31liortlInu tans.

The local rank of Lieutenant-General in China has been granted to Major-General Mansfield. Are we to ;infer from this that Sir William Mansfield and not Sir Hope Grant will command the China expedition ?

The Peace Society has presented a memorial to Lord John Russell praying the Government to avoid war with China, and to adjust our re- lations on principles of dignified conciliation worthy of a Christian people.

An officer and man of the Russian frigate Askold were barbarously murdered at Yonkhuma, in Japan. Representations were made to the Japanese Government and satisfaction was demanded. The Government readily complied, and undertook to punish the murderers and take in charge a chapel to be built over the remains of the murdered men. But the assassins could not be found before Captain Ounkovsky of the Askold was compelled to sail from Kanagana. Under these circumstances, em- boldened by the extreme amiability and constant friendliness of Mr. Howard Vyse, the Queen's Acting Consul at Kanagana, Captain Oun- kovsky appealed to him to stimulate the Japanese Government, and undertake the duty of superintending the erection of the chapel. Mr. Vyse did so, and at the request of the Captain has forwarded their cor- respondence to the Times.

The Roman Catholic laity of Great Britain, so says the Tablet, have adopted a pronunciamento in favour of the Pope. In this document they are made to declare that the maintenance of his temporal authority is of the highest importance, that the " abstraction " of the Romagna would be a precedent for the abolition of his temporal power, that there is no justification for "the rebellion in the Romagna ; " that among living sovereigns none deserve more than the Pope the character of a benignant enlightened and paternal ruler, and that his benevolent intentions have been frustrated by those who attempt to justify the rebellion of his subjects. Therefore, they say- " We protest against this wrong done to the Holy Father by depriving him of his territories ; we protest against the wrong done to all Catholics by the attempt to compromise the independent exercise of the Pope's spiritual power, of which his temporal sovereignty is the safeguard ; we protest against the rebellion of a portion of his subjects in the Romagna as unjustifiable, and against the aid given to them by foreign incendiaries, and by invaders from neighbouring States as well as by European statesmen and rulers, as injurious to religion and dangerous to the peace of the world and to the security of all Governments. Further, wo protest against every in- fraction of the Holy Father's rights as an independent sovereign ; we pro- test against any assumption on the part of any other State or ruler, or of any Congress of States, to dispose of the Holy Father's territories, or to im- pose upon him any conditions against his own will, being persuaded that both justice and expediency dictate that any changes in the laws or adminis- tration of his dominions should be left to his own unfettered judgment and unquestioned benevolence. Especially, we protest against the power or in- fluence of our country being used—whether in a Congress of European States or separately—in favour of the Holy Father's rebel subjects, or to despoil him of his dominions, or to interfere with his independent sove- reignty, by imposing any conditions upon him. And we hereby make known our determination to resist and resent, in the spirit of the constitu- tion, any such course on the part of the responsible advisers of the Crown,to whatever party in the state they may belong."

Last year the Times made an appeal to the svbscriptiqns, in aid of the Field Lane Ragged School and Refuges for the Homeless. That appeal was successful. During the year 30,302 lodgings have been supplied to 6,785 men and boys, who have received. 101,193 either six or eight ounce loaves of bread. At the same time 840 women haye been admitted during the year, to whom have been supplied 10,028 lodgings, averaging 11 nights' shelter to each person, by whom 14,755 loaves have been consumed. The applicants in the winter months are admitted at five o'clock, and in the summer months at seven o'clock, They obtain shelter for the night, a piece of bread, and a cup of ooffee upon admission ; in the morning only bread and water. But more money is wanted to complete the large and benevolent schemes of the founders and friends of the institution. Another appeal has been made ; more money has been forthcoming, • and it is hoped that the liberality of the public will place the Committee in a position to meet the requirements of the most distressed and suffering portion of the poor. Now, if ever, is the season when wealth can give poverty most welcome aid, not only in the heart of London but in the suburbs and all over the country.

