The Sun. — London, England, 1858-04-30 00:00:00

STRAND THEITRE. —Lessee and Directress, Miss S watiborough. —This Evening will be presented the COUNTRY SQUIRE, supported by Messrs. Emery, Belford, Charles, F. Seymour, Meagreson, Misses M. Oliver, M. Ternan, Portman, and Messrs. Selby. After which, the new burlesque of FRA. DIAVOLO ; or, The Beauty and the Brigands. Fra D.avolo, Miss Swan borough ; Beppo, Mr. C. Young. Followed by a new Farce, YOUR LIKENESS, ONE SHILLING. Messrs. Charles Young, Ray, and Miss M. Ternan. CANTERBIT RY HALL, Westminster-road. — OPEN EVERY EVENING.—The follow company of Vocalists are engaged for the performance of Selections from all the popular OPERAS, MADRIGALS, CHORUSES, GLEES, D UETS, &c., viz. : —Miss Russell, Mrs. Badzey, Miss Brandi, Miss Ray, Madame Bartoletti, Miss Montague, Mrs. Lawrence, and Mrs. Anderson ; Herr F. Jonghmans, Mr. Henshaw, S. Jones, J. Barker, W. Melling, Senor Antonio, E. L. Himo, Mr. Badzey, Mr. Edwards, Mr. Cozens, Mr. Bell, and Mr. Bernard ; Messrs. T. Maclagan, W. T. Critchield, John G. Forde, and E. Mackney. Pianoforte, Mr. Cecil Hicks ; harmonium, Master Williams ; Director, Herr F. Jonghmans. Commence at Seven o'clock precisely. Suppers, dre., until twelve o'clock. Mr. AUGUSTUS BRAUAM will appear every Evening. Mr. WOODHOUSE (by permission of Chilies Kean, Esq.) will have the honour of introducing, every evening. his highly successful Performance on the new REGULATION DRUM. THE WEATHER—SUN OFFICE, APRIL 30. IHERMOMETER, IN THE SHADE. 60—highest since noon yesterday. 51—lowest this morning and during the night, 56—this day at noon. BAROMETER, 2).ls—falling. WIND, W.S.W. ; fresh and cloudy, with cold variable weather, and frequent rain. More heavy rain in the night. HFR MAJESTY'S THEATRE.— Titiens, Alboni, Giuglini, Mattioli, and Tialetii. IL TROVA.TORB. On Tuesday, May r 4, will be revived I Madame Alboni (her first appearance this season) ; Manrico, Signor Giuglini ; Fer rands, Signor Vialetti ; and Il Conte di Luna, Sig. Mattioli, who will appear for the first time in England. To conclude with the now Ballet Divertissement, by M. Massot, entitled FLEUR DES CHAMPS. The principal parts by Madlles. Pocchini and Annetta. Th ars do.y, May 6 (Extra Night), IL TROVATORE. And the new Ballet, FLEUR DES CHAMPS. A limited number of boxes have been reserved to the pub Ile, price 21s. and 31s. 6d. each, which may be had at the Box-office at the Theatre. ,ER MAJESTY'S THEATRE. Piccolomini, Giuglini. LA TRAVIATA. TO-MORROW EVENING, SATURDAY May 1, Verdi's Opera, LA TRAVIATA, Violetta, Madlle. Piceolomini ; Alfredo, Signor Giuglini ; Dottore Grenyil, Signor Castelli ; Germont Goorgio, Signer Aldighieri. After which, will to produced an entirely new Ballet, by M. Massot, entitled run DES CHAMPS. The principal parts by Madlles. Pocchini, Annetta, and Durand. A limited number of Boxes have been secured to the public. Price 21s and 31s 6d each, which may be had. at the Box Office, gt the Theatre. THEATRE ROYAL, HAYMARKET. Lessee—Mr. J. B. Buckstone. THIS EVENING, to commence at Seven o'clock, with ghoridan Knowles' comedy of TH H E LOVE CASE. Con stance, Mrs. Charles Yo un g ; Widow Green, Mrs. Wilkins. After which a Classical Extravaganza, entitled PLUTO AND PROSERPINE. Followed by JACK'S RETURN FROM CANTON. Conclu di ng with bnr HUSBAND'S GHOST. be retained the whole of the Orchestra malls ( which may evening), 6s. each. (No charge for booking.) Fi r st Price. Second oo long.) e, d. Dress 80xe5................ 5 0 Dress Boxes 3 0 Upper Boxes... ........••• 3 0 Upper Boxes 2 9 Pit .. 2 0 Pit 1 0 Gallery ..................... 1 o,Gallery 0 6 OYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE jti Proprietor, Mr. Charles Sean. THIS EVENING, will be presented MUSIC HATH CHARMS. After which ICING LEAR. King Lear, Mr. C. Kean. To conclude with the new farce, entitled SAMUEL IN SEARCH OF HIMSELF. THEATRE ROYAL, A DELPHI. Lessee—Mr. Ben. Webster. THIS EVENING will bo presented the drama o THE POOR STROLLERS, in which Madame Celeste, Mr B. Webster, Paul Bedford, and Mr. Wright will perform. After which, a new operatic spectacle, THE CALIPH OF BAGDAD. The characters by Mr. Rolfe, Paul Bedford, J. Bland, and Misses Rodan, Keeley, and Arden. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. THIS DAY—Morn., 6 min. aft. 3—Even., 23 min. aft. 3 To-Moßsow—Morn., 38 min. aft. 3—Even., 53 min aft. 3 . 1 LONDON, FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 1858. MINISTERIAL MEETING—(This Day). The Earl of DERBY having summoned a meet ing .of his supporters, 189 Members of the House of Commons responded to the invitation of the Noble Earl, and met their Chief, at his official residence, at 12 o'clock this day. Lord DERBY addressed the meeting, in a speech which was loudly cheered. Great unanimity and enthusiasm prevailed. Numerous as was the attendance, we have rea son to believe that many members were pre vented from being present at the meeting by their engagements on Committees of the House. The more fully the subject is investigated, the more clearly is the course pursued by the present Government in reference to the capture of the Cagliari, and the unwarrantable detention and cruel imprisonment of the English engineers, WATT and PARK, proved to be wise and judici ous, vindicating at the same time the honour and interests of Great Britain, and adopting that firm but temperate course that will ensure complete justice without being compelled to resort to the painful alternative of war, the ultima ratio region. The explanation afforded last night by Lord MALMESBVRY exhibits this in the strongest point of view; and even the Earl of CLARENDON admitted that "her Majesty's Government had displayed great discretion in the course which they pursued." It was not the " chscretion" which permitted two I British citizens to pine nine months in a Neapo litan dungeon, enduring sufferings which it is difficult to conceive that any civilised nation could inflict on unconvicted persons, although justly charged with the most serious offences, until the intellect of one was shaken, and the health of another seriously if not permanently damaged. It was not the "discretion" that tried to shirk disagreeable questions, and shrink from telling I wholesome but disagreeable truths to wrong doers. Far from it : not a moment was lost in insisting on the liberation of our in jured countrymen, which was speedily con ceded so soon as it was ascertained that the British Government were thoroughly in earnest, and would tolerate neither evasion, procrastina tion, nor refusal. And their liberation was promptly followed by an equally decided demand for "'ciliate compensation for all the miseries they were so unwarrantably made to endure. No answer haft as yet been received to this applicw tion ; but judging of the future by the past, thew is no reason to doubt that Lord NIALMESBURY will act on the premises in a manner becoming a British Minister, or that Papa an d WATT w i lt obtain redress, so far as money can give redress for the fearful ordeal through which they have triumphantly passed. The question respecting the Cagliari is o f a different character, but it is also one demandin g equal firmness and decision. There has been considerable difference of opinion as to the legality of the capture of the Cagliari. The law officers of the late Government suggested sundry points, which would justify the capture and detention of the Cagliari by the Neapolitan THE SUN, frigate, and her MAZESIT'S Advocate and Soli citor-General were of opinion that the capture was not illegal, although they were unable to see any ground whatever upon which the condemnation as prize can be supported. Very different, however, were the views of the Attorney-General, which will carry with them conviction to every disinterested and unprejudiced wind. Sir FITZROY KELLY gave it as his " clear and decided opinion," that even " the capture of the Cagliari was contrary to the law of nations," and he sustained it by a reference to the undis puted facts of the case. These facts, as summed up by the Attorney-General, are as follows, viz.:— " 1. That at the