The Sun. — London, England, 1857-05-21 00:00:00

DINNERS A LA CARTE, in the COFFEE ROOMS cf the ORIENTAL HOCEL, Vere•strect, DAILY, with a succes•ion of Joints, from 6 till 9 o'clock. Oriental Dishe at tell minutes notice. Numerous Private Dining Rooms, and the Cooking unstirps!sol. MAJESTY'S THEATRE. THIS EVENING. EXTRA. NIGH I! FICCOLOIIINI, GILTGI,INI, BENE (ENTANO. LA. T RAVIATA. Violetta, Piceohnini ; Alfredo, Sig. Giuglini. After wkich will be produced an entirely New Billet, in Two Tableaux, composed e x p ressl y for her Ma j est y's Theatre! by M. Massot, entitled ITER ACA r ISTA. FIRST TSBLEAU—Terpsicbore, Mallle. rolla ; Acalista, Madame Perea Nena; Aglaia, Thalia, and Eapluosync, Maile. Michclet, Mdlle. Karliski, and Mdlle. Brunetti; Amyn: as, M. Baratti. SECOND TABLEAU—(The Vision Realised.).— - Seville.-- Acalista, Madame Perea Nena; Conchitti and Carmen, Mdls. Pasquali and Morlacchi ; Pepe, M. Gambardelli ; Manolo, M. Massot. Spaniards. For particulars, see bills. A limited number of Boxes in the ITalf•circle Tier have been specially reserved for the public, and mly be had on apOca tion at the Box-office, at the Theatre Colonnade, Haymarket. Price One Guinea and Oile Guinea and a Half each. HER AJESTY'S THEATRE. Piceolornini, Alboni, Spezia, Ginglini, Belletti, Be neventano, and Vialetti. Tiiis Evening, May 21—LA TRAVlATA.—Piceolomini, Ginglini, and Beneventano. SATURDAY, May 23— IL TROVATORE—Spezia, Alboni, Ginglini, Beneventano, and Vialetti. To conclude (each evening) with the entirely new Ballet, by M. Massot, entitled ACALISTA. "Lucia di Lammermoor" will be repeated the following week. Per particulars see bills. A limited number of boxes in the Half Circle Tier have been specially reserved for tne public, and may be had on ap plication at the Box-office at the Theatre Colonnade, Hay market. Prico One Guinea awl One Guinea and a Half each. FIER MAJESTY'S THEATRE. GRAND MORNING PERFORMANCE. MONDAY, JUNE 1. Piccolomini, Alboni, Spezia, Ortolani. Giuglint, Reichardt, Bottardi, Beneventano, Belletti. To meet the many applications that have been made, and to accommodate the numerous families resident in the en virons. a GRAND EXTRA PEIWORMANCE will take place on MONDAY MORNING, June I. Full particulars will be duly announced. ER MAJESTY'S THEATRE. Under the Immediate Patronage of her Majesty the QUEEN, his Royal Highness Prince Albert, her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cambridge. Mr. BENEDICT begs respectfully to announce that, in lieu of his Annual Concert, he has made arrangements with the Direction to give THREE GRAND MUSICAL FESTIVALS, Dramatic, Classical, and Miscellaneous, on WEDNESDAY MORNINGS, June lil, 24, and July 8. The artists will include Madlle. Piccolomini, Madlle. Maria Spezia, Madlle. Angiola Ortolaui, and Madame alboui ; Signor Antonio Giuglini, Herr Reichardt, Mr. Charles Bra ham, Signor Belletti, Signor Beneventano, Signor Napoleone Rossi, S gnor Giovanni Corsi, and Signor Filippo Vialetti. Instrumental Performers : --Pianoforte, Madame Clara Schumann and Miss Arabella Goddard, Messrs. Anireoli, Benedict, and Lindsay Sloper. Violin, Herr Ernst and M. Bazzini. Violoncello, Signor Piatti, Double Bass, Signor Bottesini. One portion of the Concert will be conducted by Signor Bonetti, and another by M. Benedict, supported by the Chorus and Orchestra of that great musical establish ment, The Programme will include Mendelssohn's posthumous finale to the Opera of LORELEY, performed for the first time in England on the stage, and other important works. Instrumental performers of the greatest eminence have been secured. Full particulars will be duly announced. The performa,ces have been fixed to commence at Two, and ter minate at Five o'Clock. Subscription Tickets (Transferable) for the Three Con certs :—Private Boxes to hold Four Persons ; Boxes—Pit Tier, 6/. 6s. ; Grand Tier, Si. Ss. ; First Tier, 61. 6s. ; Two Pair, 4/ 4s. ; Upper Boxes, 3/. 3s. ; Pit Stalls, 2/. 2s. ; Pit, 15s. ; Gallery Stalls, 10s. ; Gallery, ss. Pr'ees for Each S Concert : —Private Boxes to hold Four Persons : Boxes —Pit Tier, 31. 3s. ; Grand Tier, 41. 4s. ; First Tier, 3/. 3s. : Two Pair, 21. 2s. ; Upper Boxes, 11. lls. 6d : Pit Stalls, 1/. ls. ; Pit, 7s. ; Gallery Stalls, ss. ; Gallery, 2s. ed. Appli cation for tickets may be made at all the principal Lib rarians' and Musicsellers' ; of Mr. Benedict, 2, Manchester square ; and at the Box-office of the Theatre. ES BOUFFES PARISIENS-Si , . JAMES'S THEATRE.-SECOND REPRESENTA TION, THIS EVENING (THURSDAY), May 21, the entertainments will commence at half-past 8 o'clock pre cisely, by the production of (for the second tme in this country), Operette, en un Acte, M'SIEU LAN oRy Guyot, M. Gerpre, Mdlle. Dalmont, and Mdlle. Mareschal. After which which will be produced Chinoiserie Musicale, en un Acts, BA-TA-CLAN. Musique de Offenbach. Princi pal Characters by M. Pradeau, M. Gertpre, M. Guyot, and Mdlle. Dalmont. To conclude with Bouffonnerie, Musicale, en un Acte, LES DEUX AVEUGLES. Musique de Offenbach. Mons. Pradeau and Mons. Gertpre. _ _ The Orchestra of the Theatre des Bouffes will ace-,m pany these Representations, under the direction of the composer, M. Offenbach. _ _ This Engagement being limited to one month, Performances will be given EVERY EVENING. Boxes, stalls, and tickets may 'oe engaged at Mr. Mitchell's Royal Library, 33, Old Bond-street. THEATRE-ROYAL,DRURY-LANE Lessee, Mr. E. T.__Smith. OPEN EVERY EVENDICI. GREAT EQUESTRIAN AMERICAN and CONTINENTAL COMPANY, under the direction of Miss Ella. _ _ Prices—Pit and Promenade, is ; Boxes, 2s. 61., 25., and is. tid.; Galleries, 6d. Doors open at half-past 7. Commence at S. First Equestrian Artistes in the World ; —Madame Schap lain, Madame Nensome ' TA Petite Wells, Signora Delavanti, and Miss Ella ; Miss E. J. Wells, Mdllos. Flora, Fabia, ann and Marie, Misses Neusome. Moffstt, Delaranii, Potter, Jen rin7s ; the Manchester Boy, Masters J. Well.s, A. Wells, E. Moffatt, neurico and Carlo Delavanti, Sig. Felix Delavanti, Mons. Bocci, Mons. Ferdinand, Mons. Eugene, Mr. Tom S wann, Mr. B. Fuller, Mr. W. Feller, and the great Shaks perian Clown, Wallett, will appear each evening in a series of Performances, original and unapproachable. Director—Mr. Stokes, Acting Manager—Mr. B T HEATIIE ROYAL, HAYMARKET. Le-isee--Mr. J. B. Buckstrme. NEW ARRANGEMENT OF PRICES OF ta Dairsgiom, THIS EVENING (May 21) to commence at Seven o'clock, with SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER. After which, the Anccessfu' C!assictl Love Story, un der the Apple-lation of A CALANTA ; or, The Three G.)lden Apples : in which Miss M. ()Ivor will appear; also Miss M. Wilton, and Miss Ellen Tetuan. To cone;aric wiz,ll AS LIKE AS TWO PEAS. In future the prices will be: — Orchestra Stalls (which may be retaine.l the whole o: the evening), Gs. each. (No charge for booking.) First Prier.% s. d. Se:Jona price. Dress Boxes 0 Dress Tloxes Upder 80xe5........... • 3 0 Pit rJppor Pit 1 0 Gower Gallery 0 6 No lrtlf-prico to tipper Gallery. lower Gallery Upper Gallery 1 0 rp HEATRE ROYAL, ADELPHI. _2. Lessee—Mr. Ben. Webster. THIS EVENING, will be performed a new and original drama, entitled JOSEPH CHAVIGNY ; or, ander the Thumb. Ban. Webster, Pant Bedford, Madame Celeste, 4r.e. Followed by a new Farce, called FEARFUL TRAGEDY IN THE SEVEN DIALS. To concl!ido with the new and original domestic sketch, entitled WELCOME, LITTLE STRANGER. Mr. Wright, Mr. Paul Bcdfcrd, de. OYAL SURREY THEATRE, Lessneq. Messrs. Shepherd and Or9swick. THIS EVENING will be performed HATHILDE. Mr. ercxwick, &c. After which, THE THREE 'WONDERS OF PEKIN. To conclude with 102 ; or, The Veteran and his Progeny. Mr. Widdicomb, &e. ROYAL OLYMPIC THEATRE. Lessee, Mr. Alfred Wigan. THIS EVENING will be performed a new drama, called DADDY HARDACRE. Mr. Robson, Ice. To conclude with YOUNG AND HANDSOME. Messrs Robson, 0. Murray, &o. Commence at half-past Seven. TRAND THE A.TRE.--I`,l , Anager, M .7. T. a - 7 Payne.