The Sun. — London, England, 1865-03-25 00:00:00

TEE LAST EDITION of " THE SUN " supplied as soon as Published. containing all the LA.rEsT NEWS and SPORTING INTELLIGENCE, by R. W. HARRIS, Pie xspaper Agent, 4, Blacktriars-roan, London, S. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. r 111.3 DAT.—Morning, 12h. 14 .m. —Afternoon, 12h. 40m. To-Monnow.-Morning, lh. B m. — Afternoon, 111. 33m. Lord MALMESBURY last night rendered an impor tant service in a just cause, when he suggested that an inquiry should be made into the case of the late Mr. DOCKNALL, who was illegally detained in a lunatic asylum at Sedgefield. There is nothing of more consequence in social jurisdiction than the matters which appertain to the treatment of luna tics, or to the decision respecting who are sane and who are not so. After all that has been done about these arrangements, it is too bad that they should be evaded, and especially by an official person. Lord MALMESBURY clearly showed that there had been great carelessness, to say the least of it, in the carrying on of the affair, and his lordship was fully justified in making his statement. Indeed, when we consider the importance of the case, and its re lation to other matters of the sort, it seems sur prising that more care should not have been taken at an earlier period to ascertain the full particulars, and express an opinion thereupon. Such was the bounden duty of the Government, and they fully deserve the reproach cast upon them last night of having neglected an important trust committed to them. In some respects the question of rightly dealing with the insane, and discreetly judging who are afflicted and who are not, is more than a matter of life and death, since to all persons death would be preferable to confinement in an asylum if they were not insane ; and to those who are so life can present no greater tortures than such treatment or mismanagement there. The chief errors committed in the case of the late Mr. DOCKNALL appear to be these : in the first place, only one medical man was consulted, instead of two, as the law requires ; and next, that Colonel JOHNSON stated he had examined the man periodically, whereas he had never seen him. It is the best proof of the extent of the evil, that, after the unfortunate Mr. DOCKNALL had been for a short time confined to the asylum, it was evi dent to those around him that he was not insane, and accordingly steps were taken to liberate him. Two magistrates went to the asylum, and they, with the medical men, being convinced that he was in the full possession of his senses, he was liberated. A stronger assurance could not be given as to the illegality of his being sent to the asylum, but not withstanding this apparently conclusive evidence, great laxity seems to have prevailed at headquarters. Lord MALMESBURY forcibly put the case when he said that it was for the House to consider the conduct of Colonel JOHNSON, for he had appended his name to a statement which was untrue. " Not any course of proceeding more reprehensible than that he could hardly conceive." The Home-office t possesses ample power s to adjudi ca t e upon the affair ; and, as Lord MALMESBURY observed, they should have shown their sense of the wrongdoing by dismissing, or, at all events, by severely rep rov i ng the magistrate. Lord GRANviurs endeavour to shuffle off the matter was not very successful, and it was well that Lord SHAFTESBURY took up the subject, of which he is a good judge. His lord ship very truly argued that, when they heard of a magistrate sending a man to a lunatic asylum, and declaring at the same time that he had personally seen and examined him, while all the time lie had done no such thing, it was time that the house " should express a feeling that the law ought to be placed upon a better footing for the defence and protection of her MAJESTY'S subjects." No one has so good a right to give an opinion on this question as the noble earl, who has devoted so much toil and assiduity to the benefit of those oppressed by the heaviest affliction that can befall humanity. The advantages that have accrued to those suffering under this calamity through the arrangements and improvements of the noble lord and his supporters are almost incalculable, and the benefits are not confined to that class, for there is hardly any one in the land who is not more or less indebted to the restriction which fence round the sane from the dangers which may assail them, their friends, or their connections, th:cugh the igno ranee 1 and designs of misinformed and prejudiced persans. But it must be borne in mind that the good of these reforms will be greatly hindered from taking effect if any laxity is permitted, or mis management tolerated. This case, which Lord M.SLNESBURY brought forward, is a signal instance of wrong-doing, but it is holding out a premium to carelessness for the Home Office to pass over so great a derilection of duty. Lord DERBY, with his usual acuteness, pointed out the chief error that had been committed by the Home Office in dealing with the affair, and said that the authorities there should have required a distinct answer from the magistrate respecting the two allegations, as to whether or not he had acted upon only one medical certificate, and also as to whether he had declared to having visited him when he had not done so. If the Home Office had not done so the noble earl wished to be informed of their reason for so abstaining from the necessary requisition. It is not a good arrangement of the present Government, as Lord MALMESBURY ob served, that there is not anyone in the Upper House to represent the departments of the Home Office, the Board of Trade, or the Poor Law Board. In consequence this important affair has not been pro perly sifted, as it ought to have been, by Parlia ment, and very extraordinary conduct has not been explained. Lord MALMESBURY, however, seems determined to keep them up to the mark, and we are glad to see that the noble lord announced his intention of requiring that he should be exactly informed of what took place between the Home Office and Col. JOHNSON ; and especially he wished to ascertain whether the Colonel had been rebuked or not? This is the only way to gain anything like accurate information ; for with one excuse and another everything is put off, and the most impor tant matters are laid on the shelf. It will not do for the Government to shirk inquiry into affairs that are so intimately connected with the best interests of the community; and they may carry their negli gence and favouritism a little too far, as they will find some day to their cost. It is to be hoped that the observations made by experienced persons will so influence the authorities that they will make a bona fide inquiry for once, and allow justice to have full play in a matter of such vital interest. It is true that the sufferer has passed away ; but, though dead, he yet speaks to us of his wrongs, and the affair must not be neglected. A question of some importance was discussed last night in the Commons when Mr. MALINS called attention to the condition of the upper part of the River Thames. It appears from the petitions of the General Committee of the Thames and Isis Naviga tion and the Mayor and Corporation of Walling ford that the upper portion of the river has fallen into decay, and that the navigation is seriously affected. The profits of the river companies have seriously diminished since the introduction of rail ways. The revenue, which, in 