The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-01-15 00:00:00

SPARE MY HEART FROM GROWING OLD. OLD Time, I ask a boon of thee— Thou'st stripped my hearth of many a friend, Ta'en half my joys and all my glee— Be just for once, to make amends; And since thy hand must leave its trace, Turn locks to grey, turn blood to cold— Do what thou wilt with form and face, But spare my heart from growing old. I know thou'st tden from many a mind Its dearest wealth, its choicest store, And, only lingering, left behind, O'er wise experience, bitter lore. 'Tis sad to mark the mind's decay, Feel wit grow dim and memory cold — Take these, old Time, take all away, But spare my heart from growing old. LITERATURE. Contributions to the Edinburgh Review. By Henry Lord Brougham, F.R.S. Glasgow and London : Griffin and Co. The publication of the three volumes now under consideration is a matter suggestive of grave thoughts, recalling, as the matters contained in them do, vivid reminiscences of the literary and political history of the last halt-century • and, with that history, recol lections equally interesting in connexion with the great men who occupied conspicuous places in the various political and literary conflicts of that protracted period. Of all those who appeared as combatants in the earlier and more vehemently-contested struggles of the time over which these re-published papers extend, how few, alas ! are now remaining to enjoy the fruits of victory, or to rejoice in the triumph of those principles which, by varying means and through devious as well as diverging channels, they sought with all their physical and intellectual vigour to estab lish. Of the two bands of mental athletic who sought to expand the empire of reason—the one in accordance with the old constitutional traditions and established maxims of our civil and religious polity—the other who desired to force the progress of national improve ment through those yawning, rugged, and dangerous ravines which had been suddenly torn open in the social soil by the convulsive throes of revolutionary incendiarism—how limited, indeed, the number left ! Though the combatants have disappeared from the arena, and the sound of battle no longer hurtles over the former scene of strife, the efforts of the champions have resulted in noble achievements. The right of freedom o? thought has been successfully vindicated, and no one is now held a personal enemy because his political creed or ecclesiastical partialities have a different bearing from those of the man with whom he is conversing. Such was not the case at the time when Henry Brougham and his confreres of the Edin burgh Review endeavoured to fix upon the intellect of the age the impress of their own spurious mint. The despotism they would have established was success • fully resisted by a gallant band, at the head of which stood the fearless and intrepid Lockhart, the brave and powerful Gifford, the stately Wilson, the nimble and indefatigable Crocker, the wise and chivalrous Sir Walter Scott. The result of a contest sustained by such champions could not be other than generally beneficial, and we accordingly find that the right for which they had to fight so fierce a battle is now enjoyed as a common privilege. Conspicuous among those who led the driving battle was the versatile and keen partizan whose contribu tions to the Edinburgh Review, the great organ of the parts, form the matter of the three handsome volumes before us. The essays contained in them range through nearly all the subjects of mental and physical disquisition. Having touched on so multi farious a range of topics as he has done, and discoursed on all with the air at least of one acquainted with their several characteristics, Lordßroughamhasamonp; certain classes obtained credit for an extent and profun dity of learning, a range of sagacity, and a comprehensive ness of judgment to which inreality he hasbut few claims. His idolaters, and of these he has not a few, delight to represent him as the modern "Bacon," resting his title to that proud distinction rather on the multi plicity of the subjects he has handled than on the value of the discoveries he has made, or the origi nality and truth of the speculations by which he has endeavoured to popularise philosophy. Among those who have narrowly watched his erratic and restless career, many perceive that the golden ore of his philosophy bears but a small proportion to the brazen alloy with which it is inextricably compounded ; and, while scrutinizing with jealous suspicion the plausi bility with which he is profusely gifted, of making " the worse appear the better reason," they are yet prepared to admit, that he has rendered good service to the state. Into the political bearings of the various papers it is no part of our present intention to enter at length, but we cannot resist the temptation of quoting some few of his observations on a topic of all-absorbing interest at the present time. Those observations acquire a double value at this moment, as being the embodied views, expressed twenty years ago and more, upon the subject of European policy, by one who, at that time a responsible adviser of the Crown, may be presumed to have paid some at tention to the subject, and to have had access to good information. That a Cabinet Minister should have selected a partly political organ for the exposition of his sentiments upon such important matters, is indeed strange, but may be accounted for partly by the ardour of his political attachments, and in part by the constitutional idiosyncracy of the individual. The re marks show clearly his belief, at that time, that sooner or later a rupture with Russia was inevitable, and may be headed TUE EFFECTS OP /117SSIA/ 4 1 POLICY UPON TIIE POLITICAL CONDITION OF EIITORPE. Whether the encroaching policy of Russia shall be suffered to extend on the side of Turkey, is undoubtedly a question for the serious consideration of the other European powers. She is at the head of the Absolute Party ; her influence affects habitually, when it does not rule, the courts of Austria and Prussia. Her gigantic power, her resources of men, at least, if not backed by a plentiful treasury, and, above all, her posi tion, which exempts her from all dangers of attack that tend to keep other nations in awe, and bind them over, as it were, to peace and good behaviour, have given her a weight of late years in European affairs, very different from any she pos sessed, even under the reign of the ambitious Catherine. The only thing that has hitherto made this colossal empire at all a safe member of the European community, has been that remote position which, in another view, makes her almost irresponsible by making her secure. But it will be far other wise if she moves to the southward, and adds Constantinople to her vast dominions. She will then have the footing on the Mediterranean which has always been her most favourite object ; she will become in reality what as yet she has only affected to be, a naval power; and, with the resource s o f the Levant added to those of the north, no one can doubt that she will be a naval power of the first order. The indepen dence of Egypt, on any account a matter of the greatest importance to all the commercial states of Europe and America, will, of course, be a mere impossibility ; and all the improvements now beginning in the East will be at an end. The view taken by some that there will be an advan tage gained over Russia, inasmuch as she will be brought into the circle of the other European powers, and exposed to be attacked in her new dominions, appears a refinement too absurd to require a serious refutation. She still has her vast and inaccessible empire behind, on which to retreat; and, ad mitting the utmost weight that can be assigned to the argu ment just stated, it would only follow, that she might always run the risk of losing her new acquisitions, in an attempt still further to extend her encroachments ; ;thus playing the safe game of either winning universal monarchy or remaining where she was before she seized on the Dardanelles. Other powers would still be in the very difficult position, that they could only play for that forbidden prize by staking their existence, by " setting their lives upon the hazard of the die ;" while she might play for it at the risk of only losing the last of her unfair gains. To these considerations regarding the dangers apprehended from Russia, many reasoners add another, derived from observing her progress in the East. No doubt that quarter she has been constantly advancing; and Persia may be said to exist at her good pleasure. But of such a mighty operation as a march to the provinces of India, where, independent of the distance, and the barren and difficult country through which the route must lie, there would be found a powerful army, inured to the climate, admirably commanded, strictly disciplined, and amply appointed in all respects,—we really cannot entertain any very serious apprehension ; as long, at least, as the justice and lenity of our Indian administration shall avoid all collision with the natives ; and our grasping spirit after territory and revenue shall not throw the country powers into the arms of the first