The Sun.
London, England, 1852-04-14 00:00:00

THE SUN,

HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE
It is many years since Rossini's Italiana in Algeri
had been heard in this house, se, that its revival
last evening is nearly the same as the pro-
duction of a novelty. It was produced at the Cevt-nt-
garden establishment in its opening season of
i ,1847,aan
when the cast included Aiboni, Salvi, i4ar
Revere. The opera of L' Ituliana was one of Rossini's
early compositions, and contains some of his very
sweetest and most gracefully piquant strains. Per-
haps, indeed, none of the master's works, with the
exception of the Barbiere, are more thoroughly cha-
racteristic, more full of that easy flowing melody,
more lightly and delicately instrumented than the
opera under question. Charming, however, as the
partition is, the work has never maintained a perma-
nent footing upon our stage. Now and then it has
been played, admired, and, as a whole, forgotten. One
reason for this state of things is, perhaps, the difficulty
of always, or often, finding a contralto possessed of
vocal and histrionic powers sufficient to enable her to
carry off the entire weight of the female interest.
The great and fatal objection, however, to the opera
is the utter silliness and no meaning of the fable. Still,
however, the lightness of the scoring, yet its full effec-
tiveness—the flow ofspor rive fancy and the freaks of high
animal spirits, so wonderfully interpreted by the compo-
sition—are in themselves sufficient to render the work
musically, if not dramatically, immortal. The reader
will perhaps recollect that the story of L Italiana
consists in the setting forth of the style in which a
clever Italian damsel, taken prisoner by the Alge-
fines, manages to get on the weak side of the Bey,
who has quarrelled with his principal wife, and who
is bamboozled by the fair captive and her friends into
undergoing a number of absurd rites of reception into
some jocular Italian order or character, and finally
set to eating maccaroni, which he applies himself to
with such total absorption that he does not perceive
the escape of his bewitches and all her Italian friends,
who jump on board a vessel, at which the Bey can
take only the futile vengeance of throwing his wig.
All this puerile absurdity is conveyed in a series of
charmingly light and vivid musical compositions.
Madlle. Angri made her re-appearance last. night, and
was warmly received. She sung admirably, giving
the sportive scenes with a subdued but very agreeable
feeling of raillery, and introducing florid bravura
passages with the greatest effect and off-hand bril-
liancy of execution. The possession of so excellent
a contralto is a most valuable acquisition to this house.
Signor I3elletti was warmly greeted upon his appear-
ance as Mustapha. He made up and looked the Orien-
tal magnifico to perfection, and was always full of in-
telligence and quiet character in his expressive little
bits of by-play. His extreme facility of vocal execu-
tion qualifies him perfectly for the florid music of the
part, and his excellent style and severe justice of into-
nation made his performance a real treat. There is
no more zealous and conscientious singer than Belletti.
He is never imperfect, and, if he seldom raises what is
termed " enthusiasm," he as seldom fails to satisfy
the public. Such artists are rare ; and the warmth
of reception and frequency of applause bestowed last
night upon his impeponation of the character of
Mustapha, many parts of which we have never
heard sung so effectively, showed that the audi-
ence fully appreciated his value. Signor Calzolari
was the Lindore, and was heard to great advantage,
being peculiarly adapted to this style of music. He
was warmly applauded in the air " Languir per una
belle," and in the buffo duet " Se inclinassi a prender
moglie." Signor Ferranti bustled energetically
through the broad comic part of Taddeo. The small
part of Haly was efficiently filled by Signor Mercu-
riali ; and Mademoiselle Feller, who played Elvira
(Mustapha's wife), deserves especial mention for the
competent manner in which she executed a promi-
nent soprano part in the finale to Act 1. The or-
chestra, under Mr. Balfe, was excellent. The over-
ture and the trio " Pappataci" were encored ; and the
accompaniments throughout were deserving of praise.
The opera was well received from first to last, and
would have been still more heartily enjoyed but for
the interpolation of a ballet divertissement between the
first and second act, which suspended the interest for
a lengthened period. Mademoiselle Angri, Signor
Belletti, and Signor Calzolari were recalled at the
end, and more than once in the course of the perform-
ance. The rentrie of Mademoiselle Sofie Cruvelli,
in her great part of Norma, with Lablache as
Oroveso, and Gardoni as Pollio, is announced for
Saturday.
The Queen's box was occupied by the Marchioness of
Downshire, Lady Mary Hood, Miss Poole, Major Cot-
ton, Colonel Hood, Colonel and Mrs. Scott and party.
Amougt the fashionable company also present in the
theatre on this occasion we remarked the following:—
His Excellency the Russian Minister, Baroness Brun-
now, and Mdlle. de Brunnow, the Countess of Flahanit
and Mdlle. de Flahault, the Countess of Harrington
and Lady Jane Seymour Stanhope, Admiral and Mrs.
Hatton and the Misses Hatton, the Right Hon. the Fo-
reign Secretary and the Countess of Malmesbury, the
Countess of Bradford, his Grace the Duke.of Leeds, Lord
Adolphus Fitzclarence, Lord Saudys, Lord Saltoun,
Sir Thomas Barrett Lenuard, Bart., Lady Paulet So-
merset, Lady Lenuard and party, Lieutenant-General
Sir Alexander Woodford, Bart., Lady Woodford, and
Miss Woodford. Sir John Bayley, Bart., Lady 13ay1ey,
and party, Sir Henry Webb, Bart, Sir Ralph Howard,
Bart., M.P., Lady Howard, and Miss Howard, Captain
Smith, Mr. J. Golsworthy, Miss Caroline Bellew, Mr.
George Hudson, M.P., Mrs. Hudson, and Miss Hudson,
General the Hon. H. Cavendish, Mr. Trelawny, M.P,
and Mrs. Trelawny, Mr. F. Coates, Mr. Store*, Mr. W,
Delafield, Mr. Richards, M.P., Mr. Stephens, Mr. Mar-
tyn, Lady Flower, Colonel Loekyer Freestun, M P., and
Mrs. Lockyer Freestun, the Hon. Misses Somerset,
Mr. Montague Gore, M P., Mr. Barton, Mr. Brandt, Mr.
Thomas, Mr. Inglefield, Mr. Curtis, Miss Gould, So.

