The Northern Daily Times. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-12-20 00:00:00

AMERICA. ARRIVAL OF THE ERICSSON. The United States mail steamer Ericcson, 11 p as sengers, 50,000 dollars in specie, and dates to t he o th insta n t, i nc l us i ve The news by thi s arr i va l i s two days later, and Tcontains rather interesting intelligence. e „Te firm of Messrs. Jacob Little and Co., of _"` ail street, had failed. The magnitude of the ogpera.tions of this concern in the stock market has l ent it a world wide reputation, and the announce u nlent of the filure created quite a sensation j u nnr-1 stock speculators. The failure is only on jte stock contracts of the firm. All the other e business goes on as usual, and the drafts of its t3l37lol.b'eaSbninyn dente; were paid today. Mr. Little is the oldest and was the most exten f.':) operator at the Stock Exchange. He has I) l l `eci, we believe, twice before, but in each instance andup every cent of his liabilities, principal e 'lu interest, long before the time requested on the suspension required. In ell his dealings with larked the utmost liberality and generosity lilts his conduct, and he will find now, as he he done before, that others will do unto him as ]('' has done unto them. The Stock Exchange will master spirit in the retirement of Jacob butaLittlese , its te m It is to be hoped that his absence will be t emporary and th , t a few days will see him fir e in the harness with energies improved by e r., short rest from his labcurs. e e l . - he business transacted in either branch of ths " , ufzi ess was not of the slightest importance. In i o n ..tiase of Representatives,. when only ab out tE t rici n l ie e n na t hers were present, it was though t that democratic force had arrived to reconside r v ote refusing Whitfield his seat. It was soon 13_ ertni fled by the Whitfield party to let the v ote taken and risk the consequences The opposi reel: joined issue, though doubtful of the resu lt. i ;" • e xcitement now ran high, and every ma n was by the leaders to stand to his desk, as a ni " e gie vote might turn the issue. The vote corn he n „ced, and was completed before any idea could last as to which party had won. The speaker r E it announced the vote to be one hundred and er l it flYes and one hundred and eleven nays—three reconsider against laying on the table the motion to w rheider This was a test vote, and the struggle as considered ended, when the scene suddenly eLttinitted, and the farce was renewed by the republi be „ 8 refusing to take the vote to reconsider, and I,l'a'aotious movements staving off any final action. and Beene now presented in the hall was ludierons eh ",,_ disgraceful in the extreme. The sudden i rt , u 7 l6 of parties in the play created excessive t h 41 ter throughout the hall and galleries As the delay would only strengthen the democ rats, ilext Proposition to postpone until the Tues da y was agreed to by them, and the curtain fell. T he executive documents which have been corn • 1111 beep t tnieated to the Senate, but which have not ye t ordered to be printed, were being put.in type. ru printed copies would be ready for distribu tion .7 soon as the order for printing is made. As y et Lus yare confidential. The hail being cleared for members to select ats as their names were drawn, the first name draw n e Was Whitfield, of Kansas. This was fol l o wed by s houts and waving of hats from the lobbies an d D 7„ e a, ueties. As th e H ou se had refused, however , to t e e rua it Whitfield to be sworn, the Speaker decided • pow,' not be permitted to take his seat. According to the Pacific Railroad bill, we find t hat the S ou th ern rou t e i s to be laid out under the direction of the States of Louisiana , Ar kansas, xl ssouri, Texas and California. But the central e i n ri northern lines are given directly to certain ti ' l road companies therein specified. Thus the central railroad and all its branches is handed Over to the road included in the above list. And Pe northern route is granted to the Northern 2 ,_kes and Pacific Railroad C om p any, of Which Alexander Ramsay is President, and to t heirassociates, successors' and assigns. All these ,`)rnpanies are already, the recipients of lands from 'oneress, and the attempt is now made to extend their grants (which have taken up all the public l ands within the States) to th e Pacific, so as to give th em,,, all the lands in the Ter ritories and the vast Plain lying on either side of the Rocky Mountains. lu all the previous grants, single alternate sections V "el donated. In the Pacific Railroad scheme, alternate sections, twenty sections deep are given, nineteen times more land to each mile ; and it i s further provided that if in any pla ce where the l o ads run, good land cannot be found , the com p anies 114 11 select from the nearest lands of better quality. . The laid to be thus donated amounting to ieetween one l hundrei and fifty, and four hundred of acres, does not include the branches a e beil vhhe "vicled for, and which will swell the agg re g ate as , mentioned to to five hundred millio n acres . 1 , also provides that the governmen t shall 41 3 7 five hundred dollars per mile, per annum, for `'frying the mails for ten years, being five millions two hundred and sixty thousand dollars It year, or an absolute guarantee for the ten years of Sr, addition two million six hundred thousand dollars, a ddition to the grant of five hundred million''' res of land. h Prom W as hi ngton we learn th a t instructions had "n sent out to the new commissioner at Bogola. i r° ra these i ns t ruc ti on s we learn that he i 3 to l ite rate the' demand already ma de b y Judge N`: %°l4l for indemnity to the sufferers by the tr n arn a riot, and will ask for a proposition f rom the ni e w Grenadian government for a final settle ment b o th e mail transit question, for which a respectable nits will a t u o n b© paid, and will insist u p on some sub 7-antial security for the transit across the Isthmus ature A curious fact had lee,ked out in connec v' e n- 1 With the Isthmus, which, accord in g to the York Herald, eli Tust have had something to do with Mr. Commissioner Il ea wi , u s'a grand filibuster rtconnnendation to seizd it. Mr. dm „ice g' 6 9 has more peaceful intentions than Mr. Corinne, to ents that Marcy should bay the Isthmus, pay fi b re or T vedem a , wn and call it Uncle Sam's half-way ouse. IA ' II would be a capital scheme, only it won't work. Let eii n see the Panama Railroad Company has some seven or e i s e e millions invested there, avid the stock is at 99—it has . ge g n a little since the publication of the message ; bat if this e e ":„ ar ntnent could be brought to bear the expense and Aloe of keeping the niggers quiet on the Isthmus, A lo e k nows how high Panama stock might not go ? ere r eeeer, th e com p an y hold