The Sun. — London, England, 1848-04-21 00:00:00

ITALY TWENTY YEARS SINCE. The last journey I took from Rome here w as de layed till midnight by my kind friend proceed ing from Genoa to Naples as envoys. He wished me to take dispatches (containing the Quarterly Review and other printed matter); the consequence was that e fell asleep on the Pontine marsh at sunrise. My companion has had an intermittent for several weeks, which is slowly giving way to bark and change of Cr;4 I was violently sick for two hours and thought myself poisoned, but was pretty well next day : the sur geon attributed b o th to the pestilential air. In this miserable country they die at 45, and are bro ught hither f o r cr i mes ; I had been told of their zurious driving, and the road a straight line across n !at.. The brigand cou ntry is a little further on a .sards Naples, and hardly beyond the caltiva aria (malaria is not Italian) which is said to go as far as :Fondi. The mountains, trackless and inaccessible, of c old grey limestone with scattered bushes, supply them a retreat : these districts contain a picturesque and fe roc i ous people whose m i nds seem poisoned by the bad air which gives a desperate turn to the cha racter. Large Austrian picquets are barracked every quarter mile from Terracina to Mola di Gaita ; Yet still they contrive to have travellers out, fascia a terra, sack all and be off before an alarm—the ,Vickest people in the world against the slowest. -the robbers' names are known, and marked in the public returns as fuorusciti. A whole village was . I . aurned, th e women f ed at pu bli c expens e, and visited D ! English ladies at Rome : another town, Itri ought tbe bur ne d. I went to R ome w ith a Mr. A., re turned with a Mr. 8., and live now with a Mr. C., 1 2 ° W interesting ! the carriage I would much rather car ry if I could, and when Milleret is fine, I some %lmes off er hi m f ran kl y to c h ange p l aces ; could I y More ? I never once caught cold at Naples , i bombe are mistaken about " Lapland and Norway ; y think that you should merely avoid the is allest tendency to aguish or rheumatic air. Naples as bracing as Norway. • Whell the low Neapolitans found the reign of M urat suddenly ca ll e d, l'occupazione militaire, they fancied it must be the wife of Murat. L'occupazione • Zre ► La moglier di Murat ? So co4uzione e costipazione. Murat's reign is sometimes ‘ ca .. iled the decennio. In this domain of music, stand ing on a balcony, and looking at the King's solemn procession to an air not national (they have none), figured to myself the enthusiasm if they had a national song; Datemi un se, e poi tutto farb. Three general officers and hundre.ls of state prisoners are in' , t n h ,e castle of Sant' Elmo which scowls over the town. Jae • emporary hop e s from the new King are dtsub below zero; a t h un d er storm h appens , he falls co I ,h,is knees b e f ore hi s go d s , i mag ining the storm to ."` the wrath o f h eaven f or no t e xterminating 1 the Car rnari, and vows on th e n e x t occasion not to offend so again , and His portraits have the signs of benevolence , venerati on enormously marked on his head, and this is what every one says of his character. The San Carlo was illuminated on sth March, 1825 ; the new King, having in the morning gone in solemn procession to the cathedral, appeared in the state box. T he morning procession was very gothic : gilded and azed coaches, coachmen in wigs, eight horses. The Th e di rispetto, an empty state coach, went first. I t l .o roy a l c hi ldren followed, a b eaut if u l f a mily, the elde st daughter a b eau tif u l girl (Christina). There was not a littl e me l anc h o ly in the sight of these chil dren; I could h ave cr i e d over them. Since the world began, tragedies have been acted in Kings' houses ; within the hollow circle of a crown Death holds his "art, and there the antic sits and grins." Surrounded are these little fat fair things by dangers to which 15 , 0 00 Austrian mercenary bayonets, on double pay an d double officered, are barely a counterpoise. They k now not their fate, but then their consciousness is Charlotte ! n1°41161 '4• How timely the death of the P rincess Woe unto us, not her, for she sleeps well ! The fickle reek of popular breath, the tongue of hollow counsel, the false oracle Which from the birth of monarchy bath rung Its knell in princely ears, till the o'erstrung Nation s have arm'd in madness, the strange fate Which tumbles mightiest sovereigns, and bath flung Within their blind omnipotence a weig ht "ithin the opposing scale, which crushes so on or late : These might have been her destiny, but no, Our hearts refute it; and so young so fair, Good without effort, great without foe— tfow many ties did that stern moment tear! From thy sire's to his meanest subj ect's b reast It link'd the electric chain of that despair Whose shock was as an earthquake's, and opprest The land which loved thee so that none could lcve the best. In the evening, the shock-beaded boy fell fast asleep with cordons bleus standing behind him, and the heir-apparent, in spite of his erect posture and assumed Majesty, began to play very intently with his play-bill. The Prince of Lucca was in the royal side boxes. After the cantata, composed for the occasion, before the Opera, he came to pay his re spects to the King, went back to his own box, sat down in the back part of it and seemed to perspire freely. Nearly half the scats in the pit are reserved for the military ; these red-coats acted as claqueurs. here, as in the morning, no man cried God bless aun, and yet this man contrives to be thought a t Whig, and has always behaved well. The Queen nas a bad character as far as common fame goes. The foreign courts bear an immense proportion to their respective cities, instead of being as with us a corner, and perhaps not the most brilliant corner, of society,-.--for what proportion did Blomfield, Blomberg, &c. bear to London. But at Naples, an immense city, the persons who bear the royal livery Meet you at every step, and the inhabitants seems to have nothing else to do but to pull off hats, and the soldiers to beat drums and present arms as the out rider aroaches. Sir G. B. gave up walking the pp Streets of Genoa, from the oppressiveness of the royal carriages (there, indeed, nothing but the court is to be seen or heard of), and yet this was ungrateful, for his little boy was the only person that the King ever was seen to take notice of, and always took his glass to look at him. At Naples, the royal family take notice of those who touch their hats : not so at Turin and Genoa. When the royal carriages come in, women throw memorials into them. I have made an expedition to Paestum, forgive me when I tell you any thing twice : great part of the road is beautiful, the ruins are the remains (the most Perfect I believe existing) of three Doric temples, the principles of the architecture more simple than that of the Athenian temples, which is attributed net to antiquity but to obscurity. But for the beauty of the road, it would not in my opinion be worth a Person's while, unless he were a big-wig in architec ture, to go so far, more than fifty miles, to see the place: models are made, of cork and also of the at one itself, which give a charming idea of the ruins. T he place is flat and barcish, mountains not distant, sea visible. The remains of this worn-out pen shall prose about Italy Italy is bounded to the north by the Alps, in a general way • these may be divided for convenience to the mind, into, 1. The High Alps of Savoy Alps, which includ e A. Blanc, M. Rosa, &c. 2. The t ern ese Oberland (Jungfrau, Finster-Aarhorn, &c.). ',between these is the broad valley of the Rhone, at calledP of which is the passage of the Simplon, so from a neighbouring peak. 3. The Mari lune Alps, which com e d own t owar d s F rance . Ni ce ( Niue) is in Piedmont close to the frontier. 4. More to the east are the Rhaetian Alps, which include the c anton of the Gris ons , an d I elieve, the Tyrol. Corning from Milan to Turin the Alps seemed close to us on the right : Turin stands in the corner, the mountains take a sharp turn to the left and become Apennines no one knows where. In the Alpine valleys of Piedmont the first Protest ants, of whom the world was not worthy, were hunted like wild beasts. Milan and Turin may be said to be between Alps and Apennines; Parma, Ravenna, Modena, Ancona, East of Apennines ; Florence, Rome, Naples, TlTest. The barbarized dis tricts of Calabria are all Apennine. These moun tains or their projecting ridges are always close to You; every view encadre by them so that the horizon is always diversified. To the same almost solely I attribute the bad air. There is scarcely any wind except, in some districts, mountain-squalls and (for instance Naple s ) sea -b reezes. T he ma l- ar i a, as we call it, increased on the Romans with their corrup tions, as appears from their authors, and many towns were depopulated: the moderns more ener vated and civilized feel more acutely the same cause. This last is my satisfy le. n theory, and the two causes to getherdown as far - as The ancient Cisalpine Gaul came divided into Subal Ancon a nd the Rubicon, this was Pina pad ( piedmont , Genoa, &c.), and Citpadana, and Trans• a c n i a s I(d.ivided by the Padus or