The Sun. — London, England, 1862-03-20 00:00:00

MR. and MRS. CHARLES KEAN will APPEAR at the Theatre -Royal Drury-lane, THIS 11VENING ( THURSDAY), March 20, in THE MERCHANT , OF VENICE. On Friday, 21st, Othello; and on Saturday, 22d (for the _Benefit of Mr. E. T. Smith), The Wonder. PO YAL E NGLISH OPERA, It 1) CO VENT GARDEN. the management of Miss Louisa Pyne and Mr. W . . Harrison. THIS EVENING, THE LILY OF KILLARNEY. Misses Louisa Highusan Pyne, and Jessie M‘Lean ; Mr. Santley, Mr. H. Mr. E. Dussek, Mr. Patey, Mr. C. Lyali. Mr. Wallworth, and Mr. W. Harrison. Followed by THE MARRIAGE OF GEORGETTE. Miss Tbirlwall and Mr. A. Coal. Conductor, Mr. ALFRED MELLON. Commence at Seven. THEATRE , Re Y AL, HAYMARKET, Lvsgee, Mr. J. B. Buokstone. THIS EVENING, t) commence with OUR AMERICAN COUSIN. Lord Dundreary, Mr. Sothern ; Asa Trenchard, Mr. Buckstone. After which (10th time) a Household Picture, under Two Lights, entitled THE WIFE'S PORTRAIT. Mr. Howe, M.r. W. Farren, Mrs. C. Young, &c. To conclude with FAMILY JARS. Commence a 7 OYAL LYCEUM THEATRE. Manager—Mr. Edmund Falconer. THIS EVENING, 109th time of the new and original Drama entitled, PEEP O'DAY ; or, Savourneen Deelish. :Messrs Walter Lacy, Hermann Vezin, Charles Selby, Edmund Fal coner ; Mrs. D. P. Bowers. Miss Clara Weston. After which, a new and original Burl es q ue Extr avag an z a, entitled LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD ; or, Th,.. Fairies of the Rose, the Thistle, and the Shamrcck. Principal charac ters by Mr. Chas. Selby, Mr. Warlow , Miss Cicely Nott , and Miss Lydia Thompson. Acting Manager--Mr. F. R Chßtterton. Thbices as usual. Doors open at half-past 6, to commence at 7. Box-office open daily from 11 ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE. Lessee, Mr A. Harris. THIS EVENING, CASH V. CUPID. Mr. Widdicomb, Mr. Shcre, Miss Maria Harris, &c. Atter which, at Eight o'clock, OTHELLO. lago, Mr. Pechter ; Othello, Mr. Ryder. NEW THEATRE-ROYAL, ADELPHI.- Sole Proprietor and Manager, Mr. B. Webster. TO-NIGHT, THE LIFE OF AN ACTRESS. Mr. and Mrs. Dion Bouecault, Messrs. Emery, J. L. Toole, Billington, Stuart, Ebume, Sefton, Powell, C. J. Smith ; Mrs. Billington, Mrs. Harland, Mrs. H. Lewis, Miss Laidlaw. After which, THE COLLEEN HAWN. Mr. and Mrs. D. Blucicaulr, Mr. Billington, D. Fisher, C: J. Smith, S. Emery, Stephenson ; Miss Woolgar, Mrs. Billington, Commence at 7. NEW ROYALTY THEATRE, Dean-street, Oxford-street. THIS EVENING, THE LOTTERY TICKET'. To be tollowed by DELICATE GROUND. Miss Rebecca Powell, from the Winter Gardens, New York ; Messrs. C. Wyndham and D. James. After which, the succesful Opera Buffo, entitled LE MARI AGE AUX LANTERNES. Mr. John Morgan, Mesdames Stanley, Payne, and Mason. To conclude with the Ballet Divertissement, HOMAGE TO FLORA. Misses Clara and Barbara Morgan. Commence at halt-past 7. ASTLEY'S ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE.- Sole Proprietor and Manager, Mr. W. Batty. In consequence of the great sensation created by the won drous feats of the colossal Asiatic Elephants on the stage, and in the circle, their truly marvellous Pertormance will be continued till further not ce. THIS EVENING, the Grand Eastern Spectacle of THE RAJAH OF NAGPORE, with new and splendid dresses, scenery, and decorations, introducing Mr. Bell's trained Ele ph, nts, pronounced by the Press and the Public the cleverest animals ever exhibited. To be followed by brilliant Scenes in the Circle by the unrivalled Troupe 01 Equestrians. Concluding with a comic Ballet of Action, introducinr , Mr. Hairy Croueste (the favourite Clown to the Ring), the Misses Gunnis, and the whole of the Corps de Ballet. Commence at 7—Conclude at a quarter-past 11. Stage Manager, Mr. W. Searle. C ANTERBURY HALL AND FINE ARTS GALLERY. VICTOR JULIEN, " THE FLYING MAN," (Last Week but One) at half-past Nine, in new and extraor dinary feats. Grand Selections from "La Sonnambula," "Dinorah," and " La Circassienne, " by tldlle. Negri, with full Band and Chorus, conducted by Mr. Jonghmans. The COMIC by Mr. Randall, Mr. Frederick French, Mr. J. l"orde, Messrs. Hilelebrandt and Ormond, and Miss Caroline Parkes. Admission—Hall, 6d. ; Stalls and Balcony, ls. T HE OXFORD, 6, OXFORD-STREET.- EVERY EVENING. HENRI and PFAU, in their intrepid Double Feats on the Flying Trapeze. Two Operatic Selections alternately from " Ernani," " Macbeth," "Il Trovatore," "La Traviata," "La Circas sienne," kc., by Miss Russell, Madame Enderssohn, Messrs. Morley, Greene, C. Greville, and Albert. Full Band and Chores—(Conductor —Mr. F. Jongtom.ns.) Violin Solos— Mr.Viotti Collins, and other Vocal and Instrumental attrac tions. The Comic portion by Messrs. Sam Collins, Harvey and French (the Nerves), E. Marshall, and IV Randall. Hall, 6d.; Stalls and Balcony, ls. ; Private Boxes, 10s. 6d. A Grand Morning Entertainment EVERY THURS DAY, at Two, HENRI and PFAU and the whole of the Company, appear. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. T 4h. 32m.—Afternoon, 4h. 51m To-moRROW.-Morning, sh, 16m.—Afternoon, sh. 39m, THE WEATHER.—SUN OFFICE, MARCH 20, 1862, THERMOMETER, IN THE SHADE. 47--highest since noon yesterday. `'s—lowest tnis morning and during the night. 31—this day at noon. BAROMETER-29.40 ; falling. WIND—E.-N.-Easterly ; rather fresh, with dull, rainy, cold weather. NOTICE. All remittances are, henceforth, to be made to Mr. JOHN CHAPLIN, at The Sun office, 112, Strand, who has been appointed, by the Lord Chancellor, Receiver and Manager of The Sun newspaper, and the outstanding debts due in respect thereof. i ~. :1-, - ..... ~...‹.,„ , r, -^" 'PT--'' '---.-: ' 7 ',,--ZL'l.,.j , '',ii-., -: 7'..TE:.:,,-. ~....*,.\.,„ . ,, 43,,q,0*--- VO-I.:4tiv ,1„ ~:".... II e 4.51. 4.._,..,., E-4,1. e=ilJ',-, i _--7---A-77,:,:_, 4),- THE SUN. LONDON, THURSDAY, MARCH 20, 1862, All the copious details of news, and the specu ,, latiorts of letter writers from the States are thrown into the shade by the telegraphic summary of President LINCOLN'S message which accompanies them. At last we have a Presidential move on the subject of slavery ; a hesitating, cautious, and con ciliatory one, it could but be from Mr. LINCOLN ; but we are much mistaken if it will not develope a new element in the struggle, should it not prove the precursor of Lord RUSSELL'S predicted early settlement. We do not exaggerate the importance of this message, there is no need to do so ; for a calm consideration of its bearing on the actual state of the struggle between the North and the South, and of its inevitable working on the future, will show the suggestions of the President to have in trinsic importance enough. The President invites the Houses to pass a joint resolution offering pecuniary aid for the emanci rti'4 of slaves. Co ngress ma y d ec li ne t o do thi s , out even i f it does, it cannot destroy the moral effect, ut Itt eh a recommendation from a President who has refrained to the uttermost from dealing hitherto with slavery. Thousands in the North who have till cp:6o:__ been b ac k war d an d ti m id on 'the slave