The Sun.
London, England, 1854-01-04 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, JANUARY 4, 1854.

how propitious—how manifestly prophetic of an
Arcadian reconciliation ! The magnanimity of
the Czar—we have seen its scope in the mission
of MENSCHIROFF, its effects in the bloody and
smouldering ruins of Sinope. His wisdom—we may
appreciate it now from the policy which has
plunged him into the perils of a struggle with
the united Powers of the European Continent. His
justice -- it is beheld clearly enough 'in the
seizure of the Principalities. His moderation
—it may be recognised in the nature of his de-
mands and the manner of their enforcement.
And upon this magnanimity, wisdom, justice, and
moderation, we are expected to build up a fairy
palace of hope for the incoming of a spurious po-
litical Millennium. Castles in the air were no-
thing to it. Now, remembering all this,
may it not reasonably enough be questioned
whether the ABERDEEN Ministry has really
proved such an enormous blessing to the com-
munity ? May not this query be put to our-
selves and to the country without necessarily im-
plying that we are in any way factious in our an-
tagonism to the Government ? It is to be hoped
so—for otherwise we must risk the chance of being
thus unpleasantly designated. We can't, for the
life of us, remain silent while Aberdeenism is being
eulogised as a boon to England—watching it, as we
have done, closely during a deplorable career of
twelve months, and seeing it, as we have seen it,
impelling the nation deeper and deeper as the
time advanced into the Slough of Despond. Here
is 1854, not a week old, and Europe trembling
on the verge of a general warfare—and this mon-
strous evil mainly, if not exclusively, attributable
to the fatuity, and weakness, and indecision of the
ABERDEEN Coalition. It is a farce to talk of this
as in any respect an exaggeration. Had Eng-
land acted spontaneously eight or ten months
ago with the vigour she will now be compelled
to display in spite of herself—we should never
have heard even of the passage of the Pruth,
much less of the occupation of Moldo-Wallachia,
or of the burning of Sinope, or of the prospect of
a speedy war for entire Christendom. Wherefore,
lwe by no means regard our present Ministers as
men who have deserved well of the country. We
consider them to have displayed, during the year
in which they have unfortunately held office, a
temerity as criminal as their incapacity (in spite
of their being All the Talents) has been al togethe
unparalleled.

Nearly two months since, speaking of the un-
fortunate dispute then and still depending between
the masters and operatives in the manufacturing
districts, we said "if the question were merely'
one of wages, the parties might be suffered to fight
it out among themselves." We pointed out, how-
ever, that " such was not the case," and that it
was obvious that the " so-called ' rights of labour'
could be regarded as neither more nor less than an
invasion of property, not merely on that of mill-
owners and factory proprietors, but of every des-
cription ;" that " those who were then bearing the
brunt of the encounter were but the vanguard ;"
and that " should they be driven back and be de-
feated, the main army must inevitably be engaged,
and that at very serious disadvantages." • From
these formidable facts, we arrived at the conclu-
sion that it would be "far better to sustain and
assist those engaged in the struggle, and to pre-
vent the opponents from effecting a footing within
their lines than to purchase a temporary exemp-
tion at the expense of far more serious efforts on
a future occasion." The accuracy of our state-.
ments and conclusions have since been fully and
completely verified. The scarcely-assumed dis-
guise has long since been flung aside. It is too
palpable to admit of dispute or difficulty that the
question was not " merely one of wages," but that
the organised movement which had taken place
was the result of a deliberate determination to
place " the destinies of trade" under the control
and management of a clique of mischievous pro-
fessional agitators, whose sole object was to live
in idleness by sowing discontent between the
employers and the employed, and reducing the
former to the condition of mere cyphers in their
own establishments, the veriest serfs to the Cow-
ELLS, GRIMSHAWS, SMITHS, et hoc genus omne,
who are assuming the direction in the struggle.
This intention has now been openly avowed. It
required no express acknowledgment to show the
motives of the malcontents. These were depicted
in colours too vivid to admit of doubt or miscon-
ception. Their " overt acts" established the ex-
istence of the wide-spread and elaborately organ-
ised conspiracy. But it was by no means so
clearly established that other trades and other dis-
tricts would lend " material assistance" to the " turn-
outs," so as to give occasion for a general conflictbe-
tween labour and capital. A vigorous exertion would
in the first instance have placed the " difficulty" in
due course for an equitable and satisfactory arrange-
ment. Nay, more, a decided demonstration would
have sufficed. Had the millowners and factory
proprietors throughout Lancashire distinctly and
unequivocally expressed an unflinching determi-
nation to sustain and assist the masters of Preston,
of Wigan, of Bacup, Burnley, Accrington, and
the other districts where hostilities had either
commenced or were impending, matters would
speedily have been arranged, the absurd preten-
sions would speedily have been abandoned, and
1 the untenable demands based thereon withdrawn.
The masters in each locality were, however, left
to fight their own battles. No pecuniary assist-
ance was tendered—no indulgence shown
by those who, although not directly en-
gaged, were not very remotely interested
in the struggle. The " pound of flesh "
was in many instances—we freely admit that
there were many honourable exceptions—taken
from the belligerents, from those who were at the
moment 'fighting the battles of their exacting cre-
ditors. No direct money contributions were re-
ccived or even offered. There was nothing to
show that any aid would be afforded to the " van-
guard" actually engaged in the struggle ; and this
unaccountable apathy and indifference was con-
tinued notwithstanding the large sums levied in
Bradford and other districts, and the men supplied
not by cotton spinners only, but by numerous
trades totally unconnected with the points of con-
troversy. '

