The Express. — London, England, 1851-08-02 00:00:00

LITERATURE. 5i,4978 . ar SlMVillit7l.l of the Ellinsrl,l4 Practice of Criticism. 1k JOHN JOSSPH Guu vix. I.undon pubuahetl by J. J . and Co. Griffin - apublisher. It is his trade to find out whether the public wants any new book, what book, what it can afford to give, and who can best write it ; and having done so, to produce it with as much profit' and credit to himself as possible. Mr. Griffin says I he has incurred great expense in order to do this, in the case of a certain book, and that he has succeeded, but his attempts have been grossly and wantonly misrepresented to his patrons, the British nation, to the injury of both parties. Let us endeavour to examine the facts stated by Mr. Griffin. In a letter to John Hutton Balfour, F.L.S.. F.R.S.E., Professor of Medicine and Botany in the University of Edinburgh, which forms the first of the " opeetmens," he thus introduces his complaint: In the y.ar 1847 I formed the idea of publishing a series of cheap 111:1111•21$ on the natural sciences, and iu looking about fur literary asaietanee I applied to you thus: Glasgow, Jan. 2, 1847. Dear Sir,—We have f orme d t h e idea of publishing translations of the following three French works:—" Coors Elimenteire d'llisteire Naturelle," Ist, Botanique, par M. A. be Joesieu; 2ud, Zoologie, par M. Milne Edwards; 3rd, Miarralogie et Geiologie, par M. F. S. pendant. The cute first drew our attention; but we are told that the matter is ales of good mighty. Having entered into cm reepondo nee with the pmprietore of the French works, we believe that we can procure casts of the cuts. We have now to noel editors. Preeutaing that the volume on botany is known to you, we take the liberty to ask whether it would be agnealele to you to uudertake its translation intu Eng lish, either verbatim, or with ouch alterations as might be considered necessary to adapt the work fur English readers. Perhaps, aloe, you can favour us with an opinion whether there Is coma for such a work in this country, that is to say, win ther it would have many competitor, of the same kind and quality. We put this query, because we are not very well acquainted with botanical literature. We should mentime that a part of our plan is to publish these books much be low the common price of similar work.. The cheap system has never yet been applied in this country to books on Natural History, hut we are inclined tee venture a trial, keeping up, of couree, the quality of the books as high as possible. Can you inform us where we might pos. eilely had a translator her the volume on zoology ? Hass Dr. leisure or inelination fur pursuits of this kind ? or do you think that Professor or -- could do it? We are, dear sir, yours truly, For RICHARD GRIFFIN AND CO., Jolts J. GRIFFIN. To. Prof. Balfour, Edinburgh. You replica' Edinburgh, Ith January, 1817. My I). ar Sir,—l have long intended to bring out a cheap Test-book for student., and your proposal steins to me the means of accompliehing this object. The work to which you allude is well known to me, and can easily he adapted tie the !system pursued in Britain. In accepting the propo aril I sh ell feel myself at liberty to make some modifications. In Fo", I shall take. the "Ceeurs El6ruenteeire " as the groundwork, and upon it form my Text-book. The great difficulty is in procuring wood-cuts, and I ant glad to think that yost are likely to eiteceed in getting over it. I shall be glad to talk over matters with you, and as 1 purpose to be in GIa.OIIIF for a few hours on Thursday nest, I shall en deavour to call upon you in the attenuant cud make the arrangements necessary.-- would Ise an excellent person to take up the zoology. I shall speck to hint on the subject. If he does not consent, you should apply te— rse ---. I am, your. sincerely, J. J. Griffin, Esq. J. H. DALFOF/L. These letters prove that the idea of the =WWI uriirimited with me, and that, ulthough 4111 undefined vision of a cheap text-lsook hud Heeded betore your eye, you did nothing toward. realising the eloper until I discovered the means of OVI.trOIIOIIg the " great difficulty " iii the way of establish ing a cheep text-book, namely, till I produced the necessary n I. In February, 1447, 1 resolved to visit London aod l'aris, to make arrangenicute for carrying oat ray scheme, and to coos through Edinburgh on the way up to ascertain whet literary aid I yodel obtain there. On the 11th February I called upon you, rind it was agreed between us that you should execute the volume on botany, pro vided that on my arrival in Paris I should still think it expedient to purelia, and should succeed in obtaining, the cuts ofJussieu's Manual. The knowledge, pee sensed by both of us, that the Freiteil publisher had lIHVININI some of his eats too much in England, rendered it expedient that I s h ould make certain inquiries before buying them at all. It was agreed that if I knight them I 11'.4.5 te, let you lumw Mianelsately, that you might proceed with the work, anal le lee it ready tor me the neat season; but whether you 511.44111 or eimuld not write the work, was left entirely contingent upon the fact, whether I did or did not pur chase the mita of the cuts of "Juseiem's Manual." It was not the ease that you were, at all events, writing is text book. rat which I was to have a license to print an edition ; lent a W.I. the case that I was projecting a series of pule ik a ti ou 4, en one of which you were to work, provided that est my arrival in Peri. I should still think it expedient to terry the project into uecutioe. If I had failesel in ob taining the engravings, your :Manuel certainly would nut have h-. ritteu for me, and perhaps would never has e been written at all. To surh an extent was the eitterpri-e miler, nut pens. Wet arriving in London, I found that the " Encyclo pedia Metropolitans" was fur sale•, and peeve ivine in that am* the moms of giving great support to my plan ed . pub lishiug a cheap .erica of setentifie manuals, I porehased it foe the company with which I on connected, and with the ititmetieei to extend and complete it, en moritance with Coleridge'. original plan. '1 his purehaso prevented my journey to Parise. Neverthelese, on the 7th April, 1 wrote yo u nerd that I had purchaaed the ousts of the botanical cuts, and I urged you n tu proceed with the "Manual" ra pidly. It was to have been ready by the !spring of 1818, but you did not complete it till the spring of 1549. It appears that on the completion of the work l'rof. li.drour applied for the sum agreed to be paid le Mr. tiriftin, as if it were the price of the first edi tion only. publisher was surprised at this innings- request, believing that he had purchaaed an ~.tire and unlimited property in the work. How veer. a year afterward , . and not until a tedious cur respotithftee and many ret'erences to solicitors had taken place, the following receipt was signed by Professor Balfour : Edinburgh, 9th April, IMO. Received of John Joseph Griffin and Charles Griffin, puhlide, rs in London ' the sum of two hundred pound. Bertha . en the terms that 141X4ilt11 to them, as I hereby do, env inten et in the copyright of a work entitled. "A Mutual of Botany." resumed on the model of lie Juseicu's ('curs Eionentaire de liotanique, and consisting in part of} trandation of that work undertaken at their reemeet ; and I authorise them to publish the said work, on their owes account, in any manner they think fit, and to enter them . Ives in the registry book of the Statiunend Company of Emden, as the proprietors of the ROW copyright. (Signed) J. 11. Betrotu. Peril -Ts the reader. if in the habit of stopping ut laiokstalls or frequenting librarieo, may leave noticed 41 Serie. of thin 12mon, in cloth boards, neatly lettered on the back, and opening in a page of white paper printed in a bold qpc, and provided with side notes. They ore the Grantees of the famous "Encyclovedia hletropnlitana ;" among their authors are Coleridge, Matthaei Maurice, and MIMICS equally honoured. The enterprise of reprinting these is Mr. Griffin's. Reprinting is hardly the word for some of them, hlaurice's eloquent "'T're'atise on Moral and Meta physical Philosophy." for instance, having Levu en litely re-written for this series. Into such gomlly company the publisher proposed, in June, Dead, to introduce Balfour . * Botany, withdrawing the ties fir originally published iu the " Metropolitana " for that purlwssc. Acetwflingly on the 18th Jane, 1830, ne we learn from the letter, Mr. Griffin wrote to l'reffess.ir Balfour inquioing whether it would be agreeable to him to revise the work fur that purpose, and on what terms. The reply received was the ~Bowing: Edinburgh, June 20, ISIO Sir. —la reply to your letter I beg to state that I have ✓e solved to have twilling inure to do with the Manual of of Botany. I am utatsing preparations fur an elementary work on botany, over which! I tad to have complete control. I shall shiver give my name to say work of which I do not retain the eupyright. 