The Sun. — London, England, 1846-06-08 00:00:00

HER MAJESTY'S BIRTH-DAY. GRAND INSPECTION OF TROOPS. To-morrow being set apart for the celebration of the natal day of her Majesty, there will be, according to custom, a parade inspection of troops on the parade-ground, Horse Guards; and should the weather continue propitious, the aPectacle on this occasion will certainly exceed those of many Years back in point of military grandeur, it being confidently expected that his Excellency Ibrahim Pacha will honour the ground with his presence; but this will, of course, depend orders on the. illustrious foreigner's present arrangements. orders have been issued for an assemblage of the troops at half-past nine o'clock. They will comprise the flank com panies of the battalions of the household troops in London, chiding two, or perhaps more, troops of the Life and Horse Guards, and the companies for public duty, making in all Pearly 1,400, which, however, will also comprise those keep leg the ground. On the Commander-in-Chief arriving, he 'Will receive the Field-Marshal's salute, and his Royal High ness Prince Albert, in addition, that usually given to mem bers of the Roval Family. The cavalcade will likewise con etst of the Adjutant-General, Quartermaster-General, the a ides-de-camp to the Commander-in-Chief, the commanding. officers of each battalion, and a host of general officers. A li ne Will of course be formed all round. SPORTING. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. • sit,—The racing at Manchester has borne out my predic tion pretty nearly to the letter. I named the winners of five stakes, the first and second in two instances—tolerable suc cess for one meeting. Now for the aristocratic gathering on Ascot -heath, which commences to-morrow. The bill of fare is better this year than it ever was before, a very good stake being added by the Great Western Railway directors. The h igh-mettled racers there, en route, or going, amount to the 'very large number of 140, or thereabouts. So we may reason .ll3, expect to have four days good sport on the dusty Heath. n Tuesday the First Class Ascot Stakes will have either six or seven starters. The Marquis of Conyngham or In heritress for my cash. The Second Class Ascot Stakes, I opine, will go to Lord Salto or Jenny Wren, seven starting. The Queen's Vase, I fancy, will go to the Peri colt or Wood Pi geon—Grimston cannot get the distance, and Wolfdog will not start. The Ascot Derby Stakes seem made for Joy or St. Demetri. The 100 sovs. Stakes will furnish a field of third-rates, six iu number, with Binnacle for winner, Eclat and Crown Prince second and third. The 50 soya Stakes, for two yrs old, will have either Field Mouse or Don John colt for winner. The Welcome Stakes will bring the following to the post : --Tragical, Ward of Cheap, Sting, Humdrum, Burlesque, Queen Anne, lago, Blackie, Footstool, Cynynion, and pro bably one each of Exeter's and Greville's. I have some doubts on this race; to my eye, Sting, Burlesque, and lago are pretty evenly matched. Should Queen Anne be up to the mark, there is another rival for the Welcome honours. I have a alight preference for the son of Slane, and will look to him to do the trick, the other three being too near to be P le mant—Burlesque or lago second. The 100 sow. Stakes, for three yrs old, will entice two to bae rs POse, King Charles and Prussic Acid, the latter for winner. un Wednesday the Swinley Stakes to Lord Lonsdale. The 25 sovs. Stakes to Mr. Hill, should Jericho not start. The 50 sovs. Stakes to Lord Albemarle. The Coronation Stakes to Princess Alice or Birthday. M The etri 3d . sovs. Stakes, Sting Ist, Joy 2d, and St. De- The Fern Hill Stakes will have about seven starters, with `' lir leoque or Laundry Maid for winner. The Royal Hunt Cup will collect together a very good field, probably thirteen. At the finish the front rank will ~consist of Beaumont, Sir Francis, Sotades, Cocoa Nut, and " 402 40 nfield—Sir Francis or Sotades for winner. On Thursday, the Dinner States, to Draco or Harmony :r3'; the 50 sovs. Stakes, to Lord Albemarle ; the St. : L aMes's Palace Stakes, to Free Lance. The Emperor's Plate, re, grand attraction of the meeting, will bring a first. rate field to the post. As far t as lam able to judge at the present time, the following will go for it :—Sweetmeat, Pen colt, Mentor, Baron, Miss Sarab, Kesheng, Wolfdog, Alarm, Jericho, Miss Elis, Orlando, Coranna, and the'Crown Prince. such a field as a lover of racing admires—no trash, all game to the back bone. The tussle on Thursday next will be !;.se!ere, Coranna, I fancy) the dog, t The Crown rrlnce, Alarm, Wolfdog, and Kesheng will be dis ted of' at the run in ; Orlando, Miss Elis, and Mentor, at the distance; ; and the remaining five will struggle on to the E1 ` 411 (1. 'when the Baron and Peri colt will have had nough we etmeat, Miss Sarah, and Jericho will form the e " crack t rio" to get placed, Sweetmeat or Jericho winning, which I cannot say, p ro b a bl y th e f ormer . , New Stakes I know but little about this year, not i7 lN lng seen above seven o f th e y ou n gs t ers , five of which nye been b e f ore t h e public. I should say the Miss Clifton u 'IY, Don John colt , or ott' fo C d were as good as any ; but is r 7 ,Y___ °4 ,,must not rely on thi s , f o r m y p ro ph e ti c v i s i on on thi s otr cular race is rem ar k a bly m i s ty. _ti Friday the 300 sovs. Stakes will be decided as follows Thefirst, Fuzbos second. -uhe Military Stakes to Lyons ; Muscatel second. T he match bet ween W o lfd og , B s t 71b, an d Mi ss Eli s , 7 s t 71b, , be won by the latter ; and the match between Camelia "'La Taurina, by the former. For the 300 so y a . g i ven by th e G rea t W es t ern R a il way Company the winner will spring out of the five-year-olds. I cannot be more particular, as this stake depends so much 11 1 5 ,...0n the others. I am, sir, yours, Monday. THE SPIRIT OF THE TURF. CITY OF LONDON GENERAL PENSION SOCIETY.— The directors of this excellent charity are enabled, by the IfFessful result of the anniversary festival, in March last, B r u .,, was presided over by the most Noble the Marquis of ne, - to resolve upon a further increase of the monthly f a Ctl_til to the pensioners, and hopes are entertained that r aaai Zurse of the next year the payments will reach the ern a i ee tt ,,T amount of 1/. 1 ls. to the males, and 1/. 2s. to the Cownext, / o ;i: wa r month. An election will also be held in October for have and two female pensioners. The Grocers' this excellente,presented the munificent donation of 501. to g u i neas institution ; and the Drapers' Company fifty DR EA war a brU L ACCIDENT.—NINE LIVES LOST.—On night last, about ten o'clock, a number of persons 13,7..e,croossing ylverstone Sands, from that town to Flook ,,,v_g n their return from the fair, they missed their I"er fording the channel. They ell into a hole know w n a a y s , the "Black Sear, " and horse, cart, and passengers, nine in number went down and never rose again. Several o evr t a i l ie carts Were following in the right track, b u t no trace ac cident was seen, and none of the parties in them wer e aware of the accident until the following morning. Six of the bodies were found in the hole yesterday, with the horse and cart, but the other three had not, up to last evening, been discovered.—Preston Chronicle. FooT RACE.—On Saturday a race round the enclo- Tire of St. James's Park, was run between Rhodes and Mal ett, for a stake of 10/., the former won, and went over a mile of ground under five minutes. OUTRAGE ON A LADY.—On Saturday evening last, as rs• Fitzgerald was returning from this town to her resi dence at Glenbrook, Ballyroan, she was met by two men, One of whom caught hold of the horse she was driving under , whilst the other presented a pistol at her, placed her ; ...A knees, and ordered her at once to give ey Which she and Mr. Fitzgerald have had for s o me time TH E possession.—Leinster Express. kourTIPPERARY CONVICTS. —A correspondent at a_erath assures us that nothing can equal the excitement "; es l nt throughout the country where the prisoners Rice, Dablm a a nd Fogarty have been passing on their way from vehicle I 0 0 Nenagh. Crowds everywhere press around the were ex n which they are drawn. The unfortunate men Pected in Nenagh gaol last (Friday) night.—Tippe v tudicaor. of d _e_read in the Droi t:—" It is said that the sentence v . 0 `7 0 . passed on Lecomte met with only a few dissenting latter,' amongst which was Viscount Victor - Hugo. The and it is added, addressed the court in a brilliant speech, hpleaded f or i mprisonment for life. Lecomte, i t seems, is ,, reviously to the trial, anxious only about one point— the occasion. eSt His coat app eared to him by no means worthy of he T Can appeared to him by no means worthy of Can I a ppear in c urt o thus dressed ?' said paris ' them kill me, but let them not humiliate me.' " k, paper. 11 e regret to state that Mr. Tufnell, M.P. for b he r s evonport, who usually sits as secretary at meetings of mem. S of the Liberal party, was prevented from attending the assembly at Lord John Russell's on Saturday, by the pre mature demise on Thursday last of Mrs. Tufnell. This lady Was the second daughter of Lord Strafford, and consequently sister to the Right Hon. G. S. Byng, M.P. She was born in 1810, and was married in 1844 to Mr. Tufnell. The Plymouth Journal of Thursday says :—" Yes terday the intensity of heat was six degrees greater than has been known for the last twenty years. This was ascertained by the dockyard gauge." MELANCHOLY OCCURRENCE AT A LUNATIC ASYLUM. On Saturday night at eight o'clock, a jury was impanelled before Mr. Win. Baker, deputy coroner, at Mr. Warburton's Lunatic Asylum, Bethnal-green, to investigate the circum stances attending the death of Robert East, aged 52, a lunatic, which took place at the above instit ution, in consequence of injuries inflicted on him by another unfortunate lunatic l a med George Pearson. The Coroner, at the conclusion of he evidence, observed, that by the humatlity of the English law, when homicide was committed by a lunatic, it was ex vressed to be in the Act " excusable homicide." The fore ran observed that Pearson came under t he law b y which lunatic are confined during her Majesty's p leasure. Had the been tried at the Old Bailey, the man would have been w ;„",% 0 Bethlem Hospital. He wanted to know what course be taken, supposing the man should recover? He and any his brother jurors, as there was no blame attached to one in the establishment, wished to relieve the super we—n, dent from all responsibility. The Coroner said that he of 44 Write to the visiting Commissioners and inform them taitthe circumstances, when he had no doubt that they would h ow e the proper steps to have him removed. The question, Theaver, was still open to a police magistrate. Verdict, the t George Pearson, not being of sound