At length we find that the other master manu-
facturers have been aroused from their sluggish
insouceance. They at length perceive the neces-
sity of organised resistance, and of meeting the
combination of the hands with a counter-com-
bination of the employers. But though the
mere annunciation of such a determination
would have afforded a satisfactory solution of the
important problem if put forward at an earlier
stage, it may not now be sufficient. It is no longer
a cotton-spinners' question—other trades have
embarked in the controversy, supplied the "sinews
of war" to the combatants, and held meetings to
tender their active co-operation. The result is
but too powerfully perceptible. We find Mr.
GRIMSHAW, on Saturday, announcing " what the
trades of London have determined to do, should
the masters again adjourn ?" It appears that the
new parties to the contest (the trades of London)
will not let them go to work for three months
after that. The interpretation of this injudicious
boast is simply, that all who do not immediately suc-
cumb are to be crushed, root and branch. It will
not suffice if they make submission—abject and
unconditional submission : even after that they
are to be kept for three months—not at " hard
labour," but with closed doors and rusting
machinery. Will other capitalists submit to
this without some corresponding exertion on

their part. If they do, they will richly merit
their impending fate. They have been too long
inactive. Let them at length, even at the ele-
venth hour, exhibit some degree of energy ; and
they may render the interference of the Legisla-
ture unnecessary, and avert a contest of which it
is impossible to foresee the result.

COURT CIRCULAR.

WINDSOR, JAN. 3.
There was no addition to the Royal dinner party yes-
terday.

The Queen and Prince, attended by the Viscountess
Jocelyn, Colonel Bouverie, and Lieut.-Colonel F. Sey-
mour, left Windsor this morning, at 10 o'clock, for
London, by a special train of the Great Western Rail-
way.

The Royal party drove from Paddington to the Exhi
bition of the Photographic Society, in Suffolk-street.
Her Majesty and his Royal Highness also visited the
Duchess of Glocester, and the Queen returned to the
railway station and arrived at Windsor at ten minutes
before 2 o'clock.

The Prince proceeded from Glocester-house, to Mr.
Bailey's studio, in Newman-street, to inspect the cast
for the statue of Lord Mansfield. His Royal Highness
afterwards honoured Mr. Bell's studio, at Kensington,
with a visit, to see hie cast for the statue of Sir Robert
Walpole, both of which are about to be executed for th
Houses of Parliament.

The Prince called at Buckingham Palace, and returned
to Windsor at a quarter past 4 o'clock.
The Earl of Listowel has been succeeded by Lord
Byron as Lord-in-Waiting, and Major-General Berke-
ley Drummond has relieved Mr. R. Ormsby Gore as
Groom-in-Waiting.

CABINET COUNCIL-A Cabinet Council was held yes-
terday afternoon at the Foreign-office Downing-street.
The Ministers present were the Earl Of Aberdeen, Lord.
John Russell, the Lord Chancellor, Earl Granville, the.
Duke of Argyll, the Marquis of Lansdowne Viscount
Palmerston, the Earl of Clarendon, the Duke of New-
castle, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sir J. Graham,.
Sir Charles Wood, the Right Hon. SiSidney Herbert,
and Sir William Molesworth. The Council sat three,
hours and a half.
The Postmaster-General had an interview with the.
Chancellor of the Exchequer on Monday at his official.
residence in Downing-street.
The Marquis of Lansdowne arrived in town on Mon..*
day night from his seat, Bowood-park, Wilts.
Viscount Palmerston returned to town yesterday
morning to attend the Cabinet Council from his seat,
Broadlands, Hants.
Sir Charles Wood has returned to town from his seat,
Hickleton-hall, near Doncaster.

