The Sun. — London, England, 1857-05-25 00:00:00

ITER MAJESTY'S THEAT RE. TO-MORROW EVENING. ALBONI, SPEZIA, GICGLIN'I, VIALETTI, and BENE. YENTA'S°. Second Night of Verdi's Opera of IL TROVATORE. Leonora, Mille. Spezia ; Azucena, Madame Alboni. Manrico, Sig. Giuglini. After which will be produced an entirely New Ballet, in Two Tableaux, composed expressly for her Majesty's Theatre by 31. Mascot, entitled ACA' ISTA. FIRST TABLEAU —Terpsichore, Maille. Rolla ; Madame Perea Nena ; Aglaia, Thalia, and Euphrosyne, '_Mlle. Michelet, Mdlle. Karlieki, and Mdllc. Brunetti; Amyntas, M. Baratti. SECOND TABLEAU—(The Vision Realised).— Seville.— Acalista, Madame Perea Nena ; Conchitti and Carmen, Mdls. Pasquali and Morla.echi ; Pepe, M. Gamba,rdelli ; Manolo, M. Massot. Spaniards. For particulars, see Mlle. A limited number of Boxes in the Half-circle Tier have been specially reserved for the public, and may be had on applica tion at the Box-office, at the Theatre Colonnade, Haymarket. Price Ono Guinea and One Guinea and a Half each. HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE. Piccolomini, Giuglini, Vialetti, Belletti. EXTRA NIGH C. THURSDAY EVENING, May !..IS, LUCIA DI LA.MMER , 4OOR. Lucia, Piccolomini ; Edgardo, Sig. To coneude with the entirely new Ballet, by M. Massot, entitled ACALISTA. For particulars see 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. ER MAJESTY'S THEATRE. GRAND MORNING PERFORMANCE. MONDAY, JUNE 1. riccolomini; 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, June 1, when will be performed Verdi's opera, LA TRAVIATA. Violetta, Piccolmini ; Alfredo, Sig. Giuglini. Germont Giorgio, Si;. Beneventano. To be preceded by (arranged in one act), Rossini's opera, IL BARBIERE DI SEVIGLIA. Rosina, Madame Alboni. Between the Operas a DIVERTISSEMENT. Morning Dress only will be necessary. Doors open at One, to commence at half-past One, and end at half-past Five. LES BOUFFES PARISIENS—St. JAMES'S THEATRE. Triumphant Success of the FRENCH PLAYS. THIS EVENING (MONDAY), May 2.5 the entertain ments will commence at halt past 8 o'clock precisely, by the production of (for the first time), Operette, en us Acte, UNE NUIT BLANCHE. M. Guyot, M. Mesmacre, and Mdlle. Mace. After which (for the fourth time), Operette, en nn Acte, M'SIEU LANDRY: M. Guyot, M. Mesmacre, Mdlle. Dalmont, and Mdlle. Mareschal. To conclude with LA BONNE D'ENFANT. The Orchestra of the Theatre des Bouffes will accom 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 be engaged at Mr. Mitchell's Royal Library, 33, Old Bond-street. THEA TR E-R OYA L, DRURY-LANE. Lessee, Mr. E. T. Smith. OPEN EVERY EVENING. GREAT EQUESTRIAN AMERICAN and CONTINENTAL COMPANY, under the direction of Miss Ella. Prices—Pit and Promenade, is ; Bores, 2s. 6d., 25., and ls. ; Galleries, 6d. Doors open at half-past 7. Commence at S. First Equestrian Artistes in the World : —Madame Schap lain, Madame Newsome, La Petite Wells, Signora Delavanti, and Miss Ella.; Miss E. J. Wells, Aldlles. Flora, Fabia, auri and Marie, Misses Neusome. Moffatt, Delavanti, Pottor, Jen nings ; the Manchester Boy, Masters J. Wells, A. Wells, E. Moffatt, Henrico and Carlo Delavanti , Sig. Felix Delavanti, Mors. Becq, Mons. Ferdinand, Mons. Eugene, Mr. Tom Swann, Mr. B. Fuller, Mr. W. Fuller, and the great Shaks periam Clown, Wallett, will appear each evening in a series of Performances, original and unapproachable. Director—Mr. Stokes, Acting Manager—Mr. E. Stirling. T HEATRE ROYAL, HAYMARKET Lessee—Mr. J. B. Buckstone. NEw ARRANGEMENT OF PRICES OF ADMISSION. - THIS EVENING (May 25) to commence at Seven o'clock, with THE RIVALS. Followed by a new farce, MY SON DIANA. After which, the successful Classical Love Story, un der the Apple-lation of ATAL ANTA ; or, The Three Golden Apples: in which Miss M. Oliver will appear; also Miss M. Wilton, and Miss Ellen Ternan. In future the prices will be :- Orchestra Stalls (which may be retained the whole of the evening), 6s. each. (No charge for booking.) First Price, s. d. Second price. s. d. Dress Boxes .... 5 0 170: - ess Boxes 3 0 Upper Boxes .. 3 Upper Boxes.. Pit..... Lower Gallery 1 0 Lower Gallery 0 6 Upper Gallery O f 5 No half-price to Upper Gallery. LI) OY AL PRINCESS'S THEATR E. 1,) THIS EVENING will be performed Shakespere's tragedy of KING RICHARD THE SECOND. King Richard 11., Mr. C. Kean ; Queen, Mrs. C. Kean. Preceded by a new Farce, in one act, called AN ENGLISHMAN'S HOUSE IS HIS CASTLE. THEATRE ROYAL, A DELPHI. Lessee—Mr. Ben. Webster. THIS EVENING, will be performed THE GREEN BUSHES. Mr. Wright, Paul Bedford, Madame Celeste, drc. 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 Bedford, &c. TRAND T FIE AT RE.—MAnager, M c. T. ?avne.—THlS EVENING will be performed THE STOLEN KISS, by D. Aird, Esq. After which, THE DAUGHTER OF THE REGIMENT Marie. Miss Somers. A Concert, by Madame Zimmerman, Miss Esther Jacobs, Messrs, G. Tedder, Rolfe, &c. To conclude with 102 ; or, The Veteran and his Progeny. For the Benefit of Mr. J. Neville. Commence at Seven. Stalls, 3s. ; Boxes, 2s. ; Pit, ls. ; Callery, 6d. STLEY'S ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE AND OPERA. HOUSE. Lessee dud Manager, Mr. W. Cooke. Under the patronage of ller Majesty and His Royal Highness Prince Albert. The most perfect triumph ever witnessed at this theatre has been achieved by the eminent Operatic Artistes, in IL TROVATORE, which has been nightly received with the utmost enthusiasm, while Mr. Wm. Cooke's Equestrian Il lustrations have met with every demonstration of approval and applause. THIS EVENING, and during the week, Verdi's far-famed Operr+ of IL TROVATORE ; or, The Gipsy's Vengeance. The whole of the Music as performed at the Italian Opera, and Equestrian Illustrations. Miss Rebecca Isaacs, Miss M. Somers, and Miss Fanny Huddart. Mr. Augustus Braham, Mr. Brookhouse Bowler, Mr. Francis Kirby, Mr. J. A. Leffler, and Mr. Borrani. Conductor and Composer--Herr Meyer Lutz. With a powerful Band and Chorus. Manager and Director of the Opera Company—Mr. Augustus Braharn. _ _ _ To conclude with a recherche programme of novel and matchless SCENES in the ARENA, in which the celebrated Brothers, Francisco's, will appear for the first time since their return from America. Commerce at seven o'clock. Dress Boxes, 4s. ; Upper Boxes, 3s. ; Private Boxes, from 2 is., no charge for booking; Pit, 25.; Gallery, ls. ; Upper Gallery, 6d. Notice--During the Opera Season Half-price will take place at 9 o'clock. Box•o6'ico open from Eleven till Four. Stage Manager, Mr. W. West. Equestrian Director, Mr. W. Cooke, jun. CANTERBURY HALL, Westminster-road. — OPEN EVERY EVENING.—The follow ing company of Vocalists are engaged for the performance of S'elections from all the popular Operas, Madrigals, Choruses, Glees, Duets, &c., viz.: Miss E. Pearce, Mrs. J. Caulfield, Miss Brunell, Miss Summers, and Madame Marietta; Mr. J. Caulfield, Herr F. Jonghmans, R. Grover, T. Farrant, S. Jones, J. Barker, W. Melling, P. Corti, Senor Antonio M. de Sella, and E. L. Hime ; Masters Bennett and Corri ; Messrs. Sam Cowell, Sam Collins, and E. Mackney. Pianoforte, Mr. Cecil Hicks; harmonium, J. Caulfield, j un.; director, Mr. J. Caulfield. Commence at Seven o'clock pre ,, Suppers, dec., until twelve o'clock. 410 , 13. WATER. AT LONDON BRIDGE. Tats DAT—Morn. 38 min. aft. 2 —Evening 1 min. aft. 3 TA - mc'llow---mcma. 25 min. aft. 3—Even. 51 min. aft. 3 THE WEATEIEB.--Smir OE7IOE, MAY 24. TIIIMMOZZTER, IN THZ SHADE. 67—highest since noon yesterday. 54—lowest this morning and during the night. 65 —this day at noon. BA/town, 29.53. WIND, &.W.—Rather fresh, with fine sunshiny weather. MAT 23. GS —highest since noon yesterday. 53 —lowest this morning and during the night. 67 —this day at noon. BABONSTES, 29.50. WIND, Easterly; fresh, with heavy clouds, and gun. shiny weather. ___—...