The Sun.
London, England, 1859-12-13 00:00:00

:ffiEl is uN,I !LONDON! T UESDAY2ETENING, • DECEMBER '.13, r 1859

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hastened his departure to the seat of war in conse-

quence, for the purpose of taking up his position
there forthwith, in his supremely responsible cka-
racter as Commander-in-Chief.
Elsewhere will be found, transferred to our
columns of this evening, from thole of our chief

morning contemporary, a picturesque description
of the aspect of affairs just now at Ceuta—penied
by one whose very selection to the post implies his
ability--to write and his keenness to observe, 1. e.
=ether ,Correspondent. From,this authentic
narrative it,will be seen that as yet things arc
there (at Ceuta) in a state of muddle and confusion,
strongly reminding one of the old disastrous
plight, five years ago, of our Crimean Slough of
Despond at Balaklava. Take in illustration, the
account given of the creek, where the cattle
were landed from the horse-boats. It is de-
picted as a " dry gully," which " continues for
some distance above highwater mark, passing
under a broad arch of brickwork, and sloping up-
wards until the ground rises to a level with
the quay." The writer then goes on to say, "It is
narrowed by a.number of large boats, hauled up on.
either . side; beneath the arch aro heaps of old
cordage and rusty chain cables ; the mud at the
water's edge combines with lurking defilements and
'abominations to produce the pleasing, variety of
odours that impregnate the surrounding atmos-
phere. It was here that the square, heavy horseboats
came, dancing, to the no small disquietude of their
living freights, over the heavy swell that rolled
into the baY with the rising tide after eight in the
evening." Then comes the record of the landing,
as follows :—" The boats - were hauled into the
creek, and' as near to land as they could come;
once aground, a bridge waslhrown out from them,
down which the cattle came. There were then still
a good many yards of water to traverse, into which
some of the animals made great difficulty
about stepping, while others took it so clum-
sily that they fell and got completely drenched.
Most of them were mounted to come ashore, but
some were merely driven into the water, and wan-
dered out of their course and almost out of their
depth. A number of half-naked men waded,
about catching and directing them ; on shore,
when the horses landed, many of them found
no one in readiness to claim them, and re-
mained encumbering the narrow space until some
officer ordered them off. In the boats, soldiers and
grooms shouted and swore; on land impatient pro-
prietors clamoured for greater speed. If you ima-
gine all this passing on a dark night by the dim
light of two or three lanterns, you will compose a
picture that was not altogether pleasing to those
who figured in it. Early in the night a cargo of
commissariat cattle was landed, and six or seven
poor beasts, seeming;y sick and weak from confine-
ment on board, fell into the water, close to its edge,
and rose no more, They lay there, half embedded
in mad, objects of terror to the horses that passed
them, occasionally convulsively struggling and
gasping, until the flowing tide ended their mise-
ries." The ineident which is next recounted—
a sort• cf impromptu bull-fight —is aptly
introduced as ono in 'every way eminently cha-
racteristic. It is. as amusing as a spectacle in
the amphitheatre. But more sanguinary spectacles
than these we may be sure are in store- for Moors
and Spaniards in that unhappy region of strife—
that ill-fated arena of a conflict wantonly provoked
by the evil policy of a selfish ambition, acting
through the rather dubious machinery of the pre-
sent Government at Madrid.

