The Sun. — London, England, 1857-05-20 00:00:00

• nER MAJESTY'S THEATRE. TO-MORROW EVENING. EXTRA NIGH C. PICCOLOMINI, GIUGUNI, BENE VENTANO. LA TRAVIATA. Violetta, Piccolmini ; Alfredo, Sig. Giuglini. After which will be produced an entirely New Billet, in Two Tableaux, composed expresslyior her Majesty's Theatre by M. Massot, entitled ACA LISTA. FIRST TXBLEA.ls—Terpsichore, Madile. Rolla ; Acalista, Madame P e rea Nena; Aglaia, Thalia, and Euphrosyne, Mdlle. Miehelet, Mdlle. Karliski, and 'Mdlle. Brunetti; Amynias, M. Baratti. SEUOND 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 lirTaited number of Boxes in the Half-circle Tier have been specially reserved for the public, and mly be had on applica tion at the Box-office, at the Theatre Colonnade, Haymarket. Price One Guinea and One Guinea and a Half each. HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE. Pieeolomini, Alboni, Spezia, Ginglini, Belletti, Be neventano, and Vialetti. THURSDAY, May 21—LA TRAVlATA.—Piccolomini, Ginglini, and Beneventano. SATURDAY, May 23— IL TROVATORE—Spezia, Alboni, Giuglini, Beneventano, and Vialetti. To conc'ude (each evening) with the entirely new Ballet, by M. Massot, entitled ACALISTA. "Lucia di Lammermoor" will be repeated the following week. Poe particulars sae bills. A limited number of boxes in the Half Circle Tier have been specially reserved for the public, and may be had on ap plication at the Box-office at the Theatre Colonnade, Hay market. Price One Guinea and One Guinea and a Half each. ITER MAJESTY'S THEATRE. GRAND MORNING PERFORMANCE. MONDAY, JUNE 1. Piccolomini, Alboni, Spezia, Ortolani, Giuglini, 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 PERFORMANCE will take place on MONDAY MORNING, Juno 1. Full particulars will be duly announced. HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE. llnler 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, be has made arrangements with the rirection to give THREE GRAND MUSICAL FESTIVALS, Dramatic, Classical, and Miscellaneous, on WEDNESDAY MORNINGS, Tune la, 24, and July 8. The artists will include Madlle. Piccolomini, Madlle. Maria Spezia, Madlle. Angiola Ortolani, and Madame Alboni ; Signor Antonio Ginglini, Herr Reichardt, Mr. Charles Bra ham, Signor Bolletti, Signor Beneventano, Signor Napoleone Rossi, Signor Giovanni Corsi, and Signor Filippo Vialetti. Instrumental Performers :—Pianoforte, Madame Clara Schumann and Miss Arabella Goddard, Messrs. Awireoli, 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 H. 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 Eigland on the stage, and other important works. Instrumental performers of the greatest eminence have been seemed. Full particulars will be slury 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 b hold Fonr'Persons : Boxes—Pit Tier, 6/. 6s. ; Grand Tier, 8/ Ss. ; First Tier, 6/. 6s. ; Two Pair, 4/ 4s. ; Upper Boxes, 3/. 34. ; Pit Stalls, 2/. 2s. ; Pit, 15s. ; Gallery Stalls, 10s. ; Gallery, ss. Pr_ ces for Each angle Concert : Private Boxes to hold Four Persons : Boxes —Pit Tier, 3/ 35.: Grand Tier, 4/. 4s. ; First Tier, 31. 3s. : Two Pair, 2/. 2s. ; Upper Boxes, U. lle. 6d Pit Stalls, 1/. ls. ; Pit, 75.; Gallery Stalls, ss. ; Gallery, 2s. 6d. App'i cation for tickets may be made at all the principal Lib rarians' and Musiesellers' ; of Mr. Benedict, 2, Manchester square ; and at the Box-ofnce of the Theatre. TES BOUFFESTARISIENS—St. JAMES'S THEATRE. FIRST REPRESENTA TION, THIS EVE \TING (WEDNESDAY), May 20.- 1. M'SIEU LAN' )RY, Operette, 1 Acte.--2. LES DEUX AVEUGLES. Bouffonnerie, Musicale, 1 Acte. Mus;que de Offenbach. —3. BA.TA-CL AN, Chinoiserie Musicale, 1 Acte. Musique de Offenbach. Principal Characters by Messrs. Pra clean, Guyot, Gerpre, and Leonce ; Mesdiles. Dalmont, Mare 'chal, Belnoir, and Mace--their first appearance in this coun try. Tile Orchestra of the The Are des Bouffes will ace ,m -pally these Representations, under the direction of the popular composer, M. Offenbach—To commence at half-past 8 o'clock. This Engagement being limited to one month, Performances will be given EVERY EVENING, Boxes stalls, and tickets may be engaged at Mr. Mitchell's Royal Library, 33, Old Bond-street. T HEA TR tR. OYA. L , DRURY-LANE LeagAe • Mr. E. T. Smith. OPEN EVERY EVENING. GREAT EQUESTRIAN AMERICAN and CONTINENTAL COMPANY, under the direction of Miss Ella. Prices—Pit and Promenad.3, is ; Boxes, 2s. 61 , 25., and Is. ; Galleries, 6d. Doors open at half-past 7. Commence at 8. First Equestrian Artistes in the World : —Madame Schap lain Madame Noisome, La Petite Wells, Signora Delavanti, and Miss Ella ; Miss E. J. Wells, Wiles. Flora, Fabia, anri and Marie, Misses Neusome. Moffatt, Delavanti, Potter, Jen rin,!s ; the Manchester Boy, Masters J. Wells, A. Wells, E. Moffatt, Henrico and Carlo Delavanti, Sig. Felix Delavanti, Mons. Becq, Mons. Ferdinand, Mons. Eugene, Mr. Torn Swann, Mr. B. Fuller, Mr. W. Fuller, and the great Shake perian Clown, Wallett, will appear each evening in a series of Performances, original and unapproachable. Director—Mr. Stokes, Acting Manager—Mr. E. Stirling. ROVAL Far C ESS'S THEATRE, THIS EVENING will be performed Shakespere's trlgecly of KING RICHARD THE SECOND. King Richard IL, Mr. C. Kean ; Queen, MrA. C. Kean. Preceded by a new Farce, in one act, called AN ENGLISHMAN'S HOUSE IS HIS CASTLE. T HEATRE ROYAL, H )(MARKET. Le3see—Mr. J. B. Buckstone. NEW ARRANGE ENT OF PRICES OF ADMISSION. THIS EVENING (May 29) to commence at Seven o'clock, with SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER. After which, the .uccessful Classical Love Story, un der the Apple-lation of ATALA.NTA ; or, The Three Golden Apples : in which Miss M. Oliver will appear; also Miss M. Wilton, and Miss Ellen Ternan. To conclude with AS LIKE AS TWO PEAS. In future the prices will be : Orchestra Stalls (which may be retained the whole or the evening), 6s. cacb. (No charge for booking.) First Price. s. d. Second price. s. d. Dross Boxes . 5 0 Dress Boxes 3 0 Upper Boxes 3 0 Upper Boxes._ 72i t . ••, 2 0 Pit 1 0 Lower. Gallery 1 0 Lower Gallery 0 6 Upper Gallery 0 rNo lyalf-price to Upper Gallery. T HEATRE ROYAL, ADELPHI LegAee—Mr. Ben. Webster. THIS EVENING, will be performed a new and original drama, entitled JOSEPFE CHAVIGNY ; ' or, Under the Thumb. BM. Webster, Paul Bedford, Madame Celeste, d re . Followed by a new Farce, called FEARFUL TRAGEDY IN THE SEVEN DIALS. To conclude with the new and original domestic sketch, entitled WELCOME, LITTLE STRANGER. Mr. Wright, Mr. Paul Redford, &c. OYAL SURREY THEATRE, Lem , ,ePß, Mesqrst. Shepherd and Ore wick. THIS EVENING will bo performed HAMLET. Mr. Creswick; Ace. A fter which, THE THREE WONDERS OF PEKIN. To conclude with 102; or, The Veteran and his Progeny. Mr. Widdicomb, &c, • OYA.L OLYMPIC TIE...A.TRE, Lessee, Mr. Alfred. Wigan.. THIS EVENING will he performed a new drama, called DADDY HARDACRE . Mr. Robson, &c. To conclude with YOUNG AND 'HANDSOME. Messrs Robson, G. Murray, &e. Commence at half-past Seven. TRAND TRENT RE.—Manager Mc. T. Pavnel.