mind, did kick _,oreeleceased about the head, but not feloniously nor of malice I ,lf ,t,.hought? giving him a mortal wound, of which he Zet y o T n h e e jury unanimously agreed that no blame attached ADvERTISENEEN ] —The Gentleman's Real H ead ofHair, or Invisible VT. blance to nature as to defy Peruke, is so close a resem tleman to see the of detection ; 'and to enable any gen inspection, any one of vdticahlarge assortment is always kept for both time and trouble. Thel: approved of, saves the purchaser anyteh!plendid specimens of the per ruquean art, superinr to to be obtained elsewhere, either in Paris or London, have l o n n sg l o y to be seen to be admired, Is1:18:1.amS1 pSleonndsid and are, the sole invention 119 hair - cutting and I 20, bishopsgate-street, London. apartments on the ground-floor, th e _ lined with looking-glass ala mods d s p ole of • of the walls being (ADVERTISEMENT.] SIGHT AN , Albemarle-street, Piccadilly. —Newly-invented Entit„,lNG* -Dugs, Maiston, Scopes, Opera Glasses, Microscopes, &c. t Robert- Patroni?;,i acl os , Tele , ker, Fox, Sir Edward Paget, Sir Evan Lloyd, Sir Joh n by Generals Frederick Goodfellow, Clayton, Grosvenor Morrlson3;, son, Mackenzie, Ga l w ay, Biggs, Woolf, Murra Price, Lindsay, and Thackray ; Major Generals Sir Sir John Ross, Sir James Cockburn, Achinty, P. Fyers, E D. Ph m in a s e ton e , Bouverie, Sir J. Macdonall, Sir R. Barton, Sir T. Dallas, anc l i e ' s d i . Wm. Eustance : Admirals Lord John Hay, Sir G. Cockburn, si r George Monday, Sir George Martin, Sir James 11. Whitshed, Sir D r Gold, Ross, Alexander, Curzon, Tompkinson, Hollis, and Price Vice-Admiral Sir F. Austen; Rear - Adm irals Brown and Riboulepu, &c. Messrs. S. and B. Solomons, Opticians, have invented Spec tacle Lenses upon a new construction. Immediately they are placed before imperfect vision, that mist and dullness which appear before the eyes is at once removed, every object becomes clear and distinct, so that the most aged imperfect sight becomes bright and brilliant, and is brought to its youthful, natural, and original state. Also, Achromatic Telescopes, Opera Glasses, Microscopes, Invisible and all kinds of Acoustic Instruments, for relief of most extreme deafness. Caution—Messrs. S. and B. Solomons, Opticians, are not in any way connected with a person of the same name in their immediate neigh bourhood. To prevent mistakes be cautious, and Observe—Oaly to be had at 39, Albemarle - street , Picc adill y , opposite the York Hotel. [ADVERTISEMENT.] —PALPITATION OF THE HEART, SHORTNESS or BREATH, AND GENERAL DEBILITY, CURED BY HOL LOWAy's PILLS.—A gentleman of the name of Spencer, residing for the present in Sackville-street, Dublin, and who was for many Years in the East India Company's service, fell into ill-health, and was even at death's door, the action of his heart being frequently so violent as to cause, when lying down, the very bed to shake; and, again, rrorn shortness of breath and debility he could scarcely walk twenty Yards. This gentleman may now be seen out hunting, in the fullest Yment of health, having been cured by the surprising virt ues of H olloway's justly c e l e brated Pills, which are sold by every chemist , 444 at PrOISROI Holloway's Establishment, 244, Strand,London. LECONITE S TRIAL. THE SENTENCE. PAnss, THURSDAY.—The Court of Peers sat until half-past seven o'clock on Thursday, in order to hear the whole of the witnesses to be examined, some of whom, however, were not called, their testimony not being considered as requisite. The following is the evinence of those called after our statement of Saturday : M. de Monicault, prefect at Melun, who attended the King on the day of the attempt, repeated the circumstances of it, and added, that on his coming up with Lecomte, when in custody, and on his way to Fontainebleau, he heard him say, " The King is not wounded ; he is more fortunate than I am." When they had arrived at the prison, Lecomte de clared that he intended to kill the King, and had come to Fontainebleau for the purpose. Colonel Berryer, who was also with the King, deposed that after Lecomte was arrrested, he said in answer to the ques tions of the prefect, " I had to complain of the conservator of the Crown forests. I addressed the intendantes, and was from thence referred to the conservator. This was trifling with me, and I resolved to be revenged. I have only one thing to blame myself for. I placed myself badly, and regret it. The King has profited it. I shall be blamed, but I have as much heart and as much honour as those who will blame me." M. Cante, a gunsmith, deposed to baying sold a fowling piece to Lecomte in May or June, 1843. The prisoner paid him without giving his name or address. In March, 1844, Lecomte changed this gun for another of higher price, saying that he was guard of the forests, and wanted a lighter gun. The witness identified the gun produced in court. Mademoiselle Pauchet, a print-seller in the Place du Car rousel, gave some evidence of no importance, as to having seen Lecomte before her shop a short time before the King left Fontainebleau. Another witness, named Becker, gave testimony on the same subject. Heroux, a groom, stated that on the 15th of April he was talking with Mdlle. Pauchet at the moment when the King was leaving for Fontainebleau. A shower came on, and two persons, Reverchon and Becker, took shelter with him. Whilst they were talking aboutthe King's departure, Mdlle. Pauchet remarked a man who appeared to be listening, and who was turning over some prints as an excuse for being near them. They were struck with his gloomy apect. The witness is certain that this man remained until the King left, and he and his friends thought from his manner and appearance that he had no good design, and if he had been by his side on an occasion of the King's passing by, he should have watched him very narrowly. M. Liot, the director of the Fontainebleau diligence, de posed to Lecomte's having, on the 15th of April, engaged a place in the name of Lebrun. M. Hubert deposed to the same effect. Pichard, a journeyman wheelwright, was with Lecomte in the diligence to Fontainebleau, but merely deposed to seeing a parcel in his possession, which must have been his fowling-piece. Madame Bertrant, an innkeeper at Lannon, served Le comte with a breakfast on the 16th of April, but the whole of her evidence amounted to Leeomte's having said that he did not think the breakfast a very good one. The daughter of this witness gave similar testimony. M. Vigorelli, an inhabitant of Fontainbleau, neffr the Chateau, stated that he saw a man on the 16th of April, at about nine in the morning, who had his face turned towards the Parquet d'Avon, and who appeared to be watching. Henole, a corporal of the First Hussars, deposed that he had seen Lecomte in the morning before the attempt in company with another person, but he could not swear that they were talking together. He had previously seen him three or four times alone. When he disappeared, after the witness saw him for the last time, he went towards the bati ment de Survivances. Lecomte here observed that what the witness had stated was improbable_ He would hardly have exposed himself in a place where he could be recognised, as he was so well known at Fontainebleau. Vioal, a hussar, gave similar testimony to that of Henole, as did also Dartus, another hussar. All these men spoke positively as to the identity of the prisoner. A washerwoman, named Foin, declared that she had seen Lecomte at Fontainebleau, at the door of the Cadranbleu, in 1845. This was denied by Lecomte, but the evidence did not ap pear to bear upon any point of the case. • Roucy, an employe at the chateau, deposed that he had met Lecomte in 1845, in a road near Fontainebleau, but could not say at what period of the year. Card, an upholsterer, who was formerly in the army with Lecomte, deposed to some acts of violence on the part of the prisoner when in the service, and added that he was brave but brutal. Another witness, named Gres, gave some evidence without the slightest interest. M. Hebert de la Grave knew Lecomte when Secretary of the Inspection of Forests of Villers Cotterets in 1830, and also in 1832, when under the orders of the witness. He described him as of an eccentric, taciturn, sombre, violent, and vindictive character, severe to his subordinates, and rest less under the authority of his superiors, owing to his exces sive pride and self love. He lived alone, without friend or companion, but his conduct was regular, and his exactitude and probity were irreproachable. He was considered an ex cellent marksman. M. Savoie, an inspector of Crown forests, said he never had to complain of Lecomte. • His intelligence was limited, but he always did cheerfully what the witness commanded. He liked to live alone, and held no communication with his subordinates, except on matters of duty. His probity was unquestionable, and nothing could have induced him to vio late his duties. M. Le Griel, who had given Lecomte leave of absence in in 1838 for illness, was called to give evidence to the state of his mind. It had been said that this witness had declared Lecomte to be deranged. He deposed that the mind of Le comte was in a state of excitement, and that he needed re pose; but he had never imagined that he was insane. M. Duvergier asked the witness whether, as the superior of M. Lecomte, he had net ordered him to be severe towards his inferiors. The witness replied that he had ordered him to en force the rules of the service, but to be moderate. M. Jallon, a physician at Orleans, deposed to his having attended Lecomte whilst labouring under an affection of the chest. He had given him a certificate as to his state of health, in order that he might obtain leave of absence. In answer to a question from the president, this witness stated that he had found no trace of insanity in the prisoner, nor had he ever thought of looking for any symptons of the kind. M. Lecoufld was the next witness examined, but his evi dence was immaterial. Samson, a guard in the Crown forests, deposed that he had served under the orders of Lecomte, but had never been on good terms with him. Had heard him, when speaking of both the present and the old:Royal Family, mutter words be— tween his teeth which he could not distinctly make out. The evidence of the next witness, Lelievre, merely went to the fact of his having known the prisoner in 1839 and 1840, and of their having taken their meals together at Fontaine. bleau. Lecomte had once asked him his opinion as to the capitalisation of his pension, when he had told him that his claims were not well founded. M. Merrier de Bois d'Hyver, inspector of forests, deposed that he had frequent intercourse with the prisoner during the last four years. He considered him as a man of a very violent and proud character, morose, and taciturn, and capable of going to great extremities