The Sun.
London, England, 1861-12-26 00:00:00

rilE (sumo LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, :DEC2MBER 26, 1861.

THEATICE-Ito Y AL, HAYMARKET,
Lessee. Mr. J. B.Baekstone.

THIS EVENING, Dec. 2i, Sterling Coyne's Comedy,
BLACK SHEEP. Messrs. Buckstone, Compton, Howe,
Villiers, Mrs. C. Young, Mrs. Wilkins, &c.
After which, a Comic Christmas Pantomime, LITTLE
MISS MUFFET AND LITTLE BOY BLUE ; or, Harle-
quin and Old Daddy Longlegs. Louise Leclercq, Charles Le-
clercq, Herr Cole, G. Besket, and Miss Rosine.

Commence a 7.

lt 0 YAL LYCEUM THEATRE.
Manager--Mr. Edmund Falconer.

THIS EVENING, Eec. 26, the new and original Drama,
entitled PEEP O'DAY ; or, Savourneen Deelish. Messrs.
Walter Lacy, Hermann Vezin, Charles Selby, Edmund Fal-
coner : Mrs. D. P. Bowers, Miss Clara Weston.

After which, a new and original Burlesque Extravaganza,
entitled LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD ; or, The Fairies of
the Rove, the Thistle, and the Shamrcck. Principal charac-
ters by Mr. Chas. Selby, Mr. Warlow, Miss Cicely Nott, and
Miss Lydia Thompson.

Acting Manager—Mr. F. B. Chatterton.
Prices as usual. Doors open at half-past 6, to commence at
T. Box-office open daily from 11 till 5.

ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE.-
Lessee, Mr A. Harris.

THIS EVENING, Thursday, Dec. 26, THE CRICKET
ON THE HEARTH. After which will be produced, a
Grand Comic Christmas Pantomime, entitled WIIITTING-
TON AND HIS CAT ; or, Harlequin King Kollywobbol
and the Genius of Good Humour. The grotesque opening
invented and written by Henry J. Byron, Esq., author of the
Princess's Pantomime of "Jack the Giant Killer." The
Scenery by Mr. James Gates, Mr. H. Cuthbert, and numerous
assistants. Good Humour, Miss Helen Howard; Princess
Popsiwopsi, Miss Rose Leclercq ; Alice, Miss Pauline Le-
clercq ; Messrs. Garden, Cathcart, Morland, Collett, Hast-
ings, Raymond; Dick Whittington, Miss Maria Harris ;
Robin Goodfellow and the Cat, Master John Haslem, (pupil
of the celebrated Gabriel Ravel; Clown, Mr. Hildyard ;
Harlequin, Mr. John Lauri ; Pantaloon, Mr. Paulo; Colum-
bine, Miss Caroline Adams. Morning Performances will
take place at Two o'clock on Monday, Dec. 30, and every fol-
lowing Monday till further notice.

EW THEATRE-RO YAL, ADELPHL-
Sole Proprietor and Manager, Mr. B. Webster.
309th, 310th, 311th Nights of the Engagement of Mr. and Mrs.
Dion Boueleault.

The Two Great Dramas.

THIS EVENING, and during the week the great Drama,
entitled THE OCTOROON ; or, LIFE IN LOUISIANA':
Messrs. Grace, Billington, Emery, Phillip., Jamison, Smith,
Stephenson, Homer, Lewis ; Mrs. Billington, Mrs. 11. Mar-
ston, Miss C. Denvil, Miss Latimer, and Mrs. H. Lewis.
After which, at 20 minutes past 9, the great Irish Drama
of Tim COLLEEN BAWN. Mr. and Mrs. Dion Boucicault,
Mr. Fisher, Miss Woolgar, &c.
Box Office open from 10 tll5.

NEW ROYALTY THEATRE,
Dean-street, Oxford-street.

Under the Direction of Mdlle. Aibina di Rhona.

THIS EVENING, A LES SON FOR HUSBANDS ;
characters by Mr. Sinclair, Meseis. Clifford and Terry. After
which, CAMELIA ; Camelia, Mdlle. Albina di Rhona. Fol-
lowed by a New Operatic Burlesque, entitled THE VERY
LATEST EDITION OF IL TROVATORE ; or, Who
Killed the —; Messrs. Graham, Robins, James, Warren,
W. Worboys ; Meads. Mason, Craven, and Hodson. To
con lude with new and orivinal Farce, A NICE QUIET
DAY.—Commence at half-past 7.