L'un , when they s e e th e i r Chi e f alagistrate reluctantly compelled to propose serious measures in reference to it, will take courage, and become gradual emancipationists at first, and if that cannot be carried, they w ill pro bably drop the qualifying Word, and turn Aboli timists. The Message teca..te cially evident that Slavery is held by the first m an i ._ u the States to stand in the way of restoration of the u n i on. It was well enough known before, b ut "uvr the most responsible authority in the States proclaims the desirableness of emancipation, although con fessing it to be, on the compensation plan, as costly trs the war. It is folly to extenuate the effect which such a declaration frOm such an individual must have with all the thoughtful and more wary part of the Northern community. Bat, for the present, wt.l may suppose the Congress to concur with the suggestion of the PRESIDENT, and its working will then be, in his judgment, that of attaching the principal border States decidedly to the North, and compelling the purely Southern States to despair of regaining them. Mr. LINCOLN thinks, we might perhaps layknows,that the purely Slave-States trust less to their ovfn competency to form a confederation, than to the hope, that if they can effect a separation, the Border States will eventually sympathise with them. Missouri, Ken- ,ucky, Tennessee, Virginia, and perhaps Maryland, are their hope. Vast as the territory would be south of these more important States, it would be but a feeble power as a nation. The PRESIDENT would deprive them of this hope. " The leaders of the insurrection," he says, "hope that the Govern- went will be ultimately forced to acknowledge the independence of some part of the disaffected region, and that then all the Slave States north of such parts will say—' he Union for which we have struggled being already gone, we now choose to go with the Southern section.' " To deprive them of this hope substantially ends the rebellion. The initiation of emancipation completely deprives them of it. Probably late successes in the Western Border States, and the Union feeling manifested there by the people, have had something to do with the PRESIDENT'S coming to the decision now before us ; and it must be acknowledged to be an admirable reconciliation of his determination not to interfere with slavery unconstitutionally, and yet to use emancipation as the means of embarrassing the rebels. He can remark truly that his proposal does not claim for the Federal Government a right to interfere with slavery within the State limits, it being left a matter of free choice with the States to accept or reject the proposal. The Constitution says, in explicit words, nothing about slavery ; it enforces, however, on all free States, by an inten tionally periphrastic clause, the rendition of slaves —that is all, and it is bad enough. But the Con stitution certainly leaves the general Government free to co-operate with any of the States in any way it pleases for any purpose. We have no right to complain of a President for thus keeping com pletely within the limits of the Constitution he has sworn to defend, and from observing an oath from which nothing but circumstances of absolute necessity can liberate him. What he now proposes is perhaps as terrible to his opponents by its political modera tion as by its obvious tendency. They will see that it points to universal ultimate emancipation ; but they will be unable to represent it as an act of political war on the slave States. It is, as he describes it, an "initiation" of emancipation, yet it is not even such an interference on the subject as was our own in the West Indies. If the resolution be carried, it would seem almost certain that the slaveholders generally in the Border States will gladly avail themselves of it ; and even in the slave states themselves, the possibility of a change without injury to their pockets will soon begin to shake the prejudices of great numbers. Mr. LINCOLN sensibly observes in regard to slaveholders :—" In the proposition now made, though only an offer, I ask whether the pecuniary aid tendered would not be of more value to the States and private persons concerned than are the institution and property in it in the present aspect of affairs." Surely property which can run away at pleasure during war, and which may never again be protected by a fugitive slave law, will be held by thousands to be of less value than the " pecuniary aid offered by the Government." As to the ways and means of furnishing the pecuniary aid, the PRESIDENT truly enough points out that the cost could not exceed that of war. The eventual cost would indeed be far less than a war carried on with determination on both sides. The sacrifice of life, health, money, and property en tailed on the Union by a few years of determination on the part of the North to recover all for the Union, and of the South to resist to the last, would undoubtedly far surpass any expense incurred by gradual emancipation. At the same time the poli tician would have the grand result before him in the latter case of a Union free, or steadily freeing itself, from :what has been hitherto its disgrace and hindrance. We observe that a contemporary who always leans to the South and their cause, represents the proposal of the PRESIDENT as important only as a " bid " towards putting an end to the war. It is suggested that other bids may follow, and that the North may gradually rise in its offers till the South accepts its terms. But certainly there is little in the temper of the North so far as we can under stand it here, to warrant such a supposition. Their late victories in all the exultation they occasioned, suggested amnesty indeed, and fair terms, but unconditional return to the Union was all along assumed as indispensable. What the Southern politicians demand, however, and what the North will suffer long before it concedes, is independence. Everything else the North can offer the South could have had from Congress at the time it seceded. Mr.LTNcoLN himself declares war to be in dispensable as long as there is resistance and that his proposal is offered, not as a bid, at least not one for peace- i ful separation—but the very reverse—he tells us himself that by depriving them of all hope of gain ing the Border States he shall substantially end the rebellion ;" and " tha initiation of emancipation" he says " completely deprives them of hope of the Border States." We begin to hope, therefore, that though the President begins in the mildest and most concilia tory form, yet that as "the initiation of emarci pation" is the policy on which he relies, the result will be only a succession of " bids" to make eman cipation more and more probable. At the effect of of the Message on all parties—on senators and re presentatives, on Conservatives and Radicals, as de scribed by the New York Herald, we cannot won der. Another great Federal victory would not have been so really important as the President's emancipation Message. Looking towards Warsaw