The Sun.
London, England, 1853-12-12 00:00:00

FRANCE.

The Monitcur publishes an imperial decree, re-
organising the administration of the Conservatoire
des Arts et Metiers, under the direction of General
Morin.

The Moniteur also inserts the postal convention,
concluded OIL the 23d of December, 1852, between
France and the kingdom of the Two Sicilies. After
the Ist of January, 1854, the postage of simple
letters, forwarded by sea or land, between France
and Algeria and the city of Naples is fixed at
if. 30c., and those addressed to other parts of
the kingdom of the Two Sicilies, at lf. 40c. Jour-
nals, periodical works, books in leaves, music,
catalogues, lithographs, &c., are to be pre-paid in
both countries, simple parcels, not exceeding 45
grammes in weight, at the rate of 13 centimes. The
postage of simple letters, forwarded to Naples by.
French mail packets, from any part of the Medi-
terranean, where France possesses post-offices, and
vice versa, is fixed at 90 centimes, and that of jour-
nals, books, &c., at 9 centimes per weight of 45
grammes or any fraction thereof. _ _

The Court of Cassation rejected on Saturday the
appeal of the individuals implicated in the recent
plot having for its object the overthrow of the Em-
peror's Government, against the sentence of the
Court of Assizes, which condemned eight of thF
to transportation, and the others to various terms
of imprisonment.
The official reports of the prefects, addressed to
the Central Administration, mention a frightful
increase in the number of incendiary fires through-
out France. The departments the most cruelly
visited are those of the Oise, Aisne, Ille et Vilaine,
Ardennes, Arm. Everywhere the authorities are on
the watch, and the gendarmerie perform continual
patrols, but hitherto only a small number of incen-
diaries have been arrested.

The Moniteur publishes a despatch of the Gover-
nor-General of Algeria, dated the sth inst., giving
an account of an engagement which took place in
the division of Oran on the 20th of November last,
between a French division and a revolted tribe,
called Hamian. On that day the contingents of
Tlemcen and Sidi Bel Abbes came up with the
Arabs at the Sebkra de.Tigri, where the latter were
encamped under the command of the two renowned
chiefs, named Sidi-Chiqr-ben-Taieb and El Gourari.
The Hamians bravely defended their dollars ; but,
being routed by a charge of the Spahis, 'under the
orders of Captain Michel, they fled in every direc-
tion, abandoning 70 or 80 killed, 20,000 sheep, and
800 camels. The two chiefs were said to have been
wounded. The French lost 14 killed, and as many
wounded.

The members of the deputation of Lyons manu-
facturers who presented some magnificent speci-
mens of their fabrics for the acceptance of the Em-
press Eugenie, were invited to dine at the Tuileries
on Thursday, where they were received with the
most gracious courtesy by the Emperor, and
particularly by the Empress, and they speak
of her Majesty in the highest terms for
the marked attention which she paid them.
The deputation also prayed the Emperor to
grant a credit of 4,000,000 of francs on the
budget of Public Works, to aid in the construction
of a street, which is to traverse the entire city of
Lyons, and which is to be called La Rue Imperiale.
The Emperor acceded to their request on the un-
derstanding that the Municipality of Lyons shall
contribute the rest of the expense necessary to com-
plete the work.
Madame Boieldieu, widow of the well-known
composer of the Dame Blanche, has just died at
Paris.

A general assembly of the Council of Senate
took place on Saturday motning, to consider the
modifications proposed by the Government in the
statutes of the Societe du Credit Foucier. The
Council of State makes no change in the Govern-
ment measure.

It is said that there is to be a complete razzia of
prefects. Almost all the old prefects are to be re-
moved, because Louis Napoleon thinks that they
are not to be trusted, their affections being fixed
on the defunct dynasties.
The Duke de Valmy denies that he has accepted
a seat in the Senate.

The Emperor received on Friday in private audi-
ence M. de Kisseleff, Envoy Extraordinary and
Minister Plenipotentiary of the Emperor of Russia,
who presented a letter from his Majesty, notifying
the birth of the Grand Duchess Mary, daughter of
his Imperial Highness the Cesarewitch and Heredi-
tary Grand Duke Alexander Nicolaewitch.
The Emperor and Empress attended on Friday
evening the performances at the Opera Comique.
At eleven o'clock on Saturday a Council of Mi-
nisters was held at the Palace of the Tuileries.

