The Sun.
London, England, 1864-02-29 00:00:00

The Prince and his Foxhunting.

The account of the recent run with Mr. Garth's
hounds has suggested to us a means by which fox-
hunting may be brought to the royal doors. There
is a pack of hounds which belong exclusively to
royalty—we mean the staghounds at Ascot-heath.
There they are, kennels and all, at one end of Mr.
Garth's country. It certainly has occurred to us
upon various occasions that the staghounds might
he put into the hands of the Prince, as perpetual
Master. Of course, the patronage would have
ceased; but we think the Crown might have afforded
it. However, the stag is not to his taste. We are
not much surprised at that, although there are cer-
tain countries where it is a fine substitute for the
fox ; and with such a pack as her Majesty's, and
such a selection of deer, he must be a grumbler who
would not be satisfied. But foxhunting is the na-
tional sport of Englishmen, and the Prince evidently
prefers it. We would propose, therefore, to tern
he staghounds into fo x h s aII4V tVFO,,IIIN
Prince of Wales-to becolilii -Ee gaiter; But tnere
are objections; and we do not know whether they
could not be got over, supposing the Prince
himself should assent to the proposal. First of all,
there they are, staghounds ; aril as such they have
always existed. " Long may they exist !" say some,
" with other grand and ancient ordinances." Be-
fore we say Amen to this, we should ask of what
use are the staghounds at Ascot, and to what good
purpose are they kept as an appearance of Royalty ?
There was a time when things were different ; but
it is no libel to say that at the present time they
are chiefly of service to London dealers, a pretender
or two to sport, and certain ladies whose distin-
guishing trait is reckless horsemanship. As to keep-
ing these hounds up, as any part of a Royal equip-
ment, or with even a retrospect of their former
utility, the very notion is absurd in the extreme.
The next feature in the opposition scale is appa-
rently a heavy one—Davis. What is to be done
about the very best servant and finest horseman
tnat ever lived—a man in his own position quite
unequalled, and so remarkably beyond par that if
anything were to happen to him there would be
more difficulty in filling his place than in finding a
Chancellor of the Exchequer ? Could any man
alive contemplate an act of injustice, or even pain,
to the servant of four Sovereigns—faithful, efficient,
and invaluable to each of them ? Certainly not.
But Charles Davis has reached a time of life when
he might prefer to hunt for pleasure, or even to
serve his Prince in a new capacity as Huntsman of
Foxhounds. It would not be too much to offer Mr.
Davis, for the remainder of his allotted span, his
salary as a retiring pension, and the cottage which
he had so long adorned. Nor must it be forgotten
that Davis, in his green old age, is in many respects
more valuable than before, His experience, his
knowledge of hounds and country, and his inesti-
mable qualities as a kennel huntsman, would render
him a most valuable assistant to the Prince. What-
ever might be done, we feel satisfied that Davis
would suffer neither in feeling nor pocket. And
what country would the Prince take ? We do not
know what arrangement could be made. If we had
our own way, of course we should suggest a
small Leicestershire round Windsor Castle;
but we cannot do that, and the Prince would
put up with the country into which the ac-
cident of birth and position,had brought him. But
would Mr. Garth be induced to part with a certain
portion of his ? Because, if not, we are much averse
to that moral influence in the matter of fox-hunting
which the wishes of a prince necessarily exercise.
The fact is that Mr. Garth's country is a very large
one---more than ho can manage
to do justice to, we
think, extending from Windsor Park to beyond
Farnborough, and as broad as it is long the other
way. Hence come the evils of late drawing in short
days, which must be undertaken as a matter of duty
rather than pleasure. Such are one or two of the
principal difficulties which at first sight present
themselves to us. Or course, more would follow, and
the opponents of the scheme would raise any num•
ber. However that might be we see great advan-
tages to arise from some such institutions; and if
the Prince himself could entertain the notion, we
feel satisfied that every obstacle would melt like
snow before the sun. Under no other circumstances
could his Royal Highness become a master of
hounds ; but we can scarcely conceive a more fit-
ting termination to an establishment which has
long ceased to be what it originally was, and is now
kept together by the prestige of a very remarkable
public servant, or for a piece of patronage which
cannot be of great value to the Minister of the day.
—Field.