The late appointments made by Lord PAL-
MERSTON'S Government are amongst the most
auspicious incidents recorded in the history of the
Coalition. Nothing could well have been more
judicious, under the circumstances, than the selec:
tion of Sir HENRY KEATING, the late Solicitor-
General, to occupy that seat upon the bench in the
Court of Common Pleas, so unexpectedly rendered
vacant the other day by the sudden death of the
lamented Mr. Justice CROWDER. The abilities of
the hon. and learned gentleman now invested
with the judicial ermine after twice occupy.
ing the responsible position of the second of the
legal advisers of the Crown, having seats in the
House of Commons, are very generally recognised
—are,recognised none the less heartily by his poli-
tical opponents than by his political friends and
associates—as more suited in every way to the dis-
charge of the duties devolving upon a judge Can
of those more active and energetic and agitating
duties devolving upon a popular representative
connected in any conspicuous manner with the
lab Ours of Administration. Whatever may be the
opinion entertained by some in regard to.the foren-
sic judicial qualifications of Sir HENRY KEATING,
we believe that his promotion from the office of
Solicitor-General to the vacant seat upon
the bench of the Common Pleas will excite
among both friends and enemies almost una-
nimous satisfaction. And certainly the selection
which has been made immediately afterwards hy
Sir llENnv's successor as Solicitor-General, ought
to be welcomed by the Liberals, generally with
peculiar, and we are fain even to add, with even
unqualified sentiments of gratification. The hon.
and learned gentleman
,in question, Mr. WILLIAM
ATHERTON, M.P. for the city of Durham, Q.C.,
one of ILM.C. for the Duchy of Lancaster, one of
the leading advocates on the Northern Circuit,
Counsel to the Admiralty, and Judge-Advocate of
the Fleet, ought to be regarded as more peculiarly
welcome to the more advanced Liberals in his new
character as her MAJESTY'S Solicitor-General, for
reasons more potent, in their way, at this particular
moment, than any that might be rationally deduced
from those evidences of his high powers, whether
personal or professional. And these, to our thinking,
vastly superior reasons—are they not obviously the
reasons most affecting the future fortunes of the
present Ministry through its future policy as an
Administration ? Mr. ATHERTON, we ought to re-
member, then, with especial satisfaction at this
juncture, is in his own political views so advanced
and so enlightened in Liberalism that he is an
earnest advocate for the Ballot, no less than
for the eitension of the suffrage, for the
comprehensive revision of our legal system,
and for the removal, root and branch, ab-
solutely and entirely, of that old upas-banian
hitherto covering the land with its deadly poison-
shade, that self-propagating tree-of-evil, the fruits
of which were Religious Disabilities. Mr.
ATHERTON is no Whig, is no partiSati, is tin 2(11
vanced and thoroughly independent Liberal, is for
all reforms, bet above all, for (what is in our esti-
mation) ,the reform of all refornis—The Ballot.

Particularly, peculiarly, especially for that one rea-

son among many powerful reasons, all tending to
make us regard with complacency the selection of
tho hon. and learned gentleman the member for
the city of Durham, for the post of Solicitor-
General, we rejoice very heartily as reformers in
this latest, as it is also one of the very best ,among
several excellent official appointments recently mado
under 'the Coalition Government.

The I)uk© of Newcastle has arrived in town from

Brighton.
• The Earl and. Countess- of; Winchilsea have
arrived at the St. George's HotiA from Bastwill Park.
Viscount Palmerston returned to London yester-
day from Brighton,
. . .

`COURT CIRCULAR.

OSBORNE, Dzc. 12.
The Queen, his Royal Highness the Prince ,teilsort,
Princess Alice, Princess Helena, and Princese Louisa
crossed over to Portsmouth this morning in the Royal yacht
Fairy. 444.t4.-6.'.0
'Hers Majesty ceturiedfaisborne in tho afternoon.
In attendance were the Duchess of Atholl, Major-Gen.
the lion—C—Cizeyogul,Captain Du Plat.

Lieutenant-Colonel Ja,Mei T. D. Criclitim Stuart was
sworn Lord-Lieutenant of the county of Mite before the
Lord-Presidenrlbid' 'other Lords of—the Council, at the
Council-chambar, Whitehall, yesterday.
Viscount Palmerston returned to London yesterday from
)3righton.

Lord and Lady Edward Thynne have left town
for Longleaf, Wilts, on a visit to the Marquis of Bath.
A telegraphic despatch has reached Paris, stating
that Lord Holland, who is now in Naples, and .has been
there for some weeks, IS most alarmingly ill.
Lord and Lady Huntingfield and the Hon. Miss
Vanneek have arrived at the St. George's Hotel.
Lord Vernon has arrived at the St. George's
Hotel.
The Right lion. Benjamin Disraeli, M.P., and
Mri: Disraeli have arrived at their residence at Grosvenor-
gate froni Hughendev Manor, Bucks.
The:Hon. W. and Mrs. Vernon have arrived at

tho St. *George's Hotel.
Sir Courtenay and Lady Honywood have left
the, St. George's Hotel.
Sir George and Lady Jervis have left, the St.
George's Hotel. • '
Mr. Cobden's health is improvtn,g,.and he has been
advised by his,physiciun to spend a short time at Caiines.
It seems doubtful, however, whether the hon. gentleman

