The Sun.
London, England, 1866-12-24 00:00:00

;:LENGT H.

To be 51 inches, with short stock, measured from the
hollow of the butt-plate to muzzle.
c. WEIGHT OF AMMUNITION MADE UP.
Must not exceed Glb. 4oz. for sixty rounds as packed for
service.

D. CARTRIDGES.
Must carry their own ignition.
E. SIGHTS.

The foresight must be such as to admit of a bayonet
fixed according to the present system.

.r. STOOK.

Must bo such as to carry a light metal cleaning-rod, and
allow a sling to be used.
G. RECOIL.

Must not exceed that of tho Enfield Rifle by more than
10 per cent.
n. THE ARM AS A WHOLE.

Must be as little liable to injury by long-continued firing,
rough usage, and exposure, as the naval rifles converted to
breech-loaders on the Snider system. • To be as capable,
also, of being used without accident by imperfectly trained
men, and of being manufactured in quantities and of uni-
form quality.
a. THE AMMUNITION AS A WHOLE.

Must be as little liable to injury by rough usage, damp,
and exposure in all climates, as the Boxer cartridge for
Snider's converted Enfield rifle—also as little liable to acci-
dental explosion as the same cartridge, and as capable of
being manufactured in large quantities, and of uniform
quality. K. CALIBRE.
Optional.
L. THE TWIST AND FORM OF GROOVE.
Optional.
Optional.

M. THE LOCK.

x. RAPIDITY OF FIRE.

Capable of firing at least 12 rounds per minute, without
aiming, the cartridges being arranged on a table.
o. ACCURACY WHEN FIRED FROM A FIXED REST.

The arm must give a mean figure of merit of not more
than 36in. at 1,000 yards, 30in. at 800 yard; 12in. at 500,
and bin. at 300.
The mean to be taken upon at least five targets of twenty
shots each.

P. TRAJECTORY.
Not to require at 500 yards an elevation of more than 1
deg. 30 min.

Q. FOULING.

The shooting not Co deteriorate more than 20 per cent.
at 1,000 yards after firing 250 rounds.

R. PENETRATION.

The moan penetration of five shots not to bo less than
that of the present service muzzle-loading Enfield Rifle—
viz., 12 half-inch elm planks, which have been soaked 48
hours in water.

Distance 30 yards.

a. LUBRICATION.
Was on bullets is indispensable, but any other lubricant
may be superadded or applied to the cartridge, if thought
necessary by the competitor.

111.
No arms will be received without the usual proof marks.
Specifications, and drawings of the methods proposed,
stating the probable cost per arm, and accompanied by a
finished specimen arm, with 20 rounds of suitable ammu-
nition, should bo sent to the "Director of Ordnance War
Office, Pall-mall," on or before the 30th March, 1867.
The specifications and specimen arms will be considered
by the Ordnance Select Committee and its associate mem-
bers, who will be selected by the Secretary of State for
War, and who will, after firing the 20 preliminary rounds,
select and recommend for further trial such of the systems
as may appear to them sufficiently promising, rejecting all
such as may not be considered to offer sufficient merits to
warrant their being included in the competition, the con-
ditions of which aro stated in this advertisement.
Each accepted competitor will then be required to furnish
for experiment, at Woolwich, six arms in strict conformity
to the specimen arm submitted, with 1,000 rounds of am-
munition por arm, within fuur months after date of de-
mand_ Each competitor will be required to disclose to the
committee the exact nature of the lubrication he may em-
ploy. A sum of £3OO will bo paid to each of the accepted
competitors, to cover the expense of the six rifles, and of
the supply of ammunition required.
The Secretary of State offers a reward of £l,OOO for the
arm which, on combination of all qualities, is considered
by the committee to be the best submitted.
A second reward of £6OO for the arm which, while at-
taining a satisfactory degree of excellence in other particu-
lars, is selected for merit in respect to its breech mechanism.
A third reward of £lOO for the best cartridge. The qua-
ities which will be principally taken into consideration in
awarding this prize will be economy of manufacture, power
of sustaining rough usage, freedom from deterioration in
various climates, and general serviceability.
The shooting qualities of the cartridge must he fair; but
as they may depend upon the rifling of the arm with which
the cartridge is associated, they will not be so much con-
sidered as those above-mentioned.
It is clearly to be understood that under no circumstances
will a competitor be entitled to more than one prize ; but
such prize will be irrespective of any reward which may be
given to the inventor of the arm finally adopted iuto the
service.

IV;
MAGAZINE AND REPEATING ARMS.
Magazine and Repeating Arms for Infantry will bo re-
ceived and examined in a manner similar to the Breech-
loading Rifles. They must not be less in length than 48
inches, including the stock.
The limit of weight for these arms is fixed at 91.1 b. ex-
clusive of the charges in the magazine.
It is indispensable that the arms bo made to take a
bayonet.
The Secretary of State offers a reward of 300 for the best
Magazine or Repeating Arm produced th!lt fulfils tho above
conditions ; and in the absence of exparience does not at
present define the standard of accuracy or other conditions
to be fulfilled before such an arm can be adopted.

—ii;:se]ifaia."-zine orßepeating Arms, whicli are accepted
for further trial, will he paid for at the rate of £6O each.
This sum is to include 1,000 rounds of ammunition per
arm.

Tho Secretary of State will take care that no ingenious
novelty produced in answer to this advertisement shall be
adopted into the service without proper acknowledgment,
and that the name of the individual with whom it origi-
nates shall be recorded in connection with it.

if the rifle to which the first prize is awarded is adopted
into the service, it will bear the inventor's name.
J. ST. GEORGE, Major-General, Director
of Ordnance.)
War Office, Oct. 22 1866.

being a Pamphlet
;ns used for improving
Just published, '2d ; sent by the author for 3 stamps,
UGLINESS
oatnardtißelEesAayiT:ea
the appearance. By ALEX. ROSS, 248, High Holborn,
London.

THE RESCUE SOCIETY wishes to add another
LOUIC to the 12 now in operation. Last year no fewer
Shan 455 poor, friendless, young females were rejected from
want of FUNDS and room, making a total of 3,087, who have
been sent away in flee years.
The new home the Committee wish to form would be for
young girls, almost children, from the age of 8 to 15, who
have been led astray from the path of virtue.
Contributions will be received gratefully by the Secretary,
51r. Daniel Cooper, 85, Queen .street. Choapside; or by Messrs
Barclay and Co.. Lombard-street

OYAL FREE HOSPITAL, Gray's-inn-road,
.i.to in the turaediate vicinity of the Great Northern Rail-
way Terminus, icing's-oross.
Patron—Her Most Gracious Ifajesty the QUEEN.

Vice-Patron—Ms Royal Highness the Prince of W ALE 8, T. G
President—His Grace the Duke of 13IICCL EUCIL E.G.

