1244 
THE FIELD. 
to the President Oue hundred and sixty of Count Botil- 
bon's former followers had been released, in compliment to 
the Emperor Napoleon. The revolution appeared to be 
gaining ground. According to advices from the Sandwich 
Island! f e King had ratified the treaty of annexation to the 
I'nited States A portion of the United States Japan 
squadron had' arrived at Honolulu It was said that the 
Government of Honduras had agreed to sell Tiger Island to 
the United States for $20,000. A more cheerful tone per- 
vaded the New York money-market, though little or no 
relief had been experienced by tho mercantile community. 
Trade generally continued dull. . 
Thr Labour Market in the United States— During 
the last twelve months nearly 30,000 British subjects who 
had emigrated to the United States, have returned to then- 
native land, much to the relief of the country, since there is 
an amazing surplus of labourers. The wages of labour in 
the United States are falling, and have been falling for six 
or eight months, in almost every department of ingenuity 
and industry. Tho necessaries of life have gone up almost 
to famine prices, and if the English lower classes know 
when they are well oflf they had better stay at home or go to 
Canada, where Lord Elgin, who has just resigned the 
Governor-Generalship, has left the most attractive colonies 
of the British Empire open to emigration. 
AUSTRALIA. 
The news from this colony is not of very great import- 
ance. Australia is indeed looking with more interest upon 
European affiirs than upon her own, and the public opinion 
of our colouists is thoroughly and heartily with England m 
her great struggle. , . , ... 
A day has been set apart in all the provinces for public 
prayer and humiliation; in New South Wales it was the 
ISth of August, in Victoria the 14th. In the capitals and in 
the towns of the interior the day was strictly kept. Collec- 
tions were made at the churches and chapels for the benefit 
of the wives and children of the soldiers and sailors engaged 
in the war. Ill Syducy £2,000 was thus raised, and the con- 
tribution from the whole province will probably be twice 
that amount . . 
The growing expense of the Local Government is beginning 
to create a determined opposition in the Council, exhibited 
iu attempts, of late rather successful, to cut down the esti- 
mates. It i* calculated that the cost of the Government of 
New South Wales is, for its small population, more per head 
than that of Great Britain, though it has neither fleets, 
armies, nor a national debt. 
Lists have been opened for the enrolment of the volun- 
teer forces to he raised for the defence of the colony, the 
expenses of which have been sanctioned by the Council. 
As to the gold fields, two facts are evident — that the gold- 
seeking population has largely increased in numbers, and 
that the quantity of gold raised in the first half of the pre- 
sent year is much less than that procured in the same period 
of 1853 ; and tills is the case though the number of what are 
called goldfields has also increased from three in 1851 to ten 
at the present moment. With more fields and a greater po- 
pulation on them, and both rather on the increase than 
otherwise, the quantity of the precious metal raised shows a 
gradual diminution. The gold-digging population is not, in 
the mass, prosperous ; the complaints of poverty and desti- 
tution are frequent; crimes against property are on the in- 
crease ; and— a still darker feature— so are cases of insanity. 
There is no regular occupation in the colony that does not 
pay better than gold digging — a fact which most of the 
skilled workmen of the towns have long since discovered ; 
they willingly leave the pursuit to new comers. 
Commercial business iu Sydney and Melbourne is in a 
state of depression, almost of stagnation. The markets are 
choked with goods, and it will require some time for the 
consumption to reduce the immense supply. 
Queen Victoria and Santa Anna. — According to a 
Mexican correspondent of the New York Herald, her Majesty 
Queen Victoria has refused to accept the grand Order of 
Guadaloupe from Santa Anna. 
The King of Bavaria. — Letters from Darmstadt of the 
22nd report that the health of King Louis of Bavaria had 
suffered a serious relapse. On the 21st, at two p.m., the 
physicians’ bulletin informs us that the King was suddenly 
overtaken by a return of his malady, became unconscious, 
and exhibited symptoms so alarming that for hours his life 
was considered to be in extreme danger. About five o’clock 
he began to recover, and by six the immediate danger was 
past. The bulletin of the 22nd states that the King had 
passed a quiet night, but had slept little, and was very 
weak. 
