The Sun. — London, England, 1853-03-29 00:00:00

assurance, that neither labour nor expense had been spared on his part to secure the public favour. Introduc ing a new company and a new stud to the Easter sight seers, of course Mr. Cooke could do no other than bring them forward in an entirely new spectacle, which consisted of an original equestrian spectacle and drama, entitled Amakosa, or Scenes of Kafir Warfare, accompanied with new scenery, music, costumes, and decorations. The drama has been written expressly for the occasion by Mr. E. Fitzball, author of Azad, and the Prophate, and, as its name imports, is founded on events in the recent Kafir war. Its interest lies mostly in the remarkably striking and difficult equestrian feats to which it is alto gether subsidiary, and which only after a long course of careful training the spirited and enterprising. thanager has taught his beautiful stud of horses to achieve. The whole piece was well sustained throughout, and on se veral occasions during its progress as well as at its close elicited the plaudits of the auditory. The wonderful performances of M. Pablo on the corde elastique, which followed, were watched with the most intense interest and admiration, and not the less so the succeeding series of performances, in which the great equestrian skill of the several members of Mr. Cooke's company, and the amazing docility, intelligence, and training of his admi• rable stud, were brought out in forms the most striking and varied. ST. JAMES'S, Mr. Mitchell, in his opening prospectus, announced the appearance of the renowned Robert Houdin, at Easter. This prince of conjurors duly appeared last night, when he commenced the first group of perform ances, which, we are told, are to be his last in this coun try. Robert Houdin is the most expert of his craft., Re never spoils an illusion by the clumsiness with which he developes it—like some of the gentry who essay to rival him. On the contrary, he deceives the eye most completely by the coolness of his address, and the per fect finish of his manipulation. He went through his performances last night with his accustomed adroitness, and the audience applauded him as of old. OLYMPIC. The Easter novelty at this house was " a new roman tic drama," by Moms Barnett, with the attractive title of Salvatori ; or, The Bandit's Daughter. It is avowedly founded upon Scribe's well-known opera of Marco Spada, and in adapting it to the English stage in its new shape, Mr. Barnett has retained the skilful use of material, the neatness in the construction of the plot, and the point and precision of dialogue which attest its origin. The piece introduced several actors new to this house. Mr. Marston, who has removed from Sadler's Wells to take the position of stage manager, performed the part of Salvatori with great force and fine discrimi nation. The softening influence of his affection for Bianca upon his whole being and character was brought out in a series of minute, careful, and effective touches, and the death scene at the close was impressively and powerfully given. Miss Anderton, as Bianca, deserves creditable mention. Mr. F. Robson, from the Theatre RoYal, Dublin, made a most successful deblit in Beca telli, and 11r. Morgan, from the Birmingham Theatre, enacted the part of Lorenzo in a style which proved him to be a careful and useful actor. Miss H. Gordon sus tained her reputation in the Marchioness. The piece had been well got up, and is, in all respects, extremely creditable to the management. It was decidedly succes ful, and will, we imagine, have a run. In the f arce o f Catching an Heiress, which followed, Mr. Robson showed that if not at present able to supply the place of Mr. Compton at this house, he will prove a decided acquisi tion to the metropolitan boards in low comedy. His huniour is genuine, racy, and varied, and excited general laughter and applause. Altogether, under Mr. Mar ston's management, the Olympic made a very successful commencement of the Easter season. SURREY. The Easter piece at this theatre is entitled The Spirits of the Night, or the Legend of the Lake. The complica tion of the plot almost baffled our pursuit, which was every ten minutes or so further checked by the sudden death, by murder or suicide, of one or more of the indi viduals whose continuity of existence seemed dramati cally expedient • and as none of. these—with one excep tion—came to life again until the last scene, we began to be apprehensive that the development would altoge ther fail by reason of the total want of personages to fulfil it. There is, of course, plenty of " comic business," efficiently rendered by Messrs. IL Widdicombe (a very clever comedian), Mr. A. Younge, and Mi ss L e b a tt, an d there is some really good scenery, and mechanical illu sions and effects. SADLERS' WELLS. The favour with which the productions of the most brilliant period in the history of English dramatic litera ture have always been regarded at Sadlers' Wells was evinced last night by the selection of the Merchant of Venice and the comedy of Rule a Wife and Have a Wife, without the admixture of any pieces of more modern date. The audience had, therefore, the satisfaction of-receiving such an evening's entertainment as their ancestors en joyed in the Elizabethan age, when the works of Shake spear and of Beaumont and Fletcher had the charm in deed of novelty, but cannot be supposed to have had the advantages in performance which the more ample re sources of modern theatres render it possible to secure. The house was full. STRAND At this favourite little theatre last night the perfor mances commenced with Bickerstaffe's lively opera of Love in a Village. There were a few minor incidents which might call for a critical review, but regarding the production as a whole, great praise must be awarded to it. Every part was intrusted to a meet representative, and the principal characters were in able hands. After the opera came the National Anthem by the entire com pany, admirably rendered, and all concluded with Lee's well known musical farce, The Invincible& It was played with spirit and propriety, and met with great ap probation. MR. WOODIN'S CARPET-BAG. Not least among the entertainments of Easter, for all who love real fun and drollery, must be reckoned the admirable monopolylogical performances of Mr. Woodin. Though engaging to meet single-handed the public ap petite for amusement, he is a host in himself, not meta phorically, but really, actually, and in downright literal language, for instead of being "two single gentlemen rolled into one," he is nothing less than one gentleman rolled out and cut up into a railway-train-full of men, women, and little boys. He is a servant-maid out of place " on account of her followers," an octogenarian old gentleman, who sings of the olden time ; a burly M.P., with a horror of election committees ; an inquisitive juvenile of three feet nothing ; a mysterious foreigner ; a lackadaisical young lady ; and, by way of conclusion, a whole pic-nic party of some dozen individuals at one and the same time. His personations are exceedingly clever, and throughout a long entertainment never suf fers the attention of bis audience to flag for a single in stant—in itself a safe sign of excellence and talent. THE COLOSSEUM. The Easter attractions at this old and sterling exhibi tion are as powerful as ever. The fame of the extraor dinary panoramic view of London, for which the Colos seum has so long been renowned, is too widely spread to require any addition from us. Both as a work of art and as a truthful representation of one of the most extra ordinary scenes that was ever spread out before the eye of the artist, the view of London at .this place well re pays the trouble of a visit. In addition, there is the panorama of " London by Night," with .the strange and pleasing effect of the long lines of streets crossing one another in every diversity of direction, lighted up by innumerable spangles of lamps, so that the plan of the huge city is as well, if not more clearly, defined than by the broader glare of day. ADELAIDE GALLERY. The old-established enchanter Jacobs has pitched his tent at the little theatre in the Adelaide Gallery. To proclaim the merits of this artificer in mechanical illusion would be superfluous. His repertoire is copious ; his dexterity unimpeachable. He talks to the audience ?with the confidence of your recognised wizard, and cheats them out of their senses with a diverting effron tery. The redoubtable Jacobs will no doubt be in con siderable vogue during the Easter week—the brief period of time which he allots himself in London. PANORAMAS. There is an extraordinary number of this class of en tertainment open at present, and, as far as we could ascertain yesterday from a visit to some of the best of them, they appear to come in for a large share of public patronage. The taste for them appears to have been steadily on the increase for some time, and if it is carried much further, we shall not have a disposable room of any size for other purposes in the metropolis. So completely systematised have shows of the kind be come, that you have scriptural .subjects like Jerusalem and the Holy Shrines for the pious, Granada and the Alhambra, Hindostan, Nineveh, Lisbon and its earthquake, for those who like to see countries and places marked by historical associations, the gold fields for intending emigrants, and the lives of Wellington and Napoleon illustrated for those whose tastes lean towards military ac hievements. Of this list the illustration of the life and exploits of Napo leon is the