The Sun. — London, England, 1858-05-03 00:00:00

MARRIAGE WITH A DECEASED WIFE'S SlSTER.—Persons desirous of petitioning Parliament in favour of Lord Bury's Bill, for legalising Mar riage with a Deceased Wife's Sister, may be supplied with Forme ready for Signature, in accordance with the regula tions of the House of Comm ons, together with all necessary directions for the free transmission of the Petitions, on ap plication, by post or otherwise, to JOSEPH. STANSBURY, M. A,, HONORARY SECRETARY, Marriage Law Reform Association, 26, Parliament-street, Westminster. I[IER MAJESTY'S THEATRE.— IL TROYATORE. TITIENS, ALBONL TO-MORROW (Tue IL T sday, ROVA May TO 4) RE., will be revived Leonora, Madlle. Titiens ; Azucena, Madame Alboni (her first appearance this season) ; Manrico, Signor Giugliai ; Fer rondo, Signor Vialetti ; and Il Conte di Luna, Signor Aldi ghieri. To conclude with the new Ballet Divertissement, by M. Massa, entitled FLEUR DES CHAMPS. The principal parts by Madlles. Pocchini and Annetta. The Opera will commence at 8 o'clock. Thursday, May 6 (Extra Night), IL TROVATORE. And the new Ballet, FLEUR DES CHAMPS. A limited number of boxes have been reserved to the pub lic, price 21s. and 31s. 6d. each, which may be had at the Box-oillce at the Theatre. THEATRE ROYAL, HAYMARKET. Lessee—Mr. J. B. Buckstone. THIS EVENING, to commence at Seven o'clock, with MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING. After which a Classical Extravaganza, entitled PLUTO AND PROSERPINE. Followed by JACK'S RETURN FROM CANTON. Concluding with MY HUSBAND'S GHOST. Orchestra Stalls (which may be retained the whole of the evenings. 6s. each. (No charge for booking.) First Pries• s. d. Second price. s. d Dress Boxes 5 0 Dress Boxes 3 0 Upper Boxes... ~......... 3 0 Upper Boxes 2 6 Pit ... .... ..... 2 0 Pit. 1 0 Gallery ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE. Proprietor, Mr. Charles Kean. Tins EVENING, will be presented MUSIC HATH CHARMS. After which KING LEAR. King Lear, Mr. C. Kean. To conclude with the new farce, entitled SAMUEL IN SEARCH OF HIMSELF. T HEATRE ROYAL, AD EL PHI Lessee—Mr. Ben. Webster. THIS EVENING will be presented the drama of 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 Roden, Keeley, and Arden. STRAND THEATRE.—Lessee and Directress, Miss Swanborough.—This Evening will be presented the COUNTRY SQUIRE, supported by Messrs. Emery, Belford, Charles, F. Seymour, Me tgreson, Misses M. Oliver, M. Ternan, Portman, and Messrs. Selby. After which, the new burlesque of ERA. DIAVOLO ; or, The Beauty and the Brigands. Fra Diavolo, Miss Swan borough ; Beppo, Mr. C. Young. Followed by a new Farce, YOUR LIKENESS, ONE BRILLING. ,Messrs. Charles Young, Ray, and Miss M. Ternan. CANTERBURY HALL, Westminster-road.— OPEN EVERY EVENING.—The follow leg company of Vocalists are engaged for the performance of SAeetions from all the popular OPERAS, MADRIGALS, CHORUSES, GLEES, DUETS, &c., viz. : —Miss Russell, Mrs. Badzey, Miss Brnnell, Miss Ray, Madame Bartoletti, Miss Montague, Mrs. Lawrence, and Mrs. Anderson ; Herr F. Jonghmans, Mr. Renshaw, S. Jones, J. Barker, W. Melling, Senor Antonio, E. L. Hime, Mr. Badzey, Mr. Edwards, Mr. Cozens, Mr. Bell, and Mr. Bernard : Messrs. T. Maclagan. W. T. Critchßeld, John G. Forde, and E. Mackney. Pianoforte, Mr. Cecil Hicks ; harmonium, Master Williams ; Director, Herr F. Jonghmans. Commence at Saven o'clock precisely. Suppers, &a., until twelve o'clock. Mr. AUGUSTUS BRAHAM will appear every Evening. Mr. WOODHOUSE (by permission of Clurles Kean, Esq ) will have the honour of introducing, every evening, his highly successful Performance on the new REGULATION DRUM. THE WEATHER—SUN OFFICE, MAY 2. THERMOMETER, IN THE SHADE. 57—highest since noon yesterday. 46—lowest this morning and during the night, 52—this day at noon. BAROMETER, 2?. 39 —rising. WIND, Noitherly, fresh and cold, with showery weather , It rained heavily in the morning ; heavy hail shower about two in the afternoon, and occasional showers for the rest of the evening. MAT 3. 54—highest sine* noon yesterday. 45—lowest this morning and daring the night. 52 —this day at noon. BAROMETER, 29.53—5ti1l rising. WIND, North-Easterly ; moderate, with line cold wea ther. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. THIS DAY—Morn., 44 min. aft. 4—Even., 1 ni+n aft. 5 To-Monnow—Morn., 20 min. aft. s—Even., 40 min. aft. 5 % ~ 4, 4 LONDON, MONDAY, MAY 3, 1858. The remaining resolutions respecting the Government of India will be brought forward this evening. We trust that the House of Com mons will act fairly and impartially under the circumstances, and, casting party considerations aside, will strive to render the contemplated legislation the best, both for Groat Britain and India, that can be hoped for. It is not a subject that should be dealt with in a factious manner. If ever there was a topic requiring the most complete fair play, the tail absence of every party feeling, it is the one now before Parliament. The welfare, happiness, and prosperity of one hundred and fifty millions of our fellow subjects hang in the balance. The almost miraculous resources of that gigantic empire only require proper development to astonish even the most sanguine calculators. It is scarcely too much to anticipate that even before the present generation has passed away the revenue of India may equal, or possibly exceed, that of Great Britain, and that it may be derived from perfectly unobjectionable sources. Surely, then, on a question of such magnitude, no petty considerations should be permitted to intervene. It ought not to be made the battle field on which to decide whether Lord DERBY, Lord PALMER STON, or Lord JOHN RUSSELL, is to be placed at the head of her MAJESTY'S Government. The latter nobleman deserves great credit for the course he pursued in divesting it of a party character ; and although the Palmerstonian journals have howled forth their disappointment in a variety of keys at the responsibility being transferred from the Ministry to the House of Commons, we scarcely think that the veteran Viscount will irretrievably damage his character by adopting the advice of his reckless organs. The first question to be decided is the title by which the Minister responsible for the administra tion of affairs in India is to be designated. Is he to be Secretary of State, or merely President of the Council ? It is said that " the rose by any other name will smell as sweet ;" and it would seem that when the functions to be discharged, and the responsibility to be sustained, are identical, the mere title is of comparatively trivial importance. The real point at issue is whether on any change of office bet veen au actual Secretary of State, and the head of the Indian department, the seat in Parliament should be vacated, and a new election rendered impera tive. Now, it is quite right that a person accept ing Office for the first time as a Cabinet Minister, should appeal t o his constituents for their ap proval of his conduct. But when he has already received that approval, when his position as a n influential M em b er of the Cabinet h as a mere wo r k b e en recognised and sanctioned, • • Ifl o f supererogation to require additional evidence when he is merely transferred from one s i tuation to another of equal rank. The only effect can be to delay and embarrass the Government, an d give an excuse for procrastination, when it might be of the greatest importance to proceed with the greatest despatch. On every ground, therefore, the appointment of a Secretary not carry with it the same weight or dignity. Notice has been given of many amendments respecting the number, mode of appointment, tenure of office, and