—THlS EVENING will be performed THE MIDNIGHT HOUR. Messrs. J. Neville, G. Lee, W. Suter, Howard, Wilstone, and Miss Cuthbert. After which, ROLFE'S G )SSIPING CONCERT. Followed by OVER THE WAY. Mr. Kinloch, Mrs. Woollidge, and Miss Craven. • Commence at Seven. Stalls, 3s. ; Boxes, 2s. ; Pit, ls. ; Gallery, Ed. - • A EITLEY'S ROYAL AMP FT I THEATRE .C 1 AND OPERA HOUSE. Lessee and Manager, Mr. W. Cooke. Mr. WILLIAM COOKE begs to announce that THIS EVENING (Thursday), will be produced, for the fourth time at this theatre. Verdi's far-famed Oper of IL TROVA TORE ; or, The Gipsy's Ve-I„acance The whole of the Recitatives and M us i c as performed . at the Italian Opera, with Grand Equestrian. Illustrations, New Scenery, Costumes, and Appointments. The following celebrated Artistes are engaged : Miss Rebecca Isaacs, Miss Marian Edwards Mr. Au gus t us B ra h am , Mr, Brookhouse Bowler, Miss M. Somers, Mr. Francis Kirby and Mr. J. A. Leffler, and Miss Fanny Huddart. Mr, Borrani. Composer and Director—Herr Meyer Lutz. Manager and Director of the Opera—Mr. Augustus Brahaw, To conclude with Peerless and Classic SCENES in the CIRCLE, by the First Artistes in the World. Commence at seven o'clock. Dress Boxes, 4s, ; Upper Boxes, 3s. • Private Boxes, from 2 Is., no charge for bo o ki ng; Pit, 2s. ; Gallery, Is. ; Upper Gallery, 6(1. Notice—During the Opera Season Half-price will take place at 9 o'clock. Box-office open from Eleven till Four. Stage Manager, Mr. W. West. Equestrian Director, Mr. W. Cooke, jun. CANTERBII RY HALL, Wpstminst 3r-roa(l. OPEN' EVERY EVENING.--T !e follow ing company of Vocalists are engaged for the performance of Selections from all the popular Operas, Madrigals, Choruses, Glees, Duets, drc., - viz.: Miss E. Pe arce , Mrs. J. Caulfield, Miss Br:well, Miss Summers, and Madame Marietta; Mr. J. Caulfield, Herr F. Jonghmans, R. Grover, T. Farrant, S. Jo'es, J. Barker, W. Melling, P. Corri, Senor Antonio M. de Solla, and E. L. }lime ; Masters Bennett and Corri; M essrs. Sam Cowell, Sam Collins, and E. Mackney. Pianoforte, Mr. Cecil Hicks; harmonium, J. Caulfield, jun.;] director, Mr. J. Caulfield. Commence at Seven o'clock pre cisely. Suppers ; 4c., until twelve o'clock, , ,) - LEE SUN, LON DON, THURSD A Y EV EN LNG, 21, 1857 ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE. "ILA) THIS EVENING will be performed Shakesperc's tragedy of KIN( RICHARD THE SECOND. King Richard 11., Mr. C. Keau ; Queen, Mrs. C. Kean. Preceded by a new Farce, in one act, called AN ENGLISHMAN'S HOUSE IS HIS CASTLE. i. 4.14.111 WATER AT LONDON BRIDGIL.. Tug I).kl—Morn. 45 min. aft. 11 —Eveni: , 7 0 mia. 0 }torn. 11 min. aft. 12—Even. 35 min. aft 12 TETE WEATHER—SuN Ornom, MAY 21. THEE.3IOIIIIYER, IN THE SHADE. 72 —highest since noon yesterday. 57 ---lowat this morning and durin3 the tight. 63 -this day at noon. BARON TITER, 23.75—falling; WIND, S.W.—Light, with dull weather, and slight rain, LONDON, THURSDAY, MAY 21, 1857. The assemblage of Buckinghamshire farmers, yesterday-, at the ordinary at Newport Pagnell, may exercise considerable influence on the future legislation of the United Kingdom. Very im portant questions were ventilated at that social gathering, by one who, generally speaking is cer tainly no "ordinary" man. Mr. DISRAELI put forward a confession of political faith, of vast consequence at the present crisis. Although not quite so clear and distinct as we might have wished, it contained many matters deserving of mature and attentive consideration, which, as he himself remarked, required to be thoroughly " read, marked, and inwardly digested." It was not merely to the sturdy bucolics who listened to his words that the remarkable address was directed. It had a wider scope, and was intended for every electOr and non-elector throughout the length and breadth of the land. The Right Honourable Gentleman manifestly thought that the time had arrived when the great question of Parliamentary Reform must be brought before Parliament—when :the existing anomalies in the Legislative system must be raised and modified. He has recognised the necessity in due time. He acknowledges that the nation will shortly be called on " to consider great changes in the political constitution of the coun try," and he has very properly appealed to public opinion as to the nature of those inevitable changes —so clearly "looming in the future." This is all that we desire, all that we demand ! Truth must be advanced by discussion, and we are re joiced to see the Right Honourable Gentleman resorting to the proper tribunal, and callling on the people generally to express their views and sentiments on the all important topic. It is something to find such a man as the re nowned leader of her MAJESTY'S Opposition calling for inquiry, and putting forward a clear common sense view of the matter. It is satisfactory to witness the performance of Mr. DISRAELI, in his first appearance on, any stage as a Parliamentary Reformer. It is true that he has not touched on all the phases of the question ; but when we find that he has taken the preliminary plunge— that he has accepted one, though perhaps the least important, of " the five points"—that he is a convert to " the equalisation of electoral dis tricts," we may easily conceive that the same train of reasoning will carry him onwards to thei extension of the suffrage, and to that which alone can afford protection to the voter in the legiti mate exercise of hie franchise— .which is the only mode of averting every undue and corrupt influence—" THE BALLOT." These will ne , ces3,p.rily follow from the opinions which he inculcated on his auditory ; for, although it may not be convenient for him as yet to pro fess himself a convert, intelligent men will natu rally follow his argutnent3 to their legitimate results ! Another social revolut:on is inevitable, and ninking men must ponder on its extent and probable operation ! It is unquestionably a grievance to the rural population that they should have but a minor weight iu the scale of representation. But this evil is the natural consequence of other matters, and both must he dealt with at the same time. Permit an Englishman, we care not, whether be longing to the urban or rural population, to take an independent and honest view of the merits of the several candidates, and of their political opinions, and we shall respect and bow to his ver diet, although it may not be in accordance with ! our own wishes ; but when landl or d s or employ ers can intimidate, or wealthy men can purchase his vote, then an adequate guarantee must be I be given to the State that it shall b e rea lly g i ven in accordance with his conscientious impressions. We are quite willing, with Mr. DISRAELI, to " appeal to that sense of fairness which pervades the great bulk of the people of this country ;" but we want it to be faithfully expressed, to be their own sense, and nothing but their sense. We woull have no political cyphers. The man who contributes in any de gree to the revenue of the country, has a constitutional right to be heard by himself, or his representative, in the making of the laws by which he is bound. There should, in fact, be no taxa tion without representation, and that representa tion should be founded on the free and unbiassed expression of the popular will, and 'no mode has ever been even suggested of obtaining that expres sion save by "secret voting," or, in other words, by the intervention of "the balloting box." Mr. DISRAELI declares that he has not, as expected, a Reform Bill " ready cut and dry" in his pocket. So be it ! Let him carry his own arguments to the legitimate results, and we shall be contented. We shall at least obtain the Equalisation of Electoral Dis tricts, a considerable Extension of the Suffrage, and, more than all, full Protection to the Voter in its exercise. These would, indeed, form a dainty dish to set before Parliamentary reformers. The abolition of the property qualification would be a fitting adjunct, and with these even the most strenuous Chartist may rest contented. They will, at least, be a great instalment of what is required by justice and equity, and pave the way to the full and fair representation of the people