The Sun.
London, England, 1865-01-23 00:00:00

alit, r sun/
•
ifts

LONDON, MONDAY, JAN. 23, 1865.

It is evident from the intelligence brought by the
Australasian that the Confederates at last are fully
awake to the importance of arresting the progress
of SHER3IAN, and are disposed to concentrate their
forces with that object. Hitherto they appear to
have fallen into the common mistake of underrating
their enemy, and have suffered for it accordingly.
It was undoubtedly an error in the disposition of
their forces to allow HOOD, after virtually driving
SHERMAN from Atlanta, to wander away into Ten-
nessee instead of closely pursuing him. THOMAS
was evidently employed as a decoy to lead HOOD
further and further away from SHERMAN, who was
allowed to pursue an almost uninterrupted march
through Georgia. This was the great mistake on
the Southern side of the campaign, for even sup-
posing HOOD to have succeeded in capturing Nash-
ville, that triumph would have been counterbalanced
by the loss of Savannah, and possibly of other
cities. LEE should now recall HOOD from his un-
satisfactory expedition, and combine all his avail-
able forces to confront SHERMAN, whose next point
is said to be Branchville, in North Carolina, a posi-
tion of the utmost importance. It is a central point,
and commands the whole of the Carolina railways,
and consequently, should SHERMAN get possession
of it, he will gain a valuable acquisition, and have
the means of further advance in his hands. No
sooner did the Confederates gain an intimation of
his probable route than they despatched able engi-
neers to fortify Branchville, but fortifications are of
little use without men to defend them. Savannah
Was well fortified, but powerless, because it was not
mannedby a sufficient number of troops, and therefore
it is •
u°Peratively necessary that the South should be
upon their a really
guard time enough to throw
competent
force into the town. SHER3IAN'S route
is, in fact, just
now the central point of the war,
and Branchville is really more in danger and more
important than Richmond itself. The feeling of
the South is strong in the matter, and it has even
been rumoured that General LEE has assumed the
chief command of all the Confederate armies, put-
ting BEAU REGARD in command
of the defences of
Richmond, and intending to
Proceed himself with-
out delay to confront SHERMAN. SHERMAN's move-
ments are said to be held by LEE to be more im-
portant than anything which GRANT is likely to
effect within-the next four months. Whether or no
the fact of the change in the direction of the
Southern armies be true, there is no doubt that the
main features of this programme' are the wisest
under the circumstances. It would decidedly be
the best course to pursue to concentrate the Southern
forces in South Carolina, and stop SHER3IAN'S pro-
°Tess northward, if the Confederates wish to retrieve
the disasters of this campaign. The silence which
the Northern organs keep respecting SkiEfoutes

movement is suspicious, and very unlike their usual
braggadocio. The fact is, that the North is fully
aware of the importance of the movement, and is
anxious to divert Southern attention from the right
quarter. Another attack on Wilmington is loudly
announced, which is, no doubt, a feint to draw off
regard from SHERMAN, for certainly it would
be a strange mode of setting about an attack
to give the enemy notice to get ready to re-
ceive it.. LEE is, however, we should hope, too
keen-sighted a tactician to be easily misled on such
points. Meanwhile the public mortification at New
York and Washington has been pacified as usual,
and one general has been disgraced, as the French-
man said, to encourage the others. Certainly, if
ever a man went into the shade without regret or
sympathy, that man is the fallen hero of New
Orleans, and if hard measure has been dealt to him
in the present case, the universal feeling is that he
has only got his deserts. It is not quite

" The arbiter of others' fate,
A suppliant for his own,"

but it is a sufficient downfall to show a refreshing
example of poetical justice in real life. General
Butler has been removed and ordered to report at
Lowell, Massachusetts. " General ORD has tempo-
rarily superseded him," so runs the news, and a
further paragraph informs us that he was ordered to
turn everything, including public moneys, over to
his successor, so that the rapturous enthusiasm
which he inspired at New York a few weeks back
has not served him much, and the exile which he
kindly advocated for the Southern people has begun
upon himself. THOMAS is opening a base of supplies
at Eastport, on the Tennessee River, with a view, it
is said, to a march towards Mobile. No such
rumours, however, should be suffered to call off the
Southern armies from the great point of interest and
importance. It must not be forgotten that SHER-
I MAN has now the means of obtaining reinforcements
by sea since the capture of Savannah, and therefore
his forces must not be reckoned at so low a number
as he is known to have-had with him on entering
Savannah. The rumour that the Georgia officials
have asked to return to the Union bears absurdity
on the face of it. There were only 17 persons at
the meeting held by the Mayor of Savannah—evi-
dently coerced by SHERMAN. If Georgia had not
asked to join before SHgRMAN'S savage raid through
the centre of the State, where he found comfort and
prosperity, and left a wilderness of ruin and desola-
tion, it is not likely her people, would wish now to
degrade themselves by rejoining the hated Union
after such cruel experience. Whatever victories the
North may gain only puts them further from their
.end by widening the gulf between them and the
South by the merciless use which they make of the
power which falls into their hands. The inhabi-
tants of the Shenandoah, for instance, are now said
to be suffering from famine—a natural result of
SHERIDAN'S devastation. It is such barbarities as
this which drive the South to desperation, and we
only hope they will display the antagonism to the
North which they talk so much about by impressing
their negroes into the service. Such a step would
have the most important consequences.. It would in
the first place have a powerful effect on the war,
since not only would it add a large body of men to
the Confederate ranks, but the negroes in the
Northern army would be most unwilling to fight
against their fellows. It would secondly take away
the only excuse from the great Powers for with-
holding their recognition of the South, and would
afford England at least a plea for affording moral as-
sistance to the Confederates. The tone of Southern
organs has undergone a perceptible change in this
as in other respects within the last few months, and
in that aspect of the case the late disasters to the
Southern arms may have done good service.
Whether the financial difficulties of the North will
have a beneficial effect on them remains to be seen:
Mr. FESSENDEN'S proposed retirement is significant.
There is a Richmond within Washington itself,
which is more unconquerable than the Southern
capital, and it is no great wonder that the ablest
financiers shrink from the hopeless undertaking.
Mr. LINCOLN no doubt already feels that his
Cabinet will not carry him through four years more.
He is probably now awaiting anxiously the coming
of March, which will offer so tempting an oppor-
tunity to those who may be prepared to question the
extent of his sovereignty.

