The Sun. — London, England, 1856-04-26 00:00:00

HER MAJESTY'S - THEATRE: SEASON 1856. It is respectfully announced that tha OPERA SEASON will COMMENCE on SATURDAY, the 10th of May. •_ On resuming the performances which have been suspended during the last three years, the Director of her Majelty's Theatre is anxious to assure the patrons of the Opera and the•pnblic, that no exertion shall be wanting to secure for this establishmest that high position it so long'maintained"; and he trusts that the renewal of the enterprise under morp prospetwas auspices will be accompanied with that faWet and support which no frequenter of the Opera needs te t be reminded were for so many years accorded to a brilliant and successful management. The secession, in 1847, of many of those performers who had long been attached to the Opera House was the cons menoement of a long and arduous struggle to maintain the fortunes of the old house; and it was not till the-wealth-of tout successive competitors had boen fruitlessly lavished upon the rival theatre, that Mr. Lumley was reluctantly compelled to Ittire from the contest. Front that time to the present Mr. Lumley's efforts have been unremitting to re-open her Majesty's Theatre upon a permanent basis, and to restore the Opera to its ancient ,home. Ile has received liberal encouragement from every r side, and, effectually aided by neble and generous support from a quarter where the refinements of art and taste never fail to find a patron, he is now enabled gratefully to announce the immediate resumption of performances. At the present moment there are vocalists, of an excellence ' seldom surpassed, who have never been heard by an English public. Of these the elite have been secured. for the present season. Her Majesty's Theatre is marked out by its size, its situa tion, and its convenience of access, no less than by old and interesting associations, as the appropriate seat of the Opera. Iu the acoustic properties, so essential to the effective pro duCtion of the lyrical drama, it is acknowledged to surpass every ether stago in Europe. In consequence of some happy accident of construction a result has been attained that science has failed to explain, and that no architect could engage to reproduce, by which the faintest tones and the most delicate vocalisation penetrate with unimpaired clearness to the re motest recesses of the vast edifice. The arrangements completed and in progress, both in Opera and Ballet, will, it is confidently hoped, be thought worthy of the former reputution of the Theatre, and of the just ex pectations of its distinguished supporters. In consequence of the late period at which it was resolved. to open the Theatre, the arrangements, satisfactory as it is hoped they will even now be found, aro not yet fully com pleted ; and negotiations are in progress from which impor tant accessions are expected. The following arrangements have been completed :- 0 P E RA. MADAME ALBONI, Her first appearanee in London these five years, MDLLE. Her first appearance. MDLLE. GIUDITTA RIZZA, MDLLE. FINOLI, Their first appearance! MADAME AMADEI, MDLLE. BERTI, Their first appearance. And MADAME ALBERTINI, Her first appearance. In addition to the above talent, an engagement has been effected with MDLLE. JOHANNA WAGNER, Her first appearance. SIGNOR SALVIANI, Of La Pergola, Florence, his first appearance. SIGNOR BOCARDE, • His first appearance in England these six years. SIGNOR MARIAN', And SIGNOR CALZOLARI. SIGNOR BENEVENTANO, Of La Scala, Milan ; of the Italian Opera, Madrid ; and the Principal Theatres of Italy ; his first appearance. SIGNOR VARIO, SIGNOR FORTINI, SIGNOR BAILLOU, SIGNOR ZUCCO NI, Of the Principal Theatres of Italy, his first appearance. And SIGNOR BELLETTI. • MADAME ALBONI Will immediately arrive in London, and will make her firs' appearance on SATURDAY, lOnt MAY, In Rossini's Opera of CENERENTOLA. MDLLE. PICCOLOMONI Will arrive in England on the 14th of May, and make her first appearance a few days afterwards, in Verdi's Opera of LA TRAVIATA, Produced for the first time in England. MADAME ALBERTINI Will arrive ht London about the 20th of May, and will make her first appearance in - Verdi's Opera of IL TROVA TORE. Leonora Madame ALBERTINI. Azucena Her first appearance in that Character. MDLLE. WAGNER Will make her first appearance in the beginning of June as ROMEO, In Bellini's Opera of I CAPULETTI E MONTECCHI. The Combination, in One Company, of FOUR OF THE MOST DISTINGUISHED ARTISTES IN THE OPERATIC WORLD, Each perfect in her own peculiar style, Will enable the Direction to offer a varied and attractive Selection from the Established Works of MOZART, MEYERBEER, BELLINI, DONIZETTI, AUBER, VERDI, and ROSSINI. Director of the Music and Conductor, SIGNOR BONETTI, Of the Italian Opera, Paris. Leader of the Orchestra M. TOLBEQUE, I! II Ballet, M. NADAUD. THE ORCHESTRA Has been carefully selected, both with reference to the excellency of the individual Artistes and the perfection of the ensemble. THE CHORUS Elul also been selected. with great care. BALLET. MDLLE. ROSATI, MDLLE. BELLON, MDLLE. BOSCHETTI, MDLLE. LISEREAU, MDLLE. CLARA, MDLLE. ROSA, MDLLE. KATRINE, and MDLLE. MARIE TAGLIONI. M. VANDRIS, M. CHARLES, and M. PAUL TAGLIONI. Maitre de Ballet, M. PAUL TAGLIONI. Asa dant Maitre de Ballet, M. VANDRIS. Regisseur de la Danse and Souis-Matro do Ballet, M. PETIT. The Grand Ballet of LE CORSAIRE, Now performing at the Acad6mie Royale, Paris, with unpre- cedented success, w:11 be produced early in the Season. Medora Principal Artist to the Establishment, Mr. CHARLES MARSHALL, The Costume Department will be directed by Miss BRADLEY and M. LAUREYS, Under the Superintendence of Madame COPERE. Principal Machinist Mr. D. SLONLAN. Head •f the Property Department Mr. BRADWELL. The Subscription will consist of Thirty Nights, and the Prices will be as follows : Pit Boxes l2O to 150 Guineas. Grand Tier . .......... One Pair Two Pair 75 to 10) „ Pit Stalls 25 „ THE THEATRE Will open on SATURDAY, the 10ru MAY, When will be produced Rossini's Opera of CENERENTOL A. Angelina Madame ALBONI. Don Ramiro Don Magnifico Dandini and Signor BELLETTI. After which will be presented an entirely new BALLET DIVERTISSEMENT, entitled • -LES QUA.TRE SAISONS, Founded on the Ballet Divertissement of that name by M. Petipa, In the Opera of LES VEPRES SICILIENNES, Boschetti, Lisereau, and Peincipal Parts by Manes. Kat Bellon, rine. IHEATEE ROYAL. Dillar-Lea.z Lessee, Mr. E. T. Smith. ENGLISH OPERA. THIS EVENING will be produced FRA DIAVOLO. To e•mlude with THE WATERMA An engagement h aving been formed with Mr. and Mrs. FLORENCE. from the United States, these celebrated artistes will have the honour of =Mug their first appearance in England on Monday, Arril 28th, la one of they most popular national Comediettas. THE A.T ROYAL, II tirMARKET. Under the Manazment of Mr. Backstone. TEED EVENING, THE BALANCE OF COMFORT. After which, THE EVIL clEbars. Followed by EL GAMBUSINO; or, The Mexican Goldseeker. In which PRREA NE NA and the Spanish Dancers will appear. To conclude with LEND ME FIVE SHILLINGS. ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE, OXFORD.STRZET. Under the Management of %Ir. CHARLES KEAN. MONDAY EVENING , For the:Benefit of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Kean. THE VICTOR VANQUISHED. To conclude with THE WINTER'S TALE. Principal characters Cy Mr. and Mrs. C. 