The Sun. — London, England, 1864-04-04 00:00:00

LONDON, MONDAY, APRIL 4, 1864. Upon this day pre-arranged before the holidays for the resumption of the business of the session by Parliament it will certainly be allowed that there is no lack of interesting and, some of it, very important intelligence. From the seat of war in North America the Aus tralian brings as tidings that General LEE has broken up his encampment on the Rapidan, and that he is said to be moving on the Shenandoah Valley with a view apparently to an early attack on the army of the Potomac. From the seat of war in the north of Europe comes, via Hamburg, the intimation that the Austro- Prussian troops, in lieu of continuing their direct as sault upon Duppel, new propose turning the Danish position there, or at any rate attempting to turn it, by crossing over to the island of Alsen by means of Austrian pontoons, everything already, it is said, being fully prepared for that same formidable move ment. From Paris we learn simultaneously, in re The Conference, that—according to M. PAUL LIMAYRAC speaking through the columns of the Coneitutionnel, and seemingly with an air of confidence so impres• sive as to indicate the announcement as having been, If not directly authorised by the imperial Govern- r ent, at the very least what is called by oar neigh bours" semi-officially inspired" —we learn thus from the Fr etch capital, in re The Conference, that the Government of his MAJESTY seriously proposes to suggest at the council-board of Europe the solu tion of the Danish Problem by an appeal to Universal S ir:ll "P in t he disputed llachies,to wit in Schleswig and in holstein An announcement so strange of its kind that the mere fact of its publication in the Con stinttionnel appears of itself to have caused—and no v , o ,d z , r —a sensation among the Parisians. Simultaneously with these remarkable fragments of information coming to us from such wholly diffe pass, th ere are others drop rent points of th e cor a us at the name m oment from other ping in upon directions altogether; fragments of intelligence there last only second i n importance t o those already enumerated. A few of th e more remarkable it may be worth while jotting down, here, in a ronid eltalogu. _ The Archduke MAXTMILTAT, then, to begin with, i 3 announced as already on his way to assum e hi s newly created throne 'beyond the Atlantic, as th e first Emperor of Mexico, all the difficulties hitherto preventing him from doing so, having at length, it is said, been removed. Tho intelligence brought from the extreme north of Europe to the effect that the Norwegian Stor thity; has j , ist been closed, is accompanied by a renewed intimation from the King of Sweden and Norway that those countries may be counted upon by Denmark as fully prepared to go to her aid in the event of any supreme emergency—any ewer. gency, that is, indicating that the Danish Sovereign and his People are threatened with being over whelmed by the superior numbers of their German assailants. A telegram from Rio Janeiro, brought hither as rapidly as steam could bring it across the Atlantic, carries to us the not unwelcome news from South America that the Brazilian Government has con sented to recognise the mediation of Portugal be tween itself and the estranged Government of her Britannic NIAJEsTy. A Swiss Treaty with Japan is announced as having been ready for signing at Yeddo on the sth of February—though the treaty in question had not been signed according to the latest tidings received direct from Yokohama. The transference of the lonian Islands from Eng land to Greece, news from Corfu defines as having been formally fixed to take place on the 28th of this month of April. Accounts from Lisbon speak of the young King of PORTUGAL as preparing to take his departure from the Tagus on his projected visit to the Empe ror of the FRENCH at the Tuileries. The most conflicting rumours still come, mail by mail, almost telegram by telegram, from the Eter nal City as to the state of health of his Holiness— the more alarming of these rumours, it will be suf ficient to say, being, as usual, grossly exaggerated. While such are the tidings dropping in, fast and thick, from all quarters in the shape of Foreign intelligence—here at home are indications of what are likely, to prove sources of no small amount of popular excitement both within and without the walls of Parliament. GARIBILDI'S arrival yesterday at Southampton may yet be rendered the signal (it is impossible not to feel this), if not for a stormy political moyement here in England, at any rate for what may even. tually be developed into one more or less sffe.et ing the tranquillity of Christendom. The struggle of the two great opposing Parties in the House of Commons, long delayed but now very imminent—it is impossible again not to recog nise this, too, as almost immediately before us—may begin, in earnest, at any sitting, directly the busi ness of the sess;on shall have fairly recommenced upon the re-assembling of the two Houses of the Legislature. Mr. ROEBUCK has not been idle during his holi days, and his address at Hull is a most excellent one. It must have afforded great satisfac'ion to his hearers, whits it reflects the highest credit on the hon. and learned member. The text was a most suggestive one. "Why should the science of politics form a portion of the education of every English man?'' This is in itself an important subject, and one that should be freely discussed by all competent persons. There is no likelihood of one arriving at the truth, if we only take up the study of politics in a vehement hurry, or resort to the violent extremes which party zeal and official excitement are apt to engender. The real value of things can only be ascertained by grave reflection, and the relative position of events, their bearing one upon another, must be considered calmly. It is, therefore, highly judicious for a talented man like Mr. ROEBUCK to bring these matters before intelligent hearers, and they become impressed with the importance of this change, or the desirability of that arrangement much more readily than if they plunged in medics res into the discussion on the eve of a contested election, or while persons were angrily debating on the merits of a difficult question. Mr. ROEBUCK'S remarks were characterised by their modera tion, and this alone constitutes a very great claim on our regard, for nothing can militate more against the effect of one of these popular speeches than their being imbued with a spirit of bitterness, and setting class against class. It is a notorious fact that Mr. BRIGHT has done considerable damage to the cause of Liberalism by his determined, virulent advocacy of this mode of diatribe. Incalculable in juries have been done to many really desirable mea. sures by this vehement personality in discourse, for all quietly disposed individuals naturally confound the