—THlS EVENING will he performed 'n l l MIDNIGHT HOUR. Messrs. J. Neville, G. Lee, W. Suter, Howard, Wilstone, and Miss Ctithlyrt. After Which, ROLFE'S G )SSIPING CONCERT. P°ll mved by OVER THE WAY. Mr. Kfnloch, Mrs. Woollidge, and Miss Craven. Co mmence at Seven. Stalls, 3s. ; Boxes, 2s. ; Pit, ls. ; Gallery, ed. A STLEY'S ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE 1:31 " AND OPERA HOUSE. Lessee and Manager, Mr. W. Cooke. Mr. WILLIAM CCIOKE begs to announce that THIS EVENING (Wednesday), will be p ro d uce d , f or th e t hi r d time at this theatre, Verdes far.faresd Opera of IL TROVA TORE ; cr, The Gipsy' s Ve,- geauee. The whole of the Recitatives and Music as performed at the Italian One • with Grand Equestrian Illust ra ti ons, New Scenery, Op a, cenery, Costumes, and Appointments. ' Thr, following celebrated Artistes are engaged : Miss Rebecca Isaac; Mr. Augustus Braliam, Fir Miss Marian Edwards, Mr. Brookhou.e Bowler, Miss M. SJmers, Mr. Francis Kirby, and Mr. J. A. Leffler, and iM Mies Fanny Hucklarf. Mr. Borrani. Composer and Director--Herr Meyer Lntz. Manager anti Director of the Opera—Mr. Augustus Brah am. To conclude with Peerless arid Classic SCENES in the CIRCLE, by the First Artistes in the World. Commerce at seven o'clock. Dress Boxes, 4s. ; Upper 11 ° 108 , 3e. • Private Boxes, from 2 1 5., no charg e for bo oking; Pit, 2 s . ; Gallery, ls. ; Upper Gallery, 64. N otice—During the Opera Season Half-price will take place at 9 o'clock. Eo?.c.oflice open from Eleven till Four. Stage Manager, Mr. W. West. Equestrian Director, Mr. W. Cooke, jun. CA.NTERBEr SLYHALL. Westminster-road. — OPEN EVERY EVENING.—The follow ing company of Vocalists are engaged for the performance of Selections from all the popular Operas, Madrigals, Choruses, Glees, Duets, do., viz.: Miss E. Pearce, Mrs. J. Caulfield, Miss Brunel', Miss Summers, and Madame Marietta; Mr. J. aalfield, Herr F. long,l:mans, R. G , over, T. Farrant, S. Joie% J. Earker, W. Melling, P. Corri, Senor Antonio M. de Soil*, and E. L. (lime; Masters Bennett and Corri; Messrs. Sam Cowell, Sam Collins, and F. Mackney, Piineforto, Mr. Cecil Tricks; harmonium, J. Caulfield, jun.; director, Mr. J. Caulfield. Commence at Seven o'clock pre. ci 3 elY. Suppers, dic., until twelve o'clock.• :SEE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING. NEW and AMUSING 2s. BOOKS for THE SFAS , ti, suited for Railway Reading, Pr sents, Prizes, &c. I —AT HOME AND ABROAD; Tales here and there. By Miss PARDOE. 2s. Cloth, Is. 6d. 11. —AMUSING POETRY; a New and Choice Selection for Young and Old. Edited by,Snma.Ey Baooss, Esq. 2s. Cloth, 25.6 d. Lately published, uniform. Mrs. HALL'S POPULAR TALES. 2s. Cloth, 2s. 6d. MANSON I'S BETROTHED. 2s. Cloth, 2s. Gd. GERARD'S LION KILLER, 14th thousand. 2s. Cloth, 2s Gd. With a large variety of others, of which a list may be had. Lambert and Co., 13, King William-street, Strand; and all Rail ways. TaF WEATHER—SUN Orrias s MAY 20. TE2R3:O3IETER, IN THE SHADE. 72 —highest since noon yesterday. 55 lowest this morning and during the night. 70 --this day at noon. BARON ZTER, 29.87. WIND, S.W.—Rather fresh, with fine summer weather. fit4,7*,l\ift Attt t. 3 - § •<- ,(1). LONDON, WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 1857. The Divorce and Matrimonial Causes Bill was last night read a second time in the House of Lords, there being 47 contents in its favour, and but 18 non-contents. We earnestly hope that the matter may be disposed of during the present session, and that the disgrace to which it is now liable, may be effectually removed from the An glican law. The Lord Chancellor has, in many respect, improved the measure, but, after all, the bill which he has brought forward, can only be regarded as an instalment of what is re quired alike .by justice and expediency. There is no doubt, however, that it will be a vast amelioration of the existing code, and that if nothing better can be obtained, it will be gladly accepted, as " a step in the right direction," but certainly not as a final and satisfactory arrange ment of the question. The veteran Lord LYNDHURST made one of his most brilliant and conclusive orations, which must convince any unprejudiced mind. The noble and learned lord not only proved the propriety of all that was proposed, but showed the necessity for further relief to that sex, which we all profess to respect and reverence, but treat with so much practical injustice. Lord CRANWORTH is by far too timid to make a Ireformer. He too closely adheres to precedent, and is unwilling to travel in the slightest degree from the beaten track, or to overstep the conven tional limits assigned by the previous practice of the House of Lords. He should receive a salu tary lesson from his distinguished predecessor, and discard the undue caution which is calculated to impair the efficiency and value of the measure. ,The first great point is the creation of a new tribunal, and the substitution of a single stringent and searching investigation, instead of the three required under the existing system. The Eccle siastical Court could pronounce a divorce a rnensd et thoro, and legally separate man and wife, not merely for adultery, but also for cruelty, for anything in fact that rendered it impossible for the parties to live together again in concord and happiness. But it could not altogether dissolve the matrimonial chain. It required a special Act of Parliament to sanction a second marriage on• either side. But that sanction was not denied to any person who came forward with clean bands, and had money sufficient to put the Legis lative machinery in motion. Thus practi cally there was one law for the rich and another for the poor, or rather the meshes by which the parties were entangled were so fragile that they could be broken by any aggrieved person, who had 2,000/. to spare for the occasion. No matter how great the hardship and irreparable the injury, the man who had not 2,000/. to expend in the operation, was debarred from ob taining redress. For him there might be sym pathy, but no means of procuring the only ade quate relief. His poverty placed him beyond tht pale of the law, and he should submit patiently to his hard fate. Now Lord CRANWORTH proposes to extend the area from men with 2,0001. to those possessing 3001. or 4001. But surely there are thousands and tens of thousands of sufferers to whom the latter sum is as difficult of attainment as the former, and who should still possess a claim for justice ! He does not, however, legislate for the million. Sorrow must be arrayed, if not in vel vet, at least in good broadcloth, before it can 1e obtruded on the new tribunal ! A Lord Chan cellor, a Lord Chief Justice, and a Judge of the Court of Probate cannot easily be brought to gether. The tribunal will, of course, be very dignified, but we fear the expenses and delays will he fully proportioned to the dignity. Still it is better that the forms and expenses of Parliamentary proceedings and the triple exposure should be avoided. Even the Lord Chancellor would be better than the House of Lords, and a single inquiry, than three, before different Courts under different regulations ! The disgraceful action for Crim. Con., in which the wife has no locus standl in Court, although her fame and happiness depend on the result, is net abrogated. It will, however, no longer be compulsory on the party, but is to be optional, and according to Lord CRANWORTH'S proposition, only brought after the divorce has been obtained. It would be far better if the disgraceful scene of a husband claiming compensation for the loss of his wife's affections, could be altogether abrogated, and that the guilty party could be punished more effectually than through the pocket. If, how ever, it must be retained—and we can see no adequate grounds why such should