The Sun.
London, England, 1861-11-20 00:00:00

LET2'S'S DIARIES FOR 1862.

It is pleasing to observe that success only serves
to stimulate the proprietors of these favourite pub-
lications to still further exertions in the path of
improvement. The diaries for the ensuing year
give an earnest of Messrs. Letts's keeping up with
public expectation in their praiseworthy labours.
Among other improvements, now that the French
treaty expands our reciprocity with our neighbours
commercially, are the names of months and days in
French, thus making French and English " familiar
as household words."

The Earl and Countess of Erroll have arrived in
town from Slainos Castle, Aberdeenshire.
The Earl and Countess Courtown and family
have arrived at Thomas's Hotel, Berkeley-square, from
Ireland.

Frances Countess of Albemarle and Colonel the
Hon. P. Cast have arrived in South Aud ley-street from a

our of visits.

Lord and Lady Rodney and family have arrived
at Thomas's Hotel, Berkeley-square, from Brighton.
THE WEATHER.—A number of persons visited
the various parks yesterday morning, and although the ice
on the Ornamental water was in an exceedingly dangerous

state, many of them ventured upon it in spite of the remon-
strances of the Royal Humane Society's officers, and heed-
less of the danger notices plentifully posted. The conse-
quence was that numerous immersions took place, none of
which, however, fortunately had a fatal termination. The
thaw which set in last evening will doubtless put an end
to further risks fora time at least.

THE OVERDUE CANADIAN MAIL STEAMER...—.
LIVERPOOL, Tuesday.—Up to a late hour this afternoon
the Canadian mail steamship North Briton had not reached
Londonderry. The anxiety as to her safety continues to
increase, while on the other hand there are many who be-
lieve—and naturally too—that the North Briton has met
with bad weather, had her machinery damaged, and is
either coming home under canvas, or she put back to
Quebec. A despatch posted in the Liverpool underwriter's

room to-day, says :—" North Briton, from Quebec, off
Father Point, left for Liverpool on the 3d Nov., was de-
tained some hours in the passage down by fog." At Lloy.l's

yesterday 30 guineas per cent: were required to effect fresh

insurances on the steamer North Briton, which is now six

days overdue. The Cork, Examiner of yesterday says that
"The Africa, on her homeward passage, fell in with two
large icebergs—a most uncommon circumstance at this
time of the year, and further east than was at all usual."
PROPOSED DINNER TO MR. BRIGHT, M.P.—We
(Manchester Examiner) are enabled to announce that at a
meeting of a number of Mr. Bright's political friends, held
on Friday last, it was resolved to ask Mr. Bright to a public
dinner, at ar rly period. On Saturday morning.a deputa-
tion, consist, : the Mayor (John T. Pagan, Esq.), Al-
derman Healey, Beg., as Jas. kW, lu, CaLt-Ati VIA AD. •
Bright to ask him to consent to accept a dinner. We under-
stand that Mr. Bright replied that he felt much obliged to
the gentlemen who wished to give this expression of good
feeling, and stated that if his friends thought any remarks
of his would be conducive to the public service, he should
be happy to place himself at their disposal. The dinner will
take place in the Public Hall, Rochdale, on Wednesday,

