The Sun.
London, England, 1858-01-14 00:00:00

THE LEVIATHAN--(This Day.)

This afternoon the Great Leviathan was pushed
dos; .1 the ways to the full extent she will be re-
quired to go before the actual launch, which is
postponed for the spring tides of Friday, the 29th
inst., or Saturday, the 30th. Five or six feet re-
main at the extremity of the ways, but the power
now required to move the vessel w ill be so small that
there will not be the slightest difficulty in hauling
her off at the full tide. All the preliminary opera-
tions are therefore complete, and no doubt is enter-
tained by Mr. Brunel about his being able to get
the vessel into the water on one of these days. She
will then be fitted up with all possible despatch, and
the public will be admitted on payment of a fee to
be hereafter regulated. Her Majesty and Prince
Albert have intimated their intention of inspecting
the vessel whex she is afloat. This morning,
there were hundreds of small boats on the river,
and the steamers brought down thousands of eager
visitors.

Owing to the quantity of water under the vessel
at high tide this afternoon, she yielded easily to a
pressure of 13 cwt. to the square inch.

Their Royal Highnesses the Duchess of Cambridge
and the Princess Mary will arrive at St. James's
Palace te-day, from Cambridge Cottage, Kew, for the
want season.
His Serene Highness the Prince of Leiningen and
his Serene Highness the Prince Victor of Hohenlohe
are daily expected to arrive at Howcbin's Hotel, St.
James's, where apartments have been engaged for their
reception.
The Duke anal Duchess of Hamilton have been
detained at Nice by the very dangerous illness of
Lady Mary Douglas. We learn with much pleasure,
from letters received in town yesterday, that her
ladyship has been pronounced out of danger.
The Marquis of Lansdowne will arrive at Lansdowne
House, to-day, from Bowood. The noble marquis
comes to attend the Cabinet Council, and returns to
his country seat on Saturday for a few days.
The Earl and Countess of Darby and Lady Emma
Stanley come to town on Monday next from Knowsley
Park, Lancashire.
Lady Stuart de Rothesay arrived in town yesterday
from Tittenhanger, Herts. Her ladyship will shortly
accompany the Marchioness of Waterford on a tour
through France and Italy.
THE ANNUITY TO THE PRINCESS ROYAL.—The Act
of Parliament (20th and 21st Victoria, cap. 2) to enable
her Majesty to settle an annuity on her Royal Highness
the Princess Royal was passed on the 26th of June last.
Her Majesty is empowered, by letters patent, to give
and grant unto the Princess Royal, or to such persons
as her Majesty shall think fit, for the use of her Royal
Highness, an annuity of 8,000/. for her life, to commence
from the date of the marriage of her Royal Highness
with his Royal Highness Prince Frederick William of
Prussia, to be free from all taxes, assessments, and
charges, and to be paid quarterly, on the sth of January,
the sth of April, the sth of July, and the 10th of Octo-
ber. The proportionate share is to be paid on the next
quarter day after the marriage. The annuity is to be
charged and payable out of the Consolidated Fund of
the United Kingdom. The annuity will therefore com-
mence on the 95th inst.