1 certainly would never ;hive written the manual had I hot supposed that such wae the case in man: to it. —1 am, sir, your obedient servant, To J. J. Griffin. Esq. J. 11. Betrotat. Subsequent applications to the professor remained unanswered. Mr. Griffin says that in order to en- POW the author perfect literary and scientific emitrol otter his manual, he offered to invest him with the right to make corrections in the work every time it should he reprinted, and to limit the price of the volume. Further, he offered, on the 6th of April, 1n341. to pay Professor Balfour SOL for editing a second edition when required: to pay him for edit ing a third edition one shilling per volume upon the immix r jointed ; and nt the end of three years after the publication of the third edition to assign leek the copyright gratis. These offers were refused but ono thing 14 clear—Mr. Griffin did his duty to the public in making them. Before going further, let us just look at the rea sonableness of the author's expectations. The original French work upon which Balfour's Manuel was fended was itself a celebrated teat-book. It was open to any one to translate it. Mr. Griffin says, he could have had it translated verbatim for 5.11/. 7 -a low figure, but probably near the truth. But he dosiival to bare it well edited, to have it made a university elsas-book, introduced under the influ ence of a prnfessor'aaamet therefore he was willing to give for Mr. Balfour's revision 2001. The proles- THE EXPRESS, SATURDAY EVENING, AUGUST 2, 1851. ENSUING WEEK: FINE AR7'S. i sor now says," This is my text-book." The publisher, I i" This is one of my aeries of manuals." To decide j the question of property we have but to ask who has; THE BRIDGEWATER AND THE GROSVENOR paid for it? Mr. Griffin, certainly. That little' COLLECTIONS OF PICTGAEs. volume has cost him for engraving, advertisements, ! For the sake of cantra,t, these Avell-krown gal and copyright alone, atinf., to be pnid out of the !cries are hose coupled under ore heading. The , money received for the book, over and above the pictures which rue the property of the Earl of Elks coat of printing and paper. If there had been no mere, better knoscn us the Bridgewater gallere, • Professor Balfour there would have been a Griffin's I manual, but would there ha ve b een B a lf our ' s text- ' consist chiefly of Italian paintings, whi c h f ormer l y book without Mr. Griffin ? l ' formed part of the &leans collection, visited by 1 1/r. Johnson, on his visit to l'aris, sonic SO But to the second edition. The professor had refused ' years s i nce, to have aught to do with it. Botany, we know, is as he tells us himirsj in his brief notes of progressive science :it does not, however, a i his i journey. There we find him nodding approv antiquated in eighteen months, the time which had become . ing y at some of the pictures; and it is not a little ' satisfactory to find this courtesy to the gre at . lexica elapsed since the first edition ; so it was resolved to ! raphcr reciprocated towards numberless sareigners- 1 reprint the worn verbatim, correcting only the evi dent errors of the press, and relying upon the Ihe paintings of which the Ilarquis tenor erni is the ponsessor,and known as the Groa gallery, arc, author's good sense should a third edition be re- on thc contrary, the produce of the D u t c h an d FlCmish etuired. A gentleman well acquainted with botanical schools, with a spnnkling o f English and Italian hterature was engaged to edit the second edition landscapes. Whilst the Bridgewater gallery is strong anonymously, and the book was published. in masters of the 16th century, the Grosvenor col- And now commence the circumstances of which lection shines with those of the 17th. The Dutch Mr. Griffin most bitterly complains. Professor Bid- and Flemish undoubtedly- occupied during the last four is the acknowledged e dit or o f th e N or th British century that place in public estimation and affection Agriculturist newspaper. In that journal appeared, which many now believe to be supplanted by the on the 7th of May, 1841, a review of the new edition, growing reverence for the higher grades of art. Be which it is not asserted was written by the Doctor, that as it may, we can merely point to the fact of the i but which could hardly appear there without his now notorious relish for Italan architecture, in ifselfi knowledge and consent. It begins by a modest ex- significant fact. Thus as you enter Bridgewater pression of homage to the "name of Balfour," de- House, at the very threshold, one might fancy the clams that the new volume is not a correct reprint ; entrance to an Italian palazzo, one evidently restored that new errors have been introduced, and so on. from the too usual dilapidati on . This is conspicuous Mr. Griffin meet positi ve ly s t a t es th a t no additions not alone in the plan of Mr. Barry's edifice, or even whatever have been made, and that 410 error; of the in the superstructure of the orders ; but in the first edition have been corrected in the second. But rough-cast walls which have a pleasant smack of the let us pass on. The reviewer's condemnation of the old Roman travertine about them. The wide reprint is moat unqualified; but the chief sin charged steps are climbed with an ease which show is that this manual—this first book—which only a successful solution of Vignola's intricate eighteen month's before left Professor Balfour's hands, rules. On the first flight is the picture gallery. is now disgracefully in a rmor o f th e sc i en tifi c k now - With the exception of the lights crossing oneanother ledge of the day. And it is in the paper edited by at top, which prevent some pictures from being tho disappointed author himself that this con- seen except under given conditions, this gallery is a' demnation appears. It is added that the re-issue model one in size and disposition,a hint which should of the work has been declared by Professor not be lost on those who are to benefit the nation Balfour to his class to be " unauthorised," a with a bran-new Kensingtonian National Gallery. statement which Mr. Gri ffi n invites the public to And it should be particularly impressed on the compare with the very precise words of the receipt, mind of this architect, whoever he may be, that " I authorise them to publish the said work in any Italian art is degraded by being thrust into room-. as] manner the y . think ht." The review of the North at Trafalgar-square. From this, perhaps, timely T h e " British .Iyriculturist was reprinted and extensively sion we now turn to the pictures themselves. The 1 circulated, and with what deadly effect is shown by Bridgewater Raffaelles have had that doubtful beam. goo, letters given from publishers at Cambridge, Gists- fit which accrues from rash and sceptical criticism. I gOW ; and elsewhere. The article preceded