The Sun.
London, England, 1856-01-22 00:00:00

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their country, as they called it"—as if the militia
were got up for their diversion, and was not
looked to as the beet nursery for the regular
army, from whence the trained recruit could
alone be obtained. This anomaly, we are happy
to state, is to exist no longer. Officers commanding
militia regiments are strictly enjoined to afford
" every facility to the volunteering of their men ;
and in case they should refuse to discharge any
private who shall be desirous of volunteering,
they will transmit their reasons iu writing for
such refusal to the General commanding the dis-
trict for reference to head-quarters." The resthe-
Lical commanders in the force have nothing for it
but obedience or resignation. The need for
volunteers is too great for Lord PANMUR not to
be in earnest, and the ornamental will have to
give place to the useful.

THE WAR COUNCIL.

DOVER, TUESDAY, 6.10 A.M.

His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge,
General de la Marmora, General Airey, Sir Harry
Jones, Admiral Sir Edmund Lyons, and Admiral
Dundas, arrived at Dover, on their return from
the Council of War at Paris, in the Admiralty
steam-yacht Vivid, Captain Smithett, at 5 this
morning, and proceeded direct to London by the
express mail train at 5.36 a.m.

THE EASTERN COUNTIES RAILWAY.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SIIN.

SIR,—In page 24 of the paper of observations pub-
lished by the Committee of Investigation of the Eastern
Counties Railway, I find myself described, under the
head of "Hackney Wick Branches," as engineer to the
contractors for those branches, and as having in that
capacity suggested the use of a portion of the Eastern
Counties line to those contractors for a sum of 2501.
I never was engineer to any contractors on this or any
other occasion. I was engineer to, the Eastern Counties
Railway, and as such I always advised the board of
directors for their interests. In the instance referred
to they acted on my advice, and the result was
that they saved between 3,0001. and 4,0001. Had
they not acted as I advised them, they must have
incurred the above expense in the purchase of land
to appropriate as soil for the execution of these branches,
on which there was no excavation whatever. The
imputation that these branches were improperly per-
mitted to be converted into a receptacle for the con-
tractors' diggings is, therefore, wholly erroneous.
I regret that the committee did not apply to me for
information on this subject, but have made this inaccu-
rate representation without evidence from any party
concerned.

As extensive circulation has been given to the state-
ment throughout the country, T ask the favour of being
permitted to contradict it in your columns.—l have the
honour to be, your obedient servant,

GEO. P. BIDDER.
24, Great George-street, 'Westminster,
January 21, 1856.

THE WEATHER IN THE CRIMEA.

METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS TAKEN AT
THE OBSERVATORY, TURKISH CONTINGENT.

Corrected Reading of Barometer,

9 a.m. 3 pan. 9 p.m.
Attacked Attached Attached
Baron]. Baron]. Baroun.
Therm. • Therm. Therm.
-- Tieg..._
deg
....._—__ ____ _
deg. _—
.
30•378 30 3)•433 31 30'388 29
30'498 32 30'470 29 110•502 29
30'367 1 30 518 31'5 30 765 27
30'418 30 30.348 31 30 278 29
31'226 29 30'144 32 30 154 29
30'174 31 30'1E4 32 30'184 3 l *5
30'290 30'5 30'270 I , 31 30'328 31 5
---
30'336 30'2 30•330 I 31 38'866 I 27'4
Thermometer.
Direr-
Lowest tion of Remarks.
9 a.m 3 p.m. 9 p.m. Tempe- Wind.
rature.
deg'. deg. deg. deg.
24 .28 25 19 N Overcast
24 23 22 16 N E Cloudy
19'5 26 23 14 N Clear
17 23 18 12'5 8 E Clear
17 27 18 14 Nli Foggy
23.5 25 27 14 N Cloudy
26 27 28 22 N W Foggy; evening,
slight thaw
21'51 25.5/ 23 14'2 / i
I '

MeAn

The arrangements on the Egyptian railroad give great
satisfaction. The railway carriages are very superior,
each one cost 4001. The Egyptian Transit Administra-
tion realised a profit of 75,0001. last year, and the sum
is likely to increase when the railway is made use of
for the conveyance of Egyptian produce from the in-
terinr.

