The Sun.
London, England, 1858-12-24 00:00:00

THE ARMY

The following circular has been issued from the
Horse Guards, for the information of officers be-
longing to the various branches of the service :
" I am directed by Secre,tary Major-General Peel
to acquaint you that the contributions for messing
to be paid by officers of all arms of her Majesty's
service, including officers of the cavalry and staff-'
officers, for the passage to and from India to this
country, whether proceding by the overland or sea
route is fixed at the uniform rate of for all
officers. •

" Officers travelling by sea, between the colonies
and India are to be charged at the following rates
—viz., between India and the Cape of Good Hope,
New South Wales, or Mauritius, £3 2s. 6d. each ;
between India and Ceylon, 16s. Bd. each.
"In the case of all officer who receives an allow-
ance to find his own passage no such stoppage is
required. - "B. HAWES.
" The Officers commanding Regiments of In-
fantry and Cavalry, Paymasters, and
Regimental Agents."
On Wednesday evening nearly 200 of the wives
of soldiers who are now serving in India and else-
where were entertained at tea at Chatham by the
committee of the Association for Improving the
Condition of the Wives of Soldiers and Sailors.
The tea party was held in the National School-
rooms near Brompton Barracks, the persons pre-
sent being waited on by the members of the com-
mittee, assisted by a number of ladies belonging to
the ladies' committee of the association. During
the evening addresses were delivered by Major
Powys, the Rev. W. Conway, and the Rev. D.
Cook, with other gentlemen, all of whom have
taken an interest in the condition of the wives and
families of those soldiers who have left Chatham
garrison on foreign service. The committee of the
association give employment to nearly 100 women,
for whom needle work is found, many of the prin-
cipal ladies of the garrison personally superin-
tending the delivery and receipt of the work. The
committee have- also hired a commodious house at
Chatham, which is fitted up as a hospital for the
reception of the urgent cases of sickness, &c., among
the soldiers' wives. Since its formation the associa-
tion has been the means of effecting a vast amount
of good at Chatham among the class for whose
benefit it was established.

Major.:General Sir W: F. Williams, Commandant
at Woolwich, yesterday terminated his half-yearly
inspection of the garrison, which commenced on
Monday last.

BALL AT TILE TOWER.

