The Sun.
London, England, 1855-12-27 00:00:00

they will not ; yet it were absurd to prophesy,
especially believing as we do that all classes in
Russia are suffering almost beyond endurance,
and that the flower of the Russian army is in the
grave or the hospital. Russia will so keep up
appearances to the last that she may be on the
verge of a treaty without our knowing it. No
country in the world can longer sustain a decep-
tive part. We should not be surprised at her
evacuating the Crimea or proffering terms, or
anything else, if she thought it advantageous.
Honour, for its own sake, she neither under-
stands nor cares for. One of her most probable
attempts will be to endeavour again to accept in
general and evade in detail. She will not relax
in her own efforts, but she believes, we fear too
justly, that, even after the warning of last year,
the Allies will somewhat slacken their prepara-
tions while disputing over particular modes of
carrying out the proposals. No folly could be
more costly or ruinous, but it seems as if they
were to be befooled by Austria and her Master.
The Peace Party both in the French and Eng-
lish Cabinets have managed cleverly. They have
concocted proposals which confessedly have some-
' thing in them ; and which are so far better than
the purely empty ones of last year as to display
very glaringly the treachery of tie latter. It is
something to have the fortresses on the Black Sea
destroyed, aid Bomarsund left in ruins, the
Danube flowing entirely through Turkisk terri-
tory, ships of war banished from the Euxine, and
Protectorates wholly renounced ;—something, we
admit, but something which would leave the heart
of England sad, and which will prove but a poor
remuneration for the cost of the War. It was
not for a consummation like this, that England was
willing to part with hundreds of millions of money,
and to sacrifice her brave soldiers by thousands.
It is, after all, a counterfeit. Not, perhaps, ut-
terly valueless metal like that offered last year, but
like a gilt shilling for a sovereign. For a gene-
ration to come we shall feel ourselves a cheated
people. We shall retain, in consequence, a per-
manent detestation of the swindlers ; and a legacy
of war engendering hatred will be thus bequeathed
to posterity by our patchwork statesmen.
Without adverting to Poland and Finland,
which we may allow that the imbecility of our
statesmen have not enabled is yet to mention in
a treaty, is nothing definite to be included re

Council for the suspension of cash payments was
applied for. The Noble Lord declared—
" The credit of the Bank for all domestic purposes was
perfect. There was no man in the country who was not
ready to take its paper as a means of circulation, and to
give even his gold for it, the moment he was assured
that his neighbour would take it from him again. The
gold was not wanted to send abroad ; the state of the
foreign exchanges forbade it ; there was, therefore, no
fear of depreciation of paper. The necessity and pres-
sure were purely domestic ; what was wanted was some-
thing which everybody was disposed to trust as a sub-
stitute for what everybody distrusted ; and the paper of
the Bank of England answered in such a state of things
the purpose as well as gold—it may be said to have
done so even better, as being more transmissible, and
reaching more readily and happily the points where it
was wanted.
"In this state of things the remedy for the difficulty
was obvious, and unanimously agreed to by us. Although
the Bank had no specie left, a large additional issue of
notes was made, and about 1,5110,000/., of those of 11.,
which were accidentally found to be in existence, were
circulated ; the relief was immediate, the country re-
ceived a circulating currency in which everybody had
entire confidence, and the USELESS GOLD WAS RE-
TURNED TO THE BANE. The notes by this pro-
ceeding were increased from 19,743,000/. in Decem-
ber, 1825, to 24,479,0001. in March, 1826 ; and
having served to relieve the pressure, they gradually sub-
sided before the end of that year to their ordinary amount
again of 19,951,0001., while the bullion in the Bank was
successively increased by this increase of paper in oppo-
sition to the theory of 1844, which presumes from such
cause a necessary diminution."
Now this shows what would be the efficacy of
an adequate supply of really national notes of
small denominations, of 11., 21., and 31., such as
we have so long advocated, and which would afford
instant relief to industry. The country would re.
ceive " a circulating currency in which everybody
would have entire confidence," and which could
never be run on under any possible combination of
circumstances—which, as being more transmissible,
and reaching more readily aid rapidly the points
where it was wanting, would be far better than gold,
and which would, therefore, lead to the speedy re-
turn of the aseless gold to the Bank, or the bullion
dealers, where it woald discharge its legitimate
function as a valuable article of commerce, useful
hi certain events for adjusting the balance of trade
with other nations. Paper thus secured, and re-
ceivable in payment of taxes, would indeed an-
swer all the essential attributes of currency or
circulating medium far better than the precious
metals.

necessary to affect warlike tendencies, and emu-
late the extravagant language of its rivals. The
obstinacy of the EMPEReI is ascribed to the clergy,
who, as is generally tho case with weak
well-meaning monarchs, have much influence
over him. His better genii are to be found, it
would in the EMPRESS and the Queen
Dowager eoeft,he NETIIBRLANDS, who are not insen-
sible to the need he has for good counsel and re-
solution, but whose turn of influence has not yet
arrived. In conclusion, the writer expresses his
inability to calculate the chances of peace, not
being acquainted with the exact tenour of the
Austrian Propositions. From all this it is quite
evident that the operations of the Allies have pro- '
duced an immense effect throughout Russia—that
the empire has received a grievous blow, and that
we made a grand mistake when we suffered Kars
to go unrelieved, and its brave garrison to be
compelled by famine to yield themselves prisoners ,
to the Russian General.

LATEST NEWS.

PARIS, THURSDAY.
The Aroniteur says that Count Walewski has
signed a new postal treaty with Lord Cowley, by
which books and all printed papers may be sent
as ordinary letters.

The Momiteur prints despatches from the army
in the Crimea.

General Pelissier reports from Sebastopol, under
date Dec. 11, the affair of the Bth inst., when
the Russians attacked General Chotemarre's out-

posts.

The enemy ended by leaving 150 prisoners in

our hand.

MARSEILLES, DEC. 25.
General Mouravieff has directed a column on

Akhaltaik.

Selim Paella, with 12,000 men, is at Trebi
zond, waiting the arrival of the Egyptian divi•

non.

