Northern Times. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-08-18 00:00:00

SMITHSONIAN HOTEL, BROADWAY, Corner of 110I7STON-STREZT, New Yo NE. Na red in honour of the SMITHSONIAN INsTircTios, Established at WASHINGTON, by the. U. S. CONGRESS, With Funds bequeathed by Jamss SuiTusoN. of ENGLAND, Having the Friendship of the 0 FFICESs of the NATIONAL INSTITUTION' Is conducted on the EUROPEAN FLAN. CHAS. H. SMITH. CO mut yr i 5 pan. At half-past one o'clock, at H. H. Golding's saleroom, Corn Exchanga, BruniAiek-strest, about 200 J quarters Indian Corn.—J. and M Harnett. At half-past one o'clock, at the broker's oftlze, Corn Factange-bull ings, 63 sacks ,11 opshire Flour,—H. G,;(Ling. A: tw , l7e o'clock, at the brokers' Co'onial buildings, alie n tierces, 3 barrels and 1 bag Jamaica Caffea.—Bushoy and Co. At twelve o'clozic, 23 bales Mocha Coffee.—Finlay, La, rence and Lance. At twelve o'clock, at the brokers' office, Oldhall-street, about a ton of oose Hemp.—Giatht - one and tt.erjeantson. At twelve oVock, at the broker's office, Victoria-buildings, hey, 500 bales Jute.—T. W. and.J. C. Harro,, and Co. V,F47' For particulate see alveedsmenti. A;'•IUSEAENTS, PUTI3LtC &e. THIS VAT. TREATRE ROYAL —lt4liau Op ra-8 &net. AssessruzArag—Dramatic Pe rtornince-7 p.m. CLAYTON HALL, Claytnn-square—Gordon Cumming-8 p.m. Row. ' , moss R um—General Entertainment-6. so p.m. ZooLoalcAL GAlDENi—Grand and Varied Ent 'rtainmente. ALLlaor's CRYSTAL PALACE:, Lima-street —lO a.m. to 10 p.m. r"'• F n particulars see advertisements. iri C -414 fi rf It t r ll lilF. ..,#,ivi , ~., S 1 4 , i&iiiii :43 4 TUESDAY, AUGUST 19, 1857. THE DAY'S NEWS. The House of Lords met at the usual hour yesterday afternoon. Atter the Royal assent had been given to a number of public and private hills, and other miscellaneous business had been transacted, a discussion ensued on the ease of the judgment creditors of the Tipperary bank, when the Lord Chancellor proposed that their Lordships should yield to the amendments made in the Joint Stock Company's Bill, granting to thejalgment creditors the dividend of 26. in the pound, but that they should not have any further dividend, or recourse to any other remedy beyond that possessed by them in right of their judgments against the lands affected by the same. The Commons amendments to several bills were agreed to, and the House adjourned. The Commons had an early sitting. The first business was a motion by Sir James Graham, for the appointment of a select committee to inspect their Lordships' journals relative to the Mersey Conservancy Bill. After the motion hid been agreed to, the further consideration of the Divorce and Matrimonial Causes Bill was resumed, and some progress was made with t h e clauses un decided.d. At the Evening Sitting Sir James Graham brought up the report of the select com mittee appointed at the Morning Sitting, to consi der and report on the Mersey Conservancy Bill They recommended that the bill be postponed to that day three months. The Right Hon. Baronet then introduced a bill in accordance with the inti mation given by him in the morning; it was after a short discussion read a first and a second time. Mr. Fitzroy then moved that it he referred to the committee of selection, and that no petition against it be received after two o'clock on Wednesday. The other orders of the day were disposed of, and the house separated. There is not a ny local intelligence of importance this morninv. The trials at the Assiz2s progress, but as yct the cases heard in either Court were of the ordinary character, and do not call for any remark. The Central Criminal Court was opened at the Old Bailey, London, yesterday. The Com mon Ssrgeant addressed the grand jury, alluding particularly to the charge of manslaughter against the of&ials connected with the North Kent Rail way. Much regret has been expressed at the mishap which has befallen to the Atlantic Telegraph Cable. Hopes, however, are still entertained that the dis aster will be remedied. We observe that a meeting of the directors will be held during the week to decide upon the elan of future operations. We are afraid that the completion of the undertaking will be retarded until next summer, for the season is fast approaching when the swell in the Atlantic will not a!low the cable to be laid down with any thing approaching cert a i n ty or secur i ty . Respecting the war in India, we are glad to learn that preparations are going on all over the country, in order to despatch an army of 30,000 men to the scene of the insurrection in Bengal, The more the late news is scanned, the more anxious do all classes of the people become for the arrival of another mail, in the hope that it may bring some tidings of the fall of Delhi, and the subjugation of the mutineers. We give, in to-day's publication, the particulars of a terrific thunderstorm, which took place in Manchester, and parts of Yorltshire, on Saturday, by which considerable damage was done to the • growing crops, and no less than twelve lives lost. It appears that the storm was general all over the kingdotn. These storms have already had their influence upon Mark-lane. Yesterday holders Of wheat, fi•)ur, Oats, and Indian corn, were enabled to obtain advanced prices. Owing to the non-arrival