Dec. 4.
THE CITY CORPORATION AT A DISCOUNT.—Year
after yesr the difficulty increases of inducing public men-to
be present at these festivals, and few besides minor shop-
keepers swell the promiscuous ruck at the tables. That the
leading men of the city should invariably be absent is a
fact as significant as it is incontrovertible, and it reveals
the general opinion with which the corporation has come
to be regarded. Its taxes and its dues, its slowness to cor-
rect abuses, its reluctance to depart from old forms, how-
ever mischievous in their tendency, its extravagance in
purely selfish objects, and its insensibility to the duties
which the age requires of it, have raised up ineradicable
prejudices against it, and the day cannot be far distant
when the reform it refuses to carry out for itself will be
forced upon it by the House of Commons. There is no
reason why the wealthiest city in the world should not re-
cover the position t which its importance entitles it, and
which it never would have lost but for mismanagement and
dispinys of meanness, appropriately illustrated by the pre-
posterous exhibition of Saturday last.—London Review.
COURT OF ALDERMEN.—A Court of Aldermen
of the City of London was holden yesterday at Guildhall;
the Lord Mayor presided for the first time in his official
capacity since his re-election to that office. After the for-
mal business had been disposed of, a series of resolutions
complimentary to the Lord Mayer were passed. Sheriffs
Cockerell and Twentyman made a report of the condition
of the several gaols belonging to the City, from which it
appeared that in Newgate there are confined 85 prisoners,
in Holloway 371, and in the debtors' prison, Whitecross-
street, 137, only just one-half the ordinary number hitherto
confined there. The general purposes committee made a
report upon various subjects, among which was an appli-
cation by Mr. Alfred Skeen to be re• admitted a broker of
the City of London, This application was refused by the
court. The Gaol Committee, to whom a reference had been
made relative to the nature, duties, and emoluments of the
office of Governor of the Debtors' Prison, Whitecross-street,
made a report to the court, in which they stated thatowing
to the great decrease in the number of prisoners, from the
recent alteration in the law relating to bankruptcy, and un-
til they had seen what further results would be obtained
from its operation, it was impossible for them to come to
any satisfactory conclusion as to what ought to be done
with the office of governor of the prison, and they therefore
requested that the matter might be allowed to stand over.
Alderman Salomons moved, " That it be referred to the
General Purposes Committee to consider and report as to
the powers of the justices of tho City of London, with re-
spect to committing boys to reformatories, and as to the
best mode of exercising the same," which was agreed to-
Sir J. Musgrove gave notice of his intention, at the next
meeting of the court, to present a petition from the inhabi-
tants of Broad-street Ward, upon the subject of the supply
of gas to the City of London. The court then adjourned.
FINSBURY ELECTION.—A meeting of liberal elec-
tors was held yesterday evening, at the Belvidere Tavern,
Pentonville, to consider what steps should be taken to
secure a suitable representative for the borough, in the room
of the late Mr.T. Duncombo. Mr. M'Donald presided, and
in opening the meeting, paid a warm tritaate to the memory
of their deceased member. He then asked the electors pre-
sent to state their opinions, and advised them to select some
gentleman of clearly defined liberal opinions in preference
to one who only put on the mantle of liberty to secure his
return. Mr. Bontems proposed a resolution to the effect
that the candidate selected should be of advanced liberalism
in reference both to home and foreign politics. This reso-
lution was duly seconded, and it was unanimously carried.
—Mr. Benjamin Foster, of the Jerusalem Tavern, proposed
that Mr. Chas. Dickens should be invited to stand for the
representation of the borough. Mr. Dickens, by his writings,
his intellect, his large human sympathies, had given good
evidence that he was highly eligible to serve as a member
of Parliament —Mr. Hopwood thought Mr. Dickens was a
very sensible man, but he doubted if he was the proper
man for Finsbury—albeit, he knew something about elec-
tions, as his description of the ono at Eatanswill testified.
(L ughter.) The name of Mr. Samuel Morley having been
mentioned, Mr. Elt said ho could assure the meeting that
Mr. Morley had declined. The name of Mr. Edward Miall
was afterwards mentioned, but it was stated that ho also
would not be a candidate. Mr. Hodson thought Mr. Tor-
rena M'Culloch would be the proper man.—The Chair-
man hero stated that Mr. Sleigh had engaged his Par-
liamentary agent, which was proof of his intention of
standing.—Mr. Elt proposed General Thompson, and
Mr. Moore suggested the name of Mr. John Stuart Mill.
After some further conversation, in which the names of
Mr. Peter Alfred Taylor and Sir William Clay were spoken
of the meeting was adjourned until Monday evening next.
At Rouen, the day before yesterday, twin sisters,
the wives of two workmen, at a few hours from each other,
gave)ir th each to twin boys,—Galignani.