large grants of land that an n "' absolutely wor thless, but they would b make i n d, ex cellent speculation if the United State s could only e i s t e ed to seize or buy the Isthmus. This Panama scheme B t t a w all street idea, and exhibits all th e p oints of a Wall 1 4: to plan. It is only .a pr elude to the earning battle . ell all the various interests of the I sthmus routes hick`ll °N 7 centre in that delightful loc alit y . Mr. Hoagly ie 0 :; 441, sball ine th e f orces of the Panama route; g arrison j t : Morgan are b ac ki ng up Walker and the Nic ara g ua e ,, i ; whose flank is protected by our old friend George T e l; while Col. Sloo and Major Harris are recruitin g for t It ant ePec. Among these contestants for the travel and } ril e r between the 4flantic and the Pacific, Coin. Vauder e, .sseuas just now to be like an Arab, his hand being lintelsll4lnst every man, and every man's hand against bim ; la an old Wall s'reet schemer, and will fall into pmewhere before the fight is over. - We have every " 44 91ce that he will come in for a share of the spoils, In an , article on the French exiles now arrived in N ew York, a journal of that city says:— "e hare seen and conversed with some of these young professions and have obtained a complete list of their names and e, together with an acceemt of . the cause fht banishment upon the island from which theyhave just V sC aPed. The number escaped is twenty-seven. Of these 4 :7 perished in the mud and mire of the coast of - Guyvvt , z o -ing refused assistance and aid by the Dutch Commandant. r ams of these unfortunate men was Pianori, brother of the ot re Pianori who was guillotined at Paris for an b a .. e °Vt upon the life of Louis Napoleon. The cause of his tha t to Cayenne was for his being the brother of % s h o t w° 11 . 1 (1-be regicide. The name of the ether individual Perished so miserably was Bakenski, a Pole. Re was eire sted 18 ,, immediately after the coup d'etat of November 2, becauseothers of their known republic in sentiments. With many at tileseStr74,kae n n d skiwas imprisoned in the military dungeons d'lory. He is spoken of by his surviving n:l PA:lions as a no bl e hearted man, of fine, generous, senti inenfa, much beloved by all who knew him, but—and hew ern sufferings--an ardent republican. For this he was erisoned at Paris, afterwards at Cayenne, where, in attempting_ to escape,. he last his life a martyr to liberty. Carolina have been introduced in the South Legislature deprecating the continual ':.i'~te e~~{~~ 1 : I, • THE NORTHERN agitation of the abstract theories relative to the slave trade and other matters, as diiiding and distracting the State, and alienating from her the support and sympathies of other States. The Southern Commercial Convention would assemble at Savannah on the Bth inst. Full dele gations were expected to be present from all the Southern States. Virgil M'Cormigk was sentenced on the sth inst , in the United States District Court, at Detroit, Michigan, to twenty-five years imprison ment, for forging affidavits to bounty land and pension papers. The Canal tolls for the present year foot up 2.733,316 dole against 1,808,077 dole last year, being an increase of 925,239 dols. At New York the cotton market was very firm, and sales to the extent of 3,000 bales had taken place on the sth. The markets for low grades of flour were firmer, while extra brands were _uu changed. Sales were male - 0 a fair extent Wheat was firmly held, while eales were moderate without change in prices. Corn was firmer, and sales light, there being a disposition to await the receipt of the Arabia's letters, on the part of pur chasers for export. Provisions were steady, with light sales of old and new mess at 19 dole. to 19 dols 50 c. Sugars were quiet and firm. Freights to English ports were easier, and engagements mo derate. The following is the , latest state of the NEW YORK MARKETS, DEC. 5. ASHES : Sales of 50 bbls pots were made at 71c. BREADSTUFFS : Flour : The market closed firm at yester day's prices, and in some cases of low grades, sales were reported at a slight advance. The transactions footed up about from 8,000 to 9,000 bbls, at about the following quota tions:— dole. c. do's. c. Common to good Staff, • Common to good Michigan . Extra State Common to good Ohio 6lO 635 Extra Ohio . Southern mixed to good brands .. 7OO 760 ~ fancy and extra Canadian superfine and extra ........ Choice extra Georgetown, Richmond City Mills and St. Louis Ilaxall and Gallegos ...... Canadian was saleable in small lots at full prices. Southern brands continue firm, with sales of about 800 to 1,000 barrels, closing stiff at the above figures. Rye flour and corn meal wero steady, without change in prices. Wheat : The market, was steady at previous rates, while transactions were confined to about 20.000 to 30,000 bustle's, including white Canadian at 1 dol 65c to 1 del 68c, and a choice lot of white . Genessee at 1 dol 73c, white Illinois at 1 dol 65e, Milwaukie club at 1 dol 40c, and Chicago' spring at 1 dol 34c. Corn : Corn continues firm, with sales of about 20,000 bushels at 714 c to 721 c for Western mixed, Southern yellow at 73c to 74c, while white do was nominal at 75e to 76c. Oats were firmer, with sales at 46c th 48c for State, and 49c to 50c for Western. COTTON .was more active, and about 8,000 bales were sold at fall prices, over 3,000 of which were in transitu. FaEresurs were heavy, with moderate engagements. To Liverpool about 25,000 to 30,000 bushels of grain, in bulk and bags, were engaged at 63c1 to 741, about 2,500 brls flour at is 100 to 2s ld, and 600 hales cotton at 8-161 to 7 32d. To London-1,000 boxes cheese at 300; 500 brls flour a' 2s 91 ; and 15,000 bushels grain at 10ac to 11c. To Glr.sgow 500 brls flour were engaged at 2s 9d to 3i, and 19,000 bushels of grain in bags, at 10d. Rates to Havre were unchanged. Some cotton was engaged at lc. Ploaristerrs.—Pork : The firmness of holders checked sales, about 200 brie, in lots, of old and new mess were reported, at 19 dole to 19 dols 50c, while new pi ime was held at 17 dols 50c. Beef continued firm, with sales of 200 brls, at 6 dole to 7 dole 25c for country prime, and 8 dole 7.5 c to 10 dole for old mess do, and new repacked Chicago at 14 dolt to 14 dole 50e. Beef hams were quiet, at 17c to 19c. Bacon was firm, with sales of old Western clear and smoked. Cut meats were quiet, without change of moment in ptices. Lard con tinued firm, with sales of prime on the spot at 13e. The transactions included above, embraced about 200 brls. Butter and cheese were in fair demand at steady prices. CLIMATE OF PARIS.—The wipers men'ion a curious example of the variableness of the climate of Paris. On Dec. 8, 1840, the day when the remains bf the Emperor Napoleon arrived at the Lavatides, the thermomeler marked . 