The Sun.
London, England, 1865-12-27 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 27, 1865.

ROYAL STRAND THEATRE.
Sole Lessee and Manageress, Mrs. swanborough.
THIS EVENING. at Seven. NOTHING VENTURE
IcuTHING WIN.
Alter which will be produced a new Opera Burlesque,
L'AFRICAINE ; or, The Queen of the Cannibal Islanis.
Messrs. Stoyle, James, Thorne ; Mesdames Swanboroug-h,
itaynham, Johnstone. tec.
To conclude with MRS. GREEN'S SNUG BUSINESS.

ASTLEY'S THEATRE-ROYAL.
Lessee, Mr. E. T. Smith.
1865 AND 1866.
THU). EVENING] (WEDNESDAY), Dec. 27th, will
be produced an entirely new, original, grand, proohildreni-
cal, hippo-dramatic, comic Christmas Pan tomime, entitled
IiAttLEQUIN TOM, TOM, '1 lIE PIPE SON, PO BE
JOAN AND LITTLE 80-YEEP ; Or, Old Daddy Long-
legs, and the rig that went to Market, and the Pig that
stayed at Home. The magnificent Scenery and the tiiii)re-
cedented Transformation li.frects designed and painted by
Mr. C. Brew, Mr. W. Brew, and numerous assistants.
Reduced prices am usual.

I-IHE LAST EDITION OF " THE SUN,"
Containing the I..tecit Sl'ottTlNU 1N I ELIAti Ao
plan be had Every Evening. 01
U. 11. GLEN IE, NEWS AGENT,
No. 4. Connaught-terrae, liyde-park.

THE LATEST EDITION of "THE SUN"
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THE LAST EDITION of " TIIE SUN "
supplied as soon as Published, containing all the
LA TE
HST NEWS awl SPORTING , by
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THE LATEST EDITION of "THE SUN."
.J. HOLMES begs toe nform his friends, and the N
pubaof
e
generally, tte.t he suppbs the
" IIN
a" as soon as published —No. 16, Hampstead-
road, N.W.

HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.
Tins DMorning, Bh. 50m.—Afternoon, 9h. 26m
a-Moratow.-Monaing, 10h. 0 in.—A 10 h. 42m
fternoon,

....._
a

_ -
LONDON, WEDNESDAY, DEC. 27, 1865,

--~---

Christmas-day in the workhouses is a very sug-
gestive theme, and one that may appropriately
engage attention at this juncture, more especially
as considerable changes have taken place in those
institutions ; and it is desirable to see how they
have worked, and how far they have conduced to
the benefit of those for whom they were designed.
No really important alteration can be made, unless
we carefully examine the course of events, and
watch the effects produced by this or that innova-

tion. At any rate, it is satisfactory to find thal

Christmas was made the season of some change
for the better, in the daily lives of monotony
and the wearying exposition of thrift which
characterises the management of unions. Ample
provision of a suitable kind appears to have been
made in all the workhouses, so that the inmates for
Once enjoyed themselves the same as their happier

brethren who were able to live outside the dreary
walls. One day in the year, however, is not to be
regarded otherwise than in an exceptional light, and
when we have duly dwelt on the various details which
tell of the festivities, we pass on naturally to more
-rious subjects. In the first place;, it must strike
uninitiated with sorrowful surprise to notice the
le number of those who find a shelter within
's about the metropolis. It is a wretched
make that hundreds around us, now in
•d filling situations of respectability,
their duties with zeal and ability,
'o but the workhouse when
• upon them, or when sick-
er exertion. Doubtless,
he cannot be avoided,
dealt out by their
cause of their

reflection to .
prime of life, at.
-when they discharg.
will have no resourk.
premature old age creeps
ness disables them ft me birth
in many cases, such a tastrop.
but too often the hard measure
employers may be considered the
breaking down before they had laid
o p
Be rotect them from the tench_
the cause what it may,
of the -Union. rats_
prvision to
have no right to interfere against the inmate.,
workhouses as they do, when they would now fin
out if they took the trouble co
inquire that the great
incapacitated from further exertion,
bulk of them are
and will know no other home than the Union
to enter the common
until they are called upon
home of our race.
Surely, then, it becomes a matter of moment as
to whether they receive the Care and attention
which they ought ; and while criminals are treated
with every possible care, and which lately were
made the objects of absurd regard, it is indeed in-
consistent that those whose only fault is rovertY,
and whose cause of idleness real helplessness, should
be denied everything that has smoothed their rugged
road, and even. when threatened by sickness
sliould be compelled to go without requisite
care and cleanliness. It is said by some
that no one objects to the really neces-
sitiousreceiving proper appliances, bnt that indigna•

