The Sun. — London, England, 1868-03-04 00:00:00

ROYAL NATIONAL LIFEBOAT INKTru- TION.—The ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING of this institution will be held at the LONDON TAVERN, Bishopagate trect, on Tuesday next, the 10th inst., at Two o'clock precisely. The Itig'ut Hon. T. T. L. CORRY,First Lord of the Admiralty. in the Chair. RICHARD LEWIS, Secretary. 14, John-street, Adelphi, March 3. COUNTER CLOTHS FOR LICENCED VICTUALLERS. riIITE only article really suitable for that purpose, ss. Cd. per dozen, hemmed, ready for use. Address 105, Fleet-street, and 5, The Pavement, Clapham. GLASS CLOTHS SUITABLE FOR LICENCED VICTUALLERS, is. 9d. PER DOZEN. NVILLIAM HOLDICII and CO., No. 105 , T Fleet-street, foot of Ludgate hill ; and No. 5, _Cho Pavement, Clapham-common. T ABLE curus, in every Width and Length, I expressly for Licenced Victuallers. Damask Napkins for Try Cloths, Drills for II:u• Aprons and Towelliugs of every description. Patterns gratis and post free. CARDIGAN JACKETS made expressly for Bar use, \Vann and Elastic, from ss. 6d. each, for lics' Gontlem , tn's use. WILLIAM 1101.DICLI and CO., LICENSED VICTUALLERS' DRAPERS, 105, Fleet street, City, and No. 5, The Pavement, Clapham-common. -TVILLIAM HOLDICII and Co., LICENSED V VicTuALLEus' DRAPERS, Established 1812, at 105, Fleet-street, City; Southern Branch—No. 5, The Pave ment, Claphani-coniumn. Patterns gratis and post free, with Price List, TO LICENCED VICTUALLERS. ESTABLISHED 1842. kV IL LIAM lIOLDICII and CO., LICENCED VICTUALLERS' DRAPERS, No. 105, Fleet-street, corner of Farringdon-street ; and at No. The Pavement, Clapham-common (Southern Branch). THEATRE ROYAL, DRURY-LANE. Solo Lessee and Manager, Mr. F. B. Chatterton. THIS EVENING, will bo performed Shakespere's Tragedy of RICHARD THE THIRD. Mr. Barry Sullivan; Messrs. 11. Sinciair, J. Johnstone, W. M'lntyre, Harcourt, C. Webb, and Tentple ; Mrs. Hermann Vezlu, Mrs. Vandenhoff, and Miss Edith Stuart. After which, THE PRISONER OF TOULON; or, A Peasant's Reyenge. T II.EATRE ROYAL, HA YMARKET. Solo Lessee, Mr. Buckstone. THIS EVENING. THE BROKEN-HEARTED CLUB. Mr. 11-orlon, Mr. Braid, Mrs. Chippendale, &c. To be followed by DAVID GARRICK. Messrs. Sothern, Buckstoue, Chippendale, Rogers, Clark, Coe, &c.; Mesdames Chippendale, Robertson, Fitzwilliam, fie. After which. BOX AND COX. Mr. Buckstone and Mr. Compton. And FAMILY JARS. Mr, Compton. IIEATRE ROYAL, ADELPIII. AL 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 59th appearance here), Mr. Billington, Mr. H. Neville, Mr. R. Phillips, Mr. G. Belmore, Mr. C. J. Smith, and Mr. Benjamin Webster; Miss Carlotta Leclerc(' (her 59th appearance); Mrs. Alfred Mellon, Mrs. Billington, Mrs. 11. Lewis, &c. Commence at 7. R OYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE. Sole Lessee and Manager, Mr. Mining. TIIIS EVENING, a Grand Combination of Two Great Dramas, RRAII NA POGUE and TIIE OCTOROON. Mr. Etna Mrs. Dion Boucicault; 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, Ea,hel Sanger. Mrs. Bishop, and Addle. Scenery by Mr. Telbin, Mr. F. Lloyds, and assistants. Doors open at half-past 6, commence at 7. The Colleen Bawn and The Streets of London on Monday next, March 9. QUEEN'S THEATRE, Long-acre. Lessee and Manager, Mr. Alfred Wigan. THIS EVENING, A HOUSEHOLD FAIRY. Miss Ellen Terry. 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 THE CORPS. The Scenery by Messrs. W. and T. Grieve, Johnson, and Assistants. Messrs. J. L. Toole, L. Erough, and Sanger; Misses P. Markham, F. Addison, Jordan, Montgomery, Heath, Sylvia, h. Everard, and H. Hodson. Doors open at Half-past Six, commence at Seven. Acting manager, Mr. W. H. Liston. Box-office open daily from Ten till Four. ItOYAL 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, PARIS; or, Vive Lempriere : Messrs. Thorne, James, Robson, and Fenton; Mesdames Swanborough, Har land, Johnstone, Hughes, Holt, Gwynne, &c. To conclude with COAL AND COKE. Mr. F. Robson, &e. ROYAL OLYMPIC THEATRE. New Management. Sole Lessee, Mr. B. Webster; Manager, Mr. 11. Wigan. THIS EVENING, MY WIFE'S BONNET. Messrs. Cooper R. Soutar, and J. G. Taylor. After which, MARTIN CIII7ZZLENVIT. Messrs. Ashley, Stuart. Eburne, Romer, Geo. Vincent, Addison, Cooper, 11. Wigan, tte.; Mestlames L. Moore, E. `Darren, Commence at Seven. LICENSED VICTUALLEES' GUAI:DTAN rR. GLENIE, of the SI ort ing Library, 4, Connaught-terrace, Lyle-park, London, W., bear: to Inform nis customers, and the licensed Victuallers in generil, that he has been appointed Agent for the abuse-named paper• in addition 13 his agency for the Sporting Edition of " THE SUN," and can supply the same on Friday evening, if required, in town or country. G. It G. begs to inform the Trade that he is Agent for the LATEST EDITION of "THE SUN," and can supply it earlier !;jutu any other man in London or Country the evening of pulili • cation. No connection with any other persons. Baiiy'e, hut's, 'Wright's, and M'Call's Guides. All the Daily Papers, Maga zines, and Periodicals as soon as published. Agent for the J obit- Etock Coal Company. Orders by post attended to. QPORTING.—JOIIN ROBERTS supplies the LATES V EDITION of "TETE SUN " as soon as pub ighed.-4, Bath-street, City-road, E.C. 9iIIE LATEST EDITION of " THE SUN " snppiied, as soon as published, Every livening•, by W. A L A D (late Brooks), Newspaper Agent, No. 4, Old Cavendish-street, Oxford-street. ‘ ,7 O I HE SUN " NEWSPAPER.—" The Mitre" 4, Tavern, New Church-street, near the Alpha-road, Pad dlugton. "1 H SUN " (Third Edition), containing the Latest Sporting News, Results of Races. Latest Parliamentary Debates, rte., can be seen as above " A 11 the.year round." ** A well-selected and extensive stock of WINES, SPIRITS, Nog ir 11 O'S Glt AINGER? LICENSED v VICTUALLERS' TOBACCONIST, SIIEPIIERD'S-BUSIT. • The SPORTING EDI LION of "THE SUN " can he seen at N le,lt'S Establishment, as above, every evening by Eight O'clock. THE tATEST EDITION of " THE SUN " supplied as soon as published, containing all the LATEST NEWS and SPORTING INTELLIGENC by 11. W. HARRIS, Newspaper Agent, 4, Blackfriars-road, London, S. MITE "SUN „ ' NEWSPAPER-G. R. GLENIE, Sporting Library, 4. Connaught-terrace, E.dgeware-road, delivers the L 1T e: EDITION of "THE SUN " at the earliest possible moment after leaving the press. He is able to deliver Copies in Town. the Suburbs, and m 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. frIE THIRD EDITION OF " THE SUN," giving all the SPORTING NEWS of the day, may he seen JEMMY XI A N TON'S house, "The Swan and Horse Shoe," Little Britain, City, E.C. ryinE LATEST EDITION 'of " THE SUN." 12_ J. HOLMES begs to inform his friends and the public generally that he supplies the LATEST EDITION of " THE SUN " as soon as published.—No. 10, Hampstead-road, N.Y. 1 lIE "SUN" NEWSPAPER.-G. R,. GLENIE delivers the lATE EDITION at Chelsea, 7.40; Kilburn, ; Starch-green, 8; Woolwich, 7.30; Uxbridge, 9;20; Watford, 4.45. QUN."--LATEST EDITION.-Mr. KJ MARSHALL, of the "Neeld Arms," Harrow-road, op osite the Lock Hospital, takes the Edition of "THE SUN" emi t lining the result of the day's Racing, Latest Betting, Money ilarket, &c.—Omnibuses every half hour to and from the City. THE LATE EDITION of " THE SUN " at J. SMITH'S, 30, Bow-street, Covent-garden. LATE EDITION of " THE SUN" at W. SMITH'S, "Camden Stores," 78, Park-street, Camden; ;cm. rymE LATE EDITION of "TH E SUN " at IL JAMES SPEEDY'S, "The Wellington," Wellington-street, Strand. MGR WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. THIS DAY.—Morning, 911. 7m.