Despatches were received yesterday at the Colonial•
office from the Governors of the Cape of Good Hope,
the Mauritius, and Gibraltar. Despatches were sent
last evening from the Colonial-office for the Governors
of Hong Kong, Ceylon, and Australia.

COPENHAGEN UNIVERSITY.—The lectures at this uni-
versity will henceforth be delivered in the Danish, in-
stead of, as hitherto, in the Latin tongue.
THE NEW GOVERNOR OF VICTORIA.—Sir Charles'
Hotham, the recently-appointed Governor of Victoria,
intends leaving England for Australia by the General
Screw Steam Company's steamer Crcesus, which wilt
sail from Southampton on the 10th inst. The Crcesus
is a new vessel (2,500 tons), and this will be her first
voyage.

RAILWAY MAILS.—At a meeting just hold at Stoke-
upon-Trent, on the subject of postal communication in.
the potteries, information was received to the effect that
the Post-office authorities had made arrangements for
running a dap mail through the Potteries with the new
year, and that the offer of the North Staffordshire for
conveying the night mail was under the consideration of
the authorities.

LONDON SOCIETY FOR TEACHING THE BLIND TO READ..
—A. special general meeting of the friends and sub-
scribers to this institution was held yesterday in Avenue-
road, St. John's-wood, for the purpose of electing three.
children from a long list of candidates. Mr. Steedman.
presided. The report stated that the institution was;
founded fifteen years ago, for the express purpose of de-
veloping the physical, intellectual, and moral po viers of
the blind, and thus rendering them independent and
ful members of society. By the assistance of the legacieg
bequeathed to the institution, which have been scrupu—
lonsly set apart for the purpose, the sum of 1,5001. (five
years ago borrowed on mortgage to complete the build-
ing) has been reduced to 5001., thus relieving the society
of no less a sum than 501. per annum for interest. The
completion of the. Bible on Lucas's system has now been
accomplished ; and, by an adaptation of the system
to musical notations, through their master, Mr. Wood,
they have embossed a volume of several tunes for the
use of the blind. Having made large grants to indigent
blind and charitable institutions, and owing to the high
price of food, they commence the year in heavy debt,
and earnestly appeal to the benevolent for increased
funds. There are now in the school nearly fifty chil-
dren. The election having been proceeded with, the meet-
ing separated.
THE LONDON DOCK COMPANY.—At the half-yearly
meeting of the London Dock Company, held yesterday,
John Cattley, Esq., in the chair, Mr. Powles (the secre-
tary) read the report of the directors, from which it ap-
peared that the number of ships which had entered the
docks within the six months, to the 30th of November
last, was 646, measuring 207,248 tons ' • for the corres-
ponding period of 1852 the number was 711, measuring
228,551 tons. The amount earned was 250,6091. 7s. '
2d., and for the corresponding period of 1852, 235,8991.
16s. 4d. The expenditure was 151,8751. 17s. lid. ;
and for the same period of 1852, 140,2211. 14s. 4d.
The balance standing to the credit of the profit and loss
was 261,7431. 18s. 10d. A dividend of 2A per cent. for
the half-year was recommended, and that a sum of
10,0001. be appropriated towards the new works. The
Royal Assent had been given to the new bill, and ar-
rangements had been made for the purchase of the lands.
The chairman having briefly remarked on the favour.
able condition of the company's affairs, the report was
adopted unanimously.
THE FISH MARKET AND THE FROST.—In conse-
quence of the intense frost which has now prevailed for
several days, the fish market at Billingsgate has been
supplied in a very limited manner. Yesterday almost
all the fish which arrived in the market was by rail, and
that supply was limited in the extreme, and the prices
asked were exorbitant, cod-fish being charged from 15s.
to 255. The only fish vessel which took a berth at the
market pier was an oyster-boat, all the others, including
the Dutch eel vessels, having been obliged to keep in the
Pool, and most of them were compelled to dry and cook
their fish, in order to make it saleable, for, by keeping
it,athe fish would have become unsaleable. The regular
fish dealers, as well as the itinerant ones, were, in con-
sequence, much disappointed, and, as might be expected,'
their customers expressed great dissatisfaction.
RELIGIOUS WORSHIP.—There was yesterday published
a Parliamentary volume containing a report and tables
concerning religions worship, as exhibited by the census
of Great Britain, 1851. The volume has reference to
England and Wales. It appears• that there are in
England and Wales 35 different religious communities
or sects —27 native and indigenous, and 9 fo-
reign. The latter include all the bodies which
have assumed any formal organisation. There
are, it is stated in the report, in addition, many
isolated congregations of religious worshippers adopt-
ing various appellations, but it does not appear that any
one of them is sufficiently numerous and consolidated to
be called a "sect." Taking the population of England
and Wales at 17,927,609, there was present at the most
numerously attended services on • Sunday, March: 30,
1851, the number of 2,971,258 members of the Church
of England, 3,110,782 Protestant dissenters, 249,389
Roman Catholics, and 24,793 of other bodies. Of all
denominations the number returned as present on the
Sunday mentioned is 6,356,222.
THE CITIES OF LONDON AND PARIS.—The Lord
Mayor has received an answer to the address presented
to the municipality of Paris, recording the reception of
the Lord Mayor, aldermen, and common council of the
city of London in the year 1851. The document, which
is framed and emblazoned in the most splendid and
tasteful manner, acknowledges, on the part of the Pre.
feet of the department of the Seine, and the members
teornposing the municipal body of the city of Paris, the
courteous address forwarded through the medium of
her Majesty's Ambassador at Paris, and, after express-
ing satisfaction at this new proof of the close union
which exists between England and France, conveys
the assurance that the municipality of Paris, like
that of London, appreciates the benefits of the happy
brotherhood which peaceful competitions tend to establish
between civillsed nations. This document is dated
"August 13, 1852," and is accompanied by note,
dated the "17th of December, 1853," from the present
Prefect of the Seine, the receipt of which was acknow-
ledged on the 22d of December last by the Lord Mayor,
who expresses an earnest hope " that the reciprocation
of kindly feelings, which were cemented by the Great
Exhibition of 1851, may long be cherished by two such
powerful and distinguished communities as the cities of
Paris and London."

