The Sun. — London, England, 1857-12-22 00:00:00

LONDON and NORTH-WESTERN RAILWAY. Errni CHRISTMAS EXCURSIONS between LONDON, Ens ton Station, and HUDDERSFIELD and MANCHESTER. Excursion Tickets from London to Stockport, Manchester, Staley Bridge, Greenfield, and Huddersfield, will be issued by the Train leaving Easton Station, at 9.0 a.m., on WEDNESDAY 23d, THURS DAY 24th, and SATURDAY 26th December, at Closed Carriages •. 12s. 6d. I First C1a55........ 21s. Od. Available for Return by the train leaving Huddersfield at 9.15 ns. and London-road Station, Manchester, at 10 a.m., on Saturday 26th, Monday 28th. Tuesday 29th, and Wednesday 30th December. tXCIIRSION TICKETS at the same Fares will, In like manner, be issued by the 9.15 a.m. train from Huddersfield, and the 10 a.m. from London•read Station, Manchester. on the 23d, 24th, and 26th, available for return by the 9 a.m. train from Euston Station on the 26th, 28th, 29th, and 30th December. By Order. Euston Station, December, 1857, ITER MAJESTY'S THEATRE. THREE EXTRA NIGHTS. Piccolomini, Spezia, Ginglini, Belletti, Rossi, Vialetti, and Aldighieri. Tuesday, Dec. 29 —Thursday, Dec. 31—Saturday Jan, 2, The following favourite operas will be given : Tneaday—lL TROVATORE. Thursday—LA TRAVIATA. Saturday—LUClA DI LAMMERMOOR. Prices :—Pit Stalls, 12s 6d; boxes (to hold four persona), pit and one pair, 2/. 2s; grand tier, 3/. 38 ; two pair, 11. 55.; three pair, 15s ; gallery boxes, lOs ; gallery stalls, 3s 6d ; pit, 3s 6d; gallery, 2s. THEATRE 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. Bnckstone Compton, Chippendale, W. Arran, Miss Amy Sedgwick, Mrs. Buckingham White, sus Mrs. E. Fitawithaw. After which, a new farce, by the author of Box and Co; entitled TAKE CARE OF DOWB, in which Mr. Backstone 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. a. d Dress Boxes 5 0 Drees Boxes 3 0 Upper Boxes ... 3 0 Upper Boxes 2 0 Pit 2 0 Pit 1 0 Lower Gallery 1 OlLower Gallery 0 6 Upper Gallery 0 6No half-price to Upper Gallery. ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE. The public is reapectfully informed that the play of RICHARD THE SECOND will shortly be withdrawn, and WILL NOT BE AGAIN REPRESENTED in this Tlwatre, with the exception of a few nights towards the ex piration of Mr. C. Kean's period of management. It will be repeated this evening (Tuesday). It 0 Y A p L rop l!R t I N m ?Eg a ST s T c H a EAT RE. THIS EVENING, will be performed Shakspere's Tragedy of KING RICHARD 11. King Richard 11., 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, ADELPHL Lessee—Mr. Ben. Webster. THIS EVENING, will be performed THE GREEN BURRS, in which Madame Celeste, Mr. Wright, and Mr. Panl Bedford will perform. Followed by the original Apropos Sketch, entitled THE DRAPERY QUESTION ; or, Who's for India ? Messrs. Wright, P. Bedford, C. Selby; Miss M. Wilton and Miss Mary Keeley. R OYAL LYCEUM THEATRE.—SoIe Lessee and Manager, Mr. C. Dillon. — This Theatre will OPEN for the Winter Season en THURS DAY YEXT (Christmas Eve). t ► commence with MY FRIEND FROM LEATHERHEAD. After which, the Grand Combination of Burlesque and Pantomime, LALLAH ROOKH. and the PERI, the PRIN. CESS, and the TROUBADOUR. ; or, Harlequin and the Ghebers of the Desert. Supported by Mesdames, Woolgar, Buckingham White, Eliza Webb, Maria Ternan, Esther Ja cob, and Charles Dillon ; Messrs. Barrett, Calhaem, Holston, Fitzhenry, Poynter, Simpson, and J. L. 'nolo. Gorgeous Feast of Lanterns.—Fenton's Grand Transformation. Box-office open from 11 to 5 daily. ROYAL OLYMPIC THEATRE. Lessees, Messrs. Robson and Emden. THIS; EVENING, will be performed A SHEEP IN WOLF'S CLOTHING. After which, LEADING STRINGS. To conclude with A CONJUGAL LESSON. Commence at half-past Seven. CANTERBIT RY HALL, Westm n3ter-road.— OPEN EVERY EVENING.—The follow ir company of Vocalists are engaged for the performance of 8 !actions from all the popular OPERAS, MADRIGALS, CHORUSES, GLEES, DUETS, dzc., viz. :—Miss Russell, Mrs. Badzey, Madllo. Marietta, Mrs. Palmyre, Miss Bru nel, and Madame Marietta ; Herr F. Jonghmans, Mr. Renshaw, R. Grover, T. Farrant, S. .Tones, J. Barker, W. Melling, Senor Antonio, E. L. Hime, and Mr. St. A byn; Messrs. S. Collins, W. T. Critchield, and E. Mack fey. Pianoforte, Mr. Cecil Hicks; harmonium, Master Williams; Director, Herr F. Jonghmans. Commence at &men o'clock precisely. Sappers, ttc., until twelve o'clock. CANTERBURY -HALL, Westminster-road.— SAM COWELL'S RETURN to his Old Quarters, for One Night only, , CHRISTMAS EVE, Deo. 24, 1857, when he will sing Four of his Old Favourite Songs. C&NTERBURY-HALL, Westminster-road.— GRAND MORNING CONCERT. BOXING DAY, December 26, 1857, commencing at half put One o'clock. Programme, consisting of Solos, Comic and Sentimental, and selections from the following Operas Ernani, Il Trovatore, and La Traviata. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. TRIES DAY—Morn., 23 min. aft. s —Even., 44 min. aft. 5 To-Nonow—Morn., 5 min. aft. 6—Even., 30 min aft. 6 THE WEA.THEIt —SCrN OFFICE, DECEMBER 21. THERMOMETER, IN THE SLIDE. 55—highest since noon yesterday. sO—lowest this morning and during the night. 53 —this day at noon. BARoairrzu, 30.23. WIND, S.W.; light, with dull weather. - 11 IT rq . 1. 1 J 4 LONDON, TUESDAY, DEC. 22, 1857. The double, or rather the treble Government of India is to be abolished ! The brightest jewel in the British diadem is no longer to be subjected to irresponsible control. The Leadenhall-street Board have received notice that " they must set their house in order" and prepare to transfer into more competent hands the arduous and important duties in which they have so signally failed, and for the discharge whereof they are so totally un qualified. It is the intention of the Cabinet to introduce a bill for the purpose of bringing the Administration of India under the direct govern ment of the Qum; I This, unquestionably, is a step inlihe right direction. It is what we have long and unceasingly advocated, long before the renewal of the Charter, but more especially at the time when that improvident, and impolitic mea sure was discussed in Parliament. It is not the first time that the changes which we insisted on when standing almost alone, have been forced on the attention of the Legislature, and eventually re ceived its deliberate sanction. We might refer with just pride to many similar cases where the opinions advocated In The Sun, have triumphed over the prejudices and fallacies, generally received as sound prin ciples. We shall, however, at present restrict ourselves to the Indian difficulty. It is needless to repeat the arguments which we put forward in 1853, to show that it was a matter not only of justice to India, but to Great Britain, that " John Company's" sway in Hindostan should be forthwith terminated—that thenceforward there should be due responsibility, so that every griev ance should not only be redressed, but that the parties by whom it was occasioned should be Compelled to answer for their misdeeds at the bar of • •• 11 . PUUO opin ion. Under the existing system no one could say who was in fault, for every offence of omission or commission. There was the Governor:General and his Council, the Court of Directors—we _ l idl•nost called them " the Leaden Board" —and Mr. %MITI; of Cannon-row, any o f which could obstruct sound measures, but could not bring in beneficial i• equiNtiorks. They were powerful for evi!