The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-01-08 00:00:00

FROM OUR LONDON CORRESPONDENT.

• MONDAY MORNING.
THE season of merriment and feasting is now coming ra-
pidly to a natural termination. The citizens having ex-
hausted the ordinary means of killing time during the holiday
season by endless rotations of visitings, inspections of the new
pantomimes, attendance at the exhibitions, and having greatly
pleased themselves without edifying others by criticisms on
the various amusements which form the staple topics of con-
versation and enjoyment during the good old Christmas pe-
riod, have begun once more to turn that ever-revolving wheel
of industry which plies its ceaseless rounds in the metropolis.
Conspicuous among-the cheering events which render the fes-
tive season delightful, is the .frequent exercise of that active
benevolence whose mission it is in so far to equalise the par-
tial gifts of fortune by making the poor participators in the
bounties of the rich. The example in this, as in most chari-
table deeds, was, as usual, taken by the QUEEN, whose New
Year's-day charities, to the extent of £550, were dispensed on
Tuesday forenoon to six hundred of the poor of the parishes
of Windsor and Clewer. The charity in this instance con-
sisted of food and articles of clothing, and they were distri-
buted in the Riding-house of the Castle in presence of HER
MAJESTY, the PRINCE CONSORT, and the whole of the Royal
Family, together with the illustrious guests who were partici-
pating in the royal hospitalities. In the evening of the same
day, MEHUL'S sacred drama of "Joseph," transformed into
an oratorio by the introduction of descriptive recitatives,
composed by CusiNs, organist to the QUEEN'S private chapel,
was performed in St. George's Hall. The drama, in its
present form, has been translated into English by W.
BARTHOLOMEW.

SHAICSPEARE, who lets us into many other secrets, makes
us also acquainted with various cares affecting royalty, and
emphatically declares
Uneasy is the head that wears a crown.

It so happens, however, that most of the difficulties with
which he surrounds his crowned heads are matters of serious
moment, and it is questionable if even his teeming invention
could have realised so dire a mishap as that which has threat-
ened to disturb the peaceful arrangements of Her Majesty
QUEEN VICTORIA. The Windsor Castle theatricals are to be
revived ; and, on the 10th of this month, one of the pieces se-
lected for representation was " A Nice Farm," Mrs. F.
MATTHEWS, Mr. CHARLES MATHEWS, and Mr. ROBERT
ROXBY being selected to perform the leading characters in the
comedietta. " One man may lead a horse to water, but
twenty shall not compel him to drink," says the proverb. One
sovereign may command the services of any one of her sub-
jects, but it requires the authority of another potentate to se-
cure the co-operation of " Her Majesty's faithful servants."
Our liege lady VICTORIA may have perfect sway at Windsor
Castle, and in all other portions of her dominions, but King
SMITH is head of the reigning dynasty at Drury-lane Theatre,
and it so happens, that, at the present conjuncture of affairs,
there has been a diplomatic arrangement between the wielder
of the real and of the mimic sceptre. His Smithian Majesty
refuses to allow his subjects to take service, even as volunteers,
