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

, 11AINNERS ALA CARTE, in the COFFEE-1 : AR 0Y A L PRIN C ES S'S THEATRE. .j J 1-1 R A OOS cf the ORIENTAL HOTEL , Vera-sttect, DArt.T, I EA) THIS EVENING will be performed. r with a sucees.lon of Joints, from 6 till 9 o'clock. 0;:lental Dish:: i at ten nrinnew notice. Numerous Private Dining Rooms, and the i i Cooking nnsurpassei. --- HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE. THIS EVENING. .a! ; EXTRA NIGH P. PICCOLOMINI, GIIIGLINI, RENE rENTANO. LA TRAVIATA. Violetta, Piccolmini ; Alfredo, Sig, Giuglini. After which will be produced an entirely New Ballet, in Two Tableaux, composed expressly for her Majesty's Theatre by M. Mascot, entitled Shakespere's tragedy of KING RICHARD TETE SECOND. King Richard IL, Mr. C. Kean ; Queen, Mrs. C. Kean. Preceded by a new Farce, in one act, called AN ENGLISHMAN'S HOUSE IS HIS CASTLE. ./ 1 3H P7ATBB, AT LONDON BRIDGE. Tam DAT—Morn. 45 min. aft. 11—Evening 0 min. aft. 0 r , 4-T4rnnuaig—‘iforn. 11 min. aft. 12—Even. 35 min. aft. 12 TaE WEATHER—SUN OFFICE, MAY 21. THERMOMETER, IN T 1 SHADE, 72 -highstA. singe noon yestordsy. 57 lowest this morning znd luring the night. 63 thie day at noon. 29.75—fa11ing,? WIND, S.W.—Light, with dull weather, and slight rain, ) 1> ,Y = • :;::< - Its, LONDON, THURSDAY, MAY 21, 1867. The assemblage of Buckinghamshire farmers, yesterday, at the ordinary at Newport Pagnell, may exercise considerable influence on the future legislation of the United Kingdom. Very im portant questions were ventilated at that social gathering, by one who, generally speaking is cer tainly no " ordinary" man. Mr. DISRAELI put forward a confession of political faith, of vast consequence at the present crisis. Although not quite so clear and distinct as we might have wished, it contained many matters deserving of mature and attentive consideration, which, as he himself remarked, required to be thoroughly " read, marked, and inwardly digested." It was not merely to the sturdy bucolics who listenei to his words that the remarkable address was directed. It had a wider scope, and was intended for every elector and non-elector throughout the length and breadth of the land. The Right Honourable Gentleman manifestly thought that the time had arrived when the great question of Parliamentary Reform must be brought before Parliament—when the existing anomalies in the Legislative system must be raised and modified. He has recognised the necessity in duo time. Ho acknowledges that the nation will shortly be called on " to consider great changes in the political constitution of the coun try," and he has very properly appealed to public opinion as to the nature of those inevitable changes —so clearly "looming in the future." This is all that we desire, all that we demand ! Truth must be advanced by discussion, and we are re joiced to see the Right Honourable Gentleman resorting to the proper tribunal, and earning on the people generally to express their views and sentiments on the all important topic. It, is something to find such a man as the re nowned leader of her MAJESTY'S Opposition calling for inquiry, and putting forward a clear common sense view of the matter. It is satisfactory to witness the performance of Mr. DISRAELI, in his first appearance on any stage as a Parliamentary Reformer. It is true that ho has not touched on all the phases of the question ; but when we find that he has taken the preliminary plunge— that he has accepted one, though perhaps the least important, of "the five points"—that he is a convert to " the equalisation of electoral dis tricts," we may easily conceive that the same train of reasoning will carry him onwards to the extension of the suffrage, and to that which alone can afford protection to the voter in the legiti mate exercise of his franchise—which is the only mode of averting every undue and corrupt influence—" THE BALLox." These will ne cessarily follow from the opinions which he inculcated on his auditory ; for, although it may not be convenient for him as yet to pro fess himself a convert, intelligent men will natu rally follow his arguments to their legitimate results ! Another social revolution is inevitable, and thinking men must ponder on its extent and probable operation ! It is unquestionably a grievance to the rural population that they should have but a minor weight in the scale of representation. But this evil is the natural consequence of other matters, and both must be dealt with at the same time. Permit an Englishman, we care not, whether be longing to the urban or rural population, to take an independent and honest view of the merits of the several candidates, and of their political opinions, and we shall respect and bow t. his ver dict, although it may not be in accordance with our own wishes ; but when landlords or employ ers can intimidate, or wealthy men can purchase his vote, then an adequate guarantee must be be given to the State that it shall be really given in accordance with his conscientious impressions. We are quite willing, with Mr. DISRAELI, to " appeal to that sense of fairness which pervades the great bulk of the people of this country ;" but we want it to be faithfully expressed, to be their own sense, and nothing but their sense. We would have no political cyphers. The man who contributes in any de gree to the revenue of the country, has a constitutional right to be heard by himself, or his representative, in the making of the laws by which he is bound. There should, in fact, be no taxa tion without representation, and that representa tion should be founded on the free and unbiassed expression of the popular will, and Trio mode has ever been even suggested of obtaining that expres sion save by "secret voting," or, in other words, by the intervention of " the balloting box." Mr. DISRAELI declares that ho has not, as expected, a Reform Bill. " ready cut arid dry" in his pocket. $0 be it ! Let him carry his own arguments to the legitimate results, and we shall be contented. We shall at least obtain the Equalisation of Electoral Dis tricts, a considerable Extension of the Suffrage, and, more than all, full Protection to the Voter in ita exercise. These would, indeed, form a dainty dish to set before Parliamentary reformers. The abolition of the property qualification would be a fitting adjunct, and with these even the most strenuous Chartist may rest contented. They will, at least, be a great instalment of what is required by justice and equity, and pave the way to the full and fair representation of the people of the United Kingdom. tumble-down houses in the Strand. But we are more sanguine than we have ever been yet as to its removal, now that we have actually arrived, as already observed, at the virtual " end" of the equally obstructive block of houses in Holborn. The very name of the last mentioned eyesore and stumbling-block demonstrates clearly and unmis takeably the folly of it. Middle Row, Holborn ! It is happily useless now, however, to waste any further indignation in expatiating upon the ab surdity of a monstrous impediment to our metro polit an traffic, now to all intents and purposes done away with. It merely remains to consider for a few moments the comparatively trifling ex penditure with which that very obvious and really extraordinary improvement can at length after all be accomplished. The entire Outlay, as ex plained in the Report presented to the Metro politan Board of Works by the Committee of Improvements, turns out (after all we have heard about the ruinous cost certain to be entailed by any such extravagant under taking), positively to be something consider ably under 50,0001. altogether ! To explain this clearly, so as to place it beyond the pos sibility of any misapprehension, the outlay re quired for the whole of the necessary purchases of property is estimated at 42,8051. Besides which, there are set aside, in the same comprehensive and not by any means stinted estimate, 4,2801. more, by way of 10 per cent. for contingencies. There will be 3401. needed, after that, for paving —3401. ensuring