This Hospital, founded in the year 1823, the first to estab-
lish the principle of free admission to the sick poor, without
the delay and difficulty of Governors' orders, is wholly de-
pendent for support on voluntary contributions and actes
It affords relief to a large number of in-patients, and, in
addition to this, the average number of attendance of the
lestitute sick has for a oensiderable period averaged between
3,000 and 4,000 weekly.
The Committee earnestly solicit the ASSISTANCE of the
benevolent, as the premises of this Hospital are capable of
containing several hundred more beds had the Committee
the requisite funds to maintain them.
Contributions are received by their bankers, Messrs. Brown,
Janson, and Co., Abchurch-lane ; also by liessrs. Coutts and
Co.; Drummond and Co.;Giyu and Co. ; Berries and Co.;
Ransom and Co. ; Prescott, Grote, and Co.; Smith, Payne,
and Co. ; Barclay and Co. ; Williams, Deacon, and Co. ; Nisbet
and Co., Berners-street and at the Hospital. from 10 till 5.
szdarOlLD Otoretuy,

HOMELESS BOYS OP LONDON.—The
Committee are most anxious to provide for 400 boys.
One hundred and fifty are now in the Refuge. The annual
expenditure for supporting the 400 boys is estimated at
£4,000, being £l5 a year for each boy. Several kind friends
have promised to pay for one bc.,y each year.
Subscriptions thankfully received by the London and West-
minster Bauk, 41, Lothbury, and 214, High iiolbo n; Mears.
Ransom and CO., 1, Pall-Mall East; and by
WM. WILLIAMS, Secretary.
Refuge, 8, Great Queen-street, W.C.

PROVIDENCE ROHR NIGHT REFUGE,
FO
HOMELESS WOMEN AND CHILDREN,
14A, Providence-row, Finsbury, E.C.
Sixty Thousand Nights' Lodgings, with Suppers and
Breakfasts, have been given in this Institution to the
destitute, who otherwise would have had to pass the
nights in the bleak streets or under railway arches.
At present nearly 500 Nights' Lodgings, with Suppers and
Breakfasts, are given gratuitously every week. The poor
from all parts are admitted, the only condition being that
they are homeless and starving. The Manager &c.,
receives no remuneration whatever. Notwithstand-
ing the provision made by the Poor Houses, each
night numbers of young women, children, and orphans
ere, for want accommodation, refused admittance, and have
to spend night atter night in the cold, wet, and sleet. To
meet this evil, and to provide more ample accommoda-
tion, £2,000 has been raised, but to accomplish the
work a sum of at least £l,OOO more will 10 required.
Besides providing shelter for the homeless, this year it
is proposed, as far as the donations obtained for the pur-
pose will allow, to give bread and coals to poor families
iu want. Will you, in your charity, help to carry on and
accomplish what has boon begun ? Will you help to give
shelter to the really homeless, and food to the really
starving ? The smallest donation will be most welcome,
and, night and morning, the prayers of the destitute will
be offered in your behalf.
SUBSCRIPTIONS are earnestly requested, and will be
gratefully received bvtheßev..D. GILBERT. D.D,, No 22,
En.4bury-circus,

A General Order has been promulgated from the
Horse Guards, dated Dec. 12, notifying that it has
been decided, on the recAninendation of the Coun-
cil of Military Education, and with the concurrence
of the Secretary for War, that officers, candidates
for the Commissariat service, who obtained their
commissions in the Artillery and Engineers from
the late Hon. East India Company's Military Semi-
nary at Addiscomhe, shall be permitted to share in
the privilege allowed by the last paragraph of the
General Order, No. 892, dated Oct. 6, 1866, under
which the obligatory examination was in certain
cases reduced to qualifying in one foreign language
only. Officers who obtained their commissions in
the Indian Cavalry and Infantry from Addiscombe
are not, however, to share in this concession.
The mess quarters of the Royal Artillery at Wool-
wich were on Saturday re-opened for future use
after being closed during the past six weeks for the
purpose of being renovated throughout. Field-
Marshal Commanding-in-Chief the Duke of Cam-
bridge, as Colonel, and the officers of the Regiment
of Royal Artillery, gave a special banquet on Sa-
turday on the occasion, at which covers were laid
for 130 persons. The following is a list of the in-
vited guests :—Gen. Peel, Secretary of State for
War ; Lord Cranborne, Secretary of State for
India ; Sir J. Pakington, First Lord of the Admi-
ralty ; Lord Longford, Under-Secretary of State for
War ; Lord Sydney, Lord-Lieutenant of the county
of Kent ; Mr. Merivale, Under-Secretary of State
for India.; Lord H. Lennox, Secretary to the Ad-
miralty ; Lord W. Paulet, Adjt.-Gen. ; Sir J. Bur -
goyne, Inspector-Gen. of Fortifications ; Sir J. H•
Grant, Quarter-master-Gen. ; Sir E. Lugard, Un-
der-Secretary of State of War ; Lieut.-Gen. Sand-
ham, Gen. Willoughby, Gen. Maxwell, Capt. Ed-
monstone, Superintendent of the Dockyard, Wool-
wich ; Col. C. Kennedy, Commandant Military
Train ; Cols. Johnson, Hay, Shaw, Hawkins, and
Suther ; the Revs. Hnleatt, Sen. Chaptai nto the Forces
at Woolwich, and H. Brown, rector of the parish ;
Major Sutherland, Barrack Master; Capt. the
Hon. G. Wrottesley, Aide-de-Camp to Sir J. Bur-
goyne ; and Mr. Peel, Secretary to the Minister for)
War.

The division at Aldershot has been exercised in
route-marching by brigades during the past week.
On Tuesday the Cavalry Brigade, consisting of the
3d (King's Own) Hussars, under command of
Lieut.-Col. Vyse, the 17th Lancers, under Major
the Hon. W. 11. Curzon, and the 15th (the King's)
Hussars, commanded by Capt. Humphrey, formed
up on their respective parades at half-past 9 o'clock.
The 3d Hussars were subsequently marched off
over the common towards the Long Valley, where
they were exercised in different field manoeuvres.
The 15th Hussars marched in the direction of the
North Camp railway station, and returned by the
Farnborough-road to quarters. The Lancers pro-
ceeded to Farnham, and returned to quarters
shortly after 12 o'clock. On the same day the Ist
Infantry Brigade, consisting of the 66th (Berkshire)
Regiment and the 81st Lincoln Volunteers, com-
manded by Cols. Garrett and Gildes respectively,
marched to Farnham and thence to Caesar's Camp,
where a halt was made, and the regiments were
exercised in judging distance,outpost duty, and field
evolutions, returning to quarters about 1 o'clock.
The 2d Infantry Brigade, consisting of the 18th
Royal Irish, under command of Col. Graham, and
the 65th Regiment, under Major Macgregor, also
marched out on Tuesday to Halecommon and Farn-
ham, returning to quarters by the high road from
the latter place. On Thursday, the 3d Infantry
Brigade, now reduced to the 89th (the Princess
Victoria's Regiment), under the command of Major
Kirk, marched out to Farnborough and Cove, re-
turning by the same route. Oa the same day the
artillery proceeded along the Hog's Back, towards
Guildford, taking up a position when within a few
miles of that town and exercising the guns. The
general appearance of the troops on each occasion
was highly satisfactory.

