The Sun.
London, England, 1862-02-18 00:00:00

THE OXFORD MUSIC HALL.

We were yesterday highly gratified by what we
may term a " morning rehearsal" of a performance
by two youths, who we doubt not will, for many a
night, prove an immense attraction to this favourite
place of evening entertainment. To the well-known
proprietor of the Cirque Napoleon of Paris, M. De-
jean, the London public owes the introduction of
Henri Maitrejean, aged 13, and Joseph Pfau, aged
11, whose skill, strength, presence of mind,
activity, grace, and courage, are something mar-
vellous to behold. We will presume that the
reader has a mind's-eye idea of the immense length
of the Oxford Music-hall. Suspended from its
moulded ceiling, at unequal interspaces, are cords,
each supporting the apparatus by which the suc-
cessive flying leaps are effected. The nature of
these leaps, made with squirrel-like agility, will,
perhaps, be more easily appreciated by those who
have not yet witnessed them, by the simple state-
ment that the first is 13 feet 6 inches, the second 23
feet, the third 23 feet 3 inches, and the fourth 37
feet 10 inches. These were traversed by the juvenile
acrobats with a cleverness and confidence that, un •
like many allied displays of daring and agility, pro-
duced no tremor cordis in the spectator. At a few
feet below, running the entire length of the hall, is
a padded platform, which ensures safety,were there
even a chance of a mistake in the hand, the foot-
hold, or the gyration of the performers. As a
whole, we look upon these youths as an aceession
to the attractions of the Oxford, and an interesting
display of what marvels trained activity can
achieve.

Their Royal Highnesses the Duchess of Cam-
bridge and the Princess Mary have arrived at St. James's
Palace from Kew.

The Duke of Newcastle has taken the Countess
of Caleion's mansion on Carlton-house-terrace for the sea-
son.

The Duke and Duchess of Beaufort intend to
leave Gibraltar early in the ensuing month on their return
home.

The Duke and Duchess of Marlborough and
family purpose to leave Blenheim Palace, near Woodstock,
to-day, for town, for the season.

The Marquis and Marchioness of Abercorn have
left Chesterfield House for Brocket Hall, Herts.
Frances Countess Waldegrave arrrived at her
residence in Carlton-gardens, yesterday, from Dudbrook
House, Essex.

Lord Lyndhurst has quite recovered from his
resent ttud le Duly ourNa/uis hum fa slight weakness
consequent on his indisposition.
_ _

The Marquis and Marchioness of Salisbury left
town on Saturday for Paris, on a visit to the Earl and
Countess Cowley. The noble marquis and marchioness are
expected in town at the latter end of the week.
The Earl and Countess of Bective have arrived
at Thomas's Hotel, Berkeley-square, from the Lodge, Vir-
ginia Water.

A marriage is arranged to take place shortly
between the Lady Mary Acheson, second daughter of the
Earl and Countess of Gosford, and the Hon. Leopold W.
H. Powys, second son of the late Lord Lilford.

Sir Charles and Lady Wake and family have
arrived at their residence in Great Cumberland-street,
Hyde-park, for the season.
MR. AND MRS. CHARLES KEAN.—Mr. and Mrs.
Charles Kean, we regret to say, will not appear during the
remainder of this week, in consequence of the death of
Mrs. Bradshaw, sister of Mrs. Kean. Mrs. Bradshaw was
the original Clari at Covent Garden, and in that character
sang for the first time the celebrated " Home, sweet home."
She married Mr. Bradshaw, M.P. for Canterbury, who
died 13 years ago. Of this marriage one daughter was the
result, and that young lady is married to Mr. Langley, late
of the 2d Life Guards.

