The Sun.
London, England, 1863-12-24 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, TH[TBSDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 24, 1863.

THE THIRD EDITION OF " THE SUN,"
owiiontatning, the Latest SPORTING INTELLIGENCE,
had Every Evening ot

G. R. GLMNIE, Nrws AGENT,
ITO. 4, Connaught-terrace, Hyde-park.

1.11(134 MATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.
This
Tcoktoßsaw..
12h. 42m.—Afternoon, DI. 4m.
Xorning, lh. 30m.—Afternoon, lh. 51m.

The Weather,sun Office, Dec. 24, 1863.

This day at Two , liatoldETEß.
Bar x~ 4B
Taoderate, and hazy.

otio_T f__8,,,,,411-!;c1 • -
11711 t.

LOND'JN, THUB.SDAY,
'2l, 1

As Ole practised swordsman was (low,
to
notice
any flaw or chink in the armour of his mversary,
so in the diplomatic circular which he hash
issued to his confreres, M. DROUYN DE Liu
J 1:
h'as not failed to avail himself with singular Ito 4
sagacious dexterity of the advantage presented to
his hand by the refusal of England to take a part
faaa other
in the recently proposed Congress.
'European Sovereigns," he says, "in their reply to
the letter of the EMPEROR have rendered homage
to that bold initiative which, laying bare the dan-
gers of the situation, proposed the most pacific and
legal means to appease them." Ad the Courts
have given Either a reserved or an unqualified
assent to the Proposition. " One single
Power, England, has refused." England has
has therefore not only rest her voice—the emphatic
"f°ice which she was justly entitled to hold—in the
eouaress of Nations, but all the onus of any diffi-
Ilty or dissension that may, and that almost inevi-
te73lY will,arse,must naturally, now, fall upon her !
According te, the sanguine representations of the
? retch Minister, all might have been so unanimous
tArla 83 amicable!
C,);;l.crviiesr, ould
1:
4,e:vVho probable result of these
hero a salutary aral honour
bit: transaction." a _
f,nataad, however, has chopen
to enae the part of m
AnPLOT, and the whole
,cAia prog,rarmac is disturbed. What the result
have been under Other circumstances it, it
impossible to Bay- The various belligerent
of Earope have not arrived attliat
powers
„et state of concord among ant,gonjoic
pi,f.l•
attained by " The nAlDay. Family"
natures of the
Even in that wonderful and
isolated example, we believe it is fear rather than
love—a wl:Ulesomc of tho muster outside
the cage rather than any particular triendraap for
the helpless brothers wilh --that inducts the
cats and hawks to maintain such very amicable
relations with the mice and sparrows. By a simi-

creation.

larly beneficial exercise of an equally efficacious
influence, the French EMPEROR —if we are to
believe his own representations, and the protes-
tation of his Minister—and we see no reason
for discrediting them—is desirous of curbing the
rapacity and stifling the animosities now so painfully
prevalent among the " powers that be" in Europe,
and which threaten ere long,; indeed, to involve
the whole Continent in a disastrous " civil war."
According to that beautiful definition of the great
NAPOLEON, now happily recalled to us by his suc-
cessor, "to fight in Europe is to make civil war !"
As an evidence that such a beneficial interference
was not uncalled for, M. DROUYN DE LIIUYS cites,
for example, very ju,tly, the present troubles
in Denmark. " Recent events, " he tgites

occasion to remark, "have justified sooner than
we believed, the provisions of the EmrEßort. The
King of DENMARK dies ; passions are aroused—
people become agitated and undecided—Govern-
ments balance between the letter of treatiee and
the national sentiment of their country. A. con.
dress could alone conciliate the duties of sovereigns
bound by conventionsazdsatlhoeflEegnigtilmanadtehaspo
aspirationsopsed
of the peoples." The re
an insuperableEo:psEteitcole
lto
,t,hTehreeasleicsoantidonhoyf the first
hypothesis
—the restricted Congress. Its reali-
ndesire omf
at
ihnes
sation,depend on the will of the Sovereigns." "It
will not have the judicial authority which would
have belonged to a European Congress," and cony:-
v=tiy many preliminaries will be discussed be-
tween the various Ministers for Foreign Affairs
before the actual meeting can take place. Having
premised in the former part of his letter that
"France, which had no advantage to gain jor
herself in the eventuality of a General Con-
gress would have made common cause
with all the enlightened Governments to
bring about reconciliation, extinguish rancour, &c.,"
the French Minister very adroitly takes advantage
of the refusal of England to render the Congress
unanimous an I judicial, and observes, in conclusion,
"We should be able, after the decision of the
British Cabinet, to consider our duty as accom-
plished, and for the future, in any event that may
arise, only to take account of what may be suitable
to us and of our private interests." Such a threat
of what we might do is, perhaps, natural
under the circumstances, and must be pardoned
in recognition of the magnanimity of the assurance
that follows, that France will not avail herself of the
opportunity offered by England, but in considera-
tion of " the good dispositions" manifested by the
other Powers, will be ready to enter frankly with
them on the path of a common understanding.
That such a happy result may be evolved from
the present apparently hopeless entanglement
must be the common desire of all, even of England,
who has been placed by her minister in such an
enviable position, that while no merit will be
attributed to her, and no praise awarded to her in
any contingence that may arise, all the blame and
ali the obloquy of failure will be cast in her teeth
and fall on her self-devoted heed.