After preparations have been made at Aldershot
Camp for giving the troops a substantial Christmas
dinner to-morrow. The officers have subscribed
libeaally for this object.
The screw steam frigate Liffey, 31, will be re-
moved on Wednesday from Keyham steamyard to
the Sheer hulk in Hamoaze, for the purpose of
having her masts stepped.
Three courts-martial were held on Friday last, on
board the Royal Adelaide, at Devonport, under the
presidency of Capt. S. J. Napier, of the Canopus.
M. Edwin J. R. Williams, second master; and M.
Albert C. Allen, supernumerary midshipman, of the
Caledonia, were tried for absenting themselves from
that ship,beingiat the time under stoppage for leave.
Mr. Williams was adjudged to forfeit one year's
seniority, and be dismissed from the Caledonia ; and
Mr. Allen to lose one year's service, and have his
leave stopped for three months. Wm. Painter, sick
berth steward of the Impregnable, was tried for in-
decent conduct, and was sentenced to be imprisoned
with hard labour for two years, and to be dismissed
the service with disgrace.
In addition to the models of the various ironclad
broadside, turret, and other vessels built during the
last few years at Chatham dockyard which are now
in course of preparation to be trans mitted to Paris,
to be placed in the French Exhibition, an order has
been received at the establishment directing a speci-
men of every description of boat used in the British
navy to be constructed at Chatham dockyard, for
foewarding, with the models, to Paris. The boats
will include the various descriptions supplied to a
man-of-war, from the 42-feet launch down to the
smallest dingey, all of the exact size. Besides one of
the ordinary ship's launches a specimen of a steam
launch is also to be sent to Paris, with the high
pressure engines complete fitted on board for driv-
ing the double screws. Two of the models of the
vessels in course of preparation have been completed
at Chatham dockyard, and transmitted to the Ad-
miralty for approval. An official letter has since been
received at the yard expressing their Lordships' un-
qualified satisfaction at the execution and finish of
the models, and directing that those in hand may
be completed and finished in precisely the same
manner. The boats and models are to be ready for
transmission to the French Exhibition by the Ist of
February.
On account of the effective nature of the experi-
ments and trials made with Capt. the Hon. A. Coch-
rane's vertical tube boiler, now completed at Wool-
wich, it is stated that the Lords of the Admiralty
have ordered a tabulated detail, with full official re-
marks, to be drawn up for their inspection, in order
to satisfy the board of the utility of the boiler for
the general service of the Royal Navy. From the
fact of a saving of 10 per cent in c -a's alone having
been realized by the trials, the subject has become
one of general interest. It was stated on Saturday
at Woolwich that some of the large ocean companies
have entered into negotiations for the supply of
Capt. Cochrane's boiler, by which they calculate
upon an increased dividend of from £15,000 to
£20,000 a year.
Her Majesty's paddlewheel vessel Vivid, Com-
mander T. W. Sulivan, having completed repairs,
went down the river from Woolwich on Friday, on
trial of her engines, and made a most favourable
run of 144 knots per hour at the measured mile.
The following appointments have been made at
the Admiralty :--Henry D. Stanistreet, W. Fredk.
Ryall, and Wm. Anderson (B) assist.-surgs., to the
Princess Royal for disposal ; C. G. Woclsworth, E.
W. Leet, and E. V. de Meric, acting assist.-surgs.,
to the Princess Royal, for disposal ; E. Mulcahy,
assist.-surg., to the Pallas; H. G. S. Baker, mid-
shipman, to the Gladiator ; A. W. M. G. Finlay,
naval cadet, to the Gladiator ; and R. M. Parker
and L. D. Sampson nominated naval cadets.

England and France consume less paper than
America, which has only half the population of the
two corabinod.

On Saturday evening was held nearly the last of
this year's pleasant assemblage of Vo!unteers, their
friends and supporters, at what is termed the prize
night--viz., the occasion on which the prizes won
during the preceding volunteer year are presented
to the winners. This presentation was that of the
19th Surrey Rifles, and it took place at the Horns
Assembly-rooms, Kennington. Col. Richards, the
commandant of the 3d City Mos, presided, and
there were present Cul. Warden, of her Majesty's
19th Foot; Lieut.-Col. Labrow, the commandant of
the 19th Surrey; Capt. Paine, the commandant of
the 4th Middlesex Artillery (the Authors); Drs. Ladd
and Martin, the honorary surgeons, the Rev. Mr. Stat-
ham, the hon. chaplain; and Capts.'Prewett, Grady,
Hill, Driver, Harding, and Alsop, and a very large
company. The commandant, Col. Labrow, entered
into the usual statement with regard to the strength
of the regiment. The facts he adduced proved that
the corps was advancing, not only numerically and
in shooting efficiency, but in acquiring those aids
which are the mainstay of a corps such as a good
drill-shed and good rifle range. He mentioned that
Colonel Erskine, the Inspector-General, had decided
that the Volunteer officers were not to wear the
marksman's badge, and Dr. Ladd, who for two years
had made the highest score in the classes, entitling
him to be considered the winner of the rifle and
three stars won by the best shot of the battalion,
had had to resign the wearing of this honour. He
congratulated the corps upon having present on
that occasion a distinguished soldier in 'the person
of Colonel Warden, who had won the highest
honours of the army before the enemy, and had done
his country good service in many a hard fought
field, as the honours decorating his breast testified.
Colonel Richards then addressed the assemblage, and
said that as soon as he saw the Inspector-General's
decision with regard to officers wearing the
marksman's badge he cut his own off, as he con-
sidered he was bound to do ; but, as the shooting
distinctions were the only distinctions Volunteers
could at present win, he thought the decisions with
regard to officers wearing them might be re-consi-
dered. He dwelt at some length upon the advance
the Volunteer institution had made in the general
regard of the country, and remarked that oven the
boys of the streets had come to be respectful to
Volunteers, sa it was left now for the very few weak-
witted people who could not understand the move-
' ment to cast ridicule upon them, but for these no
one cared. With respect to drill-sheds he said his
large regimen.; had often to march about the
dark and dirty streets of a night because they had
no drill-shed, and he thought some provision
should be made to meet this almost general want
by the Volunteers of these means necessary for them
to perfect themselves in the duties of soldiers.
Colonel Warden, who was loudly cheered, made a
short speech before presenting the prizes. He said
that as a soldier he was not surprised at the warmth
shown by Volunteers in the early days of the move-
ment, but he owned himself surprised at its stability,
and from all he had seen of the Volunteers he
said there were were no soldiers he would more con-
fidently command than a body of them as they now
stand, for he knew that every man of them who took
the field would have a friend at his back, and no
men would fight better. He gave an instance of
the manner in which comrades held together by
relating that when in the Crimea a soldier came
and said, " Me and my comrade want leave to take
yonder rifle-pit," and " me and my comrade" were
very disappointed because they were not allowed to
sacrifice their lives, and he urged that the system in
the army of having men in comrades of two could
not be advantageously altered to the continental
system. In conclusion, he paid a tribute to an old
Crimean comrade he had found in Capt. Lidwell,
the adjutant. The prizes were then presented, Ser-
geant Childs winning the first, giien by Captain
Prewett, who himself won a prize, and several were
won by Volunteer Sergeant-Major Elwood. The
proceedings closed with the presentation of a bugle
by one of the officers.