Utrecht, Dec. 25. — A few days ago some workmen, while 
digging up the foundation of an old house iu this city, dis- 
covered a pan of gold coins— iu number about COO — most of 
them Spanish, but some English. The earliest date is of 
1430, the latest of 1534. 
NEWS OF THE UNITED KINGDOM. 
broad guage, vui Birmingham, Wolverhampton, and Shrews- 
bury, within the same fares and time ns by the old routes ; 
but’ it inflicts upon the public a slow train between Chester 
and Birkenhead of fifteen miles, occupying three-quarters of 
an hour, mid stopping at every station. 
The Late Dr. Kitto.— The following letter, containing 
the replv made to an application on behalf of tho widow and 
large family of the late Dr. Kitto, will interest those whose 
sympathy has been called forth in their behalf. The pension 
now granted will bo a grateful aid to his family in the cir- 
cumstances in which they are left, through the cessation 
of the Literary Pension of £100 a year enjoyed by the late 
Dr. Kitto: — " Downing street, Dec. 23, 1854. Sir,— I am 
desired by Lord Aberdeen to acknowledge the receipt of 
your letter of the 7th inst.. bringing under his notice the 
case of the widow and family of the late Dr. Kitto, with a 
view to the pension enjoyed by Dr. Kitto being continued 
to them. Lord Aberdeen regrets extremely that the very 
limited sum out of which Civil List Pensions are granted is 
almost entirely appropriated, but he has had much pleasure 
in submitting the name of Mrs. Kitto to the Queen for a 
pension of £50 a year, which is all that remains available 
from the sum iu question, with which recommendation her 
Majesty has been graciously pleased to comply." 
Norwich Election. — Mr. Peto having undertaken a 
Government contract — to execute the railway at Balaklava — 
has necessarily vacated his seat for Norwich. The candi- 
dates for the vacancy were Sir Samuel Bignold, Conserva- 
tive, and Mr. Hamond, Liberal. The nomination took place 
on Wednesday, and the election on the following day. Tbe 
election was a spirited oue on both sides. At the close of the 
poll, the numbers were— for Sir S. Bignold, 1,899 ; for Mr. 
Hamond, 1,629; majority for Sir Samuel, 270. 
Death of the President op Mac.dai.en Colled b. — T he 
Rev. Martin Joseph Routh, D.D., and President of Magdalen 
College, Oxford, expired on Friday evening the 22nd, a little 
before eight o’clock, in the 100th year of his age, and after a 
few days’ illness. Dr. Routh had held tho headship upwards 
of sixty years. 
Death of Peter Mathieson. — Peter Mathieson, for 
nearly thirty years coachman to Sir Walter Scott, died at 
Abbotsford on the 21st, at the age of eighty five. He was 
brother-in-law of Sir Walter's faithful Tom Purdie, and was 
taken into the poet’s service about the year 1804, when Scott 
first set up a carriage. The pages of •* Lockhart's Life ” make 
frequent mention of the trusty and favourite charioteer. 
The bowling-green at Abbotsford was placed where it is in 
order that Sir Walter might listen of an evening to the voice 
of prayer and praise from the coachman’s cottage. When 
Scott’s misfortune's arose, honest Peter cheerfully descended 
from the “dignified coachman” to he “ploughman in ordi- 
nary.” Lockhart thus alludes to Peter's change of character, 
and his master's feelings on the subject : “I cannot forget, 
in particular, how life (Scott's) eyes sparkled when he first 
-oiuted out to me Peter Mathieson guiding the plough on the 
laugh. ‘ Egad,’ said he, ‘auld Pepe (this was the children’s 
name for their good friend) auld Pepe's whistling at his 
drag. The honest fellow said a yoking in a deep field would 
do both him and the blackies good. If things get round 
with me, snug shall be Pepe’s cushion.’ ” This last expres- 
sion was amply redeemed by Sir Walter and his descendants ; 
for old Peter lived and died, where he was wont to live, at 
Peterhouse,” in comfort, respected and beloved, not merely 
by those descendants and every member of the family, but 
hv all who knew him. 