Po ). So far Gallia was Etruria, Latium IJ b"ma. The remainder , in ria, Calabria, &c. and salpina Rome the Queen. Gallia Ci was also called Togata, I suppose because the freedom of the city, at all events had mostly the had mostly customs, &c. Etruria was powerful long which rose on its ruins. It came as far as Civita , : Castellana. Italian means Tus can as to langu age Dante, Galileo, Petrarch, Tasso , Macehi ave l , and Boccaccio were Tuscans. I mentioned the moun tains as being a constant yet amusing companion to a traveller. As to the mal-aria, the north side of a mountain is sheltered from the north wind nearly as much as the south, there being no thorough draught of air : thus sheep are observed to. find shelter to windward of walls among the eddies of air. At Rome and 'Turin, as also in the valley of the Rhone, all the wind " blows over." Dining with the Eng lish Minister at Turin, down fell two chimney boards : "The Tramontana " said he, and going home at night th e c l a tt er o f w i n d ow shutters, none Ibeing fastened, was universal. Rome stood in an atilphitheatre of seven hills, six still discernable, c ar ratiged in a Semicircle wh o s e c h or d i s th e 'I, her: a pitol near th e cen t re : ot h er hi l l s, Vat i can, Jani -11111, beyond the Tyber. ,Population :—Naples • nearly 400,000 ; Milan, 130,000; Pisa, much depo pulated, 16,000 ; Florence in 1348, according to Boccaccio, 150,000, now 70,000 ; Turin and Genoa, capitals of the King of Sardinia, 80,000 each. Rome under Claudius, 5,000,000; at one time according to Vossins, 14,000,000; under Constantine, 1,140,000 according to Gibbon and the ancient Victor ; under the Barberini, 300,000 according to M. Jouy ; now according to Simond, 131,356. I miss the spring very much at Naples; how de • lighted to s:e those straight vines become festoons of leaves and grapes ! Sunshine is but too rare, and the sea being merely a reflection of the sky, it is greyish muddy, brownish yellow. England is the place for bad weather ; sea-coal fires, books, field sports, verdure refreshed with rain, and various odours afterwards which Italy knows not. The grey colouring of Claude's morning comes from the olive which loses nothing by winter, but there are not many here. The sky in Italy excels not much in clouds, but rather in sky and earth and sea. Bad weather is the same everywhere, but a spot of sun shine in Italy is contrasted in a very extraordinary . manner with the surrounding shadows, and has in variably at this wintry time a distinct hue.—Letters from Naples, privatly printed. FLORICULTURAL SOCIETY. The first Flower Show of the Royal South London Floricultural Society for the present season took place on Wednesday, at the Horns Tavern, Ken nington. The collection of specimens, though some what smaller than usual, owing to the late prevailing damp and wet, was of a remarkably fine order, a great improvement in floral cultivation being observ able in it. The flowers showed a greater quantity of large, fine, and perfect blossoms of every imaginable shale and colour; the Azalias, for example, were re markable for their size and the profusion of rich blossoms they presented, and which almost entirely covered the plants to the height of several feet ; among these the Azalia Pulcherrima, the Azalia Speciosissiinum, and the Azalia Indica Alba ap peared to attract particular attention and commenda tion. Some of the cut flowers were also fine, but they exhibited strongly the effects of disease, caused by the wet. The heaths, always a feature in these shows, were equally es good as those of former times, their trim shape and quiet, modest flower affording a striking contrast to the mere gaudy, but not more pleasing, plants which surrounded them. Erica Elegans and Erica Propendens were two very admi rable specimens. A circumstance worthy of especial remark was the exhibition of some very fine seedling auriculas, namely, Chapman's Sarahaum, hnd Dick son's Dr. Horner, &c. There were several boxes of heartsease of a very good order, some of the darker ones having the appearance of rich velvet. Oa the table w ith these was a basket of strawberries, the size and fragrance of which offered strong temptation to the spectators. Some fine cucumbers were also shown. The following were among the prizes awarded : 7 —The Royal Adelaide Cup, presented by her Majesty the Queen Dowager, for the best ccl lection of miscellaneous plants, to Mr. Cole; gold Adelaide medal, for the best collection of miscella neous plants (orchideous plants excluded), to Mr. Tye ; the large silver Victoria medal, for the second best ditto, to Mr. Bruce; small silver Victoria medal, for third best ditto, to Mr. Young ; small silver Victoria medal, for the best pair of auriculas, to W. Ginger, Esq. ; small silver Linnaean medal, for the second best ditto, to Mr. Chapman ; small silver Adelaide medal, for third best ditto, to Mr. Trahir ; small silver Victoria medal, for the best 24 heartsease (dissimilar), to T. Edwards, Esq.; small silver ',lnman medal, for the second best ditto, to Mr. Over; small silver Adelaide medal, for the third best ditto, to H. Bridges, Esq. In the second class, gold Adelaide medal, for the best collection of mis cellaneous plants, in 18 pots (orchideous plants ex cluded) to Mr. Pauley; small Victoria medal, for the best collection of four auriculas, to J. Dickson ; small silver Linnwan medal, for the second best ditto, to Mr. Bushell; small silver Linnwan medal, to Mr. Ivery, for the best 12 Cinerarias, in pots, and dissi milar. The extra prizes by the society were given to Mr. Dickson, for a collection of auriculas ; Mr. Fowle, Sudbury, for collection of primroses; Mr. Cutter, for pansies ; Mr. Hamp, for miscellaneous plants ; Mr. Pauley, for specimen plant ; Mr. Bruce, ditto; Mr. Hamp, ditto; Mr. Young, cut flowers ; Mr. Jackson, cucumbers; Mr. Dickson, for seedling auriculas—Doctor Horner; J. Chapman, Esq., ditto —Ada ; Mr. Thompson, ditto, parsey—Privateers ; Mr. Turner, ditto—Example; Messrs. Bragg and Bright, ditto—not named. The exhibition was very well attended throughout the day, and was much enlivened by the performance of an excellent band of music. SPORTING INTELLIGENCE. TATTERSALL'S.—Y ESTERDAY. TWO THOUSAND GUINEAS STAKES. 5 to 2 agst Col. Anson's Blaze 5 to 2 agst Mr. B. Green's Flatcatcher 5 to 1 agst Major Pitt's Fern 5 to 1 agst Lord Clifden's Loadstone 10 to 1 agst Mr. Hargreaves's Sunnyside—taken 10 to 1 agst Mr. Payne's Glendower—taken 10 to 1 agst Mr. Greville's Rosslyn 100 to 40 was laid agst each of the favourites six or eight times, without exhausting the layers, who seemed disposed to go cn to any amount. 10 to 1 taken to about 150/. agst Glendower, and to 2001. agst Sunnyside. sto 1 offered, bar one. It is now thought that there will be six or seven runners. ONE THOUSAND GUINEAS STAKES. 5 to 2 agst Colonel Peel's Lola Montez— taken, and afterwards offered 4 to 1 agst Mr. Bouverie's Prairie Bird—taken, and afterwards offered 4 to 1 agst Mr. Quin's Attraction—taken, and after wards offered CHESTER CUP. 13 to 1 agst Mr. Bouverie's War Eagle, 4 yrs, Bst 61b —taken 18 to 1 agst Lord Eglinton's Glen Saddel, 3 yrs, 4st 41b 20 to 1 agst Mr. Kearey's The Magnet, 4 yrs, Est 91b —taken 20 to 1 agst Mr. B. Green's Maid of my Soul, 3 yrs, 4st 101 b 22 to 1 agst Mr. Meiklam's Lightning, aged, Bst 21b 25 to 1 agst Mr. Meiklam's Inheritress, aged, Bst 61b 30 to 1 agst Colonel Austin's Blaze, 3 yrs, 6st—taken 30 to 1 agst Sir R. Pigot's Conyngham, 4 yrs, Bst—t 30 to 1 agst Mr. Hargreaves's Sunnyside, 3 yrs, 4st 41b 30 to 1 agst Mr. Disney's Keleshea, 4 yrs, 6st 91b—t 30 to 1 agst Mr. Eddison's Hetman Platoff colt, 3 yrs. 4st 71b 30 to 1 agst Mr. Mostyn's Swallow, 4 yrs, 7st 35 to 1 agst Mr. R. Clifton's Gisellc, 5 yrs, 7st 81b 45 to 1 agst Mr. Osbaldeston's Chat, 4 yrs, 7st 71b 50 to 1 agst Mr. Harrison's Peep-o'-day Boy, 4 yrs, ist—taken The Magnet, Keleshea, and Sunnyside were in great force; but, from the lukewarmness of the layers, very little business was transacted. DERBY. 13 to 2 agst Dilly's lot—taken Bto 1 agst Lord Clifden's Surplice taken to about 3001. 