The Sun.
London, England, 1868-12-17 00:00:00

SPAIN.

MADRID, Dec. IG.

The rumours current relative to the imminence of
a Cabinet crisis are unfounded. It is stated, on re-
liable authority, that the same Ministers who have
been at the head of the Government since the revo-
lution:will present themselves before the Constituent
Cortese
Advices from Cadiz affirm that the normal state
of affairs has b.2en restored. Those families who
lit the town during the armistice have returned to
their homes.

Senor Possada llerrera has left for Rome.

FRANCE,
BOURSE, Dec. 15.—Three o'clock.—The market
closed as follows :-
41 per Cent.
End of month --
3 per Cent
End of mouth 7l 10
Credit Mobilier 29 I. 25
End of month 291 25
Credit Fonder ..,1525
End of month —

Bank Shares 3175
Ital'an Loan
End of month —
' Mexican Loan
Do. Bonds
Spanish Threes
Home Debt 3O-
l —
S. Cash

RAILWA'

Orleans ...... ... 9161
Northern .............................. ... 3201±
Lyons and :Mediterranean
Southern..... 6284
Western
Eastern • • 562i

Sardinian
Austrian
Lombard 417-L
__3

North of Spain
Saragossa
Roman

THE VOLUN7EERs.

The meeting for the presentation of the prizes
won by the members of the Tower Hamlets Itifie
Brigade was held last evening at the Town Hall,
Shoreditch. The company was very large, and in-
cluded a considerable number of ladies. It had
been arranged that the prizes should be distributed
by Major-General the Hon. James Lindsay, but,
as that gallant officer was unexpectedly prevented
from attending, Lieutenant-Colonel Thomson,
commandant of the brigade, delivered an address,
in the course of which he remarked that on occa-
sions like the present pleasure was most happily
combined with duty. That evening, at all events,
there was no drill to be gone through, nor had they
the prospect of a hard day's work in the field; while
they had the happiness of being surrounded by
their fair friends, without whose
approving smiles
volunteering would be very slow work indeed.
Many were of opinion that volunteering was all
play and no work, but he wished that such persons
would join the ranks of a Volunteer corps for a
year and bring their notions to the test of experi-
ence. If at the end of that time they still held to
their original belief he would like them to take an-
other twelvemonth's turn at being commanding
officers. (Hear, hear, and laughter.) He was
happy to say that the brigade was in a most satis-
factory condition. 'This time last year they had
a muster-roll of 1,073, but since then 229 recruits
bad joined the brigade, and 104 members had re-
signed, the result being that they had at the
present moment a muster-roll of 1,193. Of these
806 (or 67 per cent.) were effici2nts, leaving, he was
sorry to say, 392 non-efficient mernbt'rs. It should,
however, be borne in mind that among the
latter were many of the new recruits, who could
not by possibility hare yet rendered themselves
efficient. The number of men who had shot
through their classes was 302, and of these 8-1 had
become marksmen. Mrs. Saye (sister-in-law of
Lieut.-Colonel Thomson) and the two Misses Holt
(daughters of Major Holt) then distributed the
prizes. At the conclusion of this ceremony the
room was cleared for a ball.

CORRESPONDENCE PROM PARIS.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
PARIS, WEDNESDAY, December 16.

Ministerial changes are more and more the subject of
anticipation. The belief that the Imperial Cabinet will
shortly undergo great modification has become very
general. The necessity for having a united Cabinet, says
the Journal de Paris, has been impressed 'upon the
Emperor by the bitter experience of the evils which
result from divided counsels. The portfolios of the
Interior, Foreign Affairs, Palle Works, and the Presi-
dency of the Council of State will be amongst those which
will pass into different hands. A Ministerial change is
inevitable.