by sufficient

has

tion is excited, and indifference caused, by; the
demands made by the " casual" poor, as the
phrase goes. This may sound very well,
in an argument, but neither TIMOTHY DALY
nor RICHARD GIBSON were to be classed under the
category of " casuals," but were occupants of the
infirmary ward. The revelations that were fur-
nished to the public of the manner in which the
sick fared were indeed of a painful and perplexing
kind, and many who thought that Unions were
some sort of a shelter to the homeless poor and
some solace to the sick and suffering, stood aghast
to hear of the horrors which were to be found in
the infirmaries of Unions. The worst of it is that
it was entirely by accident that the public became
acquainted with the details. Both men stood a
good chance of departing, this life as " nameless
martyrs," and therefore wovenmay well ask
ourselves how many are now circum-
stanced as they were, when the rules of the
place and the indifference of those around do
not permit us to hear of. The principle is bad
which permits such a case to occur as either of
those referred to, and while that principle is carried
out we can hope and expect no radical reform to
take place in the management of Unions or the
treatment of the inmates.
In the first place, the medical attendance is
wretchedly inadequate, and it is quite impossible for
any one man to do his duty satisfactorily if he has
so many to attend to. To make it worse he is paid
so badly that he is compelled to turn his attention in
another direction to obtain sufficient means of support.
This is quite out of character with the necessary
provision which should be made for the sick who
abound in Unions. And when we remember the
immense sums supplied annually for the care of the
poor, it is monstrous to think how they must be
misapplied, and how faulty must be the mechanism
of those laws which permit these anomalies. Great
care will be necessary in the carrying out of the
llouseless Poor Act to prevent the better classes of
" casuals" from being contaminated by coming into
contact with the wretched set who are almost hope-
lessly demoralised, and who tear up their clothing in
order to compel the parish authorities to provide
them with suitable apparel of some kind. It
may be said in epitomising these matters that dis-
crimination is the one thing needed in dealing with
the affairs of Union, and that it is precisely the
very quality which the powers that be most lack.
All are huddled together like sheep in a pen, and
about the same care is bestowed upon the necessity
of distinguishing which are deserving of extra
attention, and which need firm treatment, as is
taken to prevent the animals destined for slaughter
from indiscriminately mixing together.
It is satisfactory to notice that Mr. F ARNALL has
arranged to meet the various boards of guardians
in the metropolis in order to decide upon
a uniform system of " dietary" and a
" labour test," for that gentleman is
always distinguished for his discernment, and like-
wise he always inclines to the side of humanity, in
thus showing a great contrast to many engaged in
directing the affairs of workhouses. Some step is
necessary in order to equalise the administration
of Unions ; for, with one thing and another, " pau-
perism " is considerably increasing throughout the
metropolitan districts, and of course this circum-
stance will greatly increase the demands upon the
Guardians, and the difficulties they will have to con-
tend against. The real secret of the distress in
Unions lies in the fact that the chief object in
view is to save money, and not to find out how
much is really required, nor how it had best be
laid out to meet the requirements of the needy.
How different is the plan upon which prison man-
agement is carried on and hospitals are conducted.
Were these latter places arranged In conformity
with the Unions, very soon would be the cure
effected, and nearly all the patients would
be transferred to the workhouse as their
last refuge in their incurable helplessness.
Pauper nurses are a fruitful source of misery
to the inmates of Unions and of mischief to
all concerned. Often and often have those best
qualified to give an opinion declared this fact, but
little or no heed is paid to the suggestion, because
the authorities in such places will follow the dictates
of parsimony, and rank a paltry saving of money
above and beyond an increase of human suffering or
a waste of human life.