CANTERBURY HALL CONCERTS,
AND FINE ARTS GALLERY.
Immense Entertainment for the Christmas Holidays.
Mr. MARSHALL'S Grand Christmas Dish, "THE EN-
CHANTED HASH " (SECOND EDITION), written ex-
pressly for him by W. F. Vandervell, Esq.—Mr. Frederick
French, the great Shakesperian Burlesque Vocalist.—Mr. J.
G. Forde.—Miss Yarriet Coveney, and Miss Greene.
Grand Selections from
TROVATORE and LA AVIATA,
By Miss Russell, Mr. Herbert, Signor Tivoli, and full Chorus.
Musical Director, Mr. Jonghmans.
Admission—Hall, 6d. ; Stalls and Balcony, is.

CANTERBURY HALL.—VICTOR JULIEN,
" THE FLYING MAN " (from Paris), on the Trapeze,
will make his First Appearance on MONDAY, the 30th De-
cember.

IHEOX F O R D,
6, OXFORD-STREET,
EVERY EVENING.
Grand Selections from " LA CIRCASSIENNE," "Mac-
beth," and " Ernani," by Miss Russell, Miss Ernst, and
Madime Enderssolm; Messrs. Albert, W. Morley, Greene,
and C. Greville. Full Band and Chorus.—Conductor, Mr. F.
Jonghmans. Varied Vocal and:lnstrumental Entertainments,
the Comic portion by Messrs. Sam Collins, M. P. Foster, E.
Norshall,•W. Randall. and Miss Harriet Coveney.
Commence at 6 o'clock during the Christmas Holidays.

HIGII WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.
THIS DAY.—Morning, Bh. sm.—Afcernoon, Bh. 36m.
TO-MORROW'.-Morning, 9b. 13m.—Afternoon, 9h. 48m.

THE WEATHER.—SUN OFFICE, DECEMBER 26, 1861.
THERMOMETER, IN THE SHADE.
38—Aighest since noon yesterday.
28—lowest this morning and during the night.
35 —this day at noon.

BAROMETER-30.30.
WlND—Easterly ; light, with hazy but fine frosty
weather.

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THE UN.
LONDON, THURSDAY, DEC, 26, 1861.

American Cabinets are curiosities, or contain
them, beyond anything to be found on this side of
the water, and in our tame old Europe. Think of Mr.
GLADSTONE wishing to put his own views on some
most weighty point before the country, though he
knew them to be in direct opposition to those of
the Prime Minister and of a majority of the Cabinet
—think of his sending a copy of the speech he
intended to deliver in Parliament to all the news-

papers of England, to be set up ready for publish-
ing the morning after he had made it—and this

with the knowledge that his Chief, and the rest of
his colleagues would compel him to omit the para-
graphs on which he laid most stress—think of our
Chancellor of the Exchequer thus contriving to put
both what he would like to propose, and what the
Cabinet compelled him to omit, before the whole
country, and it will be the exact counterpart of
what has just been done by Mr. CAMERON in re-
gard to the President and the rest of his Cabinet.
Mr. CAMERON is strongly in favour of vigorous
action, almost amounting to emancipation, in regard
to the slaves. He quotes the threats of the Southern
leaders against Northern property with which they
entered on the war, and which they wanted not the

will but the power to carry into effect. H
e argues
that they had, by making war on the Government,
justly forfeited all right to protection of their pro-
perty by the constitution against which they had
rebelled. He then adverts to the peculiarity of the
property of the South in the labour of Africans
and their descendants, and contends that, as the
Government cannot confiscate slave property by
, selling it into fresh slavery, it must do so by using
the slaves liberated by war, in whatever way will
be most for the advantage of the war on their side.
What shall be done with the slave property after the

war he would leave time and circumstances to de-
cide—but regards it as plain that once lib3rated by
the rebellious act of their masters they could never

again be restored to bondage—the rights of loyal
slaveholders must unquestionably be secured—
we presume he means that they must be remunerated
for the loss of their slaves. He maintains that it is
'lle to think of carrying on the war without avail-
sg themselves of all the resources at their command.
All this long argumentative demand the PRE-
b,,,i,NT struck out before the report was reported
o Congress, snb6tituting a short paragraph on

what can best be done with the slaves whom the
army finds in the neighbourhood of Port Royal.
So the country has now before it the full views
of the Secretary for War, and of the Secretary's
master, to endorse which it pleases. Yet we hear
of no dismissal, or resignation, or anything of the
kind; master and servant agree to differ in the
face of the whole country—it being per-
haps understood that Mr. CAMERON writes what
he knows Mr. LINCOLN would prefer to write, and
Mr. LINCOLN, what he thinks his post requires
him to say. On the whole, things look rather
favourably towards abolition. The PRESIDENT
retains the services of the Minister who writes so
strongly—he permits a kind of Cabinet rebellion,
and an appeal from one of his servants to the sove-
reign people. Surely the probability is that he
thinks it in some way useful that such language
should go abroad from his Cabinet, though not
exactly from him. It is proclaiming to the South
the course which opinion is taking, and which,
therefore, he must soon follow. He may expect
that the language of Mr. CAMERON may be of
service in terrorem, and help to avert the necessity
of its being acted on. One thing is certain—the
fight on Abolition now pervades the Cabinet, the
Senate, the Representatives, and the whole country
—and that military necessity,if the war goes on,may
very soon compel opponents of emancipation to
yield to the demand.