With respect to one of the offices mentioned—that of
the Foreign Affairs—the Emperor may very likely be
spared some embarrassment. M. de Moustier is ill, and
if he does not improve I hear that he will resign.
General Cialdini has arrived at Paris previously to
setting out for Madrid. What is his mission at Madrid
has been a favourite topic with the gossips, but the only
explanation they can furnish is that he has been sent to
negotiate respecting the throne of Spain.
It is not improbable that some of Berryer's letters may
ne published, Altogether they form an immense collec-
tion, many of them of the highest historic interest and
value. Berryer was a master of epistolary composition.
He wrote all his correspondence himself, and prided him-
self upon it. No one knew better than he what was the
exact turn of expression required in any. even the most
delicate, epistle, and no one could dash off a simple billet
with such perfect grace. Berryer occupied one suite of
apartments for fifty-three years, and without a lease !
Some of the papers relate a most amusing story, the
scene of which is laid in one of the communes near
Amsterdam. Jerome S— was the sole clerk and factotum
of M. Ambroise, one of the functionaries of the commune.
M. Ambroise, though some sixty years of age, was not
insensible to the tender passion, and for a month had laid
siege to the heart of Alphonsine, a seamstress, the wife of
Jerome, the clerk. The bouquets and sonnets arrived in
such profusion that they at length attracted the notice of
Jerome, who jealously inquired of his wife resp ecting them.
She confessed that M. Ambroise had for some time past
annoyed her by his numerous presents, but urged that
she was unwilling to speak about the matter, lest Jerome
should lose his situation. Jerome, acknowledging the just-
tice of this plea, decided to repay his patron for his atten-
tions to his wife. The next day the worthy Falstaff presented
himself at the residence of his clerk, bouquet and sonnet in
hand. He was just endeavouring to compensate for his
lack of beauty by the vigour of his eloquence when a step
was heard on the staircase. "Itis my husband," cried
Alphonsine. The worthy functionary was inclined to dis-
pute this, as he had just sent Jerome on a nine-miles
errand ; but Alphonsine knew full well that it was her
husband, and so Falstaff was quickly bundled into a large
box that lay in the chamber. Jerome entered with two
peasants, who took up the box and laboriously carried it
out of the door. Alphonsine made a preconcerted show
of questioning Jerome on this proceeding, but he answered
that he had determined to sell the box, which was an en-
cumbrance, or if he could not find a customer, to throw
it into the river. The box was brought into the little
market-place, and Jerome, mounted on the lid, commenced a
sort of auction. Some of the crowd that gathered wished
to see the interior, but Jerome assured them that it was
empty, and that they might have everything they could
find in the inside. Thirty sous was the first bid, and
little by little the price of the chest crept up, until it
reached six francs. " What ! only six francs for a
chest like this !" cried Jerome, in true auctioneer
style, " I will throw it into the river first." At
length the total reached seven francs, and then Jerome,
thinking the play had gone far enough, " knocked down "
the article. The box was opened by the buyer—and there
was the unfortunate Falstaff in an insensible condition.
The alternative of disgrace or immersion in the river had
been too much for him. Jerome has lost his place, but
M. Ambro!se has deemed it advisable to seek fresh woods
and pastures new. He Las quitted the commune.

THE RUMOUR OF LORD MAYO'S RECALL;
(From the Correspondent of a Contemporary.)

_ -.0.. ----

During the last few days the statement has been widely
circulated, both in London and the provinces, that the
Government had determined to recall Lord Mayo, whose
place would be filled by Sir John Lawrence for another
year, at the end of which time the Marquis of Salisbury
would go out to India as Viceroy. This change
was rumoured last week ; it was something more than a
rumour on Tuesday. It was on that day communi-
cated to a London journalist of old standing, emanating,
in point of fact, from a very distinguished member of the
Liberal party, a nobleman of all but the highest
rank, who has filled more than one very important office
under the Crown. This nobleman added that the step had
been decided upon at the Cabinet Council on Monday,
and that the, letter of recall had actually been written. In
fact, his statement was so positive and so precise in its
details tl at it was impossible to suppose there could
have be,n any inaccuracy in his innmation. This
morning, however, I am assured, on the authority of a
Cabinet 111.n.ster, that the measure referred to will not be
taken—that Lord Mayo will not be recalled. The matter
has indeed been under the consideration of the Cabinet,
but after deliberation it has been decided not to make a
change, which would have been only a little less painful to
the authors than to the subject of it.