THE TUSCARORA AND THE SUMTER AT GIBRAL-
TAIL-SOUTHAMPTON, Feb. 17.—A telegram has been. re-
ceived here to-day from Gibraltar, dated Thursday,7 stating
that the Federal steam corvette Tuscarora had arrived at
that port; that the Confederate steamer Sumter was still
there, and unable to get coal, in consequence of having no
money to pay for it ; and that the Tuscarora was exercising
the same watchful care over the Sumter as she did for Ernie
time over the Nashville in these watere.
THE INCOME OE THE COURT OF CHAN9ERY*—
Yesterday a return was issued showing that the income of
the Suitors' Fee Fund in the year ending November, was
£158,777. The fees by stamps amounted to no less, 4 sum
than. X 69,219128, 6cl,

THE FORGERIES BY A DERBY SOLICITOR.—At
the Derby Police-court, yesterday, Joseph Shaw, solicitor,
Derby, and until recently the high bailiff of the Derby
County Court, was brought up on remand on a charge of
forging a deed by which he obtained £B5O from Mr. John
Adsetts, of Duffield. some further evidence was taken in
support of this charge, when the bench adjourned the in-
quiry until Saturday next, on which occasion a second
charge of a similar nature will be gone into.
THE FATAL ACCIDENT IN THE WATERLOO ROAD.
—Yesterday afternoon, at half-past 2 o'clock, Mr. Sergeant
Payne resumed the inquiry at St. Thomas's Hospital on the
body of Edwin James Robbins, who lost his life by the ac-
cident in the Waterloo-read. The inquiry was adjourned
for the purpose of the jury viewing the spot, and for the
attendance of Mr. Jones. At the conclusion of the evidence
of several witnesses the coroner summed up and the jury
returned a verdict of " Accidental death," and at the same
time desired to state that the conduct of Mr. Jones when he
received the notice from the Lambeth vestry in October,
1859, to arch the landing, was most reprehensible. The
coroner refused to insert the latter, as an opinion only, and
recorded a verdict of" Accidental death."

AN M.P. IN JEOPARDY.—Yesterday afternoon,
on the assembling of the House of Commons, and as seve-
ral members were about to cross the dangerous corner that
connects Bridge-street, Westminster, with Parliament-
street, a spring-cart came quickly round the corner, and
would inevitably have run over Mr. Ingham, M.P., who
was crossing at the moment, had not one of the officers of
the A division adroitly interposed himself between the
hon. member and the horse, which he succeeded at his
own personal peril in reining in on the instant. Tho
occurrence would be scarcely worth recording were it not
to point out to the public the danger that exists at this
particular spot, and the necessity that exists for some better
regulation of the traffic here, similar to that adopted by the
City Police authorities at London-bridge and elsewhere.
Occasionally, owing to there being no break in the line of
vehicles, the passage of the public is impeded for five and
ten minutes at a time, to say nothing of the danger they are
exposed to in crossing for want of so,:ae intermediate halt-
ing-place.

THE MURDER AT WESTON zoYLAND.—Yesterday
the prisoner, W. Chard, jun., was brought up on remand, at
the Town- hall, Brid gwater, on the charge of wilfully murder-
ing his servant, Parnell Howe, as reported in this journal of
Tuesday last. The prisoner appeared to take the proceedings
very complacently, and sat in the dock with perfect non-
chalance. Several witnesses were called, but their evi-
dence did not materially differ from that previously given.
The prisoner was committed for trial for wilful murder at
next assizes.

REVOLTING AND INHUMAN MURDER AND MU-
TILATION or A CHILD.---Yesterday morning, at an early
hour, as Mr. J. Shepherd, residing in Greville-street,
Holborn, was passing through Baldwin's••place, Hatton-
garden, he discovered a paper parcel lying on a door step,
on opening which it was found to contain the body of a
full-grown male child, which could not have been dead
more than two hours. It was ascertained that death had
been occasioned by foul means, the stomach having been
ripped up with a knife, so that part of the entrails dropped
out, and the head and upper part of the body had the ap-
pearance of having been subjected to considerable pressure,
being a perfect mass of contusions. The body was con-
veyed to the dead house of St. Andrew's, Holborn, and in-
formation of the revolting deed forwarded to the coroner
or the district.

