The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1853-01-18 00:00:00

Yibcrpoot faiNtrbi. TUESDAY MORNING, JAN. 18, 1853. THE WEEK THE continued unsettled state of the weather—in which rain eems to have predominated, with barely the interval of a few hours' sunshine--has imparted a dulness to general conversation, in which complaints of discomfort and fears for the next harvest find The wind has luent vent. several times veered to the westward, and a breeze from the north has once or twice inspired hopes of a change, to be soon disappointed ; so that the -wise have given up their prophetic talent in despair, and the mass have settled down into calm endurance, philosophically deciding that it cannot well be w orse, and therefore that any change must be for the better. The dispute between the Town Council and the Dock Committee as to the treatment of Messrs. BAKER and So .s, with reference to their tender for constructing the new Docks at \Yapping, has led t o much comment out of doors, not always favour able to the latter body. There is a strong opinion that the Committee have not acted jusdy, if even legally, in availing themselves of a clause in their advertisement which is generally understood to bear a different signi f ication. There seems also a growing desire that the outlay of the large funds at the disposal of the Dock Committee should have the benefit of competition, a result which has not been arrived at by the course which has been pur sued. At the meeting of the latter body, on Thursday, they at first resolved to ignore altogether the right of veto which had been exercised by the Town Council ; but on second thoughts they determined to suspend all further proceedings until a special meeting of the Council had given their decision upon the subject. _ weather The long disputed Pike question seems likely to form a subject of public discussion, and form once more a fertile theme for municipal contention. At the adjourned meeting of the Town Council, on Wednesday, the Chairman of the Water Committee said that, notwithstanding all the advantages which had been enjoyed by their Engineer in the choice of contractors, the position of affairs was far from being satisfactory. The Engineer had been obliged to preside as arbiter over the many disputes which had arisen with the contractors, and though con fident hopes were expressed that he would arrive at an equitable and satisfactory conclusion, the public revive their old fears, and many think that the scheme is also destined to prove a sinking fund in which the corporate prosperity of Liverpool will ultimately be engulphed. No one will dispute the advantage and necessity of an ample supply of pure water to the populous community of this important town, but there is a dread of paying too dear for the whistle, and recent circumstances have tended in no degree to allay the apprehensions which have been generally entertained. On Thursday morning some excitement was created by the report that a sailor had been mur dered on board an American vessel lying in the river. It appeared, however, that it was a drunken quarrel between two sailors—an American and a Spaniard—both of whom used their knives, and the former fell a victim to the stabs of his antagonist. The latter was taken into custody and ultimately committed for manslaughter, having been prevented from taking the law into his own hands by com mitting suicide. It is much to be lamented that the cowardly practice of using murderous weapons should have superseded the ancient mode of settling violent disputes by the less dangerous appeal to hard fists. In this case, however, neither of the offenders was an Englishman. The consecration of the new church at Fairfield, Friday, by the LORD BISIIOP of the diocese, uy congregation, many of drew to aer a gooa whom came from a long distance, attracted, no doubt, by the great beauty of the edifice and its in ternal decorations, of which we gave a lengthened description last week. It is one of the pleasing signs of the times, that the multiplication of dwell ings for our increasing population is accompanied with the extension of church accommodation, Ano ther gratifying event of the week was the annual meeting of the Liverpool Working Men's Church Association, at which it was stated by the Rev. Dr. BAYLEE, at whose suggestion the association had been established, that a considerable income had been raised by the working men of this town, for the laudable purpose of providing the pastoral mi nistrations of the clergy. They had nobly responded to the call, and the want was not so much in the requisite funds, but in clergymen to undertake the duty. The meeting was presided over by the Rev. Rector CAMPBELL, and the Rev. Dr. M'NEILE forcibly demonstrated the little that had been done for Divine worship by the all-professing Radicals. At the banquet given at Manchester to Mr. IN GERSOLL, the American Minister to this country, Mr. BRIGHT, M.P., with his usual want of taste, took the liberty of sneering at the graceful allusions which the Earl of DERBY made at the Liverpool dinner, to the House of Lords, an institution which, in compliment to the guest of the day, had its re flex, he observed, in the American Senate. The ill-conditioned Quaker was not, however, permitted to pass without a rebuke from the Mayor of Liver pool, Mr. HoLmE, who was also a guest, and who entered into a manly and able justification of the absent Earl. The American Minister must have had an ample opportunity of comparing the society of the two towns, and have quite convinced him self that in Manchester he had got into different company. The learned societies have resolved to celebrate the centenary of the late Mr. WILLIAM ROSCOE, on the 9th of March next, and special committees have been appointed to confer together on the sub ject, in order to give the affair due éclat. The high position which Mr. Rosco E's name obtained in the literary world will, no doubt, draw together most of the present celebrities to do honour to his world .wide reputation. THE ADVANTAGE OF BEING SWORN IN.—The unexpected appearance of the Lord Lieutenant at the Castle of Dublin, and his rapid departure, im mediately after being sworn into office, are ac counted for in this way :—lt was not convenient for him to enter at once upon the duties of "the situa tion ;" but it was desirable to make sure of all the Privileges and emoluments thereto annexed. But the pay only commences from the moment when h 's Excellency, having kissed the book, puts on his hat in the f ron t of the Council Table. Dum v !virnas vivamus. The time for serving his Sove reignn this office will, probably, be short. It is h ° un u d n wise, therefore, to make the most of it. Three a re-d andeighty-four pounds a week were worth chops of tossing fora good wholesome forenoon in the of the Channel.—Dublin Ereniny Louis NAP° t ----- toN A ROMISII CANON.—A piece of news has sidered by the ultrached P ar i s w hich will be con nßeomanists who have given their adhesion to the emperor as a favourable aug ury for the year iss7 The Pope' s Nuncio has e re ceived notice that the canons of the venerable Church of St. John in the Lateran have signed an address praying Na p oleo n in (as usual with hasthe ancient K in g s of France) to accept was the title of been l first canon of that cathedral, whic h deno minated "the head arid the mother of t Church !" The Church and State Gazettee Holy a " Louis Napoleon has become something inoresthyas, imperial. He is now a ri g ht reverend. The Chu rch l of Rome has exhibited its respect for Divinity and divine offices by Well, making him a "Canon! " he used to make plenty when he eked out existence in London by billard p l a yina ; and the expe rt han dler of the governmental cue has, by the aid of mock universalsuffrae and the Church,. managed (in gambler's may add here that this phrase) to " cannon" society. We re opened the old church of for public service. The church ; on Sunday exemplary Christian t. Gene .eve unclean Louis XV as . , a settlement • was founded by the with heaven for certain sins. The Revolution shut it t but opened it as a Pantheon for th e lPas a Church, werebodiesdeposited o f g reat were there ep Tra men. Of these, some who with gorgeous honours , one day, and cast into the common sewer the negsr d out l The Bourbons restored the church ; Louis Philippe re stored the Pantheon; and now Louis Napoleon has once more re-opened it as a place of worship. A' pinch of the dust, collected from the alleged relics of the saint publicly burnt in the first revolution, was preserved in one of the ecclesiastical edifices of Paris. This was conveyed to the re-opened church amid unheard-of pomp. Hundreds of priests marched through the streets in procession, and masses of troops did honour to them on the way. The poor bit of dust was elevated in the church, and saluted with clouds of incense, salvoes of artil lery, peals from the organ, violence of song from the choristers, and with what a Chinese would call a general "knocking of heads" from all who at tended the magnificent "spectacle uratis." THE RE - ELECTIONS.