that that paving of the vacant site shall be really good and serviceable. All of which three items, taken together, make a total of just 47,4251. Bearing in mind, however, the probable, or rather, we should say, the certain return of some 800/. upon the sale of old mate rials—this total of 47,4251. will be reduced (the Report of the Committee says this, observe !) to a nct cost of 46,625/. Otherwise exactly 3,3751. less than 50,0001. A most moderate expenditure, we maintain, considering the locality and the magnitude of the improve ment. Fancy the clear sweep there will then be, immediately Holborn Hill is ascended (after crossing New and Old Farringdon-streets), right on, without any of the old impediments and ob structions at once to view and traffic, past Furni val's-inn, past Gray's-inn-lane, past Chancery lane, in one broad direct line, into New Oxford street, into (Old) Oxford-street, on—far away— out of one of the grand western extremities of the metropolis. There, at least, will be one of the great arteries of London Traffic, without a stric ture upon it—strangling as it has done hitherto, almost time out of mind, the flow of the general circulation. Other benefits of a simi lar kind will inevitably follow, if only by the mere contagion of a good example—other comprehensive and kindred improvement?. Those ridiculous old turnstiles, leading from Holborn into Lincoln's-Inn-Fields will find them selves ultimately widened into bye-streets. The Strand itself, influenced by an honourable spirit of emulation, will, in due course, be rid at last of the brick and mortar incubus weighing upon it between its two picturesque churches. Fleet street even may, in spite of the amiable weak ness of Mr. PETER CUNNINGHAM in favour of Temple-Bar, remove (as we may call it), that Modern Relic of Old London to some spot where it may be less of a Bar and more of an Ornament. And if the City must needs have a gateway there to satisfy its ancient pride and sustain the memory of its antique prerogative, why, it may then, au it list, build for itself a gateway worthy of it, wider and loftier, grander and gloomier, if it will—but at any rate one through which the Traffic upon the World's High way may pass and repass without, as now, incurring the continual liability to a dead lock, or the almost momentarily recurring cer tainty of some blundering impediment. Ulti mately, the site of Fleet Prison may be turned to some good account. St. Paul's may be opened to the Thames. The river itself may be glorified and beautified by a regular series of embankments. BUT—we are not altogether observe ! when we say this, merely speculating is nubibus, building castles in the air, dreaming day-dreams. Middle-row, Holborn, is to be abolished ! It was so decided by a division of twelve against nine, upon Monday last, at a special meeting of the Metropolitan Board of Works, held in the Council-chamber, at Guildhall. And after the final abandonment of a favourite old Hobby like Middle•row, Holborn—Why, we really do conceive that we may look forward with confidence to the realisation of almost any of our other long desired improvements. TliE ROYAL FAMILY. SOUTHAMPTON, WEDNESDAY, QUARTER TO S P.M. His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales has just em barked from the docks in the Fairy steam yacht, Master Commander Welch, on his return from the Lakes. The Hon. Mr. Cavendish, Mr. Gibbs, and Captain Crispin were in attendance on the Prince. His Royal Highness was received by Mr. Hedger and Mr. J. Levy on the part of the dock company. The young Prince appeared in the best health, and was lcudly cheered by the spectators, who had assembled in large numbers to witness his embarkation. The Fairy immediately steamed out of dock for Osborne. The Melampus frigate, stationed off the military hos pital, near Netley, fired a Royal salute as the Fairy passed. The young Prince Alfred is expected to pass through here on Thursday for Osborne, on his return from Germany. The Portsmouth and Ryde United Steam-packet Com pany's vessel the Princs of Wales, Captain Beazley, embarked their Serene Highnesses Prince Edward of Saxe Weimar and the Prince of Leiningen, yesterday afternoon, at half-past 2, from the Royal Victoria Pier, and conveyed them to Ryde, on their way to Osborne, to visit her Majesty and the Prince Consort. A Cabinet Council was held yesterday afternoon, at the official residence of the First Lord of the Treasury in Downing-street. The Ministers present were Vis caunt Palmerston, the Lord Chancellor, Earl Granville, Earl of liarrowby, Sir George Grey, Earl of Clarendon, Mr. Secretary Labauchere, Lorl Panmure, the Chan cPllor of the Exchequer, Sir Charles Wood, the Right Hon. R. Vernon Smith, Lord Stanley of Alderley, the Right Hon. M. T. Baines, and the Duke of Argyll. His Excellency the Russian Minister and the Countess Chreptowitch have issued cards for large dinner parties at Chesham House on the 3d proximo and on the 17th proximo. The Countess will have assemblies after the dinners on each evening. The Duchess of Inverness las arrived at the Bedford Hotel, Brighton, from Kensington Palace. Middle Row, Holborn, it is gratifying to know, is at last virtually removed. This we have for years maintained to be one of the most essen tial of our Metropolitan Improvements. After wards we shall iu time, no doubt, obtain the companion change-for -the-be tter —a' re os ,equally desirable—in another of our great trunk thorough fares. The raging to the ground, we mean, of that huge, unsightly block of houses, compactly massed together, between St. Clement Danes and The Duko and Duchess of Manchester are on their way from Berlin to London, where their graces may be expected to arrive on the Ist proximo. The Countess Frances Waldegrave and Mr. Ear couik, M.P., entertained at dinner, last evening, at their mansion, in Carlton-gard ens, the Earl of Aberdeen, the Earl and Lady Const: mice Grosvenor, the Earl and Countess of Abingdon, the Earl and Countess of Cork, the Earl and Countess G rey, the Viscount and Viscountess Barrington, Lord and L a d y Elcho, the Bishop of Oxford, Lady Seymour, Mr. and Mrs. W. E. Gladstone, and Mr. Fortuna°. The Earl and Cour itSS3 Spencer entertained at dinner last evening, at Sper leer House, the Countess Dowager of Morley, Vignola!, t and Viscountess Enfield and the Hcn. Miss Byng, t! ze Bishop of London and Mrs. Tait, Hon. F. Byng, 'ion. A. Ponsonby, the Speaker and Lady Charlotte Denison, Sir G. and Lady Grey, Mr. and Mrs. H. Sey moor, Mr. Cole, Lady Sarah Spencer, and Lord Althor p. The Countes 3 of Dunraven will give a ball at her mansion in Bel grave-square, "n Tuesday, the 26th inat. The Countes s Dowager of Essex and Miss Johnstone have arrived in,...Beigrave-square for the season. rHE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EV ENING, MAY 21, 1857 ,ST• JAMES'S THEATRE. ROYAL SURREY GARDENS.