MR. KING AND DR. TAIT.

The Reverend Bryan King has replied to the fetter of the Bishop of London in a manner that is somewhat remarkable. Mr. King has other- wise stated that when he called upon Dr. Tait he was assailed by the Bishop at London House with such language as to have compelled him to rise from his scat for the purpose of leaving the room, with the words, "My lord, as I am not in the habit of being addressed with such lan- guage as this, I must take the liberty of bidding you good morning ? " He sent the following reply to the letter of the Bishop quoted last week. flik" My Lord—I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your lordship's letter of the 3d instant, and to express my regret that the treatment which I experi- enced at your lordship's hands on Thursday last was not calculated to induce me to pay that deference to the admonitions of my Bishop in things indif- ferent which I should wish to exhibit. I do not recollect that I have ever been assailed with such language as was then addressed to one by your lord- ship. I regret further to be obliged to state my conviction that your inter- ference with the exercise of my Jurisdiction as rector in the services of my church, over one in the position of an assistant curate is absolutely unpre- cedented save in the practice of your lordship. I must be allowed further to remark upon the very strange estimate of the confidential relationship existing between a Bishop and one of his priests which is involved in the forwarding the copy of a letter of pastoral advice to churchwardens, to be followed, I presume, by its publication in newspapers ; and it may be some satisfaction to your lordship if I here state that I do not imitate the conduct of your lordship in that respect in the case of this letter. I am, my lord, your very humble and dutiful servant, " BRYAN KING. "P.S.—Of course I shall feel at liberty to publish this letter in case your letter to me be published."

The Queen has appointed the Honourable William George Grey, now Secretary to her Legation at Stockholm, to be Secretary to her Lega- tion at Berlin; also the Honourable Edward Morris Erskine, now Se- cretary to her Legation at Washington, to be Secretary to her Legation at Stockholm ; also Mr. William Douglas Irvine, now first paid Attache to her Legation at Vienna, to be Secretary to her Legation at Washing-

The Sunday evening services at Westminster Abbey will recommence, as our readers are already aware, on Sunday next, the 2d inst., when the sermon will be preached by the Dean of Westminster.

A Church-rate of one penny in the pound has been the subject of a contest at Greenwich. A poll a the ratepayers showed the numerical weakness of the opposition. The poll was carried by 829 to 235.

The Scotsman reports the death of "the venerable father of our Indian Commander-in-chief," Lord Clyde. He died at a very advanced age, and has been buried in the Warriaton cemetery.

Lieutenant-General Robert Barclay Macpherson, a veteran of Peninsular renown, who entered the service as an ensign in the 88th, and afterwards commanded it in several engagements, died on Saturday. His death places the colonelcy of the 88th at the disposal of the Duke of Cambridge.

Colonel Sir Belford Hinton Wilson, K.C.B.' formerly charge d'affiiires in the Canteens, died at his house in Park Street, Grosvenor Square, on the 27th instant, after a very protracted illness.

Dr. William Cruickshank, Deputy Inspector-General of Hospitals, died at Simla on the 5th ultimo, from the effects of illness brought on by exces- sive fatigue in the zealous discharge of his professional duties, particularly before and at Lucknow. He served in the Crimea, and earned the special commendation of Lord Raglan.

A veteran sailor, who shared in the great actions at sea early in the cen- tury, Vice-Admiral Sir Andrew Green, died on Sunday in his eighty-second year.

Mademoiselle Katinka Heinefetter, who was for some time prima donna at the Paris Grand Opera, has just died at Fribourg, from disease of the heart. She was thirty-seven years of age, and quitted the theatre some years ago.

Catherine Dudley, who had attained the great age of 102, died last week at Upper Gournal, Sedgeley. She had never until recently had a day's illness. She had outlived all her children.

Mr. Sohn II. Brownson_, son of Orestes A. Brovnison, editor of Brownson's _Review, has died at St. Paul's Minnesota from the effects of a fall during sleep. He lived in a house overhanging the bluff which rises sheer from the river. He seems to have walked out of his window while asleep, and to have fallen 150 feet.