through the Russian lorgnette, all goes on there couleur de rose and " swimmingly." It is so charming a novelty in itself to mark how this possibly can be in the ancient capital of Poland, that it is really worth looking at. The latest occasion for this display of loyalty and of willing submission on the part of the inhabitants, we learn—still from our official in formant—was the recurrence but a little more than a week ago of the ever-memorable ninth of March, a day so delightful for the Poles to call to their remembrance, inaugurating as it did so many resylendant and consolatory hopes, in regard to which of course the Polish population have never once in any particular been even for an instant doomed to anything like disappointment. The - ninth of March ! Does not every Pole's heart " the wide world o'er," al Lon,. or in exile, thrill to re member it ? The anniversary of the accessiun to the Imperial throne of the Autocrat of All the Russias and their dependencies, of his Majesty tLe Emperor ALEXANDER 11. What abundant reasons or gratitude the in habitants of Russian Poland have, to be "Ire, whenever they call to mind that famous ninth of Ma rch, when—in the very crisis of the Crimea n W ar (just aft er t h e agon i es o f t h at d rea df u l winter had b een Paned thr oug h b y th e Alli e d arm ies before Sebastopol)--- a nother Czar ALEXANDER ascended that a w f al throne of the great Northern Autocracy, from which the Rouse of ROMANOFF rules, with an absolute authority, the destinies of sixty millions of their fellow creatures. Once before there was an Emperor ALEXANDER, who came into possession of the eceptre of pwrxit ~. ~r THE SUN, LONDON, THORSDAYI EVE; NINE, MARCIE' 20, 1862. the Great under precisely the same circumstances —the dawn of his reign ushered in under the same beautiful but illusory auspices. Poland then—it was immediately at the turn of the century—when the eighteenth was merging into the nineteenth— Poland then, as it has since done more recently under a strictly analogous conjunction of events, found all her brighter and nobler aspirations re viving, with every reasonable prospect before her of realising at length, at the very least, to a partial extent, the halcyon and cherished daydreams of her emancipation. ALEXANDER 1., Czar of all the Russias, encouraged those hopes of Poland during the earlier years of his seductive sovereignty to the very uttermost. A friendship as romantic as that knitting together the lives of ORESTES and PYLADES bound together those of the youthful Czar ALEXANDER I. and his chosen intimate the chief of the Polish nobility, the first of the Polish patriots, the Prince ADAM CZARTORYSKI, then in the flower of his age. And it was not simply that they were sympathising friends and congenial com panions —the Emperor ALEXANDER nominated Prince ADAM one of his most influential advisers and administrators, constituting him one of the fore mos tmembers at his imperial council-board, and the Minister for Foreign Affairs in his Government. If ALEXANDER 11. has never gone quite to that length, he has inaugurated his reign at any rate by other indications of goodwill towards Poland and its inhabitants—indications appa rently of such significance in themselves that they for a long while deluded again intdfalse hopes those who were only toapainfully familiar with the .. • • torturing records of many dead and gone, but still bitterly remembered disappointments. How, once more, history has in our own time been seen (accord ing to her marvellous wont) to repeat herself we know now but too well in the instance of these hopes kindled again only to be quenched in regrets, and not only in regrets, alas, but literally in blood and in tears, all Christendom has with anguish but very recently witnessed. The Polish occupants of the Russian dungeons still attest it. The frozen wilds of Siberia again are peopled with Polish witnesses against the broken faith and the cruelly deluding promises of a Russian Emperor ALEXANDER. Never again we think to ourselves now—but then our fathers have thought the same before us under exactly the like circumstances —never again van the Polish multitude, by:any possibility,be deceived anew by a quasi liberal or soidisant reforming Czar of all the RITSSIAS. We would venture to hint, here, but for everyone's loat hin g of the hackneyed quotation— at least we must, for the nonce, whisper two words of it, for it was never more applicable than when thus dropping from the lips of every deluded Pole, while contemplating the fair promises of the Rus sians— Timeo Danaos—and the rest of it. So, now again, very recently, under the Czar ALEXANDER 11., as formerly, a whole generation back, under the Czar ALEXANDER I.—the hopes of Poland have been raised only . to be dashed to the ground. These later hopes of the Poles being raised all the higher —yea, until, in truth, they were in nubibus—by the anspicious circumstance that the new Autocrat seemed to give an ample guarantee of his sincerity, by emancipating, in spite of his nobles, the whole serf population of his empire. Since then, however, it ie known to all Europe by what an anti-climax the Czar ALEXANDER 11. followed up his emanci pation of the serfs by grinding the new-born hopes of Poland under the pitiless heel of his remorseless despotism. How Poland bears in her remembrance these latest incidents in her most lamentable history was indicated plainly enough at Warsaw on the 9th instant,the anniversary of the reigning EMPEROR'S accession. The celebration of that fete day we now hear went off—precisely as might have been anticipated. The churches were numerously at tended in the forenoon—by officials ! But then it ought to be remembered, in regard to these even, that they were ordered to attend under severe penalties ! Again, the Gazette or Alioniteur of Warsaw—the Dziennik, Towszechny, appeared in the morning with a supplement, containing the names of 74 prisoners benignantly amnestied by the AUTOCRAT. Bat then, remember, that 41 out of the 74 had already undergone (without having . yet been tried !) a considerable portion of their punish• meat. That some of them had actually undergone the Whole of their punishment. That they were almost all of them prisoners before trial and con viction, That with us English the accused are always deemed to be innocent until they are proved to be guilty. And that yet these possible " inno cent" people were mercifully pronounced to be par doned ! As night descended upon Warsaw the theatres were thrown open gratuitously, and the city was spontaneously illuminated. There, at least, were two splendid opportunities for popular manifestations of loyalty. And how have the in habitants of Warsaw availed themselves of each to that end ? Why, it is almost ludicrous to learn, in regard to the illuminations, that those were confined exclusively to the public buildings and the residences of official people and their subordinates. And in regard to the gratuitously opened theatres that the civil and military authorities alone, with the