everywhere The German connoisseurs especially have wiitten on the book, and where Professor Thilfour had a friend the aubiec teed ; oubtingly as on any- other known or the new volume was rejected. Mr. Griffin must iwo i ro g creed it is Ind just, however, to note have lost hundreds of bounds from this cause. that they have subsequently recanted. We Comment upon these facts would be misplaced. are content to waive all questions of authen- They are for the judgment of the public, w ho tieity - - when contemplating the most graceful in may be more intimately concerned in upholding the vention and most unique draughtsmanship. The strictness of commercial integrity in literary matters, Raffuellm being placed together, contrary to usual and the impartiality of reviewers, than it suspects. practice, it is singular to note the ingenuity with The manual was published. originally by !s essrs. which is varied the painter's favourite theme, the Griffin, to supply a really good work at an unusually Holy Family, and to find that the simpler is the low price. The public was served here. But die composition the more it is laboured. Such is, we second edition, on which the outlay of original pub- believe, the accepted favourite, "The Virgin with the lication had already been incurred, could be afforded, Infant Saviour in her arms" (38), which is marked under the laws of competition, even with all im- with those a ft er-emendations known as rrpratirs. provements paid for, cheaper by Messrs. Griffin than The celebrated Chandos portrait of Shakspeare is an entirely new work by another firm. Here, agnin, here, every lineament of who se countenance, every the public has its own interest involv e d. L e t Justice portion of whose dress, down to the seventh button be done, then; and if Professor Balfour has orally of the doublet, have been commented on with the discovered so many errors and short-comings in his name sort of interest as attaches to the different own work, let him make a suitable acknowledgment modes of punctuation in the Shakspearian plays, to the capitalist who, to his own damage, has em- and with about the name success of ro : barkel with him. Above all, let him avoid the sus- search. Here Raphael is the alpha, and Bur *scion of setting the machinery of professional or h the omega, of the collection. Of Titian'a Jliterary influence at work to revenge the fancied in- - nister hand there are several fragmentary sped uries of his personal experience in business trans- mens. Plaml aloft, and as it were surveying the I actions. works of the masters he befriended, is Clement As for the second edition of the Manual of Botany, VII., represented sitting. If this portrait brings to a careful inspection enables us to state that it is a mind the once fatted villa of Monte-Mario, so dues work creditable to the house which has brought it the landscape of the " Four Ages of Lit'e," also by out, and one which Dr. Balthur need not have been Titian, and placed immediately beneath. The ashamed to own. As a text-look, a compendium, to a Comoro Fannly," in Northumberland House, lathe be used as introductory to the works of Lindley and finest portrait comps-Rion of Titian's out of Venice, other standard writers, it is not to bo surpassed. It and this scene claims to be placed in the front rank is not to be supposed that the few professors he pri- l of his pastoral masterpieces. The fay-simile in the vate friends u Dr. Balfour, who have aided amillt s e g h ess sansc e ly approaches the brilliancy of the abetted the nttnck on Mr. Griffin, will succeed in . Bridgewater picture, though in size the groups of damaging the book beyond the walls of one or two children, and of myrtle-crowned maiden and youth, not too celebrated colleges, or divert the public from arc identical. The " Venus rising from the a work well fitted to satisfy a general want. I Sea" belongs to a high rank of classical beauty, in which scanty raiment is left unheeded; a fact the truth of which is however but partially ad mitted by the lady visitors. Of Chagrin° the " Abi gail meeting David with presents," is a hue specimen, equal to his St. Pctrouille, in which the meagre in• terest of the subject is merged in a masterly power of handling, nod a wonderful grasp on nll available resources of pictorial mechanism. 'fhe reverse is the ease with Poussin. The Seven Sacraments, which were painted at Rome for M. Chuntelou, and were transferred from the Orleans to the Bridgewater col lections, dark and grim as they are, maintain the general superiority of originals over the engrav figs, though reference to the latter seems in sonic in stances necessary for the indication of the figures. The Bolognese school is, as usual, connected with an unlimited amount of Carracci's ; their merits ever commensurate with their size—no small Inciter. .Iniiihal us stern as Litilovieo is effeminate. Turn ing to the minor works ranged beneath touch will be found that is interesting, some deriving their value solely front the names attached to the ii ; others, more numerous, worthy of their time-ho noured signatures . The next division of the gallery, which pleasantly overlooks the park, is garnished with some Dutch gems, by Rembrandt, Cuyp, Vundevelde, tee. Far ther on, in a recess to itself, the " King Charles in the Guard-room," by Paul Dclaroche. Time is al ready at work modilviug, but hardly improving, this l i masterly performance ; somehow, the ruffians in sultin,g the martyr king seem to be of a blacker dy e than they were years ago in the Louvre. We despair at all attempt to describe the paintings collected at Grosvenor-house, as people might fancy we were dealing in hyperbolic narrative. 'to believe in pictures. they Insist first be seen. It may admit of a doubt whether anybody ever thomughly believed in the works of Afx•lfes ; the very name of the painter augurs somethiug mythical. This much may be said, that among the more important works arc nearly a dozen Claudes, and as many Itithenses; S.Avator afld Gainsba rough, Rembrandt and Reynolds, go hand in hand. Not by any means to be omitted is a triptych by Resoling; the finest of the pre-Raphael ites fades into nothing in comparison with the ate petitions elaboration of these Flemish saints. The triptych, emsisting of one principal, and two folding pancla ; so that when the side lids were shut down, the whole appeared like any other square box. '!fie old Flemish had a peculiar liking for the shape ; it admitted of the paintings being closed front the light on ordinary occasions, but was only opened on great, festivals. What can be said of those whose galleries are large triptychs, but who refuse to open them to public v. •a w to the jubilee year of industry, 17431 GARDENING OPERATIONS FOR TIII I from the llard,ter's Chronicle. 1 PLANT DEPARTMENT. Let shadir ?. he used less eminently, and for a shorter number of hours, us the season advances. The heat of the ! solar ray is rarely too powerful now, even if it were the growing season , and as the plants ooght now to be ripening their growth, they have need of not only all the daylight, but even ni4derate sunshine. In the ease of orchids this is especially necessary, that the roots, 'mires, and pseudo bulbs may be thoroughly matured. Thr.we which arc !already in this state, or nearly so, should be moored forth with to a cool home. Great care should be taien not to excite such plants into a new growth at this time, as it is mach too late to get them properly matured, and the un seasonable draught upon the stored energies of the plants will materially interfere with their next production of flowers Dendrobiume of the D. nobilo character, which are sufficiently advanced in growth, should also be removed to a cooler honsc, where they should be supplied with a 'moderate temperature, abundance of air, and scarcely any water, till their stems are ripened and their dower buds formed. Those Orchids which are in a growing state should be placed in the most favourable positions, and encouraged by a high temperature, so long as the strength of daylight will admit of such a course. FORCING DEPARTMENT. PlNERlEg.