The Sun.
London, England, 1856-12-18 00:00:00

WEST INDIA MAILS.

The Royal West India mall packet Magdalena
arrived at Southampton last evening with the West
India mails. Her dates of sailing are :—Greytown,
Nov. 19th ; Panama, 23d. ; Jamaica, 26th ; De-
merara, 25 ; Bar badoes, 28th ; Porto Rico, Dec. Ist ;
Dominica, Nov. 29th ; St. Thomas, Dec. 2(1,
6.30 a.m.

The Magdalena brings twenty-seven first-class
passengers.
The freight on board includes specie of 470,350
dollars value in silver, and 49,735 " Plata Pina ;"
dollars value in gold and gold dust, 501,500 ; total
1,021,585.
Lieutenant D. E. Orr, R.N., late of the Imaum,
died on board on the 14th inst. and was buried at
sea. Quartermaster James Bolan, of her Majesty's
ship Orion, and John Wilson, of the Eurydice, also
died during the passage home as invalids.
Her Majesty's ship Eurydice was at Barbadoes
on the 28th ult. ; Brilliant at St. Thomas on De-
cember 2d ; Orion, Arrogant, and Intrepid, at
Colon on the 24th ; Imperieuse, Archer, Pioneer,
Cossack, and Victor, at Greytown, on the 26th ;
Imaum, Termagant Euryalus, Amphion, Tartar.
and Atalanta at Jamaica, on the 27th; the Arachne
was expected at Antigua on the Ist inst.
A Spanish squadron composed of three frigates,
six paddle steamers, and one brig, was at Havannan
on the 17th November.
The West India mail packet Wye broke down at
Grenada, and the Derwent was to take her service
on that route.
The Jamaica legislature met on the 11th of No-
vember, when, in the absence of a governor,th Major
d e Council
General Bell, lieut.-governor, p
and Assembly, for the purpose opened
fheFneabling them to
make such provision for the public service as was
rendered necessary by the expiryof several im-
portant revenue acts .on the 31st December next.
In his speech the lieut.-governorcongratulated
the members on the prosperity of the island. The
House of Assembly two days afterwards voted a
reply, in which it was said :
" During the brief period of your Excellency's adminis-
tration, no material change in the general condition of the
colony has been perceptible. We rejoice in witnessing the
present state of the markets for colonial produce, and the
prospects of the coming crops. But, though we regard
these circumstances
as encouraging, they do not augur any
sensible amelioration in the condition of the country, nor
promise permanent advantage so long as the slave trade is
permitted to exist in its present aggravated form in de-
fiance of existing treaties." ,

The early arrival of 500 immigrants from the
Cape Verd Islands was expected at Jamaica. The
island was healthy.
The business of the past fortnight (says Dc Cor-
dova) has been remarkably dull' although there
have been several arrivals. The market is amply
supplied with provisions, but trade is inactive.
Since our last, considerable inconvenience has been
felt in commercial circles for want of silver, which
is difficult to obtain even in our banking establish-
ments. Several invigorating showers have fallen
throughout the island, and the coming crops seem
favourable. The legislature is now in session, but
no alterations have been made in the tariff or ton-
nage dues, as was contemplated. Exchange on
London, 90 days, per cent. prem. ;60 days, 1
per cent. prem. ; 36 days, 1i per cent. premium ;
private bills, at par.
In British Guiana considerable embarrassment
was experienced, owing to the unexpected failure of
the negotiations for a new immigration loam. The
Combined Court was to meet on November 28, to
consider what could be done. The Governor's cir-
cular letter to the proprietors of estates who had
applied for immigrants, informing them of the
failure of the negotiations for an immigration loan,
and of the consequent impossibility for the colonial
government to make any advance, as contemplated
by the ordinance, fur the payment of the immi-
grants who are expected to arri re shortly from
India, and that there was no alternative but for
the parties who wanted immigrants to pay down
the whole amount in cash, had been much com-
plained of, but its reasonableness was being gradu-
ally recognised.
The weather during the past fortnight had been
too showery to be agreeable to the planters.
The exports during the fortnight included—
Sugar, 3,649 hogsheads, 259 tierces, 68 half-tierces,
1,771 brls., 350 bags. Rum, 1,127 puncheons,
276 hhds., 56 brls. Molasses, 414 puncheons, 20
barrels.
Trade among the merchants had improved since
the issuing of the Compensation Bonds to the Por-
tuguese.
Freights had also improved during the last fort-
night, and had risen from Is. to 2s. 6d. for sugar,
and from 2d. to 3d. for rum.
A correspondent, dating Bozbadoes, Nov. 27,
says Our market has continued to receive am-
ple supplies of provisions of all kinds, and ship-
ments having followed each other so rapidly it has
been imposible to maintain prices. Constant rains
have caused a material improvement in the appear-
ance of our cane fields ; and should the former
continue, the sugar crop of 1857 will probably
reach 35,000 hogsheads, being 9,500 hhds. less than
that shipped this year. Prospects as to prices next

