The Northern Daily Times. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-12-08 00:00:00

CAN AD A• 1)E111.8t n ight the M on t rea l ocean steamshipco -44? v ra essel Canadi an , C apta i n Ballantine, which ter a - „, fr etn Quebec on th e 22 d u l t, entere d t h e b The Canadian has had a rather stormy tit ete 6e, but throughout she maintained her cha i ter arr as a really seaworthy boat, and fit to encoun 11 att a iR gale. She brings 105 passengers, the f Britishenadian mails, and a large general cargo o 111.4 t„t, North American produce. advices which have reached us by this i tt) a ' cannot find any intelligence of the least -orta !l ee. \vetel4 Politics there was a perfect lull. All parties Vin c i Wliti tln g anxiously f or th e t i me w h en t h e pro attacZ Parliament would assemble ; and if we can kr i i, t e redit to the journals on the side of the ,416 - 7 , several measures of much importance 4tiad:f.'l,lltroduced by the Government. On the other . t tmi,"",,e Papers opposed to tbe present Cab ne d t - ;`e'l that a Ministerial crisis was at hand, an I nto th -re A long, some new blood must be infused s,Nst,-°e LE „ . 4ch ninistration if it was possible for it to eQd, the result of the late election for t ° glqative Council had induced many parties , ptie,pet that a general election would take place. te a ttention was still directed to the crimp -I:ete:"btr,elll, but it was evident that the Government h5 .1 3'3%, - " l it to adopt effectual steps to put an end to ,_‘" ( lit e a"' at once horrible in its consequences, and 4 4, 'etestable to the feelings of every honest t he tak e banquet to Mr, Allen, of Montreal, of Ocean Steam-ship Company, had ttCl4OO. It was well attended, and passed off a 1 .,Deee1 4 . 1 1. ,, e ” eclat. The hon. gentleman made c 1111 3 , 1„, Much ability, and showed that the orn qllpCaB determined to render the line of steam i tiaci W i, i t tl l which he was connected, useful to the F a Publi c f rom t h e punctual i ty an d rap idi ty Th e 1., r P a ssages si ness ‘ season at Quebec might be said to 4 1 1 . °4 P e erZrelY clos e d . Th e year 1856 was ra th er a Lgit's one and from the extension of railways, mo re extensive trade was expected in 1857. 'tIGN INTELLIGENCE FRANCE. (VROJ I OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) II ePARIS, FRIDAY EVENING. a f t n . g that the government has this day received ; 1 , 11 , 4 til;ttbe s uppression of the Sicilian insurrection, hip Y • bod t Was effected with scarcely any difficulty " troops only 800 strong. The town in N Utbreak commenced, Cephala, was im 4rh CnZ 0 ° eeupied by the King's forces. This ti l lteid gl to me from a good source, and will, I '404; a es appear in the Mon i teur of to-morrow th„ • ti k lte 1) 11 ei%rie of this evening t a kes pains to assure *,"iitt e „le. press th a t it an d it s co ll eagues does M ed . to crow over England at having been l'o, 4 gres °l.l the question of the convocation of the j oh - e , and it expresses surprise that any Eng _ do h 'tnab; could have supposed it capable of ORli e j i ° ' The Patrie is really too kind. What d ( t he ' l lan think s that England has been defeated it Itvtlatter? On the contrary, they know per ky.ellAed that their government has triumphed in . 1) (/ ,** - 1 1 -teh (as, by the way, the Patrie must 1 ,4:) is the universal opinion of Paris, even Vesi d g. t he Rus s i an f ac ti on it se lf . th e cit y to a D res d en d espatc h t h e J ourna l o f la it p" ) . S ays that E ng l an d an d A ustr i a w i ll carry 1 t Ilt(tint ab out Bolgrad in consequence of Eng -4.,11.e ng gained over Sardinia. 6 7, Peror of Austria, by a decree dated the liClheti."'i promulgated at Venice, removes the eL(i dy es o f the property of the Lombard refugees, - "ien, 1%.8 a complete amnesty to ninety persons I,..Theled for high treason. I;t%lat:'llatrian government has prohibitedth o e f i i°ll of the Russian paper, the Nor d its 111 1 e in all its territory, in consequence of g a t tgi 4ti a k , a pr e o d of tli o e f E t m le peror. This sit is remar I- I very unfriendly relations tt b etween Austria and Russia. NA' A 0 t ea, 41;41 hat take the following from another source: th e th e '', has transpired of news from Naples is, % - ` 1 448 urrection in Sicily was more serious l.tan di^ ern 311PPosed. The silence of the Neapo O l trbn‘ ue nt would lead us to suspect so, as,. if t the d ileees Were suppressed, King Ferciman t 1 11 11 :‘, ° 1 1 0, 41 ; e leen too glad to announce the fact to he h Lgov rh ' ll official quarters here, it is stated that I llth . , e nc e e4 7 e nt is not li . kely . to . have any serious con tion,'Pl'es4,o,,, and that it will, in all probability be 14 The Moniteur will probably say rho ltee - K about it to-morrow. In the meantime t Wil that Gen era l N unz i an t e is the officer \ l ' ll ot - th : e ll Sent from Palermo by General Zola N - ' d e I nsurgents. k,ll,f.gatzfeldt, the Prussian Minister to the tile Tuileries, arrives to-night from t li% • It 1 11 411 11., Was believed that the young Prince of e ~,( 411d visit Paris about the same time. He 0. 3t-ec t,ed, however, so soon ; probably no lql4is4r tli lvee t or two. He will not rem .ll ai t n ak h e e u r p e esicl 4.ll eight or ten days, and he will etl ee at At least W. tit, the Prussian Embassy. Ith I,° Present arrangement. 1, 111 % 4 : 1t Say ePetn to the question of Neufchatel, I . '‘ 1 1) - b th at the hopes of an amicable ariange IR gie k ea ra at tl •- moment very sanguine. The 4 1 1 ,° 'kill 'Le be desirous of a compromise ; that ,‘ ll. Nic e net refuse to negociate with the . Federal . N t 4B ellt, but on the indispensable condition t his Prvi ells . liberation of the prisoners. 4 .' s the point on which the Federal ' ll5 c laes he i l" seems to be most tenacious. 1 4, eoh fire '" °11 is likely to be brought before t b I ‘ 4 " ti t s'S ' and the Prussians apprehend t k il ;°,.t4e -ti re tt r , l the prisoners will take place before ' lc es begin, and their fate decided, so it tb "tl ih - t st be taken as a fait accompli. The ll° . w very decided on the matter, and i s vv tli not comply with the preliminary ‘V t t il ttL ll4 i Nv r i l4 r ,, ic h Prussia thinks so necessary to her ghul ) olv i lreerrnany, as also to prove to Europe at b e rfui has perhaps doubted, that isshe is still c),Nei r ttesi -11 't independaut State, it though Oe tl ,atel: lll ,_ t.roeps will next spring march on t`e ° 1 414 Qt occupy Schaffhausen. Prussian 4 act eav e • a 2 to l d in Paris speak very confidently .. of 1 , 11 % 141 ,,t y. 1t t0 tttl ether 41.0 expectation of receiving from . torder to return to their to d '? tt r ha e d a fine opportunity during Itt cle Wit h Russia of proving her power the 4 01., Derid e i t i s safer 11 1 . 4 11 ,! a th at n ee ; but I suppose 14. 