- WI/ 0 STOPS THT, WAY. THE BOUFFES PARISIENS. The little St. James's looked most cheery last night, filled with that aristocratic assemblage so familiar to it in bygone years. Its echoes were again awakened by French fun and a laughing audience. The Bouffes are all nonsense, and are, therefore, charming. They don't profess opera, but sing excellently. They don't affect comedy, but act with infinite spirit. They deal largely in all that seductive slang which sound., so pretty in French, and which is so full of lighthearted gaiety. Their good jokes are good, and their bad ones better. Time flies merrily with them, and frolic rules the hour. They played " M'sieu Landry "—the history of a vil lage dandy ; merry wives play practical jokes on him — and fabulously slim-ankled rnili: maids pthh him about, and with him and at him talk the smartest patois, and sing rattling little ballads, and that's good fun. They then played "Les deux Aveugles," which is a comic scene between two blind men, who are not the least blind. The rogues play horrible instruments on the Pont Neuf, and solicit the charity of the passers-by. Their rivalry produces a mighty discord, and thoroughly discovers the amusing and desperate rascality of the two sharpers. For the audience, it is a story of "Laughing Made Easy." Lastly was presented "Ba-ta Clan, a Chinoiserie— scene, Chinaland—actors, Chinamen, who turn out to be epiciers of the Rae Mountard, or bourgeois of Brives La Gaillard°. They have their adventures, which, if true, certainly prove fact to be stranger than fiction, and at last escape home. Chineseis chattered, catching French ditties are sung, and absurd jokes rain lightly, if piti lessly, through the piece. The whole thing is a success. The actors are very good, especially Pradeau, who is by turns oily, dry, flippant, or frantic, as occasion requires; and who possesses a face with which be can assume expressions and make faces impossible to any but so distinguished an artist. For the actresses, when were French actresses not charming, with their well-dressed coquetry and their endless artillery of graces 1 Madlle. Dalmont is a very clever musician, and both she and Madlle. Marechal have sweet and flexible voices. The Bouffes have at once won their way to favour, and will, no doubt, attract to the St. James's all the lovers of pleasant idleness who care to while away an evening by lending their ears to be tickled with pretty music, and their thoughts to be distracted by all that is most thoughtless, capricious, and laughable. The theatre wears a renovated and bright appearance, and the artistic labours of Messrs. Cuthbert and Adams have resulted in effects highly pleasing to the eye. We were glad, too, to see in active attendasce the old faun ' liar faces of Messrs. Chapman and Nimmo, those worthy "pillars of the state" to Mr. Mitchell. And we have, in conclusion, to offer our cordial c , ingratulations to the latter gentleman for providing the metropolis with a month's really delightful amusement. It will be a source of gratification to the fre quenters of these delightful gardens, and also to the inhabitants of the immediate vicinity, to know that the disputed and vexed question of the right of carriage-way through New-street, and also South-place, both in Kennington-road is likely to he speedily settled. It will be recollected that during the course of last year Captain Faunce, who owns an extensive estate in Ken nington, Camberwell, and Newington, suddenly caused a wall to be erected on that part of his property which extends from the New-street entrance to the g ardens to South-pl ace , adjoin ing Kennington. Park ; and as two public roads ran through the property in question, the blocking them up became of serious consequences, especially to the small traders in the neighbourhood. The public felt so annoyed, that they took the law into their own hands, forcibly pulled or knocked down the wall, and thereby gained the thoroughfare they had previously enjoyed. The opening of the Surrey Gardens this s eason was again the signal for its re-erection ; but, instead of building a wall across the road, as before, a large trench has been dug deep and wide, and fenced in with high palings, thus again stopping up the carriage way. It is understood that Captain Faunco has law on his side, nevertheless, it is exercising his power very arbitrarily to stop up public roads for private pur poses. We understand that the Surrey Gardens Company, in conjunction with a gentleman who has lately built upwards of 400 houses in the neigh bourhood, are negotiating with Capt. Faunee to waive his right of blockade; and if their proposals are accepted (and we believe they will be), it will redound to the credit of the gentlemen who have thus so honourably come forward to free the in habitants from so serious an obstruction. TIIE SALE OF POISONS. A bill has been brought into the House of Lords by the Lord President of the Council " to restrict and regulate the sale of poisons." The preamble recites that the existing restrictions on the sale of arsenic have been found to be insufficient, and that the unrestricted sale of other poisons facilitates the c In - mission of crime and occasions frequent fatal accidents. Clause 3 attempts the difficult task of defining what " poison" really is. The word is construed to include certain drugs, simple or com pounded, mentioned in the schedule A of the Act. These consist of a large number of pharma copoeial and other preparations, most of which are in common use as articles of medicine. The list is as follows—namely, arsenic and its compounds ; corrosive sublimate (the bichloride of mercury) and its compounds ; the poisonous vegetable alkaloids (as strychnine, drn.) ; prussic acid; the cyanides of potassium, mercury, and silver ; the chlorides of zinc and antimony ; the essential oil of bitter almonds, and any mixture containing it (as " almond flavour") ; cantharides and its pre parations ; belladonna (nightshade) and its pre parations ; hemlock and its preparations ; aconite and its preparations ; opium, in tincture, extract, and powder; foxglove (digitalis) and its prepara tions ; stramonium and its preparations, chloroform and its compounds, oxalic acid and binoxilate of potash, nux voinica seeds and bark, tartarised anti mony (tartar emetic), and its solution, cocculus in dices (used to adulterate beer and porter), ergot of rye, savin, lobelia, and all liquids or solids con taining or consisting wholly or in part of the above mentioned poisons, poisonous drugs, and herbs The penalty for violating the act will boa fine of 20/' for the first, and 501. for every subsequent offence.• Druggists will be disqualified from acting as such by a second conviction. Lord and Lady Willoughby de Eresby entertained at dinner, last evening, at their mansion on the Terrace, Piccadilly, his Excellency the Russian Minister and the Countess Chreptowitch, the Count Pahlen, the Countess of Jersey and Lady C/ementina Villiers, the Earl of Euston, the Countess of Tankerville, Viscount Chelsea, Lord and Lady Macdonald, Mr. Knightley, &c. Lord and Lady Downes and family have arrived at their house in Grafton-street, for the season. The feeling with regard to Russian railway shares, when fairly tried in the open market, has been illus trated yesterday in the case of those of the Riga line. The character of this railway is in every respect supe rior to that of the military lines lately attempted to be introduced in London and Paris, but upon the notifi cation of a call of 41. per share they have at once dropped toe discount. TESTIMONIAL TO Ma. JOHN MASTERMAN.—The sub scription voluntarily entered into for a testimonial to Mr. Masternian, on hie retirement from the representa tion of the City of London, already exceeds 1,100/., and will, it is expected, speedily reach 2,0001., as many lead ing commercial men have signified their desire to enrol their names on the subscription list. The form of testi monial has not yet been determined upon. DIABOLICAL OUTRAGE.—Last night, about half-pa 4 11 o'clock, a packet containing gunpowder and other ex plosive matter was thrown down the area of Lindsay's Quadrant Hotel, Air-street, Piccadilly, and its explosion broke all the windows of the basement. The servant boy, who was asleep at the time, within a few feet of the window, had a narrow escape. No clue to the perpe trator of the outrage has yet been ascertained. EMIGRATION TO THE WESTERN CONTINENT.—LIVER POOL, Wednesday.—The royal mail screw steamship Canadian, Captain Eallantyne, sailed this morning for Quebec and Montreal, with 100 cabin and 250 steerage passengers, the Canadian mails, and a full cargo of mer chandise on freight. The Liverpool and Philadelphia Company's screw steamship City of Washington, Capt. Jellard, sailed this afternoon for New York, with 120 cabin and a large number of steerage passengers, and a full cargo. She carried a sealed mail. LARGE ARRIVAL OP HOMEWALD BOUND SHIPS IN THE RlVER.