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

HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE. TO-MORROW EVENING. ALBONI, SPEZIA, GIUGLINI, VIALETTI, and BENZ. VENTA NO. Second Night of Verdi's Opera of IL TROVATORE. Leonora, Mdlle. Spezia ; Azucena Madame Alboni. Manrico, Sig. Ginglini. After which will be produced an entirely Now Ballet, in Two Tableaux, composed expressly for her Majesty's Theatre by M. Mascot, entitled ACA ISTA. FIRST TABLEAU—Terpsichore, Madlle. Rolla ; Acalista, Madame Perea Nena; Aglaia, Thalia, and Euphrosyne, Mdlle. Michelet, Mdlle. Karliski, and Mdlle. Brunetti; Amyntas, M. Baratti. SECOND TABLEAU—(The Vision Realised).— Seville.— Acalista, Madame Perea Nena; Conchitti and Carmen, Mdls. Pasquali and Morlacchi ; Pepe, N. Gambardelli ; Manolo, M. Massot. Spaniards. For particulars, see bile. 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 One Guinea and One Guinea and a Half each. HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE. Piccolomini, Giuglini, Vialetti, Belletti. EXTRA NIGH P. THURSDAY EVENING, May 2S, LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR. Lucia, Piccolomini ; Edgardo, Sig. Giuglini. To conc'ude with the entirely new Ballet, by M. Mascot, 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. FIER MAJESTY'S THEATRE. GRAND MORNING PERFORMANCE. MONDAY, JUNE 1. Piccolonaini, Alboni Spezia, Ortolan. 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, Sig. 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 25, the entertain ments will commence at half-past 8 o'clock precisely, by the production of (for the first time), Operette, en ni 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. Ggyot, M. Mesmacre, Mdlle. Dalmont, and Mdlle. Mareschat 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 T R 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 ; Boxes, 2s. 61, 25., and ls. 6d. ; Galleries, 6d. Doors open at half-past 7. Commence at 8. First Equestrian Artistes in the World : —Madame Schap lain, Madame Neusome, La Petite Wells, Signora Delavanti, and Miss Ella ; Miss E. J. Wells, Mdlles. Flora, Fabia, and and Marie, Misses Neusome. Moffatt, Delavanti, Potter, Jen nings ; the Manchester Boy, Masters J. Wells, A. Wells, E. Montt, Henrico and Carlo Del•vanti, Sig. Felix Delavanti, Mons. Becq, Mons. Ferdinand, Nona. Eugene, Mr. Tom Swann, Mr. B. Faller, Mr. W. Fuller, and the great Shaks perian Clown, Wallett, will appear each evening in a series of Performances, original and unapproachable. Director—Mr. Stokes. Acting Manager—Mr. E. Stirling. T HEATRE ROYAL, HAYMAR KET 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 ATALANTA ; 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 Dress Boxes 3 0 Upper Boxes . . 3 0 Upper Boxes 2 0 Pit... 2 0 Pit, 1 0 Lower Gallery 1 0 Lower Gallery 0 6 Upper Gallery 0 6No half-price to Upper Gallery. ROY AL PRINCESS'S THEATRE, 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 ENGLISHMIN'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, &c. Followed by a new Farce, called FEARFUL TRAGEDY IN THE SEVEN DIALS. To concludo with the new and original domestic sketch, entitled WELCOME, LITTLE STRANGER. Mr. Wright, Mr, Paul Bedford, &c. TRAND THE AT RE.—Mlnarcer, Mr. T. PavriA. —THIS 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. ; Gallery, 6d. A STLEY' S ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE AND OPERA. HOUSE. Lessee and Manager, Mr. W. Cooke. Under the patronage of Her 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 Operi of IL TROVATORE ; cr, The Gipsy's Vengeance The whole of the Musi c as p er f orme d at t h e Italian Opera and Equestrian Illustrations. Miss Rebecca Isaacs, Miss M. Somers, and Mies Fanny Huddart. Mr. Augustus Brabam, Mr. Brookhonse 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 Braham. 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. Commence at seven o'clock. Dress Boxes, 4s. ; Upper Boxes, 3s. • Private Boxes, from 2 I s., no charge for booking; Pit, 2s. ; Gallery, I.s. ; Upper Gallery, 6d. Notice—During the Opera Season Half-price will take place at 9 o'clock. 133 x-office open from Eleven till Four. Stage Manager, Mr. W. West. Equestrian Director, Mr. W. Cooke, jun. CANTERBITRY HALL, Westminster-road.— OPEN EVERY EVENING.—The follow ing company of Vocalists are engaged for the performance of `elections from all the popular Operas, Madrigals, Choruses, Glees, Duets, dic., viz. : Miss E. Pearce, Mrs. J. Caulfield, Miss Brinell, Miss Summers, and Madame Marietta; Mr, J. Caulfield, Herr F. Jonghmans, R. Grover, T. Farrant, S. Je ice, J. Barker, W. Melling, P. Corp, Senor Antonio M. de Solla, and E. L. Hime ; Masters Bennett and Corri ; Messrs. Sam Cowell, Sam Collins, and E. Mackney, Pianaorte, Mr. Cecil Hicks; harmonium, J. Caulfield, jun.; director, Mr. J. Caulfield. Commence at Seven o'clock pre cis*. Suppers, 4c., until twelve o'clock. AIG,Et WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. Tits DAY—M orn. 38 min. aft. 2—Evening 1 min. aft. 3 n ' t " n- al" , w—Mor ia . 25 min. aft. 3—Even. 51 min. aft. 3 THE wEicruma—SllN OFFICE, MAT 21. THEIMOMETER, 111 THE SHADE. 67—highest 1 1111110 110011 yesterday. 54 --lowest this morning and during the night. 65 —this day at noon. BAROMETER, 29,53. WIND, S.W. —.Rather fresh, with fine sunshiny weather, MAT 25. 68 —highest since noon yesterday. 53 —!owest this morning and during the night. 67 —this day at noon. BAROMETER, 29.51. Wtyn, Easterly; fresh, with heavy clouds, and sun shiny weather. • .(,0;5.73.7.