The Sun.
London, England, 1854-12-29 00:00:00

FRENCH STEAM-FRIGATE LA REINS HORTENSE.

" We, the Mayor, Aldermen, and Burgesses of the an-
cient and loyal borough of Southampton,be, leave to offer
to yon and the officers of the steam-ship La Refine Hor-
tense, under your command, our cordial welcome to the
shores of England, and to express to you the gratification
we experienee on your arrival in our port, and our hearty
goodwill and sympathy in the errand of mercy iu which
your visit is concerned. We gladly avail ourselves of this
opportunity to express the good feeling of the corporation
and inhabitants of Southampton (and in which the Bri-
tish nation heartily concur) towards his Imperial Ma-
jesty the Emperor of the French, as well as to-
wards the French nation and people ; and we ear-
nestly hope that the alliance which now exists between
France and England may tend to cement the feelings
of mutual respect ant esteem which should unite tw•
of the meet powerful and enlightened nations of Europe.
While we should rejoice to find that wars were less fre-
quent, and tat peace had become the common desire of
all nations, we acknowledge with pride and gratitude the
gallantry and courage with which the brave navy and army
of France, in conjunction with the navy and army of our
most gracious Queen, have been led forth to victory, have
upheld the national character of both countries, and de-
fended the rights and liberties of Europe ; and we fer-
vently pray that, with the blessing of Divine Providence,
the arduous struggle in which the two nations are now en-
gaged against the unjust aggression of the Emperor of
Russia may speedily be brought to a successful termi-
nation.

Given under onr common seal at Southampton, the
28th day of December, 1E54."
The following is the reply to this address :
" Mr. Mayor of Southampton—l received with great
pleasure the manifestations of national sympathy with
which, in the name of you; fellow-citizens, you have
honoured me towards the navy, army, and the Govern-
ment of my country.
" My officers join with me in the thanks which are due
to you as well as to the members of the municipality of
your town.
N e one in France can be indifferent to such noble
sentiments as those of England. Our Emperor knows how
to appreciate them, and the heart of all France has the
same feeling as hip.
" In future, therefore, we shall all have the same sym-
pathy for you. We are happy and proud at the intimate
alliance between the two nations. No intrigue can de-
stroy it. For the honour of humanity and the triumph of
civilisation, we will victoriously repel the barbarous Mus-
covite.

" Accept, AP. Mayor with the sssurance of these swift
mints, that of my highest esteem.
" The Commander of La Reine Hortense,

`` EXCELIIANS."

The French steamer La Reine Hortense is elevating
the loading at Southampton of several ships with wooden
huts for the French troops in the Crimea, one of which
he is to accompany and assist by towing, when neces-
sary. The ships to be loaded are the Sumroo, Saladin,
and Swiftsure, but, as the houses come down very
slowly, the first-named ship has not yet received her
complement. Who has caused this great delay it is im-
possible to say.

Two FRE2iCH SOLDIERS AT GLOCESTER.—GIocester,
Wedna3day.—The little band of French soldiers, under
the command of Lieutenant Leshville, who have
been here superintending and learning to erect the
wooden houses for the French army, left Glocester, to-
day, accompanied to the last with demonstrations of cor-
dial sympathy on the part of the inhabitants of Gloces-
ter. It being known that they would take their depar-
ture from Glocester to-day, some two or three thousand
people assembled to give them a hearty valediction. At
about 11 o'clock the band of the South Glocester Militia
having assembled at the head-quarters of the French
(the King's Head Hotel), escorted them to the railway
stati)n. They were headed by their commanding officer
with drawn sword, and the men marched with fixed
bayonets, the band playing "The British Grenadier"
and " Partant pour la Syria." On their arrival at the
station the mon faced about to their wort of sit tens,
and, "God save the Queen " being played by the band,
they presented arias, after which there was a general
shaking of hands, and the citizens gave their visitors
three hearty cheers on their departure.

ARRIVAL OP THE ADELAIDE AT
pLymoUTII.