10 to 1 agst Mr. Payne's Glendower—taken 11 to 1 agst Mr. Bowes's Springy Jack—taken and afterwards offered 1,000 to 60 agst Lord Eglinton's Eagle's Plume—taken 22 to 1 agst Mr. Pedley's Besborough—take 25 to 1 25 to 1 agst Major Pitt's Fern taken and after wards offered 30 to 1 agst Mr. J. Scott's The Stinger—taken and afterwards offered 30 to 1 agst Duke of Rutland's The Fiddler—taken and offered 30 to 1 agst Mr. B. Green's Swiss Boy 33 to 1 agst Mr. T. Parr's Sponge—taken 40 to 1 agst Bristowe's Great Western—taken 1,000 to 25 agst Mr. Greville's Rosslyn—taken 50 to 1 agst Mr. Sandford's The Sheriff 2,000 to 30 agst Mr. Hargreaves's Sunnyside—taken Dilly's lot, which includes Glendower, Cervus, Rosalyn ' Lancaster, and Woodcraft, were b ac k e d f or at l east 500 / . at 7to 1, and afterwards at 13 to 2. Glendower was backed singly at 10 to 1, and became second favourite, 11 to 1 (laid to 200/.) agst Springy Jack having been offered afterwards. Eagle's Plume, Besborough, and Great Western, were also in request, but without leading to any material change in the prices. OAKS. 12 to 1 agst Mr. Dixon's Do-it-again—taken 14 to 1 agst Mr. Bouverie's Prairie Bird—taken THE EMPEROR'S VASE. Even money laid on The Hero and War Eagle agst the field, and 2,000 to 100 agst Flatcatcher. To facilitate the settling on the Newmarket races, and the comparing books for the Chester Cup, the subscrip tion-room will be opened on the 29th instant. KINZIGTHAL MINING ASSOCIATION. The d first general meeting of this companywoas h e ld br id yesterday, easer y i a ! the office in Adelaide-place, Lo dn• ge , balance-sheet were read, from w Master man, jun., Esq., in the chair. T h h ie e h re itPP po a rt a e n ar d ed als t o ha t t h a e sumdries p aa y o h f a d 10 n ,0 0 0: . / a . h h a a d la b h e e e e n i n s u h b a s a c d r i o b f e d a. e a u n t d 3, t o h o a o t I. t , h h e e c s had on e d ethreeirinovpaelrnaetieofnasb t o o u t t h l e , s o e o m o/ ihe i a 'h in e d t t h r e ec v to a r l s ley ha w d h c i o e n h fi lodes had been discovered of great value for silver, the greatest prospect of an immediate return. Several and copper or es . Th e int e r es t of a neighbouring mine had been bought for 6001, thus securing to this company the whole district. All the mines were held at a triflng rent, with an allowance of five per cent. on the profits. The chairman, in answer to a proprietor, said the monthly expenditure was only 2001,, so that they had ample tends for considerable period, and in the mean time they might suddenly come upon a pocket of silver ore. The lead and copper might be smelted in Germany, but the silver, the directors thought, should be brought to this country. After some discussion the report was adopted, and the meeting adjourned. THE LATE HON. HENRY HARE.--We have been requested to correct an error into which we inadvertently fell in the announcement of the death of the Hon. Henry Hare, which appeared in The Sue of the 17th inst. It was stated in that announeemcnt, t i., t'elle Hun. Hvilry Hare died unmarried. We hu: that such was not the fact, but that the Hun. Gelitleman has left a widow and three children. COURT CIRCULAR. His Royal Ilighness the Prince of Prussia, at tended by his Excellency the Chevalier Bunsen, took leave of the Queen and Prince Albert yesterday morning, and took his departure from Osborne for town. Lord John Russell arrived at Osborne yesterday afternoon from town. The Noble Lord had an audience of her Majesty. On Monday and Tuesday in the current week her Majesty's Royal Charities were, according to very ancient usage, distributed to aged and necessitous persons who had declined from prosperity to adverse circumstances. The numbers of this class have un happily of late very much increased. The Royal Gate Alms were also distributed to 165 persons. This charity is of ancient origin, and for merly was distributed to the poor at the gate of the Royal Palace at Whitehall. MAUNDAY ThURSDAY. - The Royal Charities were also distributed in Whitehall Chapel, to 29 aged men and as many aged women, which number cor responds with the age of the Sovereign in the current year. The men received woollen and linen cloth, also shoes and stockings, 11. 10s. as commutation of provisions formerly issued in kind, and a further sum of 11., together with silver pennies, corresponding with the age of the Sovereign. The women received, in lieu of clothing, a special sum of 11. 15s. each, also 11. 103. in commutation of provisions, a further sum of 11., together with silver pennies corresponding in number with her Majesty's age. There were in attendance the Sub-Dean, the Priests in Ordinary, Gentlemen and Choristers from the Chapel Royal, St. James's, to assist the officers of the Royal Almonry upon this occasion, including of the clergy, the Rev. Dr. Wesley (Sub-Dean), Rev. Dr. Vivian, Rev. Dr. Knapp, Rev. J. Clarke Hayden, &c. ; and of the Gentlemen, Messrs. Hobbs, Lockey, and Machin ; and also the boys. The Lord Bishop of Oxford, who, as Lord High Almoner, officiated in person upon this occasion, was assisted by the Rev. Dr. Jelf, the Sub-Almoner, and Joseph Hanby, Esq., the Secretary and Yeoman of the Royal Almonry. The following prayers, appropriate to the occasion, were offered by the Rev. Dr. Vivian, by whom the impressive service was read : " 0 Lord, the Sovereign of the world, we acknow ledge that Thine is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty; for all that is in the heaven and the earth is Thine. Thine is the kingdom, 0 Lord, and Thou art exalted as the Head above all; both riches and honour come of Thee, and Thou reignest over all. In Thy hand is power and might, and in Thy hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all. Now, therefore, our God, we thank Thee, and praise Thy glorious Name, that Thou hast not only bestowed great ness and majesty upon our Sovereign Lady Queen Victoria, but hast given her a heart also to take compassion on them that are below her, and show mercy unto the poor and needy. Accept, most gracious God, of this tribute, which she pays unto Thee, the giver of all good things, and make ber still more fruitful and abundant in these, and all other 'good works, that by mercy and truth, she may be preserved, and her throne upholden by mercy; and stir up the hearts of all those who have now been partakers of her bounty, to be truly thankful unto Thee for it, and both to bless and praise Thee con tinually for setting such a pious Princess over us; and also pray most earnestly that Thou wouldst re ward her charity with a long and prosperous reign in this world, and a heavenly kingdom in the world to come, through Jesus Christ our Lord and only Saviour.—Amen." " Most blessed God, who :art good and doest good, and takest pleasure in those that fear Thee, and imi tate Thy goodness, look down from Heaven the the throne of Thy glory upon us Thy servants here prostrate before Thee, who thankfully acknowledge that we have nothing but what we have received from Thee, and therefore can give Thee nothing but what is Thine own. Fill our hearts, we beseech Thee, with a lively sense of Thy fatherly goodness, which bath bestowed so many benefits upon us that we are not able to number them, and likewise give us to under stand the happiness of doing good with them ; and assist us with the power of Thy holy Spirit, that we may be faithful stewards of Thy manifold gifts and graces, following the steps of our Lord and Master Christ, whom Thou hast sent into the world to be a pattern to us of humble goodness • unto which we pray Thee to quicken us by the consideration that we are but strangers and sojourners as all our fathers were, our days on the earth being as a shadow, and there is no abiding. That so nothing may tempt us to be high-minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in Thee, the living God, who givest us all things richly to enjoy, that we may be good, and rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to commu nicate, laying up in store for ourselves a good foun dation for the time to come, that we lay hold on eternal life, and we most humbly beseech Thee, in a special manner, to bless her Majesty, whom Thou lust set over us; keep this ever in the thoughts of her heart, to endeauour to do much good with the power which Thou hast given her, and thereby magnify Thee exceedingly in the sight of all the people of these realms, and bestow upon her such regal majesty as bath not been on any prince before her; all which we beg for the sake of Jesus Christ our most blessed Lord and Saviour, to whom with Thee and the Holy Ghost, be all honour and glory, world without end.—Amen." The Bishop of London held a Confirmation yester day of about forty of the juvenile nobility and gentry, in the Chapel Royal, St. James's. The Duke of Cambridge visited her Royal High ness the Duchess of Gloucester yesterday, at Glou cester House. A deputation, consisting of Messrs. Colvile, Cavan, M'Chlery, and H. Barkly, had an interview with Earl Grey yesterday, at the Colonial-office. The Hon. Charles Law had an interview with Sir George Grey yesterday, at the Home-office. Colonel Anson had also an interview with the Right lion. Baronet. Dispatches from the Governors of the North American provinces, also from the Governor of the Gold Coast, were received yesterday at the Colonial office. The Chancellor of the Exchequer and Lady Mary Wood left town yesterday for Mickleton Hall, Don caster. THE PRINCE OF PRUSSIA. Ilis Royal Highness, accompanied by the Prussian Ambassador and Lord Ashley, left Osborne Palace yes terday morning about eleven o'clock, and embarked in her Majesty's yacht Fairy for Gosport. The Prussian standard was carried at the mast• head of the yacht, which was saluted by the battery of the garrison on entering the harbour of Portsmouth, and by her Ma jesty's ships therein. His Royal Highness landed at the Victualling-yard, where the following brilliant staff of naval and military officers were in waiting to receive him :—The Governor of the Fortress, Lord Frederick Fitzclarence, G.C.H., and staff (Captain Purvis, Bri gade-Major, and Majors Harvey and Wemyss, Aides de-Camp to his Excellency); the Port-Admiral Sir Charles Ogle, Bart.; Sir Edward Parry, R.N.; Admiral Prescott, C.B. ; Messrs. Davis and Grant, the chief officers of the victualling-yard; and a guard of honour of the 17th Regiment. A special train had been engaged for the distinguished Prince, which started from the yard at twenty minutes past twelve for Nine Elms. Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent will visit the Queen at ()Aortae to-morrow. Her Royal Highness will proceed from the Vauxhall terminus of the South- Western Railway, by the express train, at 10.15 A.3t., stopping at Farnborough station to take up her Royal Highness's carriage, which will be seat to Osborne, via Southampton. After the departure of the Prince of Prussia from the Royal Victualling-yard yesterday, Lord John Russell, the Premier, arrived by e x press f rom t own t o visit her Majesty. The royal yacht Fairy embarked his Lordship, and proceeded with him (unattended) to Cowes, whence his Lordship was conveyed to Osborne in one of the royal equipages. THE PRAYER FOR PEACE. The following is the form of prayer to Almighty God, for the maintenance of peace and tranquillity, to be used before the General Thanksgiving, and on the four next Sundays in all churches and chapels in England and Wales, and in the town of Berwick-upon-Tweed:— " 0 God, whose never failing providence ordereth all things both in heaven and earth ; wo Thine unworthy servants most humbly beseech Thee to continue Thy favour to this land, and to preserve us alike from foreign enemies and domestic divisions. We acknowledge, 0 Lord, that if Thou wert to deal with us after our sins, most justly reward us ac cor di ng t o our i n i qu i t i es, we m i ght justly have fallen under Thy wrath and indignation. For in our prosperity we have too much forgotten Thee ; other lords besides Thee have had dominion over us ; we have offended against Thy holy laws and have not glorified Thee, in whose hand our breath is, and whose are all our ways. Thou hast said in Thy Holy Word, that when Thy judgments are upon the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteous ness ; and now we beseech Thee so to incline the hearts of the people of this land that they may bear one another's burdens, and follow the things that make for peace, and have love one towards another. And do Thou, Lord, of Thy great mercy, restore to us such prosperity that we may not sow much and bring in little, but that Thou mayest bless us in whatsoever we set our hand unto ; and that our people may eat their own bread with quietness.. Above all, teach us so to acknowledge Thee, the Author and Giver of all good, t h at we may live in Thy faith and feu, setting our affections on things above, and seeking fi rst Thy heavenly kingdom, through Jesus Christ our Lord ; to whom, with thee and the Holy Ghost, be honour and glory, world without end. Amen." UNIVERSITY INTELLIGENCE.—CAMBRIDGE, APRIL 20.—The Professor of Botany will commence his lec tures on Wednesday, May 10, in the f,ehGoli at tho Botanic garden, at one o'cicelt. Herborizing excursions in the neighlsourhood will take place as the weather may permit. MARKET INTELLIGENCE. (From the London New Price Current of April 20.) SUGAR.—To-day the home trade were desirous to further increase their stock, and higher rates were again obtained. There was also a further decrease in the supply at market. Of West India Muscovado 360 hhds &c. were sold, and at rather higher rates. The total sales for the week are B€o hhds and trs. The market for Sugar of all kinds closes with a healthy appearance. REFINED.—To-day the demand was active from the home trade for refined Sugar, and stiffer rates are ob tained. Standard Lumps realised 53s 6d, and brown grocery 52s 6d to 53s per cwt. Bonded Crushed Sugar is still dull of sale at former rates. MAURITIUS.—This afternoon the demand was active for all sorts of Mauritius privately, and 1,540 bags at auction were sold at a further advance of 6d per cwt— fine yellow realised 39s 6d to 41s, good 38s to 395, middling 375, and washed 35s 6d to 49s per cwt. EAST INDIA.—This afternoon there was no public sale of Bengal Sugar, but privately several parcels were sold at stiffer rates. Madras is wanted, and 2,078 bags at auction sold at is advance—fine yellow, not grainy, went at 37s to 38s 6d, good 35s to 3656 d, middling 32s 6d to 345, low 30s to 31s, middling, and fine brown 28s to 29s 6d, good and fine white 41s to 445 6d per cwt. . FOREIGN.—Today there was no public sale of Foreign Sugar, but in the private market a fair business was done, and at stiffer rates. A further falling off in supply at market is apparent. The private sales for the week are 500 chests of fine white Havannah, in bond, at 30s, 800 ditto of low qua li ty, d ut y paid, at 45 s 6 d , a nd 1,000 chests of yellow at 40s to 41s for good and fice. MOLASSES.—The imp or t s thi s year of all sorts h ave been nearly 2,000 puns smaller than in the former one, but the stock is heavy, an d s h ows to an excess of 7,600, whilst the deliveries have fallen off 1,300 puns. There is no improvement i n t h e d eman d this week, and sellers are willing to acc e pt l ow rates . Only small pa rcels have been sold at 146 to 18s for low to fine. The mar ket for Bengal Treacle has a d u ll a ppearance, and p rices are on the decline, whilst the stock is on the increase. COFFEE.—There i s y e t muc h dullness in the m arket for all descriptions o f W est I n dia, and previous rates cannot be obtained, although the quantity a t mar small. The sales made by private tre at y here limited, and 38 cask s o f J ama i ca at auction were taken in—middling 60s, and l ow m iddling 50s to 56s cwt.ef•Tats'e To day there was no p u bli c sale of Coffee. kbetee isn t Ceylon met with a fai r d em and, and realisedhere astt w 30 1 passing in the private market. Cocoa..—West India is held with more fi rmness, and none bas been offered at public sale this we ek. Prices cannot be quoted higher; but the demand is mo re active little 30s 6d for good ord. In all other sorts to —Trinidad selling at 433 to 455, red 45s to 48s per cwt. The stock is still on the decrease. The market for Foreign has a very dull appearance, and late rates cannot be obtained, although there is only a limited stock. TEA.—The purchases made in all sorts of Congou have been upon a small scale only, although there are sellers at a further decline. Low to good ordinary quality can be obtained at 6d to lid, but middling and middling 8d to 10d, strong blackish leaf lOid to Is 2d, fine and Pekoe flavor Is 3d to is 8d; Souchong low to middling 7d to Is, good to fine is 2d to 2s 2d, and Pouchong 4d to 9d for ordinary to fine. Not withstanding the reduced rates at which there are sellers of Pekoe Teas, buyers operate with caution. Orange, low and middling quality at bid to 9d, middling to fine scented 10d to is 6d; Pekoe, black leaf 10d to Is 6d, flowery is to 3s. The demand for Green has been limited, and a further decline has taken place; Hyson Skin can be obtained at 6d to is 3d; Twankay, low to good 5d to Bd, fine 10d to is Id; Hyson common Is to is 2d, middling to good Is 3d to Is 10d, fine 2s to 3s; Gunpowder, Canton 10d to is 3d; Hyson sort is 4d to 4s. Imperial Canton 9d to is 2d, and Hyson kind is 3d to 3s 3d; Young Ilyson, ordinary and good ordinary 7d to is Id, middling to superior is 2d to 3s 4d per lb. Of 574 pkgs offered at public sale, a part only sold. Gunpowder of good quality at 2s 3d to 2s 9d, and Imperial good and fine is 7d to 2s per lb. SPicEs.—To-day there was little desire evinced to purchase Nutmegs for home use or exportation. At public sale 27 cases 5 boxes, and 5 bags Penang were sold at rather lower terms—good brown went at 2s 9d to 2s I Id, middling 2s 5d to 2s Bd, low 2s 2d to 2s 4d. The market for mace is quiet, and at a public sale of 11 cases of Penang sold 2d to 3d per lb decline—middling went at 2s Id to 2s 2d, and good ordinary 2s. There was little passing to-day in other kinds of Spices. FRUIT.—The market for Currants has a more active appearance, and there is less willingness on the part of holders to sell. A good demand has been exhibited at 395 to 41s for new, and:at 345_10 35s for old. Raisins are in better request, Valencia at 38s to 42s for old. RICE.—To-day there was no improvement in the de mand.for East India, and the market was well supplied. Of Bengal 2,846 pockets were offered at public sale, but a part only sold at about the former value, good pearly white went at lOs Gd to Ils 0,600 bags Manilla all sold, but at 6d per cwt decline, fine yellow went at 7s to 7s 6d, low white 7s 6d to Bs, middling 8s to 8s 6d, good 9s to 9s Gd, and damaged 5s to 7s 6d per cwt. SPIRITS.—There are sellers of East India Rum at is bid to is 7d proof strength, but the purchases made have been upon a small scale only, and there is an increased quantity on offer. Leeward Island is not much in request, whilst the supply is good, and holders are ready to accept is 8d to Is 9d proof strength. The purchases made in Demerara have been limited at the reduced rates previously noticed of 2s 9d to 3s 2d for 28 to 38 per cent, over proof. From exporters the demand continues to be extremely limited for all sorts of Jamaica, whereas there is little desire manifested by the home trade to do business. On account of the heavy stock, holders are willing to realize, and accept 3s 7d to 3s 9d for plain and middling quality, 3s lod to 4s for good middling and good, fine 4s 2d to 4s Gd, and for high flavoured kinds 4s 3d to 4s 8d per gallon. Prices are from is. to is 6d per gallon under those of this time in the past year, and the stock is 8,000 puns &c. greater, but there is an increase in the home as well as export deliveries. Brandy is unaltered in value, but the pur chases made have been limited for all purposes, whilst arrivals are on a more extended scale. Geneva is dull of sale at is 10d to 2s for ordinary export sort, and fine for home consumption at 2s 9d to 3s 3d. For British Corn Spirits the demand is active at lOs nett cash, whilst the market has a very firm appearance. INDIGO.