1845, amounted to £14,000, was last year only £3,097, and conse quently the Commissioners have been unable even to pay the interest of their debt, to the great dis satisfaction of their creditors. They have further been compelled to discharge their workmen for lack of funds, and 170 miles of the river have fallen into decay. The locks are out of repair, and several towns and places along the shores of the river are liable to be flooded should there be a great increase of water. Under these circumstances, the Com missioners, in despair, petition Parliament, and Mr MALINS, who has previously interested himself in the matter, called the attention of the President of the Board of Trade to it, and showed that the affair was further complicated by the claims of the old lockowners. Not much, however, was to be gained from Mr. GIBBON, who persisted in treating the question as a private affair of the company, instead of a public concern. He agreed to the appointment of a Parliamentary Committee of Inquiry - , which is likely to do neither much good nor harm, but it was very truly said that a small Commission, -with proper scientific aid, would be more likely to ar rive at sound and definite conclusions. The ques tion is really of too much importance to be slurred over, or put aside, and demands a full inquiry and immediate attention. The waste of water is to be regretted, the danger of floodings are to be feared, while the costly and inefficient system of navigation is prejudicial alike to the interests of the Commissioners and the community. Mr: MALINS said, with justice, that it would be a dis grace to allow this important water highway to fall into decay, and there is no doubt that the unequal rating of the locks and their bad state of repair has something to do with the falling off of navigation. Either a low county rate should be adopted, as Colonel KNOX suggested, or the Government should advance the money to put the locks and weirs into proper repair, buy out the old owners, and impose a uniform rate. The county rate would be so small, and the advantages of the river to the counties through which it flows are so great, that that would perhaps be the best and fairest way of settling the difficulty. At any rate we hope that the hon. members who represent the interests of those coun ties will take care that the matter is not left in abeyance, but that before the session is over some active steps may be taken towards the protection of old Father Thames. LIFE e boats of BOAT theSERVIC National Lifeboat Institution have saved 432 persons from different wrecks on our coasts. The Institution also expended £19,531 14s. sd. in the same period on lifeboat establishments, in addition to granting £1,569 as rewards for say.ng 69 shipwrecked per sons by its lifeboats, and other means. The Committee of the Institution earnestly APPEAL to the public for ASSISTANCE to enable them to meet the continued heavy demands on the Institution's 140 lifeboat establishments. Contributions are received by Messrs. Willis and Co.. Ilerries and Co., Coutts and Co., and by all the London and country bankers; and by the Secretary, Richard Lewis, Esq., at the Institution, 14, John-street, Adelphi. TII EATR E-R OYA L, DRURY-LANE, Managers, Messrs. E. Falconer and F. B. Chatterton. THIS EVENING, a New Farce, GOING TO THE DOGS. After which, OTHELLO. Mr. Phelps; Messrs. James Anderson, Walter Lacy, G. F. Neville ; Miss Atkinson, and Mrs. Hermann Vezin. Concluding with the Opening of the Pantomime, HOP 0' MY T tIUMB AND HIS ELEVEN BROT LlEits ; or, the 0:;re of the Seven-League Boots ; terminating with Grand Transformation Scene ; Miss Lydia lh om pson, Szcthe. T H EA TR E-R OYA L, lIAYA.IARKET. Lessee. Mr. Buckstone. T BIS EVENING, THREE WE EKS AFTER MAR RIAGE. Mr. Chippenlale, Mr. W. Far ren ; Miss IN elly Moore, Miss Snowdon, &c. After which, a New Sensation, THE WOMAN IN MAUVE: Messrs. So:hern, Compton, Howe, Farren, Braid, White, Weathersby, Butler, &c. Mesdames Stuart, Lovell, Buckstone, &c. And EASY SHAVING. MISS Louise -Keeley, Miss F. Wright ; Mestrs. Clark, Gordon, Rogers, &O. To commence at 7. NEW THEATRE -ROYAL, ADELPHL— rsoIe rrooru,tar and lianalfer..r:r. B. Webster. THIS EVENING, THE IRISH TIGER. Mess - s. C. H Stephenson and Eburne ; Miss K. Kelly. Af er chich, THE HUNCHBACK. Julia (12th time), Miss Bateman, supported by Messrs. George Jordan, Swinbourne, Bil.ing-ton, Stuart, Ashley, Eburne, J. L. Toole ; and Miss H. Simms. To conclude with THE STEEPLF.CEIASE ; or, In the Pigskin. Messrs. J. L. Toole, Paul Bedford ; Miss K. Kelly. Commence at 7. OYAL LYCEUM THEATRE. Under the Sole Management of Mr. Fechter. THIS EVENLNG, THE ROADSIDE INN. Rebert Ma caire, Mr. Emery, Bertrand Mr. 11 . Widdicomb ; Messrs. C. Borman, 14 itzpatriak, M oroi and, Garden, Raymond, Collett; Miss E. Lavenu and Miss Elsworthy. To be followel by T LIE STRANGER. The Stranger, Mr. Ryder; 3lrs. Ilaller, Mdlle Beatrice; Messrs. WALE c :nab, u. Horsman, F.tzpatrick, M'lntyre, Garden, Raymond ; iiss M. henraUe, E. Lavenu, and Mrs. C. tiorsman. Doors open at Hall-past Sit. The Box-office open daily from Elev. n till Five. LYCEUM THEATRE. -MR. FECHTER'S reappearance %via take place on Easter Monday, on which occasion he will perform, for the first time at this theatre, a new character. ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE. Sole Lessee and Manager, Mr. Geo. Vining. THIS EVENING, a new Farce, by Mr. David Fisher, entitled HEART-STRINGS AND FIDDLE-STRINGS. Atter which, ARRAH NA POGUE : Mesirs. Dion Bouci cault, J. Brougham, IL Vandenhofi, D. Fisher, D. Murray; Mrs. Boucicault and Miss M. To conclude with AN AMPLE APOLOGY. IIOYAL STRAND THEATRE. Sole Lessee and Manageress. Mrs. Swanborough. T EVENING, at 7, THE SILENT SYSTEM. Messrs. Belford and J. Thorne ; Misses Carson and Hughes. After which, the great Comic Drama, MILKY WHITE. Jilftsrs. Craven, Stoyle, Jame.; ; Miss Swanborough. To conclude w;.th MAZEPPA. Messrs. Fenton, James ; Mesdames Itaynham, Simpson, Johnstone, &c. GRATIS AND POST FREE. E. MOSES and SONS' New Pamphlet, THE PHILOSOPHY OF DRESS. MOSES AND S 0 N E. respectfully call attention to their large and well assorted stock of JUVENILE CLOTHING. The newest fabrics are combined with the latest and most fashionable designs, and the best workmanship. E. MOSES and SON give particular attention to this important branch of their business, and they can with confidence affirm that the prices Are such as must satisfy the most economical. This depart ment is in a oistinct part of the premises, which will be found a great convenience for ladies and children, MOSES AND SON • respectfully invite public attention to their large and well-assorted SPRING STOCK. EMOSES AND SON'S • "SANDRINGHAM" and "DANISH " WRAPPER Introduced by them) Is the neatest and most fashionable style of Overcoats for the season. 