police, and their wives and families, made up the scanty gathering of spectators at the appointed performances. The police, by the way, having been sent forth into the streets, to traverse the city from end to end, for the purpose of putting a black mark against every private citizen's house that remained unilluminated, were obliged to desist in the attempt because of the number that would have required to be thus partiplarised. Free tickets again, we learn, were plentifully distributed among servants and labourers with a view to fill the still empty seats at the theatres. With what result, is it asked ? Well, with this result—that the few tickets were pocketed by the servants and labourers, but that their recipients disdained to make use of them. Such, from first to last, in effect, was this loyal demonstration at Warsaw on the EMPEROR'S fete-day. Beyond a doubt, it was a magnificent demonstration. But it was one of a character wholly different from what had been intended. His Excellency the Ambassador of France and the Countess de Flahault entertained a select party at din ner last evening at Coventry House. His Excellency the Hanoverian Minister arrived in Grosvenor-place on Tuesday from the Continent. The Duchess of St. Albans and Viscount Falk land and Lady Diana Beauelerk have arrived in town from St. Leonards. The Marquis and Marchioness of Donegall come to town to-morrow, from llarefield House, Uxbridge, for thn season. The Malquie of Hastings has arrived in town from Brighton. The Earl and Countess of Fife entertained at dinner last evening, at their residence in Grosvenor-place. the Duchess of Inverness, the Duke of St. Albans, the Earl Russell; the Countess of Newburgh, the Countess of Kin noul, Lord and Lady Cremorne, Lord Dufferin, Lady Cathe rineßicardo, Mr. Mildmay, &c. The Earl of Dalkeith, M.P., has left Belgrave square for Bowhill, Selkirk. Lord Henry Scott, M.P., is staying at Stackpole Court, south Wales, on a visit to the Earl and Countess Cawdor, Lord and Lady CalthAorpe and the Hon. Miss Calthorpe arrived at their - residence in Grosvenor-square yesterday, from Perry Hall, Birmingham. , Lord and Lady Aliercromby have left the Claren dn Hotel for Paris. Lady Molesworth bald issued cards for an assem bly on Wednesday net 24 her residence in Eaton .place. LATEST NEWS. TURIN, MARCH 20. A rumour is current that M. Farini has accepted the post of Minister for Foreign Affairs. INDIA AND CHINA. We have been favoured with the following tele gram from the Red Sea and India Telegraph Com- pang : " JUBAL, MARCH 19, Nom " The Odin has just passed Jubal, having on board he Japanese Commissioners. " The Odin reports that Shanghai was closely invested by the rebels. Lord Elgin arrived at Calcutta on the Ist of March." SOUTHAMPTON, MARCH 20. The Peninsular and Oriental Company's steamer Mooltan, sailing hence to-day, takes out specie— £2o3,o2B 10s. in dollars, £83,580 in bar silver, £12,878 in gold coin, and £3,682 in sovereigns. FRANCE. BOURSE, March 19. The market continues heavy. Business in Three per Cents. for the Ac count commenced at 69f 70c, a slight improvement on the closing rates of the previous day; but it was not long maintained, and the quotation is now 69f 75c. The Railway Share Market has been pretty firm, transactions limited. The following were the last quotations :- -It per per Cents 97 75 Do. end month 3 per Cents Do. end month 69 65 New 3 per Cents Do. end month 6B 55 Credit Mobilier 756 25 Do. Account — Bank Shares — Credit koneier 1530 Belgian 44 — Piedmontese Fives 67 80 Roman — Austrian Spanish Threes sl- Home Debt RAILWAYS. • Cash. Account. Orleans 1383 75 .. 1387 50 Northern .... New ditto , 950 • . Lyons and Mediterranean 1093 75 .. 1095 Geneva . Southern 762, 50 .. 763 75 Western Eastern ... , Sardinian 347 50 .. 350 Austrian Lombard Exchange on London, a t sight, paper, 25 f 26 c ; ditto money, 25f 2310 ; ditto, three months, paper, 25f 81c : ditto money, 25171 c. PRUSSIA. The lndependance Beige has the following re specting the change of Ministry at Berlin : " The Ministerial crisis has terminated at Berlin, as we expected it would from the last information received. The resignation of the five Liberal Minis ters has been accepted by the King, and a Ministry taken exclusiveiy from the ranks of the retrograde party has been formed. M. von der Heydt, an ex colleage of M. de Manteuffel, whom M. Auerswald and the other Ministers of more liberal opinions should not have allowed to join them, becomes Minister of Finances in the new Cabinet, in which he prominently figures. The other Minis ters are Count Itzenplitz. Minister of Agricul ture ; M. de Muhler, Public Worship --two names of some signification. M. de Miihler is President of the Consistory, and the intimate friend of M. Bethmann-Holtweg, who has resigned office on the conviction that after the vote on the Hagan motion it became necessary to form a retrograde Cabinet. Let us add—and this will complete the picture of the new Cabinet—that the Ministry of the Interior is entrusted to M. Jagow, President of Police. This combination puts an end to the Ministerial crisis, but it need scarcely be said that it by no means terminates the political crisis, but rather gives it greater intensity. It now rests with the electors to speak and say what the country really wants. Let the Prussian Liberals act up to the mark of the situation ; let them not forget that union is strength, and it may then be hoped that the accession of the Von der Heydt-Itzenplitz Cabinet will be the last attempt at reaction in Prussia. It will depend upon them that this Ministry shall mark the end of the period of transition through which the country is passing, and that its fall will shortly open the final era of Constitutional institu- tions," Le Z%'ord has the following :-- " The King of Prussia has re-constituted his Ministry ; the resignation of the five Liberal Liberal members of the Cabinet has been accepted. They are replaced by men whose names will create a painful surprise in the public. The population continues to maintain a calm but resolute attitude, nevertheless there are all sorts of rumours afloat. No one believes in the possibility of a coup d'etat, such as the decree of a new electoral ; on the other hand, concessions by the new Government are not believed in. One thing is certain,:the change of Ministry is not a solution, but only the commence ment of the crisis." The Volks•Zeitung says, that on the day of dis. solution of the Chamber ball-cartridge was distri buted in the barracks, and every measure taken to put down an attempt at insurrection. La Presse says : " The installation of the new. Prussian Ministry is nothing less than a return to the detestable policy of M. de Manteuffel. The Prussian people look calmly upon these violent measures. The King is strictly within his right, but the people well know how to exercise theirs. There seems to be no doubt, after the enthusiastic ovations that have taken place in honour of the members who voted for Hagen motion, that they will all be