The Sun.
London, England, 1864-01-07 00:00:00

ENING, JANUARY 7, 1864

out an aching heart : the faces, not ill-shaped, were massed
with dirt, and they had scarcely a rag of cot, ering upon
them ; there was no furniture in the room, the window
was plastered with mud ; and the floor, although an able
woman was there, had probably not been washtd for
months.

Such dismal revelations, varied according to the
circumstances of the locality, abound to such an

extent as to render the summer reports
of the Registrar-General a matter of no
marvel. Just now the intense cold may
enforce claims on temporary charity of a different
description, but no one can turn h serious thought
on the condition of the houses and haunts of the
London Poor without heartily sympathising with
this "Blow for Life" so appropriately struck at the
present Christmas season.

It is satisfactory, while the bitter winds are pain-
t ully reminding us of the privations of our Lanca-
shire countrymen, to find that the prospects of the
cotton trade are decidedly encouraging. The progress
of the American war is so slow and tedious, and th,
state to which the country at large and the cotton
crops may be reduced at the close of it so uncertain,
that it is gratifying to find other sources of supply
opening to us, unaffected by such risks and uncer-
tainties. Another reason which must make us
anxious to be in some degree independent of the
States cotton, is the arrogance and insolence of the
American Government, which may possibly at some
future day involve us in hostilities. It is never
wise, according to homely country wisdom, to
" have all your eggs in one basket," and especially
when that basket is in the hands of one who is at
best a very questionable and capricious friend. The
Americans have already reckoned too much on our
dependence upon them, and there is no doubt that
both North and South relied upon our need of cot-
ton for bringing us to their side. Whatever may
be thought of the policy of our Government on this
matter, there can be no question that the wisest,
course for us to follow, without regard to the con-
dition of the American States, is to encourage the
cultivation of cotton in all parts of the globe where
the soil and climate are favourable to its growth,
and to hold out a prospect of a regular market
for good cotton from whatever quarter it

may come. According to the accounts read
at a late meeting of the Cotton Supply Asso-
ciation, whose efforts have done so much towards
stimulating enterprise, the experiments made in
Southern Africa are highly successful. A letter
from Natal asserts that nearly every planter in that
colony has land under cultivation, and that mecha-
nics in the town are giving up their business to
grow cotton. The yield is said to be at the high
rate o: 3001 b. per acre, and the sample for warded is
valued at 34d. to 36d. per lb. From Syria we learn
that lack of irrigation has retarded this season's
success with American seed ; but we have the
authority of the British Vice• Consul at Latakia,
North Syria, for anticipating that the quantity
produced there will amount to 5,000 bales of 2 cwt.
each. But there is one point that requires looking
to. It is said that, owing to a lack of the means of
transit to England the greater part of the produce
makes its way to France and Russia. The boats of
their companies " are unable to take the quantity
of cotton offered: and the last French steamer sent
back 19 loaded lighters, while not a single English
steamer has yet found it worth while to make its
appearance." Nor is this the case in Syria alone,
for the British Consul et Salonica, while te;ling us
that from 3,000 to 4,000 bales are shipped weekly
from thence, informs us at the same time that most
of it goes to Marseilles, owing to the want of direct
steam communication with England. Again, the
Haytian Government have distinguished them-
selves by their efforts to stimulate the cultivation
of cotton, and the result is that the last year's crop
was expected to exceed 3,000,0001 b. while that of
1864, it is calculated, will probably reach 4,500,0001 b.
Yet of this only a portion comes to us, the rest being
taken by France and the United States. Of course
we have no right to a monopoly of cotton, nor
should we resolve that French cotton spinners are
to starve while our own mills are working full time;
but, as the largest consumer of the raw material,
we have certainly the right to look after our own
interests, and it is our own fault if the superior en-
terprise of French, Russian, and American traders
earry off more than their share of what we
so much need. Our deficiencies in this respect
should be promptly remedied, for surely we have
speculators and capitalists enough to make the ven-
ture, even if it be not done officially. From Para-
guay, Dominico, and Antigua, we have favourable
accounts. In the latter cotton was formerly culti-
vated, and still grows wild with great luxuriance.
From several other parts the intelligence is also
cheering, independent y of our expectations from
India, where the prospects are good. The Bengal
supply will exceed, it is said, that of last year, in-
stead of falling short of it as was feared, while i❑
the Punjaub experiments are about to be made
with Egyptian seed and steam ploughs, which are
expected to prove highly remunerative. All these
various efforts must tend to good—the success of
one compensating for the deficiency of another,
until we may reasonably hope that within a com-
paratively short time we may draw a full supply
of the precious staple from quarters unaffected by
the Transatlantic civil war.

ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.—In this frosty
' weather the fellows of the society are making good
use of their ponds and canals, which are only about two feet
deep. Ladies have there the opportunity of practising
skating secure from the roughness incidental to contact
wit all comers, which is unavoidable in public places; and
we understand that the council either have already ap-
pointed, or are about to appoint, an instructress in skating,
to attend upon those ladies who desire to acquire 'this
healthful accomplishment. The society's rules of admission
to the gardens at South Kensington have been so far re-
laxed as to allow fellows during the continuance of the frost
to admit their friends, either personally or by written orders,
on payment of Is. for each person.