—Maintain a high moist temperature, with abundance of ventilation to pines which are now swelling their fruits, and a rather drier atmosphere around those which are in flower. In all the stages except that lost men- Coned, and when ripeni ng , use the syringe freely in very ! fine weather, when there is a certainty of the moisture eva porating by the heat of the sun; but, on dull days, depend almost entirely upon the evaporating troughs, and be care ful to admit air to prevent too great a condensation of moisture. If the syrinze is used in excess during this month it is liable to render the soil 100 wet for the healthy deve lopment of the plants. Take care that the bottom heat does not get too strong for plants which have been recently potted or planted. Vineries When the late crops have done stoning, the borders, both inside and nut, should have a good soaking of liquid manure to assist the swelling of the fruit. Do not allow the process to go on too sluggishly, if they are ot' kinds adapted and intended for late keeping. Muscats ripened with the aid of the summer sun, by the end of August are infinitely superior, both in appearance, flavour, and keeping, to thnee'wtich are dawdled on through the next two mouths. Wliett thoroughly ripened by the end of this month, or the beginning of September, they will keep till the end of Fcbrury. Vines in a more for wisest stage, on which the grapes are just beginning to ripen, should be gradually inured to a freer admission of air, and if it he desired to keep fur any length of time those which are quite ripe, they should have the advantage of a slight shading during the very hot or scorching weather. PLOWT.R GARDEN AND 811RUHRERIF.S. Cuttings of macs should be taken immediately and 'slanted in a close cold frame in a north aspect for three weeks or a month, until they are eicatrised at the base ; they should then he taken carefully up, potted in thumb pots, and plunged in a close warm frame with a gentle bottom heat. So treated, they will make nice plants in a very short time, and if kept under slight protection during winter, will fill their pots with rots, and he adv for planting out in April or May. Pink pipings, if put in nt the time we recom mended, will now he reside for transplanting; and in doing this not a moment should be lost, as they have need of all the rest of the season to establish themselves in such a man ner as to prevent the frost injuring them. If the si tuations ultimately intended for them arc vacant, they should be planted in them at once, as they thereby flower much finer; but if these places are occupied for the present by something else, the young pinks should be planted 4 inches apart, on resorve beds in an open situation, the soil of which should consist principally of light loam, to which has been added some charcoal dust or charred refuse; a little dung mixed with road drift and soot should be added. The rotten manure from an old mush room bed answers very well for this purpose, as it encourages a mass of fibres, and produces a healthy but not over gross development of top. Some time ago we promised to remind our readers about making memoranda of the most suitable arrangement for hall'-hardy plants nest season; we are just now doing so ourselves, and we take this opportunity of ' redeeming our pledge. As an easy method of reducing the thing more completely to a system, a rough plan should he made of the arrangement of the beds, which should be ! numbered and referred to an accompanying list of the names of the plants with which it is designed to till them next year, and the quantity required fur each bed. By compiling a summary from this list aeeurato information is at once obtained of the quantity of plants which must be propagatvil immediately by cuttings, and both by these and st- al in spring. By tbis simple means redundancy and deficiencies are avoided; disappointment is prevented on the one lunch, and waste of time on the other. Whilst the half-hardy plants are in their greatest beauty a tasteful eye will easily discover the weak a n d improvable points, and by observing the more satisfactory part, will readily perceive the most desirable future arrangement. FRUIT 0 tIiDEN. Sruewmtnniks.—ln places where the work is kept in a forward state, it nay be presumed that by this time a sufficiency has been potted for forcing, and that all the new plantations have been properly prepared and planted. As the fruit is all gatheresl, the old exhausted beds may be at once destroyed, preserving the younger, one or two year old Inds, to afford the main supply next season; and it should be an object of exp,cial attention to cultivate these plants in such a manner that they shall produce an abund ant crap. As no more runners are required, those whirls remain should be cleared away ; but taking care not to in jure the leaves of the plants. Their growth during the re mainder of the season should be encouraged by forking some very rich well-rotted manure into the ground about the plants. It is a point of the first importance to preserve the old foliage uninjured ; as upon it depends the perfect elaboration of the sap fee the production of next year's crop. Thernison's raw». of Ciomberkutdi Plays; witit ltemark. Biagraphical and Critical. Vol 19. G. H. I.oArittNus, l'ettr In this series of volumes devoted to English dra matic literature we see another response to the de mand of the day for cheap and good booms. Every playgoer knows Cumberland's dramas with the notes of 0, and every playgoer knows also that for years each drama was considered cheap at sixpence. But with changed times come changed prices, and now we have Mr. David son putting five plays into a compact boarded volume and publishing the whole fur a shilling. The volume before us contains Massinger'a fine tragedy, " The Fatal Dowry;" Irs. five-act comedy, " Wives as they Were i" Ditiden's drama tized version of Sir Walter Scott's " Ivanhoe;" and a brace of comic one-art trifles, " Doctor Bolus," and " Personation ;"--enough in all conscience for a shilling. Tut NEW ZEALAND SETTLEMENTS BILL.—A peti tion has been presented to the 'louse of Commons by colo nists and purchasers of land at Wellington and Nelson, to the amount of many hundred thousand pounds, from the New Zealand Company, against the power proposed to be " given ut the bill to alter and amend the terms of purchase as a breach and abrogation of the original contract. ANOTUER POISONING CASE IN NORFOLK.— A young wootitan named Hannah Neale, residing in the village of Outwell, near Downham, has been committed for trial on a charge of having poisoned her husband. From the evidence adduced at the inquest it appeared that the ac cused had formed an intimacy with another man, and bad, not long since, deserted her husband and family for a brief period, which she spent with her paramour. Soon after her return lame her husband was ariaed with an Hine., of ! which he died, and the symptoms wire of such a auspicious character that the surgeon in attendance &trembled on , making an examination of the laxly. This proceeding was , oppesel by the widow, and the result was an inquest on'' Thursday last, when, after the examination of several wit nesses. Hannah Neale was fully committed fur trial at the next Nora kit Assizes fur the wilful taurdcr of her husband. 1117110Elt IN PAIIIS.