Vow.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 16rE.

Wrrung four days from the issue of the first bulletin of the health of the Prince Consort, the news of his death has struck grief and dismay into every English heart. It is but twelve days since his Royal Highness was taken ill, and until Thursday it was generally supposed that he was merely suffering under an attack of gastric fever, from which, though severe, little doubt was entertained of his ultimate recovery. On Friday, however, a sudden and alarming change for the worse took place. In the morning, the Queen took a short drive, and before her return his Royal Highness had suddenly sunk into a most alarming state of exhaustion The Prince of Wales was immediately telegraphed for to Cambridge, and arrived at Windsor by special train about three on Saturday morning. At noon, on Saturday, the Prince Consort rallied considerably, and hopes of his recovery were again entertained by the physicians. In the afternoon, how- ever, a relapse took place, and all hope had been abandoned when the bulletin announcing the "critical state" of the Prince was issued. For a few hours his Royal Highness was sustained by stimulants, but at length they ceased to have any effect, pulsation ceased in his wrists, congestion of the lungs soon afterwards set in, and at ten minutes to eleven, on Saturday night, his Royal Highness expired without pain, from complete exhaustion ; Her Majesty the Queen, the Princesses Alice and Helena, the Prince and Princess of Lein- ingen, and the Duke of Cambridge being present during his last mo- ments. The sad news spread with rapidity, and on Sunday morning the omission of the prayer for his Royal Highness, announced to hundreds of congregations the extinction of the hopes excited by the favourable account of the previous day. From one end of the king- dom to the other the prevailing feelings wore those of the deepest regret for the loss sustained by the nation, and eager anxiety to learn how the shock was borne by Her Majesty. Hundreds of the nobility and gentry called during Sunday to make inquiries after the health of the Queen, and the following bulletin was exhibited in the course of the afternoon : "Windsor Castle, Sunday Noon, December 15. "The Queen, although overwhelmed with grief, bears her bereavement with calmness, and has not suffered in health. "JAMES CLARK, M.D. "HENRY HOLLAND, M.D. "THOMAS WATSON, M.D. " WILuest JENSEN, M.D."

— Mr. Thurlow Weed writes to the Times on the affair of the Trent, and the relations between this country and America generally. With regard to the story of Mr. Seward's alleged remark to the Duke of Newcastle to the effect "that when he came into power he would have to insult this (the Duke's) Government," Mr. Thurlow Weed, without vouching for the facts, contends that Mr. Seward clearly ins tended the remark as badinage, and regrets that it should have been misapprehended. As to the immediate prospect of war, Mr. Weed says :

"Of the exact nature of the despatch from the English Government I am ignorant; but, I am constrained to express the opinion, that if that despatch has taken the form of a peremptory demand it will be met by as peremptory a refusal ; for in temper and pride we are as unreasoning as the bad examples of our mother country, absurdly intensified, can make us. But I devoutly hope that the mastiff mode of diplomacy will not, on either side, be resorted to. There are no real interests of either country to be promoted or protected by a contest for the championship. Nor is it necessary to determine questions of relative prowess or courage. The battle of Lundy's-lane, in Canada, fought upon a fair field, with forces nearly equal, which consigned the remains of 700 British and 700 American soldiers to 'dead men's beds,' should be accepted as a satisfactory solution by both nations. This Slidell and Mason imbroglio which has been

sprung upon us, places both Governments in false position. imbroglio, is running upon all fours across the track of her life-long practices and precepts, while America is forced, in maintaining the act of Commodore Wilkes, to ignore a policy earnestly insisted upon—a policy which, at the conclusion of the war of 1812, was left to be determined by the future good sense and forbearance of both Governments. In this muddle,' should either nation be too tenacious? I do not say or think that in this matter we have done quite right, or that we are wholly wrong. The temptations in this case were far greater than can be understood abroad. Messrs. Slidell and Mason were responsible leaders in the unnatural and causeless rebel- lion which set brother agamet brother in fierce and brutish civil war. As

