The Sun.
London, England, 1859-12-21 00:00:00

THE I_,:SITN,'"IiONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 21, 1859.

THE TVAIIDMOTES.-(THIS DAY.)

This being St. Thomas's Day, the annual election of
Common Councilmen, ward officers, &0., took place within
the .ieveral wands• of the City. There was very little ex-
citement on the occasion, as most of the wards re-elected
their old members.

LATEST NEW 8.

The following telegrams have been received at
Mr. Reuter's office :
PARIS, WEDNESDAY, DEC. 20.

The Moniteur of to-day publishes the nomination
of several secretaries to French embassies abroad,
among which the Marquis Chateaurenard as secre-
tary of the embassy at London.
The state of Prince Jerome's health continues to
improve, and there will be no bulletins published
for some days.

TURIN, DEc. 20.

111. Buoncompagni leaves today for Florence.

The designation of Count Cavour as First Pleni-
potentiary of Sardinia at the Congress is definite,
and will be notified to the different Powers after
the nominations of the other Plenipotentiaries have
been published.
The frigate Eurydice is about to sail for China,
to protect the interests of the Italian subjects re-
siding there.

ROME, DEC. 17 (via Marseilles.)

It is stated that on the 28th inst. Cardinal Ante-
nelli will embark on board a Pontifical corvette for
France. Monsignore Bernardi will be entrusted
ad interinz with the ministerial functions of the
Cardinal.

In order to cover the deficit, the Minister of
Finance has sold two millions of francs of Roman
consolidated funds, without having recourse to a

loan.

MADRID, DEC. 20.
Abundant rains have inundated the Spanish camp
and the surrounding country.

JASS', DEC. 18.
The National Assembly, after having received a
message from Prince Couza, has been dissolved.

THE FOREIGN MAILS.
At the hour of our going to press the French and
German mails had not arrived.

SPAIN AND MOROCCO.

(From the Times' Special Correspondent.)
ALGESIRAS, DEC. 10.

I have just come over here from Gibraltar and
find, to my treat annoyance, that there is no getting
across the Straits to-day. I shall cross to-morrow
by the mail boat, and hope to send you by the
following post details of some fighting which
took place yesterday in front of Ceuta. The
Moors, it appears, notwithstanding the bad weather,
beat up the Spaniard's quarters early yesterday
morning, and a combat ensued which lasted the
greater part of the day—at least, lam assured by
persons who left Ceuta yesterday at 3 p.m. that
firing was still going on at that hour. In official
quarters I learn that the Moors were ulti-
mately completely repulsed. Authentic particu-
lars of the affair are still wanting, and it
is unsafe to attach credit to the rumours and
loose statements that reach us from various
sources, and many of which have certainly no foun-
dation save in the imagination of the narrators.
Moreover, within 24 hours, or little more, I hope to
send you particulars gathered upon the spot in the
most reliable quarters. The affair is said to have
begun at half-past 5 in the morning, before day-
break, that is to say, by the Moors surrounding and
nearly annihilating a Spanish outlying picket. Con-
cerning the progress of the conflict we have nocon-
nected account, but we are told that a movement was
made by which some hundred Moors were cut off,
mho remained liven the field. A person who left
Ceuta at 3 p.m. yesterday affirms that at that hour
another body of the enemy was hemmed in between
the sea and a strong Spanish force, and must ulti-
mately have surrendered, been slain, or driven into
the water. This,however, requires confirmation. A
nephew of General O'Donnell is said to have been
badly wounded, some accounts say killed, when
charging with some cavalry, and two Lieutenant-
Colonels are reported to have been killed or
wounded. Iby no means vouch for the accuracy of
these details, which I give subject to correction in
my next letter. The atmosphere of the Straits of
Gibraltar has a strongly magnifying power, and
things that are very small at Ceuta assume moun-
tainous proportions by the time they reach the
Spanish coast or Gibraltar Rock. Thus, on my ar-
rival at the latter place three days ago I was told
most positively of a very serious fight that had oc-
curred on the 2d inst. My past letters will have
shown you that nothing of the kind took place. I
may find to-morrow morning, at Ceuta, that yester-
day's affair was much more trifling than it has been
represented. The story here goes that 10,000 Moors
attacked. The Moors in Gibraltar were in great
glee this morning, and had a notion that the
Spaniards had been thrashed, but the news of the
cutting off of the pickets was all that seemed to
have reached them. lam impatient to learn how
the Spaniards behaved in the first confusion of a
night attack. If they showed coolness and avoided
panic, it is a great thing on the part of troops
so new to this kind of warfare. But, meanwhile,
this is not making progress. The Spaniards
seem rather in the position of a besieged force.
They can certainly move out when they
please, and drive back the enemy, if they
choose to sacrifice men for a moment of barren
triumph, but then they return to their lines, and
the Moors, when they choose, can pounce upon their
advanced post aid put the whole camp under arms.
I find upon inquiry that there was exaggeration
in the reports current at Gibraltar, and which I
mentioned as on slits in my last letter, respecting
the damage experienced by the French squadron
in the attack on Fort Martino. It appears to have
been very trifling, and the casualties were confined,
lam assured to one man wounded. On the other
hand, the distance at which the ships were cora-
pelled to remain, owing to the shallowness of the
water, induces a doubt whether mueh damage was
done to the Moors.

