The Sun.
London, England, 1859-12-14 00:00:00

TUE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 14, 1859,

BENSON'S WATCHES.
" Perfection of mechanism."--Morning Post.
Gold Watches 4 to 100 guineas.
Silver Watches
33 nd lt , Ludgate-hill, London, E.C.

rend 2 stamps for Benson's Illustrated Pamphlet on Watches,

ROYAL ENGLISH OPERA,
COVEN T-GA RDEN.
Under the management of Miss L. Pyne and Mr.W. Harrison.

THIS EVENING, THE CROWN DIAMONDS. Messrs.
G. Honey, H. Coril, St. Albyn, and W. Harrison ; Miss Tlitrl-
Wall, and Miss Louisa Fyne._

Concluder, Alfred Mellon.

Ballet, LA FIANCEE. Messrs. W. 11. Payne, H. Payne,
F. Payne, Mdlle. Lequine, Pasquale, Pierron, Clara Morgan,
and Mons. Vandris.

Doors open at half-past 7—Commence at 8 o'clock.

THEATRE-ROYAL, HAYMARKET.
Lessee, Mr. T. B. Backstoue.
THIS EVENING the performances will commence with
A CURE FOR THE HEARTACHE.
After which, by desire, THE CONTESTED ELECTION,
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Mathews, Mr. Buckstone, &c.
And A KISS IN THE DARK.

Commence at 7.

ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE.-
Lessee, Mr. A. Harris.

THIS EVENING, the new drama, entitled HOME
TRUTHS. Messrs. G. Melville, J. G. Shore, F. Matthews,
Miss C. Lec'ercq and Mrs. Charles Young.
Followed by A WONDERFUL WOMAN. Mr. A. Harris,
Shore, Frank Matthews, and Miss C. Leclercq.
After which, Mons, Espanosa (Premier Danseur Comique),
will appear, with Marine. Nariquita, assisted by the Ladies of
the Corps de Ballet, in Le Grand Pas du Dervish de Faust, as
danced by him 150 consecutive nights at the Theatre de la
Porte St. Martin, Paris.

To conclude with NtiltSF.Y CHICKWEED. Messrs.H.
Widdicomb, Meadows, H. Saker ; Miss L. Keeley and Mrs.
Weston.

"VIEW THEATRE - ROYAL, ADELPHI.
1-1 Sole Proprietor and Manazer, 3fr. Beni. Webster.

THIS EVENING, THE DEAD HEART. Messrs
B. Webster. J. L. Toole, David Fisher, Paul Bedford. Stuart,
Billinzton, C. J. Smith, Ebarne, Moreland; Miss Woolgar,
and Miss K. Kelly.

Followed by the successful niece of extravagance, called
DINORAH TINDER DIFFICULTTEg. Messrs..l". L. Toole,
P. Bedford, C. J. Smith, Eburne, and Miss K. Kelly.
Doors open at half-past six—Commence at seven. Box-
Office open from 10 to 5. No charge for securing seats,
nor for bills of performance. All fees to servants of this
establishment arc strictly prohibited.
Acting Manager—Mr. Wm. Smith.

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

THIS EVENING, a new Vaudeville Comedietta, called
THE KEY UNDER THE DOOR-MAT. Messrs. James
Vinninn*, Jno Rouse, &c. ; 3lesdames A, H. Hatton and Julia
St. George.

To be followed by the new Drama Fantasfique, entitled
PARIS AND PLEASURE ; or, Home and Happiness.
Principal characters by Messrs. W. Lacy, J. Vining, J. John-
stone, F. Villiers; Misses Julia St. George, Hudspeth, Kate
Saville, A. Burdett, and Madame Ueleste.
Po conclude with ST. MARY'S EVE. Madame Celeste
and Mr. Rouse.

ROYAL ST. JAMES'S THEATRE,
King-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.

THIS EVENING, THEY'RE BOTH TO BLAME.
Followed by MAGIC TOYS, support :d by Miss Lydia
Thompson, Clara St. Cassc, &c.

After which, A DESPERATE GAME.

To conclude with the New and Original Burlesque, by L.
Buckingham, Esq., of VIRGIN lEJS ; or the Trials of a Fond
Papa. Virginius, Mr. Charles Young.
Reduced Prices—Gallery, 6,1; Pit, Is. 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.

Sole Lessee—Mr. William Cooke, his Farewell Season.