THE MAlLS.—Liverpool, Jan. 21.—Owing to the te-
arrangement of the sailings from New York and Boston
for this port, consequent on the return to the old system
of despatching the Collins' boats bi-monthly and the
Cunard steamers weekly, as before the commencement
of the war, no mail will be received at this port until
Sunday or Monday next, when the Canada, from Boston,
will be due. A mail will, however, be brought bythe Ara-
go, due at Southampton on Wednesday or Thursday.
AUSTRALIAN MAILS, vice SINGAPORE.—At Sydney,
advertisements have been issued by the Government for
tenders for conveyance of the mails between Sydney
and Singapore, via Torres Straits, and the contract is
to be entered into from month to month. According to
the evidence of Captain Towns, the communication pro-
posed could be accomplished at the expense of 30,0001.
per annum, without reckoning the postage. The vote
of the legislature is only 25,0001., but we presume if
something in excess of that sum should be absolutely
necessary it will not be refused by the Government, or
grudged by the future Legislature.—Australian and
New Zealand Gazette,
At a meeting of shareholders of the London and East-
ern Banking Corporation, yesterday, the directors de-
clared a dividend at the rate of 6 per cent. for the half-
year ending the 31st Dec. last, and notified that the
business of the corporation will be removed from their
present premises at 36, King William-street, to their
new house at 27, Cannon-street, just purchased from the
General Screw Steam Navigation Company.
ST. KATHARINE'S DOCK COMPANY.—The half-yearly
meeting of this company took place yesterday, Mr. J.
W. Cater in the chair, when a dividend at the rate of 4
per cent, per annum was declared, and the report was
received as satisfactory. A proposal to increase the
distribution to 21 per cent. for the half-year, owing to
the development of business, and the large total of the
reserve, now 88,8001., although meeting the approval of
several of the proprietors, was not generally supported,
it being explained both by the chairman and Mr. Glyn
that the prospect of competition and other contingencies
rendered caution for the present necessary.
FRANCE AND THE UNITED STATES.—The French flag
was re-hoisted on the consular establishment at San
Francisco on the 30th of November, the differences with
the local government which led the consul lately to
strike it having been adjusted. The band of the Ameri-
can cominedore, Meloine, played French national airs
on the occasion, and the flag was also saluted by the
commodore with 21 guns. On the following day the
French consul dined on board the American frigate.
THE LATE SIR W. Mor.Eswonis.—Lady Moles-
worth, replying to an address of condolence from the
tenantry of the late Sir William, observes—" My feeble
pen can but inadequately express all I feel—all that is
due to him who is taken from us. But another, who,
from his great talents and noble nature, is no mean
judge, has borne testimony to his sterling worth. Lord
Palmerston, in the letter he has addressed to me on the
occasion of the sad blow befalling me, made use of the
following words For singleness of mind, honesty of
purpose, clearness of judgment, faithfulness of conduct,
courage in difficulties, and equanimity in success he
never was surpassed ; and deeply must any nation
lament the premature loss of such a man ; for voids so
created are-hot easily replaced.' Such words from such
a man prove how justly the kind friends I address have
formed their opinion."
THE SHIPWRECKED MARINERS' SOCIETY.—We learn
that this society has just received from the corporation
of the Trinity House a gift of 501., and from the East
India Company their annual douation of 251. ; also that
it has received notice of a legacy of 1001. left to it by the
late Miss Elizabeth Herbet. The value of the service