It would be far more "portable," one of the
chief recommendations of gold as a circulating
medium. It could be transmitted from place to
place with the utmost safety and despatch,
the few oabalistical characters rendering the
owner more wealthy than the man who had tons
of gold, or even of diamonds, if we should follow
the example of Eastern capitalists, and adopt
gems as a more convenient measure of value for
the large operations of trade.
It is also less perishable, for the ownership of
paper currency may be so guarded that no real
loss oould be sustained, although the actual repre-
sentative had fallen into the hands of robbers,
been consumed by fire, or sunk in the bottom of
the ocean. In both of the leading characteristics
the superiority of paper is, therefore, perfectly
manifest, while it possesses the additional advan-
tages, and those of no ordinary magnitude—that
it is not liable to wear or tear, and requires no
loss of interest or capital to those who use it. If
the gold in England be estimated at only sixty
millions, the cost or deterioration may be safely
calculated at the very lowest at 3 per cent. for
wear and tear and 3 per cent. for interest. Here
there is at once no less than 3,600,0001. per an-
num which might be saved to the over-burdened
tax-payers by the adoption. of a judicious and
well-regulated system of currency. But, however
large this amount, the benefits arising from an
equable, almost an unvarying, circulation, with
which fluctuations in the value of money would
be rendered, if not impossible, of comparatively
trivial amount, would be far greater. Then the
trade of the nation could be based on secure prin-
ciples, and our merchants would no longer be en-
gaged in gambling speculations, which might give
inordinate profits, but would be far more likely to
lead to bankruptcy and ruin. On every ground,
then, we advocate the adoption of such a circu

specting Circassia, anti. all the trans-Caucasian
possessions of Russia ? Ismail again, the terror
of the Danube, front whence a fleet of gun-boats
could at any time be 'wired upon its waters,
what about this fortress ? Nicolaieff also,
capable of nursing a whole navy of these
formidable bombarding vessels—is that to re-
main a creator of war ships, if none are ever-

MADRID, DEC. 25

The Ministry has introduced a Bill authorising
the house of Pereires to establish a Spanish Credit
Mobilier.

Tranquillity reigns throughout the provinces,

It is expected that Sir E. Lyons and the
Duke of Cambridge, attended by Sir A. Ilirey,
will be present at the Council of War about to
be held at Paris. 115.arshal Pelissier is said to
have given his opinion that no campaign is pos-
sible from the present base of operations.

more to float on the sea ? Then, above all, the
Crimea—is that, with its north side forts, still to
remain aproof that two or three hundred thousand
soldiers and a whole navy could not wrest it from
the aggressor ; and are the tombs of our brave
soldiers to be insulted by Russian slaves ? In the
very proposals that we hear of, these and many
similar things remain to be settled, and to be
settled in the interests not of Russian ambition,
but of European security. To us it is obvious
that negotiations once begun upon the bases now
talked of would afford endless matter for
debate ; that the nation would again, in
all probability, grow weary of Russian shuffling,
and that either a Coburg peace, to the lasting dis-
gust of the nation, must be hastily arranged, or
the negotiations again broken off.

THE ALLIES IN THE CRIMEA.
,Frent Special Correspondent of the Morniug Herald.)
HEIGHTS OF BALAKLAITA,
TUESDAY, DEC. 11.
From the time I last wrote to you till yesterday,
morning the weather hero has been very bad in-
deed. But yesterday brought a change ; and again
a clear blue sky was seen overhead, and the late
piercing rawness of the air had vanished, to be suc-
ceeded by a crispy frostiness more seasonable and
more agreeable, but unfortunately not quite
sharp enough to harden oar muddy slushy roads.
Horsemen, however (and here their name is le-
gion), who had been provokingly confined to
their drenched huts and tents nearly a whole
week by the rain, gladly availed themselves of the
dry open weather on Monday, and spread merrily
all over the country, gathering together
their " small stores" for Christmas, and fill-
ing up all sorts of gaps in their larders, as the
heavily laden pack-saddles of their servants return-
ing from Kadi Keuy, or Spring Hill, plainly
showed. Another advantage—a drying day—ac-
crued to us from this unexpected fine weather, one
that may be much disregarded at home, but ono of
too vital interest to be forgotten in the Crimea,
where the many means and appliances of old Eng-
land, connected with the useful profession of linen-
washing and drying are missed week after week,
and sighed for to an almost incredible extent. It
is ne joke here to be " down to your last shirt."
To wash is one thing, to dry is another. Cleanli-
ness is next to godliness. Dirty linen and creep-
ing things are inseparable in the Crimea ; and, se-
riously, any individual who would start a washing
and in-door drying company at Balaklava, ashore
or afloat, would not only receive the thanks
and patronage of the army, but might, perhaps,
hope for some Government reward —even to be
iaa'le in time a Commander of the Bath. Seriously
speaking, our greatest difficulty out hero is getting
things washed and dried. I\l'importe, we have
already locomotives and a railroad, and a steam-
bakery, and in due time may, I suppose, hope for
" baths and washhouses."
Yesterday, I regret to say, two cases of cholera
occurred in the 42d Regiment (Royal Highlanders),
and I must add that the two previous cases in the
92d have proved fatal. Private Alexander Reid
(county of Forfar) was admitted to hospital at six
o'clock a.m. on the 6th of December inst., and
died at six o'clock p.m. on the same day. Private
David Hunter (of Edinburgh) was also admitted
to hospital at six o'clock a.m. on the 6th of De-
cember inst., and died at ten o'clock p.m. the next
day. The above are the only cases up to last night
in the Highland Division.
I then rode over purposely to the Highlanders'
camp to make inquiry on this head, because I
doubted the rumour which bad already magnified
the outbreak of this fell disease most monstrously.
Should it unfortunately increase or not, the medi-
cal men will, I hope, never see the "lavender"
sneer revived, which was so injudiciously launched
against the Highland corps generally in a journal
not altogether unknown in Printing House square.
But, if repeated, it would be just as untrue in the
second case as in the first. Is the service of the
soldier to be estimated only by the return of the
killed and wounded ? Is the military profession held
so low that its only praiseworthy duty is fighting? Is
the itian who is planted on a yard of ground alone to
keep watch and ward over the safety of his tired
and sleepy comrades, and the position they defend,
ordered to listen for the approach of the enemy,
and to stand fast in that important duty under rain
and sleet and snow, and up to his knees in slush,
to be taunted as one in a state of "lavender ?" I
think not ; and whether, so far as fighting is con-
cerned, the Highlanders have been improperly re-
served for a grand coup I know not ; but this I do
know, that all through this campaign they have been
ready and willing for much closer service against
the enemy than they have had the luck to perform ;
and this I also know, that a gallant English officer
at the Redan exclaimed, " Oh, that I had the
Highlanders hero ;" this I may add, that there
are more veterans in the Highland Brigade than
in any other (and Napoleon the First knew the
value of veterans) ; and, moreover, let it not
bo forgotten that if the Highlanders have not a
heavy " butcher's bill" to parade, it is not their
fault, but, if fault at all (and it is not), it is the
fault of him whose orders they obeyed, whether the
late Lord Raglan or General Simpson. Ido not
add the name of General Codrington, now Com-
mander-in-Chief; for, if he were appealed to, I am
certain his opinion of Sir Colin Campbell is not
that he is a "lavender" officer, but that (for
litera scripts manet) he was just the man to have
succeeded General Simpson. I don't like to en-
large upon this subject, but that "lavender"
phrase has hurt the feelings of many a brave man,
officer as well as private, and English, and Irish,
as well as Scotch. Does any one believe that in the
Highland Brigade all are Scotch ? Certainly, the
majority were "raised" north of the Tweed, and I
wish all had been so ; since there is nothing so
utilitarian as clanship and esprit de corps. If you
were to rechristen the Guards into the "St.
James's Rifles," or the " Windsor Fusiliers," the
link that now unites them would, probably, be
sensibly weakened, and the country be the loser.
Highlanders have never failed at a pinch. And the
Guards (although those who marched out of Lon-
don have been sadly thinned) deserve full praise,
not censure ; they do their duty, have done it,
and will do it again ; but, injudicious penmanship
must not sow seeds of jealousy between them
and the Highlanders. Before I pass on, let me
give an example of
Highland March and April of the present year about
"lavender." In
180 was the average daily report of Highland-
era in hospital, in one regiment alone, the
79th, and this did not
include medical i 21911