TILE WEATHER TABLE.-THIS DAY.

METEOROLOGICAL REPORTS.

Extreme Sea
•
Thursday, F. 0
Dec. 17, B. T. W. Ito F. .1). W It. to
8 a.m. 12 9
Nairn
Aberdeen
Leith
Shields
Scarborough 2910 r. 44 42 W. 3 7 W.S.W. cr.b 008 3
Yarmouth 29'75r. 43 41 W.S.W. 3 5 S.S.W, c.m 3
Helder
Cuxhaven
Skudesntes
Ardrossan 2918 r. 48 46 W.S.W. 2 4 S.S.W. c. 0'29 1
Green castle 44 44 W.S.W. 1 3 S.S.W. c.ro o'l4
Holyhead -
Liverpool
Valentia .... 29'48f. 49 48 S. 8 10 W. c.r. 017 8
Cape Clear.. 29'54f. 49 48 S.S.W. 7 8 N.W. c.r. o'll 5
Roches Pt. 2959 r. 49 49 S. 7 7 W.S.W. c.o. 020 4
Penzance .. 29'79r. 52 52 S. 5 6 S.W. c.m o'so 4
Plymouth . 29 86r. 51 50 S.S.W. 5 7 W.S.W. c.m o'll 4
Weymouth. 29 89r. 51 49 S.W. 1 5 S.W. c. 014 2
Portsmouth 291 Cr. 48 46 W.S.W. 4 7 W. c. O'Ol 3
Lon don , 29'86r. 44 43 W.S.W. 3 6 S.W. or.b o'o7
UpeGrisNez 29•7 Cr. 50 46 W. 7 8 W. 0.c.10'01 4
Brest • ... 29195. 50 50 S. 7 7 W.N.W. o.m o'o4 4
L'Orieut .... 29'98r. 50 50 S.S E. 4 6 W. c.r. o'o4 4
Rochefort .. 3013 r. 50 50 W. 8 8 W. r. o'o6 5
Biarritz •• 3015 f. 52 50 W .N.W. 5 5 W.N.W. r. o'o4
Corunna....
Brussels,...
Paris ......
Strasbourg..
Lyons .. _
.Toulon 3015 r. 46 N.W. 8 7 mtb 6
Heart's Con-
tent (9 a.m.
local time)
REMARKS.
Since yesterday morning there has been a general increase of baro-
metrical pressure, amounting to more than half an inch on the E.
coast of England. In Scotland the change during the night has been
rapid ; in the S.W of Ireland, however, a fall in pressure is again re•
ported since midnight. The least readings now lie to the north ; the
difference between Nairn and Rochefort is OT6in. Temperature has
slightly risen in the S. and W. On the S. coast of Ireland and in the

metrical pressure, amounting to more
coast of England. In Scotland the cha]
rapid in the S.W of Ireland, however
ported since midnight. The least read:
difference between Nairn and Rochefoi
slightly risen in the S. and W. On tin
Irish •ea the gale from the S.W. blev
wind has backed to S , and is now blow
the Channel the wind is fresh from the
the wind continues strong, but has
general, and in Scotland heavy. Mist
and E. coasts, whilst the sky is cloudy
at Valencia is very high. Warnings
coasts.

S. coast of Ireland and in the
yesterday ; at Valencia the
ing hard. At the entrance of
same quarter. At Rochefort
'eered to W. Rain has been
is reported at places on our S.
with ) ain in Ireland. The sea
were issued yesterday to all

SIX MEN DROWNED.

