The Sun. — London, England, 1851-02-20 00:00:00

AY•) l i t airs ra. Ne" iio Ja- ( weir°, triatis; Get: rgare4 6lna Ck w eb, k, end rform New" ' OO O torP Trit e ' vrood , rpo° l ' rife! bo ;owei 15 o' o so tir• Coe 6d; ,pet oil off' l'it;d S: ou 112A-TRE ROYAL, DRURY-LANE. The new grand operatic.. spPctacl-, founded on the g r and opera, of Enfant Pro moue, which at this moment is attracting all Paris to the Grand Opera, was produced here last evening under Cass tide of Azad the Plod' ; and la . ghly as our expectatiors had been raised by the reports of its mn and spindour, we toas t confess that those expe ag ctations ificence were more e , infinit ly Pmote than realised by the reality. Never has there been roduced on any stage a dramatic sp( ctaclo which approach Azad, either for int .rest, for plot, or for earn magnificence of scenery; the far-famed Jewess t ot for one moment he compared to it, and Azaci s h ltlcia n s a spectacle, if not unsurpassable, at least difitherto u napproached. The scene is laid in Egypt and time the time when Memphis was in all its splendour, hendisen the descendants of Abraham were still let tents in the desert. The scene of the first t h e t t laid in the tent of Reuben (Mr. Vandenhoff) in ,Le ,aesert. The scene is an accurate representation of r interior of the dwelling in the desert of a rich and Eavererfu seatriarch. The back ( f the tent is open, and 1 4 li op eei g n —, in the desert, as seen through this r.st • g. Is a splendid and magnificent effect. The buittliarch and his family engage in the evening worship, s ete „.. lB son Az lel (Mr. J. Anderson), is abient. A zael soon beh accompanied by a caravan of travellers, whom pi tit i!u met in the desert; and to whom he offers the hes phi fly ~e (N ,'" "" father's tent. Among them are Ameno /4,,8,.,)u4r. Emery) and his sister Nate (Mrs. Walter serip tl w ho so lame the curiosity of Azael by their de to ...L ul l of the wonders of Memphis, that he determines 'an th permissio n o f hi s father to accompany the care- Jeph„ it h er, which permission is, at the intercession of fele (Miss F. Vi n i ng ). th e bet ro th e d o f A zae l, return ctantly granted, on hi s prom i se to . ma k e a spee d y whi s k Before his departure Jephtele gives him a scarf, sew n " Promises always to retain. The act ends with the and 11.41 of the c aravan , f orm i ng a most p i cturesque th e P r nated p rocess i on, i n w hi ch some real camels of this uesart and several horses are introduced. In wu : set there i s some pretty incidental music, which 111,..11crY d elightfully sung by Miss Julia Bleaden. gre et aft er, and th e c h orus . Th e secon d act opens i n t h e a te "Noe of Memphis, and we see th e a r rival of A zael, isi t h a Vanied by Nefte, whose costume is resplendent ae a eld, and who, it is evident, has obliterated all t r h e e - Prodi .a i n e° of Jephtele from the fickle heart of t . h a4 The gates of the grand temple open, and d Apia the issu, s the sacred procession of the Ox-go p anda 1r hi gh priest Bucbaris (Mr. Cooper) . de . - lak e : fr ont his worshippers fresh offerings, and Int'. the Nile the necessity of a human sacrifice should 41 01 - "de not speedily rise. The beautiful kid ee s , the sacred dancing girls, now enter, 14 venom the most graceful evolutions, and Altreadlle Victorine Legrain) the chief of the Pis te! 1, Performs a pas de fascination, which so corn the Y fascinates Azael that she obtains from him even eesuerfthoef Jephtele. Madlle. Victorine Legrain is made 're er de biie m ost exquisite . dancers who has ever say With aon the boards of Drury-lane, and this and perfect recollection that Lucile Grahn t ORB L wr a b'sbbri ma d e t h e i r fi rst a pp earance b e f ore an ar e au audience on this stage •, her personal attractions taos e , a high order, and she has a buoyant elasticity of l e•coiX ttt s and a dashing broad style of execution, P_aa anus ' ala led by the most perfect grace, that renders her "sa 10clefaacination in every sense of the word. She / 0 1iiipt r anlY supported by Madlle. Palser, a very totio e ",'"uY, who bids fair to attain to the very highest 'ltft,: a of her art, and by Madlle. Louise. Lis Jealous of Lia, discloses to Azael that sad, la , nue of the most licentious of her racestop , to`u, convince him, procures for him admis !ft .tne orgies celebrated by the priests and Alm6sr, iettri interior of the Temple of Isis. This scene of the foe L r _.ef the Temple of Isis stands unapproached teree;"glnality and novelty of design, for pie nutieuess ;of grouping, for gorgeous magnificence - "gs-up and of costume, and for brilliancy of effect. k, st a , I .arth,' ". represents a gorgeous eastern temple, such as tasph;tilnight have imagined in his happiest moments of - , e 'nn• It is fitted from the floor to the roof with ~se , ",i t seats rising one above another, all occupied r e - , e uers, priests, and dancing girls, on whom shine atairCia of lights innumerable, which are reflected back eost en , r ncl the magnificent drinking-cups and gorgeous eet3i o c s of the revellers. The Alm6 perform a suc lad a t l ei elegant, vo l uptuous , an d i ntox i cat i ng d ances, le ngth, overcome by the excitement, the revellers ftleep . •;: e y ar• Aza e l en t ers , and seizes his scarf from the 1" °' "at - 'la, but is disturbed, seized, and condemned to uuldaePhhatelehewo, is being led to his doom he is recognised Who with his father, has come to seek him, ris es, i ,who, cond emne d b y the pr i ests to b e the human • tb (e i t s• e • Raving rescued her from death, Assel T hs to his fate and is thrown into the Nile. i l i ndes;;;, "ne, in a rapture of enthusiasm, called Mr. Vaad od hen at the conclusion of this act, and ap -144 tutu to the echo. In the third act we find A.zs e i bas the fished up from the river g ets a camel driver, who has reduced him 4tere h e y and who leaves him to perish in the desert. k tlit " i c has a vision (admirably managed by a series of 4" °ja ws), i n obedience to which he returns to le kt jather ~.e Wholnhe finds celebrating his harvest lees,' of he is forgiven and married to Jephtele. The 4 tel e :" t he harvest home is most beautiful. At the Jatei Ms, Inn all the performers were called on the stage, ,ett A nders () • d'tas he might well do, a sub b n Lad e 1 • had do'asl Ltench o n . e i ast, that while the management of the I titlo e • it to taken twelve months to get up Azael, *Wm. one. The house was crowded to (From the Times.) at e libretto of L'Enfant Prodigue recentlypr , o . dn e c n e s i , l , 4 t the thet Grand Opera at Paris, and one of the le tt ro. dik e e 'tench season, has been used for a spectacle A d 1 ule p r as t night at Drury-lane, under the title I p za i e s / hs .-qeh: 4 9.21. An opera-book without the music . ." 1 4 2 , 1 - I.a poor affair, but this is not the case with tel t"e Prodigal. The opportunities for acting af ar,lgla° Ittr Vandenhoff, who e,. -, . n i i A; 41.168 'Vining, who plays the prodigal's plays the prodigal's betrothed; 14,t1a„14% A nderson, who plays the prodigal himself, are, tiee o - ", L bat few, but the capacity of the subject for scenic 'Pet,l,ti is great, and no pains or expense b ve been Itip -" °Y the manager to make it as grand spectacle a gte4°'"ible. The story is simplicity itself, but a its pro- L t aeli s r ts etrongly marked, and at every stage an opp.or ie e ih ''. Viers for scenic effect. The portion of the piece b' r °Po - 1 1 ; ° „ 4 the action takes place at Memphis is the most the ragi.„-h-g• Probably there has never been seen d o h n atie ' l: lth a L s tage such an effect as that of the grand F theh Nej e - l 'e mple of Isis. A flight of steps, occupying rlo top ) is readth of the stage, and rising the ery :°r°Pletely occupied with carousing n p e e a s l o - nages in of th e satiety of position, and when these trona the effect 110 tle r Nations suddenly fall asleep, a new v h a r r i i . e ia ty no i; H t° sse s eka ' Oelyalar se stage could give its full brilliancy Zeo t i "ne like this h and Mr. Anderson has well unehr tThlel a t Z t ~.7411 ~ gorgeous, but scarcely less pleating, the co 1-411 4 I,t P r e sentationP of the prodigal's home —a a view of Il ers e4 111 o elaoat " set.' it not othbe ,s_llll4bt :444 even in the minutest deta A i l ls ili th l e e r t e l tl, -.44(11 e - a aPPrarance of slovenliness or neg is t. The 1 3" 4414010 re Lot only costly, but carefully studied, and si. h Mdlle. ' 'eto t i —SP Which are important, and , 1144 wel :l l. 6 ,J'egrain is the work is a principal figure, are hm striking ' 1 ~atei 1. d Altogether the whole _ 1 m ail P ' b e • 4 y ,-" 4peeineen of perfect stage production. ti er s - a" ,e (te since so grand a spectacle on so large . a 1t . 4 1 .," tueen presented to a London audience. it is illetti -43 na ve nut seen the piece may imagine that ii M t II "ab le on religious grounds, it is bet just to state s it 4 0 e VOC w . li. t fo r , as subject more inoffensively handled. . a h 74 a d g t ° o French title, L'Enfant Prodigue, which it 'te 4 ter'n,ite meaning, there would be nothing about the . _ -.4 . S-. IlldiCZt f nce to a sacred subject. With tiihseeibe'' 00nreierMe r ere Anderson has nothing to do, and 'me atl4ll° intrinsic re . ason to connect the story told on !e 4eci rd 4g a el It tud entitled Azad the Prodigal, with anything . dit:" elsewhere. At the conclusion a erow_dc r u . '44 4 , 4 b uret into enthusiastic applause, and called M Al ' W ho gratefully returned his acknowledgments. ribs (From the Daily News.) , ling th,1:11,04 A.uber' new opera, L Enfant Prodigue, ° lts f 41 N its 8 triumphant course, at the Grand Opera, sh. 41.4jah_ . . le7t‘el e ,,, e _Q_ „the materials_ for the " new grand operatic I la ni c kiled A.aelthe Prodigal, produced at Drury ilielile 6t 1 -ght • Mr. Anderson has done well to call it I . e 4 „ a , e - 0 , for this r. designation does not mislead the pub a" Plitt,",:age titles ver often do. People did not go to see 4 41: 0 4 LiO Y it is i t 3 e a n n i it etereat,ria the m y usic of an opera; they went to have ; in fo ed with a show, en d assuredly they w! , re far as beautiful scenery, rich , it it te ll i t li ie eo and dresses , brilliant brilliant dancing, and i m pos -4Yth'eTt4x, were concerned, we have scarcely ever seen ;eet t l e -6 ,00 gorgeous and magnificent in an English li - i i i ,e l b . ) , Th e pricipal characters . were well acted; . ' J 4r. Anderson, his father by Mr. Vandenhoft, Vr % - ' wei r 441° Dla ala by Miss Fanny Vining. Some of the tale r 0 very effective, particularly the return of the 15 t . th "9 witich at ° Nee • in really pathetic. But the attraction 4 11 b e lea In its spectacular qualities; and the re: 41 to • excellence of the dancing must greatly e_ont o ri .