The Sun. — London, England, 1861-05-16 00:00:00

THE WELLINGTON, 160, PICCADILLY. —Gentlemen arc respectfully informed that the SALOON DINING ROOMS are now OPEN for the Supply of LUNCHEONS and DIIN! - NERS, from One to Nine o'clock p.m. Set Dinners and Dining from the carte in the most var i e d form. Dinners fro m the joint, 2s. Whitebait is now served daily. THOMAS PRICE, Superintendent. , r HEA TRF,-ROYAL, HAYMARKET. Lome, Mr. J. B. Bitckstone. THIS EVENING, the performances will ocinmencp with a new and original Comedy, entitled BLACK SHEEP. Mr. Buckstone, Mr. Compton, Mr. Howe, zao. ; Mrs. Wilkins, Dirs. Charles Young*, Miss Lovell, &c. After which, will be revived, with entirely new scenery and effects, and all the orizinal music by the late Sir Henry Bishop, the melodrama of THE MILLER AND HIS META. Commence at 7. ROYAL PRINCESS'S Lessee and Manazer, Mr. A. Harris. THIS EVENING, the comedy ot MONEY. Messrs. Ryder. Hermann Vezin, Shore, Matthews, &e. ; Misses Heath and C. Leclercq, To conclude with MARRIED AND UNMARRIED. Mr. Ryder, Mr. Shore, Mr. C a thcart, Miss Murray. and Miss Heath. NEW THEATRE-ROYAL, ADELPHI.- Sole Proprietor and Manager, Mr. B. Webster. Reproduction of "The Colleen Bawn. " The Adelphi "Census " every Evening'. THIS EVENING, the successful new Farce, entitled A TURKISH BATH. Mr. J. L. Toole, Mr. P. Bedford. Atter which (lulst time). THE COLLEEN BAWN. D. Boucicanlt. D. tvisher, Billinolon, Falconer, Sterhen smi • 'C. J Smith, Romer, Howard, Ward ; Mrs. Boucicault, MISS Woolgar, Mrs. Billington, and Mrs. Chatterley. To be followed by a new apropos Sketch, THE ; Mies Messrs. J. 1,. Toole, Eburne, Romer, C. J. Smith Kate Kelly, Miss E. i'horne, and Mrs. Chatterley. Doors open at half past 6—Commence at 7. CANTERBURY -HALL CONCERTS AND FINE ARTS GALLERY. EVERY EVENING, A Grand Selecon from Verdi's new Opera, uN BALtiLO IN MASCHERA, (First produced a Chorus of in Engla n Forty Voices.at this Establishment), - With Also, Verdi's IL CORSARO, never performed at any her Concerts. Solos on the Cornet-s-liston, by Slr. Levy. The Comic Department comprises the Brothers Conrad (in their new and inimitable entertainments), Mr. Wood and his talented little Son, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Blanchard, Mr. Hol lingsworth, and Miss Rose Howard. Musical Director, Mr. F. JONGIIMANS. H E 0 XFORD, 6, OXFORD-STREET. Mr. LEvy, undoubtedly the best performer of the day on the Cornet-a- Piston—Grand Selections (ol the most complete scale) from Dinorah, Martha, Stradella, &c., and other vocal and instrumental music, by Miss Russell, the Misses Stuart, and Miss Ernst, Messrs. Charles Greville, Fornari, Kimber ley, Bernard, Beaumont, Bervon, finish, Signor Tivoli, and Mr. Henry Ilerbert, with full band and powerful and selected chorus, conducted by Mr. F. Jonghmans.—The following Comic talent, Messrs. W. Randall, J. Blanchard, W. H. Wie land, Hollin7,sworth, E. Marshall. Harvey, and French. and the Brothers Conrad in their latest and best entertainment, every evening. Admission, Hall, sixpence ; Balcony and Stallsoone shilling. Private Boxes, 10s. 6d. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. Tnis DAY.—Morning, sh. 48m.—Afternoon, sh. 14m. To-moRROw.-Morning, 6h. 38m.—Afternoon, 7h. Sm. THE WEATHER.—SUN OFFICE, MAY 16, 1861. THERMOMETER, TN THE SHADE. 6S—highest since noon yesterday. .51—lowest this morning and during the night. 72—this day at noon ; highest this year. BAROMETER-30.19. WIND--North-Westerly—light; with fine warm summer weather. -c. 1 : ":1/41 r... e. - b,0,., _ 4., 1.1. ; u • THE SUN, LONDON, 11117R5DAY EVENING, MAY 16, 1861 THE SUN. LONDON, THURSDAY, MAY 16, 1861. 'rhe seventy•second anniversary banquet of The Royal Literary Fund will long be remembered in the annals of that munificent Institution. It took place yesterday—as will be seen from an interesting report of the proceedings given in another column—under very peculiar circumstances. Its chairman this year having been not as hitherto one of our own countrymen, not some great English Author, not some great English Nobleman, but instead of that an exiled Prince, the member of a fallen dynasty, in one other word a—Frenchman. It is certainly noteworthy that one of the most gifted and popular actors now upon the London boards is also a Frenchman. And it is certainly very remarkable to remember that now in this year of grace 1861, while M. FEcirrEn, is showing us in the midst of our tearful applause how the greatest of all the Shaksperian masterpieces may be portrayed with exquisite ability—H.R.H. the Due d'Aum ALE can, in a festive assembly of lettered Englishman, dis close in his own person—what the public at large in this country could never have imagined possibly latent there—a very model Chairman. Nothing, we hesitate not to say at once. could by any chance have been more graceful, more worthy in every way of the hearty plaudits accorded to it during its delivery than the speech in which his Royal Highness proposed the toast of the evening—" Suc cess to the Literary Fund," coupling with it, Health to the Marquess of LANSDOWNE, its venerable Pre sident. Even in his manner of conducting the pre liminary proceedings alone, in the admirable taste with which he gave the loyal toasts by which those convivial " sayings and doings" are always by a sort of constitutional usage intro duced, the Duc D'AUMALE gave evidence of the wisdom which had dictated to the Council of the Literary Fund his selection, for 1861, as Chairman at the annual festivities. His introductory words upon first rising after the cloth had been removed, " Gentle men, I propose the health of Her Majesty the QUEEN"—adding immediately, with an im pressive and, under the circumstances, a most touching significance—" These are the first words which I have addressed to you, and the first which I have uttered in public for many years"—could hardly do otherwise than call forth from hishearers a cordial round of acclamations. But those few and simple words, sufficiently significant though they were in themselves, were, in truth, only a pre liminary to others in which, while giving that hackneyed theme, the Due D'AumALE imparted to it the freshness reflected from his 'own earnest appreciation of the many noble qualities justifying the loyal attachment of all Englishmen to their SOVEREIGN. " I have no right," s a id hi s R oyal Highness, " to speak the language which i s use d on these occasions by loyal Englishmen, but I m ay venture to say that no one professes more respect than myself for her MAJESTY/ or more sincere devo tion to her loyal person. I see in your QUEEN the Personification of your noble and free.c institutions --the S OVEREIGN o f a coun t r y which hope will rema i n , th e a ll y an d f r i e nd of my own native land —of a country which gives shelter to all exiles, without asking them to submit to any humi liating conditions, but only to respect those laws under whose protection they live. I also admire in her MAJESTY the most accomplished of ladies, for I have had more than one personal occasion to observe—nay, to feel—that extreme delicacy and tenderness of heart which is not common among persons born in so high a station, and of which she has given so touching a proof on a recent and most melancholy occasion." His Royal Hi g h_ ness