The Sun. — London, England, 1852-02-25 00:00:00

DRURY-LANE THEATRE. A divertissement producad last evening at this theatre, under th e titl e o f th e St ar o f th e Rhi ne , m( t with complete success. The plot i; not very intri cate. M a d emo i se l le Plunkett d i sp l ays a worl d o f vigour and agility in front of a very pretty Rhenish view, and the whole piece is too light and graceful to be tedious. Indeed, Plunkett danced her best ; and her best, we all know, i 3 something very beauti ful and winning. In one paiticular pas she rivalled Fanny Elssler herself in the delivery of close twinkling steps, involving the most elaborate intricacies of the :,,Art, coupled with a steadines., sharpness, and elegance that seemed t o leave nothing in the way of dexte rity unachi eve d. • The staid and puritanical burgo master (W. if. Payne) might well be overcome by such freaks of foot; and we could not marvel at his infatuation when he lurched to and fro, inspired by the goo d-h umoured face an d won d er f u l roads de jambe of the nymph with the pink legs. The worthy functionary having broken his own law, and even stamped upon it with his own heel, superintends, with a new-born zest, a variety of other dances. He is regaled with a Pas Espagnol by Sunbeam and the aforesaid swain in tights—a Valse Tyrolienne by the hisses in the village—and a galop general. Sunbeam having thus vindicated the glory of the art of which she is the " genitiP," slides up the slope into the bush from whence she came, and is seen no more. PRINCESS'S THEATRE. The most picturesque and effective melodrama ever Produced upon the English stage was brought for- Ward at this theatre last evening. It is adapted from the French, we believe by Mr. Bourcicaulr, and en• titled the Corsican Brothers. If the interest be not altogether so enthralling as in Pauline, yet, from the novel nature of its details and the unprecedented excellence of the stage effect, it is rendered more im ' Presaive on the mind of the spectator. As a piece of "breathless interest" it cannot fail to prove supremely attractive. Every one will go to see it, and most Will repeat the visit. To say that its success was triumphant conveys a faint notion of the extraordi nary enthusiasm manifested by the house last night, and Mr. Kean may well feel proud of having given to the public one of the most unexceptionably charm ing and originally constructed dramas that has ap- Peared on the boards in any country. There are two very singular features in the Cor sican Brothers, the supposed simultaneous occur rence of the first and second acts (the one being laid ti l l Corsi ca , th e o th er i n P ar i s ), a n d the personation of „ i 6 twin brothers by one and the same actor. The plot is not complex ; it is founded on the supernatural, Which is made use of in a way totally free from any element of repulsiveness. The first act shows us Fabien dei Franchi (Mr. C. Kean) in his own cha teau in Corsica, to whom a Frenchman brings a letter of introd uct i on f rom hi s twin-brother Luigi dei • ; r auchi, who is in Paris pursuing his studies. Fa blen .s in a depressed state of mind, having a secret rl U es entiment of some fatal danger impendi n g over his Qistant brother, there being not only the moat tender affection existing n o us sYmpatlay, that each is instantly forewarned, it were, of any misfortune which may affect the Iher. After an episode introduced to present a specimen t , n , „ ` a Corsi can f eu d, and the formal reconcilement 1 4 a vendetta between two factions of the island, r a b• With on whom his forebodings continue to press PM increased weight, determines to write off to w ar ,is. Whilst inditing the letter, alone, and at mid -4;0') the apparition of Luigi rises with a gliding 11 'tion from the floor, with the mark of blood upon 1 .," breast, and stands by the side of the awe-struck ti ab ien• The wall of the apartment opens and dis n?'es a tableau representing a fatal duel in a forest 1 1 "ea Luigi stretched at the point of death a n t the arms of his friends, and his adversary b i ttil liing a little apart calmly wiping his fatal 411 e. This scenic effect held the beholders aPellhound ; in the gradual and noiseless :PPearanee of the phantom there was something feeling of astonishment found relief in a thrice re d round of vehement plaudits. The second act ovens in the Opera at Paris during l i nl . , n tiked ball. Luigi, who had been enamoured of t „ a unme de Lesparre (Miss Murray) previous to her (i' r rr iacte, falls into a quarrel with Chateau Renard sb: r ; Wigan), who has been casting his lures around hi,„,;; cl .Y, and actually makes her the subject of a stin 'esa wager, engaging to bring her to join 8 h e r IT Party at the house of a bachelor friend, which 1 0 ,,,, e ", e Qrs under pretence of conducting her to see a 16 mat sister. Discovering at once that she has bran duped, Madame de Lesparre places herself under Which Protection of Luigi as an honoured friend, calls a challenge trom Chateau Renard. Again 14 ; ‘ see the fatal tableau, now recognising the actual Parties, whilst behind, the chamber in Corsica opens de the view, with Fabien gazing on the scene of Precisely 80 that the last scene of the first two acts are a r e etisely the converse of each other. In the third of t) Chateau Renard, flying from the hands b justice, is overtaken by Fabien, who % V hastened to Paris to avenge his brother, s and on the very spot where Luigi had ull en a desperate encounter takes place. Renard's l itre, is shivered, but Fabien, determined on the b i ne, breaks his o wn, and with the fragments of the . 4c lea the comb a t is continued till Renard falls be teeth the h an d o f th e avenger . The spectre of Luigi a g a in I rises, and announces to his brother that they f o il ! meet in heaven. Mr. C. Kean's double per 4ance is characterised by that ease, correctness, bi d i mpressiveness, i mpressiveness, the combination of which renders th e a t inaPproachable in this peculiar department of r e br r ama. The part of Chateau Renard was admi eoz4 Y sustained by Mr. Wigan. The unscrupulous I. L e . „ ) the co ld-bl oo d e d d ue ll is t, yet, as a foreboding h i ' fate affects him, bids the friend of his last field ,a fe p re ak th tidings gently to his mother. It was a to :Bfudi e d e , finished, and fitly-appreciated perform tuh— The minor characters were irreproachably vPorted. Miss Murray, as Madame de Lesparre, a nd Vining, Vi ning as the Baron de Montjeron, Mr. Ryder a l sk i s of • . Meadows, as the Corsican peasants, the th, their respective factions, Miss Leclercq, as the ~„Principal of the coryphies, and Mr. Addison, as in ° " - cutter, did their several subsidiary duties a " As to r n t i anher that cannot be too highly commended. Ilaedial Masque, it was a " tremendous hit." of th illusion was complete, as the spirit and variety red,:tievolution of the " fast and furious" maskers 1 1 3 aat t (l b s greatly to the credit of Flexmore in his the R i",,,of ballet master. He was conspicuous among and b s `‘`'Y throng, as an indefatigably agile Pierrot, Mack ` l4e4 th their disguises Madlle. Auriol and Cola fanc y might be recognised by their da n cing. The cell • t eases were capital, grotesque, and rich, and befoanal s Y such a stage masquerade has never been in a 'Jebel& The scenery in this, and the succeed- Ig sce ne (representing "the Lobby of the Opera _u s a . Ch arl e s ) both by Lloyds, was moat artistic. Mr. er n Kean never received a more hearty tribute atAPProbation th an w h en ca lled for at the conclusion, popublever did he more amply merit marks of the " favour. His skill as manager, and his re pre_ excellence as actor, give him a prominent su ses'n yin the profession. Mr. Wigan bore off the tLeond honours of the night. The " mounting" of ue Corsican Brothers• va -131..ance t h e pa,„ t „ ss be fitly conveyed by de - a s • -a a notion of the most striking which cannot 11 _,eviption, being, in particular, witnessed. It will be repeated effect we have ever Flexmore's benefit), and, on Thursday evening I n c o t"ree times a week for months to presume, two or . STATE OF TRADE . I (From the Manchester Guardian of thi s c lay. ) Proteoctione - STER TUESDAY. —The resigeatiu n _ fth Ila;", c "-- - ' ccession of ju g 4 1' 1 . Cabinet, and the a the nt nerplexin , - Le • t h e present • - 5. condition Of both thee ' in continental a Ve et ,liritish and ffairs, have had the erutions of buyers. w e Lue of restricting the °P ,_ - _ y, o f the active ° Perat; ll°t a continuation, Reek,io us but a disposition r ath neua of last execution of any but the 4 10 4'. to defer the even h ow ever, the slighte s t abate Pressing orders. There is not, Me Many ar e of m eat of firmness amongst seller s . °W tan venture at ratehiz that Lord Derby will not upon an Pt r reimpose on the every band, that' ~ Perfect confidence is 'expressed, on undertaking, th e it he should enter upon so insane an and districts Quehltaroercial and manufacturing towns would scare Il lea - r hiti tantly assume an atlitude which him from Po w , r ° ll3 his purpose and speedily drive . 0 ,, Con. l ' r e a - t .; The subject has formed the great topic t of 11; ) 1 l i —O rl on 'Change during the day; but the absence_.c ap o ,. en r of ultimate danger to the free-trade policy p eeve which the country has so successfully entered,. ttit.4nts that depressing effect which might otherwise ti r)w 4° ' an d as producers, especially those of yarns, are b4ekraere extensively under contract than for some time b een show themselves quite at ease about making Qee Bales. Such being the case, the buyers have Of obliged to pay the full prices of the most lively part Wat t a t lt , week for any yarns and goods they may have than' e c u- This they have done more readily for the former ta t , '9r the latter. Indeed, the highest , demand then 1) 4 : ter I6's to 24's water-twist and to: 40 s mule have ii`or.4eeeded to to-day. kerl t , lin ALE, MONDAY—Wo have had another dull Dr e , 4, With a small amount of business transacted at tot, better do katd ~- 3 Prices. There has been a rather _ pr tor Wool varying from ;ad. to Is. per lb., to e , 1 , s, . . . . an d good t wools are r ath er have been obtained, as these qualities o • Ai aearee at present. 