From a French and trustworthy source I learn
that the loss by cholera of the French expedition
against the Morocco tribes, now terminated, amoun-
ted to no less than 4,000 men. This is of evil omen
for the Spaniards. It is stated, however, that the
cholera is making great ravages among the Moors.
If it has broken out among them, their want of
proper medical attendance will be likely to render
it fatal in a large proportion of cases.
At the last moment, before closing this hasty
letter, I receive information from an officer who
came from Ceuta last night, which confirms my
suspicion that the fight of yesterday has been much
exaggerated. The attack of the Moors seems to
have been made against the principal redoubt, the
possession of which they evidently greatly covet.
It is said that only one division of the Spaniards
was engaged belonging to the Second Corps, which
lately relieved the First Corps on the advanced
line. The Spanish loss in killed and wounded is
estimated at less than 250, including, however, a
large propprtion of officers.

A letter from the seat of war says —"A second
letter has reached me concerning the battle of the
30th, which it seems was still more bloody than
that of the 25th. The Moors, as usual, attacked
the Spanish troops. General Echague having been
wounded in the previous engagement, General
Gasset took his place. lle advanced at the head of
the divisions composing the vanguard, and sus-
tained during two hours the rush of the Moors.
These were at last repulsed with a heavy loss. It
appears that the Moors think it more disgraceful
to surrender than to run away. When they per-
ceive that it is useless to fight any longer they re-
treat with great precipitation ; but should they be
absolutely unable to make a retreat they either
perish by the Spanish bayonets or stab each other,
It is fruitless for the Spanish officers to ask them
repeatedly to give up their arms and remain still ;
they obstinately refuse such proposals. It is gene-
rally thought among the Spaniards that the reason
of such behaviour is their firm belief that their ene-
mies will not spare them in any case, and that they

intend to make them undergo the most terrible
torments. On the 30th they were completely sur-
rounded by the Simancas and Catalonia Riflemen,
and every one of them had to be cut down. There
are a great many of their priests among them ;
these are to be distinguished by their long beards,
their wild appearance, and their peculiar yells,
which are invocations to the Prophet. These priests
take a peculiar care to finish the wounded Spaniards
that lay on the ground, and they are seen to ad-
minister heavy blows with their muskets on the
head and shoulders of those of their own men who
show any signs of mercy. This sight enrages very
much the Spanish soldiers, and the officers have no
small trouble in preventing them from imitating
the atrocities of the Moorish priests. One of the
latter, remarkable for his dirty tunic and his terrific
screams, had killed with his " gumia" a youngensign
and a soldier. He was preparing to stab a wounded
artilleryman, and was uttering then a perfectly
diabolical yell, when a Spanish sergeant rushed
upon him and plunged a bayonet into his opened
mouth. The death of their " saints" always causes
great discouragement among the Moors.
My friends adds that he is now obliged, as well
as the other officers, to allow the soldiers to despatch
with a bayonet thrust their wounded enemies, as
these, when they can do no more, bite the legs of
the Spaniards.
The Emperor of Morocco has offered large prizes

to those of his soldiers who should take guns. This
explains their wild and obstinate attacks against
the artillerymen.
Several Spanish officers hare already been pro-
moted on the field of battle.

