The Sun.
London, England, 1862-04-14 00:00:00

CANTERBURY HALL.

On Saturday, a private performance of the " Miraculous
Steckel," from the Cirque Napoleon, Paris, took place at
the Canterbury Hall previous to his making his first ap-
pearance there this evening. His performance is of a
similar nature to that of Leotard, and, without at all wish-
ing to detract from the reputation of that very celebrated
artist, in our opinion, Steckel is quite equal to him in the
majority of his feats ; indeed, in some of them, he sur-
passes him. Steckel's " flight," for instance, is consider-
ably longer than any other performers on the trapeze, and
it is performed with a neatness and precision that is truly
wonderful. During the performance, which lasted some
considerable time, Steckel never on one occasion made the
slightest slip, and to such certainty has he brought his
numerous acts that the most timid person can, without the
Slightest fear, witness the extraordinary performance. M.
Steckel is a young man of about 24 years of age, of a very
pleasing personal appearance, and a remarkably fine
figure.

Messrs. Morton and Stanley, the enterprising proprie-
tors of this justly-renowned establishment, in addition to
Steckel' s Performance, have secured other attractions for
Easter, although the usual unrivalled entertainment given
here would of itself be quite sufficient to attract enormous
audiences.

BLRNS'S "JOLLY BEGGARS" AT THE
OXFORD MUSIC HALL.

Mr. George Linley has worked up Burns's humorous
poem into a cantata, for this hall, making certain neces-
sary excisions in the text, but preserving the leading fea-
tures in the description. Mr. Linley's business has been
to give to the music of the songs—already associated with
well-known words, such as " A Highland lad my love was
born," a new setting; to compose the recitatives; and to
supply a larger framework to the collection of airs than has
yet been furnished. He has also composed a new song for
the sailor—a character not found in the printed edition of
the poem—entitled, " When I bade good bye to Placebo,"
of great merit and beauty, and quite Scottish in its
treatment. The characters in the poem will be
remembered as—the maimed soldier ; a merry
Andrew; a fiddler; a strolling tinker (the two latter
being rival admirers of the widow) ; the sailor (before
mentioned) ; a camp follower ; and the widow of
a Highland freebooter. These worthies are repre-
sented by Messrs. Albert, Morley, Green, Madame Ender-
ssohn, and others, and the "male and female vagrants"
are, with all humbleness and abnegation of self, personated
by the splendid chorus forming the backbone of the com-
pany. Considering that the brusque and rollicking eharao,
ters in the poem are represented by ladies and gentlemen in
evening costume, a great amount of spirit is infused into the
performance. But the Scottish change-house of " Poosie
Nansie," of 1785, where Burns discovered his Bohemian
characters, was a very different place to the South=
Oxford Music Hall of 1862, and without the aid of pictu•
resque dress, and a certain amount of action, it is difficult
to preserve the dramatic tone of the composition. Un-
doubtedly, the vagrant, tattered life depicted in the poem
would be much more graphically portrayed if the singers
could for the moment don the motley garmentd of Rag Pair,
and satisfy the eye as well as the ear. But even without
the aid of these dramatic accessories the entire compo-
sition is received with much interest, and many of the
songs are encored.

The Earl and Countess of Carnarvon have left for
Highclere, where they will receive a large circle of friends
during the holidays.

The Countess of Desart and Lady Alice Castle-
Cuffe have left town for Bournemouth for the holidays.

Lord and Lady Blantyre arrived in town on Fri-
day from Erskine House, Renfrewshire, for the season.

Lord and Lady Skelmersdale will leave Lathom
House, Lancashire, on Thursday next, on a visit to the
Earl and Countess of Clarendon at the Grove, near Wat-
ford.

Lord and Lady Chelmsford have left Eaton-square
for Paris, where they intend to stay during the holidays.
Lord and Lady Otho Fitz Gerald have arrived at
their residence on Carlton-terrace, from Grimston, York-
shire.

Sir George Cornewall Lewis and Lady Theresa
Lewis arrived at Kent House on' Saturday from the Grove,
near Watford. The right hon. gentleman and her ladyship
leave town to-day for the Portland Hotel, Southsea, for a
few days.