concluding in these impassioned but manifestly heartfelt terms :—" I am sure that my words cor respond to your feelings when I ask you to drink with me the health of the model of constitutional sovereigns, the most devoted of daughters, the best of mothers, the best of wives, the safest and most affectionate of friends, and, finally, the most august and munificent patroness of this institu tion—your good QUEEN VICTORIA." Yet greater ability in imparting a sense of novelty to another courtly theme, also long since threadbare from frequent usage, was displayed immediately aft er _ • Wards when the Due d'AUMALE, in gi v i ng the customary toast of "His Royal High. EeSS the PRINCE CONSORT, ALBERT EDWARD I Prince of WALES, and the rest of the Royal Family," not only paid appropriate tribute ' directly to the PRINCE CONSORT as the Patron of intellectual enterprize, and the Heir to the Crown, whose call to the eventual fulfilment of the duties for which he is now preparing, he trusted with all his heart, " certainly not more sincerely than him self," might come " as late as possible"—not only proferred these grateful tributes, we sap, respect ivel y to the PRINCE CONSORT and to the ileir to the Crown of England, but included in the same toast, with admirable dexterity, no less graceful allu sions to the other members of the Royal Family. " I also couple," said his Royal Highness, " with this toast our good wishes to all the other members of the royal family, whether they be at the head of the army, or whether they be learning, by active practice, the hard duties of the s ailor—whether they adorn foreign courts by their graces and virtue, or receive at home the good example and lessons of their parents, or add by kind intercourse to the charm of social life in this country" a comprehensive sentence embracing within it allusions as direct and comprehensible as though their titles had been enumerated, to the Commander-in-Chief, the young Prince-Midshipman, the Princess Royal of Eng land now Crown Princess of Prussia, together with the younger members of the royal family still under their home-palace roof, not forgetting the Dowager Duchess and Princess MARY of Cam bridge. It was in giving the toast of the evening, how ever, "Success to the Literary Fund," that the Due D'AUMALE gave the happiest evidence of his aptitude as a chairman, and of his own rare accom plishments as one skilled in English Scholarship. To the speech in its entirety we would here very earnestly refer our readers, giving them promise beforehand that their pleasure in reading that speech will be complete. Having read it, but few —remembering the past and present of the accom• plished Prince from whose lips it fell, of whose heart and voice, of whose thoughts and emotions it was the utterance—but few, we say, will hesitate to echo the eloquent and cordial words with which Mr. DisRAELI later on last evening proposed at that Literary Fund Banquet " The Health of our Illustrious Chairman the Due D'AUMALE" — words thus cordial and thus eloquent ;—" Happy the prince who, from no fault of his own, banished from the court:and camp, can find consolation in the library and generous occu pation in the rich galleries of learning and art. Happy the prince who in a foreign land, miring with his fellow men on equal terms, is still marked out by the pre-eminerce of his nature —happy the prince'who, under such circumstances, penetrating the realms of literature, may yet per haps establish a throne which may defy the fate of dynasties." With which feelings, added the right hon. gentleman, he gave the name of his Royal Highness. Among the more interesting passages occurring in the Speech of the Evening will be found those in which his Royal Highness offers a grateful tribute of admiration to the liberality of our political insti tutions! His account of his earnest love while a boy-student for the Waverley Novels, an affection so permanent in its influences, that while, he says, " I will not answer now to going correctly through all the changes of a Greek verb, I might follow the Fortunes of NIGEL in the streets of London, and could show also the spot where once stood the House of JEANIE DEANS." Admirable also is the cumulative homage proffered by him to our chief living noveIists—TILICKERAY, DICKENS, DISRAELI, BULWER—when observing, " Since the death of Sir Walter Scott, novels of this country have not ceased to command unusual attention abroad." He adds—" Vanity Fair,' David Cop perfield,'' Coningsby," My Novel,' are as much read on the Continent as the works of GEORGE SAND or DUMAS, and at this very day the readers of one of the most important French newspapers, after a rapid glance at the telegrams, hurry to look at the feuil leton, where they will find the continuation of the Women in White' translated into their own language." Enough, however, if we add now to our foregoing comments upon the festive proceedings of last night, in the Free masons' Tavern, the simple and truthful assertion that the Literary Fund Banquet has never been presided over by a more efficient Chairman than the accomplished Prince whose presence there yesterday imparted such peculiar interest and eclat to the occasion of this last anni versary. The Statistics of Trade, and even the Census enumeration of " Employments of the People" will hardly give us an account of every branch of pro- fi table industry. We very much doubt whether the sharp eyes of the French Protectionists have specified a duty for one considerable produce of British labour. The Sheriffs' Court a day or two ago, brought before us—not as a mere rumour, nor as a piece of scandal, but as a plain matter of busi ness, in a suit for payment for goods delivered—the existence of a " Sermon Mantifactory." Our readers saw the report yesterday in The Sun, and were doubtless most of them not a little sur prised. Stories of clergymen copying better ser mons than they could write, from printed books, were common enough. One of the cloth we knew who, when taxed with the practice, replied with earnestness, " Heaven forbid I should make my own sermons when there are so many ready made, better than anything I could write." Another we know who, when thanked by a worthy shopkeeper during the week for " the excellent sermon of last Sunday," replied, "" Oh, don't thank me ; thank my good old grandfather—and you'll have plenty more yet to thank him for." The sermons of the dead, in print or in manuscript, are, how ever, by no means adequate to the demands of this exacting age. 6 , The Dissenter is abroad," he preaches sermons on all kinds of "occasions," "im ra e n s a the occasion," we b e li eve th e s l ang p h rase " occasions" appear to be a very attractive variation from the regular routine of exhortations to faith, hope, and charity, and of demonstrations of the superlative excellence of our Apostolic Church, and the beauty of our incomparable Liturgy. No grandfather, for instance, no JEREMY TAYLOR ev en, could leave " a sermon upon thanksgiving for the termination of the Indian Mutiny." A s a gener al rule it may be said that th e " old is better, " but sometimes, in the matter of sermons, the " new" is indispensable. The manufactory seems to be a very complete 'one. There is the regular " stock sermon"—" What have you in stock ?" is the inquiry