The Sun. — London, England, 1857-04-06 00:00:00

GREAT FIA.NDEL FESTIVAL AT THE CRYSTAL PALACE. Under the especial patronage of lter Majesty the QUEEN and H.R.H. PRINCE ALBERT. Notice is given, that applications for tickets for places, reserved and nurubered as stated, are one guinea each for each performance, or at two guineas and a half for one place for the series of three performances, can now be re ceived, and the places secured in numerical order, at the Crystal Palace, or by letter addressed to the Secretary there ; at the Temporary Offices of the Company, 79, Lombard street ; and at the Central Ticket Office, No. 2, Exeter-hall, The seats which are at present disposable consist of four blocks of 500 places, each in the most eligible position in the centre of the great Transept, the front row being about 40 feet, and the back 140 feet from the conductor's seat. These 2,000 seats are all equally good, and no one place has any ad vantage over any other. Parties applying at present can secure their seats being within these four blocks, but until the arrangements are more perfectly matured it is impossible definitely to particularise position. In allotting seats to those who shall have applied before the 20th of April, pre ference must be given to those who take sets of seats for the three performances. N.B.—No application can bo attended to unlessaceompanied by a remittance for the price of the places applied for. It is requested that Post-office orders be made payable to George Grove, at the General Post-office, and that cheques he made payable to the Company, and crossed Union Bank of London. Subscribers for annual season tickets for the Crystal Palace are respectfully informed that such tickets will not be available for these performances. The THREE PERFORMANCES are now definitively fixed to take place as follows, viz. —MONDAY, June 15, " MES SIAH ; " WEDNESDAY, June 17, " JUDAS MACCA 132EUS ; " and FRIDAY, June " ISRAEL IN EGYPT." At these performances the orchestra will consist of nearly 2,500 performers, viz.-2,000 ellorus, and 300 stringed and a due proportion of wind instruments, The entire musical arrangements aro undertaken by the Sacred Harmonic Society , Exeter Hall. Conductor, Mr. Costa By Order, GEORGE GROVE, Secretary. Crystal Palace, March 21, 1857, ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE. On EASTER MONDAY, will be performed Shakespere's trA,gedy of KING RICHARD THE SECOND. King Richard 11., Mr. C. Kean ; Queen, Mrs. C. Kean. Preceded by A GAME OF ROMPS. T HEATRE ROYAL, ADELPHJ. Lessee—Mr. Ben. Webster. On EASTER MONDAY, will be performed the new and original domestic sketch, entitled WELCOME, LITTLE STRANGER. Mr. Wright, Mr. Paul Bedford, Followed by THE ELVES, in which Madame Celeste will make her first appearance After which, A NIGHT AT NOTTING-HILL, in which Mr. Wright and Paul Bedford will appear. CANTERBURY HALL, Westminster-road,— OPEN - EVERY EVENING.—The follow ing company of Vocalists are engaged for the performance of SelectiotA 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 Solla, and E. L. Hire ; Masters Austin, Bennett, and Conn; Messrs. Sam Collins, B. Mackney, and C. J. Wilkins. Pianoforte, Mr. Cecil Hicks; harmonium, J. Caulfield, juu.; director, Mr. J. Caulfield. Commence at Seven o'clock pre• cisely. Suppers, die., until twelve o'clock. NIGH WATER AT LONDON BRT.DGE. THIS DAY—Morn. 12 min. aft. 12 —Evening 37 min. aft,l2 To-lioßßow—Morn. 0 nin. aft. I—Evening 10 min.aft. 1 THE WEATHER—Sux Omoz, APRIL 5. THERMOMETER, IN THE SHADE. 57 —highoat since noon yesterday 53—lowest this morning and during the night. 63 —this day at noon. BAROMETER, 29'66. WIND, S.S.W. Light, with fine, mill, sunshiny weather. It rained for the last 48 or GO hours, with bat alight intermissions. Two o'CLocK.—More showers, with very warm weather. Amur, 6. 61—highest sines noon yesterday. • 53 -'owest thl3 morning and sittnn . ); the night. GO —this day at noon. RAROMETER, 29'70. WIND, W. to W.S.W.—Light, with dull, mild weather and occasional slight showers. a!- - . 1 5 4 9 7 . g: a \ , J 4..441/ LONDON, MONDAY, APRIL 6, 1857. If SIDNEY HERBERT was frank enough to con fess that he and the Peelitcs (perhaps he meant all the members) had learned something from the election, we may hope Lord PALMERSTON will have the grace to show by his deeds at the opening of the new Parliament that lie, too, has learned something. He dissolved on a question of foreign policy, and the hustings and electioneering ad dresses and speeches, and the catechisings of hon. candidates especially, have given him a pretty plain lesson on both his foreign and domestic policy. He has had a very generous support from the country, but the country which gives him that support is entitled to have its manifest wishes regarded. Lord PALMERSTON has, we believe, as much pleasure as any statesman can have in pleasing the people. Cheery himself, he likes to see others in good humour, and he can hardly doubt on two most important points what it is the people wish for. On the China question he has, by universal confession, triumphed, and it will doubtless be the first business of the New Parliament, formally to rectify the wrong done by its predecessor. There was, however, another point in Lord PAL MERSTON'S foreign policy, which none can deny that the opposition attacked but too successfully. Naples has been a most discreditable failure. In deed Lord PALMERSTON'S whole European policy has been but too easily described by Radicals as playing into the hands of despots ; and by Tories, as attempting either too much or too lit:le. The great mass of the nation paid cheerfully for the Russian war, believing it was to humble a barbarian despot who thought himself a god on earth. It resulted in a peace which we have always felt to be a pro-despot peace. It was in tended to leave the CZAR despot in Finland, in Poland, in Circassia—to leave him as great an oppresor as before, but not to permit him t 3 oppress Turkey to the inconvenience of the Me diterranean powers. Englishmen have seen, as the results of the pacification of Paris, insults to the Poles and Armies in Circassia ; probably also the Persians in Herat. The Conservative Oppo sition does not like to say much about all this ; it is their own policy ; but the Radical Opposition scorn these miserable results of justly holds up to a ()Teat and costly war, and exclaim, " Thus it wilt always be with popular wars fur European liberty led and finished by PALMERSTON." But if the ticaly result - 4 of the Russian war have been a miserable failure, those of the Nea politan negotiations and deotonstrations have been worse than a failure ; they have been a disgrace. Begun with some pomp, at the very Paris Confel.- ence in fact, begun to divert perhaps the English mind from the the wretched peace, by the prospelt of a real crusade against a tyrant thoroughly in ,our power, they were carried on by perfunctory diplomacy, finished off by withdrawing ambassa dors, and sendin g ships, and co nc l uded by re calling the ships, leaving the prisons overflowing, 'sith innocent victims, and the tyrant laughing at his schoolmasters, and daily torturing his patriots by lingering deaths. At this mom ent King BOMBA is more a fiend than ever ; and the prisons so full that he is scheming to transport his old victims across the Atlantic, that he may find room for new ones ! Neither Tories nor Radicals have said much about it, because it did not suit the objects of either, but probably the people generally have felt that the last disclosure, just before the dissolution of Parliament, was the worst. It vas then openly confessed by the Government that the ships of war were withdrawn thron_7ll fear of an inlur- rection—that the Government had every rea son to believe that if our fleet continued hear Naples there would be a rising of the people. Now, we ask our readers, how many of them did not involuntarily exclaim