The Sun. — London, England, 1846-06-04 00:00:00

No. I. MAY 15. TRIAL OF SAILING WITH THE WIND ABAFT. At 11h. 30w., wind E. by S.; force of wind from 3 to 2, with a slight swell from the eastward ; the signal was made to try rate of sailing, and the course to be steered was W. half N. The sail carried beside all plain sail was port lower, topmast, and topgallant studding sails, and starboard top gallant studding sails. with staysails. At 1 r.➢l., the wind veered to due east, when the staysails and spankers were taken in, the wind having fallen to 2 and 1 1 ,x. The rate of Bailing at starting was not more than from 3 1 / 2 to 4 knots. RESULT. • cd' ' ,-,, 0 0 • ;3 ' - c , C : 0 "e. ,„ co .6 , Ships' Names. - 8- = I 'ii; 5* ;'- • ' i f 0 v ! i r. Vanguard ... ... 352 251 729 1025 1349 2715 Superb... ... ... . 169, 377 673 1 997 2363 Albion ... ... ... — 504 828 2194 Queen ... ... ... ; 296 620 1986 Rodney ••• •• • .... . .... 324 1690 St. Vincent ... . 1 —'— 1366 Trafalgar (last).. •• REMARKS Before th e t r i a l of sailing took . place, the line-of-battle ahips of the squadron (except St. Vincent) exercised firing their cabin, ward-room, and gun-room guns from their stern porta with a view of ascertaining the effects of the concus sion on the frame -work of the stern, as also the time re quired for clearing away the bulk-heads, &c. The effect Produced by the concussion was in no instance material, al though it was greater than if fired frem broadside guns. The time taken varied from thirty minutes to an hour. The weather was fine, the swell very trifling, and therefore afforded no good opportunity of judging which of the ships could have fought them best in heavier weather. The trial of sailing was very uninteresting, except that the Rattler Was decidedly the best of the steam-vessels. No firing took Place on board them. No. 11. MAY 16. TRIAL OF SAILING ON A WIND. At two P.m. the lee division—namely, Queen, Rodney, and Eu perb—started under single-reefed topsails, royals, jibs, and a lunkers, the wind S. by W., the course ordered west, force tt 'wind 4 and freshening, with a little swell from the south p*ward, St. Vincent jogging along under easy sail. At four glutx. the signal was made to tack, but the division being at b:lBeven miles ahead, the masthead angles could not be slterisdpd on. At 4h. 30m., Rodney being apparently the if a b 111 P' was ordered to tack, with a view of ascertaining t the could cross Queen's bows, Superb being unquestionably ( a t _ title the windward ship ; Rodney, however, failed to °itships the recall . was then made. viz ipsarting were as under, 1:0 cm t 1 al i t‘'' Ships'Nanlea. 2e" 211. I.' , 2. R: gl Bearing. Er.' ; 3 K g 2 D. M. s. Superb ...... 175 0 838 45 N. 537 E. 192 Rodney 176 0 508 45 N. 537 E. 326 queen 176 7 332 45 N.3032W. , 475 i From this it may be found that Superb at starting wz D. Df. 8. superb ...... 175 0 838 45 N. 537 E. 192 Rodney ~ 176 0 508 45 N. 537 E. 326 Queen 176 7 332 45 N. 3032 W. i 475 From this it Ly be found that Superb at starting was 191 fathoms to leeward of St. Vincent, Rodney 324 fathoms, and Queen 354 fathoms, thus showing that on the present occasion there could have been no great difference in favour of either ship. All the steamers except Rattler were found missing to-day, as was also the Brilliant. Lat.* in at noon, 49 30 N. ; lon. 7 31 W. No. 111. MAY 17. REMARKS. 1 3ta 7°- clav being Sund a y the squadron was ordered to keep T his n, and make and shorten sail as necessary t o d o so . ca ti c A Proved an e xce ll en t mo d e o f ascerta i n i ng w h at one ship The Spare another. The wind was N.W. force good 7. Alb' S t• 'Vincent lead the weather line, followed by Vanguard, iAlbion'P and Trafalgar. The Vanguard occasionally, and I_lln c onstantly, spared the St. Vincent a mainsail. The gar Was run nearly out of sight. The Queen led the Lme, followed by Rodney and Superb, the two latter ~4ring Quee n their mainsails. At 2h. 30m. P.M. a general dr a l wiLs made by the Commodore, " Has St. Vincent to :n. Y beaten Queen ?" and each ship, including Queen, msvrered in the affirmative, the answers returned being, there most decidedly " decidedly," " certainly," &c. ; not that betw s _ een :was the least doubt in any one's mind as to the result Queen and St. Vincent, but that the opinions of ue respective captains might be entered in the signal log as to the fact. The sail carried was single reefed topsails, but there was a cross sail from the southward, and whenever such is the case, or a head sea, Queen will be beaten by every al liP, as occurred last year, when Trafalgar beat her under Similar circumstances. Rattler did remarkably well under Sail. The other steamers °in company —namely, Gladiator, Retribution, and Scourge (the latter three having rejoined).— did but little, and if they had been under steam would have done less, for the screws of the one, and the paddle-wheels of the other, would have been half the time out of water. In short, with the exception of Rattler, whose sailing qualities appear to have been much improved, the steamers have done nothing under sail, and have retarded the progress of the squadron considerably since leaving Portsmouth. If bound to an enemy's coast, the sailing ships, in weather like to-day, 'Would have bad to wait for them, and if they had been under °t eam on their arrival there they would have been useless f or want of coa l s. Terr ibl e, C yc l ops , and Brilliant out "sight, so th e i r sa ili n g qualities as yet remain still untried.i. W. e Lat • ins at noon, 48 deg. 32 min. N. ;long, 8 de g . 25 s m No. IV. MAY 18. REMARKS. i n : r 2 - day the wind has been from West to W. by N., blow f and 8 At 11h. the weather division bore up, and • ~ • • une of battle in on order, on the lee column—an tr e l :o l,"°n well performe pe d, the squadron generally under divi,i nn r ,eafed topsails. At a little before noon, the lee to th„,..,know the leading one) wore in succession, and came ti • "Ind on the port tack. At noon, the port . or lee di !sasion gain a wore, as did also the weather division, and l fled the prescribed order of sailing on the starboard tack. theic c i losed the manoeuvring for the day. Towards evening close nd freshened, and the squadron jogged along under reefed topsails. Lat. • 48 deg. 44 min. N. ; long., 8 deg. 44 min. W. No. V. MAY 19. At 10h. 30 TaLt in. R I. Or SAILDIG ON A WIND. having previou s l y ru ,, e4i neY, Vanguard, Superb, and Albion, miles, hauled to the—wdewn to leeward between six and seven too great for mast-b4ds Per signal, but the distance was by W. the St. Vincent a u n t s ' The wind steady from S.W. W.; the force of wi n d was full easy sail heading N.W. by 7, with a short head sea, and the sail carried at starting w epanker—a press of sail and main topgallant sails, j ib, asanctingle-reefed topsails fore which on no other occasion has bee they started when Albion split b 4 „,, e arzied. went, fol.:owed Scarcely had afterwards Superb's main tack w e - n - maintopsail ; shortly her maintopsail sheets and jib and spanker, quickly by y thus left to Rodney and Vanguard, Ei l ii 3 d nk .e. The race - was one has never taken place. First, he siTore Ind lastly, interesting :Ash there matched; next, the sail carried was excessiZ; Were Wel l both ships were handled beautifully. About hg ut,isliaunt, can be no doubt ; for, after having tacked, Van across St. Vincent's bows about two cables' leo I, ,Paased and when directly to windward was something i t e „ 'ley stood on until within her own length of St. vin• cent Rod lee beam, and would have passed through her, so to speak, when she was obliged to bear up a little and pass under her stern. It was just at the moment of putting her helm up that she looked most nobly—topgallant sails had been taken in, for the wind had considerably freshened, but the sail on the lee yardarm baffled her people for a long time, and was to be seen bagging away to leeward; it was a moment of intense anxiety , for a spoke of the wheel the wrong way, or the carrying away of a tiller rope, would have caused irre parable damage to both, and when her sails, which momen tarily flapped while passing under St. Vincent's lee, caught the breeze again as she drew clear, her yards quivered lik e willow rods, and then resumed their arch-like form. The distance between the two ships in a direct line was now about 3 cables' length, Vanguard being that to windward. At starting from a mean of two or three mast-head angles that were taken on board St. Vincent by different observers, Rodney was found to be 10 cables' length to leeward of Vanguard ; but, as before mentioned, the distance was too great to admit of certainty. Vanguard makes Rodney 610 Yards to l eewar d at start i ng, an d c l a i ms a v i c t or y, b u t thi s ca nnot be f rom th e i r pos i t i ons a t th e fi n i s h. Aly own i m - P r ession is that Rodney had the best of it ; one thing, how teiviftenr,,is very certain, that Vanguard pitched more heavily W n° c l ne3', and that both ships must have had enough of , particularly agreeable motion. Shortly after the trial .28 over, the wind increased to 9, and the ships took in 'g but their close-reefed maintopsails, set fore and 1. THE SQUADRON OF EVOLUTION. (From the Times.) . 13y the Gladiator, which tad been dispatched to Cork from the squadron of evolution, we have received reports of all the trials o! sailing whip!' ha,l taken place up to her • Since leaving Port.mouth the rendezvous 13f the squadron had never been made known by signal, but each captain or commander had it in a sealed letter, which letter was not to be opened except in the event of parting company. If we say, however, that the cruising groucd was between the latitude of 43 deg. and 49 deb north, and longitude 9 deg. and 10 deg. west, we WWI be near enough for reference. It was proposed at the time our advices left that the whole of the squadron shall be at Cork on Friday next, and that their stay there should only be to get answers to the letters which the Gladiator was to take in. During their stay there, which was expected to be at most only three days, the whole of the marines of the squadron, and the field pieces manned with seamen, were to be landed on Spike Island. The number of the men would probably be 2,000, the field-pieces twenty. After sailing from Cork, the next landing was proposed to be at Bantry Bay, where access to the shore is more difficult on account of the serf. Whiddv Island, at the bottom of the bay, was the place spoken of, though it was considered too small. As to what had already been done, " but little," says one of our correspondents, "can be said; the commodore keeps the squadron at it, though, I lament to say, that in him, as well as in his predecessors in command, long residence on shore as not inapro.