The Sun. — London, England, 1853-03-22 00:00:00

COVENT-GARDEN, OY.A.L ITALIAN OPERA, The Directo rs of the Royal Italian Opera beg most respectfully to inform the no bility, gentry, subscribere, and the public, that the SEASON of 1853 will COMMENCE on Tuesday, March 29. _ ----- The ensuing Season will be the Seventh of the Royal Italian Opera; and whatever pride and gratification the Directors may naturally feel in making this announcement, they are not unmindful that it is to the generous and encouraging patronage of the Subscribers and the public, and to the loyalty and esprit de corps of the artistes of their establishment, as well as to their own individual exertions, they are indebted for the accomplishment of the object they have so unweariedly laboured to attain, viz., the permanent establishment of a Dr ;ulnae and Lyrical Institution worthy of this great metro polis. The Directors feel it is scarcely necessary for them to state that they intend still to pursue that path which has lad to these success ful results ; and they tt ust that their arrangements for the forthcom ing season, which they now have the honour to submit, will be received as an evidence of that intention. It will be seen that the great artistes who have so long held the higitist rank in public estimation still lend their valuable aid; that of those who last year appeared for the first time in England, the most promising have been retained, and that several others of great repu tationhave been added to the establishment. make a positive The Directors regret that they are not able to an nouncement Es to rho perforpiance of Mademoiselle Wagner during the coming season ; they Irby, however, entertain sanguine hopes that circumstances will permit of that lady's appearance, if it be only for a limited number of representations. The Repertoire of the Royal Italian Opera now comprises THIRTY INISE OPERAS, each of which is complete in scenery, costumes, as d appointments. SE MIR A.MIDE • • • Rossini. LA DONNA DEL LAGO Rossini. I2ITALIANA IN ALGIER Rossini. IL BART DI t , EVIGLIA..... • 11 Rossini . LA GA ZZA. LADRA.......... • • • • •.• ROSSilli IL TANCREDI ................. .: Ross nl . LA CENF.RENTOLA. ...• ••• • :• Rossini . G . I.TGLIEL3IO TELL.. ••• • • . Rossini: :NIGAE IN EGITTO (ZORA) OTELLO ..... Rossini. ,N,`..tNAM Verdi. I DUE F05CAR1............. ..... Verdi. NA.RUCO (ANA ro) ..... Verdi. LA SONNAMBULA •••• ..•• • Bellmi. I FURITANI •• . Bain!. I CAFITLETTI E MONTECCHI •• LES HUGUENOTS •.•....• Meyerbeer. ROBERT LE DIABLE • • 3leyerbeer. LE FROPHETE Meyerbeer. LUCIA DI L MMERMOOR .. • • Donizetti. L'ELSIR D'AMORE ••........•• •• •• Donizati. LUCREZIA BORGIA ..... •• •••• •• Donizettl. ANNA ItOLENA WARTA DI ROMAN •• •• ..•• Donizetti. LA FAVORITA ••..•• •• •••• •• ••;• •••• Dcnizetti. LINDA DI CHAMOUNI ...•• ..•• •• •• Donizettl. IMAR rum... ••••••••—•• ••..•••••• Dontzettl. IL FLAUTO MAGICO..•• •••• Mozart. DON GIOVANNI ............•.• Mozart. LE NOZZE DI FIGARO Mozart. MASANIELLO • •••••• Auber. IL MATRIMONIO SEGRETO ........ Cimarosa. LA JUIVE •••• •• •.. •••••• •• ......•• Halevy. DER FREISCHUTZ •• ••••............ Weber. F1DEL10........................8eeth0ven. PIETRO IL ........ Jullien During the Season, out of the following Operas, three will post tively be produced:— Spats Opera of JESSONDA. The kind and flattering reception accorded last season to the cele brated Dr. Spohr, on the occasion of the production of his opera of Faust, has enabled the directors to induce that great comp )ser once more to visit this country. Ms Opera of Jessonda, arranged for the Italian Stage expressly for the Royal Italian Opera, will therefore be produced under his immediate superintendence. Verdi's New Opera, RIGOLE T TO, de porformed with the greatest success at the Teatro de la Fenice , at Venice; and at the Imperial Opera of St. Petersburg. Rossini's Opera, MATILDA DI SHABRAN. Donizettra Grand Opera, DON SEBASTIAN, As performed at the Academic Royale at Paris, A New Opera, by Signor Bonetti, entitled JUANA SHORE. A grand Opera, by Hector Berlioz, entitled BENVENUTO CELLINI. The Engagements for the present Season are:— SOPRANI. Madam ORISI, Mademoiselle ANGELINA BOSIO, Madame CASTELLAN, Mademoiselle ALBINI (Tier first appearance in England). Mademoiselle DONZELLI (Her first appearance in England). Madame JULLIENNE, and Madame MEDORI (From the Imperial Theatres of St. Petersburg and Vienna ; her first appearance in England). CONTRALTO. Mademoiselle N kSTIER DIDIEE (F,om the Theatre Italien at Paris; her first appearance in England SECONDE DONNE, Mademoiselle corn, and Mademoiselle BEL !ANL TENOM. Signor MIRTO, Signor S'I'IGELLT, Signor LUIGI MEI, Signor SOLDI, Signor LITCHESI (From the Teatro della Scala, at Milan; his first appearance in England); and Signor TANIBEIZLIK. BASS! IlearroNf Signor RONCONI, • Sig no- ROMMI, and Signor ITELE'I TI (ills first appearance at the Royal Italian Opera). BASSI PROFOXDI. Herr FORMEs. Signor TAGLIAFICO. Signor POLON I;•11. Signor GREGOR 10, Signor RACIIE, and Monsieur ZE LGER. (His first appearance these three years.) The Orchestra and Chorus will exhibit the same high state of efficiency. DIRECTOR OF THE MUSIC, COMPOSER, AND CONDUCTOR, The Military Band will be under the superintendence of 24r. GODFREY. Mr. COSTA, Maestro al Piano . . (From the Teatro de:la Scala at Milan.) Prompter .. .. , Poet •• •• • • • . signor MONTERASI • . The department of the Ballet will, in accordance with the wish of many subscriher , , he rendered more attractive than heretofore; and Iltivertissements will he given on evenings when the d ura ti on o f th e Operas will permit. The engagements are— Mademoiselle MELINA MARMET (From the Teatro de la Fenice, at Venice), Mademoiselle BARVILLE, Mademoiselle KOLEMBERG, Mademoiselle TEREsA, Mademoiselle LER lEUX, and Mademoiselle MATHILDE LESSON (From the Academie Imperiale at Paris). Maitre de Ballet, Monsieur Desplaces (From the Academic linperialo at Paris). Leader of the Ballet, Mr. Alfred Mellan. Dircetorofthe Mise-en-Scene, Mr. A Harris. Scenic Artist, Mr. William Beverley (His Fir t Engagement at the Royal Italian Opera.) Costumier, Monlieur Leblond (From the Imperial Toeatre, St. Petersburg.) Costumiere, Madame Marizo. Decorator, Mr. Prescott. Machinist, Mr. Allen. • Tickets, Stall , , and Boxes, for the Night or Season, to be obtained at the Box-office o' the Theatre (corn or of flow-greet and Bart street) ; and at the principal libraries and musicsellers. The perf ;rmances will commence at Tight o'Clock on each evening. The Box-office is open from Eleven to Five o'Clock. Royal Italian Opera, Covent-garden, March, LEM. T HEATRE ROYAL, HAYMARKET. NEW MANAGEMENT So'e Lessee-31r JOHN B. BUCKSTONE, Brompfon•square. The pubic is respectfully informed that this Theatre will RE OPEN on EASTER MONDAY next, March 28, 1853, under an ewirely new management, the constant endeavour of which will be to sustain the long established character of this house as the first Theatre in the Metropolis, for the representation of English Comedy and Farce, with the occasional addition of such Entertainments as may be considered attractive. NOEICE —The duration of the present recess being too brief to ad mit of any alteration in front of the Curtain, it is therefore an nounced that the 1 beatre will undergo a thorough recair and re-decoration during the forthcoming summer vacation, from July Until October next, when a new stage will be laid down, and altera tions made in the building, founded on many suggestions forwarded by the patrons of this popular and tashionable place of amusement. On EASTE.II. MONDAY, March 28, 1853, will be presented a COMEDY, for the purpose of introducing several new candidates for popular favour. After which, an entirely New arid Original Ex travaganza, written by J. R. Manche, Esq., entitled MR. BUCK STONE'S AS , ENT OF MOUNT PARNA3SUS, the scenery of which will he painted by Mr Charles Marshall, who is engaged at this Establisho:ent, assisted by Mr. George Morris and Mr. Connor; with other performances, which will be duly announced. Orchestra s.rills (which may be retained the whole of the evening), ss. each: First Price—Boxes, 55.; pit, 35.; amphitheatre, 25.; gal lery, Gd. Second Price—Boxes, 3s. ; pit, 2s ; amphitheatre, Is.; gal sq. Doors to be opened at half-past six, the performances t o com , nce ttt seven, second price at nine. Frixate boxes, two giiuje'emeoB,B holding gu i nea and a half each. N.B.—A private box, cap alas, be secured at thea,bif Persons with a furnished ante-room attached, may also be hat on Office, price rive guineas Season tickets c_i • L a tion. I rivate boxes . to be k a h rn a the putdie libraries of Nfes ir . Rams, Seguin, Mitchell, HO draws, Ebers. Alicrott, &c, o a , n THE lIAXSI COMPANY Will consist of the followingK" Miss Helen Finie . it, who engaged established Favourites : Barry Sullivan, Miss Reynolds, wee is for a limited period. Mr. Compton, his first appearance here, iN . ,;g a ged at this Theatre. Mr.. appearance at this . ', T heatre. as, nen.