18 degrees below zero. Monday, Dec. 8, 1856, it was 15 degrees above zero during the whole day, the difference, between the corresponding epochs being no less than 33 degrees. TRR FROST IN THE BALTIIS.—The Stockholm journals publish meteorological tables showing the extraordinary intensity of the frost. On the 3d of this month telegraphic reports were sent into the government. from thirty seven stations, dated 1 p.m. They gave the amount of cold, at Hernosund the maximum at 28 deg. below freezing point, while at Malmo. there was one deg. The thermometer at Stockholm, on the 4th, at midday, stood at 20i degrees below 0. The scale is Reaumur, which nearly triples Farenheit. Here we have between 6 degrees and 7 degrees Reaumur above 0. SYMPT MATIC PLJCKING —A correspondent of the Cam bridge Chronicle writes that Lord Palmerston seems to think very , lightly of academic distinction. " Three Cambridge men have received preferment from him. Dean Trench ' went out,' I think, amongst the undis tinguished polloi ; Bishop Bickersteth was even worse than that, for he tried honours, and achieved a low junior optima ; and as for Dean Close, I have heard that an accident happened to him at the time of his degree ; but you ought to know at Cambridge whether this is mere scandal or not." THE STRANGERS' HOME FOR ASIATICS.- -;- It has been in timated to the directors of the Strangers' Hume for Asiatics, that "Her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen and his Royal Highness Prince Albert, fully appreciating the protection and benefits which the institution Is likely to afford to the poor natives of her Majesty's distant possessions, have granted donations of £2OO from her Majesty and £lOO from his Royal Highness towards the fends of the institution." The Goldsmiths' Company and the Royal Exchange Assu rance have responded to the late appeal for funds by a donation of £lOO each, and several other liberal contribu tions have been sent in , but though the " Home" is now nearly ready to be delivered over by the contractors i the board will not feel themselves justified to open the institu tion until suficient means for doing so and carrying out the work efficiently are placed at their disposal. M. KOSSUTH PRESENTED WITH THE FREEDOM OF HAMIL TON.—The freedom of the burgh of Hamilton was presented to M. Kossuth on Saturday. In acknowledging , the gifr, M. Kossuth said—" The value of your excellent gift is enhanced as coming from a body with the popular privileges of yours; for J hold the. municipal body and municipal government to be part and paroel of all true popular freedom. Where local self-government is lost, imperial representation is a mockery. Centralisation is demanded to give identity and strength to government ; but it is harmony, not identity, that makes a state strong. Centralisation is very dangerous to freedom. Cherish, then, municipal institutions and local self government as the very nursery and framework of liberty. Some statesmen would govern even the people's private affairs—treating them always as minors—always tutoring them and governing them. Now, self government is freedom—self government in the parish, the burgh, the county, as well as in the state. I attach, then, a very high value to the honour you have done me from the principle of liberty it contains.—Edinburgh Express. NEW MINES NIAR STAMFORD.—A discovery of some importacce has recently been made beneath the soil of a meadow close, the property of Mr, John Lumby, situate in the parish of St. Martin's, Stamford. Some time ago, in sinking a pool for water, pieces of stone containing ore were picked up; and, by way of experimen, a shaft was dug in another part of the close, where, at a depth of little more than five feet, the delver came upon a vein of rich ironstone, which proved to be 13i feet in thicknesS. Spepimens were taken to a large smelting firm at Bilston, in Staffordshire, the principals of which pronounced it to be of excellent quality, capable of yielding no less than 40 per cent. of metal ; and they forthwith en t e red into a contract with Mr. Lumby, who engaged to supply them with 20,000 tons the stone-1,000 tons to be delivered before the let of Feb. next. Should the expectations of the Staffordshire smelters be realised, and the bulk of the str atum turn out as rich as the specimens promise, it will open up a new and impor tant trade in this district, and give employment to many additional hands.—Stamford Mercuiy, TICKET OF LEAVE .TERRORISM.—A provincial corres pondent of the Times gives the following picture of the state of terrorism in which he is placed : " I declare on my honour 114 I have not had a perfect night's rest for months. I dare not pink wholly to sleep. I know that lam a match for any half dozen of he villians if I have but notice of their approach. My revOlver is ready, not a foot from me. My poor wife dreads it almost ae Much as she does the puff adders. The children are taught not to go near my side of the bed for fear of it, and the servants are altogether denied access to our room. Well, sir, is this a skate things to be endured ? Yet it is a literal fact. how can it be otherwiee ? The government affords me no protection whatever. There is not a policeman within miles of me, aid I see my fellow men murdered one after .the other with those officers almost within hail, and yet the inardereres escape 1 What can I expect, if lam not pre pared, but to share their fate as soon as the puff adders reach me? Let me but catch them ere they stand by my bedside, and I win show the `London Scoundrel? that there are others in other parts of the country as desirous to utterly destroy the vermin as he is•" TIMES.--MVERPOOL, FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE FRANCE PARIS, THURSDAY EVENING. The article in the Moniteur of yesterday is variously commented on in the Paris papers. The Assemblee Nationale is full of admiration for the conduct of the Emperor. In these praises there are things which his Majesty can hardly accept as complimentary to him. The Assembles insinuates that he has set at nought his ancient ties with Switzerland, and is free from the amiable weak ness of gratitude for the danger to which the Confederation exposed itself from Louis Phil lippe in order to protect him. The Assemblee would rouse him to the task of ,putting down revolution everywhere, and of going forth crushing the heads of the hydra—the Emperor like Hercules, and, I presume, the King of Prussia like bolas Whether the former protege of the Swiss Confederation intends to respond to the expectation of the fusionist organ I cannot say ; I can only affirm that the note he has permitted to appear in the prominent page of the Moniteur has pro duced on the public generally a bad effect—an effect which may yet be more keenly felt at the forthcoming elections for the Legislative Corps. The Moniteur is not only offensive to the Swiss