—Afternoon, 511. 53 in . To-Mon ow.-Morning, 1011. 35111.—Afternoon, 11h. 20m. q,c,k Md'ff •):' LONDON, irEDAESDIY, 31 11:(71 4, 1368. St. James's Palace yesterday presented a brilliant spectacle, and the first levee of the season inau gurated the Royal receptions of 1868 with suitable splendour. It was largely attended, and 150 pre sentations made to the Prince of WALES, on behalf of her ;MAJESTY, showed that the old traditional etiquette has not, as some would have us believe, gone altogether out of favour. Many circumstances combined to render the occasion a cheerful and auspicious one. The Prince of WALES is him self relieved from his protracted anxiety respecting his august consort, the popular Princess, who won all hearts on her arrival, and has retained an unshaken hold on the affections and sympathies of the people. Another ground for rejoicing was the intimation that the Drawing Rooms this year are to be held by her MAJESTY in person, an intimation which will be received with unfeigned satisfaction by all classes of the commu nity. On every account it is matter for rejoicing that the QUEEN should reappear among her loyal sub jects, and break through the clouds of sorrow and despondency which have so long weighed over her. The fresh stimulus which her presence will give to the gaieties and pleasures of the season is subject for general congratulation. The higher circles have missed the guiding influence of their natural leader, while the depressed condition of trade has been felt heavily by those to whom the Court splendours are a dream. With fine and favourable weather to give us good prospects for our crops, and the QUEEN once more affording encouragement to the thousand branches of in dustry which depend more or less upon Court pa tronage, we may hope that the season of 1868 may inaugurate better and brighter days than Eng land has seen for the last few years. As Easter Monday draws nearer and nearer, the question where the Volunteer Review is to take place is frequently asked. The annual review has now become a regular part of the holiday makers' programme, and there are thousands who would feel themselves very much ill-used if from any cause it was postponed or abandoned. There can be no doubt but that the review has been of great service by maintaining the prestige of the military amateurs, and by keeping alive the public interest in their proceedings. It is more important as a means of testing the Volunteers, of mustering them in force, and showing from year to year that they have not enrolled themselves merely as a pastime or for the sake of displaying a rifle and a uniform, but that they are prepared to make those sacrifices and repeat those exertions without which no one can be of much service to his country. The great question as to the whereabouts of the Easter Monday Review was yesterday dis cussed at a meeting of Volunteer commanding officers, held at the rooms of the National Rifle Association, in Pall-mall. There are many seaports which would gladly be the favoured one, since the distinction of being the scene of the annual display brings solid advantages in the shape of visitors. Three places, had been rivals in the opinion of the committee—Dover, Brighton, and Portsmouth and some gentlemen went down to examine_ the several places and inquire into the suitability of the ground, as well as into the sufficiency of the means of transport and accommodation. The report of this committee of inquiry was presented yesterday by Lord RANELAGH to the meeting, and it appeared that Portsmouth has been selected. Lord RANE LAGH said that they had decided upon recommending Portsmouth, not only on account of its local advan tages, but because of the opportunity which it would afford the Volunteers of manceuvring with the regular troops, and of enabling a large number of country corps to join who had not previously been able to do so. We think this a wise decision on the part ()l a the committee, since the Volunteers will be introduced to a new sphere of duty, and one which, in case of actual danger, they would very likely be called upon to fill. Should the regular army be required elsewhere, the garrisoning of Portsmouth, and the protection of the dockyard and arsenal would naturally devolve upon the Volunteers, and the task would be one of great importance. Tt is just as well in performing the mimic war to re hearse a part which the actors may actually have to play in real life, and the decision has, therefore, solid advantages to recommend it. There was an effort made in favour of Brighton, always a pleasant place of resort, cheap, easy of access, and close to London. But Brighton has had for the present its fair share of the display, and it is well that the visit of the Volunteers should not be too much a matter of course. The sight seers will have nothing to complain of, for the rail way fares will be very low, and arrangements will be entered into to provide those who visit Ports mouth prior to the Review with the means of visit ing the Isle of Wight and other places at a rea sonable rate. So far, then, as the general public is concerned, the change is consequently a beneficial one, while in a military point of view, as we have said, it has manifest advantages. The Volunteers on their arrival will rendezvous on the glacis of the town fortifications of Portsea and Portsmouth, and afterwards march past Southsea common. The after manceuvres will be interesting enough. Portsdown hill and forts will be supposed to be in possession of the enemy, who has effected a landing on the Sussex coast, and who, with a view of effecting the capture of the dockyard and arsenal, has invested Ililsea. The defenders thereupon arc to make a sortie over pontoon and other bridges at three points, and the subsequent battle is, of course, to terminate in the defeat of the enemy and the relief of the town. If the fine spring weather which has lately shone upon us will favour the Volunteers, the Easter Monday display of 1868 bids fair to rival any of its prede cessors. Perhaps we have no right to be surprised at any thing that the Prussians do, but at the same time we may be excused a little wonder at the very barefaced course they are pursuing with•respect to Hanover. For some time past a great deal of angry feeling has been apparent, but still there was no ground to suppose that Count BISMARCK would fulfil his threats and act according to this fashion. The last intelligence is to the effect that a Royal decree has been issued at Berlin, which seques trates the private fortune of King GEORGE of Hanover; and should this prove sub stantially correct, the world will have no excuse for any longer mistaking:or misrepresenting the real character of the Prussian Government. To appropriate another person's property is always held to be a monstrous thing, and since it is the "private fortune" that is referred to, it is quite evident that no political object is endangered by the right o‘i ner possessing it. It is partly through meanness, and partly through spite and malice, that such an intention has been formed, and it is worthy of reprobation accordingly. It is all of a piece with the rest of Berlin diplomacy that no notice of such a plan was allowed to appear in the speech just delivered by the KING at the close of the Prussian Chambers, and very significant alio that the sinister scheme should have been kept in the background until the Parliamentary Session eras c p l ,) c i s i c t d. Every i cs must Ab 7e who pretty all aware ai.tn sPttillln3 time that a straightforward