OUTWARD CAPE MAlL.—(Renter's Telegrams.)
PLYMOUTH, Jan. 6.—The mail steam ship Roman left this
port to-night with 44 passengers and the Cape mails, con-
sisting of 21 bags of letters, 101 bags of papers, and 14 bags
of books.

THE CRAWLEY DEFENCE FUND.—The fund which
is in, progress to relieve Lieut.-Col. Crawley of the
expenses incurred by the recent court-martial at Aldershot
now amounts to upwards of 41,220. The expenses are said
to amount to between £3,000 and £l,OOO. Amongst the
contributors to the fund are—Earl Vine, Lord C. Fitzroy,
Lord Hotham, M.P., Lord Colville, the Earl of Orford, the
Marchioness of Londonderry, the Dowager Lady Raglan,
Lord Leconfield, the Right Hon. Sir George Brown,
G.C.8., commander in chief in Ireland ; General Sir G.
Bowles, K,C.8., Admiral William Bowles, K.C.8., Gen.
Sir J. Aitcheson, K.C.8., Col. the Hon. J. Calthorpe, Ad-
miral the Hon. Sir Henry Keppell, K.C.8., Col. the Hon.
E. Douglas Pennant, M.P., Sir Henry Foulest Bart., Sir
F. Adair Roe, Bart., Sir W. Eden, Bart., Rear-Admiral
Brunswick Popham, and many distinguished officers of both
services.

DISCOVERIES AT POMPEII.—The Chronique des
Arts states that among the articles recently die-
covered at Pompeii is a small head of Juno, in silver, of
exquisite workmanstlip; also the body, in silver, but broken;
a bridle-bit in bronze; a lamp in the same metal complete,
with cover, suspending chain, an extinguisher; a patera ;
a large and handsome vase, with the handles terminated
by winged genii holding a cornucopia; other small vases
in bronze; and a seal in that metal bearing the name of the
master of the house in which the articles were found—
Lucio Cornelio Diadutneno.

ARCHZOLOGY IN FRANCE.—The Moniteur des
Arts states tnat there were discovered a tew days
since on the Banks of the Rhone, near Lyons, 45 Gallo-
t orubs,the skeletons in which were complete,the faces turned
towards the east, and the heads supported by a small
earthern urn. One of the tombs only is formed of Roman
tiles, of a very large size. No inscription, arms, or coins
of any kind have been, found in any of the tombs.

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

[REUTER'S TELEGRAM.]

ULTIMATUM TO DENMARK.
THE POLICY OF THE CROWN PRINCE
OF PRUSSIA.
BERLIN, JAN. 4.
The Ber'iner Borsenzeitvng says:—

"As the constitution of the 18th of November
has not been withdrawn by Denmark, and the
eventuality stated here as constituting a casus
bell 'ay the Ist January has therefore taken place,
we understand that it is intended to forward an
ultimatum to Denmark, categorically demanding
this withdrawal, and return to the statu quo in 1846,
previous to the issue of the so-called Public Letter,
up to which period Schleswig-Holstein was simply
connected with Denmark by dynastic union. It is
further expected that two army corps will be
mobilised, and marching oilers issued to the troops
already upon a war footing, in order.to impart the
the requisite emphasis to this demand. It is at any
rate certain that the nest few days will bring
decisive events, and it may be also assumed, so far
as we are acquainted with the prevalent views, that
patience is finally exhausted, and that energetic
advance may be expected.'
It is reported in well-informed circles that the
Crown Prince has repeatedly expressed himself
towards the King in favour of the succession of the
Hereditary Prince Frederick of Augustenburg in
the Schleswig-Holstein Duchies. The Crown Prince
is said to keep up an animated correspondence
with Duke Frederick. The liberal current in high
quarters in favour of the Duchies has made progress
since his Royal Highness's return. It is known
that both the Crown Prince and Crown Princess
have been acting in this direction in England, but
with little success. The Prince of Wales, repre-
senting the interests of his father-in-law, the Danish
King, is reported to possess great influence over the
Queen,

Information has also been received that the Crown
Prince has expressed his concurrence in the foreign
policy of Herr von Bismark in an especially graci-
ous manner. During the holidays the Minister
President and his lady dined at the palace of the
Crown Prince,

ALTONA, JAN. 4.

Private letters received from Rendsburg report
that the Kronenwerk suburb of Rendsburg was
occupied by the Saxon Federal troops, under Lieut.-
General von Hake, on the 2d inst. This concession
is said to have been mooted by the Commander-in
Chief of the Danish troops in Schleswig, and to
have been sanctioned by his Majesty, by advice of
Captain Lundbye, the Minister of War, upon
the King's visit to the army. Upon the
other hand, the Dines are reported to have
decisively refused to give up to the Federal troops
the six villages on the north of the Eider, formerly
included in Holstein.

It is stated also that the Danes and Saxons nar-
rowly escaped coming into collision previous to the
evacuation of the Kronenwerk. Lieut.-Gen. Von
Bake, having occupied the rest of the town, was
proceeding to march his men into the disputed
suburb, when the Danish Major-General Von Stein-
man planted a company of infantry, with levelled
bayonets, upon the Sluice-bridge. The Saxons
thereupon drew back, and negotiations were com-
menced.

KIEL, JAN. 1.