When to all this we add that not a word is yet
said about repayment of the costs of the War,
the most righteous of many righteous demands ;
not even indemnity for the SULTAN'S expenses de-
manded ; not a step taken therefore towards de-
priving Russia of the sinews of War for the
future ; remembering this, we think, every sen-
sible man will rejoice in an unequivocal negative
by Russia to the ESTERZIAZY proposals. We look
seriously and even painfully at the cost of the
coming campaign ; but we shrink from a paltry
compromise as an unendurable disgrace.

If any doubt could exist on the point •f wile-
her it is currency or capital that is wanting, it
would be removed by a recent admission of the
Bullionist organ. The Times, which, on all
monetary questions, endorses the fallacies of
" NlEnolron," takes more correct views thereof
when arguing on other points. Although on the
14th instant it assimilated the nation to a man
obtaining money beyond his means, getting his
bills into circulation, and by a union of dexterity
and good luck, actually coming out with suc-
cess, which it declares to be only " a case of for-
tunate rashness, if not dishonesty," on the 24th
it asserts that " our country is wealthy beyond
computation, our people energetic and adventur-
ous beyond all other races." It sustains and
adopts the arguments of " the high financial au-
thority" whom it so loudly applauds, that " the
commerce of a country is carried on, not by
means of its paper money or its circulation, but
by means of its capital," and arrives for the time
being at the comfortable conclusion that all the
evils so painfully apparent in the state of trade
and manufacture, and of the industrial population
of the country are ascribable to "a general defici-
ency of capital." Subsequently, "Nous changons
tout ce20.," the Times discovers that " our coun-
try is wealthy, beyond all computation," and is
therefore capable of paying the men of other na-
tions to fight for us, and to carry on the War
with vigour and energy.
But although we fully concur with the latter
conclusion, it is necessary to fix so Protean an anta-
gonist to some decided point. We cannot allow it
44t0 blow hot and cold," or lay down as unques-
tionable, conflicting facts as the buses of argument.
On Tuesday we proved beyond the possibility of
doubt that
waxw possessed real canital, and that our
only want
of an adequate measure and repre-
sentative thereof, one that would answer all the
purposes of internal commerce, and be readily ac.
cepted by evoryspo__rson to whom it might be offered.
With accumulated and realised propertyillns fotololl
ex-
tent of at least five thousand millions
cin of sewn e
bev en
ira
or
sterling, and the thews and sinews
n.
eight millions of adult males, we

lating medium, which would place the prosperity
of Great Britain on a far sounder foundation than

any on which it has ever hitherto rested.

* " The Cor*mereial Crisis," p. 13.

