The Sun.
London, England, 1864-04-06 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT

HOUSE OP COMMONS—This Day,

The SPEAKER took the chair at a quarter past 12 o'clock.

NEW MEMBER.

Colonel Strong took the oaths and his seat for the county
of Armagh, in the room of Mr. Maxwell Close.

PRIVATE BUSINESS.

The Caledonian Railway (Bredisholm and Tennochside
Branch), and North Eastern Railway (Micklefield Branch)
bills were read a third time and passed.

METROPOLITAN RAILWAY.

Mr. FOSTER moved that the order for the second read-
ing of the Metropolitan Districts Railway (No. 2) be read
and discharged ; that the bill be referred to the examiners
of petitioners for private bills, and that the examiners have
leave to sit and proceed forthwith.
The motion was agreed to.
COPYRIGHT BILL.

On the motion for the second reading of this bill,
Mr. BLACK said be begged leave to withdraw the bill
in order that he might substitute another better calculated
to effect the object he had in view.
The bill was then by leave withdrawn, and
The HON. MEMBER then brought in a bill to consolidate
and amend the laws relating to copyright, which was lead
a first time.

THE BOMBARDMENT OF SONDERBURG.
Mr. DILLWYN gave notice that to-morrow he would
ask her Majesty's Government whether they had received
any reliable information as to the bombardment of Sonder-
burg by the Prussians, without previous intimation to the
inhabitants, and whether the Government had by repre-
sentation to the Prussian Government urged upon them
the necessity of. carrying on war in accordance with the
usages of civilised nations.
CHAIN CABLES AND ANCHORS (RE-COM-

MITTEE, BILL.
The house went into committee on this bill.
On clause 1,
Mr. HUMBERSTONE moved that the words " per-
son or persons" be left out of the clause.
The object of the amendment was to confine the opera-
tions of the bill to corporations and public bodies.

Mr. M. GIBSON said he should vote for the retention
of the words. He thought it would be unwise to exclude
lieensed or private persons from testing materials under this
bill, as there would be an officer appointed by the Board of
Trade to inspect the machinery, in order to ascertain that
anchors and chains were subjeoted to the required tests.

After a short discussion, in which Mr. Laird, Mr. Henley,
and Mr. Bentinck took part, the amendment was negatived
and the clause was ordered to stand part of the bill.
On clause 2, an amendment was moved to strike out the
word " resident."
Mr. AYRTON asked the President of the Board of
Trade whether, as the Government intended to appoint a
perstin to act as inspector of testing machinery, they would
become responsible for the damage done in the event of the
testor passing defective materials ?
Mr. M. GIBSON said the bill was not a Government
measure, and the only desire he had was to make it as
efficient as possible. Te guard against the event pointed
out by the hon. member for the Tower Hamlets, a clause
had been introduced into the bill retaining all the respon-
sibilities that now attached to manufacturers of chains
and anchors.

The ATTORNEY-GENERAL remarked that no re-
sponsibility attached to the Government under the clause.
Clause 10 expressly stated that all the responsibilities at
present in force against manufacturers was to remain in
force as if the present bill had not been passed.
Mr. LAIRD supported the amendment, when,
Atter a short discussion, it was agreed to.
Mr. HUMBERSTONE moved an amendment in clause
8 to the effect that the operations of the bill be confined to
seagoing and coasting vessels.
Mr. M. GIBSON approved of the amendment, which,
after a short discussion, was agreed to.
[LEFT SITTING.]

Shaksperean Tercentenary Celebration at
Stratford-on-Avon.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

Six,—lt is with sincere regret that the Stratford-on-Avon
Tercentenary Festival Committee are compelled to announce
to the public that Mr Fechter has broken faith with them
by declining to put the play of Hamlet upon the stage on
the 27th instant, and to take the part of Hamlet.
At this late period it is totally impracticable for the Com-
mittee to place any tragedy upon the stage, as forming part
of the Tercentenary Celebration, which they much deplore
both on account of the public and the occasion.