season are cheering for the planters. The harve t
will be general in March. The island is healthy
the weather very pleasant."
PANAMA.

Panama was healthy. One railway was in a
secure and good state. In harbour, the flag frigate
American Independence, and the sloop of war St.
Mary, United States. Admiral Bruce, commander-
in-chief of the English naval forces in the Pacific,
was daily expected at Panama and Acapulco.
CHILI AND PERU.

We have advices from Valparaiso to the Ist, and
Callao to the 12th of Nov. Chili was tranquil.
The dispute between the civil power and the clergy
had been happily terminated, the bishop having
beenlcompelled to submit. Her Britannic Majesty's
screw frigate Tribune, 36 guns, had arrived at
Valparaiso, after a long passage, from Rio. Busi-
ness was rather slack in Valparaiso, and freights
difficult to be got. Mines in Copiapo are doing a
middling business, and the railroad is being ex-
tended into the heart of the mining districts, to
facilitate the exportation of the ores.
In Peru some agitation in favour of Vivasco
seemed to be spreading in Ariquipa. Troops had
left Callao to repress it. Business was very slow.
H.B.M.'s screw frigate Esk, Captain Sir Robert
Maclure, arrived at Callao on the 4th October aud
left for Panama on the 11th. The same day Admi-
ral Fourichon, commander-in-chief of the French
naval forces in the Pacific, gave up his command
into the hands of Admiral Lugcot. The next day
Admiral Fourichon left Callao, accompanied by the
officers of his staff, for France, on board the
English packet Limo. He was saluted in the
warmest manner by all the crews of the French
ships in harbour. The crew of her Britannic Ma-
jesty's frigate President joined the French in their
manifestations of regret on the departure of Ad-
miral Fourichon, through the gallantry and kindly
feelings of Captain Frederick.

L'ANNONCIATION.

FEINT PAR JALABERT.

An exquisite and most touching illustration of
Holy Writ, and one in which the artist has evi-
denced in a remarkable manner the originality of
his conceptions. Often as the divine incident of
the Annunciation has been portrayed before now,
it has never yet' to our knowledge been depicted
more truthfully or more beautifully. Although
the wondrous theme selected by M. Jalabert has
taxed, again and yet again, the imaginations of the
greatest painters of all the great schools without
exception, from the period of the mediaeval revival
of the Art by Van Eyck downwards, through
genius after genius, to some of the noblest mas-
ters, of the present century, in Christen-
dom. The conception and general treatment
of the occurrence, as here delineated by the
reverent hand of M. Jalabert, appear to us pecu-
liarly, among the many meritorious characteristics
of the picture, those most especially entitled to
our admiration. It is when viewing it in regard
to these, more particularly, that we are disposed
to accord to it, so earnestly and eagerly, the palm
of preference, despite even of those immeasurably
superior claims upon our homage in other respects
recognisable in the productions of the artist's
many renowned predecessors. The Annun-
ciation, as it is here depicted by the pencil
of M. Jalabert, reveals—to the right, the
Virgin—to the left, the Archangel. The beauti-
ful form and features of the Hebrew maiden
—(Ancillo& Domini, chosen by the Omnipotent
God, for her purity, from among all the millions
upon millions of the daughters of Eve, to become
the hallowed channel of Redemption) -- are
scarcely noted beyond the first instant by the
spectator, so subordinated are all the charms of
mere corporeal loveliness, whether of hue of
of outline, to the spiritual expression thrown
into the sweet, calm, holy, ineffable Null,
tenance ! The Annunciation is represented ,
as occurring when the Blessed Virgin is
at prayer, upon her knees, in the seclusion of -
her own chamber—when, in the midst of her de'
votions, she is startled by the Celestial Apparition.
Startled, but not affrighted ! For the artist hes
indicated this with a pencil of subtlest discri-
mination. The " Handmaid of the Lord" sur-
prised into a look of astonishment as she turns her
face towards the Heavenly Visitor—shrinking Te;
consciously as she does so against the wall upon
right hand—gazes upon the splendour of the Arch-
angel with an aspect of perfect and imperturbable
s
serenity. It is a touch, this, little less, in lb
is
way, than the touch of genius—the body
4n
startled, the soul is calm ! While,lily in his
mid-air, with wings furled, a blooming
there,
grasp, an aureole of glory about his head-- .
upon the left, gazing down upon the, young Tirg
in
• .
as he speaks, appears Gabriel, the angelic 'gegen
floating
ger, the Bearer of the Divine Announcemen.
Altog
au
ether, we repeat, the picture is exquisite as'
a wcrk of art beautifully commemorative of the
holy mystery of the Annunciation.

