The Sun.
London, England, 1862-12-23 00:00:00

CRYSTAL PALACE.

Great preparations are making for the appropriate cele-
bration of Christmas at the Crystal Palace. The Handel
Orchestra now affording such ample scope for a large
audience, it has been determined to concentrate all the
amusements this year at that part of the great transept.
The naves and transept will be gaily decorated with holly
and evergreens and flags, and various emblematic devices
appropriate to the season. A feature of novelty will be por-
traits of the various Princes of Wales, surrounding the
great transept. At the garden end of the transept, the large
prismatic mirror, designed and manufactured by Messrs.
Defries and Son, which was shown at the Exhibition, will
be brilliantly lighted up. The naves of the Palace are also
completely lighted with handsome new candelabra, made
to a design of the company, founded on the lights made
use of in Paris at the fete of the Emperor in August last.
A considerable addition has been made to the exhibitors'
department, by the transference of goods from the Inter-
national Exhibition. Among other matters of interest,
also, will be the model of the Warrior steam ship, the Aus-
tralian gold trophy, and many other interesting objects.
The Christmas tree of this year will, it is said, outstrip
all its predecessors. It will be nearly 100 feet high,
and will be placed near the tropical screen. It will be
backed up by national flags and banners, conspicuous among
which will be those of the Prince of Wales and the Prin-
cess Alexandra of Denmark. The various fine arts courts
and picture galleries will be supplemented by Magni's
statue of the "Reading Girl." This work of art, as well
as Monti's " Sleep of Sorrow and the Dream of Joy," will
be exhibited at the entrance to the Italian Court, subscrip-
tion boxes for the relief of the Lancashire distress being
placed thereon. Commencing on boxing-day—which this
year falls, on Friday—a daily series of amusements suitable
to the season will be given, under the direction of Mr. Nel-
son Lee. Boxing-day is always a great day at the Palace.
Last year over 39,000 persons were present. Ample prepa-
rations have been made this season for special trains from
London-bridge and Victoria and intermediate stations, as
well as from the country districts.

VALUABLE HORSES FoR THE EMPEROR OF
Russia..—On Monday last two magnificent stallions, valued
at 3,000 guineas, were shipped on board the Maid of Kent,
steam packet, by Messrs. Ashton and Eve, for conveyance
to their purchaser, the Emperor of Russia. _Dover Express.
THE GREAT DUKE'S LAST Wonng.—Whcn tho
Duke of Wellington was sick, the last thing he took was a
little tea. On his servant handing it to him in a saucer,
and asking if be would have it, the Duke replied, " Yes,
if you please." These were his last words. How much
kindness and courtesy is expressed by them.--Child's Com-
panion.

EXTENSIVE FIRE AT A SHIPPING-YARD IN LIVER-
POOL.—Soon after six o'clock yesterday morning a fire was
discovered in the extensive shipbuilding yard of Messrs.
Cato, Miller, and Co., at Brunswick Dock, Liverpool. An
alarm was immediately given, and hose and reels from the
Brunswick Dock fire station and the West of England fire
engine, were speedily in attendance, as were also hose and
men from the Seel-street station. The fire had broken out
in the store shed connected with the mast and spar makers'
shop, and it contained a large quantity of materials of an
exceedingly combustible nature. These consisted chiefly
of a number of barrels of pitch, of resin, and an iron tank
containing oil of naphtha, besides a considerable quantity
of dry timber. Above the sheds were piles of timber set up
to dry, and a large amount of timber of various kinds was
piled in proximity to the seat of fire. As may be readily
conjectured, the conflagration raged with great fierceness,
and in an incredibly short time the interior of the shed was
completely filled with flames of intense heat, which, burst-
ing through the roof, seized on the piles of dry timber on
the top, and caused an extensive and alarming blaze, which
illuminated tha sky and was seen from a great distance. A
detachment of men were despatched from her Majesty's
ship Hastingseand they arrived at the scene of the fire soon
after it had broken out, and they immediately joined the
fire brigade in their efforts to extinguish the flames and to
save property. Fortunately there was a good supply of
water, and by the combined efforts of the firemen and the
tars, the fire was confined almost entirely to the shed in
which it broke out, and there it was subdued in about an
hour and a half after it had been discovered, not however
before a large amount of property had been destroyed. The
full amount of damage done cannot be yet ascertained, but
it is considered that about £1,200 in value of property has
been destroyed. The loss is covered by insurance with the
Liverpool and London Insurance Company.
THE DISTURBANCE AT THE WORCESTER RAILWAY
STATION.—The directors of the West Midland Railway
Company have held a meeting, when the circumstances that
gave rise to the late disturbance between the railway offi-
cials and Mr. Watton, the late proprietor of the refresh-
ment rooms at Shrub Hill station, were inquired into. Se-
veral resolutions were passed, in which the opinions of the
directors were most emphatically stated. The resolutions
were to the effect that, "having been under the necessity
(acting under legal advice) of ordering the officers of the
company to take possession of the refreshment rooms at the
Worcester station, improperly retained by Mr. Watton,
they deeply regretted that any personal conflict should have
arisen. That conflict, however, they state, originated from
Mr. Watton's own act, in attempting with an organised
party and on Sunday morning to seize by violence, and in
spite of remonstrance and warning, the rooms thus tempora-
rily placed under the protection of the company's servants.
They lamented the course taken by Mr. R. W. Johnson,
one of the directors, at the recent public meeting, and were
happy to find that after the explanations that had been ex-
changed he was prepared to express his regret for having
on such an occasion discussed and reflected upon the acts
of the board, and also and especially upon the general
manager of the company, Mr. Sheriff (the mayor of the
city), whose prudence and humanity they said were impro-
perly called in question. The board requested Mr. John-
son to give a public explanetion of his conduct, so as to re-
move the erroneous and unjust imps essions produced by his
speech; and Mr. Johnson has accordingly, in a public letter,
stated that circumstances had come to his knowledge since
that meeting which bal greatly modified the opinions he
then expressed. He felt that he was placed in a very
delicate position at the meeting, and he was sorry that
the question, which elicited the expressions he then made
use of, had been put. He has expressed his regret that
he was led by the excitement of the moment to use ex-
pressions which might have given to the public an erro-
neous idea of the merits of the case, and he indignantly re-
pelled a charge which had been publicly brought against
him, that he was "making political capital" out of the
events referred to in his letter ; the question was not one of
"Political opinion," but one of " legal right," and he
trusted that it would aeon
settled, when the undue ex-
citereene „le I
minghant Daily Post.
caused would give place to sober judgment,