kIUNG_ERFORD HALL, STRAND.
This establishment, which commenced under the
special direction of French managers, has had its
success in some degree impeded by their not knowing
how to cater properly for the palate of a British pub-
lic, and although the locale is perhaps one of the best
situations in London for a bazaar (upwards of twelve
millions of persons annually passing to and fro through
the market), yet the display of goods on the various
counters was of a description too trifling for the solid
taste of English people, however well calculated it
might have been for the Paris Boulevards. The
Diorama of Chevalier Bouton, advertised in our co-
lumns of this day, is, nevertheless, a splendid ex-
ception to this criticism on our part. We understand
that a complete alteration is about to take place.
Foreign influence will no longer exist—Hungerford
Hall is about to become a purely English concern,
under the sole direction of a sound English adminis-
tration, calculated in every way to inspire public
confidence, and deserve, we doubt not, the support it
will eventually receive. Possession of the theatre is
already contested for by various candidates for public
patronage. It is admirably adapted for representa-
tions and performances, inasmuch as, from its pecu-
liar construction, every person, without exception,
can see and hear distinctly. That pleasing and popu-
lar singer Henry Smith commenced his entertain-
ments there on Monday evening, and will continue
them throughout the week, this evening excepted.
Mr. and Mrs. George A. Cooper, whose admirable
and scientific lectures on the " Rise and Progress of
Popular Music in England" have already been pro-
nounced by several of our contemporaries as extremely
interesting and instructive, will shortly give at
Hungerford Hall Theatre a new musical entertain-
ment, entitled " The Excursion Train," of which
much is most favourably augured. As Englishmen,
we most cordially wish the greatest success to the new
administration.

