The Sun.
London, England, 1856-12-23 00:00:00

REDPATH OF THE GREAT NORTHERN.

TO THE EDITOR 01' THE BUN.
SlR,—The report which has been going the round of the
public journals during the past week, that Leopald Red-
path was a member of the Athenaeum, is inaccurate, that
person's name never having been even entered in the
candidates' book.
Requesting the favour of your insertion of this contra-
diotioa,—l am, sir, your obedient servant,
J. C. WEBSTER, Secretary.
Pall-mall, Monday.

DISTRIEUTION OF THE QUEEN'S CHRISTMAS BOUNTY'
TO THE POOR.—Yesterday several hundred of the aged
poor of both sexes, above 60 years of age, attended at
the Royal Altnonry Office, Middle Scotland-yard, to
receive her Majesty's Christmas bounty, which Wa4
distributed by the almoners and sub-almoners, assisted
by the yeomen. Each person was presented with two
new half-crowns, coined at the Mint expressly for this
purpose. Amongst the recipients were ten above 90
years of age and two centenarians. The distribution
will be continued this day and to-morrow. Her Majesty
has also issued orders for a substantial Christmas (linnet
of beef and pudding to the poor of Windsor.

LATEST NEWS.

BERLIN, DEC. 22.

Preparations are being made for the assembling
of 135,000 men, by the 2d of January. General
Grobier is appointed Commander-in-Chief ; the
reserve will be appointed by Prince Hohenzollern;
the Guards by Prince Frederick Charles of Prus-
sia. Four divisions are to take the field.

Intelligence has been received that the Russian
army has not yet stirred from its position on the
shores of the Caspian. It amounts to 40,000 men
complete, and is still in cantonments. The Russian
General bad, however, sent three superior officers
-viz., one of the staff, one of the engineers, and
one of the infantry—into the nearest province of
Persia, to examine the situation of the towns and
forts, and to take plans of the routes by which a
passage might be made for an army.

The Paris correspondent of the Times (second
edition), in his letter dated yesterday, says :
" I have just heard that a letter has been re-
ceived by the Emperor from Gen. Dufour, men-
tioning the effect that has been produced in Swit-
zerland by the note in the Moniteur. The inference
drawn from this communication is, that the Swiss
will be obliged, under this double pressure, to
grant the concessions demanded of them.
" I am informed that the precise day for the
opening of the Conferences is not yet fixed, but
that it will be made known before the end of the
present month."

A letter from Vienna of the 19th, in the Debats,
says :—" The circular despatch respecting Neu-
chatel, which the Cabinet of Berlin lately addressed
to its representatives at the courts of the powers
which signed the protocol of London, with the
order to communicate it to the respective govern-
ments, was communicated by the Prussian minister
Count d'Arnim, to Count Buol at the end of last
week. It would perhaps be indiscreet to state the
precise reply given by Count Buol to Count
d'Arnim, but it is very certain that Austria, whilst
desiring a pacific settlement of the dispute, will
not take the part of Switzerland in this matter,
whatever may be the opinion of England. A very
important subject is now spoken of here—namely,
the establishment of more intimate relations be-
tween Prussia and France. It will be remembered
that since the establishment of the empire in
France Prussia affected to celebrate the victory of
Leipsic with greater solemnity than before. Other
symptoms indicated that the general opinion, par-
ticularly that of the army, was hostile to France.
It appears, however, that the visit of the Prince
of Prussia is connected with the probable esta-
blishment of a better understanding between Paris
and Berlin."