The Sun.
London, England, 1864-01-26 00:00:00

THE SON, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, JANUARY 26, 1864.

BONNET'S SLI S a LYON.—Every Article of
commerce ta' s its title either from the inventor or
manufacturer, and the more perfect the production the
gr ,ater is the credit which attaches to the originator.
BONNET'S SIL ES are sai too be incable of identifica-
tion in Englaad ; b ut the fallacd y f such an assertion is ex-
Lion
by the very ti .ade mark of the firm, as exhibited by
Mess rs. JAY, of Regent-street.
The following it iterwoven mark may be seen at the end
of each piece :—" bf anufacture de C. J. Bonnet et Cie., it Lyon
Injurieux." Year guaranteed.

•
HER M.A.JESTY'S THEATRE.
FAUST.
(In English.)
Nights of rer formance —Tuesdays, Thursdays, and
Saturdays.
THIS EVE NING, TUESDAY, JANUARY 26.
Lernmens-S.be: crington, Taccani, and Florence Lancia.
Sant.ey, 'arches', Dussek, and Sims Reeves.
I conductor—Sig-nor Arditi.
Co mmence at Eight o'clock.

O YAL ENGLISH. OPERA,
COVENT-GARDEN.
tinder the 11-1, .nagement of Miss Louisa Pyae and
Mr. W. Harris
THIS EvEsn-c; to commence with (20th time) an en-
tirely new Operetta t., entitled FANC.LIETTE. Miss Louisa
Fyne and Mr. W. i -arrison.
After which, a G rand Christmas Pantomime, on a szale of
unprecedented ma: milicence, entitled
HARLEQUIN ST. GEORGE AND THE DRAGON.
Doors open at ; half-past Six--,2ommence at Seven.

THEATRE ROYAL DR U R Y-L AN E.
Manager 3, Messrs. Edmond Falconer and
F. B. Chatterton.
THIS EVE.' TIN( T, the Performances will commence with
the New Serio--Com is Drama, by Edmund Falconer, entitled
VIGFIT ANDPrincipal characters by Mr. Phelps,
supported by Aessrs. Ryder, Raynor, Fitzjames, and Misses
B. Leclercq, A tkinf.on, and Heath.
To conclude with the new Grand Christmas Comic Panto-
mime f SINI ;AD THE SAILOR ; or, The Seven Wonders
of the o
World. Clowns, Messrs. H. Boleno and C. Lauri ;
harlequins, Al essrs. J. Cormack and S. Saville ; Pantaloons,
Messrs. W A. Barnts and J. •Morris ; Columbines, Madame
Bolen() and MA ssea Gunniss.
Prices as list iaL Box Office open from 10 till 5 daily.

ROYAI, LYCEUM THEATRE.
Under the Sole Management of Mr. Pechter.
BEL DENIOI ,TIO (a Triumphant Success) will be repeated
Every Evening during the Week.
THIS EVEN ING, the performance will commence with's
New and Original Farce, entitled THE LOST CHILD:
Messrs. IL With licombe, Shore, Garden, F. Charles Collett,
Moreland; bliss es Percy, Pauline LeJlercq, Wood, Mrs. Lee,
and Miss E. Lay enu.
A 'ler which, nt ; Eight o'clock, BEL DEMONIO, a Love
Story, in Twelv e Tableaux, taken from Stendhal's "Italian
Chronicle.," by Mr. John Brougitam. Principal cliaracl
ter by Mr. Fech t42r, supported by Messrs. Jordan, Charles,
Broughsm, Emery, Raymond, Moreland, Smith, Clifford,
Collett, Sims ; M ics M. Henrade,:Miss E. Lavenu, Mrs. Lee,
and thee Elswor thy.
The Public are entreated to take notice that No Charge is
made to the occults-Ws of Boxes, Box-places, or Stalls, either
tor play bills or for the safe keeping of hats and cloaks, and
that the attendants in all parts of the house are forbidden to
receive any gratuities whatever.
Box-office open daily from 11 to 5. Commence at 7.

ffHEAT} tE ROYAL HAY NI ARKET.-
Sole Lessee and Manager, Mr, Buckstone.
TiILS EVKINING, OUR AMERICAN COUSIN : Messrs.
Sothern, Buckstone, Chippemiale, Braid, Gordon, Rogers,
Clark, Cullentc-rd, &C. ; Mesdames Angel, Snowden, Terry,
Lindley, Hill, .&c.
After which, KING- ARTHUR ; or The Days and Knights
of the Round T able. Messrs. Chippendale, Compton. Braid,
Clark, Rogers, Tilbury, &c. ; Mesdames L. Keeley, Brough,
Wright, Terry, _Lindley, Rogers, &c.
Commence at 7.

ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE.-
Sole Lesee and Manager, Mr. Geo. Vining.
THIS EVENING, DONNA DIANA.
After which., HARLEQUPI LITTLE TOM TUCKER;
or The Fine Lady of Banbury Cross, and the Old Woman
who Lived in rc Shoe and Had so Many Children she didn't
snow what to do.

ITEW THEATRE-RO YAL, ADELPHL-
ky Sol e Proprietor and Manag-er. M?. B. Webster.
THIS ENING, ICI ON PARLE FRANCAIS: Mr
J L. Toole,.
At to Eight, the New Drama of LEAH : Miss Bate-
man, suppoir Led by Messrs. Arthur Stirling-, R. Phillips, Bil-
nurton, Streert, Stephenson, Eburne; Miss H. Simms, and
Mrs. Billing -I on.
To conclud.o3 with. LADY BELLE BELLE; or, Forttmio
and his Sevi ai Magi:: Men. Messrs. J. Clarke, R. Phillips,
Stephenson ; Miss Woolgar, Miss K. Kelly, Miss Patti
Josephs, Miss L. Laidlaw, Miss Seaman.

Commence at 7.

LEA. H,-EVERY NIGHT,
MISS BATEMAN.

MISS BATEMAN.—LEAH.—THIs EVENING,
the 99th appearance of the great Tragic Actress, Miss
BATEMAN, in the character of LEAH. In consequence of
l'he unbounded success with which Miss Bateman's imperso-
n. ation of the pritlcipat character in the new Five Act Drama
of L E AEI has been attended. Mr Webster begs to announce
that it will be performed EVERY EVENING until further
tt otice.

YAL ST. JAMES'S THEATRE. under the
Management of Mr. B. WEBSTER.
GRe.:AT ATTRACTION.—First Week of Mr. and Mrs.
CHARLES MATHEWS.—Mr. J. L. Took as Mrs. Brown,
Mr. Phel 4s. Mr. Pechter, and Lady Audley every evening.
1863 ; or. the Sensation of the Past Season, until further
notice. Among the artistes who will appear here are Mr.
l3enjasni•a Webster, Mr. J. L. To, le, Mr. Paul Bedford, and
Mr. Chr.rles Mathews ; Mrs. Stirling, Mrs. Frank Mat-
thews, Miss Cottrell, Miss Wentworth, Miss Fanny Josephs,
and Mrs. Charles Matlews.
THIS NVENI2.7G. and during the Week, at 7, THE
ADVENTU,,..ES OF A LOVE LETTER; COOL AS A
CUCUMBER and 1863; or, THE SENSATIONS OF
THE PAST SEASON.
On SATURDAY next, Jan. 30, will be produced an entirely
New Comedy, by Leicester Buckingham, Esq., entitled 'l' N E
SILVE.R LINING, in which Mr. and Mrs. Charles Mathews,
Mrs. Stirling, and Mrs. Frank Matthews, &c., will appear.

ROYAL STRAND THEATRE.
Manager, Mr. W. H. Swanborough.
THIS EVENING, ORANGE BLOSSOMS.
After which, the Grand Christmas Burlesque, ORPHEUS
AND EURYDICE : Messrs. Honey, Wood, James Fenton,
Mesdames Swanborough, Marie Wilton, Hughes, &c.
Followed by MARGATE SANDS.
To conclude with TURN 11131 OUT.
Commence at 7.

41HE THIRD EDITION OF " THE SUN."
_IL Containing- the Latest SPORTING INTELLIGENCE,
XIII be had Every Evening of

G. R. GLANIE, NEWS AGENT,
No. 4, Connaught-terrace, Hyde-park.

HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.
THIS DAY.—Moming, 3h. 46m.—Afternoon, 3h. 58m.
I o-moßnow.-Morning, 4h. 14m.—Afternoon, 4h. 30m.

