The Sun. — London, England, 1868-02-21 00:00:00

THE HATFIELD AND ST. ALBAN'S RAILWAY COMPANY. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN , That the HALF YEARLY ORDINARY GENERAL MEETING of the Proprietors will be held at the King's Cross Station, Lon don, at 2 o'clock p.m., on FRIDAY, the 6th March next, to receive a Report from the Directors, and for other the general business of the company. By order. ALEX. FORBES, Secretary. King's Cross Station, Loudon, 20th Feb., 1868. THE UXBRIDGE and RICKMANSWORTH RAILWAY COMPANY. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, That the HALF YEARLY ORDINARY GENERAL MEETING of the Proprietors will be held at the Offices of the Company, 5, Westmister-chabers, Victoria-street, Westminster, Lon don, at n Three o'cl m ock p.m., on FRIDAY, ho 6th March next, to receive a Report from the Directors, and for other the general business of the Company. By order, ALEX. FORBES, Secretary. London, Feb. 20, 1868. TO LICENCED VICTUALLERS. ,EsT A lILI SHED 1842. tyl IA I, I A 111 - II 0LI)I. C II and CO., i 1 / LICENCED viol' cALLERS' DRAPERS, No. 105, 11,t-street, con , er of Farring(on-AreetNo. j, The Pavement, Cliti,ham-common (Southern Branch). COUNTER cLoTiIS FOR LICENCED VICTUALLERS. 1 FITE only article really suitable for that purpose, ss. 6d. per dozen, hemmed, ready for use. Address 105, Fleet-street, and 5, The Pavement, Clapham. S GLASS CLOTHS SUITABLE FOR LICENCED ICTUALLERS, 7s. 9d. PER DOZEN. WTILLIAAI HOLDICH and CO., No. 105 Fleet-street, foot of Ludgate b ill ; and No. 5, rho Pavement, Clapham-common. rp ABLE CLOTHS, in every Width and Length, JL expressly for Licenced Victuallers. Damask Napkins for Tray Cloths, Drills for Bar Aprons and Towellings of 'very description. Patterns gratis and post free. OARDIGAN JACKETS made expressly for Bar L-.) use, Warm and Elastic, from ss. Gd. each, for Ladies' and Gentlemen's use. WILLIAM HOLDICH andLICENSED V IC TUALLERs' DRAPERS, 105, Fleet street, City, and No. 5, The. Pavement, Clapham-common. ITILLIAM HOLDICFI and Co., LICENSED VICTUALLERS' DRAPERS, Established 1842, at 105, Fleet-street, City; Southern Branch—No. 5, The Pave ment. Clapham-common. Patterns gratis and post free, with Price List, THEATRE ROYAL, 1 RURY -LANE. Sole Lessee and Manager, Mr. F. B. Chatterton. THIS EVENING will he performed Shakspere's Historical Play of lIENRY THE EIGHTH. Mr. Phelps; Messrs. Barrett H. Sinclair, J. Johnstone. Edmund Phelps C. lla.rcourt, , J. Rouse, W. O. Temple, M'lntyre , C. 'Webb ; Mrs. Hermann Vezin, Mr.,. H. V.indenhoff, Miss E. Stuart. After which. the Drury Lane annual grand Christmas Pantomime, written by E. L. Blanchard, Esq., entitled FA\V FEE FO F 1.1141; or, Harlequin Jack the Giant Killer. T HEATRE ROYAL, HA YMARKET. Sole Lessee, Mr. Bnckstone. THIS EVENING, THE BROKEN-HEARTED CLUE Mr. Borden, Mr. Braid, Mrs. Chippendale, &c. To be followed by DAVID GARRICK. Messrs. Sothern, Buckstone, Chippendale, Rogers, Clark, Coo, ttc.; Mesdames Chippendale, Robertson, Fitzwilliam, &c. After which, BOX AND COX. Mr. Buckstone and Mr. Com!:,ton. A n,l FA M ELY JARS. Mr, Compton. rip HEATRE ROYAL, ADELPHL Sole Proprietor and Manager, Mr. B. WEBSTER. Directress, Mrs. Alfred Mellon. THIS EVENING, UP FOR THE CATTLE SHOW. After which, at 8, NO THOROUGHFARE. Mr. Fechter (his 50th appearance here), Mr. Billington, Mr. H. Neville, Mr. R. Phillips, ➢ir. G. Delmore, Mr. C. J. Smith. and Mr. Benjamin Webster; Miss Carlotta Leclercq (her 50th appearance), Mrs. Alfred Mellon, Mrs. Billington, Mrs. H. Lewis, &c. Commence at 7. R OYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE. Sole Lessee and Manager, Mr. Vining. THIS EVENING, a Grand Combination of Two Great Dramas, n RRAH NA POGUE and THE OCTOROON. Mr. and Mrs. Dion Roucicault ; Mr. J. S. Clarke, Mr. Vining; Messrs. Dominick Murray, Dan Leeson, G. F. Neville, J. G. Shore, Mac lean, H. Forrester; Mesdames Henrietta Simms, E Barnett, ftiv!hel Sanger, K. Stafford, and Addie. Scenery by Mr. Telbin, Mr. F. Lloyds, and assistants. Doors open at half-past 6, commence at 7. QUEEN'S THEATRE, Long-acre. Lessee and Manager, Mr. Alfred Wigan. THIS EVENING, HE'S A LUNATIC. Mr. John Clayton. After which will be produced a New and Original Drama, entitled DEARER THAN LIFE. Michael Garner. Mr. J. L. Toole. To conclude with the Extravaganza, LA VIVANDIERE; or, TRUE TO TIIE CORPS. The Scenery by Messrs. W. and T. Grieve, Johnson, and Assistants. Messrs. J. L. Toole, L. Brough, and Sanger; Misses P. Markham, F. Addison, Jordan, blontgomery, Heath, Sylvia, H. Everard, and H. Hodson. Doors open at Half-past Six, commence at Seven. Acting Manager, Mr. W. U. Liston. Box-office open daily from Ten till Four. 1) OYAL STRAND THEATRE. Sole Lessee and Manageress, Mrs. Swanborough. THIS EVENING, at 7, OLD SALT: Messrs. Emery, James, and Belford; Mesdames N. Moore and Gwynne. After which will be produced a Grand Christmas Operatic Olio qtal - Extravaganza " THE CALIPH OF BAGDAD." Mes3rs. Thorns, James, Turner, Murray; Mesdames A. Swanborough, John• , stone, Harland. Holt 1\ ewton, &c. 'Cu conclude with COAL AND COKE. Mr. F. Robson, &e. HOLBORN' THEATRE ROYAL. Sole Proprietor and Manager, Mr. Sefton Parry. THIS EVENING, at Seven, THE FLYING SCUD. Messrs. Atkins, Price, Garden, Arthur, Westland, Wilmott; Mesdames Ilenrade, Goodall, Lennox, and C. Saunders. After which, the Grand Comic Pantomime of VALENTINE AND ORSON; or, Harlequin the Big Bear and the Little Fairy. Mesdames Saunders, Goodall. White: Messrs. Garden, Odell, Arthur: 11.1dlle. Montero, Miss Ellis, Lupino, Green, and the Great Little Rowena. ROYAL OLYMPIC THEATRE. Now Management. Sole Lessee, Mr. B. Webster; Manager, Mr. H. Wigan. THIS EVENING, ONE TOO MANY FOR HIM. Messrs. Ashley and C. Mews; Mesdames Caulfield and E. Farren. After which, ATE WOMAN OF THE WORLD. Messrs. IL Wigan, R. Soutar, Geo. Vincent, &c.; Mesdames L. Moore, E. Farrell, and Stirling. To be followed by IF I HAD A THOUSAND A YEAR. Commence at Seven. LICENSED VICTUALLERS' GUARDIAN R. GLENIE, of the Sporting Library, k.A • 4, Connaught-terrace, Hyde-park, London, W., begs to inform his customers, and the Licensed Victuallers in general that he has been appointed Agent for the above-named paper . addition to his agency for the Sporting Edition of " Tiq; SUN, and can supply the same on Friday evening, if required, in town or country. U. R. G. begs to inform the Trade that he is Agent for the LATEST EDITION of "THE SUN," and can supply it earlier than any other man in London or Country the evening of publi cation. No connection with any other persons. 13aiiy's, Wright's, and M•Ctal's Guides. All the Daily Papers, Maga zines, and Periodicals as soon as published. Agent for the Joint titock Coal Company. Orders by post attended to. SPORTING.—JOIIN ROBERTS supplies the LATES r EDITION of "THE SUN" as soon as pub fished.-4, Bath-street, City-road, E.C. THE LATEST EDITION of " THE SUN " supplied, as soon as published, Every kvening, by W. .A LEX A N DN.R (late Brooks), Newspaper Agent, No. 4, Old Cavendish-street, Oxford-street. " N- HE SUN " NEWSPAPER.—" The Mitre" Tavern, New Church-street, near the Alpha-road, Pad dington. "'1 SU v " ( Third Edition), containing the Latest Sporting News, Results of Races. Latest ParliamentaryDehates, &c., can he seen as above " II the year round." *** A well-selected and extensive stock of WINES, SPIRITS, riE 4 ' SUN" NEWSPAPER.