The most important and useful institutions intro-
duced for the benefit of the public during the
present century are the Life and Fire Insurance
Companies. These societies are not only invaluable
to the general public, but are also highly remune-
rative to the shareholders. Government has Like-
wise stepped in to claim a share, and that it uch to
the detriment of insurers. At present the. duty on
insurances is, in regard to the money received by
the Company, about 150 per cent., and increases in
proportion to the risk run by the insurers. With
regard to life insurances we do not, wish to advert at
present, except to remark ',hat while they are
invaluable to the prudent tradesman, as a means of
securing an independence 'co his family in case of
sudden death, he has bust invested his savings as a
provision for his successors. There are at present
various forms and principles of investment, which
may be made to serve any possible exigency; yet,
as we cannot expect the good without the evil,
Loan Societies of all descriptions have sprung up,
many of which are mere shams, consisting of
a secretary and a clerk or two, in a
showy office, and an accommodating life
assurance company, through which agency
a policy is obtained and handed over to the Loan
Society, large expenses incurred, and elaborate
rules and regulations, and fires and penalties, the
enforcement of which is placed in the hands of a
sharp lawyer, on the no cure no pay system. We
mention these facts simply as a warning to our
readers not to be deceived by the many specious
advertisements which daily appear in the public
press. The fact to which we wish particularly to
draw attention is the determination of the Fire In-
surance Companies of the metropolis to withdraw
their support from the fire brigades, or more pro
perly to discontinue their maintenance, which has
hitherto devolved (with the exception of the parish
engines) entirely upon the combined London com-
panies, who maintain that the progressive extension
of the metropolis necessitates an increase of expen-
diture which they cannot any longer submit to.
They have therefore notified to the Home Secretary
their coming determination not to hold themselves
responsible fur the extinction of fire, and suggesting
that the brigade should be placed under the control of
the police, as in Birmingham, Manchester, and other
cities. The charge for its maintenance being met by a
universal parish-rate, or if the police cannot under-
take the responsibility, that the Metropolitan Board
of Works be requested to do so, that body holding
jurisdiction alike in the City or the West-end, a
control not exercised by the Metropolitan Police.
There certainly seems to be some reason in this de-
mand at first sight, but when we come to look into
the ease, the question naturally suggests itself, who
"e se interested in the preservation of property as
The _
vcompanies, who are held responsible for its
a.l 11"
They make large profits by their business,
tielve and e
b X not to begrudge a small outlay to pre-
vent as eat
es possible its destruction. It never can
be to the inter eof any householder to destroy
wantonly his
refit even tree, pttii:erty
in the hope of obtaining a
p
ule,f
a fire in almost every case is
a loss of money, nrop,tt
no
ma jte,ran,dowtimh time to. the unfortu
heavily he may be
insured;Pr°
nate pfroiertoirn,stauce, a
man
£5,000, and t -
I,e office to may be insured for
IThish he may have
premium for 60
paid the p years has re-
ceived that payment nothing
destroyed theloath but
when
y immediately
his property is en-
deavour to show that it was not worth eibove £2,000,
and refuse to pey beyond that amount.
1'11055 art'
the matters welt known to the initiated, and, thanks
to the recent celebreted trio], pretty well to„,er
tamed by the general piddle. It is complained of,
that out of about £900,0011,000 oh propvrty in the
metropolis, not one-third is insured, so that the in-
sured pay for the uninsured as regards fire engines.
Who, we would ask, is to blame for `l is state of
thing. ? IT CI not, our Government deison insur-
ances out of this country to Holland, Hamburg,
and other places, by the oppressive duty levies:
upon these provident institutions. Late in beet
session the hoc, member for Dudley brought for-
ward his bill for the gradual reduction of the duty
on insurances, and it was entertained by the House,
notwithstanding
the opposition of the Chancellor of
the Exchequer, and Mr, SHERIDAN promised to