—Within the last two or three days, a large fleet of ships, which had been detained beating about in the chops of the Channel, by the long continuance of the easterly winds, have arrived in the London, West India, S. Katherine, and other docks on the Thames. This timely arrival has been the means of giving employment to several hundreds of dock labourers. A number of homeward-bound ships was reported yesterday coming up channel, and as the wind has got rather fresh from the westward, a small fleet may he expecte.' up the river daily, every tide. There are arrivals from China, East Indies, Mauritius, Australia, West Indies, South Ame rica, New York, and almost every part of the globe. THE EXPEDITION TO CHINA.—PORTSMOUTH, May 20. —The 82d Regiment and three companies of the 23d em barked to-day in the dockyard for Hong Kong. Seven companies, including headquarters, went on board the Assistance, screw troopship, and the other three com panies on board the Adventure, screw troopship, with three companies of the 23d Regiment. The troops did not go on board in quits so orderly a manner as usual, especially the 82d. The men of that regiment made rather too free last night, and sadly disturbed the peace in certain localities. Some three hundred were reported as absent this morning. As the day went on many were brought into the dockyard in cabs, &c., more or less intoxicated and some of them seriously injured in fightQ, &c. 'A number of windows were broken, and one house was forcibly entered and robbed. The perpetrators were, however, captured, and to-day have been committed to the assizes for trial. FATAL RAILWAY BOILER EXPLOSION.—LIVERPOOL, May 20.—The inquest on the bodies of Joseph Ford, driver, and Seth Foulkes, fireman of the locomotive engine St. Patrick, who were killed by an explosion of the boiler at the Edge-hill station of the London and North-Western Railway, closed to-day before tho coro ner for the borough. The jury came to the following verdict :—" We find that the deceased, Joseph Ford, cams to his death by the bursting of the firebox of an engine called the St. Patrick, at the Eige-hiil station of the London and North-Western Railway, the firebox of the said engine being completely worn out and unfit for use. We are also of opinion that the superintendent of the engineering department did not exercise proper attention when the engine was repairing in the months of August and September last." The same verdict was returned in the case of Foulkes, FATAL ACCIDENT ON BOARD THE WAVERLEY STEAMER.—Yesterday an accident took place on board the Citizen Company's steam-boat Waverley, by, IwhiOh . a fine young man, aged 20, one of the crew of the steamer, suddenly lost his life. It appears that about half-past 12 p.m., the Waverley arrived at Lon don-bridge. Shortly after landing the passengers, the deceased was kneeling on one of the paddle•boxes, giving directions to some one below, when the Waverley re ceived a slight concussion from an in-coming steamer, and the shock threw the youth off the paddle-box into the river. The accident occurred so suddenly that no assistance was rendered, at least in time, and the de ceased was not seen to re-appear above the water. It is supposed that the tide carried him rapidly below bridge, as the body was not discovered, although the drags were used as soon as possible after the accident had occurred. THE FORTHCOMING TRINITY TERM, - To-morrow (Friday) Trinityterm, the last before the long vacation, commences, and before the next term it is probable that several changes will take place on the bench, as also that there will be a new Solicitor-General. There ;s a good deal of business for the term. The arrears of the three common law courts number 150 rules, &c. In the Queen's Benchthere are 53, in the Common Pleas 52, and in the Exchequer 45. Of new trials the number in the three courts is 76, of which 26 are in the Bench, 23 in the Pleas, and 22 in the ExcheqUer. The number of summonses at chamber have increased, and the learned judges have been occupied with their duties occasionally to late hours. As there is no breakfast this term at the Lord Chancellor's residdnce, the several law and equity courts will commence business at 10 o'clock. &WHITED MURDER AT num.—A correspondent in Truro states that a young woman named Grace Bond and her father have been taken into custody on suspicion of having murdered the child of the former, aged three years. The child ,had been buried, but circumstances having created a suspicion that it had been poisoned, the body was exhumed, and on analysi s b y M r . li erapa th a large quantity of arsenic was detected. EXETER-BALL. A. grand concert was given at this hall last night by Herr Goffrie and Madame Madeleine Graver, supported by an efficient band of vocalists, some of the chief instru mentalists of the day, and the grand orchestra of the Italian Opera. With these attractions it is not sur prising that the hall was well filled, and the concert in every way successful. Herr Goffrie was the conductor, and. the orchestra under his guidance acquitted itself most creditably. The opening overture was composed for the occasion by A. Golimick, and was well received. The symphony in F by Beethoven, which concluded the first part, was played in a manner that rendered full justice to the great composer's inspirations. Madame Clara Novello sung the air of " Dove Sono," and Mer cadante's duet "Dolce Conferto" with Miss Dolby. Miss Dolby sung a song of Belfe's, the words by Longfellow, "The Green Tress Whispered," with feeling and ex pression. She was loudly applauded. Mdlle. Hertha de Westertrand, a Swedish lady, made her debut. She has a soprano voice of great compass. She sung an air from the " Zauberflote," from the part of the Queen of Night, which was formerly taken by Mlle. Anna Zerr. She rendered the elaborate and difficult music with ease and taste. It demands a voice of an unusual order, but Mlle. Westertrand's capacities were fully equal to it. An encore was almost unanimously called for, but in accordance with the rules of the concert, it was not given. Madame Caradori was also among the vocalists, and sung a new song, " Oh could I but believe him," with her usual skill. The music is pretty enough, but the words are thoroughly commonplace. Herr Reichardt gave a new song of Maefarren's with spirit, and Mr. Weiss sung Longfellow's beautiful song of "The Reaper and the Flowers," with great suc cess. Herr Ernst, the great violinist, achieved his usual triumphs, and the wonderful performances of Signor Bottesini excited the u , nal surprise and admira tion. Madame Madeline Graver herself contributed greatly to the entertainment of the audience. She is a clear and brilliant player, and distinguished herself by her performance of some difficult pieces. She played the Concerto in D Minor, by Mendelssohn, a duet for two pianos, with Madame Clara Schumann, and a Fantasie Hongroise, by Ketterer. The duet for two pianos was especially successful, and displayed to full advantage the skilful execution of the two rival per formers. Altogether the concert was of a superior cha racter, and appeared to meet the encouragement it merited. CHARLES AND JOSEPH SURFACE. All fatal news is briefly told. We find Both the Peels have—and England is—resigned. Punch.. CONVOCATION.—Yesterday morning there was a formal meeting of the Convocation of the Province of Canter bury at Westminster. An adjournment was declared until the 10th of July. MADAME ENDEBSSOHN'S MATINEE MUSICALE. This concert, under most distinguished patronage, took place yesterday morning at the Beethoven Rooms, and was numerously and fashionably attended. On this oc casion Madame Clara Schumann made her second ap pearance this season, and her splendid performance of Beethoven's sonata in D minor proved indisputably her title to he considered the first pianiste of the day. Madame Enderasohn's artistic qualifications and beauty of voice are well known, and nothing could exceed in brilliancy and expression her execution of the scena, "Ah ! fors% lui," from the " Traviata." Madame En derssohn also sang a now song, written expressly for h.r by Balfe, "The Deserted Bride," with great success. Mrs. Lockey, Miss Stabbach, Mr. Millardi, Mr. Allan Irving, and Herr Ernst gave their valuable assistance, with Frank Mori and Balfe as conductors. THE POOR LAW BOARD.