—The Roman Clerk of the Ordnance, in the Omnibus Ministry, has been returned for Limerick under the powerful auspices of Father O'Rourke, P.P.; the fact indicating suf ficiently the value of clerical denunciations of " the traitors." Mr. Sidney Herbert, too, has been re commissioned by the electors of South Wilts to do the work of the murderers of Madiai in a British House of Commons. Mr. Charteris, one of the small deer of the same herd, has been also elected for H a ddingtonshire ; and the Puseyite Chancellor of the Exchequer is in a fair way of being similarly dealt with in the University of Oxford.—Dublin Evening AN APPROPRIATE PRESENT FOR LOUIS NAPO LEON has been forwarded to that exemplary indi vidual from some of his admirers in Scotland. The gift consists of a very ravenous eagle taken in Strathglass. It is added that " a number of little rabbits have been sent as food for the eagle during the journey." This looks to us very much like satire in action. The eagle, doubtless, represents the imperial " loose man ;" and the rabbits are the patient public whom he greedily devours. THE STAFFORD-HOUSE ANTI-SLAVERY RE. MONSTRANCE.—The Stafford-house address to the ladies of the United States has provoked an effec tive reply, in the shape of an " Affectionate and Christian Address of many Thousands of the Wo men of the United States of America to their Sis ters the Women of England." If it is not quite sufficient, it is because recriminations never can be else than inconclusive. Our fair cousins across the Atlantic, directed by certain masculine authorities, probe the sores of our social system with scientific fidelity, and &dare the result with unsparing plainness of speech. They point in triumphant and rather shrill accents to the evils of Ireland, to the universal ignorance of our lower classes, to the unmerited poverty of our labourers and artisans, to the terrible amount of irreligion, pauperism, and immorality among us, and to the separation between rich and poor, as evils that should shut our mouths, and almost blind our eyes to the scan dals of our neighbours. For these dreadful parti culars they appeal, not to novels, but to grave writers and parliamentary returns. Of course, they conclude with an exhortation to our ladies to stir heaven and earth for the mitigation and ultimate cure of these evils. Such a document would be valuable, even if it were not wholly candid and true, simply because it is desirable that we should sometimes see ourselves as others see us. But there is a considerable amount of absolute truth in the statements of our fair censors, and our own countrywomen would do well to bow to the rod for a while, and study with patience the lesson they have brought on themselves.—Tinies. INVASION OF ENGLAND.—We learn, from a reverend. gentleman who last week had a long in terview with Changarnier, to whom he was intro duced by a mutual friend, that that distinguished French general stated in the most positive terms, in the course of conversation, that he can not only pledge himself for the fact of Louis Napoleon's in tention to invade this country, but that we may expect the Napoleonist purpose will be attempted to be carried out in less than three months. Gen. Changarnier further stated that he was acquainted with all the plans of the Emperor, the latter having, when President of the Republic, and when they were on a friendly footing, often conversed with him on the subject.—Morning Advertiser. A PROTOTYPE OF THE ABERDEEN ADAIINIS TRATION.—A passage in "Lady Mary Wortley Montagu's Letters" is marvellously applicable to the present state of our national affairs. Alluding to the coalition ministry of that period, (1757,) she says to her correspondent,— “ Your account of the changes in ministerial affairs does not surprise me ; but nothing could be more astonishing than their all coming in together. It puts me in mind of a friend of mine, who had a large family of favourite ani mals, and, not knowing how to convey them to his country house in separate equipages, he ordered a Dutch mastiff, a cat and her kittens, a monkey, and a parrot, all to be packed up together in one large hamper, and sent by a waggon. One may easily guess how this set of com pany made their journey ; and I have never been able to think of the present compound ministry without the idea of barking, scratching, and screaming. 'Tis too ridicu lous a one, I own, for the gravity of their characters, and still more for the situation the kingdom is in ; for, as much as any one may encourage the love of laughter, it is impossible to be indifferent to the welfare of one's native country.”--(See Lord Wharncliffe's edition of " Lady Montagu's Letters," vol. iii., p. 152.) _ To the above observations, Lord Wharnchffe subjoins the following note : ~. _.. "'his story has been versified by Lord Byron, (" Don Juan, canto iii., stanza 18,) but without any reference to the source whence he drew it. Lady Mary introduces it with some point, to illustrate her notion of the good un derstanding, which might be expected to exist among the members of an administration composed of very discordant materials ; Lord Byron, to describe the indifference and cruelty of a corsair. Ills lines are these : "A monkey, a Dutch mastiff, a mackaw, Two parrots, with a Persian cat and kittens, He chose from several animals he saw; A terrier, too, which once had been a Briton's, Who dying on the coast of Ithaca, The peasants gave the poor dumb thing a pittance These to secure in this strong blowing weather, He caged in one large hamper all together." THE BRITISH NOAH'S ARK; OR, THE EARL OF ABERDEEN AND HIS "HAPPY FAMILY." (Lines suggested by the foregoing History.) A Ministry most wondrous to be seen, Has lately started up to rule our nation ! A Presbyterian man, named Aberdeen, Is the prime leader of the congregation. Though he was once, in days of yore, a Tory, He now with Whigs cloth lovingly unite ; And with bewitching smiles (so goes the story) Tries to win over Cobden, Muntz, and Bright. In Booth, his Cabinet most comical To England doth no lasting good portend, For here each of the sects political May find a patron and a zealous friend. Gladstone and Molesworth, (0 how very droll !) Osborne, the wily Peelites, and Lord John, All meet in solemn conclave, cheek by joie ! A most amazing sight to gaze upon. Papists and Presbyterians in one fold Are penn'd with Churchmen low and Churchmen high, With Puseyites and Nonconformists bold, Who, when at large, each other do defy. If such a motley band in peace abide, And don't most fiercely fight, and `scream and scratch.' Then Aberdeen, their noble chief and guide, Must be, throughout the earth, without a match CAPITAL PUNISHMENT. — Those who are op posed to capital punishments being inflicted under any circumstances, will not refuse, we hope, to be enlightened by a circumstance in connection with the murderer, Horler, who was executed on Monday for cutting his wife's throat. He stated to the chaplain of the prison that, when he committed the crime, he thought the penalty for it was transpor tation; and that he ne ver cou ld h ave com pl e t e d the crime had he dreamed his own life would have been taken ! He probably knew that, since 1843, not less than thirteen individuals, sentenced to death for most inhuman murders, had had their sentences commuted to transportation.—Church and State Gazette.