course is the very last that the statesmen of Berlin ever deem it advisable to pursue; as for the Chambers, they are sent to the right about so soon as it is neeessaryttoty indeedakeany direct steps of any sort whatever, and they emulate the position of the /lois Faneant of French history. The unfortunate King GEORGE may have been a little imprudent in his recent attempts to keep up thQ contlectiez with his friends and allies, THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, MARCEI 4, 1808. but - who can say that he has really committed an error oi: interfered with the authority of King WILLIAI q. The truth is that, perhaps, like the fable of the " %Volf and the Lamb," if one objection had been ovozruled another would have been speedily substituted for it. It is also intended that some thing more shall be done to mark still further the displeasure of King WILLIAM about the affair of the " silver wedding," and the Supreme Court has decided to proceed against Count PLAT TEN, King GEORGE'S Minister, at Hietzing, on the charge of high treason. This is a most unjust thing to do, but not too strong a measure for a country like that of Prussia to adopt in pursuance of its arbitrary rules and oppressive policy. How it can be made out to be " high treason" for Count PLATTEN to have acted as he has done it is difficult to imagine ; but the Prussians seem to venture anything for the sake of fulfilling their objects, and carrying out their purpose. The public will be anxious to hear further news from Berlin on this subject, but we would suggest that from this time people should abstain from flourishing about the freedom of Prussia, and the great benefits that must accrue from her increased sway inGermany. In plain words, it amounts to this, that the pro vinces newly annexed have lost all their inde pendence; and their rulers, if retained, are no better than puppets, for they can neither think, speak, nor act with anything like independence. Perhaps some second thoughts may prevail, and a more honourable policy yet be pursued towards King GEORGE ; but we do not feel sanguine, and indeed regret, that the chances of war should have proved too adverse, and that he should be subject to mor tification and insults that his former position might have shielded him from, and that his affliction should have withheld his enemies from reducing him to. It will afford general satisfaction to hear that the health of the Emperor NAPOLEON is not in so seri ous a state as some would have had us believe but lately, and his MAJESTY has given a direct contra diction to the rumours set afloat by riding in the Bois de Boulogne. The mysterious journey of Prince NAPOLEON has filled all Paris with the greatest excitement, and it is most curious to notice the speculations that are rife on the subject. As nothing serious is apprehended, there is every op portunity for edification in these endless re ports, which stretch from the sublime to the ridiculous, and finally wind up by the declaration that the Prince is only travelling through Germany for his own pleasure. It is in teresting to dwell upon the comments that the new aspect of affairs in this country have called forth from the French writers ; and the Press of France, it must be confessed, has come out very creditably on the matter. It is more satisfactory to read the remarks made, as they show an intimate know ledge of our political leaders which could hardly have been expected from them, but there has been for some time past a great improve ment in this respect among our Continental neighbours. An eloquent article has appeared in the Revue des Deux Mondes, which many will be glad to perceive. 'The writer explains what the Premiership really signifies in England, and then illustrates his meaning by giving a sketch of Mr. DISRAELI'S career. Ile then exults in the triumph a man of letters has met with among us, and com pares it with the depreciatory remarks that have just been made against writers in France during the discussions on the Press Bill. The present Prime Minister of England once declared that he had no " coat of arms save literature ;" and added, " I am a gentleman of the Press." To com plete the picture, it is then shown that the statesman who inducted him into the high func tionsof the State was a nobleman of hi g h pos iti on, " the crossed representative with N the present the c Saxon onciu race, est;;" blood, fth sin and finally it explains how Lord DERBY himself has won high literary honours. He is a scholar of great repute, " a consummate and practical master of the pure well of English undefiled, the translator of 1103IER. into SIIAKSPERE'S idiom." After the many strictures that have been passed upon us by various critics, not without justice, as to our neglect of men of letters, it is really a relief to meet with this ex genuine • pre.on of ap proval, and to learn that it is merited. If party zeal and political prejudice did not pervert the judg ment of some politicians among us they would join in the feeling of satisfaction at the elevation of merit and ability, instead of leaving the highest offices of the State to be filled up by rank and title. It is a step in advance, at any rate, that the Con servatives have made, and all true Liberals will consider it as such, for to go out of the beaten track is, as in this case, to open the door for the admis sion of intelligence. LATEST INTELL IGENCE. (REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.) THE ABYSSINIAN EXPEDITION. ALEXANDRIA (via Malta), Feb. 25. The Egyptian interpreter employed at Massowah by the Egyptian Government has boon brought on to Cairo in irons ; the cause is unknown. Doctor Krapf has returned from Abyssinia. DENMARK. COPENHAGEN, March 4. Herr Martin Sevy, the Chief Secretary of the Finance Ministry, left this capital yesterday for Berlin, commissioned by the Danish Government to conclude a postal convention with the North German Confederation. CORRESPONDENCE PROM PARI&, (nom OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) PARIS, Tur 13 DAT, March 3, I alluded yesterday very briefly to the stormy debate in the Corps Ldgislatif which took place that afternoon. It was indeed stormy. It is long since the like of it was seen here. Everything betokened what was coming. Every passage of the building was thronged with a surging crowd, who cheered Jules Simon as he passed into the Chamber. Inside there was a sea of heads. Deputies, senators, men of letters, men of fashion were all mingled together. One stranger had the audacity to seat himself among the deputies, and was " invited "to remove himself. When M. du Miral, acting temporarily as the President, rose, there was dead silence. He called upon M. Ravin, proprietor of the Siecle, to speak, and that gentleman then mounted the tribune. No sooner had he opened his mouth than the storm broke forth. "I am not going to read you the decision of the Jury of Honour," sold M. Havin. But the Arcadians were not to be pacified. '• You know it already," he cried. At this the shouting was louder than ever. Once more he began ; but so did the uproar. " ..A.ssez ! It l'ordre ! Consultez la ehambre ! Cela ne nous regarde has!" Still Havin persisted, and still the majority declared that they would not hear him, and demanded the order of the day. At last the speaker turned to the President for protection, and had a long and animated conversation with him, of which no one could hear a word. All this time the hostile deputies were making as much noise as they could, knocking with paper-knives, jingling