The Sun.
London, England, 1864-12-20 00:00:00

The Weather in the Parks,

A marked change took place in the weather during yes-
terday morning. The thermometer at the Royal Humane
Society's receiving-house in Hyde-park, on Saturday night,
was as low as 19 deg., and yesterday morning the glass was
not higher than 30 deg., and by noon the mercury rose to
37 deg„ being 5 deg. above freezing point. The barometer
yesterday morning at nine o'clock was 29,7, and the wind
at that time was E.S.E., but in the evening it veered round
to south, indicating a storm of wind or a fall of rain,
Later last evening the thermometer indexed 38 deg., with
soft clouds rising from the south, threatening wet. The
sudden and unexpected change in the weather has caused a
remarkable difference in the appearance of the royal parks
and the streets of the metropolis, Instead of the snow
crepitating under the feet of pedestrians, nothing but im-
mense Eliebts of mud could be seen, which caused a great
annoyance to passers along the footpaths of the London
streets. The parks are hardly much better, for the carriage
drives are several inches deep in mud, and Rotten-row has
carried out its name to perfection, that it is at present so
rotten that persons on horseback can only with difileulty
pass along the drive, In spite of the change of the weather
a great number of boys ventured upon the royal Round
Pond, in Kensington-gardens, end had it not been for Mr,
Superintendent Williams sending a number of icemen to
drive them off, the probability is that several lives would
have been sacrificed. As it was, several of the more ven-
turesome broke through the ice and fell into deep water,
and one of them got immersed up to his arm-pits, and
another had the water over his head. Fortunately, the
timely aid afforded was the means of getting the parties
out in safety. The Regent's-park and the Serpentine still
remain partially frozen over, and in the event of the frost
setting in with increased violence, Mr. Young, the secre-
tary, and Mr. Williams, the superintendent of the Royal
Humane Society, were actively engaged with a number of
workmen in raising the canvass tents so as to form tempo-
rary hospitals.

POACHING AFFRAY NEAR MALTON.—The Mal-
ton magistrates, on Saturday, investigated a charge
cf night poaching preferred against two labourers, named
James Kitchiug and Joseph Cooke. The affray occurred
on Sunday night week, in a wood at Easthorpe, the pro-
perty of the Earl of Carlisle, and occupied by Mr G. A.
Legard. John Cockerill, coachman to Mr Legard, stated
that the gardener, James Botterill, had come to tell him ho
had heard shots in the woods about 7 o'clock. Witness got
the assistance of two other men, one named John Hard..
wick, and another Charles Kirby, son of Lord Carlisle's
bailiff. About 8 o'clock, witness and Botterill heard ano-
ther shot in the middle of the wood, and went there. He
saw two men standing with guns, looking up into the trees,
and he at once seized Cook, struck him in the neck, and
both fell together. A struggle then had taken place to
gain possession of the gun, and witness was being over-
powered, when Botterill came up and hit Cooke two blows
on the head with a slick, which "quietened" him. When
Hardwick came up the:prisoner Kitching met him,holding
his loaded gun by the muzzle, and threatening to strike
with the butt end if the watcher did not keep back.
Kirby, however, was up directly afterwards, and at once
rushed at Kitchiug, and made him a prisoner. Cooke was
a good deal hurt about the bead. Both men denied that
they had been in the wood before eight o'clock, and
alleged that only one shot had bean fired, and that was
by Cooke. Kitching said that seeing his mate "ham-
mered'' on the head and bleeding, he was coming to his
assistance, and only raised his gun to defend himself.
Both said it was their first offence, and pleaded hard for
mercy. Kitchen had a wife and It children, and Cooke
had a wife and four children. The Bench said as the
prisoners had not injured the watchers they would send
them each to two months' hard labour, then to find
sureties for twelve months' or elle months' longer im-
prieo;amen t,

AT
)
ditatrt TirtilllNT

HER MAJESTY.

OSBORNE, Dec. 19.
The Queen and Princess Helena drove out this
morning.
Princess Louise also drove out, attended by the
Hon. Florence Seymour.
Prince Leopold and Princess Beatrice walked
in
the grounds.