cause with the effect, and are put against the introduction of plans whose origin seems to spring from amid the horrors of Radicalism, and to breathe the atmosphere of revolution. It is well worth while to peruse Mr. ROEBUCK'S remarks attentively, for a good deal that deserves consideration will be found there. His theories were not at all levelling ones, but he advocated the necessity of the people becoming more worthy of the political power which was their heritage by preparing themselves by education for the high trust. How much wiser and better it is for eminent politicians and skilled orators to take this view of the subject than to argue as if the poor were the natural enemies of the rich, and vice versa. A heavy responsibility must rest with those who thus misuse their Influence end prostitute their powers in influencing the pas sions and rousing the jealousy of their fellow coun trymen. Mr. ROEBUCK'S remarks concerning the education of women are also worthy of attention, and there is great truth in this observation that " the small wit that was employed against learning in women was very silly and very mischievous." Ito fully explained his meaning by stating that the influence of a mother upon her children was most important, and how could that power be rightly exercised if the mother's intellect was not trained and matured: Above all, there is reason in the portion of the address which refers to the advan tages that would accrue to the people generally if they were sagacious enough to measure the abilities and morals of those they chose to be their represen tatives. It was the charlatan who promised to do everything perfectly correct, for ignorance and want of judgment are the opportunity for such de signing individuals, and they reap a rich harvest from the gullibility of inexperience and conceit combined. Mr. ROEBUCK brought this topic home to the minds of those addressed by pointing out the deplorable ignorance and superstition that prevailed in many quarters. What with belief in witchcraft and other gross absurdities, it is nearly incredible to what devices people will resort to gratify their morbid love of horrors and their insane notion of excitement. Mr. ROEBUCK pointed the moral to his hearers by this vigorous illustration. " Would it be wise, safe, or sane, to put the destinies of England into the hands of people like these." No mistake can be more fatal than to assume that be cause a man isof the lower orders he is naturally and necessarily unfit for taking part in the legislation of his country, and selecting those who are to rule its tactics and regulate its destiny. Another strong contrast which Mr. ROEBUCK'S remarks offer to those of Mr. BRIGHT, is the tone in which he treats of America. Whereas the member for Birming ham strives:to brazen it out, and persists to the last that all is right as regards his model Republic, Mr. ROEBUCK more wiselyadmits that these transatlantic squabbles have done much to damage the cause of Liberalism, and have frightened and disheartened many who had the true cause of freedom at heart. This is certainly the way to meet with attention from orni'd hearers, and to command the respect of all wto peruse the remarks after wards. No one will be convinced against his will, and if wild, un tutored listeners burst into a torrent of applause, it by no means follows that conviction is carried to the minds of those whose approval is worth posses sing. It is very agreeable to dwell upon such a speech or address as that before us, and it would be well if more such abounded, and especially from those of avowedly Liberal principles. The cause of reform would prosper much more if advocates would acknowledge the merits of both sides a little more, and not be afraid or ashamed to confess when an error was committed, or an injury in flicted. Then there would be a better ground for hoping that the day might not be far distant when Mr. ROEBUCK'S elequent picture would be realised, and the great people of England would be roused to a fine conception of the great destiny awaiting them, and surrounding nations would say of them that they were a people to be reverenced, honoured, and envied." It is a sign of better times when the intelligence which we receive from our Eastern Empire relates exclusively to matters of domestic interest. When the hill tribes are in arms, when the frontier is threatened, or sedition is rife in the interior, we hear nothing of social difficulties or political per plexities. When whole districts are parched with drought and thousands sinking from famine, there is little thought to spare for discussions in the Chamber, or modifications in the criminal code. When the financial prospects of a country are a perpetual deficit the appointment of minor officers of state sinks into insignificance. Therefore, when topics of this mild and reflective nature form the chief staple of the news from Calcutta, we have good reason for hoping that no urgent or weighty matter is pressing on the public mind. Such is, indeed, the case, although the rumoured removal of the seat of Government from the City of Palaces must have given both Anglo-Indians and natives enough to talk about for a considerable time. It is, as we have said, a satisfactory sign to find the most prominent place in the Indian budget of news assigned to a debate in the Legislative Council on the necessity of making some alteration in the ad ministration of the criminal laws. There is room, it seems, for a second HOWARD. The number of con victs under jail control is something startling—the result is, that in a large community the rate of mortality among the fever-stricken patients is no less than 20 per cent. ! One-fifth of these miserable cletenus perish, principally, no doubt, by removable agencies and the state of the jails, since the passing of the Penal Code, which forbade the old summary mode of whipping and dis charging a prisoner, gives no hope of a better condition of things. In this strait it has been proposed to revive the old custom of ordering a culprit to receive so many lashes and then to dismiss him, thus getting rid of a prisoner whom the prisons cannot easily accommodate. There has been of course a good deal of opposition to this measure, one of the most eminent of the opponents being Sir CHARLES TREVELIAN. But, after some debate the measure was carried, con vincing arguments having been brought forward on its behalf by Mr. ROBERTS, who introduced it in the Council. During 1862 alone it seems that 10,000 culprits were imprisoned for offences for merly punishable with flogging, and the extra cost to the State was two lace of rupees. The question of expense ought not of course to exercise undue influence in a matter which concerns the moral and social welfare of the people, but competent autho rities declare that whipping has been found to be the most effectual means of diminishing crime, since it is the