„..B-_Loutsa Howard, her ' first in the drama at this Theatre. Mrs. sl',-jorri, his first appearance e t Park Theatre, New from the Theatres Royal York an T h v a m. Mr. Howe, Mrs Poynter, pearance in London. Mr. Chippendale, tro m ii i or °Och—her fiat ap- . York—his first appearance here. Miss Ellen first pearance in the Haymarket Theatre. M r . her first ap this Theatre. Mrs. Stanley."' first appearance at Farren, his gaged. Mr. Tilbury, who is also re-engaged, 3144 w it h „t is re-en non her first appearance in London. Mr. Rogers, milsta re-en her , fl rst appearance at this Theatre. M . . r. Arthur p a y ne ''''', l , !omer, appearanc9 in London. Miss Amelia Vining, Mr. Clark, g iri : s field. Mr. Caulfield, Miss Eleanor Broml ey , from the Th eatre to nal. Drury-lane. 31r. Coe, Miss Gr ace Leslie, her first app earau rl. London. Mr. Braid, Miss Laidla w, from the Lyceum Theatre. 1411 Fitzwiniam, Mr. Buckstone, Miss I. Woulds, Mr. Ellis, Miss Dar: ve, Miss A. Woul. 4 s, Mr. Hilton, Mrs. Coe, Miss Archer, Mr. Wit teny, Miss Grantham, &c., and a numerous Corps de Ballet. %Thu. from time to time such important additions will be made, as win not only strengthen the Company, but render every member of it exclu sively belonging to this Theatre. Stage Manager—Mr. Chippendale. Musical Director—Mr. Edward The following Novelties will be produced in due succession An Extravaganza, by J. R. Planehe, Esq. A Comedy by Robert Salivan, Esq., author of " The Beggar on Horseback," and " The Old Lova and the New." A Play, by Robert Browning, Esq., author of " Paraceisus," Re.—and in whleh Miss Helen Faucit will appear. A Comedy, by Tom Taylor, Esq , author of " To Parents and Guardians ," and one of the authors of " Mask , : and Faces." A Farce, by Thomas Morton, Esq. A Comedy, by Palgrave Simpson, Esq., Author of .. Poor Consin•Walter." A Drama, by J. R. Blanche, Esq. A Comedy, by Morris Barnett. Esq , author of " The Serious Family," &c. A Comedy, by Stirling Coyae, Esq, A Drama, by Douglas Jerrold, tifice will he opened on Tlinrsday next, the 24th March, lotion of Mr. Turpin, who will personally attend daily, is respectfully requested to observe that a new and corn boa-keepers having been engaged, it is requested that civilities be offered by them, they may be reported to while to insure a proper regulation in the business of lee, no Evening will be announced for the First anY New niece, tin t 3 the Management is convinced no postOonemedt. LONDON, TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 1853. The trial which has just taken place at King. ston, of the parties concerned in the Egham duel (a full report whereof will be found in another part of this day's impression), affords additional and very powerful corroboration to the assertion, that too stringent enactments are calculated to defeat their own objects, and that juries will fre quently —nay, habitually—interpose between the undue severity of the law and the prisoners on trial, so as to protect the latter from the penal consequences of comparatively venial violations of the criminal code. It was in cases of duelling especially, that the sympathies were so strongly excited, and that juries invariably disregarded the charge of the presiding Judge, refusing to find that parties, engaged in a fair encounter, Where the life of one was set against the other, were guilty of wilful and deliberate murder if there should have been a fatal result to the meeting. The so-called laws of honour and the law of the land were diametrically opposed to each other, and the - wisest, the best of our statesmen, of our naval and military celebrities, yielded to the fashion of the day, and engaged in transac tions which might have led to their igno minious execution upon the gallows. It is suf ficient to say that the late Duke of WELLINGTON-- the Iron Duke—the hero of a hundred fights —a man of whose personal courage there could have been no possible doubt, was not satisfied to rest on his well:established reputation ; but, although a sexagenarian, deemed it essential to demand " satisfaction," for what he conceived to be an imputation on his honour ; and that his distin guished successor at the Horse Guards—Viscount HARDINGE—aided add abetted him in his offence, by consenting to act as his second on the occasion. Sir ROBERT PEEL called Out Mr. O ' CONNELL, and the invitation was only refused because the chal- lenged had, but a few years previously, stained his hands with the blood of his opponent—Mr. DESTERRE—a catastrophe which, we have reason to believe, excited the deepest contrition in the mind of the Liberator to the last hour of his existence. And yet, when these occurrences took place, the law was precisely the same as it is at present, and as it was when Lieutenant MUNRO was convicted of wilful and deliberate • murder at the Old Bailey. What would the people of England think if the names of WELLING TON and HARDINGE—Of PEEL and O'CONNELL-OT, going a little farther back, of CANNING and CASTLEREAGH, CURRAN and GRATTAN, had been inscribed in the Newgate Calendar as murderers— wilful and deliberate murderers —who had expi ated their offences on the scaffold, or, through the interposition of the Royal prerogative of mercy, in perpetual exile from their native land. There must have been something rotten in the state of affairs that placed such men in opposition to the law on one point, of which they were in all other respects the most strenuous supporters. There must have been something radically wrong in the enactments, which juries repeatedly, almost invariably, refused to lend their aid in carrying into execution—violating their oaths rather than become participators in what they conceived to be the infliction of a still greater wrong on the parties on trial. A healthier and a better state of feeling, how ever, arose. Public opinion became opposed to the " monontacitia," or single combat. Juries were found to execute their painful duties faith fully and truly ; and the case of Lieutenant MUNRO, on which we have repeatedly commented, proved that there might be a capital conviction although there had been no foul play—nothing unfair in the management of the duel, and the survivor had done all in his power to avoid the painful alternative. This conviction gave a heavy blow and a great discouragement to the practice of duelling—none could be found willing to brave the fearful results of a conviction ; and even if men allowed their passions so far to pre vail over their reason, they could not find friends, real or nominal, to act as seconds. The conse quences were too formidable to be lightly encoun tered, duelling became obselete, and the efforts that were made to revive the objectionable prac tice only entailed ridicule and contempt on those trying the experiment. in which foreigners completely altered. A duel,English This salutary state of affairs has, however,. been only were engaged —men ignorant law and English feeling on the matter—had a alike of fatal termination. Nothing could, we believe, have been fairer than the entire transaction. We fully and completely exonerate the parties con cerned from anything that could create the slightest suspicion of foul play; and, so far as they are the personally concerned, we re j o i ce that y have been practically exempted from the more stringent consequences of the offence in which they were implicated. The Learned Judge who presided laid down the law clearly and un equivocally: went * lie declar e d t h at, " if two or more l)erson s out togeth er armed with deadly weapons, for the purpose of committi ng an unlaw ful act, which fighting a duel und ou bt edly was, and the death of one of the parties ens ue d , it was in murder, in every o ne of the parties conneoted w ith the eye of the law the transaction, and that it applied equally to the seconds of the deceased as well as those of the survivor---that all should be held responsible for that which might be re garded as the natural result of the act they were about to commit." The only real questions for their consideration then were—Did a duel take place? Was the deceased wounded in that duel ? "Was that wound the cause of his death? Aid were the defendants engaged therein.? There should then have been either a conviction on the entire charge or an absolute acquittal. There was no intermediate course, no compromise, that could properly be adopted. They might as well have returned a verdict of petty larceny, or libel, as of manslaughter. We fear that the effect of the