The Sun.
London, England, 1856-01-21 00:00:00

LONDON MONDAY, JANUARY 21, 1856.

The extraordinary exultation with which the
acceptance by Russia of the Austrian Propositions
was receivel at the Stock Exchange, and the con-
sequent improvement in the quotations, appears
to be, to say the least, premature. Even under
the most favourable circumstances peace is still
far distant, and notwithstanding the rumours
" on Change" at Berlin, we believe that there is
not the slightest chance of the Western Powers
assenting to an armistice until all stipulations
and arrangements are finally and decisively con-
cluded, beyond the possibility of dispute. We
have already had too bitter experience of Russian,
aye, and of Austrian, duplicity and insincerity to
place the slightest reliance on matters to
which they are not firmly and irrevocably bound.
We have seen how readily they " can keep the
word of promise to the ear, but break it to the
hope"—how they can, in the most unblushing
manner, wriggle out of their most solemn under-
takings. What dependence then can be reposed
on terms which have merely been accepted as
I,‘“es for future negotiations, and when all mat-
ters in which Austria is not personally concerned
are left, we fear studiously, vague and indefinite ?
We have before been duped ; should we again fall
into a similar trap we shall become the laughing-
tock, not merely of Europe, but of Asia and
America. The SHAH of Persia has already treated
our representative with contumely. The Yankee
slaveholder chuckles at the disgrace cast on the
Britishers. We may, however, prove that the
teeth or fangs of the lion have not been extracted
or pared, and that any undue dependence on our
forbearance may be rather a perilous experiment.
But let us adopt Mr. COBDEN'S phraseology,
and ask " What next ? and next ? " If,
unfortunately, we are - compelled to treat,
the commencement and the course of negoti-
ations will absorb all attention. Everything
upends upon starting aright. Assuming that
Russia means to negotiate, the first propositions
should test her sincerity ; assuming again that fear
has imparted sincerity to pacific professions, she
must be required to accept arrangements which
shall bind her to peace when released from fear ;
and assuming finally the necessity of her being
thus bound we must prosecute preparations till the
full preliminaries of peace, and not merely these
vague ha- es are signed, and of course hold our po-
sitions, and earnestly commence a third campaign,
oats.;.; peace be concluded before the middle of
March. The first public avowal of the
Allies ought to be that they will demolish Cron-
ithdt and drive ItlM;i:i out of the Crimea, and
out of Bessarabia too, if poasible, before the peace
is ratified. The least appearance of trusting a
Power so unprincipled, which has twice at least
in the present War signally and injuriously de,-
etined us, will emholden her to try her old tricks
again.

Our Government needs not to fear beginning
the business with too manly and decided a tone.
The Allies have already made the worst of all con-
cessions—the one trumpeted with aristocratic zest
by Prince ALBRItT'S herald, Lord JOHN RUSSELL :
they have agreed to leave Russian territories,
even to her latest spoliation, untouched. The little
slice of Bessarabia is demanded, not to diminish

Russian territory, but solely as a guarantee for
the freedom of the Danube. Having been thus
modest and forbearing, they are bound to show
in the outset that they will, with the limitation
they have foolishly put on themselves, omit nothing
else which will toad to the great object of the
war, the restraint, namely, of Russia within her
present limits, and the future security of Europe.
They should, of course, demand that the Con-
ference be held in sone unsuspected place to begin
with. London would be best of all, because the
shifty diplomatists would here see what awaited
them and Russia if there was any shuffling. Paris
would he next best. Any other place north of
the Alps we can hardly think of as suitable for
the assembling of a conference on the independence
of the nations of Europe. But, then, who ought
to assemble! We answer, the Representatives of
France, England, Turkey, and Sardinia, with
those of Russia. Austria has no proper right
there. She has no way burdened herself, to speak
gently of her, in the cause, and still less has
Prussia earned a locus standi in the negotiations.
Swedes has much more claim to be present.
At least Russia must be required to meet her an-
tagonists with no Vienna mediator to preside at
the discussions.