rendered to our marine population by this institution
may be judged of by the fact, that on Friday last it dis-
tributed 5001, among the widows of drowned seamen and
fishermen ; and it is only lately that it made a disburse-
ment of 5001. in one week, to relieve the distre4s caused
among mariners and their families by the fearful ship.
wrecks on our coasts in the begiauing of November.
MORE ROBBERIES ON THE GREAT WESTERN RAIL.
WAY.—Some short time since this journal announced
that a series of robberies had been committed in the
carriages of the Great Western Railway Company, by
some person or persons unknown, by removing the first-
class carriage seat completely i • and although a hand-
some reward was offered by tha company, the thieves
have not yet been discovered ; and last night informa-
tion was given to the police that, at various times and
places, on the same line, a very large number of first-
class carriage curtains, made of brown silk, bad
been stolen. The company, and also Mr. Collard,
the superintendent of the railway police, believe that the
robberies took place at stations on the line where car-
riages are kept in reserve. 51. reward is offered for the
apprehension of the guilty persons.
COFFEE AND EATING- flousE-KEEPEn's Assocwrrox.
—The half-yearly meeting of this association was held
last evening at the Freemason's Tavern, Great Queen-
street--,-Mr. Baker, the president in the chair. The
minutes of the last meeting baying been confirmed,
Mr. Rogers, the secretary, read the report, which callo-1
attention to the fact that a small debt was due to the
treasurer, but the committee considered that by no
means discouraging, inasmuch as a sum of 2001. had
been recently placed to the society't account at the
National Debt-office, which left a trifling balance in
hand to meet such emergencies. At the last general
meeting t additional pensioners had been placed on the
funds—those facts gave sufficient reason for the present
balance against the half-yearly audit. The committee
also reminded the subscribers and friends of she hitherto
prosperous condition of the institution. The present
amount of the funds of the society was 3,220/. Bs. 7d.,
and the committee anticipated that, on the occasion of
the annual dinner, which will shortly take place, that
amount will be increased. The attention of the meet-
ing was called to an application for the benefits of the
institution on behalf of the widow of an old subscriber.
The cowneittee returned thanks for the support given at
their late annual ball, which had been a source of profit
to the funds, The financial statement showe I the re-
ceipts to amount to 1041. 9s. Bd. for the past half-year,
leaving a balance due to the treasurer as above-men-
tioned. Mr. Kirton moved. and Mr. Chislett seconded,
the adoption of the report, which was agreed to nem.
con. The election of one pensioner then took place, as
recommended by the committee. Some other business
of a formal nature having been transacted, a vote of
thanks to the chairman closed the proceedings.
EXTRAORDINARY DISAPPEARANCE OF A GOVERNMENT
OFFICIAL.---A greattsensation has been created at the
Office of Works by the disappearance of one of the prin-
cipal officials, under very distressing circumstances. It
appears that the individual in question left the office on
Monday evening about six o'clock, and arrived at home
at ten, and left his house again at two o'clock in the
morning, from which time to the present no trace of him
has been ascertained. A letter was received by his
mother without date or address, merely stating that he
was well, but without giving any clue to his whereabouts
or his reason for absenting himself. From the state-
ments of his friends, it appears that he has for some
time been in a very excited and nervous state, and they
are very apprehensive that his mind has become affected