when thwarted. On one occasion in particular, he remembered his coming to him in a great passion and asking him if he meant it as an insult, merely placing his name on some official paper below another name which was written on it. He (the witness) had replied that nothing was further from his intention, which Lecomte ought to have been aware of, as he saw him write the name in a great hurry just as he was about to mount his horse. The answer, however, did not pacify him, and he appeared much excited. On another occasion he had given way to much violence on the occasion of having 20f. of his pay stopped for some breach of duty. Lecomte was, however, a man of great energy of character, and capable of mastering his temper when he thought proper. The prisoner denied the assertion of this witness. and said that he had himself admitted that the punishment inflicted on him was unjust. AI. de Lahure, conservator of forests, deposed that he had seen Lecomte for the first time on a tour of inspection at Villers-Cotterets. He had received a satisfactory account of his activity and intelligence, but was told that he was severe towards his inferiors. He had taken him aside, and made some observations to him on the subject, which, if he remembered right, were properly received. His conduct, however, did not alter, and he had consequently proposed to the Intendant-General to stop from him the usual annual gratification. He had afterwards ordered 20f. to be stopped from him in consequence of his disobedience to an order given him by his sub inspector. In consequence of this, Lecomte had addressed a letter to the administration, de manding the settlement of his retiring, pension. He had heard nothing more of him until in November last, when. passing near the Palais Royale, he was insulted by him in the grossest manner. He did not at first recognise him. He had since frequently met him, and had every time re ceived the most outrageous insults. He had in consequence complained to the Prefect of Police, who sent a police•officer to accompany him, in order that he might know him. On the next .ccasion of his being insulted the police-officer pur sued him, and discovered his residence in the Rue Colysee, He had been summoned to appear before the police authori ties, and since that period he had ceased to annoy him, al though he had met him frequently. M.lTheologue, Under Secretary of the Civil List,stated that in November last Lecemte came to his office to inquire the fate of his last application to the King—at least, he supposed so far. He did not know him, and that the witness could not have told him, or any one else, that an unfavourable minute had been made upon it when it was laid before his Majesty. The prisoner persisted in affirming that the witness did give him such an answer. Mme. Cochois, who keeps the house in which the pri soner lodged, deposed that Lecomte was in the habit of using bitter language, frequently asserting that all the Parisians were thieves. Ruffier, one of the waiters at the lodging house, stated that Lecomte was rarely visited by any one, except a M. Bracewich, a clerk in the office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs. That he kept very good hours, and never slept from home. This testimony was confirmed by another servant of the house. M. Bracewich stated that he had heard Lecomte declare that all Frenchmen were cowards, the Parisians thieves, and Louis Philippe a scoundrel; but this was said in such a tone that no one could believe he meant seriously what he said. The last witness examined on the part of the prosecution wa s a Madame Wuttelle , who kee p s a readin g -room, and who stated that Lecomte came there to read the journals, and she did not remark anything particular in his conduct or manners. The Court then proceeded to hear the witnesses for the prisoner. hewefiitrwhstashciavmlelerd was very steady and quiet thatliv T ed h November, 1843, during the whole of the w lB h 4 o 3, de t p il o l s j ed ua th e, at lB4 Le 4 co , Lecomte witness) was second to Lecomte , w he, time. He gave a long statement daufteelrinhawvhinicghrhecee(ivthede The next witnesses were M. Carrier and M. r his adversary's fire, discharged his own p istol in A the no tr it, who were both asked whether they knew that Lecomte, after the 27th of A ugust, 1845, too k a j ourne y from Paris to Fon tainebleau, where they then were? but both gave a negative answer. nexthis composure d imd a e y p . It being seven o'clock, the Court then adjourned until During the whole of this long sitting, Lecomte never lost sautrtesaatniadastang froid ; he the whole time paid an velunteer explanations,o the proceeding ; was always ready to El.l 'a never interrupted a witness. PARIS, FRIDA Y precisely, Lecomte was brought''T( this day, at twelve o'clock -- His n i a n p t p o e a t r h a e n c c e ou w rt a , s mesocodritends, on before, by four gensdarmes. the previous day, unless, perhaps, opened with the appl e nominal that his cheek w as more flushed. The proceedings again ier, who def en d e d L ecomte, turned to him as of the D P a e v ers e r.g 1 he took his seat, and, aft er spea ki ng a few words, the ac cused took a paper from his pocket, w hi c h he handed to his counsel. M. Hebert, the Procureur-General, then addressed the Court, recapitulating the main pats of the evidence, and insisting on the long premeditation of the crime, and that the purchase of the short-barrelled gun was not to use on horseback, for he had at that moment no horse, nor was lie any longer garde forestier. Its purpose, then, was to shoot at the Xiog, and, altheugh he denied it, yet he had yiaitod Fontainebleau twice before the 15th and 16th of April, and been recognised there by Toin, his laundress, and another person, admitting at the same time that he had no accom plice, nor was impelled to the attempt by any political mo tive or feeling. M. Duvergier then rose to defend the accused. He ad verted to the honour and credit with which Lecomte had passed his early years—his military career was honourable, and he was decorated with the Legion of Honour, his ser vice in the royal forests, until he sent in his resignation, in 1844, in consequence of the unkind conduct of his superiors. He then urged that it was the resentment he felt that he wished to gratify, and he had no other or ulterior motive, for when asked " What would you have done if the King had been killed ?" his reply was that he had not thought of what he should do. He had no political feelings, never read any newspapers in his lodgings ; he was seeking some honest employment in Paris. There was, perhaps, the idea, but no premeditation of the attempt before the afternoon of April 15, and for a long time his letters to the King had been respectfully worded. He then, with much ability, adduced all the points in favour of Lecomte being in a state of mental excitement, amounting to derangement on this point of his fancied wrongs, on which he brooded in silence until he was literally monomaniac in this particular. He quoted the opinions of an eminent practitioner, M. Leleu, as to the positive monomania of Lecomte, and concluded a most able harangue amidst a buzz of approbation. The Procureur-General made a short reply, denying that , the evidence would warrant any suspicion of monomania ; to which M. Duvergier rejoined a few words, and the Chamber was then cleared, in order that the Peers might deliberate as to the sentence, which is always done with closed doors. Lecomte preserved his equanimity throughout, and when his advocate had finished leaned over the bar and cordially thanked him for his defence ; and on quitting the Court shook M. Duvergier by the hand, and bowed twice to the Court very respectfully. The pleadings were ended about half-past three o'clock. PARIS, SATURDAY.—After the Chamber of Peers had heard the whole of the pleadings yesterday, the Court was cleared of all but the members of that body, who, after sitting in deliberation for nearly two hours, returned the verdict of Guilty against Lecomte, and condemned him as a parricide to go to the place of execution in his shirt only, with his feet naked and his head covered with a black veil. The execution will take place on Monday at an early hour, unless the King's mercy be extended to the condemned man, who bore the passing of his sentence with the same firmness and tranquillity that characterised him throughout the whole proceedings. THE WEST INDIES AND MEXICO. The Royal Mail steam-packet Tweed, George Parsons, R.N., Commander, Lieutenant Davis, RN., Admiralty agent, arrived at Southampton yesterday at noon, bringing the unusual number of 138 passengers. The Tweed has been much retarded since leaving Bermuda by fogs, and ex. perienced also eight days' rain. She brings on freight 52,000 dollars on account of the Mexican Government, 386,140 on merchants' account, 9,000 pineapples, a number of turtle, 269 ounces gold dust, 216 serons cochineal, 33 bales indigo, 29 cases of cigars, 15 of tobacco, 70 boxes succades, 61 barrels potatoes, 32 cases of plants, 24 bales jalap, 5 boxes of old gold and silver. She also brings mails of the following dates—from Tampico, April 22 ; Vera Cruz, May 1; Havannah, May 10 ; Nassau, May 13 ; Bermuda, May 21; Honduras, April 20; Deme rara, May 5 ; Trinidad, May 6 ; Grenada, May 10 ; St. Thomas, May 15; and Jamaica, May 9. The Company's ship Tay sailed on the 11th of May from Havannah for the Gulf, and the Trent was at Bermuda. Her Majesty's ship Rose was at Vera Cruz; the Vindictive and steam-ship Hermes, at Bermuda; the Pique also there, but homeward bound. The following ships of war were lying at Sacrificios Cumberland, 56; Potomac, 56; Raritan, 56; Falmouth, 24; John Adams, 24 ; Somers, 14. These vessels were waiting in anticipation of hostilities being likely to commence at the Rio Bravo, when it is the intention of the American Com modore to attack St. Juan d'Alloa and the fortifications at Vera Cruz. The Mexicans are spoken of as being hourly en.