701 i th Problem with a secondary . . State t ore - Powerful empire. The King is a l' t p4 4 ll i : r e r, f ell a t l T t 3 l : ro det erm i ne d ;—whether . his . firm.s ikre 14 estio n to hold out till the spring i r of 4 , 0 2_ Which time only can solve. The ki n til"' French was asked by both parties h iE ttti ti % o f and the autograph letter from whic h M. IT tzfeldt was the bearer to I, (Is relat ed a subject. The Emperor, tl ek; to the same g ed c r of standing well with all parties, itttiltlll,44,ttliettPailr tod during the ia•encentvisit engagementof Gen.with 41 • • 42111l ee eli g il . Promising his good offices to both h e Which 1, t es e has fulfilled. These good offices b° 'Ni t Yet Produced the desired result. ti men al ltil f , t he Young Prince of Prussia, tho N u v g e h .- tlie not gut less will no doubt be made l Y &10 1 l all that was expected. It was at one d ite Rut tb .Are,„ -tat the Tuileries would be honoured 'N-I.lll.W.Witlckee the Prince of Prussia and others • t hat""`Y Part, were going on for some time :kti ll e ,g, po!l.)Aect. The King, however, without .r ' 4 4 - ' to 'l"ve refusal, showed some disin . c I b acee ' k N'e elle Pt the hospitality intended for him, t • tili tty *h e It v • e t he matter dropped. If we cannot it et thi 41 % b e 4, we must put up with the second or • Rtn clY al /3 ,g ---- -the Prince. In the meantime, ‘ t veh' tl ti b N at te'ss may not be sorry to know ill th h a e t 4 .4 In Olt and dramatic performance w . din 18 Cl tlp h onour at the Palace of the Tu . ile e rie . s n . of ti : v as given yesterday fat the Palace 4 tiN a _e Russian Ambassador, and in the The ns „,reeePtion was held, at which several •ver e vtlf e 'oth is Presented by Count Kisseleff. t ehe e ePoken of for the opening of the 8, Yet I doubt whether any precise date is fixed. The instructions of the Sublime Porte will have to be waited for, and the Sublime Porte is never very active or very punctual. The members of the Conferences will very probably be the ordi nary resident ministers of the different courts interested, without the extraordinary envoys. Whether an exception will be made in favour of Turkey, as is supposed, I cannot say. The Bank of France is improving ; its metallic reserve is daily on the increase, and it is expected that the returns of Friday next will show an aug mentation of 70,000,000 over the last. The Messager de Bayonne, of the 4th, says : " The treaty of delimitation for the frontier between France and Spain, prepared by the International Commission, which held its sittings in this city, has just been signed at Madrid. M. de Dalcat, secretary of the French portion of the commission, left Bayonne yesterday, for Paris, with the treaty." The receipts of the Orleans Railway during the week ended on the 24th ultimo were 1,150,530 f, or 132,191 f less than in 1856. The gross receipts since the Ist January amounted to 46,756,544 f, being a difference in favour of 1855 of 1,106,026 f. AUSTRIA. VIENNA, DEC. 2. In my letter of yesterday it was observed that this Cabinet had probably proposed to the British Government to agree to the resumption of the Paris Conferences but some information, which I have since acquired, induces me to believe that the very reverse was the case. As has already been stated, the Bolgrad question is not definitively settled, but the new town of the same name will be ceded to Moldavia, unless the French Government has pledged itself to Russia that such shall not be the case. At the first sitting of the Conference, the representatives of England and Austria will demand that the map of Bessarabia, used on the Bth and 10th of March, be produced, and when it is on the table the representatives of Russia and France will be asked to point out the Bolgrad alluded to in the following paragraph of Article 20 of the Treaty of Peace :—" The new frontier shall begin at the Black Sea, at one kilometre to the east of the lake of Bourna Sola, shall join the Ackerman road in a straight (perpendicular) line, shall follow that road as far as the valley of Trojan, shall pass to the south of Bolgrad, shall run along the Yalpuck river up to Saratsiva, and shall terminate at Kotanori on the Pruth." On the map used by the Conference on the Bth and 10th of March, 1856, there is but one Bolgrad marked, and it is on the Ackermann road, about five kilometres to the north of the lake of Yalpuck. On a German map,which was copied from a Russian original, the Bolgrad just alluded to is thus marked, " Tabak czantynic Belgrade." Of a second place of the same name, lying close to the north east extremity of the Lake of Yalpuck—which place is so unjustly claimed by Russia—there is no trace. If M. de Walewski was previously informed by Couut Orloff that Russia meant by Bolgrad a town which was not marked on the map, he certainly did not communi cate the fact to Baron de Bourqueney, for when the Frontier Commission began its operations that dip lomatist did not know that there was a new Bolgrad. If the information given me be correct—and it pro bably is so—it has been already settled what sub jects are to be discussed by the Conference. Each Government will be represented by its resident diplomatic agent, and it is well that such is to be the case, for some of the Ambassadors Extraordinary proved last spring that they were not " up" to their work. The person who furnished me with the foregoing information was either unable or unwill ing .to say when the Conferences were to begin. It has been snowing without intermission during a whole week, and we have telegraphic intelligence that almost all the roads to the east of this city (excepting the railroads) are impracticable. Even here such vast masses of snow have been accumu lated in the streets that the communication has, for the last few days, been greatly impeded. Yesterday an officer stated that the snow which had fallen in ono night on the top of a sentry box that was sheltered from the wind was above two feet and a half deep. It has been observed in Austria that when there has been plenty of " winter moisture" (snow), the crops have almost always been good. Since the Emperor and Empress have been at Venice they have visited many of the public esta blishments, and among the rest the famous arsenal, which has been much improved within the last few years. The greater part of Saturday, the 29th November, was passed by their Majesties in giving audiences, and on the following day the official Gazzetta de Venezia announced that the communities of Ventice, Burano, Malamaco, Murano, and Peles trina would not be obliged to pay 13,052,800 livres which they owed to the state. The debt dates from the years 1848 and 1849, and the five communities were mulcted in the sum mentioned in order that the paper money which had been issued by Marlin during the revolution might be converted into Treasury Mills. As no Milan nobile was willing to accept the office of podesta (burgomaster), M. Giuseppe Sebregondi, formerly Podesta of Como, has been nominated by the Emperor. On the 