The Weather—Sun Office, Jan. 26, 1864,

ration. His arguments have much reason on their
side, yet the French will be wise to weigh well the
consequences before they begin an innovation in
their law. It was a theory laid down by the great
NAPOLEON in his early days of speculative govern-
ment that the best source of social prosperity was
the avoidance of extreme poverty. He
admitted the necessity of social distinc-
tions, but denied the necessary existence of
the extreme of destitution. This theory of the
youthful reformer was practically carried out in his
great Code, and even an apparently plausible in-
fringement of which should be viewed with extreme
caution.

The news from Berlin, though unexpected, can
hardly create much surprise. It is, unfortunately,
only too much in consonance with the arbitrary
temper and despotic opinions of the KING, whose
faults as a ruler are doubled by the shortsighted
and obstinate men who compose his Cabinet. The
Prussian Chamber of Deputies, yesterday, ordered
the committee on the Budget to report immediately
upon the vote on the Budget, given on Saturday
by the Upper House. The report proposing that
the vote of the Upper House should be declared
null and void, was accordingly made, and at once
adopted by the House. Upon this Count EUTEN-
BERG read a Royal Message, stating that the Diet
would be closed that very day by the President of
the Council. This arbitrary step was accordingly
takea, and the President read a speech from the
Throne reproving the Deputies in no measured
terms. The "head and front of its offending" is
that it has "maintained the ground which led to
the dissolution of the previous Chamber." This is
possibly intended as a warning for the future, as
well as an excuse for the present ; a hint that dis-
solution will be the next step should the Deputies
continue refractory. The Budgets are of
course the primary cause of complaint.
The House has not discussed the Budget
of 1863, and has struck out items in the current
year which are indispensable for the public ser-
vice, according to the views of Herr VON BIS-
MARS and his Royal Master. It has renewed the
resolution of the former Chamber on the military
budget, without first discussing the bill establishing
the obligation of military service. The refusal of
the loan is another subject of offence, and the house
is charged with having passed resolutions, which,
in the event of war, pledge it to take part against
the Prussian fatherland. The Government, there-
fore, renounces for the present the hope of coming
to terms with the Chamber, and " considers it its
duty to act for the maintenance of the State."
What these conveniently ambiguous words may
signify remains to be seen. The announcement of
the intentions of the Cabinet are couched after the
manner of Herr Vox BISMARK, in pompous general
terms, but we know the general character of what
the Prussian Premier styles "the struggle between
the House of Hohenzollern and the House of
Representatives." Last year this same conflict
absorbed a large share of European attention.
It was then a matter pur et simple, a
resolute stand in favour of constitutional
right on the part of the Chamber—an obstinate and
tyrannical effort on the part of the KING and his
Government to trample down the liberties of his
people. This year the question is complicated by
the Schleswig-Holstein dispute. Last year our
sympathies, in common with all free nations, were
wholly with the Deputies. This year the com-
batants have a fresh subject of dispute. They
agree in their desire to dispossess the Danes of the
sovereignty of the Duchies, but they differ in the
manner of doing it. The Chamber wishes to estab-
lish them as an independent State, under the sway
lof the Duke of AILGUSTENBURG. The KING and

his advisers wish to join Holstein at least to the

Prussian provinces_ In neither of these projects
can the English people take part. The Prussian
deputies and the Prussian people have forfeited the
warm interest felt in this country in their proceed-
ings by their cJnduct in this matter. It ill became
the representatives who were resisting oppression—
it was little fitting for the people who supported
them in the struggle to invade the rights
of their neighbours. Apart from the moral wrong,
this enthusiasm for Mulish conquests is a grave
political error on the part of the Prussians. By
their headstrong prosecution of the aggression
on the rights of Denmark they are weakening their
own position towards the Crown, towards France,
towards Europe generally. The infatuation which