The arrival of the City of New York brings us
intelligence of a somewhat startling nature respect-
ing the Mexican question. M. de MONTIIOLON, the
French Minister at Washington, has thought the
crisis momentous enough to send the Chief Secre-
tary of the Legation to Europe to obtain the EM-
PEROR'S direct instructions. It is not surprising
that the Minister should feel embarrassed by the
gravity of the situation and anxious to shirk the re-
sponsibility of direct action from his own shoulders.
To produce a war between France and
America, to apply the lighted torch to the smoul-
dering magazine, is an alarming responsibility,
while the Mexican question is rapidly assuming an
aspect which refuses to be left in that wise inaction
to which statesmen and diplomatists would gladly
commit it for the present. It is said that M. de
MONTIIOLON intimated to the Federal Government
that in case a Federal Minister is accredited to
Juarez the French Legation would leave Washing-
ton. This scarcely appears reconcileable with the
previous information, since M. de MONTHOLON
would hardly proceed to such an ultimatum with-
out instructions, and if he felt confidence enough
in the intent ions of his Government to proceed
to such a step why should he send for instructions ?
The speculations as to the intentions of NAPOLEON
are full of excitement, since everything turns on the
coausr:e he may at present pursue. Fortunately he
has opportunity and time enough to withdraw from
the awkward situation without humiliating conces-
jeFctriaonneelikdeid not undertake to keep Mexico
a
conces-
sions.
conquered country, or to force
a European form of government upon a reluctant
people. It was on the understanding, or the pro-
fession, that the government of MAXIMILIAN was
based on the popular wish that the Mexican Em- '
pire was established and maintained with the expec-
tation that the French troops would be withdrawn.
Unless the French EMPEROR is anxious for
some ulterior reasons to support the Mexican
throne by force of arms, and at all hazards, there is
no reason why he may not withdraw from the con-
test before it has proceeded so far that retreat will
be construed into failure. In spite of the French
ye for military glory, the war with Mexico
-ever been popular with the people, while the
-ial class will view with considerable uncasi-
-,evitable alterations which such a step
tOIIIIIICr.
M. FouLD's financial statement.
ness the IL.
',Ton the conduct of affairs at this
would entail
Much will depend . .10 nor America are nations
crisis, Neither Fran, " defiai;;'e, and great care
,re5,...-rve amicable
that will brook insult o).
'NT to
and caution will be liccesal
~Si.• :au a prt..sure on
pls.&
relations. If the Freacla
--uts anytlb:.!l,g
the Washington Government, or sensitive
like defiance or dictation, the irra
scrible and
.atteiL„.
in arms immediat, Y 7
people of New York
willbe up
to extremi ties, from
and may drive the Government
the other
which it would shrink. If America, on
and. Mr.
countr, the French
hand, assumes the tone which Mr. 4-1.D...11
SEAVARD adopt towards this

The late King of the Belgians.

-

EMPEROR, however pacific his own inclinations, will ILA TEST INTELLIGENCE.
find it a hard matter to restrain his people under
the affront. In dealing with two military nations
like France and America diplomatists are playing
with edged tools. The one has an army first dis-
banded and reduced from. the excitement and
fascination of a military life to the homely routine
of ordinary occupations ; and the other is never
found wanting where the spoils of the camp and the
baton of the marshal are to be won at the sword's
point. It is true that neither of them possess those
sinews of war which we are accustomed to think
indispensable to a vigorous campaign, but both
nations have learned km to dispense with them
when once thoroughly roused. The crisis is a
serious one, since it concerns not only the immediate
destinies of Mexico, but, by its result, may affect
two far greater nations and influence the future
fortunes of this generation alike in the Old and New
"World.

ITALY.
(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
The illthnorial Diplomatique, which is by far the
best informed of the French newspapers with regard
to foreign intelligence, has in its last number the

following interesting paragraph :
" From our letters from Rome we learn that ne-
gotiations between France and the Pontifical Go-
vernment respecting the transfer of the debt of the
former States of the Church are being actively car-
ried on at Rome. We are told also that as soon as