address ourself to the latter, viz., the Juvenile
Reformatory Conference ; and at the outset we
cannot but express our deep satisfaction on find-
ing so much progress has been made in the Refor-
matory movement as the calling together of a con-
ference with such an object indicates. For many long
years the subject of Reformatories has been mooted
by philanthropic individuals with apparently little
success. Busy, hard-headed men of the world, not
wanting it may be in humane feeling, and sensibly
alive to the vast and increasing cost of crime,
have hitherto been content to regard the appeals
and labours of these individuals as worthy of little
more than a passing word or momentary smile of
good-natured contempt. " The aim of these men,
like that of most visionaries, was, doubtless, laud-
able—nothing could be better than the diminu-
tion of county rates, which were really growing a
most disagreeable item in their yearly account—
nobody could object to the reformation of juvenile
offenders—who, of course, as they grew up,
would otherwise pursue their depredatory avoca-
tions with greater capacity for mischief—but then
the notion of reforming them, and making them
pod members of society, was absurd. Crime was
net an accidental thing, the result of circum-
stances, including bad training and ♦ile associa-
tions—it was an idiusyncracy--it was in, the
young knaves, and would out with opportunity if
not prevented ; and all that society could do ix
this way was to make the youthful delinquent
feel by means of severe penal measures, that, after
all, it would be pleasanter for him to be honest."
Such, generally speaking, have been the views ex-
pressed by the class referred to, in relation to
juvenile crime and the subject of Reformatories.
Undeterred, however, by contempt, and superior
to such logic, based as it is on a profound igno-
rance of juvenile, at least, human nature, the
philanthropists in question persevered—year by
year fortifying their position, and by the evidence
of indisputable facts, demonstrating not merely
the possibility, but the almost certainty of juve-
nile reformation, when its subjects were separated
from evil associations, and placed under enlight-
ened treatment. And now sqe the result of persist-
ent effort in a good cause ! Reformatories are
multiplying. Public opinion has undergone a
striking change. Statesmen, mostly the last to
join a philanthropic movement, are found fore-
most in the ranks. Contempt has given place to
interest and approval, and a general Conference
on the subject is to be held.

On meeting, or rather beforehand through Aus-
tria, as she has arranged the meeting, Russia
ought to be informed of the conditions the Allies
have to produce "in, the interest of Europe."
The lustre-European one, the liberation of the
Danube, is included in the Proposals. But car-
rying out that principle the very least that can
be required is that Russia should instantly redress
every violation of the Treaty of Vienna in 1815.
In that Treaty she lad so preponderating a share
that every limitation of her ambition then enforced
must have been required from the flagrant evi-
dence of its necessity. The most outrageous vio-
lation of that Treaty was the incorporation, of
Poland. If in 1815, with ALEXANDER, mild in
profession, though dogged enough in purpose, it
was yet deemed necessary, at the very
least, that Poland should be a separate king-
dom, enjoying- a representative constitution,
this is surely even more evidently neces-
sary now ; and if Russia does not mean to
eompel the Allies, we are sorry to fear against
the will of their rulers, to emancipate Poland by
another campaign, she would do wisely to concede
the demand for a separate and constitutional go-
vernment for her. It may well be hoped, too,
that, personally, ALEXANDER is not such a bloody,
merciless brute as NICHOLAS was, and that he may
not be altogether disposed to fall back upon the
Treaty of Vienna. Of course, such a step must
affect Cracow, Hungary, and Lombardy—the
first little republic, as it should be, directly—the
others indirectly, and of none the less import-
ance for this.

At such a crisis, for so we may term it, the
obvious duty of the leaders of the movement is to
aim, above all things, at being practical, and not
under the influence of exultation, by proposing
too much, risk any portion of the ground they
have gained. A central association, acting with
discretion, may prove of incalculable service to
the movement —by repressing ill-considered
schemes and directing provincial efferts to a suc-
cessful issue. The danger is not that too few
Reformatories will be built, but too many—if not
for the liberality of the public, at all events for
success—owing to the want of duly-qualified
governors and instructors. To obviate this evil
we should recommend the enlargement of existing
Reformatories, and their nein made training
schools for the officers of future institutions, and
the establishment of no greater number of Refor-
matories than is called for by the absolute neces-
sities of the case. Prudence is what is wanted,
and we have no doubt it will be manifested by
the members of the Conference.