—lMPotent for No wonder that under such a system We 91, ° 1 11d hav e Witnessed a terrible calamity, that, but for th e indomitable courage and indefatigable energi es of our gallant soldiers and their skilful leaden, might have destroyed the Anglo-Indian Empire. Every one must have remarked the extraordi nary apathy with which matters relating to India were treated in the representative branch of the Lnislatnre. The most strenuous application of so the whip" could scarcely make or keep a House. Sir CHARLES Woou delivered his dreary ora ,na t o " a beggarly account of empty benches," and Mr. Sarni" prudently abstained from undertaking a task far beyond his limited powers, which could not be performed with credit to himself, or advantage to the community, either in England or in India. There was a total absence of interest on the subject, and the affairs of 150,000,000 of British subjects were regarded as of less consequence than a petty local bill ! This was because Parliament had really nothing to do with the matter. Indian affairs were bandied between Calcutta, Leadenhall-street, and Cannon-row. Parliament could do nothing prac tical to ameliorate the condition of the native population, and when that was notorious, we cannot wonder at the careless indifference mani fested by the chosen representatives of the consti tuencies of the United Kingdom 1 Place India directly under the British Govern ment, and all this will be altered 1 Let it be known that its splendid prizes are no longer to be monopolised by the civil service, and that the Hindoos look for justice, not from the Company, but from Parliament, and the questions at issue will be closely studied and earnestly discussed. The Administration of Justice will be more closely looked to ; and men will not be appointed to the judicial bench without the slightest knowledge of the first principles of law, merely because they had proved themselves to be inefficient collectors or decidedly bad diploma tists. Something more will be required than that they must be provided for in some way. The prin ciple indicated by " Take care of DOWB--- " can no longer prevail in Hindostan. The directors and their protsgh have already feathered their nests very handsomely, and it is time that they should give way to more competent men, and that the welfare, happiness, and prosperity of the people, should be taken into consideration. We shall look with great anxiety to the details of the promised measure, but at present it is satisfactory to know that the double government is to be abolished, and India brought under the direct control of Queen VICTORIA and her con stitutional advisers. The following article is so sound in it3elf, and so completely agrees with the views that we have so long and steadfastly advocated, that we have no hesitation in giving it a place in our leading columns. We shall look forward with satisfaction to the " proofs" which our respected correspon dent promises, and which we have no doubt that he will be able to furnish : ritE SCN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, DEOVINIBER 22, 185 To MARINERS.—RHODES, Dec. 3.—Pirates have lately been seen among these islands; they usually cruise in the' vioioity of Leros, an island about 75 miles X.W. of Rhodes. THE CHARTERHOUSE,—An iaterestiog account of the state and management of the Charterhouse was drawn up in 1854 by Mr. Skirrow, one of the inspectors of the Charity Commissioners. A copy of the report was issued on Saturday as a Parliamentary paper. It was moved for by Mr. Knight. DISTRIBUTION OF HER MAJESTY'S CHRISTMAS GIFTS AT THE ROYAL ALMONRY, WHlTEHALL.—Yesterday morning her Majesty's Christmas gifts were distributed at the Royal Almonry Office, Middle-yard, Whitehall, to the poor and deserving, by Mr. Hanby a n d o th er o ffi cers of the Lord Chamberlain 's department. Between 100 and 200 persons received ss. each, and were principally blind ; several. averaged from 70 to 90 years of age. The recipients were evidently most grateful for her Majesty's bounty. The Scotsman observes of the Western Bank : "There is at least one of the disclosures which is more a matter for public or Government inquiry than for the shareholders, whose interest, indeed, it may be to pass it over as lightly as possible. The notes of the Western Bank in circulation are 720,0831. The returns made by the bank just before the stoppage stated the circulation at 454,9831., provided for by the 182,5221. of coin, in addition to the authorised circulation of 337,9381. How the 265,000/. of increase ?—how authorised ?—how secured ? Are there not some recent events in Scotland which would be better inquired into by a commission on the spot than by an overworked Parliamentary com mittee ?” THE ACCIDENT AT THE IMPERIAL GAS WORKS.— Yesterday evening an inquest was held at the Silver Cup Cromer-street, Gray's Inn-road, before Mr. Wakeley, coroner, on view of the body of Robert Taylor, aged 46, late in the employment of the Imperial Gas Works, Maiden-lane, St. Pancras, who last his life on Saturday last under.very shocking and melancholy circumstances. It appeared from the evidence, that on Saturday morning the deceased, who acted as foreman over some of the men, was walking up an inclined platform, when, owing to the slippery state of the boards, he was precipitated head-foremost to the basement floor, a height of nearly 40 feet—the unfortunate man was taken up in an insensible and mu tilated condition, and conveyed in a cab to the Royal Free Hospital, Gray's lon-road. Mr. Curran, the principal house sur g eon, promptly a tt en d e d, but so `severe was the nature of the injuries received, viz.:— dislocation of the spine, coller bone, and a number of the ribs—that all human aid was unavailing, and he expired about half an hour after his admission. Verdiet —accidental death. The deceased has left a widow and young family. THE OLD MAHOMMEDAN VIEW OF THE CRUSADES.-- A. story which occurred during the Crusades is related by the author of the Histoire Generale:—During one of the truces between them aud the Saracens, the latter asked seriously why it was they had left their homes and tra velled so many long miles, and wherein they, the Mos lems, had offended them, that they sought their blood in such a vengeful way ? The Crusaders said—lt was was because they, the Saracens, were unbelievers ; they had pot to death our Lord ; that they were idolaters, and in partioniar worsh'pped two great idols, called Ma hound and Termagunt. The Saracens answered that they were most sadly mistaken ; it was the Jews who had pat to death Isla Ben Mariam (Jesus, son of Mary) 600 years before there were any Mahometans ; that as 10 images, they abhorred them • so far from worshipping them, they never suffered the likeness of anything to be made, not even in a picture ; whilst the Christians hai images in all their churches, bowed down to them, burnt incense before them ; and they entreated the Christians to come into their mosques and houses, and see for themselves whether there were any idols there or not. It was all of no use. The Christians were so blinded by prejudice they would not believe the evidence of their own senses, and they went on devoutly cutting the Sa racens' throats because they had killed the Lord of Life, and because they worshipped two great idols, Mahound and Termagunt —The Builder. THREATENED STRIKE AMONGST THE COLLIERS.—We regret to have to state that, in consequence of the fort night's notice having expired, under which the colliers' wages will be reduced 6d. per day, serious apprehensions of an outbreak at Bilston were made manifest on Sae turday evening, so much so that the magistrates, by way of precaution, specially requested the deputy chief-con stable of the county, Major McKnight, to communicate with his superior, Colonel Hogg, who was then in the Potteries, iu order that an extra force of police might be in readiness. The chief-constable, on receiving the telegraphic despatch, proceeded to Bilston by the next train, and after inspecting the district, ascertained that all was going on peaceably. As meetings or the col liers, however, are to take place to-day and to-morrow, to determine whether to strike or not against the pro posed reduction, Major Fellows, of Wolverhampton, received instructions yesterday morning to have all the pensioners in readiness, for 30 miles round. It has been reliably ascertained that deputations from the Pottery colliers, who are on strike, have been in Bilston and the surrounding district, with a view of organising a gene ral strike. We sincerely hope the contrary will be the result, although the state of things throughout the district wears a very unsatisfactory aspect.