- 414.4, 4 4 84 kV, • LONDON, MONDAY, MAY 25, 1857 Reform—we all know the miserable fact by this time—has, for a while, been quietly cushioneo by her MAJESTY'S Government. It has beet , coolly shelved for this session. It has been pos+- poned with admirable effrontery until 1858 s h a ll h ave again aisemblecl our legislators too. rHE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, MA Y QS, 1857 ther 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. ARE they ? That—we fancy—rema'ins 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 bug gaboo threat of Mr. BERKELEY ?—The Ballot immediately after Whitsuntide ! It is not, 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 comb 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 iudeed—" 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. 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 fte- 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 Gentleman 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, even by those who profit by its continuance ! None can defend the social But unfortunately there is by no 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 petere fontes, 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 cell; 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 due 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. It., 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 possessing 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." This 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 desirous of arriving at a fair and unprejudiced decision on the subject, to an able brochure of Mr. G. L. HumuNsorr, who has clearly and dis tinctly explained the injustice and impolisy 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 beat market, where the supply and demand were better proportioned. But there is one great impediment to obtaining these great desiderata. There are wealthy and inflential 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 perscns 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 7 why should the poorest rate-payers be compelled pay the highest rates 7—which is almost in variably the case. The first attention therefore should be 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 metropolitan pay ments were concerned. With judicious administra tion and the complete abolition of the iniquitous law of Settlement, we believe that little more than is. 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. George's, 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 QtrEEN 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 laad 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 savanztax 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 follow 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 800,0001. sterling, and on this the quasi guar dians of the national purse were not allowed to say a single word. There was the sic vo/o sic jubeo of the secret and irresponsible Premier's War Secretary and Chancellor of the 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 pay 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 ipso eustodes?" 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 into 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 100/. 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 well wortby 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 ~)f 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. Auguste Thurneyssen, director of the Cr6dit Mobilier, and his sons," says the Ddbats, "are in no way counected in the affairs of M. Charles Thurneyssen, except as creditors for a very important amount."—The bankrupt, it is believed, has left for America, and taken with him two of his children, leaving the other two with his wife at Paris. His extradition is to be demanded. His flight continues t 5 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 mandel. 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 cause assigned :—Two years since an English ship, which was shipwrecked on the coast of Berbera, 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 garrisor. 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 sbout 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 sufficient hermetically 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 possesses 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 Constantino 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 arrive" at Constantinople, and contrary to the assertion of the 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 presente I at previous receptions, will be received by the Emperor at 9 o'clock to-morrow afternoon. BounsE, May 2 3.—The market rallied towards the close, when the following were the last quo tations Cash. fr. C. End of Month. 44 per Cents 3 per Cents 6B 85 91 80 Bank Shares 4 475 , . ailliitMobilier 1,250 Roman Do. Account 1,260 Austrian Belgian 14 Piedmontese (5) 9O 25 Home Debt RAILWAYS —FOB, CAB& fr. c. tr c. O r l e a ns 1,465 - - Western Northern Lyons 1,4774 New Ditto Mediterranean 1,800 Grand Central Geneva Midi THE ROYAL ACADEMY. FOURTH NOTICE. ilia year in the Royal Tilt Portraits exhibited Academy Collection, without being, as we have said, in any instance very remarkable, are gene rally speaking, more than usually meritorious. We have scarcely anything left now of the etceteras of that abominable " Gentleman" who has smirked ' at the public so long, season after 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 Cesar or Napo leon) and that highly improbable Red Curtain—that looked as much out of place as Red Curtains would look "flopping and snapping" in the raw air between the columns of the Portico of St. Martin's-in-the- Fields ! Photography —there is no mistake about it—has given the portrait painters a step in ad vance as to the probabilities, and therefore as to the vraisemblance ; this step in advance being principally observable among the mediocrities. Not by any means a mediocrity is the gifted French Painter, E. Boutibonne, who, last season, won t h e 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 name style : miniature equestrian portraits of "Her Majesty the Queen" and " H.R.H. Prince Albert." The last-mentioned very recently the sub ject in Punch of a cruel little caricature—" H'm, a Field-Marshal evidently ! Wonder in what ter rible engagement ?" 