verdict and the sentence (two months' imprison ment) will be to bring duelling again into fashion. We would, therefore, once more urge the neces sity of special legislation on the subject--of an enactment rendering duelling a grave misde meanour, punishable with fine and imprison ment, no matter what might be the result, and making all parties in any degree concerned, either at the meeting or as acoessaries before the fact, liable. The power of adding " hard labour " at the discretion of the presiding Judge would be exceedingly beneficial, so as to prevent single com bats on trivial, or insufficient, or indeed on any grounds, and to restore matters to the same state that they had been before these refugees engaged in the transaction which led to the investigation at Kingston, to which we have considered it our imperative duty to direct the public attention. A NATIONAL GALLERY --worthy of the name— has, at length, we rejoice to think, come to be re garded as a necessity. By the word " gallery" we mean both the casket and its contents--we imply under the phrase " national gallery" both the splendour of the edifice and the completeness of the collection. As matters stand at present it is really painful and humiliating to reflect how England is situated in regard to Art. Although the wealthiest country in the world, she has—the fact is notorious—the poorest collection of paint ings of all the great Powers of Christendom. Not merely the poorest collection of paintings, but the most miserable edifice that could possibly (with such a purpose in view) have been con structed for their conservation. Look at it. Look at that architectural masterpiece (I) on " the finest site in Europe," (! !) and then examine its pictorial treasures. (! !!) The disgrace reflected upon the nation by all this is known 'to every intelligent man to be of the most flagrant character imaginable. Externally there are two or three stone pepper-castors on the top of a tasteless structure, devoid even of the merit of a moderately good elevation. Internally there are half-a-dozen apartments, in differently furnished with pictures, some of them of very questionable authenticity, selected obvi ously without much regard to intrinsic excellence, and disposed round the walls apparently without any eye to symmetry of arrangement. And this is the National Gallery of the United liingdoni I Compare it with almost any one of the large Galleries on the Continent. Compare it with the Louvre at Paris—with the Royal Museum at Berlin—or with that of Munich, the famous Pinacothek ! Why, the shame of the contrast is something ignominious. Here scantiness, and there profusion ; here parsimony, and there munificence ; here confusion and meanness, there order and magnificence. Those are the results of even the most cursory and superficial comparison. Never let us brag again of our fine taste as a people, so long as that fine taste continues to be mainly ex emplified by those abominations of Trafalgar square, by that execrable building, and that me lancholy collection. Until we have turned over a new leaf in this particular, we ought to be a trifle more circumspect in putting in our claims to the merits of artistic fastidiousness. England, too, ought surely by right to assume a nobler position among the national patrons of Art—Art having found some of its most illus trious cultivators among the ranks of her more gifted children. Yes : for in the revelation of original genius in Art, the Anglo-Saxon race has approved itself scarcely inferior to the most elevated of its distinguished. contemporaries. Yielding, of course, to Italy, to Spain, and to Flanders, the glory of their pre-eminent reputa tion ! Setting aside, as altogether out of the category of comparison, the works of some among the loftier masters, the products of an age more classic and more ambitious-- " Whate'er Lorraine light touched with softening hue, Or savage Rosa dashed, or learned Poussin drew ?" Putting altogether aside the pioneers of the golden revival of the art of APELLEs—setting apart the whole of that glorious catalogue of ori ginators from CIMARITE to GIOTTO, and from MA SACCIO to PERuoiNo—above all, avoiding any more direct reference to the designing of DA VINCI, the colouring of GIORGIONE, the grace of CbRREGIO, the grandeur of MICHAEL ANGELO, and the divine and matchless excellences combined iu the incomparable RAFFAELLE—We may still ven ture to regard some among the higher departments of modern art as not having been wholly mono polised by foreign competitors to the exclusion of every Englishman. The time has arrived when we may speak thus without treason to the purer schools of the Roman Peninsula. The day has come when we may presume to express opinions such as these without necessarily being charged with a sort of poetic laze-majeste to the Gods of the Brush at Bologna or at Florence. Happily, we may dare to speak thus nowadays, without being accused of depreciating the supreme merit of such men as SARTO or PIOMBO, as TINTO RETTO or DOMENICHINO, as TITIAN or the CARAC- cis, men like PARMEGIANO, and PAUL-VERONESE, and RUBENS, and VANDYCK, and REMBRANDT, ---) and SALVATOR, and CLAUDE, and GUIDO, and VELASQUEZ. Reverencing their fame according to the respective value of their productions, we may yet be permitted to claim a certain degree of consideration for our fellow-countrymen. If England has no TENIERS--she has a HOGARTH. If she has no OSATADE--She has a WILKIE. If she never possessed a CANALETTO— she has produced a TURNER. Descending to the lowlier departments, to the delineation of fruit and of animals—we have a LANCE if we are with out an UNDINA, and a LANDSEER if we are with out a SNYDERS. Ascending again to the loftier schools of art—if France had her DAVID, had not England her ETTY ? Throughout the whole list we might advance, name by name, without shrink- ing iu any one instance from the comparison— alludinc, to the artistic histo r y o f a race illus . . . _ _ rated by the labours of a CONSTABLE, a REY NOLDS, a WEST, a COLLINS, and a GAINSBOROUGH. Allusion to the chiefs among our living masters might be invidious ; yet among their names, too, we might find abundant corroboration. So has it been in Art with England—England disgraced by her National Gallery, while so much might have been expected from a country numbering a HOGARTH and a TURNER among her painters, a FLAXMAN and a GIBSON among her sculptors, a WREN and a PUGIN among her architects ! Thank Heaven, however, there now appears some probability of a change for the better in this particular. Already we have gained the irov cr.°, for a noble enterprise between Brompton and Ken- sin,g-ton. Already, moreover, we have witnessed ;he index finger of a living master pointed steadily in the right—meaning, of course, the onward—di rection, one of our gifted Royal Academicians _ .. having in this important matter, and at this criti- cal juncture, ventured upon the somewhat unin viting labours of a censorious pamphleteer.* * " The National Gallery : its Formation and Manage ment. Considered in a Letter, addressed, by permission, to H. R. H. The Prince Albert, K.G., &c., &c. By Wil liam Dyce, R.A." Bvo. pp. 84. Chapman and Hall. London, 1853. EMIGRATION TO AUSTRALIA.—The departures from the port of London for the Australian colonies during the past week have again been more numerous than ever. They consisted of nine vessels to Port Philip, with an aggregafe burden of 3,740 tons ; three to Sydney, with an aggregate burden of 1,160 tons ; two to Hobart-town with an aggregate burden of 829 tons ; one to Adelaide, of 680 tons ; and one to Launceston, of 213 tons. Their total capacity was, consequently, 6,622 tons. Consider able shipments are still made of manufactured goods and general merchandise, but no essential change has occurred in the rates of freight. Big. ' ' . - The Box OM 1,....:7;,..,\1:.) under the dire; ,i7,- -- ria u - : - 11., m 10t11 5 . '" - - --- 7 4. 'd.;* 4 he public 1: ~.. „.. . • ta ll of %:::-,,101-j' \ 1 " %'. . b ±-5 ... A ~:•• tfl.' . . narnpYtnuleNil t , .;, • t r.... .,.. • 1 ort zr , . x Off!' ~,.., not i k 31 1 elfaxt ban, • . , . 5i9 2 • ir io ? IRV ) , ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE, OXFORD-STREET. Under the Management of Mr. Charles Kean. On EASTER MONDAY, MARCR 28, Will be performed the Tragedy of MACBETH. After which will be produced a new Drama, adapted from the the French of Mons. Scribe, by Mr. Pa:grave Simpson, called MARCO SPADA. Principal characters by Messrs. W. Lacy, J. Vining, Ryder, Graham, and Everett; Mi!s Heath and Miss C. Leclercq. GENERAL SCREW STEAM SHIPPING CO MPANY. NOTICE Is HEREBY GIVEN, That this Company's Auxiliary Iron Screw Steam-ship ARGO, 1,850 tons, George Hyde, Commander, will leave Southampton for PORT PHILIP and SYDNEY on W EDNES DAY, the 4th of May next. The accommodation is of a superior description, and the cabins are folly furnished. Tho rates of passage money—After Cabin, first class, 80/. ; Fore Cabin, second class. 