On the-same day that he left, a clerk-in ihe Office of
Woods and ForeEts, there is every reason to believe,
destroyed himself, and this painful occurrence may pro-
bably hare operated prejudicially on the mind of the
gentleman in question, already, perhaps, in a diseased
state. As it is, the police throughout the kingdom are
using every exertion to find out what has become of
him.

JENNY LIND AND THE WORKING MEN OF LIVERPOOL.
—A. short time ago, during her recent visit to Liver-
pool, the working men of this town got up a memorial
to Madame Goldschmidt (Jenny Lind), in which, after
expressing their high admiration of her great talents,

and the pleasure .thjy would experience in hearing them
exercised, thef pointed out that, owing to the necessa-
rily high prices charged for admission to firer concerts,
none of the working classes could enjoy the privilege of
being delighted, like their richer brethren, by her won-
derful vocalism. They begged her, theref,re, to consent
to give a concert for the wcrking classes solely, at
prices which would not debar the most humble from

_ .
participating in the rich treat of hearing her "hea-
ven-born " voice, and they respectfully suggested,
in case of her approval of their request, that toe en-
tertainment should take place in the Concert ball,
Lord Nelson-street, as being the peculiar locale of the
cheap and popular concerts in this town. The memorial
was duly presented, and the fair cantatrice has, with
her usual good nature, accorded the boon asked, but
conditionally on measures bein: taken to secure the ad-
mission to the concert of members of the working
classes only. Madame Lind also intimated an objection
to sing at the Lord Nelson-street hall, and suggested
that St. George's-hall might easily be obtained for the
purpose. She also expressed a desire that the price of
admission should not be lower than 24. GJ. The ar-

- -
rangement, it is said, isin—c-ourse of being carried out,
and the concert will probably take place in a week or
two at St. George's-hall. It is to be hoped that those
who are not really of the " working classes " will have
too much good taste and proper feeling to attempt to
take advantage of Madame Goldschmidt's kindness, to
the exclusion of those for whom it is very generously
intended.—Liverpool Journal.
NEW PUBLIC APPOINTMENTS.—A return to an order
of the House of Commons was on Saturday published
of all new places created and appointments made since
the 9th of April, 1848, with the salaries of each, &c.
it appears that in England 2,775 appointments have
been so created, with salaries amounting to 427.4801. ' •
in Scotland 11, with salaries of 5,8451. ; and in Ireland
167, with salaries of 54,436/. —making an aggregate tota;
for the united kingdom of 487,402/. It should be ob.
served that the greater number of the new offices have
been in substitution for other offices revised or discon-
tinued, and that in some cases additions have been made
to offices in consequence of the war with Russia. In
England the following is the list of some of the offices
and departments—vi 7., in the Adjutant-General's office,
2 offices ; in the Admiralty and Naval departments, 43 ;
in the Army and Ordnance (Medical Department), 4 ;
in the Audit-office, 24 ; in the Board of Trade, 31 ; in
the Charity Commission, 34 ; in the Colonial Land and
Emigration-office, 24 ; in the Colonial-office, 1 ; in the
Gimmander-in-Chiefs office, 2 ; in the Commissariat,
1 ; in the Committee of Council on E lucation, 84 ; in
the Customs, 1,054 ; in the Directors of Convict Prisons,
376 ; in the Foreign-office, 74 ; in the Board of Health,
17 ; in the Home-office, 74 ; in the Inland Revenue,
330 ; in the National Debt-office, 3 ; in the Ordnance,
117 ; in the Post-office, 340 ; in the Stationary-office,
6 ; in the Treasury, 3 ; in the War Department, 27 ; in
the War-office, 38 in the Woods and Forests, 10 ; and
in the Works and Public Buildings, 54, besides some
others,

LATEST NEWS.

BERLIN, JAN. 20.

It is said Hilt before the opening of the Con-
ferences, the Western Powers will demand from

Prussia that she shall adopt the propositions ac-
cepted by Russia, and guarantee for her co-opera-
tion in case peace should not result from the Con-

fere n ces.

The most strenuous efforts will be made by

Prussia to obtain a participation in the renewed

Couferences.

Count Benkendorff will bring the confidential

communication from the Czar, consequent on the

altered position of affairs.

British steamers are narrowly watching all
vessels in the Baltic supposed to be laden with arms

or munitions of war.

A letter has just been received from Vienna,

from a well-informed source, stating that Austria
is of opinion that Russia has a right to retain all
her fortified places on the different coasts of the
Black Sea. If such should prove to be the case
it is feared that a serious difference of opinion

will arise between the allies. Russia, it is said,
has been obliged to promise not to have arsenals
in the Black Sea, because they would supply her
with the means of aggression, but her forts are

necessary for the defence of her territory.

FRANCE.
PARIS, MONDAY.
The Emperor and Empress yesterday received
several foreigners of distinction, who were pre-
sented by the Apostolic Nuncio, the ministers of
Austria, Bavaria, Wurtemberg, and Mecklenburg-
Schwerin. His Excellency the British Ambassador
presented to their Majesties Sir William, Lady,
and the Misses Clay, General Derville, and Lieut.-
Colonel Airey.