—The police arrested on &ay Bap youn4 man who munlereil a girl named Juliette Man in a pohliediouse in the Rue du Cherche-Midi. His Jo-eph Ilumblot, his age 19, and his cr:cupation {fat: of a waiter in an rot - fee-house. The arrest was neseang at 110, Rue St. Vonore, in the residence let a esacierge, who is a frit n 1 of his mother. lie readily an-we.ed the questions put to him, and made this statement:—" I know," he said, " that I hare command a horrible munler, and know the fate that awaits me. But I am not a canister—l was distracted —I had an attack of brain fever. During eight months," he continued, " I • had inti nate relations with Ju li e tte; I loved her pa - sionately, but at last I fancied I perceived she deceived me. Ido nut know whether I was right or wrong, but a violent jealousy took pow:salon of me, and I resolved to kill her first, and myself afterwards. I was nutter the in fluence of those ideas when I met her on Wednesday. Wu went int., the public house, and amended to a bed-room. A buttle of wine was brought us, an I Juliette seated herself on the tad. It was nearly 9 o'clock, and vertigo seated me. I passed my hand over her throat, which appeared to sun plea her; but before she had tins: to make any observation I mixed a rose which I had for some time carried in my pocket, oust, en our cut, made a sorer.: wound in the throat. Poor wretch ! She had only time to cry ' Mother' mother' ' when she fell dead. I WAS troubled, and fur a few moments knew nut what I did. But at List I recovered my self-posies 'ion. I wa-hed the blood from toy hands and face. I opened the door, but when half-way down the staircase, the idea of seeing her again recurred to me, and I went and kissed her for the List time. I hurried away. I went to the river and washed my trowsers. Afterwards I went home, and said so my father and mother, Kiss me, for you will see me nu more; I am a great criminal, and deserve the scaffold !' Its their stupor they did not think of stop ping me. I went out of Paris, and slept in a lodg mg-house at we of the bsrrien. In the morning I was agitated, and did not know where to go. So I re. solved to commit suicide. But before dying I deter mined to try to see Juliette once again. I went to the Morgue, where I thought her body would be taken ; but I arrived too Lite—she had been recognised by her mother, and the body hail been removed. I listened to what was &till in the crowd. ' A young girl h.e+ been murdered,' they said,' and the murderer afterwards threw the body iutn the river.' I shrugged my shoulders and went away. I went to a church, with the intention of confessing to a priest, but nut finding one I wandered about the streets for some time, and at last left Paris. I only returned this morning. And WM I have only to request that I may be condemned to death. My repentance and rn chastisement will open to me the gates of heaven, and it is there alone that las hope to see Juliette again." This statement Was made with the greatest calmness. The prisoner had ou a shirt stained with the blood of his victim. The expres.ion of his features is remarkably mild. lie had procured him self • passport for a forulgn coustry. TRlfit'rE or Itl.:art:cr.—The Duke of Northum berland afforded within the last few dare the MI4III of visiting the Exhibition, and seeing the sights of the great metropolis, to 16) of the labourers and workmen upon the estate at Alliwiek. These poor men have just prsentesl the following address to his grace, in which it will be seen they warmly acknowledge the genero s ity and kindness with which they have b.. n treated: " To Ms Once the I)uke of Northumberland. May it please your grace,—We, your grace's grateful, dutiful, awl obedient servants, beg, with no ordinary emotion, to thank you for the int.llectual and scientific treat which the Great Exhibition hrow afforded us ; the various improrenn its contained therein have had our careful attention in each of our department,, as well as viewing the metropolis of England. We might say much of your generosity and condescension (if it was not so wed undeistood). Our presence here at your grace's expense is a great Met, self-evident and uneontrovertible. We feel inad. quote to express to your grace what we have seen and felt, being filled with astonishment and wonder. i Our wives and elsedreu will listen to our simple story with l amasement, and learn to repeat it to their children. At 11 memory holds her seat the lessons we have read from men and things—but, above all, the kindness of our duke and duchess—will live in our remembrance, while our I native hills and fertile valleys can and will testify to , our solicitous and fervent wish that the Almighty, by and through whom kings reign laud princes decree judgment, will be pleased to shed upon your illus trious house the light of his countenance, and for many years preserve your life and that of your amiable and beloved consort. And, with your permission, we beg to subscribe ourselves, your grace's very grateful, dutiful, and obedient sersauts.—Swan with two Necks, Gr.shara-street, Lo:Alon, July 21, 1551," K ITCHY."( ()ARDEN. In northern or cold situations no time should be lost in sowing the main crops of winter spinach in good rich ground, deeply trenched, avoiding the thick sowing in all caws. The rows should stand about 16 inches apart, to allow a free passage for forking, cleaning, and gathering the crop. At the first 'gathering every other plant', should be drawn out ; thus giving additional space to those which are to produce the late winter and spring supply, and which should ultimately stand 6 or 8 inches apart. Some strong, well-curled plants should be 'selected from the spring sowing of parsley, carefully lifted with large halls, and planted at the foot of a south wall. A quantity planted in boxes proves very useful during a long continuance of severe weather in winter, if placed in a cool peach-house or similar situation; or a spare light or two may be devoted to the protection of the finer parsley for garnishing. Let the early kinds of otatoes be got up as soon as the tops are ripe enough ; mu d n let particular pains be taken to pick out all the tubers, as those left in the ground are very annoying in future years. Let the produce be sorted, and, if of an approved kind, let all the small and moderate-sized tuber. he carefully preserved in dry sand or charcoal dust. Be at a little trouble also to test the different varieties, and do not allow your number of sorts to excecd half a dozen, stlectinq those only which are most liked on table, free croppers, curly in coming to perfection, and least liable to be Offeteil with disease. Many of the medicinal and pot herbs, commonly cultivated iu gardens, will require gathering this mouth ; the proper time iv just when they are in full flower. They should be cut quite clean en a tine warm day, tied in small bunches, and hung up is an airy room till they are perfectly dry ; aft_•r which they should be put into tin canister*, gloss I bottle., or paper bugs, to preserve them from dust. Either of the former contrivances are preferable to the litter, as they guard the herbs, against damp, and prevent the escape of their delicate aroma ; along with which their virtues are in a great measure evaporated. Contirsue, as time and space occur, to plant cauliflowers and coleworts. Make a sowing of onions rather thick, and of souse good sort of cabbage, for spring use. Pull shallots, and lay them on a gravel walk, or uu dry ground, fur a few clays before reasoning them to the store-room. Onions al-o, will require attention. l'lunt out some stout plants of early cubb meg for winter use, six inches apart, suit a fiat between Cie row*, this will give room enough for the best dwarf kinds, as every other one vin be removed while yoang, and t hus lease room fur the rest to grow larger. THUGGEE GLOCCESTER.—The magistrates of Gloucester have had before them, and committed for trial, a man and woman on a charge of robbing and attempting to strangle a man named Organ. The circumstances are es follows:—The man Organ, who is a hotelier by trade, was proceeding over Westg tte.bridge, in the outskirts of Glon rester, on Friday night, when he was accosted by a woman, Oa , female prisoner, whose name is Sarah Perry. The woto.in asked him fur money, and walked by his side for some distance. lle told her he had nothing fur her. They had now reached a more lonely part of the road, when u nrm jumped up from behind a heap of stones, and, throw ing a handkerchief round his neck, attempted to strangle him. lle resisted, but seas foreedagainst the wall and nearly suffocated, the blood running from his mouth, and robbed of all his money, consisting of 1/. 