ng subj,,ct and her Majesty's Acting Consul at Naples went down to Salerno last week and the week before. I a twi on o n l .hwr o think a t ayvyoeau wwrainit tdt n ee o nl wbwthi in very a when uvler n rnsy y ao t nv h ge ing eaanty havesnorehaste , your t ert t le eau t e nl t a ll de part i cul a r syou,have an vi oe r bu o I not time to look over my letter, as I wish to save the post to-Jay, otherwise I cannot send my letter before Satur day ; but I hope I have written so as to be understood by you. " Yours faithfully, " G. Pous, Chaplain.„ PRINCE ALBERT'S POEM.—The subject of the - poem for which Prince Albert annually gives" a gold medal at Cambridge will for the coming year be Delhi*" 1 9 1 I