The Sun.
London, England, 1854-12-21 00:00:00

MR. CHARLES DICA-Es-8 AT REAPIZVV.

On Tuesday evening last the members of the Re,adlug
Literary, Scientific, and Mechanics' Institution were Oct•
lighted by a visit from their newly-ef presidenfol
eted
Mr. Dickens, who had kindly consented td inaugurate;
his connexion with the society by giving them a drama—
tic reading of his charming story of "The aristreaa.
Carol."
The presidency of the institution was held for xeauy
years by the late lamented Justice Talfourd, whose an-
nual visits and occasional lectures were regarded with
peculiar pride and satisfaction by the" inhabitants of his
native town ; and when the melancholy death of the re-
vered judge deprived them of his valuable aid, the direc-
tors of the institution, remembering the affectionate re-
gard of their late presjdent for the gifted withal. of
" Pickwick," at once determined to request that geode-
man to succeed him in the vacant office. The invita-
tion, thus conveyed, was cordially accepted by Mto
Dickens, although he had declined a hundred similaer
applications ; and in lieu of the formal services commonly
associated with the office, he promised to read one of his,
Christmas books to the members.
Accordingly, on Tuesday evening, the spacious hall:of
the institution was filled in every part long before the
allotted hour, and notwithstanding the judicious ar-
rangements of the committee to accommodate the largest
possible number without overcrowding, hundreds were
unable to procure tickets. Nearly 1,000 of the members
and the leading families in the town and neighbourhood
were present. Mr. Dickens. was accompanied by several
of his London friends, distinguished in literature, and
having been introduced by the hon. secretary of the so-
ciety,Mr. Boorne, in brief and appropriate terms, was
greeted with a degree of enthusiasm which the oldest
favourites of a Reading audience might well have en-

vied.
Mr. DICKENS began by observing, in reference to the
immediate cause of his acceptance of the presidency, that
it was neither the time nor the place to speak of private
griefs. They had all mourned the loss of h valaed friend,
of a great, good, and generous man. (Heir, hear.) It
was over now, and, be could not trust himself to recall the
past. He would proceed at once to the agreeable task
which he had undertaken to perform, merely premisieg
that when on a former occasion he 'read the "Christmas
Carol" to an audience of 3,000 persons, he begged his
hearers to regard themselves, for the time being, as a.
small snug party assembled round the Christmas fireat
-
side. All he asked of his friends that night was, that
they should indulge the same pleasant fancy—giving
utterance to their emotions without
,restraint, and in
their own accustomed way, without the slightest fear of
disturbing him. (Loud Cheers.) Mr. Dickens, taking-
up hil little volume, then read the complete story of the
" Christmas Carol," which, inclusive of an interval of
ten minutes, occupied upwards of two hours and a half.
He caught the entire sympathy of his audience in the
very first page, and he held it unflagging fa the very

last.
Dr COWAN came forward at the close of the roadin.
and said he had been asked to propose the vote of tin.i.nk.s„.
But be would do nothing of the sort. If the presences
of Mr. Dickens, and the treat which he had given them,.
did not extort their thanks without solicitation on his
part, it would be a cruel satire upon themselves. The
cheers of the audience, prolonged for many minutes,
drowned the remainder of the doctor's speech, and anti-
cipated those of the mayor Mr. Esall, who rose to thank
Mr. Dickens on behalf of the town ; and, after a brief'
acknowledgment from that gentleman, the assembly die-.
persed.
A large sum will accrue to the exchequer of the society—

MATRIMONIAL ALLIAATCES OF TIER
RUSSIAN IMPERIAL FAMiLY.