13'-'I:IAeeLtBIIELD, TI:ESDAY.—The business that has . port htransacted in our market Finer) our last re ll 'etr -- t l5 not given increased stimulus to the mantifte ebi* a ti e ? "tend operations . for the moment; but they 'jev 1 , 1-° t 131 3 , looking forward for a considerable im ,'LetulZat in the spring demand; and we hope thefine . `i t . will to some extent have a tendency to realise Wettv:Peetations. A large portion of our hand-loom l 4 %1% 1.3 ceLtinue to make complaints of want of emp oyn tlN d eaL ised by manufacturers being compelled, i shoo_ eseriptions theods to avail themselves of cheaper si,s ' Ur m arkets in remote districts. Thrown Silks Gis fair, with rather an improved upward °4 c Nl' fine China and Bengal h was Italians , they Cant t ro • .WY elf bit a li“le wetikueis in Price, I rt SUN, the great advance that has taken place in this silk rendering manufacturers cautious. Thu deliveries of silk to be thrown continue good; but the prices are scarcely remunerative, and are much complained of. Raw Silk—A large business is again reported in China silks, since the past sales, at a slight advance. The quantity of this silk that has changed hands during the last four weeks exceeds 5 , 000 bales; and the total ad vence upon the prices of last November is Is, to is. per lb. HALIFAX, SATURDAY.—The demand for worsted goods is very limited, both in the piece ball and in the warehouses; and scarcely anything has been done to day, except in a few fancy goods of low quality. The depression of the yarn market increases; and, as the prices are ! wholly unrcmunerative, the spinners aro greatly curtailing the amount of production. There is not much doing in wool, and the quo t a tions arc gene rally maintained, though ther e are ins t ance s where the staplers seem more ready to meet the offers of the con sumers. HUDDERSFIELD, TEESDAV.—Thero has been very little inquiry for any hind of goods, either plain er fancy, in our market to-day. The manufacturers in the hall complain much—not being able to close bargains with the merchants at their prices, on account of the high price of the raw material. Wools continue at about the same rates as last week, though there has net been quite so much doing. SPORTING INTELLIGENCE. BETTING AT MANCLIESTER—TUESDAY. LIVERPOOL SPRING CUP.-2 to 1 agst Surprise (take 5 to 2), 7 to 1 ai.;st True Girl (t), S to 1 aget Snowdrop (t), S to I rgst Cardinal Wiseman (t). LIVERPOOL STEEPLECHASE. --1 Ito 1 aget Victress (t), 11 to 1 agst La Gazzi Ladra (t), 15 to 1 agst Miss Mowbray (t), 16 to 1 agst Hardwick (t), 20 to 1 agst Bourton (t), 20 to egst %Varner (t) METROPOLITAN HANDICAP.-10 to 1 agst Ilesse Homburg (t), 16 to 1 agst Wryneck colt (t), 20 to 1 agst Miss Aun (t), 20 to 1 agst Sally Warfoot colt (t) CHESTER CUP.-18 to 1 egst High Sheriff (t), 20 to egst Confessor (t), 25 to 1 agst Black Doctor (t), 33 to 1 agst Scarecrow (0,40 to 1 agst Cockcrow (t), 50 to 1 agst Surprise (t), 1,000 to 15 agst filly out ot Sorella's dom (9, 1,000 to 15 apt Mountain Deer (t). DERRY.-5 to 1 agst Hobbits Noble (t). SPORTING NOTES. No. CLXXVI. THE SUTTON STEEPLECHASE, &c. TO THE LDITOII OF THE SUN. SlR,—The first essay that the Sutton people made at estsbl:shing a steeplechase was an uncommonly suc cessful one, which has induced them to try another day's sport on Friday next. It is not my present purpose to touch upon any other than the Grand Open Steeple chase, which closed with thirty-two nominations, of which nineteen have accepted, although one, Rattrap, is by his owner declared a non-starter. The list is headed by Peter Simple, at list 81b; I should hardly imagine, however, that he will go for such a small affair us this with Liverpool so close at hand. The General, 1 Ist, will probably be the highest-weighted runner. Hischance would seem to be a very fair one, notwithstanding the weight he has to give to some very good animals in the entry. Young Lottery, at lOst 41b, also reads very well. Bullfincher, at the same weight as the preceding, may run forward, but is no winner. Mystery, lOst 21b, is without a chance, in my opinion. Verax, lOst, if meant for this affair, is decidedly the best " in " of any, and without doubt ought to beat the rest into fits; but as it does not seem very clear whether mischief is meant or no, with respect to his chance I must put in a proviso, to the effect that if they intend him to win, he can ! Bus cot, lOst, is held perfectly safe by Verax. Ten. and-six pence, 9st 121 b, like Buscot, if Verax runs, is with out a chance. Boundless and Kossuth, 9st 121 b each, together with Oily Gammon, 9st 101 b, and Charley, 9st 91b, are of no account whatever. Sir Alexander, 9st 81b, may run up into a place, but I hardly imagine he will turn out to be the winner. The Rector, 9st 81b, Susan, 9st 71b, Orange Girl, 9st 71b, and The Abbess, 9st, have their chances fettered by Mis chance at 9st 71b. 'rhe race, I opine, will lay with THE GENERAL, YOUNG LOTTERY, and VERAX; the last named for choice, if mea nt. Should there be any parti cular " moves" between now and to-morrow morning concerning this Steeplechase they will be published to morrow. A clever little work on the Spring Handicaps, by my rhyming contemporary " Priam," of the Racing Times, has just been issued from the press. It contains a table of the acceptances of the five great Spring Handicaps, namely, the Chester Cup, Metropolitan, Northampton shire, Newmarket, and Flying Dutchmen, by which the comparative weights may be ascertained at a glance; also all the performances of ell the animals engaged, with some sterling remarks on their present condition, Fac. The book altogether to the sporting man is indispens able, and is decidedly the best of the kind that has as yet been published. In the City latterly some curious games have been played off with several of the favourites in the spring races; a short time since, for instance, Hesse Homburg from her position of first favourite for the Metropolitan was sent to forties to ono without any reasonable cause, and within the last few days the Confessor, for the Chester Cup, received the same treatment, being sent from twenties to fifties. Both, however, have recovered their former places, nothing of consequence having oc curred to either, or any change taken place in their owners' intentions. I am, Sir, yours, ke., THE SPIT OF THE TURF. Feb. 25, 1852. TO THE SECRETARY OF THE BRADFORD REFORM ASSOCIATION. (PUBLISHED EVERY MONDAY AND WEDNESDAY.) Sir,—l told you how things were going, and that if these men would not come up to the mark of what the House of Commons desired, somebody else would. When a patient dies of along course of what is some times called good living, it is not the last glass of wine that is to be charged with his overthrow; it is the glasses administered by what styled themselves his friends, in days when a wiser conduct in all might have en abled him to set at defiance the present risk of death. It is among observable phmnomena, that the same Government which had a majority of 92 when a charge was brought against it, was in a minority of 11 on a disputed question of policy. The reason is plain enough. When a charge is brought, men of integrity will go great lengths with the principle, of viewing it as a question of whether they think on that charge the Government ought to be turned out. But they will not do the same when the question is whether a regular or a local militia is best calculated to prevent or repel invasion. Some may go to some extent ; but the extent and the number will be vastly reduced, as was shown in the present case. Indeed there would be few things more unreason able, than to expect that a man with any touch of personal acquaintance with a subject, and conse quently responsible to his own opinion and that o f associates for honest conduct, should deliberately vote worse better on a practical question, out of a theoretic fear that a Government should thereupon imitate the bearing of the proverbially headstrong animals, who in days of old "ran violently down a steep place into the sea." My own opinion is (to parody the title of an article I used when a boy to pursue through the numbers of the " Arminian M4gazine") that this is " God's Revenge against Murder and Adultery" committed at the Cape ; for Adultery substituting the burning of Mission houses, which happened to be " the sin they had a mind to." An insane Gessler demands to put his toes upon a black chieftain's neck, and thus rouses a war to the knife between the races. An equally insane department of Government at home, expends three millions in support of the toes, and then says it never wanted anything but a naval station. There was some added cant about Christianity and civilisa tion (meaning thereby the burning of the Mission houses), which, if my theory be true, must have helped to turn the scale to the side of retribution. And now you have got it. Every s hilling's worth of damage done to a Kafir's bullock, is likely to be taken threefold out of West-Riding looms. You will say, it hits the wrong men. And so it does. Retribu tion always hits the wrong men; by way of showing to them, that they must lift up their voices and spare not, and what is more, must do it in time to prevent. You must pay now, because you did not forward your M emor i a l f rom Bradford halt a dozen years ago. t G h o e v y e h rn a The Free Traders in Parliament have got what Government. They long heen h h a a n d ke a r l i w ng y a . fte:, a Protectionist , that of the ma who should say, a if s he o c m o e uld th o e n o l r y y con trivelike to set his house on fire what a nice new one he men who by this ;* would build. shall see what comes of it. The stand upon,—Whom ought not to have had a leg to jest to suppose holdinga t a, up should have been a joke and a their heads as statesmen and public men are th now set on horseback, co with every chance of having could d est enemies are in your r p o en his mouth the end of their race. Your choicest will of you before to try defenders h the saddle. Every man wh o ofornrcethe bes y t ; hie hand upon against you in parliament, while otnhceeretolßdhuzatuds th w at ay l , ut w hp e eo r n e p ‘o‘ you, no in where,da It ' ' rap i may princess oeallsws s tn aei d Of, " I could have had my have been more hats left upon the field." I am, Sir, yours very sincerely, AN OLD REFORMER. Blackheath, 25 Feb., 1852. ------=------ t ( l 2 l u e ee e n xf o rtion of Spain, a MerinoT for SPANlSH eatten l i - L p E t et Madrid. A Dr. Di ler, cast of his head was taken by D • has been placed copy of this cast has arrived in Paris, and in the Museum of Anatomy, in the co G to iC a l fsrna A te f _ tteli . r d e . great criminals. We understand that the - office of Fust, has collection notetahne h o e f a d the f Arches, vacant by the death of Sir Herbert Jenner been conferred on Sir John Dodson, Queen's Advocate. Dr. Twiss has been nominated Queen's Advocate. The mercantile letters from Paris mention an ex pectation that the Bank of France is about to take the un usual step of reducing its rate of discount from 4 per cent. to 3 per cent. TUE FIFESIIIRE MURDFII.