—We stated some time ago in The Sun that a dispute had arisen between the Poor Law Board and the guardians of St. Thomas's Union (Exeter), the latter contending that three relieving officers, well paid, would do the work better than four who were not so liberally remunerated. The Poor Law Board considered that four officers were necessary to perform the work efficiently, and after considerable dis cussion, a collision appeared imminent. A compromise was, effected, an d t h e P oor L aw Board con aeans' however, tsdtoallow the St. Thomas's Union a trial of three re lieving officers until Ladyday last. The plan has work ed well, and a report to that effect was sent to the Poor Law Board. That body, through Lord Courtenay, one of the secretaries, has replied in a communica tion, dated the 14th instant, to the effect that the Poor Law Board will no longer withhold their assent ; but, as they still entertain a doubt of its practical working during a series of years, they desire to express their confident reliance, founded on the attention and care with which the guardians obviously discharge their duties, that they will consider and propose any altera tion in the relief arrangements that circumstances may render it necessary to make. STREET PREACHING—On Monday evening a meeting, which was numerously attended, was held in the Music hall, Chester, to give expression to a feeling of sympathy with Mr. Reginald Radcliffe and the missionaries from Liverpool, who were arrested and sent to prison by order of Major French, a magistrate, while preaching in the streets during the time of the Chester races. Mr. W. Titherington, the chairman, advocated the practice of open-air preaching, particularly as regarded " the attempts made to stein the torrent of vice, dissipa tion, and wickedness of which Cbestor was the enene during the races." The Rev. R. D. Thomas, M.A. proposed a resolution expressive of thanks to God for the success which had attended the efforts made to counteract the evils attendant upon the races at Chester, and in doing so advocated the advantage of street preaching, and quoted a speech made by Lord Shaftesbury in favour of the practice. The Rev. W Hunter, brother.in-law to Mr. Radcliffe, seconded the resolution, after which Mr. Radcliffe gave an account of the exertions made by himself and brother missionaries at Chester, Liverpool, and other races, and said that their object was " the salvation of souls." The reso lution was carried. Other resolutions were then agreed to expressive of regret at the attempts to put down open air preaching, and giving an opinion that such preaching, combined with the distribution of religious tracts, was eminently calcular ad to counteract the evils connected with races. THE CANADIAN MAILS.—LIVERPOOL, May 21.—The Montreal Ocean Steam-ship. Company's steamer Cana dian left the Mersey at half-past eight o'clock this morn ing, for Quebec and Montreal, with the Canadian mails, 113 cauin, and 330 steerage passengers, besides a full cargo of fine goods. Tun MAILS.—SOUTFIAMPTON, Wednesday. —The Pen insular and Oriental Company's steam-ship Colombo, Captain J. S. Field, sailed to-day for Gibraltar, Malta, anti Alexandria, with the India and China mails, 48 first-class and 20 second-class passengers, a full cargo, and 2,901 boxes of specie and jewellery, value 753,3621. 10s. 2d. ; viz, : Silver. Gold. Jewellery. Bombay £171,225 0 0 £l5B 0 Ceylon . Madras • 22,167 0 0 1,783 0 676 11 Calcutta 114,185 0 0 100 0 189 0 Peiang 1,410 0 0 Singapore 101 0 Hongkong 154.016 9 2 529 0 Canton 2,003 0 0 250 0 Shanghai 166,780 0 0 210 0 Malta £748,843 9 2 £2,227 0 £2,291 11 Among the Colombo's passengers are—Captain A. Fortes and Lieutenant Costin, for Malta ' • Col. Napier, for Calcutta ; Major Porter, Captain and Mrs. Dundas, for .litiatiras ; Captain the Hon. E. Forester, Captain and Mrs. W. Walker, Captain and Mrs. Wellesley, Major Blagrave, and Captain and Mrs. Burn, for Bombay, &c. The United States' mail steam-ship Washington, Captain E. Owendy, sailod to-day for New York with the Eng lish, French, and German walla ' 100 passengerB, and a poem! cargo of merchandise on freight. ACA T 'STA. FIRST TABLEAU—Terpsichore, 11fadlle. Rolla ; Acalista, Madame Perea Nena; Aglaia, Thalia, awl Euphrosyne, Mdlle. Michelet, :Mlle. Karliski, and Mille. Brunetti ; Amyroas, M. Baratti. SECOND TABLEAU—(The Vision Realised).— Seville.— Acalista, Madame Perea Nena; Conchitti and Carmen, Mdls. Pasquali and Morlacchi; Pepe, D.I. Gambardelli; Manolo, M. Massot. Spaniards. 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 applca ton at the Box-office, at the Theatre Colonnade, Haymarket. Price One Guinea and One Guinea and a Half each. HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE. Piccolomini, Alboni, Spezia, Giugiini, Belletti, Be neventano, and Vialetti. This Evening, May 21—LA TRAVlATA.—Piecolomini, Ginglini, and Beneventano. SATURDAY, May 23— IL TROVATORE—Spezia, Alboni, Ginglini, Beneventano, and Vialetti. To conc'ude (each evening) with the entirely new Ballet, by M. Massot, entitled ACALISTA. " Lucia di Lammermoor " will be repeated the following week. Foe particulars see bills. A limited number of boxes in the Half Circle Tier have been specially reserved for the public, and may bo had on ap plication at the Box-oftice at the Theatre Colonnade, Hay market. Price One Guinea and One Guinea and a Half each. aER MAJESTY'S THEATRE. GRAND MORNING PERFORMANCE. MONDAY, JUNE 1. Piccolomini, Alboui, Spezia, Ortolani, Giuglini, Reichardt, Bottardi, Beneventano, Ealletti. 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. Full particulars will be duly announced. HE R MAJESTY'S THEATRE. Under the Immediate Patronage of her Majesty the QUEEN, his Royal Highness Prince Albert, her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cambridge. Mr. BENEDICT begs respee:fully to announce that, in lieu of his Annual Concert, he has made arrangements with the Direction to give THREE GRAND MUSICAL FESTIVALS, Dramatic, Classical, and Miscellaneous, on WEDNESDAY MORNINGS, June 11, 24, and July S. • 7 7 The artists will include Madlle. Piceolomini, Madlle. Maria Spezia, IMadlle. Angola Ortolani, and Madame Alboni ; Signor Antonio Giuglini, Herr Reichardt, Mr. Charles Bra ham, Signor Belletti, Signor Beneventano, Signor Napolcone Rossi, S gnoT Giovanni Corsi, and Signor Filippo Vialetti. Instrumental Performers :---Pianoforte, Madame Clara Schumann and Miss Arabella Goddard, Messrs. Andreoli, Benedict, and Lindsay Sloper. Violin, Herr Ernst and M. Bazzini. Violoncello, Signor Piatti. Double Bass. Signor Bottesini. One portion of the Concert will be conducted by Signor Bonotti, and another by M. Benedict, supported by the Chorus and Orchestra of that great musical establish ment. The Programme will include Mendelssohn's posthumous finale to the Opera of LOR,ELEY, performed for the first time in England on the stage, and other important works. Instrumental performers of the greatest eminence have been secured. Full particulars will be du!y announced. The performa ices have been fixed to commence at Two, and ter minate at Five o'Clock. Subscription Tickets (Transferable) for the Three Con certs :—Private Boxes to hold Four Persons ; Boxes—Pit Tier, 61. 6s. ; Grand Tier, Si. Ss. ; First Tier, (ii. 6s, ; Two Pair, 4/ 4s. ; Upper Boxes, 31. 3s. ; Pit Stalls, 21. 23. ; 15s. ; Gallery Stalls, 10s. ; Gallery, ss. Pr;ces for Each S'ngle Concert : —Private Boxes to hold Four Persons : Boxes —Pit Tier, 3/, 35.; Grand Tier, 41. 4s. ; First Tier, 3/. 3s. ; Two Pair, 21. 2s. ; Upper Boxes, 11. 11s. 0d : Pit Stalls, ls. : Pit, 7s. ; Gallery Stalls, ss. ; Gallery, 2s. 6d. App!i cation for tickets may he male at all the principal Lib rarians' and Musicsellers'; of Mr. Benedict, 2, Manchester square; and at the Box-office of the Theatre. TES BOUFFES PARISIENS-St. JAMES'S . THEATRE.