--------- „ , a i_ , m,•. -,-_ „:„, §Aln. „..., ,J_, , • ,„,,.. , a _ .. '”" LONDON, MONDAY, MAY 25, 1867. Reform - we all know the miserable fact by this time—has, for a while, been quietly cushioned by her MAJESTY'S Government. It has been coolly shelved for this session. It has been post poned with admirable effrontery until 1858 shall have again assembled our legislators toga'• rHE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, decision on the subject, to an able brochure of Mr. G. L. HUTCHINSON, who has clearly and dis tinctly explained the injustice and impoliey of the existing system. That gentleman's cogent rea soning has never been and never can be answered. He shows the nature and extent of the prevailing evils, and also the suitable remedies. If adopted, there would be a considerable saving of expense to the entire nation. The enormous costs occa sioned by parochial litigation, and the heavy ex penses attendant on removals, would be efficiently relieved, while there would be fewer demands, as every " shuttlecock pauper" could carry his labour to the best market, where the supply and demand were better proportioned. But there is one great impediment to obtaining these great desiderata. There are wealthy and ingential parties interested in keeping up the inequitable and unwise prac tice. Great landlords, who, holding entire parishes or districts in their own hands, can prevent the labourers, whose services they require, from ob taining position within the charmed circle. It is obvious, however, that the same number of perscus must still be relieved, and in the most costly and expensive form. And we simply ask why should wealthy and influential parties be enabled to transfer the burdens from their own shoulders to those less able *to sustain them ? why should the poorest rate-payers be compelled pay the highest rates ?—which is almost in variably the case. The first attention therefore should bo to equalise the rates, not merely for the metropolis, but for the entire kingdom. It would practically amount to the same point, so far as met ropoli tan pay ments were concerned. With judicious administra tion and the complete abolition of the iniquitous law of Settlement, we believe that little more than ls. in the pound would be required throughout the entire country, and that would be reduced to 6d. if personal property was made liable for its fair proportion. Much required sanitary ameliorations might then be carried out, without obstructions that at present are frequently insurmountable, and St. Georges, Hanover-square, and St. James's, Westminster, might be - improved without any addition to the already overwhelming burdens of Bermondsey or Bethnal-green. We believe that no opposition will be offered to the stringent investigation now demanded. Let it, however, not be limited to a single district, but general in its operation, and thus will effectual relief be obtained for the entire kingdom, and a serious reproach be removed from the national escutcheon. The attention of the representative branch of the Legislature was on Friday evening very properly directed to a serious outlay incurred, not only without the sanction of Parliament, but even without its opinion being in any degree asked on the subject. " The German Legionaries," who never saw a shot fired in anger, were indeed highly favoured, having been treated with far greater liberality and generosity than our own gallant countrymen who had borne the brunt of the war and freely sustained heavy labours, and incurred formidable risks, for the safety, honour, and wel fare of our Sovereign Lady the QUEEN and her dominions. But, unfortunately, neither JACK, SANDY, nor PAT had friends at Court, they had no backstairs influence working in their favour. It is true that they had, or with due encouragement might have had, English, Scotch, or Irish wives or sweethearts, willing to share their fortunes in the distant land of promise, and to keep up the remembrance of Fair Albion, Green Erin, or Bonnie Scotland in their border homes, aye, and their allegiance to the SOVZILEIGN of the United Kingdom. In place of that, a body were selected who participated in the wide-spread doc trine of Germanism, that "England was only to be valued for her money," who would greedily take what they could get, and give as little as possible in return. But German hus bands for high and low was the prevailing mania ; and why should not our own dear lassies fallow in the fashion, about to be set by " the daughter of England ?" It was originally intended that the whole Legion, some 8,000 in number, should profit by the offer. The expense thus undertaken without the sanc tion of Parliament would therefore have amounted, at an average of 1001. for each military emigrant —a by no means extravagant estimate —to 800,000/. sterling, and on this the quasi guar dians of the national purse were not allowed to say a single word. There was the sic solo sic jubeo of the secret and irresponsible Premier's War Secretary and Chancellor of the I Exchequer, and the nominal holders of these im portant offices were only to carry out the orders they received, and to tell the House and the Country that it was their duty to vote, and to piy the sums which princely liberality had be stowed on German recipients.. As to the notion that these Germans will act as an efficient protection against Caffre aggression, we must be permitted to retain the doubts to which we long since, on the first mention of the project, gave expression—" Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?" Who shall guard against these very guards them selves? It seems to us that they will be far more likely to fraternise with the discontented boers, and should they again take int) their heads to rise against British supremacy, they would be more likely to obtain effectual assistance than serious opposition from those very • dear legionaries, who have cost 1001. per man to send to the spot. As to the Caffres, we believe, that the Germans even if well disposed would be by no means so efficient. We should far rather rely on the mingled dash and prudence of our own countrymen. The Caffres are a restless body, and they should be met with their own weapons. If they steal the cattle of the colonists there should be ample reprisals. For each head stolen there should be two at least taken in return, and the suggestion that a Caffre corps should be formed, which fell from Colonel SYKES, is we ll worthy of consideration. The colony should learn to defend itself, and with suitable means. Proper reprisals would be the best mode, and let not any spurious philanthropy interfere therewith. we believe that the Cape authorities, if taught that they should set their own shoulders to the wheel, in place of praying to the British Hercules, would take better care of their own interests, that there would be far less suffering, while we would be spared the periodical demands for some two or three millions every two or three years, to be levied from the already over-taxed inhabitants of the United Kingdom. At all events, what has been done with respect to the German Legion was not the best or most constitutional mode of remedying the evil. And the British Parliament should unequivocally resist every similar invasion of its unquestionable prerogative, which may suit German notions, but are by no means calculated for the meridian of the Imperial Palace at Westminster. "M. Aaguste Thurneyssen, director of the Cada Mobilier, and his sons," says the Debate, "are in no way connected in the affairs of M. Charles Thurneyssen, except as creditors for a very important amount."