Confederation, but to the Imperial Government itself. Who could have suggested the allusion to the Treaties of 1815 ? Everyone knows how the French people feel whenever these Treaties are mentioned ; they have ever regarded them as a stigma on their country, as a standing record of its defeat and of the triumph of its enemies. The feeling may be exaggerated ; the people may be too sensitive ; but so it is. Such an appeal to the Treaties of Vienna would be a great mistake in any government ; but greater still on the part of a Bonaparte; and it is a mistake which will hardly be compensated even by a visit from the King of Prussia Beyond those who receive their inspira tion from official sources, I have conversed with few who do not feel ashamed of the allusion to the Treaties The Siecle speaks of it in these terms : "It is with grief that we have perused the note contained in the Moniteur of this morning. For several days past the existence of this note had been spoken of, but we had r,fused to believe it. That the government of France should be listened to when it speaks is our desire. Never theless, its susceptibility towards faithful allies, as proved by the Moniteur, appears to us to be great. Far from feeling offended at the resistance of a people which, so to say, lives under the immediate protection of France, we should have admired that proud independence of Switzer land which has never allowed her best friends to interfere in an internal question. The French government now menaces Switzerland with a with :rawal of its goodwill because she has refused to accede to a desire which it had expressedand which was only a trifling concession offered,not to Prussia, but to France. In the first instance we are not of the opinion of the Moniteur on the importance of the concession. We believe that to interrupt the course of justice is a grave circumstance. We do not admit that the concession would lave solely been made to France, after the fiknaly expressed demands of Prussia, and when France had repeated the same propositions. We comprehend that in exchange for this concession, France should promise her support to Switzerland; but this very promise solves the question of the rights of Prussia, in favour of our opinion ; for had this right been undeniable, the French .Cabinet would not have supported Switzerland, and the King of Prussia would not have been satisfied with the concession he demanded. We sincerely regret to be of a contrary opinion • to the government of our conotry on a foreign question, and we will hope that if the government has felt hurt at the refusal of Switzerland, it will confine itself to having officially published its discontent, and will nevertheless not abandon her. Beyond the dissatisfaction which may have been experi enced by our diplomacy in consequence of the resistance of the Diet, there exists a question of high protection which France cannot abdicate. In order to be i quitable we must state that we do not comprehend the delay that has taken place in the trial of the valquished of the 31 of September. Had the power of the law once been vindicated we should have been 'the Est to hate advocated a complete amnesty; Switzerland, in offering a good example to the other Powers, would have avoided many complications, and would have placed Givernments, already bound by political acts, in a more favourable position to defend ber interests." It is not merely the spirit which pervades the obnoxious article, but the inaccuracies it contains, which calls for notice. It is not true, as the Moniteur insinuates, that the revolt was put down by the Federal troops ; it was put down by the people of Neufchatel themselves, and the Federal troops only came up to prevent any outburst of popular indig nation. It is not true that the Confederation refuse to liberate the prisoners. They are willing and ready to liberate* them now, provided the King of Prussia will recognise the independence of the Principality. They are not animated by a sanguine desire of ven geance ; but they do not think that Prussia has been so invariably distinguished for good faith as not to require some guarantee. It is childish in the Moniteur to say that it is to the Emperor of the French, and not to the King of Prussia, that the independence of the Confederation would. be sur rendered. The Emperor of the French is, on this occasion, but the mouthpiece of the King ; " Qui foci per aliunt', faeit p tr, se," and the Swiss consider that a spirit of courtesy and willingness 'to •oblige should not be carried to such a pitch. They are, in fact, expected to do all, and the King of Prussia nothing. .• They are called upon to trust to his honour and forbearance, while they receive nothing in return but vague indications of future negotiations which may lead to nothing. The King demands the release of the prisoners as a right, and not as an act of vourtesy. His communication to the Diet at Frankfort was based on that right, and the release of the prisoners would be taken by him as recognition of it. It would be more intelligible to ignore the ReYolutlon of 1848 -altogether than any particular consequence of it. Prussia has for her an historical and dyna stic right, Switzerland has but one right, the same as that of the Emperor of France himself—the 'right of a people to choose its own Government. If it is disavowed in the one case it can hardly be held sacred in the other. • The Suisse of Berne says : . _ _ The Chambre d'Accusation, in its sitting of the 12th, ordered the release on bail of M. Pourtales-Sandos and M. Wolfrath. The bail required far the former is 80,000 f., with other reserves, and for the latter . 2,ooof. It is said that the same favour will be conferred oa four or five others of the prisoners. The Confederation will indemnify the State of Neufchatel for the expense caused by the support of the prisoners, as well as that incurred for fi.ting up the place for the trial. . _ The following are the remarks of the Gazette de France on the article of the Moniteur : " It is not necessary to dwell on the importance of this note, or on the serious consequences which may result, to the prejudice of the tranquillity of Europe, in the event of Switzerland persisting in her obstinacy.' We rejoice at the publication of this note in the official journal, since it permits us to appreciate the real state of a question which assumes daily an importance that was far from having been anticipated. Now that we know the opinion of the French Cabinet relative to the Neufchatel question, we may state that this opinion is not in harmony with that of England ; for, although the latter Power has pronounced itself openly on the question, the most authentic accounts permit us to to say that, whereas France has formally declared herself for Prussia, England, in spite of the Conferences held at London in 1882, appears