The Sun.
London, England, 1856-12-15 00:00:00

SURRBY THEATRE.

A. young lady, stated in the bills to be "of great pro-
vincial celebrity," appeared as Juliet in Silakspere's
play on Saturday night at this theatre. The debutante is
tall and well formed, and in many personal respects is
well qualified for the stage. Tnat she had considerable
experience is betrayed in the ease with which she moves,
and the knowledge which she seems to have acquired
of the traditions of the art. The impression Miss
Leslie made upon the house was unquestionably
favourable. The excellence of her efforts in the
tomb scene, the quiet misery of which was eminently
judicious, and the general appropriateness of her elocu-
tion, were not unobserved. Miss Leslie, in a word,
proved herself more thin once to be an actress of intel•
iigence and discernment ; and in parts where the loftier
aspects of the drama are ciacerned she is likely to take
position. She was loudly complimented at the close of
the play, and received an encouraging ovation before the
curtain.

In speaking highl y of this lady, it will b 3 sufficient
explanation that she is a niece of the late Mrs. Warner,
and entitled to a warm welcome even under circum-
stances less favourable. We may also mention that a
short provincial engagement has to be concluded, and
that Miss Leslie will, we trust, become a permanent
addition to the London boards.

Mr. Creswick sustained the part of Romeo with more
than his usual ability. Throughout the whole of the
tragedy there was an absence of point•making, which
cannot be too highly commended ; and, taken as a
whole, the delineation of the character may justly be
termed the effort of a scholar and a gentleman. Mr.
Shepherd wir the Mercutio, Mr. Basil Potter the Friar
Laurence, and Mrs. Moreton Brookes the Nurse—all
of whom were respectable.

SEAFORD, SUSSEX.—On Saturday last, at midday, this
town was visited by a terrible storm from the south-
west. The lightning was severer than has been seen for
many years, and incessant flashes lit up the bay during
a space of ten minutes. Three men employed in dress-
ing the shone in Mr. Thomas Ade's mill were struck by
the electric fluid, and frightfully burnt. It is supposed
that the steel instrument in use for this purpose attracted
the lightning. They were up in a loft of the mill, and
remained totally unconscious for half an hour alter the
accident. They are, we are glad to say, now doing well,
but it was at first feared they would be deprived of the
use of their legs. It was a miracle they were not killed.
One man has two deep wounds in the neck, and is other.
wise much scorched ; another suffers from a wound in
the side and breast. The third has not been so greatly
damaged. Their outer clothing was little injured, and
in a case where the stockings are buret to snreds and
blackened, no other damage than a little hole is disco-
verable in the trousers. The mill stands intact, and a
sulphurous odour in the loft alone tells of the visitation.
Some fishermen in the boat-house on the beach had a
narrow escape. The lightning entered through the open
door and went off against an anchor hanging up with a
report like that of a pistol. The end of a rope, as if
dipped in gunpowder, witnesses to the fact of fire. '
DINNER IN HONOUR OF SIR HOUSTON STEWART.—
We al.', sure we intimate what will afford high gratifica-
tion to all our readers, when we announce that Admiral
Sir Houston Stewart, K.C.8., yesterday cordially ac-
cepted an invitation, addressed to him by Provost
Hunter, at the request of a number of our townsmen,
asking the pleasure of his company at a public dinner in
Greenock, in order to afford the citizens an opportunity
of giving expression to the feelings of respect and kind-
ness which they entertain for him personally, and their
appreciation and admiration of his services to our Queen
and country. The gallant admiral's long and close con-
nection with Greenock, and his valuable labours in the
Black Sea combine to give peculiar interest to the
meeting. In all parts of the country there have been
opportunities of expressing the public sense of gratitude
to the soldiers who fought and bled, in the war ; this
will be, we believe, the first banquet in honour of the
navy ; and a large seaport like Greenock is a most ap-
propriate locality in which to pay our sailors the com-
pliment they have so well deserved. Our readers are
aware that, since Sir Houstoo's return from the Black
Sea, he has received from her Majesty's Government
the honourable and important command of the fleet on
the North American and West Indian station—the
highest mark of confidence which they could bestow
upon him. As we believe it, impossible to say when the
admiral may receive orders to assume his command,
the dinner is to take place upon Friday next, and it
will therefore be necessary for all who wish to be pre-
sent to give early intimation of their intention. It will
be seen that a preliminary meeting is to be held at noon
to-day to make arrangements.—Greenock Advertiser of
Friday.
A.
NACCIDENT
STEAM-SHIP
s 111:
APzEoNFINLiUsLoeuRTHAANIIDpOToRNIE, NsTuAnLdaCyo._ll-
The steam-ship Cleopatra arrived at Devonport early
this morning, and forwarded intelligence to Southampton
by telegraph that she had fallen in with the Peninsular
and Oriental Company's steam-ship Azof 100 miles north-
west of Cape Finisterre, leaky and in a sinking state.
The Cleopatra placed six marines on board her, and re-
mained by her four days, having left her at 7 o'clock
yesterday morning on her way to Southampton. The
company's superintendent, Captain Engledue, imme-
diately ordered the steam-ship Madrid, Captain Brad-
shaw, to be got ready, and proceed in search of the
Azof, to render her any assistance she might require.
The Azof left Seuthacuptoa on the Ist inst.. very deeply
lar-len, to take up a temporary station fronaMauritiue to
Aden.

