The Sun. — London, England, 1854-03-02 00:00:00

......g THEATRE ROYAL DRURY-LANE.- Lessee, Mr. E. T. SHITH.—On WEDNESDAY MORNING, March 8, GRAND NATIONAL DEMONSTRATION in AID of a FUND for the support of the WIVES and CHILDREN of the BRITISH SOLDIERS who have been sent as an expeditionary force on foreign service. The Lessee has placed the Theatre, free of ex pense, for a performance of THE CORSIAN BROTHERS, in which Mr. G. V BROOKE (who on this occasion gives his services gratuitously) will appea - , under the immediate patronage and spe cial desire of the Lord Mayor, the Sheriffs, and civic authorities, and the following illustrious patronesses. who have signified their inten tion of attending on this occasion:— Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cambridge. Her Royal Highness the Princess Mary of Cambridge. The Lady Mayoress. Her Grace the Duchess of Hamilton. Her Grace the Duchess of Beaufort. Her Grace the Duchess of Montrose. Her Grace the Duchess of Somerset. Her Grace the Duchess of Inverness. The Most Noble the Marchioness of Aylesbury. The Most Noble the Marchioness of Londonderry. The Most Noble the Marchioness of Blandford. The Right Hon. the Countess of Chesterfield. The Right Hon. the Countess of Kinnoull. The Right Hon. the Countess of Glengall. The Right Hon. the Countess of Besborough. The Right Hon. the Countess of Derby. The Right Hon. the Countess of She burne. The Right Hon. the Countess of Wilton. The Right Hon. the Countess of Desart. The Right Hon. the Countess of Donoughmore. The Right Hon. the Viscountess Palmerston. The Right Hon. the Viscountess Maidstone. The Right Hon. the Viscountess Newport. Lady Sophia Deveatta. Lady Colville. Lady Raglan. The Hon. Mrs. Anson. Mrs. Disraeli. Mrs. I. Stanley, ize. The Lord Mayor, with his usual kindness and generosity, has con sented to act as treasurer, and to who m subscriptions may be sent. The entire receipts to be forwarded to the Lord Mayor and Lady Patronesses, to form a public fund for the above purpose. Doors open at half-past one, and commence at two o'clock precisely.—Sub scriptions received by the Commercial Bank of London, Henrietta street. The Lessee also begs leave to inform the nobility and gentry that this Theatre will be placed at the disposal of the Lady Patronesses for a Fancy Fair, or Bassist:, oo Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. April 12, 13, and 14, on viln^h occasion the entire Pit will be covered over for their accommodation ; .and all articles intended to he for warded as a present for this national purpose, will be entered in a book, with names and addesses of donors. THEATRE ROYAL, DRURY- LANE. Lessee, Mr. E. T. SMlTH.—Another brilliant triumph at this National Establishment of I)umas's chef-d'ceuvre, the heat French drama, In five acts and eight tableaux, entitled Tar; VEN DETTA, or THE CORSICAN BROTHERS, which commen:es at 7 precisely and concludes at TEN. The wen lerful impersonation of the two characters. Louis and Fabian dei Franchi, by Mr. G. V. Brooke; the resplendent miss en scene, the s tartling and thrilling effects, the imposing tableaux, and the powerful and impressive actipg throughout the entire drama, created a perfect turare. and gained from a densely crowded audience a unanimous verdict of approval—the same marked success that ensured for it the uninter rupted run in the United States of more than One Hundred nights. The eminent tragedian, Mr G. V. BROOKE, as the Twin Brothers, EVERY EVENING. Chateau Renaud, Mr. T. Mead. To conclude with THE BEGGARS' OPERA. Captain 2dacheath, Miss Featherstone. THEATRE ROYAL DRURY LANE. Lessee. Mr. E. T. Sm th. THIS EVENING, MARCH 2. Will be performed TILE VENDETTA ; or, The Corsican Br , - there. The principal characters by 2.lersrs. G. V. Brooke and T. Mead. To ho followed by TIIE BErIGAR'S OPERA. Characters by Mr. A. Yonne, Mrs. Selby, Miss M. Stanley, and Miss Feather stone. TFIEATRE ROYAL, HAYMARKET. Under the manuercent of \lr. ttuckstone, TIIIS EVENING, MARCH Will be performed GUY MANNERING. Supported by Messrs. W. Farren, Elliott Galer, Compton, Rogers, How,, Clark, Corri, and Cullenford; MisChshulan (as Me; Meanies), Miss Julia Harland, and Mrs. L. 4 . Buckingham After which. the Grand C'IIRTATMAS PANTOMIME, called HARLEQUIS" AND TIIE THREE BEAR--; or, Little Silverhair and the Fairies. Columbine, Miss M Brown; 11 , r1equin, Mr. J. Marshall; Pantaloon, Mr. W. A. Barnes; Clown, Mr. El. Marshall. RaYAL PRINCESi'S OX:fORD-STREET. Under the Mlnagemlnt of Mr. CHARLES KEAN. THIS EVENING, MARcil 2, Will be performed VIE CORSICAN BROTHERS. Principal character by Mr. C. Kean. After which will be presented the new Grand CIIRISTMAS PAN TONIIME, entitled lIARLEQUI AND THE MILLER AND HIS MEN; or, Kin; Salainainiar and the Fairy of the Azure Lake. Harlequin, Corinac't ; Clown, Mr. Huline ; Pantaloon, Mr. Paulo; and Columb ne, Miss Deiborough. LYCEI.:3I THEATRE. Under the Management of Madame Vestris. TIIIS EVENING. MAaca 2, Will be performed A B tCEIELOIt OF ART.i. Characters by Messrs. C. Mathews, F. Matthews, and Baker; Miss F. Hughes. After which, the orf2;init Fairy Extravaganza, callel ONCE UPON A TIME TEIERE WERE TWO KING-S. Principal cha racters by Mr. Roxhy and Madame Vestris. To conclude with PATTER VERSUS CLATTER. Principal character by Mr. Charles Mathews. THEATRE ROYAL ADELPHL Proprietor, Mr. B. Webiter.—Directress, Madame Celeste. THIS EVENING, 3IARcu 2, Will be presented the highly Popular New Nautical Melo-drama in five taoleaux, with new scenery, the Sea of Ice, &c., new dresses and appointments, called TILE TdIRAC OF GOUT); or, THE LOST SHIP AND TILE WILD FLOWER OF MEXICO. Principal characters by Messrs. B. Webster, Keeley. Paul Bedford, Madame Celeste, &c. To conclude with THE SERIOUS FAMILY. Characters by Messrs. B. Webster, Leigh Murray, rarselle, and Keeley; Mrs. L. Murray, 3lisses Woolgar, Fanny Maskell, and Laidlaw, and Mrs. Keeley. ROYAL OLYMPIC TLIF.kTRE. Lessee and Manaler. Mr. A. Wigan. THIS EVENING. Maacn 2, Will be perim - med PLOT AND P AS.qON. Principal characters by Messrs. A. INTL;AII, F. Robson, Emery, Leslie, Whit:), Franks, and H. Ccoper ; Miss E. Turner, and Mrs. Stirling After which, VIE TlF,N(i—tli TIGER. Principal characters by Meggrs, Allred Wigan, and F. Robson ; and sirs. Wigan and Miss Marston. To conclude with TIIE LOTTERY TICKET. Characters by Mesas. Emery, and F. Robzon; Mrs. Chatterley, and Miss Ellen Turner. STRAND THEATRE. Sole Lessee, Mr. F. V. Allcroft.—Dtru..tre3i, Miss Itebecca Isaacs THIS EVENING, Ifaacn 2, Will be presented "NO IRISH NEED APPLY." Principal characters by Messrs. U. Hodson, Warren, and Herbert; Misses H. Noel and Hammond. After which, MIDAS. Apollo, Miss G. Hodson. To be followed by THE TWO (11 , tEGORIES. To conclude with TIP , : CORKOgIAN BROTHERS. Paddy and Tim Mulligan (the Brothers), Mr. G. Hodson. Stalls, 55.; filmes. 35.; Pit, 6d; iiallery. 6d.; Private Boxes, I is. 6d., +o be had 01 Mr. Alleroft, 15, New Bond-street. ASTLEY'S EUROPE'S NATIONAL A.MPHITiIEA.THE. Lessee and Manager, Mr. William Cooke. Triumphant success of the New Spectacle. LAST THREE NIGHTS of the PANTOMIME. THIS EVENING, Mutat 2, And during the week, will be presented the new, grand, and romantic spectacle entitled THE ATOODNIA.N'S HORSE; or, The False Knight—the Woodman's Horse by the pet steed, Beauty, expressly trained by Mr. William Cooke. After which, Scenes of the ARENA. To conclude with the Comic Pantomime of BILLY BUTTON'S JOURNEY TO BRENTFORD ; or, Harlequin and the Ladies' Favourite. Box-office open from Eleven till Four. Stage Manager, Mr. W. West. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. Tus DAY —Morning 4 min.after 4 I Evening 22 min.aft. 4 To•Mcaaow—Morning 40 min.after 4 1 Evening 55 min.aft. 4 THE WEATHER.-Strx OFFICB, MARCH 2. THERMOMETER, IN THE SHADE. 52—highest since noon yesterday. 37—lowest this morning and during the n'ght. 50—this day at noon. BAROMETER, went up to 30'79—now 30'74. r WIND, S. to S.S.E.