THE CALORIC SHIP ERICSSON.—The problem as to
the success of the Ericsson approaches a solution. The
engine is now so nearly completed that a trial trip will
probably be made next Tuesday or Wednesday, and Mr.
Ericsson is in the best spirits, such as confidence of suc-
cess inspires. We learn from one of her principal owners
that experiments already made show that the desired
amount of pressure may be easily obtained, and a full
reliance is entertained that the ship will attain a speed
equal to at least nine miles an hour, which will be a rate
entirely satisfactory. We also learn that it has been
determined to place the Ericsson on the route between
New York and Havre, as an independent steamer, to
replace the temporary vacancy occasioned by the destruc-
tion of the Humboldt.—New York Journal of Commerce.
A. FARCE OF " HONOUR."—A duel was arranged to
come off near Eltham on Tuesday last, between a mili-
tary officer and a naval officer from Woolwich, who
were said to have quarrelled about a female. The se-
conds, however, having more common sense and discre-
tion than the principals, brought the affair to au ar-
rangemeeut by proposing that each, of the belligerents
should present himself before the young woman for her
to make choice between them. It is whispered that
she was so prudent as to reject them both, as they
deserved.—South Eastern Gazette.

MONEY MARKET

AND

CWIMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

CITY, TWO O'CLOCK.

The sales of cotton at Liverpool yesterday were
estimated at 6,000 bales, 1,000 of which were taken
on speculation. The market closed very firmly.
The sales comprised 250 Pernam and Maranham at
61d. to Bid., 30 Bahia at 600 Egyptian at 6d.
to 10d., 300 Surat at 20. to 4.0., and the re-
mainder American. Railway Shares were flat.
The official statement of the exports for the
eleven months to the sth ultimo, gives an increase
of more than 15,500,0001. compared with the like
date of 1852.

Among the various colonies which are putting
forward their claims to the attention of emigrants,
Van Diemen's Land, or with its more modern
name, Tasmania, is becoming more conspicuous.
Now that transportation has ceased, there is really
no cause for reservation on the part of public
writers in supporting the pretensions of that
favoured island, nor will a slight examination fail to
show that there is ample room for a large ad-
ditional population. The Lieutenant Governor,
long as he has obstructed the best interests of the
colony by his obstinate advocacy of transportation,
and his attempt to introduce the Norfolk Island
desperadoes among the general settlers, has been
awakened at last to a sense of his duties now that
convict labour is no longer obtainable. In an excel-
lent official document, the capabilities, climate, and
commercial advantages of Van Diemen's Land are
fully explained ; and we may remark that,
although there is no gold production, the emi-
grant of steady habits will find other and more
certain sources of income entirely compatible with
the location in a particular town or district of a
family accustomed to English habits and society.
Of the climate, the Lieutenant-Governor writes
that it is most favourable for European constitu-
tions, neither hot nor cold in extremes. There are
13 million acres of Crown lands unappropriated
out of the 16 millions which the island contains.
There is au extensive line of coast with good inlets
for any amount of shipping, and with excellent
facilities for transporting produce from one part of
the island to another.