Mr. and Lady Mary Craven leave town to• day to
join the circle assembled at Wimpole Hall, Cambridgeshire,
the seat of the Earl and Countess of Hardwicke.

Sir William Alexander has left town for Mar-
seilles to meet the Earl Canning on his homeward route
from India.

WESTMINSTER HOSPITAL.—At a special meeting
of the governors of the Westminster Hospital, held on the
11th of April, Dr. P. W. Latham, of George-street, Hano-
ver•square, Fellow of Downing College, Cambridge, was
elected Assistant-Physician, and Mr. Christopher Heath, of
Sackville-street, Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons,
was elected Assistant-Surgeon to the Westminster Hospital.
STRANGE SCENES IN HIDE PARK.—Yesterday
morning, according to an announcement publicly adver-
tised, Mr. Richard Hibbs, M.A., of St. John's College,
Cambridge, a clergyman of the Church of England, preached
in Hyde-park on the subject of deaths from starvation in
London. The sermon consisted principally of a denuncia-
tion of the " fashionable vices " of the day—one of which,
the practice of paying two or three hundred a year for a
box at the opera, appeared to be particularly objectionable
to him—extracts from the Registrar-General's reports, and
leading articles of newspapers. Near to him there was
stationed a man with a broad Scotch accent, who was dis-
coursing on the errors of Mormonism. In consequence of
constant interruptions he lost his temper. and appealed to
two constables of the A division who were listening to his
discourse to interfere on his behalf. One of them politely
told him that he was not obliged to remain there, and that
if ho went away the uproar would cease. He did not act
upon the hint, but continued his exposition, and in the
course of a few minutes a desperate fight took place, and
the Scotchman lost the whole of his congregation, who took
more interest in the quarrel than in his discourse. In an-
other part of the park, two or three young men, apparently
students for the Dissenting ministry, were expounding ex-
treme Evangelical views; but as there was nothing parti-
cularly offensive or silly in their mode of treating their sub-
jects, they had few listeners.
THE WELLINGTON RE-OPENED.—An advertise-
ment thus headed informs us that the splendid apartments
of this celebrated house are no longer held by clubs which,
for the past two years, have occupied them, but that they
are now open to all corners. The arrangements are certainly
very complete, and its accommodation unequalled ; but
Ns bile admitting the excellence of all supplied therein,
would it not be as well, as the leading representative of John
Bull's London Restaurants, to modify the tariff of wines, so
as to meet the requirements of our numerous expected
continental visitors? There can be but little doubt but the
interests of the proprietary would thus be enhanced, and
the Wellington would deservedly achieve an European re•.
putation.

LATEST NEWS.

PARIS, APRIL 14.

The Moniteur of to day states :

The Japanese Ambassadors were received by his
Majesty yesterday. The chief Ambassador made
a speech, in which he congratulated himself that
the treaty concluded between Japan and France
would develope friendly relations between the two
countries. His Excellency also expressed a desire
that the Embassy should be conducted back to
Japan on board of a French vessel of war,

The Emperor replied :
" I am happy to welcome the representatives of
the Emperor of Japan, and I hope the treaty will
produce fortunate results.
"I have no doubt that your visit to France will
give you a just idea of the greatness of our country.
" The reception which will be accorded to you
and the liberty which you will enjoy will convince
you that hospitality is considered among the fore-
most virtues of a civilised people.

"I will willingly give orders for your return to
Japan on board a vessel of war.
" Together with the remembrance of your voyage
to Europe, you will carry with you the assurances
of my desire to entertain relations of the most
amicable character with the Empire of Japan."

TURIN, APRIL 12.

The Official Gazette of to-day contains the fol-
lowing circular from Signor Rattazzi to the different
Prefects throughout the Italian kingdom :

" The policy of the Italian Government is in-
spired by the ideas of national unity and of liberty.
While the work of unification is being accomplished
in Italy, two p )litical programmes are impossible.
The Ministers who succeed each other can differ
only as to the degree of liberty suitable for the
country. The Government will act with concilia-
tion, but will at the same time energetically suppress
disorder."