senators in the Congress of the United States, while unanimous millions sup- posed men incapable of such perfidy, they committed acts of treason far more flagrant than the offences which have consigned the heads of British noblemen, through the Tower, to the block. It will require, therefore, calm deliberation and a large measure of forbearance in our Government and people to bring them to an acquiescence in the views taken of this question here—views which, I am compelled to admit, have obtained across the Channel. "But if events are not precipitated, if time is given for reflection, 80 that the cost and consequences of war may be calculated, my apprehensions would be greatly relieved. I quite concur with the New York Tribune in the opinion that these rebel emissaries are not worth a war, and, individually, would not hesitate to make large concessions, in feeling, for peace. With England, whose canvas whitens every ocean and sea, catching the dawning rays of the rising and mel- lowed by the departing beams of the setting sun,' the honour of her flag is every- thing. In defence of this flag, England, with her blood heated, will not sacrifice the avoirdupois of a hair. Surely, then, if appealed to in a neighbourly spirit, we can afford to do for England what we should, touched in the same tender point, expect England to do for America."

— The fourth triennial visitation of the Belfast Queen's College took place on Thursday, the Lord Chancellor, the Duke of Leinster, the Bishop of Down and Connor, &c., being present. The proceed- ings were characterized by the most disorderly conduct on the part of the students, who kept up an unceasing uproar from beginning to end. The Orangemen struck up " Kentish fire," in answer to which " Garryowen" was vigorously whistled by a strong party of the students. Screaming, hooting, and all kinds of extraordinary noises were indulged in, and, after a scene of indescribable uproar, extend:- ing over three hours, the Lord,Chancellor was compelled to leave the room, and was immediately followed by all the other visitors.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17TH.

— Captain William Wilson, of the ship Express, was tried at the Liverpool Winter Assizes, on. Friday, for the murder of William Henderson, the steward of the Express. It appeared from the evi- dence of several of the sailors, that when off' the coast of Africa, Wilson was in the constant habit of treating Henderson with the most inhuman cruelty. On one occasion he threw a knife at him, which hit him in the face, and drew blood; he knocked him down re- peatedly with his fists or anything he could lay hold of; beat him every day ; continually threatened to kill him ; and even after knocking him down jumped on him with his heavy boots, causing blood to flow from his mouth. Within a week from the last outrage Henderson died; and on the prisoner's return to England last summer he was tried for the offence, but owing to the illness of a juryman the trial was not concluded, the prisoner having been in custody ever since. The jury returned a verdict of guilty, and Mr. Baron Channell, after commenting on the fearful atrocity of the crime, sentenced him to 20 years' penal servitude.

— Justice, slow perhaps, but sure, has at length overtaken the perpetrators of two of the most atrocious of the recent military murders. At the Winchester Assizes, on Friday, Thomas Jackson was sentenced to death for the murder of John Dickson; and at the Liverpool Assizes, on the same day, Patrick M.‘Cafferay, the murderer of Colonel Crofton and Captain Hanham. — The nomination for Finsbury took place on Saturday, amid fearful uproar. Mr. J. Remington Mills and Mr. Cox were proposed and seconded. Mr. Cox expressed himself in favour of sweeping Reform, and called upon the electors to assert the independence of the borough by returning him ; and Mr. Mills pledged himself to the ballot, the abolition of church rates, economy, and non-intervention. He was opposed to the opening of the British Museum on Sundays, and did not think a Maine Liquor Law possible in this country. If

two-thirds of the people in any locality were opposed to public-houses, they could stay away from them without an Act of Parliament or shutting them up. The show of hands was simply in favour of Mr. Cox, and the poll, which was demanded for Mr. Mills, took place on Monday. At the close, the numbers were: Cox, 4882: Mills, 4857; majority for Cox, 25.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18TH.