—ln taking a similar view of this subject the Morning Post says :—" It has become almost a custom to commute to transpor tation the penalty affixed by the law to murder. Of convictions at the Old Bailey alone, no fewer than thirteen such commutations have taken place—they are those of William Stolzer, October, 1843; Edwin Dwyer, November, 1843; Mary Farley, April, 1844; Augustus Dahlias, June, 1844; John Smith, Aug., 1846; William Newton Allnut, Dec., 1847; Mary Ann Hunt, Aug., 1847 ; Annette Meyers, Feb., 1848; William Tomkins, May, 1848; George Nl`Coy, Dec., 1849; S. A. Jordan, Oct., 1849 ; Anne Merrett, April, 1850 ; and Wil l iam Smith, Nov., 1851. DEATH OF FRANCESCO MADIAI. —Death has h an a d s a s t e l t as a t t in er a m rk ina n t f ed inf t a h m e y su t ff ip er n i n ng h s which no time will efface. We have seen in the is of N p l e . 1. s M e c a u d t o l a r i s ' last fe w years man y eve nts to make us question the Progress of mankind, and even to doubt the secu rity of the noblest conquests of liberty, of know ledge, and of toleration. The progress of free go vernment has b een b r ut a lly arrested by anarchy and by despotism. The most cultivated and ener getic nation s of Europe have shrunk into so servile a condition that liberty is denied to every power of society, except to the arrogant pretensions of spi ritual domination. But, in the long list of these follies and crimes, we have read of nothing more extraordinary than that a humble and inoffensive Christian man should have been brought to a lin gering death, by the will of his Sove re i gn , b ecause ue Duke l Ve he dared to profess that evangelical faith which is the sacred consolation and firm hope of th e mos t religious kn ew not and n,it h ed tti,huacat fteedeling porstiLoneopoofldE, Grand ro r of Tuscany, received the intelligen lw c a e s, that buthish victim ence was bey on d th e control of human forth th e name o f Madiai is indissolublyasso bigotry associated with his own. I t N% as t o s atisfy his personal . and superstiti on t h a t h e a llowed the course of jus tice to be turned aside, the source of clemency to be sealed, and the remonstrances of Europe to be repelled. The Church of Rome, acting through his authority and mistress of his will, has shown her self as unrelenting as in the worst ages of her do minion ; and this Grand Duke stands last in the detestable list of those rulers who have taken away the lives of their subjects for conscience sake,— Times, THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD, TUESDAY, JANUARY MANCHESTER MANNERS.—Manchester is the centre, as we all know, of an enormous manufac turing industry. We rejoice to find this great emporium following the example of Liverpool, in doing honour to the new American Minister. Only one thing Manchester lacks—her good manners are of the scantiest. Manchester has not yet learnt those little diplomatic arts which constitute the charm and safeguard of society. Her sincere and ardent politicians know no reserve, wander at will over every subject, and spare nothing that militates against their convictions or their interests. They are too sincere to be polite, and too out-spoken to be hospitable. When Mr. Ingersoll accepted their invitation, he thought, no doubt, that he was about to witness a repetition of the amenities of Liver pool, where, if any of the differences which separate the institutions of the United States from those of England were touched upon, it was only either to compliment our guest at our own expense, or to show how the two nations, starting from opposite extremes, had contrived to found governments solid in their wisdom and durable in their moderation. Mr. Bright says that it was vain for the Manchester men to think that they would " do" the American Minister, but we cannot help suspecting that his Excellency was considerably "dime," nevertheless; for, of all topics on which he could be prepared to hear speeches made, the last which he could have expected to listen to was an invidious reflection on the policy of the Government which accredits him to this country. It was a breach of good manners, and nothing could be in worse taste.—The Times. PANIC IN PARIS. A panic on the French Bourse is causing great alarm in France. The funds are declining rapidly, in spite of the superhuman means applied by the government to keep them up. The Marshal St. Arnaud is said to be unenviably implicated in certain stock speculations, and his name is offensive in the ears of his countrymen. The real name, however, of this individual is Leroy. He was formerly lieutenant in a regiment serving in Algiers ; and they who recollect what took place there may be excused for simply wondering for what particular merit Lieutenant Leroy was trans formed into Marshal St. Arnaud. THE PEACE AGITATORS.—A Conference of that Quixotic body, " The Friends of International Ar bitration and Peace," is announced for the close of this month, at Manchester. The list of statesmen who have promised to contribute their mite to the general stock of wisdom to be evolved at this meet ing contains the illustrious names of George Had field, John Bright, Thoma 9 Milner Gibson, R. Cob den, Charles Hindley, Edward J. B. Smith, W. Ewart, Apsley Pellatt, James Kershaw, Joseph Brotherton, James Bell, John M`Gregor, Joseph Crook, W. P. Price, Samuel Carter, Frank Crossley, and Lawrence Heyworth. 'We take it for granted that Lord John Russell will not absent himself from such a galaxy of talent, more particularly as it is the intention of the Conference to lay down for the in struction of the Foreign Secretary what ought to be " our natiosal policy at home and abroad, as it affects questions of peace and war."—John Bull. THE BISHOP OF MANCHESTER. — That singu lar ornament of our Church, Dr. PRINCE LEE, has lost no time in giving in his formal adhesion to the Earl of Aberdeen's new theory of " distinc tions without differences." The Manchester ban quet afforded an opportunity, of which the Athanasius of latitudinarianism did not fail to avail himself, for preaching up the new gospel of the common brotherhood of all creeds, to a pro pitious audience. However upon other points opinions may differ, none can deny that the Bishop of Manchester had recourse to the most appropriate method of laying the foundation of that new era in religion of which he is the Apostle. To compose religious differences by " drinking a toast " is a proceeding manift qtly preferable to the antiquated device of convening synods for dry discussion, and to " extend the toast to its widest and most Catholic limits," is a rule infinitely more palatable than the old-fashioned "quod sewer, quod übique." Add to this the exemplary humility with which Dr. Lee "thanked the company for recognizing religion and all its ministers," meaning thereby the minis ters of "all denominations," and he must indeed be blind, and of a perverse mind, who shall fail to recognize in the Bishop of Manchester a perfect pattern of what a successor of the Apostles ought to be.—John Bull. FOREIGN NEWS. FRANCE. Louis Napoleon has at last been made happy by re ceiving the usual tokens of recognition from the three great continental powers. Only Russia avoids the cus tomary form, and changes the fraternal style for the more distant salutation, " My dear friend," a polite affront so galling to the punctilious mind of M. Drouyn de i'Huys, that he resigned his place in the cabinet, and was hardly persuaded to resume it. Austria and Prussia are less haughty or less nice ; they leave the etiquette of legiti macy to be vindicated by the Czar, who so thoroughly understands it, but show that they are substantially agreed with him by waiting till his letters are delivered before presenting theirs. An opinion gains ground that Louis Napoleon shows symptoms just now of yielding to the fancied security and fascination of his wonderful elevation, and of giving him self up to those luxurious, expensive, and somewhat peri lous enjoyments, for which he has always been said to have so decided a taste. The luxe and forte of the last expedition of the court to Compiegne, and the life which it led there, produced a very decidedly unfavourable effect even upon the masses ; and now another revel is said to be projected on a yet more extended scale. The enormous expenditure of the imperial household, and the costliness of the style of living of ministers and