(ed the nerves. As yet we have had no casualties, or, at least, none have been reported." A letter of subsequent date says :—" As Raleigh joined to-day, and Belleisle, with the new captain (John Shepperd) of St. Vincent, is cruising in search of us, our going into Cork is delayed until the 9th of June." We subjoin a detailed account of each trial:— The first table, that which contains the angle sub tended by the mast-heads of the respective ships, as also their particular bearings at the commencement anal at the conclusion of each trial, furnishes elements suffi cient for those among our professional readers who may have leisure to construct their own diagrams ; while the table of results affords to the uninitiated at one view the advantages that each ship had over the others. For instance, in trial No. 1 the Vanguard stands first ; if the eye be carried along the line horizontally, it will be found that the name of the Superb follows, marked 352; that is, the Vanguard had the advantage of the Superb by 352 fathoms. Again, the Vanguard beats the Albion by 521 fathoms, the Queen by 729, and so on. The next ship is the Superb, and it will be seen that she beats the St. Vincent by 997 fathoms. The mile is made up of 1,010 of these fathoms; 101 fathoms are taken as a cable's length; and 10 cables are considered a mile. THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDA Y, EVENING, JUNE '4,1 1E46: main staysails, main and mizen trysails, housed topgallant inasts, and made all snug, Rattler, was the only one of the steamers in company, and she keeping her station admirably, and otherwise doing well. Lat. in, 47 deg. 52 min. N. ; long., 8 deg. 48 min. W. No. VI. MAY 20. REMARKS. This day has been passed under a close-reefed maintop sail, fore and main staysails, main and mizen trysails ; the wind W„ blowing from Bto 9, with a heavy sea on. Some observations were made to-day on the motion of the different ships in heavy weather. The result is that Albion rolled five times to Trafalgar's once, and rolled her main channels under, taking the sea in on her quarter-deck ; in short, it was frightful to look at her. Superb rolled her main-deck ports in, and filled her ward-room from the officers' cabi ns . Vanguard rolled heavily, but not so much as Albion or Rod ney. Queen was best of the Symonites. St. Vincent rolled 27 deg. to starboard and 20 min. to port ; was very easy, but shipped a go( d deal of water on her lower deck, from the new fangled way of securing the ports with screws, instead of the old port-bar and forelock. Rainey behaved well, and, take her in every respect, is the best two-deck ship among us. Queen was obliged occasionally to set her reefed foresail, to prevent her falling off so much to leeward. Rattler, was the only one of the steamers with us, and making very good weather. Lat. in,4B deg. 46 min. N. ; long., 8 deg. 52 min. W. No. VII. MAI- 21. r REMARES• • The wind to-day has been blowing hard from the N. W., and the Superb was early ordered to look out to leeward, and the 'Trafalgar to windward, the utmost sail they could carry being double-reefed topsails, whole courses, fore and main top-gallant sails, jib and spanker; the remainder of the squadron under the same sail as yesterday, with a good deal of motion for the want of more (sail). The Brilliant was brought back among us to-day, and repo-ted having seen two of the steamers on Tuesday, Rattler being the only one with us ; the other five, viz., Terrible, Cyclops, Gla diator, Scourge, and Retribution, having come out to have their sailing qualities tested, are to be yet found ere they undergo that operation. Lat. in, 48 deg. N. ; long., 9 deg. 48 min. W. co. VIII. DIAY 22. REMARKS. The wind and sea had considerably abated during the past night, so much so that St. Vincent in the forenoon exercised firing her middle and lower deck guns from her stern ports ; the reason why she did not exercise before being owing to the dangerous illness of one of the men, who is now conva lescent. It occupied one hour to remove bulkheads, &c., and 10 rounds from each of the four guns—namely, 2 in ward room, and 2 in gun-room—making in all 40 discharges, were fired in 15 minutes. The effects of the concussion were more serious than those produced in the other ships, but it may in some degree be attributed to the loosening of the fastenings of some of the ornamental fittings of the stern, from the working of the ship during the last few days, and not alto gether from the firing. At it was, however, she lost a great part of her stern ornaments during the exercise, and her stern galleries were loosened and suffered proportionally. Carpenters and joiners were called in to assist in putting mat ters in place again, from the other ships of the squadron, though many articles of glass and coarser material were found to be beyond repair. In short, this cruise will be a most ex pensive one to the Government, and an almost ruinous one to the officers' messes, by reason of the many breakages. Gladiator and Scourge rejoined the squadron this evening, Cyclops, Retribution, and Terrible being still missing. Too much praise cannot be given to Rattler for the way in which she has kept her station. The weather we have experieneed has been just such as was wanted to test the steamers' sailing and other qualities, but their separation from the rest of the squadron has prevented most effecrually the comparison from taking place, and it may be a long time now before such _ another opportunity offers. 15 Lat. in, 48 deg. 8 min. N. ; l ong ., 9 d eg . 8 m i n . W. 63 No. IX. MAY 23. REMARKS. 10 16 The weather to-day ha s b een t o l era bl y f a i r : no evo l ut i ons, and nothing doing, save that Gladiator took eight hours to unship her floats, and the ships of the squadron had per mission to communicate wiah each other. MAY 24. REMARKS. To-day there has been a nice breeze from the N.E., blowing 3to 31. In the morning Trafalgar was ordered to look out to leeward, and Brilliant and Rattler to windward; the rest of the squadron in the prescribed order of sailing, in close order. St. Vincent and Queen equal ; Superb better than Rodney ; and Vanguard and Albion on a par, as far as sailing went; but the great feat of the day was Rattler beating Brilliant 2 miles to windward in 4 hours . It really was painful to see so noble-looking a corvette do so badly. Query —would either of the other steamers have done half as much ? Every day proves more and more their inutility under sail alone. May 23—Lat. in, 47 deg. 48 min. N. ; l ong . 9 d eg. 3 8 m i n.W. May 24—Lat. in,47 deg. 47 min. N.; long., 8 deg. 53 min.W. No. X. MAY 25. REMARKS. To-day the weather has been fine, the water smooth, the wind from the N.E., blowing about 3. At 9h. 30m. the squadron exercised at general quarters, firing blank cart ridge. As this was done principally to give the newly raised men an opportunity of reducing to real practice what they have been regularly drilled at without firing since leaving Portsmouth, there is no room to say a great deal about it. Better kept-up firing will of course be attained as soon as the men know more of the drill ; and perhaps real firing more frequently with a few number of rounds would give them more confidence than going through the mere motions, and at last expend all the powder allowed for exercise at one great battue. To-day three rounds froni each ship was the prescribed allowance. "Terrible" and "Cyclops" are still missing. Lat. in, 40 deg. 10 min. N.; long., 9 deg. 30 min. W. No. XI. MAY 26. TRIAL Or SAILING ON A 'WIND. At 11h. 35r0. A.M., Brilliant, Superb, and Rattler started on port tack, the wind N.B. Sail carried, single-reefed top sails, royals, and flying jib ; with a slight swell from the northward, and the force of the wind from 4 to 41/2. RESULT. Ships' Names Brilliant Superb Rattler Superb. Rattler. 103 R EMARKS. This trial terminated very differently from what had been expected, and every one is at a loss in what way to account for it. Brilliant appeared to move without life, even her sails required to be set by signal from the Commodore, and yet by diagram and by eye she held the first place ; Rattler, Scourge, and Gladiator, the only steamers in company; the rest of the squadron in the prescribed order of sailing under double reefed topsails and topgallantsails, St. Vincent maintaining a slight advantage over Queen. Lat. in, 48 deg. 30 min. N. ; long. 10 deg. 13 min. W. No. XII. MAY 27. Last night, at 11 o'clock, the unusual sound of " Lash up hammocks," followed by beating to quarters, was heard, and the night signal to engage was hoisted at the mizen. Ham mocks were up and stowed ; stools, tables, &c., cleared away, and the first gun fired in ten minutes. The time which elapsed between making the signal and firing the first gun was nearly as follows :—Number of rounds fired--three. Time signal was made being at 11 r.m. h. m. sec. h. in. sec. Queen, Ist gun at ... 11 5 00 ceased firing 11 20 00 Vanguard, ditto ... 11 530 ditto ..• 11 17 30 Rattler, ditto ... 11 6 20 ditto ...1 Superb, ditto ... 11 6 30 ditto ... Rodney, ditto ... 11 6 40 ditto Brilliant, ditto ... 11 6 50 ditto ... Albion, ditto ... 11 7 00 ditto ... Trafalgar, ditto ... 11 7 30 ditto ... St. Vincent, ditto ... 11 10 00 ditto ... Gladiator, ditto ... 11 10 30 ditto ... Scourge, ditto ... 