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 mi-sion
of MENSCHIEOFF, 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-
I 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,
we 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." Tho accuracy of our state-
ments and conclusions have since been fully and
completely verified. The scarcely-assumed dis-
guise has long since beau 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 conflict be-
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
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-
ceived 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 troversy.t
length
we find that the other master manu-
facturers have been aroused from their sluggish
insoueeance. 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.
GRIMMIAIV, 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 douot 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-
;erday.

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 E)chi
'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 his 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
Jobn 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. Sir Sidney Herbert,
ar.d 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 Mauntius, 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 will
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 held 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 day 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-
velopinc, the physical, intellectual, and moral powers of
the blind,b and thus rendering them independent and use-
ful members of society. By the assistance of the legacies
bequeathed to the institution, which have been scrupu-
lously 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 tile society
of no less a sum than 501. per annum for interest. The
completion of the Bible on Lucas's system bas.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.
168. 4d. The expenditure was 151,875/. 17s. 11d. ;
and for the same period of 1852, 140,2211. 14s. 4d.
The balance standing to the credit of the profit and loss
was 261.743/. 18s. 10d. A dividend of 21 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.—III 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, the 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 religious 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 2,971,253 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 PABIS.—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.
fect of the department of the Seine, and the members
composing 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 civilised nations. This document is dated
"August 13, 1852," and is accompanied by a note,
dated the "17th of December, 1853," from the present
Prefect of the Seine, the receipt of which was acknow-
ledged on the 22d off 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 " HONOCR."—A duel was arranged to
come off near Eltharn 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 an ar-
rangemeent 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.--8014 Eastern Gazette.

MONEY MARKET

AND
COMMEBCIAL 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
bid. to BW., 30 Bahia at 6id., 600 Egyptian at 6d.
to 10d., 300 Surat at 2id. to 40., 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 an 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 cf
the general character of the country :

"Ibout 40 miles from the west, and the same distance

from the north coast, a table-land of about 3.4 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 iiuon 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
broken through at one point by the valley of the south
Esk, separates the central and more settled districts
from those on the cast 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
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
Jepays 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, 1188 to 118/ ; and
Trieste, 11 42 to 48—all for 90 days' paper.
The Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation
Company's vessel Ripon, which leaves Southampton
to-day for India, 47;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 93i to I. The
Now Three-and.-a-Quarter per Cents. have been as
high as 941 to and are now 941 Exchequer
Bills keep firm, at 70. 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 Four-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 AT ONE O'CLOCK
(From the Official List.)
Business done.
BanVtock ..... ..... . 216) 15
93i :4

3 per Cent. Reduced Annuities •• -
New 31 per Cont. Annuities 94.
Long Annuities, Expire sth Jan., 1860 .•• 51
India Bonds, £lOOO
Ditto, under £lOOO 1 p
Consolsfor Opening 18th Jan.
Exchequer Bills, ld.
£lOOO
PRICE OF FOREIGN FUNDS AT ONE O'CLOCK
Brazilian Bonds, 5 per Cent. . ..............
Ditto New, 1852, 4A per Cent ............. 93
Danish Bonds, 1825, 3 per Cent ............
Ditto 5 per Cent
Spanish Bonds, 3 per Cent ............... 44$
Dividends on the above payablein London.
HALF-PAST TWO.
Consols for Opening 18th January 93i x d

i i i

MADAME TUSSAUD'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 OP PARLIAMENT.—Yes-
terday morning a serious accident occurred to Thomas
Morton, at the new Houses of Parliament. He 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 w2xds, Westminster Hospital,
where he now lies in a most precarious situation, owing
to the severe injuries he received in the head and back.
Not the slightest hopes are entertained of his recovery.
ISLE OF 11IAN 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 Jountal.
RUNCORN.—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 Turin ;

the who-le night, at times blowing <a )erf,:ct barri-
cane ; and as the snow fell fast and thickly, it wa'::
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 been. delayed by
the snow on their journey up to town to vote for
their favourite candidate.

LAW INTELLWENLR----(THIS DAY).

sc,coN DA c,•-z
(Bufore Mr. Sueoltiary Potter.).
iitisil V. STEELE.

The plaintiff in this actioi. is a tishmorger in Norton
Folgate, and !,a licemtd victualler and land-
lord of the Rye House Tavci'n, lioddesdon,,llert;, and
the action was brought co r,!cover tho unit 156.,
the balance of au account fir fish supplied.
Defendant pleaded that he was not indebted.

The plaintiffs 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 tim
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 plaintiff's
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 Viet., 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 they 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.

CRIMINAL COURT-(THIS DAY.)

(Before Mr. Baron Platt and Mr. Justice Williams.)

MANSLAUGHTER.