—Light breeze, and very fine, sun shiny weather. AI L F IL;•VW-Pinolt, 4 LONDON, THURSDAY, MARCH 2, 1854. G owering state of the political horizon, or the im pending war to retard the measures of Parlia mentary and legal reform which were so impera tively required, and urgently demanded by the people. Notwithstanding the efforts that have been made for further procastination, notwith standing the devices adopted for the purpose of inducing Liberal members to join in the cry for procrastination, Lord JOHN RUSSELL still per sists in his measure, which, although not in every respect what could be desired, b e ing defective in the all-important matters of " The Ballot," and the " abolition of the property qualification for members," is yet a very decided improvement on the system now in operation ; and with the additions which will, doubtless, be effected by Mr. HENRY BERKELEY, the champion of secret and conscientious voting, and of Mr. TPFNELL, and their liberal coadjutors, will constitute a very fair instalment of justice, although it cannot be accepted as a final settle ment. It is scarcely credible that, after all the bold speaking of Ministers, the New Reform Bill is really to be abandoned. Yet it is so positively asserted, as will be seen elsewhere, by one of our morning contemporaries. It would be merely a contemptible evasion of the truth, of course, to talk about a postponement. A postponement of the question, till another year shall have elapsed, means an abandonment. Would Mi nisters, in proceeding thus, be acting fairly either to the country or to the House, or to ttemselves? Surely not—after all that was said by Lord JOHN RUSSELL in the Commons upon the steure,ggesbtuiot especially suggesti on of thrown out in several guar thrust upon his attention by the Hon. Gentleman the Member for Liverpool. The intimation that Lord PALMERSTON would vote in favour of the amendment of Sir E. DERING, in the event of the Bill being brought forward this session, according to promise under the notice of the Legislatu re , would—if verified—justify to the full all the suspicions entertained for some time past in regard to the political prin ciples, or rather in r egard to the assumed lack of p o litical principles, of the Home Secretary. What ever be the resolve of the Government, it should at least be announced betimes. The Coalition ca nnot play fast and loose with th e hopes of the nation with impunity. The truth, unless volun teered, must forthwith be extorted from the occu pants of the Treasury Benches in not uncalled-for or unseasonable explanations. But this is not all ; we find that they are also proceeding vigorously with those legal reforms which the people so greatly require and urgently demand. We have already had the Ecclesiastical Courts Bill, by which it is proposed to abolish the testamentary jurisdiction of the spiritual tribunals, and with it the rich source of emolument, the nutriment, in fact, by which they are sustained and supported. Thus directly leading to the speedy dissolution of the Courts themselves. And, on Monday last, Lord CRAN WORTH introduced another measure, for the pur pose of carrying into practical operation some of the recommendations of the Common Law Com missioner 3. We say " some of the recommen dations ;" because, while there are matters on which the Noble and Learned Lord desires to proceed more slowly and cautiously than the eminent barristers by whom the inquiry was con ducted, and from whom these recommendations emanated, there are others from which he altogether dissents. Some points are, therefore, merely postponed until there have been sufficient oppor tunities for testing the working of the modified system—while others are, at least so far as Lord CRANWORTH is concerned, completely thrown overboard. Ample opportunity will, however, be afforded for considering the details of the bill, and more espe cially the facts thereof, in which the suggestions of the Commissioners are modified or totally re jected. For this purpose, immediately after the second reading, which will probably be taken without any discussion, the only possible difference will be respecting details. All the Law Lords, many of whom have achieved such high reputa tions as legal reformers, will of course lend their valuable assistance in committee ; and we may anticipate, therefore, that a bill will be carried during the present session as nearly perfect as practicable, considering the deep-rooted prej a dices in favour of some of what we cannot help considering the grievous abuses that have sprung up with and disfigured our system of jurisprudence. Chief among these abuses we con sider what is called the science of " special plead ing," and which we would desire to see completely set aside. it is true that the system was greatly modified and ameliorated by the Common Law Procedure Act, and that evils such as those which elicited the unanimous condemnation of the en tire non-professional community are no longer possible. But causes may still be decided on points totally unconnected with the real merits, and substantial justice may still be denied to the suitor, in consequence of some mistake or over sight of his professional adviser. We regretted, therefore, to find that Lord CRANWORTH went out of his way—for the matter had been disposed of, for the time at least, by the Common Law Pro cedure Act—to express his approbation of a mat ter which, to use a technical phrase, was "coram non judice." to foreigners than to our own fellow-countrymen, as was indicated the other day rather notably in the sum collected in behalf of the relations of a French naval Lieutenant. Nevertheless, with all this noble munificence on the part of Englishmen, numerous omissions are frequently observable in the distribution of the national benevolence—sometimes omissions of a wholly unaccountable kind from their long con tinuance and their magnitude. One of these we have now to indicate. It is one that only re quires to be mentioned to be appreciated. It is of a character so important that we do not con ceive it ill-timed to specify it even at this moment when strenuous efforts are being made to assist the destitute wives and children of our gallant soldiers now called eastwards, there to fight side by side with the soldiers of France and of Turkey the battle of civilisation. Even at this juncture we consider it not inapposite to direct the popular attention to the subject implied by our foregoing remarks—because the claim upon the general charity here meant has reference no less to the wives and children of another section of the more heroic among our fellow-countrymen. Allusion is hereby made to to the Families of our humane and daring Coast Boatmen. We are rejoiced to observe that endeavours have recently been adven tured upon in their behalf by those who are the best qualified to speak of their claims upon the national consideration. Meaning, of course, those who are familiar with their acts of heroism, and the frequent privations to which their wives and offspring are subjected in consequence. An elo quent and convincing pamphlet in their behalf* has recently been issued by a gentleman residing at St. Margaret's-at-Cliff--a brochure commanding from us an earnest and spontaneous commenda tion. It explains the extraordinary and anoma lous, and, in many respects, most painful situa tion of these brave Coast Boatmen, and offers a variety of very rational suggestions for the forma tion of a fund to reward them for saving life in cases of disasters at sea or shipwreck. It points out the monstrous absurdity and unfairness of the present system, by virtue of which these gal lant fellows are recompensed for saving property —obtaining, for the preservation of life, no right whatever even to the smallest compensation. It does all this, moreover, with a gentleness of sym pathy and a fervour of indignation that must secure for the argument of the pamphleteer a cordial and general admiration. Thus briefly, but sufficiently, because earnestly and heartily, we commend the "Appeal for the Coast Boatmen" to the notice of every intelligent member of our population. The Lord Chancellor differs from the Commis sioners as to their suggestion of permitting issues of fact to be decided by the Judge, both parties acquiescing. The Noble and Learned Lord limits the power of dispensing with a Jury to a particu lar class of cases, and also renders the assent of the Judge in every instance indispensable.. None can admire the glorious principle of " Trial by Jury" more sincerely than ourselves. It is the leading principle of the glorious Constitution of which every Englishman is so justly proud, that no man can be condemned for any criminal offence, nor be deprived of his liberty or property, save on the unanimous verdict of twelve of his peers. But the suggestion of the Commissioners did not in any