---From a communica tion received yesterday (Sunday) by the 'authorities here from the police-superintendent at Cupar, we learn that the murderers of the old woman, Margaret Maxwell, who was deprived of life in such a barbarous manner a few days ago, have been apprehended. The watch which was stolen from s e a t in e d e i t n i m t h e e been r d r e e r - 0 the house by the wretches has at the covered. There are three parties implic DA gat) auclegi 44y0 119 t 1eg144 14.77,X0ri1t British Mail. LON DON, EARL GREY AND SIR HARRY SMITH. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. Sits,—Zrhatevei may have been the indignation felt by this Gallant General, on the receipt of the Colonial Secretary's dispatch of recall, dated the 14th of January—however, great and just may have been his anger upon the occasion, and although strong, no doubt, was his dh-gust, and bitter his contempt as he read that disgraceful document—Sir Harry Smith can now well afford to, and no doubt does by this time, entertain no other feeling towards his Lordship than those of pity and of scorn; but let me not wrong Sir Harry Smith — the brave are always generous —and the praise he has received from the Noble Duke, will incline him to pardon the injury attempted by the Earl. I do not, Sir, mean to say that Sir Harry would bo displeased to enter heaven, except in the company of Earl Grey, but so long as they are on earth together Sir Harry Smith can well indeed afford to smile on Earl Grey. In fact, if we examine the matter more closely, we shall come, I think, to the conclusion that Sir. Harry has much even to . thank him for, inasmuch us his Lordship has given the occasion—first, to call forth the spontaneous, unasked—for support and praise of the Noble. Duke, and next, to awaken the attention of the public more particularly to the peculiar and harassing circumstances under which Sir Harry and his gallant companions in arms have bad to act: a feel ing, unfortunately, had become very prevalent in this country, that there was some fault at the Cape, and that neither general nor tho troops were doing their best. It is too often the case, that " gentlemen in England," from being so much accustomed to hear of a handful of their bravo countrymen in arms accomplishing the most extraordinary teats of valour in all parts of the world. and with almost invariable success, become sadly disap pointed at anything like a failure, and hardly give them selves time to reflect on the causes of any reverse; and. Iherefore,tintil the Noble Duke rose up in the House of Lords on the sth, the idea prevailed that it was, not the activity, position, or strength of the ICafirs, but the want of proper exertion-aed energy on the part of our own General and this subordinates, that was the true cause of this pro tracted warfare with the barbarians in the Cape; and had the Cabinet, therefore, to save Earl Grey and itself from blame, sacrificed Sir Harry quietly; had the decisio❑ . been conveyed to that gallant officer in those terms any gentleman of high and generous feeling would have, on such an occasion, used to another, however unfairly Sir Harry would even then -have been treated, the country would hardly have given sufficient attention to the affairs of, to their minds, an unsuccessful general, as to have properly understood the poSition; and poor Sir Harry Smith might, perhaps, ultimately have gone to his grave, with his bright laurels tarnished, and his heart broken. But, Sir, Earl Grey's' evil genius, or, rather let us hope, Sir Harry's good one, produced the dispatch of the 14th of January. This, as we have seen, was laid on the table of the house of Commons on the 3d of February, called forth the Duke on the sth, The Sun, on the 7th, fol• lowed by the rest . of the press on the 9th, 10th, 11th, &c., arid Lord John Russell has not bad the temerity to answer the Member for Lambeth, that the dispatch in question was " seen and approved" by him—he has not dared as yet to say that he had read it. Thur, Sir, we have seen'that, as under the able directions of the General, volley after volley of musketry mowed down the dangerous foe at Aliwal, so the repeated peals of thunder issuing from a generous press, and fully appre ciated by an indignant public, will show the rulers of this country that the would-be detractors of her hero's merits will inevitably, sooner or later, meet their just reward. Up to the present moment Earl Grey stands alone responsible for the tone and the contents of his dispatch, and he will be a bold man if he dares to appear before the tribunal of his country, saying, "Alone I did it." But here, Sir, let 'us pause for a moment to reflect how painful arid serious would have been Sir Harry Smith's position had sickness or any other cause prevented the Noble Duke from appearing in the House of Lords; that he would hare been carried there, like Chatham of old, I have no doubt, to defend his country or his man; but alas! Sir, old age creeps on apace; none of us, neither the best nor the bravest, are immortal, and the fates might have decided against Sir Harry. Is the Duke gone? might have been the question; and the only answer, " Then is your cause gone, too." Thank God, Cfestir is with us yet; and Sir Harry's laurels are in sate keeping. It is indeed melancholy to see the inefficiency and un popularity of this Government, and that each individual of it should, as you justly remark, as he is weighed in the balance, be found wanting; but is it not sadder, Sir, to find one of the descendants of our ancient pillars of the State thus prominently brought forward as flailing, not only in the qualities of a statesman, but in the common practice of a gentleman? But there is no help for it. Earl Grey must be made to answer to the people of England; he is responsible to them, and to their most Gracious Sovereign, for the advice he has given and for the conduct he has pursued. Earl Grey says to Sir Harry Smith, in his dispatch of the 14th January— " I must remind you that the first error which was committed, and to which, I believe, the failure of a policy other% ise sound, and the calamity of the war, are mainly attributable, was the premature reduction of the British force under your command. 1 must take upon . myself a share of the blame for this mistake, inac much as 1 had probably too often and too strongly , pressed upon you the importance of reducing the num ber of troops as soon as this could be done safely. Indeed, Earl Grey I—take part of the blame—but the punishment?— tf at is all for Sir Harry. Is it—we shall see! I have said this, that but for Earl Grey's dispatch of the 14th January, the public might not have given themselves the time or the trouble to have examined the monstrous blue-books, with which it is the custom now to blind and bully or bamboozle the people. They might never perhaps have read Sir Harry Smith's dispatch written on the 18th December, but received, recollect, after the dispatch of recall, was, alas! for Earl Grey, beyond recall. Read the following extract, Englishmen, and compare Sir Harry's treatment with Sir Harry's services and difficulties: —" The Burghers would not turn out in any force, and thus aro se the lamentable evils and the misery which have atte nded the depredations of the enemy. —evils which I antic i p ated. i n my proclamation of the 3d u l t. , an d which have, as I , Burghers-- Sir, who cau se d di scon tent at tha Cape a t a h tnr e do n e ist p my r . :Nst amongst ods.,, the. been accompanied by every act o f withheld the constitution?—Earl Grey . or Sir Harry Smith? However, Sir Harry continues in his dispatch ___.. I enclose a return of her Majesty's troops at the pe riod in question; they had to carry on a desultory war over an extent of country twice the size of Great Britain ! and Ireland I ! overrun by a most enterprising horde of savages, and they had also to occupy twelve forts, the maintenance of which was indispensable. Had one re trogade step been made, the whole country would have been in a blaze." Sir, I will not continue the extract further from this highly and interesting dispatch, but refer your readers to a perusal of it--leaving this painful sub ject for a time.--I um, Sir, &e. YOUR CONSTANT READER. Feb. 19, 1852, BURSTING OF A BOILER AT OLDHAM.