The Sun. — London, England, 1858-02-16 00:00:00

Jest published, Part 1., price Is:, to be completed in about 40 Parts: PrHE COMPREHENSIVE HISTORY OF INDIA, CIVIL, MILITARY, and SOCIAL, from the First land i ng o f the English to the Suppressiaon of the Sepoy Mutiny ; ;nolud , ng an Outline of the Early history of Hindostan. By HENRY BEVERIDGE, Esq., Advocate. Illustrated by Five Hundred Engravings on Wood and Steel. 'Mackie and son, Warwick-square, Ncwgate-street, London; and All Bo lksellers. HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE.- LAST NIGHT BUT FIVE. THE BOHEMIAN GIRL. THIS EVENING, TUESDAY, will be repeated, the sth time ie England, LA ZINGARI, being t,' , e Italian version of Ba,lfe's Opera of The Bohemian Girl, by Madlles. Piecolomini and Sannier ; Signori Belleiti, Violetta, and Giuglini. n the second Act a new Divertiss ement, by M. Massot the music entirely new, composed b y Mr. Balfe), by Manes. Claveile, Morlacchi, and Pasquale. To conclude with the successful M DivertissemClave ent, by Mor M. Mascot, entitled L'HYMENEE, by adlles. lla, - lacchi, and Pasquale,. Prices :--pit Stalls, 12s 6d; boxes (to hold four persons), pit and one pair, 21. 23; grand tier, 31. 3s ; two pair, P. 55.; three pair, 15s ; gallery boxes, 105; gallery stalls, 3s 6d ; pit, 3s 6d; gallery, 2s. RER, MAJESTY'S THEATRE, LAST NIGHTS. riocoloraini, Spezia, L Sanuier, Belletti, Vialetti, Aldighieri, uchesi, and Giuglini. _ _ _ _ . THURSDAY, Feb. 18 (Last islight but Four), LA TRAVIATA; SATURDAY, Feb. 20 (Last Night but Three), LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR. TUESDAX, Feb. 23 (Last Night but Two), LA FIGLIA DEL REGGIKENTO, and Last Act of LA FAITORITA. THURSDAY, Feb. 25 (Last Night but One), LA ZINGARI, being the Italian version of the Bohemian Girl. SATURDAY. Feb, 27 (Last Night), IL TROVATORE. Applications for Boxes, Stalls, and Tickets to be made at the Box•office at the Theatre. T"' T R E-R OYA L, DI - WRY-LANE, Lessee, Mr. E. T. Smith. Tiris EVENING, will be performed the new comic drama, A LUCKY HIT. After which, TWO HEADS BETTER THAN ONE. Followed by the new grand pantomime, LITTLE JACK NOJINER. ammence at 7. THEATRE ROYAL, HAYMARKET. Lessee—Mr. J. Buckstone. TIIIS EVENING, to commence at Seven o'clock, with THE RIVALS. After which, a new comic Christmas Pantomime, entitled THE SLEEPING BEAUTY IN THE WOOD; or, Harle quin and the Spiteful Fairy. Harlequin, Mr. A. Leclercq ; P,olumbine, Miss Fanny Wright ; Pantaloon, Mr. Mackay ; Clown, Mr. Charles Leclercq. Orcheritra Stalls (which may be retained the whole of the evening). 6s. each. (No charge for booking.) First Price. s. d. Second price. a. d Dress Boxes 5 0 Dress Boxes 3 0 Upper Boxes 3 0 Upper Boxes 2 0 Pit 2 () Pit 1 0 Ga 1 1 ,317 R OYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE. Proprietor, Mr. Charles Kean. THIS EVENING, will be performed Sliakspere's Play of A VIDSI7MMER-NIGLIT'S DREAM. After which, a new grand e, omle Christmas Pantomime entitled HARLEQUIN WHITE CAT ; or, The Princess Blanche Flower and her Fairy Godmothers. The Princess Blanche (White Cat), Miss Kate Terry ; Harlequin, Mr. Cot, Inaes. ; Clown, Mr. Haile ; Pantaloon, Mr. Paulo ; and Columbine, Miss C. Adams. 'THEATRE ROYAL, AD EL PHI. Lessee—Mr. Ben. Webster. TMS EVENING, will be performed THE FAIRY CIE CLE. Mr. and Mrs. Barney Williams. Aster which, YANKEE COURTSHIP. To conclude with LATEST FROM NEW YORK. Commence at Seven. ROYAL LYCEUM THEATRE.—SoIe Lessee and Manager, Mr. C. Dillon.— THIS EVENING, WILD OATS. Rover, Mr. Charles Dillon. After which, a domestic tale, by Westland Marton, en titled A HARD STRUGGLE. Mr. C. Dillon, &c. To conclude with the Burlesque and Pantomime, LALLAH ROOKII, and the PRINCESS, the PERI, and the TROU BADOUR ' • or, Harlequin and the Ghebers of the Desert. Sup ported by Mesdames Charles Dillon, Buckingham White, Eliza Webb, Maria Ternan, Esther Jacobs, and Woolgar ; Moritz, Barrett, Calhaem, Holston, Poynter ' and J. L. Toole. Clowns, Messrs. T. Matthews and R. Stilt ; Harlequin, Mr. J. Ricketts; Pantaloon, Mr. A. Stilt ; Sprites, Herr Zaleski and Sons ; Columbines, Misses Malcolm and Lees. Gorgeous Feast of Lanterns.—Fenton's Grand Trans formation Scene. Doors open at half-past 6, to commence at 7. "Soz-office open from ll to 5 daily. STRAND. THE kTßE.—Leasee, Mr. T. Payne. Under the management of Mr. W. H. S/ranborough , THIS EVENING, first night of a new Drama, adapted fro , a a work of Mr. Charles Dickens, entitled SILVER STORE ISLAND ; or, Perils of Certain English Prisoners. Supported by Messrs. H. J. Turner, Bolton, Howard, Dean, Van Buren, &c.; Misses Portman, Hastings, Victor. To be followed by the highly successful Burlesque of THE LADY OF LYONS; or, Twopenny Pride and Puny-tence. Chaeacters by Messrs. Gomersal, Bolton, Howard, Swan. borough; Misses Victor and Tempest. T.) conclude with the screaming Farce of A WOMAN IN MY DUST HOLE. Messrs. L. Buckingham, Turner, and Miss Craven. - - Commence at Severr. Boxes, 23.; Stalls, 35.; Pit, ls. ; Gallery ed. Hal price at Nine. Commence at Seven. OY-4.L SURREY THEATRE, Xi) Lessees, Messrs. Shepherd and Creswick. THIS EVENING, will be performed as original English May, BIGHT AND WRONG. After which, QUEEN MAB ; or Harlequin Romeo and Jnlliet. Clown, by the Surrey Buck ; Pantaloon, Mr. Brad. bury. CANTERBU RY HALL, Westminster-road.— OPEN THIS 'EVENING and To-morrow Evening (ASH WEDNESDAY.)—The follow ing c.mnpany of Vocalists aro engaged for the performance of Sde , :lions from all the popular OPERAS, MADRIGALS, CHORUSES, GLEES, DUETS, dm, viz. :—Miss Russell, Mrs. Badzey, Madlle. Marietta, 'dies Bru cell, Miss Ray, Mad tme Bartoletti, Mills Montague, and Madame Marietta ; Her - F. Jonghmans, Mr. Renshaw, S. Jones, J. Barl:cr, W. Melling, Senor Antonio, E. L. Hime, Mr. Badzey, Mr. Edwards, Mr. Bell, and Mr. Bernard; Messrs. T. Michigan, W. 1. Critthleld and E. Mackacy. Piano fort, Mr. Cecil Hicks ; harmonium, Master Williams ; Director, Ilerr F. Jonghmans. Commence at Scvon o'clock precisely. Snppers, des., until twelve o'clock. Mr. AUGUSTUS MAFIA)" will appear every Evening. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. TEE S DAT—Morn., 35 min. aft. 3 -Even., 51 min. aft. 3 To- ' , lc:111E0w —Morn., 8 min. aft. 4 --Even., 26 Ln:n aft 4 WEATHER—SuN OFFICE, FEBRUARY 16. InzaIiONETER, IN THE SHADE. 44—highest since noon yesterday. 40—lowest this morning and during the night. 0 —this day at noon. BAROMETER. 29.93. WISD, North-Easterly ; light and flue. xi , 4 LONDON, TUESDAY, FEB. 16, 1853, The debate on the Bill for tranaferring, from the Ear' India Company to the Crown the government of her Majesty's East India dominions has again been adjourned. It will be resumed, and we trust disposed of this evening. It is full time that the mag i question should be decided, namely, whether th e Double Government is to be retained, with all Its cumbrous machinery, or a new system is to be i n troduced more in acc or d ance with the spirit of th e age, and the wants and requirements of that incomp e t ent be show n important empire. It d oes not follow that in ord.3r to justify the change any charge should b e estr.blished, or even preferred against the Di rectors, or Court of Proprietors. They need n to be either indolent or apathetic, or corrupt. They may be actuated by the purest int-nticeas, and may have displayed ability, fidelity and zeal on every occasion. But still the question remains, are theirservices requisite, or even bene- EdA. l , do they in fact conduce to the welfare, pro4perity, and. happiness of either our English or Indian fellow subject,. This view of the subject has been completely ignored by the advocates of the Leadenhall-street Bo; rd. They a;e riding off on collateral issues, • anft putting forward elaborate defences to inliginary accusation. They assume that there illr t b e crave charges clearly and distinctly sub . s t a :fdated ci to justify the contemplated change. Ac ;ordingly