---There is yet little desire evinced to operate in East India for home consumption, whilst the export de mand continues to be very limited, although sellers are willing to accept prices 3d to 6d per lb under those of the last quarterly sales. For the 9th of May 6,599 chests are declared. Spanish is dull of sale, and the tendency of price is yet to decline. The stock of East India at this port is 700 chests smaller than in the past year, but the decrease in the deliveries amounts to 1,000 chests; the importations, are, however, less by 700 chests, and prices are lower by 6d to 8d per lb. SALTPETRE.—To -day the market was much better oo good a n tdo fine make s t rpurchases,o strong grey stosupplied with Rough, and there was a des i re s how n on the part of holders t o rea li ze, whilst all part i es w er e re luctant 3,164 r value, bags Calcutta were all tak en i n g At at barely public cent, refraction n 2I per desirecen at 35s 6d to 365, middli ng 11 per cent 33s 6 d; 180 bags for exportation only 33 s for 111 s per cent. COCRINEAL,—There h as been little to operate, and as suppli es are large and ho ld ers w illi ng sellers, prices suffer e d a decline of 2d f or th e b e tt er thsealefor ue kinds of silvers, and Id for ordinary. Of 86 bags re publical solds ale 3 a 3 t 7 Hon duras offered at publi c sa l e a small part on l y so ld. TALLow.—This aft ernoon lower rates were ta k en f or b 2 rl: t South o American Tallow . w t e44s; 240 casks P. Y. Candl e i n part found buyers at 49s to 50s for first sort; 25 cas k s French sold at 46 s 6d ; 4 3 45s to 32 48hshdlsow 2 4 casks N. S. Wales 45s to 46s 6d per cwt. OlLS.—Although Linseed Oil can be obtained at a further reduction, yet the home trade have operated with reluctance, and few export orders have been completed. There is a good supply, but the consumption is proceed ing satisfactorily, and prices rule at 22s 9d to 23s per cwt. For forward delivery sellers are willing to accept 23s 3d to 23s 6d, but the amount of business done has been small: prices rule low in comparison with late sea sons. Rapeseed Oil sells more readily, but not at better quotations, as stocks are yet large. Pale can be obtained at 34s 6d, and brown 33s 6d. Olive met with little at tention from exporters or the home trade, and prices have a downward tendency, although the deliveries con tinue to exceed the importation. This afternoon at public sale 83 pipes 15 hhds 4 butts Ceylon Cocoa Nut were taken in at 46s for good white. BEQUESTS TO CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS AT HASTINGS AND LONDON.—Miss CatherineFenoyry Samuelster, late of Hastings, Sussex, who died in the spring of last year, had made her will in June, 1837, but certain alterations appearing therein , it wasl bro ug h t before the Prerogative Court for adjudication, an d has only just been proved by her executors, th e R ev. John Goodge Foyster, M.A., Recto r of St. Clement an d of All Saints', Hastings, and the Rev. H Foyster, M.A., the Lecturer of those united rec tories, who have jointly admini stere d to her per sona l property, as valued at 1 2 , 0001 . T h e bequests are as fol low :--To institutions at Hastings — the Ben evo l ent Society, 501.; the Clothing Society , 501 .; the r L ying-in- Charity, 501.; the National Sch ool,so/. ; the Infant S c h oo l 25/.; and the Hastings Dispensary, 20 /. The t estatrix has also left the sum of 501. towards the expense incurred in building the church on the Barrack ground at Hastings, or attending the performance of divine worship th ere; and and the 1001. for the benefit of the poor at Hastings, The insti tutions in London to which she has left legacies are the the School for the Idigent Blind and the Asylum for the Deaf and Dumb Children, both in the Kent-road, 301. each ; the St. Pancras National School, and the St. Pancras Parochial Charity School, ionarySocty, 50L ; Society 50/. ea c la fo ; r t he o C m b o u t r i c n h g M th i e ss Enlargement, Building, and Repairs of Churches and Chapels, 501 .; the legacy duty upon all the bequests to be paid out of the residue of the personal estate. She has le ft pecuniary be oasts amounting to about 2,00 01 . among her sisters, ne phews, nieces, and cousins, and her . books to her sister Maria, and a few other bequsts; a specific bequest of 5 30/. to her brother the Rev. John G. Foyster; and 1 ,000/. to her brother the Rev. H. S. Foyster, of Harrow Weald; and leaves the rest of her property to be equally divided between her sail two brothers, whom she has appointed her residuary legatees and executors. ROYAL MARINES.—WOOLWICH, A prtn, 20.-110 men of the Woolwich division arrived at head -quarters here yesterday from Chatham, where they had bee accommodated and instructed in their drill unt i l the n n Marine b arrac k s a t Woolwich was ready f or their rece e p w Lien. Two serge ants, two corporals, one drummer d. 79 privates of this division will leave Woolwich and 79 privates of this division will leave Woolwich to morrow for service on board the Be!lerophon, recently . 1 employed as a troop blip, and now co:on l i ss i on , i i ce iu the Iviediterrahean. The ren,ainder .t . till Royal Marines for service in the Belleroph on o • taken from the Plymouth division. w i l l be EXTENSIVE FIRES. Last night, shortly before eleven o'clock, two ex tensive fires broke out in the eastern portion of the metropolis, which were not extinguished until early this morning, and not until a ruinous amount of property had been destroyed. One outbreak occurred upon the s p ac i ous pil e o f premises of Messrs. Nissen and Parker, stationers and printers, in Tower-street, City. Th e di scover y was made by the servant-girl perceiving a dense smoke issuing from the upper part of th e b u ildi ng . Sh e i mme diately ran into the street and informed the police. The constable, upon entering the house, found the whole of the top work shop in a general blaze. lie sounded an alarm in the usual way, an d sen t a messenger f o r the engines. In th e course o f a f ew m i nu t es sev eral parish engines, with about a dozen belonging to the Lon don Establishment, with Mr. Braidwood, arrived, as well as that of the West of England Company, under the command of Mr. Connorton. Plenty of water havin g b een o b tained, the eng i nes were , without delay, set t o wor k ; b ut a l t h oug h on l y a f ew minutes had elapsed, the flames by that period were rushing through th e roof, and were ascen di ng so high into the air that the surrounding houses appeared doomed t o b e destroyed. The hose of several engines were carried up the staircase, and by that means the firemen were enabled to scatter the water in the right position ; notwithstanding the flames continued to progress, and it was not until that por tion of the premises in which the outbreak began was burned out, and the lower part severely damaged by water, that the fire was extinguished. The r v i f a e t e ) f r are ein seriously u wi l ys early injured at bt the e total . loss will be very considerable to Messrs. i e Nissen . and Parker, besides which the premises occupied severally . by Mr. Bell, baker, and Mr. origin of the disaster could not be ascertained. An escape belonging to the Royal Society for the Pro tection'l nry o ( f p water. aeene, The and although not wanted to save life, was of great as sistance to the parish-engine keepers in forming a ladder for them t o carry their hose up to the roof. The other fire took place in the premises of a Mr. James, beer-shop keeper, at Twig Folly, Bethnal green. It began, from some unexplained cause, in the upper part of the house. Immediately information was forwarded to the fire -stations , and with a ll pos sible expedition the parish eng i nes, with those of the London Brigade, from Whitecros s - s t reet, Jeffrey square, and other stations, when th e fi remen found the flames issuing through the windows and roof with the greatest impetuosity. The engines having been set to work the firemen labour e d i ncessantly until past twelve o'clock this morning, when they at length got the mastery over the fearful element, but not until the upper part of the premises was de stroyed, the roof burnt off, the contents consumed, and the lower part of the house seriously dama ge d. During the excitement which prevailed it w as i m possible to learn 's hether any of the sufferers w ere insured or not. NAVAL INTELLIGENCE. THE RESERVE STEAM SQUADRON. — The Sphynx, ,056 tons, 500 horse power; the Phoenix, 809 tons, 260 norse power; and the Rattler, 8/03 tons, 200 horse power, the two latter screw propelled vessels, arr ived at Portsmouth, from the Thames, yesterday , and joined the advanced steam squadron in ordinary at that port, in pursuance of the orders issued by the Lords of the Ad miralty recently. The Hastings, 72 guns, Captain Morgan, flag-ship for Rear-Admiral Sir Francis Augustus Collier, after a thorough