The Sun.
London, England, 1864-06-27 00:00:00

LONDON, MONDAY, JUNE 27, 1864.

The rapid extension of railway works in the
metropolis has had one important Effect which must
not be overlooked in the annoyance consequent upon
the deterioration cf property or the gratification
attending improved facilities for traffic. It has pro-
duced other results lees apparent, pc rhapa, to the
upper classes of society, but no lees deserving of at-
tention. The demolition of houses consequent upon
the passage of the lines through the densely packed
streets of London has sensibly diminished the
amount of house accommodation available for the
poor, and of that necessary of decent life there was
already a deficient supply. Our philanthropists
and social reformers are beginning to turn their
thoughts seriously in this direction, being fully
aware that preaching and good advice are alike
thrown away—that the influence of education and
moral training is lamentably counteracted by the
squalid rooms into which two or three families are
often huddled together. The Esrl of DERBY has
busied himself in nee:lug to the labouring classes
the right of railway travelling at the lowestpos-
sible Fate, bat much remains to be done in providing
decent houses for those whose occupation or neces-
sities keep them within the bounds of the metropolis
and its immediate suburbs. The scandalous condi-
tion of the dwellings of some portions of our agri-
cultural population has lately been much discussed,
and some severe strictures were deservedly passed
on the neglect or indifference of landlords, but
Londoners must not exempt themselves from blame
if they fail to encourage and assist the work of pro-
viding homes for the metropolitan artisans and their
families. There is much being done in this way by
various associations and by private benevolence,
One of these societies held its general meeting the
other day, when the report of financial returns, the
statistics of the number of houses, &c., was read.
It is Satisfactory to find that this benevolent asso-
ciation was able to pay a dividend of 3 per cent. to
the shareholders, besides carrying a balance of
£2OO to the guarantee fund. This is doubly
gratifying, because it not only pcierves those
t heritable persons who have invested their money
in such an undertaking edioni
pecuniary less, but is
tends to substantiate the assertion that improved
dwellings for the poor can be made to reimburse
their owners and become self-supporting .
There
will always be found b:inevolent and liberal persons
to come forward and build model dwellings and
lodgieg.houses, but if the whole system cf house
accommodation for t.le poor is to undergo that
reform which it imperatively demands, it must be a
trotter of business, and not of charity. Philanthro-
pists will always be the exception, and we cannot
suppose that even a considerable fraction of the
metropolitan householders will make their own
interest subordinate to the good of their fellows.
We cannot reasonably anticipate that men will lay
out money in repairs and alterations, and enter
upon a losing speculation in the ordinary way ot
lasasiness, and, therefore, it is of /he highest im-
portance to make our plans practical as well as