RETIRING PENSIONS TO COUNTY COURT JUDGES.—
The following new provision appears in the amended County
Courts Further Extension Bill, which has just been printed.
The Bill has passed the Lords, and the provision was added
in Committee by the Commons—" That it shall be lawful for
the Lord Chancellor, by any order or orders to be made by
him from time to time, on a petition presented to him for
that purpose, to order that there shall be paid quarterly out
of the Consolidated Fund of Great Britain and Ireland to
such of the judges of the County Courts as shall be afflicted
with
ee some permanent infirmity, disabling him from the due
ex
,
ution of his office, and who shall be desirous of resigning
the
tee, an annuity or clear yearly sum of money for the
term of hie life, not exceeding
In tbe:lr
Sultry which
s-hall Was to
County Courtsautch two-thirds of the yearly
judge shall be entitled to as a judge of a
the time of presenting his petition."
Tux be or GERRARD'S-HALL, BASING-LANE,
CITY.—
Gertard' ays of Stowe it was by many believed that
pole in
the
~, rmerly the habitation of a giant, who
being 41:440 feet long and 15 inches round, and
used a
whose skull
a six
feet
long hold five pecks, and that his
greatw house of 0r1Y8.7-
Troy. Respecting
; and one of his teeth weighed
the parish may
" On the south side of this
_pole, Stowe this staff, which was probably
tentlah
nithigh
h 1
pounds
.sb
one
nn ee
vaults, and with arched gate of
e"treone, blinded upon arched
Normandy. The same is now a
eemernbronught from Cane, in
travellers, commonly and corruptly called ptly calistery, tor receit of
of a giant said to have dwelled there. _?
ttierrard's-hall.
hall of this house sometime stood a 1
large fir
°.
thereof, and by some •e' Pole which
reached to the roof e said to be
in th
by Gerrard e wanes, one of
the staves used
the same length,
Whletiiear which there
stood also a ladder of
of the staffe." ,
I,,(as they said)
dto ascend to the top . „
~ ue Great "ire
serve the ancient o " St ery, except the crypt,
and about eight or nine fee
front was built soon l_1! xe t the
•laneafter the
stable-yard. The Basing
remarkable feature, except the effigy
of and presented no ,
ntil the last few ds°°;B'.
• which was u
of Gerrard, the giant,This figure may be
stationed in a niche above the entrance.d
Gog and Magog, in
the work of the same artist who carved
Guildhall. —The Builder.
A Chamberlain (the
STATE BALL.—The new Lor— ,
commands to
Marquis of Exeter) has received her Majesty's
issue invitations fur the first grand state ball at Buckingham
Palace, on Wednesday, the sth of the ensuing month. The.
first fete dux.sante of the season will be given on the usual
scale of magnificence.
The commercial accounts from India are more, en-
couraging than for some time past. There has been consi-
derable transactions at Bombay, although further arrivals
had checked any advances in prices, and at Calcutta the de-
mand was active with a prospect of continued improvement.
The Chinese markets were steady, without alteration.

•
NEANDER'S LIBRARY.—The library of the late
eminent Dr. Augustus Neander, celebrated throughout Ger-
many for its completeness in theological works, has just been
purchased on behalf of the senate of the University of po-
Ch"teri in the etate of New York.