—The bankrupt, it is believed, hay left for America, and taken with him two of his children, leavJig the other two with his wife at Paris. His extradition is to be demanded. His flight continues to create an immense sensation at the Bourse. LATEST NEWS. The Moniteur de la Flotte announces that the East India Company have taken possession of the island of Perim, at the entrance of the Red Sea, and which is in the middle of the Strait of Babel miandel. The British flag was hoisted there on the 14th of February by the Company's troops, and the occupation is definitive. The following is the ca►ise assigned :—Two years since an English ship, which was shipwrecked on the coast of Brbera, was pillaged by the natives. The East India Com pany having applied to the chiefs of the Saumalis for satisfaction, they showed every disposition to do so, but all their efforts were unavailing. They were summoned to Aden to discuss the matter with the Resident, and, as it was proved that they were unable to defend ships from pirates, a treaty was concluded, containing a clause by which it is stated that the Company will occupy the island of Perim, and place a garrison there to protect ships navi gating that sea. The island of Perim, which was first occupied in 1784, is situated between Arabia and Africa, on the very point at which the Red Sea commences, and it divides the strait into two channels. The passage to the east, on the side of Arabia, is only 3 miles wide; that to the west, on the African side, is about 10 or 12. On the south west, towards the widest entrance to the straits, the island forms one of the finest ports imaginable. It is a mile in length and half a mile in breadth, and the depth varies from 7to 25 fathoms. The anchorage is excellent, the entrance is perfectly sheltered, and it is no exaggeration to say that 40 ships of the line might easily anchor there in smooth water 100 yards from the shore. A few ships of war stationed there will be sufficientherrnetically to close the entrance to the Red Sea. Aden is placed in a position much less favourable, for that port is 100 miles from the strait, and the reason it was chosen, 20 years since, was that, although it posses , es few resources, it has more than the island of Perim. There is water to be had at Aden by means of cis terns, and there are seasons of the year when the aqueducts can receive the torrents which flow from the neighbouring hills. The island of Perim, on the contrary, is absolutely devoid of everything ; it has not a drop of water ; its sandy and volcanic soil produces only some stunted and dusty briars. It is uninhabited, and everything must be brought from without. It would appear from a first view to be a position little desirable, but, on consideration, it is easy to understand why the Company has made this acquisition, and why the British Government attaches so much importance to it. It is now clear, when the Isthmus of Suez is about to be opened, that the Red Sea cannot fail to become the great commercial road between Europe and Asia. It is not necessary to erect any fortifications on the island of Perim. Aden is sufficiently near to supply all that may be required. But Aden, strong as it is, does not absolutely command the strait, and the largest fleets might pass without danger be tween Aden and the coast of Africa. On the other hand, nothing can pass the island of Perim without the permission of those who are its masters. A detachment of artillery of the Indian army has been stationed there provisionally. A temporar y arsenal and fortifications have been erected, and supplies of all description have been brought from Aden for the garrison which is to occupy that de ; , solate station. FRANCE. PARIS, SUNDAY EVENING. The Grand Duke Constantine has definitively bid farewell to Paris, and Prince Napoleon has re turned. The Moniteur of to-day informs the public of the latter fact. Whether the Prince feels regret at not havingshared in the "humours" of Villeneuve l'Etang or the festivities of Fon tainebleau is more than I know. What is certain is, that soon after the Grand Duke left the Prince returned. The Journal des Debats announces that the rati fication of the treaty of peace between Great Britain and Persia has arrived at Constantinople, and contrary to the assertion of the I% ord, of Brussels, it contains no reservation. All the visitors at the Palace of Fontainebleau took leave of the Emperor and Empress yesterday. Their Majesties received, during the afternoon, the different public bodies of the town of Fontaine bleau, together with the officers of the garrison. The Emperor and Empress will arrive at the Tuileries this afternoon. The great bodies of the State, together with the functionaries pre3ente t at previous receptions, will be received by the Emperor at 9 o'clock to-morrow afternoon. BOURSE, May 23.—The market rallied towards the close, when the following were the last quo tations : Cash. fr. C . End of Month. 4i per Cents 3 per Cents 6B 85 91 80 Bank Shares 4 , 475 . 6;editMobilier 1,2601,2 ARotimstarins:. Do. Adcount Belgian 44 Piedmontese (5) 9O 25 Home Debt 891 914 424 RAILWAYS —FOR CASH. fr. c. fr c. Orleans 1,465 Western - Northern Lyons 1,4774 New Ditto Mediterranean 1,890 Grand Central 1 — Geneva Midi MAY 25, I 8 5 7 ---,- THE ROYAL ACADEMY. FOURTH NOTICE. The Portraits exhibited this year in the Royal Academy Collection, without being, as we have said, in any instance very remarkable, are gene rally speaking, more than usualiy meritorious. We have scarcely anything left now of the weet Tas of that abominable " Gentleman" who has smirked at the public so long, season er season, under the shade of an almost impossible Pillar (consider ing that be was obviously either Styles or Stokes, certainly not by any means either Caesar or Nii,po leon) and that highly improbable Red Curtain—that looked as much out of place as Red Curtains would look "floppingand snapping" in the raw air between the columns of the Portico of St. Martin's-in-the- Fields 1 Photography—there is no mistake about it--- . -has given the portrait painters a stet) in ad vance as to the probabilities, and therefore as to the vraisemblance ; this step in advance being principally observable among tue mediocrities. Not by any means a mediocrity is the gifted French Painter, E. Boutibonne who, last season, won the admiration of the discerning by his exquisite miniature equestrian portraits of the Emperor Na poleon 111. and the Empress Eugenie—Pictures announced as " the property of her Majesty the Queen" in . the 1856 Catalogue. Here in Nos. 15 and 24 are two admirable companion paintings from the same hand, of the same size, in the same style : miniature equestrian portraits of "Her Majesty the Queen" and " 8..R.H. Prince Albert," The last-mentioned very recently the sub-. ject in Punch of a cruel little caricature—" a Field-Marshal evidently ! Wonder in what ter rible engagement 1" Notwithstanding the horribly ridiculous appropriateness of the sarcasm—a charm ing work of art, nevertheless. An admirable like ness of a handsome face—the whole picture full of animation. The portrait of the Queen, too, is ex quisite. One of the most agreeable we have ever yet witnessed. In No. 51. will be at once recognised by the thousands who know his features familiarly by this time one of the first and foremost among all living geologists, " Sir Roderick Impey Murchison." Grant's life-like . portraiture of " The Marquis of Lansdowne" (No. 70) will be perused with interest by the numerous admirers of that Nestor of his Party. Close beside this is Hart's representation of (No. 71) " The Rev. Dr. Adler, the Chief Rabbi"—our only marvel on glancing at which is that a Chief Rabbi, and parti cularly one with a visage so smugly and smouchely Hebraic, should ever dream of shaving. Knight's portrait of " Sir Charles Eastlake," No. SO, would be a more satisfactory memento of