The Sun.
London, England, 1856-12-25 00:00:00

THE SUN, L ONDON, THURSDAY EVENTING, DEMEMBER 25, 1856,

THEATRE ROYAL, HAYMARKET.
On FRIDAY, Dec. 26, and SATURDAY,
to commence at Seven with the comedy of
THE HONEYMOON.
in consequence of Mr. Murdoeh's success he is reingaged for
a few nights and will appear as the Duke AranZa.
After which, a new comic Christmas Pantomime, entitled
THE BABES IN THE WOOD, or Harlequin and the Cruel
Uncle. The scenery of the opening story painted by Mr W.
Callcott. The music composed and arranged by Edward Fitz.
william. The pantomime produced under the direction of
M. Milano. Harlequin, M. Milano ; Columbine, Fanny
Wright (her first appearance in that character) ; Pantaloon,
Mr. Mackay ; and Clown, Mr. Driver (his first appearance
in that character at this theatre). The first Morning perform-
ance of the Pantomime will be given on Thursday, Jan. 1,
and continue every Thursday throughout the holidays : com-
mencing at 2, concluding at 4.

THEATRE ROYAL, A DEL PHI.
Great Attraction for the Holidays.
BOXING NIGHT (Friday, Dec. 26), and Saturday, Dec.
17, for two nights only,
PAUL PRY : By Mr. Wright.
After which will be produced a new and original union of
modern burlesque and old English pantomime (as originated
at this theatre), by Professor Wordspinner, Member of Every-
thing, with entirely new scenery, dresses, transformations,
&c., called
'MOTHER SHIPTON ;

or, Harlequin Knight of Love, and the Enchanted Whistle.
Harlequin and Columbine (a la Watteau), Madame Celeste
and Miss Wyndham ; Clown, Mr. Garden ; Pantaloon, Mr.
Moreland; Scaramouch, Mr. Le Barr. Characters in the bur-
lesque by Mr. Paul Bedford, Mr. J. Bland, Mr. R. Romer,
Madame Celeste, Miss Wyndham, Miss Mary Keeley, Miss
Kate Kelly, Miss Arden, &c.

STRAND
THEATRE.—Manager, Mr. T.
Payne.—On Friday Evening will be performed

ROBERT MACAIRE.
To conclude with the Burlesque Pantomime of THE MAGIC
MISTLETOE ; or, Harlequin Humbug and the Shams of Lon-
don. Clown Miss Cuthbert ; Harlequin, Miss Craven ;
Columbines, Miss E. Jacobs and Mdle. Collison.
Commence at Seven. Stalls, 3s. ; Boxes, 2s. ; Pit, is. ;
Gallery, 6d.

OYAL SURREY THEATRE,
IA) Lessees, Messrs. Shepherd and Creswick.

TO-MORROW EVENING, DOUGLAS.
Afar which, HARLEQUIN AND THE SUMMER
QUEEN. Harlequin, Mr. F. Glover ; Clown, Mr. Buck ;
Pailtaloon, Mr. Bradbury ; the Four Sprites, the Fillis Fa.
mily ; Columbines, Mesda mes Marie and Agnes.

ASTLEY'S ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE.
Lessee and Manager, Mr. W. Cooke.
TO-MORROW EVENING, Shakspeare's Tragedy of
MACBETH, with Mr. W. Cooke's Equestrian Illustrations.
Macbeth, Mr. James Holloway.
After which, the skilful SCENES in the CIRCLE.
To conclude with a new grand equestrian comic pantomime,
called PAUL PRY ON HORSEBACK ; or, Harlequin and
the Magic Horseshoe.
Doors open at half-past six ; commence at seven o'clock.
Box-office open from Eleven till Four. Stage Manager, Mr 9
W. West. Equestrian Director, Mr. W. Cooke, jun.

CANTERBURY HALL, Westminster-road.—
OPEN EVERY EVENING.—The follow-
ing company of Vocalists are engaged for the performance of
Selections from all the popular Operas, Madrigals, Choruses,
Glees, Duets, do., viz.: —Miss E. Pearce, Mrs. J. Caulfield,
Miss Brunel', and Miss Summers ; Mr. J. Caulfield, Herr F.