BRIGADIER HOPE GRANT.—This gallant officer, who
has just earned for himself an imperishable renown, by
the manner in which he acquitted himself in dealing with
the Gwalior Contingent, is the brother of the eminent
portrait painter, Mr. Francis Grant, and of Mr. Grant,
of Kilgraston, in Perthshire. The latter gentleman is
married to the sister of Lord Elgin, The Brigadier went
out with the late Lord Saltoan, as his aide-de-camp, to
China. The gallant officer is a man of elegant and
varied accomplishments, as well as of great military skill
and experience. He is about fifty years of age, and has
been married some years.—Morning Advertiser.
WESTMINSTER ABBEY SERVIOES.—We are requested
to state that an alteration has been made in the order of
preachers at these services. The sermon next Sunday
will be preached by Archdeacon Sinclair, and that on the
24th inst. by the Bishop of Oxford. The Dean of Can-
terbury will preach on some other Sunday.
AMALGAMATION OF THE TWO COMMERCIAL CHAMBERS
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Commercial Association are said to be progressing
satisfactorily, The terms have been arranged of the
directors of the two bodies, and only await confirmation
at the annual meetings of the members of the two
chain hers.
COST OF PRINTING FOR PARLIAMENT.—A return
presented to Parliament by the Royal command shows
that the total amount of the cost for printing for the
various Government offices (paper, printing, and binding)
during the session of 1856 amounted to 24,9821. The
Irish office figures for 6,4151., the Home-office for
5,9611., the Foreign for 1,4041., the Colonial for 1,3511.,
the Treasury for 3,5891., the Board of Trade for 2,3741,
the War Department for 1,7691., and the India Board
for 2,0191. The Admiralty only figures for 861. These
sums are exclusive of the cost of printing ordered by the
two Houses of Parliament themselves, and job-work
printing, The number of copies of each paper printed
varies from 1,750 to 4,750.
REePrre OF A MIIRDERER.—The execution of Christian
Settler, who was convicted at the recent sessions of the
Central Criminal Court of the murder of a police officer,
has been respited for three weeks, not from any doubt
as to the merits of the case, but to give time for the
argument and decision on a point of law which has
arisen and been reserved for the Court of Criminal
Appeal by Mr. Justice Crompton in a case tried be-
fore him upon the circuit, which has a material bearing
upon that of Settler.
The LATE MYSTERIOUS DEATH OF MR. E. B. GAS-
TON, THE TRAGEDlAN.—Yesterday, Mr. Baker, the
coroner, resumed and concluded an inquiry into the cir-
cumstances attendant upon this gentleman's sudden
death, which it will be remembered took place upon
Thursday last, at the house of a gentleman named Brook,
residing in Hackey-grove, where the deceased had gone
to spend the evening. The inquiry excited considerable
interest, in consequence of its being rumoured that the
unfortunate gentleman had died from the effects of
poison. This, however, happily proved not to be true,
and what gave rise to the report was that the deceased,
who had been some time out of an engagement, was
known to be in difficulties, and in consequence was of
late very much dejected. He had upon the Monday
preceding his death given an entertainment at the Manor
Rooms, Hackney, with very bad success, and this it
is thought seriously affected his general health. The
only evidence given yesterday was that of Mr. Hacon,
surgeon, of Hackney, who made a post mortem ex-
amination of the body, he stated the immediate cause
of death to have arisen from apoplexy, caused by
the rupture of one of the blood vessels attached to
the inside of the skull, which might have arisen from
deceased having run or walked fast ; in other respects
the body was healthy. The jury upon hearing this re-
turned a verdict of " Death from natural causes." The
deceased had been for about twelve years agreat favourite
as a leading actor at the east end of London, and his
last regular engagement was at the Standard Theatre,
the manager of whom has headed a subscription list,
and will, with Mr. Fullerton, a brother actor of the
deceased, attend to the present incidental expenses, and
temporarily relieve the necessities of three young chil-
dren, who are left quite destitute.
ASTONISHING PERFORMANCE BEFORE lIER MAJESTY.—
WINDSOR, Wednesday.—This morning, Mr. John S.
Raney, from the United States, America, had the honour
of exhibiting before her Majesty, the Prince Consort,
and the Royal Family and suite, in the riding-house,
his miraculous power over the horse, on various subjects
selected for the occasion. He commenced with a wild
colt, 18 months old, belonging to the Prince Consort,
which was brought from Shaw-farm, and which had
never been handled except by halter, and selected by
Colonel the Hon. A. N. Hood for the occasion. After
being alone with the animal about an hour and a half
the royal party entered, and found Mr. Raney sitting
on its back without holding the rein, the horse standing
perfectly quiet. Mr. Raney then made a few remarks
iu regard to his great experience in the treatment of this
noble animal. A dram was afterwards handed to Mr.
Raney, which he beat with fury whilst sitting on the
the horse's back, without the colt exhibiting any signs
of fear. The royal party afterwards withdrew for a few
minutes, and on their return found the animal lying
down and Mr. Raney knocking its hind legs together,
one of which he put against his face. Afterwards a
restive horse, from Mr. Anderson's stables in London,
which Mr. Raney had before handled, was then brought
in ; this horse was placed at one end of the riding.
house alone, Mr. Raney went to the other end, and at
his command the her. o walked quietly up to him. He
then made the horse lie down, in the presence of the
Queen, when Mr. Raney crawled between his hind legs,
and over him in various ways. Mr. Raney then rolled
the horse on its back ; the horse afterwards was placed
in various positions, in which it stood without holding
and without a bridle. A. third horse, selected by Mr.
Meyers, the riding master, as a very nervous animal,
was then brought in, and in a few minutes afterwards it
was made by Mr. Raney to do all which had been done
by the other horses. At the conclusion of this exhibi-
tion of Mr. Raney's wonderful power over the horse. his
Royal Highness the Prince Consort expressed to Mr.
Raney his gratification and thanks. The secret hal been
entrusted to Major-General Sir H. Airey in confidence,
who has pronounced that there is nothing in the treat-
ment but what any horseman would approve of. The
secret will be made known when a sufficient number of
subscribers have been obtained