Deputy Ballareti has been commissioned to
proceed to Paris for the purpose of entering into
negotiations with the directors of the Society of
Credit Foncier de France for the organisation of a
similar company for Italy.
Father Passaglia has been nominated an officer of
the Order of St. Maurice and St. Lazarus,

The Italian Chambers have been prorogued to the
end of May.

APRIL 13.

The papers of to-day state that the Corps
Diplomatique has been invited to accompany the
King to Naples. It is believed that all will accept
the invitation.
Garibaldi has left for Brescia.

MADRID, APRIL 12.

It is stated that, provided Spain can obtain the
satisfaction she requires from Mexico in a pacific
manner, she will not interfere with the internal
policy of the country.
The evacuation of Tetuan has commenced.

AMERICA,
LIVERPOOL, APRIL 11.
The Glasgow, which arrived at Queenstown on
Saturday, has reached this port.
She brings 275,000 dols. in specie,

THE lONIAN ISLANDS.

CORFU, APRIL 4.

At 12 o'clock this day the President of the Legis-
lative Assembly, accompanied by a deputation of
the members, appeared at the Palace for the pur-
pose of presenting the address voted by that body,
in reply to the speech of his Excellency the Lord
High Commissioner, delivered to the Legislative
Assembly.
The customary salute was fired from the citadel,
and a guard of honour attended as usual. The de-
putation was received by his Excellency, who stood
in front of the throne, surrounded by his Highness
the President and the Senate, the Major-General
commanding the troops, with his Staff, and many
of the other chief civil, military, and naval autho-
Tities of the State.

The Most Illustrious Doctor Elia Zervo Jacobato,
President of the Assembly, advancing to t►ze centre
of the Throne-room, then read the following ad-
dress :

" Excellency,--
"The 12th lonian Assembly having met in its
first regular session, assumes ipso jure the exercise
of its proper ditties. It feels the responsibility
which circumstances, at present more than ever,
attach to the exercise of its functions.
" The ills endured by the lonian people augment
daily, and their representatives, searching for the
causes of this state of things, find them in a system
introduced from the beginning by the Protectorate
for the min of the independence of the lonian
people, which even European treaties imposed upon
them acknowledged and proclaitiled.
" The Protectorate having concentrated in itself
all power, has rendered vain the legitimate aciion
of national principles.

" Everything that could contribute to the moral
progress of the lonians, to the development and en-
couragement of the resources of the country, has
been neglected. Arbitrariness is become the rule by
which the State is governed. The expression of
opinion has been circumscribed, and even punished
personal liberty has been outraged, and deplorable
oppression exercised. Public instruction, although
it may for a time have shone forth, as if by accident,
unstable and ill directed, has fallen into decay.

" Mismanagement and waste of the public re-
venues have contributed to produce the present
deplorable condition of the finances of the State.
This has been aggravated by contributions paid
to the Protecting Power.
" On the other hand, certain liberties; conceded
after many demands, after persecutions of every
kind, and purchased at ii, high price, 1.4:46 soon art-
fully rendered vain. The constitutional rights of
representation have been violated, the efforts of the
Assembly to repress illegality nullified. Frequent
unconstitutional prorogitions and dissolutions,
while on the one hand they paralysed the action of
the representatives of the people on the other con-
centrated all power in the hands of the executive
authority. Finally, the protection due to lonians
abroad has been on some occasions wanting, and on
others changed into oppression, in violation of
lonian law and the decision of lonian authori-
ties. These, and similar acts contrary to justice,
right, and progress, as well as opposed to
the generous sentiments and principles of the Eng-
lish nation, have contributed, Excellency, to bring
before you, the Chamber, and the world the sad
condition of this Hellenic land.

