mercy, we should use it strongly; he hoped every
effort would be made by government to carry on the
war with vigour, so that it might speedily end; and
he hoped further, that the public would not begrudge
the expense it may be necessary to incur in order that
the dignity of the nation may be maintained. He was
speaking amongst merchants and manufacturers likely
to suffer by the destruction of trade that would occur;
but as this country has carried on wars, perhaps less
necessary or justifiable, on former occasions, without
hindrance, so he hoped the community the gentlemen
he saw around him represented would never embarrass
the government by unnecessary complaints of the
expense incurred, and that their patriotism would lead
them to endure whatever evils war thus originated may
bring upon them. Mr. Turner's address was received
with cheers. Mr. Ross, vice-chairman of the meeting,
mentioned that British capital is already finding
investment in establishments on the banks of the Rhine.

There has been an Increase in the Export of Wine
from Spain and Portugal. There was an increase of
6318 butts in the export of sherry from Spain last year; the
total was 53,357 butts. Last year the export of wine
from Oporto mounted to 55,811 pipes—an increase over
1852 of 24,312 pipes. No fewer than 46,834 pipes were
shipped to Great Britain: while 2521 were exported
direct to Australia, and 1002 to Canada.

The Commission of Inquiry into the City Corporation
has continued its proceedings during the month, and a
great quantity of evidence has been gathered chiefly
from the examinations of Officials of the Corporation.

The annual meeting of the London Temperance
League was held in the hall of the Whittington Club on
the 23rd instant. The report stated that there were in
London and the suburbs 6,355 public houses, 3,751 beer
shops, and 13 wine rooms; and that in the metropolitan
districts in the year ending May, 1853, no fewer than
653 publicans were summoned, and 487 convictions
obtained, and 962 beer-house keepers summoned, and 806
convicted for infringements of the law, and for keeping
disorderly houses. Upwards of 1,500 public-houses,
beershops, &c. were licensed to have billiard tables and
bagatelle boards. The machinery which the temperance
reformers had put in motion, to stem this torrent
of evil was next referred to, and a brief report was
furnished of the operations of the principal
temperance associations in the metropolis, from which it
appeared that important information was communicated,
and advice given to no fewer than 8,000 persons
weekly. The operations of the London Temperance
League were then detailed. These included a large number
of public meetings for the advocacy of temperance,
the employment of suitable agencies, the circulation
of tracts and of papers containing reports of the
meetings. A considerable portion of the report was
occupied by details of the meetings addressed by Mr. J.
B. Gough, from America, showing that everywhere
success of no ordinary kind had followed his labours.
After some remarks had been made by Mr. C. W.
Newcombe, the Revs. W. M'Cree, J. Maughan, T. J. Messer,
and other gentlemen, the committee for the ensuing year
was nominated.

The Preston Strike continues, without any prospect
of termination. An adjourned meeting of the associated
masters of Preston and its neighbourhood was held on the
26th inst., under the presidency of Mr. T. Miller. The
result of their deliberations was immediately announced
by placard. They resolved unanimously,—"That
this meeting (deeply regretting that, although the
applications for work since the 29th of December last
have been more numerous than at any previous period
of the turn-out, still they have not been sufficiently
general to enable the masters to resume work) do at its
rising adjourn to Thursday, the 23rd of February next,
with the understanding that, should it be ascertained in
the meantime that there is an increased disposition on the
part of the operatives to return to their work, immediate
steps will be taken by the associated masters to open
their mills, and effective measures adopted to protect the
operatives against any improper interference or molestation."
A meeting of operatives was held the same day.
There was an immense gathering, the number present
being computed at from ten to twelve thousand. The
announcement of the resolution of the masters' association
to adjourn for another month was received with
loud and general shouts of hurrah. The chairman
stated that within the last fortnight the committee had
removed no fewer than 200 weavers out of Preston,
and they would go faster during the next fortnight than
ever they had done before. (Cheers.) Mr. Cowell
moved a resolution: "That we, the people of Preston,
are determined that we will never resume work until our
masters unconditionally comply with our just requests."
It was carried unanimously; and, after a round of
cheering, the vast concourse quietly dispersed.

PERSONAL NARRATIVE.

Sir Robert Harry Inglis has resigned his seat for
the University of Oxford, on the ground of infirm
health.

At the Crystal Palace at Sydenham, on the last day of
the year, a dinner was given to Professor Owen in the
model of the Iguanodon. The company numbered eight-
and-twenty, of whom twenty-one were accommodated
in the interior of the great Plesiosaurus, and seven at
a side table, on a platform raised to the same level.

Charles Lucien Bonaparte, Prince of Canino, has sold
his Italian estates to the banker Torlonia, for 450,000
scudi; his title of Prince he sold for one scudi, to mark
his appreciation of such vanities.

Mr. Sadleir has resigned his office of one of the Lords
of the Treasury.

Lord Guilford has resigned the livings of Alresford
and St. Mary's, the joint value of which is about £4000
a year.

Dr. Griffin, the new Bishop of Limerick, was
consecrated on the 1st inst. by the Archbishop of Dublin,
and the Bishops of Cork and Derry, in the chapel of
Trinity College. Farewell addresses, by the citizens of
Limerick, expressive of esteem and affection, have been
presented to Dr. Higgin, on his translation from the see
of Limerick to that of Derry. Among its signatures are
included those of the Mayor, of Lord Massy, Lord
Dunraven, and the Roman Catholic Bishop and Dean of
Limerick, and men of all classes and creeds.

Dr. Bowring has been appointed Superintendent of
Trade and Minister Plenipotentiary in China.

Sir John Franklin and his unfortunate companions
are now despaired of. The Gazette gives notice, "That
if intelligence be not received before the 31st of March
next, of the officers and crews of her Majesty's ships
Erebus and Terror being alive, the names of the officers
will be removed from the Navy List, and they and the
crews of those ships will be considered as having died in
her Majesty's service." Their pay will cease on the day
named; and persons qualified to claim pay and wages
are instructed to apply to the Accountant-General of the
Navy.

Obituary of Notable Persons.

General VON RADOWITZ, formerly minister of the present
King of Prussia, died at Berlin on Christmas day, in the fifty-
seventh year of his age.

Dr WILLIAM HODGE MILL, Regius Professor of Hebrew,
Canon of Ely, and Rector of Brasted, died at Ely on Christmas
day.

Dr. JAMES GILLKREST, Inspector-General of Army Hospitals,
died on the 25th of December.

Mrs. CARLYLE, the mother of Mr. Thomas Carlyle, died on
Christmas day, at Scotsbrig near Ecclefechan.

Lord PLUNKETT died on the 5th inst. in Dublin, aged eighty-
nine.

Dr MITSCHERLICH, the Philologist, the Nestor of the German
schools died at Gottingen on the 6th, in the ninety-fourth
year of his age. Dr. Mitscherlich was uncle of the famous
chemist of the same name.

Rear-Admiral GORDON THOMAS FALCON died on 11th inst.

General Viscount BERESFORD, G.C.B., and G.C.H., died on
the 8th inst., at his seat, Bedgebury park, Kent, in the
eighty-sixth year of his age.

The Earl of PORTSMOUTH died at his seat in Hurstbourne
park, near Andover, on the 9th inst., in his eighty second year.