philanthropical, with a due regard to the pocket of
the landlord, as well as to the moral and physical
wellbeing of the tenant. There will always be
much that hence olence alone can do, and surely the
riches of a charitable man can find few more praise-
worthy outlets than the improvement and embel-
lishment of the homes of the poor. It is one of the
happy privileges of wealth that it can afford to dis-
regard the monetary returns which are so valuable
to other men, and thus some of the model dwellings
can lay claim to attractions which many houses of
a far higher standing have no pretentious to. In a
very interesting pamphlet, recently published by
the Society of Arts,* we find an account of various
experiments made throughout the metropolis with
regard to improved dwellings, model lodging-
houses, &c. Mr. TWINING, a member of the Coun-
cil, has, at his own expense, collected all available
information as to the results obtained in a financial
as well as a sanitary point of view, by the societies
and individuals who have occupied themselves in
this matter. It was thought, with justice, that
such information would supply most valuable aid in
further proceedings of the kicd, by showing what
contrivances had proved most effectual in " render-
ing sanitary and other improvements acceptable to
the poor and remunerative to builders and capi-
taliats." This combined result is the great object
to aim at, since it is useless to construct model
dwellings cn such a plan as to disgust those who are
intended to occupy them, while, on the other hand,
it is, as we have said, imperatively necessary to
make them remunerative investments if we hope to
see them supply in any degree the wants of our
labouring classes. It is by no means impossible to
unite these two objects, and in many parts of Lon-
don model dwellings have succeeded in every point
of view. Whet are called the renovated dwellings ate
naturally more profitable than new hoases,as so much
preliminary expense is avoided, and, in one instance,
that of the Charles-street renovated lodging-house,
belonging to the Labourers' Friend Society, returns
of from 12 to 15 per cent. have actually been ob-
tained. This is the more gratifying, as the locality
is one of the worst in London ; and it is, therefore,
somewhat surprising to find that a lodging-house
conducted under strict regulations should prove a
profitable speculation. This is not, however, always
the case, since the Peter-street Lodging-house, in
Westminster, has during the last few years been a
decided loss, so that it will not do to base too
favourable anticipations on the returns of the
Charles-street experiment. Lodging-houses natu-
rally present a great difficulty in the necessity of
enforcing some rale as to hours, &c., which the
migratory and vagrant class who patronise them
may be unwilling to submit to; besides, in less
select houses, liberty is allowed as to card-playing.
gambling, &c., that is inadmissible in the model
dwellings. Still the fact that such satisfactory
results can be attained in a neighbourhood like
that of Drury-lane is very important, and at Vic-
toria-chambers, belonging to Mr. BARRY, of Ebury
street, the manager is frequently unable during the
winter months to receive all applications. The
model dwellings for families are, perhaps, of more
importance, and of these we find several interesting
particulars in the Report we have alluded to. They
are subdivided in the list into three departments—
urban dwellings, with external galleries ; urban
dwellings, without galleries ; and suburban dwell-
ings. The plan of galleries is one much esteemed
by some persons, on account of various advantages
in populous districts; besides relieving the building
from the charge of house duty, as each tenement in
houses of this kind has been decided by judicial
authority to be a separate house with regard to
taxation. It is, certainly, a matter of common
prudence to adopt any plan, consistent with health
and propriety, by which the inevitable expenses
can be reduced, and it is the lack of this
kind of prudence which often makes bene-
volent undertakings so oppressively expensive.
The gallery system has great advantages in case of
fire, when accidents are too probable in houses let
out in floors. Another very excellent and practical
plan for lessening the expense of such establish-
ments is the letting of the ground floor out in
shops. Thus in the Lisson Grove Buildings, belong-
ing to the Marylebone Association, shops are let out
at £35 per annum, thus making a material diffe-
rence in the balance sheet. The various schemes
for increasing the comfort and convenience of th©
tenants are weighed in this report, and form an I

alportant part of the effiir, since it is absolutely

necessary that the poor should be attached to the

dwellings if they are to be of any real service. It
is only philanthropists like 2tiiss BURDETT COUTTS

who can afford to sacrifice a whole floor of a block

of buildings to club-rooms and wash.houses, but
there are many less costly ways in which the wishes

of the tenants can be consulted. What is most

urgently needed is a reform in the dwellings of the

classes was can only afford to pay ls. 6d. or 2s. 6d.
weekly, and this is most difficult to bring about
It is much easisr to provide for the necessities of
• he class above them, who can pay from ss. to 7s. 61.,

but they ara more able to get respectable places to

begin with and more likely' to keep them in order.

It is the lower class that must be reached before we
can make any impression on the overcrowding and

other evils at present existing. We are, therefGre,

very glad to find that the trustees of the Peabody
Fund are directing their efforts towards the eleva-
tion of this class, and their model dwellings near

.he Great Eastern Railway Terminus ar© designed

or the lower paid rank of workmen and their

anlilies. One great object to attain is the avoid•

an" of that overcrowding which has been styled by

a competent authority the worst of all unwhole-
some infinetees, and which is so frightfully common
where rooms are let out singly to families. Such
outrages of sanitary laws bring a terrible punish-
ment of epidemic disease, which finds
its nursery
sertyheisahthese abodes, and thus the neglect of
the wealther portion of the, population recoils upon
themselves. There is every reason for a thorough
reform in the matter of dwellings for our labouring
classes, and the first step towards lasting and effec-
tual improvement is to consider carefully the expe-
rience of the past in order to profit by its successes,
and to take warning from its failures.