• gaged in adding to the strength of that fort, and it is thought unlikely that the squadron would be able to take it if a spirited defence were made. By this arrival we have our usual files of West India papers, and extract the only news of interest The following account of the weather, from the Jamaica Dispatch, is very • distressing • .. _ _ _ "We are enabled to add but little to the unsatisfactory intelligence which we were obliged to communicate to our English readers by the last mail. The drought continues without abatement throughout the island, and -the crop of next year is in a most precarious condition ; that for the present year may be considered as reduced by more than one half. In St. Ann the drought has been so severe, and the con sequent want of water so great, that the stock have died in large numbers, and in some of the inland districts a pail of water for domestic purposes cannot be obtained under 4s. In St. Mary, usually a very wet parish, the progress of sugar making has ceased for want of water to put the mills in ope ration. Indeed, if rain does not soon come to our relief, the state of the country in its lowland districts will be melan choly. At present, however, there seems but little prospect of a change of weather. The month of May has already advanced towards its centre, and although it is the month in which we are accustomed to be blest with those periodical rains which tend so much to fertilise our soil, we have as yet no indication of any relief from the oppressive drought which has now continued unabated for six months in some parts of the island." From the port of Spain we have nearly similar accounts; so severe and prolonged a dry season has not been known, and the usual planting operations have been altogether sus pended. The Barbadoes Standard gives a most unsatisfactory ac count of the weather in that island. Serious drought pre vails in many parts. On some estates all progress with the crops is stopped for want of water. Fires may be descried in all quarters ; the hills on the Maravals and St. Juan's side are completely illuminated at night. Great distress from want of water is also anticipated by tha cocoa planters. At Grenada much rain had fallen. Mr. Doyle, her Majesty's Charge d'Affaires in Mexico, came as a passenger by the Tweed, and Mr. Adams, who had filled the same post at Lima. AN UNFORTUNATE PROVISIONAL COMMITTEEMAN. —The proprietor of a local newspaper, who figured somewhat largely in new railway schemes during the recent mania, having been a provisional committeeman in many of them, has had numerous applications made to him for sums of money for which the companies have become liable. The so licitors' letters containing applications for payment he pub lishes in hi.. journal, with the following heading in large type :—" The Money-hunting Vagabonds Gazette; or. Pro visional Committeeman's Chronicle." ALARMING FlRE.—Shortly before eleven o'clock on Saturday night, considerable alarm was created in the im mediate vicinity of the Victoria Theatre in consequence of the sudden outbreak of a fire on the premises termed the Ge neral Tom Thumb Concert and Refreshment Rooms, in the Lower Marsh, Lambeth, nearly facing the theatre. It ap pears that whilst the ball-room was filled with company an alarm was raised that the upper portion of the building was on fire. This caused a general turn out of the parties, and for some time the greatest confusion prevailed. The engines promptly attended, and were set to work. There being an abundance of water supplied by the Lambeth mains, the firemen soon got the mastery over the destructive element. The flames, however, were not extinguished until that portion of the pramises where they commenced was burnt out, and the contents consumed. The whole of the lower part of the building, more especially the ball-room, is se• riously damaged by water. It is unknown how the fire originated, CONSEQUENCES OF CRIME.—In the Bristol Bank ruptcy Court, last week, W. J. Dunsford, surgeon, passed his last examination. This person was the defendant in an action for crim. con , brought by a gentleman with whose brother Dunsford was in partnership—each partner receiv ing about 1,500/. a year from the business. The conse quences of the defendant's guilt convey a striking moral lesson, A verdict, with 5,000/. damages, is returned against him. He is obliged to relinquish his business, to part with all his effects, to forfeit his position in society and his bril liant prospects in life, and, ruined in pocket and reputation, to submit to a degrading examination into his pecuniary matters before the public. The partner of his guilt, after being separated from her husband and her children, is legally divorced from the former, and left without a pos sibility of obtaining a home with her seducer, who (to ag gravate the fearful catalogue) is a married man. What ac cumulated misery and distress have thus resulted from a single crime ! Somerset County Gazette. THE A SCOT RACE CUPS.—The prize annually pre sented by his Imperial Majesty the Emperor of Russia, and the Royal Hunt prize, were last week submitted by Messrs. Hunt and Roskill, of Bond-street, the successors of Messrs. Storr and Mortimer, to the approbation of her Majesty the Queen and his Royal Hi g h n ess P r i nce Alb er t, a t Bucking ham Palace, when those illustrious persons were pleased to express their approval of the designs and workmanship of both of them. The prize given by the Emperor of Russia is this year superior in the weight of the silver and the design to that of last year. It consists of a group, St. George destroying the dragon. St. George is a patron saint of Russia as well as of England, therefore the subject is appropriate. The group is from a design by Mr. Bailey, R.A., or at least modelled under his inspecting eye. It is more than usually spirited, treated with novelty of design, and most elaborately exquisite in the workmanship. A candelabrum, with thirteen lights, forms a sylvan canopy over the figures. The inscription is the same as that on the prize of last year : " Ludorum Ascotoniensium memor Quibus ipso interfuisaet Regin re Victorime Hospes Mens. Jun., 1844, Solenne certamiuis equestris prcemlum, Instituit Nicolaus, Totius Russia' Imperator." The royal hunt prize, which will be run for on Tuesday, consists of a group—dogs pulling down a deer. The design is very fine, and reminds the beholder of Landseer's best manner. The composition very correct. The animals are full of life, and the workmanship fi ne . Fong PERSONS POISONED: WEXFORD, June 6. (From a Correspondent.)—l am sorry to inform you that a most melancholy occurrence took place in this neighbour hood yesterday, by which four lives were lost. About four miles from this, in the vicinity of Kyle, a whole family of the name of Cullen, consisting of three young men, two sisters, and their mother, after partaking of their usual breakfast, stirabout, became seriously ill, and the three young men in the course of the day died. Also a poor woman and child, to whom they gave a portion of the breakfast as charity, and this morning the poor woman died, Dr. James Furlong, of this town, was out yesterday, and made a post mortem exami nation of the bodies, and analysed the oatmeal from which the breakfast was made. It is generally considered that the poisoning was the result of accident; but as our active and intelligent coroner. Travers R. Hawkshaw, J.P., is just now holding an inquest on the bodies of the unfortunate people. I forbear saying any more at present. The other persons are, I understand, recovering. DESPERATE CASE OF STABBING ON TOWER-HILL.— yesterday morning, at an early hour, considerable alarm was in consequence of a man named h d ill thitty years, of N 0.30, - street, f •sailors. It appears Thomascreated osnteaTdo,wage home with a companion, and while that he was on his way Cheapside, Tower-hill, they met two being Tower-hill, by two foreign passing through Postern-row, one of the sailors inflicted length ensued, and in the struggle f Stead, one on the breast and drunken sailors, who began abusing them. A fight at. two deep stabs on the person o the other in the left groin. A n alarm was two ruffians escaped before the arrival of the police. CONVICTS an, the in raised, but CONVICTS FOR GIBRALTAR. — Mr. Ma s.. but the e . rm charge of the convicts in the Warrior hulk, yi ng Dockyard at W oo l w i c h, e mbarked sixty of that unfortunate class on b oar d th e Th e ti s hi re d conv i c t ship, to convey them l off the same time. to_ eGibraltar to assist in the works of that important fortress. —Arran They have no military escort, as several keepers go out at gigantic establishment to illumin Co t s a t e are th ebei domen gemen of the building, on T columns of gas, in ho u n e i r o ev th en e i g ng u , o w le i s th bir up t z -si ar a d y s . of thirty amndadseumantfitthis THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, JUNE 8,. 1846. THE MINISTERIAL MEASURES. MEE rING AT LORI) JOHN RUSSELL'S. A meeting of Liberal Members opposed to the Irish Ministerial measures was held on Saturday afternoon, at the residerce of Lord John Russell, at Chesham-place. There were present Lord Palmerston, Lord Morpeth, Lord Melbou rne , L or d H enry V ane, the E ar l o f A ru ndel and Surrey, Lord Edward Russell, Lord Duncan, Lord Clements, Lord Ebrington, Lord Arthur Hill, Lord Mil ton, the Right Hon. R. L. Sheil, the Right Hon. F. Baring, the Right Hon. Edward Ellice, the Right Hon. T. B. Macaulay, the Right Hon. Sir John Cam Hob house, Sir Thom's Wilde, the Right Hon. Charles Wood, the Right Hon. H. Labouchere, the . Right Hon. Fox Maule, the Right Hon. Robert V. Smith, Mr. O'Connell, Mr. John O'Connell, Sir William Clay, Sir Charles Lemon, Sir W. Somerville, Sir Winston Barron, the Hon. Grantley Berkeley, the Hon. F. H. Berkeley, Mr. Ward, Mr. T. Duncombe, the Hon. Mr. Gore, Mr. P. Howard, Mr. Joseph Hume, Mr. Williams, Sir B. Hall, Mr. Hawes, Colonel Rawdon, Mr. Mitchell, Mr. Horaman, Mr. Dundas, Mr. Watson, Mr. Po wlett Scrope, Mr. Vyse, Sir Charles Napier, Mr. M'Carthy, Mr. Robert Dillon Browne, Mr. Patrick Somers, Colonel White, Mr. Hewett Bridgeman, Mr. J. M. M'Donnell, Captain Layard, Mr. Christie, Mr. James, Mr. Banner. man, Mr. R. M. Bellew, Sir Valentine Blake, the Hon. Edward Bouverie, Dr. Bowring, Mr. Brotherton, the Hon. W. Cowper, Mr. Curteis, Mr. Duff, Mr. G. Dun can, Sir John Easthope, Mr. Wakley, Mr. Bright, Ge neral Sir De Lacy Evans, Mr. F. French, Mr. Morgan John O'Connell, Mr. George Moffatt, Mr. Protheroe, Mr. J. Matheson, &c. The meeting was held in his Lordship's dining-room. Lord JOHN RUSSELL opened the proceedings by re marking that he was extremely desirous to call atten tion to two very important matters which were imme diately to come under the consideration of Parliament. He alluded to the Irish Coercion Bill, and the question of the sugar duties. He would first advert to the Co ercion Bill, being desirous to secure unanimity of action upon that measure. He was distinctly opposed to that Bill.—(Hear, hear.) He considered its enactments most harsh and oppressive ; and he believed that the principal argument adduced in the House of Lords, namely, the urgent necessity that existed for the measure, was not borne out by the circumstances of the case. Under that impression, he conceived that the further progress of the Bill ought to be opposed in its future stages. He thought that the best course which could be taken would be to move, on Monday (this day), when the Bill would again have to be considered, its second reading that day six months. If this suggestion met with the approval of Hon. Gentlemen present, he trusted that the debate might be taken upon this measure, and that the ques tion which had been already so fully and so ably dis cussed by the Irish Members might be brought toa close at the expiration of three days.