141 A MOSES AND SON'S • READY-MADE and BESPOKE CLOMINU- for all classes and all ages. MOSES AND SON'S ~• CELEBB.ATED "INDISPENSABLE" SUIT. trona 30s. EMOSES AND . HOSIERY and DRA.I•EILY, !or all classes and all ages. S 0 N'S EIMOSES AND SON'S • HATS AND CAPS, fur all c asses and all ages. MOSES AND SON'S ~. BOOTS and SHOES, for all classes and all ages. MOSES AND SON'S • OUTFI t'B, for all classes, all ages, and all climates. . MOSES AND SON'S A_ 4 l •• LONDON HOUSES, 154, 155, 157 , 157, Minories; 83, 84, 85, 80, 87, 88, 89, Aldg,ate 5U6, 507;508, New Oxford--street; 1,2, 3, Hart-sLre,:t ; 137, 138, Tottenham-court-road ; 288, Euston-road Also, Bradford. Yorkshire. MOSES AND SON'S • Establishments are closed every Friday evening at 3uuset until Saturday evening at sunset, when business is re sumed unlit li. o'clock. _ . . All articles ar marked the lowest prices in plain figures. Any article nut appr,ved of will be exchanged, or the money returned. _ _ _ _ . List of Prices with Rules for Self-measurement, Fashion Card, and our new pamphlet, " The Philosophy of Dress," gratis and post free. THE LATEST EDITION of " TIIE SUN " supplied, as soon as published every Evening by W. ALEXANDER (hte BROOKS), Newspaper Agent, 21, Old Cavenuisti- street, Oxford-street. r.VIIE LAST EDITION OF " THE SUN," Containing the Latest brOiLTIZ:Ii INTELLLUEA pun be had Every Evening of G. R.. GLENIE, NEvra AGENT, No. 4, Connaught-terrace, Ilyde-park. "A SUN PORTRAIT." st. The Photographic Curiosity announced by us, some time since, as in active preparation, is at l e ngth, we are rejoiced to say, completed, and completed, we will add, most successfully. The difficult task of its production—by means of an entirely new application of the wonderful art of photography—has been delayed until now solely by the unpropitious state of the weather, that is to say, by the unusually lengthened continuance of a murky and misty' condition of the atmosphere. One bright day, however, has at length put an end to the difficulty—the result aimed at being now completely and triumphantly accomplished. An all but microscopic facsimile of the front page of The Sun newspaper of MONDAY, the 2d of January, 1865, has—in other words—been pro duced by this hitherto undreamt-of application of the photographic art. It is hereby announced in fact as ready for publication, on Monday, the 3d of April, upon which day a copy of this Miniature Photograph, entitled " A Sun Portrait," will be presented gratuitously to every purchaser of The Sun of that evening —the Photograph being accom panied by a Supplement reproducing the front page of our Journal of Monday, the 2d of January. eir jg a., lig 41.1"0, -4. A• " I :4Z,V e aPNV 44. 15tt0 LONDON, SATURDAY, MARCH 25, 1865. In the House of Commons last night Lord ELMO gave notice that he intended to call attention to the debate in the Canadian Parliament on the proposed vote of £50,000 for the defences of Quebec. It is not surprising that the noble lord should have adopted this course, seeing that the brief news re ceived from Quebec tells us that great dissatisfaction was expressed in the Canadian Parliament at the smallness of the amount to be voted by the Impe rial Parliament, and that one gentleman even sug gested that a mistake must have been made in the figures and that half a million was the sum intended. The origin of this disaffection is very simply traced to a misunderstanding on the part of the colonists, who evidently considered that the small amount of £50,000 was the whole contribution to be furnished by the mother country towards the proposed de fences. This is shown by the Hon. Mr. MOORE asking the Canadian Government whether the for tifications recommended by Colonel JERVOIS, to be built at a cost of £1,343,000, were to be erected, and how much of the cost was to fall on Canada? To a poor and striving colony, which like a young beginner in business has the prospect of a vast income, but only the present possession of a very small one, such an amount may well seem startling, when they anticipate having to find nearly all the money. The actual amount of the contribution of this country will, according to the scheme now pro posed by the Government, be eventually nearer to Mr. MooßE's suggestion than to the sum originally proposed, but its payment will be spread over some years. The misunderstanding will, no doubt, be soon set right, but it leaves matter for regret that the Government should have taken the grace from the favour by doling out the money. The House would have been just as willing to have voted twice or three times the amount at once ; and if the mat ter is really pressing it is useless to lose time by dawdling over the work. The dilatory fashion in which our public works are conducted at home will not do where there is a great end to be speedily attained, and unless the Quebec fortifications pro gress a little faster than some national undertakings nearer home the city will be left defenceless for some years to come. The shortness of the working season is not a sufficient excuse, seeing that it is possible to increase the amount of labour by augmenting the number of hands em ployed upon it, and if there are certain portions where only a few can work at a time, there are many others where large numbers could be simultaneously employed. What is worth doing at all is worth doing well, and in this case to do well is to do quickly, as quickly as is consistent with effectual construction. As it is, if the work is put in motion with proper energy and spirit, the vote will certainly not be sufficient to bring forward contractors without considerable additions, and this point was mentioned in the course of Thursday's debate, when several members expressed their regret that a larger proportion of the whole vote had not been taken at once. There is another point which our Government would do well to bear in mind. The Canadian difficulty is virtually of their own making. Had they agreed to the proposal of th French Emperor, and recognised the independence of the South two years ago, we should have heard nothing of hostile intentions towards British North America. The Federals, however irritated or incensed at such recognition, would never have dared to move their armies northwards, leaving their southern enemies in the rear, while a Confederate force would have found it very easy to move west wards up to Western Canada. But since, by their timorous policy, the Whigs have brought this trouble upon us, let men do their best to make amends by putting a little vigour and public spirit into their steps towards the defence of the colonies. THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, MARCH 25, 1865. Cardinal Wiseman's Successor. The following paragraph appears in the limes of this morning :—" A reliable correspondent, who has recently received direct information from a well-informed source at Rome, writes that it is there reported that the present Bishop of Clifton, the Hon. William Joseph Hugh Clifford, D.D., will be immediately appointed Roman Catholic Archbishop of Westminster in place of the late Cardinal Wise man ; that the Hon. George Talbot, D.D., Domestic Chamberlain to His Holiness the Pope, who will, notwithstanding remain in Rome, will be created cardinal (it being held to be desirable that at least one Englishman receives this dignity), and that the Right Rev. Monsignor Manning, D.D., will be nominated Bishop of Clifton, with legatine powers, so that he will rank, after Dr. Clifford, first of the English Roman Catholic bishops. The Very Rev. Canon O'Neal, of St. John's-wood, will, in the place of Dr. Manning, fill the office of Roman Catholic Provost of Westminster. Such arrange ments must, it is believed, give great satisfaction to all the various schools and parties in the Anglo- Roman communion." Bank of England, 1865. The following is the House List of the Governors and Directors of the Bank of England for the year ensuing : roil. GOV: Trenry Lancelot Holland, Thomas Newman Hunt, FOP. DIR 'ERNORS. Esq., Governor. Esq., Deputy-Governor. Henry Hulse Berens, Esq. Arthur Edwd. Campbell, Esq. Edwd. Henry Chapman, Esq. Robt.Wigram