The seventh annual amateur performance in aid of
the band fund of the 40th Middlesex Volunteers
(distinctively known as the Central London Rifle
Rangers) took place on Friday at the New Royalty
Theatre. Perhaps on no former occasion has this
pretty little house presented so animated an aspect.
The stalls and boxes were filled with Volunteers iu
uniform and elegantly dressed ladies, the regimen-
tal band occupied the orchestra, and the gallery was
filled to the utmost capacity with a company who
gave full vent to their expressions of appro-
bation. The entertainments commenced with
the drama of " The Chevalier St. George," in
which
,Quartermaste-Sergeant Scott sustained
the part of the hero with considerable power
and feeling, and the elegant bearing and refined
manner of Miss Ada Cavendish were admi-
rably employed for the effective representation o
the character of the Countess de Presle—the
heroine of the piece. " Tom Taylor's " Sheep in
Wolf's Clothing" followed, in which the calm but
resolute spirit of the Puritan outlaw was well de-
picted by Captain Isaacs, who was assisted by bliss
Kate Rivers as Anne Carew. Little Miss Florence
Terry moved the audience to visible emotion by her
now familiar impersonation of the Puritan's daugh-
ter ; and a word of praise must be given to Quarter-
master Sergeant Scott for the faithfulness with
which be sustained the dialectic peculiarities and
local characteristics of the West country domestic.
In the farce " To Paris and Back for Five Pounds,"
which was the third and last piece on the pro-
gramme, Captain and Adjutant Cowper, as Mr.
Samuel Snozzle, kept the house in a high state of
hilarity till the close of the performance, which ter-
minated shortly after 11 o'clock. In the course of
the evening Private 0 wden danced a hornpipe with
great skill and accuracy in time, and was tumultu-
ously encored. Altogether, the entertainment was
attended by a success rarely attained by unprofes-
sional aspirants to histrionic excellence.
The annual meeting of the Essex Rifle Associa-
tion was held at the Shire-hall, Chelmsford, on Fri-
day, Major Coope presiding. The financial position
of the association appeared to be not altogether sa-
tisfactory. Southend was fixed upon as the place
of meeting far 1867. Captain Luard was appointed
to act upon the council in the place of Captain
Pelly.
A competition for the ownership of a handsome
subscription cup has just taken place among the
members of the Salisbury Rifle Corps (Ist Wilts)
who bad previously won it at the monthly competi-
tions during the year. The ranges were 200, 500,
and 600 yards (five rounds at each), and the follow-
ing scores were made. Private Wheaton 45 marks
(winner), Sergeant Butler 40, Corporal Parton 40,
Private Robins, 39, Private Harris 39, Lieutenant
Brown 35, and Corporal Watson 32.

The daughter of Queen Pomaree, of Otaheite, fell
in love with a French pianist, Leon Roqueo by
name. He "will take this savage woman," thereby
making himself and his dusky race heirs to the
throne of Otaheite.
A severe earthquake shock was felt very distinctly
on the 13th ult., 13 miles from Quebec. A gentle-
man residing at St. Isodore de Lauzon writes that
he experienced two shocks of an earthquake at ten
minutes past 11 in the forenoon, which was violent
enough to cause the window panes to jingle.
IADVERTISEMENT.I - Holloway's Pills—Self Treatment—
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manifested with such striking success that they should
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knowledge is required to secure the good effects of these
purifying and corrective pills; a slight study of their ac-
companying "directions" will enable any one to use this
remedy to the best advantage. In low, moist, malarious
districts, where ague, gout, and rheumatism are almost rs-
garded as birthrights, Holloway's medicine is invaluable
for effecting a safe and permanent cure.
deaths which annually resulted from preventible
or
c 'Thousandsurabof
i o
diseases kayo, in the most absolute souse, been averted
by the early and diligent use of these cheap and peerless

souflttehde dense.ly po,p.un ltahtedufthtohrroeusgplieLlso
ibouitiur,.hood_
_l4,.esautthheerrs-I.an Leather-lane,
hHeoleboxprnl
us,
Shortly before six o'clock on
explosion of a very serious:charak.
ahpapsenreed-
iwonhichh
1113, a—nde4i6iserigolus
ii w narrow thoroughfare known as Summer's-street,
Eyre-street-hill, lying between Little Bath-street
and Back-hill, in which several men had been em-
ployed for some days previously, under the Char-
tered Gas Company, ill laying down a gas main in
the centre of the roadway. The men so encraosed,
it is said, left off work on Saturday at about two
o'clock, and at a quarter to ix o'clock the inhabi-
tants were startled by a lon 1 explosion, and soon
after two of the houses in the thoroughfare, Nos. 4
and 5, fell with a crash. The ruins at once became
ignited, and the greatest excitement was created,
the shrieks of the unfortunate persons who had
fallen with the houses being heard by those around.
The first thing done was to send for the engines, a
number of which soon arrived, and the fire was not
long in being extinguished. The house No. 4 was
at the time of the occurrence occupied by Luigi
Brazini, an Italian, who it is stated let out portions
of it to his countrymen, some of whom were street
musicians, but in consequence of the explosion hap-
pening at so early an hour in the evening most of his
lodgers were from home. The other house was
tenanted by Joseph Balls, a pipe manufacturer.
Two inmates of the house No. 4, namely, Luigi
Scartici, aged 62, and Mrs. Susan Grego, aged 63,
fell with the house, from the first and from the
second floor, and also a nephew of the occupier,
named Pietro Brazini, a boy aged 15 years. At
the same time Mrs. Domenico Villa, a married
woman, aged 30 ; William Cole, a labourer t and
another labourer, named Joseph Ince, fell with
the house. The whole of these, after some delay,
with -,ption of the boy Pietro Brazini, were
soon got out of the ruins, and at once removed,
some to Bartholomew's Holiaital alid others to the
Royal Free Hospital. After the fire had been ex-
tinguished the search amongst the ruins was con-
tinued, and at about midnight the body of the poor
lad Pietro Brazini was discovered, he being quite
dead. The body was removed to the dead-house of
the parish, where it now remains, awaiting the
coroner's inquest. Inquiry last night elicited the
fact that two of the sufferers who were taken to th-e
Royal Free Hospital died yesterday. One of them
named Wm. Cole, a labourer, aged 48, received a
most severe fracture of the nose and skull ; and the
other, Mrs. Domenica4Villa. Cole was, we were in-
formed, standing at the door of the house No. 4 at
the time of the explosion, and he at once rushed up
stairs to save some of the inmates, but upon reach-
ing the landing he was carried with the falling
house, and, as stated, severely injured. He has left a
wife and five young children. The poor woman
Villa was severely burned about the body. The
other sufferer at the Royal Free Hospital is Joseph
Ince, a labourer, who is suffering from severe inju-
ries to the spine. He lies in a critical condition.
Every attention was paid to their case by Mr. H.
H. Fagge, the house surgeon. At St. Bartholomew's
Hospital, Mr. R. V. Moore, the house surgeon, has
under his care two sufferers, namely, Luigi Scartici,
aged 62, and Susan Grego, aged 63. The latter has
received a compound fracture of the left leg, a frac-
ture of the right foot, and two severe scalp wounds,
and is much shaken. She lies in a dangerous condi-
tion. It is stated that she was standing on the land-
ing on the first floor of one of the houses at the time
of the explosion, and her son, a young man aged 23,
was attempting to save her, when she fell through
the flooring into the ruins. The son then took a
younger brother in his arms and made his escape
with him through the back part of the house and
over the house tops. The Italian Scartici, who is
in this hospital, and has received a scalp wound and
several contusions, is much shaken.

Collision on the Great Western Railway.

On Saturday afternoon a collision took place on
the Great Western Railway, between Wolverhamp-
ton and Birmingham. A local train, composed
partly of mineral and partly of general merchandis e
trucks, all laden, usu Illy arrives at about 2 o'clock
at Wednesbury, which is about midway between
Wolverhampton and Birmingham, after leaving the
Victoria goods station at tho former town at 12
o'clock. On Saturday, however, it was very late in
getting out of Wolverhampton, and when it arrived
at the Bilston station the express passenger, dated
2.38 out of Birmingham, was over-due, and Joseph
Martin, the guard of the goods train, desired to
shunt his train at that station, that he might be out
.of the way of the express. But the pointsman there
told him to go on to Wednesbury, where there was
another siding. Martin then told Buckingham, who
was the driver of the goods train, to go on to Wed-
nesbury, and pass over the points to shunt there.
The driver carried out these instructions, and had
reached the points at Wednesbury, when the ex-
press, which does not stop between Wolverhampton
and Birmingham, was seen approaching by the ser-
vants at the Wednesbury station. Two of them, a
switchman and a platelayer, immediately ran down
the line about 300 yards and signalled the express to
stop. The driver of the express put on the breaks
and reversed his engine, and at the same time the driver
of the goods train was motioned to move forward.
Martin was in his van, and hearing a whistle for a
break to be applied thought it was a signal for him,
and he applied his break, and also looked out from his
van door-way to see if the express was coining up. At
the same instant the express dashed into the goods.
The collision caused Martin's van to be shat-
tered to pieces, as it was tossed up by the express
engine, upon the top of which its dislocated frame-
work reared as Martin was thrown out insensible
upon the permanent way. The express engine was
thrown off the metals by the collision, and stuck
fast in the platform embankment on the Wolver-
hampton side of the Wednesbury station, having
ploughed up the earthwork to a considerable extent.
Martin was picked up bleeding from a wound near
the right temple, his left arm was broken near the
shoulder, and his left side sadly bruised. His escape
from death is due to his having been looking out of
the half-opened door of his vau when the collision
took place. He was conveyed as soon as possible to
the South Staffordshire Hospital, in Wolverhamp-
ton, where he is now lying. Further than being
well shaken, and, of course, considerably alarmed,
the passengers in the express were not regarded as
injured. The line was blocked for about two hours.