—(Hear, hear.) Any further discussion on the Bill would be useless. He would, therefore, suggest that such a motion as he had indicated should be brought forward.—(Cheers.) Lord CLEMENTS regretted that he could not agree in the course pointed out by Lord John Russell. Be con sidered that the social condition of Ireland required the application of coercive measures ; and, entertaining that conviction, he could not oppose the measures proposed by her Majesty's Ministers with reference to that country— (Dissent)—although at the same time he did not believe that they would have the effect of tranquillizing the country or removing the causes of complaint. Mr. O'CostNELL expressed his deep gratification that Lord John Russell and Hon. Gentlemen who usually acted with him appeared willing to adopt that course which he was convinced must ultimately promote the best interests of England.—(Hear, hear.) He had him self given notice of a motion for Monday (this day), but of course he should now withdraw it, in order that he might not offer any opposition to the course suggested by the Noble Lord (John Russell), which had his most cordial approval. He regretted that upon the pre sent, as had been the case upon all former occasions, he of d th id e , N th o e hle highest rd,o one of Ireland's sons had been found to declare hi s intention of adopting a course calculated to militat e respecta gains t herfor the interests. opinions and Holding, as position he could not but say, when he reflected that he had stated his determination to support the Bill without having given any reason for adopt ing such a course, that his opposition would have little effect with the Hon. Gentlemen around him—more especially when they considered that while the Noble Lord stated his intention to support the measure, he at the same time said he did not think it would be found to answer the purposes for which it was intended. Lord CLEMENTS was not surprised to hear the Hon. and Learned Gentleman say that he disapproved of his sentiments upon the subject—indeed he quite expected such a result. The Noble Lord continued to observe, amid much laughter, that if such a state of things as that existing at present in Ireland were to last much longer, the landlords and the people would find themselves in the position of the Kilkenny cats, who carried their per sonal animosities to such an extreme that they fought until nothing was left but their tails. It appeared to him that in Ireland they wanted to apply the reverse of the American proverb, namely, that every man had a right to larrup his own nigger, and make the niggers larrup their masters.—(Symptoms of dissent.) After a few words from Sir. W. BARRON, Sir C. LEMON stated that he hoped Lord J. Russell would himself move the amendment that the second reading be taken that day six months—(Hear, hear) — for, as coming from the leader of a great political party in that country, it might have the effect of promoting tranquillity in Ireland.—(Hear.) Lord J. RUSSELL expressed his willingness to adopt the course suggested by the Hon. Baronet, if any object beneficial to Ireland could be gained thereby; but at the same time suggested that perhaps it would come more appropriately from some of the Irish Members.—(Hear, hear.) That was a point which might, however, be re served for further consideration. After some additional conversation, Lord Morpeth was called upon, as one who had been intimately con nected with Ireland, to move the amendment, but the Noble Lord declined to undertake that duty. It was then agreed that the suggdstions of Lord John Russell should be adopted, and that the selection of the mover and seconder of the amendment should be re ferred to the consideration of the Irish Members. Lord J. RUSSELL then said that the second subject which deserved their consideration was the question of the sugar duties. He announced that it was his intention to propose, and that of his party to support, a motion for the admission of slave-grown sugar into this country at the same amount of duty as was levied on free-labour sugar, but under certain restrictions. Some years since Lord Sandon had proposed a resolution deprecatory of the equilization of the duties on slave-grown and free labour sugars, upon the principle that such a regulation would give direct e ncouragement to slavery. This motion was resisted by the Whigs, which the Noble Lord made for the purpose of putting them out of office. They entertained the same opinions now, and intended to pursue a course favourable to the reception of slave grown sugar, and he trusted there would be no difference of opinion upon the point. The Hon. GRANTLEY BERKELEY remarked, that he had regarded the Noble Lord for many years as his political leader, and on that account he regretted that he could not, upon the present occasion, follow his ad vice or sanction the course he meant to pursue regarding the sugar duties. He had considerable property in the West Indies depending upon the prosperity of the sugar trade, but if foreign slave-grown sugar were to be ad mitted into this country upon the same terms as free labour sugar, the consequence would prove particularly destructive to his interests and to the interests of those similarly circumstanced as be was. He would be wil ling, however, to support the principle of the Noble Lord's resolution to the fullest extent, if the British Go vernment would give the facilities of free labour to that colony, so as to enable the sugar growers to compete with the other markets of the world. The meeting shortly afterwards broke up. A meeting was subsequently held at the Reform Club, at which it was unanimously resolved, that Sir William Somerville should wait upon Lord John Russell for the purpose of requesting him to move the amendment; and it was further agreed, that should the Noble Lord de cline doing so, the amendment should be moved by Sir W. Somerville and seconded by Colonel Rawdon. The Irish Members also came to the resolution that, should the Whig measure fail, no opportunity should be lost to wear out the Government by delay, and th a t i n case the protectionists did not immediately declare their intention, during the course of the debate, of opposing th e Coercion Bill, they would give to it in its present st age the same opposition that they did upon the first reading. MEETING OF THE PROTECTIONISTS. The protectionist Peers also held a meeting on Satur day, which was very numerously attended. Several Members of the Lower House were present, and the ut most unanimity prevailed. It was declared that the cause of protection is still by no means desperate ; and it was determined that an attempt should be made in Com mittee to perpetuate the operation of the diminished sliding scale. Confident hopes, too, were expressed that even if they should be defeated in this attempt, they would be able in the forthcoming general election to ob tain such a preponderance in the House of Commons as would insure them a continuance, if not an augmenta tion, of this amount of protection. THE CRESCENT AND THE CROSS. BY ELIOT WA R BURTON, ESQ.—We observe that a fifth edition of this in teresting book has been called for by the public. Mr. War burton brings to his work an accomplished mind, and well trained and healthful faculties. As we read, we are proud to claim him as a countryman, and are content that his book shall go over all the world, that other countries from it may derive a just impression of our national character. Mr. Warburton sailed up the Nile beyond the second cataract, and inspected those wonders of art in Nubia, whose origin is lost in their antiquity; visited the great cities and monu ments of Egypt, then crossed to Beyrout, made a pilgrimage in the Holy Land, and on his homeward voyage touched at Cypress and Greece. His volumes are full of just perception and spirited detail. They greatly increase our acquaintance with Eastern scenes, and to the traveller afford a variety of information which he could. hardly elsewhere fi n d i n so in teresting a shape.—Br i tann ia. DROWNED WHILST BATHING.--Yesterday morning, about seven o'clock, a young man named Thomas Noake, of Great Portland-street, was drowned whilst bathing in the Serpentine. Shortly afterwards,. another young man, named John Arundel, who coald not swim, got out of his depth, and though extricated whilst alive, his system was so s evere l y affected that he is LA expected to eitrywe, COURT CIRCULAR His Royal Highness Prince Albert, her Royal High ness the Duchess of Kent, the Ladies and Gentlemen of the Court, and the domestic household, attended Divine service yesterday morning, in the private Chapel of Buckingham Palace. The Hon. and Rev. C. Leslie Courtenay officiated. Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent visited her Majesty yesterday. His Royal Highness Prince Albert, accompanied by their Royal Highnesses the Prince of Wales, the Prin cess Royal, and the Princess Alice, visited the Surrey Zoological Gardens on Saturday. His Royal Highness was attended by his Equerry lin Waiting, Colonel Bou verie, and the Royal Family were accompanied by the Dowager Lady Lyttelton. Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Gloucester, visited the Queen on Saturday. The Prince of Wales, Prince Alfred, the Princess Royal, and the Princess Alice, took their acnistomed exercise yesterday in the pleasure grounds of Buckingham Palace. Prince Albert inspected on Friday the grand prize for the Ascot Races, the gift of his Imperial Majesty the Emperor of Russia, which was submitted by Messrs. Hunt and Roskell. His Royal Highness was pleased to exprees his approbation. Their Royal Hignesses the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and the Prince ss M ary , attended Divine ser vice yesterday morning in Grosvenor Chapel, South Audley-street. His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge, attended by Baron Knesebeck, honoured Count Kielmansegge, Hanoverian Minister, with his company at dinner on Saturday evening, at his Excellency's residence in Gros venor- place. Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cambridge, at tended by Madame de Normann, Baroness Ahlefeldt, and Mr. Edmund Mildmay, honoured the Italian Opera with her presence on Saturday evening. The Honourable General Lygon had an interview , with the Earl of Dalhousie on Saturday, at the office of the Board of Trade. Prince Castelcicala, the Neapolitan Minister, had an interview with the Earl of Aberdeen on Saturday at the Foreign-office. The Duke of Wellington, Lords Talbot, and G. Paulet, and Sir Fred. Trench, attended the early service yesterday in the Chapel Royal, St. James's. The prayers were read by the Rev. Dr. Wesley, and the sermon was preached by the Rev. Dr. Hook. At the daily service the prayers were read by the Rev. 1)r. Wesley, the lessons by the Rev. Dr. II Dakins, and the communion service by the Rev. Dr. Sleath. The sermon was preached by the Rev. Dr. Hook. The anthem, " I was in the spirit" (Blow) was sung by Messrs. Chapman, Tale, Hawkins, and Hobbs. Sir G. Smart'presided at the organ. Among the nobility present were the Duke and Duchess of Beaufort, the Duchess of Sutherland, Ladies St. Germans, Wilton, Somerset, and Vivian ; Mar quises of Winchester, Salisbury, Granby, and Stafford ; Lords Talbot, Bandon, Cawdor, St. Germans, Hather ton, Leigh Churchill, Ernest Bruce, Canterbury, Cants lupe, and Vivian. The Rev. Dr. Hook will preach the sermon on Sunday next in the Chapel Royal, St. James's. _ _ The Duke of Wellington visited the Panoramas of the Battle of Sobraon, Constantinople, and Athens, on Saturday, and was attended through the exhibition by Mr. Burford. DRURY LANE THEATRE. Flotow's opera of Stradella, which has been recently creating a furore in Germany, was produced, for the first time, before an English audience, at this theatre, on Saturday, Benedict having adapted the composition of his countryman for the English stage, and to which Mr. Bunn has written an English libretto. The story of Ales sandro Stradella, one of the most celebrated Neapolitan musicians of the seventeenth century, has been recorded by almost every writer of the history of music, and; is doubtless known to most of our readers. To revive this remembrancy of the incidents of the romantic ad ventures which forms the groundwork of the plot of the opera, it may be as well, perhaps, to quote Mr. Bunn's own account of it as given in his preface to the libretto. Speaking of Stradella, he says : " Though not handsome, he was distinguished by the symmetry of his form, and especially recommended by the blandishment of his manners. Baying been engaged by a Venetian nobleman to instruct a young lady named Hortensia (who, despite ht. r family rank, had submitted to the stigma of being that nobleman's mistress), Stra della so fascinated his pupil, that what began in intrigue ended in matrimony, and the lovers—once united—fled immediately to Rome. They were tracked to that city by two hired assassins, who overtook the fugitives in the Church of St. Giovanni Laterano, and there determined to carry their design into execution, at the conclusion of the evening service, and under vantage of the shadow of evening. While watching fora favourable moment they heard Stradella sing, and were so subdued by the charm of his voice as to confess the crime they had meditated, and their determination to Abandon it. " The intended victims immediately retired to Turin, where, while under the protection of the Duchess of Savoy (regent at the time), Stradella received three wounds in his breast, even in her very palace. They, however, did not prove mortal ; but the revenge of his enemy was untiring, for on Stradella retiring to Genoa, where he was engaged to write an opera, the assassins pursued the unfortunate musician to that city, rushed into a chamber of his dwelling, and stabbed both the lovers to the heart." The author of the opera has not continued the ad venture to its tragical termination, but judiciously con cludes his drama with the confession and repentance of the assassins, over whose "savage breasts" music had so miraculously exercised her powers:—The cast was as follows : Stradella, Mr. W. Harrison ; Bassi , the Venetian noblem a n, M r . W e i ss; B ar b ar i no and Malvolio, the two assassins, Messrs. Burdini and Stretton; and Leonora, Miss Rainforth. After an overture of very pleasing and somewhat original character, and which proves that Flotow is a skilful musician, the curtain rises, and discovers the exterior of the palazzo of Bassi, by moonlight. In front of the palazzo are Stradella and his friends, serenading the Lady Leonora. The piece commences with a chorus admirably executed by the singers. Then follows a recitative and air, by Stradella, and then a very pleasing serenade (not over excellently sung by Harrison) and chorus, and then the lady appears in the balcony. In this scene occurs by far the most beautiful morceau of the act, a Notturno, " Over hills through vallies wending," sung by Miss Rainforth and Harrison. Miss Rainforth, who was in excellent voice, sang this as she sang all the music which was allotted to her in the opera, with exquisite taste and beauty. They are inter rupted by a band of masquers (for it is carnival time) singing a lively chorus, and " fiddling, fluting, dancing" is the order of the night. They recognise Stradella, agree to assist him in carrying off Leonora—the lovers fly, and Bassi, who attempts to pursue them, is hustled and jostled and laughed at by the masquers, and at length compelled to reenter the palace. enraged and disappointed. The scene of the second act is Stradella's villa, near Rome, whither he has succeeded in escaping with Leonora. The act opens with a de lightful aria, "Be witness to my young heart's dream. ing," which was exquisitely given by Miss Rainforth; then follows a quaint chorus of peasantry, with a bell accompaniment, between the parts of which occurs a duet between Stradella and Leonora. The two assas sins dispatched by Bassi to murder Stradella now enter, and on these worthies rests what, for want of a better term, we must call the "comic boisterous" business of the opera. They quarrel at first; but immediately they recognise each other and become acquainted with the true state of affairs, they proceed in the most business-like manner to devise a plan for the safe and speedy execu tion of the job which they have undertaken. Invited by Stradella to share in the nuptial festivities, they drink and make merry, and by way of contributing their share towards the general amusement, sing a capital drinking duet, "Fill to the brim of the bowl, the bowl," which was so admirably sung and acted that it elicited an unanimous encore. Stradella sings a romance, " The world with which our fate we link,' descriptive of, and apologetical of the life of a brigand; which, together with his hospitality, so completely overcomes the savage nature of the assassins that they forswear their pur pose, and Stradella is saved by the power of music. This romance is a most effective composition, full of beautiful melody, and the choral accompaniment is (most artistically managed. It is certainly the gem of the opera, and was deservedly encored. The third act opens in the same villa, when it appears the assassins have domiciled themselves with Stradella .and Leonora. The act opens with a beautiful song by Stradella— "Oh Italy, my native Land," the melody of which is peculiarly graceful. Bassi, however, soon arrives to in terrupt the domestic felicity of the villa. He seeks out Barbarino and Malvolio, whose virtuous resolutions give way before the sight of gold. They are themselves again, and Stradella's doom is sealed. A fine terzetto occurs in this part, which was very well given, and was encored. Stradella enters, and the assassins prepare to win their reward ; but again music triumphs. He has just com posed a hymn to the Virgin, and commences rehearsing it. The assassins are spell-bound by his voice, and at the conclusion they rush towards him, fall at his feet, and dropping their daggers, confess their crime, and sue ror the pardon of their intended victim. Bassi, now finding it is useless to contend against fate, steps forward and gives his consent to the union of the lovers. The scene changes to the front of St. Peter's, where a mag nificently harmonised, full, and:massive chorus concludes the opera, and saves it from the condemnation which would have been its fate bad it concluded with the hymn to the virgin; for, strange to say, that what ought to have been the gem of the opera, inasmuch as upon the exquisite beauty of its music everything hinges, is, without exception, the most tame composition of the whole. Would it not be possible to recover the original air composed by Stradella, and substitute that for the " Hymn to the Virgin ?" The concluding chorus, however, carr i e d t h e opera a t r i u f m p h a n d l through, and, a lb e it, t h ere were sentients, yet they were a "miserable minori e ty w ," and their protests wer e overw h e l med by the loud applause of a densely crowded house. As a whole the opera of Stradella is a pleasing and graceful composition ; its melodies will, many of them, become popular, and the opera itself will always be a favourite. Like the Bohe mian Girl, even after the run is over, Stradella will be a safe card for the management to play, at intervals, for ten or twelve nights for some seasons to come. The performers were all honoured with the usual oration at the fall of the curtain. The mounting of the opera is magnificient—gorgeous costumes, splendid scenery, and superb decorations prove the lavish manner in which Mr. Bunn has gone to work in the production of Flotow's chef d'ceuvre. Never has any dramatic piece been put on the stage in a more effective manner. The ballet of Paquita, with Carlotta Grisi, concluded the evening's amusements • and with Strade lla and Pa q uita Mr. Bunn will b r i ng his season to a triumphant and de servedly profitable conclusion. MAGAZINES-(CONTINUED.) 411P COIBURIV'S UNITED SERVICE. The contents of the present number are of a more varied character than usual. We have, under the title of "Marvels of Marine Natural History," an amusing paper on krakens and other apocryphal monsters of the deep ; and under that of "A Tale of the Sea," a tale of horrors "to make the blood run cold." Captain Dove ton gives us a spirited sketch of adventures in southern India and " The Reminiscences of the War of Succes sion in Portugal." The " Memoirs of an Old Sailor," and "History of the Rob Roy of the West," are continued. There are several other papers of interest to the general reader in this number, besides the numerous valuable articles on professional subjects, which are always to be found in this Magazine. The present number of the United Service is excellent. LOIRE' S EDINBURGH MAGAZINE. " Lowe's Review," we opine, would have been a much more applicable and significant title to this periodical, as the major portion of its contents partake more of the critical character than of the didactic. And we must candidly assure its editor that in this distribution of articles he does not act very judiciously, the original essays or disquisitions contained in the number for June being of considerable ability, while the criticisms are, on the average, feeble and flippant to a painful extent. " Sir Tristram and Sir Galahad" is a very agreeable reminiscence of the chivalric era; the con traibuotion on "John Knox " possesses an interest quite manyi w n n o ; v e while d " a S t o a l r i t t l u in d g e and refl e. Intercourse Tk " c f o o n r ta e i x ns . a my rr l eh,i "Thinking g e upon solitude f an y re ;l e e; of brotherly heart,`yet trey haaven l e:s