resolved on supporting the pretensions of Switzerland. Oa what question, in fact, does our ally agree with France ? A letter received from the Indian Seas dated the 15th September, gives some details relative to the treaty concluded between M. de M on ti gny, the 2. representative of France,, and the King of Siam- The treaty was signed on the 15th of August at Bangkok, the capital of the country. It is com posed of 24 articles, and is to be executed both in the kingdom of Siam properly so called, and like wise in the Siamese Laos, the Siamese Cambodia, and the Siamese Malacca, important countries which are subject to the same Government. It confers very important commercial advantages on French subjects. It admits religious liberty under certain conditions, and defines the limits. It like. wise secures special protection for any scientific traveller who may visit those countries. It appears that M. de Montigny was received at Siam with the greatest respect. The king reminded him that 'the country which he governs had always been the faithful ally of France, and that he regarded it as a great honour . to be the ally of Napoleon: The present sovereign has thrown off the Chinese domination. The national religion is Buddhism, aggravated by the most eccentric practices. The 'Y . ic;~ SAT UR DAV-. people adore white elephants, which are found in the forests of the south. One of those animals, regarded as the representative of Buddha on earth, is lodged in a splendid palace at Bangkok, to which is attached a temple. The French seamen were admitted by special favour to visit this mysterious residence, the high-priest doing the honours. The Siamese,although naturallyof a humane disposition, are cruel when their religious fanaticism is roused: The sacred elephant having died in the summer of 1863, this calamity was attributed to the neglect of the high priest, and the people assembled in great numbers before the palace, and demanded that he should be put to death. There is a French Catholic mission at Bangkok; its progress is as yet but slow. M. de Mon tigny quitt , A the kingdom of Siam at the commencement of the month of September, to proceed to Cochin• China, where he arrived in sifety. A private letter from St. Petersburg, of the 10th , inst., states that the expedition sent by the Russian Government to the extremity of Asia has been completely successful. The Russian troops drove away the tribes living at the mouth of the river Amoor, and established themselves solidly on the borders of tha sea of Baikal, and in the town of Irkutsk, where they had collected a store of pr vi sions and ammunition. The Russians were pre paring to construct a flotilla for the navigation of the sea of Baikal, of which the Russian engineers had surveyed the coast. _ _ The relations between Russia and China had become more easy and more important. Russian produce may be conveyed by the sea of Baikal to Kiatehka, and bartered with the Chinese for cara van tea. Le Nord publishes an article to prove that the greatest political interest of Russia is to maintain peace, and that, in place of encouraging Persia in her attack on Herat, the Russian Government has used all her influence with the Court of Teheran to induce it to renounce the expedition. The Nord observes : Peace is as necessary for the development of the internal prosyerity of Russia as it is her interest to avoid conflicts with England, which she has no reason to seek. It is moreover necessary even for the progress of her political and commercial influence in provinces yet half civilized, for it is not on the force of her arms or on conquest that its influence can be supported, but on the ascendant of superior civilization, and of a higher moral and material development, favoured by a closer contact. The Nord goes ou to say that the traditional policy of the Russian Cabinet is to maintain peace in Persia and in Central Asia. That oven during the late war all its efforts were exerted to induce Persia to remain neutral. It Siteceec(ed, although the temptation was great for Persia tx) take advan tage of the events passing in her neighbourhood. It asserts that since the commencement of the conflict between Great Britain and Persia, excited by the question of Herat, the attitude and language of the Russian Government were directed by the same principles. Russia never ceased to impress the Shah with the disastrous consequences which might ensue from a collision with Great Britain, and used all its influence to induce him to abandon the expedition against Herat, and to re-establish friendly relations with the British Government. A letter from' Madrid, of the 13th inst., contains the following ; The news of the insurrection in Sicily has produced a profound sensation in the Palace. When it was subse quently known that an attempt had been made on the life of the King of Naples, the queen became greatly alarmed, and said to her physician, who was in attendance, " You see, you see, the ruin of every one of the Bourbons is resolved upon." The courtiers, thinking to please her Majesty, thereupon launched out into insults against France and England. Far from profiting by such lessons, the influential chiefs of the clerical party urge, on the contrary, that no time should be lost in re establishing absolutism, and the " apostolic restoration," as the only means of cutting short, once for all, revolutionary projects. The news from Catalonia is very serious. The apostolic party, headed by the celebrated Bishop of Barcelona, leaves nothing undone to provoke the Liberals and even the Republican party, who are watching for the moment of vengeance. The plan for the fusion of the two branches of the Spanish Bourbons, about which so much has been said, is nearly forgotten. As that was the principal mission of General Urbistondo in the War Department, it is said that he will retire from his post in the Cabinet, and that he will be succeeded by General Mazarredo, who was Minister of War when General Narvaez was named Minister of War ; and who, as suet), signed the decree. There are at this moment two competitors for the Captain Generalcy of Cuba: Urbistondo and Lersundi. the Minister of Marine. Some of the Ministers are of opinion that, at a time so critical for Cuba, the resignation of General Concha should not be accepted. It is doubtful, however, whether he will remain. Another letter, of the same date, says The Government is getting from bad to worse. It is just that the responsibility should fall on the right persons. The exclusive policy of the Cabinet is alienating its own friends from it, and though the various fractions of the Moderado party who were invited, and who were disposed to support it do not yet offer open opposition, nevertheless it is certain that they are keeping themselves apart. The position of this party in the Palace is by no means