501. These rates are exclusive of wines, beer, and spiritous liquors, which, however, may be had on board at moderate prices. The ship will carry an experienced surgeon. Applications for passage to be made at the Company's Offices, 2 . Royal Exchange-buildings ; and for freight and parcels, to Messrs. Balfour, Laming, and Owen, 16, St. Mary-axe. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. THIS DAY —Morning 0 min. after 0 I Evening 6 min.aft. 12 To-Mmutow—Morning 34 min. after 12 Evening 57 min.aft. 12 DAILY WEATHER TABLE. TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 1853. State of the wind and weather at each of the following rlaces at nine o'clock yesterday morning. The stations are arranged in order of latitude. HASTlNGS—Calm—partially cloudy. SOUTHAMPTON—W., gentle breeze—overcast. TUNBRIDGE—N.E., calm—overcast. BASINGSTOKE—N.W., gentle breeze—overcast. GREENWICH—W., gentle breeze—overcast. STROOD—W.,_ calm—snow. SWINDON—W.. light airs—cloudy. CAMBRIDGE—W., gentle breeze—partially cloudy. HOLYHEAD—N., strong breeze—showery. LANCASTER—N., strong breeze— snow. The returns from the following places indicate the state of the weather on Saturday morning at nine o'clock : HOLYHEAD—E. ' gentle breeze—hard frost. LANCASTER — N., gentle breeze—cloudless. DARLINGTON—is.W., strong breeze—cloudy, strong frost. SHAP—N., strong breeze—principally clear—hard frost. THE WEATHER.—SuN OFFICE, Mellen 22. THERMOMETER, IN THE SHADE. 35—highest since noon yesterday. 25 —lowest this morning and during the night. 36 this day at noon. BAROMETER, 29 . 91. WIND, N.E.—Sharp breeze and cloudy—sunshine. THE PUBLICATION OF " THE SUN" COMMENCES EVERY AFTERNOON AT THREE O'CLOCK, AND TUB LATE OR THIRD EDITION, CONTAINING THE DEBATES IN PARMA AT ENT THE SAME EVENING, With all other News arriving up to the hour of Post, AT SEVEN O'CLOCK. EXPRESS EDITIONS will be forwarded after the Post is closed by the Latest Trains. ~~je ~` ~~a THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, MARCH 22, 1853. MONEY AND COMMERCIAL NE WS. All tonnage dues, with the exception of lighthouse dues, a relief of Hereditament tax, at 6d, in the pound Income-tax The additt-nal 16,000 „ 9,000 „ pie . imports And tax on stock and wheels £62,500 The mercantile advices from the Continent are not of special interest. At the meeting of the Maria Antonia Railway this day, a dividend of three shillings on the old shares, and one shilling on the new shares was de clared. The accounts showed a balance of 7,0261. 4s. 4d. The chairman regretted the smallness of the passenger traffic in spite of the line being further opened, but hoped it would improve as the other lines were completed. The Committee of Spanish Bondholders have recei*ed the following : " Guayaquil, Jan. 26, 1853. " I avail myself of an opportunity, via Panama, to inform you that the Government have received a dispatch from the Government of the province of Manahi, an nouncing that a gold mine had been discovered at a place called Jama, and that a commission had been dispatched to ascertain the extent of the same, the results of which I expect I shall be able to report to you by the steamer of . Ist proximo. " Private letters differ as to its importance, dome stating it to be inexhaustible, others admitting it is ex tensive ; beyond a doubt, the people from that district are flowing thither, in spite of bad roads and heavy rains. " Either by land or sea, it requires about seven days to reach Jama from this. "I have commenced my conferences with the commis sioners for regulating the debt, on which I hope to report by the steamers." . " Guayaquil, Ist February, 1853. "I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your favour of Ist Dec., and beg to enclose duplicates of my last respects. "As yet, nothing further is known about the gold mine. The public opinion is now not so sanguine as at first, but we must await the result of the commission sent out by the Government of Manalie. " As yet I have not been able to come to any settle ment with the commissioners—they made me a proposal so entirely inadmissible that I considered it my duty to reject it at once, since which we have not met. His Excellency General Urbinia assures me that he will urge on a settlement on an equitable basis. The commis sioners insist on even more favourable terms than those of New Grenada, and also what they will propose as an ultimatum, must have the sanction of the ensuing Con gress, which is to meet in Quito next September." The English Stock Market has taken an upward course again, and the much more tranquillising character of the news from Constantinople has an excellent effect. The speculators for a fall are not likely, however, to buy back yet, anticipating many contingencies before settling day, and asserting that the French Government is endeavouring to put a better face on matters than circumstances warrant. On the other hand, and among disinterested parties, there is no apprehension of hostilities. Consols have been quoted 994 f, and are now about 99# for transfer. For account the transac. tions have been at 99i to I, and at one period there were buyers at nearly the highest of these rates. Exchequer Bills have been marked 14s. premium for those of June, and Bs. for those dated March. East India Bonds are 40s. premium. South Sea Stock has been done at 110. Foreign Stocks have rallied partially, but are yet unsteady. Spanish Deferred Bonds have been 24k /, and the Three per Cents. 49. Portuguese Four per Cents. are 38k to Mexican Stock is worth 25 to I t . The Peruvian New 4i- per Cents., paid up, have been done at 88i. Brazilian Five per Cents. are 1031. Sardinian Bonds have been up to 95 to 96. Austrian Stock is at 99, and Russian Five per Cents. have been 1181 to 1.191 ex div., a rise of 1 to _2 per cent. _ _ The Railway Share Market has recovered the fall of yesterday, and, although the dealings are limited, holders refrain from pressing sales. The principal transactions have been in Great Western, North-Western, Midland, and Lancashire, and Yorkshire. French Shares are up full 11, upon Northern, Strasburg, and Lyons ; Sambre and Meuse, are higher. The Gold Mine Shares are rather looking up, and the favourable advices received by the Colonial Gold Company, inspire more confidence in Aus tralian undertakings. The Land Companies Shares are rather higher, most being done in British American Land, and South Australian and Van Diemen's Land. The Australian Bank Shares have advanced, and also the Oriental. BRITISH FUNDS THIS DAY. (From the Official List.) Business done. 3 per Cent. Consols Annuities Long Annuities, Expire sth Jan., 1860 — Ditto 30 Years, Expire sth Jan., 1860 6 3-16 India Bonds, £lOOO — Ditto, under £lOOO 4O South Sea Stock Bank Stock for Account 229 Consols for Account 13th April Exchequer Bills, 13d. Juno. Mar c h. moo. , l4 8 £5OO ........................ . Small l4 PRICE OF FOREIGN FUNDS THIS DAY. Austrian Bonds, 5 per Cent. .......... 99 Brazilian Bonds, 5 per Cent.lo34 Ditto New, 1852, 4i per Cent 9Bt Equador Bonds si Grenada Bonds, Deferred, Mexican 3 per Cent.....• .... Peruvian 41 per Cent BBl Ditto for the Account Portuguese 4 per Cent. Russian Bonds, 5 per Cent Ditto, 41 per cent. lO3l 3 Sardinian Bonds, 5 per Cent............ Spanish Bonds, 3 per Cent 49 Ditto for the Account 494 Spanish New Deferred, 3 per Cent 24 i Ditto for the Account 241 Spanish Committee Cert. of Coup. not fun 8 p a Turkish Loan, 6 per Cent., 1852 1 a P Dutch Exchange 21 per Cent — Ditto 4 per Cent. Certificates... THREE O'CLOCK. Consols . ............ 991 a ! ............... - Ditto April Account. 991 t We are re quested to state that, on the recommenda tion of Lord Palm ers t on, her .Majesty has granted a free pardon to P axton and Wynn, who were convicted at the January sessions of the Central Criminal Court. SCARCITY OF SERVANTS IN LONDON.—No less than forty applications for female servants, have recently been made to the master of the Marylebone Workhouse, who cannot recommend one from the house, although its in mates numbe r 1,8 20. The master states, that so viciously inclined are the young females in the workhouse, that they are no soone r sup plied with situati ons , th an th ey leave their service and return again to the workhouse. And that Within last week three girls, after enduring imprisonment for mi scon d uc t while in se rv i ce , c l a i me d and obtained admission to the house. Upon examining the books , h e f ound that the cont i nuance of workhouse girls in service, did not average more than a week. To meet this evil the guardians have resolved to erect a re fractory ward for such girls. THE CHURCH ESTATES COMMISSIONERS.