we find Mr. WIIITESIDE the ablest opi,onent of the bill who spoke last night, direct ing all his energies to prove that there had been no “ffences either of commission or omission on the part of the company. The eminent advocate as usual, brilliant and effective, more espe cially in a matter which so (x..letly suits him as a clef , -.lnce. It was only to be regretted that his arguments were wholly beside the question, and that even if the Directors were " all his fancy , ainted them," the moat perfect of human beings, , only " wanting wings to be angels," it could not decide the point at issue. We confess we do not entertain quite so exalted an opinion of thee modern CRICEITONS, and shall, in case of need, be prepared to support our doubts. We refrain from doing so for the time being, on the simple ground that the matter is not a personal one, and that the contest is waged not against the men but the system. Lord PALMERSTON clearly foresaw the line of argument that would be adopted, and very judiciously cut the ground from under the feet of his opponents. In place of attacking he rather complimented the Directors. He did not utter a single word against either their morality or ability. He contented himself that their agency could only be detrimental to the interests of the country, which by a species of legal fiction, they were supposed to govern, that they were incapable of doing good, although potent for mischief, and that even under the most favourable circumstances, there must be inevitable delay and procrastination, and an almost total abuse of responsibility. Practically the government has been with the Crown. Her MAJESTY'S Ministers have been enabled to do nearly as they liked, but at the same time to avoid the responsibility that should have attended their policy. The directors might recall an efficient Governor-General, or otherwise a bril liant General, because he was not profuse in " lip service," and not prepared "to boo, and boo, and boo," to the satisfaction of those who retained but a semblance of sovereignty as shadow of their former power. But they could really do nothing except clog and impede the wheels of the State machine, and that when additional power was required rather than a self-acting break. Mr. ROEBUCK and Sir 11. RATTLINSON, the newly elected Member for Reigate, mails very able speeches in support of the measure. The great leaders, however, on both sides have reserved themselves for the last night, when the conflict will be more furious, and the impressions of the House will be manifested in the most unexcep tionable manner on the lobby that holds the majority of members. We have but little doubt as to the result. Indeed, as we have stated, our chief objection is that the measure does not go far enough—that there is no provision for an improved administration of justice—and that India will still remain, as it has so long been, for the almost exclusive benefit of the civil service. The Conspiracy Bill has not yet received the Legislative sanction ! The National Seal has not been affixed to this act of British degradation ! ' We earnestly hope that the people will yet bestir themselves, and that their chosen representatives may understand the full amount of responsibility they are incurring in voting against the will of their respective constituents. We have already explained how important is the alteration contem plated. It is not merely in the amount of punishment to the convicted criminal, but in the machinery that may be put in operation to detect the alleged guilt. This, as we proved on Saturday, may be made an instrument of oppression and annoyance, which will render the so-called right of sanctuary of comparatively little value, and enable any foreign power, not France merely, but Russia, Austria, or even Naples itself, to perse cute, through the assistance of the English Go vernment, any obnoxious refugee, until he is driven to seek shelter and protection across the Atlantic, where the only land of freedom will then be found—that is to say, of freedom for all who have not African blood in their veins ! Last night a very numerous meeting was held at the Freemasons' Tavern "to protest against the surrender of English liberties at the dictation :of a foreign Power," Many Members of Parliament whose presence in the House of Commons was required on the ad journed debate on the India Bill wrote letters ex pressive of their sympathy with the objects of the assembly. Mr. Joint BRIGHT hit the right nail on the head. While expressing anxiety to avoid causing any irritation between the people of this country and France, he showed that our own Go vernment was to be blamed for a total want of dignity in the matter, and from shrinking from their duty in not giving a proper and respectful, but firm reply to the French despatch. As the Honourable Gentleman truly declared, the mea sure could give no additional security to the Emperor, or to any other person, and can only be regarded as " a humiliating concession to a hasty and needless demand." We all know how earnestly the honourable gentleman deprecates any course that could lead to hostilities. He must therefore have felt tho roughly convinced that the line which he advocated would not only be perfectly safe, but that it would be best calculated to avert perils looming in the future from any quarter whatsoever. There was a sound truth contained in the bibernicism, that " the best way to avoid danger was to meet it full in the face." And everyday's experience proves that the men who are most jealous of their honour, and will tolerate no insult or imputation, are seldom if ever exposed thereto. We have already commented on the extraordi nary omission of the French Government, in omit ting to publish the explanatory despatch of Count WALEWSKI, expressing the regret of the Earr.sßoß at the insertion oftheobiectionableaddresses from the Bobadils of his army, in the Moniteur, • the medium through which the insult to EnOind was conveyed. This could scarcely be an " act of inadvertance," considering the manner in which the previous despatch of the Foreign Minister was forced on the public atten tion, being not only given by every journal, offi cial, and non-official—but posted in every the rougbfare, so that he " who runs might read." And surely it is time that the French people should learn that we have not yielded to the bland " invitation , " for further legislation, without having received an official expla nation of the insult inflicted on us by the truculent sabrears whom the Emperor delights to honour. We are glad to find that Mr. GRIFFITH 11 . 48 given notice of his intention to exhibit an interr ogatory to Lord PALMERSTON on this subject. It i s t o t h e fol l ow i ng e ff ec t : "Whether, since the l e tt er o f th e 6th o f F e b ruar y from the regret French A m b assador, expressing the of the EMPEROR for the publication of the addresses in th ofteitr, has not appeare d i n that paper in thesame way as its p re d ecessor of the 29th January, e fo , ti asking for redress, for the information of the French public, it be the inten • tuna of Government to French Goveriame su ggest to the nt, that its publication would, in th e i r op i nion publi, be conducive to the satisfactory termination 'of the transaction." It will not, of course, in the present condition of the French press, be noticed, unless the Emperor, knowing that the bill has not yet passed its second reading, should think proper to repair the gross act of negligence, and to caution the redactear o f the Moiriteto . not to be guilty of a third act of inadvertence. In Lord PALMERSTON'S Government composed of some sixty members, holding what are termed Parliamentary places, either in the public offices or j(exeepting the mere working law officers) that 26 aro held by Peers ; 20 by Peers' sons and sons-in-law ; 3by gentlemen closely connected by blood with the Peerage ; 12 by others, nine of whom perform