'Kean. ROYAL THE kTRE ADELPHI. proprietor and Macaw, Mr. B. Webster. Directress,' Maxim. celeste. THIS EVESING. LIRE AND UNLIKE. Messrs. B. Webster, Wright, P. Redford, C. Selby, Garden ; Madame Celeste, Miss Wyndha m. After which, ldisCipST PRIVATE AFFAIRS. "'itr"'"` concitide with - MOTHER AND CHILD ARE DOING WELIi. ROYAL OLYNTPIC THEATRE. Lessee and Manager. Mr. Alfred Wigan. Tills EVENING STILL WATERS RUN DEEP. After which will be produced a New and doubly-moral, though etcessively old, Melodramatic Fairy Extravaganza, entitled THE DISCREET PRIgCESS ; or, the Three Glass Distaffs. which Messrs. Emery, F. Robson, H. Cooper, Miss Marston, tnd Miss Haskell will appear. ROYAL SURREY THEATRE. Lessees, Messrs. Shepherd and Creswiek. THIS EVENING, Will be performed a new Drama, entitled HOW WE LIVE IN THE WORLD OF LONDON. Followed by SARAH'S YOUNG MAN. To conclude with THE POSTMAN'S KNOCK. ASTLEY'S ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE. Lessee and Manager. Mr. Win. Cooke. THIS EVENING, Lord Byron's MAZEPPA and the WILD HORSE. After which, the skilful and varied SCENES in the CIRCLE, with other Entertainments. To conclude with ENGLAND'S HARVEST HOME and GRAND NATIONAL STEEPLECHASE. Box-office open Pram. Veven, till Four. Stage Manager, Mr. W. West. Equestrian Director, Mr. W. Cooke, Jun. EMMA STANLEY'S "SEVEN AGES OF WOMAN• Evening performances as asual, on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, at 8 o'clock. Admission—Back Seats, ls.; Centre Seats, 25.; Stalls, 3s. SAINT MARTIN'S HALL, Long-acre. MGR WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. dig DAY—Morn. 16 min. aft. s—Evening 39 min. aft. 5 T I-Mt:mow—Morn. 2 min. aft. 6—Evening 32 min. aft. 6 THE WEATHER—Sox OFFICE, APRIL 26. THERMOMETER, IN THI4 SHAM 70—highest since noon yesterday. 52—lowest this morning and during the night. 63—this day at noon. BAROMETER, 29'55. WIND, S.W.—Fresh, with cloudy, mild weather, sun shine and rain. Heavy rain came on last night, with heavy clouds from S.W. elb , ^ ft ‘4 ‘,) W A Y 4•VJ THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, APRIL 26, 1856: salvos of artillery, and 8,000/. worth of firework% have proclaimed to be a splendid achievement of war and diplomacy ? The worshippers of the Sabbath have received a call to arms. About a hundred clerical S ib batarians have indeed taken the field. The friends of a rational worship on the Sabbath will do well to buckle on their armour and prepare for the coming conflict. Sir BENJAMIN HALL is not, if the Sabbatarians can help it, to have his own way. The pleasing, wholesome, and wholly in nocent recreation he has promised the frequenters of the Parks on each successive Sunday afternoon is, if possible, to be withheld from them—Sir BENJAMIN notwithstanding. " The whole metro polis" is to be appealed to—then " the whole people of England"—to petition against measures conceived in such a spirit of anti-Sabbatism, and threatening that idolatrous creed such a mortal blow. We wish they may but they wont. The Sabbatarians instinctively shun appeals to the people not in print —hole-and corner meetings by ticket—depata tions of oily professors to Members of Parliament threatening them with the loss of their seats if they vote according to their consciences—hawk ing petitions in quarters where a refusal of signa tures might be followed by the stoppage' of daily bread —obtaining signatures privately on false pretences—collecting them from Sunday scholars —these practices, and others less creditable, are more in their way.. An abundance of signatures will, however, be obtained ; and these will, it is not improbable, have a similar effect to that pro duced by the last harvest, unless the friends of a reasonable observance of Sunday bestir themselves. The present Ministry hold the reins of power on too precarious a tentlre to be trusted. Unless the people combine and strengthen them to resistance by an unmistakeable demonstration of opinion on the matter, Sir BENJAMIt'S measures will assur edly be thrown overboard. Public meetings should be held all over the metropolis, and peti tions carried about for signatures in the streets and through the parks. Deputations should be counteracted by deputations ; sophistry by argu ments, and misrepresentations by fair statements of the merits of the case. Above all things, let it be insisted on that no intention and no desire exists to deprive the working man of his weekly day of rest. That monstrous calumny has Veen hitherto but too successful, and cannot be too speedily or too thoroughly exploded. It is not the abolition, but an improvement in the character, of the day of rest that it is sought for— recreation for the mind and heart as well as the physical frame, such a recreation of the entire , man as will make worship a little more the act of a reasonable being, and not abstinence from attendance on public worship. This cannot be too forcibly inculcated, nor can the facts that JUSTIN MARTYR, in the second century, LUTHER, CALVIN, and CRANMER, in their day, held the teaching cf the Sabbatarianism of ours in abhor , rence, and pronounced most strongly against it, and that it would be as Christian to insist on "an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth" indeed for the observance of the entire Je wish law as it is to insist on the present puritanical obiervance of Sunday. Scripture authority, rea son, common humanity, are alike in antagonism to Sabbatism. The measures of Sir BENJAMIN HALL do credit alike to his head and heart—let him, we say in conclusion, be supported ! LONDON, SATURDAY, APRIL 26, 1856. The Marriage Law Amendment Bill was last night refused a second reading in the Upper House by a majority of 19, in which the Bishops largely figured, as well as in the debate. The amendment(l) was proposed by a Right Rev. Pre late, and three others spoke against the measure, while only two lay lords followed on the same side, and yet not one of the number ventured to assert that a clear and express prohibition of these mar riages was to be found in any part of Scripture. The whole argument, if argument it could be 'called, was based on the wages of the early Church, which might just as well be resorted to in order to enforce the celibacy of the clergy, and to prove that every one of these pious occupants of the Episcopal Bench were living in a state opposed to the Divine law. We would venture to remind them that One, whose authority they will not dare to repudiate, in speaking of similar arguments, declared, "Ye make the Word of GOD of none effect by your traditions." How, then, can they endeavour, by their traditions, to dispense with the sacred writings—which at least a large proportion of the many persons " of re ligious and moral character," so deeply interested in the question, are disposed to regard as the sole rule of faith—the only authorities by which they will permit themselves to be bound? The Bishop of OXFORD, the principal speaker against the measure, founded his opposition mainly on the ecclesiastical law, forgetting that the great and rapidly-increasing body of Pro testant Dissenters unequivocally repudiate that law, and that their consciences should not be bound, in a country professing to accord un li mited civil and religious liberty to every professor of Christianity without exception. Even in the Establishment itself a large propor tion of the clergy and laity declare that there is nothing either immoral or reprehensible in such unions, and yet a minority are permitted to impose undue restrictions on the consciences of their fellow-men, debarring them from the exercise of the most sacred and valuable privilege belonging to mankind—the right of selecting a partner for life—of giiing a kind, loving mother to their orphan children. Verily, we may exclaim with LUTHER---" Perish, therefore, those cursed tr a- ditions of men, which have been brought in only to