--The Com missioners, appointed under the " Episcopal and Capi tular Estates Act," have just made their second report. They state that since the facilities for enfranchisement afforded by the act have become more generally understood, they have received numerous applica tions for their sanction to agreements conditionally entered into by ecclesiastical corporations with their lessees. During the present year, they have ap proved the terms agreed on in ninety-seven cases for the sale of reversions, and in eight cases for the pur chase of leaseh o ld interests. The value in fee of the leasehold estates, enfranchised by these sales and pur chases, exceeds the sum of 650,00/., and they add, that they hrve reason )o expect that the enfranchisement of their estates will be shortly proceeded with by several other ecclesiastical corporations, to a c onsiderable extent, thus confirming th em i n t h e op i n i on expresse d in their first report, that the operation of the act would be to promote a satisfactory settlement of the Church lease .., bold question. I n conc l us i on t h ey recommen d tha 1 Church copyhold s b e put on a s i m il ar footing. CITY, TWO O'CLOCK. The sales of Cotton at Liverpool yesterday were estimated at 7,000 bales, of which 1,500 American were taken for export, and 500 on speculation. The market was tame without alteration in prices. The sales comprised 6,000 American, 200 Pernam and Maranham at 61d. to 61d., 100 Bahia at 60. to 6id., 300 Egyptian at 7d. to 10d., 400 Surat at 3d. to 4d., and 30 Sea Island at ls. Bd. to 2s. 6d. per lb. In Railway Shares only a limited business was done at lower prices. The letters by the steamer Parana, from the West Indies have been delivered, and their general contents evince more plainly than before the deter mination to accomplish that great desideratum, a reduction of expenditure. At a meeting held in the parish of Hanover, Jamaica, one of the speakers made the following curious statement : " The Hon. Hugh A. Whitelock was called to the chair, who accordingly addressed the meeting on the subject of the miserable state of the island and the pre sent financial difficulty, and concluded his speech by stating, that if the House of Assembly could not succeed in carrying any measures of retrenchment into effect, that he would positively recommend that the revenues of the island be handed over to the British Government for two or three years, who might succeed in conducting the duties of the Government of the colony commensu rate to its prostrate, ruinous, and fallen condition." It was fully expected that tonnage dues would be abolished in Jamaica, and the Chairman of the Committee on the Estimates of Ways and Means had proposed to do away with the following im posts : COURT CIRCULAR. WINDSOR CASTLE, MARCU 21. The Hon. Col. Liddell, Equerry to the Duchess of Gloucester, arrived at the Castle last evening to inquire after her Majesty on behalf of her Royal Highness. The Duke of Cambridge, the Duke of Norfolk, and the Earl of Aberdeen, arrived soon after nine o'clock this morning, and returned to London about two o'clock. The Marquis of Breadalbane, the Lord Chamberlain, and Mr. N. Macdonald, also arrived at the Castle to day, to inquire into the circumstances attending the fire on Saturday night. The Austrian Minister had an interview with the Earl of Clarendon yesterday. The Earl of Aberdeen left town at eight o'clock yes terday morning for Windsor Castle. His lordship re turned to town in the afternoon. A deputation, consisting of Mr. Jas. Macgregor, M.P., Chairman, Mr. Coles Child, and Mr. H. Rich, M.P., from the South-Eastern Railway Company ; Mr. Leo Schuster, deputy-chairman ; and Mr. C. S. Crowley, from the Brighton and South Coast Railway Company ; Mr. Alderman Humphery, from St. Saviour's parish ; Messrs. Martin, Maylard, William Baugh, J. G. Beard, Francis Rider, and Thomas J. Russell, churchwardens of St. Saviour's ; Messrs. J. Thwaites, and Thomas Bailey, inhabitants of St. Saviour's ; and Mr. Herbert Sturney, vestry clerk, had an interview with Sir William Molesworth yesterday, at the Office of Works and Pub lic Buildings in Whitehall-place. The deputation was accompanied by Apsley Pellatt, M.P., and Mr. Eli Richards. The Sicilian Minister transacted business yesterday at the Foreign-office, Downing -street. Mr. Ross and Mr. Jackson had an interview with the Duke of Newcastle yesterday at the Colonial-office. BOW-STREET-( TIIIS DA Y.) THE NEWSVENDERS AND THE POLlCE.—Charles Robin son, a newsman, was placed at the bar before Mr. Jar dine, charged with obstructing police-constable 129 F while in the execution of his duty. The constable stated that between four and five o'clock yesterday afternoon he was on duty in Catherine street, opposite Mr. Moseley's newspaper office, for the purpose of keeping the pavement clear from the news boys, who assembled there in great numbers, when the defendant came out of Mr. Moseley's shop, and obstructed him in his duty. Witness remonstrated with him on the impropriety of such proceedings, and was walking away, when defendant came behind him, and trod on his heels, and when witness told him to leave off the annoyance, he (defendant) jeered him, and then ran into Mr. Moseley's shop. Complainant then proceeded on his beat, and in about a minute defendant came again behind him, and putting his head over his (witness') shoulder, called out in his ear as loud as he could, " The London news, the London news," and, as a great crowd had assembled, and defendant persisted in his annoyance, witness took him to the station. After he was bailed out he came back to Catherine-street again, and pur sued the same system of annoyance. Police-constable, 158 F, corroborated the above evi dence. Mr. Geo. Atkins, of the firm of Thurston and Co., 14, Catherine-street, said their house of business is situated between two news-shops, and every afternoon a large crowd of boys assembled opposite to their house, so as to render it an intolerable nuisance, and their lan guage was exceedingly coarse and obscene. He was an eye-witness to the conduct of the defendant, as described by the constable. The defendant was exciting the boys to resist the police, and his proceedings were decidedly calculated to lead to a breach of the peace. Mr. Jardine said he was an eye-witness to the nui sance, be himself having frequently to cross over to the other side of the way to avoid the crowd of news-boys. In reply to the charge, the accused said he was not in Catherine-street five minutes. He had been to Mr. Moseley's to buy some Evening Mails, and when he left there, he having some papers on hand to dispose of in the " market," certainly did call out, "London News— who wants a London News ?" Ho then went into Mr. Moseley's shop again, and when he came out the con stable took him into custody on the charge of obstruct ing him in his duty. As to treading on the heels of the constable, that he denied ; he was in too great a hurry to do that, for the Racing Times had just come out, and every one was anxious to get their supply as soon as they could, in order to deliver them to their customers. Mr. Jardine said, neither defendant nor any one else had a right to take up a portion of any public thorough fare for the purpose of a market. If they must deal in newspapers, they ought to have a place solely for that purpose, and not cause a nuisance and an obstruction to the public. He considered the charge against defendant had been proved, and therefore fined him 20s. The fine was paid immediately. NEW PRUSSIAN LOAN.—The advices from Berlin mention that the new 4 per cent. Prussian loan of 750,0001. had been issued at par with an allowance of 14 per cent. commission to large subscribers. Nearly a third of the amount was reserved by the Government. SPANISH BONDS.—We hear numerous inquiries as to the amount of certificates issued by the several com mittees of Spanish bondholders in London, Amsterdam, and Madrid, as vouchers for the half of the overdue coupons left unfunded at the last conversion. The total amount issued in London was 3,529,3701. ; and in Amsterdam, 3,164,1671. ; in all, 6,693,5371. The amount issued by the committee in Madrid is not known, as no home Spanish securities are recognised or negotiable in this market. Th e en ti re amount i ssued b y all the committees, however, is believed to be about 7,800,0001. Supposing these vouchers to be admitted as cash in the subscription for any new Spanish loan at the rate of 104 per cent., they would thus represent in the aggregate a sum of about 820,000/. sterling in cash. THE PASSPORT SYSTEM.