TILE WEST INDIA, PACIFIC, AND

31EXICAN MAILS.

PLYMOUTH, TUESDAY.

The Royal Mail Company's steamship Parana,
Commander T. A. Bevis. from St. Thomas's, Dec.
3, put into the Sound this morning short of fuel,
bound to Southampton.
Her dates are Greytown, Nov. 16 ; Belize, 18 ;
Santa Martha, 23 ; Colon, 23; Berbice, 24; George-
town, Demerara, 25; Carthagena, Tobago, and Tri-
nidad, 26; Jamaica, Grenada, Carriacou, and St.
Vincent's, 27; Hayti and Barbadoes, 28; St. Lucia,
Martinique, and Guadaloupe, 29; Porto Rico, Do-
minica, Antigua, Montserrat, Nevis, and St. Kitt's,
30th; Tortola, Dec. 1; and St. Thomas's, Dec. 3.

Her cargo includes 178 serons of cochineal, 60
serons of indigo, 3 cases of cigars, 156 bales of bark,
186 bags of cocoa, 5 bales of hats, and 270 bags of
mineral ore.

The specie and bullion brought are valued at
747,399 dols.—viz., across the Isthmus, in gold,
189,222 dols. ; silver, 539,465 dols. ; Carthagena,
3,683 dols. ; Jamaica, 7,240; and the West Indies,
7,789 dols.

Among her 61 passengers are 36 first-class, in-
cluding Assistant-Commissary-General Blane, from
Trinidad; the Rev. Mr. Rawle, from Barbadoes;
and Lieutenants Campbell and Bustle, from Colon.
Her Majesty's ships Styx and Atalanta were at
Barbadoes, the Arachne at Venezuela, the Cossack
at St. Domingo, the Indus at Bermuda, and the
Imaum and Basilisk at Jamaica.

The Royal Mail Company's steamships Derwent,
Captain West, from Trinidad, and Wye, Captain
Thwaites, were at Jamaica ; the Medway, Captain
Holt, was down the Main; the Trent, Captain
Woolcott, was in the Gulf. The Clyde, Captain
Heeman, from Madeira ; the Conway, Capt. Ham-
mack, from the Islands ; the Teviot, Capt. Gillis,
from Jamaica ; the Thames, Captain Lewis, from
the Spanish Main, and the Solent, Captain Wood•
ward, were at St. Thomas's.

In Chili the excitement caused by the late dis
turbances continued unabated, but no further out•
breaks had occurred.

The damage done by the earthquake at Copiapo
is estimated at 1,500,000 dols.

On the 31st of October a fire destroyed consider-
able property at Valparaiso. It broke out in the
Calle de la Planchada. The principal sufferers
were Besson Brothers, Ajacio Brothers, Manuel
and Co., M. Martineau, the Hotel de France, J. V.
Sanchez, and Dickson, Harker, and Co.
The accounts from Peru are unfavourable; there
is every prospect of the country being soon involved
both in a foreign and civil war.
The troubles between the State of Ecuador and
Peru appear to be drawing to a crisis. On the 7th
General Castilla sailed from Payta for Guayaquil,
with nearly 10,000 men and 14 vessels of war, in-
tending to invade the country. The next advices
will probably bring intelligence of an engagement.
Captain Grenfell, of her Majesty's ship Ame-
thyst, has seized two Mexican cotton-laden ships,
and has threatened to take more if Mr. Allsop, the
British Consul at Tepic, is not immediately released
by Conorado and Roses. Senor Don Placido Vega,
the Governor of Sinaloa, professes to have no means
of inducing those Generals to comply with Captain
Grenfell's demand.