DEATH OF A CENTENARIAN.—Mr. James Cowan,
who presented an extraordinary instance of longevity, died
on the sth inst., at Drumore, parish of Lochrutton. He
had reached the extreme age of 103 years, and was th© last
of a family of five, whose united ages amount to fully 450.
He well remembered Burns, having often seen him when
a farmer at Ellisland ; and his reminiscences of Dumfries
in his boyish days, 90 years ago, were fresh and interesting.
As showing how one age is sometimes linked with another
that seems remote, we may mention that Mr. Cowan's
father, who lived to be threescore, had a distinct recollec-
tion of Grierson of Lag, and often described to his son the
big, burley, and bloated personal aspect of the notorious
persecutor. Mr. Cowan was never married.—Edin burgh
Witness.

THE DISTRESS IN BLACKBURN.--The distress
in this town and district is very great, upwards of 7,000 of
the factory operatives of Blackburn alone being wholly un-
employed, while a decided change for the worse is taking
place in the adjoining townships of Darwen, Accrington,
Church, Enfield, and Great Harwood. The relief fund
amounts to nearly £l,BOO, out of which the committee are
providing bread and meal for necessitous families. During
last week nearly 30 loads of oatmeal and upwards of 4,000
loaves were thus distributed. The parochial relief returns
for the week ended last Saturday show that 7,959 persons,
of whom 2,586 were able-bodied, had been relieved at a
cost of £445 10s. 9d. ; of this number 6,096 belonged to
Blackburn alone, at a cost of £352 45., the remainder be-
longing to the Darwen and Oswald twistle districts. In
the corresponding week of last year the number relieved in
the union was 2,571, at a cost of £137 25., or not quite half
the number of Blackburn poor at present in receipt of re-
lief. On Friday a poor rate of 3s. in the pound was signed
by the magistrates, and it is estimated to realise £18,743
18s. a It is anticipated that a further rate will be re-
quired to meet the present distress.—.Manehester Guardian.

LIBERATION OF WILLIAM MILLER, THE PRISONER
POR DEBT FOR FIFTY YEARS.—Within the last few days
Mr. William Miller, whose extraordinary case has recently
been so much before the public, has received his liberty, of
which he had been deprived since July, 1824. The aged
prisoner, however, had been so long without the blessings
of freedom that he had lost all desire, if not remembrance,
of them, and he, therefore, opposed the most obstinate re-
sistance to the proceedings of Mr. Registrar Flazlitt, in his
case last month, and refused to sign his examination, which
was an essential preliminary to his immediate discharge.
The commissioner at the Bankruptcy Court, nevertheless,
decreed him a bankrupt, and sent him an order for his re-
lease. Captain Hudson, the governor of the Queen's Pri-
son, with kind consideration allowed his old captive to re-
main for some time in the place, so that he might become
gradually accustomed to the idea of going forth into a world
to which he has been a stranger for half a century. The
day fixed for his departure, however, at last came, and Mr.
Miller was told that a cab was in waiting to convey him to.
the house of a relative in Greenwich. He received the
news with evident regret, and after taking a lingering fare-
well of the prison authorities, he was assisted to the vehicle,
in which he was driven straight:to his destination. The sub-
scription raised in his behalf has reached a considerable
sum.