—On Tues day morning, about half-past eleven o'clock, a 20-horsepower high-pressure steam-engine boiler burst at the Diamond Cot ton-mill, West-hill, 01(lbain. The mill belongs to Dlessrs. Nuttal and Clough, who let off power to cotton waste cleaners, and the boiler was placed outside the premises, so that in ex ploding it did no inischief to them, except that it destroyed the brickwork extending over a third of one side of the mill, which is only two stories high. It overthrew the chimney, however, forty feet high, which fell upon a row of cottages, and destroyed two of them, besides knocking out the windows and doors` of three others. Mary, the wife of Thomas New ton, one Of the cottagers, and Sarah Ann, his infant daughter, were.severely bruised and scalded, and died within a short titne , of the accident. Mrs. Wright, who was in Newton's house, was also struck on the forehead, and so seriously wounded that she is hardly likely to recover. James Howarth, the engineer, and John Gartside, a workman in the factory, are both badly hurt, and it is doubtful if they will recover. The boiler was lifted up in exploding, and carried a distance of forty yards east, while the back end of it was carried over a double row of cottages to the west. The boiler had been re cently purchiSed, but was an old patched up one, and pro bably gave way from inequality in the strength of the plates under a high pressure. The Belgian Government has authorised an Eng lish company to lay down an electric telegraph between Ostend and London. The electric telegraph on the Great Western Railway is now completed to Bath, and will reach Bristol in about a weak. It will then be immediately proceeded with from Bristol to Exeter, where it will be brought into con nexion with that on the South Devon line, and thus Plymouth will be at last united to Paddington. 21r. Morrison, of o F ore-street, ree, the firm City, M i Morrison, treaty Dil flono,r theand w Co., warehousemen, of splendid estate Earlof of App u ldurcombe, in the Isle of Wight, the property of the b n o d r iff o u e g r e h n . c e Itsto value yachting, -r vourite amuSernent of at 150,0001. The ar i his father, has induced him to wish to l - s a r i OF WATER•FOWER TO BELL- NoyEr. APPLICATION . in the morning and ten in the EINGiIiG. —Tide hours of six part with Appuldurcombe. from the spire of St. Peter's evening are regularly ru complicated piece of machinery. of water-power to a —Oa Church ,Dundee, by CONVERSIONS FROM THE ERRORS OF ROME. ' Sunday, the 22d instant, twenty-seven persons renounced a chime tlg of bells, produced by the appli cation London. LIFE IN WELDECK the errors of Popery, in the church of St. Paul, Bermondsey, THE LATE FIRE AND LOSS OF „, s - raELT.—Yesterday Mr. Wakley, A . ~ inquest on the body of Marylebone workhouSe;the adjourned who was put James Joseph Webster, the unfortunate man Iw 'erndly, into possession of the premises occupied by A r. No. 47, Welbeek-street, and who perished in the file which I P resumed at i! , E. Occurred in the same house a few hours after he went to bed. Atter additional evidence, the jury retired, and having been locked up for nearly half an hour, they returned and stated that twelve ojat of the thirteen were unanimous in returning A ;verdict to the effect, "That the deceased was burned to death in the said tire,'but how the fire occurred there was not sufficient at to enable them to decide." The Coroner said that WAS just the verdict he should have re turned had he been a. juror. The inquiry occupied nearly six hours. EAst KENT ErAcTIoN.—At the declaration on I‘tonday the numbers polled were announced to be—for Sir Brook Bridges, 2,480; Sir Edward Dering, 2,289; majority for Sir Brook Bridges, 191; and who was, therefore, declared duly elected.`" The Hon. Gentleman was afterwards duly " cliairtd"? ''.Xhere is a talk of Sir Norton linatchbull offer ing himself for the representation in the event of a future vac ancy. Considerable support has already been proffered tint. • 'ANTIQUITIES FROMNINEVEIL—The vessel Appren tice, from Thissorali, has brought, be.ddes the antiquities for the l3ritish Museum, which have been safely deposited in that nat i on al establishment, a considerable quantity of ancie n t mar bles from the same interesting quarter for Sir John Guest, on whose account antiquities of this kind from Nineveh have before been brought to this country THE WEDNESDAY EVENING, LITERATURE. THE LIFE AND LETTERS OF BAR THOLD GEORGE NIEBUHR. Chapman and Ball. Those who rejo7ce in literature of a profound and erudite description will welcome the appearance of these volumes. They contain the accounts of the achievements of the great Roman historian Niebuhr. An important part of these pages is occupied by ex tracts from the letters of the above•named, previously published in German under the direction of his sister in-law. About half of these letters have been trans lated. A most interesting addition is to be met with in eFsays that are at the conclusion. They are by the Chevalier Bunsen on Niebuhr as a diplomatist in Rome; by Professor Loehell, of Bonn, on him as an historian, and by Professor Brandis, of Bonn, on his character. It has been found impossible, we are in formed at the commencement, to form so complete a sketch of his public career as of his private life, al though great assistance was afforded by the distin guished friends before mentioned. It is the utmost advantage to those who wish to have a summary of the great man's labours and successes to peruse these ably written compositions. The impression thus them menhwv pehoofi a'nitlhae conveyed to the mind by the subtle research and the eloquent epitome is indelibly fixed in the memory, not to be after wards erased by subsequent studies or the succession of time, and truly it has always been considered as the greatest honour that can distinguish the departed, when he is surrounded by hosts of friends to pay homage to his name and to perpetuate his memory. "To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die." The subjoined is extracted from the essay by the Chevalier Bunsen : " I cannot conclude these lines, written in England, without expressing the pleasure I have derived from the appreciation and high esteem with which my ever re vered master and fatherly friend is here regarded by statesmen and scholars, and especially from the pure en thusiasm with which he has inspired the most earnest which is apparent to every observer, is not ado and noble portion of the youth of this country. Ms in fluence, quately represented even by the fact that a much larger number of copies of the English translation of his history of Rome have been sold than of the German original, though many of the latter have also found their way to England. Niebubr's incomparable superiority to all the critics of modern times—the deep truth of his historical views and political maxims—the pregnant solidity of his earnest and dignified, if not easy style—the elevation of his moral view of theeworld;—all this had long been an knowledeed in the homage paid to the Roman historian party in Church and State. But the pure human greatness of his noble heart—his unspotted life—his unwavering courage amid ill-health and disappointed or overclouded hopes—the by the most distinguished men of every devoted love of such a mind—the elevating and child like faith in the divinity of nature and truth —the union a raised .erd ' thatthe image esteem t o personal —h se ai e ns ds of knowledge of qualities and capacities of heart and intellect so rarely humbled mf o ab n l great dr goodeba beneath n me andaat man presented in dteoe a mt n h d e nature di g r a e s e o . seenth e attachment,t letters n c e Inbeforeh and i n at i t e h u n e s genius, have fallen a this joy a richly scattered through s fr o u r i r t o f w ul tit s l oi o l. oe, W w e h l e l o m rr ay e ful efforts of little-minded conspired with we turn e Germane our impiety and the apostles the disciples of . of everything s s o i f o ns , and thepre prey Bravoto their a n d o piercing wo m e ßlanco un-German to spy out the weak with malicious joy and are them with Mephi stop h e li an address for their own ends; but it is so ordained that meanness and wickedness must bate nobleness and great ness, and s Niebuhr'chief - failing, that of yielding in such cases to immoderate vexation , shall not be imitated by his friends." PIETY . and CHARITY. B y o f " Women i n F rance, " WfOorMiEIeNTofSCofHRISTIANITY EXEMPLAR y Julia K avanag h. Smith and El d er. A work by the author " Nathalie," and " Madeleine," could not fail to be regarded with interest, but when upon a subject so varied in its details, while so consistent in its object, extending through all ages, and including all coun tries and races, it is doubly attractive. It is divided into four periods: the first is the Roman empire, in which the mar t yrs o f the early Church hold the fore most place. The second, the mid dle ag e s , contains, among m an y Hungary a n d St. Th e resa. The third is entirely de others, the live s of St. Eliz abeth of voted to the seventeenth century ; and the fourth, in which the life of Elizabeth Fry is most conspicuous, to the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. The authoress observes in the preface : " When I first conceived the idea of writing a work on the Wom en o f Ch r i st i a nity, I contemplated including all the women remarkable for character, intellect, and excellence, who had flourished under the fostering influ ence of the Christian faith. I soon perceived that this design, if it were not too vast to 140 accomplished, would require the labour of years. I resolved , however, to ex ecute at least a part of that great whole—a part com plete in itself, to be followed by similar works or not, as circumstances or time might determine. It was difficult to choose, difficalt to decide with whom to begin. How many great and heroic women scorned to rise from the barbaric gloom of feudal ages, or appeared mingling with strange daring in the strife, as deadly and as fierce, of recent generations! How many meditative spirits, living apart from a rude world that knew them not, heralded the dawn of civilization, gave to now forgotten idioms their sweetest strains, and nobly asserted in their day—not, it is true, so completely us they have been asserted in ours—the intellect and genius of women. But, from thee° women of action and thought, my mind turned to other women more lowly though not less great. For eighteen centuries I beheld them fervent in their ethsseemntitablley firstthe `women place faith, pure in their lives, patient w h en it was their lot to endure, heroic when they h a d to act or s uffer, and I t felt n ttyh, an t tl d )ese were to that of right." The volume is illustrated b y t h ree portra i ts, the first of Maria Agnesi, a Milan ese l ady of the e i g hteenth century of remarkable