The Sun.
London, England, 1864-06-16 00:00:00

SPEECHES.

Acharnenses, I-194 Aristophanes—Dicapopolia, J. A:
Kempe; Herald, 111‘Gill ; Amphitheus, P. Peck; Ambas-
sador, C. Smith; Pseudartabus, C. R. Taylor , Thoorue,
Damant.

King John, Act IV., Sc. 1,2, Shakspere—Hubert, Lan..
kester ; Prince Arthur, M‘Gill ; King John, C. R. Taylor ;
Pembroke, Bennett; Salisbury, Mason.
The Rivals, Sheridan—Captain Absolute, P. Peck ; Sir
Anthony Absolute, C. Smith; Mrs Malaprop, F. A. Upton;
Lydia Languish, M'Carthy.
Bourgeois Gentilhomme, Moliare—M. Jourdain, C.
Smith; Maitre a Denser, M'Carthy; Maitre de Musique,
Stewart ; Maitre d'Armes, J. A, Kempe ; Maitre do Philo-
sophic, F. A. Upton.
The verses written in " Commemoration of the Founder"
by the High Master were distributed about the room in
Latin and English, but were recited is English only. The
practice of reciting the prize composition is now abandoned,
and spectators are content to witness the reward of merit
without ascertaining its extent. Thus the elocutionary
talent of the young gentlemen was only displayed in the
series of dramatic scenes, Greek, English, and French,
placed under the head speeches.' These were all acted
with great spirit, the tragic scenes being, however, less en-
titled to commendation than the others.
When the last laugh excited by the pleasantries of M.
Jourdain and the Maitre de Philosophie had subsided, the
scholars were informed that at the gracious request of the
Prince of Wales their holidays would be elongated to the
extent of a week, which was increased to a fortnight by the
seven bishops, who each solicited a day., As the gaests re-
tired " Three cheers for the Prince" and " Three cheers for
the Bishops" caused the venerable building to resound.
It is understood that the old Pauline dinner will be re•
vived this year on the 2d of July.

SIR JAMES WILDE'S LAST.--What is the differs,
ence between a Correspondent and a Co-respondent P One
is a gentleman what does %rite, the other is a gentleman
what does wrong.—Punch.

RUMOURED UNION IN HIGH LIFE.—The
in preposterous paragraph appears in the Owl of
yesterday :—lt is confidently asserted in well-informed
circles that an alliance will shortly take place between the
Right Hon. E. liorsman, M.P., and the lovely and accom-
plished Benjamin& Disraeli. The ceremony, including is
full choral service, will be conducted by Sir john Peking-
ton, who
will preside at an organ outside Weatminister
Abbey. General Peel has consented to act as best man.
Since writing the above, we regret to learn that, at a meet-
ing of the bride's friends, held at Lord Derby's house cot
Monday, the contemplated union has been postponed.
A ROYAL BOTHY.—Provious to her departure
from Balmoral last autumn her Majesty, feeling the
want of a shelter house from rain showers in Lochnagar,
gave orders for the erection of a small dwelling, or simply
a bothy, having a "but and a ben." The both', ia about
finished, and stands a few hundred yards from the "white
pole," known to Lochnagar tourists, and nearly three miles
from Altnaguisac. The building is oblong, having a two-
stalled stable in the same line with the Royal apartments.
The two entrance doors are in front, the one leading to the
but and bag, while the other opens into the stable. The
difficulties of building on such a site may be understood
when the fact is known that for nearly two miles the build-
ing
material had to be "carted" without any carts. Thee
building was under the superintendence of Mr. Beaton,
architect at Balmoral.—Absrdeen Journal.
MONUMENTS AT WOOLWICH.--A find Portland
stone statue of the Duke of Wellington, 6ft. 6in. in
height, which has lain for some years in the Tower among
was yesterday raised on a peleetal in the
ghfare leading from the Military Store
pthreinoclidpasitotrielso,rou
Department offices to the pier in Woolwich Arsenal. The
site selected by Captain Catlin, C. 8., Royal Navy, Director
General of Stores, is highly appropriate. The statue,
which is a work of some merit, has been somewhat da-
maged, and the sword and one of the fingers have been
broken off, which will be of course repaired. A granite
obelisk adapted as a drinking fountain, and erected at the
north-east entrance to the review ground on Woolwich-
common, and intended as a N.aonutnental memorial to the
memory of Mkjor Little, a stall: officer of the garrison
who died in 1831,
Was yesterday formally opened for the
us© of the public. The work has been executed with much
taste by the Government contractor, Mr. Tongue, of
Plurastead.

SPURIOUS HALF•Cr.OwNs.—A writer in a Con-

temporary says:—l think it my duty to caution
your readers against a recent issue of spurious h.ilf-crowns,
so constructed as almost to defy detection. I had one re-
turned to me last week,
which, after closely examining and
testing in various ways, I still believed genuine, but not
satisfied with my own decision, I submitted it to a silver-
smith, who, after applying the usual methods of detection
and wei rhing, also pronounced it genuine. Upon a still
closer examination, however, I noticed a very slight ine-
quality in the outer rim, which induced me to place the
coin in an uprght position in a press, and the result was
that the outer rim came off in a circle and spilt the piece
down the middle, showing it to have been made of an upper
and tinder surfac3 of stout silver, enclosing with the ring
(also of silver) a body of what appears to be zinc, I should
think, however, that the quantity of silver used in its con-
struction would be very nearly a third of its entire bulk. I
will only add that its weight exceeded a genuine haff7orown
by about four grains.