" To all this, the lonian element could only
oppose, as it still opposes, an indelible consciousness
of its own rights, and the hope of salvation which
it reposes in the Omnipotence of the Most High.
" The Assembly of the 12th Parliament proposes
to fulfil its regular duties, and, as it has already
begun, will examine into the questions referred to
in your Excellency's speech. It intends to t%ke
into its early consideration other questions of real
importance, but a long experience of the past dis•
courages all desire, all effort to do so.
"For these reasons the Assembly must in the
first regular session of the 12th Parliament repeat,
that this people can have no hope of ameliorating
its deplorable condition while divided from the
already liberated section of its nation, from that
centre the absence of which in 1815 gave existence
to the British Protectorate, and towards which, in
b
whatever condition it may be, it will ever turn its
gaze.
"Excellency, the unchangeable will of the lonian
people in favour of the political reunion of the Seven
Islands with free Greece has been repeatedly and
constantly declared.
" The unanimous declaration of the lonian As-
sembly on the 15th of January, 1859, was officially

transmitted to her Majesty the Gracious Sovereign
of England, in order that it might be communicated
to the other European Powers.
" Therefore the representatives of the lonian
people will employ all legal means to give effect to
this unchangeable desire of the people in favour of
its national restoration.

"The representatives of this Hellenic people are
convinced that Christian Europe, ceding to the
voice of justice, will make every effort that not only
the Seven Islands, but every Greek land shall ob-
tain its national independence and political reunion.
This alone can remedy the evils with which, in the
presence of the civilised world, this race has been so
long scourged—a race, the first to cultivate Euro-
pean civilisation, and in the progress of which it
again demands to labour.
" By command of the Assembly,
" N. LUSI, Secretary of the Assembly."

The following is the reply of his Excellency the
Lord High Commissioner to the Address of the
Assembly, read by his Excellency himself in Eng-
lish, and by Sir Pietro Braila Armedi in Greek :
" Mr. President and Gentlemen,—

" I have heard with satisfaction the assurance
that the Legislative Assembly of the Twelfth Par-
liament proposes to fulfil its regular duties.
" I entirely dissent from the statement you make
as to the condition of the lonian States. At no
period of their history have they been in a more
flourishing condition than they are at present. From
vague assertions appeal must be made to facts. The
population is increasing, the revenue augments—
commerce flourishes—and the actual prosperity of
the islands is everywhere apparent. Among other
social blessings conferred on these States, indivi-
dual and public security is enjoyed in the highest
degree, and political and personal liberty in opinion
speech, and action, is permitted to an extent un-
known in other countries.
" That certain defects exist in the laws and insti-
tutions I am free to admit. That the municipal
revenue is not collected, and what is collected,
wastefully expended, is notorious. That the roads
are neglected, and the local institutions badly ad-
ministered, is universally recognised. But these
evils cannot be attributed by any impartial per-
son to British protection. They are rather the
consequence of an imperfect and impracticable
Constitution, which the protecting Power has
endeavoured to remedy, but in which endeavour the
Legislative Assembly of the Eleventh Parliament
refused to afford its assistance.

" The cure for these evils is to be found in the cor-
dial and loyal co-operation of all the powers of the
Sate. A. wise and patriotic Legislature. could at
any time apply a remedy to them. Your attention
has been called to the defects which exist, and you
have received the assurance that the co-operation of
the Most Illustrious the Senate and myself will be
afforded in giving effect to any practical measures
which you may propose tending to the real welfare
of the people. _ .

" I cannot pass over in silence the allusion in this
address to the question of the Union of these States
to that section of the Greek race which constitutes
the present kingdom of Greece.
"The Legislative Assembly declares that it will
employ all legal means to give effect to this un•
changeable desire of the people.
" The only legal and constitutional course to
adopt, if indeed such a term can be applied to the
proceeding, would be that of a petition to the Pro-
tecting Sovereign. Such a petition was addressed
by the Legislative Assembly of the 11th Parlia-
ment to her Majesty the Queen, when a solemn and
conclusive answer in the negative was given by her
Majesty.
" To the declaration contained in that answer I
refer you. In accepting the Protectorate of the
lonian States England has undertaken duties and
acquired rights. It only remains for me to intimate
to you that, while she will discharge the first with
scrupulous fidelity she will maintain the last invio-
late.

" It would be well, therefore, for the Legislative
Assembly to apply itself to its true functions of use-
ful legislation, and to abstain from the further agi-
tation of a question which must be looked upon as
having been settled by the sole authority which
is competent to entertain it."