most recent, and certainly one of the best. The tableaux are all remarkably well painted, and are free from that exaggeration which is sometimes so con spicuous in works of this kind. The Regent Gallery, in the Quadrant, has been handsomely fitted up for this diorama, which embraces all the most striking events in the career of the great Emperor. The panorama of the gold fields is also new and good, conveying an excellent idea of life in Melbourne and at the diggings, and giving some effective views of Australian pastoral scenery. The diorama of the life of Wellington still maintains its attractiveness, and drew yesterday a crowded attend ance. Numbers of visitors also went to see Burford's fine view of Granada and the Alhambra, which, if it at all resemble the original, must help to turn the steps of tourists in increasing numbers towards Spain. Now that the art of photography, and the discovery of the stereoscope have placed such resources in th e h an d s of artists for realising the most distant scenes, we may soon expect to see a new species of exhibition, superior in interest as well as in truthfulness to that at present so much in vogue. CREMORNE. Amongst the Easter festivities of this year, these favourite gardens hold out very prominentiattraction s to those who are fond of out-of-door pleasures. We were much pleased in visiting them last night, and in remark ing the many alterations and improvements which have taken place, and which, as summer approaches, will be recognised and appreciated, as the good taste and libe rality which have dictated them deserve. The evening's amusements commenced by an admirable ascent, effected by Chambers, in the Prince of Wales Balloon, accom panied by two gentlemen, though we regret we cannot say the descent partook of the same cha racter, inasmuch as a gentle dip near Hammer smith Suspension Bridge warned them they were fishing in troubled water, and proved that however delightful floating over the water might be, floating upon the water was altogether another sort of thing. We are, however, happy to add that the voyagers did float, they sunk not, but rose from their evening ablutions like giants re freshed, making the bank their refuge, and quickly re traced their steps to Cremorne, where the "cold with out" was exchanged with hearty laughs and gratulations for the " warm within." The concert provided by the liberal lessee was novel and effective. The performances of the organophonic band appeared to give considerable pleasure ; and two ballads, " Bid me discourse," and " When will thou meet me," were sung by a Miss J. Braun, a new de butante to a London audience, in very superior style ; nor would we omit the performances of a boy, Eugene Rochez, which are more than usually surprising. He may well be termed the Devani of the present season, as he executes all the contortions of that extraordinary man with apparently perfect ease. A new illuminator, termed the " Kaleidescope Mag nifier," was introduced where formerly hung the tran sparency of the Queen and Prince Albert. Several are in progress for different parts of the gardens ; they will add much to the usual splendour of the illuminations, as the one shown is a perfect blaze of diversified light. The answers of Taylor, the double-sighted youth, were given, if possible, with greater rapidity than ever; the dancing was as spirited as the fireworks were brilliant ; and Easter Monday closed, as Mondays usually do at Cremorne, with strong claims to pleasure-seekers' sup port for the rest of the week. THE GREAT GLOBE Mr. Wyld's vast contribution to the amusements of Easter—videlicet " the great globe itself and all that it inherit," as expounded -by intelligent guides—attracted more than its usual share of visitors. Indeed, it may be questioned whether at any of the exhibitions of the metropolis a more pleasant hour may be wiled away than by thus, in so brief a space, traversing every clime, and visiting every country between the poles. ' DINNER AT THE MANSION-HOUSE. Last night a grand banquet was giv - en n by the Lord Mayor in the Egyptian-hall at the Mansion-house. The following distinguished guests attended :—The Earl of Aberdeen, Earl Granville, Sir J. Graham, Lady Graham, the Right Hon. W. E. Gladstone, Mrs. Glad stone, Mr. Cardwell, M.P., and Mrs. Cardwell, the Mar quis of Breadalbane, the Prince of Saxe Weimar, Lord and Lady A. Harvey, Lord Ingestrie, Lord and Lady Wodehouse, Lord Blantyre, Earl and Countess Airlie, Bishop of Hereford, Mr. and Mrs. Osborne, the Attor ney-General, the Solicitor General, Vice Chancellor Wood, Hon. Dr. and Mrs. Legge, Lord and Lady Ers kine, Mr. Blomfield, Mrs. Blomfield, Baron Rothschild, M.P. Hon. Mr. and Lady Ann Charteris, Hon. R. S. Dundas, Hon. A. Kinnaird, Sir Charles and Lady East lake, Chevalier Drouet, General Jolley, Sir H. Bishop, Mr. Tupper, Mr. and Mrs. Oliveira, Mr. A. Pellatt, M.P., the Governor of the Bank of England and Mrs. Hankey, Mr. and Mrs. Jones Lloyd, Mr. J. A. Hankey, Mr. Hadow, Sir. J. and Lady Campbell, Mr. Alderson, Mr. and Mrs. M. Wigram, Rev. Mr. Heath, Dr. Mortimer, Chaplain to the Lord Mayor, and Mrs. Mortimer, Dr. M'Caul, Mr. and Miss Williams, Cdptain A. Milne, Mr. John Sadleir, Colonel Lawrence, Alderman and Miss Farebrother, Alderman and Mrs. Wilson, Alder man and Mrs. Humphery, Mr. Alderman Farncombe and Miss Stone, Sir William and Miss Magnay, Alder man and Miss Hooper, Sir John Musgrove, Alderman and Mrs. Moon, Alderman and Mrs. Finnis, Sir R. W. and Lady Carden, Mr. and Mrs. R. W. Kennard, Mr. Dillon, Mr. and Mrs. Caldecott, &c. After the dinner the healths of the "Queen," "Prince Albert, and the rest of the Royal family," were given, and most loyally responded to by the company. The LORD MAYOR next proposed " The health of the Bishop of Hereford," thanking him for the excellent sermon he had preached that day (at Christ Church). The Bishop of HEREFORD, in returning thanks, bore his testimony to the orderly and devout behaviour of the children at Christ Church, and then, in adverting to the subject of education, observed that that was now the great question in the country, and he was glad that it had been earnestly taken up by the Ministry. (Hear, hear.) The Lord MAYOR, in proposing the toast of " The Navy and Army," said that deeply as they all should regret the calamity of a European war, yet, should the country, from necessity, be engaged in such a contest, the name he was about to connect with the toast would tend to inspire confidence that all that could be done would be effected by the Executive to make the naval service as , effective as possible. He gave the " Navy and Army," connecting with the toast the names of Sir J. Graham and Lord Ingestre. Sir J. GRAHAM said that the duty of presiding over the Board of Admiralty at the present moment having been confided to him by her gracious Majesty, he had been commanded by the Lord Mayor, in the absence of any admiral, though in the presence of brave and dis tinguished officers of the navy, to return thanks on behalf of that gallant profession. The duty was a proud and grateful one to him. (Hear.) The recollections of the British navy were dear to the heart of every English man, formed the most conspicuous portion of the history of this country, and were written indelibly in tile annals of the world. (Applause.) In peace—and it was peace alone that he wished to contemplate—in peace that gallant profession was the protector of British commerce throughout every quarter of the world, and itself was mainly dependent for its strength on the success of the mercantile marine. (Hear, hear.) It was a subject of no jealousy, because it could not be the enemy, but was always the guardian of the liberties of the people of this country. (Hear, hear.) Should that sad event, which he could not contemplate,—should unhappily war occur, then he was satisfied the marine of England, which had been so often trusted by the people of this country, and which had never disappointed their expectations, would, as heretofore, be found the safeguard of the sea-girt shores of our native island. It had ever repelled the foreign invader, and it would do so again, should at any future time any attempt at invasion be made ; and, whether in peace or in war, the naval force of the country would, he was sure, always be ready to meet the expectations of the country, to defend its liberty, and to secure the honour and character of that flag, which "a thousand years had braved the battle and the breeze." (Cheers.) Lord INGESTRE returned thanks for the army. The LORD MAYOR then proposed "The health of the Earl of Aberdeen and her Majesty's Ministers." After uttering a warm eulogium on Lord Aberdeei's private character, be proceeded to say, that the noble Earl's great ability and vast experience tended to inspire confi dence that under his superintendence her Majesty's Government would originate those beneficial measures which the country expected at their hands. (Hear, hear.) He knew that on occasions like the present it was the duty of the chief magistrate to put aside all party feeling, and he felt he was not departing from that rule in saying that her Majesty's Ministers had his entire sympathy as well as support. (Hear, hear.) The Earl of ABERDEEN, who was received with ap plause on rising, in acknowledging the honour conferred on his colleagues and himself, thought he might venture, to say that the Lord Mayor could not invite to the splendid hospitalities of that hall any Ministers of the Crown, be they who they might, who did not respect his high office, and who did not feel warmly interested