The Sun. — London, England, 1861-10-23 00:00:00

RO YAL ENGLISH OPERA, COVENT GARDEN. Under the management of Miss Louisa Pyne and Mr. Wm. Harrison, Sole Lessees, Will OPEN for the Sixth Operatic Season on•TnuasnAr, Oct. 24, 1861, when will be produced (fArst time) an entirely New Grand Opera, in Four Acts, by Howard Glover, to be entitled RUT BLAS. The Box-office open from Ten to Five daily. No charge for booking, or fees to Box-keepers. Stage-Manager, Mr. Leigh Murray. Actin;-Manager, Mr. Edward Murray. ROYAL LYCEUM THEATRE. Manager—Mr. Edmund Falconer. THIS EVENING, MY AUNT'S HUSBAND. Alter which, at Eight o'clock, the new and success tnl 0 WOMAN; or, Love against the World. Gnaracters by Messrs. Walter Lacy, Addison, Herman Veen, Bruton, Mrs. Bowers, Miss mum And Miss Lydia Thomp son. To conclude with AN UNPROTECTED FEMALE, in which Miss Lydia Thompson will dance a New Volunteer Quick Step. Prices as usual. Doors open at half-past 8, to commence at 7 Boa-office open daily from 11 till 5. 1 1 1 - (EA TRE. R Y AL, HAYMARKET. Lessee, Mr. J. B. Buckstene. TAM FIVE'ITTNO, the performances will commence with THE WOLF AND THE LAMB. After which, a new Comedy, entitled THE SOFT SEX Mr. C. Mathews, Mr. Buckstone, Mr. Compton, Mr. E.Villiers Mrs. Charles Mathews, Mrs. Wilkins, eze• With PAUL PRY MARRIED AND SETTLED. Paul Pry (in a new position), Mr. C. Mathews. To conclude with SHOCKING EVENTS. Commence a 7 . ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE.---. Lessee and Manage?. Mr. A. Harris. THIS EVENING, THE RENDEZVOUS. After which, at Eight o'clock, Shakespeare's tragedy of OTHELLO, with new scenery, dresses, and appointments. Othello, Mr. Fechter. NEW THEATRE-RO YAL, ------ADELPIII. Sole Proprietor and Manager, Mr. B. Webster. Open for the Winter Season. THIS EVENING, MUSIC RATH CHARMS. Messrs. D. Fisher, Romer, Warde, Misses K. Kelly and Laidlaw. Alter which (258th time), THE COLLEEN BAWN. Mr, I). Boucicanit, D;Fisher,•Billington, S. Emery, Stephenson C. J. Smith, Romer. Howard, Ward; Mrs. Bouelcault, Miss Woolgar, Mrs. Billington, and Mrs. H. Lewis. Tooonclude with LOVE AND HUNGER. Messrs. Fisher, Emery, C. J. Smith, Mrs. H. Marston, and Miss K. Kelly. Doors onen at half-past 6—Commence at 7. • CANTERBURY HALL CONCERTS, AND FINE ARTS GALLERY. Mr. SAM COWELL every evening at "line and a quarter to Eleven. Also, Grand Selections from TROVATORE, TRAVIATA,NORMA, MARTHA, and STRADELLA. By Miss Russell, Miss Ernst, Mr. Herbert, Signor Tivoli, Mr. Morley, and a powerful Chorus. The return of Mr. LEVY, who will perform several cele brated Airs on the Cornet-a-piston. The Comic department comprises Messrs. Harvey and French. " The Nerves "—Mr. Marshall—Mr. Wood and his talented Son—and Miss Harriet Coveney. Musical Director, Mr. Jonghmans. Admission —Hall, 6d. ; Stalls and Balcony, Is. T .H EOX F 0 6, OXFORD-STREET. EVERY EVENING. R D , A Grand Selection from Anber's New Comic' Opera, " LA CIRCASSIENNE," by Miss Ernst, Messrs. Greene, H. Herbert, and the Company. Also from' Verdi's new Grand opera, "Simon Boocanegra," by Miss Russell, Messrs. Morley, Greene, Greville, and the Company. Balfe's new ballad, "The Maid and her Moorish Knight," by Madame Eoderssohn. Mr. Levy on the Cornet-a-piston, and varied Comic Entertainments by Miss Harriet Coveney, Mr. and Master Wood, Messrs. Harvey and French (The Nerves), Mr. E. Morahan. and Mr. W. Randall. Hall, 6d. ; Balcony and Stalls, is ; Private Boxes, 10s. 6d.—Musical Director, Mr. F. , Jonghmans. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. THIS DAY.—Morning, 4h. 10m.—Afternoon; 4h. 30m. To-moßnow.-Morning, 4b. 46m.—Afternoon, sh. :Om. THE WEATHER.—SUN OFFICE, OCTOBER 23, 1861. THERMOMETER, IN THE SHADE. 59—highest since noon yesterday. 47—lowest this morning and during the night. 57—this day at noon. BAaomErEn-30.10 ; rising. WlND—South-Westerly—light ; with fine weather. 4, 1 ? 'l4:-:.: , 1, cce - ' • --'-- 4.4 ', 4`,.. , ' W . 6‘2_oNAti ~ , ~,,,, 59 ' l't• - , ' '`e g ' Y ' ' - •O't;')F-'''4'4 1 ,1,,,,, , - f.i ...,, . .ON' . ' - 4 ,--___.,VA- • - AA. P`_ THE SUN. LONDON, WEDNESDAY, OCT. 23, 1861. No one wishes to wrong the schoolmaster. We are persuaded that the concoeters of the new educa tional minute, whoever they were, had no such wish, and if the minute would work unfairly towards them, its details would be willingly subjected to revision. The truth, however, is, first, that it is not easy to wrong the schoolmasters, as a class ; and, secondly, that the objects of the new minute must be secured, if the public money is to be paid for education—those objects are stated in the preamble as being to render the distribution of the parlia mentary grant " more simple, more general, and more effective for its purpose." The reason why we have always thought the schoolmasters could not be much hurt is this—that the demand for good schoolmasters is in excess of the supply. At a meeting of the Worcester Diocesan Training College on Monday, the Bishop of WORCESTER sensibly observed, that as to the prospects of schoolmasters, he looked upon the prin ciple of education as so firmly established in this country that schoolmasters would always find oceu pagan ; and, as the labourer was always worthy of his hire, the more qualified thty were for their office the higher would be their position, both pecuniarily and naorally." Let any one look around and he sees that those who are interested in schools anywhere will vot be content with an inferior man. Even if the pl'ace be two small for competing schools, there are schools in adjoining villages, the success of the teachers is well known—for nothing is sooner bruited abroad in a neighbourhood than the success of a master in turning out sharp, well taught boys—and the consequence is, that managers will :pay a little more rather than put up with an inefficient man. The conviction is fast growing, even amongst farmers and their landlords ; that a well- taught population is the cheapest for them — worth the cost of education—and interest and duty are thus combining to render the teacher a man in request. So far, therefore, as the present syE tern :has produced teachers worth having, they can make fair terms with managers —and so far as they are bralow par, the State taxes ought not to be spent upon them. If it be said that the State has really forced an extra supply in the market, which, how ever, we do not believe, we should only reply, that the sooner the State put an end to the forcing pro cess the better. The work has, however, arrived at the adage in which it eught to be more and more self-supporting. Bost as to the grand point of all—the kind and amo , ant of instruction which alone the State ought to give, by paying for when it is given —there will, we tr ust, be little difference of opinion when the point Conies for discussion before Parliament. As Lord STANLEY showed at Leeds in the speech we repor4Led yesterday, the question is in a great mea sure :settled by th e a ge at which the children leave school. It is the result of trial th a t, on th e ave rage, they quit school at ten. After that time, their parents require thei r earnings for the support of the family. Nothing can compete with the necessity, for the poor, of earning a livelihood ; and by the time they attain that age, it has become evident, that their earningsare an i n _ dispensable part of the family subsistence. The question therefore is, what can be taught them by that time. The obvious answer to that question is the condemnation of the too ambitious and showy efforts which have