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

lIER MAJESTY'S THEATRE.— Titiens, Alboni, Giuglini, Mattioli, and Yialetti. IL TROYATORE. On Tuesday, May 14, will be revived IL TOVATO RE. Leonora, Madlle. Titiens ; Azucena, Madame Alboni (her first appearance this season) ; Manrico, Signor Giuglini ; Fer rand°, Signor Vialetti ; and Il Conte di Luna, Sig. Mattioli, who will appear for the first time in England. To conclude with the new Ballet Divertissement, by Massot, entitled FLEUR DES CHAMPS. The principal parts by Madlles. Pocchini and Annetta. 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-office at the Theatre. HE R MAJESTY'S THEATRE. Giuglini. LA TRAVIATA. TO-MORROW EVENING, SATURDAY, May 1, Verdi's Opera, LA TR IVIATA, Violetta, Madlle. Piccolomini ; Alfredo, Signor Giuglini ; Duttore Grenvil, Signor Castelli ; G3rmont Goorgio, Signor A ldighieri. After which, will ba produced an entirely new Ballet, by M. Massot, entitled FLEUR DES CHAMPS. The principal parts by Madlles. Pocchini, Annetta, and M. 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, at the Theatre. • THEATRE ROYAL, ELAYMA.RKET. Lessee—Mr. J. B. Buckstone. THIS EVENING, to commence at Seven o'clock, with Sheridan Knowles' comedy of THE LOVE CHASE. Con t.anse, Mrs. Charles Young ; Widow Green , Wilkins. 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 evening). 6s. each. (No charge for booking.) First Price. e. d. Second price. s. d. Dress Boxes. Upper Boxes. Pit Gallery _ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE Proprietor, Mr. Charles Sean. THIS 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. 11HEATRE ROYAL, AD EL PHI. Lessee—Mr. Ben. Webster. TIM EVENING will be 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 Roden, Keeley, and Arden. STRAND THEATRE.—Lessee awl Directress, Miss Swanborough.—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. Tertian. A_NTERBURY HALL, Westminster-road.— OPEN EVERY EVENING.—The follow- I company of Vocalists are engaged for the performance of deetions from all the popular OPERAS, MADRIGALS, CHORUSES, GLEES, DUETS, ike. viz. : —Miss Russell, Mrs. Badzey, bliss Braull, 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. Hime, Mr. Badzey, Mr. Edwards, Mr. Cozens, Mr. Bell, and Mr. Bernard ; Messrs. T. Maclagan, W. T. Critchleld, John G. Forde, and E. Mackncy. Pianororte, Mr. Cecil Hicks ; harmonium, Master Williams ; Director, Herr F. Jonghmans. Commence at Seven o'clock precisely. Suppers, dm., until twelve o'clock. Mr. AUGUSSUS BRAHAM will appear every Evening. Mr. WOODHOUSE (by permission of Chinks Kean, Esq. ) will have the honour of introducing., every evening, his highly successful Performance on the new REGULATION DRUM. THE WEA.THER—SUN Orrung, 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?.15- 2 falling. WIND, W.S.W. ; fresh and cloudy, with cold variable weather, and frequent rain. More heavy rain in the night. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. IRIS DAY —Morn., 6 min. aft. 3—Even., 23 min. aft. 3 To-MOußOW—Morn., 38 min. aft. 3—Even., 53 min aft. 3 4:4l,rit 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 Etrl, 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 cheerei. 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 Rouse. 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, Warr and PAR; 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 reguns. The explanation afforded last night by Lord MALMESBNRY exhibits this in the strongest point of view; and even the Earl of °La RENDON admitted that " her Majesty's Government had displayed great discretion in the course which they pursued." It was not the "discretion" which permitted two British citizens to pine nine months in a Neapc 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 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 aiequate compensation for all the miseries they were so unwarrantably made to endure. No answer has as yet been received to this applic,_- tion ; but judging of the future by the past, there is no reason to doubt that Lord MALITESEURY act on the premises in a manner becoming a British Minister, or that PARK and WATT wilt obtain redress, so f ar as money can give redre:s for the fearful ordeal through w hi c h they have triumphantly passed. the c a ,,i: • The question respecting ..axl is of a diff eren t character, but it is also one dem an di ng 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 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 Groat Britain, whose flig 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 °AYOUB, 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 abandon Sardi❑ia, 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 corn ! 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 cimmunity. 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 mxt reading for the 20h . 