The Sun.
London, England, 1864-01-02 00:00:00

Her Majesty's New-Year's Gifts.

The New-year's gifts of her Majesty to the poor of
the parishes of Windsor, Clewer, and the Holy
Trinity were distributed yesterday morning at the
Town Hall, Windsor, under the management of the
Hon. and Very Rev. the Dean of Windsor; the Rev.
H. J. Ellison, vicar ; the Revs. Thomas Rooke, R. J.
Simpson, and S. J. Stone, curates of St. John's
Church; the Mayor of Windsor, &c. Since the
death of the Prince Consort this annual distribu-
tion of her Majesty's bounty has been divested of
much of the interest attached to it, as it no longer
takes place in the Riding•school, in the presence
of her Majesty and the members of the Royal
family.

The recipients of the Royal gifts were divided
into five classes, according to the number of their
families. in the first class there were lfifamilies,
who received each 71b of beef and 3 cwt. of coals,
value 88. 21-,d, In the second class there were 37
families, who received each 61b of beef and 21 cwt.
of coals, value 6s. 11d. In the third class there
were 62 families, to whom were allowed 51b of beef
and 2 cwt. of coals, value ss. Bd. The fourth class
contained 118 families, who received 41b of beef
and 11 cwt. of coals. In the fifth class there were
124 recipients of 31b of beef and 1 cwt. of coals.
The meat, which was of the finest quality, was sup-
plied by the Royal butchers.
In the parish of Windsor there were 357 families
who partook of the Royal bounty.
The proportions distributed to Clewer were at the
rate of 9 to 4 as compared to Windsor, and those
of Holy Trinity as 13 to 6, which was according to
the population of the respective parishes.
The Royal Clothing Club was established under
the patronage of her Majesty to induce the poor of
the three parishes to deposit small sums weekly
during the year for the purpose of receiving at this
season an amount of clothing equivalent to their
deposits, in addition to which her Majesty gives 3s.
to each depositor. During the past year the first
class contained 88 members, the second class 244
members, and the third class 259. The amount
each first-class person contributes is 205., the second
class contribute 155., and the third class Bs. Eight
hundred tickets will be issued for the current year
to those who may wish to avail themselves of this
admirable charity ; and, as a proof of the import-
ance of this institution, it may be stated that there
were double this number of applications, but only
half could be received, as the funds will not
allow the managers to exceed the original
number. The contributors, in case of need, are
allowed to withdraw their contributions, and
replace them at their convenience: According to the
proposal of the Hon. and Very Rev. the Deatt of
Windsor, which was adopted by the committee, the
contributors are desired to select their goods from
any shop in Windsor or Eton. Her Majesty's gifts'
amounted to £l5O.

The Duke and Duchess of Manchester are ex
pected to arrive in town to-day from Kimbolton Castle
Hunts, and to go to Knowsley on Monday, to join the dis-
tinguished circle about to assemble at the invitation of the
Earl and Countess of Derby.
The Duchess of Montrose left Belgrave-square,
yesterday, for the Continent. The noble duke and the
Marquis of Graham are staying at Powis Castle, on a visit
to the Earl of Powis.

The Earl and Countess of Westmoreland are
passing the winter in town. The health of the earl is
improved, but we hear that his medical advisers order his
lordship to abstain from hunting, or any other violent
exercise.

The Earl and Countess of Wilton are expected to
leave town on Monday far Melton Mowbray.

The Countess of Craven and Ladies Craven left
town yesterday for Ashdown Park, Berks. The earl re-
mains in town.

The Earl Russell returned to Pembroke Lodge,
Richmond Park, on Thursday evening, from visiting her
Majesty at Osborne.

Viscount and Viscountess Dangan have arrived
at the residence of Colonel P. -Williams, M.P., in Berke-
ley-square, from visiting the Earl and Countess Cowley a
Paris.

M. RENAN AND THE KING OF ITALY.—One of
the most bitterly ludicrous circumstances we have
noticed during the past month is, the conferring of the
cordon of St. Maurice and St. Lazarus upon M. Ernest
Renan, by the King of Italy, in recognition of the services
he has rendered to religion. " Eminent services rendered
to religion by M. Ronan l" We presume by publication of
his " Life of Jesus," upon which we cannot but remark
that Judas Iscariot might also have received some cordon.
of honour or other for his eminent services rendered to
religion I After all there is a propriety in the transaction.
The King of Italy, who betrayed and imprisoned Garibaldi,
to whom he owes his present sovereignty, decorates the
man who blasphemes the Saviour I--The Ekclie Review for
January.
A PASSAGE OF ARMS.—The American war has
brought forward a great deal of word-painting, and
a rather curious collection of battle scenes might be made.
The following description of an incident at Chicamauga,
from the pen of the correspondent of the Chicago Journal,
might obtain a corner in such a compilation :—" It was
near 4 o'clock on that blazing afternoon when a part of
General Steedman's division of the reserve corps bowed
their head to the hurtling storm of lead as if it had been
rain, and betrayed signs of breaking. The line waved like
a great flag iu a breath of wind. They were as splendid
material as ever shouldered a musket, but then what ,could
they do in such a blinding tempest. General Steen'man.
rode up, took the flag from the colour-beater, glanced along
the wavering front, and with that voice of his that co: Ild
talk against a small rattle of musketry, cried out, " Go back,
boys, go back; but the flag can't,go with you I" grasped the
staff, wheeled his horse, and rode on. Must I tell you that th 0
column closed up and grew firm, and moved resistlessly on
like a great strong river, and swept down upon the foe, and
made a record that shall live when their graves are as empty'
as the cave of Macpelah ?"
THE GREAT EMPEROR AND THE IRON DUKE..
—The Duke of Wellington and Napoleon Bonaparte
were born, as is well known, in the same year-1769—the
dulc,, being rather the older of the two: the duke on the Ist
of May, the Emperor on the 15th of August. The father
of the great Emperor died young; the father of the duke
died likewise at a comparatively early age. There were five
brothers in the one family, five brothers in the other. In
each case the five brothers attained more or less of eminence.
Though the two fathers died young, the two mothers lived.
to see the sons illustrious. The most brilliant of the Wel-
lesleys was the Marquis of Wellesley, a man infinitely`
more gifted than the Duke of Wellington, who, neverthe-
less, surpassed him in strength of character. Napoleon,
however, it is hardly necessary to say, had far more genius
than all the rest of the Bonaparte family put together.
TILE CONDEMNED CONVICTS IN HORSEMONGER°
LANE GAOL.—Yesterday afternoon Mr. Charles James
Abbott, the Under Sheriff for the county of Surrey, re-
ceived from Sir George' Grey, the Home Secretary, is
reprieve during her Majesty's pleasure for the con-
demned convict Joseph Mahaig, now under sentence
of death for the murder of Elizabeth Waterer at Guild-
ford, Mr. Abbott at once proceeded to Horsemonger*
lane Gaol and handed the reprieve to Mr. Keone,
the governor, who with the chaplain Lead an interview
with the convict and explained to him that meref
had -been extended to him. It may be recollected that he
cut his own throat in a Rightful manner, and his life was
despaired of for some time. Ile, however, has nearly re-
covered from the effects of those self- inflicted wounds, but
is in an extremely weak state. When told that his life had
been spared he fell on his knees and prayed fervently for
some minutes. He expressed his thanks to the sheriff, the
governor; and friends who had interested themselves in hie
favour. Great exertions are being made to save the lite of
Samuel Wright, whose execution is fixed for the 12th ; Oa
it is expected that they will be attended with success.