Yesterday and to-day Duke Frederick has been
occupied in receiving deputations, which have
hurried in to congratulate him, and express the joy
of the country at his appearance. Several corpora-
tions of the town also had audiences. At twelv,-
o'clock to day a deputation of ladies waited the
Duke to present him with an embroidered flag.
About two o'clock some 4)0 mounted peasants and
countrvfolks paraded before the Duke, each man
being decorated with the Schleswig-Holstein
colours—blue, white, and red. The Holstein
colour, red and white, are rarely visible, and the
Danish cockade has entirely disappeared.

" THE ENGLISH THREATS."
BRESLAU, JAN. 3.

The Breslau Zeitung of this morning publishes
a leader under the above heading, of which the
following is a translation :

" The warning which Lord Russell has given the
Federal Diet in case of the remote possibility of
' over-hasty steps,' is followed by the threat that,
in the event of German troops crossing.the Eider,
England would not be able to afford avoiding
the assistance requested by Denmark.' We must
take our chance of the ' not being able to avoid.'
It is to be hoped England will herself follow the
advice she so condescendingly imparts to the
Federal Diet, and beware of over-hasty steps.'
Earl Russell will, no doubt, be able to avoid,'
even if German troops should cross the Eider.
"In what would the English assistance con-
sist ? Two Prussian army corps. together with the
Federal troops in Holstein would probably be quite
sufficient to hold an English army in check; and
as for a blockade of the German ports. The Eng-
lish Parliament would probably reflect even longer
than the Federal Diet before it occasioned such
deep wounds to English commerce by an over
hasty step,' as would unquestionably be made by
a blockade of the German ports. With full
right English policy is especially a trading policy,
but just upon that very ground the argument
would have great weight with the English Parlia-
ment, whether a war undertaken on Denmark's
account, would do more damage to English than
to German commerce.

"Lord Russell has not so easy a position as Herr
von Bismarck. While, for example, in Prussia the
Ministry can declare it will wage war with or
without the consent of the Chamber of Deputies,
the very peculiar arrangement, incomprehensible
elsewhere, exists that the consent of the Parliament
is requisite to levy war, and that for the very
simple reason that war casts money. This
arrangement may be regarded as very narrow-
minded and extraordinary tasteless, but the English
appear to be of opinion that. the people have a right
to be heard where the people's blood and treasure
are in question.

" Until, therefore, the
English Parliament has
spoken the English threats are not of great impor-
tance, particularly as England in this question can
rely less than ever upon France. For the Emperor
of the French looks upon the
isolation of England
as an opportune punishment for the rejection of
this European Congress. He is averse to the
restricted conferences proposed by England for the
decision of the Dano-German conflict for the fur-
ther reason that they retard or entirely prevent his
favourite European Congress scheme. England
will hardly undertake an over-hasty step 'against
Germany ,vithout the support of France.
" We entertain far greater fear of Austria and
Prussia than we do of the English threats. Eng-
land, in fact, may save herself all notes and des-
patche,s ; Prussia and Austria will take good care
that the Federal Diet is not carried away by over-

,tasty steps.'
" It is a positively disgusting sight to behold
how onr feudal organs rush at the bone cast

to them by England as eagerly as dogs. No
sooner has England proposed conferences than the
idea is instantly caught up by these papers and
defended. England is the only power which has to
fear the union of the Duchies with Germany, be-
cause such an union offers the possibility of Ger-
many rising to a naval Power dangerous to English
supremacy. England, therefore, acts entirely in
her own interest, when she advocates the union of
the Duchies with Denmark. The English plan is,
nevertheless, defended as energetically by our feudal
organs as by the English press. They know right
well that they only serve English interests, but
they know also that an advance of Prussia and
Austria in the national German sense must destroy
the reaction. Its preservation is dearer in their
eyes than the preservation of the Duchies.
" For this reason the scheme of the Landon Con-
ferences is adopted with eagerness, for it is known
that their proceedings would be nothing else than a
renewed edition of the London Treaty, and would
seal anew the union of the DucLies with Denmark.
All will be won if the whole dispute can be peace-
fully set aside, for the internal policy of the Go-
vernment will suffer no interruption.

"For this reason the Duke of Schleswig-Holstein
is bespattered with contumely by the feudal organs;
for this reason the central German States are mocked
with the question whether they, single-handed,
will make war upon all :Europe; for this
reason the full weakness and impotence of
the Germanic Diet is laid bare. But—we
ask again—of what :avail are large armies if the
threats of the foreigners are not repelled with
determination, if diplomacy takes every opportunity
of sounding the retreat ? Can there be a higher
and more splendid reward than the preservation of
Sch:eswig Holstein to Germany ? The history of
the last decennium should at least have taught us
that London Congresses can afford us no speeies of
guarantee against Denmark ; the complete union of
the Duchies with Germany affords the only safe-
guard.

‘'Neither England nor France will hinder this
union, whenever Germany—that is, the Great
German Powers—earnestly will it. The danger
does not lie in the English threats, bat depends
upon whether this earnest will in reality exists."

THE CALCUTTA, CHINA, BOMBAY, AND

MAURITIUS MAILS.

The following telegram has been received at Mr.
Renter's office from the Peninsular and Oriental
Steam Navigation Company, Jan. 7 :
The Valetta, with the above mails, arrived at
Marseilles at 7 a.m. this day. The mails were to
leave at 11.30 a.m.

MARSEILLES, lAN. 7.

The Messageriesi Imperiales mail steamer Moeris
arrived here at 4 a.m. to day with the India and
China mails, and the English mail, ex the Candia.