be the case— it should be brought either before or after the other proceedings—at the option of the aggrieved party. Many men, for instance, our Roman Catholic brethren, who consider the tie indis soluble, would thus be debarred from any remedy, and with them all who had not the means of bringing to a successful termination their suit before the new tribunal, or more than nine out of every ten, perhaps nine-nine out of every hundred in the entire community ! This point then should be remedied in committee t 3 make the bill anything approaching to what it ought to be. Again, there is no reciprocity. Women will have no means of redress whatsoever, save in some rare and almost impossible instances. Now, in this instance, we hold with the vulgar, but ex pressive apopthegem, that " what is sauce for the goose, should also be SatlC2 for the gander." Surely if the conduct of a man is so thoroughly depraved that reconciliation is utterly hopeless, the sufferer should not by a refinement of Mezen tian cruelty be perpetually chained to him who is nominally, but not really a husband. Women, GOD bless them,arefar naore forgiving than the sterner sex, and, according to the usages of the wife can venture to condone an offence that could not be forgiven by a husband. But she should herself be the judge, and not be made the innocent victim of crimes for which she was neither morally. nor legally responsible ! We believe that the privilege, if conceded, would not be abused. As Lord LYND HURST truly said, "Don't suppose that if you al lowed a woman to separate for adultery, your courts would be filled with such applications. Remember that this proceeding could only be instituted by the woman ; and no one who knows anything of the fe male character knows that she would be easily prompted to institute proceeding of this kind ! I am satisfied that every man who has studied the female character can suppose that nothing but a long, deliberate, and hopeless case of adultery would lead her to corne:bizfore the Court for a divorce." There is true wisdom in the words of this venerable Senator. " All that a woman holds dear is at stake," and it will not be until reforma tion is hopeless, and reconciliation impracticable, that the irrevocable step will be taken. We venture to assert that, in the overwhelming ma jority of cases, the injured woman will be satisfied with the minor remedy which permits her to live separate and apart from the wrong-doer. But if she should seek more perfect independence—if she should desire to unite her fortunes with one from whose affection and love she could anti cipate a return of that happiness of which she had been deprived, it would be alike cruel and unjust to deprive her of the chance. We think also that wilful desertion, should fur nish a ground of divorce to either party. If a man forgets his obligations—if a woman her nup tial vows—they should not be forced to continue in the unhallowed union. The practise of Scot land, and of the United States, proves that there is no serious danger to be apprehended from the adoption of a more extended remedy ! We trust that the passing of the measures sug gested by Lord BROUGHAM and Sir ERSKINE PERRY, may render it unnecessary to carry the portion of Lord CRANWORTH'S bill •relating to the wife's property and the wife's earn• ing,s. These should—save in the event of a solemn prenuptial settlement, be secured to herself for her own separate use, although the husband had not gone to the extent of abandoning, and leaving her dependent on her own resources for a protracted period. The amendments of which Lord LYNDHURST has g'ven notice, will render the bill really beneficial, and we trust that they may be carried, and that the ameliorated measure may receive the Legislative sanction even within the present Session. Tile first great trial of strength has taken place between her MAJESTY'S Government and her MAJESTY'S Opposition, on a question of com paratively trivial importance, so far as the pecu nialy amount is concerned, but ono of vast conse quence to the peace and tranquillity of the Sifter Kingdom. The Honourable Gentleman, the Nleinber for Cork, has obtained a great triumph in carrying, by so decisive a majority, the measure with which his name has long been identified ! A.nd Ministers, while allowing him to retain the honour, gave that honest and energetic support which ensured the glorious result. After the di vision that took place, the matter is virtually dis posed of, and henceforward " Ministers' Money," is it was termed in Ireland, will be numbered with bygone grievances. It was Sargeant, now Mr. Commissioner, MUR PHY who first directed public attention to the om al y. It was that honourable and learned gentleman who sowed the good seed which has :low produced such excellent fruit, and he found a worthy coadjutor and successor in Mr. FA GAN, who carefully tended the promising plant until the hour of fruition. The speech of the Hon. Gentleman last night was all that could be desired, and he paid a well-merited compliment to Lord P A.LIIERSTON and his coadjutors in refe rence t 3 their conduct on the question. It was not the least vexatious circumstance in relation to the impost that it applied only to eight cities and towns, viz., Dublin, Cork, Water ford, Limerick, Clonnael, Kilkenny, Drogheda, and Kinsale ; while Belfast, Enniskillen, and other fliurishing towns in all parts of Ireland were ex empted. The Roman Catholic inhabitants saw not only their co-religionists, but even the Protestant in habitants of Protestant towns freed from the burden to which they had been subjected by the act of that pious and moral Sovereign CHARLES 11., and the " iron entered more deeply into their souls." It was not merely a question of L. S. D. The mode of collection was far more annoying than the mere amount, and the peace and tran quility of the sister kingdom was imperilled fur a paltry sum of 12,5001. when there was an am ple and legitimate fund from which it could be defrayed without injustice or injury even to life interests. The act of 1854 scarcely improved the state of affairs. It is true that it removed the difficulty from individual ratepayers to the Corporations of the towns that had obtained such unauspicious notice. But aldermen and town-councillors were merely men, subject to all the passions of humanity, and in many instances they refused to make themselves the agents for collecting the obnoxious inapoA, knowing that " the rose by any other name would smell as sweet," and that it signi fied but lath., when the hard cash was extracted from the pockets of the people, whether it was designated as " municipal rates" or " ministers' money." Indeed, the recipients, the clergymen who were entitled to rec , ive it, were amongst the most earnest applicants for redress. They had legal rights which they could not enforce—the very demand whereof placed them in an invidious posi tion, and materially deteriorated from their utility. The friends and supporters of the Established Church in Ireland, have still greater cause to hail the abolition of the unjust and impolitic impost than its most strenuous opponents, inasmuch as it removes what must be a fertile cause of discord—a source of weakness to the Church, while it was a formidable instru ment in the hands of its adversaries. The Report of the Select Committee of the House of Commons placed this matter in its true light. It contained the