The Press.
London, England, 1854-01-07 00:00:00

ttt glranta.

DRURY-LANE THEATRE.
A MELODRAMA, which would have been thought violent
at the Adelphi and coarse at the Surrey, was brought
out at Drury-lane Theatre on Monday last, under
the tide of The Begging Letter. The piece consists
of three acts, remorselessly crowded with the stale
surprises, commonplace improbabilities, and hack-
neyed horrors that have furnished the materials for
"scenes of thrilling interest" on the English stage
from time immemorial. There was nothing in the
incidents or the characters which could be called
new, or which, if new, could be called good. It would
be unmerciful to our readers if we detailed the plot,
and uncharitable to the performers if we introduced
the acting. Enough that The Begging Letter is by
some degrees the very worst play which we have had
the fortune to see on any stage.

lon* Art, Xittraturt, tft.
JEAN HENRI HENSCRITEL, Maitre de Chapelle of
Biebrich Cathedral, died on the 20th ult. He was
celebrated as a contrapuntist, the author of many
compositions for the organ, and disquisitions upon
the music of the ancients. Many excellent musi •
cians were numbered among his pupils, of whom the
most famous in after years was the illustrious Charles
Marie von Weber.
A BRONZE MEDAL OF HELIOOOBALFB has been
found at Marsal, in the department of the Meurthe.
The coin bears the name of the Empress Anna
Faustina Augusta. On one side is the head of
Heliogobalus, who is represented on the reverse
giving his hand to the Empress.
THE steam-boat the Rhone had arrived a few days
back at the Pont d'Adge, on the river Rhone, when
a number of police agents came on board, and insti-
tuted a strict search, which led to the discovery of a
considerable number of copies of M. Victor Hugo's
last work, entitled " Chatiment." The copies were
seized, as was the steam-boat itself.
TEE CELEBRATED LINOFT9T, M. G. F. GROTTFORD,
died in Hanover on the 22nd ult., aged sixty-eight.
He was the author of many works on the origin of
the Greek and Latin languages, on the Phrygian and

THE PRESS.

Libyan inscriptions, and upon Oriental numismatics.
M. Grotiford was also among the first to succeed in
deciphering the cuneiform inscriptions. He was for
many years professor in the University of Got-
tingen.
Os the 9.oth of December Mozart's Don Giovanni
was represented at the Grand Opera house in Berlin
for the 300th time, that day being also precisely the
sixty-third anniversary of its first performance in the
Prussian capital. The opera was preceded by an
occasional prologue spoken by M. Stawinski, chief
director of the Opera-house, after which the curtain
rose and displayed the bust of Mozart, surrounded
by groups representing the principal characters of
his most popular operas. The audience applauded
this scene with enthusiasm, and a shower of bouquets
and garlands fell around the statue of the great com-
poser. Mlle Wagner took the part of Donna
Anna in the opera afterwards, and was recalled six
times at the close.

THE establishment of a Roman Catholic journal
to advocate Ultramontanism, like the Paris Univers,
is under contemplation in Berlin.
As a consequence of the reduction in the postal
tariff in Prussia, the revenue from that source
during eleven months only of 1853, or up to the Ist
of December, exceeded by 329,0(W) thalers the whole
receipts for 1852. _

M. EXILE SEURRE, the sculptor of the colossal
statue of Napoleon on the column in the Place Yen.
(Vane, has just met with a dreadful accident. He
fell down during the late frosty weather and broke
his left arm and collar-bone. His present state is
said to be somewhat dangerous. _ _

M. PIERRE Donor, son of Ambmise Didot, and
brother of Firmin Didot, died a few days ago in
Paris, at the age of ninety-three. The funeral of
this senior of the French press took place on Mon-
day last at the cemetery of Mont Parnasse.
THE problem as to the success of the calorie-ship
Ericsson approaches a solution. The engine, says
the New York Journal of Commerce, is now so nearly
completed that a trial trip will probably be made in
a few days, and Mr. Ericsson is in the best spirits,
such as confidence of success inspires. We learn
from one of her principal owners that experiments
already made show that the desired amount of pres-
sure may be easily obtained, and a full reliance is
entertained that the ship will attain a speed equal to
at least nine miles an hour, which will be a rate
entirely satisfactory. We also learn that it has been
determined to place the Ericsson on the route be-
tween New York and Havre, as an independent
steamer, to replace the temporary vacancy occasioned
by the destruction of the Humboldt.
A RECENT domestic calamity of the most afflicting
nature prevents M. Mario from appearing before the
Paris public.
THE revision of the tariff of charge for the Bel-
gian Electric Telegraph was resisted in elate discus-
sion by the Minister of Public Works, on the ground
that the small number of efficient employes possessed
by the Government were incapable of transacting the
increase of business which would follow a reduction.
A MONUMENT to the memory of the monk, Berthold
Schwartz, to whom is commonly attributed the inven-
tion of gunpowder, has just been erected at Frihurg,
in the Grand Duchy of Baden. The monument,
which is executed by M. Knittler, is placed on a
fountain, built in the centre of the grand market-
place. It consists of a statue of Schwartr., who lived
in the commencement of the fourteenth century, in his
monkish dress. He holds in his right hand an open
book, and is contemplating a mortar placed on a stand
on his left.
THE FROST has seriously impeded the working of
the electric telegraph in France. On the Rouen line
the wires snapped, and the intercourse was for some
time interrupted. On other lines the snow which
fell on the wires melted by the action of the sun, and
then, forming into icicles, united the wires, and, thus
becoming conductors, the despatches intended for one
place passed on to another wire, and arrived at a false
destination.
THE LATE SALE of the Constitutionttei has given rise
to two actions brought against M. Veron by different
parties of former shareholders in that journal, who
charge him with having appropriated the larger
share of the proceeds to himself, distributing among
the general mass of proprietors a much smaller sum
than they were entitled to. One of these actions
came on for hearing on Saturday last before the
Civil Tribunal. The plaintiffs' advocate, M. He-
bert, gave a narrative of the manner in which,
according to their own allegations, they had been de-
frauded. He contended that the sale made by
M.
Veron ought to be declared radically null, as the
consent which his clients had been induced to give
to it hai been obtained from them by misrepresen-
tation, and entered into an elaborate financial history
of the Ceastitutionsal from the time of M. h'eron's
connection with it. In D 438, when that connection
commenced, the estimated value of the paper was
1,900,000 f. ; but in 1844, from competition of new

