The Sun.
London, England, 1849-11-06 00:00:00

TUESDA EVENING NOVEMBER 6 1849.

formed of him. by his h- arned biographer. The
sp;rited and graphic de.oription of " The Commeragh
Mountains, . their Lakes and Legends," is continued
al,cl concluded; the ability with which these sketches
f the wild and beautiful have been executed induces
us to hope that the author will direct his steps to
other untrodden spots, unheeded and unknown, with
which his lovely island abounds. "Moorish Romances
and German Ballads," translated from the German
and Spanish by D. F. M. C., are done in that gentle-
man's usual excellent style, and we by no means wish
to detract from M. C. 1.6 merits, when we say we sadly
miss poor 'Mangan. " Ceylon and the Cingalese " is
concluded in this number. It was frequently our
pleasing duty to speak in terms of commendation of
the power and research with which these papers were
written ; and, now that the learned author has
brought his labours to a close, we cannot too highly
recommend them to the attention of all who feel
an interest in one of the most fertile, lovely,
but neglected islands of all our colonial p.ssessions.
1 he next is a notice of novels by the author of " Two
Old Men's Tales," and of the "Protestant Reforma•
thin in France." The "Fairy Serenade" has eon-
sid,erab!e merit. "Notes and Suggestions on Indian
Affairs" is a very comprehensive and important
document, and well worthy public attention. This
nralth's number concludes with an analysis of the
memoirs of Mr. Secretary I'epys, one of the annalists
of the Restoration. We regret cur space will not
at present permit us to enter hit° an examination of the
interesting annals of that remarkable period.

FINE ARTS.
THE ART JOURNAL.
Sir David Wiikie's painting of " The Fret Ear.
ring," crigraved by W. Greatbach, and Sir A. W.
Calco..t's picture of "A Dutch Ferry," engraved by
R. Wallis, are the two illustrations of the Vernon
Gallery collection in the Art Journal for November.
Thomas Sidney Cooper is portrayed both by a por-
trait and a biography. Scott and Spenser afford
themes for the graceful pencils of the artists employed
from month to month in the delineation of" Passages
from the Poets." John Thomas, the sculptor, yields
a subject not only for a woodcut, but also for a
very interesting memoir; and Flaxman's glorious
composition of " Michael and Satan " has been
vigorously sketched by the graver of W. R3ffe. Alto-
gether the Art Journal is fully equal to its repu-
tation.