examination and repair of her bottom, was taken out of dock at Portsmouth yesterday. The Arrogant new steam-frigate, of 46 guns, received herjury masts at Portsmouth yesterday, preparatory to being navigated to the Thames to have her engines fitted. The steam bridge, which connects by quarter-hour passages the towns of Portsmouth and Gosport, incurred some damage to her machinery on Wednesday, which precluded its running the whole of yesterday, causing most serious inconvenience to the inhabitants on either shore, railway travellers most especially, who were compelled to use the watermen's wherries. The guard of honour for the Prussian Prince was obliged to be carried to and from Gosport in flat-bottomed boats. The Fantome, 16-gun sloop, Commander Hardy, re cently from the Mediterranean squadron, was put out of commission at Portsmouth yesterday, after being dis mantled. The Ganges, 84, Captain Smith, fitting at Sheerness, has entered two-thirds of her reduced complement, and is expected to be ready tbr sea service about the second week in May. The Powerful, 84 guns, Captain the Hon. R. S. Dun das, at Portsmouth, is still in want of men. APPOINTMENTS. Master—J. S. Pritchard to the Coast Guard service as chief officer. Mate--G. Elliot, to the Prince Regent, 92 guns, at Cork. Chaplain—The Rev. W. L. Onslow, M.A. (1846), to the Hastings, flag-ship fur the East India station, fitting at Portsmouth. Engineer—J. W. Husband (second class assistant), to the Fisguard, flag-ship at Woolwich. Midshipmen—W. Spark, to the Waterwitch brig, fitting at Chatham; E. T. Nott, to the Hastings. Master's Assistant—George Nixon, to the Hastings. Naval Cadet—E. W. Wilkinson, to the Hastings. Clerk's Assistant—Edward Cooper, to the Hastings. THE DANISH FLEET. The following letter has been addressed to a Morning Contemporary. Sir,—As it seems more than probable that, ere this, a collision has taken place between the Prussians and the Danes by land, it may perhaps be of interest to the English public to know what means the Danes have at their disposal to make reprisals by sea. You receive hereby a statement of the Danish fleet now in service, as also of the number of vessels not in commission, but which can be put into active service in the space of 14 days. The German papers this morning inform us of the appearance of a Danish frigate at Swinemunde, and from advices from Denmark I learn that another frigate would follow, to await there the news of the Prussians having crossed the Eider, when they would immediately blockade that town, and take away the Prussian vessels wherever they could lay hands upon them. Whatever may be the power of Prussia by land, she can do nothing at sea, and her merchant navy would suffer greatly. It is to be hoped that England, before things proceed too far, will have effected a settlement between the two Powers, and that Denmark will be left to settle her affairs without the interference of Germany. I enclose my card, and beg to remain, , iour obedient servant, Newcastle-upon-Tyne,Sir April 19. A DANE. LIST OF THE DANISH MEN•OF-WAB, NOW IN ACTIVE The Gal a th ea , 20 guns S , ERVICE. The Najaden, 20 guns, The Flora, 20 guns, The St. Thomas, 25 guns, The Mercurius, 25 guns, The St. Croix, 25 guns, The Gefion, 46 guns, The Thetis, 46 guns, The Delphinen schooner, The Pilen schooner, The Neptune cutter, The Ueda steamer, 200 horse power, armed, The Geiser steamer, 160 The Skirner steamer,l2o The /Egir steamer, 80 Besides a flotilla of gun-boats, armed with two guns, 60 and 40-pounders each. The Danish Government has besides -6 line-of-battle ships, of 64 to 90 guns, 15 frigates, 5 schooners, 2 steamers, and 85 large and small gun-boats, which can be put into active service in from 14 days to three weeks. 25,000 mariners in all, in time of war, stand at the Goverment service. MR. COCHRANE'S PAUPER PRO- CESSION. The following circular has been issued by the Com missioners of Police : " Metropolitan Police-office, 4, Whitehall-place, April 20, 1848. " Gentlemen,—The Commissioners of Police of the metropolis having observed that a printed paper is ex tensively circulated, signed Charles Cochrane, ad dressed to the inmates of the unions and workhouses in and around the metropolis, in which it is stated that Mr. Cochrane intends to present a petition to her Ma jesty's Secretary of State, Whitehall, on Easter Monday, April 24, accompanied by a very numerous assemblage of persons in procession, the Commissioners request you will make it known to those who might be disposed to join such a procession within the Union of ---_, Mr. Cochrane was acquainted by a letter of the 28th of March, in reply to his letter of the 27th on the subject, that the Secretary of State cannot receive the petition during the Easter week, but it would be received at any other time if sent in the usual way, or with a deputation of only a small number of persons. _ " The Commissioners wish it should be made known also that it will be their duty to enforce such regulations as may be required for keeping order, and preventing any obstruction in the streets or thoroughfares by a procession or assemblage of persons ; and every person who wilfully disregards or does not conform himself to such regulations, will be taken into custody immediately by the police ; and all peaceable and well-disposed persons should be cautioned and enjoined not to join in any such procession. _ "I am, gentlemen, your obedient servant, " RICHARD MAYNE. " To the Guardians of the Poor, or to the Master of the Union Workhouse of ACCIDENT AT GODING'S BREWERY.—Yesterday a workman at Goding's brewery, named Charles Stone, was engaged on the upper part of one of the loft vats, when he, by some unfortunate means, lost his equili brium, and fell a depth of 50 feet to the basement of the building, where he was immediately afterwards found in a state of insensibility and most seriously injured. He was removed to Guy's Hospital, and placed under the care of the house surgeon, who pronounced him to be ttfri , ring Iroul eoncuesdon of the brtlin, and such other iiiiutieb that his ree,,,ery is rendered very duubttul. Mr. Sergeant Bliss had an interview yesterday with Earl Grey. LITERATURE. THE HANDBOOK OF ANGLING. Second Edit, on By Ephemera. Spring is now advancing so'rapidly that the green ' herbage is already breaking through the clods of winter, and the trees are beginning to burgeon with a promise of the " leafy season." At this time the angler is preparing himself for excursions to the beautiful river-scenery of England, and in a snug corner of his knapsack we commend him to pack this very portable encyclopaedia of " the gentle craft." On noticing its original publication, we awarded the work that meed of approval to which by its merits it appeared to us to be tolerably well entitled. Since then our approval has been very significantly con firmed—the book is already reprinted, with additions and emendations. Under its new guise, the Second Edition of Ephemera's " Hand- book" seems to us but little removed, if at all, from completeness. It is the very epitome of the sport; and the conversational but decided tone of the advice contained in its pages proves the author to be a proficient and no mere pre tender. " Let us sit under this sweet briar hedge," says old Izaak in one of his pleasantest moods, " and discourse, while this shower is falling." Without an actual companion at his elbow to wile away half-an hour in agreeable gossip, the angler may find in this volume, by Ephemera, a companionship neither dis tasteful nor unprofitable. There is in it all the ani mation and bonhommie of goodfellowship. Listen, for instance, to his recommendations anent " dibbing for chub." " There is the angler," says he—" You see that he is hiding himself as much as he can ; and thinking that there are fish peering from beneath the leaves on the surface of the water, he drops his bait first on one of those leaves , and then by a sliding motion causes it to slip off and fall on the water. The fish, taking this fall for a natural one, is not scared but seizes the bait boldly." Or listen again to his hints to a beginner as to the best mode of " throwing the line and flies." After other preliminary sugges tions he proceeds thus :—" Hold your rod up almost perpendicularly, and pointing rather to the left side. Take the tip of the line between the forefinger and thumb of your left hand. Poise your rod loosely and easily, and see that it balances freely in your right hand, Be devoid of that fear which begets awkward ness. What injury can you do? You are not going to explode a mine. You are merely going to throw a thin line with a limber rod upon the water. What if you shiver them to pieces in the attempt? The damage can be remedied." Leigh Hunt might have written that, and relished it too as he wrote it. Each of the three branches of angling—Fly-fishing, Trol ling, and Bottom-fishing—is described with a zestful accuracy, but the preference is of course awarded to Fly-fishing. Here it is, we conceive, that Ephemera's skill as an angl er i s par ti cu l ar l y evidenced ; for, al - though his ch a pt ers on t h e art of trolling and bottom fishingecckapital, those on th e diff eren t pecullari tiesa are capita), those on the different peculiari ties and k na sof fly-fishing—on dibbing or daping, on striking, on