PutlsoaTid, Thursday Evening. The Hired steam
transport Adelaide, Captain Young, from rortmtnouth,
arrived at Plymouth on Wednesday evening, and is ap-
pointed to sail this (Thursday) night for Balaklava„
She,embarked at Deptford and Greenhithe 44 large
guns, ordnance stores, clothing, and provisions for the
land forces, ammunition for the fleet, and 44 gups, shot,
shell, and ammunition, for the Ottoman Government ;
at Portsmouth detachments for the 19th, 38th, and 88th
Regiments and 2d Battalion of the Rifle Brigade (in all
wix officers and 315 men) ; and at Plymouth a detach-
ment of the 34th Regiment, consisting of 120 privates,
three serjeants, and seven officers—viz., Major Kelly,
Lieutenants Campbell, Boyce, Jordan, Ensign Alte, and
Surgeons Dwyer and Worthington.
Toe screw steam-sloop Malacca left Plymouth Uncle,
steam and canvass this day, at noon, with troops and a
mail for the Crimea.

COURT CI.RCITLAIr.

WINDSOR, Die. tS.

The dinner party yesterday included her Royal liiigh-
nese the Duchess of Kent, the Lady-in-Waiting to her
Royal Highness, Baroness de Speth, Baron and Baroness
d'Usedom, the Earl of Clarendon, Viscount Canning,
Sir James Graham, and Major-General the ROSA. C.
and Mrs. Grey.
The band of the Royal Horse Guards played ill the
Castle during dinner, and her Majesty's private band
afterwards. _ _ .

The Queen and Prince walked in the Castle-gat dens
and slopes this morning. The Royal children took their
accustomed exercise.

Baron d'Usedoin was presented to her Majesty yes-
terday afternoon at an audience, by the Earl o 1 Cla-
rendon.

The Baron and Baronets d'Usedom, the Earl of Cla-
rendon, and Viscount Canning, and Sir James Graham,
left Windsor this forenoon for London.

- --
The Marquis of Br eadalbane is expected this afternoon

Tho Queen has been graciously *leased to grant a
pension of 50/. a-year to the widow of the tat Dr.
Kitto, the well-known author of many important
Biblical works.

Despatches front the governors of 'Hong Kong, Cey-
lon, and the Mauritius, were receiveil yesterday at the
Colonial-office.

Sir De Lacy Fivans arrived in :London yesterday
morning from Dover. This distinguished Crimean hero
was recognised at the London•bridge s tation by Captain
Barlow and Captain(Nemesis) Hall, and took his depar-
ture thence amidst the cheers of those present.
The Duke of Sutherland has lett Tra etham, on a visit
to the Marquis and Marchioness of 8 tafford, at LAlles-
hall, Salop.
The Duchess of Sutherland has an ived at Stafford-
house, from Trentham.
The Marquis of Lansdowne has arrived in London,
from his seat, Bowood-park.
The Marquis and Marchioness of I aldare have arrived
at Stafford-house from visiting the Da.ike and Duchess of
Sutherland at Trentham.

Tiro Earl and Lady Conatanee Gro avenor have arrived
at Calvarley-park, e6est4r, from Tr. ratham.
The Earl of Stanford and Warrir .*ton has arrived at
Enville-6xll.

Lady Jiliantyre and family have arrived at Stafford
House from Erskine House, N.B. Lard Blantyre will
arrive in London early in the ensuin ;week.
The Bank of France has declared a dividend of 82f.
for the last six months of 1854.

LIMERICK ELECTION.--Mr. Steph cm E. De Vere, of
Currachase, Adare, has been return e 1 without opposi-
tion as member for the county of Lint erick, in the room
of the late Mr. Wyndham Gooa
MACAULAY'S PORTRAIT.—Sir John Watson Gorden's
admirable portrait of the Right Hal T. D. Macaulay
is about to be presented to the Unii 'ersity of Glasgow
by Mr. James Keith. This portrait I ,vas painted during
Mr. Macaulay's occupancy of the L of rd Rector's chair.
VESSELS LOADING AT LIVERPOOL, FOR AUSTRALIA.—
There are only twenty-three craft o; n the berth at pro-
sent, a smaller number than for a cm nsiderable period.
The enterprising French company • who recently pur-
chased the South American screw-s teamers Lusitania
and Braziliera, have become the owne rs of the Mediter-
ranean screw-steamers Danube, Syria 1, and Rhone, and
it is understood that they are in treat y for others.
REPRESENTATION OF SUNDERLAND,- -A. correspondent
informs us that it is intended to put A dmiral Sir Charles
Napier in nomination for the seat in this borough, va-
cated by Mr. William D. Seymour's a ppointinent to the
rectorship of Newcastle-upon-Tyne. At a meeting of
shipowi,ers, held on Wednesday to col eider the subject,
it was unanimously resolved that the admiral should be
supporti.d heart a.id soul.
TEE GREAT BRITAIN.—This neblu screw steamship,
from Australia, may now be daily 100 l ced for. She was
to have left Melbourne on the 28th o: f October, and is
now dl days at sea. She will bring a month's later
ad vices.