COVENT-GARDEN OPERA.
What is to become of the Covent-garden Opera
during the next season? The proceedings in the
Court of Bankruptcy on Saturday last in Delafield's
case do not furnish us with an answer to this inter-
esting question. The report of Saturday is merely
in the nature of an historical retrospect of the extra-
vagance and folly of the bankrupt during two or
three years of a feverish splendour. It is but another
comment upon the old theme of—how fortunes may
be lost. There are various ways of arriving at this
desirable conclusion. A stud of racehorses, a kennel
of hounds, a newspaper, a review, a contested county,
a steady series of land speculations, will soon produce
such a result. Within our own experience we should
say, that a "man of business" and a theatre are the
two best roads to ruin. The man of business is the
slow chronic disease. He cuts down your timber
here, runs up a row of cottages there; eusts one
set of tenants and imports another without your
knowledge; and just at the moment you
conceive your fortune at ifs zenith, you
find yourself with nothing left bet a dry
legal interest in your own estate. That, however,
is a slow process, and admits of Alnasehar dreams
fur a certain period of years. Not so with the
theatre or opera-house. That is the burning fever
fit that consumes a man's vitals, and leaves Lim be-
yond all hope of rally in an infinitesimally brief
period of time. Italian vocalists and French ballet
dancers make short work of 100,000/., as is shown
plainly enough by the balance- sheet in the case of
poor Mr. Delafield. Think of what such a sum as
100 0001. is when cast upon a man by the mere act
and operat:ou of the law. Had he laboured for it,
it might have been a different matter. Ilad he toiled
at the Bar; or worked sums in his head on the
Stock-Exchange; or spent the best years of his life
in a tropical climate indigo-growing, or in an out-
lying settlement of the Hudson's Bay Company
contending with the bears for the possession of their
furry drapery, the acquisition of the 100,0001. in
question might turn out a speculation of dubious
propriety. There is a heavy tale of shattered nerves,
sensitive digestion, and sluggish liver, which must be
set ofl• against the gratifying politeness of the part-
ners in the bank where the favoured child of fortune
keeps his account. How many successful hunters
after 100 0001. envy their own coachmen ! But this
was not Mr. Delafield's case. The chances are he
never did a turn of work in his life; and yet, in the
balance-sheet handed in the other day at Basinghall-
street, there is found what Mr. Lawrance very aptly
termed the following impressive entry :—"November
7,1845—8 y amount at credit in the books of Messrs.
Combe and Co. 100,0001." As nearly as may be
four years ego Mr. Delafield was the happy person
interested in this delightful minute. Rightly handled,
here was enoutsb to have le pt the civilized world a
tributary at Lis feet during any number of years
his life might have been prolonged. We purposely
leave out of the questions all higher principles of
action, all holier aspirations. We will not dwell
upon the hundreds upon hundreds of aching hearts
that might have been relieved; of the tears that
might have been dried ; of the valuable lives that
might have been preserved ; of the families that might
have been supported by one who, with such means at
his disposal, should have considered that one day he
must render up an account of his stewardship. Let
us pass by all such thoughts as irrelevant, 'and adopt
for a moment the philosophy of Pall mall, as expounded
by an aged Pundit to a knot of irreproachable dandies
in the bow-window of a London club :—" Any species
of property but money-is a mere nuisance. Of money
you cannot have too much. With decent management
however, there is nothing in, reason that a man with
four or five thousand a-year, with no incumbrances,
no claims, no drawback, need deny himself. With
such a sum, and a good digestion to start upon, so he
have the fixed determination never to speculate and
never to eat a bad dinner, a man may be pronounced
happy." Now, judged even by this code of ethics,
such as it is, whit can be said of Mr. Delafield's
proceedings ? We turn again to the Basinghall
balance sheet and we find—a few months back, at
the date of the fiat—under the head of as•
sets, the following words, quite as " impressive "
to our mind as those we have already quoted :
" Good debts, 81. 14s. GI Property, value not as-
certained, but supposed to be worthless." There is,
however, even a set off against these vestiges of so
handsome an independence—these poor seventy-four
shillings and sixpence. It is stated that the whole
sum due to unsecured creditors is 33,337/., and that
there are, in addition, liabilities to the extent of 3,000/.
Now, what would be the verdict of "the lowest hog
in Epicurus' stye" upon such a state of facts ? Ile

would naturally inquire what amount of gratification
did Mr. Delafield extract. from the expenditure of this
sum ? If short in duration, was it intense in degree?
The answer is, that during the three years and nine
months of the bankrupt's short existence he only con-
trived to get rid of 22,2281. upon his own personal
expenses. But as he might in the shape of mere in-
terest upon his capital have wasted nearly the same
amount of money without diminution of the capital
itself, it is tolerably clear that by this test he cannot
be acquitted. All his fortune, then, has been sacri-
ficed for the mere pleasure of signing the engage-
ments, and presiding over the squabbles of a parcel of
(lancers and singers for the short space of something
less thon four years. The fate of theatrical lessees
is proverbially a precarious one. A man who
engages in such a pursuit must have nerve sufficient
to keep one wheel ever-spinning over the verge of
bankruptcy, without absolutely suffering his chariot
to fall into the abyss throughout his career. The
footmen khind his dinner chairs are sometimes ser-
vants, sometimes bailiffs. Season follows season.
The presumptive ruin of one year is not much more
fatal than the presumptive success of its predecessor.
So he lives, and so he dies—whether insolvent or the
reverse is a mere matter of chance, and entirely be-
neath his serious consideration. For such a course
of life as this Mr. Delafield was clearly unfitted. He
was too weak headed, and with too little capacity for
his strange vocation. We think of him rather as a
bold young man, who goes in with his pockets full
of money to break the bank at Homburg or at
Baden, and comes out without a thaler in his pocket
Such a one is not a gambler, but a " pigeon ;" and
that is just poor Mr. Deltifield's case in his operatic
concerns. There is, however, far too much real