- - lb:Ille victor %l4:4 success. The principal danseuse, Madem i kite aine Legrai is a very charming performer, iii c-ma Pet Leg rain, • tat her Majesty's esti. ent to take a leading par L e es e Ge• The house was crowded, and nothing could . be ‘4l .ree/I ) .. lr able than the manner in which the piece `rad. probe id . (From the Chronicle.) 1.c1; aPtatton as an operatic Apectacle of L'Enfant ki -94 e at audience to req., traeted last night an overflowing I t thity fl :. No small degree of public interest and cu e'e e Xe - ,; 4 b een previously excited, and the result of i l .1:4„714e1at Was decidedly successful. The subject irliDle flea!' Prodigue demands, of course, the broadest, e. --r e fires si e l tod Most massive treatment. The incidents tl"ere W' but great and momentous, each forming, as it eyl,`ue catastrophe of a stage of the drama. The l i te o „': ) „t ‘ up , with great care and laudable attention to t .„,. - ` 1 stti:irk discoveries. The costumes—the simple 111:te 1.1 1„ e ll a white ground always prevailing 0 w e e r t r i cas from their faithful adherence to 0( 4110 of colours and strange sculptured Theth reeel nlY opened up by the excavations it s peustleient Cities' of the Tigris and the Euphrates. 1 °lll Sheik's tented home, with 11 4 Prireiti character of the b l i ° t abpi n Ve group s of inhabitants, contrasts well with . L'e reiea","fl'" splendour which ensues, as does the simhe „NlitiliC marshyrael sung beneath the desert tent, with the Zoltliii„ music of the priestly processions and . The r i g strtthaa to which the circling Almees dance. pri es tag .. 0 f Isis, in the second act, the processions of obi t), sad neophytes, bearing symbols of Egyptian wor- Vrelt „,,ae.,d attended by clouds of dancing girls, are all ioorgie-m° effectively grouped and managed, while the dine. s trie in the temple is fine in the ex -1'045 Alie devotees, in their white flowing fre tt nteind festive chaplets, are grouped from the te Niti ; th e , stage up a series of steps or terraces, Dille r , 4e a by great vistas of massive Martin-like 4,tittig4nl Porticos. The whole of this scene is W tis 4 4,, w 4h great splendour, and, what is even better, Alle 1 40 .? °la for picturesre and energetic effect. 1 1i941e 04491 9 9 th 9 Lblid eg; is the mil* _ __ ___ _ , like valley of the desert, with its harvest festival, to w ich the prodigal ret:,:rns. Mr. Rafter sang the prin cipal ric!odies. In the incidental bdiet, a Mille. Vie ; torine L'2grain made her debut. She dances with energy, succeeding also in flinging come archness of colouring over it , s.r coquetti , h pantomime. The drama presents few or no strong features for the actor. Its character is entirely (I( claroUrory, au4 the principal speeches were given by Mr. Vamdenhoff, as the aged father, and Mr. Anderson, as the prodigal, with force, appreciation of the sentiment, and earnest energy. Azad, the Prodigal, was announced by the manager for nightly repetition. (From the Morning Post) Last evening, an adaptation of Auber's last new opera, entitled L'Enfant Prodigue, now being performed with prodigious success in Paris, was produced at the above theatre, under the title of Azad, the Prodigal. It must tie considered as merely founded on Scribe and Aube' 's opera, the aim has been to produce a gorgeous spectacle, including every species of scenic and choreo graphic effect, interwoven with an interesting story, furnishing appropriate characters for the leading actors of the establishment. Viewing the matter in this light, we are bound to admit that the adapter has acquitted himself most admirably of his task ; for from the first scene to the last there were interest and excitement. A new splen dour in scenery, costume, or decoration, arose each in stant to dazzle the eye. Ever and anon came a quaint Auberian melody freshly upon the ear; and sufficient scopa was constantly afforded fur excellent acting and dramatic effect, to employ the mental faculties and affect the heart. After describing the plot of the piece, the critic thus speaks of the gorgeous scene, which con cludes the second a0t....,W2 have now arrived at the most gorgeous scene in the spectacle; the most bril- liant, perhaps, ever seen in any piece, if we look at it with reference to the poetry of its conception, as well as the perfection of its execution. It is the interior of the Temple of Isis, during the celebration of the Sacred orgies. The priests and Alime3s, drunk with love and wine, mingle in the giddy dance. Wild bacchanalian cams fill the air—everything that the imagination can picture is present to delight the senses. The scene, too, is arranged in a totally novel manner; a platform rises gradually to the top of the back scene, displaying the costumes and forms of the dancers to the greatest possible advantage. Nothing can be more striking than the coup We have not space to give a detailed account of all•the magnificence of this scene, but hope, on a future occasion, to be able to enter more fully into its merits. At the conclusion of this act, the applause was most tuniultuous. The concluding scenes of the spectacle affAled opportunities for some admira ble acting by Mr. Anderson, Mr. Vandenhoff, and Miss F. Vining, as well as clever mechanical effects; and the curtain fell at midnight amidst most enthusiastic applause. THE EASTERN COUNTIES RAILWAY.—WE under stand that efforts are being made in Manchester to secure, at the meeting to be held on the 27th instant, the election of Mr. Waddington, M.P. (formerly deputy-chairman of the above company), as a member of the board of directors. Con sidering the prominent part taken by Mr. Waddington in the not very " pleasant" proceedings of the com pany, from 1845 to 1848, we very much doubt the success of the Manchester move, notwithstanding the extra ordinary scene enacted at the recent special meeting of the company, chiefly through the instrumentality of some of the small fry of its very declamatory, very unreasonable, and very changeable proprietary.-2llorning Herald. ITALIAN ANTI-PAPAL MEETING.—Last night, a meeting, which had been twice postponed, was held at the Music Hall, Store-street, for the purpose of hearing the very interesting statements of several Italian converts who ad dressed the meeting, and who depicted in the most eloquent language the frightful tyranny which was exercised by the Romish Church over the consciences of her adherents. Un fortunately, no interpreters were engaged for the occasion, nor were the names of the speakers announced, as they should have been. Signor Bezzi, we were informed, took the chair. The speeches had reference, of course, to recent events, and many allusions were made to the interposition of Austria in the late struggle of the Italian people. The hall was pretty well filled, but the private boxes were almost empty. The speeches gave much pleasure to the audience, a great part of whom were foreigners, who fully appreciated the impassioned bursts of the speakers, who indeed presented a bright pha lanx of converts to Protestantism. HUNTERIAN SOCIETY.—Dr. Lever delivered the twenty-third annual oration to the members of the society yesterday afternoon, at the London Tavern, Bishopsgate street. He chose for his subject, " The consanguinity of child-bed Lever and erysipelas." The lecturer described at considerable length the various symptoms of child-bed fever and erysipelas from his own observations and experience. He conclude:l his lecture by hoping that he might be per mitted to suggest to the council that as this year was to be a jubilee year, he might say with reverence a second Pen tecost year, and as thousands would be assembled in this mighty city, and amongst them many of the medical pro fession, attracted from all quarters of the globe, he consi dered that it would redound to the honour of the Hunterian Society, if they held occasional conversaziones to receive their foreign brethren with that spirit and cordiality which had at all times been the distinguishing character of the society. The suggestion was received with loud applause, and assur ance was given that it would not be forgotten. The mem bers then adjourned to another room, where they dined to gether. A SOFA MADE OF COAL.—The Fife Advertiser, referring to one peculiar characteristic of the coal found in that district, which can be converted into articles of house hold furniture, such as looking-glass frames, writing-desks, chairs, and tables, states that Mr. William Williamson is at present engaged in making a sofa wholly composed of coal. It is nine feet long, with three compartments or divisions, and is sufficient to contain seven people sitting on it. The front standards are beautifully carved, displaying three mongrel animals, which lorcibly remind the spectators of those richly-carved figures that appear so frequently in Dr. Layard's remains of ancient Babylon. This rare geological curiosity was ordered by General Wemyss, and it is highly probable that it will appear at the Great Exhibition, as it was ordered to be finished previous to that time; and as the General holds an appointment in the Queen's household, it may yet be transferred from the Crystal Palace to the palace of her Majesty. SOCIETY OF ARM—At the eleventh ordinary meeting of this society, held last evening, Professor Calvert delivered a supplementary lecture before the members of the institution, on the laws of colour, with relation to the com bination and arrangement of coloured fabrics. Having fur ther elucidated, by the aid of diagrams and illustrations, the reciprocal influence exerted by different colours, either in brightening or tarnishing their respective tints when placed in close proximity to each other, the lecturer proceeded to point out in varied detail the necessity for due attention to the principles involved in these results in the " setting off " of coloured goods—whether silks, calicoes, paper-hangings, or any other description of fabrics requiring colours—at the approaching Exhibition of the industry of all nations; otherwise (he explained) the result would be that in many instances the piece of goods most entitled, from its intrinsic beauty, to carry off the prize in the competition, would be thrown into the shade by articles really inferior, but having the advantage of a b e tter dispo s iti on f or t h e purposes of display. The lecture was listened to with very great interest ; and at its close an animated discussion among the members ensued, in the course of which much additional information on various practical points connected with the subject was elicited by the auditory. T he thanks of the society were cordially voted to Professor Calvert, and the proceedings of the sitting shortly afterwards terminated. DETERIORATION OF COPPER AND SILVER COIN.