tal ents and learning, who , a fter many distinctions, gav e up science and d evo ted belonged ofr i C herself to the afflicted. The second of Rosa Govona, a young workwoman of Sardiniafou n ded who in stitutions which still exist for young orphan girls, in which they manufacture stuffs, silks, and cloth of various descriptions. In two factories which she established at Turin " three hundred women without dowry earned an honest and comfortable livelihood, and provided in youth for the wants of their old age." The third portrait is that of Elizabeth Fry, whose life is too well known to need description. The de tails of the lives of so many whose names have so long been known and revered cannot fail to be inte resting, while the long array of good deeds and active charity must be as inatructiv e as examples as they a r e a ttractive as memoirs. W e - trust the authoress will complete her work, and that this fa sc in ating volume ma y be followed by many similar. ____ These volumes a3reVd°iividedCi°nitbollrtani BE ARTS and ALTARS. By Robert Bell. chief are entitled " Phantoms and Realities" and ~ The Armourer of Munster." The former, 110 W re vised and enlarged, was originally published in Fraser's Magazine, and the author states that, ~ strange as the circumstances related in this confes sion, or autobiography, m „ es, of which the --- Y appear, they are derived from authentic and well-attested sources. Leaving that which is open to discussion in the early part to be dealt with according to the measure of individual sympathies and opinions, the sequel, it is h ope d , w ill be found to con ve y a moral of some pract i ca l va l ue . in seclusion, and superstition, and the neglect of a healthy education of the faculties from its dark beginning to a manhood desti tute the course of a life enslaved by cre dulity, fear, and waywardness, fixed principles, and ' the design aims higher purpose than that of merely awakening a passing, excitement over a story of passionate errors. The. second tale is descriptive of the rising of the Anabaptists in the free city of Munster i n Germany, in 1534. The details are strictly his , t a u t te a of veritable characters. It show s persons introduced are how severely the a by the frightful tyranny of their ruler. The rem a i ning tales are more f t a o a ri a c t a ic l : sm som of e tb o e f p th eo e p p le ri w nc a i s pa pi l ini,be attractive from the absence of the tragic scenes which frequently occur in the previous ones. " Love to the Rescue" is of the time of the R estoration, and a description of thefavourite p ast i me a i n n t d e rfeasstei fascinating t ianog d . ° f mu hawkingwill b i e s f g o i u ve n n d . that T at h i e s p s l t e y a l s e in ifa easing spiritedhas recently been the ob servation, the - BUST Or RoSSUTH.—A very rablo bust of thegroatest of Hungariagns executed, by a young and very risin Bailey, of Conduit. place, Praed-street, .1 . 3 il d t, a p n M a c ir t . a n J d f o m t h h i n: bringot only sing dington. It efevaidtuerneesesnof obthsee sculptor, but remarkable niceness pression of the countenance life-like, A general ex ucl°anrlsyidearcaclUleratsek,iialin: the bust would bo valuable, but as affordi a work of art a correct resemblance of the patriot and o ng the public some respects, invaluable. The profile a rmor, it is, in the happiest direction in which the henaPPears to us regarded, though the generslco ntour and the 4otifught to b " e in like manner , have each merits entitled ' ll front, t° commen dation. It affords us plea sure, therefo re, to Commend this effigy of Lou is Kossuth most e arnestly no tice of the general commun it y , bein g enabled to Y to the of it in terms th e most decisively eulo g isti c. speak UNUSUALLY HIGH TlDE.—Yesterday afternoon there was an unusually high tide, caused chiefl y b ti blowing very fresh during the last two days from thele wind ward. Most of the cellars in the lower Parts of the east- Rotherhithe, and Backside were completely inundated,Pi the tide rushed up so quick that considerable damage and done to property belonging to the poor people residing ginltvhas basements. At five o'clock the steamers had some difficultye in passing under the bridges, especially the side arches s Wesuninster and Blackfriars, owing to the extrem eof eheight of the tide. AVe are requested to state, that some letters which have been mentioned or referred to d _ having some tae's past by several English and fo rei g n journals as been ad dressed to one of the me mbers of the Orleans family by the President of the Fren ch Republic, or as havin g been ad dressed t o him by one of the members of the Orleans family, are entirely apocryphal. A notice was issued from the Treasury yesterday of a further postponement of the day for the recei A of th tenders for the loans of 50,0001. and 40,0001. for be-- erar e and Trinidad. Instead of on Friday, the 27th of February, they are to be presented en Wednesday, the ad of Dlarch, FEBRUARY 25 3 1852. added, does the Duke of Richmond. The note of pre paration has already been sounded for the forthcoming war. The electors of Marylebone and Finsbury—that is the very snug parties of gentlemen who somewhere or other assemble now and then to pass resolutions, pub lish manifestoes, and terrify Mi n i sters — have met as usual to protest against a change which seems from their tone to have come rather sudd en l y upon them. As they place the Whigs and the Conservatives under a common anathema, and are far mo re h orr ifi ed at the ghost of the new Reform Bill than at the presage of Pro tection, we arenot prepared to state the parti cu l ar p l an o f operations with which they intend t o recommence the session. An evening contemporary, which seems es much astounded at these events as the metropolitan po liticians we have mentioned, is pleased to he ar th at whatever doubt exists on this subject (that is, the f u t ure course of the new Cabinet) will be rhssipated imm e di ate l y after the re-election of the new Ministers by the intro duction of a resolution pledging the House of Commons to free trade." On the other hand, the inhabitants of Manchester, who are at least as thorough free-traders as those of Marylebone, or as our energetic contemporary, have resolved not to renew the League till there shall appear some occasion for it, but simply to empower the Council of the la s t League to watch the proceedings of the new Administration, with some very proper hints as to what may be expected should the new Premier ven ture to re-open the great question. On the side of the new Government, and in its supposed interest, there is an equal variety of announcement. In the familiar columns of one judicious contemporary we already see the watchword "Death or Protection," and the public are assured that Lord Derby and his colleagues are prepared to risk all their magnificent prospects, as well as the safety of the empire, next week, or to-morrow, if possible, on an express demand for a good duty on corn. To such as are still hesitating how to gFeet•tne new Administration, that is, whether with a brief tolerance, or with instant defiance, we beg to re peat the views we have already expressed on this sub ject. There are two motives for political action, and only two, that apply to th e present question,—the first, political feeling; the se con d, a ca l culation of the public advantage. Now, is there a peremptory call on any man's conscience to drive the new Ministers at once from their places, and, with that view, to compel them to declare themselves in advance of their present con victions, and months, if net years, before they are likely to compromise themselves? It may be a sacred duty to answer a question, but we cannot conceive it a sacred duty to ask one, especially when the object is to make a man belie himself, or hamper himself; to do wrong either in ene way or another. We see no " call "in the matter, except that mission which the proverb assigns to fools, of 'asking questions which the wisest may find it difficult to answer. A just suspicion always attaches to gratuitous measures, and nothing can be so gratuitous as to ask a qu . estion simply because it will be disagreeable to answer it, and to hasten a decision which will require time to make it as it ought to be made. The second motive applicable to the subject is the public convenience. But where is the possible advantage to the community at large of ' driving the new Government from power, without reason able notice, by a species of forcible ejectment? Why should we grudge tweeter or thirty new hands a little taste of office? The nation surely is not specially interested in conferring a perpetual monopoly of power on a small clique, consisting of a few noble families, respectable as they are, and valuable as their services have undoubtedly been. On the contrary, it is an advantage to all parties, to the nation at large, to the whole of the Legislature, and particularly to those who have something, like political prospects of their own, that all monopolies should ba broken up, and that all sections of the political world should have a fair chance. If Mr. Bright would like to be Chancellor of the Exche quer, he is far more likely to have it after a year or two of Mr. Disraeli than after a long and exclusive high Whig or high Tory prescription. Some one has observed that there are only four men in the new Cabinet who have been in a Cabinet before. Why not? There is all the more chance now for those who have not been in a Cabinet. If nobody is to be in a Cabinet who has not already been in a Cabinet, or if new Ministers are only , to be made at the rate of one in fire years, political promoti ons , an d, we will add, political progress, will be very slow. Give the . Conservatives a chance, for th e sa ke of the public, if not for their own. But does the convenience of the public peremptorily demand a dissolution? Should Lord Derby be thrown into a minority by a factious vote, he would have no alter na ti ve b u t t o di sso l ve the Parliament at once, in order to pick up the Government seats, and the gain which there would inevitably be in several counties and open boroughs. But it would be to the advan tage, we will not say the security, of the nation, that at this juncture it should b e pl unge d i n t o the animosities of a general election, and the great cause of agriculture versus manufacture once more re-opened with increased bitterness? Most certainly it would not. The best thing that can happen to us just now is, that the new Government should have a fair trial, and we do not know any law of political morality that should make a little wise forbearance a positive sin. SPIRIT of the PUBLIC JOURNALS FROM THE. MORNING PAPERS OF TIIIS DAY. HERALD.