25th of last month the official Weiner Z eitung contained an ordinance, signed by the Ministers of the Inte rior, of Justice, and of Finances. After having read the Ministerial rescript several times, without being able to discover its sense, I laid it aside, but it is now necessary to return to it, as a person learned in the law has explained what the thing means. When villenage and soccage were abol ished, the landed proprietors received as indemni fication for their loss so-called " Grund Entlas sungs Obligationen" (Indemnification Bonds) ; and on the above mentioned date it was decreed that the persons who had mortgages on the estates of the landed proprietors in Hungary, Crotia, Slavonia, and in the Banat and Servian Voivodina, should be bound to take in payment of their demands indemnification bonds at par. Now, when the ordinance appeared, the Hungarian " Grund-Entlassungs Obligationen" were at 78. It occurs to me that in the year 1848 there was an almost similar measure in France ! When there was such a run on the French savings -banks, the unfortunate creditors of those institutions were obliged to take Three per Cent Government Stock at par as payment. If my memory does not deceive me the Three per Cent Rente was at the time quoted on 'Change at 48 or 50. The Oesterriechisehe Correspondent has officially announced the entire prohibition of the Nord. A German paper, the Telegraph, learns that the bankers Salzoni, Lochner, and Co., of Smyrna, have received orders to give Admiral Behrends and some other Russian naval commanders credit to the amount of X 45,000. The Smyrna firm is to reim burse itself by drawing on the house of Baring, of London. Admiral Behrends is the commander of the Russian squadron now at Cherbourg. Naturally no guarantee can be given for the correctness of this news. TIIE BALTIC. HAMBURG, DEC. 3: Among the many steam navigation companies now being formed in various parts of the north of Europe may be noticed one formed in Copenhagen, in the spring of the present year, to establish a line of steamers between that city, London, Hull, and Leith. To this end the directors have given orders to the firm of Messrs. James Henderson and Co., of Glasgow, to build for them three large screw boats of 60 horse power each, and to carry a cargo of 350 tons heavy weight of goods, or about 3,000 tonnen of grain, and to be so constructed that they will be capable of withstanding any sea in heavy weather, and to enter into any of the small ports along the coast from their light draught of water. It is fully expected that these vessels will be ready to enable the company to commence running them at the commencement of the ensuing season in 1857. Their length of keel will be about 160 feet, and, with a breadth of 23 feet, they will not, with a full cargo, draw more than 10 feet depth of water ; and for the convenience of running into the ports on the coast of Jutland and other parts of the Danish dominions, they will be provided with an apparatus to supply them with water as ballast also. The first of these screws will be named after the late meritorious State Councillor (L. M. Heidt), whose THE NORTHERN TIMES. family have given the directors permission to that effect. The Commercial and Industrial " Union " at the town of Kiel has formed a committee for the pur pose of carrying out the project of uniting Kiel, Eckernforde, and Schleswig by a railway, which promises to be of the greatest future benefit to that part of Holstein and Schleswig, and consequently it is fully expected that the Government will afford to the execution of the scheme every desirable support. The committee is composed of men of the highest respectability and influence in those respective places, which cannot fail to make a favourable impression upon the Minister for the Duchy of Holstein. The plan of uniting the Altona and Kiel railway by a branch line with that of Hamburg and Berlin direct has been unsup ported by the Government from strategic motives. Russian accounts from St. Petersburg up to the 26th ult. state that on the 15th of that month the proof nnmber of a new periodical, at Helsingfors, as an official organ of the Government, had been published in the Finnish language, which will continue from the Ist of January, 18 .7, to be cir culated twice a week throughout the Finnish provinces. The number of 119,639 passengers were for warded on the Nicolai railway from St. Petersburg to Moscow in the month of October, according to accounts officially published. The Polish-Russian post was waylaid near the village of Wilamowic, on the road between Plock and Warsaw, on the 31st of October last, and robbed of the sum of 8,000 roubles silver in paper money; the conductor of the mail and the postilion were killed. The navigation of the river Elbe being now in terrupted sailing vessels and steamers prefer re maining at Gluckstadt to encountering the large masses of floating ice, with which the navigation has become impeded since yesterday. Three or four steamers taking in cargoes will leave this afternoon if possible. A considerable quantity of snow has fallen during the past night, and much more appears in prospective. The navigation of the Eider is also at an end, in consequence of the large quantity of floating ice in the river. The English steamers Powerful, Leipzig, Tonning, and Florence Nightingale have left the harbour in order to reach sea, to avoid being caught in the ice. They have been obliged to leave part of their cargoes behind. SPAIN. The Madrid journals of the 30th ult. and Ist inst. are altogether devoid of political intelligence. The price of wheat continues to increase despite the efforts made to keep it down. A fire, which destoyed a large mill at Valladolid, unfortunately consumed more than 3,000 arobas of flour, but 14,000 bushels of wheat and 4,000 arobas of flour were saved. The works for the conveyance of water to Madrid are progressing actively. They will be a great boon to all classes, and the day the new works ara for mally opened, will be hailed as a holiday by the entire population. A bank of issue has been established at Seville, for 25 years, with a capital of 18,000,000 reals, in 9,000 shares. M. Cavestany is at the head of the establishment, with the title of Commissary Royal. General Urbistondo is expected to replace Gene ral Concha in the government of the Havannah. VA decree in the Official Gazette orders that the budget of the present year shall be closed on the 31st December proximo, instead of on the 30th of June next. The Novedades is surprised that nothing has been done relative to attacks made by the French journal published in Madrid against the French Ambas sador, the Marquis de Turgot. The Hoja Autografa, however, declares that notice will be taken of the matter. A number of troops had been collected at Alicante for embarcation to Cuba. The civil guard arrested seventy deserters from the provincial