officials, is already becoming the object of much remark, and generating that grudge which the lower orders in France are ever so ready to entertain against those whom they see able to indulge in such things. It is with a view, perhaps, of counteract ing such feelings, and proving himself still " one of the people," that Louis Napoleon has shown himself much and familiarly during the past week. He recently tra versed a large portion of the Boulevards, and frequented parts of the town, driving himself in his usual phreton, and descended in propria persona into several shops to make his purchases. The celebrated shop of Taher, dealer in all sorts of fancy articles, in the Rue de la Pain, was thus honoured; as was also that of Marquis, the well•known chocolate dealer of the Passage des Panoramas, in both of which the imperial orders are said to have been given with a profusion highly satisfactory to the respective proprietors. He will be fortunate, however, if such condescensions are able to counteract the spectacle of Uncle Jerome taking possession of the Palais Royal, of Prince Murat at the Elysee, of the Princess Mathilde at the Pavilion Marson (the old apartments of Queen Amelie), and other strange tricks of fortune. It is said that something like a defi nite refusal has been received from the court of Rome on the subject of the Pope's visit to Paris, and certain trifling circumstances which have since taken place are said to be corroborative of that resolution. The state of the Bourse has become alarming to the imperial government, as well as to capitalists. The long continued daily decline in the prices of the Rentes, so far from having been checked by the extraordinary efforts of the government supporters, or by the semi-official calls in the Constitutionnel for confidence in the Emperor's administration, has been followed by a fall in the value of all the government securities far greater than any that has taken place since the Emperor's return from Corn piegne. Bank stock, railway and assurance shares, and all other investments, partake of the fall, and transactions for cash are effected on almost any terms. A line of steam-packets is about to be established be tween Nantes and Marseilles, to consist of four vessels of 1,000 tons, and a screw propeller of 90 horse-power. A boat is to sail every ten days, and touch at Corunna, Lisbon, Cadiz, Malaga, Barcelona, and Cette. A hostile meeting took place on Tuesday between Count Niewerkerque, director of the Museum, and Col. Edgar Ney. The name of a lady is said to be mixed up in the affair. ITALY. DEATH OF FRANCESCO MADIAL—The death of Fran cesco Madiai is announced by telegraph, via Paris, as having occurred at Volterra on the 4th inst. Particulars are not given. He was attended during his illness by Mr. Colombe, the Swiss Protestant clergyman, and the gover nor took upon himself the responsibility of allowing him to receive the Sacrament at his pastor's hands, without asking permission of the Government. A correspondent, writing the day before, represents the prison as being very damp, but the Madiai both well treated in respect to diet and other comforts. They have been, however, prohibited the use of religious books they desire. In a letter, dated Florence, December 13th, it is stated : " No Protestant ecclesiastic has ever been allowed to visit the prisoner at Volterra ; and the only friend who has permission to visit him, once each month, is an Eng lish layman. The kind efforts made by Sir Henry Bulwer to obtain some change of this order have been as yet ineffectual. At the same time, Francesco Madiai is in such a feeble state of health, that for the last month he has scarcely been able to leave his bed, and the doctor of the prison fears he may not be able long to bear up under his suffering. Again, as to Rosa. The Ergastolo of Lucca is one of the strictest prisons in Tuscany, and to which none are sent but the vilest of the sex. As to the visits of ecclesiastics, she has had the visit of a Romish archbishop, but no other The visit of the dowager Grandduchess I spoke of before. The object of both these visits being to shake the faith of the prisoner, and to bring her back to the mother Church. It is necessary to be borne in mind, that though the sub ordinates are generally personally kind, yet the prison discipline is most severe. The prison treatment of the Madiai in respect to books, &c., has been directly opposed to Tuscan law, which permits criminals the use of their own devotional books, and the visits of their own clergy. But the government has set the first example of a violation of the law in more cases than this." Francesco's intellect at this time was considered to be weak and impaired, and as a proof of this it was stated that he appeared in a state of lethargy or depression, from w hich he only r ouse d hi mse lf to say t h at po i son was mixed with all the food he received from his jailor's hand. Writing on this subject Mr. Wilbraham Taylor sa ys :—" I have maintained everywhere my firm convic tion that he was being slowly poisoned —an old Popish trick ; that his brain was becoming gradually softened, of which there was no indication prior to his imprisonment ; and that, in all probability, his life would soon be sacri ficed, or, if liberated, he would be an idiot. PRUSSIA The king has revived once more the ancient order of the Knights of St. John, which had been secularised in October, 1810. The lands which then appertained to the order are not restored to it by the state, but every mem ber desirous of entering in, and being approved as worthy, is in future to pay a yearly contribution and entrance money, varying according to a given scale. The proceeds are destined by the king to the erection of hospitals in various parts of the kingdom ; in this way the practical use of a religious order will perha - ps be attained, without its abuse. DENMARK A final arrangement has been made for the cession of the Duke of Auzustenberg's estates in Sleswiz to the Danish crown. ' The duke recelve3 3,000,000 thale bonds, and 350,000 thalers in ready mone} TURKEY. The Montenegrins have left Szabljak, after having de molished the fortifications. The Turks, fearing that the place was undermined, did not at first venture to enter. Two of Prince Daniel's relations are dangerously wounded. The Pasha of Scutari has assumed the offensive, and Omar Pasha (the commander-in-chief) is advancing towards the mountains. The foregoing is taken from the Oest-Cor respondez. and is probably correct. The Trieste Zeitung says, that 1,000 Montenegrins are still in Szabljak, and that a most sanguinary battle had taken place, in which the Turks were " mercilessly cut to pieces." CAPE OF GOOD HOPE'. The Australian has brought ten days' later news from the Cape of Good Elope. There is, however, little im portant in addition to that brought by the Harbinger. The South African Advertiser, of Nov. 30 and 27, states : " The governor is on his way to the sovereignty, with some 2,000 men of all arms, for the purpose of ' adminis tering justice and right equally to all.' No events of the slightest moment have occurred in the interval on the borders or in Kaffraria. During the past week many par ties of the enemy have reappeared, and proved successful in assaults and captures of cattle, A further instalment of the fine of 1,500 head of cattle, 151 in number, was sent to King William's Town on the 15th." The Graham's Town Journal describes two narrow escapes from the rebels, on the part of Captain de Villiers and 20 men, in the sight of Wolf Valley, and on the part of Lieutenant Reeves. Both officers, with mere handfuls of men, were surrounded by overwhelming forces, but escaped notwith standing. AMERICA. ARRIVAL OF THE CANADA By the royal mail steam-ship Canada, Captain Lang, which arrived on Sunday afternoon, we have advices from New York to the 4th and Boston to the sth instant. The Canada sailed from Boston at 2 50, p.m., on the sth, and arrived at Halifax at 5 20 a.m. on the 7th. After a detention of about two hours she again proceeded to sea, and experienced strong W. and N.N.W. winds, with a very heavy sea. She made Cape Clear at 10 10, a.m., on Saturday, and arrived in the Mersey at noon on Sunday, after a good run of ten days and fifteen hours. The Canada brought