—Birming ham Post of yesterday. OVERCROWDING RAILWAY CABRIAGES.—At the lest sitting of the County Court at York an action of some importance to railway companies and railway passengers was tried before Mr. Sergeant Dowling, the judge. An action was brought against the North-Eastern Railway Company by a solicitor residing at York for damages for an alleged breach of contract under the following circumstances :—The plaintiff took a second-class return ticket from York to Scarborough oc the evening of the 21st ult. He returned on Monday morning and tra velled with only one other passenger as far as Flaxton station, when the doer was unceremoniously opened, and ten other persons, principally farm servants and labourers, who were proceeding to York, pushed into the compartment, which was occupied by 12 persons. The new corners caused the plaintiff considerable annoyance, behaving in a very coarse and disgraceful manner. The plaintiff now contended that the conoeney having contracted to allow him to travel iu a comtort able manner, and to be free from annoyano , had broken their agreement by allowing these wen to get into the second-class compartment with thin'-clas s tickets. The second-class seats were made to c b o a nt n ai o n r f i 'o g u h r t p to as c s r e a n tn ge i r n s each ; bet even supposing they were made for five each, the company, it was contended, d a dozen passengers, there being then an excess of two in th • compartment. His honour gave a verdict for the plaintiff—damages ls. A BRIG DESTROYED BY FIRE.—COWES, Dec. 20. The Sardinian brig Porto Maurizio, Captain Busutino, 178 tons, of and for Genoafrom Newcastle, with a cargo of gas coals, suddenly toot fire this morning at about 2 o'clock, whilst riding before two anchors in Yarmouth Reeds, where she had brought up Rome days previ ously for safety. The captain a liXe before 2 o'clock awoke nearly suffocated amidst a dense smoke, which had been gradually filling the cabin and its berths, when he with the utmost speed turned ont in order to examine from whenc, it originated. A. few instants later he observed flames issu.ng from several spots near him. He then without delay gave the alarm to tie crew, who with the exception of one man on the watch were all below fast asleep. They all quickly rushed on decs and aft, when, on further examination, it was found that the cargo had ignited. Meanwhile .the flames had gained way through the dock, and some people belong ing to the caast-guard stationed at Yarmouth, who had espied the fire fronts shore, pushed off, and getting on beard lent their assistance in the endeavour to scuttle the wee•el, sipped her chains, ran her on shore, and with the crow were instrumental in Saving some sails and rope. The fire during the first few hours remained mostly confined to the aftei part of the brig, and it was not long before the mainmast was burning over the side, together with the lower topmast and other rigging attached, all in a blaze, but without injuring any one. The scuttling of the brig, however, appears to have been only very superfieialy attended to, for in its results it remained without effect. With nearly high water all at.once she floated off the ground, drifted into mid-channel, and from thence on the last of the flood, a considerable distance to the eastward. Whilst thus abandoned she was taken in tow by several fishing-smacks, which were hovering in her vicinity, and by them put on shore off So wiey, about one mile in a westerly direction from the Blace Buoy, marking Leap Bank, where she at present lies, one mass el flames covering fore and aft, a burning wreck, with bulwarks, stanchions and deck destroyed, and main and f rsrna,t gene. A NEW COLONY. — The long-pending agitation with respect to the separation of Moreton Bay and the imme diate di.tcicts from the province of New South Wales appears, from our last advises from Australia, to have been at last successful; and although the new colony hes not yet been officially gazette(' by an Order in Coot:- cil, the step has been finally determined upon by the Imp rial Government, and the basis of the arrangements for its immediate completion have been laid down. We regard Mr. Labouchere's despatch as an exemplification of the satisfactory principles which now guide the policy of the mother country to her numerous provinces—as a natural consequence of the awakening interest and atten tion, and of the jester sense of colonial rights , aud impe rial obligations which the growing importance of the Australian colonies has of Late years called forth. The home Government appears to have most impartially de cided the point. Tee separation itself is granted to the unanimous desire of the inhabitants of Moreton Bay, the slight opposition made in Sydney to separation at all being very properly overruled. The line of division between the two colonies has been fixed SO 3f4 to include the Clarence River district within New South Wake, and the Itichrninat River district withal Mureten Bay. This also is in Accordance with the wishes of the maje rity of the inhabitants on the Clarence aud Richmond Riv e rs respectively. Lest, ho we ver, a mistakeshouldbe have been made in this respect, power app ears to gives to the two Governments not only to fix the accu rate details of the divisions, bat to modify them if riecee t: sary. The people of Moreton Bay feel some diotppon _ moat that the Clarence district is to rema in a par of Nov SJutli Wales; bet it' the residents in the latter district are themselves content, their decision oughtto set the question at rest; whilst the po wer mutually held, to modify the boundary hereafter, is a fair gua rantee that substantial justice will ultimately be done to all parties concerned. Any doubts w ill respect to the creation of the new colony being premature on account of its population will be more and more re• moved every year. Thu aee e4s ion of even a few huo dreds to the population is of vast importance to a young state, and still more so their settling into thisordini ry forms and relations of social and political life. The colony may be considered popntous compared with many colonies which once existed in America. The form of ("ernineut at Moreton Bay is to be modeled on that of New South Wales, v.ith power to alter itsove n coeetitu tiou. —A eetreliaa (tea eVeteZedes acteett'es EXCHEQUER NOTES. In as short a space as shall be consistent with the object in view, I forward you the reasons why Exchequer notes will not be adopted by our Government, constituted as it is at present. First principles must be regarded and properly esti mated before that which would benefit the majo rity of the country will ever be the basis of legis lation. 1 Notwithstanding the increase of bullion is close upon three millions, being 2,967,000 from the lowest point when the Government letter was issued; notwithstanding the increase of the reserve of notes and coin in the Banking department make together 6,282,2951., gold continuing to arrive from various sources, the amount already received from the United States found to be considerably in excess of the amount shipped since the begin ning of the crisis, the Bank will not reduce the rate until the directors feel quite confident that they can safely return the two millions of addi tional securities to the Banking department. Notwithstanding the - Bank con! I no longer pin France to their high rates, the viEtter having re duced its rate to 6 per cent., the Bank of England clings to her darling adopted 10 per cent., with all the tenacity of a miser regardless of all else but self, her much devoted Economist assigning no other reason, de facto, for her doing so than because " she can get it," we might be quite sure her third-class principle of action will remain in violate as long as " she can get it"-10 per cent. The words of the Economist are :—" As long as the demand upon the Bank of England con tinues so great as to maintain the securities