17s. ad. The woman continut d with hint, and when the rubbery was completesl' both of them ma away. The pros. eutor swore positively to the identity of both the man sod woman, and added to his statement, of which the above is a summary, that the man overtook him on the bridge, and asked him to stop tor him, as he was going his way; but Organ declined his com pany. A witness named Merrell, who was on the same road on Friday night was examined, to prove that he had met the man and woman sworn to by Organ near the spot where the robbery M. 13 effected. The male prisoner's name is Thomas Weaver. lie is a strong muscular-looking man, The woman R 33 a iv' - thinly-clad creature, with a child f poor t... r a _add in her arms. Th: prisoners were living to„tether at a lodging house on the Friday night, and a woman employed at that Muse proved that they went out together shortly before the time when the transaction is said to lure taken place. Both were committed fur trial. DEATIt ut'os THE STAGE. — During the perform ano:. of Jack Sheppard, at the St. Louis Theatre, on the 6th, a lane flat iron, suspending u lamp from the ceiling, slipped trout its fastenings and fell to tite ground, striking Mrs. Shea on the top of the hetsa. She uttered a faint " 0 ! my God!" and in a psoFen!, fell dead the stags, which !SEIZURE OF A MERCHANT VESSEL BY MILITARY I'ASSZNUEUS. The following extraordinary narrative is from The Advocate (a St. Helena paper), of the sth of June. It could have been wished that the proceedinza of the ma es:ttrates had been reported exsctly, instead of being thrown Sew the narrative form. The case, however, is obviously Ism shat calls for further inquiry: ss I n our columns of this week will be found au account at sh e r ecent occurrences on board the barque Levenside— mum t h e , most extraordinary which it has ever fallen to fM lot of a p u •blie journal to report. We forbear at present be settled by the prcier legal authorities ; y e t th ere are expressing any °coition on the subject, as it now rema i ns to circumstances connected with this ease upon which we feel called to comment. " Immediately on the Levenskiell arrival in this port, an information was laid by Capt. Vesey of the Royal Artillery —in command of tffi, detachment of troops on hoard— against Capt. Campbell, the master—then confined by Capt. Vesey's orders in the hold of that vessel. A warrant fur his apprehension was at once granted 'y the magistrates, and a policeman sent off to see it enforced. The evidence I afterwards adduced in the investigation clear2 . v proves, that m had Capt. Campbell been disposed t o comm it u rder, he had every opportunity of so doing, hut that he confines' himself, and, as he alleges, for the support of his authority, to pre senting the pistol at Capt. Vesey's breast, led warnine• him that, if lie attempted to interfere with him, or with his sailors in carrying out his orders, he would shoot br i o through the heart. Upon this threat, apparently the re cult of much previous bickering on the voyage—upon the fact acknowledged by the captain, that he did so present the pistol, and upon his alleged efforts to use it during the struggle which ensued—the magistrates have committed Capt. Campbell for an assault and attempt to murder. " An information is then laid by the captain of the vessel! against Copts. Vesey and Neill, passengers, and against the soldiers acting under Capt. Vesey's orders, to the effect that they had seized him, confined him chained in the hold, and assumed the command of the vessel, thereby commit- ling an act of piracy, for which he requested thaeit warrant might be issued against them. This ('apt. Campbell does as soon as the isolated and peculiar position in which he was I placed admitted ; but the magistrates, receiving his Mow motion, strangely enough refuse to give his serious charge a hearing, although upon what grounds it has not pleased them to enlighten either him or the public. Capt. Camp bell, we understand, intends appealing to a higher court, I where the decision of the magistrates will he submitted to due test. Meantime we cannot refrain from remarking strongly on the unusual spectacle of the colonial secretary taking his scat as one of the magistrates, and an active and influential part throughout this trial against the accused. In this peculiar case, involving serious and important prin ciples, and in which government officers are concerned, the I presence of one civil servant as m ag i s t ra t e i n a b enc h o f two was quite sufficient. The addition of a second in the colonial secretary was quite uncalled for, is well calculated to destroy confidence in the court, a rightful cause of public jealousy, and a had precedent for the future. "The inhabitant , ' of this small island, at a ruinous dis tance from the higher courts of appeal in the mother country, have long lad reason to be proud of their Supreme Court, and thankful t the respected judge, who has earned for that court the entire confidence and high estimation of all. With such an exemplar before them, they naturally expect that the interior courts of the island should be also worthy of a high reputation —a reputation incompatible with the appearance even of any unfair exertion or prepon derance of government influence in them. 4. IITTLAOH,DINAIIT serztata OF THE BAHOTE LETENSIDE BY MILITAILY PASSENGERS. On Thursday, the tath of May, the barque Levenside arrived in the bay under peculiar and altogether unprece dented circumstances; she lint been, in fact, forcibly seized during the voyage by Capt. Vesey, a passenger in charge of a small detachment of the Royal Artillery . destined fur this place. The captain of the vessel was a prisoner in the hold —in chains; with a sentinel over him to prevent communi cation with the crew. "From what we have been able to learn from the evi dence iu the Police Court, the history of this strange caul startling afficir appears to be es follows: "That on the 15th May, in the evening, while the Leven side was on the high seas, Capt. 1). Campbell, the master, ordered the booby-hatch to be closed. This was done, and immediately afterwards Capt. Vesey summoned the troops under his charge to take off the hatch in defiance of the master's order, which was immediately carried into effect. This intemperate opposition to the master's legitimate authority no doubt, in some measure, gave rise to subse quent events. " On the 17th, two days after this occurrence, a squabble appears to have taken place between one of the soldiers and the dup . ,' carpenter. emit. News insisted that the cats painter should be punished; but upon investigating the ease, ('apt. Campbell, the master of the vessel, could not see very clearly that his man was more to blame than the soldier, and we believe did nut in any way puni s h the multi This led to some sharp words betweam the officers, and it is I asserted that Capt. Vest) , said he had a superior force on board, and should not hesitate to use it when he thought requisite. This lung:Lege appears nut only to have excited Capt. Campbell, but also to have alarmed him as to the safety of his ship—seeing that his orders had already once been forcibly interbred with by the troops under I Capt. is Vesey's command ; and as th e autho r it y o f a cap t a i n paramount iin board his own vessel, it would appear that 1 , he we, not willing to allow a passenger to usurp his autho rity, and interfere with him and his crew in working the vessel. At ten nil:Lutes past eight o'clock of the same even ing, the 17th, Capt. C'arupbell came ou deck to relieve Cooper, his second mate, then on duty ; for as the captain, three weeks previously had &stated the first mate for some negligence or misconduct, he himself did the first mate's Y. " It being dark, and NA eight o'clock at night, the cap tain ordered the booby-hutch to be e ut on ; but no sooner was the order given, than Capt. 1, racy, in charge of the troops, said it should not be done; Capt. Campbell then pulled out a pistol, and told Capt. Vesey that if he attempted to interfere with him, and pievent any of the crew obeying his orders, he would shoot him through the heart. 