Bomarsund, in the north, and Nicolaieff in the
south, could not fail to be mentioned, nor does it
seem possible to miss the opportunity of demand-
ing for the brave mountaineers of Circassia their
natural sea coast, and not merely that the forts
should never be rebuilt. These demands are but
a minimum addition to the specified Proposals.
All the territory south of the Caucasus ought to
be evacuated, if Turkey is to he secure in that
quarter, and if English Indian interests are to be
at all consulted in repayment of our expenditure;
on• of the prominent requisitions also, in mere
common justice, should be that Russia should
indemnify impoverished Turkey for the cost of the
War. It will be eternal infamy to all parties,
if, when Russia with infinitely less reason made
Markey pay the expenses of the war in 1829,
England and France do not now demand of
R.esia. a sum amply sufficient to repay
the loan advanced to Turkey, and to replenish
her Exchequer drained by the unprovoked am-
bition of NICHOLAS, but also a full indemnity to
all the Allies for the expenses of the War. We
cannot resuscitate the heroes who have lost their
lives in their country's cause. We cannot give
back the husband and father to the widow and
the orphan, lout we may take care that their
blood has not been shed in vain, and that every
shilling extracted from the pockets of French and
English tax-payers shall be recouped by the party
whose wanton and unwarrantable aggression ren-
dered the outlay indispensable.
At least a peace made on the present basis will
be a most unsatisfactory one to this country ;
on that ground alone our Government ought
to obtain the utmost that these conditions
warrant them in asking. If we are committed
thus far we must insist that the best shall be made
of such a bargain. We on the one hand have
incurred the greater part of the expense requisite
to enforce a better one, while Russia on the
other would not have humbled herself thus far
had she not foreseen that bolding out would
almost rain her. We believe that should peace
be now concluded, a little time will shlw that as
at the Treaty of Adrianople, ske has outwitted us
by imposing on our ignorance of her weakness,
and that we might have had ten times more for
asking. We need, as our plenipotentiary, a
man who knows how to say " no" to a sharper,
and to stick to it. Let the utmost terms be fixed
and intrusted to such a man, and we shall have
either a speedy peace, or a speedy resort to a
better peacemaker than Austria.

There was a manifest improvement in the quo-
tations of the Stock Exchange during the early
part of last week, even before the announcement
of the acceptance by Russia of the Austrian Pro-
positions. The market had been in a very de-
pressed state on Saturday, the 12th inst., the
price of Consols being 851 Before Wednesday
it had improved to 87i, or nearly lj per
cent. This decided buoyancy was not attribut-
able to any expectation that Russia would abate
a single particle of her pretensions, or that an
honourable and permanent peace could be antici-
pated during the approaching year. It was, to a
certain extent, checked by the supposition that
the " Old Lady" might make a still further in-
crease in the minimum rate of discount, and
charge even more than 7 per cent, for pecuniary
accommodation. A project had, however, been
mooted, which overcame all these depreciat-
ing influences, and led to a general advance of
nearly 2 per cent.l This important effect was pro-
d need by the rumour that Government contemplated
the issue of no less than twenty millions of really
" national ens-pound notes," which should be re-
ceived in payment of all duties and taxes payable
to the public exchequer. They were not intended
to be convertible into gold on demand, but every
one felt that they would possess " purchasing
power," and that the fortunate holder could
readily command the necessaries and comforts of
life, proportioned to the amount specified on these
so-called " worthless rags." The honour of the
suggestion is ascribed to Mr. JAS. WILSON, M.P.,
whose admirable speech on the currency question
first gained for him the high reputation which he
has since so worthily maintained. Should the
statements to that effect be well founded, we
trust that Mr. WILSON will have a fair opportu-
nity of pushing the grand experiment inaugurated
under his auspices to its legitimate results—of
fully testing the efficacy of a circulating medium
which has ter more than five•aad-thirty years
been so unwisely withdrawn from the community.

We cannot conclude without referring to the
opinion of one who is eminently a man of peace,
not in profession merely, but in all truth and sin-
cerity, and who only gives expression to the popu-
lar sentiment when he emphatically declares—.

All that we ask is, that it should receive a
fair trial. We know that the currency quacks,
the interested disciples of the JONES LOYD school,
will do all in their power to discredit the State
paper. But we have faith in the people ! /food-
winked and misled as they have hitherto been,
they will, when the question is placed before them
in a tangible form, testify in unequivocal terms
their high appreciation of a system which pro-
mises, if properly carried out, to develope to the
utmost extent the natural capabilities of the coun-
try, and t 3 provide remunerative employment for
every man, woman, and child able and willing
to work.

" The general feeling of the middle classes, I
think, is not satisfaction at the prospect of peace.
They think that England has not done what she
ought to have done during this War. They dis-
trust Russia, and think that another year or two
woulal place us in a much better, and Russia in
a much worse, position.

" Hating war as much as any man, I say no
human good has ever been purchased -without suf-
fering. Better that our friends should die on the
battle-field, and that we at home should have to
submit t. many privations, than that the liberties
of Europe—all that makes life worth hating—
should be compromised by an inglorious compact
with Russia and Austria—the imperial represen-
tatives of the slavery and superstition of the
world."