ART MANUFACTURE,—" We have selected for engraving
three of the watch cases, of which a large variety is exhi-
bited by Mr. Benson, of Ludgate-hill, in the large and pro-
minent erection that contains his monster clock. To this
department of art manufacture Mr. Benson has paid especial
attention."—Art Journal, Aug., 1862. Chronometer, duplex,
lever, horizontal, repeaters, centre seconds, keyless, split
seconds, and every description of watch, adapted to all cli-
mates. Benson's illustrated pamphlet on watches, free by
post for two stamps, contains a short history of watch-
making, with prices, from 3to 200 guineas each. It acts as a
guide in the purchase of a watch, and enables those who live
in any part of the world to select a watch, and have it sent
safe by post. Prize medal and honourable mention, classes
33 and 15. ,T. W. Benson, 33 and 34, Ludgate-bill, London.
Established 1749. Watch and clock maker, by special war-
rant of appointment, to H.R.H. the Prince of Waleo.

The Shakspere Jubilee Under Garrick.

The Shakspere Jubilee (for the three most notable com-
memorations hitherto held are rather conveniently distin-
guishable by the three names, "jubilee," "gala," and
"festival," usually applied to them) was held in 1769. I t
had no connection with the day or the centenary of Shak-
spere's birth or death, but arose wholly out of local circum-
stances at the time. The corporation of Stratford-upon-
Avon having built a new town-hall in 1763, a particular
niche in the facade seemed to be in want of a statue to fill
it up; and it was suggested that a bust or statue of
William Shakspere, whose birth had shed so great a lustre
over that town, would be particularly suitable for that
purpose. George Alexander Steevens, the commentator
on Shakapere, was the medium far communicating
this idea to David Garrick, then in the zenith of
his power. Garrick had a number of small enemies (per-
haps only small), who accused him of vanity and a love of
personal adulation ; but it was at anyrate a goo'l quarter to
apply to for this particular purpose. A correspondence arose,
in which Garrick so highly pleased the corporation, that
they sent him the freedom of the borough, enclosed in a box
made-from the wood of Shakspere's celebrated mulberry-
tree, and requested Garrick's picture in return. These com-
pliments set the brain of the actor at work. He either sug-
gested or cordially supported a project for some kind of gala
or jubilee in honour of Shakspere, to be held at Stratford •
His detractors afterward, said that ho did this with a view to
his own benefit, in connection with an intended reproduc-
tion of the pageant at Drury-lane Theatre, of which ho was
manager. Such a motive had possibly something to do with
the matter; but the great actor was unquestionably influ-
enced also by a genuine wish to do honour to the still greater
bard. The project, by whomsoever suggested, was favour-
ably received at Stratford and elsewhere; and subscriptions
from various quarters enabled a managing committee to de-
velop the detailed plan of a jubilee for the autumn of 1769.
A large octagonal amphitheatre, somewhat resembling the
Men celebrated Rotunda at Ranelagh, was erected on the
Bancroft, a meadow on the banks of the beautiful river
Avon; it was fitted to accommodate one thousand persons;
and it was made ornate, with a colonnade, a raised orchestra,
a dome, a chandelier of eight hundred lights, and gilding,
and painting, and drapery. On the margin of the river were
ranged sixteen 32-pounders, sixteen cannon of smaller cali-
bre, twelve cohorns, and some mortars. Two waggon-loads
of fireworks and illumination-lamps were sent down front
Landon. A ribbon, to be afterwards made into favours, was
devised by the Coventry weavers, with rainbow hues, in-
tended to typify the many-coloured hues of Shakspere's
genius; and a medal was stamped at Birmingham, to be
struck in gold, silver, and copper, according to the means
of tha tastes of the purchasers. The medal had a bas-relief
of Shakspere on one side, with the words from his own
Hamlet''
We shall not look upon his like again." David
Garrick and
brother George were amazingly busy in
superintending
and
he theecertainly
r tpari
yar dait(: ions ; for David was appointed
steward,
not comport himself in many
ways as if it were his jubilee.
At 5 o'clock on the morning of the 6th of Se; tember, 1769,
the guests with which the town of Stratford-on.Avo:2 was
crammed were awakened from their slumbers by the firing
of cannon, and soon afterwards the principal ladies were
serenaded by a number of young men fantastically dressed.
who sang two songs written for the occasion by Garrick,
accompanied by haut-boys, flutes, clarionets, guitars, and
other instruments. After this auspicious commencement,
the corporation and a large number of visitors brealifasted
together at the new town-hall, or Shakspere's-hall, as it
was also termed. The mayor and the town clerk, on this
occasion, presented to Garrick the insignia of his office as
steward, comprising a medal and a wand made from the
famous mulberry tree. The breakfast was a:very gay affair ;
jubilee ribbons and jubilee medals were almost universally
worn, while dukes and earls, lords and ladies, were present
in considerable number. The company then proceeded to
the church, where, at 11 o'clock, commenced Arne's ora-
torio of " Judith," performed by singers and instrumen-
talists from London. This done, the steward, the singers,
the instrumentalists, the corporation, and the guests went
from the church to the new amphitheatre. As they passed
the house in which Shakspere was born, some verses were
sung in honour of the bard ; verses, it must be admitted—
for two of the lines ran thus :
Here nature nurs'd her darling boy,

