The Era from London, Greater London, England • 9

December 31, 1865. THE ERA. 9 i (jKlOULiTUKAL HALL success of the CTaiulTOUKNAMENT, Introfliidmp-innti reason We may note, however, that ihllT een'- f0r -the lfct time Prorogued; and I II 1865-1860. X- 1 At-mimr. tmd 500 Mule iind Fnmlo lrx.

LIMEAIUEE, rf'tbo Historica.1 Spectacle, the i riTLD 01- Performance. MOvi S'Sf mgnuy commencinc- at Hulf-nat Silvan. ti jiijEjajjA and SItUHDAYS, commencing at Half-past Two. Witnessed during ic IV L't'K uv iW.wv of the immense overtow to witness the GRAND T0UK5AMLNi a SPECIAL LNRAfcCE to the Boxes, Reserved and Private Boxes has been opened in the Liverpool-road Vf'milies can therefore obtain admission without inconvenience. Boxl ortfce open in High-street from Eleven to Five.

Private Boxes, One Guinea; Reserved Seats 3a Boxes, Pit, the Galleries and touiense Promenades, H00 feet length, Cd. Arrangements for the ensuing week Performances Nightly, commencing at Half-past Seven Morning Performances Monday, Wednes- nd Saturday, commencing at Half-past Two. u.i i TCEKSED VICTUALLERS' ASYLUM ASYLUM-ROAD. OLD KENT-RHAr. THE ANNUAL BALL will take place at ST.

JAMES'S HALL, on THURSDAY, 11th JANUARY NEXT. Fleet-street. GEORGE IMRIE, Secretary. DEPOSITS RECEIVED BY rpHE CREDIT FONCIER AND MOBILIEli i OF ENGLAND (Limited). Kates for money on deposit This Company receives money on deposit inf.su.ui3 of i)10 and upwards at the undermentioned rates, from this day until further notice, viz: At fourteen days' notice per cent, per annum.

At one month's notice 6J per cent, per annum Fur tixed periods of not less than three months ami up to six months 52 per cent, per annum Bevonil six months and up to nine months per cent, per annum Bevoml nine months and up to twelve months Gi per cent, per annum' Beyond twelve months and up to twenty-four months CJ per cent, per annum. Fui'ins of application can be obtained of the Secretary to whom all communications must be addressed. By order of the Court, ALFRED LOWE, Secretary. Xos. 17 and IS, Cornlull, London, Dec.

28, 1865. CUmK is iormaiiy set lor the 1st oi February, proof whereof the housemaids of the Houses have been invoked to cleanse the buildings, and prepare them for the New Parliament. The Ministry does not seem, even yet, to be quite complete, but the last appointment will be gazetted, of course, in time to enable Lord Russell to march down at the head of all his men It is said that the Reform Bill will deal only i extension of the suffrage, and that the amendments of (hstnbution will be left for future legislation. If tins is so, the Whigs will prove themselves true to their traditional habit of bit-by-bit work." Moreover, the leaving the re-construction to be effected by a Parlia-ment which will be itself newly re-constructed, seems to us about as unwise a course as was ever taken by a we await 06rtification on this head. I he Colonial Office is in no hurry to yield to the clamour of the fanatic party in reference to the Jamaica question.

As yet, but one companion has been given to bir Henry Storks. This is Mr. Russell Gurney, the JKecorder, than whom no better man could be sent out. ine Dissenters complain that none of their own party are put upon the Commission, but the Government is perfectly well aware that the country has not the least confidence in the Negrophiles, and that what is wanted is, not a vidication of the colonists for society has made up its mind their favour but an impartial account of the real state of Jamaica, and some practical information as to the way in which admitted grievances should be dealt with. Therefore, Mr.

Cardwell is endeavouring to obtain judges who shall possess impartial minds, and who will be able to address themselves to the solution of a real problem. We do not suppose that many persons expect to hear a great deal more about the defunct blacks, but all thoughtful persons desire to know what can be done to rectify a system under which the extant blacks and their white neighbours do not live in amity. A Report has been made by the Commission for Inquiring into the System of Capital Punishments. It will be remembered that gentlemen of very different views were placed on this inquiry, and that Mr. Adderley, for instance, and Mr.

