The Sun. — London, England, 1866-03-26 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, MON DAY EVENING, MARCH 26, 1866 .OUSES.—Mesirs. TOFLIS and ROBERTS have numerous furnished and unfurnished TOWN, burban, and Country RESIDENCES to LET or SELL. P u articulars upon application forwarded tor two stamps, :ron stating reqrements nd rental. Offices, 2. Conduit treet. Regent-‘tr ui a eet, and South Kensington, facing the Museum. SOUTH KENSINGTON, HYDE-PARK, Queen's, and Rutland Gates, Queen's -gate and Peters ham Terraces, Queen's -gate, Cornwall, Princes and Beaufort gardens, Elvaston-place, Cromwell-road, Onslow and Thurloe Squares, Boltnns, Sic. Messrs TOPLIS and ROBE ti,TS have RESIDENCES to SELL and LET in these and surrounding lities. Offices, 2, Conduit-street, Regent-street, and Souh Kensington, facing the Museum. THEATRE ROYAL, HAYMARKET.- Sole Lessee and Manzg.•r, Mr. Buekstone. THIS EVENING, HE OVERLAND ROUTE: Messrs. Buck-done, Compton, Chippendale. W. Farren. Rogers, Gor don, Braid, Clark. Weatherscy, IVlrite, Cue, ; Mesdames Snowdon, Hill, Wright, Coleman, Moore, &c. After which, BOX AND COX : Buckstone and Mr. Crompton. Co u cluding with A DNUGHTER, TO MARRY 31183 Snowden and Miss Helen Howard. • Commence at Seven. EW THEATRE-ROYAL ADELPILL, Sole Proprietor and Manager, Mr. B. Webster. THIS EVENING, THROUGH. FMB AND WATER: Messrs J. L. Toole, 11 Phillips, ilillington ; Miss Woolgar and 111. 4 5 s H. Simms. After which, THE WRECK AS HORE : Messrs. J. L. Toole. P. Hew ord. Stuart, Bilt i n gtcr, A.bhley ; Miss Woolgar and Miss R. Simms. conc l u de with lips. TIME. Messrs. J. L. Toole, To Phillips. Eburne. C. J. s mi th ; Bliss A. Seaman, &e. Y P RINCESS'S THEATRE. 8 . , soALle Lessee and Manager, Mr. Geo. Vinhm- Tills EVENING, A GHOST IN SPITE OF UM BRIA'. after N is h . at a quarter to Eight, THE STREETS OF Do Messrs. Vining. T. Mead, D. Murray, Shore, LON Villiers; Airs. H. Marson, MISS E. Barnett, and Miss K. }Lodgers. 11 OYAL STRAND THEATRE. Sole Lessee and Manageress, Hrs. Swanborough. TIM EVENING, at Seven o'clock, a new and oritgl nal ComPdy, THE FLY, AND THE WEB. Messrs. Par belle and Price; Misses Swanborongh and Raynham. After N7hich the Grand Burlesque, IVANHOE. Messrs. Stoyle, Thorne, Jameo, Fenton Mesdames Swanborougb, Raynham, Simpson. Johnstone, and Hughes. To conclude with LENDING A HAND. Messrs. Belford Turner; Misses Simpson and Hughes. iIHE "SUN" NEWSPAPER.- G. K. GLENIE, Sporting Library, 4, Connaught terrace, Edgware-road, is specially appointed AGigN r to deliver the LATE EDITION of "THE SUN" at the earned possible moment after leaving the press. He is able to deliver copies in Town, the Suburbs, and in many parts of the Country at a comparatively early hour the same evening, say 40 miles by 9 o'clock. THE "SUN" NEWSPAPER.- G. R. GLENIE delivers tt.e LATE EDITION at Chelsea, 7.40 ; Kilburn, 8; Starch-green, 8; Woolwich, 7.30 ; Uxbridge, 0.20 ; Watford, 8.45. THE LATEST EDITION of " THE SUN" supplied, as soon as published every Evening, by W. ALEXANDER (late BROOKS), Newspaper Agent, 21, Old Cavendish-street, Oxford-street. THE LAST EDITION of " THE SUN " supplied as soon as Published, containing all the LA.PEST NEWS and SPORTING INTELLIGENCE, by H. w. BARRIS, Newspaper Agent, 4, Blackfriars-road, London, S. THE LATEST EDITION of " THE SUN." J. HOLMES begs to inform his friends, and the pubiic generally, that he supplies the LATEST EDITION of " THE SUN" as soon as published —Nd. 16, Hampstead road, N.W. SPORTING. —JOHN ROBERTS supplies the LATEST EDITION of "Tlifil SUN" as suou as pub lished.-4, Bath-street, City-road, E.C. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. THIS DAY.—Morning, 10h. 18m.—Afternoon, 11h. Om. To-Monitow.-Morning, 11h. 38m.—Afternoon, h. m. - • t # g g 41 0 /ti t 'iz rt ; **"ll' LONDON, MONDAY, MARCH 26, 1866. The venerable lady who died at Claremont on Saturday was one of those persons who pass an eventful life as to outward circumstances, and yet in themselves lead a quiet and retired life. Queen MARIE AMELIE was born in 1782, and had, there fore, nearly completed her eighty-fourth year. Few attain .to this age, and especially after so many vicissitudes have been gone through. From her earliest years the late Queen of the French had to encounter many turmoils ; and it is indeed surpris ing that she contrived to pass through them with so much serenity. She was the daughter of FERDINAND of Naples, and the Royal family were constantly in fear of attacks for some time in consequence of the French fleet hovering about, and at length these fears were realised, for the French troops took Naples, and FERDINAND and his family fled into Sicily. This was in 1798, and it would have been curious if any one had foretold to the young princess that half a century after, in the year 1848, she would again have to take to flight, and with her husband and children proceed to another land. When MARIE AMELIE first met the Duke of ORLEANS he was also an exile from his country. Few stranger things are seen in history than that these two royal person ages should have first been in exile, and then through long years have lived as Sovereigns over a great country, again passing into exile, and finally ending their days away from their former possessions, and bereft of their old dignities. At any rate there was more affection in this marriage than can often be observed in royal unions, and it is well known that their family was brought up in an excellent manner, and altogether that their household presented a model to those of high rank and position. They were married in 1807, and for some years after wards were comparatively tranquil. The star of their destiny, however, seemed to have decreed that they should always be in a state of disquietude, and more or less be subject to doubts and difficulties. In 1814 the restoration of the Bourbons took place, and the Duchess of ORLEANS repaired to France, but the Hundred Days, with their st ormy scenes , drove her to England with her children, and here she remained until the year 1819. From then to the Revolution of July shelwas again in England, where she gained esteem from those of all sides by her gentleness and many virtues. In 1830 a great change took place in her position, and she became Queen of the French. This elevation, however was not produc tive of satisfaction to her, because she did not think that her husband posssessed a rightful claim to the throne on which he was placed so suddenly. how ever, she chose her own part, and took no heed of public matters ; but in her domestic life she was a Pattem of devotion, and she also interested herself In %. ° 4, 410f charity. It may be said that few, far less royal , l ad i es led so unobtrusive a life as this Queen 01 o ne of the most powerful people in the world, and uo doubt it was through her untiring energy and zeal in the training of her family that her sons and dailai„,, lt their afterwards acquitted them selves so creditably t p 'different positions. Even in this quiet atil which she chose for herself, however, the unfortunate Queen was doomed to