1. pen this qualified threat being uttered, Capt. Vesey immediately called his men to fall in round the hatchway, and ordered the bombardier to go below fur arms. This order wow in stantly obeyed, and as soon as Capt. Campbell AIM the arms being handed up the hatchway, he went forward, seized held of one of the muskets, and conimanded the soldier to give it up, saying, ' put that down, it does not belong to you— it belongs to the ship.' the soldier refused, whereupon a struggle took place fur the gun, when some one called out 'seize him,' uu which several soldier' seized the captain, threw him against a boat, wrenched the pistol out of his hand, as well as the musket he attempted to take from the moldier. At this point there is considerable discrepancy in the evidence. Capt. Vesey and Capt. Neill, aide-de-camp to Sir James Emerson Tennant, the expected governor, swear that the pistol was taken from the master by Capt. Vesey him self, while others as positively swear that it was seized by a soldier and handed to Capt. Vesey. " Then conies the mostextraordinary part of the affair. No sooner was Capt. Campbell seized than Capt. Vesey ordered his hands to be lashed behind his back, and it appears, at the instigatiou of Capt. N e ill, he wa s hurri e d i n t o the hold, and secured to a stanchion—and kept for sixteen hours iu Cat position without either water or anything else being giveu him,. as far as we can gather from the evidence. The' next meriting he was unlashed from the stanchion, and had strong chains fastened to his wrists by padlocks; in this position lie was kept in the hold for twelve days and eights, with an maned sentinel keeping watch over him. lie was not allowed to communicate with the crew during One time, our was he released from this extraordinary captivity, even int the arrival oh' the vessel in the roads, till the police went on board and caused hint to be unchained. " liven when the motive went on board, the soldiers refused to give hint up without the authority of Captain Vesey, al though they were furnished with a proper warrant from the ffiagistratcs. " Immediately Captabt Campbell was seized and forced " Two of the artillerymen, it appears, wore sick ; and a a u .'e was no surgeon oa board, Captain Campbell, the mast e r, supplied ti m e, with medicine tram his own chest. Whether the master of the vnsel or the artillery captain is the best juilje of the necessity of putting on the hatch at night we cannot say ; but it is pretty clear that Captain Vesey thought himself the best judge of this matt^r, and therefore deposed the captain, put him in chains in the hold, clapped an armed sentinel over hint, reinstated the disrated mate, seized the ship's papers as well as arms, appointed a mili• tarp steward, and wound up the whole affair by charging • the captain with an attempt to murder; thus preventing himself and friends from being charged with piracy, and sundry other matters dexterously performed on the high seas. While, as a fitting climax to the whole business, his trusty steward landed from the ship beastly drunk, and was forthwith marched to the guardhouse, a place not by any j means so well stocked with the good things of life as the lazaretto of the Lcvenside. " After four days investigation, Captain Campbell was committed for trial, on the charge of assault with intent to murder. Information was then laid by Captain Campbell against Captain Wiley and the others of his passengers, for piracy, and illegal seizure of the ship; which information was taken and signed by the magistrates." The Drily Xeres has the following comment on the above : The affair of the barque LerenstV,-, an account of which we have transferred to our columns from The .Idrocate, a newspaper published at St. Helena, i ought not to be left unnoticed in parliament. It is easy, indeed, to foresee what will be the fate of any ' erotical on the subject in the first instance. No de pe,-tment of government will have received any re port of the ease; the impossibility of affording any eAplanation in the absence of official intelligence will be urged ; and the close of the session will stop the mouths of complainants. But intimation can be given that the question will be renewed next session, and with an earnestness corresponding to its importance. We have no wish to prejudge the case. We ad mit that the substitution of a narrative interspersed with argument and comment, for a plain and exact report of the proceedings in the magistrates' court at St. Helena, renders it necessary to listen to the story with suspicion. Nay more, the comments on the conduct of the Colonial Secretary tend to attach to The Adrneede the character of an opposition journal, and impart to its account the character of a partisan charge. It would be grossly unjust to the military gentlemen implicated, to pronounce any thing like a decid e d o p in i on f their conduct upon such authority. Enough however appears, to show the necessity of searching dispassionate investigation. A detachment of the Royal Artillery, with two officers, arc passengers on hoard a merchant vessel. When the vessel arrives at St. Helena, the master is in chains in the cabin, and the crew are navigating the ship, under protest, by the commands of the military. During the voyage the military passengers have availed themselves of the superiority their arms gave them, to take the vessel from the captain and assume the management of it. The first step of the military captors, on landing, is to bring a charge of an attempt to murder against the master before the local magistrates. The master offers a counter charge of piracy against the military. One of the officers is aide-de-camp to the absentee governor. The Colonial Secretary takes his seat on the bench as a magistrat e , and takes also, it is alleged, a leading part in the conduct of the case. The master is committed on the charge of attempt to murder; it is with great reluctance and after much delay that he is allowed to lodge his iutiwniations. So far us we can learn from the narrative, the alleged attempt to murder, and the alleged piratical seizure, arose out of a s e rie s o f p rev i ous disputes be tween the parties. A quarrel had occurred between a soldier and one of the crew ; the military officer in sisted that the seaman should be punialied ; tho master insisted that the soldier was in fault. Agaia, the master twice ordered the booby hat c h t o b e fastened down ; the military officer in command of the detachment twice successfully resisted the fulfil ment of these orders. The military officer commanded his soldiers to take arms; the master presenftvl a pistol at the military officer. It does not clearly ap pear whether the command given to the soldiers, or the presenting of the pistol occurred first in point of time—a point of considerable importance. The mili tary officer alleges the sickly state of his party as a reason tar resisting the fastening of the hatch ; the master maintains that there was adequate provision for ventilation even when the hatch was closed. It is apparent that there was quarrelling a:id loss of temper on bo*h sides: and that a scuffle was tho result. On the one hand, recent inquiries into the character and conduct of our mercantile marine oblige us to admit that it is not impossible tho master of a merchantman may have conducted him