The Sun. — London, England, 1859-05-18 00:00:00

ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE. Under the Management of Mr. Charles Kean THIS EVENING will be presented Shakspeare's %Lit orical play of KING HENRY V. King Henry V., Mr. C. Kean; Chorus, Mrs. C. Kean. THEATRE -ROYAL, HAYMARKET. Lessee, Mr. J. B. Buckstone. THIS EVENING will be performed the new and original Comedy, entitled THE WORLD AND THE STAGE. The characters by Messrs. Compton, Buckstone, Howe, W. For tes, Rogers; Miss Amy Se 0-wick, dm After which, a new Classical Extravazanza, entitled II CTBA IN A NEW ELECTR'IC LIGHT. Messrs . Campton, Braid, Clark, Mrs. Wilkins, Misses Fanny Wright, nza V,tekes, and Louisa Leolercq. And 'TC.FAS Commence at 7. I\TEW Th7EATRE - ROYAL, -ADELPHI. Sole Proprietor and Manager, Mr. Benj. Webster. Reappearancse of Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Wigan. THIS E yrE - NiNG ,the performances will commence with EbyN PARLE FRAISTCAIS. Messrs. J. L. Toole, Chas. Killington ; Misses Keeley, Arden, and Laidlaw, and We. Billington. r_ F o llowed by (iirst time), by Tom Taylor , Esq. THE HOUSE ? or, THE HOME : 1 ' Mr. Alfred.Wigan, C, Selby, Billington ; Mrs. Alfred Wigel, Miss H. Simms. Miss Laid- ISW. After which, THE DEVIL OW TWO STICKS. Mr. J. L. Toole, P. Bedford, Misses Woo,g-ar, Keeley, Arden, and Kate Kelly. Acting stanager—Mr. "Wm. Smith. Doors open at a quarter-past six—Commence at seven. Box Office open from 10 to 5 -no charge for bucking. No fee . to Servants permitted. A registry kep t 0-t" a ll articles found ROYAL STRAND THEATRE. Lessee and Directress, Miss Swanborough THIS EVENING will be produced a Vew Comedietta, by J. M. Morton, Esq., entitled WHICH OF THE TWO ? supported by the company. Alter which, THE MAID AND THE MAGPIE. To conclude with VANDYKE BROWN. Mr. J. Clark. Commence at 7o'clock. ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE, w e cdminster-road. Lessee and Manager Mr. William Cooke. Continued Success of INA NrroE.—Overflowing Houses THIS EVENING, the performances will commence with s new grand spectacle , founded on Sir Walter Scott's pop ular work, entitled IVANHOE; or, The Lists of Ashby, intro ducing among the vast resources Of this great Hippoclramatic Temple,Tournaments, Processions;. Banners, Combats, Tilts, Victories, and Achieyemests in ex,'saordinary magnificence. Ivanhoe, Mr. R. Phillips ; Isaac of l'ork, Mr. Jas. Holloway; Richard of England, Mr. Herbert; Robin Hood, Mr. Wm. Cooke, jun. ; Rebecca, Miss Bathurst l ; Lady Rowena, Miss Dowton. After which, the matchless and unrivalled SCENES IN THE CIRCLE, introducing Mr. Joh n test Cooke, the greatest rider in the world ; Mr. A. Cooke, Mr. W. Cooke, • jun., and Miss Emily Cooke, supported by the unequalled male and female artistes of the establishment. To conclude with the Farce of RAISING THE WIND. Stage Manager, Mr. R. Phillips Dress Circle, 4s. ; Boxes, 3 s. ; Pit , 28, Gallery, is.; Upper Gallery, ed. Private Boxes, £4 4s, £ 2 23, and Zi is. To commence at 7 ; Carriages at 11. ('IANTERBURY HALL AND FINE ARTS V.l GALLERY, Westminster -road.—Open at Seven. EVERY EVENING during the week will appear THE DELEPIERRE FAMILY, nsisting of three Juvenile Violinists, viz., Juics, Juliette, co and Julia Del pi aged, respectively, FOUR, SIX, and EIGHT years. The perfect execution by these Lilliputian Artistes( of some of the most difficult and brilliant Solos, Duets, and Trios ever written for the violin, has excited mingled wonder and admi ration in Continental Musical Circles, and drawn forth enthu siastic tributes of praise from the Public Journals of France and Belp,iinn. They will perform EVERY EVENING, at' NINE and ELEVEN o'clock, in addition to the usual Entertainments. THE WEATHER.—Surf Orn J, MAY 18. THERMOMETER, IN THE SHADE. 56—highest since noon yesterday. 52—lowest this morning and during the night. 57—this day at noon. BAnouvrEit-29 . 79. WIND, N.W. ; light, with dull weather, and rain occa. sionally. THE SUN. WEDNESDAY, MAY 18, 180. The Austrians seem to have followed the example of the celebrated French Monarch, who — With forty thousand men, Marched up the hill, and then marched down again." They invaded Piedmont, on " daring deeds intent," but, beyond levying contributions on the peaceful inhabitants, they did nothing. They might, in fact, just as well have remained at home. They forced on the war, but abstained from taking the advan tage which they might have obtained by greater energy and "activity. The state of the weather was certainly unfavour able, and the swelling of the rivers and swamping of the fields opposed natural obstacles to their progress. But these could easily have been surmounted by determined men. We are told that they exhibited considerable engineering skill, that they completely out-manoeuvred the Sardinians on every occasion. But if this was true, why did they not march on Turin and take posses sion of the enemy's capital ? They would there have obtained a larger amount of plunder, for which they appear to have a very considerable fancy. But they remained stationary, and avoided alike the danger and the profit. It is said that complaints are made against the BritialtGovernment for occasioning a delay of three days. Bat haw long have the Austrians since procrastinated ? Have they not wasted nearly three weeks since crossing the Ticino on the 29th April ? It seems, therefore, strange how they can put forward any objection on such a ground. It is merely to get some claim for English assistance, which they are by no means likely to obtain, at all events until they relinquish all undue interference with the quasi independent States, and consent to deal fairly and constitutionally with those unfortu nately placed under their control. We have declared our neutrality in the most distinct and unequivocal language, and it will be on no trivial grounds that we consent to abandon it, or take part with either side in the present war. It is more than probable that the French and Sardinians will carry on the war within the enemy's country, and thus endeavour to avenge the abor tive attempt at invasion by the Austrians. To do this effectually they will have to violate the neu trality of some of the minor States. But belli gerents do not often regard.trifling difficulties, and it is not likely that they will do so in the present instance, when the sympathies and good wishes of the peoples are altogether in favour of the allies. Austria has set an example in that respect- which her opponents will readily follow. Tuscany has already proclaimed VICTOR EMMANUEL dictator, and by a bloodless revolution ejected the Grand Duke ; - and although Parma still recognises the authority of the Dowager Grand Duchess, it is scarcely to be supposed that the people, ripe for revolt, would resist the influence of Italian troops proclaiming the independence of Italy a' their- chief object. Parma and Modena will therefore be occupied on some plausible excuse. The strategical advantages resulting from such a step would be too tempting to any general, and it cannot be supposed that Louis NAPOLEON will be more scrupulous than others occupying a similar position. FRANCIS JOSEPH is to take the command of the Austrian army. This will of course be an immense advantage to the opposing party. It is true that, like his brother Emperor, he will have many experienced officers to act as " dry nurses," but an incapable at the head of affairs is always a serious obstacle in the management of military affairs. NAPOLEON I. became Emperor because he had proved himself to be a great and successful general; but it is -merely because he is Emperor that his successor became a general, and FRANCIS JOSEPH has no better claim. He has not even bad the benefit of five years' study and consideration in a military prison. A French naval force has approached Venice, and threatened the " Quoen of the Adriatic." Nothing, however, has been attempted in the way of hostilities, save the capturing of a few merchant vessels. An English steamer, Xhe Douro, with, the -' - 4'. - . 