the President (the catalogue mentions that it is "presented to the Royal Academy" by the artist) did it not give one a -very strong notion indeed that Sir Charles Eastlake had been crying bitterly before he gave Mr. Knight a sitting. Sir J. W. Gordon's magic brush has de picted in No. 137, "George Combe, author of The Constitution of Mau '—a head worthy of containing the brains of a Great Phrenologist ! An-ither admirable p:ltrait from the same master hand is that of " John Blackwood," No. 546 —with a copy of dear old Maga at his elbow. A very young looking embodiment truly of every one's ideal of Blackwood. Yet —wonderful though it may seem to the uninitiated—the wielder, nevertheless, of that staff of Might and sceptre of Power, the crutch of King Christopher ! Yonder, again, in No. 159, by Eddis, is the mild, wise, benignant, patriarchal head of "His Excellency George Dallas, the American Am bassador"—resembling somewhat a blending of the visage of Mr. Fox, late M. P. for Oldham, and Old Benjamin Franklin. Yonder, in No. 179, by Mrs. Carpenter, "Sir Henry Ellis," the predece,sor of Mr. Panizzi, as the British Museum Librarian. There, in No. 224, by Richmond, is "Vice-Chan cellor Kindersley," in full fig, and looking grandly judicial and yet, somehow, at the same time, waggishly handsome too. Grant has several fine portraits according to annual wont in the collec tion • among them, this year, No. 452, " Si r James Scarlett,' the heroic leader of the heavy Cavalry Charge at Balaklava : the brave-hearted knight to to whom Lord Raglan sent as his greeting after the charge those simplethrilling words—" Well Done!" Horsely, in No. 576, depicts " J. K. Brunnel," the Great Engineer. Pickersgill, in No. 585. " Dr. Lyon Playfair," a sort of a philosophic Mr. Ledbury—plump, smiling, and spectacled. In No. 625, E. E. Tuson has portrayed a face familiar to us all, that of Major-General Sir William Fenwick Williams of Kars —a kind of Professor Anderson, or Wizard of the North a la militaire. In the miniature room we come upon a wonderfully cha racteristic crayon drawing of the poet-head of 'Syd ney Dobelt," author of the " The Roman," and " Balder," or as it is oddly enough misprinted in the Academy Catalogue, Bolder ! Various other notabilities are he re delineated—but those we hs.ve already enumerated may be taken, in both senses of the term, by way of illustration. MR. RUSSELL'S LECTURES ON THE WAR, AT WILLIS'S ROOMS. - The celebrated " Times' Correspondent," Mr. William Russell, of the Crimea, of St. Petersburg, and of we don't know where else besides, began on Saturday afternoon a repetition of his Three Lectures on the War. Beginning, of course, as the saying is, with the be ginning. Willis's-rooms, King -street, St. James's, as upon the previous occasion, formed the scene of his pre lection. The audience there assembled together being, as formerly, at once numerous and fashionable. The first lecture closed, equally, as a matter of course, with a description of the First Victory. And although the delivery of this instalment of the narrative occupied the principal portion of two hours—between 3 and 5 p.m.— Mr. Russell contrived, nevertheless, to keep his hearers amused throughout—frequently moved to laughter b 3 his quaint waggeries, occasionally enthralled into almost breathless interest by the nervous rush of his energetic and impassioned declamation. He described succes sively, in a few terse but sufficiently explanatory sen tences, the dawdling of the alli e d arm i es a t Va letta during the whole of the month of April, 1854 (an April the showers of which " were thunder etorms")—at Gallipoli during May—at Varna and Devna during the three or four months following ! Observing rather wittily in regard to the immense cor respondence from the camp—[Lord Raglan writing home reams of paper never yet brought to light, Marshal St. Arnaud industrious . y scribbliog to the Eaperer, to the Minister of War, to his wife, and it would be difficult to say to how many more, the pen of the L ec tu rer himself nut being alto ge th er idle at the same time, as ho slyly and parenthetically intimated]—that an army led by stationery runs a very great risk of turning out to be a stationary army ! Admirably characteristic was the phrase mentioned as having Wien from the lips of Gene , /al (now Marshal) Besquet, when first he witnessed the English forces tnanceuvring— Vous, vous, etes troupes de position, Nous, nous, sommes troupes d'activite I That, indeed, was the precise difference to a nicety. Altoge ther, we cannot bet think, however, that the Lecturer is revealing in these public discourses of his upon the late Ware truculence of tone when speaking ofourgallan allies and a sales rviency of manner when addressing a Willis's Rooms audience about Ourselves—such as few could ever have anticipated from Mr. Russell, judging him by his own frank, manly, plain spoken, ever memorable Correspondence. The allusion made to the personal appearance of the her3ic and chivalrous Canrobert— as though that could have anything to do with either his merits or demerits as a soldier—seemed to us as paltry as it was indecorous, we had almost said as mean as it was indecent. The frequent sneers levelled at the dauntless Hero of the Alma, Marshal St. Arnaud—who fought that great battle while he was dying—appeared even more reprehensible. It was very "small" too— particularly "small" on the part of Mr. Russell—re peating again and again (he seemed to be never tired of the spiteful repetition) that the French right attack of the Alma was "supported by the allied ships of war !" Better than those ungenerous portions of his narrative, were those (simply because of their coming more obviously within the range of Good Taste) in which he illustrated the prowess of the English according to the testimony of his own experience of it, as an actual eye witness, and sometimes as earcvitness. Capital was that voice from the Ranks, that called out (evidently with a ' brogue)—When Marshal St. Arnaud pausing in front of the British Army, before the battle of the Alma com menced, said " English, I hope you will fight well to day !" Capital, we say, was that Voice from the Ranks that called out almost indignantly—" Sure you know w e will!" It was quite as characteristic of his own country when the Lecturer spoke of thesoldiery as "de voured by thirst," by the time they arrived at the little stream of the Bulganak. Several of his word-pictures were really wonderful. Wonderful either for their hnmourous extravagance —as when he described his Italian servant Angelo, as a person endowed with the extraordinary capacity of becoming invisible whenever he was wanted ! Or wonderful, for the vivid ness of the descriptive powor they displayed. This being evidenced even in mere casual phrases—as when he spoke of the dump of the cannon-ball into the ground, of the scream of the shell, or of the shrill shout of the rocket ! Happiest, however, of all his descriptions, the most eloquent, the most impassioned, the most inspirit ing, was his spoken record of that grand struggle up the heights of the Alma—first of the gallant Light Division, and afterwards of the glorious Guards and Highlanders. The memorable Feat of Arms was described ,by Mr. Russell, in every sense of the term, to admiration ! GEORGE GRIIIKBRANK has just Cut a " Slice of Bread and Butter" which anybody who likes to do so may at once have the pleasure of devouring. We our. selves have found it very relishing, taken just with th e fast little pinch of salt, or, in other word, cum grand sa/i.s. It is—to be plain—in 16 pages wi t h 3 very Cruikshankian woodcut illustrations—" The SsbAance of a Speech delivered at a public meeting, held for the benefit of the Jews and the General Literary and Mechanics' Institution." An argument full of earnest home truth!, and of the kindliest feeling for the unfor tunate. It is a plea at once for the temperance system, for the ragged schools, an , l for the ro,.rnaatore.. SEAMEN'd 1108P1TAL bEIP DREADNuUGHT.