keys, slamming desks—a concert worthy of Wagner. Seeing that it was useless to speak farther, Havin gathered up his papers and descended from the tribune, but on his way had another conversation with the President, and afterwards mounted again. This was the signal for a fresh burst of fury more violent than before. The deputies declared that the inci dent was finished,and called upon 'Du Miral to pass to the order of the day. He appealed to Havin, declaring that he must abide by the wish of the majority. Havin still maintained his rights, but at length the President put an end to the scene, and the other business was proceeded with. This morning Havin publishes in the Sieele, the Liberte, ..ud other journals, the speech which he had intended to make. It is short enough and inoffensive enough to have been listened to without any noise. It simply states very briefly the accusation made by M. Kcrv6guen that certain Paris journals had been in the pay of foreign Powers, that a jury of honour had been appointed to investigate the charge, and that it had been found false and calumnious. In spite of all the clatter of the Arcadians the matter will not end here. Yesterday three summonses were served by the Avenir .National, the Journal des Dlbats, and the Liberte upon the secretary of the Pays, in which paper the defamatory charges have been repeated, calling upon the editor to furnish his alleged proofs. The editor of the Revue des deux Mondes, as I mentioned yesterday, has commenced a criminal prosecution against M. de Cassag nac cf the Pays. There is one disadvantage in this mode of procedure. The trial cannot be reported, and so the public will know nothing of it, except the verdict. Prince Napoleon's visit is now supposed to be without political significance. He is travelling incognito as the the Count de Meudon, and has gone to a private hotel at Berlin. He passed through Frankfort on his way. The Emperor has sent to Vienna a number of medals, struck in Paris at his own expense, for distribution t( those Austrian volunteers who served in the French Mexican army. Ido not know what the device is, but l imagine it is not that of Maximilian and his two general: standing up to be shot. One would have thought that the less this unhappy expedition was " commemorated" the better. There is sad news from Algeria. It is feared that not less than 2.5,000 persons have died of starvation. Public works have been set on foot by the Government, but thu best news is that the harvest is looking particularly well. and is likely to be very abundant. In France the limm supply of wheat is nearly exhausted, and increased prices are anticipated with some anxiety. Your readers may like to know something about Father F6lix, the celebrated preacher whose Notre Dame Confer ences always attract an enormous crowd of listeners ever Lent. He is in his 58th year. At 27 he joined the Jesuits. and spent ten years in completing his theological training. He then became a professor in Belgium, but soon afterward, he lost his voice and came to Paris to get cured. Subsequentl:. he retired to the monastery of Notre Paine d'Ay. It wa, while ho was in this retreat that he made his first at tempt at preaching. His audience was a pour and rude one, miners of Rive-de•Giers. But his word, won a way to th e i r h ear t s . Th e society soon discovere , l his power, and directed him to enter on the preacher': mission. In 1851 he preached the Advent course at Cu. Church of St. Thomas Aquinas, Paris. The following:; year be preached in the better-knewn Churches of St. Germain-des-Prbs and St. Sulrice. In 1853 he began hi: Notre Dame Conferences. All Paris was soon t, hear the short, pale, black-eyed, and youtbful-100l monk. He had quite recovered his ye:cc, and it completel:. filled the nave. He preached, among other subj ,, Os, the danger of separating material pr. v - es 3 from reli,_ , :oL and declared that one maxim of a wise man wagwo: n!,l than all the railways of the forowers of Saint S:n on. lie i preaching at Notre Dame every Sunday during Lent. .; is estimated that 4),000 le% a .Biers are at Clis time giving series of Lent sermons in France. This being the season of Lent, we are all of us, of cGur. , e, fasting and wearing sackcloth and ashes. Not quite all. For instance, D.I. rinard, Alinister of the Interi,.r. gives a grand dinner to-night, and among the guests wil] be Lord Lyons. Yesterday there was a grand concert at the Tuileries. These were the penitential robes in whiel the Empress appeared. A dress of green tulle, with excessively grrc ,ful trimming or Mign one tt e. aiq it of diamonds, and an enormous emerald; iii her hair, all in on her forehead,a band of ma") . rows of diamonds, fasten , ... , by green velvet. This concert came off just in ; to day the Court goes into mourning for King Ludwig of Bavaria. A special correspondent of the Times describes the Erst press trial by jury which has taken place in I fungtry. Last summer Kossuth addressed a letter to the electors o' Waitzen, denouncing all the changes which had tideee place, and especially the reconciliation between Hung:lvy and the Emperor of Austria. This I..tter was in the organ of the Magyar Radicals, andi.l,ooo c op:us A vec, distributed gratuitously throughout the country. It wit-- felt by the Government that such a document, f ron such a man, could not be overlooked, and so, the writci being abroad, a prosecution was dircetel against the editor. who is a member cf the Diet. After many delays and psi texts for postponement on the part of the defcmial,t, tin trial has just taken place, and th e jury, by eleven to (lw after half an hour's conAultatien, broulit in a verdict IY guilty. Considering that the letter might hi: ve been pith lished in haste, the mitigated penalty of one year' meat and 2,000 florins (k 200) has been inflicted. Thus, a the present moment there are journalists suffering inipri sonment in Ireland, France, and Hungary. The unfortunate Archduke Henry has been se.vere. , punished for his offence in marrying the pretty singer. Mdlle. Hoffmann. Not only has he been deprived of he commands, but a large portion of his revenues have taken from him. The Bishop of Trent, who 12yanted tiR necessary dispensation, has been strongly reprimanded. A recent interview between the Premiers of Wiirtera berg and Bavaria has given rise to much speculation. It is believed to signify .a fresh attempt to establish a Soutl , German Confederation. The success of the project wil depend upon the co-operation of the Grand Puke of Baden, a very unlikely contingency, onsidering how cc nnpletely .that sovereign has identified himself with his father-in law, the King of Prussia, Particulars are published of the recent disturbances in Granada. They were caused by the high price of bread. The military authorities acted with the utmost vigour, which, being interpreted, signifies rigour• They charged the people, slew thirty of them, and wounded a number of others, and having thus reestablished order, opened public works and reduced the price of bread. Why did not the sedative precede the operation ? The Italian Government has renounced its intention of sending an expedition to the River Plate. It will, in view of possible complications with the United States arising out of intervention in American affairs, content itself with a naval demonstration having for its object the payment of the Italian creditors of the Monte-Videan Government. Among them is Garibaldi, to whom nearly £ll,OOO is due ; but he declares that he would sooner lose the money than see his country involved in hostilities. The sale of Church property in Italy is going - on - rapidly. Estates to the value of 5i millions sterling. have been sold, and lands which have been long lying waste are now being brought into cultivation. The selling price has exceeded the most sanguine expectations. The Italian Government has renewed its negotiations for a loan with the house of Rothschild. It is believed that the affair will be carried through this time. The nugitian Government has given orders to the com manders of Russian ships that they arc not to transport any more refugees from Crete. There are already 60,000 in Greece, and they are said to be in danger of starvation. Brigham Young has just wedded his thirty-first wife, The favoured lady's name, is Merivini Van C o t t. She is 2 . 