s it . havee solitude. Lonely n ' e been b, men fte n by necessity of nature, they have in perfected love; Whoever strenuously seeks e s cs oli d c ti it v u e d n e : they have been social solitaries. to live spiritually, will need and desire and to these he will be sometimes drawn, sometimes Within him he will find a wild, pathle_ss ove h s, ill witiut country,' within him, also, pleasant and sacred flower-garlanded, and dropping honey. He will have both griefs and joys. True thought has ever its pains and throes, but there will be often the dull agony th at cannot think. : There will be sometimes a composed peace of mind, when truth will reveal itself in its two-fold solemnity, as to one floating on a still sea Heaven is disclosed, alternately as a fir mament of star-garnished darkness, and as a firmament of radiant, invigorating sunshine. But there will also be times of fear, when a horror of great loneliness overspreads the heart as a storm-darkness on a sultry day, and when winds of thought whisper no more sweetly as the voices of angels, but sound strangely, like the distant cry and wailing of evil spirits drawing nearer. Loneliness may be indeed a bitter and chilling imprisonment—a bondage in 'darkness that may be felt'—an Egyptian bondage, in Egyptian darkness. Many a man who has loved his times of solitariness as the evening twilight, when that twilight has deepened into a continuing night, has cried unto God, and said—' My Father, I am afraid in this great darkness. Where art Thou g' There cannot be right action without thoughtful solitude, but there cannot be a blessed solitude without right action; neither has power of itself, they are joined of God."' " When, then, we retire from the outward, we go not into an unillumined darkness; the light of our own spirit is, in its brightness, more and more revealed to us, and we are wholly filled with its steady shining. But within us, we have not only a country, to walk in which we need light, but, as it were, a dwelling-house with chambers; and, having ?..with drawn from the world, and kindled a lamp in some quiet chamber, earthly noises may be to us as winter rains patter ing drearily againt the closed casement of our spirit, whilst we sit within, cheered with the light of our thoughts, and warmed with the fire of our musings. It is then that to our heart speaks the sun small voice' of God. No man hears this, if ever surrounded with the tumult and contradic tion of other voices. This sacred voice speaks not to us alone new things, but often thrills us with its utterance of things well known. Then, specially if it be ours to represent truth to our brethren, the spirit of searching comes upon us. If truth believed be not in silence pondered, there is danger that we get a defiled conscience—knowing that we seek to make others feel what we feel not ourselves, and affirm that to be obligatory upon all men which has not full control over us. As our nutward life widens, our inward one must deepen." In all this there may be something mysterious, but reason and our innate emotion tell us that it contains nothing absolutely chimericaL As a specimen of the flimsy style of reviewing introduced in this Magazine, we may be allowed especially, to instance the one upon the " New Timon." It is of course, allowable for every one to form a different opinion as to the merits of a particular poem, the more so, as some poetical productions address themselves in a peculiar manner to the idiosyncracy of some individuals, and consequently find no sympathy from readers of a perfectly opposite idiosyncracy. We are not, therefore, cavilling at the fact of that Edinburgh critic finding little more than ordinary neatness in the remarkable work which he has failed in appreciating, much as we are astonished at the indifference with which he regards it. It is the manner he has adopted for the expression of his disappointment to which we object—how shall we designate that manner ? The dictio nar y s u ppli e s us with no epithet precisely applicable to it, excepting of a coarse and vulgar kind. We shall not, therefore, at tempt its definition, We will allow% the reader to judge of the elegant style and refined feelings visible through out the criticism in question by a quotation. What does he think, then, of a man presuming to understand a poetical idealism, who writes such a sentence as the fol lowing : " After Daniel O'Connell then passes Lord Stanley ; but as we do not care for Lord Stanley so much as the poet does, we will take the opportunity to blow our nose ; and by the time we lave returned our handkerchief to our pocket, some other notable will be passing." What delicacy of sentiment I What a capacity for reciprocating the purest emotions of the human heart ! Bah 1 It only serves to remind one of the adage " throwing pearls to swine." The treatment of this anonymous poem in other quarters, while in substance it has shown the diversity of opinion, has also in many instances disclosed the degradation of humanity. We say again —the degradation of humanity—for these sages in nature and books have absolutely maligned the "New Timon" as a poem of an immoral tendency. Surely, after that, we should have little hesitation in wagering that these men would see an indelicacy in the naked figures of Canova's Graces, would vilify as licentious the divine purity of the recumbent Ariadne, and would look only with lascivious eyes upon the Venus de Medici. Out upon such literary prudes ! They turn from a block of white and unsullied marble, thinking it flawed and spotted, because they look through cracked spectacles grimmed with smoke. " The blue sky seems flecked with blood ; The sunshine on the floor looks black ;" cries Beatrice, in the " Cenci :" Let these sticklers for propriety take those words as, their motto. They can scarcely discover one more appropriate. THE KNIGHT OF GWYNNE. No. VL, By Charles Lever. We must acknowledge ourselves chagrined at the hurried manner in which Mr. Lever finishes off the episode of Gleeson's departure : after so much dramatic preparation in the preceding chapters—after mustering all the wrath of the elements and painting the commence ment of a pursuit by Bagenal Daly, which promised such scenes of excitement in the channel, the matter is quietly dropped by the return of the pursuer with the intelli gence of the suicide of the pursued. Nevertheless, our disappointment in one regard is compensated by our satisfaction in another. The love passages between Helen Darcy and Forester, are most tenderly and truth fully pourtrayed. Apropos of the latter, his lady-mother writes him one scrap of inimitable advice; she warns him, if he would render himself agreeable in society, to abstain from telling anecdotes. There is not in truth a more incorrigible nuisance in :private life than your professed anecdote-monger ; and we would ourselves prefer the infliction of hearing the stereotyped edition of " Joe Miller's Jest Book" recited, from the title-page down to the finis, rather than undergo a single hours' tete-a-tete with any conversationalist of this des cription. Besides monopolising the time and at tention of everybody else upon subjects of intense fri volity, these social delinquents, instead of entertaining, are guilty of the most inexcusable egoism. Written anecdotes, like those introduced by Charles Lever, are allowable enough, seeing that they can readily be " skipped" (as young ladies have it) whenever the reader is disinclined for their perusal. From the destruction impending the generous-hearted Knight of Gwynne we anticipate no little entertainment. Mr. Lever possesses such a mastery over the conventional details of a fiction, and writes with such a spontaneous glitter, that he cannot fail of sustaining his popularity. KNIGHTS WEEKLY VOLUME. Vols. C., CL, and CIL The variety of literary materials employed in this admirable series is extraordinary ; and considerable taste is displayed in the alternation of the different sub jects introduced. For example, in the three volumes under consideration, we have a fanciful and not unlovely hypothesis about " Flowers and their Associations," by Anne Pratt ; then we have some animated letters de scriptive of " The Backwoods of Canada," embellished with a multiplicity of woodcuts ; and, finally, the eighth volume of the " Cabinet Portrait Gallery of British Worthies," comprising biographies and engraved like nesses of Sir Mathew Hale, Andrew Marvell, Isaac Barrow, Thomas Hobbes, Samuel Butler, and Lord William Russell. Whatever the partiality may arise from, we confess to an estimation for the last mentioned volume. The memoirs are agreeably succinct, while they, likewise afford many interest ing particulars of some amongst the more remark able characters. Of these particulars, the most curious, are unquestionably those appertaining to the domestic habits of the illustrious Hobbes—Hobbes of Malmesbury. Aubrey's account of his habits, is especially entertain ing,ereet and through it we fellow the old philosopher, erect in body, and steadfast in the retention o x f is his wisdom, His through the daily course habitual to h scanty breakfast ; his sturdy walk d s and expelling moisture ; his m in e id. ay d slumbers ; his meals ; his solitary dinner ; his stobacco (" rare, devilish, for is promotinge heat smoking ten or twelve pipes walks, between damned tobacco !" awake in bed, and singing o f memory, swimming before as Robert c ß o h u e r e t r o i n ly h t a o t h himself t) ; h is a l t a m yi i n d g . night ; all these • r the er ereisleioninnaasnwdearffe s a c d7 l l . br i i m ng ag b o ac o k f u th p( e m sa o g u e r . imaginations Conveying s o much useful information , eetin in so popular and so ac cessible a form, Charles Knight's Weekly publications. de serves t o about the most THE CABINET HISTORY OF ENGLAND. Vol. XVII. Under the management of the same singularly enter prising publisher, who, as accredited publisher to the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge, and as editor of Shakspere, has acquired for himself such a dis tinguished position in the world of contemporary letters, this pocket history for the people proceeds prosperously. In abreviating the corresponding passages in his original composition, the Pictorial History of England, Mr, Charles MacFarlane has generally evinced discrimina tion in selecting the points for erasure, and has alto gether compiled a very useful inductive work to English history. POLITICAL DICTIONARY. • Part XIII. Mr. Knight again performs a service for the benefit of the public generally ; and, at a moment when poli tics are more universally studied among the populace than possibly at any anterior period of our annals, s work of more practical utility than an accurate " Poli tical Dictionary " could hardly have been divined. Not only are the mere technicalities unravelled, but its more abstruse phases are dealt with and