The Sun. — London, England, 1865-04-05 00:00:00

THE -A. TR E-R 0 Y AL, DRURY-LANE, Managers, Messrs. E. Falconer and F. B. Chatterton. THIS EVENING the Farce of A YOUNG LAD FROM THE COUNTRY. Mr. G. Belmore and Miss H. Howard. After which, AS YOU LIKE IT. Messrs. James Ander son, Walter Montgomery, Waiter Lacy, Sinclair, Rayner ; Miss Rose Leclercq and Miss Helen Faucit. To conclude with the Farce, GOING TO THE DOGS. THEATRE -ROYAL, OYA L, HAYMARKET. Lessee. Mr. Buckstone. THIS EVENING the performance will commence with THREE WEEK'S AFTER MA ttRIAGE. Mr. Chippen eale, Mr. W. Farren, Miss Nelly Moore, Miss Snowdon, &c. After which, a New Sensation, THE WOMAN IN MAUVE : 31 ebars. Sothern, Compton, Howe, Farren, Braid, White, Weathersby, Butler, &e. Mesdames Stuart, Lovell, Buckstone, arc. And EASY SHAVING. Miss Louise Keeley, Miss F, Wright ; lues,lrs. Clark, Gordon, Rogers, dm To commence at 7. N EW THEATRE-ROYAL, ADELPHI. rrupri.V...r anti Niandgvr, B. Wetiter. rHIS EVENING, ICI ON PAP_LE FRANCAIS. Mr. J. L. Tool?, nr. Ashley, Mr. Billington, Miss K. Kelly, and Mrs. Itillington. Atter which, THE LOVE CHASE. Wildrake (his orig,i nal character;, Mr. B. Webster. Messrs. Billington, Ashley, Stephenson. Widow Green (14th time),:Mrs. Stirling.; Con stance (14th time), Miss Henrietta Simms ; Lydia (her 14th appearance), Miss Sophie Young. To conclude with THE STEEPLECHASE; or, In the Pizakin. Hews. J. L. Toole, Paul Bedford ; Miss K. Kelly. Commence at 7. LYCEUM THEATRE. -EASTER MONDAY, April 17, will be produced a Drama, entitled THE MulJNTEßAlsili, in which Hr. Pechter will perform the principal character. Box-office open daily from Eleven till ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE. Sole Lessee and Manager, Mr. Geo. Vining. THIS EVENING, a new Farce, by Mr. David Fisher, entitled HEART-STRINGS AND FIDDLE-STRINGS. After which, ARRAH NA POGUE : Mes s rs. Dion Bone'. can't, J. Brougham, H. Vandenhoff, D. Firmer, D. Murray; Mrs. Boucicault and Miss M. Oliver. To conclude with AN AMPLE APOLOGY. ROYAL STRAND THEATRE. Sole Lessee and Manageress. Mrs. Swanborough. THIS EVENING, at 7, CROSS PURPOSES: Mr. Par selle; Miss Palmer. After which, the great Comic Drama, MILKY WHITE. Messrs. Craven, Stoyle, James; Miss Swanborough. To conclude with THE GRIN BUSHES. Mesdames Raynham, Simpson, Johnstone,V:c. ((VIM LAST EDITION OF " THE SUN," J. containing the Latest 61'01:T1NG INTELLIGrEz4tt., tan be had Every Evening of G. R. GLENEE, News AGENT, No. 4, Connaught-terrace, Hyde-park. THE LATEST EDITION of " THE SUN " supplied, as soon as published every Evening by W. ALEXANDER (late BROOKS), Newspaper Agent, 24, Old Cavendish- Itreet, Oxford-street. THE LAST EDITION of " THE SUN" supplied as EMI as Published. containing all the LA VEST NEWS and SPORTING INTELLIGENCA by ii. W. HARRIS, Newspaper Agent, 4, Blacklriars-road, London, S. A PHOTOGRAPHIC CURIOSITY. With a copy of ~•un PRICE 4D. ; STAMPED, SD. ; , . is presented GRATIS (with a Supplement) A MINIATURE PHOTOGRAPHED FAC SIMILE of the FRONT PAGE of THE SUN of MONDAY, the 2d January, 1865. *,* For the convenience of Subscribers wishing to preserve the Photograph, a suitable frame is pro vided, and may be had at The Sun Office, price Is. The Photograph, ON CARD, 6d. ; or mounted in frame, Is. 6d. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE, pus DAY.—Morning, 9h. 40m.—Afternoon, 10h. 20m, 10-Mon.now.-Morning, 11h. Om. Afternoon, 11h. 36m. abg 7: -rArol"ip c742/11,1434 LONDON, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 5, 18G5. The Prince of WALES has always shown his readi ness to assist in any schemes for the improvement of the metropolis, and has frequently honoured by his presence the inauguration or undertakings destined to increase the comfort and to promote the welfare of the community. Yesterday his Royal Highness celebrated the completion of the Main Drainage of the metropolis, and thus this great work has begun under favourable auspices. It may be fairly said that, without exaggeration, this is one of the most stupendous and successful works of its class which has ever been undertaken, and reflects the highest credit upon all concerned in it. The state of the Thames has long been a disgrace to the metropolis, and seriously affected the health and comfort of many of its inhabitants. Great laxity was suffered to prevail in the management of the matter ; but it is now happily un fait accompli, and London, in the important sense of drainage, far surpasses the other cities of the world. The Board of Works are entitred to great credit for the perse verance and foresight which they have displayed in the construction of this work, and their architect, Mr. BAZALGETTE, deserves great praise for his ac complishment of so difficult a task with such skill and industry. The immensity of the work may be estimated by the fact that three hundred and eighteen millions of bricks and eight hundred and eighty thousand cubic yards of concrete have been consumed. If at full work night and day forty four thousand tons of coal per annum would be consumed. Hitherto, it is perhaps well known, the chief object of the old system of drainage was to render the Thames the great main sewer of London. It is unnecessary to state that this plan was open to the gravest objections, and the experience of the most ignorant witnesses can attest to the impro priety of this insalubrious device. The expenses in curred by this system were enormous, and formed the best satire on its folly and inefficiency. During the summer months it cost about £9OO a-week to obtain disinfectants to avert the evil consequences of the fearful stench that arose from the river, and it also entailed the outlay of a considerable sum to render the sewers efficient, in consequence of their faulty working. Mr. BAZALGETTE has succeeded in accomplishing a work which must prove of mate rial benefit to the inhabitants of this crowded metropolis, and, indeed, to the whole country, for the health of London is of the utmost importance to all those who have to make excursions there, or come in contact with those who come from thence. The plan devised for this work is an admirable one, and if it prove successful, as in all probability it will, the-nuisance from which we have so long suf fered will be effectually removed from among us. One of the chief objects of the undertaking is, that the reservoirs may discharge themselves into the Thames at high water, and the effect of this is a considerable one, it being computed that the dis charge at high water is equal to twelve miles lower down the river at low water. A proof of the in ter est felt in this work may be taken from the fac that no " House" was made yesterday, in cons, quence of so many of the members attending the open ing ceremony, which was presided over so efficiently by his Royal Highness. It was altogether an ani mated scene which took place yesterday, and all present seemed to enter fully into the importance of the work and to recognise the necessity that existed for its being carried out with spirit and enterprise. The PRINCE listened with interest to the descriptions given by Mr. BAZALGETTE concerning