DECEMBER- '23, 1862.1

LATEST NEWS.

PARIS, DEC. 23.

The 21Ioniteur of this morning says :

"A rumour was current yesterday that a diffe-
rence had arisen between the French and Spanish
Governments, in consequence of the speech of
Senor Calderon Collantes, in the Senate at Madrid.
But the explanation given by Spain having been
satisfactory, this diplomatic incident has had no
further consequence."

ATHENS, DEC. 22.

The President of the Synod has opened the As-
sembly with prayers and exhortations. Eighty
members were present, who took the oath.

PARIS, DEC. 22.

The Paris evening journals mention the report
that the French Government has demanded expla-
nations at Madrid respecting the official statements
made by the Spanish Government to the Cortes on
the Mexican question, without, however, stating
the result of this request on the part of the French
Ambassador.

La France says:—
"We have reason to believe that Prince Louis of
Hesse has refused the Crown of Greece."

The Patric says :
" England is said to have made the cession of the
lonian Islands dependent on the condition that
Greece should maintain the monarchical form of
Government, and respect the treaties which regulate
the extension of the Kingdom of Greece."

TURIN, DEC. 22.

A body of French and Italian troops, commanded
by Major Lachelli, has made an expedition on the
Roman fronti3r, and dispersed the remainder of
Tristany's band of brigands.
In to-day's sitting of the Senate and Chamber of
Deputies a Royal decree was read, proroguing the
session.

The Official Gazette will shortly publish the
decree closing Parliament.

Baron Ricasoli has refused to become a member
of the committee deputed to inquire into the causes
of the brigandage in Naples.

MADRID, DEC. 20, EVENING.

To-day, in the Senate, General Prim stated that
he did not receive orders to advance to the city of
Mexico, and that if he had received such orders he
should have gone. He eulogised the character of
Juarez and repelled the accusation that he was the
cause of the rupture with the French representa-
tive. Senor Monte expressed his belief that the
French would attain their object in Mexico, and
thought that Suarez would do better to withdraw
and avoid a war.

SOUTHAMPTON, DEC. 23.

The screw steamship Tartar, from Lisbon. on
the 17th inst., arrived here this morning with 28
passengers, £2,540 in specie, and a large cargo of
fruit.

She encountered a terrible northerly gale in the
Bay of Biscay, and shipped heavy seas ; her sails
and part of the rigging were carried away, and
27 bullocks killed out of 32 on board.

LISBON, DEC, 23.

It is said that the Emerald frigate brought to
Dorn Fernando an autograph letter from the Queen
of England, which is reported to contain an offer
of the throne of Greece, a distinction that Dom
Fernando is said to have promptly declined.

The restrictive measures in the custom-house
continue, and cause much annoyance to the mer-
cantile community.

Her Majesty's ships Warrior, Black Prince, Re-
sistance, Defenge, Trinculo, and Revenge will leave
shortly on a cruise for Madeira.
Her Majesty's ship Doris arrived here on the
10th, and sailed the same day.

The Magdalena sailed for the Brazile on the 11th.
The steamer Ruby left for Madeira on the 14th
inst.

Two. Russian frigates and the American ship St.
Louis aro lying iu the harbour.

The King and Queen are residing at the Palace
of Ajuda.

The results of the last vintage are very satisfac-
tory both in the quality and quantity of the wino.
The weather is very cold.
COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

Trade is very dull. The high price of Manches-
ter goods has a depressing effect upon the market.
Exchange on London, 90 days, 53d; on Paris,
5.30; on Hamburg, 48k; on Genoa, 5.25. Three
per Cent. Bonds, 47t, to 48.

SOUTHAMPTON, DEC. 23.

The Peninsular and Oriental Company's steamer
Pera, Captain Jameson, with the heavy portion of
the above mails, has arrived here. She brings 32
passengers, and 729 packages cargo.

The Pera experienced a heavy northerly gale,
with a terrific sea, across the Bay of Biscay.
On the 17th she spoke the steamer Ceylon, steer-
ing eastward.

The Dutch schooner Johanna, bound from Leg-
horn to Bristol, with a general cargo, foundered at
sea on the 24th ult.

GIBRALTAR, DEC. 16.

Exchange on London, 80 days, 50 to 50 5-16ths ;
Paris, 527 ; Marseillew, 528; Genoa, 529 ; Madrid,
eight days' sight, t, premium.
Freights unaltered.