of the French, Spanish, and Itehan m ails, our Continental ncws this morning is somewhat vague. From Paris we learn that it was believed, in well-informed quarters, in case the government succeed in procuring the conviction, during his absence, for contumacy, of M. Ledru Rollin, a demand will at once be made to our cabinet, under the extradition treaty, for the apprehension and surrender of that individual. No one doubts that a conviction will be readily obtained, the intervention of a jury in such eases not being necessary. It is further stated that already ccmmueications on thin snhj-et of a private sort have passed between Count Walewski and Lord Cowley. The latter has, it is believed, ad mitted that such a conviction would bring M. Ledru it' °ilia within the provisions of the extradition treaty. It is added that M. Ledru Rollin either has already left-, or intends to leave England for the United States. The Emperor and Empress left Paris yesterday for Biarritz We learn that the affair of the great robbery of the Northern Railway will come before the Assize Court of the Seine on the 26th instant, and is expected to occupy five days. The prisoners have just been privately interrogated by M. Pre sident Roussigne. M. Lachaud will defend Car pentier, Grellet, and Guerin. M. E. Datture is counsel for Parod. The company, as parlie eicile, is represented by M. Choix d'Esange. Tne reduction of the R uss i an arm y, a measure which will instead of diminishin,f the military power of th e G reat Eastern Empire, is now in a fair way of execution The reduction first takes place in the Guards, the strength of which will be reduced from eighty thousand to fifty thousand men, the number of regiments remaining the same, but their stairi as well as their rank and file being diminished. It seems. however, that the number of regimental officer s of the lower grades, in whom the real strength of an army lies, is not t o h e di m i nis h e d. It is expected that afterwarls the whole army will be reduced in the same proportion, which would send back 150,000 men to their homes and to productive labour. On the other hand, the Government seems inclined to increase the strength of the navy. A Russian s qua d ron i s to b e d espatc h e d to the Chinese seas. Some of the St. Petershura journals have become enamoured all a t onc e w ith the project of piercing the Isthmus of Suez. Constantinople letters 'of the 7th inst. mention that no efforts had been spared on the part of the Sultan and his Ministers to bring about an arrange ment eatiefaetory to All partus, and avoid the rup ture which has unfortunately taken place. To the note of the French Ambassador, complaining that the Ministry did not treat the demands of the French Government with proper deference, the Sultan replied by dismissing the Grand Vizier Redschid Pasha. The new Ministry, with the venerable Mustanha Pasha of Crete at their head, immediately proceeded to examine a second time the demantis of the French Ambassador. The latest bulletins of the s' - ate of health of King Oscar of S‘Veden are of a serious nature. The death of tb2t. monarch would not be without in fluence on the turn of events in the three Scandi navian kingdoms. Vienna letters represent the gov,ernment of that empire as disposed to abstain from defending the elections in the Principalities, but decided to use all means to prevent the union. his also stated that in virtue of the currency treaty between Austria and the other German States, the Vienna Bank will have to resume its cash payments Gn January 1, 1859, but it is by no means clear that it will be in a position to do so with safety. At present the reserve fund of the Bank is but 94,500,000f1., with a paper circulation of nearly 391,000.000f1. The monied world is of opinion that the Bank would speedily get out of its difficulties if it were to raise a loan on the domains ceded to it by the State, but it is doubtful whether Government would authorise it to do so. The domains in question are valued at 155,000,0001, and there would hardly be any great difficulty in obtaining a loan on them if it were what is called a " lottery loan." Oua readers have, ere this, peruse.d the copious details of the news from India. On Saturday we devoted a considerable portion of our space for the purpose of giving every item of interest and importance bearing upon the subject. We are sorry that they should be called upon to peruse a narrative of such horrid butcheries and bruta lity; nevertheless there is the consoling reflec tion that we possess the power and ability, not only to suppress the emule, but also to place our rule in India upon a more enlarged, secure, and permanent basis. This will be readily inferred when we consider that the Mutineers are without a definite object —proper leaders, or even re sources. Drea.lful though the affair may be, we cannot look at it as anything more than a military revolt. In every engagement which they entered, through the skill of the British generals and the heroism of their brave and daring soldiers, the enemy have been worsted, and given evidence of their inability to cope with the power and authority of Great Britain. This, however, should not cause any relaxation on the part of Government, either at Home or in India, in