11 12 00 ditto REMARKS. It is difficult to state precisely the time of finishing, but the above will be found not very wide of the truth. The particulars relative to St. Vincent were as follows :—At 11h. harr mocks were piged up ; in six minutes they were stowed, and the men at the upper deck quarters covering them. At 11h. 10m, the firing became general on the main and middle decks ; at llh. 17m. the guns on all the decks, except those in the cabins, ward-room, and gun-room) were in full play. At llh. 27m. firing ceased, three rounds having been ex pended. At 11h. 50m. lower deck tables and stools having been replaced, the magazines secured, and decks swept, hammocks were piped down, and at 12 the watch was called. The effect was very pretty, the night fine, a little swell from the northward, and force of wind 3. The squadron was in the prescribed order of sailing, under double reefed-topsails, foresail, maintrysail, and spanker. No accident is reported, and, taken altogether, it must be considered a very creditable performance. The Vanguard's firing was the best sustained. Trafalgar fired a running broadside admirably. Brilliant fired a broadside which told well, and the heavy guns of the steamers produced an involuntary shudder, as their deep re port came booming along. To-day has been passed very pleasantly ; two of the squa dron were sent to look out, the one to windward, the other to leeward, but have not succeeded in picking up the stray sheep. We are crossing and re-crossing the spot fixed on for our rendezvous, but Cyclops, Retrib u ti on, and Terrible are no where to be found. Lat. in, 48 deg. 24 min. N. ; long. 9 deg. 18 min. W. at about h. m. 11 29 No. XIII. MAY 28. TRIAL 01 SAILING ON A WIND. At Bb. 30m. A.M., Queen and Albion started on port tack. Sail carried, whole topsails, royals, and flying jib. Force of wind 3, from E.N.E. to E. by N. N., with a slight confused swell. St. Vincent and rest of squadron under single reefed topsails and topgallantsails, with jib and spanker. The steamers under the same sail. RESULT. Albion beat Queen 1,783 fathoms, or 1i mile. REMARKS. The trial excited but little interest in those who had wit nessed the performances of these two ships on former occa sions. Albion, with a deck less than Queen, and conse quently with less top hamper, and having a greater spread of canvass, ought at least to prove herself the better sailer. Rodney and Superb had a sort of trial on a S. by E course, after all t e ino which Rodney had an apparent advantage, for it can be tribution Ttoapentrent when judged of at a distance of 6 or 7 miles. Lat. at noon, 1 49' tvas more as a look-out than anything else. yet, , exertions made by the Commodore to find Re and Terrible, they will not appear. deg. 34 min. N.; long., 9 deg. 36 min. W. The Gladiator satteadm- COVE OF CORK, MAY 31. lution, which shegleft o a n y J i g e ht from the squadron of evo fll:igate, Captain Robb, arrived here this mornin eveningl of the 29th, about 230 miles to the S.W effectshis ompanoyf.pthaTeehel.aoteThe squadron had Retribution a l all t partedhe o Kale, in which the experienced that remained with the squadron waset?iysteam-frigato the Rattler and Scourge steam-sloops. the Gladiator,t and the 15th, the Cyclops, Terrible, and Brillian e t ni p ght t of company with the squadron, and the Retribution on the night of the 17th, in the gale of wind. The Scourge and Gladiator also parted company, but, on the same night, with the Brilliant, rejoined and kept company with the squadron when the Gladiator left. The larger part of the steam squadron having parted company, there were few steam evolutions; indeed, when the Gladiator joined, she had the signal made to take off her paddle-floats, as she is unable to disconnect her engine, and being obliged to drag the floats through the water, not only strains the engine a great deal, but requires a greater quantity of sail to be carried. Both Gladiator and Scourge appeared to have suffered a great deal during the gale, as they looked as if they had shipped some heavy seas, and their berthing and spon sons appeared to have started; oue of the Gladiator's quarter-boats appeared to have been stove, but in other respects she appeared to have behaved very well, and joined the fleet in good order; and after havi ng t a k en off her paddle-floats, sail e d an d kept company with the squadron under all sail, and certainly appeared by far the finest looking steam-frigate in the squadron; in proof of which it may be stated that with her paddle floats shipped, and her engine connected, she kept com pany with the sailing ships of the squadron, when the Terrible, Retribution, and Cyclops were obliged to part company, and take shelter in the gale from stress of weather. In making her passage to this place the Gla diator broke one of the brasses of the connecting rod of one' of her air pumps, and was obliged to stop her en gines, to discover the defective one, for four hours, but proceeded on her course, and came here with one engine only. She is a noble-looking frigate, and is farlighter on the water than any we have seen here. The squadron may be expected here on the 2d or 3d inst. Extract of another letter, dated Chops of the Channel, May 29 :—"I have only a moment to tell you that the Nuadron are all well' in the Chops of the Channel, this 29th of May. " St. Vincent—sails well. " Queen—not so well as when Sir Baldwin Walker com manded her. " Trafalgar —very badly. " Superb—best. "Rodney—not so well. "Albion—better than Rodney. " 'Vanguard —next to Superb. " The Rattler, propelling steamer, is the only one that has been able to keep company with the sailing ships, all the others or most of them have been damaged. The Terrible lost her rudder, Retribution a paddle-box, Cyclops severely damaged; and you may confidently state that except Rattler not one of our steamers are fit for ocean work,' and they may retire to the Lakes, or into smooth water, as soon as they please. The Rattler has been on the weather bow of the Commodore, her station, every morning at daybreak without a miss. We have had many trials of sailing, in which the false keel and the skill of Captain Corry have made Superb the fleetest of the fleet, and in every evolution, by day or by night, the superior officers of the Superb have proved their superiority. "The squadron go to Cork, land the marines, and astonish the natives. Then on a cruise—then to Bantry-bay—then to cruise—then to Spithead—then to cruise—and then to Plymouth—another cruise—and lay up on the let of Novem ber, unless we should be wanted upon foreign service. "I could have wished to have been more particular, but the signals for 'Letters to England' immediate, leaves me no more time." SQUADRON OF EVOLUTION. We publish in another part of our impression of this day a series of communications from the squadron of evolution, which form a most striking contrast to the observations we had unfortunately occasion to make en the sluggish performances and inefficient command of the trial squadron last year. On the present occasion the whole arrangement of the cruise, the nature of the evolutions, the evident improvement in the ships' com panies, and the masterly handling of the vessels, h ave produced most i n t eres ti ng , satisfactary, and instructive results. The severe gale which blew in the Channel im mediately after the squadron had left Spithead defeated one of the principal objects of this cruise, which was to try the powers of the large steamers under sail, and to put in practice some novel combinations of naval tactics produced by the union of first-class steamers of war with a squadron of line-of-battle ships. But the accidental cause which frustrated this project and dispersed the principal steam portion of the fleet, has served to ex hibit in a most striking light the vast inferiority of our best steamers to ships of the line at sea, and the incon veniences attached to this whole class of vessels. With the exception of the Rattler, which is, we believe, fitted at this time with Woodcrofc's screw propeller, and which distinguished herself on all occasions, under sail as well as steam, the large steamers have proved huge incumbrances to the fleet. The Terrible and Cy clops were missing, for they had, in fact, put back into Plymouth to refit after the first gale ; the Retribution, though less shaken by the gale, parted company on the 17th of May ; and the Gladiator was the only steam frigate that held on with the fleet, and upon her joining the signal was made:to take off her paddle-floats. The Devastation bad proceeded at once on a particular ser vice. As an experimental steam cruise the failure is complete, but it is all the m ore i nstruct i ve. We have never affected to undervalue the importance of steam vessels as auxiliaries to a fleet, more especially in ope rations near land, or in rivers, &c. ; but it is clear that very large steamers constructed on the present system are comparatively useless at sea. If this fleet had been ordered to proceed to the coast of America on a rapid hostile expedition, or if it had been engaged in one of those terrible chases of an enemy's squadron which have so often tried the whole patience and energy of our seamen, the presence of the steamers would have defeated the object, they would have retarded the squadron, and perhaps proved useless for want of coals on their arrival at their destination. The Rattler, indeed, the only screw -propelled steamer of the squadron, must be excepted from these observations ; and the experiment is highly favourable to that inge. nious mode of applying steam power. But, generally speaking, the advantage has been in favour of the prac• tical utility of small rather than of first-class steamers, and none of them have, as sea-going ships, the indis pensable qualities of the man-of-war:under canvass. This experiment has, therefore, greatly strengthened:the con viction we have repeatedly expressed, in opposition to the doctrines of the Prince de Joinville, who holds that steam-vessels are destined to supersede the ancient bul warks of the navy. Commodore Sir Francis Collier de serves credit for the spirit and activity he has infused into the movements of the squadron during this cruise. The trial of the 19th of May between the Vanguard and the Rodney, which our correspondent has described with a sailor's enthusiasm, shows how completely the com manders of those fine ships and their gallant crews have now got them in hand. The night exercise at the guns on the 27th of May was performed with astonishing ra pidity and precision. At 11 o'clock P.M. the order ",Lash up hammocks" was heard, followed by beating to quarters; in five minutes from that moment the Queen fired her first gun, and within seven minutes more the whole squadron had opened its fire, ending with the deep roar of the huge artillery of the Scourge. Thee rounds were fired, and in less than an hour from the first signal the . ships had resumed their former appearance, hammocks were piped down, and at midnight the watch was called. The squadron will probably reach the Cove of Cork about the 9th of June, where some experiments will be made in landing the marines of the squadron,the field-pieces, and a large party of seamen on Spike Island ; and another similar demonstration is also projected on Whiddy Island, in Bantry Bay, where the shore is more difficult of access. As, however, it is intended very shortly to re-assemble the whole sauadron at Ports mouth, for several important reasons, these operations may possibly be postponed. We may hope that the evolutions of the combined steam squadron and ships of the line will still be tried, as they may be applied with increased rather than diminished utility within reach ofour coasts. We trust that, to these pacific and inoffensive exercises, the strength of our navy may long be confined, and that the bare reputation of their power may suffice to shield the honour and interests of the country. But if, without our seeking fresh opportunities to raise the renown of British seamen, and in spite of the sincere efforts of a temperate policy to preserve the tranquillity of the world, we are driven to resort to more decided measures, we are proud to think that a finer squadron has never left our ports, and that it would be followed, if necessary, by reinforcements eager to attain the same degree of excellence. Meanwhile, the detachment of Sappers and Artillerymen who are about to leave Wool wich, under the orders of Captain Blackwood, for the purpose of strengthening the British forts in the Oregon territory, are ready to proceed on their destination, and they will take out with them stores amply sufficient to provide for the defence of that province by the agents of the Hudson's Bay Company.