multiply dangers, offences, and miseries in the Church." It is also remarkable that the question of expe diency, or social inconvenience, was equally avoided by the lay and eerical opponents of the Bill. They clearly perceived that on such a point they had no foundation, and, therefore, judici ously—for they also are wise in their generation —rode off on a collateral issue, the canons and traditions of the Church. They advisedly and deliberately avoided the only ground—other than a Divine prohibition—on which the restriction could be justified, and thus practically relin quished the argument to the advocates of civil and religious liberty. There is nothing to show that in the earlier ages these marriages were prohibited or censured in the Christian Church. PAUL, who espe cially directed his attention to the subject of marriage, never alluded to it in any way, and as these unions were frequent then as now, there can be but little doubt that he would have done So if he considered them in any way objectionable. In the Jewish Clnirch "it was distinctly under stood to be permitted, and on this point neither the Divine law, nor the Rabbis, nor historical Judaism, leaves room for the least doubt." Such is the statement df Dr. ADLER, Chief Rabbi of the Jews in Great Britain, an unexceptionable witness on such a question. After some centuries they were prohibited in the Roman Catholic Church as ri""matteeof disciptin - e." But the same power that created the difficulty, found means of over coming it by granting dispensations wherever the applicant possessed a golden key to unlock the fetters imposed not by Divine, but merely human authority. It was the "scruples of conscience" of a sanguinary and licentious tyrant, who proved that he had other means of dissolving the nuptial tie whenever he became tired of his partner, or deSirous of a new one, that led to the movement in the sixteenth century ; and that HENRY might indulge his caprice, and ELIZABETH be regarded as legitimate, the Canons were framed, although not without considerable hesitation and contro versy, which included marriage with a deceased wife's sister, as prohibited by Scripture. There were then, as at other times, Prelates willing to sanction anything desired by one who possessed the power of rewarding or punishing. Had HENRY desired to maintain indissolubly his connection with CATHERINE of Arragon, the obedient Bishops would have obeyed the injunction, a n d it is to his licentious and fickle disposition th a t we are indebted for this most inequitable and impolitic law. Up to 1535 these marriages were not abso lutely void, but merely voidable. If no proceed ings were taken within the lives of both parties, indeedlunless a final decree had been pronounced, they were to all intents and purposes valid and binding, and the children legitimate. The cases where malicious scoundrels, or greedy relatives, interfered under a pretended anxiety for the soul's health of the parties were rare indeed. Unfortunately, however, a nobleman of the highest rank in the peerage had married his deceased wife's sister, the niece of another Peer of equal rank and. vast influence. A bill was introduced for the purpose of rendering that marriage effectual, and preventing the youth ful heir from being deprived of the numerous honours and wide-spread domains of his ancient family. It would, however, be invidious to spe cify a particular case, and, therefore, the privilege was extended to all similarly affected. The Right Rev. Prelates - could waive their conscientious scruples where one Duke and the niece of another were concerned : they were quite willing to render all marriages that had previously been celebrated legal, which was all that the measure provided. But one of their number, the Bishop of LONDON, at the last moment, introduced a clause, rendering them absolutely null and void for the future. It was rejected by the House of Commons, but un happily they yielded in the too great anxiety to save a few from inconvenience, and in the hope that the obnoxious clause would speedily be repealed. The measure was thus carried, and serious grievance inflicted on large and respectable classes of her Majesty's subjects. The evil has now continued more than 20 years. Many efforts have been made to obtain an adequate remedy, but hitherto they have been foiled by the mischievous zeal and energy of the occupants of the Episcopal Bench. We trust, however, that these efforts will not be relaxed— that the question may be unceasingly agitated, until it is finally and satisfactorily dis posed of. Truth is great, and must ulti mately prevail. Parties will at length be induced to inquire for themselves, and to form their own judgments, without suffering them selves to be led astray by the lawn-sleeved gentry. Possibly the Prelates may, by a much-required act of peerage reform, be exempted from the labours of legislation, in which case there can he little doubt that the wishes of the great body of the people will receive immediate attention, and the obnoxious enactment be for ever erased from the National Statute Book. PEACE and PLENTY—of—Gau-boats, when we do not want them ; hardly one to be had in 1854 when we did, and could have had them ; not even in 1855, when we might have had them all in the Baltic as easily as at Portsmouth on Wednesday. Plenty of gun-boats now no Swea borg, or Helsingfors, or Cronstadt may be touched —scant supply enough when those fortresses might have been tumbled into a convention with the Aland Isles ; and when the CZAR, battered out of St. Petersburg, would have given up gladly, not a paltry strip merely, of Bessarabia, but the whole of it, and much more to boot. Plenty of gun-boats—some 250 of them—now they can do no harm to the great modern spoiler of nations, to the Emperor of all the RUSSIAS, but the oppressor of a vast territory which never was a _Russia, and which honest nations ought to have wrested from the dishonest one. Plenty of gun boats for sight, none when they were wanted for service. Plenty of gun-boats to create nice little steps of patronage in peace, none when there was work for them to do. PEACE and PLENTY—Of consideration for Russia —none for Poland, Finlind, the Tartars, and the Circassians. Plenty of humiliation spared to the aggressor ; plenty of money left in his hands, which, according to his own practice, he ought to have paid to Turkey at least, and to the partners of Turkey too. Plenty of fortresses left to him with which to menace Germany ; a " Con tinental Sebastopol" among them, Lord PALMER STON being witness. Plenty of exiled Poles in Siberia, and plenty of Crimean Tartars journeying thither for selling food to our troops ; plenty of consideration for the oppressor, none for the op pressed. Plenty of delicate silence about the atrocities and knaveries of the Great Despot, and total silence touching the rights and wrongs of the nations. Peace, and plenty left undone which ought to be done. PEACE and PLENTY---Of Austrian troops in the Principalities, and on the borders of our nobler ally, Sardinia ;—of money is the pockets of Prus sians for a hostile neutrality ;—of military tro phies for France, while Kars and its English General, perhaps, the greatest hero of the War, was left to his fate ;—of Coburg influence at the Court and the Horse Guards ;—of Crimean Reports ou the " want of promptitude and ingenuity" on the part of the English commanders, and of Chel sea inquiries to prove the truth of the Report, but to let off the honoured incapables of the War office. Peace, and Plenty—of money spent, of lives thrown away, of horses killed, of battles won by soldiers, of assaults