The Sun.
London, England, 1859-01-05 00:00:00

CHRISTMAS AT MALTA.

MALTA, Dec. 30.
On Christmas-day an order from Admiral Fan-
shawe, commander-in-chief, released all prisoners
in the fleet, in compliment to his Royal Highness
Prince Alfred. There were none on board her
Majesty's ship Tartarus, so there were none to
release.

The sailors of her Majesty's ship Marlborough,
and most of the other men-of-war in port, had a
double allowance of grog.
The seamen of all the ships made grand prepara-
tions for Christmas, and splendid feeds they had.
Every one of the seamen of-her Majesty's fleet at
Malta had not only a good but a sumptuous dinner
on Christmas-day ; they were allowed great license,
and, I am delighted to say, they did not abuse it.
At twelve, his Royal Highness Prince Alfred
went round the seamen's deck to see their dinners ;
he was loudly cheered by the men, who carried the
first lieutenant round the deck.

The Prince gave his messmates a boar's head for
their dinner, and partook of it with them. In the
evening, Admiral Fanshawe, probably with a view
to keep the Prince from the scenes of a man-of war
on Christmas Eve, invited: him to a quiet family
dinner at his house.

On Monday, the authorities went to very great
trouble and expense in illuminating every govern-
ment building on the Prince honouring the mer-
chants with his company at a ball, which has been
the gayest affair of any during his visit, The chief
feature of the illumination was the Custom-house,
at which the Prince landed. It was one blaze of

light from that building to the Calcara•gate.
Guards of Honour received him there; and on his
landing Bengal lights were arranged to form the
word " Welcome," and in front was a very bril-
liant Eagle. The landing-place was lined with
carpets and flowers, and decorated overhead with
banners and ;flags. The whole was arranged by
the Hon. Capt. Hoseason, and him great credit.
The Queen herself could not have received
greater honours than, Prince Alfred has received
during his visit to Malta. He has occasionally had
to do duty, such as taking command of a boat, or
going to the flag-ship to copy orders, to show that
he is a naval cadet, which uniform he always wears.
He has, in company with Major Cowell or some other
officer, paraded the town and made some purchases
in the shops. He is very observant, and at one of
the balls he caused some amusement. A young
English beauty, a visitor at Malta, who is accused
of being a sad flirt, dropped her card of dances,
which the Prince picked up, and smiled on seeing
that dance No. 1 was filled with the name of a gay
military gallant, and the six following dances with
the same name.

Her Majesty's ship Caradoc was sent with the
last telegram to Cagliari and returned on the 27th.
She leaves again to-day for the same placed The
cable, it is now feared, is damaged by some convul-
sion near Graham's Island, close to which it passes.
It is quite useless at present.
The Coquette leaves to-day for four months, sup-
posed to be for Candia.
The Wanderer is ordered from Athens to Con-
stantinople, her Majesty's ship Osprey having lost
some of her rigging.
The Recruit is to go to Tripoli on the 2d with
Consul• General Herman.

The Lapwing is ordered to prepare for sea.

MR. GL AD s. To 117-B AT APHPArs,

Thb 21tai'd publishes the following letter from
Athens

" ATHENS, DEC. 23.
" Mr. Gladstone arrived hero last Friday evening and
alighted at the British Embassy. You may easily imagine
how eagerly the arrival of this oft so many grounds
tritas individual was expected, who has dome to Judge the
cause of a whole people. Mr. Gladstone has visited all the
lonian. Islands, except Cerigo, and has been everywhere
received with enthusiasm and welcomed as the man who is
to procure for them the union dreamt of and desired by the
lonians. At Zante, however, observing the pitch which
the excitement of the clergy and people had reached, Mr.
Gladstone informed them that he had come to hear their
grievances and not their wishes ; that annexation to Greece
is a phantom—an impossibility, and that all that was pos-
sible consisted in reforms to improve the actual condition of
the country. Mr. Gladstone may be right in saying that
for such an event time, persons, circumstances, and conse-
quences must be considered, and that it is madness not to
do so ; but what people under similar circumstances would
not raise a cry which is innate in the heart of man—inde-
pendence ? The lonians, however, are well aware that they
can never realise their wishes by force, but they have acted
wisely in taking advantage of this opportunity to make by
this manifestation an appeal to the whole of Europe. Their
cause now cannot fail to be pleaded and taken into consi-
deration in future events which must take place in the
East.

" This speech, happily for Mr. Gladstone, only arrived
here this evening, and was not made public till after his
departure. I cannot picture to you the sentiments of admi-
ration and veneration with which this tribune of Great
Britain was received. Here, also, if political etiquette had
allowed it, manifestations would have been made for the
annexation, for every Greek is aware that it, is only by the
aggrandizement of his country that Greece can revive and
assume a serious importance in the future destinies of the
East.

" Mr. Gladstone was astonished at the progress Greece
has made, considering it has all been done within 30 years.
" On the 21st, the Queen's birthday, who enters her
40th year, Mr. Gladstone with his wife and daughter,
attended a Te Deum in the Church of St. Irene, in the pre-
sence of their Majesties and the high dignitaries of State.
In the evening of this festival, a drawing-room having been
held in the morning, he dined at the Palace. and had a long
conversation with their Majesties.
• " Mr. Gladstone, accompanied by Mr. Finlay, paid a
visit to the Senate, during the debate on the Bank. He
heard M. Chatziskos speak, and had all the men pointed
out to him who took part in the revolution. On the follow-
ing day he visited the Chamber of Deputies, during a de-
bate on the Navy Estimates. I fear Mr. Gladstone will
leave with no very high opinion of our modern Demos-
theneses."

Le Nord devotes a leading article in support of
the annexation of the lonian Islands to Greece, and,
alluding to Mr. Gladstone's speech in Cephalonia,
says :

" Doubtless, if the lonian Islands are annexed to Greece.
that power will not yet have gathered together all her chil-
dren under the protection of her Crown Thessaly, Epirus,
and Crete will still remain subject to foreign rule. and be
kept so in virtue of that treaty which guarantees the terri-
torial integrity of Turkey. Doubtless, their populations
also will continue ardently to desire, like the lonians, union
with their brethren of free Greece. But what hai this to do
with the enfranchisement of lonia? Because justice can-
not be rendered to all at once, is it not to be rendered to any ?
Because Turkey cannot be reduced, is lonia, which is not,
dependent upon it, to remain subject to a detested protecto-
rate ? The still enslaved factions of Greece will, it is argued,
agitate with renewed vigour to obtain the desired annexa-
tion. If it is thus, what ought to have been done in 1830
should have been either not to have restored Greece at all,
or to have restored her in her full integrity. What ought
to be done to-day would be to strike off Greece from the list
of Sovereign States ; for so long as she exists as such Thes-
saly, Epirus, and Candia will loudly clamour for annexa-
tion, and Turkey, who feels no compunction in enslaving
them, cannot possess them without anxiety and danger."