— The licenced victuallers of the metropolis and its suburbs have literally been inundated with spurious silver coin, prin cipally halt-crowns, so beautifully moulded and finished off almost to defy detection. Vast numbers of drilled penny pieces and halfpence are also in circulation, of not half the current value—the copier coin of the Channel Islands, Jersey, Guernsey, and the Isle of Man, is also abundant. In short, Wood's copper or brass coinage, that called forth. the Draper's letters from Dean Swift, could not be more abo minable. With regard to the silver coin adverted to, many a licensed victualler unwittingly gives change for his own absent, or rather abstracted, quart pot ! It is, indeed, truly woneerful with what rapidity a " stray half- pint " is trans formed into a plausible-;ooking half-crown, or a melted handle of a pewter quart into a respectable looking shilling ! too, are numerous, and the u nwary rec i p i ent, instead o the right royal t we l ve o f V ictoria, c F o r n a i n e c s - o P tr itee wt receiving i s th ' onlya ten-penny Louis Philippe. The influx of foreigners, on the approaching great Exhibition, renders it necessary, particularly among the great body of licensed victuallers, that they should be upon their guard, for both internally and externally they have enough to contend with. Aarertiser. INSECT LlFE.—lnsects generally must lead a truly jovial life. Think what it must be to lodge ins lily. Ima gine a palace of ivory and pearl, with pillars of silver and capitals of gold, all exhaling such a perfume as never arose from human censer. Fancy, again, the fun of tucking them selves up for the night in the folds of a rose, rocked to sleep by the gentle sighs of summer air, nothing to do when you awake but to wash yourself in a dewdrop, and fall to eat your bed-clothes.—American Paper. DEATH OF COLONEL COCK, C.8.---This officer died in England on the 17th inst. He belonged to the East India Company's service, Bengal Presidency, and for his ser vices in the east w as i n 1838 nominated a Companion of the Bath. SUICIDE OF A DISSENTING MINISTER.—An inquest was held on Friday at Kidwelly, on the body of the Rev. William Davies, generally known as Mr. Davies, of Africa, from the circumstance of his having many years ago been engaged as a missionary at Sierra Leone, in connexion with the Wesleyan Missionary Society. It appeared by the evi dence adduced at the inquiry that for seven years the de ceased had been subject to occasional periods of great mental excitement, but during the last four months of his lite he became exceedingly depressed. It was likewise stated that his last marriage was a very infelicitous one. A verdict was returned to the effect that deceased committed suicide by hanging himself, he being at the time insane.—Swansea Herald. DARING ATTEMPT OF A DESERTER TO ESCAPE.- On Sunday evening a corporal and private of the 9th Foot were escorting a deserter from Mulli ngar to D ublin by the Midland Great Western Railway. When within about seven miles of the Dublin, and near Clonsilla station, the prisoner managed to relieve himself of the handcuffs, and having cautiously opened the carriage door, he jumped ou t. Th e corporal in charge on missing the prisoner at once made a spring out after him, although at the imminent risk of his life, the train going at the rate of fully 25 miles a n h our at the time. On the arrival of the train in Dublin th e matter was reported to the superintendent, who returned on an en gine to where the accident occurred, under th e i mpression that both parties must have been either killed or so disabled as to remain where they jumped out. On reaching the place he found both the corporal and prisoner quite safe, and pro ceeding on their march to Dublin. UNPLEASANT INVITATION.—The following was posted on the door of the Ludlow Church, in Hertfordshire, some time back :—" This is to give notice, that no person is to be buried in this churchyard but those living in the parish. Those who wish to be bui ied are desired to apply to me, Ephraim Grub, parish clerk." THE SAXON BLOOD.—Wherever the descendants of the Saxon race have gone, have sailed, or otherwise made their 'way, even to the remotest regions of the world, they have beau patient, persevering, never to be broken in spirit, never to be turned aside from enterprises on which they have resolved. In Europe, Asia, Africa, America, the whole world over; in the desert, in the forest, on the sea; scorched by a hurning sun, or frozen by ice that never melts, the Saxon blood remains unchanged. Wheresoever that race goes there law, and industry, and safety for lite and pro perty, and all the great results of steady perseverance, are Cettikta t 9 ArLs o .77 2) ichens'a Household Wordss THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY MONTHLY CONCERTS. ST. MARTIN'S HALL. The fourth of the series was given by Mr. Hulls!), last evening, when he produced Mendelssohn's oratorio, Elijah, with an effect and a success surpassing, perhaps, all his previous efforts. The great room of Si - . Martia's Long-acre, was crowded to the walls. In the un reserved seats there wes. not standing-room for one per son more, and a great many who wished to press in for their chance of accommodation were necessarily refused admission to that part of the hall; whereas the admis sion of a down more in the reserved seats would have seriously incommoded the occupants of that privileged portion of the funding. The audience, although so nu merous, was, strictly, in the received meaning of the word, select. Nor should we use the term "elegant" in a common-place signification, applying it to the com pany on this occasion, for the appearance and style, and the manifestations of practised and refined taste which marked their demeanour throughout the evening, call for the use of that epithet moat especially. Without any noisy applause, there was no lack of a sufficiently em phatic expression of high gratification throughout the surpassingly fine performance to satisfy all engaged in the production that their rare excellence in almost every particular was fully appreciated. Applause, indeed, there was —very much more than at any of the three previous concerts of this series. There were also several indications of a disposition to encore; but these received no encouragement from the great body of the audience, or from Mr. Hullah himself, and the great work proceeded from the overture to the magnificent close, in the final chorus of thanksgiving, with smoothness and perfection, rarely (if ever) before witnessed in the first production of so great and difficult a work. Mr. Mullah may well exult in pride of the ex cellence of his choir of pupils. Of the principal vocalists, Miss Williams, Mr. Weiss, and Mr. Lockey are so well known, that a word more of especial notice would be superfluous, beyond saying that they displayed their usual powers, but under circumstances and in a mood which actually compelled one to fancy for the time that these most accomplished and able singers had improved amazingly even upoa their previous excellence. There is no doubt that the performance of Miss ,Kearns is an improvement equal to that of ten years upon that of her MAI here in November last. In a fourth appearance, never was there known so surprising, so delightful a progress. As the child sent by the prophet to observe from the mountain whether there were signs of rain from, the sea, in replying to Elijah's question, " Hath my prayer been heard by the Lord?" her tone was delicious. " There is nothing," was ut tered in such pure notes—so child-like—so sweet—as to characterize the angelic youth that must be chosen as the interpreter of the Lord's will to his honoured ser vant, in that grand trial. Another soprano, Mrs. Ender shon (a pupil of Sir George Smart's), made a very triumphant deb4t, as was foreknown from the announce ment, for Mr. Hullah risks no failures. Miss Kent and Miss Gill distinguished themselves most creditably in the parts assigned to them, as did also Mr. Ilerberte and Mr. Buckland. On the whole, it is, seriously, not too much to declare that it was affirmed with truth, by those of last night's audience who had heard the ora torio under Mendelsshon's own conduct, that the glori ous work was never done so much justice to as at this hall. COWES, ISLE OF WIGHT. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) COWES, FEB. 19. LAUNCH OF A TURKISH STEAM-SHIP.— On Wednes day afternoon, at a quarter-past one, was launched from the ship-building yard of Messrs. John and Robert White, a splendid steamer for the Ottoman Government, in the presence of the Turkish admiral and captains and officers of the Ottoman squadron at Portsmouth. The steamer was named by the admiral " Shapere" with the accustomed ceremony, and on the dogshores being knocked away she glided along her ways to her destined element amid the hearty hurrahs from the spectators. This graceful model is 750 tons, with two masts, and was launched all a Canto, and is destined, like her three predecessors built by the same firm, to carry the Turkish mails between Constantinople, Smyrna, and the Black Sea. She will be placed in the Medina Dock to be cop pored, and then proceed to London to receive her en gines by Messrs. Mandslay and Co. SPORTING INTELLIGENCE. NEWMARKET SECOND OCTOBER MEETING, 1851.— THURSDAY. Sweepstakes of 200 sovs. each, h ft, A.F. Mr. Mangsn's Russborough, 4 yrs, Bst 71b—Duke of Bedford's Bordeaux, 4 yrs, Bst—Lord Stanley's Uric', 5 yrs, 7st Sib. BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH. SOUTHAMPTON, THURSDAY, 11.30 A.M. The Peninsular and Oriental Company's ship Indus, Captain Soy, is just signalled from Alexandria, with the East India, China, and Mediterranean mails. BURGLARY AND ATTEMPT TO MURDER AT WINDSOR.