in the theatric armies of the QUEEN of BRITAIN! "This is
the first time that our House has been embroiled with the
House of Boum:3°x," was the modest remark of VESTRIS, the
dancer, in reference to some cause of offence he had given to
the Court of Versailles. It has been reserved for the second
half of the nineteenth century to witness a similar embroil-
ment between two great houses. The House of SMITH has
become embroiled ,a ith the House of BRUNSWICK. How
these rival houses are to be reconcile it is difficult to
conjecture. One thing only seems certain, the House of
SMITH will not give way. CHARLES MATHEWS is the
ambassador from Drury; and he pleads as his reason for
not taking part in the Windsor theatricals, that King
SMITH, to whom he owes dramatic allegiance, has strictly
"forbidden him to perform at Windsor ;" and in this
condition, with true diplomatic reserve, he leaves the cause of I
this prohibition in the dark—or to be guessed at. The
,I
Monarch of Drury Lane, however, has another, and more
communicative emissary in the Era, which unfolds the caucus
belli : this it does in a style which would do credit to a nego-
tiator no less adroit than Lord Jonx himself, the newspaper
protocol having decidedly the advantage over his Lordship's
double-headed Vienna interpellations, in so far as they are
comprehensible. It commences by an assurance that " the
play-going mind " has for some time past been puzzled to
find out "why HER MAJESTY does not visit Drury Lane
Theatre." With the true liberality of an envoy who has
made up his mind to uphold his position through good report
and through bad report, he admits that HER MAJESTY has an
undoubted right to please herself in bestowing her patronage ;
but dextrously adds, that the " exception of Drury Lane "
creates perplexity in that portion of the public gifted with " a
play-going mind." He, with wonderful as well as com-
mendable naivete, gives indications of the point at which
King SMITH'S shoe pinches : "the QUEEN'S box at Drury
Lane is a national custom almost amounting to a right," says
the diplomatic Era. Whose right, however, he does not
state, but it also involves an annual payment of £2OO. In the
meantime matters are run to extremity by the House of
SMITH against the House of BRUNSWICK. Windsor Castle has
been put in a state of dramatic blockade. The QUEEN will
not go to Drury Lane, and, unlike the tactique of MAHOMET,
Drury Lane cannot go to the QUEEN. The potentate of
Drury makes reprisals, and will not allow his histrionic trio
to convey their Nice Farm to Windsor. Such a state of
matters is indeed serious. Many well-meaning people, not so
well-gifted with prescience as the astronomers of Laputa, can
perceive no means of escaping from the difficulty so promising
as an Austrian intervention. The nature of the dispute seems
happily adapted to the genius of such a pacificator. How
beautifully the terms of amity could be arranged by such a
diplomatist, in some such terms as the following :—The
Royal box to be established at Drury Lane in all respects,
except the rent ; the equivalent for which being the permis-
sion for MRS. P. MATTHEWS, MR. C. MATHEWS, and MR.
R. RoRBY to play at Windsor Castle for the honour of the
, thing. Every one feels satisfied these would be terms on
which the individuals in question would be only too happy to
render their services.

