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

TIIE LIVERPOOL BTANIARD.

TnE_Atlantic_ (*U.S. mail steamer) sailed_hence, for New
York, on Saturday, with fifty passengers and a full cargo.
ON Christmas-day, a ewe of the Leicester breed, belonging
to Mr. John Butler, farmer, Old Field Carr, near Poulton-le-
Fylde, Yeaned two fine lambs.
Sr. HEILN'S PARISH CAHURCH.—A very handsome silver
communion service has been presented to the St. Helen's

Parish Church by its members.
MR. T. M. BLYTHE, of the firm of Charles Moore and Co.,
has been_nominated by the Shipowners' Association as a can-
didate for the vacancy created in the Dock Committee by the

resignation of Mr. Steele.
THE EXCISE.—Mr. Hickey, of Liverpool ; Mr. Derharn, of
Wigan ; Mr. Flatteley, of Rochdale ; Mr. Rickwood, of Lan-
caster ; Mr. Williams, of Ormskirk ; and Mr. Webb, of
Chester, supervisors, are now under examination at War-
rington for promotion.
CUSTOMS APPOINTMENTS IN LIVERPOOL.—Mr. John
Armstrong, Mr. John H. Jacob, and Mr. Edward W. Sudlow
have been appointed clerks for general business. Mr. Allen
Foote has been appointed an extra clerk, and Mr. Maurice
Sullivan a tidewaiter and patrol.
CAUTION TO Bors.—On Sunday afternoon, Wm. Roberts,
a youth about 14 years old, climbed up the railings of St.
Matthias's Church, Great Howard-street, and, overbalancing
himself, fell down into the area below. He was taken, up in
an insensible state, and conveyed to the Northern Hospital,
where it was discovered that, though, he had received some
severe contusions, none of his limbs are fractured.
BURGLARY IT RAINHILL.—Between the hours of two and
three on the morning of the 28th ult., the dwelling-house of
Mr. Isaac Watkin, shoemaker., Rainhill, was burglariously
entered, and a patent lever watch and half-a-crown were
carried away. Entrance was effected by descending the
chimney, the top of the house being easily accessible by means
of the adjoining outbuildings.
THE Tux or Mia Mr.NEs.—The Foxdale nines have paid
£8,960, this year, in dividends, and the Lacey, £l,OOO. The
returns of lead for 18.0 were—Foxdale, 1;900 tons of ore,
yielding 1,449 tons of lead and 19,926 ounces of silver ; Lacey,
900 tons of ore, yielding 688 tons of lead ot.d 32,336 ounces of
silvei---the latter mine showing a prOdnet Of nearly 36 ounces
of silver to the ton of ore.—Mining Jotenal.
• LIVEI3PCM SttPWRECK AND HVLIA.NE SOCIETY.—The
monthly meeting of the committee of this society was held
on Saturday; -at which a letter was Tend from Mr. Driffield,
the County Coroner, detailing the ,nOble conduct of William
Lovett, master of the flat Frances Ann, in an attempt to
rescue a drowning seaman ; and, 'though his exertions •ware,
unfortunately, not crowned with 'success, (from the want of
support from the ship alongside cf which his flat waslying),
the committee -considered his -case one so-deserving of a
favourable consideration that they awarded him ES.
PERI"LOVS POSITION OP A t'LAT AND TWO :311rN.—On
Thursday, the 20th ult- as the Duchess of Lancastersteamer
. was proceeding from Lancarter to Liverpool, signals of dis-
trees twere seen at a distance,a gale of wind blowing at the
and a heavy sea running. The Duchess steamer imme-
diately hauled up, and found a flat, with two Mat on board,
beinnging to the Bridgewater Canal. It appearedthe fiat had
patted from her author in'-the Mersey, and drifted-near to the
'Crosby lightship. Then and the vessel :Were taken in
,tharge and brought safely into harbour.
A SALT FLAT ow Frts.— On Saturday evening, the cabin
'of the fiat Richaed Wintiord, lying in the tanning Dock, was
discovered to be on fire. - The fire brigade --Atm-Temple-court
was promptly in attendance, and, by elte.aidtf a plentiful sup-
ply of water, the flames were confined to theitart of thergssel
in which the fire originated. The Wkhesds, furniture, ac.,
in the cabin were deitroyed, the damage arnotinting to aborrt
£4O. The flat was a' new one, belongingto Mesrs. Cross and
Co., and valued at 0100. She had-recently-arrived from Wins-
ford, with a cargo-6f salt. The came of ,the fire is unknown.

A RETVILYED TEMILE CONN-WT.-lOn Saturday utoridi3g
a miscrable-loOktpg woman was 'conveyed, in a state of
cation, to BridevrE.ll, where she, was'idnitified as a returned-
convict, having,-terne time age., been Transported from Liver-
pool for shoplittimg. She was taken before Mr. Mansfield,
charged with bciug at large hi Englcrld before the t xyliration
of her sentence.- It seems that., owing to the intextososieva-of,
a Rowan Ottlfca priest at the venal- settlement o which she
was set; she pkained a reprieve, Pud was forsvvr:aed 7to.sotne
friciwis in "..•re\V York. Aft renidir.ing there a short
she had sucteaded in finding be: way back to this!ceflantry:-
Remanded.