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THE OPENING OF THE DIET.
BERLIN, JAN. 12.

The opening of the Prussian Diet to-day was
preceded, as usual, by Divine Service in the
Evangelical Dam and the Roman Catholic Church
for the members attached to the two different
Churches. TLe ceremony of opening the session
took place, as on former occasions, in the White
Saloon of the Schloss, which has been renovated
and much beaitified since last spring, but the
coverings of crimson velvet on the throne showed
one at once on entering that neither the King nor
the Prince of Prussia would deliver the opening
speech. A litte before 12 o'clock the various
Ministers entered the saloon in a body, and, after
they had taken their places to the left of the
throne, Baron ffanteuffel read as follows :

" Illustrious, noble, and honoured Sirs of both
Houses of the Diet,—Since the conclusion of your
last session our country has been afflicted by the
severe illness of his Majesty our dear King and
master—a visitation that has been deeply`and
painfully felt in every circle throughout the land.
We thank God that He has heard our prayers,
and averted from the august sufferer the danger
that impended, and that we are permitted to in-
dulge in the confident hope of his speedy and
entire recovery. In the meanwhile the suprame
conduct of public affairs has been delegated to his
Royal Highness the Prince of Prussia by full
powers, that have been renewed within the last
few days.

" The approaching marriage of a Royal Prince
closely related to the Throne with a Princess of a
powerful Royal House of kindred origin is hailed
by every Prussian with joyful interest. May God
grant all the bright hopes that attach to this
union may find their fulfilment, and be a blessing
to the Royal House and the country at large !
" In our pacific relations to all foreign Powers
nothing has caused any interruption.
" His Majesty's Government has, conjointly
and in perfect harmony with the Imperial Aus-
trian Cabintt, laid before the German Diet the
negotiations carried on with the Government of
his Majesty the King of Denmark, Duke of Hol-
stein and Lauenburg, with a view to the protec-
tion of the rights of Germany. We are resolved
in this important matter, and in union with all the
other Governments of Federal Germany, to insist
OR the vindication of German rights and interests.
(Loud and unanimous bravos.)

" Treaties of commerce have been concluded
with several States, and they shall be laid before
you for your sanction, as required by the Consti-
tution.

" The late harvest has, in most kinds of grain,
produced a larger yield than could at first have
been expected. In consequence of this plentiful
produce, conferring as it does a rich blessing on
the land, the prices of the most essential neces-
saries of life have fallen, while, on the other hand,
with many othr tall, - udispensabl, ;les

y lers, equ, y indispensable artic.
of consumption, this much to be desired allevia•
tion of unusually high prices has as yet not shown
itself.

" An especially good result has also been
afforded by last year's vintage. The wine-growing
provinces will herein find an indemnification for
the disappointed hopes of former years.
" In the completion of the bridges over the
Vistula and the Nogat, as well as in some new
lines of railway lately opened, the means of com
munication have received some important addi-
tions, and have exhibited the satisfactory result
of a constantly increasing development of traffic.
" Commerce and manufactures-r—wjeEr, lP
Luelshost part not been behindhand in development.
A shock to credit, however, that has extended from
North America to all the resorts of commerce in
Europe during the last few months, has, in its in-
evitable consequence, severely affected trade in our
country, particularly in certain manufacturing
districts. With a view to mitigating as much as
possible the pressure that has arisen there-
from, without at the same time doing too great
violence to existing legislation, His Majesty's
Ministers have been impelled to suspend for three
months the restrictions of the rate of interest as
fixed by law. The Ministerial order to this effect
will, without loss of time, be laid before you
for your sanction. "
Further, the bill for closing the Rent-banks
that was brought in during a former session and
not discussed, as also a law that is much wanted
for the better regulation of domiciliary settlement
in the eastern provinces of the monarchy, shall be
submitted to your approval.