urges them on reminds one of the old saying,
Quern Deus vult perdere, prius dementatt The
Prussians are themselves applying the torch to a
bonfire that they themselves may have the bitterest
cause to regret. Neither of the two great German
Powers are in a position to court war. Prussia,
with her Rhenish provinces lying temptingly
within the reach of France, may look in vain for
English support against the trouble she is bringing
on herself. This country will not suffer itself to be
entangled in her affairs, if she chooses to disregard
warning and remonstrance, and to break her former
obligations. The English Ministry that attempted
such a course would surely rue it. Even the young
Crown Prince has already lost much of his popu-
larity in this country from the countenance h© has
afforded to the pretensions of the Duke of AUGUS-
TENBURG. The English public may not be able to
follow all the intricacies of Almanach de Gotha, but
they oan very clearly comprehend that the Prussian
King, Ministers, and people are actuated by the
greed of power in their eagerness on behalf of the
political rights of the Holsteiners. It remains to
be seen whether a nation divided against itself can
succeed in accomplishing its wishes; but should the
Prussians persist, as appears but too probable, in
their present course, they can certainly hope for
little sympathy or assistance in the misfortunes they
will inevitably bring down upon themselves and
their country.

There are few things morn reprehensible than
practical joking, and it will be a good thing for
society when some more effective check is put upon
it. It is not at all expedient that the present sys-
tem should continue, as many sad instances con-
stantly prove that a mere censure does not deter the
idle, ignorant, and careless from the perpetration of
jokes that often produce most serious results, and
not unfrequently leave fatal terminations. A de-
plorable death through fright was recorded yester-
day, and an inquest was he'd upon the body of the
victim. A young woman, who was engaged es a
dress-maker in the house of a gentleman in Hyde-
park-gardens, was coming upstairs when she saw a
figure in white in a doorway, and the sudden shock
so completely overpowered her that she was carried
away insensible. She never entirely recovered, and
after lingering for four months expired. A more
lamentable case of the sad effects of this detestable
habit of practical joking has seldom been heard of,
since the death of this poor young woman was evi-
dently occisiond by z he startling effects of the fearful
apparition. It may be suggested that the verdicts
of the jury in these cases are not strong enough,
and in this particular instance just cited it is very
strange they should have separated without at least
passing a severe censure upon the unhappy indi-
vidual who caused the calamity. It is not enough
to declare that the death was occasioned by a mis-
fortune. It is not to be expected tat the passing

of such mild sentences as this will put a stop to the
dangerous practice of ".joking," which has produced
such serious evils in so many instances, and so often
laid the foundation of incurable maladies, if the
fatal results of this case here recorded did not im-
mediately ensue. In this instance, doubtless, the
perpetrator of the joke did not intend to
do any harm, and may have been, as the Coroner
remarked, "sincerely sorry for her folly," but the
law should not so readily exonerate those charged
with such offences, or allow them loop holes through
which they can so easily pass, and escape the
punishment they so justly merit. In other cases
of accidents and injuries the same laxity is not
witnessed, and where danger is apprehended the
responsible party is detained until the result is
known, and the circumstances duly investigated,
It is certain that, morally, a person is more guilty
who injures another by, dressing up as a ghost,
or by producing spectral illusions to frighten and
startle, than one who accidentally knocks down
or runs over another in the streets. In most cases
of this sort the foot passengers are greatly to
blame for haste, or imprudence, and the catas-
trophe that occurs is sometimes almost unavoid-
able in the hurry of business and pressure of
affairs. Now planning a practical joke is a delibe-
rate intention, and cannot possibly be accounted
for as inadvertence, or excused as unintentional,
and no possible reason can be addaced to allege
a necessity or a strong inducement to commit the
action. The sooner the matter is regarded in the
right light, and taken up in the proper-spirit, the
better. It is only surprising that more strictness
and severity have not been exercised in this respect,
when we consider that the interests of so many are
bound up in the matter, Children are constantly
exposed to danger through the carelessness of nur-
serymaids in many respects, but in none do they
incur more risks than in the practice of " dress-
ing up ghosts" and other frightful images to
terrify them into silence. Now, all this ignorance
of effects, and non-intention to injure, that is so
readily put forward as a plea for the commission
of the offence, will best be cured by the in-
fliction of a punishment. If it is urged that
the mode of procedure is hard on the innocent actors
who meant no harm, it is surely much worse that
others should lose their health, their reason, and
their lives. The sooner such lamentable ignorance
is enlightened the better, and a little rough expe-
rience will be the best antidote against a very absurd
frame of mind, and great want of thought, which
must inseparably accompany all such reprehensible
practices. The effect on others is to be considered,
too, in dealing with such cases, and treating the
offenders. There are many who will wilfully dis-
regard or totally ignore the warnings that such
practices are dangerous, who will pay attention di-
rectly they understand that they may be subjected
to annoyance or inconvenience in the carrying out
of their foolish games. When such stringent laws
and oppressive enactments are made for the preser-
vation of game, in order that sportsmen may in-
dulge themselves in any exciting pursuit, it seems
rather inconsistent that no check should be applied
to this social calamity, and no steps taken by the
authorities to interpose a barrier for the protection
of the community. It is high time that this anomaly
be rectified and thie grievance redressed. Let the
Legislature make the practice a chargeable offence,
and it will soon be seen that, as in the case of
FREDERICK'S soldiers contriving to keep their hats
on their heads in the wind when he had punished
one for the " accident," as it was called, of the wind
blowing off his hat in the midst of a review, and
thereby causing great confusion, that the ignorance
which now prevails as to the extent of the evils and
injuries of practical joking will vanish as if by
magic, and the results of the increased intelligence
cannot but be profitable to the parties concerned,
and most fortunate and happy for their intended
victims.