The financial report of M. Fould was published
on Thursday. The Minister shows that, owing to
an increase of 45,000,000 fr. in the revenue raising
from indirect taxation, the Budget for 1866 will be
definitively balanced. Relative to the rectified
Budget for 1867 the Minister estimates the surplus
revenue yielded by indirect taxes at ninety millions,
and points out other resources. He concludes,
therefore, that this budget will also be in equili-
brium. Notwithstanding the considerable expendi-
ture necessitated by new armaments and the return
to France of the troops from Mexico, it will not be
necessary to impose new taxes or to appeal to public
credit. The Minister estimates that the ordinary
Budget for 1868 will show a surplus of 121,000,000
francs. No credit is demanded in the Budget for
1868 in respect of the new organisation of the army,
reaaonget fort
A
the Emperor having determined that the necessary
x. Foul ofa t p endui
i d ctu
presentationrs et
a t shouldstates
tbe
h the
errectified
is providedev rfeoryßby special bills on
ou d
expenditure
i
antici-
pate that the State will then be in possession of
more than sufficient resourcesto meet
ments. The Ministerial
report then says " Some
apprehensions arc
createdby the new military
organisation of the army, which will, however, be
dispelled by the certainty that the proposed changes
have only been caused by the necessity of placing
the military forces of France on a footing equivalent
to her position in Europe, and to the development
of the military institutions of other States. The
country will see in this measure a fresh guarantee
of peace and security for the future."
It is stated by the Union that the state of Count
Bismarck's health occasions serious uneasiness. Four
medical men of the first eminence met in consulta-
tion at Berlin a few days back. Were the malady
not of a grave character such an appeal to the
greatest medical celebrities of Berlin and Vienns
would not have been made.

LONDON, MONDAY, DEC. 24, 1866.

We are glad to find that there seems a good
chance of order being maintained in Ireland, and
that this season of peace will not be disturbed by
any of those indications of violence and
which have caused so much annoyance and confu-
sion of late. It:is indeed fortunate that this should
be the case, but at the same time we do not think
that this would have been the present state of things
had not the authorities been very much on the
alert. In fact, it is in consequence of their stre-
nuous efforts that the decided movements of the
Fenians have been checked in so summary a fashion;
and we may now recognise the wisdom and fore-
sight which dictated the exercise of that vigilance
which was at one time considered unnecessary by
some people. Added to this, we must mention
among the causes which have quelled the disturb-
ances the right feeling displayed by many of the
better classes of all shades of opinion, who, by
letters and demonstrations, have made their disap-
proval manifest. It is greatly to their credit that
they should have done so, and they will not
regret their efforts to put down Fenianism
as time goes on ; but, on the contrary, they will
more and more appreciate them.

In this instance, as in everything else of the kind,
the most powerful and decided measures are the
best, and so they have proved to be most unmis-
takeably in the present case. A tame and hesitat-
ing policy never answers either in large or small
matters, and this makes it the
more to be regretted
that statesmen and their subordinates should so
often indulge in it. Those most immediately con..
cerned always suffer the most in the long run,
and we have every reason to be glad for the
sake of the Irish themselves that the mischievous
agitators of Fenianism should have been put down
in their attempts at making disturbances. As
it is there is every reasonable ground to hope and
expect that Christmas in Ireland will be passed in
calm and security, and we hope that by the time it
is over men's minds may have resumed their ordi-
nary tranquillity, and things may go on in a pros-
perous mariner. The most fortunate kingdom could

the leader whom the American Government
has accepted as representing the popular party.
The integral difficulties of Mexican affairs are very
great, and every one who attempts to solve the
problem is soon inclined to repent his temerity.
The Mexican Republic is almost a caricature of its
great neighbour. Rival Presidents are set up and
put down, rival proclamations are issued, and the
American Government, in trying to regulate the
movements of the puppets, is obliged to resort to
the expedient of shutting them up. ORTEGA was
arrested for opposing JUAREZ, then ORTEGA was
released and SEDGWICK imprisoned for occu-
pying Matamoras. Meanwhile the position
of MAXIMILIAN is most uncertain. He is at one

time said to have abdicated in due form, at another
to have fled secretly to Europe, at a third to have
been forcibly detained in Mexico, and again to have
declared he will not abandon his throne, but will
refer to the decision of the people. Rumours are
also current about a junction between the Im-
perialists and the Church party, but all is uncertain
and contradictory. There does not seem to be
any one
party strong enough to hold its
Own, and the people are so accustomed to
the perpetual
revolutions excitement of rival claims that
are • a matter of indifference to
them. It is much to be lamented that this fine and
fertile country, capable of supporting a vast popu-
lation in peace and prosperity, should be thus torn
and distracted
hasby perpetual convulsions. Long
misgovernment
left its usual disastrous traces,
and it would need a strong hand and a wise head
to restore anything like order to the country.
From whence the strength is to come that is neces-
sary it is not easy to foretell. The Americans will
not suffer the presence of foreign troops, even if any
dynasty or form of government could be satisfacto-
rily based on such a foundation. The -Mexicans them-
selves are so disunited that it is not likely that any
Administration which they elect will long retain
power, and yet should the Americans interfere with a
strong hand they would at once arouse the suspi_
cion of the British Provinces and the jealousy of
the Southern Republics. It is altogether a trouble-
some and perplexing vista which opens out for the
year 1867, with the simple announcement that
Minister CAMPBELL has returned to New Orleans,
and his mission is believed to be a failure.

All that concerns Italy is sure to attract interest
just now, and many will regard with attention the
details of the Budget which the Finance Minister
presented to the Chamber of reputies on the 21st
inst. It was divided into two special balance-
sheets—one for Venetia, and the other for the'
remaining provinces of the Italian kingdom.
Of course a deficit is the result of the affairf as was
generally anticipated, and there remains for the two
balance- sheets a general deficit of 186,466,334 lire.
The surplus yielded by the Venetian budget reduces
the original loss of the other provinces seven millions
and a half, or a worse figure would have been pre-
sented by the Finance Minister. Thus we see that
the junction of Venetia has already been of service
to the rest of Italy. There is nothing to dishearten
tha Italians in their Budget, because they have
had such difficulties to contend against during the
year, and as time goes on they will more
and more reap the advantages of what they have
gained. With care and caution we have no doubt
that they will be able to do a great deal even in the
next year, in the way of reducing their expenditure.
It seems surprising to be reading details of the
united kingdom of Italy, and it shows most de-
cidedly the folly of despairing, and thinking a cause
is lost because of its being delayed. The Italians
have, indeed, cause to rejoice at the changes which
time has brought them this year, awl we hope that

Some doubts again prevail in reference to the pro-
posed voyage of the Empress to Rome. The France
asserts positively that her Majesty will leave Paris
for Rome in a few days. On the other hand, the
Constitutionnel, speaking officiously, if not officially,
asserts that the projected voyage is postponed, at all
events for the present.