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 I.s will be rewarded by the ultimate success of the very valuable measure he has introduced for bis 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 siuco 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 lie establishments would have been 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 occasions, 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 pritciples, and judiciously and properly managed. But the! e was, and still is, a formidable obstacle in the way of their success. Every person who held even a single share was there 4 rendered responsible, in purse and person, to his last acre and his last shilling, for the success of the under: taking. Although men of wealth and respec t ability would gladly risk a few hun dreds, or a few thousands, according to their means, in a concern calculated to promote tlic welfare and prosperity of the district - , they would not endanger all they posse , sed, or sulject themselves to oven a remote chancA (•i" reducA frozeealth to poverty, and ren &red beggars, through the failure of an und3r t.iking, over the management whereof they had no adequate or real control. With "limited liabi lity," anything that would show them at once the full extent to which they could be called on as c)ntributors, they would not have hesitated ; but, however desirous of serving the locality, they could not be expected to try so perillous an ex periment. This feeling has not in any degree been lessened by recent experience. The Tipperary, t'ae Royal British, the Borough of Liverpool, and the West ern of Scotland Banks, have taught intending This morning, according to annual custo‘r, the Private view inaugurated—we were going to say fur 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 i 3 sufficimily sug gestive and appropriate. It is from Schiller. Conspicuous among the defaulters this season is J. E. Millais, whose absence from aniong 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. Dye-, R.A., and Sit C. Ea.st,lak_, .[.11.-&., .611 this caegory. Sauntering round the principal apartments of the gallery this forenoon, we have found, however, shining down upon us from trio walls abundant consolation. For with us, at least, our conscience in arc criticism is not guided by the Pranallt. " Nil admirari prop res est una, Numici, • SolAque, qua, possit facers et servare bas9.tnm." 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 pesAble, to weigh merit not by the weights and measures of avoirdupois, to turn a glance hither and thither indiscriminately ever ready to to be anywhere and everywhere gratified. To "follow suit" indeed with the jovial Republic in a kindred mood : Nunn atheletarum studiig, none arcit equorunt, Marmoris ant eb3ris fabros ant cefis areavit ; Suspend it pieta vultunt ntententque tabella." Dazzled, however, with a first day's rapid survey of 602 Pictures, exclusive of those in the Octagon Room, &c , 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 chic f noticeable peculiarlities of the collection. The Portraits are, if anythinet, more numerous than hitherto. F. Grant, R.A., still bearing off the palm as usual from all English, as Sir J. Watson Gordon, A., &c., assuredly dues from all Scotch competitors, the former more particularly in No. 73, Lady Col broeke, and the latter in No. 73, Dr. Munro. 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, R. 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 bition, 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. 234, 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, tos 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 ben to the feathery foirego of W. P. Witherington, R.A., in No. 392. On the Grits towards R , keby, or as we were formerly, to the Cuyp-like cattle in the Beaumontand-Fletcher pastoral landscapes of L2ean i Cooper, here no longer discernable—or to the luscious fruit squandered from those.inexhaustible cernuc - ,peas, 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 ce lebrities 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, &e., &c. To-morrow evening there will be as usual the groat banquet or symposiuni given within the gorgeous iseills of the G d'e y by the Royal Acadainicians to the rueu,b-2rs of the imperial Governmen't. TriE ROYAL ACADEMY. —Yesterday nioroirg, ter Mo.j,,sty, ancompaWed by the Prino , J C.iwurt, ani thu Pr;neesses A . IC3 and litleoa, and nide, Leopol , ), paid a visit to the exhibitio:i cf Acalea:y, ROYAL ACADEMY OF MUSIC.