—NIItuber of admi,sions last week, 38 ; out-patients ditto, 26. Total, 64, they in their palace at Westminster. At any rate for that interval Ministers are well rid of the bore, the worry, the bugbear, the nuisance of Reform. Ails they ? That—we fancy—remains yet to be seen ! For—while Ministers are " laying this flatter ing unction to their souls"—Have they not glar ing upon them that horrible buggaboo threat of Mr. BERKELEY ?—The 13111ot immediately after Whitsuntide ! It is net, consequently, after all, such perfectly smooth sailing for " The Pilot that weathered the Storm" of the General Election so triumphantly the other day—the gallant old Skipper PALMERSTON now at the helm of the good ship Britannia ? Skipper and ship are both getting fast into rather difficult navigation. The vessel itself will come through it, it is safe to come through it, somehow. But—How about the Skip• per ? That—we take it, is a very different ques tion. . . . Happily on board the Vessel of the State, Persons are not requested Not to Speak to the Man at the Wheel I Constitutionally, we have not any such prohibition. And, therefore, the Member for Bristol, according to his annual custom, is—going to put a very pertinent question (perhaps some may deem it a very im-pertinent question under the circumstances---seeing that Reform generally has been with pretty general consent given the go by for 1857—Mr. BERKELEY, we say, is going to submit a very pertinent ques tion to the man at the wheel and his mates collec tively. The Ballot—" That is the Question." And it is a question fast coming upon us—as soon as possible, in fact, after Whitsuntide. Now, there is no doubt whatever about This— That the Newly-elected House of Commons is essentially a Reforming House of Commons. It is a House of Commons in which the liberal Reformers have notoriously gained an immense majority. More than this—it is a House in which the Advocates of the Ballot have obtained a very considerable increase numerically. Consequently —lf Hon. Members are true to their Con stituents, there is a tolerably fair prospect of Mr. BERKELEY'S motion having this time at its back a rather large body of supporters ! Remem ber, however, that it is a promise dependent en tirely upon that one essential proviso. A highly important, but at the same time an exceedingly precarious condition indeed—" If Hon. Members are true to their Constituents !" Will they be so ? A very few days will now clearly demon strate—to those constituencies. It will be seen how far hustings promises may be relied on. It will be seen, so that those who run may read it. I How, and where ? Simply, let us repeat again, what we said as plainly as words could say, anything in our impression of Saturday evening. In the Division List upon Mr. BERKELEY'S motion soon after Whitsuntide ! In the " Votes" and in the " Pairs"—For and Against. And (what will probably be still more significant) in the list (very likely the long list) of Non-Attendants ! Under any circumstances, the Test will now be applied promptly and. directly to the New House of Commons, in regard to the most important of all Reforms—the Ballot. And that test having been so applied in 1857, we shall know at once how we stand in regard to that Question. We shall know how Lord PALMERSTON regards it, how his Government regards it, how the House regards it. And we hope the last mentioned will then act accordingly. If true to itself—we do not think we are talking at random when we say that we conceive the Ballot to be already in its grasp. "If true to itself," observe. In which event it will matter nothing to any true Reformer (either in the House or out of the House) under whose administration The Ballot may be ultimately obtained. Supposing Lord PAL MERSTON to be still obdurately averse to it, the New House of Commons, the Liberal and Re forming, and Pro-Ballot House of Commons may, if it so pleases it, replace the Noble Viscount with some more energetic and enlightened Admi nistrators. The opinion of Parliament, as to the gross in justice of the mode of assessing and levying rates, for the relief of the metropolitan poor will be for mally taken on Thursday next. The Honourable Gent'eman the Member for the Tower Hamlets has given notice of motion, that he will on that day move for the appointment of a Select Com mittee to inquire and report on that important subject. Mr. AYRTON could scarcely have selected a better topic whereon "to flesh his maiden sword." The magnitude of the grievance is uni versally admitted, oven by those who profit by it 3 continuance ! None can defend the social But unfortunately there is by nu means equal unanimity as to the nature or extent of the remedial measures that ought to be adopt ed. There can be but little doubt any change that could receive the legislative sanction would be an improvement. But it is exceedingly de sirable that just principles should be established in the first instance. "Melius est peters foam, quam sectari rivulos." The quotation is hack neyed, but that merely proves its indisputable truth and perfect accuracy. We may patch up and mend, but the entire edifice requires recon struction, which sooner or later must be under taken, and therefore the sooner we grapple with all the existing difficulties, the better for all parties concerned. nuisance. The Act of ELIZABETH, which first gave the poverty of the nation a legal claim for relief on its property, provided that the charge should be a burden on all ; that every man should con tribute according to his ability ; and there was no legislative distinction between real and per sonal estate. There was, however, but little personal property in those days, and as that which existed was easily concealed, and the attempt to compel it to contribute its clue quota gave rise to many fraudulent evasions and much discreditable and costly litigation, it was gradually abandoned, but merely as a matter of convenience, not of right. In the leading case of REX v. MAST (6 T. R., 156), the then Chief Justice, Lord KENYON, clearly and distinctly laid down the law. He said "That the assessment for the relief of the poor ought to be so contrived that each inhabitant should contribute in proportion to his ability, which is to be ascertained by his pos sessions in the parish. Every inhabitant ought to be rated according to the present value of his estate, whether it continue of the same value as when he purchased it, or whether the estate be rendered more valuable by the improvements which he has made upon it. If a person choose to keep his property in money, and the fact of his possessieg it be clearly proved, he is rateable for that ; but if he prefer using it in the melioration of an estate or other property, he is rateable for the same in another shape." Thia rule has never been impeached by the de cision of a Court of Justice. It, in fact, re ceives legislative recognition every session by the passing of the annual " Stock in Trade Exemption Act," which, like the Mutiny Act, has become a formal standing dish with Parliament. An organised opposition to this bill would enforce speedy attention, and the passing of a bill framed in a large and comprehensive spirit. We would earnestly invite the attention of those II desirous of arriving at a fair and unpre j u di ce d 1 SWEDEN. Letters from Stockholm, of the 13th inst., con tradict the report of the illness of King Oscar, and of his intention to abdicate. On the 12th his Majesty presided at a Cabinet Council. CELEBRATION OP THE QUEEN'S BIRTHDAY. Lord Palmerston will give a State banquet to-morrow, in honour of the Queen's birthday, at Cambridge House, Piccadilly, to a large party of members of the Upper House of Parliament. The Duke of Wellington, Master of the Horse to the Queen, will give a State banquet at Apsley House, Piccadilly. Lord Clarendon will receive the whole of the diploma tic corps at a State dinner in honour of the auspicious event. The banquet will be given at the residence of the First Lord of the Treasury in Downing-street. Earl Spencer, Lord Steward of her Majesty's House hold will give a State dinner to celebrate the day. Sir George Grey, as Home Secretary, will receive the Judges, both of Law and Equity, and also the members of the City of London. The Chancellor of the Exchequer and Lord Panmure have State dinners, to which a great number of official gentlemen have been invited. THE *RIDGES AND CORPORATION AT ST. PAUL'S.