trouble in the world,—far, far too many of our poor
countrymen who are fighting an adverse hatte against
fortune day after day and night after night, and who
cannot reach dry ground let them struggle as man-
fully as they will—for us to affect or express much
sympathy or sorrow for so ridiculous a conclusion to
an operatic speculation. When a man is placed by
fortune in so favourable a position as Mr. Delafield
was four years ago, he should have had the sense to
keep his footing, even if he were not inclined to move
forward. We turn rather to the question in which
the public are more immediately interested—the
chances of a second operatic entertainment during
the ensuing season. As we said before, Mr. Dela
field's bankruptcy proves nothing in this matter,
except that his failure arose in some degree from
general carelessness of management, but mainly from
the extravagant salaries paid to the singers and
dancers in compensation for their services. In com-
menting upon this subject some months back we
quoted from the balance-sheet the abstract of salaries
paid to these gentry during the late Covent-garden
campaign, but the list is so edifyingt that it will well
bear re insertion here.

" Arti,tes' saliries, 1848 and Alboni,
1848, 4,000/. ; Mdllp. Angri, 1849, 2,5001. ; Madgme
Castellm), 1848, 1,728/. Mdlle. Corbari, 1848, 432/. ;
1849, 4801 ; Dimas Gras, 1849, 1,5001. ; Catherine
Hayes, 1849, 1,3001.; De Merin, 1849, 5001.; Grisi, in
1848, 3,1061.; in 1849, 2,8001; Persiani, in 1848, 6401.;
in 1849, 500/.; 14onconi, in 1848, 4801.; in 1849, 48016
Stefiationi, in 1848, 6001.; Viardot, in 1848, 4,0001.;
iu 1849, for two months, 1,2131.; Signor Corradi had,
in 1848, 8801. Mario, in the same year, 2,2351; and
in 1849, 2 7201. Roger, in 1848, 2,110/. Ronconi, in
1848, 1,1201.; in 1849, 1,120/. Salvi, in 1848, 1,5201.;
in 1849, 1,040/. Tamburini, in 1848, 1,7001.; in 1849,
the same sum.

" The whole amount expended in tho vocal depart-
ment was, in 1848, 33,3491.; in 1849, 25,644/.
" In the ballet accounts the two Bretin received, in
1848, 967/. Lucille Grahn, in 1848, 1,1201; in 1849,
1,000/. The two Casati. in 1848 and 1849, more than
1,000/. Marmet; in 1848, 650/. Silvani, in the same
year, 4501.
" The whole expenditure i❑ the ballet department
amounted, in 1848. to 8,1051.; in 1849, to 2,5261.
The orchestra department shows an expenditure of
10,018/ in 1848, and of 7,3981 in 1849."

It is quite clear that this list is sufficient to account,
in chief measure, for the failure of the concern under
Mr. Delafield's management ; but the failure under
such circumstances is no proof that the town is not
capable of maintaining a second Opera, and affording
a fair remuneration to the persons engaged in carrying
on the performances. Now, to whatever series of
causes the fact may be referred, it is abundantly
proved that the relish for the acted drama is just now
in England far less than the taste for operatic per-
formances. If, then, we are to have music as the
principal public amusement, let us have it its
good and as varied as possible. We are fully pre-
pared to admit the humanizing influences to be
derived from the cultivation and diffusion of this
exquisite art ; but it would be a pity that
the works of modern Italian composers, and
those not always the best chosen, should be set up as
the fixed standard on which the public taste is to be
modelled. To accept stale repetitions of musical ex-
pression that at its outset was not worth much, as a
substitute for what can be accomplished in music,
would, indeed, be a short-sighted policy. If they can
both be fairly maintained, as far as the public are
concerned, two operatic establishments are better
than one. Even in the interests of the proprietors of
the rival establishments it is preferable that there
should be an opposition. The diffusion of musical
taste by the performances at one house must, in the
end, be beneficial to the proprietors of the other. We
see no reason why either establishment should be

constituted an operatic close borough, or why, when
there i 3 free trade in every'hinv, else, there should
renilin a rtP)nopo:y in in sic —Times.

THE UNITED STATES.

LIVERPOOL, MONDAY NIGHT.
The British Dnfi North American Royal Mail
steam ship Caledonia, whit`: left Boston on the 24th
ult., and Halifax on the 26:1), has arrived at thin port,
v%ith her Majesty's mails and a large number of pas•
sengers.