adventurer among themselves, or the first European rival, by whom our immense dominions may be assailed. Besides, long before England could have t) contend for her Eastern dominions at Delhi, Cebu], or Lahore, Russia would have to encounter our fleets at Cronstadt, and to defend Petersburg itself. Miserably ill informed must our government be of her movements on the East of the Caspian, if she could make any advance towards India before an overpowering armament laid Petersburg i n ashes. Besides the political topics to which Lord Brougham in these volumes devotes much attention, there are likewise interesting papers on some important ques tions in the exact sciences, and on subjects connected with chemistry and electricity, all of which are more distinguished by the characteristics of the apt pupil than by the erudition of the profound scholar. One subject unconnected with any of the above topics has been selected for the opening of the volumes, and as every one knows the value of a good first appearance, the papers on the Oratory of the Greeks and Romans have no doubt been selected by their clever author with a view to obtaining all the advantages which can accrue from a good introduction. Waning space instructs us that we must not follow our author much farther in his prolific course ; but as the annexed remarks may prove amusing to many and useful to some of our readers, we make no further apology for quoting the OBSETI.V.A.TIONS ON ROMAN ORATOILT. It appears that the ancients so highly venerated the orato rical art, and were so much in the habit of regarding it is an art, and its productions as works extremely artificial, that they saw nothing absurd in what has among us become almost proverbially ridiculous, " a speech intended to have been spoken." They had not, moreover, the other facilities of pub lication which the press gives us ; and referring everything to their ordinary mode of communication, in popular meetings, they wrote and published speeches pretty much as our modern orators sometimes speak pamphlets ; and ',would probably have 'held a speech made for the sake of being published, in as great ridicule as we do one that is published without having been delivered. Even the grand Philippic itself, the " conspicuce divine Philippica lama.," was in this perdica ment; and there seems some reason to doubt whether the finest of all his oration, the pro Milone, could have been delivered more than in form, under the circumstances of tumult and disorder which marked the day. Now, to pass over other considerations, with the knowledge of the se parti eulars,,nothing can be more grating to a modern reader, whose idea of-eloquence is that of something natural, heart-felt, in artificial, and extemporaneous, than the manifest conviction of using artifice and preparation, which the orator incurs as often as we come to a passage only adapted to a speech, and still more in those instances where he had anticipated some thing which was to happen while he went on, and provided himself with an extemporaneous burst for the occasion. So in the Second Philippic, which was written with the intention of not being published for some time, and certainly never meant to be spoken at all, sitting at his Formian Villa, he complains of Antony for filling the place in which he is speaking with armed men, and alludes to the :senate being held in the Temple of Concord, which draws from him a pas sionate exclamation; and he afterwards gives a lively picture of the effects of his statement upon Antony, present, and suffering under it. The Romans regarding an oration as we do a dramatic performance, in the light of a composition pro fessedly prepared most elaborately, were probably no more offended with such marks of art, than we are in reading the dialogue and stage directions of a play. But anything that impresses upon our minds the idea of " getting up" anything theatrical, is so far from being toleratad in a speech, that we are thus wont to characterise it by names drawn from the stage, and never fail to feel disgusted with its introduction into the business of real life. These three volumes form a valuable contribution towards a selection of specimens of the political litera ture of the nineteenth century, and as such they will no doubt find a welcome place in many a library, the owner of which would shrink from acknowledging a similarity of feeling with their author. The Library of Biblical Litm•ature. London : William Freeman. This interesting work, which is happily suited for Sunday and other school libraries, has now reached the third volume of its issue. It is, in reality, as it professes to be, a repository of information on geo graphical, historical, biographical, scientific, archaeo logical, and literary subjects connected with the Holy Scriptures. The various topics introduced are treated with terse simplicity ; facts, rather than speculations, being the res gestce of the work. It is copiously illus trated by engravings, and is quite a taking book for children, while from its pages adults may gain satis factory and useful information. The Christian Family Advocate starts on its career of instruction and amusement for the opening year with increased attractions. Its January number (now before us) is inaugurated by a brief but spirited de scription of the new Royal residence at Balmoral, in which not merely the dwelling of the Sovereign is described, but, more interesting still, the moral in fluence of the Royal benevolence and considerate kindness of the Queen in caring for and providing schools for the children and asylums for the aged and infirm of the ne i g hb our h oo d , are pleasingly dwelt on and illustrated. Other papers follow, and contribute their share in making up a useful and pleasing literary miscellany. Punch . , or the London Charivari, loses none of his frolic, fancy, and fun, in bringing his twenty-ninth volume to a conclusion, which he appropriately does with the close of December. The volume is dedicated to " Brother Jonathan," and in the dedication the re cent disputes attempted to be fomented between this country and America are treated in a happy spirit of good-humoured raillery. The volume, as usual at the end of the year, winds up with an Almanack richly spiced with jocular satire, which is happily elaborated by pen and pencil. '" '-_. _ -_ ~_ _-_ VARIETIES. To ASCERTAIN TIIR LONGITUDE.—Take a foot rule and measure it. A GOOD ACTION is never thrown away. Perhaps that is the reason why we find so few of them. • WIIAT moral difference can be established between the actions of good or bad musical performers ? The former execute their music, the latter murder it. FLATTERY.—Nothing is so great an instance of ill manners as flattery. If you flatter all the company you please none ; if you flatter only one or two, you'affront the rest. A DAMSEL was asked. " When a gentleman and lady quar rel, and each considers the other at fault, which of the two ought to be the first to advance towards a reconciliation ?" Her answer was, "The best hearted and wisest of the two." " AusrTy, I saw a gentleman in the room busy with two volumes at once." " Why, Charley, how was that ?" " Aunty, he had a volume of Macaulay in one hand, and a volume of smoke coming out of his mouth." LIE following political con. has been lately circulated What is the sovereign difference between Russia and Austria ? Why, in Russia the Emperor is Pope, and in Austria the Pope is Emperor (as verified by the concordat). PATICOS.—AIfred, devotedly in love, asked Maria for her hand. " You may have it, Alfred, dear," the artless girl re plied; "but I am afraid you will find it twice its usual size, for it's covered all over with chilblains."—Punch. GIPTS.—The best thing to give your enemy is forgiveness; to your opponent, tolerance; to a friend, your heart; to your child, a good example ; to a father, deferance ; to your mother, conduct that will make her proud of you; to yourself, respect; to all men, charity. AUSTRALIAN ACCOMMODATION.--A very considerable ho tel-keeper at Geelong, advertising his " Burton XXXX," con cludes the advertisement in the following manner :—" N.B. Parties drinking more than four glasses of this potent bever age at one sitting, carefully sent home, gratis, in a wheel barrow, if required." WAKLEY AND WINE.—A commissioner of the Insolvent Debtors' Court, one of the wittiest men of the day, was dining lately in company with Mr. Wakley, the well-known coroner. " Do you like that wine, Wakley ?" asked the commissioner. " Very good, indeed," said Wakley. " Ah," said his friend, "being a coroner, thought you'd like it. There's a body in it." HOUSEHOLD TREASURES.—A treasure of a Husband : Carries the baby.—A Treasure of a Wife : Never asks for money.—A Treasure of a Son : Has money in the funds.—A Treasure of a Daughter : Looks the same as her mother—if anything, a trifle older.—A Treasure of a Servant : Runs to the post in less than half an hour.—A Treasure of a Cook : Is not hysterical whenever there is company to dinner.—A Treasure of a Baby : Doesn't disturb its dear papa in the middle of the night.—Punch. TEN DOLLARS A POUND FOR HUMAN FLESll.—This is the selling price of choice specimens of human flesh in Vir ginia. We quote the market report of the Washington Union :—"LARGE SALE OF NEGROES.