satis factory. The other day in the presence of several per sons, and with reference to the attempt on the Kicg of Naples, the King observed to the Queen that General O'Donnell should bo sent for to form a new Cabinet. I repeat that it the very probable event of the fall of the Ministry the fault is to be attributed to itself. The Gove'rnment has never yet adopted the conciliatory policy which it promised, and to which the whole Moderado party would have responded. The fact of the matter is, that those who aided in bring about the present state of things do not consider that they have had a fair share of the spoils whicd Narvaez and his immediate friends are anxious to keep for themselves. Instead of finding the door open to them, they have, to use the words of many of the party, " beeu left on the pare" The folloning private telegraphic despatches have been received : MADRID, Dxc. 14. The Gazetse of to-day publishes a Royal deciee; appoint ing M. Moth Ambassador Extraordinary to the Court of Rome. Dsc. 16. The jriurnala continue the polemic commenced on the affair of M. Mires. The biddinga relative to the adjudication of the loan of 300,000,000 of reale will be positive) , received on the 17th, The journals announce that the decree re.establishing the octroi duties is signed. _ _ The Three per Cents. cloned to-day at 601 75e for the end of the month, and the Four-and-a Half at 91f. 65c ; Orleans Railway shares, 1,320 f ; Great Northern, 9451; Strasburg, 812 f 50c ; do. new shares, 752 f 50c; Paiis and Lyons, 1,380 f ; Lyons to the Mediterranean, 1,7501; Western of France, 855 f ; Bordeaux and Cette, 755 f; do. new shares, 780 f ; Great Central of France, 6151; Lyons and Geneva, 752150 e; Bank of Credit Mobilier, 1,470 f; Austrian Railways, 787 f 50c. ITALY. NAPLES, Dec. 15. There are circumstances connected with the horrible attempt on the life of the King which seem almost to have suspended the passions of parties, and for the moment to have united them in one common feeling. The long and secret manner in which the design was conceived and the open and daring mode in which it was attempted to carry it into execution; the fearful consequences of success, on the order of the capital, the reckless disregard of self on the part of the assassin, and the great self-command of his Majesty, have all united to throw around the event of the last week no common interest. Many details have been already communicated to you, still something new is continually repotted to me, confirming upon the whole the general accuracy of my former state ments. Withdrawn frpin the Italian Greek College of St. Demetrius, not expelled as was reported in the official journal, and withdrawn, as were many other young men by their families, in consequence of political complications ; Agesilao Melano threw himself into the arms of revolutionists in 1848. General Ribotti was the Coinmander-in-chief, while his own immediate superior was Mosciari. He fought first in the Angitola, and lastly at Spez4ano- Albanese. Of five companions who entered on this career Ile was the last; his father, too, was taken prisoner, and condemned to the galleys, while a brother was shot. Of these latter facts, however, I am not quite so clear. Agesilao Melano remained full of grief on personal grounds, and of indignation at what he conceived to be the ruin of the liberties of his country. His principal amusement seems to have been in writing poetry, of which he has left many not indifferent specimens, and he appears to have read much Grecian history and the works of St. Thomas Aquinas, who somewhere, I am in formed, defends the crime of regicide. How he was enrolled in the army will be hcreafter related. On the morning of the attempt he refused to take any food, in order, as he afterwards said, to keep his head perfectly cool. When he left the ranks to make his dreadful attempt it was with a regular military pace, and uttering the usual words, " one, two—one, two." until he arrived almost close to his Majesty, when, sinking his bayonet, he rushed upon him. The incidents which followed have been already recounted. From the moment of his arrest down to that of his death his courage and tran quillity seem never to have deserted the prisoner. On the first night he made his depositions in writing, and in Greek, as he was a descendant of the Greek colonists who fled a long time since from Turkish persecution, and settled in a part of Calabria. From that deposition he has not swerved —a deposition occupying, I am told, three sheets of paper, and written 4,ff without pause or hesita tion. It is important to observe that he protested that ho belonged to no sect. On the Thursday morn uu the Court sat for the first time in the Barracks of Ferrandini, opposite the Palazzo Policastro, the late residence of the British Minister. The members of the Court were—Captain Pianelli Adjutant-Major, President ; Lieutenants Sabbatini and Fiori, a sergeant, and two soldiers. On being taken down from his prison to the court, the officer commanded the soldiers who accompanied him to close up, on which he said, " I shall not attempt to escape. I might have destroyed myself had I chosen to do so, but I was not so vile." On the trial he was asked by the President how long he had contemplated this atrocious act. " Ever since the King perjured himself," was the reply. " You have committed a great crime," observed the President. " You say so," replied the prisoner; " but if you have read your Bible you will find that not a leaf moves without the will of God. I had resolved to kill the King, but God would not per mit it, and, in his stead, I shall die. The will of God be done" This fact may, however, be pro ductive of good to the country, and induce the King to govern better. The following statement is a very correct report, I believe, of the proceedings of the last day's trial On the morning of Saturday, 13th of December, the prisoner was taken from the barracks of Fer rantina to the prison of Castel Capuano, and thence escorted by a detachment of the Cacciatori and the congregation of the Bianchi to the Church of the Refuge ; after which he was led to the Porta Capnana, where the troops were stationed and the scaffold was erected. On arriving in front of his battalion the prisoner, who wore his uniform, was stripped of his dress, and clothed in the black shirt, according to the terms of his sentence, with a large placard upon his chest, bearing the inscrip tion, L'uonzo empio. Placed upon a cart he was taken the round of the troops, and then brought up to the scaffold, which he mounted talking and maintaining the same firm character and fixing his eyes on the crucifix. The last words of Nlelano were " Viva la Patria 1 e la Liberta Another report adds, " That from the Vicaria to the Church of Refuge his eyes were not bandaged, and in the church he answered. with