--ii mot gracLus r:.Bty, who t:O.r, the Brea ea interest ir this valuable vistitution, • Las tno,t kindly intimated to the E - til of WEstmoreland her command that a grand evening con cert be given in S . . James's-hall on Wednesday, the 1.13•1 of Jcae, at which the Queen and Prince Albert will be present. A committee will be formed to Fitie vouchers f,,r the centre of the hail, which will be occupied by the It yal vicitore. Tbe organi,ation of the pr ,, grattitne, to rfnes ofs otri.:o, leadvocal and render it wcri by of such a n occasion, wilt be card° ly attended to. INA of ly will the past and present student , . , mprising the most t o the c e pa n e tr professors, io ing tistee, native and foreign, will lot; called into play. the former instrumental,co Mr. Costa v,ill be the conductor. sl.eminent 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 bean 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 than awe riably 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 cling 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 re a d o nce 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 pubic career. The reading this time was in another respect also a novelty in every way conspicuous. It was the reading nrit of the Christmas Book, the Immortal " Carol," but of one of its most charm ing successors—" TLe Cricket on the Hearth." Before beginning the perusal of his Fairy Tale of Home; Mr. Dickers 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 audience, in aid of a yule . ) , 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 accumulatirg demand, I have had definitively to class Se between now and then reading on my own accoues; as one of my recognised occupations or not reading at all. I hart had little or no difficulty in deciding on the former course. Tao 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, have iattsfied 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 acted on the opinion, that in thee times whatever brings a public man and his public, face to face, on terms of mutual corfidence and respect, is a good thing. Thirdly, I Lave had a pretty large expe rience of the interett my hearers are so generous as to take in thee occasions, and of the delight they give to me, as a tried means of strengthening those relations, I may almost say of personal frien , lehip, which it 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 come, quite naturally, to be here among you at this time. And thus it is that I proceed to read this little book, quite as composedly as I might proceed to write it, or to publish it in any other way. THE SUN, LON'DO'N, FRIDAY frigate, and her MAJESTY'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 mind. 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, S:cilies. "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. "3. 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 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. HEADLAM'S 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; bat "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. S 3 long as deposi tors know 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 oue or two millionair es amongst the shareholders, dispensed with this salutary cau tion, and they went on blindly and recklessly because some wealthy neighbour, some provincial CReasus, should be reduced t) destitution, and surrender all Ma property, real or personal, before they could sust in 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. HEADLAM'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 aro 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. HEAIDLANE may obtain the complete success which his indefatigable exertions, and clear and convincing reasonings have so well merited. THE ROYAL ACADEMY—(This Day). Anyone 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 soma imaginary character, or listened tellies 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 already stamped upon the page by the vivifying impress of his own written descrip tions anyone who knows "Boz" 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 heist bit in the world, in any way like what one of these wholly uninitiated might conjecture. The reason blue. simply this—that Cuarles Dickens (for we drop the Mr. as something in him we regard es quite super fluous)—that Buz (a name still ringing familiarly in our 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 moat 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 drama. 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 actor, 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 0f:4 20 , rod ,often done by his matchless writings our-Vlra and our laughter. But—subject ing bimselttcyr . % 136:0 erer test than any encountered by the histriopic aiventurer—Obarles Dickens has proved tiro. 