-G. R. GLEN lE, Sporting Library, 4, Connaught-terrace, Edgeware-road, delivers the LAT s EDITION of "TH SUN "at the earliest possible moment after leaving the press. He is able to deliver Copies in Town, the Suburbs, and in many parts of the country at a comparatively early hour the same evening, say 40 miles by nine o'clock. Orders by post punctually attended to. THIRD EDITION OF " THE SUN," „ 111 ,:ing all the SPORTING NEWS of the day , may be seen kNTON'S house, "The Swan and Horse S hoe," Little Britain, City, E.C. t_ rtyll O'S GR AIN GER? LICENSED VICTUALLERS' TOBACCONIST, SHEPHERD'S-BUSH. The SPORTING- EDI rioN of "THE SUN " can be seen at sillt AI NOE R'S Establishment, as above, every evening by sight D'elock. TLATEST EDITION o f " THE SUN " supplied as soon as published, containing all the LATEST NEWS and SPORTING INTELLIGENCE, by H. W. HARRIS, N ews p a per Agent, 4, Blackfriars-road, London, S. TIME LATEST EDITION of " TRE SUN. " J. HOLMES begs to inform his friends awl the public generally that he supplies the LATEST E DITION of " THE SUN " as soon as published.—No. 10, Hampstead-road, N.W. 1111 - 1 E " SUN" NEWSPAPER.-G. IL. GLENIE a delivers the LA TE EDITION at Chelsea, 7.40; Kilburn ; Starch-green, 8; Woolwich, 7.30; Uxbridge, 9.20; Watford, +.45. IIN."--LATEST EDITION.-Mr. K. 7 I , I%RSHALL , of the "Neeld A r ms," Harrow-road, opl osit the Loch Hospital, takes the r dition of "THE SUN" eon- Cain.; the r, - ,sult of the day's Racing, Latest Betting, Money .I,rhe Sze. —Omn buses every half hour to and from the City. LATE EDITION iff THE SUN " a J. S:t.IITIrS, :39, Bow-street , Covent -garden. irniE LATE Em - rioN . of " THE SUN " al W. SMITH'S, " Camden Stores," 78, Park-street, Camden- own. 11HE LATE EDITION of " THE SUN " at JAMES SPEEDY'S, "The Wellington," Wellington-street, Strand, OHN GOSNELL and CO.'S CHERRY TOOTH PASTE is greatly superior to any tooth powder; gives the teeth a pearl whiteness, protects the enamel from decay, and imparts a pleasant fragrance to th e breath. Price is. 6d.—Red Bull Wharf, 93, Upper Tlal32es-street, London. NOTHING I.A.IPOSSIBLE. AGUA. AMARELLA. restores the Human Hair to its pristine hue, no matter at what ago. JNO. GOSNELL and CO. have at length, with the aid of one of the most eminent Chemists, succeeded in perfect ing this wonderful liquid. It is now offered to the public in a more concentrated form, and at a lower price. Sold in bottles, 3s. each ; also 55., 7s. 6d., and 15s. each, including brush. Red Bull Wharf, Angel-passage, 93, Upper Thames street, London, E.C. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. THIS DAY.—Morning, Oh. 57m.—Afternoon, lh. 18m. To-Aloßatow.-Morning, lh. 39m.—Afternoon, 2h. Om. • 4,6 . - ,-seztpk7 • , i -t ri? . n 4 A..0/ 1 9 IV LOIVDON, FRIDAY, FEB. 21, 1868. All must sympathise with the unfortunate King o f HANOVER in his red exile, and if it were pos sible to imagine the statesmen of Prussia feeling accusation of shame, we could easily believe their regarding with compunction the ceremony that took place at Ritzing the other day. On that occasion his MAJESTY celebrated his " silver wed ding," the twenty-fifth anniversary of his mar riage. The affair went off very well, and must have proved very satisfactory to the Royal Family. A large party assembled, and the KING'S speech was interesting and impressive. He declared that the presence of those who had come from such a distance fully revealed the intimate connection between the Hanoverian people and the House of GUELPH. It is touching to find that the unfortu nate Monarch still retains the conviction that the tide of fortune will turn, and that he will return to his old place and resume his Sovereign State. He pointed emphatically to his ancestors, who had been driven by adverse fate from their inheritance, and had found upon their return a yet larger Guelphic kingdom than they had possessed before. He trusted in the justice of Providence, and cherished the hope that he should yet return a "free and independent" Sovereign to his own coun try. In conclusion, the KING drank prosperity to Hanover, and a speedy re-union in the branch of the Guelphs. This feast, which was attended ex clusively by Hanoverians, is suggestive in many re spects. It shows that old ties and deep-seated asso ciations are not rooted up and put aside by the passing winds of adverse fortune, and the respect and regard that are the portion of King GEORGE cannot be taken from him by any stern decree or harsh innovation of the conqueror. He has been a needless sacrifice to the inordinate ambition and the vanity of ill-directed desires, but he still retains a sway in the minds of his faithful adherents that no armed forces can dispossess him of, and no statute that issues from the councils of Berlin can put a period to. Many circumstances take place which from time to time necessi tate the introduction of a new order of things, however precious the Conservatism of the old regime may be, and the chances and changes of this troublesome world entail many a regret and a mournful glance at the past. In looking at the position of the exiled Princes of Germany, however, we cannot conscientiously say that any justification appears for the insults and injuries that have been heaped upon them ; on the contrary, Germany would be a great deal better off had they been left where they were. The utmost said against them was that they stood still, but those who have usurped their places go a great deal too for in the wrong direction. In a very short time it will be seen how greatly the course now pursued under the direction of BISMARCK has militated against the full development of native strength, aid how much it has undermined the na tional prosperity of those annexed provinces. Itis a tribute to the devotion of his servants that the magnificent plate of the ex-Kings of Hanover was concealed from the Prussians, and graced the ban quet at Ritzing in a fashion that many a crowned head might have envied. While we feel that it is not in the doctrine of chances that the wish and ex pectations of the exiled KING will ever be realised, we cannot the less sympathise with him, and feel in dignation at the manner in which he has been treated. In Bavaria it is to be noticed that the turn of affairs has by no means realised the expectations of Prussia, and that the projected union with that country does not find the favour which some had anticipated would be, its portion. We are not surprised at this, for the Southern people have had ample opportunity of judging for themselves by this time as to the nature of the changes, and so see now much more in sound than reality is the entire affair of the union with North Germany. The Prussians have made a piece of work about the Hanoverian Legion, but according to accounts it may be considered that nothing serious will result from the affair. The folly of the Berlin Govern ment is shown by the language used in semi-official quarters when it is said that it is no proof of friendly feeling to give hospitality to the ex-King, and so on. The intolerance of these critics is well known to report, but even they seldom go further than they do here. When they maintain that his Ma jesty of HANOVER has equipped Prussian subjects for war against their Sovereign it really seems as if they were at a loss what new charge to bring when they argue after this fashion. Among the many exciting subjects which are likely to engross public attention this session we are glad to find that one of great social importance is not to be altogether overlooked. The inequalities and injustice which attend the present system of rating for the relief of the poor have lately formed the subject of a good deal of discussion. The wide spread distress at the East of London, augmenting, as it does, from year to year, has induced wise and thoughtful men to go deeper into the question than the mere temporary administration of relief, and made them examine, in all its bearings, the whole system of parochial relief. The rates at which small householders grumble in the central districts become in the