—Yes terday being the first Sunday in Trinity term, the ancient cereniony of '‘ churching the judges" took place at St. Paul's Cathedral. The judges wore represented by Lord Campbell, Mr. Justice Cresswell, Mr. Justice Erle, and Mr. Justice Crowder. Full choral service was performed, the officiating ministers being the Rev. R. Shutte, M.A., rector of High Halden ; the Lev. J. H. Coward, M.A., rector of St. Peter's, Benet's-bill ; and the Rev. R. Povah, M.A,, rector of St. Anne's, Alderagate. The sermon was preached by the Rev. enry Melvill, 8.8., canon residentiary of St. Paul's. A PA.REWBLL SERMON AT ST. PANCRAS CHURCH. — RESIGNATION OP Tun CURACY BY THIS REV. L. W. T. DALE.—Yesterday forenoon the .Rev. L. W. T. Dale, who for many years was one of the curates to his father, the Rev. Canon Dale, M.A., Vicar of St. Pancras, preached his farewell sermon in the parish church, he having peen appointed to the vicarage of Chis wick, which incumbency, it is stated, produces an income of above 5001. a year. The rev. gentleman preached a sermon from the Acts, 20th chap- f ter, 32d verse And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified." The preacher having observed that in this chapter Paul showed that he was on the point of leaving his disciples at Miletus, made a forcible appeal to his congregation to act up to the spirit of the gospel, to which it had always been his endeavour to bring them. Tha loss of the rev. g•-ntlervan is much re. gretted, as he strictly attended to the duties of hie office, both in his attendance on the schools and his ministerial avocation. . LITERA.TURE. A Visit to Salt take. By William Chair/less. Smith and Elder. This book will be attractive to the curious, as it gives the description of the Mormon settlements by an eye-witness. The author, who appears to pos sess cour ige and enterprise rare among travellers, being desirous of crossing the plains to Salt Lake, started off with a waggon train, as a teamster, en joying the idea of his novel poSliou, and then-w and miscellaneous company he aloud mix with. His flan ative gives us an entertaining4/ascription of his journey, but the chief interost for most lead-as will he found in his description of the Mormans. The wanner of his arrival quite disarmed tae sus picions of a people who have been so much written against that they would most probably regard any casual traveller as a spy. They gave the author a ' good reception, and appear to have left a favour able impression on his mind. He asserts that, previous to his visit, they were to him but mere shadows, and that neither before nor since his return has he read any books on the sub ject, being desirous of s giving a true and un prejudiced account of what he saw there. Many of them appear to-have been sensible intelligent men according to his description, though how such should have become converts to Mormonism is difficult to understand. One man became a mem ber for the sage reason that a clergyman in Eng land refused to bury a relative without a fee. He, therefore, as many wiser have done before, thought that a cause must be in the wrong because its advocates did not please him, and tried numerous sects of Dissenters in the hope of finding one con ducted without charges. He beard that the ser vices of the Mormons were performed gratis, so off he set without further inquiry. It is amusing to find that this discontented individual, while declar ing Mormon doctrine to be right, said that Mor mon wages were all wrong. He was a miner and • refused to work for low wages, so lingered on half supported by charity and half by occasional indus try. In Utah wages are scarcely ever paid in money, and the recipient has to , , pay a heavy discount be fore be can obtain what he requires, for his wages. A mechanic on a Saturday afernoon receives, per haps, 15 dollars-in notes. Money has always been scarce, and is becoming still more so. The des criptions of the domestic life of the Mormons, though divested of many of the horrors before told of them, are not very different from former narratives. The writer, though not, of course, countenancing their doctrines, seems to intimate that their morals and customs have been represented as much worse than they are, and that there is such a thing as do mestic happiness among them. If any can find happiness in such circumstances, it is a sufficient evidence of their degradation. •It is humili ting to human nature to see this great body of people, yearly increasing in number, believing the most contemp ible doctrines, practising the mast frightful principles with apparent moderation and content. And this large set lement of people, calculated in 1855 to include nearly 15,000 inhabitants, is not drawn from remote or savage nations, but from Europeans and Americans, those who would nut be supposed so readily to abandon the purity of their faith, the morality of their lives, and the rationality of their understandings. It is a lesson for the sett sufficiency of the enlightened nineteenth century. The author, on quitting Utah, travelled to Cali- Fornia, and gives us a sketch of the troubled scenes in San Francisco. Stories and Sketches. By James Pain. Smith and Elder. This is an entertaining volume with the cm tents of which many readers of serial literature have already made acquaintance. The papers, with two exceptions, have appeared in the pages of " Household Words" and " Claamberes' Journal." The stories are interesting and the sketches lively and numerous. The readers of "Household Words" will remember the entertaining papers, such as "Ego et Balbus," which have formed part of its contents, and will be pleased to meet many of them in this volume. The writer, though not displaying any great or ununsal amount of talent, proves himself to be an intelligent and agreeable writer. Mind your Stops. French in a Fortnight. Five Hundred French Phrases. Courteney's Dictionary of Abbreviations. Reading,, peaking, and Action. How to Celt and Contrive Children's Clothes. The Embroidery and Alphabet Sampler Book. Groombridge and Suns, Paternoster-row. The above works are a few among a series which is really remarkable, and which is calculated to be of more practical utility than many more ambitious works. Many writer., animated by the laudable desire of instructing the uneducated of the middling clas- es, have published works on different branches of information, but very frequently they are either too elaborate for ready comprehension, too expen sivi for limited means, or, above all, from their size and pretensions they terrify the indolent and unstudious reader. These objections cannot be raised against Mr. Groombridge's little books. They are so simply written that few • would be puzzled. They are offered at a price that most persons could afford, and the most idle or ignorant reader, for idleness and ignorance are very fre quently united, need