The Sun.
London, England, 1864-12-23 00:00:00

LIFEBOAT SERVICES.—During the storms
of the *past year the boats of the National Lifeboat
Institution 'nave saved 426 persons from different wrecks on
our coasts, The Institution also expended £14,770 in the
same period on lifeboat establishments, in addition to grant-
ing £1,497 as rewards for saving 692 shipwrecked persons by
its lifeboats, and other means.
The Committee of the Institution earnest'y A ?PEAL to
the public for ASSISTANCE to enable them to meet the
continued heavy demands on the Institution's 138 lifeboat
establishments.
Contributions are received by Messrs. Willis and Co..
Berries and Co., Coutts and Co., and by all the London and
country bankers; and by the Secretary, Richard Lewis, Esq.,
at the Institution, 14, John-street, Adelphi.

CRYSTAL PALACE. —TO • MORROW.
CHRISTMAS EVE.
See To-morrow Morning's Papers for full details of Gene-
ral TOM THUMB'S Last RECEPTION, To-morrow, and
Juvenile Entertainment.
Unusually combined attractions.

THEATRE-ROYAL DRURY-LANE.
Managers. Messrs. E. Falc,;ner and F. B. Chatterton.
tin BOXING-NIGEIT, and during the week, A YOUNG
D FROM THE COUNTRY.
Alter which, the Grand Christmas Pa tomirne, HOP O'M Y
THUMB AND HIS ELEVEN B ROT H E ; or, Harlequin
and the Ogre of the Seven-League Boots : Messrs. G. e 1
more, Toni Matthews, G. Weston, Master Percy Roselle, &c.
3 limes Lydia Thompson. R. Lcclercq, Sze. ; Messrs. Boleno,
C. Lauri, W. A. Barne, T. Morris, Corma2k, Saville ; Mdme.
Boleno, the Misses Gunn* and Signor Tescano.

THEATRE ROYAL, DRURY- LANE,-
Special Horning Perform ances.—ln answer to numer-
ous applications from parties residing in the environs, and
in order to allow the country visitors to London during Vie
holiday week an opportunity of witnessing the grand Drury-
lane annual Christmas Pantomime, entitled HOP 0' MY
THUMB AND HIS ELEVEN BROTHERS; or, Harlequin
and the Ogre of the Seven-league Boots, Messrs. Falconer
and Chatterton have decided on giving FIVE MORNING
PERFORMANCES, on TUESDAY, Dec. 27, Wednesday,
28, Thursday, 29, Friday, 30, and Saturday, 31, and on the
morning of every Wednesday and Saturday during the
holiday season. Children and schools at reduced prices to
the following parts of the theatre : First circle, dress circle,
and stalls, for morning performances only.

THEATRE ROYAL, HAYMARKET.-
Lessee. Mr. Buckstone.
THIS EVENING, THE SCHOOL FOR SCANDAL.
Messrs. Buckstone, Chippendale, Howe, Farren, Rogers,
Cordon, Clark, Braid, Coe, &c.; Mesdames Angel, Snowdon,
Fitzwilliam, Lindley, &c.
After which, NO SONG NO SUPPER. Messrs. Compton,
F,rren, Artt.ur Clark, Weathersby, ac. ; Mesdames Seeley,
Villiers, Moore, Lovell, &c.
And OUR MARY ANNE.
To commence at 7.

ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE.-
Sole Lessee and Manager, Mr. Geo. Vining.

THIS EVENING, BORN TO GOOD LUCK. I addy
O'Rafrerty, Mr. Dominick Murray.

Attcr which, THE STREETS OF LONDON. Messrs.
Vining, J. W. Ray, D. Fisher, D. Murray, J. Nelson, H.
Forrester. H. Mellon ; Mrs. Henry Marston, Miss Emma
Varnett, and Miss Fanny Gwynne.

ROYAL LYCEUM THEATRE.
Mr. FECIITER will perform his universally allowed
great impersonation of RUY BLAS EVERY EVENING
until further notice.

On BOXING NIGHT, Monday, Dec. 26, to commence with
MY WIFE'S OUT. Messrs. Widdicomb, Charles; Miss B.
re.rcy and Miss E. Lavenu.

After which, at 8 o'clock, RUY BLAS. Ruy Blas, Mr.
Fechter. Messrs. Ryder, Fitzpatrick, F. Ch rley, M'lntyre,
Garden, Raymond,llett, C ifford, Moreland; Misses Car-
lotta Leclercq, B. Percy, and Mrs. Winstanley.
To conclude with a Farcical Oriental Extravaganza, en-
titled BAREFACED IMPOSTORS. Schahabaham (a pasha
of three tails, Mr. Raymond; Mustapha, Ms viz,er, Mr.
Garden; Bill Stumps and Jack Hocus, quondam proprietors
of the ori-inal united happy family, Messrs. Moreland and
Widdicomb ; Ali, chief guardian of the ladies of the Harem,
Mr. Collett ; Osman Khan. chief executioner, Mr. Bunch ;
Achmet Aga, an officer of the Sultan, Mr. Kelly; Mirzs
'fejt Baba, chief keeper ot the monkeys. Mr. Regan; Ayesha,
formerly Jemima Stumps, but no, first favourite of the
Miss
Miss Lavenu ; Fatima, second favourite of the pasha,
Miss B. Percy ; Shekerleb, third favourite ot the pasha, Miss
Travers ; Beda, fourth favourite of the pasha, Misi Watson ;
Zenobia, formerly banou of the harem, chief wife of the
pasha, but now discarded for Ayesha, Miss Hatch. Various
choice specimens of zoology, guards, slaves, and attendants,
by The numerous and talented Smith family. Divertissement
des Odalisques._

Doors open at Half-past Six.
The Box-office open daily from Elevin till Five.