militia during the month of November. INSURRECTION IN SICILY. The insurrectionary movement in Sicily appears to have commenced in the district of Palermo on the 22nd. The diligence was stopped which passes from Palermo to Catania and Messina. The insur sents forced the vehicle to return to Palermo on its arrival at Caltanizetta. A number of insur- gents, well armed, took up positions in the neigh bourhood of this town, from whence and from the surrounding villages, all the government au thorities fled. The insurgents were consequently iu possession of a considerable district. The gover nor of Sicily, Prince Castelcicala, at his post in Palermo, immediately ordered two battalions of infantry to march towards the districts occupied by the insurgents. These troops were under the com mand of General Guyon, a Swiss. The next day, namely, on the 23rd, a large cavalry force, with light artillery, moved out of Palermo in the came direction. The little army first met the insurgents near Cefalu, and a few shots were exchanged, wounding some of the royal troops. The cavalry took eight or ten prisoners, as the insurgents re tired into the town of Cefalu. The royal troops now surrounded the town, and eventually entered it. The despatch does not say if any fighting took place on this occasion. The armed insurgents fled from Cefalu, and had taken up positions in various points about the city. The whole surrounding country is in revolt. The Sicilians have brought to light the arms hidden since 1848. A despatch from Sicily, of the 25th ult., says : " A movement is expected to take place in Catania. "Palermo was to be placed in a state of siege. "An insurrection has broken out at Marsala. The cry is, Long live the Constitution of 1812: " Swiss troops were expected from Naples." The Paris Moniteur has the following :—" Intelli gence has been received from Messina in Sicily of the 29th ult. Notwithstanding the agitation that the news from Palermo had produced at Messina, the town was tranquil. The police, however, had taken every precaution. The guards had been doubled and increased, but no arrests had taken place. The Neapolitan corvette, the Misena, left Messina on the 28th for Naples, to fetch 1,000 men and artillery." THE BOLGRAD QUESTION. A letter from Berlin of the 2nd, in the Cologne Gazette, says ;—" It is positively stated that a Rus sian memorandum, dated the 29th October, has been circulated on the Bolgrad affair, and contains eighteen folio pages. It results from it that, on the 30th August, the commission for settling the frontier had come to a provisional convention, which leaves the question of Bolgrad open. The commissioners made their reports to their respec tive governments, and hence resultel the discussion already known." The composition of the Conferences will, it is presumed, be as follows :—M. Walewaki, president; Lord Cowley, her Britannic Majesty's representa tive ; M. Hudner, the Austrian ambassador; M. Kisseleff, the Russian ambassador; M. Hatzfeldt, the Prussian minister; D,jemil Bey, the Turkish ambassador ; and the Marquis Villamarina, the Piedmontese minister. SWITZERLAND. The Swiss Federal tribunal will assemble at Zurich on Monday next, and, as soon as the Pro cureur General shall have finished the drawing up of his report, the Chambre des Mises en Accusation will commence its deliberations. It is expected that the trial of the Neufchatel prisoners will be terminated in the course of the month of January. THE AMNESTY GRANTED IN LOMBARDY The Moniteur of yesterday contains the follow ing despatch from the French ambassador at Vienna, telegraphed the 3rd of December. " By a decree, dated yesterday, which has been promulgated at Venice, th e E m p er or Francis Joseph has just removed, without any exception, the sequestrations which had been imposed on the estates of the Lombard emigrants ; and ninety persons who had been condemned in the Italian provinces for the crimes of treason or of lese majeste have received a complete amnesty." .LIVERPOOL, MON DAY. EARTHQUAKE IN CHINA. The Moniteur de la Flotte, of Dec. 3, describes, on the authority of a private letter from China, the destruction of the town of YooTching, on the north-western frontier of the Celestial Empire, by an earthquake, on the 17th of August. Several days previously some shocks of earthquake were felt throughout the southern districts of the pro vince of Pe•Tchi-Li, and the superstitious terrors of the people were dreadfully excited. The 16th of August passed quietly, but at three o'clock in the afternoon of the next day came a tremendous and irresistible shock, which con tinued for two minutes, being at first felt to move horizontally in the direction of from east to west, and presently changing to the direction of from north to south. The town of Yoo-Tching, where it was most violently felt, and several of the neighbouring villages, were reduced to ruins, and some hundreds of people lost their lives. This town was a favourite summer residence of the Chinese grandees, and the Prince Taouk Long, the present Emperor of China's youngest son, is beliered to have perished, together with the man darin who governed the province, and many officers of state, in a sumptuous palace of marble and porcelain erectad about four years ago in the most aristocratic suburb of the town. This unfortunate prince is said to have been the favourite of his royal sire, to have been distinguished by many virtues and accomplishments, and so precocious in learning that in 1834 he was appointed by the Emperor "the supreme chief of the class literati," which erudite fession comprises in China about half a million pro of persons, forming the academical and official aristocracy of the empire, and privileged with a monopoly of all employments in the civil ser vice. This prince had a brother younger than himself, who was killed in 1852 by a panther, which he had rashly attacked whilst hunting in company with his tutor ; the poor boy was only eleven years old, and his tutor, like our friend, Dominie Sampson, when " Little Harry " got into mischief, was very severely called to account for his culpable negligence in letting his young pupil run into so great a danger, and was condemned to pine for the remnant of his life in an iron cage, where he still continues, notwithstanding the intercessions of his influential family. These par ticulars may perhaps be less true than romantic but there is no doubt of the catastrophe which has befallen the unhappy town of Yoo Tching. BURGLARY AND INCENDIARISM IN ESSEN A most diabolical outrage was perpetrated early in the morning of Wednesday last at the Rectory-house of Safford, near Grays. It appears that the rector, the Rev. William Palin, did not retire on the night in question until one a.m. At six o'clock the servants found the library window open, and the remains of a bonfire, happily extinguished, on the carpet within a foot of the window