re-elected." GREECE. La Patrte publishes the following : "An official telegraphic despatch from Corfu, dated the 18th inst., has been received at the Greek Le gation, with advises from Athens to the 15th inst, All the redoubts of the insurgents outside Nauplia were carried by the Royal troops on the 13th. Coroneo, one of the leaders of the insurrection, and two other officers, were made prisoners. All the guns of the entrenchments are in the hands of the Royalists. The insurgents have shut themselves up in Nauplia, and have asked for an armistice and amnesty. The commander of the Royal troops granted them an armistice of 24 hours. " The same despatch announces, that the garrison of Syra, consisting of a company of infantry, had revolted, and with the help of some sailors, had seized a steamer belonging to the Hellenic Naviga tion Company. One of the ships of the Royal navy came up with them off the island of Kythnos, and made them prisoners." The New York advices of yesterday describe a sudden stringency in the stock market, owing partly, as it is observed in a circular of Messrs. Blake, Brothers, and Co., of Boston, "to the delay of Government in meeting their payments, thus obliging their creditors to provide for their own liabilities in other ways," and partly to the hoarding of the existing paper currency owing to the ad vantage it will possess over that which is about to be poured forth in being receivable for Customs' dues. The Commit tee of the House of Representatives had agreed to a bill for the various new forms of taxation, including the imposition of a duty on paper; but the question as to the alterations to be made in the tariff was still under discussion with them. The changes wero likely to be unimportant. COLLISION AT SEA.—The Russian brig Ahti, Capt. Granberg, laden with salt, from Liverpool for Revel, was run down on Saturday morning last, about 70 miles S.W. of the Scilly islands, by the English ship Negotiator, Captain Moon, belonging to Messrs. F. Robson and Co., Sunderland, and bound from Sunderland with a cargo of coals for Genoa. The unfortunate collision caused the loss of both vessels, and took place about 5 30 a.m. The brig was on a wind and the Negotiator was running before it, and ran in and over the brig between her masts, cutting her down to the water's edge. The Ahti went down within a few minutes after the vessels had cleared each other, one of her crew perishing with her, the others, eight in number, gatting on board the ship. About an hour after the acci dent the Negotiator was abandoned with 5 feet of water in her hold, the two crows being taken on board the barque Talavera, from St. Kitts for London, with sugar, &c., from which they were landed at Plymouth yesterday morning by No. 4 CONVOS pilot boat. CRYSTAL PALACE.--One Shilling Day, day, March 19 . —Admissions on payment, 63 1 ; d itto by s eason tickets, 677; total visitors, 1,308. Wednes- THE CIVIL WAR IN AMERICA PRESIDENT LINCOLN ON SLAVERY ' AND THE MAR. PRESIDENTIAL MESSAGE. (PER HIBERNIAN, *VIA LONDONDERRY.) NEW YORK, MARCH 7, MORNING, President Lincoln, in his Message to Congress urging the passing of a joint resolution for co ope ration with the Slave States, by means of pecuniary aid, for the gradual emancipation of slaves, sass: "If the proposition does not meet with the ap proval of Congress and the country, it is at an end; but if it does command approval, it is important that the States and the people interested should be at once notified, so that they may consider whether to accept or reject the proposal. " The Federal Government would find its highest interest in such a measure as one of the most efficient of self-preservation. "The leaders of the insurrection hope that the Government will be ultimately forced to acknow ledge the independence of some paat of the dis affected region, and that then all Slave States north of such parts will say, "Ile Union for which we have struggled being already gone, we now choose to go with the southern section.' "To deprive them of this hope substantally ends the rebellion. The initiation of emancipation completely deprives them of it. " The point is not that all States tolerating slavery could very soon, if at all, initiate emanci pation, but that while the offer is equally made to all, the more Northern States shall, by such initia tion, make it certain to the more southern that in no event will the former ever join the latter in their proposed Confederacy. "I say initiation, because, in my judgment, a gradual, and not sudden, emancipation is better for all. " The current expenditure of the war would very soon purchase all the slaves in any named State. " Such a proposal does not claim for the Federal Government a right to interfere with slavery within the State limits, it being left a matter of free choice with the States to accept or reject the proposal. " The war continues to be an indispensable means for the restoration of the Union. " The practical acknowledgment of the national authority would render war unnecessary, and it would at once cease. If resistance continues, war must continue; and it is impossible to foresee all the incidents which may follow it. Such means as may seem indispensable, or may obviously pro mise great efficiency towards ending the struggle, must and will come. In the proposition now made, though only an offer, I ask whether the pecuniary aid tendered would not be of more value to the States and private persons concerned than are the institution and property in it in the present aspect of affairs. While, it is true, the adoption of the proposed resolution would be merely initiatory, and not within itself a practical measure, it is recommended in hope that it would soon lead to important results. In full view of my great responsibility to God and - to the country, I earnestly beg the attention of Congress and the people to the subject. The New York Times thinks that President Lin coln's plan will not achieve the end proposed. It will not induce any slave State to discard slavery. It will be attended with expense too overwhelming to be regarded favourably by people having upon their shoulders a present and prospective debt of several thousand millions. The New ork It orld approves the Message. The New York _Herald thinks the Message will be well received by the Conservative element both in the North and in tte South. The New York Tribune strongly approves the Message, and thinks it seals the fate of the re bellion in every Christian land. No civilised nation will ally itself with the South, knowing that the Union and Liberty are one and inseparable. The Washington correspondent of the New York 7inzes says that Mr. Seward is preparing a despatch on Mexican affairs, in which the determination of America to resist all European designs of establish ing a monarchy upon the American Continent will be energetically set forth. (LATEST BY TELEGRAPH TO PORTLAND.) NEW YORK, MARCH 8. The Washington correspondent of the New York Herald says—" The excitement in regard to Presi dent Lincoln's Message increases. The