21

and cheaper journals, it fell to 540,000 f. In that
.
year some modifications were mado in the statutes,
by which the number of shares was fixed at I+lo, each
being nominally worth 3,000 f. At that time M. Veron
was appointed manager (girant), with full powers to
conduct and manage the paper as he pleased; but to
sell it the consent of a general assembly of share •
holders was necessary. The paper prospered so
much that in 1848 the profits of each share were
622 f.; in 1850, 782 f.; and in 1852 they were
likely to be 000 f. But in that year the new
laws on the press had made the situation of
newspapers a very difficult one ; and, though the
Constitutionnel was it governmental journal, it re-
ceived two "warnings" for the publication of articles
on Belgium offensive to the Government. On this,
M. Veron convoked the shareholders, and drew a
lamentable picture of the situation of the journal ;
he also represented that it was menaced with ruin
from the competition of the Pays and the Illonitenr.
lie accordingly proposed to the shareholders to make
a sale of the paper to M. Mires, at the rate of 4,000 f.
a share. They hesitated, but by manfeurring the
majority of them were brought to consent.. It
turned out, however, that, though they (July got
so small a stun, Id. Wren himself received 720,0thW.
for his shares, and for his position as girant, and
that another gentleman (M. de Morey), who was
also connected with the paper, had received mie,oooe
Learning this, the dissentient shareholders imme.
diately protested, and brought their action ; and his
clients subsequently brought an action, also, to ob-
tain a fairer distribution of the proceeds of the sale.
The learned gentleman, in the course of his plead-
ings, made some very sharp remarks on Ti. ViTon ;
and contended that his representstiona to the share-
holders as to the damaged state of theirproperty were,
undoubtedly, in the eye of the law, fraudulent. The
case remains uncompleted, the further pro ceediugs
having been fuljounied for a week.
ALEXANDER vow Heineman has lately given to the
world, through his publisher, Cotta, the first volume
of his minor writings, containing the geognoatic and
physical phenomena. It is dedicated to I eopold von
Buch, whom he calla "the talented investigator of
nature, and the greatest geoguost of the age," as a
little monument of a friendship never disturbed for
sixty years.
Tne Leerrnes at the University of Copenhagen
will henceforth be delivered in the Danish instead
of,' as hitherto, in the Latin tongue.
Tus Exereoe Ntenothe has conferred the Grand
Cross of the second class of St.. Vladimir on M.
Struve, Councillor of State, Director of the Peters-
burg Observatory, for his services in measuring
the arc of the meridian firom the Polar Sea to the
Black Sea. For their services in the same affair,
M. de Stang, Minister of the Interior of Norway, has
received the Order of SL Stanilas of the tiret. class;
Dr. Ilanstaen, Director of the Hydrographic Depart
ment of Norway, the Order of St. Anne of the
second class, with the insignia in diamonds ; N.
Prazmowaki, First Assistant of the Director of the
Astronomic Observatory of Warsaw, and M. Seelaa-
der, Director of the Observatory of Stockholni, the
Order of St. Anne of the second effete ; Dr. Lind.
hagen, Assistant to the Directer of the principal
Observatory, the Order of St. Vladimir of the fourth
class; Captain de Lund, of Norway, Lieutenant
Skogmann, of the Swedish navy, and Professor
Agardth, of the University of Lund, in Sweden, the
Order of St. Anne of the third class ; and Dr. Weld-
stadt, Professor and Director of the Observatory of
Ilelaingfors, and the candidate Wagner, rings set
with diamonds.