functions of the contemplated Council. The chief questions are, whether there are not to be more than twelve, or any number varying between twelve and eighteen ; whe ther they are to be entirely nominated by the Crown, or partly by election ; whether they are to hold office dum, se bene gesserunt. like the Judges, or merely " during pleasure, or to go out at certain interval•, with the chance of reappointment, cr re-eleotion ? And whether they are to exercise the preliminary patronage, or that it is to be disposed of by competitive examinations. _ _ These are the main points to be decided. We only wish that those which are best calculated to promote the interests both of England and India ma y be adopted ; and we say of the rival leader; as they did in the olden time, "May the best man win." On Wednesday Lord BURY'S Bill to legalise marriage with the sister of a deceased wife, will be again before the House of Commons, on the motion for its second reading. The first reading of a bill with so few clauses, and of so simple a character, especially after a fair discussion, is nearly equivalent, as an expression of opinion, to the second reading ; but on this occasion, what has occurred since the introduction of the bill has made it doubly necessary that the bill should be so supported as to insure its being carried through the House of Lords this session. The case of BROOK V. BROOK, on which Vice- Chancellor Sir JOHN STUART had not given Ms judgment when we last wrote, is now decided, for the present at least. The Vice-Chancellor has given his judgment, which concurs with that of Mr. Justice CRESSWELL. We need not re-state the details of this particular case ; the effect of the judgment is what our readers are chiefly con cerned to know. It is this :—A marriage of Eng lish subjects, if contracted between a widower and the sister of his deceased wife, although solem nised, as at Altona in Danmark, in a country where such marriage is lawful, is nevertheless null and void, and the offspring, if any, are ille gitimate. The disability of an Englishman to marry his deceased wife's sister in his own coun try is construed to be a personal one ; hence it follows him whitbersoever he goes ; and, what is worse, the same incapacity attaches to his children through succeeding generations I Unless he become naturalised in some other country where such marriages are lawful, and that is in most countries, he cannot get rid of his disability. He may live anynumber of years in a foreign land, he may emigrate with his wife's family to any of our colonies, and her sister may be almost the only person he could reasonably think of as a wife after her death, but it would make no difference. Two judges, whose decision, unless reversed by appeal or by legislation, is law, have stripped him of the liberty permitted him on this point, both by the law of GOD, as revealed to the Jews, and by the law of nature. We do not complain of the judges. They have doubtless decided in accordance with their con scientious views of the law as it stands, nor shall we now enter on the grounds of our difference in opinion from such very high authorities ; our present object is legislation. We have, indeed, the strongest hope that the House of Lords will, on appeal, reverse that decision. But, first, there are the known " glorious uncertainties of the law ;" next, the cruel consequences which have been inflicted by the decision itself on thousands of innocent persons. It may not be known that the Marriage Law Amendment Society has a register, the names of the parties being, of course, given in strict confidence, of not less than three thousand cases of the marriages in question. They comprise all classes, from day labourers to persons high in station. Indeed, a noble Duke, in a dignified office in her MAJESTY'S present Government, is the offspring of one of these marriages, and its legitimation was the well-understood object of the Act of Lord LYNDHURST, in 1835, by which all Englishmen were, as is now decided, wholly de- prived of the right we now seek for them. Nume rous as the ascertained cases are, they must, how ever, be exceeded by those which are unknown. The facility of evasion through the difference be tween the names of the brother and sister-in-law; the temptation to evade a law which is resented as a flagrant invasion of a natural and scriptural right ; and the readiness with which persons may interpret, in a non-natural, or rather non-legal sense, the declaration required before mar riage, all combine to induce many, in the hwnbler walks of life especially, to marry with little concern about unrighteous human laws, being quite satisfied with the approval of their GOD and their own consciences,. What then is the tega/position of the thousands who have married thus, and of their altogether innocent children ?"—That the fathers and mo thers are living in concubinage, and that the chil dren are illegitimate ! The fathers might to-mor row send their wives (for such they are) out of their houses, and be under no more legal respon sibility for them and their children, than if the former were women without character, and the latter their offspring! Thousands of perfectly virtuous women, affectionate wives, and the chil dren of happy and honoured homes, have been in one hour legally branded with the disgrace appro priate to the most degrading of the vices ! We can have no fear that many, or perhaps even any instances of such conduct will occur. It is the fact that the marriages in question are generally contracted from the highest motives and with the soundest judgment ; but is it to be toleratel that such should be the position of a noble-minded woman, and her helpless children, and that such should be the powers given by law to the man who has married her ? Is the latter to be able to tell her, should he prove unworthy to bear the name of man,—" you are but my mistress !" and is the former to have no reply but "I am at your mercy?" And for what is the nation to be covered with Wgrea leases of legal injustice of this kind? Wli t at great ter social evil is to be warded off by it ? hi wrong is to be averted by the perpetration of this wrong, so great in itself ? There is literally no end whatever to be attained, but that of inflicting the heaviest social penalties on those who are willing to obey the laws of GOD, but who refuse to be bound by the Popish canons of the Church of England. That is all, literally all. With many other relics of Popery the Church of England retains the degrees of consanguinity and affinity established by the Church of Rome. In 1835 the cases in which marriages were voidable by ecclesiastical law under the prohibition in question, were so numerous, one of them, too, being in the peerage, that Lord LYNDHURST intro- I daced a bill to legalise the existing marriages, ' and sc ie n t eoe,l legalise in future all of a similar kind if not vr annulledas conceding within i n t g w e o n y o e u a g r h s . t This, he church iin a and co its canons ; buo., the Bishops of the day demanded ---an(114 " 1 1411104 vItsT found himself obliged to THE SUN, LONDO of State, as suggested by the Government', 1 lyield—that the price of declaring unimpeachable is far better than that of President, which d 05 .93 all the existing marriages, should be their entire - Irohibition in future ! By the recent interpreta tion , nf this act thousands of persons ara now in a worse p, - , sition, in one more urgently requiring e gislative +erposition than were those in wh ose tuarnusT's act was passed. Th e marriages l a tter were voidable by s u it i n a n behalf Lord of the L Ecclesiastical Court during the lifetime of both parties ; but, as few persons would wish or care to interfere for such an odious purpose, practically the marriages then were safe. By the late decision, however, the numerous marriages cele brated in contravention of the act of 1835 are declared to be now null and void, and not merely voidable. If there was need of legislation in Lord LYNDHURST'S time, much more is there now. The pecuniary consequences of the decision are not to be forgotten. BROOK V. BROOK was, in fact, a case raised on a pecuniary basis. BROOK'S son by his second wife died intestate. The deci sion declares him to be an illegitimate son, and as an illegitimate child can have no heirs, all his share under his father's will goes to the Crown. If the father and husband in case of one of the marriages in question dies intestate, the wife and children inherit nothing—not even the beds they have lain on. One is a stranger, the others are illegitimate ! If the property be willed to the mother and children in the mother's maiden name, which alone they have a right to bear, still all the property pays 10 per cent. legacy duty, instead of nothing for the widow, and 1 per cent. for the children. Such are the revolting consequences of the present legal interpretation of the unnatural Act of 1835. But we must take higher grounds than even these unrighteous social and pecuniary results. We ask, —what right has any earthly authority to step in and deliberately put asunder those whom GOD has joined together ? The great majority of Chris tians hold that the marriages in question have the divine sanction ; the unions have. been foimed in that belief ; nature and revelation are quite at one on the point. And who, we indignantly ask, are the men who shall dare to pronounce thousands of virtuous persons, whom GoD regards as man and wife, not to be so ? It is not in their competency to do it ! Legislators, legislating in behalf of Popery, Mahomedanism, or even of the Church of England, may torture by civil punishments those who will not bow the knee to the dogmas of their pet establishment ; they may embody their super stitious canons in the nation's laws, and enforce them by the secular arm, but they cannot subvert right and wrong, or abolish the least of the laws of GOD. The thousands of persona now married in defiance of Lord LYNDHURST'S Act are " joined together by GoD," and the legislation which de clares their marriage null, and leaves each party at liberty to marry whom he or she will, is nothing more nor less than a monstrous piece of immorality and profanity. It must be repealed. For 3,250,0001. the drainage of London can be completely and perfectly reorganised. It has now been distinctly intimated that for so much, and no more, this good can really be effected. It has been thus intimated to the House of Commons by the Royal Commissioners appointed to inquire, not only into the drainage of the metropolis, but into the whole Sewage Question of the United Kingdom. The preliminary report has at length been laid upon the table of the House of Commons by the Commissioners. And there, unmistakeably upon that report, the fact already particularised makes its appearance—the fact of this most satisfac tory intimation that for three millions and one quarter (for actually 74,0001. less than the estimated defici ency upon tlais nex.t year's expenditure, according to the first rough draft of Mr. DISR&ELI'S Financial Statement), we can secure the perfect drainage of this vast capital ! And what, let us ask, is implied by the perfect drainage of London The purification of the Thames. The embank ment of that once more beautiful and salubrious river. The construction of advanced terraces on either side—on the Surrey side and the Mid dlesex side, all the way up from the Pool to Chelsea Reach —so that the world-famous metropolis of the greatest maritime power this world has ever witnessed may no longer be ap proached, by water, through localities the most squalid and dilapidated ! Localities rendering the Silent Highway the foul and unsightly back entrance to the Imperial twin cities of London and West minster. Supposing this sum of 3,250,000/. to have been expended as proposed by the Royal Commis sioners. Supposing the sewage of the capital to have been deodorised in proper covered reservoirs —the precipitated matter pumped into the coun try as manure, or t) the sea as refuse, and the puri fied water alone allowed to run off into the river current. Supposing the Thames to have been re stored to a river, at once sightly and noble by the building up of these projected double lines of embankments—having advanced terraces, both for carriage ways and for the convenience of foot-passengers. Supposing all this to have beer actually accomplished—and the Commissione's positively assert that for no more than three mi lieus and one-quarter sterling it can, whenever we please, be accomplished—How much is thcre not inevitably then accomplished in the way of subordinate and subsidiary metropolitan improve- 1 ments ? It would follow, then, inevitably, that one of the very grandest of all the glorious public buildings in England would be opened up to view by a broad and direct approach from the river-- meaning, of course, no other edifice than Sir CHRISTOPHER WREN'S architectural master piece, St. Paul's Cathedral. Again, both the ancient and modern architectural glo ries of Westminster would be in every re- spect more imposingly and appropriately situated —the old Abbey, the old Hall, the new and no less stately Palace of the Legislature. Simulta neously, too, the bridges of the metropolis woukl be in a manner brought more distinctly witliu the scope of general regard and appreciation. Some of these bridges, remember, being among the chef d'aqtvre3 among the 'pontine wonders of Christendom—the Thames having at once the noblest of all iron bridges, that of South wark, of all suspension bridges, that of Hungerford, and of all granite bridges, that of Waterloo, the last-mentioned being an object among others of CANOVA'S espe cial admiration. As at present these and the other superb structures crossing the river Thames are, and must continua to be entirely so to speak in the background. They can only be viewed in tdnae majestic t o a general way f rom the river itself as from one another. It h as b een 89 ina great measure with t h hae e ntreof with its h inauguratione structure n ev Gothic fl. Id ir o )l n itd ß gwe iji l nol d Bridge e e overin course soin likerse since of construction at Westminster. The p ro j ec ted c m enabaukments will remove all this seclusion from public view of the bridges over the Thames. It will bring all their hidden beaaties to light con spicuously. But beyond these and similar con siderations, there is the paramount consideration of all, that by the river traversing this great city, bisecting it, winding through its dense and ever . meats by which it will be by the very same arrang,e increasing population, being effectuany purified 'N, MONDAY EVENING, MAY_3, /858, mag /Aeon tl yadorn ed and beautified. Remembering hat wa are net talking of an idle day dream, but of an actual reality, that may he any day undertaken and rapidly completed by means of an expendi ture of no more than 3,250,000/., we cannot but hail with satisfaction the production of the report announcing these gratifying particulars to the House of Commons, the preliminary report but just now laid upon the table of the House, and authenticated with the signatures of the eight Royal Commissioners. TEST NEWS. THE Blackwood. —Tile third artic!e on " Food and Drink" contains some curious statistics respecting the nature and properties of various kinds of food, and their adaptability.to different constitutions and climates. The writer, in treating of M. St . Hil a i re ' s theory of the suitability of the " viaude de cheval" for human food, tells an amusing anecdote. A Frenchman was one day remonstrating against the contempt expressed by Englishmen for French beef, which he for his part did not find inferior to the beef of England. "I have been two times in England," he said, "but I nevare found the bif so superieur to ours.