* Report addressed to the Council by the Special cam_
mittee, on the Statistics of Dwellings improvement in the
Metropolis. Simpkins, NI, Strand.

The inquest held at Eghatn regarding the cause
of the deaths of the five unfortunate persons who
perished at the recent accident on the South
Western Railway was brought to a conclusion last
Friday, and resulted in a verdict of manslaughter
being found against THOMAS LEE, the engine-
driver, and JOHN TRAINER, the fireman of the
second train. We have hitherto refrained from
commenting on the probable causes of the acci-
dent, deeming it right to await the result of the
coroner's inquest; but now that the verdict of the
jury is pronounced, we shall proceed to make a few
remarks upon the evidence before the jury, and
which induced them to return their verdict. We
do not quarrel with their finding, for, practically,
it was the only one which they could legitimately
come to, unless they found that the collision vira.,,
accidental, and this they could hardly do. I no
more conclusive evidence of negligence is brought
forward at their trial, we do not believe that the
men committed taye much to apprehend from it.

As regards the company, the verdict of the jury is,
however, both just and severe, and will be received
with satisfaction by the public. After declaring
the engine-driver and fireman guilty of man.
slaughter, they, as it were, recommend them to
mercy by adding that they considered they
were labouring under great disadvantages owing to
the general mismanagement of the company, and
then proceed to particularise the more especial in-
stances in which this mismanagement was conspi-
cuous—namely, the want of a turn-table at Ascot;
the absence of a means of communication between
the guard and driver; and the reckless manner in
which the trains were started. In most railway
accidents where the company's servants are to
blame, it is generally among the subordinates that
the fault rests; but in the pres -nt instance, by the
evidence of Mr. ARCHIBALD SCOTT, the traffic
manager of the line, the accident is mainly attrie
butable to the too faithful fulfilment of his master's
orders. Although five minates is but a short
time to elapse between the starting of trains,
yet provided that proper precautions were taken
there is no reason why an accident should occur.
Care seems to have been taken to provide extra
signals for the occasion, and the men employed upon
this duty seem to have performed it correctly; but
it was a great mistake, on the part of Mr. SCOTT, to
give written orders to the driver of the first train
to stop at Egham, and to the driver of the train
which followed, only five minutes later, orders to
pass through Egham and not to stop until he
reached Staines, and yet not informing him that the
preceding train was to stop at Egham. The driver
may not have observed the danger-signal at the
auxiliary station ; but up to the moment of reach.
ing that point, all the signals had shown him that
five minutes had elapsed since the passing of the
preceding train, and here then, although the driver
may have been guilty of neglect, surely the conduct
of his superior is far more reprehensible. Again,
why was there no turntable at Ascot ? Mr. SCOTT,
in his examination, gave a most extraordinary
reason, "He did not think a turntable was neces.
sary at Ascot, as the only time at which it would be
used would be during the race week, when the
arrivals of the trains would be so frequent as to
prevent the possibility of reversing the engine. He
thought such an arrangement would be productive
of great danger. Although the proper way of
running an engine was tender behind, he did not
think that any danger would result from reversing
it." Why, that is the only time when it would be
required. In fact, it was the profit expected to be
derived during the Ascot Races that induced the
company to construct the line, and its extension to
Reading was an after-thought. In reply to Mr.
SCOTT'S statement, however, Colonel YOLLAND
rec arked in his observations at the conclusion of
the inquiry, that running an engine backwards, or
having the " tender in front, did not give the driver
the same power over his engine. He was sure there
could be no difficulty in turning the engines that ar-
rived at Ascot at two, and did not leave till five, pro-
vided there was a turntable erected. He dissented
entirely from the statement made on behalf of the
company that, even if there had been a turntable
at Ascot, the engines would not have been turned
on the day in question. With a proper turntable,
he repeated, he wis perfectly satisfied that every
engine would be turned. He considered it most
dangerous to conduct any kind of traffic, more par-
tioularly in the case of special traffic, without using
a turntable, no matter how long the interval be