not be dismayed at the time or trouble demanded for their perusal. The num bers mentioned above in small square paper pam phlets for sixpence and fourpeuce each, serve to give a good general acquaintance with Punctua tion, French, Conversation, and Elocution, whit() the industrious mother, of limited means, will derive the most valuable hints and assistance from ihe little book on children's clothes. The dic tionary of Abbreviations, too, is likely to be a useful companion, and the einbroid-ry sampler book offers extraordinary attractions to busy little fingers. The juven le workwoman, besides the introduction to the old-fashioned marking letters. will find pictures and patterns of all kinds and sizes, with a list of names for embroidery. It is quite a fairy gift for little people, and will serve to employ many a pleasant hour. There are many other numbers of varying prices, but few of them out of the reach of persons of moderate means. Mr. Groombridge tleserves to meet with success and encouragement in his laudable atteolat to extend a correct knowledge of these sill: ple branches of education, which are in every day requisition, yet seldom properly known. TRANSPORTATION AND PRISON DISCIPLINE.—The third and last meeting at the Mansion-h ,use, to di• Cuss these subjects, will be held to-morrow, at one o'clock. EMIGRATION TO AUSTRALIA.—LIVERPOOL, Saturday. —The clipper ship Ti: an, Captain Sears, of the White Star line of Australian packets, sailed this morning for Melbourne, with 650 passengers, and about 2,000 tons of cargo of valuable merchandise on boord. The B Nevis, of the same line, will sail on the 27th inst. with ab eve 300 emigrants and a full cargo. THE AMERICAN MAILS —LIVERPOOL, Saturday.— The British and North American Royal mail steamship America, Capt. W. J. C. Lang, sailed from the Mersey this forenoon for Boston and Halifax, with the usual weekly mails for the United States and British North American provinces, 113 passengers, and a full cargo of merchandise on freight. Tee Africa Royal mail steamer, of the same line, with advice 3 from New York to the 13th ult., will likely arrive to-morrow afternoon. CHURCH RATES.—A vestry meeting was held at Beetles, Suffolk, on Thurdday, for the purpose of con sidering the propriety of waking a church rate. It appeared that a rate of 2-0. in the pound was required to raise 901., but the mayor moved an amendment, that as it was probable that a bill on the subject would be introduced during the present session, the consideration of a rate had better be postponed. The amendment was, after some discussion, carried. EXETER HALL.—Last night the first of a series of Sunday evening sermons, under the sanction of the Bishop of London, was preached by the Bishop of Car lisle, iu the large room of Exeter-hall, which was densely crowded. On the front row of the platform were the Earl of Shaftesbury, the Hon. A. Kinuaircl, Robert Baxter, Esq., M.P., and a number of other gentlemen. The special service commenced by the reading of the Litany and the singing of hymns selected for the occasion, copies of which were printed and cir culated by the direction of thelspecial service committee. The Bishop of Carlisle took his text from Romans iv. 3, " What saith the scriptures I" and addressed the au dience for nearly an hour. The service concluded with a hymn and the usual benediction. THE DARTMOOR PRISON.—A. convict at Dartmoor prison, named Curies M'Carthy, has just been com mitted to the Devon county gaol, at Ex,ter, on the charge of assaulting and wounding, with intent to mur der, a warder of the Dartmoor convict prison. It appears that the prisoner had grossly misc , nducted himself since he had been lodged at Dartmoor prison, and had ma le three attempts to escape. A. few days ago he made an attempt to escape by running away from the separate cells when let out to wash himself, and he also took a leading part in an act of insubordination in which eight o her convicts were concerned. The prisoner, it appears, assaulted the warder in question in a barbarous manner, and afterwards, with eight others, made his way out of the working shed with the intention of effecting his escape. ST. JAMES'S PARK.—The water, such as it is, supplied by the water c , .moanies to the parks has hitherto cost Government 1,6001. a year ; but a discovery has beer, made during the recent alterations, which, it is supposed, will effect a saving of one-half this Sure. In that island, surrounded by the ornamental waters of St. Janie,.'s Park, which the " Merry Monarch" named Duck Island, and of which he once appointed St. Evrernont Governor, there was found to exist a powerful spring, yielding pure water in sufficient abundance to supply the whole lake, and perhaps to prove available for other purposes. From a well of 10 feet wide, sunk to a depth of 25 feet, 5,000 pitons of water a minute are now obtained ; and it le ..ntidpated that a ,t 4.11 able. The water evidently comes from toe Teateee, being filtered on its passage through a bed of sand two thirds of a mile in thickness,-06serren Tilg SECBETARYSIIIP. The appointment of Secretary of State for Ire land does nut appear to be much in request among aspirants after office. Betore a csndidate was found o accept it, in the person of Mr. H. Herbert, it had been succ ssiwely offered to, and decbm d by, dr. C. Villiers, Sir B. Hall, and Mr. Fitzroy. True it is that two inedern Our ii, devoted to the service of their country, offered to throw themselves head-' lotig into teis gulf. Lord Palmerst n, however, though almost despairing of the possibility of filling tee appointment in any feasible way, humanely saved both from such self-immolation. Sir R. Peel he disiauded from the rash eeterprise as having t• to much of the Donnybrook-fair champion about him; 'Mr. M,nekton Manes, as being too thoroughly steeped in the milk of human kindoess. Under any circumstances the acting Minister for the Irish Home Department must, for many years , to come, lay his account with being kept perma nently in hot water. That might be endured by a strong minded and thick-skinned man, provided there were any reasonable prospect of being able to do any good in the office. Butsituated as the Irish Secretary is, under existing arrangements, this is entirely out of the question. The Irish Secretary is simply and solely a buffer between the English Home-office and the Castle in Dublin. He is placed where he is to be squeezed and mutilated, in order to avert dangerous collisions between these pon derous bodies. The authorities of the Home-office in Downing-street and the authorities in the Castle at Dublin never can, by any, chance agree on any scheme of policy. When the one wishes to move on, the other is sure to insist on standing still or turn ing back. Now the function of the Irish Secretary is to serve both, as one clerk sometimes serves two economical and briefless barristers who occupy the same set of chambers. If the Irish Secretary is dis posed to do the work of the Castle, he is snubbed and ordered to 'keep quiet by the Home-office ; if he iseager to carry out some plan of the Home office, he is rapped over the knuckles by the Castle. He is kept in perpetual inaction, and then scowled upon and scolded for doing nothing. Meanwhile the public out of doors imputes to him all the Irish establishment's multifarious sins of omission. Ora tors denounce him, newspapers write hini down ; Tenant-right-leaguers, Repealers, Young Ire landers, the Parti-Pretre, and the Spoonerites, all bellow against him with a forty-faction power of lungs. Poor Mr. Henry Herbert ! We beg to tender him our sincere condolence on the martyr dom which awaits him. How the matter is to be amended it is not so easy to say. One thing, however, is certain—that the evil will continue