The longer the case of the Trent is under discus-
sion the more completely does the English view of
it 'gain support. The French letter is evidence
enough of what, on looking at broad features,
an impartial judge must think; and precedents of
more or less perfect application have continued to
be dug up by the learned in such lore. Most of
these have been imperfect in some minor point,
though no candid person could doubt of their
general relevance. But one sent to a contemporary
by a correspondent who signs himself " D. C. L.,"
appears to " run on all fours so completely with
the case of the Trent that it is not easy to see what
an American can reply to it.

It should be observed that the Americans can
make out no case at all if they abide by their own
demands and precedents. At any time they would
have resented any outrage to their flag identical
with that offered by them in the case of the Trent,
and perhaps have gone to war for satisfaction. The
only plausible part of their case has been that we
should be inconsistent in claiming them after the
precedents set by our own Courts. In fact, the con-
tention has been of the singular character, that
each party might be answered from its own pre-
cedents ; we could show the Americans to be in-
consistent, and they could at least produce cases
which primafacie would make us appear inconsistent
in demanding restitution. We donot indeed allow for
a moment that any case yet has applied to what has
always seemed to us, as it does to the French
Government, the strong part of our case—the sail-
ing of the Trent between neutral ports—still they
mad. out a case plausible enough, if we should con-
descend to arbitration, to make a long affair of it.
But the case of the Hendric and Alinda, cited by
"D. C. L.," seems to be perfectly conclusive—and
conclusive a fortiori. It is a case which occasioned
so much discussion at the time that the wonder is
our civil lawyers did not remember it before, and it
is a case in which an English judge decided in
favour of the Americans, then at war with us. The
Dutch were at amity with us ; the Americans
at war with its ; the Dutch vessel, the Hendric
and Alinda, had on board not only warlike stores,
but five military officers who frankly confessed to
Lord MULGRAVE, that they held commissions in
the rebel army, issued by FRANKLIN and DEANE,
the Commissioners of the rebel provinces at Paris,
and that on their arrival at St. Eustatia, a Dutch
West point, they were to address themselves to cer-
tain agents of the American Congress, who were to
forward them onwards to the rebel army. The
military character of the passengers was thus placed
beyond dispute, and their ultimate hostile destina-
tion was avowed by them, yet when this case was
taken before our Admiralty Court, the judge over-
ruled.% all the pleas founded on the undoubted
destination of the ship's cargo and passengers,
on the broad ground that the ship was only
sailing between neutral ports, and that he could
not take cognisance of intentions. The proxi-
mate destination of the passengers was an innocent
destination, and they were set at liberty.
We are surely now entitled to tell the Americans
not only that the informality of taking contraband
of war out of a vessel prior to condemnation is an
intolerable outrage on the code indispensable to the
security of neutrals, but that the act itself was
illegal—that they could not ba allowed to take
anything whatever from, or to condemn before any
court, a vessel sailing from a neutral port to a neutral
port. We have now not only the judgment of
France, but we have the judgment of the very courts
to :which the Americans rely against us—
our own Admiralty Courts. Americans have
"appealed unto CASAR, and to CASAR they
shall go, " and CASAR'S clear judgment
is, we do not allow our own ships to seize vessels
notoriously and confessedly carrying arms and mi-
litary officers for a hostile power, but sailing proxi-
mately from one neutral port to another. We beg to
offer Messrs. EVERETT and SUMNER, Capt. WILKES
and the American Navy Board, with the House of
Representatives, the case of the Hendric and the
Alinda with the compliments of the season.

Mr. THWAITES has thrown out certain sugges-
tions of his own in regard to the supplementary
scheme of constructing a Southern as well as a
Northern Embankment on the river Thames. He
entitles these notions of his, simply " Points for the
Consideration of the Thames Embankment Com-
mission in reference to the Embankment of the
Smith Side, by J. THWAITES, Chairman of the
Metropolitan Board of Works." He ranges these
"Points" under Four Heads, and expresses his
opinion upon each with perfect lucidity and dis•
tinctness. Anything that Mr. THWAITES might
think it reasonable to suggest upon a matter of
such vital importance to the well-being of one half
of the metropolis would at all times be attentively
listened to. When, however, it is already borne in
mind that—as matters now stand—we are defini-
tively committed to the project of a Northern Em-
bankment, it may be readily understood that Mr.
TILWAITEB' VIOWS as to the advisability of a Southern
Embankment are secure, indeed, of an attentive
audience, of an audience Lot only willing but eager
to hear what a man in kis position and with kis
experience can possibly suggest under the circum-
stances.