We have seen-the "Revue.des Deux Mondes, '' am the
subject of the matrimonial alliances formed betv,vem
G the
Imperial family of Russia and the petty princes Of
many, and believe it will be difficult to find one of the.
latter who is not in some way or other enclosed. Du a.
case of Russian binding. Male and female bri sunhat-
s
on one side are intermingled with the came d earer..
of affinity on the other, and where marriage la e'S
the connecting bond, the ne
junior members. of r eign;
ing families in Germany, its dukes and its 4othe_e.
lz'
-nobles, are serving in various ranks in the Car
hoUsehold and armies. Recollecting that 'th ese - Ger.'
man families, so aptly personified in Voltaire's
• " II :arson:
and Baroness von Tondertentronck," are all n to. N f,
less connected by intermarriages, we feel convinct id tha
each is in some degree or other mixed up with II 'astssit;'..
A German auxiliary, it is seen, ought not to be 5 ri Ishii
taken into the confidence of England or France. .1 7.ve!l
this country has not entirely escaped from the Oa ar s
match-making policy. Though the Earl of Abe ra 'lea):
may not have been more than an old personal fritosa - "
the Emperor, some other members of the A,
thilinistis
,rentt n
are united by marriages to Russian families ef i us
distinction ; and it was stated, soon after the court
Pus
ew°llo
bombardment at Odessa, that the gallant Adm.ini.- -;an
performed that extraordinary exploit, had a J'stls B',.
relation then residing in the town, which was ca ref uuy
preserved, and in which he possesses large property V.
ose
,
re,
The German States, whose reigning families are
closely connected by single and double marriages with
the Imperial line of Russia, are Baden, Olden burg,
Wurtemburg, Electoral- Hesse, Grand Ducal B:: ease,
the Duchy of Warsaw, Saxe Altenburg, and Meet :len
burg Strelitz ; and it is remarked, that " whore t here
are no intermarriages with the Imperial famb‘y, t here
are princes, dukes, and archdukes attached to tl to 1 fuss
covita army by military dignities and employmer, its. It
is startling to see how many chiefs of Russian reg Tiaaents
and colonels of Russian dragoons and Uhlans Olt tire are
among the haughty nobles who surround the G csraan
Sovereigis."
The states above named are connected with RUSUI aby
.two or three cross-marriages, and besides, in sorra i of
them, members of the governing families are dignifi 5a by
holding commissions in the military service of 14ussaas
Thus Prince • Frederick, 'son-in-law to the K ing of
Wurtemburg, is a Colonel of Ullans ; Prince Eugene,
the King's cousin is a General of Russian infantry ;
and one of the King's uncles, Duke Alexans,ler, was a
Russian General-in-Chief, and at the head of tho di.
rection of the roads. Two sons of this Duke .Alexander
have bath been Major-Generals in the Russian ar•n'Y'
In the Grand Duchy of Hesse, the Princess Ma ry, the
sister of the reigning Grand Duke, Louis 111., i s Ins-rd..
nod to the Hereditary Grand Duke Alexander N icolaes
witsch ; and her brother, Prince Alexander, is a I 'Stains-
General in the service of Russia, and head of the '\ Bro;
sian regiment of Borissoglebski. In the electorate of
Hesse, Prince Frederick, a cousin of the Grand Du ke,
is son-in-law to the Emperor Nicholas, and Colorsel of
the Russian regiment of Mariapolsk ; Prince Emilu, one
of his uncles, is Colonel of the regiment of the Dragonne
of Khasan. Prince Ernest, one of the collateral bra nob
of Hesse Philippstal Barchfield, is a retired Genera 1 of
Russian cavalry. In Oldenburg, Prince Pierre,. son of
the Czar's sister, Catharine Paulowna, is a Genera 1 of
infantry in the Russian service, President of the Semates
Director of Civil and Ecclesiastical Affairs, and an ".1133 'se-
rial Highness" by virtue of a special ukase.
In short, it would be exceedingly difficult to find. any
German-family of note that is not connected with Massie
by marriage or military and civil employments. We
might go a little way out of Gerintany, and we shall find
Belgium' manufacturing weapons of war for Russia.
Yet,
with all these proofs of ties with t7ussia, it is pro-
posed that we shall hire the vagabond nobles and cut-
throats belonging to 'the small princes of Germanys
What could be expected of such;forces in case of another
assault like that of Inkerman but they would imme-
diately side with the Cossacks, and turn iagainst tis the
very arms with which we had provided them I—Morming
Advertiser.