Jonghmans, R. Grover, T. Raino, T. Farrant, S. Jones, J.
Barker, W. Melling, and P. Collie ; Masters Austin, Ben-
nett, and Corri ; Mr. Sam Cowell and E. Mackney. Piano-
forte, J. Harroway, R.A. ; harmonium, J. Caulfield, jun. ;
director, Mr. J. Caulfield. Commence at Seven o'clock pre
cisely. Suppers, dcc., until twelve o'clock. In addition to
the usual Vocal Entertainment, the celebrated SPANISH
MINSTRELS will appear in costume at Nine and Eleven
o'clock Every Evening, and sing some of their favourit selec-
tions.

MGR WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.

THIS DAs—Morn. 18 min. aft. 12—Evening 41 min. aft. 12
110.-Monuow—Morn. 2 min. aft. I—Evening 24 min. aft. 1

THE WEATHEB—SUN OFFICE, DECEMBER 25.
THERMOMETER, IN THE SHADE.
47—highest since noon yesterday.
35 —lowest this morning and during the night.
36 —this day at noon.
BAROMETER, 28 92 falling.
WIND, N.—Light, with dull, hazy, or foggy, frosty
weather.

'
- -44

~~~~~~~

L')NDON, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 25, 1856,

We earnestly commend to public attention the
letter of our esteemed correspondent, C. W. S.,
which will be found in another part of this day's
impression. As an English merchant, he pos
sesses ample opportunities of perceiving, and he
has evinced a clear capacity for appreciating the
injurious results of a scarcity of the circulating
medium—the very' blood, in the stagnation
whereof industry may starve. Like the Israelites
of old the people cannot provide their quota ol
bricks, while the necessary foundation, the supply
of straw, is wanting.gTo say that the extravagant
charge for money lately represented by a minimum
rate of 7 per cent. discount in Threadneedle
street, implying a charge of 8, 10, or even 12
per cent. to merchants and manufacturers, who
have not accounts with " the Old Lady," and still
maintained at 6 per cent., because of a continental
demand for gold, is perfectly absurd. Why
should the exportation of a few millions of specie
occasion a monetary panic, so greatly depreciate
every other description of accumulated and real-
ised property, bring poverty, and too often ruin,
to thousands of meritorious and solvent indivi-
duals, and general distress and embarrassment to
the nation ? We have abundance of real and
productive capital. We have countless flocks and
herds—stock of every description, instruments,
and ornaments of art ; agricultural implements
of the beat description, broad and fertile acres
with all their.varied produce, raw materials from
every clime and country, and the skill and indus-
try to convert them into valuable manufactures,
for which there is extensive demand, both at home
and abroad ; but all this bona fide wealth is to be
depreciated in value ; all these springs are to be
neutralised—mills closed, steam power wasted,
and horses standing idle, for want of a suitable
measure and representative of value. It might
as well be said that we should go back to the old
system of barter as that we should remain con-
tented with the imperfect metallic currency to
which the theories of PEEL • OVERSTONE and Co.
have reduced us, and ignore all the lights of mo-
dern experience, all the improvements by the
experience of past generations.
As C. W. S. truly declares, " our merchants
and manufacturers require a currency of some sort
at a price their profits will enable them to pay,
not that they may enter into foreign speculations,
but to carry on their legitimate trade." The
great organ of the bullionists, the Times itself,
has confessed that, " supposing the circulation to
be required solely for internal commerce, no ne-
cessity could exist fur gold being held against any
portion of it. A deposit of Government Stock,
or the fact of its being receivable for duties,
would at all times keep it from fluctuation in
value !" Now, this is the great desideratum, to
be achieved—the object at which the putative
parents of the unwise and impolitic Act of 1844
professed to aim, but which they totally failed to
accomplish ! They undertook to provide the na-
tion with a stable currency--eto give uniformity of
value to the circulating medium—by means
whereof the business of the country could at all
times be carried on with security and profit to
fair and solvent traders. What has been the re-
sult ? We shall quote the words of Mr. SAMUEL
GODDA.RD, a zealous and. enthusiastic Freetrader
—a consistent and prudent Monetary Reformer
" Have not fluctuations in prices, in the value of
property, and derangements in trade, been much
greater than at any former period, even under
unlimited, irresponsible issues of paper money ?