The perfection of the art of lying, as developed
by the most distinguished practitioners, is not to
lie "slick ahead," but so to dovetail recognised
facts with inventions that the one shall lead the
reader without mistrust to the other, and lend
them such a colouring as to torpidity reason, and
command at least a temporary belief. To this per-
fection we yesterdayshowed Col. TAL. P. SHAFFNER
has no pretensions. Instead of having regard to
probabilities, and seasoning his story judiciously
with recognised facts, he sets not a few at defiance,
and the result is that no one can give credit to a
word he says. Had his zeal only been qualified
by knowledge what an ugly customer for the
Allies he would have been. How many would
have taken the lies which, skilfully presented,
might have served the CZAR at the present crisis,
for Gospel truths.
We would not have referred to the Colonel
again but for a communication to the Constitu-
tinnnd from its St. Petersburg correspondent, in
which the actual sentiments of the Russian nation
with regard to the War are revealed. From
this we gather that instead of the nation being
united as one man in favour of the prosecution of
the War, the balance of public opinion is on the
side of peace, and that at no former period was
the division between the German and the old
Russian parties more, if so much, marked as at
the present time. That instead of all being har-
mony and patriotic enthusiasm the country is at
sixes and sevens, the struggle between the two
parties not being confined to one locality or ono
class of individuals, but being carried on, and
with the utmost bitterness, almost everywhere and
by all classes. To such a pitch have the passions
of the population been excited that in some places
we are told "almost public manifestations are
made in favour of peace, and in others the War is
sanctified, when either its continuation is de-
manded or nothing else is spoken of than an in-
vasion of France or England." The citizens,
the people, the nobility, the Court, the Imperial
family are at daggers drawn among themselves ;
and in his own palace, and from his own brother,
the CZAR has not escaped insult. What miserable
lying to describe a nation torn to pieces by the
bitterest antagonism as a happy family !
Unfortunately for Russia, but not for the world
the ,
Russian party, with that hooted and gold
ac old
acquered Cossack, the Grand Duke CONSTANTINE
at its head, still maintains its ascendancy, and
the almost entire command of the press. On the
phrenzied passions of these incendiaries the
counsels of NESSELRODE fall like oil on fire, and
the veteran diplomatist, who could have saved an

poverished by the withdrawal from our shores, or
more probably the hoarding, of some two or two-
and-a-half millions of ounces of gold. We have

all that constitutes bona fide strength allot wealth,
and we should not suffer ourselves to be victimised

to gratify the interested theories of any currency
quacks.

In every previous financial, or rather monetary
Crisis, an adequate remedy was immediately pro-
vided whenever the Bank of England had the
courage to extend instead of restricting its accom-
modations and issues of notes. That was all that
was required at any time to weather the storm,
and yet, with unparalleled political blindness,
we have expressly prohibited the only means by
which an effectual and speedy cure could be ob-
tained. We learn from an unexceptionable wit-
ness--the late Lord ASITBIIRTON, at least as high
an authority as the present Lord OVERSTONE-the
facts unanimously recognised by Lord LivEnrooL,
!qr. HusicissoN, the then Governor of the Bank
of England, and himself, in reference to the
serious emergency of 1825, when an Order in
1 t.,

empire, has the mortification of being outrivalled
by au ORLOFF, whose genius finds its limits in an

assassination. Predominance, however, is not
willingly given up, and a desire for self-preserva-

tion will now and then lead men to acts of folly,
and thus we suppose it happens that, desirous as
the German party is for peace, it has deemed it

THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 27, 1856

or other officers. The complaints were dysen-
tery and fever, and at ono time " all the medi-
cal men were down (ill) at once ;" and there-
upon Dr. M‘Lean, a very rising surgeon, was
"lent" from the 42d to do duty with the 79th,
and so also was Dr. Mills from the 63d Foot.
Night-watching, and bad food, and insufficient cloth-
ing had upset our men. Individuals have thus
gone to the " bourne whence no traveller returns,"
but there are kilts enough remaining to meet any
number of Russians, to cross bayonets, and to
achieve many more glorious victories.
I must honestly confess that I have little news
as to the incidents of the camp to report to-day.
Men might have faced the elements during this
week, but horses could not ; that is, day after day.
And during the bad weather it was, of course, im-
possible for troops to do anything. Even the
" riled" Russians somewhat stayed their fire from
the north side. Thus I have nothing important to
recerd. I left Sebastopol a few days since, intend-
ing to return, but the rain has not only detained
me here, but kept my servant weatherbound in
that roofless city. Confined to hut or tent, I only
learn that Captain Shervington (46th), the Pro-
vost Marshal at Balaklava, has ordered all can-
teen-keepers to bury their broken bottles, and
not, as they have done, to leave them on the
sward, whereby many valuable horses have been
seriously cut and injured ; that officers " absent
on urgent private affairs" are to have the forage
for their horses stopped ; and, in short, I scarcely
remember any more news, except that a. famous
;stream of water has been discovered at Kamara.
IThe last is important and deserves notice.
For some time in many parts of the camp we
have had to send to great distances to water our
'horses, and to greater for drinkable water for our-
selves. The Highland Brigade will henceforth Ise
spared this difficulty. The Artillery (a detachment)
adjoin the Highland camp. The other day, a man
of that corps, using a pick-axe, struck a stone,which
'plitting, allowed a jet of water to spring heaven-
ward, and with such force that the astonished
gunner received at once a very superior style of
shower bath. Removing the broken stone, an ex-
cellent supply of beautiful mountain-water was dis-
covered, rushing out from and over a well, and in
quantity sufficient to supply the whole division. It
' appears that Liprandi, before quitting this ground,
cunningly blocked up the well and flowing stream,
, not only at the source, but for some distance, and
more cunningly led the water underground by an
artificial channel into a neighbouring. marsh ; so
that, but for the accident of the pick-axe above-
, mentioned, our troops would have had all the winter
to have sent far for water. They have it, now, close
lat hand • and, in fact, it is now believed that
other
sources Of water have been also concealed, inasmuch
as near Balaklava Heights one fountain only was at
first found when the departure of the rear-guard,
the Cossacks, allowed us to take up the enemy's
ground. These Russians are ever full of " dodges."
I am to pitch my tent to-morrow close to this
new watering-place at Kamara, but my address
will still remain " Post Office, Valaklava. ' From
my new position, which I visited yesterday, I can
with a good glass even see the Russians fix bayo-
nets. We can't get up to them, and they are far
too wise to comedown to us just yet. They will
fail to capture our Christmas puddings.
Some officers of high rank stated in my presence
the other day that the best plan to beat Russia
would be to burn and blow up all on the south
side ; fall back upon and hold Balaklava and
Kamiesla • embark the spare troops for Nicolaieff,
the Danube, and Asia Minor; move down against
the north side from Eupatoria ; keep the fleet,
especially the gun-boats, moving (some few blockad-
ing Sebastopol) • and then, said they, Russia must
give in, for we ;hall stop all her supplies, prevent
a concentration of her troops, and, if she will fight
in the Crimea, meet her in ie open field (instead
of behind earthworks), when, as at the Alma and
Inkerman, we can beat her, hand over hand. Be
this as it may, we all out hero want to see Parlia-
ment meet, if but to prevent Ministers from patch-
ing up a sudden and unsatisfactory peace.