THE MARYHILL MURDER.—Alexander, alias OoHier
Stewart, who stands charged with this cold-blooded
murder, is still at large. We observe that the autho-
rities have announced a reward of 251. for 'his apprehen-
sion —a step, we think, that should have been taken A
fortnight earlier.—North British Daily Mail.
EXTRAORDINARY PRIZE.—Mr. George Mansfield, son
of the late Mr. Mansfield, shipbuilder,. of Lyme Regis,
has had 5,0001. awarded to him as salvage for recover-
ing 60,000 sovereigns from the ship Sacramento, wrecked
at Port Philip on the. 28th of April last. His boat's;
crew, six in number, were also awarded—one 2,0001,,
and the others 1,5001. each ; making a total of 14,5001.
The Grand Duke of Tuscany has issued a decree,
dated the 12th, in which, after stating that he is 'con-
stantly intent upon making the expenses of the State
balance the receipts, he imposes a duty upon all animals
slaughtered for sale or otherwise throughout the State.
ST. PETERSBURG.—The advises from St. Petersburg
reach to the 12th inst., but contain nothing new ex-
cept that a little tallow had been bought for shipment
to Finland, whence it may probably reach this country
through Sweden. From Odessa the dates are to the
Bth inst., at which period there was no attempt at
blockade. Two cargoes of tallow were loading, and the
arrival of- several vessels was expected, since it-was
been
str aoe. daaovoni
leAvdoEfzi
iob,
ffys,
the theß üßs iatni s h
asserted that several captains at Constantinople had.
portsf
Em boafsstyhethßaltactkhesyemia
agnh
AatirdFAlonads.—wißtheofourternmolers. tactoiomnm.
Commissioner
Stevenson theaiml
could give judgment (at the Liverpooli CourtiCiner
of Bankruptcy) yesterday, in the matter of Mr. Oliver,
the petitioning creditor—Mr. Evans, of Chirch—whe
had obtained an extension of his time for filing a petition
till to-day (Thursday), sent a message to the Court
stating that he should not prosecute the matter further.
Such, at least, was the rumour about the Court yester-
day, but upon what grounds or in what manner this re-
sult has been obtained must be left entirely to conjecture.
We find, on inquiry, that the act of bankruptcy was clearly
proved, and that, though some difficulties presented
themselves in the course of the discussion, the Court
had intimated an opinion that, so far as regarded the
act of bankruptcy, adjudication, would follow. It ap-
pears that the deed of the 7th of October, assigning
Mr. Oliver's property to trustees, was not produced
throughout the inquiry, though every gentleman in any
way connected with the document was severely_
.03:?;
mined upon oath as to what had become of it. I'm
the more strange, as the deed is said to have beeentersen
in the office of one of the trustees so late y
I y
sdea
as
week. It was then contended by the c°l=l' toon the
authority of several cases, that ho was en d d c
Court give
reservede.
secondary evidence of the contents of the e
was the point of law on which the its
_
judgment till yesterday, when the le
warnoeudldcobmemreicessiiovneder
decided that such secondary evidence.
Another difficulty then arose with regard to the shipping,
but it was also successfully combated. It is reported
that two other debts of considerable amount are likely
to be substituted for Mr. Evans s, and, if so, the affahe
of Mr. Oliver will still come under, the control of the
Court, unless every dissentient creditor can be arranged
with a 9 easily as )4 r, gYna.

MONEY MARKET

AND

COMA/ERG/AL INTELLIGENCE.

CITY, TWO o'CLOCK

The sales of cotton at Liverpool yesterday were
estimated at 7,000 bales, including 1,000 Ameri-
can taken for export. The market continued
heavy, but closed without change in prices. The
sales comprised 6,000 American, 200 Pernam and
llaraaham at sid. to 51d., 800 Bahia at 6d., 200
Egyptian at 6id. to Bid., 500 Surat at lid. to
32d., and 50 Sea Island at 9d. to ls. ld. per lb.
The share market was dull, and closed heavily.
The Mincing-lame markets close for the holidays
to-morrow, and re-open January 2.
The letters received from the textile manufactur-
ing districts state that there was a moderate busi-
ness doing at Manchester in certain articles adapted
to the Indian markets, but at Huddersfield an
uneasy feeling still prevailed, owing to the over
shipments to Australia. At Liverpool there is a
heavy tone in the markets, and the uncertainty re-
specting Mr. Oliver's affairs is not without an
effect.

The Walter Morice, from Sydney, brings dates
of August 10, with 1,712 ounces of gold and 1,9501.
The steamer Baltic, from New York, has no
specie on board.

The half-yearly general court of the Canada Com-
pany was held to-day—Charles Franks, Esq., the
governor, presided, and stated that the receipts in
Canada in the present year, to November 24, were
164,6141. 19s. sd. against 94,9631. 19s. last year,
showing an increase of 69,6511. Os. sd. The chair-
iman said the affairs of the company were in a very
prosperous condition, and a dividend of 31. per
share upon 8,915 shares was proposed and agreed
to. After a few questions from some of the share-
holders the court adjourned.