A FRIGHTFUL DEATH.—A few nights ago a man
named William Berrick, otherwise well known by the
sobriquet of " His Majesty," came to a fearful death under
the following circumstances :—On the night of Sunday he
had been with others at the house of Mr. Bradnock, the
White Hart, at Tile Cross. He remained there until about
11 o'clock, when they left, and the house was closed. Ber-
rick, who was a single man, about 50 years of age, of un-
settled habits, generally slept at his sister's, but from some
cause he had expressed his determination not to go there
that night, and on his leaving the White Hart nothing more
was seen of him until the next morning. Mr. Bradnock, in
addition to being a licensed victualler, carries on an exten-
sive baking business, and has a large oven on his premises.
Early on the Monday morning he had prepared wood for
heating the oven, and on his proceeding to place it in the
flue or stove he was startled at seeing the body of a man
therein, and on his gaining assistance and making a nearer
inspection he was horrified at finding the dead body of Ber •
rick. From the body having been found stuck fast in the
flue of the oven, it was supposed that on his leaving the
house the unhappy man had gone to the flue—which had
been used on the previous day—for warmth, and on his en-
deavouring to get into i t had got fast, and, being unable to
extricate himself, was literally suffocated. Mr. Poole subse-
quently held an inquest on the body, and evidence being
given bearing out the above particulars, the jury returned
a verdict of " Accidental death from suffocation in the flue,"
no blame being attached to anyono.—Birmingham Post.

RUNNING THE BLOCKADE—Since the with-
drawal of her Majesty's prohibition order against the ex-
portation of warlike stores to America, several vessels, in-
cluding a fast screw steamer (which ran the Charleston
blockade some months since with a oars° of o.f.ton) have
commenced taking on board at Liverpool immense quanti-
ties of guns, ammunition, blankets, &c., for the use of the
Confederate army, the soldiers of which will be supplied
with many luxuries should any of these vessels succeed in
running the blockade of any of the Southern ports. Many,
if not all these vessels, are loaded by different parties--one
gentleman going in for his share in guns, another in
blankets, a third in ammunition, while a fourth or fifth
ventures in drugs, saltpetre, &c., and so on until each vessel
is loaded. As nothing can be "done" in these vessels at
the insurance offices, the whole risk of loss falls on those
who venture in the speculation. The following advertise..
ment, which appeared in a Liverpool contemporary yester-
day, will show how these partnership ventures are arranged:
"Cargo to run the blockade.—Wanted, a party to provide
a portion of the cargo for a fast sailing vessel of 300 tons,
to run to one of the blockaded ports.—Address, box —,
Manchester,"

ANOTHER ACCIDENT BY MACHINERY.—A most
shocking accident occurred on Friday afternoon at Birdsall,
a wold village a few miles from Malton. Except in its hor-
rible termination, the accident is precisely similar to the re-
cent one at Sunderland. It seems that Mrs. Hudson, the
wife of Mr. Hudson, a shopkeeper at Burythorpe, a neigh-
bouring village, was at Mr. Watson's farm, at Birdsall,
where a corn thrashing machine was in use. Mrs. Hudson,
it is stated, attempted to step over the tumbling shaft, which
revolves rapidly, and has a connection in the centre present-
ing sharp angles, which are likely to catch and retain hold
of a dress if brought in proximity. It is thought Mrs. Hud-
son's dress was caught in this way, and was instantaneously
wrapped several times round the shaft, the wearer being
brought down with it, and, to the horror of all present,
whirled round and round with every revolution. The
machinery waa stopped as quickly as possible, and when the
unfortunate woman was extricated it was found that her
knees were dislocated, and that she had received many
wounds and very serious injuries. On Saturday she was
s Wed to be in a precarious state. The accident is doubtless
owing to a want of proper fencing over the shaft, a precau-
tion very rarely adopted in thrashing machines.

LATEST NEWS.

PARIS, FEB. 18.
The debate on the address will commence in the
Senatb on Thursday next. _

LISBON, FEB. 17 (Evening).
In the Upper House to-day, the proposition to re-
establish the censorship of books and other publica-
tions was rejected by 36 against 34 votes.

MADRID, FEB. 17.
Senor Mon is expected to arrive in Madrid this

evening.

PARIS, FEB. 17.
The reading of the address took place to-day in
the Senate.

