The Sun. — London, England, 1863-07-20 00:00:00

METROPOLITAN MAIN DRAINAGE. On Saturday the first step was taken towards utiiisieg the now gigantic system of subterranean tunnels which constitute the works of the Main Drainage, by lowering the contents of the High level Sewer, which collects the drainage of Hamp stead, Highgate, and Holloway, Camden-town, Hackney, and Bethnal-green, for the first time into the river at Barking. This occasion was taken ad vantage of by a large party of members of both houses, members of the Board of Works, engineers, and scientific gentlemen, to pay a long visit of in spection to the drainage works now in various stages of progress on both sides of the river. The whole party assembled early on Saturday in the tea-room of the House of Commons, and among the many persons of distinction present were the Archbishop of York, the Duke of Grafton, the Duke of Manchester, the Marquis of Westminster, the Marquis of Salisbury, Lord Henniker, Lord Cal thorpe, Earl Powis, Lord Harris, Lord Lifford, Lord Llanover, Earl Clanwilliam, Lord Manvers, Lord Talbot de Malahide, Lord Wodehouse, the Earl of Harrowby, the Earl of Yarborough, the Earl of Shrewsbury, Lord Keane, Lord Skelmersdale, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Right Hon. Mr. Cowper, M.P., Sir J. Trollope, M.P., Lord Clarence Paget, M.P., Lord Stanley, M.P., Mr. John Walter, M.P., Mr. Kinnaird, M.P., Mr. A. Turner, M.P., the Lord Mayor, MT., Mr. A. Mills, M.P., Air. Mundy, M.P., Sir Stafford Northcote, M.P., Mr. R. M. O'Ferrall, M.P., Lieutenant-Colonel Packe, M.P., Mr. Paget, M.P., Mr. Papillon, M.P., Mr. Peacocke, M.P., Hon. A. G. J. Ponsonby, M.P., Mr. Powell, M.P., Mr. Roebuck, M.P., Lieutenant- Col, Rowley, M.P., Mr. W. F. Russell, M.P., Mr. J. A. Smith, M.P., Mr. Stansfeld, M.P., Hon. F. J. Tollemache, M.P., Hon. C. Trefusis, M.P., Mr. Warner, M.P., Mr. Western, M.P., Lieut.-Col. White, M.P., Mr. Woods, M.P., Mr. P. P. Bon aerie, M.P., Mr. Adair, M.P., Mr. Alcock, Mr. Ayrton, M.P., Mr. Beale, MT, Mr. Beecroft, M.P., Mr. Bramston, M.P., Sir B. Bridges, M.P., Mr. Briscoe, M.P., Sir H. H. Bruce, M.P., Mr. Tite, M.P., Mr. T. Collins, M.P., Mr. Marsh, MT., Col. Sykes, M.P., Mr. J. Wyld, M.P., Lord Fer moy, M.P., Mr. Forster, M.P., Mr. H. Foster, M.P., Captain W. Gray, Mr. Greene, M.P., Mr. H. Bruce, M.P., Mr. Gregory, M.P., Mr. Powell (Cam bridge), M.P., Mr. Collins, M.P., Mr. Hankey, M.P., Mr. Taylor, M.P., Mr. Sullivan, M.P., Lord A. Churchill, M.P., Mr. Doulton, M.P., Mr. Hume, M.P., Hon. P. J. Locke King. M.P., Lieut.-Col. B. Knox, M.P., Sir E. H. K. Lacon, M.P., Rev. E. W. Andrews, Sir R. Mayne, Mr. Thwaites, chair man of the Metropolitan Board of Works, Mr. L. Taylor, Mr. Terry, Mr. Bodkin, Mr. Nicholay, Mr. Smee, Mr. Bazalgette, the chief engineer to the Board of Works, &a. As on the occasion of the somewhat similar visit the members of both Houses paid to the works this time twelve months, so in this also Mr. Bazalgette before starting addressed some short remarks to the party on the nature and purpose of the works they were about to visit. He pointed out briefly how, with the enormous increase of the metropolis, the increased facilities for drainage into the Thames had added to the mass of sewage daily poured into it, till the evil was now become almost unbearable. For 18 hours out of the 24 the outfalls of most of the metropolitan sewers were tide locked, and on days of heavy rain the waters from the higher grounds flooded the basements and cellars of low-lying districts with bath water and sewage. These low-lying districts could only be properly drained by continuous pumping, and though one important feature of the new system was to reduce pumping to a minimum and carry off the water by gravitation, still pumping was in some places absolutely necessary. Another difficulty which had to be met was the varying quantities of sawage and " storm" water to be dealt with. Four times as much sewage passed down the sewers at midday as at midnight, the maximum flow being about equal to a rainfall of a quarter of an inch in 24 hours, and the sewers were quite large enough to carry off this rain together in with the maximum quaniity of sewage. Bat this qaantity was greatly exceeded about 24 days in the year by heavy storms, which added more than a hundred times to the quantity the sewers could carry off at once; and as it would have been almost impossible to con struct sewers large enough to carry off these flood waters, the existing main sewers were made to act as storm overflows, so that when the intercepting main sewers were full the surplus storm waters should pass through the storm overflows into the Thames ; and it was to these storm outfalls on the north and south sides of the river, that the visit of Saturday was paid. The party embarked on a steamer at the Speaker's Stairs, and proceeded down the river to Crossness Point in Erith Marshes. While on the voyage down we may venture on giving our readers the general features of this great Main Drainage plan—a work of such magnitude as no city in the world but this would require, and certainly one of such cost as few cities in the world but this could afford to pay for. The subject of sewage is not a clean one, nor one adapted for the literature of the dog days ; but after inhaling dirt and drinking dirt for so many years we may well afford to read about it, and to look statistically into that foulest of all our great sewers, the river Thames. Until the adoption of the present scheme the object of all London drainage was to make the Thames the great main sewer of the metropolis—an object which we shall see was realised to the fullest possible extent. All the sewers in Lon don, on both sides of the river, run due north and south, discharging themselves into the Thames within a length of some five or six miles. At the very first glance this arrangement seams bad enough, though it is infinitely worse when we come to exa mine how it was arranged to work. On both sides of the river the banks are very little above high water mark, while the average level of the ground immediately behind them is much below it; half L bew a l m o beth, Be rmondsey, and Rother hi t h e being 6ft. hi gh - water level. Of course, when this is the level of th e ground the sewers are much lower still, and their outlets so completely tide-locked that it is only at dead low water that they can empty themselves at all. Thus, for nearly 18 hours out of the 24 the sewageonboth sides of London used to be, and i s still i to an raa immense extent, pent up, giv ing off its d, it into nonld every street and h ouse . As we have said, only escape at dead low water, when the returning tide immedi a t e ly c h urne d it up the river, keeping a l I its ab om i na bl e " fl otsam and jetsam" above bridg e till the tide ebbed out, finding 200,000 or 3 00,000 gallons of filth to be ope rated upon in a similar manner on it s re t urn . This 12 was the arrangement yearsb a d as ago , t h iasn was,d is almitost entirely so still but, ; even c apable ma de of being made worse , worse accordin g ly i. In 1849 a n d most of the h ouses in Lon don had cesspools attached to the m, and a very large proportion were without an drain s a t a l l. TI showed it se lf The alarming nature of this c s l o wly but surely in the Bill s of Mor tality, and the then Commissioners of Sewers,w h o a were feebly battling with the evils of the drain set to work to mitigate the cesspool g d e se s e Y e a r te h in .,: drainage, making the Thames, as usual, the gen e r al rec eptacle. rec eptacle. From that time to the pres ent some 700 or 800 miles of new drains have been made, and all cesspools made to drain at once into the river. By this "improved" drainage some 200,000 additional gallons of sewage were daily added to the Thames at low water, containing no less than 300 tons of " organic matter" which in this case is the scientific term for filth. Nor was the Thames e only sufferer. Wherever a stream could be found, no matter how clear its waters or how bene ficial its course, drains were at once made into it. Hackney Brook, once well-known to anglers as one of the clearest and prettiest of streams that wound from the north of London into the river Lea, was made to vie with the Thames in filth and stench ; and even the Serpentine was brought into requisi tion, and the Ranelagh sewer (one of the largest in London) daily discharged itself into that much prized piece of ornamental water. The Thames, however, as the largest claimant, always got the preference of dirt, and the great mass of corruption which has flowed into it year after year has at last made it the largest and dirtiest open sewer in Europe. The result, as a matter of course, has been that in the summer months the stench from the