of the United Kingdom. Middle Row, Holborn, it is gratifying to know, is at last virtually removed. This we have for years maintained to be one of the most essen tial of our Metropolitan Improvements. After wards we shall in time, no doubt, obtain the companion change-for•the-better—almost equally desirable—in another of our great trunk thorough fares. The razing to the ground, we mean, of that huge, unsightly block of houses, compactly massed together, between St. Clement Danes and St. Mary-le-Strand ! So that that abominable and disreputable lane, called Holywell Street, may become as utterly a thing of the past as any other of the foul plague -spots of London already re moved for ever from the light of day—such, for example, as the squalid slunis of St. Giles's, and the "drunken, hungry dens" of Alsatia, that favoured haunt of yore of the cut-throat and the prosti tute. We have still, of course, to begin from the very beginning with regard to the obstructive old tumble-down houses in the Strand. But we are more sanguine than we have ever been yet as to its removel, now that we have actually arrived, as already observed, at the virtual " end" of the equally obstructive block of houses in Holborn. The very name of the last mentioned eyesore and stumbling-block demonstrates clearly and unnais tik-eal)ly the folly of it. Middle Row, Holborn ! It is happily useless now, however, to waste any further indignation in expatiating upon the ab surdity of a monstrous impediment to our metro politan traffic, now to all intents and purposes done away with. It merely remains to consider for a few moments the comparatively trifling ex penditure with which that very obvious and really extraordinary improvement can at length after all be accomplished. The entire Outlay, as ex plained in the Report presented to the Metro politan Board of Works by the Committee of Improvements, turns out (after all we have heard about the ruinous cost certain to be entailed by any such extravagant under taking), positively to be something consider ably under 50,0001. altogether 1 To explain this clearly, so as to place it beyond the pos sibility of any misapprehension, the outlay re quired for the whole of the necessary purchases of property is estimated at 42,8051. Besides which, there are set aside, in the same comprehensive and not by any means stinted estimate, 4,280/. more, by way of 10 per cent, for contingencies: There will be 3401. needed, after that, for paving —3401. ensuring that that paving of the vacant site shall be really good and serviceable. All of which three items, taken together, make a total of just 47,4251. Bearing in mind, however, the probable, or rather, we should say, •the certain return of some 8001. upon the sale of old mate rials—this total of 47,425/. will be reduced (the Report of the Committee says this, observe !) to a net cost of 46,6251. Otherwise exactly 3,375/. less than 50,0001. A most moderate expenditure, we maintain, considering the locality and the magnitude of the improve ment. Fancy the clear sweep there will then be, immediately Holborn Hill is ascended (after crossing New and Old Farringdon-streets), right on, without any of the old impediments and ob structions at once to view and traffic, past Furni val's-inn, past Gray's-inn-lane, past Chancery lane, in one broad direct line, into New Oxford street, into (Old) Oxford-street, on—far away— out of one of the grand western extremities of the metropolis. There, at least, will be one of the great arteries of London Traffic, without a stric ture upon it—strangling as it has done hitherto, almost time out of mind, the flow of the general circulation. Other benefits of a simi lar kind will inevitably follow, if only by the mere contagion of a good example—other comprehensive and kindred improvements. Those ridiculous old turnstiles, leading from Holborn into Lincoln's-Inn-Fields will find them selves ultimately widened into bye-streets. The Strand itself, influenced by an honourable spirit of emulation, will, in due course, be rid at last of the brick and mortar incubus weighing upon it between its two picturesque churches. Fleet street even may, in spite of the amiable weak neas of Mr. PETER CUNNINGHAM in favour of Temple-Bar, remove (as we may call it), that Modern Relic of Old London to some spot where it may be less of a Bar and more of an Ornament. And if the City must needs have a gateway there to satisfy its ancient pride and sustain the memory of its antique prerogative, why, it may then, an it' list, build for itself a gateway worthy of it, wider and loftier, grander and gloomier, if it will—but at any rate one through which the Traffic upon the World's Highway may pass and repass without, as now, - incurring the continual liability to a dead lock, or the almost momentarily recurring cer tainty of some blundering impediment. Ulti mately, the site of Fleet Prison may be turned to some good account. St. Paul's may be opened to the Thames. The river itself may be glorified and beautified by a regular series of embankments. BUT—we are not altogether observe I when we say this, merely speculating in. nubibus, building castles in the air, dreaming day-dreams. Middle-row, Holborn, is to be abolished ! It was so decided by a division of twelve against nine, upon Monday last, at a special meeting of the Metropolitan Board of Works, held in the Council-chamber, at Guildhall. And after the final abanclonmvat of a favourite old Hobby like Middle -row, Holborn —Why, we really do conceive that we may look forward with confidence to the realisation of almost any of our other long desired improvement,. ThE ROYAL FAMILY. SOUTHAMPTON, WEDNESDAY, QUARTER TO 8 P.M. His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales has just em barked from the docks in the Fairy steam yacht, Master Commander Welch, on his return from the Lakes. The Hon. Mr. Cavendish, Mr. Gibbs, and Captain Crispin were in attendance on the Prince. His Royal Highness was received by Mr. Hedger and Mr. J. Levy on the part of the dock company. The young Prince appeared in the best health, and was loudly cheered by the spectators, who had assembled in large numbers to witness his embarkation. The Fairy immediately steamed out of dock for 03borne. The Alelamptis frigate, stailoned off the military hos pital, near Netley, fired.a Royal salute as the Fairy paSsed. The young Prince Alfred is ex7eeted to pass through here on Thursday for Osborne, on his return from Germany. The Portsmouth and Ryde United Steam-packet Com pany's vessel the Prince of Wales, Captain Beazley, embarked their Serene Highnesses Prince Edward of Saxe Weimar and the Prince of Leiningen, yesterday afternoon, at half-past 2, from the Royal Victoria Pier, and conveyed them to Ryde, on their way to Osborne, to visit her Majesty and the Prince Consort. A. Cabinet Council was held yesterday afternoon, at the official residence of the First Lord of the Treasury in Downing-street. The Ministers present were Vis count Palmerston, the Lord Chancellor, Earl Granville, Esrl of Harrowby, Sir George Gra y, Ea r l of Cl aren d on , Mr. Secretary Labouchere, Lori Panmure, the Chan. teller of the Exchequer, Sir Charles Wood, the Right Hon. R. Vernon Smith, Lord Stanley of Alderley, the Right Hon. M. T. Baines, and the Duke of Argyll. His Excellency the Russian Minister and the Countess Chreptowitch have issued cards for large dinner parties at Chesham House on the 3d proximo and on the 17th proximo. The Countess will have assemblies after the dinners on each evening. The Duchess of Inverness has arrived at the Bedford Hotel, Brighton, from Kensington Palace. The Duke and Duchess of Manchester are on their way from Berlin to London, where their graces may be expected to arrive on the Ist proximo. The Countess Frances Waldegrave and Mr. Har court, M.P., entertained at dinner, last evening, at their mansion, in Carlton-gardens, the Earl of Aberdeen, the Earl and Lady Constance Grosvenor, the Earl and Countess of Abingdon, the Earl and Countess of Cork, the Earl and Countess Grey, the Viscount and Viscoun Less