the principles of {lle work in question, and received the gratifying assurance that he was about to inaugurate an undertaking which would be of great service to the community in protecting property from injury and preserving human life from disease and infection. His Royal Highness started the engines amid loud cheers, and thus the ceremony was happiyperformed. A dejeuner or lunch followed, at which some brief remarks were made by the chief personages present. The PRINCE obberyed that, although it wa4 not an It is evident that the repulse of SHERMAN'S troops by JOHNSTON was much more serious than the Federals were willing to admit. BRECKENRIDGE'S official report states. that JOHNSTON attacked SHER MAN'S advance at Bentonville, which is 20 miles south-west of Goldsborough, and drove it back a mile. Subsequently the Federals were reinforced, and rallied, but were again repulsed and held in check till darkness came on and closed the combat. Both sides held their positions for the night, and in the morning the Federals had intrenched themselves. BRECKENRIDGE states that the Confederate loss was small, and does not mention that of the enemy. It seems from the Richmond accounts that the columns repulsed were SCHOFIELD'S. The Northern organs, as usual, affect to think very little of the affair, but it has apparently damped the energies of their leaders, since the troops have made no further ad vance. Another engagement has taken place be tween HARDEE and a part of SHERMAN'S forces, in which HARDEE claims a decisive victory. It took place midway between Raleigh and Fayetteville on the 16th. The Federals lost 3,300 men, and the Confederates 450, according to the Confederate version, which we may take, from former experi ence, to be a pretty cloie approximation to the truth. All accounts agree that SHERMAN is concen trating his forces at Knoxsville, with the intention of advancing into Virginia in the rear of Lynchburg. SHERIDAN is said to have crossed the James River and joined GRANT, but the reports concerning him are not very defi nite. The general aspect of military affairs is de cidedly favourable to the South, and every week gained at this crisis is of service to them. " The hour before dawn is the darkest ;" and so it may prove that the invasion of SHERMAN and the evacua tion of the seaports may precede the ultimate suc cess of the Southern cause. Civil dissensions are not yet ended among them, but it is possible that DAVIS or LEE may assume the authority, with which the great body of their countrymen would willingly see them invested, and carry out that prompt and vigorous policy which is necessary for the salvation of the Confederacy. The Congress, indeed, blames DAVIS for want of promptitude in making known the needs of the country, and there is no doubt that he hesitated long before deciding upon the enlistment of the slaves. He would have done more wisely to have recognised the necessity earlier, and to have expressed his convictions more positively. Still the Congress should not blame him for this delay, since when he did propose the measure they refused to pass it, and even after the emphatic language of his late address the Senate withheld its consent from several of the measures which he declared to be indispensable to the public safety. The Congress blames DAVIS for the tone of his Message, which they think is calculated to promote discord and dis sension, as if discord and dissension were not already in existence in the Congress itself, and as if the people could be deluded by fair speeches and assur ances when they see the enemy marching uninter ruptedly through their States. President DAVIS has never attempted to deceive his people, and therefore his words have weight. When their prospects have been gloomy and the news disheartening, he has not failed to tell them frankly of their dangers, at the same time urging them to fresh exertion and to unshaken endurance. He would be unworthy of the responsibility with which his-fellow-countrymen have entrusted him if he shrank from telling them - - what he believed to be necessary in the hour o: danger. The address of the Confederate Congress, assuring the people that the conquest of the South is " geographically impossible," may be very en couraging, but the straightforward address of the Pre sident will impress the people more strongly. DAVIS replied to the notification of the adjournment with dignity, saying that he hoped events would prove he was mistaken in those views which the Congress objected to, but that he proposed to defend the country to the full extent of his power. We trust that this declaration inaugurates a new and vigorous policy, and, meanwhile, the friends of the South should take heart, since the clouds that have so long overshadowed the prospects of the Confederacy are at last breaking. It is very seldom that an affair of considerable moment, in which many different localities are mixed up and many conflicting interests concerned, can be carried to an end without delay, vexation, and perplexity. A smooth and prosperous beginning is no proof of a speedy or tranquil conclusion. Per sons holding the most opposite - views may agree as to certain fundamental principles, especially under the pressure of danger or excitement ; but when it comes to a question of details a thousand rivalries, jealousies, and other petty motives come into play and retard the whole scheme. All may wish to arrive at the same goal, but they are by no means agreed as to the road by which to reach it. Thus it 11).8 unfortunately p.oved in the occasion for toasts, yet that one must be given, " Success to the great national undertaking, the completion of which we have witnessed to-day." His Royal Highness also congratulated Mr. THWAITES and Mr. BAZALGETTE upon the great public work that had been so successfully inaugu rated that day. It may be considered that the PRINCE did not indulge in false expectations when he expressed a hope that the good of that undertak ing would be found in the future, when " London would become one of the healthiest cities in Europe." It so often happens that the most promising works are comparative failures, and the most fair-sounding projects have to be ultimately abandoned, that one cannot but rejoice with renewed eagerness at the prospect of a successful accomplishment of a large standing work, and one that may truly be said to have been a great national deside ratum. It is, moreover, one the importance of which will increase as time goes on, and it is almost im possible to estimate the benefits derivable from it, and the evils from which it will have preserved the community. Even already we may realise the utility of its immediate introduction ; for if the fears of some are realised, and the plague now devastating some parts of Europe visits our shores, it would have been a deplorable thing if it had found us in hot weather with the Thames in the state in which for many past summers it has been. This main drainage has been one of those tasks which imperatively called for speed in their construction, and all time lost in such matters is a calamity not to be over-rated by intelligent and