will be able to do so.
The grand jury at the Central Criminal Court,
yesterday, returned a true bill 'ibis murder against James
Moore. They alSo threw out the bill' preferred against
James Powers, who was committed on Friday last from the
Mansion-house by the Lord Mayor and Mr. Alderman
Abbiss for a rape on Hannah Percival.
The latest information from Dungannon is that
Sub-Inspector Mathews was 81i15htly better on Saturday:
Holden was removed in the resuming to Omagh Gaol, under
escort of twelve men of the constabulary force. His unfor-
tunate wife came with her child to endeavour- to'see him
before he left,- but was not permitted. • , .
SEASONABLE DONATION.—The funds of the Royal
Free. HOspital; Gray's•irtn-road, have within the last few
days been increased by a donation of 452 10s. from the Fish-
mongers' Company, with an annual subscription of £5 yes
RECOVERY OF GOLD FROM TIIE ROYAL CHARTER.
—The letters - from Moelfra- received on Monday report a
further recovery of gold from the wreck of the Royal Char-
ter—namely, 5101 b. of gold coin, 40 ingots Of gold, 286 f
sovereigns,, 47 rupees, 381 b. of golddust, five bars of gold,
and One cup ingot and a piece of iron plate, with part of a
bar of gold and some sovereigns driven into it, which latter,
it is observed, is " a great curiosity." The steam-tug Fury
arrived at Liverpool yesterday, from Moelfra, with about
£lO,OOO in gold.
... .
TILE EXTRA HOLIDAY FOR . CHRISTMAS.—The
Lord Chancellor, in accordance with the pOwer vested in
him by the general orders of 1845, has ordered all the Chan-
cery offices to be closed on the 26th inst., thus affording to
a great number of clerks the benefit of a holiday on that
day. We are glad also to perceive that the heads of the
leading linendrapers' and woollendrapers' establishments
in Whitechapel and Aldgate districts have. agreed that their
shops shall be closed on the Monday following Christmas-
day, a printed notice having been issued to that effect.
' CFIARTERHOUSE COMMEMORATION.—Yesterday
the Fourlcr's Day was celebrated with more than Usual
'eclat. Divine service was performed in the ancient chapel,
the sermon being preached by the Bishop of London, who
has recently. been elected a governor. Afterwards the
annual oration in Latin was delivered by Mr. Albert Eden
Seyntuir, in the presence M a large number of Carthusians.
In the evening a dinner took place in.the large hall, under.
the presidency of the Venerable Archdeacon Hale,- the
Master, the stewards on the occasion being Lord Justice
Turner, Sir E. A. H. Lechmere, Hart., the Rev. T. Collins
8.D., the Rev. S. It. Carter, 8.D., the Rev. G. E. Jeff,
M.A., and Mr. T. A. Stone. Several excellent speeches
were delivered. ' ' -
TIIE BRI:NEL MEMORIAL.—It may gratify the
friends of the late Mr. Brunel to know that the subsciip-
lions received towards the erection of a monument to his
memory already exceed £l,OOO. The subscribers comprise
all classes of the community, and the subscriptions are of
various amounts, according to the means of the subscribers,
the maximum being limite by the committee of manage-
ment' ta 10 guineas.
THE PAKINGTON TESTIMONIAL.—The testimonial
about to be presented to Sir John Pakington by the county
and city of Worcester was inspected by. the Prince Consort,
at Windsor Castle last week, and is now being exhibited by
Messrs. Mannings, of the Cross, Worcester. A description
of the testimonial—which consists OLa silver shield 40 inches
in diameter has already appeared. The following inserip •
tion is en,graven on the rim of the shield :—" Presented to
the 'Right Hon. Sir John S. Fakington, Bart., G.C.8.,
M.P., by the county and..city of Worcester. in grateful
recognition of his services for 24 years as chairman of the
county quarter sessions ' • this shield also illustrates his pub-
lic and official career as First• Lord of the Admiralty, Secre-
tary of State fur the Ccilonies, and •an able advocate of
general education." The presentation will be made en the
,28th inst., and will be followed by a dinner at the Guild-
hall, presided over by Lord Lyttleton, the lord lieutenant of
the county.---tlris',B Birmingham Gazette.
TIIE NEW SOLICITOR•GENERAL.—Mr. William
Atherton,. Q.C. M.P , his receive!" the' appointment of
• Solicitor •Generais rendered vacant hy • the appointment of
Sir Henry Keating to the judicial ,bench. The learned
gentleman is the. son of the late Rev. 'Wm. _Atherton, a
distinguished Wesleyan minister, and some time president
of the Conference, his mother being •n daughter of the late
Rev. 'Walter Monson, a clergyman. of the Established
Church of Scotland. He was born in Glasgow in 1806,
and was married in 1813, to Agnes Mary, the second
daughter of Mr. Hall, the chief magistrate of Bow-street.
In 1839 he was called to the bar by the Inner Temple,
having during the preVious seven years practised as a spe-
cial pleader. He has represented the city of Durham since
1852, and IS 'what may be considered a very advanced Libe-
ral, being in favour of the ballot, a large reform in the law,
the removal of all religious disabilities, and the extension of
the suffrage. ... • •
THE MILE-END INQUEST AND THE REV. MA..
BONWELL.—It is not generally known that the Bishop. of
London has issued a second or further 'commission to in-
quire into the cenduct of the Rev. James Bonwell, giving
enlarged powers to the cbramissioners—not that the first com-
mission haayet been opened. On Thursday next, however,
we believe the commission asuppointed will commence their
inquiry at the Common-hall, Doctors-commons, when that