THIS EVENT NM, the grand melo-dramatic production,
lay Tom Taylor, Esq., called GARIBALDI; illustrating the
pn^cipal events in the Life of the Great Italian General.
To be followed by New and Transcendant Equestrian Talent
of Young 3lenoni, supereminent in his somersaults and inap-
proachab'e—The brilliant Lady Eider, Mias Emily Cooke—
Toe Wonderfully-seho,led Does and Monkeys, and Intelli-
frent Elephant—Amazing .Erial Rondines by John Penry
Cooke, the first horseman in the Universe—Equestrian Thind
Man's Buff—Vaulting Ambition, by the treble-headed Won-
ders—Sig. Delavanti and his ,:dmirable Protmees, varied by
those heralds of fun, the Clowns, Mimes, and Drolls.

To commence at 7.
Stage Manager, Mr. R. Phillips

CANTERBUR Y HALL CONCERTS.—
EVERY EVENING.—The 3rusfe, of Verdi's Opera of
MACBETH (now first made public in England at these Con-
certs).

And a Grand Se eetion from neyerbeer's new opera of
DINORAFI.

Comic Vocalists —Messrs. (leorre Fro son (the Irish Come-
dian and Mimic), W. r. Crithlifield, and E. W. Mackney.

Several interesting, Pieturos are added to the Fine Arts
Gallery. The ainte otll-; have been re-decorated and
beautified, and conatitute one of the most unique and brilliant
sights of the metropolis.

R.nSA BONHEUR'S celebrated PICTURE of the HORSE
FAIR is now added to the already marruiticent Collection of
Paintings in the Canterbury Hall Fine Arts Gallery. The
gallery is opeu from 9 am. Lill 12 p.m. Admission, Six-
pence.

THE WEATHER.---SUN OFFICE, DECEMBER 14.
THEXIXOMETIIt, IN THE STIADR.

40—highest since noon yesterday.
30 —lowest this morning and during the night.
33—this clay at noon.

BAROMETEII-29.97.
WIND, North; fresh, with fine sharp frosty weather.

HIGH WATER. AT LONDON BRIDGE.
Tins DAY.—Morning, 4h. 36m.—Afternoon, 4b. 59m.
To-monnow.-Morning, sh. 24m.—Afternoon, sh. 49m.

itc•tti
• 4'
'*l.
y 1
-

THE SUN.
LONDON, WEDNESDAY, DEC. 14, 1859.

What is " the situation ?" as our neighbours
would say. Neither they nor we may be able to an-
swer'the question very precisely, yet it is in many
respects apparent enough to all attentive observers.
and is a question of deep interest to us all. Who
can look on the nations of Europe now, and not feel
that we may be, and most probably are, in the
midst of a political crisis? Beyond the immediate
centre of action we see Turkey heaving with finan-
cial and administrative reforms, which have called
forth one vast conspiracy, and may yet engender
others; while its neighbours are watching curi-
ously every writhing of the " sick man." Enough
there is in him of material, of commercial, of financial
resources to send the blcod vigorously again through
his veins, if he could but sccure the single blessing
of a few honest, determined, and able servants. Will
such arise ? Will the occasion create the man in
Turkey? Spain again, little and but indirectly con-
cerned in Italian matters, has her own little busi-
ness in hand—one which the numbers, bravery, and
whirlwind-like tactics of Moorish cavalry may ren-
der a more tedious one than she expects—one on

which Europe looks chiefly with the inquiry,

Does Spain really wish to become an African power,
or will she venture to pick a quarrel with England
by rendering herself mistress of both sides of the
Straits ? Little danger of that while Cuba is at our

mercy, after we have paid her nearly half a
million for abolishing that Slave-trade which she
and, the Freedom-loving subjects of Presi-
dent BUCHANAN still uphold in furl

vigour. Germany, too, has a small struggle
for freedom in hand, in the petty but much wronged
State of Hesse, but that will make little difference
we fear. The Germans, unlike their ancestors,
have little love of freedom. They arc essentially
a set of political children, fond of having all done
for them, and they will not soon be free. They
can theorise, write, and vapour, but there is more,
we believe, of the substance of manhood in Rus-
sian serfs than in German p. wants. And Russia,
by ,the way, even she is in an interesting condition,
and some great improvements must result from
emancipation of the serfs—she will then possess
an energy unknown to her before.
But it is France, Austria, and Italy that we all
think of when we look to the Continent and anti-
cipate the approaching Congress. France self-
contained—united in its poAl-er at least, and ready
to move it all as the one m m at her head shall
direct. .Italy united in wish and hope, divided