following remarkable passage :-- "It is not an exaggeration to say that popular odium attaches to this tax ; nor is it to those by whom it is paid that this antipathy is confined. This source of livelihood is an object of dislike to the clergy, by whom it is most painfully collected from the reluctant and the poor. Several clergy men have been examined in the course of this inquiry, all of whom concur in the expres sion of a strong desire on their own part and on the part of the clergy that some substitute for ministers' money may be provided." It also stated that " many clergymen had abandoned the attempt to collect their income in this form, because they felt it would deprive - them of all chance of influence as Christian pastors over those to whom they wished to minis ter ; and that it would bring them into constant hostility with those with whom . they desired to live in peace and amity." There is no desire on the part of the advocates of the measure to deprive the present incumbents of their revenues, but there is a proper fund on which it should fall. The revenues in the bands of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners are :ample for every purpose, and there is none to which they can be more fittingly applied than in removing the constant cause of vexatious litigation and promoting peace and good will amongst nun' We congratulate Mr. FAGAN. We congratulate Lord PALMERSTON and the Government. We congratulate the Roman Catholic ratepayers, but above and beyond all, we congratulate the conscientious members of the Established Church in Ireland, on th;s, which by each and all must be regarded as a truly auspicious and most satisfactory result of the long-protracted contest. Chelsea Bridge will in all probability be opened in August. So thinks our Minister of Public Works. Sir BENJAMIN HALL yesterday stated this distinctly in reply to an inquiry put to him in the House of Commons by the Hon. Baronet the Member for Westminster. Good news so far, but, alas ! no further. For lo and behold ! while we are congratulating ourselves upon the advan tages accruing from the probably speedy comple tion of the Eighth Bridge up the river, we find our satisfaction suddenly diminished by the intimation that it is to be at the same time the Fifth Toll paying pathway across the Thames ! Quoth the Right Hon. Baronet, in answer to Sir JOHN SHELLEY, the Act of Parliament declaring it to be a toll-paying bridge was to be strictly adhered to. It was to be a toll-paying bridge ; it will be a toll-paying bridge. But, "if ever the period should arrive," said Sir BENJAMIN [it sounds ter ribly like the Greek Kalends this I], when the funds obtained by the toll—having secured mean while the support and maintenance of the bridge, and having paid off the expense of its construc tion actually might realise a surplus, then, says the Minister for Public Works, " that surplus will be applied to the fund for Metropolitan Improvements." A-hem ! we do sincerely hope that the Fund for the Metropolitan Improvements has some more de finite prospect before it of future enhancement. Otherwise—But what in the name of Fortune is the utility of speculating upon prospective and contingent disappointments? when there is one immediately before us blatant for our lamenta• tions ! Another Toll-paying bridge across the Thames for the use of Londoners ! The Eighth Bridg e up the river—counting the bridges as wo ascend the Silent Highway—but out of merely Eight, actually the Fifth that will be Toll-paying ! Shame to the metropolis that we should say so— but shame also to the Imperial Government. How often and with what reason does that wise ex clamation of th© Rev. LAWRENCE STERNE recur to one's memory—" They manage these things better in France, said I." Granted in Paris that among all their twenty or thirty bridges across the Seine, they have not one to be brought for a tingle instant into comparison with two of our London Bridges. Bridges that in reality are among the number of the world's wonders—those same wonders having long since, under the wand of Science, been so far extended in variety that they might almost be described as Nine multiplied by Nine ! Granted this, and more than this—(a circumstance not to be marvelled at, however, considering the different scope afforded by the Seine and by the the Thames)—still even then the balance is struck in point of fact rather considerably in favour of the Parisians. For with them the toll-paying Bridges are the rare " exception" —you could anent just one or two out of all their twenty or thirty bridges. With us, on the contrary, it is just the reverse—it is the " rule" instead of being the " exception !" Out of our Eight or Ton Bridges—ani it is disgraceful, considering our wealth, our traffie, and our enterprise, that we have not long since had more—out of our Eight or Ten Bridges across the Thames either "in " the metropolis or in its immediate vicinity, the gross majority are Toll-paying. Take the Eight first Bridges up the river, as already mentioned. Why only Three out of them all are Free Bridges ! There is Lon don Bridge, Free : Blackfriars Bridge, Free : Westminster Bridge, Free and then you have an end of them ! Waterloo Bridge, one of the great engineering and architectural glories of London, having a beggarly toll of a halfpenny. The Suspension Bridge at hunger ford the same. The Iron Bridge at Southwark having one of a penny. Vauxhall Bridge the same : and now we have the agreeable prospect of another paltry ha'porth of stricture to our transpontino traffic, at the new Bridge now being built up at Chelsea, the Bridge now rapidly ap proaching the time of its completion. The grievance we complain of, we have so oftan complained of, we shall persist in complaining of at every available opportunity—until we may reach the long-wished for period when it shall be entirely dissipated—is a grievance very real, and very galling. It is so real, and so galling, that notwithstanding our wish to S3O the number of our London Bridges increased considerably—we do sincerely hope that instead of directing our energies henceforth to the building of new bridges, we ma y in the fi rs t p l ace str i ve, an d that most strenuously, to " free' the old bridges already existing, Above all, it appears to us to be the height of folly to be complaining, as we do (and no wonder), at our having already no less bridges b e t ween th e C us t om than four toll-paying House and Vauxhall, and then perversely tolerat ing, quite as a matter of course, the sanction of a fifth toll-paying bridge, just a little higher up the Thames, within sight of a Sixth "Ha'penny Hatch"—the old bridge at Battersea. The annual meeting of the Literary Association of the Friends of Poland, a report of which ap peared in The San of Monday, will not be with out its use. The Emperors of RUSSIA and AUSTRIA would probably give with willingness the small sum which forms its income, somewhat under 1,0001., if they could bind over its members to silence. We see by the language of France to wards Belgium, and of Austria towards Sardinia, how despots tremble before the free press of free countries ; and nothing is more galling to men accustomed in their own territories to shut up in a Spielberg or to send to Siberia all who venture to utter a popular or patriotic sentiment, than to read in foreign journals the speeches of the very patriots who have escaped their clutches, or