—The Journal de Geneve cir culates the following story :—Mazzini is said, on leaving London, to have gone direct to Paris, where he stopped at the Hotel Meurice, as an English gentleman, with light hair and rather weak eyes, and provided, of course, with a correct English passport. From thence he went to Strasburg by railway • the police, however, had got on the scent, and followed, but could not meet with any such gentleman there. The only individual they found was a respectable English gentleman, with brown hair, very lively eyes, and quite a different passport. While the French police were therefore directing their atten tion to Lyons with a view to the apprehension of the light-haired man, the brown-haired Mazzini was playing off the same counterfeit again on the German police, and passed through Germany to Milan, where he is reported to have stayed a few days. ADULTERATION OF AUSTRALIAN GOLD.—The adul teration of the Australian gold which has lately been practised is likely to check the export of coin from this country for its purchase. A large amount consigned to one house, by the Francis Henty, has been found to be about 4s. per ounce below standard value, instead of about 3s. above it, as heretofore. AMSTERDAM AND ROTTERDAM PRODUCE MARKETS. — The weekly reviews from the Amsterdam and Rotter dam produce markets mention that business had slightly increased, and that general quotations were well sup ported. The operations in coffee since the termination of the Dutch East India sales had been more active, and prices showed a tendency to advance. Raw and refined sugars continued to ,command attention, but the con tracts in the latter were limited in consequence of the prices maintained. The late unfavourable advices from Batavia had caused considerable purchases of spices at improved quotations. The accounts from Antwerp and Hamburgh represent a similar state of trade. NEW BANK Op CONSTANTINOPLE.—It appears that an effort is to be forthwith made to establish a new Bank of Constantinople, and to bring about a re-adjustment of the circulation that shall correct the ruinous rates of ex change at which all the foreign payments of the country are now made. As this can only be effected, however, by an importation of the precious metals, either through a loan to the Stat e or th e open i ng of credits in London or Paris, the measures to be proposed will be regarded with curiosity. The recent repudiation puts the idea of a loan out of the question, and the fact of the solemn contracts of the late bank having been disavowed by the Government which created it, and which professed to make the maintenance of its honour a primary considera tion, seems equally fatal to all prospect of credit being given to any future institution 'of the kind. AUSTRALIAN PARCEL MAIL.—A Stockton-upon-Tees correspondent begs to call attention to a scheme which, he thinks, if carried into effect, would prove profitable to the shareholders. It is, to establish a company for the conveyance of parcels to Australia or to any other foreign ports, but especially to the f or mer. The com pany could take as much room as they require on board of a sailing vessel or steamer, and dispatch the goods every month—freight, &c. ' paid here—and have agents in the country an d a l so i n Australia, &c., to consign the goods to. The parcels could either be stowed loose •in the vessel, or in boxes or bales, &c. A NEW LINE OF COMMUNICATION TO OPORTO. —ltf p rt e i s y s a rs e . Vianna, Jones, and Chappel, with that spirit of enterprise for which Liverpool has recently become fa mous, have established a line of steam-packet communi cation to Oporto. The first vessel despatched to the new station was the screw-steamer Rattler, Benson com mander, which took her departure hence on Saturday evening, with a fair cargo on freight.—Liverpool Albion. ROBERT HoUDIN.—Mons. Robert Houdin, the most celebrated of modern prestidigitateur, had the honour of giving a "Seance Magique et Fantaatique," by express command, at Buckingham Palace, on Friday a ft ernoon, on the occasion of the birthday of her Royal Highness the Princess Louisa, in the presence of her Majesty, his Royal Highness Prince Albert, her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, Prince Alfred, Prince Arthur, the Princess Royal, the Princess Alice, the Princess Helena, and the Princess Louisa ; their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Nemours and three children, their Royal High nesses the Prince and Princess August a o f Sa xe Coburg with four children, the Duchess of S u th er l an d and four children, Madame Van de Weyer and two children, the Countess of Shaftesbury and fo ur d aug h ters, the Coun tess of Desart and two children, Lady Alfred Pag e t and one daughter, and four children of the family of Mr. Farquharson of Invercauld, were also present. Mr. n Coleman accompanied th e p er f ormance on the pianoforte. M. Houdin, who cam e f or t h e occasion express from Lille, where he was giving a series of performances, had' the honour of receiving the expression of her Majesty's approbation. This popular artiste is announced to give his extraordinary entertainment at the St. James's Theatre every evening during Easter week. SPORTING INTELLIGENCE. TATTERSALL'S—MONDA.Y. METROPOLITAN HANDICAP. Bto 1 agst Contentment (taken). 9to 1 agst Snowdon Dunhill (taken). 9to 1 agst Lampedo. 13 to 1 agst Richmond. 15 to 1 agst Peggy. 20 to 1 agst Terpsichore (taken). Lampedo, after 8 to 1 had been taken to a small amount, receded 9 to 1 ; Contentment, against whom 10 to 1 was laid early in the afternoon, closing at 8 to 1, takers. The outlay on Snowdon Dunhill and Richmond was in small sums. NORTHAMPTONSHIRE STAKES. 9to 2 agst Defiance (5 to 2 taken freely). 6to 1 agst Hobby Horse. 12 to 1 agst Llanforda (taken). 15 to 1 agst The Confessor (taken). CHESTER CUP. 10 to 1 agst Trifle. 20 to 1 agst Lady Evelyn (taken). 1000 to 30 agst St. Michael (taken). 2000 to 50 agst Friday (taken). 2000 to 40 agst Ann Page (taken). The only bet of any magnitude was 5,000 to 300 agst Lady Evelyn. 20 to 1 was afterwards laid in ponies. DERBY. 9to 1 agst West Australian (taken to 1001., and afterwards offered. 13 to 1 agst Cineas (taken to 1001.) 16 to 1 agst Honeywood (take 17 to 1). 18 to 1 agst limbriel (taken to 5C1.) 18 to 1 agst Ninnyhammer (taken and aft oil). 25 to 1 agst Ethelbert. 2000 to 60 agst Vanderdecken (taken and aft off). 1000 to 30 agst Queen Colt (taken). Mr. H. Stabbing, the celebrated trainer, died on Sun day last. Tavistock is declared not to start for the Somerset shire Stakes. SPORTING NOTES.—No. CCCXCIV. ANALYSIS OF THE GREAT NORTHAMPTON. SHIRE HANDICAP. In continuation of my analysis of this handicap, Osborne's lot next claims my attention. To commit an Hibernicism, however, it only consists of one, who, I be lieve, will run ; but the antiquated Alp, though lightly weighted, can scarcely be deemed to have a chance. Rogers has the Harrier, at Est 121 b, and the King of Troy, at Est 21b—the latter, in my opinion, being the best. Tremble will probably represent Godding's stable, although the five-years-old May-day is, I think, the best of the twain. Hambletonian, from Bradley's, at 6st 51b, ought to have a little chance over this course ; but I fancy all the light-weighted four and five-years-old are completely disposed of by Lumley's Maria, who, at Est 41b, I have no doubt will be one of the first four. Madeline gave symptoms last year of being able to carry a light weight successfully among moderate animals, but I believe she is not quite forward enough in her work to do anything this time. Happy Joe and Lady Blanche, both four years old, at the same weight (sst 121 b), are very indifferent animals, and let loose occasionally. Charley comes from Newmarket, but whether for this Stake or the Whittlebury I am not able to say ; his chance, however, cannot be first-rate for this Stake, when there is only a pound between him and Defiance— the latter being by half-a-stone the best horse. The Duke of Bedford has a couple of nominations who have been doing good work lately ; but Gossip having done more than his stable companion, Dabchick, will probably represent the stable ; and as Defiance is sup posed to possess a fair chance, in the same strain of argument, Gossip, at 51bs. less, cannot quite be on th'e hopeless list. Charles Marson has Polly at work, a mare with no pretension, at the weight, to compete successfully with either Gossip or Defiance. The Bell Tinker is not forward enough in preparation to have the shadow of a chance of winning. Jacqueline, from Tom Taylor's stable, will carry Lord Chesterfield's colours, and, at 4st. 121 b., will no dohbt run very well. The intentions of the Lls.nforda party I have not been able to ascertain ; but should their horse run, and be meant, at sst. 21b., including 51b. for winning the Liver pool Spring Cup, I should even then entertain doubts of her being able to win. Lampedo, I believe, does not run. Molasses, I should say, will be the representative of Young Stephenson's stables, and will, as usual, be " no where" at the finish. Tobolski, with 4st 5113 up, the winning weight of lasi year—is totally incapable of repeating the performance, Chaffwax, with the feather of 4st 31b, requires no con. sideration. Gholab Singh has paid forfeit for this, and all his other engagements, and is not likely to appear again in public. To sum up, I think the race will lie with Confessor, Maria, Defiance, Gossip, and H o bby H orse ; an d as I entertain a slight doubt of the power of Defiance to carry the weight allotted to successfully, I must look for the winner in HOBBY HousE or CONFESSOR, if he should represent the stable. The other three, I expect, will be in very close attendance. My - final opinion on this stake will appear next Tues• day. THE SPIRIT OF THE TURF, HOTEL AND TAVERN-KEEPERS' PROVIDENT INSTITU TION.