• I find it vary convenient that they bring it you on leetle pieces of stick for onepenny, but I do not find the bif superieur." " Gliod heavens, sir !" replied the Englishman, "you have been eating cat's-m Oat." The writer contends that it is a wholesome and palateable food, but we very much question whether many will be inclined to follow the Frenchman's example. The comparative quantities of food consumed by differ out races or under different circumstances will attract the curious. The increase in the degree of atmospherical heat is generally supposed to dimi nish the quantity of food consumed ; but this asser tion is contradicted by the statements of Barrow, in his Travels in Southern Africa, who telli us that the Hottentots are the greatest gluttons on the face of the earth. "Ten Hottentots ate a middling sized ox in three days ; and three Bosjesmans had a sheep given them about five in the evening, which was entirely consumed before noon of the following day. They continued to eat all night, without sleep and without intermission, till they finished the whole animal." The objections against attempting to reduce the myriads of varying indi vidual peculiarities to a few rules, or systems, are just and sensible. " Wh a t Will He Do With It ?" brings before us this month its more pleasing per sonages ' the ill-fated Jasper L ose ly d oes no t appear, but we are favoured with the presence of the refined and intellectual Darrell. In the course of the narrative he gains upon the attention by the deep feeling expressed more in his actions then his words, and the interview with his young kinsman Lionel is very affecting. On the eve of a change in his plans, he considers himself bound to disclose some portion of the past to his young relative. The tale which was told was indeed a sad one ; his life was a mistake from the commencement—a dark shadow rested on his path from youth onwards, which, deepening at its meridian, suddenly dimmed the splendour of his public career, and darkened the brightness of his home for ever. Darrell's re appearance in London society was the source of much excitement and interest. All watched what party he would join, which cause he would espouse; for although he had bean absent from the metro polis so long, his fame had remained behind him, and kept his memory verdant in the minds of the generation he had so adorned, and which had handed down his triumphs to its successor. His visit to the house is an interesting one, and is thus de- I scribed : " Oace he was teen in the arena of his old triumphs, on the benches devoted to strangers di-ainguishcd by the Speaker's order. Ther,.., recognised by the old members, eagerly gazed at by the younger, Goy Darra 1 liQtened calmly, throughout a long field night, to voices that mu t have roused from forgotten graves, kindling and glorious memories t voices of those—veterans now—by whose side he had once struggled for some cause which he had then, in the necessary exaggeration of all honest enthus;asm, identified with a nation's lifeblood. Voices, too, of the old antagonists, over whose routed arrangements he had marched triumphant amidst applauses that the next day rang again throughout England from Fib to side. Hark, the very man with whom, in the old battle day 4, he bad been the most habitually pitied, is speaking now 1 His tones are embarraassd—his argument confused. Does he know who listens yonder ? Old members think so—smile, whisper sack other, and glance significantly where Darrell i.its." Au article on the "Antiquities of Kertch" traces the exploits and achievements of which it has been the scene. A paper entitled "C )lleges and Celi bacy" takes a very just and seusible view of a ques tion of some social importance, and the various branches of the subject are discussed in a straight forward and practical manner, which recommend it to the notice of university reformers and legislators. The sixth and seventh chanters of Captain Burton's interesting narrative, "Two Months' Experience in East Africa" brings it to a conclusion." "The Poorbeah Mutiny" is continued from the February number, and gives a spirited account of the out break and its suppression. A lengthened history of the fate of the 55th Native lnfautry is given, as showing the way in which mutineers were treated in the Pusjaub. In speaking of the stern military -justice exacted from the traitors, the writer says, with truth, that " when the excitement shall have subsided, and such acts have become history, some men, perhaps, will read of them with horror as deels of ruthl-ss cruelty, uuwotthy of a Chlis , ian people. But no one who Taus pcosed through them, whatever be his tempera ment, will ever regard them otherwise than as acts of stern necessity for the safety of those who were still alive. Either their lives or ours was the sad alternative. Mercy at such a moment would have been mistaken for weakness or fear, and all would have been lost. It was in this spirit that stera justice was dealt to the rebels; there was nothing of harsh,unfeeling cruelty, much less ought appreach ing to revenge, that prompted to the firm uncompro mising course adopted at Lahore and Peshawar, under that master-spirit who at Rama Pindee saved the whole Puujaub." Au article, en titled " Italy —of the arts, the cradle, and the grave," will att rac t th e l overs of? art. It is written in a somewhat high-flown and grandiloquent style, but the subject is a fair excuse for enthusiasm ; and the criticism on the early schools of Byz twine and Roman art display a familiarity with the different characteristics of the rival styles. A paper on " Cade" tells us in a lively and agreeable manner of their claims to our veuer itien and respect. " Nineveh looks like au old fellow when you go to the British Museum and gaze upon his disinterred remains; but the people of the winged bulls were but mushreoms_compared to the Hindus." The conduct and character of these descendants of antiquity do not, however, keep up the romance. They do not adopt the motto, "Noblesse oblige," but their age reminds us f rreihly of a more homely proverb. This article concludes a number in which there is perhaps more instruc tion than entertainment. Dublin,.