river has occasionally been intolerable. In 1857 great quantities of lime and chloride of lime were put in daily ; in 1858 the same expedient to be resorted to again ; and in 1859 the dos‘; I ad to be increased to 110 tons of lime and 12 tons f chloride of lime, costing some £1,500 per w Even in a pecuniary point of view, however, is was not the only evil of the system, The Thames in this hot weather sans short of water, and when there is no rain the collections of refuse in the sewers have to be flushed into the river by arti ficial means. This flushing alone daring summer costs £20,000 a year to get the poison into the Thames, where £20,000 more is generally required to keep it from breeding a plague. The tide in summer carries off little or nothing. A marked object was set afloat in the river and watched, with a view of ascertaining this fact, and for three weeks it went backwards and for wards between Vauxhall and London bridges, with out going much further either way. During the same period of course, the sewage of the Thames, increased by its daily contribution, goes backwards and forwards likewise under the summer sun, and so and yet people profess to wonder why. it smells tance of abominably. The magnitude and in this evil have long been known, and Alir. the chief engineer of the Boar d of pßzgtWorks, oar foughtl e t e , long and assiduously to have theplanimfipgrhotvheads, and, strongly aided by public opinion, his am is e near bees successful . e His ln mlesasinthdarnaitnwago ye e scheme years more it. ed s ,the Thames purified, ait.n will i s i m b Londoneaybeentirelye am acompleted, y o effectually d imagined, it is impossible in an article like the present to give more than an outline of this great plan, which may best be briefly described as consisting of three gigantic main tunnels or sewers on each side of the river. These completely divide underground London, from west to east, and cutting all existing sewers at right angles intercept their flow to the Thames, and carry every gallon of London sewage under certain conditions into the river on the north side below Barking, and on the south to near Erith. These raain drains are called the High, Middle, and Low Level sewers, according to the height of the localities which each respectively drains. The High Level on the north side is about eight miles in length, and runs from Hampstead to Bow, being at its rise only 4ft. 6in. in diameter, and thence increasing in cir cumference, as the waters of the sewers it inter cepts require a wider course, to sft., 6ft., 7ft„ 10ft. 6in., lift. 6in., and at its termination, near Lea river, to 13ft. 6in. in Oiameter. The drain is en tirely finished, and in full work. Its minimum fall is 2ft. in the mile; its maximum at the beginning nearly 50ft, a mile. It is laid at a depth of from 20 to 26 feet below the ground, and drains an area of 14 square miles. The Middle Level, as being lower in the valley on the slope of which London is built, is laid at a greater depth, varying from 30 to 36 feet, and even more below the surface. This is nearly complete, and extends from Kensal-green to Bow. The Low Level will extend from Cremorne to Abbey Mills, on the marshes near Stratfori, but as the city portion of this will pass through the Thames Embankment we shall have occasion to refer to it hereafter. At Bow the Low Level waters will be raised by powerful engines at a pumping station to the junction of the High and Middle Level ducts, thence descending by their own gra vity through three tunnels to the main reservoir and final outfall below Barking. These three tunnels are each 9a. Gin. in niameter and nearly four miles long. Great engineering difficu:ties existed in the construction of these main arteries, as, from the height at which they all meet, it was necessary to take them above the level of the marahes leading to Barking. For a mile and a half the embankment which encloses the three tunnels is carried on brick arches, the piers going 18ft. below the surface, and being based on solid concrete. In the marshes at Barking the reservoir for the reception of the sewage of the north side is formed. This reservoir is a mile and a half long by 100 ft. wide and 21ft. deep. It is made of this great length in proportion to width to allow of its being roofed with brick arches, which are again covered with earth, to a considerable thickness, so that not the slightest smell or escape of miasma can take place. This is e pable of containing more than three times the amount of sewage which can enter it while the pipes are shut, and thus, when all is complete, the works will not only be large enough to take off all London's sewage now, but its sewage when London is double its present size. While the sewage is in the reservoir we have spoken of, it will be completely deodorised by an admixture of lime. When the tide is at its height the sluices which pass from the bottom of the reser voir far out into the bed of the river will be opened, and the whole allowed to flow away. It takes two hours thus to empty the reservoir, by which time the tide will be flowing down strongly, and will carry its very last gallon a distance of 13 miles below Barking, which, being itself 13 miles below Lon don, will place the contents of the sewers, every 12 hours, 26 or more miles distant from the metropolis. Thus, instead of letting loose the rankest of this great city's abominations in the very midst of Lon don., and leavi ng i t to stagnate, or, st i ll worse, to b e agitated backwards and forwards in a small body of water, it will all be carried assay a distance of 13 miles, then deodcrised, then suffered to escape into a body of water more than a hundred times greater than that into which it now crawls, and thus disin fected and diluted, so as to be without either taste or smell, swept still further down the stream, till every trace of it is lost. On the south side the three great sewer arteries are construct e d on s i m i lar plans—the High Level from Dulwich to Deptford ; the Middle from Clap ham to Deptford ; and the Low Level from Putney high to Deptford. A t t hi s point is a pumpingstation, which raises th e water from the low to the level, whence it flows away th roug h a 10ft. tunnel e to Crossness Point. O ne part of this tnnn l, pass ing under Woolwich, is a m il e and a half in len g th, w ithout a single break, an d d r i ven at a depth of 8) feet from the surface. At the outf a ll w i ll be another pumping station, to lift the water to the reservoir. Th e southern reservoir is only fi ve acres in extent . that on the north iz! 14. In the reservoir it will be' deodorised and discharged in a similar way to that we have already described. It was over these last-named works, amid an ap parently inextricable labyrinth of culverts, arcades, chambers, and columns, that the visitors were con ducted yesterday, first inspecting the channel for the overflow of storm water, next the two culverts, as large almost as railway west tunnels, stations.whichcar ryßthe., the sewage to the east and pumping Be fore the entrance to the pumps are massive iron strainers, which keep out all the coarse refuse brought down the sewer, and which afterwards dredgedh which is upy the h hoist intotlow thefilth water.T chamber, he w flashed into filth the river at i pumping-house is nearly finished a nd the iron work purrPng stations will of the engines begun. The each consist of an engine-house, containing 10 boilers calculated to work up to 500 horse power nominal. This power working through eight pump s of 7 feet di ame t er an d 4 f eet s t ro ke will daily raise 19,000,000 cubic feet of sewage from 19 feet belo w low water to the level of the outfall; but, in case of n ecessity, the pumps can raise 25,000,000 cubic feet tnoerdtay. The res ervo i r i n t o w hi c h i t w ill all flow yet finished, but when roofed in with brick s w p i e ll ot h in ol g a t 2 h o e , e o e 00,000 gallons o f sewage . After in riverworks on to S th a e tu ß rd a a rki yt n h g e o v u i t s r i a t i o i r , s w w he e r r e e taken a cross the sewag e i s b roug h t at suc h the wo r k s are larger, simpler, and muc h more ad vanced, for on the north a level as t o discharge into oi here is far a d vance d, the reservoir by own a great deal o f i t being roofed i n , so that all will be complet e d i n a few al to this the cont en t s of theloinths more. Cl ose were turned on into th e river direct,"Level sewer and not as reservoir. they will in futu re flow, throughse d the T to b e he inspection of this murky Nia gara of sewa ge not as it came tumbling down seemed at all unpleasant to members w h o are accus tomed to legislate in hot wea;he on th e banks of the largest sewer in the world—the Thames. After gazing on this unsavoury volume of dirt for