eastern parishes one of the most serious con siderations to those struggling just above pauperism, and while all unprejudiced observers admit the justice of their complaints, they have not weight or influ ence enough to carry the day against the interested opposition of their wealthier antagonists at the lightly-taxed West-end. Such an oppressive and unjust state of things, however, is not likely to last long without some movement being made by practical reformers ; and, accordingly, we find that the meeting which was held the other day in the East -end to consider the adjustment of some of these ratepaying differences, has been succeeded by the promised deputation. Yesterday a large and influential body of gentlemen waited upon the Pre sident of the Poor-Law Board, at Gwydyr House, to plead for the extension of the area of rating. They were not prepared at once to recommend the total equalisation of the rates, but urged that the principle should be adopted at least with regard to the indoor poor. They urged very forci bly the grievances of the poorer ratepayers, and showed that the inequalities of the present system were most glaring and indefensible. Facts and figures speak for themselves, and the logic of the I subjoined statement is unanswerable :—" The seven LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 21, 1868. THE SUN, rich •districts," said Mr. M'GILL, of St. George's-in the- East, " Kensington, Paddington, tt. George's, Ha nover-square, Hampstead, Islington, the City of Lo ndon, and Lewisham, having £15,000,000 of property, paid only £150,613 as the rate in 1866, -while the parishes of East London, Shoreditch, Bethnal-green, St. George's-in-the-East, Stepney, St. James, Southwark, and St. George, Southwark, the property in which combined parishes amounted , to only £1,371,574, paid £195,215 for their contri bution to the poor-rate." So that not only do these poverty-stricken eastern parishes pay more in proportion than their wealthy neighbours, but they actually contribute more money. With property of twelve times the amount they pay some £50,000 less towards the metropolitan burdens, and it must b. 3 remembered that in 1867 those burdens were much heavier than in 1866. If the rates were exactly even there woald still remain the moral in equality, since three or four shillings in the pound represent a very different value in St. George's, Hanover-square, and in St. George's-in-the-East ; but nobody proposes to attempt the literal equalisation. The matter for complaint is that the poorest parishes should be taxed much more heavily than the wealthy ones, since no one pretends that the poor are especially called upon to support each other while the rich may stand aloof irresponsible. Mr. LOCKE, in an swering the objections which are brought against the more equitable adjustment of the scale referred yesterday to a question which he said stood in close relation to it—the dwellings of the labouring classes. " The labouring classes were by the operation of the present parish rating driven out of the richer parishes and sent to dwell in the poorer parishes, which were thus overburdened with poor and overwhelmed with rates, while having a population from a large portion of which it was impossible to collect rates." If the rates were less unequal the landlords would be less un willing to let land for workmen's dwellings, and the labourers would not be driven so far from their work. Mr. AY ETON reminded the noble President that at one time the proposal to equalise the rates was considered as preposterous, but that latterly it had gained much ground. Mr. HARDY'S proposal to make certain classes of sick paupers a charge upon the whole metropolis, instead of upon the local parishes, was in reality the first step towards equalisation, yet it was universally approved of as just and reasonable. Mr. AYRTON suggested that if the in-door pauperism of the metropolis were put upon the same footing in the 41 workhouses, the different classes of paupers could be properly classified, the lunatics being placed in one, the able-bodied in another, and so on. Those who have attempted to deal with the work houses in their moral aspect have always lamented the absence of classification as one of the greatest evils against which they have to contend in their work of reform. There can be no question that by degrading the more respectable, demoralising the young, tending to the neglect of the sick and aged, and retarding the recovery of the insane and epileptic, this want of classifica tion increases pauperism, and hinders the pro gress of remedial measures. In every point of view, then, there is much Deed of a change ; in fact it is a question which cannot much longer remain untouched. Several members of the deputa tion yesterday assured Lord DEVON that in some parishes the persons summoned for the non-payment of rates brought their pawntickets to show that they had parted with their clothes, and others brought relief tickets to show they were themselves paupers. The objection that an equalisation of the rates would tend to extravagance in the administration of the funds has no solid foundation. There might be strict central supervision, and the local adminis tration might still be left to local dispensers. If other means are needed to check lavish ex penditure they must be found, but certainly we cannot perpetuate a crying injustice, and neglect the w,ints of so large a portion of London on such a shallow foundation. Lord DEVON, who appeared somewhat reluctant to entertain the proposition, said that he had always been anxious to discover a mode by which the principle of equalisation could be recognised and adopted consistently with the maintenance of economy, for extravagance by guardians who did not feel responsibility would not only do wrong to the ratepayers, but would demoralise the recipients. The facts stated from the East-end yesterday, however, prove that great wrong is being► done to a large portion of the metropolitan ratepayers under the existing system, while the demoralisation of the recipients is far more likely to result from the lavish and indiscrimate almsgiving which has been com plained of at tl.e East-end. Yet what is to be done ? We cannot suppose or desire that the public will listen with indifference and apathy to the tales repeated day after day in the bitter winter season of families huddled together without the commonest necessaries of life—children crying for bread, aged and sick shivering by fireless hearths, naked limbs freezing in the winds. All this misery and destitution is not only vouched for by reliable witnesses, but can ac tually be seen by any one who takes the trouble to look for himself, and the local authorities under the present system, the economical guardians and the prudent Poor-law officials, are manifestly incompe tent, as matters stand, to deal with it. The East end of London calls for a vigorous change in the manner of dealing with the metropolitan pauperism before the arrival of another winter, and the pre sent session must not be allowed to pass without the whole question being fully and fairly con sidered. CORRESPONDENCE FROM PARIS, FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT 4 PARIS. THURSDAY, Feb. 20. The Chamber nas been considering an amendment brought forward by Marie, Jules Favre, and other Itadi: cal members, demanding the abrogation of Article 8 in the law of 1819. The article runs thus : " Every outrage on public morals, religion, or public decency (ou aux bonnes inceurs) shall be punished with imprisonment from one month to a year, and with a fine, from 16 to 500 francs." Jules Simon was the first speaker. He argued that it was not necessary to protect morals by law, but to