—" Gerald Fitzgerald" presents more 1p an he y attraction for the reader, in this month' s num b er, ohfad first ho has left the gloomy Alice din a whichcon, found a refuge, and has join e stroll ing players. " Marietta," the girl he lad before soon, is a very interesting character, and is possessed of feelings and ideas not in accordance with her po sition. The last chapters are exciting in incident, and vivid in description. The scene in the Tuscan police court merits attention. "Rscent Historical Revelations," is an article of considerable interest. It enforces the necessity of giving the greatest pos sible publicity to original documents and corres pondences, " They will gradually become a neces sity of civilised nations , they lay bire the sources of history ; they are the life-blood of historical science —they unravel the true nature of men and their deeds ; they greatly facilitate the future labours of the historian, whilst they satisfy the doubts and hesitations of the public." Farther on some very interesting details are given of four remarkable episodes in Italian History, "The Sicilian Ves pers," the "Rise of Rienzi," the "Sack of Rome by the troops of Charles the Fifth," and the "Insurrec tion of Masaniello." It is observed thet the reader of history can now obtain a clearer insight into these events, and form a more correct judgment of their cause and effects, asmany errors and exaggera tiOns have been removed from theirrecords. The tory of "Life and death in Tipperary," is concluded. It is written with great power, but its incidents are very sombre in their nature, and the sequel is mcst melancholy. The sad fate of "Nelly" is a warn ing to those who attempt more than is desirable, and trust too much to their own exertion, instead of following the safe path of duty, and leaving the result to Providence. The older Dillon furnishes an instance of what blind prejudice and ungovern able rage will produce. "Competiiiva Examina tions" contain some judicious remarks oa a sub ject lately much dwelt upon. After citing the vari ous arguments on both sides, the writer, gives the the opinion of the author of "Latter Day Pam phlets." " Who are available to your offices - in Downing-strt et ? all the gifted souls who are born to you in this generation. These are appointed be the true eternal divine right, which will never be come obsolete, to be your governors and adminis trators, and precisely as you employ them, or neglect to employ th rn, will your state be fevoured of Heaven or disfavoured." A paper is devoted to the cmeileration of " Trinity College, Dublin," in which it is said that this university stands in much greater need of the influence of public opinion hen either Oxford, or Cambridge. Some verses on the subject of " The Battle," by Jonathan Freke Slings.by, are a welcome introduction ie the midst of 'grave reflections on various maters. The follow ing lines are descriptive of the s illness that reigns ou the eve cf the fight : BEFORE THE BATTLE. "The pall of the night falloth down on the plain Where the weary hosts lie 'till the coming of day, And death-like their sleep, till the trumpet again Shall wake th em to muster in haste for the fray. "No sound, ewe the challenge at internals given, Ne light,,save the watch-fires that fitfully burn, And the silence of earth and the darkness of heaven But prelude war's thunders and lightnings at morn. " But hearts in that silence are voiceful in prayer, And souls find a light in the gloom of th sky ; While ministrant angels are watching to bear The cry of each suppliant spirit on high. ".And de4r one! home, thrl tho dark, silly Keep vigil of .prayer in the abed,:; Ana the plea ;hip of heart:, though far-aevered, unite With the warrior's prayer at the throne of their God. Fraser. —That universal enemy the east wind, which has been anathematised by proverbs and prose writers, an d w hi ch requires the poetic imagi nation of M r . Ki ngsley to discover its merits, is attacked with some of its own malioity in the which is sketched of tPe remorseless and übiqui tous t ormentor, the infallibility of its victory over stoicism and resignation, and the hope : less state of the sufferer, is amusingly drawn. When the writ er di verges from real to metaphesical hurricanes he is not so successf u l. A lengthened criticism of the tragedy of " Oulita, the Serf," by the talented author of " Friends in Council," fol lows. The account of the work which it gives, and the scenes extracted, will send m any readers to the onsinal volume, if the author's high and de ssrved reputation has not already doue so. An essay on "Our I n di an Mutinies : our Past and Fuiure in Religion and Col on i sa ti on, " treats of a subject which, in spite of the thrilling sympathy it awakened some mouths since, the historical fame of our great soldiers, and the excite ment of a p o liti ca l question, is fast becoming wearisome to r ea d ers of Magazines and Quarterlies. This article, like ano th er at the close of the num ber, is the production of an Anglo-Indian, and may therefore be entitled to some share of att. ntiou, though scarcely laying claim to novelty. Burger and the translations of his famous " Lenore" are reviewed in an interesting paper. It is somewhat curious, in examining the different speci mens, to notice how few verses possess any intrinsic merit, even when they faithfully represent the meaning of the original. They cannot even claim the questionable compliment paid to Pope's "Iliad." A professional painter continues his criticisms on the Taste of the day, and attacks in this, his third paper, the architecture of our houses. Any one who has noticed the smart gentility of the buildings in our pretty suburbs, where there is so much space for the development of taste and design, wilt coincide with his strictures on English residences. We are afraid that some time must elapse before much improvement will be visible in this respect. " Squire Bolton's Transgression" is continued with some degree of interest, though not with any vivid originality or excitement. Oar English stiffness and want of coutinintal ease and friendli ness to strangers, is the subject of a severe censure, ridiculing people who live on the same floors of the same house and pass each other half-a-dozen times a day, yet cannot say "Good morning," because they have not ben introduced. Tne nature and habits of Gulls are described at length in an ornithological paper, one of that series on Natural History which has been continuing for some time. It will interest the naturalist, though, like most of its predecessors, it is somewhat too lengthy and elaborate for the general reader. " Passports and Turnpikes" are classed together by a Grumbler, who has certainly on this occasion some rational cause for complaint. These two very unnecessary evils may well try the patience of a nation less proverbially discontented than eur own. " The Ancient Name of the Island of Mersey" is the title of a somewhat unattractive paper ; and an article with the curious title of "B tie-hotel-1" reviews a work published some time since, which is one of those volumes of l oca l interest which have tsc .ntly become the fashion. There are some poe tic tl contributions of no great merit. We must not omit to mentisin an imitation of the manner of Spenser, by the veteran Leigh Hunt, which will afford much pleasure to the thoughtful and eul twat d reader. It contains fine imagery, and reveals the elements of real poetry. This agreeable paper concludes a number of more than average interest. Colburn's New Monthly Magazine.