The Sun.
London, England, 1865-02-09 00:00:00

THE SUIN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 9, 1865.

the affair, and correctly defines the state of the
American notions, as at present so strongly evi-
denced. If the Government do not attend to the
warning given to them by Lord DERBY, they will
be committing a serious error, yet from the remarks
of Earl RUSSELL it cannot be reasonably affirmed
that it is likely they will do so. That noble lord
has made his first speech this session in just the
same style and spirit as he has so often done bef ore
since he assumed the very unsuitable position of
Secretary for Foreign Affairs. The ingenuity which
he displays in seeking out excuses for the Ameri-
cans would be amusing were there not such grave
issues involved, and such important consequences
mixed up in his words and actions. how unworthy
and undignified a position it is for the Foreign
Minister of this great country that he should not be
able or willing to speak out openly and decidedly in
respect to an aggressive act and an impertinent
course pursued by foreign Powers. We are wearied
to death of the old truisms and hackneyed common-
places with which he is so ready. What reason is
there that our interests should be sacrificed and our
subjects insulted to please the Yankees ; and how
contemptible it is for Lord RUSSELL to show that he
fears or deprecates the wrath of America. He tells
Lord DERBY that he has not " sufficiently allowed
for the irritation which prevails in the United States
on the subject of the war which is now raging."
What absurdity this is, and how can we expect that
the Washington Government will confine their
efforts within just limits if they are thus encouraged
ay the supineness of the noble lord. The North-
erners are in that state that the more you do to
please them the more they require you to do, and
resent your conduct altogether. Lord RUSSELL had
better remember the old adage of " Tender-handed
touch a nettle" before he gets up in his place in the
House of Lords and adjures his auditory to make
allowances; for the just irritation of those
who are the most unscrupulous and dicta-
torial people on the face of the earth.
We shall have enough to do if we are to make Ame-
rican contentment the basis of our operations and
the test of our future policy. One thing is certain,
that we shall never succeed in our arduous venture :
it is a hill of difficulty that will never be climbed,
and a goal that we can never reach through the
agency of human efforts and the instrumentality of
mortal judgment. How unwise and unsuitable is
it then for Earl RUSSELL to go on in this fashion,
and make such strenuous efforts to fit all things
according to the measure of the standard of Wash-
ington policy. What an example to set to the
other nations of the world to show that England
will not heed insulting interference because her
Ministers persist in upholding the peculiar tactics of
a one-sided policy. Lord RUSSELL, at the conclu-
sion of his speech, again said that we were bound
to make every allowance for " the irritation that
may arise in the United States in the course of a
war which has come upon them unexpectedly."
Unexpectedly, indeed ! Was not the war of their
own seeking, and are they going on after a fashion
thi shows they are desirous of putting a stop to it?
What allowances do they make, pray, for anyone's
feelings but their own notions of revenge? It is
only a claptrap for the noble lord to state that her
MAJESTY'S Ministers have recognised the South as
belligerents, because the manner in which they have
done so has not been calculated to make any impres-
sion upon the other side. It neither gives the
assurance of neutrality nor of just reticence, and,
while such lame speeches are uttered, and such in-
complete efforts made, it will be idle for us to ex-
pect that any check will be put upon the assumption
and arrogance of the Federals ; and in all proba-
bility the question of Canada will yet. cause us
serious perplexity.

National Choral Society.

Handel's splendid oratorio of " Judas Macca-
bieus" was performed last evening at Exeter Hall,
under the auspices of the above society, in a manner
that reflected the highest credit on all the artists,
whether vocal or instrumental, who took part in its
interpretation. On account of Mr. Sims Reeves
still suffering from the effect of his late accident, he
was unable to attend, and his place was well sup-
plied by Mr. George Perren. Mdme. Rudersdorff
was in excellent voice, gave " Pious orgies" with
exquisite grace and feeling, and rendered the recita-
tive and air, " From mighty Kings," with consum-
mate skill and effect. Her interpretation of the
air " 0 Liberty," in which she was ably accompa-
nied on the violoncello by Mr Walter Pettit, was
all that could be desired by the most exacting critic.
The rich contralto voice of Miss Palmer was heard
to great advantage in the recitatives, " Well may
your sorrow," and " Ye worshippers of God," and
also in that highly-devotional air, " Father of
Heaven," which she sang with such grace and finish
as to elicit the enthusiastic applause of the audience.
Mr. Perren gave the air, " Sound an Alarm,"
with great spirit and power ; and he was honoured
with an encore, and in compliance with the en-
thusiastic demands of the audience, he re-
peated the latter part of this trying and difficult
air. In the other portions of the music allotted
to him he was equally successful. Mr. Weiss's
voice, which is suited admirably to the music
of " Judas Maccabmus," was triumphantly mani-
fested in the air " Arm, arm, ye brave." The
choruses were splendidly given throughout, and
the " 0, Father," in the fourth part, was so exqui-
sitely rendered as to make its repetition an absolute
necessity for the satisfaction of the audience, and
with
high
a
o de d bril-
liant the demand made in this respect was immediately
hcoamntpliaueddiweniethe:
wThohethhuasnew vinasceerw
d their
appre-
ciation of the musical efficiency of the society,
which Mr. G. W. Martin so ably presides.