Tantalising References to L. E, L.'s Death,

" No one lands at Cape Coast Castle without pilgrimag-
ing to the last resting-place of the poetess L. E, L.,' and,
of course, without inquiring into her 'sad, eventful history'
which has, however, nothing of romance. For L. E. L.'
is known where Miss Landon is not, and her fate has been
the subject of curiosity to many that have never read the
• Improvisatrice,' or ' Romance and Reality.' The graves
of Mrs. Maclean and her deeply-iejured husband are on the
large triangular drill-ground of the Castle. It is a local
practice to bury dead in dwelling-houses, and the custom
is not confined to pagans—the floor of the surgery, the kit-
chen, and the medical store-rooms of the colonial hospital
have all been used for interment. The tramping of soldiery
upon the pavement had well-nigh defaced all traces of the
tombs, when the pious hand of Grosvenor O'Connor re-
stored them. ...

"The true history of Mrs. Maclean's death is known to
many, but who in writing the life of L. E. L.' would dare
to tell it? Owning that de Inertias nil nisi verum should
be our motto, how would it be possible to publish facts
whilst actors in the tragedy are still upon the stage of
life? And after their death it will be forgotten. The
author of a certain report on the Gold Coast during his
short and feverish residence as Commissioner, a guest of
President Maclean, succeeded in casting upon his host's
public efficiency a serious slur, which was afterwards satis-
factorily removed by a select committee of the House of
Commons. On the other hand, the author of ' Eighteen
Years on the Gold Coast,' showed himself an injudicious
friend, far worse than any foe, by asserting that after a
certain esclandre, the household was very successful. But
enough of these private matters. Mr. Forster, M.P. for
Berwick, the warmest of President Maclean's well-wishers,
openly asserted that the flood of calumny poured upon him
arose from the enmity of an individual in the Colonial-office
who was pettily jealous because affairs at the Gold Coast,
with a miserable pittance of£looo, were managed more effec-
tually than at the pet S'a Leone, where economy has never
been the order of the day. Hence the President of the Coun-
cil of Government, than whom a better servant of Govern.
ment was never known on this coast, was charged with
having encouraged slavery under the local name 'pawning'
-.A fatal accusation in those days,—asd with neglecting
official duty for private correspondence.
" Standing by graves we heard the story of Mrs. Mac-
lean's death, and nothing could be less probable than the
popular version. A homeward-bound vessel was preparing
to sail. At 7 a.m. she left her husband's room, and pro-
ceeded to write letters before dressing in the little room
opposite, once used as an observatory. A Mrs. Bailey, he r
servant, had been sent to the store room to fetch some
article ; she returned after a few minutes, and found against
the door a weight, which proved to be the corpse of her
mistress. The servant distinctly asserted what has been
since denied, that a phial was still in the dead woman's
hand, and that the phial contained a preparation of prussic
acid. But here comes the rub. The authoress's spirits
had been weakened, she had ceased to play at ball, and she
was suffering from a heart diEease which produced fits or
spasms. The local account, however, is that she was in
the habit of taking prussic acid to stimulate her energies, a
use probably unknown to Scheele. At any rate, calumny
found its way home, and the President was reduced to the
secondary positionof Judicial Assessor at Cape Coast Castle•
There he died in May, 1847, to the deep and lasting regret
of the whole population, black and white."— Wanderings
in Western Africa.

ROYAL GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY.—On Monday
evening next, at half-past 8, Sir R. I. Murchison, K.C.8.,
president, in the chair, the following papers will be read :-
1. " Mustakh Glacier;" by Capt. Edwin Austin. 2. " Re-
port on the Non-auriferous Character of West Australia;"
by E. H. Hargraves, Esq.

BATH ABBEY is to be restored by Mr. G., G

Scott, preserving, we hope, the corrupt, but very curious
west front, which is decorated with a representation of
Jacob's Dream, angels going up and down ladders, carved
on the whole facade.

THACKERAY can never be placed among the pure
satirists, it has lately been remarked, like Dryden,
or Swift, or Pope, or even Byron—(Byron scarcely ever
shows real genius, except when the gleam of the cynical
steel, or at the least his delight in the destructive forces of
nature, bares itself to us in his poetry)—nor even among
the pure humourists, like Addison, or Lamb, or Sterne, or
Dickens—nor among the pure artiEts, like Miss Austen, or
Sir Walter Scott, or George Eliot—but he will always form
a class by himself as a great satirical artist, blending almost
equally the poignant and destructive venom of the satirist
with the genial fertility of the creative imagination in which
all sorts of life-like images spring up like flowers, and spring
from germs which seem quite independent of the peculiar
bias of the artist's own character.