7 7 . 1.• , e t; ,.- 4 , .. •- ,', Z . ,. c ~,a,.: .i, . % ... .4 A-? , 14 ' . 0 ,T,CLU1.141,4, ' .' . . v- 4,.... , JA • 4 , A , • .. ~...„,,,,,..,. F 4 ., .„ k ' rf,',.. .... ,' .v... , ti ~, Air Mil k. 04:.' •-`,.'... ,4 nt , . 4,,„„ , . , z- .., 41 ,c, • .., , ~,,, qt... . . _, .., ;,.... ''' . 1 1,;• 1 , ,t,.. East India mail and passengers, had also been boarded by the boats of a French ship of the line. We know not what explanation may be offered for this glaring violation of the sanctity of the British flag. That it will be required is certain. Neither Lords DERBY nor MALMESBURY can for a moment tolerate anything so directly opposed to the power and dignity of Great Britain. Another difficulty has been raised in consequence of the refusal of the Captain of the Conqueror to salute the flag of the Provisional Government of Tus cany. In this respect , h o w ever, he was quite right, inasmuch as he could not, without compromising both the British Government and his own position, have recognised a new authority, respecting which he had no instructions from head-quarters. Our business is to maintain strict neutrality, and it must not be infringed on account of any such trivial transactions. Sir JAMES GRAHAM ought certainly to know very well by this time the meaning of Knuckle- duster—a popular racer that, if it only went we in for it, would, we cannot but conjecture, have, a very fair chance of winning the Derby. If the knuckles of Sir JAMES do not tingle smartly for the nonce at the present moment, it is, assuredly, no fault of either Major• General PEEL or Sir JOHN PAKINGTON. Scarcely has the baronet of Netherby had leisure to enjoy for a few hours his double triumph down at Carlisle—where, in spite of his being himself a heavy weight, he nevertheless con trived to clamber triumphantly to the top of the poll, and, what was more, to drag his nephew up immediately after him—when he has found himself called upon to illustrate anew what he is without doubt by this time a perfect master in, namely, the Amenities of Electioneering. It is the First Lord of the Admiralty, in the first instance, who calls the attention of Sir JAMES to certain libellous allusions upon the hustings to that charming little affair about Captain CARNEGIE. They told capi tally upon the hustings at the time. They were just a few free-and-easy words quoted lightly from memory out of another Imaginary Conversation than can be anywhere found in the pages of SAVAGE LANDOR. A conversation it was between Captain C. and Sir J. P. telling in the most damaging way possible against the latter, and implying, as plainly as words could imply anything, that the former was really about the most ill•used and high-minded personage in her MAJESTY'S domi nions. In several particulars the conversation, as described by Sir JAMES GRAHAM to the electors of Carlisle, was in the highest degree imaginative. And, as a consequence of so being, it told, as we have said, admirably—delightfully as for the ex- Lord of the Admiralty—damagingly, as,against the First Lord of the Admiralty. The inaccuracy of the account of the proceedings given by Sir JAMES to his constituents is specified by Sir JOHN PAKINGTON, who is - at once responded to most courteously by the recently elected M.P. for Car lisle. " Dear Sir JOHN PAKINGTON "—who has just before been described in the electioneering speech as having done a very dirty action in his last dealings with one of his naval colleagues at the Admiralty, but who is Sir JAMES'S " Dear Sir JOHN PAKINGTON" nevertheless—is assured by the newly re-elected M.P. for Carlisle, "If I have erred in any particular, or have in the least misrepresented the purport of the conversation between you and Captain CARNEGIE, I readily express my regret." Adding what nobody, of course, would have required to be added, " I can assure you I had no anvil in tention." Why, of course, no one ever imagined Sir JAMES really intended to misrepresent. real intention was sufficiently obvious under the circumstances. He designed simply to damage his antagonists—to blur the lustre of their reputation —in vulgar parlance, to " take the shine out of it." In this he succeeded. What matters a little inac curacy ? The election is over—the dodge has proved in every way most successful. Sir JAMES' and his nephew have both been returned. The inaccuracy—never dreamt of before—is then pointed out by Sir JOHN PAKINGTON. And " Dear Sir JOHN PAKINGTON" is at once assured by Sir JAMES GRAHAM that he readily expresses regret—and thus affords cheaply every reasonable reparation. Hardly has Sir JOHN PAKINGTON, however, been satisfied with a few honeyed words, over-courteous and super apologetic, when there is Major- General PEEL knocking, through the delegated hand of the postman, rap-rap, smartly upon the already bruised knuckles of Sir JAMES GRAHAM — asking for retractation, or, at the very least, for explanation. Sir JAMES GRAHAM has been apply ing the meanest possible motives to the announce ment in the War-office circular of the rise of the billeting charge upon publicans from lid. to 4d. a day, as announced—observe ! says Sir JAMES, ironically, upon the very eve of a general election ! Now, it matters not the least bit in the world that the announcement of that intended change in the charge of billeting had been avowed two or three months back in the House of Commons by the Secretary of State at the head of the War Depart ment. It signifies nothing, of course, that General PEEL really made that announcement at the begin ning of the session in the House of Commons before there was the faintest indication of the coming dissolution—and that the change from Id. to 4d. had actually been effectuated by the Mutiny Act passed before the close of the existence of the last Parliament. These things were nothing worthy of consideration. What Sir JAMES GRAHAM here again alone simply aimed at, was merely to damage his opponents as much as possible. The effect in tended to be produced was produced by these insidious imputations cast at the War-Department from the hustings at Carlisle. The end was accom plished. Sir JAMES and his nephew were both returned to the new Parliament. And then — in the first glow of his latest electioneering triumph—but not till then, Sir JAMES is frankly charged by General PEEL with ignorance upon a matter that General PEEL is too courteous to imply for one instant that Sir JAMES would distort wil fully simply with an ignoble view to catch the ears of the groundli n g s. So that, rather than char g e Sir J AM ES GRAHAM with wilf ul and perverse rais-repre sentation, General PEEL merely taxes Sir JAMES with ignorance. And Sir JAMES ?