—" Public Works in Egypt" is the title of the firs, paper that meets the reader of the New Mon' hly. The various plans and speculations which the dry and unpro mising di , triets of Upper Egypt have given rise to are recorded atlengtb, and those who have turned their attention to this subject will find the article repay perusal. The author of " Ashley" contri butes one of his usual tales, .animated in style and lift like in. character, but strikingly improbable, and invariably tinged with the horrible. The frightful series of crimes, accidents, and awful occurrencs which have appeared in his catalogue of works would fill a Chamber of Horrors far more alarming than Madame Tussaud's. In the present instance the catastrophe is merely the death of a gentleman in a boat race, Which wfll not there tore startle the reader m )re than usual. We regret the more to see this writer encouraging that morbid love of the horrible . Which is only too common, because the stories are of a superior tone, and evi dence some degree of ability. Mr. Froude's third arid fourth volumes of the " History of England'' receive a lengthened criticism which is not devoid of interest. An autobiographical ta'e is commenced, under the singular title of " Hans Ernst Mitter kamp," giving a vie wof Germsn life and character. An article on the "Fall of the Monarchy in July" is founded on M. Grapier de Cassagnac's recent work. It is remarked that English historians seldom write contemporary history, but con sider it necessary for the leaders in the strife to have passe I away, and for the calm retrospeo ion of posterity to have taken the place of the animated discu sions of the day. Our continental neighbours are of a different opinion ; "journal histories" appear every day, in which a judicial appreciation is taken of events hardly yet consummated, and of the characters of public men still in the full vigour of political ex istence." "A Sad Story," relates a melancholy episode in a doctor's experience. " A Mi ss i onary in Texas," relates the vmiqsitudes and hardships encountered by the Abbe Domtneeh. It is an in teresting paper, intersper se d w ith numerous ex tracts. Tile recent memorials of Shelley come under notice in a brief paper. An amusing sketch by Heberden Milford, is entitled, " Northern Lights," and is followed by a picture of railway literature abroad. "Sh ottery, a poet's day-dream,' transports us to the days of Shakspeart. and Anne Hathaway, and draws a glowing picture of " The future Lord of Fame," wooing the village maids-n. The idea of the gt eat, dramatist discrtvering all the qualities of the fair creations of his fancy in the . simple co . tager, is a new and happy one. We , subjoin a few verses. " Lovely shapes and fair prefigured In her form's symmetric guise, - And the light of lives celestial Gleaming in her gen le eyes. Fawn-like Imogen affrighted In the haggard cave's recess : Pale Miranda shifting covert Glances from the shifting chess : Tender Juliet from her casement Bending as some rose of June; When like Jessica's her blushes Glowed beneath the silver moon : Pensive Viola dissembling Passions nought but pride commands : Wanton Cressida coquetting 'Mid the din of hurtling brands : Lost Marina 'mid the bilows Lille( in dead maternal arms : . Lorn Helena as a pilgrim Veiling all her idle charms : Patient Dasdemona sadly Sighing for her tawny lord : Frolic Lady Percy buckling With a jest her hero's sword : Meek Ophelia 'mid the willow Dazed in virgin faith forlorn: Fitful Rosalind all Ruth-like Rustling through the rippled corn : Sad Cordelia crooning softly Ditties for her dying sire : And brave Joan a Are appearing Radiant 'mid the ruthless fire : And sweet Perdita with blossoms Purpling in her lily hand : And voluptuous Cleopatra Gliding o'er the golden sand : Dainty Are recumbent 'Heath the foxglove's freckled bell: And Titania still enamoured By the fay's puissant spell : Wondering Beatrice embowered In the thicket's woven shade : Dreaming Silvia at twilight Startled by a serenade." The account of " A Visit to Iceland, in the Sum mer of 1857," by Mr. Bashby . , gives atnharterta ing description of the peculiarities of desolate region. The statistics of the Eruptions . of Mount Hecla will interest the curious. The earlie-t known eruption took place in 1104, and since then there have been no' less than seventeen, the las' in 1846, some of them being of frightful violence. Colburn's United Service. —Many readers will, doubtless, be pleased with a sketch of the cireer of the distinguished individual, who has recently ar rived on our shores to represent the ,Vjaies,Tv ,l'; France. Mandial Pulissier is well known.' to4ith-e English army, from hiving foi ighu .1 - with the allied forces on the Gimean battle-fields. It is observe l that in him "we receive the representa tive of a friend and an ally," and we a believe that, in seleuting him, as so reawlivilling to of ;he French journals az-sert, the Emperor has -j especially had in view the re-establishment of friendly un _ derstanding between the two Another paper, on a subject connected with our neighbours, is. entitled "The French Con cripti",,, which system, it tells us, is , as well ad apte d to the ,piritand constitution of the country, as our own method is to th e different character and social ma chinery of England. Th to the dem an d s of cous; ° r r i.pt a io r n e m W aY h, ex i c ti eP s t o i i ) n n e s iteitssee c m ity. As a t:er of course in we e ttlwi th tig severalarticles on topics c-nnectt-d with Indian government and Indian life. Am o ng teem are rapers the S.kh 3" " on "Sir Joseph Thaekw e ll an d 2 "The Acquirement of the ? native langoag,es," and n " Lord Dal housie's administration." This mag,zine, h ever, never r es t r i cts itself to a iimitA range ow of subjects ; it treats of the home questions of the day connected with the two services, of the principles of military campaigns, of the treat ment of naval matters by those iu authority, and, in addition to those foreign subjects which we have previously mentioned, it transports us to the Celestial Empire, to Aden and the disputed island of Perim, givinz us au account of the Egyp tian revolu'ion of 179.3, and a description of the Party Politics of the United Sta'es during the last three years. In addition to all this varied and com prehensive iirelligence, we meet with the "Editor's Portfolio," containing all sorts of useful scraps of news and criticism, literary notices, a full list of promotions and appointment 4, and of the stations of the army, navy, and militia. It is, therefore, evident thAt all readers who are in any way in terested in the naval and military defences of our country will find the information, the statistics, the criticisms they require in this serial, while those who do not feel any particular interest in the details of sails and swords may yet derive both pleasure and profit from consulting the pages of this sensible and ably written serial. Bentley's Miscellany. —This serial maintains its lively character, and attempts with its usual success to entertain the superficial reader, or to amuse the leisure hour of one wearied with graver subjects. The number before us is above the ave rage ; it has several articles of sense and substance. The usual anticipatory criticism of the Exhibition of the Royal Academy for this year opens it, and gives an interesting summary of the prominent pictures. The continuation of the story of " Rush ing headlong into marriage;" appears undef the title of " Three hundred a-year," and continues the catalogue of the misfortunes of the imprudent and extravagant Captain Courtenay and his wife. There is a great deal of truth in the details of domestic mismanagement and lavish expenditure, and many who lament the smallness of their income would do well to regulate their appearance by their posses.. sions. Monkshood's new book notes are devoted to Sir Arch. Alison's recent volume. " Our Country Quarters," is the title of an amusing story of love affairs and picnics, pleasantly told. We are sorry not to ba able to commend Mr. Thornbury's Napo leon ballads as we should wish to do. He has displayed so much ability in some of his former woks, both prose and verse, that he has now a character to maintain. Guizot's memoirs are the subject of an interesting paper, which enables the rea ter to comprehend the so pa and character of the volumes. " Glimpses of Harem Life" will at tract the admirers of Oriental life and manners. The view given of Eastern domestic life is more en tertaining than attractive. Thanatos Athanatos is continued in its rambling strain, now mournful, now discursive, now eccentric, interspersed with anecdotes and quotations. A paper on Bageneil Dawison will very probably be the first introduc tion of many readers to that notability. He is a new actor, who "has carried the whole of Ger many away before him, and is universally allowed to be the fintst performer the century has pro duced." Very probably, according to dramatic and artistic custom, he will give English audiences an opportunity of judging of his powers. He is of Polish origin, and his parents were very poor. By degrees he has educated himself, and by the force of perseverance and talent has struggled into fame. A criticism on recent poetry treats of the respec tive merits of Wilberforce, Thornbury, and Blanchard. The continuation of Mr. Dudley Cos tello's elaborate romance brings the number to a conclusion. Tait.