which comes up from a country Vicar deep down " in the Shires." A. list is of course forwarded, "send me so and so," being the reply. The text we presume being taken , as a probable indication of what the sermon under it is to be. In these days of Oxford Tracts and Oxford Essay s and Reviews, however, some indi cation must be needed of the doctrine deduced from each text ; it being well known that Dr. RIMY and Dr. JONVETT could make the same Scripture speak, the former the doctrine of Rome, the latter the doctrine of the sacred writers themselves ; while a vast intermediate class would make it say anything vfluiteypr which the creeds of the Church seemed to them to teach. We may suppose, there- I fore, that " Anglican," " Moderate," " Broad Church," are specified in the orders from stock. We must do the latter section of the Church, how ever, the justice to observe, that so far as we have heard them, their sermons, often too extempore, ' bear evident marks of being perfectly original. The dock sermons are it turns out " lithographed in sets of thirty each," and his Honour seemed to think it rather hard to be exposed to the chance, if he went to more than one church on the same Sun day, of hearing the same sermon more than once. He doubtless felt how hard it had often been to hear the stock sermon but once. But there are ser mons of a very different order for which prices of all amounts in reason, are paid. The defendant in this case had paid a sovereign for one on the " reopening of a church." A sermon before the Lord Mayor was from £3 3s. to £5 ss. "A Bishop's Charge or an Archdeacon's Address " was never less than the £5 55., while the stock sermons could be furnished, it seems, at 2s. Gcl. each, which we suppose was the £3 3s. for the thirty lithographed, with a small charge for the operation. His Honour seemed a little incredulous about the " Bishop's Charges," but the witness said " I can produce the man who ' has written them." The case turned upon a rather nice point. By what the defendant had paid into Court he had admitted that 2s. 6d. each was a fair charge for " stock" sermons, but the point was how long a clergyman might keep a considerable number of stock orations, and after wards return them as not wanted. As " goods on sale or return " he could only keep them a reason able time. He had received twenty stock sermons, said he would take what he wanted—and return the rest—but he had kept them " a very long time;' indeed, had not returned them when the cause came into court. Now, if he kept them only a few weeks he could not only copy them, or as his honour said, "pick out the tit bits," he could even preach a considerable number of them, and returning these, keep such as he had not made do duty on the Sunday. Of course, his honour did not say, nor do we, that the Rev. Mr. HAVER GAL, ♦icar of Cople, Bedfordshire, could or would do such a thing. We know nothing of Mr. HAVERGAL or of Cople, and have not yet troubled ourselves to consult the Clergy List or the Gazeteer. But the law, of course, only looks at the possible misuse to which the goods of an honest manufac turer of Stock Sermons were liable, and they must be protected like other goods. Mr. KERR was plainly right in "finding for the plaintiff for the full amount, with costs of attorney"—and we have no doubt whatever that the defendant will indem nify himself for everything but the costs—which he need not have incurred—by using all the stock in due time. We can imagine some clergyman rather sharp upon us ; he thinks we are attacking the cloth ; and who, he will say, are you, Mr. Editor, to smile at our practice ? Do you never employ persons to write for you, and especially on subjects which they understand, as you think, better than you do yourself—why should a privilege allowed to editors be denied to vicars, rectors, archdeacons, and bishops ? Our friend need not, however, be so warm. We do not attack him. Suppose him to be conscious that he does not understand the subject which he was specially ordained and speci ally " called" to preach, why, then, lucky for him and for his parishioners, that abler and better in formed men are willing to supply his deficiencies. He may, for instance, be a youth of twenty-three, but the son-in-law of a Bishop, and be required to preach in a small parish which pays £1,300 a year, or £25 per Sunday, for his services. What an advantage to such a youth if, for an odd three or four guineas a Sermon, he give something equal to a sermon before the Lord Mayor each Sunday ! The parishioners would not ask whence the "Durham cheese" came—it would be of first-rate quality, and that would be enough. As to the Bishop's charges, who on the whole can better afford to pay for them ? And if the advice be good, why should the assembled clergy nicely scru tinise their paternity. We know that it is com• monly supposed that clergymen, bishops especially, are originals, but why should they be ? Who in these days of powerlooms makes his own gar ments? The spining wheel and hand loom have long given place to the factory. Why should not the pulpit follow the march of national improve ment ? Why should not the " sermon factory " where hands and heads competent to all kinds of work from " stock " to a "bishop's charge" can be kept, and deliver to order anything in a few days— why should it not supersede the rude process of every man making his own sermon ? The sermon factory may eventually cause as great a revolution in its line, as did the powerloom or the steam-hammer in theirs. The Washington, which brings intelligence from New York to the 4th, does not inform us of any important move by either party. The PRESIDENT has increased his demands by 23,000 volunteers for the regular army, and 18,000 seamen. Western Virginia has definitely declared for the Union. It is a part of Virginia from which slave labour is practically excluded, and its declaration for the Union has this great importance, that it is the part of Virginia which almost divides the Free States into two :parts, by running up in a narrow ship northwards, towards Lake Erie, between Pennsylvania and Ohio ; much as through the blundering of our com missioners, Maine was allowed to separate New Brunswick from Upper Canada. The Western Virginians ask the PRESIDENT for arms to support the Union. The Maryland Legislature is now reported to have shown much hostility to the Federal Govern ment—but Baltimore is quiet, and the PRESIDENT has used and will use the State for his own purposes; the Governor of Missouri, in a message, has as might be expected strongly condemned the course taken by the PRESIDENT ; but the latter has his turn in having successfully relieved Fort Pickens, the substantial emblem of Federal authority in the Gulf of Mexico. The preparations for blockade are also going on actively. Mr. LINCOLN seems to be treating Vir ginia also very cavalierly. The State has at length appointed delegates to the Southern Con vention, yet sent a message to the PRESIDENT promising not to make any hostile demonstration. Mr. LINCOLN replies to the message by silent contempt, by blockading Norfolk, and declaring it to be his intention, as the first thing, to restore the Navy yard, and the arsenal and manufactory at Harper's Ferry. As Virginia has chosen the South, and is the first State in