The Committee, however, deem it right that the public
should be made acquainted with the circumstances attend •
ing Mr Fechter's breach of his engagement, entered into
with the Committee in December last.
The announcement in the preliminary programme was
drawn up by Mr, Fechter himself, and most extensive pre-
parations made, and the stage enlarged under his directions,
expressly to allow of the scenic effects which he required;
and up to the day of his unfortunate accident he was in most
friendly communisation with the Committee.

Judge then of the consternation and surprise of the Com-
mittee, when, on the 26th March last, they received the
letter from Mr Barnett (No. 1), dated the 23d and posted
at Ventnor in the Isle cf Wight, on the 24th. The vice-
chairman, Mr Flower, wrote at once in reply the letter
(No. 2).

On Monday morning (the 28th) a paragraph appeared
in one paper only, the Star, stating the withdrawal of Mr.
Fechter from Stratford, whereupon a meeting of the Com-
mittee was held, and the resolution (No. 3) was passed and
forwarded to Mr. Fechter, through Mr. Barnett.

This has produced no alteration in his determination, and
now, at the eleventh hour, we are placed in our present
difficulty, without any fault of our own ; and are driven to
the necessity of offering to those who have already taken
tickets for the performance of Hamlet, a return of their
money or an exchange of tickets for other entertainments.
—I have the honour to be, Sir, your obedient servant,
HENRY KINGSLEY, M.D.
Hon. Sec., of the Stratford-on-Avon Tercentenary
Committee.

Committee Room, Town Hall,
Stratford-on-Avon, April 4, 1864.
[No. I.]
March 23, 1861.

To the Tercentenary Committee, Stratford-upon-Avon.
GENTLEMEN,-Mr. Fechter, prevented by his accident
from writing himself, requests me to inform you of the pain-
ful necessity your late resolution has placed him under,
namely, declining the honour of appearing at the Stratford
Celebration.
The said resolution giving the force of truth to the false
and injurious statement spread about by one of your mem-
bers, and published by unfriendly papers, viz.: that Mr.
Pechter, by "under•current and trickery ways," forced on
the choice of his "Hamlet."

Mr. Fechter would have felt proud to serve in his humble
way to the celebration of the Immortal Master, but he can-
not afford to lose his reputation as loyal artist and honest
man, through thoughtless resolutions or personal vanities
over which he cannot, nor will not, have any control.
I am desired by Mr. Fechter to add that the scenery is at
the disposal of the Committee, he having no wish to pre-
vent the carrying out certain proposals so honourably made
by the already. mentioned member still sitting in your com-
mittee, and simply retires, forced to such decision by your
own will and resolution.—l am, gentlemen, your obedient
servant, H. BARNETT,
[No. 2.1
The Hill, Stratford-on-Avon,
March 26, 1864.
DEAR Snt,—A. letter received from you this morning,
dated the 23d inst., addressed to the Committee, and opened
by me as vice-chairman, is most incomprehensible to me.
Should Mr. Fechter break his engagement after his re•
peated pledges to the Committee, he would be doing us a
wrong which, at this late hour, would be irreparable, to
say nothing of the still greater wrong Mr. Fechter would
do to himself.
Your letter has not been shown to the Committee, but
to a few members of it privately, for I cannot imagine
that Mr. Fechter, after having in so straightforward
a manner acceded to the request of the Commit-
tee, will really break faith with them at the eleventh
hour; now that they have pledged themselves to
the public, and have, with great exertions, made their
difficult and expensive arrangements to suit his views, and
many of them under his own directions; besides which we
have in the country sold largely of tickets, with a prospect
of speedily selling the whole.
It is my opinion that the Committee cannot accept Mr.
Fechter's resignation, or in any way be a party to such a
breach of faith with the public, the consequences of which
must rest with him alone.
Mr. Fechter's engagement with us is not, and cannot be
affected by gossip and "unfriendly papers," and there is not
the slightest foundation for saying that the Committee have
by resolution, or in any other way, given any sanction to
the false reports to which you allude ; in fact, we are quite
at a loss to know to what resolution you refer, or who are
the members of the Committee meant in your letter. Da
lay this letter before Mr. Fechter at once, and let me have
a reply by return of post, as I hope that, upon reconsidera-
tion, he will prevent the matter going before the Cora-
mittee.—Yours truly,
(Signed) E. F. FLOWER.
H. Barnett, Eeq.