Prince Alfred appears to be making a kind of semi-regal tour in the Me- diterranean. He is the subject of loyal or courteous ebullitions wherever he goes. Recently at Malta he was entertained at dinner by Sir John Penne- father and Rear-Admiral Codrington ; he made a progress through the streets ; received all the authorities at the Palace ; went to the Opera; and visited the Governm's country seat. Of course Malta illuminated and a great deal of powder was burned in salutes. The Maltese were delighted and flattered by this visit from the Queen's second son.

The Duke of Chartres has passed his examinations at the Military School of Turin in a distinguished manner, and has been classed among pupils of the third year.

The Journal de Cherbourg affirms in a positive manner that the Emperor of the French will visit that port in May next, by which time the new im- perial yacht, the Aigle will have been completely fitted out and made ready for sea. The Emperor will be accompanied, adds that journal, by the Czar Alexander.

The Count and Countess de Persigny have arrived in England, where they intend making a prolonged stay, having received several invitations for the Christmas season.

The present Sir Henry Havelock, a major of cavalry, seems determined to keep up the honour of his great name. With 200 horsemen, without tents, -baggage, followers, or commissariat, he recently chased 4000 sepoys 200 miles in six days, and with the aid of Colonel Turner's column, drove them into the Rhotas Hills.

The Caucase of Tiflis, announces that Mr. Murray, English envoy in Persia, accompanied by his secretary and physician, arrived at that city on the 170 November, on his way to England.

Mr. Robert Stephenson has paid a visit to Egypt in his steam yacht Ti- tania. On his arrival at Alexandria the government gave him a special train for the purpose of enabling him to see the newly completed line. The Viceroy was anxious to Bee him.

Sir Alan M‘Nab is on a visit to this country to promote the proposed railway from the head of Lake Superior to the lied River. The President of the B,oyal Society has appointed Lord li'rottetiley,_Ge- neral Sabine, Sir IL Murchison, Mr. Gassiot, Dr. Whewell, and Mr. Bell, Vice-Presidents of the Society.

Professor Max Muller, Fellow of All Souls' College, Oxford, has been elected a Corresponding Member of the Institute of France.

The Icorfolk _Yews announces, on authority, that Dr. Vincent has notified his intention to resign the headmastership of the Norwich Grammar School.

A club, as we informed, is in contemplation whose object will be to give an opportunity of meeting together and promoting, a friendly intercourse between the higher classes of English society and foreigners of distinction, either belonging to the mops diplomatigue or otherwise, visiting this coun- try. It is to be combined on new principles, a sort of revival of the defunct Coventry Club, and having some features of a musical character. If an opinion may be,formed from the numbers determined upon, it would appear that the intended club is to be of decidedly rather exclusive a character, these numbers being limited to 100 English and 100 foreign members. Several among the leading members of the aristocracyhave already signified their readiness to encourage by every means in their power such a reunion, at present totally, wanting in 'London, and to join the foreigners and diplo- matists in this friendly undertaking. The new club, if brought into exist- ence' will probably retain the present house and name of the Diplomatic Club in Albemarle Street .—Morning Poet.

A correspondent of the Sherbourne Journal draws attention to the fact that Mr. Miles, the well-known Tory member for East Somerset, has, in his character of colonel of a Somersetshire regiment of yeomanry cavalry, actually appropriated no fewer than five: commissions to his own family, "It appears," says the writer, "that this happy family of Miles's Boys, consists of Colonel Miles Major Miles, Captain Miles, Lieutenant Miles, and Cornet Miles. A Miles in every rank, forming one-fifth of the entire list of officers, besides others closely connected to the worthy colonel by marriage, but owning no other connection of any sort with the county.

The Russian Government has, in pursuance of the treaty concluded with the Emperor of China, appointed Consols at Cantors and Shanghai. Hitherto it had n agents in the ports of the Celestial Empire. It is likewise about to establish a naval station in China.

Advices from Lisbon state that Don Vasco Guedez, Governor of Morann. bique, has been recalled for the non-execution of the orders of the govern- ment relative to Negroes.