miscarrying through the Ge nerals; Peace, and plenty of—" care fur Down." Peace and Plenty—of despots and despotism —little enough of liberty, civil or religious ; some thirty or forty, we forget how many, pup pet, yet real despots, in Germany ; a despot in Prussia, a despot of the most odious descent, in Austiia, a despot in Naples, another as bad, or worse, in Rome, another in Tuscany ;—and what, as to his form of Government, can we denomi nate an Ally who will not permit the nomination of any but a Government candidate for election ? —Sardinia is, of course, a happy exception ; and the despot of Turkey seems to be next in honestly liberal tendencies. Elsewhere we have plenty of Concordats, and oppression of Protestants by Catholics, and of both by the Greek Church in Russia ;—plenty of religious intolerance on ;the part of monarchs who will give to no Christians, but those of the despot-favoured Church, the religious liberty and equality which the SULTAN now concedes to all! Peace, and plenty of civil and religious tyranny, and civil and religious slavery. Quito natural, then, that we should have PEACE and PLENTY—Of Government shows. Splendid naval reviews, peace and splendid Government fire-works----peace and rejoicings made to order ; all very reasonable, when the people will not re joice for what Government has done, that Govern ment should rejoice itself. Nothing like a bold face on a thing. EIGHT THOUSAND POUNDS worth of Fireworks ! Why all the lads and lasses under fifteen will applaud the peace to the echo, and wish for a peace every year: The Moniteur, the Invalide Busse, and all the despots' journals of the Continent, will re-echo the Government re joicings for England to the tune of "Exhausted Albion." A Ministry gilding their own misdoings and not doings Rill, over all the Continent, be represented. as the nation. Yet what a difference! Those who are old enough to recollect the last peace cannot understand this. They remember the spontaneous and universal fetes, illuminations, and rejoicings ; whatever Government did was anticipated everywhere by the people. It was peace and plenty of—heartfelt rejoicing. Now it is what an eloquent Athenian orator so justly denounced—what the same Government has also done in the case of the Crimean commanders—an attempt by rewards and honours to anticipate the scrutiny. How are we to condemn the officers whom the Horse Guards have honoured for the very conduct for which they were rewarded How to censure the peace which a naval review, THE FOUR MISSING ARTICLES OF PEACE. We are assured that the four missing Articles of Peace were prevented from appearing by the wish of Lord Clarendon himself ; and that they are of such a nature that all England will exult over them as containing everything to be desired —more especially an indemnity for all the ex penses of the War, which will relieve us from the Income Tax. His Lordship, it is thought, pre ferred to enjoy the pleasure of first communicating them to Parliament himself ; but the Chancellor of the Exchequer was of course fully aware of them when he granted the 8,0001. for fire-works. —Government Paper (24th). THE IJNTERvAb CONDITION OF TURKEY. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. SlR,—Pence is re-established, bat have we attained the object so much sought far ?----have we improved the condition of the unfortunate population of Turkey ? Promises and Hatti - Humayouns we have in numbers, b o ut n are thley am obeyedso by the governors of the Turkish w to say no. The condition of Turkey towns trry is worse now than ever, as I learn from friends residing there ; and from a letter of one I extract the following, which I hope you will be able to publish in your valu able columns,' that it may become known, and then, per haps, a remedy attempted. My friend writes :—"Tbe country is infested with robbers. We hear of nothing else but murders, and people carried to the mountains for ransom. Stores in this town have been plundered, but where are the authorities ?—what Las become of the firmans ? The guards sent to protect the tr.winees commit the greatest enormities—enormities which will bring disgrace on the allies if .hey overlook them. It a Christian has a pretty daughter he is sure to become the victim of the precious commander cf the Guards. We have bad several cases lately of young fema'es being carried away by force, and when the bishop insists on their being brought befc re the miz/ish, to declare herself that she has willingly embraced Islami-mn, they bring a Turkish woman into the court covered with her garmack (and thus rendering it impos sible to be recognised), who declares that she willingly accepts the "true faith." Such is the state of 'affairs here, and such things the poor Christians suffer. Where is Christian Europe ? Where are the protectors of the Christians in Turkey ?" Tbul my friend writes, and I trust you will find a corner in your valuable paper for this ; and may it be the. cau-e (.1 some improvement. —I am, &c., April 25, 1856. A CHRISTIAN. THE NATIONAL GALLERY JOBBERY. TO THE EDITJR OF THS S7N. SIR, —Whilst the Chelsea Commission is endeavouring to entangle some small fry of puppets in iti meshes, permit me, Mr. Editor, to call its attention—or better, the attention of your readers—to the following brief summary of facts. Whilst our gallant allies the French were successfully approaching the redoubtable Malakhoff with the assist ance of 4,000 sappers and miners, the English were try ing to approach the equally formidable Redan, with but 250 sappers and miners. The French leapt into the Malakhoff and victory from their ten yards' distant entrenchn , ents, without the loss of a single man. The English, in attempting a similar feat from their two hundred yards distant cover—only realised death or ignominious defeat. Thanks to the Filo-Russians at home, who, in place of emulating the French in forwarding to the Crimea a quantum , ffujieit of engiueers, of whom no country in the world could have furnished a more ample supply than England had our rulers willed it. But these preferred rather to devote the funds which I and my countrymen cheerfully con tributed towards the effective prosecution of the war to the buying of pictures !—and such pictures ! I —to the paying, for the first time, one thousand per annum for a National Gallery director !—and such a director ! ! to the paying, for the first time, some seven or eight hundred a-year to the director's secretary, to draw up a Catalogue Ref/sow/eel (shades of mutilated Claudes and CaealettieS I!) To the appointing and pay. ing,.God knows how muult, to a foreign collector of pi e . tures, that he might buy w? such " vamped-up " Paul Veroneses as the newlyenitalled "Adoration of the Magi," at the price of blood-1,9771. For who would deny that had this cne thousand nine hundred and seventy seven pounds—in addition to the foreign collec tor's commission, added to the slight shade worse than useless National Gallery Director's 1,000/. per annum, added to the 800/. a-year of the suspicious " Catalogue Raieonneer "—been offered in the shape of increased pay to some two or three hundred able-bodied and intelligent mechanic, a sufficient number of sappers and miners could have been improvised in six weeks to have enabled our brave soldiers to realise as glorious a tritrnipb at the Redan as, on the contrary, they were betrayed. into so deplorable a defeat ? But, if such convicting letters as that of Mr. W. Co. ninghani's of the 30th ult., and the startling denouncer of the 17th inst., from the pen of that veteran foe to picture mutilation and disgraceful National Gallery jobbery—Mr. Morris