only punishment which. the Hindoo really holds in dread. It must be borno in mind that the new measure does not render flogging compulsory but permissive, and, while reconmend• ing its infliction on juvenile offenders, it leaves all particulars as to its application to the discretion of the local governments. Since our great object must be of course to deter from crime, it is well to consider what punishments aro most disliked and dreaded by the lower orders, having due regard to proper humanity. If imprisonment only tends to foster the evils already existing, besides spreading vice and disease to an alarming extent, it would be false kindness and mistaken lenity to persevere in thus crowding our gaols. The approaching Budget was being looked forward with some eager ness when the mail left. There is unfortunately not much hope of reduction, as Sir CHARLES TREVELYAN has a deficit instead of a surplus to deal with. Happily there is little fear that so enlightened and energetic a financier wilt suffer the public works to stand still. The advantages which the further extension of the railway sys tem and the water works will confer upon India will be almost incalculable. Already a refuge from the heat and unhealthiness of Calcutta is looked for at Dargeeling, which lies nearly due north, and whose fertile soil has proved so profitable for tea cultivation. It is hoped that before long Dargee ling and Calcutta will be but 18 hours apart, so that the weary merchant or exhausted official may, with this brief interval, exchange the malaria of the city for the life-giving freshness of the hills. The substitution of a more salubrious and central spot for our present Anglo-Indian capital is a mat ter of great importance and interest, and we are heartily glad to see the subject brought on the tapir. In addition to the folly of retaining our hard worked Governors and their council in the low, marshy, ill drained banks of the Hooghly, the glowing impor tance of our possessions in the north render it most unadvisable to be so entirety out of reach of the Punjab. In a few years we may hope railways will branch from the one central spot, where the new capital is situated, through the length and breadth of India, while the wonder-working electric tele graph bears in an instant the warning of danger or difficulty to the needful quarters. When we add to this picture the cultivation of the present arid wastes by means of an efficient water system, and the reclamation of those waste lands so dear to Sir CHARLES WOOD, we may hope to see India begin really to assume her fitting place in the scale of nations. Meanwhile, it is highly satisfactory to find that the one source of wealth and prosperity which concerns England almost as much as it does India is holding out most encouraging prospects of success, and that the cotton crop of the current year is likely to excel all previous computations. THEATRE ROYAL DRUR Y-L AN E. Managers, Messrs. Edmond Falconer and F. B. Chatterton. THIS EVENING, MAGIC TOYS. Miss Lydia Thomp- SOn. After which, will be produced the Grand Stage Revival of Shakspere's Chronicle or Hi storical Play, entitled the First Part of HENRY THE FOURTH. No pains or expense will be spared to render t and ithis presen- be tation of our National Author's most popular, may said, most representative English Drama, a becom ng Com me noratfon, in example, at the National Theatre, of the grandeur and comprehensive character of his genius. The cast will include impersonations by those eminent Artists, Mr. PHELPS, Mr. Walter Montgomery, Mr. Walter Lacy. Mr. Addison, Mr. Ryder, Mr. Robert Roxby, Mr. Blrrett, Mr. E Phelps, Mr. Rayner, Mr. H. Vandenhoff, Mr. Belmore, Mr. Ellerton, Mr. Fitzjames, H . Neville Miss Edith supp ort d as Rose Leclercq, and Mrs. Edmund Fal coner, supported by all the Members of the Drury-lalie Ccm pany. Toe new and characteristic sceiery will be entirely de • signed and painted by Mr. William Beverle y . The costumes, armour, &c, will b 3 fashioned from desi , ns by It. W. Beene, Esq , taken from illustrated MSS. of the period, and other autoor,ties. Concluding, with MY HEARTS IN THE HIGHLAND' , Mr. G. Belmore. r jI EIEATRE ROYAL HAYMARKET. Sole Lessee and Manager, Mr, Buckstone. THIS EVENING, April 2, OUR AMERICAN COUSIN Messrs. Sothern, Buckstone, Chippendale, Rogers, Clark, Gordon, Braid, &c. ; 3lesdames Angel, Lindley, Hill, Harris, Snowden, &c After which, the new Easter piece, entitled VENUS AND ADONIS. Messrs. Compton, Wm. Farren, Coe. &c.: Mes dames Louise Keeiey, Snowden, Nelly Power, Hill, Wright, Ito4ers, &c. To conclude with MY HUSBAND'S GHOST. Commence at 7. OYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE.- Sole Lesee and Manager, Mr. Geo. Vining. TIT'S EVENING, PAUL'S RETURN. After which, THE COMEDY OF ERRORS. The Two Drornios, by the Brothers Webb. To conclude with, 6th time, a new Farce. by J. M. Morton, Esq., entitled DRAWING-ROOM. SECOND FLOOR, AND AT I' ICS. ROYAL LYCEUM THEATRE. Under the Sole Management of Mr. Fechter. THIS EVENING, the performances will commence with THE DAY AFTER TILE FAIR: Messrs. \Vidal eombe, Garden, Moreland, and Miss E. Lavenu. Rater which, at Eight o'clock, the 122 d Night of BEL DEMONIO, a Love Story, in Twelve Tableaux, taken from Stendhal's Italian Chronicle =. Principal character by Mr. Fechter. M oreland, Jordan, Charles, J. Brou,gham, Emery, Raymond, Smith, Clifford, Collett, Sims ; Miss Rate Terry, Miss E. Lavenu, Mrs. Lee, Miss Elsworthy. The Public are entreated to take notice that No Charge is viade to the occupants of Boxes, Box-places, or Stalls, either for play bills or for the safe keeping of hats and cloaks, and teat the attendants in all parts of the house are forbidden to receive any gratuities whatever. Box-office open daily from 11 to 5. Commence at 7. NEW THEATRE-ROYAL, Sole Proprietor and Manarrm Mr. B. Webster. THIS EVENING, TIIE PRETTY HORSE BREAKER : ,31r. J. L. Toole and tliss Woolgar. At 8, LEAH: Miss Bateman, supported by Messrs. A. st irling, R. Phillips, Billington, Stuart, Eburne. Stephenson ; Brim 11. Simms and Mrs, Billington. To conclude with THE AREA BELLE : Messrs. J. L. Too?e, p. Bedford, R. Romer, Miss Woolgar, and Mrs. H. Lewis. Commence at 7. -14 ISS EVE NIN B G A a and E E \ E I R A Y N E E N L IN E G. Bateman will re-appear in her great impersonation of the Jewish maiden until further notice. In order to give due effect to tnis most remarkable success of the season, entirely new scenery by the celebrated artists Messrs. Danson and' Sons, a,td Thompson. New dr,ss,s and appo'ntments have be n pt eparei for its production.—N. B. In consequence of the pressing and numerous applications at the Box-offi2e, ar ran,ements have now been made by which Seats miy be ob taide f a Fortnight in Advance. R OYAL ST. JAMES'S THEATRE. under the Management of Mr. B. WEBSTER. Crowded with Rank and Fashion.—The greatly successful screw Comedy every Evening.