the immediate
reduction of the duty on insurances bring it on again before the House early in the ensu-
ing session. The bill proposed
to two shillings
in the hundred pounds
in lieu of three shillings
andupwards,
as at present, and a further reduction
in a few
yearsto one shilling. The objection to
this,
a course would greatly reduce the
Governmentrevenue from this source, is answered
that such
by the almost conclusive argument that it is only
the heavy duty upon insurances that deters so many
householders from availing themselves of its advan-
to ges, and consequently that on the modification of
that duty the increase of policies would eventually
more than indemnify the Exchequer for its first loss,
just as the reduction of high rates of pos`age to the
penny system changed the revenues of the Post_
office from a deficit to a surplus. Another advantage
would also be gained; the increase of business thrown
in the way of the insurance offices would enab e them
yet further to reduce their charges. We trust that
early in the ensuing session grave attention will be
paid to this all-important question. If, as we hope,
Mr. SHERIDAN'S motion be carried, we cannot see
that the parish authorities can throw any reason-
able obstruction in the way of the proposition for
placing the maintenance and control of the fire
biigade under the Metropolitan Board of Works,
yet it must be clearly understood that on their
undertaking that responsibility shall the Fire In-
surance Offices bear a proportion of the expense.
They claim a right of placing their officers in
charge .of property injured by fires in which their
offices are interested, and we cannot foresee any-
thing but difficulty in this proceeding unless to a
certain degree they are connected with the Fire
Brigade, Likewise it must be imperative upon all
companies to remit to the holders of their policies
any reduction of the duty, and, furthermore, that if
the Board of Works undertake the responsibility
they shall have full and undivided authority
over all the districts of the Metropolis ; that their
officers shall have full access to the fire plugs and not
be obliged to hunt up the parish beadle, and other
holders of the keys. Also that the parish engines
be improved and rendered more efficient than
at present ; and if it be considered necessary
still to leave them under the jurisdiction of
the local authorities, that the officers of the Board
be at liberty to inspect them when deemed requi-
site. The electrin telegraph has practically trebled
the number of our engines, by enabling every esta-
blishment in London to learn instantaneously the
exact seat of any conflagration. Steam fire-engines
have, again, greatly advanced the efficiency of our
fire brigade ; and although nothing can surpass the
activity and the daring of our firemen, there may
yet be room for improvement in other branches of
this important service. We have little doubt that
the insurance companies and the parish authorities,
jealous as both are of their supposed rights, would
glad y agree to such an arrangement. With regard
to the farmer, it needs only to empower the Board
of Works to form a National or even a Metropolitan
Insurance Company on an extended scale; in fact,
a practically National insurance, the profits of which
would more than defray any expenses of engines
and of firemen, no matter how extensive, and enable
proprietors to insure for a far less cost than at pre-
sent.

The protracted trial in the Court of Queen's
Bench, which so much affected the interests of our
merchants and shipowners, has at length been
brought to a close. The verdict of the jury is, all
things considered, highly satisfactory, inasmuch
that, although ostensibly for the defendants, they
have yet so qualified it that no official slur rests
either upon the
be much plaintiff or his agents. It would
to be regretted if a long and honourable
career should not stand a man in good stead when
he enters upon a doubtful contest, in which, to say
the least of it, he has not a good case. So far as
private interests are concerned, the matter might
rest here; but there are circumstances connected
with the loss of the Harbinger, and the subsequent
trials, which must result, sooner or later, to the ad-
vantage of our mercantile marine and the nation at
large. The case in question is simply this :—The
Harbinger, an iron steamer of some 600 or 700 tons,
originally built for her MAJESTY'S
service, was sold
out of the navy, end eventually came into the pos•
session of Mr. LINDSAY'S firm, and was despatched
to trade between Calcutta and China, on which ser-
vice she was engaged for upwards of two years. In
February, 1859, she sailed from Calcutta for Eng-
land, and at this epoch her misfortune© began.
Encountering bad weather on approaching the
Cape, she put into Algoa Bay for shelter. On the
weather moderating she again put to sea, only to be
driven back—this time with a leak in one of her
bottom plates, which, on examination, proved to
have been caused by one of the rivets having given.
This defect being temporarily repaired, she once
more started upon her voyage, but with no better
success than before, for having again to return to
Algoa Bay she was considered to be strained, and
several boltheads were reported to have given way.
Upon this the captain decided upon the extraor-
dinary course of proceeding personally to England
to consult the owners as to how he was to act. He
reached London in safety, obtained 801110 £4,000
from the underwriters, and returned to Algoa Bay,
where he found the ill-fated Harbinger still afloat,
notwithstanding that several heavy gales had been
experienced in that roadstead. It was discovered
upon the arrival of the captain that the ship had
somehow or other sprung a considerable leak in her
bottom plates under the pumps, add, to make a
long story short, although there was a chance of
saving the vessel, either by heaving her down in
Algoa Bay (the cargo having been previously tran-
shipped), or else of running for Simon's Bay, a dis-
tance of about 500 miles, where she could have been
properly overhauled. The captain, acting on his
own judgment, sold the ship and engines for an old
song in the interest of the underwriters, and his
owners forthwith claim from them the full insurance,
as though the vessel had foundered at sea, or been
dashed to pieces on an iron-bound coast. This is
but a short summary of the events, but upin these
and the verdict of the jury we wish to make a few
observations. We ought not tc be surprised, when
medical men of the highest standing have the
assurance to assert that a man is insane
because he commits a murder, that. gentleman of
nautical experience should gravely maintain that a
captain is justified in abandoning his ship because
she has sprung a trifling leak. The usages of the
service require that the captain, es the responsible
agent fur the owners and most experienced man on
board, ought to stand by his ship when she is in
difficulty. If it were necessary to refer to the
owners fur ulterior inetructiens, he could surely
have sent a substitute. HA the state of the Hai-
bioger been as critical us the withesses for the plain--
the roadstead
" would have us believe, it is not probable that
she cowu .
thaVeoi W.
ACaigtohearidayadusuriencgestsiijoenpeorfiogdawlehsicilni
must necessarily
have elapsed when the captain was
absent. it is
absurd
to suppose that during that
interval there were not abundant opportunities of
running to Sirnou's Bay. Again, even when the
captain at last rejoined his ship, ho had no excuse
lth
n h
ovre s ttro.eipli Nemesia,tg her
r for fear that she might be lost.
t h e
first
of the light draught
India service, made
her voyage round the Cape, she en
iron steamers built for the 'East
countered heavy