From whom all care and sorrow fly I
—which the bard himself would not greatly have admired.
At three o'clock, a banquet was held in the amphitheatre,
enlivened by " new songs, catches, and iless adapted to the
purpose of the jubilee.' In the evening, there was a grand
•-brAlKiii-46-4-43iyhithoutra, .parr ;:niu,;nations and

fireworks for the people.
All went off well on the first day. Not so on the second,
when the clouds took the matter into their own hands,
There was to have been a pageant from the town-hall to the
amphitheatre, consisting of about 170 actors and actresses
from the London and provincial theatres, dressed to repre-
sent an equal number of characters in Sbakspere's plays,
with a large and highly-ornamented triumphal car; "in
which," as Wheeler in his " History of Stratford-on-Avon
tells us, "two persons, representing Melpomene and Thalia,
with the Graces, were to be drawn by six parsons habited
like Satyrs, with attendants carrying emblematical devices
and insignia, and accompanied by the whole baud of vocal
and instrumental music, to perform a serenade at Shak-
spera's statue, and crown it with a wreath of laurel." But
as the rain peppered down briskly, Melpomene, Thalia. the
Graces, and the Satyrs took off their fancy dresses, and the
procession was abandoned. Other amusements were, how•
ever, abundant. After a renewal of cannon-firing, bell-
ringing, lady-serenading, and public-breakfasting, the com-
pany went to the amphitheatre to hear a dedication ode. In
the centre of the orchestra, with his steward's wand of mul-
berry wood in his hand, a medallion suspended from his
breast, and a richly- embroidered suit of brown, sat David
Garrick ; on a higher level was a statue of Shakspere, which
Garrick had caused to b 3 cast, to occupy eventually the
vacant niche in front of the town-hall ; and by the side of
the statue was Dr. Arne, as conductor of the orchestra.
After a preliminary overture, Garrick rose and recited the
ode written by himself. It was a sort of cantata, with airs
and choruses between the recited portions—all, of course,
in honour of Shakspere. One of the included airs (" Thou
soft-flowing Avon") afterwards became very popular. The
crowning of the statue was dispensed with, because Melpo-
mene and Thalia had been disappointed by the wet.

A strange episode, or what theatrical folks would call a
"gag," was presented on this occasion. After the ode
Garrick stood up and delivered a prose encomium on Shaks-
pere, in which he challenged any one to urge anything
against the immortal bard. Whereupon Mr, King, a cele-
brated comedian of those days, came forward in a great-coat,
and requested to be heard. Permission being. granted King
went into the orchestra, took off his greatcoat, and appeared
in a suit of blue and silver. lie attacked Shakspere's
character and fume, and censured him, ironically, as a very
ill-bred fellow, for domineering over our own passions, and
making people laugh and cry as he thought proper, When
King had finished, Garrick rose and addressed the ladies
in a rhymed epilogue, complimenting them on the regard
they had always shown to Shakspere, and exhorting them
to support the reputation of a poet who was so remarkable
for upholding the dignity of the female character. This
theatrical trick, whether planned originally by Garrick or
by King, was certainly not up to the level of the occasion ;
but possibly it was an after thought, to fill up a programme
otherwise interfered with by the rain.—Chambers' Journal,
New and improved Series.

THE DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY AT KAGOSIMA
by the British bombardment is estimated at £1,000,000, and
1,500 persons were killed.