those of the friends w hom they have inspired with interest iu their cause. In spite, therefore, of the sneers, or the contemptuous silence of a portion of the English press, we are thankful that European tyrants must yet submit to be exposed as they ougjit to be by the more independent journals of the country. We could wish the Poles also not to neglect any means of keeping themselves properly before the civilised woad, were it only to call attention from time to time to the last instance in which England lost in diplomacy what she had conquered in the field ; and even worse than that - , to the appalling sacrifices she made both of life and money, merely and simply out of treachery to Poland and subserviency to Austria. What, un less a connection we prefer not to mention, in duced us to pet, as we did, that most odious of despotisms, we cannot conceive ; but our readers have not, we trust, forgotten, that to keep Aus tria easy in her fragment of Poland, we avoided all mention of Poland and the Poles from the commencement of the war, and declined to rouse the nation, and to paralyse our enemy by this most obvious and profitable strategy ; not only did we refuse the aid of Polish volunteers, but when at HIGH. WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. Tis DAY—Morn. 51 min. tft. 10 —Even. 20 min. aft. 11 2'.\-Mowitrvo —Morn. 45 min. sit. 11—Evening 0 Mill. aft. 0 ALA Ir 20, 18 5 7 length we determined to accept them, then even their name must be changed, and Poles must be called Cossacks of the Sultan ! Yet, even in this disguise, they were almost as great a terror to the CZAR as the beggary of his treasury and the loss of nearly half a million of men. What might not have been the gain to the' Allies, leaving out of question the gain to Poland, had the aid of Poland been early and efficiently invoked ! Let, it not be forgotten also, that six thousand Poles offered to desert from their . oppressors, and to lead the storming of Sebastopol, at a time when they would have saved us half our army, and— were rejected ! ! Neither let it be forgotten that the Poles, with the Circassians, are lasting monuments of English weakness or blindness at Paris. Russia then lay completely at the feet of the Allies, a convicted and an arrested criminal. She had neither men nor money to carry on another campaign, and the Allies knew it ; yet there was nothing but ful some adulation on the part of Louis NAPOLEON, who, of course, had more real sympathy with a beaten despot, than with a constitutional Monarch; and nothing, we regret to say, but timid yielding on the part of Lord CLARENDON. During all these meetings nothing was stipulated for Poland, any more than for Circassia. All was left to the tender mercies of a second EMPEROR " with mild eyes ;" who soon showed by his brutal threats at Warsaw, that he was a worthy son of his father. The result is, that Poland is left to be denational ised at lei Sure by Russia, to sink into a province of a barbarous empire, and to be the basis of future attacks by Russia on the liberties of Europe. Nor was this done ignorantly. Lord PALMER STON acknowledged in the House oft Commons, that Warsaw was a continental Sebastopol, a standing menace to the liberties of Europe. Why, then, did he not, when Russia was prostrate, and we at our strongest,' demand war or the emanci pation of Warsaw and the Poles Some of the speakers at the meeting appeared to have a confidence, which we can hardly share, in the sentiments of Lord PALMERSTON in regard both to Poland and Circassia. Mere sentiment of a liberal and sympathising kind he must indeed feel. He could not be an Englishman without it ; for, during the war, from the peasants and farmers of Lincolnshire, to the Peers, with Lord LYNDHURST at their head, warm sympathy and willingness to fight yet longer, were warmly expressed on behalf of Poland. Lord PALMERSTON never took, how , ever, one step in favour of the Poles, or of the Circassians. He passed them over at the peace ; and he is now in opposition to France, and in co operation with Austria, advocating the very course with the Principalties which is at once inimical to their liberties, gratifying to Austria, and dis advantageous to Poland ! That the late storm should have passed over Europe and done nothing .for Poland, is indeed remarkable. It swept away 500,000 of the troops of her oppressor, yet the yoke was left upon her. One campaign more, and that yoke would have snapped. On that account, as we be lieve, Austria mediated, Russia yielded but too gladly ; and England and France truckled to Ger many and despotism. Let Poland continue true to herself, and jtho Nemesis of tyrants and their statesmen may yet be at band. His Excellency the Ambassador of France and the Countess de Pereigny returned to town yesterday morn ing, from Paris. The Duke of Devonshire's select dinner parties, at his villa at Chiswick, will be discontinued for the present owing to the death of Miss Hunloke. Tne Duke and Duchess of Northumberland have issued cards for dinner parties on the 28th instant, and OR the 4th of next month, at Northumberland House. The Enrl of Eglinton entertained the Marquis and Marchioness of Exeter, the Marquis of Lothian, the Earl Thlbot, the Earl of Carnarvon, the Countesi of Jersey and Lady Clementina Villiers, Viscount and Vis countess Duncan, Admiral Sir Thomas and Lady Coeh rane, Hon. Mr. and Mrs. Coventry and Miss Coventry, Hou. Mr. North, Major Hamilton, Mr. L. Gilmour, Mr. Stirling, the Misses Cockerell, and a select party, on Monday.at dinner, at the noble earl's mansion in St. James's-square. The Earl of Yarborough left town at the close of the past week for the Isle of Wight, accompanied by the Countess and Lady S. Pelham. His lordship has since gone on a cruise in his yacht, the countess and daughter staying in the meantime at St. Lawrence. Lord Wore ley, M.P., is in town in attendance on his duties in the House of Commons. The Countess Poulett and Viscount Hinton are shortly expected in Dover-street, on their return from a tour on the coast of Spain. We have pleasure in stating that the noble viscount has entirely recovered from the effects of the severe accident he 'met with whilst hunting with the Duke of Beaufort's hounds last autumn. The Earl of Jersey has, we are glad to learn, re covered from his recent indisposition. The Earl Fitzwilliam entertained a select circle at dinner, last evening, at his mansion in Halkin-street We understand that the Countess of Dunraven has issued cards of invitation for a ball on the 26th inst. Lord Brougham arrived in Paris on Monday last from his chateau at Cannes. The noble and learned lord is daily expected in town to resume his place in the House of Lords. Lord and Lady Francis Gordon have just returned from the South of Franca, where they have been resident during last winter for the benefit of his lordship's health. Lord and Lady Greenock have arrived at Maurigy's Hotel, from St. Leonard's-on-Sea. Among the fair debutantes at the Queen's Drawing room, on the 6th proximo, will be Lady Evelyn Craven, daughter of the Earl and Countess Craven ; and Lady Augusta Quin, eldest daughter of the Earl and Countess of Dunraven. • WESTMINSTER JEWS' FREE SCHOOL—The anniversary dinner of this useful institution was held yesterday, at Willis's Rooms, St. James's ; Alderman Salomons, president, in the chair, supported by Mr. Sheridan, M P., Mr. Charles Pearson, Nathaniel Montefiore, Esq., Professor Hart, R.A., Henry R. Keeling, Rol„ vice-president, B. S. Phillips, Sze., and numerous friends of the charity. The various speeches dwelt upon th e advantages of education, which were aptly illustrated by the introduction of 200 children of both sexes, who e appearance, beaming with intellect, were the admir tion of the company, particulary two who were selected to recite the Hebrew and English odes. The collection, amounted to nearly 6001. DEATH OF H. KEMBLE, ESQ., LATE M P. FOR EAST SURREY.