weather, which strained her light framework ter-
ribly, and extensive rents became visible in her

plates from the deck downwards on either side,
which ominously increased. Iron ships were
novelties in those days, and were not braced together
as at present, but her officers and crew did not des-
pair. They did the best they could to secure the
ship for the time, and on the first opportunity
beached her in a sandy bay on an unfriendly coast,
and repaired damages as far as possible. The ser-
vices of the Nemesis were invaluable during the
China war of that period. Where would she have
been if the commander had acted on the principle of
the master of the Harbinger. No charge of wilful
neglect is brought by the underwriters, and we are
glad for the character of Mr. LINDSAY and his cap-
tain that the jury have done them justice in this
respect, and we may pass over this unfortunate
occurrence, feeling confident that the high standing
so deservedly held by the officers in our merchant
navy cannot bo effected by the want of energy and
discretion evinced in the case of the Harbinger.
The very fact that the underwriters of Lloyds' have
felt it incumbent on them to dispute the claim of
one of the largest and most respected firms in the
kingdom, shows us that they are at length awaking
to a sense of the responsibility which their position
entails upon them. Let them persevere in this
course honestly and without favour as in the present
case. Let them refuse all insurances without a
certificate of seaworthiness, and a guarantee that
the ship is properly found from an authorised agent,
and the loss of life and property wilt diminish in
proportion to the rigour with which such regula-
tions are enforced.

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

(REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.)

THE POLISH INSURRECTION.

BRESLAU, DEC. 23.

Advices received here from Warsaw state that
Gen. Berg has ordered twenty-five Prussian sub-
jects imprisoned at Kalisch to be transported to
Siboria,

The insurgent chief Chemski, also a Prussian
subject, has been shot.
Two new convoys of political prisoners have been
sent away to Siberia.

MEETING OF POPULAR DELEGATES.
FRANKFORT, DEC, 21.

For the first time since the German Parliament
of 1848, deputies from the different legislative
assemblies of Germany met is this city to-day to
discuss the question pre-occupying the popular
mind.

The provisional committee sat yesterday from 4
in the afternoon until past midnight. The
resolutions lately taken at Nuremberg were
unanimously adopted, the deputies engaging to
support every Ministry whose acts accorded with
their tenor; but, at the same time, to oppose, by
every legal means, such Governments as should
adopt a different course.

The sitting commenced at half-past 10 this
morning, Herr Muller, a Frankfort lawyer, having
been chosen President. The first resolution brought
forward by the committee was to the following
effect :

"This meeting declares that the rights of Ger-
many in Schleswig-Holstein can only be effec-
tively preserved by the separation of the Duchies
from Danmark. The death of Frederick VII.
has dissolved their union with Denmark. The
Treaty of London of May 8, 1852, concluded with-
out the assent of the Representative Assemblies,
and of the Agnates, whose consent was legally re-
quisite, and which has also not been recognised by
the Germanic Diet, constitutes no title to Christian
IX. to succeed to the throne in Schleswig-Holstein.
In virtue of certain rights, Frederick of Schleswig-
Holstein-Souderburg-Augustenburg is called to
assume the succession in these Duchies. By ren-
dering valid the succession to the Throne in the
person of Duke Frederick, the rights of Germany
in Schleswig-Holstein will at the same time be
established. The obligation is, therefore, incum-
bent upon the German people to make every
necessary sacrifice for its offended honour, for its
endangered rights, for its brethren of kindred
race, and for their legitimate princes.
" Unanimous in this view, the Members of Ger-
man representative bodies here assembled bind
themselves to bring about the following objects by
every legal means within their power and sphere :
—l. To cause the reorganisation of Duke Frede-
rick's rights wherever it has not yet taken place, as
well as to obtain its acknowledgment by the Fede-
ral Diet; 2. To render these rights valid without
regard to foreign protests, to effect the separation
of the Denmark, and to re-establish immediately
their independence and indissoluble union.

" They further bind themselves to support those
German Governments who loyally and actively take
in hand the rights of the Duchies, and to oppose, by
every constitutional means, those Governments
which abando❑ the rights and honour of Germany
in this question."

The resolution was supported by Herr Edel, a
professor at Wurzburg, who endeavoured, in a fer-
vent speech, to demonstrate the illegality of the
London treaty, and reviewed the cases in which
it had been violated by Denmark. The speaker,
who was frequently interrupted by the applause of
the meeting, foretold that the signature of the
London treaty might become the epitaph of the
Federal Diet, and stated that the German nation
must maintain its right, even at the risk of an
European war.
After communicating several telegraphic mes-
sages to the meeting, the President read a letter
from a number of members of the Austrian Reichs-
rath, who were prevented from attending, but
expressed their entire sympathy with Schleswig-
Holstein.