The Americans resident in Paris have given a
farewell dinner to Mr. Bigelow, the American
Minister, who resigns his functions, and is about to
return to the United States. Covers were laid for
300 persons. The utmost cordiality prevailed. The
health of Mr. Bigelow, proposed by Mr. Kellogh,
of Massachusetts, was given enthusiastically. Mr.
Bigelow, in returning thanks, contrasted the happy
auspices under -which he should return to his native
land with the melancholy position under which he
left it in the summer of 1861. The rebel flag then
waved over eleven of the Republican States. Trea-
son prevailed among the officers, which had reduced
the small army and navy of America almost to no-
thing. After a struggle, the issue of which at his
departure no one could foretell, and thanks to the
heroism, which had never been surpassed and per-
haps never equalled, he should find at his return the
American standard, with its ornaments of stripes
and stars floating peaceably over the capital of all
the States of the Union. Mr. Bigelow spoke of the
French nation as the most amiable which existed,
and though it was painful for him, he said, to leave
France, he should carry away very numerous and
very agreeable recollections of his sojourn there.
A widow lady named Gravis, whose husband was
an army surgeon, is now residing at Calais, who,
although 99 years old, is in full possession of all
her faculties, and is in excellent health. She has in
her possession a relic, of which she takes great care.
Is is a spoon of boxwood, which was used by Marie
Antoinette while she was in prison at the Con-
ciergerie in 1793. Madame Gravis was in that
prison at the same time, having been incarcerated
by the Revolutionists. The spoon came into her
possession in this way. After the death of Robe-
spierre, Madame Gravis was sent from the Con-
ciergerie to the College du Plessis, which was
converted into a prison. A Savoyard woman, who
had been cordemned to death, attended upon the
Queen in the Conciergerie, was also sent to the
College, where she also offered her services to
Madame Gravis. This woman sold her several
articles, and amongst them this spoon, which was
used by Marie Antoinette when her plate was taken
from her. Madame Gravis, regarding it as an h is-
torical relic, purchased the spoon of the woman and
gdaaNvileyeNhivneratnhfocierchitheaatmuhtepifsdauelmi‘eeloanfrss2tr.s fueStriaeentuwcss in assignats.
buildingmonu-
mentsof t arthe fetuh w
foundations
d at
ioer
ekmseefn a have now commenced
e
magnificenteseene
omt hte° r
krios s uu peon account of the Turkish Government, and also a
splendid mosquee and a Turkish bath, of course
upon a small scale. In the interior of the building
the workmen are engaged in finishing a rich and
splendid gallery of a style of architecture and de-
coration after the best model of the Turkish
Empire. The new ambassador from the Porte,
Mehemet Djemil Pacha, immediately on his
arrival in Paris, gave orders for the exe-
cution of these works, and, in spite of the short
time to elapse before the Ist of April, there is no
doubt they will be completed by that period. The
direction of them is confided to an artist equally
artistic and skilful, M. Leon Parville, assistant to
M.lBarborini, architect, who remains for the present
at Constantinople. The Swedish vessel, Hamburger-
Daquet, from Gothenbourg, has arrived at Havre,
with no less than 585 packets, containing novel
articles for the Great Exhibition. A troop of 50
Indians—men, women, and children—from North
America, with their wigwams and domestic utensils,
will be at the Exhibition.

The Siecle, alluding to the advice given to the
Emperor Maximilian, by the French General, to
abdicate, treats that result as almost an accomplished
fact, there being now only a " few formalities" to
fulfil. " Whether he should abdicate in favour of
young Iturbide," says the Siecle, " or depart purely
and simply, the abdication must take place."
A tragical occurrence has taken place in the Rue
de Chartres, Chapele St. Denis. The door-keeper
of the house close to the chop of M. Laniaire, a

their cage, and gave us the opportunity of examin-
ing them, but of course we could make out nothing
they said, and were totally unable to ascertain their
wishes. They appeared very uneasy when out of
the van or cage, and glad to get back to it again.
They, five in number, eat, drink, and sleep in this
place, which is about 10 ft. in length by 6ft. in
width, and are; not even taken out to obey the
calls of nature ; there is nothing in it but straw,
and, except when exhibited, they have no light
but from an aperture in the top of the van." An-
other gentleman who saw the wild men in July or
August, 1865, informed the Society that at that
time they were confined in a den, which was not
only barred closely, but wire was so closely inter-
woven that not even a finger could be introduced.
The five human beings exbibited in the cage were
clothed in furs, and evidently Asiatics. The Society,
after endeavouring apparently in vain to discover
some legal method of releasing the five human
beings from their supposed cruel oppression, sent
another agent to visit them on November 1, accom-
panied by Mr. IVooyeno Riotaro, a native of Japan.
They were admitted to the den of the wild men,
which was about 10ft. long and sft. or 6ft. wide,
with strong iron bars all round, the floor covered
with a thick layer of clean straw, and the inmates
clean in appearance, well clothed in furs, with the
exception of their legs. The Japanese gentleman,
Mr. Wooyeno Riotaro, made several attempts to
converse with them, but did not succeed in making
them understand him, for although they manifested
considerable interest in his endeavours, the only
reply he could succeed in obtaining was a succes-
sion of short sharp yelps or barks. From each
yelp or bark sounding exacting alike, a doubt arose
as to whether or no these men were really speaking
the language of the country or merely giving utter-
ance to sounds which had been taught them by their
exhibitors. One of the men was taken out of the
cage, but showed signs of distress in facing so many
strangers, and appeared anxious to join his com-
panions in imprisonment again. The Aborigines'
Protection Society, as a last resource, appealed to
the Home Secretary, urging him to put an end to a
" grave public scandal," adding that "such exhi-
bitions notoriously tend to perpetuate the cruel and
pernicious ideas of the natural inferiority and irre-
claimable barbarism of the weaker races of mankind
which have unhappily become too prevalent in this
country." It appears that the attention of the
Home-office had been previously called to the sub-
ject, and an inquiry had been instituted, the result
of which will be gathered from the following reply
of Mr. Walpole to the appeal of the Aborigines'
Protection Society:—" Whitehall, Dec. 21.—Sir,—
I am directed by Mr. Secretary Walpole to acknow-
le3ge the receipt of your letter of the 18th inst.,
calling attention to an exhibition of so-called wild
men of Jesso,' which is now taking place in several
parts of England ; and lam to inform you that this
matter has been inquired into, and that there ap-
pears to be good reason for supposing that the pub-
lic are deceived as to these supposed savages, and
that the Aborigines' Protection Society, if it should
make further researches, will probably find that
there is not in reality any such restraint put upon
these so-called ' wild men' as it apprehends to be the
case. I am, sir, your obedient servant, H. WAD-
DINGTON."