8 yeahold, and the daughter of one of the dignitaries of the Mormon Church. Poo POOR-RATE PATERS,—It is said the Mayor of Salford was, on Monday, called upon to sign 3,500 sum- Menses for poor.rates, that for some time to come the ftvemeers rpoziirp fioi issued at l t 800 sum *WIRES per week. .e • ' ' " As the time rapidly approaches for a declaration of policy on the part of the new Premier, speculations mul tiply as to what that policy is likely to be. There is a growing belief that the presence of Lord Cairns and Mr. Gathorne Hardy in the Cabinet will effectually prevent any revolutionary measures being carried out with respect to the Irish Church. It is assumed that this difficult question will be staved off on the plea of there being an inquiry by Royal Commission in progress ; that another commission will be issued to inquire into the Irish Land question ; that some compromise will be made about a charter for the Catholic University ; and that the project for a purchase of the Irish Railways will be seriously taken in hand. Looking at probabilities, the Post looks upon it as not unlikely that Mr. Disraeli will endeavour to postpone the consideration of the Irish question till next year, and will avail himself of the measures of Reform which are now pending to deprive his opponents of the occasion of oust ing him from office in consequence of this delay. So much the more rer.son, then, for the Liberal party to reconnoitre well the position of the Government before proceeding to attack it. The few remarks which Mr. Gladstone let fall on Friday evening indicate an intention on his part to lose no time in attempting to dislodge the present occupants of the Treasury bench. The Times thinks that while on the one hand it will be possible for the Liberals to dislodge the Government, it is also possible that an unsuccessful assault would materially strengthen its position. The metropolitan police having interdicted the meetings of the Holborn Branch of the Reform League at a public house known as the Nag's Head, the executive of the League, headed by Mr. Beaks, determined to ascertain whether the police would resort to measures of ejectment should the prohibition be set at nought. Mr. James Acland has, with that view, delivered a lecture at the Nag's Head on the Equality of the Law, and the meeting was not interfered with. The ceremony of electing the Marquis of Lorn as M.P. for Argyllshire, in succession to Mr. Finlay, was as brief as it was unexciting. The Duke of Argyll was not present to witness his son's unopposed return for the shire in which so much of his property is situate. His Grace was at the Prince of Wales's levde. We have to announce the death of Baron Bentinck, the representative in this country of the King of the Nether lands. The Baron was 70 years of age. His Excellency had been accredited to the Court of St. James's for more than sixteen years. M. D. Everwyn, Secretary to the Legation, will hold the post of Charge d'Affaires until the appointment of a successor to the late Minister. The Duke of Argyll and Mr. Gladstone are making use of their enforced hours of idleness in the same way. The first is writing in Good Words upon Darwin's theory of the origin of species, and the second has just concluded a series of papers on " Ecce Homo." In the same periodical Dean Stanley appeals to Englishmen not to let the ex ploration of Palestine stop for want of funds, and he holds up to them the example of the French Duke de Luynes, who died last year to the great loss of the promoters of the exploration. Dover and Brighton having had their turn in connec- tion with the Easter Monday Volunteer Review, Ports mouth is this year to be the scene of the gathering. At the meeting of Volunteer commanding officers at which this decision was come to, an influential attempt on behalf of Brighton was made, but it was defeated by a large majority. Mr. Train is again in trouble, and this time without the opportunity of demanding £lOO,OOO from the British Government. He had been announced to lecture at the Rotunda, in Dublin. on Tuesday evening, and was on his way to that building, when he was arrested for an old debt on a judgment which had been obtained against him by a London firm. On Train's agent announcing the fact of his arrest to the expectant audience, they demanded back their admission money. The agent refused, and Mr. Train was then denounced as a swindler. Ultimately an arrange. ment was made whereby the disappointed ones were appeased and the reputation of the imprisoned one preserved. The Dublin Town Council have refused to allow Mr. A. M. Sullivan to relinquish his seat in their body. Accord. ing to a bye-law any member absent for three months is struck off the roll, and Mr. Sullivan, writing from Rich mond Bridewell, tendered his resignation in anticipation of his six months' imprisonment. Conservatives joined with Liberals in the Council in refusing - to accept it. It is stated that Mr. Sullivan was one of the most active and useful members of some of the business committees of the corporation. DRUNKENNESS IN THE ARMY.—Sir C. E. Tre velyan has written a thoughtful letter on the subject of drunkenness in the army, a vice which statistics prove to be greatly on the increase. Sir Charles's remedy is to expel from the service all bad or incorrigible characters, and to attract to it a much higher class of men by throwing open to 013 private soldier a portion of the military and nearly the whole of the administrative protaotion. He is justly severe in condemning Sergeant Kite's malpractices. There is no doubt that the recruiting sergeant in many instances accomplishes his object by pandering to that very ,pp tite for drink which ultimately leads the young greenholn who pockets the shilling to grave breaches of military discipline. Besides, in garrison towns there arc too many facilities for intemperance. • OUTRAGE BY TRADE UNIONISTS.—Tho stipendiary magistrate of Liverpool was lately occupied for a con siderable time in hearing a case of extremely cowardly assault by trade unionists. Some weeks since, the boiler makers in the employ of Messrs. George Forrester and Co., the well-known engineers, of Vauxhall Foundry, being dissatisfied with their wages, turned out on strike. By the aid of the Free Labour Association of London, the places vacated by the " strikers" were filled 'by men from the Isle of Dogs. • On Friday last, seven of the new comers were passing along Regent-road, on their way to do some work at the Canada Duck, when they were met by a body of about a hundred men, who set upon and mal treated them in a most brutal manner. Two of the men thus attacked were " spirited away ;" the others were in attendance at the court to prefer the charge. Seven of the assailants have been apprehended, and were now charged with a common assault only. Nothing has been seen or heard of the two men said to have been spirited away. The prisoners were all sent for trial at the quarter sessions, but admitted to bail. DISGUSTING CRUELTY TO A DOG.