some time, by way of an appetizer, the whole party re turned to the great reservoir to lunch. At this re past various loyal and congratulatory toasts were given —that of Mr. Thwaites, the chairman Gf thc Board of Works, and Mr. Bazalgette, his chief engineer, being greeted with much enthusiasm. In the afternoon thevisitors returned to town, hav ing enjoyed an agreeable, and, we, may add, an in structive excursion. The total length of the three rows of intercepting sewers, the course of which we have sketched on each side of the river, will be 50 miles, and before all the works are completed 800,000 cubic yards of concrete will be consumed, upwards of 300,000,000 of bricks, and 4,000,000 cubic yards of earthwork. THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, JULY 20, 1863. him that he had given the estate to his son William, and that he might do as he liked about enfranchising it, or he might do as he liked with it. He also told him that he had given witness's and Springham's farm to his son, and now they would have a lawyer for a landlord. (A laugh.) He was aware that William was a lawyer, and he had never heard of Richard or any other son. The conversation to which he referred he believed took place in 1856. The wit ness then stated that when the action was brought against him by the mortgagees, Mr. Linklater indemnified him against costs on behalf of the Roupell family, and that he only paid the amount of rent that was due. Oa re-examination the witness said that old Mr Roupell made the observations he had mentioned in quite a positive manner, and he was laughing at the time. Mr- Sharp, clerk to Messrs. Ring, the proctors, of Doc tors'-commons, proved that he wae acquainted with the de ceased Richard Palmer Roupell, and that a will was made for him in 1839, and another in 1840, and a third in 1850. This last will was a very long one, and witness engrossed it, but he did not remember whether he was present when it was executed. He could not find a draft of thit will in the office, and he believed it was destroyed in 1860, when their business was removed from one office to another, He remembered the deceased coming to his office on the 30th of August, 1856, and informing Mr, Ring that he wished to make a codicil to the will of 1850, and he at the same time produced a paper of instructions. Witness prepared a codi cil while the deceased waited, and he took it away with him. The codicil was read. It merely changed one of the exe cutors, and gave small legacies to different persons who were in the service of the deceased, and confirmed the will of 1850 in every other particular. The witness then stated that he drew up several other wills for the deceased besides those he had mentioned, but he never heard of the one now alleged to be forged until it was brought to the office of Messrs. Ring by William Roupell. Atr. Ring corroborated the testimony that had been given by Mr. Sharp, and he explained that the draft of the will of 1850 was not destroyed until after the will that was alleged to be forged had been proved by Mr. William Roupell as the last will and testament of the deceased. Mr. Jas. Surribge, who had occupied a farm belonging to the deceased, proved that he was on very intimate terms with the deceased, and was well acquainted with his hand writing. The will that was alleged to be forged was placed in the witness's hands, and h 3 was asked his opinion as to the signature, and, to the astonishment of the learned c un sel for the plaintiff, he said that in his opinion the signa_ ture was a genuine one. He was asked to put on his spec tacles and look at the signature attentively, and he uid so, and then said that he was really unable to say whether the signature was the handwriting of Mr. Richard Roupell or that of Mr. William Roupell• The witness went on to say that he remembered dining with the old gentleman on the 3 lst of August, 1856, a few days before his death, and the deceased then told him that he had made his will, and that ho had appointed him one of his executors, and that he would have £l5O for his trouble. The witness added that he did not know that he was appointed as one of the exe cutors until William Roupell told him there was another will, but he said he should have the £l5O just the same, and he paid him that sum shortly afterwards. The witness then produced several receipts that had been given him by the deceased. In cross-examination he said that he had given a great many other receipts to Mr, Linklater, the solicitor to the plaintiffs, besides those that had been produced. Mr. Bovill sa,d he should like the whole of those receipts to be produced. Mr. Lush said he had no objection to this being done. Mr. W. Roupell was then re-called w , th a view to his being examined as to how he was cccupied on the 2d of September, 1856, the dad• the forged will was alleged to have been executed by the deceased, and to have been attested by himself and Muggeridge, and he detailed how he passed the day, and all the different places he went to. His evidence, in this respect, was to the same effect as that g.ven by the vt fitness Truman, who was represented to have been with him the greater part of the day. He swore pof•i lively that he did not even see old Muggeridge on this day. He detailed the particulars of the genuine witl and the mode in which the property was divided among the family. Baron Channell inquired of Mr. Bovill whether he had any questions to put to the witness. Mr. Bovill said he should ask nothing of this person. Mrs. Hunham, the housekeeper to the decea , ed, was then examined. She said she remembered Mr. Surridge and his son dining with the deceased at the end of August, 1556, and that at this time he was very ill, and kept getting worse until his death, and she said she did not think that he ever went out again. She also said that Mr, W. Roupell was very kind to his father during his illness, and he was con stantly with him, and used to help him upstairs. Several witnesses were then examined with a view to corroborate the statement made by Mr. W. Roupell as to how he was occupied on the 2d of September, the date of the alleged forged will. The foreman of the jury interposed, and said that a state ment had been made by Mr. W. Roupell wi h regard to this will which they should be glad to hear corroborated if it was possible. The statement he referred to was that after hie father's death he went into the ned-room and took out the genuine will from the bureau, and put it into his pocket, but finding it was too large to be o.mcealed, he put it into a small writing desk which he constantly carried about with him, and that he did not see the will, and had no opportunity to destroy it until a week afterwards. Ihe jury were very anxious to know whether this statement could be confirmed by other testimony. Baron Channel! said that possibly Mrs. Hunham, the housekeeper, might be able to give the court some informa tion upon the subject. This witness was accordingly recalled, and in answer to questions put to her she said that after the death of old Mr. Roupell, Mr. William was constantly in the house until the funeral. Mrs. Roupell used to come every morning at 8 o'clock, and she remained until 11 at night, but as a ere was no accommodation for her to sleep, she would go back to her own house at Brixton and Mr. Wm Roupell slept every night in the house; and after his mother left there was no one but him and witness on the premises. With regard to the writing-desk, she said she knew he bad one, and when he came to Cross•street in his own carriage it was brought with him, but if he went out in a cab he left it at home. Between the death of old Mr. Roupell and the funeral she said she was certa in that Wm. Rou p ell w a s frequently by himself for many hou rs. s' where the deceased k e pt an account for examined. He stat e d th at h e was Mr. Francis Th om p son, who had bee n clerk and cashier m at a ll n l y essrs.GiYn' next years, was well acquainted with the deceased, and with his handwriting, and upon being shown the forged will and the alleged deed of gift, he expressed a confident belief that the signatures of Richard Palmer Roupell to both these documents were for geries. He stated with very gre a t c l earness the groun d s that led him to for m this conclusion, and said that he had arrived at the above result for the reasons he mentioned, and which he represented were quite satisfactory to his own mind. The trial was then adjourned, the cross•examination of the witness being postpon-d until Monday morning. THE ROUPELL FORGERIES. The prcceedings in this extraordinary trial were resumed on Saturday morning at Chelmsford. Mr. Sergeant Shee, Q.C., Mr. Lush, Mr. J. Brown, and the Hon. Mr. Thesiger appeared for the plaintiffs; and