teach them by example. I hardly think your readers will agree with him that license should have no limits. Nor will you, I imagine, altogether endorse his objection toChe law, that its terms are indefinite. No doubt, in a past age they might have opened a terribly wide door for persecution, which at the present time is not to be appre bended. But the case is one in which the want of definite terms is itself a salutary check. The writers of the press in France, many of whom are infidels, do not seem to find much difficulty in their religious or irreligious criticism, and the right to II ,mulgate immorality is hardly worth half an hour's oratory, even where that is so cheap. A passage of Jules Simon's speech may be worth quoting. " A -few years ago (said he) a journalist in the United States was condemned for an offence against the Protestant reliuion. At once the Protestant ministers addressed a petition to Congress, and demanded that their faith should be protected, not by condemnations, but by arguments ; and the name which was placed at the head of the list was that of the illustrious Mad courageous apostle of religious liberty, Channing." The amendment was negatived without a division. The next was introduced by Favre and Picard to give the press freedom to report the trials in which they were concerned. The Minister of the Interior, Pinard, contended that suffi cient publicity was given to these trials by allowing the courts to be open. As a Minister, he could not admit that the courts were ever packed by the Public Prosecutor. Every one, however, knows that that is frequently the case. Besides, however many persons there may be in a court, there is a larger crowd outside. Does the Govern. ment prohibit the reports because the external world has, or because it has not, an interest in these trials ? The amendment was lost, of course. The Constitutionnel discusses the demand that foreign paper, should be allowed free circulation in France. If this were granted, it argues, no doubt we should see at Brussels, Geneva, and other neighbouring cities, jour nals which, assured of impunity, would make the most violent attacks against the person and Government of the Emperor. As to the pursuits at law which the French Government might institute against the journals attacking the person of the sovereign of France, that must be seen at once to be an insufficient means of repression. One thing the writer seems to have overlooked, that most of the other sovereigns of Europe are subject to the same treatment, and apparently without any serious incon venience. Satan has been ordered to disappear from the streets of Paris. He did appear in the form of a journal which, after a good deal of pcosecution, is now definitively dis posed of. His offence was the treatment of political subjects without authorisation. The judgment of the Sixth Chamber also sentences the luckless manager and printer each " to one month's imprisonment, and a fine of 100 f. for the publication of the number of the sth of February; ditto for the publication of the 7th of February; the two penalties to be combined." Balls, receptions, dinners, and bats masques have been and continue to be the order of the day and the disorder of the night. The bats masques have been, as usual, largely frequented by the ouvrier class. One may doubt whether the sort of education these orgies give is good for any class. The small speck in the south-east is at present the only cloud in the political sky. In the weekly summary of the Moniteur du Soir, where important hints are sometimes given, the declarations of the Roumanian Cabinet are eon siaered satisfactory ; but the writer adds, significantly : " The Rouman Minister will be unpardonable if, after such categoric declarations, he should tolerate acts and tendencies compromising the security of neighbouring provinces." There has been a rumour that Aali Pasha had a mission to Pathi to treat of a form of autonomy for Crete. The llEmorial Diplomatique denies that anything of the kind has been contemplated. Parisians have observed the marked attention paid to the American General, Karl Schurz, at Berlin. He is a German by birth, exiled and proscribed in 1849, but now received with honours. Count Bismarck, says one report, has received the American statesman with the utmost cor diality. The comments in which Parisians indulge amount is this, that certain eventualities might arise in which the United States would have to interfere in th'..; affairs of Europe, against their prudent rule to the contrary, and then M. Bismarck would like to be on a good understand ing with the Transatlantic Colossus. I mentioned the fact that the students indulged in a quasi-political demonstration at the Od6on. A letter appears in the Arenir National accusing the police of using violence towards " a number of peaceable youg men, who were proceeding quietly on their way home," on Tuesday evening—towards whom " they used acts of violence which nothing could justify." I don't pretend to say what ground there may be for this complaint, but that there was a little excitement while " Kean " was being per formed is certain ; and French students are often much calmer in the morning than over night. All accounts from the provinces of Prance go to show that, in reference to the new Army Law, the population of the country is at one with that of Paris. All alike con demn it. It is believed to have dealt a more severe blow to the popularity of the present regime than even the Mexican expedition. Why, everybody asks, do we want an army of over a million men when there is no prospect whatever of war? A casual correspondent of the Times, dating from Senaf4, 2nd instant, states that according to letters received from the captives in the camp of Theodore up to the 3rd of January, and from those in Magdala up to the ith, the Emperor was within ten hours' ride of Magdala. As, however, he was moving with heavy ordnance and ammu nition, and the road was extremely difficult, his army was not expected to reach the fortress in less than a fortnight or three weeks ; otherwise the path was clear. Wagshum Go bazye, the Prince of Lasta, continued to declare his anxiety to fall in with Theodore, but whenever the object of his desire was within reach he fell back on the tactics of Fabius Cunctator. The whole army, says this correspondent, is moving forward as rapidly as the necessary precautions for feeding so many mouths will allow. Another correspondent insists that the question should be asked in Parliament why the condensers and muleteers were not forthcoming at the outset, when they were so much wanted. It is thought at Annesley Bay that both Sir Robert Napier and the director of the Land Transport Corps, Major Warren, had their plans for the organisa tion and working of the corps most injudiciously interfered with by men of little or no military experience, and if so, in common justice to them, every official paper connected with this subject ought publicly to be pro duced. It is some set-off against the break-down of the transport corps that the various regiments have had their "followers " cut down to a minimum. Captain Holland reconciled the various regiments to the loss of their cooks, butlers, " dhobies," " dhoolies," and other Oriental luxuries, by telling each colonel that the com • mander-in-chief would naturally be disposed to take to the front whatever regiment required least carriage, at the .same time ingenuously hinting that some other colonel was prepared to advance at a moment's notice with a minimum of mules. The competition 'to get to the front is so keen, and the dread of being left behind so overpowering, that if the diplomatic quartermaster-general had chosen to put the privilege