—The maps trates at Tinslade, near Leighton Buzzard, have convicted two men, named respectively James Stone, farmer, of Soulbury, Bucks, and Thomas Robinson, ono of his labourers, of practising atrocious cruelty to a dog, and the offenders were fined each 58., with costs nearly £3, all of which were paid by the man Stone. The facts of the case Were briefly these. The Rev. David Carson, rector of Soulbury, was the owner of a little rough terrier, which, it was alleged, was accustomed frequently to go from his master's house on to the premises of the farmer Stone after a little dog owned by that prisoner. This was regarded as a nuisance. On the Ist of January James Stone, and his man, Thomas Robinson, caught the rector's dog on the farm, took it into a barn, and tied it up. Stone's son Richard was there, and another farmer named John Mead, and all were witnesses or assistants in the disgusting treatment to which the poor little animal was subjected. Mead, who most unwillingly gave evidence , and somehow was not included in the charge, held the dog. When it was released it ran home howling piteously, and seemingly mad with agony. Examination of the tortured creature revealed the fact that it had been horribly cut and mutilated in a disgusting manner, and that turpentine had been poured upon the fresh wounds. The magistrates were the Rev. P. T. Ouvry, rector of Grove and vicar of Wing, Bucks, and the Rev. Maynard Wodehouse Currie, M.A., rural dean and vicar of Ment more, Bucks. They retired for a quarter of an hour to con sider the sentence, which was, that the case being made out, each of the defendants be fined ss. A TALE FOR THE MARINES.—There is in the House of Commons a certain noble lord, whose name it will be better not to mention, but who has somewhat recently appeared in the, to him, new character of a lawmaker. This noble lord met at a dinner party, a few weeks ago, a certain great " City man," whose transactions in stock amount yearly to a fabulous sum, The young legislator began to talk in the City man's hearing of Cabinet secrets, and to do so with a very great assumption of knowledge on the subject. " Talk of Cabinet secrets," at le i st cried Mr. Consol, "there's one secret—the secret of a Cabinet Minister too—that I should uncommonly like to know. It would be worth £5,000 to me if I knew what judgment Lord Chelmsford will give to-morrow in the case of Bloxam and the Metro politan Railway." "Five thousand pounds !" cried his aristocratic neighbour, who is as poor as any lord mei wish to be ; " do you mean to say you would give five thousand pounds to any one who could tell you whitt old Chelmsford's judgment will be ? " " Yes ; indeed I should," said the other. " Then, by Jove, 11l find out and tell yJu." "Do so," said the City man, with a laugh, as he went on with his soup. That very night, when the tired merchant in his Bayswater palace was wooing gentle sleep, quite forgetful of his conversa tion with this young sprig of the nobility, he was roused by a summons at his bedroom door. His servant on being admitted told him that Lord —'s valet was below with a message for him. "Show him up," said Mr. Consol, in wonder as to what it all meant. Enter the valet, who speaks as follows :—" Beg your pardon for disturbing you, sir, but my lord sent me with a note to Lord Chelms ford's, and said I was to bring the answer to you. I took the note, sir, and Lord Chelmsford told me to say there was no answer !" The story is a strange one ; but it is true neTiatheless. —.Leeds IllercurY. ITALY. FLORENCE, March 4. The King has signed a decree instituting a new order to be called tho Crown of Italy. The Duchess d'Aosta has arrived here and left for Turin. The Earl of Clarendon has arrived hero. Cardinal Antonelli is still suffering greatly from gout. BAVARIA. MuNlcri, March 4. The semi-official South German Press of this morning says :—" It is not to be denied that nego tiations have taken place for the formation of a Southern Confederation, but the recent meeting of the Bavarian Minister of Commerce, Herr von Schlor, and Baron Varnbuler, the Wurtemburg Minister for Foreign Affairs, at Augsburg, only took place for the discussion of questions relating to railways. King Louis has recovered from his indisposition. AMERICA. NEW YORK, March 3, Evening. Erie, 741. Cotton—middling trpland, 231. PoirmtouTli, iNitiroh 4. The Indian troopship Serapis, Captain Soady, arrived here last evening from Alexandria with troops. SOUTHAMPTON, March 4. The Liverpool, Brazil, and River Plate steamer Copernicus arrived here at 11 o'clock last night, and sailed at 2 this morning for Antwerp. She brings £6,2,600 in specie, ono package of diamonds, and 12 passengers. THE MINT. Everybody knows how money can be spent ; most people know how it can be earned ; a select few, pretty equally distributed from the highest to the lowest classes, know how it is to be saved ; but very few of any class trouble themselves as to the mechanical processes by which mere metal is made into coin, whether gold, silver, or copper. This is done at the Mint, or, as it is termed, the New Mint, to distinguish it from its many predecessors. At one time there were several Mints existing— those, for instance, at London, at Chester, at Win chester, and at York. That at Southwark was con tinued in operation later than any, but at last was removed, and the Mint in the Borough, once so famous for its production of money, is now a vil lanous neighbourhood, only notorious for the cer tainty with which persons possessing it are robbed there. All the Mints were then drawn in and con centrated in one central office in the Tower, and there the works were carried on till about 1806, when the present, or as it is called the New, Mint, was built. Few persons who have seen the modest stone exterior of this building will be inclined to credit the statement that nearly a quarter of a mil lion of money was spent on its erection, though such is said to be the fact. At all events the New Mint since 1806 has been the sole coining centre for the British Empire, where not only all the coins from farthings to pounds are struck, but where all com memorative medals, all medals for the army and navy, all gold medals for the Board of Trade, all Vi ctoria crosses, and all medal decorations of any kind awarded by the Government, are made and issued. The history of an establishment so vast, and the ope rations of which are so continually varying, must necessarily be interesting, though so voluminous as to take its real history far beyond the limits of any newspaper article. Much, however, may still be told which will be new and interesting to the great mass of readers. There is a popular notion that any one taking gold, silver, or copper to the Mint can have it at once made into an equal weight of pounds, shillings, or pence, and this at one time was the fact. But it is not so now, except with respect to gold. Time was when silver plate and bars of copper, gold ornaments, and gold trinkets used to be left for coinage. Now, however, the practice has sunk into desuetude, for the Mint is not bound to return coin for bullion in less than twenty days, and not now bound to take private consignments of silver or copper at all. People find it much more advan tageous to