Thomas Gustave Brunell, 22, Andes Akala, 30, and
Give Gustave Koonholm, three Russian sailors, were in-
dicted for the manslaughter of Thomas Brosnahem.
Mr. Bodkin and Mr. Clerk conducted the prosecu-
tion ; and the prisoners were defended by Messrs. Clark-
son, Ballantine, and Parry.
Mr. Bodkin opened the case to the jury, and admitted
in the outset that he thought the evidence would be
found of a too conflicting character to justify the con-
viction of the prisoners. It appeared that some time
ago the prisoners belonged to a Russian ship lying at
Deptford ; and one evening, while they were there, they
went on shore. In the course of their rambles they
came up with some women who were in company with
the deceased ; and one of them having spoken to the
women, an altercation took place, which resulted
in a fight between the deceased and one of
the prisoners. The deceased was several times
knocked down, and during the scuffle he received a
wound from a knife, which eventually proved mortal.
While in the hospital he identified Brunell as the man
who inflicted the injury upon him, but afterwards, when
Koonholm was produced before him, he was equally
positive in declaring that his was the hand that struck
the fatal blow, and therein was the discrepancy in the
evidence to which the learned counsel had already
adverted. In law the three prisoners could not lie
held jointly liable for an act done by one under the
circumstances just described, and the learned counsel
thought it would be a waste of time to go into the
evidence without first t iking the opinion of the judges
upon the state of the facts he had ventured to open to
the jury.

Mr. Baron Platt did not think the facts disclosed
were sufficient to make out a case of manslaughter
against the prisoners, as there was nothing to show that
they had conspired together to do an illegal act, while
the evidence was equally defective in fastening the
fatal injury inflicted on the deceag ~(.1 on any one of
the prisoners.
Mr. Justice Williams concurred in this opinion, and
no evidence being offered against the prisoners, a verdict
of not guilty was taken under the direction of their
lordships.
The prisoners had originally been committed on a
charge of murder, but the grand jury ignored that bill,
and substituted the present one for manslaughter.

BAD NEWS FOR THE MILLION.—This morning there
was a general rise of a halfpenny on the 41b. best wheaten
and seconds bread, and coals advanced 2d. per cwt. in
many places.
DESTRUCTION OF THE LANSDOWNE ARMS, ISLINGTON,
BY FIRE, THIS DAL—This morning, at half-past one
o'clock, a fire of a very rapidly destructive character,
attended with great loss of property, broke out at Mr.
William Belton's, Lansdowne Arms Tavern. No. 10,
Old Paradise-row, Islington. It appears that the police
on duty discovered the flames raging in the lower pint
of the building, and immediately raised an alarm ; but
such strong hold had the fire obtained, that the building
was shortly in one entire mass of flames, and it was with
gi eat difficulty that the inmates escaped. The reflection
of the fire was the medium of alarming nearly the whole
of the metropolis, and without loss of time the London
Fire Brigade engines from Watling-street, Farringdon-
street, and Whitecross-street, were quickly on the spot-;
but, owing to the heavy snow and the hard frost,
the supply of water from the New River mains was ex-
tremely late. The fire at this period assumed a most
frightful aspect, and the destruction of every house on
that side of Paradise-row appeared inevitable. The fire-
men set tolwork in a most praiseworthy manner, but not-
withstanding they were unable to get the mastery over
the flames until it had communicated to Messrs. Ash-
well and Paul's, silk dyers, John Jones, dairyman, and
not until property valued at some thousand of pounds
was destroyed. The cause of the fire is unknown. The
different parties are all insured.
ANOTHER FIRE IN CHEAPSIDE.—This morning. be-
tween one and two o'clock. a fire broke out on the pre-
mises of Messrs. Hobb, lock manufacturers, which at one
time threatened distruction to the whole of the building.
The origin of the fire was the blocking up of the flue.
The premises are insured.
THE OBELISK AT THE ELEPHANT AND CASTLE, WAL-
WORTH.—Yesterday the workmen of Mr. J. Hook, the
contractor, cleared away the old obelisk which has stood
so long opposite the Elephant and Castle, Walworth, a
smalier one having been placed near the site of the late
turnpike. It is supposed that this alteration will less
impede the traffic than before, the new obelisk only
partially obstructing one road, while the other obstructed
the whole of the six roads; but it is doubtful whether
the change will be thought satisfactory by the pedes-
trians, who availed themselves of its aid in crossing so
crowded a thoroughfare.
FATAL ACCIDENT ON THE MIDLAND RAILWAY.—An
accident, by which a poor old man Darned Thomas Mid-
dleton, between 70 and 80 years of age, lost his life,
occurred on Monday morning, between the Maegots•
field and Bristol stations of the Bristol and Birmingham
branch of the Midland Railway. The deceased, who
was very deaf, was crossing the line as the train was
proceeding at full speed. The driver did not observe
him in time to pull up ; he was knocked down by the
buffer of the engine, and the whole of the train passed
over him, mangling his body in a dreadful manner. This
is the second accident of a similar character which has
occurred within a week at the same spot.
ACCIDENT ON THE ST. HELEN'S AND RUNCORN GAP
RAILWAY.—On Monday afternoon a very serious col-
lision occurred on the above line, by which several
passengers sustained considerable injury. The late
severe frosts having rendered the utmost caution neces-
sary, the 12.40 p.m. train, with about 30 passengers,
from St. Helen's, was a few minutes behind its time in
reaching the Oak Tree station, where the Runcorn line
crosses the St. Helen's ; and just as the passenger
train from the latter place reached the crossing it
' was met by a luggage train proceeding to Parr.
The engine driver of the luggage train, which at
the moment was descending the incline, upon seeing
the passenger train, instantly endeavoured to stop
the engine, but, owing to the slippery state of the rails,
the break would not act, and a violent collision occurred.
The engine of the luggage train struck the other engine,
shattering it almost to pieces, causing a great concussion
of the carriages, and severely wounding several passen-
ger:4/Th° Rev. Dr. Burton, of St. Helen's, sustained a
severe injury to his nose, which, it is feared, lie will en-
tirely lose. A young lady sustained a severe contusion
in her lip, and was taken to the hotel, where she had a
succession of fits. One man who was in the act of
taking a pinch of snilf when the collision took place,
and his teeth striking against the carriage, had two
of them knocked into his snuff-box. Both engine-
, drivers escaped unhurt.