disappointment, and indeed _ affliction. Her e ldest son, the heirto the throne, to deep and the favourite of the people, was sudde nly called away, and in his loss the best security for the h ouse of Orleans was gone. The fe ars to which the sud den death of this amiable young prince gave ri se were only too fully realised six years later, and no doubt, had he lived, the fortunes of the royal house of Orleans would have been very different. Even if LOUIS PIIILIPPE had been compelled to leave the throne he might have abdicated in favour of his eldest son, who was universally popu lar. Before the death of the Prince the Princess MARIE was taken away prematurely, and this was another serious calamity. Serene and tranquil as the Queen was, however, on occasions when nothing called her out of her retirement but scenes of Pomp and show, she could in periods of danger and in time of trial show herself bold and brave enough. The granddaughter of MARIE THERESA and the niece of MARIE ANTOINETTE came out in a style and spirit worthy of her race, when the French Revolution of 'lB4B took place. LAMARTINE has described her in eloquent terms, when she bade the KING show himself to the troops, and come out in a manner becoming his high posi tion. Had he taken her advice the result might have been otherwise; but at any rateMARIEAmELIE displayed her character in its true light, and we may notice in her career, as in that of other natures like hers, that it is not always those who make the most parade on ordinary occasions who are capable of the most heroic efforts, and are prepared to encounter the greatest struggles. Another phase in the life of this Queen began at Claremont, and here for eighteen years she passed her life. During this period numerous domestic afflictions rendered her last years gloomy ones. First, she lost her husband, who never got over his trials, and the same year the Queen of the BELGIANS died. The two daughters-in-law of the Queen, the Duchess of ORLEANS and the Duchess of NEMOURS, were both called away before their vene rable relative, and a few months back the King of the BELGIANS joined the long list of friends and relations whom MARIE AMELIE had survived. We may find a lesson in this long life that can point a warning to crowned heads, and teach ambitious ones a solemn truth. Ten of those in an elevated position realised more fully than did this exiled Queen of FRANCE that the fashion of this world passeth away, for she was bereft of her friend and family to a great extent, and her worldly belongings were taken from her; but we can well say, in looking at the retrospect of her life, that she led " captivity cap tive," as it were, and overcame her adverse fate by her gentle and her gracious ways. She was not dependent on prosperity for her strength, and therefore adversity did not find her weak. She was essentially one of those who, having no thing, possesses all things. The caprices of fortune and the fickleness of peoples bestowed thrones and crowns upon her, and as suddenly de prived her of them ; but the world could neither give nor take away the better part which was her portion, her trust in HEAVEN, which made her long pilgrimage on earth as ways of pleasantness and paths of peace amid the strife of States and the gloom so often cast over her by the shadow of death. The circumstances attending the loss of the steamship London have made too deep an impres sion on the public mind to be easily forgotten, and the general dissatisfaction felt 4 the manner of conducting the official inquiry is not likely to be set at rest without a more full and free examination into the whole history of the disaster. It can hardly be thought that the result of the inquiry was all that could be obtained as a warning or a lesson from the catastrophe, and it is only justice to thevast population who are constantly traversing the seas that no effort should be spared to elicit the whole truth. If the construction of the London was ori ginally faulty, if her length was too great for her breadth, then let the fact be openly recognised, so that such dangerous errors may be avoided in building our merchant vessels. If the overweight ing of the ship was, as many believe, the principal cause of the disaster, then it is surely a most mistaken and mischievous course to endeavour to hush it up instead of carefully inquiring into the matter, so that the same mistake might never be repeated. "It can hardly be supposed that Messrs. WIGRAM deliberately overweighted their ship and wilfully endangered the lives of their passengers. The mistake which they com mitted, or which was committed by those in their employment, was one which any of our large ship owners would be very liable to fall into, and it is the strong temptation to reckless overloading of ships which exists at the present day that renders it so impe rative for the official inquiry to have entered fully upon this point. From all quarters, statements, asser tions, and observations have come both from inde pendent eye-witnesies and from parties more directly interested, who went on board the unfor tunate vessel to take what was to be a final leave of their friends or relatives. Nautical opinions have not been wanting, and a singular unanimity is ob servable among all these varying accounts. Some attribute the wreck mainly to one thing and some to another—one thinks the construction of the ship in fault, and another the seamanship of the captain ; this one is disposed to blame the motley and undisciplined crew, and that the excep tional severity of the storm which the vessel encoun tered, but all agree in saying that the ship was overweighted. Mr. HIGHTON, whose letters on this subject have excited so much interest, is strongly convinced that to this overweighting must be ascribed the whole disaster. This opinion on his part is only natural, seeing that it is founded on a few striking words spoken by one of those " voices from the London" which have thrilled so deeply to the hearts of all who caught their echoes. A near relative of Mr. HIGHTON'S was among the victims of the catastrophe. He is described as hav ing been a man of great courage, presence of mind, and practical experience, well acquainted with the perils of the seas, having previously experienced them on many various occasions. A few lines from this gentleman, written only two hours before the vessel went down, have come into the possession of his relatives. After bidding his relatives a brief and touching farewell to his family Mr. DENIS says : " Ship overweighted with cargo and too slight a house over engine-room; all washed away from deck. Bad poop windows, water broken in. Storm, but not too violent for a well-ordered ship." Such a testimony could not certainly fail to have weight with those so nearly concerned, but it has been largely supplmented by evidence from other quarters. One of the surviving passengers declares that it was always his conviction that the vessel was too low in the water, and that he believes the breaking down of the engine hatchway to be attributable not to one particularly heavy