seventy passengers, but no specie. The screw-steamer Glasgow, which sailed from Glasgow on the 16th ult. arrived at New York on the 3rd inst. The United States mail steam-ship Pacific, Nye, com mander, which sailed from this port on the 15th ult., arrived at New York on the Ist instant. The U.S. steamer Franklin, which sailed from Cowes on the 14th ult., arrived at New York on the 2d instant, after having put into Halifax for a supply of coals. The U.S. steam-ship Washington, which sailed from Southampton on the 13th ult., put into Boston on the 2d instant, short of coal. _ ~.. , The Canada passed the screw-steamer Andes, hence for New York, on the 10th instant, in lat. 48 58, lon. 43 18. The steam-ship Georgia had arrived at New York, with 2,238,553 dots. in specie on freight, and 300,000 dots. in the hands of passengers. The caloric-ship Ericsson went down New York harbour on the 4th instant, on a trial trip. She started off at fine speed, making twelve knots an hour, with the wind and tide. By an arrangement, no further debate on Cuba would take place in the Senate till after the reception of Mr. Everett's letter, delining to enter into the proposed tri partite treaty with France and England. " The letter in question," says the Washington correspondent of a New York paper, "is a long and elaborate document. It gives, in full, the reasons of the administration for declin ing to join France and England in a mutual pledge never to take Cuba. It reviews the history and circumstances of our territorial acquisitions of Louisiana, Florida, Texas, and California ; declares that it is in the nature of the American Union to enlarge itself by the extension of its constitution over new territory • and breathes the tone of manifest destiny, while it is mild and courteous in spirit, and couched in language of great dignity and propriety." In congress a memorial had been presented from the New York and Havre Mail Line of Steamers, asking an increase of compensation, or a release from their contract. During the past year the deposits of gold in the United States Mint amounted to e 51,059,295, and the coinage to $51,505,638. Cholera was prevalent at Charleston. Se vere losses had been caused amongst merchants in Macon, Montgomery, and Columbia, by the circulation of false news respecting the state of the Liverpool cotton market. Severe floods had been experienced in Ohio and Indiana. The Kaine extradition case came before the Supreme Court on the 3d instant. Some arrangements being in progress between the Secretary of State and the British Minister, the case was adjourned. Mr. W. Prescott, of South Carolina, had been appointed Secretary of Legation at the Court of St. James. Signor Marcoleta, the Nica raguan Minister to the United States, had been dismissed by President Fillimore, owing to his superabundant offi ciousness. The Hon. W. R. King, Vice-president elect, had resigned his seat in the Senate, and was about to sail for Havana, on account of ill health. Mr. Amos Lawrence, brother to Mr. Abbot Lawrence, of Boston, late Minister to England, expired on the 31st ult. The Houqua, from Shanghai, Sept. 17, and the Sea Serpent, from Canton, Oct. 4, had arrived at New York, the former in 107 days, and the latter in 90 days. The Sea Serpent reported her own day of sailing, having anticipated the usual mail by way of England. The Crystal Palace was progressing rapidly, the stock being at upwards of seventy dollars premium. Mr. Jacob Westervelt was building a ship of 900 tons, for Mr. Miller, of London. She is to make one voyage to China, and then be put upon the London and Australian station. The Resolute will be the first vessel constructed in the United States to sail under English colours. The same builders were also constructing a very large ship for Spofford and Tilston, to be placed on the Liverpool line. - - - ' MEXICO.—We have ad vices, via New Orleans, to the 14th ult. The French Count R. de Boulbon had capitu lated to the Government, and his troops had given up their arms. Another ministerial crisis had occurred, and Senor Yaez had resigned the portfolio of foreign affairs, which, it was supposed, would change the policy of the Govern ment on the Tehuantepec question. Advices from the Rio Grande state that, on the 18th ult, civil war continued in the state of Tamaulipas. Governor Cardenas, with nine members of the Legislature, his adherents, had been made prisoners by the insurgents, and carried to Tampico. The state of Tamaulipas had declared acquiescence in the new Provisional Government of Mexico. The war steamer State, of Mexico, which secretly left Brazos for Vera Cruz, and a national war schooner, had both joined the insur gents, which was considered a death-blow to the maritime force of the Government in the Gulf of Mexico. The city of Matamoras still held out. The commandant was forti fying and barricading, and every preparation was making for a determined resistance to the insurgents. HAYTI.—A vessel had arrived at Boston from St. Do mingo with late advices. The black vomit was raging very severely, and the French consul had fallen a victim to it. The captain of the vessel had heard nothing of the occupation of the peninsula of Samana by the French, and did not believe the report. CANADA.—A fire broke out at Montreal on the 31st ult., during which a lady, two children, and a servant perished. CUBA.—Accounts from Havana are to the 30th ult. The New York Herald gives an account of the capture of four slavers by the frigate Vestal. The names of the prizes are the Venus, a notorious slaver, the Carlota, and the Cuatros Hermanos, all topsail schooners, and the Arrogante Emelio, a fine large brig. The Venus was fully provided with a slave-deck, shackles, and all the other requisites for a voyage to the coast of Africa ; but, upon being captured, the captain declared she was a coasting vessel, and produced Havana custom-house clearances to that effect; however, upon strict search, it was discovered that he had also another set of documents, from the Spanish authorities, for the coast of Africa. This, added to the fact of his being allowed to depart from the port during the night, has given rise to a sus picion of connivance on the part of the authorities. The Arrogante Emilio has a slave-deck, and is in every way fitted for a voyage to the coast of Africa for slaves ; that that was her destination was notorious to everybody, and it was openly spoken of. But no effort on the part of the Spanish authorities will be left untried to obtain the liberation of these vessels ; and the Spanish Judge of the Mixed Commission being one of the greatest slave-dealers in the island, of course justice cannot Ibe expected from him. The result will be that the Spanish and English judges will be unable to come to a decision, in which case, it is the custom to toss up for an arbitrator, who will decide, of course, should he be a Spaniard, against the right of the British to detain the vessels in question. The owners of the captured vessels have already been furnished by the Spanish authorities, since the vessels were brought into port, with documents purporting to prove that the said vessels, when captured were bound on legal voyages. The greatest excitement prevails in con sequence of the capture. LIST OF PASSENGERS. — From Boston—Mr. E. B. Bigelow, Mrs. Bigelow, Miss Bigelow, and servant, Mr. Wm. Llgyd and lady, Miss F. Parker, Miss Patten, Mr. J. Baylis, Mr. E. S. Boyd, Mr. Migone, Mr. Robert Walker, Mr. Thomas Martin, Mr. Jean Bruneau, jun., Mr. Garmean, Mr. Brooke, Mr. Mather, Mr. Melville, Mr. Oliver, Mr. A. Roy, Mr. Scanlan, Mr. Sacio, Mr. Pazos, Mr. Geo. Stephen, Mr. Blummond, Mr. Kiddy, Mr. Armitage, Mr. Wilson, Mr. Chamberlin, Mr. J. G. Gore, Mr. Andrew M'Farlane, Mr. George Berwick, Mr. Henry Waters, Mr, Andrew Levesque, Mr. W. L. Per rin, the Bishop of Newfoundland, the Bishop of Quebec, Mr. E. Muhn, Mr. John Harris, Mr. Thompson, Mr. James Hickey, Mr. B. Mayneg, Mr. Waddell, Mr. Henry M'Kechnie, Mr. Gutirman, Mr. Sykes, Mr. Parindol, Mr. Gilchrist, Mr. Ricker, Mr. Sampson Ivey, Mr. Salhussen, Mr. Allen Fluck, Dr. Ashheium, Mr. Fleming. and Mr. W. C. Paul. From Halifax—Mr. John Robertson, Major Colville, 97th Regt., Mr. Wilson, Mr. Ridley, Mr. Brinkley, the Bishop of Newfoundland's servant, Mr. Robt. Rutherford, Mr. R. L. Muir, Mr. Dongal, Mr. Thomas Hart, Mr. Hill, Mr. Keith, Mr. Bain, and Mr. Calman. 