—At Charlotte, C.H., on Monday of last week, fifty negroes, belonging to the estate of the late John M. Thomas, were sold at public auction for the aggregate sum of 25,400 dollars. Some other negroes were sold at the same time, and one or two boys, weighing 95 pounds, brought about 950 dollars each." There are no recent quotations from the Cannibal Islands.—Springfield (Mass.) Republican. IT has been sung in poetry, and repeated in chronicle, that Sir John Moore was buried without a coffin. [" No useless coffin enclosed his breast." — Wolfe.] That he was not arrayed in the usual habliments of the grave, and that his "martial cloak" was substituted for a shroud, are admitted facts; but a living officer of high rank, who was present, has been fre quently heard to declare that the remains of the lamented general were certainly enclosed in a coffin. There does not seem to be any sound reason to suppose the contrary. He died in a fortified town, occupied by his own troops; artificers and materials could undoubtedly have been found, if required ; and the funeral did not take place until several hours after his decease.—Coles' Peninsular Generals. How FORGED NOTES WERE IMPORTED INTO RUSSIA..—Not very long ago a great number of false bank notes were put into circulation within the dominions of the Czar. They could only have been imported ; but although the strictest search was made habitually over every vessel entering a Russian port, no smuggling of false notes was discovered. Accident brought the mystery to light. Several cases of lead pencils arrived one day from England, and were being examined, when one of them fell out from a package, and the custom-house officer picking it up, cut it to a point, and used it to sign the order which delivered up the cases to the consignee. He kept one loose pencil for his own use, and a few days afterwards, because it needed a fresh point, cut it again, and found there was no more lead. Another chip into the cedar brought him to a roll of paper nestled in a hollow place. This paper was one of the false notes engraved in London, and thus passed into the do minions of the Muscovite.—Dickens' "Household Words." ANCIENT STRUCTI7IIES. — Nineveh was 16 miles long, 9 wide, and 40 miles round, with a wall 100 feet high, and thick enough for three chariots abreast. Babylon was 60 miles within the walls, which were 75 feet thick, and 300 feet high, with 100 brazen gates. The Temple of Diana, at Ephesus, according to Pliny, required 220 years to complete it, and was supported by 127 pillars, 60 feet high, having been raised by as many kings. The largest of the pyramids is 481 feet high, and 653 on the sides ; its base covers 11 acres. The stones are about 30 feet in length, and the layers are 208. It employed 330,000 men in building. The laby rinth of Egypt contained 300 chambers, and 12 halls. Thebes, in Egpyt, presents ruins 27 miles round, and has 100 gates. Carthage was 25 miles round, and contained 250,000 citizens and 400,000 slaves. The Temple of Delphos was so rich in donations, that it was plundered of £lOO,OOO, and Nero carried away from it 200 statues. The walls of Rome were 13 miles round. ACQUISITIONS OF RUSSlA.—Population of the Russian empire, according to the best authorities, at different epochs : —At the accession of Peter the First, 1689, 15,000,000; of Catherine the Second, 1762, 25,000,000 —at her death, 36,000,000; at the death of Alexander, 1825, 68,000,000. 1. The acquisitions of Russia from Sweden are greater than what remains of that kingdom. 2. Her acquisitions from Poland are nearly equal to the Austrian empire. 3. Her ac quisitions from Turkey in Europe are of greater extent that the Prus sian dominions, exclusive of the Rhenish provinces. 4. Her acquisitions from Turkey in Asia are nearly equal in dimen sions to the whole of the smaller states in Germany. 6. Her acquisitions from Persia are equal in extent to England. 6. Her acquisitions in Tartary have an area not inferior to tbat of Turkey in Europe, Greece, Italy, and Spain. 7. Th e acquisitions she has made within the last sixty - four years are equal in extent and importance to the whole empire she had in Europe before that time. 8. The Russian frontier has been advanced towards Berlin, Dresden, Munich, Vienna, and Paris, about 700 miles ; towards Constantinople, 600 miles ; Stockholm, 630 miles; Teheran, 1,000 miles. THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD. THE WAR. THE news from the Crimea continues to be of only secondary interest.; and, judging from the intelligence furnished, the incidents of importance are becoming daily less frequent. In the absence of these we are supplied with a plentiful crop of speculations, to a considerable extent meagre in their degree of excitement. The special correspondent of the Morning Herald, writing on the 24th ult. from Balaklava, says : Rumours are flying about that the Guards :and Rifles are going home in January, but I cannot perceive any preparations for a start. Here, in Balaklava, work of every description is pushed on rapidly, especially in regard to our roads. While blasting some rocks yesterday, close to the harbour, I regret to say that a fragment of stone struck a poor Turk on the head and killed him. I may here mention that our working force has been much strengthened this week by the arrival of several hundred of the Land Transport Corps, in the Orinoco steamer. The Russians are at this instant increasing their fire. General Codrington is unwell with, it is said, rheumatism, from the late severe weather. One of his legs is bandaged. There are several severe cases of frost-bite in the 2nd and 3rd Divisions. One man of the 28th Regiment will, it is expected, lose both hands. He was struck while carrying up hut planking. These huts ought to have been sent up and put up weeks ago. The same correspondent waxes very eloquent on the severe punishment inflicted for drunkenness on an artilleryman, The poor fellow was sentenced to be flogged, and he died under the infliction of the punishment. Writing under the same date, from the camp before Sebas topol, the special correspondent of the Daily News gives the following account of the DESTRUCTION OF ONE OF THE DOCKS : One of the five celebrated dry docks in the Karabelnain Suburb of Sebastopol was demolished by the French engineers on Saturday last, the 22nd instant, at two p.m., by the explosion of mines. The destruction of the dock was fully accomplished, the blast having almost instantaneously reduced the massive fabric into a ruined and confused heap of stones. The inten tion of destroying a portion of the docks was not known in camp until an early hour of the morning of the some day. The six companies of the 18th Royal Irish Regiment, which for the last month or five weeks have been quartered in the Karabelnaia, assisting in the necessary_ preparations for the destruction of the three docks in rear, and the part of the basin in charge of the English engineers, were moved up at five a.m. before daylight. Their departure was thus un observed by the enemy on the north side of the roadstead. It was considered prudent to march these men up to camp, in case the Russians might think proper, after the explo sion, to direct a heavy fire on the suburb, and to avoid all risk of casualties, should any of the buildings fall from the concussion. The dock selected by the French en gineers for demolition on this occasion was the one placed to the west of the lock through which vessels formerly entered into the great basin. In addition to this dock, the French have to destroy another dry dock on the east side of the entrance lock, the lock itself, when, with its sides and foundation of cut masonry and magnificent floodgates, has the appearance of another dock, and half the basin. It is understood that the engineering operations are completed for the demolition of the whole of these structures, and that the object in demolishing one portion only was to test the accuracy of certain calculations with regard to the quantity of gunpowder necessary for effecting the desired result. The quantity actually employed is said to have been a little over 2,000 pounds English, or 1,000 French kilogram mes. The French engineers have followed a somewhat different plan from the English engineers for the destruction of the docks. They have trusted principally to galleries car ried across and beneath the bottom of the dock. They have also, however, parallel with each side, a horizontal gallery, to blow out the foundation and lower part of each side wall. In the docks to be destroyed by the English, perpendicular shafts have been sunk at frequent intervals along the sides, for the purpose. of blowing the whole of the sides inwards. Latterly also, galleries have been constructed beneath the foundations of the bottom of each dock, so that their demoli tion must be very effectual. Arrangements have been made for firing the English mines by a voltaic battery. The French mines, on Saturday, were fired by means of trains of laid gunpowder and fuses. The report of the explosion was by no means loud. It was heard in camp, but was generally supposed to be the bursting of