Business at Jamaica has latterly been much re-
stricted, through the meagre supply of American
stuffs. Supplies of produce have been limited, and
the markets in consequence are very quiet. The
coffee plant has not yet recovered from the effects
of the protracted rains. Jamaica is healthy.

Occasional showers have fallen at Barbadees.
The crops are good. A strong force of yeomanry
cavalry is enrolled.
In the island of St. Lucia a slight earthquake
was experienced on the 17th of November. No
damage was done. The canes were looking well.
The Legislative Assembly at St. George's, Gre-
nada, has made application to the home Govern-
ment for some soldiers of the line to be garrisoned
there.

The Marion Moore, from Calcutta, with 375 im-
migrants, arrived at Georgetown, Guiana, on the
23d of November; the Henry Moore, with 359
statute adults, returning emigrants, sailed for Ma-
dras a few days previously. They left with their
agent 35,982 dols.

The crops at Trinidad are much improved, but
trade is dull and freights are lower. At Demerara
the weather had been fine, and the planters were
busily occupied gathering the crop, which this year
is much retarded by continued rains. The produce,
notwithstanding, may exceed the average.
St. Thomas's continues to suffer severely from
the effects of yellow fever, which has caused many
deaths among the shipping.
Her Majesty' ship Gladiator, which coaled and
left on the 10th of November, proceeded as far as
St. Kitt's, where the fatal disease appeared, and
she landed four men. Two days after other cases
occurred off Tortola, and one man died. She re-
turned to Bermuda with 22 cases. Assistant-
Surgeon G. H. Bellringer fell a victim.
The Gladiator has left Bermuda for Halifax. The
Parana put four men into hospital at St. Thomas's,
and has lost ,one mar, Edmund Woodruff, since.
Several of the crew suffered severely. She expe-
rienced strong headwinds and heavy seas all the
passage home. On the 10th inst. she spoke the ship
Essex, homeward bound.

SHOCKING MURDER AT SEAIIAM.—A murder.
under painful circumstances, is currently reported to have
taken place at Seahani on Saturday night or Sunday morn-.
ing. It is said that a party of pitmen were drinking in one of
the public-houses of the town,when a quarrel ensued between
one of them and a couple of young women of the company.
Tlie women, it is said, followed him out, and again tAtacking
drunken pitman, battered his skull in, and left him
thehc Ipless near the sea beach. They were seen leaving him,
and on the body of the pitman being found on Sunday
morning, inquiry was made into the circumstances, and the
two young women have been apprehended. The names
of the parties are known, but till the whole case be ex-
amined it is not prudent to be more particular. —XI; weastle
Ch on loc.
THREE FlRES.—Yesterday morning, about two
o'clock, considerable alarm was caused in the neighbour-
hood of Trafalgar-square, in consequence of a tire breaking
out in the Union Club-house, but owing to the timely
arrival of the firemen, the names were soon extinguished.
Another fire took place at the residence of the Rev. J. F.
M. Ilalvey, 14, Upper Grosvenor-street, Grosvenor-square,
caused by the overhetring a stove in the next house. For-
tunately, the fire was soon subdued. A fire on the pro-
mises of Mr. J. Giles, hat maker, 74, Great Suffolk-street,
Borough, burned the shop and stock. The firemen managed
to confine the flames to the lower part of the house. Some
excitement prevailed yesterday, in consequence of its being
supposed that the whole of the marriage certificates awl
other church records had been destroyed in the fire which
consumed the church of St. Matthew the previous day. The
firemen, upon cooling the ruins, found iwo immense iron
safes, and upon opening the;;, ;he whole of the registers,
books, and documents, with the sacramental plate, although
the safes were exposed to enormous heat k hours' hnt apt'
sustafine4 the least injury,