The Sun.
London, England, 1860-02-02 00:00:00

RUSSIA.

The following letter is dated St. Petersburg,
Jan. 22 :—" The Emperor, in consequence of the
intense cold, would not suffer his troops to assist
at the religious ceremony of the blessing of the
waters of the Neva. This is the first occasion on
which the troops were not present. During the
reigns of Alexander I. and Nicholas the troops were
always present, no matter how severe the cold. It
frequently happened that the officers, who were not
permitted to wear great coats, were forced to take
to their bed on returning to barracks, and several
severe accidents have occurred. The present Em-
peror is much more careful of the health and lives of
his troops. The winter is becoming terrible ; we
have 25 degrees Reaumur below freezing point. At.
Moscow the quicksilver h.s.s fallen to 34 degrees.
Such extreme cold has not been experienced for the
last five years. Our financial position is deplorable,
notwithstanding the assertion of certain organs who
have more respect for the censors than for truth.
The best commercial paper in Moscow cannot find
discounters even at 12 per cent. You may recollect
that reports were current here some weeks since
that the Russian Mission at Pekin had been treated
with indignity by the Chinese, and that these re-
ports were officially contradicted. The truth was
not, however, told, ana the censors moreover pre-
vented the publication of some curious details.
The facts are, that previous to the affair
of the Peiho the Chinese authorities were most
polite to the members of the Russian Mission.
The Mandarins and other exalted functionaries paid
them ceremonious visits at the Mission, a large
building surrounded by gardens, which are entered
by a multitude of doors, and the Chinese believed
that their good friends the Russians would assist
them against the barbarians of the West.
When
the check experienced by the allied naval force was
known at Pekin, accompanied by the most exag-
gerated statements, the conduct of the Chinese
au-
thorities became quite changed. A crowd
of police
agents was placed round the gardenissstioonta.ktehedocownn
the names of all who entered the 31.
sequence was, that even the serventsqtu
Mission, and the Russians were lefrperfect
ly
isolated, as if they
laz ars: left perfectly-
p aStueehheawrou.
ceived from Pekin."
their position at the
weleare in a
the teof

BOAT ACCIDENT
aAtTAAbeßrdEenenDEbEeNin.g—fTarhelesMrseviatehiseif
on Monday morning t
than for a day or two back, a considerable number of the
white fishers went to sea, and pursued their work success-
fully till about midday, when they prepared to enter the
harbour again. Suddenly, however, a gale sprang up, and
just as the boats were entering the bar they were met with
what is known among the fishers as a "fresh water lump,"
and one of the boats with a crew of six was swamped.
Fortunately, a companion boat was pretty near, and all the
fishers, with the exception of an elderly man named Alex-
ander Walker, were saved. It was impossible, however,
to save Walker, and the grief for his loss was augmented
in an hour afterwards when another boat, in making for
the harbour, suddenly capsized, and her crew, six in num-
ber, were pitched into the sea. The scene at this time on
the pier was most lamentable. The " Square" where the
fishers reside close neighbours to each other, is within 200
or 300 yards of the harbour entrance, and the whole of the
families of the various crews were congregated) in hundreds
on the pier, shrieking and weeping for the safety of fathers,
husbands, and sons. Happily, the lifeboat vvas at the bar
when the second accident occurred, for heal not this been
the case not a soul could have been saved. As it was, only
four of the six poor men could be rescued—the two drowned
being Robert Walker, a son of the old man who perished
from the first boat, andi -w
George Forbes. All. the unfortu•
nate fellows were married, and have left families. It may
be mentioned that, with rare exceptions, few of the fisher-
men on the Scottish North-Eastern coast va3 swim.

PROVIDENT CLERKS' MUTUAL LIFE
ASSURANCE ASSOCIATION.

Established 1840.
TRUSTEES.
Thomas Barim', Esq., 31.1'. I William George Prescott, Esq.
Thomson Hankey, Esq., M.P. I Baron L. de Rothschild, 31. P.
MUTUAL LIFE ASSURANCE FOR ALL CLASSES.:4
Annual income
Invested Fund
Rifle Corps.—No extra charge made to Assurers joining
Volunteer Corps.
The balance-sheets for the year 1859 are printed, and can
be had on application at the office, 15, Moorgate-stret, E.C.
Feb. 2, 1860. W3I. THOS. LINFORD.

ROYAL

ENGLISH OPERA,
COVENT-GARDEN.
Under the management of ➢tiss L. Pync and Mr.W. Harrison.
THIS EVENING, a new Operetta, entitled ROMANCE,
➢iusic by Henry Leslie. Messrs. G. Honey and W. Hart ison:
Miss Thirlwall and ➢fiss Louisa Pyne.