tween the trains." This view of the case is tall( n
by the engine-driver, who stated that it took about

four minutes to turn an engine at the Waterloo sta-
tion, and yet Mr. SCOTT does not think it possible
to turn an engine at Ascot, although the engines on
an average remained at that station upwards of two
hours. Mr. SCOTT'S reascns, or rather excuses,
concerning the communications between the guard
and driver, are quite as unsatisfactory. He admitted
that the means of communication was broken, but
that the object of the communication was to enable
the guard to call attention to any accident, such as
a wheel breaking, and not for signalling danger.
He, ho Never, afterwards admitted that in a case of

danger it might be made use of. Such an excuse
needs no comment, It is tolerably evident that the
want of this communication was the ultimate cause
of the accident ; for the guard, in his evidence,

stated that when he first saw the danger signal i

was some quarter of a mile distant, and on at dan.

ger. The speed was not slackened at the time, and
he immediately applied the break. Now, as the
speed was not slackened, it is obvious the driver
did not see the danger signal so soon as the guard

did, and this probably arose from the fact that, as
the engine was running backwards, his face would
possibly be towards the engine rather than in the

direction in which the train was moving ; but in

any case, bad the communication been intact, the

guard could at once have signalled him to shut off
his steam. Half a minute's earlier intimation of

danger, a few hundred yards more gained, and

the catastrophe would have been averted. Lastly,
let As ask why telegraphic communications were
not kept up along the line. Colonel YOLLAND in-

formed the jury that, in consequence of an accident

which occurred is two following trains at Virginia

Water, the Government inspector who attended the

inquiry recommended the adoption of the electric
telegraph for sigral purposes, and the company had

promised that such a system should be established

for working at any rate Ascot races traffic.
The danger of running special trains at short
intervals could only be obviated by using the

ordinary electric telegruphs or block system, The
Board of Trade had no power to enforce the use of

either of these systems. How well the company

kept their promise, the late lamentable lose of lite

can show. With regard to the absence of a turn.
table at Ascot, we think that the Board of Trade

are to blame in sanctioning the opening of the line
in its absence. Here Colonel YOLLAND observed

that "the requirements of the iuspeaing offieez s of

railways varied according to necessity, and if sanc-
tio❑ were sought at the present time to open the

Ascot lines, no inspector would pass it without a
turntable being provided. He could not imagine

auy case where a train ran more than four or five

miles in which it would be proper to place the

engine tender foremost." If it is considered unsafe
to permit a new line to be opened without the re-
quisite turntables, surely it is unwise to permit the
traffic to be continued on an oli line in an equally
unprovided state. No doubt this melancholy acci.
dent may
have the tact of making the managers
and cfficials of railway companies more careful
generally; but it is not creditable to the existing
state of things that human lives must be sacrificed
periodically for the better security and safety of the
public.

THE SURREY COOKING DEPOT.—On Saturday a
gentlemen, presided over by the
meeting of noblemen and
Earl of Shrewsbury, and which was attended by Lord
institution,
and h
n,
establishedt in the New-cut, Lambeth, for the
purpose of supplying the poorer classes with good and
substantial food at the lowest possible price. It was oer
philanthropists, was held at this
ti
evi-
denced to their satisfaction that a substantial dinner can be
suppiied at a maximum sum of fourpence with a profit ; and
a resolution was adopted to the effect that, in consequence
~f the great success which had attended the Surrey Cooking
Depot, it is desiraule that such depots should be established
in all quarters in London where the working and poorer
classes are congregated. Further, it was resolved to raise
a capital of £50,000 iu /hares, 0 effect the object.

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

[ERITTER'S TELEGRAMS.]