CHURCH OF TORCELLO,—A correspondent of the
Budder describes the present condition of the famous
and beautiful basilia at Torcello, Venice, as a melancholy
one. The Austrian Government, it is averred, about four
years ago commissioned a mosaicist to restore the invalu-
able and almost unique mosaio representing the Resurrec-
tion and Day of Judgment at the west end of this build-
ing," a process which he understood, as restorers are
wont, to be best accomplished by ripping off the
old mosaic by wholesale, and substituting his modern
antique in its place. The result was, as may be guessed,
impending ruin of perhaps the whole." But t,e Govern-
ment, discovering that the process was taking this unfor-
tunate form, and that the ancient work, as well as time•
worn, was being removed, stopped the business, and, it is
said, incarcerated the operator. From that time to this the
mosaic has remained untouched; it is bulging, tattered'
falling, and threatening destruction.
A MORGANATIC FAUX PAS.—The brother of the
King of Portugal, Prince Leopold Francis of Saxe
Coburg-Gotha, born in 1824, and for some time general in
the Austrian service, gave his hand, in April, 1861, to a
Miss Constance Geiger, the daughter of a poor teacher of
music at Vienna. Tha marriage made a great noise at the
time, being doomed an insult, not only to all the high rela-
tives of the prince, but to German royalty in general. It ap-
pears that Prince Leopold, in the first instance, intended to
make the matter as respectable as possiole, by getting a
title for his young bride—the easiest thing, under ordinary
circumstances, in Austria, titular honours and dignities
being plentiful in the market, and cheap as blackberries—
but that, in his case, he met unexpected difficulties, aris-
ing in high quarters, it being expected. probably, that he
would give up his morganatic ideas on finding himself
driven to unite his lot with an absolute and un-
disguised plebeian. But Prince Leopold, either fairly
in love or with a soul above buttons, thought other-
wise. He not only married Miss Constance Geiger, but
made the ceremony as grand as possible, riding to
church, at the side of his fair bride, in a State carriage
emblazoned with the world-famous arms of Saxe.
Coburg, and with lackeys and out-riders innumerable.
13( hind, in a long file, followed all the Geigers, great and
little, and half the personnel of the theatres of Vienna : old
and new acquaintances of the happy family, whose previous
business had been chiefly with the stage and stage melody.
The word " Geiger" in Geman signifies fiddler, and there
being in the bridal procession. several other persons with
equally conspicuous names, such as " "Piper,"
and " Singer," the Punch of Vienna had a good time of

it for weeks to come. The error of their ways was im-
mediately discovered by the imperial authorities,
who then granted unasked the title and dignities
which they had before refused. Prince Leopold's morgan-
atic spouse is now a Baroness von Ruttenstein, duly en-
rolled in the long list of Austrian noblesse, comprising
notable portion of the population of the empire.—b'pectater.
A WORKHOUSE TREAT.—It is pleasant to find
that the genial festivities of this holiday seaso❑
extend even to our paupers, who might certainly be sup-
posed to be beyond the pale of Christmas mirth and merri-
ment. A very interesting gathering took place at the
Strand U nion•on Monday last, when, thanks to the guar-
dians, and the benevolerat exertions of Mr. Acres, the
chaplain of the institution, tea and refreshments were pro•
vided for all the able-bodied inmates, followed by a little
rational entertainment. The inmates were assembled in the
large room of the workhouse ordinarily used as a chapel,
where the chaplain and his friends amused them with
music, recitations, the exhibition of a microscope,
&c., with very great success, It was gratifying to
see the warmth with which Mr. Thom, the abl.-3
and popular master, was greeted when appearing
before them, as it proved how powerful is the influence of
kindness and good feeling, even amid the roughesi, and
least cultivated classes. In proof that Mr. Thom is no less
effective as a disciplinarian than popular as a master, the
order maintained throughout by the large body of men and
women assembled was perfect, no voice being raised except
in applause or laughter, when something in the perfor-
mances especially delighted them. An interesting feature
in the evening's entertainment was the presentation of a
handsome volume to the labour-master, who was on the
eve of leaving the establishment. The bo k in question
had been subscribed for by the inmates of the hoh.e, who
wished to present him with some token of gratitude awl
esteem. In the sick, infirm, and convalescent wards,
Miss Twining and some friends had also provided
tea and cake to the great delight of the poor
sufferers, so that no part of the vast establishment was left
uncheered or uncared for. Several of the guardians were
present, and altogether the affair went off moat satisfactorily.
We hope it will not be the last of its kinds since such acts of
spontaneous kindness and evidences of sympathy are
warmly appreciated by those whose existence is at best but
a dreary and monotonous routine, while anything that tends
to humanize them, to remove the feeling that they are out-
laws and outcasts, for whom anything is good enough, is a
real and substantial benefit. The experience of the other
evening, too, may convince lookers on that these classes are
capable of enjoying rational pleasures, and will, we hope,
induce the managers of other workhouses to emulate the
kindliness and good feeling shown by the authorities of the
Strand Union.

Now that the winter has set la with more than usual
severity, it will ba a great boon to the thousands who are
suffering from coughs, colds, asthmas (all which affections
are intensified by the great change), to know that the best
remedy.and the one which alone has stood the test of time is
P.)well's Balsam of Aniseed. Whoso is suffering from
asthma, coughs, or colds, &c., will find a safe and speedy
remedy in this specific.—.A.DYT.

svitv
ro
&full - eirmlat

HER MAJESTY.

OSBORNE, JAN. 6.

The Queen, accompanied by Prince Arthur and
Prince Leopold, walked in the grounds yesterday.

The Prince and Princess of Wales.

His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, ac-
companied by the equerry in waiting and atten-
dants, went out shooting yesterday morning. In
the afternoon the Prince of %Vales and suite went
skating on the ice, which now covers the canal or
ornamental water at Frogmore. The increasing
frost of Tuesday and yesterday has rendered the ice
extremely thick, and it is now in first rate condition
for the skaters. The Prince and the suite enjoyed
this healthy recreation for some time, and were on
the ice till a late hour in the afternoon.