Loans OF ♦ COASTING VESSEL.--I t is feared that an
Inverness vessel, the Isabella Anderim n, has been lost
(luring the recent storms. She left 7 ..outh about three
weeks ago, and has net since been luta rd of.
TUB EAGLE.—The Eagle, Captain, Murphy, started
yesterday on her fourth voyage to ti e antipodes from
the Mersey, with a full cargo and f, LSO passengers on
board.

DIE RED JACZEL—This vessel sails al yesterday fore-
riAmn at half past eleven o'clock, lea Melbourne, with
850 passengers, and a very fall cargo .if merchandise on
freight. She will be towed past Cape Clear, and is ex-
pected to make a very rapid run. Simi took a large num-
ber of ships' letter-bags. The succetFd ing clipper from
this port will be the celebrated Black: Bali liner Light-
ning, Capt. Anthony Enright, whichi sails on the sth
proximo for Melbourne, with the Ja.irt4 -try mails, which
bhe engages to deliver in 65 days.

LATEST NEWS.

BERLIN, DEC. 28.

Accounts from St. Petersburg state that Prince
Menschikoff writes from Sebastopol on the 20th

of December,—

" Nothing new has taken place here.

" The weather is bad, and our well-directed

fire interrupts the enemy's works."

MARSEILLES, DEC. 28.

The Longsor, which left Constantinople on the
14th, and the Egyptus, on the 19th, have arrived
with despatches for the Government.

The news brought by them from the Crimea is

unimportant.

VIENNA, DEC. 28.

Conferences of a positive character, at which
M. Gortschakoff and. Count Arnim will be present,

take place to-day.
The Earl of Westmoreland being still indisposed

the discussion will take place in his apartments.

We have received the following despatch, dated

yesterday evening, from Vienna
"The Oest. Correspondenz has dates from Con-
stantinople to the 18th. The Royal Albert, with
1,800 troops on board, had passed through the

Bosphorus.
"Up to the 18th the number of English and
French reinforcements to the armies in the Crimea

amounted to 18,000 men.
" The Duke of Cambridge was better.

" The Turkish army at Kars was hard pressed.

by th© Russians."

MADRID, DEC. 23.
The Cortes has to-day voted the bill fixing th•
effective force of the army at 70,000 men.
The Three per Cents. were done at 34.70.

PARIS, FRIDAY MORNING.

Yesterday evening, the President of the Bureau

Legislatif, accompanied by all the Deputies,
waited on the Emperor at the Tuileries, and pre••
sented the bill for the loan voted on that day,

ivith an assurance of their devotion and unre.

served co-operation. The President also laid bey

fore the Emperor au expression of the high sense

they entertained towards the English army, its
fleet, and illustrious chiefs, as also their
tulle and admiration for the valiant armies of

France on land and soa. The Emperor, in re-
turning thanks, concluded by saying that France,

with the loyal and energetic assistance of ite
Allies, might wait with confidence the issue of

the war in which she was engaged ; and, sup.
ported by her brave Allies, by land and se 3, sho

will know how to maintain the rank due to

her in the continent of Europe.

FRANCE.
PARIS, THURSDAY EVENING.
The following telegraphic despatches have been
received hero to-day : _ _ _

" Warsaw, Deo. 27.
" The *Russian aovernsaeut has interdicteud un-
til further orders the export of salt meat, cattle,
cordage, sail cloth, or Flemish cloth, as well as all
other articles manufactured from linen or hemp,
from the ports of the Sea of Azof, the Black. Sea,
and the Danube."