probably been stimulated by the present system. The three elements essential to advance afterwards, if the pupil has a turn for it, might in most cases have been mastered fairly by the children, had attention been chiefly concentrated upon them. But the precious time has been frittered away in attempts to communicate more than pupils could learn or master's teach in the time. We do not, of course, underrate the desirableness of learning something more than reading, writing, and arithmetic. We only maintain that these are essential now for the poorest; and just, therefore, what the nation, standing in loco parentis, ought to Igive to all its child ren . N o a d vance can b e ma d e without them. If well acquired, almost any advance may be made upon them. Evening schools and classes, mechanics' institutes, Sunday school s and other means of instruction, can always easily take in hand the lad who can read and write NN ell. Let him therefore be fur nished by his country, if parents cannot do it, with these indispensable tools; let these be easy to his hand, and then the path to indefinite intellectual improvement is fairly opened to him. He may attain all within the limits of his pecuniary means, his time and his talents. We gather from the speech of Lord STANLEY at Leeds, as well as those of Lord LYTTLETON, Sir JOHN PAKINGTON, the Bishop, and even Mr. ADDEALEY, at the Worcester Diocesan Training College Meeting, that the unreasonableness of the hubbub raised at first is beginning to be seen. Sir JOHN PAKINGTON was right in his remark, that one important question was " whether the pre sent system could go on much longer"—that good had, of course, been done by it, but so much below the maximum, that it was doubtful whether a thorough recast of it was not necessary to save the Government grants from being soon altogether refused. We would advise teachers above all things to avoid the foolish cry of " vested interests." It is easy to silence it by the facts of the case ; but one thing is certain—" vested inte rests" of one man always mean the " vested injuries" of another. When a cause can be defended on its merits, no one resorts to this shabby defence. Those who use it confess that they are not worth to others the money they receive from them. And if the schoolmasters persist in it, we shall certainly con clude that, whether we pay them the public money or not, they are not worth it. A batch of country justices, whose names are not given in the country paper we quote from, have, at the Ashbourm petty sessions, just been mak ing a truly worthy exhibition of themselves, and of the game laws—those laws which they always administer with such zest. CHARLES FINNY, CHARLES BARNES, HENRY BUXTON, JOHN Bux- TON, JOHN SMITH, WILLIAM MIERS, and THOMAS LANE (a lad apparently about ten years old), were charged with having committed a trespass in search of game upon land at Stanton in the occupation of JOSEPH THOMPSON, and over which Mr. DAVENPORT BROMLEY, of Wootton Hall, has the shooting. The trespass seems to have been one of that kind so natural to country gentle men themselves who follow the hounds, but for which no one dare summon them, of having gone on land not belonging to them in the eager ness of the chase ; an eagerness shared, as all of us can remember, by boys of ten years of-age, with gentlemen mounted on hunters. It appeared that MIERS, BARNES, LANE, and SMITH went, on the 30th of September, by invitation of the BLTXTONS, who are occupiers of land in Stanton parish, to have a course with a brace of greyhounds upon their farm. A hare was there found which ran into the adjoining field occupied by THOMPSON, and into which some of the parties went. Now it appears, first, that there is an act, section 35, 1, and 2, WILLIAM IV., cap. 32, which exempts persons hunting or coursing with hounds from the penalties of trespass, and that the hare being started on the BUXTON'S land, they had, therefore, a legal right to follow it. Secondly, that Mr. BROMLEY) who had the shooting on the land, wrote to the bench to withdraw the proceedings against MIRES and the boy LANE. These worthies, however, gave no heed to any appeal, not even to one from the solicitor for exemption of the boy LANE. One and all they were fined £2 eaeh, and in default of pay ment, they were to be COMMITTED FOE TWO MONTHS TO PRISON ! !! The account of the proceedings is but brief in the report of our country contemporary. As it stands, it seems as if the magistrates wilfully re fused to allow the exemption accorded by an express enactment ; an exemption on which pro bably all of them had relied times innumerable in the hunting-field. Unless facts were adduced not mentioned in the report, the conviction was clearly illegal ; the only presumption in their favour being that no mention is made of any notice of appeal. Respecting, however, the penalty in- Meted on the boy, there cannot be two opinions, I and we hope the Home Secretary will return the money. The idea of fining a child, who probably had not twopence in his pockets, two pounds, with the alternative of a prison for a school room, and felons for his class-mates, and all for the boyish sport of running with adults after greyhounds and a hare, may be law, but it certainly is the wildest extravagance of injustice. Were these petty sessions Solons fathers !' If not, we presume, according to WORDSWORTH, they had once been boys—but certainly, in their case, the " boy" was not " father to the man," for, had they retained a particle of their boyish mirth and innocence, and had they seen the little fellow going at the hedge into the sacred enclosure in full chase of the hare, they would have given him an encouraging hurrah! The game laws are detestable enough ; but when love of game impels the country squires to such abuses of law as this to protect it, they are doing their best to let the light of justice and reason into the whole subject. Many a head of game will doubtless die an illegal death, many a leveret perish before it has left its mother, and many a partridge's nest in the neighbourhood of Ashbourne feel the weight of an accidental foot, in wild revenge for imprisoning children for running after wild animals. Who can blame wanton de struction of game, when it is the punishment of penalties wantonly inflicted for its preservation. The peasant's justice, who destroys a nest of game eggs, is every whit as reasonable as that of the magistrate who would send boys to prison for the sake of his hares. Quarter after quarter we watch with peculiar interest for the return of Dr. LETHEBY, the medi cal officer of the City of London—his return, that is, giving us the guage of the sanitary condition of the metropolis. The last return—but just now published—is among the most suggestive yet issued by this indefatigable public servant. It is certainly in many respects about the most impres sive and instructive. And, while on the one hand it cannot but be regarded as full of sources of anxiety, it must be allowed on the other to be eminently replete with encouragement. That very extraordinary disproportions should be noticed in the returns we have really and truly no reason to be any way surprised at. And this alike in regard to seasons and to localities. The difference observ able in the results of the varying seasons fluctuates in proportion to the extent of their manifold changes. The difference traceable, upon a compa rison of divers localities, must, on the other hand, be necessarily something remarkable if only by reason of the disproportionate manner