the PRESIDENT'S way to it, she must take the consequence. Spirit and action seem now to be on the side of the North. The Earl and Countess Spencer leave town to day for Althorp Park, Northampton, for a week or 10 days. The Countess Cowpe r had an assembly last even ing, at her residence, in St. James's-square. The Dowager Countess of Essex's dance is fixed for Tuesday, the 28th of May, v . The Dowager Viscountess Ashbrook has returned to the Burlington Hotel, from Windsor. Lord and Lady Charles Bruce come to town to day, frcin Tottenham Park, Wilts. LATEST NEWS. TURIN, MAY 16. Yesterday a Government bill for a line of railway from Naples to Ancona was laid on the table in the Chamber of Deputies. The Chamber then adjourned until Saturday next. On Monday Signor Ricciardi will put a question to the Ministry with reference to certain events at Naples. NAPLES, MAY 15. The National Guard of Naples fraternised with the army yesterday evening, and a grand dinner was given in the San Carlo Theatre. More than 9,000 persons were present. The Chevalier di Nigra will leave for Turin on Saturday next. It . is generally believed here that the French garrison will soon quit Rome. The Bourbon party at Rome is preparing fresh expeditions to the Abruzzi. Naples and the provinces are quiet. MADRID, MAY 15. There is no fear that tranquillity will be dis turbed in Africa. The Correspondencia Autografa of to-day says : —" It is not true that England has diplomati cally interfered in the question of Morocco." PARIS, MAY 15. The discussion on the petition in favour of the occupation of Syria was continued to-day in the Senate. M. Billault gave a historical outline of the events in Syria, and said that the almost powerless state of Turkey obliges the great Powers to act with ex treme circumspection. He mentioned the negotia tions that preceded the occupation of Syria by French troops, which was prolonged until the sth June, notwithstanding some objections. England, he said, only consented to the prolongation on the express condition that it should be the last term. With regard to the organisation of Syria, the Go vernment has weighty reasons for supposing that the proposal to appoint a Christian chief only, who would govern the whole population of Mount Lebanon, has great chances of being adopted. The only thing to be done, therefore, is to execute the convention, and evacuate Syria on the sth June. If the withdrawal of our troops has lamentable consequences, certain persons have accepted a great responsibility. Should blood be shed because our counsels have been misunderstood we shall call Europe to witness to the immense responsibility it has incurred. (Sensation and applause.) It is not France who evacuates Syria, it is Europe. When France supports a cause of her own her acts are free, and she does not withdraw. (Marks of ap probation.) What will now be the conduct of the Emperor ? France will not forget her duty. With the transports which are to bring back the troops will leave six vessels, which will cruise in the waters of Beyrout, and will be the terror of the murderers. England is aware of this, and associates herself with us. Her flag will float in the Levant side by aide with ours and that of Russia, and then, if necessity requires them, other measures will be taken. M. Billault read the circular of M. Thouvenel, dated 3d of May, explaining the course which France will follow, and concluded by saying that France, being freed from the mandate of Europe in regard to Syria, recovers all her individual liberty. He then proposed that the Senate should pass to the order of the day. (Great agitation.) The Marquis Larocbejacquelein expressed his satisfaction at the Ministerial declaration, and said that he should vote for the order of the day. The order of the day was then adopted almost unanimously, there being only two dissentient votes. NEW YORK, MAY 4. (Per City of Washington, via Queenstown.) President Lincoln has issued another proclama tion calling for 42,000 volunteers, 23,000 for the regular army, and 18,000 seamen. A deputation from Western Virginia has in formed President Lincoln that Western Virginia would support the union if the people were armed. The chartered steamer Atlantic has arrived. She reports having reinforced Fort Pickens success fully, and without resistance on the part of the Secessionists. Baltimore is quiet. A report on F e d er al rela tions very h h os tile to the Fed era l G overnmen t h a s passed the Maryland Legislature. The Governor of Missouri, in his message to the Legislature, condemns the action of President Lin coln's administration. The steamer Northern Light has arrived from San Francisco with 870,000 dots. in specie. THE OUTWARD INDIA AND CHINA MAILS. The Pera (from Southampton on the 4th of May) arrived at Malta on the 13th, at 4 p.m., and left at midnight for Alexandria. The Vectis (from Marseilles on the 12th) reached Malta on the 14th, at 11 p.m., and left at 4 the next morning for Alexandria. AMERICA, LIVERPOOL, WEDNESDAY. The Jura, whieh touched at Londonderry yester day with the Canadian mails, has arrived. Her advices are in all important points anticipated by telegraph. The Southern Congress assembled at Montgomery on the 29th, President Davis having promulgated his Message. In this cidcument he announces the ratification of a permanent Constitution of Con federate States. So soon as the elections have taken place officers will be designated to administer the government. The declaration of war made against the Confederation by President Lincoln ren dered it necessary to convene Congress to devise means to replenish the Treasury, and provide for the defence of the country. After making these statements, the President reviews the relations which have heretofore existed between the States, and traces the history of the events which have led them to assume their present hostile attitude. Referring to the visit of the commissioners to Wash ington, he says that the most crooked paths of dip , lomacy can scarcely furnish an example so wanting in courtesy, candour, and directness as was the course adopted by the United States Government towards those emissaries. lie alludes to the pru dent caution observed by the fleet off Charleston during the bombardment of Fort Sumter, and pays a high compliment to the Carolinians for their for bearance before, and heroism, daring, and mag nanimity after it. Commissioners have been sent to England, France, Prussia, and Belgium to ask these States to recognise the Confederate States as belonging to the family of nations, and as an in dependent Power entitled to make treaties of amity and commerce. Other diplomatic agents should now be appointed. The Confederacy, through Mr. Stephens, has concluded a convention with Vir ginia, by which she has united her powers and her fortunes with the South, and assurances have been given by other Southern States that they will follow the same course. Most of the Exe cutive Departments, it is stated, are now in successful operation. The Postmaster-General will soon be ready to assume the direction of postal affairs. The President, in the conclusion of his Message, congratulates the Confederacy on the patriotic devotion exhibited by all classes of citi zens, men of high official and social position and wealth having willingly