The Sun.
London, England, 1861-01-03 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, THeURSDAY EVENING, JANUARY 3, 1861.

THE MIDDLE SCHOOL, Peckham, London,
S.E., for first-class business pursuits, will RE-OPEN
MONDAY, January 14, 1861.
For prospectuses apply to the Principal,
J. YEATS, LL.D., &c.

BANK OF BRITISH NORTH AMERICA.-
Incorpolmated by Royal Charter.
The COURT OF DIRECTORS HEREBY GIVE NOTICE,
That a HALF-YEARLY DIVIDEND, at the rate of Six per
Cent. per annum (free of Income-tax) on the Capital of' the
Bank, will be payable to the Proprietors of Shares registered
in this country on and after the sth day of Jau. next, at the
office of the Corporation, No. 7, St.Helen' s-plaee, Ilishopsgate-
street, between the hours of Ten and Four.
No Transfer can be made between the 15th instant and the
6th proximo, as the Jlooks must be closed during that period.

By order.of the Court.
C. M`NAB, Secretary.
No. 7, St. Helen's-place, London, Dec 4, 1860.

GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY.
—EXETER, YEOVIL, DORCHESTER, WEY-
MOUTH, and the WEST of ENGLAND, from PADDING-
TON STATION.

TRAINS to EXETER and the WEST of ENGLAND
leave PADDINGTON at 6 a.m. (Ist, 2d, and 3d class), 9.15
a.m. express (Ist and 2d class), 11 a.m. (Ist, 2d, and 3d class),
2 p.m. (Ist and 2d class), 4.50 p.m. express (Ist and 2d class),
8.10 p.m. ( Ist and 2d class).
TRAINS to YEOVIL, DORCHESTER, and WEY-
MOUTH, at 6 a.m. (Ist, 2d, and 3d class), 7.30 a.m. (3d class),
9.15 a.m. express (Ist and 2d class), 11.45 a.m. (Ist and 2d
class), 4.50 p.m. express (Ist and 2d class).
First and Second class passengers between London and
Exeter may break the journey at Bath, Bristol, or Taunton.
RETURN TICKETS are available for two days, or from
Friday till Monday.
Third Class Fares between London and Exeter, 14s. 134 d. ;
Yeovil, 10s. 4d. ; 'Dorchester, lls. Bd. ; and Weymouth,
12s. 3d.

DR. MARK AND HIS LITTLE MEN.-
BAND of FORTY BOYS.
First Visit to London—For One Week Only._

St. James'A, Great Hall, Regent-street and Piccadilly.
Mr. MITCHELL begs to announce that he has entered into
an ENGAGEMENT with Dr. MARK, of the Royal College
of' Music, Manchester, for the First Appearance in London of
his BAND of LITTLE MEN, 40 in number, selected from
the students of the College, an institution originated by Dr.
Mark, for the purpose of affording an efficient musical and
general education to boys in the poorer or middle classes of
society throughout the kingdom. Notwith standing the great
success which has attended the concerts Oven by Dr. Mark
and his Little Men throughout Scotland, Ireland, and the
previncei, they have never appeared in London, and the pre-
sent engagement is limited to one week only.
The FIRST CONCERT will take place on SATURDAY
EVENING, Jan. 12, 1861, at Eight o'clock; Second Concert
on Monday Afternoon, Jan. 14, commencing at half-past two, 1
to terminate about four o'clock, The subsequent Concerts
will be given on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday,
and Saturday Evenings, :Jan. 15, 16, 17,.18, and 19; and on
Thursday and Saturday Afternoons, Jan. 17 and 19.
Sofa stalls (a few numbered and reserved near orchestra),
ss. ; reserved seats, 3s. ; area, 28. ; back seats and galleries,
ls. ; which may be obtained at the principal libraries and
musicsellers, and at Mr. Mitchell's Royal Library, 33, Old
Bond-street, W.