[No. 3.]
That the reasons assigned by Mr. Barnett for the with.
drawai of Mr. Fechter from the part of " Hamlet," are
wholly unintelligible to this Committee, who have hitherto
worked with cordiality and in harmony with him. The
Committee, who cannot be parties to any breach of faith
with the public, are still prepared to co-operate with Mr.
Fechter in the same spirit, and under these circumstances
they trust that Mr. 13arnett's letter may be withdrawn, and
Mr. Fechter's engagement for the performance of Hamlet
fulfilled.

HEALTH OF THE METROPOLIS.

(From the Registrar-General's Weekly Return.)

The total number of deaths registered in the week that
ended last Saturday was 1,679. The average number for
the 13th week in ten years, 1854-63, is, with a correction
for increase of population, 1,547. The actual result is
therefore in excess of the estimated number by 132.
The deaths of young persons—viz., those under 20 years
of age—were numerous. They rose to 813, which is higher
than the number returned in any week, with only one ex-
ception, during the present year.
The deaths from pneumonia, or inflammation of the
lungs, rose to 122, which is more than they had been in
any of the eight previous weeks, while the corrected ave-
rage is 107. Phthisis was fatal in many cases ; 214 deaths
were referred to it, and 215 to bronchitis, the averages for
these two diseases being respectively 174 and 162. Seventy-
nine children died of whooping-cough, all of them under 10
years, and a great majority under two years of ago. No
less than six deaths from whooping-cough were in Lime-
house. Out of 55 deaths from measles, five occurred in the
east sub-district of Islington.
Five fatal accidents on the streets by waggons, cabriolets,
or rather carriages were recorded in the week,
A child died from having swallowed a halfpenny a year
previously; it caused enteritis and marasmus,
A woman, aged 40 years, died in the workhouse, West-
minster, on the 18th ult., from " destitution and low fever."
The widow of a bricklayer, died on the 25th ult., at 4,
Acorn-street, St. Botolph, from " dropsy, accelerated by
want of proper nourishment."
Last week the births of 1,072 boys and 1,081!girls, in all
2,153 children, were registered in London. In the ten cor-
responding weeks of the years 1851.63 the average number
(corrected) was 2,161.
At the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, the mean height
of the barometer in the week was 29 439 in. The reading
;1/4111 to 28.93 in. on Monday, and rose to 29.85 in. on Saturday.
The mean temperature of the air in theweek was 41.0 deg.,
which is 2.2 deg. below the average of the same week in 43
years (as determined by Mr. Glaisher). The lowest night
temperature' was 28.9 deg. on Sunday. The highest day
temperature 'was 54.4 deg. on Saturday. The range in the
week was theretere 25.5 deg. The mean daily range was
17.0 deg. The difference between the mean dew-point
temperature and air Numperature was 7.6 deg. The mean
degree of humidity of hm,nidity of the air was 75, complete
saturation being represented 100. The directions of the
wind were south-west and north-west. The whole amount
of rain was 0.42 in., which fell on three days. There were
occasional hail showers, and thick s.-tow fell early on the
morning of Wednesday. The mean of the highest tempera-
tures of the water of the Thames was 41'5 deg, ; that of the
lowest 42.3 deg. •