Newcastle-on-Tvne Savings Bank. — Never was so much 
money deposited in the savings bank of Newcastle as on the 
eve of the present Christinas — an indication of abundant 
employment for labour, and of increased forethought and 
providence in the labouring classes. 
Limerick Election. — On Tuesday Mr. Stephen de Vere 
was elected to the seat vacant by the death of Mr. Wynd- 
ham Goold. 
Value of Land in Ireland. — As an instance of the im- 
proved value of land in Ireland, it may be mentioned that 
the fee simple of twenty-nine Irish acres in a rural district of 
Longford was sold last week for £910. 
Representation of Ayr.— O n Thursday the election for 
Ayr was decided in favour of Sir James Fergusson, Conserva- 
tive, who obtained 1,510 votes, against 1,381 for Mr. Oswald, 
Liberal. 
London and North-western and Great-western Rail- 
ways. — An arrangement has been come to for charging equal 
rates to and from all points accommodated by the lines of 
these companies. A final meeting of managers was held at 
the Queen's Hotel, Birmingham, on Saturday last, to deter- 
mine the increase of rates which is to commence upon lines 
running north of London on the l6t of January, 1855. The 
discussion was chiefly in reference to the goods traffic on 
trunk and branch lines, which have hitherto been considered 
as competing railways. The result was, that after the date 
named goods of all descriptions will be subjected to a large 
increase of charge for conveyance. The advance will vary 
from 2s. 6d. to 10s. a ton, according to the quality of the 
goods and the distance they are conveyed. The arrangements 
are much the same with regard to the passenger traffic. Up 
to the present time very low fares have been charged, espe- 
cially between Birmingham, Shrewsbury, and Liverpool ; but 
now the increase of charge will not be less than 500 percent. ; 
and on the trunk lines the advance will be considerable. 
Loss of a Thoroughfare. — The Builder calls attention to 
the gates now being built at the Buckingham Palace end of 
Birdcage-walk, and the shutting-up of the thoroughfare that 
communicated from Constitut ion-hill and St. James’s Palace 
road with Iiirdcagc-walk, leading to the -Courts at Westmin 
eter and Houses of Parliament. The gates which were open to 
pedestrians and equestrians have been removed, uud the iron- 
railing continued to the keeper's lodge. 
The New Railway between Paddington and the 
Norm-West. — This route is now open, giving the public a 
speed of above forty miles per hour for 213 miles by the 
THE TRIBUNALS. 
Omnibuses and the Excise. — At the Mansion-house on 
Tuesday, Mr. Brown, a parliamentary agent, was summoned 
for 3d., the fare from Kingsland to the Bank. Defendant 
was put down at the top of Threadueedle-street instead of 
at the Bank, and he refused on public grounds to pay the 
fare unless the omnibus took him to the destination he had 
bargained for. On Alderman Wilson asking complainant 
why he did not drive round by Cornhill (Tbreadneedle-street 
being blocked up) complainant said that the Excise make 
them pay a fine if they go in any direction but that specified 
cm their license. On the other hand, the Act of Parliament 
binds the omnibus proprietors to take passengers to the 
exact spots mentioned on the omnibus. This latter condition 
not having been complied with, the magistrate decided that 
the passenger had no right to pay any fare. 
Book-steai.ing. — Joseph Brasby was on Wednesday 
charged at Guildhall with stealing twenty-nine books, the 
property of the Religious Tract Society. The evidence 
being conclusive, the prisoner was remanded for an inquiry 
into his previous character. 
Robbing an Employer. — At Guildhall on Thursday, 
Charles Epps, in the service of Mr. Benham, gold and silver 
refiner, of 54, Barbican, was charged with robbing his em- 
ployer of old gold and silver to the value of £110. Mr. 