—We regret to announce the death of this much respected gentleman', which event took place on Monday at his house on Grove-bill, Camberwell, in the 7t)th year of his age. Mr. K. formerly represented East Surrey in Parliament ; and was remarkable for the regularity of his attendance, as well as for the firmness and consistency of his public conduct. A sincere Con servative by conviction, he still listened with profound respect to the opinions of those who differed from him, if ever so widely ; whilst his amiable disposition won for him the regard of all parties - in • the senatorial assem bly. Out of Parliament he was esteemed by a large circle of'acquaintatice, and beloved by the poor, who were the continual recipients of his bounty. His acts of charity were numerous, varied, and unostentatious, and neither political nor ecclesiastical creeds interfered with the liberality of his donations. As a warm and constant supporter of several of the public institutions in this metropolis his loss will be severely felt, but to the poor 'of his immediate neighbourhood we fear it will prove irreparable. THE MAILS.—SOUTHAMPTON, May 19.---T he Penin sular and Oriental Company's steamship SuLan, Cap tain J. K. Joy, sailed hence on Monday, with the Peninsular mails, 36 passengers , 2,4001. in specie for Cadiz, and a full general cargo. The Royal Mail Com pany's steamship Atrato, Captain Wooley, sailed the same day, with the West India and Pacific mails, 67 passengers, specie value 6,0001.. j"welery value 5,0001, and a full cargo. The European and American Com pany's steamship Hydaspes, Captain Brown, sailed to day for Antwerp ; she leaves Antwerp on the Ist proximo, and Southampton on the 4th, for Lisbon and the Brazils. The United States' mail steamer Washing ton, Captain Cavendy, arrived on Monday, from Bremen, and sails again on Wednesday, with the German, French, and English mails for New York. The Peninsular and Oriental Company's steamer C , lornbo, Captain Field, also leaves ts-morrow with the India and China mails. The Indus, Captain Evans, with the next homeward mails from that quarter, left Malta on the alt' men of the 13th inst., and may be looked for on Friday or Saturday. The Alhambra, Captain Woodgates, is due on Saturday next, with the mails from the Peninsular ports. LATE'' _„ NEs, CIRCASSIA. MARSEILLES, MAY 19. Accounts have•been received from Constantinople to the 11th. Advices from Circassia of the 19th April state that Mehemet Bey had removed his head quarters to Sipsohur. Sefer Pacha has 40,000 naibs under his orders, and in consequence of the adhesion of different tribes Mekemet Bey could assemble 80,000. Accounts from Mossoul of the sth state that the revolt of the Kurds has been quelled. Letters from Athens of the 12th mention the arrival of Admiral Willaumez at the Piraeus. A very violent discussion had taken place in the Senate on the subject of a journalist who had been arrested in the house of a senator. THE SPANISH EXPEDITION AGAINST DIELXICO. CADIZ, MAY 15. The squadron which has been fitting out for de last three months at "Cadiz has set sail for the West Indies. It is composed of six ships. They carry 2,450 troops thoroughly equipped. This force is commanded by General Mendimata, Santia, and Pa rrido. FRANCE. PARIS, TUESDAY EVENING. The Pays says Lord Elgin, after remaining some days at Alexandria and Cairo, will embark for Singapore, and there meet Baron Gros, the French Commissioner to China. Baron Gros will embark on Friday next. • Lord Cowley went yesterday to Fontainebleau, and had an audience of their Majesties to present letters from Queen Victoria notifying the birth of a princes.. M. Vie'lard, senator, who was tutor to the Em peror Louis Napoleon's brother, died this morning at Paris. We regret to announce," says the Constitu tionnel, " that the state of health of M. Vieillard has not improved since yesterday. The Senate is also threatenel with another loss in the person of the Marquis de Pastoret, whose state continues most alarming. Admiral Cecille, who has bean se riously ill, is now much better." A Paris letter in the Independence of Brussels states that when the Emperor Napoleon proceeded in a hackney-coach to see: M. Vieillard on Satur day, he gave the coachman 100 f. The man, think ing that it was by mistake, observed, " Le bour geois se trompe," and could scarcely believe his good fortune when he was told that his fare was the Emperor, and that the money was really for himself. The Cour Imperiale, after a long deliberation, de livered its judgment in the'affair of the Docks Na poleon this m 'ruiner. The sentence of imprison ment against MM. Zu:in, Legendre, Duchesne de Vere, and Berryer, as pronounced by the Tribunal of Premiere Instance, is maintained ; but the fines t ► which they were condemned are reduced to 3,000 fr. for Cusin and Legendre, to 2,000 fr. for Arthur Berryer, and to I,ooofr. for Duchesne de Vere. M. Orsi, who was acqujtted on the former trial, has been declared guilty of complicity on ac count of his participation in the treaty with Fox and Henderson and has been condemned to three months' imptisonrnent and 100 fr. fine, and, more over, to restore 4,400 Dock shares.. The prisoners are condemned to the costs in different proportions. BOURSE, May 19.—The following were the last quotations Cub. fr. e. 4i per Cents 3 per Cents 69 10 Bank Sharos 4,500 Credit Mobilier 1,288 75 Roman End of Month. 91fr. 453. €9 25 Do. Account 1,288 75 Austrian Belgian 4. Piedmontese (5) 9O 25 Home Debt ' RAILWAYS-FOR CARL . fr. c. fr C. Orleans 1,4721— Western 1 — Northern Lyons 1,4971 'New Ditto 1 — Mediterranean 2,030 Grand Central Geneva Midi - Austrian Cum. • THE PRINCIPALITIES. It has been stated that the elections in the Prin cipalities were again to be adjourned. The in structions relative to the application of the im perial firman on the convocation of the, Divan, which were drawn up by the extraordinary admi nistrative council of Moldavia, and sanctioned by the Caimakan,, expl lin this delay. They; for example, show that the accomplishment of all the prescribed formalities will require 45 days before the election can be proceeded to, and that, besides, the Caimakan requires that the peasantry shall not receive from any one, advice which may influence their minds and "guide their opinions." These instructions, signed by the late Minister of the In terior, Count Catargi, are dated tk 15th April, and were published, under the administration of his successor, in the Official Bulletin of the 22d ult. The Minister of the Interior, M. Ghika, has addressed a circular to the administrators of dis tricts, in which he complains that the preparatory deliberations of citizens entitled to take part in the coming elections have not taken place " without noise"—he expresses regret that they have "taken the appearance of disorderly manifestations','—and blames 'them for having " improperly" adopted