A Cabinet Council was held yesterday at the
official residence of the First Lord of the Treasury, in
Downing-street. The Ministers present were Lord Pal-
merston, the Lord Chancellor, Earl Granville, the Duke of
Argyll, Sir George Gray, Earl Russell, Earl de Grey, Sir
Charles Wood, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the
Duke of Somerset, the Right Hon. T. Milner Gibson, the
Right Hon. Edward Cardwell, Lord Stanley of Alderley,
and the Right Hon. C. P. Villiers.

MEETING OF PARLIAMENT.—The following note
has been addressed by Mr. Disraeli to tae members
who usually act with him in the House of Commons :
" Sir,—l have the honour to inform you that Parliament
will reassemble on Thursday, the 4th February, and I
would express my hope that you may find it convenient to
be in your place that day, as business of importance may
be expected.—l am sir, your faithful servant —B. DISRAELI.
Hughenden Manor, Jan. 12."

THACKERAT'S LAST WORK.—Charles Dickens,
writing about Mr. Thackeray in the February num-
ber of the Cornhill Jlagazine, says :—" On the table before
me there lies all that he had written of his latest and last
story. That it would be very sad to any one—that it is in-
expressly so to a writer—in its evidences of matured designs
never to be accomplished, of intentions begun to be exe-
cuted and destined never to be completed, of careful prepa-
ration for long roads of thought that he Was never to tra-
verse, and for shining goals that he was never to reach,
will be readily believed. The pain, however, that I have
felt in perusing it has not been deeper than the conviction
that he was in the healthiest vigour of his powers when he
wrought on this last labour. In respect of earnest feeling,
far-seeing purpose, character, incident, and a certain loving
picturesqueness blending the whole, I believe it to be much
the best of all his works. That he fully meant it to be so,
that he had become strongly attached to it, and that he be-
stowed great pains upon it, I trace in almost every page. It
contains one picture which must have cost him extreme
distress, and which is a masterpiece. There are two chil-
dren in it, touched with a hand as loving and tender as ever
a father caressed his little child with. There is some young
love, as pure and innocent and pretty as the truth. And it
is very remarkable that by reason of the singular construc-
tion of the story, more than one main incident usually be-
longing to the end of such a fiction is anticipated in the
beginning, and thus there is an approach to completeness
in the fragment, as to the satisfaction of the reader's mind
concerning the most interesting persons, which could hardly
have been better attained if the writer's breaking-off had been
foreseen. The last line he wrote and the last proof he cor-
rected are among these papers through which I have so sor-
rowfully made my way. The condition of the little pages
of manuscript where death stopped his hand shows that he
had carried them about, and often taken them out of his
pocket here and there, for patient revision and interlinea-
tion. The last words he corrected in print were, ' And my
heart throbbed with an exquisite bliss.' God grant that on
that Christmas-eve when he laid his head back on his pillow
and threw up his arms, as he had been wont to do when
very weary, some consciousness of duty done and Christian
hope throughout life humbly cherished, may have caused
his own heart so to throb, when he passed away to his
Redeemer's test.