----
As time passes on. the dispute between Spain and
Chili assumes more and more serious proportions.
The remonstrances of the neutral Powers have pro-
duced no effect upon the Cabinet of Madrid ; and
indeed it was not likely they would do so unless
they had been accompanied by plain intimations
that England and France would not suffer the con-
tinuance of the blockade. Such a conviction
would have brought Spain to terms ; but as it is,
thanks to the extremity to which the doctrine of
non-intervention is pushed in these days, and the
well known terror with which the English Ministry
regard anything approaching to active measures, it is
not very likely that the Spanish Government will
consent to reconsider the situation, or to abate their
extravagant demands. Chili is meanwhile equally
resolute, and her Foreign Minister has issued a
circular, in which he declares to all friendly nations
the irrevocable determination of his Government
not to abandan the war until it shall have received
from Spain ample reparation and solid guarantees
for the future safety and repose of the independent
republics of South America. Chili has thus come
forward as the champion of the whole of the repub-
lics; and certainly, after the affair with Peru and
the present unwarrantable aggression, there would
be an end of all confidence and public security in
the Republics unless some distinct understanding
were arrived at. The Chilian Minister, in the cir-
cular referred to, declares that if Chili is forced to
carry on the war without allies she will still do so
with confidence and resolution ; and, in fact,
such an alternative is very unlikely. Eng-
land, indeed, may be too timorous or too dilatory
to come to her assistance, but America has no such
scruples. Prompt and vigorous action may be
looked for on the part of the United States, and it
is not thought improbable by those well acquainted
with the state of affairs that Spain may have to pay
the penalty of her outrageous aggression by the
forfeiture of Cuba to the United States, in which
case the slave trade would receive a death-blow.
Such a consummation would be very little to be
regretted ; but, in any case, it is to be hoped that
before very long Spain may be forced to abandon
an aggression which has in fact been only founded
on the right of the strongest. English interests
are sufficiently strong in Chili to make the strug-
gle one of very great importance to our commercial
circles, and the general public will watch with
eagerness the issue of a contest in which a small
state has stood so gallantly forward, even though,
thanks to the new theories of our modern poli-
ticians, they find it impossible to give their sympa-
thies any actual expression.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
Sin, —The death of the King of the Belgians, who, to the
generation which is now well nigh passed away, was bet-
ter known as Prince Leopold, is the final extinguisher to
what was 48 years ago looked upon by the nation at large
as the death, not of one individual, but the decease of a
race. All readers of history are full well aware (for those
who were alive at the time, and can recollect the fact, are
now fast passing away and becoming few in number, it
being wellnigh half a century ago) that on the 6th of No-
vember, 1817, the Princess Charlotte and her child were
on one and the same day consigned to the tomb, by which
sad and melancholy event the line of the virtually reigning
monarch (George IV. being at that time Prince Regent)
was put out and entirely at an end. The disconsolate
widower alone (of what had been looked upon little more
than a year and a half previously as a long and happy
union) survived, as did the unhappy parents of the la-
mented Princess. The hopes of the Coburg family
were entirely at an end, and blasted as regards establish-
ing themselves and their descendants upon the English
throne. It is true George 111. and Queen Charlotte had a
numerous family living, but not one of them had any
children who could succeed to the British Throne. By a
most singular interposition of Divine providence, as it would
to many appear, one of the unmarried sons of George 111.
married a widowed sister of Prince Leopold, who gave
birth to an only daughter, which said only daughter, as
we all know, in the course of a few short years (historically
speaking) succeeded to the Throne of Great Britain, and,
within a short time after her accession, married the nephew
of the once popular Prince Leopold, now become King of
the Belgians. A youthful family shortly succeeded, and
thus the hopes of the Coburg family towards establishing
themselves on the Throne of England, which in 1817
seemed to be completely blasted, and atan end in 1840, and
in 1841 were re-established and resuscitated. Her most
gracious Majesty, Queen Victoria, has numerous descend-
ants, both of children and grandchildren, and little are the
chances of what appeared in 1817, as not at all a remote
and improbable contingency, i.e., ever taking place now,
as far all human foresight can go, the whole royal line
being entirely put out.
The chances of Hanover being reunited to the British
dominions are slight indeed, but here a most important
question is forced upon us, I mean the utility or non-utility
of that most pernicious and obnoxious measure commonly
called the Royal Marriage Act. How really cruel and un-
just it appears that not only are the descendants of the
Queen unable to marry without her Majesty's consent, but
neither the King of Hanover, nor any of his descendants,
either on account of their being next in succession to the
crown of England, in the event of the entire line of Queen
Victoria coming to an end—it must be owned happily a
remote and most improbable contingency.
How perfectly monstrous does it not appear that the
king of a foreign kingdom, like the King of Hanover,
should be unable to contract matrimony without the con-
sent of the English monarch. Their chances towards the
English throne are even more remote still. Then, too,
there is the family of the late Duke of Cambridge, consist-
ing, as we all know, of the present Duke of Cambridge, his
sister, the Princess Mary, and their other sister, the
Duchess of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (the children of the last-
named lady were of course emancipated by one of the clauses
in the said Royal Marriage Act, which accepts the issue of
a princess married into a foreign family), when the last-
named lady married now more than 20 years ago, she was
obliged to obtain the consent of her Majesty signified un
der the Great Seal and declared in Council.
Now, Sir, surely this is an abuse which, in the liberal
and enlightened days we live, requires revision and amend-
ment. Her Majesty seems most desirous that all her daugh-
ters shall marry:early in life, unlike the family of George the
Third, who did not marry until they were far advanced,
and then made unfortunate, and by no means happy, mar-
riages, as is too often the case where women marry late in
life. And no doubt Her Majesty, judging by the early mar-
riage of the Prince of Wales, is equally anxious for her
sons to enter early in life into the connubial state. Now
assuming such to be the fact, why should Her Majesty be
desirous to perpetuate an act which is, in itself, a standing
d,:i,ntsugiriiayce endless to thetas
task were
ewi genr
e of
wGe e
tonr geentuhme
eTr
ahtier dt
h? Ittr o
nwbol
eusl dbe
and
nd
miseries
ofw hEi entigltahnadt, ba as d aNI
v remembere ntail e d
yu pc, n u
r et
nhiea
rlka
et
de royal
(Itn leadingabout
fo article tmif coal
four
ri writtenßyearsa paigalibnist ti
Noto tnht eat
oabfeollar.
hlolsinclivdefßde
wot yo Marriageoaelfhunsn would
eo nuli
dr
catumdenr et
yghniacthi ofno.rbi
dWs hatpe
c:ptlhe et no ,
siesl • tcot
bho rhiotuNgriiititio(f.alamnneensas
their own partners for life. Princes and Princesses do
know who they are, and if left to themselves will not
select husbands and wives from those to whom it would be
a disgrace for them to intermarry with. I trust, if we are
to have a reformed Parliament, one of the first results of it
will be a bill for the total repeal of this, together with
many other obnoxious, antiquated, and bygone Acts of
Parliament.—I am, sir, your faithful servant,
A LOVER OF HISTORICAL DATES AND FACTS.

(REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.)
ROME.

ROME, DEC. 26.

INDIA.
(By direct Overland Telegraph.)

FRANCE

Roman
Ottoman Fives
Mexican Loan
Do. Bonds
Russian
Austrian
Spanish Threes
Homo Debt
Deferred

rays.
Cash.

LAW COSTS AGAINST TIIE CROWN.—Under an Act
of Parliament whic,h will take effect on Monday next it is
provided that in any action or suit the Commissioners of
the .A.Jmiralty shall be liable and entitled to pay or receive
coets acCMciing to tb,t)‘ ordinary law and practice relative to
L costs.

CHRISTMAS AMUSEMENTS.

the parties shall have come to an agreement as to
the principle of that transfer, a special commission
will be appointed in order to study the elements of
such financial reduction as may be deemed neces-
sary to bring the budget of the Holy See into pro-
portion with the actual extent of its territory.
" Those informations obtained from a reliable
authority show how premature are the news (spread
by Belgian journals) that a direct understanding
had already taken place between Rome and Italy,
and that it had been settled that the Italian Govern-
ment should henceforth pay at Rothschild's the
amount due for interest to the bondholders of . the
Pontifical loan for 25 -millions of scudi."
In its leading article the Ille'inorial has also a
significant paragraph with regard to the mission
of Signor Vegezzi at Rome. After relating all
the impediments thrown in the way by the
Italian Government the writer says :—" This shows
sufficiently from whence came the obstacles after
the conciliatory step spontaneously taken by the
Holy Father. liabernus conftenton reuin. Never-
theless M. Vegezzi states in his report that the
negotiations have been " neither broken off nor
closed," that henceforth the mutual relations between
Rome and Italy will probably be less tight, and,
finally, " that an understanding might be easily
come to on ecclesiastical and religious matters."
It will be interesting to your readers to know
that the leading articles of the Ale'morial Diploma-
tiuge, which for the last three years have been creating
some sensation, and have been so much admired,
although signed by that mysterious personage Le
Secretaire de la Reduction, will bear henceforth the
name of their real author, M. J. Wallon, a gentle-
man well known for his philosophical writings and
his high literary attainments.