It is remarkable enough that concurrently with
the attempt to bring the great European depre-
dator within arm's length, and provide for him a
Toms penitenticr, a strong desire has been spring-
ing up to do the like with that section of our
juvenile population from which the ranks of adult
,;rime receive their most daring and effective re-
cruits. And still more remarkable that at the
present time, when a diplomatic convention is
about to meet for discussion on the basis of the
Austrian Four Points, and consequently the solu-
tion of a problem almost as difficult as the old
religio-scholastie one, " How many angels can
Glance on the point of a needle ?" a conference is
about be held in the metropolis for the esta-
blishment to
of a general association for the promo-
tion of the Reformatory movement. Which of
the two is most likely to be attended with success
it might be deemed invidious to prophesy ; so
without mare ado we will drop the parallel and

Nothing, of course, is as yet known as to the
peculiar conditions to be annexed to this proposed
issue of " Exchequer Bills of convenient denomi-
nations." As we long since pointed out, it was
the laziness of a former Comptroller of the Ex-
chequer that prevented the smaller class of these
securities from being brought before the public ;
and the influence of wealthy capitalists, who were
thus enabled to obtain a virtual monopoly of these
most important documents, sufficed to continue
the exclusion. By the plan now spoken of, the
interest of twenty millions, or at the present
rate of interest rather more than 600,0001. per
annum, will be saved to the country. But this
will be by far the least. valuable part of the pro-
ceeding. It will be the infusion of so large a
portion of the life-blood of industry, the certainty
that the nation may safely proceed in a similar
coarse, so that ultimately a wise and sagacious
monetary code may be established suited to the
wants and exigencies of the country. Should Mr.
Wusex achieve this great desideratum he will at
once achieve a prominent position amongst the
national benefactors, and entitle himself to the
undying gratitude of his fellow-subjects.

THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, JANUARY 21, 1856.

LATEST NEWS.

PARIS, SUNDAY.

The Patric of last eTening says that the signa-
ture of an armistice at Vienna is considered im-
minent. There was a report at the Bourse that
despatches had been sent yesterday to Marshal
Pelissier, ordering him to suspend hostilities.

ST. PETERSBURG, JAN. 18.

A copy of the protocol signed by Count Nessel-
rode and Count Esterhazy, recording the accept-
ance of the Austrian propositions as bases of ne-
gotiations, was sent to Prince Gortschakoff at
Vienna to-day, two days after its signature.

HAMBURG, SUNDAY.

Advices from Berlin represent that Russia at:-
ceded to the Esterhazy propositions in consequence
of the earnest representations of Prussia, who,
seeing the freedom of her ports menaced with
blockade, threatened to close the land frontier
and shut up Russia.
According to advices from Warsaw, the doctors
have pronounced the case of Prince Paskiewitch,
cancer of the breast, to be hopelessly incurable.
Baron Klotz, nevertheless, tries magnetic treat-
ment. Prince Gortschakoff, Prince Woronneff,
M. Kisselef, and Count Krasinsky are severally
mentioned each as his successor. Again, it is
- aid that the Archduke Constantinewill take the
government as viceroy, but many think no vice-
royalty will be maintained.

MARSEILLES, JAN. 18, EVENING.

The Journal de Constantinople states that the
Allies have now 180,000 troops iu the Crimea,
besides 13,000 persons Rot belonging to the army.
The cold in the Crimea has considerably dimi-
nished. Omer Pacha is to take up his winter-
quarters at Erzeroum ; he has been reinforced by
the Egyptian division, and the Porte is constantly
sending fresh troops into Asia, particularly Al-
banians.

complete as far as it went. Two cables were again
used, to which the small wires leading to each charge
were attached. In addition to a large number of
engineer officers, there were present, although it
was dark, the commander-in-chief, with two aides-
de-camp, Brigadier-General Straubenzee, with his
aide-de-camp, and two officers of the 11th Hussars
—viz., Capt. Dallas Yorke and Cornet \Vilkin, be-
sides the garrison of Sebastopol and the officers on
guard, the whole' being under the superintendence
of Brevet-Major Nicholson, R.E. The enemy took
no notice of the explosion, nor have they been
firing much lately from the north side, although it
is reported that on New Year's Day the French
and Russian, pickets were uselessly firing at each
other.