The following letter, written by a French
officer, dated Sebastopol, 9th inst., gives an account
of the engagement mentioned in Marshal Pelissier's
telegraphic despatch of the same day :
"Yesterday morning at break of day 2,500 Rus-
sians, hoping to surprise our sth battalion of foot
Chasseurs, encamped at Ourkousta, on the site we oc-
cupied previous to our last retrograde movement, de-
scended from the positions of Kaden Otar and Kerner
Tcherrse into the plain. A. patrol of the 4th Regi-
ment of Chasseurs d'Afrique fortunately perceived
their movement, and lost no time in apprising the
nearest corps of the approaeh of the enemy. In a few
moments the whole of our first division was under
arms and prepared to meet the Russians. The sth
battalion of Foot Chasseurs, under the orders of Com-
mander Gamier, who received five dangerous wounds
at the first attack upon the Malakhoff on the 18th
June, assisted by a few companies of the 20th Regi-
ment of the Lino, commanded by M. Richebourg,
bravely stood their ground, and the assailants, de-
ceived in their expectations, precipitately retreated,
leaving 200 men on the field of battle, with 20 pri-
soners, among whom were two officers. It is to be
regretted that the nature of the ground prevented us
from pursuing the enemy in his retreat. Our loss does
not exceed 18 or 20 men, and an officer of the 26th
Regiment, who was so dangerously wounded that he
is not expected to survive. The recent surprise of a
post of eight men we had at Kaden Otar no doubt en-
couraged the Russians to make this attempt."

TURKEY.

CONSTANTINOPLE, DEC. 13.
Advicos from Erzeroum up to the 29th ult. (says
the Times' correspondent) confirm the news of the
surrender of Kars. General Kwety and Fezi
Pasha (Kohiman), who, if captured, would have
been handed over to Austria, and doubtless hung,
succeeded in making their way through the Rus-
sian patrols, and were at Erzeroum on the 28th
November. Of Omar Pasha's movements I have
heard nothing since my last. Will ho go and
retake Kars, with its 150 pieces of artillery, or
is he, as his sanguine supporters lately antici-
pated, already in Kutais menacing the Russian
rear ? Without attempting to foresee the future
we may be permitted to deplore the past. The
fall of Kars is a scandal and a disgrace to all
who might have contributed to prevent it.
Why the place was not long ago efficiently re-
lieved is a question that everybody asks, and
which some one, it is to be hoped, will be com-
pelled to anwswert.
has se
But,lolionakingpatsohsaubhoerdeninadteoing
all this de-
linquents,
ha
time at Erzeroum, with at least 9,000
or 10,000 effective men, infantry, cavalry, and ar-
tillery, under his orders ? If, immediately on re-
ceiTing, news of the terrible defeat of the Russians
on the 27th of September, he had marched on
Kars, lie most assuredly might have thrown sup-
plies into the town before the Russians had recovered
from the shock of their disaster and received re-
inforcements from Gumri. It is mere waste of
blood an I treasure to carry on the war with such
commanders. With Englishmen to direct the
Turks do well ; left to their own commanders they
are detained in disgraceful inaction.
As I write, I receive a letter from Omar Pasha's
head-quarters. It is written in haste, and is un-
dated. The writer says, " I can hardly believe that
much will be done in the way of military operations
after we reach Kutais, as a good deal. is required to
put our magazines and depots in order. The army
has been much delayed hitherto by want of
means of transport, which is certainly increas-
ing, but the beautiful weather we enjoyed
has broken up, and rain descends in torrents,
greatly increasing the difficulty of bringing up sup-
plies." From this it is to be inferred that in Omar
Pasha's army they reckoned prettyconfidently on the
capture of Kutais, as does also, I have reason to be-
lieve, the Turkish Government here. Hitherto the
Russians have been retiring, and have evacuated
several places on the mere approach of their enemy,
whom it was supposed they sought to draw on into
the interior, with a view to then attacking him at
a disadvantage. But the weather now forbidding
further operations, they must feel pretty sure that
if Omer Pasha gets Kutais he will make himself
snug there for the winter, and it is difficult to un-
derstand their motive for thus at once supplying
him with winter quarters and abandoning a place
they might defend, and which has hitherto served
them as an important depot.

PRUSSIA.
BERLIN, Dec. 23.—The preliminaries, as ap-
proved of by the Western Powers on the represen-
tations of Austria, have been communicated to this
Government with au invitation at the same time to
Prussia to advocate their acceptance at St. Peters-
burg. Looking at the two incidents together,
Russia's reported acceptance of the main principle
involved, and Austria's inviting Prussia to back
her representations in St. Petersburg, we must say
either the first comes too soon, or the second comes
too late. On Thursday last Count Esterhazy, the
Austrian Minister here, had a private audience of
the King, to which he was introduced by 13Aion
Mantentlel ; in all probability he was the bearer of
a letter from the Emperor of Austria to his uncle
on the subject of the preliminaries about o be
communicated to the Court of St. Petersburg.
The official despatch on the subject was handel to
the King on Tuesday evening, within a very few
hours of its arrival from Vienna. His Majesty,
however, seems to have required twice 24 hours'
time to reflect on the matter before he received the
Austrian Minister. On the same day that Count
Esterhazy was received here by the King (last
Thursday), Prince Labanoff, of the Russian Em-
bassy here, left with deva,tolass for st, Petersburg.