of precedence up to auction, he would soon have found himself in a position to report to the commander-in-chief that every regiment was prepared to march into the Abyssinian Eden on the lowest regulation allowance of fig-leaf. This augurs well for the expedition. The commander-in-chief expects, it is said, to hays the pri soners rescued, and the campaign over, in a few months. At the same time he is preparing, in order to be on the safe side, for a rainy season in Abyssinia, and is getting out from England huts and other accommodation for the troops. The Telegraph's correspondent writes from Ategerat. He states that the natives were at first not well pleased to see the invaders, but, on hearing that they would pay (for everything, became quite delighted. The people seem to be by no means deficient in intelligence. They understand at any rate the rights of property, and each man's field is carefully marked off with a boundary of stones. The Lancet understands that the total number of sick amongst our tt oops in Abyss:nia is not more than about four per cent. of the whole force. The men at Zoulla are en camped in tentswith single and double poles, and the number in each tent does not exceed ten and sixteen respectively. The meat ration has been raised to 111 h., on the recom mendation of the medical officers. The water at Zoulla has to be obtained exclusively from steam condensers, and per head per diem is allowed. The camp is said to be clean, and great pains are taken to maintain it so by conveying all refuse matters to leeward and burning them. The latrines are narrow, deep ditches, and a covering of earth is thrown in daily. The soldiers are dressed in Cakee clothing, and each soldier is provided with two cholera belts, and two flannel and two calico shirts. For ablutionary purposes most of the men are iu the habit of bathing in the neighbouring sea. There is no doubt, in the opinion of our contemporary, that sanitary matters are safe in the hands of Sir R. Napier. • A TRAGEDY AT RIO JANEIRO. • Some seven months ago a family named Cuy&S trans ferred their residence from Monte Video to Rio, and with them came a man of 33 years of age, named Heitor Monetta, Who, having become enamoured of the eldest daughter,' Genoveva, determined to cast his lot with them, and was betrothed to the object of his affections soon after his arrival here. According to his tale, upon the strength of these intimate relations existing between them, the father of the CuyAs family borrowed at various times what money he possessed, and from that time, ho says, a coldness was manifested to him by the parents, which finally in duced him to leave his residence intheirhouse and remove to an hotel. Becoming more and more annoyed at the in creasing coolness of their connection, he at last determined to bring the matter to a crisis, and he wrote a note to the young lady, asking her to come to see him in a neighbour's house, the answer to which was that she couldnot, and did not wish to see him. He waited half an hour and then departed, leaving a note for the girl. Apparently, however, his anxiety overpowered him, and he went to Cuyie's house. There in the kitchen he found the mother, and on demanding whether the marriage was or was not to take place, he asserts that she began to abuse him. He then ap pealed to the girl, who was sitting in the parlour, but she remained silent, and the mother, still ,More angry at the appeal, gave him a slap in the face. Ferious at his recep tion be hurried to his hotel, and, taking a revolver from his trunk, returned to the Cuytts's house, where, finding the mother reposing on a sofa, he beat her upon the face with his fists and then shot her in the shoulder. At her cries Genoveva rushed in, and was received with two shots which laid her dying. He then pro cee d e d t owar d s th e stairs, but, returning, shot a younger sister in the lungs and another in the stomach, and ran into the street (Rozario). Pursued by the public hue and cry, he directed his course to Rio Direita, but as he still carried the revolver in his hand no one ventured to stay him, and he was lost in the nightfall. For several days no trace of him could be obtained, but at length an intercepted letter re vealed that be was staying at the Hotel d'ltalia at the Botanic Gardens. On the afternoon of the 10th a party of police, disguised as excursionists, drove to the hotel and managed to examine the house and grounds without being suspected, but without find. ing Monetta. Seventy more men were sent on from Rio during the night, and by 3 a.m. the grounds and .house were surrounded. At 3 the house was entered, and, after searching the rooms in vain, he was discovered on the roof, from which, after being summoned, he came down and sur rendered quietly, and was taken to the city. Of the victims to his fury, Genoveva died on the day succeeding the catastrophe, but the other three, although severely injured, it is believed will recover. Another daughter, who was fortunately out of the house at the fatal hour, thus escaped, but the father, who was likewise absent, was so overcome by the shock of the misfortune which had fallen on him that he died during the nigh' of the Bth from an attack of cerebral congestion.—Anglo-Brazilian Timcs. In the event of Lord Stanley being called to the House of Lords, it is not improbable that Earl Cowley may be invited to enter the Cabinet. For many year:. his lordship was the English Ambassador in Paris. The Earl of Dalkeith, the eldest son of the Duke of Buccleuch, has for some time passed suffered from indis position. His lordship is now better, although he will be unable to attend to his parliamentary duties for some weeks to come. He sits in the House of Commons for the shire of Edinburgh. It is stated that when Mr. Lowe was first asked to become a candidate for the University of London, he said that he would most gladly do so if he was assured of a prospect of success; and, on further discussion, he ex pressed his readiness to assent if invited to stand by 200 or 250 members of Convocation. No effort was made to obtain more than this number. Applications were sent to 300 graduates, and within a week 250 of these had sent in their signatures to Mr. Lowe's requisition. According to the Lancet, the real number of graduates who intend to support Mr. Lowe is a very large one indeed, and it is daily increasing. The Marquis of Hartington, M.P., wishes it to be known that in announcing that he would stand for the north-western division of Lancashire, he made the neces sary reservation on account of the present uncertainty as to numbers. His lordship says that in his speech at Ulverstone he stated that if after the next registration he should find his supporters in a decided minority, and Cap tain Stanley should have received so many votes as to make his return certain, he (the Marquis) would:not enter upon a hopeless contest. His lordship, however, does not anticipate anything of the kind. There is a rumour to the effect that the rating principle recommended by the Manchester Conference will be adopted by the Government in the Education Bill pro mised the other night by the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Indeed, it is expected in well-informed quarters that the Ministerial measure will be of so liberil a character as tr, render it unnecessary for Mr. Bruce to proceed further with his bill. The Edinburgh Reform League have resolved to petition the House of Commons with reference to the • Scotch Reform Bill. They desire that Scotland should not be treated as a province or section, but as an integral portion of the empire ; that the franchise in counties should be assimilated to that in the burghs by the adoption of the 'principle of