sea, but to the succession of heavy seas breaking over the vessel in consequence of her lowness in the water. Two other survivors give similar evidence. The want of buoyancy in the vessel is strongly dwelt upon by several who noticed her barge like appearance. Mr. HIGHTON, after referring to the numerous letters which he has received from parties interested in the matter since he took it up, observes, " Upon one vital point I must emphati cally add that my correspondents are agreed, viz., that the ship was overladen, and that all her disasters are primarily attributable to that cause." In a subse quent letter Mr. HIGHT 0 N declares that be has received the strongest assurances that the universal opinion °f al l who saw th e vesse l on her passage from Lon don to Pl ymouth was that she was overweighted the and too deep in water." he visited An the old commander m n th writes to say th at she sailed, an d then found in ade e r docks ten days bef ore her looking like an " elongated collier," though s he was still taking in ca rgo . , A city merchant declares that before leaving the dock she was so choked up with cargo as to be obliged to land 40 or 50 packages, although several cabins had to be knocked down to make way for stowage. The pierinan at Woolwich, who saw the vessel pass, said that he would not have gone out in her for MO, T fo h r e ti d ia a t she was to nger ofcarry o in d g ee t p oo an h d ea7 ld never is youaeargow was of course very greatly augmented by the peculiar build of the ship. At all events there has been quite enough evidence brought for ward, directly and indirectly, to justify a demand for a much fuller and more searching inquiry. This matter of overloading is no mere trivial point or venial act of carelessness ; it is a question which concerns the lives, the property, and the interests of a very large proportion of the population. Heavy insurances may recoup the shipown,:rs, but no profitable investments will atone to , the families and friends -rho have seen those dear to them cut off in the very prime of their days. No doubt the perils of the seas are great, and no human care can fully insure against them any more than human skill or science can control the winds and the waves. But the very magnitude and imminence of those dangers, the very strength of those irresistible forces, should surely teach us humility and caution rather than presumptuous confidence and reckless desire for gain. If the lives of hundreds of passengers are not to be allowed to weigh against the chance of a pro fitable cargo, if the safety of a vessel during a long and trying voyage is to be a mere matter of speculation, only calculated with regard to the s. d., then it is well that our travellers and colo nists should know the risk to which they expose themselves even when they step on board an A 1. But in every other branch of business the action of the Legislature steps in to control the exciting in fluences of personal gain or ambition, and there are very few departments of life in which the wel fare of others may be left with safety to the irre sponsible action of private interest. Surely, then, we have evidence enough that it is time for direct interference and supervision ; and as the first step in a very momentous proceeding we hope to see a full and unprejudiced inquiry into the whole of the circumstances attending the last voyage of the London. CORRESPONDENCE FROM PARIS. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) PARIS, Friday Evening. A German paper, though disclaiming all desire for war on the part of Austria, says that Power is pre pared to resort to it rather than agree to the claims of Prussia. The Vienna papers, who support the Austrian Government, all endeavour to show that if there should be war,._ the fault will be that of Prussia and not of Austria, who, they contend, has been as conciliatory as possible in all her recent acts and proceedings. On the other hand, the National Gazette of Berlin complains of the hostile tone adopted in private letters and by the press, in re ference to the supposed warlike preparations of Austria. They appear to wish, says a Prussian paper, to alarm all the middle and small States, that they may rally round Austria and vote for her at Frankfort. The Cabinet of Vienna is determined to bring the question of the Duchies before the Federal Diet. An eccentric old soldier, of 71, named Alexandre Blaise, has just died at Pantin, near Paris, from excessive drink. He had a pension from Govern ment of I,Boof. a-year, and he spent the greater part of it in a curious fashion. Immediately after breakfast every day he made the round of all the wine shops in the place, and there are a great many. He called for a glass of wine or brandy, drank a portion, of it, covered the glass with a saucer, and then performed the same ceremony at another estab lishment. Having finished the list of wine shops he returned back to each, and drank the rest of the wine he had left in the glass. During 12 years he never missed his visits for a single day, and it is calculated that during this time he drank 64,200 glasses of wine or brandy. Some friends invited him to a fete in honour of his 71st birth-day, and he drank such an enormous quantity of spirits that he was found dead in his bed the next morning. It appears that there is an unusual inundation of English pickpockets in Paris at the present time. The Paris papers say that robberies from the per son by English pickpockets increase every day. At the Vincennes steeplechases an Englishman of 26 contrived to pick the pocket of a gentleman of a pocketbook containing 1,500 f. in bank notes. He was seen in the act, but he was clever enough to pass the property to his companion. The crowd was very indignant, and yelled and hooted at him as he was taken to the Commissary of Police of St. Maur. The theft was executed with great rapidity and dexterity. The prisoner said he had been a jeweller in London for some years. In his pocket was found a list of public places of resort in Paris and other capitals, where it was most probable that business could be done. As I informed you would be the case, the Em peror received the address in answer to his speech yesterday. I did not translate it, knowing that you would receive it by telegraph. It has been eagerly read by all classes, and has given intense satisfaction. At the Bourse particularly it operated favourably upon all kinds of Public Securities. " Kings never forget their promises." So says Rossini, but, although he indorses the proverb, he does not seem to have entire faith in it, for he has just written a letter to Don Pedro of Portugal, re minding him of a certain offer to send him a pipe or two of the finest port which Portugal has produced. The young King was in Paris a month or two ago, and during a visit he paid to the great maestro he voluntarily made the offer on the part of his father. The wine not having yet arrived, Rossini gives a gentle hint about it ; but while professing his entire confidence in the promises of kings, he touches in a word upon the danger of