The Sun.
London, England, 1856-12-26 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDIAY EVENING, DECEMIVER 26, 1856.

PHEATRE ROYAL, HAYMARKET
1. THIS EVENING, Dec. 26, and SATUR:
DAY, to commence at Seven with the comedy of
THE HONEYMOON.
In consequence of Mr. Murdoeh's success he is leingaged 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 arrangedby 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.
ante of the Pantomime will be given on Thursday, Jan. 1,
and continue every Thursday throughout the holidays : com-
mencing at 2, concluding at 4.

toward collision between Persia and England be "
remembered throughout the discussions of the
Paris Conferences. And while all this is borne
in mind, diplomatically and politically, let its not,
in Heaven's name, forget the dread lessons taught
us during that terrible struggle for life and death
in the Crimea—during those deplorable do-nothing
campaigns in the Baltic—during that prolonged
contest before Kars—during that protracted
struggle before Sebastopol ! Let the late War
give us at least the good Fruits of a bitter
but wholesome Experience. Providence, promp-
titude, decision, every noble quality affecting the
awful Science of War, may thus actually grow up
for us, in full and mature vigour, out of the hesi-
tations, the remissness, the improvidence, and all
the other evil qualities affecting that momentous
Art during the last three years—more particularly
in such localities as Scutari and Balaklava Then,
but not otherwise, we may in a manner " pluck
the flower Safty from the nettle Danger." Then
we may in some measure repair the errors blun-
dered into during the avowed War with Russia, by
means of this new but tacit war with Russia
through, Persia ! Our Floating Batteries coming
into use (may be) just a little later on, and a little
further to the East than was originally intended.
Our gun-boats, ready at last, in the event of their
being anywhere required. Our gigantic Fleets
—no longer manned (according to the sneers of
Admiral Sir BOMBASTES BOBADIL) by " bald
men with spectacles"—in full and magnificent
efficiency. Our troops led to battle—not by any
mere amiable Military Secretary far gone in years
and never far to go in genius or discretion, nor
yet by old women, who ought by rights to be
playing whist at Bath, or talking scandal at
Leamington, or quaffing the chalybeate at Chel-
tenham—but, in lieu of these, in place of a HAR.-
DINGE or of a Srmrso:s-, one of England's young,
bold, daring, energetic, Sepoy Generals ! Yes—
, to the Sepoy Generals, the armies of England in

THEATRE ROYAL, AD EL PHI.
Great Attraction for the Holidays.
TO-NIGHT (Friday, Dec. 26), and Saturday, Dec.
27, 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 Inistle.
Harlequin and Columbine (a la Watteau), Madame Celeste
and Miss Wyndham ; Clown, Mr. Garden ; Pantaloon, Mr.
, Mr. Le Barr. Characters in the bur-
lesque 114
;NlSre.Tamurßeehdford, Mr. J. Bland, Mr. R. Romer,
Madame Celeste, Miss Wyndham, Miss Mary Keeley, Miss
Kate Kelly, Miss Arden, dm

4,7_4 TRAND THEATRE.—Manager, Mr. T.
Payne.—This Evening will be performed

ROBERT MACAIRE.
To conclude with the immensely successful novel Burlesque
Pantomime of THE MAGIC MISTLETOE ; or, Harlequin
Humbug and the Shams of London. The Fairy Christmas,
liss E. Wilton; Good Humour, Miss Norbury ; Mercury,
Miss Cameron ; Humbug, Mr. Herbert; Cant, Mr. Bolton ;
Baron, Mr. J. B. Johnstone • Sir Roland, Mr. Clarke ; Lord
' Lovell, Miss Craven • Addeiplte, Miss Cuthbert ; Crambo,
Master W. Edouin ; Lady Agnes, Miss E. Jacobs ; Baroness,
Mr. G. Lee; Furbilosa, Mr. J. Howard. Novel Harle-
quinade :—Clown, Miss Cuthbert ; Little Clown, Master W.
Edouin ; Pantaloon, Mr. J. Clarke ; Harlequin, Miss Craven ;
Columbines, Miss E. Jacobs and Mdle. Collison ; Premier
Dansense, Mdle. Marie Charles.
New and magnificent Scenery, die. New Curtain. New
Act Drop.
Commence at Seven. Stalls, 3s. ; Boxes, 2s. •; Pit, ls. ;
Gallery, 6d.
A morning performance of the Pantomime every Monday
at two o'clock.