in which Ithe population is distributed a mongs t t h em. As any one may understand upon the i ns t an t, f or example, when it is remembered that wh ereas i n a ll London tere are 36 persons to every acre of ground, in the City there are 156, and in the Cripplegate That is to say, in the whole metropolis--under subdivision etr op o i js_2u9no f d . e r 40 to the acre—and in a single subdivision close upon 300 ! Let it be recollected also in regard to this—the various degrees of enter prise manifested by the local authorities in different parishes in the promotion of sanitary improvements. And from a consideration of these and other parti culars of a kindred character, it may be readily appreciated how the returns come to vary so very wonderfully. The way in which the general mortality is pro portioned amongst the different ages, still (as revealed to us in these impressive returns) startles us with one most painful reflection. Whereas between the ages of five and twenty only nine deaths occur out of every hundred ! Whereas between the ages of 20 and 40 there are only 10 out of every 100 deaths ; between the ages of 40 and 60 only " sixteen ;" and beyond the age of 60 " twenty"—as many as 45 deaths out of every 100 (very nearly half the entire sum !) are the deaths of little children under five years of age ! Priva tions of all descriptions, DAFFY'S Elixir, " over lying," and, alas ! also deliberate infanticide—each of these sources of infant mortality has very much, indeed, to do with this terrible aggregate. The in crease of infanticide during the last few years, especially in our metropolis and its immediate neighbourhood, has even drawn down upon it the vigilant attention of the Legislature. It is among the most frightful " signs of the times" latterly brought to light—and already within the last few sessions this source alone has presented an appal ling array of statistics. If we remember rightly, the return moved for in respect to the number of infanticides actually proved, though but very rarely, indeed, brought home to the guilty parties, was moved for by the hum. gentleman the member for Finsbury. And that return presented to view a spectacle of increasing crime in this way, urgently calling for the stringent interpo sition of the Imperial Legislature, to the end that an attempt at least should be made towards its diminution. While the mortality altogether shows a decrease as compared with previous years, a diminution doubly remarkable and therefore doubly satisfac tory because occurring in spite of the general in crease of the population, there are two points worthy of particular notice in respect to this aver age mortality—one encouraging, the other the re verse. There is a diminished mortality, that is to say, in regard to one class of diseases—and en increased mortality in regard to another. The decrease in the number of those who died from measles, from continuous fever, from scarlet fever, and from smallpox,shows a highly satisfactory falling off in the average upon the quarter, from 8i to 39 ! The diminution being from 29 to 18 from continuous fever. From 25 to 18 from scarlet fever. From 10 to 1 from small-pox. And from 17 to 2 from measles. The reverse, however, has now to be notified in respect to the victims (chiefly children) of whooping-cough, of croup, and diphtheria ; deaths from these causes having risen from an average aggregate of 28 upon the quarter to one of 43 ! The average aggregate again of deaths within the quarter from inflammation of the lungs, a comparison of statistics shows to have risen from one of 54 to one of 63 ! So that the latter aggre gate thus may be said to have reached its grand climacteric. Altogether it is instructive to note that there has been a diminution of the average within the quarter of deaths attributable to zymotic affections from 179 to 155. While, unhappily, it has to be noted down immediately afterwards, that there has been, on the contrary, a deplorable increase of deaths from tubercular disease, within the same interval, from 154 to 163. Where improvements have led to a diminution in one class of disease, however, they may readily lead also, in the end, to a proportionate diminution in another. That is our hope. That is the encouragement, really and truly, to be derived from an examination of these periodical returns of Dr. LETHEBY. The last item from whose last report, here to be particularized, shall be the gratifying intimation that within the period passed under scrutiny by this humane officer of Public Health, nearly 600 orders, exactly 596 orders for sanitary improvement have been issued and acted upon. THE QUEEN'S RETURN FROM SCOTLAND.—EDIN BURGH, Tuesday Evening.—The Queen, Prince Consort, Royal family, and suite arrived at St. Margaret's station, Holyrood, at half-past 6. The Duke of Buccleuch, the Right Hon. W. Cowper, the Lord Provost, Lord-Advocate, and others were in waiting. His Excellency Count Dimitry Nesselrode has arrived at Maurigy's Hotel, from a visit to Viscount and Viscountess Palmerston, at Broadlands. His ExceHency Senor Don Juan de Francesco Martin, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of the Republics of New Grenada and Guatemala, has ar rived at Maurigy's Hotel from Paris, The Duke and Duchess of Marlborough have left Blenheim Palace, near Woodstock, to visit Frances Anne, Marchioness of Londonderry, at Wynyard Park, Durham, where a select family circle have assembled. The Earl of Yarborough continues to gradually .regain health and strength, and should the improvement continue, it is the noble earl's intention, together with the Countess and Lady Sophia Pelham, to repair to Brighton for the autumn. The Earl and Countess of Cardigan are expected in town in a few days from Deane Park, Northamptonshire, where they have been receiving company. Frances Countess Waldegrave and Mr. Harcourt, M.P., have arrived in Paris from a tour. They are expected to return to England in about ten days. Lord and Lady Willoughby d'Eresby have arrived on the Terrace, Piccadilly, from Drummond Castle, Perth shire. In a few days the noble lord and lady repair to Torquay. Lord and Lady Lyndhurst and the Hon. Miss Copley arrived at their residence in Great George-street on Saturday, from Tunbridge Wells. Lord and Lady Harriet Ashley have left Gros venor-square for Brighton, for a short period. _ _ Lord Clarence Paget, M.P., has left his official residence at the Admiralty for his seat in Wales. The Dowager Lady Foley is seriously ill, at her residence in Great Stanhope-street. Lady Ibbetson bas arrived at Farranee's Hotel from Down Hall, near Harlow. Sir E. Stanhope, Bart., has left Maarigy's Hotel for Dover. Colonel T. M. Steele, C. 8., of the Coldstream Guards, who, it will be in the recollection of many of our readers, was military secretary %o Field-Marshal Lord Raglan in the Crimea, has been very dangerously ill. Since Sunday he has been pronounced decidedly improving, and hopes are now held out of his eventual restoration to health. The demand at Paris for bills on London con tinues active, and the agents of the Bank of France have made a further slight advance in the terms at which they will draw on Messrs. Rothschild and Baring. It is evident that even in the face of the credit of X 2,000,000 difficulty will be experienced in preventing fresh amounts of gold from being remitted to this side. HEIDELBERG CASTLE.