Silt ROWLAND HILL.—The following memorial
was presented to Lord Palmerston on Monday last :
—" To the Right Hon. Viscount Palmerston, ke., ttc.
We, the undersigned, merchants and shipowners, under-
writers, and insurance brokers, subscribers to Llayd'e, re-
spectfully bag leave to represent to your lerdship our
grateful sense of the special public services of Sir Rowland
Hill, late Secretary of her Majesty's Post Office, and
which we humbly consider justly entitle him to a large
and exceptional public reward. In the social and com-
mercial benefits derived from the admirable Post-office
improvements, inaugurated and successfully carried out
through the invention and labours of Sir Rowland Hill,
we have all largely participated, and we cannot value
life pensions to Sir Rowland Hill and Lady Hill, at their
advanced ages, as a sufficient compensation for such extra-
ordinary public benefits. We therefore respectfully beg to
express to your lordship our humble hope that her Ma-
r jesty's Government will advise a parliamentary grant of a
definite sum of public money as a part recognition of the
valuable public services of Sir Rowland Hill. We have
the honour to be, do."
SHOCKING SUICIDE OF A WOMAN.—
An inquiry
was held on Monday at the Green-gate Tavern,
City-road, by Mr. Humphreys, Middlesex coroner, respect-
ing the suicide of Mrs. Harriet Hughes, aged 32 years.
Robert Hughes, 28, Great Arthur-street, said that deceased
was his step-daughter. She was married, but was living
with a hatter, named Willoughby, at 14, Crown-court, Old-
street. Some few days since Willoughby left her, and said
he was going to be married. Oa his telling her this she
was almost mad. On Saturday morning witness went to
see her, and upon entering the room he found her lying
dead upon the floor. Her lips were black and charred from
the action of poison, and a broken phial and mug lay beside
her hand. It was proved that deceased had swallowed the
poison on the previous eveninv, immediately after she had
had an interview with Willoughby. Dr. Crofts said that
the stomach and intestines were shockingly injured by the
action of oxalic acid, of which she had taken a large quan-
tity. Verdict.--Suicide while of unsound mind.

LONDON GAZETTE—Last Evening.

CROWN OFFICE, Arun. 2.

MEMBER RETURNED TO SERVE IN THE PRESENT PAR•
LIAMENT.

County of Armagh—James Matthew Stronge, jun., Esq.,
of Tynan Abbey, in the county of Armagh, in the room of
Maxwell Charles Close, Esq , who has accepted the office
of Steward of her Majesty's Chiltern Hundreds,

WAR-OFFICE, PALL-MALL, APRIL 5.
6th Regiment of Dragoon Guards—Captain Courteney
William Bruce to be Major, by purchase, vice Thornaa
Butt, who retires—Lieutenant John Fryer to be Captai,A,
by purchase, vice Bruce—Cornet Cecil Edward Martyu
to be Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Fryer—Sydney
Charles Du Vernet, Gent., to be Cornet, by purchase,
vice Martyn.
13th Hussars—Lieutenant George Croft Huddleston to be
3d4rbCitt9yattelphprateuaFi
retires—Cornet
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vebFptei
cuo
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cpasdehiadn,
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Francisca yJt aombees
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Lieutenant,ho
lihaurylesshEe,dwgahro Gexib„shoann,gfreostre
6th Foot—Captain Spencer Field, from 9th Foot, to be
Captain, vice Stillman, who exchanges.
7th Foat—Ensign Henry Francis Keane Penrose to be
Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Francis Johnston Murray,
Murray, who retires—Ensign Hugh Massy Barton, from
the 67th Foot, to be Ensign, vice Penrose.
9th Foot—Captain James Stillman, from 6th Foot, to be
Captain, vice Field, who exchanges—Cyril Rippingall
Jackson, Gent., to be Ensign, by purchase, vice Samuel
Goodman, who retires.
24th Foot—Lieutenant-Colonel and Brevet-Colonel Thomas
Ross, from half-pay, late Particular Service, to be Lieu.,
tenant-Colonel, vice the Honourable Daniel Grevina
Finch, who retires upon temporary half, pay.
25th Foot—Captain Theodore Gordon, from 92d Foot, to be
Captain, vice St. Leger, who exchanges—Duncan Wra.
Cork, Gent, to be Ensign, by purchase, vice homy
Cadet appointed to
an Ensigncy, in the Gazette of 22d March, 1864,
32d11 Farototlefull
Hartley Prior,h Fool—The
names transferred
of the to
GentlemanlO et h Foot.
Matthew William Lister and not Mathew William Lyster,

