The Press.
London, England, 1856-05-31 00:00:00

THE PRESS.

SACRED HARMONIC SOCIETY, EXETER-NAM—MOD-
debtaohn's Elijah will be performed next Ftiday, with
the following powerful cast of singers—Mme. Clara
Novello, Alm.. Viardot, Mrs. Laken Mr. Sims
Reeves, and Herr Formes.
CRYSTAL PALACE.—Rettim of admissions for six
days ending Friday, May 30, 1856. Number ad-
mitted, including season ticket holders, 58,651.

THE ROYAL BOTANIC SOCIETY'S FIRST EXHIBITION
for the season took place on Wednesday, and there
was a tine collection of flowers. The roses were
numerous, and were only equalled in appearance by
the azaleas. Two of the long terraces were covered
with large orchidaceous plants. The display of
pelargoniums was good, but it was evident that the
unfavorable spring had prevented the full develop-
ment of the flower. Although the rain in the after-
noon no doubt checked the arrival of visitors, there
was a fair attendance. The bands of the three regi-
ments of horse guards played during the afternoon,
and the usual prizes were awarded to the successful
exhibitors.

Au. THE GOVERNMENTS OF EUROPE have tended
uniformly, and not very slowly, towards greater free-
dom and mildness, since the rise of the commercial
policy of in,dern times, and the general diffusion of
ko •wledge by the art of printing. Instead of a
collection of despots, actuated in all plans of in-
ternal and external arrangement by caprice or acci-
dent, the system of European princes is now i a
assemblage of deputies from the different nations,
which have instructed them with certain powers and
cornmissilns for the public good. In the Paecntion
of their trust they are not directly accountable to any
human authority ; but even in the States where no
constitutional control is appointed to the power of the
Orown, the indirect influence of a numerous al
enli.,htened people is uniformly strong upon the
councils of the monarch. It. is always his interest to
rule by gentle and agreeable means, and to further,
by every measure in his power, the prosperity of his
State. This interest, though for a while it may be
concealed from his eyes, or overruled by opposite
passions, can never be long hidden from him, but
must always, in the long run, force itself upon his
attention, and be for the most part the guide of his
conduct. —Lord Brougham's Contributions to the
Edinburgh Review.

A CUR-lOUs CASE OF SONNAMBULISM occurred at
Swansea last Sunday morning. A commercial tra-
veller, who had indulged in deep potations overnight,
found himself about two a.m., in his nightcap and
drawers, clinging to a chimney-pot on the roof of a
neighbouring house. It was blowing hard and rain-
ing heavily, and, however strong his potations or his
sleep, it will readily be believed that such slight pro
tection as nightcap and drawers to so unpleasant an
atmosphere would inevitably lead to consciousness
and cold. He soon woke, and, like a wise man,
stuck to the chimney-pot, and screamed. Assistance,
of course, after due deliberation and much wonder,
rescued the sonnambulist, who must have gone to
bed, have risen, opened his window, descended a
depth of about seven feet on the roof of some stabling,
and from thence succeeded in getting on to the roof
of the house he was discovered on.