Money has been rather more in demand during
the last two days in the discount market,.and it is
probable that as we approrith Christmas, aid until
the turn of the new year, ,there will be a little
tightness felt. There is still a shipment of gold
to the Continent, and the arrivals this week are
more limited.

The market for English Stocks has been de-
pressed, and the report that a French loan of
twenty millions sterling is intended; together with
rumours that although 10,000 foreigners only will
be kept here as a depot, 40,000 to 50,000 will be
raised gradually to serve abroad, and that even the
subsidising system will be permitted, act prejudi-
cially on the funds. Consols have been 91 to 91*
for account, being now 91 to 1. The New Three
per Cents. have realised 91* to 94, and the Re-
duced Threes 91 to -1. Bank Stock has been quiet
at 207. Exchequer Bills continue at 4s. to 7s. pre-
mium, and the Bonds are at 99*
Foreign stocks have been steady, and with mo-
,clorate transactions. Peruvian 44 per Cents. have
realised 691 to-70t. Mexican have been dull at
21. Sardinian Bonds have been marked 84i ex
div. Spanish 3 per Cents. bring 391, and the New
Deferred 18i The Turkish stock, fully paid up,
is at 734 to 74. Dutch 24 por Cents. are 614.
The following are the nominal prices of Foreign
Stocks :—Grenada Deferred Bonds, 5 to 6 ; Mexi-
can, 21* to 218 ; Peruvian, 69 to 71 ; ditto
3 per Cents., 48 to 50 ; Portuguese 4 per Cents.,
41. to 43 ; Russian 5 per Cents., 97 to 99 ; ditto
4* per Cents., 87 to 89 ; Spanish New Deferred,
18i to 19* ; ditto 3 per Cents., 39 to 39* ; ditto
Certificates, 51 to ; ditto Passive, 4* to 4i.
The last week's railway receipts ascertained up
to this day are in round figures as under :

Great Western

North-Western

1854.

£50,869

South-Western

1853.

12,037

£47,543

10,816

Brighton
Midland ..
South-Eastern
'Caledonian
Great Northern
Lancashire and Yorkshire
North-Eastern

10,745
26,127
13,469
11,297
23,619
18,393
27,489

10,019
25,790
12,819
9,750
18,455
17,041
25,281

These returns, it will be observed, all contrast
favourably with the corresponding period of last

year.

There has been a flatter market for Railway
Shares, and the business done has been of a very
restricted character. The CaleTdOnian line has been
.dealt in at lower prices, as well as the Brighton,
South-Eastern, North-Western, and Midland. The
North Stafford,. South Wales, and Eastern Coun-
ties continue as before. Foreign Shares are weaker,
but with limited operations. Great Luxembourg
are to + lower.
The Mining market has been quite nominal.
Joint Stock Banks are dull. Crystal Palace do not
quite support the rise of yesterday, but the recent
good purchases have made them scarce. The South
Australian Land Shares have been firm.

BRITISH FUNDS THIS DAY AT ONE O'CLOott.
(Prom the )

Business done
Bank Stock
3 per Cent. Reduced Annuities 9li 1
3 per Cent, Consols Annuities Shut.
New 3 per Cent. Annuities
Long Annuities, Expire sth Jan., 1860 -16
Consols for Account, 10th January
Exchequer Bills, lid.
Small
Exchequer Bonds 1855, 3i per Cent. —
Ditto 1859, „ , 99 i
PRICE OF FOREIGN FUNDS AT ONE O'CLOCK.
itexican 3 per Cent.
Ditto for the Account 2l
Peruvian Bonds, 4i per Cent. —
Ditto for the Account 69A 701
&rdinian Bonds, 5 per Cent B4g x d
Spanish Bowls, 3 per Cent 39„'i
Ditto New Deferred, 3 per Cent IS j
Turkish Scrip, paid up in full
Ditto for the Account 73 4
Dividends on the above payable in Lomioi..
Dutch Exchange, 2i per Cent. 12 Gull 6l
Ditto 4 Per Cant. Certificates......
TIALP•PAST TWO.
Consols. 9l I

. 4 7