OYAL SURREY THEA.TRE.
Lessees, Messrs. S;_lepherd. and Cresvriek.
•
THIS EVENING, DOUGLAS.
After which, HARLEQUIN AND THE SUMMER
QUEEN. Harlequin, Mr. F. 1;1ovor ; Clown, Mr. Buck ;
Pantaloon, Mr. Bradbury; the Four Sprites, the Fillis Fa.
redly ; Columbines, Mesdames Marie and Agnes.

time of war ought in reason to be committed.
Precisely, as the armies of France are committed
to the Generals who have first reaped laurels for

ASTLEY'S ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE.
Lessee and Manager, Mr. W. Cooke.
THIS EVENING (Dec. 26,) Shakspea.re's Tragedy of
MACBETH, with Mr. W. Cooke's Equestrian Illustrations.
Macbeth, Mr. James Holloway.
After which, the skilful SCENES in the CIRC E.
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 ; commenee at seven o'clock.
Pox-office open from Eleven till Four. Stage Manager, Mr,
W. West. Equestrian Director, Mr. W. Cooke, jun.

themselves in Algeria. Hindostan being the
school of arms for ourselves, as Algeria is the
schuol of arms for our neighbours. The title of
Sepoy-General being, in truth, a title of glory and
of distinction. Fur, let it not be forgotten that
the two greatest Captains of modern times for
England, were Sepoy-Generals---Sir CHARLES
NAPIER, the Hero of Scinde, and ARTHUR, Duke
of WELLINGTON.

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, drc., : —Miss E. Pearee, Mrs. J. Caulfield,
Miss Brunell, and Miss Summers ; Mr. J. Caulfield, Herr F.
Jonghmans, R. Grover, T. R,ino, T. Farrant, S. Jones, J.
Barker, W. Melling, and P. Corrie ; Masters Austin, Ben-
nett, and Corti ; Mr. Sam Cowell and E. Ma.ckney. Piano-
forte, J. Harroway, R.A. ; harmonium, J. Caulfield, jun. ;
director, Mr. J. Caulfield. Commence at Seven o'clock pre
wisely. Suppers, dec., 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.

The Times having in vain endeavoured to per-
suade the people to submit patiently to the fraudu-
lent attempt to enforce the iniquitous Income Tax
at its present enormous rate, and without modifi-
cation or revision, for a year beyond the time for
which Parliament intended to grant it, now,
according to its usual custom, endeavours to deter
by sneers and sarcasm all those who venture
boldly to propose decided ameliorations in the
mode of levying the impost. In this futile effort
it has mode a fierce onslaught on Mr. ROBERTSON
GLADSTONE and the Council of the Liverpool
Reform Association, who, refusing to listen
to the gentle amenities of the Thunderer, have
ventured to think for themselves, and to act in the
manner which they believe calculated to promote
the best interests of the nation. The address of
the Association, to the middle, commercial, ma-
nufacturing, and industrial population, together
with the promise of a second address, has excited
the wrath of the Leviathan to such an extent as
to induce it to cast aside the flimsy veil by which i
it concealed its real feelings on the subject of fiscal
reform—by pretending to desire a revision of the
Income Tax. We venture, however, to tell the
It scarcely appears to be yet realised by Eng- Times that "sneers are not arguments, insolence
it, nor arrogance honesty." The simple land that we have actually embarked again in a w fact that
new Eastern War. The threatened rupture with the Corporation of Liverpool, taking advantage of
America has blown over with the close of the
an Act of Parliament, by which it is fully autho-
Presidential Election—has blown over, indeed, so rised, levies some "150,0001. per annum on the
happily, for the time being, that the period of the trade of the Mersey and the neigbourhood for their
own local uses," has nothing whatsoever to say to
passing of the Republican fasces from the lictors
t
of PIERCE to those of BUCHANAN, is celebrated as the assessment of the so-called Property Tax. We
amicably in regard to the old Mother Country as shall not be induced into the trap so artfully laid
by the presentation to Queen VICTORIA. of the old by the Times by riding off on the collateral issue.
Arctic discovery-ship, the Resolute. The threat-
Nor can it indulge in a to Toque argument in
ened collision between the allied forces of France favour of its protegee the Chancellor. Even if
and Great Britain, and the maritime and military the Corporation of Liverpool have improperly
strength (or weakness—whichever it may be called) levied 150,0001. per annum, it affords no earthly
of the Two Sicilies—has likewise, in its turn, passed reason why Sir G. C. LEWIS should fraudulently
away like another nine-days' wonder. The sullen extract nine or ten millions from the pockets of
withdrawal of the British and Gallic Legations the English people. Neither RossoN nor RED-
from Naples being somewhat inconsistently fol- PATH could justify their embezzlements by the
lowed up—by nothing whatever of a bellicose assertion that there had been minor delinquents
character ! The rather stringent ultimatum (as it who appropriated the property of their employers
might almost have been termed) addressed to to their own use, even if the fact could be esta•
King BOMIA some months ago, being succeeded
blished beyond the possibility of doubt or difficulty.
oddly enough by the most affectionate personal Men might have been plundered by "bold barons,
felicitations addressed to his MAJESTY, only the or even Ministers of State, in "the good old times."
The Income Tax, such as it is, may not completely
other day, on the part of NAPOLEON 111., upon
the fortunate casualty of his (King B.'s) 1 strip the hard-working professional small trades-
escape from assassination ! The threatened man or clerk as the licensed robber who seized ou
conflict between Prussia and Switzerland, all his effects, and ill-used himself and family in
a
moreover, has, is its turn, been brought to an un-
ddition. But surely we are not to submit to pick-
expected and even (as one might say with Milesian- pockets and area sneaks because we have got rid of
laxity of phrase) before it had well had any be- the daring highwaymen and burglars who plun-