EARL RUSSELL AND ITALY.--An address having
recently been presented to Earl Russell, at Florence,
in accordance with Garibaldi's suggestion, the noble
earl has written a reply, of which the following is a trans-
lation :—" To Signor Bertani.—Sir,—l have received with
much pleasure the address transmitted to me through you.
The deputies who signed it have rendered me an honour
far above my merit ; they cannot, however, exaggerate the
ardent sympathy I have felt for Italy during her struggle
for liberty and independence, nor ascribe too much import-
ance to that solemn occasion in which the deputies from
the Venetian provinces joined their colleagues as repre-
sentatives of a free State. Lady Russell unites very cor-
dially with me in congratulations at the favourable issue of
the great conflict in which the Italian nation has boon en-
gaged, and requests me to thank you for associating her
name with that of her father, Lord Minto, also a true
friend of Italy. Bogging you to accept the assurance of
my esteem and consideration, I am, Lc., RtiSSF.LL."
UNJUST TRADESMEN IN LAMBETH.—Eight hun-
dred and eight South London tradesmen have been
fined during the present year at the Newington Sessions
for having in their possession unjust weights and
measures, This army of law-breakers was made up as
follows :-250 publicans, 147 chandlers, 120 greengrocers
and coal-dealers, 95 bakers, 81 butchers, 40 grocers, 24
marine-store dealers, 10 cheesemongers, 8 eating-house
keepers, 7 oilmen, 6 woolstaplers, 6 fishmongers, 5 milk-
men, 3 confectioners, 3 corn-dealers, 3 zinc-workers
2 ironmongers, 2 rope and sail-makers, and 1 cider-seller.
Several of the foregoing have been fined twice, thrice,
and some even four times, while the majority are church
and chapel-going, "respectable" men and women! The
fines inflicted amounted to a total of £1,285 16s. 6d.—
South Loieduit

CHRISTMAS PRESENTS AND NEW YEAR'S GIFTS.—
The bust and most varied assortment is to be found at
Rimmol's, 96, Strand, 128, R,3gont-street, 24, Cornhill, and
Crystal Palace. Scent Cases, Fans, Toilet Sets, Smelling
Bottles, Perfume Boxes and Baskets, &c. Ornaments for
Christmas Trees, from 6d.; Christmas Sachets, 6d., is.,
and 2s. 61; Christmas Cards, 2s. per dozen. Rimmel's
Perfumed Almanack, 6d., by post for 7 stamps. The New
Illuminated and Perfumed Dinner Cards, 35., by post for
37 stamps.

41 per Cents 97 95
Do. and month —

3 per Cents. 69 321
Do. end month 69 30
Credit Mobilior 492 50
Do. end month

Credit Foncier —
Do. end month 1385

Bank Shares 3602 50
Italian Loan 56. GO
Do. end month 56 50
Mexican Loan —
Do. Bonds —
Spanish Threes
Home Debt —
Deferred -
AY&

For Account.
Orleans
Northern 1195
Lyons and Mediterranean 897 50
Southern 5Bl 25
Western —
Eastern

Sardinian
Austrian
Lombard 383 75
North of Spain —
SaragosEtt
Ditto to Barcelona —
Roman.. —

The Cape of Good Hope.

PLYMOUTH, Dec. 23.

The Union Company's steamer Norseman, Cap-
tain Ladds, R.N.R., arrived here this evening from
the Caps on the 19th ult., St Helena, on the 28th
ult., and Ascension on the 2d inst., with 86 passen-
gers, six packages of specie, and a large colonial
cargo. She experienced light trades throughout.
The mails werelanded and forwarded by to-night's
mail trains. The Norseman leaves during the night
for Southampton.

At the Cape the season continued very favourable,
crops of all kinds, which were being harvested, had
proved abundant. From most parts of the country
there are encouraging accounts of future prospects.
Farmers were beginning to get out of their late diffi-
culties. 'With a few such good seasons as at present
the revival of former prosperity seemed certain.
Owing to this there had been more animation in
business during the past month than for a long
time previous; but business was yet far from being
brisk or remunerative, and no marked improvement
was expected until after the New Year, when agri-
culturists have disposed of their crops.
The Government and Parliament had stopped
almost all the active work during the past month,
until they had the report of the Select Committee
on retrenchment in public expenditure before them.
This report, which had been handed in during the
previous week, evoked a great deal of discussion.
The committee recommended the reduction of

early £89,000 off the estimated expenditure ; this
saving to be made by reducing the official salaries
and establishments, including the reduction of the
Governor's salary, and by abolishing the salaries of
the High Commissioner and of the Lieutenant-
Governor and some of the Government offices, con-
solidating others, and employing a different system
of administration in the Post-office, the convict
establishment, and other departments.
This reduction would bring the actual deficit in
the colonial revenue for the coming financial year
down to £30,000, part of that sum being also pro-
vided for ; but from the amount of deduction re-
commended a considerable portion would have to
be spent in compensation and pensions, and pen-
sions to officers relieved of duty.
Parliament had at length agreed to, and for-
warded to the Governor, a series of resolutions,
praying him to cause the necessary measures to be
introduced, and the Estimates for 1867 to be sub-
mitted, with the least possible delay, and in such
form as to enable the house to deal conclusively
with the details of the report. To this the Governor
replied in a message to the house, in which while his
Excellency appeared of opinion that considerable
reductions might be made without injury to the
public service, yet he asked for the best assistance
of Parliament, as on some matters involved in the
reduction the home authorities would have to be
consulted ; and as Parliament were imposing upon
him the painful task of extinguishing and reducing
offices, almost all of which were in existence before
he became connected with the colony, he desired to
know the specific requirements of the house as to
the abolition of offices or the reduction of salaries ;
in fact, whether the house would adopt each indi-
vidual recommendation in the report. The discus-
sion on this message was to be opened the day the
Norseman sailed, and was believed to be likely to
prove the most practical work of the session.
The various new railway schemes had all been

The decorative lighting surrounding the Hippo-
drome is also splendidly effective, consisting of 12
elaborately designed chandeliers, exceedingly grace-
ful in appearance, the pure crystal chains of which
have been artistically interspersed with variegated
coloured spangles, octagons, and prisms, the play
of colours and brilliancy of light producing a most
dazzling effect. In addition to these there are
bouquet cluster lights, with numerous other crystal
devices, such as stars, feathers, monograms, crown
of England, &c., which, while giving due pro-
minence to the splendour of the whole en-
semble present to the dazzled spectator a coup
dceil of inconceivable beauty and magnificence.
The principal feature of the entertainment is a pro-
cession remarkable for extent and elaborate display.
The " Congress of Monarchs," as it is called, intro-
duces potentates from all parts of the world, from
the sovereigns of Europe to the King of Dahomey,
and gives to each a numerous suite in recognisable,
and, at all events as far as the Europeans are con-
cerned, correct and brilliant uniforms. The royal
family of England, the Pope, and the Sultan with his
harem, figure in heavy gilded chariots, while other
exalted personages ride with dignity on horseback, or
are jolted ungraciously on camels, dromedaries, or
elephants. The attractions of the ring include some
very graceful riding by Mdlle. Gaertner upon a
trained horse, the clever performance of another
trained horse under the guidance of Mdlle. Ethair,
and marvellous vaulting and somersaulting throwing
by Messrs. Purvis and Elbin. There is also an oval
course tracing the full extent of the hall, in which
flat handicap races and steeplechases are run by
thorough-breds ridden by " gentlemen" in jockey-
colours, and in which there are chariot races by
ladies, contests of gallant Romans on bare-backed
chargers, and races by ponies with monkey jockeys.

GREAT DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY

BY FIRE.