Message has taken all parties by surprise. The majority of the senators and representatives are unprepared to ex press themselves upon it. Ail are afraid of it, and all are afraid to oppose it. The Radicals look blank, and, while they claim there is in it a concession to them, they are prepared cautiously to oppose it. " The Conservatives are anxious to sustain the policy communicated by the President, but fear they may be entrapped into some departure from their chosen position. In this predicament the President's Message must sleep in the committee -room until the gentle men have made up their minds in regard to the matter,'' It is repotted that a flag of truce hes arrived at Fortress Monroe, from Norfolk, with the comman der of a French steamer, who represents ti;at great excitement prevailed in Norfolk. The hotels w ire swarming with officers, mostly from the Gulf States, the Virginia troops having been all sent away. People dreaded the destruction of the city in case of an attack. A strong force was concentrating at Suf f olk to check the advance of General Burnside, who was reported to have occupied Winton in force, ancjto be moving on Suffolk. The reason given by the Confederate., for not re turning Col. Corcoran is that maps and drawings were found on his person. The Richmond papers mention the arrest of a number of Union men, principally Germans. De tectives had broken into the room of some German turners, and found two American flags, and the Goddess of Liberty painted on the wall. The Union colours and paintings were seized and confiscated. The Confederate House of Representatives has passed a resolution by 71 to 77 recommending the military commanders to destroy all tobacco and cotton to prevent its falling into the enemy's hands. A resolution was also passed asking the President to inform the house what foreign vessels are doing in Hampton Roads. The _Richmond Dispatch says a vessel, drawing 16 feet of water, recently passed out of Charleston harbour. Specie is quoted in Richmond at 40 to 50 per cent. premium. A despatch from Atalata, Georgia, says that the Federals have taken possession of Murfreesboro', and that General S 3 dney Johnson Las retreated to Decatur, Ala. The Confederate steamer Merrimac was lying near the Norfolk Navy-yard with flag flying and crew on board. She draws 23 feet of water, and is described as looking like the roof of a sunken house, with the smoke chimney protruding from the water. The St. Louis Democrat says that the Confede rates have from 5,000 to 10,000 men at New Mad rid, and four gunboats. PROCEEDINGS OF THE CONFEDERATE CONGRESS. In the Confederate Senate, on the 26th ult., Mr. Henry, of Tennessee, submitted the following pre amble and joint resolution, which, on his motion, was referred to the Committee of Finance : "Whereas, it is desirable to encourage the planters of tobacco and cotton in the Confederate States, and others who are bona fide owners thereof, to destroy, by burning or otherwise, those articles, rather than that they should fail into the hands of the enemy, —Be it therefore resolved by the Congress of the Confederate States, that all such persons who shall burn their cotton or tobacco, or otherwise destroy the same, to prevent these articles from falling into the hands of the army or navy of the United States, shall be fully indemnified by the Government of the Confederate States, upon proof of the number of pounds of tobacco or cotton so destroyed, and proof of the necessity of such destruction to prevent the enemy from getting possession thereof." In the House of Representative, of the above date, Mr. Holt, of Ga., offered the following resolution, which, on motion, was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means : "Resoleed,—Thet the Committee of Ways and Means be instructed to inquire into the expediency of restricting and limiting by law the production of cotton in Confederate States during the conlinu ance of the war and blockade. And also the expe diency of the Confederate Government taking into its own control, by purchase, advancEs thereon, or otherwise, of all the cotton now on hand, or which may be grown in said Confederate States during the existence of the present war and blockade, and that said committee report by bill or otherwise." Mr. Perkins, of Sa., introduced a bill to prohibit the importation of productions and manufactures of the United States into the Confederate States. Referred. In the Senate, on the 27th ult., Mr. Clark, of Missouri, submitted the following joint resolution, which was unanimously adopted : Resolved by the Congress of the Confederate States of America, that the honour of the Govern• went imperatively demands that the existing war be prosecuted until the enemy shall have been ex pelled from every foot of soil within each and every one of the Confederate States, and no proposition of peace shall be considered which contemplates, however remotely, the relinquishment by this Go vernment of any portion of any of the States of this Confederacy." In the House of Representatives on the 27th, Mr Miles, from the Committee on Military Affairs, re ported a bill for the appointment of a Commanding• General of the armies of the Confederate States. BANK OF ENGLAND. HALF-YEARLY AIEETING-THIS DAY. A general Court of the Directors of the Bank of England was held this morning in the Bank Par:our, Threadneedle street; it was also one of the half-yearly courts, held in pur suance of the 12th bye law, f'r the making up of dividends. Alfred Latham, Esq., the Governor, presided. The GOVERNOR stated that he had to acquaint the Court that the net profits of the half-year ending the 28th of February were £609,818 14s 2d, making the amount of " rest " that day £3,633,827 18s. The Court of Directors would propose a dividend at the rate of 44 per cent. This was, he was aware, an unusual dividend, because •generally they had not dividends less than per cent., except 70 or 80 years ago,when the Bank made dividends of 21, and for some time 2±. That was in the years from 1767 to 1781. There was at present a reason for making a dividend at 4i per cent., which was, that the law was now altered, and the trustees were authorised to purchase Bank Stock, so that if they made so small a dividend as 4 per cent., and carrying over a large amount, there might be some disturbance between the owners of interest for life and the owners of remainder. Therefore the directors had thought it right to divide a little nearer or less than usual. This would leave a Rest of £3,115,325 Bs. The directors, therefore, declared a dividend on interest and profits for the half-year ending the sth of April next at the rate of 4i per cent,, without deduction on account of income tax. The dividend warrants would be delivered and made payable on Monday, the 7th of April. Alderman SALOMONS presumed that some reduction of profit had arisen in consequence of the reduction the Bank had received for the management of the National Debt account, to the extent of some £30,000 or £lO,OOO a year. The GOVERNOR said