degree affect this principle. It made the trial by jury the rule, and only allowed of its being dispensed with on the application of all parties concerned ; and, considering the way in which the County Courts' system has worked, and the few cases in which litigants have availed themselves of the power of calling for a jury, that the matter might safely be left in their own hands. There could be no prejudice excited in the mind of the Judge, if the Judge of either party thought proper to have the decision of a jury, inasmuch as, unlike the County Courts' re gulation, all parties should concur in the applica tion for the Judge to take upon himself the responsibility of determining questions of fact as well as of law, and also assessing damages in cases of breach of contract, &c., where that duty now devolves on the jury. A Judge may be unwilling to undertake the extra responsibility, but he ought to do so if the parties assent ; and the necessity of obtaining his concurrence will cause the expense of an application in every instance, even those of account, and matters where there is no dispute as to the facts ; all of which might be saved by permitting the litigants to decide for themselves, and the verdict must be given by a Jury in a certain class of cases, although the parties might call for a decision by the Judge, and that learned functionary might be willing to undertake the duty. Meanwhile, we would even now direct the earnest attention of the community to the tabular statement given by us in another part of our j un _ pression of this evening—from which statement much may be learnt at a glance as to the pro bable working of the now measure as explained by Lord John Russell last month before the assembled Parliament. Ministers, in one respect at least, have earned for themselves the cordial thanks and approbation of the community. They have not permitted the * An Appeal to the Public in Behalf of the Coast Boat men. By John Quested. Inscribed to James Orton, Esq., of the Hermitage. Bvo., pp. 14. Tweedie : Dover and London, 1854. But, notwithstanding these drawbacks, the bill is an excellent measure, which will be accepted by legal reformers as a boon of no ordinary magni tude ; and, therefore, we return our grateful thanks to the Ministry, and more especially to Lord CRANWORTH, for not allowing our foreign difficulties to retard the consideration of a subject of so much domestic interest. It was remarked two or three years ago by M. Gunor—we remember perfectly well the very occasion upon which the words were uttered, that occasion being one of peculiar interest, namely, the dinner (presided over by Mr. DISRAELI) in aid of the funds of the Brompton Hospital for Consumption—it was remarked, we say, by M. GulzoT, that one of the most noteworthy character istics of the English population was unquestionably its ready and munificent benevolence. It was observed by him that nothing more forcibly ar rested the attention of the stranger in our streets than the number and variety of our charitable establishments. M. GITIZOT was right. His re mark indicated the keenness of his perception. It amounted to an earnest and graceful panegyric— a panegyric, moreover, without the faintest tendency to exaggeration. It was strictly in accordance with reality—a reality capable of being verified at once by observation. Everywhere throughout our metropolis, in almost every street, at almost every turning, the fact is manifested in some building of goodly proportions—some hospital, or asylum, or refuge, or relieving-house, supported entirely by voluntary contributions. Scarcely an ill that flesh is heir to but has its edifice for gratuitous alleviation. Ophthalmic hospitals and orthopaedic institutions, structures for the relief of blindness, and lunacy, and fi,tula, and small-pox, and fevers, and idiotcy, and all imaginable diseases, both mental and corporeal, are flourishing at this mo ment, and have been flourishing for years, in all parts of London and Westminster. Nay—more than this—whenever any temporary claim is made upon the multitude in these islands with a view to obtain assistance for any one suffering from the effects of sudden misfortune, it is at onceheartily a c k now l e d ge d. No matt er w h e th er the calamity be a conflagration in Hamburg or an explosion in our collieries a scarcity of food or some appalling inundation. Hence, too,. the diver s it y of our humane an d generous testimonials —..testimonials accorded no less readily THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, MARCH 2, 185 4. MONEY MARKET AND COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE. CITY, TWO O'CLOCK. The sales of cotton at Liverpool yesterday were estimated at 5,000 bales, of which 1,000 American were taken for export and on speculation. The market closed heavily, with prices of American is. 6d. lower ; other kinds heavy of sale. The sales comprised 3,700 American, 500 Pernam and Maranham at 6i-d. to 81d., 250 Egyptian at 6d. to 10td., 500 Surat at 3d. to 31d„ and 30 Sea Island at is. to Is. 11d. per lb. Railway Shares were dull. The following particulars of the Manchester market are furnished by Messrs. M'Nair, Green how, and Irving : " The commencement and the close of the month resemble each other, inasmuch as both periods can be characterised by exceeding quiet. Its latter por tion has, however, in conjunction with other well known causes, been to-day affected considerably by the declining state of the cotton market, and the somewhat unfavourable construction put upon the reading of the published intelligence of to-day, brought to hand by the overland mail. In its progress, from the date of our last monthly circular to the present period, the action of this market has been subjected to almost unceasing fluctuations—none of them, however, as possessing material capacities for either substantial good or permanent evil, but sufficient in influence either to elevate or to depress for the time being. Although it may be needless to specify, yet the fluctuations in question have been consequent upon the changing aspects of this unfortunate and most detrimental Eastern ques tion, which hitherto has continued to generate alternate hopes and fears. Most fortunate it is, notwithstanding, that this country possesses an unparalleled amount of re sources and absolute wealth to contend with any hostile contingency, and, as a natural consequence, very gratifying to experience a unanimous feeling of unimpaired confi dence. Collectively viewed, in connection with so many unfavourable influences in operation, the transactions of the month have again been considerable, and to an ex tent hitherto capable of preventing any accumulation of stock in an important degree. Notwithstanding the previous absence of supplies, some descriptions of cloth are commencing to accumulate. Any augmentation so far is of no importance, but unless some unexpected de mand arise, in the absence of a pacific settlement of matters between Turkey and Russia, a material one in our opinion appears to us to be inevitable, and with it necessarily falling prices. We cannot, in the meantime, reasonably calculate upon any material aid from pur chasers on account of the home trade, which, from the very high prices ruling for food, and other apparent pre judicial cases, has not been known to be so unsatisfactory since the years 1846 and 1847." Of the Silk market, Mr. Henry W. Eaton ob- SPORTING NOTES. THE GRAND NATIONAL STEEPLE CHASE. I The interest which attached to the Grand National Steeple Chase increased up to the very moment of start ing. Various circumstances conspirei to strengthen and sustain it ; the most important and effective being perhaps the uncertainty which existed relative to the intentions and motives of the Miss Mowbray and Half and-Half parties. The movements in the turf market connected with certain animals were peculiarly perplex. ing, and they were seemingly made with a kind of " thimble-rigging " determination to deceive and mis guide the uninitiated. Oliver's three horses were " worked" in the market with wonderful dexterity, and it was as difficult to discover the intended animal as to de tect the little pea. Peter Simple, Half-and-Half, and Maurice Daley were in turns backed on Tuesday night with a striking show of spirit and con fidence, although, as midnight approached, cer tain " ambiguous givings out " excited a suspicion that Maurice