EVANGELINE.
PAINTED BY TMOMAZ FLED.

Beautifully has the artist here realised the
Evangeline." It it
of Fa
poet'shardly lovely c
he r eiaht ießo n—v
a"n
geline
It is the "literal portrait"ed as
of the
Longfellow.
Acadian maiden as she must have appeared in the
very crisis of her pathetic history, in the verf
midst of her sorrowful wanderings. Not BirL',.ll-
geline as she looked while standing " among tu°
guests of her father," when—
" Bright was her face with smiles, and words of
come and gladness ehe
Fell from her beautiful lips, and blessed the CUP as
gave it."
Neither, as she was, when seated upon that The;
morable evening by the side of Gabriel in
" twilight gloom of a window's embrasure,' whis,
pered to, and whispering, while— 00f
" Silently, one by one in the infinite meadows of hes the
Blossomed the lovely stars, the forget-nie-n°ts °f
angels." sißalled
Yet Evangeline, none the less—the true
shine of Saint Eulalie," as the neighbours the
her, the pride of the village of Grand Pre_dict
glory of the house of the rich farmer J3°_nea.,..a..
Bellefontaine, the betrothed of " Gabriel
nesse, the son of Basil the blacksmith 1' javeed
geline, "young and fair" still, as when she2,Aior,
to the music of the strings of Michael, the fiddler,
to
the merry old wight, with the " gayest of one
and of waistcoats !" But sad and solitarli e
who never, alas, with all her ample dowry of
was fated to delight aad

ig. . . bring to her husband's house, .._ -
abundance
Filling it full'of love and the ruddy faces of children'
Itb is the Evangeline, in fact, not of the Betroth %1:
" s throughom et" Something
gotuhre
there
wa rass"
"ut of the Search. Evangeline, of whom we read'
in her life,
unfinished ;
As if a ' morning of Jane, with all its in
shine,
Suddenly paused in d► fading, slowly de-
the sky, an '
incornpleuteei,eimanpderfseteuit:
scended
Into the East again, from whence it late had arise!),
The moment chosen by Mr. Faed for
delineation of Evangeline is one of those 'NM raw
ments commemorated by the Muse of Long
felle t
in the passage which relates how-
" Sometimes she lingered in towns, till, urged by the
fear within her, the pictoriao.
• •
She would commence again her endless search and
end •
Sometimes ineavour
elCurchyards strayed, and gazed on M 6
crosses and tombstones, dT
A
SAT BY SOME NAMELESS GRAVE AND THOUGHT V--
,
rERHATS IN ITS BOSOM SHE
Hz WAS ALREADY AT REST, AND
LONGED TO SITOIIS
BESIDE rum."
Wrapped in her cloak, seated upon a " nanjele! °
grave" with the rudely-carved stone cross at lt!
head, her dark tresses uncovered in all their siLePi°
but affluent braids, her sweet calm sad face
gazing upon vacancy in the depth of her " face
rnedita.tions,"— that is the Evangeline of the Pi°
turc and of the poera—it is Faed's Evangeline?
and Longfellovv's Evangeline. A lovely portial;
ture of youth, Grief, and Beauty—Hope Oh!
" springs eternal in the human breast") shinieg in
the eyes of the solitary maiden.--Despair as Tisibli
bud'
expressed iu the gloom of the surrounding
soap) !
----------
A correspondent of the Morning Advertiser sari ittib:l
been discovered that, according to "Burn's Ecclesias
Law," vol. 1, page 69, the judgment pronounced bY the
Archbishop of Canterbury upon Archdeacon Denisov;
even if confirmed by the Judicial Committee of th
Privy Council, will only a ply to the vicarage he bol(10,,
and will not deprive him Pof the office of Archdeaoon 0'
Taunton.