residential household cuff; a_;e ; that the prin ciple of the integrity of the empire be recognised in the redistribution of seats, and that twenty-five additional members should be given to Scotland ; that the condition of personal payment of rates as a qualification for voting 'should be expunged from the bill ; that votes should be taken by ballot ; and that parliamentary electoral districts should be formed throughout the United Kingdom, and a member given to each district. Mr. A. Mault, who describes himself as secrets* , to the General Builders' Association, writes from Birmingham on the subject of the trades union conference with Mr. Gladstone. He complains that though the Trades Union Commission is sitting, the right hon. gentleman, instead of inquiring into the subject as set forth in the commissioners' report, thinks it worth his while to hold a quasi-official inquiry of his own. Such an inquiry, the writer argues, is merely exparte, and is therefore to a great extent worthless. Further, he charges Mr. Potter and his friends with making general statements which were untrue if applied to particular cases. For instance, it was said that the num bers of apprentices was not limited for the purpose of esta blishing a monopoly, but to prevent a deterioration of skilled labour. This Mr. Mault states to be untrue, and produces the rule of the Manchester bricklayers on the subject in proof of his assertion. It is replied, however, that this is a " local trade" and not a " union " law. But, answers Mr. Mault, no trade rule is of force until sanc tioned by the union. More than this, the union has over and over again supported men on strike to enforce rules which are now disclaimed. The Lancet calls attention to the defects in the Medical Act. It is exceedingly ill-drawn. Some of the more important of our colonies have Registration Acts of their own, and refuse to recognise any practitioner who is not on the Color. ial Register. This has caused great dis satisfaction. Complaints have been made, with good reason, at an imperial statute being over-ridden by the Act of a Colonial Parliament. It has been found also that the cer tificate of a registered practitioner residing in any part of England or Wales would not be deemed sufficient in Scotland to place a lunatic under restraint, and this has been attended with considerable inconvenience and annoy ance. These defects now, however, stand a good chance of being remedied. Our medical contemporary states that it is the intention of r. Hardy to introduce a bill for amending the Act as soon as the pressure of business will allow him to do so. A day or two ago the Bishop of London stated in the Upper House of Convocation that two of the clergy of his diocese had announced to him their intention to secede to the Roman COmmunion. It is now said that the clergy men referred to are the Rev. Messrs. Akers and Ham mond, two of the curates of the parish of St. George's-in the-East. In the Upper House of Convocation a discussion toox place on Thursday in the matter f a petition, brought up by the Bishop of Oxford, asking whether it was improper for a sick person to have the Holy Sacral , 'it brought to him from the church, and if so, whether the law could be altered. The petitioner had just lost a child, who was anxious to partake of the Holy Communion. The cere mony of consecration would have been too much for him to undergo, and had not the service been performed in a private room he would have been unable to commu nicate. It was suggested that the consecrated elements might be reserved for the use of the sick. The Bishop of London thought the alteration could not be made without a change in the whole matter. After a short discussion the matter dropped. In the Lower House the Colenso question was again raised on a gravamen by Canon Seymour declaring Dr. Colenso to• be excommunicated. An amendment was moved by the Dean of Eiy to the effect that the House could not decide on the question of It was rejected by 45 to 2G. Ultimately the gravamen was amended by Canon Seymour, and was passed as follows :—" That while abstaining from expressing any opinion upon the legality of the claim of Dr. Colenso to the temporalities of the see of Natal, this House earnestly prays your lord ships to take measures for declaring, first, that the Church of England accepts as valid the excommunication of Dr. Colenso, and that until he be reconciled unto and received into the Church by proper authority, they will, as by the 33rd of the Thirty-nine Articles they are solemnly bound, hold Dr. Colenso to be ' cut off from the Church and ex communicated and, secondly, that they accept the spiritual validity of the act of the Lord Bishop of Caps, town in deposing Dr. Colenso from his N4hopriet LATEST INTELL LGENCE. (REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.) AMERICA. NEW YORK, Feb. 20. COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE. Closing prices—Gold, 1401. Sterling Exchange on London, 110. 5-20 U.S. Bonds, 1882, 1111; ditto, 1885, 1094 ; 10-40 Bonds, 1051 Illinois, 1381; Erie, 721. Petroleum, Standard White, 251. Cotton, Midland Upland, 241. Flour, Extra State, $10.40c. Coro, old mixed, $1.21c. FRANCE. BOURSE, Feb. 20.—Three o'clock.—The market closed as follows : __ 41 per Cent. End of month — 3 per Cent End of mouth 6B 65 Credit. Mobilier - End of month l9O Credit Foncier 1440 End of month 1383 75 RAILWAI Bank Shares 3230 ItaFan Loan End of month 43 40 Mexican Loan Do. Bonds Spanish Threes Home Debt — Deforred — Account Orleans n orthern Lyons and Mediterranean Southern._ Western Eastern .. 145 _..... Sardinian Austrian Lombard North of Spain Saragossa Roman b6l 5614 3771 78; 33 4 45f The Prices of Horniman's Teas are greatly Reduced. The well-known superiority of these Teas has attracted a host of spurious imitations; therefore notice all Genuine Packets aro signed "iforniman (j. Co." 300 Confectioners aro_ Agents in London and 2,200 Chemists in the Country. THE POOR LAW IN LONDON'. Yesterday a very large deputation waited upon the President of the Poor Law Board, at White hall, to urge views for an alteration of the law for the relief of the poor in the metropolis by the ex tension of the area of rating—in other words, for the equalisation of the poor rates beyond the ex tent laid down by Mr. Hardy's act of last session. With the Earl of Devon, who received the deputa tion in one of the large rooms of Gwydyr-house, where Mr. Sclater-Booth, M.P., Mr. Fleming, Mr. Lumley, Mr. Fletcher, Mr. Hugh Owen, Mr. John Lambert, Mr. Corbett, and other officers ; and the deputation was headed by Mr. Locke, M.P., Mr. C. S. Butler, M.P., Mr. Ayrton, M.P., Mr. J. C. Parkinson, the Rev. Mr. M'Gill, the Rev. T. S. Evans (vicar of Shoreditch), Mr. Charles Reed, Mr. Ilows, Mr. Enoch Walker, and many other gentle men well-known in connection with the government of the metropolis. The deputation was introduced by Mr. C. S. Butler, M.P. Mr. AYRTON, M.P., first, addressed his lordship, and in the course of a very long speech said the question of having one rating for the purposes of the poor over the metropolis was formerly looked upon as a very startling one, but it could not be doubted that it had gained favour in the public opinions, seeing that Mr. Hardy's proposition of last session to adopt this principle to a certain ex tent had been generally regarded as just and equi table, and had passed through the Legislature with perfect accord ; whereas a few years ago it would have been met with a great outcry. The distinc tion which was made by Mr. Hardy in declaring that certain classes of the pauper poor (as the small pox and fever patients) should form a charge upon the whole metropolis ought to be extended to the indoor