Have we not witnessed the wildest speculations
and the severest depressions ?" Look to the rail-
way mania of 1845, the commercial crisis, and
panic of 1847, showing the different sides of the
picture in the clearest points of view. The inju-
rious action of the new-fangled code can thus be

discovered in all its varied aspects. At one time

money was a " mere drug in the market ;" it

could be obtained at almost nominal rates for the

wildest schemes. Legitimate trade was abandoned

for gambling specula' ions. Men sought to become
tuddenly rich, and t lespised the cautious maxims
of their prudent fatl iers. The inevitable reaction
occurred, and that . at a time when the most
weighty speculati.)t s Were on foot. The Bank,
when its own obj ec ts were achieved, contracted
its issues, and m iP4I3 of families were brought
to ruin, to dept. Ire the misery and privation that
followed the fey prig h excitement produced by the
iniquitous legs slg .tion of the moneyocracy.
In 1847, as an al de writer declared, " there were
days, some a of al days, during which the
measure of VD JD a had altogether disappeared.
Mines, mills, ant I their produce had no value.
With a famin.e im pending over the land American
flour would not bring money ! All because a
few millions of sovereigns had gone from us,
leaving twice as; many uncalled for, and therefore
not wanted, in the cellars of the Bank." This
is a graphic but faithful delineation of the
calamity, whi oh was immediately alleviated,
and speedily cured by the temporary suspension
of the enactn lent which had been the cause of all
the mischief.

When, th en, will the people shake off the un-
accountable apathy by which they have so long
been opprQssed ? When will the voice of public
opinion proclaim, trumpet-tongued, the necessity
for fiscal and monetary reforms, and show that
[ the nation will no longer endure the evils of
class legislation. ? We want an equitable property
and free trade in money, or rather in currency.
The latter can only be attained by the abolition
of the monopoly so long enjoyed by the Old Lady
of Threadnecidle-street, and the establishment of
a really National Bank, issuing really national
notes of small and convenient denominations,
varying from 1/. to 5/. We have repeated this
advice usque ad nauseam, but it cannot be too
frequently impressed on the popular mind until
it has produced its fruit, and the natural re-
sults, the welfare and happiness of the industrial
population, and the time when every man, able
and willing to labour, will be sure of obtaining
" a fair day's wages for a fair day's work 1"

One of the most remarkable' pamphleteers of
the day—Sir ARTHUR HALLAM ELTON, Bart.—
has very recently issued from the press a masterly
argument in favour of the Ballot. He signiii•
cantly entitles his brochure "The Ballot—a Con-
servative Measure."* His deduction being literally
to theeffect that the long-dreaded radical reform of
—The Ballot—would necessarily, after all, prove
in very truth rather Conservative than Revolu-
tionary. Conservative in the best sense of the
word—Conservative of all that is good, of all that
is indeed worthy of Conservation in our political
Constitution. And would it not, on the very
face of it ? Would it not necessarily be so Con-
servative ? Conservative of the independence of
the Electors ! Conservative of the position,
character, and dignity of the House of Commons
—by making it at last, in truth as well as in
name, The House of Commons ! Conservative of
the principles not only of the represented, but also
of the representatives themselves ! Guarding both
alike from the possibility of falling under the
temptation of becoming implicated one way or
another in the crime of Bribery. Precluding one
from the chance of bribing, the other from the
chance of being bribed. Securing at the same time,
in the same way, the independence not simply of
the different constituencies, but of the several
candidates for the suffrages of these constituen-
cies. Elevating each to the same dignified level
of independence. Enabling every elector to vote
r whomsoever he pleases, according to the dic-
tates of his own judgment and conscience, and
irrespective of the bias of any extraneous consi-
deration—and while thus effectually manumitting
the mass of the electors, doing quite as much good
for the elected in another way. Guarding them
from the degradation of being the nominees of any
influential landlord ; securing them from the
hardly less degrading influence of the cringing
Canvass ; and enhancing their prestige when
elected as really and veritably one of the chosen
representatives of the population.
A panacea is a thing we dont't believe in,
either in medicine or in politics. But most
assuredly if there be any one reform that might
really assume to its&f the glory of being the
next best thing to a political panacea, that great re-
form is expresed, to our thinking, in the one word
—the " Ballot," that most potent dissylable.