Daley would after all carry the money. His upward tendency in the betting was therefore steady and decided. The suspicions which had been aroused were not unfounded, and when it became known on the course on Wednesday that Tom Oliver would ride Maurice Daley, the horse instantly became an immense favourite, and indeed appeared likely to deprive Bourton of the lead in the betting. On Monday, the opposition which had been daily gain ing force was fully directed against Miss Mowbray, and on Tuesday night so determined was it that her most I sanguine supporters were discouraged, and she was driven out of the market. My notes from Stretford doubtless prepared my readers for this movement. Miss Mowbray's retrogression in the betting scarcely produced the effect which it was perhaps intended, or which was calculated upon—namely, the advance of her stable companion, Oscar. People justly regarded all pro ceedings respecting " Dockeray's two" with dis trust, and their dealings with them were regu lated by a judicious caution which was not a little significant. Early on Wednesday morning, the scratching of Miss Mowbray was generally talked about, and although she was not actually struck out, yet any odds were offered that she would not start. Still many incredulous good easy people believed that her party dared not so openly defy public opinion, as to bring Miss Mowbray to Liverpool, ostensibly to meet her en gagement, and then withdraw her at the last moment, forgetting, no doubt, that such a proceeding was not without precedent. At thirty-five minutes past two, a notice was posted in the " ring" that Miss Mowbray was scratched. This announcement scarcely created a sensation, for every one was prepared for it, but no attempt was made to disguise —even in the presence of the actual owner of the mare—the feelings of indignation and contempt which it aroused. Of course, in certain quarters, this proceeding was lamely excused, and en deavours were made to extenuate the seemingly shame ful conduct of the Miss Mowbray party. The mare, it was asserted, was "amiss" ; her legs had given way under her necessarily severe preparation. It was true she had done little or no work since her arrival at Aintree, yet her party were apparently a long while before they decided upon her inability to run. She was not struck out until an hour before the race, and the only motive which couidhave actuated her party not to scratch until the last moment, was that of making money out of her. If she was really amiss and unable to run, it was a duty which her owner owed to himself as well as to the public, in consideration of the vast sums of money for which she had been backed, to lose no time in officially announcing his declaration of forfeit. But many persons discredit entirely the cause of her with drawal, and sneeringly assert her only injury to be a sprained eye-brow. Experience has doubtless made them sarcastic and suspicious, for the Miss Mowbray party have more than once scratched a first favourite at the eleventh hour. I shall make searching inquiiies into this seemingly shameful affair, and if my suppositions he confirmed, I shall not hesitate to expose the wrong doers. I have little time to give an account of the race. Bour ton, won from end to end, and I believe had he carried half a stone heavier weight, the result would have been the same. Spring and Crabbs, the once scarcely-thought-of out siders, whom I selected as being likely to prove formid able opponents to the favourites, wore second and third. Maurice Daley never figured prominently in the race, and they who made a "pot" of Half-and-Half found it flat, stale, and unprofitable ;he broke down. Oscar, too, tumbled, but at the time was not up with the lead ing horses. The only important accident was that which happened to Bedford, who broke his leg. Altogether the encounter for the Grand National was marked by few contretemps. On Saturday I may have more to say respecting the doings of the gentlemen patrons of the sport. "The labour I delight in physics pain." A FRESH MAN. Birkenhead, Wednesday Night. CRIMINAL COURT.-(THIS DAY). NEW COURT. (Before the Recorder.) THE RYE ELECTION.-CHARGE OF PERJURY AGAINST THE MAYOR OF RYE. Jeremiah, Smith., an elderly gentlemanly-looking man, the present Mayor of Rye, surrendered to take his trial for wilful and corrupt perjury, committed by him on the sth of March, before the Rye Election Committee. The defendant pleaded not guilty, and was seated during the trial behind his counsel. The Court was densely crowded by a great many of the most influential persons of the borough of Rye and surrounding parts of the country. Mr. Montague Chambers, in opening the case to the jury, said it was a painful duty he was called upon to perform ; it was one of the greatest import to the de fendant, from the position he hold in the borough, whilst upon the part of the public generally, its importance could not be in any way magnified. It ap peared that, at the general election of 1852, Mr. A. Mackinnon was returned as member for Rye. After the election a petition was presented against the election of Mr. A. Mackinnon, containing charges for treating and general corruption. Upon this petition the present defendant wag examined before a Parliamentary com mittee at great length, concerning a dinner which took place a few days before. The defendant, having been sworn, said that the dinner was given by Mr. Curteis, the opposing candidate, and that he the defendant had nothing to do with Mr. Mackinnon ; that Mr. Mackinnon had nothing to do with paying the bills for that dinner ; that he had nothing to do with paying Mr. Mackinnon's bills, and that he had never seen any of Mr. Mackin non's money. The committee, it further appeared, un seated Mr. Mackinnon, and recommended in their report that the borough of Rye should not be allowed to have another writ issued. A further enquiry took place, and upon that investigation defendant was examined, and he then said that all he had said upon the former occasion was untrue, that he had no intention of stating what was untrue until he had made one false step, that he was truly sorry for what had taken place, that he had done it to screen Mr. Mackinnon, and that having now made this admission he was more comfortable, as he bad re lieved his mind and had an opportunity of setting the matter right. It was upon this admission that these proceedings were taken. At the conclusion of the opening statement the ex amination of Mr. Mackinnon was proceeded with. He stated that just before the election he drew out 2301. from a batik in the town. What did you do with the money ? I was told to put it into a particular place. —Where was that place ? Behind the cushion of the sofa at the Red Lion. I put it there. (Great laughter.) I did not see any one there. I do not know who took it. I was not consulted about the dinner. I did not know what the money was wanted for. Lawrence Reeve, a farmer of Rye, said that he took a roll of paper from behind the cushion. He did not know what they wore ; it might have been notes. I gave theta to Temple ; he did not seem surprised. The Recorder examined this witness very closely, and after fencing with the question for some time, said his belief was that they were notes. Mr. Herbert Mascall Curtis proved that Smith had been their agent for years ; that he had given authority to Smith to give an invite to the dinner, and that he had drawn the form of invitation. He did not know who paid for the dinner, but requested that the charge might be put down to his account, He only knew that it was some sneaking scoundrel who bad promoted this prosecution. He knew it was not the Government. - Mr. Montague Chambers said he was sorry for it. The Recorder told this witness that his language was most improper. The witness, in a very excited and most Incautious manner, repeated the remark. The Recorder begged that he would be more guarded in his language, as this was not the place for such re marks, and he should not allow him to make them. The evidence of the innkeeper receiving the money from the defendant closed the case, and Sir F. Thessiger was addressing the Jury when we went to press. MARLBOROUGH-STREET. - (THIS DA Y. INCITING A BOY TO ROB HIS MASTER. Ann Mary lynatia Adams was placed at the bar be fore Mr. Bingham, charged with inciting James Pyks Coombe, a lad about 15 years of age, to rob his