time of the capture of the Cagliari, pacific relations subsisted between Sardinia and the Tw' Sicilies. " 2. That the Cagliari was a private merchant-vessel, well known to the captors as belonging, on account of her occupations, in a marked and special manner to the Commercial Marine of Sardinia. " B. That under force and duress she had been com pelled to land convicts and rebels upon the Neapolitan coast. ____ " 4. That at the time of her capture she was neither de facto nor de jure, piratically employed, " 5. That she was seized upon the high seas, within no territorial jurisdiction, after a display of force, and the menace of a shot fired at her by a ship of war be. longing to the Kingdom of the Two Sicillies." And to these facts the unquestionable proposi tions of international law laid down by Sir FITZROY KELLY, are strictly applicable. They are : "1. That the merchant vessels of every State on the high seas are subject to the jurisdiction of the State to which they belong. " 'All nations,' says Lord Stowell, a being equal, all have an equal right to the uninterrupted use of the un • appropriated parts of the ocean for their navigation. In places where no local authority exists, where the sub jects of all States meet upon a footing of entire equality andindependence, no one State or any of its subjects, has a right to assume or exercise authority over the subjects of another. I can find no authority that gives the right of interruption to the navigation of Sates in amity upon the high seas excepting that which the right of war give to both belligerents against neutrals.' " 2. That the right of search is, as a general rule, strictly belligerent in its character, and cannot be exer cised in time of peace. " 3. That the only exception is the case of professed pirates; that exception being founded on the fact that pirates are always enemies of every State, and therefore, are equally subject to the jurisdiction of every Sate. " 4. That a merchant vessel regularly incorporated in the marine of a State. does not become a pirate by having been itself forcibly seized by pirates; nor does she, when having escaped from pirates, and forthwith return. ing to her lawfal occupations from which, by force of arms, she had been temporarily diverted, become liable to be seized as prize upon the high seas. " 5. That under circumstances of vehement suspicion of piracy, the usage of States has allowed, though with the most jealous reluctance, the right of approach, for the purpose of ascertaining the national character of the vessel. " That if that character be clearly commercial—if the State to which she belongs be undoubted—if her em ployment at the time of so ascertaining her nationalty be lawful, then a suspicion of past unlawful conduct does not justify seizure in time of peace, but does justify application for inquiry to the proper authority and juriz diction of the State to which she belongs." How then can it for a moment be asserted that the capture was not illegal, and if so, the con demnation must be a fortiori perfectly unjustifi able. The treatment of merchant vessels on the high seas must of course be an object of deep interest to every maritime nation, and more especially to Great Britain, whose flag floats over every sea and ocean. It is therefore incumbent on England to sustain Sardinia in her just demands. But before hostilities are resorted to, other steps should be taken. The good offices of a friendly Power should be claimed and acted on. This was a principle clearly re cognised at the Conferences of Paris in 1856. A principle to which Count CAVOUR, the representative, and, fortunately still, the Minister, of Sardinia, was an assenting party. This was, therefore, the obvious course ; and this was the recommendation given by Lord MALMESBURY to the Sardinian Government. But there is not the slightest intention either to ei - bontion, Sardinia, or, when the proper time arrives, to withdraw the support to which she is justly entitled in her claims for restitution of the Cagliari, and for full com pensation for the illegal conduct of the Neapolitan Government. Mr. HEADLAM was, on Wednesday, compelled to postpone the second reading of his important bill on the subject of Joint Stock Banking Com panies. The protracted discussion on the Agri cultural Statistics Bills rendered it impossible tl hope that any progress could be made on a ques tion so interesting to the Banking and Commercial community. The Honourable and Learned Gen tleman acted wisely in adopting the suggestions of the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Home Secretary by fixing the next reading for the 20th of May, before which time it is intended to give orders of the day—not Government orders only— priority over notices of motion. We trust that he will be rewarded by the ultimate success of the very valuable measure he has introduced for his ,forbearance. There is nothing so conducive to the welfare and prosperity of the industrious classes as well regulated banking facilities. It was the legiti. mate use of credit that placed Great Britain in the proud position which she long since attained, and enabled the tax-paying community to endure the enormous burdens by which they have been oppressed. Without that credit we should long since have sunk in the scale of nations. The pub lic establishments would have bsen reduced far below what was essential, even for defence, and the dividends on Consols might have been placed in jeopardy. By its means we have been enabled to weather the storm, on many trying ocoasi,ens, and by its means we shall still do so, if it be not practically annihilated by the panics produced through the workings of the monetary code. The acts of 1844 and '45 conferred a virtual monopoly on existing establishments, by restrict• ing all that might subsequently be formed from issuing their own notes. Free trade in banking was virtually prohibited, and no adequate meats were provided for replacing those who might have succumbed through the deaths of partners, the withdrawal of capital, or the casualties of trade. It therefore became essential that additional inducements should be given to joint-stock under takings, constructed on sound principles, and judiciously and properly managed. But theis was, and still is, a formidable obstacle in the way of their success. Every person who held even a single share was thereby rendered responsible, in purse and person, to his last acre and bis last shilling, for the success of the under taking. Although men of wealth and respec tability would gladly risk a few hun dreds, or a few thousands, according to their means, in a concern calculated to promcti the welfare and prosperity of the district, they would not endanger all they posse.,sed, or subject themselves to even a remote chance of being reduced from wealth to poverty, and ren dered beggars, through the failure of an under taking, over the management whereof they had no adequate or real control. With "limited liabi lity," anything that would show then at once the full extent to which they could be callA ou as contributors, they would not have hesitated ; but, however desirous of serving could the locality, they perimennot.t be expected to try so perillous an ex- This feeling has not in any degree been lessened by recent experience. The Tipperary, the Royal British, the Borough of Liverpool, and the West ern of Scotland Banks, have taught intending shareholders painful lessons respecting the position in which they may be placed, and the formidable nature of the instrument always suspended over their heads—an instrument more terrible in many instances than the sword of DAMOCLES, Until something be done to mitigate the danger, few will be disposed to try similar experiments ; and, unless Mr. HEADLA3eS or some similar bill be carried, we may easily conceive that the extension of joint-stock banking capital will be virtually prohibited. The principle of limited liability has received legislative sanction. But banking establishments where it is more urgently required than in any others, have unfortunately been excluded from its operation. The cry has been