A meeting of the friends of the society was held on Wednesday, Lord, i Shaftesbury in the chair, to inaugurate the new schools and Female refuge. Two passages from the speeches made will show how great is the need for institutions like that in Field Lane and the branches thereof. The Reverend Mr. Blunt, rector of the parish, told a touching story.

He told how he had found three women living in a room without a stick of furniture but a wooden stool. One of them was dangerously ill, and had been picked up, lying in Farringdou Market, a week or two before by the woman who rented the room, and taken in. She was lying on the boards; but, as the other said, " Boards were better than stones.' This woman who rented the room lived by making soldiers' jackets. When she had any to make she lay on them—at other times she lay on the boards. She was in the deepest distress, but she said she could not see the other poor creature starve without doing something to relieve her. The third woman had but lately come up from the country, and had managed to support herself very well until she fell ill, and when the poor fell ill, down—down they went to the bottom, unless some kind hand were stretched

out to help them. She generally slept at the Refuge, and in the daytime, by the kindness of the occupier, she was allowed to sit in this room and do whatever work she had to do. These two women. had but one gown between them, only one of them could go out at once, and yet they had stripped themselves, of an under garment to cover the poor creature who lay ill on the boards. In talking of the Refuge the poor, wo- man called it the "Home," and only those who had seen the gentle, sym- pathizing manner in which the matron welcomed all the women who went there, could understand how well the name was deserved. Lord Shaftesbury made some very instructive remarks. Refuges such as this had always been necessary, but were now more ne- cessary than ever. One argument urged against them was that they pro- posed to do what the workhouses ought to do ; but, in fact, they were con- ducted on exactly the opposite principle to workhouse relief. Here everything was done to attract by kindness and sympathy—at the workhouse everything was done to repel. Any one who doubted this had but to walk by one of the great metropolitan workhouses just at the time of relief. Be- sides, the greater proportion of those who came there were persons who only required a refuge for a short time, and who would never apply for workhouse relief. Probably, at that very moment, there were in the Refugepersons of good education, who in their time had been in receipt of handsome in- comes, who had fallen from no fault of their own, and in time might hope to rise again. To such persons the workhouse would be an indelible stain. The establishment of a Female Refuge was a most important step. Until his attention had been called to it he had never had the slightest idea that so many women were to be found wandering through the streets of London every night, destitute and homeless, on whose character not the slightest stain rested. Two years and a half's experience had shown beyond all dis- pute that there were in London a large number of women who had been re- duced to destitution without the slightest fault of their own. He was very much afraid that the sudden change in the weather might bring about a considerable abatement in the charitable disposition of the public. He had generally found that when the glass sank to freezing point people began to feel very charitable; when it got a few degrees lower they were of opinion that something must be done; and as it went lower and lower they got first to shillings, and then to pounds. The fact was that, though cold weather was miserable enough, a continuance of rain inflicted far more suffering, misery, and disease on the poor of London than the hae.est frost.

A very reasonable petition to the Queen, praying her to exercise her pre- rogative of mercy in favour of the imprisoned sailors of the Princess Royal, is in circulation among the merchants of the City of London. They think the misconduct of the men arose not from a mutinous spirit but a momentary disappointment at the announcement of a recall of an order for leave under trying circumstances.

The Emperor of the French has conferred the grand cordon of the Legion d'Honneur on the Prince of Orange.

Letters from Egypt announce the arrival at Alexandria of the Count de Paris and the Duke de Chartres. The Princes were to remain at Alexan- dria until the 7th, and at Cairo until the 11th, and then to continue their journey into upper Egypt. They are accompanied by the Marquis de Beau- vois, Captain Morin, Viscount de Segur, and M. de Scitiveaux.

Henry Edward Fox, Lord Holland, died at Naples on Sunday, in his fifty-eighth year. With him the barony becomes extinct. The Kensington estate goes to Lady Lilford.