master, Mr. Needes, pawnbroker, Old Compton-street, Soho. It appeared from the evidence that the prisoner was servant to the prosecutor. A short time ago she left his service, and before she left she told the lad Coombe that she was about getting married, and asked him to get her some things towards her marriage establishment from Mr. Needes. He consented, and took from his master's warehouse a tablecloth, two frocks, a pin, two petticoats, a brooch, two salt cellars, and a number of other articles, which he gave to the prisoner. The articles now produced are part of those which he gave her. The prisoner subsequently gave him a few half pence for his trouble. John Edward Needes, pawnbroker, Old Compton street, said in consequence of information he had re ceived, he took stock, and missed a considerable quan tity of goods. He accompanied the officer to prisoner's lodgings, where they found the articles now produced. Witness was not able to identify them, as they were for feited pledges. When charged with the robbery, prisoner said she confessed to the whole of it. Ryland, 191 C, said about six last night he went to 27, Greek-streeet, where the prisoner lodged, and found her there. He told her he was a constable, and the nature of the charge against her, to which she replied, " I thought so." He searched the place and found the thintrs nr rinrerl, ng also crime rinniirrlteg 11p then took her into custody, When she at once confessed her guilt. Prisoner, who made a rambling defence, was fully committed for trial. EIGHT OF THE NINE BOROUGHS TO HAVE THREE MEMBERS. Electors. Population. Bradford Wolverhampton 3,587 ... 119,748 Sheffield Leeds 6,406 ... 172,270 Birmingham 7,936 ... 232,841 Bristol Manchester 13,921 ... 316,213 Liverpool THREE NEW BOROUGHS WITH ONE MEMBER EACH. Population. Birkenhead .... 24,285 Burnley Staleybridge METROPOLIS AND ITS BOROUGHS. Electors. Population. Greenwich Southwark Lambeth Marylebone • Finsbury London (4 Mom.) 20,728 ... 127,869 Tower Hamlets Westminster 14,883 —. 241,611 Kensington (new) — —. 176,512 It may be of interest to add, that, supposing the Reform Bill to pass in its present state, there will be 74 boroughs, including four of Schedule A, above the 5,000 population test, and 22 above the 10,000 population test, yet unrepre sented. They may be classified, thus : —3O towns, with a population of between five and six thousand; 18 between six and seven thousand ; 15 between seven and eight thousand; 6 between eight and nine thousand; 5 between nine and ten thousand ; and 22 between ten and twenty thousand. Thus, while 5 under ten thousand have two Members, these 22 have none ! ABANDONMENT OF THE REFORM BILL. At a late hour last night we received an assur ance, from a source which has never misled us, that at the Cabinet Council held yesterday it was decided that the Reform Bill should be abandoned. It is true that the word " abandoned . ' was not the one which was used. The phraseology employed was, that the measure be " postponed' for twelve months ; but that, in the circumstances of the case, is synonymous with the abandonment of the bill. Lord Palmerston, we are told, even went so far as to say, that, let the Council decide as they might, nothing should prevent him from voting in favour of the amendment of Sir E. Dering. It is not improbable that Lord John Russell will this day announce to the house the abandonment, or rather as he will call it, the postponement of the measure till next session.—Morning Advertiser. COURT CIRCULAR. The Queen and Prince Albert, accompanied by the Princess Royal and Princess Alice, and attended by Viscountess Jocelyn, Lady Caroline Barrington, Colonel the Hon. C. Grey, and Captain the Hon. Dudley de Ros, visited the Tower of London yesterday afternoon. Prince Albert rode on horseback, accompanied by the Prince of Wales, and attended by the Equerry in Waiting. The — Princess Helena and Louisa took a drive in an open carriage and four. The Duchess of Kent visited her Majesty yesterday. Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, the Duchess of Sutherland, the Earl and Countess of Cla rendon, Lady Fanny Howard, the Baroness de Spaeth, Viscount and Viscountess Hardinge, Lord Raglan, and Admiral Sir W. Parker, had the honour of dining with her Majesty yesterday. Lord Waterpark has succeeded the Marquis of Or monde as Lord in Waiting to the Queen, and Captain the Hon. Dudley de Ros has relieved Colonel Wylde in the duties of Equerry in Waiting to Prince Albert. The Duchess of Glocester remains much the same. Her Royal Highness passed a tolerable night on Tues• day. Lord Alfred Paget and Colonel Wylde had an inter• view with the Right Hon. E. Cardwell yesterday at the Board of Trade. A deputation from the local board of health of Rusholm had an interview yesterday with the General Board of Health at their offices, Whitehall. The deputation con sisted of Mr. W. Burdett, clerk to the local board, and Mr. Lawton, surveyor to that board. A deputation to urge the necessity for passing the Medical Registration Bill had an interview with Sir W. Molesworth yesterday at the office of Public Works and Buildings, in Whitehall-place. The deputation consisted of Dr. Challice, Dr. F. C. Jones, Dr. Humble, Dr. E. Evans, Mr. E. Doubleday, Mr. A. Ebsworth, Mr. C. Brady, and Mr. H. B. Evans. A deputation from the Great London Drainage Com pany had an interview with Viscount Palmerston yes terday at the Home-office. The deputation consisted of Sir Charles Fox, G. R. Rowe, M.D., F.R.C.S., Messrs. J. D. Powles, T. D. Powles, Massey Dawson, More wood, Mitchell (C.E.), Gibbs, (0.E.), Wollett, Belcher, and Baxter. A deputation, consisting of the Earl of Orkney, Lord Alfred Paget, Mr. Otway, M.P., Mr. Price, Mr. May hew, and Mr. M'Gregor, M.P., had an interview with Sir W. Molesworth yesterday at the office of Works and Public Buildings. Despatches were sent from the Colonial-office yester day to the Governors of the West India Islands. VISIT OF BER MAJESTY AND PRINCE ALBERT TO THE TOWER. Yesterday afternoon her Majesty the Queen, Prince Albert, and two of the Royal Princesses, paid an almost unexpected visit to the Tower. At a few minutes before three the Royal cortege left Buckingham Palace in the most unostentatious manner that could possibly be con ceived. The cortege consisted of two private carriages, the first drawn by a pair of bays, containing her Most Gracious Majesty, his Royal Highness Prince Albert, and their Royal Highnesses the Princess Royal and the Princess Alice ; the second carriage contained Col. the Hon. C. Grey, Captain the Hon. Dudley de Ros, Hon. Lady Jocelyn, and three of the ladies in waiting. The procession passed through the parks, over Westminster bridge to Blackfriars, through the City, Eastcheap, and Tower-street to the Tower, where they arrived at half past three The carriages entered at the principal entrance, where a company of the 19th Regiment of Foot was stationed, and by whom her Majesty was saluted on her arrival. The carriages then passed through the Middle and Byward Towers to the Jewel-house. Here the Royal party alighted, and her Majesty was received by Major General Sir George Bowles (the Lieutenant of the Tower), Major Eirington ' and Colonel Wyndham (Keeper of the Crown Jewels), and by those distinguished officers was conducted to the house of the gallant colonel. Her Majesty was then conducted by the above gentlemen, accompanied by a party of warders, to the Jewel-house, where a minute examination of the Crown jewels was made, and with evident grati fi cation to the younger branches of the Royal party. An inspection of the ramparts of the Tower was then made, and in which his Royal Highness Prince Albert, the Hon. Captain Dudley de Ros, and Colonel the Hon. C. Grey, appeared to take a most lively interest. The party then went through the Beauchamp Tower, which having been examined, they passed on to the Horse Ar moury, which, together with the Queen Elizabeth's Ar moury, was attentively examined, and was a matter of evident interest to the Royal party, which afterwards went over the Bloody Tower, and then proceeded to the Court-yard. There her Majesty and his Royal High ness expressed themselves to the gallant officers is at tendance, highly gratified with the inspection they had had of the various parts of the Tower. The Royal party then returned to their carriages by the Traitor's Gate, and left the Tower at about 20 minutes before five o'clock. Although the visit of her Majesty was kept quite a secret until the arrival at the Tower, on the cortege taking its departure some thousands of persons had congregated on Tower-hill, through which , a passage was kept by the police of the H division ; and on the appearance of the carriages the most deafening cheers rent the air, until they were out of sight. In bowing to the spectators in acknowledgment of the loyal feeling displayed, the general remark was that neither her Most Gracious Majesty, nor her Royal consort had been seen to look in better health for some time past, as was also the case with the Royal children. Her Majesty was attired in a very unassuming habit, and his Royal Highness wore a blue frock coat with gold buttons. The party arrived at the Palace on their return shortly after five o'clock. THE COURT.