-SECOND REPRESENTA TION, THIS EVENING (THURSDAY), May 21, the entertainments will commence at half-past S o'clock pre cisely, by the production of (for the second time in this country), Operate, en un Acte, M'SIEU LAN DRY: Guyot, M. Gerpre, Mdlle. Dalmont, and Mdlle. Mareschal. _ . _ _ After which which will be produced Chinoiserie Musicale, en un Aete, BA-TA-CLAN. Musique de Offenbach. Princi pal Characters by M. Pradeau, M. Gertpre, M. Guyot, and Mdlle. Dalmont. To conclude with Bouffonnerie, Musicale, en un Acte, LES DEUX AVEUGLES. Musique de Offenbach. Mons. Pradeau and Hons. Gertpre. The Orchestra of the Theatre des Bouffes will ace)m pany these Representations, under the direction of the composer, M. Offenbach. This Engagement being limited to one month, Performances will be given EVERY EVENING. Boxes, stalls, and tickets may be engaged at Mr. Mitchell's Royal Library, 33, Old Bond-street. HEA TR E-R 0 Y 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. 6,1., 25., and ls. 6d. ; Galleries, 6d. Doors open at half-past 7. Commence nt 8. First Equestrian Artistes in the World : —Madame Schap lain, Madame Neusome, La Petite Wells, Signora Delavauti, and Miss Ella ; Miss E. J. Wells, lldlles. Flora, Fabia, and and Marie, Misses Neusome, Moffittt, Delavanti, Pinter, Jen ' nin , rs ; the Manchester Boy, Masters J. Wells, A. Wells, E. Moffatt, fienrico and Carlo Delavanti, Sig. Felix Delavanti, Mons. Bocci, lions. Ferdinand, Mons Eugene, Mr. Tom S warm, Mr. B. Fuller, Mr. W. Fuller, and the great Shaks perian Clown, Wailett, will appear each evening in a series of Performances, original and unapproachable. Director—Mr. Stokes. Acting Manager—Mr. E. Stirling. T HEATRE ROYAL, HAYMARKET. Lessee—Mr. J. B. Buckstone. NEW ARRANGEMENT OF PRICES OF C OMISSION. THIS EVENING (May 21) to commence at Seven o'clock, with SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER. After whicl - 1, the successfu Classical Love Story, un der the Apple-lation of ATAL ANTA ; or, The Three Gllden Apples : in which Miss M. Oliver will appear; also Miss M. Wilton, and Miss Ellen Tolman. To conclude with AS LIKE AS TWO PEAS. In future the prices will be : Orchestra Stalls (which may be retained the whole of the evening), Cs. each. (No charge for booking.) First Price. s. C. Second price. s. C. Dress Boxes 5 olDress Boxes 3 0 Upper Boxes ... 3 0 Upper 80xe5...... Pit . Lower Gallery 1 0 Lower Gallery . 0 6 Upper Gallery 0 ti No half-price to Upper Gallery. T HEATRE ROYAL, A DELPHI. Les=ee—Mr. Ben. `Webster. THIS EVENING, will be performed a new and original drama, entitled JOSEPH CHAVIGNY ; or, Under the Thumb. Ben. Webster, Paul Bedford, Madame Celeste, &c. Followed by a new Farce, called FEARFUL TRAGEDY IN THE SEVEN DIALS. To conclude with the new and original domestic sketch, entitled WELCOME, LITTLE STRANGER. Mr. Wright, Mr. Paul Bedford, 1 17) OYAL SURREY THEATRE, Leggeeq, Messrs. Shepherd and Crqswick. THIS EVENING will be performed MATHILDE. Mr. Crcswick, &c. After which, THE THREE WONDERS OF PEKIN. To conclude with 102 ; or, The Veteran and his Progeny. Mr. \Viddicomb, &c. 10 OYAL OLYMPIC THEATRE. It Lessee, Mr. Alfred Wigan. THIS EVENING will be mrformed a new drama, called DADDY lIARDACRE. Mr. Robson, &c. To conclude with YOUNG AND HANDSOME. Messrs Robson, G. Murray, &c. Commence at half-past Seven. TRAND THE AT M c. T. Payne.—THlS EVENING will he er, perform en THE MIDNIGHT HOUR. Messrs. J. Neville, G. Lee, W, Suter, Howard, Wilstone, and Miss Onthbert. After which, ROLFE'S G /SSIPING CONCERT. Followed by OVER THE WAY. Mr. Kinloch, Mrs, Woollidge, and Miss Craven. Commence at Seven. Stalls, 3s. ; floxes, 2s. ; Pit, is. Gallery, ea. 4 STLETS ROYAL AMP IT ITFIEATRE AND OPERA HOUSE. Lessee and Manager, Mr. W. Cooke. Mr, WILLIAM COOKE begs to announce that TINS EVENING (Thursday), will be produced, for the fourth time at this theatre, Verdi's far-famed Opera of IL TROVA TORE ; cr, The Gipsy's Vengeance. The whole of the Recitatives and Music as performed at the Italian Opera, with Grand Eptestrian Illustrations, New Scenery, Costumes, and Appointments. The following celebrated Artistes are engaged • - - Miss Rebecca Isaacs, Mr. Augustus Braham, Miss Marian Edwards, Mr. Brookhotr , e Bowler, Miss M. Somers, Mr. Francis Kirby, and Mr. J. A. Leffler, and Miss Fanny ifluddart. Mr, Borrani. Composer and Director —Herr Meyer Lutz. Manager and Director of the oPers--Mr Augustus Braham. To conclude with Peerless a..)d Classic SCENES in the CIRCLE, by the First Artistes in the World. Commence at seven o'clock. 21:oress Boxes, 4s, ; Upper Boxes, 3s. ; Private Boxes, from ll s., n o o d eharg e for bo o ki ng; Pit, 1 4 . ; Gallery, ls. ; Upper Ga ery, alf . will take pl ace N o ti ce —During the Opera Season H-price at 9 o'clock. Box-office open from Eleven till Four. Stage Manager, Mr. W. West. Equestrian Director, Mr. W. Cooke, jun. St. Mary-le-Strand ! So that that abominable Westminster-road and disreputable lane, called H o ly we ll St ree t, ma y OPEN EVERY CANTERBU RY EVENING. --The HALL. .-- .—Tiie follow- become as utterly a thi ng o f th e pas t as any o th er Lim company o f V oca li s t s are engag ed for the performance of of th e foul plague-spots of London already re- Selections from all th e p o p u l ar Op era s, Madrigals, Choruses, ^ Glees, Duets, &c., viz. : Miss E. Pearce, Mrs. J. Caulfield, moved tor ever from the light of day—such, for Miss Brunell, miss Summers, and Madame Marietta; Mr. J. example, as the squalid slums of St. Giles a, a n d th e Caulfield, Herr P. J ong h mans, R. Grover, T. Farrant, S. " Jones, J. Barker, W. M e lli ng , P. C orr i , S enor Antonio M. drunken, hungry dens" of Alsatia, that favoured de Solla, and E. L. !limo.; Masters Bennett and Corn; Messrs. Sam Cowell, S am Collins and E. Mackney. , haunt of yore of th e cut-throat_ and the prosti , Pianoforte, Mr. Cecil Hick s; harmonium, J. Caulfield, jun.; ! tute. We have still, o f course, to begin from the director, Mr. J. Caulfield. Com mence at seven o'clock Pre'' cisely, Suppers, *O., until twelve o'clock, very beginning with regard t) the obstructive old /11 S'L' NEWS. FRANCE. PARIS, WEDNESDAY EVENING. A Council of Ministers, at which the Emperor presided, was hold yesterday morning at Fontaine bleau. In the afternoon, their Majesties, accom panied by the King of Bavaria, the Grand Duchess of Baden, the Duchess of Hamilton, and the other. guests at the palace,, took a drive in the forest ni chars a banes. In the evening, all the Court assem bled in the garden, and were present at a night fete. A number of morceaux were sung by the ar tistes and chorus of the opera, who were placed in the summer house which stands in the centre of the large piece of water, whilst boats ornamented with Venetian lanterns rowed about in every direction. Fireworks, principally consisting of pieces which ran along the surface of the water, terminated the evening, which was favoured by delightful weather. It is said that a conference will be held in Paris, composed of Representatives of the various Powers who have signed treaties of commerce with Persia, in order to agree to an arrangement which will apply to all the consular agents in Peasia. The conference will take place during the stay of the Persian Ambassador in Paris. A letter from Berlin, of the 17th inst., in the Constitutionnel, says : "It is very certain that the autograph letter from the Emperor of the French to the King of Prussia has exercised great influence on the late occasion with respect to Neuchatel. Hitherto, Count de Hatzfeld could only consent generally to the project of mediation, hut he was anxious to obtain the preservation of the original wording of Art. 7, and the re-establishment of the article rela tive to the revision of the constitution. On these conditions alone he was authorised to give up the indemnity of a million. It is precisely to these conditions that the letter from the Emperor of the French related. It stated that the project of me diation was the maximum of what France had been able to obtain, and that any further modification of the treaty already accepted by Switzerland might be attended with the most serious conse quences, as England supported Switzerland in her opposition. The letter, morever, remarked that, with the guarantee of all the great powers, it was not necessary to change the wording of Art. 7, - the proposed mediation of the powers having the same object as the Prussian wording, namely, to gua rantee the church pioperty in Neufchatel. It lastly . declared that to add an article relative to the revi sion of the constitution would be impossible with out risking the failure-of all attempt at, conciliation. Count de Hatzfeld consequently received milers to sign the treaty purely and simply. The King, who at first was opposed to any pecuniary indemnity, and only demanded one in the hope of making., Switzerland agree to other concessions on his aban doning it, ordered Count de Hatzfeld to strike out the clause about the payment of a million." BOURSE, May 20.