It is the best proof of the tendency of those 'en-
gaged in any trade to impose upon the public, and
to mar those opportunities from which all should
derive advantage, that at different times the vari-
ous modes of traffic are compelled to be taken under
the consideration of the Legislature. No rules can
be too strict that are made for the benefit of the
numerous travellers and passengers who are so con-
stantly passing to and fro in divers directions. The
railways became a failure to the poorer classes until
Parliament made the stipulations which compelled
the adoption of cheap trains for ordinary, purposes,
as well as for special occasions, and excursion
trains. In many other respects also the laws
passed in respect to the locomotives were
of signal service to those concerned. The
cabs, as all remember, were put under strict rules
some years back, and it was high time that some
interference took place, for they were fast degene-
rating into a nuisance with the unseemly squabbles
so constantly taking place, the gross extortions
practised upon the unwary, and the unsatisfactory
manner in which their services were rendered. The
great deficiency that we have now to complain of
is the immunity that the omnibuses are allowed
to enjoy, an immunity that costs the community
very dear in time, money, and comfort. It must be
quite evident to all those who frequent this mode of
conveyance that great impositions are practised
upon the public—in fact, that they are the victims_
to a monopoly. It is the more to be regretted that
should be the case, because the classes that especially
depend upon omnibuses as a means of transit are
just those who cannot afford to take more expensive
conveyances, and yet are often obliged to get at
great distances by certain hours. The worst feature
in the conduct of the omnibus proprietors is, that
they will not allow others to enter the field or per-
form those tasks properly which they themselves
seem unable or unwilling to do to the satisfaction
and convenience of the public. In spite of all re-
monstrances, and even threats, and notwithstanding
frequent appeals to courts of law, there is a very
pernicious system persisted in whenever any of the
new set start on their ventures. Lives are thus en-
dangered, property put in jeopardy, and all for the
monopolisers to win the day and carry their point.
The game has, however, been quite long enough in
their hands, and the interests of the public demand
that this session shall not pass without some definite
rules and regulations being laid down which shall
prevent from henceforth the recurrence of the incon-
sistent practices now in vogue, and the inconvenient
methods now pursued by these one-sided charioteers
who cater for their own particular views, under the
plea of working for the' general good of the indus-
trial classes. It is quite out of character that special
regulations shall be laid down for the charge of
railways, and the amount that cab-fares should pay
per mile, and yet that the omnibuses should be
exempt from all kinds of restriction, and permitted
to follow their Own vagaries, without let or hin-
drance, check or counterpoise,Alloraarieslike these

are constantly occurring in our social system, and it
requires the exercise of vigilant caution and the
care of experienced observers to adjust the difficul-
ties that frequently arise, and perpetually point out
the necessity of prompt and vigorous treatment.
Doubtless some opposition will be raised to any
plan proposed to remedy the grievance which the
omnibus traffic has now become, not only on the
part of those who are immediately concerned, but
also among those quite unconnected with the subject
in a personal way, but object to what is called arbi-
trary interference. All these demurrers should be
silenced, however, by the fact that the present
regime of omnibus conveyance does not meet the
necessities or suit the requirements of the public.
Far too much is charged for short distances,
to make it often worth the while of many to ride
at all ; while others, who are unwary, are trapped
into paying perhaps double what they intended or
can sometimes spare for their expedition. All this
inconsistent practice should be placed on a proper
footing, and stated charges for stated distances
should be settled and adhered to. It is true that
it is possible for persons to go a long way by an
omnibus at a cheap rate, but then it also happens
that by rigidly adhering to their arbitrary rules, the
conductors take double the sum that is suitable for
short distances between the prescribed places. It is
not apparent to any one of common sense
and right judgment, why such abuses of
a system should be tolerated, and yet unless
some decided steps are taken, no remedy can be
applied, and no cure devised. As things are at
present constituted, the poor travellers are subjected
to all kinds of losses and annoyances, while the
business folks who depend upon the omnibuses as a
means of transit are put to all sorts of inconvenience,
and waste of time, money, and comfort into the
bargain. It has, therefore, become incumbent upon
the Legislature to do something at once, and to the
point, that the public should no more be subjected
to the freaks and fancies of omnibus proprietors,
who carry on a brisk trade, and one of much
importance to the community whose welfare they
despise, and whose comfort they seem to laugh at.
It seems quite astonishing that something
should not have been done before this, when we
reflect upon the many dodges and devices which
have been practised from time to time. What with
the " nursing" trick, the putting on and the with-
drawal of extra• omnibuses to meet the whim of the
moment, the sudden rise in the price of fares with-
out any public notice, the ingenious devices of
charging sixpence for a ten minutes' ride on the plea
of the distance being beyond the limits of the spots
fixed upon as landmarks, it is almost impossible to
conceive how or in what manner any certainty can
be attained or convenience enjoyed by those who
frequent the omnibuses. The grievance cannot be
so great that by a due amount of attention it may
not be remedied, and neither is it so small or so
trifling that it should be passed over ; for it is the
bounden duty of the authorities to look to those
matters which affect the interest of the public.

BUST OF THE LAUREATE.Messrs. Moxon, of
Dover-street, are about to publish a new portrait in
bronze, plain or silvered, of the-Poet-Laureate, by Mr.
Woolner. This work differs from former likenesses of Mr.
Tennyson by the sculptor—the bust, which is in the
Library at Trinity College, Cambridge, and a medallion—
in having the beard as now worn ; it is not only a fine
example of art, but an admirable and recent likeness. It is
a three-quarter face, a medallion in high relief, with a bold
moulding, which forms a circular frame, so that the work
is complete in itself.

LITERATURE IN ENGLAND.—In the year 1864
there were published in London, according to the
Literary Gazette, 3,553 new works and new editions, in-
cluding pamphlets. Of these there were of religious 715,
biography and history 233, geography, topography, and
books of travel 151, fiction, including juvenile works, 842,
poetry and general literature 5G5, annuals and new serials
166, Lim and parliamentary 79, medical and surgical 124,
European and classical philology, including translations,
132, English philology and education 177, naval, military,
and engineering 52, politics and questions of the day 56,
agriculture, horticulture, and field sports 46, art, architec-
ture, &c. 52, commercial 41, science and natural history
122.