THE WAR IN ASIA.
ERZEROUM, Dec. 24.—1 told you iu my last of
the dispute between our ambassador in Persia and
the Shah. Mr. Murray gave the latter up to the
sth inst. to make up his mind as to the liberation
of the teterrima causa belli—our native agent's
wife, and, as he still continued obstinate, has left
Teheran. The mesh is rather a tangled one, but,
as the case stands at present, Mr. Murray is un-
doulotedly in the right. The quarrel, by the latest
accounts, was by no means irreconcileable ; but
Kars has fallen in the meantime, and the Russians
will certainly avail themselves of the influence it
gives them to widen the breach as much as pos-
sible.

BERLIN, JAN. 18, EYENING.

Count Lobanoff has arrived with despatches
111,
from St. Petersburg. The participation of Prus-
sia in the Conferences for peace is under discus-
sion. Dresden is talked of as the place where
they are to be held. Russia has only accepted
the propositions of Austria with the reserve of
their being discussed at the Conferences. The
King has to-day held a chapter of the order of the
Black Eagle.

We are very quiet here in Erzerouns. The snow
has come down honestly at last, a good hearty fall,
covering everything but the minarets and chimney-
tops, so that our flat-roofed houses all look like
wedding-cakes.
Stragglers are still coming in from Kars. I met
some yesterday, toiling over the snow-clad plain
that lies between this and the Euphrates. They
showed weary and footsore, poor fellows, but had
not the wild, hungry look of those who had pre-
ceded them. Thay had, probably, been recruiting
at the villages on the road. But report states that
no less than 1,500 out of the 6,000 Redifs who
were turned out of Kars have perished in the snows
of the Siwanlidagh.
Our troops have at last been marched in from
the Devr-buyunic (Anglice, Camel-back) heights,
where they had been encamped since the beginning
of last summer. It was high time that they should
take up their winter quarters. When last I visited
the camp, some weeks since, the road was as trying
as rain and thaw can make it. The camels, with
their slow deliberate gait, got over it easily enough,
like wooden machines wound up for the purpose,
but horsemanship was hazardous, and the arabas,
axledeep in mud, groaned along as if their very
hearts would break. The ground of encampment
itself was one mass of mud. The men, however,
were not badly tented, better, indeed, than I had
ever seen elsewhere.

BERLIN, JAR. 18.

According to the most recent accounts, the do-
cument sigud by Count Nesselrode constitutes a
real atteptation that Russia accepts without re-
serve the Austrian propositions, and will suffice to
authorise Prince Gortschakoff to sign a prelimi-
nary treaty of peace. The signature of that
treaty is here considered to be imminent.

MADRID, JAN. 18.

The whole system of administration here is cor-
rupt beyond measure. It has a routine, too,
which rides it like a nightmare, and forcing one's
way through its red-tapeism is like swimming
through seaweed. Take one example out of a
thousand. A young Magyar officer here in the
Turkish service had 20 months' pay due. Ho ap-
plied for it to the Muchir, the Muchir referred him
to the president of the Medjlis, or council; the
president of the council passed him on t• the com-
mandant of artillery ; the commandant of artillery
to the sub-commandant ; the sub-commandant to
the chief of the staff ; the chief of the staff again to
the president, who at last recommended him to lay
a memorial before the Medjlis, which being done,
he, the chief Imaum, or high priest, and I know
not how many other wiseacres, pot their heads to-
gether over the intricate claim, and at last came
to the conclusion that, without committing then-
selves, they might allow the memorialist six out
of his 20, or rather 22, months' pay, for two
months more had elapsed in inquiring how to
get his money. The balance remains an out-
standing debt, which he may amuse himself in
memorialising for at his leisure during the next
two years, but, let him manage as he may, there
will be an arrear, and, if both parties live loug
enough, it will drag its slow length along till the
millennium, when the Turks will most probably
take advantage of the joyful occasion to cancel it
altogether. Add to this the want of common
honesty. When a soldier, for instance, is killed—
and he is often killed, with three years' pay due—
there is no regular way of transmitting his earnings
to his relations. It becomes the booty of the officers
of his regiment, a legitimate godsend. The same
of course when he dies.

As far as this opinion bears upon the fate of
Erzeroum, I will explain myself pointedly and
plainly. An English general with an efficient
staff is wanted here before next spring. Unless he
be sent Erzeroum must fall. This is a catas-
trophe which the people of England ought not to
contemplate with indifference. The fall of Erze-
roum will not only do more to strengthen Russia's
ixinuonca in the East than that of slebastep.l llaa
done to weak-en it, but also throw a territory as
rich in natural resources As any in the world into
Russian hands, as no moan counterpoise to what
may be wrung from her in the West.
Letters have been received from General Williams,
and those who accompanied him. They are quite
well, arrived at Gumri on the Ist inst., and ex-
pected to leave on the 4th for St. Petersburg. They
were treated on the mai with the greatest courtesy.
Every one here is in hopes that the General will
be released, and take his old position in Anatolia
before next spring. It would be difficult to find
another man so calculated for this peculiar work.
General Kinety has gone to Constantinople. It is
to be hoped that he will get a good command
there.