—Her Majesty and the royal family, ac cordingto present arrangements, contingent, we believe, on the precarious state of the health of her Royal High ness the Duchess of Gloucester, who continues indis posed, will proceed to Osborne, Isle of Wight, on Thursday next, to remain until Easter. CABINET COUNCIL.—At. Cabinet Council was held at three o'clock yesterday afternoon at the Foreign-office, Downing.street. The Ministers present were—the Earl of Aberdeen, Lord John Russell, the Marquis of Lans downe, the Lord Chancellor, Earl Granville, the Duke of Argyll, Viscount Palmerston, the Earl of Clarendon, the Duke of Newcastle, the Chancellor of the Ex chequer, Sir James Graham, Sir Charles Wood, the Right Hon. Sidney Herbert, and Sir William Moles worth. The Council sat three hours. The Duke and Duchess of Northumberland and suite have left Rome, en route to London. The Earl and Countess of Jersey, and the Lady Cle mentine Villiers, arrived to-day in Berkeley-square, from Middleton Park, Oxfordshire. General Lord Raglan, G.C.8., arrived in Stanhope street yesterday, from Paris, at eight a.m. The noble and gallant Lord, we understand, had subsequently official interviews with Lord Harding, and other person ages of high note, relative to his military visit to the French Emperor. serves : "Our market has been without change since the pub lic sales, the result of which you were advised of on the 23d ultimo. In Chinas a few further parcels have been taken at the prices then established, but healthy, as un doubtedly every branch of the trade is, consumers seem resolved only to supply immediate wants until political affairs are more settled." In the Bankers' Magazine for March, the pros pects of the war as affecting the money market, the question of Trade and Banking in Australia, the Bank of England Charter, and other impor tant topics are fully discussed. Late advices from New York report rather a better market for Public Securities. The state of trade was good, and prospects were encouraging. The rate of exchange on London still tended down wards. From the Continent the advices are not, com mercially, of importance. The impending war is occasioning, however, more stringency in the dif ferent money markets, and Stocks are being sant to England for sale. The English Funds have not varied much this morning, but business is dull, and the speculators are indisposed to operate. Consols have been 91k to for transfer, but only 91k for account. The New 31. per Cents. have been at 92/ to 93k, and the 3 per Cents. at 94 to 92. Exchequer Bills have been marked 17s. to 205., and India Bonds Bs. to lls. premium. Foreign Securities have been weaker throughout. Spanish Deferred Bonds, after being 18, have re ceded to 17i, and Mexican are heavy at 24k to 1. Buenos Ayres have been quoted 55. Russian 5 per Cents. have been 88 to 89k ex dividend, and the 41 per Cents. 80k to 84. Dutch Stock is heavy at 85 for the 4 per Cents. The Gold Mine Shares have been firm, as well as the Banks and Land Companies', with very little doing. Crystal Palace are maintained. BRITISH MlNES.—Business continues limited. There is a demand for Wheal Mary Great Consols, Mo'lands, Tremollett, Downs, Poltimores, and a few others. At the West Grenada Mining Meeting this morn. ing it was stated that 13,0001. out of the 20,0001. of the Debentures had been raised. The current prices for the Jamaica Mines not officially quoted, are as follows :—Jamaica, par to prem. ; Metcalfe, par to ± discount ; Sue River, ± discount to par ; Port Royal, ft to prem. The last week's railway receipts ascertained up to this day are in round figures as under : 1854. 1853. North-Western . £48,439 £43,371 South-Western Brighton 9,879 7,065 Midland South-Eastern. Caledonian, and Edin. and Glasgow 14,375 12,494 Great Northern 18,563 12,441 Lancashire and Yorkshire 18,137 17,328 York and North Midland, New castle and Berwick, Leeds 25,042 17,579 Northern In Railway Shares there is much less activity, and the quotations have been generally i to 1 per cent. lower for the English lines. French Shares have been also rather cheaper. BRITISH FUNDS THIS DAY AT ONE O'CLOCK. (From the Official List.) Business cloae. 3 per Cont. Reduced Annuities 9ls 2 3 per Cent. Consols Annuities 9 ls 4 i Sow 34 per Cent. Annuities 921 i 31 bong Annuities, Expire sth Jan., 1860 Ditto 30 Years, Expire sth Jan., 1860 5 [tuba Bonds, £lOOO ............ ll p Ditto, under £lOOO 8 11 p Consols for Account 16th] March Exchequer Bills, ld. £IOOO £5OO l7 20 p Small l7 20 p PRICE OF FOREIGN FUNDS AT ONE O'CLOCK. Buenos Ayres Bonds, 6 .. per Cent 55 Aexican 3 per Cent. Russian Bonds, 1822, 5 per Cent. £ St BB 9i x d Dirt•4 . i per Cent Bo} 1i 80i Sardinian Bonds, 5 per Cent Bl Spanish New Deferred, 3 per Cent. lB 17} Spanish Committee Cert. of Coup. not fun. 3j i p a Dividends on the above payable in London. Dutch Exchange, 2i per Cent. 12 Guil 55 Ditto 4 per Cent. Certificates ....„ HALP•PAST TWO. Consols 9l/ A Ditt3 March Account 9ll MARKET NEWS--(TS IS DAY.) GENERAL AVERAGE PRICES OF BRITISH CORN For the week ended March 2, 1854, made up from the Returns of the Inspectors in the different Cities and Towns in England and Wale-, Per Imperial Quarter. • WEE•T. BAILEY. OATS. I I AIM BEANS. I PEAS. 78s 5d 3133 4d 27 8 ld 49s 10d 458 lid 48s 7d • THE SIX WEEKS' AVERAGE. WHEAT. I BARLEY. I OATS. I ESE. BEANS. PEAS. 81s 6d, 41s 2d 27s 2d 49s 85 47s 7d 51s 1d DUTIES ON FOREIGN CORN. WHEAT. BAILEY. I I OATS. I ATE. BEANS. I PEAS. l IS Od IS Od Is Od Is Od lB Od lls 05 QUANTITIES OF GRAIN SOLD LAST WEEK. Wheat, 55,682; Barley, 61,903; Oats, 21,252 ; Rye, 188 ; Beam, 8,087; Peas. 1,942 quarters. HAY MARKETS. SHITEIFIELD.—Meadow hay, 2/ 15s to 5/ Os ; clover ditto, 3/ 15s to 6/ Os ; and straw, 1/ 16s to 2/ 2s per load. Supply good, and trade rather dull. CIIMBERLAND.—Meadow hay, 3/ Os to 5/ 5s ; clover ditto, 3/ 15s to 6/ Os; and straw, 1/ 16s to 2i 2s per load. A fair average supply, and a moderate demand. - - - WHITECEIAPEL.—Meadow hay, 2/ 188 to 5/ 03; clover ditto, 4/ Os to 6/ Os ; and straw, 1/ 16s to 2/ 2s per load. Supplp good, and trade tolerably firm. MEAT MARKETS. NEWGATE AND LEADENHALL.—The supplies being ex tensive, the general demand ruled inactive, as follows : Beef, from 3s Od to 4s Od ; Mutton, s2d to 4s 6d ; Veal, 3s 10kl to 5s 4d ; Pork, 3s 4d to 4s 10d per 81bs, by the carcase. SOUTHALL, MARCH I.—Each kind of stock was in full average supply, and sluggish demand, at the following quotations :—Beef, from 3s Od to 4s 4d ; Mutton, 3s 2d to 44 10,1; Veal, 4s Od to 5s Od ; Pork, 3s Gd to 4s 8d per sibi, to sink the offals. ROMFORD, MARCH 1.-Our market has ruled dull, and prices have a downward tendency. Th.; f3llowing aro th. quotations :—Beef, from 3s Od to 4s 6d ; Mutton, 3s Od to 4s 10d ; Veal, 48 Od to 53 Od ; Pork, 3s 6d to 4s Gd per Blbs. Quarter old Store Pigs, 20s to 26e each. THE REFORM BILL. The following aro the Boroughs of England as proposed by the Reform Bill, arranged according to the number of their electors : ONE MEMBER EACH. Dec- Popula- Elec- IPopuls.- tors. tion. tors. tion. - - Chippenham. 300 6,283 Kiddermnstr 495 18,462 Malmesbury. 309 6,998 Poole Abingdon .... 312 5,954 Shaftesbury 509 9,404 Christchurch 313 7,475 Peterboro' 5lB 8,672 Westbury.... 314 7,029 Bridport 524 7,566 Helston Lymington 338 5,282 Malton Liskeard 343 6,204 Leominster... 531 5,214 Wycombe Woodstock... 347 7,983 Stamford Buckingham. 349 8,069 St. Ives Tavistock .... 349 8,086 Guildford Horsham 350 5,947 Weymouth .. 679 9,458 Ripe.' Petersfield.... 