—This morning (Wednesday), at half-past one o'clock, the house of Mr. Tucker, the well-known verger of St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, who resides at No. 4, Clarence-road, was burglariously broken into by two nightly assassins, who effected an entrance through a side window at the basement of the house, forcing it with a jemmy. They first ransacked cupboards, chiffoniers, and drawers in the lower rooms of the house, and, not finding the object of their attack, proceeded upstairs with lighted candles, which one of them held whilst the other entered the respective sleeping apartments of Mr. Tucker and an elderly lady named Whittaker. Having first entered Mrs. Whittaker's apartment, she was awoke by the light and noise, and im mediately exclaimed " Who's that?" The fellow, in reply, said, " I'll let you know," and struck her a blow on the head with an iron instrument; he repeated the blow, Inflict ing two severe wounds, and with another blow broke her arm, which she held up to save her head. Mr. Tucker, on hearing Mrs. Whittaker's screams, jumped out of bed and ran to her assistance, but was met by the burglar, knocked down by a blow on the head, and on rising three consecutive times was knocked down, receiving four severe and dangerous wounds on the head, during which period Mrs. Whittaker endeavoured to throw up the window, screaming murder and police as well as her faint state would permit. The police were soon at hand, but the cowardly villains had decamped. Mr. Earangey was called in to attend the sufferers, who are in a most dangerous state. Mr. Tucker is upwards of 90 years of age. BURGLARIES.--THE CANNON GANG.—An investi gation before the county magistrates at Chatham, which lasted for three days, has terminated in the commitment for trial of George W eston, J. Thomas, and J. Clark, for a bur glary, on the 2d inst., at Graveney, near Faversham ; of George Weston and J. Clark, for breaking into Townsend's redoubt, in the fortifications at Chatham, in December last; of T. Wilson and his wife, for receiving goods stolen from a grocer's shop at Newington, near Sittingbourne, in January last, and also for receiving various other stolen goods, the produce of different burglaries. These two last-mentioned persons, it will be remembered, were landlord and landlady of the Cannon. In a great number of instances the stolen property was found in the private apartments of Mr. and Mrs. Wilson. A woman named llarriet Summers, who has been acting as lodgers' chambermaid at the Cannon, is proved to have sold or disposed of many of the stolen ar ticles. Superintendents Dunne and Everest have been inde fatigable in their exertions to detect the proceedings of this formidable gang, and to their labours the public are indebted that the offenders are about to be brought to justice. The former of these officers has also ascertained that the men who broke into Holford-house were in connexion with the gang at Chatham. TIItcEATENING SIR W. SOMERVILLE.—In the course of yesterday morning Sir \Villiam Somerville, M.P., Chief Secretary for Ireland, waited upon Mr. Broderip, at the Westminster Police. court, and having handed him some letters, the contents of which did not transpire, a warrant was immediately issued against the writer for threatening personal violence to the Right Honourable Baronet. The warrant was forthwith executed, when the accused, an Irishman of genteel appeafance and good address, gave his name, Samuel APCarthy. In the course of the inquiry it ap. peered that an imposition had been practised upon the de fendant which led him to apprehend that he had been ill used b the Right Honou ra bl e B aronet. Th e exp l anat i on appearing to be well found e d, Si r William Somerville did not v press the matter, and the defendant was discharged—the Magistrate observing that,• had it been proceeded with, good bail would have been required. SERIOUS FIRE AT LEEDS.-LEEDS, WEDNESDAY. —About nine o'clock on Tuesday night the warehouse of Mr. Fletcher, furniture-dealer, Kirkgate, was found to be on fire. Information was quickly conveyed to the police-office, and soon afterwards the fire-plug apparatus of the town was in full operation; but such was the combustible nature of the property, that notwithstanding a good supply of water, and every exertion, the fire was not subdued until the building had been completely gutted, and the furniture entirely destroyed. Considerable fear was felt for the safety of the adjoining property. Mr. Furness, druggist, had a warehouse contiguous to the one in question, containing a large quan tity of naptha ; but, from the well-directed exertions of those present, the fire was previnted from spreading. It is not known yet how the fire originated, but we may say that it is suspected that it was not the result of accident. The same premises were on fire a short time ago, and there were then strong suspicions on the part of the fire-offices of foul play. THE SAILORS' STRIKE AT LIVERPOOL-LIVER poor, WEDNESDAY.—The sailors in this port continue on strike, and perambulate the streets with music and flying flags. Yesterday Mr. Kenworthy, shipowner, obtained a warrant to bring up three seamen for not proceeding in the ship Lintin, when ready for sea. The crew were shipped, it appears, at the Sailors' Home on Friday, when they signed articles to be on board on the lith instant, two hours before high water, to proceed to sea. But the sailors now on strike mobbed the ship, and three men had to be taken off to her in a boat. The men complained that they had been intimi dated against joining her; and after lying in the river for two hours, with a steamer attached, the ship had to proceed to sea one man short of her complement. Mr. Rushton said the chairman of the Local Marine Board had called his atten tion to this vessel, and he had given such orders as would prevent future interference. THE LORD CHANCELLOR AND THE WELSH LAN GUAGE. - Some short time ago the Lord Chancellor presented the Rev. David Jeffrey, curate of Neath, in South Wales, to the rectory of Tir Newydd, in Anglesey, vacant by the death of the Rev. Rhys Hughes. Mr. Jeffrey is a Welshman, and well acquainted with his mother tongue; and in reference to this subject, it is asserted that the Lord Chancellor has ex pressed his intention of not bestowing any of his Welsh pa tronage on ministers who are not thoroughly proficient in and masters of the Welsh language. This was the first Welsh living which had fallen to the Chancellor for disposal, and the fact that it was given to a Welshman whose superior upialitications in his native language were well known is con sidered evidence of the Lord Chancellor's intention that clergymen shall understand the language spoken by the great majority of their flock. A BOLD CHALLENGE ACCEPTED.—Messrs. Thomas Tucker and Co., of Liverpool, ship-builders, have offered to accept the American challenge, to construct a Failing ship, of any size, to compete with one of the Yankee build ; and the owners of the winntg ship to gain the losing one. LADIE VEILS.—A celebrated writer on sight says that wearing veils permanently weakens many naturally good eyes, on account of the endeavours of the eye to adjust itself to the ceaseless vibration of that too common article of dress. Ladies, then, should beware of hiding their pretty eyes and faces with veils. EVENING, discussion on the more vital points of the Budget shall be taken forthwith. The Chancellor of the Exchequer is, therefore, the man for us. With the discussions which aro impending on the financial plans of Sir Charles, we should think him a desperate gambler who would bet in favour of a four weeks' existence of the Ministry. Taking the measures of the Noble Lord and the Right Hon. Gentleman together, the downfall of the Whig Administration may be regarded as a moral cer tainty. There is nothing of a contingent character about it. Lord Carlisle is a poet. If, therefore, he means to pen tho epitaph of the Whig Cabinet, it is high time ho were preparing himself for the task. The extinction of the Ministry will, :no doubt, be lamented by some parties. It would be strange if that Ministry, bad as it has been, had no friends. If it has no other parties to sorrow over its dissolution, it must have mourners among those whose situations will cease with it. Let, then, such persons prepare their tears; they will soon have occasion to shed them in profusion. The Budget of the Chancellor of the Exchequer is unique of its kind. It stands alone among all the financial statements cver made in the House of Commons. In the absurdity, the injustice, the iniquity of some of its more important provisions, it is altogether unprecedented. " None but itself can be its parallel." It were difficult to say whether the want of capacity or of justice be the more glaring defects in the measure. The union of the two attributes is singulary striking. Taking it altogether, "we ne'er shall look upon its like again." For the man who could propose, or the,Ministry who could sanction so outrageous a finan cial scheme, it is difficult to make any allowance. Both must be crushed by the measure. Mr. Disraeli and his Protectionist troops must be delighted with the Budget of Sir Charles. It is just the thing which the Opposition leader must have wished to have. No doubt he and they are already prepared to take advantage of the chance which Sir Charles has given them. The author of "Coningsby" must be already preparing for an onslaught. Let us give him a hint, leaving it optional with himself whether he adopt it or not. We know that he will not regret it if he do. What we would suggest is, that when the question of sanctioning the Bill for another three years comes before the House, Mr. Disraeli should be ready with a measure, either in the shape of an amendment, or a substantive motion, having for its object to protect precarious in comes against the unhallowed hand of the tax-gatherer. Let all professional men—those who spend their days and nights in unremitting and often uncertain labour, in their struggle to earn a livelihood, be exempted from the operation of this unjust and tyrannical tax. If the Member