exerting every possible means fur inflicting signal vengeance upon the rebellious miscreants who have unhumanly sacrificed our fellow countrymen and countrywomen and their helpless offspring. General BARNARD, we are told, was waiting the arrival of reinforcements, in order to compel the insurgents at Delhi to surrender At the date of the last advices from that city his operations seemed to ba confined in defending his own position from the attacks of the Delhi garrison, which also continued to receive reinforcements and give evidence of a desire to fight. They had made several, but in effectual sorties, and they encountere.l a British force under General VAN CORTLAND, and were compelled to fly, leaving 200 of their adherents upon the field. These, as we have said before, are encouraging items of news. Still, we should not fancy that the task before us is easy, and that we can without a desperate effort subdue the rebels who have risen against us. As yet we are not aware of the power and strength of the enemy, and although no doubt can be enter- tained of the final results of the struggle, it would be madness to underrate the importance of the enemy. Besides this w.. have the Chinese alLir on our hands, and although our gunboats have made a few successful exploits on the Canton waters we must not expect that the Mandarins of China and the &Toys of India are to be put down in such a way as many of our metropo litan and provincial cotenaporaries imagine. When we were at war with Itasia we despised her naval and military power, and spoke of the c( ultry with contempt, and its people as bar barians. In due time we learned, by painful experie ice, that the enemy was not only power ful, but talented in military genius, almost beyond anything England could lay claim to. Then we were told of the ravages of disease in S2hasto pol,—now, we are consoled with the assurance that Dilhi is full of sick and wounded, as if every city subjected to a siege must not be. The news to hand, verities, to a great extent, the predictions of Mr. Drstunt, when he called attention to the affairs in India on Tuesday last. While, therefore, there is no danger of the overthrow of British rule in India, we must not expect to subdue the mutinous Sepoys without a struggle. In the accounts just received, there is much to encourage the hope that, ere many weeks pass over, we shall have news of the complete suppression of the rovolt, and that ample retribution has been inflicted upon the perpetrators of the atrocities which darkened the pages of Saturday's publication. England owes it to herself and to the civilised world, to hunt down the miscreants who have murdered in the most bloody, brutal, and cowardly manner, English officers and their wives and children; cost what it may, either in treasure or blood, India must be made an example of. A people so treacherous and blood thirsty as the Indian Sepoys, must be taught a lesson they will not forget ; and although they may not relish our own power and control over them, it is our duty to insist that in tly:ir case we shall be masters. From what has taken place it is perfectly clear that we have been too indulgent to the native troops, and the chi.-1 fault of our Indian rule is, that we have pampered the native forces to an extent which has now threatened our governmental power among them; let, then, the errors of the past guide us in ruling thii THE NORTHERN TIMES.-LIVERPOOL, TUESDAY, AUGUST 18. 1857. vast empire for the future. Disaffection prevails to an alarming extent, that must be put down instantly and effectively, and then we can calmly consider how, as the rulers of such a populace, we can best govern them, and pre vent any future outbreaks of the present calamitous character. No one who loves his country or his kind can doubt the wisdom of such policy. India must be taught to respect us and to fear us,—respect us for our wise and salutary government, and fear us for the overwhelming power and force of arms, both by sea and land. MosT of the great enterprises which human skill and genius have devised, and carried to a successful issue, have begun with a partial failure. The Atlantic Telegraph would be a realisation of one of the grandest ideas that has ever dawned upon the mind of man—that of linking together two continents by a maternal bond, a type and symbol, we trust, of that moral bond of amity and good-will that should link together the people of the old world and the new. We are not, therefore, surprised or dis couraged by the fact reported on Friday last, that a serious accident had occurred to the Atlantic Telegraph, by which about three hundred miles of the cable are for the present lost. So great an undertaking, dependent for its success on so many concurring causes and instrum°nts, conducted on an element proverb ially unstable, could hardly be expected to escape without accident or mishap. But of the final success there can be no reasonable doubt. The experiments, up to the moment when the cable broke, establish the practicability of the grand project, and promise ultimate success. The accident is supposed to have occurred owing to the unecessary weight and power of the paying-out machinery, which required the great est skill and caution in its management. This had been pointed