—Re-engagement of those cele hv.ated artistes. Mr. and Mrs. C. Mathews. —Amongst the artists engaged are Mr. Benj.Webster, Mr. Charles Mathews, Mr. J. L. Toole, Mr. J. Clarke, Mr. Paul Bedford, Mr. Frank Matthews, Mr. F. Robinson ; Miss Herbert, Mrs. Charles l'ilathews, Mrs. Frank Matthews, Miss A. Cottrell, Miss Fanny .Josephs, Miss Patti Josephs, Miss Wentworth, and Mri.. Stirling*. Every Evening, at 7, the favourite Farce of FORTY AND FIFTY: Mr. and Mrs. Frank Matthews. At a quarter before 8, the successful new Comedy, by L. Buckingham, Esq., entitled THE SILVER LISIAG Mr. Charles Mathews, Mr. F. Robinson, Mr. Ashley, Mr. Montague; Mrs. Charles Mathews, Mrs. Frank Matthews, Kiss A. Cottrell, Miss Wentworth, and Mrs. Stirling. After which, COOL AS A CUCUMBER. Mr. Charles Mathews. To conclude with UNDER THE ROSE : Mr. Ashley and Miss A. Cottrell. Commence at 7. ROYAL STRAND THEATRE. Manager, Mr. W. H. Swanborough. THIS EVENING, a new Comedietta, A HUNT FOR A HUSBAND. Atter which, the Grand Christmas Burlesque, ORPHEUS AND EURYDICE : Messrs. Honey, Wood, James Fenton, Mesdames Swanborough, Marie Wilton, Hughes, &c. Concluding with MARGATE SANDS. Commence at 7. IHE THIRD EDITION OF " THE SUN," Containin , the Latest SPORTING INTELLIGENCE, gan be had Every Evening of G. R. GLY;NIE, NEWS AGENT, No. 4, Connaught-terrace, Hyde-park. COALS.—rae LILL CO Direct from their own Collieries. Marquis' 26s. per ton. I Double.. 21s. per ton. Top 255. „ Nut 5........ l9s. „ Deep 22s. „ Well screened and delivered within five miles of their De pots. Westbourne Park-road, W., and 17, South Wharf, Paddington, W. Best Coke :SHALL COMPANY'S .L S. Terms cash. JOHN SCOTT, Sole Agent The Weather—Sun Office, April 4, 1864. THEICVIOMETER. This day at Two o'clock 6O __ __ _ Barometer-29.96. Wind—West; light breeze, and cloudy. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. THDI DAY.—Morning, h. m,—Afternomi,l2h. 22m. oqaoßßow.-Morning, 1212. 56m.—Afternoon, lh. 16ra. 4 ..." Zirj A (7./1411, THE St N, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, APRIL 4, 1864. To the Editor of " The Sun," Sta,-45upplementary to the interesting extract headed " Dimples," in your Saturday's impression, permit me to add a few remarks : The only word the Romans seem to have had for dimple, gelasinus, was of Greek extraction, and is thus used by Martial— " Nec grata est facies, cui gelaainus abest." They also sometimes expressed the word by an elegant periphrasis ; and one of their writers called it " Sigittum in tnento impressum Amoris digitulo ;" which Lord Byron adopted in the line— " The seal love's dimpling finger has impress'd.' --I am, Sir, our obedient servant, R, N. DUNBAR. Lordn, Monday, 4th April, 18131, * yeXao•rvor. SI R EDWIN LANDSEER HAS COMPLETED THE M ODEL FOR ONE OF TEE LIONS destined for the base of tho Nelson column, It is said to be a miracle of art in its way, the result of infinite study, and worthy of all the time the great artist has expended on its execution, it is at present in the studio of Baron Maroclietti, previous to being oast iu k)ro4ze, LATEST INTELLIGENCE. LREUTER'S TELEGRAMS.] NEW PONTIFICAL LOAN, MARSEILLES, APRIL 3. Advices from Rome to March 30, announce that a Pontifical rescript had been published authorising a loan of 40,000,000 lire to defray the expenses of the Public administration. On Monday, April 4, the Pope was to be present at a religious ceremony in the church of Maria Minerva. DENMARK AND THE PROPOSED CONFERENCE, HAMBURG, APRIL 4. Private letters received here from Copenhagen assert that the resolution of Denmark remains un shaken not to enter into negotiations on the Schles wig Holstein question unless they are conducted on the basis of the treaties of 1851 and 1852. The Flyveposten, a Copenhagen paper, asserts that Denmark will be represented in the Confe rence by M. de Quaade, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, and the Councillor Krieger. THE BOMBARDMENT OP DIIPPEL. COPENHAGEN, APRIL 3, 12.55 p.m. The bombardment of Duppel was continued to.day. Sonderburg is burning in several places. The cannonade of the enemy is kept up by the same batteries as yesterday. Our outposts on the right of the Duppel position were attacked several times during the night. GARIBALDI AT SOUTHAMPTON. SOUTHAMPTON, APRIL 4. The Corporation waited upon Garibaldi at 11 a.m. to-day at the Mayor's residence, and accompanied him to the Town-hall, where addresses were pre sented to him. The procession was headed by the band of the Ist Hants Engineers. After a vote of thanks to the Mayor, the proces sion formed and, headed by the band, proceeded to the pier. Garibaldi's carriage was accompanied by a body of police. After a salute, which was tired from the platform, Garibaldi embarked in a special steamer for Mr. Seeley's residence. NEW ZEALAND, (By Telegraph from Suez.) The war in New Zealand is still proceeding. The natives have concentrated at Pikopiko, where they are surrounded by General Cameron's forns. The general is said to intend compelling their surrender by starvation. THE BRAZIL AND RIVERPLATE MAILS, SOUTHAMPTON, APRIL 4. The Royal Mail Company's steamship Parand has arrived here with the above mails, 138 passengers, £7,863 in specie, 6 packages of diamonds, value not stated, and 1,643 packages of cargo. The Parana spoke the English barques Cheviot Chase and Nile off Cape St. Vincent on the 25th March, The American corvette St: Louis was at Lisbon, At Rio Janeiro the discussion in the Senate on the subject of the dismissal of the judges of the Supreme Tribunal continued. The Senator and ex-Minister of Justice, Senhor Con taneas de Seirinbu, in his speech in the Senate_ac cused Mr. Reeves, the English Post-office agent, of having opened and copied a letter written by him to Bahia. To this assertion Mr. Reeves has given a denial through the columns of the Jornal do Conanzercio. The Marquis of Abranto, late Minister of Finance, had been attacked both in the Senate and Chamber of Deputies for having sacrificed the interests of the country in the manner in which he contracted the late internal and external loans. Senhor Sur Silveira da Motta proposed in the Senate that foreigners would not be allowed to hold slaves in Brazil, The Senate rejected the pro posal. A moderate business lus been done in stock at 99 to par, and a small business in exchange at 274 to 27-1-. At Monte Video, the new President, Pro. tem,,, was eleetod on the 2d. Flores was reported to be within two miles of the town, but he was said to intend retreating about 10 leagues, in search of fodder for horses, &C. The Uruguay steamer, from Liverpool, arrived out on the 26th ult, In the island of St. Jego, Cape de Verdes, a frightful famine exist e d. D ie un f o rtunate inhabi tants were dying daily i n num b ers in the stre e t s , of starvation. Great exertions were being made in Rio and Lisbon on behalf of the sufferers, but the aid was insufficient to preserve the lives of the po• pnlation, and without further assistance, it is said, that thousands of the islanders must perish. The cause of the famine:is the ftilure of rains in sowin g season. At Bahia the sugar market was more animated. The coffee sales were unimportant. Tobacco holders demanded four d o ll ars p er arro : a . Exchange was firm. The quotations for sugar at The sales of d r) advanced 100 re i n per arroba. Pernambuco had salted hides were small. Exchange firm. The amount passed per Parana is £115,000 sterling, FRANCE. b — uoyant, and BOURSE, April 2.