hooking, on playing, on humouring the fish, and on landing them—are of indisputable superiority. Theancdfmtpters, moreover, on artificial flies, on fly- dressin , g a , re an i h rn e monthly list of artificial flies for the season, roveinent on Cotton's appen dix to the Complete I on the natural history AAnger-andl er-and generation In his elaborate treatise en o c i ration of the " Sal mon," we perceive that the fiu tohrehas availed himself of the facts acquired through , extraordinary ex periments of Mr. Scrope, Mr. Shaw, and Mr. Young. The " Handbook" would be valuable for this portion of the contents. Several of the deosneVrtphteionsof the personal appearance and peculiarities of vari ous species of freshwater fish towards the close of the volume are admirable—Ephemera writing in the spirit of a fascetions Buffon. Thus of the Perch, he says—" Though somewhat misshapen, his dress is handsome ; but he seldom dresses better th an i n the Dutch-oven or .frying-pan." Of the Dace—" This little yellow silvery carp serves as a practical primer to a young angler : he is a reckless little fellow and will snap at your worm, gentle, or paste near the bot tom of the water, or jump at your fly on the surface with equal avidity." Of the Barbel—" This bluish white carp is a lazy wallowing gentleman, and the Launcelot Gobbo of the subaqueous pantries and cellars ; the sound of the smacking of his lips tells you how fond he is of a good morsel." Of the Chub —" This silvery bluish carp is an exceedingly fine splendid looking fish ; but in him is fully realised the proverb, all is not gold that glitters ;' he is to all intents and purposes, save in appearance, what the French call him WI villain, that is, a downright chawbacon or clod-hopper." Here, however, is the best calotype of them all— THE PILE. " The pike, commonly called jack when under three or four pounds in weight, is a well-known fish ; like many of us, better known than trusted or treated. He is a greedy, unsociable, tyrannical savage, and is hated like a Blue-beard. Everybody girds at him with spear, gaff, hook, net, snare, and even with pow der and shot. He has not a friend in the world. The horrible gorge hook is especially invented for the tor ment of his maw. Notwithstanding he fights his way vigorously, grows into immense strength despite his many enemies, and lives longer than his greatest foe, man. His voracity is unbounded, and like the most accomplished corporate officer, he is nearly omniverous, his palate giving the preference, how ever, to fish, flesh, and fowl. Dyspepsia never inter feres with his digestion ; and he possesses a quality that would have been valuable at La Trappe—he can fast without inconvenience for a se'nnight. lie can gorge himself then to beyond the gills without the slightest derangement of the stomach. He is shark and ostrich combined. His body is comely to look at ; and if he could hide his head—by no means a diminished one—his green and silver vesture would attract many admirers. His intemperate habits, how ever, render him an object of disgust and dread. He devours his own children; but, strange to say, likes better (for eating) the children of his neighbours. Heat spoils his appetite, cold sharpens it ; and this very day (30th December, 1846,) a friend has sent me a gormandising specimen, caught by an armed gudgeon amidst the ice and snow of the Thames, near Marlow. I envy the pike constitution." Ephemera has written throughout in a felicitous vein, an has done yeoman's service to angling by his " Handbook." MR. LEVEIN AND THE FURNI- TUBE WOODS OF NEW ZEALAND. — Our friends in New Zealand will be pleased to learn that Mr. Levein has recently executed a new commission for the King of Prussia, with which his Majesty has been so much pleased that he has conferred upon him, in addition to a special appointment as cabinet maker, the gold medal awarded by the Prussian Court to persons of distinguished merit in the arts, in which rank many of Mr. Levein's productions in the furniture woods of New Zealand are well entitled to claim a place. We formerly mentioned that Mr. Levein had received an appointment from her Majesty in consequence of similar productions; and we understand that the exquisite ma terials furnished by the colony have also attracted the notice of other Foreign Ambassadors than Chevalier Bunsen, and that Mr. Levein has orders in progress for other Courts than that of Prussia. _ . -6 VieTiZtthat this wide appreciation of the furniture woods of New Zealand will make the colonists alert as to a highly valuable export, and anxious to preserve what must eventually become of great importance to the colony, instead of indiscriminately destroying the mag nificent forest trees which supply a material of so great value. They must resort to the same method as was practised by Mr. Levein himself when in the colony, viz., to select with great care only the most valuable specimens of wood, and to export it in the log, not in the slab. It is the latter practice, together with the want of care in the selection, which has led to disap pointment in the woods which have been thus carelessly exported from the colony. Many specimens are now lying in the docks which cannot find a purchaser, and no wonder, for they are not worth half the amount of freight for bringing them from New Zealand. This alone has been a serious injury to the reputation of the woods. It does not follow that because wood comes from the colony it must be of fine quality; there is as much inferior timber there as else where. Like all new articles in the market, the furniture woods of New Zealand met with much opposition in their introduction into this country, and it is solely owing to the perseverance of Mr. Levein, and the countenance shown to him by the New Zealand Company, that they have become so favourably known. Now almost any price might be obtained for really fine specimens. Some two or three years ago, a specimen of totara and inau was shown by the editor of this paper to a cabinet-maker o f ce l e b r ity. He was struck by the beauty of the wood, but dogmatically pronounced that it would not retain its colour. This is the general iim pression with regard to new woods from most couentrbeies, shown and it is generally true; but experience has now rich e n t e b s e s r wish that not only do the New Zealand woods wreteage, inthliekier colour, but that they increase in the finer specimens of mahogany and dinary use. The cabinet-maker of whom we woods in e o justor dinary spoken would give a high pricefo r t h e a rticle could be e r now obtain it. at the t w est-end of London, in We should have mentioned that sal e o i l r . c cabinetLevein w work opened an establishment f or from New Zealand woods , nd th J e e i u m rn m a e l d . iate 33 D i y v i e e f s - m s t i r v e a e r t t , ?e Hotel. o r s e g l u e a z r ilen --- BOOKSELLERS' PROVIDENT INSTITUTION.—Yester day evening a meeting of the board of directors of the above Institution was held at the committee-rooms, in Paternos t e r row, to transact general business. The report laid before the subscribers by the directors was t hi g hly satisfactory, the funda being rapidly on the in crease, and the anxiety for the institution since its for mation (eleven years since) remains amongst h mem bers of the trade unaba ted. During the past }'ear e relief has been bestowed upon six retail and twelvebooksellers' assistants, and three widows of each o the amount of 2621. 15s. 4d.; five persons in c l u d e d i n the above statement t e in rinan stitut- during annuitants—making tha tperie d e eng p a total, since 1837, of nearly 1,3001 . thus distributed. a h T a h s e n vv o li t nalveereaxgpen se b of i the d more than 80/ . pioner annum. There are now on the books 47 p 6tn em n b e er t s . f Upwards of 1,000/. has been added to the erni u which reaches shore 17,0001. f und during the year, MEETING OF MIDDLESEX MAGISTRATES. The Magistrates of the county of Middlesex met at the Court-house, Clerkenwell•green, yesterday, for the dispatch of county business. Mr. Pownall in the chair. THE MEETING AT KENNINGTON•COMMON! The CHAIRMAN, on taking his seat, said that he was anxious to express his feeling of thankfulness to God for having rendered effectual the wise and con stitutional measures which had been adopted by the Government for the preservation of the peace of the metropolis on the 10th instant, and to offer his cordial thanks to all who came forward to be sworn in as special constables on that occasion. Their zealous and devoted readiness to aid the authorities of the county, and vindicating the authority of the law, deserved the highest praise. In doing so he felt assured that he spoke the feeling and language of the Bench. Mr. JOHN Wzr.xs congratulated the county at large on the result of the measures which had been adopted by Sir G. Grey and her Majesty's Govern ment, and which had secured and preserved the peace of this vast metropolis. The Hon. Gentleman then moved the following resolutions :—" That this Court, composed of the magistrates of the Metropolitan county of Middlesex (including the city of Westminster), eagerly profit by the first opportunity of their assem• bling, to express and record their mutual, hearty, loyal, and devout satisfaction at the enlightened, active, and self-denying