The Cortes yesterday rejected the vote of cen-
sure on the Ministry by a majority of 152 to 57.
The Parliamentary Committee is favourable to
the credit establishment proposed by some Spa-
nish oar; teilioia_

THE ARMY IN THE CRIMEA.
(From the Correspondent of Ike Times.)

CAMP BEFORE SEBASTOPOL, JAN. 4.
We have had a heavy snowstorm last night and
this morning. The fall has ceased, but the snow lies
several inches deep on the plateau. On the white
surface the irregular collections of huts have some-
thing the appearance of groups of farm buildings,
while the more distant tents, dingy in comparison
with the dazzling whiteness of the ground, might
be taken for heaps of hay or manure. On all sides,
at the distance of about three-quarters of a mile,
our horizon is limited by a haze a few shades gayer
than the snow and semi-transparent, so that figures
are dimly seen walking within it. The wind howls
drearily round the huts, but the snow lends light
to the foreground, and the temperature is milder
than it has been for the last few days far
milder than it was on the 2d, a piercing day of
frost, wind, and sleet. Fatigue parties, in their
short fur-lined coats, their heads protected by those
black sealskin caps, the shape of which reminds
one of the pictures of Russian travelling, bring
up fire wood on their shoulders to the different
commissariat stores, and a considerable amount
of snow-balling goes on among them in the
intervals of their toil. Here and there carts
move slowly through the deep snow, in which,
hard by my window, some Tartar dogs are now dis-
porting themselves, apparently quite in their ele-
ment. The winter piece is complete, and not un-
picturesque. But it suggests a wish that the whole,
instead of part only, of our army had more sub-
stantial shelter than tents against the sharp wind,
the drifting snow, the bitter cold that will attend a
return of frost, and the chilly floods which a thaw
must inevitably bring. Well provided in most
essential respects the soldiers certainly are well
clothed and well fed ; but it seems strange that by
this time they should not all have been hutted.
Huts are getting up, however, with great rapidity;
along the road to Balaklava one daily meets thou-
sands of men bringing up the planks on their
shoulders, and it is to be hoped that before the
heavy rains set in there will bo few under canvass.
The amount of labour that has been expended on
this British camp for the Crimea is enormous. It
would have built a city of no mean aspect in some
more favoured situation, where materials were
lees difficult to obtain and easier of transport. It
has built a town—a scattered and irregular one,
spread over a large surface in many groups.
Besides the numerous wooden buildings, there
are not a few of stone—small, but snug aid
well-built edifices, quite able to resist even
Crimean rains and winds, . and fitted, many of
them, with fire-grates from Sebastopol. If the
army were to quit the Crimea, 'leaving its stone
and earthen huts standing, many a Tartar would
find a better dwelling than lie, perhaps, had ever
before enjoyed, and would marvel at the ingenious
and comfortable contrivances of the invader. Some
of the stables, too, are wonderfully perfect and
well contrived, and must have cost an immensity
of labour. I rode down, a day or two ago, into the
valley towards Karanyi, where the heavy batteries
are, and saw some truly admirable stables. The
stalls were paved ;
there was a clean path down
the centre ; there were racks for the hay and well-
made wooden mangers, bound and striped with the
iron bands that confine the compressed trusses—
excellent mangers—economical of corn, and which
the horses cannot bite. It had been found that the
horses sometimes pushed out the planks of the
stable huts; so stone walls were built up outside to
a sufficient height outside to prevent this. In short,
although some of the men were still under canvass,
the horses of the artillery in question could hardly
be better cared for, and the condition of those I
saw corresponded with the pains that had been
taken to protect and preserve them.
The health of the camp continues good. As far
as I have been able to ascertain, the average
amount of sickness does not exceed, if it quite
reaches, 10 per cent. But a large proportion of the
cases are of a trifling nature, and the mortality is
small.

JAN. 5.
Nothing new since yesterday. It is a severe
frost and a fine bright morning.

FRANCE.
PARIS, SUNDAY.
The fact of Russia having accepted the Austrian
ultimatum will not suspend the Council of War.
Tho Emperor will preside to-morrow at an early
hour.