A capital conviction has taken place at Carrick-
on-Shannon before Mr. Justice Christian. Edward
Stamford was found guilty of the murder of Michael
M'Dermott, on the return of the latter from the fair of
Mohill, at 10 o'clock at night. The deceased and one
Reilly, after having had some drink, lighted their pipes
and went their way, and while the rain was beating in their
faces a tall man struck Reilly down. When ho recovered
ho saw M'Dermott lying as if dead, and the tall man stoop-
ing over him apparently robbing him. The evidence of
identification of the prisoner was entirely circumstantial.
It was proved he was seen in company with the deceased ;
a stick was found, a tobacco box, a watch and other articles,
and some half-crowns; and although the pockets of the
deceased were turned inside out, murder went away unre•
warded in its chid' and ungodly aim—the £8 in notes which
the unfortunate M'Dermott had received at the fair for a
heifer was found safe in his left inside vest pocket. No
witnesses were examined for the defence, and the jury in half
an hour found the prisoner guilty. lie was sentenced for
execution on the 24th of next March.

PRIVATE INQUIRIES THROUGH THE POLICE.—
Lieutenant-General Cartwright, her Majesty's In-
spector of Constabulary for the midland districts of England
and for North Wales, notices in his report for the past year
made to the Secretary of State that in the course of his in-
spection he discovered it to Ira a common practice in many
connti.s for individuals and companies to communicate Ns ith
the police, teehing private information as to the character,
respectability, and means of persons residing on their dis-
tricts, and offering remuneration for the service. Lieutenant
General Cartwright regards it as a most dangerous trans-
gression of police duty, quite foreign to the purposes for
which the force was established, and sericusly imperilling
its popularity and efficiency. He reports that in his circuit
of inspection wherever ho mentioned the practice to any of
those in command of forces it met with their immediate re-
probation, and this may check the system ; but ho consi-
dered the subject of such vital importance to the force that
he thcught it his duty to bring it under the consideration
of the Secretary of State, and to express his opinion that
the practice must be at once and completely suppressed.

~tom

PRICE ...... ...4d.
STAMPED ....sd.

The Western Bank,

The Court of Session, in a case lately argued
before the whole court, has, by a majority of the
judges, decided against the liquidator of the Wes-
tern Bank in an action which sought to make a
body of trustees personally liable for the calls made
upon the partners in addition to the loss of the paid
up capital. The bank stopped payment in 1857, and
it was found that not only had the whole capital
been lost, but heavy calls must be made upon tha
shareholders to pay the creditors and depositors of
the bank, who, by moans of these calls, have been
paid in full. These calls a great number of the
shareholders were quite unable to pay, and compo-
sitions were effected with those able to pay only a
part. A portion of these superadvances has been
returned to those who paid in full, and in order to
increase that return, the only remaining liquidator
(Mr. Lumsdcn) is still engaged in:several litigations
with parties who have resisted his claims on them.
In the present case Mr. Walter Buchanan, M.P.,
and other five gentlemen were registered as holding
60 shares as trustees for Mrs. Ellen Browne. These
gentlemen had accepted the trust under the mar-
riage contract of Mr. C. W. Browne and Miss Ellen
Buchan in October, 1845; and within a month after
their appointment they invested the whole trust
fnrds, about £4,000 or £5,000, in Western Bauk
shares. The defenders pleaded that they were not
liable beyond the amouit of the trust estate for pay-
ment of the liquidator'a calls, and the Lord Ordinary
(Kinloch) found in their favour. The interlocutor
was reclaimed to the First Division, who ordered
written argument, and laid the question of the true.
tees' personal liability before the whole court.
Eight out of 12 judges, including Lord Kinloch,
were of opinion that the defenders were not person-
al;ye responsible. The minority of the judges held
that the defenders were liable, with the exception
of one of their number, who was not present when
the trustees resolved to purchase the shares, and
who did not sign the deed of transfer. Lord Kin-
loch's decision is therefore adhered to by the court.
Long opinions have been given by the judges in the
case. On Friday the court, proceeding on a mi-
nute of abandonment by the liquidator, dismissed
the action, at his instance, against Messrs. William
and James Baird, directors of the bank, who had
not joined in the comilosition offered by their
brother directors.

Vacancies, Promotions, and Appointments

in the Civil Service.