The Pope, on receiving the congratulations of the
Cardinals on Christmas-day, replied that God had
never abandoned the Church in tempestuous times.
His Holiness called to mind our Lord sleeping in
the storm on the lake of Gennessaret. At the pre-
sent time, said his Holiness, Christ seems to be
sleeping, but he is watching for the defence of the
Church. The future is in the hand of God, and
the triumph of the Church is inevitable.
The quarantine which was established on the
Roman frontier on account of the cholera has been
abolished.

CHINA•
(By Overland telegraph from Galle.)
CANTON, DEC. 1.
Total export of tea to date, 92,000,0001 b. Ex-
change on London, 4s. 7d.
SHANGHAE, Nov. 26.
The markets are unchanged since the departure
of the French steamer.

MELBOURNE, Nov. 25.
Shipments of gold since the departure of the las
mail were 86,750 ounces.

BOMBAY, DEC. 16, 1 p.m

Manchester goods improving. Cotton steady.
Dhollerab, 430 r. Shipments of the week, 37,000
bales. Exchange on London, 2s. 11d. Freights,
355. The latest London date is Dec. 2.

CALCUTTA, DEC. 15

Shirtings and twist improving. Exchange on
London, 2s. ld. Government Securities, 4 per
cents., 891 ; 5 per cents., 1041; 51 per cents., 1091.
Freight, 40s.

PARIS, DEC. 27

An Imperial decree has been published to-day,
appointing the members of the Presidency of the
Senate. They are the same as before. By another
decree MM. de Saey and Saint-Marsarult, and
General Gudin have been raised to the dignity of
senators.

BOURSE, Dec. 26.—Two o'clock.—The Bourse
opens on a heavy market, and Securities are dealt
in at considerably lower quotations. Threes, for
the account, show a slight decline, at 68f. 271 c.,
and Italian Fives have a fall of 10c., at 65f. 50c.
The shares of the Credit Mobilier have fallen to
857 f. 50c., or 12c. 50c. lower than Saturday's
closing rate. In the Railway Department Northern
Shares have receded 6f. 25c. ; Lyons, 3f. 75c. ; and
Saragossa, sf. Three o'clock.—On the strength of
American news the market became very bad for the
close, which has taken place at the following
quotations :-
43/4- per Cents 97 95
Do. end month —
3 per Cents. 6B 30
Do. end month 6B 221
Credit Mobilier 841 25
Do. end mouth 840
Bank Shares 3795
Credit Foneier 1320
Italian Loan 65 35
Do. end month 65 55
RAIL

Acct.
Orleans — ... 837 50
Northern — ... 1127 50
Lyons and Mediterranean — ~. 847 50
Southern — ... 571 25
Western — ... 546 25
Eastern — ... b2l 25
Sardinian — ... 220
Austrian — ... 433 75
Lombard — ... 431 15
North of Spain — ... 167 50
Saragossa — ... 210
Ditto to Barcelona — ... 81 25
Roman . ...... ... 155 --

We have reason to believe that Lord St. Ger
mans has resigned the office of Lord Steward of the House-
hold, and will be succeeded by Lord Bessborough, who has
been for many years Master of the Buckhounds.
THE LATE JOHN SANDERS.—The well-known and
popular actor, Mr. J. Sanders, has died at tho age of 66.
He appeared first at the Olympic in 1813, but his great hit
was his Black Sal at the Adelphi, Mr. Walbourn playing
Dusty Bob in " Tom and Jerry." He remained for some
time at the Adelphi, and played clown at Christmastide
most effectively. Mr. Sanders's eldest daughter married
the late Sir William Don, Bart., and has been very success-
ful as an actress in Australia.
A RAILWAY POINTSMAN KILLED ON CHRISTMAS
EVE.—Last evening an inquiry was held by Mr.
Richards, the deputy coroner, at the Mile-end Union,
Bancroft-road, Mile-end, touching the death of James
Williams, aged 23 years. George Browning, a railway
truck number taker, said that the deceased was a points-
man and signalman at the Devonshire-street signal-box of
the Great Eastern Railway. On Sunday morning at five
o'clock he was crossing the metals near the signal-box
when the up train from Wisbeach came along, and the
engine knocked him down. In the dark witness could
hear the sound of the wheels passing over his body.
Directly afterwards he was found dead in the four-foot
way and covered with blood. The deceased, who was a
very steady, sober man, had been three years in the service
of the company. Dr. Doely said that the deceased had re-
ceived dreadful injuries, which must have caused instant
death. About the lower part of the back the flesh wa
torn from the bones.—The coroner having summed up, the
jury returned a verdict that the deceased was run over and
killed accidentally by a certain engine on the Great
Eastern Railway.