— Lord Sydney, the Lord Chamberlain, has issued the order for the burial of the late Prince Consort, which is to take place on Mon- day, the 23rd, and in accordance with a wish expressed by his Royal Highness himself, will be of as private a nature as possible. The remains of the Prince were sealed down on Tuesday by the

The defendant having admitted the publication of the libel, the plaintiff was examined, and stated that the "lists" contained warrants officers of the Board of Works, in the inside shell and leaden coffin, of attorneys, lists of sales, cognovits, judgments, bankruptcies, and On a silver plate on the latter is the followino. inscription : " De itum Illustrissimi et Celsiseimi Alberti, Principis Consortia, Ducts Saxonite, de Saxe-Coburg et Gotha Principle, Nobilissimi Ordinis Periscelidis Equitis, Augustissimte et Potentissinue Victonm Regime Conjugis percarissimi, Obiit die decimo quarto Decembris, MDCCCLXI., Arum setatis slue XLIII."

— The Bishops of Oxford, Labuan, and Honolulu, the Right Hon. J. Mowbray, M.P., and Mr. Benyon, M.P., were present at a meeting in aid of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, held on Monday at Reading. The Bishop of Oxford presided, and in opening the proceedings said, while any other kind of meeting would cer- tainly have been postponed in consequence of the loss so recently sustained by both our beloved Queen and the nation at large, he thought that loss was a national chastisement for national sins, and ought to stir the hearts of all- men earnestly to doing the work of Him who had so smitten the country.. The meeting was addressed by the Bishop of Labuan and Honolulu, and other gentlemen. The Right Hon. J. R. Mowbray, M.P., moved, and Mr. Benyon, M.P.) seconded, a vote of thanks to the chairman. In reply, the Bishop of Oxford said, the present time was a great crisis as to the thoughts and religious standard of this ooreat country. The worst feature of the present day was the freedOm as to the way of treating Chris. tianity prevalent among those professing Christianity. The ten- dency was, of course, among other ways, to be met with dogma and argument.

" But there was a shorter way. There was a way which, if possible, at least when it was joined to that, was more efectuaL It was the dissolving of the cobwebs of sophistry by the reality of Chriltian life. If they would preserve the inheritance ot the faith which they had received, and would hand it down to their children in its magnificence, they must not only argue the faith, but live the faith. Emphatically was that the case with regard to the spread of the Gospel. Many evidences of Christianity must grow fainter as ages advance; they were remoter from the possibility of proving the facts upon which their faith rested. Each generation, as it handed down its tradition to its successor, removed the successor one degree further from the original facts themselves; but God's Providence had appointed it that, as the one evidence diminished; there was the other which should increase in weight. And this so pre-. eminently, that Christianity shall spread, shall be progressive, shall be per- petually upon the crest of the wave of thought and civilization, achieving with each coming generation new triumphs, and so proving the original truth which gives her her force. At this moment there was no single branch of belief which was spreading over the whole world except Christianity, and that not the shadowy, the unreal the foggy, and the mist Christianity which some would have them assume, hilt a Christianity which was based upon a distinct dogma of the faith, and connected with the distinct discipline of the Christian Church. Mahomedanism (as had been remarked) was peculiarly fitted for certain condi- tions of the Oriental mind, and it had therefore a tendency. to spread ambng the ilindoo nation. They learnt from history that Mahomedanism had not advanced for centuries; but not so with the Christian faith. This faith was fitted, as they all knew, by its conquests, for the east as well as the west, for the north as well as the south, and the advancing wave was a perpetual living testimony which God had permitted to the truth of that mighty system which achieves such victories; so that every age, if the Christian Church be true to her vocation, creates new evidences by new conquests to the name of Christ. This was specially bearing and incumbent upon them, because, if they would have the faith handed on pure to those coming after them, one condition was that they should be earliest, and be united, so that they might be successful in extending it throughout the earth."

In conclusion he again referred to the death of the Prince Consort :

"And now he wanted every one of them there present to join him in a prayer—not a mere formal, cold prayer—during these weeks of sorrow, for God to remember our beloved Queen. Oh! let them remember that in such a trial as this, instead of her exalted rank taking from the sting of widowhood, it only added to it; that the weight of her crowned authority, so much supported by the loving hand wrenched from her, must needs press upon that true womanly heart with an almost intolerable *eight. Let their prayers for her be real, and let not the reality of those prayers he made weak and powerless by their encouraging in their heart the palsy of selfishness, or the miserable pettiness of suspicion."