LONDON,

EASTER AMUSEMENTS,

We resume our notice of the.. Easter Amusements,
having been unable to give, all of them„ in our paper
of-yesterday.
CosmonAiUA..—This .old-establi-bal exhibition,
which now forms part of the Prince of Wales's
Bliziti-r-iii-RegenOtreet; has been re-opened for the
Easter holidays. The views are the same as they
have hitherto, been, consisting of Mont Blanc, Grand
Cairo, Edinburgh, Mount St. Bernard, the interior
of St. Peter's, &c., which, in some cases, are accom-
panied with illusive atmospheric effects. This ex-
hibition is the oldest in the metropolis, but the inge-
nuity with which nature is portrayed, by means of
optical contrivance and dioramic artifice, always
amuses, however much the process itself has lost the
charm of novelty.
POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTION.—The popular fame of

this old-established haunt was proved by the at-
tendance on Monday, which, though not quite so
great as usual, was still very considerable. The
features of the place are of the same character as they
have hitherto been, that is as to utility. But no-
thing, on the other hand, can be more interesting and
diversified. The galleries are filled to overflowing
with numerous works of curious invention, in which
the mechanical genius of the age is amply exempl-
fied ; while the products of art are not wanting to
give grace to the developments of mechanism and in-
genuity. -We need not remark that the great topics
of the day, if they refer to anything admitting of
public exposition, are here invariably the subjects
of popular elucidation. Thus 'we have periodical
lectures by Mr. Crispe on fire-arms, more
particularly with a view to the rifle, and th© dif-
ferent locks .suggested by modern contrivance. Mr.
Pepper and Dr. Bachhoffner are also to be met
with daily, and the talents of these two gentlemen as
public instructors are well known. Few men in the
same sphere of action have evinced a greater skill
than themselves in accommodating their strictures to
the homely and uneducated intelligence of the lower
classes ; and to individuals in these ranks of life—
thanks to their co-operation—the Polytechnic Insti-
tution must have been of vast and immeasurable be-
nefit. The miscellaneous branches of the establish-
ment are replete with pleasant and entertaining varie-
ties. The dissolving .views, of which an entirely new
set has been painted, are the best of their kind. Then
there is the chromatrope, besides other optical toys.
In the lower hall the diving• bell, which seems to be
co-existent with the institution itself, is an unfailing
source of delight, as it has been for years past ' • and
an individual whom we have not yet heard, one
Krausz de Fehor, is announced as the possessor of
four octaves of voice, and the singer of thirty-six
dialects 1 The Easter attractions at the Polytechnic
Institutidn are therefore as multiform as they can well
be, and we may be sure they will not be overlooked
by the holiday-maker.
CATLIN'S AMERICAN GALLERY.—In the north-east
corner of Waterloo-place Mr. Catlin's gallery of In-
dian life, and the prairie scenery of North America,
invites inspection. Few collections, having a direct
and specific purpose, have been so popular as this. It
consists, we need hardly observe, of a profusion of
portraitures of the aboriginal inhabitants of the vast
wilderness of North America, taken during Mr. Cat-
lin's residence in those districts in which he volunta-
rily spent a considerable number of his early years.
The paintings are executed with spirit, truth, and
freedom. But a most valuable and characteristic fea-
ture is that of the costumes brought over by Mr. Cat-
lin. TheSe; hung upon figures the size of life, are
placed about the room, which it seems to people with
striking fidelity of nature. Mr. Catlin is generally
in attendance and delivers occasional lectures on the
habits of the " red man," assisted by individuals
clothed for the purpose, who illustrate the war-whoop
and various curious customs, no doubt to the life.

CUMMING'S AFRICAN MUSEUM.—The gallery of
Mr. Gordon Cumming at Hyde-park-corner, like
that of Mr. Catlin's, is both curious and informing.
The collection of a courageous and enthusiastic
sportsman in the interior of Southern Africa, it has
a peculiarity of its own, -The arms, costumes, and
domestic implements of several of the Kafir tribes
are here brought together ; besides the skins of a
variety of wild animals slain or captured by Mr.
Cumming. An hour or two may, therefore, be well
spent in this singular exhibition, which is one of
those assemblages of objects that could only result
from a peculiar love of adventure, great personal
hardihood, and indomitable perseverance.
SPRINGTHORPE'S WAXWORK. This cheap gal-
lery of waxwork has lately received several additions ;
and to those whose funds are not very profuse it may
reasonably be recommended. The collection, which
bears some resemblance to that of Madame Tussaud's,
is by no means. small. The various agremens of
establishments of this kind are provided. There is a
band of music; and there are also moving pictures,
musical toy, a rock harnionicon, and the like. Mum-
mies, murderers, and monsters are exhibited in sepa-
rate chambers ; in fact, the taste of the populace in
its widest and lowest sense, has been considered to
the utmost.