for Bucks cannot insure the support of his Pro tectionist forces, we will guarantee to him the aid of a sufficient number of Liberal Members, to render success a matter of certainty. Nor will he win by a narrow majority only. He will have a large majority in favour of his proposition—the first majority, we believe, he ever had since the commencement of his legislative career. We cannot suppose that Mr. Disraeli will lose so' favourable an opportunity of tripping up the heels of the Whig Cabinet, especially as, for once in his life, he will bo carrying out the wishes of the people, at the same time that he promotes the views of his party. Such a chance may not again occur in the legislative life of the Hon. Gentleman—not even if his Parliamentary existence were to be prolonged to the end of the present century. Should we, however, be wrong in assuming that the Member for Bucks will lead the opposition against the Ministerial proposal to renew the provisions of the property-tax as regards precarious incomes, we cannot doubt that some of the Liberal Members will. It is a thing which must be done. The term for which it is proposed to renew the income-tax, with _all its iniquities and injustice, is three years. One year's renewal would have been bad enough. A re newal for a period of three years is a thing not to be endured. It is an impost on men's minds—a tax on their bodies. To pay the tax on mere incomes derived from mental exertions, many myriads have to spin their brains at the imminent risk of impairing the faculty of reason. Myriads more are shortening their days by labours which break down the body as well as destroy the mind, in their anxiety to keep themselves and fami lies in a respectable position in society. To them the income-:ax is not only oppressive, but an act of abso lute cruelty—a piece of downright inhumanity. For such unhappy beings—persons in as deplorable a condi tion as can be imagined—Sir Charles Wood has no bowels of compassion. But the House of Commons has, and before a !fortnight has passed away the Right Honourable Gentleman will be furnished with a proof of legislative humanity, which neither he nor his colleagues in the Cabinet will altogether relish. THE SOUTH NOTTS ELECTION. The very severe contest which has taken place in South Nottinghamshire will no doubt be long remem bered on the banks of the Trent, for the excitement which it occasioned, the zeal with which the battle was fought, and the close hazard of the result. But there is considerable interest in the subject for those also who were not so immediately concerned in the struggle as the dwellers in Robin Hood's county. The success of Mr. Barrow points to an important fact in the history of our representative system. Fortunately, the grounds on which he received such energetic support are singularly cleared from the entanglement of any of the ordinary points of difference which are put forward as the rallying cries of electioneering contests. Nor was all this vehe mence excited, as was often the case in old times, by mere family or local rivalries. Both Lord Newark and his opponent came forward on ,tho same side of public questions. Both are unequivocal supporters of a pro. tective policy; both enunciated the same views on the absorbing topic of Papal aggression. In short there evas no political question of any moment—we might perhaps say no political question at all—which was at issue be tween them. Nor can it strictly be said to have been a personal question, except so far as Mr. Barrow was known to the constituency, while Lord Newark, we be lieve, although he is said to have materially improved his position in this respect during the contest, had been previously almost a stranger to them. But the social influences respectively represented by Lord Newarleand by Mr. Barrow were found sufficient, on the present oc casion, to bring about a more severe ned more exciting struggle than bas for a long time been afforded by a Parliamentary election. Of course, we may put away from us the standing stock of inanities which will fill some of our free-trade contemporaries up to the brim—we mean all those phrases about liberty of election, despotism of landlords, undue influence, and the like. In all constituencies, and through all time, wherever people are at all eager about the result, they will resort to such methods of persuasion and pressure as shall most easily suggest themselves; and these will be more or less unjustifiable in proportion as the canvassers are more or less regard less of the duty of doing to their neighbour as they would have their neighbour do to them. Those who think they can bring about a state of things in which they will so reconcile the right with the expedient, as to enable a man to obey the dictates of his conscience without danger of any inconvenience to any of his worldly interests, may perhaps agitate for the ballot as an instalment of such a blissful existence, regardless of all the objections to that measure; but as we are not only sceptical about the possibility of this Benthamite paradise, hut extremely doubtful as to the ballot being any approximation towards it, we are rot at all disposed to join these speculat , rs in blowing their bubbles. The recent contest in South Notte if it could be re garded es one between landlord and tenant, a colour which some are endeavouring to give to it, would not only be a very mischievous circumstance just now, but it would be unimportant from being necessarily excep tional; for the interests of landlord and tenant are much too closely connected to suffer scything like a permanent divergence. Nor, we aro boued to say, does it aprear that Mr. Barrow at all endeavoured to array class against class, and to put himself forward as peculiarly the re presentative of any one order among the electors. In this respect it is totally distinct from the ridiculous pretence at a contest, which some decoy farmers in the interest of the Manchester school are getting up in Bedfordshire, where a Mr. Houghton, who represents himself as a tenant-farmer, asks for the suf frages of the electors under the anomalously com bined characters of a Cobdenite, and a farmer's friend. The farmers, we may remark,l would not at all improve the condition of their cause, by returning men of their own class to the HOLM of Commons—even men whom they could trust, for we do not imagine for a mo ment that they would ever send representatives of Mr. Houghton's stamp. The men who would probably seek this office would be bad farmers, and worse legislators; and we are sure no man can be a good legislator who forgets his constitutional position as member of a deli berative council, and is willing to sink into that of the delegate of a class. But Mr. Barrow belongs by educa tion and habits to that body which may most reasonably be expected to furnish the leaders of our rural popula tion. He is a country gentleman, an active magistrate, and so forth. But it appears he is the architect of his own fortune, and the confidence which is reposed in him by a majority of the electors of South Nottinghamshire, is given to his personal ability and straightforwardness, not to all those various accidents which go to make up what is so well understood in England by the term " position." Now, it would be a great injury to our representative system if this latter source of recommendation were al together to fail of its effect. In fact, it can hardly so fail as long as England remains what it is. But suppos ing it could do so, it must arise from circumstances that would make the business of legislation in the Lower House a thing to be avoided by those who occupy the highest ranks in our social scale, and this would inevi tably tend to make it also cease to be the coveted prize of the highest merit of all kinds, and thus degrade the standard of men serving the office of legislator. It would be a misfortune we repeat, taking th e E ng li s h character as it stands, if the heir of the Pierrepointa, or the Clintons, or the Bentincks, did not come forward as a candidate for Nottinghamshire with a considerable pres tige in his favour. But on the the other hand, it must not be forgotten that it would also be a great misfortune if such men, by the mere weight of their lineage and station, could so occupy the representation of our counties, as to leave no opening for men capable of advantaging the country, and who deserve the opportunity of so doing, from inferior degrees of beady. Such a monopoly would not only be injurious to the composition of the House of Commons, but it would be not less so, perhaps, to the nobility itself. Much, too, depends on the par ticular condition of the period at which the two kinds of influence cerne into comparison. Personal qualifications will be more especially regarded at a time when strong political struggles are going on, when great interests are at stake, and greet questions are debated. Such is the case just now. The farmers throughout the country feel that their v e ry exist e nce as a c lass is hazarded, and they are fully aw a re that it is above all things important A to them to s ecure a ble a nd industrious champions. ct ir g on this conviction, they have selected Mr. Barrow as their Manger.—Post. 13 :Gpatello3 wore sent off yesterday from the Colonial offiee to the Governor of ceyloo, mad also to silo Gover- WM of Jawirlips. THE PRECIOUS BUDGET. SPIRIT of the PUBLIC JOURNALS. CHRONICLE.