at so high an amount, it would not ba a safe step to haz ►rd any material reduction in the rate of dis count." This is a fine specimen of ambiguity, a true genius for turning things upside down. What a famous mountebank he would make, to stand upon his head riding the horse of many odours round the endless sing t History furnishes us with the reason for all this. Bankers have discovered that themselves and the money dealers are benefited whenever produce can be kept low, simply because then one pound is the purchase power of thirty shillings' worth of goods, when they were 50 per cent. higher; that class of men having their money to spend, expend less money when produce is low; less money is in circulation among commercial hands, hence more is in the bankers' hands. High prices of produce, of course, produce the contrary effect - . Now, of course, it is the busi ness of the Bank to retain money in their own hands. They have two ways of doing so—one is by keeping produce low, the other is by keeping discounts high. Ever since 1819 they have acts(' upon that policy to the best of their ability. During the wars from 1797 to 1815 the very reverse of that policy was pursued. The other extreme, we know, was practised. Paper was the substitute for the precious metals—the issue was inconvertible. The extreme of inconvertibi lity of that day enables the bullionist to refer to it as an example and a specimen of such currency; and although it brought the nation through its dangers prosperously and triumphantly, at a time when scarcely a guinea was left in the country, a wanton reckless ness of Government brought the natiin into an indebtedness beneficial to the money-dealers only that survived 1825, at the expense of all else. Now, because we then went to one extreme of inconvertibility, it seems we must now go to the other extreme of restriction ; as if a just medium would not be as desirable now as then. The error is as great now upon restriction as it was then upon extension, but there is this fact, that it opened the eyes of monetary men to the side of policy which peculiarly benefited them. A violent contraction or extension must ever be attended with dangerous results. Hence the Bill of 1819 furnished evidence of the evils resulting from the sudden contractions, as 1797 did of ex tension ; but its duration was not so great, for in 1822 Government gave an extension to the cur rency for ten years, during which small notes were to be retained in circulation. Notice the lowering of all articles of produce just in proportion to the currency in circulation. In 1818 it was 48,278,070 1 .; in 1822 it Rai 26,588,0001. During this reduction the price of all produce was falling pro rata till it reached 50 per cent. below the prices of 1818. Of course the effects of the South American Revolution, re ducing the supply of the precious metals to a third of its former amount, rendered the inopportune Bill of 1819 more disastrous than it could have been, had it not rendered paper the representation of gold only—as if paper is not bona fide and de facto a better currency when it represents re gistered property declared and published. Any accident happening to the supplies of gold now produces the same effect upon us as did the South American Revolution—in fact, a temporary and comparalivdy small withdrawal of bullion now produces a panic of overwhelming magnituth s howing how highly sensitive aro we become now by the restriction of 1844, and for want of a cur rer mY indep en d en t an d unconnected w i t h go ld , that now Bo flu c t ua t es i n supply an d d eman d . Taxation issue would leave none of these fluctua tions of 1 supply, and w ou ld f orm a batter conver tibility than go l d on that accoun t. Whil s t no better security cart ex;et than property, gold cer tainlyis not better. Exchequer notes, uncon nected the Bank o f England, would keep 1 the latter 'a wbolebome cl peck, anl prevent many of the tricks that a gold convertibility now facili tates. This is the very reason why we are not likely to obtain it, as our Government is at pre. sent constituted. The banks do not intend to have any alteration to the facilities they now pos sess in turning every monetary change to their own advantage ; they do not intend to forego the great advantages of buying produce for little of that money, and, at the same time, charging double for their contracted currency—certainly a very fine game for the banks to play ; but in just the proportion is it as ugly a game for pro ducers and commerce to play. Certainly every reflective mind must discover that an insufficient circulation must enhance the price of its interest, as it must also lower the price of produce in general ; great care do the bankers take, therefore, to perpetuate this state of, things—the best of all reasons why we shall not have Exchequer notes, if they can help it. If any yet doubt that a contracted currency has the effect of reducing the price of produce, I refer them to Alison's History, from 1815 to 1852, vol. 3d, page 6;1, dm, also to Porter, 3d edit., 359; also to Tooke on Prices, vol. 2d, 390, 401. It is said by the supsrficial observer, " so much the better, the lower the prices the less we have to pay, and the better position are we in to ex port ;" but they forget that that is the language the bankers can use with satisfaction to them selves, but not at all compatible with the pro ducer's living by his produce, whether manufac tories or otherwise. It is never beneficial to in dustry to receive half its reward. The Malthusian advocacy must to every pro gressive mind be seen to be so deficient that I shall not waste time here to disprove it. Stimu huts to industry I have always found to be com patible with high prices. As we pay our best and most skilful hands the most money, the least skilful the least wage, so it is with the nation— improve the price of produce, and all producers are benefited by it, since it is their article of commerce, their only representation of payment's measurement. The horrid Malthusian idea that " goad a man to starvation, and you drive him to industry," has been pretty well illustrated of late by the ticket-of•leave men. Goad men to starvation, and you force them to rob ; encourage them by remunerating pay, and you find them improving mentally, morally, and bodily. Now for exports—it is said that we by low prices extend our exports ; how is it Germany does not , carry the export trade before them ? Or France Or America ? The question must be answered Countries that are increasing in wealth so rapidly as those to which we export prefer quality and elegance to cheapness (nearly all except the Cape do) ; the best brands are the goods that pay the best ; the best marks of manufactures the same. But of greater importance than all is the capital among the producers, the greater their capital, the greater their command of exports—reduce their capital and you reduce the source of industrial em ploy ; by a contracted currency you endanger both these advantages. As colonies and countries improve in means, so quality and elegance are esti-• mated more and more. Now the contracted view of the Bank of England not only fetters England, but affects all the world more or less. Merchants everywhere are liable to their sudden changes of tact, and, consequently, its ruinous in fluences, wherever man has set his foot. It must not, therefore, be overlooked that if prices of produce range high in England, they will elsewhere. The little timid manufacturer partaking alittle of the Jewish tribe fancies his only chance is low prices; while the larger manufacturer renowned for his quality and style, relies impli citly upon both the quality and style for his vast demand. All merchants know well the producer and manufacturer of brand and mark compose the grand bulk of exports in amount. The timid little traders, at low prices, are merely exceptional. I assert, therefore, that our exports depend more upon our prestige, than upon our price, as the world happens now to roll over. The fact then is established, that high prices of produce benefit the producers nationally and mer cantilely ; the only men that would not, to the same extent, be able to make their fortunes at the expense of all commerce, would be the bankers and money-lenders; that is why we do not have exchequer notes Nothing can more fully corroborate the prin ciple, that prices are regulated by the extension or contraction of the currency, than the statistics furnished by Alison's History from the year 1820 to 1824, in reference to stamps for country bank notes issued on 10th Oct., and the average price of wheat— Average price of wheat per qr. Year 1820 £3,574,894 s4s 6d " 1821 3,987,582 . 