DRURY LANE
Another great triumph is the result of the exer-
tions of Messrs. Falconer and Chatterton for the
gratification and entertainment of the Christmas
holiday makers of 1865. Again has Mr. Blanchard
given to Old Drury, the " head centre " of true
English pantomime, an entertainment, entitled
" Little King Pippin, or Harlequin Fortunatus
and the 11agic Purse and Wishing Cap," which
will, if we do not greatly mistake, eclipse in its
successful career all his former triumphs, brilliant
as they have been. Never have we seen a more
crowded, enthusiastic, and good-humoured audience
than that assembled within the splendid theatre—
stalls, boxes, pit, and galleries were all filled to
overflowing, .and Old Father Christmas, had he
even waved his magic branch of shining holly,
could not have found accommodation for another
visitor without extending the four walls of
the classic building. The rush at the opening of
each of the doors was something terrific, even to
look at. Yet so eager were her Majesty's lieges to
gain admission that in less than ten minutes every
vacant seat was occupied, and hundreds who had
gone through the toil and excitement had to receive
their money back and seek another place of enter-
tainment. The opening farce, as usual on such
occasions, was mere dumb show, but it allowed a
few more persons to partake of the fun at Christmas
tide, as the ladies and gentlemen engaged in its
performance had a rare opportunity of contemplat-
ing a Christmas audience in all its glory, a circum-
stance, judging by.their smiles, which affordedthem
the greatest pleasure. The first piece over, the
overture commenced for the pantomime, and
here again we had another " sensation," as'
nearly all the popular ditties of the day were woven
together for the purpose of giving a fitting welcome
to the pantomime, and each one in its turn was
vocally illustrated by the hilarious and jolly occu-
pants of the upper regions with such hearty good
will that an encore was only prevented by the rapid
rising of the curtain. The first scene is the Temple
of Mammon (Mr. H. Drayton), where the votaries
of the ruler over riches are making sacrifices to pro-
pitiate his favour. Fortune (Miss E. Falconer)
solicits an inexhaustible purse for one of her favou-
rites to try the question whether money can ensure
perfect happiness, and Fancy (Miss Hazlewood) is
to name the individual who is to be the subject of this
interesting experiment. To the Haunt of Fancy,
which is on the summit of Mount Olympus, both
accordingly go, and this gives Mr. William
Beverley an opportunity of showing one of
his enchanting ballet scenes. A grand ballet
takes place, and the story of Fortunatus com-
mences, according to the old legend, in the
city of Famagosta, in the Island of Cyprus,
where the merchant Outatelbo (Mr. G. Belmore)
is discovered in the state described in modern Eng-
lish as " hard-up." Literally bankrupt, inasmuch
as the bench outside his store is broken, in accord-
ance with ancient custom, before his eyes, he bewails
his hard fate to his sympathising wife, Gratiana
(Mr. George Weston), and the ruined pair resolved
to make the best of it, fall to and occupy themselves
with their household work. In this dismal plight
they are discovered by their son, Fortunatus (Miss
Augusta Thomson), who arrives at home to find his
household gods not shattered, but simply sold up.
Lamenting his fate by the " sad sea wave," he en-
counters first the Earl of Flanders (Mr. Barsby)
returning with his crusaders, and then King
Pippin (Master Percy Roselle), who, as the
King is possessed of the wonderful wishing-cap,
having the power of transporting its fortunate
owner to any possible distance in rather less than
no time at all. The wary King is not, however,
prepared to part with his cap without sufficient con-
sideration, and Fortunatus finds himself compelled
to renounce so inestimable a possession. Fortune
now appears, and revives the disconsolate youth,
by presenting him with the inexhaustible purse
given her by Mammon. Fortunatus employs the
magic purse to replenish the empty coffers of
Outatelbo. Fortunatus purchases the -wonderful
Wishing Cap of King Pippin, who has very little
in his treasury, but who rules over a people con-
tented with the discreet employment of moderate
means. This gives rise to the most novel scene in
the opening. The Court of King Pippin is exhi-
bited, with upwards of 200 children engaged in the
ceremonies proper to royal personages, but no
sooner does Fortunatus fill the treasury than an in-
surrection takes place of the people. The King, who
has sold his Wishing Cup for the sum produced by
the contents of the Inexhaustible Purse, is glad to
escape with Fortunatus ; and, after wishing them-
selves a thousand miles away, when they find them-
selves in Flanders they get into such a remarkable
difficulty that they are glad to wish themselves
some miles above the earth, when Fortune re-
appears, and the transformation follows, reveal-
ing the Fairy Factory of the Wheels of Fortune.
The entire scenery of the opening of the pantomime
by the celebrated painter, Mr. W. Beverley, and his
illustration of Fortunatus, has produced something
more wonderful than has ever yet emanated from
his brilliant imagination. The Haunt of Fancy on
the summit of Mount Olympus is a scene of re-
markable beauty ; but the Transformation Scene!
—what shall we say of that ? To convey an idea
of the remarkable brilliancy of the Fairy Factory
of the Wheels of Fortune is almost impossible, but
a detailed description of it is quite out of the ques-
tion. It is a splendid combination of gold jewels
and fairies in glittering garments, accompanying
the gigantic fly wheels of the factory in their revolu-
tion, the " workshop" being at the same time deco-
rated with thousands of strings of reflecting beads
of emerald, ruby, and diamond. The applause it
elicited was enthusiastic, and, of course, Mr. Beverly
had to make his usual Christmas appearance and
bow his thanks for the complimentary recognition of
his talent. The harlequinade then succeeded. We
have a double troupe of pantomimists, consisting of
Messrs. Cormack and Saville, as Harlequins ; Messrs.
Harry Boleno and C. Lauri, as Clowns ; Messrs. W.
A. Barnes and J. Morris, as Pantaloons ; and
Madame Boleno and Miss Laura Morgan, as Colum-
bines. The tricks, changes, and incidental dances
are all of unusual excellence, and, what is extraor-
dinary on a boxing night, nothingoccurred through-
out the evening of the slightest moment to retard
the success of the pantomime, which was complete,
enthusiastic, and indisputable.