LeioNE Y MARKET

COMA L'iktf..l.; AL INTELLIGE'9.OI„.

gITY, Two o'ULOI,-
REDUCTION IN THE RATE OF
DISCOUNT.

Until a late hour yesterday afternoon the im-
pression generally prevailed that the Ban
Directors would not, make any alteration in the
rate of discount to-day. Then, however, when the
subject began to be more carefully considered, and
it was recollected that, unless they availed them-
selves of the present opportunity, nu modification
could be effected this year (next Thursday being
Christmas Day) some change of opinion ensued,
and during the early part of this morning a
reduction to 6 per cent. was spoken of
as certain. This view has proved correct,
for, after a very brief discussion, the direc-
tors separated, with the announcement that
the minimum was lowered to that quotation. The
general position of the establishment was known
to have improved in a degree that would warrant
increased discount facilities being granted, especi-
ally as the Reserve of notes on the 6th inst., when
the last return was completed, had risen above
5,Q00,000/., but it was thought that the active de-
mand for money, the tenacity with which the autho-
rities of the Bank of France retained their restrictive
regulation, the continuedinflux of gold to the conti-
nent, and the advance in the rate of discount at Ham-
burg,might have induced them to defer the measure
until the commencement of the new year. This
relief, therefore, coming as it does earlier than was
expected, cannot fail in affording the greatest satis-
faction to the mercantile community, whose confi-
dence in a revival of business early in the spring
will consequently be greatly increased.
The Liverpool Cotton Market yesterday closed
With firmness, and prices were extreme. The sales
amounted to 10,000 bales, 3,000 of which were
taken on speculation, and 500 for export. The
Railway -Share Market opened quietly, but subse-
quently improved, and closed at about the rates
current on Tuesday.

The ➢Magdalena, arrived from the West Indies,
brings $1,025,485, or about 205,0971., in specie.
Trade at Jamaica was exceedingly dull, but with
the approach of Christmas increased animation was
expected. In Demerara commercial affairs were
also in a quiet state. By this opportunity there
are advices from Sydney to Sept. 11, which is 13
days later. At that period the wool market was
active, and full rates were current. There are very
few letters and papers in town, and the information
relative to the recent gold discoveries is exceedingly
Meagre.

An improvement of above Y per cent: took place
on the Paris Bourse yesterday, in consequence of
extensive purchases by the speculators. Railway
*hares were generally at enhanced rates. A rumour
Was circulated on the Bourse that the application
Linde by the Syndicate of Bankers for permission
to form a Societe Anonyme had been unsuccessful,
the period not being opportune for the formation
Of any new company, especially of such an extent
as the one proposed.
The English Stock Market opened firmly at a
slight improvement, and as soon as the Bank
Directors' decision became known, a further ad-
'Pence took place, and the quotations are now
buoyant, although the transactions are not very
numerous. Consols have been 93 8, 93; and
Pak to 94. Exchequer Bills have declined to 3s.
and 4s. premium. The Bonds are 98k, and India
tends is. discount to 2s. prem. Bank Stock ruled
heavy at 217 i. The New 3 per Cents. are 931 to
94, and the Reduced 93i 4.
In the Foreign Market very few bargains have
been recorded, but higher quotations are current.
Turkish 6 per Cents., from 941 to 95, have risen
to 95 and 951, and the 4 per Cents. are nominally
firmer. Spanish Certificates have been dealt in at
6, Sardinian 5 per Cents. at 881, Dutch 2i per
Cents. 65k, and Belgian 4flper Cents. 98.
The transactions reported in the Railway Share
larket this morning have not been very exten-
sive, but prices have in most instances shown a
slight upward movement, having been influenced
by the reduced charge for discount announced
this morning by the Bank of England. South-
4estern advanced 10s. to 155., Caledonian 155.,
Xanchester, Sheffield, and Lincoln, 10s., and
"South-Western about ss. Paris and Lyons ad-
...tancod 11., Namur and Liege 55., and Grand
'Q'llnk of Canada ss. The East Indian lines rule