The following brief outline will give an idea of
the general character of the country :

" About 40 miles from the west, and the same distance
from the north coast, a table-land of about 1 million
acres in extent rises about 3,000 feet above the level of
the sea. On this elevated land are numerous lakes,
which form the heads of the principal streams flowing
to the south, the west, and the north ; and from it a
spur or mountain range runs in a direction a little to the
east of south, and, separating the valley of the Derwent
from the Gordon and Huon rivers, has hitherto proved
an almost impassable barrier to the progress of the
population towards the west coast.
"A mountainous range of less decided character, and
bioken through at one point by the valley of the south
Esk, separates the central and more settled districts
from those on the east coast.

"The principal part of the population of the island is
thus, at present, confined to a narrow strip of land be-
tween these two ranges of hills.
"The means of communication are of a better descrip-
tion than are to be found in the other colonies of Aus-
tralia. A good turnpike road extends from Hobart
Town to Launceston, a distance of 120 miles, and this is
traversed by coaches at the rate of ten miles per hour ;
the traffic being sufficient at present to support two day
coaches and one night coach each way.
" From this road others branch off at different points,
leading to the principal townships or villages : upon
some of these are regular conveyances for passengers ;
and every effort is making to extend and improve the
means of internal communication.

" It has been stated that nearly 3,000,000 acres of
land have been alienated by the Crown. A large por-
tion of this, especially that in the more central part of
the island, is occupied as sheep runs. In the neigh-
bourhood of the towns, however, much land has been
brought under cultivation; and the returns of 1852
show a total of 123,983 acres under the plough.
"The larger portion of the land to the west of the
Tamar, and between the lofty plateau before alluded
to, and the sea, is covered with a forest of heavy tim-
ber, but the land is of the best quality ; and the timber
in consequence of the demand which exists in Victoria
for building and other purposes, is most valuable, and
repays by its sales not only the whole cost of clearing
the land, but also the purchase-money of the land
itself.

" There is a similar district, though not perhaps so
extensive, on the west shore of D'Entretasteaux's Chan-
nel, at the south side,of the island. The timber, which
is of a better quality than that on the north coast, is,
owing to the facility afforded by the sheltered inlets of
the channel, brought to market more readily, and there-
fore more cheaply and profitably. Little is yet known
of the land to the westward of the dividing range of hills.'
The Foreign Exchanges yesterday afternoon were
very firm, and in some instances there was an im-
provement. Paris, 25 271 to 321 ; Antwerp,
25 171 to 20 ; Amsterdam, 11 151 to 16 ; Ham-
burgh, 13 41 to 5 ; Frankfort, 1181 to int ; and
Trieste, 11 42 to 48—all for 90 days' paper.
14The Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation
Company's vessel Ripon, which leaves Southampton
to-day for India, dr.c., has on board 235,9901. in
specie, of which 28,4201. is in gold, and the rest in
silver. _ _

The gold per Tartar has arrived at the Bank,
and became deliverable yesterday.
There has been a heavy market again for public
securities, rather from the absence of business
than any other cause, and this prevents any
marked variation in prices. Consols for the
opening have been done at 93 to I. The
New Three-and-a-Quarter per Cents. have been as
high as 94/. to I, awl are now 94 Exchequer
Bills keep firm, at 7s. premium. While political
matters continue so unsettled they will be pre-
ferred as a temporary investment. Bank Stock
has declined to 2161 and 215.
Foreign Stocks are very dull, and prices merely
nominal. Spanish Three per Cents. have realised
44g. Brazilian New Foux-and-a-Half per Cent.
stock is worth 93. Danish Five per Cents. have
been quoted 102.
The Railway Market has been unusually quiet,
and prices are about the same as they closed yes-
terday. French Shares have been heavy likewise.
In the Australian and other Gold Mine Bank
and Land Companies' Shares, there have been
scarcely any transactions.