in the welfare and prosperity of the great city over which he presided. (Applause.) He begged the company to believe that those feelings were largely shared in by her Majesty's present Government. (Hear, hear.) If at any time her Majesty's Ministers would rejoice to meet such an assembly of their fellow-subjects as the one now col lected together, they must especially do so on the present occasion, when all the great interests of the country were prosperous and flourishing to a degree almost unparal leled, and when the great body of the people were con tented and happy. (Cheers.) It was the business of her Majesty's Government to endeavour to preserve, and, if possible, to extend those blessings. He should not presume to assign the causes of this national pros perity, but, whatever portion might be assigned to hu mane agency, they would do well to recollect that a good Providence had blessed the efforts of man. (Hear.) He was well aware that that was not the place or time for the expression of political opinions, yet he thought it could not be out of season to say that it would be the earnest endeavour of her Majesty's Government to preserve the state o f peace without the aid of which they would never have enjoyed the blessings they now possessed. Neither did he think it superfluous to state, that it would be their endeavour also to protect and extend, as far as lay in their pof this country in every quarter of:t , h7 r e ei g . : h tbhe The LORD MAYOR p ro p ose d Houseglobe. Cheers. cobeof Lerosr. commerce d) s and connected with the toast the name of the President of the Council, Earl Granville, observing that never in the history of the country had that august assembly distinguished numbered among its me m b ers so many rrank ; persons, and more its eon ennobledduet wasby their virtues asto th entitl e a it st to nyth t e h i e r esteem and confidence of the country. (Applause.) Earl GRANVILLE, in acknowledging the toast, said he believed that there was no mathematical maxim generally received as that th e y cou ld no t insure theper manenceso of their political f ree d om or i n di v i dual inde pendence without the continuance of th e representative government they enjoyed ; and he thought it was almost as general an opinion that the second branch of the Legislature was necessary for the good working of the system. (Hear, hear.) What the Lord Mayor had just stated was, in his opinion, true, that the House of Lords at the present moment held a very considerable position in the good opinion of the community. Such had not always been the case, for some very few years ago bitter speeches in reference to the House of Lords were made at public meetings, and. hostile, pamphlets were written, with such titles as The Peers or the People —What will the Lords do? 'While others put the ques ' tion still more ominously, as follows What shall be done with the Lords ?" (Laughter.) 4- He believed that that feeling was now entirely changed, as was evidenced by the tone of the public press. (Hear, hear.) A few months ago they had read in the public prints an elo quent defence of the House of Peers, made by Lord Derby at Liverpool, a town only second to the great commercial city of London. The noble lord, on that occasion, said that he could not take on himself to say that every individual in the House of Peens was the model of a legislator ; and, within the last few weeks, one, of his own colleagues (Lord J. Russell) had made, 'he was afraid , a similar admission , when he sa id h e did not think that every peer was in fallible. (Laughter.) He was not inclined to argue the point against a man whom he had taken, since his first • entrance upon political life, as his g u id e upon all con stitutional questions. But, were he disposed to contest the point, the very worst place he could choose to do so in would be the city of London, where that noble lord's great qualities were fully appreciated, and where all political parties agreed that the fact of his being the re presentative of so large a constituency was an honour both to the electors and the elected. (Cheers.) Not being himself one of the ornaments of the House of Peers, he might be permitted, without the reproach of egotism, to say that there existed among that body men who yielded to no class in the country for the liberal and comprehensive View they took of all the great questions most necessary to be settled at the present time, and who felt the responsibility which attached to them as members of an institution endeared to the country by those historical traditions which possess so much weight with Englishmen. (Applause.) The Duke of ARGYLL proposed "The health of the Lord Mayor." (Applause.) He said that that was to him the first time of his partaking of what his noble friend had truly called the splendid hospitality of that ancient hall ; and he could not partake of that hospi tality without having great recollections brought to his mind with regard to the past, and great hopes with re gard to the future. He could not help calling to mind those parts of our history when the liberties of the Eng lish people were fought in these municipal institutions ; and, as regarded the future, he cherished the hope that the progress of commerce over the globe would contribute to a new era in the history of human affairs. He was not one of those who believed that the time had yet arrived when -they could hang the bugle in the hall, bend their swords into ploughshares, and convert their spears into pruning-hooks ; but he thought that the progress of commerce over the globe, carried on mainly by the great people of this country, and by that other great people who had sprung from the loins of England,—he thought that the progress of com merce, especially if conducted by high principle and in a Christian spirit, would finally lead to the great diminution, if not extinction, of those wars of am bition which had hitherto desolated the world. But it was not a selfish interest in the extension of commerce, but rather to the character of their merchants, that they must look for this blessed consummation. It was to that character they must trust, not only for the security of their institutions, but their influence over the other nations of the world. (Hear, hear.) They had great and noble examples of the highest development of the English character ; and, above all, they had it in that great man who, from commanding the armies of Eng land, had been called to command her Senate, and who, a few short months ago, had been carried to his final resting-place under the cathedral of that great city. (Hear, hear.) The Poet Laureate, who had written some touching lines to that great man's memory, said— " Not once or twice in our rough island story The path of duty was the way to glory." Though those words referred to the glory acquired in war, he conceived that they were equally applicable to the glory acquired in the avocations of peace ; and, as he believed there had been great and noble develop ments of character among the British merchants, he trusted that that character would still be maintained, and he rejoiced to give the health of the present Mayor, because he believed his lordship represented in his cha racter those virtues which he hoped would long con tinue to adorn the merchant princes of England. (Cheers.) The LORD MAYOR, after acknowledging the compli ment paid him, gave "The health of the Chancellor of the Exchequer.' (Applause.) He stated that the Chancellor of the Exchequer always occupied a post of great difficulty, especially if he had a surplus ; and therefore, notwithstanding the right hon. gentleman's great ability, he needed all the encouragement which the expressions of their sympathy could give. (Cheers and laughter.) The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER returned thanks. He said he was aware that there were other feelings besides admiration and respect which might be excited by the position of a Chancellor of the Exchequer, and he fully believed that the pre dominant sentiment in the minds of all humane men towards the person whose duty it was to fill that office was one of sympathy and commisera tion. (Laughter.) From his own brief experience he could speak as to the anxiety of different parties to share in the treasures which, as they imagined, it was in the power of the Chancellor of the Exchequer to diffuse over a smiling land, and their desire to participate in some imagined surplus of the public revenue very com monly outran the care to inquire whether that surplus existed, or what was its extent. (Laughter.) The difficul ties imposed on a Chancellor of the Exchequer were such, that nothing but the kindness and indulgence of his fel low-countrymen could induce him to face either the labour or the responsibility of the exercise of his office. The existence of representative government had intro duced into this Country a spirit of strictly examining the financial administration ; and he did not think that a matter to be lamented, for he regarded well-weighed and matured public opinion as the most powerful assistance that could be afforded to the holder of any office in the discharge of its duties. He was convinced, too, that whether or not he might succeed in dealing with the great and complicated subjects that fell under his super vision, the decisions and proceedings of the Govern ment would be brought to a candid tribunal ; that they would enjoy the benefit of an impartial and even indul gent judgment ; that it would be believed that they were sensible, at any rate, that they had a character to lose, and