THEATRE-1W IAL, ADELPHi.-
Sole Proprietor and Manager. Mr. B. Webster.

THIS EVENING, THE WORKMEN OF PARIS.
tir. Benjamin Webster; Messrs. Billii:tton, R. Phillips,
Stuart, J. Clarke, Stephenson, Eburne, C. J. Smith; Mrs.
Stirling, Miss Woolgar (Mrs. A. Mellon), Miss H. Simms.
Mrs. Billington, Mrs. H. Lewis, and Miss A. Seamen.

To conclude with DOING BANTING. Mr. J. Clarke, Mr.
Stephenson ; Mrs. Lewis and Miss A. tieaman.

Commence at 7

MISS BATEMAN.—NEW THEATRE
ROYAL ADEL PHI.— Mr. Webster begs to announce
that the great Tragedienne, Miss BAT SMAN, having per-
formed with unparalleled success the character of "Leah"
for a period of nine consecutive moo the during the last season
at this Theatre, and since won the plaudits of thousands in
Liverpool, Birmingham, Dublin, Manchester, and bilasgow,
she will RE-APPEAR at this Establishment JANUARY
2d, 1865, in her original character of the Jewish Maiden for a
limited number of nights, previously to her appearing in
other illustrations of the Cla.slc Drama, which are in prepa-
ration. The B x-office will be opened on Monday, Dec. 19,
when places may be secured for Aiiss Bateman's engagement
a fortnight in advance.

ROY AL ST. JAMES'S THEATRE.
Manager, Mr. Benjamin Webster.
EMINENT TALENT AND COMEDY DRAMA.
Last Two Nights of the present Management.
THIS EVENING, THE BARONET ABROAD AND
THE RUSTIC MINA LONNA, by Lennox Horne: Mr.
Frank Matthe Ns and Miss Constance Roden.
After which, at a quarter to Eight, a new Comedy, entitled
A LESSON IN LOVE : Mr. and Mrs. Char.es Mathews,
M r. and Mrs. Frank Matthews.
To conclude with Mr. Maddison Morton's New Comedy
Farce of WOODCOCK'S LITTLE GAME. Mr. Charles
Mathews, Mrs. Frank Matthews.
On Saturday, Dec. 24, Benefit of Mr. Benjamin Webster.

ROYAL STRAND THEATRE.
Sole Lessee and Manageress. Mrs. Swanborough.
THU> EVENING, at 7, WILFUL WARD. Messrs
Turner and Belford ; Miss Palmer.
After which, at 8, MILKY WHITE. Messrs. Craven,
Stoyle, James ; miss Ada Swanborough.
To =elude with MAZEPPA. Messrs. Thorne and Fen-
ton ; Mesdames Raynham, Simpson, and Johnstone.

COALS.—The LILLESHAL L COMPANY'S
COALS'.
Direct from their own Collieries.
Marquis' .255. per ton. Double.. ..215. per ton.
Top 245. I Deep
Well screened and delivered within five miles of their De-
pots, Westbourne Park-road, W., and 17, South Wharf,
Paddington, W., and Maiden-lane, N.
Best Coke

Terms cash.
JOHN SCOTT, Sole Lgent.

THE LATES I' EDITION of " THE SUN"
supplied, as soon as published every Evening by
NV. ALEXANDER (late BROOKS), Newspaper Agent, 24,
Old Cavendish- street, Oxford-street.

HIGH ATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.
T HIS DAY.—Morning, 9h. 3m.—Afternoon, 9h. 40m.
To-mottßow.-Morning, 10h. 12ca.—Afternoon, 10h. 43m.

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LONDON, FRIDAY, DEC. 23, 1864.

Mr. SEWARD'S reply to Lord WHARNCLIFFE is
certainly a characteristic one, and exposes to view
some of the most objectionable features of the
Auterisan. manners. At the same time the whole
weight of the blame does not rest with them on the
other side of the Atlantic. It is certain that if our
Government had adopted a different tone from the
commencement of the war, such extreme imperti-
nence would not have been eshibited by the Ames
ricans. It is very significant that no remarks of
this kind are ever offered to the Frencla, let them
sly or do what they will, and the inference to be
drawn therefrom is very plain to al: who will see
os hear for themselves without the intervention
of interested parties. It is an irritating reflection
to dwell upon, that those who arrogate the right
of representing the country should fail so com-
pletely in their attempts to do so. If any doubts
or hesitation on the subject of our Minister's
capacity for holding American insolence
in check have remained in the minds of
impartial o'rservers, this letter of Mr, SEWARD'S
will mr>st probably settle them at once and fur ever.
Surely it affords confirmation stronz as proofs of
holy writ respecting the matter. From beginning
to end it is a tisiue of absurdities, and exhibits an
utter absence of statesmanlike Qualities; but above,
beyond, and besides all else, appears the animus
against England. This is the informing principle,
the ruling spirit, and the motive power of all his
thoughts, and hence it is the text of his rp7stle.
'Whether or not Lord ti itaßNeuFFE's proposal
Was a wise cr political one is not the question to
di,:cnss ; and indeed it is a pity to take that view
of the subject up, because argument presents a
safer discussion of an affair. This case rests on
higher grounds, and should be viewed in a national
light, more then under an individual aspect. Mr
SEWARD'S letter is not of sufficient importance to
provoke a war or to necessitate an explanation ;
yet because it is rot there is no necessity why
its publication should be allowed to receive a
judgment by default, or by tacit consent be
soffured to drop into silence. Had he contented
Limeelf with refuing the request in decided terms,
Is he had a right to do, there would hai) been no