altogether for " innocent" depositors; but " innocent" share holders—men who have had nothing whatever to say to the management, who invested their money with the most perfect good fath—who sought no unfair advantages, are deserving of at least equal sympathy. Besides, the very notion that men of known wealth and resources are involved, has fostered and strengthened that blind confidence, which has in some instances led to such deplor able results. So long as deposi tors knew that they had only the paid up-capital, with a fair margin perhaps of equal account, they would in quire for themselves as to the proceedings, and solvency of the concern. But the knowledge that there were one or two millionaires amongst the shareholders, dispensed with this salutary cau tion, and they went on blindly and recklessly because some wealthy neighbour, some provincial CRaisus, should be reduced t) destitution, and surrender all his property, real or personal, before they could sustain any serious loss. Such persons would be willing to contribute handsomely towards the losses, although not to give up their all. There are too many instances where they have become exiles from their country in consequence of the stringency of the law, and where consequently those who were grasping at everything obtained nothing. The evils on both sides were palpable. They would be averted by the passing of Mr. HEADLAar's bill, but still it is strenuously opposed not only by those inte rested in maintaining the existing banking mono poly, but also by well meaning persons, who can not shake off old prejudices, and who are misled by the speciou s fallacies propounded against it. We trust that the next discussion will remove many of the objections, and that notwithstanding the delays that have occurred, the salutary mat ter may yet pass into a law during the present session, and that Mr. HEA.DLIM may obtain the complete success which his indefatigable exertions, and clear and convincing reasonings have so well merited. THE ROYAL AOADEMY—(This Day). This morning, according to annual custom, the Private view inaugurated—we were going to say for the select few, but, remembering the crush from which we have just escaped we ought to say rather for the select many —the Ninetieth Exhibition of the Royal Academy of Arts. The collection of paintings for 1858 is very far beyond an average collection. It is in many respects re markable, in some extraordinary. As usual, the catalogue itself is a study—almost as a piece of literature. Its motto is sufficienlly sug gestive and appropriate. It is from Schiller. Conspicuous among the defaulters this season is J. E. Millais, whose absence from amon g the contributors is doubly regretable ; his name, how ever, shining, because of that unwonted omission, like the fame of Brutus, when his bust appeared not, for once, in the Roman Procession. Besides Millais, however, others will be missed by the more discerning and observant, as no lorger taking part in the annual display consequent upon this grand artistic emulation— the names, for example, both of W. Dyee, and Sir C. Eastlake, r.R.A., still coming within this category. Sauntering round the principal apartments , of the gallery this forenoon, we have , found, however, shining down upon us from the walls abundant consolation. For with us, at least, our conscience in art criticism is not guided by the Horation Precept. " Nil admirari props res est una, Numici, Solaque, qua possit facers et servare baatum." Rather than servilely obey this injunction to depre ciate, we would prefer, particularly in this national month of Pleasure May, the month dedi cated at once to the Derby and the Aca demy —we would candidly prefer to carp as little as pos=ible, to weigh merit not by the weights and measures of avoirdupois, to turn a glance hither and thither indiscriminately ever ready to to he anywhere and everywhere gratified. To "follow suit" indeed with the jovial Republic in a kindred mood : Nunn atheletarum studiis, nunc arid equoruni, Marmoris ant eboris fabros aut cents amavit ; Suspendit pitta vultuin nsententque kabala." Dazzled, however, with a first day's rapid survey of 602 Pictures, exclusive of those in the Octagon Room, ctc , to say nothing of a glance at 280 Drawings and Miniatures, and at 170 specimens of Sculpture, it is almost impossible to attempt any thing in the way of detailed criticism. Enough if we now simply enumerate a few of the chief noticeable peculiarlities of the collection. The Portraits are, if anything, more numerous than hitherto. F. Grant, R.A., still bearing off the palm as usual from all English, as Sir J. Watson Gordon, 8.A., &c., assuredly does from all Scotch competitors, the former more particularly in No. 73, Lady Col broeke, and the latter in No. 73, Dr. Monro. Clarkson Stanfield, R.A., sustains his reputation peculiarly through the medium of No. 359, The Castle of Ischia. Alfred Elmore, R. A., through No. 8. An Incident in the Life of Dante. Augustus Egg, It. A., wins especial notice by No. 19. Scene from the " Esmond" of Thackeray ; andyet morethrough another picture to be afterwards particularised. W. P. Frith's No. 218. The Derby DAY) is a subject of universal notice, and of unstinted admiration. As likewise is Sir E. Landseer's (No. 180), " The Maid and the Magpie." Edward Ward, R. A , contributes two grand historical pic tures, which are, for the generality, in all this exhi biti )n, are the prominent themes of eulogium. They are(No. 38), "The Emperor of the French receiving the Order of the Garter from her Majesty the Queen," and No. 254, Visit of Queen Victoria to the Court of Napoleon I. Richard Redgrave, R.A., delights us, as usual, with his refreshing verdure, as in No. 232, The Growth of Love. W. E. Frost, A.R. A., with his nude classic figures, as in No. 121, Zephyr and Aurora. P. F. Poole, A.R.A., with his favourite gleams of green and yel low, as in No. 310, "The Last Scene in King Lear." Distinguishing peculiarities these to which we have become as much accustomed as we have long been to the feathery foliage of W. F. Witherington, R.A., in No. 392. On the Grita towards Rokeby, or as we were formerly, to the Cuyp-like cattle in the Beaumont-and-Fletcher pastoral landscapes of Lee and Cooper, here no longer discernable —or to the luscious fruit squandered from those.inexhaustible cornucepea.s, the pigment bags of G. Lance, a delicious specimen of whose cunning of hand in the worship of Pomona will be found in No. 379, "Fruit." As ever the throng this morning and afternoon to the private view of the Academy, included in it almost all the celebrities and notabilities in London in the height of the sea son, dignitaries of the church and of the senate, men famous in politics, science, art, and literature. Among those present we noticed his Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Duke and Duchess of Argyll, the Duchess of Sutherland, the Marquis of Lansdowne, &c., ke. To-morrow evening there will be as usual the great bariquA or symposium given w:thiu the gorgeous walls of the Gallery by the Royal Acadamicians to the members of the imperial Government. THE ROYAL ACADEMY. - Yesterday morning, ler Majesty, accompanied by the Prince C.)nsort, and the Pr;nceases Alice and Helena, and Prince Leopold, paid a visit to the exhibition cf the ItJyal Academy, T 1 afalk,ar- F qua e. - ROYAL ACADEMY OP Music.