a loud and clear voice, to the prayers of the Padri Assistenti. Then his eyes were blinded, in spite of his entrea ties to the contrary, that he might look upon the people. He walked with a firm step, and rather too quick to please the Padri. He then stopped a little, and begged again to be unblinded, but in vain. To those who assisted him he said "Padri, it is glorious to die for our country and for liberty ;'' and even on the very steps ,of the scaffold he repeated the same expressions. To the last prayer he uttered the responses with the same firm voice, the people joining with him, and weeping. Evea the soldiers of his battalion were deeply moved, and some of the officers wept, In fasten ing the rope the executioner maltreated the crimi nal, so as to excite one of tho fathers so much, as to strike him twice. The execution was long and painful, either through the inexperience of the executioner, or the irritation created by the blows which he bad received from the Padre Assistente. During the last night the prisoner desired those who assisted him to read a book entitled The Life and Death of the Good Christian • Lieutenant Fiori, one of the judges of the council of war has been put under a rigorous arrest-for having uttered various insolent remarks to the criminal and the advocate in the public discussion _ _ _ A soldier of the 3,1 battalion had been imprisoned in consequence of his great intimacy with the accused. Having been brought before the Council of War, he was asked by the President why he had been so intimate with Melano. He answered— You and other 6fficers have attested that IVlelanB was the model of the battalion ; for this reason I became his friend. In my circumstances you would have done the same thing." The President ordered him to be set at liberty. 'TURIN, DEC. I S. I understand from Bologna that some modifica tions—more of form than of substance—had taken place in the division of power both there and at Ancona. In the first place, the Austrian Generals have renounced the title of " Civil and Military Governors of his Imperial Royal and Apostolic Majesty," and meekly style themselves now " General commanding Army of Occupation-" In the second, the power of granting passports and shooting licenses has been restored by the Aus trian Generals to the Papal police; and in the third, the military courts are only to be used for the trial of political offences, and all ordinary. crimes are to be brought before ordinary tribunals. The Papal authorities ray these mighty reforms have been -effected at the in tercession of the French Government, and a rumour prevailed at Rome itself that the French Government was really about to insist on some reforms, compatible with the principles enunciated in the letter of the Prince President to Colonel Ney. It appears that the new French General Goyon is determined on carrying out some military reforms at all events, and being a man of active habits he had been giving the Papal authorities a good deal of uneasiness by his untimely parades and inspections. He seems indeed to have a great deal too much of the early Christian about him to please at Rome, for one of the principal complaints made by the autherities is, that instead of giving proper notice of, and choosing a proper time for, his inspections, as his predecessor did, he turns people out at all sorts of unseasonable hours of the morning. Queen Christina and the Duke of Rianzares had arrived at Rome, and taken up their abode at the Palace Vidoni. AUSTRIA, VIENNA, DEC. 16, As has already been said, it was feared that their Majesties would meet with a very cold reception in Milan, but the reports as to the state of public feeling in that city are much more favourable than they were a week or 10 days ago. The Sforza, an Ultramontane organ, which appears at Brescia, is doing a vast deal of mischief to the Austrian cause in the Lombardo Venetian kingdom. The Jesuits, who write, for the paper in question, eulogise his Majesty for having shown himself such a dutiful son to the Roman Catholic Church, and insinuate that all those persons who say the Concordat is not conducive to the strength and well being of the state, are little better than traitors. The writers for the Sforza display such a strongly pronounced of Austrian as talent for denouncing their more liberal contempo ries, that they must render excellent serv i ce as informers to the police authoriti es o f L om b ardy. It is related that the order which M. F raneechini inercehivisedsefrrvoimoes as o the Duchesshief o f the Parmapolice rewardl:e iin f . the Duchy, was not very flattering for him. The Dukes of Parnia have two orders, and that of St. Louis, which M. Franceschini received, is the less honourable of the two. From day to day it becomes more evident that Baron Bruck has put too many irons in the fire a one and the same time. The markedimprovement which took place in the English and French Funds a few days ago produced little or no effect here, but if the "Rente" chances to come 5 or 10 centimes loser it invariably produces a sensible decline on the Vienna Exchange. To employ a metaphor in common use in the stock jobbing world, " the stomach of the country is unable to digest the vast mass of paper which Baron Bruck has thrust into it." It is a very remarkable financial, and a some what significant political phenomenon, that the Grund Enda ssungs- obligation s (Indemnification Bonds for vilenage and soccage) for Upper and L )wer Austria are 11 per cent higher than those for Hungary. The Indemnification Bonds for Amsiria Proper are 5 per cent. higher than the Metalliques, although they bear the same rate of interest; and the Indemnification Bonds for Hun gary are 6 per cent. lower. • Positive information has been acquired that no attempt has been made on the life of Count Grunne, who is with the Emperor at Venice. Their Majes ties leave for Milan on the 27th. The Archduke Ferdinand Max has arrived here from Venice on his way to B.ussels. The memorandum of the St. Petersburg Cabinet on the Bolgrad question has been very severely criticised here. SPAIN. Our accounts from Madrid are of the 14th inst. The Iberia bad been again seized on the 13th. The Clamor Publico, in opposition to the other Liberal journals, advises the electors not to take any part in'the approaching municipal elections. It admits that the success of the Government is un questionable. It is announced that Don Henry had obtained permission to reside at Valencia, and that his father, Don Francisco, had determinel to pass the winter at Aranjuez. NAVAL AND MILITARY. EXPENSE IN MESSES OF HER MAJESTY'S SHIPS. The following circular has been issued : " Admiralty, Dec. 12. "My Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty have lately had reason to believe that much greater expense has been incurred by the messes of officers in some of