Benham received information that the prisoner had been 
seen exhibiting £13 in a public-house, and suspecting it was 
not his oum money he questioned him on the subject. The 
prisoner stated that the money was his sister’s, taken from 
her by him in sport. Subsequent inquiry showed that this 
was false ; and ultimately, on beiug pressed, Epps admitted 
to his employer that he had been robbing him for some 
months. It was proved, further, that the prisoner had re- 
ceived, between the 22ml of June and the 26th of December, 
more than £100 for gold, and silver, and lace sold ; having 
disarmed suspicion by representing that Ills brother was a 
dealer in the country, and melted lace and silver, which 
were then transmitted to him (prisoner) for sale in Loudon. 
This being a common practice in the trade, it appeared a fair 
price had always been given him. The prisoner was re- 
manded. 
Burglary and Violence. — On Tuesday, at tho South- 
wark l’olice-coui t, John Baker, a tall powerful-looking man 
was charged with being concerned, with another not iu. 
custody, iu committing a daring robbery on Sunday evening. 
Eliza Bateman, a servant to Mr. Rcstell, an independent 
gentleman said, that on Sunday evening she heard a knock 
at the door of her master’s house iu Harper-street, New 
Kent-road. On opening it a man told her he had come to 
pay Mr. Restell some money. Not believing the tale, she 
refused to admit him, closing the door ; but almost immedi- 
ately afterwards the street-door opened aud the prisoner and 
another entered. Tho latter rushed upon her, saying they 
\r ©re come to »ob tho house, aud threatening to cut her throat 
if she raised any alarm. They then commenced breaking 
open drawers and cupboards, aud took £4. 10s. aud some 
rings and other articles. Prisoner was apprehended at 
a beer-shop on the Monday, aud identified by the servant. 
Remanded for a week. 
Savagu Assault on a Wife. — At Southwark Police- 
court, on Wednesday, Patrick Sullivan was charged with an 
assault on his wife, who, after mentioning several acts of 
gross violence, stated that her present complaint was, that on 
Saturday night, he came home about half-past ten o’clock, 
aud came up stairs to their room, where she was preparing 
supper. He was under the influence of liquor, aud began 
to abuse her. She got out of the room to avoid his violence, 
and as she was descending the stairs he kicked her clown to 
the bottom. He followed her, and kicked her on the side 
of the body, arms, and face. Some of her neighbours heard 
her screams, and fetched iu a police-constable. He was sen- 
tenced to three mouths’ imprisonment. 
Highway Robbery. — At the Lambeth Police-court on 
Tuesday, Stephen Minuiu was charged with highway robbery. 
On Saturday night, while a man named Tursell, residing at 
Bromley, Kent, was walking along the London-road, with a 
bundle of wearing-apparel, the prisoner rushed at and gave 
him a desperate blow on the mouth, which knocked him 
down, aud seized his bundle. The prisoner made off, but 
was followed aud secured. The fact of the prisoner having 
been frequently in custody nud tried for various offeuces 
was given in evidence, and it was said that at the last Surrey 
Sessions he was tried on a charge of highway robbery, in 
which there was not the least doubt of his guilt, yet the 
jury thought proper to acquit him. Fully committed. 
Robbery from a Dwelling-house. — Charles Kemble, a 
boy of fourteen, was on Tuesday charged at the Clerkenwell 
Police-office with robbing the house of Mr. Taylor, Stoke 
Newington. The parlour window had been left ajar, and 
the prisoner entered the room, stealing a pair of silver sugar- 
tongs, a money-box with some silver iu it, and several other 
articles. He was apprehended through offering the sugar- 
tongs for sale to a cabman, aud was identified also by means 
of a waistcoat-button he had torn off in getting through the 
window, which button had been left behind him. He was 
committed for trial. 