served in the volunteer ranks; while railway companies had, on the simple security of bonds by the Confederacy, proposed low rates for the transportation of the mails. United and resolved, he says, the men of the South cannot fail. Their cause is just and holy, and on their behalf he protests solemnly in the face of mankind that they desire peace at any sacrifice, save that of honour and independence. They seek no con quest, no aggrandisement, no concession from the Free States of the North. All they ask is to be let alone, and that none shall attempt their subjuga tion by arms, which they must and will resist to the direst extremity. The moment this intention is abandoned the sword will drop from their grasp, and they will be ready to enter into treaties of amity and commerce, mutually beneficial. So long as this pretension is maintained, with a firm reli ance on that Divine Power which covers with His protection the just cause, they will continue to struggle for their inherent right to freedom, inde pendence, and self-government. The Secretary of the Federal Treasury had ad vertised for proposals till the 30th inst., unless the whole amount offered is sooner taken up at par, for 14,000,000 of stock, under the Act of June, 1860. Lord Lyons had contradicted a report that he had solicited an armistice. Mr. Secretary Seward had contradicted a similar report as follows : " There is not a word of truth in the report of an armistice. That sort of business ended on the 4th of March. "F. W. BEWARD.'' In the Maryland Senate on the 2d Mr. Seelott re ported a Bill to provide for the safety and peace of the people of Maryland : " Whereas the present extraordinary state of the country and disturbed condition of the people demand that prompt and efficient measures 'should be adopted by the General Assembly to secure peace and safety of the people, to avoid the evils and terrors of civil war; therefore, be it enacted by the General Assembly that Ezekiel F. Chambers, of Kent county ; John V. M'Alahon and Thomas Wymans, of Baltimore; Thomas G. Pratt, of Randel county ; and Walter Mitchell. of Charles county, together with the Governor of Maryland for the time being, who may be lawfully acting in the capacity, be and they are hereby ap pointed a Board of Public Safety to and for the State of Maryland, a majority of whom may act in any case wherever the said Board may be autho rised to act under the provisions of this or any supplementary act. And be it enacted that the Board of Public Safety so constituted and ap pointed, shall have full power and authority to provide the better organisation of the militia of this State, aid may remove or appoint any officer of the militia above the rank of captain, and may commission any such appointed in the name and under the great seal of the State of Maryland; and the said Board of Public Safety shall have full power to provide for the protection, safety, peace, and defence of the State. And be it enacted, that if any vacancy shall occur in the said Board it may be filled up by a majority of the remaining mem bers of the said Board, and the person or persons so appointed shall hold office until within one month of the commencement of the next session of the General Assembly of Maryland. Provided, nevertheless, in the event of a Convention elected by the voters of Maryland, in pursuance of a call of the present or of any succeeding General Assem bly, then said Board shall be subject to such Sove reign Convention, which Convention shall have power to remove any or all the members of said Board of Public Safety." A private letter from Annapolis says that the brig Caledonia had two men hanging from her yardarms, one for smuggling powder and provisions to Charleston, the other for piloting the 7th Regi ment on to Chesapeake Bar, with the intention that the secessionists should capture Annapolis be fore the 7th reached there. Senator Hunter, W. C. Rives, IV. D. Preston, and Judges Camden and Proctor had been ap pointed by the Virginia Convention as delegates to the Southern Congress. The blockade of Norfolk, Virginia, was being en forced, and it is reported that the bay was dotted over with transports. It was reported that the Navy Yard was to be retaken and rebuilt. Governor ',etcher is said to have informed President Lincoln that no hostile demonstration against the Govern ment would be made by Virginia ; that she only intended to protect her own soil. No notice was taken of this letter by the Government. SOIREE TO MR. HARPER TWELVETREES.—Last evening a soiree was given at the Princess's Concert Rooms, Castle-street, Oxford-street, in honour of Mr. Harper Twelve trees, one of the candidates for Marylebone at the last elec tion, for his public-spirited conduct in presenting himself to the electors, and in recognition of his having been the first independent candidate who has enunciated the principle that the powar for the legislative regulation or suppression of the liquor tariff should be in the hands of the people. After refreshments had been partaken of, Colonal Rains took the chair, and addressed the meeting upon the circumstances which had called them together. Mr. T. Hattersley then moved, Mr. S. Dolby seconded, and Mr. Conquest supported the following resolution :—" That this meeting hereby re cords its high appreciation of the patriotic motives that induced Harper Twelvetrees, Esq., to offer himself as a can didate for Marylebone at the late election, and believing him to be in every respect eminently qualified to occupy a seat in Parliament, expresses its earnest hope that ere long he may be returned to the House of Commons." The reso lution was carried unanimously, after which Mr. Harper Twelvetrees entered into a detail of his personal antecedents and of his political principles, and announced his confident expectation of hereafter becoming member for Marylebone. DEATH OF A CLERGYMAN IN CHURCII.--On Sun day morning last, as the Rev. George Barber, curate of Bassingbourn, Cambridgeshire, was officiating at Divine service, it was observed that he sat down, instead of stand ing up, while the choir was chanting the Te Deunt. One of the congregation, becoming alarmed, went into the reading desk as soon as the Te Deum was over,•and found hi rn ap parently quite insensible. The rev. gentlemat's collar and cravat were immediately loosened, and his hands, temples, and the backs of his ears bathed with cold water. He was then conveyed, by order of Mr. Jenkjus, surgeon, to a neighbouring house and placed upon a bed; but r.9twitk standing that every attention was show:* to /aim, he expired in about a quarter of an hour, having evinced no aign.s of consciousness. On Monday an inquest was held on the body by Mr. Frederick Grain, bputy coroner, at the Black Bull at Bassingbourn ; and the jury, in accordance with the medical testimony, returned a verdict to the effect that the) deceased died 9f wri94B apoplexy. FRANCE. BOURSE, May 15.—The market had an upward tendency at the commencement of business, but afterwards gave way on the arrival of the last de spatch with lower prices in Consols. Threes, for the Account, after having been done at 69f 76c, are now again at 69f 56c. Railways quiet. The following were the last quotations :-- 4f per per Cents ... 96 30 , Credit Fonder 990 Do end month.... 