that they were actuated by a spirit of honest patriot ism and a desire to give effect to those principles which had been adopted of late years, and had manifestly tended to augment the prosperity of the country. (Applause.) The LORD MAYOR gave " The health of the President of the Board of Trade, Mr. Cardwell," observing that that right hon. gentleman had earned for himself, by his intelligence, industry, and ability, a high position in public opinion. Mr. CARDWELL said that he had not had the least idea, until he heard the words fall from the lips of the chief magistrate of the City of London, that when the health of that august assembly, the House of Commons, was to be proposed to the great municipal body now collected together on the present festive occasion, the duty of acknowledging the toast would be assigned to a member of the house holding a position there so incon siderable as he did. Nevertheless, by the office he filled, he had the honour, in regard to trade, to be the servant of men whose fleets had covered every sea, and whose enterprise was subduing by peaceful conquests the utmost limits of the world. (Hear, hear.) That enterprise they were not satisfied shouhl tend only to their own advantage, but, with an enlightened spirit, they were making their commerce the pioneer of science, art, and civilisation, and the handmaid of Christianity itself. (Applause.) And let him ask, why was it that this great extension of theit trade had been accomplished, and why was it that they were now assembled in that festive hall the greatest commercial community in the world ? Precisely for the same reason that the House of Commons was the great refuge of liberty banished from other countries, and was the great conservator of freedom and happiness for all the other nations of Europe. (Hear.) It was, as had been eloquently ob served by Sir J. Mackintosh, in consequence of the freedom of our institutions, and the scope which they afforded for the development of energy and industry, that Great Britain held the proud position she did among the nations of the world. (Hear, hear.) It was that spirit which had constituted the louse of Com mons, based, as the noble duke (the Duke of Argyll) had told them, on the ancient municipalities of the country ; and in the House of Commons, as well as in the municipal communities, it was the native energy of the British character and the unfettered power of British ability which had established the Government of this country. Requesting the assembly to accept his acknowledgments on behalf of the House of Commons, he concluded by expressing a hope that that body would always deserve the confidence of an assembly of British people such as the one he then addressed. (Applause.) Several other toasts followed, after which the company retired from the dining-hall. HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE.—The statement that her Majesty's• Theatre had fallen into the hands of the Co vent Garden management, it seems, has proved quite correct, notwithstanding the contradiction given to it. Mr. George Becke, solicitor, of Bedford-row, in writing to a contemporary, says :—" Mr. Gye has requested me, as the solicitor of Mr. W. S. P. Hughes (to whom pos session of the property was delivered by the Sheriff of Middlesex on the 26th of January last), to inform you that your first announcement, stating the letting of the theatre to Mr. Gye, was correct ; and also that a con tract was signed at my office on Tuesday last, by which Mr. Hughes demised the theatre to Mr. Gye from the 25th of the present month." FURTHER RIOTS AT BLACKBURN.—W O regret to say that further riots, arising out of the election, have occurred in Blackburn, and that the military, who had departed on,Friday morning, have again had to be sent for. It appears that a large body of Scotchmen, chiefly travelling drapers and grocers, residing in Blackburn, had voted to the number of 80 for Mr. Fielden, the Liberal candidate, on Thursday morning, thereby giving that gentleman the large majority by which he headed his opponent almost from the opening of the poll. Saturday night was fixed u pon for attack pa y s o t un 7 g an m d a B n on that attacking the houses of these perso ns an d t n a ig k h in t g thae r s e o v n en o g f e. oneßßetween em half- a street with bludgeons and brickbats. He was badly James Johnston, w as attacked' by a mob in Penn e y- Smith, the mob followed him there, beatin g him about the head with M r . Smiths p oker, and ironmonger ; but the beaten, and sought refuge in the house of Mr. leaving him covered with blood and insensible on the hearth. The houses of several other persons were at tacked, and their windows and window shutters were destroyed with stones. A person in one house fired upon the mob and wounded one of the "Hornbyite" or Conservative ruffians. Not less than 11 small shot had been extracted from the man's face and body yesterday. The military were sent for, and a company of 80 of the 4th Regiment a rr i ve d at 11 on Saturday night, who still remain in the town. The magi s t ra tes were yesterday swearing in 400 special constables. The small police force were unable to cope with the mob, whose move ' ments were aided by the darkness of the night , the street lamps not being lighted. Only one of the ruffians was brought before the magistrates yesterday, and he was simply bound over to appear at the sessions. WEDDING AT TA.3ILA.GHT RECTORY, COUNTY DERRY. — We had great pleasure in witnessing the happy event of the marriage of the Rev. Edward Groome, rector of Beaulieu and Drumcar, in the county Louth, with Har rietan d late enjoyment Dean of Ttuoam all the Het Maxwell, da ug ht er o f the Rev. Maxwell Carpen d a l e, rector of Tamlaught, an d granddaughter of the V ery soßev. much Thomas happiness Carter,whichp the neighbourhood. The ch urc h was beautifully deco rated for the occasion, the pill ars b e i ng tastefully encir cled with ivy and evergreens, with G ot hi c arches up t h e aisle.—Derry Sentinel. people edeind THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY ENING, MARCH 29, 1853. T ' 7ss RAILWAY.. BRITISH RAILWAYS Aberdeen ..... ....... Ambg. Nottng. Bost. & Eastn. June....... Birmng. Wolverh. Stoar Birkenhd. LEincsh. & Cheshire Junct...... s o. Chesh. & Birk., £5O & £25 Cons.... Do., £2O Bristol & Exeter Caledonian. Chester & Holyhea. Cork and Bandon Cork, Black. & Pass Dublin&BelfastJunc Dundee Perth &Aber deen Junction Do. New East Anglian (X 25 L. & E. & L. & D.)..... Do., (XlB E. & H.).. Eastern Counties..... Eastern Union, Class A. late E. U. 5h.... Do., do.. Do., B. & C. 1 Fast Lancashire East & West Ind. Dk. & Binning. June Edinburgh & Glasgow Edinb. and Peebles Edinb.Prth.&Dundee Glasgow & S.Western Great Northern Stk Do., A. Stock Do., B. Stock Gt. Sth. &West. (Ire. G re at Western., frishSouth-Easters. Lancaster & Carlisle.. Do., Thirds. Lancash. &Yorkshir Do., Fifths Do., Wst. Riding Un Leeds Northern...— Liv. Crsby. & So uthpt London & Black Lond. Tilb. & Sthend. Lond.Bright.& S.Cst. London & N. Western Do. Fifths Do. ,10/.5h.,M&8... London & S. Western Do. .£4O Landrry.&Colerain Lndndrry. & Ennisk. tianch.Shef. &Lincln. Do., Man. &Lin. TJn Midland . ----• _ Do. Birming.dz Derby Midland G. West. (Ir., Do. Shares Newcastle dz Carlisle. Newmarket. • o. Bury Extensions Newpt .Aberg ..tHtfd. Newry & Enniskillen Newry Warrenpoin & Rostrevor .......... Norfolk... Do., New .............. orthn. Counties UJ North British ......... Nord' DeN oil, N 0.1.. Do., No. 2.... . ........ Do., A Deferred... Do., B Guaranteed North Staffo.ll.shire.. North Webtern........ N. & S. Westrn . June. Oxford Worcester di Wolverhampton..... Scottish Central ...... Scottish Midland...... Shrewsbury & Birmg. Do., L. & N. Westn. Guaranteed Stock... Shrewsby. & Herefd. Shrewsby. & Cheste (Nor. W. Do. Halves, d 0....... Do. Oswestry Shropshire Union.... South Dev0n..... ..... South Ea5tern......... South Wales S. Yorksh. RiverD Do. Stockton & Hartlepl. Thames Haven Dock and Rai1way......... Vale of Neath......... Waterfd. dr Kilkenny Waterford&Limerick West C0rnwa11..... ... Wmbledon &Croyon Woodford. York Newctl. & Berw Do. Extensions Do. G. N. E. Purchase York dz N. Midland ET , ; 4. Bub nese done th. fad ay. 1111u..1 pi 304 304 304 St. 11 50 St. 1.1 12) al 12il al 20 al 20 al 20 I al 5 al 100 al 60 al 50 1 al 50 i a] 25 1 a] 12i 1 St. 10 St. 10 25,17 25 St. 1.1 RAILWAY/. Leasing Compans. Closing Prices this day. • • • "". • 30 -31 29i -30 i 30 - 31 29 -30 104 --106 52i -53 k 151 - 153 32i -33 h U' - 551 - 56 27 - 28. 13' - 14 25h - 26 F,19 -19 i ,26 - 27 2 1 1 - 31 A 5 :. 1061 64 - 66 149 - 151 148 - 150 . - - 1 6 . a 132 - ii 11021 - 103ã 103 2} MINES. 1 all Agua Fria ' 1 —l4 p 10s. all Anglo Californian — i p 10 2 Australasian —li p 20 5 Australian — 6 p 1 all Australian Cordillera 1 all Australian Freehold. 4 d is — ap p 1 1 1 all Ave Maria 1 dis-- i p 1 all Baden (Gd. Duchy of) par - 4 p 1 all British Austria. Gold 1 - 6 p 20 13.5 BrLish Iron 7 - 9 35 '244 Brazilianlmp. (issued at £5 pm 4l -- 54 30 all Do. Cocaes & Culada 41 ti 44 a 20 15 Do. St. John Del Rey 30 —3l 1 h Carsons's Creek par - 4p fi 40 all Cobre Copper 47 49 47 5 1 Colonial Gold 24 21 ••• 14 Copiapo 54 - 64 St. all Copper Min. of Eng BO 90 85 25 all Do. Pref. 74 p. cent 8 9 p 6 all English and Austin .Copper Smeltg. Co ll 1 d 35 1 20 all General l7 —l9 2 all Great Nugget Vein 24 —2l p 4h' i 3 all Great Polgooth 1 —l4 p 1 all Lake Bathurst.. 4l- par 1 all Liberty 4 - p 1 all Lond. &Californ. Gold Quartz Crush. Co 1 - 4 d 1 all Mariquita.... ... 