sc you will, gentlemen, with gratification
see from the estimates for the current year,
which will be laid before you without delay, that
our finances are in good order, and that the
revenues of the State have increased in a most
satisfactory manner. Hereby it has become
possible, iu addition to meeting several undeni-
ably necessary increases of outgoings to allot
a small sum also for the improvement of the
salaries of at least some of the worst paid civil
servants of the Government which could not be
any longer postponed.
" Nevertheless, there will be many wants, both
in this and other branches of the service, left un-
satisfied,
and many wishes left ungratified.
" Gontlemen,—His Majesty's Ministers believe
that in their conscientious endeavours after the
welfare of the country in the present painful and
grave circumstances they may reckon more confi-
dently than ever on your assistance. In this con-
fident hope I herewith, in virtue of the authority
committed to me, declare the session of the Diet
to be now opened."
The only passage of the speech which produced
anything like an overt manifestation of satisfac-
tion was that with reference to the protection of
the German Duchies of Holstein and Lauenburg ;
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relating to the King's
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On the session being declared to be opened, the
President of the Rouse of Notables gave the word
and the time for three cheers for the King, and
the members separated, and set off for their re-
spective chambers.

A letter from Sistowo states that the assertion
in the Austrian journals, that the garrisons of the
Turkish towns on the Danube were to be rein-
forced, has not been confirmed. It adds that
new Pacha of Rouschouk, had
made his entrance into that town with great
Ismail Pacha, the
solemnity, and that the system of quarantines is
to be re-established in all the towns of the ainube,
which will, it is thought,
be prejudicial to steam
navigation.

Intelligence had
been received, at Vienn that
the European commission on the principalities bad
dissolved itself, and that M. de Talleyraud, the
a
French commissioner, had set out on the sth to
return to France.

RUSSIA.
A letter from St. Petersburg of the 4th, in the
Nord of Brussels,
says The year which has
just expired has witnessed a considerable modifica-
tion in the ranks in the civil service in Res4a.
Formerly, every civil clerk who had attained the
rank of councillor of State (sth class), likewise
every clerk at the end of a certain number of years
obtained, as a matter of right, hereditary nobility.
The Emperor Alexander limited that prerogative
to councillors of State (4th class), and to pass from

uepend on any
but on the will of
—asure is of great significancy,
.orunner of a more important one
in the committee of ministers, and of the
—tell of State—the total suppression of the
tchine, or rank by classes in civil service. In fact a
position which after a certain period would give the
right of hereditary nobility to persons in the go-
vernment service was the final object to which the
views of all the copyists and other inferior func-
tionaries tended ; they used all their exertions to
please their chiefs, in order to get advancement
as soon as the rules of the service would allow,
their principal aim being to attain the rank of coun-
cillor of State, and enjoy the privileges which the
law attaches to hereditary nobility. Such a state
of things was attended with considerable inconve-
niences, for a certain rank was necessary before any
clerk, however meritorious or well qualified, could
be made head of an office without having a certain
rank, it was therefore rank and not capacity that
permitted intelligence to obtain its just advantages.
A young man who had received a first-rate educa-
tion at home, and entered the public service, would
have to toil for years before he could be placed even
in the 14th class, low as it was, while others, far
inferior to him, would first enter five or six ranks
above from the fact of their having been brought up
at a public establishment. All these inconveniences
will be remedied by the new measure, which, it is
expected, will shortly come into operation, and
allow intelligence to exercise its proper influence."

IRELAND.

DUBLIN, WEDNESDAY MORNING.
ELECTIONEERING.

The canvass of Major Gavin and Mr. John Ball
for the voices of the Limerick city electors proceeds
with as much energy as if Mr. Speaker had already
issued his writ for a member to replace Mr. Ser-
geant O'Brien, appointed one of her Majesty's
judges in the Court of Queen's Bench in Ireland.
There is, however, nothing certain in this world,
and all is still doubtful. The Limerick Reporter,
received this morning, speaking of the progress of
the canvass, hints at a solution of the difficulty by
the appointment of Mr. Sergeant O'Brien, not to
the judgeship, but to the Solicitor-Generalship, an
arrangement which would be a great relief to the
Liberals.