SALLE ROBlN.—After a short tour in the provinces,
M. Robin, whose magical dexterity has already se-
cured for him a considerable share of public patronage,
made his appearance on Monday evening with a new
and enlarged programme of mechanical and optical
illusions. It would be vain to attempt to enumerate
the various, inexplicable sleight-of-hand tricks which
this accomplished wizard enacts, to the infinite de.
light of the juvenile portion of his audience, and
which, in times gone by, would have earned a very
different treatment for the performer than the deserved
approbation which now greets him. It is sufficient
to say that the Soiries Parisiennes furnish to children
one of the most entertaining amusements in the me-
tropolis, and are therefore peculiarly worthy of a
visit during, these holiday times.
SAVILLE HOUSE.—The German, gymnasts, under
the superintendence of Professor la.rosso, continue to
go through their feats of strength and dexterity at
Saville House, Leicester-square, where they have
been located for a considerable period. These ex-
positions of bodily power, and expertness in the art
of balancing, have probably never been surpassed.
The entertainments are varied by an act of " Poses
Plastiques."
CHICKENS AND FLEAS.—MT. COlltelO'S apparatus
for hatching chickens upon the old Egyptian principle
will, no doubt, command its visitors during the holi-
day time. The process is most effectively illustrated
at the rooms of this gentleman in Leicester-square,
where broods of chickens are daily brought into life
by the hot-water stoves, so judiciously adjusted as to
temperature as to represent practically the precise
incubatory heat of the parent bird.—ln the same house
the spectator may also " assist" at the performances of
the Russian Fleas, which are wise in their genera-
tion, and go through divers feats after the manner of
other fleas who have escaped " cracking," and been
taught polite accomplishments.
PRIVATS PICTURE Gaw.EatEs.--Grosvenor, upper
Grosvenorstreet ; Bridgewater, Green-park ; Staf-
ford House,- St. James's-park ; Ashburton, Picca-
dilly; Sir R. Peel's, Whitehall-gardens; Samuel
Rogers's, 12, St. James's-place; Hope's, Duchess-
street, Portland-place; Bevan's, 4, Hamilton-place,
Hyde-park-corner; Bridel's, Eaton-square; Gibbon's,
Hamilton4errace, llegent's-park ; Meeld's, Grosve-
nor-street; Sheepshanks's, Rutland-gate, Knights-
bridge. Tickets may be bad on application to the