Barrington, Lord and Lady Elcho, the Bishop of Oxford, Lady Seymour, Mr. and Mrs. W. E. Gladstone, and Mr. Fortescue. The Earl and Countess Spencer entertained at dinner last evening, at Spencer House, the Countess Dowager of Morley, Viscount and Viscountess Enfield and the Hon. Miss Byng, the Bishop of London and Mrs. Tait, Hon. F. Byng, Hon. A. Ponsonby, the Speaker and Lady Charlotte Denison, Sir G. and Lady Grey, Mr. and Mra. 11. Seymour, Mr. Cole, Lady Sarah Spencer, and Lord Althorp. The Countess of Dunraven will give a ball at her mansion in Belgrave•square, on Tuesday. the 26th inst. The Countess Dowager of Essex and Miss Johnstone have arrived in Belgrave-square for the season. ST. JAMES'S THEATRE. THE BOUFFES PARISIENS. The little St. James's looked most cheery last night, filled with that aristocrat :c assemblage so familiar to it in bygone years. Its echoes were again awakened by French fun and a laughing audience. The Bouffes are all nonsense, and are, therefore, charming. They don't profess opera, but sing excellently. They don't affect comedy, but act with infinite spirit. They deal largely in all that seductive slang which sounds so pretty in French, and which is so full of lighthearted gaiety. Their good jokes are good, and their bad ones better. Time flies merrily with them, and frolic rules the hour. They played " M'sieu Landry "—the history of a vil lage dandy ; merry wives play practical jokes on him— and fabulously elim-ankled milkmaids push him about, and with him and at him talk the smartest patois, and sing. rattling little ballads, and that's good fun. They then played " Les deux Aveugles," which is a comic scene between two blind men, who are not the least blind. The rogues play horrible instruments on the Pont Neuf, and solicit the charity of the passers-by. Their rivalry produces a mighty discord, and thoroughly discovers the amusing and desperate rascality of the two sharpers. For the audience, it is a story of "Laughing Made Easy." Lastly was presented "Ba-ta Clan, a Chinoiserie— scene, China and—actors, Chinamen, who turn out to be jpiciers of the Rue Mouffetard, or bourgeois of Brives La Gail'arde. They have their adventures, which, if true, certainly prove fact to be stranger than fiction, and at last escape home. Chineseis chattered, catching French ditties are sung, and absurd jokes rain lightly, if piti lessly, through the piece. The whole thing is a success. The actors are very good, especially Pradeau, who is by turns oily,- dry, flippant, or frantic, as occasion requires; and who possesses a face with which be can assume expressions and make faces impossible to any but so distinguished an artist. For the actresses, when were French actresses not charming, with their well-dressed coquetry and their endless artillery of graces ? Madlle. Dalmont is a very clever musician, and both she and Madlle. Marechal have sweet and flexible voices. The Bouffes have at once won their way to favour, and,rill, no doubt, attract to the St. James's all the rptira of pleasant idleness who c are t o w hil e away an evening by lending their ears to be tickled with pretty music, and their thoughts to be distracted by all that is most thoughtless, capricious, and laughable. The theatre wears a renovated and bright appearance, and the artistic labours of Messrs. Cuthbert and Adams have resulted in effects highly pleasing to the eye. We were glad, too, to see in active attendance the old fami liar faces of Messrs. Chapman and Nimtno, those worthy " pillars of the state" to Mr. Mitchell. And we have, in conclusion, to offer our cordial congratulations to the latter gentleman for providing the metropolis with a month's really delightful amusement. EXETER-II ALL. A grand concert was given at this hall last night by Herr Goffrie and Madame Madeleine Graver, supported by an efficient band of vocalists, some of the chief instru mentaliate of the day, and the grand orchestra of the Italian Opera. With these attractions it is not sur prising that the hall was well filled, and the concert in every way successful. Herr Goffrie was the conductor, and the orchestra under his guidance acquitted itself most creditably. The opening overture was composed for the occasion by A. Golimick, and was well received. The symphony in F by Beethoven, which concluded the first part, was played in a manner that rendered full justice to the great composer's iuspiratione. Madame Clara Novello sung the air of "Dove Sono," and Mer cadante's duet "Dolce Conforto" with Miss Dolby. Miss DoliSy sung v. song of B ►fife's, the words by Longfellow, "The Green Trees Whispered," with feeling and ex pression. She was loudly applauded. Mille. Hertha de Westertrand, a Swedish lady, made her debut. She has a soprano voice of great compass. She sung an ai: from the " Zauberflote," from the part of the Qeeen of Night, which was formerly taken by Mile. Anna Zerr. She rendered the elaborate and difficult nitric with ease and taste. It demands a voice of an unusual order, but Mlle. Westertrand's capacities were fully equal to it. An encore was almost unanimously called for, but in accordance with the rules of the concert, it was not given. Madame Caradori was also among the vocalists, and sung a new song, " Oh could I but believe him," with her usual skill. The mu'ic is pretty enough, but the words are thoroughly commonplace. Herr Reichardt gave a new song of Macfarren's with spirit, and Mr. Weiss sung Lonefellow's beautiful song of "The Reaper and the Flowers," with great suc cess. Herr Ernst, the great violinist, achieved his usual triumphs, and the wonderful performances of Signor Bottesini excited the usual surprise and admira tion. Madame Madeline Graver herself contributed greatly to the entertainment of the audience. She is a clear and brilliant player, and distinguished herself by her performance of some difficult pieces. She played the Concerto in D Minor, by Mendelssohn, a duet for two pianos, with Madame Clara Schumann, and a Fantasie Hongroise, by Ketterer. The duet for two pianos-was especially successful, and displayed to full advantage the skilful execution of the two rival per formers. Altogether the concert was of a superior cha racter, and appeared to meet the encouragement it 1 merited. CHARLES AND JOSEPH - SURFACE. All fatal tiewB is briefly told. We find Both the Peels have—and England is—resigned. —Punch, CONVOCATION. —Yesterday morning there was a formal meeting of the Convocation of the Province of Canter bury at Westminster. An adjournment was declared until theelOth of July. MADAME ENDEsssorm's MATINEE MUSICALE. This concert, under most distinguished patronage, took place yesterday morning at the Beethoven Rooms, and was numerously and fashionably attended. On this oc casion Madame Clara Schumann made her sec-nd ap pearance this season, an her splendid performance of Beethoven's sonata in D minor proved indisputably her title to ha considered the first pianiste of the day. Madame Enderssohn's artistic qualifications and beauty of voice are well known, and nothing could exeoed in brilliancy and expre ss i on her execution o f the scene., "Ah fors% lui," from the " Traviats" derssohn also her by Balfe, " Tee e Des er t e d Madame En a new song, written expressly for with great success. vsigF,:n a k de r t a t b t oach, Mr. Mill ar di, M r. All an h Lave their valuabl e ase i s t ance, end I3alfe as con d uc t ors . THE Pool; LAW BOAR D .