politically, yet desirous to couLiuc

probably from the Alps to Sicily itself, but kept
smarate by a BOURBON and .a POFE within her,
and: by a mighty pressure without exerted not to
am: klgamate„ but to crush .apart all the sections
whiith past years had Created. Still Italy is strong
if let t to herself. Long experience of Austria, cf
Pan and ofßoußnoNs have rendered all parts of
the country enthusiastic for union, and for union

under a Constitutional Monarchy. Italy
,knows
her mind. Setting aside him of Naples, who
must soon mend or move off if the
northern part of Italy obtained its objects,
Italy wants to relieve the POPE and his
Cardinals entirely of the cares of temporal govern-
ment, to leave him the chair of ST. PETER, and to
form one strong kingdom under the dynasty of
SAVOY. The Duchies and half the States of the
Church have done the thing as far as they could ;
the other half would follow but for French soldiers,
and Venetia is emigrating as fast as she can, to com-
plete the army of 50,000 men which Central Italy
under FANTI has already nearly organised. Even
while forced to keep apart, these:States have strug-
gled into a kind of unity, under the Headship of
BUONCQMPAGNI.

flow, then, must the two great belligerents look
down upon what both wish to hold more or less as
their prey, though one prates of liberated Italy,
while the other does not conceal that she prefers
the stick, the dungeon, the bullet, and the gallows
as her instruments of government ! France, since
the ignominious failure of "my cousin's" courtship
of the Tuscans, thinks her interest concerned in a
divided and weak Italy, that she may reign by
divisions throughout the Peninsula. A mean and
ignoble policy. There is no reason for France to
fear any modern Italian CtESAR. It is ungenerous
in the extreme, therefore, to wish to deprive a
whole people and race of the advantages of unity
and good government, that France may regard
herself as the virtual ruler of half-a-dozen Italian
satraps. May we not hope that France, now she
cannot have a NAPOLEON there, will have mag-
nanimity enough to stand still and see Italy save
herself.

But the situation of the late great oppressor of
Italy is daily becoming the most critical and
anxious of all. Austria seems to be falling to
pieces. Her parts never had natural cohesion ;
they were clamped together by the pressure of an
enormous army, which even then required the
pressure of a Russian army quite as large to keep
Hungary beneath her hated rule ; and now that the
army has lost its prestige, and is itself exasperated
by defeat, almost every province is either in covert
rebellion or showing its utter indifference to the
fate of the HAPSBURGS and their petty patrimo-
nial estates in Germany. South of the Alps, the
very Quadri:ateral itself is a heavy burthen to her;
its inhabitants kept down by mere brute force, or
emigrating to strengthen the really hostile batta-
lions of FANTI and Central Italy. Even the Tyrol
and Bohemia are uneasy, and give her trouble ; but
Hungary, with Croatia and TransYlvania, are ready
at any moment to set up as Independent States—
to follow the example of Central Italy, and to re-
lieve themselves at once of the incubus which has
so long depressed their civil, religious, and commer-
cial energies and liberties.
The House of HAPSBURG is one of the inexter-
minable weeds of Europe, or it would have been
got rid of long ago. It has repeatedly ruined all
hopes and prospects of national improvement, even
when they have appeared most promising. It has,
on the other hand, been apparently almost destroyed
itself, but, like the weed alluded to, which our far-
mers find ever returning if not ever warred with,
so Austria has come to life again, to blight once
more the fair hopes of patriots and their countries.
From the times of WALLENSTEIN and the scaffold
at Prague to those of HAYNAU and the
butcheries of Arad, she has again and agai regained
the power to shed the noblest blood, for which
the blood of all the Imperial House of Austria now
living were but a poor expiation. But for this
we should think the doom of the merciless, the
dark, the Jesuit-ridden Hapsburgs come. There is
no part of their dominions, except perhaps the
little family of household German slaves around
them, which loves them. And even they would
probably like a little less despotism of the Counts
who govern for the " paternal " boy that plays the
Emperor. But the strength of the Empire is hos-
tle to the EMPEROR. Its largest, bravest, and, till
1848, freest population now desires nothing better
than to see its oppressors swinging on the gallows
at Arad, and atoning for the blood they shed there.
The Hungarians, if, however, they be not vengeful,
hare not yet lost their love of liberty. KOSSUTH
could have made them an independent nation if the
conqueror at Solferino had not been frightened
at the prospects of freedom. The mock
patent of Protestant liberties is scouted by
the whole Protestant population ; Roman Ca-
tholics there—how different to Irish Catholics
—unite in demanding Protestant liberties, And
all parties join in their indignation against the
seizure of a harmless but a patriot Greek bishop.
Austria will come into Congress with Hungary,
Venetia, Transylvania, and even the Tyrol,
weighing her courage to the ground. Will not
England then speak out ? She has a noble oppor-
tunity. Austria would limit the decisions to
Italian questions—on those we know our mind; but
surely the time will be come in January to burst
the fetters of diplomatic conventionalism,— and to
say a word for Hungary and Venetia, against
both of whose liberties England—by her rulers
—not by her people, has so deeply sinned.