CHRISTMAS AMUSEMENTS.

be now "familiar to the ear as household words I"
Suffice it to say that "all passed merry as a wedding
bell" until the great event of the evening—the Greed
Pantomime—commenced with all its wonders. If al'
worthy scoffers should lament the decadence of theatrical
art, and the desecration of its choicest temples, their
jeremiads would be changed to rejoicings at beholding
the truly legitimate successor to " Mother Goose," the
"Great Bed of Ware," and other glorious specimens of
the pantomimic dynasty. The subject of "Ye Belle
Alliance ; or, Harlequin Good Humour and y • Field
of ye Clothe of Gold," was felicitously chosen, being I)°'
culiarly appropriate at the present moment ; and Mr.
Geo. Augustus Sala, who has added largely to the laurels
already honourably earned, made the most of the Golden
opportunity. The opening displayed the palace or
cavern of the Gnome Britannicus, in the realm!! of
Subterraneanuesia. This potentate, "great in his he'
lief in Beer, Baccy, Beef, and Boxing," after witnessing
a very excellent " Ballabile des Diablotinee," is startled
from his propriety by the announcement in the Necr°'
mantic Times that the English monarch is about to tak°
"pot luck" with his Gallic confrere. He resolves to
prevent the sacrilege, and starts, per "the Car of Dea'
gone," for the purpose. En, Route he arrives at the
Land's-end, the residence of Good Humour (admirabll
enacted by Miss Harriet Gordon), who, as the amiable
spirit, is resolved to oppose the evil intentions of her
crusty visitors. She conjures up visions of the future
before him, in which, in two well.execated Dioramas,
we behold the enthusiastic reception of the Emperor
Napoleon in London, and the visit of Queen Victoria
to the tomb of the first of the Great Napoleoae, in the
Hotel des Invalides, in Paris. Nothing, however, will
satisfy the discontented Gnome, who perseveres in his
wicked notion of Bossing strife and dissension between
what he was determined to keep the rival nations.
The Deck of the Royal Harry shows the embarkation
of Bluff King Hal, with wife and suite, including the
renowned Cardinal. The mirth of the monarch wax"
fast and furious. He rushes into the dance of the
sailars, but while vigorously executing a horoPiPe rs
seized with sea-sickness, which spares neither king 13°r
courtier, but produces a very ludicrous effect for
those not visited by its pangs. We have then the
chateau of the French king, who is rather taken by out'
prise, the preparations not being quite completed for the
splendid reception. The transition to the Field of Cloth
of Gold, with its gorgeous spectacles, jousting, old
ballots follow in due coarse, and then the wicked GOnr
contrives that both the monarchs shall be smitten by the
charms of a very beautiful country girl, Blondette---
while their respective queens are simultaneously attacked
by the green-eyed monster. The farm of Blondette le
accordingly visited, and there the kings, after having t°
fly from the wrath of some indignant peasants, and being
tumbled, the one into a cueurnber-bed, the other into
a pig-stye, are about to be involved in a real quarrel,
when presto the farm vanishes, and we are introduced to
"the abode of the Fairy Queen in the Golden Groves °f
Good Humour"—a scene that displays all the gorgeous
skill of Mr. W. Beverley, and attracted enthusiastic ar
plause. Then the transformation takes place, and the
real work of the evening commences. Blondette, trans:,
formed into Columbine, had an exceedingly pretty an
graceful representative in Miss EMMA Horne, while
her rustic lover, Mr. C. Brown, made a very nimble
Harlequin. The Pantaloon and Clown (Messrs. Barnes
and Flexmore) were the best we have aver witnessed,
and we greatly doubt if " we shall e'er see their like
again." We have already had occasion to speak in very
laudatory terms of Mr. Barnes, but we Lad formed no
conception of his real merit,. There was extraordinery
vigour combined with a well-assumed appearance of dr
crepitude, while he sustained with surprising equanireitY
the rough jests of his collaborateur. But what shall we
say of Flexmore—the inimitable, the renowned monarch
of grotesque ! He accomplished what we believed to be
impossible—and what, certainly, no other man could do
—he surpassed himself, and left all his former 03c*
ploits far in the shade. He manifestly felt the
magnitude of the occasion, and devoted himself tie°rt,
and soul to the duty he had undertaken. Never di°
we see so much energy displayed in so short a times
while his brilliant equestrian performances on two
hobby-horses might put to the blush the most daring
riders. Were there nothing to be seen but the feats
of Clown and Pantaloon it would be worth a pilgrimage
from the Land's-end or John o'Groat's ; but with every'
thing that could be devised to render the matter perfect
in all its parts, it would indeed be surprising if the
Wizard did not command the success which he has s°
well merited.