Robert Dundee Duncan, Earl of Camperdown, eldest surviving son of Admiral Duncan, the victor of Cam perdown, died on Thursday. He was a Whig in politics; had sat in sixteen Parliaments, and was one of the oldest members of the House of Peers. He is succeeded in the title and estates by Lord Duncan, Member for Forfarshire.

Mr. Henry Fitzroy, Chief Commissioner of Works, and the second son of the late Lora Southampton, died at Brighton on Saturday, in his fifty-third year. He entered Parliament in 1831. He was a Lord of the Admiralty under Peel in 1846, Under Secretary for the Home Department in the Aber- deen Government of 1852, and was elected Chairman of Committees in 18.55.

Dr. R. B. Todd has resigned his appointment asphysician to King's Col- lege Hospital, with which he had been connected for the last twenty years, and in the formation of which he took an active part.

Robert Bentley, Professor of Botany and Materia Medica to the Pharma- ceutical Society of Great Britain, has been appointed Professor of Botany in King's College, London.

a so lictiPhis journal is to be devoted to the discussion of questions re- lating to the military services and national defences, and the diffusion of authentic information upon these subjects.

A. Paris correspondent of the Independence Beige states that a young girl, a descendant of Racine, has been brought up at the expense of the Dramatic Authors' Society of that city ; but the cost of providing a fitting career for her being too great for the funds of the society, they have de- termined to open a national subscription in her behalf. The Emperor has subscribed 10,000 francs, the Empress 5000, and the Prince Imperial 1000. The girl's nadie is Noemi Trochu.

The National Portrait Gallery exhibits three additional pictures this week. One is a portrait of Chantrey, by Phillips, a present from Lady Ghantrey. The second, Dr. Erasmus Darwin, painted by Wright, of Derby. The third accession is a delicately pencilled miniature of the celebrated caricaturist, Gillray, by himself. The Honourable Lieutenant-Colonel Begot was the donor of this little treasure.

An improved form of what is called the "lime light " was exhibited in the Liverpool Exchange news-room on Saturday. Iris a light of enormous tower, and will it is said prove very serviceable in large buildings and light-

The various works at the floral hall, Covent Garden, are now being car- ried out with a considerable amount of vigour, there being upwards of one hundred men at present engaged.

The attendance at the South Kensington Museum last week amounted to 8359 persons. Since its opening the Museum has been attended by 1,166,322 visitors. It well deserves the attention it receives.

The Russian Government has sent three million silver roubles to Sebas- topol to be distributed among these who suffered loss during the siege. The poor creatures have thus waited four years for compensation.

The Government has granted an annual pension of 501. to Mrs. Janet Taylor, of 104, Minories, author of an "Epitome of Navigation and Nau- tical Astrononly," "Improved Lunar Tables," " Guide to the Use of Maury's Chart, Szc. for her services in the cause of navigation, a deserved and gratifying recognition of merit.

The customary Royal bounty ,and gate alms were issued on Friday and Saturday last, and on Monday and Tuesday in the current week, to the aged and meritorious poor in the various districts and parishes in and round London.

The severity of the weather has not been paralleled for years. The lakes in the London parks have been covered with very thick ice. But little snow has fallen. Of course large numbers have enjoyed the pleasure of skating and sliding, keeping up the sport even by torchlight. Some serious acci- dents occurred ; many persons were immersed ; but we read only of one death from drowning. The weather broke on Tuesday, under the influence of a south-west wind. But the wind getting to the north the frost returned. Since Tuesday, however, the weather has been milder, but the frost has not disappeared. On the continent the weather has been equally severe. The mails have been delayed by falls of snow. The telegraph has been interrupted. The Seine was nearly frozen over. The Prefect of the Haute Garonne organized bear hunts in the French Pyrenees ; wolves appeared in many villages; larks were picked up dead in the fields ; and hares were so benumbed by the cold that people knocked them on the head with sticks.