—Th e mar ket Las been rather with rather more b us i ness d o i n g. Threes, for th e prices show a slight improvement, end of the month, are now at 66f. 10c., and Mobilier at 1,050 f. The market closed as follows :- 41 per Cents .. 93 53 Italian Loan 6B 80 Do. end month.... Do, end month GS 30 3 per Cents ...... 65 90 New ditto Do. end month.... 06 10 Do. end month — --- Credit Mobilier.... 1048 75 Russian --• Do. end m0nth....1050 Austrian ...... Bank Shares ......3995 _ s pa t t i:ih Threes _.— Credit Foncier ....1275 H on e Debt Roman .......... 76 75 Deferred RS IL rAys. Cash. Account. 963 75 .. 976 25 970 .. 980 Orleans Northern New ditto Lyons and Mediterranean 9 48 75 • • 950 New ditt0...... - 655 e • 6.56 2;5 Western . Southern ........ 520 .. 526 25 . Eastern ; 1 1 25 .. 480 mien 36 6 5 0 367 50 .114. 410 412 50 J a ..ustria n 515 .. 548 75 Lomb ar d ... e• North of Saran sAa 557 60 .. 586 25 280 Litt° tela " rcelona The Tories and. the Government. ng a h g a n v i e fic t e h n " et gratification d a t a i n fi a c r ati '—A o ' n o lg f i e hce x . . tracting from the columns ofyesterday's Observer : — "It is generally understood in political circles that the Tories, aided by the Irish Roman Catholics, are to make another attack upon the Ministry almost immediately after the meeting of Parlia ment, in connection with the Stansfeld•Mazzini question ; and that this attack i 3 to be undertaken at the instance of hie French Government. The former is to move—if 1;11 9 plan be persevered in— a direct vote of want of confidence. "It is further understood that should it succeed the Tory succeil3ors of the present Government will immediately r b e y ea a l e tl e t r e A r l e ing fusal of Earl Russell to t a k e pa i n theen d eongress per.posed by the French rt Em peror, reopen negotiations on that proposition, and probably " Finally, it i s nndeleton it finally, they will forth with re-enter ' sive with not re' ' into an alliance offensive and defen the _French Emperor; and that they will asi , ) to follow him into 4 war with Germany." Mr. Simpson's Water Colour Drawings, (THIS DAY.) This afternoon there has been opened to the general public at the German Gallery, No. 168, New Bond-street, a collection of Water Colour Drawings of a very remarkable character indeed—a collection that we had the gratification of examining in detail at the Private View on Saturday. This collection, which is among the fruits of three years' persever ing and often•interrupted labour on the part of the artist, labour to him often interrupted, that is to say, oy reason of his extended travel, may be pronounced at once, we believe Without any risk of exaggeration in our so designating it—one hitherto, wholly and absolutely, unparalleled. Mr. William Simpson, the artist in question to whose skilled and unassisted right hand we are alone indebted for these beauti ful and varied water colour drawings, will be remembered by many thousands of the lovers of art in this country as having already won for himself a high reputation at once as a Traveller and as a Painter by his wonderfully vivid and realistic series of illustrations of the Crimean War. Putting his implements of art again into his knapsack, he has now in a tour of three years' duration "done" India, Thibet, and Cashmere. The collection of drawings resulting from this tour will eventually, it is announced, number some two hundred and fifty altogether. Of those two hundred and fifty-158, fully completed (the rest are in pro gress at the artist's studio), now adorn the walls of the German Gallery. Visiting that gallery, taking a luxurious stroll around it, catalogue in hand, examining one by one those charming waterecolour drawings of Mr. Simpson, to the number already, as we have said, of more than one hundred and fifty —it is for all the world like taking an easy hop, step, and a jump across the chief part of the width of this eastern - hemisphere of ours; that interval, namely, called by an ab surd misnomer the route of the Overland Journey, the over land part of it b - eibg just infinites simal as compared with '..ne extent of the sea voyage—it is for all ti:„, world, we say, like taking a flying hop, sten and a jump across the whole width of that roate' t measured as the crow flies) and alighting upon t'ae far-off soil of Hindostan! Aided by our ar'ast we are (there at 168, New Bond-street) enabled to make one at the gorgeous Durbar held by the Go vernor-General of India—in Mr. Simpson's time the late lamented Lord Canning. We are gazing, not without emotion, at the lovely gothic memorial now Qieeted over that ghastly well at Cawnpore, are watching the fierce contest at the direst of the gates of Delhi. We are gazing in wonder and bewilderment at the Baddnist devotee whirling his devout cylinder, in other words (literally) praying by machinery ! We are being trotted along (half asleep) in the torch lit dooly—the Indian palanquin. We are being jolted (not half asleep). along the Grand Trunk Road at the tail of the Oriental post horses. We are listenirg to the whirr and clatter of treddles and shuttlesin the weaving of the puslam into the famous shawls of Cashmere. Now we are loitering inside, now again outside, one of the Anglo-Indian Bunga lows, dropping is at tiffin and being faintly cooled as we sit at table by the flapping of the punka over head, The whole of the beauties, splendours, pecu liarities, eccentricities, habits, customs, costumes, architecture, landscapes, street views, &0., &0., of Hindostan are portrayed upon the walls of this ex• hibition, by the magical brush of our great travelling water-colourist. When we attended on Saturday afternoon at the Private View, it was interesting to note there, among the crowd of fashionable visitors to the gallery, the keen bright face of perhaps the Master Diplomatist of the Age—now unhappily shelved in the midst of all this diplomatic con fusion, born of meddling and muddling, "the Great Eltchi," as Mr. Kinglake loves to call him, other wise Lord Stratford de Redcliffe. Mr. Simpson's collection, we observe, is to be sold either as a complete whole (the Nation ought to pur chase it l) or it is to be scattered piecemeal among a crowd of purchasers, supposing no One Purchaser should present himself. Meanwhile the Messrs. Day are preparing the work for