The first resolution being unanimously adopted
without alteration, the second, brought forward by
a minority of the committee, was next put to the
meeting. It was the following ;—" This meeting
appoints a committee of 36 members, as the centre
of the legal activity of the German nation in pur-
suing the rights of the Schleswig-Holstein Duchies
and of their legitimate Duke, Frederick VIII. This
committee shall be authorised to appoint a sub-
committee consisting of a few of their number, to
transact current business. The committee can,
should circumstances require, convoke another
general meeting of the members of the German Re-
presentative Assemblies."
The resolution was supported by Dr. Loewe, of
Berlin, and was adopted by a large majority after
speeches from Herren Moritz and Mohl of S tutt-
gard ; Herr Schulzedelisch, of Berlin; Herr Prinz,
of Prague, a member of the Austrian Reichsrath ;
Herr Haberkorn, of Saxony ; and Herr Wiggers,
of P.endsburg.
The members of the committee were then chosen.
Among them were Herren Muller and Varrenhappe,
Frankfort ; Herr Lang of Wiesbaden ; Herr Metz
of Darmstadt; Herren Benningsen and Mignet of
Hanover; Herr Godefray, of Hamburg; Herr Wig-
gers, of Rendsburg ; Herren Rulsbower and Gross,
of Vienna; Herren Unruh, Loewe. Schulze-Delitzzch,
Franz Duncker, Von Hornbeck, Tvvestcn, and Von
Sybel, of Prussia.
The third resolution—perhaps the most important
of the three—was carried amidst loud acclamations.
It ran thus :

" This meeting considers it a solemn duty to avow
itself in favour of the right of the German nation to
obtain at the earliest possible period the re-esta,
blishment of a common representative assembly
(Parliament), which present circumstances render
above all necessary.'
A cheer for Germany, proposed by the President,
was heartily given by the 500 members who had
come to the meeting from all parts of Germany, and
vociferously repeated by the great numbers of spec
tators crowding the galleries of the Saalban.
THE EXECUTION IN HOLSTEIN.
HAMBUttG, DEC. 23, Evening.
Tlle military dispositions are being continually
changed.
At five this morning the Austrians assembled to
march to Attune, where contrary orders were re-
ceived, and they are now to remain here for the

presEnt.
Up to 9 p.m. the chief military post of Altona
was still occupied by the Danish troops.

THE SCHLESWIG-lIOLSTEIN QUESTION.
FRANKFORT, I)F.c. 23 (Evening).

An extraordinary sitting of the Federal Diet has
resolved, upon the urgent demand of Bavaria, to
request the committees upon Schleswig-Holstein to
come to a resolution on ,the succession question as
early as possible.

FRANCE.
BOURSE, Doc. 23.—The *market continues in the
same state of inaction, bui prices are well main-

United Kingdom. 37,887,9481

38,766,596' 878,648

And, as compared with the month ending the 15th Nov.,
1862, the above returns show an increase of £859,201
in the circulation of notes in England, and an increase of
£1,068,372 in the circulation of the United Kingdom.
On comparing the above with the fixed issues of the seve-
ral banks the following is the state of the circulation :
The English private banks aro below their fixed
issue
The English joint-stock banks are below their
fixed issue £275,514

Total below fixed issue in England.... £1,169,110
The Scotch banks are above their fixed issue .. £1,777,431
The Irish banks are below their fixed issue .... £338,793
The average stock of bullion held by the Bank of Eng-
land in both departments during the month ending the 11th
Nov. was £14,085,759, being a decrease of £948,585 as
compared with the previous month, and a decrease of
£1,475,463 when compared with the same period last year.
The following are the amounts of specie held by the Scotch
and Irish banks during the month ending the 14th Nov.:—
Gold and silver held by the Scotch banks £2,493,742
Gold and silver held by the Irish banks 2,070,535

X 4,531,277
Being an increase of £303,309 as compared with the
previous return, and a decrease of £88,855 when compared
with the corresponding period of last year.