Bright were members of the Commission. It is satisfactory that they have been able to come to very definite conclusions. They propose to alter the law to a certain extent. They would recognise two Degrees of Murder, one with malice afore-thought, the Jury distinctly to find the fact of malice, and for this crime the gallows is still to be the punishment. Any other form of murder (except when committed in connection with attempt to commit, or escape from capture after committing certain crimes) is to be punished with penal servitude for life, or for other periods, at the discretion of the Judge.

The frightful increase of infanticide, which maybe attributed in great measure to the knowledge among the lower class that Juries will seldom convict a wretched girl when such verdict endangers her life, is to be checked by making the punishment penal servitude only, while the proof that the child has been born alive (in the absence of which Juries are glad to let prosecutions break down) is to be dispensed with, and an easier proof substituted. Finally, the Commission decidedly recommends the doing away with public hanging, and would substitute execution within the gaol. We presume that a Bill, based on some of these suggestions, at least, will be introduced, and Parliament will li The symbolism of the ancients was often very beautiful and instructive but when they represented Time, or Saturn, as an old man with a cloth round his loins, a forelock on his otherwise bald head, a scythe in his hand, and with a serpent biting its own tail to represent the revolution of the year, it appears to us an inapt illustration of that which never wears out, and devours all before it Tempus edaxrerum who could ever detect the slightest symptom of advancing age in Time bent legs, bowed back, white hair, and bared temples? On the contrary, perpetual youth and activity essentially belong to Time. His eye, the sun, is as bright now as when it first shone in Paradise his face in the heavens is fair at morn and ruddy at eve, as when the evening and the morning were the first day his cloak, that he puts on at night, is as beautifully bespangled with stars as when they first shone to give moderate light in the interval of rest and throughout the seasons, though he changes his garb from green in summer to dun inwinteri there is no rent perceptible, nor discoloration from long use; but both the wearer and his clothes seem as hale and sound as they must have looked when they commenced their annual journies throughthe ages. No, an old man, warped, shrivelled, and with no more dress on than Paddy might rescue for his person, after a wild scuffle with his friends at Donnybrook Fair, is no fit representative of Time, who, ever blooming, ever young, laughs merrily at us on the New Year's dawn, like the Clown on Boxing Night, and leaps actively on the ground for another annual circuit.

Better far would it have been to have personified Time as an active hunter or warrior, striking down and destroying all before them, whilst they themselves remained scatheless; or as a young charioteer hurrying forward his panting steeds, whilst the wheels of his car crashed everything in their way. We make these remarks because the Year 1866 will spring as nimbly into existence as did its farthest bygone predecessor" it will betray no sign of age whatever its pace unflagging, 'its strength unspent, its look as juvenescent as ever. It is as inaccessible to scars as a spirit could be; the lightnings go through it, the thunders roll about it, the tempests hurl their utmost fury against it but Time travels on unharmed, giving strength to the young, weakness to the aged, and life and death everywhere simultaneously. Only let us consider how Time acts on a people, being itself exempt all the while from injury. It closed, during the past year, the great American struggle a million human lives had been drowned in blood, but Time gave no shudder.

England's pet 'Premier held out in a gallant struggle with Time would not retire from the arena would not acknowledge age would try to look and labour like the youngest but Time brought him to his bed at last in all the feebleness of infancy, and lifted the honoured corpse into the tomb, and sealed it with marble and this cost no effort to the inexorable leveller of all. A foreign king, astute and old in experience, if not in years, as the English statesman, next tried a fall with him whose age is reckoned by thousands of centuries but a throne could not hold up the time-worn frame it sank before the touch ot the ever active passer-by. Even the Champion of the Prize King, in whom was concentrated all physical superiority, dropped in the prime of life at a blow from Time. And so the night will pass, and a New Year will break with unabated and we have to look both behind and before. The retrospect is wonderful.