undoubtedly it was. The bank received £25,000 less this half-year than they had been ac customed to receive. The motion of the Governor was put and carried unani mously. Mr. CLARKE moved a vote of thanks to the Governor, Deputy-Governor, and Directors for their attention to the matttwrs connected with the bank. Alderman SALOMONS, in seconding the motion, said that 'm former years complaints had been mado that the books of the Bank had been closed five or six weeks prior to the declaring of a dividend, and people were thus not able to get at their property except with much diffi culty. At the suggestion of the Chancellor of the Exche quer, that that time might be materially shortened, a dif ferent course had been adopted, and now the books were not closed for a snngle day. This was most satistactory to the public, and most useful to commercial men. He was glad to take the opportunity of complimenting the directors on such a result, The resolution was unanimously adopted. The GOVERNOR, in returning thanks, said the altered arrangements had proved of the greatest public advantage. It had been brought about at a certain cost to the Bank, but not by a large sum—nothing, in fact, compared to the great pecuniary advantage it must have been to the public, who were now able to transfer their stock at any time they pleased, the books, indeed, never being closed at all. The proceedings then terminated. THIS DAY'S MARE.ETS. PRINCE EDWARD'S ISLAND. FEB. 26.—The house has voted a reply to the address, professing its readiness to meet the Cana dian proposals for the establishment of a reciprocal free trade among the British North American pro vinces, and for an assimilation of their respective tariffs. It expresses regret at the non-appearance of the Imperial Commissioners' award on the land tenures. Both houses have voted an address of condolence to her Majesty. NOVA SCOTIA. HALIFAX, MARCH 6. The mail steamer Canada arrived here on the sth inst. The Gold Mining Bill is still under discussion in the Legislature. The financial statement shows a deficit of 125,178 dols., chiefly on customs, which is mainly attribu table to the American civil war. The markets continue dull from protracted stormy weather. Railway communication throughout the the lower provinces has bt-en very irregular, from snow storms, but the rails are now clear. The steamer Adriatic, after being cut out of North Sydney, Cape Breton, was again caught by ice. A telegram, dated Plaster Cove, C 8., sth, how ever, announces that the Strait of Canso was clear of ice, and that vessels were passing. NEWFOUNDLAND, ST. JOHN'S, March 3.—The Government candidate, Kavanagh, has been elected over Hogsett, the Opposition candidate, by a ma jority of 265. NEW BRUNSWICK.—CoI. Ingall, of the 62d Regi ment, contradicts the statement that any men were frozen on the journey through New Brunswick. A fatal collision has occurred between a wood train and a passenger train on the New Brunswick R4ilway, near Rothsay. Two persons were killed. Mr. Tucker, Lloyd's surveyor, and several others were seriously injured. THE BERMUDAS. . BERMUDA, FEB. 26 (via Halifax). Parliament has been further prorogued till the 2d April. Arrivals-19th, her Majesty's ship Liffey, from Halifax ; 22d, Racer, from New York. Sailed —l9±, Rinaldo, to cruise; 24th, Spiteful, for New York; and Melpomene, for West Indies. The Diadem would leave for England oh arrival of the Orlando from Halifax. The Confederate steamer Nashville arrived in 17 days from Southampton. She took in coal from the ship Mohawk, in St. George's harbour, and again put to sea. The mail steamer Merlin, on her passage to Hali fax, rescued the crew of the American ship Northern Chief, from New York for Liverpool, abandoned. OUR FACIORY SYSTEM IN 1861. The figures which we are about to place before our readers have exclusive reference to the cotton, woollen, worsted, flax, hemp, jute, hosiery, and silk factories subject to the Factories Act. They are taken from a return just made by order of the House of Commons. In the United Kingdom there were in all 6,378 factories, which contained 36,450,000 spindles ; and 490,866 power looms, which engaged 230,564 hand-loom weavers. The aggregate steam power, according to the average indication, and expressed in horse power, was 375,294 ; and the water power, measured in the same way 29,339 ; together, there fore, equal to 404,633 of horse power. The total number of hands employed was 775,534, whereof 308,273 were males and 467,261 females. This gives an average of 121 hands to each description of factory. The number of children under 13 years of age attending school was 54,411—namely, 23,863 boys and 30,548 girls. Coming to the separate countries, we observe that i n England and Wales there were 5,652 factories, having 33,095,500 spindles, 444,233 power looms, and 204,847 powei-loom weavers; that the steam power was 328,747, and the water 20,003 ; and the whole number of hands tngaged was 642,607 - -the males being to the females in the pro portion of 27 to 37. Scotland reckoned . about o ne-tenth of the number of Eng land's factortb:;, and not one-tenth of her spindles. The number of the former was 568, of the latter 2,615,220. Something like the same proportion was attained in respect of the Scotch power looms, which numbered 40,073 ; and the weavers, 23,294 ; the steam power was 34,609, the water 5,960; the number of hands at work, 95,055. The proportion of males to fe males offers a remarkable difference, when com pared with the same ratio in England, it is as 25 to 70 ; the excess, be it observed, of the female population in Scotland is much greater than that which obtains in our own country. North of the Tweed, the female factory hands are in a duplicate ratio to the male, as com pared with the ratio in the country to the south of it. Ireland has 158 factories only ; numbering 739,205 spindles. The power looms were 6,560, and the weavers 4,423. The total number of persons em ployed was 37,872—the males being 11,490 and the females 26,382 of that number. Here, as in Scot land, the female hands are more than 2 to 1. THE BRITISH COLONIES IN 1838 AND .1858. — To the statesman and to the philosopher no page in the history of England is m ore instruc tive than that which treats of the rise, the Vicissi tudes, and the successe s of our colonial do minions. Contrasting their state in respect to i population, reven ue, and trade at an nterval of twenty years, we have, in the present day, every cause to rejoice at the career which, in the future, they seem destined to run. In 1838 we had 24 colonies; in 1858 we counted 32. In the former year, the population was 3,859,000 per sons ; in the latter, 8,149,000 ; being equal to an a ugmentation of 4,290,000, or 111 per cent. In '3B, the revenue they raised was £2,381,000 ; in '5B, it was £10,256,000; which was equal to an increase of £7,875,000, or 330 per cent. The value of the Imports in the earlier year was £16,137,000; in the latter, £50,614,000; showing an increase of 134,477,000, or 214 per cent. The exports from the colonies were in 1838 valued at £14,904,000, and this amount stands against £43,017,000 in 1858, being an increase of £28,113,000, or 190 per. cent. SOUTIIAMPTON, Wed nenday.