FRANCE AND JAPAN,

The Moniteur of yesterday contains the follow.
ing :

The following arrangement has been concluded
between the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the
Ambassadors of Japan.
His Majesty the Emperor of the French and his
Majesty the Emperor of Japan, desiring to consoli-
date by marks of mutual confidence the relations of
friendship and of commerce which exist between
the two countries, have resolved to settle by common
accord and by special arrangement the difficulties
which have arisen between their governments since
the year 1862.

In consequence his Excellency M. Dronyn de
',buys, Minister Secretary of State for the Depart-
ment of Foreign Afflirs of his Majesty the Emperor
of the French ; and their Excellencies Ikeda Tdi-
kougo no Kami.Kawats.ou Idzou no Kami, Kawada
Sagami no Kami, Ambassadors of his Majesty the
Tycoon, duly authorised to that effect, have agreed
upon the following articles

Art. 1. In reparation of the net of hostility com-
mitted in the month of July, 1863, against the ship
Kien Chang of the Imperial navy, upon which shots
were fired in the province of Nagato, the Japanese
Goveinrnent undertakes to pay into the hands of

the French at Yeddo, three months after the return
of their Excellencies the ambassadors of the T 3, coon
to Japan, an indemnity of 140,000 Mexican piastres,
of which 100,000 piastres will be paid by the Go
vernment itself, and 40,000 piastres by the authori-
ties of the province of Nigato.
Art. 2. Tne Japanese Government also undertake
to put an en 1, within three months after the return
to Lpan of V.eir Excellencies the Lmbassadors
of the Tycoon, to the hindrances which French
ships that wish to piss the strait of Sirnonosaai
meet with at present, and to keep that passage free
at all times by recurring, if necess.ry, to tae em-
ployment of force, and by acting, if need be, in con-
cert with the commandment of the French naval
division.

Art. 3. It is agreed between the two Govern-
ments that in order to promote the regular develop-
ment of commercial exchange between France and
Japan, the tariff reductions recently accorded by the
Government of his Majesty the Tycoon to foreign
commerce shall be maintained in favour of the
articles imported by French merchants, or under
the French flag, during the entire duration of the
treaty concluded at Yeddo between the two coun-

tries on the 9th, October, 1858. In consequence,
while that treaty remains in force, the Japanese
customs shall admit free the following articles, in-
tended for the preparation and package of tea—tin
foil, solder, matting, rattans, oils for painting, in-
digo, gypsum, pans, and baskets. It will simply
impose a duty of 5 per cent. ad valorem upon wines
and spirits, white sugar, iron and tin, machinery
and detached pieces of machinery, linen tissues,
clocks, watches, watch chains, glass, medicines; and
a duty of 6 per cent. upon plate glass, mirrors,
porcelain, jewellery, perfumery, soaps, arms, cut-
lery, books, engravings, and drawings.
Art. 4. This arrangement will be considered as
forming an integral part of the treaty of the 9th
October, 1858, between France and Japan, and it
will be immediately put i❑ execution without it
being necessary to submit it to the ratification of
the respective sovereigns.

Ia witness whereof the undermentioned pleni-
potentiaries have signed and sealed the present
arrangement.

Done in Paris, in duplicate, the twentieth day of
the month of June, of the year eighteen hundred
and bixty-four,

DROUYN DE LHUYS.
DIKOUGO NO KAMI.
KAWATSOU IDZOU NO KAMI.
KAWADA SAGAMI NO KAMI.

In addition to the above arrangement the Japa-
nese ambaoslidors, charged by the Tycoon to offer
to the government of the Emperor reparation for
the attack of which a French officer (Lietuenant
Camtp,) was victim in Japan, have eng,tge'd to ply
as an indemi:ila sum of 35,000 doilats, or 192,500 f.,
to be Landed to the family of that. officer. This
payment was immediately eff,cted. Tue envoys ut
he Tycoon at the same time declared that their
Government would take all necessary measures fur
uetecting tad punishing the murderers of Lieut.
Camus,

The Independance Beige says that the .Lpancsc,
ambassadors were to have visited England, Holland,
and Switz,...rland, but that, owing to political modi
fications in their government, they hastily concluded
their negotiations with France, in order to return
home at once. It is said, however, that another
embassy is to be sent to Europe at the commence.
ment of next year.
Courtesy of the Orleans Family.