curtains. The shutters had bean wrenched, and the secretary, together with every cupboard and drawer in the room, had been broken open and ransacked. A part of the rev. gentleman's papers had been taken out of the drawers and set fire to in a heap, on which were placed the fragments of the broken shutter, some lucifers, a check-book, account-book, and other small articles. Near these was placed an old oat chair, nearly the whole of the cane, back and bottom of which had been burnt away. Lighted paper had also been placed in the secretary and drawers. A great part of these com bustible materials had been consumed, but the fire was providentially arrested with far less injury to the room than could have been anticipated. The burglars were Idisturbed, and took nothing but a few halfpence (all the money in the room), some postage stamps, and other small articles, and left behind them a jemmy and other housebreaking implements, and a bellhanger's gimlet. There was a bell on the broken shutter, and a remarkably sharp dog lying in an adjoining room. The whole ' affair is enveloped for the present in great mystery, and has caused deep anxiety in the neighbou r hoo d . from the diabolical attempt to combine incendiarism with burglary. Four other houses in the same village were attempted on the same night, with less success. Some tools were taken from the shop of Mr. Burchill, blacksmith consisting chiefly of gimblets, hammers, and chisels, of which the gimlet left at the rectory proved to be one. Burglaries have been of almost nightly occur rence in the neighbourhood for some time past, and we heartily hope the police will succeed very shortly in breaking up the gang. Other burglaries are reported at Waltham and Pleshey.—Chelmsford Chronicle. It is stated that the guaranteed interest of the Ceylon railway is to commence on the completion of the survey, showing that the line can be constrncte'l within the limit of £1,200,000. The anticipated cost is about £1,000,000, The shareholders of the Presse have finally accspted 51. Milhaud as their director, in the place of M. Emile de Girardin ; but it is now said that the Minister of the Interior puts difficulties in the way of the new manage ment. ROYAL INSTITUTION SCHOOL.—We are glad to remark that in the late examination at Trinity College, Dublin, Mr. S. G. P. Pope, late of the above school, succeeded in obtaining the for Latin Verse, and for Italian in the freshman's year. THE STORM ON SATURDAY NIGHT.—A very severe storm burst suddenly over the town about midnight on Saturday night, and continued to blow with great violence until early on Sunday morning. The ships in the river had much difficulty in avoiding collisions, but we have not as yet heard of any accident. ST. ANNE'S DISPENSARY AND EYE AND EAR INSTITU TION, 9, ROSE HILL.—New patients entered on the books last week, viz., December 6,185 ; relieved at the institution, 135; relieved at their own dwellings, 54 ; total, 189. Visitors, Mr. Watts and Mr. Kirk. Honorary Secretary and Treasurer, Joseph Kitchen, Esq. ACCIDENTS.—A man named Bernard Gillan, fireman on board the royal mail steamship Baltic, fell into the hold of that vessel on Saturday morning, a nd severely injured his back and shoulders. On the same morning a labourer named James Griffith, residine in Stockda'e street, fell into the hold of a vessel in the Prince's Dock, and sustained a severe scalp wound and a bad compound fracture of the arm. Both cases were received at the Northern Hospital. QUEEN'S HALL, BOLD STREET—HOFFMAN'S ENTERTAIN MENT.—The long expected opening of this hall takes place this evening. The hall has been fitted up at considerable cost, and we can say that it is one of the prettiest houses of the sort in the town—elegance and comfort combined, and carried out with superior taste and artistic skill, have left nothing to be desired in that respect. Au to the entertain ment, we shall say little until to-morrow; but from what we know of it by a brief observation, at semi -rehearsal, we may venture to assert that there never was anything like it introduced to our citizens, and we promise the public a rich. intellectual, amusing and scientific treat, such as must command the approbation of all. HIGHWAY ROBBERY AT BIRKENHEAD.-0(1 Saturday evening, between six and seven o'clock, as Mr. Singlehurst, of Bridge street, Birkenhead, was proceeding from the Ferry to his residence in Canning-street, he was suddenly attacked by two or three men, and plundered of his watch and a considerable sum of money which be had in his pos session at the time. The robbery was most audaciously effected, and it is to be hoped that it is not the precursor of a like series of such crimes in this district which at present prevail to so alarming an extent in the metropolis. Pester ' day placards were extensively posted through the town offering a reward of £4O for such information as would lead to the apprehension of the offenders. OPENING OP THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHAPEL IN CIN NECTION WITH ST. EDWARD'S COLLEGE, EVERTON.—The chapel of the " Immaculate Conception," Everton, was opened yeste r d ay f or div i ne serv i ce w i t h all the pomp which the Roman Catholic church is accustomed to impart to such ceremonies. It was consecrated on Saturday by the Presi dent of St. Edward's College, with which it is to be in con nection, and at some future time, it is hoped not remote, it will be enlarged and erected into a Cathedral. At the ceremony of yesterday, most of the leading Catholics of Liverpool were present, and, after the sermon, a collection in aid of the funds of the chapel was made. The Right Rev. Dr. Goss was the celebrant priest, and the Rev. Canon Fisher, of St. Edward's College, the assistant celebrant.— The other clergymen present were Rev. Mr. Cookson, Rev. 0 s R k e e i v i . , John D.p. Mr. Maddocks, St. Oswald's ; Rev. Mr. Kenricks, St Patrick's ; Rev. James Fisher, St. Oswald's ; Rev. Mr. Walker, Rev. mWaarlylw,sork, Copperas Hill ; Rev. Thomas Almond, St. R A e u vg. u T st h in os e:s ii Mr. Richardson resided at the organ, and the music sung was the ordinary p Mass, " Coram Episcopo." The sermon was preached by the Rev. John Walker of Scarborough. He Gerard john O'Rielly, Clßrien at took for his text the 14th verse of the second chapter of the second epistle of St. Paul to the Thessalonians :—" Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which you have learned, whether by word or by our epistle." In his dis course, the Rev, preacher vindicated the Roman Catholic religion from th e charges generally urged against it by those outside its pale, and exhorted his hearers to stand firm to their faith. COURT OF QUEEN'S BENCH.--DEC. 1. (BEFORE THE LORD CHIEF JUSTICE AND A COMMON JURY.) TOMMEY v. CLEMENTS.