portion of the rev. gentleman's conduct which could not
properly bo gone into before the coroner will undergo a
rigid inquiry.. The rev, gentleman will be aided by power-
ful legal advisers, and considerable excitement prevails in
the neighbourhood of Mr. Bonwcll's incumbency.
A SMALL VESSEL FOR A LONG VOYAGE.—Many
of our readers will recollect reading the particulars in our
columns, sonic time ago, .of tlie perilous voyage of the Little
Lucy, a screw yacht of about 25 tons, to Bahia, having
been navigated that lone. distance in peffect safety by Capt.
R. Breckon, notwithstai7ding the perilous character of the
undertaking. The Little Lucy was intended for the ser-
vice of the contractors of the Bahia Railway, and after her
successful run out it was determined, thus encouraged, to
despatch a still smaller screw steamer under sail to the same
destination. Accordingly one waspurchased on the Clyde,
under 20 tons register, and, after being fitted out for her
adventurous voyage, was placed under the command of
Captain Bracken as the most fitting person to bring the
trip to a successful termination, the - coolness and skill ex •
' hibited by him in his first performance justifying this con-
fidence; and she started, after several delays in running
from port to port' to escape various gales, on her passage to.
Bahia.. If the voyage of the Little, Lucy manifested an
amount of seamanship and daring rarely witnessed, the'
.trip of the Helen Coran, the name of the screw steamer' in
question, was calculated to call forth, if possible, still
greater resources of skill, judgment, and cool daring. Of
course Captain Breekon.knew that the utmost watchfulness
would be required lot a puff of wind should capsze his tiny
craft and involve himself. and crew, five in number, in a
watery grave, and that he would, as he expressed it, have
to "nurse her like a child." We are Ord to learn that the
tidienturous'party, with their little craft, have arrived safe
at Cape Verd, after having encountered fearful weather,
the Helen Corm being most of the time literally buried in
the seas. . There. was no respite from watchfulness, as the
least relaxation might hare proved fatal, and so far on this
perilous voyage intrepid Skill has triumphed over a step
that seemed censurable for temerity, and Captain Breckon
has every confidence in the successful accomplishment of
the least hazardous part of the voyage. We hope on the
return of the gallant captain he will meet with a more en-
larged sphere for the displiy of his talents, and one more
befitting his worth —Liverpool Telegraph.
THE CHRISTMAS PANTOMIMES.—The Christmas
entertainments of the present year will be distinguished by
the care and expense which have been lavished on their
productiens Three of the most popular nursery, 4ales of
childhood respectively furnish the subject matter for the
openings at the three principal theatres. The facile pen of
Mr. E. L. Blanchard is, for the eighth time, employed at
Drury-lane. The title is " Jack and the Bean Stalk," and
report speaks highly, not only of the dialogue, but of the '
scenery of Mr. Beverly, who has composed two original
effeets for the piece. The Christmas offering at Covent-
garden is the well-known " Puss in Boots." The author is
Mr. j..V. Bridgman, whose epigrammatic 'production of
last year resulted in such unqualified success. Mr. Byron
makes his debut as a pantomime author at the Princess's,
selecting the time-honoured story of " Jack the Giant
Killer." The scenery, it is said, is of the most mag•ni-
ficent character, and is. declared to Outdo all previous
eft es of even Messrs,.Grieve and Telbin. The transfor- '
mation scene in particular is of a most peculiar kind, and
introducing various novel and brilliant effects, will doubt-
less take the town :by Storni. Miss Louise Keeley plays
the hero Jack. The•burlesque at the Adelphi is also written
by Mr. Byron, and is adapted from the old German story
of Lurliue. Mr;Robert Brough exercises his bu:rlesque
powers on the adventures of Alfred the Great for the bone.;
fit of the Olympic audience. Mr. F. Robaon will, of course,
personate the hero. Mr. Frank Talfourd is as industrious
as his compeer, Mr. Byron ; he furnishes not only the open-
ing for tho Lyceum but also the extravaganza at the Strand.
The former is entitled it Kiwi.b' Thrush-beard," the latter is
founded on the historical tale of "William Tell." The
Christmas entertaimitent at Sadler'S 'Wells is an adaptation
of a tale of the Brothers Grimm, called the " Golden Goose.",
At the Haymarket the pantomime is, as usual, from the
pen of the lessee, Mr. Buckstone. The title ii "'Valentine's
Dart, or Harlequin and the True Lovers' Knot."
THE DRAUGHTS MATCH AT GLAS6OW.—This
match was brouxht to a conclusion On Saturday, resulting
in the defeat of .'Sl'KetTow. When play began on that day,
til.t:ha,einiesog,ranut::tNovoterie—dl‘ilsaportsiend,
of, la;llAelnqidieiri:oiv,:d G.. ;
~w. it: 1.1 nit.,,te
~.
trhe,:tnaitinvi,nags
atoh,lpeeplelsa,,yecd.ontelsiti the courts of the day
acknowledged the conquer.
vice of bit: friends, threw up the Mittel'
accordingly
was. engaged as a porter in the establishment
and W. C ,
anc?,w('-'in theociad:
Martin was
or. I\l'Kerrow, who
atupbell and Co., of Glasg .)w, resig e:dMeesrits. J.
tion before the match commenced, n.nd so certain. lsviles. situa-
tion
an easy victory, that it-Svae his intention, when "thee fig ht
was o'er," to commence business in the spirit tra.J.e..Ma
is a Welshman by birth, and is e.ngeged in the orchestra
one of the metropolitan theatres,