(Fro;iz the Civil Service Gazette.)
WAR•OPPICE—Mr H. F. Gladwin has been appointed a
clerk in the Adjutant-General's-office—Mr W, Darling a
civil assistant in the Survey Department—mad the Rev. M.
C, O'Dell, chaplain of the 4th class, to be chaplain of the
3d class.
PATENT-OFFICE-Mr J. T. Scott has been appointed
assistant to the curator in the Museum, London—Mr J.
Gibson an attendant in the British Museum—and Mr M.
Murray a clerk in the Post-office at Kingstown.
CUSTOMS —Mr D. Hammond and Mr A, Lowe have been
appointed extra clerks, London—Mr C. T. Pickford and
Mr C. G. Sanderson, assistant surveyors, Ist class, have
been promoted to be surveyors, 2d class—Mr J. Donnan,
Mr 11. Lambert, and Mr I. W. Douglas, from the second
to the Ist class of assistant surveyors—Mr J. Britton and
Mr N. Wingfield from the Ist class of examining officers
to the 2d class of assistant surveyors—and Mr F. Wearne
and Mr T. Bowden from the 2d to the Ist class—Mr 8..
Henderson and Mr J. M'Culloch from the 3d to the 2d
class—and Mr W. R. Ryan and Mr H. Robinson from the
4tli to the 3d class of examining officer; London.
INLAND REVENUE (Stamps and Tax Branch)—Mr A.
Stir has been appointed' to be junior clerk in the chief
accountant's Aloe, and Mr E. J. P. Kightley a junior
stamper in the stamping department. (Excise Branch)—
M. W. Aitken, officer, Paisley, sth diviiiort, Ayr collection,
has keen appointed examiner—and Mr H. S. Barfoot, 2d
daft assistant, Bristol collection, to be let class assistant,
Wire, 10th division.
ScomAND—Mr .z-Eaeas Mac Lean, writer to the signet,
has teen appointed one of the clerks of the Court of Justi-
ciary, in the room of Mr Aitken, resigned—and Mr D.
Harper a f►shery officer under the Board.
. .

THE EAST INDIES —Mr J. N. Bullen has been ap-
pointed to be an additional member of the Council of
the Governor-General, for the purpose of making laws
and regulations only--Mr T. H. Cowie to he a member
of the Council of the Lieutenant- Governor of Bengal,
for making laws and regulations—Surgeon C. llatha-
way, of the Bengal medical service, to be private
secretary to the Viceroy--Captain E. Impey, Bengal
Staff Corps, to officiate as military secretary and aide-de-
camp to the Viceroy—Lieut-Col. C. Herbert to be superin-
tendent of political pensions—Major W. Agnew to officiate
as Governor-General's agent, North-East frontier—Mr S.
H. C. Taylor to be a magistrate and collector of Bograh—
Mr F. J. Cockburn to be magistrate and collector of Sylhet
—Mr F. B. Simson to officiate as civil and sessions judge of
Jessore--Mr F. J. Alexander to officiate as magistrate and
collector of Bhaugulpore—Mr J. A. Floyd to be assistant
superintendent of police of the first grade in Gowalparrah;
Mr T. H. M'Laughlin to be assistant to the magistrate and
collector of Saran, and to exercise the powers of a subordi-
nate magistrate of the second class—Mr M. L. Farrar to
be assistant to the magistrate and collector of RajE,habye,
and to exercise the powers of a subordinate magistrate of the
second class—Mr P. P. Hutchins to be head assistant to
the collector and magistrate of South Arcot, and to act as
sub-collector and joint magistrate of Madras district—Mr
B. Horsburgh to be assistant to the magistrate and collec-
tor of Vizagapatam—Mr It. W. Lodwick, officiating deputy
auditor and accountant-general, Madras, to be oivil pay-
master, Madras—and Mr E. F. Harrison, officiating deputy
auditor and accountant-general, Benga', to be civil pay-
master, Bombay.