—A sad misfortune seems to be impending over the magnificent ruins of Heidelberg Castle, in consequence of the railway tunnel which is being taken through the hill upon which the ancient building stands. Since the commencement of the works several rents and fissures, some of them serious, have made their appear ance along the whole length of the castle walls. In the lower part of the structure, as in the chapel, and especially in the cellar with the great tun, the injuries are more con siderable than in the upper apartments. With a view to inquiring into the cause and extent of the damage, and the prevention of further mischief, a commission has been con vened by Herr von Bayer, the conservator of Baden an tiquities. TILE COLLEEN BAWN.—A French version of this popular drama, by the prolific M. Dennery, has beenpro duced with decided success at the Ambig u-Comique. Though M. Boucicault has assisted in the work of adapta tion, the story is considerably modified, Eily O'Connor, Anne Chute's mother, who is now called J ane, turning out to be the daughter of important in vill any to blow out his brains at the end of and Corrigan b ecom i ng su ffi c i ent l y the piece. The period of the action also seems changed, for some of the personages make their fortunes in California, "Le Lac de Glenaston" is the title of this adaptation. THE SUN, LONDON, VirEDNESDA( BVENING, OCTOBER 23, 1861. JENNY LIND'S le-APPEARANCE. -- Exeter Hall was last light crowded in every corner in honour of a mst interesting occasion. The gifted songstress, wb retired from public life in the full zenith of her fine, returned to the scene of her former triumphs b assist a charitable pur pose. The condition of t e dense population which has sprung up on the otskirts of the metropolis has long excited the attenion of our philanthropists and social reformers. Tie brief account given in the published circular sueinctly states the case for which help is at present rgentiy needed. The district to which publi attention was last year called under the name of " Londonrs over the Border," is situ ated on the marshy grourl on the Essex shore of the Thames, and commences abQt four miles from the General Post Office. It has but later been inhabited thickly, and owes its population almost entirely to the establishment of the Victoria Decks, and ofsundry manufactories in the neighbourhood. The numbe of people at present resident in the proposed new parish, which includes North Wool wich, is about 7,000. The clmand for labour is, by neces sity, far from constant. The people are frequently left for very long periods without the means of sub sistence from their own resources. When labour exists, the remuneration leaves no margin for saving. Hence, when the time of need come, furniture and clothing are sold or pawned. Want, hunter, disease, and misery follow. Nearly four years ago Mr. lernam Douglas, a clergyman of the Church of England,whose private resources were sufficient to render him independent of the scanty stipend appended to this district, andertook its charge. His efforts were devoted-1, 'lO build and endow a church, build schools, and a parsonsie, 2. To establish industrial institutions for the instructiin of boys and girls in different branches of labour, skilled aid unskilled, and for their em ployment when so instructec, 3. To introduce needlework for women, in order to supplement the scanty wages of their husbands when fully employol, and to give some means of support when their husbands are out of work. 4, To grant allotments of garden land, at a small rent. The men work only till 4 p,m, in the Docks, and the care of a plot of land will both keep them from the alehouse after Dock hours, and Filinnly them with potatoes, 0. To umuster to the wants of the pee, wnen sick and starving, by organising a system of domiciliary visitation, by the aid of Scripture-readers and female missionaries, To effect these objects, Mr. Douglas had recourse to the columns of the Times, and liberal subscriptions flowed in to his help. The results were-1. The church was com menced, and some money subscribed for a school in North Woolwich, the eastern extremity of the now parish. 2. The industrial institutions were set on foot to such extent as funds permitted. The expenses of teaching being over, they aro now nearly self-supporting, but not sufficiently large to give employment to all who need it. 3. The poor were succoured in their distress ; the average number of visits daily is 75. 4. Crime has much decreased. Un happily, the success of Mr. Douglas's first appeal to the public roused the jealousy and suspicion of some who sup posed their interests to be in an opposite direction. A violent persecution was organized, and Mr. Douglas was represented to have misused the funds entrusted to him by the public. Aecusations of this character, publicly made, required that a decided step should be taken for their refu tation. Mr. Douglas appealed to his Diocesan that com petent persons should be appointed to investigate his course of action, and especially the administration of the funds committed to his care. Two gentlemen were appointed, who carefully performed the task &lotted to them. Their testimony has been published, and establishes both the purity of Mr. Douglas's conduct, and the judgment and discretion of the means which he has taken to carry out his objects. But in the meantime the accu sations had their effect. The tide of public bene volence was stopped and Mr. Douglas acquitted before the world, finds himself paralyzed in his labours, by the absence of that support which was generously given him, while the wants of his parish are as urgent as ever. The church is half built ; schools, in the most destitute part of the district, are not even commenced. A site has been given for a parsonage, but there are no means for building it; and the industrial institutions may be extended three or fourfold, but the means are wanting. Owing to the frequent stagnation of trade the poor are often in great want, and women approaching childbirth are with out necessary food. The same state of things, as regards deficiency of work, and insufficiency of the means of instruc tion and public worship, may exist elsewhere ; but it must be remembered that here, among the " Londoners over the Border," there are no parochial charities for them to fall back upon at such periods, nor are there any wealthy resi dents to help them. Hearing of these difficulties, Madame Lind-Gold schmidt, whose ears are always open to the voice of charity, generously gave her services, and we have no doubt the result will prove most satisfactory to the benevolent promoters of the movement. The performance selected for this occasion was Men delssohn's chef d'ceuvre of " Elijah," and its success was unquestionable. Madame Lind-Goldscmidt, whose voice has not suffered from time or inaction, displayed her wonted powers of expression in the brief but difficult role of the chief soprano. The principal air which fell to her portion during the evening was the beautiful passage at the opening of the second part, " . Hear ye, Israel," which she rendered with wonderful expression. In the widow's dialogue with the prophet, toe, she gave the varying changes of feeling expressed in the words, "I go mourning all the day long; I lie down and weep at night;" and again, " The Lord hath heard my prayer, the soul of my son reviveth," with great accuracy and power. In the exquisite trio, "Lift thine eyes," in which she was ably assisted by Miss Cole and Miss Palmer, a unanimous encore was demanded. The quartetts, " Cast thy burden upon the Lord," and " 0 come, every one that thirsteth," which Madame Lind sang with