—well, Sir JAMES (with his knuckles smarting and tingling from the reiterated infliction from the Knuckle-duster)— " owns the soft impeachment" as simperingly as the fair DELIA herself, and, by so doing, of course makes, to the fullest extent that could possibly be required, the ainende honorable. Is this fair play, however—the fair play so peculiarly dear to the hearts of Englishmen ? Is it honest ? Is it manly ? Here is the First Lord of the Admiralty accused of the dirtiest doings—before the election of Carlisle is over : and directly the contest at Carlisle is decided, Sir JAMES (" upon compulsion" —from the Knuckle-duster) is expressing sincere regret to " Dear Sir JOHN PAKINGTON." Here, upon the hustings at Carlisle, is the right hon. candidate for the suffrages of the constituency applying the meanest motives to the head of the War Department : and immediately the candidate has been enabled by a majority of votes (no matter how gained) to descend from those hustings re elected M.P. for Carlisle, here is the same wily 4 traducer acknowledging his ignorance (also " upon compulsion"—frorr the Knuckle- duster) to "Dear THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, MAY 18, 185 General PEEL." All this recalls irresistibly to 1 one's recollection of one of the happiest political caricatures that ever appeared in Punch, a picture that made us all laugh so heartily years ago, entitled—(PEEL, with maternal:anguish in his face, being the interlocutor)—" Drat that Boy ! He's always in a mess !" Sir JAMES, even in his doings as an Old Boy, is consistent with his ante cedents. It cannot be doubted that we are on the eve of an entire revolution in our artillery. Not long ago we had General PEEL'S statement on his minis terial responsibility in the House of Commons re specting the efficacy of Sir WM. ARMSTRONG'S guns ; when, notwithstanding what had leaked out before, most persons were somewhat startled. Last week we had the very interesting statements made by Sir WILLIAM himself, in his speech at a New- Jastle dinner, by which his fellow-citizens desired to add their honours to those conferred by the hands of her MAJESTY. It appears from the speech that Sir WM. ARMSTRONG has not merely lighted on a lucky conception, or made an accidental dis covery; he has been for long years devoting him self ent:insiastically to his object; and, on the sea shore, " before people began to move about, and be in the way,"—in the way, be it remembered, miles off—and on barren heaths, where grouse and lean sheep were the only things he could injure, Sir WILLIAM was giving his mornings, not indeed to the muses, but to the music of his terrific artillery. Nor his mornings only. Pitch dark nights served him also for practice, for he brought his gun to that perfection that he could hit his mark in the darkest night as well as in broad daylight. It is gratifying to have his assurance that, to the best of his knowledge, none of his workmen have entered the service of a foreign government, and carried to those who might become our foes the knowledge which it is so desirable we should keep for our own defence. But it seems, indeed, that this knowledge is not so easily gained. The general peculiarities of his gun are, he says, well known, and cannot be concealed. He speaks, indeed, as if he regarded them as hardly novel ; it is the com binations and the details in which its merit con sists ; and these appeared to be such that if foreign Governments could get the drawings and plans on paper, their men could make the gun itself. We have most of us heard how exceedingly difficult it is for any manufacture to change its locality. The skill acquired by the workmen, the selection of right materials, and a hundred incidentals needful to perfection, are not to be transferred in a day to hands which have had no long preparatory train ing, and this is, not least of all, the case with our mechanical productions. Sir WILLIAM ARMSTRONG himself would find it no easy task to produce his weapon in the workshops of LOUIS NAPOLEON, I even if he had some of his own workmen with him. The details given by Sir WILLIAM impart full confidence as to the real merits of his invention. He naturally enough contrasts with the proposals of " paper schemers" the laborious and conscien tious exertions by which he attained his end, and by which he was enabled, after they had tried and tested the thing in every way, to satisfy even the prosy old military men themselves, and con vert them to zealous promoters of his object. The nation may well be pleased to know that for once routine has declared itself vanquished, and a non-military inventor has beim taken into the entire confidence of the 'War-office. It was indeed time to do it. Here was a gun made on the well known principle by which ex extraordinary strength and lightness have long been combined in our fowling-pieces, and which, therefore, with all its tremendous powers could be worked by much fewer men, and transported from place to place with the greatest ease. The gun itself a weapon requiring the best skill of English forges, and not likely soon to be successfully imitated abroad. But the missiles, it seems, are the greatest marvel. Wrought iron and rifled artillery are, as we know, not novelties, but the ARMSTRONG shells are so. They are made in:pieces—a shell divides into 49 regular, and about 100 irre gular pieces ; yet so perfectly are they bound toge ther that, when combined in one shot, it has been fired through nine feet of solid oak without sus taining fracture. It may be made to explode at pleasure, either as it approaches the object or as it strikes it. It is so safe among friends that it may be thrown from the top of the house without dan ger, yet so sensitive among enemies that it has burst on being fired into a bag of shavings. In fact, by being discharged from the gun, it is put, Sir WILLIAM says, " from half cock to full cock." It may be made to explode at long or at short dis tances, and even as soon as it. leaves the gun to burst and spread out its contents like a fan, mow ing down a whole regiment who might have the temerity to attempt the capture of the guns. The combined effect of the certainty of aim and the destructive explosion are terrific. It would seem as if nothing could live before it. Our readers know already that a ball hardly ever misses, that at 600 yards the muzzle of another gun could be hit every time, and targets nine feet square without fail at 1,500, and even 3,000 yards off; but not only that, seven of these sensi tive shells bursting on the targets actually hit them in 596 places. It is almost terrible to contemplate the fire of such shells at a body of men advancing, say from the coast to one of these batteries ; Sir WILLIAM may well say that he does not see how they are to effect a landing or to advance without being awfully cut up. Shells bursting on hitting a single man, and seven of them capable of hitting almost 600 others besides the first one struck—no soldiers could live under such an infernal fire; and yet the effects can be produced to a certainty. For ships the shell is so destructive, that it would shatter its timbers completely ; two wooden ships must " destroy each other like cats." Vast plates of iron alone could resist the impact of the shell; and happily no country could arm" its ships as England could with that defence. The iron walls of England will soon be the burden of the song. What can be done to protect ports and arsenals, it is not easy to say. They can be hit at almost any distance, while the vessel so far off would be but a speck. On the other hand, at smaller dis tances the land battery would have the advantage of steadiness. Cherbourg will be indefensible, but there is Portsmouth to think of too. With a few scientifically trained corps of field artillery, we might, however, on our Channel coast defy any enemy to effect a landing by boats. THEATRE ROYAL HAYMARKET.