'lore s ognan.y e 6 aos enU itg4lu, ere—, without the ' A id o f one touch of carmine, or one par•icle of knid...nici?, when without powdered peruke, or vei:z v et doublet he has com e b e f ore an audience just Pacisely as he is himself, carrying only iu his,hend, it may be, a little magical paper knife, and reading to us one of his little Christmas story books as it could as sure dl y on l y b e read b y such an author and such an elocutionist rolled into ono ! As a triumphant testimony of his power over his audience e --there was the readingof his "Cricket on the Hear th" last evening ! Listening to it as it fell from his lips yesterday—well though we knew the book hefole—ib seemed in some unaccountable way or another, as though we hal 'never known it until then ; certainly as though we had never ade quately aepreciated it. And this not casually, but continually—from the 'first " Chirp" to the last. -Beginning with the kettle and ending with the bro ken toy upo n the hearthrug. The characters of the tale 'poke to us audibly, moved before us almost visibly. Dear little Dot who was both fair and young, " though something of the dumpling shape —but I don't myself object to that." Honest stal wart Carrier Peseybingle " who was often near to something or other very clever, by his own ac couter —but always stopping when half expressed for fear of spoiling it ! Boxer, the dog, with that rreposterous "nothing of a fag -end of a tail of his, describing a circle of barks round the horse, mak ing savag e rushes at his mistress and facetiously bringin g himself to sudden stops." Tilly Slowboy the nursery girl, who was continually in the matter of her costume making surprising re vAatouaoleonio flannel udder -vestment of a sin gular structure," and "affording glimpses in the regime of the back, of a corset or pair of stays, in colour a clsad-green 1" Time very baby, wh o se 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 substances ! Other per inages, toe—Gruff, and Tackleton, the Toy mer chant, a savage old reprobate, or rather a " domes tie Ogre," whole soul revels in the construction of hideous hairy red-eyed Jacks in Boxes, and demo niacal tuinblsrs who won't lie down, but are pi r petual ly flyieg forward to stare infants out of coua 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 Boxe r ' s tail, mum, for half a mo ment, could you ?" " Why, Caleb ! What a question !" "Oh, never mind, mum. He mglitn't like it perhaps. There's a small order just come in for harking dogs ; and I should wish to go as close to IV caul- . as I could, for sixpence." How they all lived again, and talked, and looked again, on the platform of St. Mai tin's Hall last evening! How the artelieuce roared to hear them —or listened in breathless silence at other moments ast • a cash of us, here, Ise One together, for a white, somewhat t l B ()Orb was when hearkening to the Blind Girl's talking, when—" Her father could • not ehousit hull hie moist eyes overflow ; she was so earnest and pat he ic." From first to last the Reading was in truth—a treat. And as for the reception cif Mr. Dickens at its commencement, and his greeting upon its conclu,ien, it was in sim lde realty nothing less than an ovation. On Thurs day n' - xt the saws Hall will echo to our great novelist's voice reading his '' Chimes ," and on the Thursday following, to the thrilling music of his exquisite and matchless " Carol." L' appetite vient en maneeant—Why cann o t we hope ever to hear hint re a d choice pasrgt s selected from his larger volumes, to have hisn reproduce with his mobile features, and his marvellous voice—say, Mrs. Gamp and Mr. Pecksuiff, from Martin Chuzzleavit ; Sa'nlit'l Weller and Tony Weller, from the Pick w ck P. p ees ; Captain Cattle and Major • Bags'osk, fruit Domb ey and Son.; and so on throughout the whole Wonderful and motley catalogue ? Let 1 - 13 Less the gifts the Gods have given us," I "wes'sr, and fall to.. The intellectual ban quet pi ei-ared for us is sufficiently appotizmg — "ire's course (the [list of which we enjoyed, with a tel sil, v.. stercley) anal— The Desert, fi r none (the': !Into the great popular Au: hor-and iu one, the waiter of this charming Fairy Tale of II me, The Cricket on the Hearth. And ''°, with berdite thanks to Charles Dickens, a grate ful fare Soil—atc recoil. 1 GOVEINAIEXT EXIIGRATION.—Her Majesty's Earligra t. on Commissioners cbar'ered yesterday afternoon, 29 h inst., th e Bee, 1,352 tons, to sail from Liverpool for Adilaide, South Atisiralia, at 13/. 184. 6.3, per eta to e adOt, to be ready for the'reception of passengers on such day as the commissioners may fix upon between the 10th an 19zh of June. They have also given n .tice of their intention to receive tenders next Thur,•day, the 6th priximLo, for a ship to proceed to Sydney, New Scuth Wales, to be ready to sail any day the commissioners may fx upon between the 19th and 30th of June. 