—The following were the last quotations : Cash. tr. a. 4i per Cents 91 20 End of Month. 91fr. 30.:. 69 3Ver Cents 69 Bank Shares 4,500 Credit Mobilier 1,270 Roman . Do. Account 1,275 Austrian Belgian 4 • - 981— Spanish Threes.. Piedinontese (5) 9O 50 Home Debt RAILWAYS—FOR CASH. Ir. c. f r c. Orleans 1,4622— Western Northern 1 — Lyons 1,4829 New Ditto Mediterranean 1,930 Grand Central Geneva t — Midi RUSSIA. A. letter from St. Petersburg of the 12th says that the birth of an Imperial Prince (already an nounced by telegraph) was made known to the in habitants of that city by the firing of 301 guns from the ramparts of the fortress. The newly born Prince has of course received the title of Grand Duke and Imperial Highness. As already stated he is the fifth son and sixth child of the Emperor and Empress ; the eldest son of their Majesties is now nearly 14 years of age. General Bethancourt, aide-de-camp of the Emperor, has been charged to convey the news of the birth to the Empress Dowager, and Colonel Samsonoff, arother aide-de-camp, to the Court of Darmstadt. In consequence of the birth, the Court has given lup the six days' mourning which it had ordered I for the Duchess of Saxony, and the Duchess of Gloucester. The Emperor, on the occasion of the residence of the Dowager Empress at Nice, has granted decorations to several Sai di nian dignitaries—the grand cross of St. Alexander Newski, in diamonds, to Count de Cavour, and the same, without, diamonds, to General La tharmora ; the order of St. Anne, of the first class, to Cheva lier Paleocapa, Minister of Public Works, and that of the White Eagle to Count Nigra, minister of the King's household. Count Esterhazy, minister of Austria, Lavin; obtained leave of absence, had had his final audience of the Emperor. According to another letter from St. Petersburg, in the Nord of Brussels, the Russian troops in the Caucasus had advanced into the very heart of the Tcbetchnia, and General Baron Nicolai had carried, after a brilliant assault, the entrenchments thrown up by the Circassians between the rivers Amala and Yaryk, and known as the gales of Guetemir. The mountaineers sent by Scbamyl to defend the posi tion bad, it is added, been put to flight. PRUSSIA. A letter from Berlin of the 17th says :—" The result of the labours of the commission charged to draw up a commercial code for all Germany is shortly to be publisher], and will set forth the gene ral measures proposed to be adopted. When the commercial code, properly so called, shall be com pleted, the maritime code will be taken in hand ; but the commission will go from Nuremburg to Hamburg to draw it up. The commission, too, will be less numerous than at present, as the petty states of the interior of Germany will not be repre sented at it." Another letter from Berlin of the 17th, in the Cologne Gazelle, says :—" On Wednesday last, an English deputation arrived here with the view of completing the arrangements making for the grand assembly of Evangelical Christians which is to take place here in September next. The deputation was received by the King at Potsdam two days back, and it presented to his Majesty an address from the Evangelical Alliance of England. The members of the deputation had the honour of dining with the King in the evening. ITALY. The Opinione of Turin, which is known for its strong political feeling against Austria, has the following in its number of the 18th :—" A few days ago, at Padua, a party of students, who had been merry-making in the country, and had, on returning, assembled before the Cafe del Vittoria on the Piazza del Signori, the usual resort of stu dents, were addressed in severe language by the officer of the guard stationed there, who bid them not make such a noise. Words ensued, and the officer at length caused them to be charged with the bayonet. Two students were wounded, and others arrested, merely for having made some inoffensive noise, without giving the slightest cause of um brage to the police." We must now wait to hoar the account given of the affray by the other party. A letter from Genoa of the 16th, in the Constittc tionnel, says : "Comrnandeur Boncompagni bas been sum moned to Turin by telegraph, and has left the lega tion at Florence in the call of the Count de Cavour. It was at first mentioned that the reason of this step was to send him to Bologna to congratulate the Pope on his arrival. M. Boncompagni, how ever, would be ill-suited for such a mission, al it was he who proposed the law on civil marriage, which caused such displeasure to his holiness. This consideration gives more probability to another version—that of a reconciliation with Austria. It was in his private interviews with the Grand Duke of Tuscany that M. Boncompagni is said to have given explanations relative to the rupture, expla-: nations with which Leopold 11. is said to have been so much struck as to have been induced to open conciliatory negotiations with the Austrian ambassador. Count de Buol is said to have found the explanations transmitted to him by his envoy worthy of attention, and it is after this exchange of notes between Florence and Vienna that the Count de Cavour is said to have sent for M. Bon compagni, in order to confer with him as to the possibility of coming to a satisfactory conclusion." The session of the Diet of the Grand Duchy of Saxe Weimar was closed on the 16th by a speech from the Minister of State, in the name of the Grand Duke. • SPAIN. The following private te!egraphic desp a t c h h as been received : - "MADRID, MAY 19. " M. Lafragua, the Mexican Envoy, has had a second conference with M. Pidel, Minister of Foreign Affairl. but nothing has transpired as to the purport of it. Marshal Narvaez has rectified a qe?ch he made in the Senate. He declares that he never intended to accuse any Ministry in particular with having been the CallB3 of the movement et 1854, as the fault was with all the Ministries, including has nwn. This rectification pro duced a favourablelcupression on the Senate and on the public mind." , The principal contents of the Madrid papers of the 16th have been already given by telegraph, A screw frigate of 34 guns, called the Petreniln, had been launched at Carthrgena on the 13th, in honour of the King's birth-day. Tile squadron destined to ac', if necessaty, against Mexico, and which carries a strong body of troops, had, after repairing the damage sustained from bad weather, sailed a second time from Cadiz for Cuba. The Journal de Francfort contains a letter from Giessen of the ]6th, announcing the death of Count de Lehrbach, Grand Marshal of the Court of Hesse Darmstadt, from the accidental discharg e of a carbine which he was about to try in firing 11' a mark in a shooting ground. M. de Lehrbach was Minister of War at Darmstadt from 1849 to 1854. Prince Oscar of Sweden arrived at Lubeck cn . the 14th in the steamer G au thi o d o f th e Swedish navy. A letter from Stockholm, in the National Gazet te ' says :—" The health of the King appears to be nearly restored ; at least he pr es id e d yesterday 3 t the sitting of the Council of State. There wal truth in the rumour that the P r i nce Rcyal wove he charged with the direction of affairs during t"" King's indisposition. Tha Crown Prince is at riv sent on a tour in Norway." DEFALCATION OF AN INCOME TA,r COLLECTOR. On Monday evening a densely-crowded meetitig of tradesmen and shipowners was held in the To 0 : 0 