The Sun.
London, England, 1865-11-14 00:00:00

The Oxford Music Hail.

Another instance of the energy and ability of the
management of the Oxfard was given last evening,
on which occasion a crowded audience was delighted
by hearing, for the first fine, a capital selection
from an operetta, by Offenbach, the composer of
" 66," entitled " The Alarket Girls," which has
caused quite a musical sensation in Paris. Like
most of this composer's efforts fun and
vivacity formn the great portion of the
operetta, although every now and then a beautiful
and telling melody is introduced in the most artistic
manner, which gives a charming variety to the
composition, and to that circumstance we may attri-
bute the great popularity which all the music of
Offenbach has secured in the metropolis. In the
selection under notice we have some sparkling
choruses,
opening
one, " Who'll buy, who'll
by," once the favourable sympathies of
n the
securingat
the audience. The tenor solo, confided to Mr. St.
Albyn, " The Carnaval's the time for pleasure," is
one of those peculiarities only to be found in the music
of Offenbach, and which this gentleman so well un-
derstands and appreciates. He gave it last night
with a gusto that was quite refreshing, and received
for his efforts a rapturous encore. Miss Russell, the
accomplished prima donna of the company, next
gave a solo, " Come hither, come hither," which
she executed with great skill, taste, and expression.
This was followed by a round, " Our Master had a
lovely voice, they say," for the rendering of which
we cannot pay too high a compliment to each
artist concerned in its performance. Mr. St. Albyn
has a capital and original song allotted to him, en-
titled " I'm what they call a junior clerk," which is
certain to become popular, and remain so for how
long no one can venture to say. It is one of the
best bits in the selection, and the discriminating
portion of the audience were loud in their applause
of it. The finale is lively and spirited. It consists
of a short solo for each of the principals, followed
by a dashing Tra la la chorus, which brings the
novelty to a very successful termination. The
encores were very numerous ; indeed, had the
audience had it their own way, the selection would
have consumed nearly the whole of the evening.
This latest addition to the many attractions of the
Oxford will prove a great success : of that fact there
cannot be a doubt, and we have the pleasure of
again congratulating Mr. Morton, the managing
director, on receiving that reward which his untir-
ing exertions in the service of the public so emi-
nently entitle him to.

Gas Works in Large Towns.

TO TIIE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

a gas explosion occurred so close to a
gasometer as to shatter the whole receptacle at
once, would not the mixture and combination of
gas and atmospheric air be quick enough to make
the whole mass of vapour explode ? In this case the
explosion of such a gasometer as one of those at
Blackfriars would be sufficient to shatter and ex-
plode the rest, like a series of mines. But one of
these alone would probably be sufficient to bring
down every church-tower in London, from St.
Paul's and Westminster Abbey to the most humble
spire extant.

Pray, sir, insist upon the removal out of large
towns of a cause of danger equal to transporting
Hounslow powder mills into their midst. The gas
works can send their gas from town through pipes
far into the country, why not carry the works into
the country and bring the gas to town ?—I am, &c.,
CommoN SENSE.

DEATH OF Mns. GASKELL.—The death of this
well-known authoress is announced as having taken
place on Sunday, at her residence at Alton. Mrs. Gaskell
was favourably distinguished as a writer of fiction, and
several of her novels, including " Mary Barton," which first
brought her public notice and reputation, and "Ruth,"
which is of at least equal merit, obtained deserved popu-
larity. In addition to being an effective contributor to
Household Words and other periodicals, she published a
tale called " North and South," in illustration of the de-
tails of manufacturing life ; and among her later works is
a "Life of Charlotte Bronte," the author of "Jane Eyre."
The deceased lady was the wife of a Unitarian minister at
Manchester, and was
born early in the present century. 1

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

(REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.)

BELGIUM.
HEALTH OF THE KING OF THE
BELGIANS.

BRUSSELS, Nov. 14.