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 geologist s, " 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 thatit is "presented tothe 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 Man' "—a head worthy of containing the brains of a G rea t Ph reno l og i s t ! Another amirable pertrait 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-1 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 predecessor 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 J a me s 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 simple thrilling words—" Well Done!" Horsely, in No. 576, depiets "J. K. Brunnel," the Great Engineer. Pickersgill, m 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 ala militaire. In the miniature room we come upon a wonderfully cha racteristic crayon drawing of the poet-head of " Syd • ney Dobell," author of the `"The Roman," and " Balder," or as it is oddly enough misprinted in the Academy Catalogue, Bolder ! Various other notabilities are here delineated—but those we have 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 BOOMS. 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 by 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 allied armies a t Va letta during the whole of the month of April, 1854 (an April the showers of which " were thunder storms")—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 pc.per never yet brought to tight, Marshal St. Arnaud industriously scribbling to the Emperor, 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 t urer hi mse lf not being altogether idle at the same time, as he 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 fallen from the lips of Gene ral (now Marshal) Bosquet, when first he witnessed the English forces maneeuvring— Vous, vows, etes troupes de position, Nous, ROW, sommes troupes d'activite" I That, indeed, was the precise difference to a nicety. Altoge ther, we cannot bat think, however, that the Lecturer is revealing in these public discourses of his upon the late War a truculence of tone when speaking of ourgallant allies and a subs- 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 heroic 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 (be 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 hn illustrated the prowess of the English according to the testimony of his own experience of it, as an actual eye witness, and sometimes as earwitness. Capital was that voice from the Ranks, that called out (evidently with a brogue)—When Marshal St. Arnaud pausing in front o f 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 we 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 humourous 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 power 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 CRIIIKSHANK 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 the least little pinch of salt, or, in other worth, cum, grano sails. It is—to be plain—in 16 pages with 3 very Cruikshankian woodcut illustrations—" The Sab4ance 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 truths, and of the kindliest feeling for the unfor tunate. It is a plea at once for the temperance system, for the ragged schools, and for the reformatories. SEAMEN'S HOSPITAL SHIP DREADNOUGHT. .Number of admisbions last week, 33 ; out-patients ditto, 26. — Total, 64. LITERATURE. A Visa to Salt Lake. By William Chandless. 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 courage 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 ios lion, and the newand miscellaneous company he should mix with. His narrative gives us an entertaining description of his journey, but the chief interest for most readers will be found in his description of the Mormons. The manner of his arrival quire disarmed toe 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 bef ire nor since his return has he read any books on the sub ject, being desirous of 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 beeoma 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 an d h a lf by occasional indus try. In Utah wages are scarcely ever paid in money, and the recipient has to pay a heavy discount be fore he can obtain what he requires, for his wages. A mechanic on a Saturday afternoon receiver, 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 sush 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 'tin to human nature to see this great body of people, yearly increasing in number, believing the most contemptible doctrines, practising the most frightful principles with apparent moderation and content. And this large settlement 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 not 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 self sufficiency of the enlightenel 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 Paiii. Smith and Elder. This is an entertaining volume with the con 