The Patriot Statesman of the Age, to our mind,
will be the man who shall give to England the
Ballot. Had Sir R. PEEL, the great Sir R.
PEEL, the Sir ROBERT PEEL, survived a little
longer, we should have looked to him for it. He
it was who gave to the country whatever security
it has in its Police System. He it was who was

principally instrumental in confirming the alle-
giance of the nation to the great cause of Religious
Liberty, by the crowning triumph over intoler-
ance—the passing of the Act of Catholic Emanci-
pation. His was the strong, bold, resolute hand
that threw down at once and for ever the barriers
of Monopoly by the passing of the grand series of
Free-Trade Enactments. He had only to repair

the one great evil committed in his political youth,
when he may be said to have been sowing the
wild oats of statesmanship—he had only to make
reparation for the heinous wrong inflicted by the
Bank Charter Act, repairing the►t wrong by the
liberation and reorganisation of the national
currency. That was all that was required from
him—but beyond that, and regarding it as his
crowning benefaction to his oountry, we should
have looked to him for that magnificent boon of the
Ballot, which would be to the representative sys-
tem what Free Trade has proved to commerce—

its glory, its security, its Palladium.
To Sir ROBERT PEEL'S political successor, who-
ever he may be, we must now look for the like
evidences of courage, genius, and magnanimity in
his supreme capacity as the great Patriot Statesman
of his generation. The opportunity for his ap-
pearance is already open to him. He might come
into power to-morrow, figuratively
speaking, if he
so pleased it. He might, so to speak, be carried
above the heads of the people into offiee by simply
daring to avail himself of this very obvious op-
portunity. Undertaking merely to forego the
obnoxious Income Tax and to substitute in its
place a just and rational impost upon Property
he would have the whole people with him— at
once—en masse—heart and soul : eager to hail
the auspicious advent of his Administration.
And then—THE Razor, as the initial boon con-
ferred upon the nation by his Government, would
confirm and consolidate his popularity. The
Ballot—that talisman of independence at once to
Electors and
Representatives ! The Ballot—
reforming much that is evil, conserving all that is
good in our mixed Constitution.
Yes—but all the while we must not forget that
the Ballot is a " bore !" What says our caustic
pamphleteer upon this head ? He writes
"I would admit very candidly that the question
of the ballot, especially to members of Parliament,
comes under the head of what is called a bore. It
is difficult to see how this can be helped. The
tAst young gentleman finds his tailor a bore, when
he pays him a diurnal visit in quest of a settlement of

* The Ballot, a Conservative Measure. By Sir
Arthur Hallam Elton, Bart. Bvo, pp. 43. Ridgway:
London. KerelAlie Bristol. 1856.

his 'small account.' The paterfamilias of restricted
means denounces as a bore that respectable individual
with an umbrella under his arm, and a receipt book
sticking out of his pocket, who has already called two
,lays running without success for half a-year's poor rate.
The belle of the season groans under the affliction of that
periodical visit to the family dentist, which she is
solemnly assured is essential to the preservation of three
of her front teeth. These inevitable annoyances must
ever be included in the genus bore,' simply because
they are inevitable; and because, moreover, they are
ra-current. It was the same with most good measures
which have been pertinaciously pressed upon Parliament
notwithstanding repeated rejections. Parliament en-
dured a wonderful amount of boring' at the hands of
Wilberforce, Romilly, Brougham, Grey, Russell, Ver-
non Smith, amongst many others, who year by year
fought with patient resolution on behalf of wise, just,
and salutary reforms. Parliament was bored.' Par-
liament uncommonly enjoyed a joke or a sarcasm at the
expense of these troublesome gentlemen, who would take
no denial, but were no sooner beaten than they com
menced preparations for a fresh attack. The wits made
very good fun of them. There was plenty of brilliant
talent, there was no lack of ponderous prejudice opposed
to their exertions ; nevertheless they made way, and
finally conquered, not by dint of mere dogged mulish
obstinacy, but sia4ply because the bulk of the nation was
at their backs, and because their cause was intrinsi-
cally just. So it is with the ballot. The Hou-e, not-
withstanding Mr Berkeley's caustic pleasantry, is rather
bored by the ballot. The majority of the refined and
wealthy classes of society are bored by it ; they wonder
it should still thrust itself forward into notice, like a
vulgar weed reappearing after it was supposed to be
extirpated. It is impertinent, obtrusive, aggravating;
in short, it is a bore.' Well, no doubt it is, but see
why it is so, examine the question fairly and honestly.