NOVEL RIFLE MATCH.—The first competition in
the simultaneous rifle match for England, Scotland, and
Ireland, took place on the 13th, 14th, and 16th of January,
when 15 squads of five each fired at 800, 900, and 1,000
yards, ten shots at each range, and no sighting shots.
Eight squads fired in different parts of England, five in
Scotland, and two in Ireland, this being the first match in
which Irish riflemen have entered as such with the small
bore. The squads were allowed to fire on any of the three
days, but the furious gale on the 14th interferred much
with shooting. In one squad the rifle had to be aimed
38ft. off the bull's eye on account of the wind. It will be
seen from the principal scores given below that many of
the best shots competed on this occasion. The prizes are
not, however, won until after four competitions in the
spring and summer, and are then to be decided by the
two highest scores of each competitor. Captain Jaques
Caterham, 103 ; Mr. R. W. Dunlop, C. 8., London
Scottish Rifle Volunteers, Inverness, 99 ; Captain
Heaton, Manchester, 98 ; Captain Maxwell, Altcar, and
Sergeant Gibbs, Bristol, 97 ; Mr. Edward Ross, London
Scottish Rifle Volunteers, Harrow, 96 ; Mr. Edin, Inns of
Court Rifle Volunteers, Wimbledon, 96 ; Mr. Cunliffe,
Manchester, 94 ; Mr. Barlow, Dublin, 93 ; Captain Fergus-
son, Inverness, Mr. Rawson, Altcar, and Sergeant Kemp,
Manchester, 92 ; Dr. Goodwin, Altcar, 91 ; Captain Fenton,
Manchester, Captain Paton, Ayr, and Captain Field, Hon.
Artillery Company, Wimbledon, 90 ; Captain King, Inns
of Court Rifle Volunteers, Wimbledon, and Lord Bolton,
Bolton Castle, 89 ; Lieutenant Cunningham, Harrow, 88 ;
Mr. Colvert, Dublin, 87 ; Captain Hawker and Sergeant
Martin Smith, Harrow, 86 ; Mr. Guthrie, Ayrshire, Mr.
Clare, Dublin, Mr. Formby, Altcar, and Mr. Rigby, Dub-
lin, 85 ; Mr. Nugent, Dublin, and Mr. Lane, Bristol, 84 ;
Mr. Fletcher, Altcar, 83 ; Mr. Miller, Bristol, and the Earl
of Aberdeen, Bolton Castle, 79 ; Mr. P. Cunliffe, Manches-
ter, 78 ; " a Lady," who shot with a Rigby rifle at Cater-
ham, 77 ; Captain Bland, 76th Regiment, Belfast, 76.
MR. BRIGHT AND THE AMERICAN WAR.—Mr.
Bright approves the awful slaughter with which the
Federals have dyed the field of Virginia and Tennessee;
he approves of the desolation which has visited thousands
and hundreds of thousands of heretofore happy hearths ;
he does not shrink froin renewing these scenes of horror
until no victims shall be left on whom they can be enacted;
and therefore he exerts himself to secure the election of the
man who has been, and will continue to be, the minister of
this bloodthirsty policy so long as he has power to do so.
Is this indeed the same statesman as the one who, in the
crisis of the Crimean war, painted so movingly the near
presence of the Angel of Death ? Is this the man who de-
nounced in language of almost frightful energy the short
Italian campaign, undertaken—in profession, at least—
with the aim of emancipating a people ? It was, indeed,
wonderful acting ; and, but for this American war, we
should have never guessed how completely histrionic it was.
But now we have been taught that the occupation of mu-
tual destruction is not "fiendlike" if its conducted by
Republicans, and that war is no longer, in their hands,
to be looked upon as that " savagery" which will break
down of itself. When Mr. Bright denounced war before,
it was supposed that the American democracy was pacific ;
but now that it has been discovered to be warlike, even
Quakerism becomes warlike too. The leading member of
the Peace Society, in the character of bottle-holder to the
most cruel conflict of modern times, is a phenomenon to
which it is hard to find a parallel in history. Many men
have in every age used the influence they possessed over
others to whet the appetite of the multitude for blood, and
have upon their souls the guilt of human lives prodigally
squandered and human hearts wrung with woe. But they
furnish no analogy to the peace statesmen, for they did not
profess to believe that all war was in itself wrong. The
nearest parallel that can be supplied will be found in the
fact that Robespierre's first appearance in public life was
the composition of an essay against the punishment of
death.—Quarterly Review.
VICTORIA. LABOUR-MARKET.—During the month
of October last there arrived in the colony of
Victoria 2,665 persons, of whom 916 were from the United
Kingdom, and the remaining 1,749 from other places. The
number of departures from the colony was 1,304, of whom
127 were for the United Kingdom. The current rates of
wages ranged from £3O per annum for single farm labourers
to £6O for married labourers without children, and from
£l5 for nursemaids to £35 for cooks.

PRE3III:3I FOR PEWS.—The; Rev. Henry Ward
Beecher presided this year, as usual, at the annual letting
of pews and aisle seats in Plymouth Church, Brooklyn.
The proceedings took place in the church on the 3d inst.
The premiums bid were much larger than ever before.
The highest bid last year was $2OO ; this year, $4OO, which,
added to the pew rent, makes the largest total payment for
the year for one pew $520. Twelve pews were sold at prices
(including premium and pew rent) exceeding $4OO each,
and 1Q more brought above $3OO.

THEATRE ROYAL LYCEUM,

Fechter as Robert Macaire.