LATEST N E WS.

NAPLES, DEC. 13.

The soldier who attempted to assassinate the

King was hanged this morning.
It is alleged against him that he was an insur-
gent in 1848, was amnestied in 1852, and

entered the army by means of forged papers.

All is quiet.

MARSEILLES, DEC. 4.
Despatches from Constantinople of December 4
have arrived.
The English Queen's messenger has been robbed
of his despatches.

The papers speak of letters from Herat, written
after the taking of that town.

The Neuchatel question appears to be assum-
i-ag a more serious aspect. The Prussian Govern-
ment is said to have communicated a note to the
French Cabinet, and no doubt to the other
parties to the Protocol of 1852, intimating that
as diplomatic negotiations have been of no avail in
bringing the Federal Government of Switzerland
to a sense of their injustice, and as no amicable
arrangement was any longer to be hoped, the
King had resolved on trying other measures in
defence of his rights as Prince of Neuchatel. His
Majesty is no doubt apprehensive of disclosures
which may be produced during the trial of the
prisoners.

THE PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE.
LIVERPOOL, MONDAY.

The royal mail steam ship Niagara, Captain
Wickman, arrived in the Mersey this morning,
with advices from Boston to the 3d, and Halifax
to the sth inst. She brought 61 passengers and
415,600 dols. in specie.
The Arabia arrived at Halifax on the 3d
instant.

The Niagara brings the President's Message.
The President commences by remarking that in
performing the constitutional duties of giving
Congress information on the state of the
Union he does not do it merely to express
his personal convictions, but as the executive
minister of the Government, called upon to
scan impartially the interests of the whole
country. The oondition of these great inter-
ests, the steady progress in private and
public well-being, attests the predominant spirit
of intelligence which has characterised the Ame-
rican people.
Since the last session a Presidential election
has taken place, the explicit and sole act of the
sovereign authority of the Union. It is impos-
sible to misapprehend the great principles which
the people have sanctioned and sustained. They
have asserted the constitutional equality of the
States and the citizens, whatever region or wher-
ever their birth, and proclaimed their devotion
to rights of the different sections of the Union.
In doing this they have condemned emphatically
the idea of organising in the United States mere
geographical parties.
The pzetences put forth to justify such unor-
ganisation.are examined at length, and the con-
sequences to which it inevitably leads are forcibly
portrayed.
The long series of aggressions against the con-
stitutional rights of one-half the States are next
reviewed—the first step in the question of negro
emancipation ; the second step in the proceedings
relative to the extradition of fugitive slaves ; the
third stage the question relating to the organisa-
tion of territorial governments.