procrastination, for, ho says,getting an old man, and he makes the King he is understand that if there should be much more delay he might die before the wine reached Paris. Wine improves by age. Not so with old men. They get worse and worse. Rossini has still in his cellars some magni ficent port presented to him by the King of Portugal, but it diminishes, and perhaps Rossini is not wrong in wishing for a little augmentation of the supply. At all events, he is firm in his confidence in the " promises of kings." The tribunal of Caen has given its decision in the case of the Fcederis Arca, and the circumstances of the frightful crime will be brought before a mari time court, the tribunal of Caen being of opinion that the offences come under the definition of piracy of the worst degree. The readers of The Sun will be aware from my correspondence that most terrible murders were committed on board the vessel in ques tidn, and that the prisoners charged with partici pating in them claim to be tried by a criminal court, in the hope that such court may, as is generally the case, find " extenuating circumstances." A mari time tribunal in France has no power to moot the question of " extenuating circumstances." It must find a prisoner guilty or not guilty. The Govern ment did not wish such inhuman criminals to escape, and hence the protracted arguments before the various tribunals during so many months. The case in question is a very remarkable instance of the " law's delay.'t A deplorable case of murder and attempted suicide has been tried before the Court of Assize for La Manche at Coutances. A young man named Bellis was charged with attempting to murder his sweetheart, Marie Jonanne. For months he had paid court to her, but as she refused to receive his addresses, he watched her home from her work and shot her with a pistol. It is doubtful whether she will recover from her wounds. He then reloaded his pistol and shot himself, but he was not danger ously hurt. The prisoner was condemned to hard labour for life. Since he has been back to prison he refuses to take any nourishment. He confesses his crime, and says he committed it " for love." PAms, Sunday Evening. If the Parisians be often on " pleasure bent," it is undoubted that they are very strict in the obser vance of great religious days. The churches have been crowded during the day--Palm Sunday--and the imposing ceremonies incident to it have been witnessed very devoutly. Forests of palm—or rather of the box-tree, for palm is not to be had— have been borne through the churches by the con gregation, and indeed every one in the streets has carried his branch. At every church door sellers of palm have congregated. Indeed large sums of money are expended for the purpose in Paris on this day, and thus even as a matter of industry only great service is rendered to the poor. Palm Sunday is called in ancient books Easter in flower. The custom of blessing the palm only dates from the eighth century. According to some of the Fathers of the Roman Catholic Church, however, the custom existed among the Gauls in the seventeenth century. From a very early period, however, there were pro cessions with palms in honour of the triumphal entry of Christ into Jerusalem a week before Easter. A complete change is about to take place in the management of the Opera. By a decree of the Em peror, from and after the 15th April next, the manag ing director will undertake the charge entirely at his own risk and peril. He will have to pay, as security for proper management, 500,000 f. Independently of the subvention allowed by the State, the director will receive from the Budget of the Civil List an annual sum of 100,000 f. This subvention will be placed to his credit in increase of his security money, but the total amount will only be paid to him at the expiration of his management. The opera in Paris, like that in England, was for many years an unfortunate speculation. In 1807 the regulation of it was entrusted, ex officio, to the Chamberlain of Napoleon the First, and M. Picard was appointed director, and Pradel superintendent. The celebrated Habeneck was appointed director in 1821. Count de Blacas, chorister of the King's Household, became superintendent of the Royal Theatres. He was succeeded successively by the Marquis de Lauriston, the Duke de Doneauville, and Viscount de la Rochefoucauld. Duplantys succeeded M. Habeneck. After the resolution of 1830 the management of the opera became a private speculation. M. Veron was director. He was succeeded by M. Dupouchel and then by M. Leon Fillet. The Imperial Academy in 1852 once again came under the administration of the Minister of his King's Household. In 1852, M. Roqueplan was appointed director ; in 1854, M. Crosnier ; in 1856, M. Alphonse Roger ; and in 1862, M. Perrin. Some time ago I informed you that the salary of the band of the opera had been increased, but the artists did not consider the increase sufficient, and in consequence of a representation made by them to the Minister of the King's House hold that the baton proposed to the Emperor to order that the administration of the opera should again be made a matter of private speculation, his Majesty, with his usual consideration in favour of talent, himself added the clause to the decree be stowing 10,000 f. a year in support of the enterprise. The director under the new regime is not yet ap pointed. In 1713, under Louis XIV., the Govern ment regulated the number of performers, the sala ries they were to receive, and other matters, order ing also that the general composition of the staff should " always exist on the same footing, and not be changed under any pretence whatever." The salary of the principal male artist was fixed at 1,500 f. a year, and the same sum was to be paid to the prima donna. The sixth-rate actress was paid 700 f. a year. The salary of the chorus singers was 400 f. Twelve ladies of the chorus received 400 f. also. The leading danseuses were to have each 900 f. a year. Eight others received 500 f. and 400 f. The salary of the conductor of the orchestra was I,ooof. The orchestra was to consist of 46 performers at salaries varying from 600 f. to 400 f. per annum. The whole personnel of the Opera in 1713 amounted to 126 artists or persons employed in various capacities, and the total yearly cost of all was 67,000 f. How "we have changed all that" both in England and France. The annual salary of the " whole camp, pioneers, and all" was then per haps less than the sum received nowadays in a week by some of our prima donnas. The director of the Grand Opera in Paris is a very great personage. He holds the fate of singers in his hands, and he can even check or prevent the progress of musical art. Some directors are obstinate, or they have their whims and fancies. To such influences may be attributed the fact that Jenny Lind was not en gaged in Paris. The town of Bourges and the whole of the de partment of the Cher have been subjected to a disastrous inundation, in consequence of the late tremendous storms and heavy rains. The water rushed through the streets and