The Express.
London, England, 1856-12-24 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, WEDNESDAY EVENING,

THE DAILY NEWS: LONTON MORNINGI
PPPPPP prtee namenspen ed., Mataped MI.
Limit= Lommi Journal. Ye adreaMe at tree awes' nod
want reform..
Mls the must and mine of Its ornmal new—ln the air:=l Me
We hor la the vaned merstatNe and reauserdal
eimiereed in the clkl. fairer. and ormenin eftinm—Min ps k I
ITS TORSION PIIITS II RNLI/ALM AND
`rteIMPAR
An raelmorels rev," 0( Miming in the Winn Nee
lel men OrrrineJ Mai, and It areralen
TO N ONLY DAIL! MIN/R0 REPORT.
Lb ott at priam
IT !MOLE DU ..LL 011YENBITI ADTIRTINZMINTIL
Itnetly independent. Weed Peaseer IDM tam Maly
pan lhan ono of In enatenporarloo. InfoT aatia
sod emir trif.cmance. achieved Inc halt • dnEveter pctirien"lna
lateetee to 001.
To be ordered of ear brelseher et nommen la lie MUD= or at
She °na 10, liouraiortrect. Wireaetreet. Landon.
W. If damn/ An esp.-Moan
to oblinzalag Ina vapor lor solnlng
asot It • waned prim the {algina on app 01. haralrh the
reser ef sews wenn nouly to mob It at Lis. Id. per neallef. POI
Madmen, be Pinaeflce erder.

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11.1, vv...0.a••••• rasa., m. 0..
A terrtlreweete Wended tw "The liprow." Lowka Twain Imre,
art be at We Mks. 10. Desier.owlemet. by Two o'Cloit ow the
Au of yeabwateo.

STANDARD.
Too Emus'. tbs new email pantomime. HICI(EDT•PIC[EDT
NT BLACR ; or, Hataquin ►ine Waiter and Queen Serial.
Rims. J. W.Doostity,A.belto, Bird, anti Kees. Jaws sea ?slit Carlo ;
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NIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.
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LONDON, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 24.

Tins is the season of feasting, and the great feast
day is at hand. The questions which agitate the
political world are momentous enough, bat still
we will cot do our countrymen the injustice to think
that even such questions will withdraw them from
the social enjoyment and revelry which are the pri-
vilege of this season. The people of this country are
probably the hardest worked people in the world.
They lack those perpetually recurring holidays which
are sanctioned amongst other nations. But we quer
tics whether any people excel as in those scenes of
home revelry and family reunion which tend so
admirably to develop the peculiar virtues of English
family life. Patient labour is an excellent thing.
But let those pedants whose insane passion for in-
formant toil has destroyed their capacity of
enjoying idleoew, talk Si they will, it should
be matter of sincere congratulation amongst wiser
men that some seasons of national recreation are
. _

still recognised. Ttere are, Gorr knows, enough of
oar fellow.countrymen whose avocations compel them

--
to forego even these delights, few as they are. Let
us not pretend that that is a benefit which
oaly the result of a dire necessity. The slaves
of Rome had their Saturnalia. Human 'stare
wooded it, and we doubt not it was an institution
banded on ct.mmon serge. The hard-worked people
of this country stand in need of the same sort of
thing; and although these national holidays Sr.
- . . .

madly rased in number, still let no rejoice that the
rasa et" merry ChrietatairS not yet a sere mass

To morrow how many poor Whim will have their an-
nual feast of roast beef and plum pudding ; how many
boys and girls will gather round the brilliant dinner-
table-1101A, perhaps, an hoer or two Won as
ordinary time—with eager and joyous fame, to join
in the friendly onslaught on those smoking sirloins
and monstrous turkeys which have taxed the fat-
tening faculties of some eminent feeder to bring up
to the de.irrd weight. Let no man despise the
kindly feelings sod generous sympathies; which can-
not fail to spring from meetings such as throe. Pug.,
lishmen are often reproached with the fact that they
eon celebrate neither a great victory nor a discovery
in science without a dinner. Englishmen have their
extravaganeiee. But at all events the Christmas
feast is admirably fitted to reanimate thew social
affections which it is its chief object to accomplish.