Are you justified in rejecting it? Are your grounds of
objection solid? Are they satisfying to the conscience?
May be after all the best way of disposing of the ballot
will be to make it law. May be there is no other method
of extinguishing the nuisance. Like a refractory crumb,
or an obstinate pill, the best way to get rid of it will
probably be to swallow it."

The question is very far indeed from being
exhausted in this little pamphlet of 43 pages
octavo, penned by Sir ARTHUR ELTON. It is
popularised in it. It is simplified through the
medium of its clear and homely logic. But ex-.
hausted ?—well, one might as well have expected
to find the Free-Trade argument exhausted, in
one of the catechetical inquiries of PERRONET
THOMPSON, or in one of the Corn-Law Rhymes of
EBENEZER ELLIOT, or in one of the many masterly
speeches of RICHARD COBDEN, as look for exhaus-
tion of the subject of the Ballot in a single pamph-
let by Sir ARTHUR ELTON, or in a single speech
by Mr. HENRY BERKELEY. One might, perhaps,
carve the designs of the Shield of Achilles upon
the surface of a cherry-stone, or pack the twenty-
four books of the Iliad inside of it. But—exhaust
the Ballot in one speech or in one Pamphlet? Well,
hardly—even though Mr. HENRY BERKELEY him-
self were the orator, or Sir ARTHUR ELTON, with
all his common sense, his logic, his wit, and his
rhetoric, were the pamphleteer.

When will this country awake to a proper
sense of the stupendous responsibilities her im-
mense Colonial possessions entail upon her ? A
good deal of progress in this direction, it must be
admitted, has been made of late years, but still we
are fax behind hand. What a destiny has been
adumbrated for us ! What a history may ours be
if we put forth our strength in the discharge of
our bounden duty ! Suppose we had to record
the plougshare of desolation having passed over
the face of Europe, uprooting and destroying the
various nations by whom it is inhabited, with the
exception of ourselves—how the national mind
on recovering from the terrible shock would
expand and glow with ardour at the
thought of peopling the vast region with
our own race, who should carry with them
the immortal and fructifying seed of our free in•
stitutions with all we inherit from them Brain,
and tongue, and pen would weary to comprehend
the grandeur of our position and give it adequate
utterance. Statesmen, philosophers, men of com-
merce, and you the industrial million, believe us
—a grander destiny than this wild speculation
suggests to you is shadowed forth to us in no idle
wandering dream, but as a more than possible--
a contingent reality ! We have areas equal to
many Europes in our possession waiting but ade-
quate justice at our hands, to owe to us the foun-
dations of a future which the airy imagination of
the poet might well fail to describe, and the phil-
anthropist weep with joy while unable fully to
realise. Is it not time we proved ourselves worthy
of our destiny by accepting it, and taking
strides towards its development in proportion to
its grandeur

It is not our intention to enter into the evi-
dence by which the assertion can be substantiated.
The reader will find abundant testimony at hand if
he allows himself a few minutes for reflection.
Our object in speaking as we have is to stimulate
him sufficiently to be interested in what follows,
corroborative as it is of our remarks. Should he
be disposed to accuse us of bathos, we turn on
him and say—if what we are about to advance be
bathos, how surprisingly grand must that be to
the imperfect outlines, of which we challenge
denial, and it stands in such relation. Take up
the map of America. Look at Canada. It is a
British colony. Years ago it was strong enough
to rise in rebellion against our misrule. It has
grown wonderfully in importance since then.
What with industry, railways, and posi-
tion the young giant has grown so great that
350,000 square miles do not afford him
elbow room. This Canada of ours, if filled up,
would be a great empire even when placed along-
side of a great European monarchy. It is instinct
with the future that awaits it. It pants to lay
the foundations of its hereafter wide as the area
it must ultimately embrace. Turn your eyes to
a contiguous territory—not to the United States.