the hard work of subordinate secretaries without any authority or patronage whatever ; and of the other three, one only is at the head of what may be fairly called a department. Such is the summary presented us of aristocracy in the Cabinet by the author of " Parliamentary Reform—What and Where," who in the time of the first reform discivsions was the author of another well-known pamphlet—" What will the Lords do ?" He seems to have kept his eye closely on the House of Lords, for the latter half of this present pamphlet is occupied with the question of Peerage Reform ; a reform which he thinks, pro bably justly, t.) bo as important as Representative Reform. As tho two houses must co-operate in the legislature, he insists on adjustment of the two to each other as no less important than the reform of the lower of the two. His object is to raise the sta tus of the House of Commons, and to improve, by reduction and other ;vise, the quality of the Upper House, and thus to bring both more into harmony with each other. The pamphlet indeed is chiefly interesting as handling the Reform question from lan important point of view—that of adjustment. It is but to glance at the quotation with which we began, to see definitely stated, what we all knew generally very well before, that the pro fessedly liberal and popular Ministry of Lord PAL MERSTON is overrun with aristocrats. Probably we have had none since the Reform Bill was passed, in which the peerage and their connecti .oas so pressed themselves into all the public employments worth having. Why is this ? Is it entirely the Premier's fault ? This, from mere prudential con siderations, is hardly likely. Lord PALMERSTON' would probably prefer to have a fair proportion of men of the people around him, if only to preserve appearances. But whatever his wishes may be, one reason why he must employ a large number of the lordly class is, that its number is become so large. "At the beginning of the last century we had 167 English peers; at the close of the reign of GEORGE 11., 175. We have now 393 ! In the first period of sixty years the peerage was increased by eight ; in the second period of 100 years a like proportion would have given an increase of 14 ; but instead of that the actual increase amounted to 215 1" The peerage was much more than doubled. The peers of different kinds now number 460, with a tendency to rapid increase ; indeed, we are told that we have now no less than 555 hereditary peers and peeresses in their right within the United Kingdom ; and that, too, while the number of members in the House of Commons is slightly diminished. When with this is coupled the fact that no property qualifica tion is required for the House of Lords, the increasing numbers and necessities of the aristo cracy are alone sufficient to account for the charac ter of the PALMERSTON Ministry. All will agree with the writer's remarks that " there are few greater evils than a faineante noblesse ; but it is hardly less an evil when the same body appropriate to themselves and their families nearly all Me great offices of the State, and press their children, on to the front rank in all its tuorking departments." This will certainly be the case if the peerage is suffered to be indefinitely increased, and a body so closely bound together by pride, family connections, and hereditary pri vileges, to become also a very large one. The remedies do not appear to be difficult to find, and as they would tend, most of them, to increase the value of a Peerage, there is no reason why they should not be acceptable to the House of Lords. Limitation of the number of each class of Peers is one of the most obvious restrictions ; enforce ment of a property qualification another ; and the departure from the original arrangements, by which the Scotch and Irish Peers have increased so largely, affords another means of reduction. The elective Peers for those parts of the United Kingdom aro now become a great abuse. They are practically two close peerage boroughs, furnishing 16 and 28 votes respectively to the patron. Our author is much more interested in increas ing the weight and dignity of the House of Com mons, than in popularising the constituency which returns it. He, indeed, from his point of view, regards larger constituencies chiefly as one mode of giving importance to our Representatives, He is therefore desirous that the 101. franchise should be lowered, and every arrangement made to include the educated and well informed classes, in order to give the House a firmer hold on the country, since he acknowledges that this has been one great advantage of the Act of 1832. He is also speci ally desirous that the public service, science, lite rature, and the press, should have easier access to the House, and that the presence of represen tatives of these classes would correct and fill up many defects. Hi 3 proposals for giving the House of Commons a "broader basis and a higher tone," are an exten sion of the suffrage to the competent classes ; in creasing the numbers in small constituencies, so far as to render them independent of dictation ; and transferring the franchise to larger constituencies when a constituency cannot be rendered indepen dent. ,To raiso the 1)50 of the House he proposes to check the aspirations of its Members to a peer age, and thus to fix their ambition to their own House ; not to exclude high legal and other autho rities who are above Ministerial and party control; to admit retired public servants without impeach ment of their pensions ; to form such Corporations or Societies into constituencies as would presum ably return men of eminence ; to associate our colonies in groups with the Imperial Legislature ; to thrown open to both Houses all appointments in the State and Court which are usually denomi nated Government offices ; to give Members of the House of Commons precedence over all othei Commoners ; and to abate the hunt after patro nage, through the steady carrying out under well-digested arrangements of free competition for all first appointments. Such aro some of the principal recommendations of a writer who certainly has a right to be beard ; one who compares the Reformed Parliament to great advantage with the old one, and who is desirious to advance in the same course, while pro viding that the House shall rise in importance. THE IRISH VICEROYALTY.—DUBLIN, Monday.— A meeting was held this day in Dublin, to oppose the abolition of the office of Viceroy. Lord Ilowth proposed the first resolution, to the effect that Mr. Roebuck's motion, coupled with Mr. Horsman's attack on the office of Viceroy, made it a duty on the part of the meeting to resist, by all constitutional means, a proposal t ao o d in p s t l e i d lt . the Irish people, and to compromise the inte rests of the Crown it se lf, Colonel Taylor seconded the resolution, whi c h, w ith o thers of a similar tenor, was - • weeks Inriimisz ABUNDANCE OF FISIT.—F or p fi l b s t en bteeiltomfinygo belonging a h r at o to f s a t a h nc e od b Teeshas rrrainn gos herrings. e ot n hae literally iorn ne e t occasionsoo mni some weeks B W ht i ah t i h e. lows near the ninth buoy, and the fish th.y took were so many that they could not draw it in again without bre%king Theo et. The men got into the water al.d lilted the firthnthe Coble by baskets full, and in a short time filled it as lull as it - could carry. They brought them to • it and sold the quantity to one mot at 21. a stone (14110. The shoal continues as abundant as at first, and several nobles n)rue in every d a y with upwards of one ton of fish, 'which are sold on the quay to persons from the inland towns at 30.4. boati( aJ, or lid. a stone ! Such an occurrence has not been l n iwn before in the memory of the oldest fishermen on the TeeB,—sundethula .Herald. Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent visited her Royal Highness the DucheSs of Cambridge, yesterday, at her reidence in St. James's Palace. His Excellency Rear-Admiral Van Dockum, the newl)-appointed Danish Minister at this Court, has taken a mansion, No. 7, Lowndes-square, at which place the business of the L7gation will 'in future be conducted. His Excellew.y Count Adolphe Dubsky (Lord Chamberlain to his Majesty the Emperor of Austria), accompanied by his brother, the Count Victo Dubsky, arrived at theßrunswick Hotel, St. James's, on Saturday from Vienna. B.xon and Baroness Stutterheim have left Fenton's Hotel for Germany. Sr C. R. Rushout, Bart., the Hon. Lady Rushout, Miss Rushout, and Miss Pamela Rushout, have left Fenton's Hotel for Seizincote, Gloucestershire. _ .e..„. Sir Paul and Lady Hunter have arrived at Claridge's Hotel, from Mortimer-hill, Berks. Mr. and the Hon. Mrs. Hami l ton Beckett have arrived at their new residence, 55 , Rutland-gate; Mr. Gurdon, M.P., and the Lion. Mrs. G or d on an d family, arrived at 19, Hill-street, last week, f or th e season. Mr. and Mrs. H. C. Ibbetteon have arrived at Fen. ton's Hotel. The Mayor of Manchester and the Mayor of Ashton-under-Lyne have arrived at the same estab- Itchrnent. DEATH OF ADMIRAL ARCHIBALD DUFF.—We regret to announce the death, at the mature age of 84, of this veteran naval officer, which took place at his house of Braemoriston, on the 19th inst. The deceased was the second son of Major A. Duff, and grandson of Mr. John attained on the fi D a u g ff r , a o n f k e i u n l n B . 10 H , a e n e d n t wasered p t l h a e c e n d a , v y a s as a a d m b i o r y a , l reserved list in 1855. In 1837, on the death of his bro. ther, Mr. J. Duff, he succeeded to the entailed estate of Drummuir, in the counties of Banff and Aberdeen. Soon afterwards he purchased part of the lands of Live rugie, in this county, on which he expended considerable sums in improvements, especially upon the harbour of ' Hopennan. In politics Admiral Duff was a stanch Con servative. In the management of his extensive landed pro perties he acted on the principle that the larger farmers are able to protect themselves, but that small ones should be fostered and encouraged ; and on few estates were cotters and small farmers more independent. Having lett no children he is succeeded in the family estate of Drummuir by his cousin, M , jor Lachlan Duff Gerien of Park, M.P. for Banffshire, and cousin to the Earl of Fife, who will assume the name of Duff, in terms of the deed of entail.—Ekin Courant. SURREY SESS'ONS.—Yesterday morning the Clerk of the Peace (Mr. Greig) read a letter, addressed to the Court by J. W. Freshfield, 'expressing Lis wish to retire from the chairmanship of the Reigate Sessions, owing to increasing infirmities, which chiefly consisted of deafness, requesting at the same time that the Bench would, at the next Quarter Sessions, proceed to elect a gentleman as hip successor. LEVIATHAN EXCURSIONS.—The railway companies announced excursion train 3 to start on Saturday last from Mar chester and Liverpool, "to see the Leviathan efloal at 12s. 6d. first class, and 7s. 6d. in covered carriages, there and back, allowing four days in the metropolis. The remit was a monster train by the London and North Western Railway from Liverpool, drawn by three engines, and conveying from 2,000 to 3,000 passengers. Another train by the Groat Northern route conveyed 260. From Manchester, the Great Northern train conveyed 500 passengers, and there was also a heavy train by the London and North Western, the number of passengers by which cannot be exactly stated, but it is supposed by the officers to have been upwards of 500. THE SPEAKER.—The Right Hon. the Speaker of the House of Cornmeal gave his first Parliamentary full dress dinner this year, at his house in Carlton House terrace, on Saturday evening, The following bad the honour to receive invitations :—Viscount Palmerston, Sir George Grey, the Chancellor of the Exehequer, Sir C. Wood, Right Hon. Henry Labouchere, Right Hon. M. T. Baines, Right Hon. R. Vernon Smith, Viscount Castlerosse, - Viscount Duncan, Lord Ernest Bruce, Lord Alfred Paget, Right Hon. W. F. Cowper, the Judge Advocate-General, Right Hon. E. P. Bouverie, Right Hon. Henry Fitzroy, Right Hon. Sir B. Hall, Right Hon, Robert Lowe, Right Hon. H. A. Herbert, Right Hon. W. G. Hayter, Hon. Henry Brand, Sir John Ramsden, the Attorney-General, the Solicitor-General, the Attorney-General for Ireland, the Lord-Advocate, Mr. Massey, Mr. James Wilson, Mr. C. Fortescue, Mr. Osborne, Mr. R. W. Grey, Mr. Denby Seymour, Mr. F. G. Baring ; Hon. George Waldegrave, secretary ; Rev. Henry Drury, chaplain. ATTEMPTED MURDER IN PRESTON GAOL BY A PRISONER CHARGED WITH PARRICIDE.—it will be remembered that Tenomas Kershaw, 19 years of age, a factory optative, was on the 15th nit. committed for trial at the Lancaster assizes on a charge of having murdered his father on the 13th ult., at Over Darwen, by striking him on the bead with a poker. After committal he was removed to the gaol at Preston to await his trial, and was confined in one of the hospital wards, two orderlies, named Collins and Garner (also prisoners) being appointed to watch him alternately. It seems that he has made some state ments to Cedins about the murder, which Collins has written down and given to Colonel Martin, the governor. He told Collins on the Bth inst. that he intended to aot mad bebre the assizes." He has mince charged Collins with telling tales of him, and threatened to use the poker and tongs against him. On Friday morning Col.ine was sitting by his bedside, reading the Testament, when prisoner got out of bed and struc him on the head with an iron fire-shovel. Collins was knocked do wninsemible, and dreadfully injured. Other men ran in and seized Kershaw, who only said, " I may as well be hung for two murders as for one." The mat ter was investigated by the visiting justices on Saturday, and he was committed on this additional charge. ESCAPE FROM HEREFORD COUNTY GAOL. —Shortly after 8 o'clock on Friday morning, an official in the gaol rep irted to Captain Glinn, the governor, that Thomas Davis, a prisoner who was committed for trial to the next aSSin ,, , for housebreaking at Little Hereford, was miss ing. It was found that the prisoner had removed a large lock from the door, and wrenched it off; the top plate of this lock has not yet been found. He also wrenched off a heavy bolt, and seems to have picked a large padlock, removing the t o p plate by means which have baffled all scrutiny to as certain. A bag, composed t i h n e g y en were e u re s manner. of strong twine network, is p laced i n each cell, and in this the prisoner every night deposits his cloth es , w hi c h are removed from the cell , a nd restor ed at 6 o'clock in the morning. In this case , the p risoner, on receiving his clothes a placed, must hive atonce et He formed a ladder of the net -work o f the bag, and pro vided steps for his feet by breaking up his wooden trencher into steps. He must then have f orce d t h e locks and made his way to the ou ter wall, w hich he succeeded ud the s r t e o t work inwh in ic an h in climbing by the aid of his rope ladder of novel con struction, and got clear away before his escape became known. A description of the fugitive, and a reward is offered for his apprehension ; but no tidings of him can be ascertained. Since his escape a robbery has been committed at a house in the direction in which it is sup posed he has gone ; and, from the fact that wearing apparel was the booty of the robbery, it is deemed to be more than probable the prisoner was the perpetrator, in older to change h's attire.