The Ear'. and Cunntcss Grey have arrived at
Rome. It is said that the noble earl and countess will
remain abroad until after Easter.
The Eirl of Coventry has left Thomae's Hotel,
Berkeley-square, for Paris. _

Viscount and Viscountess Holmesdale have been
receiving a succession of guests at Linton House, Kent)
during the past week.
Mr and Lady Charlotte Schreiber and Alien.
Guest have left Exeter House, Roehampton, for Orton
Longueville, on a visit to the Marchioness of Huntly
The Hon. Mrs. Charles Hay was safely delivered
of a son on the 18Lh inst., at her residence, 33, Cadosan.-
place.

Accounts have been received from Japan announc-
ing the death of Captain the Hon. Adolphus Edward r
Vereker, of the 20th Foot, fifth and youngest son of Viscount
Gort. Be was formerly in the oth West York Militia, and
in 1855 entered the 20th Regiment as lieutenant. The
gallant young officer served with his regiment in the
Crimea.

COMMUNICATION BETWEEN RAILWAY PASS EN'
anus AND GunnDs —The railway companies have, we
are infortael, been given to understand that they must
adopt some means to establish a communication he-
twcon passengers and the guards of trains, or the Govern-
ment itself will prescribe a method for effecting that object.
A committee of railway managers has beeu formed, and
they have received plans from upwards of 200 persons, none
of which, however, have given entire satisfaction. The best
submitted are those called Tattersall's and Woodfields ; the
former effects the communication by means of mechanical
force, and the latter by means of electricity. Mr Preece, the
superintendent of the Electric and International Company
at Southampton, has submitted a plan to the London and
South Western Rail way Company, who immediately under-
took, at their own expense, to give it a fair trial. Accord-
ing to this plan a tassel is hung just above the passenger's
head, connected by a rope to catches at the opposite corner
of the carriage, and these catches in moving cause two small
concealed semaphore arms to project from the carriage.
The arms are connected with a small electric battery in the
guard's van, and as they fall from a concealed vertical psi-
lion to a horizontal projecting one they cause an electric cur-
rent to be completed and ring an alarum bell in the van. This
bell continues to ring while the arms project, and the latter
are placed so that they can only be restored to a vertical
position by the guard coming to the carriage. On his look-
ing out these arms are very obvious by day, and by night
could be made so by small lamps fixed and lighted near
them. A hand-rail runs along the carriage, which lifts
up or down at the doors, and by which the guard can
easily and safely pass to the carriage from which an alarm
proceeds. The semaphore arms, when in a horizontal po-
sition, are concealed in a neat frame which is an ornament
to the carriage, and the electric wire with a hook at the
end runs from the frame under the carriage, the wire of one
carriage being coupled to that of anothor in a moment by
means of the hooks. Some persons have thought that the
use of electric batteries would be an objection, but these
batteries are now constructed so as not to require any
attention for months together. The expense of fitting up
the passenger rolling stock of the London and South
Western Company would not, it is said, average 40s. a
carriage.

NEWSPAPERS FOR RUSSIA.—Since issuing the
notice No. 38, dated the 24th October last, respecting the
conditions under which alone newspapers can be forwarded
by the post to Russia, the Postmaster General has been in-
formed that an exemption from the ordinary regulations
exists in favour of poltical newspapers, or of any other
publications, addressed to members or the royal family of
Russia, to the imperial ministers, and to members of the
diplomatic corps. Such newspapers, &c., it is now stated,
will be admitted into Russia although not subscribed for at
one of the Russian post-offices, It appears, also, that non.
political newspapers and publications may be received by
the post, not only when addressed to established book-
sellers in Russia, as already announced, but also when
addressed to the higher schools, to the Imperial Public
Library, and to the Academy of Sciences in Russia,—By
commend of the Postmaster-General.