the denomination of " clubs and committees." PRUSSIA. According to a Berlin letter, in the Augsburg Gazette, it was decided during the visit of Prince Napoleon to the Prussian Court that the Emperor of the French should be invited to visit Berlin at the end of the summer. Prince Napoleon on the 15th, after his return from the field of battle of Dresden, visited the treasury, a kind of museum which contains, with the diamonds of the Crown of Saxony, the different objects of art and value accumulated for centuries past by the Royal family. This treasury is a pro - - digious depodtory of vases in gold and precious stones, rock crystals, mosaics, cameos, enamels, pearls, and diamonds. The whole collection is of inestimable value as regards art and archaeology. In the evening the Prince dined with•the Prince Royal, and aftr dinner the Princess Royal and the two Princes went to drink tea with the Dowager Queen Maria, who resides in a pretty country villa near Pillnitz. At this family party there were assembled four sisters, three of whom wear crowns —the Dowager Queen Maria, the present Queen of Saxony, the Queen of Prussia, and the Archduchess Sophia, mother of the Emperor of Austria. On the Ifitb, being the fete day of the King, the Prince Napoleon went to Pillnitz to offer his congratu!a tions. The King received the congratulations of the Court and of high State functionaries. In the afternoon the King and Queen, the Royal family, the Queen of Prussia, the Archduchess Sophia, the Archduke Louis, and Prince Napoleon, went to the hunting lodge of Moritzburg, where they dined. SARDINIA. The Chamber of Deputies at Turin, in its sitting of the 15a, voted the first article of the bill for a railway from Varo to the Modenese frontier, authorising the government to grant the line to a company. The Vessillo of Vercelli (Piedmont) announces from Parma, that the soldiers now in the Parmese service, who fought and obtained medals of valour in 1848 undex Charles Albert, in the war with Austria, have, through the intercession of Cheva lier Boncompagni, the Sardinian minister to -ti) courts of Parma, Modena, and Florence, obtained permission to wear them. MILITARY EXECUTION AT BARRACKPORE.—This morn ing Mongul Pundy, the sepoy of the 34th Native In fantry, who had been tried by a court-martial and found guilty 'of mutinous conduct, having wounded the ser geant major of his regiment and also the adjutant, Lieut. Baugh, of the same corps, was hanged on the parade ground at Barrackpore soon after gun-fire. The gal. lows was erected in the centre of the , parade-ground, and the troops were drawn up so as to form three sides of a square, coterminously. At a given signal the plat form was withdrawn, and, almost without a struggle, the misguided man was launched i nto eternit y. The adjutant and sergeant major are in a fair way of re covery.—Calcutta Englishman, of April 8. PRICE OF GOLD —The quotation of gold at Paris is about 6 per mille premium, and the short exchange on London is 25.271 per 1/. sterling. On comparing these rates with the English Mint price of 3/. 17e. 10/d per ounce for standard gold, it appears that gold is nearly 2-10ths per cent. dearer in Paris than in London. By advices from Hamburg th e p rice of g old is 424 1 per mark, and the short ex chan g e on London is 13 4 4 per 1/. sterling. Standard g old at the En g lish M int price is therefore abort the same value in Ha mburg a9d iti a London. The cour s e o f e xchan g e a t New York lon London for bills at 60 days' sight is 109/ per cent., which, when compared with the Mint par between the two countries, shows that the exchange is about at par. And after Making allowance for charges of transport and difference of interest, the present rate leaves a trifling profit on the importation of gold from America. ROYAL LITBRARY FUND. The anniversary of this society was held yester day, at the ,F 1 eemasons' Tavern, Great Queen street. About 200 gentlemen sat down to a sump tuous dinner. After the usual loyal toasts hal been disposed of, Mr.. M. MILNES, M.P., in-an elaborate speech, proposed, " The , Literature of the Colonies, and Mr. Justice Haliburton," who had left the turbid waves of the Atlantic to dwell on the pellucid waters of the Thames. (Cheers.) Mr. Justice B.ALIEURTON rose amidst immense cheering. He begged to return to Mr. M. Mines, the chairman, and the meeting, his most, grateful thanks (though he felt it most difficult to express them), - for the very flattering manner in which his name had been announced and received. He felt that more had been said than he merited, and that much had been said rather in the spirit of kindness than what was due—more in kindness than in jus tice. He thanked them with all his heart. 'lf there was anything he had done either instructive or amusing, it was because he had relied upon'na ture, for in the colony, as in this country, and all other countries of the world, there were two great books which were spread before them—nature and human nature. Those who studied closest, and approach-d closest to nature, had the approbation of the world generally. The other portion of the toast would require a more ingenious man than he was, to respond to, namely, " The Literature of the "Colonies." He was somewhat at a loss to find where it was. (Laughter.) He was at a loss where to look for it. It reminded him of the trite saying, " The Spanishfieet you cannot see, because it is not in sight." (Great, laughter.) It was the expression of a wish rather than the announcement of a fact, of something to hope for in future times —it was what in legal language was termed, " After possibility of issue extinct." (Laughter.) He should . rather apologise why they had it not ; instead of responding to the toast of the "lit ra ture of the colonies." Why bad they no litera ture in the colonies ? It was very likely they would not have any for many years, and it would be no great loss perhap.?. The colonies, in the first place, were too busy in clearing forests, in laying out roads, in bridging rivers, iu building cities for the accommodation of ticket-of-leave men. Literature required opulence and the luxury of academic leisure—of wel endowed, learned i nst it ut i ons, li ke Oxford. time; The i F colonies had were the time they co u ld noto young to afford the afford the means either. There ware, however, other obstacles—there were obstacles in the colo nies—not that he would put the coloni es b e hi n d • _ the United States, but rather before them ; but they had difficulties to overcome. They had not the institutions of England, and, though it might appear paradoxical, they were too free, too equal, to have a literature. He did not mean to say that a country which was free might not have its lit,rature, because th's country was the freest in the world ' • but every man was not equ a l, h e thanked God. Nature never mad e man equal, and the legislature that attemptedit must be foolish. Where liberty andequalityco-existed the 3 might materially neutralise each other. Strange as it might appear in a country that appeared too free, it was enslaved, not by public opinion, but by the opinion of the public. (Rear.) He could illustrate this. A friend had told him that evening that he was an old Tory, and so lie (Mr. Haliburton) was. (Cheers.) That friend had said that the Canadians were more loyal than the people of this country, and so they were. (Cheers, and