her Majesty's ships than is sanctioned by the rules and custom of the service, and from complaints which have been made to their lordships, that mess debts have not been liquidated at the proper time for payment, by the officers contracting them, and claims have conse quently been made upon officers who were subse quently appointed to subscribe for the discharge of debts to which they bad given no sanction. My lords have to call the attention of the officers of the fleet to these irregularities, in order that they may be avoided in future ; and their lordships desire that the officers of the ward room will adopt such measures as will enable their messes to be maintained with credit and comfort and free from extravagance, and thus set a becom ing example to the junior officers. " In regard to the gun-room messes, my lords have an several occasions had brought to their notice circumstances of extravagance and mis management, which have been caused by the unnecessarily high subscriptions, and the use of expensive wines and spirits, totally at valiance with the custom of the service and the pecuniary means of the officers. " With a view of putting a stop to such irregu- larities, my lords direct that the subscriptions to the gun-room messes shall never exceed the sum of 81. for entrance, and that the monthly subscrip— tions, including all extras, shall not be more than 30s " Their lordships further desire that no wine, except port and sherry, or wine of the same class and price, and no spirits, except the ship's allow ance, be used in the gun-room messes. " No wine, spirits, or beer are to be received ott board any of her Majesty's ships without the written approval of the officer in command. Their lordships have also been led to believe that in some of her Majesty's ships messmen, under the designation of stewards, are still per mitted to carry on the sale of provisions, wine, spirits, &0., to the messes of the officers as well as to the men, in direct contravention of the Admiralty order of the Nth May, 1851. The attention of the officers of her Majesty's ships is called to this subject, as nothing can tend• so much to irregularity in a mess, as well as to injury to the. discipline of a ship, as to permit any person to make a traffic by the sale of provisions, spirits, &c., instead of the messes being properly conducted by their caterers. " The Commander in-Chief and senior officers in command of stations are hereby directed to take the necessary steps for carrying out these orders " By command of their lorglships, " R. OSBORNE. " To all flag officers, commanders-in -chief, cap. tains, and commanding officers of her Majesty's ships and vessels." ADMIRALTY, DEC. 18 .--APPOlNTMElrTS.—Commanders J. M. Cooke (1852), to the Simoom, 8, screw steam troop ship, Mediterranean station; and G. T. M. Purvis (1852), to the Megmra, 6, screw steam troop ship, Mediterranean station. Second Master P. Svvret, to the Dasher, 2, paddle wheel steam vessel, at Portsmouth. Assistant Clerk 11. G. Brokenshir, to the.lndus, 78, at Devonport. DIRECT TAXES IN SWITZERLAND.—According to the returns'of the income tax in Switzerland for 18.56, there were then in Berne only tcn capitalists and two merchants paying on a revenue of 22 000 tr ,or 850 fr. for each. One paid on a revenue of 17,000 fr., or about 700 fr., and four others on a revenue of 15,000 fr., or 610 fr. each. The most numerous class is that of the persrns who pay about 3fr.; they are .527 in number, and 465 others pay about 60c. The class which pay nothing at all are 709 in number. CONDITION AND PROSPECTS OF AGRICULTURE.—At the dinner of the Rutland Agricultural Society, Mr. Augustus Stafford (the chairman) bore the following testimony to the present flourishing condition of the farmers : " For our selves we will own that our position was never more satis factory than at present ; for while, on the one hand, no class can complain against us, we, on the other hand, have no reason to complain, and are satisfied with the present state of things, with the prices realised by our stock. STORM IN THE NORTH SEA.—Loss OF A STEAMER. —A letter from Christiana of the 4'h says : Along the coast and at sea it must have been blowing a fearful gale, as there are numerous wrecks; besides the Prince of Wales steamer, the Scandina via has put into Christiansand with her decks clean swept, and reports that the Oscar, running between Hull and Gottenburg, when in Their company, went down without their being able to render her any assistance. he Eastern Counties Herald reports the loss of the steamer Eglinton on Willow Island, Rugen, making the third Hull steamer which has been wrecked in the Baltic during the present winter, " THEm.'s THE TICKEIS."—Some days since a slab sided Yankee arrived at one of the Northern Missouri landings. with a long train of plunder of various sorts. By way of testing him, the ferryman asked him what stock he had. " Waal," says the Yankee, " I've got two horses, a yoke of oxen, and two lows." "That's enough," replied the ferryman, " you can't cross here." " Why not ?'' inquired the Yankee. The ferryman told him that his instructions were not to cross anybody that couldn't pronounce the word cow. ." But I said keow." persisted the Yankee. " Well, you can't press here," rather gruffly replied Charon. '" But 'l've got tickets entitling me to cross," urged the tickets,A nd e a c t ; o d s i Se ' Yankee. The ferryman replied that he did rot know of anybody who had a right to sell him tickets. " Bat I've got them, any way." The ferryman demanded a si gh t . of the tickets, whereupon Mr. Yankee stepped back a little, hauled out a revolver in each hand, crying, " Them's the GIITTA PERCH& HOOPS FOR LADIES.—The ladies claim so much latitude, or rather circumference, new in the matter of dress , that it is very difficult for fashion . to give spread the A dr n e e ss w h m d._ bo m un a d ran to , C o ro ar sa . this s j fe o r u ry rn teo l. to or no keow!') enough' to their garments withoat subjecting them to as an b d ee b n e i t n te t r ro a d r u t e i t e d le . inconvenielces not easily overcome on narrow pavements It is a cord made of gutta percha, which is not so heavy as whalebone, is more flexible, so that the dress can be folded close to the person, when necessary, and preserve elasticity obstructed whalebone for passage diat e n ways.ddiste nd ing enough to resume its proper position again. For the ladies' dresses this is just the thing needed, and it can be united by simply putting the ends in hot water. There is, therefore, no sprinzieg of the ends and tearing of the dress. Gutty and d n percha is one of the most useful articles known. We have no doubt that the cord shale referred to would make excellent clothes lines, and for shipping ropes for the young ladies nothing could be better or more desirable.—New York loning Post,