A writer who has had access to the books of the Sub.Treasury in New York, where the interest on about seven-eighths of the public debt of the United States is paid, says—" These books are a curious study. Many of the names they contain are household words. Some are the names of .Eu- ropeans, others of West Indians, and even Asiatics. Barely a third of the public debt is held in this country. The bulk of it we imagine, is held in continental Europe. One is not surprised to find the name of John J. Astor, W. B. Astor, Jacob Little, G. Peabody, and such men in the list of the creditors of the United States, but they and their countrymen are in a minority. The heaviest foreign creditor we noticed is Lord Overstone (the famous Jones Loyd), who has lent this country no less than 350,000 dollars. A Spanish lady, Merced de Lucca, is our creditor to the tune of 200,000 dollars, and a noble friend of hers, the Count Casa 3Iontlovoy Cas- tillo, draws 6 per cent on 100,000 dollars. Several persons connected with the Royal Families of Europe are creditors of ours. The brother of the King of Naples took 50,000 dollars some years ago, and instructed his agent to invest the dividends as they accrued in the same security. He now owns over 75,000 dollars. His niece, the daughter of Bombe, is registered as a creditor for over 50,000 dollars. These wise people have been looking out for a rainy day. Another noble personage, the late Duchess of Orleans, has enough in the United States to save the Count of Paris from being com- pelled to follow his grandfather's example and keep school. Several of the Saxe-Coburg Gothas have also invested in the same country. The Count Rossi saw enough of this country while he was here to invest a few thou- sands in the famous name of Sontag, and little Paul Julien has a trifle— enough to keep him when his violin fails. One can readily account for the appearance of the name of the ,Rothschilds, both of London and Paris ; but it is curious that the famous publisher, Panchonke, of Paris, is a creditor of the United States ; and that the dramatic author, Scribe, has also invested enough to give him nearly 10,000 francs a year. 'A careful study of demo- cracy in America appears to have persuaded M. Tocqueville to lodge some of his savings in the hands of our Government ; Lord Macaulay, who began with a bagatelle of some 5000 dollars, has since increased his venture to nearly 30,000 dollars. But we shall never end if we attempt to enumerate all the people who have their money placed in the United States' securities. Here are Lord Dundonald, the great sailor, who has a large sum for a son of Neptune ; the Prince de Beauren, the Count de Narbonne, Sir John Bayley, the Marquis of Champagne, Baring Brothers, Count do Beaumont, General Bermeloft and a host of titled people, who, perhaps, depend upon the honesty and solvency of the United States Goverment for a living. Lord Elgin saw enough of us to leave 17,000 dollars of his savings in our Six per Cents, and the famous Russian, Alexandre Herzen, has a bagatelle of 80,000 dollars in the same security. There is another creditor whose name is a curiosity. It runs thus—Baron Louis Num.% Eputhinondas Jus- tinian Aristides Decius Sells Haldenstein Leichenstein Gortenstein. Parley a man with such a name drawing twenty-six dollars and fifty cents from the United States."—Philadelphia Ledger, November 18.

After years of mechanical labour and many mathematical tests, Mr. James White, of Wickham Market, has completed, and has now in constant opera- tion, a self-winding clock, which determines the time with unfailing accu- racy, continuing a constant motion by itself, never requiring to be wound up, and Which will perpetuate its movements so long as its component parts exist.—Noerrich Mercury.

ousel. steam vessels' 50 of which are constantly- running ; that in one year these vessels ran a distance of more than 1,300,000 nautical miles ; that during the last 20 years they have conveyed 100,000 passengers, the voyages in many eases occupying six to eight weeks ; and only live lives have been lost through casualties to the ships. The risk of the navigation of the com- pany's ships was estimated by marine insurance companies at six guineas per cent, but during the ten years which the company have insured their own vessels their loss has only amounted to 11. 3r. 4d. per cent. e 7th of next month the first number of a new weekly paper will In a communication recently addressed to the Board of Trade by the

entitled The Army and Navy Gazette. The editor is Mr. W. H. Peninsular and Oriental Company, they state that they have now 55 sea-going