—lLT rneA gracious Ma jesty, who la r ies the grea interest in thi s va l ua l i ns titution, has most kindly inti ma t e d t o the atrl ‘ cf e 'Westmoreland evening her cammand that a grand con cert b e given in S. James' ,,- hall on Wetineeday, the 23d of June, at which the Queen and Prince Albert will be present. A committee will be formed to iss ue vouc h ers for the centre of t he hall, which will be occupied by the Royal visitors. The organiFationof the progr amme , to render it worthy of su ch an occasion, will be carefu ly attended to. Nut only will the past . and Present Etnd(nt,, the former comprising the most ELDIDerlt professorr, vocaland instrumental, rtsi.it, but the co— Aeration of . the lead ing artistes, native and foreign , will be called into play. Mr. Costa will be the conductor. LONDON, FRIDAY MR. CHARLES DICKENS, AND HIS "CRICKET ON THE HEARTH." Last evening the vast area of St. Martin's Hall, Long-acre, was crammed with a delighted audience who had assembled there to give a greeting worthy of him, to the greatest of English Humourists. It ' was not by any means, of course, the first of Mr. Dickens's public readings, but it was the first of all his public readings—for Himself ! Hitherto his kindly voice having been raised exclusively in this way for the advantage of others—for the benefit of mechanics' institutions, in behalf of hospitals and other eleemosynary establishments, and as upon the last occasion, even at the behest of little ailing children. At last, after having won " golden opinions"—poured then invariably in affluent abun dance and with a lavish and emptied hand into coffers thus generously, and one might al most say magically, replenished for the means for eff cting all this, remember, was simply the Reading of a book years ago printed off by thousands and tans of thousands, and known almost by heart long since by nearly every one, who yet went to hear it read once more by its delightful writer—after reading thus solely for the advantage of others, Mr. Dickens has at length begun to read for his own in like manner. Yesterday witnessed the inauguration of what we are half-disposed to designate a new epoch in his public career. The reading - this time was in another respect also a novelty in every way conspicuous. It was the reading not of the Christmas Book, the Immortal " Carol," but of one of its most charm ing successors—" The Cricket on the Hearth." Before beginning the perusal of his Fairy Tale of Home, Mr. Dickens addressed to the audience these few and manly words of explanation : Ladies and Gentlemen,—lt may perhaps be known to you that, fora few years past, I have been accustomed occasionally to read some of my shorter books to various audiences, in aid of a variel of good objects, and at some charge to myself both in time and money. It having at length become impossible in any reason to comply with these always accumulating demands, I have had definitively to choose between now and then reading on my own account as one of my recognised occupations or not reading at all. I have had little or no difficulty in deciding on the former courts. The reasons that have led me to it—besides the con sideration that it necessitates no departure whatever from the chosen pursuits of my life—are threefold. Firstly, I have satisfied myself that it can involve no possible compromise of the credit and independence of Literature. Secondly, I have long held the opinion, and have long ac'ed on the opinion, that in these times whatever brings a public man and his publio face to face, on terms of mutual confidence and respect, is a good thing. Thirdly, I have bad a pretty large expe rience of the interest my hearers are so generous as to take in theF• occasions, and of the delight they give to me, as a tried means of strengthening those relations, I may almost say of personal friendship, which it is my great privilege and pride, as it is my great responsibility, to hold with a multitude of persons who will never hear my voice, or see my face. . _ Thus it is that I corns, quite naturally, to be here among you at this time. And thus it is that I proceed to read this little b:)ok, quite as composedly as I might proceed to write it, or to publish it in any other way. Any one who has not yet heard Mr. Dickens read aloud one of his own inimitable productions, who has never seen him upon the stage enacting before the footlights some imaginary character, or listened to hint upon the platform, as he stood there last night in propria persona, turning over the leaves of " The Cricket on the Hearth," and giving new life by the glance of his eye and the intonations of his voice to the creations al rea d y stam p e d upon the p age by I the vivifying impress of his own written descrip tions anyone who knows "Buz" exclusively through his books, can form no notion whatever (not the very faintest) as to what is meant by one of these Readings. The entertainment is not in the smallest particular, not the least bit in the world, in any way like what one of those wholly uninitiated might conjecture. The reason being simply this—that Ch ar le s Dickens (for we drop the Mr. as something in him we regard as quite super fluous)—that Box (a name still ringing familiarly in cur ears by reason of its many joyous and de lightful associations) is not merely the most popular Author of his Age, but one of its most gifted Actors and Elocutionists. Everyone acknowledges ' this who has once seen him in one of his own riant farces, or in Bulwer Lytton's elegant comedy, or in one of Wilkie Collins' weird and harrowing melo dramas. Here, as a wearer of the sock and buskin, is one who, by his protean genius, is no mere amateur upon the boards, but a veritable, true born acnor, one who exercises at his own free will and pleasure a perfect mastery over our emotions—at once tragedian and comedian— who wins, as he lists, by his voice, by his look, as he has so often and often done by his matchless writings our tears and our laughter. But—subject ing himself to a severer teat than any encountered by the histrionic advimtumr—Oharlem Dickens has proved this more signally again and again, when without the aid of one touch of carmine, or one panicle of gold lace, when without powdered peruke or velvet doublet he has come before an audience just precisely as he is himself, carrying only in his hand, it may be, a little magical paper knife, and reading to us one of his little Christmas story books, as it could assuredly only be read by such an author and such an elocutionist rolled into one ! As a triumphant testimony of his power over his audience—there was the readingof his "Cricket on the Hearth" last evening ! Listening to it as it fell from his lips yesterday—well though we knew the book before-e-it seemed in some unaccountable way or another, as though we had never known it until then ; certainly as though we bad never ade quately appreciated it, And this not cas ua ll y , b u t continually—from th e first " Chirp" to the last. Beginning with the kettle and ending with the bro ken toy upon the hearthrug. The characters of the tale ,poke to u s au dibly, moved bef ore us a l most visibly. Dear little Dot who was both fair and young, " though something of the dumpling shape —but I don't myse lf o bj ec t to that." H onest stal wart Carrier Pee l ybi ng le "who was o ft en near to something or other very clever, by his own ac count"—but always stopping when half expressed for fear of spoiling it ! Boxer, the dog, with that preposterous "nothing of a fag-end of a tail of his, describing a circle of barks round the horse, mak ing savage rushes a t hi s mistress arid facetiously bringing himself to sudden stops." Tilly Slowboy the nursery girl, who was continually in the matter of her costume making surprising re velations of some flannel under-vestment of a sin gular structure," and "affording glimpses in the region of the back, of a corset or pair of stays, in colour a dead- green 1 " Th e very b aby, whose head is being partially brought (by an ingenious con trivance on the part of Miss Slowboy) into contact with deal doors, dressers, stair-rails, bed posts, and other foreign sub•stances ! Other per ssnages, too—Gruff, and Tackleton, the Toy mer chant, a savage old reprobate or rather a " domes tic Ogre," whoe soul revelsin the construction of hideous hairy red-eyed Jacks in Boxes, and demo niacal tumblers who won't lie down, but are pa r petually flying forward to stare infants out of court tenance, and with Tackleton his right hand man, Caleb Plummer, who asks of little Dot, to her astonishment, " You couldn't have the goodness to let me pinch Boxer's tail, mum, for half a mo ment, could you ?" " Why, Caleb ! What a question ! " "Oh, never mind, mum. He mightn't like it perhaps. There's a small order just come in for harking dogs ; and I should wish 1 to go as close to A atur' as I could, for sixpence." How