leughter.) English people were the freest people on the earth, and when he said this be meant they were free, because they were not equal. Some gentlemen from phis country contended del Russia was right and England ,was wrong, in the late war, that the war was wicked in its in , bep!ion, and disastrous in. the results, and that it lowered the beat interests of. the country, and that they were glad of it. These men were mad on the question ; they spoke thus before parties, but did they convince them ? No ! people said they were fools, but that they were right to express their opinions. Let the United Suites go to war with. England ; let that war be de clared, as it must be declared, by the large majo rity of the people ; and let Mr. Cobden go to America and say that they were wrong, and Eng land was right, and that he hoped England would win, and he would be lynched in half an hour. (Applause..) Freedom was neutralised by equality, and where all men were equally free freedom was only half freedom by equality. If that were true in politics, how much more so it must be in litera ture. In America the author flattered the public, and the public flattered the author, and there was no honesty between them. His friend. :Mr Mines had alluded to his (Mr. Hall leirton) having left his native country to reside in England. It was true he had done so, but he re tained his loudness and affection for his native laud. He liked its freshness, but ae. be increased in years he felt himself too old to be always look ing forward to the future. He wished to enjoy lemsel and he came to the mother country. There was no literature in the colot.y, because there was no past, no infancy, and no 3 outh. They had no castles that bad formerly bean the strongholds of oppression and rapine ; the streams and rivers bad no legends ; they had no fairies—no snpersti tions. They were plain, hard, matter of-fact men. (Cheers.) Where there were no memories there could be no poets. H. hoped, however, that the literature of this country would long continue to be, as it was now, the literature of the empire ; for he believed the literature of the mother country would bind the colonies by the strongest bond of union between them. Mr. THAcKERAY, in reply to au invitation from the chairman, proposed the toast of the evening, " Prosperity to the Royal Literary Fund." Whilst the bishops and the earls were pursuing their duties elsewhere, and were taking different sides of the question, he hoped they would show how har monious they coutd be, by proposing the toa s t w ith nine times nine, in the absence of the noble earl. In spite of all their difficulties, on looking round the room he could see nothing but an immense chorus of prosperity. On his left there were those dark faces that bad greeted him under the palms of India ; to his right be saw an old friend whom he had never seen till that evening—(laughter)—and Colonel Hamley, who bad written of the thunders of Alma, Bala klava, and Inkerman, and had written novels like one of themselves. Everything looked well for the prosperity of the society. .Each of these gen ' tlemen he would shake hands with as with old friends. If they could only have heard the speech he had prepared for another toast to which his name had been attached, they would have revelled iu a luxury of eloquence such as at present they could not expect. (Laughter.) He heartily wished prosperity to the Royal Literary Fund. Sir RODERICK MURCHISON proposed " The Tra vellers and Dr. Livingston." The "Ladies" fol lowed, and the meeting separated. Advises from Vienna state that Count Arnim Hen richsburg, Prussian Ambassador to that Court, is about to retire into private 1 fe, and to be succeeded by Baron de Sockendorf, Prussian Minister at Stuttgart. REMOVAL OF MIDDLE ROW, HOLBORN.—A general meeting of the Metropolitan Board of Works was held yesterday, to consider the removal of Middle-row, Hole born. Mr. Wright moved a res, lution to the effect-- "That, as it appears from the estimate of the superin tending architect, that the removal of Middle row, Hol born, may be effected for a less sum than 50,0001., it was advisable that the block of buildings should be re moved at the earliest possible opportunity." Mr! Stevens seconded the motior. Mr. H. L. Taylor moved, as an amendment, "That it would bo inexpedient to take'any steps for the removal of Middle-row, without the authority of an act of . parliament." The original moiler) was carried by a majority of 13 to 5. THE FALL OF HOUSES IN TOTTENHAM COURT-ROAD. —Yesterday afternoon Mr. Brent resumed the inquiry at Laymen's Rooms-, Geyser-street, respecting the deaths of six persons, occasioned by the falling of the houses 146, 147, and 148, l' , .ttenharipcourt-road, on the morning of Saturday, the 9th instant. The principal evidence taken during the day was that of Mr. Caiger, assistant architect and surveyor of the metropolitan police, Mr. Reading, the surveyor employed by Mr• Hunter in making his alterations, and Me. Johnson, the builder who carried on the works. It appeare d that the buildings were inspected an .1 reported as dan gerous on the 23d of April, but that the surveyor had not afterwards seen that the report bad been attended top and he said it would have been contrary to the rules of the office if be had visited the buildings again. M r * Reading said it was hie firm conviction that it was the party-wall between Nos. 147 and 146 that first fell aril dragged down the rest of the premises. He had o bserve; a " tremendous crack" in the w a ll. M r . J o h ns on said the whole of the buildings were in a dilapidated state, but he imputed blame to no one. The inquest was again adjourned. COITRT OF ALDERMEN.—Ye s t er d a y a t a court which was held for the despat c h of p u bli c b us i ness , Mr. Alder man Copeland, in presenting the yearly return of the 11 spectors o f we i g ht s an d measures, sa id h e v ery 123 ?_. • regretted to fi n d th a t tae number of convictions du ring the last was almost equal to that of the preceding r ar i It was a source of deep regret to find that the prinaoralPl'.. delinquents were those who suppli e d the poor, n rn s : . coal hic d h e atlheers poorand chandlers'-shop P er " )n eee to truly frighlul. He thought that if the court : 8 adopt the plan of publishing the names of persoesse%", victed of the offence of giving short weight or in oti , d u l be the evil of which the poor complained aloud, e o r p ed ke b e y pe trhs.esTehe manner checked alear). iLa r g . re L at au m rie eas s u ai r d e, he if pe n r o f t ect e i n v tiLe n ly;a nrdr b e l ted 7 : the observations thet bad fallen from his lri° istratee Alderman Copeland, and trusted that the rna_g _ in ai l o w a o s u es ld in in weights and measures. (Hear.) wl:i t ch th p e e7s v o e n r s es w t were found ianllopwosesdesbsyionlavnvf false ti - ' co 41 eariti l tt results ; k,,, b „ at aaet, rabl a ', 411 acy , r lt ap, lret, wi ll P:ri e4oe a ,; te quen I.eird-St 1 4 . 4 : Boni au( .' 1; "fiat* 4,_ 214' Per 212 44 d leh e o goer 14 b, e °B ' Pr( 8 N 1 r eon, bFp p e.l.llatio, yen ta w , N IV' ; tk, f Oll . °IV] Co bitt l°l3, °. i. /4, t l ogt 4 , 4 4 21 kr 'e tio 4. C o ,re ,44 ittr tf " , 41 0 64 e 'l,t;. Are, t 4r . Wo] 4t , th e t rtar N h tl , t oth Ot t 4 V, 4 dt ty tu "DI. atAdd• f t , ule %k i k() 1 4 4' t 4 " e tt, e 11' 1 ef tt ( ZLI iiO4)80 ' V°4l Ad, it i ' ", otj Pt ° bat,' Ne of 4 o N ' t 14‘0(/ &77314.3