It is a question often dimmed how turkey. and
roast beef have come to be the orthodox dishes for
Christened sy. We confess ourselves ignorant of the
true answer to this question ; but it is a matter which
might well engage the attention of some of the learned
contributors to IVotos mad Queries. At all events these
delicacies are admirably fitted to adorn the family
board, and they confer that " majesty and
which a distioguisbed epicure, in the enthusiasm
of hie eloquence, described sas the peculiar
advantage of 84/fish joints. Some affected
gentlemen who have lost simplicity of taste
will no doubt consider an enormous sirloin of
beef and a turkey of 20ib. weight—dishes which
as English head waiter would denominate " hand-
some ''—as sad illustrations of a floarieldeg ber
barb= But the man of real taste disowns the
fallacy. It I. only in a country where the material
is inferior that a scientific cook is absolutely atom-

marry. Simpex munditiis is perhaps the highest
compliment that can be paid to a young lady. It is
the same in cookery. The may reason why the
system of joints is general in England and a
rarity on the Co'nticent, Is because of the superiority
of oar beeves, mutton, and fhb. Lot it not be supposed
that wears ii.ditfcrent to the imaginative glories of
French cuisine. We see •otdieg incredible In the
fact that the highest statesmanship has been fogad
combined with faculties capable of the ioftiest Sights
elAmphitryonic inventios. Have not some of the
most sagacious counsellors paused amid the most
earnest deliberations to send a despatch to their chef,
or written @taborets treatises on the PhyisikVie
du OUP ? It it not a comma article of belief
that the diplomatic business of the world could
not be carried on without the aid of French
cuisine f E is impossible to doubt the in.
Buenos of an artistic dinner' sad we may say

for ourselves that if we had anything to ask or any-
thing to discover by conversation we should prefer
making the assault upon our friendly advarlary_pre

ceded by a corps of tirailleare composed of Wes,
rather than by a corps of Temple Laundresses.
The pat/s, salmis sod souffles of the Preach•
man would surely hare a more blinding effect
than the raw soles or the tough mutton chops of the
Englishwomen. But whatever may be the truth at
to dipltersey, moat certain it is that so great General
of modem times has ventured to campaign without a
scientific chef. Therefore, whilst we do all honour to
the genius displayed in the French cuisine, we mast
adhere tenor e.pinion th tt the roast beef, the legs of
mutton, atd the plain toiled fish of England, are not
things which could be introdneed systematically
abroad. Indeed, it would seem to be a more hopeless