Crawford, Esq. William Cotton, Esq. James Pattison Currie, Esq. Benjamin Buck Greene, Esq. *Henry Riversdale Grenfell, ECTORS. John Benjamin Heath, Esq. Kirkman Daniel Hodgson, Esq. John Gellibrand Hubbard, Esq. Charles Frederick Huth, Esq. Alfred Latham, Esq. Thomas Masterman, Esq. James Morris, Esq. Sheffield Neave, Esq. George Warde Norman, Esq. Edward HowleyPalmer, Esq. Clifford Wigram, Esq. sq. Henry . Hucks Gibbs, Esq. John Saunders Gilliat, Esq. Geo. Joachim GOschen, Esq. James Alex. Guthrie, Esq. Thomson Hankey, Esq. I N.B. The gentleman against whose name an asterisk is placed is a new candidate for the Direction. The Election for Governor and Deputy-Governor will he held at the Bank on Tuesday, the 4th April, and for Directors on Wednesday, the sth April, from 10 o'clock in the forenoon till 4 is the afternoon. THE ROYAL ITALIAN OPERA. Brilliant Prospects for the Season of 1865. On Tuesday next, the 28th inst., Mr. Gye will inaugurate—seemingly under the happiest auspices —another of his notable seasons as Director of this great Lyrical Establishment. Year after year his Programme might be filed very judiciously as an authoritative record cf the progress and develop ment of Musical Art in Christendom. This year it possesses in many respects an interest peculiar to itself, an interest and s. value upon one or two points of a really exceptional character. As has been notice able before now so conspicuously with regard to the majority of its predecessors, it is full of promise--but that, we had almost said, as a matter of course ! Mr. Gye has accustomed us somehow to these radiant promises, but he has accustomed us as well—almost equally as a matter of course—to their fulfilment. It is difficult, no doubt, for any Operatic Director to illustrate—to the very letter— those household words of Shakspere's about such as " keep the words of promise to the ear and break it to the hope." The difficulty of course, with them, lying in the simple fact that promises of their's when kept to the ear cannot by possibility be broken to the hope! Without, however, resorting to ingenious quibble or evasion of any kind what ever, it so happens that the promises put forth in Mr. Gye's annual prospectus, as Director of the Royal Italian Opera, are, as a rule—almost, as we have said, as a matter of course—kept ! L'homme propose, Dieu dispose—has its occasional exemplars, to be sure, here, as elsewhere. Instance, only last year, in the postponement until the season itself was nearly over and done with, of the promised production of " L'Etoile du Nord"—a delay be yond all the Director's powers of prevision, however, seeing that it arose from the un fortunate illness of Madlle. Pauline Lucca, to whom had been allotted the part of Catarina. Nevertheless, turning now from the past to the future —heartened in our anticipations of the future by our remembrance of the past—let us scan for a moment the fair prospects opened up to our view by the Director's Programme for this present, or rather immediately approaching, season a,t the Royal Italian. As only befits him in his capacity as the Director of The Royal Italian Opera at Covent Garden, Mr. Gye's first words in setting forth his programme for the season of 1865, are words of homage and gratitude to the memory of Giacomo Meyerbeer. At the Royal Italian, under Mr. Gye's management, the whole of the GRAND OPERAS of that great origi nator of the particular style of lyrical drama, now known and world-famous, under that imposing but most appropriate title, have, one after another, been produced. And they have been, there, so pro duced, moreover, with a completeness and a splendour alone attainable through the resources of a lyrical establishment, as vast and as perfectly organised as that of Covent Garden. Meyerbeer's Five glorious operatic masterpieces—Grand Operas not only in name but in very truth—L'Etoile du Nord, Les Huguenots, Dinorah, Roberto Il Diavolo, Le Prophete—have they not been here produced, each and all of them, in a manner not only worthy of them selves but of the marvellous genius of which they are the strangely varied exponents—at this very lyrical establishment, under this very manage ment ? And, now, yet another of these chefs d'oeuvres is to be added to the wonderful catalogue—alas! that we should have to bear only too painfully in mind, as the very last that can ever be added to it—the darling work of all by this great, dead and gone composer, his capo d'opera, accord ing to his own estimation of it—his long-promised, his eagerly looked for, his often delayed, but at length, quite perfected masterpiece, L'Africaine ! The pro duction, for the first time, of this great posthumous work of Meyerbeer's, L'Africaine, is, in point of fact, the event par excellence of the Season of 1865 —not for London alone, not for Paris merely, not for both of those great capitals together, but for all Europe ! In the musical world, among all the civi lised races, the production of Meyerbeer's posthu mous opera of " Africaine" is an affair of state—it is an event to which all are now looking forward with breathless eagerness and expectation. The manu script-score of this last and grandest of his Grand Operas, Meyerbeer is known to have retained for fourteen years in his portfolio—touching it, re touching it, perfecting it with all the resources of his refined and experienced genius —loth to part from it as a work of art actually done with and completed. Yet, completed this great work of art most happily was nevertheless—in spite of all these delays—before the lamented death, last year, of Giacomo Meyerbeer. Completed even down to the affixing of the very last note of emendation by his masterhand upon the manuscript-score but very shortly before the great maestro breathed his last ! It is touchin g t o b ear i n remembrance,now, immediatelybefore the production of " L'Africaine"—first of all, yond er a t P ar i s upon the boards of the Academie Royale de Musique and directly after that, here in London, upon the boards of the Royal Italian Opera, Covent-garden —it is exquisitely touching to remember at this moment the fact that shortly after Meyerbeer's death there was discovered among his papers, in his own handwriting, a solemn prayer to God that his life might be preserved long enough to permit of his beholding the performance of—his most cherished work—" Africaine!" The performance, however, thus at last of that great work—the witnessing of which was denied to Meyerbeer himself !