By a decree of the Emperor, the session of the
Council General of Agriculture, which was to have
commenced on the 19th, has been prorogued.
Mr. B. Oliveira, M.., is still at Bordeaux col-
lecting information relative to the question of the
wine duties. The principal merchants of the
city have afforded him the fullest information
upon the subject. The Chamber of Com-
merce, headed by the Vice-President, M. Bertin,
have held a special meeting for the purpose of
giving the honourable gentleman a reception ; and
they went very fully into all the points connected
with the cultivation, stock, supply, and cost of
the wines of the Bordelais. On Wednesday last,
the Chamber entertained Mr. Oliveira at dinner,
when most of the leading men of Bordeaux were
invited to meet him, as was also the British Con-
sul, Mr. Scott. After dinner the health of Mr.
Oliveira was proposed, and the chairman took oc-
casion to dwell upon the advantages which would
accrue in various ways to both countries, if Mr.
Oliveira should succeed in obtaining the reduction
of duty. Mr. Oliveira returned thanks in the same
spirit; expressing a hope that the two countries
might cultivate increased commercial and peace-
ful relations ; and concluded by proposing the
health of the Emperor of the French. The Presi-
dent then gave a toast to the Queen of England,
which was received with great enthusiasm.
The Napoleon steam line-of-battle ship arrived
at Toulon on the 6th from Constantinople.
The opening of the new Boulevard de Strasburg
took place on Saturday in presence of the Empe-
ror, t,le Minister of Public Works, the Prefect of
the Seine, and the authorities of e fifth arondis-
semeut, in which it is situated. A vast crowd was
assembled to witness the proceedings ; the boule-
vard was ornamented at each side by masts bear-
ing tri-coloured flags, and by handsome bronze
pillars to support gas lamps. The terminus of the
Strasburg Railway was ornamented with flags and
evergreens, an immense gilt eagle being placed in
the centre of the budding, under the statue of the
city of Strasburg. A triumphal arch was erected
at the entrance of the boulevard, with the inscrip-
tion, " A l'Empereur Napoleon 111., le ;me ar-
rondissement reconnaissant." The Emperor and
his cortege went along the boulevard amidst cries
of " Vive l'Empereur !" and the whole line was
then thrown open to foot passengers and carriages.
Nothing could be more simple than these pro
ceedings.
For some days past a number of arrests have been
made in Paris, partly, it is said, in consequence of

a new plot having been discovered against the life
of the Emperor, and partly on account of the clan-
destine distribution of pamphlets printed in foreign
countries, and particularly of the last work of M.
Victor Hugo, printed and published in Jersey.
This new work, which is said to be just as vio-
lent against the existing state of things in France
as any of the writer's previous publications, has
been sold in Paris, it is affirmed, to the extent
of 1,500 copies within the last ten days, the
price of it being 6f. The police have male descents
in several houses, but without being so fortunate as
to make any seizure. It is currently reported here
that the police called on one person who was
strongly suspected of selling the work, and arrived
just five minutes after his last copy had been dis-
posed of. As to the plot against the Emperor's
life, the rumour goes that it was denounced to the
police by the natives of Switzerland, who having
by accident discovered a single trace of the plot,
followed up the indication with great patience,
until they were able at last to give the most posi-
tive information respecting the greater number Of
the principal persons concerned in it. It is said
that the secret society which had formed itself for
the abOve purpose reckons several hundred mem-
bers, in general unknown to each other, but
bound together by most solemn oaths. The
investigation into the matter has been en-
trusted to M. Brault, the Judge of Instruc-
tion, who not long since inquired into the
circumstances of the plot of the Opera Comique.
The arrests of M. Hubard, the advocate, and of M.
Francas, ex-editor of the Revue Independente, and
the intimate friend of Madame Georges Sand, of
Beranger, the poet, of M. Bixio, and of many
other eminent persons, are said to be connected
with this affair. In addition, twelve persons be-
longing to the great clothes mart of the Belle Jar-
dinière were taken into custody, four of whom
have sine' been set at liberty. Arrests have also
been effected in several workshops of mechanicians.
It is stated that the greater number of these
arrests were made, not by the ordinary police,
but by a body of police especially appropriated to
the protection of the Emperor, and acting on
their own responsibility. This body was formed
of picked men, remarkable for their in-
telligence, after M. Pietre's police had been
unable to prevent the formation of the secret
society, the object of which was to assassinate the
Emperor, as was proved in open court on the trial
of the persons implicated in the affairs of the Hip-
podrome and Opera Comique.
The Bourse was not so animated on Saturday as
on Friday. The Three per Cents. opened at 75L
80c., and rose to 76f. 5c., and closed at 75f. 950.
for the end the month. The Four-and-a-Half per
Cents. closed at 102 f. 40e. ; Orleansßailway'Shares,
1,217 f. 50c. ; Rouen, 1,082 f. 50c.-; Havre,. 510 f. ;
Great Northern, 895 f. ; Paris and Strasburg, 845 f. ;
Paris and Lyons, 932 f. 50c. ; Lyons to the Medi-
terranean, 785 f. ; Western of France, 717 f. 50e. ;
Bordeaux and Cette, 647 f. 50c. ; Great Central,
533 f. 75c. ; Lyons and Geneva, 531 f. 25c. ; Shares
of the Bank of Credit Mobilier, 786 f. 25c.