~..
proprietors.
PUBLIC BUILDINGS, &c.—St. Paul's Cathedral
(ten till dusk); Tower of London (ten to four) ;
Monument (nine to dusk) ; Westminster Abbey
(nine to dusk); Westminster Hall ; Greenwich Hos-
pital (nine to dusk); Guildhall (ten to three) ;
Custom-house (nine to three); Mansion-house
(eleven to three) ; Duke of York's Column (twelve
to three); Mint (eleven to tbree) ; Woolwich Arsenal
and Dockyard (nine to eleven, and one to four) ;
Deptford Dockyard (ten to three); Chelsea Hospital
and Royal Military Asylum (orders for the Botanic
Gardens to be obtained at Apothecaries' Hall) ;
Christ's Hospital, Newgate-street (tickets on appli-
cation) ; Windsor Castle (Mondays, Tuesdays, Thurs-
days, and Fridays, ten to four ; tickets from principal
printsellers). •
FREE EA.aparnorts, &c.—The British Museum,
open the whole of Easter week, except Saturday,
from ten till four. The East India House Museum,
on Saturday only, from eleven to three. The Na-
tional Gallery,, in Trafalgar-square, the whole of
Easter week, except Saturday, from ten to five. The
Vernon Gallery; Marlborough- house, open under the
same rules as the National Gallery. The United
Service Museatu, in Middle Scotland-yard, every day
by orders from members. The Society of Arts,
Adelphi, everys_day,, except Wednesday. College of
Surgeons, in Lincoln's Inn-fields, on Monday, Wed-
nesday, and Friday, by orders from members. Mu-
seum of Economic Geology, Jermyn-street, every,
day, from ten till four. The Soane Museum, Lin-
Lonsgdaotne-sttim
Antiquities, colo's Inn-fields, every Thursday and Friday, from
ten to five, in the months of April, May, and June.
Litinteaa Museum, Soho-square, on Wednesday and
Friday, by orders from members. Medical Museum,
dellY'*Hospital, daily. Saull's Museum of Geology, Al-
iTtihesti,r4cia Liverpool-street,ys,ttteleven B Museum of
street, daily,re Tuesdays,
Museum of the Asiatic Society, Grafton-
eleven to uefosauraYs'Wednesdays, and Thursdays, from
street, Tuesd . Entomological Museum, Old Bond-
e, from
the Royal Institution, twelve to four. Museum of
ten to four.
'on, Albemarle-street, daily from
daily from ten to dusk. Missionary Museum, Blomfield•street,
Leices-
ter-square, daily, from
Zoologicalter, to
Museum,
Dulwich Gallery,
daily, except Friday, ticket obtainable byi obtainable from the
principal p it p from ten
Court Palace every
day, except Friday,,. ten to four. Botanic Gar-
dena, Regent'` rallit by, Orders from Members.
LothiGEs.—=PaParr S°ll°-square. Pantheon, eon,t
Lowther Bazaar and
Ox-
ford- stree • ~ Arcade, Strand.
1 Pantechnicon, Pimlico. isuriiiiton
1 Arcade, Picea-
z r i'vr
I dilly. 'King-street /3 a A§ / tulan-squate. Baker-

street Bazaar. Prince of Wales's Bazaar, Regent-
street. Western Exchange, Old Bond-street. Ba-
zaar, Langham-place.

COURT CIRCULAR.
WINDSOR, TUESDAY.
The additions to the royal dinner party yesterday
were her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, their
Royal Highnesses the Duchess of Cambridge and the
Princess Mary, his Royal Highness the Duke of Cain-
bridge, his Serene Highness Prince Leopold of Saxe
Cobourg, the Lady in waiting to the Duchess of
Kent, the Baroness de Speth, Colonel the lion. C. B.
Phipps, Baron Knesebeck, and Lord William Paulet.
The band of the Coldstream Guards was in attendance
during dinner, and performed the following pieces:—
Overture, " Sicilian Bride"
Waltz, " La Magicienne"
Selection, " Die Z iuberflote"

Polka ......... ......... Koenig.
Irish Melody, "As a beam o'er her face" Moore.
Pas Redoub!e, " I Martyri" ........ Donizetti.
The Queen's private band afterwards attended in
the Castle and playEd the following selections :
Overture, " Le Philtre"
Selection, " Mlrguerite d'Anjou" Meyerbeer.
Choeur et Dinse d'Armide Gluck.
Finale, " Martha" .....
His Royal Highness Prince Albert, accompanied
by his Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge, and
Prince Leopold of Saxe Coburg, rode out on horse-
back this morning, attended by Colonel F. IL
Seymour.

The l'rince of Wales, the Princess Royal, and
younger members of the Royal Family, took walking
and pony exercise.

The Earl and Countess of Derby left town
. -
yester-
day afternoon on a visit to the Duke of Richmond,
at his seat, Goodwood, Sussex.
The Judges, Queen's Counsel, &c., will not assem-
ble at the residence of the Lord Chancellor to mor-
row (Thursday), the first day of Easter Term:
The Judges will take their seats in their respective
Courts at Westminster at the usual hour.
The Bishop of Manchester had an interview with
Mr. Secretary Walpole, yesterday, at the
Office. Home

Dispatches from the Governors of Hong Kong and
Ceylon, and also from the Lord High Commissioner
of the lonian Islands, were received yesterday at the
Colonial Office.