PRINCE ALFRED.—His Royal Highness Prince
Alfred, accompanied by MajorCowell,arrived in Edinburgh
on Tuesday morning, having travelled from London by the
night train. It is expected that his Royal Highness will be
the guest of Lord and Lady Belhaven, at Wishaw House,
to-morrow and on Saturday next.

Tne Duke of Hamilton left the family mansion
in Arlington-street, Piccadilly, on Tuesday, for his seat,
Easton Park, Suffolk, where his grace and a select party of
friends intend to have a few days' shooting.

The Earl and Countess of Derby are entertaining
his Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge and a distin-
guished company at Knowsley Hall, Lancashire. The Duke
and Duchess of Manchester, the Earl and Countess of
Hardwicke and Lady Agneta Yorke and the Hon. Elliot
Yorke, Viscount Hamilton, M.P., Lord Henry G. Lennox,
M.P., Sir Henry and Lady Saphia Des Voeux, and Colonel
Clifton, in waiting on the Duke of Cambridge, are of the
party enjoying the hospitalities of the noble earl and
countess.

The Earl of Lansdale is expected to return to
town to-morrow, from Ventnor, Isle of Wight.

Tne Earl and Countess of Yarborough, accom-
panied by the Ladies Hare, passed through town on Tues-
day, for Sutton Place, near Staplehurat, Kent, on a visit to
Sir Edmund and the Hon. Lady Filmer, from iirooklesby,
Lincolnshire.

Viscount Hiechingbroke has left town to join
the party visiting Sir Edmund and Hon. Lady Filmer, at
Sutton-place, Kent,

Lady Bloomfield is expected to return to the
Dowager Lady Bloomfield's residence, at Rutland-gate, to-
morrow, from Mr. and Lady Elizabeth Adeane's seat in
Cambridgeshire, where her ladyship has been staying since
Monday last.

DEATH OF MAJOR-GENERAL WALPOLE, R.E.—
We have N record the death of .111,jor-General John
Walpole, who died on Monday last at his temporary resi-
dence in Charles-sheet, St. James's. Gen. Walpole had
been in active service since 1816. His commission as
lieutenant bore date 24th Sept., 1825 ; captain, 28th Nov.,
1839 ; major, 15th Sept., 1848 ; lieutenant-colonel, 7th
Feb., 1854; colonel, 28th Nov., 1854; and major-general,
9th March, 1868.

A MUNIFICENT GlFT.—Lady Cotton Sheppard
has presented £250 to the National Lifeboat Institution,
£5O of which she has collected in various sums amongst her
friends and neighbours, for a lifeboat to be stationed at
Porthdiullaen, on the Carnarvonshire coast. Her ladyship,
who takes the warmest interest in the National Lifeboat
Institution, has herself already given £lOO for two boats,
one of which is stationed at Port Rush, and the other at
Porthcawl. The latter boat was instrumental a short time
since in rescuing, during a heavy gale of wind, the crew of
10 men from the schooner Champion, of Liverpool, wrecked
off P‘rtheawl.

INQUIRY INTO THE CONDUCT OF A LIFEBOAT
CREW,—Au important inquiry into charges of
cowardice and inefficiency made against the crew of the
Holyhead lifeboat has just terminated at Holyhead, before
the Hon. W. 0. Stanley and a large number of magistrates
and other influential persons. The readers of Ihe Sun
will remetuber that this lifeboat was the means of rescuing
48 during the gale of the 3d Dec. last. Notwithstanding
this, the largest number ever saved by one lifeboat on a
single occasion, the above charge was made by the father
of Captain Armitage, master and owner of the brig West-
bourne, who perished with all his crew. Captain Priest,
R.N., honorary agent to the Lifeboat Institution at that
port, was also accused of sending incorrect and garbled
repot ts to the committee of that :.ns itution. From the ex-
amination of a number of witnesses it transpired that nine
out of the 13 men who constituted the paid crew of the boat
refused to go out on the morning is question, but in two
hours nine other men volunteered to take their place, and
during the 3d and 4th Dec. they were out repeatedly in the
height of the gale. The iesult of the investigation was that
the nine men who held back were censured, mid the volun-
teer crew highly commended for their gallantry, The
charge against Capt, Priest was declared unfounded, and a
report to that effect was forwarded to the National Lifeboat

Institution. The latter has rewarded the nine men who
volunteered with £3 each, and the old crew who stuck
to their colours with £4 each.

STUCK IN THE MUD)—In 1862 Lord Derby for-
mally proclaimed an armistice for the year; and
when, in 1863, hostilities were supposed to be resumed, the
course of events was precisely similar. Mr, Disraeli himself
has almost ceased to organise party combinations since the
Galway contract subsided into its character of a professed
Irish job. There is no use in attacking Lord Russell, because
the country has not, the smallest desire to restore Lord Mal-
mesbury to the Foreign-office, Sir C, Wuod is practically
exempt from criticism in a house which knows nothing •
about India, and for the present he is covered from attack
by the popular nomination of Sir John Lawrence as Vice-
roy. It, indeed, the frontier warfare should assume larger
proportions, India would, as in 1856 and 1857, once more
become the centre of political interest; but in ordinary times
the smallest European transaction is more attractive to
popular curiosity, The Home Department may perhap
occupy a portion of the time of the House of Commons wit)
unexciting questions of prison discipline, but Sir G. Gre y
will scarcely run even the trifling risk of bringing forwar d
another abortive bill for the reform of the City Corporatio n.
When Parliament, or any political party, cares as much 'for
abolishing the Mansion House as the Aldermen and Com-
mon Council for defending it, it is probable that modern
municipal theories will at last be too powerful for Gog and.
Magog. To laser politicians, a powerless dignitary who
employs himself in giving splendid dinners seems an insti-
tution, or fiction, which is neither intolerable nor wholly
useless. The vitality of the Government depends on. _Lord
Palmerston's health far more than on his measures. Per-
haps, half a dozen years hence, the standing common place
of conversation may be the obvious resnark that a Min ister
of 85 cannot be expected to last much longer,—Scittirday
Review.