10 9 Mexican&S.Americn Bl 81 1 all Now Granada i 6 P 1 all Nouveau Monde l4 - 1/IP 5 1 Port Philip 4 - ipl4 g 1 all Quartz Rock 4 dis— 4 p 50 all Rhymney Iron 23 —25 p 244 15 Do. New 7 8 30 10/ Santiago de Cuba__ 7 8 1 all South Australian..,,, p 10 7 Tin Croft ll —1 3 p 283 all United Mexican 64 -61 61 1 all Waller par -1 p 1 all West Granada i 4 I , 1 all West Mariposa...,,,,, i dis— A p 1 all Yuba par - 1p l i 1,} l JOINT-STOCK BANKS. 40 all Australasia 91 93 92 14 50 all British N. American ... ... 20 2 Chrtd. Bnk. of India Australia, & China 14 --24 p 4 100 25 olonial — ... 100 20 Commercial of Lond. ... - ... ... 10 English Scottish and Australian 24 21 p 20 124 Lond. Chart. Bk. of Australia 44 —41 p 50 20 London and County ... - ... 50 10 London Joint Stock ... - ... 100 20 Loud. & Westminster ... ... 20 2 London Bank of Aus tralia and India ... par pl 4 224 50National of Ireland.. ... - ... 25 all Oriental Bank of Corporation 574 584 581 9 8 74 25 5 Do. New — ... 100 25 Provincial of Ireland ... ... 10 all Do. New — ... 1 1 Royal A.ustraln.Bkg & Gold Imp Co.._ }dis 'v 25 all South Australia 5O 52 25 all Union of Australia 764 774 77 ... 24 Do. New B6 9 50 10 Union of L0nd0n...,. ... ... 174 40 all Union of Madrid.-- ... - ... MISCELLANEOUS 100 35 Australian Agricult. 98 103 'lOO 99 102 100 20 4 Australan.Pcific.Mail ... ... 10 6 Austrian. Royal Mail ... ... ... 38i Brit. American 'Land ... ... 100 324 Canada — ... 5 6 Crystal Palace — 4 2 Crystal Pal. of France ~. : .. : 6i 4 i 20 1 Eastern Steam — ... 1 1 Electric Teleg. of Ir ... - ... 15 14 Gen. Steam Navigat ... - ... 100 50 General Screw Steam ... ... 20 24 Irish Beetroot Sugar ... ... 1 all Nat. Pat. Steam Fuel ... ... 10 2 Netherlands Land ... ... 1$ 20 24 Nrth. ofEuropeSteam ... ... 50 all Peninsular & Oriental ... ... 841 4 50 25 Do. Do. ... - ... 451 100 60 Royal Mail Steam ... 77 8 25 25 South Anstral.Land 52 54 52 1 1 Submar. Telegraph ... _ ... 5 2 Univeral Emigration and Colonization ... . 100 284 Van Diemen's Land 23 24 24 31 23 - 24 24 31 Vihtrti WZlttion+ ST. ALBAN'S RACES. (THIS DAY.) (BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.) ST. ALBAN'S STEEPLECHASE. Gulnare ... Sam Hood Three ran. Won in a canter. MARKET NEWS-(THIS Dir.) COLONIAL. The Colonial marketsrelOien - to morrow.] TEA.—The market has been steady, but the deliveries have fallen off. SUGAR.—The quantity of British Plantation landed last week at the East and. West India Docks was 279 hhds, 5 tierces, 12 barrels. There were taken for home con sumption 599 hhds, 27 tierces, 76 barrels. The stock in the same place is 4,028 hhds, 736 tierces, 591 barrels. RIIM.—The quantity landed last week at the East and West India Docks was 272 puns, 33 hhds. There were taken for home consumption 195 puns, 24 hhds, and ex ported 25 puns, 73 hhds. The stock in the same place i s 8,654 puns, 6 48 hhds. Teaow:—P.Y.C. is 44s Gd per cwt. on the spot, and town 46s 6d. HAT MARKETS. SMITHFIELD.—Meadow hay, 3/ 15s to 41 12s ; clover ditto, 41 Os to 5/ 5s ; sad straw, 1/ 105 to 1/ 143 per load. Supply but moderate, and trade firm. CIIMBERLAND.—Meadow hay, 3/ Os to 4/ 16s ; clover ditto, 3/ 10s to 5/ 8s ; and straw, 1/ 12s to 11 16s per load. Trade steady. WHITECHAPEL.—Meadow hay, 31 108 to 4/ 10s ; clover, ditto, 3/ Os to 5/ 10s ; and straw, 11 8s to 11 12s per load. A. full average supply, and a steady demand. LLOYD'S SHIPPING-(THIS DAY.) LONDON, March 29.—Wind this day at Noon, N.E., light breeze, and fine clear weather. _ __ DEAL, March 28.—Wind, E. by N., very fine. Arrived —King Oscar, Hayti ; Stiftreintmann laarigraft, New York. Arrived from the River, and sailed—Kew, for Hobart Town ; Eu, Melbourne ; Virginia, Port Philip ; Gotland, do. ; Harpley, do. ; Sea Witch, Shanghai ; Emma, Pernambuco ; Maria Agnes, Barbadoes ; Brisk, Antigua ; Miramichi, St. John's. LIVERPOOL, March 28.—Wind, W.N.W. Arrived— Emma Fields, New Orleans, making a little water ; Glen yon, Savannah • Cambria (s), Boston, &c. Sailed—Vis count Sandon, iahia ; Alice Gill, Montreal ; Onnie, Mel bourne ; New Margaret, Rong Kong - lannah, Rio Janeiro ; Onward, New Orleans ; Cornelia, New York ; John Hancock, do. ; Fred. Willim IV., Boston ; Dykes Halifax ; Fingalton, do. ; Commodore, Quebec; Sara]; Mary, Montreal. PLYMOUTH, March 28.—Wind, E.S.E. Arrived—Cal cutta (s), Calcutta, &c., and Cape of Good Hope. Sailed —Abegail, Quebec. Thirteen of the crew and some of the passengers of the Duncan Ritchie, Leith to Port Philip, have been landed here by the Agneta Juliana, they having abandoned that vessel in a leaky state, in lat. 49 N., long. 6 W., leaving the master, officers, and remainder of pas sengers on board. PORTSMOUTH, March 28.—Wind, E. to S.E. Sailed — Larkin, King George's Sound L_Providence, New York. SOUTHAMPTON, March 28.—Wind, N.W. Sailed—Port Glasgow, Quebec. YARMOUTH, March 28.—The William, of Sunderland, is on the Corton Sand ; is expected off next tide. NEWPORT, March 28.—Sailed—Sarah and Emma, New York. - . SHIELDS, March 28.—Sailed—George Avery, Singapore ; "Cate Evelyn, Havana ; Adventure, ditto ; Mary Lawson, Carthagena and Quebec. Loot, March 28.—The George, brig, of Bideford, struck on a sunken rock off the Brezin, 25th inst., and. sunk; crew saved. AMSTERDAM, March 27•—The Hoop, Odessa to England, was ready to sail for Constantinople on the 21st of October last, and has not since been heard of, Business this day. Closing Prices this day. 29 - 30 61 - 6i, 91 - 104 7i-- 6i d 21 -- 22 3i — 2 d 1.01 -- 105 64 -- 646 21 -- 22 18i -- 19; i - 1 -?1P 8 - 9 -- 5i 4 14 -- 13 10 - 11 7 - 8 716 - 74 54 - 57 73 - 75 X 3 2 - 34 61 - 63 80i - 46 -48 81 i 122 - 124 107 - 108 99i - 911 )2 94 - - 75 13ip 5 4ld 3 d 16 - El le ; 1(4 1184 3 p i g 18 P 4 d 1 - 21 30 31 3 3d 73 74 43 45, 50 52 2 B ai d 3i 8i g 50 -- 52 i 8 2 —2 l d 114 —85 i 4f- 8 - -5 p 47f - 48 100 - 102 62 - 64 64 - 66 70`- 75 ' 18 20 9 10 14 15 81— 3d 214 77 7fl 5 12 6 0 1 — 13) 4 44 19 21 2 21 15 15] 9 29 31 Cot 9i d par 68 69i1 2 -- Lid !id 58 59 PREFERENCE SHAREI 100 all 100 5 100 all Aberdeen Do., No. 2, 7 p Bris. do Ex. 4 p. c. St Do. 4 p. c. Shares Caledonian £lO Chester dr Holyhead Guar. 5i per cent Cork &Bandon 5i p.c Dundee PerthdrAber deen Junction liiii I losl IV* - is EastA nglian (£3los; 6 per cent....... ...., Do: (25) 7 per cent Do. (27175) 7 p. ct Eastern Counties Ex tension, 5 p. s. No.l Do., No. 2 Do., New 6 p. e. St Eastern Union, Scrip Guar. 6 per cent EastLancash. 6 p.cts Edinb. Prth. &Dundee 5i per cent Glasgow & S.Western guar. 5 per cent. 18i -19 i - 61- 6i :I = :II - lip' Ifi - 1f p - if p lit - 15 18i -- 19 Great Noithn. 5 p.c Do. 5 p. c., Redeem. at 10 p. c. prem Gt. Southn. drWestn. (Ireland) Eighths... Gt. Westn. (Berke Hants Ex. 5 p. c.).. G. West. fixed 4i p c. Lan. do York. F. Do., 6 p. c., Stock... London and Brighton , Guaranteed 5 p. c... 1 Do. Pref., 5 p. c. St. Do. Convertible, 6p. c.,1852 Do. New Guar. 6p. c. London & S. Western, Con. Thirds 31 - Lii -- 127 .O 9 - 111 St. 16 St. St. 100 6 100 100 Bi— -6;4 105 107zd P 150 152 Londonderry& Coler. iShares .......... Londy. & Ennis. Sh Manch.,Shef., &Lin., 4 Shares, No. 1 Do. New, £lO ...... Do., £6. Marypt.&Carl. 4 p. c. Do. 4i per cent ad ad all all 82 100 1100 IDo Mid. Consol. 6 p.c. St. Do. Consol. Bristol di Birm. 6 per cent Do. Pref. 4i per cent Norfolk Extension Do. Guar. 5i per et Do. Way. Val. 5 p c North British . ..... North Staffordshire Oxford Worcester di Wolverh. £15,6p. c. Do.. ••. ••• .50 153 Shrews& Birm. N. G. Shrewsby. & Chester (Nor. W. Min),B P.C. Do. 5 per cent.. South Devon Do. New Si - 31 PI 10 25 10 1.0.6 10 all 1i all 10 - 11 13t- 13i 8 - 9 10t- 11i i - I P 1 127 6 1 - ..• -- ••• P 1 148 —lsold l 22 1 — 2 3 p 5 61 1 2 109 11 25i —26 i 1 11 la P I.oi - 4 S. Eastern (Reading Ann.,) of £1 Os.6d. S. Yorksh.4p. c. Guar. Waterfd. &Kilk. 6p. c. York Newcastle and Berwick, 4 p. c. Pref D• York& N. Midland H & S. Parch 1101 }l4Bi 171 —18 i lip 14 —15 i Par — P ad 261 26 20 21 id par 1091 9 101 - 103 I -5, P - iPI FOREIGN. 10 3 An'merp&Rotterdam Id pa r 5 3 BelgianEastn. Junct. 1 11 20 all Charleroi & Erquelin. 141 15 / 15 20 6 Dijon and Besangon 2 2 21 p 12 20 8 Dutch Rhenish 2l dim 20 all East Indian 5l" 6 p 251 20 1 Do. Extension . li 1 p 2i 1 5 all Gt. India n P en insula 1 2p 20 7 Gd. Junct. of France 1 1 p 201 151 Gt. Western of Canada Shares 1 1 P 5 1 Lucca & Pistoja sp.c prof — ... 20 15 Luxembourg.. 7.1 81 8 10 10 Do 4 o. . (Railway) ll - 41. 4i 6 2DI 11 S 3 Do. (Canal) A 1 2 10 2 Do. 6p. c t. p re f - I ' 2 20 7 Lyons & Medit erran . 9 —ll p 20 41 Madras 2 21 . 20 all Namur & Liege (with interest) 7 71 7/ 20 all Do. (ex interest) 5l 6 16 all Northern of France 36 36/ 36/ 20 all Do. 201. 3p. a. Pas (fmy. B. &Ams. Shs ) 14 15 141 10 all NorwegianTrunkPref 81 i 20 10 Paris and Lyons lB --18/p 2S/ 8 20 all Paris and Orleans 421 431 42 20 all Paris and Rouen 42 2 20 all Paris and Strasbourg 33 —33 i 20 4 ParisCaen& Chorbrg. 41 5p gi 10 54 Quebec &Richmond p i 52 20 all Rouen and Havre 2O 21 20 all Sambre and Meuse Bl oh 9119 10 4 Do. 51 p. ct. pref ...._ ... \2O 4 Southern of France 44 ___ 5.1 p 20 2s. Upper India Scrip... 4 ._4' p pm St all West Flanders 10 6 Do. 51 per c. Pref Idis p 20 10 Western of France 94 101) 10 ' 2 West. of Switzerland 4.1 i , 20 3 Zealand ..... ... —— 1 1 d 2 Bedford and Bletchley.. Bscm. & Oxfd. guarantee Do. without gr Birm.Wolv. & Dudley guar. Do.wthtguar. Buckslamsh. Clydesdale Jc. E.Lincoln. gr. 6p. cent. . I Gls;:r.