353 5,550 Warrington 7Ol 23,363 Marlow 354 6,523 Newport, Isle Cockermouth 355 7,275 of Wight.. 707 8,047 Eye 356 7,531 Gateshead ... 711 25,568 Thirsk 357 5,319 Windsor...... 712 9,596 Launceston 351 6,005 Lewes ... ...... 713 9,533 Bodmin Droitwich Tewkesbury 370 5,878 Lichfield 836 6,573 Devizes 373 6,554 Mahlon Kendal 382 11,829 Wakefield.... 850 22,057 Tamworth 3s2 8,655 Hythe 856 13,164 Frome... 383 10,148 Gt. Grimsby 861 12,263 Huntington.. 390 6,291 Tynemouth BB3 29,170 Bewdley 390 7,318 Dudley 912 37,962 Morpoth 415 10,012 S. Shields.... 925 28,974 Wareham Wallingford 428 8,064 Bury Dorchester... 432 6,394 Walsall Cirencester... 434 6,096 Rochdale Clitheroe 448 11,479 Huddersfield 1,364 30,880 Ludlow Whitby Tiverton 461 11,144 district .... 1,676 26,512 Banbury 491 8,715 Cheltenham.. 2,400 35,051 TWO MEMBERS EACH. Elec- Popula- Elec- Popula tors. tion. tors. tion. -- --- Truro Salisbury .... 680 11,657 Aylesbury Pontefract ... 684 11,515 Gloucester Bridgewater. 688 10,317 Cricklade Wigan ...... .. 718 31,941 Shrewsbury 1,666 19,681 Warwick .... 723 10,973 Bolton 1,671 61,171 Bury St. Ed- Nlaidstone mund's .... 749 31,900 Stoke-on- Barnstaple... 771 11,371 Trent Grantham.... 774 10,873 Ipswich .... Ber•vick Winchester 7BB 13,701 Canterbury.. 1,874 18,393 Taunton 790 14,176 Oldham Newark Scarborough 895 12,915 Cambridge... 1,984 27,815 Wenlock 905 20,588 Dover 2,061 22,241 Penryn and Northamp- Falmouth.. 907 13,292 ton Bedford Sandwich Boston 987 17,518 Southampton 2,419 35,303 Hereford Macclesfield.. 1,058 'i,9,018 Plymouth Hastings 1,090 17,011 Exeter 2,501 40,688 Newcastle- Chester. under-Lyne 1,090 10,569 E. Retford 2,710 46,054 Carlisle ...... 1,134 26,310 Oxford(City) 2,818 27,943 Durham 1,157 13,1E3 Preston Lynn Halifax Stafford Yarmouth Blackburn Colchester ... 1,258 19,443 York . 4,133 40,359 Rochester ... 1,269 14,938 Coventry.. . 4,502 36,812 Stroud Stockport .... 1,341 53,835 Nottingham Lincoln Lancaster Reading 1,399 21,456 Norwich 5,390 68,195 RAILWAY TRAFFIC RETURNS. LONDON, BRIGHTON, AND SOUTH COAST RAILWAY.— Traffic return for the week ending Feb. 25, 1854 29,879 4 0 Corresponding week last year 7,065 1 8 Total of the half-year to this date, 1854 73,875 17 10 Total of the half-year to this date, 1853 66,321 4 0 LONDON AND SOUTH-EASTERN RAlLWAY.—Traffic re turn for the week ending Feb. 25, 1854 £12,590 13 0 Corresponding week last year 9,886 5 8 Increase in 1854.. £2,704 7 4 THE GREAT NORTHERN RAILWAY.—Traffio return for the week ending Feb. 19, 1854 £18,563 19 2 Corresponding week last year 12,441 1 1 LANCASHIRE AND YORKSHIRE RAlLWAT.—Traffic re• turn for the week ending Feb. 26, 1854 £18,137 19 4 Corresponding week last year 17,328 11 10 CHESTER AND HOLYHEAD RAlLWAY.—Traffic return for the week ending Feb. 26, 1854 £3,791 17 9 Corresponding week last year 3,036 14 7 Increase in 1854 £755 3 2 GLASGOW AND SOUTH-WESTERN RAlLWAY.—Traffic re turn for the week ending Feb. 24, 1854 £4,506 17 6 Corresponding week last year 4,218 10 5 Increase in 1854 £2BB 7 1 CORK AND BANDON RAlLWAY.—Traffic return for the week ending Feb. 25, 1854 £l6O 6 11 Corresponding week last year 147 8 5 , THE MUTUAL LIFE ASSURANCE SOCIETY. —Yesterday a special general meeting of the proprietors in this so ciety was held at the London Tavern, for the purpose of confirming or otherwise the alteration of the rules carried at the general meeting held on the 15th Febru ary last • Mr. J. Clayto n p res id e d . The chairman, having opened Le proceedings, read the new substituted tenth law and new rule of 1854, as passed at the extraordinary general meeting held on the 15th February last. The effect of these laws is to allow members entitled to a bonus to convert the reversionary bonus allotted to their policies into a larger amount of reduction of premium at an earlier period would have been paid under the old law. For this purpose some portion of the much larger reduction which would have accrued at later periods of life is used as the purchase money of a corresponding annuity. The Chairman, in answer to a question from a shareholder, stated that the alteration of the rules would have no effect upon the table for calculating pre miums. He concluded by moving the confirmation of the alteration of the rules. The motion having been seconded, was put, and carried unanimously, after which the meeting separated. EXTENSIVE FIRE IN SPITALFIELDS.—Yesterday fore noon, between nine and ten o'clock, the inhabitants of Spitalfields were greatly alarmed in consequence of the sudden outbreak of a fire in the extensive premises be longing to Mr. James Jaquin, engineer, 25, Wood street. The firemen were enabled to prevent the con flagration from destroying the adjoining houses, one of which, belonging to Mr. Dubois, No. 24, has sustained considerable damage by fire and water, and the furniture by removal. The total loss, it is feared, will amount to 1,5001. Mr. Jaquin was insured in the Sun Fire-office, and Mr. Dubois was insured in the Atlas Fire-office. MADAME TUSSAUD'S EXHIBITION'.—This popular ex hibition has just received the addition of tw o magni ficent portraits by the Emperor Napoleon 's painter, Robert Le Fevre, representing his only surviving brother, Jerome, and his late Queen. These paintings have just been placed in the Napoleon-room, and now ocnnny the only remainir7 and thus eompl c t s . the ' gallery of the Napoleon family. The pictures are admirably executed, and are calculated to become highly popular. THE BRITISH INSTITUTION. A recent ♦isit to the Gallery of the British In stitution has afforded us no small gratification, though productive also, in one or two instances, of feelings of considerable disappointment. Among the 587 works of art displayed in the three apart ments, there are as usual, and as a matter of course, abundance of paintings not merely deficient in merit, but some of them absolutely detestable, either on account of their intolerable weakness, or of their preposterous exaggeration. But scattered sparsely among these are others, " few and far between" (nevertheless, for that very reason only the more peculiarly welcome), eminently and especially deserving of our earnest comtnenda tion. Let us mention, at once, one of those which we cannot but regard as one of the noblest pictures in the collection a landscape in every respect exquisitely beautiful. It is by T. Danby, No. 64, " A Summer Evening is North Wales"—one of those summer evenings when the earth seems to have recalled the atmosphere, the tranquillity, and loveliness of her primeval paradise. Every ripple on the current, every nod of the sedge and the bull rush—each individual touch of the brush becomes a " thing of beauty," under the hand of a young artist so wonderfully well qualified to be the inter preter of " earth, ocean, air "—Shelley, nay„ every true poet's— " beloved brotherhood." Several charming little trifles are visible here and there-- such, for example, as No. 5, " Ophelia," by W. E. Frost, or as No. 46, " Feeding the Swans," by F. Goodall—the latter a study from one portion of a well-remembered masterpiece. 11 huge picture, in a conspicuous position, No. 22, " Coiners," by J. Inskipp, is one of the vul gar daubs disfiguring the Exhibition. A.aother, No. 73, is Sir George Haytcr's melo-dramatic representation of " The Arrest of Cardinal Wolsey for High Treason," in which the Cardinal may be said to have what is called, in the coarse verna cular, " a fit of the staggers," under the influence of the gentle touch and subdued whisper of the Earl of Northumberland. Another picture, front the hand of J. Inskipp, No. 166, " The Boumous," ought to have been catalogued as a specimen of scene painting. A sort of tea-tray landscape, in a storm, is No. 165, " The Refuge," by J. Linnell. There is a fancy portrait, too, by H. W. Pickers gill (of course, in armour), No. 157, called, by some mistake in the catalogue, " The Favoured Knight," instead of the 111-favoured Knight. Ex traordinary skill is displayed by Henry Jutsum in No. 153, " The Rocky Path of a Mountain Burn," in which the autumnal fern and heather are pen cilled with admirable minuteness. Sant has this season two contributions to the gallery —one of them, No. 148, " The Youthful Artist," a lovely, blue-eyed boy, a foreshadow ing, as it were, of Clive Newcome—before he had arrived at the epoch of the moustache. Ansdell has a capital common scene, with sheep and donkeys.