Lieut.-Col. HepbUrn and the officers of the Ist Bat-
talion Scots Fusilier Guards, on duty at the Tower
of London, gave a ball last night to a large circle
of friends, comprising the rank and fashion located
in town. His Excellency the French ambassador
and, the Duchess de Malakoff and a brilliant circle
were invited, and above 150 members of the aris-
tocracy graced the festive union by their presence.
The ball was of course given at the officers' guar.
ters in the eastern end of the parade, by the White
Tower. At the entrance an awning protected the
visitors from the inclemency of the weather, well
lighted and tastefully decorated, the approach
being guarded by the privates of the gallant corps.
The interior was admirably decorated on the oc-
casion by the national flags. The mess-room was
converted into a ball-room, the walls being orna-
mented with trophies and armorial bearings
encircled with laurels. Over the fire-places were
the old and new colours (bearing the names of
many a well-fought field) of the regiment, the re-
gimental pipes, and flowers. In addition the room
was effulgently illuminated. In an adjoining
apartment the full band of the regiment, under the
able direction of the master, performed a variety of
well-selected music. Shortly before midnight sup-
per was announced in the field-officers' room, where
the choicest luxuries of the table were supplied.
Another apartment was appropriated for tea and
other refreshments.
At ten o'clock dancing commenced to an efficient
quadrille band, under the direction of Mr. Bradley.
Among the company were the following :—Lady
Chelmsford and the Hon. Miss Thesiger, Lord
Campbell and the Baroness Stratheden and the
Hon. Misses Campbell (2), Lady Frances Gordon
and Miss Gordon Lady Arthur Lennox and Miss
Lennox, Lord Bingham, Viscount Hinchinbroke,
Lady Graham and Miss Graham, Lord Garlics,
Hon. Dudley Campbell, Hon. J. Hallyburton
Campbell, Captain and the Hon. Mrs. Charles Hay,
Mr. and the Hon. Mrs. Higgins, Hon. Mrs. Heneage
and the Misses Heneage (2), Hon. Mrs. Astlev and
Miss Astley, Lady Gibson, General Sir William
and Lady Codrington and Miss Codrington,
Sir Charles Russell, General Monteith Douglas
and the Misses Douglas (2), Colonel Hamil
ton, Colonel and Mrs. IVyndham and Miss Wynd-
ham; Colonel and Mrs. Whimper, Colonel_Brown-
low Knox, M.P., Major Shuekborough, Major
Wombwell, Captain Maxse, Captain Keppel, Cap-
tain and Mrs. Drummond, Captain Buller, Captain
Ferguson, Captain Knox, Captain Bramston, Cap-
tain Lane, Captain Hamilton, Captain Tottenham,
Captain Tower, Mrs. Farrar, Mrs. Law and Miss
Law, Mr. and Mrs. Felix Smith and the Misses
Smith (2), Mrs. Durant, Mrs. Yarden and Miss
Yarden, Mrs: Lambton and the Misses Lambton
(2), Hon. Mrs. Wolff& _Mrs. Davidson, Mrs. L.
Curwen and Miss Curwen, Miss Courtenay, Miss
Barnett, Mrs. Langford and the Misses Lang-
ford (2), Mr. and Mrs. Granville Berkeley and the
Misses Berkeley (2), the Misses Dallas (2), Mrs.
Toler Miss Freemantle, Mr. Dallas, Mr. Cecil Ives,
Mr. Wombwell and Miss Wombwell, Mr. and Mrs.
Barnard, Miss Brigstock, Miss Hope Vere, Mr.
West, Mr. Cholmondeley, Mr. Perry, Mr. Rostock,
Mr. Stevens, Mr. Grant, Mr. Astley, Mr. J. Bram-
ston, Mr. Heneage Dering, Mr. Bond, Mr. Law,
the Misses Hamilton (2), Mr. Fitzroy and Miss
Fitzroy, Miss Graham, Mr. Dalzell, Mr. Eivart,
Mr. Lambton, Mr. Hugan, Mr. Elwes, Mr. Harry
Scott, Mr. Thurlow Astley, Mr. Stapleton, Mr.
Francis Gordon, &c.

The gallant colonel and the officers of the Ist
battalion of the Scots Fusilier Guards paid every
attention and hospitality to their numerous visitors;
and the entire proceedings passed off with eclat.

CJITIRCII-ILATE AT BOWDEN, CRESHIRE.—At a
meeting at Bowden, on Wednesday, a motion for a church-
rate of 3d. in the pound on all ratepayers was negatived,
and an amendment for a voluntary rate carried in its stead.
OHIO AND MISSISSIPPI RAILWAY COMPANY.—
The position of this company, whose first mortgage bonds
are largely. held in England, and the coupons on which
have remained under default since 1856, has Been c4refiilly
investigated by Mr. Alexander Trotter, of the firm of CaPel
and Co., by whom a tour was undertaken for the purpose.
In a circular to the bondholders he discourages any resort
to foreclosure, and expressei a conviction that if they will
agree to some plan of compromise for the current year, so
as to enable the revenue to be applied to put the road in a
sound condition, there need be no doubt that its future
' earnings will render their position perfectly secure. Mr
Trotter does not enter into any detail of the circumstance a
under which Mr. W. Aspinwall and his associates, by whom
the completion cf the line was undertaken, have allowed
this necessity for prolonged suspension to arise, but for the
sake of American railway management, which is every slay
falling into worse odour, although it seemed a year or:two
back to have, reached. its lowest depth, it, may be. honed a
clear explanation from those gentlemen will ultimately
forthcoming,