gardens, and in some of the houses the water rose to a yard in height. Persons in boats assisted the affrighted inhabitants. At Gracay more than 150 houses were inundated. and the scene was terrific. The waters have since retired. No loss of life is recorded. At Paris the weather has been very stormy since Thursday. On Friday night the wind was alarming. The delivery of the letters from England of that day was much delayed. Yesterday evening there was one of the most violent storms of rain experienced for many years. To-day the wind has abated, but the sky has looked dark and ,gloomy, portending more un settled weather. A few days ago there died at Chappes, in the department of the Allier, a man named Charvernon, who was upwards of 100 years old, and who, it is stated, preserved his intellectual faculties to the last moment of his existence. Among the passengers by the English steamer Cella, whose arrival at Havre I have mentioned, was a woman of 23 of English origin, named Martha Hilen, who embarked in London for New York. Soon after the vessel anchored a telegram was received respecting this woman, but the captain being engaged . , or absent at the time the telegram was not read. As soon as the contents of the de spatch were known search was made for this woman, but she was not to be found. The body was, how ever, afterwards discovered when the tide went down. The Journal du Havre says that there is some great mystery respecting this woman, but hitherto no facts respecting her have transpired. The authorities pursue their investigations, how ever. On the passage from London this woman gave indications of insanity. She was very tall and of agreeable countenance. It appears that she was well disposed, and had a watch and gold earrings. In reference to the case of M. Sandell, the author who claimed damages from M. Boniface, the editor ,of the Constitutionnel, for having inserted a com munique which he alleged was defamatory of his character, the Civil Tribunal of the Seine decided that as the insertion of such ministerial communica cations was obligatory upon newspaper proprietors they could not be made responsible for the state ments made in them. The court therefore dismissed the complaint of M. Sandon, and condemned him to pay the expenses of the proceedings. Volumes of articles have appeared in the Paris papers respecting the answer of the Emperor to the address of the Chamber. Such intense satisfaction has been created by it in the public mind that the vague and tortuous objections to it made by some of the opposition journals scarcely need any com mentary from me. Indeed, the most violent oppo sition papers admit that the " Emperor desires liberty." The great question, however, is (say the opposition papers) as to the extent to which it ought to be carried. OFFICIAL APPOINTMENTS.--Rear - Admiral Chas. George Edward Patey has been appointed Admi nistrator of the Government of the settlement of Lagos, on the West Coast of Africa. Bruco Lockhart Burnside, Esq., has been appointed a member of the Executive Council of the Bahama Islands. Augustus Adderley, Esq., has been appointed a member of the Legislative Council of the Ba hama Islands. Edward Everard nushworth, Esq., D.C.L., has been appointed Government Secretary and Secretary to the Court of Policy and Combined Court for the colony of British Guiana. Mr. T. Carew Hunt, her Majesty's Consul at Stockholm, has been appointed Consul at Bor deaux. Mr. R. Callander, Consul at Manilla, has been ap pointed Consul at Stockholm. Mr. H. T. Rainals has been appointed consul at Manilla. Mr. George Annesley has bean appointed Consul at Hamburg.— The Observer. Mr. Joseph Ferguson, the pianist, who mistaking a policeman for a garotter, stabbed him at Syden ham in February, was brought up at Greenwich police court on Saturday for further examination. The magis trate resolved on committing the case for trial, in order, as he said, that some expression of opinion might be elicited from the judge in reference to putting policemen into plain clothes. LA TEST INTELLIGENCE. (REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.) PORTUGAL. LISBON, MARCH 25. To-day, in the Chamber of Deputies, the debate on the Budget was commenced. A new law on the press has been passed. The Government is taking sanitary precautions against the cholera. HUNGARY. PESTH, MARCH 25. The sittings of the Lower House of the Hun garian Diet have been adjourned to the 10th, and those of the Upper House to the 16th of April next. The latter, on resuming its sittings, will discuss the second address to the King adopted in the Chamber of Deputies. CHINA. (Via Alexandria.) SHANGHAE, FEB. 9. The Nienfei rebellion is becoming more alarm ing. New Chong is in danger, and the residents are drilling. Hankow is also threatened, the rebels being within 20 miles of the city, burning the sur rounding villages. The foreign residents are pre paring to resist any attack. The English and French Consuls are also making arrangements for the safety of the residents, and the gun-boats Cardiff and Algerine are held in readiness to render assistance in case of need. It is reported that the rebels intend to attack Pekin. The rebels near Swatow are said to be organising a flotilla to attack Chow-chow-foo. The French Municipal Council of Shanghae have been imprisoned for refusing to deliver up certain documents. The particulars have not transpired. N.B.—According to the later advices from China received via Galle by overland telegraph, and pub lished on the 21st inst., the movements of the rebels in the vicinity of the northern ports were less threatening. THE ABYSSINIAN PRISONERS. LETTER FROM DB. BERE. NIKULHE (Near Massowah), FEB. 17. Mr. Rassam, on his arrival at Matawwa, wrote to the Emperor, who sent an escort to conduct him to Debia Tabir, where, or at Korata—not Den goller—on Lake Tsana, he is to await the Empe ror's return from his campaign in Godjaw. The Emperor has written to the German artisans in his employ at Gaffat, ordering them to receive Mr. Rassam and treat him well. Letters down to Dec. 27 from Consul Cameron and Mr. Karans, at Magdala, have reached Mas sowah through Mr. Rassam, but none have come on from the captive missionaries. At that time all the prisoners were suffering from influenza. FRANCE. BOURSE, March 24, Three o'clock.—The market closed at the following quotations :- 41 per Cents 97 30 - Do. end month — 3 per Cents. 6B 42/ Do. end month 6B 45 Credit Mobilier Do. end month 671 25 Bank Shares 3600 Credit Fonder — Italian Loan 6O 75 Do. end month 6O 75 , ILAILNI Roman Ottoman Fives — Mexican Loan 4B 50 Do. Bonds 3OO Russian — Austrian Spanish Threes Home Debt Deferred WAYS. Cash. Orleans Acct.... 873 75 Northern .. 1121 25 . Lyons and Mediterranean — ... 885 Southern — ... 555 Western — ... 