—lnformat ion has been received by the agents of the line at this port. that the Hamburg-American Company's screw steamer Borussia, which was to leave New York on the Bth inst., would not leave till the 12th or 13th, and she is not, therefore, ex pected to arrrive off CJIVCS before Tuesday or Wednesday next. The North German Lloyd screw steamer New York, Captain G. Wenke, sailed hence at two p.m. to-day for New York, with German and English mails, 274 pas sengers, 850 tons of cargo, and 40,000 f. from Havre. She takes no specie from England, CORN EXCHANGE. ERIAL WEEKLY AVERAGES. Wheat, 59s Od ; barley, 35s 10d ; oats, 21s lld ; rye, 38s 5d ; beans, 39s 6cl ; and peas, 40s ld. THE SIN WEEKS' AVERAGES. Wheat, 59s 7d ; barley, 36s ld ; oats, 22s ld ; rye, 37s 7d ; beans, 39s 9d ; peas, 39s 9d ENGLISH GRAIN SOLD LAST WEEK.—Wheat, 78,736; barley, 55,481; oats, 18,704 ; rye, 55 ; beans, 6,314 , peas, 081 quarters. METROPOLITAN CATTLE MARKET. To-day's market was fairly supplied with beasts, and all breeds moved off steadily at full prices—the primest Scots and crosses having realised 4s 6d per 81bs. Sheep—the show of which was limited—were quite as dear as on Mon day, with a good consumptive demand. The best Downs in the wool sold at 5s 6d per 81bs. The lamb trade ruled firm, at from 6s 8d to 78 per Blbs. The few calves on offer were taken freely at an improvement in value of from 2d to 4d per Blbs. The top figure was 5s 6d per Blbs. Pigs were somewhat steady in price, but mulch cows were very dull,l Per Slb, to sink the offal. s. d. s. d. Crse. & inf. beasts 3 0 .3 2 Second quality do. 3 4 3 8, 1 Prime large oxen 3 10 4 2 1 Prime Scots, &c. 4 4 4 6 Crse. & inf. sheep 3 6 3 10 Second quality do. 4 0 4 4 s. d. a. d. Primecrs-wool d 0.4 6 5 2 Pme. S'thdown d 0.5 4 5 6 Large orse. calves 4 2 4 8 Prime small do 5 0 5 6 Large hogs 3 8 4 0 Small porkers ... , 4 2 4 8 Lambs, Os Od to Os Od. Suckling calves, 12s to 265; and quarter-old store pigs/ 20s to 295. I TOTAL SUPPLY. Beasts Sheep Calves l2O FOREIGN STIFFLY. Beasts 560 Sheep 80 Calves Pigs Pigs MEAT MARKETS. NEWGATE AND LEADENHALL.—The supplies of meat are moderate, and the trade rules steady, as follows : Beef, from 2s 8d to 4s Od , mutton, 3s 4d to 4s 4d ; veal, 4s 4d to 4s 8d ; pork, 3s 8d to 4s 8d per 81bs by the carcase. f fat SOUTHALL, March 19,—Only moderate supplies °- at stock were on offer to-day, and the trade ruled somew firmer, as follows :—Beef, from 3 s 4 d to 4 s 4d • mu t " u ' 3s 10 to 5s 4d ; lamb, Os Od to Os Od ; veal, 48 4d to 4s 8d ; and pork, 45 Od to 4s Sd per 81bs. to sink the offal. ROMFORD, March 19.—Prime beasts and sheep were in fair request, at full prices ; otherwise, the trade was in sluggish state. Beef, from 3s 2d to 48 4.1 • mutton, 3s 8d to 5s 6cl; veal, 4s 2d to 4s 8d ; pork , 3s 10d to 4s 8d per 81b ; suckling calves, Ns to 20s ; quarter - ol d store pigs, 20s to 28s each; and ranch cows, £l4 Os to LlB 5s each. HAY MARKETS. SMITHFIELD.—Meadow hay, £2 Os to £4 15s , clover, £3 lOs to £5 15s ; and straw, £1 8s to £1 16s Od per load. A fair demand. CUMBERLAND.--Mea4ow hay, £2 5s to £4 168; c l o ver £3 lOs to £5 15s; and straw, £1 8s to £1 18s per load- Trade dull. HITECHAPEL.—Meadow hay, £2 03 to £4 15s; clove £3 lOs to £5 17s ; and straw, fir 8s to £1 ]6s per load. Supply good. COAL Al. ;Feces of Coal per Ton at a. d. ARK ET. the close of the market Walls . ,Enn. s: d. Byass's.Bebside West Hartley ....15 3 Eden Wylam • , ..14 9 &corn Close ..14 Holywell 14 6 Ritson . l3 K t'anfield Moot 'Mites-12 0 Byron .. ... 14 v GrefsWest Hartley..l4 9 Katie° .15 9 North Felton.. 12 0 South Kelloe. 1 5 6 West Riding Hartley 14 0 Hunwick Framwellgate l4 Walls Encl. Cassop :l5 6 Trimdon Hartlepool...l6 0 Whitworth l4 0 Trimdon Thornley....l3 6 Hetton .. l6 6 Stewart's... l6 0 Haswell Ships at market, 61; sold, 29. COURT CIRCULAR. WINDSOR CASTLE, MARCH 19. The Queen, accompanied by Princess Helena and Frill" cess Louise, drove out yesterday afternoon. Colonel the Hon. A. N. Hood attended on horseback. The Earl of Clarendon arrived at the Castle yesterdaYr and returned to London to-day. The Chancellor of the Exchequer left London yes tera i l for Windsor Castle. Despatches were - received yesislrday at the Colonial -office from the Governors of the Australian Colonies, the North. American Provinces, Ceylon, and Bermuda. Despatches were sent to the Governors of Gibraltar, Malta, the 2dAtt ritius, Hong Kong, and Labuan. THE SPECIAL SERVICES AT ST. PAUL'S.—The' following is the list of preachers appointed by the Bishop of London for the concluding special services at St. Paul's March 23, the Itev. E. Bayley, rector of St. George's, Bloomsbury; March 30, the Rev. T. Dale, Canou Resideu.- tiary of St. Paul's ; April 6, the Rev. W. C. Magee, D.P., rector of Enniskillen ; April 13, the Very Rev. Dr. 1-{oOJCI Dean of Chichester; April 20, Easter Sunday, the RallO t Key. the Bishop of Gloucester and Bristol. HANDEL FESTIVAL.—A meeting of the 1,60 members of the Handel Festival London Choir will be held at Exeter-hall to-morrow evening. The choruses foul Handel's oratorio " Solomon" will be rehearsed, a selecti.o of the most favourite of which, it is understood, will forru. feature on the second day at the forthcoming Handel - Festival OPENING OF THEATRES IN PASSION WEBS."'" Yesterday afternoon a deputation of noblemen, gentleraellr and clergymen waited upon the Lord Chamberlain , for to _ e purpose of presenting a memorial, praying him to withdtto'l his permissiOn recently granted, allowing all theat res under his control to remain open for theatrical entertaintneotto during Passion-week. The Lord Chamberlain said th% he could not promise to withdraw the permission, as it been now given, but between this and next year he vi'o9°. take the subject into consideration. MANSION-HOUSE. —Yesterday the Lady Mayor es° issued invitations to a juvenile ball on the evening of Thlirs day, the 24th of April, in Easter - week , at the Mans 1911; house. This entertainment was originally i n tended to Wt.,- been' given early in the new year, but was ind- finitely F es - poned in consideration of the death of the Prince Con ' An inquest was held Gn Tuesday at the reside of the Right Hon. Lord Reay , at Pl y mouth, on his lord.: ship's daughter, the Hon. Clara Mackay, who conunitted suicide by throwing hersel f out of a window, on the Pre vious day. It appeared from the evidence that the tinter )tunate deceased had for some time past been in a yen/ melancholy and desponding state, and the jury returned at, verdict that the deceased committed suicide while in a fit of temporary insanity. The Leeds M ercur y stat es , with r eference to th. Wakefield election petition, that the " Conservatives Pro claim that even if Sir John Hay should be unseated, Alf' Smethurst will not be allowed to enter Parliament, for tbei will present a gottuter petition.