'IRE EARL OF HARROWBY ON BIBLE DIFFICULT
TIES. —The Eirl of Harrow by has been presiding at
a meeting of the Stafford branch of the Bible Society. His
lordship took the opportunity of recounting an interview
which he had the pleasure of holding with that distin-
guished and venerable man, the late Lord Lyndhurst,
who had been engaged much in his advanced years in
studying the Bible and all the controversies which had
arisen about it. In conversing with him the late distin-
guished nobleman took the opportunity of saying
these controversies don't trouble me; the difficulties that
are raised here and there by controversialists about the num-
ber of the Jewish people and various minor points do not
trouble me, for I think it ought to be, and is, enough for
me that our Saviour said, ' If a man believe not Moses and
the prophets, neither will he be persuaded though one rose
from the dead.' That is enough for me, and settles all my
doubts." Ile thought if that declaration of Christ was
enough for so distinguished a man as Lord Lyndhurst,
with all hikacuteness of intellect and his habit of strict in-
vestigation of evidence, it ought to be enough for them, whO
could not pretend to rival him in those qualities. It was no
doubt distressing to have doubts and difficulties raised, come
of which we were not always able at a moment to satisfy;
but he thought that when anyone looked back to the his-
tory of the Scriptures, that had been received as the un-
doubted record of Divine truth from the time of our Saviour
to the present moment—upwards of 1,800 years—unques-
tioned by any church or any heretic, acknowledged by all to
be the authentic record of what our Saviour and his apostles
said and did, and to contain all that was warranted by our
Saviour and his apostles as the inspired records of the Jew-
ish nation before him, he thought when they remembered
this they must feet we had sufficient evidence to satisfy our-
selves that, although doubts might arise which we could
not instantly quell, the difficulties of unbelief would be in-
finitely greater. (Applause.) Recently men have been led
to deplore the appearance in Franco of a popular work which
although expressing for the character of Christ the utmost
admiration, associated with that character the extraordi-
nary supposition that one who preached and practised every
virtue was at the same a person who palmed upon others
miracles and pretensions which were totally unfounded. It
was shucking that a book of such a nature should circulate
—it shocked every Christian feeling—but at the same timer
from all accounts we heard from France, the effect appeared
to have been just the reverse of that which might have
been at first expected. People were buying Bibles and Tea:
temente for the purpose of hearing more of this Jesus, and
seeing whether it was possible that a man of whose life and
doctriue so much had been said in praise could possibly be
the imposter he was represented, and it so happened that
controversy, with all its evils, had the great advantage °,
stirring and awakening inquiry, which they, who believed
in the Scriptures, had, no doubt, would result in the cote'
plete victory of truth.

MILITARY CHANGES.—A meeting has taken place
between the Secretary of State for War, the Cora-
wander in Chief, and the principal officials of the 11", s,
se
Guards, in order to see if any dinainutf on of number might
be made without any undue interference with the efficiency
of the army, The first branch of the service in which it a
peered some sacrifice to economy might be cheaplY raecie!,
consisted of the depot battalions. It was felt that there Aga'
really no necessity for keeping up separate depots for regi'
merits serving in the United Kingdom ; and as there was °
necessity for theNlepets, there could be none for the deP°c
battalions which they constitute. We have 35 battalions on
home service, and the six last depot battalions—frond':
17th to the 23d—contain 35 regimental depots. It raaJ
therefore ke regarded as certain that six depot battalions
will be reduced from March 31, 1865. We are unable to
speak with accuracy of the manner in which the reduction
will be effected as regards particular battalions. The retitle:
tion will probably involve an entire re-organisation Of
depot system. With regard to the reduction of the staff°
the six battalions, it may be anticipated that the six jaelh°r
officers of each rank will be placed on half pay, with
understanding that the very earliest opportunity will
taken of replacing each as vacancies arise in other deP°,"o
in line battalions, or in staff situatians for which the ,
se
placed officers may be required. The following are the
Lieutenant Colonels, Majors, and Adjutants who will
be placed on half pay :—Lieutenant Colonels Inglis, Fert
moy—Fraser, Belfast—Newdigate,Chatham—lion. Gilb
Buttevant—Rickman, Chatham—and Eirribl,r;',„
Colchester. Majors Swinburne, Colchester—Boldero,
ling—Hughes, Walmer—Padfield, Cork—Blackett,
cheater—and Meredith, Templemore. Adjutants
c.
_ut:
Belfast—Tarte, Birr—M'Clueen, Waluter—Colthurst,beinie've
ham—Hare, Aberdeen—and Northey, Fertnoy. Wea__lth,
that this is the only reduction as yet settled ; but incr"regi.,
as the two depot companies will be struck off ea
_rle „0
meet, it is not unlikely that the battfo
two junior captains, lieutenants, and ensigns of eta
lac
great
lion at home may be seriously entertained. But n that
alarm need be felt, as we have good reason t u"
t regard
,it°
whatever may be the change agreed upon, is'
supsrzl...4
individual interests will be exercised, and that the
r.e_s
question of reduchci g
delay, it is not the least probable that audyerd, a 0
_ectii
merary officers will be absorbed without any vesdruyosteion"hof
regiments or battalions will take place. la.
overtiaat
estimate of our colonial and Indian wants will 4
carryiog
out
tobaemiterLe„oin.,,,f
awno4axre:voykaz word