A correspondent in Douglas, Isle of Man, writes :
" There is at present in course of construction in our bay a
low-water landing pier, running parallel with the present
red pier. When there is a heavy sea, accompanied by an
in-shore wind, the water rushes with extreme violence
into the space enclosed between the two piers, and the
result is that a kind of maelstrom is created, exceedingly
dangerous to any small craft. On Saturday night the
schooner Three Janes, Jackson master, of and from
Preston to this port, with a cargo of coals, came round
Douglas Head, and anchored off the red pier. The wind
was S.S.E. at the time, and there was a heavy sea
in the bay, and the schooner commenced almost
immediately to drag her anchor. Unfortunately, at this
moment the wheel chain snapped, and all control over
the vessel was lost, and after some little time she drifted
into the space between the two piers. In the meantime
the members of the Douglas rocket brigade assembled
on the old pier, and a crew of one of the harbour boats
also went out to her assistance. The rocket brigade
fired two rockets, and thus conveyed two lines to the im-
perilled vessel, but the harbour boat having also reached
her, the captain and crew came ashore therein. The
captain at once proceeded to the office of the Isle of Man
Steam Packet Company, and applied for the services of a
steamer for the purpose of towing the schooner into
the harbour. This request, however, was refused, as it
was deemed that the steamer might suffer injury by
going out. The master thereupon engaged a crew of
harbour boatmen. A four-oared boat, containing himself
and five of the harbour boatmen, put off from the red
pier. When it was about 100 feet from the schooner
a huge wave struck the boat with so much violence that the
oars were carried cut of the bands of the men on the lee
side. The men on the other side soon after-
wards lost their oars also. The boat was then entirely
at the mercy of the waves, and before any means
for their rescue could be adopted the whole of the poor
men perished. Their names were Alfred Jackson, of
Preston, the master of the schooner ; Hillan, James
Lace, Robert Caren, James Lynchey, and George
Dagleish, of Douglas. On Sunday the body of Lace was
washed ashore, and since then the bodies of Jackson,
Hillan, and Dagleiah have been recovered ; but up to the
Dracut the other two are missing."

AN INDEPENDENT ELECTOR HOAXED,

s§.. good story, and one which has the advantage of
being true, is told in Shrewsbury at the expense of a free
and independent elector of this irreproachable borough.
The elector in question exercised the privilege of the
franchise for the first time during the recent
election, and having been induced to give one of his
votes to Mr. Figgins, the Conservative candidate,
he appears to have lived in the daily expectation of having
conveyed to him, from some unknown and mysterious
source, a substantial acknowledgment of his support.
He did not make any secret of his expectation,
but frequently opened his heart upon the subject to some
of his fellow-workmen, and after indulging in wild hopes
of receiving £lO from " The Man in the Moon," he gra-
dually came down to £2, a sum which happened to be
urgently needed in his domestic economy, and the
lack of which he daily lamented. One morning his
waning hopes were suddenly revived by the receipt of a
letter, couched in guarded terms, but from which he
clearly gathered that the expected guerdon was at length
forthcoming, and was to be obtained from a stranger
who might be met that night at eight o'clock on
St. Chad's-terrace, and who was to be recognised and
approached by a stated code of signals. The night proved
wet and stormy, but the free and independent elector
was faithful to the appointment ; and, after waiting
twenty minutes, and getting wet through, he beheld
the man whom be was to meet—a man with a care-
fully muffled-up face, a man who whistled to the free
and independent elector, and who, when the free and
independent doffed his hat, beckoned him to approach
by three distinct motions of the extended forefinger of
the left hand. The colloquy between the briber and the
bribed was brief. Mildly reproaching the elector for
" splitting his vote with Clement," instead of plumping
for Pigging, the man with the muffled-up face dropped
into his hand two bright coins, which the agitated
elector, hurriedly glancing at in the lamp-light, recognised
as the two sovereigns for which he had so long looked in
vain. With a hasty promise that he was "right for next
time," he followed the advice of his interlocutor, and
made the best of his way home, where upon furtively
taking out the price of his vote he found that the coins,
though new and bright, and bearing the impress of the
Mint, were not sovereigns but—farthings.