Since the world began was there ever a country which, on the whole, has been so prosperous as England during 1865 Her commercial position, the envy and admiration of the world. She was able to bring to a triumphant conclusion the great strain put upon her by th cotton famine. A population, as large as that of Ireland, havin been arrested suddenly at their ordinary labour their only means of daily support being stopped England bore this great revulsion of her social system, sustained the immense burden of eleemosynary relief that was required, without flinching or a strain and a grateful tribute has been nmd bnplr Hardwicke's Science Gossip for 1865. Edited bv M. C.

Cooke. R. Hardwicke, 192, Piccadilly, London." Such volumes as the one before us are among the characteristics of this age of progress. Learning, once so laboriously got at, and so cumbersome when attained, is now, under the guise of gossip turned into amusement, and we scarcely know our old friend by sight. Let any one who has the opportunity of referring to old hbranes take out a volume of the Philosophical Transactions" ancl comPare tlle Publication with Mr.

ftthTconttr fT and th6y WflI be aSt0nished tongue," because for the VUW nS.w the world, such subject had no SeT lie- Vb ofJtha this pleasant collection of monthh SchnZ 'rZ ther contributions from various classes' JTZiZZX, unlearned, busyatd idle, students and young ladle3' hn mite to throw mto the general fund of infemSion these m.tes" do good service in attracting the itteSw more learned observers to the various triffes which are so apt to be overlooked by men with working brains, preoccupied 4e cial, and perhaps, more important Tdeas. And. as may wclFbe manned, this drowned collection of papers affords to general reader a perfect fund of information, out of which he is at li berfv to cull whatever suits his taste best. Ifhe does no re abou bi ds he may care about fish If he is indifferent to fish he may have a whim for reptiles insects, zoophytes seaweeds, land or sea plants or the stiller world of minerals and chemical laws 17, and all such tastes there is food. Mr Hardwicke has Lutl out his Science Gossip paper monthly, at a rate witTiin the reach of the poorest artisan, and the yearly volume simply a collection of these monthly papers.

Each paper his few general aticles on subjects thought likelv to find favour with the public, and there follow then certain special paes for certain special studies Zoology, Botany, Geoloqy, to which of coarse, the reader will be directed by the nature of his own par' ticular hobby." Let us instance a few subjects. At page 92 an account of a new method of growing the Killarnev Fern (Trihio-nmnes radicals). At page 91, an amusing notice "of the Manufac- ore 9fnf0Sfifa t0 Sectors, caveat emptor! Page 128, What do Crickets eatf answered. Page 245 The Plwsphorescence of the Sea. Page 124, Orchids, and how to 'Grow them.

Page 26, a charming paper, entitled A Tit in Moustachios and so on, with an interminable variety of subjects. There is also a portion of each number devoted to scientific Notes and Queries the-editor having obtained assistance, in this arduous part of his work torn several distinguished men in the different branches ot study. After stating which particulars, weare not surprised to find th able editor Mr. M. Cooke (himself a well-knownPbotoUt)avow! ing that the success of his publication has been so great as even to exceed us expectations.

We sincerely trust it may continue its course with equal prosperity during tile coming year of issue believing, as we do, that no study in the world is so calculated to refine and improve the mind or prove so great a solace, whether in health or sickness, as that of Natural History; in other and more correct, words that of the works of an God The illustrations throughout are extremely correct and good, and the book forms a delightful volume for a drawiiii--room table and a better Christmas or New Year's gift for young people than some more pretentious books for the purpose. St. James's Magazine. W. Kent and Paternoster-row The new year's number of this popular periodical opens well and encouragingly as respects succeeding issues, The Lady's Mile of course taking the lead This, with The Village JUoctor and norkmg the Dark, are the continuous subjects though one of the most interesting contributions is the one called The State Trials during the Reigns of Queen Elizabeth and the First Two Stuarts Another most attractive contribution of the number is Jamaica of To-day, a continuation of a subject commenced in last month's edition.