Miss Palmer, Mr. Sims Reeves, and Mr. Weiss, were admirably given. Mr. Weiss was, of course, the "Elijah," a part which is well adapted to his voice, and displays his powers to advantage, although we have heard him sing with more effect than on this occasion. Mr. Sims Reeves, who sang with his accustomed ability, ob tained a unanimous encore by his expressive ren dering of " Then shall the righteous," with which, however, he was unable to comply. We must Rot omit to mention Miss Palmer's singing of the beautiful air, " Oh, rest in the Lord," which was warmly re-demanded. The chorus and orchestra, under the efficient direction of M. Otto Goldschmidt, was all that could be desired, and the satisfaction of a large and brilliant audience was loudly ex pressed. The welcome given to the heroine of the evening was enthusiastic, and the applause on her withdrawal was no less so. The arrangements were excellent, preventing all confusion, and leav ing little to be desired; and altogether the evening's performances met with a success which does not always attend pretentious undertakings, and was worthy of the occasion. ANCIENT GRATES IN PERTHSIIIRE.—Some dis• coveries of a remarkable character have been made recently in Perthshire, on the estate of Mr. Paterson, farmer, Barns, Kincardine. In the course of removing some stones from a knoll lying near the farmsteads a large flag of nearly a ton weight was come upon, under which a grave was discovered. The sides were formed of four flag stones placed on edge, and a similar one formed the bottom. It contained the re mains of a human body, which must have lain many hundred years. The space which contained the skeleton is about 3jft. in length, barely 2ft. in width, and of about the same depth. From the size of the grave the body could not have been laid at length, and the bones were those of a full grown person. It is supposed that the grave is a Roman one, as several others of a similar description have been dis covered in the district. More recently still another Roman grave has been discovered within two miles of the same place, on the estate of Blackford. While a farmer was engaged in ploughing his grounds the plough came in con tact with the top of a Roman urn containing a quantity of bones, on an eminence like the former, about 70 yards from the farmhouse. The urn was quite entire, with the exception of a portion of the bottom, which had been broken off, although it bore indications of its ancient origin. What is remarkable, it was placed with its mouth down, covering the bones. The urn is about 18in. in length, and 19in. wide at the mouth. There have been a number of urns discovered about the same locality from time to time. The troops of Agricola, on their march to the camp at Ardoch, came through Gleneagles, and consequently would pass near the spot indicated. Some antiquarians who have seen the place conjectured that the urn contained the burnt remains of a Roman officer who had died on the journey to Ardoch. —Scotsman. THE ALLEGED MURDER IN WILTS.—The man Pearce, charged with the murder of his wife, has been brought before Sir John Awdry and Lord Methuen, at Chippenham, when evidence having been given to the effect of that already published, the prisoner was duly cautioned previous to his committal for trial, when he said, " All that I have to say is that I never beat the woman." Sir John Awdry having left the court before the examination was concluded, a conversation ensued between the magistrates' clerk and Lord Methuen, the magistrates' clerk being of opinion that the prisoner should be committed for wilful murder, leaving ajury to reduce the crime to manslaughter, his lordship decided on committing him for murder, saying that he would take upon himself the responsibility of so doing. The proceedings occupied about five hours, during the whole of which time there was much excitement in the court. 2HE BISHOP 6,7 SALISBURY V. THE REV. DR. ROTPLAIV2 WILLIAMS. This case, of so much importance to the Church, Ls been set down for hearing, and will be trial in the Court of Arches in the course of a few days after the opening of Michaelmas term. In the preambles of the articles which have been filed, and which have been attested by Dr. Robt. Phillimore and Dr. Swabey, who will appear for the pro secution en behalf of the Bishop of Salisbury, Dr. Rowland Williams is charged, that he, being vicar of Broad Chalk, in the diocese of Salisbury, has within the last two years written, printed, published, dispersed, and set forth, in a book entitled "Essays and Reviews," a certain article, or essay, or review, with divers notes thereto, entitled " Bun sen's Biblical Researches," and with having in such article advisedly maintained and affirmed certain erroneous doc trines and opinions contrary and repugnant to the doctrine and teaching of the United Church of England and Ireland. The passages on which it is sought by the bishop to obtain a condemnation of Dr. Williams are chiefly those from pages 65 to 74, of " Essays and Reviews," having reference to the moral and predictive elements of prophecy ; those on pages 82 to 84, in which the author contends that " revela tions like those of Christ are not confined to the first half century of our era, but show at least affinities of our faith existing in men's minds anterior to Christianity, and re newed with deep echo from living hearts in many a genera tion." In article 10, Dr. Williams is charged with main taining that the portion of Holy Scripture usually called the Revelation of St. John the Divine, the epistle called the Epistle to the Hewbrews, and the epistle usually called the Epistle of St. Peter, are not respectively parts of Holy Scripture whose authority is binding on the Church, In various other articles he is charged with having published doctrines inconsistent with the teaching of the Church, and as tending to imply disbelief in the inspiration and autho rity of the Scriptures. The trial is likely to be a long one, and to be hardly fought out. A subscription has been en tered into in order to indemnify the Bishop of Salisbury against any costs he may incur ; and a defence fund has been raised for the purpose of paying the expenses of Dr. Williams, whose case, it is understood, will be conducted by Dr. Bayford. THE HOP DUTY. An Account of the Duty charged on Hops, the growth of the Year 1861. Collections. Duty at 11d per pound. Barnstaple 17 13 101 Canterbury .. .. 23,468 11 101 Cornwall 0 3 0 Essex 88 11 9 Gloucester .. 5 5 71 Grantham .. .. 8 14 41 Hants .. *6,890 6 3 Hereford 17,220 17 3 Isle of Wight .. .. 2,421 5 1i Lincoln .. .. 105 1 101 Lynn 2 6 7i Middlesex .. .1 8 0 Northampton .. 3 1 6 Nottingham.. .. • • 75 8 Oxford .. 4 5 6 Reading .. .. 10 7 41 Rochester .. .. 78,235 14 0 Sheffield 14 15 6 Stourbridge 5,617 7 41 Suffolk .. .. 344 11 71 Surrey 8 8 0 Sussex .. .. 10,684 14 41 Wales (Middle) .. • • .. 98 8 0 Worcester .. 4,283 2 0 £149,610 9 0 Wm. MOXON Inland Revenue Office, Oct. 23, 18G1. • This includes the duty on a small quantity not yet charged, estimated at 2,721 lbs. MIDDLE TEMPLE.—We understand that the Guard of Honour to be furnished by the Inns of Court Corps, to receive his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales at the opening of the new library of the Middle Temple on the 31st inst., will be formed of those members of the Middle Temple who shall put down their names for the purpose at the orderly room, Inns of Court Rifle Volun teers, by 12 o'clock on Friday, the 25th inst. If sufficient names aro not sent in by that time the deficiency will be supplied from members of the corps of the other inns. The Guard of Honour are invited by the Masters of the Bench to the dejeuner given on the occasion, and are not required to appear otherwise than in uniform. BREACHES OF CONTRACT IN INDIA—In reply to a memorial on this subject, the Manchester Chamber of Com merco ha 7 ve received the following communication from the India House :—" India-office, London, S.W., October 18, 1861.