The Sun.
London, England, 1854-12-30 00:00:00

COURT CIRCULAR.

WINDSOR, DEc. 29.
The Marquis of Breadalbane, Lady Caro Elie Barring-
ton, and Colonel the Hon. C. B. Phipps, had the honour
of dining with her Majesty yesterday.
The Queen's Private Band attended after dinner.
The Duke and Duchess of Nemours visited her
Majesty to-day.

A Cabinet Council was held yesterday afternoon at
the Foreign-office. The Ministers present were the Earl
of Aberdeen, Lord John Russell, the Lord Chancellor,
the Duke of Argyll, Viscount Palmerston, the Earl of
Clarendon, Sir George Grey, the Duke of Newcastle,
Sir James Graham, Sir Charles Wood, Earl Granville,
the Right Hon. Sidney Herbert and Sir William Moles-
worth. The council sat three hours and a half.

The Marquis of Westminster bad at interview with
Viscount Palmerston yesterday, at the Home-office.
The French Ambassador had an interview with the
Earl of Clarendon yesterday, at the Foreign-office.
Mr. William Strachey had an interview on Thursday
with Viscount Palmerston.

MR. PETO'S NAVVIES FOR THE

CRIMEA.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

Sir,—Will you permit me, through your columns, to
inform your correspondent, "Who knows the Mersey
well," that the Wildfire, with the navvies, left the Mer-
sey on the 23d instant, and on the 25th was off the
Saltees (coast of Ireland), proceeding favourably. From
this position, with the wind at W.N.W., she had a
favourable start, and, as the wind has been northerly
ever since, there is no doubt by this time she is well on
her way to Gibraltar. With reference to the steamers
employed in this service, they are not small steamers, but
large carrying vessels, between 500 and 800 tons, nearly
all new and of good power ; and there is no doubt of
their making a good passage. As to their not being
able to "sheer" in bad weather, they are not intended
to sheer, but to proceed straight on their course, as no
doubt they will do.

With reference to sending the men and material by
railway via Marseilles, a moment's reflection will con-
vince any one of the impracticability of such a scheme ;
for without taking into account the length of time and
enormous expense that would be incurred in conveying
six thousand tons of material from various parts of
England to Calais, thence sending them by rail to Mar-
seilles, they would there have to await the arrival of the
steamers from England to convey the same to Balaklava;
for it is wall known there are no available ships at
Marseilles for such a Purpose—this alone would lengthen
the voyage by several hundred miles, besides a great
waste of time, labour, and expense.—Yours, &c.,
ONE WHO KNOWS THE WAY TO BALAKLAVA.
December 29, 1854.

The Duke and Duchess of Northumberland are enter.
taming a select circle at his grace's splendid baronial
seat Alnwick Castle.
We understand that Messrs. Jones Loyd and Co., with
their usual liberality, have made their clerks a Christmas
present of 1,0001.
THE MONEY MAREET.—Tie demand for money,
which has rapidly increased during the present week,
was yesterday particularly active, large amounts con-
tinuing to be discounted at the Bank ef England. There
nevertheless, every appearance that all the engage-
ments consequent upon the close of the year will be well
met.—Times.
THE NEW FRENCH LOAN.—It is stated that English
applications are to be entertained for the new French
loan, and that endeavours will be made by several houses
to form lists on this side to the amount altogether of
about 3,000,0001.
THE PIONEER.—This new steamer ef 800 tons register
and 120-horse power, which was to leave on Monday
with a mail for the Cape of Good Hope, has been taken
up by the Government for the Black Sea.
The steam-packet of the Messageries Imperiales
Louqsor, whieh arrived at Marseilles on the 28th inst.,
last from Constantinople, contributed on the 24th to as-
gslealtli etsh we iEthn gtlriotptsr,a
the Faro (at the entrance of Messina). The Arabia, not
annfirwrtent
ashorewdhuicrhi
gh.:tdhelenftigrtaart-
having suffered any injury, was able to continue her
voyage to the Crimea.
CAPTAIN COLLINSON'S EXPEDITION.—We hear that
Captain Collinson, in the Enterprise, has arrived at
Hong Kong from the Arctic Regions.
The celebrated Swedish sculptor Fogelberg, died on
the 11th inst. at Trieste.
The French ship Fleurus arrived at Toulon on the 28th
December, bringing 410 military passengers from Al-
giers.—French. Paper.
On Christmas-day the musicians of the chapel of the
Emperor executed at the Tuileries an unpublished mass
of M. Auber, which produced a great effect. Their
Majesties complimented M. Auber on the success of
his work.
FUNERAL OF TIE LATE PRESIDENT OF MAGDALEN
COLLEGE.—OXFORD, Dec. 29.—The funeral of the late
lamented President took place this day in Magdalen
College Chapel, and was on a grand and extensive
scale, the number of followers amounting to upwards of
300.