She reports the arrival of the Niagara at New
York, and the Hibernia, which sail,d hence fur 13( s-
ton, had callud at Halifax previous to the Caledonia
arriving at that port on her homeward voyage.
The news generally is of an uninteresting cha-
racter.

The dispute N‘ith the French Ambassador Ind been
settled amicably,

The returns of the cotton and grain crops were still
unszoi:!l::ctoi

Much exe.ternent prevailed at New Yolk relative
to the forthcc,triing state election, which was to take
place (n the I,t No‘eibLir. 'lle Democrats were
making. great exer:ions to rescue the " Empire State"
from Wt,iggerv. The tone cf dissat:sfaction which
the. press assumes with the personnel of the Cabinet,
ccntributes towards the advancement of the Locofcco
interest througout the unic,n.
A state convention was Lehi at Concord, in New
Hampshire, at which the Democrats nominated their
candidate for the governorship of the State.
A great lair of the South Carolina Institute had
been held during the week in Charleston. It was
well attended, and being the first ever announced
there, created much interest. It was generally con•
sidered that the application of the Mormons for the
admission of their territory as a distinct State into
the Union, under the title of the State of Deseret,
would not be entertained by Congress.
A new line of steam-ship between New York and
Antwerp has been projected by some merchants in
the former city.

From Canada we learn that the agitation to pro-
mote annexation still continues. A meeting of those
in favour of annexation had been held on the 17th
ult., which was well attended, and several strong
speeches were made on the occasion.
A meeting of delegates of the British American
League was convened for Toronto, on the Ist of
November.

Some excitement prevailed in Montreal, in conse--
quence of a special asse-sment being made to pay for
the injury done in the late riots to property.
The bu,iness of Montreal was very good, notwith-
Atanding the agitation still carried-
on amongst the
political community.

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.
The state of business generally throughout the Union
is fully as good as we have reporteri it for some time
past.

The 1119nry Market continued easy, money being
plentiful, and °titan:ll,6lc at moderate rates. ffreasury
Notes, 1101; United States' Stock, 1123-; Sixes, 68.
The transactions in Breads; Ors were few. Prices had
igain slightly given way.
Western Canal Flour, 4 dolls. 75c. to 4 dolls. 8712. per
brL, steady.
tx ii,abee Prime Wheat, 1 doll. 20c. to 1 doll. 22c.
per 601bs.
Southern Wheat, 98 a=nte. to 1 doll. per 601bs.
Indian corn, round yellow, 64c. to 66c. per bushel,
steady ; ditto, flit yellow, 630. par bushel.
Indian meal, 3 dolli. to 3 dol!s. 121 c. per barrel.
The Cotton Market was dull, and picot were lower.
New Orleans and Mobile mid fair to fair, 1 litt. to
114 c., showing a tall of
Upland and Florida mid. fair In c. to lie.
Exchange on London, 1101 1104, very firm; on Paris,
SF. 20e., business fair; II :mbur6b, 354 36; Bremen,
793,- 80.
Freight low and little doing.

RETURN OF SIR JAMES BOSS.
Captain Sir James Ross arrived at the Admiralty
yesterday, and had interviews with the Board. The
gallant officer appeared rather the worse for his
perilous voyage, but was animated with his cha-
racteristic energy. I'Ve understand that it is his
confident opinion that neither Sir John Franklin nor
any of his brave companions are eastward of any
navigable point in the Arctic regions, and if there
be any chance of their existence it is in the supposi-
tion that he proceeded in a westerly direction, and in
such case we can only expect to hear from the miss-
ing adventurera by the Mackenzie detachment, or by
her naiPsty's ship Plovia, Commodore Moore, by
way of Russia.

Sir James traversed at least 230 miles on the ice,
the bergs of which were frightful, much mare so
than any of the experienced arctic voyagers had
seen before. Sir James and his pirty wnetrated as
far as the wreck of the Fury, where he found the
old tent standing, and everything about in a state
of the best preservation. At this point Sir James
deposited a large quantity of provisions, and also the
,crew-launch of tha Enterprixe. The march of Sir
James across the boundless regions of ice is truly
tated as a ►noat unparalleled feat in exploration. We
are sorry to find, however, that it, was in nu way
successful.