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 Lerd Stowell, 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 anthor 4 ijr exists, where the sub jects of all States meet up o n a rooting f entire equality and independence, 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 bunded on the fact Chet pirates are always enemies of every State, and theref are equally subject to the jurisdiction of every S at-. " 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 pirate; and forthwith return ing to her lawful occupations from which, by forca of arms, she bad been temporarily diverted, become liable to be seized as priz3 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, fir the purp3se of ascertaining the national character of the vessel. "That if that charmter 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 suApicion of past unlawful conduct does not justify seizure in time of peace, but does justify application for inquiry to the proper authority anu juris 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. EVENING, APRIL 30, 1858. LATEST NEWS. BOMBAY MAIL. The following telegram, from Mr. Acting Consul-General Green, was received, vitt 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 array before Lucknow was proceeding northward to Bareilly, commanded by Brigadier Walpole. A heavy column, under Sir E. Lugard, started on the 27th for A zimghur, 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 fzom 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 Milo:lan, had been compelled to retire with loss of baggage, and on the 24th March was cut up at Azimghur. 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 the contract steam-packet Valetta, al 10 p.m. on the 29th April. I'L STOPFORD, Rear-Admiral, TURIN, THURSDAY. 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 still reported confidently that Queen Victoria will visit 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 :- 1 74 - • OTPTTIT to the 21st. have arrived. Much snow had lately fallen, and gales of wind had occurred, cau-inz mach damage to sl.ipping in the Black Sea. The Perdinando steamer, belonginl to the Austrian Lloyd's Company, had gone on s'aore at Varna. The Presse d'Orient expresses a hope that the rights of the Porte with regard to the I-land of Perim will he mainraitied in the Cii.ference of Paris. In Greece, the journals reply to the note of Turkey threat ening a coromeic'al rupture, by saying that Gr'reece is ready to accept a political one, and that in taking up the gauntlet she will remember 1524." " BERNE, 20n1.—The Federal C , uncil has accorded an exequatur to the Vice-Consul of France at La Chaux ds-F " KCENIGSBERG, April 28.—A despatch received from S. Petersburg states that the Minister of Foreign Affairs hri.s addressed to the foreign legations a circa tr directing them not to vimr passports of foreigners. Although the Russian legations abroad have never vided 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 20.—The following were the closing quotations 44 per Cents 93 25 Do: end month 93 15 Credit Fonder Belgian 44 Piedmontese (5) ...... Roman B 9l Austrian • 924 Spanish Threes Home Debt • - -FOR CASH. 3 per Cent. ... 69 60 Do. end month 69 55 Bank Sh%res SI3 Credit Mobilier 7OO1 — Do. Account 695 RAILWAYS. - Orleans ••• 128 21 _ 2 Northern Midi Western . 525 Strasburg Grand Central Sardinian - Austrian Slew Ditto _ 775 Lyon .and Mediteran. 821. E New Ditto 7621 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 ex►hibited 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 pure go 11„ 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 Gravel send, bad been upwards of eleven years in the colony. The other two, Charles and Samuel H. Napier, also brothers and orphan boys, natives of Bathurst, New Brunswick, had been oat in Australia, the former five years, the latter only two mouthy, when the treasure was &covered 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 e;nk.ing, and on reaching thirteen feet' below - the surface, one of the party found it, partly embedded in pipe clay. Having cleared away about eighteen inches of it, and eeeing no end, he had an idea be 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 aid 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 saspicion, 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 bole 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 few-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 Ambroses, who had been out wish her father upwards of eleven years in the colony), set out in their own convoyaece for Melbourne. The j gurney occupied four days and nights. They were well armed, and one of them always went ahead as a scout with a double barrel gun, we'l charged. At night two kept watch while the others slept under cover c f the cart. Having got it; to Melbourne, and into a place cf security, the news spread abroad, when a rush of several thousaads 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 Erreilencv the Governor of Victoria and daughter visited it, and with kind [remis e 61011 of his'Excellincy the nugget was named alter his daughter, the "BlanChe Barkly Nugget." Mr. S. H. Napier, of Liverpool, has bad the honour f submitting the nugget for the inspection cf her Ma jesty the Queen and 1-1.R.11. the Prince Consort, and other members (1 the Royal Family, at Buckingham Palace. THE CAPE OF GOOD HOPE. PLYMOUTH, THURSDAY EVENING. The Royal mail steamship Bosphorus, Captain M'Guiggan, arrived this