spirit manifested generally by their neighbours and fellow citizens on Monday week. The evils then threatened by congregations of vast masses of the population, and by unlawful assemblies and processions interrupting trade, and occasioning great needless expense, they would utterly repudiate, and in proportion to such disapproval is the honest pride and grateful delight with which they have observed and partaken the spontaneous association and prompt and cheerful devotedness manifested by all ranks of society in coming forward as special constables, and assisting in all measures suggested to defeat every injurious design, and to preserve the property and tranquillity of this vast capital from disturbance and alarm, and particularly at the demonstration afforded of ardent, loyal, and affectionate attachment to her sacred Majesty the Queen, and patriotic regard to the free aud glorious constitution under which we live." Mr. BENTLEY seconded this resolution. It was then put from the chair, and carried unani mously. Mr. WJLKS again rose, and moved a second resolu tion—" That referring to the evils threatening the metropolis, on the memorable day of Monday week, to the alarm endured by multitudes, to the anxiety excited throughout the empire, to the deep interest awakened in other European States, and to the cala mities that might have been inflicted by a misguided multitude, this Court observed and acknowledge with peculiar satisfaction the extensive and complete pre cautionary measures adopted by the Right Hon. Sir G. Grey, her Majesty's Secretary for the Home De partment, and the other members of her Majesty's Government, for the prevention of the threatening disasters, of the protection of property and the public peace, and for the utter and happy frustration of every ill-judging unlawful design. That the active and comprehensive proceedings vigilantly taken and vigorously pursued, have given great confidence to all classes of the community, and are entitled to ac knowledgments and applause, and that whilst the members of this Court will individually ever promote national economy, and universal improvements and happiness, and watch over and oppose every needless innovation on the constitutional right to which this country is mainly indebted for its greatness and glory, they assure her Majesty's Government all need ful and vigorous exertions for the preservation of order and fbr the public good will ever experience from the magistracy of this county ready co-operation aud energetic support." Mr. COTTRELL seconded this resolution, which on its being put from the chair, was carried unanimously. It was then resolved that a deputation, composed of the following magistrates, should wait upon Secre tary Sir George Grey with a copy of the above reso lutions—Mr. H. Pownall, the chairman of the Court, Mr. John Wilks, Mr. James Bentley, and Mr. Charles Herbert Cottrell. Mr. J. WiLsoN moved that the best thanks of the Justices of the county of Middlesex be presented to the most Noble the Marquis of Salisbury, Lord Lieu tenant of the county, for the zeal and promptitude with which he aided the justices in rendering, effec tual the wise and constitutional measures adopted by her Majesty's Government for the preservation of the peace of the metropolis on the late occasion, to which measures, and the zealous, willing,and devoted readi• ness evinced by all parties in responding thereto, may be attributed in no small degree the preservation of the metropolis from riot and confusion. Mr. BOTCH seconded the resolution, which was carried with acclamation. Messrs. Pownall, Wilson, and Rotch, were ap pointed as a deputation to wait upon the Lord- Lieutenant with the above resolution. The Court then proceeded to transact the business of the day. The reports of the Visiting Justices of the several county prisons were produced and read. They were of a satisfactory character, both with re ference to the health of the inmates as well as of the discipline and observance of the rules. In the House of Correction, Coidhath-fields, there were 1,134 pri soners at present confined, viz., 910 males, 224 females, and 11 children. Westminster House of Correction contained 747 prisoners, namely, 553 males and 197 females. A supplementary report was appended to the usual official document, in which the Visiting Justices recommended the erection of addi tional dormitories, and other necessary improvements. The COURT received and adopted all the reports. Mr. WALESBY gave notice of motion for next county day—" That the Visiting Justices of this prison be authorised to raise a sum of money, not exceeding 10,0001., for the purpose proposed in the supplementary report." Mr. ROTCH gave notice of motion, to the effect that an application be made to the Secretary of State to give instructions to the magistrates of police courts to bind over all assault cases to appear for trial on the second day of each session, and not on the first, as heretofore. SOUTHAMPTON, THURSDAY, APRIL2O.—The Ocean Steam Navigation Company's ship Hermann, Captain E. Crabtree, arrived here to-day at noon from Bremen, having performed the voyage (a distance of 480 miles) in 42 hours. The run from Cowes-roads to Bremen occupied only 36 hours. The Hermann has a good num ber of German passengers for New York, and also the West Indian mails from Germany. The South-Western Company's steamer Dispatch is expected here to-night, from Havre, with the French mails for New York, and a considerable number of passengers for embarkation on the Hermann, After taking in coals, cargo, and pas szngers from England, the Hermann will leave South ampton for New York en Wednesday next. By the Hermann we have advices from Bremen to the 18th inst., and also a file of the Bremer Zeitung. It was much feared at Bremen that the German ports will be blockaded by the Panes. AGAR TOWN RAGGED SCHOOLS.—Last evening the annual meeting of the friends and supporters of the above schools took place at the new vestry-room, in St. Pancras-road, at which the Right Hon. Lord Ashley presided. The report, as read by the secretary, set forth that the ragged schools were in December, 1845, first established in a mere shed, for the accommodation of 60 children, at Agar Town, a locality neither lighted nor paved, and which contained about 464 inhabited houses, in which were 698 families, comprising 2,960 individuals, 1,200 being children under twelve years of age. In 1847, the scholars having greatly increased in number, ren dered it necessary to erect a new building, which was opened in August last. The total number of children which had been admitted was 685. The new buildin had cost 248/. 13s. 7d., the total receipts for which ha been 225/. 12s. Bd., the balance due to the treasurer being 231. 03411 d. After some routine business the meet ing broke up. gsatisfactions C OM PUTATION OF OUR PLEASU RES AND PAIN S. -- We are in several resp ects un j ust to Providence in the compu t a tion of our pleasures a nd p ains. W e number the hours which are sp ent in distress or sorrow, b ut we forget those s o e fd taway , hose if e ntl not e in j an Y d ni p e l n atid yetem o tions which make life glide smoothly on. W e c omplain of the frequent disappointments whi c h we w h u ia re an m ti a v n e su ff e r in our pursuits , but we recollect not th at i t i s i n in h ich th h e av m e id p s as t pursu it more than in attainment that our pleasures con po derives e r s more ws i s t I n enjoymentthef presentro from state the ofhu exertionm an na t ure in the midst of toils and efforts than o he could receive from a still uniform pos sess i on of the object which he strives to attain. The solace of the mind under all its labours, is hope; and there are few situations which en tirely exclude it. Forms of expected bliss are often se of sse life, gleaming upo n us thro d. ug h a cloud to revive and exhila ratete condit ionshemos most distressed. If pains be scattered through all th so t also are pleasures. Happi ness, as far a s lif e afford s j of it , ; can be engrossed by no rank men to the exclusion of the rest; on the contrary, it is often fo un d w h ere at fi rst v i ew it wou ld h ave b ee least expected. When the human condition appears most distressed, the feelings of men, through the gracious appointment of au all-wise Providence, adjust them selves wonderfully to their state, and enable them to ex tract satisfaction from sources that are totally unknown to others. Were the great body of mankind fairly to compute the hours which they pass in ease, and even with some degree of pleasure, they would be found far to exceed the number of those which are spent in abs( lute pain either of body or mind. CAMBRIDGE.—A loyal address to the Queen, upon the happy turn taken by late political occurrences, has been agreed to by the mayor, magistrates, and other gentlemen of station in this borough. It is now lying for signature at the Town-hall, and runs much in the usual strain of such productions. An immense number of names are already appended. Apropos, it may be stated that Chartism flourishes very indifferently here; out of a population of 25,000 it would be difficult to collect 50 individuals who look upon " the six points" as $ Num for our political ills. THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, APRIL 21, 1848.