The expiring year will be held memorable, among
other melancholy reasons, for the demise, towards its
close, of so many of the bright ornaments of science
and literature, beloved and honoured by the present
generation, Has not Germany lost one of the
most radiant of her intellectual glories in ALEX-
ANDER VON HUMBOLDT, the seerliie author of
" Kosmos," one of this earth's most illustrious tra•
vellers, a philosopher with a nature the most simple
and childlike, a grasp of knowledge almost univer-
sal, and a genius in its character nothing less
than encyclopmdiac ? Has not Scotland had
reason to lament in a peculiar manner
over the mournful circumstances of the death of
one of the most gifted of her self-taught sons ?--
HUGIt MILLER, the eminent geologist, who, if he
did not absolutely and to the full find " books in
the running brooks, sermons in stones, and good in
everything," had an eye at least to the dis-
covery of the source of those three Shaksperian
marvels witness his especial masterpiece in
the authorship of the "Old Red Sandstone."
More recently have we not all of us had
to mourn the breathing of their last breath
successively, by LEIGH HUNT, the most charming
of all our Poet-Essayists, and by THOMAS DE QUIN-
CEY, the wonder-revealing Opium-Eater ! And
now America, having, by the expiring of WILLIAM
t RESCOTT, been bereaved, so very recently, of the
most brilliant of all her historians—has but just
had snatched from her lovinr admiration the pure
and amiable life of the foremost, and the
best beloved of the few original men of
letters who ha-•e already, by the force of their
rare powers built up for her a literature. WAsit-
INGTON IRVING, in his seventy-sixth year, at length,
after lift'.: fitful fever, sleeps well near his almost
life long home of Sunnyside. Peace to his gentle
dust ! Honour to his stainless memory ! He has
left a fair fame that appertains not simply to the
United States alone, but that is held dear to the hearts
of all the Anglo-Saxon race scattered over the wide,
wide world, over sa many varied climes and

countries "speaking the language &TAMPERE

spake !" The reputation of WASHINGTON IRVING
is the common property of AmeriCans and
of Englishmen. It is the peculiar glory and
treasure, of course, in one respect, of the
Wnited States, as the birthplace of this delightful
writer—and it is a glory that we do not begrudge
a race that we may almost designate our transat-
lantic fellow-countrymen. WASHINGTON IRVING
might be aptly designated the OLIVER GOLDSMITH
of the United States. As such, his name and fame
will be held henceforth in grateful remembrance.

THE PROBABLE TOPICS IN THE

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE.

The Washington correspondent of the New York
Herald speculates on the probable topics in the
President's Message, as follows :

" The Message and the accompanying reports are nearly
all finished, and ready to be sent in on the first day of the
session. Shduld there be a factious contest in the house re-
garding the Speaker, the President will not consider him-
self bound to keep the entire country waiting while the
fight of the faction is going on ; and it is not improbable
that, after a reasonable delay, he will send in his Message,
leaving it to each house to take its own course upon it.
"The advantage of so doing is, that there are many pub-
lic and private interests upon which action is delayed at
this season of the year until the Message shall have laid
open the views of the Administration and the policy it pro-
poses to recommend for the coming year. In finance and
commerce the interests of the country are injured by delay
in the exhibition of the position and wants of the Treasury
usually made by the Message ; and the same may be said of
many other branches. By sending the Message to Congress
as soon as the Senate is organised, it is laid before the coun-
try, and the fight of Cengressional factions loses much of its
interest for the public.