'lx rtereeetv DEFElicr.—Josepif Stokes wag -charged at the.
Felice-court; ..on ' Saturate; -Witte -stealing a-box:from a poor'
Iriela girle-reedetlicia
..1.0-nell. -The proaeentrix.....areived in
Livezpool from Dublin, on Fridiy,- and engaged 'the prisoner
to .carry.lreeisox• and shoe hee.the v;ay; to Limestret. In-
stead-of doing so, he trailed:her half-round the town, and ulti-
nietelY• Fended her in Hu on-street. The girl .gaee infor-
mation tert'se police, and the Trisoner was apprehended in •a
bye-etreeteenon afterwards, it the act of ransacking the box.
With .erroat 'coolness, the prisoner declared. -1.-lat the pro- :
secutrix rat away from him, --wad that he was looking into the
box 'to see be could find her.- address, .in order to take her •
box to her, •He was coneetaitted for a month, ItS:11 rogue anda .
vageboied. ].
LIVERP3OL Tows Oetrevere—The following subjects oil
be discuseed at the monthly meeting of the Veuncil; which..
Will be eleeld -to-morrowe-:-The--proceedieqseof the Finance
Commit, comprisinga^reeort of the: probable income atedi;
expenditure of the Corporation for the yeareemmencing lst'.:
September last, and ending-31st August next; and a resolu-
tionelireng the sale joby auction on lease-4er seventy-fire
Teare•Ofproperty now in possession. : The :proceedings of the ,
Health ,Committee, comprising . a recommendation -to•-re- '
arrangethe numberingeofethe houses in the Borough. The
'Proreaings of the Library and Museum Qonm4ttee, compris-
ing. an estimate of the eetece-mt required for the year ending ::
the -Wet Anvil next; -and recommendation to • take .the ue- •
.cessareproceedings preparatory •to laying ea rate under the
provisions of " The -Liverpool - Library-And .. Museum .'Act,
2652." The Mayor's 'communications, •commising an appli-
cation-fteren Mr. Surreaudieor in the Town tees Office; for an .-
increaseof salary.
:Tar I-Ore-I-vim L ir-o. = at the Police-cotrrt., on Saturday.,..
ileefereMr. J. S. Maniefiekl, the stipendiary- magistrate. Le- '
-nard4eiret Watson,- late;eeurser of the-.ship Oliver Lang,
helm:ging to Messrs.-James Baines astal•Catze " Black Ball" .
lineef Aestralian peetketeesought to recover the sum of CSO,
2.8 I theilleged amount -,ofearages due. • Mr..]Almond appeared
fortheplaintiff. On lieliiilf of the defendants, Mr. Forshaw
,objectedeto the claim-alb:get:leer, on . the ,gronad that he isad .i,
21eptenceaocount of the:lto:yes placed in hisecharge, and .that .
the: provisions, espeCially:the sugar, bad dieeppeared. in a :rapid €l
and extravagant mannereinere than one-third having, it was
.11
.calculated, been wastedorr•the homeward-voyage, leavingthee
passengers shOrt in theirelliewance; ineeonsequence of which;
Messrseßrines and'CoAirdte pay them each ..-.C5, as compene'e.
,sationeheall hetween.C3soand £4OO, assdallefec the want-of
careand attention methepart of the ptueser,Ahe vessel having
plentyl6:«tererything.oulboaed when she left:Ml:bourne. 31. c.;.
Forshaw. 4licited from the. uenler-pursere :irecrosseexamination, :
that-thereewere times wher. the plaintiff negieded.to weigh
the-stores .when served .out, ,and that, on..one •accasion-, the
stock of -r falling short; -ho poured a bucket of. water_ into
eme-oftheltarrels. • Evidence having been addated confirma-
tory eet..Mr. Forshaw's statements, the ease.-was dismissed;
thernagistrate remarking4neet.rang terms on :theilrapropriety
of -the plaices conduct.
iilw. 135nxt.n.A.s' Cnrepn e-fc 1100LS.—There,-was a very
nurserotneguthering oftheparoets and friends. of the children
attendingeSt.«Barnabas! Charm :Schools, in Greenlaxd-street,
' °lathe-occasion of the Christmas examination, on Thursday.
The easeetingieaving been Qpettel by the Rev. T.. De „tßarry, he
peeeeededeto ,examine the :children in the Scriptures. . The
first Book Of- Seueuel, and theGeepel of St. Mattheweevere the
portions readein the present laalf-year. The children. were
there.antheeel• by the Rev.... Mr. Woollam is -early English
history; ,by T.Ni.e.. Popple, the, easeter, of the hoye' „stiles) in:
keoeT4l4eie endsn•mental arithmetic, by the Rev. Mr..faiith.
In the .eourse. of ..the evening several pieces of -vocill =tisk
were performed - ley :the children:; .and there was a distribution
of prises to -thoselwho had maintained the highest obeeacter
for panetualityeedirigence, and good:conduct during the year;
and after alew Affectionate. words 1.3 the parents, the eltey.
• Mr. Barnj' cloied.ele.e.meeting, ley -the benediction. 0.n.-the