&Dn.Fr. 1 HrUpl. Dic. & Railway 11 Hull & Selby 11 Do. Shares 11 Do. i Shares 11 Lon.. & Grcen • 411 Do. Preference 411 Lowestoft gr. al 4 per cent al Do. 6 per ct alk 'Manch.Bxton and Matlock Middlesbro' & Redcar al Midld.Bradfd al Northern and Eastern sp. c. all Do. 6 per ct.. 11 Do. Fixed sp. c 11 Prest. & Wyre !London &I N. West. Gt.Westn Do Do Do L. &N.W Caledon , Gt.Notrhn Gt. Westn. New. d; Berw Y.4N.Md Do & Eastern Do Norfolk Do Ln.dEN.W dE Midld Stekton Darlingt. E. Count, Do D 0... .... L. &N. W diLndi Yk 1 Do. Shares. Do 0 Roystn. dc Hit. Gt.Northn 0 Do.Shepth.St. Do 81 Shot Roth. di Lancash.di Gooleg.s.p.c Torksh 6i S. Staffordsh.. MrMClean 11 WearYalleygr Stockt. dt 6 per cent Darling. 11 Do Do 0 Wilts diSomrst Gt.Westn 1011 64i 4 80i 47 123 2 107 e 90 92i 3 2 13 74/ 5 IP 15i 1 , 6 1031 118 1 If 24 90 89 9 734 4 , a 52/ 3.7 Tri 6ii 7i 36i 15 k 68i 9 12i 58 71 'Do . THE LAW OF DIVORCE. The Commissioners --Lord Campbell, Dr. Lushington, Lord Beaumont, Lord Bedesdale, Mr. Bouverie, Mr. Wal pole, and Sir Page Wood, appointed in December, 1850, to inquire into the Law of Divorce, had just published their first report. We subjoin a portion of this interesting document : I. Your Majesty's Commissioners appointed to inquire into the present state of the law of divorce, and more par ticularly into the mode of obtaining divorce d vinculo ma trimonii in this country, have humbly to submit to your Majesty's consideration the following report, explaining, in the first place, what the law is, and suggesting, in the se cond place, some important alterations by which, in the opinion of your Majesty's Commissioners, it aught be im. proved. 11. In the first place, we would observe that divorces in England are of two kinds—the one partial, and the other total. Partial divorces are called divorces d mend et thoro, because they separate the married parties from each other's society without dissolving the marriage union. Total di vorces are called divorces d vineuto matrimonii, because they dissolve that union altogether, either on the ground of some antecedent incapacity which rendered the contract void from the beg . inning, or on the ground of some super venient cause which having arisen subsequent to the mar riage, justifies the parties in desiring to put an end to it. 111. Divorces a mensa et thoro are little more in the eye of the law than simple separations ; they only last until the parties think fit to be reconciled ; and they are granted at the suit of the husband or wife, when the gross mis conduct of either of them, such as cruelty, adultery, ,or the like, have rendered it impracticable for them to live together. V. The common law of England, which follows in this case the canon law of the Church, " deems so highly, and with such mysterious reverence, of the nuptial tie," that the causes of divorce are purposely limited to a few ex treme and specific provocations ; and the preservation of that union, so long as it can be secured, is so manifestly essential to the best interests of society, that before it can be dissolved it must be clearly established by the strictest proof that the offence has been committed ; that there is no contrivance by which the parties are endeavouring to escape from their solemn obligations to themselves and their children; that they cannot discharge their mutual duties by continuing any longer to cohabit with each other, and that the party complaining is free from guilt. Hence have arisen certain well-ionown rules, which the Ecclesiastical Courts have invariably acted upon; as, first, that divorce will only be granted for the extreme provocations adverted to above ; secondly, that the law will not suffer it to be obtained on the sole confession of the parties them selves ; and, thirdly, that it will be refused, even al though an offence has been committed which would other wise justify it, if collusion, connivance, condonation, or recrimination can be pleaded and proved. Those rules are all of them founded on the soundest wisdom ; and though they may require some little modification, which will be adverted to hereafter when we come to consider the sug gested improvements, we conceive that in substance they ought to be maintained. V. Since the effect of a divorce a mend et thoro is not to dissolve the marriage bond, but simply to authorise, under certain circumstances, the separation of the parties, their legal rights remain in most respects what they were before ; though their moral obligations towards themselves and their children are materially altered by the impossi bility of discharging them any longer together. For which reason a divorce of this kind will neither bar the wife of her dower, nor deprive the husband of his martial rights in respect of her property. Nor will it enable either of the parties to marry again ' • nor will it exempt them f rom the censure of the Eccle s iastical Court for living incon tinently. Nor will it bastardise the subsequent born issue ; but during the separation the court will decree a competent allowance to the wife for her maintenance under the name of alimony. This allowance depends on the innocence or delinquency of the parties, and is measured by the means and circumstances of the hus band. In cases of elopement, or when the wife is living in adultery, none will be awarded ; but when she is innocent, and the delinquency of the husband is clearly established, the law considers that as she is separated by his misconduct from all the comforts of matrimonial society, she ought to be liberally provided for by him. The amount is left to the discretion of the judge; sometimes a moiety of the property has been given, some times a third, and sometimes less, regard being had to a variety of circumstances ; such as the condition of the hus band, his station in life, the support of the children, and especially to the circumstance where the Allowance has been a large one, whether the :sulk of the fortune came origi nally from her. VI. Total divorces, or divorces a vineulo mettrimonii, are those which annul or those which rescind the marriage con tract ; the former -being grounded on some antecedent incapacity which rendered it in reality void from the be ginning ; the latter being granted in consequence of some supervenient cause, which, having arisen subsequently to the marriage, justifies the parties in desiring to put a stop to it. VII. With regard to the former, the causes for which a marriage might be annulled were much more extensive be fore the Reformation than they are present. Before the Reformation marriages were liable to be set aside Upon proof of pre-contract with some other person, or because the connexion was within the degrees of consanguinity or affinity prohibited by the canon law, " which was far more restrictive than the law of God." But since the Reforma tion these rules have been altered on account of the inCon veniences which resulted from them ; for, to use the lan guage of an old strtute, " Marriages were brought into such uncertainty thereby that none could be surely knit and bounden but it should be in e ith er o f th e par ti es power and arbiter, casting away the fear of God by means and compasses to prove a pre-contract, a kindred and alliance, or a carnal knowledge to defeat the same." Accordingly, that statute has declared all marriages to be good and in dissoluble, notwithstanding a pre-contract ; and the for bidden degrees are limited to those which the law of God defines. The only grounds, therefore, since the passing of that statute for nullifying and absolving the marriage con tract by reason of some antecedent incapacity, are relation ships within the forbidden degrees, a previous marriage, corporal imbecility, or mental incompetency. VIII. In cases of this description the Ecclesiastical Courts do not exercise, nor do they possess, a rescinding power. They have no authority, at least in the present day, to dis solve a marriage good in itself, whatever may be the delin quency of the parties. And the sentences pronounced are improperly termed sentence of divorce a vinculo matri monii, for in the cases to which alone such sentences are applicable, there is in fact, in the eye of the law, no legal vinculum or binding tie of any kind. IX. The effects of a sentence nullifying a marriage are, first, that the wife is barred of her dower ; secondly, that the issue are illegitimate ; and thirdly, that the parties so divorced may marry again, X. With regard to divorces which rescind the marriage contract, it is to be observed that, strictly speaking, they are unknown to our law. By the law of England, that contract is indissoluble, and when once it ha s b een consti tuted in a legal mann er there are no means of putting an end to it in any of our courts. Nevertheless, the actual dissolution of such a con t rac t, w h en adultery has been com mitted, is so consonant to reason and religion, that where the general law has failed to give a remedy, Parliament has stepped in to provide one specially by passing a particular law in favour of those who can make out a case which will warrant its interference. The origin of this is important and instructive. XI. In Roman Catholic times, marriage was regarded as a sacrament by the canon law; and being a sacrament, it was deemed indissoluble. But when the Reformation came, the courts denounced, amongst other opinions of the Romish Church, the doctrine of a sacrament in marriage, "retaining the idea of its being of divine institution in its general origin," but considering it in the light of a civil contract, which, for its full completion, had always required, in England at least, some religious solemnity. The character of mar riage was thus materially altered ; for since it was no longer to be deemed a sacrament, there was nothing, on that account, to render