The captain, officers, end ship's company have
worked together punt harmoniously—a of emu-
lation having anialated every one in the great philan-
thropic task of endeavouring to carry help and succour
to their long lost friends. In the whole course of his
researches it is said Sir James Ross never met with a
single Esquimaux.

gir Jaines speaks most highly of all those who
have Bern connected and associated with him. He
is fully satisfied that till has been done that could
he done by the Admiralty in the appropriation of
the vessel, the selection of the crew, and the ex-
tensive equipment of each veiszl, in stores, provi-
sions, &c.

The Admiralty have ordered a couple of steamers
from Woolwich to the North Sea, to tow up the
Enterprise and Investigator to Woolwich to be paid
t.ff; and their Lordships have also ordered up from
Kirkcaldy the master of the whaler Advice, about
which so much has been :aid.

The following extracts from private letters, ad-
dressed to personal friends, will be found highly
interesting :
" At sea, lat. 56 12 N., lon 2 9 E., Oct. 31, 1849.
"We are off the coast of Great Britain so far safe
and well, having taken our last look of the forlorn and
ice-bound shores of Davis' Straits on the 10th of
October. We are all well, and, making allowance
for the toils and privations unavoidably attendant on
similar expeditions, the voyage has been exceedingly
crlnfortable, the greatest harmony having existed
between the officers and crew durin„, its progress.
We have certainly had to grapple with difficulties
of no ordinary nature, but thanks to the energy and
dauntless courage of our experienced commander, we
have triumphantly overcome them all.
" The voyage has been replete with incidents, varied
and interesting, which you will see described at some
future period by more learned heads than mine ;
suffice to say, that we have had a sufficiency of
labour during the two summers that have been gone,
and spent rather a cold winter in Port Leopold
(entrance of Prince Regent's Inlet, Barrow's Strait,
let. 73 50 N., long. 90 12 W.) ; and I hope the most
rigid political economists (Cobden not excepted) will
not begrudge us our double pay.
"iill'hatever opinions may be hereafter expressed
with regard to the success or conducting of the ex-
pedition, lam ready to maintain that all that man
could do has been done by Sir J. Ross; and I
believe there are few but will admit that he
is an officer of no ordinary character, whether
as regards nautical shill or scientific abili-
ties. Sir James seems to have been formed
by nature for the arduous service to which
through life he has so zealously devoted him-
self. To great physical powers, and a constitution
equal to every privation and fatigue, he unites every
mental qualification necessary to constitute the man
destined to conduct a great and hazardous enterprise.
" We have lost four men through sickness—as-
sistant-surgeon, and three A.B.'s—men whose consti-
tutions were thoroughly br,ken prior to leaving
England, and in my opinion they could not have
lived twelvemonths longer in any climate, however
genial.
‘‘ While I write this I am ignorant of the fate of
Sir John Franklin's expedition.

"I may remark that our consort, the Investigator-
is in company with us, we having never Lost, sight:
each other during the voyage."
Her Alajesty's ship Enterprise,
Off Scarborough, Nov. 4.
" Here we are again. `\'e did not get out of the
ice in Barrow's Strait until the last week in Sep-
tember, which is very late indeed, so that we had a
narrow squeak for another winter in the ice, and good-
nes knows how many would have lived to return.
We found no traces of Sir J. Franklin, although the
etiptam travelled in May and June upwards of 20
on the W. and N.W. coasts of North Somerset,
but could find no traces of them. We wintered at
Port Leopold, in lat. about 74 N. and long. 90 W.
We were without the sun for about 80 days, and had
the temperature 80 degrees below ireeziug, by Fah-
renheit. lamin in a great hurry, and will give you
more news in the next."

[ADVERTISEMENT.] A R.-marliable Cure of
Dropsy of the Chest by Holloway's Pills.—Extract of a letter
from Mr. Alunday, farmer, Kennington, near Oxford, dated
Dec. 2, 1848 :—To Professor Holtoway Sir,—Ha.ving on a
former occasion apprised you of an extraordinary cure upon
myself by your invaluable medicine, it gives me great pleasure
to testify again to its efficacy in a case of dropsy of the chest
with which my shepherd was afflicted, to whom, the moment I
was informed of the nature of his complaint, I recommended a
trial of your Pills, which advice was adopted with complete suc-
cess, for by taking a few boxes only he MCIS perfectly cured, and
is now in sound lealth.—Sold by all Druggists,and et Professor
Holloway's Establishment, 244, Strand, London

BANK OF FRANCE.
Tho following is a return of the situation of the Bank
of France on Nov. 1:

A SSETS.