-ffARKET

AND

is DAIMBROIAL INTELLIGENCE,

CITY, TWELVE O'CLOCK.
It'4e demand for discount accommodation con.
41411 es active, and the rates remain very firm. The
:tito inquiry for money lately experienced has
10-44ewhat trenched upon the floating capital in the
1:4 market, and the supply is becoming daily
le°re limited. The brokers are therefore charging
Itt?,et cent. for the best three months paper, and
l only negotiate business at a fraction lower for
011 dated bankers' acceptances. Recently there
:3 been. withdrawn a large amount of gold for
letandria, and it is very generally believed that
ether heavy sums will be dispatched to the same
itination in the course of another day or two.
BOld this prove to be the case, and there is every
I"ettßort to believe it will, the effect it will have upon
the
fature course of the money market will not be
4,oarable.

At me Bank yesterday about 29,000 sovereigns
/t 8,14 withdrawn for Alexandria.
Khe Committee of the Stock Exchange have apt.
rlilted Thursday next a special settling day in the
:rip of the United Danubian Principalities Loan
ll' 4916,000, which is to be marked on the official
4t5. £l6 paid and fully subscribed.
1,44 order was made on Saturday last by the
;Aster of the Rolls to wind up the British Copper
°tePany, Limited, under the supervision of the
f,_
4711 rt of Chancery. Mr. IL Threlkeld Edwards,
I; the firm of Cash and Edwards, the accountants,
ea appointed liquidator.
uazing the last few days there has been less
I,°:lvity in the Markets for Foreign acid Colonial
:*tice. Sugars, however, have maintained full
rtes; coffee, cocoa, and rice have been dealt in to
ti'll leverage extent at former prices. while tallow has
411 in moderate request at fully late quotations,
Dr both present and forward delivery,
At 4 special meeting to-day of the shareholders
or
the London and Colonial Bank, the agreement
k 1415 with the International Bank was confirmed.

Two O'CLOCK.
4t Paris, this day, according to Mr. ReutersQSpegram, the 3 per cent. French Relates were
40e. Inanimate.
Dealings in stocks and shares continue very
rilited, and quotations necessarily tend down-
bti4rds. In the English market the business nego-
tilted has been very limited, and the Funds show
fractional decline. Console for money are 891 I,
ia for the account 891. The New Threes and Re-
6eed Annuities are 881 1 ; March Exchequer Bills,
9
to 1s die. ; India 5 per Cents, 102: 103; and the
33 8s prem.
444 the Foreign Market there has been rather less
tglless. with very little business. Turkish 6 per
pt I'lB4 1862, are 72 4 ; ditto Consolides, 471 ;
xican, 29k 1 ; do. New, 271 I; Greek, 23 ;
trtlish Passive, 314 ; do. Certificates, 131 14 ;
Confederate Loan, 61 63 ; the Egyptian, to 1
; the Danubian,i to d prem ; and the Monte•
'Pin, 1 to 11 prem.
4 the Railway Share Market there has been
)'
3r little animation, and in several instances
;48 have given way. South Eastern have de-
l'ned los.; and Great Western, Brighton,
44th Western, North Eastern (Berwick), and
l'ettt Eastern, each 55.
klithe Foreign and Colonial lines remain without
material alteration.
44k and Miscellaneous Shares continue in very
oa
N
I.'erate request. London and County have de-
to 801 ; Alliance Bank to 361 1; and Nay
941 Discount Company to 16.