49s Od " 1822 4,217,241 3Bs lld " 1823 4,657,589 s2s 8d " 1824 4,822,174 64s 3d Justly then, the notes issued from 1820 to 1822 indicat,. the struggle the country banks had in maintaining issue enough for commerce till 1822, when the extension of the currency had the effect of immediately raising the price of wheat, which- n 1822 was 38s 11d. per quarter, in 1823 to 525. Bd., and in 1824 to 645. 3d. (All these effects were produced by an extension of issue. Much more remarkable are the frets of the Bank and the bankers' notes in circulation, the paper under discount at the Bank. In 1815, when paper had not arrived at its climax of issue, when Bank notes were 27,261,6501., country ditto 19 , 0 11,000/.—total, 46,272,6501.; paper under discount, 20,660,6941.; price of wheat, 555. 71 The following year paper had arrived at its clinaf.x —that is, the paper under discount was reduced from 20 millions to 11,182,1091., and the price of wheat 103 s. 7d. per quarter. This fully proves that according to the exten sion of issue, less paper is under discount, and the higher the price of wheat it becomes the then staple article of produce. It must be so ; this diminution of paper under discount continued till 1821. Of course the im mediat3 effect of an Act of Parliament is not always felt or exhibited in figures the same year, nor sometimes in the following year, but the minimum quantity of bills under discount in 1821 was 2,722,5871. Compare this with that under discount in the year 1815, when it was 20,660,694. We shall soon discover the cause of so much paper under discount at the present day, when, jointly, the bills of 1819, 1825, and 1844 combine to lessen the currency during the times of an extended com• merce, doubling and quadrupling itself in amount. Paper would not now be under discount to such au extent were the circulation commensurate with the increased commerce. Without much further investigation, discounts can be proved to be caused by an insufficiency of circulating me dium. But this need not be proved to the bankers, they are too well aware of the fact, as are the bullionists. This deficiency of medium in currency causes most men doing business to any txtent to discount with his banker, that is as safe as the Bank of England, but is too much occupied to investigate the principle which regu lates currency, and, in good faith, take for grarited these great 111911 of money-power are doing what is right and best for the nation. 1 find that I have exceeded the limits of a letter. In my next I will bring the proofs forward, up to the present time, that will furnish ample evidence that excessive paper under discount is the result of an insufficient circulating medium. Air Exeell-ncy the Persian Atoh3.9sador, accompanied by the members of Liu suite, and attundad by Cal,tain left Clarilge's Hotel, last oveuing, on a visit to tier et Windsor Castle. The Duchess of Aihole hai left the St. George's Had for Dunkeld House, N.B. The MarquiA and vlarchioncss of Ailesbury, accom panied by the Marchioness (Nl4ria) of Aiksbury, were to leave Severnoke Lodge yesterday, on a visit to the Right Hon. Sidney and Mrs. Herbert, at Wilton _House. The Earl and CJuntess Granville left town yesterday, on a visit to the Right Hon. Sidney Herbert and Mrs. Herbert, at Wilton House, near Salisbury. The Countess of Powis and the Ladies lierbeit have returned to Powis Castle from a tour of visits. The Earl of Shelburne will leave Lansdowne house to•day fc.r ILwued. DISTRESSED WIVES AND FAMILIES 01" SOLDIE US. A communication having been forwarded to her Majesty (through the medium of Sir George Grey) from Mr. Davey, Secretary of the Woolwich, Charl ton, and Plumstead Committee, soliciting her Ma jesty's patronage and subscription to the fund for the relief of the wives and families of soldiers sent on active service to India, the following reply has been received thereto : " Windsor Castle, Dee. 19._ "Sir,—l have had the honour to submit to her Ma• jesty the Queen the purport of the petition which Sir George Grey had forwarded to me, and which is ad dressed to her Majesty, although it is not usual for any committee, or any other body to address her Majesty personally through the medium of their secretary. "The subscription to which you ask her Majesty to contribute is one raised amongst the inhabitants of Woolwich, Charlton, and Plumstead for the relief of the wives of the soldiers of one particular corps, who have been quartered in that neighbourhood. "I am commanded to inform you in reply, that it would be contrary to establish a rule for her Majesty to join a local subscription, nor could the Queen contribute to the assistance of the wives of one particular portion of the soldiers in her Majesty's service, who are suffering under the unavoidab'e separation from their husbands, which has been equally borne by the wives of soldiers of other branches of the army who may have been quar tered throughout the United Kingdom. Her Majesty feels much for the hardships which this separation, necessitated by the nature of the service, must cause to these poor women, and cannot but feel pleasure at the sympathy and kind assistance which their neighbours are willing to extend to them.—l have the honour to be, &c. " Mr. T. Davey." "C. B. Pains. THE OPERATION FOR CANCER ON THE TONGUE. TO THB EDITOR OF THE SUN. SIR, —I regret that an operation which I happened to perform in the Royal Infirmary of this city has got into the newspapers, but as it has unfortu nately, done so, the public should be correctly in formed on the subject. Partial removal of the tongue for the remedy of cancer having been found wore than useless, it was, thought that extirpation of the whole organ might afford effectual relief ; upon this principle I proceeded. The patient suffered no bad consequences di rectly from the operation, but at the end of a week, when the external wound was quite healed, died suddenly from an internal disease, which might have been excited by any other irritation in a person of his constitution and habits. 1 am, Sir, ite. JAMES SYME. 2, Rutland-str ee t, Edinbiugh, Dec. 19. TEE OTTOMAN BANS. TO THE EDITOR OP THE SUN. SIR,---The only investment which has not taken a rise in consequence of the improved general and monetary acptct of affairs, is the Ottoman Bank, with limited liability. This arises from the directors studiously keeping secret the enormously large and productive business which the bank is doing. It is their duty, as they did before, at the sugge,tion of the Times news paper, when their stock was similarly depressed, to publish to their shareholders the true and, I believe, flourishing condition of their affairs. Your obedient servant, A. W. London, 21st December, 1857. CANTERBURY HALL. Sam Cowell returns to the scene of his ancient glories in honour of the festive season, and will appear on Christmas-eve to delight - the lieges with the cream of his comic songs. This visit, causing an interruption of his provincial engagements, is a token of special regard for the spirited proprietor, whose liberality of manage ment ensures the esteem of all who have served in his rank•. A. morning performance is to take place on 13, xing-day, comprising selections from the most popular Italian operas of the day ; and the full resources of the establishment will be put in requisition to ensure a rich harmonic treat for the patrons of the Canterbury. Among other forthcoming attractions we understand that Mr. Morton has secured the eminent services of Mr. Augustus Braham, the celebrated singer, who will shortly be added to the strength of the excellent com pany of vocalists, whose exertions so satisfactorily main tain the well-established reputation of this first cr concert-halls. The Earl of liarswond is passing the season at Harewood House, Yorkshire, surrounded by a select circle. The Countesit of Durham and her youthful family are daily expected in town from Brighton. Viscount and Viscountess Palmerston will leave Cambridge House to-morrow, for Broadlands. The Count and Countess de Flabault and Miss Elphinetone de Flabault will leave town in a few days on a visit to the Marquis of Lausdowne at Bo wood. Lady Brougham arrived in town, yesterday, from Dover. The Dowager Lady Stanley and Miss Stanley have left the St. George's Hotel. Lady Dover tas arrived at Castle Howard, on a visit to the Countess of Carlisle, from Blitbfi.