_,
Pro,gTammes and full particulars will be duly announced,

ARGYLL ROOMS, Windmill-street, Piccadilly.
The Handsomest and best -Proportioned rooms in
Europe, are open for COJERTS aniDANCING, Conducted
by the well-known artiste Mons. ANTONY LAMOTTE, of
Parisian celebrity. M. Boulcourt, the greatest Cornet player
in this country, plays solos nightly. Doors open at half-past
Seven. Dancing at Nine o'clock. Admission. One Shilling.
N.B.—A magnificent Smoking and Reading-room is added to
this establishment.

CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS. - NATIONAL
ASSEMBLY ROOMS, High Holborn, the most elegant
public establishment in the world, replete with every com-
fort. The dancing area is most extensive. The reading and
smoking rooms on either side of the spacious galleries 'are
most commodious, and the refreshment rooms attached to
the ball room are unrivalled even by Oriental beauty. The
band, under the able direction of Mr. Packer, stands alone
for its excellence. Admission, is.

F INE TEA CHEAPER.
STRACHAN & CO.'S
JUSTLY CELEBRATED
DRAWING ROOM TEA
Is now reduced to 4s. per lb. Guaranteed the FINEST and
CHEAPEST Tea in the United Kingdom.
26, Cornhill, London, E.C.

AMMICA.

LIVERPOOL, JAN. 2.
The Asia, which toucled at Queenstown yester-
day, arrived, leaving very early this morning.
The following correspaidence respecting the visit
o:f the Prince of Wales to the United States had
?en published
LORD LYONS TOSECRETARY CASS,
Wethington, Dec. 8, 1860.
.Sir,—The Queen, mj august Sovereign, has
commanded that the earliest opportunity after the
return of the Prince of Males to England be taken
to convey to the President of the United States the
expression of her Majesty's thanks for the cordial
reception given to his Royal Highness during his
late visit to this country b 7 the President himself
and by all classes of the ciizens.
One of the main objects which her Majesty had
in view in sanctioning the visit of his Royal High-,
ness was', 'to prove to the President and citizens of
the United States the sincerity of those sentiments
of ester m and regard which her Majesty and all
classes of her subjects entertain for the kindred
race • shich occupies so distinguished a position in
the 'community of nations.
Iler Majesty has seen with the greatest satisfac-
tio'A that her feelings and those of her people in
this respect have been met with the warmest sym-
yathy in the great American Union • and her Ma-
, jesty trusts that theleelingof confidence and affec-
tion—the existence of which late events have

proved beyond all question—will long continue to
prevail, hAweenAlle-AivastiAioat to, their mutual
advantage and to the genetarifiUrestii-OrWiliTa=
tion and humanity.
I am commanded to state to the President that
the Queen would be gratified by his making known
generally to the citizens of the United States her
grateful sense of the kindness with which they
received her son, who has returned to England
deeply impressed with what he saw during his
progress through the States, but more especially so
with the friendly, and cordial goodwill manifested
towards him on every occasion by all classes of the
community.
I have the honour to be, with the highest consi-
deration, Sir, your most obedient humble servant,
The Hon. Lewis Cass, &c. LYONS.

THE SECRETARY'S REPLY.

Department of State, Washington, Dec. 11,1860.
My Lord,—l have the honour to acknowledge the
receipt of your note of the Bth inst., in which you
have conveyed to this Government the expression
of her Britannic Majesty's thanks for the cordial
reception given to his Royal Highness the Prince
of Wales during his late visit to this country by
the President and by all classes of the citizens, and
of her Majesty's wish that her grateful sense of the
courtesies extended to her son may be made known
generally to the citizens of the United States.
I am instructed by the President to express the
gratification with which he has learnt how correctly
her Majesty has appreciated the spirit in which his
Royal Highness was received throughout the Re-
public, and the cordial manifestation of that spirit
by the people of the United States which accom-
panied him in every step of his progress.
Her Majesty has justly recognised that the visit
of her son aroused the kind and generous sympathies
of our citizens, and, if I may so speak, has created
an almost personal interest in the fortunes of the
Royalty which he so well represents. The Presi-
dent trusts that this sympathy and interest towards
the future representative of the sovereignty of Great
Britain is at once an evidence and a guarantee of
that consciousness of common interest and mutual
regard which have in the past and will in the future,
bind together more strongly than treaties the feeling
and the fortunes of the two nations which represent
the enterprise, the civilisation, and the constitu-
tional liberty of the same great race.
I have also been instructed to make this corres-
pondence public, that the citizens of the United
States may have the satisfaction of knowing how
strongly and properly her Majesty has appreciated
the cordial warmth of their welcome to his Royal
Highness.