publication, as another of their costly and magnificent specimens of chromolithography. A thousand subscribers will thus have the opportunity of obtaining the work in a serial form, that is in forty-two monthly puts, each part, price two guineas. THE SOCIETY OF BRITISH ARTISTS. (THIS DAY.) At this popular Gallery the annual " private view,"so called, is about the absurdest of misnomers. On Saturday afternoon, when we attended (having a remembrance of the past) with a very faint hope, indeed, of finding the opportunity for once of any thing at all like a " Private" view, the noble suite of five rooms constituting the Suffolk-street Gallery proved to be fairly crammed full of fashionable con noissears. The merest glimpse—as at the Royal Academy exhibition—could alone consequently be obtained of the most important pictures of all in the collection—namely, those hung in the place of honour, namely (where Pope tells us the spider " lives," that is, feels and thrills with a subtle sentience) along the line. Any deliberate criticism, therefore, as the result of a Private View, after hustling among a throng of crinolines and black coats, peering at momentary intervals of the most tantalising brevity between perpetually alternating spoon-bonnets and chimney-pot hats at works of art, now oil, now water-colour—any deliberate criti cism, as the result of a view thus obtained in the midst of so much babble and confusion, would be idle for anyone seriously to adventure upon. Occasionally, when the throng of visitors would for a while thin, almost disperse, so as to afford one the opportunity of an instant's observation of some picture thus accidentally brought within reach of anything like appreciation, we were re warded for our perseverance in " doing" the gallery —that is, insendaring the crush unavoidably.havieg to be encountered by anyone making, as we perseveringly did, the tour of the whole five apart ments. The old familiar exhibitors were there in as strong force many of them as ever. The President, Mr. Hurlstone, insisted upon recogni tion by every one entering the gallery—and this, as usual, by reason of those obtrusive Family Por trait groups, in some of which we are almost fain to look for—an orange in the hand of each of the children—as in the instance of the famous family portraitures in the Vicar of Wakefield. Mr. J. B. Pyno this year appears to greater advantage than he has done now for many past seasons— holding his own vigorously, as, in one department of landscape painting, an artist wholely unrivalled. A single picture is alone contributed to the gallery this year by J.. J. Hill, but it is an ex quisite work—simple as simple can be in the idea of it—yet, for all that, an exquisite work a work worthy of the gifted artist when at his best. "The Gleaner" is the title of it—this same gleaner being a charming specimen of rustic English beauty, a poppy in her hair, a bunch of corn ears in her hand. There is a wonderfully animated, but for a reason immediately to be men tioned, a wonderfully eccentric and even ridicu lous painting, upon a large scale, by Roberts, entitled " Beaching the Lite Boat," the odd thing in which is that every creature represented, the savers and the saved, in all the drench and whirl of the boiling surf is as dry as a bone, clothing and all, in spite of the world of waters through which one and all of them must have passed I Holmes has a capital bit of humour in humble life, in " A Sana tory Commission," particularly as the fun of the incident is expressed in that half profile of the fat blonde boy who is scrubbing the poor wretch of a dog in the tub—a boy so fat that ho can hardly, one might fancy, kneel. Colo's "Harvesting in Surrey" is a wonderful effect of level sunset glory, shining over the harvest-fields under a black cloudy sky, bringing to view a myriad mystic lights and sha lom', and setting one or two of the picturesque old farm-house or old manor-house windows in the back ground all ablaze ! There appeared to us—through the throng—to be several charming contributions to the gallery this season from the Bouviers—both from J. Bouvier and T. Bouvier, senior— but one only among the works emanating this season from any member of that accomplished family could we on Saturday obtain anything like a satisfactory view of. And that one, as it h3p pened, one that was hung very low down namely Miss Bouvier's sweet little cluster of —" Wood Violets," she calls them, for the title applies, we take it, more to the pretty little lassies who have been gathering those " rath violets" than to the lovely flowers themselves. Numerous pictures besides the few here mentioned claim our attention, of course. in a collection numbering (with the water-colour drawings) upwards of one thousand. There were gorgeously coloured Woolmers, reedy pellucid country, brooks by Williams and Boddington, flowers, fruit, forest scenes, one ambitious scrip. tural scene, one oppressively "goody" picture of an old grandsire, appareLtly in a very maudlin state, listening to " our pastor," as the latter reads to him, in the oddest attitade for reading, surely, than any visitor, lay or otherwise, could well choose. Enough, however, when we have said this for the mere glimpse caught by us at the "private view" on Saturday, THE ROYAL ITALIAN OPERA, Our instant impression as to the brilliant success achieved on Tuesday last by Mdlle. Lagrua upon the occasion of that, her first, appearance before a London audience as Norma, has since then been fully and triumphantly confirmed by the great soprano's double repetition of that same cha racter, namely, on Thursday and on Satur day. It is no passing success, therefore, as we felt satisfied upon the first impression would prove to be the case, that we have, in this instance, had to record. It is a resplendent and a secured victory over immense difficulties—paramount among those obatacles to Mdlle. Lagrna's triumph as Norma the certainty there was before her of being brought into comparison —it was feared (erroneously) into invi dious comparison—with her renowned predecessors, one of them still her great popular contemporary at the rival opera house: Madlle. Titiens, and that perennial Queen of Song, " ►a Diva," as she is still tenderly called by her host of admirers, Madame Grisi. The event has preyed, however, that Mdlle. Lagrua need fear no comparison—even in Norma. On Thursday, and again on Saturday, the gifted prima donna elicited from large and appreciative audiences at the Royal Italian, still more earnest plaudits than those which greeted her impersonation of the love-lore Druidess upon the occasion of her first performance. An advance of cordiality, on the part of her audience at Covent Garden, attributable probably to her own increasing confidence in tbis fresh arena, for her, of victory over all competitors. To-morrow evening, Mario's first appearance this season—a first appearance delayed