-1 I, Staffordshire, where her ladyship has been staying some weeks with Lord and Lady Bagot. Lord and Lady Churchill have arrived at the St. George's Hotel. Lord Stanley of Alderley has left London for his seat, Alderley Park, Cheshire. Lord and Lady Huntingfield have left the St. George's Hotel. The Right Hon. Sidney Herbert, M.P., and Mrs. Herbert have, during the past week, entertained a sel ,, et circle at Wilton House, near Salisbury. Lord and Lady Harry Vane, Lord Stanley, Bar .n and Baroness Nicolay, General Sir Geo. Bowles, Lady Gage, and Mr. Henry Drummond, M.P., &0., have been among the guests. The party separated on Saturday. The Ri g ht Hon. B. Disraeli and Mrs. Disraeli have left Gr ,avenor-;:ate for Middleton-park, Oxon, on a visit to the Earl and Countess of Jersey. Sir Robert Gerard has left the Clarendon for Gars wood, near Warrington. SOUTH KENSINGTON MUSEUM.—During the week ending Dec. 19, 1857, the visitors have been as follows : —On Monday, Tuesday, and Saturday, free days, 2,660; on Monday and Tuesday, free evenings, 3,767. On the three students' days (dmission to the public 6d.), 530 ; one students' evening, Wednesday, 125 ; total, 7082. M. JULLIEN'S BAL MASQUE.-41. Jullien's season closed last night with a second bat masque. If these affeirs in England are always dull, and there is no de nying it, ucdcr M. Jullien's conduct they are never degrading. Tee salle is handsomely decorated, the music is geed, and order is t-lerably maintained. The ball of last night differed in nothing from its predecee curs, except that wo missed poor Herr Kcenig'is singing cornet notes in some of the galops, and recognised, es calm and respectable midJle-aged lookers-en, some of those who in former days rendered themselves equaly d:cinguishcd by the freedom of their dancing and their wit. MADAME TUSSAUD'S EXHIBITION.—Another highly interesting object has just been completed and placed in the museum. It represents the brave and distinguished General Havelock, who has won for himself eo great a name by his gallantry and energy in the field. He is represented in the uniform of a lieuteteaut-general, decorated with numerous military orders, amoug them the Order of the Bath. The iikeness is most faithful. THE LEVIATHAN.—The lannchiog of the Leviathan at will the close o notbe ftheresume year until'l and co thenext springseoecae n which happen ensu ing year. In the course of Saturday and yesterday morning gangs of labourers were employed in driving piles for the erection of fresh buttresses nearer the cradles. The hydraulic power which will be applied on the resumption of the operation will be more than double that to which the ship has already been subjected. There are to be twelve additional hydraulic rams. She continues to sit even and fair on the cradles and way s . On Saturday, at high water, she had 5 feet 6 inches of water under her bottom. DEATH OF MISS ELIZI EDOIIIN. —This young lady, whose ballet performances, in connection with other members of the Edouin family, have been so much ad, mired, died at the Mount Alexander Hotel, Forest Creek, on Saturday, of fever and inflammation of the lungs. Her illness was of short duration, and its fatal terminaCon was quite unexpected by her friends, who, at the time of her decease, were absent at Daylesford, The melancholy occurrence has excited much sympathy among many with whom the Edouin family had become familiar during their short soj rurn here.—Mount Alex ander Mail of Oct. 9. THE CHEAP PaEss.—The Inland Revenue authori ties have commenced proceedings against many of the cheap newspapers which have boon published without registration, and without finding the usual security for payment of d airragee i n case o f' libel. Mr. Kennedy Meenab of this place, the publisher of an intermittent sheet called the Reformer, has been served with a sub. Nana from the Court of Exchequer, at the instance of the Lord Advocate, for breach of the legal requisites. The penalty is a floe of 1001. for each publication founded on. The Inland Revenue authorities have for some time been labouring to undeceive publeshers ae t the state of the law, and are now taking proceedings against the incorrigibles. Considering how largely cheap local newspapers have teen engaged in slander and scandal, and how difficult it has sometimes been furred to recover as ltttle as 121. of damages Irons their pub lishers, the enforcement of the law may be deemed re (' uisite:an d salutary.—lnverness Courier. MOB GOVERNMENT.—The oele!ocratic, or mob princi ple, though it may appear to be founded on the principle of self-government, is virtually the reverse, and fur this reason, that its tendency is to throw the management of affairs into the hands of a few, and those the most un worthy—whilst apathy and disgust keep the best as much aloof as if they were by law excluded from in terference. This is an inevitable result in the long run. It is witnessed continually in ochlocratic tlly or ganieed parishes and corporations, and has, from the first, been visible in different degrees in the ne v over grown parliamentary constituencies.-- Wcaker'oOriyina/. LATES NEWS AMERICA. (By ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.) LIVERPOOL, TUESDAY MORNING. The Kangaroo has arrived, with one day's later news from New York (under 12 days). The Swiss Federal Council has officially laid before the authorities of the Canton do Vaud the question of the cession of the Vallee des Dappes to France. The intelligence from Germany still represents the embarrassments as very great ; however, it is thought that the crisis decidedly approaches its termination. A letter from Copenhagen states that the bill authorising the Minister of the Interior to con tract a loan for Denmark of 300,000/. was adopted on the third reading by a majority of 66 to 7. The French ships of war intended for China, the departure of which has been delayed for some days, will sail from Toulon between the 20th 25th inst. They will proceed direct to Hong Kong with 550 troops on board. This force, it is said, will not be increased for the present, and the pro jected expedition to Cochin China appears to be adjourned. FRANCE. PARIS, MONDAY. The Emperor yesterday gave an andience to Gen. Don Juan Almonte, who presented his credentials as envoy extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of the Mexican Republic. M. Francisco de Olagui bel, who had filled the same functions at the court of the Tuilleries, presented his letters of recal. His Majesty afterwards received Baron de Weech ter, envoy extraordinary and minister plenipoten tiary of the King of Wurtemburg, who Lad been charged by his sovereign to reiterate to the Empe ror his thanks for the visit which he had paid to him at S.udgardt. Baron de Manders'raam, the Minister of Sweden, al-o delivered to the Emperor letters from his sovereign, acknowledging the recal of M. L ,bstein. The elections to fill up the vacancies in the Le gislative Corps are very likely to be postponed tall the month of March next. It is not said whether any new electoral circulars will be issued by tl:e Minister of the Interior. The Council of State meets on Thursday next at the Tuileries, under the presidency of the Emperor, to discues the proposed measure of the assurance agricole. Admiral Van Dockum is named Danish Minister at the Court of St. James's. The Pays says the Viceroy of Egypt is most favourably disposed towards Christians. He has permitted churches to be built, and accorded a plot of ground to erect a Catholic religious establishment at Cairo. BOURSE, Dec. 21.