96 30 I Belgian .. 3 per Cents Do. end month 69 50 Roman Bank Shares 2890 i Austrian Credit Mobilier.... 708 75 Spanish Threes 49 75 Do. Account 7lO Home Debt .. 4B 75 RAILWAYS. Cash. Account. Orleans 1366 50 .." 1367 50 Northern 987 50 .. 988 75 New ditto 987 50 .. 897 5() Lyons and Mediterranean 933 75 .. 935 Geneva 422 50 .. Southern Western Eastern Sardinian 382 50 .. 383 75 Austrian Lombard Colonel and Mrs. Henry Armytage have left town for Maidenhead. ROYAL ITALIAN OPERA.—MdIIe. Adelina Patti, who produced so great a sensation by her singing in the part of Amina, in Bellini's " Sonnambula" on Tuesday, will repeat the character on Wednesday next—a special per formance being given on that evening solely for that purpose. Bldlle. Patti has been pronounced the star of the season by the most aristocratic and critical audience in the world. HERR BLUMNER'S CONCERT.—Herr S. Blumner, a German pianist, gave an orchestral concert last evening at the Hanover•square Rooms. His most pretentious effort was the execution of a concerto by Henselt, with orchestral accompaniment. Herr Blumner played it energetically and skilfully, eliciting on several occasions unanimous and well deserved applause. The concerto was accompanied with unerring precision and admirable expression by an excel lent band, guided by the masterly ability of Mr. Alfred Mellon. The vocalists were Mdme. Lemmens Sherrington and Mr. Walter Bolton. The beautiful violin playing of M. Vieuxtemps, who played two pieces of his own in his very best manner, contributed largely to the enjoyment which this excellent concert afforded to a very AUUleratlt3 and highly fashionable audience. 7HE CIVIL 31/AR IN AMERICA, When our elder generation was young, it heard sensible people say that the study of history was not much worth to persons who were indifferent to the making of history before their eyes. Those were days when the affectation of refinement took the form of dislike of politics, or other realities, for the sake of a very dreamy sort of studies. Sensible parents used then to say that they did not see much good in reading history in books, if the study of it in actual life was neglected and despised. History so read became a mere novel, or narrative poem, entertaining to the imagination or fancy, but of little use to the understanding. Since that time the character of history itself has changed, and the means of observing passing events have become enlarged beyond all compu tation. History now aspires not only to a philo sophical, but to something of a scientific charac ter; so that its nature as a study has entirely changed ; and, again, the practical developments of science make the observation of the present a very different matter from what it was to a former generation. We perceive this when we read the lives, correspondence, despatches, and oratory of statesmen, soldiers, and men of letters in the reign of George 111. Tt strikes us that news travelled so slowly, rumours were so obscure, everything was so cumbrous, that people really might find it easier to read history in books than as it proceeded pari passu with their own lives. How little we knew of what was doing among our own soldiers in the Peninsular war! How vague and dim was the notion of what happened in the war between us and the New England colonies ! What interest we have since felt has been excited by the detailed histories or fictions published in America. Th e ' novelists and historians of America have shown us much more than our fathers ever knew of that re volution and its workings. Now that the second American revolution has, after long and clear expectation, arrived, we are able, if we choose, to see and understand it—to see it in all its vividness, and understand it in all its significance—without waiting till it is presented in a book, or recorded for us by other faculties than our own. If there is now any affectation abroad which pretends to take no interest in current events, let it declare on its honour whether it can show, in any modern book, a nar rative or a picture more serious, more instructive, or in any way more valuable, as history, than such news of the day as the following. The incidents all took place last month ; and if they read like a narrative of events of ninety years ago, so much the better. President Lincoln and his Secretary of State issued a call for 75,000 men to defend his Go vernment, in entire uncertainty as to what would follow. There is no longer any doubt that the promise of " the enemy" was to take and burn Washington, to take Philadelphia, and to march upon New York, confident of an eager and joyful reception there, as saviours of the trade of the port with the South. Such was the situation. The President saw that no course but resistance was possible ; but he had no means of knowing, or conjecturing, whether the necessary force was at his command. In old days we should not have known till long after what the answer was ; but now all the particulars are within reach of those who choose to inquire. The response from all parts of the Free States was that he had not demanded half enough. If he had asked for a quarter of a million, or half, or a whole million of men, he should have had them, with all the appliances and means that they could bring. The details show whether this was big talk or reality. The North-West is not so accessible for a near view as the Atlantic States ; but we know that the North-West has actually raised and equipped four times the number asked ; that the citizens cffer to swarm down the Mis sissippi, and undertake that New Orleans shall not be mischievous. In fact, they hold the exist ence of New Orleans in their hand ; for they could lay the city under water any day by letting loose the floods from above. Baltimore lies under a kin dred liability from its dependence for supplies on the dam of the Susquehanna. In case of need that dam could be tapped. But the New England States are the most interesting study, not only be cause Massachusetts was the first ready, but be cause the whole course of conduct reminds us that the people are Sons of the Pilgrims. It was not exactly the Fiery Cross that was sent through the country ; but it was something as rapid and as effectual. On the arrival of the telegram at any station, some man leaped on his horse and rode through village and hamlet till his horse dropped, and another took up the message. In those rural settlements the citizens had for years been singing hymns in their evening meetings, vow. ing their readiness to go forth against the sin and curse of the land in any way and at any moment that should be appointed them. Many of these met the horsemen as they were returning from the field, or the workshop, or the boat. Their township ought to send so many to the war ; the last train would start within half an hour. They laid down their tools, or gave them into the charge of bystanders, trusted that those who could not go to-night would bring on their clothes to morrow, and started as they were—some with the soil of the furrows on their feet, and others with the marks of their toil on their hands. When such men as these were marching through the towns afterwards, the shopkeepers ran out as they passed, accosting them with, " Anything that you want ?" " Anything that we can furnish you with ?" The