Monday next, the Ist of January, the new act, with
respect to dogs drawing vehicles comes into operation.
The provision extends to the whole of the United
Kingdom. For the first offence, the penalty is not to
exceed 40s.

A Mr. Jackson has invented a method of expanding
gas by the introduction of a platinum wire into the
burners, which effects a saving of 17 to 25 per cent.,
while an equal amount of light is afforded.
Italy has lost two of its most distinguished artists--
the historical painter, Michael Ridolfi, of Lucca, and
the director of the ducal manufactory of mosaics at
Florence, Carlo Sieies.
BAGNALSTOWN AND WEXFORD RAILWIL—The oere•
mony of turning the first sod of this intended line was.
performed on the 28th inst., by Lady Harriet Kava-
nagh, in the presence of a large assemblage of the neigh-
bouring gentry and peasantry at Borris, in the county
of Carlow.

NOTTINGHAM ALE FOR THE CRIMEA.—It We be

lieve, anticipated that the Committee of Licensed Vic-
tuallers, which has been formed in Nottingham for the
purpose of providing a present of Nottingham ale for
our gallant troops in the East, will succeed in getting
together at least fifty tuns of " stunning stingo." It is
intended that the whole quantity shall be sent off by rail
on New Year's Day.—Nottingham Review.
RELEASED RUSSIAN PRISONERS.—The crew of the
Atlantic (lately condemned as a legal prize, and still in.
Leith Docks) were released from the receiving ship
for Russian prisoners on Thursday, having volunteered.
to serve on board skips chartered from London for
Australia and China. The Crew of the Atlantic, 13 in
number, have left with an excellent character.—Edin-
burgh Courant.
NORTH BRITISH AUSTRALASIAN COMPANY.—A meet-
ing of shareholders in the North British Australasian.
Company was held yesterday, but in consequence of the
non-arrival of the accounts the proceedings were of s.
formal nature. A general statement of the directors
was read, and they were re-elected until the adjourned
meeting appointed for April next. It was stated that
according to the deed of settlement it is compulsory to
hold the meetings in December, which has been attended
with considerable inconvenience, and to obviate which
certain alterations in the deed will be proposed at the
next meeting.
MARIQUITI AND NEW GRANADA MINING COMPANY.--
A meeting of proprietors in the Mariquita and New
Granada Mining Company was held yesterday for the pur-
pose of considering and adopting the report of Mr.
Gower, and to devise the best means of raising capital
to purchase the Purima Mines. A very stormy discus-
lien ensued, which ended in taking a ballot whether the
report should be received. The shareholders present
having voted, Monday and Tuesday next were named as
the days to complete the balloting, immediately after
which the result will be announced.

Sir J. Maxwell, Bart., of Pollock, has generously
offered to the Government a contribution of 500 tons of
coal for the use of our brave fellow-countrymen in the
Crimea; and, pending the decision of the Government
in the matter, he has ordered 50 tone to be shipped by
the Cicero, about to sail for Balaklava, to be placed at
the disposal of Sir Colin Campbell for the special behoof
of the Highland Brigade:
MAILS FOR AUSTRALIA AND THE CAPE.—The mercan-

tile community and the public generally inlay br! ser-
viceably reminded that the next mail for Australia will
be despatched from Liverpool by the Lightning, on the
sth January ; letters must be posted in London on the
4th proximo. The steamer Pioneers, which was ap-
pointed to take a mail ca IVl•nday next for the Cape of
Good Hope, has been taken up by Government, and
will be despatched to the Black Sea. She will, conse-
quently, not proceed with be Cape nails. It is, how-
ever, intended that they shall be taken out by the
Lightning above referred to.

ACCIDENT TH THE BISHOP OF PETERBOROUGH.—The
Bishop of Peterborough met with a severe accident,
which broke a small bone in one of his arms, while
performing divine service in the cathedral on the morn-
ing of Christmas-day. His lordship was proceeding to
the altar to assist in the communion service, and in walk-
ing up the steps he caught his foot against a bass and was
precipitated to the floor. The acute pain caused his
lordship to swoon. Dr. Paley, who was attending the
service, wss soon a' his side to render all the assistance
in hiF power 'lop, however, has not received
n.ry very serious . he is favourably progressing
e,.wards recovery.