previous Faidaytherewas a satisfactery examination of rtib2
infant schoele •ancl..on Thursdayafterneon, those eladrencwho
are depoeitors 'in-the school clothing Auld received orders ;`,.or
• clothing, witlea tonntee of threepence liel the shilling, .as Au
encouragemeut toiprudent and sattaag-Aabits.. On Wednes-
. day last, abort 130-of the most respectable poor and aged
people attentlisi-eg ..«St. ];Bateeabas' Chtxrch„,xere entertained with
tea. -- Some idea marbelermed of the poeerty of the disteiet,,
,when we. state that .U. 3 who were; invited were unable to
e attend for want of -clothes.
HEALTH COMMITTEE. —.fAt the weekly, meeting,on Thurs.
.elay, the -Law-clerk • sulenitted a short report -of the sub-.
-qommittee on the subject .of new offices for,trausacting the
business of the -health ,committee. The committee made a
',recommendation that theil.a.n4 of the Sarecenle Head be ap-
.prpriated for. a new. :building for public rife es, that
when these are completed the leeildings in Cortwallis-street
be disposed 'of. After a short ,conversation, -it ,was agreed
thatea sub-comniittee, consisting .of Messrs. Sheil, Hodson,
Holm?, and the Chairman, havean interview, with4he finance
'committee of the council on :the following • day, when the
recommazdation would be submittod.for consideratiQn. The
committee came to the resolution :that they could allow no
special exemption teethe owners •ofsteam tugs relativetto the
conaumptian,Of smoke, and that .the ,team tugs . newt be
regulated;hy 'the have on the subject, which affect all steamers
and inanufaetories'emitting smoke: -Themeekly mortality of
Liv.eroolstiiltontinues to -be above •the Average of the pre-
ceding seven„years. The medical oftleerofihealth in his repoet
states that themegistered deaths in the town last week were
244, being 31,above the average. The deaths from symotie
diseases, 67, were less than in any week-of title preceding six
months. The •Offeet of the late severe weather in increasing
the mortality has ;been chiefly felt by infants and young
children. Of the.entire number.of 244 deaths, 341 occurred
below five years of
.age, and only 23 above sixty. The mean
temperature of the ,week was 33 9-10 degrees., nearly nine .
degrees below that of ttlee corresponding week of the preceding
Aline years. During the latter half of the week, the tempe-
'future was about 15 degreei below the average. .The wind
moved at the rate of 440 aliks daily, about one-half more
than ordinary.
A Seen TALE.—A genteel girl, apparently about 16 years
of age, who gave the name of Luey Lakin, was brought up at
the Police-court, on Thursday. . Detective Eaton said that the
prisoner 'had been given in carge for having attempted to oh •
tai» four and a half yards of velvet, and four yards of silk,
from the establishment of Messrs. Jeffery and Morrish, of
Compton house. On the 3rd instant, the prisoner proceeded
to the shop, handed au order-to Mr. George Mifflin, one of the
assistants, which' ..bore the
,name of Mr, Wright, draper, of
Church-street, requesting to be supplied with the goods men-
tioned. The geods were not supplied, however, in consequence
of suspicion being -entertained in regard to the order. The
prisoner was.not immediately accused, hut information given
to the police on the discovery of the fraud, When appre-
hended; the prisoner gave her name as Tamerlane ; and it ap-
peared that a person of that name had, some two years ago,
been in the employ of Mr. Wright. The officer added that the
prisoner's father was a most respectable and independent gen,
tlentan,.re6ding in Shropshire, and that her mother lived in
Liverpool with a man whose name he did not know. He be-•
Roved that the girl had, in sonic, way, committed herself, and
that her.father had, in consequence, turned his back upon her.
The prisoner, who wept- during the entire investigation, said
that she -committed the offence from, poverty, - The reason of
her having] left Lome was, because she could not agree with
her aunt, and she ran away.- She managed to obtain a scanty
living,. by -dressmaking, at her .lodgings -..with Mrs. Harrison,
in Gregson-street, but, could: pot get as pinch work as would
bring her sufficient money for food.—The magistrate said that
'it was a very distressing.case, and remanded the prisoner fora:
few. days, requesting Mr. Clough to communicate with the
father, , with the 'View of restoring the unfortunate girl to.
her home.

