The Sun.
London, England, 1852-05-04 00:00:00

THE SUN,

some clever allusions to the state of affairs in France,
and some sweet songs very well sung. The scenery is
admirable. The piece was eminently successful, and
must very much inersa93 the
.reputation and popularity
of the Marionette.

NalliMmesairmaiom••••.-
FIER MAJESTY'S THEATRE,
GRAND EXTRA NIGHT.
Oa THURSDAY next, May 6,
Will be presented Donizetti's admired Opera,

DON PASQUALE.
Norma, Madlle. Sofie Craveili ; Ernesto, Signor Calzolari ; Dr.
Malatesta, Signor Ferranti ; Don Pasquale, Signor Lablache.
After which the last act of
MARIA DE ROHAN,
Maria, Mine, Fiorentini ; Armando, 1011 e. Ida Bertrand ; Ri-
cardo ,Signor Calzolari ; De Fiesque, Signor Fortini ; Enrico, Signor
Ferlotti.
With various Entertainments in the Ballet Department by Madlle.
GUY Stephan, Madiles. Rosa, Esper, Lamoureux, Allegrini, Pascales,
MM. Di Matta and Mathieu.
Application• for Boxes, Stalls, and Tickets to be made at the Opera
Box-office, Colonnade, Haymarket.
ROYAL

ITALIAN OPERA,
COVENT GARDEN.
GRAND EXTRA NIGHT.
First Night of Il Flauto Magico.
First appearance of Madile. Anna Zerr.
On THURSDAY next,
Will be performed,
FLAUTO Mozart's
M andC romantic Opera,
IL

The principal characters by Madame Grisi, 3fadlle. Anna Zerr,
Madlies. Bellini, Bertrand', Sfariani, Cotti ; Herr Formes, Signori
Stigelli, Polonini, Soldi, Ronconi, and Mario.
Commence at Eight o'clock.
Composer, Director of the Music, and Conductor, Mr. Costa.

ROYAL MARIONETTE THEATRE,
ADELAIDE-STREET, WEST STRAND.
THIS EVENING, and every evening daring the week,
A mew Characteristic Address, by the Manager.
After which a new Piece, entitled THE HAPPY MANAGER. A
Dramatic Difficulty. In one act.
To be followed by a new and original Burlesque, called THE
'PIRIT OF PUNCH; or, The Arcadian Brothers.
To conclude with an entirely new version of the Grand Eastern
Spectacle of ALADDLN ; or, The Wonderful Lamp, produced with
all the vast resources of this small establishment.
Doors open at Half-past Seven, and commence at Eight o'clock.
A Morning Performance on Wednesday and Saturday next.
Doors open at Half-past Two, and commence at Three o'clock.
There will shortly be produced several New Pieces, which are now
in active rehearsal.
Private Boxes and Stalls to be bad at the Box-office of the
Theatre, and of all the principal Librarians.

HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE.

Fidelio is unavoidably postponed in consequence of the indisposi
ion of Madlle. Sotie Cruvelli.

THIS EVENING,
Will be presented Roesini's Opera of
LA CENERENTOLA.
La Cenerentola, Madile. d'Angri ; Don Remlro, Signor Calzolari ;
Dindini, Signor Belletti; Alidoro, Signor Fortin' ; Don Magnifico,
Signor Lablache.
Between the acts a new Ballet Divertissement, entitled
LA FETE DES ROSLERES. . . -

By Madlle. Carolina Rosati, Madlies. Rosa, Esper, Allegrini, Lamo-
reux ; MM. Di Ifattia, Gouriet, Venafra, and Mathieu.
To conclude with the new Spanish Ballet Divertissement, entitled}
UN BAILLE DE CANDIL,
In which Mdlle. Guy Stephan, ;Mlles. Rosa, Espor, Allegrini, La-
moureux, M. Di Mattia, and M. Mathieu will appear.
Applications for Boxes, Stalls, and Tickets to be made at the Box-
Ake, Opera Colonnade, Haymarket.