—We attempted yesterday to prove—and there are not wanting those, composed of men of all parties, who think that we succeeded in proving—that in exchanging Lord Truro for Sir Edward Sugden the country and the profession will gain enormously. In- stead of a man proverbially slow, undecided, and igno rant of the first principles as well as the practice of equity—the profession and the public have acquired a lawyer of the quickest and the promptest faculties—a profound master of his art, active, energetic, and capa ble in the highe s t d egree . At once subtle, agil e , an d quick-witt e d, Sir Edward Sugden possesses the legal coup d'ccil which enables him to tee the salient points of a case at a glance. It is not necessary for him to labour every petty fact with sesquipedalian ponderosity—to look over every document, worrying himself and others to no I purpose. This d ru d gery must b e l e f t to meaner minds, I to men of the slow apprehension and torpid facul ties of a Truro. There is scarcely a gentleman of real estate or of large personal property in the coun- try, that is not obliged to go to Chancery for some purpose or other, and thes e su i tors , w h et h er as privateindividuals, or m em b ers o f trad i ng, bank ing, or joint-stock companies, must all feel that their, interests are safe in the keeping of the author of the book on " Powers,"and on " V en d ors an d Purchasers. " To clearness and quickness of appr e h ens i on, S i r Edward Sugden adds, in an eminent degree, decision. He will not take three months, nor many days, so th oroughly is he master of the subject, to make up hi s m i n d on any suggested improvements i n the common law or equity practice. The new Chancellor will either at once op pose, or approve unreservedly or sub modo, any project that comes before Parliament. He will not exhibit the chilly-shallying—the:nihili pihili system of his prede cessor, moving a step onward to-day, to retreat two backward to-morrow. In private wo wish the ex-legal functionary health and happiness; but we trust never to hear of the Noble Lord again in any public employment whatever. In the present condition of Europe, probably there is no more important appointment than that of First Lord of the Admiralty. This office has been admi rably filled by a nobleman of the highest rank, a rear admiral by profession—and one who has an enthusiastic love for the honour and glory of his profes sion. Without depreciating the fair character of his predecessor, we think we may say that it were impossible to hit on a more popular ap pointment than that of the Duke of Northumberland. Our contemporary the Times has affected a well-feigned surprise at the nomination of Sir John Pakington to the colonies. Sir John Pakington, forsooth, is an active Worcestershire magistrate. The fact is undoubtedly true. Like most leading country gentlemen, from the Revolution to the present day, Sir John has taken an active part in the judicial and fiscal business of his county, presiding for nearly twenty years, without foe or reward, at the Worcestershire quarter sessions, and doing the business of the country with a zeal and abi lity beyond all praise. We have yet to learn that this is a disqualification for high office, or that it unfits a country gentleman for the service of his Sovereign. Our contemporary asks, is Sir John Pakington equal to the task of governing fifty colonies, more or less in a state of disaffection? It is no doubt a difficult and arduous task; but all that the new Minister asks ie a fair trial, and that he shall only be held accountable for his own measures. It may be asked, whose rash, intemperate, and senseless official acts—whose insulting and arrogant dispatches have placed the colonies in this state of disaffection? Every voice will answer — "'Tis Earl Grey has done it all." Yet Earl Grey was not an inexperienced man. From the moment he attained his majority he had a seat in Parliament, and before he was eight-and-twenty had obtained office. Twice was this worst of Colonial Minis ters Under-Secretary for the Colonies, once Under-Se cretary for the - Home Department, once Secretary at War, and once Principal Secretary for the Colonies. Lord Grey's experience and official habits have then stood him in no stead. On the contrary, the older ho got—the more he became inured to office — the morein veterate and ingrained appeared his presumptuous, head long self-willedness, and that insolent arrogance, which has so shocked every gentlemanlike and liberal mind. We do not hesitate positively to aver, and we have had abundant opportunities of observing both men, that the abilities of Sir John Pakington are just as good as those of Lord Grey, while his temper and judgment are far superior. The demeanour of Sir John Paktngton is dignified and conciliatory. He may not be able to com pletely retrieve the errors of his predecessor—nor do we believe the younger Pitt, were he to rise from the grave, could fully retrieve them, even in a five or six years te nure of office? but surely it ill becomes the backers-up of the mischievous wilfulness and insolent intemperance of Lord Grey to cry down any independent commoner who is patriotic and courageous enough to accept the dread responsibility of succeeding such an official firebrand at the Colonial-office. Sir J. Pakington will do his duty, and do it well. Mr. Henley, like Sir John Pakington (and we may add like many of the greatest statesmen and ministers of England), is also an independent coun try gentleman, and has as much distinguised himself in Oxfordshire as Sir John Pakington in Worcestershire. But does this unfit him for the Board of Trade? The ignorant people who thus talk or write at rrndoin, forget that George Canning—no mean statesman, and no bad judge of men and things—selected a chairman of quarter sessions, the late Mr. Sturges Bourne, as his Home Mi nister, at a period when the House of Commons was teeming—which is not the case now—with oratorical talent of the very highest order. A more sensible and solid-headed man than Mr. Henley sits not in the House of Commons, and though Mr. Labouchero may be his superior in red-tapeism and the mere clerkship of office, we will not insult Mr. Henley by comparing his intellect to that of his predecessor. Sir George Grey, the predecessor of Mr. Walpole, the new Home Secre tary, was, like Mr. Walpole, bred to the bar; but, un like Mr. Walpole, never rose to eminence, or to any business but that to which ho was jobbed as one of the counsel of the revenue. That Sir G. Grey is a man of ability we willingly admit, but we maintain that the actual occupant of the Home Office is a much riper scholar and a much more learned lawyer than his pre decessor. Mr. Walpole has not been more than five years in Parliament, but when he has bad the long ex perience of Sir George Grey we have no doubt he will be as quick and keen a party debater. In speaking of a high order—in elevation of tone and view, he now sur passes Sir George Grey, who is only great on personal or party questions. Much vehement indignation has been spent, and some silly efforts at banter have been attempted, because of the appointment of Mr. Disraeli to the office of Chancellor of th e E xchequer. I t i s a cherished prejudice of the race of dunces all over the world that a man of genius is unfit for business; but the cases of Bolingbroke, Chatham, Pitt, Burke, Windham, and of Canning may be cited against this delusion of gentle self-satisfied dulness. No man ever accused the late Chan cellor of the Exchequer of being a man of genius, learning, or eloquence. He is as self- sufficient, as presumptuous, and dull a baronet as could be well found in all the realms of Whigdom; yet after producing th ree b u d ge ts per annum, he never succeeded in compounding one which did not require further change and recasting. Is it for the men who have had an Althorp, described by Viscount Palmerston thus— " A was an Althorp, as dull as a hog a superficial-inch Rice, and a Wood for a Chancellor of the Exchequer, to sneer at any man, however unknown, as incompetent, much less at a man of the unmistakeable and unquestioned ability and cleverness of the Member for Bucks? There aro no details, however abstruse, which Mr. Disraeli cannot master, as the cookers of Whig statistics have more than a dozen times, to their confusion, discovered. Wo freely admit that Mr. Herries is neither so loud, so burly, ncr co boisterous as Mr. Fox Maule; but he has five times his experience, and fifty times his official and general knowledge. Wo are, therefore, unreasonable enough to believe that he may get through the Indian business as well—to say the least—as the ex-" captain bold" of the 79th High landers. We fully admit that in the present state of Europo it is an onerous responsibility, indeed, to enter on the management of Foreign Affairs—more especially so promptly following a statesman of the capacity and experience of Viscount Palmerston; but even the Times admits that Lord Malmesbury is a sensible, clear-headed nobleman, of great good temper and judgment, and these are qualities very much required in dealing with foreign Governments. No one doubted the ability of Viscount Palmerston; but withal the impetuous humour of the Noble Lord sometimes hurried him into the writ ing of dispatches compromising not only his colleagues, but the Sovereign and the country. Wo have seen the conduct of foreign affairs subsequently transferred to a nobleman young enough to be the son of Viscount Pal userston, and who, in his brief career, exhibited, we are glad to admit, tact, temper, and discretion. We have every reason, from his past career, to believe that Lord Malmesbury, a few years the senior of Earl Granville, will exhibit as conciliatory and as courteous a bearing, and win golden opinions both at home and abroad. The Ministry of Earl Derby requires but fair play and a fair trial, find this will not be denied it by Englishmen, no matter what their shade of opinion. TIMES.