YOUNG POETS are reminded by a sagacious critic
in the Saturday Review that they rarely take the
trouble to imitate any living poet under the rank of Mr.
Tennyson ; whereas, adds the reviewer, the minor poets
have distinct styles, and it is because they have this that
they attract and please. Whatever else may be said of Mr.
Browning, or 1-Jr. Matthew Arnold, or Mr. Henry Taylor,
or even of less aspiring composers—of Lord Houghton, for
instance, or Mr. Coventry Patmore—this much atleast may
be said, that a poem written by thorn obviously conies from
them, and has a cast that is recognisable and peculiar. But
in the productions of unsuccessful young poets this is the
very thing that is wanting. Page after page is turned over,
and the versification may be good and clever in its way, but
it is either imitative or colourless. The world has got the
thing before, and does not want any more of it, and so tilt:
volume, when published, falls hopelessly flat,

A WONDERFUL METEORITE.—The Gottinger
Nachrichten gives an account of a meteorite which
has been found at Obenkirchen (Schaumburg) imbedded in
a mass of sand 15 feet below the surface. Its weight is
about 82 pounds, and it has the form of an irregular four-
sided pyramid. The mass is still intact, with the exception
of a small piece, which has been removed for analysis. The
surface is entirely converted into brown and black hydrated
oxide of iron, plainly showing it must have fallen some cen-
turies ago. The iron is quite passive, and does not reduce
copper from a solution of one of its salts. The specific
gravity is very small, being only 7'12. A small portion,
weighing 2.9 grs., was removed for analysis, and was found
to have the following composition 90'95 ; nickel
awl cobalt, 8.01; phosporus, 0'64,

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

PROROGATION OF THE PRUSSIAN
CHAMBERS.

BERLIN, Jan. 25.

The Chamber of Deputies to-day ordered the
Committee oa the Budget to immediately report
upon the vote on the Budget given on Saturday last
by the Upper House. The Committee accordingly
made their report, which proposed that the vote of
the Upper House should be declared null and void.
This proposition was adopted by the house. Count
Eulenburg then read a Royal message, stating that
the Diet would be closed to day at three p,m. by
the President of the Council.

The Diet was closed to-day by the President of
the Council, who read the Speech from the Throne.
The following are the most important passages :
"The Chamber of Deputies has maintained the
ground which led to the dissolution of the previous
Chamber. The House has rejected the Bill refer-
ring to Article 99 of the Constitution, and has not
discussed the Budget of 1863. In the Budget of the
current y ear it has struck out items which are indis-
pensable for the public service. The House has also
renewed the resolution of the previous Chamber
upon the Military Budget without having discussed
the preliminary Bill establishing the obligation to
military service. For that reason the Upper House,
in the exercise of its Constitutional rights, has
rejected the Budget of 1864 as amended by the
Chamber of Deputies.
"The Government has carried out the vote of the
Chamber with regard to the Polish members ar-
rested for high treason, but does not consider it
conformable to the respect due to public justice and
to the dignity of the House.
_ _

" The House has also refused the required loan
proposed by the Government to afford the means
of carrying out Federal Execution in Holstein, as
well as for the maintenance of Prussia's position as a
great Power awl her honour in the further develop-
ment of the cotiflict, and likewise for covering the
portion of the expenses of the Execution falling
to Prussia as menaber of the German Confederation.
The House rejected this vote, although the King
had pledged his word, in his reply of the 27th of
December, that the money should only be em-
ployed for the protection of the right and honour
of the country.

" The House has passed resolutions by which the
majority, in the event of warlike complications,
takes part beforehand against the Prussian
Fatherland.

" Renouncing, therefore, for the present the hope
of bringing about an understanding with the Cham-
ber, the Government considers it its duty to act

for the maintenance of the State, and relics herein
upon the growing support of the country."

SPAIN.

MADRID, JAN. 26.

The Correspondencia states that the Finance
Minister has drawn up a project to improve the
revenue of the State and limit the expenses of the

public service.