The King is said to have returned very unwell
from the Chateau d'Ardennes.
The resignation M. Frere, Minister of Finance,

is expected.

SPAIN.
MADRID, Nov. 13, Evening.

The Committee of Public Health having declared
that the cholera has abated in this city, a Te Deunt
will be sung on that account on Saturday next.

THE BOMBAY MAIL.

SUEZ, Nov. 13

The Orissa, from Bombay, arrived here at 2
a.m. to-day (Monday).
OUTWARD CALCUTTA AND CHINA
MAILS.

The Poonah, from Southampton on the 4th inst.
reached Gibraltar on the 9th, at 6 a.m., and left a
1 p.m. for Alexandria. All well.
Weather very threatening.

DENMARK.

COPENHAGEN, Nov. 9

, - -
The third extraordinary session of the Rigsraad
was closed yesterday by Count Frijs, the new Pre-
mier, reading the following Royal message :
" We, Christian IX., King of Denmark, &c.,
to our faithful Rigsraad, greeting. In our message
addressed to the Rigsraad at the opening of the
present extraordinary session we specially recom-
mended that the assembly should use its utmost
efforts towards bringing about a speedy and satisfac-
tory solution of the constitution question. We re-
joice to see this wish fulfilled, now that it has been
found possible to obtain a basis for further prose-
cution of the question by the unity of the two
Chambers of the Rigsraad, and we have therefore
been able to associate ourselves therewith, in the
assured conviction that by this course the freedom
and prosperity of the country will be secured.
" We have observed with especial satisfaction
the readiness with which the Rigsraad has supported
our paternal wish to relieve the great burden im-
posed by the war upon a portion of our dear and
faithful subjects, and we close this third extraor-
dinary session of the Rigsraad with the hope that,
with the gracious aid of Providence, success may
attend the co-operation of the Government and the
people in working out the well-being of the coun-
try.

" We remain well inclined to the Rigsraad in
Royal grace and favour.

" Given at our Castle of Amalienberg, this Bth
day of November, 18G5, under our Royal hand and
seal.

(Signed) " CHRISTIAN, REX.
(Countersigned) "C. E. JUEL-VIND-FRIJS

FRANCE.

PARIS, Nov. 13.
The Minister of Public Instruction has addressed
a report to the Emperor, dated Nov. 8, recommend-
ing that in the Paris International Exhibition of
18G7 there should be a representation of the pro-
gress made by the moral and political sciences in
France during the last 20 years, by means of a series
of reports from eminent men upon the several
branches of these subjects.
The Minister's report is as follows ;
" Sire,—The idea of periodical exhibitions is en-
tirely French. It dates from Louis XIV. for the
fine arts, from the revolution for trade ; and France,
after having given it to the world, has unceasingly
enlarged its proportions, in order to render it more
fruitful.
"As far back as sixteen years ago, sire, you
wished to unite all the nations to these grand
solemnities.
" It was England who realised this idea, and saw
the first International Exhibition.
" The palace in Hyde-park only received in
1851 objects furnished by nature herself or by
human industry. In 1855 the Emperor decided
that the two previous French Exhibitions should be
united. Art was placed side by side with manufac-
tures.

"Amid the magnificence displayed in London in
1862, it was recognised that the most precious in-
strument of labour was still man, and that the
productive value of the workman would be increased
by augmenting his intellectual value. The English
Commission created a special class of popular in-
struction with this same object—the Imperial Com-
mission has just established two.
" But international exhibitions tend to become
the complete representation of modern society in all
its modes of activity. After having placed art by

the side of manufactures, which it embellishes and
elevates, your Majesty wished to place pure science
near the applications which are only its outward
manifestation. 'While the Emperor directs the
study of the questions which will lead to the disco-
very of that organisation which, since the destruc-

tion of trade corporations, the mercantile world has
been constantly seeking, you desire, Sire, that it
be demanded of the moral and political sciences
what they have produced to ameliorate the state of
society, and of French literature what it has done
to elevate the soul of the nation.