PLYMOUTH, Dec. 22.—The Saxon, taken off Pen
guin Island by the Vanderbilt, was supposed to have
on board the cargo of the Conrad, captured by the Alabama,
and renamed Tuscaloosa, or of the Sea Bride. The vessel
with her crew had not reached Table Bay ; her mate was re-
ported to have met with his death, but it was not known by
what means. The Vanderbilt appropriated 250 tons of coal
on Penguin Island belonging to a firm at Cape Town. She
was refused coal by the authorities at Table Bay, consequent
on her having coaled within three months at St. Helena,
Simon's Bay, and Mauritius. She boarded a coasting ves-
sel on the 4th Nov., examined her papers and cargo, and
then steetel for Angra Pequena. Her Majesty's ship Valo-
rous was then sent to protect any British property, and re-
turned with the news of the capture of the Saxon. Cape
Town, Nov. 23.—The captain of the Alabama sold the Sea
Bride and the cargo of the Conrad. The former, it appears,
was delivered at Saldanha Bay, and a rendezvous made at
Angra Pequina ; and it is understood that some part of the
cargoes must have been landed at that place, or at Penguin
Island, close by. It is said that a vessel had loaded and
sailed from Penguin Island with part of the Conrad's cargo
before the capture of the Saxon. The Isabella, the vessel
that has on board the crew of the latter, hats passed Ichaboe
to go to Hottentot's Bay to fill up with cargo for that place.
The :semen. Was sent away for New York in charge of the
prize crew on the 25 November.
TOWNLEY IN THE CONDEMNED CELL.—The Rev.
C. R. Gordon, who had been sent for specially to
visit this unfortunate culprit, thus writes of his state of
mind :—" The conclusion to which I have come con-
cerning him, and that, too, after lengthened interviews, is,
that the criminal is not a responsible agent. Again and
again he has expressed delight that his life is to be
taken. His manner at times is decidedly maniacal ; he
rolls his eyes, his countenance flushes unusually,
and he talks incoherently. At other periods he is as gentle
as a child, and appreciates kindness. When sitting in his
cell with him last Monday, his manner quite alarmed me,
and but for the presence of another I should imme-
diately have called in the two warders who are constantly
with him. He justifies murder without giving a reason.
He contradicts himself repeatedly, acknowledges at
one time what he denies another. It is a useless effort to
endeavour to instruct him in religion, for he has no mental
capacity to receive it. His conduct from the time of his
committing; the awful crime for which he is now doomed
is in keeping with this. When asked in his calm moments
how be could ever have brought himself to commit it, he
answers, All was dark before my eyes ; I don't know
anything about it.' Much as the death of the victim
is to be deplored, I say it would be more horrid still if an
irresponsible agent now were to be taken to the gallows.
According to Blackstone's Commentaries,' this is a suffi-
cient cause to arrest the capital sentence. It is alike con-
sistent with humanity as with justice, that a further medi
cal examination should be made before the law
is allowed to take its course. It would suggest, also,
that the prison officers be examined. There are other rea-
sons which it appears to me might be urged in his behalf,
but on this it is now unnecessary to enter. I have given a
stern, impartial, and conscientious consideration of his con-
dition, and I can come to no other conclusion than that
which I have now expressed."

PERMEABILITY OF IRON.—Oar readers may re-
collect our having, some months ago, mentioned
certain experiments made by MM. H. Sainte-Claire De-
ville and Troost, from which it appeared that, by a kind of
endosmosis scarcely to be suspected in the case of a metal,
hydrogen would pass through the pores of a platinum tube.
Last week, the Academy of Sciences received from them a
new paper, in which they announce a similar property in
iron. The great difficulty was, to find a tube answering to
the various conditions required for the experiment.
The best iron to be found in the market
might still be open to some objection, since in point
of fact it is a mere sponge flattened by a hammer,
like common platinum. They succeeded at length, through
the kindness of a friend, in obtaining a tube of cast steel
containing so little carbon that it did not admit of being
tempered. It was in reality rather iron than steel, and so
soft that it was drawn into a tube without heating or sol-
dering, though its sides were of a thickness of from three to
four millimetres. To the ends of this tube two other tubes
of aniuch smaller diameter, and of copper, were soldered with
silver; the whole was then introduced into an open porcelain
tube, which was put into a furnace ; a glass tube luted to one
end, established a communication with an apparatus gene-
rating hydrogen completely deprived of atmospheric air;
while at the other end, another glass tube, bent at
right angles, dipped into a mercury bath, its vertical
branch being 80 centimetres long. For the space of eight
or ten hours a current of hydrogen was driven through the
apparatus, which was maintained at a high temperature,
so as to exhaust the action of the hydrogen on the sides of
the iron tube, and to drive away all the atmospheric air, as
the moisture eontained in the tube, or likely to be pro-
duced there. This done, the communication between
the iron tube and the hydrogen apparatus was cut off
by melting down the glass tube by the aid of
the blow-pipe. No sooner was this effected, than
the mercury, no longer kept down by the stream
of hydrogen, yielded to the pressure of the air, and rose in
the vertical glass tube to the height of 740 millimetres, or
very nearly the usual barometrical height. This would not
have happened had there not been a nearly
va-
cuum in the tube the instant the supply of hydrogen
ett
cut off. But what had become of the hydrogen
esibl, naludY,
before? There is but ono explanationfpothe
atmosphere,
complentew
that notwithstanding the pressur
of
pores of the
the hydrogen has passed through
e doat
powerfulin t o a furnace
g gas"'dir„,,en.
swtheeelretuthbee.re
alrioenrceoduacniniron tube.sinatinro
copiesY e s
tot radl la y
private W a
instru-
ment for carrying off all the h
eNe.vdpd the
DEPOSIT OF
Pe
number far
plans were rt 'jutted
f
depo&its at the
the last
to 1171L°'IgNeEf: theSo PU I' deposit.
`'PALES ABol ho
nLi:3LeUdS lIRANGERS. —The
bills for dtlaiye whel„
gives an account of the
i/o
uo rs tity✓
bushrangers,hferadl
Gilbert, Ben Hall, Burke,
f,S.rvyaeduien:eoytaoniird O'Meally, entering Mr. Itothery's house, at
Limestone Creek, just as that gentleman was sitting down
to dinner. They handcuff:xl hini and ate his dinner, call-
ing for champagne. After dinner they played the piano -
forte, and, before leaving, tried two or three horses, so
as to select the best. Mr. Rothery is a magistrate of the
colony, anti an extensive squatter in the neighbourhood of
Carew.