" Vienna Dec. 28.
-

" J report is current that Prince Menschilcoff is
indisposed, and that General Osten-Sacken will
replace him. It is also said that the dismissal of
Omer Paella OR his arrival at Constantinople had
been rescinded. The land-tax will shortly be
applied."

C‘ MADRID, DEO. 27.
" Yesterday the Queen distributed the standards
to the national militia. Her Majesty was remeivecl
with enthusiasm."

There never has been such a busy time in the
French arsenals as at the present moment. Letters
from Metz state that the carriages belonging to the
artillery train in that place are found to be insuffi-
cient for the transport of the projectiles despatched
from the arsenal for the Crimea. The Government
has consequently been obliged to hire private car-
riages. Besides this, all the workpeople of the
town are occupied in making a large quantity of
sheepskin clothing for the army in the East. In
the seaports and other arsenals the activity is
equally great.
The following are the names of the members
composing the committee on the bill relative to
the loan of 500 millions :—MM. Lequilm, Gouin,
Schneider, Taillefer, Count Prosper de Chasseloup-
Laubat, Count de lorny, and Baron de Montreuil.
Count de Morny was appointed reporter.
M. Drouyn de Lhuys was absent from illness
from the Imperial sitting at the opening of the
Legislative Corps, and is still confined to his room.
His complaint is, however, only a severe cold, and
he is not considered in any danger.
The Legislative Corps met to-day at two o'clock;
Count de Morny in the chair. MM. Cazellez do
Beauchamp, Creuze, General Bonne, Busson, and
the Marquis de Chaumont-Quitry took their seats.
Five bills were presented relative to exchanges of
property, three others concerning delimitations of
communes, and two others authorising the depart-
ment of the Ain and the town of Compiegne to
contract loans. A bill was also presented to accord
as a national recompence on the widow of Marshal
de St. Arnaud a pension of 20,000 f. a-year ; and
another bill to accord to the widow of Marshal
Bugeaud de la Picoverio a pension of similar
amount, with reversion of 6,000 f. of it to her son.
The President then read the report, which he
had been charged to draw up by the committee
on the bill relative to the loan of 500 millions.
This document was most warmly applauded, and
particularly the paragraph in which a marked en-
comium is given to the bravery of the English
troops, and in which the committee declared, in
the name of the Chamber, that the French soldiers
have merited well of their country. The bill was
then brought forward, and adopted unanimously by
241 votes. The announcement of this result was
greeted with loud cries of "Vire l'Empereur !" The
Chamber then decided that all the deputies should
accompany, the same evening, to the Tuileries, the
members of the bureau; when taking up the
bill to the Emperor. The proceedings then ter-
minated.
The Meniteur publishes the postal treaty con-
cluded between France and the united kingdoms of
Sweden and Norway. The charge for a single letter
either way between France and Sweden is to be if.,
and between France and Norway lf. 20c. The
charge for a newspaper in the former case is to be
20e., and in the latter 24c. The Moiszteur also pub-
lishes a decree giving effect to the postal treaty
lately agreed to between France and Great Britain.
The Malta Times of the 19th says :—" Orders
have been received by the authorities here to pre-
pare barrack accommodation for 12,000 troops.
Quarters are being prepared for an adjutant-
general and a major-general ; a quartermaster-
general is also expected. These troops will, we
believe, consist fer the most part of the depots of
the different regiments serving in the East, and
the raw recruits will be sent out from England to
this island, to be drilled in the necessary military-
exercises before joining the army in the Crimea."

BOURSE, DEC. 28.—CLOSING PRICES.
Cash. fr. c. End of Month.
4a per Cents 92 80 —f. —c.
3 per Cents 66 60 66 65
Credit blobilier 722 50 Roman
Credit Foncier 540 Austrian
Balgian Fives — Spanish Throes .....
Piedmontese B6 Home Debt ......... 33

RAILWAYS—FOR CARR.
fr. c. fr. e.
••• 967
Orleans ........ 1,131 Lyons ............ •. 50
Western 620 Rouen .................. 977 50
Cette
Mediterranean B4O Havre 520 —.
Northern