—This magazine always yields us the ex pectation of meeting something of a refreshing and pleasant character, and the present number does not at all disappoint us. " The Memoirs of Bee thoven" are concluded, and afford much interest ing information respecting his private life and public works. We learn that he left a voluminous collection of voaal compositions, masses, operas, and oratorios, amounting to 300 pieces, and that his personal appearance was not good, being short, of a compact muscular figure, with a head out of proportion and too large for the rest of his body. His features, however, were strongly marked and inteiligi-nt, and his face expressive. One peculi arity he had which is rather confounding in its nature—that of not being able to dance in time. Had this been the case during only the latter part of his existence, it might reasonably have bean at tributed to his dearness ; but as it distinguished him while young, and a devoted follower of Terpsi chore, it cannot be accounted for ; but it must ever be regarded as a curious anomaly that a great and perfect composer, the leader of orchestras and di rector of musicians, "could not dance in time." The series of articles, entitled " Woman and Womanlnpod," gives us this month, one on "Spin sterhood,' in which there is much that is whole some in tone and amusing in style. Few will dis pute the truth of the following remarks : An intelligent man wants both a companion and a• house keeper; an unintellectual man simply wants a house eeper, and finds his companion in her ; but it stands to reason, that, if we have neither good housekeepers, nor in tellectually trained women, neither intellectual nor unin tellectual men can be mated satisfactorily to themselves. Very young men don't seek for either housekeeper or intellect. A pretty face pleases—they fall in love— propose —marry, fancying they can live on twopence per hour, or some sum equally small; weekly bills prove the fallacy of the supposition; debt and duns form an unplea• sant episode in married life; the lady does not know how to mend the matter—for her spinsterhood was passed in unproductive idleness, and she now reaps its curse. Spinsters have a fatal notion that useful occupation may be deferred until they are married. As well might the can didata for university honours begin to study when called up for examination. It may be, and it is, a very simple thing to learn the simple detail of housekeeping, but it is not at all an easy or a simple thing to undo the habits of a lifetime, and learn how to order, and regulate, and control a household. All this must be the consequence of experi. enc. 3, and if the gaining of it be commenced on the wedding day, there will in all probability be a weary scene of disorder and mismanagement in the household of the young wife, which will not tend to raise her in the estimation of the hue band, if he be indeed a man whose esteem is worth gaining. And if he be not such, his disorderly and reckless habits will suit well with her own, and she will find out sooner or later, that she has made a grand «i ,take, and had far better have qualified herself for making a good wife, and thus have gained a better husband, or have remained in the ob jectiouable and yet preferable state of "old maidism." ----- The author concludes his excellent essay with a few words on the various causes of " Oldraaidism," and says : Man's heartlessness and perfidy—man's fickleness and instability of purpose—man's desertion and cruelty may, and does, cause misery to thousands, and force the lot of singleness on them. Women of England may have to thank themselves for very much of the disappointment which falls to their share ; but they are not exclusively to blame, and pro. bably this might, may be fullyproved if we were to deal as truly with man and mankind as with woman and womankind. A discussion on "The Banks and the Law of Eng land and Scotland" is worthy of close attention. It bandies plain facts in a plain way, and places the spirit of speculators in awkward Juxtaposition with the principle of integrity. It treats of the working of banks very impartially, and constitutes a valuable tre'itise on the important subject. There is a pleasant bit of gossip on " The Streets and Street Nuisances," which meets the absurd topic now so much dilated on in the shape of " Organ Grinding" with well-merited expostulation and ridicule. The writer says— It is nothing new to confess to an attachment to " the streets ;" men of catholic feeling have always been fond of them—their sights, their incidents, their humour, their pathos - the latter not unfrequent to quick eyes, what ever may be said of English reserve. I am. myself, an inveterate " mooner when abroad, and have, in doors, such an inclination to look out•o'-window, as seriously interferes with my otherwise industrious habits. I think, indeed, I must be a born street-enjoyer, for I have never been able to work myself up to any of those heights of indignation about street nuisances to which others so naturally reach. Ido not wish to bo uncharitable ; but I should be inclined to suspect a great smeller-out and putter down of street-nuisances for a selfish man. Ho concludes thus— I should be glad to see passed, in that Parliament of Good Nature of which we are all members with more or less of property qualification, an Act of very stringent powers to poWors to put down a most real and dangerous street nuisance —namely, the reckless strewing of footpaths and public places with pieces of orange peel. lam totally at a loss to understand how any one can ba guilty of this cruel earalessnesa. A ceidents frequently occur from it, and are duly reported ; yet it continues. So great is the dead paese - s 'n which I am Area 1, but I haveto remove somebody's weighs of stupidity and selfishness in the world. NOladay (range peel fr om th e pavement, and sometimes from stairs to boat pl aces, &c. where it is exceedingly clangorou s . I do not c omp l a i n of' the labour ; I do not ask for a s a l ary ; I do not even as k f or the honorary dignity of Orange Peel Dispeller in Ordinary to the Public; but I should like to see a higher tone of virtue prevail in regard to orange peel. If he who would make a pun would pick a pocket, I cannot but conceive tint he who would strew orange peel on pavements would drop sparks on bedclothes, and there you have all the fires in the metropolis accounted for at once. Brethren, let us see to our eranga peel. I do not say, preserve it and sell it to the grocers for candy. I do not say, treasur e it up in yew pockets, like Dr. Johnson. But Ido say, throw it into gutters, down gully-holes, or disused areas ; and above all, never drop it on door-steps. Lay no flattering unction to your souls in this matter. Do not say, if you see in the papers that a father cf . a poor famil y f ell down on Friday and broke his thigh, in Great Russell-street, and died of coneueeion of the brain, that, because you dropped your Orange peel on Tuesday, and on the Ed gware -road, that you are free en this matter. Consider the example. Road Palsy on general Consequences (nor. and P. Phil., b. 1, 8.) 