fhave the honour to be, my Lord, with high
consideration, your Lordship's obedient servant,
Wm. HENRY TRESCOTT, Assistant Secretary.
President Buchanan had issued the following
proclamation for a fast and humiliation day :

To TUE PEOPLE OP Titz uNITEr, crraTES —A EECOM-

MENDATION.

Numerous appealsiiaVWieWm adeto me by pious
and patriotic associations and citizens, in view of
the present distracted and dangerous condition of
our country, to recommend that a day be set apart
for humiliation, fasting and prayer throughout the
Union. In compliance with their request and my
own sense of duty I designate Friday, Jan. 4, 1861,
for this purpose, and recommend that the people
assemble on that day, according to their several
forms of worship, to keep it as a solemn fast.
The union of the States is at the present moment
threatened with alarming and immediate danger—
panic and distress of a fearful character prevail
throughout the land—our labouring population are
without employment, and consequently deprived of
the means of earning their bread—indeed hope
seems to have deserted the minds of men. All el fiSc'eS
are in a state of confusion and dismay, and the
wisest counsels of our best and purest men are
wholly disregarded.
In this, the hour of our calamity and peril, to
whom shall we resort for relief but to the God of
our fathers ? His Omnipotent arm only can save us
from the awful effects of our own crimes and follies

—our own ingratitude and guilt towards our Hea-
venly Father.
_ _ _

Let us, then, with deep contrition and penitent
sorrow, unite in humbling ourselves before the Most
High, in confessing our individual and national sins
and in acknowledging the justice of our punish-
ment. Let us implore him to remove from our
hearts that false pride of opinion which would im-
pel us to persevere in wrong
for the sake of consis-
tency rather than yield a just submission to the
unforeseen exigencies by which we are now sur-
rounded, Let us, with deep reverence, beseech Him
to restore the friendship and goodwill which pre-
vailed in former days among the people of the seve-
ral States, and, above all, to save us from the hor-
rors of civil war and " blood guiltiness." Let
our fervent prayers ascend to His throne, that He
would not desert us in this hour of extreme peril,
but remember us as He did our fathers in the darkest
days of the Revolution, and preserve our Constitu-
tion and our Union, the work of their hands, for
ages yet to come. An Omnipotent Providence may
overrule existing evils for permanent good. He can
make the wrath of man to praise Him, and the re-
mainder of wrath he can restrain. Let me invoke
every individual, in whatever sphere of life he may
be placed, to feel a personal responsibility to God
and his country for keeping this day holy, and for
contributing all in his power to remove our actual
and impending calamities.

"JAMES BUCHANAN:

" Washington, Dec. 14."
In the United States Senate, on the 17th ult.,
motions for papers in regard to the Charleston forts
were taken up and laid over. On the 18th a com-
promise offered by Mr. Crittenden, of Kentucky,
occupied the attention of the Senate. His prepo-
sition is thus summed up by the Tribune :
" Mr. Crittenden proposes to renew the Missouri
Compromise Line ; prohibiting slavery in the ter-
ritory north of 36 deg. 30 min., and protecting it
south of that latitude ; and for the admission of
new States, with or without slavery, as their Con-
stitutions shall provide ; to prohibit the abolition of
slavery by Congress in the States; to prohibit the
aboliiton in the district of Columbia so long as it
exists either in Virginia or Maryland ; to permit
the transportation of slaves in any of the States by
land or water; to provide for the payment of fugi-
tive slaves, when rescued ; to repeal one obnoxious
feature of the Fugitive Slave Law--the inequality
of the fee to the Commissioner; and also to ask the
repeal of all the Personal Liberty Bills in the
Northern States. These concessions are to be
submitted to the people in the form of amend-
ments to the Constitution, and if they are carried
they arc to be changed by no future amendments.
As Mr. Crittenden is a moderate man, as he
avows his attachment to the Union, and his de-
termination to stand by it, it is fair to presume
that his propositions are the best the South is dis-
posed to offer. They hardly, however, deserve the
name of compromise, as that term presupposes
some mutual concessions. Mr. Crittenden's plan
grants to the South that freedom shall be the rule
where nature itself prohibits slavery, and agrees
that Northern Commissioners shall not be bribed to
decide in favour of the claimants for fugitive slaves.
On the other hand, it provides, on the part of the
South, that the Ropublican party shall give up
what it has contended for for years, and at last
gained ; it limits the power of Congress in the
district of Columbia to suit, not the people thereof,
or of the country at large, but the people of two
contiguous States ; it takes away from the non-
slaveholding States their rights, under the common
I law, to prohibit the existence of playery therein