This (Monday) morning the following fires in the me-
tropolitan district wore officially reported to the Board of
Works. About five minutes before three o'clock a fire of
a rapidly destructive character broke out in the premises
belonging to Mr. Nicholls, a Leer-shop keeper, situate at
No. 6, White Lion-street, Islington. The discovery was
made by one of the inmates, who was awoke by finding
his bed-room so full of smoke and the fiJoring so hot that
he could scarcely stand on the boards. The proprietor of
the house and three children managed to effect their
escape in safety. Conductors Kelley, Ward, and Ruby
promptly attended, with three of the Royal Society's
escapes, and were followed by the land steamers of Shand
and Mason. The mains of the New River Company having
been drawn plenty of water was procureed, and the engines
were called into operation, but the premises by that time
were on fire from the base to the roof. The firemen, how -
ever, went to work in an admirable manner, but the entire
building and the contents wore destroyed and the adjoin-
ing premises damaged by water, &c. Mr. Nicholls was
insured in the County, from which office Mr. White, the
assessor of losses, attended, but he was unable to ascertain
the cause of the fire.

Another fire happened in the premises of Mr. Mackintosh,
a builder, carrying on business in Rutland-mews,
Hans-town, Chelsea. Tho engines of the Metropolitan
Brigade, including the land steamers by Shand
and Mason, wore soon in attendance, as well as
the Royal Society's escape. Plenty of water having boon
procured, the firemen mounted the escape, and by convoy-
ing the hose up the machine the brigade were enabled to
attack the flames at each point, but they were unable to
get the conflagration extinguished until the dwelling-
house, the workshops, and other buildings were entirely
destroyed. The origin of the misfortune is unknown.
A fire likewise happened in the premises of Mr. Hovey, a
cabinetmaker, No. 19A, Haberdasher-street, Hoxton. The
fire commenced in the workshops, audit quickly penetrated
the roof. Conductors Puzoy and Nicholls attended with
the Roy-al Society's escapes, and plenty of the New River
Company's water having been procured, the Metropolitan
Brigade engines now set to work, but the premises were
partially destroyed.

LORD ERSKINE.—At the opening of the Confe-
rence of Advocates, which took place in the early part of
the present month, the introductory address was delivered
by Ribut, of the Imperial Court, and con,isted of au ex-
ceedingly well-written biography of the great orator, Lord
Erskine. The composition in question, portions of which
appeared in some of the French journals, attracted so much
attention that 3f. Le Chevalier, the publisher of the Rue
Richelieu, has now brought the production out in the form
of a pamphlet. Treated by a French lawyer of ability, the
career of the English Lord Chancellor possesses so great an
interest tlfi to insure a rapid sale for the work.—Graianani.

lie saloons ; so broad a statement met with immediate
contradiction, and the writer subsequently, we believe, ad-
mitted this and other charges to be somewhat exaggerated.
In June last, one of his reviewers took occasion to de-
aounce 3lr. Charles Reade's " Griffith Gaunt" as an in-
decent and grossly impure publication, and to class Mr.
bade with George Saud, Eugene Sue, the writer of "Don
Juan," and to other pernicious authors. Fair criticism
authors must submit to—but denunciation, without a single.

•
line of proof, exceeds the bounds of decency. Mr. Reads,
naturally indignant at this treatment, replied in that terse,
vigorous style, of which he is so thorough a master, and
dealt some crushing blows upon his antagonist. At a time
when a man's reputation and position in society are at
stake he must not stop to choose his words, but in tho
strongest language at his command he ought to vindicate
his character; such was Mr. Reade's reply—it was not a
politic, but it was a manly and natural reply. When
man calls you " rascal" to your face, if you have a grain
of manhood in you, your reply will be neither legal nor
parliamentary, but in stria accordance with natural in-
stinct. In prize fights we are told, when ono of the com-
batants is sent reeling to the ground by a well-directed
blow, his supporters find a brief rest and a plentiful appli-
cation of vinegar necessary to bring him up to the mark
again. Mr. Reade's rough blow was planted on the 13th of
October—rest and a plentiful application of mental vinegar
has brought up his antagonist again, and in the Round Table
of December Ist—with all possible acidity of language—he
charges Mr. Reads with plagiarism, drags to light a brief
story by Wilkie Collins, published in 1859, and a story
which appeared in Household Words in 1856, having some
remote resemblance to Mr. Reade's work, and with an un-
accountable narrowness of vision seeks to brand Mr.
Reads as a plagiarist—the very fact of there being two
tales bearing a resemblance to " Griffith Gaunt" ought to
have suggested a doubt ; but, blinded by passion, the
writer flings his arms round wildly in the hopo that a
chance blow may do some mischief. To those who know
Mr. Reade such a charge is simply ludicrous—to those who
do not know him we only say, read all three stories and
judge for yourselves. The charge is a proof of the writer's
incompetency to criticise, and we are surprised that a re-
spectable English literary paper like the Reader should
give it currency by reprinting the article without any sign
of disapproval.

REPRESENTATION OF COLCIIESTER.-Dr. Brewer,
who has appeared as a Liberal candidate for Colchester,
has issued an address to the electors. Dr. Brewer advo-
cates the unconditional surrender of church rates, while he
observes :—" The state of private and public teaching and
ministrations in the Established Church are alarming the
Protestant feelings of the country, and rendering a more
intimate union between Churchmen and Nonconformists
the desire and only security of the true children of the Re-
formation. Dr. Brewer contends for the opening of the
great national colleges to the nation without respect to
special religious formularies. Upon the question of the
franchise Dr. Brewer declares that progress is his creed ;
while he adds :—" Protection to voters, whether by the
ballot or any other effective scheme, is but a reasonable
measure whore intimidation is practised, and may be in-
strumental in securing order in polling even in populous
constituencies." Finally, Dr. Brewer winds up with the
assurance that " a great and momentous struggle is 0t
hand."

MR. HEADLAMP M.P.—On Friday night the
Right Hon. T. E. Headlam, M.P., addressed a large moot-
ing of the electors of Newcastle. There was also a largo
attendance of non-electors, and the place was crowded. At
the close of the right hon. gentleman's address the follo
ing resolution was adopted:—"That this meeting begs to
thank Mr. Headlam for his attendance here this evening,
and for the excellent speech he has made, and the inforuni"
tion he has given to his constituents."

CONSERVATISM AT D URHAM.—A great Conser-
vative banquet is to take place at Durham, on Tuesday,
Jan. 13, in honour of the return of Lord Derby and the
Conservative party to power, and the reappointment of tit°
Right lion. J. R. Mowbray, M.P., to bo Judge Advocate"
General. The Earl Vane is to be the chairman.

TUE, LORD LIEUTENANCY OF LOuTII COUNTY.--
1
Mr. M'Clintock, of Drumcar, formerly M.P. for the county
has been appointed Lord Lieutenant of tho county °f
Louth, and colonel of the Louth Rifles regiment of Militia,
in the room of Lord Bellew, who died a few days sin°.
Mr. M'Clintock is a Conservative.
Cardinal Cullen has published his opinion on the
Sunday sale of intoxicating liquors. The law, he say'
which forbids the sale of other articles on that day shoul'
make no exception in favour of liquors. Almost all t"
crime of Ireland, he adds; is traceable to drunkenness,
which can never bo successfully combated until the public'
houses are closed on Sundays. In the Roman Cat"lie
dioceses of Cashel and Ferns the bishops have induced the
people to refrain from selling or buying drink on Sunday'
EX-GOVERNOR EYRE.—The so-called "Janiaic
Committee" have, we learn, at length passed the Rubicon.
They have taken out a writ against Mr. Eyre, and mean te
have him immediately before the Court. The Eyre Defence
Committee had a private meeting yesterday, at which th
defensive proceedings to be adopted in consequence under a
went lengthened consideration. We understand that thes
.
gentlemen have more than £B,OOO in hand, whereas their
opponents are as yet mainly dependent upon promises.
United &nice Gazette.