"Mr. Cobb's report is the only one that is not closed up,
he having waited for some of the important tables.
"Although the trade of the country will exhibit a vast
recovery from the depression of the last two years, there is
room to doubt whether it would not be prudent to return to
the tariff of 1846 until the whole question can be arranged
on a more stable basis. Under the present unwise system
every fluctuation in prices affects the revenue. In specula-
tive years, when the Government should not have the temp-
tation which a large revenue gives it to entertain all kinds
of schemes, the high prices of merchandise flood the trea-
sury with income from duties and stimulate the general
intoxication. On the other hand, in years of commercial
depression the low prices of goods deplete the revenue and
increase the general uneasiness. The recommendations in
regard to revenue and finance will be added to the Messago
at the last moment.

" Recent events in Virginia will bring forth some pointed
remarks in the Message on the danger which all sections of
the country incur, from the growing tendency to arrange
parties on geographical grounds, and also from the increased
disposition in the public mind to hold lightly the obligations
of loyalty to the Constitution.
" Another point of domestic policy which it will touch
upon is the protection to slavery in the territories. While
the President holds to the Constitutional doctrine on this
point, he deprecates legislation in anticipation of its being
required, and thinks we should wait until the emergency
comes up. If Congress will follow his advice the whole sub-
ject will sink quietly down; for, in five years more, we shall
have no territories on which to agitate the question.
" The condition of the Post-office Department, in the
absence of appropriations by the last Congress, is a subject
of earnest comment, with a recommendation of speedy action,
in order to relieve the department and the country from the
evils that accrue in the present state of affairs.

" In our foreign policy, the Message will give the first
place to the San Juan question, which is at this moment in
an irritating- position. During the last Administration an
understanding was established between us and England that
neither Government should exclusively occun? San Juan
until the pending question of its dominion was settled.

" General Harney, either from some ambiguity in his in-
structions, or from not understanding them clearly, took
possession of the island. This step called out from Lord
John Russell a despatch to Lord Lyons, which was commu-
nicated by direction to General Cass, stating that England
held undisputed right to the island, and would insist upon
its recognition by this country.
" This ill-advised despatch has complicated the question
materially. We cannot withdraw under its implied threat,
and the President will set forth our rights to the island in
the clearest and most distinct manner, and advise Congress
that they be maintained. In the meantime, it is hoped
that the prudence of Gen. Scott will prevent any collision
at the island.

'• Mexican affairs are to be lightly touched upon, in view
of pending negotiations, but the President will recommend
that the present absurd restrictions of our neutrality laws
be so-far modified as to permit our citizens who may desire
to do so to enlist in the defence of the legitimate govern-
ment of that republic, without incurring the penalty of a
fine and a term in the State prison.
" In view of the increasing value of our transisthmus
trade and travel, the Message will call the attention of
Congress again to the insecurity of those routes, and renew
the recommendations of last year's special Message on this
subject."

Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess
d'Aumale arrived at Grillion's Clarendon Hotel last
evening from Trentham.
His Highness the Maharajah Duleep Singh has
left Claridge's Hotel for Mulgrave Castle, Whitby.
His Excellency the Ambassador of France and
the Countess de Persigny and family have arrived at
Albert-gate House from St. Leonards-on-Sea.
His Excellency the Swedish and Norwegian
Minister and the Countess Platen have left town on a visit
to Sir William and the Hon. Lady Middleton, at Shrub-
lands, near Ipswich.
The Duchess of Athole has arrived at the St.
George's Hotel, from Windsor Castle.

The Marquis and Marchioness of Hcadfort have
left Claridge's Hotel, for Headfort House, Ireland.
The Earl and Countess of Durham left town
yesterday for Lambton Castle, Durham.
Viscountess Palmerston arrived at Cambridge
House yesterday evening from Brighton.
Lord }ferries has left Claridge's Hotel for Ever-
inghain Park, Yorkshire.

Lord and Lady Algernon St. Maur have arrived
at the St. George's Hotel.

Lady Macdouald has arrived at the St. George's
Hotel.

Sir George Cornewall and Lady Theresa Lewis
entertained at dinner last evening, at their residence, Kent
House, Knightsbridge, the Lord Chancellor and the Baroness
Stratheden and the Hon. Miss Campbell, Lady William
Russell, the Attorney-General, the Right Hon. Sidney and
Mrs. Herbert, the Hon. Evelyn Ashley, Sir John Acton,
Mr. Taylor, Mr. Chichester Fortescue, Mr. Lister, &.c.
After dinner her ladyship had a small evening party.
Mr. and Lady Emma Anderton have arrived at
Claridge's Hotel from Buxton Hall.