some of the Russian projectiles among the buildings of the town. Nearer to the scene of the explosion a tremulous agitation of the ground was felt, and this was followed by the peculiar compressed sound—more like the rumbling of distant thunder than the usual report of gunpowder fired from within metal—which always accom panies subterraneous discharges. Simultaneous with the noise of the blasting, the air over the situation of the dock became thickened with smoke, stones, and rubbish. A large quantity, among which were masses of considerable size, rose perpendicularly upwards, while at the same time a shower of masonry was hurled from each side upwards and curving towards the centre. The greater portion of these blocks and fragments of stone appeared to fall downwards into the vacant space of the dock; scarcely any were observed to fly far beyond its limits. A dense cloud of smoke filled and rested over the place of ruin, and this con tinued hanging over it for a considerable time, for there was no breeze to waft it away. No sooner had the explosion oc curred, the crash of falling masonry had scarcely died away from the ears, when the sharp reports of several shells about the docks and neighbouring buildings told that the enemy had been no unobservant spectators of the scene. They hoped to hit some of the troops, whom they suspected to be in the neighbourhood of the explosion, the nature of which they no doubt understood, but, as usual, fired without effecting any injury or causing any casualty. It is remarkable how very few casualties have taken place among the sappers and artillery men, and in the six companies of the men of the 18th Regi ment who have been quartered in the Karabelnaia during the operations connected with the mining of the docks, notwith standing the constant fire of the enemy. Until a short time ago, when a shell entered a company's cooking house, whence the men could not readily escape, and where, in consequence, several were wounded, not a casualty had occurred among the men of the 18th Regiment. The Russians appear to have the range of all the principal points, and, moreover, seem to have men always on the look out, who make signals to the gunners in the batteries whenever a party of troops are observed moving in the town, for no sooner is a group ex posed to view than it is fired at. One principal source of security to our men is, of course, the number of stone buildings of the town ; these not only intercept the mis siles of the enemy as they fall towards the ground, but afford tolerably safe means of shelter when a well-directed shell falls too dangerously close. Report says that all the prepa rations will be completed for the demolition of the three docks to be destroyed by the English in the course of a week from the present date. The arrangements would have been finished already, had it not been for the large quantity of water which has found its way into the shafts and galleries excavated for the reception of the blasting powder. It appears that the reason for the water having entered so copiously into these excavations, while those connected with the French mines have remained dry, is their relative position with regard to the termination of the Karabelnaia ravine, between the Malakoff and Redan hills, and at a short distance from the dockyard wall. The three docks in charge of the English are separated from the end of this ravine, where an enormous amount of water had been collected, and formed an immense pond or reservoir, only by an artificial causeway, constructed at an enormous expense of labour, by the Russians, during the formation of the docks, and through this earth the water gra dually percolated. Under ordinary circumstances, the water of the middle or Karabelnaia ravine would drain through the soil, and find its way to the Karabelnaia creek or harbour, and in this direction the water collected in the shafts has now had to be conducted, after much labour, by pumping and other means of drainage. When the time shall arrive for the de struction of the English portion of the docks, it is hoped that their destruction will be as complete as that of the French dock already demolished, and, if the three are demolished at the same instant, the effect will be proportionably more striking. I have heard it stated that the floor of the dock just destroyed by the 'French engineers has not been so effect ually and completely broken up as it was anticipated it would be, by the explosion, but I hardly believe that this can be as certained while it remains encumbered with the ruined ma sonry at present heaped over its surface. The special correspondent of the Morning Post, writing on the 22nd of December, gives an interesting account of some camp theatrical performances. The scene and actors were the officers of the camp of the Fourth Division, and, according to the statement of our contemporary, the amusements passed off with great eclat. Under date of the 28th December, the special correspondent of the Daily News gives the following particulars relative to OUR ARMY IN THE CRIMEA : There is very little of interest to communicate from this part of the seat of war by the present mail. There was a rumour yesterday in camp that a force was about to be detached to Asia, for the purpose of relieving the Turkish troops ; but to-day we hear that the only troops likely ter be sent with this object are a portion of the Turkish contingent, previously destined to co-operate in that quarter. The weather has continued very mild since the last mail left until to-day, when the frost has again been severe. Christmas-day, like that of last year, was bright, dry, and sunny, with an atmosphere as resplendent as it was exhilarating. In all parts of the camp, from the head-quarters of the commander in-chief to the huts of the private soldiers, Christmas parties were assembled, and the usual fare of the season abounded. It is satisfactory, too, to be able to say that, although there was plenty of merriment, there appeared to be very littl e excess ; for in the various camps there were less noise and less evidence of intoxication than occurred on several occa sions a month or six weeks ago. The rations issued to the men continue to be excellent in quality and sufficient in quantity. The advantages that have accrued from the attention paid to the subject, as well as to the clothing, are nowhere more apparent than in the appearance pre sented by the greater number of the recruits and young soldiers sent to reinforce the older regiments in the course of the autumn. These young men are not only, as a general rule, in robust health, but are rapidly gaining sturdy frames and vigorous constitutions, which cause them, on the return of spring, to be no trifling opponents in the face of the enemy, They feel the benefit of escaping from the crowded towns to which many of them have been habituated in Eng land; and now that the duties are light, diet and shelter good, they have scarcely anything hostile to health to contend against but the mischief arising from the temptations to intox. icacation. It is to be deplored that so little recreation is to be got by the men excepting what is found in the canteen. The regimental hospitals are nowhere crowded, and what sick there are are reported to be suffering only from such ailments as are usually met with at this season in England. It is stated in camp that some Russian and Sardinian pickets came into collision on the evening of the 26th instant, but the particulars are not known. The enemy is apparently very busy in the Mackenzie heights, increasing the defences. A large body of troops can be seen to be working at the sum mit of the ridge, near to which the main road leaves the Tchernaya valley, and winds to ascend towards Mack9nzie's farm. They seem to be throwing up a square redoubt in this position. There has not been any slackening of the fire from the north side. On Christmas-day and evening the discharge of shot and shell was remarkably continuous. No gun opened fire from the south side. The Russians are closely watched, for in some of the bays across the roadstead a large number of rafts and small boats can be seen lying alongside the shore. They may be curious to find out why the French batteries have ceased their fire. Should they come across for the pur pose of discovering, they will find a fitting reception. OFFICIAL DESPATCHES. The following dispatch from General Codrington has been received by Lord Panmure : SEBASTOPOL, December 27, 1855. Loan, - -Your lordship has referred in several dis patches to drunkenness in this army. Reports of all sorts seem to have been circulated, statements read, descriptions made, until it was believed that this army was composed of drunkards, and immersed in riot and vice. I took the oppor tunity of expressing myself strongly to your lordship that this would prove not to be the truth. I now state, in confirmation of this opinion, that returns are in my possession from every regiment of all cases of drunkenness tried by court-martial, as well as those settled at the regimental orderly room for three months, [September, October, and November.] It was during this time that arrears of field allowances, more than £2 each man, were received as back pay, besides 10,000 men receiving additional working pay; and yet the result is, including artillery, sappers, and infantry, the number of crimes of drunkenness (and these are many more than the men drunk) is a little above one man in two days per company, estimated at 100 men. No doubt there are many facilities in all these open and crowded camps for drunken men to get in without being seen. They do so, and escape observation. But suppose we double or treble the amount of these num bers—which are taken from official returns—and I suspect the army will bear a comparison with many towns, many villages, many populations of Great Britain. It is easy to give —it is as easy to read—a minute, a ludicrous, or even a filthy description of a drunken man, and it seems seized upon as a type of the whole. The fathers and mothers, the wives and sisters in England, are fully persuaded we do nothing but drink, and the good character of the army is forgotten in a few sketches from nature. That such need not be the case with those who know anything about the matter will, I think, be proved by the statement now made to your lordship.