—we have now, all of us who may please to do so, a , very fair prospect of beholding in a few weeks time within the noble area of Mr. Gye's great lyrical establishment. The production thus of " L'Africaine" upon the boards of the Royal Italian is obviously, therefore, the one grand attraction held out to us, at the very commencement of the programme of his new season, by the Director. It is to be the achievement of the whole season—beyond all the others, though many of those others are of consi derable importance. The exat time when we may hope to witness " L'Africaine" is alone left a matter of uncertainty, but it is so left quite unavoidably. It is contingent, in other words, upon the precise date at which the opera can be performed at the Paris Academie Royale de Musique. As to the other novelties of the coming season, they arc, in a manner, visible to us through a less hazy atmos phere—they are looming in the future, so to speak, just a trifle more distinguishably. For example, early in the ensuing month, and not as last year at the very end of the season, we are to have repro duced " L'Etoile du Nord "—with all its superb adornments in the way of scenery, costumes, and mise-en-scene! After an interval of fourteen years— during which that charming opera has been unheard in London—we are to have revived for us once more the Linda di Chamounix of Donizetti! After an interval of seven years—during which it also has been inaudible to us—we are to have revived, for us, quite as acceptably in its way, Auber's sprightly comic opera of Fra Diavolo ! Again—a good many years having elapsed, during which Mozart's wonderfully beautiful, but also wonder fully difficult chef d'oeuvre, Il Flauto Magico has remained unrepresented in this country—that famous opera is, this season, to be added to the Royal Italian repertoire. A repertoire, nevertheless, otherwise so marvellously comprehensive in its character as to comprise within it no less than three- an d-thirty operas by Gluck, the o g n re e at b e y st Mercadante, one by Herold, one by Beethove n, two G m o as un te o r d s , of on th e e b cla y v A in io e z a a r r t t —o , o n n e e b b y y by Ab Verdi, u four c two b bbyitt,o fivew three b by Meyerbeer, B e llm fo , seven four b b y y y D onizetti ! As to the Artistes still retained or newly engaged by the Director for this the Nineteenth Season of the Royal Italian Opera, the mere catalogue of them is something magnificent. Foremost among them, there is the young Prima Donna, Madlle. Adelina Patti, who is pledged to add as many as four fresh leaves to her already umbrageous laurels--performing this year for the first time in England Bellini's Elvira in the " Puri tani," Donizetti's Linda in the Opera already par ticularised, besides two of Mozart's bewitching heroines, Susanna in the " IN.Tozze di Figaro," and Pamina in the " Flauto Magico," blacllle. Pauline Lucca again, hitherto only known to us here in Lon don as a tragic or pathetic songstress—namely, by her noble impersonations of Margherita in Gounod's "Faust," and Valentina,"in „Meyerbeer's "Hugue nots,"—will perform in comedy this year as Mozart's Cherubino in the " Nozze di Figaro," and as Auber's Zerlina in "Fra Diavolo." Conspi cuous among the acquisitions to the Royal Italian company, in the new season about to commence now' immediately, is that ensuring the services of Madame Miolan-Carvalho, who will not only rival Madlle. Lucca as Margherita, and resume her part of Catarina, in the " Etoile du Nord," but who will also perform one of the principal characters in the eagerly looked for " Africaine." The rare honour and responsibility of per forming the chief tenor part in that grand posthumous opera of Meyerbeer, will devolve, meanwhile, upon Signor Wachtel, already renowned in this country as the impersonator of Rossini's Arnold and Verdi's Manrico. Beyond which, Signor Wachtel will undertake the part Of Donizetti's Edgardo in " Lucia di Lammermoor,' as well as that of Mozart's 'I amino in "Il Flauto Magico." Signor Graziani will not only this year repeat his impersonation of Guglielmo Tell, he will for the first time perform Mozart's Il Conte in the "Nozze di Figaro," and Verdi's Rigoletto in the quaint opera so entitled—besides this—most onerous duty of all—he will impersonate the principal baritone character in the " Africaine" of our dead and gone Meyerbeer. Herr Schmidt, the great German Basso Profundo, who last season achieved so radiant a success upon his then de'bilt in London will this year per form for the first time Mozart's Leporello in " Don Giovanni," as well as two of Meyerbeer's famous characters, Bertram in " Robert le Diable," and Marcel in the " Huguenots." As we began, here, with the mention of Madlle. Adelina Patti, so let us end now with two others among the chief glories of the Royal Italian—Kings of Song, still, after how many memorable seasons !—Signor Mario and Signor Ronconi ! Each of those two renowned lyrical performers, as though each were but an aspir ing beginner instead of a laurelled veteran in the art, undertakes it will be seen to add, this season, a new role to his already ample re'pertoire! Signor Mario for the first time performing Fra Diavolo— Signor Ronconi for the first time assuming the part of Don Pasquale ! Seven more or less well known songstresses from Lisbon, from Moscow, from Munich, from Berlin, from Milan, will make, this season, their first appearance at the Royal Italian, while five male singers of high reputation will in their turn make their Milt upon the same boards in 1865, two from Milan, two from Naples, one from Paris, another of the five (M. Gassier, to wit) removing simply from the boards of Her Majesty's to those of the Royal Italian ! To Madame Isabella Galletti's first ap pearance, we will acknowledge that we look forward with eager expectation, and this simply because of the repute already acquired by her in her native land (par excellence the land of song), among Italian connoisseurs. As a wonderfully at tractive commencement of the new season, it will be seen that Gounod's renowned five act opera of Faust e Margherita is set down for the very first night's performance, two debutantes appearing in the cast of parts, namely Madlle. Honor 6, as the Siebel, and Madlle. Berini, as the Margherita—Mario, as hitherto, being the Faust, Graziani the Valentine, and Attri the Mephistopheles. The matchless Orchestra and Chorus of the Royal Italian will still be presided over by the magical wand of Mr. Costa, himself at once Composer, Di rector of Music, and facile princeps among Conduc tors ! With Mr. Augustus Harris retained as the stage manager, and Mr. William Beverley as the principal scene - painter, the splendour and completeness of the mise-en-scene may still, of course, be counted upon with implicit confi dence. Having added that Madlle. Salvioni is happily continued by the management at the head of the danseuses in the corps de ballet, (though threatened with a rival in Madlle. Johanna Selling, who is announced as being about to make her first appearance) it remains for us only to wish all success to the Director in this his new season, but, above all, every imaginable success to his chief en terprize, the production that is, for the first time, of the " Africaine" of the peerless Meyerbeer ! Destruction of the Sheffield Theatre by Fire - - SHEFFIELD Saturday Morning. The Surrey Theatre was burnt down at half-past 2 o'clock this morning. A small fire had been dis covered in Burgess-street half an hour previously, and the engines had been called out. The firemen of the Royal Fire Insurance Company's brigade were in the act of backing their engine into the sta tion, when a bright light was observed in the direc tion of Westbar. How long the theatre had been burning it is impossible to say, but when discoverd the flames were blazing through the roof, illumi nating all the neighbourhood. The fire spread with frightful rapidity, threatening to destroy the entire square formed by Westbar, Spring street, Hick's-lane, and Workhouse-croft. The flames had spread from the rear towards the front of the building, destroying the least hope that any considerable portion of it could be saved. It is impossible to ascertain whether any lives have been lost. The entire building is destroyed ; the walls are hanging over, threatening to fall. All the people have been got out of the surrounding houses. The premises are insured in the Royal-office. Immediately on the fire being discovered the Royal engines were quickly on the spot, but the flames had obtained such a hold of the building that it was quite impossible to do anything to arrest their progress. The fire brigade, therefore, directed their engines to throw immense columns of water on the adjoining property, in the hope of preventing the flames spreading beyond the walls of the theatre. CRYSTAL PALACE.