—Mr. Knowles and Mr. C. Clark appeared as counsel for the defendant. The plain tiff appeared in person, and addressing the court, stated that this action was brought to recover damages for a libel contained in the following article, which had ap peared in The Observer newspapers on the 16th of August last :—" In the dearth of newspaper topics, the Daily News wastes a great deal of valuable indignation upon the police of London, on the strength solely of a man whom they call insane, which is full of sound and fury, signifying nothing. A Mr. Henry Tommey, writes a letter to Sir George Grey, which he publishes in the Daily News. Our contemporary says he is mad, or, if he is not mad, he has much reason to be so, for he is worse used than ‘Jarndyce v. Jarndyce.' Now, Mr. Tommey's illusage by the Court of Chancery, consists en tirely in having maintained a losing suit against a wealthy benefactor for many years, in which he sued in forma pauperis, and was defeated at every stage . . . and his last resource is to halloa a libellous attack upon all concerned in the judgment, about the streets of London. The article then stated the fact of Mr. Tommey having been arrested while distributing certain pamphlets, and discussed the comments of the Daily News on the con duct of the police and magistrate, and concluded by saying—" The Daily News must get a better client and a clearer cause before it makes a good case of the secresy and tyranny which we would denounce as quickly as they, if there was the slightest cause for any such accu sation." The defendant had pleaded that the alleged libel was true in substance and fact. The plaintiff then proceeded to read along statement of the persecutions he had endured, and the injustice done him in the Irish Court of Chancery. He stated he had published the history of his wrongs in a small pamphlet, which he would read. Lord Campbell: I find it is entitled, " Serious Charge of Treason and Conspiracy against Lord Chancellor Cran worth, Sir E. Sugden, alias Lord St. Leonard's, ex. Chancellor Blackburn, the Master of the Rolls in Ireland, and other Officers of State." Plaintiff : I am prepared to prove everything I state in it. Lord Campbell : We cannot enter into that question now. The defendant is bound to prove the truth of the libel ; if he does not you will be entitled to a verdict. The article from the Daily News was then read. Mr. Knowles proceeded to address the jury on behalf of the defendant. He said he had nothing to do with the contents of the pamphlet ; his only duty was to show that the article charged was only a fair comment on the transactions. He laboured under a disadvantage in having no counsel opposed to him ; if he had, the case would soon be disposed of. It appearer: that Mr. Tommey had been engaged in a protracted litigation in the Court of Chancery in Ireland, and had at length been finally defeated in an appeal to the House of Lords. Under the excitement produced by this defeat he published the pamphlet of which they had heard, and on the evening of the 13th of August he was selling them in Waterloo-place, accompanied by some boys with large placards. A crowd, of course, soon collected, ; a person named Smith gave the plaintiff in custody to a constable ; he was taken to the station.house, but dis charged in about five minutes. The plaintiff took it info his head that the person who had made the charge was a nobleman of rank, and when he could not discover his name he applied next day to Mr. Bingham at Marlborough street police-office on the subject. The magistrate said he could give him no redress, and recom mended him to apply to the Home Office. The plaintiff then addressed a letter to the Daily News, and the editor, being, perhaps, at a loss for a topic, published an article on the case, ending with a tirade against the police. The editor of The Observer, being, perhaps, at equal loss for a subject, took up the defence of the police. The learned counsel then went through the article, and contended it was only a fair comment on that which had appeared in the Daily News. The policeman who had taken the plaintiff into custody, and the officer who had taken the charge, were then examined. They stated they did not know the person who made the charge, and that the plaintiff had not been detained more than five minutes. This closed the defendant's case. Henry Tommey, jun., the son of the plaintiff, was then called, and examined by the plaintiff. He descr'bed what had taken place on the occasion of the plaintiff's arrest ; he was refused admission into the station house. Plaintiff was about an hour and five minutes in custody, He asked for the name of the person making the charge. The sergeant promised to give it next morning, but did not do so. Some thousands of the pamphlets had been sold, but since the publication of the article in The Observer the sale had entirely ceased. Tho two boys who were carrying placards for the plaintiff, were examined. They said he was detained in custody about an hour. Mr. Knowles proceeded to sum up the case for the defendant. Lord Campbell : You have not put a plea of " Not Guilty" on the record ; you are bound by your plea to prove the w hole of the matters stated in the article. There are a number of facts stated of which you have offered no proof. Mr. Knowles admitted that some of the facts on which the article commented had not been proved, but he submitted that, if in point of law the plaintiff was entitled to a verdict, nominal damages would be amply sufficient.. The plaintiff then commenced addressing the jury ; he was several times warned by his lordship that be could not com ment on anything which had not appeared in evidence. fie dwelt at considerable length on the history of his sufferings in the Court of Chancery, and contended that ha had been most unjustly treated by the police. His lordship, in summing up the case to the jury, said it was a most painful case. He though the police would not have done their duty if they had not prevented any person from circulating so notorious a libel as was contained in the plaintiff's pamphlet. The defendants by their pleas had under. taken to prove everything stated in the article. They had proved the principal fact, that the plaintiff had been taken up by the police ; but if the jury considered that there were any allegations in the article which had not been proved, the plaintiff was entitled to a verdict. If so, under all the circumstances of the case, he must say he thought merely nominal damages would be sufficient, but the jury would judge for themselves. The jury, after a short consideration, returned a verdict for the plaintiff—Damages, One Farthing. In reference to the above The Observer of yesterday says : —ln the case of The Observer an action was brought against the proprietors by a person named Tommey, who considered himself aggrieved by some comments in this journal, not on his conduct, but on a leading art cle that appeared in the Daily A'ews, reflecting on the proceedings of the police. The facts are smply as follows : —The plaintiff, Tommey, had had a suit in the Court of Chancery for sixteen years, and the case had terminated adversely tohim. Thereupon he published,and sold in the streets, a pamphlet charging Lord St. Leonards (late Lord Chancellor), Lord Cranworth (the present Lord Chancellor), and two other judges, with treason and conspiracy. A person named Smith gave him in charge, and Tommey was taken to the station-house, where the charge was not pressed, and he was discharged. 