Do you know anything of it? Look how it
stretches onward to the Pacific—how many Ca-
nadas are embraced in its vast area. Take up
your compasses and rule—measure and calculate !
The area of this territory of which. you know so
little—why, it actually comprises fuur millions of
square miles. Do you know whom it belongs to
and how it is peopled and governed ? It belongs
to Great Britain, is almost a desert so far as
population is concerned, and is governed in
the most un-gnglish way conceivable. Industry
is represented by the trapper ; agriculture is pro-
hibited ; 'desolation and plunder alone are culti-
vated. The very missionary has the door shut
against him. The devil himself may grin from
one end of it to the other without a moment's
intermission. It is in the hands of the Hudson's
Bay Company, whose title is as good as that of
the owner of an estate stolen within living memory.
Their only charter is a surreptitiously obtained
licence, which expires in 1859.

Oh, it is suggested, "it is a bleak, uninhabit-
able, worthless country." A thousand times
No ;it is not. The greater portion of it is as
good as Canada. It teems with coal, with cop-
per, plumbago, and other metals. Gold ore, it
is more than whispered, despite the efforts of the
Company •to keep the tact secret, has been
found imbedded in it. It may turn out a
second California. Fla; tallow, hides, are to
be had from it. It is capable, when culti-
vated, of feeding kingdoms with its produce.
Its climate is at least as good as that of Canada ;
and with all these advantages it produces only a
number of furs. It is shut up against mankind,
and its inhabitants bowed to the earth, mentally
and morally, to fill the pockets of a petty, but
most unscrupulous trading company. These vast
territories, in immediate contiguity to Canada—it
is of them we are speaking—thase vast territories,

belonging of right to Canada—for such is the fact

—that very Canada ther:) needing and crying out
for elbow-room, and unable of itself to get it.
Does the history of the world record anything
more preposterous than this ? Here are some of
us glorying in the progress of Canada, and all of
us " perplexed in the extreme" to find a colony,
or room in one or other of our colonies, for the
discipline of our convicted burglars, garotters, and
other dangerous felons, and all the while this
area of four millions of square miles is populated
chiefly by a few trappers, and is shut against us
resum temeatis—by the Hudson's Bay Company !
by a few audacious London traders Well may
the Canadian Board of Trade meet to protest
against so monstrous and unrighteous an occupa-
tion, and demand liberty to break down a barrier
which keeps them from their own, or, at the
very least, stands in the way of Canada's legisla-
tive development. Well may we be excused for
having spoken as we have done, if excuse be at
all needed. It is hard to speak on the subject
with patience.

Viscount Palmerston arrived in London yesterday
morning, and returned to Broadlands in the afternoon.
Lord Stanley of Alderley left town yesterday for
Alderley Park.
BRIGHTON.—The Duke of Devonshire purposes pass-
ing his Christmas in Kemp Town, and probably some
time longer. On Monday his grace had a select dinner
party, including the Marquis of Abercorn and Lady
Louisa Hamilton, Countess of Durham, Hon. Mrs.
Hodgson and Miss Hodgson, Lord Cavendish, Captain
and Mrs. Davidson, Colonel Clifford, Mrs. Giles, and
Mr. Erskine. The Dowager Countess Granville is
among the latest arrivals at the Bedford Hotel. The
Marquis and Marchioness of Headfort have arrived at
the Bedford Hotel. Sir Fitzroy Kelly, after a stay of
some days at the Royal Albion Hotel, has taken his
departure for London.—Brigh.tost Oaz'tte.
DEATH OF REAR ADMIRAL WETHERALL.—We re-
gret to announce the death of Rear Admiral Frederick
Augustus Wetherell (1854), of Ealing, Middlesex, which
mournful event took place on the 21st inst., in Upper
Mount-street, Dublin. This officer was born Feb. 20,
1788, and entered the navy in 1800. He accepted the
retirement Oct. 1, 1846.
ROYAL ACADEMY or Musrc.—The nomination for the
two King's Scholarships, vacant at this time of the year,
took place on Saturday, the 20th inst. The Board of
Examiners, consisted of Mr. Potter, Chairman, Mr.
Goes, Mr. Lucas, Mr. H. Blagrove, Dr. S. Bennett, Mr.