—Times. FATAL ACCIDENT AT LONDON- BRlDGE..—yesterday, Mr. W. Baker, jun., held an inquest at the Town of Rams gate, Wapping, on the body of William Somers, aged eleven years. It appeared from the evidence, that on the 20th of May the deceased was leaning over one of the recesses on London-bridge, when the wind blew the cap off his head on to the stone work outside the balustrades. He attempted to reach it, and, in so doing, he lost his balance and was pre cipitated into the i iver. Every exertion was made to save him, but without effect. A sailor, named Brown, picked the body up off Wapping Old Stairs, on Monday morning last, and conveyed it to the dead-house. The mother identified the body as that of her son. The jury returned a verdict of " Accidental death." VICTORIA PARK.—This now popular place of resort at the east end of the metropolis has been a great source of attraction during the holidays. It was visited on Whit. Sun day alone by upwards of 25,000 persons, and by about 5,000 each on the three following days. Since Easter it has been twice visited by royalty, his Royal Highness Prince Albert having made an inspection on his return from laying the foundation of the Sailors' Church, and the Duke of Cambridge about a week afterwards, each being attended by Mr. Curtis, the forester. LIFE PRESERVER.—On Monday an interesting ex periment was made in the Thames, near Putney-bridge, with a belt filled with cork shavings. It was tied under the arms of a person with his clothes on, who, on rolling overboard, was instantly floated, with his head and shoulders above water, down the stream. The belt was then taken off, and thrown to the person, who, on catching and holding it, floated as before, and was soon drawn on board. The cork belt has this great advantage over the zinc drums some times carried on board steamers, that if it struck the persons on being thrown to them, it could not hurt them, whereas the heavy metal drums might do them serious injury. It is light, cheap, and portable, and, unlike the air -belt, not liable to accident. We think in dangerous boat service (for it has been successfully tried in a heavy sea), in shipwreck, and teaching young people to swim, it will prove clothes on, r in fresh water, with the power Phelps and Cobb, the and this it did to highly serviceable. The object on Monday w as t o t est its the satisfaction of watermen, some gentlemen tion of the buoYancy o useful application on experimental philosophy. • of Mr. D. F. Walker, the lecturer n of the . college,. &c. This simple s c i o m rk ple is in t g h e e ni ira and inventto Previous to the commencement of the present Hertfordshire was divided between the dioceses and Lincoln, and the visitations of the clergy, by the bishops and archdeacon, for the former diocese, have usually been ofLondon and 81 . b i e o al a u l 8 ct r soi h can o ai no, of d tas , r s, Nv r, o h e o x l d a e t n i o a n t of the Ware, wholeand the county latter to a the Hatfield.e diocese of Upon Rochester,the on n the recommendation of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners for England and Wales, a memorial, numerously signed by . the clergy, and at g t .a no e As g n t eh transmitted b r me y aii, and n,Lord t ,rsd consequent oeß i c i n ni requesting ss ehb e a c isoy b tup i i t et n a oh ng n fe ttßtsußho upon that oe f thv n t . ie h nts e town and neigh bourhood, visitations memorialists h h a i his have lordship, the e t i eh r r , ce . and to s i ehi h d v e e i er c a:r fe r o c i arch deacon might be made the ce sn n h t ia r c z tt o ea f nn a district, and that the triennial s h t e . ld there. Albans, w T i l The archdeacon,Grant, Archdeacon might ofbeattended d the to a , n a n n ud_a hold visitations oh ge ven eroa b l o e f D t the eh suggestions his t p i r e im s ar e y f thevi sitation of the clergy and c hurchwardens of the deanery of HertfOrd, ill All Saints' Ciluzda,--Zasex Herald. MAGAZINES_(CONTINUED.) UNION MAGAZINE. The present number of the Union, which completes the first volume, commences with an article, entitled " Revelations of Many Years' Sojourn in Rome," which, although written in a light and mirthful vein, yet fur nishes frequently matter worthy of serious reflection. Take, for instance, the opening paragraph:— " Patriotism is generally considered to be an instinctive attachment to the soil on which we are born. I must con fess myself a stranger to such a feeling, and can only ima gine it to exist in the breasts of those who are not only born on the soil, but possess a portion thereof. In this case the attachment is a mutual one ; and, in return for the benefits derived from a long rent-roll, the possessor has every in. ducement to stand up in defence of, and protect, the charac ter of the friend to whom he is so much indebted." Here we have developed to us the true causo of the in • tense nationality of the French people, and of the cosmo politan carelessness of the bulk of the English. In France, thanks to the aboltion of the laws of primogeniture and entail, every individual almost is possessed of some portion of the land, while no single individual possesses an overwhelming influence. Our territorial constitution, on the contrary, backed up as it is by the laws of primogeni ture and entail, conduces to the formation of great estates. into which all lesser estates become absorbed. The yeoman is destroyed, and is forced either to seek in other countries that property in the soil which is denied him in his own, or to sink into a mere day labourer. In the first case he becomes a patriot of the land which has re ceived and fostered him, in opposition to that land which cast him forth—in the second place, sullen and discon tented, he cannot be supposed to have any very great feeling of attachment to institutions which have worked his ruin; and in the day of peril to those institutions, whether that peril arise from invasion from abroad, or from insurrection at home, it cannot be imagined that he would exert himself very energetically in their defence. The feelings of this writer on the subject of patriotism are more generally diffused throughout the country than our rulers probably imagine, and it would be well that before the hour of danger arrives they should seriously con sider this subject, and by a modification of the laws of inheritance and entail, encourage the large landed pro prietors to sell portions of their estates, so as to enable men of moderate means to invest their savings in land, and thus largely to increase the number of those who have every inducement to stand up in defence of their country, for they may rely upon it that the greater portion of mankind will agree with this writer, who in the next sentence says " For my own part I prefer that country which is productive of the greatest enjoyment to me. The following observations should be written by every traveller in the first page of his note-book before he sets off on his journey, and conned over every time he sits down to journalise his day's adventures. They apply equally to the denizens of every nation:— " It is very unfair to judge the present Romans by our own standard,—we are a commercial, enterprising nation, with a popular Government ;—they, a dispirited, enervated, race. Every effort they make to shake off the stagnant do minion of the priesthood is crushed by the Austrian Govern ment ;—any attempt at improvement in the internal re sources of the country, for facilitating intercourse with other nations, discouraged, or immediately suppressed. The priests, drawn from, and so judiciously mixed with, all classes of the community, so as to render the greater part dependent on their good graces for subsistence, hold the reins of government in all departments of the state, every chan nel of which is diseased with bribery and corruption. They are the victims of might over right, and deserve commise ration rather than scorn. I have mingled in all ranks of society, and found the spirit of freedom universal ; but they cannot alone shake off the yoke. Let those who contrast them with their mighty ancestors and hold them up to deri sion, rather lend them a helping hand to file the chain the very stones of that o g n a l l e l s w ' o s u t dl risem an a y n a d n m o n b t l i e n R y Tan,' a n d The author's account of his sojourn in Rome is written in a lively and animated strain. According to him, Rome, for a lounger of moderate means, must be the pleasantest residence in the world —save and except in the time of the cholera for then it appears the priests and Jesuits, having promised the people that a pilgrimage to the Madonna of Santa Maria Mag giore, which had been transferred t o t h e church of the esuits, would defend them against the plague, and finding that the Virgin refused her miraculous inter position, had recourse, in order to stop the progress of the spirit of unbelief, so dangerous to their dominion, to the wicked expedient of persuading the people that the foreigners resident in Rome were, in order to gratify their religious animosity, administering poison in va rious shapes to the inhabitants, and that its effects were in every respect similar to those of cholera. The con sequence was that a poor Englishman, named Houseal, was torn to pieces in the street by an infuriated mob, and that his funeral procession was obliged to be ac companied by an escort of dragoons, to prevent the mob from attacking those who attended his mutilated remains to the grave. To this paper succeeds the second of the " Quarantine Tales," a stirring story of American India adventure, entitled "Ontario Leathershins." In the paper on the rise and progress of Liberty in England and France, the writer discovers an evident leaning towards Charles 1., whose faults are all either kept in the back ground or turned into' ) virtues, while