" The way of realising this idea is simple. Let
the Emperor deign to authorise the Minister of
Public Instruction to be an exhibitor. If his pro-
ductions occupy a small space under a very modest
form, they will none the less attract attention, and
I do not hesitate to say that several will survive the
triumphs of their more brilliant neighbours, since
the one much more than the other expresses the
mind of France.

" I have already secured the support of eminent
men, who will describe in a series of reports, bear-
ing their signature, in order that each may
have the honour as well as the responsibility of his
work.

" 1. The progress accomplished in France in the
mathematical, physical, and natural sciences during
the last 20 years; that is to say, since the era of great
exhibitions.

" 2. The progress accomplished by the moral and
political sciences in their application to the necessi-
ties of society.

" 3. The part fulfilled by French literature, which
should be studied less in poin!-, of form, which is the
mission of literary criticism, than in its effects upon
the general education of the country. At the
Exhibition Palace, in the midst of those material
products which are a pledge of national welfare, the
liberal arts can only enter by showing that they
bring to a people, not only noble amusement, but
moral strength and dignity.
" The Emperor, whose solicitude extends from
the simple teaching of the infant school to the
highest speculations of science, cannot give a more
useful encouragement to the latter than this picture
of the efforts, the greatness, and even, in certain
points, the defects of the mind of France.

" If foreign nations thought fit to make a similar
examination of themselves, it would no longer only
be by the inventions of each other that all would
' profit. By a comparison of the progress accom-
plished in various parts in scientific and moral order
everypeople would enter the paths of fresh progress,
the level of civilisation would rise, and an additional
guarantee would be given for the peace of the
world.---I am, &c.,
" The Minister of Public Instruction,
" V. DEMI'.
" Approved, NAPOLEON."
The 16lonite2o• announces the following nomina-
tions to prefectures of departments :—M. Pietri,
prefect of the Herault, to the Nord, in the place of
M. Vallon, deceased ; M. Gamier, Hautes-Pyre-

nees, to the Herault ; M. de Vallaireille, sub-prefect
of Castres (Tarn), to the Ilautes-Pyrenees ; M.
Lelainville, Tarn-et-Garonne, to the Manche, in

the room of Baron Pron, appointed prefect of the

Bas-Rhin ; and M. Somnain, sub-prefect of Brest,
to the Tarn-et-Garonne.

BOURSE, Nov. 13.--Two o'Clock.—The market
is pretty active and well attended, but Saturday's
quotations have not been maintained. Threes, for
the Account, are at 68f. 45c.—showing a decline of
10c. Italian Fives are quoted at 65f. 20c., a fall of
15c. Credit Mobilier Shares have lost 7f. 50c., and
Spanish Mobilier, 2f. 50c. Lyons Shares have de-
clined 5f., Orleans If. 25c., Lombard 2f. 50c.
Northern Shares have attained 1,100 f., showing a
rise of If. 25c. Spanish Railway Shares are offered.
Saragossa have declined 15f., and North of Spain
2f. 50c. English Consols are per cent. weaker.
Three o'Clock—The market was buoyant towards
the end, and transactions took place at much higher
prices. The last quotations were as follow :

41- per Cents 9G 70 Ditto Threes —
Du. end month — Roman ^3 ___

i;
3 per Cents.
Do. end month 6B 521 Do. Bonds 325
Credit Mobilier ... 872 50 Russian -
Do. end month ... 871 25 Austrian
Bank Shares 3700 . Spanish Threes ... 42 75
Credit Foncier 1327 50 Home Debt
Italian Loan 65 10 Deferred
Do. end month 65 32

Acct.
... 826 25
... 1100
~. 831 25
... 568 75

- - ... 518 75
- - ... 212 50
- - 412 50
- - ... 408 75
- - ... 186 25
- - 237 50

162 50