on reading tiro reply of the Government " Insurrection at Naples— why just what was wanted—and for our broad- I Second tliougliti might sides to back them." deem this rather fast policy, but yet we could not doubt that something bold —,something that should bloW np a tyrant who could not be coaxed and argued into reason, was the thing wanted. What we maintain is this—that all Eng land, after what Mr. GLADSTONE and a hundred other honest reporters on Neapolitan despotism have told us, would have commended the states man who would at least have said to King BoMBA —" Now; your MAJESTY—you would not hearken to reason, the hour is come, your subjects moan to rise, and if they do rise wo mean to stand by them; We do not mean to be made fools of to save you from the vengeance due to your villanies. Send your Swiss home—repent, reform, or expect exile or the guillotine." Tyrants, even superstitious tyrants, are cowards, and had Lord PALMERSTON declared such a policy, ho knows that the cruel dotard would have truckled at once ; and even if he had not, and if he had been sent to St. Helena or to Brighton accord ing to taste ; or perhaps have tried the Argentine republic himself, all Europe would have rejoiced. But it may be said France —no, not France—but the Master of France—stood in the way ; it did not suit his purpose to see absolute potentates turned into foot-balls. Perhaps not, there might be too many in France rather partial to that game and ready to play it. To which however, the un answerable reply is, that the French alliance is not to be maintained to our own disgrace. If we are to be allied to the man and not to the people ; to ONE man who looks out for the interests of only ONE man in every other country, then the sooner we act independently of France the better. But could Lours NAPOLEON have afforded to desert us in rectifying the state of things in Naples ? Unquestionably, had PALMERSTON said —"Do as you please, but we are determined to put an end to this Neapolitan vil!any"—had our Government spoken thus—the Government of France could not in the eyes of France and of Europe have afforded to desert us. We did not say or act thus. Lord PALMERSTON was behind his opportunities then. We fear willingly behind. The countenance given to Austria, and the discou ragement offered to Sardinia is also very discre ditable to our Government. Ever since the peace PALMERSTON has leaned more to Austria than to Sardinia ; in one notable instance rebuking the latter in the interest of the bully of Vienna ! We know the pressure under which Lord PALMERSTON may be—via Saxe- Coburg—but we confess all things have been done in a style which enables Mr. COBDEN to paint Lord PALMERSTON, as practically, the despots' man, and disposes the people to believe and to resent it. Lord PALMERSTON will also, we trust, have learned a lesson on his domestic policy. He must have seen that the nation desiderates peaceful but real reform. Not only administrative, but poli tical reform ; that it indeed regards the latter as the way to the former. We should think that more demands have been made of candidates to vote for the Ballot, and more answers favourable to it given, than at any previous election ; even the RUSSELL firm, it must never be forgotten, thought it wise to soften down the first refuse% and great numbers of candidates only said that they should prefer, if possible, some other plan. It was everywhere a key to popular favour, and opponents felt it to be a " ticklish question." It was one on which they no longer dared to put a rude negative, and even Lord PALMERSTON'S great compeer in the House this time felt it incumbent on him to argue the question with the elec tors of Bucks ! 0411 Lord PALMERSTON have failed to note all this ? But on the question of extending the Suffrage there was almost perfect unanimity. Who ven tured to deny that extension was required ? Tories more suo, Whigs more suo, and Radicals, of course, all were for extended Suffrage in some form. When Conservatives would grant in part what Radicals demand entire, it is unquestionably time for " the Tory chief of a► Radical Cabinet" to bestir him self. We may remind his Lordship, though we are sure enough he knows it, that the Leaguers were not turned out for their strong opinions on the Suffrage and the Ballot. Their successors had, on these points, to adopt very nearly, if not quite, their creed. League dicta tioa and peace-at-any-price were the accusations which unseated them. Lord PALMERSTON will find Manchester, and Huddersfield, and Salford as decided as ever for political reform, though op posed to an unworthy foreign policy. Lord JOHN RUSSELL will also be to him a rock ahead. Get the China affair settled, and suppose FERDINAND to be still exulting in patriots' groans at Naples, and Austria encouraged to beard Sardinia—people Will ask of what Use is PALMERSTON' for our European foreign poIicy—RUSSELL will do as well. At the same time the Whig Lord will be ready with Reform Bill no 111. in his hand. One, no doubt, necessity compelling, with some thing in it ; and then if the Whig Lord has not been anticipated, " to your tents, oh Palmer stonians !" An approach to a real Reform Bill will have the unmistakeable assent of the country, and compel any Ministry which has not introduced it to adopt it, or to retire. Russia is still very desirous of carrying out the Leviathan Railway scheme, to which we have re peatedly alluded, in all its integrity. In other words, she is anxious to obtain some 45,000,000/. in sterling gold and silver from her late oppo nents, for the purpose of constructing a series of military lines, which can never by any possibility pay as commercial investments. France and England are to provide her with means of de feating any future effarts on their part ; and, in doing so, to cripple themselves by parting with so large an amount of the precious metals, of which there is already in both countries a very ' perceptible scarcity. They are, according to thel, time-honoured apophthegm, to "provide a stick wherewith to break their own backs ;" and, as we have proved to demonstration, in a double manner —alike by what they give to Russia, and by that of which they deprive themselves. It would be a great achievement if Russia could obtain the means of easily transporting troops and military stores from point to point. Had such result suchex m i i s g t h ed t during the contest in the Crimea the have been very different indeed from what it was. It would, therefore, be well worth her while te a construct these important linos at her own expee jso but a do u bl e object wou ld b e o btained ir, in so doing, she could tie up the hands of F.er recent adversaries, and " bind them over to keep the pieoancei,n" aouryrfaotrhmerwnhoitattoitrniesaiystlll',lscovito aggres sThe 'Prospectus of the llP:hereafter assume. w Company has just been published in La P • iesse copious extraet s th er efrorain alnVoether have part given ive o n f this day's i'avression. We should h op©, how ever, that, the most credulous cannot now be deceived by such transparent hubug, and that they will no t a ll ow themselves to part with their cash with ou t being perfectly satisfied of the nature of the security offered in exchange* To any true-hearted and patriotic Englishman or Frenchman it would be unnecessary even to allude to the money part of the question. But it is said that capitalists care but little for the purposes to which their advances may be applied when assured of remunerative returns, Profit is the a and (0 of their creed. It is to that, and that only, they LEE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY ET look ; and an additional half per cent. "covers not only a multitude of sins," but almost every possible evil that might otherwise follow the in vestment. Will the railways pay, is, therefore, the main point with many persons of elastic con sciences ; and if it can