out by engineers and others who had been on board the Niagara before the expedition set out. We repeat, however, that this mishap at the beginning does not interfere with the final accomplishment. Part of the cable will certainly be recovered. No informa tion has yet been obtained as to what the directors may do under the cirumstances ; but Mr. CYRUS Finn), the projector of the Company, and principal American director, who was on board the Niagara at the time of the accident, has returned to Valentia in the steamer Cyclops, and gone direct to London. A meeting of the directors of the Company was held last Saturday, the result of which is not yet known, but of which our readers shall have early intimation. Though we are net conjurors enough to know what the directors will do, we will yet venture to offer a suggestion on what might, could, would, or should be done, and we tender it gratuitously, without fee or reward, to all whom it may concern. Probably the season is too far advanced to permit of repeating the experiment this year, and possib!y, too, after the loss of so much cable, it might be considered that the remaining portion is of insufficient length to justify the attempt. Sup posing, then, the directors to decide against proceeding with the undertaking this year, what is to be done, and what is the best use that could be made of the occasion. Our suggestion is, that the government should purchase the Atlantic cable, and employ it, without delay, in England to India. It might run from Suez down the Red Sea to Bombay, or, perhaps, preferably from the head of the Persian Gulf to Bombay.. We should then be placed in imme diate contact with the scene of the existing rebellion. We could have immediate intelli gence of what it now concerns us to know ; it might save, or help to save, our Eastern empire; It would at once communicate a magnificent idea of the power of England, and the promptitude and decsion of the men who are now at the helm of affairs. It would impart courage to our valiant countrymen, who would thus combat, if not in sight, almost within hearing, of their homes and kindred. The cable is all shipped, and ready for laying down. Magnificent vessels and crews are equipped for the service. Much time would be saved. The government, by giving a fair price, • might save pe cuniary loss to the shareholders, and • while the nation would acquire what it most needs at this moment—a rapid means of communication with India—the directors would also gain what is most advantageous for the interests—we do not say, of the shareholders—but what is most advantageous for the interests of commerce and civilisation, and of the whole human race. It is a world-wide interest, that this Atlantic cable should be laid down successfully and securely. By next summer the directors would have time to prepare another telegraphic cable, and they could make such alterations and improvements as their late experience suggests. This is the rule draft of an idea, that others more competent may work out into detail. This year let the cable stretch eastward to India ; another year, remedy ing any oversight that may have been committed, let another cable be prepared to stretch westward. Let us first bridge the Indian Ocean t this is more urgently required at the present moment. Calcutta will then be ten minutes from London We can afterwards more securely throw a similar chain across the Atlnntic, .and thus will be realised the boldest dream of fancy and philan thropy—a girdle will be thrown round the world; the Atlantic will be bridged with lightning,. That iron chain which has sunk into the sea— that Symbol of eternity and mirror .of lrie Infinite —will represent the golden chain of love, and friendship, and brotherhood, which, we trust, will one day unite the whole human race into one glorious and peaceful federation ; and so the voice of ancient prophecy will receive its fulfil ment—" Knowledge shall cover the earth as the waters cover the channel of the great deep" The Shareholders in the Great Western Rail way have held their half-yearly meeting, and despite the unpromising state of their affairs, they have not taken any decided steps to bring about an improved system of management. We grant that a "Committee of Investigation," such as suggested in our paper on Friday, is a course not to be hastily adopted, as it not unfre quently leads to serious and unpleasant results. From our previous remarks, it is evident that the expenditure of the Great Western Railway has been extravagant in the extreme, and that the Bonded Debt and Preferential Claims have been increasing with fearful rapidity. Seeing the state in which the Company's affairs were pro gressing, the directors appointed a committee from among themselves, to investigate their liabilities and expenditure ; but fearing the indignation of the shareholders might overtake them, they offered a compr3mise on Friday, and agreed to allow four shareholders to join in the director's deliberations. The very terms in which this proposal was made demonstrated that the directors felt that their past proceedings were not entitled to absolute approval or confidence, and the chairman pointed out the expediency of continuing to give them their support, as it would tend to strengthen the