Taking for granted as proven the necessity for a
Southern Embankment, Mr. THWAITES argues at
the outset of hie remarks that it might still be ad_
vantageous to consider at starting the principal
reasons capable of being adduced in behalf of such
an undertaking. And foremost among these reasons
he very naturally considers the increased need there
will quite obviously be for such an embankment,
in consequence of the transformation of the whole
existing state of things along the entire length of
the river where it bisects the metropolis, because
simply of the construction of the embankment
upon the north side. In particularising this
paramount reason, however, for a Southern

embankment, Mr.' THWAITES only specifies, so
to speak, one view of it. As thus :—" The
plan already reported on," he writes, " for the
northern side demands the removal of very large
quantities of deposit from the shoals in the river,
many of which immediately adjoin the southern
shore; this operation will have a great tendency to
cause a constant settlement towards the deepened
portion of the river's bed, and consequent injury to
the piling, wharf walling, and other defences on
that side; some of these are already old and decayed,
or were originally but imperfectly adapted to their
situation, and hence we may conclude that it will
be necessary to provide a solid wharf wall along all
that part of the southern shore which fronts the
embankment previously recommended." In arguing
thus, Mr. THWAITES only maintains the need there
will be for something or other in the way of a
southern embankment for simple safety's sake,
A great deal might, however, besides this,
be appended to his remarks just quoted,
insisting upon the necessity for a southern em-
bankment, by reason of the mere look of things,
along the Silent Highway of the Metropolis, sup-
posing the Thames were to be embanked upon the
north, and to be left in its present squalid
and dilapidated, and disgraceful condition along
the south, In such a contingency, the mere con-
trast of this side and that would be something
frightful to think of. The river in its present plight
is bad enough. It is, to all intents and purposes,
the back entrance to the capital. It is almost the
last rcute by which a Londoner would dream of
introducing a foreigner to the world-famous twin
cities of London and Westminster. In effect he would
only dream of doing anything of the kind upon one
supposition namely, that the old ramshackle
wharves and filthy mud banks and loathsome
sewer entrances were hidden from view by a dense
London fog. He might be proud enough, this loyal
Londoner, to direct the stranger's attention to our
magnificent bridges, to the noble river front of
Somerset House, to the gloriously beautiful façade
of the new Palace at Westminster, and previously—
on coming up the river from among the shipping
in the Pool—to the ancient Towers of Julius and
the noble dome of St. Paul's Cathedral looming
over the housetops among the clustering
steeples and church towers of the metro-
polis. But the intermediate portion of the
river bank between the Custom House and Somerset
House, between Somerset House and the New
Palace at Westminster—well, all that the loyal
Londoner would naturally enough like to have care-
fully veiled from the sight of the observant
foreigner ! The Adelphi Terrace, in point of fact,
being the only range of dwelling-houses along the
whole line of the north bank really in any way at
all worth looking at. The entire of the southern
side of the river, from opposite the Tower of London
up to the Archbishop of CANTERBURY'S Palace at
Lambeth,beinguninterruptedlyhideous—with every
kind and form of river side hideousness. Embank
the Thames upon the north side exclusively, there-
fore, beautify the northern bank alone, leaving the
southern bank exactly as it is, and you will not only
render it unsafe in the manner explained by Mr.
TIIWAITES, but you would effectually bring out to
view, with more than ever painful vividness, all
the squalor, filth, and ugliness, for which it is already
quite lamentably enough remarkable.
But Mr. THWAITES has not by any means done
yet with the necessity he recognises there will be
for a Southern Embankment of the river by reason
of the construction of the projected northern embank-
ment. " There is another urgent reason," he says,
"for a southern embankment, which must exercise a
considerable influence on the framing of any
scheme for that side, viz., its liability to con-
stant injury from flooding. The extent of this
evil ; its heavy pressure on the large labouring
population of the parishes adjoining the river ;
the misery, sickness, and death produced by its
periodical occurrence, with the consequent heavy
charges on the rates, can only be thoroughly
appreciated by those who have themselves wit-
nessed its effects." He then considers, in a few
suggestive words, how this inevitable increase of
the already existing liability of the inhabitants
of London along the southern bank of the river
to endure the miseries of this uncertain
and destructive flooding may be the most
effectually obviated. " Obviously," he writes, " to
carry out thoroughly any effective remedy the
future embankment must be of sufficient height to
be above the reach of the highest tide, viz., 16
feet above Ordnance datum, and it should be, at
least, conterminous with the thickly-inhabited
portion of London beyond the Thames. Its pre-
cise limits will depend upon the evidence here-
after to be laid before the commission, but the ter-
mination of the embankment already carried out
by her MAJESTY'S office of works in connection
with Battersea-park and bridge might form a con•
venient commencement on the western side. Some
difference of opinion will probably exist as to
its extent eastwards, but it must be remem-
bered that London-bridge forms neither a moral
nor material limit of the metropolitan area ; the
inhabitants of Bermondsey and RotherhithG suffer
equally from floods with those of Lambeth and St.
Saviour's, and are equally contributory to metro-
politan burdens." Having considered these two
conspicuous Points—first of all, the weakening of
the southern banks by the exclusive construction of
a Northern Embankment; and secondly, the cer-
tainty there would be through an obdu-
rate persistence in that one-sided course
of improvement (?) of multiplying for the
Surrey side population the dangers of flooding—
Mr. TIIWAITES throws out his suggestions upon two
other points, points these, in effect, of the
most vital importance to the wellbeing
of the whole scheme of any embank-
ment at all. The former of these two points
relates to a matter we ourselves have very fre-
quently before now taken into consideration—
namely, the improvement of the means of communi-
cation between the east and west of the metropolis,
between London and Westminster, or in other
words between Bermondsey and Lambeth. Enough,
however, for our present purpose if we subjoin one
pithy suggestion of Mr. TIIWAITES, thrown out at
the close of his examination in reference to the last
and, in one sense, no doubt, the first of all the vari-
ous details of the subject, i.e., the financial branch
of it. Beyond any question, it is a matter
surrounded at the present moment upon all sides
with very considerable difficulties. "It is clear,"
writes Mr. TIIWAITES, with unwelcome but whole-
some distinctness, " that the revenues ascribed by
Parliament to the construction of a northern em-
bankment will fall short of what will be required
for the project shadowed forth in the preceding re-
mcbleaerakr,s,,,
lookedhe veettnazir should the present coal dues be ex-
tended from ten to twenty years. It is equally
to" that
supplyn o
tohe
e deficiency,
a s o r e o f nacnodm o
fore-
gonecan experienceimperial wouldas
mpoint to
thethe
character inevitable
f con-
clusionanyscheme for improving the great highway of our
commercial capital, no help is to be expected from
the Imperial Exchequer." Yet, argues Mr.
THWAITES forthwith very seriously, and, we must
add, perforce,very reasonably—"To propound a com-
plete plan for the amelioration of both banks of our