it indissoluble ; and as the reform ers were about to revise the whole body of the canon law, which had become unsuitable to a Protestant country, they did not omit the matrimonial code. With this view various acts were passed, providing that the Crown should have full power to nomin a t e commissioners ( 16 ecclesiastic, of whom four were to be bishops, and 16 laymbn, of whom four were to be lawyers) to order and compile such laws ecclesiastical as should be thought convenient. " A work was accordingly composed for this purpose by Cranmer, and translated into Latin with a happy imitation of the clear method and ele gant brevity of the Roman jurists, by Sir John Cheke and Dr. Haddon, two of the restorers of classical literature in England?' This work, having never received the Royal confirmation, is not indeed law, but it is of great authority. It has been published under the title of " Reformatio Le gum Ecclesiasticarum," and the articles on the subject of marriage and divorce are peculiarly interesting, as contain ing, in a short compass, the opinions of our first reformers on matters which affect the civil rights of all men, as well as the highest of all the moral interests of society. XII. By these articles, when the husband or wife had committed adultery, a diverce was allowed, and the un offending party might marry again. But if both were guilty, since both must fall under the same condemnation, the first marriage was not to be dissolved. Absolute desertion, pro tracted absence, mortal enmities, and lasting cruelty, were all adjudged to be lawful grounds of divorce. But reconci liation was inculcated wherever it could be obtained ; and separations from bed and board were entirely abolished. It was, moreover, recommended that adultery should be pun ished by perpetual imprisonment or transportation for life; and if the offender were the husband, he was to return to the wife with her fortune, and and to it one-half of his own; or if the wife, she was to forfeit her jointure, and all the advantages which by law, custom, settlement, or promise, &c., she might have otherwise derived from her m Xlll. arriage. It is supposed that the regulations contained in this code on the subject of divorce were occasioned by the case of Parr, Marquis of Northampton, who had divorced his wife, Anne, Boucher, for adultery, in the Ecclesias tical Court. For, according to the custom which then prevailed, it is probable that divorces had no certain and immediate effect beyond that of a legal separation from bed and board. A commission, however, was appointed to inquire whether by a divorce on this ground, that is to say, on the ground of adultery, he was not so divorced from. Lady Anne, that no divine law prohibited his mar riage. The marquis was too impatient to wait for issue of the commissioners' researches, and in the in terim he married again, Elisabeth Brooke, daughter to Lord Cobham. Two years afterwards, the commis sion made answer to the queries put to them, " that the band of wedlock being broken by the mere fact of infidelity the second marriage was lawful." After that, the Parlia ment of 1551 confirmed this answer by declaring that the marriage of Northampton and Elisabeth Brooke was " law ful, as by the law of God indeed it was , any decretal Pe is al l e e l ft o y f at lawpae se canon ecclesiastical, law or usage to the contrary bnetwithl s twast i u r g e followingth re is sta ign, tu , t , k n o t': e d n i n g ." the Bat since proceedings except the advised and lasting belief of Cram mer and his associates in Reformation, that a more exten sive liberty of divorce ought to be allowed. XIV. Apparently, in fact, it was allow ed half a century. For it has been observ ed for more than Stoddart—and there is some reason f by Sir John or 50 ob servation—that from th e y ear 15 assenting to the , until the year 1602, marriage was not held by the Ch urch and therefore was not held by the law, to be indissoluble. Parr's case is one proof of this • and one is the languagez another and still stronger . used by the ecclesiastical authorit ies of 1597. For by the 1 05th • discrimination is canon a made betw een the process of dissolving and the pro cess of annulling matri mony, reme dies then existing, or supposed to exist, in the spiritual courts. The canon is in these words •—" F oh a s m atrimonial causes h ay .. • 0111813111 “L" ays peen reputed among the weightiest, and therefore requi re the greatest caution when they come to be handled and debated in judgment, especially in cases wherein matrimony is and to be dissolved or annul led, we st r i c tl y c h arge an enjoin that in all proceedings in divorce and nullities of marriage, good circumspection and advice be used, and that the truth may as far as possible be sifted out by the depositions of witness and other law ful proof, and that cre di t be not givento the sole conies- siens of the parties themselves, howsoever taken upon oath, either w ithi n or w ith out the court. " XV. The Church, however, was still anxious to dis.. courage as much as possible a second marriage after di.. vorce ; and accordingly it requires, by the 109th canon, that "in all sentences pronounced only for divorce and separation d merod, et thoro, there shall be a caution and restraint inserted in the said sentence, that the parties so separated shall live chastely, and neither shall they, during each other's life, contract matrimony with other poerson. And for the better observance of this last clause, the said sentence of divorce shall not be pronounced until the party or parties requiring the same shall have given good ani sufficient caution and security unto the Court, that they will not any , way break or tran sgress th e said restrain or prohibition. XVI. Now the very fact of enjoining a prohibitory bond implies that the marriage, which the bond was intended to prevent, would have been valid. It is so laid down by the learned and judicious Dr. Hammond, with great clearness, for he says, " That requiring a bond does infer that this marriage, after a Christian divorce, is not looked on by the Church as an adulterous commission, but rather as a matter of dangerous consequence ;" and such would appear to have been the prevailing opinion of our ablest divines of the 17th century. XVII. While the Church of England disclaimed, as body, the doctrine of indissolubility, it is probable that many members of it adhered to the old opinion ; for when the case of Foljambe (who, after a divorce, had married a second time, living his first wife), was brought before the Court of Star Chamber, it was th ere h e ld that the secon d marriage was void " because" according to the report of Moore, " the first divorce w as b u t a rnensd etthoro, and not vinculo matrintonii ; and John Whitgift, then Archbishop of Canterbury, said that he had called to him at Lambeth the most wide divines and civilians, who all agreed on this." Now this determination was inconsistent with the opinions of the reformed divines in the " Reformatio Legum," it clashes with the case of the Marquis of Northampton, and it cannot be reconciled with the ecclesiastical constitutions of 1597 ; and it was also opposed to the practice of the laity for at least half a century. Accordingly, Mr. Ser geant Salkeld, lays it down that " divorce for adultery was anciently a vinculo matrimony, and, therefore, in the beginning of the reign of Queen Elizabeth, the opinion of the Church of England was, that after a divorce for adul tery the parties might marry again. But in Foljambe's case, he adds, A nno 44 Eli zabeth, in the Star Cham b er, that opinion was changed. And Archbishop Bancroft, (it should be Whitgift) upon the advice of divines, held that adultery was o n ly a cause of divorce et mei:4d et thoro." The doctrine of indissolubility was thus not only re-estab lished, but it operated in this country with a rigour un known in Roman Catholic times ; the various fictions and devices in the shape of canonical degrees and alleged pre contracts, which then afforded so many loopholes of escape from its severity, having been each and all put an end to at Ohl TtAfo.nation. XVIII. It may be reasonably doubted whether the de cision in Foljarabe's case was assented to by the Church of England as a body, for the Chamber of Convocation in the succeeding year re-enacted, word for word, the ecclesiastical constitutions of 1597; these, as subsequently confirmed by James 1., are now a substantive part o the ecclesiastical law of this kingdom, being in fact the well-known canons of 1603, which have never been repealed or disturbed. In the year 1604, the statue of bigamy (1 Jac. 1., o. 11) was passed by the Legislature, making that offence felony ; but con taining an express proviso that the act should not extend to any person divorced by sentence of the Ecclesiastical Court." Now we can hardly suppose that the Legislature intended to declare, in one and the same breath, that bigamy was felony, and yet that a second marriage after divore, living the first wife, was not to be considered in that light, unless it conceived that the sentence passed in the Ecclesi astical Court had worked a dissolution in the marriage contract. XIX. How far the conduct of the laity may have been affected by these proceedings, it is difficult to conjecture. What was the practical rule respecting second marriages in the reign of James 1., or in that of his son, or during the time of the Commonwealth, we are but little informal. Mr. Spence has conjectured that, in early times, the Court of Chancery, under its clerical chancellors, exercised juris diction