While public attention has been somewhat rudely stirred
by such theatrical and =courtly strife, the general hum of
preparation, which is almost always expected as a prelude to
opening the parliamentary campaign, seems totally absent.
Frequent,in deed almost daily, meetings of ministers, give token
that the members of the government are not entirely oblivious
as to what the country expects from them when the opportu-
nity for asking questions shall arrive. In the meantime poli-
tical speculation of all kinds seems dead or dormant. The
leaders of all parties seem more intent on watching the move-
ments of their opponents, than desirous of revealing their
own plans of parliamentary strategy. Many topics for Ude-

resting discussion vrill.readily present themselves when par-
liament assemblies, noi'• the least interesting of which will be
a consideration of how the funds for carrying_ on the war are
to be providej. The publication of the revenue returns indicates
the unpleasant fact that there is a deficiency of 8400,000 in tke
actual expenditure to make up; besides which there is also a
large provision to be made for the war expenditure of the
current year. Here is a fine nut for the economists of all
classes to crack, speaking, as these facts do, of coming loans
and increasing taxation. However complete the legislative
and ministerial lull may be, these topics are engrossing much
attention out of these charmed circles, and lively anxiety is
expressed by many in relation to the war expenditure ; the .
present state of the money market, and the operation of the
Bank Charter Act of 1844. True enough, on this last subject
there is much conflict of opinion. A large amount of " au-
thority" exists in favour of repealing the Act altogether—an
extensive section of the monied public are favourable to a mere
modification of its provisions, retaining its principle entire—
while a third, and by no means contemptible, portion are op-
posed to any alteration at all. The Bank Charter Act is a
measure on which it is understood Sir ROBERT PEEL bestowed
the utmost attention, and that he believed it to be so perfect
that he set his heart on it with all the enthusiasm o
devoted love—some do not scruple to say that he looked
on it as the crowning measure for securing the ascen-
dancy of a plutocracy, rich only in money-wealth. Not.
withstanding all the care and caution which he bestowed on
its concoction and consolidation, it was once in most material
jeopardy from the vote of a parliamentary committee, of
which he was himself the chairman. The story is thus
narrated, and it is not very generally known. In 1848, when
Sir ROBERT was not in office and Lord JOHN RUSSELL was
Premier, the support of the former was invaluable to the
Whig Cabinet, who, in return for that support, agreed to
back the pet scheme of Sir ROBERT against all odds and
chances. The act was not popular among the Radical
section of parliament or of ministers, and a committee was
appointed to inquire into its operation. The alliance between
Sir ROBERT and the Cabinet was perfectly understood and
acted on, and accordingly when Mr. HuME, who was not in
the secret, moved the adoption of a resolution by the com-
mittee for repealing the act of 1844, Sir CHARLES WOOD,
the Whig Chancellor of the Exchequer, moved a counter
resolution in favour of the act ; Lord JOHN RUSSELL, who
had never attended a meeting of the committee, came down
and voted against Mr. HUME'S resolution, which was rejected
by the casting vote of the chairman, Sir ROBERT PEEL
himself. On this occasion Mr. DISRAELI, Mr. THOMAS
BARING and others of the Conservative party, left the
committee without voting. The result of the vote puzzled
Mr. HUME greatly, the grounds of the combination by which
it was brought about he could never unravel, and it is said
the secret springs of action which led to it have not yet been
revealed.

The prospects of peace, which have for some time past occu-
pied so large a share of public attention, have "grown fine by

degrees and beautifully less," until now no one can find for
them " a local habitation or a name." Consideration seems
to be now prudently and properly directed to the discovery
and provision of means, by which, at the commencement of
operations in spring, the Allies shall be able to deliver heavy
and vital blows at different points of the Russian territory.
Preparations of the most vigorous and energetic character
are being made for striking heavy blows against the enemy in
different quarters. Many circumstances point with unmis-
takeable precision to the Baltic as one scene of terrific action,
so soon as its waters shall be sufficiently freed from ice to
admit of uninterrupted navigation. " There is no use in
hesitating," says the Post, understood to be deep in the secrets
of Lord PAIMBRSTON " there is nothing to be gained by
the system of cautious delay—it is time that we should
not only show, but should activk employ, our enormous
strength by sea—that we should show them that no
strength of defence, that no armament of forts is suffi-
cient to secure them from the force of the British
attack. We must appear close to St. Petersburg with argu-
ments which Russia cannot answer. We must see what
conditions of peace she will venture to offer when the last sail
of the navy on which she has spent her time and her treasure
is demolished—when even Cronstadt is insufficient to defy
the armament that we are now gathering for this ex-
ploit." Big words, indeed, are these, but not bigger-than the
occasion calls for—not higher in their tone than the armament
'to which they are applied will fully warrant, if that armament
is meant, indeed, to go forth in its might. Let it also be
borne in remembrance that the Post is not given generally to
'flourish " in King Cambyses' vein," but is rather remarkable
for the sobriety of its tone, and is not a little entitled to
respect for the accuracy of its information. What, it may be
asked, is the extent and power of that armament, from which
so much is expected P—and in what does it difilr from those
which have already, on two occarsiuns, pruuthed so much, and
accomplished so little P The fleet is, really, something stu-
pendous to contemplate. It is to consist of twenty ships of
the line, and eighteen frigates, armed with such a number of
guns, and capable of throwing sueh a weight of projectiles, as
has never before left our shores. These are to be accompanied

by a line of floating batteries, heavy mortar-ships and gun-
boats, amounting in all to 243 sail, and carrying the enor-
mous number of 3,140 guns. Such a flotilla it can never be
the intention of any sane Minister to send to the
Baltic, or any other sea, merely for the purpose of taking care

of the ships of which it is composed, and avoiding danger, as
has been the case with those which were sent in the two first
campaigns. While this immense armament is being got ready
for despatch, the Russians appear to feel satisfied that this