acute ob servers. Yesterday's undertaking was worthy of the eclat by which it was surrounded, and it is no mere compliment to say that Mr. THWAITES as chairman of the Metropolitan Board of Works, and Mr. BAZALGETTE as engineer, are entitled to credit for their exertions. The ceremonial of yester day was a proud day for them, but no doubt they feel more gratification at the consciousness of having been instrumental in effecting the manipulation of a great public bene- I fit than they can derive from any outward tokens of approval, or superficial displays of the hour. It is, indeed, a work to form a landmark in the history of a city, and to be connected with which may well be remembered as an honourable distinction in a man's career, by his grateful fellow-citizens. ME SUN, LOADON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, APRIL 5, 1865.1 ANOTHER ALLOCUTION, Mexico and Italy. The Journal de Ronze-of the 29th ult. brings the ext of the allocution delivered by the Pope in the secret consistory held on the 27th. The Pope, touching upon Mexican affairs, said— " Although we have been greatly afflicted, against our belief and expectation, by the sad things which have happened lately in the Mexican Empire, de spite the demonstrations of filial respect several times shown towards us by our beloved son in Jesus Christ, the Emperor of Mexico, we nevertheless do not deem it our duty now to speak at large there upon, for we were consoled by the hope that the Emperor, seriously remembering that the Catholic religion and its salutary doctrines contribute power fully to the temporal prosperity and tranquillity of peoples, will wish to abandon the path on which he has unhappily entered, and satisfy our very just desires and demands by acceding to the prayers and requests of that Catholic nation, by rebuilding the Church from its ruins, protecting its vener able rights, its liberty, its sacred bishops, its minis ters, and its institutions, and by especially main taining an intimate concord with the bishops, as the teachers of religion and justice, and as is so well becoming a Catholic prince." The Pope then goes on to say : " These venerable brethren, united by unshaken affection and respect to us and to this Church of Peter, mother and mistress of all Churches, not frightened by any danger or trial, and putting all human considerations aside, utterly unconcerned as to unjust decrees promulgated by civil authority against the Church, glory highly in intrepidly de fending and sustaining, either by word of mouth or by writings, the truth and catholic unity, our rights and powers, the authority, the supreme liberty of the Church and of this apostolic see. In letters re cently written either to us or to the faithful com mitted to their care, they openly and publicly glory in rejecting and condemning the things which are condemned by us, and are not weary in opposing themselves with sacerdotal strength to the criminal designs and efforts of men who are our enemies, in culcating healthy doctrine upon the faithful, and guiding them in the paths of safety. " These just praises are due, first of all, to the venerable bishops of Italy ; for though exposed to the gravest injuries and persecution, and harassed in every manner, always fulfilling their ministry, they have never ceased to raise with special .unanimity the episcopal voice, to strongly protest against all the condemnable and most unjust laws promulgated by the sub-Alpine Government towards the Church, its sacred institutions, its ministers, its rights, and against the almost innumerable, and in every respect sacrilegious, acts of audacity com mitted by the same Government. The same bishops of Italy, with truly marvellous energy and constancy, valiantly combating for Jesus Christ and his church, in their solicitude for the safety of their flock, fear not to suffer even exile, prison, and all other tribulations, following in this the illustrious footsteps of the apostles, who went joyously away from the presence of the consul because they had been made worthy to suffer outrages for the name of Jesus. " Thus, while sympathising with all our heart in the grave sorrows of those venerable brethren, and while considering their sufferings as our sufferings, and mixing our tears with theirs, we render very humble thanks to the beloved Father of Mercies and God of all consolation, because we see the Catholic bishops, in virtue of a special help of grace, who are so affectionate to us and this Holy See, showing themselves strong for the spirit of the faith, and fighting with manliness for the defences of the Holy Church. " In the meantime you, venerable brethren, in such calamitous times, in times of such great peril for souls, continue according to your excellent piety incessantly to offer with us fervent prayers to God, that by His Almighty Power He may aid and con sole this Apostolic See exposed to so many outrages, the Church torn by so many wounds, and Chris tianity and the civil commonwealth afflicted by so many calamities—in order that, mercifully shedding upon all the treasures of His divine grace and of His mercy. He may cause all peoples, all nations, to acknowledge, lo ve , a nd venerate Him and Ho whom He has sent, His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ ; and that, observing all His precepts with diligence, they may enter upon the road that leadeth to life." THE OXFORD ElGHT—still the Favourites at 5 to 4—have just now been " hit off " in the very nick of time by the magical lens of M. Naudin, who is really, in a manner, beginning to assume to himself the position of Photographer-in -chief to the Notabilities ! There they are, at any rate, that gallant young cluster of The Oxford Eight—with a Ninth, too, it should be said, in the person of the stripling coxswain !—forming a capital group of portraits, well grouped, vividly "realised," at once in their lissome forms and in their youthful features. It is a carte that to all their college mates will be a charming souvenir of the year—and (especially if they should prove victorious) the like also to hundreds of others besides. TIIE ALIIA3IBRA.—it will be remembered that some months ago Mr. Strange was convicted on the prose cution of Mr. Wigan, of the Olympic Theatre, for allowing stage plays to be performed at the Alhambra. Mr. Strange gave notice of appeal to the quarter sessions, and the same has been duly lodged, and is expected to be heard about the 21st inst. Eminent counsel have been retained. The real question at issue is whether the ballet now being per formed at the Alhambra is a stags play within the mean ing of the Act of Parliament. THE DISTRESS IN LANCASHIRE.--The Mansion house committee of the above fund met yesterday at the Mansion-house, and it was decided that instead of meeting every fortnight, as they had done throughout the winter months, the meetings should, until the committee cease to act, take place once every month, the next meeting to take place on the 3d May. THE WIFE MURDER AT BATH.—RESPITE OF FISHER.