those of his adversaries are exaggerated. The other papers of this number are all of more than average merit. THE PEOPLE'S JOURNAL. Since this excellent miscellany commenced, it has not merely prospered, but improved; and we attribute this not only to the bright talents engaged in its production —the talents of the Howitts, Barry Cornwall, Charles Mackay, Angus Reach, Ebenezer Elliott, Harriett Mar tineau, Mary Gillies, T. W. Fox, cum ce t er i s paribus— but to the noble spirit by which every article in its com position is actuated. Unlike many of its contempora ries, the name of this journal is no mere catch-penny— it is literally true. The interest of the people, the en lightenment of the people, the amusement of the people, are throughout consulted ; and consulted always with the most spontan eous and genial earnestness. Should it cease from any lack of encouragement, great blame will ipso facto be attached to the multitude to whom it is addressed. We cannot but think, indeed, that the English public owe a debt of gratitude to the more eminent amongst those names which we have enumerated above; for deserting the more lucrative, and what many would erroneously regard as the more honourable, walks of literature, to aid in the dissemination of truth, and goodness, and beauty among the industrious i;ortions of their countrymen. We say those more substantial walks of literature would be erroneously called more honourable, for what can be more honourable to an author than to p art i cipate in some measure in the regeneration of his fellow -men ? What could be loftier, nobler, more elevated in every sense to the bookman ? In what could geni us di splay itself more vividly ? It is impossible not t o perceive the progress which this opinion has already ma d e, and the signal success with which the ideal h as b een substantialised into the utilita rian. Animated with these sentiments, the pen has carved out more lasting glory for humanity than all the swords of all the conquer ors o f every b ygone generation. May such opinions spread and fructify! They have our heart's benison. It i s b ecause we regard the abstract grandeur of this great moral movement in our literature that we are ever rejoiced at any fresh signal of its ad vance. And as one amongst these signals, the People's Journal has ensured our most cordial sympathy. Per haps the most agreeable p aper i n the present part, to us, is the "Biographic Sketch of Leigh Hunt," by William Howitt ; the opening passage has a peculiar tone about it tender, pensive, and affecting. And looking at that exquisite p ortra it o f th e poet, by Margaret Gillies, and reading his " Story of Rimini," it is impossible not to entertain towards him feelings of the liveliest interest. We would annihilate the recollection of his recreancy towards the solemn memory of our great Byron; and would fain trust that the literary pension list (so scanty, when the proverbial indigence of authorship is remembered !) may speedily be adorned with the name of Leigh Hunt. Speedily we say ; for, was he not born in 1784—two and sixty years ago ? Sir Robert Peel (whom, thank God, we may now class among our most patriotic statesmen) not very long since honoured That list by affixing an annual income of two hundred pounds upon Alfred Tennyson ; will he not call to mind the struggles, the labours, the imprisonment, the books of Leigh Hunt ? We hope so : —heartily, we hope so. It would be almost inviduous to particularise one among so many and suc h a bl e contri butions as throng the col umns o f t hi s excellent periodical ; some instructive, some mor a l, some en t e rtaining, but all alike kindly intentioned. Briefly, however, we may ob serve that the People's Journal should be purchased and read. SHARPES LONDON MAGAZINE. In the full spirit of competition, the publish er o f thi s magazine presents to the reading public (and what an immense public it has become !), a singularly good pub lication, at a singularly moderate co s t t o t h e su b scr i bers. is' Elopement quite a minia ture a Its pages are in a particular manne r misce ll aneous ; disquisitions, legends, essays, lyrics, and general litera ture, alternating in a pleasant diversity. The engraving s , moreover, are spirited and characteristic ; that illus tturaretivcearotfoo'n' ;T, hafnd eFa a l n l o o th f e t r h , e en F t l i e t m led ing tsh , e , ' most delicious embodiment of the p oe t ry and the Pure passion of Love. Assuredly, the Lothario is to be en vied in the pie;ture, if not in the story, of which it is the embellishment. The London Magazine i • s creditable both to editor and publisher. e G n . tit C le r d uik , sli T an re k : bersatire on. the pre vailing represented as OUR OWN TIMES. li---'=lustramt deviled men T hedou rage a gsea fronds; cf roirt l ce e he c ,e e , a, i i : sn o e as s t .hi The witheringnh ue, grinding in a mill the hapless operatives while huge bales of goods are being prod uce d f rom the ' hopper to be sold at a " tremendous sacrifice." In the letter-press which accompanies the plate we find the following hints as to the method of the industrious t operati 'ves u :-- o be :pursed to remedy th e m i ser i es " How are the miseries ; of the classes of industrious idantdhaetveervyerpyurnrcraufsearc. ttourperrochuarse a w r h i a g t ht h t e o w g a e n t t h s, is a w t or the operatives we hav e b een de scribing to be remedied? It will l db o oe w ns e ea s ' t possible price. Nott Ling can be truer. But were the former to give their -work-people that share of their profits which they now spend in decorations, and were purchasers of the middl e and afiluo nt classes to show less of that abating and huxtefing spi rit which hunts after ' tremendous sacrifices, the condition of thousands to whose hands they are indebted for t heir chief comforts would be much im proved." 6, Wanted a Mids' hipman" should be read by all young gentlemen who h sve imbibed a t aste for a sea-faring la n t . g i v e o . f: a genius for the arts:— life ; and " High . 6Lrt, in 1 846," is well worthy the at mus_taehios redolent with fumes of tention of those I 7.mtlemen. who fancy that uncombed " High Art has gone, lake other blockheads, to finish his education in Geri nany, and has returned a ' melancholy Monsieur.' There is nothing in existence so oppressive as of a mole inn coxcomb. There is a pleasure in the presence . d a s r t e r a Indicggli tobacco, bair, an noticing the pert • viv acityof a young one, as th ere i s i n fol lowing the freakisl h w Tiggling darts and returns of a water• wagtail ; but the sti fl' inanity of the coxcomb of mature Years—his spathe' d o . e mptiness, whose solemn tones, like a beaten dram or e mg) I barrel; merbeate their own-hollow ness, cause a suffusion of blood in the head as surely as at tempting to breathe in the rare atmosphere of the Alpine summits, or in the exhausted receiver of an air-pump. " High Art, dressed out according to the last German fashion, is little better than an abstraction, and next cousin to nothing. It is passionless, colourless, formless. It is in tolerant of all those mere human passions which ' Elysium knows net, Erebus disdains :' according to its latest ex pounder, the Oxford Graduate, the object of art is to express infinite space by the medium of absolute repose. Colour, we are told, distracts the attention, and weakens the sentiment. Pa:nters are forbidden to use any but the pale, meagre colours of fresco painting. There is licentiousness in the efforts of later artists to imitate the minute details of the human form : the conventional straight lines of Gothic or Etruscan sculpture are the only true medium for the expres sion of the sublime. A figure, stiff and rectangular, as one l h d t tioso heraldic eds rieg s oa c iell u na t te c boi sn i mt e fir o pau i r l ce s ett ise ; sedee c d o ob l fyo lipscuhGrsl r w i n h e i ch gas; h a the e e b o c e 3 n , sa s s : p e n t e b pi s j lre e o o c a; n t_ c e h d o t artists eromr a w an ho flaui fi bnb o te u r r si i ii s en l k i e e lsy d s from study o f th e works of cloistered before men had learned to draw. The kind of drawing which most closely corresponds to the definition of High Art theorists, is that of a Rothschild, where a few stiff lines may express a golden million. This High Art would be ex clusively characterised by negatives, but for the lath and plaster, which is the most indispensable part of it. Fresco is the sine god non of the school : the painter must study under the plasterer, to learn the art of compounding lime and sand, or plaster of Paris; and under the chemist, to know how wet greens turn into dry blues: accomplished in these recondite branches of learning, he needs no more schooling, but may set up at once for an artist." was richly deserved, and has been well l a id on . t a h l e a s ' h ' i h n i g g h w i n ; i r e t h " humbug thata b r u e , g i l n ad hand C an r d uil a t d sh m a i n n l is administered dtaken t ROYAL GEMS FROM THE GALLERIES OF EUROPE. Part I. Worthy of this sounding title is the magnificent pub lication above announced. It is composed of engravings from " National Pictures of the Great Masters, with notices, biographical, historical and descriptive, by S. C. Hall." So declares the title-page, and the contents of part one fully corroborate the declaration. The en gravings are masterpieces in that art by Greatbach, Sharpe, and Cousen ; from masterpieces also by Wilkie, Crowley and Gainsborough. Firstly, there is the famous " Rent Day," as familiar to us all as any piece of Ho garth; secondly, there is " Cup Tossing, an admirable combination of expression, form, and humour ; thirdly, there is " The Cottage Door," embossomed in an um brageous greenery of leaves even in black-and-white. The sketch illustrative of the second plate, written by Mrs. S. C. Hall, is a c h arm i ng d e li neat i on of Irish life, worthy of that popular authoress, in whose wisdom we always recognise the deep pulsations of her heart. The works, which is dedicated to H. R. IL Albert Edward, Prince of Wales, is a splendid specimen of the pictorial art. It is an honour to all engaged in its production: in its way, it is an achievement. HEATH'S GALLERY OF BRITISH ENGRAV INGS. Parts VIII. and IX. This beautiful series evinces the same brilliancy as heretofore ; portrait, landscape, and domestic scene, each is excellent in its way as a production of art, and as an imitation of nature, the highest aim of art. An agreeable sensation of coolness pervades us on looking at the representation of the " Fountains at Versailles," a sensation by-the-way doubly agreeable in the sultry atmosphere of June. And who will not