position of the Company in the eyes of the public. This, how ever, is very doubtful, especially if we bear in mind that the dividend has dwindled down to 1 per cent. upon a capital if 8,237,2761. At the same time, the directors were holding out golden hopes and promises as to future success. " Hope deferred maketh the heart sick," and we should have thought the shareholders of this gigantic concern would have felt weary with the oft repeated, but always broken, promises of the directors. Looking at the report laid before the share holders on Friday, we cannot disguise the fact that the present system of management is unsound, added to which is the crushing weight of its Debenture Debt. The constitution of the Board of Directors is extremely faulty. Their power is absolute, and, from some cause or other, all their proceedings are passed over with a verbal criticism. In a word, chairman and directors seem to stand in a position totally inde pendent of the proprietors. This is proved by the manner in which Mr. PONSONBY was called to the chair of the company. He has not been a director much more than six months, and his election, as such, was declared without a single shareholder being consulted ; and when Lord BARRINGTON lately resigned the office of chair man Mr. PONSONBY was appointed his successor, although the hon. gentleman confesses his want of ability and experience in railway matters. Can we wonder, then, that with such an appa rently irresponsible Board, and with a secretary (Jr. SAUNDERS) who seems to rule each and ail, that something would go astray ? In tact, not long since two of the directors felt compelled to resign their seats at the Board rather than sanction the present anomalous system ; and in doing so one of them (Slr. BAKER) declared that " without some change the shareholders must dearly suffer." The other gentleman (Mr. POTTER) justified his resignation on the following grounds :—" Because Mr. SAUNDERS is not only Secretary and organ of the Board of Directors, to whom they entrusted all the aff kirs of the Company, but he is also the superintendent of the Company—the sole head and organ of the executive. In him, therefore, are combined all the powers of the Company ; and the Board of the Great Western Railway Company, contrary to the established practice in all great railway corporations, has not the advantage of that division of labour which, by means of permanent committees contt oiling each department, qualifies individual members of the Board for those duties of superintendence and direction, and infuses knowledged responsibility into the whole." Such were the sentiments of two of the ex-Directors of the Company. Mat ters have not been mended of late, and we see that the Board is still disposed to carry on their past scheme of mismanagement, and to augment their liabilities without any chance of a corres ponding return. It would be easy to adduce facts and figures to prove the correctness of this statement, but this we refrain from doing, as our previous remarks have disposed of the point. We, there fore, consider that the shareholders lacked courage on Friday, when they consented to the compromise alluded to, and hence little faith in any good result which may attend the labours of investigation. The proprietors laboured unddr a dread of the value of their shares being depre ciated, in case of bold and vigorous measures being taken for the reformation of existing abuses. Be it further observed that it was some what singular, in the presznt aspect of the Company's affairs, the meeting should have agreed to grant a sum of 5,000/. to Mr. SAUN DERS for extra services, although in receipt of an annual stipend of 2,500/. It also voted a special allowance to Mr. BRUNEL, who is now the Company's consulting engineer. We pre sume those extra allowances have something to do with the Mersey Conservancy ;if so, the shareholders will be in a position to estimate what value they have raceived for their money. We shall await with some anxiety the Report of the Committee appointed to investigate the lia bilities and expenditure of the Company. THE CLIPPER SHIP LIGHTNING —This celebrated clipper ship, the fastek in the world, left the Mersey fur the Thames on Sunday evening. She will be towed round to Gravesend by the powerful tug steamer Resolute, which towed her sister ship, the James Baines, to Plymouth, some fortnight ago, where she was visited by her Majesty and the Court, and by them so highly eulogised. The Lightning will arrive at Gravesend about the 20th lest., and will at once be thrown open to public inspection at a charge of Is. each, the receipts being given to the wives and families of the slliliers who sail in her. The Light ning is 2,093 tons register, 3,500 tons burthen, 243 feet long, and 44 feet wide. She is the fastest ship in the world, having made the p usage fr - rm Ile:bourne to Liver pool in sixty-three days, when her speed during the whole voyage, round Clpa Horn, a distance of 15,000 miles as the crow flies, averaged ten miles an hoar. On the 27th of February, 1855, she ran nineteen miles an hour for twenty-four consecutive hours; and from the 28th June to the 4th of July, 1856, her hourly speeJ averaged fifteen miles. We believe the rec)ds of the perforniaace of clip per ships show no parallel to this. IRISH JUDGES AND THEIR H.NE,TY.