—W e sta t e d some time ago with Frank in The Su, 4 that a dispute had arisen between the Poor Law - Beard and the guardians of S. Theruas's Union ( ‘ T e7a.eter), the latter contending that three relieving officers, well paid, would do the work better than four who were not so liberally remunerated. The Poor Law Board considered that four officers were necessary to perform tahceoll i wo si r o k n e a ffi p e p i e e a ti d Y, j a m e tu d dis cussion,ianfeinert.conAsicdoemraphrloemise w, end th e P oor L aw B oar d con sented to allowhowever, t e h ifed e e s e t t .iumas 's Union a trial of three re lieving officers until Ladyday last. The plan has work ed well, and a report to that effect was sent to the Poor Law Board. That body, through Lord Courtenay, one of the secretaries, has replied in a communica tion, dated the 14th instant, to the effect that the Poor LA W Board will no longer withhold their assent ; but, as they still entertain a doubt of its practical working during a series of years, they desire to express their confident reliance; founded on the attention and care with which the guardians obviously discharge their duties, that they will consider and propose any altera tion in the relief arrangements that circumstances may render it necessary to make. STREET PREACHING—On Monday evening a meeting, which was numerously attended, was held in the Music hall, Chester, to give expression to a feeling of sympathy with Mr. Reginald Radcliffe and the missionaries from Liverpool, who were arrested and sent to prison by order of Major French, a magistrate, while preaching in the streets during the time of the Chester races. Mr. W. Titherington, the chairman ' •advocated the practice of open-air preaching, particularly as regarded " the attempts made to stem the torrent of vice, diesipa tion, and wickedness of which Chester was the scene during the races." The Rev. 11. D. Thomas, M.A. proposed a resolution expressive of thanks to God for the success which had attended the efforts made to counteract the evils attendant upon the races at Chester, and in doing so advocated the advantage of street preaching, and quoted a speech' made by Lord Shaftesbury in favour of the practice. The Rev. W Hunter, brother-in-law to Mr. Radcliffe, seconded the resolution, after which Mr. Radcliffe gave an account of the'exertions made by himself and brother missionaries at Chester, Liverpool, and other races, and said that their object was " the salvation of souls." The reso lution was carried. Other resolutions were then agreed to expressive of regret at the attempts to put clown open air preaching, and giving an opinion that such preaching, combined with the distribution of religions tracts, was eminently calculated to counteract the evils connected with races. THE CANADIAN MAILS.—LIVERPOOL, 'May 20.—The Montreal Ocean Steam-ship Company's steamer Cana dian left the Mersey at half-past eight o'clock this morn ing, for Quebec and Montreal, with the Canadian mails, 113 canin, and 330 steerage passengers, besides a full cargo of fine goods. THE MAILS.—SOUTHAMPTON, Wednesday. —The Pen insular and Oriental Company's steam-ship Colombo, Captain J. S. Field, sailed to-day for Gibraltar, Malta, and Alexandria, with the India and China mails, 48 first-class and 20 second-class passengers, a full cargo, and 2,901 boxes of specie and jewellery, value 753,362/. 108. 2d. ; viz. : Silver. Gold. Jewellery. Bombay £171,225 0 0 £153 0 Ceylon Madras 22,167 0 0 1,785 0 676 11 Calcutta 114,185 0 0 100 0 189 0 Penang _ . 1,410 0 0 ...... Singapore. 86:990 0 0 ...... 101 0 Hongkong 154,016 9 2 529 0 Canton 2,000 0 0 250 0 Shanghai 166,780 0 0 210 0 Malta £748,843 9 2 £2,227 0 £2,29111 Among the Colombo's passengers are—Captain A. Forbes and Lieutenant Costin, for Malta ; Col. Napier, for Calcutta; Major Porter, Captain and Mrs. Dundas, for Madras ; Captain th e lion. E. Forester, Captai n an d Mrs. W. Walker, Captain and Mrs. Wellesley, Major Blagrave, and Captain and Mrs. Burn, for Bombay, &c. The United States mail steam-ship Washington, Captain E. Cavendy, sailed to-day for New York with the Eng lish, French, and German mails, 100 passengers, and a genes-al cargo of merchandise on freight. _ROYAL SHERI/4Y GARDENS.-WllO STOPS THE WAY. It will be a source of gratification to the fre quenters of these delightful gardens, and also to the inhabitants of the iramed!a.e vicinity, to know that the disputed and vexed question of the right of carriage-way through New-street, and also South-place, both in Kennington-road is likely to be speedily settled. It will be recollected th it during the course of last year Captain Faunce, who owns an extensive estate in Ken ninton, Camberwell, and Newington, suddenly caused a wall to be erected on that part of his property which extends from the New-street entrance to the gardens to South-place, adjoin ing Kennington Park ; and as two public roads ran through the property in question, the blocking them up became of serious consequences, especially to the small traders in the neighbourhood. The public felt so annoyed, that they took the law into their own hands, forcibly pulled or knocked down the wall, and thereby gained the thoroughfare they had previously enjoyed. The opening of the Surrey Gardens this season wag again the signal for its re-erection ; but, instead of building a wall across the road, as before, a large trench has been dug deep and wide, and fenced in with high palings, thus again stopping up the carriage way. ' It is understood that Captain Faunce has law on his side, nevertheless, it is exercising his power very arbitrarily to stop up public roads for private pur poses. We understand that the Surrey Gardens Company, in conjunction with a gentleman who has lately built upwards of 400 houses in the neigh bourhood, are negotiating with Capt. Faunce to waive his right of blockade; and if their proposals are accepted (and we believe they will be), it will redound to the credit of the gentlemen who have thus so honourably come forward t) free the in habitants from so serious an obstruction. TIM SALE OF POISONS. A bill has been brought into the House of Lords by the Lord President of the Council " to restrict and regulate the sale of poisons." The preamble recites that the existing restrictions on the sale of arsenic have been found to be insufficient, and that the unrestricted sale of other poisons facilitates the commission of crime and occasions frequent fatal accidents. Clause 3 attempts the difficult task of defining what " poison" really is. The word is construed to include certain drugs, simple or com pounded, mentioned in the schedule A of the Act. These consist of a large number of pharma copial and other preparations, most of which are in c eumon use as articles of medicine. The list is as follows—namely, arsenic and its compounds ; corrosive sublimate (the bichloride of mercury) and its compounds ; the poisonous vegetable alkaloids (as strychnine, &c.); prussic acid; the cyanides of potassium, mercury, and silver ; the chlorides of zinc and antimony ; the essential oil of bitter almonds, and any mixture containing it (as " almond flavour") ; cantharides and its pre parations ; belladonna (nightshade) and its pre parations ; hemlock and its preparations ; aconite and its preparations ; opium., in tincture, extract, and powder; foxglove (digitalis) and its prepara tions ; stramonium and its pre , v.rations, chloroform and its compounds, oxalic acid and binoxilate of potash, nux vomica seeds and bark, tartarised anti mony (tartar emetic), and its solution, coceulus in dices (used to adulterate beer and porter), ergot of rye, sawn, lobelia, and all liquids or solids con taining or consisting wholly or in part of the above mentioned poisons, poisonous drugs, and herbs The penalty fur violating the act will boa fine of 201* for the first, and 501. for every subsequent offence.• Druggists will be disqualified from acting as such by a second conviction. Lord and Lady Willoughby de Eresby entertained at dinner, last evening, at their mansion on the Terrace, Piccadilly, his Excellency the Russian Minister and the Countess Chreptowitch, the Count Pahlen, the Countess of Jersey and Lady Clementine Villiers, the Earl of Euston, the Countess of Tankerville, Viscount Chelsea, Lord and Lady Macdonald, Mr. Knightley, &c. Lord and Lady Downes and family have arrived at their house in Grafton-street, for the season. The feeling with regard to Rassiaa railway shares, when fairly tried in the open market, has been illus trated yesterday in the case of those of the Riga line. The character of this railway is in every respect supe rior to that of the military lines lately attempted to he introduced in London and Paris, but upon the notifi cation of a ev. 1 .1 of 41. per share they have at once dropped to a discount. TESTIMONIAL TO MIL JOHN MASTERMAN.