THE ASSAULT BY A CLERGYMAN AT ',OWES-
TOFT,—At the Lowestoft Police-court, last week, the Rev.
Henry Jodrell, of Gisloham, in the county of Suffolk, was
charged with having unlawfully assaulted and beaten Geo.
H. Cherry, an officer of Ler Majesty's Indian army, on the
sth of February instant. The defendant pleaded guilty
to the charge, and said he was quite content to submit to
anything the magistrates might think proper to inflict. The
bench ordered him to pay a fine of £5, or two mouths' im-
prisonment.
ORIGIN OF " YELLOWPLIISFI" AND " SEAMES."—
It is in the number [of Frazer] for the month and
year referred to (Nov., 1837) that we first find him contri-
buting a paper which is not reprinted in his " Miscellanies,"
and which is interesting as explaining the origin of that
assumed character of a footman in which the author of the
"Yellowplush Papers" and " Seames's Diary" afterwards
took delight. A little volume had been published in
1837, entitled "My Book ; or, the Anatomy of Conduct,
by John Henry Skelton." The writer of this absurd book
had been a woollen-draper in the neighbourhood of Regent-
street. Ho had become possessed of the fixed idea that
he was destined to become the instructer of mankind
in the true art of etiquette. He gave parties to the
best company whom he could induce to eat his
dinners and assemble at his conversaziones, where his
amiable delusion was the frequent subject of the jokes of
his friends. Skelton, however, felt them little. He spent
what fortune he had, and brought himself to a position in
which his fashionable acquaintances no longer troubled
him with their attentions ; but he did not cease to be in
his own estimation a model of deportment, lie
husbanded his small resources, limiting himself to an
humble dinner daily at a coffeehouse in the neighbourhood
of his old home, where his perfectly fitting dress .coat— for
in this article he was still enabled to shine—his brown wig
and dyed whiskers, his ample white cravat of the style of
the Prince Regent's days, and his well-polished boots were
long destined to raise the character of the house on which
ho bestowed his patronage. In the days of his prosperity
Skelton was understood among his acquaintances to be en-
gaged on a work which should hand down to posterity the
true code of etiquette—that body of the unwritten
law which regulated the society of the time of his
favourite monarch. In the enforced retirement of his less
prosperous days, the woollen-draper's literary design had
to develop itself ; and, in the year 1837, "My Book or,
the Anatomy of Conduct, by John Henry Ske►.ton," was
finally given to the world. It was this little volume which
fell in the way of Thackeray, who undertook to review it for
" Fraser's Magazine." in order to do full justice to the
work, nothing seemed more proper than to present the re-
viewer in the assumed character of a fashionable footman.
The review, therefore, took the form of a letter from Charles
Yellowplush, Esei , containing " Fashionable fax and polite
Annygoate," dated from " No. —, Grosvenor-square.
(N.B. Hairy Bell)," and addressed to Oliver Yorke, the
well-known pseudonym of the editor of "Fraser." To this
accident may be attributed those extraordinary efforts of
cacography which had their germ in the Cambridge "Snob,"
but which attained their full development in the Miscel-
lanies, the llAllads, the Snob papers, and other short works,
and also in some portions of the latest of the author's
novels,—,Theodora Taylor's Memorial of yhackeray.

71/t
WAR IN DEN s "\4l-
÷,4, • - •
(From the Seotsma94;T:',
The following letter, with whidoo*
:avoured, is from a private in the listnigi
the Danish army, and is addressed to hi othe4:—
SONDERBORG, Feb. 8, 1864.
You ask me to give you a full account of all I
have gone through during the memorable 6th-Bth
February ; but, to look back, these two days seem
as long as two months. I cannot put all I would
like to tell you into one letter, but you must at any
rate know the following.