Some very important experiments have been made
during the past few weeks in her Majesty's dock-
yard at Portsmouth, for the purpose of testing the
power of an apparatus invented by Mr. Prideaux for
the consumption of smoke and improvement of
engine-furnaces. The experiments have been per-
fectly successful. A chimney giving out immense
clouds of dense black smoke had suddenly ceased
to do so, by opening the valve which Mr. Prideaux
places on the furnace door. la ten seconds the
dense black cloud tlisappesivii, and in forty-five
seconds there was nothing left but a light brown
vapour. The apparatus is simple, and even elegant
in its appearance. Not only is the smoke destroyed,
but them is a great economy of fuel. Mr. Prideaux
estimates the saving at, from 10 to 20 per cent., ac-
cording to the quality of coal. Another curious
feature is the low temperature of the furnace door.
While the valve is in action its temperature is but
a few degrees above that of the external air. This
desirable result is obtained by cutting off all the
radiant heat by means of the peculiar construction
of the valve. lly aid of this apparatus engineers
will he-enabled to reduce the temperature of stoke-
holes on board steam-vessels, and to make them
much more endurable for the men. The application
of the apparatus involves no expensiv, ttLtenl
. . _
existing arrangements. „

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AT TAIL ROYAL GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY'S EVENING
MELTING on Monday next the papers to be read
are—l. Latest accounts of the Mission to Central
Africa. Communicated by Mr. A. Petermann,
F.R.G.S.-2. Geographical explorations in Southern
Africa, by Mr. T. Baines and others.-3. Departure
of Dr. E. G. Irving, R.N., F.R.G.S., on his Mission
to Western Africa.
AT THE LONDON MECHANICS' INSTITUTION
a soiree
and conversazione was held on Wednesday evening,
for the double purpose of celebrating its 30th anni-
versary, and of rousing its friendsand supporters into
some new line of action, with a view to a restoration
of the institution to its pristine vigour. The theatre
was crowded, and the various entertainments went
oic with considerable éclat. The chair was taken by
Mr. Grossmith.

routg Valid an gitg rittiligtrat.

PRIMLY ErIIYING.
TIM fluctuations in the funds have not been very im-
portant during the week. We pointed out some time
since that in the present critical aspect of politics it
was very probable that the public would sell stock
and invest in Exchequer Bills, which, while they pay
nearly the same rate of interest as the funds, would
not be subjected to the same depression in the event
of war. It seems that this idea has been largely
acted on, for considerable quantities of Three-and-a-
quarter per Cents. and Reduced have been thrown on
the market, and Exchequer Bills purchased with the
proceeds. This operation will account for the rise
which ha; taken place in Exchequer Bills from 3s. to
7s. to IN. premium.
Another operation now seems to be becoming ex-
pedient. Reduced Three per Cents. are the same
price as Consols, and Three-and-a-quarter per Cents.
only 1 per cent. higher. To the bona Jide holder of
Consols the exchange from Consols to either Reduced
or Three-and-a-quarter per Cents. is a clear gain of
1 per cent. We have no doubt that as soon as Con
cols open for transfer advantage will be taken of this
disparity in price, and exchanges of securities effected
to a considerable amount.
Until the question of peace or war is decided it is
impossible to offer an opinion as to the course the
Money Market will take ; and as regards the present
week the weather has, as it were, paralysed transac
Lions, the inconvenience occasioned by the detention
of the mails having been inconceivable. In conse-
quence of the non-arrival of advices and remittances
the Bank of England alone noted in one day the
enormous number of 630 bills.
Apart from this, the Money Market is easier than
it was ; the rate of money in the Stock Exchange
being 8 per cent., in Lombard-street 41 to 5 per cent.
The arrivals of bullion this week have far exceeded
the exports, the balance in favour of this country
being about 400,0001.
So far as the Money Market is concerned, it will
be regulated by the balance of bullion in the coffers
of the Bank, so long as the present absurd charter is
in existence.
As regards the revenue, we by no means consider
it so satisfactory as the Government organs are in-
structed to make it appear. There is a decrease on
the quarter in every branch of receipt, with the ex-
ception of the Post-office, and there is no doubt this
decrease is still going on to an immense extent, while,
at the same time, the expenditure is frightfully in-
creasing.
We observe, also, that after applying the whole of
the surplus, amounting to 4,015,0781., to the pay-
ment of the South Sea dissentients, the probable
amount of Exchequer Bills required to meet the
charges on the Consolidated Fund on the sth January,
1854, is 3,711,2001.! To this extent, therefore, will
the resources of the Bank of England be crippled ;
and in March another 3,000,0001. will be required for
the paying off of the remainder of the South Sea
dissentients.
We protest against such a cooking of the finances,
on the eve, perhaps, of a general war ; and, as we
observed last week, it will be impossible to carry on
that war with the present Bank Charter Act.
Consols have fluctuated between 921 and 081 ; the
business has been limited. The Hebrew party have
been large buyers, which has tended to support the
market.
To-day, however, the funds were heavy, the price
being 921, and close 02j 93. This heaviness has
been Gees:loped by the depressed state of the French
market, and the official announcement in the Moni-
leer that the combined fleets have been ordered to
enter the Black Sea.