ROYAL ITALIAN OPERA, COVENT-GARDEN.
Second Night of Les Huguenots.
Second appearance this season of Signor Mario.
The directors have the honour to announce that TO-MORROW
will be performed Meyerbeer's Grand Opera,
LES HUGUENOTS.
Valentina, Madame Grisi ; Margarita di Valois, Madame Castel-
lan ; Dama d'Onore,"'Madlle. Cotti ; Urbana Madlle. Seguin ; Mar-
cello, Herr Formes ; Il Conte di San Bris, Signor Polonini ; Il Conte
de Nevers, Signor Taglialico ; De Cosse, Signor Luigi Mei ; De Retz,
Signor Gregorio ; the Ilugenot Soldier, Signor Soldi ; Meru, Signor
Rommi ; Raul di Nang-is, Signor Mario.
Composer, Director of Music, and Conductor, Mr. Costa.
The performances commence at Eight o'clock precisely.
Tickets for the Boxes, Stalls, or the Pit may be had (for the
Night or Season), at the Box-office of the Theatre, which is n
from Eleven till Five o'clock ; and of the principal librarian d
mnsicsellers.

THEATP.I.' ROYAL, HAYMARKET.
Mr. B, Webster, Sole Lessee and Manager, Old Brompton.
THIS EVENING,
Will be performed an entirely new comic 'Drama, entitled MIND
YOUR OWN BUSLNESS, by Messrs. B. Webster, Leigh Murray,
Buckstonc, and Keeley ; Mrs. Stirling, Miss Reynolds, Sec.
Atter which a new Burlesque on a frightfully popular subject, to
be called 0, GEMLNI ; or, the Brothers of Co(u)rse. Characters by
Messrs. Buckstone, Bland, Woolger ; Mesdames Buckingham, Col-
'ins. Caulfield, Honey, &c.
To conclude with BOX AND COX, by Messrs. Keeley and Buck-
stone.

THEATRE ROYAL, ADELPIII.
Lessee, Mr. B. Webster : Directress, Madame Celeste.
TEAS EVENING,
Will be performed a new Drama of powerful interest, called THE
QUEEN OF THE MARKET. Characters by Messrs. llughes, 0.
Smith, Paul Bedford, Emery, Honey, Worrell ; Mesdames Chaplin,
[larding, and Keeley.
After which, a devilish new Extravaganza, called MEPHISTO-
PHELES. Characters by Mr. Honey, Miss Fitzwilliam, and Miss
Woolgar.
With WHO STOLE THE POCKET-BOOK? or, a Dinner for Six.

ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE, OXFORD-STREET.
Under the Management of Mr. C. Kean.
THIS EVENING,
Will be performed the CORSICAN BROTHERS. Principal
characters by Messrs. C. Kean, A. Wigan, Ryder, Meadows, J.
Vining, J. Chester, F. Cooke, Everett, and Wheatleigh ; Misses
Phillips, Murray, Robertson, Vivash, Daly, and C. Leclereq.
After which a Fairy Tale, in rwo Acts, entitled
WITTIKINII AND HIS BROTHELS,
or, The
Seven Swan Princes and the Fair Melnsine
Characters by Messrs. Harley, Meadows, F. Cooke, Flexmore ;
Mrs. Winstanley, Misses Marshall, Robertson, Murray, Leclercq,
Daly, Vivash, Newcombe, K. Terry, and Madlle. Auriol.

ROYAL LYCEUM THEATRE.
Under the Management of Madame Vestris.
Sole Lessee, Mr. Charles Mathews.
THIS EVENING,

. Will be produced a dramatic story, in eight acts, entitled A
CHAIN OF EVENTS. Characters by Messrs. Charles Mathews,
Frank Matthews, Robert Roxby, Belton, Baker, Suter, Born...tate,
Rosiere, Butler. and Bonner ; Madame Vestris, Miss Laura Keene,
Mrs. F. Matthews, and Miss Julia St. George, Miss Wright, Miss
Oliver, Mrs. Horn, Mrs. Macnamara, Miss Martindale, Miss Ellis,
Miss Grove, and Miss Foote.

ROYAL OLYMPIC THEATRE.
Lessee and Manager. Mr. W. Farren.
THIS EVENLNG,
Will be performed THE SCHOOL FOR SCANDAL.
To conclude with T tIE CAMBEEW.ELL BROTHERS ; or, The
Mystic Milkman.

PUNCH'S PLAYHOUSE AND STRAND THEATRE.
Lessee, Mr. W. R. COPELAND, Liverpool.
New Management.
THIS EVENING.
Will be presented THE LOST HUSBAND.
To be followed by MATRIMONIAL PROSPECTUSES. Messrs,
Walter Lacy, Attwood; Mrs. Selby, and Miss ;Maskell.
To conclude with A VILLAGE TALE. Characters by Messrs. E
Rogers, Attwood, Moreland ; Mesdames Copeland, Selby, and Mas.
kell.