be shown that there is, to say the least of it, very considerable doubt on that part of the case, cadit qucestio, the matter falls to the ground, so far as French and English capital is concerned. The experience of 1845-6 has surely not been thrown away. The deeply painful lesson cannot already be forgotten. The flattering anticipations contained in a prospectus, framed for the purpose of obtaining subscribers, have seldom, if ever, been verified, even under more auspicious auguries than those that attend the Russian scheme. Parties had ample opportunities of verifying the calculations made respecting domestic undertakings. There is no such security in the present instance. They must depend exclusively on data supplied by those interested in distorting the real state of facts, in showing that the works can be constructed at much lower rates than any solvent contractor would undertake, and that the returns would be far greater than could reasonably bo expected. Surely Russian veracity is not so universally re- cognised as to induce any man to place implicit credence in the assertions under such circum stances. We have seen how maps can be falsified, and bow attempts have been made to take advan tage of the suppressio veri even by the most dis tinguished diplomatists. Can it for a moment be imagined that there will be greater accuracy in railway matters, or that comparatively irre sponsible persons will be more scrupulous in their proceedings. In domestic matters the shareholders could select managers in whom they reposed confi dence. In the proposed Company the choice will vir tually rest with the Russian Government, who may select their own tools to destroy the property of the shareholders, or rather transfer it into the hands of the AUTOCRAT I There are sundry con ditions also that may be taken advantage of to oc casion a total forfeiture; and it cannot be sup posed that Russia will refuse or neglect to avail herself thereof whenever the proper moment may in her opinion arise for so doing. It is said that "a fool and his money soon part." Anynglish man who invests his in the present scheme will not only be that fool, but he will be an unpitied dupe, who cannot expect sympathy or commisera tion for the losses arising from his own culpable folly. This day the reduced duties on tea, coffee, and sugar come into operation. Every pater familias should see that ho obtains the full benefit of the change, and that the whore profit does not fall into the pockets of the retailers. The duty on tea is now but ls. sd. per lb. Heretofore it was is. 9d. This is an appreciable diminution, which the grocers can have no possible excuse for keep-, ing back from their customers. The fall should be 4d. per lb.—id. per oz. The most humble consumer should benefit by the reduction. Even the purchaser of a single ounce should take care that ho is not defrauded of his rights. We have already explained the " dodge" of saying that the difference is made up in the quality ! Let those who do not seek a different quality from that which they have been in the habit of using, refuse to deal with tradesmen who resort to so transparent a subterfuge. Where 4s. was hitherto paid, 3s. Bd. is all that can fairly bo demanded, and that gives 2id. per ounce where 3d. was formerly paid. That simple fact will be sufficient for every intending purchaser, and no amount of sophistry can set it aside for a moment. In Coffee the reduction will be id. per lb., /d. for the buyer of a quarter of a pound, below which there will be no change. This, too, is easily ascertainable, and every attempt at mysti fication can be at once disposed of. The Exchequer will lose more than a million sterling from the reduced tariff. The whole population of the country should profit by the change. In sugar the change is less decided. It is but ls. Bd. per cwt., and cannot therefore be enforced by the purchaser of a single pound. We pointed out the mistake into which Sir G. C. LEWIS was betrayed when he was bringing forward his scheme. It cannot, however, now be helydd. The people must look to the new Parliament to redress their grievance. The old proverb hath it —de minimis non curet le x. We may also say that the wealthy and great care but little for the interests of the poor and needy. The whole cur rent of legisl9. 4 ion proves this painfully notorious fact, showing with how little wisdom, and how little fair-play, nations are governed. It is, how.. ever, well that all persons should know of the alterations, such as they are, that they may not, through ignorance, be deprived of the trifling benefits that may reasonably be anticipated in consequence thereof ; and, with this view, we think it right to direct public attention to the fiscal changes that come into operation this day. THE APPROACHING, ACCOUCHEMENT OF hER MAJESTY. Her Majesty's accouchement is now daily expected, and there stems to be little doubt that the present week will witness this auspicious event, Her Majesty has enjoyed uninterrupted good health during the past week, but the royal dinner circle has been gra dually contracted, and the last day or two it has been limited to the immediate members of the Court. All visit to theatres have been entirely suspended, and the Ministers hold themselves in readiness for attendance, POSTPONEMENT OF THE MI,E,RTAGE OF TILE PRINCESS RI:JYAL. We are now fully able to authenticate the rumour which we alluded to last weo t .i. of the probable postpone ment of the marriage of the Pr ; :ncess Royal till January next. Severrl reasons have uonduced to this postpone ment, and one is that tb, residence preparing for the Prince and Princess ID Berlin will net be completed and fit for occupation 1 1rail the close o f th e year. T his palace was the reside s .,ce of the fath er o f th e present Ring of Prussia, b"...6 has been for years much neglected. Its furniture, as well as its decorations, required a complete renerlsl, and the building itself a great extent of one mei-) tal repair, with the additions necessary to modern ";lions of luxury and comfort. Prince Frederick Wil liam, it is expected, will arrive in this country about the latter end of May or the beginning of June—the precise time may, perhaps, be influenced by the Queen's re covery. Had the marriage taken place in the autumn, as original:y proposed, the royal bride and bridegroom were to have remained some time in England ; but, as the nuptials have been postponed 801330 months, the Prince and Princess will, it is expected, proceed at once to Berlin.— Court Journal, LORD ROBERT GI?O,3I7ENOR AND THE BALLOT. E the Ballot Soci e ty sin;_As TOon one e E deputation [ T re a t: to Lord Robert Grosvenor, aPow me to contradict the groeely inaccurate repo' t sent y. a by some friend of Lord Robert Grosve nor of the result of the deputation to that nobleman. Tao promise (extracted with great difficulty) to read the rapers handed to him was given in such a manner as t,o leave no doubt on my mind that whether they were read or not Lord R. Grosvenor's opinion Would remain the same. To bring the matter to a point I asked hiA lordship if he intended to remain as hereto fore, neutrrd on the Ballot ? He flatly refused to say that L suchi bci v i a tiv s e ) )d., intention. So far from being pleased with our dut three " alit " to plump f or H an b ur y as the least bad of D C WHITELIUR ST, r ea n n e d i j g d r a a t v e e ßi s - -- t io t 7 t ober . iient sPrvant, ED April 4, 1857. ARTISTS' GENERAL BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION. On Saturday evening the 43d anniversary of this most admirable institution was held at the Free masons' Tavern. Lord Dufferin took the chair, supported by Sir Charles Eastlar, F.R.A., Mr. Tom Taylor, and about 100 gentlemen, amongwhom w ere M r. J . Dillon, Mr. Godwi n , r. Cock erel), R.A., M r . E . M. Ward, R.A., Mr. F. R. Pickersgill, A. 8.A., Mr. Augustus Egg, A.R.. A., Mr. William Simpson, and