—The arrangements of the Derby Adminis tration are now complete, and a new Household has started into existence with the same readiness as the Cabinet. It is difficult to be particular as to the special aptitude of this or that minor official for his new duties, without exaggerating the importance of the office itself. There are figure parts in the State as well as on the most Stage, for which a very average am ount of persona l re commendations- will suffice. Leaving, the refore, of the respectable walking gentlemen in the list before us tO speak for themselves, we will single haveno - which may call for a passing rem ark. Young jection at all, then, that our ol d friend Mr. al, and an_ should take a few lessons at the Board of Trade, quire in that school a better stock of commercial stens tics, as well as a better disposition to applY them to the general good of the public. , and g we shall The best thin s we can wish for Chaos are order and not despair of seeing even the Illigohn.dtourable Member , and sound. for Scarborough methodical, The Household seems very much lilkuociottheer h_ous.eholds, and, so long as due regard is paid to h dignay en d convenience of the Crown, as well of the privileged few that are admitted to the presence of Royalty, the g reat mass of the people has little to do The Earl ith the matter. Ireland is a more impo rtant affair. of Eglin toun is chiefly known by his tournament, which w ou ld have gone off admira bly but for the rain. If he could persuade the Irish to settle their quarrels in the s ame will considerably eclipse the bloodless fashion, heglories of that mimic chivalry. Chief Justice Eilaekburee, if probably wabUlynder-Secre he accepts Lord Derby's offer, will make au excellent Irish Chancellor. LardffaSitra;lehya,sthep tary for Foreign Affairs, enjoyed as much direct preparation for that o ffi ce as the distinguished excavator asator of the A ss yri an mar bles. Sir Frederick Thesiger is Attorney-General, it is said, with a view to the Speakership of the House of the new Parliament, should Common s in the fates be so far propitious. Lord Lyndhurst declines office, but remises his support, as also, it is rather superfluously COURT CIRCULAR. The Earl of Derby bad an audience of the Queen yesterday, at Buckingham Palace. Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, attended by Lady Anna Maria Dawson, arrived in town at half past eleven o'clock, yesterday morning, from her resi dence, Frogmore, near Windsor. Her Royal Highness visited the Queen, at Buckingham Palace, and partook of luncheon with her Majesty and Prince Albert. At three o'clock in the afternoon the Royal Duchess left her residence, Clarence Roust:, St. James's, on her return to Frogmore. The Duke of Wellington had an audience yesterday afternoon, of the Queen, at Buckingham Palace. The Royal Family took their accustomed exercise yesterday, in the garden of the Palace. His Royal Highness Prince Albert rode out on horse back yesterday, attended by Lieutenant-Colonel the Hon. A. Gordon. The Quoen had a dinner party yesterday, at Buck ingham Palace. The company included the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Duko of Wellington, bis Excellency the Austrian Minister and the Countess Buol Shauen stein, his Excellency the Sicilian Minister and the Princess Carini, the Earl of Carlisle, and the Earl and Countess of Albemarle. The band of the Ist Life Guards was in attendance during dinner, and performed the following pieces : Overture " Jubel," composed for the In auguration of the Statue of Frederick the Second Conradi. ••• ••• ••• ••• Walzer " Narragansett " Fantasiavviilie ” on .. t . he Scotch air " Spaeth. Frederich Wilhelm's Quadrille Bilse. G a lop Militaire „ Fohrbsch. Her Majesty's private band attended in Buckingham Palace on Monday evening, and performed the following selection:— Overture, Op. 44 ... ▪ Kalliwoda. Selection, " La Fille du Regiment" Donizetti. Coro, " Nel Silenzio" Meyerbeer. Air, " La Cheval de Bronze" ▪ Auber. Mr. Entwisle and Mr. Peel (of Manchester) had an interview with Sir George Grey yesterday, at the Home- Office. Mr. Bellew, M.P., had also an interview with the Right Hon. Baronet. Dispatches were sent yesterday from the Colonial office to the Governors of Hong-Kong, Ceylon, and Malta. Dispatches were also sent to the Governor of the Mauritius. • Dispatches were received yesterday from the Go vernors of the North American Provinces, and from the Governor of Bermuda, at the Colonial-office. THE REFORM CONFERENCE. The foliowTngieTteii;a;be;naddrcsTedtothe Presi dent of the National Reform Association TO SIR JOSHUA WALMSLEY, M P. Sir,. . Sir,—Would i , uld you permit one wo has had som e experience conterences, end who takes great in terest in the . one announced for March 2, convened by the association of which you are president, to s u gg it e s ths!t would be a great advantage if each delegate coulnd,all if possible, present his report in writing ? By .this pla essential facts are told in the shortest time, and the matter communicated ready for reference and use at once. Yours, in political respect, ONE WHO HAS ATTENDED MANY CONFERENCES. NUNNERIES. A petition to the Queen from the women of Cumber land upon this subject is now in course of signature, and many hundreds of names have already been subscribed enjoyed under her Majesty's thut from to it. The petition sets forth that the female inhabitants of the county of Cumberland, deeply sensible of th e tuballessayisntgesmaraes wnriathc-- b m le a s j s e i s n t g y s ,s o G f e c r iv e i r i n a rs n e d n r t e , l e ig h i s o e u rr s e li w bc it r h t one Irater of our class ofin consequence their fello w- seufbjtehcetse conventual system altogether e t h i p e s l p e d d o ' s i e n d tGreate the p ßritainpure and 1 dand benevolentlreland; religion, and m by.w hnun n ich Young inexperienced females, when immured are stripped pert y, placed under unnatural restraini d of their pro intercourse with relatives and friend 9 eprived of fr ee plea sures of social life, exposed to s, and of the con from which, if they ehould repent of dangers, and of "WS t a k en i n igno rance or rashness, or und er the persons, escape is nearly impossible . influence of designing therefore humbly and respectfully The f a i r p e titi oners to take such steps a s are pectfully beseech her Majesty of these lands, for c onsistent with the constitution dissipating the mystery which en shrouds these conventualinstitutions; for opening them to the full inspection of m the civil mag i s t ra t e , s o that no individual may be receivedh into, or d e t a ined in, or dis missed from th e de priving them of them , without his knowledge; and for dc at character of constraint, and con cealment, and compulsion, which they at present posro and which contrasts so painfully with the precepts of he Christian religion, and with libe r ty enjoyed by all other classes . ow . . d 111/0119..-- cw.lisle P in her Majesty's happy aper. COOKING WITHOUT FIRE.—We have partaken to day of a beefsteak, cooked without the aid of fire, by a new invention of our ingenious townsman, Mr. John Macdougall, cabinetmaker. It cons ists of a tin vessel , the under part of which is a close chamber, over which is the receptacle for the meat, or other material to be cooked, and this again is covered by a lid to confine the beat. A quantity of cold water is then conveyed, bY means of a pipe, to the chamber beneath, and heat is generated sufficient to cook a chop or steak in five or six m i n utes. Mr. Macdougall did not show o: al b agentisc cold d which, water i ste; pa n, and h e k ee p s a s n it s s the eer e I t a t b h o e r a c t h o e r rn y t its combination with the water, generates the heat, until his invention shall have been registered ; but he says the expense is so trifling as not to be worth considering. The contrivance is susceptible of being adapted to a variety of forms and sizes, and must be very useful and convenient to travellers, sportsmen, and others. It will pack in the knapsack of the pedestrian or the creel of the angler ; and when lonely bachelors come home to their cold grates it will prevent much profane swea rin g' -- Kelso Jitti NAVAL INTELLIGENCT. THE NEW BOARD OF ADMIRALTY. We have reason to believe thaithe - lTukeof Nor thumberland has formed his Board of Admiralty, most of the nominated members of which had interviews with the GE , Haut Duke at Northumberland-house yesterday. As the public, unacquainted with the career of his Grace, merely may imagine that the Duke of N ort h um b er l an d is a Duke, and no sailor, we have gr ea t pl easure in publishing from O'Byrne's Naval Biography the fol lowing epitome of the First Lord's services in the navy, by which it will be seen he has "roughed" it early, and must necessarily be well acquainted with those detail s and duties which cannot fail to constitute a good and just distributor of patronage for merit:— " This eilicer (then Lord Algernou Percy, but who was raised to the peerage as Lord Prudhoe in 1816) en tered the navy in March, 1805, as first-class volunteer, on hoard the Tribune frigate, Captain R. Henry Alex ander Bennett, whom ha followed as midshipman in the ensuing September into tho Fame, 74. In those ships he served off Shetland, Rochefort, and Cadiz, and in various parts of the Mediterranean, until 1810. He then joined the Hydra, 38, Captain G. Mundy, and after having commanded a gun-boat in co-operation with the patriots on the coast of Andalusia, be became attached, in January, 1811, to the Christian VII., 80, bearing the flag, off the Scheldt, of Sir Edward Fellow, under who m , w h en again serving in