otherwise than in the case of fugitives ; it recom-
mends such States to repeal all laws to prevent the
kidnapping of their most defenceless citizens; and,
finally, it makes these important concessions to
slavery perpetual, We greatly mistake the temper
of the House if such a compromise will meet with
its approbation, and we altogetUr miscalculate the
strength of the Republicans of the North if there
be any possibility of their meeting with the assent
of two•thirds of the people."
The resolution of Mr. Powell, of Kentucky, pro-
viding for the appointment of a Select Committee of
13 on the state of the Union, was passed, and the pre-
siding officer was authorised to select its members.

The composition of the committee will be looked for
with the greatest interest. Previous to the passing of
the resolution, Mr. Lane, of Oregon, introduced a
proposition for the settlement of the pending diffi-
culties, looking to a Convention of the Southern
States to determine what shall be asked of the
North, to be followed by a General Convention of
all the States for consultation and definite action.
The proposition also commits Congress against the
policy of coercing seceding States. On the motion
of Mr. Douglas it was referred to the Select Com-
mittee,

In the House of Representatives on the 17th the
following preamble and resolution, offered by Mr.
Adrain (Anti-Lecompton Dern., N. J.), after
amendment, on motion of John Cochrane, including
in the recommendation the repeal of all Personal
Ulagty Bills, eo called, was adokted by a vote of
151 yeas to 14 nays

, ,

" Whereas, the Constitution of the United States
is the supreme law of the land, and its ready and
faithful obedience a duty of all good and law-abid-
ing citizens; therefore,—
"Resolved,—That we deprecate the spirit of dis-
obedience to the Constitution wherever manifested,
and that we earnestly recommend the repeal of all
statutes by the State Legislatures in conflict with
and in violation of that sacred instrument and the
laws of Congress passed in pursuance thereof."
Also, on motion of Mr. Lovejoy (Republican,
Illinois), the following was adopted—yeas, 124;
nays, none :

" Whereas, the Constitution of the United States
is the supreme law of the land, and its ready and
faithful obedience a duty of all good and law-abid-
ing citizens ; therefore,—
" Resolved,—That we deprecate the spirit of dis-
obedience to the Constitution wherever manifested
and that we earnestly recommend the repeal of all
Nullification Laws ; and that it is the duty of the
President to protect and defend the property of the
United States."

The following resolution, offered by Mr. Morris
(Democrat, of Illinois), was also adopted by a vote
of 115 against 44
Resolved by the House of Representatives,—
That we properly estimate the immense value of
our National Union to our collective and individual
happiness; that we cherish a cordial, habitual, and
immovable attachment to it ; that we will speak of
it as of the Palladium of our political safety and
prosperity; that we will watch its preservation
with jealous anxiety ; that we will discountenance
whatever may suggest even a suspicion that it can
in any event, be abandoned, and indignantly
frown upon the first dawning of every at-
tempt to alienate any portion of our country
from the rest, or enfeeble the sacred ties which
now link together the various parts ; that we
regard it as a main pillar in the edifice of our real
independence, the support of tranquillity at home,
our peace abroad, our safety, our prosperity, and
that very liberty which we so highly prize; that
we have seen nothing in the past, nor do we see
anything in the present, either in the election of
Abraham Lincoln to the Presidency of the United
States, or from any other existing cause, to justify
its dissolution ; that we regard its perpetuity as of
more value than the temporary triumph of
any party or any man ; that whatever evils or
abuses exist under it ought to be corrected within
the Union, in a peaceful and constitutional way;
that we believe it has sufficient power to redress
every wrong and enforce every right growing out
of its organisation, or pertaining to its proper
functions; and that it is a patriotic duty to stand
by it as our hope in peace, and our defence in war."