Mr. Bovill, Q.C., Mr. Hawkins, Q.C., and Mr. Garth for the defend an' s. The cause is proceeding very slowly, and although it has alr , :ady occupied three days very little actual progress has been made. This is partly owing to the circumstance of the late hour at which the court sits to accommodate the special jurymen, half-past ten o'clock, and to its rising early, soon atter five o'clock. Mr. W. Roupell is brought down from London every day in the custody of a warder of Pentonville prison who is dressed in plain clothes, and they walk to and from the court arm in arm and go to a public house in the town and have their meals together, apparently in the most friendly manner. On Friday evening, when the train arrived in London, the once celebrated M.P. and his attendant were seen to go into a little cook-shop in Shore ditch, where they had supper, or perhaps as Mr. Roupell, having reference to his former position would call it dinner' together, and then proceeded in a cab to the Model Prison at Pentonville. Mr. Roupell has become very much thinner since the examination at Guildford, and the removal of his beard and moustache have male a very great change in his looks, and given him a common appearance. Nothing like an accurate idea can yet be formed of the duration of the trial, but it is not expected to be brought to a conclu si, n before Wednesday night at least. It is expected that the case fur the plaintiffs will be finished to-day (Monday). The following additional evidence was now adduced for the plaintiffs. Henry Muggeridge . said—l am a builder in the Brixton road, and I was well acquainted with the late Richard Pal mer Roupell, and was employed by him for several years. My father, John Muggeridge, collected rents for deceased several years before his death. He died in 1857, aged 88. I remember having a conversation with William Roupell after his father's death about a will, and also about the collection of his rents. The conversation took place very soon after the funeral. Witness collected the rents from this period down to March, 1862, and among the rents he so collected were those of the Great Warley property. Ile obtained the receipts from Mrs. Roupell, at Aspen-house, and he gave the money he received and always accounted to Mrs, Roupell. The awount of rent he collected was £2OO a year in one ease d £BO in the other (he fictitious ac counts were £560 and £250). The supposed deed of gift of the Great Warley property was then shown to the witness, and he said that he thought the signature of the old Roupell that appeared to it was not his handwriting. He added that "he should say" it was not. Witness's father was very infirm in 1856. He generally went out collecting at 12 o'clock, and cid not return till four, and did not go out again. The alleged will of the deceased was then shown to witness, and he said he did not think the signature of the attesting witness, John Muggeridge, was his father's hand writing, but he took his stand on the " M," which he did not think was his father's writing. He was also of opinion that the signature Richard Palmer Roupell was not the signature of the deceased. He was well acquainted with the handwriting of the deceased, and the R of Roupell was not the sort of R he would make, _ _ _ Cross-examined—l believe that the signature of Mr. Richard Palmer upon the paper now produced (handed to him by Mr. Bovib) is like Mr. Roupell's signature, but I think there is the same objection to the R. _ _ The paper was handed to Mr. Brown, and he opened it, apparently with the object of seeing the contents, and Mr. Bovill complained of the proceeding, and said that the learned counsel had been guilty of a very great impropriety. Mr. Brown denied that his object was to see the con tents of the paper that had been shown to the witness. He said that he had no such intention. Sergeant Sheo submitted that the plaintiff.. were entitled to look at any paper that was shown to a witness in the cause. Mr. Bovill s , id that the paper was not put in evidence, and his only object was to ask the opinion of the witness to the validity of a particular signature. Some technical discussion took place upon this point, but eventually Sergeant Shee withdrew his application to be allowed to see the paper. Mr, Bovill said he had no objection to his 10-dship see ing the paper, and Mr. Baron Channell accordingly opened it and examined the document. The witness was then shown another signature, and after looking at it for some time he said ho thought the "o" and " p" were Mr. Richard Roupell's, and he afterwards said he thought the whole was a genuine signature. The "r" was not like his usual signature, but still he thought it was his handwriting. Another signature was then rhown to the witness, and he said this was very different, and he " found fault" with the "o" and the " p," and the flourish was not a bit like Mr. Richard Roupell's. Upon the whole, he said he should express an opinion that the signature was not a genuine signature of Mr. Richard Roupell. He was aware that these signatures were photo graphs. Sergeant Shee contended that Mr. Bovill had no rib ht to use photographed signatures. Baron Channell said it was a new point, but he did not think photographs could be used in the way proposed by Mr. Bovill. Mr. Bovill said if his lordship had any doubt he should not press the matter further. In further cross-examination the witness said he had a lease of some of the property which had been granted him by William Roupell, Witness had himself expended £50,000. upon the Roupell-park estate. He got the money on mortgage from different parties, but all these proceedings took place in connection with Mr. Richard Riupell. Wm Roupell was a little boy at this time. He received a profit rent from the leases granted him by William Roupell of about £250 a year. Re-examined—He was well aware that his interest would be destroyed if the plaintiff succeeded in this action. Mr. W. C. Longman deposed that he was a collector, and that in the year 1856 proposals were made to him for a loan upon the security of the property of Mt. Richard Palmer Roupell. The proposals were made by Mr. Whitaker, and in the course of the year witness advanced £6,000, and entertained a proposition to advance more, but after con sulting with counsel he made a requirement that Richard Palmer Roupell should join in the security, but could not obtain his concurrence, and he declined to advance any more. He was repaid the £6,000 he had already advanced in the course of the same year. Mr. N. Springham, the tenant of one of the farms now in dispute, preyed that he took a lease of the farm from old Mr. Roupell in November, 1842, for twenty-one years from Michaelmas, 1842, at the yearly rent of £BO. Old Mr. Roupell used to come down and visit the farm once or twice a year, but witness generally used to go up to Cross -street to pay him his rent. The last time he paid him was in July, 1856. There was some back rent due at this time. He produced the receipt, and said he saw the deceased sign his name to it, and he had seen him write on several other occasions. After the death of old Mr. Roupell he paid the rent to Mr. Muggeridge. He added that old Mr. Roupell never upon any occasion said anything to him about having given the estate to his son Willi-on Roupell. Cross -examined—Old Mr. Roupell did at one time say that he had a dispute with the lord of the manor about the property, and that his son William was to be their land lord. He believed this was some considerable time before July, 1856—it might be a year perhaps. He had no par ticular reason for recollecting the exact time. He gave Mr. Linklater, the solicitor to the plaintiff, all the receipts that he could find- he should think about nine or ten, and all the ethers were destroyed or lost. (Mr. Lush produced the receipts referred to, and they were identified by the witness). In 1862 he received a letter offering him the farm at £lOO a year from the solicitors to the mortgagees, and he accepted the proposal, and he said that he was aware at this time that Wrn. Roupell had absconded, and that there was an allegation that th- deeds were forged. He was subsequently sued by the mortgagees for two quarters' rent, as he bad declined to pay because he did not know who was the party really entitled to the rent, He went to Mr. Linklater be cause he knew he was the solicitor to the Roupell and ho guaranteed him against costs, and defended the ac tion, and witness did not trouble himself any more about the matter. Soon afterwards, however, he was told that he must pay the rent to the mortgagees (the present defend ants). Witness knew nothing about the costs, and he had ne ver been asked for them. He gave the money f or hi s rent servedsupposed i ra h paide wi th athe noticeother