ITALY.

The accounts from Turin, of the 9th inst. state
that the result of 82 elections was then known.
55 were Ministerial, 12 doubtful, and 14 belonged
to the two Oppositions. No intelligence had
reached from the island of Sardinia or Savoy ; but
it was hoped that the 24 elections of the former
would be nearly all favourable to the Cabinet, and
that the Government would like ise obtain a great
majority in Savoy.
Since writing the above, we have received a pri-
vate telegraphic despatch, dated Turin 10th, an-
nouncing that the elections continued to be favour-
able to the Government. Of the 115 deputies
whose nomination was known, 81 were Ministerial ;
23 belonged to the Left ; and 11 to the extreme
Right.

SPAIN.
Our accounts from Madrid are of the 6th inst.
The discussion on the Royal order relative to
railways, still continued in the Senate. M. In-
fante addressed the house in favour of the conclu-
sions of the majority of its Committee, on the 6th,
and was left speaking at the hour of post.
The Chamber of Deputies was still engaged in
verifying the powers of its members.
The Heraldo states that the negotiations with
France respecting the boundary question had not
been interrupted, but were on the contrary pro-
secuted with activity.
The Three per Cents. were done at 431 ; the New
Three per Cents., at 22Z ; the Debt of the first
class, at sa ; and that of the second, at 4.

LLOYD'S SHIPPING.-(THIS DAY.)

LONDON, Dec. 12. —Wind this day at noon, Easterly,
and cloudy.
PLYMOUTH, Dec. 11.—Wind, E. Arrived—The Vivid,
from Buenos Ayres for London ; Blonde, Rio Janeiro,
Cowes ; Pitade Bahia, Amsterdam ; Duowiere, Havannah,
Havre, making water, and has been towed into the inner
harbour to repair ; St. Michael, St. Domingo ; Nicols
Pilata, Alexandria ; ldas Cai e, Smyrna ; Augusta Wood-
gate, Odessa, all four for London ; Otto and Edward
Sievers. Odessa, Amsterdam, with pumps choked and sails
split ; Harry, Marseilles, Hull ; Cezempra, Marseilles, and
sailed for St. Michael's ; Triton van Glabbke, Liverpool, •
Oatend ; Mauritius (s.), trial cruise ; put back, Comet,
Harrison, London.
FALMOUTH, Dec. 11.—Arrived—Victoria, (s.), "from
Sydney, N.S.W., left 17th Sept. ; Melbourne, 23d;
Adelaide, S.A., 29th; King George's Sound, 9th Oct. ;
and Cape of Good Hope, 7th Nov., with 184,000 ounces oi
gold on freight.
LONGHOPE, Dec. 4.—Arrived—Pomona, from St. John's,
for Leith. Dec. s—Arrived—Doctor, from Richibucto,
for Hull.

PORTPATRJEK, Dec. 7.—Portions of wreck are still being
cast ashore near here, but only a small quantity has washed
in, compared with what is floating past ; it is drifting
from the South. A board was picked up in Morach Bay
with the word " Shepherd" on it, in large gilt letters, and
another, painted in the same manner, with the word " Car-
digan" on it, was found in Port o' Spittal Bay. Among
several other boards were two apparently new marked, one
with the number " 11," and the other with the words
"John Jamieson, No. 51."
SUNDERLAND, Dec. o.—The Marie, of Emden, from
\ orway to Defzyl, foundered in the North Sea, Nov. 30 ;
master was previously washed overboard ; the remainder
of the crew landed here.