Great Flood near Birmingham.

-a---- -

BIRMINGHAM, Wednesday Night.

A serious flood occurred near Birmingham tQ-day.
Between the Soho and Hockley stations of the Great
Western Railway is a tunnel over which an arm
(about a quarter .of a mile long) of the old Bir-
mingham Canal passes, having been constructed for
the convenience of a coal wharf and a manufactory
which exist in the neighbourhood. The driver of a
train which passed through the tunnel this evening
conveyed intelligence to the station master at Hock-
ley that the water was rapidly leaking into the
tunnel. Steps which were at once taken to avert
the danger proved futile, and in a short time the
waters burst through the brickwork, flooded the
tunnel, tore up the rails, and, escaping from the
mouth of the tunnel nearest Birmingham, poured
in an immense volume into the lower ground which
lies adjacent to the station, flooding a large number
of houses, and doing an immense amount of damage
to the property. The roads were rendered com-
pld
for
man somey narrow
com-
pletely impassable, and all communication will be
s
daysesactalps
e:sta.reNreopolirvteesd w. ere lost,
though

OLD MOSELEY HALL.—It may be interesting to
know that the bed-room in which the king slept a t
Moseley is still kept as far as possible in the self
state in which it was in September, NIL
stead and the oak-cabinet are still there,
greaves still keep, with religious reverence
relic, a portion of the silk hanging which fringed tho aeuch cur-
tain tain round the bed. Mr. Whitgreave himself also has a-
pair of silver links, or wristband studs, which the king
took out from his own dress and gave to his preserver at
the time when he took leave of Moseley on his way to
Bentley. Though the house is sadly out of repair, the
royal bedroom and bedstead are still in good condition,
The old chapel is still in existence in the upper story, corn_
• a good view of the country round, and so is the
old "priest's hiding-hole," of which we have spoken. It
may be of interest to add that not only the Lanes and the
Whitgreaves among the " county families" of the neigh-
bourhood are still flourishing, but also that the name of the
Penderells, persons in a lower sphere of life, who so faith-
fully served their sovereign at Boscobel, survives in the
neighbvArlaoyd.-OKe a no. and
dTuhe et theoa self-same

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

(VEUTE ICS TELEGRAM.)

AMERICA.

QUEENSTOWN, FEB. 9.

The Inman steamship City of Baltimore, from
New York on the 28th ultimo, arrived here at 3.35
a.m. to-day, with 187 passengers and $271,800 in
specie. She landed 14 passengers and proceeded at
3.45 a.m. for Liverpool.
Her news has been completely anticipated by the
arrival of the Moravian at Greencastle.

AUSTRIA.
VIENNA, FEB. 9.

The Neue Freie Presse of to-day says :
" An agreement has been entered into between
the Minister of Finance and the Credit Society, in
order to provide for the payment of the 11 millions
of florins due to the National Bank by the State
on the 14th inst.

" According to this agreement 11 members of the
Administrative Council of the Bank will each draw
at three months upon the Credit Society for one
million of florins. These bills will be accepted by
the Society and discounted by the National Bank.

PRUSSIA.

BERLIN, FEB. 9.

As the new military bill makes no cftiucession, the
majority of the Chamber of Deputies will not pro-
pose an amendment to the address, but will simply
express their regret that such a bill has been intro-
duced. A reconciliation between the Chamber and
the Government is considered to be impossible.

FRANCE,
PARIS, FEB. 9.

The Moniteur of this morning says :
" The Minister for Foreign Affairs, in compliance
with instructions from the Emperor, has requested
M. de Sartiges to complain of the two letters ad-
dressed by the Papal Nuncio to the Bishop of
Orleans and the Bishop of Poictiers. These letters
appeared in the newspapers, and constitute an in-
fraction both of international law and of the public
law of France."