—At this afternoon's concert the vocalists are Madame Rudersdorff, Madame Parepa, Mr. George Perren, and Herr Pass. The programme in cludes Mozart's operetta " L'lmpressario" and Mendels sohn's overture to " Ruy Blas." After the concert the usual promenade will take place. ILLNESS OF MR. DOULTON.—For the last few days Mr. Doulton, M.P. for Lambeth, has been labouring under illness, having been confined to his bed, and, though now stated to be somewhat better, he is not likely to be able to attend to his Parliamentary duties for some time. During the absence of the hon. member, the Right Hon W. Cowper has been provisionally appointed to officiate as chairman of the committee of inquiry respecting the open spaces in and around the metropolis. " L'Africaine" has been fully rehearsed to the end of the fourth act. The scenery, costumes, &c., are in a very forward state. The fifth act alone has yet to be "got up." It is expected that it will be performed in Paris about the 20th proximo. —The Orchestra. • THE EDMUNDS SCANDAL.—Mr. Hastings, Secre tary to the Social Science Association, has stated, at a meeting of the society, that he is authorised by Lord Brougham and by. Mr. William Brougham to declare that there is no foundation whatever for the reported scandals in the Edmunds' case, and that a complete refutation will be given of them. This is as we ventured last week to anticipate.—Law Tunes (this day). ARCHEOLOGY.—M. Mariette, the distinguished adept in Egyptian hieroglyphics, had added two more to his numerous discoveries. The first is that of a Speos-temple, situated at Assouan, and dedicated to Isis- Sothis. This denomination, in M. Mariette's opinion, is con nected with the position of Syene, which was believed to be under the tropics; and it was perhaps in one of the temples of that city that the rising of the star which was to fix the beginning of the year used to be observed. M. Mariette also gives some new particulars concerning the excavations of Abydos, which continue to bring to light walls decorated in a splendid manner ; a great number of proskynemata, or votive inscriptions, attest the admiration of the Groek visi tors to this:temple,which is particularly mentioned by Strabo. M. Mariette believes he has found the well mentioned by that geographer, and is now getting it explored. Denderah also has been the scene of a most interesting discovery. Here M. Mariette has found crypts wherein statues, cast in precious metals and other rich offerings had formerly been deposited, as the inscriptions on the walls show. The niches containing these offerings had been walled up never to be opened again, but this of course is by no means the case, and they are all empty. The inscriptions, how ever, mention historical facts of great importance. The temple had been founded by Cheops, and subsequently em bellished by the Pharaohs of the sixth and twelfth dynasties. Rhamses 11. had repaired or finished it. Under Ptolemy (Neos Dyonysos), it was in such a dilapidated condition that it had to be rebuilt en tirely. Such is the short history of this monument; and it is only the prelude to more important disclosures to be expected from the inscriptions not yet deciphered. In a letter to the President of the Academie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres, M. Mariette announces that the Viceroy has granted him the necessary funds for the publication of the principal discoveries he has made during the 14 years he has been exploring the ruins of Egypt. LATEST INTELLIGENCE, (REUTER'S TELEGRAM.) CALCUTTA AND CHINA MAILS. MALTA, MARCH 24. The Ellora will leave at 4 p.m. and the Massilia at 9 p.m to-day. The former may be expected at Marseilles on the 27th inst., and the latter at Southampton about the 2d April. The Nemesis reached Suez on the 19th inst. OUTWARD BOMBAY MAIL. The Delta from Marseilles on the 20th inst. reached Malta at midnight on the 22d, and left at 7 a.m. on the 23d for Alexandria. FRANCE. PARIS, MARCH 25. M. Truy, vice-consul of France at Callao, has been appointed Chevalier of the Legion of Honour, on account of his courageous conduct during a popu lar rising against the Spaniards. BOURSE, March 24.---The market is inactive, but prices in the principal Securities are well sus tained. Threes, for the Account, are now at 67f. 25c. Credit Mobilier have been done at 875 f. Italian Loan 64f. 75c. In Railway Shares there is little doing, and quotations remain about the same as yesterday. The market closed firm. The fol lowing are the last quotas 4} per Cents 65 50 Do. end month — 3 per Cents. 67 30 Do. end month 67 25 Credit Mobilier Do. end month Bank Shares 3535 Credit Foncier 1290 Roman 74 cons : Italian Loan — Do. end month 64 80 Ditto Threes — New Mexican Russian — Austrian Spanish Threes Home Debt Deferred WAYS. Cash. - Acct. Orleans Northern lO2O 50 ... Lyons and Mediterranean..., 976 25 ... 977 50 Southern 585 ... 583 75 Western 541 25 ... 545 Eastern Sardinian ' 301 25 ... 300 Austrian Lombard 546 25 ... 545 North of Spain 302 50 302 50 Saragossa Ditto to Barcelona — The Prussian Army. BERLIN, March 22. The following are the most important portions of the speech delivered yesterday in the Prussian Chamber of Deputies by Herr von Roon, the Mi nister of War. After replying to the arguments of previous speakers the Minister said— " It has been stated that the strength of which an army must consist, to have chances of victory and success, must not by any means be merely numerical, but that the quality and condition of the army, its handiness with its weapons, and the method of its armament, must be taken into consi deration. Well, that is perfectly correct to a certain extent. The superiority of arms compensates for the inequality of numbers, but only to a certain extent. We must not fancy that because we, thank heaven, are in possession of a very excellent armament, we are therefore in a position to beat double our numbers with half our force. This is not the case, if we have already limited ourselves in the formation of our war strength as contrasted with a stronger neigh bour, this is because we have various elements in our favour others cannot bring to bear—viz., the greater intel ligence of the people, the ready obedience shown by the majority of the nation to military laws, and the superiority of our arms, at which I rejoice. These are certainly ele ments which enable us to take up a contest even where not superior in numbers, but such limitation goes, in my opi nion, only to a certain extent. . . . Circumstances in Aus tria, France, and Russia may certainly be 'extremely different from our circumstances, but the plain fact re mains that those countries can at any moment dispose of an army numerically superior to ours, and this being so, you will understand that a Prussian War Adminis tration cannot avoid taking such measures as afford it the possibility of meeting hostile attack at the decisive time. I cannot agree with some remarks of a previous speaker as to the present state of the Russian army. Its condition has improved, and I am enabled to state, partly from authentic sources, that the