of party. Mr. Linklater afterwards eject ment, but he tol d him that he would not take an y notice of do so, and be heard nothing more of th e it, and he did not ndhe to Mr. Linkla' iera, ejectment, the fraudulent lease of 1856 was not at all like witness's to about and did not want to. ( A lau g h. ) T he signature e proceedings. s uch a lease until t hes d of the other farm that was the subject of the present action, gave evi handwriting, and he knew nothing the existence of character, and he also proved that only a very short time before old Mr. Roupell di ed, he received the rent, made al lowances for rates and other expenses, and ordered timber to be cut, and acted as though th e old Mr. Roupell's prop e rty were entirely under his control. Immediately after death, Mr. Wm. Roupell called on him and he offered to p a y him some rent that was due, but he refused to receive it rehim self, and said an agent would apply for it. Mr. virm, Rou - his deceased pall after this gav e hi m rece ipt s as executor to such per father. Thi s w i tness t h en went on to sta t e th a t no sou as J osh. Goddard, whose name appeared to the fraudulent lease Of his farm as the attesting witness, lived at Great Warley, and he had never heard of such a person. In erose-examination he said he remembered old Mr. Roupell coming to see him on one occasion, when he told MURDER IN LAMBETH. On Saturday afternoon Mr. William Carter, the. coroner for East Surrey, opened an inquiry at the Old Barge-house tavern, Upper Ground-street, Blackfriars-road, touchiog the death of Sarah Howes latelyli:graeespdiodhriatned residing at on Thursday evenin g last. at 84, Upper Ground•stree., been killed by her husband, Josephawg who it it 41, wH aoswa el s Police-constable Mansfield, 70 L, said that from in formation he received on Thursday night, at 10 o'clock, he went to 84, Upper Ground-street, Black friars-road, nd found a woman lying in the second flo , r back room quite dead. Several persons were mere. The witness was told the woman had been murdered by Joseph Howes, her husband, and from further information he went to the Windmill publichouse, at the corner of Bennett-street, and apprehended him. He said his wife had been drinking all day, but that he would not have touched a hair of her head. Jane Chatfield, who lived at 84, Upper Ground-street, gave evidence similar to that taken before Mr. Combe at the Southwark Police-court on Friday, to the effect that she heard the sound of blows and screams in the deceased's room on Thurs day night, and that neither deceased nor her hus band were sober. She also stated that they were in the habit of quarrelling, and that the husband had frequently threatened deceased. From the evident'- of the police who examined the room where the woman was killed, it appeared that there was a con siderable quantity of blood upon the floor and upon the bed. The deceased had a block eye, and was otherwise much bruised. The stockings of the hus band were found to be saturated with blood. The wainscoting on one aide of the rcom was battered in as if some person had fallen heavily against it. Mr. Morney Coppin,No.l7, Mount-street, Lambeth, sur geon, said he was called in to the deceased on Thurs day night. She was quite dead. He had since made a post mortem examination of the body. There was considerable effusion of blood on the brain, which he thought had been caused by external vio lence. There was no fracture. The cause of death was rupture of blood ves. , els in the brain, caused by blows or falls, or both conjointly. After deliberat ing for about 20 minutes the jury returned a ver dict of Wilful murder against Joseph Howes." Full benEfit of reduced duty obtained by pur 3hasing Horniman's pure Tea ; very choice at 3s 4d. and 4 s , " High Standard "at 4s. 4d. (formerly 4s. Bd.), is tht stiongest and most delicious imported. Agents in every town supply it in packets. SPIRIT OF TEE PUBLIC JOURNALS. SATURDAY REVIEW.—It is quite clear that the French Emperor did make some complaint of the treatment he had received from the English Minie try in reference to Confederate recognition, for the two members asserted it, and he has not denied it. It is probable that the offence took place at some time between January, 1862, when M. Thouvenel's despatch upon the Trent affair proved that he was was heartily with us, and November, 1862, whey Count Fiahault's marked omission to observe the ordinary form of leaving a copy of the despatch which contained the proposal for an armistice indicated the existence of some estrangement. It is probable, there fore, that the communication upon American affairs which Lord Russell is said to have betrayed to the Americans was made in the spring or summer of last year. From the scrupulous care with which Lord Russell has refrained from making any de nials upon the subject, and the ostenta tious frankness with which Mr. Layard has been always ready to deny everything, it is likely that the communication was made privately to Lord Russell; and from the zeal with which Mr. Liyard has searched the written archives of the Fo reign -office, it may be inferred that the communi cation was verbal. Tha secret diplomacy with which Mr. Roebuck's disclosures are connected does not probably end here. They appear to have caused negotiations at least as important as those which they revealed. It is not to be supposed that the Emperor abstained from confirming the statements of the envoys he had selected, or that they them selves have been content to endure all kinds of in sinuations in silence, except for a consideration of some kind. It must have been shown to them that the object they were seekini was more easily to be attained by silence than by talking. We must wait for the future policy of the English Go vernment to inform us whether any distinct un derstanding, as to the period of recognition, was the price of their discretion. The strongest feeling which this curious episode has left behind it is a decided dislike to private diplomacy. It is not merely that the channels of the Imperial confidences to the House of Commons were not" re sponsible," as Lord Palmerston argued; for tbat hackneyed word is now so bare of any shade of meaning that it has almost ceased to be available even as a constitutional fiction. Few people would think of quarrelling with an official, self-constituted or otherwise, for being destitute of so shadowy an at- tribute. The real evil is the informal and ill:defined functions which a private diplomatist fills. He nevt-r has any authority to speak for anybody. When Mr. rtoebuck gave to the Atnperor at explanation of the feelings of the House of Commons, he spoke without any commission from that body, and probably misled his Imperial friend very considerably. When he re versed the process, and came to tell the House of Com mons of the opinions of the Emperor, he was in a difficulty scarcely less serious. He had a com mission, indeed, of some sort, to speak in the Em peror's name; but, he was under the shelter of none of the formalities with which those whose function it is to deal with princes protect themselves against wrong. He had no memorand im of the conversa tion, no despatch in which it was embodied, no com mission to reveal it that he could show. The result was that he was wholly unprotected against any trick the Emperor might like to play him. If the Emperor had chosen to disavow him, he could have done it with perfect ease. Ap rt from the infor mal oral evidenc," of M.. Lindsay, Mr. Roebuck had nothing to which he could appeal—not even the testimony of a past diplomatic career. Tne con stitutional qusstion is, of course, large and grave. For the House of Commons to receive the messages cf foreign Sovereigns is, in effect, to assume execu tive authority. It might as well send out its own orders to generals and admirals, and receive from them direct reports. If it may keep up relations with independent Powers, it becomes an in dependent power itself. Tte whole machinery of Queen, Ministers, and diplomatists is entirely super fluous, if the functions which they perform can be discharged by the employment of two travelling members of Parliament as volunteer ambassadors. SPECTATOR.