The llioniteur of this morning publishes the decree
referring the Bishops of Moulins and of Besancon
before the Council of State for having committed
an abuse of their ecclesiastical authority. It also
publishes the report of M. L'Anglais upon this
decree.

BOURSE, Feb. B.—The Bourse has assumed a
more animated appearance to-day, and prices seem
to be looking upwards. Threes, for the Account,
opened at 67f. 20c., and arc now at 67f. 25c. Mo-
bilier have been done at 970 f., and are now at 966 f.
25c. The Railway Market remains firm, with little
change in prices. The market closed as follows :

4} per Cents 96 30
Do. end month —
3 per Cents. 67 10
Do. end month 67 20
Credit Mobilier 968 75
Do. end month 968 75
Bank Shares 3560
Cndit Foncier 1285
Roman

Italian Loan 65 35
Do. end month 65 40
Ditto Threes —
New Mexican
Russian —
Austrian
Spanish Threes 43
Home Debt
Deferred

RAIL'

VAYS.

Cash. Acct.
Orleans
Northern lOl2 50 ... 1015
Lyons and Mediterranean.'__ 950 ... 952 50
Southern 5Bl 25 ... 581 25

Western 540 ... 540
Eastern
Sardinian 306 25 ... 306 25
Austrian
Lombard 552 50 ... 552 50
North of Spain 345 ... 345
Saragossa 407 50 ... 402 50
Ditto to Barcelona — ..•

PARLIAMENTARY DIVISION,

HOUSE OF COMMONS-FEB. 8.
THE CONDITION OF IRELAND.

Address read a second time. Amendment proposed, in
paragraph 11, to leave out the words "and that Ireland
during the past year has had its share in the advantage of
a good harvest, with a gradual extension of trade and
manufactures," in order to insert the words "we regret
that the general condition of Irelani cannot be regarded as
prosperous or satisfactory, and that multitudes of the
inhabitants continue to emigrate to foreign countries
through the want of remunerative employment at home,'
instead thereof. Question put, " TLat the words proposed
to be left out stand part of the Address." The house
divided—Ayes, 67 ; Noes, 12.
AYES-67.
Ayrton, A., S. Ewart, W. Potter, E.
Baines, E. Forster, C. Powell, J. J.
Baring, Sir F. French, Col. Ramsden, Sir J. W.
Baring, T. G. Gibson, T. M. Robertson, H.
Bazley, T. Gilpin, C. Seymour, Digby
Berkeley,Btdduiph, c
C. P. id
F. Gladstone, W. IC Smith, Augustusßiddulpli,
e:
Sir
P. Smyth, Col.
Bonham-Carter, J. Goschen, G. J. Taylor, Col.
Bruce, H. A. Grey, Sir G. Torrens, R.
Buckley, Gen. Hardy, J. , Tracy, C. R. 1).
Buller, Sir A. W. Headlani, T. E. Trelawny, Sir J. B.
Bury, Viscount Henley, Lord . Verney, Sir H.
Calthorpe, F. H. Hodgson, It. Villiers, C. P.
Castlerosse, Viet. Howes. E. Waldegrave-Leslie
Churchill, Lord A. Langton, W. 11. G. White, L.
Clay, J. Lawson, W. Wickham, H. W.
Collier, Sir R. P. Lowe, R. Williamson, Sir H.
Crauford, E. H. J. Mackie, J. Willoughby, Sir It.
Crossley, Sir F. Martin,J. Wyndham, P.
Dalglish, R. Morris, W.
Denman, G. Newdegate, C. TELLERS.
Dodson, J. G. Packe, Col.
Duff, M. E. Palmerston, Vint. Brand, H.
Edwards, Col. Peel, Sir R. Rlaatchbull-Ilugess
NOES —l2.
Brady, Dr Gavin, Major Staepoole, W.
Clifton, Sir R. Greene, J. White, J.
Cox, W. ' Greville, Col. p. TELLERS.
Elphinstone, Sir J. Hadfield, G. Scully, V.
Ferrand, W. Maguire, J. F. O'Reilly, M. W.

MARKETS-L.-This Day,

METROPOLITAN CATTLE.