^it,. 41'j

PR.TNCE ALBERT.

---~--

(Rom the ilfordiv Herald.)

The letter which we fei: is our painful duty to
yeAter(7ay, On the subject of his Royal
Highness the Prince Albert, has produced, as well
it mignt, a profound sema,tion in the country.
There exists not in that country bosoms more pro-
funnily toed than our own ; for his Royal High-
ness hiniseq we entertain a sincere respect in his
private and domestic character ; but even if his
Royal Highness understood our institutions as they
are understood by the people of this country, if he
employed the influence which he must unavoidably
possess in fostering, improving, and strengthening
those institutions, we should not the less deplore
that departure from the spirit of the British con-
stitution which the letter which we inserted yes-
terday discloses. We assure his Royal Highness,
with sincere attachment to his person as the Con-
sort of our Queen, that the main foundation of the
popularity which he has hitherto enjoyed has not
so much arisen from his zeal for art, his valuable
labours in creating the Great Exhibition, from his
anxiety for the improvement of the condition of
the labouring classes, but from the general, although
mistaken, belief entertained by the public, that he
carefully absthiaed from all meddling iu political
matters.

We implore his Royal Highness to ponder well
on the disastrous consequences which must result to
himself from the prevalence of a contrary belief.
The people of this country are disguited with the
way in which onr policy in Eastern matters has been
conducted. All earnest Protestants are in dismay
at the undue encouragement to Popery which is
given in all quarters by those in office, and the dis-
favour shown to Protestant interests. Discontent
prevails as to internal management of the army.
Alarm is felt that designs are abroad, not to improve
the Universities, but to change their whole system so
as to bring it nearer to a German model. Alarm is
felt that the French alliance is destined to be broken
up, and that those in office lean to the old absolute
Monarchies on the continent, with Russia at their
head. Alarm is felt at the prospect of a demo-
cratic Reform Bill, and. that alarm is not quieted
by reflecting on the apparent contradiction between
love of Holy Alliance principles abroad, and the
favouring of democratic principles at home. It is
felt that " history is philosophy teaching by ex-
ample," and it is not forgotten that democratic
power is the almost invariable forerunner of abso-
lute power. All these are matters which weigh
heavily on the minds of Englishmen, in this dark
hour of their national progress, and all these things
are beginning to be traced, whether rightly or
wrongly, to the hand of him who is now suddenly
supposed to be an active and constant interferer in
an our political affairs.
We most respectfully implore his Royal High-
ness to reflect on these matters, to consider the
position in which he is placing those nearest and
dearest to him by the course which it is feared
tilat he is pursuing. He must well know whether
the letter in our yesterday's impression contains
the truth or not. If it does, we implore him to
dismiss such men as Chevalier Bunsen and
Baron Stockmar from his counsels, and to
call to his aid honest Englishmen, who understand
the fair workings of the British constitution. He
will then learn, that however the inflence may be
used, influence obtained in the manner pointed out
in that letter is in itself at variance with the
spilit of the constituion. Let him be assured
that the late Sir Robert Peel understood that con-
stitution far less well than his predecessor, Lord
Melbourne. Let him not think that he will find.
shelter under the authority of that name. Every
month that rolls by serves to dissipate the delusion
that Sir Robert Peel was a great or a generous
statesman—and his Royal Highness may r.nt
assured, that whatever may be the value of Sir
Robert's opinion, it will never suffice to persuade
the people of this country that there ought to exist
an irresponsible influence, controlling or intercept-
ing the cemmunication between our British Sove-
reign and her confidential servants.