—Sir,--T are directed by the Secretary of State for India in Council to acknowledge the receipt of a memorial from the directors of the Manchester Chamber of Commerce, forwarded by you to Sir Charles 'Wood, with respect to the difficulty of enforcing the observance of legal contracts made with the agricultural population of India, with reference more especially to;the cultivation of indigo; and to inform you, in reply, that although her Majesty's Government are not prepared to approve any act which shall treat breaches of contract for the delivery of agricultural produce as cri minal offences, the best attention of the Government of India is devoted to the establishment of efficient tribunals, in which due and prompt remedy shall be afforded in all cases of contract wilfully and unjustifiably broken.-1 am, sir, your obedient servant, CosMo J. MELVILL.—Mr. Malcolm Ross, Manchester Chamber of Commerce.—Man- Mester Guardian. • VOLUNTEER FIRE BRIGADE.—The Surrey Volun beer Engineers, a fine corps, having their head-quarters in Prospect-place, St. George's-road, Southwark, have re solved to form within their ranks a company of firemen for active service in the borough of Southwark. A provisional committee, appointed to make arrangements for embodying the corps, state that every endeavour will be made to render it useful and efficient. They believe that the members of the new brigade, instructed in the duties of military engi seers, will make excellent fireml i and they add that power ful military engines will be su ied for their use. The orderly-room of the Volunteer corps has been opened as the temporary office of the brigade. The movement has already received the support of the Rev. Hugh Allen, D.D., St. George-the-Martyr, Southwark, who has consented to act as chaplain; Major-General Sandham, R.E., Messrs. Mauds lay and Field, Messrs. Apsley Pellatt and Co., Messrs. Shand and Mason. Captain Shaw, the successor of Mr. Braidwood, is of opinion that the new company will render material assistance to the firemen of the London Brigade, and he has promised to give them all the advice and assis tance in his power. THE EXHIBITION OF 1862.—Yesterday the repre sentative vestry of Chelsea met to take into consideration a letter from Mr. C. Wentworth Dilke, Chairman of the Commissioners of the Exhibition, urging the importance of widening the street from Eaton-square to Sloane-square in anticipation of the traffic which will take place next year between the Victoria station and the Exhibition buildings. Mr. Perry moved that the question be referred to the Com mittee of Works, and that they be called upon to appoint a sub-committee to consider the best means of carrying out the improvements suggested without delay. Mr. William seconded the resolution, which was unanimously agreed to. THE RECENT EXTRAORDINARY AFFILIATION CASE AT SLOUGH.—At the Bucks Petty Sessions held yes terday, at the North Star Inn, Slough, an application was made by Mr. Downing Bruce, of Lincoln's-inn, on behalf of Mr. William Rawson Turner, solicitor, of 16, Water lane, Tower-street, London, for a warrant against Elizabeth Geraldine Stokes, for wilful and corrupt perjury. The cir cumstances under which the case arose may be thus briefly set forth. According to the statement made before the magis trates on the Bth inst., when applying for an affiliation order, Miss Elizabeth Geraldine Stokes said that she met Mr, Turner in a railway carriage on the 14th of August, 1860, when that gentleman took considerable notice of her on the journey up from Windsor to London by the South- Western Railway, and upon all the passengers leaving the carriage at Vauxhall except Mr, Turner and herself, the gentleman became more attentive and kissed her, he (Mr. Turner) having previously told her that she was the best looking young lady he had ever seen. On arriving at the Waterloo-terminus, they got into a cab and proceeded across Waterloo-bridge, and during that ride Mr. Turner asked her if she liked scent, and upon receiving a reply in the affirmative he passed a handkerchief across her face, and insensibility immediately ensued, and she recollected nothing further until she found herself at the Strand side of Water loo -bridge. She averred that intimacy had taken place, and swore inter alia, that although she had been seduced about two years ago she had never borne any child except the one of which she alleged Mr. Turner was the putative father. A good deal of evidence was also given by Miss Stokes not material to the present question of perjury, and, therefore, needless to refer to. Mr. Downing Bruce having stated the facts of the ease, and Mr. Turner having sworn to the in formation, the bench at once granted the warrant, and the case will come on for hearing at the next petty sessions. FATAL BOILER EXPLOSION.—A boiler explosion, which has been fatal in its results, occurred on Sunday morning, about five o'clock, at the Wheal Collicomo Mine, situated in the village of Lamarton, near Tavistock. The cause of the explosion is said to be want of water in the boiler, which occasioned the collapsing of the tube. The engineman, a yruth named Way, and the night watch man were in the engine-house at the time of the explosion. The former was severely, while the latter was only slightly, scalded by the hot steam. Way jumped out of the win dow and ran for assistance, and Captain Mitchell, the agent of the mine, was quickly on the spot. 1 he-injuries Way had received were found to be of a serious nature, and he expired on Monday morning. The boiler-house is in mini.. The condition of the boiler previous to the accident was stated to be almost as good as new.— W es tern liforning News. r ; Ebt NEWS. AMERICA. LONDONDERRY, OCT. 23, The Canadian screw steamer Bohemian, which arrived here this morning, passed the North Ame rican on tho 14th and the Anglo-Saxon on the 16th inst. NEW YORK, OCT. 11. Commander Chauncey has arrived at Washington from Hatteras Inlet. He reports that on Monday last, the 7th inst., a Confederate expedition, consist ing of six steamers and 3,000 men, endeavoured to recapture the forts, but without success. Three of the attacking steamers were sunk with all on board. The loss of the Confederates is estimated at 700 men ; but this is denied by some journals. The Bank of Washington refuses to take the i Treasury notes. Louisville, near Washington, has been occupied by the Federal troops. Recent investigations show that the Confederate fortifications at Acquira Creek consist cf three bat teries, mounting 20 guns, three of which are designed to defend the terminus of the Great Southern Railroad. The steamers Asia and Glasgow have arrived out. (LATEST RY TELEGRAPH TO FATHER POINT.) NE WYORK, OCT. 12. EVENING. New Orleans is now effectually blockaded. The Federals are constructing fortifications at Head Passes. Further successes have been obtained by the Federals in Western Virginia. The Federals Aro biewly advancing on the Poto mac, while the Confederates are retiring, A large naval expedition, consisting of 20 ships, left for the Southern States