A statement appeared some days back in the
.London Weekly Register (a Roman Catholic paper)
to the effect that Bishop Grant, who was the cele-
brant at the marriage of the Count de Paris, had
been treated by the family with great discourtesy.
That statement, which was copied into the Monde
of Paris, and commented upon iu the same spirit,
produced a certain sensation both among Legitimists
and Orleaniste. Finding that th© article of the
London paper was reproduced in a French journal,
which did not express 6ny doubt of its accuracy,
General Count Dumas has addressed the following
letter to the Monde :

Sir,--If the Abbe Gaelle, Chaplain to the Queen Marie
Adelaide, were not detained in attendance on the Duke de
Montpensier, who has been dangerously ill, he would have
given a contradiction to the misstatements in the IP eekly
_Register, which you copied into your paper of yesterday,
In his absence I feel bound to do so, as I am the person
who was charged by her Majesty with the arrange-
ments for tho marriage of the Count de Paris. You say
that the Catholic Bishop of Southwark, who performed the
marriage ceremony, had reason to complain of the treat-
ment he received. I deny this in the most distinct manner,
and, 0 corroborate my denial, I refer you to Monseigneur
Grant himself. He will tell you with what respect and
affection be has been treated on every occasion by the Queen,
and by every member of the family. As for the facts on
which you found that strange assertion, there is not a single
one -which is not absolutely contrary to the truth.
In the hospitality offered to the guests at Claremont there
was no distinction to make between Catholic children
and Protestant, for the simple reason that the Royal
Family had not invited children, to add,' as you express
it, " to the splendour of the ceremony," and consequently,
some could not have been cared for and others neglected,
The Protestant Dean of St. Paul's had not to say grace
at the table of the Royal guests, as he was not present, not
having been included in the number of English personages
invited.

It Monseieneur Grant did not take part in the repast
which followed the nuptial benediction, the reason is, that
he preferred, as he did last year, on the occasion of the
marriage of the Duke de Chartres, and in conformity to
ecclesiastical usage, not coming tot Jaren:mut fora marriage
feast. But Monseigneur Grant, as well as all the priests
who assisted him, was received by the Abbe Guelle in the
name of dr_ Queen, and a collation was specially prepared
for him, at his own convenience, and in the place and at
the hour which he himself had fixed upon.
And as for what you say, Sir, with respect to the anti.
Catholic tendencies of the House of Orleans, I again refer
you to the venerable Bishop of Southwark. He, lam con-
vinced, will tell you that there is not a Catholic family in
his diocese who performs all the duties of our religion with
more exactness and piety than all the members of the
Orleans family.
I rely on your impartiality, Sir, for the insertion of the
present letter in your next number; and I pray you to
receive tho assurance of my distinguisbed consideration.

General Count C. D UMAB.

PREPARATIONS FOR WARS—Orders have been
received at the Stores at Pimlico, and the Arsenal at Wool-
wich, to prepare, and hold in readiness for immediate use,
the necessary articles of clothing and warlike equipment
for a force of 30,000 men.-- United Service Gazette.

THE WATERWITCH.—It is stated that the Water-
witch, captured by the Confederates in Ossabaw Sound on
the 3d June, has arrived at Savannah.
INSIDE A MEWS IN LONDON.—I arrived at the
mews in question at the appointed time. It
was situated ..i a very quiet and respectable neighbour-
hood, and was in itself a very orderly-looking place.
Why do grooms take such pride in the windows of their
sleeping-rooms ? Every other window that I looked
at was fenced in with a mimic five-barred gate, and
palings painted white and the five•barred gate green. No
doubt, these are but expressions of the country taste of the
country-bred lads who come up to town to seek their for-
tunes, and sink down into the cunning groom one meth.,
with at the corners of streets in May Fair, plotting treason
against their masters with the corn-chandler,—Once a
inek.