many of the leading artists of the day, sat down to a most excellent dinner at the Freemasons' Tavern. The usual complimentary toasts having been given and most warmly received, the Chairman gave the toast of the evening, and briefly, but with much force, advocated the claims of the Artists' General Be nevolent Institution. The annual report states the object of the institution to be to extend relief to distressed or meritorious artists, whether sub scribers or not, whose works have been generally known and esteemed by the public, as well as t o their widows and orphans. Mer i t and distress consti tute the sole claims on the benevolence of the insti tution. In these respects it differs entirely from the Artists Benevolent Fund, which by its rules is con fined to affoiding relief to members, or the widows and families of those who had that claim on its re sources. Since the establishment of the society in 1814 no less than 1,620 donations have been granted in sums amounting in the aggregate to 18,966/. During the past twelvemonth 1,0191. were distributed in relief to 73 applicants in sums varying from 501. to 51. The total income for the past year from all sources amounted to 1,9021., while the expenditure for the same period, including the sums giving in relief, was 1,1971., leaving 7051. as a balance in the hands of the bankers. This balance constitutes the amount applicable for the January distribution, and the re serve fund for urgent cases. Lord Dufferin's peal for the charity was liberally responded to, and subscriptions were announced to the amount of 6501. CHINA. The following letter has been addressed to the editor of the Times : Sir,—The letter of Sir John Davis on the China affair which appeared in your columns the other day, expressed the opinion of every one in this country well informed on the subject. What is thought of the matter in China, I think, appears from the subjoined paragraph taken from a letter I received by the last mail from Mr. Mor rison, at Amoy. It reads so like a remark on the recent debate that one can hardly believe the date and address genuine. To prevent your scepticism, however, I enclose the original letter, hurriedly written, as you see, at the moment of the departure of the mail. I ought to add, perhaps, that Mr. Morrison's benevo lence of feeling towards the Chinese and Extensive ac quaintance with their language and manners are well known in China.—l am, Sir, your most obedient servant, 10, Cork•street, April 4. M. • "Amoy, Fb. , 1857. "Lord Pal mers t on understands China, e and 11 cannot be at much loss what to do in this crisis ; but the events at Canton and Hong Kong should enlighten the public as to what the Chinese are, and show them that they cannot be negotiated with exactly like a civilised State, and also how very patient we have long been ; furthermore, that it is full time to rectify our position towards the country so as to secure, as well as to promote, the im mense trade yielding so great a revenue. I try to keep mandarins and people on good terms here, and I believe we might have reatained safe ; still the admiral sent up a steamer, the Sampson. Her being here is a good thing, as it tranquillises both Chinese and foreigners." -- - VISIT OF THE PRINCESS ROYAL TO THE BANK.—Her Royal Highnes s the Princess Royal, accompanied by several of the Royal household, paid a visit to the Bank of England on Saturday morning. Her Royal Highness was received by the governor and deputy-governor, who conducted the Princess through the whole of the esta blishment. The Royal visit extended over two hours. ROYAL COLOSSEUM. —The Princess Royal and the Princess Feodore Hohenlohe Langenburg, attended by Lady Caroline Barrington and the Earl of Caithness, honoured the institution with a visit on the morning of Friday last. Dr. Bacbhoffner, the managing director, had the honour of conducting the Royal visitors through the exhibition and saloons of this newly revived popular place of amusement and instruction. His Excellency the Ambassador of France and the Countess de Persigny entertained at dinner, on Saturday evening, his Excellency Feruk Khan, Special Envoy from the Court of Persia, and suite. The Countess Chreptowitch will leave town for Paris on Friday next for a brief sejour. The Marquis of Clanricarde has left town to visit his estates in Ireland, where his lordship will remain until the end of the present month. The Marchioness has ' gone on a visit to Mr. Beaumont, M.P., and Lady Mar garet Beaumont, at their seat in Northumberland. The Marchioness of Salisbury has left town on a visit to the Earl and Countess Delawarr, at Buckhu rs t P ar k, Sussex. The M arqu i s h as gone to Hatfield House for a few days. The Earl Fitzhardinge has quite recovered from the effects of his late accident, arid is expected at Berkeley House, Spring-gardens, on, the Ist of May, from his seat in Gloucestershire. HER MAJESTY'S TIiZATRE.—AII the boxes and stalls having been taken for the first night of the season, the same perforrnanexa are announced to be given on the Thursday following, an open night.—Musical World. The Gec;iong has arrived from Shanghai, with 390,4001 b, of tea and 1,267 bales of silk on freight. The '440,000/. of gold brought by the Simla is not ex pectr.rd overland from Marseilles, but will be brought by the Jura to Southampton. The Simla steamer, from Australia, has brought 85,000 ounces of gold, valued at 340,0001. The Ans. tral, from Geelong, has 6,394 ounces and 30,000 sove reigns, making 55,5761. ; and the Marco Polo is also re ported, with about 56,000/. The Royal Charter is hourly exp• ',ed, with 488,000/, in gold-dust and 13,000 sovereigns. It appears that the Oneida, Australian steamer, left King George's Sound on the 3d of February, and had not arrived at the Mauritius on the Ist of March, an in terval of 26 days, although the Simla pe r f orme d t h e I distance in a week. It is therefore certain that some accident must have happened to her, and the hope is that it has been simply a break-down of her machinery. This vessel consumes an enormous quantity of coal; but it is scarcely thought the detention can have been caused by her supply having fallen short. She had 70 prssen gers, and 40,000/. in gold. The adjourned special meeting of the Submarine Tele graph Company is to be had on the 15th inst. A meeting of the holders of WeAtninster Improve. ment Bonds is called by the commissioners for the 14th instant. Mr. Ruskin, though willing to accept the Professor. ship of Poetry if offered to him, yet declines to take any active steps to secure his election. SOUTHAMPTON AND NEW YORE—Oa and from the 22d inst. t'aere will be a weekly steam packet communi cation between Southampton and New York. There, is an import duty on "liquorice paste," which Yields a duty of 2,0001. a•year. It is used in the manu facture of "fine crusted port." POSTAGE OF PUBLIC DEPARTMENTS.—SOme idea may be formed of letters sent by public departments when the estimated expense for the current year is 128,0451. EDUCATION IN GREAT BRITAIN.—The charge for the current year for education in Great Britain is 541,2381.; for science and art, 73,8551. ; and for education in Ire land, 213,0301. THE PAVING OF HIGH HOLBORN.—The whole of the wood pavement between Holborn-bars and Messrs. Day and Martin's promisee is to be removed, and the road way relaid with granite. SACRED HARMONIC SOCIETY, EXETER -HALL.— I„„ fie Usual Passion Week performance of " Tile Messiah " takes place on Wednesday next, the Bth April. Madame Clara Novello, Miss Dolby, Mr. Sims Reeves, and Mr. WeisQ, principal vocalists. EXTENSIVE ROBBERY OF JEWELLERY, &c.