560 Eastern — b3B 75 Sardinian Austrian — 395 Lombard North of Spain — Saragossa — 221 25 Ditto to Barcelona ••• Roman ;)8 LITERATURE. Gilbert Rugge. By the author of " A First Friend ship." Three Vols. Hurst and Blackett. This is a very clever novel. The plot is very skilfully contrived, and very carefully worked out, and it contains some genuine touches of feeling. The " situation" of Gilbert Rugge and the prin cipal character who makes and mars his fortunes is somewhat akin to that of Pip and his unknown benefactor. We do not wish to spoil the interest of a really interesting story by explaining the re lationship existing between the hero and the indi vidual above alluded to. The scene at the dinner at Richmond wherein the momentous secret is re vealed to the unsuspecting hero is very dramatic and almost painful. The character of the Sergeant, placed as he is in a false position through out, is very naturally and vividly portrayed. The sensitive shrinking of his affectionate heart, smarting under humiliation, is described without any tinge of exaggeration. The revelations of the old copy-book, which are among the best passages in the three volumes, are full of a simple pathos that brings tears to the reader's eyes. Gilbert Rugge is no all perfect hero ; but throughout his very chequered career he maintains a dauntless spirit, and severely indeed does he suffer from the unfortunate errors of his birth and bringing up, and heavy is the visitation that falls upon him in the hour of his happiness and prosperity. The three heroines, the gentle, loveable, Gabrielle Hurst, the devoted but high-spirited Mary Sherlock, and the fascinating, ambitious Edith Harlixstowe, are very charmingly described. The worldly wisdom of the fair Edith is only what the reader (and the hero too) might have expected. More surprising is tie brothely devotion of Jack Harlixstowe to his friend in the hour of his misfortunes. Mr. Hurst, the grandfather of Gilbert and of Gab rielle, is a stern old man, and heavily does the punishment of his sins fall upon those most dear to him. Here is his sentence passed on John Brod dick, the poacher, or, as he is called in this chapter, THE NE ER DO-WELL. The elderly gentleman bent over towards the chairman, and whispered something in his ear. Mr. Hurst shook his head, and gave sign for the prisoner to be removed. " I ax yer pardon, sur," said Broddick, turning to the bench as he was about to leave the dock, "but I 'ope you'll make it less. I'll take my oath, I hadn't intended to get into trouble; fur—fur you see, when my wife lay a doyin', last winter, your young lairdy (I ax yer pardon, sur), like as made me promise as how I wouldn't goo out with my gun ony more; but, ye see, ' , aim% hed no work but chance jobs since frost set in, and the bairns was well nigh clem med, and so, ye see—" " Taking all these matters into consideration," inter rupted Mr. Hurst, highly scandalised at the introduction of his granddaughter's name into this low business, " I see no reason whatever for altering the sentence just passed. I sit here to administer the laws of the land, and by those laws--" " Then damn the laws o' the land, say I !" exclaimed Broddick, striking his fist on the rail before him. " I didn't expect much mercy fro' you, Measter Hurst, and ain't got it. Y'are a bard-hearted old chap, and allus was." And the man broke out into an abusive strain that quickly caused any sympathy his case had excited amongst the hearers to vanish, and quite took away all the poetry from his position. He was a vulgar offender enough, in truth, this rough, heavy-browed clodhopper. All the eloquence of the bar could not have flung an air of romance over him and his offence. _ _ " For you gross behaviour and contempt of court, Ishall sentence you to two months' further imprisonment, making six months in all," said Mr. Hurst; "and I hope that at the expiration of that - time you will return to society im proved by the lesson now taught you." Which shcwed Mr. Hurst to be of a hopeful turn of mind. • " Six months be it, then," cried the man ; "and if yar be livin', Parson Hurst, this time six months, yar shall see me agen, and hear a bit more o' my mind, as sure as yar sit there. If owt goes wrong wi' my bairn; it's at yar hands I'll seek them, so help me God !" He raised his fist and shook it threateningly at the bench. " Remove tho prisoner instantly," said Mr. Hurst to the constable, boiling with anger. At the end of six months Broddick more than keeps his word, This one hasty decision on the part of the magistrate is the main occasion of the downfall of his life-long ambition. Without giving any more examples of the earnest manner and animated style in which this book is written, we have said enough to assure our readers they will find abundant mat ter of interest in " Gilbert Rugge," nor will the time spent on its perusal be thrown away. A Casual Acquaintance. A Novel founded on Fact. By Mrs. Duffus Hardy, author of " The Two Catherines." Two Vols. Sampson Low, Son, and Marston. If a young heiress is imprudent enough to accept a casual acquaintance as her affianced husband, of course it is only reasonable to expect that she may be deceived. If, again, a clever romance writer is kind enough to undertake to amaze us with a highly sensational novel, it is only reasonable to allow that her story, even if "founded on fact," should par take of the nature of that truth which is " stranger than fiction." Both these very reasonable supposi tions are to the very letter fulfilled in the novelette now before us. Maude Ver non, the young, beautiful, fascinating heiress, refusing a crowd of mercenary suitors, turning from the devoted Arnold Elmore, the companion of her youth, deaf to the advice and protestations of her maternal counsellor, engages herself to Raoul St. Pierre, a clever intriguer, a man of many aliases and more crimes. The wonderful skill with which M. St. Pierre, under the pseudonym of Dr. La Belle, contrives to get rid at once of an unnecessary wife and an obnoxious rival, by murdering the one and laying the guilt on the other, is a contrivance which does infinite credit to the dexterity of the actor and the inge nuity of the author. "It is as well to be hung for a sheep as a lamb," is an old saying, and hence if we are to have something sensational, it is as well to have it sufficiently strong. The authoress of " A Casual Acquaintance" has distinguished her self among her literary compeers by the clever audacity of her railway murder. The whole details are very skilfully arranged. The great resemblance between the twin sisters (which reminds us a little of the Woman in White and her half sister, Lady Glyde) is quite within the limits of probability, but it is too much in the same book to have a case of mis taken identity occurring in consequence of the great resemblance of Dr. La Belle and Raoul St. Pierre. What, however, has probability to do with a sensa tional novel ? For a work of that class it is enough to say that " A Casual Acquaintance" is cleverly con trived and sufficiently interesting. The White Favour. A Novel, in Three Volumes. By Henry Hon, Author of the " The King's Mail." Sampson Low, Son, and Marston. The romance of history is always most enthralling. From childhood upwards, the stories " Beloved as Fable and Believed as Truth," are ever the most attractive. The author of " The White