BRITISH FUNDS THIS DAY.
(Front the Official List.)
Business
Bank. Stock
3 per Cent. Reduced Annuities 934
New 31 per Cent. Annuities 94iii4i
Long Annuities, Expire sth Jan., 1860
India Bonds, £lOOO •• • •
Ditto, under £lOOO 1 p
Consols for Opening 18th Jan, 93A
Exchequer Bills, Id.
£1000
PRICE OF FOREIGN FUNDS THIS DAY.
T.trazllian }kinds, 5 pot Cont.
Ditto New, 1852, 4. per Cent 93
Danish Bonds, 1825, 3 per, Coot —
Ditto 5 per Cent .....,...... ......
Portuguese Bonds, 4 per Cent.
Sardinian Bonds, 5 per Cent . ...... 90.
Spanish Bonds, 3 per Cent 44.4
Dividends on the above payable in London.
Dutch Exchange, 2A per Cent. 12 Guil — x d
Ditto 4 per Cent. Certificates
THREE O'CLOCK.
Consols for Opening 18th ..... 934 a x d

MADAME TIJSSAUD'S EXHIBITION.—This popular Ex-
hibition has been visited during the past week by thou-
sands of all classes, to view the highly interesting models
contained in the establishment. The group consisting
of her Majesty and young family appeared to attract
the chief attention of the, visitors, although a large pro-
portion paid great attention to the valuable Collection of
relics of Napoleon the First ; and, indeed, notwithstand-
ing these reminiscences of this wonderful man have been
some years exhibited, yet the attraction, continues two •
fold, and the number of persons increases considerably
every year, so undying are the memorials of the great.
PROPOSED NEW RAILWAY DOCKS.—An extensive wet
dock, of 23 acres, in connexion with the various lines
converging at Newcastle, is proposed to be constructed
on the north bank of the Tyne, with a deep water en-
trance of 23 feet. A similar wet dock is also proposed
to be established in connexion with the railways at
Maryport.
ACCIDENT AT THE HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT.—Yes-
terday morning a serious accident occurred to Thomas
Morton, at the new Houses of Parliament. Ile was
engaged outside the building, when he slipped on some
snow, and fell through a skylight a depth of twenty feet.
He was picked up in a state of insensibility, and con-
veyed to Henry Hoar's wards, Westminster Hospital,
where he now lies in a most precarious situation, owing
to the severe injuries ho received in the head and back.
Net the slightest hopes are entertained of his recovery.
Ina OF MAN SAVINGS' BANK.—The trustees of the
Isle of Man Bank for Savings, in Douglas, have guaran-
teed any deficiency which may arise in consequence of
the fund being deposited in Messrs. Holmes's bank:—
Manx Journal.
RuNcoßN.—Runcorn, on the Cheshire shore of the
Mersey, the terminus of the Bridgewater Canal navi-
gation, has two churches, one chapel of ease, nine dis-
senting chapels, four public schools, town-hall, foresters'-
hall, town offices, post-office, bank, two hotels, four-
teen public-houses, fifty-four beer-houses, a goodly num-
ber of beautiful mansions erected in various parts of
the town and its suburbs, a splendid pier and pro-
menade walk, docks, and the most extensive line of
locks in the kingdom.

THE STORM OF LAST NIGHT.

One of the most severe snow-storms we have
seen in London for several years visited the me-
tropolis at a late hour last evening, and continued
without intermission until an advanced period this
morning. The wind whistled and howled during
the whole night, at times blowing a perfect hurri-
cane ; and as the snow fell fast and thickly, it was
scattered about in all directions with such violence
that the police could not perambulate their beats,
and they and other midnight wayfarers were com-
pelled to seek shelter under arches and porticos
for several consecutive hours. Not a crevice or
corner where the wind could penetrate has been
left without a deposit of snow, and it has been
drifted with such force that the entire fronts and
sides of many buildings are encrusted with the
virgin white substance, thus presenting a very
pretty, and, to Londoners, almost a novel
appearance. In some parts of the metropolis, espe-
cially in the outskirts, the snow is several feet deep,
and traffic is almost at a stand still. Even in the
main thoroughfares there is an extraordinary di-
minution in the number of vehicles. Not one
half the usual army of omnibuses is to be seen, and
cabs are scarcely to be had at any price. Many of
the latter are drawn by a couple of horses, some in
tandem fashion, so great is the difficulty of loco-
motion through the streets. " Cabby," of course,
expects something more than his 6d. a mile under
such circumstances, and it would almost be impos-
sible to resist the extra demand, for his red, half-
frozen face, and his perspiring and struggling horses,
which cannot move a leg without slipping almost
as many feet backwards, speak eloquently on his
behalf. In every neighbourhood the houses have,
for several days past, been besieged by mobs of men
and boys, with spades, scrapers, and brooms, with
offers to clean your door and pavement, and
as the police regulations in regard to this are now
strictly enforced, their services have been generally
accepted, and, as the Americans would say, a pretty
considerable harvest of coppers has been reaped in
this manner. Their tariff of charges very naturally
augments with the depth of the snow ; and, to-day,
for what they formerly did for a penny or two-
pence, they readily obtain treble those sums. An-
other way in which these poor fellows turn an
honest penny at this inclement season, is by the
sale of water, the frost having cut of the ordinary
supply in our cisterns and buts, and persons find-
ing it convenient to pay a few pence for carrying
pailfuls from the nearest of the conduits which are
now placed in every street by the different water
companies. In consequence of the letterS by the
general post not having been delivered• until very
late in the day, the mail trains were no doubt im-
peded by the accumulation of snow on the railways.
The northern mails did not reach London until
eleven o'clock to-day. _

It is now something like fourteen years ago since
anything like so heavy a fall of snow occurred in
London, and then, if we recollect right, the Tories
were said to have lost the election of Speaker
through some of their body having bee* delayed by
the snow on their journey up to town to vote for
their favourite candidate.