—On Friday inkreamion was received at the chief office of the Metro politan Police that during the preceding day a large quantity of jewellery, &c., had been stolen from No. 54, Grosvenor-street. The imperial direction of the theatres at Vienna, which recently direc;ed that female dancers were to wear long loose trousers, has just rescinded the order, as, ac cording to the words of the decree, the said garment is " impracticable and unerthetic." The Exhibition of Horticultural Manufactures in the garden of the Horticultural Society next June seems likely to assume great importance, if we (Gardener's Chronicle) can judge from the applications already made for space. DESTRUCTIVE FIRE AT LONDONDERRY.—Smyth's ex tensive grain mills, Strabane, were accidentally burned during Friday night. Some thousands of pounds' worth of property were destroyed. The premises are insured. The adjoining stores and brewery escaped.—Saunderis News Letter. ESCAPE FROM HAVERFORDIVEST GAOL.—On Wedaes day morning two prisoners effected their escape from the Old Caitle, at ilavarfordwest, now used as a gaol for the prisoners of that town and the county of Pem broke. One of the neon was the notorious Benjamin Thomas, better known as " Black stockings ;" the other a prisoner named White. ANOTHER PAUL VERONEsE FOR THE NATIONAL 0 - ALLERY.—A letter from Venice in the Courricr Prance- Italics, says that the picture of Paul Veronese, called "The Tent of Darius," whiqh he painted for a gift to the Pisani family,in return for the hospitality he had re ceived at their house, has just been purchased of the present reprosentativea of that family for the sum of 14,0001. sterling, to be placed i n " th e British.Muscurn at London,"--by which, of course, must be meant the National Gallery. The price is probably exaggerated. TOI3ACCO.—The Lava, having given up its columns for several weeks past to correspondence relative to the tobacco controversy, now delivers it own, opinion. Its conclusions may be thus stated :-1. To smoke early in the day is excess. 2. A pe vie are generally constituted, to smoke more than one or two pipen of tobacco, or one or two cigars daily, is Cir 253. 3. Youthful indulgence fa smoking is ex , ess. 4. There aro physiological indi cations which, occurring in any individual case, are criteria of excess. " o most earnestly desire," says the Lama, " to see the habit of smoking diminish, and we entreat the youth of this country to abandon it alto- gether. Let them lay our advice to heart, Let them give up a dubious pleasure for a certain good, Ten years hence we shall receive tte'r thauks.", APRIL 6, 185'7. NG, LATEST NEWS. The Journal de Constantinople, of the 26th, states that the prospects of th 3 harvest are most encouraging. Nevertheless, the dearth continues, and the high price of articles of food has become insupportable in the Asiatic provinces, and especi ally in Syria. An extensive conflagration has destroyed 500 houses in Salonica. FRANCE. PARIS, SUNDAY. The diplomatic rupture between Austria and Sardinia is now complete. As Austria will doubt less think it baneath her to take the initiative towards a reconciliation, and as Sardinia is cer tainly not disposed to maxe advances, if we may judge from tho present disposition of the Govern ment and the Chambers, matters will prob a bly re main in the same state for some time to come. M. de Moltke, the Danish Minister in Paris,. had an interview ,yesterday with the Minister for Foreign Affairs. It denied in well-informed quar ters that the question of the Duchies has been sub mitted to the exclusive judgment of the Germanic Diet, or that the English and French Govern ments have as yet returned a definitive answer to the demand by the King of Denmark of their good offices. Thess Governments have, however, ex pressed their feelings towards the King ; and it is thought that the question of the Duchies will be taken into consideration as soon as the affairs of Neuchatel and the Danubian provinces are dis posed of. The Conference on the Neuchatel question wil prolmbly meet to-morrow again. BOURSE, April 4.—The following were the last quotations :-- Cash. fr. C. End of Month. 44 per Cents 3 per Cents 69 50 70 New Loan .-- Bank Shares 4,175 Roman Credit Afobilier 1 , 445 Austrian Belgian 4! Piedmontese (5) RAILWAYS-FOR CASH. fr. c. - -- fr c Orleans 1,505}— Western Bo 2l— Northern l,o2Bs— St ras b urg - Lyons 1,58?1 New Ditto - Mediterranean 2,161 Grand Central - Lyons Geneva ...... 840 S ar di n i an . 59- Midi - AUSTRIA. VIENNA, APRIL 2. The Austrian press has received instructions to abstain from any and all attacks on Sardinia, as the Imperial Government is resolved that it shall be the fault of the Turin Cabinet if the breach between the two countries becomes wider than it now is. The hostility of this Government towards Russia increases daily ; and it is not surprising that such is the case, as every now and then offensive remarks that have been made by the Russian colony at Nice find their way to this city, Count Paar arrived here from Turin yesterday evening. PRUSSIA. BERLIN, APRIL expresses his wil lingness in the interest of Europe to cede his sovereignty of Neuchatel on the following condi tions :-1. The Kings of Prussia shall retain for ever the title of Prince of Neuchatel and Valangin. 2. Switzerland bears all the expenses that have been caused by the events of September last, more parti cularly by the occupation of Neuchatel. 3. The Canton of Neuchatel is to share in these expenses only accordiug to the number of its population ; no corporation, no family, and no individual in the canton is to be specially assessed to them in addition. 4. No Neuchatelois shall be brought before any criminal court on account of any partici pation in the events of last September, or be pro ceeded against for damages in any civil court. 5. Switzerland pays the King of Prussia an indem nification of 2,000,000 f. The canton of Neuchatel is to contribute to this amount only accord ing to its fair proportion, and no class of the population is to be specially assessed to it. 6. The church property that was con fiscated by the State in 1841 is to be re stored, and in future the Reformed Church shall have a duo share in the administration of this pro perty. 7. The State shall be debarred from in future taking possession of the property of the cha ritable institutions, the hospitals, and other bene volent establishments of a like public nature. The bourgeoisie of Neuchatel shall more particularly re tain for ever, according to the will of the testator, the management of the legacy left by the Baron de Pury. 8. A general amnesty shall be issued, in which more particularly those militia men shall be included, who, by leaving their homes, evaded being coerced into bearing arms against their Prince. This amnesty shall be extended to all political offences and those committed against the Press Laws previous to September 3, 1856. 9. A revision of the Constitution of Neuchatel shall not take place for six or 12 months, and only na- , tives of Neuchatel shall take part in this revision. THE EXHIBITION OF TILE DESIGNS FOR TILE NEW PUBLIC _OFFICES. The time for receiving the last of the designs for the new public offices expired on Saturday night at 12 o'clock. Until the clock struck there was an officer stationed in Westminster Hall to receive the plans, and, as is generally the case, there was a rush at the last moment. The time for the reception of the designs of English artists expired on the 20th ult., but an additional fortnight was given for the convenience of foreign architects. The total number of designs exhibited will be about 250, which will more than cover the walls of Westminster Hal!, and fresh arrangements will have to be made so that all of them may be equally well seen by the public. None of, the designs have yet been opened ; they are kept safely under lock-and key until they are delivered over to the judges, who will be appointed in the course of the next fortnight. The exhibition will take place early in May, and the designs will be open to the public un til June, when they will be removed to make room for the designs for the Duke of Wellington's monu ment. These two very