USELESS SELF-SACRIFICE.—The authoress of the
" Chronicles of Carlingford," says a critic i n the
Saturday Review, furnishes in one of her latter stories, a
very apt and truthful illustration of the complicated wretch-
edness of a half-consummated, fruitless self-sacrific e. In.
" The Doctor's Family, the sharp and bustling little Nettie,
sister of the indolent and childish handsome wife of the
Doctor's indolent, spritless, and drunken brother F red. has,
almost as a matter of course,appropriated to herself the duty
of governing, providing for, clothing, educating,, and, in
fact, keeping alive the whole establishment. Out of sheer
kindness of heart and energy of spirit, she has ha ken the
burden off the lazy backs of those who were bound by law
and by nature to , bear the responsibility of maintaining
themselves and their children. She sacrifices to them day
by day her money, her strength, her brain, an d almost
her heart , and her sister and brother-in-law take it equally
as a matter of course, and day by day become mu re helpless
and dependent, and more incapable of gratitud e. When
poor Fred tumbles into the water in a state ot t pay stupi.
dity, the task of dragging the whole family back .from Eng-
land to Australia falls upon the shoulders of Nettie, while
the pretty widow can do nothing but sit maundering over
" poor Fred's" eminent virtues ; and, but for tb.e reappear-
ance of an old Australian flame, who soon obliterates the
remembrance of Fred, and consoles the widow into a second
marriage, the story must have ended by the disappearance
of its heroine to another hemisph re, leaving behind every
gleam of personal happiness, and carrying with her a hope-
less and ceaseless burden. Probably the Netties of real life
seldom have the luck to find a willing and able-bodied sub-
stitute, happy to walk jauntily off with the weight under
which their bruised faculties and disappointed feelings are
staggering. People who, by the common consent of their
acquaintance, are called "pour Fieds" at the best of tinies,
generaby contrive, either living or dead, to oppress the con-
scientious victims of their unprincipled imbecility to the end
The natural consequence, in nine cases out of ten, of such
a self-immolation as Nettie made, would be for her to per-
form the journey back to Australia, and there work herself
to death in apathetic energy under the insane worryings of
the sister for whom she had given up everything, bullied
and neglected by the naughty children (ot whom only the
naughtiest seems to have repaid her devotion with genuine
love), and with the dull consciousness that she might per-
haps have acted more wisely and more rightly in shaking
herself free before the suttee of her own independent exist-
ence had been entirely accomplished.

ST. CLEMENT AT Ito➢iE.--Father Muilooley, of
the irisa Dominican Convent of St. Clement, is
prosecuting with great zeal his subterranean researches
under that venerable basilica, and has had the satisfaction
to discover a fresco painting illustrative of the lifo and
martyrdom of the saint, accompanied by many details of
ritual and costume, Which are most prccious to the etudent
of Christian archwAogy. With regard to the date of the
painting just exhumed, the Cavaliere De Rossi, the great
authority in such cases, does not allow it a gmater anti-
quity than the eighth century,

. An Anglo Italian Bank, which has been for some
hme in preparation, will, it is said, be shortly
intro-
duced, all the preliminary arrangements having been
ennipleted. Sir James Hudson and Baron Ricasoli
Will be members of the board of direction.
Plac
The biddings for £500,000 in bills on India took
e yesterday at the Bank of England. The pro-
Portions allotted were to Calcutta, £270,000;
.to
Bombay, X 210,000; and to Madras, £20,000. The
relninanni price declared was, as before, ls. llid.
per rupee on Calcutta and Madras, and is.
111 d.
on
)3°111°43'. Th
amounted e applications within the limits
2s• will
t° ,700,000. Tenders on Calcutta at
receiveX3 about 13 per cent.; on Bombay,
'at 28. Old., about 34 per cent.; on Madras, at
I®' 111 d., about 60 Per cent. and all above these
prices in f....n.
, Liu On the 17th ult.., when the biddings
lieti, 4°r X 400,000, the applications within the
04°168 aolounted only to £1 ,240,000, and tenders
th lelitt4 at ls. 1141. received about 9 per cent. ;
_c,,,„ 0
Thos,Madr4 110Mbav, at 2s. Old., in full; and those on
ahat itt• I.lld. about 60 per cent.
tine ce o—are list :f ihe British Nation Fire Insur.
12 e in-133PanY will be closed on Tuesday next, the
iaNtth -,78t.' for London, and on Thursday, the 14th
'" 4r the eouetty.