PRINCESS'S THEATRE,

THE MONASTERY OF ST. JUST.

The natural desire to witness the accomplished
Stella Colas in a part other than that of Juliet, and
the high expectations raised by the announcement
of the production of a new version of M. Cesimir
Delavigne's play, " Don Juan d'Autriche," drew
together on Saturday evening one of the most bril-
liant and crowded audiences that ever assembled
within the walls of the Princess's Theatre. In "Louis
XL" Delavigne drew the portrait of a tiger and fox
combined, and made the character ridiculous as
well as detestable by its union of bigotry and
wickedness, cruelty and cowardice. In the present
drama he has not dealt so harshly with royalty,
though i❑ the character of Philip the Second of
Spain he has drawn a masterly portrait of a soul
moved and swayed by the fiercest selfishness and
brutality. This, the central character of his pic-
ture, is drawn and coloured in with all that
artistic knowledge of the power of light and shade,
and of the most sudden and violent contrasts in
which the modern French dramatists are so potent.
Mr. John Oxenford has entitled his version " The
Monastery of St. Just," and reduced the original
five acts to three, chiefly by cutting down the
dialogue in those parts where the heroine is not
upon the stage; and he has altered the termination
of the drama in such a way as to make it end
happily, if not powerfully, in the English fashion.
The plot of the play, briefly told, is as follows:
Don Juan, a natural son of Charles V., who is
ignorant of his parentage, is rather in the way of his
brother, Philip 11., now King of Spain; and is
;n love with and beloved by one Donna Florinda
(Stella Co as). Unfortunately Donna Florinda. be-
lieves Perself to be a Jewess, and the Jews are being
exterminated by the fanatical Spaniards, but this
obstacle would not delay her union with Juan, it
she had not inspired a passion in the breast of her
monarch, Philip 11. The King consigns Juan to a
monastery, while he sends the lady to tie inquisi-
tion, that he may have the credit of saving her from
torture and death. Don Quexada, a faithiul friend
and tutor of Juan's, finding that the name of the
monastery has been left blank in the royal order,
fills in the name of the Monastery of St. Just. Here
it is that Emperor Charles the Fifth has retired
after his active life. Juan meets his father
in the monastery, and the old and eccentric king,
after causing the monks to spread a report of his
death, suddenly rouses himself to help his natural
son out of the difficulty. By getting himself elected
prior of the monastery he is able to release Juan,
in defiance of Philip's royal order; and in the third
act, when there seems no way of saving Donna
Florinda from the attacks of Philip, although she •
has denounced herself as a Jewess, he appears in
his monastic robes, makes a statement which seems

to prove that she is not a Jewess, but only a Jew's
adopted child, gives her to Juan, orders the two
brothers to become friends, and everybody to live
happily ever afterwards.

We cannot help thinking the second act greatly
confuses the action of the piece, and its entire omis-
sio❑ w-uld, in fact, not be a great loss were it not
by that means we should lose the opportunity of
seeing Mdlte. Stella Colas as the novice Peblo, a
mischief loving little fellow, who loves the abbot's
oranges, notwithstanding strict orders to the
contrary. But the great feature of the play
was the embodiment of the part of Donna Flo-
rinda by the same talented artiste. Her con.
ception cf the part of the persecuted Jewess was
marked by the greatest intensity and pathos.
Her great and grandest effort was the expression
of horror at the declaration of his passion by the
remorseless King. The feeling of love, scorn, and
terror were powerfully represented, and these com-
bined with the tenderness and grace of the other
portions of the part rendered it a performance
quite worthy of her exquisite performance of
Juliet. It proved that she possesses a
talent not confined to one particular "
but that in both tragedy and comedy she
14 eq.,ally cithrming and highly effective. Mr
V:ning's Ki .g Philip was also a very admiretb.e
performance, and Mr Nelson, as Don Juan, certainly
acquitted himself to the greatest satisfactio❑ of the
audience. Mt H. Marston as the retired monarch,

Charles the Fifth, e.nd. Mr J. W. I.l—y as the aged
counsellor, both acted with great tffect ; and Mrs
H. Marston as the Gouvernante gave us ore of those

lifelike portraitures for which silo is so remarkable
Tne play, which was a perfect success, has been
mounted in the best manner, and such was the
enthusiasm of the audience at the beauty of the
interior of the Monastery of St, Just, that the artist

had to bow his acknow ledgmenn before silence
could be restored.