—The sub scripti.n voluntarily entered into fur a testimonial to Mr. Masterman, on his retirement from the reprt senta tion of the City of London, already exceeds 1,1001., and will, it is expected, speedily reach 2,0001., as many lead ing commercial men have signified their desire to enrol their names on the subscription li,t. The form of testi monial hat not yet been de:.ormined upon. DIABOLICAL OUTRAGE.—Last night, about half-past 11 o'clock, a packet containing gunpowder and other ex plosive matter was thrown down the area of Lindsay's Quadrant Hotel, Air-street, Piccadilly, and its explosion broke all the windows of the basement. The servant boy, who was asleep at the time, within a few feet of the window, had a narrow escape. No clue to the perpe trator of the outrage has yet been ascertained. EMIGRATION TO THE WESTERN CONTINENT.—LIVER root, Wednesday.—The royal mail screw steamship Canadian, Captain Bellantyne, sailed this morning for Quebec and Montreal, with 100 cabin and 250 steerage passengers, the Canadian mails, and a full cargo of mer chandise on freight. The Liverpool and Philadelphia Company's screw steamship City of Washington, Capt. Jenard, sailed this afternoon for New York, with 120 cabin and a large number of steerage passengers, and a full cargo. She carried a sealed mail. LARGE ARRIVAL OF HOMEWARD BOUND SHIPS IN THE RlVER.—Within the last two or three days, a large fleet of ships, which had been detained beating about in the chops of the Channel, by the long continuance of the easterly winds, have arrived in the London, West Icdia, St. Katherine, and other docks on the Thames. This timely arrival has been the means of giving employment to several hundreds of dock labourers. A number of homeward-bound ships was reported yesterday taming up channel, and as the wind has got rather fresh from the westward, a small fleet may be expected up the river daily, every tide. There are arrivals from China, East Indies, Mauritius, Australia, West Indies, South Ame rica, New York, and almost every part of the globe. THE EXPEDITION TO CHINA —PORTSMOUTH, May 20. —The 82d Regiment and three companies of the 23i em barked to-day in the dockyard for Hong Kong. Seven companies, including headquarters, went on hoard the Assistance, screw troopship, and the other three com panies on board the Adventure, screw troopship, with three companies of the 23 , 1 Regiment. The troops did not go on board in quite so orderly a manner as usual, especially the 82d. The men of that regiment made rather too free last night, and sadly disturbed the peace in certain localities. Some three hundred were reported as absent this morning. As the day went on many were brought into the dockyard in cabs, &c., more or less intoxicated and some of them seriously injured in fight, &c. A number of windows were broken, and one house was forcibly entered and robbed. The perpetrators were, however, captured, and to-day have been committed to the assizes for trial. FATAL RAILWAY BOILER EXPLOSION.—LIVERPOOL, May 20.—The inquest on the bodies of Joseph Ford, driver, and Seth Foulkes, fireman of the locomotive engine St. Patrick, who were killed by an explosion of the boiler at the Edge-hill station of the London and North-Western Railway, closed to-day before the coro ner for the borough. Tne jury came to the following verdict :—" We find that the deceased, Joseph Fore'', came to his death by the bursting of the firebox of an engine called the St. Patrick, at the Edge-hill station of the London and North-Western Railway, the firebox of the said engine being completely worn out and unfit for use. We are also of opinion that the superintendent of the engineering department did not exercise proper attention when the engine was repairing in the months of August and September last." The same verdict was returned in the case of Foulkes. FATAL ACCIDENT ON BOARD THE WAVERLEY STEAMER.—Yesterday an accident took place on buard the Citizen Company's steam-boat Waverley, by which a fine young mar, aged 20, one of the crew of the steamer, suddenly lost his life. It appears that about half-past 12 p.m., the Waverley arrived at Lon don-bridge. Shortly after.landing the passengers, the deceased was kneeling on one of the paddle boxes, giving directions to some one below, when the Waverley re ceived a slight concussion - from an in-coming steamer, and the shock threw the youth off the paddle-box into the river. The accident occurred so suddenly that no assistance was rendered, at least in time, and the de ceased was not seen to re-appear above the water. It is supposed that the tide carried him rapidly below bridge, as the body was not discovered, although the drags were used as soon as possible after the accident had occurred. THE FORTHCOMING TRINITY TERM, To-morrow (Friday) Trinity term, the last before the long vacation, commences, and before the next term it is probable that several changes will take place on the bench, as also that there will be a new Solicitor-General. There is a good deal of business for the term. The arrears of the three common law courts number 150 rules, &c. In the Queen's Bench there are 53, in the Common Pleas 52, and in the Exchequer 45. Of new trials the number in the three courts is 76, of which 26 are in the Bench, 28 in the Pleas, and 22 in the Exchequer. The number of summonses at chamber have increased, and the learned judges hive been occupied with their duties occasionally to late hours. As there is no breakfast this term at the Lord Chancellor's residence, the several law and equity courts will commence business at 10 o'clock. SUSPECTED MURDER AT TRURO.--A correspondent in Truro states that a young woman named Grace Bond and her father have been taken into custody on suspicion of having murdered the child of the former, aged three years. The child had been buried, but circumstances having created a suspicion that it had been poisoned, the body was exhumed, and on analysis by Mr. Herapath a large quantity of areePiC was detected. 7 - , _ • ri . r 5 - 1 fee IST • ti - FRANCE. PARIS, WEDNESDAY EVENING. A Ccatucil of Ministers, at which the Emperor presided, was held yesterday,morning at Fontaine bleau. In the afternoon, their Majesties, accom panied by the King of Bavaria, the Grand Duchess of Baden, the Duchess of Hamilton, and the other guests at the palace, took a Strive in the forest in chars a banes. In the evening, all the Court assem bled in the garden, and were present at a night fete. A number of moraeaux were sung by the ar tistes and chorus of the opera, who were placed in the summer house which stands in the centre of the large piece of water, whilst boats ornamented with Venetian lanterns rowed about in every direction. Fireworks, principally consisting of pieces which ran along the surface of the water, terminated the evening, which was favoured by delightful weather. It is said that a conference will la,. held in Paris, composed of Representatives of the various Powers who have signed treaties of commerce with Persia, in order to agree to an arrangement which will apply to all the consular agents in Peasia. The conference will take place during the stay of the Persian Ambassador in Paris. A letter from Berlin, of the 17th inst., in the Constitutionnel, says : "It is very certain that the autograph letter from the Emperor of the French to the King of Prussia has exercised great influence on the late occasion with respect to Neuchatel. - Hitherto, Count de Hatzfeld could only consent generally to the project of mediation, but he was anxious to obtain the preservation of the original wording of Art. 7, and the re-establishment of the article rela tive to the revision of the constitution. On these conditions alone he was authorised to give up the indemnity of a million. It is precisely to these conditions that the letter from the Emperor of the French related. It stated that the project of me diation was the maximum of what France had been able to obtain, and that any further modification of the treaty already accepted by Switzerland might be attended with the most serious conse quences, as England supported Switzerland in her opposition. The letter, morever, remarked that, with the guarantee of all, the great powers, it was not necessary to change the wording of Art. 7, the proposed mediation of the powers having the same object as the Prussian wording, namely, to gua rantee the church property in Neufchatel. It lastly declared that to add an article relative to the revi sion of the constitution would be impossible with out risking the failure of all attempt at conciliation. Count de Hatzfeld consequently received orders to sign the treaty purely and simply. The Sin r, who at first was opposed to any pecuniary indemnity, and only demanded one in the hope of making Switzerland agree to other concessions on his aban doning it, ordered Count de Hatzfeld to strike out the clause about the payment of a million." BOURSE, May 20.