—The Secretary of State for the Home Department has recommended a respite from the capital sentence in the case of the unhappy man Fisher, who was convicted at Taunton, a few days ago, of the wilful murder of his wife at Bath. The ultimate meed of punishment has not yet been decided on. case of the proposed confederation of the British North American provinces. Local jealousies have stepped in, and because the maritime provinces are afraid that they will occupy a less important position than the larger colonies they object to the whole scheme. Nova Scotia and New Brunswick refuse to sanction the constitution prepared by the Delegates, and the Nova Scotian Government will, it is said, propose a federation of the maritime pro vinces only. But this will by no means reach the end proposed, as, however advantageous it may be to have a united government of the coast colonies, it will be far more so to have a central seat of autho rity. The great argument in favour of a grand confederation is the strength which it would give to every province by combining the force of the whole, if necessary, for the protection of any one. The central authority, on per ceiving indications of danger at any one parti cular point, could at once dispose of the whole force of the Confederation either to protect it or to divert attack. But the loss of the Canadas would render the maritime federation comparatively worthless. Without them it would have little force and could profit them very little. ' The behaviour of these provinces is the more unreasonable, because it is fair to suppose that they selected their most eminent and capable men to represent their interests at the preliminary conference of the Delegates, so that it is by no means likely those gentlemen would have agreed to terms that were really prejudicial to their respective provinces. We should hope that a little calm consideration will enable the colonists to see their mistake, and induce them to reconsider their decision. It was almost impossible that a scheme of such mag nitude could be carried out without any delays or vexatious hindrances ; and probably even now the first rumour of war or of invasion would unite the colonists in common action. We would rather, however, that our fellow-subjects would be wise betimes, and not wait till the faggot is bioken up to learn how much stronger each stick was when united. (REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.) SPAIN. MADRID, APRIL 5, - - May; and on the 2d inst. the steamer Peninsula, The British war-shipa . Stromboli, Sharpshooter, Spider, Triton, and Dotterel were at Monte Video ; the:Egmont at Rio, and the Curlew at Bahia, bound for England. The French mail steamer Beam was lost 50 miles to the South of Bahia. The wreck was sold for about £l,OOO, including the cargo, which consisted chiefly of cotton and coffee. Nearly all her pas sengers came by the Perana. D. Thomas Vilalba was elected, on the 15th February, the new President of Monte Video ; and immediately after his- election he requested the commanders of the English, French, Spanish, and Italian squadrons to land troops for the protection of the town, whilst he treated for the surrender of Monte Video. The request was complied with, and about 1,200 men from the foreign squadron landed and occupied the principal points. Vilalba then sent Herera y Obes to the allied camp to treat on the conditions, and on the 20th a peace conven tion was signed by General Hores, Senor Taransos, and Herera y Obes, on behalf of the new President Vilalba. Business at Buenos Ayres was getting brisk. The Saladeros were all working. Cattle were cheap and the prospects favourable. The activity was causing an increased demand for money. Much attention was paid to cotton and tobacco planting in the province of Corrientes. Large quantities of the latter article were arriving in market. At Rio the coffee market was active. The sales in February reached 155,000 bags. During the first eight days of March the sales were 55,000 bags; good qualities, at former prices. Stock, 90,000 bags. The supplies averaged 5,800 bags daily. FRANCE. PARIS, APRIL 5 In yesterday's sitting of the Corps Legislatif, the discussion on the Address was resumed. Speeches were made by MM. Chagot, Dalloz, Segris, Magnin, Gouin, and Picard, principally on the financial question. Paragraphs 5,6, and 7 of the address were adopted. BOURSE, April 4.—The market is very quiet, without any great change in quotations. Threes, for the Account, are now at 67f. The. Italian Loan 65f. 75c. Mobilier have been done at 812 f. 50c. Railway Shares are still more animated, but almost all of them have reached higher quotations. The market closed firm. The following are the last quotations :- 41 per Cents 96 50 Do. end month — 3 per Cents. 67 55 Do. end month 67 80 Credit Mobilier Do. end month Bank Shares 3525 Credit Foncier 1292 50 Roman 74 Italian Loan 65 Do. end month 65 85 Ditto Threes — New Mexican — Russian — Austrian Spanish Threes Home Debt — Deferred ItALLWAYS. Cash. Acct. Orleans Northern lo7u ... 1072 50 Lyons and Mediterranean 985 ... 986 25 Southern 595 ... 597 50 Western 552 50 ... 555 Eastern Sardinian 305 ... 305 -- Austrian Lombard 550 ... 552 -50 North of Spain 3OO ... 297 50 Saragossa BB5 380 , ••• Ditto to Barcelona 155 ••• MARKETS 7 -This Day. MARK-LANE. Although the fresh arrivals of English wheat to this morning's market were very moderate, the supply on the stands, including that left over at the close of business on Monday, was moderate. Selected parcels were taken off at prices somewhat below those current on Monday, other wise the trade was dull, and sales could only be effected at a reduction in the quotations of is. per quarter. The supply of foreign wheat on offer was very moderate. The trade, however, was very inactive for all descriptions, and, in some instances, prices had a drooping tendency. Floating cargoes of wheat and spring corn were in slow request, yet very little change took place in their value as compared with Monday. • The supply of barley on sale was moderato. For good and fine malting produce, the trade was firm, at full cur rencies ; but for inferior qualities the demand was in a sluggish state, at late rates. Malt sold slowly, at late prices. With oats the market was but moderately supplied. Most qualities were firmlh price, and were in fair average request. Beans and peas moved off steadily, at fully previous quotations. The flour trade was steady, at Monday's currencies. ARRIVALS THIS WEEK. Wheat. Barley. Malt. Oats. Flour. English and Scotch 2,270 1,590 2,520 540 1,680 Irish — Foreign 5,210 380 aks. brim. COMPARATIVE QUANTITIES AND PRICES OP GRAIN for the Week ending April 1, 1865 :—Wheat, qrs., 73,924; average 38s 11d—barley, 37,426 ; 28s 11d—oats, 6,213 ; 215 2d. Corresponding week in 1864 :—Wheat, 64,774 ; 398 11d— barley, 35,127; 30s 10d—oats, 10,204; 19s. Od. LATEST INTELLIGENCE. The Minister of War introduced a bill in the Congress to-day, fixing the number of troops in the army at 100,000. THE AMERICAN MAIL. SOUTHAMPTON, APRIL 5. The North German Lloyd steamer Hansa, Cap tain von Santer, from New York, on the 25th ult. arrived off the Needles at 6.10 a.m. THE BRAZILIAN AVD RIVER PLATE MAILS. SOUTHAMPTON, APRIL 5. The Royal Mail steamer Parana arrived here this morning. She brings 151 passengers, specie to the amount of £16,888, and 1,160 packages of cargo,including 20 serous, amethysts, and 1,650 lbs. of tobacco. Amongst the passengers were Lord Elliott, Sir Robert Wilmot, and Major Smith. The Parana experienced strong head winds and a heavy sea from Cape St. Vincent to Lisbon ; while crossing the bay a N.E. gale and a head sea, but the weather was fine when she came up the Channel. On the 15th ult. she exchanged signals with the French mail steamer ; on the 22d she spoke the Oneida ; on the 23d the English barque Queen of BOROUGH HOP. Hops, both English and foreign, continuo to rule stationary in value. The trade, however, is by no means active, the demand being chiefly confined to good and fine samples, at Monday's currency. WHITECHAPEL. The supply of meat is moderate. The trade is slow, as follows : Beef, from 2s 10d to 4s 6d ; mutton, 3s 6d to 4s 8d ; veal, 3s 103 to 4s 8d; and pork, 3s 4d to 43 8d per 81bs, by the carcase. MYSTERIOUS DEATH OF AN ENGLISH GENTLEMAN AT ANTWERP.