to exist unabated so long as the farce of a Vice-regal Court iu the Cas le at Dub lin continues to be enacted. One Irish Exticutive in Dublin and another in Downing-street are incompa tible. The one m ust keep thwarting the other; or the one must, by cnisenting merely to register the edicts of tie ether, write itself down a sham. There can be only one administrative Government in any State. The existence of an Irish Viceroy is a perma nent protest that the Union is still incomplete. Ireland varies so much in its social and civil condi tion flora the sister island, that a separate Depart ment in the Home-office for the transaction of Irish business will long continue to be necessary ; and at the head of this department there must be a Se cretary of S-ate for Ireland, subordinated to the principal Home Secretary of State for the whole Empire. But the 'lrish Viceroy, with his mock Court, is a mere hindrance of business and source of corruption. This is now pretty generally ac knowledged throughout Ireland—except in Dublin ; and there, as was felicitously remarked 'he other day by a weekly contemporary, the Lord Lieu tenant question is not a Cabinet, but a Tabinet question. Some of the Dublin shopkeepPrs may gain by the perpetuation 'of the Vice-regal office, but all the rest of Ireland lose. In these days of Administrative Reform Lord Palmerston might have done' good service by availing himself of the vacancy in the Irish Secretaryship to inaugurate the abolition of that solemn, costly, and corrupting sham, the Irish Viceroyalty.—Daily News. MR. JOHN BRIGHT AND PARLIAMEN TARY REFORM. The following letter has been received by Mr. Alexander Laing, Hawick, in acknowledgment of certain resolutions of sympathy with Messrs. Cobden, Bright, and Gibson, on the result of the Huddersfield and Manchester elections, passed at a meeting held in that town some weeks ago. A letter on the subject from Mr. Cobden has already been published : "Geneva, May 17, 1857. "Dear Sir,—lour kind note, enclosing a copy of the resolution passed at a public meeting of the inhabitants of Hawick, reached me only last even ing. I lose no time in writing to say that lam very glad to find that in your town - the cause of re form, free trade and retrenchment has so many warm friends, and that you have understood and ap proved the policy which Mr. Cobden, Mr. Gibson, and myself have supported in the House of Com mons. In the question of free trade little progress has been made for some years past ; as to retrench ment, the word has become almost obsolete, and the military expenditure of the country is now nearly double the amount which the Duke of Wel lington and Sir R. Peel thought necessary in 1835, al , hough we have no more territory to defend, and although a large army is no 'longer necessary to main , am tranquillity in Ireland. As to reform, while almost everybody professee to be in favour of it in some shape, the preparation of the particular bill to be brought forward next year is left in , the hands of a Minister whose hostility to every pro position for reform since the year 1832 is notorious and undeniable. Whether on these three points to which your resolution refers the country is in a sat,-factory position I must leave t e friends of free trade, reform, and retrenchment to decide. " With regard to the promised reform let me wa rn 3 7-,,u to look not more to the question of fran chise than to the other arrangements of the mea sure. It would be ea , y to double the number of electors and at the same time to increase the aris tecratic influencl in Parliament. To give votes without giving representatives in some fair degree in proportion to the votes is but to cheat the people; and to give a large increase of votes without the security of the ballot will subject increased num bers of our countrymen to the degrading influences which weal h and power now exercise so unscrupu lously upon the existing elect ,ral body. A mode rate measure, and an honest one so far as it goes,' is far more to be d sired than one of great preten sions with some fraudulent scheme for defeating the wishes of the nation. A dishonest apportion ment of members may effectually destroy a repre sentation ; and any trick to obstruct the free action of majorities, such as that proposed in Lord J. Russeli's last bill, should be strenuously resisted, as calculated to undermine the very basis of repre sentative institutions, and designed only to cheat the-people of that increased power which the bill. would profess to confer upon them. " Whether I shall ever again in Parliament sup port the policy you approve is extremely uncertain, but I shall always retain a grateful sense of the kindness which I have received in past times, and at the present time, from the intelligent community on whose behalf you have written to me.—Believe me to be very sincerely yours, " JOHN BRIGHT. " To Alex. Laing, Esq., Hawick." 111 R. G. T. F. SMITH'S WEATHER PRE- DICTIONS FUR JUNE. 1857. To the 3d or sth of June, temperature cool for the season. From the 6th to the 15th will be the highest temperature attained during the month, hot weather generating electric action, aud, as a consequence, partial storms in several localities ; the testimonies for rain are but few ; the humidity of June will chiefly occur in the interim of the Ist to the 14th, From 15th to 18th, if not hot, a genial temperature. Fine weather prevails from the 22d to the 30th. From the 19th to the 30th the sun's rays are refulgent, but a visible difference in the temperature to that noted from the 6th to the 15th. The assurances I receive of the accuracy of the May predictions—in addition to the preceding months—are conducive to their mility ; but, as before observed, electricity and locality will ever militate againstperfect success ; if an endeavour to approximate correctness be appreciable with that view they are submitted to the test of public opinion. Cheltenham, May 20th. THE ART TREASURES EXHIBITION. There have been good attendances for the past two days. On Friday the admissions were, by sea son tickets, 1,836 ; on payment of the shilling, 4,332; total, 6,168, of whom 1,4,38 arrived at the building by rail wa y. O n Saturday the admissions by season tickets were 2,573 ; cm payment of the shiiiing, 5,318 ; making a total of 7,891, of whorl 2,512 arrived by railway. Mr. Donald is building a spacious pavilion for the meetings of the Society of Arts, capable of dining about 1,000 perstus. The Society is expected to remain in Manciest,• r about a week, holding a meeting each day, at whirdi a paper will be read. . CHESTER RAILWAY STATION.—On the Cup Day the enormous number of 36,500 passengers passed through his station, via the Great Western, the North -Western and Birkeont , ad fir ec, -01101o:it, owiug to the 3bit , "6rT6r ,,iviou of Mr. 2,11113 and his coadjutors, a Eiu g le accident ur unusual delay, and although there are 100 trains dal passing the station. X rii ,ka Letter Market c and prie( The saki Market N The co ] tnets of tl improv Lai, con,' iinfa.VOUra Mark lipoi for carteu blishreent "short ti a pple will at evrof the extrem 11 Pon the ure a are announces th a t Of la to n , with field Mess about 11( Walte r 1 4( ese sire the stater the .A.dvo c Belindness tfot w iti t e h a nsed by 48 genet' not unfav( sake of ti failur es, tl vroof o f i ra pid ame th e inquir an abseno routs, so! may soon and silver given to intend s I former, " i tim e of si Of Eoglani b lishrnent TI i 'ereal crop (114 Iraging Principal s eourse t )ft,•• lenoo c 3erB ons ii ' l ace too ee ause th t "anytim nem. or the sia carrie )irectors. At the 4 Change ilt the fa ellt to th tterward equence, 6 4 the l id the C® , B RIT: t k per ), Per ev f 1114i 8 : Con sc ; Lc Iltaz Dii Meal Di r er , Port l i re I lie] 1 Du