river, and to acknowledge our inability to devise any
means of paying for it, would surely be unbecoming
to the financial capacity of a body of practical men ;
and probably, after passing in review the several
elements of the question, they will consider that,
inasmuch as this work is mainly required to facili-
tate the trade of the metropolis, that that trade
ought to defray its cost, and that a small tonnage
due on the goods entered inwards and oatwards in
the port of London, excepting coal as already taxed,
would be a burden but lightly felt by the commu-
nity, readily collected by the existing machinery,
and a convenient application to metropolitan
finances of that combination of direct with indirect
taxation which has been the most equitable mode of
replenishing the national exchequer." Whatever
may be thcught about this proposition at the first
blush, it is at any rate one worthy of being taken at
once into serious consideration.

THE O'D ONOGHUE, M.P., AND THE CON-

MISSION OF THE PEACE.

The following correspondence has been sent to
us for publication :
" Lord Chancellor's Secretary's Office,
Four Courts, Dublin, Dec. 9, 1861.

" SIR,—I am directed by the Lord Chancellor to
write to you, and state that his lordship has read
the report, as given in the _Freeman's Journal news-
paper of the 6th inst., of the proceedings at what is
called a mass meeting of Irish Nationalists, holden
at the Rotunda on the evening of Thursday, the sth
inst., and over which you are stated to have pre•
sided as chairman. The whole tenor of the speeches
reported to have been made at this meeting, and
the resolutions adopted, plainly indicate the deter-
mination of those who took part in it that if, in con-
sequence of recent occurrences, a war should arise
between her Majesty and the Federal States of
Northern America, they would, as far as might be
in their power, not only withhold all assistance
from their lawful Sovereign, bat would manifest
their sympathy and friendship for those who, in
that calamitous event, would be arrayed in open
hostility against her, The meeting appears to
have concluded with the appointment of a com-
mittee of which you are named as chairman,
whose object is declared to be to take into con-
sideration the advisability of carrying out an orga-
nisation in the present state of affairs at home
and abroad, and, looking to the principles avowed
by those who addressed the meeting, it is to be
presumed that the organisation thus projected is
designed to advance those principles and to dissemi-
nate the treasonable views so publicly announced.
The whole of these proceedings appear to the Lord
Chancellor to be altogether at variance with the
true allegiance to which every subject of the empire
is bound, and his lordship has directed this com-
munication to be made to you, as a magistrate of
the county of Kerry, and holding her Majesty's
commission, in order that you may make such ob-
servations thereon as you shall think proper.—l
have the honour to be, sir, your obedient servant,
" The O'Donoghue, M.P." " MARK PERRIN.