—The market has been very buoyant. Speculators fora fall have been obliged to settle their accounts with heavy losses, and were the principal agents of the absence of all the secu rities, which has been besides influenced by a fur ther rise of on the English Consols. It was re ported that the }Milk of England had reduced its rate of discount to 8 per cent. Half-past 3 o'clock. —The rise at the commencement of the market became checked in consequence of realisations for profits, when the following wore the closing quota tions Cash. fr. End of Month.. 44 per Cents 3 per Cents 67 63 67 40 Bank Shares 3250 Credit Foncier — Credit Mobilier 785 -- Roman Do. Account BOO Austrian Belgian 41 1 — Pied montage (5) — Home Debt - RATLWAYS-FOR CABS* tr. c. fr c. Orleans h — Northern New Ditto 775 Strasburg Lyons and Mod t6s Grand Central New Ditto... .. ..... 851 i— Sardinian 2 Geneva AUSTRIA. Count de Rechberg ' Austrian plenipotentiary at the Germanic Diet, has sent despatches to his go vernment on the Danish affair, which state that from conferences between him and the Prussian envoy, on one hand, and Count de Bille Brahe, the Danish envoy, on the cither, the Danish cabinet is disposed to adopt a line of policy more favourable to the duchies. Intelligence has reached Vienna of the death of Iskender Paella, who had distinguished himself in the war between Russia and Turkey, and who lately accompanied Omer Pacha to Bagdad. The follow ing is a brief sketch of his career : "He was born in Bessarabia in 1812 ; his name being Count Ilinaki. Obliged to leave his country on account of complicity in political plots, he served on the consti tutional side in the civil wars of Portugal and Spain, and obtained ducoratiuns. lie afterwards went to Algeria, then to Herat, and afterwards to Caina, serving in all three places in a military capacity. Ho afterwards re turned to Algeria, and, accepting service from the French, distinguished himself in the operations against Abdel-Kader, and gained the cross of the Legion of Honour. In 1848 and 1849 he fought with distinction in Hungary. He the❑ went to Turkey and entered the service of the Porte. He 'took part with Omer Pacha in the expedition against Montenegro. He distinguished himself on the breaking out of the war with Russia, but was soon wounded, and was kept for some time inactive. Subse quently, he organised the Bashi Bazouks, and recently accompanied Omer Pacha as stated above." PRUSSIA. The following despatch, dated the 12th, was ad dressel by Baron de Manteuffel, President of the Council of Ministers in Prussia, to M. de Kamptz, Prussian Charge d'Affaires at Hamburg, to ex plain why the Government of Berlin refused to lend money to that city in the late crieis "By a telegraphic despatch of the 3d you announced to me that the Senate has resolved to send to Berlin the President of the Chamber, M. Mohring, to obtain from us a loan of from 2,000,000 to 3,000,000 tbalere. M. Mohring called on me on the 4 h on the subject, and offered me as security notes of the Chamber and railway shares. I immediately deliberated on the affair with the other ministers. We had a strong desire to acquiesce in the demand of a friendly town, connected with our Go vernment by so many interests, and we know that iu aifieg the commerce of Hamburg we should be useful to that of Prussia. Nevertheless, we could nut disguise from ourselves that in according the lean applied fur, wa should diminish our power of assisting our own commerce and manufactures, and that if 'the Ham burg loan proved insufficient, grave embarrassments might arise for Prussia. Now, we telt convinced that the sum demanded by the town of Hamburg could not be sufficient ; our deliberation in fact was inter rupted by the news that Hamburg proposed to borrow a sum of 30,000,000 mares banco. It was therefore impossihle to come to a decision in the first sitting. When M. Mohring returned to Berlin, after the Oen of Hamburg bad decreed a loan of 15,000,000 mares banco, we declared that the state of our finascial establishments did not permit as to grant a loan under existing circumstances. The National Bank of Austria, which was not embarrassed by the same circumstances as the Prussian Bank, relative to the realisation of its notes, could lend to Hamburg 10,000,000 mares. Not withstanding that, we could not, to cur great regret, indulge in the hope that the situaton of Hamburg would become instantaneously better ; and in point of f , ct the authorities are now deliberating on the extraordinary measures to be taken to maintain one of the most important , fireee. Allow no doubt to exist as to our manner of regarding the question, in spite of all our sympathy, and all our good will, we should not have been able to afford such assistance as would ensure an energetic, efficacious, and durable remedy." The Zeit of Berlin confirms the 'Airflow that the opening of the Prusiian Chambers is definitively fixed for the 12th January. ITALY.. A letter from Turin of the 16th says :—" Thq Chamber of Deputies y es t er d ay held its first public sitting, and al:hough the orders of the day were relative only to tindispu'ed election returns the tribunes were c row d e d to see the new deputies. About 169 deputi es were present. The old liberal deputies who have been re-elected quitted the places they ustd to occupy on the right, for others in the centre and at the left. On the elec•ion for Rac conigi being mentioned, the bureau proposed that in spite of some petty objections it should i be ap proved of ; b u t M . D epret i s remarke d t h at t would be better to postpone a discussion on it until the debate on all the disputed elections should come on, and m spite of some opposition, this was agreed to. Count de Cavour of erwards proposed that the disputed el ec ti ons s h ou ld not be taken into consi deration until twenty-four hours after reports on them should have been deposited, and that proposi• tion was adopted by a large majority." LUXEMBURG. The government of the Grand Duchy of Lux emburg has published a memoir, in which it replies to attacks made on it by certain foreign journals. This memoir maintains-Ist, that the King of Holland, as Grand Duke, has not arbitrarily aug mented the civil list which he receives from the duchy ; 2d, that the negotiations relative to what is called the Dutch debt are being carried ou by M. Simons, President cf the Council of the Grand Duchy, and by M. de la Fontaine, ex-governor, so that the interests of the grand duchy will be duly defended ; 3d, that the reproaches that the govern ment manifests anti-Germanic tendencies, and labours to prevent the use of the German language) are unfounded ; 4th, that the government has not been guilty of numerous abuses in the internal administration, as alleged ; and sth, that it is not true that discontent and agitation exist in the country. SPAIN. The Madrid Gazette of the 14th contains a royal decree which relieves the persons who have obtained the amnesty for political offences from the necessity of paying costs on their prosecutions. The Espana, in a leading article of some length, dwells on the necessity of Spain having, on account of her geographical position and her colonial possessions, a strong navy and large mercantile shipping. The same journal complains with some bitterness of a statement made by a semi-official journal to the effect that England and France are watching with