to decree a divorced vincula matrimonii. There is no authority, however, for this, except some loose entries in Tothill's " Transacti ons o f th e ourt of Chancery ;" in one of which it is said that, in the books in Henry VIII.'s reign, there are " two decrees for divorces, Terrell and his wife, an Jeffrey and Jenny (p. 61), and in another, that a bill was filed, Bateman contra Wells, "to dissolve a con tract of marriage, and to have bond up, because the woman denies to have him." These entries are by far too loose to allow us to draw any accurate conclusion from them, save that they show that parties diverted d mensd et thoro were endeavouring to find some competent tribunal which would set them free from the marriage bond, and enable them to contract a second marriage. Such a tribunal was certainly not found until application was made to Parliament. One of the chief grounds for the application was to prevent the fathering of illegitimate children on the unhappy husband whose bed had been violated. Accordingly in Mr. Lukenor's case, an act was obtained to b a stardise th e i ssue b o rn while his ife, against whom a sentence of divorce had been ob tained, continued to live in open adultery; but it did not dissolve the marriage bond, or allow the innocent party to marry again. The first case which answered the double purpose of bastardising the issue and enabling the parties to marry again is that of Lord Roos, in the reign of Charles 11. The facts were shortly these. In the year 1666, an act was passed bastardising the children of Lady Ann Roos, by reason of her adultery, and thereupon her husband, Lord Roos, followed up this proceeding by obtaining from the Spiritual Court a sentence of divorced mend et thoro. But these proceedings were incomplete for his purpose; and since " there was no probable expectation of posterity to support the family in the male line, but by the said John Manners Lord Roos," a bill was brought in entitled " An Act for Lord Roos to marry again, " and it enabled him to do so, and gave t o th e children b orn in such wedlock the character of legitimacy, and the capacity of inheriting. XX. The case is interesting and important, as constitut ing a distinct+. Parliamentary nogetion of the doctrine of indissolubility, so early as the reig n of Charles 11. The difference between the case of L ord Roos and the case of the Marquis of Northampton seems to have been this—the Marquis was barred by no restraint from marrying another wife immediately after sentence, and so there was no law' by which his children would have been rendered illegiti mate ; whereas Lord Roos was prevented from doing so by the canon and th e b on d, f rom th e bi n di ng cogency of which it was the object of the act apparently to relieve him. XXI. According to the historians Burnet and Ralph, this bill was passed upon political grounds, and with a political object—viz., to form a p rece d en t which wouldenable Charles 11. to separate from his first wife, by whom he had no children, and to marry a second wife , after that separation, for the purpose of excluding th e Duke of York from the throne. However that may be, unquestionably the bill was contested stoutly ; 17 bishops opposed, and three only supported it. But amongst those who supported it was Bishop Cozens, whose masterly argument on this subject was afterwards published in a pamphlet, and is now pre !served in " The State Trials." XXII. The first example of an actual dissolution of the nuptial tie by Parliament was in the case of the notorious mother of Savage, the Countess of Macclesfield. In that case the aid of the Legislature was sought, because, in con sequence of the skilful opposition set up by the Countess in the spiritual courts, and the narrow maxims which there prevailed, she contrived to baffle all her husband's efforts to obtains sentence of divorce ct mend et thoro. The circum stances of the case, however, was so scandalous and flagrant, that it would have been an outrage upon every principle of justice to withhold relief ; at the same time it was so novel a proceeding topass a bill of that nature, where there was not a sentence of divorce first obtained in the Spiritual Court, that a protest was entered against it by Lords Halifax and Rochester, because, as they said, they looked upon it as an 41 precedent, and whi c h m i g ht b e of ill consequence in the future. XXIII. The next instance of a legislative dissolution of marriage was in the Duke of Norfolk's case. There also a sentence of divorce was refused by the Ecclesiastical Court, although the duke tried the experiment more than once. He recovered damages, however, at law, from the adul terer, Sir John Jermayne. And after his bill had been repeatedly rejected by the Lords, it became at last, in a new state of circumstance, successful in 1700. The lead ing counsel for the duchess (Sir T. Powys) complained that this was the first instance where an attempt had been made to obtain a divorce by Act of Parliament, without any sen tence being previously obtained at Doctors' Commons. And the duchess herself protested against it in these emphatic terms :—" My lords," she said, " I had rather stand charged for high treason before your lordships, than with this igno minious crime. In the charge for high treason the manner of trial and the ways of proceeding are known, and so is the punishment. But your lordships are now creating new ways of proceedings, and a new law to punish me, and this for a crime supposed and alleged to be committed seven years past, in another reign, and after public indemnities in many sessions of Parliament. XXIV. Such are the cases in which application wa s made to Parliament before the commencement of the 18th century, to get rid of the consequences of a prior:marriage. The object of Mr. Lukenor's case was to prevent the evil of an illegitimate family being fathered upon him. The ob ject in Lord Roos's case was to continue the succession and probably the peerage in the male line. The object in Lord Macclesfield's and the Duke of Norfolk's cases was to gi ve them that redress which the Ecclesiastical Courts had with held or refused. In none of these cases, however, was Parliament asked, without some special and peculiar reason, to interfere in the matter. But the precedent was set— the the power was established—and very soon afterwards, that i s t o sa y, in 1701, it was so completely followed, that, present Parliamentary ili e e consi dered any special or peculiar re ason, a divorce a vinculo was er e grantedd athes a in n t t h the specimen caseof Mr. f t Box, which practice. From that time to thi s the n Legislature, in fact, has constituted itself a court f or granting divorces a vin cula matrintonii. X.XV. The petition of Mr. Boa, as entered on the Lords' journal of February 19, 1700 , he have "leave to bring i n a bill prays that to dissolve hi s marriage with Elizabeth Eyre, s h e having lived d • adulter y, as he hath fully proved in th e Cdurt of King's Bench, and obtained a definitive sentence • in the Arches Court of Canterbury." The bill was entituled "An act to dissolve the marriage of Ralph Box with Elizabeth Eyre, and enable him to marry again," —a title followed from that time to this. The measure passed in 1701. XXVI. 14 —y these means the right to obtain a divorce a vinculo was definitive) established. It was established, however, in the rudest and most inconvenient manner ; for the Proceeding was a judicial one b y a legislative process, and it had all the inconvenience which necessarily result from the discussion of such a question in a mixed and popu lar assembly. At first only a few divorce bills were passed —not more than five were carried through Parliament be fore the accession of the House of Hanover. From 1715 to 1775 their n umber was 60, that is to say, they averaged about one a year. From 1775 to 1780 they had increased to 74, that is to say, upon an average, to about three a year ; and from 1800 to 1852, they amounted to 110. Two Lady Macclesfield'sand of these, viz., f o lk's cases, were without any sentence ecclesiastical ; and several were without any previous verdict at law ; for no , s t an ding orders of either house of Parliame n t requir ed the institution of these Parliamentary proceedings until the year 1798. XXVII. In that year Lord Chancellor Loughborough called the attention of the House of Lords to the propriety of laying down certain general rules, which should precede the consideration of every case, and with which all parties who came before them to seek a divorce should be bound to comply. Accordingly he framed a series of resolutions; and by these resolutions it was not only required that a sentence a divorce d menet et thorn should have been pronounced before soliciting the bill, but that the entire proceedings in the Ecclesiastical Court, should be delivered in upon oath at the bar of the House of Lords. They further required that the petitioner should attend the house, in order, if necessary that he might be examined as a witness, with reference to connivance or collusion, and also with reference to another point which has always been deemed of primary importance in judging of divorce bills, namely, whether he was or was not, at the timerof the adultery, living apart from his wife, and whether he had not, by deed or other wise, released her from her conjugal duty, by withdrawing his marital authority and protection, These resolutions, 4 St. 10 St. St. 50 20 11i 10 St. St. St. St. 13i 20 20 50 100 100 1100 100 , 34' all all 1100 17 all 10 100 100 100 100 100 218.1 100 20 11i 100 13i 13k 48 i