The following is a summary of ♦hose paragraphs
of it relating to foreign affairs :
The address congratulates the Emperor on the
amicable relations of his Majesty's Government with
foreign Powers, and continues—" We hope that
the expedition to Mexico will procure entire satis-
faction for the interests of our countrymen. The
documents recently communicated to the house
prove how greatly the Senate was justified in
placing confidence in your Majesty as regards the
Italian question. Your Majesty's Government,
while taking into consideration international exi-
gencies, has not lost sight of the interests of Catho-
licism. You will continue, Sire, in your policy of
protection and conciliation,.as we shall continue to
place confidence in that policy. You will doubtless
experience theregret that we earnestly feel at meet-
ing sometimes with ardour and immoderate preten-
sions, and sometimes with resistance and torpidity.
But your counsels are those of wisdom, and in the
name of this wisdom we must not tire of stating
that the greatest works cannot be carried out with-
out calm and moderation, in order to become well
established, and that causes the most just are some-
times endangered by extreme refusals, which are
incompatible with a good direction of human
affairs,"

TURIN, FEB. 17.

To-day, in the Chamber of Deputies, the postal
conventions between the Italian Government and
Switzerland and Greece were approved of.
Signor La Farini expressed a wish that a similar
convention should be concluded with Prussia,

To this Baron Ricasoli replied that he had
always sought that the Italian cause should not
become isolated in its relations with other nations.
Among those who have displayed towards Italy the
greatest sympathy, said Baron Ricasoli, is the
Prussian Government, which has likewise mani-
fested sentiments favourable to our cause. The
Prussian representative has always remained at
Turin, as our representative remains at Berlin.
The Italian envoy was received with sympathies
and honours during the coronation of the King of
Prussia.

In conclusion Baron Ricasoli eulogised the mag-
nanimity of the Prussian Government and people.

BERNE, FEB. 17.

England has notified to the Swiss Government
that she is disposed to negotiate for the reciprocal
suppression of the passport visa:

THE BRAZILS.

LISBON, FEB. 16,

The Messageries Imperiales Company's steamer
Guienne, from the Brazils, arrived here yesterday
at 4 p.m.

RIO JANEIRO, Jan. 25.—Exchange on London,
258 ; Paris, 380. Coffee, 7,500 to 8,500 reis ; ship-
ments since the departure of the last steamer,
77,050 bags ; stock, 250,000 bags.
BAUTA, Jan. 29.—Exchange, 251, Sugar, 2,200
to 2,400 reis.

PERNAMBUCO, Jan. 31.—Exchange, 251. Sugar,
2,200 to 2,800 reis ; brown, 2,100 reis. Cotton,
12,200 dole.

The royal mail steamer Oneida, with the outward
mail of the 9th ult., arrived at Bahia on the evening
of the 28th.

CALCUTTA, CHINA AND AUSTRALIAN
MAILS.

SOUTHAMPTON, FEB. 18.

The Peninsular and Oriental Company's steamer
Ceylon, with the heavy portion of the above mails,
has arrived.

She brings 74 passengers, and 2,076 packages of

cargo.

On the 17th inst. she spoke the British barque
Lord Seaton off Ushant, and the British barque
Melbourne, from Table Bay, off the Eddystone.

The Tuscarora left Gibraltar on the 13th inst.
for the Spanish waters of Algeciras. The Sumter
was still in harbour.

From Alexandria to Malta the Ceylon encoun-
tered strong north-westerly gales and a head sea;
thence to Finnisterre and up the Channel southerly
winds, with heavy rain;
Her Majesty's storeship Supply arrived out at
Gibraltar on the 11th.

Intelligence from Tangiers state that disturb•
ances had taken place in the interior of the country
near Rabat. A provincial governor and all his
family had been assassinated by the insurgents.
The brother of the Emperor had proceeded with a
strong force to crush the revolt against the Sultan's
authority.
At Gibraltar Exchange on London, 90 days,
was quoted 491 ; Paris, 5.24; Marseilles, 5.25;
Madrid, I prem. Freights unaltered;

The Ceylon struck the cliff at Portland last night,
and sustained considerable damage. Her bowsprit,
figure-head, and cutwater were carried away.