" Derriquln Castle, Kenmare, Dec. 14, 1861.

" Sir,—l have received your letter of the 9th of
December, conveying to me the view the Lord
Chancellor has been pleased to take of the proceed-
ings at the recent meeting of Irish Nationalists, over
which I had the honour of presiding. And, in
compliance with your request, I beg to state,
for his lordship's information, that it is my
conviction that an overwhelming majority of
the Irish people feel they have much more reason
to be grateful to the American nation than to the
British Government; and that, therefore, in the
event of a war between America and England they
would be very unwilling to supply men and money
for the purpose, as I stated at the meeting, of de-
stroying American commerce, bombarding American
cities, and humiliating the American flag. I can-
didly avow that those are my sentiments. Further,
I have to state that I have already acquainted seve-
ral with my intention of withdrawing from the com-
mittee nominated at the Rotunda meeting, be-
cause upon reflection I see clearly that, in the ab-
sence of a great number of names, the committee
cannot command the confidence of the country.
At the same time I think it absolutely necessary
that a committee, manifestly entitled to public con-
fidence, should be appointed to consider how the
interests of Ireland may be affected by a war be-
tween America and England. Perhaps I may be-
come a member of such a committee, the formation
of which must necessarily lead to a most useful
national organisation. An apprehension of tres-
passing too much upon your valuable time forbids
me to enter at greater length into details ; for inas-
much as I deny the necessity or prudence of a secret
system of action, I see no reason why the Lord
Chancellor should not be made acquainted with our
plans, and his opinion taken upon the feasibility of
our proposed organisation. I believe the meeting
at the Rotunda truly indicated the general feeling
of the people of Ireland upon the question of war
between America and England, and I am prepared
to maintain at all risks, that it is the duty and the
undoubted right of my countrymen, unreservedly,
to discuss all questions affecting the interests of
Ireland. I cannot be persuaded that his lordship
contemplates visiting me with what he, no doubt,
regards as punishment, for venturing to discharge
this duty and ,:to assert this right. lam puzzled
to understand why 'you have been directed to ad-
dress me as a magistrate,' and not as an Irishman.
Are the two characters incompatible ? Must a ma-
gistrate forego freedom of thought and expression ?
Must he allow others to think and speak for him ?
Must he take an English view of every question,
and at once stifle the natural predilections of the
Irish heart ? Future events shall decide the answer
to these queries.
"I have the honour to be your obedient servant,
" OTIONOGIME.
" To the Secretary of the Lord Chancellor."

"Lord Chancellor's Secretary's Office, Four
Courts, Dublin, Dec. 17, 1861.
" Sir,—l am directed by the Lord Chancellor to
inform you that, having read your letter of the 14th
inst., his lordship has directed writs of supersedeas
to issue, removing you from the Commission of the
Peace of the counties of Cork and Kerry.—l have
the honour to be, Sir, your obedient servant,
" MARK PERRIN.
"The O'Donoghue, M.P."

MASON AND SLIDELL.—In case of the American
Government yielding the point in dispute, we shall have
to be magnanimous under a far stronger temptation. There
are things to be remembered which Englishmen generally
are not yet sufficiently aware of. Not only must we re-
member that the Confederates are fighting for slavery, but
that Mr. Mason, to whom we are compelled to act as pro-
tectors, if not champions, is the author of tho Fugitive
Slave Law. From end to end of the kingdom this ought
to be told and remembered, that we may be able to allow
for the Federalists if they refuse to liberate him, and to
sympathise with their feelings if they submit to the neces •
city. Under the Fugitive Slave Law many a prosperous
farmer has been ruined for his compassion in aiding the
deliverance of the captive ; many a citizen has laid down
his life to defend the personal liberty law of his own state ;
many a Quaker, who could not fight, has borno the
loss of his property, and undergone imprisonment,
sooner than return to bondage the fugitive who cast
himself upon his compassion. Under that law, the proud
city of Boston has seen chains locked round its court-house,
and cannon posted in its streets, while a negro, long free and
supposed safe under the protection of the city, was carried
down to the harbour, amidst thousands of mourning citizens,
and black flags, and balconies filled with women in black,
heartwrung that the South had thus got the liberties of the
republic trader her heel. The author of that law is now in
prison in that harbour, within sight of that court-house and
the wharf whence Burns was shipped ; and we must remem-
ber how keen must be the pang of restoring that man to
liberty on the requisition of anti-slavery England. Anti-
slavery England must beware of making a hero of the man
she is obliged to protect ; and of condemning too severely
the premature rejoicings of the people of the Free States who
have been betrayed into a false position by the ignorant
audacity of a naval officer in whose years and professional
reputation they have naturally placed their confidence.—
Once a Week.