—The following were the laat quotations : Eud of Month. 91fr. 30 Cash. fr. c. 46 per Cents 3 per Cents 69 Bank Shares 4,500 Credit Mobilier 1,270 Roman Do. Account 1,275 Austrian Belgian 41 Piedmontese (5) 9O 50 Home Debt RAILWAYS—FOR CASH. fr. c. Orleans Northern fr c Western Strasburg New Ditto Grand Central - Sardinian . 552, 1- Austrian Cum. 700 - Lyons 1 ,1824 Mediterrar ean 1,930.— Geneva I Midi - RUSSIA. A letter from St. Petersburg of the 12th says that the birth of an Imperial Prince (already an nounced by telegraph) was made known to the in habitants of that city by the firing of 301 guns from the ramparts of the fortress. The newly born Prince has of course received the title of Grand Duke and Imperial Highness. As already stated he is the fifth son and sixth child of the Emperor and Empress ; the eldest son of their Majesties is now nearly 14 years of age. General Bethancourt, aide-de-camp of the Emperor, has been charged - to convey the news of the birth to the Empress Dowager, and Colonel Samsonoff, arother aide-de-camp, to the Court of Darmstadt. In consequence of the birth, the Court has given up the six days' mourning which, it had ordered for the Duchess of Saxony, and the Duchess of Gloucester. The Emperor, on the occasion of the residence of the Dowager Empress at Nice, has granted decorations to several Sat di nian dignitaries—the grand cross of St. Alexander Newski, in diamonds, to Count de Cavour, and the same, without diamonds, to General La Marmora; the order of St. Anne, of the first class, to Cheva lier Paleneapa, Minister of Public Works, and that of the White Eagle to Count Nigra, minister of the King's household. Count Esterhazy, minister of Austria, having obtained leave of absence, had had his final audience of the Emperor. According to another letter fr om St. Petersburg, in the .Nord of Bruss-1., the Russian troops in the Caucasus had advanced into the very heart of the Tchetchnia, and General Baron Nicolai had carried, after a brilliant assault, the entrenchments thrown up by the Circassians betweed the rivers Amala and Yaryk, and known as the gales of Guetemir. The mountaineers sent by Schamyl to d.efend the posi tion bad, it is added, been put to flight. PRUSSIA. A let' er from Berlin of the rith says :—" The result of the labours of the commission charged to draw up a commercial code for all Germany is shortly to be published, and will set forth the gene ral measures propos6:l to be adopted. When the co mmercial bode, properly so called, shall be com pleted, the maritime code will be taken in hand ; but the commission will. go from Nuremburg to Hamburg to draw it up. The commission, too, will be less numerous than at present, as the petty states of the interior of Germany will not be repre sented at it." Another letter from Berlin of the 17th, in the Cologne Gagette, says :—" On Wednesday last, an English deputation arrived here with the view of completing the arrangements making for the grand assembly of Evangelical Christians which is to take place here in September next. The deputation was received by the King at Potsdam two days back, and it presented to his Majesty an address from the Evangelical Alliance a England. The members of the deputation had the holiour of dining with the King in the evening. ITALY. The Opinions of Turin, which is known for its strong political feeling against Austria, has the following in its number of the 18th :—" A few days ago, at Padua, a party of students, who had been merr3-making in the country, and had, on returning, assembled before the Cafe del Vittoria on the Piazza del Sigeori, the usual resort of stu dents, were addressed in severe language by the officer of the guard stationed there, who bid them not make such a noise. Words ensued, and the officer at length caused them to be charged with the bayonet. Two students were wounded, and others arrested, merely for having made some inoffensive, noise, without giving the slightest cause of um brage to the police." We must now wait to hear the account given of the affray by the other party. A letter from Genoa of the 16th, in the Constitu tionnel, says : " Cominandeur Boncompagni has been suzn rooned to Turin by telegraph, and has left the lega tion at Florence in the call of the Count de Cavour. ' It was at first mentioned that the reason of this step was to send him to Bologna to congratulate the Pope on his arrival. M. Boncompagni, how ever, would be ill-suited for such a mission, as it was he who proposed the law on civil marriage, which caused such displeasure to his holiness. This consideration gives more probability to another version—that of a reconciliation with Austria. It was in his private interviews with the Grand Duke of Tuscany that M. Boucompagni is said to have given explanations relative to the rupture, expla nations with which Leopold 11. is said to have been so much struck as to have been induced to open conciliatory negotiations with the Austrian ambassador. Count de Buol is said to have found the explanations transmitted to him by his ,envoy worthy of attention, and it is after this exchange of notes between Florence and Vienna that the Count de Cavour is said to have sent for M. Bon compagni, in order to confer with him as to the possibility of coming to a satisfactory conclusion." The session of the Diet of the Grand Duchy of Saxe Weimar was closed on the 16th by a speech from the .Minister of State, in the name of the Grand Duke. SPAIN. The following private telegraphic despatch has been received : ce MADRID, MAY 19. "M. Lafragus, the Mexican Envoy, has had a P ec ond conference with M. Pidal, Minister of Foreign Affairs, but nothing has transpired as to the purport of it. Marshal Narvaez has rectified a sresch he made in the Sgnate. , He declares that he never intended to accuse any Ministry in particular with having been the caus3 of the movement of 1854, as the fault was with all the' MiPistries, including his •swn. This rectification pro duced a favourable impression on the Senate and on the public mind." The principal contents of the Madrid papers of the 16th have been already given by telegraph. A screw frigate of 34 guns, called the Petronila, .had been launched at Carthagena on the 13th, in honour of the King's birth day. The squadron destined to ac*, if necessary, against Mexico, and which carries a strong body of troops, bad, after repairing the damage sustained from bad weather, sailed a second time from Cadiz for Cuba. The Journal de Francfort contains a letter from Giessen of the 16th, announcing the death of Count de Lehrbach, Grand Marahal of the Court of Hesse Darmstadt, from the accidental discharge of a carbine which he was about to try in firing at a mark in a shooting ground. M. de Lehrbach was Minister of War at Darmstadt from 1849 to 1854. , Prince Oscar of Sweden arrived at Lubeck on the 14th in the steamer Gauthiod of the Swedish navy. A letter from Stockholm, in the National Gazette, says :—" The health of the King. appears to be nearly restored ; at least he presided yesterday at the sitting of the Council of State. There was no truth in the rumour