—No. 137, " Lytham Common." T. Earl, too, favours us with a droll sketch of No. 226, a " Rabbit Fancier"—and R. Buckner with No ; 233, a charming limning of a " Highland Piper.' Several of the subjects treated in the collection now on view are admirably selected—as by G. Holmes from Bulwer Lytton's " Zanoni," and by T. Jones Barker from Aytoun's " Lays of the Scottish Cavaliers." Among the pictures which are at once recognised as already familiar to the generality are such exceedingly different works of art as No. 542, Sir G. Hayter's portrait of the Queen taking the Coronation Oath, at Westminster, or as No. 314, one of the most extravagantly humorous incidents in the life of Grimaldi, edited by Boz, and illus trated by Cruikshank. Of further particulars on the present exhibition of paintings at the British Institution, we are as dumb as in so many a Joe Miller anecdote is a certain disappointing knave called Deponent. IMPERIAL PIETY I Designed and Etched by George Cruikshank. W. Tw - eedie: A political squib—terrible in its satire—pencilled and coloured with more than his accustomed power by the nervous hand of our master-caricaturist. Is not the first title sufficiently significant ? Take ' it with the second one, in explanation. " Impe rial Piety ! or, The Russian Te Deum' for the successful Slaughter at Sinope." A hideousi and ensanguined hecatomb of the butchered—reeking and steaming from the recent fury of the massacre —a ghastly pile of dead and dying—upon. the summit of which the sacred figure of the Czar, the anointed chief of the Russian Church, arrayed in full pontificals, is meekly kneeling, and chaunt ing as he kneels the sublime verses of the Te Ileum laudamus ! Clothed also in their gorgeous vestments there are grouped together in the same pious attitude, at the back of his Imperial Majesty, the attendant princes of the Russian Church, th@ Patriarchs and Archimandrids. In the background has evidently occurred an explosion, like that fired by the hand of the heroic Turkish sea-captain.-+ for limbs and fragments of a wreck are soaring high into the air among the sulphurous clouds poured forth from the chaos of smouldering ruins, and charred timber, and ignited gunpowder. There is a salutary and awful meaning in the grim spectacle h ere portrayed by the pencil of Cruikshank. DRURT-LANE THEATRE. —Th e objection generally taken to the great length of the American version of the Corsican Brothers has not been unattended to by the management here, the chief object of which is to merit success by consulting the public taste. The brief recess allowed to the theatrical world by the prohibiti on of dramatic performances on the north side of the Thames on Ash Wednesday has been turned to the prof liable purpose of bringing this play within three instead of four hours' duration. In this condensed shapo, we have no doubt its merits will be duly appreciated,. and that it will have a long run. MR. ALLCROFT'S CONCERT.—The theatres on this side of the water being closed on Ash Wednesday, as regards theatrical entertainments, by the official man date of the Lord Chamberlain, Mr. Allcroft took the opportunity thus afforded him last night of giving a monster concert. His liberality in the compilation of such matters is well known. On this occasion he ex ceeded himself, and his programme numbered nearl y 60 pieces, executed by a whole army of artistes, incite ding all the singers and players to be had for love or money. The selection possessed a popular rather than an aesthetic interest, ballads and favourite operatic /nor ceaux being in the ascendant, intermingled with solos on all sorts of instruments. The temper of the audi rencep as is usual upon these occasions, was uproariou is and exacting. Encores were demanded with inexorable peremptoriness, and the numerical contents of the scheme were consequently multiplied beyond count. Messrs. Benedict, Tully, and Frank Mori were the conductors. ST. PETERSDURG.-0-AdViCe3 from St. Petersburg 1 Ave been received to the 21st of February, when, conti •ary to expectation, the rate of exchange had recovered £ roni 37d. to 37id. The necessity for prohibiting the ex por tation of gold was therefore for the moment remeered. In other respects taere was nothing new. It appears that at the above date the frost in the Baltic was b egin ning to break up, and that the port of Revel wa a al ready open, so that the Russian fleet at that place, will get loose. GUATEMALA. BONDHOLDERS.—A meeting of the G nate mala bondholders was held yesterday, to receive a e tate ment as to the terms on which the Spanish Ame, rican Committee will accept the management of the debt. These, it was announced, comprise the payment of I per cent, on any money that may be obtained, and 5. per per cent, on arrears of interest liquidated by stock. 'The balance in the hands of the Guatemala Committee of about 791. is to be passed over to meet current expel idi ture. These terms were approved and forma fly adopted. Imincrroßs OF NUISANCES BILL.—A bill ( now printed) has been laid before the House of Lord: , by Lord Lyttleton, to enable boards of guardians to ap► point inspectors of nuisances. In addition to conferring the power upon the boards of guardians, the bill also defines the duties of the inspector so appointed, whet is to be reimbursed by the board of guardians for all rea sonable expenses, which are to he charged on the parish wherein the nuisance existed. Besides making cc en plaints of nuisances, the inspector is to assist the guar dians under the Nuisances Removal Act. He will also have power to inspect any premises where he believer a nuisance to be in existence, between the hours of nine o'clock in the morning and six in the evening, and if admission is refused, an order of a justice may be ob• tained, enforcing admission under a penalty not exceed ing Si. ARMY ESTIMATES.—A Parliamentary paper, contain ing the supplemental estimate, has just been issued. The additional number of troops required for foreign ser vice is 15,000, including all ranks, and the additional charge amounts to 570,0001. Of this sum the land forces are estimated to require 5 00,000/., and the staff 70,000/. The whole charge for the services of 1854-5 will there fore be 6,857,4861., being an increase upon the charge of 1853-4 of 832,470/. The increase for the same period in the numbers of the men is 25,694, of which number 10,694 have been already voted. THE SARDINIAN FRIGATE CARLO ALBERTO...— SHIELDS, TUESDAY NIGHT.—The 50-gun frigate Carlo Alberto, built for the Sardinian Government by Messrs. W. and T. Smith, of St. Peter's, Newcastle, and whose engines have been put in by Messrs. R. Saephenson and Co., of that town, left the Tyne this evening in the pre sence of many thousands of persons attracted from all the towns on the river. She is a stately and noble specimen of naval architecture, the largest vessel ever built in the north, and will proceed to Woolwich to take in her armament. The vessel is manned with Italians, who, by the condition they have kept the vessel in while in harbour, and the way they have handled her to day, have given the Tyne seamen a very mean idea of the capabilities of the Sardinian navy. One circumstance to-day, however, struck our seamen with astonishment, viz., the effect of the screw in the navigation of vessels with guns of heavy calibre, and the important results that must arise from this mechanical application in case of a sea-fight. Many of the old men who witnessed this vessel leaving the port to-day, took an active part in some of our great naval engagements during the late wars. .-,A.-..,..i111 LAT THE certainty energetic dour and key. Si their aug illusion 1 that cabi her effor these coi opinion against f ports art Arta ; tl Otho ha,y was talk( out, whi, came fro: conspirac tened thc here atta The co from Co] fact of a Kalafat, ports of fever of arranger( military we have 11 ewspapc accounts fish letter therefore has seen favoured what was A corn! says the the Greel rebels key lied. The on amen xvhich wa of the ins A lette Governor that the 4 gents Zvi whose fit ordered serters Advice P. the Dobr chief of Greek ins distingui cemamanc TheTt in the S of Janin The si Body ha day at The i: place ye! In accor body wa being ta: The ft yesterda fantry, t Chassett remains Pere la The n to with war as i. relieve t understz. and decl cess of t] message try on tl has supl of corn over, a; next se. will be a sPPPPb 1 she drat civilisat Man] '~~_