Darrell, and Mr. F. R. Cox. The number of candidates
examined was 38-17 young gentlemen and 21 young
ladies. The following were. elected Fcholars :—Miss S.
L. Kilpac and Master C. W. Isaac. The following can-
didates were " specially" commended—Misses Tasker,
Aylward, Guivier ; Messrs. Thomas, Betjeman, Amor,
and Waddell. The folio wing were commended—Misses
Parton, Wallace, Clint, and Walsh ; Messrs. Mason,
Meeking, Bainbridge, Hammond, and Farrar.
OXFORD AMATEUR THEATRICAL SOCIETY.—The mem-
bers of this society commenced a series of entertain-
ments on Tuesday evening, when they performed two
farces, " Time Tries All," and "The Fish out of Water."
The whole of the proceeds were given to the City Public
Library, towards assisting the funds for a lending library,
and amounted to 51. 19e. 6,1. The pieces, with the
assistance of two clever artistes from London, were very
creditably sustained.
We understand that a Treasury commission has been
issued, appointing Lord Portman, H. Ker Seymer, Esq.,
M.P., I. K. Brunel, Esq., C.E., Robert Rawlinson,
Esq., C.E., Professor J. T. Way, J. B. Lewes, Esq.,
and Southwood Smith, Esq., M.D., to inquire into the
most effectual means of distributing the sewage of towns
and of applying it to beneficial and profitable uses.
The Right Hon. H. Labouchere, Colonial Secretary, is
about to erect a new family mansion on his property at
Stowey, Somerset. The contract has been already taken
by a London firm, and amounts to about 18,0001. The
works are to be proceeded with immediately.
EPISCOPAL LIBERALITY.—The Lord Bishop of Gloces-
ter and Bristol provided lodgings, at his own expense,
for every candidate for the recent ordination, and die
rected that all their needs should be promptly and libe-
rally supplied. The want of a palace at Bristol has thus
not been held by the right rev, prelate to be an excuse
for neglecting the rites of hospitality.
The Rectory of St. Giles-in-the-Fields, which has be-
come vacant by the elevation of the Rev. Dr. R. Bicker-
steth to the" Bishopric of Rip in, has been conferred by
the Lord Chancellor on the Rev, E. H. Carr, M.A,
incumbent of Christ Chapel, Maids-hill. Mr. Carr was
fir some years rector of Millbrook, Bedfordshire,
and obtained his appointment to Christ Chapel a few
months ago, on the nomination of the Rev. George
Fisk, who was minister of Christ Chapel, to the vicarage
of Great Malvern.
SOUTHAMPTON ELECTION —SOUTHAMPTON, Wednes-
day.—A. general meeting of the friends and supporters of
Mr. Wegnelin was held at the Victoria Rooms yesterday
evening ; Mr. Wm. Lankester in the chair. There was a
very influential gathering of the leading Liberals of the
town on the platform, and the room was well filled. Mr.
Weguelin and several members of his committee addressed
the assembly, and resolutions in his favour were carried
by considerable majorities, although large numbers of
hands were held up against them. Many of Mr. An-
drews' partisans were present, and the proceedings were
occasionally of a very stormy and boisterous character.
District meetings were held almost nightly in the differ-
ent parts of the town in the respective interests of both
candidates, and the excitement shows no signs of abate-
ment.
EAST SUFFOLK ELECTION.—Mr. Andrew Arcedeckne,
the high sheriff, has appointed to-morrow, the 26th inet.,
for the election of a member for the eastern division of
the county of Suffolk, rendered vacant by the death of
Sir Edward Sherlock Gooch, Bart. The election will
take place in the Town-hall, Ipswich. Lord Henniker
(Conservative) is the only candidate in the field.
WARD OP CRIPPLEGATE WlTHOUT.—Yesterday the
adjourned wardmote for this ward was held in the
school-room Redcross-street, for the purpose of Alder-
man Challis stating the Course he should pursue in
consequence of two of the Candidates at the close of
the poll on Tuesday having polled equal numbers.
Alderman Challis said he should declare the first seven
gentlemen on the list duly elected—viz , Messrs. Still-
well, Pickering, Cuthbert, Dent, Read, Johnson, and
Morrisse, and with respect to the eighth member he
should make a double return of the names of Mr. Sewell
and Mr. Spencfr, who bad polled equal numbers, and
he had no doubt a fresh precept would be issued for
the eleotion of one member to fill up the vacancy.