SAWNEY AND HIS LAWYER.—In a Scotch town
lately, a man from the country applied to a respectable law-
yer for legal advice. After detailing the circumstances of
the case, he was asked if he had stated the facts exactly as
they occurred. " Ou, ay, sir," rejoined the applicant, " I
thocht it best to tell you the plain truth; you can pit the
bees (lies) intirt yerser."

LATEST NEWS.

AMERICA.

NEW YORK, DEC. 13, EVENING.
(Per City of Baltimore, via Queenstown.)

The European advice 3 brought by the Hansa to
New York are generally interpreted by the New
York press as favourable to the maintenance of
peace between England and America.
The New York journals published some further
diplomatic correspondence between Mr. Adams and
Mr. Seward. In this correspondence Mr. Adams
states that, while in conversation with Earl Russell
in June last, he referred to the fact of British troops
having been sent to Canada. Earl Russell replied
that as Canada had been denuded of troops some
time since it was only a proper measure of precau-
tion, and said that he did not know what the United
States might do. Earl Russell also said something
about a threat uttered by Mr. Se ward to Lord
Lyons, that British vessels would be seized on Lake
Ontario without ceremony.
President Lincoln has refused to furnish Congress
at present with the correspondence between the
Federal Government and foreign powers relative to
the Mexican intervention.

Five hundred Federals will immediately occupy
Tsbee Island.

A Government agent has been appointed to super-
intend the pecking of cotton by the aid of negroes
in the neighbourhood of Beaufort.
According to advices from Kentucky, the Fede-
rals have destroyed the bridges between Bowling-
green and Memphis.
Vessels from Southern ports continue to arrive

at Havannah.
Federal accounts state that Fort Pickens was
unhurt in the late engagement, but that Warrington
and part of the Pensacola Navy Yard were burnt.
A despatch from Fortress Monroe announces that
a large fire had broken out in Charleston, which
was supposed to be the work of incendiaries. Seve-
ral public buildings had been destroyed.
The New Fork Herald states that agents from
the Mexican Government have arrived at New
Yolk, for the purpose of fitting out privateers to
prey upon French, English, and Spanish merchant
vessels.

It appears very probable that an engagement
will soon take place in Kentucky.
The Canada journals report considerable activity
throughout Canada in organising the militia and
volunteers.

The Europa passed Cape Race on the 13th Dec..
but was not intercepted. The British gunboat
Landrail and the Swedish frigate Lorkoopingham
had arrived at New York,
COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

Money easy. Exchange very firm, at 1091 to
1091-; stocks flat. New York Central, 77i ; Erie,
31/ ; Illinois Central, 601. Cotton very firm.
Sales during the last two days, 6,500 bales ; Mid-
dling Upland, 34c to 35c. Flour dull. Wheat
quiet, and prices drooping. Corn in good demand
for export. Provisions quiet. Coffee very firm.
Sugar steady. Molasses quiet.

NEW YORK, DEC. 14, EVENING.
(Per North American, by telegraph to Portland
and via Londonderry.)

An engagement has taken place in Western Vir-
ginia, in which the' Federals are reported to have
been successful.
COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

Stocks firmer. Cotton tending upwards : mid-
dling Upland, 35c.

PARIS, DEC. 25.

The Moniteur of this morning, in announcing
that the Journal des Debats has received a first
warning for an article published on the 23d inst.,
and signed by M. Saint Marc-Girardin, says:—
" This article is written in a party spirit, and en-
deavours to shake the faith of the people in their
natural institutions. The doctrines which it pro-
fesses are in flagrant contradiction to the principles
on which the French people agreed to found an
Imperial throne and the future of a dynasty."

TURIN, DEC. 25.
The Court has gone into mourning for his late
Royal Highness the Prince Consort.
L'ltalia states that the negotiations for the entry
of Signor de Martino into the Ministry have fallen
through.

LISBON, DEC. 22, EVENING.

The King has taken the oath to the Constitution
in a special session of the Cortes. On this occasion
his Majesty spoke feelingly of his brother's death.
Lisbon is illuminated, and great enthusiasm pre-
vails among the inhibitants.

LISBON, DEC. 25.
Prince Joao has received the last sacraments.

ENGLAND AND AMERICA.