The remaining articles are all of first-rate ability making up a number of more than usual excellence. Temple Bar Temple Bar Office, Fleet-street. Anew tale, by the author of Miss Forrester, entitled Archie Lovell, opens the January number of this esteemed magazine, which with In Lodainqs at Kmghtsbridye, Jamaica, and Land at Last, comprise the most important articles in the number before us. The Streets of the orld by George Augustus Sala, is, as usual, an article of first-rate interest and amusement. The subject, however, which will be wr SratJClt sftlsfac ne4 Troatlemouth, a tale of West of England tastes and habits.

On the whole the part for January is hardly equal to former numbers, in as much as no storv by Miss Braddon adorns its pages. The May Fair Miscellany. Adams and Francis, Fleet-street --This is the third number of what appears likely to prove a very effective monthly magazine. The tales are of a t'air averae quality, and possess a varied and picturesque interest, particularly likely to attract ladv readers, for wlmm i ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. Advertisements are requested to be sent beore Five o'clock p.m.

on Friday for our CousTiiv EumON, published at Four o'clock a.m. Saturday Ten o'cloei p.m. Saturday night mil be in time for The Town Edition' punished ut Five a.m. Sunday which contains all neves (especially Theatrical, Musical, and Sporting) to the latest hour of going to press. TOw exceeding Fight lines, the charge is 3s.

each, and Sixpence forerert extra line. Advertisements from the Country must be prepaid. Questions received for Answers on a Friday morning cannot meet with attention until the following iceek. Referee. Bombastes Furioso was played at Hei- Majesty's Theatre, Monday, May 3d, 1841, for the benefit of Mr.

John Lee, then Secretary oj the Shakespearian Club, who took a part in the performances. We have taken some trouble to ascertain the fact, and we may take this opportunity of telling several in the habit of making similar wagers, thai we can only regardthem as "catch" bets, and that as pieces are often represented for lenefitswhich are quite out of the ordinary routine of the arrangements of the Theatre, no trap should be laid for the unwai-y in this fashion. Lot" is. Buhner's play of The Duchess de la Valliere was brought out at Covent-garden, under Mr. Osbaldiston's Management, January 4th, 1837.

Miss Helen Fancit, Vandenhoff, Macready, and William Farren, all played in the piece, which was in five acts. K. K. Mr. Green has been the Proprietor of Evans's Supper-rooms, Covent-garden, since 1844.

G. M. L. Mrs. Nisbett played at theAdelphi Theatre, in a drama called All for Love; oite.hosf?ifei,produced in January, 1838 Caleb.

The question asked was, when "The Forty Thieves" mas last played in London as a Pantomime? and we gave you the correct reply, at Sadler's Wells, by the Payne family. The smaller Thea ires may have since touched upon the subject. Tour insolent letter is not deserving of this condescension. W. K.

E. There were two years without a Pantomime at Drury-lane when Mr. Bunn was Lessee. During the Christmas of 1883 and that of 1834 grand equestrian spectacles were given instead, Mr. Ducrow appearing witfi his stud of horses in both.

The first was called St. George and the Dragon, the second King Arthur, Murphy. The air of The Low-backed Car" is an old Irish tune, known as The Jolly Ploughboy." Mr. Samuel Lover wrote the words of the song, theprelude, and the accompaniments. O.

P. S. Astley's will contain the larger number of persons. Chang. Something oj the sort did occur, and the report appeared in our journal at the time.

Tate. Direct to Mr. Musgravc, Strand Theatre. V. R.

H. Madame Celeste did not play in The Colleen Bawna Drury-Iane or Adelphi. King's Arjis. Mr. Wright, the comedian, died at Boulogne in December, 1859.

E. S. P. Of course there is; apply at the Whiltington Club. Ft.

M. K. The Parliament called together in 1852 was under the auspices of the Earl of Derby and Mr. Disraeli. The Parliament of 1857 was led by Lord Palmerston.