enjoy that sparkling product of Mr. Redgrave's easle, " Waking Dreams 2" Beholding the broken eggs upon the cottage floor, one cannot for a moment mistake that their owner has " counted her chickens before they were hatched ;" and looking into her expressive eyes, one can nearly fathom the emotions of her dream. Mr. Heath proves for the hundredth time his taste in selection. THE PATRICIAN. This number of the Patrician fully maintains its character, as the authority upon all matters connected with archeology, heraldry, and genealogy—these form the staple, but not the exclusive contents of this Maga aine, for we have in addition an excellent critique on the various exhibitions of paintings in 1846, and a good article on the Italian Opera. THE HEROINES OF SHAKSPERE, Part 11. Every enthusiastic worshipper of our Titan poet has, as a matter of course, already possessed himself of Mrs. Jameson's inimitable work upon " The Female Cha racters of Shakspere ;" and, as a matter of course, he will immediately obtain the scarcely less inimitable en gravings under notice. If he be a sensible man he will. And this seriously. Never has mortal analysed the idiocyncrasy of the female heart—that metaphysical and psychological problem —except " our glorious Willy," as he is styled by Spenser. That he has done this we all feel ; and a female has declared the success with which the task has been accomplished —a sensible fe male too, namely Mrs. Jameson. We should possibly be tempted to dilate upon the galaxy of creations coming under the title of the " Heroines of Shakspere "—Miranda, Cordelia, Desdemona, Olivia, and the like—but that we might raise the goblin of Malone by our audacity. To the " Heroines," therefore, simply as representations of " the human face divine." Imogene is the most success fully conceived in the part before us ; the delicious countenance pencilled by the artist is almost worthy of the original, and that is no feeble praise. The hand and arm, however, are actual deformities, and distract the eye by their glaring unnaturalness. Ophelia, though delicate withal, is too immobile in expression ; and Audrey, though pretty, wants individuality. One ex ception have we to make with the title-page, namely, the orthography of the poet's name. Charles Knight has long since settled the ashes of Dryasdust in his grave as regards the true spelling ; he adopts the one found 'in all the signatures still extant in the hand writing of the bard, namely—Shakspere. DRURY LANE THEATRE. Carlotta Grisi made her debut here last evening in the new ballet of Paquita, which for the last six months has been drawing all Paris to the Grand Opera, to the equal delight of M. Leon Pillet, the impresario of that magnificent establishment, and of the denizens of the good city of Paris. Whether it is that Carlotta Grisi has made Paquita, or that Paquita has made Carlotta Grisi, we will not venture to decide —certain it is that Paquita is her chef d'ceuvre, and that her Giselle, her Peri, and even her Esmeralda, are as nothing compared to her Gitana Paquita. The ballet opens with a view of a mountainous pass in the neighbourhood of Saragossa Spanish peasants are discovered tak ing their siesta at the foot of a rock, near which appears a tablet erected to the memory of a certain Charles D'Hervilly, who, with his wife and daughter, had been assassinated near the spot in the year 1795, that is to say, fifteen years before the action of the ballet commences; for the events are supposed to have taken place during the rule of Napoleon over Spain. General D'Hervilly (Mr. W. H. Payne) accom panied by his son Lucien (M. Silvain), enter together, with the Spanish Governor, Don Lopez (Mr. T. Matthews), and his sister, Donna Seriphina, who is betrothed to Lucian. The General then, pointing to the tablet, inti mates that he has caused it to be erected to the memory of his brother. A band of wandering gitanos, led by Inigo (Mr. Howell), enter, and he misses Paquita from his band. Suddenly Paquita (Mademoiselle Carlotta Grisi) appears upon the mountain ; she de scends upon the plain, and becomes the uni versal object of attraction. Inigo makes love to her. She rejects his suit with disdain, but it is evi dent that she is touched with the attentions of Lucien. The pantomime of Carlotta Grisi, in this scene, was ex quisitely expressive, and her pas, albeit it could scarcely be called a pas seul, was replete with grace, and ex hibited some tours de force that were perfectly marvellous. The gitanos then dance the Pas des Manteaux, a most original and picturesque Spanish dance, which was ad mirably given by Mademoiselles Louise and Adele, and the corps de ballet ; and then came a Pas de Sept, by M. Mathis, M. Adrien, Madame Giubilei, Madlle. Adele, Les Sceurs St. Louin, and Mademoiselle Carlotta Grisi, which was exquisitely beautiful ; Carlotta Grisi was, of course the Deesse de /a Danse, and never was she more graceful. Fanny Ellsler herself never surpassed Carlotta Grisi in this marvellous pas de sept. The second act opens in Paquita's cottage. Inigo is there, and Don Lopez enters and bribes him to assassinate Lucien, who is about to pay a visit to the cottage. Lucien arrives, and Paquita after great diffi culty, succeeds in warning him of his danger; and in so exchanging the wine cups, out of which he and Inigo are drinking, as to make the latter swallow the sleeping potion intended for the former. This scene was delightfully performed by Carlotta Grisi, who is dancing the Gitana during the whole time, until at length Inigo fatigued, sinks into a slumber, and she escapes with Lucien. The last scene is Un bal sous l'Empire— and is perhaps one of the most splendid pieces of scenic effect aver exhibited. The stage represents a magnifi cent Moorish Hall, such an one as might have served for a Hall of State in the Alhambra in its palmy days. It is resplendent with music, beauty, flowers, and light. Dancing is going on. Suddenly Lucien and Paquita enter. Lucien at once renounces Seraphina, and de clares his love for Paquita ; who, in her turn recognises and denounces Don Lopez, as the hirer of the assassins who had sought the life of Lucien. In looking round the room she perceives the portrait of an officer. She gazes at it and draws a miniature from her bosom. The features are the same. She is the long lost daughter of the murdered Charles D'Hervilly, and cousin of Lncien, to whom, of course, she is united. The piece concludes with a grand pas seul by Paquita, which exhausts the resources of the choero graphic art, and at the conclusion of which bouquets innumerable were showered upon the stage. Never was triumph more complete than that of Carlotta Grisi in Paquita—never was ballet more successful than that of Paquita with Carlotta Grisi. Both were admirable, and we only hope, for Mr. Bunn's sake (for Paquita would draw bumper houses for the next six months), that Leon Pillet will extend her conga. The House was crowded, and it is almost superfluous to add that at the conclusion of the ballet the fair Carlotta was called for, and received with repeated rounds of applause. Ibrahim Paella has sent to the Prefect of the Seine a sum of 12,000 f., to be divided amongst the poor in the tIP9ITO UTPlieilinsizta of PAric COURT CIRCULAR Sadi A hmet, Envoy Extraordinary from the Bey oh Tunis, had an audience of his Royal Highness Prince Albert, yesterday, at Buckingham Palace, to present the magnificent and costly presents from his Highness the Bey, to her Majesty and her Royal Consort, and his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales. The Envoy was attented by his Secretary and Aide de-camp, and was presented to his Royal Highness by the Earl of Aberdeen, her Majesty's Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. The Lord in Waiting, the Master of the Household, the Groom, and the Equerry in Waiting were in attend ance on his Royal Highness. His Royal Highness Prince Albert, accompanied by their Royal Highnesses the Prince of Wales and the Princess Royal, honoured the Botanical Gardens in the Regent's Park with a visit yesterday. Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent also honoured the gar dens with a visit. Colonel Bouverie was in attendance on Prince Albert. The Dowager Lady Lyttelton ac companied the Royal Family, and Lady Augusta Bruce and Sir George Couper attended the Duchess of Kent. Their Royal Highnesses Prince Alfred and the Prin cess Alice took their accustomed exercise yesterday in the pleasure -grounds of Buckingham Palace. His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge, attended by Baron Knesebeck, returned to town yesterday, from honouring the Earl Bathurst with a visit, at Cirencester. Their Royal highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge honoured the Earl and Countess Brownlow, with their company at dinner yesterday evening, at their residence in Belgrave-square. Major Fraser had an interview with Mr. Secretary Gladstone yesterday, at the Colonial-office. Dispatches were sent off yesterday evening, from the Colonial-office, for the Governor-General of Canada, and also for the Governors of the other North American Provinces. The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council sat yesterday, and resumed and concluded the hearing of an appeal from the High Court of Admiralty, " The Iron Duke." The Lords present were the Lord President, Vice- Chancellor Knight Bruce, Mr. Baron Parke, and the Judge of the Prerogative Court. Sir Thomas Wilde and the Solicitor-General were heard. The Court then rose. SPORTING INTELLIGENCE. (RECEIVED THIS DAY.) MANCHESTER RACES.—YESTERDAY. The Filly Stakes of 10 sovs. each, 5 ft, and 30 added. Mile and a quarter. Lord Stanley's Tour de Force (Holmes) 1 Mr. Cookson's Fair Star Mr. Salvin's Thalia Mr. Osborne's Hopeful ..... by a hea. The Cup of 100 sovs. given Won by the Les d sees of the Race-course, added to a Handicap of 15 sovs. each, &c. Mile and a quarter. Mr. Meiklam's Philip, 6 yrs, Bst ...... . ..... (Templeman) 1 Mr. Whaley's Burgundy, 3 yrs, Est 2 The following also started, but were not placed : Sir J. Gerard's Quebec, 6 yrs, 7st 71b ................. Mr. Worthington's Lancashire Wit c h, 4 yrs, 7st 51b ..... o Mr. Fox's Psalmsinger, 3 yrs, Bst . Mr. Eddison's Little John, 5 yrs, 7st 0 Mr. Dawson's Lord Harry, 3 yrs, sst 41b Mr. Osborne's The Red Vixen, 3 yrs, sst ...... 