—A mysterious affair is now engross ing the attention of the population of Antwerp. On the 16th ult. a man of middle ago, named Risk Allah Bey, colonel in the Turkish army, accompanied by a young man about twenty, whose name was Readly, said to be his nephew, alighted at his hotel in that city. Risk paid all the hotel expenses, and was frequently accompanied in his walks by the young man. On Thursday morning the latter was found dead in his bed, with two holes behind the ears made by small shot. A gun was on the floor in front of the bed, and on the table was a note to the follow ing effect :—" I have killdd myself voluntarily." The young man lay in bed covered over with the clothes as though asleep. After the bed had been photographed, the body was removed to the hospital for a post-mortem exa mination. Meanwhile Risk Allah Bey has been arrested. —Galignani. A FEMALE OVERSEER.—Among the overseers appointed for the Macclesfield union for the ensuing year is Mrs. Margaret Lucas, who has been unanimously chosen to represent the township of Meson.—Manchester Courier. Opening of the Main Drainage. presented, among others, by Mr. Tite, Member for Bath and architect of the Royal Exchange. Lite rature was represented by men like Lord Houghton and Robert Bell. Journalism—the Fourth Estate of the Realm, according to the famous dictum of Burke—was well represented in its turn by men such as George Sala - and the Reporter (par excel lence) of the Times—whose, as usual, graphic account of the proceedings we shall here, with all due acknowledgment, append to these remarks of our own from the columns of our leading contem porary. It is especially noticeable, by the way, be fore closing these remarks of ours, however, upon the proceedings of yesterday, that whereas there were only two toasts proposed, before the termination of the midday banquet or luncheon—the toast of " Her Majesty's Health," proposed by Mr. Thwaites, as occupant of the chair (between the two young Princes) a post of honour, his by right officially as Chairman of -the Board of Works—and the toast of Success to the Works which were that day in. augurated, a toast given by H.R.H. the Prince o: Wales—the latter was really and truly one of the most comprehensive toasts ever proposed in any assemblage, being, in point of fact, the Health of Three Millions of People ! The Health of this great Province of Houses—the Health of all of us _ _ Londoners—of this area of more than one hundred and seventeen square miles ! It was a toast, more over, very gracefully, as well as graciously proposed by the young Prince, who acquitted himself through out, to every one's satisfaction. (From the Times.) Yesterday his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales celebrated the completion of another instalment of the Main Drainage by formally starting the huge engines which lift the waters of the Southern Out fall Sewer. The ceremony, as may be imagined, was merely formal, though not without its interest, or even as a mere spectacle without its peculiar at tractions. The Main Drainage as a system of sani tary reform has now been in work throughout the greater part of its length for nearly a year. The mere unit which was added to its operation yester day was but a few million gallons of dirty water given to a bulk some ten times greater than the Serpentine which is now daily deodorized and swept far away. The whole plan can never be finished till the Low Level Sewer which is to traverse the Thames Embankment is constructed, and, as this result may be delayed for one or two years more, it was not inappropriate to celebrate yesterday such a step of progress in the works as now relieves Lon don of some 50,000,000 gallons of its daily stream of sewage. The event was really one of such muni cipal importance as the dwellers in London arc rarely called upon-to attend, for what between the fear of centralization and the general incapacity of broken up and rival systems of self-government, there is no city in the empire which has been so much mismanaged as this metropolis. To yes terday's inauguration, therefore, every one of note in London was invited, and—what is more— almost all who were invited came. The leading members of the Lords and Commons, the Lord Mayor, Sheriffs, and Under-Sheriffs, withsuch mem bers of the corporation as are chairmen of the com mittees of the Court of Aldermen and Common Council, and a small but distinguished list of unoffi cial gentlemen, included all who had the honour of receiving invitations. The general mass of the visi tors left Charing-cross in two special trains, and travelled direct to Crossness-point, at Plumstead. His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales embarked from Westminster Palace onboard the Oread. With the Prince were H.R.H. Prince Alfred, H.R.H. the Duke of Cambridge, Major Grey, Major Tees dale, Lord Alfred Paget, Sir George Grey, and the Marquis of Hartington. On board the boat also were Mr. Thwaites, chairman of the Metropolitan Board of Works, Mr. E. Collinson, Mr. R. Free man, Mr. W. H. Lammin, Mr. W. Newton, Mr. James Pew, Mr. John Savage, Mr. H. L. Taylor, Mr. Silas Taylor, Mr. J. W. Bazelgette (engineer in chief), and Mr. John Pollard, clerk of the Board. The Oread at once stood down the river, but, in stead of proceeding to Crossness-point, on the Ken tish side, where all the visitors were assembled, kept over to the Barking shore, that the royal party might be enabledto see some portion of the still more stupendous works which have been erected on that side of the Thames. At this point one of the main culverts to the reservoir had been left free of sewage for that day only, and this was kept open for the inspection of the distinguished party. Apparently, however, its late tenant had not been out of posses sion for a sufficient time to tempt a long examination, for a very few minutes sufficed to bring the party back with their handkerchiefs to their noses. For the same reason only a hurried glance was given to one of the reservoirs w hi c h h ad b een kept empty, and which was, if p oss ibl e, even less tempting both