ginning—How ? Europe has recently learnt with
no inconsiderable amazement ! By the very un-
gracious—and History will hardly fail to add the
singularly ungrateful—rebuff addressed to the
Diet of the Helvetic Confederation by the Govern-
ment of his Imperial Majesty the third NAPOLEON

dered on a grander scale in former days ! As to
the personal attacks on Mr. ROBERTSON GLAD-
STONE and his coadjutors, they merely remind us
of the instructions of a despairing defendant to
his advocate, "We have no defence—abuse the
attorney for the plaintiff I"

—once upon a time the honoured and chivalrously-
defended guest of the Swiss Republic in his equally
romantic but less august character as the exiled
Prince Louis NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. The threa-

The Times has, however, exhibited the nature
and extent of the sincerity with which it pro-
fesses to support the cause of the oppressed and
defrauded middle classes, who earn their daily

tened renewal of hostilities between the Western
Powers and Russia in the matter of that
wretched little affair of the Isle of Serpents—has
in its turn, too, been glossed over as rather a bit
of a bore—being referred, with various other dip-
lowatic annoyances and territorial entanglements,
co the dexterous or sinistrous skill (just as events
may prove it) of that new hocus pocus Council of
Ten—the Paris Conferences ! Ruptures with
America, with Naples, with Russia again—be-
tween Prussia and Switzerland in re Neuchatel—
ruptures north, south, east, and west—have all
" blown over," as we have said, one after ano-
ther. Yet, at the very time we might,
for this reason, hope to be congratulating ourselves
upo❑ the hippy restoration of Peace—lo ! and
behold ! we are now once more actually embarked
in a New War, a new Eastern War, a war with
the empire of Persia.

bread by their daily labour. We cannot forget
how completely it deserted the cause it had pre-
viously advocated, when ➢lr. GLADSTONE brought
for ward his insidious financial scheme, which
secured a renewal of the tax for a longer period
than it had ever previously been granted, under
the specious pretext that it should after five years
be gradually reduced, and eventually extinguished
in 1860. It then afforded ample grounds to the
tax-paying community to exclaim, "Save us from
our friends ; we can protect ourselves against our
avowed enemies." As we recently stated, and
we now repeat the question, " having followed
sed long° intorvailo the popular opinion, and
proved the palpable unfairness of the 30-called
equal apportionment ! it grasped at the de-
ceitful and hypocritical pretensions of
Mr. GLADSTONE, and, expatiated on the blessings
of the gradual reduction and extinction of the

It will be well not to overlook in the midst of
this "confusion worse confounded," the veritable,
undeniable, actual, positive origin of this war with
Persia. What is it ? What is the real cause of
this rupture between England and Persia? Who is
the secret instigator of it? The cause is not Persian

tlx." By these 'means the chains were rivetted
on the natiol., which is still groaning under the
intolerable bur then. We certainly are not dis-
posed to place our case in the hands of ouch a
champion, or again to act under a general that
deserted his standard at the first summons.