0 applying for the name of the party who had given him in charge, he was told to call the next morning, when it was refused. He then applied to Mr. Bingham, the magistrate, who could not give it him. Finally, he had recourse to Sir George Grey, who furnished him with the information required. The Daily News then wrote a strong article impugning the conduct of the police, and The Observer explained their proceeding. Tommey, however, fancied that The Observer considered that he was mad, and upon this he brought his action, and laid his damages at £5OO. He conducted his case in person, and presented, as Lord Campbell observed, a" most la mentable spectacle." No one who was present, in fact, could fail to feel commiseration for the unfortunate posi tion to which litigation had reduced him at the age of 73 years. The judge, indeed, severely condemned those who had influence over him for nermitting him to make such a sad spectacle himself. From an oversight in the pleadings, Tommey obtained a verdict, with one farthing damages, Lord Campbell observing, that the plea of " not guilty ' not having been put on the record, because of its ' not being possible, without going to a large expense in bringing witnesses from Ireland, to legally justify all the statements made in the article in question, the jury were compelled to give a verdict in favour of the plaintiff. This trial, however, Illustrates how unjustly the law, at times, acts. It was admitted by Tommey in his address to the jury that he and his family were reduced to extreme poverty, and that, therefore, he was compelled to conduct his case in person. It is, therefore, quite clear that he was not in a position to pay the defendants' costs had the verdict been in their favour, which would have been the case if the omission before referred to had not taken place. But the proprietors of The Observer in that case would have been put to a large outlay. Tommey, no doubt, might have been proceeded against, and perhaps imprisoned, but that would have been no satisfaction to them, either in a humane or in a pecuniary point of view. As it is, they will have to pay their own costs, simply because a person whose imaginary or real grievances have so excited him as to fancy a libel almost in everything that is said or writen about him. Whilst the law remains as it is, no journalist or even private individual is safe, as any moment ho may be proceeded against by parties who have everything to gain and nothing to lose. This is clearly so unjust that some amendment of the law ought to be effected. Thus much for the case of The Observer. REPRESENTATION OF LANARKSHIRE.-Mr. Bailie Coch rane, of Llnarkshire, has started as a candidate for this county, vacant by the recent demise of Mr. William Lockhart. A FASHIONABLE YOUNG MAN At Marlborough-street, on Friday, Herbert Edgar Stanbridge, a person of fashionable appearance, was brought before Mr. Bingham for further examination, charged with obtaining a considerable quantity of pro perty from numerous tradesmen by false pretences. The prisoner, who is very respectably connected, adopted the plan of visiting tradesmen in a handsome brougham, with a pair of greys. The charge of obtaining a Genoa velvet fancy dress from Mr. Nathan, of Castle-street, under pre tence that he was invited to Mr. Kemp's fancy ball, and paying for the articles with a spurious check, has already been published. Thomas Porter, shirt-maker, 94, Strand, said he had known the prisoner for some time. In November the prisoner drove to his shop in a brougham and pair, and obtained a dozen shirts. He told him he could not let him have the shirts except on prompt pay ment, as he knew he had been spending money foolishly of late. The prisoner said he knew that, witness had told him so before; but he might get the shirts made, and he would nay for them on delivery, adding, he supposed witness would not object to a cheque. The prisoner called and took the shirts away in the brougham. The prisoner gave another order amounting to upwards of .e 9, for which he gave a cheque, first on Mr. Stophel, of Cheap side, for £l2 10s., receiving the difference in money, and afterwards he got the cheque returned, and substituted a cheque on Mr. Murray of the Adelphi, who refused pay ment. William Callaghan, optician, New Bond-street, said the prisoner obtained two opera glasses, value £l5, from him, on the pretence of giving them a trial, and making a selection of one. He found that the glasses had been almost immediately pledged at Attenborough's. Mr. Bingham said this case must be dealt with as one of illegally pawning. Mr. Stophel was next called. He said he had received money on account of the prisoner. Had not given the prisoner permission to draw cheques upon him. Was aware that the prisoner drew cheques upon him, and in September last wrote to the prisoner, forbid ding him to draw any more cheques. Had no funds o' the prisoner's in his hands in November last. Police constable Silverton, A 323, who has had the case in hand, has succeeded in tracing, during the week, nearly £2OO worth of property, consisting of linen, jewellery. and expensive knick-knacks obtained by the prisoner in a very short time from tradesmen at the West End and in the City. The prisoner reserved his defence. and was fully corn - miffed. PENINSULAR AND ORIENTAL STEAM NAVIGATION COMPANY. The annual meeting of the proprietors of the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company was held on Satur day, at the Company's offices in Leadenhall street, London, Mr. Wilcox, M.P., ie the absence of Sir James Matthews. presiding. The report, a very lengthy document, published in the form of a pamphlet, was read in extenso. The capital account showed that the total assets of the company amounted to £2,591,674 13s 31, the total capital to £1,931,810, the total liabilities to £448,124 12s 4d, making the total capital and liabilities £2,379,934 12s 4d, and showing a surplus of £2l 1,740 Os 11d. The revenue account made the gross revenue £1,691,689, and the expenditure £197,153 lie 7d. Deducting £147,744 43, the amount of dividends and bonus paid to the shareholders this year, there would still remain a surplus to be carried forward of £49,409 7s 7d. The proprietors' underwriting account exhibited a balance of £49 248 6s, while the reserve of the guarantee insurance fond amounted to £211,740 Oa lid. The report concluded with the fol lowing paragraph, viz. :—"After the last issue of new shares,and the payment of £lO each thereon , tber e remains as avail able capital, not yet called up, £4O on 14,161 shares, together with 5,839 unissued shares, amounting in all to £858,390, which affords an ample security for the existing debenture debt of X290,200,0r for the whole amount 0f.