to sight and smell than one of the great main out falls. After a short stay at Barking, therefore, the party re-embarked and crossed to the Erith marshes, where the formal ceremonial of the day was to be gone through, and where all the invited guests were waiting, though not impatiently, for there was quite enough to see, f or th e a d ven t o f his Royal Highness. Here among others were the Archbishop of Canter bury, the Archbishop of York, the Duke of Suther land, the Marquis of Townshend, the Marquis of Caithness, Earl Stanhope, the Earl of 'Lucan, No public celebration could have gone off from first to last more delightfully than did the inaugu ration yesterday of the Main Drainage Works at Crossness by his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales. The day itself was radiantly beautiful. The weather coulil scarcely have been more propitious than it was, from the commencement to the very , conclusion of the proceedings. In all the arrange ments, too, there was nowhere noticeable a hitch of any kind. The noble building in which the deed to be done was accomplished, the feat, namely, of setting the whole of the gigantic machinery for the first time in motion, was of itself worth going all that distance from town to see. It will always be a show place--that lofty and spacious, and really it should be said, also, if only for the beauty of the machinery and the splendour of the decorations, that superb edifice. The Company, however, who were then assembled together to witness the set ting in motion--by the hand of his Royal Highness himself—of the vast and symmetrical machinery that will henceforth accomplish, day and night, so much of the augean labours of cleansing the metropolis—cleansing it at once of both sewage and rainfall so very completely and thoroughly— the company yesterday assembled together at Cross ness for the purpose of witnessing the event of this great inauguration, comprised among it the pick and choice and flower of the various estates of the realm. There were there, for example, collected together, representatives, and very conspicuous representatives, indeed, of the Crown— of the Lords both Spiritual and Temporal—and of the Commons in Parliament assembled. As represen tatives of the Sovereign, for instance, there were three Princes of the blood royal! The heir-apparent to the Crown himself, the actual inaugurator of the great works yesterday set-a-going—and, accom panying his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, there was her Majesty's second son H.R.H. Prince Alfred, together with whom was H.R.H. the Duke of Cam bridge, the Commander-in-Chief. There, again, as representatives of the Lords Spiritual were both the archbishops—the Archbishop of Canterbury who said the grace before the Banquet, and the Arch bishop of York, who in a manner, we may say, chaunted the grace afterwards. And with the two archbishops, there were two also of the most eminent occupants of the epis copal bench, the Bishop of Oxford, and the Bishop of London. The Lord Chancellor was to have been there, and the Prime Minister himself—neither of whom, however, " showed' upon the occasion. There, however, was the Chief Commissioner of Public Works, the Right Hon. IV. Cowper, side by side with his Conservative pre decessor in the same office, the Lord John Manners ! As representing the creme de la creme of the aris tocracy, there very noticeably among his peers was his Grace the Duke of Sutherland. As for the House of Commons it was represented by shoals from both sides—leading members from the Government side of the House and from the side of the Opposi tion. Professor Owen and Sir Roderick Murchison were there, distinguishable at a glance, among our leading men of science. Architecture was well re Viscount Sydney, Viscount Eversley, the Bishop of London, the Bishop of Oxford, Lord Harris, Lord Dufferin, Lord Cranworth, Lord Houghton, the Hon. W. F. Cowper, Sir John S. Pakington, Lord John Manners, Mr. T. E. Headlam, Mr. J. R. Mowbray, Mr. W. Beresford, Lord E. Bruce, Hon. Colonel Luke White, Hon. R. H. Dutton, Hon. T. P. Locke King, Sir Colman O'Loghlen, Sir J. D. Hay, Sir G. Bowyer, Sir P. de Malpas Grey-Eger ton, Sir William Russell, C. 8., Colonel C. N. Sturt, Major Gavin, Capt. Seymour, Mr. Dawson Darner, Mr. A. S. Ayrton, Mr. R. M. Bellew, Mr. R. W. Crawford, Mr. F. Doulton, Alderman Rose, Alderman Salomons, Mr. W. Tite, the Lord Mayor of London, Mr. T. Chambers, Q.C. (the Common-Sergeant), Alderman and Sheriff Besley, Alderman and Sheriff Dakin, the Dean of St. Paul's, Sir G. R. Clerk (President of the Zoological Society), Mr. A. T. B. Beresford Hope, Sir R. I. Murchison, Mr. Edwin Chadwick, C. 8., Mr. Wyatt Truscott, Mr. Charles Lucas, Mr. Thomas Lucas, Sir Went worth Dilke, Mr. John Walter, Earl Mount Charles, Mr. W. H. Gregory, Mr. Charles Forster, Mr. James Clay, Mr. J. Caird, Mr. E. H. J. Craufurd, Mr. A. D. R. W. B. Cochrane, Mr. John Brady, Sir Wm. Dunbar, Sir H. H. Bruce, Sir James Duke, Hon. A. F. Kinnaird, Lord H. G. Lennox, Lord G. G. Lennox, Lord Burghley, Lord C. Hamil ton, Lord Lyveden, the Marquis of Clanricarde, Mr. Bristow, Mr. W. Hawes, Mr. R. Baggallay, Mr. Under-Sheriff De Jersey, Mr. Under-Sheriff David son, Professor Donaldson (President of the Royal Institute of British Architects), Mr. E. W. Wool rych, Mr. R. Bell, Professor Owen, F.R.S., the Rev. R. W. Jell, D.D., Mr. Henry Pownall, Mr. J. Wild, Mr. J. A. Turner, Mr. W. Scholefield, Alder man Mechi, Mr. Heywood (engineer to the City Commission of Sewers), Mr. V. C. Scully, Mr. Frederick North, Mr. Richard Malins, Mr. James M'Cann, Mr. John Locke, and Mr. S. Gurney. It is almost needless to say how cordially the Prince was greeted on his landing at the little pier in front of the engine -house on the point, or that the loudest part of the welcome was given by the work men who thronged a steep bank in the midst of the assemblage, as in the gallery of a theatre. From the landing-place the Royal party were at once con ducted by Mr. Thwaites and Mr. Bazalgette to the last of the reservoirs which still remained unfilled with sewage, and which, after to-day, can never be seen again, at least in the state in which it was shown on this occasion. After the accounts of these great works, which have already appeared in our columns, little more than a mere state ment of the dimensions of those shown yesterday is needed. The total area of the southern outfall reser voir, which was the great object of interest in these inaugural proceedings, is little more than a third of the size of that which faces it on the Essex shore. Even this comparatively small space is, however, still further subdivided into four compartments. Only one of these was opened yesterday, the others having been for some months back filled with sew age. The appearance of this one,however, was suf ficiently striking. Lit from end to end with undu lating lines of coloured lamps, which just sufficed to show, but not to bring too strongly out, the peculiar dim crypt-like aspect which makes these great sub terranean storehouses so peculiar, the damp, the silence, the intensity of the darkness when not broken