they all lived again, and talked, and looked again, on the platform of St. Martin's Hall last evening ! How the audience roared to hear them —or listened in breathless silence at other moments w' ea each of us, 'here, kte tme together, for a while, somewhat as Caleb was when hearkening to the Blind Girl's talking, when—" Her father could not choose but let his moist eyes overflow ; she was so earnest and patheic." From first to last the Reading was in truth--a treat. And as for the reception of Mr. Dickens at its cointnet.cement, and his greeting upon its conclusion, it was in sim ple reality nothing le , s than an ovation. On Thurs day next the same Hall will echo to our great novelist's voice reading his " Chimes ," and on the Thursday followi ng , to the thrilling music of his exquisite and m atc hl ess " Caro l . " L' ap petite vient en mangeant--Why cannot we hope ever to hear him road choice passag , s selected from his larger volumes, to have him reproduce with his mobile features, and his marvellous voice—say, Mrs. Gamp and Mr. Pecks u iff from Martin Cauzzlewi t ; ' Samuel Weller and ' Tony Weller, from the LPick ;' wck 'Pers ; Captai n CuC' tle and Major Bags. ock / from Donbey and Son . ; and so on throughout t he whole wonderful an d mo tl e y catalogue ? Let' us " Mess the gifts the Gods have given us," however, and fall to. 'llls intellectual ban quet pi epared for us is sufficiently appetiz ng • —Three courses ( the first of which we enjoyed, wish a ref sh, v, sterday) and The Desert, f 4 r none other than the great popular Author-and- Reader in one, the waiter of this charming Fairy Ta'e of 11 me, The Cricket on the Hearth. And so, with cordial thanks to Charles Dickens, a grate ful fare well—att revoir ~ GOVERN3IENT EMIGRATION.—Her Majesty's Ern ;gra on Commissioners char'ered yesterday afternoon, the 29 h int., the Bee, 1,352 tons, to sail from Liverpool fur Adtlaide, South Australia, at 131. 18i. 61 per eta tu•e adult, to be ready for the reception of passengers on ench day as the commissioners may fix upon betwe . eo the 10th and 19,1 o f J une . Th e y have also given n aloe of tlie,r intention to receive tenders next Thur-day, the 6th pr,xia:o. for a chip to proceed to Sydney, New South Wales, to be ready to sail any day the commielionera may fix upon between the 19th and 30th of June. EVENING, APRIL SO, 1858. L&TEST N-EWS. BOMBAY MAIL. The following telegram, from Mr. Acting Consul-General Green, was received, via Malta, at the Foreign-office, on the 30th April, at 10 a.m. ALEXANDRIA, APRIL 26. The Madras steamer reached Suez, from Bom bay, on the 25th instant. On the 24th March, the bulk of the army before Lucknow was proceeding northward to Bareilly, commanded by Brigadier Walpole. A heavy column, under Sir E. Lugard, started on the 27" th for Azinighur, and the remainder continued at Lucknow, [qy. under] Sir Hope Grant. Sir Hugh Rose reached Jhansi on the 22d, and invested the place. The bombardment commenced on the 25th. On the Ist of April, 25,000 rebels, with 18 guns, called the army of Pashawa, endeavoured to raise the siege, and were defeated, with the slaughter of 1,500 men. On the 2d of April the town fortifications were captured. On the sth the garrison escaped from the fortress during the night, and, by last account, were being cut to pieces in their flight ; about 3,000 having fallen. Six British officers killed. The Rajpootana field force, under General Roberts, reached Khotah on the 20th ; the town and fortress was captured on the 30th, with very little loss on our side. Near Agimgseur (?) on the south-east frontier of Oude, a detachment of the 37th, under Colonel Milman, had been compelled to retire with loss of baggage, and on the 24th March was cut up at A aimghur. Strong detachments for its relief were on their way from Lucknow. Allahabad and Benares.—The country opposite Benares, and to the north-eastward, continued much disturbed. The Northern Provinces being disarmed with. out resistance. J. GREEN. This telegraph arrived at Malta from Alex. andria, by th© contract steam-packet Valetta, al 10 p.m. on the 29th April. M. STOPFORD, Rear-Admiral, TURIN, THURSD A Y. The Deforesta Bill has passed into law by a majority of 110 against 48. BERLIN, APRIL 29. In spite of all the doubts expressed, it is stil reported confidently that Queen Victoria will visi Berlin in the course of next September. FRANCE. PARIS, THURSDAY. At the meeting of the Credit Mobilier Associa tion to-day no dividend was declared, although the shares are at 7 per cent. premium. _ _ _ It is proposed that M. Morse should receive a bonus of from 500,000 f., subscribed by several European Powers, for his discoveries in electric communication. The following telegraphic despatches have been received here : MARSEILLES, 28TH.—Accounts from Constantinople to the 21st have arrived. Much snow had lately fallen, and gales of wind had occurred, cauQinv much damage to shipping i❑ the Black Sea. The Ferdinand 4 steamer, belonging to the Austrian Lloyd's Company, had gone on shore at Varna. The Presse d' Orient expresses a hope that the rights of the Porte with regard to the Nand of Perim will be maintained in the CoLference of Paris. In Greece, the journals reply to the note of Turkey threat ening a commercial rupture, by saying that Greece is ready to accept a political one, and that in taking up the gauntlet sbe will remember 1824." " BERNE, 29TH.—The Federal Guinea has accorded an exequatur to the Vioe-Consul of France at La Chaux de-F ‘nds." " KONIGSBERG, April 28.—A despatch received from St. Petersburg states that the Minister of Foreign Affairs has addressed to the foreign legations a circular directing them not to wise• passports of foreigners. Although the Russian legations abroad have never wised passports of foreigners for any other state than Russia, the Imperial Government has made this recommenda tion through courtesy for the French Government." BOURSE, April 29.—The following were the closing quotations 4,i per Cents 93 25 Do. end month 93 15 3 per Cent. ..... 69 60 Do. end month 69 55 Bank Shares ...•••.•- 3131 Credit Mobilier 700 j— ai). Account Credit Fonder Belgian 4 Piedmontese (5) Roman B9. Austrian Spanish Threes Home Debt . - FOR CASH. RAILWAYS. - Orleans Northern ............ 950 New Ditto ............... 775 Lyon and Mediteran. 82 Li New Ditto 7621 Midi Western Strasburg Grand Central . . Sardinian Austrian Geneva ................. CRYSTAL PALACE. THE GREAT GOLD NUGGET. We were favoured to day with a private view of this splendid specimen of Australian gold at the Crystal Palace, where it is to be exhibited to the public to morrow. Nothing could exceed the magnificence of it as it lay glittering in the sun. The nugget is two feet four inches in length, and 10 inches in its widest part, and weighs 1,743 ozs., or nearly 146 lbs. The dross in this immense mass is estimated by the gold brokers to be about 6 ozs., all the rest being pura golf. Such a rare production cannot fail to attract thousands to the Palace. The finders of the nugget were a party of four, two of which, Robert and James Ambrose, natives of Grave send, had been upwards of eleven years in the colony. The other two, Charles and Samuel H. Napier, also brothers an i orphan boys, natives of Bathurst, New Brunswick, had been out in Australia, the former five years, the latter only two months, when he treasure was cificovered at Kingower Diggings, upwards of 120 miles from Melbourne, Having sifted their ground from where they had been working upwards of four years, they commenced sinking, and on reaching thirteen feet belcw the surface, one of the party found it, partly embedded in pipe clay. Having cleared away about eighteen inches of it, aed seeing no end, he had an idea he had struck a reef of gold. He managed, however to clear away the soil from it, and with the help of his mates got it lifted and placed in another part of the hole in an mid sugar bag. The next consideration was how they were to take care of it. They consulted. After waiting till the time when the neighbouring diggers were at dinner, one of the party was dispatched to their tent, distant