self in such a manner as to render his confinement an action of self-defence. On the other hand, the absolute necessity of such a step must be clearly and incontrovertibly established, in order even to palliate so extraordinary a step as the seizing of the com mand of a vessel by military passengers. It is apparent, from the bringing of the vessel to St. Helena, that in no state of the facts can the military be regarded as having acted piratically except in a technical point of view. At the same time if an ex aggerated account has not been given of the treat ment experienced by the captain at their hands, ho was used more harshly than was required for his safe custody and the security of the passengers; even admitting that the latter had been endangered. If it shall ultimately appear that this was the case, it will warrant a suspicion that a want of proper temper on the part of the military led to the scuffle in which the master presented the pistol. It will also be an unfortunate circumstance if it shall ultimately appear that the Colonial Secretary acted, as is asserted, on a charge made by the aide-de-camp of the Governor. The charge against the master is a grave one. It involves, in the first place, an accusation of miscon duct, rendering it necessary for the safety of his passengers to confine him to his cabin ; and in the second place, of an attempt to commit murder. The charge against the military is equally grave ; ing, in the first place, an accusation of having usurped the legitimate authority of the master, and in the second of having preferred an unjust charge against him in order to disc cable him from appealing to a court of justice. Mixed up with these counter-charges, is an imputation not less serious against the colonial authorities, of perverting the law to favour• friends and official allies. into the hold, eraptaiit VeseytoinznAnded one of the soldiers to turn every onoe belonging to the crew out of the cabin, and take possession of it, which was done. Two soldier BelS4-11 the steward, hurried hint along the deck, and bun- On all these points w•e reserve our opinion until further information is obtained. But inquiry is necessary for the sake of the character of gentlemen belonging to use of the most distinguished corps in the British army; for the sake of the safety of nevi . gation ; and for the sake of the pure administration of justice in one of our colonies. died hint as he say:, by compulsion,' clown the, hatchway, front which he appears soon sifter to have escaped. " They then commenced ransacking the captain's cabin — seized his fowling-piece, opened his chest, and took a pistol from it, which they ultimately sealed up in the case be longing to them. Captain Vesey and Captain Neill now ordered the disrated mate to work the 'ship for them, and ordered the second mate Cooper to turn to, who mid he would do so fur sake of the ship, provided Captains Vesey and Neill distinctly understood that by so doing he was not disobeying Captain C a mpbell's order, whom he considered as his master. The crew at first were not disposed to work the ship under these circumstances, till Cooper very pro perly called thou aft and explained the conditions on which Ise would resume duty—to which they also agreed, and turned to work. Captain Vesey not only seized the ship'. books and papers, but turned out the steward, and ap pointed one of his soldiers to fill that responsible office, and also reinstated the first matr..--thus making liberal use of the patronage appropriated to himself by such extraor dinary means. When Captain Campbell required a change of linen, his chest was sent to him in the bold, and on open ing it he found that his log book and private journal were both missing, to say nathiug of his writing deal and the ship's papers, which Captain Vesey seised when he took possession it the vessel. "The captain's hands were always unchained at meal times, and carefully put on again afterwards, as Capt. Neill says, with great kindness and consideration. When the vessel arrived in the bay, Captain Vcsey went board her hlsjesill's steam ship Recta, to ask the com e A YACHT STRUCK HT LIOIITSING.—On Wednes day, about three p.m., a most terrific thunder-storm visited Portsmouth, there being a great deal of lightning, with torrents of rain. The Fanny, yacht, Master Commander Scarlett, belonging to Admiral Sir liladen Capel, was out at Spitheatl, a short distance from the Spit-buoy, when rho was struck. The electric fluid first struck her topmast sonic Ilttlo distance below the truck, breaking it In three pieces, and knocking the centre-piece to splinters. It then de scended the mast, shivering it as it went, and knocking off the copper at the jaws of the gaff and boom. It neat tore up the deck at the partners, and descended into the cabin; it there flickered about the copper wire-b.II pulls, set the bells ringing, turning one completely user, and escaped through the side of the vessel, di-placing a copper belt. Mr. Searlett and his crew were all knocked down by the shock; but the men below that were sheltering from the rain felt the shock more than those on deck. They were stunned for the moment, but fortunately nu one was seriously hurt. The Fanny was afterwards towed into harbour disabled by the Oberon steamer, who saw her mishap as she came into harbour from St. Ilelen's. The storm appears to have been quite local, as a vessel in the Solent, near Osborne, felt nothing of it. merely having a few drops of rain; but it passed by her with terrific violence at a distance of about hull a mile to the eastward of her. STOPPAGE OF BLACKFRIARS BRlDGE.—Yesterday, to notice, this b ridge was closed to carriages of all .• • .. 0 ntander's advice. —.. saw the fast lieutenant, who imme diately told him that the best thing he could do would be to reinstate the c. plain, restore all the papers, and put matters to rights as soon as he could ; fur, according to his opinion, be Lad committed what was tantamount to piracy on the high seas. However, instead of doing this, Captain Vesey kept the master chained below till he went on shore, and obtain. d a warrant against him on the charge of assault and attempted murder. "Captain Vosey's alleged reason fur not allowing the booby-hatch to be closed as, that the weather was ha, and that it would endanger the health of the men—about 13 in pursuant . in. „, descriptions. The work of removing the heavy granite stones hitherto resting on the faulty arches has already com menced, a light wooil..n pathway having been provided for pedestrians. The thick bed of earth at present forming the bed of the road is to be taken away preparatory to the con templated repairs. During the closing of the bridge omnibus travellers will 'have to remember that the Ken nington " busses," as well from Islington as King's-cross, pass over Waterloo?Jridge. PUBLIC INC•JSIE AND EXPENDITURE.—Yesterday was printed the government balance-sheet of income sad • was !OM covered with hey b lood Of cosine ths perform- I number. This hitch is furnished with a elide, or scuttle, expenditure tor the year ending the sth ul t . The income sore was immediately susp e nd e d , an d t h e money returned. for the PerPoso of ventilation, which can be kept open when was 53,015,2671. 9 5 ., and - the expendi t ure 50,012. .1801.132.4 d.. Mrs. Shea came to America es Mies Eemble, and is the / the hatch itself is down ; consequently no great harm would showing an excess of income over the expenditure of grand-daughter of Stephen &enable and grand-nieoe of the ' happen to We men when below, even ) k M A the Instr./stigma, 8,032,7 8 65. 7 s . 51 The balances in the Exchequer on the famous Mrs. %datum Her husba nd is at present in New fur it was always in their power to keep the elide open, sth July, last year, were, 8,900,3801. Is. and, on the Orleans.—Tbrostto ChrOnide. which is one of considerable sine. sth ultimo, they amounted to 7,934,1541. 9s. 3f d.