We read in the Temp:—

" A letter from Washington, received by the last
steamer, and written by a person who is in a posi-
tion to be well-informed upon the intentions of the
American Government, has been communicated to
us. This letter affirms that the American Govern-
ment was disposed to give up Messrs. Mason and
Slidell upon the demand of England, on the condi-
tion that the English Government,basing its demand
upon the right of neutrals, violated by the act of
Commander Wilkes, will sanction the doctrine
always professed by the United States, and the
formal recognition of which by England has been
vainly sought on several occasions by the United
States."

LISBON, DEC. 23.

The royal levee, which was to have taken place
to-day, has been postponed on account of the Prince
Consort's funeral.

The malady from which Prince Joao is suffering
is gastric fever.
(PER TAGUS, via SOUTHAMPTON.)

LISBON, DEC. 17.

In consequence of a telegram received from Count
Lavradio, announcing the death of the Prince Con-
sort, the proclamation of King Louis I. has been
postponed.
The British merchants at Lisbon have held a
meeting to protest against the extra taxation
levied under the new law.

The Duke of Saldanha's health is improving, and
it is expected that he will soon appear in public.
A marriage has been arranged between the
daughter-in-law of the Duke of Saldanha and the
Marquis de Pornbal.
A funeral service for the repose of the soul of
the late King has been celebrated at the Church of
St. Vincent. The Royal family and many of the

nobility were present.
The Trent question is still discussed by the Por-
tuguese newspapers.
The Journal do Commercio coincides with the
opinions of the English jurisconsults.
The weather is stormy, and much damage has
been done to the shipping along the coast of Por-
tugal.

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.
Exchange c on London, 531; ou Paris; 582. Rentes

Three per Cents., 481 ; Coupons, 481; Deferred, 42.
Prices of wines are likely to fall in consequence
of this year's vintage.

THE BOMBAY MAILS.
SOUTHAMPTON, DEC. 26.
The Peninsular and Oriental Company's steamer
Ellora, with the above mails, has arrived here.
She brings 24 passengers, 168 chests of dates, 78
boxes of oranges, and 986 bales of silk, 9 cases of
shawls, and 115 packages of merchandise.
In the Mediterranean the Ellora experienced
strong westerly winds, with heavy rains. The
weather; in crossing the Bay of Biscay, was mode-
rate and fine, with a heavy north-east swell.
Off Cape St. Vincent the Ellora spoke the steamer
Ada steering south-east, and on the 23d, off Vigo,
the Company's steamer Indus.

The Ellora brings home the master, mate, and
seven of the crew of the Caroline, of Newmatle,
which vessel sprung a leak and sunk on the 14th
inst., in lat. 46 50 N., and long. 9 deg. 3 min. W.
The men were taken off her on the 14th inst. by
the Austrian brig Finmano, and landed at Gib-
raltar. Three of the crew were drowned.

A telegram had been received at Gibraltar or-
dering off her Majesty's ship Algiers. It is be-
lieved that she will proceed westward to guard the
Straits against the entrance of any American pri-
vateers.

Her Majesty's frigates Liffey and Melpomene
were to sail from Gibraltar, for North America, on
the 21st.

The Mooltan arrived at Gibraltar on the 18th
inst.

Exchanges and freights at Gibrrltar remain
unaltered.

AUSTRIA.

A letter from Vienna, dated Dec. 20, says:—
" The statement made by the Minister of Finance
has caused quite a consternation both in the Chamber
and on Change. From his sad revelations it ap-
pears that the disastrous campaign of 1859 has
cost us one of our richest provinces, at the same time
occasioning a deficit of 200 millions of florins;
that the following year 1860 and the present
year 1861 have caused a deficit, the first of 65
millions, the other of 109 millions and a half, mak-
ing a total of 214 millions, or more than two-thirds of
the receipts, estimated at 296 millions and a half for
1862. The saddest part of the business is, that the
hand which points out the sore does not point oat a
remedy.
6' The Court has gone into mourning for his late
Royal Highness Prince Albert. The Austrian Am-
bassador at London, Count Apponyi, has been in-
structed by telegraph to express the sympathy of
the Austrian Court to her Majesty Queen Victoria.
On Tuesday last, the 17th inst., a courier arrived
here from St. Petersburg, bearer of the reply of
Prince Gortschakoff to the report of M. de Balabine
on the explanations of Count de Rechberg, respect-
ing the affair of the Suttorina. In this reply
Prince Gortschakoff takes the point of view that
Austria has acted contrary to the stipulations of
the Treaty of Paris, not having first consulted the
other Powers who signed that Treaty. While
taking the matter in this instance as a fait accompli,
the Cabinet of St. Petersburg intimates its intention
of maintaining its view for the future. M. de
Balabine communicated Prince Gortschakoff's reply
to M. de Rechberg the same day that he received
it. The representatives of France and Prussia took
the same view as the Russian envoy."