The show of beasts, in to-day's market, was limited, and
in but middling condition. Most breeds were in fair re-
quest, at full prices, the best Scots having realised ss. 6d.
per 81bs. With sheep, wo were scantily supplied. Downs
and half-breds moved off freely, at extreme rates ; but
other breeds were a slow inquiry. The top figure was
6s. 2d. per Blbs. Calves -were in short supply, and fair
request, at full prices—viz., from 4s. 4d. to ss. 6d. per 81bs.
In pigs, very little was doing, at late quotations. Mulch
cows were very dull.
Per 81b to sink the offal.

s ds d s ds d
Crse. & inf. beasts... 3 8 4 4 Pme crs-wool sheep 5 6 5 10
Second quality do .. F 8 5 0 Prime b'thdown 00.6 0 6 2
Prime large oxen ..5 2 5 4 Large coarse calves. 4 4 5 0
Prime Scots, ac.... 5 4 5 6 Prime small 2 5 6
Crse. and inf. sheep. 4 4 4 10 Large hogs .3 4 3 10
Second quality do ..5 0 5 4 Small porkers 4 0 4 6
Lambs....os Od to 0, Od.

Suckling calves, 163 to 21s ; and quarter-old store pigs, 20s
to 25s each.

LITERATURE,

Shakspere's First Edition Reprinted.

Shakespeare : a Reprint of his Collected Works.
As Put Forth in 1623. Part 111., containing
the Tragedies. Lionel Booth.

This noble tribute to the incomparable genius of
Shakspere is at length, by the issue of this third
instalment of it, nearly completed, and so
completed, let us say in one word, trium-
phantly. As a tribute to a great author it
is, in its way, simply unprecedented. Until now,
in this present instance, we are not aware of the
first edition of the writings of any author since the
invention of the art of printing, having been repro-
duced, it matters not at what date of ter that
author's demise, in the form of a facsimile.
But., here, at a distance of two centuries
and a half after the death of Shakspere,
the first Edition of his works has been elaborately
copied in the shape of a facsimile for general circu-
lation. A Facsimile this Reprint is in everything
saving alone in its superficial dimensions. The
Prototype Edition, as we may call it, the Edition
printed, that is, in 1623, by Masters Isaac laggard
and Ed. Blount, was a Folio Edition—was the
Folio Edition. Now the folio size, as is well
known by book-purchasers, has long since become
obsolete. Besides which, the diminution or the
contraction, as we may term it, of the size of the
Reprint, in the superficial dimensions of the pages,
conduces obviously to secure at once to the facsimile
the advantages of cheapness and portability. Other-
wise than in respect to this modification in regard to
the size of the pages, and consequently also in re-
gard to the size of the typography, the elegant and
curious reprint now under notice, is a literal fac-
simile of the famous edition of 1623. It is the
Folio Edition of Shakspere seen through a diminish-
ing glass. And an exquisite facsimile appears—
" seems ? nay, it is !"—in the pale yellowish look of
the paper, in the antique effect of the type, the long
ss, and so forth, the flourished initial letters,
the frontispiece likeness copied from the original
engraving by Droeshout, and all the rest of it.
Not an Englishman's library worthy of the name
ought to be without this admirable reflection (be-
yond the distance of two centuries and upwards)
of the first collective edition of those immortal
plays of Shakspere, which had then (in 1623) only
been given to the world previously, one by one.
Already we have had occasion to notice in these
columns, at the time of their original publication,
the two previous instalments of this most carefully
elaborated reprint of the edition of 1623—the
Comedies that is, and the Histories. To these,
the Tragedies having now been added, the work
might in some measure be regarded as already
complete—only that the enterprise of the publisher
aims at going yet another step further, by reprinting
also (as Mr. Booth, we are delighted to see, pro-
poses to do), Seven Doubtful Plays, together with
all the Poems of the world's matchless Drama-
tist. The Doubtful Plays being-1. Pericles, Prince
of Tyre ; 2. The London Prodigal ; 3. The History
of Thomas, Lord Cromwell ; 4. Sir John Oldcastle,
Lord Cobham ; 5. The Puritan Widow ; 6. A
Yorkshire Tragedy ; 7. The Tragedy of Loraine.
Pericles, it should be observed, is not classed by
Mr. Booth among the Doubtful Plays, any more
than it is so classed by the majority of the
Shaksperean critics and commentators. Pericles
taking—dubiously, it may be, but still, in a man-
ner, taking—rank with the recognised and undis-
puted effusions of the genius of Shakspere. It
heads our list here, however, simply because one of
the Seven Plays proposed by Mr. Booth, to be added
to this reprint, so far as it has now gone, as a substan-
tive republication. Besides these supplementary
seven plays, there are promised to us reprints of
the first editions of all the glorious Poems of Shak-
spere the edition of 1593 of " Venus and
Adonis," that of 1594 of " Lucrece," that
of 1599 of the " Passionate Pilgrim," that of 1609
of the " Sonnets." So soon as this fourth part, in-
cluding within it the seven plays and all the Poems,
shall have been published—enabling the four dis-
tinct parts, then, to be bound up together in one
goodly volume—a Shaksperean monument will have
been raised to the memory of " The Immortal Bard"
beyond all the granite structures and marble effigies
that sculpture or architecture could devise—a memo-
rial, in truth, are perennius The enterprise of
Mr. Booth in thus placing within reach of
his fellow-countrymen an exact Reprint of
the Original Edition of the works of Shaks--
pere, not only deserves recognition from the
hands of the critic, but demands encouragement
from all those lettered Englishmen—" speaking the
language Shakspere spake "—who are capable of
appreciating-a book which is in itself one of the
glories of our national literature.