ambition but Russian ambition ! The instigator

If any doubt could ezist on the gross and palp-

is not the Shah NASR-OOD DEEM, but the Czar
ALEXANDER 11. ! Let this net be forgotten. Let
it not be overlooked. Let it bo ever kept sedu-
lously in mind during the progress of whatever
maritime campaigns may take place in the Gulf of
Persia, or of whatever military campaigns may have
to be recorded as having taken place on the magni-
ficent tract of country extending from the waters
of that gulf to those of the Caspian Sea! Let the
Russian AUTOCRAT'S share iu originating this un-

able swindle of professing to assess all kinds of
"income," no matter from what source derived,
at the same rate, it must be removed by the
admirable " Dialogue on the Income Tax,"
which appeared in our impression of yes.
terday. That inimitable brochure goes to
the root
have used if Living,
" facts and tigures," such as COCKER. himself would
of th© entire question. By
and which his 1/ido/on ii sup-
posed t,t) cite to the puzzled Minister of Finance,

it clearly exposes the deception ; -proving that, so
far from being equal, it is the most unequal im-
post in its operation ever inflicted on a nation.
We have really no Property Tax, inasmuch as a
large and valuable proportion of the national
wealth totally evades the legitimate claims of the
tax-collector, while that which really contributes
to the exigencies of the Exchequer "is a gra-
duated tax, the gradation of taxation being so
contrived as to fall with crushing weight on the
shoulders of industry—to the relief of accumu-
lated wealth." The proof of this will be
found in the accurately and laboriously
compiled tables, to which, as well as
to the entire document, we refer our
readers. It will well repay perusal, going far to
establish the point for which we have long con-
tended, that the best possible tax is an equitably
assessed Property Tax, without any exemption,
however trivial—the worst, a charge on profits.
Let wealth contribute the quota to which it is
fairly liable, in return for the protection it enjoys.
Let industry go free, or, if at all charged, let it
only pay according to a just and equitable scale.

LATEST NE WS.

The latest intelligence from Switzerland says
the Charges d'Affairs of America and England at
Berne had endeavoured to bring about a good
understanding between Switzerland and Prussia, but
not being supported by the representatives of other
Powers, they bad failed. No change has takes
place in the war preparations of the Prussian
Government or the Federal Council. General
Dufour is engaged with a war committee in
organising the various military depots, and pre-
paring the points of defence. The veteran general
declared the other day that he would not hesi-
tate fur an instant to enter on a campaign with
his fellow-citizens ; and he added, " we shall soon
meet on the battle field." Indeed there seems to
be but one feeling in Switzerland, and that is to
resist. The permanent Swiss Council of War is
composed of Generals Dufour, Ziegler, Egloff,
Kurz, Bourgeois, Voilloy, Salis, Fisher, Stheliy,
Dolaragoaz, and Linden. Swiss from all parts of
Europe were arriving at their homes daily ; in
addition, a number of foreigners had written to
the Federal Government offering their services.

The committee appointed some time ago in the
affair of the fortifications of Stockholm have, it is
said, sent in their estimate of cost of the plan,
which, if carried out, will amount to between
3,000,000 and 4,000,000 ; besides this, the
arming of the works of defence will require a
further sum of between 1,500,000 and 2,000,000
more.

A despatch last night from Naples mentions
that the explosion of the powder magazine near
the King's palace was the result of a plot.

A letter from Rome of the 16th inst. announces
that the state of siege has been removed in the
Legations and the Marches, with the exception of
the two provinces of Bologna and Ancona. It
adds that a serious difference is said to have arisen
between Cardinals Alfieri and Antonelli on the
present high price of provisions. The former
charged the latter with permitting corn to be
illegally exported from Terraciva for the benefit
of his family who reside there.

division of the districts is such as, in proportion to
the population, to furnish at the same time the
men for the regiments of the line and those des-
tined to the regiments of the Landwehr who bear
the same numbers.

The Prussian army, consisting in time of peace of
about 80,000 men, comprises the Guard and the
troops of the line. The Guard is composed of two
divisions. The troops of the line are divided into
four sections, each subdivided into two corps d'arme
Each corps d'arance comprises two divisions, and
,acla division three brigades. The regiments do
not consist of more than two or three battalions.
The effective strength of the divisions is conse-
quently inferior to that of the French.

Iu war time the ordinary active army consists of
162,000 men ; the first ban gives a total of 150,000
men. The grand total of the military force of
which Prussia can dlspose, including all the re
sources of the active army, special corps, garrison
troops, the first arid second ban of the Landwehr,
exclusive of the Landsturm, amounts to 585,510
men and 93,850 horses.

Prussia owes to the mechanism which regulates
the organisation of her army the rank she has taken
among the great military Powers of Europe. Soffi-
cienu has been said of her special aptitude, but this
organisation, which bears no resemblance to that
of other armies was, perhaps, deserving of special
notice.