—l have, &c., _ _ W. J. CODRINGTON, General Commanding. To Lord Panmure, &c. THE PEACE PROPOSITIONS. According to the Independence Beige, the following is the text of the Austrian propositions : I. DAiTUBTAN PRINCIPALITIES. Complete abolition of the Russian protectorate. The Da nubian Principalities shall receive an organization conform able to their wishes, to their wants, to their interests ; and this new organization, respecting which the population itself will be consulted, shall be recognised by the contracting powers and sanctioned by the Sultan as emanating from his sovereign initiative. No State shall be a bl e , un d er any pretext what ever, under any form of protectorate, to interfere in the ques tion of the internal administration of the Principalities; they shall adopt a definitive permanent system demanded by their geographical position, and no impediment can be made to their fortifying, in the interest of their safety, in such manner as they may deem advisable, their territory against foreign aggression. _ _ In exchange for the strong places and territories occupied by the allied armies, Russia consents to a rectification of her fron tier with Turkey in Europe. It would commence in the vi cinity of Chotym, follow the line of the mountains, which extended in a south-easterly direction, and terminate at Lake Sasik. The line shall be definitively regulated by the general treaty, and the conceded territory would return to the Princi palities and to the suzerainty of the Porte. 11. -DANUBE, The freedom of the Danube and of its mouths shall be efficaciously assured by European institutions, in which the contracting Powers shall be equally represented, except the particular position of the lords of the soil on the banks, which shall be regulated upon the principles established by the Act of the Congress of Vienna as regards the navigation of rivers. Each of the contracting Powers shall have the right to keep one or two small vessels stationed at the mouths of the river, destined to assure the execution of the regulations relative to the freedom of the Danube. 111. NEUTRALIZATION OF THE BLACK SEA. This sea shall be open to merchant vessels—closed to war navies (marines militaires.) Consequently, no naval mili tary arsenals shall be created or maintained there. The protection of the commercial and maritime interests of all nations shall be assured in the respective ports of the Black Sea by the establishment of institutions conformable to inter national law, and to the customs sanctioned in such matters. The two Powers which hold the coast engage themselves to maintain only the number of light vessels of a fixed force, necessary for their coast service, (service de leurs c6tes.) This convention, concluded separately between these two Powers, shall form part as an annex of the general treaty after receiving the approval of the contracting parties. This separate convention cannot be annulled or modified without the consent of the signitaries of the general treaty. The closing of the Straits will admit the exception applicable to the stationary vessels mentioned in the preceding article. IV. CHRISTIAN SUBJECTS OF THE PORTE. The immunities of the Rayah subjects of the Porte shall be religiously preserved, without infringement on the inde pendence and dignity of the Sultan's Crown. As deliberations are taking place between Austria, France, Great Britain, and the Sublime Porte, to assure to the Christian subjects of the Sultan their religious and political rights, Russia shall be invited, when peace is made, to associate herself thereto. V. The belligerent Powers reserve to themselves the right which appertains to them of producing in a European interest special conditions over and above they four gurrantees. THE COUNCIL OF WAR AT PARIS. A Council of War has assembled at the Tuileries, under the presidency of the Emperor. It is composed of the following members :—The Emperor, the Prince Napoleon, the Duke of Cambridge, Prince Jerome Napoleon, Lord Cowley, Sir Edmund Lyons, Admiral Dundas, Sir Richard Airey, Sir Harry Jones, General della Marmora, Marshal Vaillant, Count Walewski, General Caurobert, Gene ral Bosquet, General Niel, General Martimprey, Admiral Hamelin, Admiral de la Graviere, and Admiral Penaud. The Moniteur publishes the following observations respect ing it : The Council is not charged with drawing up the plan of the new campaign, nor with deliberating upon the political con siderations which might make one plan preferable to another ; its object is only to enlighten the allied governments on the different military combinations which may be adopted, to an ticipate all eventualities, and to be prepared for them. Formed chiefly of experienced Generals, who, nearly all of them have taken a glorious part in the operations accomplished in the East and in the Baltic, the Council of War can only give advice founded on mature reflection, and propositions eminently useful for the best employment of the land and sea forces which are being prepared by the Western Powers. AMERICA. ARRIVAL OF THE ASIA. THE PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE. By the British and North American royal mail steamship Asia, Captain Lott, which arrived yesterday morning, we have intelligence from New York to the Ist, and from Boston to the 2nd inst. The Asia brought 107 passengers, but no specie. The United States steamer Pacific, from this port, arrived at New York on the 28th ultimo. In the Senate, on the 31st ult., though no speaker had b een elected, or the House organised, Mr. Sydney Webster, the private secretary of the President, appeared, and announced the Message in writing. The chief interest in the Message is that which refers to foreign relations, which we subjoin, as far as concerns this country. With regard to Central America, the President says : Whilst relations of amity continue to exist between the United States and all foreign powers, with some of them grave ques tions are depending, which may require the consideration of Congress. Of such questions, the most important is that which has arisen out of the negotiations with Great Britain, in reference to Central America. By the convention concluded between the two governments on the 19th April, 1850, both parties covenanted that "neither will ever occupy, or fortify, or colonise, or assume, or exercise, any dominion over Nicaragua, Costa Rica, the Mosquito coast, or any part of Central America." It was the undoubted understanding of the United States, in making this treaty, that all the present States of the former republic of Central America, and the entire territory of each, would thenceforth enjoy complete independence; and that both contracting parties engaged equally, and to the same extent, for the present and for the future, that if either then had any claim of right in Central America, such claim, and all occupation or authority under it, were unreservedly relin quished by the stipulations of the convention ; and that no dominion was thereafter to be exercised or assumed in any part of Central America, by Great Britain or the United States. This government consented to restrictions in regard to a region of country,wherein we had specific and peculiarinterests, only upon the conviction that the like restrictions were in the same sanse obligatory on Great Britain. But for this under standing of the force and effect of the convention, it would never have been concluded by us. So clear was the understanding on the part of the United States, that, in correspondence contemporaneous with the ratification of the convention, it was distinctly expressed, that the mutual covenants of non-occupation were not intended to apply to the British establishment at the Balize. This qua lification is to be ascribed to the fact that, in virtue of suc cessive treaties with previous sovereigns of the country, Great Britain had obtained a concession of the right to cut mahogany or dyewoods at the Balize, but with positive exclusion of all domain or sovereignty : and thus it confirms the natural con struction and understood import of the treaty