poor, but he did not go so far as to say that it should be at a 'once extended to the outdoor poor as well. The extension of the principle would admit, he urged, of an absolute uniformity of administra tion of the Poor-law throughout London, by permitting the formation of a central Board, to have control over the local authorities, whom he would still keep to deal with the local pauperism, supervised by the central body ; and he suggested that the 41 workhouses in the metropolis, under the management of a body having control over the whole of the - London indoor relief, could be used for the proper classification of the different classes of paupers, as one class of women in one, the lunatics in another, and so on—a point which would have an important bearing in dealing with the increasing pauperism of London. He enu merated various details which he thought would prevent objectionable outlays, or objectionable ex tension of relief. Mr. LOCKE said that, having been engaged for many years with the last speaker in dealing with this question, he was well acquainted with the ob jections made against the adoption of a uniform rating for the poor in the metropolis, and the greatest objection was that such a course would lead to great extravagance in the administration of re lief. The proposition of Mr. Ayrton had been framed to meet this objection, and this being sur mounted it was hardly necessary to urge arguments proving that the metropolis was bound to support the poor of the metropolis, for that was the ques tion. And in close relation to that question was another—the dwellings of the labouring classes. The labouring classes were, by the operation of the present parish rating, driven out of the richer parishes, and sent to dwell in the poorer pa rishes, which were thus overburdened with poor and overwhelmed with rates, while having a population from a large portion of which it was impossible to collect rates. If the rates were equalised the wrong done to the labouring popula tion by shutting them out from dwelling near their work would gradually cease, for the landlords would not be so unwilling as they were at present to let land for workmen's dwellings. If the proposition of an equalised rating were carried out, in his opi nion the objections now made against that plan would be found not to be well-founded, and by the new and improved working of the Poor-law he be lieved the rating throughout the metropolis would be much reduced. At present the state of things must be pronouneed as utterly disgraceful. The Rev. T. S. EVANS, the vicar of Shoreditch, having addressed his lordship, The Rev. Mr. M'GILL, of St. George's in-the- East, spoke at length upon the unjust manner in which the rating was levied throughout the metro polis. He enumerated statistics to show that the seven rich districts of Kensington, Paddington, St. George's, Hanover-square, Hampstead, Islington, the City of London, and Lewisham, having £15,000,000 of property, paid only £150,613 as the rate in 1866, while the parishes of East London, Shoreditch, Bethnal-green, St. George-in-the-East, Stepney, St. James, Southwark, and St. George, Southwark, the property in which combined parishes amounted to only £1,370,574, paid £195,215 for their contribution to the poor-rate. He further de scribed the condition of things at the East- end as most terrible, and as hardly realised by the general inhabitants of London, and he urged that it was not safe nor politic that such a condition of things should be allowed to remain. Several other gentlemen addressed his lordship, and it was stated that to such a pass had things come in some parishes that people summoned for rates brought pawntickets, showing that they had parted with their clothes and homes, while others brought relief tickets, showing they were themselves paupers. Lord DEVON, in reply, begged the deputation would not assume any opinions he might utter to be the opinions of the Poor-law Board. He would wish the gentlemen who had waited upon him to understand that he had a strong sense of the im portance of the subject, for he considered it to be one of the most important of the social questions of the metropolis. It was important to the poor them selves, it was important to those who administered the law, and it was important to that very large class of poor-rate payers in the eastern districts whose sufferings he could quite believe were in no way exaggerated. The gentlemen there must be all aware that on the original introduction of the Poor law it was framed to take effect On the area of the parishes already formed, but that area had been from time to time enlarged by the Legislature, who had recognised the necessity of enlarging the area of chargeability, as in the Union Chargeability Act, and in some clauses of the act of last session. He had always been anxious to discover any mode by ' which the principle of equalisation could be recog nised and adopted consistently with the mainte nance of economy ; for extravagance by guardians who did not feel responsibility would not only do wrong to the ratepayers, but would demoralise the recipients. Another point was that it was always considered to be beneficial to have local authorities to deal with local cases, and he had always favour ably regarded the law which placed in the hands of gentlemen the discretion of administering relief, and a change in this should be regarded with great caution. He then proceeded to touch upon various points urged by the deputation, and pressed upon the notice of those present that a difficult feature in dealing with a partial equalisation—as, for instance taking in, as n metropolitan charge, the sick classes —would be the want of a line of distinction. In conclusion, he said he should regard as a great public mischief any proposition which should pre vent gentlemen from acting in their own localities for the relief of the poor, and the Poor-law Board would consider the subject thus brought be fore them without prejudice for either the East or the West, and would come to a fair and impartial opinion. The deputation thanked the noble lord and with drew. THE DISCOVERY OF GOLD AT THE CAPE.—The announcement of the discovery of gold-fields in the Trans vaal is principally founded on the report of a German mineralogist, Herr Mauch, who has been exploring the country. He writes under date Potchefsroom, Dec. 2, 1867 :—" Just returned from a second trip in Moselikatse's country. I give you a short notice that I have been very successful in finding gold—not in small, scarcely visible specks, but in great veins of quartz, i.e., gold-fields, one of them more than 60 miles long, the other about 20 miles broad, besides numerous small parallel veins."—Reuter's Express. Cif Tt:Citcithr. HER MAJESTY. OSBORNE, Feb. 20. The Queen drove out, accompanied by Prince Leopold. Her Majesty afterwards went out, accompanied by Princess Louise. THE EARL OF DERBY.