e - ,minx. Her dates are —Cape of Good Hope, March 22 •, St. Helena, 30 ; Ascension, Ap r il 3 ; and St. Vincent, April 14. Her freight includes specie 1,2001., 560 tusks ivory, 45 packages wool and general cargo. Gover nor Grey has determiMed to remit the tenders for the construction of the Cape railways to Captain Galton in England, a course which is e,teemed 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 iu 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 in 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. Gd. ; horns, per hundred, 425. Gd. ; sheepskins, ls. Bd.; goats', 2s. 9d. ; wine, Pon'ac, per pipe, 241. ; w hite, 141. ; Constantia, per half aum, 141. to 221. Trade at Natal is flourishing. In Table Bay, her Majesty's ship Hermes. In Simon's Bay, the Seringapatam, the Castor, the brig Persia, two Russian schooners, th Digyte, and Strelox, and the Plastome gunboat, were in port ; also the French frigate Ascolde. The Royal steamship Dane arrived out on the 18th of March. Her Mjesty'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., lono-. - 23.7 W., the imp Her Majesty, 21 days out '' ; April 27, lat. 45.45 N., long. 10.58 W., he brig Marie, of Ostend, and the barque Perpetues. THE REV. JAMES ASPINALL, M.A., AT RAMP rON, NOTTS. (From the Retford and Gainsborough News.) The Rev. J. Aspinall, 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, pro 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, lerought forth in due order bursts of applause. The sublime was so pithily blended with simplicity that it was fitted for the meanest capacity. The meal hers 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 exert:ons. 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 most flattering terms, to the rev. lecturer. Mr. ASPINALL, who, on rising, was received with loud cheere, 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 ter 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 ,he seed time of a rich intellectual harvest. (Cheers.) For myself I would say that, although I both think arid feel that it is high time that I should leave my place as a volunteer lecturer to young men, yet I LAM keep to the work as liking better to wear out than to rush out--(loutl cheers)— and to run in harness a. 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 tionselibraries, and lectures are all helping on this great work. But much more Las yet to be accomplished. Io 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 not only their neighbour hood; but their generation, with the thistles of igr.o 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 ) do n.,t know hovv:it may be here, but it unfortunately happens in seine of our parishes that too many of the young women who present tnetuselves fur this ceremony I are, when called upon to sign their names, found only able to make their marks. (Cheers.) But, while t'ae 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 hie mistress, answered sharply that she " was quite sur e that she had done her work well and thoroughlys but it war. all that nasty sun which would shine in through the window, and show the dust in the corners and tue cob webs on the ceiling 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 advaseing on every side of us, the light of instruc tion will anon flash in upon us and expose the dust of ignorance and the cobweds of prejudice yet banging in the chatnbsrs of the rural brain. (Curers.) "Keep moving" is the cry of this "go-a-head" age. The express train of iutelligenoe 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 yon 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 en teeir own s t rung po i nt, may occasionally gain addition@ to their stores from the most unexpected quarters At the beginning, of ties present century, three men of the royal family of intellect took their . places one ev en i ng i n L on d on b y th e ma il f or Cambridge. They were tne celebrated Porson, the famous De. Parr, and Daniel Wilsou, the late Bishop of Calcutta. Presently a fourth passenger entered the vehicle. He, unknown then, but with a career before him, was a raw-looking country lad, almost 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 term or two. He know the college I 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 —e'Eschylus I believe. Each had his own idea as te what would restore its force, sense, and meaning. But they could not agree. Porsoo and Parr were against Wilson's reading, Person and Wilson against Parr'.', and Parr and Wilson against Porson's. (Cheers.) Tire debate was long and rather warm, when ail at once, flesh and blood not b,:ing able to stand it any longer, the cloak fell frem before the fact of the raw-looking youth, and he ex claimed, in a strong north-country dialect, "Gentlemen, I beg your pardon f inteudieg my opinion upon you, but it has always struck me that the line you are speak ing of ought to be supp'ied 