GENERAL INTELLIGENCE.

AT Wareham, a young man named William Randall has
been fined 6d. by the magistrates for kissing a cook-maid
named Charlotte Musselivhite, against her will, as she was
-coming from church.
THE Sussex Advertiser states that, last week, Mr. W.
Thomas, of Ratton, despatched a pack of foxhounds for the
use-of his brother, Major Thomas, of the Royal Horse Artillery,
and his brave brothers7m-artns at the seat of war.
M. CHARLES SEBLY has withdrawn from his position as
a candidate for the representation of Lincoln. It is now
thought that the son of the late Colonel Sibthorp will be
elected without opposition.

THE new convict prison in the course of erection at Chat-
ham has already cost about £200,000, and, it is supposed, will
accommodate 1,000 prisoners. The new huts recently erected
for the Royal Sappers and Miners, capable of holding 525
men, have cost about £B,OOO.
NEW-SPAPERS TO FRANCE.—Prom to-day all newspapers
(whether stamped or not) going to France must have a penny
postage stamp affixed, if the weight does not exceed 4 oz., and
a twopenny stamp if the weight is above I oz. and not ex-
ceeding 8 oz. There will be no charge on delivery. If the
paper be more than fifteen days old, the charge will be three
times as much. _ _ .

THE ROYAL BARON OP BEEP was this year supplied to
Windsor Castle by the royal purveyors at Windsor. The
baron was cut from a five-year-old Highland Scot, fed by
Prince Albert, at the Norfolk farm, and weighed 425 lbs. The
process of roasting occupied 15 hours. It was decorated with
holly and ivy, and placed cold on a sideboard in the banquet-•
ing-room, ea Christmas-day, where it remained with the
boar's-head and woodcock-pie during the week.
THE GtrA.No DISCOVERIES IN THE Set TII PACIPIC.—The
New York Journal of Commerce states that two ships have
been despatched by the company which has been formed to
the =inhabited guano island recently discovered. The island
is of -a coral formation., from eight to nine miles in circuna-
fertne, and it is claimed to possess unequalled advantages
foranchoring and loading vessels. Prom the Chincha
which have no harbour, there were exported last year 'cATr
400,000 tons of guano.

GENERAL CAN'ROVERT, 'when in Copenhagen, one ,evening,
returned somewhat earlier thiin usual to his apartments` in
the Hotel d'Angleterre, and flYand a strange man Standing at
his secr‘faire; Which had been broke open, or opened with a
false key, and-so busily occupied in examining his 'payers that
he did not observe the General's entrance. In high indigna-
tion the General seized a candlestick or some -sharp-cutting
object, and flung it at the Thief's head, who, 'firming round,
either received a severe .wound in the eye, or had his eye
knocked ett. The objert of the thief, it :is believed, was
purely ofs political nature.
A SWITCHMAN AND STATION-MASTER,VhOSE negligence •
occasioned the terrible accident which toOk'ilace on thelrer-
sallies dlailway (left bank), on the eth November last, hart
been -sentenced" to the severe punishment of five years' impri-
sonment, besides fines of five hundred 'francs. It was proved
that'the switchmaulaad left his past to -take a glass of Wine
with nn old friend; sand that the -station=master at Tangirard,
whose duty it waeto see that the sWitOaes were duly turned,
Bali taken it for granted that the manVas at his post, and had
given the signal for a train to start witholit having personally
certained tharthe line was ix readiness.
TrrE Nrcrirtts.-Gstn FuNis--Eitensive arrangements are

in progress for the purpose e oremisin-g •an aaixiliary corn-
tnittee in the (ity in aid of the Illghtingale funci. IV-ineeting
• was'held at tliMansion-bousc,Loridon,onWednesdiry;At which
the Lord Mayor presided, End•tit'which the nanies•Of many of
the most iirfttential merchants, lAnkers, traders; mid manufac-
turers, were announced at hav ivig- consented to beccme
bers "of thecommittee, andidotiltless, a powerfalavement in
aid of thUfraOst laudableObjett-will be the re-Stilt. A circular
inviting-ekntributions, which is to be addressed"to the work,.
ing classer.,. is in the , course 'of preparation, and application
beAtade to the principals of large edablisaments to re-
ceive -donations. •
SprirtopIDPILUSSICT.TOIiqttE KING OF SiAli.—An inkstand,
probiaily. the most 'lrilliarltand beautiful Article of the kind
ever made, has been mantiactured by Ur. Dadd, of Cornitill,
• ,Londozi, int ended msuipresent from her Majesty to the King
of Siam. It, is of silver,-elsotro gilt, and, although not of very
-great intrinsic value, yet deserves notice •as a work of art.
The-figures, emkiemdtic of science, And the ornamental por
fiona gen,irally, Are .:erecuted with . great taste, and if good
e)uld te the beauty of the vessel from
rtlrrh the. ink is drawn; -the King of Siam might become the.
must popular author-of tale day. The ine=iption on the ink-
- stand pir rportstliatitis presented by the Queen to the --King
of-Siam, whosemairres,ere- fully set fortlqr.nd, certainly, do not
erne tin der the -desdrigion of 'Coiranor. navies. They are-
14hrit B and Somdetch 'Pima -3lougkat Plies
Mom F :bat