—We are not at present aware whe ther any foundation exists for the rumour'iot an ap preaching dissolution of Parliament. The circulation of inch reports is a familiar method of recalling wavering adherents to their allegiance, and if they - havo been countenanced by Ministers, it is more than piobable that a working majority in the present House teas a more immediate object than the problematical result of an ap vial to the constituencies. At the same time, the rash ness which, in Lord John Russell's character, is so sin gularly combined with timidity in carrying out reckless and hasty decisions, renders the desperate resort of a new election not improbable, as a mode of escaping from party difficulties. If any such plan is under considera tion, it would be well for those who have a voice in the decision to reflect on the entire absence of all the cir cumstances which render an appeal to the country con venient or necessary. It is true that the Ministry is in volved in serious difficulties, which may be expreassd in three, or rather in two propositions. It . is impossible that the sham anti-Aggression Bill can be carried. The Budget cannot be carried through the House of Com mons; and therefore it is difficult to conceive that the Chancellor of the Exchequer can retain his office. The anti-Papal difficulty is inherent in the pature of the question itself, although it has been complicated by the imbecility and insincerity which have characterized all the oscillations of the polemical policy of Ministers. It is possible that a dissolution might anticipate the entire subsidence of the ferment, which is nevertheless rapidly subsiding, among the gulled believers in the Durham Letter; but all the answer which could be given to a No-Popery appeal would amount at most to a declara tion that something must be done. If any consequence could result from so vague an aspiration, it is clear that it must be produced by more vigorous agency than that of the authors of the new prohibition of local titles. Lord Stanley could bid higher for ultra-Protes tant support ; and although we by no means attri bute to Mr. Disraeli or to the Duke of Richmond any enthusiastic desire for a new election, it is probable that the numerical gain would be greater to the Pro tectionists than to the thoroughgoing supporters of Ministers. Ireland, on the other hand, would return a larger proportion of Roman Catholics, all pledged to resist any encroachment on the freedom of their religion. The majority and the minority would be more directly opposed to one another 'than ever; and their relative numbers would not be materially changed. With the more immediate and pressing difficulty of the Budget, the constituencies would be still more incompe tent to deal. They would probably be unanimous in requiring a more politic plan, and in wishing for a more successful financier to frame it; but ageneral election cannot be decided on considerations of the relative merits of coffee and chicory. The House of Commons is fully competent to judge of the demerits of h proposal which is principally remarkable for the absence of any definite policy whatever. From the beginningeo the end of his speech, Sir Charles Wood abstained from enunciating any theory which could justify either the small and unsatisfactory changes which he proposed, or the im posts which he had determined to retain. Even the continuance of the income-tiks which was tho necessary foundation of his whole Budget, was announced in an apologetic and hesitating tone which could only encourage criticism and opposition. He had voted against it, be confessed, when Sir Robert Peel first proposed it; but le had afterwards thought that the imposition was justified by those great reforms in the tariff which it rendered possible. Further relief from indirect taxation was still possible and de sirable; and it might, by a natural inference, have fol lowed that the income-tax was to be retained to cover the commercial experiments which promise results not inferior to those of previous reductions. Sir Charles Wood proved to demonstration that the refusal of the income-tax would not only absorb the, surplus in futare, but would leave a positive deficit; but on his own show ing, a third of the tax might be removed, or the most unpopular schedules abandoned, without reducing the revenue below the expenditure; nor could there be any justification for maintaining it at its present rate, if no advantage was to be taken of the surplus which it afforded. The country will certainty not consent to bear any income-tax for the mere purpose of purchasing Three per Cents. at 96. The burden ie endured that the springs of consumption may be lightened, to the increase of the public and private resources of the country. The admission that it could only be justified as an instrument for reducing indirect taxation became equivalent to an invitation to reject the tax, from the, moment when it appeared that no serious reforms were to be proposed in the Customs or Excise. There is much to be said for and against the income-tax; bat the_ questions relating to it cannot safely be entrusted to the discretion of a Minister who appears scarcely to believe in the expedi ency of his own proposals, and who declines to undertake the policy which on his own showing is ne cessary to justify the impost. It is far from improbable that the supporters .of free trade and commercial reform may be compelled to support the position which the Finaece Minister so feebly defends, for the purpose of keeping the ground open for a perseverance in the policy which he has neither courage, skill, nor capacity to carry forward. The proposition for repealing the window-tax was brought forward with the same hesitating appearance of inviting defeat. The Chancellor of the Exchequer declared that house property was not unduly burdened; and if he slighly referred to the irregularities in the assessment of the window duties, and to the social evils which they are said to produce, it was difficult to under stand why, among many obnoxious taxes, he had selected an impost for abolition of which he entertained so favour able an opinion. Agreeing with him that house-owners are not entitled to monopolise a surplus of two millions, wo might have received with comparative satisfaction the announcement of a moderate house tait, to be levied in proportion to the value. The greatest evil in the win dow-tax consists in its inequality, and capricious gra duation is precisely that feature in tIA , system which is to be especially preserved in the new duty charged upon houses. A small house with .Imany windows is to pay more than a tenement of double value and fewer glazed openings; and, as if to makeehe injustice more glaring by contrast, new houses are-tube fairly assessed in comparison with one another, and therefore unfairly in comparison with the vast majority. of dwellings. The builder of a house worth 30/. a year, in addition to the ad vantage of untaxed brick and glass, is to be rated at an annual house duty of 11.10 s.—while his next neighbour, if he has the misfortune to have twenty windows, may be charged with three or four times the amount. This un just and impracticable arrangement will not be rendered more palatable by the Minister's dikttante explanation of his course. He had taken warning, he said, by his experience in the stamp duties, and he must decline to un dertake an adjustment of taxation, which might in some cases involve an increase of assessments Yet it seems the pe culiar duty of a financier, in bringing forward a new fiscal arrangement, to adjust, as far as po ss ibl e , t h e b ur d e n to th e ability, even at the risk of diss at i s f y i ng th e f ew w h o might be losers by an enforcement of justice. As if to answer even the feeble excuse which is offered, there arc actually certain cases in which, under the plan as it stands, taxation will be increased ; but these cases are isolated, and the grievance can in no instance affect the wealthy and powerful. The basis of the Budget, both in respect of the taxes which it retains and those which it modifies, has been rendered unsafe by the diffident position of its official advocate and author. Until the debates hare commenced —perhaps until divisions have been attempted —it will be difficult to judge whether the resources on which the Minister cal culates will really be left at his disposal. But, on the assumption that he has the surplus which appears oa the face of his statement, the most serious of all the charges against the Budget re mains—that he has frittered it way in peddling and petty modes of application, and has wasted a great op portunity. Sir Robert Peel tried.his bold and imecesstul experiments in the face of an alarming deficit. It would be unreasonable to expect that the how of Ulysses should be bent by feebler and more timid arms; but at least it might have been expected that a surplus revenue would be the means of conferring some benefit on the country. Entire branches of trade might be raised into prospe rity, and vast masses of the comMunity might find their enjoyments increased, by a wise disposal of the resources which are now at the command of the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the House of C ommons. It is not by b trying and then another, nor t ut satisfying them, that a skilful and far-seeing financier would make use of a good fortune which Sir Charles Wood seems to fear to bribe, e fi ir rs e t i o a n im e s in w te it r h e a s and deprecate from a conscious inability to turn it to account. ADVERTISER. — The Whig Ministry are in a help less and hopeless condition. Their greatest enemies must pity them. They have come to a dead fix; they have sunk so deep in the mire, that we see no human probability of their extrication. Even Hercules himself could hardly get them out of the mud. It is all their own doings. They have themselves alone to blame for the pretty predicament in which they are placed. Lord Stanley and Mr. Disraeli may severally apostrophise the Russell Administration in the words of Macbeth— " Thou canst not say I did it." We always predicted it would come to this. We have uniformly said, " Give theta rope enou g h . . The quota tion is too well known to require that it should be given at length. It would appear as if the Premier and Chan cellor of the Exchequer were just now running a race. It looks as if there were a regular competi tion between these two members of the Cabinet, as to who shall most speedily and most effectually damage, previous to destroying, the Whig Govern ment. Each is acquitting himself with great ability in his way. The Papal Aggression Bill of the Noble Lord and the Budget of the Right Hon. Gentleman, are re spectively very much adapted for the Purpose. Neither Minister could have been happier in his choice of instru mentality for destroying the kVhig Government. Which of the two is labouring in his vocation with the greatest success, is a point on which we find a difference of opi nion to prevail. It appears to many a neck-and neck race, so far as it has gone. between Lord John Russell and Sir Charles Wood. Either of the two would have sufficed to accomplish their object befor e any long time had elapsed. As both aro working in harness together, they cannot fail