Drury-Lane.
The genius of pantomime has certainly taken up her
abode at Old Drury. Never had a manager better cause
to be pleased with an audience ; and it is but justice to
say that the enthusiastic and rapturous bursts of applause
so frequently bestowed during the evening, and the
more substantial proofs of approbation afforded by a
house crowded to excess in every part, were fully merited
by the indefatigable manager who now wields the sceptre
of this national establishment. Long before the com-
mencement of the performances every available corner
in boxes, pit, and gallery were filled to overflowing by as
merry and good-tempered an audience as we ever re-
member to have seen collected within the walls of a
theatre. The performances commenced with the laugh-
able farce of "Little Toddlekins," and " Trying it On,"
in both of which our inimitable light comedian, Charles
Mathews, sustained the principal parts with his usual
ability. But the great feature of the evening was the
pantomime, and the bell ringing for the overture was the
signal for a volley of applause. As is usual oh such
occasions popular ditties are the chief points in such
a composition ; and on the air of the " Rat-catcher's
Daughter" being played, the "gods " joined in
chorus, and were with difficulty persuaded to forego an
encore of the overture. At length the curtain rose upon
the new grand comic Christmas pantomime, entitled
" Hey Diddle Diddle ; or, Harlequin King Nonsense
and the Seven Ages of Man," and we find ourselves in
the Hall of Nursery Rhymes in the Kingdom of Nod'.
sense. His Majesty, who is pictured as the guardian of
infancy, and the honoured parent of Jack Sprat, Humpty
Dumpty, Jack Horner, Simple Simon, and other equally
celebrated personages, is about to concoct a pantomime,
when Common Sense, a bright and beautiful fairy, arrives
to lend him aid. King Nonsense is not at first disposed
Ito accept the proffered assistance, but at length Common
Sense convinces him of the folly of such refusal, and ho
assents. A difficulty now presents itself in the persons
of Old Routine, and his constant companion, Red Tape ;
but it is resolved to banish them for ever to Noodledoin,
and they are accordingly despatched to that locality.
The King and Common Sense then select " The Seven
Ages of Man" as the subject for their Christmas panto-
mime, and the scene changes to the pretty village of
Pretty well. Here we find Young Hopeful, the school-
boy, "creeping like a snail unwillingly to school," for
whose arrival Dr. Birch has been most anxiously waiting
in order to test the efficiency of a bran new rod
he had previously placed in pickle. Hobbedyhoy,
the dunce of the establishment, comes to the aid
of Hopeful, and they both determine to run away
from school. All the incidents of a school-boy life, from
the first time of playing truant until the falling in lova
with a young lady at a neighbouring seminary, are
brought out in very amusing detail. The next
scene brings us to the Blacksmith's Smithy and
Roadside Inn, and here Young Hopeful is
transformed into the lover, and writing the memorable
sonnet, which is, in this instance, dedicated to Rosa, the
ward of the Justice. It is needless to say the " County
Magistrate" refuses to give the hand of his ward to
Young Hopeful, and be therefore determines to enlist
for a soldier. Previous to his departure for the
wars Rosa promises to meet him by moonlight alone,
not in the grove at the end of the vale, but in the old
abbey ruins, for which much-loved spot he immediately
departs. The lovers aecordingly meet, their guardian
fairy arrives to protect them, and conveys both of them
to the Abode of Love, in the golden groves of Fairy-
land. The scene is one of Beverley's exquisite produc-
tions, and elicited the most enthusiastic applause,
which it was impossible to silence until the lessee came
forward and bowed his thanks. A very pretty ballet,
in which Miss Rosina Wright sustains the principal
part, then ensues ; and we scarcely know which most
to admire—the sparkling scenery of Beverley, or the
bright and beauteous forms of the attendant fairies.
This scene is followed by another, representing the
County Justice Room, where Rosa's guardian sentences
two of his labouring men to a fortnight's imprisonment
with hard labour for having gone to see a review.
Young Hopeful finds it impossible to obtain the con-
sent of the Justice to his marriage with Rosa, and
they accordingly determine to elope, and this brings
them to the Ruined Cottage of Old Age. The
flight of the lovers having been discovered, pursuit
commences, and just as the Justice is about to
convey Young Hopeful to prison, the Fairy Queen ar
rives, and with a waive of the wand the scene changes
to the realms of perpetual summer. The change from
the cold winter prospect to bright summer was one of
the most marvellous talismanic transformations ever wit-
nessed. The back part of the wood gradually disappears,
and groups of fairies appear in bowers of gold and
amethysts, which slowly rise, and at the same time
the snow which has covered the bushes dissolves, and
hundreds of golden palms take their places. From the
centre of each a fairy, clothed in shining silver, rises,
and then appears at the extreme end of the stage the
Fairy Queen in her bower of brilliants. This bower, by
a most ingenious mechanical contrivance, slowly ad-
vances, and reveals to the astonished and delighted
audience another bevy of fairies, clothed in burnished
gold. From either side of the stage darts forth rays of
gold and silver, and jewels of surpassing brightness seem
to keep up one continual shower. The effect of all this
was heightened by a magnificent pyramid of brilliants,
upon which the bower of the Fairy Queen was placed,
from which kept shooting forth all the colours of the
prism in quick succession. Lastly, the whole picture is
successively lit up with emerald and ruby-coloured fires,
which produces the most extraordinary effect imagin-
able. Nothing, we can truly affirm, has ever been pro-
duced on the boards of a theatre that can be com-
pared to this scene of gorgeous splendour; and familiar
as the concluding tableau of the "Island of Jewels"
must be to most of our readers, it, with all its beauty,
pales into insignificance compared to this most wonder-
ful production. The audience appeared to be in an ecstacy
of delight, peal after peal of applause burst forth from
every part of the building, which were again and again
renewed, and there arose loud cries of " Smith,"
" Bravo," &c. Again had the lessee to appear before
his audience, who, by this time, had well nigh become
frantic with delight, and then arose a call for Bever'ej,
the artist. For nearly ten minutes the progresa of the
pantomime was impeded by the cheering of the audiencs,
and it was not until each one had tired himself out in
applauding that the action proceeded. The change to
the usual pantomimic characters then takes place. We
have two Harlequins, Messrs. Veroni and Furth, two
Columbines, Mdlles. Bulono and Charles, two Panta-
loons, Messrs. Tanner and Duelin. The clowns
are Barry Bo!eno and the renowned Tom Mathews,
two of the best pantomimists of the day. In
addition to these talented artistes we have the
brothers Elliott, who go through their won-
derful performances during the representation of the
pantomime. The harlequinade is as excellent as the
opening, and the comic business never flagged for a
single instant. The tricks worked admirably ; not one
single hitch occurred during the whole of the evening.
Mr. Smith has again secured the palm of superiority,
and in his pantomime this year he possesses a charm that
will attract thousands nightly to his theatre for the next
three months to come. In fact he has gained "the blue
riband of the ancient and illustrious Order of Panto-
mime.