AT TJunworitir•Comnizirr, last weik, a pitman, named
.:James Barry, entered 'the cage for the purpose of descending
t`he shrift. The person in charge of the engine, George Lower,
,set th .e engine in-vnistion, but in-di:Ping so got • holdof the
-wrong- handle,aig„'sinstead of the 'taga descending the-iihaft,
it was drawitup• tt'' the pulleys. Being unable to get furtb6r,
the st rain was -so-great that the-,cliain broke, and the man
was p recipitated• down the shaft. ,Occ of his legs was iound
about sixty ;fathoms down ;' his .11a:A and shoulders ..a-few
fatho andaiit seventy fathoms the other parts of his
body were discovered. The prover engine-man, :ThOTTIFS
Davison, was nem the engine at the time of the accident,,hat
had got the:fireman to attend to :it for a while. At
ques t • bola •on ' thelody, the j'arY'have returned a verdict of
M: inslartgliter" against 'Davison,-and Lowes, who wervee-
cord inglycommitted for trial.
Faun as, ":PiriseN.---•The Veilwe Gazette gives tlae
tails. of -a fire -in the prison at Baden (Canton of Argart)::—
: "TI 3e Ere hrokmout on' the gixintrilloor, and,- having •-iantne-
diat ely afteremight the wooden litairease, cat Off all eormunni-
- Hon.. with ihenpper ifioors. The•gaders had gone their-usn'al
ram ads at nineee..lock- and- at- eleven, but saw nothing ;
- they- were-theintelves roused from 'their sleep by the flames.
The -prisoners on-the first floor succeeded in escaping, some of
thei n by tearing.awry the iron .I.am from the winclow,•of the
wat er-cleset; + but, many of their wore severely hurt in their
attempt. • Those nn the second, floor were not so fortunate, as
• the flooringheing4 hunt through:gave way beneath them. • In
cons equpence of Ike :severe frost; ,the engines could nor but
very imperfectiy,:an4 the' 'fire-emiiiimed burning during -the
whol e day. • 'Fifteen carbonized robtlies have alreadS beemgot
out ,roan- the ruins, and the .4304 y paf one man waaiound
jammed in -the pipe. of the waterkitosetitbrongh which he had
- efidearoured'toferce'a passage. •
Tire Morningt:Firast states 'thatnnany of the Christmas
gathmings of •the nobility have been: dispensed with altogether
this year; and most fall short of -visitors. We are_ glad,- how-
.!; ever, to notice, 'that hospitality* tcrttlieir poorer brethren is
1 rather increased- 'than diminished. Its necessity. maybe

gathered frowthe fact that in Isondonithe number of paupers
'this Christmas in-reesiipt of relief,iusileer and out-door, shows
sa great increase .upon the list of lastsyear. In the City there
an increase altogsither of about 500.; in Marylebone, 1,00 n;
iet. Mary, : bilington, tOO ; St. Idartin's-in-the-fields,..2oo;
Whitechapel,-509 ; Hackney, .5(X); et. Leonard, Shorediteh,
; St. James; Clekkeswell, 500 ; et. 3.ltry,Lambeth, 1s00();
West London V2.10'1;1,900; the increase ;being, on an average,
..at4east 20 per-cent. The only. parishes 'not showing au in-
:crease are St. V. -y,';Retherhithes Brentford (where there is :a
decrease of 450, andet. Luke, Middlesex, where the inmates
of workhouses lame fallen from ..679 te:666, and the oat-door
peer from 1,163 to 1,00. •
• Is SNAKE SlVET.—One.of those. siortilar escapes occurred
a for days back, e'er oareaCrag which old Indians get accused
of ,11.tiwin„.7 the most formidable longbows when they settle
down-on their peas -glens its-that portion.ofthe -metropolis, dedi-
cated to their retirement, sunder the appropriate name of
-" Asia ;Minor." Mks however, is a
.fact, as ,doubtless is many
a similar story whirl has sea& people stare soul shake their
heads. A peon is the amulet), near the College-bridge,
observes.; a rat run aessiss the floor. He stooped to look after
it, havisiss his turban off and Isis back ,hair loose. While in
this position he suddenlysfeit though someone were tug-
ging himsoack by Isis hair. put his hand up, and to his
horror, hefound there was aUrge cobra on his back struggling
to free itsteeth from his hairsinsvisich they had gotentangled.
Probablytto reptile had Idso-ohservcd the rat, and had dropped
from the reef imbued With as _keen a love of Jitintissg as the
peon himself. Be that as it may, -the snake ultimately suc-
. •ceedecl in getting loose, and escaped to a hole withoutinflict-