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 " Chamberss' 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 v. , luine. The writer, though not displaying any great or ununsal amount of Went, proves himself to be an intelligent and agreeable writer. Mind your Stops. French in a Fortnight. Five Hundred French Phrases. Coutteney's Dictionary of Abbreviations. Reading t Speaking, and Action. Holt to Cut and Contrive Children's Clothes. The Embroidery and Alphabet Sampler Book. Groombridge and Sons, 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 cles-es, have published works on different blanches of information, but very frequently they are e ith er too elaborate for ready comprehension, too expen sive 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 fourpence each, serve to give a good general acquaintance with Punctua tion, French, Conversation, and Elocution, while the industrious mother„ of limited means, will derive the most valuable hints and assistance from the little book on children's clothes. The dic tionary of Abbreviations, too, is likely to be a useful companion, and the embroidery sampler b - dok offers extraordinary attractions to busy little fingers. The juvenile 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 deserves to meet with success and encouragement in his laudable attempt to extend a correct knowledge of these simple branches of education, which are in every day requisition, yet seldom properly known. TRANSPORTATION AND PRISON DISCIPLINE.—Th 9 third and last meeting at the Mansion-house, to di,.cuss these subjects, will be held to-morrow, at one o'clock. EMIGRATION TO AUSTRALIA.— LIVERPOOL, Saturday. —The clipper ship Titan, 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 8 , 111 Nevis, of the same line, will sail on the 27th inst. with above 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. T , ..e Africa Royal mail steamer, of the same line, with advices from New York to the 13th ult., will likely arrive to-morrow afternoon. CHIIROH RATES —A. vestry meeting was held at Beccles, Suffolk, on ThurAday, for the purpose of con sidering the propriety of making a church rate. It appeared that a rate of 24d. in the pound was required to raise 901., but the mayor moved an amendment, that as it was probable that a bill on the fiubj‘ ct 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, in the large room of Exeter-hall, which was densely crowded. Oa the front row of the .01-ttform were the Earl of Shaftesbury, the Hon. A. Kinnairti, 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 ?" and addressed the au dience for nearly an hour. The service concluded with a hymn and the usual benediction. Tan DARTSIOOR PRISON.—A. convict at Dartmoor prison, named Charles M`Carthy, has just; been com mitted to the Devon county gaol, at Ex •ter, on the charge of assaulting and wounding, with initent to mur der, a warder of the Dartmoor convict prison. It appears that the prisoner had grossly inisc,nducted himself since he had been lodged at Dartmoor prison, and bad ma e 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 hu also took a leading part in an act of insubordination in which eight other convicts were concerned. The prisonor, 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 companies to the parks has hitherto cost Government 1,6001. a year ; but a discovery has been made during the recent alterations, which, it is supposed, will effect a saving of one-half this sum. In that island, surrounded by the ornamental, waters of St. James's Park, which the " Merry Monarch" namod Duck Island, and of which he once apptinted St. Evremont 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 gallons of water a minute are now obtained ; an d it is anticipated that a still larger supply will be attain. able. The water evidently comes from the Thames, being filtered en its passage through a bed of sand two. thirds of a mile in thickness.—ObServon SWEDEN. Letters from Stockholm, oftlie 13th inst., con tradict the report of the iliness of Ki ng Oscar, and of his intention to abdicate. On the 12th his Majesty presided at a Cabinet Council. CELEBRATION OF 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 JUDGES AND CORPORATION AT ST. PAUL'S.—Yes terday being the first Sunday in Trinity term, the ancient ceremony of " churehing the judges" took place at St. Panl's Cathedral. The judges were represented by Lord Campbell, Mr. Justice Cresswell, Mr. Justice Erie, and Mr. Justice Crowder. Full choral service was performed, the officiating ministers being the Rev. R. Sbutte, M.A., rector of High Halden ; the Rev. J. H. Coward, M.A., rector of St. Peter's, Benet's-hill ; and the Rev. R. Povab, M.A., rector of St. Anne's, Alderagate. The sermon was pre ac h e d by the Rev. Henry Melvill, 8.8., canon residentiary of St. Paul's. A FAREWELL SERMON AT ST. PANCRAB CHURCH. RESIGNATION Or THE CURACY BY THE 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 farew e l l sermon in the parish church, he having peen appointed to the vicarage of Chis wick, which incumbency, it is stated, produces an inc,me of above 50Q1. a year. The rev. Gentleman preached a sermon from the Acts, 20th chap. 