—It was stated, in answer to inquiries made at Knowsley, yesterday afternoon, that his lordship continued to improve. His Excellency the Swedish Minister and Baroness Hochschild had a dinner party yesterday even ing at the Swedish Legation in Great Cumberland-street. A select company assembled after dinner. GENERAL TBEATRICAL FUND. A series of entertainments was presented on Thursday afternoon at Co rent-garden Theatre for the benefit of the General Theatrical Fund. Many of our best-known actors volunteered their services, and the performances on this occasion, as heretofore, consisted of selections from stock dramas, or from such plays as at present ho?d possession of one or other of our London theatres. Varied, however, and attractive as seemed the programme, it failed to secure a moderate attendance, and the look cf the large house, with its long lines of unoccupied seats, .was exceedingly gloomy and discouraging. Great praise is due to the actors, all of whom had of course gratuitously given their services, for the manner in which they fought against and con quered tho depressing influence of a house so thinly attended as to be full of reverberations. All acted their best, and the audience made up for scantiness of numbers by the warmth of the reception it accorded to all. The first act of "Katherine and Petruchio" was first per formed, Mr. Howe playing Petruchio, and Miss Ather stone, an actress new as yet to London boards, Katherine. Mr. Andrews was Baptista, and Mr. Weathersby the Music Master. An occasional address, by Mr. Tom Taylor, followed and was gracefully delivered by Mrs. Stirling. This address, in the composition of which Mr. Taylor has been less happy than usual, is as follows : " Time was, Time is, Time shall be' —so, 'tis said, Rang the weird utterance of Bacon's head. Here some irreverent punster on me drops, With 'Pray, did Bacon's head speak through pork chops ? No, 'twas a brazen head, like yours' (to audience); I hope You won't think mine with his in brass can cope. But I adopt its oracle, and say, Time was '—last century ; Time is'—to-day. Time was,' the world known to the Drama's clients Held but a race of dwarfs and two huge giants. High tower'd, like Gog and Magog, Guildhall-yard in, The bulk of Drury-lane and Covent-garden, Patent-armed, law-clubbed, and legitimate, The cormorans of the theatric state— When their mistakes and dulness did not more Suggest relationship with Blunderbore ; While at their feet, 'neath Chamberlain's stern sway, A drown-trod mob of dwarfs, the minors, lay ; Barletta, farce, burlesque, their diet spare ; Drama's strong meat reserved for giant's fare. Nor for blame only, but by way of praise We may say there were giants in those days'— The days when Garrick, Siddons, Kemble, Kean, Held their art high and dignified the scene. Their bright example leavened all around, Till self-respect the actor's calling crowned, And Covent-garden's Fund and Drury-lane's Attested Garrick's thrift and Kemble's pains. Time was,' till, howe'er giants fought or fumed.; Monopoly in art, like trade, was doomed ; And, though the giants still loomed large to view, The law said minors might grow giants too ; If freedom from restraint and strong stage diet Could make them Brobdignagians, they might try it. Query ?—Since dwarfs of giants took the wall, And rill the drama was made free to all, Have the dwarf minors been to giants fed, Or have the giants sunk to dwarfs instead ? But to the stage be free trade 'kill' or cure,' Free the stage is, and free it must endure. If in that freedom Art have suffered wrong, . If the dwarfs have not liked their meat too strong, If liberty to license have been wrung, If Shakspere's music yield to Nigger tongue, If hot sensation o'erbear sense's bit, And doggrel and strained pun claim rank as wit, If here and there, imported, not home-bred, Indecency uplift her brazen head. Common sense tells we shall not mend our ways By crying o'er spilt milk and good old days, Out of the time that was or is, we're free With strenuous hands to shape the time to be. Think that the change which put the patents down And from the Lane ' and Garden ' struck their crown, Bidding Stage Art's dominion grow and swell, Widened its field of charity as well, And called on those by the old funds that stood To cut new channels and diffuse their flood. Time was,' the giant's kingdom it had watered, Now they were hung and drawn, their kingdoms quar- tered: ' Time is '—and I stand here in supplication For aid to plans of general irrigation: Time shall be p'rhaps—when we shall not wan it : • Meanwhile we do : say, kind friends will you scant it ? No! come down handsomely in golden showers, And prove 'it never rains here, but it pours.' " The last act of "Dearer than Life" was then performed, Mr. Toole personating Michael Garner ; Mr. L. Brough, Uncle Ben ; and Miss H. Hodson, Lucy. Then came a scene from " The Rivals," with Mr. Buckstone as Bob Acres, Mr. Chippendale as Sir'Anthony, Mr. Kendal a Captain Absolute, Mr. Howe as Faulkland, and Mr. Clark as Fag. The Strand company performed a selection from "The Caliph of Bagdad ;" and the New Royalty compae a selection from the perennial burlesque of " Black-Eyed Susan." Miss Herbert, Mr. H. T. Craven, Mr. Belford and other members of the St. James's company appeared' in the third and best act of " The Needful." In addition to this sufficiently long list of performances, Mrs. Howard Paul volunteered her well-known Sneezing Song ; and Mr. W. Harrison gave Balfe's song, " The Muleteer." The performances occupied the theatre till close upon the time when it must have been needed for the evening's pe r. formances. COVENT GARDEN PAROCHIAL SCHOOLS.- ANNUAL CONCERT. t h e T p h a e r o a e n h n i v a l a l s c f h e s o t o i lvsa of f concert st. i a n u id c of ov t e h n e t _ f g u a n r d d s e n o! took place last evening, at the Great School Room, on which occasion a very large and brilliant audi ence attended. Mr. Hurwitz decorated the large room most tastefully with innumerable banners and flags of all nations, combined with a profusion of floral pendants and festoons, and Mr. Brucciani, of Great Russell-street, sent some of his choicest statuary from his celebrated studio, which, combined with other embellishments, produced an effect which was pleasing in the extreme. The programme was both a varied and excellent one, and although it was of more than ordinary length the whole was, accomplished before eleven o'clock, Miss Rose Batsford sang Wallace's ballad, " Flow on, oh, silver Rhine," with much taste, and Miss Scott's rendering of Lovell Phillips' ballad, "Fairy Visions," was sweetly telling. Miss Plum mer we must particularly compliment for the man ner in which she gave Meyerbeer's " Nobil Signor" from the " Huguenots ;" it was sung with great skill, and elicited general applause. Miss Pallant also distinguished herself by the sweet and pretty manner in which she sang a little ballad en titled " The Brook ;" it obtained for her an encore, which it richly deserved. Mr. Dale gave poor Weiss' o song, " The Village Blacksmith," _ remarkably well, and Mr. IL W. Pallant sang " Let me like a Soldier fall" most effectively. But what shall we say of the humorous effusions of Mr. H. Booking —it was comic singing par excellence. There sc s e a rich vein of humour running through the whole of his songs, and his rendering of Clifton's ditty , " Jones's Musical Party," and Walker's "Faust Five Minutes," was so particularly successful tb it called forth the most enthusiastic applause. Tb ° i n strumentalists were Miss Barringer and Ali ° Coleinan. Miss Barringer performed one of Blum ich thal's elegant compositions for the pianoforte great skill and such a delicate touch that it evoke' loud and general applause; she after wards per.forine! • one of Goria's studies with the same effect and anise, Miss Coleman gave a selection from Mey erboef _; opera, " Robert le Diable," with so much firm n ! and brilliancy that it evoked an enthusiastic el:Loot" in complying with which she substituted MadV i h e e Oury's " transposition" of Poe Jacobite air Nlarch of the Cameron Men," which she also ot'; euted remarkably well. Upon Mr. Barringer 5;7. Mr. G. Bell devolved the conduct of the conce.A.; both gentlemen had the pleasure of receiving ‘1:0 warmest congratulations of the company on : re success that had attended their efforts. They w__ch richly entitled to this mark of appreciatio n, for - to gentleman was indefatigable in his endea vou rs secure the comfort of every lady and gentielli! present. ,