—Our cotemporary the Belfast! Mercury says:—" We know men who occupy seats on the bench of justice to administer cur laws, yet are greater culprits, in many ways, than the unfortunate wretches they send for a three month' airing to Richmond foloffences trivial to what theirs are. We have Crown officials who live out of the jurisdiction, and discharge the duties of their offices by deputy,—snapping their fingers at their cr editors, and glorying in the impartiality of our laws. We have assistant-barristers who skulk into the country on a Sunday to open their sessions, and so manage the business by adjournments as to skulk out of it again without being arrested. When fairly on circuit' they are privi leged from arrest, and thus the administration of justice is made the means of downright roguery. It is now full time that all such absurd ' privileges' should be abolished In olden times such privileges were neceessary ; they had their origin in a due regard for the public interest. It was then requisite to protect the weak against the over whelming influence of the rich and powerful : but, like al privileges of the kind, they soon degenerated, and became perverted from their original use. Now, their existence is a monstrous reflection on public justice, and leads to the most scandalous frauds. It is, therefore, a movement in the right direction that contemplates their abolition." THE EUPHRATES ROUTE TO the City Article of yesterday's Times, we find the following remarks upon this sobject :—" The hope of a communication to India by the Euphrates is at an end, or rather is to be left to time and accident, since no one looking at the map of the world will believe that any combination of circumstances can pre vent its ultimate accomplishment. As in the case of other designs of like magnitude, those who devoted them selves to promote it by calm and honest means may he disappointed and worn out, hut the tide of human energy will not permit barriers to remain which, although physic illy insignificant, are yet found sufficient to separate the most important regions of the earth. The difficulty will be solved either by good or bad agencies, and although governments may Exercise much influence in choosing between the two, they can no more alter the ultimate result in this than in any other impulse of mankind. In the disc scion on the subject, in the II use of Commons, every 2 material point was admitted. There can be no doubt,' said Lord Palmerston, ' that it railway communication were established along the route indicated a considerably increased facility in the conduct of our commercial and peliriell intercourse with the empire of India must be the consequence.' Tse objecdoos against promoting it were simply two, and inc msistent with each other—namely, that it is inexpedient for the G rvernment to interfere in enterprises which should be treated as of a purely com mercial character, and that the present question ;is so thoroughly politicll that any aid granted, however desirable, might lead to embarrassments with other Powers. Ether the first or the second of these arguments must therefore be abandoned. Doubtless thi latter, which was adopted, by Lord Palmerston, is the true one. The work is postponed or sacrificed to avoid disagreeable complications, and on that point there is, :perhaps, nothing to be said. It would be idle for those who share the general confidence with which the country regards the foreign policy of the Premier, and who trust equally in his foresight whether caution or courage he the qu.ility most needed for the moment, to set at nought his opinion and to clamour that the matter should be carried through at all hazards. Na one has the opportuniti, s possessed by the government estimating the hostility with which !he enterprise would b 3 met. Indeed, immediately after the recent consultations at Osborne an impression was circulated that this was one of the very points on which we had made concessions. Whether the assertion be tree or othervvise, it is but fair to conclude that the course pursued on Mr. Estcourt's motion was the result of deep consideration upon coritingeneiTs which, as far as the preolie are coacerned, may wisely for tho tirae ba left open for conjecture." ITALIAN OPERA. AT TETE THEATRE ROYAL. The first series of Italian Operas commenced last night with " I Puritani," at one time so great a favourite as al cost to supersede all other operas, when Grisi, Rebini' Tambourini, and Lablache took the principal characters. Last night., by some mistake on the part of the managers of the operatic company, Madame Bosio was advertised to take the character of Eleira, which it appears was never intended, and on the bills Millie. Parepa was announced, and actually filled the part very crelitably, if not so satisfactorily as might have been expected of Madame Bosio. Madlle. Parepa has a fine person, rather exuberant in some feminine attractions, with a brilliant and well-trained voice, but rather hard in some of the upper notes. Tne general Tiality of voice is sweet in tone, with great compase, and clear and distinct execution. The Po!acca Son Virgin Vizzosa, and the air Qui la core, were very highly applauded, and were rendered with great