muddy boots then disappeared, and everything rusty was made new ; and all knapsacks and pockets were filled with comforts and means of buying them. Bread was baked daily in Boston, and forwarded in hun dreds of barrels, lest supplies should fail ; but in every company there was a baker, who would look to that matter, for flour was always to be had every where. At the first rumour of scarcity there was such a turn out of plenty as defied all calculation. There is no seeing the end of the provisions offered all across the land, from the ports to the great rivers. An eminent clergyman, of grave re7ute for his conservatism, called upon the ladies from his pulpit to come in the afternoon with their thimbles and work-baskets. Shirts and other clothing were instantly wanted for the gathering soldiery; and in the vestries the women have been sewing and preparing hospital apparatus ever since. The clergy seem to be very like those of the olden time. One offered himself as chaplain to a regiment, provided it marched through Baltimore after the , collision there. To march through Baltimore, and efface the disgrace of any impediment to access to Washington, was the enthusiasm of the hour. The first company that went on that perilous service was not delayed for a moment by mothers, wives, or sisters ; there was no hope of more than half coming back ; and the horrors of war were already felt in their homes. Nothing was heard of them for days. They had got through safely; and how ? The dandy regiment of New York, " the curled darlings" of the ball-room, had new laid the rails for them,and built up bridges, and renewed the wires, with their own dainty hands Archbishop Hughes has floated the national flag from his great Catholic cathedral in New York ; and the Episcopalian Bishops have forwarded the arma ment with all their influence. So have the German pastors, and the Italian, French, and Irish priests. Regiments of all these nations are out on service : and in the great squares of the cities there are plat forms at the corners, where every man may hear speaking in his own tongue. The theme is the same everywhere ; but it is treated of in all the languages of Europe. Still, the old Puritan scenery comes up—the most interesting, however grand the rest may be. The burning of the ships is heard of with hurrahs. They will buy ships enough. It is an article which mon e y will buy. Meantime, there lies one in the bay, empty and unprepared, while the General wants to embark his troops at an hour's notice. Is there any man who will undertake to sail her ? Fifty men step forward from the ranks. They are Marble-headed fisher men, turned soldiers that morning, and now turned sailors. One feels particularly at home in the ship, as his father built her. But her engines are out of order : is there any man who can throw light upon that ? A man undertakes to make all right. He made the engine, and will answer for her good conduct when properly treated. In a trice they are off, with all they want, and cheers follow ing them as they turn out of harbour. Coun try schoolmasters and mistresses offer a per centage of their salaries towards the exp enses. T he old men handsome l y equip the young-, The hotel keepers and station masters will take no pay for soldiers or nurses. Each township takes charge of the families of volunteers at pre sen t, an d a l ways, if the father or widow's son do es no t come b ac k . Medical and military commissioners are examining nurses, and appointing them t o t h e i r d ut i es . Th e amou nt of industry developed is as marvellous as that of every sort of wealth. But how is it, all the while, with the cause and occasion of the war ? Not much is known from the far South. What is known is that the ships which did not aid Major Anderson were bound for Fort Pickens, under orders to carry their reinforcements there, and that they have succeeded in their object. It is known that negroes have escaped over the Pennsylvania frontier to the value, as chattels, of millions of dollars; and that all claims of search off the coast are resisted. If invasion is menaced in consequence the threat is met by an invitation to conic and see what is to be seen in the North. It is known that there are offers of aid in Mr, Lincoln's lit nd• of such variety and forc3 that, if accepted, the sec, ded States woßld asci themselves "fitted with an iron shroud," No signs Are yet apparent of hostile raoye-e nients from the South; and one incident looks as if there might be none after all. The latest cry sent forth is that the South will resist "subjugation." All the menace having come from the Secessionists, this change of ground looks like retreat. Mary land, meantime, reverts to the Union, as soon as the question is submitted to the people at large, and Virginia is pledged to allow no enemy to ap proach Washington through her territory. Till it is known where the Secessionist force is, and what it proposes to do, no prophecy can be ven tured as to what will happen next ; but if public spirit and unanimity in the presence of danger to the national honour, can bring the aggressors to a sense of their own position, there is reason to hope that the conflict will be more moral than military, after all. The one certainty is that there must be a real settlement of the Slavery question, by whatever means it is reached. The people of the Free States will take care that the revolution which has been forced upon their country shall not be an abortion. They must be no less careful that their constitution never again contains any com promise or evasion which must issue in future re volution. But it is an early day yet for such speculation and moralising. —Daily News. LOSS 01 THE GLASGOW STEAMSHIP UNITED STATES. The screw steamship United States, from Glas gow for Quebec, was wrecked on Bird Rocks on the 25th ult. The crew of the United States were brought to Liverpool yesterday by the Jura. The following is the statement of the captain of the United States : " At nine o'clock on the evening of the 25th we sighted St. Paul's light, and steered for the Bird Rocks, which we sighted at twenty minutes past one, almost right ahead. Our course was altered so as to come to a proper berth. After the vessel had passed the Great Bird Rock, judging that we were at least two miles from the island, I ordered the vessel to be steered for Channel-course, then abreast of the Small Bird Rocks. She struck on the very outer edge of the reef, though I believe she was at /east a mile outside of it. There was nothing in the water which indi cated that there was a reef or a shoal there. The vessel had all the sails set at the time when she struck. I had the sails taken in, and for half an hour the vessel made no water. We backed the engines, but she would not come off, and they were stopped again. At this time the wind began to freshen into a gale from the S.E., the sea rose, and the ship began to strike heavily, so the boats were got out and the passengers ordered up from below. They were got safely into the boats, which kept by the leeward of the ship for shelter until the day light. " The bark Maranham, Captain Emerson, then hove in sight. Signals were shown to her, and she came straight for the wreck. I then boarded her in my own boat, and asked the captain to take on board my