Cond actor, Alfred Mellon.
To conclude with the new grand pantomime, called PUSS
IN BOOTS ; or, Harlequin and the Fairy of the Golden
Palms. Messrs. W. H. Payne, H. Payne, F. Payne, Barnes,
Tallien, Infantsuri, and Miss Clara Morgan.
Doors open at half-past 6—Commence at 7.

•
THEATRE-ROYAL, HAYMARKET.
Lessee, Mr. J. B. Bnckstone.
•
THE LOVE CHASE. Constance, Miss Amy Sedgwick.
After which, the new Haymarket Comic Christmas Panto-
mime, VALENTINE'S DAY; or, Harlequin and the Fairy
of the True Lovers' Knot. The pantomimists the unrivalled
Leclercqs.

THEATRE-ROYAL LYCEUM.-
Sole Lessee and Directress, Madame Celeste.

Last Nights of the Spanish Dancer, Isabel Cubas,

THIS EVENING, a new Drama, called A TALE OF
TWO CITIES, by Tom Taylor, Esq., from the story of that
name by Charles Dickens, Esq. Principal characfers by Mr.
James Vining, Walter Lacy, Villiers, Rouse, Forrester, J.
Johnstone, T. Lyon, Morton, Palmer, White, H. Butler,
Clifford, and Fredericks ; Misses Kate Saville, Stuart, Turner,
Mrs. Campbell, and Madame Celeste.
After which, will be produced a new Grand Christmas Ex-
travaganza and Pantomime, KING T MIS I IBE AR D, the
LITTLE PET and the GREAT PASSION. Clown, Mr.
Marshall—Columbine, Miss Rosino.

Commenoe at 7.

ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE.-
Lessee, Mr. A. Harris.
Re-engagement of the Wonderful Dancer, Mons. Espinosa.
First appearance of Mdlle. Marietta Rosetta, Principal Dan-
sense of La Scala, Milan ; and the Delapierre Family.
These highly-talented Children will appear every night.
The Royal Princess's Rifles on parade every evening.
THIS EVENING, THE CRICKET ON THE HEARTH.
After which, a new Christmas burlesque pantomime, by H.
J. Byron, called JACK THE GIANT KILLER ; or, Harle-
quin King Art'Aur and the Knights of the Round Table.
Jack, Miss Louise Keeley—Harlequin, Mr. Cormack - Panta-
-oon, Mr. eaulo—Columbine, Miss Caroline Adams—Clown,
Mr. A. F. Forrest.

MEW THEATRE - ROYAL, ADELPHI.
-LI Sole Proprietor and Manager, Mr. BenJ. Webster.
Reproduction of TILE DEAD HEART, with all its power-
ful effects.
THIS EVENING, TIIE DEAD HEART. Messrs. B.
Webster, J. L. Toole, David Fisher, P. Bedford, C. J. Smith,
Billington, Powell, Romer, Miss Woolgar, K. Kelly.
:7- After which THE NYMPHS OF THE LURLEYBERG ;
or, The Knight and the Naiades. Messrs. Toole, Bedford,
Eburne, Smith, Powell, Romer, Miss Woolgar, C. Webb, K.
Kelly, Laidlaw.
Doors open at half-past six—Commence at seven. Box-
Moe open from 10 to 5. No charge for securing seats,
nor fer bills of performance. All fees to servants of this
establishment are strictly prohibited.
Acting Manager—Mr. Wm. Smith.

ROYAL ST. JAMES'S THEATRE
Wing-street, St. James's. Lessee, Mr. T. B. Chatter.
ton. The nearest Theatre to Chelsea, Pimlico, and West-
minster, the Park being open to carriages and foot passen
gers all hours of the night.

Last Week of the Pantomime.

THIS EVENING the performances will comments with
A BORDER MARRIAGE. Messrs. 11. T. Craven' Charles
Young, G. Spencer, and Miss Wyndham.
After which, a new Tragic Ballet, entitled MY NAME IS
NORVAL. Supported by C. Young, Barrett, Miss Lydia
Thompson, Clara St. Casse, &c.
To conclude with the new pantomime of PUNCH AND
JUDY. Introducing Miss Lydia Thompson and the Corps
de Ballet. Clown, Harlequin, Columbine, and Pantaloon, and
the wonderful Performing Dogs.
Reduced Prices—Gallery, Od ; Pit, la. The Box-office open
from 11 to 5 daily. Doors open at half-past six; perform
ance commences at 7.

ASTLEY'S ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE
Westminster-road.