£500,000 author. ised by the charter ; it also provides the means for extending the operations of the company as circumstances may render expedient, and shows that this part of its financial position is in a strong and sound state. The statement of the reve nueis also highly satisfactory, and warrants the directors in recommending that, in addition to the ordinary dividend of 32 per cent for the last half-year, a bonus of one pound per paid up share, and four shillings per new share, all free of income tax, be paid at the same time as the dividend namely on the 29th inst. The Chairman, in moving the adoption of the report, congratulated the proprietors on the prosperous state of the company. He hoped the report would be considered ample and satisfactory. The dividend payable this half year would in fact be at the rate 81 per cent., which, added to the 3i dividend paid in the first half of the year, would make the dividend of the year amount to 12 per cent. Mr. Mansell seconded the motion, which was ultimately carried by acclamation. The dividend of the half year was then declared payable on the 29th instant, after which Mr. John George, M.P., and Captain W. H. Hall, R.N.. C.D., were elected'directors. The proceedings terminated with a vote of confidence and thanks to the chairman and directors. GREAT FIRE AND LOSS OF LIFE. On Friday morning, about half-past two o o'clock, fire was discovered issuing from a large four-storey building, situated behind the front buildings at the south west corner of the Royal Exchange Square, Glasgow, with entrances from the Square and Buchanan Street, and occupied by Messrs. Stevenson, Ross, & Co., cotton yarn agents ; Messrs. James Black, & Co., manufacturers and calico printers; Mr. James Paul, manufacturer (late Ewing, Paul, & Co.), and Mr. Murray Coubrough, silk handkerchief and sewed muslin manufacturer. The alarm was fully half-an-hour in reaching Mr. Bryson, when he turaed out three engines with all expedition. On proceeding to the spot, he found that the flames had completely enveloped the building, and that the West of England engine was already endeavouring to subdue them. Apprehensive that the conflagration might spread to the contiguous buildings, be despatched messengers to the western, southern, and northern districts, when the engines of each turned out, making in all seven. The premises were almost wholly filled with soft goods of the most inflammable nature, and as the buildings were bounded on all sides with valuable property, the exer tions of the firemen were entirely directed to confining tio flames to that part of the building in which they originated. Mr. Bryson lost no time in placing his engines in the best position, so as to enable his men to work in the most effective manner. This done, the firemen set to work, and after two hours' incessant labour, the further progress of the flames was checked, but not before nearly the entire stock of each of the above firms, Mr Coubrough excepted, had been corn plete!y destroyed. But for the strenuous labours of the firemen, the valuable property facing Buchanan-stree t belonging to Mr. Bell, of Blackwall, and occupied by Messrs. William Wardlaw and Co.. Finlie and Field, Miss Wilkie, Messrs. Henry Field and Son, Messrs. Allan and Ferguson, and others, would more than probably have been totally destroyed, the two buildings being only separated by a court about twenty feet in width. During the whole of the day, and up to twelve o'clock at night, a constant stream of water from four pipes was poured upon the debris, but up to that hour the smoke and heat had not entirely subsided. The oriein of the fire will, we believe, ever remain a mystery. The total loss will amount to between £55,000 and £60,000, but it is fully covered by insurance. We subjoin the names of the sufferers, with a pretty authentic estimate of the damage they have sustained : Stevenson, Ross, and Co., £20,000, which will fall about equally on the following insurance companies :—Caledonian, Royal Exchange, Alliance, County, Northern, Guardian, Monarch, and Scottish Union. James Black and Co, £20,000, divided about equally between the Phoenix, Alliance. North British, West of England, Imperial, Unity, and Scottish Union Insurance Companies. James Paul, about £7,000 insured in National and Imperial Companies. Mr. Coubrough has sustained little or no loss. Mr. Scott, of Kelly, is proprietor of the buildings. We could not ascertain the amount for which they were insured, or the offices on which the loss will fall. Messrs. James Black and Co. had a large portion of their stock packed and ready for shipment to New York, per the s. s. Edinburgh, lying at Greenock, and prevented coming up the harbour on account of the fog. We are sorry to add, in connection with this serious affair, that a fireman named John Harrison lost his life. He was in the act of breaking in a side door leading to Messrs. Black and Co.'s packing-room, when the door and floor gave way, and he was precipitated into the sunk flat amongst the burning debris. His comrades were unable to render him any assistance, and he was not taken out for some time, of course quite dead. lie has left a wife and two children, who were entirely dependent upon him for support. Other two firemen were injured to a certain extent, but they were able to walk home. We have since learned that a number of the officers of the Ist Royals, who were returning from a ball in the Gallery of Art, and, of course, in full dress, lent great assistance to the firemen, in fact, wrought at the engines for about an hour, and did all in their power to get others to do so. All honour to the officers of the Ist Royals for their exemplary and spirited conduct. A new halfpenny has been issued by the mint, for cur rency in Nova Scotia , which s trik e s us as deserving a word of commendation. It is, we believe, the first co i n ever issued by this government in bronze, which is not only harder, and therefore capable of receiving a sharper impression, but preserves its colour b e ,t er t h an pure co p per . The Queen's head is pleasing', after the Wyon model, but the reverse is a native flower, graceful and characteristic. A specimen has also been struck of the medal which is intended to be conferred " For Arctic Discoveries." Here again we have something of novelty. The medal is an octagon, and not an oval. It bears on the obverse the head of her Majesty, with " Victoria Regina," and on the reverse a ship stuck fast between icebergs, with, on the foreground, a sledging party just about to start—and " IRIS -1855."