as to all the rest of the region to which the stipulations applied. It, however, became apparent, at an early date after enter ing upon the discharge of my present functions that Great Britain still continued in the exercise or assertion of large authority in all that part of Central America commonly called the Mosquito coast, and covering the entire length of the state of Nicaragua, and a part of Costa Rica ; that she regarded the Balize as her absolute domain, and was gradually extend ing its limits at the expense of the state of Honduras; and that she had formally colonized a eonsiderable insular group, known as the Bay Islands, and belonging, of right, to that state. All these acts or pretensions of Great Britain, being con trary to the rights of the States of central America and to the manifest tenor of her stipulations with the United States, as understood by this government, have been made the subject of negociation through the American minister in London. I transmit here with the instructions to him on the subject, and the correspondence between him and the British Secretary for Foreign Affairs, by which you will perceive that the two go vernments differ widely and irreconcilably as to the construc tion of the convention, and its effect on their respective rela tions to Central America. Great Britain so construes the convention as to maintain unchanged all her previous pretensions over the Mosquito coast, and in different parts of Central America. These pre tensions as to the Mosquito coast are founded on the assumption of political relation between Great Britain and the i remnant of a tribe of Indians on that coast, entered nto at a time when the whole country was a colonial possession of Spain. It cannot be successfully controverted that, by the public law of Europe and America, no possible act of such Indians or their predecessors could confer on Great Britain any political rights. Great Britain does not allege the assent of Spain as the ori gin of her claims on the Mosquito coast. She has, on the con trary, by repeated and successive treaties, renounced and relinquished all pretensions of her own, and recognised the full and sovereign rights of Spain in the most unequivocal terms. Yet those pretensions, so without solid foundation in the beginning, and thus repeatedly abjured, were, at a recent period, revived by Great Britain against the Central American States, the legitimate successors to all the ancient jurisdiction of Spain in that region. They were first applied only to a de fined part of the coast of Nicaragua, afterwards to the whole of its Atlantic coast, and lastly to a part of the coast of Costa. Rica ; and they are now re-asserted to this extent, notwith standing engagements to the United States. On the eastern coast of Nicaragua and Costa Rica, the in terference of Great Britain, though exerted at one time in the form of military occupation of the port of San Juan del Norte, then in the peaceful possession of the appropriate authorities of the Central American._ States, is now presented by her as the rightful exercise of a protectorship over the Mosquito tribe of Indians. But the establishment at the Belize, now reaching far beyond its treaty limits into the state of Honduras, and that of the Bay Islands, appertaining of right to the same state, are as distinctly colonial governments as those of Jamaica or Canada, and, therefore, contrary to the very letter as well as the spirit of the convention with the United States, as it was at the time of ratification, and now is understood by the government. The interpretation which the British government, thus in assertion and act, persists in ascribing to the conven tion, entirely changes its character. While it holds us to our obligations, it in a great measure releases Great Britain from those which constituted the consideration of this government for entering into the convention. It is impossible, in my judgment, for the United States to acquiesce in such a construction of the respective relations of the two governments of Central America. - To a renewed call by thisgOVernment upon Great Britain, to abide by, and carry into effect, the stipulations of the con vention according to its obvious import, by withdrawing from the possession or colonization of portions of the Central Ameri can States of Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica, the British government has at length replied, affirming that the operation of treaty is prospective only, and did not require Great Britain to abandon or contract any possessions held by her in Central America at the date of its conclusion. This reply substitutes a partial issue, in the place of the general one presented by the United States. The British government passes over the question of the rights of Great Britain, real or supposed, in Central America, and assumes that she had such rights at the date of the treaty, and that those rights comprehended the protectorship of the Mosquito Indians, the extended jurisdiction and limits of the Belize, and the colony of the Bay Islands, and thereupon proceeds by implication to infer that, if the stipulations of the treaty be merely future in effect, Great Britain may still continue to hold the contested portions of Cental America. The United States cannot admit either the inference or the premises. We steadily deny that, at the date of the treaty, Great Britain had any possessions there, other than the limited and peculiar establishment at the Belize, and maintained that, if she had any, they were surrendered by the convention. This government, recognizing the obligations of the treaty, has of course desired to see it executed in good faith by both parties, and in the discussion, therefore, has not looked to rights, which we might assert, independently of the t rea ty, i n consideration of our geographical position and of other circum stances, which create for us relations to the Central American States, different from those of any government of Europe. The British government, in its last communication, although well knowing the views of the United States, still declares that it sees no reason why a conciliatory spirit may not enable the two governments to overcome all obstacles to a satifactory adjustment of the subject. - - Assured of the correctness of the construction of the treaty constantly adhered to by this government, and resolved to in sist on the rights of the United States, yet actuated also by the same desire, which is avowed by the British Government, to remove all causes of serious misunderstanding between two nations associated by so many ties of interest and kindred, it has appeared to me proper not to consider an amicable solu tion of the controversy hopeless. There is, however, reason .to apprehend that, with Great Britain in the actual occupation of the disputed territories, and the treaty therefore practically null, so far as regards our rights, this international difficulty cannot long remain un determined, without involving in serious danger the friendly relations which it is the interest as well as the duty of both countries to cherish and preserve. It will afford me sincere gratification, if future efforts shall result in success, antici pated heretofore with more confidence than the aspect of the case permits me now to entertain. As to the rest of the message, we give the following brief summary of the contents from the New York Courier : In regard to the difference with England arising out of her violation of our Neutrality Laws, by the attempt to raise re cruits within our border, ,the president presents no definite view of the case. He has demanded of the British govern ment not only a cessation of the wrong, but its reparation ; yet nothing specific is disclosed concerning the character of the reparation demanded, or the disposition of the English government to make it. The subject is yet under discussion. The importance of settling the disputed boundary line be tween the territory of Washington and the contiguous British possessions is again urged. In reference to the Sound Dues of Denmark, it is stated that the invitation to our govern ment to go into convention with representatives of European states for the capitalization of the dues, has been declined, though a willingness is expressed to compensate Denmark for all her outlays in improving the navigation of the Sound or Belts. Our difficulties with France. Spain, and Greece are all pronounced settled or nearly settled. In the House of Representatives, on the 31st ult., after a fierce debate and much squabbling about parliamentary rules, it was decided by a vote of 87 against 126 that the message should not be read until the house was organized. The Black Republicans were indignant at the conduct of the President, declaring it to be the greatest blow ever struck at the inde pendence of Congress. Another collision had occurred at Kansas between the Pro and Anti-slavery parties. The Star of the West has arrived from the Isthmus, with $632,000. The George Law, with two weeks' later news, had also arrived, bringing $1,405,392 in gold. The invasion of Kansas is at an end. At San Francisco the fall of Sebastopol had been celebrated with great pomp and splendour. Agri culture in California is in a most prosperous and forward state. There has been a steamboat explosion at San Francisco, by which five persons were killed. The mining news is fa vourable. Affairs were quiet in Nicaragua, and General Walker had dispatched a battalion to Honduras to assist the President. From Cuba we learn that sugar bad declined. Advices from Mexico report the resignation of Alvarez, and the election of General Comonfort. The following is the new Ministry :—Foreign relations, Rosa : Justice, Montes ' • Go vernment, Lafragua ; War, Selicio; Finance, Payne. Alvarez had departed for the south. At Venezuela business continued to revive, and the health of the ports was good. COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE. NEW YORK, IsT JAN. There was a good demand for money, with a fair supply, at previous rates. Foreign exchange was inactive. Bills on England were quoted 108 to 1081, with retail sales at 108; ; on Paris, 5,274 to 6,20. COTTON.