dispose of their metals through the ordi nary metal and bullion agents, who pay on the spot, and from these again the bullion agents of the Mint buy, according as silver or copper is needed. The Act of the Mint still binds them to take gold from any who bring it to them to coin, though, as a rule, these transactions are done through the Bank of England, which, of course, has to buy gold in ingots, dust, bars, or foreign coin, and which either sends it to the Mint for its own pur poses, or sells it to the Mint as it may be wanted. As a fact, however, any one taking gold to the Mint can have it made into sovereigns, and the country bears the whole expense of the coinage. The very last private application which was made to the Mint came from Mr. Peabody, who sent about £lO,OOO of old gold of all kinds to be made into sovereigns. This was the only application of the kind that has been made for years past. It is a singular fact that, for the first time in the history of the Mint, not a single sovereign was struck there during the whole of last year, nor has one yet been struck there during this. During nearly fifteen months, in fact, not a pound sterling in gold has been added to the currency of the kingdom. It was thought after the panic of 1866 that the Mint would have to coin more money ; but the very re verse has been the case. The Mint itself is suffer ing from the depression which has for a time over taken all trades and occupations. The demand there now is not for pounds, but for shillings and sixpences, and even at the manufacture of these the men are only working half-time, and at little more than half wages. Before proceeding to describe how the money itself is manufactured, it may not be out of place to say a few words as to how currencies die out, and how certain coins are popular or unpopular for years. The guinea and the half-crown were always popular ; the five-shilling piece, the florin, and tt'e fourpenny piece were always unpopular. The guinea was first coined in Charles ll.'s reign, and derived its name from the Guinea Company, which used sometimes to stamp on it the ele phant, as symbolical of its African origin. The guinea was so popular that its successor, the sove reign, was for a long time looked on with dislike. It may surprise the reader to hear that any coins of the realm were ever looked on with disfavour, but the records of the Mint show that the public are as fastidious in their coins as in their food ; and there are some which are regarded with such dislike that the public will not take them till they see they can get no others. In this way the coinage of guineas was stopped, and the sovereign forced upon the public, who have now taken to it very kindly indeed. But this has not been the case with either the five-shilling or fourpenny pieces. The former were old institutions of long standing unpopularity. Many, even in the simplest retail transactions, re fused to receive them. But they were driven out of circulation by the bankers who sent to the Mint for silver, and the employers who sent to their banks for silver, both of whom so con stantly stipulated against taking five-shilling pieces that they remained on the hands of the Mint. Yet about £2,000 worth of these coins are made every year to go to the Falkland. Islands. There the whalers, English, Germans, Swedes, and Americans, assemble to pass the winter in harbour, and among them the only accepted currency is the English five-shilling piece ; for them, therefore, it is manufactured, and to the Falkland Islands it is sent. This noble coin, therefore—by far the hand somest in our currency—is now no longer issued in this country, and will soon become as much a thing of the past as guineas. The fourpenny piece, which was introduced for the first time in 1836, has always been so unpopular that its coinage has been discontinued, and for the last twelve years not one has been struck. The favourite half-crown, too, has gone the same way, though not without a struggle for its retention on the part of bankers and employers, who took a great aversion to the florin. But it was useless coining two-shilling pieces and two-and-sixpenny pieces at the same time, so the latter have been discontinued, and now only florins, shillings, sixpences, and threepenny pieces are struck. What are called the garter sovereigns, the lion shillings, the rose,- thistle, and shamrock shillings, have all nearly disappeared from circula tion, not only because they come into the Mint and are re-melted and re-issued in a more modern guise, but because from their scarcity there is a belief or kind of general notion that a sort of " luck" at taches to them, so they are kept to an extent that has made good impressions very scarce indeed, and when they do appear the clearness and sharpness of their outline show at once how little they have been in circulation. A curious illustration of this may be found even so recently as in the history of florins. The first issue of these were small in size, and the usual letters F.D. had to be omitted from their cir cumference. A sort of protest was raised against this coinage, which at once received the name of the " graceless florin." Public attention was thus di rected to them, they were kept as specimens, and though 750,000 were issued, hardly any are in cir culation, and none are returned to the Mint. The amount of damage sustained by spurious coinage is very small. There are only a very few i coiners or " smashers" in London, and as they have to manufacture by hand—that is to say, to cast each piece separately in plaster moulds and afterwards electrotype it--the process is very slow, and is entirely limited to the silver coinage, and more especially the florin and the shilling. " Smashers" never make money to pass themselves. They make it and sell it in dozens to those willing to undertake the risk of palming it off on the un wary, and the price of these counterfeits is in exact proportion to the risk incurred in passing them. 'Thus, counterfeit florins of the best class cost as much as 12s. a dozen, and the best class of shil lings 6s. a dozen, and these coins, unless minutely examined, would be taken offhand by any one ; on the other hand, shillings can be got as low as 2;1. a dozen, and common florins for 3s. a dozen. The smashers" are a peculiar set of rogues, the num ber of whom has not much increased or diminished for the last fifty years. There is a kind of " cut ler's law" among them never to tell from whom they buy the coin, though the Mint police would rather catch one maker of counterfeit coin than twenty utterers. Only one formidable attempt against the gold coin was ever made, and" this was some three or four years ago. A party of Ger mans established themselves secretly at Hamburg, and entered into a well-considered and deliberate plan for making English sovereigns. These con spirators did not fall into the vulgar error of our native " smashers" in making actually bad sove reigns. They simply put so much additional alloy into the pure gold as to make its value 17s. instead of 20s. These adventurers made proper steel dies, erected presses, and had ail the appurtenances for the processes which are gone throughin the English Mint—in fact, they estab lished a private mint at Hamburg. Many thou sands of their sovereigns got into circulation on the Continent ; for, in fact, none but the Mint autho rities could detect them except by weight. By this test, however, they were at lsst dis covered, the coiners traced, and their place of business seized. The chief conspirators