THE WEATHER AND THE PARKS.

PARTIAL STOPPAGE OF THE RIVER TRAFFIC.

The coldest night experienced in this country for many
years was on Monday, when the thermometer fell to 15,
being one-and-a-half degree lower than it was last Thurs-
day night, when the mercury indicated 1G Fahrenheit.
At half-past eight yesterday morning, the glass was quite
as low as on the preceding night, but during the middle
of the day the quicksilver rose as high as 30, and in the
evening at five o'clock it stood at 31, but shortly after
that hour the mercury again fell to 20. The barometer
at the same time stood at 29.19. The wind blew tre-
mendously stiff in the early part of the day from east to
north-east, but between seven and eight in the evening it
veered towards the south-west, an indication of a change
soon taking place in the weather. The different parks
were visited during the day by several thousands of
sliders and skaters. The Serpentine in Hyde Park had
the appearance of a fair, or the celebration of some
public festival, for the footpaths were crowded, and a
countless number of carriages, filled with members of
the aristocracy, lined the roads where a view could be
obtained of the evolutions of the skaters. A great dif-
ference took place yesterday in the Serpentine, to what
has previously been performed on that river since it
has been frozen over, for instead of gentlemen skating
over the ice with lightning-speed, and tripping others
up, and severely injuring them, the skaters have par-
celled out the frozen surface, and parties of from 12 to
20 keep certain portions for their own amusement. A
number of men with brooms and shovels were employed
in scraping and sweeping the ice, so as to allow the
sliders and skaters to pursue their exhiliarating exercises
on the ice. The consequence was, that the greatest or-
der prevailed during the day, and no accident of any par-
ticular account occurred, although the number of sliders
and skaters is reported to Mr. Charlier, as being 12,000.
The members of the Skating Club mustered strongly,
and amongst those present were the Reverends Messrs.
Antrobus and Crake, and a large number of noblemen,
and Capt. Peale, the inventor of the ocean floats for
saving life from shipwreck. Mr. Superintendent Wil-
liams, on finding that the ice in the other parks was
likely to blow up from the accumulation of foul air
under the surface, had the same thing done as he did i n
the Serpentine on Sunday, viz., having holes cut
through the ice at the distance of 200 or 300 feet apart,
so as to allow the air to escape. In former years the
ice exploded on account of the foul air, and made a noise
like the discharge of a park of artillery.
The Round Pond had 3,000 skaters and sliders on the
ice, including several members of the Skating Club, but
no accidents occurred during the day. The Long Water
in Kensington Gardens was frozen over to the depth of
7i inches, and 5,000 gentlemen and a number of ladies
amused themselves by skating on this part of the park ;
but fortunately the only accidents that occurred were
from persons falling upon the ice and severely cutting
their heads.

St. James's and also the Regent's Park were patron-
ised by ngout 14,000 persons, who took up their positions
on the ice. The foot promenades were likewise crowded
by spectators, but, with the exception of a number of
persons falling receiving severe head cuts, no accidents
took place.

The River Thames yesterday was so crowded with
what is termed "drifting ice," that all the steam-boats
were obliged to cease running. The coal-barges, in
order to pass through the Pool to get into the Thames,
were obliged to have two or three additional hands to
navigate the craft, and also to keep fires constantly
burning on board to prevent the hawsers from freezing.
The Lambeth Water Company had nearly every street
furnished with stand-cocks, so as to afford the inhabi-
tants of the district supplied by this company with plenty
of water, as scarcely any householder has been able, on
account of the pipes being frozen, to get a supply for
several days.
A very singular accident took place during the thy in
the Waterloo-road. One of Messrs. Meux's four-wheel
vtaggons was proceeding along, and owing to the slip-
pery state of the road the waggon ran against one of
the lamps opposite St. John's Church, knocked it down,•
Lnd hurled a man who was passing at the time on his
back. He was picked up by Mr. Adamson, the coro-
ner's officer, but was so injured as to be obliged to be
removed to his house. The waggon was stopped as
soon as possible, but was forced to be left opposite the
West of England engine-house.