The Anti-Teapot Review. No. IV. (Houlston
and Wright.)—ln spite of the whimsical oddity of
its title, this clever little Magazine of Politics, Lite-
rature, and Art still claims our attention, by reason
at once of the sound common sense of its views
and the sparkling vivacity of its style. The pre-
sent instalment is even in some respects
better than the best of the three preceding
it. The first contribution, in particular, is
worthy of note as one sternly denunciatory of
certain Proposed Vandalism in Westminster Ab-
bey. It would, in the whole tenor of it, have glad-
dened the heart of the late gifted Welby Pugin,
and ought to induce Mr. Scott to pause be-
times before laying his unhallowed hand upon
either the solid altar or the sedilia that ever since
the thirteenth century, as the writer here reminds
us, have occupied their present position in that
ancient sanctuary. We are delighted to see in the
very next paper in this number of the A. T. R. a
genuine " one-two" administered to an impertinent
numskull assuming to himself the preposterous
title of Secretary of the British Anti - Tobacco
Smoking Society. Had he either the sense or the
taste to indulge in such a luxury himself, we should
certainly recommend him to put that in his pipe and
smoke it. Other effusions in the number are
pleasantly readable—barring the rhymes about
Blazeton ! For, what Cockney even would not
have a qualm in attempting to rhyme " river" with
"live a," and "donanda lauru " with "first we saw
you ?" Otherwise—our pleasant contemporary, the
A. T. R., is really capital in its way as a mixture of
sober good sense and agreeable banter.

Modern Physiology.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

Six,—l have read recently, in The Sun, the account of
Dr. Donovan's phrenological examination of two notorious
culprits, and it is satisfactory to find that the subject is now
appreciated by the authorities so far as to permit that once
unpopular character—a craniologist—to adopt this course.
It would be an additional advantage if the authorities would
adopt the advice given, nearly 30 years since, by medical
men and others, with respect to firing criminals, for thus
the science of cerebral physiology would be advanced, and
in course of time many difficulties connected with it would
be explained. The casts of crania, now to be seen at the
London Mesmeric Infirmary and elsewhere, clearly denote
the great truth which this science has established already
—imperfect as it is, and still in its infancy—namely, the
mischievous consequences which arise from a large prepon-
derance in the animal propensities, when compared with
the moral and the intellectual organs of the brain. But
notable subjects are required for the improvement and the
further verification of the science. These subjects might
be obtained with the assistance of the Government, and in
the manner above-mentioned by,
Yours obediently,
Feb. 7, 1865. CHR. COOK.E.

THE " RAVELLI DRAG" FOR THE STOPPING OF
RAILWAY TRAINS—at no matter what speed—ap-
pears to be a wonderfully simple and, at the same
time, a surprisingly effectual means of effecting (almost
instantaneously) that most important and desirable ar-
rangement in the organisation of Railway Travelling.
A sketch of the mechanical contrivance devised to this end
by the ingenious inventor, Signor Ravelli Candid°, formerly
an officer in the Bersaglieri d'ltalia has just now been
forwarded to us from Paris, together with a sort of an ex-
planatory epitome of the inventor's very lucid specifica-
tion. The contrivance certainly appears to demand the
serious attention of those entrusted with the responsibility
of regulating the traffic of the various railways of the
United Kingdom.
AN OLD SOLDIER died at Mirecourt, in. the Vosges,
on the 21st January last, "who;" by a singular coincidence,
was on duty on the 21st of January,
_1793, at the foot of
the scaffold on which Louis XVI. was executed. He sub-
sequently served in the wars of the Republic and of the
first Empire. We name was Fischer.