—The uppermost ph ase of English Conservatism which is that of Lord Robert Cecil, — the Conservatism of what we may call aggressive and almost cynical commonplace, which seems to be Conservative at all only because it is so much more easy to browbeat any novelty that is a candidate for political existence than to browbeat that which is actually in the field, and which ceases to be really Conservative wherever the spirit of law and custom puts unpleasant restraints on the policy of aris roctatic self-interest. There is no doubt that Lord Robert Cecil represents this kind of Conservatism with considerable ability. He lays his finger on the very centre of disputed inte rests with unfailing accuracy and a harsh aggres sive touch. He always puts his case on tne lowest ground he can take with an unpleasant audacity which looks exceedingly practical, and sometimes is so, if the house is conscious of a large infusion of low motives; which, however, is sometimes, again, ineffective enough, and never persuasive, though it encourages otners to assert, where without this ex ample they would be ashamed of asserting, their real motives or reasons. For example, when he was 'tebatinir the question of a wider religious inclusion for the Universities, he said, " Now, he would not put the matter ou high religious grounds. he would ask wnether that would pay." So again on the question of recognition of the South, he studiously selects the most tangibly selfish argument, and asks how we can beso absurd as to "give way to the North en sentimental grounds," when they are " our rivals politically and rivals commercially," while every interest must lead us to cultivate friendly relations with the agricultural people of the South, our " na tural ally." He always seems to seek to put his Conservative case on a ground which may recom mend itself most of all to the' most commonplace minds in their hardest moods. Take his clever speech last session on the bill to permit marriage with a deceased wife's sister. What speech ever entered less into the higher points at issue, or dealt more aggressively with the selfish interests in volved ? His main thesis was that people wanted new opportunities of " giving way to their pas sions," and found fault with the present law be cause it put obstacles in their way. His whole argument was most characteristic, and consisted simply in asserting that every reason alleged by the mover for the repeal of the present restrictions might also be urged by any one who favoured bigamy or polygamy in favour of these institutions. "If they passed the bill they would set every one in the kingdom thinking whom they might marry and whom they might not." He did his best to persuade the House that if you once touched the marriage law, even on good grounds, the floodgates of un authorised passions would burst open, and we should have men insisting on marrying their stepmothers. It has often been noticed that the Tory orators are more personal and more reckless than the Liberals. The more memorable Conservative papers have ge nerally gained their reputation by satire or persona- Mies, like the Satirist the John Bull, Blackwood, more recently, and, on its first start, our contempo rary the Press. The Standard, too, is the most bitterly personal of the present daily papers, and Mr. Disraeli certainly the happiest master of perso nal criticism, while Lord Derby is the most eager in onset, and the most successful in taunts of all the orators of the day. T ere is an obvious reason for this in the nature of Conservatism. Those who are in possession of the field, and whose position is, there fore, defensive, are Imost forced into discrediting heir opponents. Knowing that things are not per fect as they are, their only object is to shake faith in the suggested reinediee, which, as they have never been tried, are more effzetively shaken by under mining the authority of their opponents than by re futing their argument. The r eformers have their theme in the inequalities and evils of the existing system of things. The Conservatives have to with draw attention from these, and cannot :cell do it better than by personal attacks. Lord Robert Cecil clearly shares the impulse for this kind of warfare. But it is not his happiest line. He is apt to be too little discriminating and too insolent in his person alities to be thoroughly effective. " Qui dit trop, ne dit rien." The other day, when he was defending the indiscriminate charities against Mr. Gladstone, he accused that statesman, with probably less jus tice than was ever before shown in a personal at tack, of " a hard and material philosophy," and, in still more elegant language, of "smearing the me mories of testators" by imputing to them principles which were horrid to their feelings. Last ses sion he attributed the frequent count-outs " to the wish to insult an enemy," which is not a likely mo tive in the House of Commons. Only last week he launched against Mr. W. E. Forster the epithet of a Federal Sinon, on the ground that he wished to betray the Confederates into a defeat by urging Mr. Roebuck to go on with the debate which be had injudiciously begun. In truth, he almost always hits rather wildly whenever he indulges in personal hits at all He has scarcely the delicacy and play of mind which are requisite to catch skilful personal characteristics, and would do well to leave that branch of debate to Mr. Disraeli. " There is a hardness in his eye " which misses the point, as though Lord Robert Cecil had used his culture to barricade himself against the influence of others, and had so ceased to understand them. What he does best is to " put his foot down" heavily on liberal impulses, sympathies, or hopes ; his literary sense is not quick, for the same reason for which his Conservatism is a kind of repellent common-place. Mr. Disraeli cannot be said to have genuine sym pathy with any class of principles under the sun, but then he has an active, pliant, even delicate in tellectual fancy, which obliges him to receive accu rate impressions of the images of character around him. Lord Robert Cecil is essentially a "hard shell" aristocrat, and as such is eminently suited 1..0 express any bold Conservative aversion to chance, but by no means, we think, to fulfil the highest function of a statesman by interpreting clearly the indistinct wants of his time, and thoroughly under standing even the opponents whom he confutes. LONDON REVIEW.—It is said that the Crown Prince intends to publish a protest against the recent measures of his father's Government, but he will probably deem this superfluous after the full dis. closure of his views which has now been made. Obvious considerations render it inexpedient for the heir-ap parent to take a more prominent part than is abso lutely necessary in opposition to the King. Although he might thus gain a momentary popularity, be would most likely incur a permanent loss of respect. Besides it is scarcely desirable that he should, so to speak, play all Hs cards at once. It is easy to fore see contingencies in which such steps as the issue of a formal protest, and the resignation of his corn missions, would produce an effect all the greater, from their having been withheld , as long as possible. In the meantime the measures which the Prince has taken must be regarded with the utmost satisfaction both in Prussia and in England. We have aright indeed to feel some little pride in them on our own account, if it be true that his Royal Highness's Liberalism is in no slight degree due to the advice of his English wife. But be that as it may, it is impossible to read his letters without imbib ing considerable respect for his character, and a corresponding confidence in his sincerity. There is no affectation of a warmth, and vehemence of political sentiment which the Prince can hardly be expected to feel. He would, no doubt, be well content to govern as an arbitrary sovereign, if it were possible or were consistent with the Constitution of his country. But he sees that, as a matter of fact, this is impracticable; and that sound policy, as well as good faith, requires that thy spirit of the existing laws and institution. , should be faithfully adhered to by the monarch. Confining himself to that point, his temperate but decided language affords the best warrant for the reality and depth of his convictions. His words are those of a man who does not speak lightly, but of whom we may feet assured that be wilt act up to his pro fessions. If they produce that impression in Prus sia, they must very greatly diminish, even it they do not entirely remove, any danger of a violent or revolutionary collision between the king and the people. With the assurance that the next sovereign is willing and determined to respect. the Constitu tion, it is scarcely worth while pushing twitters to extremity with an old man in failing nealth. If the existing system is likely to fall of itself, prudence may well suggest that it is safer to bear even with Von Bismerk and his ways for a little longer, than to incur the risks inseparable, not only from any appeal to force, but even from any extraordinary action on the part of the Legislature. On the other hand, it is difficult to believe that the King and his Ministers can be so utterly lost to common-sense as persevere in their present policy after this distinct warning from