this afternoon. Its destination is unknown. COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE. Stocks active and steady. New York Central, 781 ; Illinois, 661; Erie, 311. Exchange—Bankers' bills, 1071. Cotton firm. Breadstuffs steady. Provisions quiet. PER EDINBURGH, via QUEENSTOWN. NEW YORK, OCT. 12. No Confederate force is visible within six miles of Louisville. The Confederates in Western Virginia are being further driven back. A strong body of Confederates has crossed from the mainland and attacked the Federal camp near Hatteras Inlet. The Federals retreated, carrying away their tents and provisions, and leaving 50 prisoners. The Federal steamers Montecello and Susque hannah afterwards arrived with assistance, and shelled the Confederates who had landed, forcing them to return to their steamers with heavy loss. Two of the Confederate Tessels were sunk. The Governor of Louisiana has forbidden the entry of cotton into New Orleans, whether coming by steamer or railroad. It is reported here from Missouri that General Price will await General M'Culloch's forces before marching on Jefferson city. BERLIN, OCT. 22. The entry of the King and Queen of Prussia into Berlin to-day was announced by salutes of artillery and the pealing of bells. The streets from the Frankfort-gate to the Royal Palace presented a most festive appearance, all the houses being richly decorated, and the roadway bordered by Venetian masts. The houses were crowded to the roofs and the streets thronged by spectators to witness the entry of the King and Queen, who wore welcomed with incessant cheers. Their Majesties were evidently gratified at their reception, and cordially bowed their thanks to the people. CRACOW, OCT. 22. The agitation in Warsaw is increasing. The authorities have taken still more rigorous measures for the maintenance of order. NAPLES, OCT. 21. The anniversary of the plebiscite in Naples and Sicily has everywhere been celebrated with enthu siasm. The English fleet in the Bay of Naples was dressed with flags on the occasion. MALTA, OCT. 19. The Neapolitan reactionists have chartered a Maltese vessel through the agency of the former Bourbon Consul. Some Spanish refugees of the Carlist party have lately arrived here. MADRID, OCT. 21. The Infanta Donna Maria do la Concepcion died to-day. It is expected that.the majority of the members of the Cortes will remain. favourable to the Mi nistry. A secret printing press has been seized in this city. SPAIN. The Madrid journals of the 18th state that of late several Cabinet Councils have been held, and that they have severally lasted a long time. Ac cording to the Correspondancia, General .Cialdini, on leaving Naples, is likely to visit Spain. The same organ says that M. Salazar y Mazzaredo, a well-known deputy in the Cortes, who for some time past has, in company of two ex-Ministers, been visiting England and Ireland, has written to Madrid to say that, from the distress prevailing in the latter country, it would be easy to obtain 100,000 labourers for railway works in Spain; l and that, "as they would be all Catholics, they might be employed without any danger of causing reli gious perturbation." BLOWING UP A WRECIL—Some days ago the large dredger, which is at present hard at work at North Shields, came upon the bottom of a wreck, which could not be moved by any ordinary means. It was at first supposed to be the unfortunate Lady Faversham, wrecked on that spot about 16 years ago. It, however, turned out not to ba the case, as the wreck found was lower down the river. It is now out of record to what vessel the portion discovered belonged. On Friday last preparations were made for blowing up the wreck, and in the morning the diver de scended and placed a canister containing eighty pounds of then fired gunpowder o b w y d m e r r . underneath altth ed t i h v e er t , im w b h e e r n . inaed T m heehg i at of water rose in the air. He descended immediately after wards and found a portion of the wreck completely shat tered. Another blow up will, however, be required before the wreck is altogether destroyed. The operations of the dredger are producing great effects on this portion of the river, and already there is a very marked improvement. During the work several skulls and human bones have bees found, also two muskets, marked " 22, Royal Artillery,'" They are supposed to have belonged to some soldiers who were lost in crossing the river in a boat, at this point, about fifty years ago. A Trappist named Delalot-Sevin, of the Abbaye de la Grace-Dieu, has made a discovery which may pro duce a revolution in the system of lighting and heating public and private buildings. He has invented a new pile, much stronger, and at the same time much cheaper, than the pile of Bunsen. By means of this photo-electric appa ratus he produces an electric light as cheap as gas, and with his thermo-electric pile he supplies caloric on economic terms hitherto unknown. Several of these apparatuses have been constructed, and one is at full work in the Abbaye of La Grace-Dieu. Manufactories for the public are shortly to be established in Paris and at Lyons. The inventor has been authorised to make public experiments with his system of lighting on the Place St. Jacques in Paris, and on the Place Dellecourt at Lyons, THE OVERLAND MAIL. We have received by this mail letters and papers from Bombay to Sept. 27, and telegraphic advices from Calcutta and Madras to Sept. 25. Cholera had been mercifully arrested in the Pun jaub. It was also on the decline in the North-West Provinces. A commission had been appointed by the supreme government to report upon the pesti lence, of which Dr. J. M'Cleland, inspector-gene ral of hospitals, is to be president. Unusual inundations had taken place in the North-West, and life and property to a fearful ex tent had been sacrificed. Those who had escaped drowning were dying of starvation. The Bombay Gazette, reporting of a subsequent date, says :—The weather continues favourable in every part of the country for the maturing of the crops, and the aus piciousness of the season calls for the greatest thank fulness. The obituary of the month includes the names of Major-General W. G. Robertson, 22d Regiment Madras N.I. ; Captain W. C. Grant, 2d Dragoon Guards, major of brigade ; Captain J. Urquhart, paymaster 27th Inniskillings ; Captain R. M. B. Maurice, her Majesty's 95th Foot ; Captain Ander son, C. 8., 48th Bengal N. 1.; Lieut. E. Maunders, Prince of Wales' Dragoon Guards ; Cornet R. S. Smith, Prince ok Wales' Dragoon Guards; Cornet Philip Hamond, attached to her Majesty's 21st Light Dragoons ; Mr. L. Copeland, Bombay civil service. An action for libel has been instituted against the Lieutenant-Governor of Bengal by an indigo planter, for the publication of some alleged libellous remarks in a number of the "Selections from the Records of the Government." The Indian Empire says : " Nominally the plaintiff is Mr. Macarthur, but the suit is understood to be the work of the Landowners' Associa tion, who are to pay the costs. This is a repetition of the farce of indicting Mr. Long on behalf of two newspapers. The pomplulul, now is that in the third volume of the Selec tions relating to the indigo disturbances, a letter appeared from the Commissioner of Nuddoa relative to an affray in which an unfortunate man was killed and several were wounded. That there was an affray between two con siderable bodies of men; that some unoffending people, who were no parties to the quarrel, were the sufferers ; that the judge of Jessoro convicted