ST. JAMES'S THEATRE.—At the end of the pre-
sent week this house will close for tho Christmas prepara-
tions until Saturday, the 24th inst., when the pantomime
will be produced in anticipation of Christmas, and Miss
Wyndham will make her first appearance. To-night
(Wednesday) the manager, Mr. Chatterton, will take his
benefit, and the character of Dangleton in " They are both
to Blame" will be sustained by Mr. Craven.
DEATH OF COL. THE Hox. JOHN WALPoLE.•—
The above gallant officer died at Sydenham on the 10th
inst., at the advanced age of 73 years. The deceased served
with the Guards in the Peninsula, and was severely
wounded at the siege of Burgos. He was M.P. for King's
Lynn from 1827 till 1831; was:private secretary to Viscount
Palmerston when Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs,
from Nov. 22, 1830, till August, 1833, when he was ap-
pointed consul• general in Chile. He was promoted to the
rank of charge d'affaires, May 24, 1841, which post he held
till March 1, 1819, when he retired with a sup erannuation
allowance.

WRECK OF A LARGE SIIIP ON THE BLACKWATER
BANK.—CARonu, Dec. 11.—I have to report that the ship
Somnauth, Cumming, master, from Fleetwood, bound to
Savannah, North America, struck the Blackwater Bank
last night. The captain's wife and seventeen of the crew
arrived in their boats near this place ; but he himself and
three of his crew are on board the Blackwater Lighthouse.
The lifeboat of the Royal Lifeboat Institution was put to
sea as soon as we heard of the wreck; but she has not re-
turned in' time to report any further particulars before the
lost closes.
IMPROVE4ENT OF COVENT-GARDEN MARKET.—
During the last two or three years the market gardeners and
other parties who transact business in this market have made
loud complaints about the unsheltered state of the place
during the inclement weather ; also the deficiency of lighting
by gas to enable them to carry on their business in the long
and dark winter mornings.] To remedy this, meetings have,
at different times, been held by them, and petitions sent to
his Grace the Duke of Ledford, upon whose estate the mar-
ket stands, complaining of the grievance ; but hitherto
without the slightest notice being. taken. It now appears
that something for the benefit of all will be done; on Mon-
day his grace's steward issusd orders for sevceral large orna-
mental iron columns to be erected in va.yieus parts of elle
market, for the purpose of extra lightkag. These celamrs
are to be surmounted by large liandwome lamps, flAied
patent burners and reflectors. Is is also belimil to be in
contemplation to cover a large, space at the vowt end of the
market, to be completed by the time the. Plower Arcade is
finished.
THE SKY AN INDICATOR 0? TIIE WEATTIER.—
ruddy Not
sunrise
1y do C'''woetthglier,klalatuda'''esbwai rwoesyansiuenr7sebtur:ii:ree i;tarier
The colours of the sky at particWar times afford wonderfully
other tints which speak with equal clear
ness and accuracy.
A bright yellow sky in the eveniir indicates wind ; a pale
yellow, wet • a ,natural grey colour constitutethe •
ourable
sign in the evening, an unfavourable one in The clouds again arc full of meaning in themselves.riorna
their forms are soft, undefined, and feathery, the weather
will will be fine ; if the edges are hard, sharp, definite, it will be
foul. Generally spcaking, any deep unusual hues betoken
wind or rain; while the more quiet and delicate tints be-
speak fair weather. These are simple maxims ; and yet not
so simple but that the Board of Trade has thought fit to
publish them for the use of seafaring men.

LATEST NEWS.

The following telegrams have been received at
Mr. Reuter's office :
MARSEILLES, DEC. 13.

Letters from Constantinople to the Ist inst.
announce positively that, on the preceding Thurs-
day, M. Thouvenel had remitted a note to the
Porte containing an official demand for a firman
favourable to the Suez canal project of M. de
Lesseps. The Ambassadors of Austria, Prussia,
Russia, and Sardinia simultaneously supported that
demand according to their instruct ions. A Council
of Ministers was then held.