Favour," however, at the outset of his nar rative repulses our historical sympathies. He tells us that his work has " no pretension to histori cal accuracy," he has only endeavoured "to surround the story by an atmosphere of the period, without too great an adherence to historical detail." With this we might be contented, but in the very next sentence he goes on to say, " The presumed separation of Ratcliffe from his wife, and his supposed residence in England, are, of course, at variance with acknowledged facts !" If so, why introduce them ? " These points, if conceded," he adds, "the book may be found sufficiently correct to answer the pur pose of a work of fiction." In a work of fiction it matters little what is " correct," and it is not essen tial to novels, historical or otherwise, that real per sonages should fill their pages ; but if history be introduced it should not be falsified, and avowedly "at variance with acknowledged facts." This is a mistake on the part of Mr. Holl. He is quite suffi ciently ingenious in arranging a plot or in describing a character, to introduce incidents of his own invention, without interfer ing with the accuracy of real events. Apart from this blemish, he has given us a very interesting novel. The melancholy death of the proud Countess of Newburgh, in a miserable lodging, in the begin ning of the first volume, has a companion picture in the tragic fate, in the end of the third volume, of her ill-fated husband, Charles Ratcliffe, the would be Earl of Derwcntwater. The characters of Rat cliffe and his staunch friend, worthy Richard Hor ton, are well drawn and attractive throughout. The vicissitudes which befall the lonely heroine are roman tic, but the details of her dangerous imprisonment are almost revolting. Her escape and her flight are full of interest, and it is a relief to the reader when the hopeless fugitive is discovered and protected by one all-conscious of the holy right he has to protect her. Some of the minor characters, such as Luke Basset and his clever, unscrupulous wife, are well described. The period relates to the momentous struggles of the " White Horse" and the gallant Pretender. But the main actors in the strife do not appear upon the stage. As Pope was said to have published " a pretty Poem—a very pretty Poem, but not Homer —so the author of the " White Favour" has given us an interesting tale—a very interesting tale—but, avowedly by his own showing, not History. Runnymede and Lincoln Fair; a Story of the Great Charter. By J. G. Edgar. Illustrated by Robert Dudley. One vol., pp. 328. S. 0. Becton. This is one of Mr. Edgar's spirited historical romances, and it is elegantly got up and profusely illustrated. Almost every chapter is embellished by some spirited sketch, and by heraldic headings and tail-pieces by H. W. Rogers. The frontispiece is a beautifully-coloured picture of King John, surrounded by his barons signing Magna Char ta. Miss Crosby's Matchmaking. A Novel. Edited by Maine O'Hara. One vol. S. 0. Beeton. A very pleasant, lively record of worthy Miss Fanny Crosby's matchmaking machinations, which, unlike such manoeuvres in general, tend to the satis faction of herself and all parties concerned, so that the last chapter is triumphantly headed " And if they don't live happy, that you and I may." THE NORTHUMBERLAND. Not the slightest change has taken place in the position of this vessel since the notice which ap peared in The Snn of last Monday. During low water careful levels have been taken of the ways on which the ship is fixed, and the deflection is stated to be so trifling as to be scarcely more than the eighth of an inch—a deviation which in such a length of way is literally not worth considering as regards the safety of the vessel. Nothing whatever can be done to launch her till Saturday next, when all the efforts then to be made will be assisted by the high spring tides. It cannot, however, be concealed that the operation will be one of difficulty, and even possibly of danger. The stern, as the vessel at present lies, is not waterborne, while the bows are high and dry. Fortunately, the ship remains straight upon the ways, and the cradles, which are of immense solidity, keep her firm. In addition to this, how ever, she has been shored up on both sides to avoid the chance of accident. It is intended on Saturday to endeavour to float her by means of large lighters, which will be secured by chains on either side of the stern before the high spring tides, and which by their buoyancy may lift her off when the flood is highest. Three powerful hydraulic presses are being fixed at her bows to start her from the position in which she so unfortunately stopped. Hawsers are also to be taken across the river to powerful capstans, which will be amply manned, and, in addition to all, the services of many powerful steamtugs are secured to bring this great ironclad safely into the water. The only great risk of the operation is that in lifting the stern the Northumberland may twist across the ways, in which case the "consequences may lie dis astrous, not only to the vessel, but to any who are too near her. The operation of lifting her will undoubtedly be most interesting in a mechanical point of view, and we most earnestly hope that it will be successful. LIFEBOAT SERVICE.—REDCAR, YORKSHIRE, Satur day, 10 a.m.—(By Telegraph.)—John Coulson, Esq., the agent for Lloyd's, reports that the Gipsy, of Wisbeach, has gone on the Redcar Rocks and become a total wreck. Fortunately the Ciossley lifeboat, of the National Lifeboat Institution, was the means of saving those on board the woe], namely, four men and t WQrqati. HER MAJESTY• WINDSOR, March 25. The Queen, accompanied by their Royal High nesses Princess Helena, Princess Louise, Princess Beatrice, Prince Leopold, and her Grand Ducal Highness the Princess of Hohenlohe-Langenbourg, arrived at the Castle yesterday, at a quarter before 2 o'clock, attended by Lady Waterpark, Lady in Waiting, the Hon. Mrs. Bruce, the Hon. Lucy Kerr, the Hon. Mary Lascelles, and the Equerries in Waiting. The intelligence of the unexpected death of the venerable and highly-esteemed Queen Marie Amelia, who expired at Claremont yesterday, was received by the Queen and the Royal Family, with whom she was connected by so many ties of relationship, as well as of the sincerest friendship, with deep regret. Her Majesty, accompanied by the Princess Helena and Princess Louise, and attended by the Hon. Mrs. Bruce, Major-General F. H. Seymour, and Colonel H. Ponsonby, Equerries in Waiting, drove to Claremont this afternoon, and paid a visit of condolence to the afflicted family of the late Queen. The Gale. HOLYHEAD. During Friday and Saturday this bay has been visited by a severe storm from various quarters. On Friday afternoon and on Saturday it blew heavy squalls, which amounted to a hurricane. The wind veered round from S. W, to N.W. (when our parcel was despatched at 10 p.m. Saturday), and a large number of vessels and steamers have sought shelter either within the harbour of refuge or in the roads. The former are, fortunately, out