0 Won by a length. The other races were not run when our account left. PRIVATE BILLS. Return of a List " of all the Private Bills applied for during the present session of Parliament, for which a Subscrip tion Contract, or undertaking in lieu of a subscription con tract, has been deposited in the Private Bill-office, classi fied according to the nature or object of the work; stating the Amount of the Estimate for each work, of the Capital Stock to be raised in each case, and the Sum authorised to be Borrowed over and above such Capital Stock, and showing the Total Amount of the Estimates, Capital and Money, to be Borrowed for each Class of such Works." SUMMARY. Description of Bills. 1. Railways 2. Navigation and Canals 3. Waterworks 4. Ferries and Docks 5. Piers and Harbours 6. Bridges 7. Roads . 8. Miscellaneous Total Estimate Expense. 259,329,450 377,950 1,786,251 3,427,183 531,627 130,000 22,367 237,558 Capital Stock. 254,050,760 170,000 1,950,600 1,650;000 272,000 277,500 1265,842,3861258,370,8 i r Money authorised to be Borrowed. SUGAR. 90,472,095 226,600 901,433 2,033,000 294,933 60,000 282,500 94,270,561 The following is an Account of the Quantity of Foreign Sugar admitted into consumption in this country, from the 14th day of March, 1845, to the sth day of April, 1846, distin guishing that admitted under certificate as the produce of free labour, and that which has been admitted under the sti pulations of the treaty : Admitted under certificate as the produce of free labour .. • ... 91,692 cwts. Admitted under the stipulation s of the treaty ... 396 „ Aggregate of quantities admitted to home consumption 92,088 „ ST. ANN'S SOCIETY SCHOOLS, BRlXTON.—Yesterday the yearly meeting of the boys educated in this admirable institution, which since its establishment in 1800 has main tained and apprenticed upwards of 1,000 boys and GOO girls, the children of parents formerly in prosperous circumstances, was held at the establishment, Brixton, the Dean of Hereford in the chair. The Rev. Mr. Laing read various certifi cates of good conduct and ability, which were received from the boys' employers. The chairman then distributed the prizes, which consisted of books, to the successful candi dates; after which Mr. White conducted the visitors over the wards, dormitories, and grounds of the institution, point ing out the various improvements that had been made since our last visit. BRITISH AND FOREIGN UNITARIAN ASSOCIATION.— Yesterday the annual meeting of the members of this asso ciation was held at the Essex-street Chapel. The anniver sary sermon having been preached at eleven o'clock by the Rev. Mr. Robberds, of Manchester, the meeting was held immediately afterwards. The chair was occupied by J. B. Estling, Esq., of Bristol, supported by several ministers and gentlemen. After a succinct address from the chairman, the treasurer read the financial statement, according to which it appeared that the balance from last year amounted to 118/. 135., which, with annual receipts and other items, made a total of 863/. 1 ls. 4d., being rather an increase on the average of the last three years, which was 8291. The an nual subscriptions amounted to 6291. 95., the average for the three preceding years being 545/. 16s. The expenditure during the year had exceeded the receipts, owing to in creased demands on the association, not to any falling off in the funds. The total sum laid out amounted to 1,0091. ss. 4d., there being consequently a balance remaining against the society. The sum of 521/. had been given towards poor congregations. The funded property of the association con sists of 1,9451. in the Three per Cents., and some other smaller investments. The financial statement having been adopted, the annual report was read. It referred at some length to the proceedings of the committee in various parts of the country, and stated that several thousand tracts and Unitarian publications had been extensively distributed or sold at nominal prices. The report was agreed to, as were resolutions in accordance therewith, proposed by gentlemen present. THE LATE MELANCHOLY CASE OF POISONING IN ANNAN.—We understand Professor Christison reports that he has discovered common arsenic in the sediment of the porter left in the bottle from which the late Rev. Mr. Dobbie and his wife, and their friend Mr. Pool, had drunk. The precise quantity has not been ascertained, but he thinks it will not be less than a dessert spoonful. There must have been negligence of the most culpable kind in the cleaning of that bottle at least.—Dumfries Courier. CAPTAIN SPURT'S EiPLORING PARTY.—lntelligence has been received at Adelaide, South Australia, from Mr. Pierse's party, which was on its re t urn t o C aptain Sturt with supplies. The letters are dated November 14, and they were then at a distance of 350 miles from Adelaide, and had not been visited with a shower from the day of their departure. They had fallen in with an overland party, 21 in number, so much distressed from the exhaustion of their provisions that they had killed some of their own beasts for subsistence. This party had lost between 200 and 300 head of cattle, out of about double the numher with which they started from the pasturage of New South Wales. The number of wild cattle in the interior of New South Wales, the descendants of estrays from the herds of settlers, would appear to be countless; Mr. Pierre's party had met with innumerable herds in the highest possible condition. The writer of one letter says that millions, rather than thousands, would most adequately convey an idea of the vast numbers of these cattle, who must have had the advantages of some extensive, rich, and uninterrupted pasture. THE LATE SWINDLING CASE AT WINDSOR, &C.— WINDSOR, WEDNESDAY.--Under the impression that it WAS not unlikely letters might have arrived through the post, at Windsor, for the person who had swindled the innkeeper and tradesmen in this vicinity out of their property, Mr. Dotesio, of the Royal Hotel, Slough, caused inquiries to be made this morning at the Windsor post-office, in order, if such had been the case, to endeavour, to find means to trace the soi disant Mr. Wyndham. A letter was found lying at the post-office, which was originally addressed as follows, and in apparently the handwriting of a woman: —"J. H. Wynd ham, Esq., Collonade Hotel, Charles-street, Haymarket." The latter prrt of the direction had been crossed out, and re-addressed to "Windsor." It appears to have been p os t e d in Cleveland-street, Fitzroy-square, on Friday, the 29th of May, the very day on which he obtained the property in this neighbourhood, and left the Royal Hotel for town. A letter has been forwarded this evening to the secretary to the Post master-General, from Mr. Dotesio, suggesting that if the letter were returned to the General Post-office, and opened by the proper authorities, for the purpose of ascertaining if it would be the means of enabling those whom he has plun dered to discover the place of his retreat, in order that he might be apprehended and brought to justice, the public would be materially benefited by a stop being put to his ne farious " doings." During his stay at Slough he called twice at the Windsor post-office and received his letters, which were merely addressed, " J. H. Wyndham, Esq., Windsor." THE ROYAL THAMES YACHT CLUB—CHALLENGE Cur MaTcn.—The great trials of aquatic skill between members and owners of yachts belonging to this club will come off to-morrow (Friday). The start will take place at Greenwich, and sail to Coalhouse-point, below Gravesend, and back. The following will start :—Prima Donna, Thom as Harvey, Ino, H. Gibson, Esq. ; Secret, J. Smith, E sq. ; Vixen, Esq. Messrs. ; Heighintons ; Belvidere, Lord A. Paget ; Fleur-de-Marie, Twisden Hodges, Esq. The Star steamer will accompany the yachts in the match, for members and their friends only. To MILITARY IMPOSTORS.—Found, on the Epso m race-course, a pair of moustaches. They are of a dark colour, and turned up at each end. The proprietor can have them by lencligghis 1141310 and Widnafi teo our pacre,..../214nch, ' HORRIBLE MURDER and SUICIDE , • The neighbourhood of Widegate-street, Bishopsgate, was thrown into a state of great consternation last evening by the rumour that a man named Towny, residing at No. 13, in the above street, had committed suicide, having first murdered his wife. It appears that the deceased and his wretched partner were ;le parents of three children, the eldest of whom, a girl about o.'irteen years of age, went to the lodgings occupied by parents ; a second pair back in the house in question, about four o'clock yesterday after noon. She knocked at the door, but receiving no answer, the girl looked through the keyhole, and saw her father in a po sition which led her to believe he was in a fit,. Having given the alarm, the door, which was locked, wss burst open, and Towny was found quite dead, suspended from the bedstead. A paper was found pinned to his coat, which con tained a statement of the motives that induced the unhappy man to commit the rash act, viz., the dread of approaching starvation. Towny carried on the business of a jobbing tailor, or " slobberer," as it is technically called, and had. been out of work for a considerable period. About three quarters of an hour after the discovery of his dead body, in. pushing the bedstead nearer the wall, the body of his wife was discovered on the floor under the bed. The poor woman was also quite dead, and from the appearances presented, it was evident that she had been inhumanly strangled. Her hands were tied together, and were tightly and convulsively clasped. It is said she was given to drink ing, and it is supposed that her husband, on going home about two o'clock, found her lying on the bed intoxi cated, and he thereupon proceeded to tie her hands. The act of strangling her was not accomplished without a. scuffling noise, which excited the notice of the neighbours. They called out, supposing them to be fighting, and the noise ceased, the woman being unable to offer much resist ance, either from the effects of the liquor she had drunk, or, as is conjectured, from the operation of some drug which had been administered, with or without her own consent, by her husband. The ill-fated woman was at the time of her death in daily expectation of her nceouchement, and it is considered remarkable that the manner of her untimely death did not bring on the pains of premature parturition. It is rumoured that Towny or his wife mad e application to the parochial: authorities for temporary relief during the period of her Con finement, and that relief was refused them unless they went into the workhouse, with which condition Towny could not bring himself to comply. The truth of this, and other ru mours in connexion with this lamentable affair, will undergo full investigation at the inquest, which is expected to be held. this day (Thursday). According to some reports, the wretched husband took the life of his wife