The last week's railway receipts, ascertained up
to this day, are in round figures as under :--

1856. 1855.
North-Western
Western
ctorth-Western 59,053 58,472
tautti-Western
15,..r1at0n 12,248 10,636
21-Idhind
nauth-Eastern ... 14,865 15,058
Caledonian
I.4rea,t Northern
'4,%lntashire and Yorkshire
Lancaster
and Holyhead
and Carlisle
quorth London
gorth Stafford
0 6,570 6,443
Shrewsbury
Worcester, :and Wolverh 3,879 3,532
and Chester
gchn burgh and Glasgow
Grand
and South-Western
Great
Trunk of Canada
Northern
Western of Canada 14,298 11,831
Alorthern of France
The following are the nominal prices of Foreign
18tecks :- Grenada Deferred Bonds, 6 7 ; Alexi_
!an, 24 I ; Peruvian 41 per Cents., 76 78 ; ditto
u Per Cents., 54 6 ; Portuguese 3 per Cents.,
14 46 ; Russian 5 per Cents., 106 8 ; ditto 41 per
Cents., 95 97; Spanish 3 per Cents., 42 1 ; ditto
Deferred, 24 I; ditto Certificates, 51 6 ; ditto
Passive, 51 6.
Joint-Stock Bank Shares have been almost
neglected, the only business done having been in
~
'°lnmercial of London, which improved about 10s.,
1-10.ng marked 28.
' Miscellaneous Shares have also been very in-
active. Peninsular and Oriental Steam declined
t°
68, being a fall of about IL, and Electric Tele-
graph were 94, also a decline of IL to 1/. 10s.
Canada Land Shares are at steady quotations.

BRITISH FUNDS THIS DAY AT ONF. O'CLOCK.

(From the Offietal List:)

Basinese done.
Itank Stock
3
Per Cent. Reduced Annuities
New_ 3 per Cent. Annuities
'"%ig Annuities, expire sth Jan. 1860 24
Ditto 30 Years, expire sth April, 1885 l7 15-16
media Bonds, £lOOO2
Ditto, under 21000 1 d
Console for Account 93i
Exchequer Rills, 24d.
£loo'. ......... ..
£5OO . ...........................
5ma11..............
..........
Ditto Bonds, 1858, 34 per C ....... 98. Cent •
PRICES OF FOREIGN FUNDS AT ONF. O'CLOCK.
Sardinian Bonds, 5 per Cent. .......
Turkish
Committee Cert. of Coup. not fun. 6
xurkieh Bonds, 6 par cent
Ditto Account
Dividends on the above Payable in Londor.
trench Renter, 4i per Cent.
Ditto 3 per Cent. 67f. 50c. ex 25f. 20c.
Belgian, 21 per Cent., ex. 25 francs ........ -
Ditto 4i per Cent.. ex. 25 francs
butch Exchange, 2 per Cen.;,., 12 Guilders 651
TWO O'CLBC6.

Consols (Money)
Ditto Aecotutt

Yeeterday morning a fire occurred in the premises of
d• S. Maw, surgical instrument-maker, No. 11, Al..
48gate-street, City. The damage is estimated at
several thousand pounds.
Yesterday afternoon a fire happened in the extensive
i'°rka of Mr. Waller, engineer and barge builder, carry-
411g on business in Upper Fore-street, Lambeth, and
extended to the river side. It was not extinguished until
at damage bad been done.
IR-Yesterday Lord Campbell announced the death of
Qr• Goodrich, one of the Masters of the Court of
ueen's Bench.
r, MR. THAOKERAY IN GLASGOW.—Now that the an-
t:(lllrits connected with Mr. Thackeray's lectures on the
tour Georges" have been made up we are enabled to
I,ltte that the Glasgow Athenmum has clearAd nearly
10/- by speculation. For his four lectures Mr.
„ raysackeceived only 1051., having at the same time
,4.)1711e under an obligation not to re-deliver them, or to
517 e any other lectures in Glasgow during the present
vtioter. He considered that he had been " done," and,
4cco rd •
. log to all accounts, was but indifferently success-
vi' In disguising his emotions. Mr. Thackeray had pre-
,19813, received 200/. for delivering the same lectures in
'lllblirgh.—Ologoio Citizen.