Two O'CLOCK.
kit. At Two
Paris Bourse this morning (according to
Renter's telegram) the Three per Cent. Renter
Wei.
~,e quoted at 66f. 75c. .
t, Net much activity is noticeable to-day in the
ot
h°°lt Exchange Marketa, where few unimportant
ap,
~, "Res have occurred. The English Funds show
--4t4toms of heaviness, although the more
.favour-
able.l
German telegrams at one time lent additional
atrehßth to quotations. Consols are 91 4 for money,
rrel,(l 91: 4 for the February account. The New
14-ureed and Reduced Annuities are 90 4 ; Exchequer
"1118, 3s. die. to Is. prem.; Bank of England Stock
18 5 perked 235 236 ; India Stock, 219 ex, div.; do.
Cent. Enlaced Paper,lo4 ; and do. Bonds, par
to 3. prem.
The business negotiated in Foreign Stocks this
morning has not been large, and the variations have
not been important. Mexican remain steady at. 36:
1 ; Greek Bonds, at 24' 4, show an advance of a;
1" Coupons continue firm at 11; Spanish Passive
are again 34, A
I:_tx., to 14 I ';.4. I.'
; the Certificates hive declined 4,
Turkish Consolides are 4 worse, at
lit 1 ; and the Confederate Loan is steady at 38
10.
e In
the
it'ilway Share Market business has been
oxe.eedingly doll. A firmer tone, however, prevails,
the
to the favourabla traffic receipts on most of
14.6 PrinciP4l lines. Manchester, Sheffi-ld, and
Zontb- lee°l°' and Metropolitan, have improved 108., and
Eastern ss. Lancashire and Yorskhire, and
11.:.,t Western, have each declined ss.
11-1 e Foreign and Colonial lines exhibit little
Re of importance.
a ~'u4knßc and Miscellaneous Shares generally exhibit
oillroier tone. Alliance have advanced to 464 i ;
404" rifted of t
Natllndia, Australia, and China to 394
'° I Prem. e"' PaScihipping Company are quoted par
i .
(cit, fic Steam 14 14 prem. ; Contraot
4 "oration, 24 3 prem.; and Australian Shipping,
' t Prem.

—___. f, BRITISII FUNDS--ONE O'CLOCK.
a Q
—.,NNIENT FUNDS.
a .-6,Ceut. Consols 9l
Nt. '"c? •
Account Feb. 4 ...... 91f
3 eat. iteduceci
............
91
I.ob per Cent. 9lk 1
beiW,o" B 1 11"
1 'l)°°
al
...
21 3 per dent. Par
E6OO 1 pro 3 dig
Ditto
£lOO and 200 1 pin 3 die
141:T.1)1i:sr Ur`..OVERNMENT SECURITIES.
bli4„oBtE3cic'' 1874 219 a. d
ntaced Paper, 4 per Cent.
ditto 4 per Cent....... —
bit toyb . Per Cent., Jan. 1872 lO4
bit"t' bonds ti,jOU 3 Pal
° ander £l,OOO par
4,:tat,. FOREIGN FUNDS—ONE O'CLOCK.
ruin Bonds 6 er Cent
la,
rs. , P .......... -
,Itili
.vtto 1859 —
1)14 44
6 per Cent ........ —
~,bitt?) 1839 and 1859 .
'44ptili per Cent., 1852-58-60 BB
4,!litt:l" 7 per Cent, lOll
t,it
..! Second Issue ..... . look 1
t,.4it,:' per Cent., 1824-6, ex-Couplns
4 .it" Account. ........... .s 24k
1., 06:1°, d per Cent .. • . Account--
("ett,;),i,,,
D,tt.„ .Pir Lent. ....
ptitto Account .
,s__ ......
'
litt° 43 Per Cent... 1862
, OA. •,
,444 ecount ................ 851 6
bt, "e 3 per Cent 1853 .......
bitto4kceouta
.. ',
it bitto APer ceta . i,-.1z6 .;i q . qc; . g;;
Pani,4,--.-ec0,,.„, ~ - , , , , 7 . ---
b.itto
~. t,er
‘se.u. ................. ~• 47/- I, llitto "ftsaive`-' t —
vp,,,,i_t teco„,,,
.......... . —
,„474:rt. oti. 6! ... ... . . .... 34k f
Irkith coutt, c p not funded . •—
)4, . per cer;t• •.. , l4 k k
bl)l4° kee°'lllt. ' 1804 ........ .. ... —•—
itt,'„' 6A Per Celli, ... .. —
Nl:lft° alt''''eeo ' 'OOB ...
tt 6 per e ........ . 7O 691
Ditto,bitc' 'kee°vo nt' 1862 —
, 41.01, -13 t• •• - .................
I,' ° 6 pc. 011 ail
...
vO4) G, 'r
ee4t. 186 i 6B
itt,„ , „aret,_
..
............. —
'ttez, V eta 34„, teect, 4 per Cent .....
oitt mia, 3 '4'reg, 4 per Ct., 1863
114 4 9.N.„Per ePut. Oct,,
.N. to 0 -.11,,,t
Cent --
',I
,fr" .t,tr
, u° Ac, ) 1882
*Ji,t_ bipict 01;01 ..
.. 56
Tll2i eriCentn the..abo.v.ep.a.y.a.ble gin London.
tti
i,LtlO .tP,.!
r, Ex. 12 G il
i,itlti, 6 per k-;ent. Certificate's
`'l Per 0
A, ent., 1861, Ex. 25 Franc,,s —
°ouzo,.
i)
..... ....... -. , 671 I
~IleqL
4iiti° Atot.
TWO O'CLOCK,
o ~kollezi3"t
. . ........ 3 ...... 1173 91A 1
t