ease and fluency, though a little more passion would have been admissable in the latter. Gardoni made a very gallan t cavalier of Arturo, and sang the music with great spirit and pathos ; but we malt confess that we did not like his commencement of . that beautiful air, A te, Ceara. Graziani, also, 'disappointed us in Riccardo, notwithstanding his exquigive voice. His conception of the cba acter, as well as too much of his execution, e as, we think, unnecessarily coarse. The duet, Lima la tronzba, was encored, more for the noise made than for the musical character of the perfor mance. Tagliafico, admirably made up for Giorgio, was all that could be wished. The band and the chorus were fall and effective, but the accompaniments were frequently too loud and overpowering. The opera was admirably put on the stage, and drew a full pit, but a less attendance in the boxes than should have been attracted by a highly dramatic plot, allied to some of the most beautiful music Bellini ever composed. Verdi's "Rigoletto" to-night will probably be better attended. It has never been played here, and has a very great reputation on the continent and elsewhere. The plot is very singular, and in accordance with the taste of the day. Rigoletto is a deformed court buffoon, at the court of a dissolute Duke, to whose dissipation he lends a hand. Rigoletto has a daughter, Gilda (to be played by Madame Bosio), who is kept so closely concealed that the courtiers, who appear to be of similar character with the Duke, supposes her to be a mistress, and under the pretence of carrying off the wife of Count Cepreizo, they make .Rigoletto an assistant in carrying off his own daughter to the Duke. Ho soon discovers the trick played upon him, and, rushing to the court, asto n - ishes the courtiers by demanding his daughter. Gilda comes in complaining of the outrage to which she has been subjected, and Rigoletto determines to revenge himself by mutlering the Duke. With this object he eng , ges Sparafucile, a hireling assassin, for twenty ducats, ten of which are paid down, and the remainder to be paid when the dead body of the Duke is handed to him. A'pa..afacile has a sister Magdalena, wllO, enveigles victims to the lonely, half-rained inn at 7,: n i e h the murders are committed, and a river runs r,z, n v en i en tly near for the disposal of the bodies. The Juke is enticed here, and. accord ug to his usual habit commences flirting with Magdalena. Eigo'etto brings Gilda disguised in men's attire to see the conduct of the Duke, and a striking quartett, which has born sung at the Philharmonic Hall more than once, takes place between the Duke and Magdalena in the house, seen and heard through the gaping walls, and Bigoted° and Gilda concealed outside, Magdalena is worked on to endeavour to save the Duke, and proposes to her brother that he shall mur der Bigoted° instead, and thus secure the other ten ducats. Sparafucile is quite indifferent to any other object than getting the ducats, and consents to murder the first man that knocks at the door. Gilda hears the plot, and having become attached to the Duke '( who had introduced himself to her as a poor student), womanlike, forgives the outrage subsequently offered to her when taken to the palace, and determines to save the Duke by knocking at the door and being the victim instead of him. Rigoletto comes to the inn, and receives the body of his daughter in a sack to throw in the river, and, to his horror, discovers, on hearing the Duke's voice, that the intended vengeance had recoiled upon his own head, and he sinks overpowered by the fulfilment of a malediction uttered against him early in the opera, and to which he has constantly referred with dread. It will be seen that Gilda is the only character that is not absolutely repulsive, and she is made the victim of a fate as inexorable as that of the ancient. We should pity Bigoted°, if he had not lent himself to do to others what he ultimately suffers from himself. The opera affords some fine situations. GOI:DON CUMMING'S ENTERTAINMENT—CLAYTON HALL. The Hall continues as attractive as ever, and the more the public see of the entertainment, the better it is liked,—no wonder. We have given a sample of his description of Lion Hunting—take the ft.:Rowing graphic (fawn his really interesting book on Africa.) ,ketch of an Elephant hunt : " Belo! e us stood a herd of mighty bull elephants, peeked. together beneath a shady grove about a hundred and fifty yards in advance. I rode slowly towards them, but as soon as they osserved me they made a loud rumbling noise and tossing their trunks, wheeled right about and made off in one direcion, crashing through the forest and leaving a cloud of dust behind them. The distance I had come, and the difficulties I had undergone to behold these elephants, rose fresh before me ; I determined that on this occasion at least I would do my duty, and dishing my spurs into 'Send ay's' ribs, was very soon much too close in their rear for safety. Tee elephants now made an inclination to my left, whereby I obtained a go el view of their ivory. The herd consisted of six bulls, foyer of them fall grown first rate elephants; the other two ware fine fellows, bat h-id not yet arrived at perfect stature. Of the four old ones two had much