traditions of a former period no longer apply. Neither do I consider what has been said as to the probability of a war in the west as in any way dictating the course to be pursued in an organic question affecting arrangements for the future. I, too, believe that the present sagacious ruler of France is very far removed from overrunning us with war, perhaps to-morrow, or the day after, or even at an early period. Yes, gentlemen, he will do so undoubtedly as soon as his interest demands, but who can say when that moment shall arrive ? It is, therefore, necessity which drove us to ac complish more than it was appointed us to bear." Alluding to the criticism by aprevious speaker, his having said that Prussia had been for years in a state of illusion, the Minister observed, " I have never intended to attack the constitution of our army, and the fundamental idea upon which it is based. For the idea of our defensive system is precisely the fundamental idea of that reorganisatiOn at present under debate. I should be the last to characterise our defensive system as defective. On the contrary, it was a grand and happy ideathat induced the Legislature in 1814 to establish a provision for war. But lam of opinion—and I believe I shall be supported by the judgment of very many experienced men—that every institution, however excel lent, has its day, and must then be improved. The Govern ment wants progress in this matter, and the house is re markably conservative. (Much laughter.) Every system outlives itself. Our Landwehr system is excellent in itself and correctly designed—it was suited to the circumstances of the time—suited to our small financial strength. But whenever we represented to ourselves our Prussian army at war with one of our stronger neighbours, we involunta rily thought, It would be difficult for our men to accom plish what is done by the superior hostile army, practised, able, and disciplined, composed of old and experienced soldiers. In conclusion, unwilling as lam to do so, I must say a few words bearing upon politics. It has been said that agreement must be brought about through the Govern ment ; it is the duty of the GovernMent to pave the way to reconciliation. Yes, gentlemen, with you ; with the Chamber of Deputies (a voice,' With the country'). If that is the case, I ask whether anybody embarks in any under taking whose ineffectiveness and impracticability are shown him beforehand? I willingly believe, as I said yes terday, that the number of persons in this house willing for reconciliation, willing to offer the hand for that pur pose, is not small ; but suppose the Government is told over and over again at sittings of committees and from the tri bunes, No, we won't have army agreements with the Mi nistry. Let its members rather cease to hold office—we will come to an understanding with this Ministry.' ;When it has been said upon another occasion, The conflict is no misfortune. Let it go on. The country will be able to bear and swell its bill all the higher—?' And that is about what was said —gentlemen, any man not deaf remembers such expressions, and does not find himself encouraged to run after those who so decidedly turn their backs, pluck them by the sleeve, and exclaim, ' Here's my hand, take it.' Further, gentlemen, the conditions of every sort of under standing have become more stringent with the lapse of time. When this military question was first brought before Parliament the differences were comparatively small. The correctness of the fundamental idea of re-organisation was admitted and readiness expressed to allow a considerable sum for the purpose ; it was thought, however, the amount asked was too high, and a shorter time of service and re tention of the Landwehr was therefore proposed. The withdrawal of the Landwehr was by no means considered by the Government as advantageous for that force—but stress was laid upon 'it on account of the importance to the country that the Land wehr should be removed from the force in active service. The Government was also prepared to retain this institution according to the regu lations of 1814, but was at issue with the Chamber of Deputies as to the two or three years' time of service. This difference was all that separated us. Subsequently, gentlemen, demands increased. Different laws were demanded for the war administration where none had previously existed, save the Landwehr regula tions, the reconstruction of which had been stated to be in tended by the Government. But the other demands were new. For this purpose a new law was invented, an admi nistrative order of the King being suddenly called a law of the country, and declared to be violated by the reorganisa tion. But, gentlemen, people went still further. They asked for new legislation upon these three or four different points, and now we are even engaged in discussing a new claim raised by the representatives, or by this house, in plain, clear words, whose importance has been admitted— a further surrender of the constitutional right of Govern ment is demanded by proposing to grant the taxes annually. Yes, gentlemen, this is contrary to the right of the Go vernment. It is contrary to the constitution ; ind because it is contrary to the constitution the Government can never allow such a right; therefore the Government perceives that you do not wish for reconciliation but constantly ad vance further and further, raise new claims, and thereby widen and deepen the cleft. This is to be regretted, but the Government is too weak to prevent such proceedings." MISS RUSSELL.—It is likely that the services of this favourite soprano will speedily be required in musical circles. During Mr. Morton's eventful managerial career, in which several operas by foreign composers have been introduced into England before their public appear ance abroad—" Faust," for example—Miss Russell's vocal abilities have been warmly acknowledged. They have been closely identified with the now popular " Operatic Selection," and have not only preceded but accompanied the present success of the Oxford and Canterbury Hall Company. Miss Russell, who is niece to the celebrated Mr. Henry Russell, is now in treaty for first-class concerts and oratorios, and the public appreciation will doubtless follow her in the new musical field she is opening up for herself. - Clint ti • 4 m - 4 ", tiro) I HER MAJESTY. WINDSOR CASTLE, March 24. The King of the Belgians arrived at Windsor to day on a visit to the Queen. His Majesty crossed over from Calais yesterday, and slept at Dover, where Viscount Torrington and Lord Alfred Paget were in waiting to attend his Majesty. The King left Dover at 10 o'clock this morning in a special train on the South-Eastern Railway. The Prince of Wales, attended by Lieut.-Colonel Keppel, met the King at the Waterloo station in London, and accompanied his Majesty to Windsor. Their Royal Highnesses Prince Alfred and Princess Helena, attended by Lady Caroline Bar rington and Colonel the Hon. A. Hardinge, drove down to the station of the South-Western Railway, in Windsor, to receive the King. His Majesty arrived at 1 o'clock, and immediately proceeded to the Castle with the Prince of Wales, Prince Alfred, and Princess Helena, where he was received by her Majesty the Queen, attended by the Ladies and Gentlemen in waiting. Count de Moerkerke and Dr. Koepl are in wait ing on the King. Lieutenant General the Hon. Sir E. Cust also attended the King to Windsor. The Queen, with her Royal Highness Princess Helena, drove out this morning, attended by Colonel the Hon. A. Hardinge. • The Prince of Wales, attended by Lieut.