44pt`;
dital • v,i

HER MAJESTY.

OSBORNE, Dec. 23.
Their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess
of Wales arrived at Osborne yesterday, on a visa
to the Queen.
His Royal Highness Prince Alfred returned
with the Prince of Wales.
The Judge Advocate-General had an audience of
the Queen yesterday afternoon.

The Marquis and Marchioness of Ailesbury are
entertaining a small party of friends at Tottenham park,
Wilts.
The Earl and Countess of Yarborough are enter-
taining a-family party at Brocklesby, the seat of the familY
in Lincolnshire.
The Earl Cowper, accompanied by the Countess
and the Ladies Cowper, has arrived at Rome from Florence
for the winter.
The Earl and-Countess of Morley, after a tour
in the South of France, have arrived at Rome.
The Earl and Countess de Grey have made
arrangements to pass the Christmas in London.
His lord-
ship is the only Secretary of State resident in town.
The Countess of Chesterfield has left Grosvenor-
street to visit the Earl and Countess of Carnarvcn,
at
Highclere Castle, near Newbury. The noble earl remains
in town.
The Earl Beauchamp, who has recently retired
from the Life Guards, has gone to Gibraltar for the benefit
of his health.
circle
The Earl of Powis is entertaining a large
at Welshpool, the family seat in Wales.
The Countess Dowager of Mount-Edgcumbe and
Lady Ernestine Edgcumbe have arrived at Curzon-street'
Mayfair.
The marriage of the Hon. Leonora C. Digbl:
second daughter of Lord and Lady Digby, with Mr. A,Le--
ander Baring, M.P., is fixed for the sth of next month'
The Right Hon. T. Milner Gibson, left town le'.
terday for his seat, Theberton House, Saxmundhana.
The Right Hon. B. Disraeli and Mrs. Disraeli
have left Grosvenor-gate for Hatfield House, on a visit to
the Marquis anti Marchioness of Salisbury.
HEALTH OF THE POPE. —A letter from rOnie
says the Pope is in excellent health, and his usual WO
spirits. His happy temperament knows no depression.
CARDINAL WISEMAN.—A paragraph has aPPearea,
in some of the papers stating that Cardinal Wiseman'
health is so bad that he is likely to be removed from tb°
position he holds, and to be succeeded by Dr. Mannirjg.
The best commentary on the report is that the Cardinal 113:
undertaken to preach at St. Mary's, Moorfields, to-morrow
(Christmas) morning.—Times.

WINDSOR CASTLE.—On Tuesday Morning Luv
Royal baron of beef was sent up to the Castle
by
Messrs. Bedbrough and Son. It was cut from a choice 0,-,
fed in the Windsor Great Park, under the direction
Major-General Seymour, deputy-ranger, and charge
Mr. G. Gravatt. This noble joint was placed before the
fire to roast at nine o'clock in the morning and taken up
at four o'clock in the afternoon, the process of roasting
occupying seven hours. It was sent from the Castle
00borne yesterday (Wednesday), and will form the
pal Christmas joint on the side table in the dining-113°
where it will remain, together with the boar's3A'
bead el'•
woodcock pie, until New Year's-day. Her Majesty has
given directions to the above Royal butchers to send, 011.
New Year's-day, the customary Royal annual presenton-
ot
beef to the ex-Royal Family of France, at Claremont, c
sisting of two handsome sirloins.
EXLTER HALL.—The "Creation"
formed be per-
formed with a band and chorus of 700 performers, by thol
National Choral Society, on Wednesday next, Princip
e
soloists Madame Parepa,
Mr. Sims Reeves, and Mr.
Santley. Organist, Mr. John G. Boardman. The Wil°l6
under the direction of Mr. G. W. Martin.
THE ,LEGAL VACATION.—To-day (Thursday) the
legal vacation for Christmas commences. In the common.
law offices business will be resumed on Wednesday, and ea
the 7th January in the Chancery offices.
GOVERNMENT EMIGRATION.—The Government
emigrant ship Peerless, 1,005 tons, Captain Thos e
-
Flavin, belonging to Messrs. Dixon and Wynne, Liver
pool, and which sailed from the Mersey on the 23d of Jun
last, arrived at Sydney, New South Wales, on the 23d of
September, having on board 29 married couples, 131 single
men, 131 single women, 21 boys, and 23 girls, between the
ages of one and twelve, and 14 infants, numbering in all
378 souls, equal tt) 342 statute adults, under the care of
Mr. Charles H. Graham, M D., surgeon-superintendent,
assisted by Mr. Thomas Hickey, schoolmaster, and Miss
Dickson, matron? fix births and four deaths took place on
the voyage.
SUBURBAN PARIS.—This poor artificial Paris,
which hardly knows what the country really is, is
clearly athirst for the country. 1 was amazed at the
amount of traffic to the intermediate stations on one of the
Versailles lines, and at the omnibus traffic again from seve-
ral of these. Yet the railway company actually gives no
encouragement to return tickets (the price being simply
double that of a single ticket), and to season-tickets so
little that it is said not to be worth while taking them, un-
less one has to go to Paris every day, including Sundays'
Still, dapper looking brick houses are springing up on all
sides. ;Brick seldom stone. Whole fortunes are no
being made out of the clay bottoms of old exhausted stone-
pats, worth nothing before. A regular ring of brick is thus
rapidly forming round the stone nucleus of old Paris, eh::
even in Paris streets brick houses are beg-Dal:U.l'o to be far