— alocester Journal. THE ADMINISTRATION OF INDIA. -- yesterday was pub• lished a copy of a memorandum (prepared at the India house) of the improvements in the administration of India during the la , t 30 years. The statement is ushered?, in by a prefatory notice, to the effect that at this thee, w h e n a calamity unexeenpled in the history of India has excited an unusual amount of interest in' Indian affairs, while the statements publicly made and the opinions expressed coucernieg the Geveroment of India strikingly manifest the deficiency of correct infor mation on the subject, u brief survey of the principal measures which have of late been adopted for improving the internal government of the country and the physical and mental condition of its inhabitants, may be ser viceable in removing false impressions and in supplying materials for a deliberate judgment. It is thought proper, considering the very recent period at which the charter was renewed (1853), to "trace the stream of Indian improvement from a point much higher up in its couree. ' The memorandum refers to the connection of the revenue system with the rights, &c., of the people, to the permanent settlement of Lower Beugal, the pre sent improvements in that Presidency, the ryotwar system in Madras, the ryotwar reform inTornbay, the settlement of the North-Weet provinces, the fiscal system of India, the land revenue, the opium and salt monopo lies, Customs, the post-office, judicature and legislation, police and prisons, 'nugget> and Dacoit suppression, piracy, Suttee, witchcraft, Tragga, Aferiah eacriaces, slavery, the remarriage of widows, public works and railroads, education, the cultivation of tea, and the im provement of native States. The whole forms a Parlia mentary pamphlet of nearly 40 pages. DREADFUL FIRE.—Tbe Carlow Post of Saturday con tains the following :--" On Thursday morning last, at about five o'clock, a fire broke out in the clothes store of Athy Workhouse, and the contents being of an in flammable nature the flames qu i c kly spread to an adjoining dormitory, in w hi c h there were about 13 children sleeping. This room also caught fire ; all the children escaped, except three, who, melancholy to relate, were burnt to ashes. The schoolmaster made several attempts to rescue the unfortunate children, but in vain, for the filmes had spread to such an extent that it was impossible to obtain access to the room. Subsequently the heated vapour coming from the burning building extended to a dormitory occupied by 12 men, seven of whom, on hearing of the fire, immediately got out of bed, dressed themselves and quitted the room ; but the other five, not being able to escape, such was the powerful influence the smoke had or them, remained, and were suffocated. A circumstance connected with the Buff). cation of these men deserves to be related. There were two brothers sleeping in ose bed. On the alarm reach ing them one awoke the other, and told him to get up as quickly as he could, that the house was on fire ; but the unfortunate man was sc much overpowered from the effects of the smoke ttat he was unable to move, and was afterwards with the other four men, suffo cated. The fire was first discovered by the cook, who immediately informed the master, Mr. Tracey, and ho at once proceedee to unlock all the dormi tories, in order to allow the inmates to escape, which, when dune, he despatched a messenger to the police barrack for a fire-engine ; he also ordered the alarm ben to be rung. In a short time the fire-engine al rived, and was worked most efficiently by the police and a number of civilians, who rendered very great assistance in ex tinguishing the fire, which was completely done before 8 o'clock. The amount of property destroyed is esti mated at between 3001. and 4001. The building is fully insured in the Sun Insurer:, e Company. An iequest was held on the bodice yesterday (Fridhj), the reenit of which we have not yet heaid. Ou tut:; &lay (laiturday) the commissioners' inquiry will be held to examine into the particulars of the case. How the fire originated is not known ; when the inquest is held all the circum stances connected with the tragic occurrence will appear," THE SeN LONDON, TUESDAY EVENI NG, FEBRUARY 16, 18581 AMERICA. ARRIVAL OF THE STEAM-SHIP EUROPA. LIVERPOOL, MONDAY. The British and North American Royal Mail steamship Europa arrived at this port at noon to day from New York, with the weekly United States mails. She has brought 33 passengers, 2,225,981 doll. in specie on freight, the usuaCmails, and ad vices from New York to the 3d inst. She paned the steamer America of the same line at 1.30 p.m. on the 14th, which left this port on Saturday for New York. The New York Journal of Commerce says that it is understood the Government has declined to entertain any negotiations for a renewal of the mail contract, which expires in June, with the Collins' line of steamers, and an cfficer in the ser vice of the company went out in the Baltic, on the 16th ult., to see what could be done towards effect ing a sale of the vessels in Europe. Report says that the losses of the company have used up their available means, and that their bankers, Messrs. Brown Brothers and Co., have declined to make further advances withuut additional security. The War Department has received despatches from the Utah expedition, but the character of the news has not yet transpired. It is reported that General Scott will leave for California on the 20th of next month. Late advices have been received from the Utah expedition at Weston, by the arrival there of Mr. Davidson, who left the army on the 14th. The health of the troops was good, and they were as comfortable as circumstances permitted. There was no snow to the east of Fort Laramie, and grass and buffalo were abundant. A salt train from Fort Laramie was met by Mr. Davidson on its way to the camp. Nothing had been heard from Captain Marcy. Additional advices from the Utah army state that as soon as CAptain Marcy arrives from New Mexico, which will probably be about the middle of April, an attempt will be made by Colonel Johnston to enter Salt Lake City. The Indians on the Pacific have been somewhat excited by the news of the destruction of the Government stores, but as yet have made no hostile demonstrations. The friends of General Walker held a meeting at Mobile on the Ist inst., at which the General was present. He gives as a reason for the opposi tion to his schemes, that he had rejected overtures from the Government to go to Mexico and incite rebellion there, with a view of Mexico falling into the hands of the United States. The Grand Jury at New Orleans have refused to find a bill against Walker. A le t ter from. Havana says that the slave schooner which drove off the bolts of a Spanish man-of-war, when endeavouring to capture her, killing two men in the boats sent to board her, landed her cargo to the west of Havana—officers and crew safely housed in that city, ready again for action. COMMERCIAL. NEW . YORK, FEB, 3. The stock market has boen moderately inactive, with de clining prices. The quotations of most of the railroad bonds and stocks were fully up to their intrinsic values. In ezchange there had been considerable business for the Europa in sterling and French bills, prices closing very firm. New bills on London were quoted 91 to 10h per cent. ; France, sf. 164 c. to sf. 120. ; Antwerp, sf. 17.10. to sf. 15o.; lamburgh, 37i to 371. Cotton—The New York Shipping List reports, on the 3d, that the cotton-market remained firm, with a fair demand. Sales, 6,000 bales. The crop estimates from the South re main unchanged, and 3,00Q000 bales seem to be regarded as a maximum. Breadstuffs—There was a continued dull market for state and western flour, with a decline of sc. to 10c. on the medium and low grades. Freights—There was literally no change in the freight market., and the business continued moderate. NEW ORLEANS, FEB. 2. The cotton market is slightly dearer. Sales to-day 12,000 bales, at 10c. to Die. for middling. ' THE INDIAN MAILS. The following telegram has been received from the Peninsular and Oriental Company's agent at Malta : " The Vectis, with the homeward Bombay mail, left here for Marseilles on the 14th at 10 a. 113. " The Valetta arrived from Marseilles on the 14th at 7 and sailed for