The Revue et Gazette des Thatres states that as Madame Eistori was last week about to leave Florence for Naples, with a company of per- formers, to fulfil an engagement of a month, she was told by the Neapolitan chargé d'affaires that his government had interdicted her personally from entering tho kingdom, though her performers, on demanding and obtaining regular authorization from the King might do so.

The Bishop of London, in a letter to the directors of the London General Omnibus Company, warmly approves of a plan which they had described to him by deputation, for giving relief to one third of the persons in their em- ployment on Sundays, and entire rest to every servant who is an habitual attendant at any place of 'worship.

The Horning Post brings a serious complaint against the French Govern- ment management of the electric telegraph. It points out two capital in- stances in which it was deprived of early intelligence—first the speech of the French Emperor at Cherbourg; secondly the result of the Montulembert trial; and it insinuates against the officials an undue partiality to the Times which hid both these matters first.

The company "des petites voitures" (cabs) was last year condemned by the Civil Tribunal of Paris to pay a M. Laeroizade, of Angouleme, a small sum for the loss of a Portmrmteau from one of its cabs as he was going in the vehicle from a railway station to his hotel. On Friday he appealed to the Imperial Court for an indemnity of 10,337frimcs, on the ground that in ad- dition to wearing apparel the portmanteau had contained bills of exchange and other securities to that amount, but that the tribunal had estimated the former alone. The Court came to the conclusion that he could not esta- blish the loss of the securities with sufficient clearness to warrant the grant of the indemnity claimed, but, considering that he had been subjected to in- convenience by the loss of them, and to expense in seeking after them, it awarded him 500 francs additional.

A meeting was held at Ostend a few days dace to discuss the question of forming a gambling establishment in that place. The meeting decided that a petition should be sent to the King, praying for an authorization to found a gambling-house and conversation-rooms similar to those existing at Spa.

The submarine telegraph between Malta and Cagliari has suffered some damage during a heavy storm which swept over the southern end of the island of Sardinia. This will delay the Indian telegraphic summaries.

A brilliant highland costume has been manufactured at Inverness for the Prince Imperial of France, and some "fine linsey-wolseys " for the Em- press, partly from her own designs.

A monument to Duncan Ban Maciutyre, the Gaelic poet, has recently been erected in Greyfriars Churchyard. By a large mass of the Gaelic- speaking population of the Highlands Macnityre is regarded, in some res- pects, as a Burns, and the Scotsman states that funds have been subscribed for the erection of another monument to the poet amid the striking scenery of his Glenorchy.

The residence of" Mr. Speaker," in the New Houses of Parliament, is rapidly approaching completion. The-river front of the Houses is broken by four towers, two at each end. The two next Westminster Bridge are destined for the Sergeant-at-Arms and the Speaker ; those at the Vauxhall end for the Usher of the Black Rod and Lords' Librarian. The entrance to the Speaker's house is under the archways from Palace Yard, which open at once upon the Speaker's Court, a broad enclosure, on the south side of which a canopied entrance, elaborately carved, marks where the first com- moner in the land will dwell, surrounded with all the accessories of princely state. The appearance of the house from the courtyard is not very im- posing, and few would be inclined to believe that it is one of the most spa- cious modern residences lately built—larger than the Carlton Club, and having upwards of seventy noble rooms in it from top to bottom. The en- trance-porch is large enough to accommodate even all the servants that at- tend their masters on "Speaker's nights." Its Gothic windows are filled with richly-stained glass, and the arms of the Speakers shine with glowing colours from the panels in the ceiling. The entrance-hall is still more rich and spacious ; the floor is paved with Minton's beautiful tiles, while Gothic ornaments in brass, or still more richly elaborated stone panels, fill every side. The staircase, wide and ample, and carved at every step, passes up the centre of this to the first landing, where it branches off on either side and encloses the entire hall. The balustrades, of fine designs in brusswork, richly gilt, and the 'superb Gothic chandeliers, each ten feet high, upon the landings, give to this entrance an air of grandeur and magnificence that is most imposing. Blank shields, to be sculptured on hereafter with the arms of the most celebrated Speakers of the House of Commons, form the cornice of this hall, the gilt and painted armorial bearings of England on the first landing serving as a great centre to all of them. A door on this landing leads through the spacious audience-room to spacious cloisters, which, in our opinion, form the chief ornament to the whole building. These are formed in the inner part of the building, over the servants' offices, so as to extend along the four interior aides of the house. Each cloister is forty feet long by eight feet broad and ten feet high. The roof is covered with the delicate tracery of the fan groined arches which spread over it like a net work of stone, giving the most exquisite effects of light and shade, while lanterns in each cloister light it with a soft mellow richness that becomes the place and its associations. The aide of each cloister looking on the inner quadrangle is formed by canopied Gothic windows, filled in with stained glass, each pane containing the name, arms, and date of e lection of every Speaker since Parliaments first chose the guidance of those high officers.