—The, benefit of Mr. George Turpin, one of the most obliging officials of the theatre, takes place to-morrow (Thursday) evening, on which occasion will be performed the last new and success ful comedy, "The World and the Stage," Talfourd's clever extravaganza, "Electra," and a variety of other attractive entertainments. The very courteous and assiduous manner in which Mr. Turpin. fulfils the duties of his office (box book -keeper) deserves substantial recognition by those whose comfort he is ever ready to promote. We trust he will receive that which he richly deserves, a bumper on the occasion of his annual benefit. Mr. W. S. Woodin, we observefrom a newspaper published north of the Tweed, is now delighting her Majesty's lieges at Glasgow by his humorous delineations of character in his famous "Olio of Oddities." When are we to have this favourite of the London public back again amongst us, with his long-looked-for new entertainment ? He must surely by this time (accompanied by his Olio, as formerly in a more appropriate fashion by his well-known Carpet Bag) have run, from A to Z, through the whole 1112160 of tin " UltgreQr!" THE BOMBAY MAILS. [BY ELECTRIC TELEGLAPH.] SOUTHAMPTON, WEDNBDAY MORNING. The Peninsular and Oriental company's steamer Ripon, Captain Christian, has wrived. She left Alexandria, May 3; Malta 7th; and Gibraltar, 12th. She brings 145 passengers, 2> bales of silk, 41 eases of shawls, 83 bales of wool and sundries. She passed her Majesty's shir Victor Emmanuel on the Bth, steering to S.,E. ; Loins, mail steamer, on the 11th; Russian line-of-battle ship Cesarewitch, on the 12th ; Jeddo, steamer, 03. the 13th ; and on the same day her Majesty's steam yacht Osborne, for Gibraltar. Some Austrian Lloyd's packets were at Malta, with orders to remain. The Prince of Wales was at Gibraltar awaiting the arrival of the Osborne, and was to be enter tained at a garrison ball on tlie evening of the packet leaving. At midnight on the 9th the Ripon passed a vessel standing to the north-east, anti observed a sharp cannonade of heavy guns for about three-quarters of an hour. Supposed to be a ship at night quarters• A rumour was current at Alexandria that an attempt had been made to assassinate the Pasha. The schooner Industrious, of Dartmouth, from Liverpool to Rio Grande, foundered April 30, in lat. 38.30 N., long. 11 W. The crew escaped in a boat two hours previous, and landed at Gibraltar on the 3d of May, per Norwegian. bark Norna. Gibraltar exchange on London-50 ; Paris and Marseilles, sf. 57c. ; Genoa, sf. 29c. 711 E LATE CONTEST'IN WEST KENT The following letter has been sent us for publi cation : " POSTPONEMENT OP THE HOP DUTY. " "Downing-street, May 17. My Lord,—l am directed tho Chanoollrir of the Exchequer to inform your lordship that, in consequence of the representations which were made to him this morning by Sir Edmund Filmer and yourself, he will instruct the Chairman of the Board of Inland Revenue to give effect to the ar rangement which is detailedin the accompanying note. "I have the honour to be, my Lord, your Lord ship's most obedient servant, " RALPH EARLE. " To Viscount Holmesdale, M.P. " MEMORANDUM. " ' The collection having commenced, must be completed ; but no distress, during the period of collection, will be levied on defaulters. " ' After the collection the list of defaulters will be examined, and, in all instances where just cause can be shown, time will be granted, as was done on a previous occasion, on condition that security is given and 4 per cent. interest charged. " ' May 17. " TO TILE EDITOR OF THE SUN. Sin,—ln your paper of the 17th instant an an nouncement appeared headed—" Extraordinary story about the Dauphin of France." The parti culars of the inquest I leave in other hands for the present, but I must beg to correct the latter part of your statement. So far from my father, the late Augustus Meves, wishing to keep his strong con viction of his right to the title of Dauphin of France from the world, it was his greatest desire to give it every publicity in his power, and in his general conversation with friends, both English and foreign, his firm belief never faltered in such conviction. A memoir of his life, written by himself, has been in the hands of a publisher the last eleven weeks, it being my lamented father's desire the public should jidge the truth of this most important question,— Your speedy insertion of this will oblige his son, WILLIAM AUGUSTUS MEVES. 35, University-street, May 18, 1859. ROYAL ITALIAN OPERA. Madame Penco, the celebrated prima donna of the Paris Italian Opera, made her first appearance last evening as Violetta in Verdi's "La Traviata,." Unlike many of the debutantes who have courted criticism of late, Madame Penco needs neither present indulgence nor hopeful predic tions, for she is already mature as an artiste whilst in the very zenith of her.physical powers. Madame Penco's voice is evenly beautiful in tone. Without any particularly striking notes, it is of one quality throughout, and always charming; her "shake" is perfection. Madame Penco's Violetta is one of the very best we have seen, and her suc cess with the public was immense. She was applauded most enthusiastically throughout the opera, and called at the terminationof each act. In other respects, with Gardoni as Alfredo and Debassini as Germont, "La Traviata" was most admirably performed, and may be reckoned amongst the great successes of the season. The entertainment concluded with the pretty ballet diver tissement called " Eva," in which Madlle. Zina made her first appearance this season, and displayed her talent to the best advantage. Her Majesty the Queen and his Royal Highness the Prince Consort honoured the performances with their presence. Her Majesty the Queen held a Court yesterday afternoon at Buckingham Palace. --- NVe -- have authority to state that the Queen's State Ball, which was to have taken place on Tuesday, the 7th of June, has been postponed until Wednesday, the Bth of June. Her Majesty and his Royal Highness the Prince Consort and the Princess Alice and the younger members of the royal family will leave Buckingham Palace either on Friday or Saturday next for Osborne. The Queen and Court intend, according to present arrangements, to stay at Osborne until the 30th inst. His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales is to leave Gibraltar at the close of this week in the Osborne yacht for the Tagus, in order to visit the King of Portugal at Lisbon. After a stay of four days in Lisbon, the Prince will