18, 1853. COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE. NEW YORK, JAN. 4 MONEY MARKET.—The stock market opened with a decided improvement in prices, but the same caution was exhibited by operators as was manifested at the close of last year, and less has been done in all stocks than was generally expected. The demand for money was as great yesterday as it has been at any period in the year 1852. At seven per cent, there is at present a greater demand than can be readily supplied. The prices of bankers' bills on London, 60 days, is 10 per cent., and dull. The Ex change market is dull, and quotations tend downward Leading drawers of sterling ask 9/, but sell at K. The range is 9 to 91 for first-class signatures. Continental Exchanges are also dull. The statistics of the United States mint show that, during the past year, the golden deposits amounted to 551,059,295 ' and the coinage to , 851,505,638. Over eighteen and a half millions of three cent pieces were coined during the year, notwithstanding which fact. change is a very scarce commodity in all sec tions of the country. _ _ _ _ . COTTON. — (Front W. P. Wright's Circular, of Jan.) — Since my last circular of the 29th December, but little of interest has transpired in the various cotton markets. The holyday season and the delay in the arrival of the European steamers have both contributed to limit trans actions, and have caused a more quiet week than during the past three months. The Pacific, with dates to the 15th December, arrived on the Ist instant at noon, and advised an advance in the Liverpool market of kd. on the middling qualities of American cotton, with rather more buoyancy. Yesterday, after this news became known, holders ad vanced their pretensions, and the market closed last even ing at a further advance of ke. per lb., making ic. advance since my quotations of 28th December. The total sales since my last have been 3,500 bales, and the export during the same time has been, to Liverpool, 3,460 bales; Lon don, 97 ; Glasgow, 81 : total, 3,638 bales. The following are the reports by electric telegraph : " New Orleans, Ist January. Receipts for week, 37,000 bales. Market quiet, waiting Pacific's advices. Freights to Liverpool, id. P.M. : Pacific's advices just at hand. Middling 81c., with an active demand. Three ships taken for Liverpool, at id." " Mobile, Ist January. Receipts for the week, 34,000ba1es. Middling 84c.. active demand." A dispatch of same date, p.m., qu otes middling at 81c. " Freight to Liverpool, 9-16 d." The views of many parties on the new crop are undergoing a change. We are no longer receiving the exaggerated estimates of 3,300,000, 3,400,000 and even 3,500,000, so lately indulged in at the south ,• but, on the contrary, the latest mail dates inform us that 3,100,000 bales is now the favourite figure for crop in Mobile and New Orleans, and, judging from the tenor of telegraphic messages received to-day, it is quite likely a further reduction will soon be general. Receipts during the past week have been 126,000 bales, against 81,000 in the corresponding week last season. The excess now reaches 445,000 bales ; next week they may show a gain of 20,000 bales over the same week last year, and the excess will be increased to about 465,000 bales. This, I fully expect, will be the maximum excess of the season. BREADSTUFFS.-The demand for flour has been mode rate throughout, and the result of some slight fluctuations last week has been to establish a decline of 6-}c. per barrel. Western Canal is quoted S 5 50c. to =B's 621-c. per barrel ; Ohio and pure Genessee, 521 c. to £'s 871 c. ; common New York, &c., £'s 37-Ic. to B's 431 c. ; southern kinds, S 5 621 e. to £'6; Canada, in bond, £5 75c. to £'6. Wheat is steady, at the followinc quotations :-Genessee white, 130 e. to 137 c. per 601bs. ; Southern white, 126 c. to 133 c. ; Michigan and Ohio white, 130 c. to 132 c. ; Western red and mixed, 116 c. to 125 c. ; Canada, in bond, 120 c. to 130 c. Indian corn met an active demand :- Northern round yellow, new, 67c. to 68c. per 56Ibs. ; Southern yellow, new, 68c. to 70c. per 56lbs. ; white, new, 68c. to 702. per 561bs. ; mixed, old, 75c. to 78c. per 56 lbs. _ _ _ - PRovrsroNs. — Old mess pork is firm at Sl9, some aslcing ; new ditto, $l9l to 5191 ; prime brings, .14 - 16 S'l6 59c. for old and new. Beet is steady at SC) to 43'6 121 c. for Vermont prime, Sl2 50c. to Sl3 50c. for mess, S 8 for No. 1, Sl3 25c. to Sl3 50c. for re-packed Chicago, and Sl4 25c. to Sl4 50c. for extra ; prime mess Ohio $l9 50c., and Chicago 4V22. Beef hams are firmer, with sales at $l5 for River and Chicago as they are, and £l5 50c. for superior Wisconsin. NAVAL STORES.—Spirits of turpentine is held at 62c. to 63c.. buyers offering lower rates. Rough turpentine at 25c. Common rosin is inactive, at previous prices. Tao:v.—The market generally is quiet but firm. Scotch pig is held at S3l to .8'32. Last sales of English bars was at 567.50 ; Swedes, .5'82.50, and English sheet at 41c. six months. The stock of English bars is 1,000 tons. FREIGHTS. — More inquiry for freight for England, but not many engagements. Asking rates :—To Liverpool: tobacco, bhds., 355. •, cotton, square bales, d per lb. ; flour and meal, 3s. 6d. per barrel ; rosin, 3s. 6d. ' • heavy goods, 30s. to 355. per ton ; grain, in bulk, 11d. per bushel; beef, ss. to 53. 6d. per tierce. To London : tobacco, 40s. ner hhd. ; flour, 3s. 6d. per barrel ; turpentine, 3s. 6d. per 2801bs. ; measurement goods, 275. 6d. to 30s. per ton • ' heavy goods, oil, &c., 30s. to 355. • cheese, 403. ; beef, ss. to is. per tierce ; oilcake, 4s. per barrel. To Havre ; cotton, square bales, lc. per lb. _ _ PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 3 , The Pacific's news has caused much dulness to pervade the flour and grain markets. Of flour, some 500 brls. only were taken, at 5 dole. 50c. for eastern account, and 3,000 brls. for the City of Manchester, which will sail hence oa Saturday next, for Liverpool, have been engaged at this figure. All kinds of grain depressed. Cotton market a little more active, but the stock is light here. consequently holders have realized an advance of fully ie. per lb. on the sale of 400 bales. Money more freely offered, and rates have fallen a fraction. CHARLESTON, DEC. 31. The sales of cotton to-day were 1,500 bales, at Sc. to 9ac. The stock at this port is 25,000 tales. The re ceipts at all the southern ports up to this date have been 400,000 bales. The market is firm, at 9.1-c. HAVANA, DEC. _29 Business in sugars is small, and the stock insignificant. Contracts have been made for new sugars at 4/ for cucum chos, 5 to 5} for browns, 6to 6 for yellows, and Bto 8/ for whites. The supplies of new molasses are scarce, at 3} to 3}. The demand for vessels now is small, in con sequence of the limited amount of produce at market. When the new crop arrives a scarcity of vessels and higher freights are anticipated. Freights we quote. to Cowes, Falmouth, and a market, £2 ; to Liverpool, £2 ss. Mo lasses, 50s. Sterling exchange on London, 111 premium. FOREIGN MISCELLANY. FRENCH NEWSPAPERS are forbidden to publish that portion of Sir James Graham's recent speech at Carlisle in which he spoke of " forty millions of people lying prostrate in the dust at the feet of a singl e man. _ AGES OF AMERICAN PRESIDENTS. — FrankIin Pierce is the youngest man who has ever been elected President. He is 48 years of age. Washington, John Adams, Jeffer. son, Maddison, Monroe, John Quincy Adams, and Van Buren were each 58, Jackson 62, Harrison 68, Taylor 66, and Polk 49. INSULTS TO THE EMPEROR.—Two journeymen cabinet makers have been convicted of an insult to the person of the French Emperor, by defacing his image upon a sf. piece. This offence is very prevalent. The prisoners were sentenced one to six and the other to two months' im prisonment. _ • MOUNT ETNA.—The eruption which had nearly sub sided, recomme.iced with renewed vigour on the 9th ult. Accounts of the 14th and 15th state that violent detona tions occur from time to time, and that the lava increases daily. A shock of earthquake was experienced at Zafferana on the 11th. PoisoNous WATER-COLOURS.