, ing any injurss on the man- By thearders of the,,ehicf ma-
gistrate, the Ogee was pulled down the next day, and :here,
-sure enough, was the snake, with 'tbc:sst in hisstomaeb ,half
sdigested.—Deihi,Gazette.
Gunnies STAMTE OF THE QUEHN, which arrived in
!Fssgland from Bowe a few week* am:jestl4w uncased and.-set
sip, so that an opinion may be formed sas to its merit as a
work of art, and . its adaptability to the .site for which it Ls
ansaut. Tice statue .is colossal. and belong's; to the school
whisk affects heroic !forms, and therefore ,eliallenges cons-
parircna with heroic standards. As a likeness of the Queen
the statue is a failure; !,4,11e figure is too plump, the pose too
theatrical, the face too-Urge and heavy. The,nose as especially
unlikessure; and the lineaments of the Royal -lady resemble
those of some imaginary,postrait of a fabulous queen—creature
of a sculptor's fancy, rather than recall the lines of that face 1
which we all knovv so ,welL But, apart from mere want of
resemblance .to -the original—a grave defect, we -must
-since these national monuments are to be a part of our historic
record, witnessing to future generations of the men and
women of our -time—the staime has a certain grandeurid
outline, a certain snassiveness of conception, which bespeaks
-the bandit' an accomplished artist. The Majesty of England I
seems- to4it sbefase -the sspeetator --cal mr- grand, inflexible—
but with the soft serenity that -belongs of right to those
abstractions whisk take the feminine aspect, as the typical
representative. Such, at ledst, is the impression that it pro-
duces on. the mind now, while it stands apart from gilding
'and colour, from brasswork and mosaics, in the dingy sed of
the stonemason.—Athenousst.
CHRISTMAS-DAY IN LONDON was as gloomy and unpropi-
tious as the previous Christosas-day, when the aspect of the
skies but too truly represented the depressed state of the pub-
lic mind, owing to the disasters in the Crimea, and when our
carols ware in a measure converted into nice Brea by the
calamities iocident to war. This year the case is otherwise,
but not so as regards the weather. Notwithstauding the
associations of " Aferrie Christmas " with frost and snow,
hard-frozen ponds, and trees bedecked with. icicles, slippery.
pavements and snowballs, skating and, sledging, natures
seemed bent on thwarting the popular predilections, and per„
versely changing the weather just on the eve of the festive
season. On Saturday, the earth was frost-bound. The rain
ou Christmas-eve had converted the roads and pathways, I
especially in the suburbs of London, into a hopeless slough of
despond, and the next was a dark, damp, dismal, and de-
pressing day. The sun, as if ashamed not to show his face on
Christmas-day, did shine for a brief space between 1 and 2
o'clock, but clouds soon obscured the sky, and darkness
visible prevailed till the shutters were closed, and the Christ-
mas candles lent their artificial light. Yet the traffic in the
streets was immense. To obtain a scat in an omnibus, penny
or sixpenny, was out of the question, unless the rash traveller
was content to sit on the " knifeboard,". exposed to the rain
and wind, and so likely to contract a catarrh to last him his
life. All the public vehicles were crammed, and the pedes-
trians on the footways were often jostled by the crowds that,
bent on exercise, or about to " visit their relations," content-
edly waded through the slush which defiled the pavements.
Many of the shops, not forgetting the druggists', were open,
and attracted the gaze, if not the money, of the passers-by.
The red-coated shoeblacks had their hands full of business,
and the cry of "Clean your boots " was assuredly not raised
in vain. The tobacconists and grogahops did a roaring trade,
in defiance of the Maine
.law and the advocates of the tem-
perance and anti-smoking associations ; and, although—as
Englishmen always do —the seekers Of pleasure seemed to go
after it with a very grave face, as if " keeping the feast " were
a matter of business as well as of enjoyment, it was manifest
to a careful observer that every one was resolved, with true
John Bull determination, to spend & merry Christmas. The
weather was the only drawback.

