The Sun.
London, England, 1866-12-20 00:00:00

TO TILE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

SlR,—Christmas is fast approaching, and in a fow days
will be ushered in with all its usual festivity and joy ; it
behoves us then at such a time to remember the poor
who have not the moans of providing a Christmas dinner
for themselves. The Plough-court Ragged School Relief
Fund was established in the winter of 1860, for the pur-
pose of providing the poor with coals, bread, tea, sugar,
rice, and potatoes, according to their several wants, the
money received through The Sun, forming the nucleus of
the same. Several cases have already been brought under
our notice, but wo have not the means and wherewith to
relieve them. Tho committee take this opportunity of
informing your numerous readers that they hope to con-
clude arrangements at Christmas whereby they will be
placed in possession of a suitable building wherein to
carry on their numerous operations, in addition to several
now ones, but before they can conclude them the com-
mittee require about £l4O to pay off their present liabi-
lities, and for fitting up the new premises —their school-
house having beeen purchased by the guardians
of the poor for the West London Union for
the purpose of a casual ward and relieving
office. The committee, however, appeal with every
confidence to your numerous readers for help both
for the relief fund and, the new school, feeling surd
they have only to make the fact known and the necessary
funds will bo at once forthcoming, and the minds of the
committee relieved from all further anxiety on that score;
and, in conclusion, I will only say in the words of the poor
negro, " God's work must be done, and I may be dead,
' Therefore, freely ye have received, freely give.'"
Subscriptions, donations, and parcels of left-off clothing
will bo most thankfully received by the following :—Ragged
School Union, 1, Exeter-ball, Strand ; the Superintendent,
Mr. J. G. Upton, 12, Yardley-street, Wilmington-square;
the bankers,! Messrs. Smith, Payne, and Smiths, 1, Lom-
bard-street, E.C. ; or sent to me, by whom they will be
most thankfully received and acknowledged.

I remain, your obliged servant, _
Mos. BEBBISH, Hon. Sec.
27, Bedford-street, Covent-garden, W.C.,
Dec. 15, 1866.

MADAME TUSSALTD'S.—The Christmas holidays
will,
.we:trust, bring joy to many, and among the various
amusements in the metropolis none will be found more
worthy of being patronised than Madame Tussaud's ad-
mired waxwork exhibition in Baker street. Among the
life-size portrait models is a bridal group of the Princess
Helena with Prince Christian, also effigies of John Bright,
Esq., M.P., and the late Richard Cobden, Esq., M.P. The
truly magnificent Court dresses aro rich and costly in the
extreme.

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

(REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.)

THE WITHDRAWAL OF THE FRENCH
TROOPS FROM MEXICO.

PARIS, December 19 (Evening).
The Moniteur de Soir, in its weekly political
bulletin, says :--
" The expeditionary corps in Mexico continues its
movement of concentration without encountering
any serious difficulties. At the same time the
necessary preparations for the return of our troops
are actively prosecuted upon a large scale. The
transport Var has already left for Vera Cruz.
Other vessels will start for the same port without
delay. The squadron destined to bring back our
troops will be promptly assembled, and all measures
are taken that the evacuation en masse may be ac-
complished within a brief period.

M. FOULD'S FINANCIAL REPORT.
PARIS, Dec. 20.

The financial report of M. Fould has been pnb-
lished to-day. The Minister shows that owing to
an increase of 45,000,000 f. in the revenue, arising
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 90 millions, and
points out other resources. He concludes, there-
fore, that this Budget will also be in equilibrium.
Notwithstanding the considerable expenditure ne-
cessitated 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 to the new organisation of the army, the
Emperor having determined that the necessary
expenditure should be provided for by special bills
on the presentation of the rectified Budget for 1868.
M. Fould states that there is every reason to anti-
cipate that the State will then be in possession of
more than sufficient resources to meet these re-
quirements.

The Ministerial report then says :—" Some appre-
hensions are created by the new military organisa-
tion of the army, which will, however, be dispelled
by the certainty that the proposed changes have
only be caused by the necessity of placing the mili-
tary 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."

HUNGARY.
PESTII, Dec. 19 (Evening).

Count Majlath has arrived here.

The Upper House of the Hungarian Diet has
voted by a large majority the address passed by the
Lower House.

Baron Bay, former Chancellor, and Count
Forgach spoke in favour of the Address, which was
opposed by the ex-Minister Herr von Szesen.
The Tavernicus Count Senycy spoke in defence
of the Government, and expressed the wish that a
compromise might be effected in principle in order
to tranquillise the non-Hungarian provinces. Count
Senycy was confident that Hungary, by accepting
the principle of common affairs, would become the
centre of gravity of the Empire. In conclusion,
he stated that his Majesty was determined to re-
establish the constitution of Hungary.

BELGIUM.

BRUSSELS, Dec. 20.

On the proposal of the Minister of War a Royal
decree has been published appointing a committee
to inquire whether the present organisation of the
army is adequate to the national defence.