from Saturday, the 2d, until Tuesday, the sth instant, by reason of the remarkable success of Madlle. Lagrua, as Norma—will be enhanced in interest by the Great Tenor's than and there impersonating Massaniello. On Thursday, both Madlle. Destiun and Signor Wachtel will make their first appearance—not for the season alone, but their first appearance at all, before a London audience—in Verdi's 11l rovatore Mario appearing for the first time these eight years—and perfectly well do we remember Lis doing so then—as Fernando, in La Favorita, of Donizetti. LITERATURE, Stella. By Mrs. Bennett, author of the " Cottage Girl," &c. Three Vols. J. Maxwell and Co. Encouraged by the success of the "sensational" novels, some of our fiction writers are now adven turing upon an arduous and necessarily most futile endeavour, namely, the union of the antagonistic elements of truth and falsehood—the probable and the impossible. The medley, like all such combina tions, possesses the attractions neither of the on© class nor of the other, while, by an unhappy fatality, the faults of both are glaringly visible. It is a pan tomime by daylight—the trickery all apparent and the illusion gone. When we read a fairy tale or a melo-dramatic romance, we are content for the time being to yield ourselves up to the empire of the imagination, but, then, our imagi nation must be satisfied. We must have no half measures. Mrs. Bennett has done herself grew injustice in the production of the novel now before us. She possesses considerable skill in the con struction of a story, and some of her characters are original and vigorous. In an unhappy attempt, however, to achieve too much, she has involved ber plot, and rendered it improbable beyond the belief of the most credul•ius ; while her characters, fet tered by the unnatural situations in which they find themselves, become unreal, and consequently uninteresting. The opening scene induced us to form more favourable expectations of the narrative that w ,, s to follow. THE CRISIS OF A DESTINY. The storm was over, but still tne surging billows con tinued to dash heavily on the rocky shore. Norman Pascal—a handsome, but somewhat dissipated looking young man, who was articled to an attorney in the market-town of Trevethan, on the Cornish coast—had s'rayed down to the beach, to see the wreck that lay at a short distance from the town, the sea washing over the decks and rigging, where for hours a few poor fellows had been clinging for dear life, until one by one they sank into the deep. Norman walked on and on, under the lofty, rugged, granite cliffs, until he came to a small strip of sand hidden between rocks. Coming suddenly upon this, he was startled by the sight of a human body, lying hail on the sands and half under water. It had evidently been washed from the wreck. It ap peared to be the corpse of an old man, with white hair, and large, hard, knotty hands, as if used to severe toil. The jacket was rough and coarse—a common seaman's jacket— and a pocket in it visibly bulged out. _ Norman stood some time gazing on the sad spectacle ; then all at once a thought struck him. He went near to the body, and examined the bulging pocket, taking from it a heavy pocket-book. Hark was that a voice near ? No. Norman looked on every side, but no one could he see observing his actions ; so, after a brief and agitated pause, he thrust the book into his own pocket, and then stood hesitating what it was best to do with the dead man. "He might be recognised and there might be inquiries," Norman raected. "It is evening; I will come back here when it is quite dark, and make a grave in the sand. What matter is it ? The man is dead, and I can do him no injury." So, an the impulse of the moment, Norman acted. It was with him in all the transactions of his life; he fol lowed the blind leading of his hasty passions, whichever way they tended, whether to good or to evil. _ _ Norman Pascal thus, according to the adage of Talleyrand, commits worse " than a crime—a mis take." The credulity of the reader is somewhat taxed by the subsequent revelation that the drowned man is Norman's own uncle Mark Layton returning from Australia to enrich his relatives. When we have become reconciled to this idea, Mark Layton in proprici persona is rescued from the waves, and the dead man appears to be John Trellick, the friend and companion of Mark, who is returning also with another fortune in his pocket. After Mark Layton has, for some secret reason, assumed the name of his lost companion, and after the dead body has been twice buried and disinterred and then cast by Norman into the deep waters, lo and behold the old farmer, John Trellick, makes his appearance as a deaf spectacled Professor who has been all the time secretly keeping watch upon every body, and the dead body for the third transformation turns out to be an unknown "skip per" opportunely cast ashore at the right moment. The body discovered by Norman, and supposed to be that of Mark Layton, having nevertheless been the half-drowned John Trellick, with Mark Leyton's pocket-book containing many thousands in one pocket, and his own fortune of many other thousands concealed in a tobacco-box in another ! After Nor Zan had purloined the pocket-book, another robber ook possession of the tobacco-box, and then the good genius of the story, Albert Crewe, arrived with his yachtsmen and carried off poor John, and restored him to life. Meanwhile Norman returns with a spade to dig a grave for his uncle Mark, alias John Trellick, and wonderful to relate, finds in lieu of the resuscitated John, the ❑ewly arrived body of the skipper, cast abhors) at the right moment, in the identical spot where ho had left the other body! Norman consequently inters this corpse, believing it to be the one he had plundered. May we not safely aver that Mrs. Bennett taxes our credulity overmuch ? Again, in her endeavour to blend the amazing with the possible, our authoress introduces us to a group of spiritual mediums. W ben Norman is hastening to Londo❑ with his ill-gotten wealth, be encounters in the railway carriage a Mr. St. Aubyn who is represented as wholly a knave and partially a visionary, and who in that double capacity easily contrives to plunder and mystify the bewildered and conscience-stricken Norman. Enough, how• ever, •f the details of this very extravagant plot. We must mention, however, that it introduces to us a young melodramatic Baron, Ernest of Dern cleugh, who is driven mad by a cruel stepfather, and Valeria de Romani, the romantic and " queenly" medium, and her passionate black slave Dinah, who claims to be her own sister. We have said nothing of the heroine Stella—she, i❑ fact, plays a very secondary part in her own history, the real beadle being, after all, Rose Trellick, the farmer's daughter, for a time the companion of the Medium Valeria. In one chapter where Rose, under the influence of a trance, is spell-bound, and