—At Danzig a child re ceived a box of colours as a Christmas present, and began colouring in the usual way of children, moistening the brush in its mouth. It was taken suddenly ill, and died in a few hours, when it was found that the cake of green was composed of copperas and arsenic. BULL FIGHTS IN PARIS.—A prospectus has been issued by a Spanish Company, a serious, bond fide com pany, of known names, proposing to the French govern ment to found in Paris a cirque for the celebration of bullfights, which they assert by no means dangerous, inasmuch as that men are very rarely killed in them. SMUGGLING.—A curious sort of smuggling was practised last season between Lombardy and Piedmont, large flocks of sheep having their wool on being driven over the fron tier, and returned a few days after completely shorn. The Austrian Minister of Finance has now directed that in such cases the duty upon the exportation of wool shall be charged upon the flocks at their return. THE ERICSSON.—The machinery of this caloric ship has been tried in New York, and works admirably. She will shortly be in a condition to make a trial trip, but it is not expected that her speed will equal the paddle-wheel steamers, though perhaps she may make the voyage to Europe in as short a time as most of the propellers. Her great advantage is economy. MESSRS. COUTTS AND CO. have become possessed of the splendid domain of Chantilly, which was formerly the property of the Duke d'Aumale, and which Louis Napo leon confiscated by his decree of January 22, 1852. The price to be given for it is 14,000,090 f. It is said that the purchase money has been made by the house of Orleans and its partisans, and that the property will still remain in the former. SPECIFIC REMEDIES.—A. fatal instance of the danger of popular cures and remedies occurred recently at Naum burg, near Halle. A boy, 15 years of age, being attacked with a violent cutaneous eruption, the father consulted a quack, and was recommended to place his son in his warm bakehouse oven, the heat of which would cause intense perspiration, and throw off the disease. The father ac cordingly thrust the youth into the oven, closed the door, and retired to rest. Upon opening the oven next morning the boy was found a baked corpse. DISTRIBUTION OF WEALTH IN THE UNITED STATES. —The average of each inhabitant in the States is $856. The distribution is as follows :—Alabama 5532, Arkansas $215, Connecticut .$475. California 5239, Delaware $260, Florida 8'475, Georgina $640, Illinois 5184, lowa $123, Indiana 5205, Kentucky 5391, Louisianna 5857, Maine .B'2ll, Mississippi .8'732, Massachusetts .8'577, Maryland .8'450, North Carolina W 391, New Hampshire 5326, New York, 5316, New Jersey 5475, Oregon Territory 5381, Pennsylvania'S'3l3, Ohio 5255, Rhode Island 5546, South Carolina 8'1,017, Texas 5341, Tennessee 5254, Vermont 5294, Virginia $4ll, Wisconsin $l3B. NEW ROUTE TO THE PACIFIC.—The steamer Alba tross was to leave New York the first week in January, for Vera Cruz direct. It is understood that this is the pioneer steamer of the company formed to carry out the grants made to Colonel Ramsay by the Mexican Govern ment, for the transn ortation of all foreign mails across the territory of that Republic. The mails can be trans ported by land from Vera Cruz to Acapulco, a distance of 450 miles, in threa days. thus effecting a saving of half the distance on the Pacific Ocean, between Panama and San Francisco. These gentlemen speak confidently of transmitting letters between New Orleans and San Fran cisco in thirteen days, as soon as their arrangements are perfected, which they hope to accomplish in the cjurse of this month. On the supposition that malls can be carried from San Francisco to Acapulco in seven days, and in six days more to New Orleans, the telegraphic wires will be extensively used in transmitting intelligence from New York to California. EXECUTION.—A man named Durand, condemned some time ago for having violated a girl eleven years of age: and then cut her to pieces, has just been executed at Melun. Up to the last moment he treated with contempt the exhortations of the priest, and as he walked to the scaffold gaily sung different airs. On reaching the Ple?r. of execution he cried, "Ah, ah ! we shall see; what fun With much persuasion he was induced to kneel near the fatal block, and to recite some prayers after the priests but he did so in a tone of bravado. When, in the widet of them, the priest extended the crucifix to him, he pushe o , it aside, and said, " Let me be quiet ; I will em b r ace it a l ; termards !" Placed on the block, the executioner present him with the cross—he kissed it, a nd th e k n if e fell. French paper. KIDNAPPING A BRITISH SUBJECT.—H.M.S. Vesta l ; 26, Captain Hamilton, was cruising in the neighbourhoo d of the Havannah, where considerable excitement Pr e ,.: vaned, owing to a British subject, Plassy L awrenc e, vw had been kidnapped from the island of Nevis, and sold into slavery at Havannah, having contrived to make het escape, and take refuge on board the Vestal. Applicatio n had been made by the British government for the releael of the poor woman, but in vain. Her children were sole into slavery, and the marks of the most savage flogging were evident on her back, when she went on board the ship. The Vestal was under the guns of the batteriet and surrounded by the Spanish fleet, but her g allant captain would not listen to any proposal for giving he r back to her inhuman masters, and she remains safe u nder the protection of the British flag.—Morning Post. THE WEATHER IN PARIS.—The chesnut-tree called " The 20th of March," in the garden of the Tuileries , i 5 nearly in leaf ; in the garden of the Luxembourg al are several rose trees in f u ll b ear i ng as i n th e spr i ng ; ne at the Jardin des Plantes some of the a l mon d t ree s are :„ flower. The mildness of the present w i n t er ren ders the following enumeration of mild winters of some interest In the winter of 1172 the trees were covered with leavees and in January the birds were seen to build their neat,' In 1289 there was no winter ; the temperature was springlike at Christmas that the young girls at Cologn e wore violets and spring flowers during the festivities of tha t part of the year. In 1481 the trees were in flower in March and the vines in April. Ripe cherries Wel gathered in May. In 1558 December and January hehe , _, the gardens variegated with bloom. In 1572 the lea c .T appeared on the trees, and birds built their nests 1: February. In 1585 the same phenomena were seen st 3; same season. In 1607, 1609, and 1617 there was sesl7 any winter. In 1659 there was neither s now nor 10, 9 In 1722 the month of January was so warm, even in t h e north of Germany, that there was no occasion to lig°, the stoves, and all the trees were in flower in the mon th of February. In 1807 there was scarcely any winter. THE NIAGARA SUSPENSION BRlDGE.—lmagine a ell 800 feet in length, forming a straight hollow beam 20 fee wide and about 18 feet deep, with top, bottom, and sid e d There will be an upper floor to support the railroad an cars, 20 feet wide between the railin g s, an d suspended , two wire cables, assisted by stays. The lower floor, feet wide and 15 feet high in the clear, is connected to 9‘• upper floor by vertical trusses. The cohesion of good Rot; wire, when properly united into cables or ropes, is form! to be from 90,0001 b. to 130,000ib. per square inch, accord' ing to quality. The lime-stone used in constructing th e towers will bear a pressure of 500 tons upon every squay" , foot. The towers are 60 feet high, 15 feet square at th & base, and 8 feet at the top. When this bridge is covers with a train of cars the whole length, it will sustain : pressure of not less than 405 tons. The speed is suppose to add 15 per cent to the pressure—equal to 61 tons. The weight of superstructure added—estimated at 782 tone makes the total aggregate weight sustained 1,273 W e ' Assuming 2,000 tons as the greatest tension to which the cables can be subjected, it is considered safe to allow fill e times the regular strength, and providing for a weight 0i 10,000 tons. For this, 15,000 miles of wire are required' The number of wires in one cable is 3,000 ; the diameter., of the cable about 9} inches. The bridge, we believe, P the longest between the points of support of any in the world. COURT AND FASHION THE COURT CIRCULAR, on Wednesday, gave us 0 0 somewhat unusual and homely announcement that the, Queen and Prince Albert " drank tea with the Duchess of Kent at Frogmore last night." THE RIGHT HON. EDWARD CARDWELL, M.P., dine' with her Majesty, at Windsor Castle, on Monday. . ~ THE SECOND DRAMATIC PERFORMANCE at Wino's." r Castle took place on Wednesday last. The pieces were. " The Captain of the Watch," a one-act farce, by J. g' Planche, and " The Windmill," by Edward M o rton , likewise a one-act farce. DR. HAWTREY was, on Wednesday, elected Provo ° of Eton, by consent of the crown. ANOTHER NOBLE LECTURER.