On Friday evening, at nine o'clock, I lay in the
works, along with several others of our company,
congratulating myself on being there safe and sound
after the sharp fighting we had had. We hod got
our pipes lighted, and were chatting about the affair
at Bustrup, in which you know I took part, when
a sergeant came by, shouting, "Into position im-
mediately." We were on our legs in a moment,
and ten minutes afterwards the regiment stood
ready to march. Our company numbered then
four officers, tea sergeants, sixteen corporals, and
a hundred and eighty-one privates. Our brave
Colonel Beck rode along before us, and said—" Yes,
children, there will be stiff work for us, but I know
I can depend on you. To the left, March!" and
off we set. I believed, as did most, that we were
on the road to Missunde, but when we loft the
town behind us, we heard the sad truth from Lieu-
tenant Riebau. I spare you all the oaths and growls
which passed from rank to rank. I was silent, but
my imagination pictured a retreat full of horrors;
truly my imagination fell short of the reality. How
that terrible night between Friday and Saturday
passed I know not, as I literally slept, staggering
along with my blessed 75 kit, and my elegant thin
leather boots (my think pair had been hors de com-
bat for several days). The boots pained me be-
yond expression ; I felt as if walking on thorns. I
have a dim recollection of being in a house, and get-
ting a glass of milk frozen over ; of seeing the long
spectre-like line of the army in the freezing cold
night, trudge along the slippery road ; of seeing
horses and overturned carriages ; but I repeat, I was
asleep. For three nights I had not had in all four
hours sleep, and the march and my ill-humour put
me all out of sorts; so we went on up hill and down
hill till eight o'clock next morning, when we made
halt at a little village. I went into a house where
there was an old woman, and she gave me a cup of
delightful coffee or rather chicory ; but never did
Gianel,i's 12s. coffee taste half so delicious. Add
to that a biscuit hard as stone, and a piece of half-
frozen pork, and you have my meal, which, however,
strengthened me exceedingly. An hour afterwards
we resumed our march.

The road was perfectly full of carriages and guns„
and a regiment of dragoons rode past us, keeping in
the fields, as the horses stumbled so much ou the
frozen road. At 12 o'clock we had again a rest,
while company on company marched past us. ....
As I made for my company, which was a little
outside the town, our sergeant said to me, " Do yon
hear the Austrians ?" and now I could hear in good
earnest the rumbling in the distance. " Close in !"
cried the sub-officers; whips cracked on the spent
horses, and here and there one fell. " Out with it
to the side, and cut it loose, if it cannot rise," and
on we went. A whole waggonfull of commissariat
monsters, supplied with large cloaks and footstools,
had, sad to say, to leave their comfortable seats,
and go on foot till they found another conveyance.
The thunder of the cannon came nearer and nearer.
" Company, attention ! Left face ! March south,"
and we turned on our own steps. We met now
several battalions, and at last the 9th and 11th
Regiments. The latter greeted us with " Hurrah
for the Kulsviers 1" and a soldier with a hoarse
bass voice growled, holding up his bayonet, " See
that you give them a good allowance of this," and
away they went northwards. We were alone. Col.
Beck now came forward and said to the men--" The
General trusts toyouto holdout; if we hold here for
two hours we save a whole division. Da not fire till
the enemy is on you, and then in with the bayonet."
"Depend on us, we''.l do our duty." I know you
will, children." We then moved into a field to the
left, then in a line over a slight riling around, end
as soon as we had passed the acclivity, there we had
the Germans. From the east camo a regiment of
cavalry, and right along the high road another,
while a company of horse artillery rode at the
gallop into a field a little way off, and boom they
went. A shell struck between me and the man at
my side, and rose again, ricochetting 20 paces from
me. A fearful cry told that it had done its work.
After a qnarter of an hour had passed, we wero
formed into a square, and down came the cavalry,
shouting and cheering, with their sabres raised,
some of them discharging their pistols—" Stand
fast, aim well, lads!" The dragoons broke and
fled, leaving many horses and men behind them.
" Fall into
.line—forward," forward we went—
then shells again from the artillery—then into
squares to meet another charge of the cavalry,
whom we again beat off. So it went on for two
hours, our ranks getting fearfully thin. We got
breath for a moment, and I heard a voice near
me whisper—" Farewell, my Marie ! Farewell, my
dear little ones." The words touched me deeply ;
they came from a brave comrade from the neigh-
bourhood of Roesbilde, who regularly received a
letter every post day, and who as regularly himself
wrote loving words to his dear ones at home; I
pressed his hand and whispered—" God never
deserts the widow and the fatherless." "Thank
you," he said, and loaded again. (I know you will
be pleased to hear that this brave modest fellow is
still alive.) As it got dark, the enemy charged
again and again, and, alas! one company got broken;
it was a frightful moment, we heard the sabres and
bayonets rattling, and wild shouts from either side.
Our square held firm, although we were charged at
least twenty times. At last I had not a cartridge
left, and had to help myself to those of my fallen
comrades. At last the night fell, the snow held off
for a little, and we drew slowly back through a
wood and through several villages, stopping every
moment to take down the most troublesome of the
dragoons in our rear. Between eight and nine
o'clock, we reached Flensburg, had two hours' rest,
and then got on board a steamer, which brought us
to Sonderborg. At ten o'clock, twenty of us were
quartered on a workman who lives immediately out
of the town. Our condition when we reached Flens-
burg was pitiful. The gallant regiment was now a
mere ruin, not more than fifty of our company were
in all to the fore. But, God be praised ! already to-
day our numbers have swelled, and many dear com-
rades are again collected round the tattered red rag
which we love so well. A colonel came forward
while we put ourselves into position, and said,—
" I thank you, gallant Ist Regiment. God bless
you!" When we passed other divisions they
shouted " Hurrah." Yes, at one place a standard
was lowered before us. We may well be proud.
The enemy must have suffered frightfully, as
they charged on us quite blindly, and masses of their
dead aid wounded lay on the snow and dyed it
red ; but the cursed shells and grenades which they
threw in on us Cost as man bravo men. N. N.