1: out share the guilt ; there is some fraction which, if settled, would denote your proportion of it. Therefore, throw no wore orange peel about —let this battle commence meet of a new life to you in relation to small things affect ing the welfare of others. Shut doors which aro intended to be shut. Direct letters plainly. Give as little trouble as you can. Do hot wear creaking boots So ranch for BOMBAY AND AUSTRALIAN MAILS The Peninsular and Oriental Company have received following despatch from Marseilles this (Monday) morning : " The steam-ship Valetta, with the Bombay and Australian mails, arrived at Marseilles at 10 a.m. yesterday. " The mails left for London at noon." MARSEILLES, APRIL 30. The packet brings letters from Naples up to the date of the 27th. Mr. Lyons has addressed a note to the Neapoli tan Government, claiming an indemnity for the English engineers of the Cagliari, on account of having been kept in prison for nearly a year. The English Government, it iq said, fires the amount of this indemnity at 4,0001. The Court of Appeal is this week to decide the question whether the Cagliari ought to be declared a lawful prize. The armaments continue in the Neapolitan arsenals. The committee of the Diet of Frankfort presented its report on the Danish question at the sitting of the 29th ult. The Diet has decided that each re presentative shall apply to his Government for fresh instructions. FRANCE. PARIS, MONDAY. The illoniteur publishes the following report to the Emperor : "Sire--The decree of the Ist of March, 1852, rendered on the proposal of the Keeper of the Seals, has esta blished the right of retirement for magistrates who have attained a certain age. That decree has since been ap plied to the higher officials in the Ministry of Finance, and the motives which inspired its extension seemed to command a similar step as regards Government func tionaries who require their full moral energy and all their physical activity to respond to the manifold duties of their position. "A fixed period of age doss not, however, seem quite suited to all these funtionaries. Thus, the Prefects, whose great experience is turned to account by the Government, might, without inconvenience, remain in office till 65 years of age. "The retirement of- Sub-Prefects and Secretaries- General might take place as 62 years of age. "As regards the Councillors of Prefecture, whose oe cupation is more sedentary, it would appear advisable to put them on the same footing as the members of the Imperial Civil Courts and Tribunals of inferior jurisdic tion who have a right to retire at 70. "Government officials being liable to removal, I do not think it necessary to propose to your Majesty to de cide the question of principle by an Imperial decree. I will simply ask your Majesty's permission to replace the Prefects, Sub Prefects, Secretaries- General, and Councillors of Prefecture, who shall have attained the respective ages above-men tioned. This measure, applied without distinc tion, would have the advantage of assuring the perform ance of the publlc service without hurting the honourable susceptibilities of any one. "I am, with the most profound respect, Sire, " Your Majesty's very obedient, most devoted " And very faithful servant and subject, " ESPINASSE, " Minister of the Interior and of General Security, " Approved, • " NAPOLEON." The Corps Lsg:slatif has, after a great deal of desultory talk to no purpose whatever, voted the budget by a majority of 256 against 3. A!th-ugh the Patric said that the Goveremant was resolved not to yield an inch in regard to the 180 millions bill, it is still rumoured that in order to humour the Corps Legislatif it bas con sented to strike off 10 millions. This reduction, considering that the enormous expenditure in Parisian improvements is to be spread over ten years, will nct have any great influence upon the pre , ent financial situation. Tin following telegraphic despatch has been re ceived here : HAMBITR4, April 30.—The French, English, and Russian rexesentatives have, by a common accord, called ova tne Diet to take into serious consideration tha Danisa propositions so as to terminate the ex'sting eifference amicably. FRANEFORT, April 30.—The commission of the duchie3 presented its report yesterday to the Diet. That bcdy will proceed in about three weeks to a vote or this report. BoutsE, May I.—The following were the closing quotatious 4i per Cents Do. (lid 3 per Cent. ..... 69 20 Do. ►ud month 69 15 Balk Stmea 213 Mobilier 93 20 Credit Foncier — Belgian 44 ............ Piedmontese (ii) Roman 9O Austrian Spanish Threes Home Debt 3B -Fon CASH. Do Account 675 - RAILWAYS.• Gleans Northern ' 9/5 Tow Ditto :,yon and Mediteran. 8021 Now Ditto .............. Genova Midi Western. ~ 6lO Strasburg Grand Central — Sardinian Austrian PIEDMONT. The Chamber of Deputies voted the Deforesta*Bill on Thursday by a majority of 100 to 42. The amendments proposed by the L fc were rejected. Art 3, with a modification ratifying the admission of the Jury, was adopted. MARRIAGE WITH A DECEASED WIFE'S SISTER. L will be seen by an advertisement thtt the Marriage Law Association is prepared to forward petitions drawn up in the form required by the Hoare of Commons to any parties who may wish for such aid. The association suggests the follow ing brief petition, which individuals can, of course, mcdify as they please : fo the Honourable the Commons of the United Kingdom in Parliament assembled. The hninblo petition of Showell], That in the judgment of your petitioners, ,here is nothing inconsistent with religion, morality, or rightly constituted socia4 feelings, in the marriage of a man with the sister of his deceased wife ; and, conse quently, Tots; the prohibition of such marriages is an unwar ranted and mischievous restriction on the liberty, and interference with the happiness of the people of this kingdom. They therefore pray your honourable Hqnso to concur in the passing of an act to make lawful, retrospectively as well as for the future, such marriages. HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE. Madame Alboni makes her first appearance to morrow evening as Azuceita, in conjunction with Madlle. Titieas as Leonora, in "Il Trovatore." We anticipat e a r i ch operatic treat, and shall wdl come the justly popular Alboni to her scene of olden triumphs, with cordial greeting. Her racy and gushing style of singing is always attractive to ears that are not acutely trained in Apollo's classics, as well as to the fastidious and exacting critic ; and her addition to the operatic company forms an important feature of the season. A new ballet, entitled "Fleur des Champs," em braces the enchanting and illusive materials usually pressed into the service of Terpsichore. Pocchini is the ethereal heroine,, and richly deserves' ail the plaudits bestowed by those who Ilnome enthusiastic over " twinkling feet" and " impossible" attitudes. Her dancing is of a most imposing and fascinating school, , joyous in abandon, free in action, and vivid in ex pression. " Fleur des Champs" will doubtless prove as successful as its beautiful tableaux, fine scenery, and exquisite artistic representatives en title it to be. Herr Charles Obertliir's morning concert will take place on Saturday nest, at Willie's Rooms, and the pro gramme is of a very attractive character. The vocalists include Madame Ferrari, Miss Stabacb, and Swear Ferrari, while the instrumentalists on piano, harp, violin, violoncello, and concertina, embrace names of popular celebrity, promising altogether a recherche entertainment. axe `Nal par Ca As Oc ala eci fo, ea,