attempt in these days than forossly, for we
suspect that the meat must hay* degeaseilled
In Francs from what it was at do belly
of the century; thus we find the When el?
the Almanaele des Gournsonds Abe to pedere
eloquence whin they discuss the dishes fitted flse the
ibiginnieg of the year. Beef they regard as sae of
the best. Beef, they say, is indeed " the king of
miens." After specifying the beeves of Anverpe
And of Cotentin as the best, they say, " Theo
divine sirloins are the foundation of a good hest,
and with them the appetite is much lees sully
fatigued than with the most reeAereld dishes." Reset
beef, they add, is the dish best fitted for a table filled
with numerous and hungry guests--a resernessedla-
tion as powerful to • roaster of a household la the
Christmas of 1866 as it was to the Frenchman on the
New Year 60 years ago. Bat, if we may credit
the accounts which hare reached us as to the know-
ledge of besets displayed by the French judges at
'the Paris Cattle Show this year, we may well
doubt whether the Parisians of these days are to
be congratulated in the same enthusiastic terms
as the author. of the AlNsonaeh des Gourmands
thought fit to us to the Parisians of fifty years ago.
"Nappy Parisians!" they exclaim; "congratulate
yourselves; if those travellers who are the most famous
gourmands are to be believed, you eat within your
walla the most delicious beet in the world!" Either
the beef hes degenerated, or the authors of the
.41rnaraeh are not so learned as we imagined.
These Christmas besets are not confined to England.
Elaborate descriptions may be found of the teas
called Revedlons, which take place between two and
three in the morning of the 26th of December.
The logical intellect of a Frenchman cannot, of course,
be satisfied without finding some reason foe this
strange repast, " which is neither a breakfast, nor a
dinner, nor a luncheon, nor a supper—but a moil-
lons." It seems, however, to the philosophic your.
cloud that this anomalous meal is necessitated
by the fact that the religious exorcises is which the
faithful indulge on Christmas-eve so exhaust them
that they need to be awakened, or rather restored.
Nothing, of course, can be more natural. But the
notable characteristics of the reeeillons, and their
peealiar fitness for their purpose, do not stop
here. It seems that pork is the chief
material in these banquets. Why should this
be ? The scientific authors of the Alonanaeh
solve the riddle. "We may presume that I
the early Christians, in order to distinguish them-
selves from the Jews, who were forbidden the use of
perk by the old law, thought fit to introduce this
mime to their tables, which has nothing unclean to
ear notions, and is the source of so many of our beet
Melee In feet, this profusion of pork at Christmas
thee is a mart of protest against the Jews, and we

are told that the» is no listeners of any real gour-
mand apostatising and submitting to the Law of
Moses. To establish a man In his creed is surely
the crowning triumph de la gournameltee.

Zbe Court.

,
WINDSOR, Dim 23.

The Dabs of Cambridge arrived yesterday after-
aeon. cm a visit to bar Majesty, attended by Colossi
Tyrwhitt.
Prises Leh ere and Prises Bawd of Lebanon &wed
with the Queen in the weentag.

Teo Qeees, with Prises ATrthar sod the Princesses Alice
sod Louts, welted is the gudeas of the Coatis this
'tondo'.
Prises Albert, sceespasied by the Doke of Cambridge,
west cat shoat's'.

Admiral &r Charles Elliott had ea iatarview with Mr.
Sweaty Latossiore yesterday, at the Colonial ogles.
Daspetattes tee the governors c t tee felonies on the West
Coast of AM.. wise Nat yesterday frogs the Caosiel-offies.
Despetehee were reeeivoi from the Governor of Melte.

The (loess was expeeted last week to visit the
weeks of Haley Hospital, es the banks of Southpaws
Water, sad preparations WETS made to reesive her blejestj.
From male sears or other, this espestation was dhsp-
pedaled. Tim foendstlons of the mummies budding are
cow almost complete, sad the matreotor for beildieg the
hospital from the foundatioa has sosuneneed operations.
Sir Benjamin Hall hem left town for Llsaorer,
Booth Helm

The Marquis sod Merchioeme of Healed hue
eft Claridp's Hotel for Brigetos.
_ _ _

The Comities of Gaioeboroagh sod family have
left Clotldge's Hotel foe Rota. Hall, Rotlendshire.
Lord Stafford has arrived at hi. residence la
Estes-plan from Ma Best, enemy Hill, tear Norwich.

.
The Hon. C. C. Cavendish, M.P., and Lady Cathe.
elso Caloodleh have loft Claridge. Hotel, for Latimer.,
Backe.

Th• Hoo. Mrs. Fitzroy has arrived at the Bt.
G•orge's Hotel.

The Doke of Wellington and the Dawager Coun-
tess GradeMe bare apartateato at t►e Bedford Betel,

Brightoe.
The Perthshire Cowier dates that a pair of curling
atoms us bang eat at Perth for Lud Penman, from a
Week of unite which fused a parties of one of the
fertilisations of Inbasoopol.
The Record states that the Lnd Chancellor has
been pleased to appoint the Bev. B. H. Cur, of Christ's
Chapel, to. the rectory of Bt. Giles, vaunt by
the advisement of Dr. &Aeratesb.