— "Stubbs v. Lloyd," a libel action relative to Stubbs's Trade Protection Circular and Mercantile Gazette, was tried in the Court of Exchequer on Tuesday. The plaintiff, the proprietor of the paper in question, brought an action for damages against the defendant, the proprietor and publisher of Lloyd's Weekly Newspaper, on account of an article which appeared in his journal of the 11th August, and which referred to the " private lists" of Messrs. Stubbs, Perry and Co., in the following terms : "Tradesmen or professional men who happen to owe even the most trifling sums may find themselves in one of these black lists. Mr. Perry, for instance, issues a 'Weekly private list, for subscribers only,' with this caution under the title, viz.: 'The information herein being strictly confidential, subscribers are reminded that it must neither be shown nor communicated to any other person.' This artful warning is intended to create subscribers. Mr. Perry wants his annual 31. 3s. for the information his circular affords. It is clear that the calcu- lations of these trade protectors are based upon the fears as well as the meanness of their customers. '1 here are tradesmen who will condescend to patronize a spy in the hope that he may now and then lead them from danger. On the other hand, there are foolish men who fear the lash of the protector. They are afraid that, not subscribing, they may figure as 'No good ; not very wise to go in business with such people.' whereas a little subscription puts them forward as 'good people, very respectable, with good business.' It is easy to perceive the tyranny the conductors of a persecuting system of this description may exercise, not over wealthy tradesmen, but over the poor and struggling man, who may. he ruined by an evil word. It is enough that we have secret police offices springing up in our midst without suffering the degradation of surveillance by the bravo, who holds a dagger in one hand and a subscription form in the other. It is the bounden duty. of every honourable man to help to put an end to this disgraceful system of espionage."

I were prepaied exclusively from the registered lists of the public

offices. The list of swindlers, however, was the result of strict and thorough-going investigation by the plaintiff himself and his agents.

In addition to searching the registers I invite my subscribers to give me the moles of swindlers, and I investigate the matter accordingly. I have agents in provincial towns' who do that and nothing else. I have eight or nine agents in London and pay them a salary from 1001. to 2001. a year and their expenses, and very likely a suit of clothes at Christmas. When my agent finds out a swindler and he is a notorious one, we publish him in our gazette—that is an out and out swindler.' A half-and-half one we keep in the register, and publish more of him when he is full blown.' We publish a fac-simile of autographs. • We tell what the men do and how they do it, The swindlers' list is beaded Strictly Private and Confidential.'"

The Lord Chief Baron, in summig up, said the question for the jury was, whether the defendant had been actuated by a spirit of fairness in making the comments complained of, and not whether those com- ments were justified by the nature of the gazette commented upon. After a few minutes consideration, the jury returned a verdict for the plaintiff—Damages, one farthing.

THURSDAY, DBCEMBER 19TH.

— Mr. Laird, M.P., writes to the Times on the defenceless state of the River Mersey, and the enormous amount of damage which might be caused by even one enemy's vessel succeeding in entering the river, and repeats a suggestion approved by the Admiralty in 1859, that a number of the tug-boats, ferry-boats, and coasting vessels in the harbour should be adapted for service as gun-boats. By the adoption of this proposal, Mr. Laird states, we might have 50 gun-boats on the Mersey in a few weeks, at a very mode- rate cost. They could be efficiently and economically manned by the crews already on board, assisted by artillery volunteers, retired seamen, and others who would not volunteer for service abroad in her Majesty's navy.