embark on board the Osborne, and return direct to Portsmouth. Her Royal Highness the Princess Frederic William of Prussia will arrive at Osborne on Saturday next from Berlin, on a visit to her Majesty and his Royal High ness the Prince Consort. -- Mr. Gavan Duffy,. Minister of Public Works, Victoria, has resigned. The Melbou rne A ge , i n announc i ng the fact, , says that . Jonah has been thrown overboard, and the mariners who navigate the ministerial vessel are buoy ant with hopes of fair weather and a calm sea." Mr. G. V. Brooke has become the sole lessee of the Theatre Royal, Melbourne. Mr. Hudson, the Irish comedian, has appeared there. Miss Emma Stanley seems to be meeting with considerable success, and Mrs. Butler's " readings" attract large audiences. We understand that Messrs. Glass, Elliott, and Co., have received intelligence that the submarine tele graph cable, upon which they are engaged, on behalf of the Swedish government, has been successfully laid down from Westerwick, in Sweden, to Wisby, in Gottland, by the screw steamer Berwick, under the directions of Mr. Can ning, their chief engineer. Captain Thompson, one of the only two survivors of the frightful massacre at Cawnpore, who so miraculously escaped, is about to publish his narrative of the scenes which took place under . his own eyes at that fatal place. How many of the relatives and friends of our fellow coun trywomen and countrymen there slaughtered will welcome this thrilling narrative of the last closing scenes of their existence. It is illustrated by sketches of some of the sad scenes. PRICE OF GOLD.—MQ quotation of gold at Paris is about at par, and the short exchangeon London is 25.07} per £1 sterling. On comparing these rates with the Eng lish Mint price of £3 17s. 100. per ounce for standard gold, it appears that gold is nearly 4-10ths per cent. dearer in Paris than in London. By advices from Hamburg the price of gold is 420 per mark, and the short exchange on London is 13.0/ per £1 sterling. Standard gold at the English Mint price is therefore about 8 10ths per cent. dearer in Hamburg than in London. The course of ex change at New York on London for bills at 60 days' sight is about 110 1 per cent., which, when compared with the Mint par between the two countries, shows that the ex change is in favour of England ;: and, Wafter making allowance for charges of transport and difference of inte rest, the present rate leaves a profit on the importation of gold from the United States. RE MOORE V. BERRIDGE.—THE LATE MR. H. CLARK'S LANDED PROPERTY AT PINCHBECK.—We understand that Dr. Moore, LL.D. has decided on advising his son, the Rev C. W. Moore, M.A., to contest the above, as the true and only bona fide heir-at-law, at the time of Mr. Henry's Clark's death ; and we are, moreover, autho rised to publish the following letter to Mr. Berridge from the claimant :—" Sir, —It being my determination to throw the above estates into Chancery, as the true and lawful heir, male descendant, of the body of the late Henry Clark, my great grandfather, I consider that the tenants of this said property situate at Pinchbeck near Spalding, will, after this notice, be legally justified in withholding their rents ; and I contend that you, on behalf of your wife, have no claim whatever upon the tenants, until the case has been duly and legally adjudicated by a court of law.—C. W. D. MOORE, the male heir from the elder branch."—Lineolnsluire Free Press. _ - - ROASTED ALTvE.—A very appalling accident occurred on Saturday at the Llwycoed limekilns, near Aberdare. A young man • named William Thomas was engaged in superintending the process of burning lime, and having "fed the kiln," as it is called, by piling upon it a large heap of stones, &c., got on to the top of the heap for the purpose of levelling the stones. It unfortunately hap • pened that the mass beneath was highly calcined, and, the substratum giving way, the heap of stones slowly descended, and the unhappy man was carried with them into the burning abyss. The poor wretch struggled in the hope of extricating himself, and gave utterance to the most heart • rending shrieks, but, although many rushed to the spot, and made what efforts they could to rescue him, all was in vain. He was seen to descend lower and lower into the fire, writhing as he did so in the most intense agony, until he at length disappeared. The workmen at once set to work to draw the kiln, for the purpose of recovering the body, and at length it was drawn out, a charred and blackened mass• At the inquest held on the body it was stated that, although the practice of kindling the coal was very dangerous, and had often led to a sacrifice of life, it was constantly resoled to, The jury returned a Verdict of "Accidental death.' LATEST NEWS. THE WAR IN ITALY. The following telegrams have been received at Mr. Reuter's office : PARIS, MAY 18. The .3loniteur of to-day publishes the following telegram ALESSANDRIA, May 17.—The Emperor went yesterday to Valenza to view the position of our vanguard and the course of the Po. His Majesty paid a visit to the King of Sardinia this morning at Occimiamo. The weather has become finer. VIENNA, MAY 18. The Wiener Zeitnny publishes the following official announcement : His Imperial Majesty has by letter, addressed to Count Buol, and in compliance with -the Count's request, graciously relieved that Minister from the duties of the office hitherto held by him, with the fullest acknowledgment, howevey, of his services rendered as Minister of State. The President of the Federal Diet, Count Rech berg, is appointed Minister for Foreign Affairs and of the Imperial Household, in place of Count Buol. TRIESTE, MAY 17. Yesterday afternoon the French squadron was before Venice. Since yesterday the Austrian Lloyd's have ceased the running of all their steamers. The National Bank of Vienna has granted to the depu tation from the Bourse of this place an advance of 1,000,000 florins. TURIN, MAY 16. The Emperor remains still at Alessandria, busied with his generals in laying strategical plans. HAMBURG, MAY 17. The rate of discount, which was 4 to 41 per cent was to-day lowered to 3 to 4 per cent. The Nord publishes the following telegram : " The Russian Government has given orders for the Ist, 2d, 3d, sth, and 6th corps d'armee to be placed immediately on a war footing, with the whole of the artillery and cavalry belonging to each. " The reserves are to be called in, and all soldiers on furlough to rejoin their colours, to be ready to march within three months. A correspondent of the Siecle writes as follows from Turin, under date of May 14 :—" Giulay's army, forced to retreat, is falling back on three different points, Novara, Pavia, and Piacenza ; on this last town by Stradella. Already a part of the siege artillery, a regiment of infantry, and a detachment of chasseurs have been signalled. In effecting this retreat, some repasse&the Gravellona, in the direction of Casale-Pusterlengo, between Lodi and Piacenza ; others went through Broni, and after crossing the bridge of La Stella, turned towards Stradella. As to the bulk of the army, it is still in Piedmont, but they are concentrating it on the line of operations so as, in case of a check, to be able to form a junction with the troops in Lombardy. The ground