the Crown Prince, that their success must to so short-lived as to be absolutelyworthless. His Majesty has, we know, a superstitious respect for the supposed duty of transmitting the Royal power, which he received from Heaven, unimpaired, to his successor. But one may almost venture to hope that even his peculiar mind is not entirely proof against practical demonstration that the contest he is waging is entirely hopeless. He can scarcely think it worth while to sacrifice without any per manent results the popularity of which he is fond, and which he might easily regain by a very mode rate concession to the national washes. EXAMINER — 4 ' We ask no more than nature craves," whines the starved porter in Sheridan's " Duenna," and so touchingly aver certain members of Parliament, who want a few thousands of the public money to be spent in altering the house, to the end that, they may obtain better dinners. Mr. P. O'Brien affectingly pleads, " The expense was small, and the house would not grudge it. A steak, chop, cold meat, or such plain dinner as could be obtained under the Bellamy Administration eas all that was required." It almost brings tears into one's eyes to read this modest application for suste nance, but it strikes us there is a small error of the press in the passage and that for the Bellamy Ad ministration should be read the Belly-my Adminis tration. Mr. Bass thought that dining advanced business, but if the house would not increase the allowance for the kitchen, he thought it would he better to abolish it altogether, and for members to go back to mutton chops. Think of that, good people all. Think of your representatives return ing to mutton chops. It will next be proposed that they shall return to painting their bodies blue, or some such usage of ancient barbarism. Mr. Os borne followed, and lashed severely gentlemen no; satisfied with mutton chops, and wanting to dine on :he fat of the Consolidated Fund. A fortiori, it better order and attendanoe came of a mutton chop dinner instead of French cookery, a still further improvement would be the result of total absti nence, and a e really see no reason why the Com mons should not, like juries, be starved into right conclusions and agreement. Of this we are certain, that many dreary debates that now weary the public would he spared if nothing to eaf and drink were to be had on the premises. " A full house" has a nasty gluttinous soeno. The Greek proverb says that a fat stomach and a fine mind cannot co-exist. In Mr. Dilworth's excellent spelling book of a century or so ago, there is an edifying story of a papa who made it a condi tion of eating apple pie that his little boys should spell the word. Nuw in the various reports on the important subject of the kitchen and refreshment rooms we observe some English of so disorderly a nature as to call for some condition like that which Dilworth's father imposed upon his children in the matter of the apple pie. Members should not have what they ask for in the way of eatables and drinkables until they can put their demands into decent language. How abominable is such a sen tence as this, which we commend to the notice of the Civil Service Examiners for a place in the rig marole to be done into English :•‘‘ Further, that the I:300 per annum now allowed for servants had its origin in the keeper of the refreshment rooms having formerly been deputy housekeeper, when the servants had to clean the house; and now that the departments are separated, it is indirectly a subsidy to the refreshment rooms, but is insufficient for the direct purpose for which it is voted, as seen by the table of amount of wages, paid by Mr. Steers,' appended to the first report." How in the world could £3OO a year have its origin in the keeper of the refreshment rooms having formerly been deputy, &e., &c., when the servants had to clean the house ? A c an did a t e f or em pl o yme n t who can disentangle the meaning, and put this rigma role into decent English, must be an exceedingly clever fellow. There is only one instance of motley originating in any living creature, and that is the remarkable case of the goose that laid golden eggs, and certainly we shall not be disposed to be scepti cal about that phenomenon if it can be well proved chat £3OO a year had its origin in a keeper of re freshment rooms. The thing is much more curious than the source of the Nile, and we recommend it to the immediate attention of the anatomists. ATIIENZUM.—Some two or three years since the depressed fortunes of our theatres experienced a sudden reaction. It is true that, in the seasons immediately preceding this period, an attractive work now and then roused the town from its apathy; but such an event was too rare to secure the prosperity of the drama proper—burlesque, in deed, seeming the only form of entertainment which could be counted on for prd,fitable results. Had rank been determined by success, the tiny house called " The Strand" mignt then have been regarded as the headquarters of theatrical London. Its walls were nightly packed with a delighted pubic; while audiences respectably numerous, but not sufficiently so to defray the great expense of attracting them, witnessed Mr. Charles Kean's ecenic and arctizeJe.,- gical revivals of Shakspeare at the Princess's, add smaller gatherings lent a zealous but ineff, clue, support to legitimacy at the Lyceum, then under the control of Mr. Dillon. Drury Lane avowedly relied for success upon the pantomime yearly fur nished by Mr. E. L. Blanchard, and the abatement of its attraction was the invariable signal for closing the theatre. Mr. Webster—wbo, like his successor Mr. Buckstone, had been faithful to some sort of legitimacy at the Haymarket—provided, at the New Adeiphi, fare as intellectual as his patrons would tolerate. In proof of this we may instance the dramas of "Janet Pride" and " The Dead. Heart." To the manager's credit it may be added, that he had even produced the works of Shakspeare and Molidre on a stage before devoted to melo drama. Mr. Robson's excellent acting in pieces of which " The Porter's Knot" is the typP, had also gained due appreciation. But it is scarcely doubt ful that at the theatres generally the pantomimes and burlesques of Christmas and Ester brought with them a financial success for which managers would have looked in vain to works of higher pre tensions. The production of " The Colleen Bawn," however, opened a new era in theatrical his tory. Here was a drama with a new stimulant, and one so powerful that the star of burlesque itself paled before it. That "The Colleen Bawn' was well written, and to some extent a drama of character as well es of incident, is not to be denied; but it is equally true that to the water-cave scene including the reno w n e d " header," its marvellous success must chiefly be ascribed. This work, the first formally distinguished by the epithet "sensa tion " was followed by another of the same class from the pen of Mr. Falconer. " Peep o' Day " without possessing the literary merit of its model, was Equal to it in spectacular effect and i n t h e con trivance of one of those elaborate situations, during which an audience is held breathless by a struggle for physical life. Mr. Falconer's drama proved a rival in attraction to that Mr. Bouoicault, and, aiaed by toe crowds that flocked to the International Exhibition of 1862, achieved the longest run upon n-cord. Alipo-3t conteruporanecusv with the success of sensation plays an improvement took pkce in the prospects of the higher drama. Mr. Fechter, who passed at a bound from refined melo-drama to Shaks peare, appeared in Hamlet, and repeated the charac ter for nearly one hundred nights. As a pendant to this suttees in tragedy, and coincident with the advanced run of the two sensation pieces, as Hamlet had been with their commencement, came the Lord Dundreary of Mr. Sothern. Thir extraordinary performance continued to delight the town, it we except an interval of a few weeks, for about a year and a quarter. Into the grounds of its attraction and into those of Mr. Fechter's Hamlet, we may if:quire hereafter. It is enough now to state the results of both performances in connexion with the ? hopes to which they gave rise. As the best expres sion of the latter, we may notice the fact that two commercial companies have been formed for the erection of as many theatres, one of which has its proposed site in the Haymarket, the other in Hol born, w hile rumours are afloat that a third company, with a similar object, is in process of establishment. Between the period however, which gave the im pulse to these undertakings and the present time, signs h,ve occurred which can hardly be construed favourably for new speculations. The tide of thea trical success has now evidently declined from high water mark, and it will be well if its ebb do not prove as sudden and extreme as its rise. • COUNTRY MARKETS. ---- ~►- GRANTHAM-SATURDAY. To-day wheat came Plowly to hand, and trade was dull. —New whit( wheat, 49s to 535; red, 45s to 47s per 36st. ; malting barley, —s to —s pet qr ; grinding, 29s to 30s; oath, 24s to 26s ; beans, 38s to 40s; peas, 36s to 38s. YORK- SATURDAY. The weather since last week has been as favourable as possible. and an abundant harvest may be looked forward to. There was a limited show of wheat to-day, and the demand was slow, but prices about the same as last week. several years past—and should the weather continue pro- Wheat, red 44s to 47s Oats.... 22s to 24t. White do .48s to 52s Beans 40t to 42s Barley .29s to 30s Peas ....