In spite of the densest fog that London has been
smothered in for yeare—ft fog, by the way, that
seemed to lead us groping blindly back by a chain
of flaring links Into the Dark Ages of a hundred
years ago, .to the old-world street-cry of " Buy a
Link, Sir ! Buy a Link !" a once familiar street-
cry revived for one night only, by particular request
—in spite, we say, of the funereal fog of Saturday,
the Lyceum Theatre was crowded, early in the
evening, from floor to ceiling, by nearly all the pick
of our London playgoers. And no wonder. For
upon that night M. Charles Fechter was an-
nounced to make his first appearance in the
character of Robert Macaire, the famous part
enacted years ago to enraptured audiences, both in
Paris and in London, by M. Frederic Lemaitre.
Adapted to the English stage, L'Auberge des Adrets
becomes " The Roadside Inn." It should be said,
at once, moreover, that the denouement of the play
(first translated into English, we believe, by the late
Charles Selby) has been considerably modified, now,
in the process of this later and more refined adap-
tation of it to English tastes. The curtain falls at
last leaving the hero of the piece not—as he was
wont to be left at the conclusion of L'Auberge des
Adrets—a red-handed murderer. His victim—still
pillaged, if you will, of his pocket-book stuffed
with bank-notes—is announced, immediately before
the descent of the curtain, as in a fair way towards
recovery ! The Theatrical Doctor, who effects this
miraculous restoration, and who is the means, in
consequence of eliciting its announcement—one of
the regular Stage Physicians, three-cornered cocked
hat and all—was, thereupon, delightfully dubbed in our
hearing by one of the audience—in compliment at once
to the cocked hat and the recovery—a Perfect Cure.
Twenty years have now elapsed since the original
piece was first produced—Frederic Lemaitre then
making it the framework of his most brilliant and
successful impersonation. Another Frederick, here,
in England, Frederick Yates, to wit—a man of
parts so very numerous that his role ranged from
Richard 111. to Quilp, from Sir Peter Teazle in the
Comedy to anything you might fancy in the wildest
extravagance of a Farce first brought Robert
Macaire, on this side . of the ;channel, within
the compass of the London playgoer's acquaint-
ance. Other popular English actors after
Yates, among them the gay, aerial, handsome
Wallack, among them even light-footed, limber-
legged T. P. Cooke, the mere sight of whom, gene-
rally, before the footlights seemed to transform the
stage into a deck—continued for some years
among Londoners a knowledge of the tradi-
tional peculiarities of the most renowned of
all French Rapscallions. Without disparagement
to any of these clever impersonators of
Robert Macaire, whether upon the French or Eng-
lish boards, the Macaire of nowadays—(who that
was present in the Lyceum on Saturday evening
will hesitating about coinciding fully in our asser-
tion ?)—the natural successor, the rival, the compeer
of Frederic Lemaitre as Robert Macaire is the same
accomplished actor who has already won so largely
of our admiration here, in England, in characters
as marvellously different as Ruy Bias and Ham-
let, as the Lacquey of Victor Hugo and the
Prince of Shakspere. Having, now, witnessed his
performance of Robert Macaire, we have acquired a
new, and, • shall we confess it, an unexpected
view of the range taken by Mr. Fechter as
an actor—in more ways than we had looked
for—of exceptionally remarkable genius. His
Hamlet, and his Ruy Blas, together with
other parts that he has made essentially his own,
we remember through our tears. His Robert Macaire,
however, we can recall to mind only through our
laughter— a laughter free and unstinted in
its spontaneous abandonment, and yet a laughter
rendered poignant, here and there, as one might say
by the sense as of a sudden shudder ! The airy grace
and playful humour of the elegant vagabond being
dropped for an instant now and then—upon rare
occasions, that is, when the natural or assumed
gaiety of the Convict-Gentleman is shot through,
so to speak, by lightning-gleams of in-born ruth-
lessness and ferocity ! Immediately Mr. Fechter
became visible in the ragged dandyism.of Robert
Macaire, the absolute transformation of the actor
seemed to be thoroughly appreciated by the audi-
ence. Lounging down from the precipitous path-
way, hard by the Roadside Inn, there came to view,
in Fechter's Robert Macaire, surely, the most
picturesque tatterdemitlion that ever trod the stage !
The battered white hat—(one wonders if it can
possibly last through the run of the piece, or rather
if it must not inevitably number up as many
successors as would have furnished, let us say, a
year's supply of hats to the cabman Matthews)—the
battered white hat, cocked jauntily on one side with
an ineffable air of devil-me-care nonchalance ! The
rose blooming in the button-hole of the tattered coat
—a coat tattered to the veriest rags, and yet fitting
with perfection to the symmetrical figure ! The red
pantaloons also fitting like wax to the limbs—
pantaloons stained and threadbare, patched at
the knees, dogs'-eared at the pockets ! The dirty em-
broidered residue of what was once a waistcoat ! The
gaudy scarlet neckerchief innocent of the merest
hint of body-linen underneath it ! Attired after this
fashion is, that
Fechter pourtrays Robert Ma-
aiunblushing
effrontery in all the che-
quered incidents making up the plot of the Road-
sidecrewith it
such
Inn ! The bye-play throughout is marvellously
finished—finished with a nicety of minuteness that
just perfects the illusion. The squeaking snuffbox, the
lightly-puffed cigarette, assume to themselves im-
portance not merely, so to speak, asaccessories in the
picture, but almost, one might say, as integral por-
tions of the impersonation. Wonderfully graceful
and effective was the dance in the first act, where
Robert Macaire, during the gathering of the thunder-
storm, assumes to himself the part of leader of the
revels in the weddingifestivities, outside the Village Inn
—the joyous dance, to which Robert Macaire plays
an accompaniment on the violin—plays it, moreover,
with such an admirable aplomb in every movement of
the bow, as though the notes heard really emanated
elsewhere than from the Orchestra! Robert Macaire,
that genuine convict specimen of Robert le Diable,
towards the close of this dance, throwing aside
his fiddle and bow, in order that he may waltz hither
and thither through all the mazes of the other
dancers--his arm round the waist of one of the
prettiest of the villagers, whom in the midst of his
waltzing he contrives to rifle of her necklace and
earrings, with infinite dexterity ! Inimitably good
was the quietly suppressed " go to the devil !" with
which Robert Macaire abstracts No. 13 from the 1
bunch of keys in the lock of the cellar-door, when
the loquacious Pierre is heard chattering, about the
wine, from within the cellar. The dinner with the
gens d'armes, again, brings out to full view,
as it were, the consummate effrontery
of Macaire, as represented, in truth, with inimit-
able humour by Mr. Fechter throughout—
that is, at least, until the close of the drama, when
the heart of the dare-devil vagabond is touched at
last in behalf of his wife and son ! Immediately
prior, namely, to Robert Macaire being shot down
at the moment of his attempted flight up the stair-
case—down which (when shot) the actor makes one
of the most break-neck looking descents ever ad-
ventured upon, we should imagine, upon any stage!
The representation was a brilliant triumph from
first to last. And it was a triumph in which Mr.
Fechter's Robert Macaire was very cleverly sup-
ported by the Bertrand of Mr. Widdicomb. • A
dirtier-looking grotesque than Mr. Widdicomb's
Bertrand we, for one at least, should never wish to
see either on or off the stage. Bertrand, better
known in the English version as Jacques Strop,
appearing (according to Mr. Widdicomb's make-up for
the part) in the filthiest-looking raiment—a raiment
chiefly made up, as one might say, of holes—with
pockets crammed like those of Sir 1-Judibra,s—with
a hat seemingly selected from a dunghill—with a
great bulgy umbrella out-gamping-gamp! Bertrand
hugging a bundle, all the while, so shapeless and un-
inviting of its kind that one would hesitate about
touching it even with a pitchfork. The one fault
of Mr. Widdicomb's Bertrand, to our thinking,
is the fact that it is laboured throughout to
an ultra - excess of grotesque extravagance.
As to the other actors to whom the minor
parts in this new cast of "The Roadside Inn"
have been allotted, really nothing whatever remains

to be said beyond this—that Pierre, as represented by
Mr. Moreland, is the veriest chirrupping chatter-box
that ever drew flagon of wine—and that the two
young lovers look, for all the world, as if they had
just stepped on to the stage from a plum-box.

- It should be mentioned as a circumstance really
noteworthy in its way that Mr. Emery made his
first appearance this season in a little drama preced-
ing the performance of " The Roadside Inn !" And
that the little drama in which he did so was no
other than that charming one of "Grandfather White-
head." Mr. Emery's mere make-up as Grandfather
Whitehead was, of itself, a masterpiece—the im-
personation by him of old William Farren's
great part being welcomed as a hit by an audience
that summoned him before the footlights (at the
close of the little piece) literally by acclamation.
How often Mr. Fechter was recalled to bow his
acknowledgments to the greeting that announced
the triumph of his Robert Macaire, we stayed not
to count. Again, and yet again, however, he had
(before we left) been constrained to make his ap-
pearance there in answer to reiterated calls from all
parts of the house—the success achieved by his
Robert Maeaire being a fact, in its way, quite un-
mistakeable.