with her own con sent, but this is scarcely consistent with another statement which appears entitled to credit—that he has repeatedly been heard to threaten her life, and that he has on previous occa sions proceeded to various acts of ill-usage. Three children are made orphans by this lamentable occurrence, which, from the circumstances of the woman's condition, the alleged refusal to give her temporary relief, and the misery which they were known to have endured during the period of the husband being out of work, has created the greatest sym pathy in the neighbourhood. ALLEGED MURDER in SHAD WELL Yesterday a coroner's jury was convened at the Half Moon, Lower Shadwell, before Mr. Baker, jun., on view of the body of Ann e Sl oman , w h o came b y her death in a mys terious manner at the house of 6, Labour-in-Vain-street, Shadwell. From the defence insinuated in the statement of the man Gibbins, who stands charged with having caused her death, he would evidently have it inferred that the de ceased (who, according to his statement before the magis trates, was very much gone in liquor at five o'clock on Mon day evening), must have gone home and have fallen down stairs in the course of the night, thereby sustaining the injuries from which she died. The appearances of the place, however, coupled with the position in which the body was discovered, render that supposition very improbable. Neither is there in the vicinity in which she lay any wood, or other hard substance, which would inflict a wound of the shape of that which the deceased's head exhibits. Indeed, nothing on the staircase indicates any sign of a fall, but there are other marks which tend to show that there had been a struggle in the parlour, and that the death-blow had been inflicted there. On the wall is the perfect impression of a female hand, which must have pressed there with great energy, so closely is the outline delineated, and there are also spots of blood on the parlour door. The spots on the wall, spoken of by Mr. Ross in the examination before the magistrate, would correspond with the supposition that in dragging the body of the deceased from the parlour to lay it in the position in which it had been found, her head touched the wall. One of the most mysterious portions of the case is, that so little blood was to be seen. The spots on the wall, door, and staircase, together with what was found on the sacking on which the wretched creature's head rested, were as nothing in proportion to the wound. The only way in which the phenomenon :can be accounted for is, that the blood was shed in the parlour, and was subsequently washed away by the spirit and water with which the apartment had been afterwards flooded. Indeed, more blood by far has oozed from the wound since the body was removed up stairs than was visible on its first discovery. The appearance of the house, which consists of four apartments, was wretched in the extreme. The jury, having viewed the body and the . premises, ac companied by Mr. Ross, the surgeon, who pointed ont the appearances which he had already observed, returned to the inquest-room, when The CORONER said that, having two previous engage ments, he would only call such evidence as would prove the identity. Anne Sloman, the mother of the deceased, a widow, re siding at 108; Eastfield-street, Limehouse, was then called. She said the deceased, whose n ame was Anne (not Jane) Sloman, was her daughter. She was an unmarried woman, and lived for some time with Gibbins. They only went to the house in Labour-in-Vain-street that day week. She was 28 years of age. Witness saw deceased alive for the last time about half-past two on Monday, in the house where she re sided with Gibbins. There was another woman, who witness understood lived there. Deceased went out with witness, and. was quite well and in good spirits. This was the only evidence taken yesterday, when the further hearing was adjourned until ten o'clock this day, the coroner requesting that Inspector Valentine would have the man in custody on the charge in attendance. The result of the post mortent examination made by Mr. Ross tends to confirm the supposition that personal violence had been used. The marks on the face alluded to on the trial, and of which he then expressed a doubt as to whether they were the results of violence, he now feels satisfied were pro duced by blows. There was A slight fracture of the skull under the wound. One of the large veins had been ruptured, causing extravasation of blood on the surface of -the brain s from which death ensued. SUMMER CIRCUITS. NORFOLK CIRCUIT. Yesterday the Right Hon. Sir Edward Hull Alderson, Rut., one of the Barons of the Exchequer, and the Hon. Sir John Williams, lint., one of the justices of the Queen's Bench, the judges appointed to proceed on this circuit, finally appointed the days for holding the assizes in and for the several coun ties comprised in the circuit—viz. for Buckinghamshire, Friday, July 10, at Buckingham. Bedfordshire Huntingdonshire, Friday, „ 17, at Huntingdon. Cambridgeshire Cambridge. Norfolk with. Norwich and City, Same day at the Guildhall. Suffolk Tuesday, „ 28, at Ipswich. The days for holding the Assizes in and for the several counties on the Northern, Western, Midland, Oxford, Home, and North and South Wales Circuits have not yet been finally appointed. THE QUEEN'S BIRTH-DAY.—The following order, re lative to the observance of the day appointed for the cele bration of her Majesty's birth-day, has been issued by com mand of the Lord Chancellor :—" Whereas by the tenth of the general orders of this court, of the Bth of May, 1845, it is provided that the Lord Chancellor may from time to time, by special order, direct the offices to be closed on days other than those mentioned in the fifth of the same orders. And whereas Tuesday, the 9th of June instant, has been appointed for the celebration of the anniversary of her Majesty's birth day; and such event has heretofore been observed as a general holiday in the several offices of this court. His Lordship doth, therefore, order that the several offices of this court be closed en Tuesday, the 9th of June instant.—S. COl.r.as t Registrar." The Duke of Cambridge will preside at the centenary dinner of the Lock Hospital and Asylum, at the London. Tavern, on Friday, the 17th instant. ROYAL ACADEMY OF MUSIC GRAND F BALL.—The exchange of v . ; t u o c o h ni e s rE . Llv_i_l_ rooms.—We be ere continued to an nounceday at the lianovr: u ANnctirauDedßEtsero b 11 another, of the most extensive in preparation for this has been formed, under the di dim and splendid character, re that, in addition g _ to the quadrilles which were already in whether er th T e ur C k t e l y sto c r a us rpe : t — s TURKEY CARPETS.—The following minute has been of one of the lady patronesses of this ball. by been t h e e n te rt in Commissionersed iss having ued D ar free btel of duty, or liable to the duty of ten per cent. ad valorem, a* " Woollen Articles or Manufactures of Wool. &c., wholly or in part made up, not otherwise charged with duty," under the Resolutions of the House of Commons, transmitted int the order of the Lords of the Treasury, dated the 18th of March last, and their Lordships having expressed their con-. currence in the opinion of the Board, that Turkey carpets are liable to such duty :—Ordered, that Turkey carpets anti also cotton fringe, and all other articles of woollen or cotton manufacture, wholly or in part made up, not other-. wise charged with duty, be charged with the duty of 10 per cent. ad valorem, and the officers at the port of London, and at the outports of the kingdom, are to govern themselves in the matter in future accordingly. THE STATE AND PROSPECTS OF THE POTATO CROP.--. The season being now sufficiently far advanced to enable farmers to judge of the state of the potato crop, we have been enabled to obtain such information as goes to show that although in some districts a partial failure has taken place, the generel aspect of the plant is of a promising character. In Warwickshire, where the disease was severely felt last year, there have been no blanks worth notice. In Derby shire there are no complaints, and in the potato districts of Yorkshire, on which the London market chiefly depends for a supply of the esculent, the crop never wore a more healthy' appearance. From the accounts in the Scotch papers, it would seem that no trace of the disease has manifested itself, although it was feared that the seed was in some cases con.. siderably damaged, and put into the ground without muds hope that it would spring freely. FIRE AT FREEMASONS' HALL.—Last night, between the hours of ten and eleven o'clock, the greatest excitement was created in the immediate vicinity of Lincoln's Inn-fields, in consequence of a report being circulated that the Free.' masons'-hall was on fire. Very speedily the several engine of the London Fire Establishment, together with those of the parish, and two escapes belonging to the Royal Society f o r the Protection of Life from Fire, reached the spot ; it Wilt then ascertained that the gallery at the end of the grants hall had, from some cause that could not be satisfactorily explained, become on fire. From inquiries made on the spot, it appeared that whilst the Freemasons were holding one of their general quarterly courts, the members of the craft experienced a strong smell of burning wood. At first no particular notice was taken of that circumstance ; but shortly afterwards the Earl of Zetland, the Grand Mastetf noticed smoke issuing from the top of the splendid statueo' his late Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex. An i n s ta l alarm was then raised ; the business of the Freemasons wi abruptly terminated; and very speedily the numerous do mestics of the place were engaged in procuring bucketscst water, which they discharged upon the gallery; this had the desired effect of preventing the flames from extending, but upon the arrival of the firemen, they commenced tearing up the flooring of the gallery, where they found the joisting and rafters smouldering away. With the assistance of more water, the whole of the fire was extinguished. It is, however, to be feared, that the statue of the late illustrious Grapy Master has suffered to some extent by the disaster. THE PORTUGUESE MlNlSTRY.—Accounts have beti received in Paris from Lisbon, through Spain, dated the ult. They state that the Duke de Palmella had partly me, ceeded in forming a Cabinet. M. de Pelmella, President 3 ' the Council, takes ad interim the portfolios and finances Tit Duke de Terceira is Minister of War, and the irltu'quik 1. $ 1 4 1 4.4 1 A Millititer of Foreign Affairs.