--s to ---s Malt, 62s to 64s per qr. ; rye, 33s per qr ; flour, 34s to 35s per sack. NOTTINGHAM-SATURDAY. Our market was sparingly supplied with wheat, and the demand was dull. Barley, oats, and beans were scarce. —White wheat, from 43s to 53s ; red wheat, 42s to bOs. Barley—malting, 35s to 39s ; grinding, 27s to 295. Oats old, at 258 to 31s Od; new, 22s to 295. Beans sold at 41s to 45s per qr,; new, 37s to 425. NORTHAMPTON-SATURDAY. Less wheat than usual to-day, with a heavy demand. —White wheat, 44s to 48s ; red, 43s to 46s ; fine, 48s to —s per qr. Barley, 36s to 43s—grinding, 29s to 38s; Oats, 24s to 30s per 24 stone. Beans, 37s to 40e. Peas, 36a to 40s per qr. LEICESTER —SATURDAY. Our market was sparingly supplied with wheat, and the demand was full at late terms. Barley and oats a slow sale. —Old white wheat, —s to —s ; new, 46s to 52s per 36 stone. Old red, 44s to 50s per 36 stone. Barley, malting, new, 34s to 38s per qr.; grinding, 27s to 295; okl oats, —s to --a; new oats, 2ts to 29s per 24 stone. Beans, new, 38s to 42s per 38 stone ; flour, 30s to 36s per 20 stone. NORWICH-SATURDAY. There was a limited supply of wheat at market to-day, and prices again ruled nominally the same as the previous week, bat there was little business doing. White wheat. 46s to 49 Red wheat 43s to 48s Malting barley ... 38s to 40s Chevalier barley 36, to 37s Distilling d 0..... 33s to 35s Oats.. 24 , to 280 Flour, 31s 6d to 33s Od per sack from the miller. Foreign Mail Packet List. MAILS DUE. stralia and Mauritius, via Southampton. July 19. via Marseilles Aug. 13. brazil and Cape Verds, by British packet. Aug. 4. rape of Good Hope, Ascension, and St. Helena. July 29. tuna, Penang, and Singapore, via Southampton. July 19. via Marseilles July 27. ealkland Islands Gibraltar, via Southampton india (Calcutta), and C e yl on , v i a S out h ampton July 19. via Marseilles July 27. India (Bombay), via Southampton .. July 26. via Marseilles J u l y 20. Portugal.... Malta, Egypt, and Aden, vi a S ou th ampton J u l y 19. via Marseilles ewfoundland porto and Vigo U. S. and British N. America, Ly Brit. packet.... July 22. _ by U.S. packet by Canadian packet July 24. W.C. of Africa, Madeira, and Teneritle Aug. 1 0 tiahanias, via New York ....July 30. %lexico XII parts of West Indies, including Chili, Peru, July 29. California. and British Columbia . •••• THE CIVIL SERVICE—Horne office—The Lord- Lieutenancy of L Lnarksr ire has become vacant by the death of the Duke of Hamilton. Colonial-office—Mr E. E. Blake has been appointed to a clerkship. Education office—Mr F. C. Hodson has been appointed an examiner , London, Post-office—Mr R. P. Blackwell has been 0' pointed a supplementary clerk, Manchester. The Audit.. office—Mr W. R. M. Bethune has been appointed a junior clerk. General Register-office—A vacancy has occurred in the Register General's-office, Somerset-house, by the death of Mr. Mann, chief clerk. Register of Seaman's-office- 4 first class clerkship in the General Register and Record office of Seamen has become vacant by the death of Mr• A. Hardie. The Admiralty—The office of physician and surgeon to the Royal Hospital, Chelsea, has become vacant by the retirement of Dr. Maclachlan, Salary £5OO. Cus toms—Mr. E, Crawley has been promoted from the 6th to the sth class of clerks, at the East aad West India Docks, London. Mr J. G. Hughes, from 3d to 2d class, Mr W. Scott from 4th to 3d class, and Mr R. Pemberton from 6th to 4th class of out-door officer, Liverpool; Mr W. Ryan from 2d to Ist class of out-door offices, Galway; Mr R. 1. Arkley from sth to 4th class, and Mr G. M. Halliday from 4th to 3d class of out-door officers, Newcastle. Inland Re venue—Excise Branch—Mr J. Curtayne, officer, Montmel lick division, has been appointed to Newry 3d division; Mr W, Ro, ser, officer, Newry 3d division, to Montmellickdivi sion ; Mr H. R. Fentimen, officer, Pembroke, Ist ride, to Wilton ride; Mr W. Moore, officer, Stafford ride, to Hull ride; Mr I'. Conroy, officer, Leek ride, to S.afford ride ; Mr W. Wilkinson, late officer of Barnsley, second ride, to Leek ride; and Mr A. Prideau, officer, Pontypool, Ist ride, 2d clerk, Taunton. Ireland—Mr T. Taylor has been appointed to a transcriber clerkship in the Registry of Deeds-office, Dublin.—Civil Service Gazette. [ADVERTISEMENT.] —Holloway's Ointment and Finite - 7: Paralysis, deep-seated rheumatism, and stiff contracted joints may always be cured by these medicines if they have a fair trial. But such diseases are not cured in a single day. The patient must have a little perseverance and de termination, and then, with these powerful medicines he cannot fail to conquer his disease, however obstinate it may be. The ointment should be briskly rubbed into the parts affected after they have been fomented with lukewarm. water. The pills, by their action on the blood and the humours of the body, are an adwirable auxiliary to the ointment, and improve and invigorate the Whole system. Direction- for the use of these medicines accompany each pot and box. [ADVERTISEMENT ] — o oll Blthiptioll, all nervous, bilious, liver, and stomach complaints, la every stage, are only ag gravate 1 and accelerated by drugs of every description, b ut l.erlec.ly curable by Du Barry's health restoring Revalents Arabica Food, as proved by thousands of cases which had been considered hopeless. We quote a few. —Cure No. 62, 90 ' Miss Lange, 18 years of age, cured after the medical men had abandoned all hope, of her recovery from the last stage of pulmonary consumption, with 1 arful cough, expectoration , exhaustion, spitting of blood, perspirations, hollow cheeks. emaciated to a skt leton. She is now, thank God, a perfectl/ healthy, blooming, fleshy girl.—N. Lange, Commissaire de Police. Cure, No. 46,270. Mr. James Roberts, of Fernley , Surrey, of hirty years' diseased lungs, spitting of blood, liver derangement. and partial deafness.—Cure, No. 47,121. Bliso Elizabeth Jacobs, of extreme nervousness, indigestion, gatherings, low spirits, and nervous fancies.—Cure, No. 54,816. ihe Rev. James I'. Campbell, Fakenham, Norfolk, of indigestion and torpidity of the liver, which had resisted all medical treatment. In tins, llb, 2s 9d; 21b, 48 6d ; 51b Its; 121 b, 225; 241 b, 40s. Barry du Barry and Co., No. 77 , Regent-street„ London ; also Fortnum and Mason; and all grocers and chemists in every town of the United Kingdom. Births. ASHTON.—On the 17th inst., at St. Paul's -road, Camden' town, the wife of Alfred Ashton, Esq., of a son. BRADY.—On the 16th inst., at 2, Wilton-place, Dublin, Mrs. Maziere John Brady, of a son. CAIRNS.—On the 17th inst., at 79, Eaton-place, Lad/ Cairns, of a son. HERYBY.—On the 15th inst., at 17, Chester , square, We. Henry Hervey, of a son. Marriages. FBASER,---WORMALD.—On the 18th inst. 'at Christ Chur ol ? f Highbury, T. H. F raser, Esq,, of 20,'B o lt o n-street , Piccadilly, to M ar y, eldest daughter of ila Worrea la ' Esq., of Highbury Lodge, HEATIMOTE—GORDON.—On the 14th inst., At S'• Pa ul i; Knightsbridge, the H on . Gilb ert Henry H ea thoote, on l y son of Lord Aveland, to the Lady Evelyn E. Gord on ' second daughter o f the Marquis of Huntly. iANDERSoN.---On the n at P rbrht Lodge, Wr• 16th Deaths. ist. B. Anderson, Esq., late of . the Madras Civil Service, aged 66. COLLINS.—On the 16th inst. at Ware, Harts, Edw ard Collins, E sq. , l ate M a d ras L. Cavalry, aged 55. 1-10 DGSON.—On the 16th inst., at Blandon Cottage, Bet' ley, Mary, widow of the late Very Rev. Robt. Hodgsorl , Dean of Carlisle, aged 83. MARSHALL.—On the 14th inst.. at Hastings, Samuel Mar shall Esq , late of Woodford Wells, aged 66. PODMORE.--On she 17th inst., at 128, Richmond-roa d, Dalston, John Podmore, Esq., aged 34. TwysDEN.—On the 12th inst., at Brighton, LadyTwysdeno wife of Sir Wm. Twysden, Bart. ----- London : Printed and Published by WILLIAM ANDREWS. of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at TUE SUN Office. No. 112, Strand, in the Precinct of the '5 avoy, in the County 0 Middleowc.—Alonday, July 20, 1863.