We shall not attempt to describe the various extraor•
dinar) tricks and transformations that took place. II
such cases "seeing is believing," and the most elaborate
description must fail of conveying the ■lightest notion
of what will greet the wondering gaze of the spectator•
The last scene, " The Apotheosis of Ye Belle A11i•
ance," designed by Mons. Guerin and executed by Ur'
Beverley, ie one of the most gorgeous in its effects that
can be conceived—it even excelled the most brilliant

visions of the Lyceum. There were a few trifling hitoilat
inseparable from a first performance anywhere, and, coo•
sidering the short time that the Professor has had VIP

session of the theatre (only a single week), it is astonish•
ing that so much should have been accomplished. W°
may lend easy credence to the assurance of Mr. Flo-
more, who, at the fall of the curtain, deolared that ell
should be right to-morrow." Should the Wizard, with
all his skill, he enabled to improve, we only hope
" we may be there to see," a feeling in which every Ad'
wirer of the good old English pantomime will cordit4lf
participate. that

Haymarket.
The performances last night commenced with Sir E.
B. Lytton's popular play of the "Lady of Lyons," 6°
part of Pauline being ably sustained by Miss Reynolds,
and that of Claude Melnoita by Mr. Howe, who
peered for the first time in that character, and with de'
cided success, The attraction of the evening, however,
was the new pantomime, entitled, " The ButterflP
Ball and the Grasshopper's Feast ; or Harlequin mid
the Genius of Spring," the authorship of which is et'
tributed to" Mr. Buckstone. The piece is founded on ono
of Roscoe'e principal poems, and afforded Mr. Calcat
an excellent opportunity of displaying his artistic ability
—an opportunity of which he has taken the full advert'
tape, for many of the illustrations are truly beautiful,
and the comic scenes do equal credit to Mr. Morris and
Mr. O'Connor. There is always considerable difficulty
in comprehending the plot of a pantomime, but of course
there is a plot, and in the present case it may be the°
described. Lady Silverwings, a fair butterfly, having
fallen in love with and been betrothed to the Grass'
hopper, determines to celebrate the nuptials with
splendour becoming the important occasion, and accord-
iugty invites her friends to a grand ball and feast. The
Wasp, a rejected suitor, animated by a fell spirit of re•
venge, waits upon Belladona, the poison witch, to ob-
tain a draught of deadly nightshade, wherewith he nlaY
destroy not only the lady and her lover, but all the
friends she has invited. The poison is supplied, bet the
insidious plot is overheard by Brightray, the Genius of
Spring, who hastens to the Garden of the Butterflies,
and there promises protection to the light-winged nee.
Silverwings and her lover are, however, interrupted in
a very pleasant tete-a-tete by the wicked Wasp and the
sanguinary Spider, who are only discomfited by the
activity and bravery of the gallant Grasshopper. On
his way to the feast the Wasp looks in at the Kitchell
of the Lady Silverwings, for the purpose of administer-
ing the fatal concoction that he has obtained, and
poisoning the dishes that are being prepared for
the banquet. The cook, upon seeing a wasp upon
the premises, makes sundry vain efforts to catch
him, and his escape is only purchased by the loss
of his phial, which he breaks during his conflict with the
chef de cuisine. The trumpeter Gadfly now summons
the guests, and we see a procession of all the insects
passing on until the scene of the revelry is reache4.,
which is a beautiful green lawn overshadowed by the
spreading branches of a mighty oak. The nuptial ban-
quet is literally going as "merry as a marriage bell,'
whea the Wasp and his objectionable friend the Spider
intrude upon the festive throng. Fi;dcihnegertlhesast he has
lost the poison, the Witch still determines that the mie.
chievous intent shall not be frustrated, and changing
the beautiful summer landscape into

Covent-Garden.
The great Wizard of the North, the Wizard par excel-
'crier, who has immeasurably distanced all competitors
n the pursuit which he has chalked out for himself, has
ventured on a great experiment, and, judging from what
we last night witnessed, we may, without any pretence
to extraordinary powers of vaticination, venture to pre-
dict that none of his =any successful experiments was
ever carried to a more triumphant and satisfactory result
than the present will be. He tells us that, in gratitude
fur the extraordinary patronage bestowed on him by
the British public, he has determined to devote a con-
siderable portion of the large balance left at his banker's
to their use. Bat we in turn tell him that the attempt
will be foiled, and that its inevitable consequence will
be that the balance, in place of being reduced, will be
so largely enhanced that it will puzzle a conjuror, albeit
unequalled in his vocation, to get rid of it in any legiti-
mate manner. The money which he has scattered with
such profuse liberality will find its way back to his
coffers, and he must submit to the infliction.
Never in its most palmy days did " the Garden " ex-
hibit a more brilliant or more crowded audience. Every
available "inch of space " was occupied, and indeed it
seemed as if the Wizard must have availed himself of his
peculiar skill in contriving to find room for twice as
many persons as could be commodiously packed in the
space. It was, in fact, a leviathAn edition of " the Pro-
fessor's Scrap-book," which, even on the smaller scale,
excited such unparalleled astonishment. They fitted
well, however, and, like the well-trained pigeons, seemed
to suffer little if any inconvenience in the process. The
throwing out a grand balcony in front of the dress circle,
as in many of the continental theatres, conduced largely
to this result, insuring to the aristocratic visitors what
may be regarded as stalls of the best class, where any
possibility of disturbance on account of seats was com-
pletely removed.

one, the insects become suddenly torpid, and pass to a
state of hypernation. Brightray, the gOod friend of the
Butterflies, sends forth, however, at this critical junc-
ture, one of her brightest and most genial rays, and
warming up under its reviving influence, the insects re-
viva, the:scene becomes one of glittering sunshine, and
whilst the Grasshopper and Butterfly are changed into
Harlequin and Columbine (Mr. Milano and Miss Mary
Brown), the Wasp and Spider are transformed, by the
opposing power, into their tormentors, Clown and Pan-
taloon (Mr. Appleby and Mr. Mackay), when, of course,
the pantomime chase commences, and continues till the
levers again meet in the Bower of Bliss, and promise to
live happy ever afterwards. The harlequinade, which
has been supplied by Mr. William Dorrington, abounds
in social and political allusions to the prominent events
of the day. The overture and music of the opening
story was composed, selected, and arranged by Mr.
Edward Fitzwilliaw, and includes several of the most

It is needless to dwell on the feats of "Magic and
Mystery" with which the opening was inaugurated. Who
is ignorant of what has already been witnessed at the
yceur by more than U 59,000 Persons; 494c1 which DaUlt

popular airs. One of the most effective scenes ie the
Butterfly's Haunt in the Woods of the Mountain Asb,
is which is iutroduced some yety graceful dancizz in