— William Beamish was charged, at the Warwick Winter Assias, on Tuesday, with the murder of Betsy Beamish, his wife, by poison. It will be recollected that in August last the prisoner was committed for trial after an examination extending over several days. The evidence then produced as to the symptoms of the deceased and the purchase of arsenic by the prisoner, was repeated, and Dr. deceased, of Sydenham College, Birmingham, stated that he had examined por- tions of the intestines of the deceased, and had discovered arsenic in sufficient quantity to cause death. It was also proved that during the last year the prisoner had been repeatedly seen kissing Emma Stathain, his servant, who was charged before the magistrates with having been an accomplice in the murder, but was acquitted. The main feature of the case was the ingenious attempt of the prisoner to make it appear that his wife had committed suicide. Two or three days after his wife's death, the prisoner asked Jane Stokes, his wife's sister-in-law, to come with him to search the pockets of the deceased's dresses. In the first one he looked in, he found the following letter, addressed "For Jane Stokes :"

"Dear Sister,—If anything happens to me, do not let them blame any one but me, for, God forgive me, I did not know what I was doing, but the thought of losing my home, and to see how the poor lad was fretting to know what to do, for the moment drove me mad, for to lose my home, I could not bear the disgrace after living respectful so long, and do not tell him if you can help it, for it will drive him mad. Jane see to the little one, for he is so fond of Limy. God bless you all, and comfort my poor lad. " Wednesday, Aug. 14." "BETSY BEAMISH.

It was proved, however, that the deceased had not worn the dress in which the letter was found since the commencement of her illness. A. dissenting minister swore to the identity of the handwriting with that of the prisoner's, who had been a teacher in his school. He had acquired a knowledge of his handwriting from having received letters from him, and was convinced that the letter produced had been written by the prisoner. The jury found a verdict of Guilty, and Mr. Justice Willes, in passing sentence, said the prisoner had been convicted of a crime most difficult to be discovered, but of the worst possible nature, and the most necessary of all forms of murder to be punished.. His Lordship thenpassed sentence of death upon the prisoner, without holding out any hope of mercy.

— The adjourned ninth annual meeting of the Conservative Land Society, was held at Exeter Hall, on Wednesday evening, and the ac- cusations brought by the Rev. Dr. Worthington against the financial management of the Society were gone into. Lord Ranelagh took the chair, and there was a large attendance of members. After a kw remarks on the melancholy death of the Prince Consort, the chairman read the report of the Board of Directors, in which Dr. Worthington's charges were met in detail. The principal charge was that all moneys paid over the counter were not paid into the Society's bankers, but to the Secretary's private account, and that, altogether, no less than 3000/. per week were placed to the Secretary's private credit. To this statement the Board gave an un- qualified denial. In order to facilitate business, a suspense account with the Secretary, who kept an account at Messrs. Twinings, was authorized in 1845, at a Board at which Dr. Worthington himself was present. By this system the cashier was enabled to give cash for various sums during the week, without keeping large sums of money in the tills of the offices, and the average amount drawn weekly by the Board, and that handed to the Secretary, was at the rate of 465/. 5s. 9d. It was only on eight occasions during the year that any balance remained in the Secretary's hands at the end of the week, and the average sum so remaining was but 221. All the other charges were met by the Board with the same direct denial, and the report concluded by charging Dr. Worth-

ington with having brought accusations against the Board out of mere malice. His cheques bad been dishonoured at the Society's offices ; be had sought to obtain bill accommodation contrary to the usage of the Society; and as early as 1854 he had narrowly escaped expulsion from the Board on account of having pro- pagated injurious and false rumours concerning a gentleman largely connected with the Society. He had therefore sought to gratify private malice at the expense of the Society's credit. The reports of the Society's auditors was then read, expressive of perfect satisfac- tion with the financial management. Dr. Worthington then spoke at some length, repeating all his charges, and accusing the Board of fraud and falselactod in the strongest language. The Chairman re- plied, and in the course of his speech accused Dr. Worthington to his face of deliberate falsehood. Ultimately a resolution expressing the continued confidence of the shareholders in the management, and censuring severely the conduct of Dr. Worthington, was carried almost unanimously, only three hands being held up against it.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20T11.