about a quarter of a mile, and brought a wheelbarrow. They then got the nugget to the surface, placed it in the wheelbarrow, and in order not to create suspicion, placed a tub on it and wheeled it to their tent, and returned to their "hole," and on getting home at night, after weighing it with a pair of common steelyards to find out it, value, they sunk a hole six feet deep immediately below their dining table, and buried it there until they had worked their claim out (about three months longer), during which time they got a fiw pounds more gold, the largest piece, which they still have, weighing upwards of ten ounces. Having disposed of their tent and other fixtures, the party (in cluding a daughter of one of the Atnbroses, who had been . out with her father upwards of eleven years in the colony), set out in their own conveyance for Melbourne. The journey occupied four days and nights. They were well armed, and one of them always went ahead as a scout with a double barrel gun, charged. At night two kept watch while the others slept under cover of the cart. Having got it to Melbourne, an i into a piece cf security, the news spread abroad, when a rush of several thousauds made for Kingower, and who first carried the news to the astonished neighbouring diggers. The nugget was afterwards Exhibited in Melbourne with great success, and amongst others his Exce,lencv the Governor of Victoria and d aug h ter v i s i te d i t , an d w ith kind permis sion of his E xce ll ency th e nugge t was named after his daughter, the "Blanche BarkJy Nugget." Mr. S. H. Napier, of Liverpool, has had the honour f submitting the euaget for the inspection of her Ma jesty the Queen ancrli.R.ll, the Prince Consort, and other members of the Royal Family, at Buckingham Palace. TILE CAPE OF GOOD ROPE. PLYMOUTH, THURSDAY EVENING. The Royal mail steamship Bosphorus, Captain M‘Guiggan, arrived this evening. Her dates are —Cape of Good Hope, March 22 ; St. Helena, 30 ; Ascension, April 3 ; ani l S t . Vi ncen t, April 14. Her freight includes specie 1,200/., 560 tusks ivory, 45 packages wool and general cargo. Gover nor Grey has determiriefl to remit the tenders for the construction of the Cape railways to Captain Galton in England, a course which is esteemed satisfactory by the colonists. In his opening speech to Parliament his Excellency announced the inten tion of the Imperial Government to confine the King of Delhi in Fort Cox, on the frontier. The offer to employ 10 disaffected Sepoy regiments at the Cape has been declined. The 73d Regiment was under orders to embark in the Simoom, at East London, for India. The United Kingdom has been chartered for the conveyance of troops. The remount agents continue busily engaged pur chasing horses. The attempts made to raise a regiment of Caffres or Fingoes has failed. Hos tilities were apprehended between the Orange Free- State Boersand the chief Mosbesh on the long vexed boundary question. The Rev. J. Wilson has been cruelly murdered iu Caffraria ; several coloured herdsmen have been murdered by Caffres within 100 miles of the metropolis, and a feeling of insecurity is spreading through the country. Wool, first quality, ls. 6d. to ls. Bd. ; second, 9d. to 10d. Elephants' teeth, 6s. 9d. to 7s. 6d. ; horns, per hundred, 425. 6d. ; sheepskins, is. Bd.; goats', 2s. 9d. ; wine, Poniac, per pipe, 241. ; white, 141. ; Constantia, per half aum, 141. to 221. Trade at Natal is flourishing. In Table Bay, her Majesty's ship Hermes. l Simon's Bay, the Seringapatam, the Castor, the brig Persia, two Russian schooners, the Digyte, and Strelox, and the Piastome gunboat, were in port ; also the French fr:gate A , colde. The Royal steamship Dane arrived out on the 18th of March. Her Majesty's ship Hecate, Commander G. F. Burgess, was at Ascension April the 3d; the crew had been sickly. The south coast squadron is healthy. The Conflict has recently taken a fine prize. Spoke, April 10, in lat. 12.05 N., long. 23.7 W., the ship Her Majesty, 21 data out ;• April 27, lat. 45.45 N., long. 10.58 W., tbe brig Marie, of Ostend, and the barque Perpetues. THE REV. JAMES ASPINALL, M.A., AT RAMPTON, NOTTS. (From the .Retford and Gainsborough, News.) The Rev. J. Aepinall, the worthy rector of Althorpe, delivered his well-known lecture on " Travelling, Old fashioned and New," in the rooms of the Working Men's Association established in that parish, on Tuesday, the 20th inst. The Rev. G. Winterton, the vicar, and pre sident of the association, pre-ided. There was an excel lent attendance, especially of the labouring class. The lecture was admirably delivered, and the facetious anec dotes produced from facts, many of which had refer ence to the actual experience of the lecturer, lorsught forth in due order bursts of applause. The sublime was so pithily blended with simplicity that it was fitted for the meanest capacity. The mein- bets of the church choir of the neighbouring village of Laneham sang some beautiful glees, accompanied by the piano, in a very admirable style, which reflected great credit upon their exertions. A vote of thanks was moved by the Rev. C. W. Eyre, M.A., J.P., Lord of the Manor, in a most appropriate speech, couched in moat flattering terms, to the rev. lecturer. Mr. ASYINALI, who, on rising, was received with loud cheers, thus addressed the meeting :—ln returning my sincere thanks for the vote just passed, I would observe that I much like the name of your association the Hampton Working Men's Association. There is a charm in the very thought of working men associating together for self-cultivation and self-improvement. (Cheers.) It seems to be the dawn of a better and brighter state of things ; and I especially like to hear of it, and to witness it here in the very heart and the very centre of the rural districts, and I hope that it is as the seed time of a rich intellectual harvest. (Cheers.) For myself I would say that, although both think and feel that it is high time that I should leave my place as a volunteer lecturer to young men, yet I still keep to the work as liking better to wear out than to rush out---(loud cheers)— and to run in harness as long as possible than to be turned out to grass as used up and broken down, in the pastures of rest and idleness. In my experience much has been done to let in the light of education, and so scatter the darkness which has so long oppressed the intellect of the masses of this country. Schools, institu tions, libraries, and lectures are all helping on this great work. But much more eas yet to be accomplished. Ili some countries there is a law against a man filling his neighbour's land with thistles from their growth in his own fields ; and I sometimes wish that we had a law in this country against those who, keeping their families uneducated, afflict riot only their neighbour hood, but their generation, with the thistles of igno rance. (Cheers and laughter.) I read also in some book lately that in Siberia no young woman is allowed to marry until she can make a pudding. (Laughter.) I do not know how it may be here, but it unfortunately happens in some of our parishes that too many of the young women who present taemselves for this ceremony are, whew called upon to sign their names, found only able to make their marks. (Cheers.) But, while the rest of the world is improving, we, in the rural districts, must not stand still. You have probably heard the story of the careless housemaid, who, when reproved by her mistress, answered sharply that she " was quite sure that she had done her work well and thoroughly, but it was all that nasty sun which would shine in through the window, and show the dust in the corners and tee cob webs on theioeiling of the parlour." (Cheers and laugh ter.) And so, you may depend upon it, if we do not keep; pace with the march of improvement which is stea dily advancing on every side of us, the light of instruc tion will soon flesh in upon us and expose the dust of ignorance and the oobweds of prejudice yet hanging in the Chambers of the rural brain. (Cheers.) "Keep moving ' r ie'the cry of this " go-a-head" age. The express train Of intelligence is dashing forward. Take