along part of the Gravellona, and at Codalunza, Por tighetto, and Batella, is bristling with fortifica tions, and whilst on other points they are making bridges, throwing up batteries, and re-establishing communications, Giulay is reinforcing his troops on the road to Piacenza. As to the troops recently collected, they are concentrated between Mortara, Palestra, and Robbio. Of course, the bridges which had been thrown over the Sesia, near Palestra, have been re moved. The 86 guns which were at Vercelli have been placed in concentric batteries on an emi• nence commanding Novara, on which stands the village of Biocca, the scene of the principal incident of the memorable battle of 1849. This position between Novara and Magenta will serve Giulay as a point d appui for the right wing of his army in case of retreat. The extraordinary works in progress there seem to justify that conclusion. Between Gagliate and the Ticino thousands of peasants are compelled to work in digging deep ditches and throwing up epaulments. Preparations are also being made in case of defeat to throw four bridges over the river on this point, behind the epaulment, to facilitate the retreat. This is perfectly in accord with the last despatches, which state that the Austrian troops are concentrating between Novara and Pia cenza, and fortifying their positions between the Gravellona and the Po. In this case, if such be the tactics of Giulay, the left wing will rest on the Po, as the right does on Novara. The Austrians have established a telegraph hire, about six feet from the ground, between Novara and Milan. To afford greater facilities for the entrance of the sol diers, two bridges have also been made near Vige• vana and Motta Visconti. On the bridge of La Stella more important defences have been pre pared in the shape of six small forts, which will be guarded by outposts placed at San Cipriano and Giezolo. Nothing positive is known as to the motive of this change in the movement of the Aus trian troops. I can affirm as certainihowever, that the Austrians came to Vercelli with the determi nation to march on Turin, immediately after in stalling their head-quarters there. With that view they came in great force, preceded or followed, I cannot say which, by 86 pieces of cannon. As it was night, they placed their guns in the meadows near Vercelli. The next morning the alert was given, and all the men were soon under arms. The cause of alert was that the waters were gradually covering the plain and the roads, and with them the pieces of cannon. In vain did they rage and storm, there was no alternative but to immediately remove the guns and place them elsewhere ; but the soldiers were soon tired out, and the horses knocked up. They then made a requisition of hundreds of hands to help them. God knows what means they employed to make the poor peasants work ! At last, about nightfall, the task was completed, and the guile wpre rwmnvPd fn behind Vercelli. They had not been there an hour when the meadows were covered with water, which soon attained a depth of three feet. The same operation had to be again performed under greater difficulties than before, and the next day the enemy proceeded with all haste towards Ivrea." A communication from Alessandria states that it has been resolved, in order to secure unity in the strategical movements, to unite the troops of the two allied nations, each corps d'armee, under the command of a Marshal of France, to be composed of three French divisions and one Sardinian. It was thought at head-quarters that the French and Piedmontese would immediately leave Alessandria, and advance by the right bank of the Po towards the Milanese frontier. The Piedmontese Gazette publishes the 31st and 32d official bulletins. The former has been already anticipated by telegraph ; the other is as follows No. 32, May 15th, morning.—The following are particulars of the doings at Bobbio. On the 13th, at half-past one, a.m., 200 Austrians entered Bobbio. Having arrived in the square, they sepa rated into patrols.. One of these, about half-way towards Porta Nueva, met a detachment of National Guards commanded by Sub-Lieut. Luigi Losio. The latter cried Who goes there ?' The enemy replied by a volley, from which Losia received a wound in the foot. The National Guards fired and wounded an officer and a private; where upon the enemy retreated in such haste that at five they re-entered Mezzana Scotto, whence they had come , a nd at ei g ht crossed the Tr ebbia at. Ambricco, retreati n g towards Rivergaro, a n d forcibly carrying off with them one Mnzzi, a tailor. On learning tha t the Austrian s were at Bobbin, armed men had set out from Varzi and other b o uring communes to join the National Guardneigh bouring of the former placd. Yesterday, 13th, there was a great moving of Austrian troops near the Stella bridge, on the lett bank of the P the enemy exacts contributi ons to an At Stradella insupportable amount ; they have ordered the municipality to despatch a mail to PI • via ; to buy the things that are not to be had in the place. A general and some officers have in vain attempted to excite the poor against the rich." The Syndic of Genoa has published the following proclamation, dated the 14th " Fellow-Citizens !—The cordiality and enthu siasm with which the whole population has re ceived, saluted, and cheered the Emperor of the French, in the port, in the docks, under the win dows of the Royal Palace, in the street, and at the theatre Carlo Felice, gave such pleasure to H.I.M. that, visibly touched with these warm hearted and'universal testimonials of respect, sym pathy, gratitude, joy, and hope, his Majesty not only expressed, in gracious and flattering words, to the authorities that stood around him, his high satisfaction, but desired that his sentiments on the occasion might be officially made known to the public. Fellow-citizens ! The Emperor of the French leaves us with the most gratifying impres sion of the reception given to himself and his army by . the Genoese population, which expresses the sentiments of all Italy. I therefore thank you for having, with an admirable alacrity which will be recorded in history, seconded the efforts of the municipality for celebrating this great event in a manner not quite unworthy of the august guest who was expected, of the city which received him, and of the noble intentions and high motives which ocOasioned his visit. " The Syndic, MORRO." A note is said to have been sent by Piedmont, in reply to the circular by which the Neapolitan Government proclaims its neutrality. In it, the Cabinet of Turin seeks to establish that Naples can no longer enjoy the benefit of neutrality, as that power has given its implicit adhesion to the policy of Austria. The Milan Gazette publishes two bulletins, one dated Vercelli, 9th, and the other Mortara, 11th. They are curiosities in their way, as may be seen from the following extracts : " Although the Austrian army is ready to attack the enemy on all sides, the latter has not had the courage to accept the challenge. . . . The Piedmontese have plundered the poor inhabitants of Stroppiano. . . . The Piedmontese have not thought proper to defend Vercelli, an im portant town on account of its excellent military position. The inhabitants have hastened to pro vision our