escaped, but all their dies, machines, and a very considerable sum in pure and adulterated gold fell into the hands of the Hamburg authorities, so that the speculation, though boldly conceived and skilfully carried out, was a ruinous one after all. Not half as many sovereigns were put into circulation as would pay the first cost of the plant employed in their maufac ture. Yet within the last few days one of these sovereigns was sent back to the Mint from Devon shire, simply on account of its extraordinary light ness, without apparent wear, and the tests showing it to be to all appearance standard gold. Of course, at Tower-hill it was at once recognized and de stroyed. Those who have now and then to pay in sove reigns at the Bank of England know how often one . or two•or more light sovereigns are rejected—that is to say, not returned, but cut into two or three pieces, 4d., 6d., or Bd., according to the deficiency of the piece, being charged for the unpleasant pro cess. The popular impression is that these cut sovereigns go back to the Mint to be remelted and recoined. But there aro a vast number of trades in England which require standard gold for all sorts of purposes, and these regularly go to the Bank to buy these cut sovereigns. The reason is obvious ; few trades use so much gold at once as to buy an ingot of gold, which weighs from 230 to 300 ounces, and if they did they have seldom the means necessary to melt it. But they can buy the cut sovereigns by the ounce or the pound, and though as coins they may have been light, yet as metal they are known to be pure. In this manner, between the gilding and porcelain trades, an immense amount of gold is annually absorbed. The porcelain trade alone takes nearly £50,000 worth of gold a year, and between gilding and porcelain the annual con sumption of England and France is estimated at not less than 40,000 ounces, which is lost to cur rency for ever. .7 Court - HER MAJESTY. OSBORNE, March 3. The Queen drove out yesterday afternoon, at tended by the Duchess of Athole. Prince Leopold went out, attended byMr. Duck worth. Her Majesty drove out this morning, accompanied by Princess Louise and Princess Beatrice. WINDSOR CASTLE, March 3. The Queen, accompanied by Princess Louise, Princess Beatrice, and Prince Leopold left Osborne this afternoon at three o'clock, and arrived at Windsor Castle shortly after six. Her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales drove out, attended by the Countesi of Morton. The Prince of Wales, attended by Capt. Ellis, rode out yesterday afternoon. TIIE KNIGHTS OF TIIE GARTER.—Yesterday morning Sir C. G. Young's assistants went to Windsor Castle and placed the arms, banner, and insignia of his Majesty the Emperor of Russia, one of the newly-created knights of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, above his stall in the choir of the Chapel Royal of St. George. The banner and insignia have been fixed on the north side Of the choir, near those of the Emperor of the French. SALE OF A LORD CHANCELLOR'S LIVING.—The Lord Chancellor's rectory of St. James's Church, Colches ter, has been sold, under Lord Westbury's Augmentation Act, to Lord Braybrooke, who has by a benefaction in creased the value of tlle living to £2OO a year. ft is said to be his lordship's intention to make over the patronage to the bishop of the diocese. MR. CHARLES DICKENS IN AMERICA.—Mr. Chas. Dickens has finally bid farewell to Philadelphia, and will give readings for the balance of his stay in America in various cities of New York State and Now England. He says he will positively leave America in the Cube on the 22d of April, and, therefore, will be unable to give any reading in the Western States, a disappoint ment that is keenly felt by tho people of that section. In Hartford, New Haven, Portland, and other towns w here his readings aro announced, the usual anxiety is shown 1 0 procure tickets, and the sales of seats attract large crowds. While Mr. Dickens was in Washington his fifty-sixth birthday overtook him, and he was presented with mall bouquets, one of them of superb character, being specially ordered by telegraph from Boston by an eminent literary lady of that city. Other tokens more rich and substantial than flowers were also presented by friends and admirers. Mr. Dickens's net receipts for four nights' readings in Washington were slightly over $lO,OOO, and for eight readings in Philadelphia nearly $19,000. THE QUEEN'S HOUND s.--TheQueen's staghound o met at Denham-court, Capt. Lambert's, on Monday, when a very large field, not less than 500 horsemen, were in attendance. The Prince of Wales was among them. The stag, " Doctor," the best and most sure of her Majeety'Es deer to show sport, was uncarted at Bate's Farm at 12 o'clock, ten minutes' law given him, when the hounds were laid on, and away they went with so good a will that it soon became clear none but the best-mounted men could live with them. Through the Harrow Vale, the stag took the course right on to Eastcott, through Morton's Farm to the Ruislip-road, through the top of Deans, across Wel shin's Farm, through Prince's, skirting Mr. Templar's, by Brays, to the top of Harrow Hill, where there was the first short check. By Mr. Steel's garden he trotted up the road to the Vaughan Library, when he jumped the rails , and into Boare's garden, across the road by the Priory to Sudbury, at the back of the trotting grounds to Perivale then by Hanger-hill across to the Abbey, through tb° canal and over the Ealing Steeplechase Course to Willes: den, across the Midland Railway, and over the canal an d Great Western Railway, up the towing-path to the nog building plots, Paddington, and into the coal wharves ju st below the Paddington station, where he was taken in stable at Charles-mews. The distance altogether wag about 22 miles, and perhaps a sharper or better run 109 never seen with hounds, as the time was about 21- hours! and the country all through about as stiff as can be it°s - The Prince was well up throughout the whole run, with a change of horses. The master, Lord Colville+ also went right well, but of the 500 only about 20 were e ci s Paddington at the finish, and they only who had the g° ° fortune to have a change of horses. Men who know ti ° country will appreciate the first 50 minutes, from Bat e !, Farm to Harrow Steeple — all grass, with the enormor withe and stake fences that bound the fields. The groun d however, rode fairly light. ROYAL HORTIC ULTURAL SOCIETY.—An unueu 3 . beautiful and various show of valuable flowers was mad° at the meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society trt South Kensington yesterday. The specimens notable for rarity and artistic cnitivation were orc . h i t u m 4! and the finest among them was an example of Oucid o m a macranthum, which came 'from the collection of Londesborough. There was a large attendance of men' hers. Mr. Wilson Saunders, F.R S ., presided. Th.°9_, fol lowing new fellows were elected ; Mr . William .Ad:r; Mrs. Brown, Mrs. Forbes, Lieutenant-General Hay,, Jones, Mrs. Loveland, Dr. H. R. M adden, Mr. (xe Thomas Selby, &c. THE GRENADIER GUARDS.--Yesterd Ay a battalion of Grenadier Guards left the Wellington r c a o e l k d s str en eatn ro s, ut w e h f o or ha D ve ub b li e n e , a wfhareresotmheey maroenttoharelriearle_sAtilett: tioned there. The Grenadiers m ustered 540 straen.F!blftle pendent of officers. The depar ture was witnessn largo Prince of Wales from Marlbo rou g h House, 010%012• crowd of spectators w h° lined the rogd. t o Euetoo I ?• 7 i