PROPOSED NEW PENAL SETTLEMENT.
Sir James Matheson, M.P., proprietor of the Island
of North Rona, has offered it as a gift to Government
for a new penal settlement. This island is situated
in the Atlantic, in latitude .59 deg. 7 min. 1548 sec.,
and longitude 4 deg. 4. 8 min. .50.45 sec. west. It
forms part of the Lewis property. It lies 38 miles
of
fLewes,level
formingo a nearly equila-
teralf
the sea. On a
triangle with it and Cape Wrath. Its highest
N.E.pint iso f
3t the Bofeuettt
above the
clear day Cape Wrath and the Lewes and Harris
Hills can be seen without glasses. The island re-
sembles a long-necked decanter, with its neck towards
the north. Its greatest length is nearly a mile, and
its greatest breadth the same. At its north end about
half a mile of its length.variesin breadth from 10 to
20 chains. Half of this portion is stratified rock,
without a particle of vegetation. The eastern shore
of this part slopes gently to the sea ; the western,
.
though rugged and broken, but 90 feet in height.
The southern portion of the island is broader
and more elevated, averaging three quarters
of a mile broad, and the two hills not less than 350
feet high. The seaward bases of these hills form pre-
cipitous cliffs, inaccessible in many places. The rocks
round Rona are few and small. Gouldig Beag and
Gouldig Mohr are the only rocks, more than two
chains from the shore. Another
is dangerous
rock, seen at
low water, near the S.W. point, dangerous to navi-
gators anchoring in the neighbourhood. The soil of
Rona is good, and the pasture, though not luxuriant,
is beautifully green. Except about .50 acres the
whole island is arable, interspersed with a few small
rocks. A small part of the south side had been culti-
vated, and produced excellent barley. It is now
rented as a sheep farm. There are five or six ruinous
huts upon it. The smallest is said to have been a
church. There is also a graveyard, in which is a
rude cross without any inscription. There are neither
rats nor mice, and but very few birds in the island.
There is no peat moss, and not much sea-weed.
There is sufficient spring water on the south
shore. Seals are numerous, but not easily killed,
and cod-fish are abundant. The tides rise from
five to ten feet, and the south wind prevails. The
best landing places are Poul Houtham on the south,
Skildiga on the west, and Gevah Sthu on the east.
So well sheltered is Gavah Sthu, that three vessels
anchored at its mouth six years ago, and remained
one night. But such a thing had not occurred before,
and has not been repeated since. The island con-
tains 270 acres, three-fourths of which are arable.
Some years since it was inhabited by several families,
who lived by fishing, and on the produce of the soil ;
but in attempting to land on a stormy day, all the
men war lost by the upsetting of their boat. Should
Government accept Sir James Matheson's offer of this
island as a convict prison and penal settle-
ment, it will combine the advantages of Portland
prison and a penal colony in New South Wales,
being near enough to be controlled by the
home authorities through directors of prisons
for Scotland, or through a separate board of commis-
sioners ; and from the small size of the island, and
its loneliness, it would have all the terrors and none
of the attractions, of transportation to Australia. The
cost of maintaining a convict aboard is 401. a year.
The cost of maintaining a convict in Rona would not
exceed 151. a year, and this on 1,000 convicts for
four years would save 100,0001. The climate and
soil being favourable, the arable parts of Rona might
be cultivated by the convicts as a garden farm. This
would be a good training for such convicts as might
afterwards emigrate, and it would considerably
diminish the expense of the establishment. All other
kinds of labour usual in prisons, could of course he
done at Rena. As a prison made of galvanized iron
may easily. be removed from one place to another, a
great difficulty is obviated as regards the expense of
buildings, which, after serving their purpose in one
locality, became useless, as now the transfer from one
locality to another is provided for.—Observer.