by the little twinkling points of fire, all made the scene one of the most, curious that can well be imagined. The section of the Southern reservoir was yesterday for the great majority of visitors both a new and brilliant sight. There was something so perfectly novel in going down a funnel staircase to an underground Valhalla, where the streets of columns, lights, and arches, spread around in all directions, that everything seemed by comparison charming, because in such a place it was so utterly unexpected. The very knowledge that it then looked so clean and was hereafter meant to be so foul seemed to add to the enjoyment of the guests, who could not be too often assured only a lifting sluice divided them from some five acres of the filthiest mess in Europe. All the Royal party seemed to be as much astonished as pleased with the aspect of this reservoir, which certainly must have contrasted in the strongest manner with the lakes of sewage which they had glanced at on the opposite side of the river. A long survey was made of every part, and, apart from the admiration which was expressed as to its peculiarly ornamental effect when lighted up, it is only fair to say that the style and finish of every portion of the Masonry and brickwork formed a theme of almost continuous praise among' the many engineers and contractors pre sent. From the reservoir the Prince, conducted as before, and followed by all the invited guests, proceeded to one of the workshops, where diagrams, illustrating the whole of Mr. Bazalgette's system of main drainage, were hung upon the wall. The general principles and engineering details of these Mr. Bazalgette, in a short, but effective address, explained to the Prince, and closed his few earnest remarks with an assurance that when his Royal Highness started the engines at the southern outfall, he would coMplete almost the last step ne cessary to remove from London and its inhabitants the evils which their hitherto comparatively insuffi cient system of drainage had entailed upon them— not alone in the destruction of valuable property, but too often also in the spread of fatal disease. To this address all the royal party listened with marked attention, and Mr.. Thwaites, as chairman of the Metropolitan Board of Works, having thanked his Royal Highness for his condescension in assisting at the completion of the great work, the party at once proceeded to the pumping engines,which thenceforth will relieve the southern side of London from all the natural defects which have hitherto prevented its efficient drainage. Contrary to the general rule, which makes an engine -house a disfigurement to the surrounding country, that at Crossness Point is a perfect shrine of machinery. The exterior is suffi ciently relieved in colour and heightened by bold architectural features to make it anywhere conspi cuously handsome as a mere building. Of the deco rations of the interior, however, it is difficult to speak too highly, either for their quiet good taste, solidity, or general harmony of both form and colour. The engines stand at each side of the building ; the cylinders are cased with oak ; the pump rods pass through the stone floor, so that the details of boilers, &c., are entirely concealed, and the visitor beholds nothing but the ponderous regularity of the huge beams in their measured rise and fall. In the centre of the engine-house is a beautiful octagonal wrought-iron framework, supported by columns with oramented capitals. In some parts these are temporarily decorated in colour; in others they are formed of ornamental bronze castings, which have a remarkably fine effect. Just before the arrival of his Royal Highness the engines were started to in sure that all was in perfect working order. The form of starting the two pairs of engines was gone _ _ through by his Royal Highness, and the first grind ing sound which arose as the great machines lifted the sewage was welcomed with loud cheers. The d6eilner which followed upon this brief cere monial was served in one of the large buildings to be hereafter used as workshops by the staff entrusted with the proper maintenance of all the Main Drain age apparatus. The good taste with which the build ing was extemporised into a banqueting-hall de serves every praise. The Royal party and those who immediately accompanied them, including Mr. Thwaites and Mr. Bazalgette, sat at a raised dais the other guests, without distinction as to rank, were seated at four very long tables which traversed what may be called the body of the hall. The lunch was most tastefully arranged and excellently served, and the musical as well as the vocal per- formances of the band of the Royal Marines contri buted to render the repast a little longer, but not a whit the less pleasant. At its conclusion Mr. Thwaites, who occupied the chair, simply gave the toast of " The Queen," which, of course, was responded to enthusiastically. The Prince of WALES then rose and said : "This is no occasion for toasts ; still there is one which cannot now be overlooked—that of success to this great, this really national undertaking, the comple tion of which we may be said to celebrate to-day. I may perhaps be allowed, in the name of those here, to congratulate Mr. Thwaites and his most skilful engineer, Mr. Bazalgette, on the success which has accompanied the progress of their great endeavours—endeavours which will be of material use to the city of London, not so much now as in later years, when the Thames will be purified from the sewage which has hitherto flowed into it." This toast of " Success to the Main Drainage" was then drunk amid continued applause and cheers for Mr. Bazalgette. Almost immediately afterwards the royal party took their leave and returned to London by steamer. After Mr. Thwaites had vacated the chair Mr. Tite, M.P., proposed " The health of the Lord Mayor," to which his lordship briefly responded. The healths of Mr. Tite, Mr. Thwaites, and Mr. Bazalgette were then given and drunk with the usual honours, and at 4 o'clock the whole of the large party were on their way back to London, after one of the most interesting days even of the many which the inspection of the Main Drainage works have yet afforded. The police and railway arrangements were fault less. circular 61134 HER MAJESTY. WINDSOR CASTLE, April 4. The Queen drove in the grounds yesterday after noon, and went out walking this morning, accom panied by their Royal Highnesses Princess Louise and Prince Leopold. Her Royal Highness Princess Helena went to London last evening, and was present at the Phil harmonic Concert in Hanover-square, attended by Lady Caroline Barrington and Lieutenant-Colonel Du Plat. _ The Prince and Princess of Wales. The Prince of Wales, accompanied by his Royal Highness Prince Alfred, with Lieutenant-General Knollys, Major Grey, Mr. Fisher, Major Co sell, Lieutenant Haig, and Mr. Bernhardt in attendance, embarked on board a steamboat at the landing stairs of the New Palace at Westminster at 11 o'clock yesterday forenoon, and went down the river to Crossness, where the Prince of Wales inau gurated the great works constructed at that point for the main