that the Prince Rc,yal would be charged with the direction of affairs during the King's indisposition. Tha Crown Mince is at pre sent on a tour in Norway." s. 3 0 DEFALCATION OF AN INCOME TAX COLLECTOR. On Monday evening a densely-crowded meeting of tradesmen and shipowners was held in the Town hall, North Shields—the MAYOR in the chair—to take into consideration what measures should be adopted to resist the payment of a re-assessment income tax; which had been ordered to be made in the Tynemouth district to make up a deficiency of 1,7001., arising through the defalcation of Thomas Briggs, t, bacconist. The circumstances disclosed during the meeting exhibit the imperative necessity that there is for a complete revision of the mode of collecting assessed taxes in this country, and also the red tape and circumlocution that are to he found in our public offices. Briggs was ap pointed with a Mr. J. Philipson, a draper, to collect the asse•sed taxes in 1854-5. Philipson, however, re fused to collect, at any rate he did not, and thus avoided responsibility ; and Briggs gave no securi ties. Of this the parish was ignorant. Briggs was entrusted by the local commissioners with the sche dules, books, and receipts for the whole year. He appears to have beenthen in difficulties. He banked all the taxes he collected in his own name, and had appropriated 1,2001, of them to meet his own debts. He continued to collect the tax unchecked, until he found himself on the eve of bankruptcy, when he took 1,9001. to the government district collector, but he refused to receive it on any other day than the oneit wasmade due, and not then except it was the whole sum to be collected. Briggs then tried to bank it to the account of the government, but the banks refused it, and he ultimately handed it to Mr. Kewney, a solicitor. Briggs then became bank rupt. As his affairs were passing through the court, his assignees heard of the money in the hands of Mr. Kewney, and demanded that it should be paid into the estate ; and, as the law authorised those proceedings, 5001: of it was paid into the Bankruptcy Court, and the creditors realised 5205. in the pound, Briggs receiving his maintenance and his law expenses out of this misappropriated money. The 5001. and the 1,200/. of which he was originally deficient, made up his defalcations to 1,7001. He has since recommenced business, and is now in trade in Shields. The committee reported to the meeting that they had made several fruitless appli cations to the Board of Inland . Revenue not to press the re-assessment, but they denied that they had any jurisdiction, and referred them to the local commissioners, who informed them that they were acting upon - instructions from the Xnland. Revenue. There seemed but two alternatives open to the ratepayers—repay the money for which they already held receipts, or fight it out in a court of law. A corisiderable sum was collected with a view to the latter course, and it was determined to urge ,the member (Mr. Lindsay) to bring the subject before parliament ; for, notwithstanding that the parish had protested against it, the pre sent collectors were allowed to collect the current taxes without having given any security whatever. A resoluion was adopted praying parliament to relieve the tradesmen of the country of the respon sibility of collecting the assessed taxes, and to appoint regular salaried officers, the same as those engaged in Collecting the municipal taxes. LICENSED VICTUALLgRS' ASYLUM. The anniversary of this very meritorious society was held yesterday at Highbury-barn, when there was an attendance of the friends of the institution in number exceeding 600. The gentlemen who supported the chairman, Mr. T. Bass, M.P., were Sir J. Duke, M.P., Mr. R. Hanbury, Mr. A. S. Ayrton, M.P., Mr. Edwin James, Q.C., and Messrs. E. Wigan, H. Wigan, G. Nicholas, E. H. Meeting, H. Huggins, A. Frazer, J. Child, John Child, G. Smith, &c. The ob ject of the society is to provide an asylum for the aged, infirm, and decayed members of the trade. It is supported, among others, by the brewers, distillers, and wine and spirit merchants, and the asylum now consists of 126 separate habi tations. The society has also erected a chapel, with a clergyman of the Church of England, where services are performed daily, and twice on every Sunday. There are at present 142 inmates- During the period of 27 years the trade and their friends and connections have contributed upwards of 80,0001. to provide an asylum for the re• ception and comfort of the less fortunate members of their particular calling. The dinner on the present occasion was served LIP by Mr. Hinton, the proprietor of the establishment, in a very liberal style, and the chairman (Mr. Bass) proposed the usual loyal toasts in terms that were responded to by the company with the heartiest enthusiasm. A report -was read by Mr. Thomas Jones, the Secretary, which in substance set forth the facts above stated, and announced that the amount of the subscription during the evening was 3,5651. , The company was then addressed by Mr; Edwin James, Mr. Ayrton, Mr. Hanbury, and other gentlemen, and after a very social and agree able meeting the large assemblage broke up into little parties, and availed themselves of the pleasant grounds that are attached to the building to pass the remainder of the . evening. TUE SOUND DUES. According to the treaty just concluded with Denmark for the redemption of the Sound Dues/ the swn to be paid by England is 1,125,2061. Tll° aggregate from all countries will be 3,890,06 g, Great Britain being the first on the list, Russia* second, and Prussia third, All the othe r totals are insignificant, excepting those of Sweden and Nor way and France. Subjoined are the States which have entered into the convention, and the respective amounts they have engaged to contribute : Great Britain £1,125,206 Austria Belgium Bremen 24,283 France 135.434 Hamburg 11,890 Hanover Lubeck 10,333 " Mecklenburg Norway Oldenburg Netherlands 156,45/ Prussia 493,336 Russia Sweden 176,722 £3,385,132 the remaining 500,0001. will comprise a number °( small amounts from countries which were not repot' sented in the convention. The two largest item; among these will be America, 79,000/., and Brazil 56,0001. According to one article of the cont ra° the several Powers are to have the option of diately paying in full, or of spreading the disburse" meat over 20 years in equal half-ygarly instalineo ts i with interest, which appears to be contemplate d 4 per cent. From the special arrangement with fhli land, however, it seems that the sum is to be P a -1 1 "within three months after the requisite act sh a t have been passed by Parliament." The collection of the Sound Dues ceased o n til : Ist of last month, and on the previous day a T o t morial was presented to the Danish Governalvoro for compensation to the 35 agency firms at who have hitherto devoted themselves to this " slo t am. Acting between the government official-L e , the shipowners and consignoi - ,s liable for the u their services have been of equal value to both P t he ties, and, as they went into the Gael] belief that the title of the Danish Govereleebnavge the dues being indefeasible and perpetual- 11° n oW would occur to affect their position, their c' s ece ive appears hard,. and will, it may be assumed, favourable consideration. -pow g t he -pation in t to DEATH OF MR. ROBERT BURNS —Robert —,-rbriur'scial eldest son of the poet, died at Dumfries" -Lbrt-her6 last. His decease was not unexpected, his two lam es Colonel William Burns and Lieutenant-Colone: having Burns, who are usually resident in Chelten4noticipa. both been in Dumfries for several days Past, In was tion of the melancholy event, man of very considerable ability, and disPlaY o , u vbr ions tiling of hereditary talent in the production r Government 8 10 - bee songs. Early in life he entered a woo° , wile in London. from which he retired iff! tql been resident for a number of years in tiit! Deceased was in his 77th year, Mr. Robert Bu.evii, solo, .. 4 ,../MM. OI III It i s , toms ' tau