your places by it, and do not be left behind. But I spoke in my lecture of travelling as an educator. I will give you an instance, a very striking one, even before the intro duction of the railway. We all have something to com municate and much to learn, and those who fancy that they know the most on teeir own strong point, may occasionally gain additions to their stores from the most unexpected quarters At the beginning of the present j century, three men of the royal family of intellect took their places one evening ie London by the mail for Cambridge. They were the celebrated Porson, the famous Dr. Parr, and Daniel Wilson, the late Bishop of Calcutta. Presently a fourth passenger entered the vehicle. He, unknown thee, but with a career before him, was a raw-looking country lad, almoet a boy, but nevertheless as full of scholarship as an egg is said to be full of meat. He was from the north, and was now, after the vacation, returning to the university, where he had already kept a terns or two. He knew the college dons, although they did not know him, and, shrinking into the corner, modestly drew his cloak over his face, and listened to the conversation of his seniors. They were soon deep and earne-t in discussion of some mu tilated and imperfect line in one of the old Greek poets ichylus I believe. Each had his own idea as t what would restore its force, sense, and meaning. But they could not agree. Porson and Parr were against Wilson's reading, Porson and Wilson against Parr's, and Parr and Wilson against Person's. (Cheers.) Tne debate was long and rather warns, when all at once, flesh and blood not being able to stand it any longer, the cloak fell from before the face of the raw-looking youth, and he ex— claimed, in a strong north-country dialect, "Gentlemen, I beg your pardon fir intruding my opinion upon you, but it has always struck me that the line you are speak ing of ought to be suppi)ed in such and such a way." (Cheers.) An earthquake or a bomb-shell 'could not have more surprised the three giants than did the voice of this daring boy. Fr a moment or two they stared at him in utter amazement, and then came a chorus of all their toeguee together, " You are right, sir, you are right, and it never strack us before." What is gross,e shooting, or partridge shootiag, or pheasant shooting, to what we see here ? The Lilliputian had brought down and bagged three Gullivers at one shot—(loud cheers)—and, what is more, he had made three fast friends from that moment to the end of their several lives. This hapeeeed, as I have told yon, even le , fere the introduction of railway travelling. But the chances of giving instruction and improvement in the same way are now, of course, increased in a hundred-fold and a thowand-fold degree. And only think, when you do go forth on your travels, what a poor contribution to I the picnic of intellect which fellow-passengers bring together it would be to add nothing but ignorance to it. And one word more to you young men before I sit down. You must not allow impossibilities to grow in Rampton. (Cheers.) They would be worse than thistles. You must blot out the very word from your dictionaries, or, if you suffer it to remain there, it must be as a horse in its stable, never brought out but for use and exerci-e. You must write on your foreheads, as the doorway of the brain, "No admission here for impossibilities." (Loud cheere.) You must improve yourselves that, whatever may b e your employment, you may, as it were, have two strings to your bow, and be able, if the opportunity com es, to call in head work and h an d work, as knowing that in these days of competition, " A mouse who trusts to one poor hole, Cau never be a mouse of any soul." (Cheers ) But without looking to any worldly advan tage arid gain whatever, a man has his reward for self improvement and self-cultivation in the present pleasure, swisfaction, and luxury of intellectual enjoyment. This is ours, at all events, and, as to the r es t, we w ill ray , with the p !et on the other side of the Atlantic, In the world's great field of battle, In the bivouac of life, Be not life dumb driven cattle ! Be a hero in the strife! Let us then be up and doing, With a heart for any fate, Still achieving, still pursuing, Learn to labour andlo wait. The rev. gentleman then resumed his seat amidst loud and long-continued cheering. A vote of thanks wa, then passed to the glee singers, and the National Anthem having been sung by the whole company, they separated, highly delighted with the evening's entertainment We are happy to learn that the association is working well, and is much appreciated, and reflects great credit upon its working committee. FLDATIrG BATTIiBIES. TO THE EDITOR I THE BUN. The correspondebt of the Times is to error to imagine that the floating batteries are the Emperor's invention. During my stay in Sheffield, i❑ 1835, I used to visit two of my countrymen, whom I have succeeded to place in one of the most renowned steel manufactories. Sove ral times Mr. E. Vickers was kind enough to take me all over his establishment, and once my attention was attracted to the enormous power with whim, certain im• manse hammers came on steel. It was then that I con ceived- the idea that a series of steel sheets, say 5 inches in thickness, could withstand the effect of any pro jectile then in use. A few days afterwards I ascertained, beyond doubt, hi- various means, too long to be de scribed here, that such was really the case. I beg to re mind your civilian readers, with reference to this subject, that the then ordinary system of artillery, including the naval one, did not comprise heavier ordnance than 48-pounders, and 8-inch mortars. La Fax a tout prix beim,: at that epoch the foundation of the European policy, I had nothing better to do than to enter my discovery into my journal, and to commu nicate it a 4 a mere curiosity to my friend Captain Ban semer. But when the Western Powers proclaimed war against Russia, imagining that they were really in earnest, and consequently that they would have to attack not Cronetadt, nor Sebastopol, but Riga and o her mari time establishments, in order to secure a basis of operation for their armies about to act on the most vulnerable por tion of Russia, I hastened to embody my forms discovery ihto a memorandum) for the British Govern ment (of which I am a naturalised subjec ), and I trans mitted a copy of it by post to t Le Emperor of the French ; the former was handed to the Duke of Newcastle by the late Lord D. Stuart, who, a few days afterwards, re ceived an answer that "the suggestions would receive due consideration." I have shown it to many friends now living, and I hope that the original finally returned to the owner still be found arni ngst the papers of my lamented friend. From the Emperiir I did not receive any reply. On - Lord Panmure coming to the War -office I forwarded a similar memorandum on the same subject through the kind offices of the Earl of Zetland. Mr. Gaskoin returned an answer, which I have got in ray possession, implying the same promise and couched precisely in the same language. It is most surprising that the War-office in this country in returning an acknowledgment do not specify or allude in any way to the suggestions submitted to its consideration.. It is true that in the memorandum just spoken of I had not advised the construction of new machines, I merely recommended to protect your men-of-war in• tended for the attack with a series of steel sheets in order to make them bomb-proof. I do not think that the present Floating Batteries are an improvement upon my plan. In the first ,place war being then declared I did not think it was a proper time for building new ships. Secondly, they are much too clumsy, too dark, too heavy and too unmanageable. In the third plane, owing to the over anxiety of making them in every part how ever unimportant, porfectiy invulnerable, they are not only too dark inside (fur preventing), but they detain too long gunpowder smoke, which not only suffocates artillerymen, but renders their pointing more a matter of form; what is more, you will soon ascertain