Moore—fail to shaeoe the betrayers of public trust into the amende honorable, then, in deed, should I feel disposed to endorse the following con cluding paragraph of the Times' leader of Saturday : "It is England's own fault if she commits her armies, her men, her treasure, and her honour to men whom even experience will not make wiser ;. and who, while alone responsible for her calamities, seem alone uncon cerned." NEMESIS. LATEST NE WS. VIENNA, FRIDAY, NOON. All foreign troops are to quit Turkey and the Principalities within six months ; sooner, if pos- sible. ST. PETERSBURG, APRIL 24. Prince Gortschak - off is definitively appointed Minister of Foreign. Aff tiro. BERLIN, APRIL 2J. The ratifications of Prussia to the treaty of the 30th March were gent off to Paris yesterday evening. The King has left to-day for Dresden, and will return on the 29th. ...,41 HAMBURG, APRIL 24. We learn from Heligoland that the Anglo-Ger man Legion, which was still in that island, had received orders to embark, it was thought, for England. Only '72 quitted, it is said, the island spontaneously. FRANCE. PARIS, FRIDAY EVENING. The Emperor yesterday received the reply of the King of Portugal to the notification of the birth of the Prince Imperial. The Duke and Duchess of Alba and the Countess of Montijo, mother to her Majesty the Empress of the French, leave Paris in a day or two for Madrid. Probably to morrow the French Foreign-office will possess the treaty of peace, with the sovereign ratifications of all the contracting Powers. The official Moniteur will then immediately publish the text. We read in the Constitutionnel :—" Some of the Madrid journals have spoken of a direct invitation which is said to have been given by the Emperor to Marshal Narvaez for the grand review of the Ist April.- These journals have committed an error in this respect which it is important to rectify. The invitation, requested by the marshal, was granted to him, as to all the other foreign general officers who solicited the honour of forming part of the cortege of his Majesty, and was transmitted to him under cover to General Prim. As far as regards the pretended sending of a horse to the marshal, there is positively not the slightest truth in the details given by the Madrid journals." The report of the committee of the Legislative Body charged to examine the bill for granting life annuities to persons who had suffered in the insur rection of June, 1848, sets forth that the bill in question is nothing more than a fresh application of that of June 13, 1850, by which a sum of 712,650 f. was voted for the above purpose. It is intended for the purpose of granting life-pensions to five persons who belonged to the garde mobile and national guar.l, and who received wounds which have maimed them for life, and to the de scendants of nineteen who were killed. The com mittee adopted an amendment to the bill to the effect that the pensions proposed to be awarded should not cause the credit of 712,650 f. originally voted to be exceeded. This amendment was adopted by the. Council of State with the addition of a clause that persons who might feel themselves entitled to the pensions proposed to be given shoul d have three years allowed to them to make good their claims. The amount of the new pensions to be granted is 14,883 fr. BOURSE, April 25.—The following were the last quotations : Cash. ft.. a. End of Month. per Cents ci3 75 —f. —O. 3 per Cents 74 15 74 20 New Loan 74 50 Bank Shares 3,975 Roman Credit Mobilier 1,745 Austrian Belgian Five 5...,.... Spanish Threes 45 Piedmontese(s)...,.. 93 50 Heine Debt RAILWA YS-POR CASE. fr. c. fr. 0. Orleans :. ..... Northern ' .1,070 Strasburg - Lyons .... 1,450 New Ditto (x d) 890 Hediterranean 1,660 Grand Central Lyons Geneva Bl5 - Testa . ... CiAte 790 Austrian Com. 937 50 RUSSIA. The Journal de St. Petersbourg publishes the following report from General Luders, dated 2d (14th) of April : "Yesterday I had an interview with the Commanders in-Chief of the allied armies, I arrived at noon with my suite at the Kamenoi bridge (stone bridge) over the Tchernaya, where I was received by the French General M`Mahon ; two battalions of Zouaves were drawn up on each side of the road, with their band, which paid me the usual honours ; at the same time salutes were fired from the batteries on the Fedukhine heights ; shortly afterwards Marshal Felissier, attended by a nutnerous s rite, came to meet me, and immediately afterwards GE nerals della Marmora and Codrington, also accompanied by their staffs. After the usual com pliments and introductions, I invited the foreign Gene rats to the camp of the 11th Division, on the Mackenzie heights, whither we proceeded on horseback. On our approach salutes were fired by our batteries on the Mac kenzie heights. Near the hut of the staff of the division I presented the company of honour, carrying the flag of the Selinghinsk Regiment, to the Commanders-in-Chief. After a few moments' repose we proceeded to the 12th Division, which was waiting for us under arms, in co• Inrons and sections. Military honours were paid to Marshal Pelissier. " After the review the troops marched past in sections; the bearing, dregs, and especially the step of the men pleased the strangers much ; I then invited the Com manders-in-Chief to dinner in a tent prepared specially for the purpose ; many other generals and officers par took of this repast. " After a toait proposed by me to the health of his Majesty the Emperor of the French, of Queen Victoria, and of the King of Sardinia, Marshal Pelissier proposed the health of his Majesty the Emperor and of the armies of his Imperial Majesty. " In a long speech, he expressed his veneration for his Majesty, and his warm sympathy for our troops ; he especially requested me to bring to the knowledge of the Emperor that what he said cone from the bottom of his heart. " During the whole of the day a great number of officers and soldiers of the allies visited our camp. "On the whole, great cordiality prevailed on all Fides." The Commercial Gazette of St. Petersburg pub lishes the following letter, addressed by 12 English merchants of the Port of St. Petersburg to the Minister of Finance : "On the very first apprehension of the eventuality of a rupture between Russia and Great Britain your Excel lency deigned, in the name of the late Emperor Nicho las, of glorious memory, generou-ly to declare to the English merchants th tt even in case of war, their per sons and prop er ty would remain inviolable. "In consequence of the magnanimous views of the Rucsiari Government British subjects domiciled in the empire have, throughout the whole of the war, enjoyed not only pe r f ec t personal decurity and the inviolability of their property, but also all the rights of export and import trade. "To-day, in the midst of the general rejoicing at the conclusion of peace, and the re-establishment of friendly relations between the Powers who were at war, we feel it a sacred duty to address to your Excellency the very htinthle prayer of plat nz, at the feet of his Imperial Majesty the sentiments of our most profound and most respectful gratitude for the protection granted to us, and under which we have not ceased, during the war, to enjoy in Russia the same security and_welfare as Russian subjects. " Signed,— " ROBERT CATTLEY, THOMAS ANDERSON, M. ANDERSON, C. MOBERLY, D LODER AND CO., J. W. BUSK, W. D. BUSK, M. WILSON, F. KRUGER, for THOMSON, BONAR, AND Co., T. SCHULTZ, S. U. GWYER, J. R. CATTLEY." The Minister of Finance had the honour of com municating this letter to his Imperial Majesty, who deigned graciously to accept the expression of the sentiments it contained. PRUSSIA. The Hamburg correspondent of the Brussels Independance, writes :—" The news which we have received from Stockholm leaves no doubt as to the approaching marriage of Prince Oscar, second son of the King, with the Princess Mary of Cambridge. The Prince will leave almost immediately, with the Queen Mother for Paris. From thence he will proceed to London, to make a somewhat prolonged stay, and will complete the arrangements for the projected union. The fortune of the Princess of Cambridge amounting only to about 3,0001. a year, it is believed at Stockholm that at the next meeting of the four Chambers of the Diet the King will ask for an annual grant for his son, in order to enable that Prince to worthily sustain his rank and that of his court. This project already excites much pub lic attention." SPAIN. MADRID, April 24.