—The fifteenth annual meeting of subscribers to the above institution was held yesterday at the Craven Hotel, Strand, the object being to receive the annual report of the committee, the auditors report, and to elect officers for the ensuing year. Mr. S. Lovegrove presided. From the report which was read at the meeting the income from all sources for the past year appeared to be 446/. 3s. 2d., and the disbursements to 20 members and 12 widows of members, 2291. 25.; and a ft er deducting the current expenses of the year there remained a balance of 1101. 10s. sd. The number of recipients had annually in creased from 8 in 1847 to 32 in 1852, and amongst the whole number relieved during that period the large sum of 1,2641. 9s. had been distributed. The report further mentioned two remarkable instances of the usefulness of the institution. In one instance, where a subscriber had press in 81. Bs. he had, on subsequently coming to dis , ceived up to the present time 1021. is.; and another, who had paid in 9/. 95., had received from the funds 951. The report concluded with a grateful enu meration of the benefactors of the ipn.s,tithlione,enansedntthede announcement that Mr. Bass, m. to preside at the next anniversary festival. —The Chair man, in opening the proceedings, briefly called at tention to the above facts contained in the report, and moved its adoption. One or two questions were asked respecting the mode of distribution, and were satisfac torily answered, after which the report was unanimously adopted. Thanks were voted to Mr. Alderman Salo- mons for n to his kindness in b ecom i ng a vice patron of the associatio ; Mr. Masterman, M.p., for his donation of 51. 55., being the ninth sum of that amount he had given to the institution ; and also to the honorary con tributors, whom the chairman informed the meeting were principally ladies. Officers for the ensuing year were then elected, and the proceedings terminated with the usual vote of thanks to the chairman. COMMISSION OF LUNACY ON A COMEDlAN.—Yester day, Mr. Commissioner Winslow held a court at the Bridge House Hotel, London-bridge, to inquire into the state of mind of Benjamin Crowther, formerly a comedian, engaged at A s tl ey ' s , an d more recently of the Surrey Theatre. It resulted from the evidence of seve ral of the witnesses that Mr. Crowther was married to Miss Vincent, lessee of the Victoria Theatre, on the 14 of February, 1852, when he was in full health. After the ceremony he proceeded to Brighton with Mrs. Crowther, and was attacked with fever, followed by what now appears to be a settled mental derangem ent. He was a t fi rs t sen t t o a l unat i c asylum in Camberwell, and subsequently to another, at Bethnal-greenas before;buthaist the time of this inquiry, w hi c h was instituted by hi s brother, he was residi ng w ith hi s f ather, marriage. Before his removal to an asylum his behaviour had been marked by great excitement, alternately with depression, fear being the predominant emotion. In the course of the inquiry the alleged lunatic was introduced. Having rushed about the room, threatening to write challenges and to shoot several people, using at the same time very difficulty led out of the room. The jury re- That Benjamin Crowther is now of unsound mind, incapable of managing himself and his a ff a i rs , and has been so since the 18th Feb., 1852." THE LAW or DIVORCE. —The first report of the Com missioners appointed by her Majesty to inquire into the law of divorce, and more particularly into the mode of obtaining divorces el vinculo makimonii, has just been laid before Parliament. After an elaborate summary of the history of the law from the earliest times, and a statement of the inconveniences occasioned by its present state, the Commissioners proceed to make various sug gestions as to the alterations and improvements which they think may be made in the law with prudence and safety. The principal of these suggestions are, that the distinction between divorce meusel et th,oro and divorce vinculo matrimonii shall still be maintained, but that the latter shall be allowed for adultery only, and that a verdict at law and an ecclesiastical sentence shall not be considered as preliminary conditions which must be complied with before it can be obtained. They recom mend that the existing mode of obtaining a divorce a vinculo shall no longer be continued, but that a new tribunal shall be constituted to try all questions of divorce, and also all matrimonial questions now deter mined in the ecclesiastical courts, and that this tribunal shall consist of a Vice-Chancellor, a common law Judge, and a Judge of the Ecclesiastical Courts. Lastly, they recommend that there shall be only one appeal from the decree of th e court, and that the appeal sh a ll b e carried to the Ho use of Lords. SUICIDE OP A. LIVERPOOL GENTLEMAN.--A very pain ful affair has occurred at West Derby, near Liverpool Mr. Rich ar d B enson Bl un d e ll Hollingshead Blundell, r a county magistrate, has been for s ome daysmissing from t om his hom e , D e y s b roo k, W es t D er b y, and, though diligent search t s a e in r e c dh Sundayquir y morning, were madefor when him, reshi dise ih no l coed. clue u l e t wa was was sse found dt in a pon ua d rnidt n ili o n t far from his own • first supposed that he had been mur t d o er e e h d e , w bu t t h a at furtherththe in examination of the remains tended luries upon the person were self-inflicted, and not such as to lead to the supposition that a murder had been perpetrated. The deceased gentleman, though very wealthy, was labouring under the singular impression that he should come to poverty, and this so weighed upon his mind as to lead to the commission of the me lancholy act described. rfitrti WlTition+ LINCOLN RACES. (THIS DAY.) (BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.) THE HURDLE RACE. The Hero Fazeley .., Caurire Harp ... THE HANDICAP. Nine ran. MARKET NEWS-(THIS DAY.) COLONIAL. HAY MARKETS. SMITTIFIELD.—Meadow hay, 3/ Os to 4/ lOs ; ditto, 41 Os to 5/ O s ; an d s t raw, 1 / 5s to 1 113 s per loaa A full average supply, an d a s l ugg i s h d eman d . CUMBERLAND.—Meadow h a y, 31 3 s t o 4/ 13 s ; c lover ditto, 4l Os to 51 Os ; and straw, Os to 1114 s per los Supply moderate, and trad e ra th er d u ll . W cloves lo HITECHAPEL.—Meadow h a y, 3/ O s t o 4/ I vs ; , • ditto, 4/ Os to 5/ 5 s ; an d s t raw, 1/ O s to 1 / 13s per 5 " Trade dull. cloveir. SUGAR.—There have been large sales at about the Pr e. vious rates for Madras, &c. ; foreign sorts are held for Vol full prices, with a limited supply ; refined has been The quantity of British plantation landed last week wa s 728 hogsheads, 2 tierces, 175 barrels : there were taken for home consumption 981 hogsheads, 60 tierces, 257 barrel s ' The stock in the same places is 4,330 hogsheads, 759 tierces, 659 barrels. COFFEE.—This article is very firm. Native, 10,000 bs privately sold yesterday at 47s 9d to 48s 6d • and about 3,000 bags are ex p ec t e d t o b e so ld to-day. There is one public sale to-d a y. Pl an t a ti on i s in request private.'" and rather dearer. Rum.—The quantity landed last week at the East and West India Docks was 372 puncheons 16 hogshead s ' ..s, there were taken f or h ome consump ti on 205 punc h eo ns 19 hogsheads, and exp or t e d 123 punc h eons 59 h ogs h ea d s . e stock in the same same places is 10,724 puncheons 789 hila° • RICE.—At auction 2,267 bags Bengal were mostly bought in at lls to lls 6d for good. Part sold at 100 to 11s, being 6d cheaper. TALLOW.—P.Y.C. is 44s 6d to 44s 9d per cwt. on th e spot, and town 455 9d, with a fair demand. COTTON.—This article is firm, and in more request. TEA.