as then stated.
47th Foot—Ensign John Larpent Utterton to be Lieute.
nant, by purchase, vice Richard Parker Hawkes, who
retires—Edward Montagu Manning, Gent., to be En.
sign, by purchase, vice Utterton.
49th Foot—Captain Alfred George Httyshe, from 3el Foot,
to be Captain, vioe Gibson, who exchanges.
60th Foot—Gentleman Cadet the Hon. Augustus
Charles Ellis, from the Royal Military College, to be
Ensign, by purchase, vice Gerald Henry Talbot, who
retires.

61st Foot—Lieutenant Harry Hutchinson Augustus
Stewart, from the 92d Foot, to be Lieutenant, vice Dash-
wood, who exchanges.
67th Foot—Gentleman Cadet Hugh Massy Barton, from
the Royal Military College, to be Ensign, without pur-
chase, vice William Mescal! Kenrick, promoted—Philip
Quirk, Gent., to be Ensign, by purchase, vice Hugh
Massy Barton, transferred to the 7th Foot.
_ _

78th FOCt—Lieutenant Andrew Murray to he Instructor of
Musketry, vice Lieutenant Thomes Owen Silvester
Davies, promoted—Quartermaster Charles Skrine to be
Paymaster, vice Paymaster, with the honorary rank of
Major, Joseph Webster, who retires upon half-pay.
Blth Foot—Captain John Penton to be Major, by put.-
chase, vice Comelin) Charles itolleston, who retires—

Lieutenant Henry Latham Brownrigg to be Captain, by
purchase, vice Penton—Ensign Norcliffe Gilpin, to be
Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Brownrigg--Charles
Lior.el Maitland Kirwan, Gent., to be Ensign, by pur-
chase, vice Gilpin.
91st Foot—Lieutenant Hubert Plunkett Burke to be Cap..
tain, by purchase, vice John Charles Sweny, who re-
tires—Ensign William Darling Caudwell to be Lieute-
nant, by purchase, vice Burke—Charles James
Thorburn, Gent., to be Ensign, by purchase, vice Card-
well.
92d Foot—Captain Henry Hungerford St. Leger, from the
25th Foot, to be Captain, vice Gordon, who exchanges--
Lieutenant Charles Francis Dashwood, from the 61st
Foot, to be Lieutenant, vice Stewart, who exchanges.
98th Foot—Ensign Edward Haughton to be Lieutenant,
by purchase, vice W. Henry Simmonds, who retires--.
Gentleman Cadet Alexander Harley Hyslop, from the
Royal Military College, to be Easign, by purchase, vice
Haughton,
99th Foot—Ensign Anthony Charles Montague Jellicoe to
be Lieutenant, without purchase, vice Henry Kinahan,
deceased—Gentleman Cadet Charles Robert Gibson,
from the Royal Military College, to be Ensign, without
purchase, vice Jeliicoe.
100th Foot—Lieutenant John Worthy Chaplin to be Cap..
tain, by purchase, vice John Lee, who recires—Ensign,
Waiter Hudson to be Lieutenant, by purchase, vice
Chaplin—Ensign Henry Hartley Prior, front the 25t1A,
Foot, to be Ensign, vice Hudson.
105th Foot—Gentleman Cadet Hugh De la Motte Hervey,
from the Royal Military College, to be Ensign, vice
Henry Eastfield Wilkinson, deceased—Rite Brigade,
Ensign Leopold Victor Swaine to be Adjutant, in suc-
cession to Lieutenant George Roberts Noseley, appo,!nted

Paymaster.
4th West India Regiment—Thomas Aked, Gent, to be
Ensign, by purchase, vice William Cairnes, promoted.
PURVEYOR'S DEPARTMENT.—Purveyor's Clerk Arthur
Bull to be Deputy-Purveyor, vice George Washington,
Warwick, resigned.