of danger, which cannot be said of all those in the roads, as several of them are dragging their anchors to leeward. The following are the chief casualties which have oc curred during the past 36 hours. The schooner Leader, 107 tons burden, Davies, master, of Port Talbot, from HaTre for Liverpool, witha cargo of flour, making for Holyhead, could not fetch, and was driven by a tremendous squall and sea to leeward inside Clipera Rocks. The flag being hoisted union down at 4 p.m., on Friday, the Holyhead lifeboat was immediately manned and rowed to her. One man was put on board to assist, and shortly afterwards the steamtug Retriever, of Liverpool, came to the assistance of the vessel, and towed her into the Holyhead old harbour. The schooner Queen of the Isles, of Penzance, from Falmouth for Liverpool, with a cargo of granite, was, while endeavouring to make for the harbour of refuge, driven against the end of the breakwater, where the master and crew succeeded in landing. The vessel thumped heavily, and soon vent down. The Portuguese bark Paquette de Rio Grande, from Liverpool for Oporto, with a cargo of rice and coal, was driven against the breakwater, when she re ceived considerable damage. Two anchors were put down, but from the report of the captain these did not prevent the vessel from drifting. The master and crew being foreigners, no doubt they were con siderably frightened at their position, and thought it more dangerous than it really was. Believing that the vessel had six feet of water in the hold, the master and the crew left her, taking with them all their chests, baggage, and instruments, and by the aid of Burnel, the driver of a locomotive, and 31r. William Williams, Tan-y-Bryn, their effects were placed on one of Messrs. Rigby's (the harbour con tractors) waggons. As the crew were preparing to leave, Mr. Rowe, chief officer of Coastguards, with a number of his men, and Mr. Hamilton Dobson (son of Mr. C. E. Dobson, Government engineer), Porthyfelin, boarded the vessel, and made signals for a steamtug, having first ascertained that she had but three or four inches of water in her hold. Captain R. R. Jones joined them, and they resolved themselves into a crew. When the steamtug made her appearance the vessel's crew returned, and she was tugged to the old harbour, where she lies con siderably damaged at her hull. Too much praise can not be given to Mr. Howe for his bravery, to Mn Hamilton Dobson, who nobly joined with Mr. Rowe, and to Lloyd's agent, Capt. R. R. Jones, for the energy and promptness by which they saved a fine valuable bark from a fate that befell the Queen of the Isles. Mr. 0. Parry, Spanish and Portuguese Consul, received the vessel from Mr. Rowe's hands and exerted himself in a truly kind manner to the foreigners who manned her. The wind and sea are still very high (11 p.m. Saturday), and a stool/ night is anticipated. LIVERPOOL. On Friday afternoon a heavy storm of wind and rain arose from the south south-east, and meeting the rising tide in the Mersey caused a remarkab l y heavy swell. At half-past 6 o'clock the wind regis ter at the Liverpool Observatory recorded a Pres sure of 231 b. on the square foot, and it continued, with slowly-moderating violence, throughout the night. At midnight the barometer reading vi°, 28.90. The storm in the river was so severe Om many of the ferry-boats were compelled to ceas e running. When the storm was at its height three large sailing ships, lying in the river opposite Bir kenhead, parted from their moorings almost at the same moment, and drifted down the river. Fortu nately there were steamtugs at hand, which took them in tow, and prevented them drifting ash°r e. The steamer Robert Bruce was abandoned whe n° 1 a sinking state in the Crossby Channel, nearT AY" lor's Bank. DOVER. In the fearful gale at 10 o'clock on Friday nig ht , the bark Eastward, of London, from the Coast c. Africa from Hamburg, struck on the Ridge. CaOi Barnett and 12 men took to the boats, as the ves se l was sinking, and after pulling about in a heavy see a for two hours were picked up by the smack Cornell of Dover, at which port they were landed at 5 3 0 °I ; Saturday morning, and taken in a very exhausted condition to the Sailors' Home. Some of the era ( who were asleep at the time the bark struck Ve r a nearly destitute of clothing, and nothing was sa ve but what the others stood up in. They will be clot hed _ out of the stock at the Sailors' Home, and by the Shipwrecked Mariners' Society. AN EVENING CONCERT, in aid of the buildi n g fund of the Battersea Christchurch National Schools, is about to be given at the Assembly Rooms, Wandsworth. It is fixed, we believe, for Tuesday, April 24, and will 11 under the immediate patronage of the Lord BisboP ° Winchester, and, among others, of General Sir Go r g e Pollock, G.C.8., K. 5.1., Major-General A. J. Lawrence, C. 8., and the Vicar of Battersea. It is announced, moreover, that " The Wandering Minstrels," Wi t the direction of their conductor, the lion. Sern°,„- Egerton—a company of amateur instrumental ists have, during the last few years, very considerably proved in their performances—have kindly consented to give their assistance upon the occasion of this ch aritable entertainment. THE FATAL ACCIDENT IN THE CITT-BOAD.--*AII,, inquest was held on Saturday on the body of Frederic ; Long, who was killed on Thursday last at Free:2lo,lv stone-wharf, City-road, under the circumstance s sire 6""t published. The evident* went to show that the accidea_ was caused by the sudden snapping of the iron tensi°'' rod of the crane on which the deceased and two other Die° were at work. Long was killed by the fall, an d the °tiler men were badly hurt. A ve r di c t o f accidental death W6g returned. THE LATE DR. SPURGIN.—Dr. Lankester held 3 . 11 inquiry on Satu r d a y, a t the Duke of Curnberlaucl, Bryanston-street, Hyde-park, respecting the death Of D t r; John Spurgin, who, as was alleged, died from the effl i of injuries consequent on a murderous attack upon him a gang of thieves in High-street, Bishopsgate , in septerh; ber last. The evidence of Mr. Walter Spurgin , s° ll °f 9 deceased gentleman, was to the effect that his father ica 69y ears of age, and that_ he met with a serious iiiia r Y, b l : September last. He told witness that at 12 o ' clock oni 9 night of the outrage he was stopped and r obbed by this/e in High-street, Bishopsgate. Witnes s saw that his arms and knees were much bruised. He was attended b 7 Owen Roes, but he did not ke e p his bed. Witness cools: plained to the police, and a m an was a pp rehended on t picion of being concerned in the attack and robberY b° a lly watch he r the deceased could n ot swear to his identity. al watch nor chain was fo und. The deceased got grade wors e after the robbery. Dr. Owen Rees -I attended jr._ Spurgin from the tim e ho received his in j uries to his deatb I am of opinion that his death resulted from those injorias' He gradually sank from the shock to h is s y stem. Verdict, " Manslaughter against some person or persons uu.knoWn• Court ."* v% Dir Citrt I Tar ligti.