On the 18th the House acted on the resolution
offered on the previous day by Mr. Crauford, of
Georgia, declaring that the Constitution recognises
property in slaves, and approving the opinions of
the judges in the Dred Scott case as authoritative
and binding expositions of the law. This resolution
was laid upon the table, and then the House pro-
ceeded to consider the Pacific Railroad Bill, and the
Bill granting lands to Nebraska for railroad pur-
poses, but without coming to any conclusion.

The following extract from the New York
Tribune shows to what extent this party feeling
prevailed :
" There is a rumour in town, apparently derived
from responsible sources at Washington, to the
effect that President Buchanan is insane ! This is
probably not true, though in view of his course
through the last six eventful weeks, the confirma-
tion of the report would afford no reason for
astonishment. More lqmentable imbecility, or
more deliberate treachery, was never seen. At every
step he has contributed to the disruption of
the Republic; and if, as Mr. Cobb declared, he
shall prove to be the last President of the existing
Union, it will be due to either his own weak-
ness or wickedness quite as much as to any other
cause. Let him be pronounced a lunatic, and he
may stand at the bar of history relieved of a crime
with scarce an equal in the records of human frailty
and depravity."
An influential meeting had taken place at New
York, and passed addresses asking the South to
pause, and to allow the friends of constitutional
rights to make an effort to restore that equality in
the Union which is indispensable to its perpetua-
tion.

According to the Washington correspondent of the
IVew York Express, the impeachment of the Pre-
sident for dereliction of duty in the present crisis
was gravely recommended by the Republican
leaders.

The Secretary of the Treasury had advertised for
proposals until the 28th, for the use of five millions
in Treasury notes, pursuant to the Act just passed.
It was currently rumoured that a strong move-
ment was going on in the border States, upon both
sides of Mason and Dixon's line, for a great middle
confederacy, to be called the " Central United
States," or the " Federal Republic of Washington,"
including New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and the North
West upon one side, and Delaware, Maryland,
Virginia, North Carolina, Tennesse, Kentucky, and
Missouri upon the other.
The same paper, alluding to the condition of the
Treasury, says—
The condition of the Treasury is far worse than
is understood by the public, or disclosed in the
weekly statements. It has not been so bad at any
time since 1814, when Treasury notes were sold at
25 per cent. discount. Over draughts amounting
to 250,000 dols. have been made on New York, and
orders have been despatched to St. Louis to transfer
300,000 dols. sent there to pay army and other de
mands, toNew York to satisfy these draughts. There
are only a few hundred thousand dols in deposito-
ries, scattered in small sums, and thus rendered
unavailable at any particular point. The Mint
fund, which is rarely touched for any other pur-
pose, is exhausted, and there are warrants amount-
ing to 2,000,000 dols on the Secretary's table, which
are not signed, because they cannot be paid. Mr.
Thomas will take immediate steps to secure the
payment of interest on the public debt, due on
the Ist of January, if all other demands have to
be temporarily postponed. Soon after Mr. Cobb
came into office he redeemed the Government
loan at a premium of 16 per cent., to relieve the
plethoric. Treasury, and the day after he went
out it was sold at 15 per cent. discount."
The South Carolina State Convention assembled
at Columbia on the 17th, and after electing General
Jamison to the chair adjourned to Charleston. On
the following day they met at Institute-hall, and a
committee was ordered t 3 prepare an address to the
people of the Southern States. A proposition was
presented by Mr. Hudson that four standing
committees should be formed on the following
questions :-Ist, Relations with the Slaveholding
States of North America ; 2d, Foreign Relations ;
3d, Commercial Relations ; 4th, Constitution of
the State. The proposition was ordered to be
printed and made the order for the 19th. Judge
Slagratla offered A resolution referring certain por-