—The Puke de la Victoria leaves this evening for Valladolid, where be is to inaugurate the railway from that place to Burgos. Afterwards he will proceed to Logrono, and thence to Saragossa for the inauguration of the railway of that place. He will be at Saragossa about the 4th of May. PARLIA32 CN rA BY DIVISION'S. HOUSE OF LORDS.-APRIL 25. The following is a list of the majority who voted against Lord SL :Germans' bill for legalising marriage with a de ceased wife's sister or niece : ARCHBISHOPS. 'Kingston Winchester Armagh Mayo BARONS. Canterbury Munster Berners Nei son Colville of Culross Lord Chancellor Romney Congleton DUKES. Leeds Montrose - . - Stradbroke Crewe - VISCOUNTS. Delarder° Dungannon Dinevor MARQUISES. Lifford • Faversham Bath BISHOPS. Liffonl Camden Cashel • Lyttelton EARLS. Chichester Pan mnre Bantry Exeter Redesdale Carnarvon Hereord Smiles Clancarty ' Llandaff Stafford Galloway , St. Asaph Tenterden Harewood St. David's Wynford PAIRS. FOR. AGAINST. - Radnor, Earl St. Vincent, Earl Portsmouth, Earl Winchilsea, Earl. Abinger, Lord Ely, Marquis • Camoys, Lord Delawarr, Earl Hatherton, Lord - Kenyon, Lord Londeaborough, Earl , Colchester, Lord Orkney, Earl Egmont, Earl Sidney, Viscount Rosebery, Earl Gosford, Earl Bangor, Bishop Enfield, Viscount Douglas, Lord Bangor, Viscount Courtown, Earl Lurg,an, Lord Lucan, Earl Wodehouse, Lord Malmesbury, Earl Rivers, Lord Bradford, Earl Suffield, Lord Combermere, Viscount Lansdowne, Marquis Oxford, Bishop -Granville, Earl Derby, Earl - SOmers, Earl De Tabley, Lord Sudeley, Lord Waldegrave, Earl Exmouth, Viscount Wilton, Earl Denbigh, Earl Harrington, Earl Airlie, Earl Breadalbane, Marquis Foley, Lord . Downes; Lord Vivian, Lord Hawardeu, Viscount Townsend, Marquis Beauchamp, Earl Torriniton, Viscount Effingham, Earl Abingdon, Earl Mansfield, Earl Buckingham, Duke Buccleuch, Duke Clonbrock, Lord Salisbury, Marquis Durham, Earl St. Leonardo, Lord Sligo, M.trquiS Mornington, Earl Spencer, ; Earl Longford, Earl Ellesmere, Earl Harro why, Earl Willoughby de Broke,Lord Dartmouth, Earl Leigh, Lord Brougham, Lord Stanley of Alderley, Lord Eglinton, Earl . Overdone, Lord Campbell, Lord HOUSE OF COMMONS.—APRIL 25. POLICE (COUNTIES AND BOROUGHS) BILL. Clause 1 (where a constabulary is not already established for the whole of a county, quarter sessions to cause the same to be established). Amendment proposed (for which see our Parliamentary report). Question put, "That the words ' under the said acts of the second and third and third and fourth years of her Majesty, stand part of the clause." The committee divided—Ayes 263, Noes 94. • • AYES-263. Acland, Sir T. Foley, J. H. Mundy, W. Acton, Joseph Forester, Col. Newport, Viscount Adderley, C. B. Forst,r, Sir Geo. Noel, G. Agnew, Sir A. Forster, John Norreys, Sir D. Alc oCk , T. Freestun, Colonel Oakes, J. And , rson, Fir J. Gallwey, Sir W. O'Connell, D. Antrobus, E. - Galway, Viscount O'Connell, J. Atherton, W. George, J. Osborne, R. Baines, Itt. Hon. M. Gibson, M. Packs, C. Bali. J.: Glyn, G. Paget, Lord A. Barrington, Vial. Gordon, A. Pakini4 ton, sir J. Bass, M. Gower, F. Palk, L. Baxter, W. Graham, Sir J. Palmer, Robert Beamish, F. Greene, Thomas Palmerston, Viscount Beaumont, W. Gregson, Samuel Patten, Col. Beckett, W. Grenfell, Charles Peacocke, G. Bennet, Capt. P. Grey, Rt. Hon. Sir G. Peel. F. 'Bentinck, G. - Grey, R. Perry, Sir E. Berkeley, G. - 6. Ga itey, I. H. Philipps, J. Bethell, Sir R. . Gwyn, Howel Phillimore, J. G. Bignold, Sit S. Hale, Robert Pollard-Urquhart, W. Black, Adam Hall, (leneral John I' ortal, M. BLikemore; T. •• . Hamilton, Lord Claud Power, N. Blau!, L. H. Hankey, T. Price W. Blandford, Marquis of U arcourt, G. G. Ricardo, 0. B n'iain-Carter, J. Hardy, G. Ricardo, S. Booth, Sir Rt. Gore Hastie, Alex. Rice, E. Couverie, Hon. E. P. Hastie, Archd. Rich, El.' Brady, J. Headlam, T. llidley,,Georgs - Brainston, T. W. Heard. J. Robartea, T. Brand, HB. W. Heathcoate, Sir W. Robertson, P. Brotherton, J. Heathcote, G. Rushout, Capt. 9. Bruce, 11. A. Heneage, Geo. F. Russell, F. C. Buckley, Gen. Herbert, S. Ituseeli, F. W. Burroughes, EL N. Heywood, J. Rust, James Jiurrowes, Robert Hindley, C. Sawle, C. Cardwell, E. Holton!, R.. Seyrner, IL Castlerosse, Vis. Holland, E. , Seymour, H. Javendish, C. C.' Horsman, E. Shelburne, Earl Cavendish, G. C. Howard. C. Shirley, E. Chaini3ers, M Hutchins, E. Smith, J. B. Chambers, T. Hutt, W. Smith, AI. Chaplin, W. Ingham, R. . Smith, R. Cheethain, John Irton. S. Smirch, Abel Chelsea, Viscount Jackson, W. Somerset, Colonel Child, Smith Jermyn, Rt. Hu. Earl Spooner, it. Cholmondeley, Lord. Johnstone, J. • St.itfurd, A. 1 Clay, Sir W., it. Johnstone, Sir J. Stafford, Marquis Clinton, Lord R. Jolliffe, Sir W. Stanley, W. Clive, Hon. - R.-W. Kerrisou, Sir E. Steel, John Cocks, T. S. King, L. Stracey, Sir H. Cole,' H. A. Kingscote, Capt. R. Strutt, Lion. E. Colvile. C. R. - Knatchbull, W. Stewart, Sir M. comoton, H. C. Knightley, R. Stuart, Captain Coote; Sir C. H. Laboucoere,Rt.Hon.H Talbot, C. Corbally, M. E. Lacon, Sir E. Tancred, IL Cowan, C. Laing, S. 'Taylor, Colonel Craufurd, E. H. J. Langston, J. H. Thompson, G. Crossley, F. Langton, W. H. P. G. Thoruely, T. COM. W. Langton, H. G. Thornhill, W. Davie, Sir H. R. F. LaSeelles; E. Tollemacne, J. Davies, D. Lee. W. ' Tottenham, C. Davies, J: Lennox, Lord A. F. Tyler, Sir G. Davison, R. Lewis, Sir G. C. Tyrell, Sir J. Denison, J. E. ' Liddell, H. G. Uxbridge, Earl Dering, Sir E. ' Lisburne, Earl Vernon, G. De Vere, S. E. Lockhart, W. Villiers, C. Dillwyn, L. L. Lovaine, Lord Vyse, Jot. R. Disraeli, B. Lowe, R. Walcott, Admiral. Dod, J. Luce, T. Walsh, Sir J. Duff, G. Lushington, C. M. Walter, J. Duncan, Viscount Lytton, sir E. Warner, E. Donesn, 'George Mackie, J. Watkins, Col. Dindas, F. March, Earl of Watson, W. Dungarvan. Viscount Marshall, W. Whatman, J. J ,un lop, A. Martin, P. Whitbread, S. Du Pre, C. Massey, W. Wilkinson, W. East, Sir J.. Meux, 'ir IL Williams, W. Ibrington, Viscount Miles, W, Wilson, J. Egerton, Sir P. Milligan, R. Wilmington, Sir T. Estcourt, T. Mills, T. Wood, sir C. Entail, W, Milnes, R. Wo.idd, B. Farnham, E. Moffat, (4. Wrightson, W. Fel lowes, E. Mona, Vis. Wyndham, H. Fenwick, H. Moncreiff, J. Wynn a, W. Fergus, John Moore, G. Wyvill, M. Ferguson, Colonel Morgan, 0. Ferguson, sir It. Morris, D. TELLERS. Ferguson, J. Mostyn, E. Fitzgerald, J. 34 °Watt, F. Hayter, W. Foyer. J. Mowbray, J. It. Mulgrave, Earl of NO E:;--94. Adair, R. Fox, W. J. North, Col. J. Bailey, Sir J. Gardner, R. Northcote, Sir S. Baird, J. Coderich, Viscount Peellell, Sir G. B nil, E. Graham, Lord M. Pennant, Cot. E. Baring, Sir F. Greaves, E. Pilkington, J. , Barnes, T. Greenall, Gilbert Repton , G. Barrow, W. Greene, John Scholefield, W. Bell, J. Grna,u. Edward 5c , ,b,11, Capt. Bernard, Visit. Guinness, K. S. Scott, F. Biggs, W. Hadfield, George Sibthorp, Major Blackburn, I'. - llanmer, Sir John &nthli, :ir yr. Blake, M. J. Hervey*, Lord A. Smith, W. Sin ; tn. John Bramley- ,ore, J. I H ll o l r cll i lr l d , , T it . . C. Brocklehurst, J. oin. rville, Sir W. ' Brockman, E. D. Hotham, Lord Starkie, Le G. Buck, Col. Kell , Sir F, Thesiger, Sir. F. Butt, G. M. Kendall, N. Tice, W. Christy, SArnuel Kershaw, J. Vance, John Cobbett. J. Knight, F. Vansittart, G. 7onoly, 'f. Laslett, W. Vyryan, Sir R. Crook, J. Lennox. Lord 11. G. Waddington, D. Dashwood, Sir G. Leslie, C. r. wnlmsley, Sir J. Deedes, William Lindsay, W. Whitmore, H. Denison, E. Lowther, Capt. Wickham, H. Duckworth, Sir J. T.B Macai tney, G. "Willcox, B. Duke, sir J. Maddock, Sir H. Williams, W. Buncombe, Hon. A. Manners, Lord J. Willoughby, Sir H. Evetyn, W. J. Michell. William Wyndham, Gen. Evart, J. Mitchell, T A. Farrer, J. Mutt tz, G. TELLERS. Ferguson, Sir J. Murrough, J. P. Filmer, Sir E. Napier, Sir C. Henley, J. Forster, Charles Newdegate, C. Hamilton, R. LLOYD'S SHIPPING.