several of the accused ; and that Mr. Steer, one of the Sudder judges, acquitted them on appeal, is all that we need now say about this part of the story. No doubt much more will be said about it in court, and when these attempts to check the publication of docu ments relating to indigo are understood at home, and it is also understood that the clamour against the publication comes from those who are constantly complaining of a want of publicity, and of Government keeping back important documents, still more will be said there." It is stated from Rajpootana that a party of six hundred rebels are moving about in that quarter. The British and Maharajah's forces are in search of them. Sir Hugh Rose was to leave Calcutta at the end of September for his cold weather tour of military inspection, and intended proceeding to Darjeeling, Allahabad, Agra, &T., the Punjab, and Upper India. Dr. Forbes and Mr. Haywood, the mission to India from the Manchester Cotton Company (Limited), had entered on their duties. The Born bay Gazette, referring to the fact, observes : "We anticipate great results from this mission. Much has been done during the past few months to prepare the way for future increase of production in cotton in the vast, unlimited cotton field of India. If capitalists now come in, and evince a desire to deal with the producers on fair terms —if they adopt means for the purpose of dealing directly with the producers, and of dispensing with the services of the dealers or middle-men, another year will show that Lancashire need look nowhere else but to India for her sup.. plies of this staff of commercial life. Experiments have been made with Mexican and New Orleans seed in the Punjaub, a very inferior cotton field compared with other districts of India, and have been crowned with complete success. The cotton produced has been pronounced by a gentleman, just returned from Manchester, to be all that can bo desired, the very kind required by the Manchester spinners. It was valued at from 7d. to 71d. per lb., when ordinary East Indian was priced at 6d. While the current price of cotton, with the h eed, was 13 seers per rupee (that is 13 lbs. per shilling), a rupee for 8 seers (a shilling for Blbs.) was offered for this in the open market. There has been a considerable increase in the quantity of land sown by cotton seed this season ; but nothing at all compared with the amount of increase required to produce the necessary supply. The Manchester Cotton Company have gone to work the right way; let them not lose sight of the very important feature in their plan of having their own agents to purchase cotton directly from the ryots." The very heart of Nagpore and the centre of the cotton district has been reached by inland naviga tion—the steamer Mayflower having ascended the Godavery river as far as Chanda, a distance of 36 miles. INDIAN MARKETS. The following commercial intelligence is taken from the Bombay Times, of Sept. 27: The English mail,with dates to the 3d inst., arrived here on the morning of 24th idem. The weather is now fine s and all accounts from the interior districts report favourably of the growing crops ; there is no doubt, therefore, that ere long the country will i e-assume its wonted prosperity. Money is still easy, and the Bank rate is unchanged. Government securities have advanced since the arrival of the mail. We quote Fours, 83/ ; Fives, 96/ to 1; Five and-a-half, 103/. Exchange.—hates on London are slightly lower. We quote Bank paper, 2s. 7-16 d., and other first-class local credits, 2s. Old. to 2s. 9.16 d. EXPORTS.—In cotton very little business has been done since the date of our last report. Since the arrival of the English mail, reporting an advance in this staple at Liver-- pool, a few transactions took place at advanced prices. FREIGHTS.—We have still to report depressed rates of freight, and a great scarcity of produco ready for shipment to the United Kingdom. We quote rates to London : Cotton, £2 nominal; seeds, D. 10s. To Liverpool :—Cot ton, £2; seeds, £1 to £1 2s. Gd. LITERATU.RE. Domestic Sketches in Russia. By Lady Charlotte Pepys. 2 vols. Hurst and Blackett. Lady Charlotte Pepys is already favourably known to the literary world by her pleasant narra tive of a journey from Kiev to Eaux Bonnes, and the agreeable volumes before na will add to her reputation as a traveller and tale-teller. She i s intimately acquainted, as few amongst us are, with the domestic life of the Russian upper classes, and under her skilful hand the sketches show us pleasant social pictures, and genial hospitality and kind ness . instead of the half-educated gloomy barbarism that too many English readers associate with a Russian household in the interior. The authoress has mixed, as foreigners seldom do, on terms of friendship and equality with Russian families, and thinks that the principal obstacle to our knowledge of the country is that interposed by language. " You can never fairly judge a people," she says, " till you can at least read what they say of themselves, and what they write to instruct or amuse their own country people." With political or general affairs she has little to do, although the emancipation of the serfs is more than once alluded to. Her object is to show the interior life, and the quaint mixture of state and comfort which form part of it. Something of the old feudal system is blended with modern ease and free dom of manner in a way which is shown in its pleasantest aspects in these volumes. The house hold described is that of a General in the Russian service, who afterwards obtains the dignified post tenanted o f ambassador. He is a widower w i t h a l arge f a mily. His sons are scattered ov er th e wor ld . Hi s elder daughters are married and di s p erse d through outhimselfhis t often three absent from youngest daughters, under th e charge his s home, s c , o w un h t i r c y h . He i s is of a most obnoxious Ehglish governess, who t yrannises over her young charges most unmercifully. One of the young maidens escapes from surveillance, and sets off for St. Petersburg in the dress of a cowherd. However, this mad freak does not prosper, and she returns to her alarmed family. Fortunately they are relieved from her interference, and another governess sub stituted, who is as wise and gentle as the other was ignorant and cruel. Her conversation is made the means of much discussion on Russian ways and anecdotes of travel, although the work is very light in its style, and does not pretend to be a didactic treatise. The peculiarities of the Russian charac. for are frankly treated of, their extraordinary apti tude for languages, their grace of movement, and skill in dancing, together with the more substantial qualities of kinness and hospitality. She deer not, however, shrink from admitting their general dis regard of truth. Numerous religious festivities are introduced in order to show the elaborate ceremonial of the Greek Church. There is, besides, an interest attaching to the story, and several marriages are happily arranged at the conclusion. There is an undue proportion of sickness and disaster,-but most of the threatened catastrophes are happily evaded. We commend these agreeable volumes to all who wish for light and pleasant reading, besides acquiring some knowledge of the ways and customs of another country, while we congratulate Lady Charlotte Pepys on having der e more by her lively sketches to familiarise the English public with Russian inner life than most of our traveller's or historian ' s weighty 'volumes.