passengers and crew. He at once consented. I then returned to the wreck to take off the remainder of the passengers and crew, and see that there was no one left. One of the boats with passengers drifted away, and was lost sight of for a time, but when the rest were put on board search was made for her, and she was found. We then mustered the passengers and crew (there were 87 passengers, of whom 78 were steerage), and found them all except David Dunlop, a steer age passenger from Glasgow. We saved little or no baggage, as by this time the sea was running high and dashing over the ship, which had fallen over on her beam ends. Before leaving we had tied down the ensign which had been at her mast." THE DISPUTE IN THE BUILDING TRADE. At a meeting of the masons held last week it was resolved that a proposition should be made to the masters that they would accept 6s. per day at the present working hours for the first five days of the week, with 3s. for Saturday, leaving work at 12 o'clock. This has also been agreed to by the bricklayers; and though the other three branches --viz., the carpenters, plasterers, and painters— have not formally fallen in with the proposal, on inquiry at their central committee it is understood they will not oppose the plan if acted upon. The proposal has been favourably received by some of the masters, one of whom (Mr. Moore) has written to the masons' society approving of it as a fair pro posal, and one which he would recommend the masters to carry out. The number of men now on the lock-out fund is about the same as last week ; for although many of those then out have since ob tained employment, their places have b am ee m n o fi nk l s e y d a b r y d those men who turned out from Mr. o on Saturday last. Should the proposed arrangement fall through, it is intended by the central committee to call a general meeting of the trade in a few days, t o de termine what further steps shall be pursued. With respect to Mr. Clements, who it was asserted last week had adopted the new system of payment, one of his men who brought up the shop contributions to the central committee assured them that the firm had made no alteration, but the men worked on the old system. We are requested to state that there will be a large gathering of volunteer corps, under Lord Ranelagh, in Regent's-park next Monday at half-past four o'clock. Lord Radstock, Colonel Lindsay, Colonel Colville, Colonel Money, Major Roupell, the lion. T. Bruce, and several other commanding officers, with the consent of their dif ferent corps, have - promised to attend, and a sham fight will probably be organised. Further accounts will be published on. Saturday. Any small corps that may feel inclined to take part in the proceedings is requested to communicate with one of the commanding officers above named, who will at once make arrangements with Lord Ranelagh for its being allotted to some of the regular battalions. INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION Or 1862.—The guarantee fund up to last night exceeded £400,000, and further subscriptions to it are expected. The building for the Exhibition is proceeding most satisfactorily, and the demands for space by intending exhibitors pour in daily to an extent far exceeding what was ever contemplated. THE BISHOPRIC OF MELANESIA.—Another cola. nial bishopric has been founded, and the Rev. John Cole ridge Patteson, M.A., of Merton College, Oxford, eldest son of the Right Hon. Mr. Justice Patteson, has been ap pointed the first bishop. The diocese comprises the western islands of the Pacific. The ceremony of consecration was performed on the Feast of St. Matthias by the Bishops of New Zealand, Wellington, and Nelson, at St. Paul's Church, Auckland. Mr. Patteson has been for some years past an active missionary in the Polynesian Islands. IN RE EDWIN JAMES.—Mr. Edwin James, the eminent Queen's counsel, has filed a petition for arrange ment under what is commonly known as " The Gentle man's Act" (7 and 8 Vic., cap. 70). The learned gentle man describes himself as late of Berkeley-square, and now of Dr. Johnson's-buildings, Temple. Protection in the usual form was given, and the sth of June was appointed for the first sitting. The liabilities of the learned gentle man are currently stated at £90,000. DESTRUCTIVE FIRE AT ISLINGTON. --ESCAPE OF FOURTEEN PERSONS.—Yesterday morning, between the hours of one and two o'clock, a destructive fire broke out on the premises of Mr. J. Gordon, coffee-house-keeper, No. 3, Peter-street, Islington. The discovery was made b 3 the police on duty. At the time of the outbreak no less than 14 persons were soundly sleeping in the house, but by great good fortune they were all rescued. Owing to the prompt but not till att the end house anceo of wasthe engine nearly the destroyed. fire was extinguished, NEWCASTLE-ON-TYNE, May 14.—The coal ports are now full of shipping, the arrivals of vessels since Friday having been very large indeed. Great activity prevails, and some of the vessels that reached the Tyne on Saturday ara now laden and ready for sea. Coal freights to London have dropped down to about ss. 9d. per ton. The Customs' re turns of the north-east ports of the trade of April are much more favourable than was anticipated. Newcastle exported 226,829 tons of coal and 14,704 tons of coke, against 169,886 tons of coal and 9,716 tons of coke in April, 1860 ; Sunder land exported 118,737 tons of coal in April, as against 91,651 in 1860; the Hartlepools, 56,656, as against 45,830 tons; Middlesborough, 13,211, against 8,563 tons; and Seaham, 4,432, against 2,987 tons. Newcastle sent 143,436 tons of coal to London and coastwise in April ; Sunderland, 130,137 ; and the Hattlepools, 92,043 tons. The increase in the value of goods other than coal and coke exported from the Tyne was £36,511; the Ifartlepools, £37,531; and Middlesborough, £9,511. THE PRIMROSE -HILL T RAGEDY.--Pursuant to a warrant received from Mr. G. S. Brent, deputy coroner for the western division of Middlesex, Murray, the sum moning officer, on Tuesday made the necessary arrange ments, asthe law directs in cases of fele de se, for burial of the body of the wretched Robert Goreing, who wilfully, feloniously, and with malice aforethought (in the language of the verdict), destroyed himself on the top of Primrose hill, on the 4th inst., under peculiarly romantic circum stances, as already published in our columns. The dis tressing, but happily somewhat rare, ceremony of burial rook place between the hours of nine and twelve o'clock in the night. Shortly after nine o'clock the remains were re moved from the St. Pancras dead-house by the men em ployed by Murray, and under his di rec ti ons, and torches having bee' procured they directly proceeded to the place where the body was to be buried, in the unconsecrated por tion of the parish cemetery, at Finchley at midnight. The grave was ready and the body thrust therein, and covered over without any usual religieus ceremony what ever, in compliance with the stern requirement of the law in cases of self-murderers. This sad termination of the deplorable tragedy created some excitement among the deceased's friends and relations, and though n few of the former were present they were not pernaitteki to take any part in the proceedings CO: St 61 an 81 3i lIE Al