the Mediterranean on board the Caledonia, 120, he was confirmed in the rank of lieutenant by a commission bearing date the 16th of December, 1811. Prior to the receipt of the intelli gence of his official advancement to the rank of comman der, which took place on the Bth of March, 1814, his Lordship occasionally acted as captain of the Scout and Pelorus sloops, and also of the Caledonia herself, in which ship he fought in a partial action with the French fl ee t off Toulon, and witnessed the fall of Genoa. He subsequently officiated for som e months as acting cap tain of the Cossack , 22, on the coast of North America, and at the period of his elevation to post rank, the 19th of August, 1815, was serving at P ortsmouth on board the Driver sloop.' The second Lord will be Rear-Admiral of the Red, Hyde Parker, C.B. The third will be Rear-Admiral Phipps Efornby, C. 8., if he will accept the post. The gallant Admiral. we are sorry to hear, is labouring under an affection of the eyes; but it is to be hoped that it will not prevent him from becoming one of the new board, and that in the meanwhile, by the aid of skilful medical treatment, he will speedily be rendered convalescent. K.C.B. The fourth will be Commodore Sir Thomas Herbert, The fifth is Captain Milne, the junior member of the present board. _ _ The civil member has not yet been appointed, but The Secretary will be Mr. August Stafford, M.P. for North Northamptonshire. Two or three persons have been named as First Lord's private secretary, and among them Captains the Hon. F. T. C. Pelham (1840), and John Washington (1842); but we may state that the post will be occupied by a naval captain; and we have the best reasons for believing that it will be the first named—the Hon. Cap tain Peihare, whose last service was in command of the Odin steam-tiigate, in the Mediterranean. It must be agreed on all hands that the new board formed by the above members is a most promising one. The position, services, and character of the individuals meet every objection, civil or professional. In his Grace the Duke of Northumberland we have again an Admiralty authority in the Upper House. By profession a sailor, and by service a senior officer, be has just that experience which qualifies him beyond all others who have filled the office for an age, to recom mend him as most fit and most eligible for the great and responsible station he is called upon by his Sovereign to occupy; whilst from th e f act t h at b e has not serve d actively for a very long period, but has nevertheless in terested himself generally in all our national institutions, the Noble Duke is free from the objection urged against the appointment of a naval officer to be First Lord of the Admiralty on account of the numerous followers for whom he would be first bound to provide. In Admiral Hyde Parker (the second senior Rear- Admiral) we have one of the ablest and, most expe rienced officers in the navy. He is the son of the late Admiral Sir Hyde Parker, and grandson of Vice-Ad miral Sir Hyde Parker, Bart. He has served on full pay for 31 years, his last ;service having been as superin tendent or Portsmouth Dockyard and Commander-in- Chief of the Chafed' Squadron. It is well known that his manners are most frank and his habits most prompt; and whilst carrying on his duty with the utmost strict ness, he has been often considered rather a tart officer. It is universally admitted that he has had the whole service, as it were, at his fingers' ends, and he has ever proved himself to be most upright, just, and fair. A better third could nut be found than Admiral Hornby, also a rear-admiral of the red. He has served actively more than most men on the list, fa he has been on full pay no less than 37 years. As we stated yes terday, he is one of the heroes of Lissa, having, under Sir James Gordon, commanded the Volage, 22, in that celebrated action, ho has served as Commissioner of the Royal Naval Hospital, Stonehouse, Superintendent of Woolwich Dockyard, Comptroller-General of the Coast Guard, and Commander-in• Chief of the Pacific station. He is universally respected in the service. Commodore Sir Thomas Herbert is a good fourth. He has seen 22 years' service afloat. Ile won his steps by his gallantry and wounds, and his honours in the China war. His last service was as Commander-in-Chief of the southeast coast of America station. The fifth, as we have above stated, is a member of the present; boatd. He is the son of the late gallant and distinguished Admiral Sir David Milne, G.C.8., and although a young man, has served afloat some 22 years. The Secretary, Mr. Augustus Stafford, is well known as an able and skilful House of Commons debater, and, we doubt not, will make one of the most efficient poli tical Secretaries to the Admiralty after he has mastered the routint duties of his new office. From his Parlia mentary experience, no doubt Mr. Stafford will well re present the board in the House of Commons. At pre sent he is the only member of the new board who is in Parliament, but Sir Thomas Herbert is sure to be re turned for Dartmouth, and it tin scarcely to doubted that if Admiral liornby were to ett-r himself for the borough of Greenwich, that that constituency would give Admiral Stewart for his colleague a worthy brother officer.—Lierald. PROMOTION OF Ct.MMANDER QUIN.- Three v acancies having taken place in the list of captains, the First Lord of the Admiralty has promoted Com m ander Richard R. Q u in (1846) to the rank of captain. This officer entered the navy in 1834, passed his examination in 1840, and for his services on the coast of China in the Conway, 28, was promoted to be lieutenant; he served in the Belvi dera, as, and Collingwood, 80 , was promoted in No vember, 1846, and commanded the Waterwitch, 8, on the coast of Africa for two years and a half, during which time he made several captures. The commanders commission it is reported, will be I p I a d o w a r ir d Turner u w r n o e o i1e8h2,5), the who bas Merlin, s team-packet, after three y ears and a halt's service i n th e Mediterranean. T his old officer entered th e navy i n give n brou brought home, h L o i m eu e t , and ja m h e a s s 1807, passed his examination in 1814, but served eleven years as mate before he was promoted. As a lieutenant, he was employed in the Romney troop-ship; then in the Ganges, 84; from 1835 to 1813 in com man d of the Ranger, Falmo uth and Brazil packet; and since then in command of small stea APPOINTMENTS. 92, Portsmouth. steam-;ender to the Herald, Clerk--W S. Ralph, to the Rodney, service. f l o i• r m l S: uu s un te tkh r : S • ' A e ct:sa itsshuticupTetaYsoc—irinreg.lTlt:.,lit'.isHraerpto, tea, ards, to Assistant Engineers—J. husbands, J - , J. 'Jell and W. the Victory s hip, Woolwich ; and J. R. Rich to the Fisgard flag will be commis • flag-ship, Portsmouth. Antelope steams-p: in a day or tv , o by Li e PRIZE MONEY FOR THE P Lieutenant J. IL Young. has given notice that the aiNTAL°°l4.—Mr. Wocdhead arising from the capture of cecunt sale of the precreds Pantaloon the slaver Revoama by the , Commander Novem ber, 1849, will be H. Parker, on the 18th 'Novem rairalty on or alter registeredtl in the Digit Court of Ad miralty Vesuvius, ,e sth day of March next. 6, stetin•slooP ,Commander Barnard, went into Channel on her riggin g into i Monday, to try her engines and shake the atternoun,place, returning to Plymouth Sound in and embarking her powder and other ordnance stores. 'rho Asia, 84, in dock here, ' is b • eing coated over her copper with the composition Peacock and of Messrs. Buchan, of Southa mpton. PLYMOUTH, MO NDAY.—Ihr Majesty's steam-frigate Vesuvius, Captain Barnard, went from Hamoaze into the Sound to-d ay to try h er en gines, and returned into Barn Pool, where her compasses are to be adjusted. It is intended that the steam block ship Sanspareil shall be ready by Friday, the 6th of March, to get up her steam for tho purpose of trying her engines'. WooLverca, FEB. 24.—The Undine Dover mail steam-packer, Second Master John Warman (acting), was taken out of the basin here to-day, and the Violet Dover mail steam-packet, Lieutenant-Commander H. P. Jones, taken in to be repaired. The paying-off of the Cormorant steam-sloop, Com mander W. C. Chamberlain, from the coast of Africa, which was intended to take place to-morrow, is post poned to Friday next. Captain Henry Mangles Denham, F.R.S., Commander of the Herald, 28, and the Torch steam-tender, visited Woolwich dockyard to-day to witness the progress of the latter vessel fitting at this port to assist in surveying the South Seas, the gallant officer being anxious to proceed to the station for his surveying duties as early as possible. THE ARCTIC EXPEDITION. Captain Sir Edward Belcher, C. 8., Commander-in- Chiet of the Arctic Expedition of 1852, has been en gaged at the Admiralty during the last four days, where rooms have been allotted to him for the reception of officers, and transacting business connected with the expedition. The vessels commissioned will be supplied with officers f u lly competent to take the charge o f searching parties wben they arrive in the Arctic regions. The Assistance (the flag-Aip) will have Captain Sir Edward Belcher, Commander Richards, two lieutenants, one master, and one clerk in charge. The Resolute, Captain Kellet, Ca, will have three lieutenants, one master, arid one clerk in charge. The North Star, Commander Pullen, one lieutenant, one master, and one clerk in charge. The Intrepid, screw -steamer, Commander M'Clintock, tender to the AssiSIiIIICO, one master, and two assistant engineers. Th e Pioneer, screw-steamer, Lieutenant-Commander Sherard Osborn, tender to the Resolute, and one master, two a ssistant- engineers. The Assistance and Resolute have taken on board a large supply of coals instead of balla st , and the hands on a re now busily employed i n ta ki ng b o ard the iron of water-tanks. The bows both vessels have been l s harpened by attachin g strong p'ecesoi t imber, which will be covered with ir on , and they will bo much easier to tow during their next than they we re daring their last voyage to the 4100,0 regions.