troops without a murmur on their part, and without a menace on the part of our soldiers. • • • Let us state the following remarkable fact :—An Austrian army enters Piedmont, and the people gives it a favourable reception ; the Cavour Government calls the armies of France to its aid, and the country, instead of yielding to the pressure of force, receives us like friends and bro thers. . . Captain Blackey, an English calonel (sic), has arrived at our head quarters at Mortara ; he wants to share the fate of the Italian campaign with the Austrian army." A letter from Bucharest of the 10th instant says—" The Wallachian Government has pub lished a notification to the effect that the Aus trian consul having broken off relations with the Wallachian authorities, and not having placed his subjects under the protection of any friendly power, those subjects will be treated as Wal lachians, and will in judicial matters be tried according to the laws of the country. This resolu tion will not please the numerous Austrians esta blished in Wallachia, for the Wallachian authorities are all•disposed towards them. The Austrian consul has requested his Government to give him instructions how to act." THE AUSTRIAN ARMY IN PIEDMONT. (From the Second Edition of the Times) AUSTRIAN HEAD-QUARTERS, MORTARA, MAY 12. I hope my letter of the day before yesterday reached London in safety, because, though written hurriedly to catch the post, it contained information calculated to undeceive you on one or two points on which the Piedmontese press has been mistaken. The affair of Frassinetto, for instance, was simply a feint to draw the attention of the allies from the real passage of the river at Corsale. This the allies must know, for the planks supplied by Candia, and nailed together with so much noise on the island, were left there, and could tell their own story. Had the Austrians really wished to pass the river they would have used the pontoon bridge, which they had in the neighbourhood, by which they afterwards crossed the Sesia between Pez zana and Rivoletta, and which was yet standing the day before yesterday. I am not quite sure whether it is there now or not. I rather think not, and that the bridge at Vercelli is the only one now existing over the Sesia. At Vercelli there is an Austrian corps d'armee. When I was there, on Tuesday, it was busy throwing up earthworks to form an intrenched camp, for which the position is admirably suited. This will command the road from Turin to Novara and' Milan, and will also check any attempt on the part of the allied army, now near Casale, to turn the Austrian right flank. I see a Turin paper asserts that Novara was threatened with a general massacre by the Austrians in default of certain contributions. I can assure you that the orders to treat the inhabitants well are peremptory, and that they are obeyed willingly. Indeed the conduct of the natives is such as to secure good treatment even from a less good-natured fellow than the Austrian soldier certainly is. Most probably- the bearing of the soldiery towards the population induces the reciprocal good feeling. How do the Zouaves and the Piedmontese peasantry get on ? As an example of the high state of discipline in the Austrian ar:ny, I may mention that General Benedek had two men shot for stealing property worth only a few francs, From other sources you may hear different accounts, as 20 or 30 imitations of Austrian uniforms were captured at Novara. They had been made by certain parties for the pur pose of committing robberies and atrocities, and of throwing the odium on the Austrians. The same may have been done elsewhere. You must receive with caution every statement coming from a Pied montese source. One story, written from Turin to Le Nord, and copied into other papers, has excited much merriment here. A Marquis Colli is there represented as having, with a couple of squadrons of light cavalry, greatly distinguished himself in a fight near Gropello. In imitation of the knights of old, he is said to have singled out the commander of the Austrian detachment, and to have slain him in single combat. Here nothing is known of any incident at all resembling this, nor has any cavalry officer been killed as yet. Some newspapers express astonishment that the Austrians did not push on to -Turin, but -surely to have done so would have been extremely dangerous with such a large army on their flank as the allies had between Alessandria and Casale, even by the 3d of this month. I mentioned in my last letter that it took three days for the Austrian army to cross the Ticino. This will give you some idea of the time required to move 180,000 men. To have crossed by several bridges would have been useless, because, when in Pied mont, they can only advancebyt for her infantry nt T ry he ; fields are utterly impassable, except and even that could not move across country except by short and slow marches. Every field is bounded by a ditch full of water, with a hedge of trees about two feet apart on each side of it ; and fully one fourth of the country is un d er water entTho irely: consequence is, that a corps d'armee of 30,000 men, part cavalry, and part artill er y, w ith t h e necessary train of waggons, occupies 10 or 12 miles of road. It is evident that to protect the advance of such a column strong positions must be secured in front of it. Thus the lixe of the Terdoppoi, the Agogna, and the Sesia had to be seized succes sively, and, as the heavy rains and the melting of the snow on the hills had converted each of these streams into a considerable river, it was impossible to conceive that they would not be defended. Besides, haste was unnecessary. The five days' start England secured for France rendered it impossible for the Austrians to reach Tulin in time, so their advance, so far as it extended, was simply a reconnaissance in force. The battle 'field will most ) o r, at m so al l e probably be near this place (Mor t ar a events, between the Sesia, and the 'T ic ino where. The allies will scarcely dare to attempt to pass between Pavia and Piacenza, nor can they well move north between the Dora Baltea aid the Sesia, while the Austrians posses s tie bridge at V ercelli. The spirits of the Austrian army are excellent. The condition of nearly all their horses is also good. The latter are excessively hardy, particularly those bred in Hungary. I wish we had in England some really light cavalry like the Hungarian Hussars. The Austrian train is notoriously good; that of this army is immense. The Piedmontese large two-wheeled waggons will, however, have an advantage in moving on good level roads, because they require fewer horses. Apropos of roads I must say that, except in Lem:. hardy, I have never seen better roads than here, but they are narrow. I mentioned in my last letter that the people of Piedmont were not in favour of this war. So far from it are they, that nothing would be easier than to raise the population of this part of the country against the Government. Count Cavour is detested. As for the King, they say " egli non e re," they consider him a mere puppet of Cavour's. The entire power, they say, is in the hands of agitators , principally from Milan. At the first elections the * well-to-do, quiet people, contented to leave well alone, did not vote