interesting exhibitions will, this year, be provided for the public, beyond the ordinary attractions of the metropolis. It is con templated, in addition to prizes already advertised, to place the several designs in classes according to merit, such as highly commended, commended, &c. This course will be much appreciated by those who shall be successful enough to get placed in either of the above classes, as it will be a valuable testimonial to any one who can obtain it. It is said that some unfair attempts have been made to evade the conditions of the specification. Some parties from procrastination were too late with their designs, and, in i order to get them in, theta have, it is reported, sent then under foreign names. Should this prove to be the case, the par ties who have thus acted will have gained nothing by their trickery, as instructions will be given to the judges to set aside at once the designs of those who have thus offended. There will doubtless be a good deal said as to the costliness of the proposed alteration, and the Chancellor of the Exchequer, after having given up the war ninepence, may not be inclined to look very favourably on the ex penditure of any large sum of money, having actually pared down his estimates to the lowest fraction. But this is only for this year. Next year, should nothing unforeseen arise; the finances of the country will be in a more flourishing condition than ever, and then the House of Commons will per chance be in a better humour to sanction the out lay of a considerable sum for a great national work, which the proper laying out of the site in question undoubtedly is. It is not expected, therefore, that any money' will be asked for this year, or that the several owners of property upon which the two new offices are to be built, though served with notices, will be disturbed until next year. When, however, the question comes before Parliament, it will doubtless be shown that, although the first outlay appears large, yet that it will be materially reduced by the sale of other property thrown on the hands of the Government by the removal of the different offices to the new site. It is not de cided whether the decision of the jude,es , shall be made knowr before or after the exhibition of the designs to the public, but most probably before. TEE NEW INCOME TAX.—To-day the new income tax act comes into operation. The duty is now 7d.1 avd on incomes less than 1501. it is sd. in the pound. Loss OF THE BACCHANTE STEAMER.—On Saturday the total loss of the Bacchante, London and Oporto steamer, was announced at Lloyd's. The vessel was entering Oporto Harbour on the afternoon of Sunday last. She had a pilot on board, and was pursuieg her course at fall speed across the bay over the bar, when she struck on a reef known as the Falgueira Rocks. The force with which she went over the reef rent apart the plates of her bull, and her fore compartment was filled with water. The crew bad only time to launch the gig, and get into it with the passengers, when the vessel filled and went down in several fathoms water. The mail bags were afterwards fished up by Captain Younghusband, but the vessel is reported as having broken in two, and is therefore, with her cargo of general merchandise, a total loss. The Bacchante was built of iron, and was 400 tons register. She was insured at Lloyd's for many thousand pounds. LITERATURE. Little Dorrit. No. XVII:~y Charles Dickenq An enthralling and, in sonic r — poets, a really wonderful number of "Little Dorrit. - Wonderful for the effect produced by two or three most start ling ineideets. How • " Mistress Affery makes a Conditional promise respulinc , her Dream 3 "—re lated in the twenty - 4 - '6.rd chapter —we care not to speak about : seeing that the same leaden dullness as of old, the same impenetrable haze of obscurity, the same grim, weird, ghostly, ghastly, eltrich mys tery hangs still doggedly, perseveringly, and pro vokingly over everything in any way relating to the House upon Ciutches ! All we can hope, is that sooner or later, some fine day, or (more appropri ately, perhaps) some dreadful night, the House up:m Crutches may tumble down abruptly —swal lowing up under a cloud of dust that abominable life-iu-death ol clhag Mrs. Clean am, together with the other "clever one," Mr. Flint winch to wit —scraping his horny chin—with the bow of his cravat halter- Wise under his ear—screwing himself against the whole world like a villainous piece of rusty ma chinery ! That is really all our hope in regard to that household—if we add, that is to say, our good wish for weak-minded Mistress Affery: namely, that just precisely the very moment before the downfall she may rush out of the building, with her apron over her eyes—thereby snatching herself" in the very nick" from destruction. Nothing further is learnt . through the twenty-third chapter about the disappearance of Rigau(l, otherwiseThandoisthe Murderer—althoufli, with a view to the possible making of some discovery, Arthur (preceded by Mrs., and followed by Mr. Flintwinch)acccompanies Flora through his mother's dilapidated dwelling, in a tour of inspection. Something, however, very much to the purpose is heard in the two subse quent chapters, the 24th and 25th, about the Great Merdle, the millionnaire. So that we know at last all about " his complaint." And so does Bar—and so does Physician ! Mr. MercUe commits suicide, and proves to he not the greatest capitalist of his age, but the greatest s coun d re l , t h e greatest swindler, "the greatest forger, and the greatest thief that ever cheated the gallows !" He borrows a little tortoiseshell penknife from Fanny and Sparkler— and going incontinently thereupon to some neigh bouring warm-baths, dies the death of a self-assas sin ! The way in which all thiS is told, we repeat, is something wonderful. It is supremelyeimpres sive. It is worthy of Boz—worthy of the author of "Oliver Twist" and " Martin Chuzzlewit." With that amazing admixture of the terrible and', the hemorous, which is among Mr. Dickens' most striking characteristics, we have in these two con trasting chapters the most laughable description preceding. the most terrible ! The colloquy be tween Fanny and Sparkler one Sunday evening in their stuffy little abobe in " the cen tre of the habitable globe," as our author fascetiously desi,;nates what is called " The World"—could hardly be funnier if it had been written by Mr. Dickens in the days of "Pickwick." Mrs. Sparkler's indignation at Edmund's " looking so aggravatingly large" has the drollest effect imaginable. In token of which take the following fragmentary scrap of their conversation : "Now, Edmund, come here ! Come a little nearer, I want to be able to touch you with my fan, that I may impress you very much with what I am going to say. Teat will do. Quite close enough. Oh, yea do look so big ! Mr. Sparkler apologised for the circumstance, pleaded that he couldn'i; help it, and said that 'our fel lows,' without more particularly indicating whose fe!