The appeal to the country was made on the China question, and resulted in favour of Ministers. The Theatrical Alphabet. Mr. James Hntton recognises in a few lines, inserted in our Carpet Bag" last week, the idea of a very poptilar song of his, called 11 The Theatrical Alphabet," written twenty years ago. We believe the resemblance to be quite accidental, but have much pleasure in restoring the idea" to its proper owner.

Cock-Crowing. On the authority of a correspondent, we hear Mr. John Saunders never crowed in The Camp at Chobham it was Mr. Smythe that crowed all through the run of the piece, and at Windsor Castle before her Majesty. He is now at Hull as property master." The subject demands the utmost care.

-r i I iiiiiiiuna who were rescued from starvation. Never before has Trade so tnrtven trie iron ot England is more valuable than the gold of th other hemisDhere even the nM Wami A IH'IIU W1C ViailcllilO is, has not yet deprived the artisan of butcher's meat, so good are ii specially "Not the 'least valua'ble foSion of thl nnX? is a sons- and music Wft 4 cS.i 0 euuueu rrom Lilttiaiiooa's Dawn. Queen Emma. A Narrative of the Object of her Mission to England. Day and Son, Gate-street, Lincoln's neatlv got-up tract giving a brief account of the birth, pedigree, lit" and mission of the Dowager Queen of the Sandwich Islands, and lil Newcomb's Midland Counties Almanack.

Newcomb Stamford -As usual tins is one of the best and cheapest of all the I vv may cuspose ot otner matters en bloc. The Fenians continue to be convicted. But soldiers have suddenly been ordered, we read, to Ireland, and the Government may have information of a graver character than the public suspects. At any rate, it is well to be fore-armed, for though any attempt at violence, either by Irishmen at home or abroad, would merely end in the destruction by bayonet or gibbet of every traitor, much consternation might be caused by a temporary success. Governor Eyre's Jamaica policy may have given the Government a hint for imitation.

The American Legislature is setting itself doggedly in opposition to the President, and is seeking to embroil him with France, in the matter of Mexico but Mr. Johnson is emphatically not a man to be driven. The fall of the Italian Ministry and the violence of the Italian Parliament are due to well understood causes, and the enemies of the new kingdom have no cause to triumph. The death of Sir Charles L. Eastlake, the amiable and accomplished President of the Royal Academy, had been expected, but is none the less deplored.

The Academy will, probaby, find his successor in the person of one of its few men of genius among its many men of talent, the greatest Animal Painter who has ever seen the poetry of Nature, as well as her philosophy. We shall only delay our readers from more pleasant reading (which we have provided for them, as we think will be allowed, with considerable profusion), while we wish them, in addition to a Merry Christmas," A HAPPY NEW YEAR." wages ana ine consumption ot Deer is sucn that the chief brewers are merchant princes. The political condition of the country has been noless satisfactory. The well-tried Constitution has shown thatwe can maintain our honour as a nation, without participating in foreign quarrels that the interests of every class are regarded, although the franchise is still reserved for some qualification beyond an ability to abuse the best gifts of rational man and that if as much wisdom be found in the Cabinet of Earl Russell as was in that of Lord Palmerston, there is no probability of 1866 being less for the good and happiness ot the general community than 1865 has already proved. We have had, indeed, a "green Christmas, which, the proverb says, makes a.full churchyard but the death register has, after all, been in our favour when compared with that of other lands.

And so, we may. shake hands with Time, and thank him for his gracious dealings with us and, as he bounds at midnight of the 31st into, the New Year, let us, with hearts brimming as the spiced cup which goes round in good wishes and tender memories, pledge 1866 as a Happv New Year to all. 1 1 AST S. HF ND PliINCE Albert Victor New MSllMfeVel116 Eld6St Sn 0f the el Of all the portraits of her Majesty since sun pictures superseded nvt'Jn i i-7 1 13 undoubtedly the mist perfect art and beautiful in execution of any we have ieen. Not alone is it admirable as a portrait of the Sovereign, representing her the 0t domes Bituations-that of an affectionate nurse-but as an historical picture, exhibiting the present and future monarch of this empire, is a work not only of present admiration and pleasure, but of future interest and national importance.