PORTSMOUTH, Dec. 11.—Wind, S., blowing hard. Ar-
rived—Snake, from St. Michael's, for London, with loss of
bawsprit ; Rajah of Sarawak, Sinapore ; Jefferson, Buenos
Ayres ; Cora, New York, for Antwerp, leaky, with loss of
topmasts, bulwarks, &c., and cargo damaged ; Gateshead,
Ceylon.
LERWICK, Dec. 4.—Arrived--- Agnes, from Archangels
with loss of bulwarks, having experienced very bad wea-
ther ; Mary Seton (late Clark), Onega, the master drowned
himself in the White Sea, and two of the crew were
washed overboard.

LOWESTOFT, Dec. 11.—The Currah, of Stockholm, has
been brought in here derelict ; the Fidelity, of Spray,
which was ashore on the Main, has been assisted off and
brought in here.
HARWICH, Dec. 11,—All yesterday and to-day it has
been blowing hard from the Eastward, and still continues.
Several vessels have put in here for shelter. —The Richard
White, of and from Shields to London, struck on Sizewell-
bank yesterday morning, during a gale from E.N.E., and
became a total wreck ; crew saved.
WIVENHOE, Dec. 11.—The John Edward (schooner), of
Aberystwith, has been assisted in from off the Sunk-sand,
after discharging part of cargo.
WHITSTABLE, Dec. 11.—The brig Juno, of Scarborough,
and a collier brig went ashore yesterday and sunk in the
Black-tail. A billey-boy, laden with gas pipes and fittings,.
is ashore on the Maplin ; part of cargo thrown overboard ,
she has driven further on.

(BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.)
LIVERPOOL, MONDAY, 10 A. 21.
Wind, S., moderate, and foggy.
Arrived—Soloven, from Iceland; Thomas, Alexandri°"
The Maid of Athens, from Barcelona, has returned inW
duck with damage, having been in contact with the AIPS
steamer.

WATERFORD, Dec. 10.
Arrived—Thistle, from Quebec; Corinthian Lass, from
Kertch ; Enigheden, Richibucto, with lo s of jibboom all
jib, and very leaky.
QUEENSTOWN, Dec. 10.
Wind, N.E., moderate and fine.
Arrived—Recroy, from St. John's. N.B. ; John French,
Alexandria.
Off Port—Joseph Cunard, from Quebec, for orders ;
J. shua Bates, New York, and proceeded to London.
Put in—Competitor, from 'Galatz, for Boston, with
cargo shifted ; out 35 days.
Sailed—Sarah, for City Point, Virginia.

(BY SUBMARINE AND EUROPEAN TELEGRAM)
GRAVESEND, MONDAY, 10 A.g.
CUSTOMS RETURN. •
Wind, S.E., cloudy ; title, four hours' flood. RaV8110.
Arrived—City of Paris (s), from Boulogne;
bourne, Antwerp.
9.10 A.M.
S.S.W., light and DEAL,c
lod for NO
Anchored—Hendrick Hudson,y MONDAY,
from London,
York.
Remains—Prov idence, from Memel, for Australia.

THE FATAL FIGHT NEAR HIILL.—The coroneeekill
has in this case returned a verdict of manslaughter
against Joseph Field, as principal, and William IWal'ir°
and Michael M‘Nultv as seconds. The coroner has
issued his warrant for the committal of M'Guire to
hatalc°
his trial at the present York Assizes. Warrants l
also been issued for the apprehension of Field to
M'lslulty, who have absconded.
SOMEWHAT EXTRAORDINARY.—During
in Baker-street, four days in the last week, more Oa.
40,000 individuals were dailway spectators, and Ife`e
left in the comparative care of Smith, Bars, R°D3aircliee:
and Stringer, officers of the metropolitan detective fe „,
and 36 other constables in uniform, and so sharp ?'"
they look out in the performance of their onerous dUt.Y,
that only two robberies were perpetrated. the more
TTA.OI4c4B
Loss OF FISHING SMACK AND CREW OFF --- quest
—The Water-lily, fishing-smack, while "iliug in
nteZ '.
of whiting about twelve miles off the coast, ye. , car :. •
was suddenly struck by a squall, and immediateiy wire
-ized. The two men on board, White and Svreitu;emied
!I-owned. Another fisherman named Curtis, wiv_44,,.
the accident, but was too far off to render atnLic fo;ir. i;
ance. Both men have left faniiiiio to klauelli .- '"' '
• -