—(This Day.) LONDON, April 26.—Wind this day at noon, W. ; moderate breeze and cloudy. PLYMOUTH, April s.—Wind E.—Arrived—El Do ra'lo, from Monte Video ; Holyrood (s. tpt.), Deptford. Off the port —Anglesey, from Melb n or. FALMOUTH, April zs.—Wind E., strot g,—Arrived Elias Pike, from Akyab ; G:ovanui, Moose Video for Antwerp. Sailed—Valuna, for Quebec. Off the port— Hau•-r, from Bahia, for Hamburg. NEWPORT, April 'ls.—Wind E.—Arrived—Juno, from London, for St. Thomas; Agatha and John Christian Si mony, London. LOWESTOFT, April 25—The Treffery (not Jeffery, as before reported), from Newcastle, for Plymouth, which grounded on the Corton Sand, got off last night and pro ceeded. JERSEY, April 24.—Wind E.—Sailed—Nameless, Bo liva, and Swift, for Labrador. CORK, April 24.—Wind S.S.E. — Arrived.—Liffey, from Barbadoes. CARDIFF, April 25.—Wind S.W. — Sailed—Nantase, for Singapore ; Jason, Rio Janeiro. LEITH, April 25.--Arrived—Judith from Matanzas. HARTLEPOOL, Wind 25.—Wind S.E.—Sailed—Eliza Robson, for Quebec. (PEB ELEOTRIc TI LEGRAPH.I SOUTHAMPTON, Saturday Morning. Arrived—Air and Vulcan, from Sunderland ; George Canning, Port Packet, Isabella, Matilda, Maria, Whitfield, and Eliza, Cardiff; Prothesa, Aun, and Phillimore, Leith; Mary Pope, Atlas, Adelaide, San 7 Lass, and Jessie, Newport; Merchant, S wansea; Cit y o f B otter d am ( s .), London ; Purveyor, Portland, Sailed—Sir Robert Peel, for Sunderland. (BY SUBMARINE ANA BRITISH TELKUBA'vT• I . GRAVESEND, Saturday, 10.15 a.m. Wind S. ; tide, 6 hours' ebb ; cloudy. Sailed—Margaret, for Dunkirk . Aurora and Frederick Simony, Aalborg; Clarendon (s -t.) Malta. DEAL, Saturday, 9.55 a.m. Wind W.S.W. ; moderate. Passed—General Taylor, from Havre, for Newcastle ; Wild Cat, Calcutta ; Iddo Inglis and Dayspring, Mauri tius ; Lady M'Donald, Ceylon ; Jane, M01.1!1)16i1) ; Cressul, Shanghai ; Pleiades, Calcutta; Peri, St. Michael's —all for London. Anohored—Sutlej, from London, for Newport ; Barba rian, London, Cardiff; Eliza Neilson, East, North Ame rica. Sailed --Odin, for London. Put back—Truro, for Adelaide. ARRIVAL OF THE ANGLESEA.—The A.rglePea, Captain Thorne, from Port Philip, has arrived with 51,319 ounces of geld, valued at 205 , 2 7 6 1., and ad v ic es t o the 20th of Januaiy, off Plyinputh. Lady IT , ,tham, the relict of the late Governor of VietGria, and suite, are among the passengers. The letters and papers are ex pected to town to-day ; and, being about ten days later than the ad vices by the Red Jacket, they will be perused with considerable interest. I UELKBRATION OF SY AKSPRIO ,- :.S I Br TB DAY AT ,5 TIiATFORD-UPON-AVON. The thirty-second anniversary dinner of the Royal Shakeperean Club, in commemoration of the' natal day of the immortal bard, was held in Shakspere's Hall, on the 23d instant. The town on this joyous occasion was gay and animated ; banners and flags were displayed from all the pikblic buildings ; the bells of the parish church rang merrily ; and the day-was marked by s ail the features:of a general holiday. - At eleven o'clock in the morning, the "Birth-place Committee" held a meeting at the hall, .under the presi dency of D. Rice, Esq., the mayor of the town. There were also present Messrs. W. 0. Hunt, E. Adam's, E. Gibbs, J. Atkinson, and J. S. Leaver. The minutes' of the last csceting were read and confirmed, and a finance committee was appointed, consisting of Messrs. A. B. Wheler, W. 0. Hunt, J. Atkinson, D. Rice, E. F. Flower—three to form a quorum, and to meet quarterly. The following gentlemen were added to the committee — Messrs. F. Kendale, H. B. Sowdon,. H. Kingsley, M.D., H. Stanley, C. Lucy, and -K. M. Bird. A letter was laid before the meeting from Dr. Thomson, giving in his resignation as President of the Society, an office which he had held for many years to the satisfaction of every one connected with it. The Dr. had been one of the steadiest supporters of the club from its cotnmencement, and be took a most active part in raising the fund for the purchase of the birth-place of Shakspere. A vote of thanks was unanimously passed .to him for his valuable services, and Dr, Kingsley was elected to the vacant office. Tne Secretary, Mr, J. S. Leaver, read the following re port, which was adopted unanimously :—" Annual Report of the Royal Shakesperean Club for the year ending 23d April, 1856 :—Ever since 1847, when the 'Committee made the purchase of the "birtlnplace " and premises, they had been in expectation of being able to announce the liquidation of the debt incurred by the Committee for the completion of the purchase ; and this year they have that gratifying information to give, and the society is now free of debt, in relation to the liability so tong existing. The original sum formed from the Bank was 4701. se cured to the Bank by a note, signed by your president, and Messrs W. 0. Hunt, C. H. Bracebridge, Flower, and D. Rice, which was cancelled in November 22d last ; the interest paid on it amounted to 75/. 4s. 11d. , In the effort, the Committee have felt it their duty to make, to rem'eve the debt they have been obliged to incur, some further liabilities in the necessary re pairs of the birth place" and adjoining houses, and in paving the front of the house, to the amount of upwards of 1001., but, at the same time, they have pleasure in saying the whole of the property is tenanted, and with the donations from vistors, and some other sources 'of income, they are sanguine of being in a position to make a very satisfactory report at the next festival. A return is expected to be made from the London Committee. As soon as that is rectivei, an abstract of the account will be carefully prepaied, and with a list of contributors to the fund, hang up in . the birth-place. The finances of the Club show a swill balance in favour of the trea surer—but the liabilities alluded to render that eco noniy will be necess:.ry in order to carry out the views of the committee. The committee cannot close this re port without alluding, with feelings of deep regret, to the lamented death of their treasurer and valuable sup porter, Mr. William Sheldon,—his active participation in the anxieties attending the purchase of the birth-place, readine s ta ca-operate with them in any matter that might tend to the improvement of the property. or the athaiitage of the society, render his loss a severe one, and the members generally and the committee, we are confident, will sympathise with them in their ex pression of regret at the demise of one who had been.so long associated with. them The committee also report that upwards of two thousand visitors