Fuad Pacha confessed that he had formally en-
gaged himself to refuse the authorisation to the
canal project. The Grand Vizier declared he would
not recognise such engagements. After a stormy
discussion the Ministers agreed to request the
Powers which had made the alove demand to
come to an understanding with England on the
matter.

Sir Henry Bulwer had been received by the
Sultan, and had numerous conferences with the
Ministers.

The Circassians continued to emigrate in great
numbers.

MADRID, DEC. 13.
The third corps d'armee has disembarked at
Ceuta.

General Prim has been attacked on the road to
Tetuan. The Moors were repulsed with great loss,
the Spanish had 40 killed and wounded.

PARIS, DEC. 14.

The Prussian Ambassador, Com it Pourtales, has
left for Berlin in consequence of a t elegram received
from his government. He is expected to return in
time to be present at the Diplomf.tic reception on
New Year's Day.
The report of the marriage of G aneral Garibaldi
is without foundation.

of Brussels, " protests against the reports which
impute to M. Ricasoli ulterior designs of promot-
ing the formation of a kingdom of Central Italy."
A Turin letter says :—The deputies assembled at
Florence for the fusion of the customs of Central
Italy with those of the Sardo•Lombard kingdom
have terminated their labours, and what they pro-
pose will be carried out as soon as approved of.
Amongst other things, from the Ist Jan. next, the
central customs administration at Turin will notify
every month to the different provinces the amount
of revenue they will have to raise.
The population of Benevento is so wearied of the
despotic Papal regime that they are signing petitions
praying that they may be annexed to Naples.
The Sardinian Government has just suppressed
its embassy at Munich. For the future, the Sar-
dinian ambassador at Vienna will also be accredited
to the Court of Bavaria,

LOMBARDY.
(From the Correspondent of the Times.)
MILAN, DEC. 10.

The stagnation in general politics has thrown
back every one on home affairs, which excited only
small interest while the uncertainty and suspense
lasted about the Congress and the affairs of Central
Italy. The lull which had succeeded to the excite-
ment, and which will probably not be disturbed
until the Congress meets, has come just in time to
allow people to bestow the necessary attention on
the elections. And certainly it is curious to watch
how the interest, agitation, and movement in this
respect is daily growing, how by degrees the party
shades become more and more distinct, and how
more and more the mass of the people, rather in-
different in the beginning, is drawn into the sphere
of political excitement. If this increases at the
rate it has done within the last week, when the
municipal and provincial elections take place, I
think many of those who were talking about too
little interest in the Lombards will find the party
movement too much for their taste.