fiber tusks than the rest, and for a few sscon Is I was undecided which of these two I would follow, when, suddenly, the one I fancied had the stoutest tusks broke from his e comrades, and feeling convinced he was the patriarch of the herd I followed him according ly. Cantering alongside I was about to fare, when ha instantly turned, and, uttering a trumpet sound, so loud and shrill that the very ground seemed to vibrate beneath my feet, he charged furiously after me for several hundred yards in a direct line, not in any degree interrupts] in his cours e by the trees, which he snapped aad overthrew like reeds in his headlong career. At length he pulled up in his charge, and, as lie slowly turned to retreat, I let fly at his shoulder, Sunday' capering and prancing and giving me much trouble. Oa receiving the ball, the elephant shrugged his shoulders, and made off at a free majestic walk. This shot brought several of the dugs to my asiistanet, far they had bests following the herd, and on their coming up and barking, another headlone charge was the result, accom panied by the never-failing trumpet as before. In this charge he passed close to me, when I saluted him with a second bullet in the shoulder, of which be di I not take the slightest notice, and I now determined not to fire again until I could make a steady shot; but although he turned repeatedly, Sunday' invariably disappointed me, capering so that it was impos;.ble to fire. At length, exasperated, I became reckless of the danger, and springing from the saddle approached the elephtnt under the cover of a tree and gave him a bullet in the side of the head, when, trumpeting so shrilly that the forest treenhled, he charged amongst the does, from whom he seemed to fancy the blow came, and alts wards took up a poeitioa in a grove of thorns, with his heed towards me. I now walked up olose to him, and as he was again in the act of charging (being in those days trader wrong irnvessioa as to the practibility of bringing down an elephant with a shot in the fore head,) stood cosily is his path until he weft within fifteen paces of me, and let drive at the hollow of his forehead, in the vain expectation that by so doing I should end his career. The shot only served to increase his fury—an effect which I have remarked shots in the head invariably produce, and, continuing his headlong course with incredible retickeess and imeetuosity, he all but terminated my elephant-hunting for ever. A large party of the Bachnanas who had came up yelled out simultaneously, imagining I was killed, for the el,phatat was at one moment almost on the top of me; h :mese-, my activity saved me, but as I dodged round the bushy trees an enormous thorn ran deep int) the sole of my foot, the old Bedenoch brogues which I that dty sported being worn through ; this caused me severe pain, 'amities me throughout the rest of the ceteflicle The elephant new hell on through the forest at a sweeping pace; still he was hardly out of sight when I was loaded and in the saddle, and once more alongside. About this time I heard Isaac blazing away at another bridle but when he charged the fellow's cowardly heart failed him and he qaielCy mode his appearance at a safe distance in my rear ; my elephant kept crashing along at a steady pace, blood streaming from his wounds ; the clogs, knocked up with fatigue and thirst, dropt astern, and it was long before I fired again, fit I was afraid to dismount, and Sunday' was extremely troublesome. At length I gave him a sharp 'right and left' behind the shoulder, when he made a long charge after me, rumbling and trumpeting as be fore. The whole body of the Bannangwato men had now come up, and were following a short distance behind me ; among these was Mollycon, who volunteered to help, and being a very swift and actives fellow rendered me impure tant service, by holding my fidgety horss's head while I fired and loaded ; I tired six broadsides in this way, the elephant charging almost every time, and pursuing us back to the main body in our rear, who fled in all directions as he approached. The sun had now sunk behind the trees r it would very soon be dark, and, notwithstanding all he had received, the elephant did not seem much distressed. I recollected that my time was short, and therefore re solved to close with him and fire on foot. This I did, approaching very near, and sending my balls right and left in the side of the head, upon which he male a long and determined charge ; but I was now thoroughly cool, for I saw he could not overtake me, and in a twinkling was loaded and gave him both barrels behind his shoulder. Another trumpeting, which sent ' Sunday' flying through the forest, and a terrific charge followed ; this was his final one. His wounds began to tell, and he stood at bay beside a thorny tree, with the dogs, who perceived it was nearly over, barking furiously around him. Reloading,. I now fired right and left at his forehead, but it was evident he could not charge again, and on receiving these shots tossed his trunk up and down, and by various signs aid motion, most gratifying to the hungry natives, evinced that his end was near. SECOND GRAND ASCENT OF THE ROYAL CREYORNE BALLOON, AT THE ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS, NEXT MONDAY•