The Sun.
London, England, 1864-10-14 00:00:00

University College.

Yesterday the Faculty of Arts and Laws at University
College was opened with a lecture by Mr Malden, the pro-
fessor of Greek. It is usual on the opening of a session for
the professor who lectures to treat of education in a gene-
ral way, but on the present occasion Professor Malden
took for his subject the special department of "Greek
Tragedy," with which, from his long experience, he must
be so intimately acquainted. Admitting the wide difference
which exists between the modern romantic drama and the
ancient classical one, Mr Malden proceeded to observe that
anyone who wished for a satisfactory explanation of that
difference must keep steadily in view the origin and object
of the Greek drama, and the construction of the Greek
theatre. The essential element in the dithyrambic hymns
in honour of Dionysos, which in the progress of, time ex-
panded into the plays of Eschylus, Sophocles, and Euri-
pides, was essentially religious, and it was only after a long
struggle that the dramatic element predominated over the
religious one. Thespis, who introduced a single actor, was
the first innovator in this direction. Eschylus introduced
a second actor, and the succeeding writers introduced
a third and even a fourth actor. But though
the number of actors was thus limited, it sometimes
happened that the same actor represented two charac-
ter, for which, of course, a change of mask and of
dress was necessary. The use of masks, the presence of a
chorus who sang in unison and in measured cadences, and
who frequently trod the stage in stately and solemn march-
ings, were all so many impediments to the introduction of
that variety of character and incident which distinguishes
the modern drama. &Bides, the modern dramatist allows
more freedom t- his characters. They are of course acted
on by circumstances, but on the other hand they act upon
circumstances, and the changes of feeling are frequent and
rapid, and they are exhibited before the audience. This
was not the case in the ancient Greek drama. External
circumstances, like a species of Fate, acted on the charac-
ters, and they must be consistent from beginning to end
with the phase of life which they were intended to repre-
sent. Much as we admire the " lofty, grave tragedians"
of Greece, they held but a subordinate place in the estima-
tion of their cotemporaries, for it was the Choregus and the
tribe he represented who obtained the chief honour of a
successful dramatic spectacle. But, as Professor Malden
happily remarked at the conclusion of his lecture, while
the religion of the Greeks has pissed away more than a
thousand years ago, and while the Grecian theatres are not
distinguishable from the earth on which they rested,
scholiasts and scholars are still engaged in elucidating the
text or in penetrating the spirit of the great dramatists of
Greece. At the conclusion of the lecture the learned pro-
fessor was much applauded by the audience.

THE NEW LORD LIEUTENANT OF IRELAN D
We understand that his Excellency will not arrive
in Ireland till the last week of the present month. It is
stated in well informed circles that his Excellency's ap-
pointment had been formally perfected, but that prior to
entering on his high °face he must be made a Privy Coun-
cillor, and be fully proclaimed in council by the Queen as
her Irish Viceroy. It was expected that a council would
have been held at such time as to admit of his arriving in
Dublin this week, but it is said that there will be no council
at which her Majesty will preside till the 24th or 25th inst.
—Freeman's Journal.

GREAT BRITAIN AND THE ZOLLVEREIN,— With
respect to the visit to Berlin of Mr Ward, the English con-
sul at Hamburgh, for the purpose of negotiating commer-
cial relations with the new Zallverein, it would appear that
the answer given to him was, that the Customs conference
sitting at Berlin, and composed of delegates from the states
of the Z )fiverein, had declared that since the Customs union
was definitively reconstituted on Oct. 1 Prussia could no
longer negociate alone in her own name.

LITERARY ANNOUNCEMENTS.---The Atheneum
of last week announces the following list of works
as preparing for publication by Messrs Saunders, Otley,
and Co.:—The second volume of Mr Edwin Arnold's
History of Lord Dalhousie's Administration in India'—
' Adventures with the Confederate Army,' by Miss Belle
Boyd, a young lady who was on the staff of the late General
Stonewall Jackson, and who now holds the rank of major in
the Confederate army I—the second and concluding part of
A Piece of Bread,' from the French of Jean Macti—' The
Kennel Stud Book,' edited by ' Cecil.' Messrs Saunders,
Otley, and Co. also announce the following works of fiction :
Uncle Angus,' by Mrs Nichols, which will be published
this week— The Little House by the Railway Arch,' by
the Author of Velvet Lawn'—' My Sister's Son,' by W.
J. Sorrell, author of ' Christmas Day,' &c.—' Percy Tal-
bot,' by George Graham, author of ' Carstone Rectory'—
and a fourth edition of Why Paul Ferroll Killed his
Wife.'

THE PRESENT PARLIAMENT.—On reference to the
Septennial Act of 1715 it will ba found that the
duration of a Parliament is fur seven years, reckoned from
the day on which it may be appointed to meet. Toe present
Parliament was appointed to meet on the 31st of May, 1859,
and, therefore, its natural duration will be till the 3L.t of
May, 1866. Of course, it maybe terminated at any time at
the pleasure of the Crown, The confusion upon this sub-
ject in the public mind arises, no doubt from the notion
that next session will bo the seventh session of the present
Parliament, and that it will be, consequently, the last. But
there might be 20 sessieos, or more, in one Parliament.
although it could only last seven years.
LIST c 1' KILLED AND WOUNDED AT A SOMERSET
YEOMANRY MUSTER.—The annual eight days' drill
of the North Somerset Yeomanry Cavalry, at Wells, was
prolific of accidents, one of which has resulted fatally. The
horse of Corporal James Brintnan bolted with him and
threw him with such violence that he died next morning.
On the day of muster Captain Holbert, of the Bath troop,
was thrown from his horse, and so injured that he could not
join his troop for a day or two. During the drill one of the
troopers, in returning his sword, ran the point of it about
an inch)" more into his comrade's thigh. At the termina-
tion of the general drill, the gallant commander, Colonel
Sir W. Miles, was unhorsed by a trooper, whose horse had
bolted. The colonel fell heavily, notwithstanding which he
soon recovered his seat and led his regiment into the
Market- place, where they were dismissed. Captain Ilavi-
land's horse fell with hm, at Farrington Gurney. In the
case of Corporal Brinman a verdict of accidental death was
rettirued by the cvroner's jury,