—ViSCOLUIt GoderiG M.P., has been lecturing at Hull on Entomology. THE DUKE Of WELLINGTON, it is said, purp- 4 visiting the scene of his father's triumphs in Spain al l Portugal. VISCOUNT CANNING, the Postmaster-General, WI appointed Mr. Charles F. Scott to be Privat e Secret/I . ' to his Lordship. THE SPANISH AMBASSADOR in Paris on Tuesday notified to the Emperor the delivery of the Duchess o Montpensier of a daughter. LORD PANMURE, (late Mr. Fox Maule) in a speech at Edinburgh, last week, announced that he contempla te d retiring, for some time at least, from public life. EARL Go ArrviLLn has recovered from the effects or rif recent accident, so much so as to be able to Attend the Cabinet Council, held at the Foreign office on Thursday. O N End,D rT .t—h the Right o rd i ng Hon. to B. t hpe Disraeli has s current made a r a r a t n t s h; West , _ merits for an excursion of two years in the Orient, for th e benefit of his health. LORD STAIR died on Monday week, at his residence! near Edinburgh, at the age of eighty-two. The brothel of the deceased, North Dalrymple, of Cleland an Fordel, father of Captain Dalrymple, M.P. for Wi g IOV shire, is now Earl of Stair. THE EXCLUDED WHIGS. The following members of Lord John Russell's cabinet are exclude" from the new coalition administration :—Lord Lord Minto, Sir George Grey, Lord Grey, Sir F. Baring' Lord Broughton, the Earl of Carlisle, Lord Pantunr e ' Marquis of Clanricarde, and Lord Seymour. TIIE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER.—As m s as nine Chancellors of the Exchequer are alive :—L° th e Henry Petty (now Marquis of Lansdowne, and senior Chancellor of the nine,) Mr. Frederick J.,,, r °", Robinson (now Earl of Ripon,) Mr. Herries, Goulburn, Mr. Spring Rice (now Lord Monteagle,)ni Francis Baring, Sir Charles Wood, Mr. Di sra eli, I'm Mr. Gladstone. LORD CRANWORTH held his first levee as Lord Cho r cellor of England on Tuesday, at his mansion, UPP e e j Brook-street, Grosvenor-square, London, and entertain m the master of the rolls, the lords justices of a ppeal, Pi, vice-chancellors, the judges of the several courts at WO minster, the Courts of Arches, Admiralty and Prer4 tive, together with the Queen's counsel and sergeant' law, to breakfast. Sidney Herbert, for South Wiltshire ; and the Hon. , ELRCTI 0 oppositionNST: — l2° l'll f :9 ll 47 in : g Th h e av ß e ig b h e t en H ll oi . Charteris, for the county of Haddington. Wednesdal elected THE without ß E. Lord Drumlanrig, for Drumfries-shire ; and Mr. Moneei r l i for Limerick county. At the clos e o f th e po ll, Oxf° University, Saturday, the figures were, Mr. GladstolM' 959 ; Mr. Perceval, 825 ; majority for Mr. Gladstone, 1 ' 75. THE CABINET.—The respective ages of the Cabin Ministers are as follows :—Lord Lansdowne, 73 ; L °l Aberdeen and Lord Palmerston, 69 ; Lord Cranwortb , 63! Lord J. Russell and Sir J. Graham, 61 ; Sir C. Woodier, 5 ' Mr. Gladstone, 44 • Sir W. Molesworth and Sidney ~ bert, 43 ; Duke of' Newcastle, 42 ; Lord Granville, 0 :: Duke of Argyll, 30. Their joint ages are 689, and the; average age fifty-three, that of Sir Charles Wood. Sell of them areunder6o years of age,and six above three-sa" . DISSOLUTION OF PARLIAMENT.—We have been O' formed, from an authentic source, that all parties in t't House of Commons are persuaded that a dissolution I ° 2l parliament will take place this year. There are varie reasons for arriving at this conclusion. In the first the opposition is sufficiently numerically strong to Pro crastinate the public business ; and on some isolated') important question, to place ministers in a mi nor ity. 111 0 moment it is perceived that faction is likely to hug"' the passage of ministerial measures, it is intended that, nation shall be appealed to.—Yorkshirenzan. MUSIC AND THE DRAMA THE THEATRES.—At the Royal Adelphi Theatre tie new pantomime is having a most successful run, which a f t amply merits. The Royal Park The a t re h as had „ houses during the past week—one of the best having be for the benefit of Madame Boleno, the prettiest of C O W% bines. Madame Isabell's troupe has received attraet tl i accessions in the shape of Madame Pauline Newsome .0 0 the French clown ; and the Royal Amphitheatre is incl e well worthy of a visit. MR. THOMAS' WINTER CONCERTS.—We ann oun-- 0 last week that the first of this series of concerts was on the previous Monday evening, at the Philharmouls hall, and that it had proved eminently successful. . et would be difficult to imagine a greater treat to the lov ist of good music than the exquisite harmony produced,'" the band of more than fifty performers which 1 1 Thomas has brought togeth er f o r these concerts. St 1 ;0 , a combination of talent has rarely been heard ' t Liverpool, and had it been confined to the wealtbifa classes, by charging a high price for admissson , it ric o , have been the most fashionable entertainment of the Set son. It has, however, been thrown open to the mas s e; and they will ill deserve such magnificent eatering , their entertainment, if they do not reciprocate with go" overwhelming attendance on every evening. MISS HAYES gave her first concert at San Francisco the 28th November, and was enthusiastically received• I t MR. EDWARD SEGUIN, the vocalist. whose deat h announced at New York, had been sojourning there h f ° o some time past, with such success in his profession tu 0 he has been enabled to leave his widow and four child ° comfortably provided for. MUSICAL Buttows.—Richard Spring, a journey o3 .,ll carpenter, of Peterbo ro ', h a s inv en t e d a no v el milsi, l l, instrument, resembli ng a l a r ge p a i r of kitchen belicTog but double in thi c kne s s. Whilst the performer is blovv i the fire, this instrument plays, with astonishing p r ecisio.,, three popular airs. The music resembles that of a CO" certina, and the tone is exceedingly mellow. HORTICULTURE.—OPERATIONS FOR THE N l i r , —Plant Houses.—The plants intended for early facial, such as lilacs, Deutzias, Weigles, moss, and other rosea, &c., may now be forwarded by increasing the tempe r p r . tore ; great care is, however, necessary to keep up 3 4 .; Of ply of fresh air, otherwise the gloomy and damp SE B- 0 the atmosphere will be sure to injure the young 51 '° °" / .lo° soon as put forth. In the out-of-door departraelit s 4 o6 thing can be done with advantage whilst the 1 04 " unexampled season of rain continues. Tn buildi Liver] Weds and a An buildi She is THI of din Soeiet Febru AN for tri fence ill to I No] directs taking comm tion cl hands voluai Octav the ch for a West, York, pital r encour tion of branch that it share ( THE against sailmßl in ware sited, THE at the month at the South Al Messrs. town, I which comple two da JEas yard, a tons re, for thir from ti huish a THE Dachv Mr. W of the ] Attorn( formati PRA , Thome buses t Were co suirts o theomn TRW phia St Messrs. the stv for a nc Philath THE wander New order. of sever tured gi ship at THE Brooks witted concerr Mr. Ea it hayir tity of I in offic in the sioners tary in( moriali in Rocl MEL o'clock the ast where 1 - and wa o'clock from th Tun lieutem Wedne! tears fc ately. day), T every cc Chapel. Acci Robert fell intc the brai fore pal Union Murray and rec FAT) Davies, some ro in Ches in order found o suppou Was cot reachin THE lieutenl Wedne of volu immedi rolling meet ther nc o'clock THE Presto, the thi town. nag for him a' with 10 and in T HE the trw Hi the( 2,620 p 1 ,636 h occurre havi ng elected With ti Inman, phyeic,".: TH R Sir Th t Own be him. divisioi stone, Gladst vizes, i this sU and R. Wilsor the 14t 14th at certific Were ir accordi charge tannia, Thoona against