much interest what is taking place in Spain, and are agreed as to the policyto be adopted with respect to that country ; and the Espana asks what right those two countries have to meddle in the internal affairs of Spain. The Gazette contains several columns of congratulatory addresses to the Queen on the birth of the Prince of the Asturias. A letter from Copenhagen states that the bill authorising the Minister of the Interior to contract a loan for Denmark of 300,0001. was adopted on the third reading by a majority of 06 to 7. The Minister of War in Belgium has presented to the Chambers a bill which fixes the contingent of the army for 1858 at 80,000 men, and enacts that the maximum of the levy of the militia for the same year shall be 10,000. PARTIAL ENFRANCHISEMENT OF THE • SBEFS IN RUSSIA. An imperial rescript, dated from Tzarskoe Selo, the 20th Nov. (old style), or Dec. 2of our calendar, has just been addressed by Alexander 11. to the Military Governor of Vilno and the Governor- General of Grodno and Kovno, instituting the roost important changes in the relations between the The santry and landed prop r i e t ors o f th e co u n try. Tu ° following is the text of the imperial rescript :-- " Special committees established in the govern: meats of Viluo, Kovno, and Grodno, and composed of the marshals of the nobilityand some otherlauded proprietors, had been charged with the examina tion of the system of inventories which is now in force throughout those provinces. " The Minister of the Interior has now m a de me acquainted with the good intentions evinced by those committees with regard to the peasants of the three governments. " Fully approving of the intentions of these re presentatives of the nobility of the governments of Kovno, Viluo, and Grodno, as being agreeable to lily views and my desires, I authorise that nobility to proceed, from and after this day, to the elabora tion of the measures necessary for putting into execution the plans of the said committees, always on condition that the work is to be but progres sively accomplished, so as not to disturb the eco nomic organisation at present operating in the estates of the nobility. " For this purpose I ordain " 1. That from and after this day an executive committee shall be established in each of the three governments aforesaid ; and afterwards a general commission for those three governments, the seat of which shall be at Vilno. "2. Each committee, presided over by the mar shal of the nobility in that government, sits.' be composed of the following members :—One land owner from each district, chosen by, and from amongst, the noble possessors of inhabit e d lands in the district ; two members chosen from amongst the most intelligent landowners of the government, and nominated directly by the governor ofthe pro vince. "3. The general commission shall be composed of the following persons :—Two members of each of the provincia committees, chosen by the com mittee themselves. One intelligent landowner in each government nominated by the governors from amongst the most enlightened of the nobility. One member delegated by the Minister of the Interior. It is reserved to you (the governors) to choose the president of the commission from amongst the noble landowners who shall members of it. "Immediately after their formation, the pro vincial committees will have to proceed, each separately, and in conformity with the desire ex pressed by the representatives of the nobility, to the drag ing up of a detailed scheme with the object of securing the subsistence and ameliorating the condition of the peasants of those provinces, taking for the basis of their plan the following con ditions : " 1. The proprietor retains his right of property over all his land, but the peasants retain the enclo sures belonging to their habitations, which they have the right of acquiring as freehold property by means of a redemption price, payable within a fixed term. They are to have, moreover, the use of such a quantity of land as is necessary, according to the circumstances of the locality, to secure their sub sistence, and to give them the means of satisfying their obligations towards the state and towards the proprietor. As a compensation for the - use of this land, the peasants ate bound either to pay a rent to the proprietor or to work for him. "2. The private relations of peasants and pro prietors between themselves should be regulated in such a manner as to secure the regular discharge of the imposts due to the state, and of the provincial imposts and services. "The development of these principles, and their application to the local conditions of each of the three provinces, are left to the care of the provincial committees. The Minister of the Interior has com municated to you his views upon this subject, and the committees may refer to them, to guide them in their labours. " When these committees shall have finished their task, they will have to submit it to the general commission. The commission, after having weighed and examined the proposals of the provincial corn 'Dab es, and having combined them with the princi ples indicated above, will haVe to pass a definitive judgment on the matter, and to draw up the scheme of a general settlement throughout the three go vernments, with the exceptions and variations which each of them may require. " In charging you with the superintendence and general direction of this important work in the three provinces of Kovno, Vilno, and Grodno entrusted to your , :are, I authorise you to give both to the pro vincial committees and general commission the necessary instructions to insure the regular progress and the success of the task which is confided to them. The provincial governors will aid you in the performance of this task. You will have to present the scheme drawn up by the commission, together with your obi. , ervations thereupon, to the Minister of the Interior, who will submit them to me for my sanction. " In thus offering to th© nobility of Kovno, Vilno, and Grodno, the means of realising their good intentions conformably to the principles which I have just indicated, I hope that the nobility will fully justiy the confidence which I evince towards them, by calling them to take part in this important work ; and that, by the aid of God and the en lighted assistance of the noble proprietors, this work will be crowned with complete success. " You, and the provincial governors placed under your orders, will see that the main submi ss i ve to th e pro p r i e t or s, and that they put no faith i n th e ma l evo l en t insinuations and the erroneous rumours w hi c h m ay arise.-1 revaain, with good wishes towards you, peasants re " ALEXANDER." • OEDIN.I.TION BY THE BISHOP OF LONDON. —The Bishop of Loreion held his third generai adination on Sunday "'ruing, last (the 20th Dece m ber) in the Chapel Rua!, 'Whiteriall, on which oectesicn some 50 gentlemen (or rnor.) wt./ admitted respectively to the sacred offices of de:tO)n and priest. The sermon was preached by the Key. To ople, the Head, Master of Rushy School, who dr Yvered a inwiterly and most eloquent discourse on Cie 11 t h 12 h, and 13th veres of the 4th chapter of the .Epietie to the Epltesians, selected by him as a most ap propriate text for the occasion. At the close of the ser mon, the " c andidatea" (who appeared, however, in op po ition to the meaning of the word, in black gowns instead of whi te surplice,), were prevented to the bi s h o p by his e xamining chaplain, the Rev. E. Penrhyn Stanley, and the ordination ~ erviee commenced. The congregation was a very large cooe, and several of the laity present par trek of the Holy Sacrament of the Leas Eupp• r, which, as usual, was administered at the end of the service, The whole proceedings occupied a space of four hours and a quarter, the chapel not being cleorared of th ase morning congregation till abou t a quarter half-pt 3 o'clock. The newly-urdained priest/ and deacons were afterwards received and entertained at Londor.-house.