Alexandria at 10 a.m. _ _ " The Para, from Southampton, arrived on the 15th at 10 a.m., having experienced strong head winds. She leaves at 4 p.m. for Alexandria. THE THEATi‘ES. LYCEUM. Mr. Roberts, the American tragedian, who made his debut last season at 'Miry Lane, is engaged at this house, and played Othello last night in the presence of a numerous audience—Mr. C. Dil'on taking the part 'of lago, and Mrs. C. Di►lon that of Desdkimona. Miss Helen Faucit is engaged for a few nights, and will appear on Thursday as Lady Macottn. ADELPHI. The hiatus valde defleitdus created at this theatre by the absence, on a tour in the provinces, of Madame Celeste, Mr. B. Webster, Mr. Wright, and Mr. Paul Bedford, has been in some mea=ura filled up by the engagement of Mr. and Mrs. Barney Williams, who mane their first appearance this season last night, and experienced the cordial reception which never fads to await them at the bands of the Adelphi audience. A little piece entitled " Yankee Courtship ; or, Away Down East," was produced in the course of the evening, and provoked volleys of laughter. It is ambitiously called " a new and original comic drama," but it is, in fact, a farce of the genus " roaring" and bad it been so styled it would have luny justified the designation, for it is instinct with fanta , tic drollery, and the humour is of the broadest and most extravagant. A married Englishman is on his travels in America, and being put to his wit's end to replenish his exhausted exchequer, hits on the not very creclL able expedient of making love to a wealthy spinster, who is silly enough to gire ear to his suit, Toe mirth centres in Mrs. B. Williams, who, fathoming his nefari ous design, betrays him into a series of the moet ludicrous dilemmas, which fortunately result in his restoration to the embraces of his injured wife and four disconsolate children. Serious criticism on such a trifle is out of the question. It will suffice to say that the farce abounds in wild, uproarious fon, and that one continual shout of laughter attests the satisfaction of the audience. Mr. and Mrs. Williams are understood to be the authors. LLOYD'S SHIPPING.—(This Day.) LONDON, Feb. 16.—Wind this day at noon, N.; strong breeze sad PORTSMOUTH, Fob. 15.—Wind E., foggy.—Arrived— Methada, from Callao. NEWPORT, Feb. 15.—Wind N.E. — Arrived—Corbrere, from Jersey for Buenos Ayres. SWANSEA, Feb. 15. —Wind E.—Sailed—Africana, for Gibraltar. HULL, Feb. 16.—Wind N. — Sailed—Serperet, for St. Michael's. 0mm....... •Piqg (BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.) SOUTHAMPTON, Tuesday Morning. Wind N. Arrived—Wonder, steamer, from Jersey; La Poule, Cherbourg ; Alliance, steamer, Havre. Sailed —Express, steamer, for Jersey; Havre, steamer, Havre. LIVERPOOL, Tuesday Morning. Wind N. N. W. Arrived Mentor, front Cronstadt ; Felix, Nantes; Corrido, Mecillo•nes ; Sea Witch, China and Dublin. CORK, Fob. 12. The large vessel reported as having, with sugar, Ex., struck ou the rocks of Ballycotton, proves to be the Cathe rine and Isabella, from Cardiff and Now Ross• (BY BUB3IARINE AND BRITISH TELEGRAPH.) GRAVESEND, Tuesday Morning. Wind W.N.W., tide Oi - i - e -- 1 - lour's flood, weather fine. No arrivals.. Sailed —Seine, ;9.), for Boulogns ; Belgium, 06tend ; Wabush, Boston. I)sAL, Tuesday Morning. Wind, N.N.W., moderate. Passed, Feb. 15.—Hopewell, for St. Helena ; Storm Nymph, Malta; Jonadab, San Juan—all from London. Anchored—Bonita, from Terceira, for orders ; West Indian, from Demerara, for Loudon. tow-- ,St. ot.n ga, flout thc we,stward, Londe+ n. HUM MONUAINNT. - • --71, bithwriberi for L mono tneut at Alootrobe to Liao late Mr. Joseph Hume i 3 about 500/. It was resolved that Mr. Calder Marshall should be erophyed to execute a freestone statue and pedestal, the figure to be nine feet in height, LATEST NEWS. PARIS, FEB. 16. The Duke de Montebello has been appointed Ambassador of France at St. Petersburg. FRANCE. PARIS, MONDAY EVENING. The Emperor and Empress yesterday gave a pri vate audience to Lord Cowley, who presented a letter from Queen Victoria notifying to their Ma jesties the marriage of the Princess Royal of Eng land to Prince Frederick William of Prussia. Afterwards, Kaider Effendi, charge d'affaires of Turkey during the absence of Mehemed Djemil Bey, had the honour of being presented to their Majesties ; as had, also, M. Bornemaun, charge d'affaires of Mecklenburg-Str&litz. The trial of Orsini and his accomplices is re ported to be postponed to the end of the present month, in order to allow time for the translation into French, by sworn interpreters, of a great num ber of documents in the English and Italian lan guage?. Marshal Pelissier is expected in a few days to be appointed Governor of Paris, a post which existed under the first Empire. The Minister of War seems to be thrown into the shads by all these changes. M. de Persigny arrived here from Lender' on Saturday night. As invariably happens when this gentleman visits Paris, rumours have got afloat of the retirement of one or two of the Ministers ; gene rally one of them is the Minister of the Interior, but the Minister of Foreign Affairs is invariably the second. Whether or not such a step as the retire ment of M. Walewski from office is really contem plated, the presence of the French Ambassadorat this moment is, perhaps, something more than a mere complimentary visit. M. de Persigny will have an opportunity—and there is little doubt he will avaq himself of it—frankly and uninisiakingly, as is his wont, to explain the bad effect produced in England by M. de Morny's address and those of some of the regiments. In consequence of a recent arrangement between Russia and the Porte six new Consular appoint ments will, it is said, be made in the Ot:oman empire. The Indian news which has reached Paris, dated Bombay, January 23, says :—" The flying columns which are scouring the country are restoring or der and tranquillity everywhere. They bad but a few unimportant engagements with the enemy." By order of the Minister of Finance, the interest on Treasury Bonds is fixed as follows from this day :-3i per cent. for bills from three to five months' date, 4 from six to eleven months, and 4i for those of twelve months. The Moniteur publishes a list of names of per sons who have been authorised to wear foreign decorations. Among them are the Marquis de Moustier, French Minister at Berlin, for the order of the Red Eagle of Prussia, Ist class ; M. Rce derer, secretary of legation at Darmstadt, that of Knight of the Belgian Order of Leopold ; M. do Morny, director of the Ministry of Agriculture, that of Commander of the Danish Order of Dane brog. _ _ _ BOURSE, FEB. 15. —No twithstanding the change in the interest on Treasury Bonds, and a rise of in the English Consols, the market at first declined to 69fr. 75c. and 69fr. 700., but afterwards rallied to 69fr. 85i. and 69fr. 900. The following were the last quotations , 4 per Cents 94 70 Do. end month — - 3 per Cent. . .... Do. end month 69 70 Bank Shares'. Credit Foncier Belgian 4,1 Piedmontese (5) Roman BBi Austrian Spanish Threes Home Debt • 37,1 Credit3lobilier ". 91) :7 Do. Account 917 50 RAIL Orleans 97 Northern New Ditto ii 805 Lyon and Mediteran. 870 New Ditto .. 