time the war is not to be conducted on the principles of

drawing-room conflict. They are concentrating troops in the
. . . _

. -
vicinity of St. Petersburg, and taking active measures for

putting the capital in a condition to resist a siege. They are
also busily engaged in strengthening the fortifications along
their vast line of frontier in the interior. As an indispensable

corollary to such expensive expeditions as the Allies are fitting
out for attacking Russia at different and distant points in
Europe and in Asia, the plausible fiddle-faddle of Lord JoHN
RUSSELL and his friends, as to no alteration in the boundaries

of Russia, must be given up. No good purpose of even a

temporary character can be attained by entering.a territory

on so many different points, if we mean to abandon them at
the end of each campaign. If dismemberment of the Russian

Empire must follow the obstinacy of the autocrat, he must be

prepared for it. The time has long since gone by when. the

war could be carried on against Russia With the• arms of

courtesy ; the struggle is one for very life, and as such it
must be fought out.
A curious coincidence of indications appears to- mark. the
course of feeling in respect to the present. war, as was at-
tendant on the great struggle which raged with such extra-

ordinary and perilous violence at the commencement of the

century. Then, as now, a few degenerate sans of Albion took

every opportunity ancl means of exhibiting:.sympathy with the

enemy. Then, as now, every opportunity was seized to throw

discouragement in the way of our progress, and, like the peace-
at-any-price faction of the pretient day, the disaffected of that
period were continually diScovering symptoms of lukewarm-
ness on the part of our allies, and were equally ingenious and
communicative with respect to the resources of the enemy.
In point of fact, it would seem that cowardice and treachery

are ever actuated by the same motivev, and are at all times
equally skilled in the use of the same weapons. For the last

few weeks all the Russian organs, of whatever calibre or pre-
tence—both British and continental—have been, busy in repre-

senting that the EMPEROR and people of France are both

tired of the war, and that its longer continuance, if it be per-

severed in, must be maintained, by Britain, single-handed.
On the twenty-ninth of last month a grand military fete was

given in Paris, every indication of which was widely at va-
riance with such an opinion. The occasionwas the celebration
of the return of the Imperial. Guard from the Crimea, and never

since the year of Austerlitz has France displayed such a spec-
tacle of military ardour and enthusiasm Monarch and people

vied with each other in rendering the entry of these brave, men

into the capital a triumph. The military feeling reacheda pitch.

of enthusiasm which sober Englishmen have a difficulty in
understanding, but is easy of comprehension to him who
knows the warlike partialities of Frenchmen—above all, to

him who knows with what exuberance of hope the youth of
France, of the middle and lower ranks, look to the career of
arms as the ladder to fortune and to fame. The address made
to the returning heroes by the EMPEROR was calculated in the
highest degree to influence the martial sentiment, and every
one resident in France knows that the war never was so po.
pular among that high-spirited people as it is at this moment.
A similar feeling pervades our own countrymen. It is mani-
fested by less palpable signs. Like their personal and collective
courage, it is more earnest than demonstrative, but it is not
the less truly there. The nation stands on the tip-toe of ex-
pectation—by the people no effort has been spared, no means
withheld which ingenuity could suggest to bring the contest
to an honourable end ; the people are now in a mood to demand
realization and to scout pretence.

AN INTERESTING EVENT.—On Friday morning last divine
service was celebrated in the parish church of Studley, when
a large congregation of parishioners and neighbours assembled
to unite with Sir F. H. Goodricke, Bart., and family, in re-
turning public thanks to Almighty God for the preservation
of Lieut. Goodricke, under circumstances almost miraculous,
at the attack on the Redan. Lieut. Goodricke, a very young
officer, volunteered from his own regiment into one going to
the Crimea. At the final attack his revolver was struck with
three balls, either of which from the position in which the
pistol was held, must have proved mortal had it struck him.
self. His sword point was carried off by another ball, and a
fourth passed through his coat. As the English were retiring
another ball struck the gallant officer in the breast, and passed
right through him, near an artery. This wound was pro-
nounced mortal. Lieutenant Goodricke has, however, returned
home, and is now likely to recover.