Of all the photographs which of late years have been dded to the gallery of Royal portraits, we regard this as the most pleasing and Beautiful lie composition of the plate is extremely simple, and represents her Majesty seated in a padded chair holding on her lap her grandson, the first born of the Heir-apparent Prince Albert Victor. The Queen's head is slightly depress and' TOWN EDITION. SUNDAY, DECEMBER 31, 1865. TOPICS 0 THE WEEK. tu Vt i 7 icvcuieu me Whole form and 'rtJy7 lntffc b' this "Position brought into Ml view.

J. he attitude of her Maiest-y if wi- with which she seems to be examining th, Id family lineament or expression, is extremely graceful, and louch-ingly suggesfaye ot those sable weeds, thai Sontrast so soft and beautifully with the white dress and feathered hat of the infant Prince. Ynnno- thp i LUU CITY and MONETARY INTELLIGENCE. Friday Evening. The English Funds opened firm at the commencement of the week, but further withdrawals of gold from the Bank, and the whole of the large arrivals of last week having been taken for the Continent, coupled with an advance by the Bank in the rate of discount, caused a reaction, and Consols closed at 87 i Money and 87H Account, being -J per cent, lower than last Friday.

In the Foreign Market the fortnightly settlement has taken place, and prices have been generally depressed. Turkish Five per Cents, have declined 1 per owing to the New Loan, and it being stated that the interest falling due next has not been provided for. We believe, however, that it will be paid by the Imperial Ottoman Bank. The other Turkish Securities remain unaltered. Mexican have declined 1 percent on the accounts from New York as to the feeling ot the Congress and the people with regard to the new empire, and the uncertainty as to the course of policy which will be pursued by the Emperor Napoleon regarding it.

Egyptians have receded i per cent. Spanish Passives have declined and the Certificates per cent. Greek have also receded per and Italian J. Brazilian are lower. Russian, Portuguese, Peruvian, and other stocks are generally firm.

United States Five-Twenties declined from Friday last nearly 2 per owing to large supplies of stock from New York being thrown upon the Market, but they have since slightly recovered, and leave off 65 or 1 per cent, lower than last week. The Railway Market has been tolerably firm. South-Easterns have improved by 1J per cent. North Stafford, 1 Sheffield and Lincolnshire, Caledonian, Chatham and Dover, per cent. Great Eastern, Great Western, London -and Brighton, Midland and'Metro-politan district, declined per cent.

Grand Trunk of Canada have improved 2 per cent. Bank Shares have been generally steady London and Westminster and Bank of London improved Alliance declined 1 Imperial and Union, 10s. London and Brazilian have receded 2 on the publication of the report, a contemplated amalgamation not having been as yet finally completed. Finance Shares are generally flat. Credit Foncier have declined 1, and London Financial per share.

Other Joint-Stock Companies' Shares are generally steady. Money in the Discount Market is very tight, at fullv 7 to 7J per cent. The arrivals of bullion during the week have not exceeded 300,000, whilst upwards of 1,000,000 have been exported over 200 000 having been withdrawn from the Bank. Telegrams from Melbourne announce the shipment of 347 000 worth of gold for England. i.

i VL tuc "uyai uima is twelve mont-hQ it bears in it a speaking type of the Illustrious stock from whence Plate whi is certain to come one of the most approved and popular works of arts of the "eason the public are indebted to the ability, skill, and taste of Mr Jabez Hughes, of Eyde. whose nhntniAmw' seconded by the masterly id dlte envVofMTwS RAILWAY SCHEMES AND "PUBLIC We mentioned last week that aRailway Mania" was approaching, and cautioned the public on the matter. Since then a further revelation has been made, and it is now ascertained that for next Session there are as many as "C46" Railway and other Bills, including a number for "Public Improvements." It is scarcely to be believed that in Westminster alone upwards of 100 acres are required for Public Improvements one scheme will take about eighty acres These matters are becoming very serious. The Government must put some check on the projects brought before the public. Earl Granville will no doubt move for a Joint Committee, and a number of the schemes will not be allowed to proceed iri the next Session.