830 Geneva Midi Western 6914 Strasburg Grand Central Sardinian Austrian THE DANUBE. A letter from Vienna, in the Independence of Brussels, says : " The Porte has sent a new circular note, under date of the 26th ult., on the subject of the treaty of navigation of the Danube. Taking no notice of the controversy of which the said treaty has been the object, the note commences by an historical explanation relative to the two commissions ap• pointed to regulate the navigation of that river, and then comes an analysis of the question as connected with the prescriptions of the treaty of Paris. The object of the reasoning is to assimilate the Danube to the other rivers which flow through and separate several States, such as the Weser, the Elbe, the Scheldt, and the Rhine. It is on these grounds that the Turkish Cabinet founds its opinion that the congress of Paris has not merely the right but is under the obligation to examine the treaty in question, in order to ascertain whether that assimilation has taken place or not. As to the riverain states, the note states that the proof of that assimilation is incumbent on them, and that if it does not appear in the treaty which they signed, the conventions of it must be modified by an additional article. This note, therefore, lays down a dilemma which it is difficult to solve—either the assimilation of the Danube to the other rivers has been established by the treaty concluded be tween the riverain states, and in that case the con ference of Paris is bound to verifythat assimilation ; or it has not been so established, and the riverain states must then conform to such modifications as may be necessary to effect that object. • This is putting the question in a new point of view, and the clearness and force of the arguments brought forward appear of a nature to facilitate a final understanding." THE PRINCIPALITIES. " The reports of the members of the international commission of Bucharest," says a Vienna letter in the Cologne Gazette, " are looked for with con siderable anxiety. It is affirmed that the French Commissioner has proposed a constitutional form of goliernment, and that Russia, Prussia, and Sar dinia approve of his views. On the contrary, Austria and the Porte are of opinion that the con stitutional form should not be insisted on. Eng land is said to admit the French views, but with some ;modifications. Opinions differ likewise on the point of hereditary right for the Prince at the head of the Government. Persons who are well informed think that in the end a Hospodar for life will be decided on." SPAIN. The Madrid journals of the 10th contain no political news of importance. In the Congress, the Minister of the Interior had presented bills relative to the administration of provincial councils and on the atributions of governors of provinces. The workmen employed in the works at Torrelo done, in the first section of the Northern Railway, had cre :tea some disturbances, but the Civil Go vernor of the district had repressed them. The cause of them is not stated. The death of Lieut.-General Count de San Antonio from au attack of apoplexy, just as ho was about to go out for a walk, is an flounced. A Russian colonel cf engineers, of the name of Kwitz, was occupied in exarniEng the plans and documents of the War Department, and in visiting the military schools and establishments. A royal decree in the Gazette authorises the Duke de Montpunsier, iu consequence of his promotion to the grade of captain-general in the army, to have three aides-de-camp. The Barcelona journals contain accounts of some disturbances at Blanes, in Catalonia. A band of insurgents on the Gth invaded the town, and possessed them selves of the Timn-Call ; the municipality resigned and a new one was established. A conflict then took place (it is not said between whom) and four men were killed—several wounded. The military commander of Girona, on hearing what had occur red, hastened to Blanes with troops, but found all calm. The Captain -General of Catalonia, on his part, despatched three columns by railway, but on arriving they found there was nothing for them to do. A body of troops was, however, ordered to remain iu the place. At Armontera there had been a conflict, in which two men were killed and several wounded. The object of the disturbances is not stated, neither is it said what was the cry of the insurgents. A letter from Ragusa of the Pith, in the Nord of Biussels says " Accoun ts received to-?ay from Montenegro announce that the Turks have resumed hostilities, and that some troops from the garrison of Podeoritza have marched to Pqaersk, in the valley of the Morocco. On the 30th ult. the Turks left the fortress with three pieces of artill ry, and followed the banks of the Moracca as tar as the Moeteuegria frorrjer, which they crossed. At the momeet when they were about to retur❑ to tle Turkish territory, driving before them a quantity of sheep and Oxen which they had taken possession of, the Montenegrins attacked them, and a desperate conflict took place, in which several of the Montenegrins were killed, the Turks also leaving a oloo!•er of killed and wounded en the field. Vele gov&romeut of INlontedeg,ro sent infermation of tie occurrence to the Pecha of Scufar;, aid detnaeded the prompt chastisement of these marauders. Up to the present time the Pacha has not given any reply, and fresh disasters will certainly occur if the Montenegrins are compelled to take the law into their UWA hands Prince Danilo is said to have adopted the most severe measures to maintain order on the frontier." Advices from Vienna say :—" The question of the Danube Navigation Act appears on the point of settlemunt. The prk sent document will remain as it is, but the riverain powers have declared themselves ready to add additional clauses con tsining the extensions demanded in Paris and London." In the Second Chamber of Prussia on Saturday, M. Bardelcben gave notice of a motion for regu lating the circumspection of electoral districts for the el , ction of membf , is of the Gmmber ; and M. de Gerlach, of onefor fixinc.; the duration of each parliament at 6 year& TFai Chamber subse quently approved of the treaty of commerce with Persia. Accounts from the Hague state that in the sitting of the Second Chamber on the 11th three bills were presented ; the first having for object the regulation of the general accounts ; the second, relating to the composition and labours of the general office for accounts ; and the third, concern ing the financial responsibility of ministers. 'AYS. LITERATURE. Margaret Hamilton. By Mrs. S. C. Newby. 3 vols. Bentley. We meet with a most pleasing story in these volumes, there is nothing very romantic in their details, nor extraordinary in their progresS, but the attention of the reader is attracted, and the inte rest kept up till the end, although it is a mournful fact that the position of the Hamiltons is " the tale the truth of every day," it is one replete with incidents that may serve to illustrate the pages et fiction. The parents are only mediocre sort of in dividuals, the father becoming desponding and the mother garrulous under thee. troubles ; the young girls of the family are nothing particular,.but it is in the two elder members of the household that the interest centres,, Mark and Margaret. This brother and sister were congenial spirits, they could not be together as he had to reside in chambers, being a lawyer just commencing his arduous avocations, bat when they did meet it was a delight to both. Margaret ex perienced the trial so hard to he borne by the young and enthusiastic, that of feeling her ardour extin guished, and her energies damped by the over whelming force of circumstances, and the chilling blasts of poverty. She was not destitute of that better hope, and brighter knowledge which whis pers consolation to the wounded spirit, and assures the upright mind that those never work in vain who make others their first object, and endeavour to see good in all that may occur. However sweet and sustaining it was to the afflicted heroine to feel that she was actuated by a purer motive than self-indulgence, and was struggling for a nobler end than self-aggrandisement, failure was bitter all the same. It was not the want they were some times reduced to, the daily annoyances, and petty mortifications which those who have come down in the world feel tenfold more than those born and bred in indigence, but it was the sharpest sting of poverty to find it effected a change in more than the bodily feelings, that it corroded the mental and moral qualities. When her sister Alice made an unsuitable marriage to one she did not like, ou