Considering the limited amount of self-govern-
ment which the municipal and provincial or-
ganisation allows in reality, the actual executive
being vested in Government officers, one would be
inclined to characterise this growing interest in the
elections as much ado about nothing, did we not
recollect the municipal traditions of the Italian
towns,which, however vaguely remembered and mis-
understood, are by no means forgotten. It is true the
word "municipal" has been rather in bad odour since
the Unitarian movements began, and every one is
descanting on the dangers of a politique de clocker ;
but the disposition for self-government is in the
blood as it were, and makes itself felt in the narrow
circle to which it is confined by the new law. It is
free from all tinge of factiousness or petulance, for
which the Lombards have got such ample credit,
and the revival of which excited some apprehen-
sions in Turin. Although all the intelligent part
of the population saw that the new law gave very
little more than was possessed in this respect by
the Lombards under the Austrians, and although
most would have wished that the union had been
sought more in the political than in the administra-
tive sphere, yet no one cavilled with the scanty
measure of international freedom accorded by the
Ministry, but took without a remark almost what
was given, and tries now to make the most of it.
With a good sense and a moderation which are
really extraordinary, the people seem to have in-
stinctively understood that freedom lies not so much
in the form as in the spirit which animates the
latter; and that if the seemingly liberal communal
system under the Austrian rule became a satire be-
cause the spirit was wanting, the same forms may
expand under different circumstances.
The electoral committees are still springing up
like mushrooms overnight; every kind of associa-
tion, political, literary, artistic, social, industrial,
however small, are all following the example given
by the larger ones, and almost every day we hear of
the existence of a new one never suspected. In fact,
whereever persons have a centre of meeting for one
or another purpose, they are busy converting it
into an electoral committee. With the exception
of that started by the Associazione Unitaria and
the Associazione Elettorale, the rest are not given
to propagandism ; every one of them being satis-
fied with coming to an understanding between the
members already united for some other pur-
pose. The National Guard is in this respect
a powerful vehicle for spreading the electioneering
movement, which, as an article of conversation, quite
superseded Congress and Central Italy. Every one
is full of it. In order to instruct the lower classes,
and to instruct them in this subject, political lec-
tures are given, short pamphlets are published, and
the electoral laws placarded all over the town. The
journals contribute, likewise, their share. A new
journal, tbefflettore, devoted to this special purpose,
has been got up, and others are preparing to take
advantage of the moment when political life is
beginning for Lombardy.
All this stir, activity, and animation is like the
gradual warming of a crucible, on the fire. The
heat has not come yet to the point to produce a
distinct result in this process of political chemis-
try. It looks only like the chaos preceding the
attraction of homogeneous and repulsion of hete-
regeneous substances. The confusion of colour
was such that it seemed but one. It was all the
white of the Cross of Savoy. Probably if one had
asked for a programing from any of the nume-
rous committees representing the numerous asso-
ciations, it would all have been strict union with
Piedmont, and through that union all over Italy,
and liberal policy in the interim. In fact, nothing
could be more unanimous than this double pro-
gramme. But only few had knowledge enough of
free institutions to be able to go beyond this vague
generality. Nay, there were some who believed
that this would and could continue as a new spec-
tacle of union to the world, without perceiving that
this would have been a proof not of union in ideas,
but poorness of political life. Their wish, whatever
its motive, is not to be realised, for there are the
indications of party colouring beginning to show
themselves.
I spoke the other day of the priestly element in
connection with reactionary landlords; there is
another shade coming in just now, which, although
different from the former, still rather tends in that
same direction.
One of the many marvellous features in this
Italian movement was the absence of vindic-
tiveness in the victors. There, was scarcely a trace
of it here in Lombardy. Not only those who
had been socially connected with the Court
at Milan were left unmolested, but even those
who had been in direct relation with the Govern-
ment seemed altogether forgotten. It seemed to
be a trial of tacit agreement that in this moment,
when union was so necessary, such souvenirs should
not be raked up. Nay, some of the electoral asso-
ciations went so far in their forgiving humour as
to put here and there a man on their list—respect-
able, well-educated, talented, but who had, per-
haps, one or more little black spots on him. All
went on without remark, when yesterday evening
the Pungdo (Stinger), a little evening paper,
much lead among the mass of the people, and
rather free spoken, gave a new turn to the affair.
It had not said a word about the elections yet, and
came out last night with an appeal throwing down
the gauntlet to all those who have the least black
spot. It calls on the electors to go back to the
last 10 years, and apply to their candidates the test
of courage and incorruptibility during that difficult
period. The Melva() promiaes to guide them by
two infallible codes—the Official Gazette of Milan
and the Bilancia, the organ abroad of the Austrian
Government in Italy. It begins by reprinting the
address to the En.peror of Austria, congratulating
him on his escape from die attempt made on his life
in February, 1853, and gives the list of about 80
names which had subscribed that address, holding
them forth as having given a proof of servility and
moral cowardice which makes them unworthy of
being ;representatives. Most of the names re-
produced belong to the first families in Milan.
The whole thing is cleverly put as an appeal, and
will have considerable effect on the masses. It con-
cludes by saying that the address w'as dated the 2d
of March, 1853, and on the 28th of February a sen-
tence condemned 23 Italian political offenders to
death, and on the 3d of March three of these were

executed at Mantua. There was, as you may ima-
gine, such a run after the paper that more and more
editions of it had to be printed. The Pungolo pro-
mises to continue these documents. They will im-
mensely augment its circulation, and at the same
time the view taken therein will lead to the forma-
tion of two very distinct parties—those who forget,
and those who do not. At any rate it is a good
speculation, as well as a clever electioneering job.
You see the Milanese are getting on. I heard it,
however, insinuated that some of the names of per-
sonal friends had been left out, but I can scarcely
believe it, because it would be the deathblow of the
Pungolo. _ _

People here are not yet accustomed to the bitter
pills which public life carries with it for those who
like to taste its sweets. So they think the proceed-
ing unpatriotic, and calculated to produce dissen-
sion ; but all this will by and by be looked upon in
its proper light, and then they will understand
that public life cannot exist without a strong mix-
ture of private and party interest.
There was a rumour that Garibaldi was going to
be married; it is contradicted with authority by
the Pevseveranza.