LIVERPOOL, Dec. 24.—The triosson sailed hence to•
day for New York, with a small complement of passen-
gers and a fair cargo. The Asia will take out the mails
for the same port on Saturday. The Montreal Ocean
Mail Company's screw steamer North American sailed
this morning for Portland, with 50 passengers, a
fair cargo, and the Canadian mails.
THE CITY OF LONDON UNION FRAUDS. —The board
of guardians, in consequence of the suspension by order
of the Poor-law Board of Mr. Rowsell, the clerk to the
union, have appointed Mr. R. J. Baylis, of Red Cross-
street, clerk to the ward of Cripplegate-without, and
clerk to the East London Union, to be their clerk pro
tem. The guardians are still carrying on the investiga-
tion, but up to 'yesterday no further frauds bad been dius •
covered beyond those that have already appeared.
the t
for the
to last night the officers who hold warrant
apprehension of Paul and Man' ni bad not succeeded in
capturing either of them. It isj however, stated that a
sufficient clue has been obtained as to their *hereabout,
and that ere long one or both will be in custody. It is
believed they are still in the metropolis.
FATAL ACCIDENT IN THE STRAND. Yesterday
morning an accident terminated fatally to Mr. David
Cornel, aged 67 years, who resided near Stamford-street,
Blackfriars. He was crossing Pickett-street, Strand,
when the driver of the omnibus No. 6;831 called out to
him • and before the driver had time to pUll Up the
wheels of the vehicle passed over him, mutilating him
in a frightful manner. He was conveyed to the hos-
pital, but life was pronounced to be extinct.
THE EXPLOSION AT THE MONK BRIDGE IRON
WORKS —Yesterday morning an inquest was held upon
the body of Edward Dickenson, who expired on Monday
afternoon in the Leeds Infirmary, after enduring ex-
cruciating agony from the effects of an explosion at the
Monk-bridge Iron Works, Leeds, the particulars of
which we have already reported. The evidence con-
curred in proving that the accident arose from too much
water having been turned on by the deceased himself.
Verdict, " Accidental death."
THE LEATHER MARKET. The leather market at
Leadenhall on Tuesday was in a state of much ex
citement, and a further advance of from id. to 14.1,
per lb. was readily obtained for crops, light butts,
offal, and shoulders.
COLLISION IN TUE CLYDE.—On Saturday night last a
serious collision took place in the Clyde between the
barque Felicity, grain-laden, from the Mediterranean,
and the steamer Vanguard. The Vanguard was on her
outward passage with goods and passengers for Liver-
pool, when, from some Cause which is not at present
clearly understood, a violent collision ensued between
them. The Vanguard struck the barque on the port
bow, and cut her up to the foremast, which was broken
in two places, carrying away the windlass, deck planking,
&c. The Felicity immediately filled by the gap in
her bow, and settled down in a slanting direction
across the channel, which is here very narrow, where
she now lies, appearing as a sort of bridgeacross the
stream. The crew escaped without difficulty.
THE CAPITAL CONVICTS OF MAIDSTONE.—The execu-
tion of the two prisoners, Dedea Redanies and Thomas
Mansell, who were convicted of murder at the late
assizes for the ceunty of Kent, has been fixed to take
place on Thursday, Jan, 1. In ordinary coarse the
execution of Mansell, who, it will Je remembered, was
convicted of the murder of a corporal of the 49th Regi-
ment, in which he was a private soldier, would have
taken place on the second market day after his convic-
tion, but, as that happened to be Christmas-day, of
course it was felt to be impracticable for the sentence to
be carried into effect on that day. The prisoner Reda-
nies, who was convicted of the murder of a young wo-
man to whom he was engaged to be married and her
sister, under the usual course, as his conviction did not
take place until the day following that of the trial of the
other prisoner, would lof h oee had the sentence upon
him carried into effect t nta the day above named, and
Mr. Palmer, the under sheriff of the county, upon
whom, as the deputy for the high-sheriff, the arrange-
ment of all these matters &valves, Ihei.,' re coneidered
it expedient that the execution of both the convicts
should be fixed for the later day. Both the prisoners
appear quite resigned to their fate.