ball, which was honoured with the presence of the
King and Queen of Greece, who were most
gracious to every one present ; the whole corps
diplomatique, with all the notables in Athens, were
in full dress. Tho King opened the ball by dancing
with Miss Wyse, and the Queen with Prince Alfred ;
the Queen afterwards honoured Major Cowell and
our Secretary of Legation by dancing with them,
and the King honoured our consul's lady, Mrs.
Neale, by dancing a quadrille with her. At
twelve o'clock supper was announced. A private
table for the royal party, consisting of the King,
Queen, Prince Alfred, Sir Thomas and Miss Wyse,
had been laid in Sir Thomas's library, where after
supper his Majesty remained some time admiring
the fine collection of books and pictures. Dancing
was resumed with renewed spirit after supper,
their Majesties seeming especially to enjoy them-
selves, for although they arrived at nine p.m. it was
past three when the chef d'orchestre gave the last
coup d'archet that put an end to the eotillon. Alto-
gether this has been one of the most splendid fetes
we have had in Athens. The apartments were de-
corated in very good taste, the music was first-rate,
the presence of our glorious Queen's young son
made all our hearts joyful. The attention paid by
Sir Thomas and Miss Wyse to their numerous
guests and the splendour of the entertainment,
showed clearly that our host and hostess were
born in the land of. hospitality. On the 17th
the Prince returned to his frigate, attended by
Sir Thomas and Miss Wyse, where their Majes-
ties paid him a parting visit, which was said
by those present to be very affacting ; in fact,
had the Prince been one of their nearest relations
they could not have been kinder to him. The Greek
Government having placed a small steamer at the
Prince's disposal, he visited in it Eleusia and the
neighbourhood, and on the 18th the Euryalus sailed
for Corfu. The visit of the young Prince has made
a most favourable impression here, and the English
colony has been much gratified by the honours paid
him, not only by the Court and the officials gene-
rally, but by all those who had an opportunity of
paying him any respect, without overwhelming him
with idle compliments. His manners are captivating
it is true, and the kindness he showed his brother
middies in providing them with partners at the
ball won the hearts of the Greek young ladies.
Notwithstanding the bad weather Sir T. Wyse
found an opportunity of attending the Prince to the
Acropolii ; and no one is more capable of imparting
ancient lore or of pointing out the artistic views of
the magnificent scenery than this learned and ac-
complished scholar, and I understand-that under his
scientific direction the Prince took a few sketches,
which will no doubt greatly delight his royal parents,
and-be agreeable souvenirs of his visit to Athens.
The choice made of Major Cowell for his governor
seems a very happy one, for it was remarked by all
—and the Greeks are keen observers as you know—
that whether dancing with the Queen, or conversing
with our grandees, he never lost sight of his royal
pupil. Capt. rarleton seemed also very assiduous in
his attendance upon our sailor Prince. Under such
able tuition he cannot fail to fulfil our hopes of be-
coming one of the brightest jewels of our beloved
Queen's crown.",