expounded : as, for instance, in the present section of the work, the articles on " Roman Law," and the " Sessions." What has hitherto baffled the apprehension of many, will, with the assistance of this " Political Dictionary," be com prehensible to all. THE PATENT JOURIVAL. No. I. A neatly arranged brochure for the convenience of inventors, illustrated with engravings, and at a reasonble price. In this " -- patent age of new inventions, For killing bodies and for saving souls," as Byron styled the nineteenth century, we presume such a periodical will not lack patronage. THE PENNY MAGAZINE . It is with pleasure we perceive th a t this old favourite has improved, not merely in dime ns i ons , b ut in its lite rature. The articles, for one thing, are more diversified, and are written in a more sparkling and readable man ner than heretofore. Besides which, the illustrations, though scarcely so numerous, are infinitely superior both in design and in workmanship, The three enigmas, drawn by William Harvey, are dainty tokens of the pictorial character of his imagination. " Historical Scenes" are excellently written ; and the little article headed " Robinson Crusoe," will be perused with inte rest by every one who retains any school-boy recollec tions, since it appears, from that article, that the name of Defoe's renowned voyager is still very prevalent in Essex. From the flourishing appearance of the Penny Magazine, we are almost tempted to imagine that the editor has discovered for it the elixir of life: it bears the aspect of a literary Rosecrucian. I n a fm former notice n a o t p i c u e b w i e e a t h i a o n v e O LD ENGLAND'S WORTHIES. P ar t V. advantages en lightenment of th e mu l t i tude. By holding out to the o f f ul t ly his co n m d e commented theon the present generation the more remarkable personages of a past generation, not on l y is experience gleaned through books with impunity to ou rse l ves, but a flame of emula tion is kindled within our bosoms likely to incite us to the avoidance of bad and the achievement of good. Our fancies are moreover develop e d by t h e appeals made to them by such narratives ; and our minds are brought into operation upon the skeletons of the mental opera tions of the illustrious dead—namely their lives. Those we conceive to be the peculiar advantages of biogr a phy, as a part of education. What instructive lessons, for example, are there not to be collected from the per formances sad the vicissitudes of such beings as Eliza beth, Shakespere, Raleigh, Camden, Bacon, and Ben Jonson, whose d memoirs occupy the present number of " Old Englan 's Worthies?" THE PICTORIAL GALLEICY OF ARTS. Part XVIII. What with a profusion of clever woodcuts and a mass of explanatory letter-press, part seventeen, makes alto gether a goodly show ; a moment's examination of the pages will, however, convince any one that it has like wise something " that passes show." It is entirely of an architectural character this month, and the style in which that art is treated is a strange combination of elaborateness and simplicity. When completed, the book will be the choicest cullings from many other sources : it will be, in itself, the condensation of a whole library. OXFORD AND CAMBRIDGE REVIEW The most interesting article in the present number is on the "Pr esent S tate of Greece. " The author is evidently very well informed on the subject, and is per fectly aware of the intrigues of M. Piscatory and of the utter want of principle in his tool and agent, Coletti, to whose keeping the destinies of this unhappy country are for the present committed. An article on M. Michelet is, as might have been predicated, a furious and most unjust attack upon that talented writer ; even as s swindler fears and hates a policeman, so does a Jesuit fear and bate M. Michelet ; and the extravagant eulo gium of Dr. Pusey, with which this article opens suf ficiently marks the author as, if not actually a Jesuit, yet as something very nearly approaching to one. From the series of papers on " Garman Political Poets" we extract the following spirited version of a poem by Freiligrath— Contrasting the present King of Prussia with Frederic the Great—the man of good intentions with the man of re solute action ; and though it seems to us by no means pro bable that the hero would have done the work the poet gives him to do, the whole character of Frederic is apprehended in Germany so differently from our notion of him, that there is little to surprise us in this view of it. A SCENE IN ELYSIUM. The scene took place in paradise some little while ago, Old Fritz jumped up and rubbed his hands at what he saw below ; He struck his sword-hilt angrily, and, striding up and down, At last met Blucher and Von Stein, but did not cease to frown. To Zeithen and to Winterfelt he beckoned to come near, And Gneisenau approached with them the royal words to hear ; And Keith, the doughty Scot, came up, Schwerin and Scharn horst too, And many a name of warrior fame from Prussia old and new. Tben with an uneelestial oath to all around he said,— " It just has struck me I am dead—yes, sirs, entirely dead Why am I not now back again at Potsdam and licrlin ? Would it not be a time for me—say, Scharnhorst and Schwerin? "How I would seize and manage it! no more as autocrat; No, no, my friends, another time, another task than that; Too bright was once the light my name shed on my fellow-men, For me to be in thought and will the man that I was then. "No, all that I have done and worked by precept and example, (The glories of thirteen, methinks, are no unworthy sample;) Should but the broad foundation be on which with joy to raise The strong and high state •edifice of present better days. "Days that will not in patience stand with treason seated by, Days, that no longer can endure the liar and the lie ; A time that will not live on words, however smooth they be, A time that must breathe out at last, breathe deep, and utter free. " That German people! 'so deceived, and no one there to right them - Their rights by traitors filched away, and no one there to fight them 1 No one to claim the due, or send the debtors to Gehenna; No one to tread with manly heel on Carlsbad and Vienna. " I'd burst the diplomatic net that holds the fools in awe ! An open German parliament, a single German law! And everywhere the free free word as spoken and as writ, As God is true, and I a King, I would accomplish it. " 'Twould be a thunderboltl—what then ?—a year or two of storm ; And the crooked would fall straight—confusion yield to form ; Blow after blow should do the deed; I could because I would ;- -A king may well defy the kings, when for his people's good. " And then, the tempest past, my land would glisten in the sun, A strong and free new Germany —a Germany made one; With one bright iris spreading earth, from shame and sorrow freed, A prince's and a people's league—a German league indeed. " The People is a noble stream, and he who, wisely brave Can cast his clear untroubled glance within the rolling wave In jubilee is raised and borne triumphant to his goal, But merciless the waters rush o'er every craven I sou_ : "'Twonld hold me up—Would bear me on—say, Blucher, would it not ? A more than ever people's king. how enviable a lot And then to rest bewept and blest by all the brave and good . . . . The fine old warriors bowed assent, and cried, "Yes, sire, you would." The paper is signed "R. M. M.," and we presume is from the pen of Mr. Monckton Milnes. Lord John Manners contributes a ballad on thefall o m f a t t h gh e ien K rpi.r n e ig sAe h ni t i s Templars, and wo ha ve a g lori o us paper on the " Con vivial Entertainments of the Greeks ," reminding us s t rong ly of the rollicking style of poor together there is much pleasant reading in number of the Oxford and Cambridge. THE CONNOISSEUR. Though recently commenced, this journal of the fine arts breathes a healthy tone ; it is independent in its mode of thinking, and has no conventional enthusiasm. We will quote one passage from a criticism on tho Royal Academy exhibition, which we think conveys a very happily-worded definition of the style of literature peculiar to our own generation. It is as follows The age we live in has gradually estranged itself from what is called classical antiquity, in which the natural ac tions of mankind were disguised under the phraseology of pompous diction. It has become exigeant for exactness. In literature detail is the one thing needful. Modern readers are deaf to m ere unau th en ti ca t e d o pi n i on in others ; the and de mand sufficiency of well-attested circumstance to enable pe te s u r e a s ,re no longer accepted. Facts, circumstances , iav e all relationship with culiarities, costumes and texture, , construction of opinions for themselVe.;.etaiTish,efocari work that shall be pop u l ar . the necessary attributes of a the the sneers and lat in spite of manufactured these qualities t compilation of Greek and Latin —the true literateur—the . teeth of the very his scorn, has These desideratums make . charm of Dickens; and it is University article—and. wait signal a departure from the beaten track of classical dul already elevated him above Wal t er Scott, who was himself so descriptive detail isalways • derived from actual observation, by an organisation peculiarly fitted for detecting those delicate minutiae that indicate the natural characteristics of men and things; while that of Scott, is often merely a transcript of the image raised in his mind by dul ness. Dickens's the description of others, filled up—admirably filled up- I -by invention or adaptation. The one, to our posterity, will afford documentary evidence of the social condition of our period. The other will, wish few exceptions, and those re ferring to localities of confined interest, be merely clever and entertaining productions of an uncommon mind. These opinions we cordially believe to be just and accurate. As a romancer Scott is unequalled ; as a painter of the social life of his contemporaries, Charles Dickens is immeasurably above Scott and ever other man that ever existed. Sneer as we may at his man nerisms—scoff as we may at his false punctuation (and such-like solar-spots)—that is his position as an author, and will continue his position as an author centuries after the malcontents are lapped in oblivion. The portrait of Madame Castellan, which forms the frontispiece, is life-like and characteristic of the songstress. THE MUSICAL .HERALD. Part L A weekly and monthly publication, very likely to take a permanent stand amongst our periodicals. Our opinion rests on two grounds—firstly, the excellence and cheapness of the work; and, secondly, that it Lag no precise rival. Glees, and duets, and cavatinas, and waltzes, are printed clearly, with a choice interpolation of literary pieces—such as critiques, biographies, musi cal anecdotes, and so forth. Among timral rather