Boxes, 33.; lit, 2s. ; Amphitheatre, ls.
Private Boxes One Guinea anti a Halt each.

ASTLEY'S DOTAL AMPHITHEATRE.
Under the Patronage of her Majesty and his Royal Highness
Prince Albert.
Proprietor and Manager, Mr. W. Batty.
The moat successful and popular Theatre in London.
THIS EVENING,
Will be presented a new grand Military Spectacle, which is now
exciting all Paris, entitled BONAPARTE IS EGYPT; or, the
Battle of Aboukir.
To be followed by Batty's Inimitable Scenes of the Arena.
To conclude with a Laughable farce.
Tickets to be bad at the Box-offlco from Eleven till Four daily.
Stage Manager, Mr. Leclercq.

HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.
Trn3 DAY —Morning 47 rain. after ti I Evening 9 min after 2
To-Mosuow—Morning 33 min. after 2 Evening 56 min afte! 2

THE WEATHER.-Strx OFFICE, MAT 4.
THERMOMETER, IN THE SHADE.

51—highest sinae noon yesterday.
31—lowest this morning and during the night.
50—this day, at noon.

BABomsrsz, 30.23.
WIND E.S.E.—cold breeze and cloudy.

LONDON,'

no way composed of the representatives cf the large
centres of industry and intelligence. On the con-
trary, there were numbered among the minority such
important localities as Glasgow, Manchester, Bir-

mingham, Westminster, Southwark, Marylebone,
Lambeth, Tower Hamlets, Finsbury, Newcastle,
Hull, Oxford, Derby, York, Stockport, Worcester,
Sheffield, Canterbury, Aberdeen, Montrose, Bath,

Dundee, Preston, Greenwich, and Edinburgh. Be-
sides this, upon the same question the city of London
was divided, Leeds was divided, Bristol was divided,

and there were also divided the two great counties—
the one vast and the other populous—of York and

Middlesex. Speaking himself as Member for the
West Riding, the largest of all the constituencies of
the United Kingdom, Mr. COBDEN candidly and sig-
nificantly remarked that there was only one subject
upon which he would more confidently ap-
peal to the electors than upon the question
of the Militia Bill, and that subject was

the question of free trade or of protection.
When it is remembered, moreover, in addition to
these somewhat suggestive particulars, that upwardf,
of eight hundred petitions had been laid upon the
table cf the House against the obnoxious measure
introduced by her MAJESTY'S Government, it must
be allowed that upon its demerits rather than upon
its merits the opinions of the people appear to pre-

ponderate.
To a considerable extent nothing could well be
more reasonable than the suggestion now made by
Mr. COBDEN, that the national defences should
be secured by the concentration of that mari-
time power which has hitherto been un-
necessarily scattered over cur widely-distributed
dominions. As upwards of a month since we our-
selves had reminded the country, so yesterday even-