EXTRAORDINARY SUICIDE IN THE TRAM ES
TUNNELL.--.This morning, shortly after 8 o'clock,
a respectably dressed middle-aged man entered the Thames
Tunnel!, upon the Wapping side, and, after going a few
steps down the shaft he leaped over the bannisters and fell
a corpse at the bottom. He was brought up on the
Wapping side of the river, and taken upon a stretcher by
three of the Thames police and a man named Wood (who
is the Thames Tunnel! Company's bricklayer, &c.) to a
suitable place to await the coroner's inquest. The unfor-
tunate man is quite unknown at present.

CLIFTON SUSPENSION-BRlDGE.—Daring the past
week the fixing of the third of the main chains
which form the eastern side of the Clifton Suspension-bridge
has been completed, and preparations have been made for
shifting the wire ropes on which the temporary platform
has rested to the western side of the bridge. The woodwork
has already 'Ken removed, and, to preserve a temporary
pathway across the chasm, a smaller platform has been con-
structed, the supports of which are firmly bolted to the
lower chain. This platform, which runs along the ofl side
of the chains, will be used for fixing the suspension rods,
&c. The erection of the western main chains will, it is ex-
pected, proceed more quickly than the eastern, because
many of the arrangements made for tho one just completed
ara ready for the other, and the period of the year now ap-
proaching is more favourable to the progress of such work
than that during which the eastern main chains have beta
erected.

ROYAL ST, JAMES'S THEATRE, under the
Management of Mr. B. WEBSTER.
Crowded with rank and fashion.—The New Comedy of THE
SILVER LINING every Evening.—Mr. and Mrs. Charles
Mathews, Mrs. Stirling, Mrs. Frank Matthews, and Mr. .T.
L. Toole every evening. The following eminent artistes are
engaged :—Mr. Benjamin Webster. Mr. J. L. Toole, Mr. Paul
Bedford, Mr. Frederic Robinson, Mr. Ashley, anti Mr. Chas.
Mathews ; Mrs. Stirling, Miss Herbert. Mrs. Frank Mat-
thews, Miss A. Cottrell, Miss Fanny Josephs, Miss Went-
worth, and Mrs. Charles Mathews.
THIS EVENING, and during the Week, at 7 o'c'ock,
an entirely new Comedy, in 3 Acts, by Leicester Bucking-
ham,'Esq., entitled THE SILVER LINING: Mr. Charles
Mathews, Mr. Frederic Robinson, Mr. Ashley, Mr, John-
stone, Mr. Montague ; Mrs. t. harles Mathews, Mrs. Frank
Matthews, Miss Cottrell, Miss Wentworth, and Mrs. Stirling.
To be followed by Mr. Charles Mathews just translated
from the French) in his characteristic character of Un Anglais
Timide, entitled COOL AS A CUCUMBER.
To conclude with THE BIRTHPLACE:OF PODGERS.
Mr. J. L. Toole,

OYAL STRAND THEATRE.
Manager, Mr. W. 11. Swanborougli.
THIS EVENING, ON AND OFF.
To be followed by UNLIMITED CONFIDENCE. Mr.
j)elford, Mr. Parselle ; Miss Marie Wilton, Miss Thorne.
After which, the Grand Christmas Burlesque, 01-O'IIEIIA
.4-ND EURYDICE : Messrs. Honey, Wood, James Fenton,
Mesdames Swanhorough, Marie Wilton, Hughes, &o.
Concluding' with MARGATE SANDS.
Commence at 7.