the plea of her own home being so bad any change must be for the better, when her mother became a perfect torment to herself and an inflic tion to all around her, ruining every faint chance of amusement, and doubling every annoyance by her moroseness and unhappy manner ; above all, when her father, led on from trouble to impru dence, at last stooped to guilt, no wonder that then even the high spirit quailed, and the trusting heart was in despair. Margaret quickly roused herself and met the emergency. She contrived to screen her father from open proof, though flying rumours were circulated of a dark story. She was hardly more fortunate abroad than at home, for, when she went to visit her aunt, at Hastings, hoping that a change of air and scene would renew her faded strength and revive her drooping spirits, she met with new troubles. Mrs. Daventry, or " Aunt Anne," as she was always styled, was very good-natured, but nothing more ; and, therefore, though considei ably wealthier, she could be of no essential service to her brother's family. At her house, Margaret renewed her ac quaintance with Mr. Travers, a gentleman whose mental gilts and moral excellence rendered him peculiarly the object of Margaret's attention Aunt Anne threw an evil spell over their intercourse by intsrtneddling, and the consequence was her niece's hasty departure from the spot, and the abrupt tet mination of their summer pleasures. Made had meanwhile had his d.fficulties to en counter, and his spirited defence of his old serv ant Jasper, who was falsely accused• of theft, is well described as the turning point of his career. From thence it might be steep and arduous, but never more hopeless, as the first part of the ascent had appeared to himself, and indeed to others also. Some diver3ion is ingeniously con trived to the narrative by the courtship of Richard Daventry and Julia Anstruther. It is satisfactory to find the deceiver unmasked at length, the more so as, with all his faults, the idolised son of poor Aunt Anne was really deserving of abetter fate than could have been his when once united to such a woman as Julia proved herself to be. Kate Lynd hurst is an agreeable girl, and.one whose lively disposition and buoyant spirit were well calculated to prove a blessing to Mark, so engrossed in ab struse studies, and so further depressed by care within and early acquaintance with some of life's sternest realities. Mr. Travers fulfils the promise he held out of being a genuine character, by seeking out Margaret in her obscure home and offering her a far fairer prospect. The best natures are those which endure trouble as a refiner's fire, and come out purified and softened ; and such were Margaret and her brother, whose fortunes have afforded us a pleasing study, and whose virtues, while not in c impatible with humanity, are of that exalted order which forms its most glorious crown. NEW MUSIC. The Maiden's Reply. Ballad. Written by John Ellison, Esq. Composed by M. Enderssohn. Joseph Williams, Cheapside. A most beautiful ballad, of which the arch little story is charmingly interpreted by the composer, the melody being no less original than "catching." We have no hesitation in pronouncing our verdict that it is destined to a very long c ireer of popu larity, both in the concert-room and in private "circles. MARKET NEWS.—;TIus Day.) HAY MARKETS. f l 73irrariELD.—Meadow hay, 2/ lOs to 3115 e; G lover, 3/ be to 1/ 153; and straw, 1/ 4s to 1/ 83 per laid• A moderate supply and a slow trade. CUMBERLAND. —9l , sadow hay, 2/ 103 to 41 Os; clover, 31 103 to 11 15s; and straw, 1/ 4s to 11 9a per load. A dull inquiry. WHITZCHAPHL.—Meadow hay, 2/ lOs to 3/ 15s; clover 3/ 10s to 4/ 15s ; and straw, A/ 4s to 11 8s per load. A fair average supply, and a heavy demand. COLONIAL. TEA.--A very small amount of business has been - acted, and little change has taken place in prices. Corn mon congou is quoted 13d per lb. SUGAR. ---The market continues steady, although there is an absence of any active demand. The finer qualities sop' port previous rates; but other descriptions are rather cheaper. In the Refined market there is a fair amount of business doing, and full rates are current for dried goods. Good and fine pieces realise 45s 61 to 47s 6d, and ♦ery fine 48s 6d par cwt. COFFEE.—There is very little enquiry for any description and not the slightest change can be reported in prices. COCOA.—For good aunt fine qualities there is a fair en quiry, but coinwou kinds are less sought after. Fully late rates wera maintained for the better descriptions. RICE.—A rather large speculative business has beeu re ported, and prices have improved about 3d. per cwt. LI elders exhibit increased firmness. Rum.—The market remains very dull, and the few inlet reported have bun at about former quotations. SALTPETRE—A rather active business has been trolv acted in the inferior descriptions, but prices have been de pressed. - INDIGO- -The Public Sale, which commenced on the 9 th inst., was concluded yesterday. The total quantity de olare€l was 9,018 chests, of which 1,813 were sold, 2,0 68 bought in, and 5,037 withdrawn. Cempared with the prices "current in October last, fine Bengal declined 6d to. 9d; middling and Oudeo, 10d to le. 2d; Kurpahe, 9d; and Madras, 3•1 to 6d per lb. TALLOW—There is not much business, but prices remit* steady. P.Y.C., on the spot, 5/ 3 6d, 52s 9d; l aarc 52s 6d, 52s 91 : April to June, 62s 6d; and town tallow, 51s 6d per owl. COAL MARE Prices of Coals per ton al s. Davison's West Hartley 14 3 Holmside Gas ll ti Bates's West Hartley l3 6 Carr's Hartley . 14 3 Longridge Wst Hartley 14 3 Bebside's Hartley 14 3 Walleend, &e. 81.-FEB. 15. the close of the market Wallaend, au, P. d. Riddell l4 6 Eden ,16 3 Cassop 17 6 Framwellgate l6 3 Eraddyll 3 2 Hough Hall 1 6 Cowpen Hartley l4 Northumberland l4 u tietton l9 g SouthHatton 18 g itowart's lB Lambton 18 6 , 59—Sold, 50. Acorn Close l6 3 Kolloe 17 6 Russell's Hatton 17 6 Hartlepool l7 Trimdon • l7 9 Ships at market, HOUSE Or LORDS, Feb. 15. CROFT v. LUMLEY. -- THE OPERA-HOUSE.—This was a writ of error from the Court of Exchequer Chamber affirming a decree of the Court of Queen's Bench. The matter came before the latter court in an action of ejectment brought to recover possession of the Opera-house in the Haymarket, under a proviso in the lease for re-entry on the ground of for' feiture. At the trial a verdict for the plaintiff was taken by consent, subject to a special case, which raised two questions, first, whether the lease had been forfeited ; and, secondly, whether there had been any waiver of the right of re-entry. A majority of the learned judge," were of opinion that there had been no forfeiture, 9• 11 ' that if there had been there bad been also a waiver. LAW AMENDMENT SOCIETY.—Last night the us ual bi-monthly meeting of the Law Amendment society w as held at their rooms, Waterloo-place—Lord Brongballt in the chair. Mr. Edgar brought up the report aa . committee appointed to consider the subject of peofefi_ sional remuneration. This report insisted upon thu principle that the remuneration of professional labour was a matter to be settled between the employer and the employed, so that they regarded the present system , imposing charges upon a fixed sale of costs as entireq opposed to this principle. They also maintained that , in settling the amount of remuneration for legal wig'', vices, consideration should be given to any specl* . agreement which may have been entered into by 4: 3 ?° r eading p parties.. A short discussion followed the of this pup,,r resptet t:, the comparative “tell t , ll % law cnatges in England and iuScutkand respect t 4 roan ot)Cai , leg of judgment upon a bill of exchange, e .. winch it appeared that in Scotland the oest, 4 2 1 1, 2 fourth what it is in England. The report was ordered to be printed and circulated among the men 3 b, for future consideration, and the proceee in the usual manner. gsltervainave th