THE DERBY CABINET AND
CHURCH
PATRONAGE.
It will be remembered, that we alluded to certain cir-
cumstances two weeks afro, which we stated would afford
a decisive test by which the ecclesiastical leanings of
the Derby Government might be ascertained. We men-
tioned that two days previous to the appearance of our
article, a clergyman had died, who held a living in Col-
chester, worth 5001. a year, and that within three hours
after his death—almost before the breath could well be
said to be out of his body—The Tractarian clergy of
the town and neighbourhood met together, and drew up
and signed a most urgent memorial to the Lord Chan-
cellor, in whose gift the living was, praying him to ap-
point one of the most rampant Puseyites in the county,
to the vacant church. That memorial was presented,
and its prayer supported by the semi-Romanist, Lord
John Manners, to Lord St. Leonards, and the latter
Noble and Learned Lord has acceded to the application.
The ultrA-Tractarian has received the appointment, and
is now the rector of the church in question. This fact
sets the matter fully and finally at rest, as regards the
way in which the Church patronage of the present
Ministry will be dispensed. The Lord Chancellor can-
not plead ignorance of the Puseyisra of the party whom
be has appointed to the vacant living. He has made the
appointment with a full knowledge of all the circum-
stances. No wonder that the Tractarians hailed the
advent of the Derby Ministry to office with unmeasured
exultation. The matter is one of great gravity to the
Church, and bodes sdrious ill to the Protestantism of the
country.—Advertiser.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
SIR,— The paragraph in your paper of the 12th
inst. in respect to the Cardiganshire Boroughs is
incorrect, as the Powell family have always supported
Church and State, and the present county Member is
a staunch supporter of the present Government.

Your obedient servant,
A CARDIGANSHIRE FREEHOLDER.
Brompton, April 13, 1852.

THE ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH TO
TIICE°BMitPiLs'ETToir CHANNEL.—The OF
IANNEL.—The Electric Telegraph. throughCorn-
addition to the advan-
Bristol. In range of wire, 118
places the commercial
tages available thereby, as regards the immediate trans-
mPainleYS,hfarovme just con ptleet ed their
mission of shipping intelligence
. from the Bristol Channel,
community of Bristol, and
.the adjacent west of England
districts, in direct telegraphic communication not only with
London, but by means of the cross-country stretch of tele-
graph, already in existence istol and Gloucester,
and Birmingham and Derby,. connects the west of England
with those towns, as well as with Liverpool, Manchester, the
north of Scotland, and the whole of England. Several hun-
dred men are now employed upon the link remaining to be
completed between Bristol and Exeter, of about seventy-
three miles, and which it is expected will be finished by
June, and so complete, with the, exception of minor commu-
nities, the telegraphic network of the COURtry.
THE BAR
THE MEMBERS OF AND THE NEW
PARLIAMENT.—It is ascertained that about one hundred
members of the bar are already fairly in the field, as candi-
dates for a seat in the coming Parliament, and it is deemed
probable that thirty or forty snoremay e returned,—in which
case about seventy lawyers will be members of the new
legislature. The prospect is not a very pleasant one for the
reporters; nor does it augur well for a straightforward
manner of transacting the busiirss of the country. It is not
unlikely that some steps may be found necessary to restrain
the otherwise interminable volubility of these learned gen-
tlemen. It may be found expedeie Frn to limit the length of
speeches in Parliament. In thench Charnber, when
they had liberty of discussion there, they resorted to a par-
ticular form of procedure, which, when had recourse to
three times, brought the debate at once to a final termina-
tion.—.Adrertiser.
Mr. Heathcoat, M.F., the colleague of Lord
Palmerston in the representation of Tiverton, and the emi-
nent silk manufacturer of that town, has had a severe attack
of indisposition, from which, however, the Hon. Gentleman
iti understood to be 5100 Y rec°Yeril3g.