TIIE PRESTON STRIKE. PRESTON, TUESDAY. --
Messrs. Birley, Brothers (an extentive firm in connexion
with the Masters' Association) have published a placard,
giving some particulars with regard to the origin of the
strike in refutation of the address to the British pub-
lic by the "Preston Lock-outs." The firm speak only
of facts of their own experience, and thus conclude :
The operatives have by their extensive combina-
tions made it not a local, but a national question,
and the masters, with the full determination not to
be beaten, have followed their steps, without however
degrading themselves by having recourse to a simi-
lar system of coercion and intimidation, which is
daily practised towards the operatives of other
towns, in procuring funds to sustain and prolong
the present strike. In conclusion we can only state for
ourselves, that deeply as we regret the present dispute
with our operatives, we will never submit to be dictated
to by a set of men totally unconnected with us, what
wages we are to pay, nor allow theta to interfere in the
slightest degree with the management of our mills. The
wages paid, and the general treatment of our operatives,
have, until the present dispute, invariably provided us
with a sufficient supply of good hands, and in the face
of this, the face of our mill having been one of the first
to be attacked by a strike, sufficiently proves to us that
the movement was not one for wages only, but involved
a much deeper-laid scheme, and the real question now
at issue is, Who i% to be master ?' "
WHY MASONS SHOULD WEAR THEI MOUSTACHE.—In
the Anatomical Museum of the Edinburgh College are
the lungs of a mason who died at the age of 45, of phthisis.
The air passages, as shown by the dissection, were lite-
rally blocked up with fine particles of dust—the accumu-
lation of many years. We were glad to see on our visit
to two or three different builders, that the London ma-
sons are now growing their beards pretty generally, that,
the fashion is gaining ground, and will soon, in all pro-
bability, become universal. The simple action of the
moustache in such cases is that of a respirator, or, more
correctly speaking, a species of sieve, for intercepting
the passage of the dust. Besides the respirator having '
the effect of keeping the lungs clear of foreign particles,
it has also the great advantage of preserving a steady
and equable warmth around the orifice of the air pas-
sages. But we have lately dwelt so much on this natural
sanitary agent, that any further enlargement would seem
out of place.—The Builder. 1

LAW INTELLIGENCE-(THIS DAY).

SECONDARIES COURT.
(Before Mr. Secondary Potter.)
IRISH V. STEELE.

The plaintiff in this action is a fishmonger in Norton
Folgate, and defendant is a licensed victualler and land-
lord of the Rye House Tavern, Hoddesdon, Herts, and
the action was brought to recover the sum of 8/. 155.,
the balance of an account for fish supplied.
Defendant pleaded that he was not indebted.
The plaintiff's solicitor said he could not conceive
there was any real defence to the action, As defendant
had made two payments on account. It was, however,
just possible that a question might be raised, as the
business was carried on under the name of Bateman
and Co. ; but it was a common occurrence in London,
that where a business had been established the original
style of the firm was kept up. In this instance it
it would be clearly shown that defendant dealt
with the plaintiff, and all the invoices were in plaintiffs
name.

The plaintiff was called, and proved taking the first
order from defendant in person, and also a request to
send, according to order, either by defendant's servant
or by railway, and in the latter case he, defendant,
would pay the carriage, and the goods were accordingly
sent.

Further evidence was given to show payments made
on account.

Defendant's attorney, after putting a few questions,
said that all he appeared for was to object to the
allowance of costs.

The jury gave a verdict for the amount claimed.
The plaintiff's attorney then applied for a certifi-
cate, that it was a case which ought to have been brought
in the superior court.
The Learned Secondary said that the question had
better be decided by one of the learned judges ; but if it
was a question as to distance, where the parties resided,
he certainly had no power.

The plaintiff's Attorney submitted, under the 12th
section of 13 and 14 Vict., and also by the 128 section,
the court had full power. In this case the whole cause
of action arose in Norton-falgate—the goods were or-
dered there, and they were sent by the railway at de-
fendant's own risk, the cause of action was, therefore,
complete in London.

The Learned Secondary—Yes, it was complete within
the jurisdiction of the Shoreditch County Court.
Plaintiff's Attorney—But I have to contend that the
plaintiff was not bound to take proceedings there, the
delays of county courts are serious.

The Learned Secondary—ln my opinion, these sort
of cases, where the debts are small, are very fitting
to be tried in the County Courts—there is nothing in
this case to have interfered with its having been in the
County Court of Shoreditch or in Hertfordshire. You
had better go before a Judge at Chambers.
The case thus concluded.