drainage of the southern districts of the metropolis. The Princess of Wales took a carriage drive, at tended by the Countess de Grey. The Prince and Princess of Wales, accompanied by Prince Alfred, went to the Princess's Theatre in the evening. The Count and Countess de Paris, the Count d'Eu, and the Princess Imperial of Brazil and suite, arrived at the Hen and Chickens Hotel, Birmingham, on Monday at noon. They devoted the remainder of that day and yesterday to visits to some of the principal manufactories. Last evening they were to depart for Manchester. The Marquis and Marchioness of Normanby, Earl Mulgrave, and the Ladies PhippS have arrived at Thomas's Hotel, Berkeley-square, from Mulgrave Castle, Whitby. Polytechnic Institution. Through the instrumentality of Professor Pepper an exhibition of models and drawings of inventions for the protection of life in railway travelling has just been added to the many attractions of the Polytechnic. Mr. R. B. Greenwood's is a very in genious invention, and consists in the employment of a third pair of wheels in the centre of the carriage, the flanges running on the outside of the rails, whilst the leading and following wheels have their flanges on the inside, as usual. The advantages are, that it keeps the rail constantly in gauge, and that, in the • event of an impediment lifting the front wheel, the flange running outside of the centre wheel on the opposite side prevents the carriage from going off the line. The patent safety railway carriage of Mr. Dyer, of Regent-street, is designed to prevent lift ing or upsetting in cases of collision, and for con- trolling the oscillation of carriages while in motion; and these objects are effected by placing four' buffers, instead of two, at each end of the carriage. Messrs. E. Barber and Co. exhibit a very simple " Passenger's safety signal," which consists in an , ingenious contrivance for enabling passengers to pull a small ring-handle, which has the effect of simultaneously ringing a bell, causing a disc or signal to appear outside the carriage, and throwing open a panel which admits communication with the,: adjoining compartment. Amongst the other inven tors, Mr. W. West exhibits a patent compensating lever for distant signals, to be used instead of the ordinary pull-over lever. Mr. Edward Tyer has devoted his energy to the construction of a series of telegraphs for signalling trains between station and station, for regulating the traffic on busy portions of the line, and for the better protection of tunnels, junctions, level crossings, &c.; and M. Hipp, of Neufchatel (patented by Mr. John Imray, of Lon- _ don), of an ele c t r i c sa f e ty di s t ance s i gna l . Th ere are a number of other very ingenious models for a - variety of other purposes, all of which claim atten tion. Great preparations are being made by Pro fessor Pepper for the Easter holidays, on which occasion a new optical entertainment and other novelties will be produced. COSTUMES AT THE ROYAL DRAWING-ROOM.--A white moire train, trimmed round with one row of black velvet, six inches wide, edged with narrow black lace, had likewise a very stylish effect. White satin trains, and there is nothing to equal white satin at these courtly receptions, trimmed with swansdown, were general ; and one of the newest and most becoming headdresses we saw was a tiara made only of swansdown. The black velvet azd black moire trains, which were trimmed with a thick twisted column of black velvet and white' tulle were in good taste ; but the embroidered trains were decidedly the handsomest. A very rich train in this style was made of white moire, scolloped out round the edge and bound with mauve velvet ; in each scollop a graceful bouquet of mauve flowers was embroidered. This exquisite train was worn over a white tulle dress with a mauve silk tablier, which tablier was capitonne. We do not think there is an equivalent in English for capitonne; but it means that the material is fastened down so as to form diamonds, in the same way that buttons and rosettes aro used occasionally on mattresses and sofas. In this case the mauve silk front breadth was capitonne with tiny white frosted flowers. The head-dress was a tiara of mauve velvet, with diamond flowers on it. Altogether it was one of the handsomest toilettes present. We can not say that the same charge of immodestly-low clressea could be brought forward this season with the same truth as last year, although it appears still the fashion to wear the dress almost as much off the shoulders as it is possible. It is now the back of the bodice which is cut inordinately low ; all the backs were sloped to a point in the centre of the top, and from the point at the top to that of the waist many of the bodices did not measure six inches ! As regards colour, the bright slightly reddish mauve put everything else into the shade ; it is an exqui site hue and very telling in a crowd. The pale silver grey which formerly was regarded as the perfection of colour, looks sickly and lustreless by the side of this warm, fashion able mauve.—The Queen. ENGLISH MOODINESS.—Nothing so plainly shows how an Englishman conforms to his climate as his misery— his actual misery—in a land of bright weather. His ennui is suicidal. Of all the things he has learned, how "to do nothing" has never been acquired by him, and he finds himself suddenly in a situation where exertion is impossible. Now, the Spaniard or the Italian can live as devoid of all occupation as the lizard on the wall yonder. Like him, let there be only sunshine ; they ask no more. " Bull," how ever, wants to be up and stirring. He wants to ride, or walk, or row—to do something, anything rather than sit down in unemployed monotony. He has never risen so high or sunk so low—which is it ?—as to believe mere existence enjoyment ; and there is an honest shame associated with his notion of idleness 'that spoils him utterly for the Far niente. Take him away from volcanic rocks and arid moun tains, with tried-up torrents and a basking sunshine ; carry him back to an Indian-ink atmosphere, muddy roads, and $ swooping shower, and you will see the man will recover J himself at once. He'll put on his second epidermis, a mack intosh, and be off to his occupation, whatever it be, without wasting a thought on the weather. The moody temper!: _ . ment is in reality only the working temperament.---Black- wood's Magazine for April. THE FIRST BUILDING ON THE THAMES EMBANK MENT.--Londoners and the public generally will be gratified to learn that, to however limited an extent, the Thames Embankment is already being made available for useful and ornamental purposes, for beyond the south-west corner of the Inner Temple gardens Mr. Broome is erecting a conservatory, now in a forward state of completion. These gardens will speedily possess a collection of beautiful green' house flowers on the ground over which two months ago flowed the polluted stream of the river. To Mr. Broome.' therefore, will belong the great praise and credit of being the first to adorn our great Rational work, the Thames Embankment.—City Press. T I Per I S an Bpi Sw( Tur Ven Frei Itsiii Con E Di