to do it in a very brief period. Our own opinion, if we must needs expr ess an Opinion, is, that Sir Charles Wood will be the winner. Others, we know, think different; but that will not diminish the strength of our faith in our own conclusions. Were we disposed to gamble, we would back the Right Hon. G en tl em an against the Noble Lord. At Tattersall's also, were bets to be taken in that celebrated locality, the odds, we are sure, would be in favour of the Right Hon. Gentleman. The Budget, we hold, will beat tee Papal Bill in precipitating the dissolution of the Ministry. The latter would have done the deed in the lose run, but the Budget will do it at once. The odds, in the estimation of others es well as in ours, are decidedle in favour of. Sir Charles. Lord John seeks to delay 1115 measure in its ygrioue stages. sir Outdo is determined that the LITERATURE. TRADITIONS of TUSCANY in Terse. By firs. D. Ogilvy. The same skilful pen which, some time back, cele brated in " a book of Highland Minstrelsy" the beautiful legends of the north country, has now been employed on a theme of similar interest, but of dif felynt attractions. Instead of heath-covered hills, we read of sunny landscapes, and in place of the exploits of the hardy mountaineers we have thrilling legends of crime and passion. Dissimilar in character are the Highlander and Italian, and equally dissimilar are their respective climates, as described by Mrs. Ogilvy in some lines on "A December Day in the Campagna : On Scottish graves the sncw is thick, Its flakes of wintry foliage cling Along the planetree's withered stick, That querulously moans for Spring. . But round the Roman Lady's Tomb That looks upon the Appia❑ Way, Geraniums scatter wilding bloom, And sunshine•loving lizards play. The mountains of my Scottish home Are labouring in December's storms, The driving mists, in wreaths of foam, Like vapory mantles, wrap their forms, But here Soracte pales the rose, The reddest rose that tempts the bee, And gleam the high Abruzzi snows, Like frigate-sails far out at sea. In Scottish Tow❑ from murky skies, The shiverer to his hearth repairs, Heaps up the blaze, the flagon plies, Forgets the cold and all his cares. Far different our December joy In the long heathy grass to muse, Until our ravished soul we cloy, Drinking the Noon's delicious hues. A dreamy and reflective mood, It gendereth our eyes to cast Here on the Peasant's cabin rude, There on the ReNcs of the Past,. The antechamber and the hall, Vaster than palaces—to lave A Caesar's luxury, and the small, Low niches where they Combed the slave. Slowly a long, long sigh we fetch, And turn away our saddened eyes To where the Volscian mountains stretch, Like violets budding in the skies. To where the nearer Sabine hills Reflect the Amethystine ray, And Alba with red life-blood fills - At the last kisses of the Day. • This man changed never—cannot change, The wolf-nursed Twins beheld it too, In their" fierce eyes yon mountain range Wore the same rich exhaustless hue. Trampled beneath the victor's hoof, No widow-weeds can Rome assume, Her raiment must be sunbeam woof, Her cheek bath everlasting bloom: Girdled she is with cestus rare, That must bewitch us through all time, Through all her misery and despair, Meet for the canvas and the rhyme! The traditions of Tuscany selected by Mrs. Ogilvy are the eventful history of "Bianca Cappello," ar ranged in a dramatic form, an d d escr ib e d w ith con siderable power; the often•told tale of "Madonna Pia," the victim of the Maremma ; " Camilla Mar telli ;" the jealous artist, "Andrea dal Castagno ;" " Ginevra Degli Anieri," and some others. Some passages from this last story afford a felicitous spe cimen of Mrs. Ogilvy's abilities as a ballad-writer :-- And at this her memory starting, Told what did her trance precede, How they wedded her repugnant, And protesting 'gainst the deed. How her spirits ebbed with anguish Till the tide of life ran dry, Till the sleepless nights of weeping Drained the moisture from her eye. How she stood before the altar Stunßed through every priestly prayer, Till the kiss of marriage slew her As the climax of despair. More returned not, sate this waking Cold, deserted on her bier, Friends and Bridegroom all forsaking In their selfishness of fear. " I will up and seek some dwelling," With affrighted sigh she said; " E'en my Husband's loveless bosom Will seem warmer than these Dead." Slow she reared her on her elbow Gasped an Ave in her need To the saintly-brewed Madonna, Saying, " Mary, bid me speed!" O'er her naked feet she gathered Her robe's amplitude of fold, On her brows the bridal chaplet Did her raven braids uphold. White and shining as New Salem Moving down to meet the Lamb, In the stream of holy moonlight, Visionary fair she swain. Cold the pavement to the pressing Of her small feet, bare of shoon, Al]! but colder was the welcome That repelled her all too soon ! In the deep and starry silence She bath found her husband's gate, On the outer threshold pausing Suddenly, afraid of Fate! The poetic legends are prefixed with brief expla nations of some of the historical events to which they relate. The most remarkable is the following, a striking instance of the evanescence of popular favour : " THE THREE ILLIININA.TIONS. " A few introductory words are needful to draw atten tion to the phenomena of these strangely-marked fes tivities; each of which was followed by the downfal of a sovereign. " In Paris I happened to witness the last Fite du Roi, May Ist, 1847, OA, seventy-fourth birthday of Louis Philippe. Everything then looked in profound repose, the army numerous and well-disciplined, commerce in creasing, the city newly encircled with her much-praised chain of forts, and the King in the flush of triumph of the Montpensier Marriage. Within a year, that King had fled; and the angry Parisians bad exiled for ever from France himself and the children for whose aggran dizement he had schemed so lucklessly. Paris was a scene of riot and bloodshed, and the rifled Tuileries con verted into an Hospital fur the wounded citizmp. " Pending these events, the Carnival at Rome was dragging out a more than usually stupid course. Men's minds were pre-occupied, and the interest felt in French affairs alarmed the already tottering Government of the Papacy. The fear of a disturbance made it prohibit the moccoli or tapers with which the gay crowd generally light out the last day of the merry-making. All strange reports aet e tile of detected conspiracies meant to have been exploddd in the hour of rejoicing. " But such had not well set in ere came from Vienna the tidings of its insurrection which inflamed the Ro mans into a frenzy of sympathy. They concluded the Austrian Eagle had now received a mortal wcund, and rushing to the Austrian Embassy they tore down the insignia of Hapsburg, and tying it to a donkey's tail, they set on the animal a hunchback, whom they saluted as Metternich, and in this guise proceeded to the Piazza del Popolo, where they made a bonfire of the escutcheon, with music, vivas, and waving of ladies' handkerchiefs. " That evening, without consulting Popo or Cardinal, in defiance of it being Lent, they lighted the whole city, and bore the Moccoli in triumph through the Corso. It was forbidden to blow out the lights as is usual with these tapers, and the political nature of the feats was only too apparent. Above the deep chaunt of Senza Moccoli, the ordinary reproach to those who neglect to carry a taper, there rose a perfect storm of vivas, shouts for Pio Nono, and cries of Death to Metternich.' One of the vivas for Pio Nono, added, President of the Italian Republic. Ominous hint for the Supreme Pontiff! Within a year the same voices which now called him saviour of Italy, reviled him as its betrayer: he, disguised in menial dress, was a fugitive, and abandoned by all who once idolized him. " Finally, in Florence, I was present at the illumina tion in honour of the capture of Pischiera from the Austrians. Carlo Alberto did not hold it long, only long enough for the Florentines to burn out their pretty lamps of oil enclosed in clear round globes of glass, brighter in consequence than the Roman fashion of en closing the light in a tinted lantern of oiled paper. Florence had lost many of her sons a day or two pre viously, but she forgot their equivocal fate in the excite ment of a festa, and I saw one palace sparkling whence an only son had gone to the in that inglorious war. Within one year, this third illumination was followed by a third flight of Kings. The gentle but misguided Prince deserted his capital, and a few wild demagogues swayed the city of the Medici. Where the gay lustre! glittered in the windows of the Pitti Palace, a red . cap of liberty, liberty, emblem of bygone horrors, insulted wi th , t , ts rude presence the desolate home of a homeless ru ler. EASTBURY ; a Tale. By Anne Harriet Drury, Authoress of "Friends and .Fortune." Pickering. Last Christmas, we noticed, in terms of cordial euloglum, Miss Drury's very excellent and delight. ful tale of "Friends and Fortune ;" and, this year, we are glad to have occasion to pronounce a rimilar commendation upon "Eastbury. P ossessing many of the attractive characteristics of its predecessor, 64 Eastbury" has pe culiarities of its own. • _ onf T u h smo e mreou a nd the characters introduced portray nar rative is of a deep er and more e nthralling interest, e are m v o a r l e somewhat peculiar an d more diversified. In the these characters the authoress evinces felicity. Some portions of the tale ares a painful, and some few of the personages somewhat r concerni ng th em, dt hti,seppul poweral s 3 i , t e ' e d ,. b u s t ,nrdh i e n t btehe chapterspa tpassagesho pathos whicho f the writ er are ere prefer, how ever, are of a more genial kind, among these is the Seymou a r pd fina i kind, ili, and composed co'lconspicuous among o th u the hospitable baronet as fra l n a k d , y, j e t s h e e u gentle,s Julia, shrewd grandmother, and the whosc. presence is as life-diffusing as a sunbeam. Contrasted with Julia ar c her widely-differing friends, th e quiet, plain J ever k one 13ernard, the curate 5 dolor i way and ever doiag.good, sad iiett trice Eustace, the beautiful and most unhappy heiress of the Hall. With these such a multitude of , minor but no t un i nterest i ng characters crowd upon I us, that we dismiss them without ennumeration, always excepting the hero, Lionel Revis, a more heroic character than heroes always are. How shall we give an inkling of the mysterious in tscaest of the tale, without revealing too much ? Rather than commit such an indiscretion, we leave it undisturbed, referring the curious to the pages of " Eastbury," where they will infallibly reap pleasure as well as profit. The very tone of the narrative has, moreover, a charm about it. Every page evinces the general sympathy and cheerful Christianity of the writer. Many of the most beautiful passages are evidently heart-spoken, and, as such, are possessed of an especial fascination. Miss Drury promises to prove one of our most valuable domestic novelists, if she be careful not to abandon for a r tifi c i al conven tionalities La. charming simplicity of style and sen timent. COURT CIRCULAR, His Royal Highness Prince Albert rode out on horse back yesterday morning, attended by Lieut.