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. F. r a moment or two they stared at him iii utter amazement, and then came a chorus of ' all their tuegues together, " You are fght, sir, you are right, and it never struck us before." What is grease shooting, or partridge shoo:isg, or pheasant shooting, t ) what we see here ? The Lilliputian bad brought down and bagged three Gullivera 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. Taira hap. geed, as I have told you, even b. fore 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 thouosnd-fold clei,,ree. And only think, when you do go forth on your travels, what 'a poor contribution to 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 Hampton. (Cheers.) They would he worse than thistles. You must blot out the very word from your dictionaries, or, if you suffr-r it to remain there, it must be as a horse in its stable, never brought out but for use and exerci e. You nsuot write on your foreheads, as the doorway of the brain, "No admission here fsr (Loud cheers.) You must improve yourselvea that, wha'ever may be your empl )yrnent, you may, as it were, have two strings to your bow, and be able, if the opportunity comes, to call in head work and hand work, as knowing that in these days of competition, " A mouse who trusts to one poor hole, Can never be a mouse of any soul." ((Leers) But without looking to any wirldly advan tage and gain whatever, a man has his reward for self improvement and self-cultivation in the present pleasure, satisfaction, and luxury of intellectual enj)yinent. This is ours, at all events, and, as to the rest, we will may, with the past on the other bide 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 stiife! Let us then be up and doing, With a heart for any fate, Still achieving, still pursuing, Learn to labour and to wait. Tae rev, gentleman then resumed his seat amidst loud and long-continued cheering. A vote of thanks wa then pacifist' to the glee singsrg, and the National Anthem havicg been sung by the whole company, they t-eparateo, highly delighted with the evening's entertainment. We are happy to learn that the association is waking well, and is much appreciated, and reflects great credit upon its working committee. _ - chiMera ? Why, I pledged my life and my reputation as an artilleryman. Tile former might have been too unimportant to the War-office, but I hope the latter is sufficiently estimated to cause at least ate inquiry to be matte, Now, everybody knows that it took the oilier; 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 unenrious end. lam sure Nicholas would have sold all Crimea and his half-rotten fleet fur 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 nut 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 assent Sebastopol within 24 nours with all the rockets we could colleot. It matters little in an ope' ration of this sort of rocket, whether Noe. 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 on Sehawopol in all directions ; on the contraty, the di versity of the effect occurring in various parts would ma' terially increa.e the defence. Comparatively speaking, it was a great deal easier to guard, to protect, to maw tarn, to save, and defend one or two points chosen for the assault, and on which all defence was congregated ; wise to obviate the consequences of 1,700,000 projectile/ 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 it they are assauited with that quantity, ' wi:hin the time proposed by me. At all events, ad those enormous fortification works that nearly exhausted the allied army, might have been spared, for my operations did not require any, only a feeb:s 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 service—not one soldier frotn the allied army to card out my plan into execution. I had offered to effect it with the aid of my personal friends. I put but one tiorl• d Ition, namely, that if I succeeded fully in the task, which I am sure was not chimerical, that then our Poles should be aidsd by the allies to take the field against the then coinsion enemy, and for our own legitimate object. Since that epoch I have improved much my original di.covery ; now two sheets of certain admixture of metals, even three-quarters of an inch in thickness, with other contrivances sufficient to render any man-of war or any battering battery completely boimb-prooft without overcharging them t , o much, and without AO 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 memorandum, "The Grand Tactics of Itocketeers," the introduction to whine is as follows " Mes batteries flrttantes 3 l'epreuve des bombes cornme celles du mine genre pour pratiquer une valent bien un examin appiotondi ; les pi Cnierei armies do la rochette (rocket) doiveut necessairement itre sups' riEures qui celles armies de l'Artillerie." . Here follow the reasons which established by facts that supe riority. It is also worth remarking, that the posseseive ma was not denied in the condescending answer I thee received. In conclusion, I beg to state that I do not pretend to ba the inventor of the present floating batteries, but I mention that the principle upon which they are made bomb-proof is my disc,tvery, referring as far back as 1835, and commuhicated to the allied Governments long before the present battAies were constructed or even thought of. Colonel B. DE WIERCENSKI, Late Director of Artillery. P.S.