Fortunately an Act of Parliament on Costs" on Private Bills has just come into force, and it the Committees of both Houses enforce the provisions, a check will be put to Private-Bill Legislation." Committees of both Houses of Parliament are now empowered to award costs on Private Bills. It is provided, that when a Committee report that a Preamble not Proved," the opponents are to be entitled to recover costs when a Committee report unanimously, Opposition Unfounded," then the promoters are to be entiled to recover costs. The costs are to be taxed, and to be recovered by actions, and persons paying costs may recover a portion from other persons liable thereto. There is a provision in the New Act which has surprised many. By the 15th January the Deposit Money must be paid, and it is anticipated to exceed ten millions" on the many schemes.

This money is obtained, and it is now enacted that when a Committee report, Preamble not Proved," the Promoters are to pay the costs out of the deposit money, and the money may be attached. Who, then, is a promoter The Act declares that when a Bill is not promoted by a company already formed, all persons whose names shall appear in such Bill as promoting the same, and in the event of the Bill passing, the Company thereby incorporated shall be deemed to be promoters of such Bill. This definition will enable the Committees to award costs out of the deposit money, and the operation of the Act will be narrowly watched. Among the projects is one for a new street by which Northumberland House will be required. The Duke of Northumberland has been served with notices, and has intimated his intention to oppose the demolition of his ducal mansion.

There will be plenty of opposition, and when the provisions of the new law are better known, the pubhc will bestir themselves on the Private Bill Legislation" pf the approaching Session. Palmerstons ti. oil mi vauionage House, on Tuesday the 9th January. The dining-room suite, which is of carved Spanish mahominv. mnaisks rf cauea The Christmas Week has loeen unmarked by any public occurrence of sufficient interest to detach the mind of the public from its social enjoyments.

High and low have feasted and been merry, and myriads have done so -with the more zest from the recollection that they have done something to promote the comfort of those -who need the aid of the prosperous. Royalty has set a kindly example in this respect. The Queen, in in her Osborne retreat, has fed old and young, and distributed presents among them, with the graceful assistance of the more youthful Princesses, while the Heir Apparent and his admirable wife have personally directed similar kindnesses at Sandringham. The poor in the Unions have had their banquets, and the minor consolations which it is so easy to give and so selfish to deny, and the acknowledgments with which the journals are crowded, show that the festival influences have touched ten thousand purse-strings. We may believe, moreover, that in the way of private assistance to those who will not ask, yet need help more than most who ask loudly, much good has been done.

In no Pharisaical spirit, but with the justifiable feeling, that those who have done their duty to their brethren have a right to enjoyment of their own, we may say that Englaup has deserved the merry Christmas which she is now spending. In this particular week in the year we usually dismiss public matters with brief comment, nor, as we have said, is there much to induce us to break a good custom, and infringe upon space which we are fortunate enough to be able to fill with matter more in accordance with teWrme massive r- itiuiumg-rooia suite is in whit and gold covered in crimson figured silk, with mahogany book cases and In the breakfast-room there is TXSv executed and very massive bronze pedestal hot-air stove Vml made expressly for lug Royal Highness the kte Duke Cambridge. In he ball-room, with which8 so many distLisLl visitors are familiar, there are th liers (one for sixty lights, and tXtiM Besides these here are an immense number of 'interesting obiccts" Sienna marble, mahoganies of different kinds, maplel and the several items of the domestic offices. mapies, asc, and beenufforth Cni little box has ioTm iTv haS been St up as tastefully as ever, it ZorinK7 ty and present. The box contains four more accet tnTTly for the toilet and Iikd t0 be CTen SrMSAl name of ui.

Mangold has recently become so identified. The Bishop op London's Fund. Of the quarter of a million already subscribed among the 3,000,000 inhabitants of London in support of the Bishop of London's Fund, exactly one half is given by ninety persons..