-Colonel the Hon. Alexander Gordon. The Royal Family took their usual exercise yesterday. Her Majesty and Prince Albert visited her Royal Highness the Duchess of Gloucester yesterday evening, at Gloucester-house. Her Majesty and his Royal High- Less were attended by the Countess cf Edgcumbe, Lord Charles Fitzroy, and Lieut.-Colonel the Hon. Alexander Gordon. Their Royal Highnesses the Duchess of Cambridge and the Princess Mary visited her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent yesterday at Clarence-house, St. James's. A deputation on the causes of the seamen's strike, consisting of Mr. Hume and Mr. Wawn, accompanied by the following delegates:—John Smith. from South Shields; Thomas Whit e , f rom North Shields; John Chalk, from Sunderland; and Robert Holman, from Hartlepool, had an interview with the Right Hon. Henry Labouchere yesterday at the Board of Trade. Colonel Phipps, of Dilton Court, Wilts, accompanied by Mr. James Wilson, M.P., had an interview with Sir George Grey yesterday at the Home-office, to present an address to her Majesty on the subject of the Papal aggression from a public meeting of the inhabitants of Warminster and the neighbourhood. A deputation from the Grand Junction and Regent's Canal Companies, on the subject of the London Coal Duties Bill, consisting of Sir John Yarde Buller, M.P., the Hon. Richard Cavendish, Mr. De Salis, Mr. Parker, Mr. Lyon, and Mr. Rogers, had an interview with Mr. Labouchere at the Board of Trade yesterday. The Transatlantic Packet Station Commission met yesterday at the Board of Trade. Present—Earl Gran ville (Chairman), the Hon. William Cowper, M.P., Sir James Gordon, K.C.8., Sir John F. Burgoyne, K.C.8., and Captain Stephenson Ellerby. Lord Hobart (Secre tary) also attended. Sir. French, M.P., bad an interview with Lord John Russell yesterday, at his official residence in Downing street. Mr. John Wood, Chairman of the Board of Inland Revenue, had an interview with the Chancellor of the Exchequer yesterday at his official residence in Down ing -street. The Cambridge University Commission met yesterday at the official residence of the First Lord of the Trea sury, Downing -street. Present—the Bishop of Chester, the Dean of Ely, the Rev. Professor Sedgwick, and the Rev. W. H. Bateson (Secretary). Lieutenant-Colonel Eyres had an interview Iwith Sir George Grey yesterday at the Home-office, to report on the staje of the Cosford Union-house. Sir Thcmas Fremantle, Chairman of the Board of Customs, had an interview with the Chancellor of the Exchequer yesterday. The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council sat yes terday; present—the Master of the Rolls, Baron Parke, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Cornwall, the Judge of the Admiralty Court, and Sir Edward Ryan. " Lamb v. Singh" (Bengal), " Newton v. Ricketts" (Prerogative Court, part-heard) concluded, and " Austin's Exten sion of Patent," were disposed of. " Baboo Sheodasa Narain v. Mussumat Kawalbas Kooer" (Bengal) was part-heard. NAVAL INTELLIGENCE. The appointment of Mr. Mills, master of 1829, to succeed Commander Henderson (on his retirement) as master attendant; and of Mr. Brown, of the Agincourt, master of 1831, to succeed Mr. Mills, as assistant-master attendant at Davenport Dockyard, have been made. Surgeon John Findlay (1846), to the Alecto steam sloop, fitting at Woolwich tcr the coast cf Africa. This officer's last appointment was to the Ferret on the same station, and we think in common fairness he was entitled to have a few years spell in a climate of a more salubri ous nature, unless he has volunteered to proceed again to the field of his former labours. Chief Engineer—John Snell to the ...‘lecto. Assistant Engineers—Alexander Brehner, W. IL Biden, and R. J. Sergeant, to the Alecto. Masters Assistant—David Moore, to the Blenheim screw• ship, 6. Porstmouth ; Charles M. Palmer and Frederick H. Buist to the Alecto; W. H. Cummings to the Bust - 1(e steam-packet, Woolwich. _ _ Mr. A. Gloguo, third-class clerk, of the Deptford vic tualling establishment, has been promoted t.l the second class vacancy et the Royal William victualling establish ment, btonehouse, vice Scott. This is a moat fair pro motion. Mr. Glogue has been a third-class clerk for 20 years. - SCALE OF DCCKYARD PRICES AND WAGES.—Mr. Newton, measurer of Devonport Dockyard, is ordered to Portsmouth to form one of the members of the committee of measurers, who are to assemble at that yard under Mr. Fincham, the master shipwright, for the purpose of comparing and arranging the returns from the dock yards preparatory to the assembling of the committee of master shipwrights to consider, and submit for their Lordships' adoption, the scale of prices for dockyard work, and also the accounts hereafter deemed advisable to be kept by measurers. Apollo, 8, troop-ship, Commander Rawatorne, left Sheerness on Tuesday. She is to call at Plymouth on her way to Cork, to embark troops. Birkenhead steam troop-ship, Master-Commander Salmond, went out to Spithead on Tuesday. She leeks all the better for her topgallant forecastle. The Sprightly, steam-tender, went out to her yesterday morning and took her newly•entered men on shore to the pay-office, to receive advance pay. The Birkenhead was to proceed to Cork yesterday afternoon to embark her troops. Virago steam-sloop, in charge of Mr. Henderson and party, returned to Devonport from Falmouth, with the Astrea store-ship in tow, on Monday afternoon. Crane, 6, packet-brig, has been taken into No. 2 dock, and the Cambria, 40, into No. 3 dock, at Devonport. Sampson, 6, steam-frigate, Captain Jones, her steam tender Bloodhound, and Pandora, 8, Commander Drury, were mustered, inspected, and paid advance at Devon port, on Monday, by Commodore Lord John Hay. Dirpatehes arrived for the Sampsnri on Tuesday morn ing—buz the wind being fresh from S.W. she did not sail. Topaz, old hulk, has gone alongside Portsmouth yard, to have her interior fitting removed, previous to her going up to Porchester Lake, as a tlistant target for the prac tice cf shot and shell from the Excellent. PORTSDIOUTII, WEDNESDAY.--The Consul, convict ship, and the American Eagle, New York packet, are wind hound at Spi:head. There was no sign of the Regcnt at noon this day. Commander St. Leger and the officers of her Ma jesty's steam-vessel Flamer, lately lost on the coast of Africa, came home passengers in the Ppnirvillar and Ori ental Company's steam-frigate Bentinck, which arrived at Southampton this morning, and came on to Ports mouth by railway. They now are on board the flag ship Victory, awaiting their trial by court-martial. By these arrivals we learn that Commander Patten, of the Hound, 10, was made Acting Flag-Captain to Com modore Faushawe, the Commander-in-Chief on the coast of Africa. Mr. George Biddlecombe, the master of the St. Vin cent, 120, Sze., is appointed to the St. George, 120, at Devonport. Theßoyal yacht schooner Zephyretta arrived yester day morning from Gibraltar, 20 days out. SHIP NEWS. fromSn iatua7S:jr:a Jack, Johns; ' LIVERPOOL, FEB. 19.—Wind IV.S.W., fresh.—Laura Ann sloop, of Caernarvon, for Lancaster, is on shore on the beach at Southport. Arrived —Joseph Wheeler, from Demerara; Invincible, from Virginia; St. Gtorge, from Savannah; Louise, from Stettin; Corkscrew, from Dunkirk; Tarn O'Shanter, from New Orleans; Carnatic, from Charleston • Conqueror and Siddons, from New York ; Alexander Grant and Adriatic, from New Orleans. GRAVESEND, FEE. 19.—Wind N., fresh, squally. Arrived—Ferosepore and President Ner Routeren, from Patras; Cerere, from Odessa; Incog nita, from Alexandria; Golden Reece, from from Calcutta; Ac's and Patriot, from St. Michael's; Barletta;Ostend; Albion, Livly, Jama i ca ; Earl of Newberry, from Santa Ba hi a; 'Sir Edwar E d d ß w a a n rd k , s, fr f o ro m m from from Boulogne ; Gustav Adolph, from Ancona; Sarah, Bordeaux; London Packet and Echo, ' from St. Michael's; Martha; Viper, from Denia; Magnet , f r o m Rouen; Eliza, from Palermo; Apollo, from Guernsey . Sailed—Stadt Dordrecht, fo r . D ordt; Magnet and Rainbow, for Rotterd • am, Roscommon and Dina for Harlingen; Sta n h ope, f or S • ' t. Michael's; Mountaineer, for S • . yra, Triton, for Ostend; Whampoa, for Singapore; Countess of Lonsdale, for Hamburgh. VESSELS SPOKEN WITH. Ame • rim ship Yeoman, Feb. 19, in lat. 48 N., long. 25 W. Ilenriette, bound east, Feb. 7, in lit. 48 N., long 22 W. Ellen Maria, Feb. 20, in lat. 50 N., long. 10 W. Steamer Euxins, steering south, Feb. 11, in lat. 39 N., long. 9 W. Barque Apollo, of London, from Demerara, Feb. 5, in lat. 43 N., long. 14 W., having lost her rudder. Brig Randolph, from Greenock for Pernambuco, Feb. 6, in lat. 48 N., long. 13 W., had kat bulwarks and jib boom. No. 6,529, second distinguishing pendant, Feb. 11, in Jet. 50 N., long. 14 W. Ship Osterly, steering to the flout`.-;test, F e b. 1, is 1 lat. 43 N., long 13 W. onel a partyssimilat is all pas s i on an d th e t; about as we ll as i ce an d fi o beM.e_caaEtictiihife,d,slgoowechhenescrjee,oi nuwrinl THE REPRESENTATION Or ST. ALBANS. —A peti tion from certain electors of St. Albans, complaining of the late election iu that borough, Was presented on Tuesday evening by Sir James Duke, and referred to the General Committee of Eleetiens. e unders tand that Alr, f.3hltjte Carden's friends eau p rg y e yery mons can isiot tip retina of M. 13e11.