The Emperor and the Duke of Cambridge rode
out yesterday in the Bois de Boulogne, the Em-
press taking an airing in an open carriage at the
same time.

BOURSE, Jan. 19—Two o'clock.—Threes slightly
declined at the beginning of the day, but there was
afterwards a sudden rally on the report that de-
spatches had been sent to Marshal Pelissier, order-
ing him to suspend hostilities. Threes, after
having been done at 67f. 50c. and 67f. 35c., rallied
to 68f. 40c., and they are now at 68f. 290. The
Mol)iiier improved from 1,435 to 1,470. The Rail-
way Shares were in good demand.
Half-past Three—The market was steadier at the
close. The following aro the last quotations :

Cash. IY. e. End of Month.
4. per Cents P4 —f. -c.

... __
3 per Cents 67 60 67 90
New Loan 6B
Bank Shares 3250 Roman
Credit Mobilier 1460 Austrian
Bolgian Fives 951, Spanish Threes 3B
Piedmontesc (5) — Homo Debt 3O

DESTRUCTION OF THE CENTRE DOCK.
On Wednesday evening the English engineers
blew up the bottom of the centre dock, which is
at top 236 feet long and 55 feet 4 inches wide; and
at bottom 191 feet long and 40 feet wide. There
were 13 charges in all-11 of 160 lbs. each, and
two of 300 119 s. each—total 2,630 lbs. of powder.
The hour named was half-past 4 ; but all was not
ready for Mr. Deane to operate upon with his 10
voltaic batteries and electric wires till an hour and
a half after, when the demolition was pronounced

LITERATURE,

FAIRY TALES.

The History of Sir Thomas Thumb. By the Author
of " The Heir of Redeliffe." Constable and Co.
The King of Root Valley and his Curious Daugh-
ter. By R. Reinick. Chapman and Hall.

Fairy tales are ever the most attractive stories to
children, and none of our modern inventions can
compete with the old fairy tales that form our nur-
sery literature. " Puss in Boots," " J ack the
Giant Killer," and their numerous companions,
though appearing and re-appearing in various
forms, still preserve their pre-erninence. We are
glad, therefore, to see the talented authoress of
" Heartsease " turning her attention to the revival
of one of the most neglected of the old favourites,
inasmuch as no attempt has been made to weave
the ancient traditions into a tale of modern form
and modern taste. It is no disadvantage to be in-
formed in the preface that originality is the last
object aimed at, as any additions, however enter-
taining, could only be looked on in the light of in-
novations. The marvellous adventures of the di-
minutive hero, from his parent's acquaintance with
Merlin, his journey in the horse's ear, his being
eaten by the cow, and nearly boiled iu the pudding,
to his introduction to King Arthur of the Round
Table, and his participation in that monarch's ex-
ploits, are all faithfully recounted. The illustrations
are not the least attractive part of the volume, for
they are very numerous, and gracefully designed.
The frontispiece represents Tom Thumb in full state,
driving in his chariot, drawn by six white mice,
through a woodland path, and the last in the
story (though there are some illustrations to the
notes) shows us the death of the valiant little hero
beneath the bite of the venomous spider,
against whom he was defending King Arthur's seat.
We must not omit to mention that the notes are
numerous and consist chiefly of selections from old
English Fairy Poetry, which the author has thus
brought within the reach of children, as well as
some sketches from the romances of King Arthur's
Court, of famous memory, which, as she justly
observes, is often to them a subject of curiosity
not easily gratified, as the romances, poems, and
legends of that day are net suited for their pe-
rusal.

" The History of the King of Root Valley " is
a much less ambitious performance, but it is a very
ingenious little tale. It narrates the imprudent
curiosity of the Princess of Root Valley to form
acquaintance with the ways and doings of men,
her expedition with her father to the roof of a tower
in the neighbouring town, what they saw there,
and the consequences. It also tells us of the won-
derful stream that had the property of giving life
to whatever fell in it, of the waggon of toys that
was upset on its banks, and the astonishing result ;
of the marriage of the King's daughter and its un-
fortunate termination, and, finally, the disappear-
ance of the little Rootmen from public view. There
is evidence of the German origin in the style as
well as the locality, but it certainly presents the
attraction of novelty to its little readers. The
idea of conversion of the tin soldiers, harlequins,
Noah's arks', &c., into living things is a novel inci-
dent. There are eight large coloured plates, and
these, together, with its ornamental cover, com-
bine to render it a very acceptable gift-book for
little people.
The Family Friend.