- tows, used to call him by the name of Quinbus Flestrin, Junior, or the Young Man Mountain. " You ought to have told me so, before,' Fanny compl ,fined. " My dear,' returned Mr. Sparkler, rather gratified, I didn't know it would interest you, or I would have made a point of telling you.' " 'There ! For goodness sake, don't talk,' said - Fanny ; want to talk, myself." A little later on in the interview she is actually compelled to request Sparkler "to go round to the other side of tne sofa and sit in the window cur tain, to tone himself down !" Here, however, is something still better in its way, the mention of the first rumours in regard to Mr. Merdle's Sui cide : "The report that the great man was dead got about with fearful rapidity. At first, ho was dead of all the diseases that ever were known, and of several bran -new maladies invented with the speed of Light to me e t the demand of the occasion. He lead concealed a dropsy from infancy, he lead inherited a large estate of water on the chest from his grandfather, he lead had an operation performed upon him every morning of his life for eighteen, years, he had been subject to the explosion of important veins in his body after the manner of fireworks, he had cad something the matter with his lungs, he lad had something the matter with his heart, he had had some thing the matter with his brain. Five hundred people who sat down to breakfast, entirely uninformed on the whole subject, believed before they bad done breakfast, that they privatelyand personally knew Physician to have said to Mr. Merdle, 'You must expect to go out, some day, like the snuff of a candle,' and that they knew Mr. Merdle to have said to Physician, A man can die but once.' By about eleven o'clock in the forenoon, some thing the matter with the brain became the favourite theory against the field ; and by twelve the something had been distinctly ascertained to be 'Pressure.'" At half-past nine, however, Bar taking into Court the real state of the case which he has learnt from Physician—Loudon soon becomes aware that Mr. Merdle's death has been the death of a Suicide. " Pressure, however, so far from being overthrown by the discovery, became a greater favourite than ever. There was a general moralising upon Pressure, in every street. All the people who had tried to make money and cad not been able to do it, said, There you were ! You no sooner began to devote yourself to the pursuit of wealth, than you got Pressure." The subsequent chapter (the 26th) expressively en titled " Reaping the Whirlwind," opens thus elo quently : " With a precursory sound of hurried breath and g=ir ded feet, Mr. Pancks rushed into Arthur Clennam's Counting-house. The Inquest was over, the letter was public, the Bank was broken, the other model structures of straw had taken fire and were turned to smoke. The admired piratical ship had blown up, in the midst of a vast fleet of ships of all rates, and boats of all sizes ; and on the deep was nothing but ruin : nothing but burning hulls, bursting magazines, great guns self-exploded tear ing friends and neighbours to pieces, drowning men clinging to unseaworthy spars and going down every minute, spent swimmers, floating dead, and sharks." There is an astonishing blending of the ludicrous and the pathetic in the interview which ensues in Doyce's counting-house between Pancks and Clen nam. We read it, we can't help readinv it, at once through tears and through laughter. 'Pancks has been the unwitting cause of bringing Doyce and Clennam to ruin. Arthur is full of anguish, and poor Pancks of a scarcely-expressible remorze. Arthur has just exclaimed, less in reproach than in sheer agony of mind—"Pancks, Pancks, I have ruined Doyc3 ! . . . I have ruined him— brought him to shame and disgrace—ruined him, ruined him !" And we thereupon read : " The agony into which the reflection wrought his mind was so distressing to see, that Mr. Pancks took hold of himself by the hair of his head, and tore it in desperation at the spectacle. " Reproach me!' cried Pancks. Reproach me, sir, or I'll do myself au injury. Say, You fool, you villain. Say, Ass, how could you do it, Beast, what did you mean by it l Catch hold of me somewhere. Say some thing abusive to me !' All the time, Mr. Pancks was tearing at his tough hair in a most pitiless and cruel manner." " 'lf you bad never yielded to this fatal mania, Pancks,' said Clennam, more in commiseration than i n retaliation, 'it would have been how much better for you, and how much better for me ! ' " At me again, sir ! cried Pancks, grinding his teeth in remorse. At me again ! ' " 'lf you had never gone into these accursed caletila• tions, and brought out you 7 results with such abominable clearness,' groaned Clennam, it would have been how much better for you, Panoks, and how much better for me ! ' " At me again, sir !' exclaimed Pancks, loosening his hold of his hair ; at me again, and agai n !' " Arthur wrings his hand in reply—the hand of his fellow-sufferer—only adding, "Blind. leaders of the blind, Pancks ! Blind leaders of the blind 1 But Doyce, Doyce, D. - "yce, my injured partner !" Quoth poor Pancks, a little while afterwards— Mr. Clennam, had you laid out—_ everything ? ' He got over the break before the last word, and also brought out the last word itself with great difficulty. " ' Everything.' "Mr. PTuacks - took hold of his tough hair again, and gave it such a wrench that he pulled out several prongs of it. After looking at these with an eye of wild hatred, he put them in his pocket." Ultimately—Arthur having placed his affairs in the hands of Mr. Rugg as his legal adviser, and having publicly exonerated his absent partner Doyce from any share in the blame attaching to his own ruinous speculations—the Arrest comes to complete the downward career of the Bankrupt. A writ bring served unoa Arthur Cloonan', in Bleeding - Heart-Yard,, by a sheriff's officer, humor ously described by Mr. Dickens as " an elderly member of the Jewish persuasion preserved in.runi ." We close the number, leaving Arthur Clennam sobbing out " 0 my Little Dorrit !" as he turns his face against the wall to weep—the wall of the old familiar room in which he himself is now a pri soner for debt hi the Marshal3ea The Edinburgh Essays. By Members of the University. 1856. Edinburgh : A. and C. Black. A perfectly worthy companion to the Oxford Essays and the Cambridge Essays. A fitting cornpet it or with them in regard to scholarship, in regard to! elcqueuce, and in regard to originality—for a pro haply permanent repute, and cortainly for a very general admiration. In the goodly volume before us, extending to upwards of 350 octavo pages, there are altogether eight distinct and elaborate contributions. Au octave of Essays writ en with an ability as kindrA in style, as in subject they aro strikin ly varied and miscellaneous. Professor Blackie's masterly paper upon " Plato" is one in every way worthy of the Grecian of the Univer sity of the Modeler Athens ! It occupies the fere most position :deservedly. It is replete with evi dences of a scholarly taste, and of a ripe and affluent erudition. Second upon the list is am attractive and eminently compensative article upon " Early English Life in the Drama," written with an evident familiarity with his subject, by "John Skelton, Advocate." Subsequently, Dr. Gairdner discourses about " Homoeopathy" with a due appre:tiati , ai of the powers, if he fail to have "sat at the fee , .." of Hannemann. Afterwards w e find in the fourth Essay, under a somewhat f tuta,stio title, a charmingly diversified and singularly enter taining contribution, by Andrew Wilson, relating to "Infanti Per d.uti." The "Progress of Britain in the Mechanical Arts," as relat=.ll by James Sime, we would o ummend very earnestly to general consi deration. It is explanatory, in some measure, of the rapid growth of our national greatness, particularly of late years, and affords a clue to the secret of our national prosperity. Who will not feel an interest in turning over the pages -234 to 240—devoted to young Alexander Smith's Essay upon the congenial theme of "Scottish Bal lads '?" A graceful and eloquent tribute to some of the elder bards of Scotland, penned in a genial and earnest spirit by the last of the gifted sons of song, dear to the heart of old Caledonia ! The Essay immediately following this attractive criti cism is a biographic treatise upon " Sir William Hamilton," by Thomas Spencer Baynes, LL.B. A youthful but giitAl disciple of that great philosopher—Mr. Baynes evidences in this re markable tribute of love and admiration for the genius of Sir William Hamilton, very notable powers of analysis, much critical acumen, and withal a deep and comprehensive appreciation. He begins by observing that "Scotland has recently lost, its rapid succession, three of her