MR. PAUL BEDFORD.—This veteran comedian
will take a complimentary benefit on the morning of Thurs-
day, Feb. 2, at Drury-lane Theatre, which has kindly been
granted for the occasion by Messrs. Falconer and Chatterton.
The list of artists who have contributed their assistance
comprises nearly every histrionic name in London.
NEWSPAPER PRESS FUND.—At a meeting7of the
committee of the Newspaper Press Fund held on Saturday
a letter was read from Mr. Charles Dickens stating that he
would have great pleasure in presiding at the annual din-
ner of the fund, to be held in May, and that the committee
might rely on his loyalty to his old calling. The annual
dinner was appointed to be held on Saturday, 20th of
May.
THE LATE MR. JOHN CROCKFORD.-011 Satur-
day the funeral of the late Mr. John Crockford, the pub-
lisher, of 346, Strand, took place at Highgate Cemetery, in
the presence of a numerous concourse of friends. Mr.
Crockford was well known in connection with the Field,
Queen, Law Times, and other journals, and was highly re-
spected by those who knew him, both for his excellent
business qualities and for the kindliness of his nature. A
large number of the printers and other employes at his
office attended upon the ground ; among the literary gen-
tlemen present were Messrs. E. W. Cox, C. Gruneisen, F.
G. Tomlins, C. W. Quin, Andrew Halliday, G. Prows°,
James Lowe, Francis Francis, C. L. Towshend, R. Black,
W. Moy Thomas, Thomas Spencer, and others.
EXTRAORDINARY ROBBERY AT WINDSOR CASTLE.
—On Sunday afternoon, at 4 o'clock, William
Wilson, foreman of the upholsterers, and George Hammond,
head porter at the Lord Chamberlain's stores, Windsor
Castle, were brought before Capt. Johnson, one of the magic_
trates for the county of Berks, at the borough gaol, Windsor,
and charged with stealing an Indian silk bed furniture, two
embroidered silk curtains, and three draperies to match,
the property of her Majesty the Queen. The circumstances
of the case were extremely peculiar. It seems that the
goods in question, which were of a valuable description,
were forwarded in the course of last week to the Messrs.
Oxlade's auction rooms in London, for sale. The valuable
nature of the articles aroused suspicion in the minds of the
parties to whom they were consigned, and information of
the circumstance was at once sent to Scotland-yard.
Sergeant Clark, of the London detective force, who
was employed to investigate the affair, at once put
himself in Communication with Mr. Inspector Herbert
Reece, of the Berks constabulary, and these two officers
proceeded to Mr. Seabrook, her Majesty's inspector in tho
Lord Chamberlain's department at Windsor Castle, who
identified the articles as being part of the Queen's property,
which had been deposited in the Castle stores. Inquiries
were then made at the goods depot of the Windsor station
of the Great Western Railway, for the purpose of tracing
the sender of the stolen goods, when it was ascertained
that Hammond, the head porter at the Castle stores, had
brought the parcel (which was sent in the name of
Wilson) to the station. Hammond, on being questioned
about the affair, denied all knowledge of the things, but
stated that he had carried the parcel to the station by
Wilson's orders. Wilson, the foreman of the uphol-
sterers, was then called into the room at the Castle stores,
where the stolen articles had been placed, and Ser-
geant Clark told him that he was a detective from
London, upon which Wilson said, "He was very sorry,
but Hammond had persuaded him to do it." Hammond,
however, stoutly denied knowing anything about it. Mr.
Inspector Reece applied for a remand in order that other
evidence might be collected, which Captain Johnson accord-
ingly granted. Wilson was then removed in the custody
of the Berks police to Reading, while Hammond was
liberated on bail to await the next examination.

THE SCAFFOLD ACCIDENT IN WINCHESTER-
BUILDINGS, ClTY.—This accident has up to the pre-
sent time proved fatal in one case—that of Thomas Pears,
10, Horsemonger-lane, Borough, who was suffering
from fractured ribs and arm, and who died on Saturday
night. This will necessitate an inquiry before a
coroner's jury, when the whole case will be investi-
gated, and the facts will be made public. The re-
mainder of the injured men (seven in number) are reported
as going on in the most satisfactory manner, and every
attention is being paid them by the house surgeon (Mr.
Pearless) and the executive of the hospital ; besides which
their families are well attended to by the contractor and
proprietor of the buildings in which the accident occurred.
There are three of them in a very precarious state—one of
them not being expected to survive through the day.
, ATTACK UPON A BARONET.—The Kilkenny Journal
gives the particulars of a savage attack made the
other night on Sir John Blunden, near Cullen, on his way
home to Castle Blunden. When walking along he heard
some drunken fellows talking behind him, and directing
their remarks to himself. They overtook him, and tried
to trip him up, but Sir John remonstrated with them on
their unseemly conduct, and for a time the remonstrance
had the desired effect; but the miscreants soon renewed
their attack, and that too in a ferocious style. We are
told that " when Sir John had passed Poulgower Bridge,
two of the cowardly ruffians fell upon him with great
ferocity, the one kicking him in the abdomen, while the
other struck him on the head with, it is thought, a stick.
It is no wonder that Sir John was stunned, and nearly
prostrated to the earth ; still, however, he contrived to
make his way to ono of the adjacent houses, his assailants
following him all the time and roaring savagely. The
first door at which he knocked was not opened, the occu-
pants of the house no doubt thinking that the ill-treated
gentleman was one of the drunken fellows who had been
rolling about the road all that evening. As delay would
be worse than useless, Sir John went to another house,
into which he was admitted immediately that he had an-
nounced who he was, and just as he was stepping across
the threshold the blackguards again came up and kicked
at him, but the door was instantly shut in their faces.
When the poor people living in the house saw the exhausted
and weakly state of Sir John Blunden, who is esteemed and
respected by all classes of the community, they were really
frightened. Ho was then induced to lie on a bed for some
time, and soon after he recovered his failing strength suffi-
ciently to be able to walk home, escorted by a man named
Michael Ryan." Patrick Kenny and William Bolger were
taken into custody next day as the alleged assailants of
the baronet, and sent for trial to the petty sessions. Sir
John Blunden is highly spoken of by the newspaper from
whence this narrative is taken.

LORD PALMERSTON IN THE HUNTING FIELD.—The
Hursley hounds met last week at Eldon Farm, when
a messenger arrived to announce that Lord Palmerston
intended honouring the field with his presence, and accord-
ingly, punctual to the appointed time, the veteran Premier
made his appearance under the pilotage of the Hon. R.
Dutton, M.P., and with ease dismounted the horse he rode
to cover and got on his hunter, looking as fresh as he did
ten years ago. After he had looked over the pack, the hounds
were taken to Michelmarsh, a covert belonging to Mr. Dut-
ton, when a leash of foxes were immediately afoot, and after
20 minutes in the woodland ran to ground about a mile
from the " find," his lordship being one of the first up with
hounds. Another fox was then hallooed away, and a capi-
tal run of one hour and twenty minutes ensued. Lord
Palmerston remained the first 30 minutes in the open field,
and rode well, his pilot being frequently heard to exclaim,
" This way, my lord," making for a gate or a gap ; but on
one occasion the hounds were running quite in another
direction to that suggested, when his lordship was under-
stood to say, "But there go the hounds, and I must fol-
low them," and away he went and was soon up with the
leading horsmen, leaving his honourable pilot to look out
for the gates and gaps.