TllE.cold is_so severe at St. Petersburg that several sentinels.
have been found frozen to death in their sentry-boxes, although-
they are relieved every half-hour.
Auoira-sT the cargo sent out in the Alma, which left South-
ampton a few days ago, was an immense quantity of seeds for
the gardens of •the Paella of Egypt.
TUE Plymouth Mail states that, at next election, it is the
intention of Lord John Russell to give way to Lord Palmer-
ston in the representation of London, and that the ex-Premier
goes to Edinburgh.
Two HUGE CANNON-BALLS have just been placed at the
door, of the palace of the Governor-General of Algiers. They
were lately conveyed to Algiers by the Algerian riflemen as a
specimen of the projectiles fired at them by the Russians
during the siege of Sebastopol.
Two LADIES, sisters of an officer belonging to the Royal
Artillery, who lately fell before Sebastopol, have placed at the
disposal of the regiment the sum of L 2,000 for any benevolent
purpose that might be proposed.
Pa. CUMMING, of London, has heralded the end of the
world in 1885 ; yet his publisher's arrangements for the
copyright of his books extend far beyond that period ; and he
has just .entered upon a nineteen years' lease of his summer
house!

Tun PATRIARCH Or CONSTANTINOPLE, accompanied by
the Holy Synod, has, With the authorisation of the Divan,
paid a visit of ceremony to the Greek Charge d'Affaires at
Constantinople. This Is the first visit of the kind ever made
officially.
A SrParrLA.R ActrvENY occurred on the St. Helen's Railway
on Monday last week, an engine and tender, in consequence of
the bridge over the 'canal bing open, belig thrown into the
canal. The engine sank, but the tender fell partly across a
fiat which was passing at the time. No loss of life .was
sustained.
A CLOTH-ttI:SSER, named Mark Rider, who emigrated to
Australia nearly four years since, last week sent to his wife, in
Leeds, nuggets of
,gold weighing about 18 ozs. One of the
nuggets weighs 9 ozs., and the whole have been gathered by
himself at the gold diggings.
A Mas, named Corrigan, in the service of the East India
Company, murdered his wife, on Wednesday, by stabbing her
repeat -e4Ay with a knife in the bedroom of a friend, with whom
he was spending Christmas. Two women, who interfered,
were severely wounded. There had -been no quarrel, and
'no motive is suggested. The prisoner's plea, at the police-
office, was that he had been drinking freely. He was, appa-
redly., overwhelmed with grief.
MELANCHOLY AcCIDEN-T.—As Mrs. Lunisden, of Braco,
war Keith, was on Wednesday evening driving home in a
-mart (this being considered the safest conveyance through the
-*now in the dark), along with several ether ladies, from a party,
'the driver, who was leading the horse, mistook the road, and
the cart, with its contents, were p-ecipitated over an embank-
ment, when the lady named was killed on the spot.—Aberdeen
Herald.
THE North :British Mail states that the efforts of the Ayr-
shire.Agricultural Association to introduce a new and better
system of cheesemaking into this country have resulted in
complete success. Wherever: the Cheddar mode has been
carried on several days •it has given entire satisfaction. The
work is noknoWledged-by all to be easier and more methodical,
and the quality- of the.cheese is•-aseertained to be superior to
those made in the same dairies on the Dunlop system.

THE -11131tRA.IN IN PRUSSIA.—The murrain continues to
comnsiteeensiderable ravages in divers cantons of east Prussia.
The frottier, from Thorn to Orletzburg, is closed and strictly
guarded by military detachments, to prevent import of cattle
from Russia ; and the most rigorous measures and precautions
are taken .by the local authorities to arrest contagion. In,
reeled animals are killed, and their carcases burned, sheds and
cattle houses are whitewashed and disinfected, and medicine
supplied ab/andantly:and gratuitously by government vete,
rinaries.
—II4IPNVAVIONS • it!- Sl'AlN.—Gaunt famine strides on stilts
through tl ie provinces, -for the fiend cannot pass with dry
feet. The waters are'eut everywhere, save where they have
beonarrestred by the sharp hand of winter ; the heavy-rains,
the torrents which rush down from the mountains, have con-
verted the; valleys which would have been filled with waving
'corn; o desolate swamps or huge lakes. The crops -are
utterly etestroyed in many parts of Spain ; the vines have
also suff( wed much from the inundations, or rather from the
torrents,' which, `,-11 rushing down the declivities, have laid
bate th eir roots. The people are in an appalling' state of
misery.
THE 11UGELEY IiUBDED.—The report of the death of
Palmer , of Rugeley, who was committed for trial at the Staf-
fordshi re assizes for the wilful murder of Mr. John Parsons
Cook, 5a without foundation. Palmer is still a prisoner in the
Staffoi 'd county •gaol. While waiting the completion of the
inalys RS which Dr. Taylor, of Guy'S Hospital, has commenced
upon the stomach-and the intestines of the prisoner's deceased
wife r anilbrother,-the police authorities are busily_ engaged in
maki- An another and more strict search for the missing betting-
book of the deceased Cook, the discovery of which, or of any
trace of it, will be an important fact in the case which relates
'to tiva mysterious death of that gentleman.
TICE Boan's HEAD AT QUEEN'S COLLEGE, OxroßD.—The
anci( mt custom of serving up a boar's head, " bedecked with
bays and rosemary," and a large orange in its mouth, at this
colloge, on -Christmas-day, was duly observed, and the spacious
coll!ge-hall was crowded with Oxonians and their town and
-country friends. The -boar's head, which, borne on the
shoulders of two servants, weighed upwards of seventy pounds,
was announced by the sound of the trumpets, when the usual
song was -chanted ; the Rev. T. Rennison taking the solo part,
and -choristers from :Magdalen College singing the chorus,
from the entrance of the hall to the high table, where a sump-
~• tuous dinner awaited the invited guests. This, we believe, is
the only,place where the ancient custom of serving up a boar's
head every Christmas-day, with the original chant, is still ob-
aerved.-

Son' -KrrpnEris Ix Penis.—ln consequence of
.the se-
verity of the Weather and the dearness of provisions, the French
Government has resolved to open kitchens in every quarter of
'Paris. A circular from the prefect of police to the police
commissaries states that the Emperor and the Empress, who
during the two last winters made large distributions. of food
arulfiring at the dwellings of the poor, are now of opinion
that a :more general system of relief should be introduced.
Kitchens will be opened with all possible speed, in which a
pint abroth will be served out for one sou. A portion of
.meat or:vegetables is to be served out at the same price, and a
half portion for a child will be delivered at the unheard-of
.price -of two centimes (less than half a son.) The sisters of
St.'Vincent de Paul will superintend this charity.