The church of St. Poore, Lotrimore-oquato, New.
Logue, woo this stoning remseeszatad by the Bishop of
London. It is Mastro in an entirely am distriet, assebtreg
of apauds of 1,000 boasts, • set respectably latiabitiol, sad
Iylag bigness the Walwortb road and Honatagtes-
SOISMan.

A Oassbridge journal rernarks:—', It is somewhat
eppottsas that jest at the sowed when the traesatleatio
npublbaas an atrlrbg for the 'stooges of slavery within
their lessdarko, sad eves for isergislig t►e supply by a
renewal of the plash' of ♦feiea, the subject s►aus for the
Gold Medal gives by the Coition of oar (Isom, as Chan-
cellor of the Usivetaity, for the 'Coghill pees b Inarery.'
lf there be is the train/sit? a poet who Gas wield the leek
with Apar, we boat he will be armed by this asnostee-
aut."

It is reported (says the Bury Post) that Bt. John's
College, Castvidge, hes •Lead, net sad deterssfsed ape■
the abolition et all ranch:ties': the soilage to be epos to
•very ea• whir t• a British subjoin. This is a great step at
ogee la a seller hitherto seasidersd intim misdeals stress-
bed et aatiqualsd prejudise.

Tko /gory Pod mmotwamo that the tniatry of Bit
Edward Keentea, Bert., M.P sad the resiaests Mika bo-
rough sad seighbeatheed, beats &.t ou of toetifylog t►e
high esteem they eaterteis towards ►i. m s larliora,
minify 'asthma, sad aokyhbour, a fall leagth permit of
I. M bo Mama la t►e New Cent lizotta•ge, Eye ; sad,
as s farther Oestimesy of reepeet, it is reposed to rake
big s pnweetatioa of piste. Neatly 2001. ►u !ma sub-
mike.' already:

The writ for the eleotioa of a knight of the shire
Ix East BALA larias bees resolved, the Sheriff bee iced
es Fraley beet ter the stoslastfoo, awl a so oppoeStion to
Lord Smatter le peobehte, the rotors will se doubt be
made au that day.

The isoesmtet to the moor, of the daughter of
Chalice I. whit& t►e Qom conniedised Boas lien.
dont to assents, has jest bees meted is Bt. Theme's
nook Newport, Isle of Wight, when lite Prison, who
dial is optivity at Csriebrook Castle, Ike beried. The
isessaist ropreseete she Agin et a youtbfel husks rit-
e/ham la a noel, reeeohliag the all of a oboe. The
pillow as width the head et the Ague rests b as eyes
Bible, Is which eas be wee the I'4l4:mills word.:—" Cone
sate we all ye that are heavy ledge, sad I will give yes
rest." The 10110+44 laseripttos is en the soiserneet. var.:
To the memory of the Prineese diatiihter of
Kis, Charles 1., who died at Ceriebrook Castle, on Beadily,
Sept. 8, 1653, sad is (eternal beneath the them' of this
church. This monument is erected u s token of respect for
her virtues and of evraosiby for her eutlerings, by Vie-
torio, 185 G." The figure of the Prineeu is of white
suable. The ro.cie or cell i. of Csca stcne.

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

PRUSSIA AND

Telegraphic intelligence wee received yesterday In'
Paris from Berlin to the following effect:—All the
preparations which have been made here up to this
time have for their end to provide for the march of
136,000 men on the 2nd of January. The Prussian
troops will be formed in nine divisions, one of which
will be furnished by each corps d'armee. The
divisions are to be composed of four corp 3, supported
by a division of reeerve. Count Groben is appointed
Commander-in-Chief t the commanders of the corps

are General' Warder, Wassow, Bonin, and Schack.
The Prince of Hohenzollern will command the
division of reserve. The division of the guards of
the let corps is to be under the orders of Prince
Frederick Charles of Prosaic