COVENT GARDEN.
Although English opera, we regret to learn, can
not always fill Covent Garden, English panto:
never fails to do so. Indeed, as applied to the audi
ence last night, " fill" is not exactly the word to de-
scribe the operation—" cram" would be better suited,
if so very humble a word may be allowed to apply
to so refined a place as the home of English opera.
Crammed the house was; and we have less hesita-
tion in using the colloquialism, because,on and after
Boxing night the stalls—the usual ruling powers—
are dethroned by the pit and gallery. The regular
habitues surrender their exclusive sway, and a bois-
terous, but by no means revolutionary mob reigns,
the result being not quite so much classical music
perhaps, but a good deal more genuine enjoyment.
We are bound to admit, by the way, that although
Meyerbeer is supposed to be the only style of music
familiar to the stalls, a great many airs occurring in
the overture to the pantomime, while rapturously
hailed by the gods, did not appear to pass altogether
unrecognised by the fashionable part of the audience
—in fact, " Wasn't that a pull back ?" seems to
have made its way to the drawing-room.
The performances commenced with the new one
act opera, " Christmas Eve," the music of which
was not rendered more than usually intelligible by
the noises and commentaries of a Boxing-night
audience. For the pantomime opening Mr. E. L.
Blanchard has selected the story of Aladdin—a story
so popular that we need not repeat it, the more
specially as Mr. Blanchard has adhered pretty closely
to the old legend. The principal character, Aladdin,
is sustained with great vivacity byMiss Rachel Sanger.
A more charming young rake than she makes it
would not be easy to imagine, and the affection of
the widow for the scapegrace is quite intelligible.
The part of that worthy woman, relict of the de-
ceased -Mustapha, is most admirably acted by Mr.
Charles Stevie, whose grotesque embodiment of the