ing the Member for the West Riding reminded the
House of Commons, that within the seventeen years
last past the naval expenses of England have been
increased by no less than 2,000,0001., the estimate
for that department of the public service being in
1835, 4,500,0001., whereas in 1852 they have
attained an aggregate of about 6,500,000/. Now, of
this increase in our maritime expenditure we are not
by any means disposed to complain. Mr. COBDEN
is, of course, as a member of the Peace Society,
and as a wholesale, and we cannot but think likewise
in this matter, an undiscriminating advocate for a
reduction in our expenditure. Upon this point,
therefore, we are compelled to differ tote ccelo
from the Honourable Representative, regarding
his judgment, as bewitched by the fasci-
nating: dreams of Arbitration. But, on the
other hand, we coincide with him to the full
and most cordially when (directing the attention of
the House to this increase since 1835 of 2,000,0001.)
he demands a more rational employment of this
munificence than has certainly been, heretofore, any-
where perceptible. Descending from the considers.
tion of abstract principles to particulars, Mr. COBDEN
insists upon the advisability of diminishing the
number of our foreign stations, or, at any rate, of
diminishing the number of the vessels on those
foreign stations. Our foreign stations, remember,
are seven altogether, namely—the East Indies and
China, where there are nineteen of her MAJESTY'S
ships in commission ; the West Indies and North
America, where there are thirteen ; the Cape of Good
Hope, where there are nine ; the west coast of
Africa, where there are twenty-two; the south-east
coast of America, where there are eight ; the west
coast of America, where there are nine; and the
Mediterranean, where there are nineteen. A
foree such as this squandered over so many
seas widely separated from each other, and,
in two or three instances, indisputably super,
fluous, might surely, as Mr. COBDEN suggests,
more judiciously employed for the advantage of the
empire by a wiser distribution. It is, of course, as
undeniable as it is satisfactory, that the statements
made by the Hon. Gentleman the Member for Ork-
ney and Shetland prove beyond all question the ac-
tual as well as the numerical superiority of the mari-
time steam power of England when compared with
the maritime steam power of France. Testimonies
as to the extent of this superiority are easily given—
statistical testimonies, showing that whereas the
Royal Navy of England, in 1848, had 174 steam-
vessels of all classes, with an aggregate of 44,480
horse-power, the Republican Navy of France, i❑ 1849,
consisted merely of 78 steam-vessels of all classes,
giving an aggregate of 17.740 horse-power : while
the contrast presented by the commercial steam-
power of the two countries yields a result no less won-
derfully in our favour—the commercial steam• shipping
of France being estimated, in 1849, at 3,000 horse-
power, with an aggregate of 10,000 tons, whereas
that of the United Kingdom reached the extraordi-
nary tonnage of 300,000, with actually upwards of
100,000 horse-power. Thanks to the researches of
Mr. ANDERSON, facts like these have been placed be-
yound the reach of contradiction. Yet a knowledge of
our system of maritime administration must force upon
us at the same time the conviction that the superiority
thus revealed in figures is by no means so remarkable
in reality—by reason of our energies being superflu-
ously scattered abroad over the whole of the vast
superficies of our dominions. Better, therefore,
say vie, than a hundred Militia Bills, one vigorous
and well-considered measure for the husbanding of
our naval strength ! Better a standing navy, than a
thousand rifle corps ! Better a re-organization of the
marine artillery, than the drilling of a dozen batta-
lions of shopkeepers skilled in the use of the minie
bullet, or of COLT'S revolver, or of that yet more
celebrated weapon—the formidable zundnadelgewehr.

It hr 3 long been notorious that the principal diffi-
culties interposed in the way of obtaining large and
comprehensive measures of legal reform were occa-
sioned by the numerous parties having what were
termed vested interests in the abuses complained of.
Nothing, however absurd or unreasonable, could be
attacked, that persons of various ranks, and receiving
different degrees of emolument, were not forthcoming
to declare that they obtained their livings therefrom,
that they had accepted their respective offices on the
faith that they would be permitted to retain the
same for life, or, at least, during good beha-
viour, and that any change in the system,
even though beneficial to the community, would be
absolutely ruinous to themselves. These parties had,
in many instances, sufficient influence to obstruct and
impede the progress of any measure that might be
brought under the legislative consideration, and
ultimately to have it rejected unless they obtained,
under the name of compensation, higher sums for
doing nothing than they would have received for
their labour under the most favourable circumstances.

These evils arose, in a great degree, from the
infamous " fee system," which, as we have repeatedly
stated, " converted what should be the temple of
justice into dens of thieves." In place of having
the officers of the court, who were occupied, or sup-
posed to be occupied, in the public service, paid ac-
cording to the amount of trouble, and the ability
required for transacting the business of their situa-
tions, they were allowed to take fees from the suitors,
which were levied under the most frivolous and ridi-
culous pretexts; useless forms were multiplied, not
for any benefit that could possibly arise to the parties
to the suit, or to the administration of public justice,
but merely that additional emolument might flow
into the pockets of the sleek and overpaid
officials. Thus the chief abuses that have crept
into the Court of Chancery, the enormous ex-
penses and vexatious delays, are mainly ascribable to
the system that caused the subordinates to be paid
by fees in place of by fixed payments—a system
that could never be satisfactory ; for if the fees
amounted to less than the services were worth, com-
plaints would be speedily preferred, and the matter
rectified; but if, on the other hand, they amounted to
quadruple what the party ought to receive, they were
pocketed quietly, and nothing was heard on the
subject until some searching investigation was insti-
tuted, and the truth, or something approximating to
the truth, was with difficulty elicited from reluctant
witnesses.

If any person should doubt the extent to which the
grievance has reached, we would invite his attention
to the reports of the Select Committee of the House
of Commons on the subject of fees, and to the speech
of Sir W. PAGE WOOD when introducing the first
Bill for the relief of the suitors of the Court of Chan-
cery, at the commencement of the present session.
The lion. and Learned Gentleman clearly and dis-
tinctly established the proposition " that it is not
Tight to tax suitors with the maintenance of the Court