ball, North Shields—the MAYOR in the chair A take into consideration what measures should adopted to resist the payment of a re-assessn 36 , l income tax, which had bee n or d ere d t o b e made J 0 the Tynemouth district to make up a deficiency f 1,7001., arising through the defalcation of Thom Briggs, t , bacconist. The circumstances disclos'„, during the meeting exhibit th e i m p era ti ve n eces'i l l e f that there is for a compl e t e rev i s i on o f th e mode ti collecting ass esse d t axes i n thi s coun t r y, 5. i 0 also the red tape and circumlocution that are be found in our public offices. Briggs was :p r; pointed with a M r . J. Phili pson, a draper, to to ll the asse tsed ta xes i n 1854-5 . P hilipson , however, , - 3 fused to collect, at any rate he did not a nd irr avoided respen s ibilit y ; and Briggs gave no sec b : lo ties. Of this the pa r i s h was i gnorant. Briggs' r entrusted by the local commissioners with the l e dales, books, and receipts for the whole year. „ a d appears to have beenthen i n diffi cu l t i es. H e bash all the taxes he collected in his own name, and ba appropriated 1,200/, of them to meet hi s : own deb:, He continued to collect the tax unchecked, until be found himself on the eve of bankruptcy, whe' i til t took 1,9001. to the government disti ict collector , he he refused to receive it on any other day than he oneit wasmade due, and not then except it was 4 whole sum to be collected. Briggs then trieu tbe bank it to the account of the government, bilt, 6 banks refused it, and h e u lti mate ly h an d e d it tol o , Kewney, a solicitor. B r i ggs th en b ecam e 133 0 rupt. As his affairs were passing through t y court, his assignees heard of the money in 1 ,1 hands of Mr. Kewney, and demanded that it sh° 4 : be paid into the estate ; and, as the law autliclv those proceedings, 5001. of it was paid int o , l y, Bankruptcy Court, and the creditors realised b o d in the pound, Briggs r ece i v i ng hi s ma i n t ena nce his law expenses out of this misappropriated nl° )i1 The 5001. and the 1,200/. of which he was origin deficient, made up his defalcations to 1,700 1 . has since recommenced business, and is 10 . bi trade in Shields. The committee reported t° meeting that they had made several fruitless sP t ti cations to the Board of Inland R evenu e W o e press the re-assessment, but they d en i e d that t L had any jurisdiction, and referred them t c ' t bel, local commissioners, who inform e d th em that were acting upon instructions from the In Revenue. There seemed but two alternative! sel, to the ratepayers —repay the money for which already held rec e ipt s , or fi g ht it ou t i n a coll! law. A considerable sum was collected Il l, " view to the latter course, and it was deter° to urge the member (Mr. Lindsay) to bring r a subject before parliament ; f or , no t w i t hstac'd that the parish had protested against it, thcr r oi sent collectors were allowed t o co ll ec t the ce' ve o taxes without having given any security what% A resolution was adopted p ra yi ng parliament' relieve the tradesmen of the country of the ree d to sibility of collecting the assessed taxes, 0 4 60 appoint regular sala r i e d o ffi cers , th e same as " engaged in collecting the municipal taxes. LICENSED VICTUALLERS' Asyao • cia'l The anniversary of this very meritorious stli,,e was held yesterday a t Hi g hb ury -b arn, when was an attendance of the friends of the instituo in number exceeding 600. The gentleme l3 ,o supported the chairman Mr. T. Bass, were Sir J. Duke, M.P., ' Mr. It. Hanbury, Js ' o ? Mr. A. S. Ay r t on , M.P., M r .. Edwin 0 LI. Q.C., and Messrs. E. Wigan, H. Wigs. i Nicholas, E. H. Keeting, H. Huggins, A. J. Child, John Child, G. Smith, &c. Tb e Jom ject of the society is to provide an O . 7 tY i for the aged, infirm, and d eca y e d mem bers ° t trade. It is supported, among others, bf" brewers, distillers and wine and spirit mere'', and the asylumnow consists of 126 separatl tations. The soci e ty h as a l so erected a cllbeta with a clergyman of the Church of England, ' p ou services are performed d a ily, an d t w i ce oil "04; Sunday. There are at present 142 ini, l33 t lte,' Daring the period o f 27 years t h e trade avuoro/ friends and connections have contributed uP,", of 80,0001. t o prov id e an asylum for t',oo deption and comfort of the less fort j'Y members of their particular calling. dinner on the present occasion was ser .ve eu fi by Mr. Hinton, the proprietor of the establisli ll g' in a very liberal s tyl e , an d th e c h a i rman (Alr'icel:t proposed the usual loyal t oas t s i n t erms tha t responded to by the company with the be ilo o) . ; enthusiasm. A report w as rea d b y Mr. ' 4 . fec f e i Jones, the Secretary, w hi c h i n su b stance s s " t the facts above stated, an d announce d tha t ' amount of the subscription d ur i ng th e 3,5651. The com p a ny was th en addressed " :1 91 Edwin James, Mr. Ayiton, Mr. Hanbur4'gre", other gentlemen, and after a very social and 1 , 1 , able meeting th© la r g e ass e m bl age b ro ke little parties, and availed themselves of the P,' o rt grounds that are attached t o th e b u ilding " the remainder of the evening., THE SOUND DUES. According to the treaty just conclude cl ijn ' ie; Denmark for the redemption of the Sound, 0, the sum to_be paid by England is 1,125,20 6 ,;' 0 ,rn i ' aggregate from all countries will be 3, 8 9 %5 4 , Great Britain being the first on the list, 'j, , tv second, and Prussia third. All the other tet i s i sfor h insignificant, excepting those of Sweden way and France. Subjoined are the State 00 0 have entered into the convention, and the 04 7 amounts they have engaged to contribute Great Britain £1,125 , 2 „ 0 , 6, Austria 3,21" Belgium Bremen France Hamburg Hanover Lubeck Mecklenburg Norway Oldenburg Netherlands Prus ,, ia Russia Sweden 24, 03 135,4 3 , 11,8 9 0 13,7 1 " 10,3 3 ‘ , 41,5 1,' 74,15 v 156, 451 1 49 0 7 f X3,385 ,13 '0' c ; the remainin g 500 , 0001 . w ill compr i se a Ou,'li , reP r 's small arn ounts f rom countr i es which were 11°: sented in the convention. The two largerorev,:t among these will be America, 79,0001., an d flo e,. 56,0001. According to one article of the e s - 0 0 ; the several Powers are to have the option ( ;',DOr', / diately paying in full, or of spreading the " 1 101 3 ", i went over 20 years in equal half•yeariy inst al with interest, which appears to be contei ll ji t li. 93 il 4 per cent. F rom th e spec i a l arrangem e nt to t " be :1;111 land, h owever , i t seems t h at the sum is " within three months after the requisite he have been passed by Parliament." on d' The collection o f th e S oun d D ues cea se- ,, o )", Ist of last mo n th, an d on th e prev i o us 11 % r eln" rj e morial was presented. to the Danish for compensation to the 35 agency firms ',his 131 ' 0 ' who have hitherto devoted themselves t°,,,` new. Acting between the Government 011:610';, the shipowners and consignors liable tb r loth P ag e their services have been of equal value t. 0 in "to ties, and, en they went into the occupa tro _ op t G o vern o w e boa w belief that the title of the Danish the dues being indefeasible and would occur to affect their position, thei r j, reoe l appears,hard, and will, it may be aEsurne' favourable consideration per petual n ose 0,00 DEATH OF MR. ROBERT BURNS. - -- Lb ° .. ........ ------- 4 . BOO" : o f oldest son of the ___Rober. wo os' . ... Poet, died at Dumfries ou ' b 6tbe r '' last. His decease was not usespected, bis tw° - 1 1. / I° l Colonel William Burns and Lieutenant-001one- baviil, Barns, who era usually resident in Cbelten):%ul,,'vticiP; both teen in Dumfries fur several days pae , 1 a c`' 3s e Lion of the melancholy event. Mr. Robert Du rl ' d s o 0 0; man of very considerable ability, and P 13 :1 v ari. o o thing of hereditary talent in the production ° _ it uall.. o songs. Early in life he entered a Government b o a DP , in London, from which he retired on a pensiol!fe 0 04 been resident for a number of years in his OW Deceased was in his 77th year, ,r-~"' ke 3111 10'