Last Three Weeks of Mr. W. Cooke's Season,

THIS EVENING, the Grand •Illustration of Shakspeare's
RICHARD THE. THIRD, or The Death of White Surrey.
Richard, Mr. Ennis; Richmond, Mr. R. Phillips, New Olym-
pian Scenes in the Circle by the first riders of the day-Mr
W. Cooke's great Mennge Act-terminating. with the" nines-
trian, Operatical, and Comic Pantomime of HARLEQUIN
TOM MOODY ; or, Old Towler thelluntsman and the God-
dess Diana ; Diana, with Songs, Miss Jacobs.-Costly and
dazzling Transformation Scene.-Ilarlegnin, 31. Richarde ;
Columbine, Mdlle. Mazoni ; Clown, M. Hilderbrandt ; Pan-
taloon, Mr. I'. Abbot -A family of Sprites-Epsom Races by
Living Jockies and real Ponies, with ring and Stage com-
bined.
Commence at 7.
- •

Grand Morning- Performances of the Pantomime on Satur•
Feb. 4 and Saturday, Feb. 11, at Two o'clock each day.

CANTERBURY HALL CONCERTS.--
EVERY EVENING. Sterndale Bennett's MAY
QUEEN.
And a Grand Selection from Meyerbeer's new opera of
DINORAIL.

Comic Vocalists —Messrs. George Hodson (the Irish Come•
Man and Mimic), W. T. Critchileld, and E. W. Mackney.

Several interesting Pictures are added to the Fine Arts
Gallery. The suite of llalls have been re-decorated and
beautified, and constitute one of the most unique and brilliant
eights of the metropolis.
ROSA BON HEUR'S celebrated PICTURE of the HORSE
FA llt is now added to the already magnificent Collection of
Paintings In the Canterbury Hall Fine Arts Gallery. The
gallery is open from 5 till 11 on Sunday Evening.

THE WEATHER.—SUN OFFICE, FEB. 2, 1860.
THERMOMETER, IN THE SHADE.
41—highest since noon yesterday.
35—lowest this morning and during the night.
38—this day at noon. _

BAROMETER-29.98.
WIND, North-Westerly ; fresh, with bitter cold wind
and frost, but fair.

HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.
TRIS DAY.—Morning, 7h. 26m.—Afternoon, 7h. &3m,
To-MORROW.-Morning, Bh. 22m.—Afternoon, Bh. Mm,

A.?*
, ler 1+ 0 IT
• • •

THE SUN.
LONDON, THURSDAY, FEB. 2, 1860.

The terror of the Ballot is upon Parliamen
It is clear that come it mast so one more effort is
to be made to stave it off. Sir FITZROY KELLY has
brought forward his bill, now Mr. MELLOR proffers
us another, and Lord PALMERSTON assures the
House that within its immaculate walls bribery
is much more detested than it is in
the country ; that, in short, the virtuous
house would keep itself pure, if the constituencies
would allow it to do so. The house, our Premier
has the face to assure us, meant the Corrupt Prac-
tices Act as a bona fide measure, and that notwith-
standing the assurance of Sir W. ITAYTvIt himself,
that he, from the day it was passed, considered it to,
be a dead letter, and paid no kind of attention to it.
Yet the noble lord pleads this very act as the proof
that the house was better than the country ! The coun-
try, we beg to inform him, thinks just the reverse.
It believes that the election auditor was made a
nullity, and the members' declaration withdrawn,
for the distinct reason that Honourable mem-
bers might, as before, bribe with impunity.
For ourselves we never had the smallest doubt that
the Act was a designed sham, and that it was in-
tended, by an empty show of legislation, to evade
the necessity of the Ballot.
And now the Government means to do some-
thing, and it will behave decently to Sir FITZROY
KELLY and to Mr. MELLOR, lest it should be with-
out excuse. Lord PALMERSTON has most adroitly
quieted the great free-traders by granting them the
object of their heart's desire. He has ',bought the
g
cotton interest with cheap French wines ;
though it remains to be seen whether the country
will pay income tax patiently in order that French
wine-growers may
send us their luxuries. If any-
thing should furnish us revenue it is confessedly
superfluities ; and if French wines be not in that
category we should like to know -what are. Spare
us the income tax, and we could still afford all we
need of the luxury in question, but how intolerably
hard will it be on the thousandsC and tens of thou-
sands who could not afford in amy case to be wine
drinkers, or who must economise, to be forced
to pay income tax that wine drinkers may
enjoy their luxury at the lowest pike. on thi-,,,
however, we must defer remarks till we see the
Treaty awl financial measure together ; we only
note it now, as the cleverest trick of our Anti-
Reform Premier, that he has fairly bought the
most infiu eneial and ablest knot of Parliamentary
Reformers its the Kingdom; .itmN BRIGHT and
his two friends will no more trouble the
Premier on the score of Itcd'orm, after he