In connection with the latter is the Kansas
question. The Message vindicates in a strong and
unanswerable manner the action of Congress in
relation to the organisation of the Nebraska and
Kansas territories; goes over the causes of the dif-
ficulties in the lat.-ter, which were not owing to the
provisions of organic law, but to the unjust inter-
ference of persons not inhabiting the territory.
Such interference, wherever it has exhibited itself
by acts of an insurrectionary character, or of
obstructions to processes of law, has been repelled
or suppressed by all the means which the con-
stitution and the law placed in the hands of
the executive. The President states that he has
no power to interfere in local elections to see to
their freedom, to decide on the legality of the
votes ; he has no more power in the territories
than he has in the States. If he had such power
the Government alight be republican in form, but
it would be a monarchy in fact ; and if he had
undertaken to exercise it in the case of Kansas he
would have been justly subject to the charge of
usurpation, and of violation of the dearest rights
of the people of the United States. This very
able portion of tthe Message closes by expressing
the confident trust, that. as the restored peace in
Kansas affords opportunity for wise legislation,
either the LegisPative Assembly of the territory
or Congress will see that no act shall remain on
its statute-book violative of the constitution, or
subversive of the objects for which it was
ordained, and will take all other necessary steps
to assure to its inhabitants the enjoyment, without
obstruction or abridgment, of all the constitutional
irialts of citizens of the United States, as con-
templated by the organic law of the territory.
The financial exhibit is a proud one. The re-
ceipts into the Treasury, from all sources, for the
fiscal year ending July 1, 1855, were 76,918,141
dol., which, with the balance then in hand,
amounted to 92,250,11.7 dol. The expenditure,
including 12,776)
390 dol. public debt, was
948,792 del..
72
The total of the public debt is
now, reduced to 30,737,129 dol., the whole of
which might be paid in one year without embar-
rassment to the public service, but being not yet
due, the Government cannot press the holders of
stock to part with it. The annual expenditures
for the past five years have been 48,000,000 dol.,
and the average expenditures for the next five
years need not exceed this amount. Now the
revenue from Customs has reached the great figure
of 64,000,000 dol., and the President recommends
such a revision of revenue laws, according to the
views of the Secretary of the Treasury, as will
prevent the receipts from the Customs from
exceeding 50,000,000 dol. These are facts that
speak volumes to old world Governments. The
army during the past year has found constant
employment against the Indians in the Oregon
and Washington territories, and with so much
effect as to warrant the hope of peace for the
future. Additional legislation is renewedly re-
commended to remedy defects in organisation, and
to increase the military armament. The navy ex-
hibits most gratifying evidence of increased vigour,
the execution of the law of 1855 to promote its
efficiency having been attended with advantageous
results. Suggestions are made for its further
improvement. The sales of the public lands last
year amounted. to 01 o
acres, yielding
8,821,414 dots. The whole number of acres locat-
ed were 30,100,230. Various improvements sug-
gested by the Secretary of the Int Irior are recom-
mended. The Post-office expenditure for the past
year was 10,407,868 dols., the receipts 7,620,801
dols., the deficit 2,787,046 dole. This deficit
is ascribed to the law of 1854, giving increased
compensation to postmasters, to the increase of
mail routes and railroad service, and the reduced
rates of postage. Recommendations are made of
new mail contracts on the routes to the Pacific.
The Message then treats of our foreign relations,
and states that the United States are on terms of
amity with all other nations. The relations with
Great Britain are of a satisfactory character.
The enlistment question is settled. A treaty
just concluded by the Minister in London, if

ratified, will settle the Ce:Ar.lkin,rica,u
The exports to Cati3da k.d, 010 E, o.
the year previous by 7,000,000 duffs., and im-
ports 6,000,000 doffs., there is now an export
and import trade of 42,000,000 dols.

The efforts made to relieve our trade to the
Baltic from the Sound dues have not been suc-
cessful ; but the strong appeal made by Dan-
mark for temporary suspension of definite action
was acceded to, upon the condition that the
sums collected for a year, from June 16, 1856,
should be matter of future adjustment.
With Spain there had been nevi difficulties,
and no adjustment of old ones. The circum-
stances are detailed attending the submission of
the question to the European powers, that
private property, except it be contraband, shall
be exempt from seizure by public vessels.
This proposition, which has been submitted to
the maritime powers, has not been rejected by
any, and is favourably entertained by all, and
Russia has explicitly approved of it, and will co-
operate in getting the assent of the powers. Such
is the aspect of negotiations as to warrant hope
that the principal feature in its character, so just
and equal in its operations, so essential to the
prosperity of commercial nations, and so consonant
to the sentiments of this enlightened period of the
world, will command the approbation of all mari-
time powers, and thus be incorporated into the
code of international law. The relations between
this country and Mexico, Nicaragua, and New
Grenada continue to be embarrassed by these fre-
quent revolutions. Mexico continues to refuse
reparation for past injury. Diplomatic intercourse
is suspended between this country and Nicaragua,
because of the difficulty of deciding upon the de
facto Government, and the most serious questions
have arisen with New Grenada growing out of its
recent tonnage and postage laws, the latter of
which, the imposition of three dollars on every
pound of mail matter going across the Isthmus
would take 2,000,000 dollars annually from our
citizens, in addition to the sum paid by the
Panama Railroad CompaNy. As these laws violate
treaty stipulations it will be a duty to resist their
execution.

In addition to these complaints is the demand
for reparation on New Grenada, for injury done
to ortr citizens in the recent riot. So precarious
is protection to life and property t►iere, that we
have a naval force in those waters which it would
not be prudent to withdraw until these questions
are settled.

The Message closes with congratulations on the
peace, greatness, and felicity which the United
States now enjoy. We have reached the st tge
of the national career when dangers and efforts
are incidents, not of weakness, but of strength.

In our foreign relations we have to temper our
power to the less happy condition of neighbouring
republics, and to place ourselves in the conscious
dignity of right, by the side of European em
Aires. In our domestic relationships we are to
.guard against the internal shocks of interest and
ambition which are the natural results of our
political elections.
The President closes with the expression of
'profound gratitude to the good Providence which
has carried the country though many difficulties,
and enabled him to contemplate the spectacle of
amicable and respectful relations between ours
.and all other Governments, and the establishment
•of constitutional order and tranquillity through-
out the Union.