q ERITISH FUNDS—CLOSING PRICES.
, C)1.
Cent.
FUNDS.O
. Console
i° Account Jan. 10
liw!,Petit, Reduced BB4 1
titlv u Per Cent
11 21 per Cent. Jan. 1891
db" 6 per Cent., Jan. 1873.. —
pities, 30 yrs, expire 6th Jan., 1880 —
U° for 30 yrs, expire sth April, 1885 —
„? (Red .Sea Telegraph), Aug 1908
vbileoquer Bills1,5.£0(1),00, 4jper Cent 1 5 3
tkkDo £lOO and £200
England Stk, 54 per Ct.
Account
INDIAN
GOVERNMENT SECURITIES.
° Stock, 101 per Cent., April 1874 shut
b? Account —
I 1),1 6 per Cent. July, 1870
bo Account
i Per Cent., Oct, 1888 —
bo Do Certificates
bo 1 per Cent. (Deferred 3 per Cent.) —
bo4l pei Cent
ap Enfaced Per, 4 per Cent ... .--
bo ° per Cent., Jan. 1872 ..
1.1)it), 4
i per Cent., er Cent.Aug.A M
1866ay, 18791
l,
0: liondsxl,ooo 3
"Iluder £l,OOO
tp4t,.,EOREIGN FUNDS—CLOSING PRICES.
t(zLi.a./1 Bonds, 5 per Cent
11,4 en 5 per Cent
045 per Cent., 1852-58-60 .. --.
Ile I) 1863 B3l
~ 0
114)8 Ayres 6 per Cent
DO
p Ili.Account.... -
01p"4,6 per Cent.
Op
:,:tuien 6 per Cent
b 6 Per Cent.
0 0 s
ktlio Per Cent. 1864
bp', 3 per Cent., 1825
b u per Cent, 1864
o 5
Per Cent., 1773-77, £25 paid — pm
I 1
c.,,,r New Consolidated, 1 per Cent..
'l4: Vrovisonal Land Warrant —
Whirl 7 per Cent 954 1
bo 4100 Bonds
) Second Issue
1)0.„ Do 1864 ..
Necrip, £l5 paid — pm
Do
per Cent., 1824-5, ex-Coupons
bp (\Account
b Coupon —
111441.,Acconnt .
Itbo'.tala 5 per Cent. ..
011839 and 1859 ........
No' 6 per Cent.(Maremmana Railway;
1)0 ",4 3 per Cent
Account
13 Do 1864
~o A
110 s' Per Cent, Anglo-French
L Scrip, L -3paid
Ma
0 French a
. .. dis
10,,i Scrip, Ex. 25f 20c — die x d
"tiv ,ranada 811 Imperial 5 per Cent
l 0 k* .. —
D- per Cent.
t-I q
Deferred
b end Warrants (Hectares) —
p ' Debentures, 4 per Ct., April 1864 —
ItArDo do Aug., 1866 —
,f ) ;4/1. 41 per Cent ..
01 ' Per Cent. (Uribarren) —
Op 1# per Cent., 1862
OtAccount
tikAllese 3 per Cent., 1853
bo,Account .. —7
ibo' Per Cent., 1856, '7, '9, '60,.62,'3..
NAccount —
4, 5 per Cent 1822, £ St. —
tip IS per Cent., 1850 .. 871 4
bcl , 1860
p '3, Per Cent 1859 s3i
be ' Per Cent, 1862
A .„, 1854
Ij,,icrip, £65 paid pm
klio'flo. 5 per Cent
kip Account B2
()prig 3 per Cent
ki Account —
Ilip New Deferred
b- Account
Ila 1) a
o ssive
hiAccount 314 i 4
N 44 Cert. of Coup not funded
NAccount —
kt,isitti:,,,..4 per Cent
s) (-) per Cent. 1854 —
kio Account
05 Per Cent.`lBsB
bnkteount .
Oo° tlOO Bonds
11°yer Cent. 1862
Ai, Account .. 72/ 1 2 4
I/p ,tlOO Bonds.
~,,?, I.l4,.a,sra_nteed, 4'per
.Cent.....
"!%.411',d Scrip, £4O paid
i,Jo Account
3 per Cent.
`lO -teccunt
b B per OA _ r Cent., 1862
l'o -6'count ..
kki,P Cent., 1864 ... .. 451 5 44
, I,.Per Cent
ittktti4-11vidonds on the above payable in London
411tiyi.,a11, 5 per Cent.,E. 10 Florins.
httlC2,4i per Cent., Ex. 25f —
')`'yi A I Par Cent., Ex. 12 Gail 63
liip)ll3.ber Cent. Certificates
tt 's.l.etites, 3 per Cent. ,
;4„? 40„Yer Cent., 1861, Ex. 25 francs —
,tvio.'ount 644
‘,:oillt_Dollar Bonds, 41 per Ct. Ex. 4s.
"e/ 6 per Cent., Ex. 25f —
to,
' '-
THREE O'CLOCK,
e°lB It
°Aoney
-°°llnt

)1,

01')
1/41111,

---•
Iverpool Cotton Market—This Day,
Airltithe
t !steady, and sgaia dearer, Sales, pros
42,000 bales,