compelled to follow and obey St. Aubyn, the writ r, has unintentionally, perhaps, introduced a very similar incident to that which befell Lid In, in " The Strange Story" of Sir Balwer Lytton. Mrs. Bennett does not profess to be a believer in the mysteries of the spirit. world. In fact she betrays many of the secret contrivances of Valeria and St. Aubyn. Nevertheless Rose is spirited away, as we have said, and many other impossible won ders are introduced in the course of this novel. Had the authoress attempted a less elaborate and less complicated composition she would, undoubtedly, have achieved a greater success than " Stella" can lay claim to. Dalziol's Illustrated Arabian Nights. Dalziel's Illustrated Vicar of TVakefield. Which of these two splendidly embellished editions to admire the most we know not. They have more than sustained the great promise with which they commenced. The " Vicar"—only, as yet, in his second number, and illustrated solely by the pencil of G. J. Pin well—reflects the highest credit upon the artist, to whose vivid fancy and skillful hand the delineation of the scenes recounted by dear o;i7er Goldsmith has been most judiciously en trusted. Here, do we not see poor, simple young Moses ambling along on the colt, with the deal box before him, prudently prepared for the family grog caries ? Here, have we not vividly depicted the detection of Mr. Burchell's villainy ? Finally, and by no means as the ►east meritorious among the particular engravings referred to, have we not a capital limning of the good Vicar and his womankind, musing wistfully over Moses' bargain of the spectacles in the chagreen cases ? As for the Arabian Nights, not one clever artist alone has been engaged thereon, but several gifted artists therein vie with each other in the work's embellishment. Yonder is Sindbad making a saddle for the king— yonder is Sindbad braining the Oid Man of the Sea. Here he sleeps on the raft—here he is freed from the elephants. Now we behold the Fisherman drawing his net—now the black man stealing the apple. When completed, the two volumes will each of them deserve resplendent treatment at the hands of the bookbinder. Curiosities of Savage Life. By James Greenwood, Author of " Wild Sports of the World," Two Vols. First and Second Series. S. 0. Beaton: - specimens of Mr. Beeton's very effective illustrated These two exceedingly handsome volumes are happy editions of popular works. The " Curiosities of Savage Life" are adorned with innumerable woodcuts and designs by Mr. Harden Melville, and are, moreover, embellished with a variety of brilliantly-coloured pictures from water-colour drawings, by Messrs. Keyl and Hnttula. The letter-press narrative gives a glimpse of the native savage from his cradle to his grave. I'Ve behold the Samoan baby, with its cap of stones compress ing its cranium to the desired beauty of a Flathead ; and we witness theglast dismal rites attending the in terment of a Dthomean king, accompanied to the grave by a troop of willing living victims. Of course the majority of the manners and customs described in these volumes have already, in some form or other, appeared before the European public; but the various records of savage life are here grouped together in a very skilful and interesting manner. A variety of anecdotes and adventures, illustrative of native life, are opportunely intro duced, together with many Indian tales and legends. r, 4 '4ll ; Mir, rt (firafiat HER MAJESTY. WINDSOR CASTLE, April 2. The Queen walked and drove in the grounds this morning, attended by Lady Augusta Stanley. Prince Leopcld took a carriage drive. April 3. The Bishop of Worcester and Sir Charles and Lady Mary Wood arrived at the Castle yesterday. Sir Charles and Lady Mary Wood had the hon our of dining with the Queen, the King of the Bel gians, and the royal family. Her Royal Highness Princess Helena, attended by Lady Caroline Barrington and Major• General Seymour, went to London yesterday and honoured the performance at Covent Garden Theatre with her presence. The Queen, the King of the Belgians, Princess Helena, Princess Louise, Prince Leopold, Princess Beatrice, and the Ladies and Gentlemen in Waiting, attended Divine service this morning in the private chapel. The Bishop of Worcester preached the sermon. HER MAJESTY has passed through the principal streets of Windsor this week in an open carriage for the first time since her bereavement. A marked change in the style of her Majesty's costume was noticeable.—Court Journal. THE KING OF THE BELGIANS, according to the Court Journal, will shortly leave Windsor Castle for Buckingham Palace, where his Majesty will remain until his departure for Belgium. His Excellency the Belgian Minister and Madame Van do Weyer will return to the Belgian Legation in Grosvenor-square either today or to-morrow, from their seat near Windsor. Prince Theodore of Tours and Taxis has arrived at Ciaridge's Hotel from Germany. The Duke of St. Albans arrived in town on Sa turday evening from ♦isiting the Duke and Duchess of Roxburghe, at Floors Castle, near Kelso. • .0 • Cardinal Wiseman has very courteously agreed to deliver an oration on Shakspere early in June, for the benefit of the Monument Fund. The Duchess of Somerset and Lady Gwendolin St. Maur, together with Lord Edward St. Maur and Lady Ulrica Thynne, intend to prolong their sojourn in Paris till the 13th inst. THE MINISTRY. It is with much regret we announce that the Duke of Newcastle has beea compelled by increas ing ill-health to resign the seals of the Colonial Department. In compliance with the anxious desire of his colleagues, he continued until Saturday last to discharge with characteristic fidelity the duties of his office ; but his constitution, enfeebled by several recent attacks of unusual severity, required absolute repose, and he has been at last ineueed by the exigencies of his physicians to seek that relief from labour which a less energetic mind would have claimed at a much earlier period. Mr. Cardwell, who first entered the present Go' vernment as Secretary for Ireland, which post he exchanged for the almost sinecure office of Chen cellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, will succeed the Duke of Newcastle as Secretary of State for the Colonise, and will thus vacate his seat for Oxford , The writ will be moved this evening, and Mr. Card well will, we believe, be re-elected without opposition. Lord Clarendon, who first entered the Cabinet in 1840 as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, but has since held some of the highest offices of the State, having been five years Viceroy of Ireland and five years Foreign Secretary, has consented to accept the comparatively humble office with which he commenced his distinguished career, and will succeed Mr. Cardwell as Chancellor of the Duchy. One or two other changes will probably be rep" dered necessary by these arrangements.