Cash and ingots
Ditto in branch banks
Bills past due ••• ••• ••
Bills falling due in Paris, of which
15,773,846 f. 75c. are from the branch

. E 280,581,106 3
. 127,233,575 0
2,827,936 1

banks ••• ••• ••• •••
Bills in the branch banks •••
Advances on coins and ingots... ...
Ditto by the branch banks
Ditto on French public securities ...
Ditto by branch banks...
Ditto to the State on Bons du Tresor...
Ditto on the loan of 150 millions ...
Rentes of the reserve fund ... .• •
Rentes, disposable funds ... •• •
Investments of the new branch banks in
the public funds ... •••
Hotel and furniture of the Burk ...
Real property of the branch banks ...
Intercst in Nat-jowl Discount Bank ...
Ditto lir:hch bviks ..• •••
Bills protested at Paris
Ditto at the branches ... •• •
Expnses of administration of the Bank
Ditto of the branches ... ..• •••
Aliwellsneons ••• •••
Advance to tho department of the

Seim, ••• ••• ••• •••
Loan of 3,000,000 r. to the city of Mar-

zeille3 ...

42,963,610 47
77,695,116 0
5,576,800 0

LIABILITIE9.

295,397 0
20,826,946 10
1,690,071 0
50,000,000 0
50,000,000 0
10,000,000 0
42,581,488 13

12,779,541 39
4,000,000 0
2,727,735 0
200,000 0
230;000 0
3,097,308 0
2,016,475 9
417,942 81
332,833 0
624,629 93

3,000,000 0

1,075,000 0

Capital ...
I of the Branch Banks
Reserve fund ...

f. 742,778,511 77

... f. 67,900,000 0
... 23,350,000 0
... 10,000,000 0

• _
Ditto of the branch banks ..• ... 2,980,750 0
iteserve-immobiliere ••• ... 4,000,000 0
Notes to bearer, in circulation ... 378,386,600 0
Ditto of the branch banks ... .., 62,608,050 0
Ditto to order (post-bills) 731,645 50
Account current with Treasury creditor 49,626,076 38
Various accounts current 91,801,303 24
Ditto in branches 26,461,924 0
Bills payable at sight ... ••• 8,271,000 0
Ditto at branches 1,695,704 0
Bills of the branch banks payable by
••• 6,213,906 76
the Bank
Ditto of the Bank payable by branches.. 3,062,025 0
Dividends payable ..„ ... 353,384 25
Liquidation of the Algiers Bank ... 160,982 99
Discounts, interest, and expenses ... 3,022,784 93
Ditto branch banks ••• 1,528,465 0
Re-discounts of the last six months ... 143,693 49
Ditto in branch banks .. 321,542 0
Miscellaneous ... ... 163,674 23

f. 742.778,511 77
Certified by the Governor of the Bank of France.
D'ARGOUT.

We find by the above account that the cash in hand
has increased by 4,000,000 f. The amount of commercial
bills discounted has decreased by 1,500,000 f. The pro-
tested bills have diminished by 110,000 E The bank-
notes in circulation have increased by 2,000,000 f. The
balancm to the credit of the Treasury has increased by
3,250,000 E, and the sundry credits by 2,000,000 f.

AUSTRIA AND HUNGARY.
The Vienna papers of the 30th inst. inform us of
an amnesty which Baron Haynau published at Pres-
burg, on the 29th inst., and which includes all those
poiiti6l prisoners whose sentence does not condemn
thmn to more than a twelvemonth's imprisonment.
56 of the numerous prisoners in Hungary were libe-
rated in consequence of this amnesty. 34 fresh con-
demnations have meanwhile been prcnounced in
Gailkia, the sentences varying from confinement
with hard labour for the term of four years down to
the term of two months.
From Transylvania we learn that two fresh execu-
tions have taken place in that province.