—Congou is wanted, especially the better kinds. green there is a small advance. LLOYD'S SHIPPING-(THIS DA Y.) LONDON, March 22.—Wind this day at Noon, N., fine and dry. DEAL, March 21. - Wind, E.S.E., calm and foggy. At. rived—Eleanora, Demerara ; Sorciere, St. Michael's_ Hoban 3 t .! rt a' r. garet Evans, Ne w Y or k. S a il e d—D anne b rig, Town ; Earl of Shaftesbury, Madras. The Colombo ( 1e Tian brig), bound to Newcastle with sulphur, is on the Goodwin, and discharging; expected off at high water. LIVERPOOL, March 11.—Wind, N.E. Arrived- - It bel, St. Mi c h ae l' s ; A ra bi an ( s ) , C onstantinople. Off Pt'''. Maid —Wave, St. Üb es . S a il e d—G enera l Wil ts hi re, C oqu imn Kortenaer, M e lb ourne ; L amar ti ne, P ernambuco ; • 0 Orleans, New Orleans. SOUTHAMPTON March 21.—Wind, N.W. Arrived' Bengal ( s ), K e ll oc h , Al exandria. Sailed—Ripon (s), jae'. andria. PLYMOUTH, March 21. Wind, N.N.E. Arrive d-- Elise, Lindberg, New York. FALMOUTH, March 20.—Wind, variable. AlTi veci--- Bazaar, Alexandria. YARMOUTH, March 22.—(P er Electric Telegraph d a.m.)—The Roscoe, of and for Lo n d on , from Sunderlox is in the roads, after having been assistedP off the cotton Sands. SHOREHAM, March 20.—A piece of board, about nine feet long, with a gilt scroll along th e ou t s id e , evidently" part of the quart er galleys of a large vessel, with "Me es , i rg : Chisholm and C o ., s hi p b ro k ers, Arbroath," on the , was picked up last week on the oyster grounds, and broug ht in here. t CROMER, March 21.—A b oa t, pa i n t e d bl ac k, 18 fee long, and marked in carved letters Towaso Conatta (?) I f '"" thrown on the beach at Salthouse, March 19. DOMINICA, Feb. 26.—The Regalia, from Demerara t° London, called off this port Feb. 19, and reported tb e ~ master dead, and yell ow f ever amongst t h e crew; s he wa s supplied with water and two seamen, and proceeded. A NEW YORK, March 7.—A s hi p , w ith pa i n t e d ports an coppered, apparently about 800 tons, and nearly new, with F. H. the last l e tt ers on h er stern, was seen on 1 1 - I :,,e' Feb. 22, in lat. 30, l ong . 73, b y th e E mp i re , Crory" , arrived at Philadelphia ; she was abandoned, had lost fore and mainmasts, and her mizenmast fell a few minutes be fore the Empire came up. PANAMA, Feb. 21.—The John Hutchinson, from live r ; pool to this port, which w as on s h ore t o th e so uthwarcl,°; Buena Ventura, Ist Jan., is reported t o be a t o tal wrea. cargo saved, but in a damaged state. JAMAICA, Feb. 26.—The William Inglis, from Santa Martha, put in here Feb. 23, leaky, and is discharging. LIMA, Feb. 26.—The British ship Brant was destroyed by fire, on her passage from Rico to this port with guano. THE COST-BOOK SYSTEM. In our journal o f th e sth i nst., we alluded nfeuads facts, s h a: e na rdC singleg todet b sr t p p s k a e n f ew a i t el without to pamphlet entitled mlyeltynh: th d at pointede t h ,it e e iw G t ha o es l r d aoi Companies w o tr m ot n point ts t S troa y t s er t d e e m cof . um " l meri wt,oars not goo ouddr iction It intention, therefore, to h a ve re verted to the subject, but being overwhelmed with letters, in consequence of the City Editor of the Times having com mented on it in such a peculiar manner as to convey the idea that our contemporary admitted the soundness of Air. Higgins's statements as respects the Cost - bo ok System, it is in cum b en t on us, as the class journal, to remove this imp ress i on. W e believe, indeed, that the City Editor of th e Ti mes h as b een i na d ver t en tly led in to a misco ncep t ion o f the system by the comp i ler o f the pamphlet. On inquiry as to the position of Mr. Joseph Napier Higgins, we are obli ge d t o con f ess t h at re f erenc e to tut! Law List is the only way we can obtain information, an a , then even to th e ex t en t , s i mp l y, that he i s a b arr i s ter et May, 1851. Mr. Higgins is a b o ld man , b ut we d o no t with him for his teme r ity, or f or ma ki ng up a pam phle quarr t e . l It is the order of the day, we know, for the juniors to write about something, no matter what, to show their perfect indepeneence of briefs ; and the more startling the position assumed, whether right or wrong, the more is the effect produced. Th e p resen t i s a case in point. A very young barrister, with scissors and pen, puts together 31 pages, including the title-page, of large, type, to perv er t f ac t s —t o cope w i t h the ta l en t and matured judgment of the bench and bar, and th e cautious City editor of the Ti mes is th rown o ff hi s guar d by the dash of this barrister of 22 months' standing. Mr. Higgins asserts boldly and unequivocally that the cost-book system is applicable only to Cornwall—that is, to the jurisdiction of the Stannaries' Court, which is placing himself in direct opposition to all the best lawyer s of the day, particularly of the Western Circuit, the Re; gistrar under the Joint Stock Companies' Act, 311 ' even to the Court of Chancery itself. The exemption under the Joint Stock Companies' Act in favour of partnerships for mines, minerals„ and qua y " ries, is gener a l an d not local. It is only a few wee' since Vice - Chancellor Stuart decreed in favour of the rights of a shareholder to determine and put an end to his liability, by relinquishing—that is writing off—ii i ! shares (having previously disbursed all calls and charges) in the Pennant and Craig-wen Mine, which is situated at the fo o t o f Arran Nowddwy, in the mountains °', Merionethshire. This power of the limitation of liability is the very essence, the very life and spirit, of the Cost-book Systou ; ,a boon which is inadmissible in companies under the Joint Stock Act ; and if it can be applied to associa tions in North Wales, it may surely be carried out in favour of undertakings in other parts of this country; for we confine our remarks to this country, and wholly without reference to California and other places. far re moved, where it is proposed companies should be worked on this system. The only sound work yet extant on the laws of mining is by Mr. R. P. Collier, M.P., Recorder of Penzance. In his treatise, published two years prior to that which introduced Mr. Joseph Napier Higgins to wig and gown, he does not raise the question of the non-application of the cost-book system to parts out of Cornwall ; but merely alludes to it incidentally, as a settled point in the reverse sense ; for, in expressing himself as to the pro priety of extending the jurisdiction of the Stannaries Court to Devonshire, he says, " the whole district would be comprised in which the cost-book is prevalent ; for, though not confined to Cornwall and Devonshire, it is believed to be rare in other counties." The Registrar under the Joint Stock Companies' Act admits, moreover, his inability to compel cost-book com panies to register ; and we know of no instance of that functionary having tried to enforce registration, as re spects associations in this country. The only point to be guarded is a strict adherence to the acknowledged princi pies and the received rules and regulations. It is the de parture from these points, and not the adoption of the cost book system ' which renders many companie s li a bl e t o h e avi penalties, and open to just censure. It is, however, sincerely to be hoped that a legislative enactment w ill determine unmistakably and finally, as to the limits, condition* and requirements of the Cost-book System ; and it is indeed with pleasure we learn that Mr. Collier has de termined to introduce a bill this session. Such a task uhands,orentrustoefed the gen tleman in t be w nhiosem judgment and knowledge tion the whole mining community would have greater confidence.—Mining Journal. INSTALLATION OF LORD DERBY AT OXFORD. — T he authorities of th e University of Oxford have appointea the Bth of Jun e f or the installation of the Earl of Derby, who was some time since elected Chancellor, in the room of the late Duke of Wellington. It is expected that muc h of the éclat w hi c h would have otherwise attached to the proceedings will be wanting, in consequence of the a c ' rimonious p roceedings in opposition tot h e re-election of Mr. Gladstone as member for the university, on the oc casion of the right hon. gentleman's a ppointment Chancell or of the Exchequer, and that the approaching instal lation will pa r t a k e very much of a political cher t ! c 7 ter, a circumstance which it has always been one of the great objects of the university to avoid. A CONVICT S HOT. —O n T hursday, one o f th e convicts employed a t t h e pr i sons on Dartmoor endeavoured t o effect an esc a p e . H e ran o ff; b ut was pursue d, a attempts to catch hi m f a ili ng , a sentry fi re d a nd hit other , Iv 1 . 1 2,1 M in the l eg a t 250 yards —a good shot, an d *A doubtless Berme as a warning,