Brutal Assault. — At Worship-street, on Wednesday, 
Thomas Gibbs, a cabinet-maker, was charged with a brutal 
and aggravated assault on Margaret Hughes, a young 
woman with whom he cohabited. The prisoner had returned 
home the previous night iu a state of savage excitement, and 
after partaking of a comfortable supper, he commenced to 
illtreat her for not providing better fare. He threw a heavy 
dish at her, knocked her down, and beat her unmercifully 
as she lav on the ground. The complainant’s face was shock- 
ingly contused aud lacerated, aud she was scarcely able to 
articulate from excessive pain and debility. The defence 
was, as usual, intoxication. Mr. D’Eyucourt, in severe 
terms, sentenced him to six months’ imprisonment aud hard 
labour. 
Fraud and Forgery. — At Bethnal-green Police-court-, on 
Friday, David Jones was charged with fraud aud forgery 
upon his employer, Mr. Coxo, solicitor, Hamilton-terrace, 
St. Jolin’s-wood. The prisoner had presented bills to his 
master for corn, h&y, &c., aud received money for them, and 
did not pay it over to the person to whom it was due. His 
master stated he had been plundered, to the best of his belief, 
no less a sum than £300. Numerous bills, purporting to 
be signed, were forgeries. From what further transpired, it 
was made apparent that the prisoner had been twice tried 
aud convicted for felony, though a good character had been 
received with him. He was remanded for a week. 
Russian Prisoners. — At the Thames Police court, on Tues- 
day, Captain Wallace, master of the ship Star of the East, 
stated that thirteen Russian Finlanders, prisoners of war on 
board her Majesty’s ship Devonshire, had been released on 
application to the Government, on condition of their serving 
on board the Star of the East, on her voyage to Aden and 
China. They were put on board, and appeared well satisfied 
with the ship and the voyage. On the following morning 
three of them deserted, and their number on Sunday night 
was reduced to four, and it was feared they had left or were 
about to leave. A similar number of Russian Finlanders, 
prisoners of war, had been transferred from the Devonshire 
to the Antagonist, which had since sailed for Madras, and 
the men were quite satisfied. There was no doubt the foreign- 
ers put on board the Star of the East would lmve remained 
if they had not been interfered with by a notorious crimp 
living iu Sliadwell, who induced them to desert by offering 
them higher wages iu another English ship. It appearing, 
however, that the men had not signed the ship’s articles, Mr. 
Yardley felt he had no power to force them to sail in the 
Star of the East ; they were now, he said, prisoners of war 
at large, and, as such, he granted a warrant for their appre- 
hension. 
Smpjgling. — At the Thames Police-court, on Thursday, 
Ann Blankney, a Flemish woman, and Caroline Fenninger, a 
Swiss, were charged with smuggling. It appeared from the 
evidence that the prisoners were passengers by the Steamer 
Holland, from O-stend to Gravesend. During the passage 
Blankney took off a canvas apron, fastened by straps to her 
shoulders, apparently to relieve herself of its weight. Some- 
thing excited suspicion, and the tide-surveyor who boarded 
the vessel at Gravesend received a hint, which led to the 
discovery of about 500 lbs. of manufactured foreign tobacco 
on the persons of the prisoners, contaiued in canvas bags- 
It was stated that the prisoners were constantly travelling 
between Belgium and England. They were fined £100 each, 
ami iu default of payment, were sentenced to six months 
imprisonment. 
False Certificate. — At the same court, and ou the same 
day, Jacob Cluness was sentenced to six weeks’ imprisonment 
for making use of a forged certificate. 
Punishment of a Captain of an Emigrant Ship for 
Negligence. — At the Liverpool Borough Sessions, on Tues- 
day, Captain J. T. Peat, late of the emigrant ship Goldeu 
Era, from Melbourne to Liverpool, convicted tho previous 
Saturday of drunkenness and neglect of duty on her he- 
passage homo, thereby endangering the lives of the crew on 
passengers, was sentenced to be imprisoned for eight month 3 - 