The Emperor yesterday gave a private audience
to M. d'Olozaga, the Spanish Minister, recently re-
turned to Paris from Spain.
The N 1 oniteur contains a decree for organising
the artillery of the Imperial Guard.
Instructions have been sent by the Minister of
War to the generals commanding military divisions
and sub-divisions for the distribution of the Eng-
lish medal in military men of all ranks who have
taken part in the campaign of the Crimea, and
who are now in France.
The following telegraphic despatches have been
received in Paris :

" MARSEILLES, Jan. 20. —The Jourdain steam-packet
has just arrived, with news from Constantinople to the
10th. General Bazine had returned to Sebastopol. The
accounts from the Crimea are to the Gth. The cannonade
from the northern forts was still kept up. The weather
continued very cold. An expedition into Georgia under
General Campbell was seriously talked of. General
Williams is still at Tiflis."

" MARSEILLES, Jan. 2O, Evening.— The accounts
from Constantinople state that General Mouravieff, after
having destroyed the advanced works of Kars, had left
a garrison of 1,000 men in that place, well provisiowid,
and ordered the main body of his army to march on
Gumri. There are at Trebizond a forca of 15,000 Turks
and Egyptians, the greater part of whom are on their
way to the relief of Erzeroum. These troops en-
dure the most severe privations, and more particularly
suffer from the bad state of the roads, which are
much encumbered with snow. At Kinbourn the sea
is frozen to a distance of two leagues ; the gun-boats
which are frozen up will, in case of need, act as detached
forts round the citadel. The rupture of relations between
Persia and England is confirmed. The Shah declined
the mediation of France the moment he heard of the fall
of Kars. The English Minister, on his side, refused to
make any concessions, and has left Teheran with all the
English legation. He arrived on the 6th December at
at Kious, near Mossoul. The Prince of Servia has
dismissed the editor of a Servian journal for having pub-
lithed an article extracted from the Northern Bee of St.
Petersburg."

" VIENNA, Jan. 19.—At the Opera, last evening, the
Emperor was received with loud demonstrations of joy,
ou the occasion of the hopes entertained of peace."

BOURSE, Jan. 21.—The following are the last
quotations :

Cash. fr. e. End of Month
4. per Cents lt4 ---f. -c.
3 per Cents 67 37 67 70
New Loan 6B 10
Bank Shares 3250 Roman
Credit Mobilier 1432 50 Austrian
Belgian Fives ..... ... ' Spanish Threes
Piedmontest (5)

RAILWA Yd-1.011 CASIL

fr. c
Urbane llB5 c.
Western 7Bi 75
Northern
Lyons .
Lyons Geneva 7OO -- T,este • • • --
Cate 7OO Austrian C0rn....... 782 50

AUSTRIA.
The Austrian Nazette of the 17th says :—" The
news of peace was known during the course of last
night in the highest circles of the capital. The
Emperor announced it himself in the course of the
evening at the Court ball. His Majesty spoke of
the despatch to Colonel Manteuffet, and testified
to him the satisfaction he felt at seeing the last
differences which had subsisted between Austria
.and Prussia disappear. This morning the English,
French, Belgian, Danish, and Hanoverian ambas-
' sadors assembled at the residence of Count Buol
and had a long conference with him, the object of
which is said to have been the conclusion of an ar-
mistice. Couriers were afterwards sent off to Ber-
lin, London, and St. Petersburg. Count de Stakel-
berg, the Russian military plenipotentiary, accom-
panied by Prince Gortschakoff, had an audience
of Count Buol in the course of the morning.
The impression produced at Vienna by the Rus-
sian acceptance was so much the greater that it was
unexpected. It is said in diplomatic circles that
it was the personal opinion of the Emperor Alex-
finder which, at a Grand Council held at St.
Petersburg, turned the scales in favour of the ac-
ceptance. The decision of the Emperor of Russia
is said to have been partly founded on reports
which had reached him on the previous day rela-
tive to the state of the army. It is said that the
Allies will not demand any further territorial con-
cessions from Russia, or any indemnity for the
expenses of the war; and that Russia has received
formal assurances on these points. It is also
rumoured that the Conferences of Vienna will not
be resumed, but that Russia will demand the for-
mation of a congress, to be held in one of the small
German capitals, or in Paris."