-Colonel Keppel, returned to London in the afternoon. The Prince and Princess of Wales. The Prince of Wales went to the House of Lords yesterday afternoon. The Princess of Wales took a carriage drive, at tended by the Hon. Mrs. Bruce. The Prince and Princess of Wales dined with his Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge at Gloces tep-house, in the evening. The King of the Belgians. Yesterday morning his Majesty the King of the Belgians, attended by his suite and accompanied by Mr. Van de Weyer, Lord Torrington, Lord Alfred Paget, M.P., and other officers of the royal house hold, left Dover by a special train at 10 2 for Wind sor, on a visit to her Majesty. The royal train was under, the charge of Mr. J. P. Knight, the traffic superintendent of the South-Eastern Railway, while the Hon. Jas. Byng accompanied the train during part of the journey to London, which was performed via Ashford and Red-hill. King Leopold reached the small unused station at the junction of the South-Eastern with the South-Western Railway over the Waterloo-road at 12 8, having passed from London-bridge over the Charing-cross line. On the platform of this station, which is never used but on the occasion of a royal trip, a number of gentlemen had assembled, among whom were Sir E. Cust, Mr. Godson (the traffic superintendent), and Messrs. Williams and Verrinder, of the South- Western Railway. As his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales was expected to accompany his Majesty to Windsor Castle, the train was kept at the junction for a few minutes to enable the Prince to reach Waterloo before its departure. His Royal Highness, on reaching the platform, walked to the state saloon, and after a very cordial greeting, took his seat in the carriage with King Leopold. Shortly afterwards the train, accompanied by Messrs. God" son and Williams, left Waterloo at 12.15, and pro ceeded along the South Western Railway to Windsor, where the illustrious travellers arrived at 1 o'clock. Previous to the arrival of the special train, their Royal Highnesses Prince Alfred and Princess Helena, attended by Colonel Hardingel Lieut. Haig, and Lady C. Barrington, drove from the Castle to the Windsor station of the South Western Railway, where they were received by Mr. G. Hill, the divisional superintendent of the line, and conducted to the Royal waiting-rooms, w here they remained till the train entered the station. His Majesty King Leopold and the Prince of Wales, on quitting the saloon, were met on the platform by Prince Alfred and Princess Helena, who very affec tionately embraced the aged monarch. Accompanied by the youthful mem b ers o f th e Queen's family, the King drove from the station in one of the Royal carriages to the Castle, which was reached shortly after 1 o'clock, and where his Majesty was most affectionately welcomed by the Queen. King Leopold, during his residence at Windsor Castle, will occupy a suite of apartments in the York Tower. His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, attended by Colonel Keppel, Lord A. Paget, M.P., and Sir E. Cust, left the Windsor station of the South Western Railway at 3.30 p.m. and returned to tovin by a special train in charge of Messrs. Godson an d Williams, arriving at Waterloo shortly after four o'clock. • - Their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales honoured the Duke of Cambridge by th eir company at dinner yesterday evening at Gloucester Sell s ?' Piccadilly. The. Prince and Princess of Wales were at tended by the Hon. Mrs. Bruce and Lieutenant-Co lonel Keppel. There were present to meet the illustrious guestds her Royal Highness Princess Mary of Cambridge, attend s by Lady Caroline Cust, their Serene gighnesses Pr irje l, and Princess Edward of Saxe Weimar, the Marchione ss Ely, the Earl of Derby, the Earl Granville, the Earl en, Countess Spencer, the Earl of Dalhousie, the Earl Sefton, Lord Henry Percy, Rear-Admiral the Hon. . 1 ._ .1 , 11 : Drummond, and Colonel Tyrwhitt, in waiting on the D u of Cambridge. The Marquis and Marchioness of Cholmondeleri have arrived at Burley, Rutland, on a visit to Mr . 31' 0 Lady Louisa Finch. The noble marquis and marchie lic " will return to town on the conclusion of their visit. The Marchioness of Ely will leave town in a l e days for Ireland. The Earl of Sefton will leave England abou t . 1/e t middle of next month for Lisbon, on his mission to p rose the King of Portugal with the Order of the Garter. The Earl and Countess of Belmore have ar il ' at Brown's Hotel. of We hear that the Earl of Lovelace, widowe r a the only daughter of Lord Byron, is about to be me to a widow lady named Jenkins, residing in Gloaees"' shire. LADY PALMERSTON'S RECEPTION. The recep tion held by Lady , Palmerston on Saturday evening) tile 18th inst., was attended by most of the diplomatic NAY re sident in London, as well as by a considerable nurah er : f $ the haute noblesse of England. One of the great fet'tnrre of the evening was a most life-like model of a fettl-r marble statue of Lord Palmerston, to be executed for Ernesto Zuceani, a gentleman of considerable merosn" standing in the metropolis, who has already obtaioe d ,, f a l r° di the sculptor of the present work statues of Gen. Gar'„.,- and the late Count Cavour, intending, it is said , to foi—to be small gallery of the most celebrated men in EuroPe , nvi executed by the same artist, the Chevalier Cr iev- t lh'.- Pandiani, of Milan, whose statue of Garibaldi W as Aw e- i bited by Mr. Zuccani in the Exhibition of 1 862 . In 7our,° ration of the ability displayed in that of Coun t On" the King of Italy was pleased to confer the honl,oo- knighthood on the artist. Chevalier Pandiani was oured by an invitation to Lady Palmerston's on Snt-dis night, where he received the congratulations of ra e f' the tinguished persons, including the Marquis d'Azng'torl;/ Italian Minister, who .had taken great interest in th e or and placed an apartment at the Embassy in Gres ll , l - r ing street to be used as a studio by Chevalier P a ndiani '4" his visit to this country. THE SUNDAY TRAIN QUESTION IN SCOT A correspondence has been published bete;- members of the Sabbath Alliance and Mr. Hodgson, c,r11... man of the North British Railway Company. l be , ; :i: l be man closes the correspondence with a letter ",Thv t says :—" The directors do not believe it to be their 0.11",11: force that portion of the public who from inclination °rlles, cessity desire to leave their homes, or to regain the ir 1161 . A 1i0 on a Sunday to conform to the bidding of o thers do think it sinful to do so. On the contrary, by not hold out extra inducements to Sunday trsv°lliittol means of frequent or excursion trains at low e ven inghi consider that limited service by morning en d se trains is due to the public, especially the humbler clas tad who cannot, except by railway, move at all. With e d to goods trains, the objections and suggestions con in the document you have transmitted to me are foullueo in simple ignorance of the matter under discussi;r whilo they every goods train which passes by necessity (en d , t o the r not one which, in a practical sense, runs from srcY °A tbo motive, on the North British Rail wa y ) were take° Ico line, the net profit of the comp an y would no t , 0 tbe minished ; but the insecurity a nd inconvenience community would during the wook days he largei.) creased." „ t t D .g 3