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. The loss of the rev. gentleman is much re gretted, as he strictly attended to the duties of his office, both in his attendance on the schools and his ministerial avocation. THE IRISH SECRETARYSHIP. The appointment of Secretary of State for Ire land does not appear to be much in request among aspirants after office. Before a candidate was found to accept it, in the person of Mr. H. Herbert, it had been succnsively offered to, and declined by, Mr. C. Villier s , Si r B. H a ll, and Mr. Fitzroy. True it is that two modern Curtii, devoted to the service of their country, offered to throw themselves head long into this gulf. Lord . Palmersti in, however, though almost despairing of the possibility of filling the appointment in any feasible way, humanely saved, both from such self-immolation. Sir R. Peel he dissauded from the rash enterprise as having too :much of the Donnybrook-fair champion about hini; Mr. Monckton Manes, as being too thoroughly steeped in the milk of human kindness. Under any circumstances the acting Minister for the Irish Home D partinent 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. Butsimated as the Irish Secretary is, under existing arrangements, this is entirely out of the question. The Irish Secretary is simply and solely a buffer betwean the English Home-office and the Castle in Dubl:n. 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 occupythe 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 tome-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 f or d o i ng 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 him 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 io 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 in the Castle at Dub lin continues to be enacted. One Irish Executive in Dublin and another in Downing-street are incompa tible. The one mustkeep thwarting the other; orthe one must, by consenting merely to register the edicts of the other, 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 from 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 State for Ireland, subordinated to the principal Home Secretary of State for the whole Empire. But the Irish 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 rematked ihe other day by a weekly contemporary, the Lord Lieu tenant question is not a Cabinet, but a Tabinet question. Some of the Dublin shopkeepers may gain by the perpetuation of the Vice-regal office, but all the rest of Ireland loses. 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' .N CIPS. MR. JOHN BRIGHT AND PARLIAMEN TARY REFORM. The following letter lias been received by Mr. Alexander Laing, Hawick, in acknowledgment of certain resolutions of sympathy with Messrs. Cobden, Bright, and Gibsan, on the result of the Huddersfield and Manchester elections, passed at a meeting held in that town some weeks ago. A letter ou the subject from Mr. Cobden has already been published : " Geneva, May 17, 1857. "Dear Sir,—Your 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 18.35, al , hough we have no more territory to defend, and although a large army is no longer necessary to maintain tranquillity in Ireland. As to reform, while almost everybody professes to be in favour of it in some shape, the preparation of th e p ar ti cu lar 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 satisfactory position I must leave the friends of free trade, reform, and retrenchment to decide. With regard to the promised reform let me • warn you to look not more to the question of fran chise than to the other arrangements of the mea sure. It would be easy to double the number of electors and at the same time to increase the aris tocratic influence 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 wealth and power now exercise so unscrupu lously upon the existing electoral body. A mode rate measure, and an honest one so far as it goes, is far more to be desired 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 reps e sentation ; and any trick to obstruct the free action of majorities, such as that proposed in Lord J. Russell'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 pi ofess 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 1 have received in past times, and at the present time, from the intelligent community ou 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, and, 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 39th. From the 19th to the 30th the sun's rays are refulg,nt, but a visible difference in the temperature to that noted film 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 utility ; but, as before observed, electricity and locality will ever militate against;perfect 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 1,438 arrived at the building by railway. On Saturday the admissionB by season tickets were 2,573 ; on payment of the shiiling, 5,318 ; making a total of 7,891, of whom 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 persons. The Society is expected to remain in Manchest e r ab ou t a wee k, holding a meeting each day, at which a paper will be read. CHESTER RAILWAY STATION.—On the Cap DaY the enormous number of 36,500 passengers passed through this station, via the Great Western, the North - W oterli and Birkenhead li n e s , w ith ou t owing to the able super vision of Mr. Mill s an d hi s coadjutors, a siugle accident or unusual delay, and although there are 100 trains dal passing the station. M~ Lette Market and pl.] The sal Market The c Mitts of of itopri zial cot nnfavou lark u l for con; blish,r ae "short ample few of n extre upon tb tires are announi that of and silt given intends former, tion Of of Engl . blishme Merit. beneflci cereal c Couragi Princip of tour. perieno persons place t because at any 1 raent. The I was itni and thi The bri ngs About by the the Ali At tl Navigs of the ford, vacanc com me atat e i had be At t Bank showir. passed per an for the Was ea Direct At 1 'Excha but tt sent t afters ~<% _~. ~~ G U ~.