—I believe it worth the attention of our Govern• ment to examine the invention, referring to the making men-of-war bomb-proof. 2. The enormous advantages a , tending the use of tny wheeling bomb-proof battering batteries. 3. The floating bomb-proof rocket batteriee 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 ; w ith one of ray floating rocket batteries in each port we may well defy all the prattle of armed and unarmed gear; of enemy. T.H.g SOCIETY Ole .ARTS. TO THE EDITOR 01 THE SUN. am directed by the Council of the Society of /kits to request the favour of your insertion of the accompanying letter, being in reply to a request wade by the Council to Lord Derby that his lord ship would place at their disposal nominations to compete for clerkships and other Government situa tioils of a similar character, as rewards to success ful candidates at the society's ensui❑ examinations of members of mechanics' and other institutions ill 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 vest of the Society of Arts, made through you, that a certain cumber of 'nominations to appointments under his lordship's control may be placed at the disposal Of the 800 . 0 y ; and I beg to inform you that, in accordance with the wishes expresee I 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.clne s to inform me at your convenience of the names and addresses of the four candidates whom the society would desire to recommend, in order that their cameo may duly he recorded as desirous to compete for appointments.—l any, sir, your obedient servant, "W. G. HYLTON JOLIFFE. "The Secretary, Society of Arts." Ma 'ame Szavardy, the charming pianiste, better to: o w n to our readers as Wahelcaina Claws, has' arrived in Loudon, and will shortly appear at a Matined Musi cals, under the auspices of Mr. Mitchell. ST. JAMES'S THEATRE.—CARLO ANDREOLETTL-- 11 Physic'en Preshdigatatein, whose mysterious doing° createi an immens e sensat i on in Parisian society during the last seas)n, is announced for three performances OS St. James's- Theatre during the next week, gepv ri speaks marvels of his wonderful powers, FLOATING BATTBRIES. TO THE EDITOR v F THE SUN. The correspondent of the Times is in error to imagine that the floating batteries are the Emperor's invention. During my stay i❑ 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. Seve 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 which certain im mense 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•io use. A few days afterwards I ascertained, beyond doubt, bs 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 paix a tout prix bein e 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 corvmu nicate it a- a mere curiosity to my friend Captain Ban semer. But when the Wester❑ Powers proclaimed war against Russia, imagining that they were really in earnest, and consequently that they would have to attack not Cronstadt, 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 former discovery ieto a memorandum for the British Govern ment (of which I am a naturalised subject), and I trans mitted a copy of it by post to tie Emperor of the French ; the former was banded 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 eis still be found amongst the papers of my lamented friend. From the Emperor 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 my possession, implying the same promi,e 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 i❑ the memorandu m 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 steelsheets 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 men too clumsy, too dark, too heavy and too unmanageable. In the third place, owing to the over anxiety of making them in every part how ever unimportant, perfectly invulnerable, they are not only too dark inside (for 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 beds," to preserve and create scurvey, fever, and other nialariatic maladies. Lastly, they have materially in creased the expenses of the war, which, in my opinion s forced the mites 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 completly unineddllng 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 Panmure in a memorandum transmitted through the kind offices of my excellent friend the Eerl of Harrowby, to construct no the same principles of protection, wheeling bomb proof rooketrybattering 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 bnry Sebastopol in ashes and ruins. Was this