-- Mr. Warren, Q.C., one of the Masters 'in Lunacy, has been engaged throughout the week in Conducting an inquiry into the state of mind of Mr. W. F. Windham, the alleged bulimic, who was 60 prominently brought before thertblic in the recent ease of " Wind- ham v. Giubilei.' The commission had been granted on the petition of General Windham, uncle of the alleged lunatic, and others of his re- latives, including the Marquis of Bristol and Lord Alfred Hervey, his maternal uncles ; his mother, Lady Sophia Giubilei, was repre- sented by Mr. Charles Russell ; Sir Hugh Cairns and Mr. Kerslake, Q.C., appeared for the alleged lunatic -himself; and Mr. Coleridge, Q.C., for Mrs. Windham, his wife. A large number of witnesses were examined—the total number of summonses issued being, it is avid, nearly 250—as to his mental capacity, habits, and appearance. As far as the inquiry has yet proceeded, however, no positive proof of unsoundness of mind appears to have been produced. His tutors, and all who have been acquainted with him, agree in their accounts of his boorish and offensive manners, his filthy habits at meals, his pro- pensity to indulge in screaming and howling witheut any appa- rent cause, and lns numerous eccentricities. The inquiry was ad- journed from Thursday to Friday, and will be proceeded with every day until concluded.

The proceedings instituted by the Bishop of Salisbury against Dr. Williams, the author of the celebrated essay entitled "Dunsen's Biblical Researches," were opened in the Arches Court, on Thursday, before Dr. Lushingten. Dr. Deane, Q.C., appeared for the defen- dant, and opposed the admission of several of the articles containing the charges brought by the Bishop at great length. The court rose before he had concluded his argument, and the case was adjourned to Friday.

—Mr. Cobden, who was invited to attend a meeting to be held at Brighton, to advocate arbitration as a means of settling our dispute with America, has replied to the invitation in a letter addressed to Mr. Henry Catt. Mr. Cobden's principal argument in favour of i arbitration s founded on the declaration of the Congress of Paris, in 1856, which ran as follows :

"The Plenipotentiaries do not hesitate to express, in the name of their Govern- ments, the wish that States between which any serious misunderstanding may arise should, before appealing to arms, have recourse, as far as circumstances might allow, to the good offices of a friendly Power."

On this declaration Mr. Cobden observes :

"Now, is it possible that any case will ever arise to which this principle of mediation can be more applicable than the present? In perfect ignorance of what the answer of the American Government may be, I will assume the worst-- that they refuse to surrender the captured envoys, and offer to justify their course by appeals to international law. What can be more within the :scope of the Paris resolution than that where two interested parties differ on a subtle point of international law it should be referred to the decision of a disinterested third Power? "Looking at it even with a view to a practical redress of our present grim. ance, what other course offers so good a hope of success? The object desired is to place at liberty the gentlemen who were taken from a British vessel. I happen to know Mewls. Slidell and Mason personally, and to the latter lam indebted for many courtesies at Washington; and although, as they must know, I can have no sympathy for their cause, few persons would more rejoice than myself to see them released from an irksome confinement. But assuming that to effect this object we declare war against the Federal States, and that these gentlemen are in consequence transferred from Boston Harbour to the interior, does any one aCquainted with America believe that it would be possible for England to release them? We could destroy each other's commerce and spend countless treasure-- we might pour out blood like water, and ruin for a generation two great civiliza- tions, but the object aimed at could not be accomplished. " On the contrary, if we submit the question to the adjudication of a third Power, the first step will be to place the two envoys at the disposal of the re- cognized tribunal. Should it be decided that they were illegally captured, they will be released ; if their seizure be. pronounced justifiable by international la*, they will be liable to detention as prisoners of war only, and not as rebels, for the Government of Washington can have no right of appeal to the law of nations in justification of their act, except by acknowledging the belligerent rights of the Smith."

— Great excitement was created at Southampton on Thursday by the embarkation of 1.800 officers and men of the Grenadier and Scots Fusilier Guards and 300 of the Military Train for Canada. The speed with which the despatch of these troops has been managed is something wonderful. The order for chartering the Adriatic and Parana was only, received at Southampton on Wednesday sennight; in seven days the former took in 1500 tons of coal and 14,000 gallons of water; at eleven A.M. on Thursday 2000 troops arrived by railway, and in two hours the men were all on board and the vessels had left the docks. The Magdalena, which was chartered on Thursday week, was to sail on Friday with 900 officers and men of the 16th Foot.