Mr. Barnum has been this week lecturing in the St. James's Hall on the art of money making, and on "humbug." The house was very full, and extremely delighted with the drollery of the American. When coming to his third head Mr. Barnum uttered the word " humbug ; " the shout of laughter with which it was received announced plainly that every one expected to hear the sublime art elucidated by the most eminent of its pro- fessors. But he boldly, as well as good-humouredly accepted the challenge, defended, explained, and copiously illustrated his subject, until his listeners were perfectly convinced that humbug was a most legitimate department of high art, and that its successful professors deserved well of their several publics. But humbug was not to be confounded with fraud, or cheating, or swindling, or even "moderate burglary," but was to be defined as the art of attracting, by eccentric means, the public attention to something which in itself was intrinsically worth it, but which, were it not for the skilfully applied stimulus of humbug, might have perpetually blushed un- seen in unprofitable obscurity. Barnum and humbug—humbug and Barnum—now became convertible terms.

The Registrar-General reports an improved state of health. The deaths have decreased from 1738 in the first week of December to 1240 last week. It is remarked that the temperature is considerably higher. The mortality is now about the average mortality of the season.

• Obituar y.—The _Daily News sums up our chief losses by death. It must be a mournful review as long as war is going on in any part of the empire ; and the opening of the year was darkened by the deathof Havelock, in the midst of our rejoicing for the relief of Lucknovr. The gallant Hodson fell some months later ; and Sir William Peel, and Adrian Hope' and recently that hero of the Russian war, Lord Lyons. At home, our losses have been in the departments of science, literature, and the arts, for the most though some professional men of eminence have departed—as Sir William Maule, the Lord Justice Clerk Hop; and Sir John Dodson, in the law ; and in medicine, Benjamin Travers, the great surgeon, Sir Philip Crampton, and Dr. Bright. From political life, in the sense of parliamentary, we have lost only retired veterans, as Henry Warburton and Lord Dunfermline ; for Sir Edward Buxton was more regarded in his philanthropical relations. Considering his kindly career, we might class the late Duke of Devonshire among the social benefactors. In science and literature, we have lost Major- General Sir William Reid, whose book with its wonderful title, "The Law of Storms," was an event in the life of more professions than one; Robert Brawn, the father of modern botany, and Dr. Boyle, distinguished in the same science ; Dr. Gregory, Professor of Chemistry at Edinburgh, and eminent as the author of the most popular text-books in that science; and Dr. Peacock, the Dean of Ely, one of our most accomplished mathematicians and astronomers. In literature, the chief losses have been Mr. Ford, unique in his knowledge of the topography and literature of Spain, and in other provinces of learning ; and the aged antiquarian, Dawson Turner, who might also claim a place among -the botanists. When we come to the -department of Art, we cannot mourn for our countrymen and countrywomen alone. Seheffer in painting, and Rachel in the drama, and Lablache in opera, and the Chevalier Neu- ken= as a composer, are the world's losses. As for ourselves, we have to lament our medallist, Benjamin Wycoa, and Hogan, the sculptor ; and Hartley and Harley the actors. The Duchess of Orleans, revered and be- loved, a true Princess in all her relations, breathed her last =henget us in the land of exile, where she had surrounded herself with friends.