The Ministerial Explanations this Evening,

The scene presented in the lobbies of both houses
of Parliament this morning was one of great
curiosity ; the cause being the great importance
attached to the statement of Earl Russell in the
House of Lords, and Lord Pamerston in the House
of Commons, of the course the Government in-
tend to pursue in consequence of the non-suc-
cess that has attended the deliberation of the
Conference on the Dano.German question. In
compliance with orders, the police in charge of the
building open the doors of the House at six o'clock.
As usual, that practice was observed this morn-
ing, and as early as 7 a.m. persons having secured
member's orders for the stranger's gallery this evt n-
ing, began to assemble in the " Waiting Room," a
kind of cellar on the basement, beneath the stairs
leading to the gallery. The persons in charge of
the place compassionately gave the " early birds"
the pleasure of a good coal fire, otherwise their
long and weary wait, until a quarter before four
o'clock p.m., would have been almost impossible.
Those, however, who had attended at that
early hour in a short time after secured
the service of a person to occupy the place for them
till a few minutes before tour, and in this way
many of the commissionaires and other unem-
ployed persons were engaged at very remu-
nerative rates. At eleven o'clock the room was
declared quite full, and after that hour the candi-
dates for admission had to take up their seats in the
Sculpture C.)rridor in the order in which they
arrived, as in that manner they would past-
into the gallery. Here, again, men and boys
were engaged to sit until four o'clock, and at two
o'clock the accommodation here presented wat
nearly all occupied. Many of those who had tow
been successful in obtaining engagements a-
" sitters" exacted ' exorbitant fees for convey-
log refreshments to those who had; and thus
laughing sod joking ass carried on as loud as av,t,
considered parliamentary. The prices paid to the
patient waiters averaged from half a sovereign to
half a crown.

A telegraphic despatch from Corfu announces
that the King of the Hellenes left the lonian Islands yes-
terday morning, accompanied by Viscount Atuelot, Prinee
Gazarine, and Mr. Rurnt,old, the French, Russian, and
English Charges d'Affaires, who have attended his
Majesty during his journey.
The Flandre-Maritime* states that the King of
the Belgians and the Duke and Duchess of Brabant and
their children intend to make a rather long
stay this season
at Ostend. Preparations are being made for their recep-
tion at the old Palace in the Rue-Longue.
EXECUTION IN FRAN CE.—Frangois
known by the name of the Petit Sorcier, who had
been condemned to death for murder, underwent the sen-
tence of the law the day before yesterday at Valenciennes.
Since his trial he has been confined in the prison of Douai
It was only at six o'clock in the morning that Duwez was
informed that hie application for pardon had been re-
jected, and that he must prepare to die in a few hours.
He heard the announcement without much emotion,
and then received the last consolations of reli-
gion from the chaplain of the prison. He was
afterwards taken under an escort of gendarmes to the rail-
way station, and conveyed to the prison at Valenciennes.
Immediately after his arrival he went through the ceremony
of the toilette, and was placed in a cart and conveyed to the
place of execution, escorted by a largo body of gendarmery,
to preserve order and protect bim from the immense crowd
which had assembled from all parts of the country round.
On reaching the scaffold he ascended the steps with firm
ness, and delivered himself into the hands of the execu-
tioners. The next moment all was over.

The Gazette des Etrangers states that the in-
surance offices interested in the case of La Fomerais have
decided on paying in lull to Ihe two children of Mdtne. de
Pauw the amount cf the insutances elie,ted on her lice.
The two young girls will therefore receive between them
the sum of 550,000 f,