greatest men, Dr. Chalmers, Professor Wilson, and Sir William Hamilton, who, during more than a quarter of a century, have been respectively her foremost repre sentatives in Theology, Literature, and Philo sophy." And he then contrasts that extraordinary triumvirate by "pencilling them oft" through a few master-touches in the following inimitable and life-like silhouettes : DR. CHALMERS. "Dr. Chalmers, perhaps, at first sight might scarcely look equal to his fame, for in repose his countenance was certainly heavy and his eye dull ; but the moment he opened his lips to give even the most ordinary greet ing-, or ask the most common-place question, a flash of genial light revealed the man ; and if you found out his class-room at the temporary college in George-street, and spent an hour of the short winter afternoon on these dimly-lighted and densely -crowded benches, you would, in all likelihood, learn the true secret of his p')wer, and be amply rewarded for the trouble. At first, indeed, the reading of the lecture would go on quietly enough, with nothing particular to remark ex cept a certain glow of subdued fervour in the tone ; but by and by, on coming to some point in the manuscript which suggested further expansion, or struck him as calling for special application, the lecturer would pause in the reading, raise his head from the desk, and keep ing his forefinger on the line to mark the place, begin his extempore comment with, Here, gentlemen, I would just say"—speaking at first only in an animated conver sational tone. Gradually, however, you perceived a change, the sibilants came with greater force and fre quency, the vowels were broadened, the strong conso nants strengthened, the emphatic syllables rendered more emphatic still, until at length kindling with the subject, as new views of its importance crowded thickly upon him—especially if it had a practical bearing, and touched at all upon the future fortunes of the church— his whole manner would undergo a rapid change ; aban doning the manuscript altogether, he would suddenly rise from his chair, the professor's gown fluttering about him as he rose, and reaching over the desk with out stretched arm, flashing eye, and dilated form, burst into a strain of impassioned eloquence, of solemn warn ing, exhortation or entreaty, that thrilled through the hearer as he sat, making him feel for the moment that he was verily listening to the message of an inspired prophet, though, from the strangeness of the accent and manner, he might well believe, one who had been sum moned to the work, like the prophets of old, from fol lowing the sheep amidst the mountains, or driving the oxen afield, with the herdsmen of Tekoa." PROFESSOR WILSON. " Professor Wilson was in body as in mind the very perfection of manly health and strength, a king of men, every inch a king. Nothing could possibly disguise him, not even the sad-coloured garments, the square Puritanic collar, and low broad-b r i mme d h a t, th at o f l ate years i t was his delight to wear. If you saw him on his way to college amidst the crowd in Princes-street, or met him facing the blast on the North Bridge, his long tawny locks floating away from his coat collar before the wind, you would at once recognise in the erect and lofty frame, magnifinent chest, firm elastic s t e p, an d stout oak cudgel of tue Professor, the Christopher North of the Nodes' and the ' Recreations.' SIR WILLIAM HAMILTON "Though not so tall as Pofessor Wilson, he VMS above the middle height, and the sinewy vigour of his well compacted frame, the strength and penetration of his look, the perfect self-reliance and finished courtesy of his manner, would at once have impressed you any ; while on the opportunity of a nearer view in his class-room, it was impossible to see the massive head, decisive yet finely cut features, dark, calm, piercing eye of the lecturer, and listen to his deep, firm, truthful voice, expounding the problems or annihilating some ob. noxious theory of his science, in sentences strong an d brilliant as polished steel, without feeling that here at least was a master,—one who had learnt the lesson given by the oracle to the wisest of men, who had fear. lessly cc , nfronted the cruel Sphinx of self-consciousness and rend her riddle, who, holding the keys of an invisible world, could unlock the bidden mysteries of thought ; and having found such an one you might be pardoned if, in the enthusiasm of the moment, you were almost ready to exclaim, with Socrates in the Phiclo, that you would follow him as a god.'" impassioned praise, truly: but still praise en titl e d t o our respectful consideration, seeing that it is in ever} syllable but the outpouring of a most genuine and unaffected admiration. The last of these night remarkable Essays is an elaborate paper upon "Chemical Final Causes," by Dr. George Wil son , no inconsiderable authority at the Edinburgh University, in his position as Regius Professor of Technology. Ask Mamma. No. 11. Illustrated by John Leech. The illustrations—as yet—are decidedly the best things in this new serial of " Ask Mamma ; or, the Richest Commoner in England." They are capital —worthy of John Leech—and surely that is saying a great deal ! Several new illustrations are intro duced in the present number—pretty Miss De Glancey, the Young Horsewoman—Fine Bill the hero, of•whom she is destined (or we are much mistaken), judging from the facetious "cover" of the story to be the cara sposa—and last, but not least in importance, that hunting, sporting, bois terous, roystering " indomitable youth," the grey. headed, purple-faced, Earl of Ladyth)arne. Billy the Fine, when the number closes, is on the eve of making his first appearance in "pink," on - " pig-skin," . upon the back of a high-flying hunter at the tail of Lord Ladythorne's foxhounds. Whether he figures as a Mr. Winkle or as a Mr. Apperley we have yet to learn. At any rate there is the prospect of some genuine fun at last in the letterpress as the consequence of that first appear ance. Then, we hope that the vis comica of "Ask Mamma" may not (as in the present number) rest exclusively upon John Leech's delightfully humor ous illustrations. CATTLE IN LONDON. (From the Builder.) Although the new regulation respecting the slaughter-houses of London has effected much good in certain districts (particularly in the City), still it is by no means uncommon to see a flock of sheep dropped, and pushed through trap-holes, into deep cellars, or oxen persuaded by blows, tail-twisting, or other gentle means, into the doorways and narrow passages of ordinary dwelling-houses, and then slaughtered in most unfit and inconvenient places, which are surrotmded by thick populations. Reflecting on the evils of this practice, which is not only injurious to health, but also the cause of considerable waste of valuable material into the sewer, the writer visited, the other day, the recently erected slaughter-houses at new Smithfield-market. These ara spacious and properly ventilated places, fitted with the pr o p er machinery •for hoisting heavy animals : there are receptacles for the various kinds of refuse, almost the whole of which is sold at a profit, and b u t hat e is alloWeil to pass into the great drain, which runs to Essex. At frequent intervals, everything is cleared away, and by means of an elastic hose, and powerful force of water, the roof, walls, and floors, are so thoroughly purified, that no taint remains. Several of the London butchers are beginning to avail themselves of these places, finding that it is , better and cheaper to have their animals slaughtered in properly appointed houses than in ill-arranged dark and poisonous slums. It is, unfortunately, difficult to get rid of old customs ; and we fear that it will be som e ti me yet before t h e s l aug h ter i ng of animals in this large metropolis has ceased. 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