—The market has been less buoyant than during most of last week, but prices remain about the same, and there was more anxiety towards the close. The sales are 6,600 bales. There has been little or nothing doing in par cels in transitu. The following is from the circular of Mr. Wm. P. Wright:— "New York, January Ist, 1856. Receipts, Exports, &c.—For the week, the receipts are 137,000 bales, which make the ex cess over last year 536,000 bales, and over same date in 1853, 32,000. Next week a further gain will be shown, as we com pare with but 69,000 bales last year, and notwithstanding the large week, say 135,000 bales in 1853. The export table shows a diminution in the excess to Great Britain; it now stands at 86,000 bales more than to same time last year, and a decrease of 66,000 bales compared with 1853. To France and other continental markets, the outgoings are still large comparatively, and considerably in advance of any former year. The quantity taken by our Eastern manufacturers is also very much in advance of last year. The following is a statement of the movement in cotton since the Ist September last, as compared with the previous three years : 1855. 1854. 1853. 1852. Receipts at the Ports 1,390,000 854,000 872,000 1,358,000 Exports to Great Britain 450,000 364.000 243,000 516,000 PP France 168,000 92,000 57,000 81,000 „ other For. Ports 119,000 46,000 50,000 68,000 Total Exports 737,000 502,000 350,000 665,000 Stock on hand 584,000 364,000 468,000 562,000 From which it will be seen that the increase in receipts now amounts to 536,000 bales. The increase in exports to Great' Britain, 86,000 ; to France, 76,000 ; to other foreign ports, 73,000. Total increase in exports, 235,000 bales. BREADSTUFFS.—Common brands of state and western flour were in good demand, chiefly for settling contracts, and with but a moderate supply pressing for sale, prices have risen 64c. to 121 c., while fancies and extras are without quotable change, and dull. Southern flour has been leis active, but previous prices are sustained. Wheat without noticeable variation : demand moderate. PIIOVISIONS.—The market for pork was again decidedly lower, and, with increased supplies at a moderate demand, holders manifest a strong desire to realise at the reduction, sales closing at $l7, 25 for mess, and $l5 for prime, an abate ment of $1 since our last. The market for beef was very heavy, and the demand was limited to the wants of the local trade. Inorr.—Scotch pig had improved during the week under review, and we notice sales of 400 tons, at $32 to $33, six months, the latter rate for Gartsherrie. Refined was dull and nominal. CoAL.—Liverpool coal was in plentiful supply, and was much depressed in price. - FREIGHTS.—The market was a shade easier to Great Britain, but in other directions there is no material change. Amongst the charters were two ships from London and two from Liverpool, to Calcutta and back to London or Liverpool, £6 ; ship Harriet Hoxie, 670 tons, hence to Glasgow and back, $8,000; a British bark to London, turpentine and rosin, 4s. NEW ORLEANS, 31.—Cotton : Sales to-day, 5000 bales. Lard is selling at 102 c. Freights : Cotton to Liverpool, D. SAVANNAH, DEC. 31.—Freights to Liverpool dull At id. : to Boston, 7 16c. (Later by Electric Telegraph.) NEW Yonx, JAN. 3.—There is no change in the cotton market since the Asia's sailing. Breadstuffs are also un changed, but their tendency is upward. Money market to day was easier, exchange on London remaining quiet. Freights are rather easier. WASHINGTON, JAN. 3.—No speaker yet elected. CIGARROS FABRICA DE HABANA. MESSRS. ESTERO AND COMPANY, 41, NORTH JOHN-STREET, NEAR LORD-STREET, LIVERPOOL, Have been induced to Open the above Establishment for the .Sale of FOREIGN CI G ARS only, and to suit Pri vate Consumers. Messrs. E. and Co. sell them in Cases from One Pound and upwards, at 1 2s. 6d. per lb. They being Manufacturers in Havana, are enabled to obtain the most choice Leaf for their Cigars, together with the best Brands of other celebrated Houses, and in condition suitable for immediate consumption. Thus the Public will have the advantage of obtaining GENUINE HAVANA CIGARS, without the necessity of Purchasing, in Bond, Cases of from One to Two Cwt., and without paying those extra vagant charges usually demanded for small quantities. An Extensive Supply always on the Premises and in rond far Exportation and Ships' Store:. . The Trade, Hotelkeepers, and others have now an op portunity of supplying their customers with a genuine Havana Cigar, which has been until now so very difficult to procure in convenient quantities; they will, at the same time, be liberally treated with. Parties'at a distaiice sending Post-office Orders for 6d. will; per return, receive a Case containing Qne Pound of CIGARS. In sending Orders, please state of Mild, Medium, or Full Flavoured is required. SAUL DAVIES, AGEIiT. [JANUARY 15, 185 G CHESHIRE AIVJ) WALES. ON Tuesday, upwards of one hundred and fifty childrel ale(' connected with the Tranmere Ragged Schools were reg with tea, bans, &c., at the Assembly ROoms. DuEinrui SIIWIDE.—Thomas Weistall, an aged man, re' siding in Price-street, Birkenhead, committed suicide on T, 11 ; day night, by jumping from off the roof of his house. unfortiinete inan was affected in his mind. NEW MAGISTRATES.—Richard Bryans, Esq., of Parla d ' near Birkenhead, and Samuel Cross Starkey, Esq., of Wr en ; bury, qualified last week, at the Cheshire Quarter Sessions, justices of the peace for the county of Chester. e 4 FATAL ACCIDENT.—On Friday morning, a man na ul Robert Lonsdale, while working on a caisson at the ne i Graving Dock, at Birkenhead, overbalanced himself, an falling to the ground, was instantly killed. 1 FATAL ACCIDENT FROM BURNING.—On Thursday, 3 to named Ellen Dougherty, aged 14, who resided with her pare',, in Camden-street, Birkenhead, expired in the hospital w e Hamilton-street, from the effects of injuries sustained on th 3rd ult., by her clothes accidentally taking fire. CHESTER AND HOLYHEAD RAILWAY.—The traffic for the. week ended January 6th, 1856, was as follows :—Passenger' parcels, &c., £2,178 14s. id.; steam-boats, £249 „•„„ goods, £1,740 2s. 4d. ; total, including Carnarvon £,4168 lls. 9d. Corresponding week last year : —Passenge r s' parcels, &c., £1,694 9s. Bd. ; steam-boats, £233 Is. 10d. • god £1,672 17s. 9d. ; total, including Cameroon traffic, ' £ 3, 9s. 3d. Increase, £568 2s. 6d. ltoß BALL AT BIRKENHEAD.—The annual ball of the Haw e . Quadrille Club was held on Wednesday, under the ialtang . ., ment of Mr. S. A.,Youlton, of the Magnetic Telegraph piny of Liverpool. The band of Mr. Emidy was in atteo ance, and the refreshments were supplied by Mr. Oake- 5, 1, Lord-street. About one hundred persons were Pee se le Everthing passed off exceedingly well, and the company bra" up, expressing themselves delighted with the admirable al rangements made for their pleasure. WOODSIDE FERRY.—The subscribers to the fund for ail' tribution among the captains and crews of the ferry steamers will be pleased tp learn that a sum reaching nearly £ 6O 11 :: been collected, and that it was distributed amongst the al (about forty) at the ferry, on Thursday, by Mr. J. H. fl f , assisted by Mr. J. M. Hannay, Mr. McGregor Laird R. Godwin, and Mr. Reed, the manager—the men' receiv ll , from 255. to 355. each, according to their rank and resla° llsl f . bility. The men expressed themselves grateful for so acceP able a mark of approbation, and promised to endeavour to merit a continuance of the good opinion of the public. A WARNING TO CABMEN.—At the Birkenhead Poli ce d . court, on Thursday, Robert Trussle, a cabman, was suminer le ,. for being drunk and disorderly on Sunday night, for mall an overcharge, and for using abusive language to Mr. J• Wall. Mr. Wall engaged the defendant to drive him fro,'' Woodside Ferry to Grange-lane. On reaching their destin: tion, the driver, who was drunk, demanded is. 4d. for his fa re, ' the legal charge being only ls. Upon the complainant r d fusing to pay the man the overcharge, he became abusive,ollo would not allow Mr. Wall to proceed home. At length , ,,i, get rid of the drunken cabman, Mr. Wall had to give him more than the proper fare. The defendant, who had be en previously fined, had his license revoked by the bench. SHOOTING PIGEONS.