from rare,
Deben-
ham, Storr, and Sons dispersed by auction, at
SALE OF JEWELS.—Yesterday Messrs'
Mart in Covent-garden, a remarkably choice and ex o wive'
collection of bijouterie, the chief portion belonging tett:
lady of fashion. Among the more important lots vier° t,
following :—Lot 673, a diamond collet necklace, of 62 to:
and lustrous stones, was knocked down for £425 Si. -,t,ot
their
633, a magnificent brilliant tiara, brought £234 I.9bti .2el
684, a necklace, of 130 oriental pearls, with ewer bawd
diamond locket, £36 15s. Lot 687, a coloured g°l' -135
armlet, set with fine emeralds and brilliants, in ease: 1--1
14s. Lot 694, a pair of brilliant star ear-rings, ..67'
Lot 695, a cluster brilliant pendant, with ruby centre 8';
Par-shaped pearl drop, £72 9s. Lot 696, a brilliant back':
or brooch, of nine splendid stones, the centre stone r -
Nterj,
large—this choice ornament was knocked down, nite
spirited competition, at £367 10s. Lot 697, a matci'lless
brilliant full dress brooch, of beautiful design and wor
,
manship, the centre stone of remarkable size and lust re,
surrounded by scrolls of brilliants, with ribbon tie
pendantt
£630. Lot 698 a superb brilliant, weighing 6 carats,
finest water, set as an ear-ring, £lBO 12s. Lot 703, a
mag -
nificent brilliant and pearl ring, £5B 16s. Lot 712 a
, an,
acorn pin, formed by a remarkably fine oriental pearl, in
cup of gold and diamonds, £2l. Lot 648, a brilliant ring,
£47 15s 6d. Lot 650, a pair of oriental pearl ear-rings, 80
guineas. Lot 665, a brilliant heart necklette, 52 guin eas'
PHOTOGRAPHY.—It is well known that in the
exercise of this art there is a certain waste of silo er,
owing to the nitrate of that metal, used for sensitising Oa
plates. Various methods have been proposed for re-ex.traeV
ing the precious metal from the residues of the operation ;
and when it is considered that in some of the great photo'
graphic establishments of Paris the waste amounts to
s'
couple of hundred francs per month, it will be ea oily un-
derstood that the question is one of some importance'
The method now employed is to add an excess of 1101°°.;
nia to the solution of the nitrate, and then to The
with a solution of ammoniacal chloride of copper.
°tici
latter is prepared by dissolving five parts of black oxide
four parts of copper filings in hydrochloric acid. After d's°
solution, an excess of concentrated ammonia is added.
When it is required to extract silver from a bath which hats
been long in use, it is only 'necessary to add ammonia until
the oxide of silver is re-dissolved ; the copper solution is
theta added in excess, the pure silver thus reduced is washed/
then dried and kept for use. As for the baths of hyposn/-
phite, they are treated by first adding
p a little ammonia, and
then much water; after which the copper solution is added.
The mixture is then left to stand for two or three hours, then
this case cat must be taken not to add too much ammonia,
filtered and the silver deposited is washed and dried.
,
to dilute the mixture with a great deal of water, and lastly,
to let it stand sufficiently. Mr. Blair has lately published
paper with charcoal. 11°
certain modifications introduced by him into the process of
lays a sheet of paper on the surface of a warra
getting photographs on
and weak solution of gelatine with a little corogoll
salt in it. When dry, the wren,- side of the sheet
onlaid
lastNivv at() r for a few seconds, theta on damp blotting paper'
aw "a on
a pane
of
glass, where the gelautised surface
receives
coating of albumen prepared as follows. To
certain quantity of
albumen (the white of an egg) pour
little
or water and syrup, then add some colour, such as sienna,
lake, or indian ink reduced to powder, which is to form
the general tint. Beat up the albumen. into froth, and
apply it with a brush. When the second coating is dry'
put the sheet again upon water, then upon dater'
blotting-paper, and equalise the moisture by pressing
with a sheet of dry paper. Now sift a little charcoal, 61101? r
powdered, ever the albuminised surface; distribute
it
equelly with a soft lan=3l). awl then sensitise with a solution
111 Cu() parts of water, one of acetic acid, and one of bichro"
mate of potash. On this lay the wrong side of the sheet,
leave it there for half an hour : then expose it in the camera
for the space of front 5 to 20 minutes. To develop the imager
e,
dip the sheet into cold water, then pass a soft brush
dyer
the surface : and if the charcoal sticks to the lights, dip
the sheet into warm water strengthened with acetic acid of
alemonia, gr.
The Academy of Sciences at its last sitting elected
W. Laurence, of London, as its foreign correspondent tor
the motion of Medicine and Surgery, in the room of the
late Sir Benjamin Brodie. The other candidates were
Rokitansky, of Vienna, and M. Simpson, of Edinburgh'