at all. The consequence was that the violent few carried the day, and the first Parliament did the mischief by its talk ing. This is the opinion I have heard expressed by such men as heads of large villages. In the towns it is different ; there the phraseology of the conquest of the Lombardy party has been intro duced, and is used by many who never did, nor ever will, form an opinion of their own, and Who understand little of the opinions of others. Some letters have been captured on the road from Cigliano to San Germano written by recruits from the latter place, now near Alessandria, to their friends. They express the greatest dislike to the war. One man congratulates himself on being in the third line, and hopes the first two will have the fighting to do. Now, there is another point on which I wish to undeceive the British public. The Lombard regiments in the Austrian service are generally represented as untrustworthy. came out with this idea, and fancied, as others in England' do, that all the Italian regiments were in Hungary or Galicia, and that all the nation would be distrusted. I find, on the con trary, that nine out of ;ten posts of especial confidence are filled by Italians. Clerks, orderlies, gendarmerie, pass examiners, police officers, both inferior and superior, all, or nearly all, are Italian. Besides these, there are fully 20,000 Italian troops now with this army in Piedmont, and not one of them is suspected of preferring the Government of France or Piedmont to that of Austria. The fact seems to be, that the hatred of Austria is confided to the class which pays substitutes and does net enter the army itself. On this point lam loth, however, to express a decided opinion as yet, because, although I on different occasions hav e passed a good deal of time in Italy, yet I did not enter more than superficially into this inclu it Y on those occasions. You must not expect to hear of a battle just yet. The Austrians surely vrw not now cross the Po to attack the allies on their own chosen position, and thes e w ill p ro b a bly wait till vast stores of provisions and means of transport are collected at Alessandria. The mere landing of these at Genoa will occupy some time. We must re: member that a continual stream of troops au d material has been passing day and n ight fe' three months along the Lombardo-Venetian line!' No change of importance has taken place in the die' position of the Aust r i an t roo p s . W e hear that the allies occupied Tortona a few days ago, but the mass of their army is in position near San Salvadore, tween Casale and Alessandria. Even when the hostile armies do meet, I cannot agree with those expect a great and decisive battle to be foug ht ' The nature of the country is unsuited for Snell a battle, being highly advantageous to that par!'" which acts on the defensive, because rendering till' approach of overwhelming numbers of the enemy on any one point exceedingly difficult. I must conclude this letter, but cannot do 0° without first acknowledging the extremely hos pitable reception I have met with here. Noth in g can exceed the kindness shown me by all I meet ' from the Commander-in-Chief downwards. Y ou must not flatter yourself that this is in the slightes t degree due to my being your correspondent. Th a i would act in the same hospitable manner to any stranger bringing a few letters of introduction. FRANCE. PARIS, TUESDAY. The Empress-Regent yesterday received a letter from her Britannic Majesty, in answer to the lettere of recall of the Duke de Malakoff; also, the reply of the Duke de Nassau to the notification of tile marriage of Prince Napoleon. Nothing of moment is known from the t heatre of war; no movement of importance app eal to have taken place. To all appearance, the French as well as the Austrians show at present little disposition to attack. The French have not yet got up all their artillery and cavalry. The Austrian . : remain strongly fortified in their positions, a n cover a large space of ground. Something yr ° said yesterday of General MacMahox's manceuvria in the direction of Piacenza with a view to tur n ' the Austrian flank, but the information is vagu e r Nothing important is expected b e f ore the end the month, or the beginnin g o f J ul ie, when li e e French will be in po ssess i on o f a ll th e i r supPli . They do not think the Austrians will soon asol lin aa: the offensive ; b u t th ey wou ld n ot b e sorry 14— enemy attacked. The Archbishop of Vercelli, who gave stiel l , S polite reception t o th e A us t r i an C om mander, W e l the person who a couple of months ago perfe l n ie the ceremony whi c h ma d e P r i nce Napoleon and "`" Princess Clotilde of Sardinia man and wife. a , BOURSE, May 17.—The Syndic of Brokers L. nounced at the opening-of the market that he " I. : counted 657,000 f. of Three per Cents. renter, for; capital of more than 13 millions of francs. Se lle m were consequently obliged to seek for titles 1 7 , order to satisfy that demand, w hi c h must be de m . vered within five days. N o e ff ec t was, howev er: on prices, as brok ers annou nced that the : Rente. Threes, whi c h a t th e open i ng , were prepared to delive r more th a n 1,500,000 f. tilt were d one 0 , 61f.30c. and 61f. 35e., are now at 60f. 843e40f. bilier varied from 580 f. to 550 f. ; Austrian, , s f, to 350 f. ; Orleans, 1,175 f. t o 1 , 150 f. ; Lyons , 7 ' to 762 f. 50c. ; Eastern, 595 f. to 585 f. ; Northe rn ' 880 f. to 865 f. The following were the closing quotatio ns 41 per Cents. , BB 75 C r edit Foncier.... 625 Do. end month B9 . Belgian 41 • . '' 78 3 per Cent s . :--- 61 Piedmontese (0) • • s o Do. end mo n th 6 0 85 Roman .......... Bank Shares 2760 Austrian ........ Credit Mobilier 570 Spanish Threes Do. Account RAILWAYS. Accoll llt. • Cash. 1 5 u Orleans Northern . 875 --: • ' 750 --- New ditto 747 50 •• 767 60 Lyons and Mediterranean 765 -- •* 440 Geneva 445 • • 430 5 Southern Western 490 25 • • 580 r ___ Eastern 5 • Sardinian 34 09 0 •— 7 ••. 31 3 5 5 6 434 Austrian - • ' ni oneif Exchange on London, at sight, paper, 25f. ne.,; '" „. 8710. 25f. 21c.; three months, paper, 24f. 90c. ; money) THE FRENCH MAIL• The following relates to the recent irregulatieori in the French mail : t "al and Imperial Mail Steam-Pa A cke d, Service (Dover, Calais, and Ostend), /I miralty-yard, Dover, May 1 7 . to Sir,--Perhaps you will have no objection.. _ state that the irregularity for several days of French mails is solely attributable to the CO easterly and north-easterly winds blowing so strl: that it was impossible to embark the bee nma ils Calais roads ; consequently the packets have nt detained in harbour until there has been sufaelees water for them to proceed to sea. The same c alls 's have prevented the South-Eastern ConiMlat packets during several days from leaving Calais the usual hour in the afternoon. " The Belgian mail packets also, to and fil l Ostend, have been irregular in their arrivals a n al sdeeapoanrtuthreesbianrcaotnsoesqtueennacefoorfmthaeurse o b r e p in ass g too e lge ni i .: to be landed or e m b ar k e d in boats. " During the p r evalence of these strong easterly and north-easte r ly winds it has been smooth water at Boulogne. " I am, Sir, y ou r obedient servant, " LUKE SMITHETT, Superintendent, Royal Mail Service." i