APIRLY WITH POACHERS.--A few nights ago a keeper of
the name of Hayes, employed by Sir Edmund Walker, of
Berry-11, Notts, discovered three men, with their faces black-
ened, in a plantation near the hall. One of the poachers
having shot a pheasant, the keeper went up and closed with
:him; another of the poachers then attacked the keeper, and
a struggle ensued between them, in which the poacher tried
to stab-the keeper, but cutting through his trowsers and shirt
only punctured his stomach.- During this struggle the third
.poacher-came up, and, raising the muzzle of his gun close to
the keeper's head, fired. The keeper fortunately moved his
he.ad.atrthe time, and the contents of the barrel-entered his
,hat. :After. this the poachers decamped, and have not yet
been apprehended.
PIRAOT - ire - •TIIE LEVANT.—The Constantinople corres-
pondent of the Morning Herald says :—Ely advices of the
'‘sth instant, from Samos, I learn that a piratical boat is prowl-
ing about the , neighbourhood, committing depredations as
-often as favourable opportunities present themselves. The
captain, a-brigand of fifteen years' standing, is well informed
by his accomplices at Smyrna whenever vessels are about to
proceed with money on board, and the boat lies in wait with a
View, if posslle, of intercepting them as they go out of the
Gulf. A -13ritish schooner, with specie to the amount of £3,500,
Was lately chased, and would not have escaped but for the for-
tunate circumstance of a breeze springing up just before the
pirate could reach her, and this enabled her to get clear. The
Gulf. of - Monica is also infested with several such craft, the
terror of all honest navigators.
T&E .LATE :SiMUEL ROGERB.—The remains of Samuel
Rogers were interred on Thursday, in Hornsey churchyard, in
a family vault, which was built some years since on the death
of the -poet's brother, and where a sister, ivlio died last year,
is also buried. The funeral, according to the particular wish
of the deceased, was strictly private, being merely attended by
his surviving relatives, his physician, Dr. Beattie, and Mr.
Mozon, his publisher. The church was hung with mourning.
The psalms were chanted, and portions of the Dead March in
Saul were played as-the body was being removed to the church-
yard. A few persons -who had the good fortune to know Mr.
Rogers in life attended to pay the last mark of respect to his
memory, and there is no doubt that many others would have
been present had they been aware of the time and place of the
funeral.

ROMANCE OF REAL LIFE.—Some years ago a banker, sup=
posed to be wealthy, resided in a well-known borough town '
or considerable magnitude, in the west of England. The
bank, however, failed, and the banker died, leaving behind
him a' lovely and highly-accomplished young lady, his
(knitter, penniless. She at one time took to the stage, .and.
possessing a charming. voice, a beautiful person, together
with considerable talent, she was very successful. In or near
, the same town there resided at the same time, a gentleman
' upwards of sixty years of age, unmarried, but having three
daughters* his deceased wife. He engaged the banker's
daughter as a companion for them ; but became so ena-
moured of the banker's daughter, that he ultimately married
her. Afterwards they went abroad, and resided for some
. time in a town ,on the coast of Spain ; but ultimately he
returned to n$ and, and bought a villa on the banks of the '
Thames. lirli' residing here, a young clergyman belonging,
to the Low (, nub' 'or Evangelical party, was a frequent
visitor to the house, and accompanied them on visits or ex-
cursions. One day while sailing on the Thames, the boat was
upset. The old gentleman caught his young wife in his
arms, and sustained her in the Water as long as possible,
calling out to the young clergyman to swim towards them
and " save her 1" and he liken sank to rise no more ; but the
clergyman had reached the lady, and making desperate efforts
he saved her from .a watery grave. Some months afterwards
she gratefully presented the preserver of her life with her
' hand, and an income left to her by her first husband of
£2,000 a year. Subsequently they came and resided in a
' small town near Brighton. Here he was rector of the parish,
and built a noble parsonage-house at the cost of £5,000, on
'*lebe land, where he. resided. He had, at the instance, it is
said, of his wife, abandoned the Low Church for the High
pChurch party, and gave great offence to some 'of the old
I.)arishioners by the changes he introduced ; but within the
nut few days this gentleman has embraced the tenets of the
Romish Church, and recanted., it is said, what he now con.
sliders the errors of Protestantism. He ceases, of course, to
be a clergyman of the Church of England. All his effects at
the parsonage-house are to be sold ; and . he loses, we believe,
all interest in the parsonage-house ; and he and his family, it
is said, are about to proceed to ItalY. As a married man, he
cannot be a priest in the Romish ChUrch, and therefore
cannot administer at the altar ; but we believe that in some
similar cases converts have been permitted to preach, and
that may be all he may desire. This " conversion," or, as
some will term it, " perversion," has made as great a sensa-
tion in the church as did the conversion of Archdeacon
Manning, who is the intimate friend .of the gentleman we
have,. been speaking of, and who, as it is said, was instru-
mental in his " conversion."—Brighton Examiner.
By an Advertisement in our columns, it will be seen that,
in addition to other advantages promised to subscribers to the
ILLUSTRATED LONDON NEWS for 1856, a new and important
feature is about to be introduced, namely the issuing a series of
magnificent Supplements, worked in colours, which, we are in-
formed, will bear comparison with the finest Water-colour Draw-
ings. The great outlay necessary to their production, and the
number required to meet the immense circulation of the Journal,
amounting to near!y Two Hundred Thousand per week, will
render it only possible for those who subscribe regularly to obtain
these splendid coloured Supplements. The period of the year
. presents a filvournble oppertunity for entry on the list of regular ,
subscribers.