Ward and Locke, Fleet-

street.

We have before had occasion to commend this
very excellent little work in its serial edition, pub-
lished weekly in twopenny numbers. It now an-
pears in a more ambitious form, that of the yearly
volume, and a more acceptable and useful Christ-
mas present for a quiet domestic circle could
i
scarcely be found n this class of literature. Tales
and sketches for the lovers of romance, reviews for
the critical, work patterns and directions for the
fair embroiderers, housekeeping receipts innu-
merable for the good manager, family pastime for
juvenile conjurers, and "Miscellanies" iu great
variety for the general entertainment. In this list
we must not forget to enumerate some useful prac-
tical articles on the adulteration of food, and some
really excellent poetry, some of it taken from
works by well-known authors. A companion to
this attractive little work has also been issued by
the same publishers, entitled " The Practical
Housewife." This is one of the most useful books
of its kind that we have yet seen. It does not
pretend to the dignity of a cookery book, but it
gives a great deal of the information usually to be
found in one. Its receipts for cleaning and re-
medying household accidents are apparently end-
less. The general remarks will be found of great
service by inexperienced housekeepers, and it gives
plain and practical directions respecting necessary
trifles often not included in books of direction.
Every housekeeper should possess this useful little
manual.

0/!'8 C;,)-c,lc of thG Ooiences. Orr an Op., Ainca

corner.

This valuable scientific work, which was origi-
nally published in weekly numbers, has now ap-
peared in three handsome volumes, which are to be
followed by others. MO subjects of the present
volumes are— " Organic Nature," " Inorganic
Nature," and " Elementary Chemistry." The next
subject is to be " Practical Chemistry." Many of
the first scientific names of the day are to be found
in the list of contributors. When we mention the
names of Professor Owen as the author of the
treatise on the "Forms of the Skeleton," and Pro-
fessor Ansted as the writer on geology, it will be
seen that it possesses great advantages. The great
amount of information contained in one of these
-volumes is indeed surprising, and a thorough
scientific education might be based on them. We
must not omit to mention that they are illustrated
by explanatory woodcuts. We trust this merito-
rious attempt to bring the means of self-education
within reach of all will meet with the support and
encouragement it deserves.

The Influence of Occupation on Health and Life.
By Joel Pinney, Esq. Longman, Brown, Green,
and Longmans.
A very sensible treatise on a subject of the last
importance in a laborious community like ours.
Much valuable knowledge may be gained from it,
including many startling facts and useful sugges-
tions. The vast importance of pure air—the deadly
effects of incessant mental toil---the need fir varied
exercise and careful attention to diet are power-
fully insisted on. " Those who are employed in
any mental activity beyond their natural strength,"
it is emphatically and truly said, "have been wear-
ing away the substance of tbeir brains, unbracing
their nerves, and overchargino• their blood vessels.
The hardiest frame," it is added, " must suffer un-
der the agitation of the mind, and the firmest
mind cannot long remain unharmed amid the suf-
ferings of the body." The author divides the com-
munity into fire classes, and points out the influ-
ence of their peculiar occupations on the members
of each, and the more or less of remedies,
adding thereto information respecting the animal
economy necessary to a due comprehension of the
subject. Altogether the work is one which every-
body should road and take warning from. Every-
body prizes life—yet how few act as if they did so.

Mechanics'
ava riety magazine.—Contains like its prede-
cessors of matter descriptive of useful in-
ventions, of a nature generally calculated to
beofser and
service to the classes for whom it is specially
designed_employers and employees, and also to
amateurs. The illustrations are numerous and
very fairly executed. The value of a magazine of
this sort in a manufacturing country where a new
invention may be worth millions to the State can-
not but be exceedingly great—stimulating as it
must do the mechanic to rivalry and increased ex-
ertion in so promising a field.

Zaphnah Paaneah; or, the History of Joseph. By
the Rev. Thornley Smith. William Freeman.
An interesting work, happily conceived and
judiciously executed—having this peculiarity that
the author eiders minutely into Egyptian history
and antiquities, bringing them to bear in a
felicitous manner on the elucidation of the sacred
text, the beauty of which we hardly need say is
irresistible. The author's aim is deserving of
praise, and we can congratulate him on having pro-
duced a valuable book, which young and old may
peruse with profit and pleasure. It is gratifying
to find our divines, whether of the Nonconforming
body or the Establishment, endeavouring so suc-
cessfully to keep pace with the progress of dis-
covery, not only by elucidating Scripture narrative,
but also by showing its harmony with recognised
facts.