—A farm labourer, named Bleb ° Duncan, was summoned before the Birkenhead magistrat s ' on Thursday, for shooting four pigeons, the property of g r t : Richard Congreve, of Burton, near Neston, on the 2d insto ll , The defendant is in the employ of Mr. Wheelhouse, fann er ;, e r and on the day named he was seen by Mr. Congreve's ga l f e d keeper to fire twice at a number of pigeons which had alight on a wheat field belonging to Mr. Wheeler. Subsequen • the keeper found four of the birds killed amongst some tarnlF tops in the field from which the defendant had fired. In 0 1 1 examination the keeper admitted that the pigeons were Il e , confined to their dovecot, but could fly out and in win hoo hindrance. It was stated for the defence that the pigeei / e n UN were a nuisance, and that Mr. Wheelhouse had frequ complained of their depredations in his own fields. I P ., bench decided that according to the act there must be a c,°"; viction, as no person had a right to shoot house pigeons. defendant was then fined ss. and costs. ------- AGRICULTURAL IMPROVEMENT SOCIETY.-- 4116 monthly meeting of this society was held on Tuesday, a t tbe e Monks' Ferry Hotel; Mr. J. T. Danson, of Barnston, chair. The secretary (Mr. N. B. Burnham), of Spital, re sketch of the proceedings at the annual dinner held on Th„; day, the 3rd instant, at whi c h u p war d s o f thi r ty mem , o' attended. At this dinner a silver inkstand had been P t f; sented to the secretary, for his valuable services to the seve' during a period of six years.—The chairman, after some, P. liminary remarks, in which he expressed his-decided opinio n that no man could do justice either to himself or his lanai° by holding land from year to year, submitted the fop: 011 1 proposition for discussion :—" That a yearly tenancy of Ist" as it reduces to the utmost possible point the interest of t he tenant in the future condition of the land, tends to discourog e e , good farming, and hence is detrimental to the landholder, t" occupier, and the public."—Mr. Verelst held that the Pr° l3o ,. sition was so self-evident that he could not conceive 11, ",.. person would be able to bring any argument against Mills said he agreed in the proposition in the main, but contended that there were large tracts of land, and ecclesi a ! tical lands, of which leases could not be given.—Mr. ela Turner was of opinion that all farming lands ought to be on lease. Leases inspired confidence, and no farmer svo tl lay out his capital unless he had a certainty that he could ho his land.—Mr. W. Lockhart cordially agreed in the propoll tion, urging that no great improvement could be effected 1 ; land on a yearly tenancy.—Mr. J. Russell maintained OA , land was in the hands of the proprietor for the benefit of the public; the land of the country was public property in t hands of individuals for the production of food for the comm , nity at large, although that w a s a v i ew h e cou ld not th u ; discuss. He then urged that a proper principle of lo witi f f, would not only be beneficial to the farmers, but would rially increase the incomes of the landowners—After T" ; chairman had answered some objections, the proposition carried, Mr. Mills being the only dissentient. The burine' then terminated. THE " WELSH HEIRESS" AND Ho HUSBAND. At the Chester Police-court, on Friday, Mr. Henry Le" builder, familiarly known as Mr. Green, in consequence of b i '" recent matrimonial escapade with• the reputed " heiress," was summoned by the overseers of St. John's par b for neglecting to maintain his wife. The " lady" was presen t in court, whither she had been conveyed from the workhono e by Mr. Frith, the master, in a cab, followed by a large e er course of men, women, and children. All the space allotted to the spectators was occupied, and the greatest anxiety exhibited to see her. She was attired most respectably, 31/ appeared quite unabashed by the eager gaze which she es' cited. Mr. Lewis seemed painfully conscious of his 'north)" ing position. It was proved on the part of the parish offi c oo that the woman had applied for relief, and had received ° order to go into the workhouse, which she had done.-- -- °!, Mayor : I fancy the only reason why she went there Waa: bring about an arrangement for her mainten anc e ?- -21 1 Ball (who appeared for the defendant) : Exactly ; at preset ) negotiations—the details of which I cannot, of course, st sta to the court—are in progress for setting aside the marriag e ' and therefore for obvious reasons we cannot originate 14 proposal for an arrangement. But even supposing such We re not the case, the woman left her husband of her ow n ace°r at Ruthin, to which place she had gone with him and .; man named Ryder. Nothing was heard of her until a wer e afterwards, when it appears she was taken into tR o keeping and to the house of Ryder, who has since be e o f driving .a roaring trade. There cannot be much need pecuniary assistance when, having no more than £ s ,_ her possession when she left her husband o n th e 11th to December, she could afford to hire a cab to take her t, the workhouse. The mayor said the marria ge was a wa he ter of public notoriety ; there could not, th ere fore, , 1 ", 0 a question at the present moment as t o th e r i g ht of I P, woman to be maintained by her husband. M r . B a ll sa id tliw were quite willing, under the order of the court, to m ake 4 allowance sufficient to prevent he r f rom calling upon t parish. After some conversation as to the amount to allowed, Mr. Ball said, it had been held that where a teS allowed his mother 3s. 6d. per week, th e amoun t was sum o ent to prevent her applying to the parish. The Mayor : not quite agree with you there. If a man is in affluent el` o cumstances, he must allow sufficient to maintain his wit , lady ; if a man is of the labouring cl a ss, 3 s . 6d. a wee k worn' perhaps, be a handsome sum to allow her. But I cannot Pei; mit you to put down the minimum sum as a sufficie li a allowance for Mrs. Lewis. He mar r ied thi s lady, 313 0 he knows why he married her. Although she has be e e , exhibiting herself at an alehouse, I am t o ld h e w as ther Mr. Ball : I deny that. The M a yor : Ho w eve r , I think ' l'6 to may make the matter short ; wh a t are you. in a posit i one allow her ? Mr. Ball : I will leavelit in the hands of t court ; lam bound to do so. The Mayor : Then what do Ye say to 7s. a-week ? Mr. Ball : I respectfully submit that the would be too much. I don't see how my client can afford ,Pi t ; he has four children, and be cannot think of taking t'', 3 woman into his house : besides, she left him of her o'a a accord. The Mayor :He went to look at her estate, 31 1 3 4 travelled with her into Wales. (Laughter.) How can .0 1 have the face to say that his wife deserted him—to come 03 that excuse here, and want to give her the minimum avi , r o for her maintenance. If you have any hope of setting 0, thatm marriage r she iage willaside,q r e why uire i not t salt. Mr. Ball: I think 7s. a-week will keep her in fi e ! , the in pot f a el t v oe w s e al e a linen. The Mayor : It has been said, "Let a gentleman is-or for a shilling a day, and he will not have the gout. (A laugh . :! gi wh ve at th u e il woman, okneleapn, herfor But a shilling a day will keep a man from starving, and at , thing more. Mr. Ball : I propose that we give her 6s. a wee,t The Mayor : I agree to that. Mr. Frith applied for the co s 7, including cab hire, which were allowed. Mr. Ball objected ~ cab hire. The Mayor : I think the cab was necessary for th e security of the peace. Even although there was the cab, th et a 0 was a great crowd ; without it, half the police force w e l i be have been required to preserve the peace. I insist upon :0 3 cab hire being paid. Mrs. Lewis : I would rather live W l co him. The Mayor: I have nothing to say abo u t th a t ; I 113,9 e• m erely to administer the law as l am b oun d to do. Arraniv iie ments having been made for th e payment of the money, ,Ite parties left the court, f o ll owe d , as on their entrance, 11 " crowd. - = DIED.—On the 30th u lt., a t Ci v it a V ecc hi a, Ita l y, aite--r „s 0 illness of a few h ours , age d 38 , C omman d er Sir 01°— , Gibson Carmichael, Bart., R.N., of Castlecraig and Skirlia• Ralph Laurenson, late sergeant of the local pensioner! t e Limerick, who had been afflicted with blindness for o va-- months, shot himself through the head a few days ago. The trains on the South-Western Railway are to be i f tlf . o ; nished with an air-pump and a gutta percha tube, exten° l o the whole length, by which the guard can communicate the engineer. oi ) St. Petersburg advices of the Ist instant mention tl American ship had arrived at Memel, and that hen 3 P hemp-yarn were being sent off for her. The weather MI S es ceedingly mild. THE MITTEN MURDEB.—John Simm, one of the men o r ' custody at the county gaol at Morpetb, charged with the O be r der of Dorothy Bewicke, at Waterloo, near Matfen, in Oct c 'e l e last, has made a lengthened state m e n t t o th e gove rnor of 0 , prison, implicating the other two men. Nothing is ye t ,. 0 cially known further than this as to the contents a at meld. TI