INCREASED RAILWAY FACILITIES FOR THE BRENT-
FORD DISTRICT.—A public meeting of the inhabi-
tants of Chiswick, Kew, Brentford, Isloworth, Spring
Grove, and Hounslow, was held on Saturday, at the Town
Hall, Brentford, for the purpose of considering the neces-
sity of increased railway facilities in that district, and the
best means of obtaining the same. Colonel Murray pre-
sided. The meeting was very fully attended. Mr. Tuff-
nell moved the following resolution:—" That this meeting
is of opinion that the existing arrangements of the London
and South-Western Railway Company, as regards the loop-
linetraffic, are quite inadequate to meet the present require-
ments of the important and increasing district represented
at this meeting." After dwelling at some length on the
inadequacy and inconvenience of the accommodation
afforded by the loop-line, and pointing out the unfavour-
able position in which the district of Brentford stood in
comparison with other districts within a somewhat similar
distance of the metropolis, Mr. Tuffnell concluded by ex-
pressing his belief that, if the matter was fairly placed
before the directors of the London and South-Western
Railway Company, it would receive every attention. The
resolution was carried unanimously, and a committee
formed to confer with the directors of the South-Western
Railway Company.

LATEST INTELLIGENCE,

(REUTER'S TELEGRAM.)

AUSTRIA AND FRANCE.

VIENNA, MONDAY.

Negotiations are being carried on between
Austria and France for the conclusion of a treaty
of commerce.

FRANCE,

BOURSE, Jan. 21.:—The market has been very
inanimate to-day, but prices have undergone little
change. Threes, for the Account, are now at 66f.
97c. Mobilier have been done at 956 f. 25c. and
957 f. 50c. The Share Market continues firm at
yesterday's quotations. The market closed as fol-
lows :

41 per Cents 95
Do. end month —
3 per Cents. 67
Do. end month 67 05
Credit Mobilier
Do. end month
Bank Shares 3510
Credit Fonder 1270
Roman

Italian Loan 65 20
Do. end month 65 25
Ditto Threes —
New Mexican
Russian —
Austrian
Spanish Threes
Home Debt —
Deferred

RAIL'

-AYS.
Cash. Acct.
Orleans
Northern 993 75 ... 997 50
Lyons and Mediterranean 932 50 ... 933 75
Southern 573 75 576 2,5
Western 531 25 ... 531 25
Eastern
Sardinian 3OB 75 ... 306 25
Austrian
Lombard 542 "50 ... 541 50
North of Spain 337 50 ... 335
Saragossa 415 ... 415
Ditto to Barcelona — ... 190

Fatal Railway Accident.

On Satarday a collision took place on the London and
North-Western Railway, about two miles from Bolton•
There was a dense fog during the day, and the rails were
covered with hoar frost, which made them extremely slip-
pery, and rendered most of the trains somewhat late. At
Daubhill station, on the Bolton, Kenyon Junction, and
Liverpool line, a long luggage train was drawn up at a sid-
ing waiting for the 1 30 train from Liverpool to pass, and
also for the train from Tyldesley due about a quarter of an
hour later. As soon, however, as the Liverpool train had
passed the goods train, from some unexplained cause, was
permitted to proceed on its journey towards Liverpool.
When about halfway between Daubhill and Chequerbent,
and having passed under Pownhall-bridge, it met the Tyl-
desley passenger train, and a frightful collision was the re-
sult. The engines were locked together, the tenders were
thrown over them, all the carriages were thrown off the line,
some of them being upset and piled against the side of the
cutting. One of the passenger carriages and the guard's van
and several of the goods waggons were broken to pieces, and
three of the goods waggons were piled on the top of each
other. The passenger train consisted of one first, one second,
and one third class carriage. The latter contained eight
passengers, and there were about four in the other two.
Assistance soon arrived from the nearest stations, and also
from the Hulton collieries, the proprietor of which (Mr.
W. F. Hulton) was in the first-class carriage. He was much
shaken, and was taken home in a cab ; his fellow passenger,
Mr. Ralph Fletcher, escaped unhurt. A young man named
John Ramsdale, of Chequerbent, a coal-filler, received seri-
ous internal injuries, from which he died in about an hour.
He was at the time riding upon the engine, and was taken
to a neighbouring farm-house. With the exception of
Mrs. Markland, of Westhouton, Mrs. Williams of Bolton,
and Mr. Nield, of Bolton, who were in the second-
class compartment, the other passengers were not much
hurt. Mrs. Williams, by being thrown upon the opposite
seat, was much shaken, and one of her legs was bruised;
Mr. Nield's injuries were of a similar kind, but Mrs. Mark-
land was more seriously shaken. Thomas Gordon, of Bolton,
the engine-driver ; George Shepherd, of Bolton, the stoker ;
and John Gerrard, the guard of the passenger train, almost
miraculously escaped death. Gordon, however, was severely
cut about the head and lip, and his foot was crushed. The
wounds were sewn up by the numerous medical men who
had hurried from Bolton to render assistance, and he was
taken to his home. Gerrard was cut across the forehead and
bruised about the head and legs. He says that he knew
nothing until he felt the shock, which shattered his van
to pieces. Gordon states that he saw the goods train com-
ing, that he exclaimed to Shepherd, " Oh, George, let's
jump ;" that ,he did jump, but that he was uncertain whe-
ther his companion took his advice. A curve in the line
prevented him seeing the goods train before it was close
upon him. It took three hours to extricate the locked en-
gines, and then only by the employment of three engines.
It was then found that Richard Rigby, the driver, and
Herbert Boyle, the Stoker of the goods train, both of Che-
querbent, were killed. Rigby's body was frightfully muti-
lated. His head was nearly severed from his body. Boyle
was not so much disfigured, but no doubt in both cases
death was instantaneous. The bodies were laid aside un-
der a sheet, and ultimately taken on a special engine to
their homes. Rigby's hand was found upon the handle by
which the engine is reversed. It is supposed the trains
were running at the rates of about twenty-five miles an
hour. During the whole of Saturday night the workmen,
by the aid of huge fires kindled from the fragments of the
broken carriages, were engaged in clearing the line.
They had finished their work at midnight, and yesterday
the trains ran as usual. It was almost impossible to learn
on whom the blame rests of allowing the luggage train to
proceed from Daubhill before the second passenger train had
passed; but it is stated that the signalman and pointsman
at Daubhill, without whose concurrence it could not have
been done, has been suspended pending the coroner's
inquiry.