It is said that there will not be any new loan.
The war taxes will be at the rate of 100,000 theists
a week. _

A correscendent of the Nord, by a telegraphic
despatch transmitted from Berlin to Brussels on
Monday last, states that at the instigation of the
representatives of the United States, the English Mi-
nister has invited the embassies of the powers which
have not yet interfered in the Neufchatel dispute to en.
deavour to induce the Federal Council to est the
Royalist prieooers at hberty. The object of this
intervention appears to be to obtain a settlement of
the differences by which Prussia would make an
important concemion, after proof had been given of a
sincere desire of conciliation and peace on the part
of the Federal Council.

Mill loastiosallsed. Sirltsetlead should put ea lid to I
the measly. She easy kayo seed of ell kir N. Ph
wUI else know bow to tut to maul her swevatsbee, her
1 defilee, ler @last meekness, mid her saltery traditions.

The Press. and the Bide, as indeed do all those
who would wish to see repaired, as far 111 possible,
the tremendous blunder which the Emperor has war
milted, insist that the text in the Mosiatter merely
declared that Prance would remain neutral. while
the dassubles and the legitimist journals, which,
hoping to ergs the government on to its own deatrn^•
tion. rotes, to give it their ardent support on this
question, say that a mere idle expression of displea-
sure is unworthy of a great nation ; and, therefore,
if the article of the Moniker meats anything at all,
it must presage the active support of France in the
King of Prussia's enterprise, the real object of which
is to "extinguish the hot-bad of revolution which
burns perpetually in Switzerland."
I observe that several of the Prussian papers ven-
ture to deprecate the King's mad project. The
National Gazelle of Berlin recommends Prussia
not to serve ss a stepping-stone to the increasing
greatness of France. The Brunswick Gault. says
that France professes to be more Prussian than
Prussia herself, and that the only object of this
policy is to force the cabinet of Berlin to throw
itself into the aims of Frew, and to abandon the
attitude of neutrality which it has so long main-
tained. _

The Bourse, after opening heavily, improved in
consequence of a report that the Bank of France is
at length about to discount bills at shorter date. The
Rent. rose 35c. for cash, and 200. for account, closing
at 661 e. 601:. and 66fr. 76e. Mobilise rcm 36:r.
Railways roes from Mr. to 10fe.
The following telegraphic despatches have been
received this afternoon :

Berlin, Deo. 23.

The Godes de la Croix dents that the Eseish ambas-
sador ha, recently supported the demands of Prussia against
Bwi•serlsnd.

Fruition, Drs. 23.
Tits Frellkley* Journal of yesterday gives the followtog
•awe, dated Berne, Monday : _

"birthing is yet decided. bat the hopes of peace aug-
ment.. There I. a question of a diplomatic mediation, and
of epee's' agents being seat to Berlia in that view. ?deny
Csaferseess have been held at the home of the President of
the Diet."

bianeillee. Dec. 23.

This Hydupw, Just arrived from Constantinople, an-
sonatas that an implosion took place on Doe. 15 in tLe
powder asagiaims at Cumuli. Twenty barrels of powder
and 150 cuss of cartridges blew up. The neighbouriag
boasts were greatly Hand, sad several people were killed.
Letters from Egypt state that Abye•iaia is agitated, and
that Said Pasha is probably coming to Constantiaopie.
" •

Taws wars warmed rumours of what is pawing in
Persia. 1331116 say that Knead Mirse had matched to the
south towards the tavola of the Hair rad, and had ocat-
piad Farrah, in Cabool.

It was said at Athens on the 17th that Lord Palms:ll

desired to seed

eztraordiaary Into Greccato

oxalates the state of the settutty. RUSiii I would opp us this
measure, n derogatory to the dignity of the Grub govers-
meat. The protecting pectin hare, it is said, at last dteided
that their ordinary ambundor should make a detailed re-
put ea the subject.