have placed their names in the visitors' book at the birth-place; although this return gives the nacres only of those whu enter them in the book, it alows an eatimat- to be made airto the actual number of persons who annually visit the birth-place, arid hich the committee incane to col sider as very' considerably more than the number of names shown. THE DINNER AT THE HALL, At five o'oloelt in the evening, was attended by up wards uf eighty gontlern. n ; the Presidential honours by B,njarnin Webster, E q., of the Theatre•Rofal o Adelphi, London ; and the Vice-chair was filled by Dr. Ko , g-ley. Toe musical rangetnents were highly eatis actory. - The usual loyal toasts havin g teen drunk with much enthusiasm, Mr. WEBSTER proposed "The immortal memory . of Shaksp,r , -." (Loud cheering) He (the chairman) could see by the way in which they received the toast that they were aware it was the toast of the evening; he need scarcely tell therm how inadequate he felt to do justice to it, and therefore asked their kind indulgence towards the few remarks he might make in connexion with it. (Applause.) He scarcely knew bow to trust himself upon such a theme; it was unique and glorious : Shaks pere, in his powerful touches of nature, had exhausted old worlds and created new, so that it was impossible to do adequate justice to it. The genius of Shakspere seemed to light up the darkness of the middle ages, towering above all other nations, and enthroned above them as if by one voice. In Germany Shakspere was a household word, and in France and America there was not a,tahle or shelf but what was enriched by his writ ings. It was no w niler that the authorship of.such wondrous works shou'd be questioned ; and it bad been positively asserted that " Shakspere" was written by Lord Bacon. • (Hear, hear, arid laughter.) This, be repeated, could not be surprised at, when at the present day they were actually questioning the motions of the moon. The Chairman still further enlarged upon Shaks- , „ pere as being the poet of nature, and also to his con , nexion with Edward Allen, who was also a highly gifted man, and a brother actor. Both deserved well of mankind, and God rest their souls The toast was drunk in solemn s•lerce. Mr. CARPENTER then proposed " The Drama." In doing so be observed that beautiful as was religion, in the writings of the drama more excellence could be found th an i n maey a sermon preached in the fashionable churches of Esgland ; and in them the pumps and vani ties of this world were truthfully depicted. He would propose " Success to the British Dram r." (Three times three, and one cheer more for Mr. Webster.) Toe VICE. CHAIRMAN proposed the health of Mr. Web ster which was drunk with three times three. The CHAIRMAN, in responding, stated how highly he felt the compliment which bad been paid him by being placNi in the chair on such an occasion. He was proud of his connexion with the drama; he took great interest in it and was happy to say he had thriven by it. He was proud of his profession, although at the time be en tered it, by Act of Parliament, the members of it were clesignat.d as vagabonds. This was a`strange contrast to the time of Shakspere, when every actor was allowed to sign himself as gentleman ; and this fact they would rind in the recorl of that p riod. Now, however, they were assured of their gentility, and treated as human tugs In conclu , ion be begged to thank them for the cordial way in which the toast had been received. (Great applau-e.) Mr. ELvms, in proposing "The worshipfultheMayer, and Pro, parity to the borough of Stattord-upon-Avon," iid a high tribute of respect to the memory of the late Mr. Sheldon. The MAYOR responded to the toast. 'the Rev. Mr. LEA responded to the toast of "The Vicar and the clergy." The subsequent toasts were.. "Lord Ellesmere and the Shak spore Society ; " " Prosperity to the Roya ShalcspereAn Cub ; " "Lord Carlisle, and the London committee, and subscribers to the Sbakspere House Fusd ; " " The Lord Lieut. of the County of Warwick;" "Toe Warwickshire Lassos;" and "The Visitors." The conviviality of the evening was kept up till a late hour. LORD DALHOUSIE'S PENSION.—Tbe Court of Director of , he East India Company have voted an annuity of 5,00/ to the Marquis of Dalhousie, late Governor - Gen , ral of India. A general court of the company, at which the directors' resolution will he submitted for ap proyal, is cared for Wednesday, May 14. SUBMARINE CABLE ACROSS THE IiUMBER.—The want d rect telegraphic communication between this port and London having I .ong been felt as a great disadvantage to the mercantile community, the Electric Telegraph o 'mpany have determined to afford the recpisite facilities b the extension (!f a wire for the purpose, by the way of G , imsbv and P, terberough, crossing the Humber just above the pier at New Holland. The direct communica tion to London will in a'! probability be completed by t . .e middle 44 May. A second cable, for the purpose of a direct communication with Grimsby, is contemplated, as well as similar direct wires to Manchester and other towns.--Laste , n Counties Herald. TEIE NAVIGATION IN THE BALTIC.—The following ad vices, relating to the navigation in the Baltic, were re ceived at Lloyd's yesterday :—St. Petersburg, April 17 —The port of Cronstadt is expected to be free from ice be ,ween the 13th and 20th May. The first Stettin se earners are advertised to start on the 17th May..—Bol deraa, April 15—The ice is fast as far as the White Church. The northerly wind has again driven large maces of ice towards the coast.—Riga, Ap r il 17—Tee ee in the river has been in motion for some days, and to-day the water is almost free, so that in about eight d a y s at latest the re-opening of the navigation may be expected. ROYAL SWEDISH RAILWAY.—At the meeting of the Royal Swedish Railway, held yert rday, Mr. J. Rhodes presiding, the report of th e comm i ttee o f i nvest i gat i on was received, and a now body of directors was appointed. The shareholeers, however, declined to pass resolutions authorising the issue of preference stock at the rate of 7 per cent. for five years, arid afterwards to bear 6 per cent., to raise the 350,0001. which it is stated will be nec,:ssary to complete the line, until th e y shall h a v e had time to digest the contents of the document presented, and a short adjournment, after soma discussion, was consequently agreed to. It appears to be considered that the undertakit g may be resuscitated, and that, if the Swedish Government can be induced to restore its lok privileges, there is a prospect of all classes of pro prietors uventually deriving benefit. The geographical position of the railway, its relation to various other lines in course of formation, and the encouragement stfoided by the native populathn to the introduction of thin species of communication encourage a belief that the traffic will be large add remunerative. As it was inteinated that only about 50,0001. will be required to carry ent the first se ction, it was suggested that the better plan will be to raise a limited amount, so that advantage may be hereafter taken of an easier state of the moi:ry-market. It was, however, explained that the cla , ms of creditors inuet likewire be settled, the wh,,l e of which have hitherto been forborne to suit the convenience of the company. The ir.ruds of the late Mr. J. Sadleir and the negligence of his colleagues re ceive d g,eer‘el condemnation ; but the debate was prin cipally directed to the measures proposed for restoring the property to a Inure favourable position. quit arac eXpi Mai r Bl at). cise pre; Aire aurt th e last th be