NEW YEAR'S DAY AT THE WHITE HOUSE.—The
White House was thrown open at 12 o'clock onMon-
day, and the Cabinet Ministers, the Diplomatic Corps, the
Judges of the Supreme Court and the Court of Claims,
and the army and navy officers paid, in the order of prece-
dence, the compliments of the season to the President and
his wife. At 1 o'clock the citizens at large were presented.
The Marine band during the hours of reception discoursed
excellent music, and the whole affair passed off with bril-
liancy, no less than 5,000 people haVing gained admittance
to the reception. The President was in the best of spirits,
and received the greetings of his friends in the most genial
manner. Mrs. Lincoln was the centre of attraction, charm-
ing all by the richness of her toilet and the ease and grace
with which she received the numerous congratulations of
her admirers. A heavy purple brockade silk, richly trimmed
with black velvet, an exquisitely fine black lace shawl,
gloves, and headdress, with jewels to correspond, completed
her superb toilet. Robert Lincoln, the eldest son of the
President, was also present, having left the Haryard Law
School to spend the holydays with his parents. Next
Monday evening Mrs. Lincoln will hold a drawing room,
the first of the season.—New York Times.

THE HOMEWARD AMERICAN AND CANADIAN MAIL
STEAMERS DUE THIS WEEK.--The following steamers
are due at Liverpool this week with the American and
Canadian mails—viz., the North American, Etna, and Asia.
The North American, with dates from Portland, Maine, to
January 14, may be expected to reach Greencastle to-mor-
row (Tuesday) night, or early on Wednesday morning ;
and the Etna, with corresponding advices from New
York, will no doubt arrive off Crookhaven or Queens-
town in the course of Wednesday night. On Saturday
next the Cunard steamer Asia, from ,Boston on the 18th,
and Halifax early on the morning of the 20th, maybe looked
for at Crookhaven or Queenstown. There is no mid-week
steamer due this week at Southampton.

A PATRIARCHAL PARTY.—On Tuesday, on the
occasion of his entering the 70th year of his age,
the Rev.ChancellorWilliams, incumbent of St. David's, in-
vited the elders of his flock who had attained the age of
80 and upwards to dine with him, and no less than 33
members of his congregation were found to be eligible, in
point of age, to partake of his hospitality. It will convey
some idea of the extraordinary longevity of the party to
know that the oldest ten persons of the party averaged 90
years. The gradations of ages maybe thus stated :—Nono-
genarians, 4—united ages, 374 ; of the age of 88, s—united
ages, 440 years ; from 84 to 87, 7—united ages, 592 years ;
from 85 to 83, 17—united ages, 1,391 years; total number
of years, 2,797. Average age of the party, 84 years and 10
months.— Welshnuzn.

OUR CORRESPONDENCE.—Of 642,324,618 letters
delivered in 1863 in the United Kingdom, 161,000,000, or
very nearly one-fourth, wore delivered in the metropolitan
district. The chief English provincial towns contributed
to the general total of letters delivered as follows :—Bath,
4,031,014; Birkenhead, 2,059,473; Birmingham, 12,197,000;
Blackburn, 1,253,408 ; Bolton, 1,509,482 ; Bradford,
3,555,000; Brighton, 4,590,349 ; Bristol, 7,608,000 ; Bur-
ton-on-Trent, 1,024,153 ; Cambridge, 1,648,309; Canterbury,
1,260,649; Cardiff, 1,722,552; Carlisle, 2,159,027; Chatham,
(and Rochester), 2,159,027 ; Cheltenham, 2,443,779 ; Ches-
ter, 1,912,664 ; Colchester, 1,481,506; Coventry, 1,150,526 ;
Darlington, 1,920,802 ; Derby, 3,035,682 ; Devonport,
1,463,189 ; Dover, 1,137,125 ; Exeter, 4,479,254 ; Gateshead,
1,141.075 ; Glocester, 1,519,089 ; Halifax, 1,654,731; Here-
ford, 1,097,005; Huddersfield, 2,138,344; Hull, 3,992,000;
Ipswich, 1,783,743 ; Leamington, 1,245,712 ; Leeds,
7,300,000 ; Leicester, 2,894,593 ; Lincoln, 1,302,029 ; Liver-
pool, 16,566,500 ; Maidstone, 1,317,300 ; Manchester,
18,743,000; Newcastle-on-Tyne, 4,369,000; Northampton.
1,494,610 ; Norwich, 37699,683 ; Nottingham, 3,395,340
Oxford 1,950,663 ; Plymouth, 2,484,664 ; Portsmouth.
2,492,022 ; Preston, 2,692,235 ; Reading, 2,164,227 ; Roch-
dale, 1,011,231; Salisbury, 1,614,223 ; Sheffield, 4,257,000 ;
Southampton, 4,154,500 ; Stafford, 1,230,307 ; Stockport,
1,171,066 ; Sunderland, 1,803,594 ; Swansea, 1,371,359 ;
Truro, 1,352,156; Wakefield, 1,385,852; Walsall, 1,040,767;
Warrington, 1,280,240 ; Windsor, 1,002,898 ; Wolverhamp-
ton, 2,494,808; Worcester, 1,957,618; and York, 3,500,666.
These figures refer, it should be added, not merely to each
town, but to the postal district of each town.

44 4
,
TOT ‘MI44-'"" Ortribl:
maw

HER MAJESTY.

•
OSBORNE, Jan. 21.
56
Their Royal Highnesses the Prince and
of Wales and Prince Albert Victor arrive' of
Osborne yesterday, attended by the Count°
Morton and Captain Grey.
His Royal Highness Prince Arthur
Greenwich Park, attended by Major Elphinstoee•of
The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Deaued,
Windsor, and the Hon. Mrs. Wellesley, also arriv
The Archbishop of Canterbury had the honourthe
dining with the Queen and the Royal FamilY
evening. arrived fr°lll
Jan. 22.0
The confirmation of her Royal Highness Frinhco
Louise, took place yesterday at Whippingter.
Church, by his Grace the Archbishop of Cal'
bury.
Precisely at twelve o'clock her Majesty the Criee;
arrived at the church, accompanied by rrillc;ir
Louise, having been preceded by their Royal 70
nesses the Prince and Princess of Wales, rit.,ll,4gy
Helena, Prince Arthur, Prince Leopold, and P".
cess Beatrice.
Her Majesty and the Royal family having take:
their places on either side of the chancel, Prin,ce•ch
Louise stood at the Communion rail, within wwthd
were the Archbishop, the Dean of Windsor, alid

Rev. George Prothero. Asch"
The service commenced with a hymn. The
bishop then performed the ceremony, and auc''reel
hymn was sung, after which the Archbishop delile
a charge.