them, especially while in hot climates, to be perfect " hot beck" to preserve and create sourvey, fever, and other rnalariatic maladies. Lastly, they have materially in creased the expenses of the war, which, in my opinion, forced the allies to discontinue it just at the very mo ment that they could have fully attained their legitimate object, I mean the crippling of Russia, so as to render her complstly unmeddling and inoffensive for many years to come. - I was so certain of my discovery that on the 16th of June of the same year I offered to Lord Pan inure in a memorandum transmitted through the kind offices of my excellent friend the Earl of Harrowby, to construct on the same principles of protection, wheeling bomb proof rockets, battering batteries, with which I undertook within 24 hours, and by merely making use of old rockets that encumber the English and the Irish arsenals, to bury Sebastopol in ashes and ruins. Was this a chimera ? Why, I pledged my life and my reputation as an artilleryman. Tue former might have been too unimportant to the War-office, but I hope the latter is sufficiently estimated to cause at least an inquiry to be made. Now, everybody knows that it took the allies 12 months to throw into Sebastopol 1,700,000 pro jectiles, which have caused but the evacuation of the northern part—again, in round numbers, 150,000 men have died of overwork, of pestilence, and of wounds, to attain that pigmy object in comparison to the sacrifices, and two hundred millions were spent for this unenvious end. lam sure Nicholas would have sold all Crimea and his half-rotten fleet for that sum without any loss of life. Yet, I appeal to all scientific members of the pro fession to which I have the honour of belonging, whether it was possible or not by the means of the apparatus just described, (and containing in the front part 100 holes to admit as many rocket tunes of all sizes) to assault Sebastopol within 24 hours with all the rockets we could collect. It matters little in an ope ration of this sort of rocket, whether Nos. 1 or 20 of the streets Alexander or Nicholas was struck or set on fire by the clouds of rockets, which would have poured incessantly ou Sebastopol in all directions ; on the contrary, the di. versity of the effect occurring in various parts would ma terially increase the defence. Comparatively speaking, it was a great deal easier to guard, to protect, to main tain, to save, and defend one or two points chosen for the assault, and on which all defence was congregated ; like wise to obviate the consequences of 1,700,000 projectiles which it took the allies more than 12 months to eject, while, on the other side, I maintain that no army, no fortress, can withstand the effect of one-fourth part of that number if they are . assaulted with that quantity, within the time proposed by me. At all events, all those enormous fortification works that nearly exhausted the allied army, might have been spared, for my operations did not require any, only a feeble detachment to guard it against the enemy, who would have been too busy inside the fortress in obviating the con sequence of so novel and energetic an assault to venture out at all. I did not ask one farthing for this timely set vice—not one soldier from the allied army to carry out my plan into execution. I had offered to effect it with the aid of my personal friends. I put but one con dition, namely, that if I succeeded fully in the task, which I am sure was not chimerical, that then our Poles should be aided by the allies to take the field against the then common enemy, and for our own legitimate object. Since that epoch I have improved much my original discovery ; now two sheets of certain admixture of metals, even three-qearters of an inch in thickness, with other contrivances sufficient to render any man-of war or any battering battery completely bomb-proof, without overcharging them tso much, and without any kind of inconvenience, that now attend the floating bat teries. The project referring to this part I have also communicated to the Emperor, in April, 1856, at the end of the memoranousse "The Grand Tactics of Rocketeera," the introduction to which is as follows " Mes batteries fiAtantes k l'epreuve des bombes comme celles du mime genre pour pratiquer une bitch. valent biers un exatnin approfondi ; lea prieniaree armies de la rochette (rocket) doivetst necessairement etre supe rieures qui celles arns4es de l'Artillerie." . . . Here follow the reasons which established by facts that sops. riority. It is also worth remarking, that the possessive met was not denied in the condescending answer I then received. In conclusion, I beg to state that I do not pretend to be the inventor of the present floating batteries, but I mention that the principle upon which they are made bomb-proof is my discovery, referring as far back se 1835, and communicated to the allied Governments long before the present batteries were constructed or even thought of. Colonel B. DE WIERCENSKI, Late Director of Artillery, P. 5.—1 believe it worth the attention of our Govern. ment to examine the invention, referring to the making rnen•of-war bomb-proof. 2. The enormous advantages attending the use of my wheeling bomb-proof battering.: batteries. 3. The floating bomb-proof rocket batteries which would not require more than four inches of water, and which could eject at once as much metal as the largest man-of-war. The more so that Ido net ask any reward, but to serve my adopted country. She may be soon in need of cheap means of defence and attack ; with one of my floating rocket batteries in each port we may well dely all the prattle of armed and unarmed gangs of enemy. THE SOCIETY OP ARTS. TO THE EDITOR Or THE SUN. SIR,-1 ant directed by the Council of the Society of Arts to request the favour of your insertion of the accompanying letter, being in reply to a regtuest made by the Council to Lord Derby that his ford ship would place at their disposal nominations to compete for clerkships and other Government situa tions of a similar character, as rewards to success ful candidates at the so c i et y' s ensuing examination* of members of mechanics' and other institutions in union with it.—l am, sir, your obedient servant, P. LE NEVE FOSTER, Secretary. Society of Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce, Adelphi, W. C. "Treasury, S. W., April 28, 1858. Sir,—Lord Derby has communicated to me the re• quest of the' Society of Arts, made through you, that a certain Luarber of nominations to appointments under his lordship's control may be placed at the disposal of the soc'e y ; and I beg to inform you that, in accordance with the wishes expressed by the Council, Lord Derby will be prepared to nominate four candidates during the present year to compete for such clerkships and other similar situations as may fall to his lordship's disposal. "I shall be obliged, therefore, if you will have the go' doe's to intorm me at your convenience of the pumas and addresses of the four candidates whom the society would desire to rec.ournend, in order that their narnes may duly he recorded as desirous to compete for a ppointments.—l am, sir, your obedient servant, " W. G. HYLTON JOLIFFE. "The Secretary, Society of Arts." Ma lame Szavardy, the charming pianists, better known to our readers as Wdhelinina Clause, has arrived in London, and will shortly appear at a Matined Musi calt4, under the auspices of Mr. Mitchell. ST. JAMES'S THEATRE.- CARLO ANDBEOLETTI.—A created an ien immense io ga se t n at s e a i t n, whose m ys t er i ous d o i ngs at n in Parisian society during the is annunced for th ree per f ormances at St. L4e Ja t n slecits 3D s'sl'heatre G during the next week. Report speaks marvels of his wonderful powers, ~~s The the F ( the la l full v Princi been i tion home With 1 were E qualit Th e 6 0,00( SYdue Acc Mark( tio n , amour taken Itailw ance, Tho Qood Mo: CUrreE cent. Thi India] the L, chair. gressii Where the 81 and 1 being 2 .11c1 le goner; Ditto 20 ; Cents tout& Vuite Quite Alab i It k .ent ary kiggi 80 k b jaw P en n trap Tenn Y!rgi Bo i t, No n i 4,, 11 lini 141, 11li n tk him hay Na nli~