The 1 rincess Helena.
BERLIN, Jan. 21'd
The semi-official Norddeutsche Allgemeine Pit°
of to-day says :
" We learn from a reliable source that the runiceo
of the betrothal of her Royal Highness the Prtat
Helena of England to the Hereditary Grand v"

of Saxe-Weimar is unfounded." wri*
[A letter from Coburg states that Queen Vic-A
the King of the Belgians, and all the royal f3l-0
of England will arrive there in May next, auciffre,
the betrothal of the Princess Helena with the Pae
ditary Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar will then

place.]
Aid )
Death of the Marchioness (Frances
of Londonderry
The demise of Frances. Anne, Marchione' it
Londonderry, took place on Friday night, shoat
o'clock, at Seaham Hall, her seat near Sunderl3l/e,
For months past her health had been on the decl;
and, in consequence, all the members of the fa'.
had surrounded her to tender their consolati° J
during her fatal illness. Owing to her protra f5l
indisposition her children and friends were _,O
prepared for the event. The late marchioness_
the only child and heiress of the late Sir 11 I,
Vane Tempest, Bart. (who died August
1813), by Annie Catherine M‘Donnell (I_4
own right), Countess of Antrim. She was Ai?
17th January, 1800, consequently her lacl7he
completed her 65th year on Tuesday last.
.vo,
deceased was the second wife of Charles
third and late Marquis of Londonderry, wh° heif
made a G.C.B. in recognition of his &sting°,
military and diplomatic services, and was aftel4 %
created a knight of the Order of the Garter'
the marriage, which took place on April 3, 1819're
ladyship had issue three sons and four dauglito,
namely, George Henry Robert Charles Wi'rietf
the Earl Vane, born 26th April, 1821, and 10,. of
in August, 1846, Mary Cornelia, only danglitie.),ll9
the late Sir John Edwards, Bart. ; Lord Ad°,43o,
F. C. W. Vane Tempest, born 2d July, Ladf
(who died in June last year), married to
Susan, only daughter of the late Duke of
castle ; Lord Ernest, born 29th Febrtwfij,
1836 ; Lady Frances Anne Emily, born 15th
1822, married to the. Duke of Marlboro
filtsi,
Lady Alexandrina Octavia Maria, born 29th c3ay
1823, married to the Earl of Portarlington
Hyacinthe died an infant ; and Lady Adelaide P-ied
lina Caroline, born 31st January, 1830, and troxtorp,
to the Rev. Francis Henry Law, vicar of Lulling

Derbyshire. the
The late Marchioness of Londonderry, duri%'
lifetime of her husband, occupied a prominent tar
tion in fashionable society. The princely I°s'oo
lity of Holdernesse House during the 1-4°11,,05cl
season, and the autumnal festivities at AVYTaiiti
Park, Durham, were unsurpassed in lbeking'
by any other family of distinction in the yeaO
dom. Her ladyship was also wag S of
one of the influential lady patroneSSe s,oa
the famed exclusive balls at Almack's.
the death of her gallant husband in 104.-ea
1854, the Marchioness of Londonderry deo'
'
the chief portion of her attention to the vof
provement of her extensive estates in the nortilej,
England and in Ireland, and in promoting the 100
fare of those resident on her property, as well sft
education of their families.
The late Marchioness was descended in 3
line from Howell-ap-Vane. His descendant' the
Harry Vane, won his spurs by his bravo/ ill, of
battle of Poictiers. From him the noble hense'tto
Westmorland and Cleveland are also descendedo.' ico
latter house being ennobled in the reign of Chfrool
11. The Vanes, who settled in Kent, and ad,
whom the Earls of 'Westmorland have des F.
changed the first letter of their name from VSit
The last male descendant of the main line We'9ool
Harry Vane Tempest, father of the Marelli°
assumed the latter surname by Act of Parlianleii,
inheriting the large lands of the Tempest fat? ,w1;0,4
For the last few months the late mareo9o)
had been suffering from a complication of liveroll
heart disease. She appeared to rally a short od
ago, but a few days since she suffered a relapse' 00
her death has been expected almost hourly frcSil
middle of last week.
at,
CARDINAL WISEIIAN'S HEALTH.—We are efi'iov
announce that the improvement which had 0300Ei
towards the close' of last week in the health of his

nence, Cardinal Wiseman, still continues. ~ fr 00:
The Earl of Winchilsea has been suffering „iltr
very severe attack of gout within the last fortnight/ "
now in a fair way of recovery.
• ea
The Earl and Countess of Essex recelsr; of
luncheon on Friday, on the occasion of the conseer%o
a new chancel in St. Andrew's Church, Watford, the fr;4
of Rochester, Lord and Lady Ebury, and many other
sons present at the ceremony.
The Countess (Dowager) of Tankerville 113.4c1
been so well since Friday night,-and has not regaitloor,
speech. Sir Henry Holland, Dr. Seymour, and Dr'
merton have been in attendance on the countess stoic,"
attack the week before last. Up to Friday her hwti",
was thought to be going on satisfactorily ; but sinceoeP
she has evidently become weaker. As the dowager c°ll4l
is in her 82d year sanguine hopes of her complete re'
tion to health can hardly be entertained. 1
The marriage of the Earl of Coventry and ote°
Blanche Craven, third daughter of the Earl and C°
at
Craven, is to be solemnised on Wednesday nest
uai
George's Church, Hanover-square. The Earl and
Craven will receive a numerous and distinguished P.- 4
a breakfast to celebrate the event.
Viscount and Viscountess Grey de Wilton
iyf
leave Egerton Lodge, the Earl of Wilton's hand,, vtf;
at Melton Mowbray, to-day for town, expressly to wvin
sent at the marriage of the Earl of Coventry and di
„
Blanche Craven. or
Lord Willoughby de Eresby has been incljtea
for some short time past. On inquiry yesterday orcij-vg
report was that the noble lord was rather better.
00e do
Sir Henry and Lady Sophia Des Vceux e„
nd a
town from Drakelow, Derbyshire, in order to
wedding of the Earl of Coventry and Lady Blanche clo °
The Right lion. B. Disraeli has issued Oro te°
invitation for a dinner at his residence, Grosvenorirto,l4
party of members of the House of Commons, on •ti
```
the 6th February.
The two remaining unsold lots of the 'l3ecl "i
estates, in the county Clare, have been pureht
private sale by Mr. William Lane Joynt, agent oao t"
Annaly, for £ll,OOO. Thus the noble lord has bee° P'h:lo
owner of all the Burren estate of Mr. John L. ICern3,„lio.l,l
noble lord is also the owner of the Duke of Buc/rim',oll,;
estate at Ballyvaughan, Mr. Burton Bindon's CI- oft'
(on which are the famous oyster-beds), Mr. JOllll ecst'j,itet,
at New Quay, Sir Hugh Dillbn Massy's Broacife'-vrsoe.lo
and Mr. John Westropp's at Kilkeryne. These re`in
as a whole, one of the largest territorial possessieb
ha4ds of any peer or commoner in Clare.