The Sun.
London, England, 1849-07-09 00:00:00

GABRIELLI.

Of this famous singer many incidents are told as
heras
evidencing her enormous estimate of the value
Katharine of
talents. On her visit to Ittissi9, the Ernpreswseto
received her very graciously. " What are
has
tra©d 11:d
this young beauty," said the latter, elaweh_
or rather my
from Naples expressly for our 1
en-
child, speak—what terms do pllrequire for your
it please your Ma.
gagenatnt at our Court?"ni "May
"I shall be put to considerable
jestp," replied Gabriefor,
furs, and as I am but a poor
expense this
tef4rsking your Mijosty too much if I
article, shall Iwibne
sa) .0,000 roubles? At this astounding demand, uttered
with the most consummate sang-froid and coolness, the
brow of the Empress grew dark—Et slight but angry
flush was visible on her cheeks while her eyes sparkled
—but these signs of displeasure were only momentary,
Gabrielli, in relating this scene, acknowledged—" I was
terribly frightened, and bitterly regretted my words,
but, womanlike, I would not for worlds have recalled
them, in the presence of the young and handsome officer
,vho wb;.s gazing at me with such interest." "Twenty
ihousand roubles!" echoed Katharine, "are you aware
what you demand, child? For this sum I can purchae
two field•marshals I" "In that cast-,"returned Gabrielli,
with unequalled temerity, " perhaps your Majesty will
-tigage two flehl-m,ir-hall who can sing!" Gabrielli
uttered this in the most determined manner imaginable.
I do not know what possessed me," she afterwards
-aid," it must have been some evil spirit, for as I uttered
,he words I believed I saw my fate balancing between
the Hermitage and Siberia." But the good fortune of
Gabrielli did not at fled Cm desert her. "You are
bold, yoong women," returned the Empress, resuming

Yet no man can fail to know that in Scotland as well
as here, there are those who suffer by the corruption
of the statute, and who would as gladly be free if they
knew how, as any of the forefathers in either country
in the days of fiercest struggle-against ecclesiastical
dictation on false pretences. -It is clearly therefore one
of the benefits which the hindmost country,' or the
sufferers in it, have a right to expect from the union
with one more advanced, that there should not be too
ready concession to the demand that it should be habi-
tually and by a sort of ex officio process cut off from
partaking in the general progress of the imperial law.
On these grounds, it was a fortunate event, that
the proposal to exempt Scotland and Ireland from the
dangerous power of doing as they liked, in a matter
where there was no shadow of attempt to force any-
body to do other wise than as they please, was rejected
by a majority of 119 against 66.
In fact a step has been silently made during the
progress of this Marriage question. Oa this and
other questions founded on the authority of a written
law, there will be an end of the reckless practice of
deciding without hearing the law recited.
On Thursday I am told I voted wrong on what is
called the Quarter Acre Clause in the irish Relief
Bill. The purport of this clause is to determine that
no man in Ireland shall be entitled to relief from the
poor-rate, who is the holder of more than a quarter
of an acre of land. This is certainly tantamount to
aying, that no man shall have relief from the poor-
rate till he has not a shirt to his back ; and the question
may be, whether it would not be politic, to say nothing
of any other reason, to give the man assistance to keep
hi% head above water, without waiting for this desperate
criterion. As the majority for retaining the clause
was very great (74 against 12) it looks as if the other
side had not been sufficiently brought into notice by
its advocates.

On Friday a question connected with the same
subject was br ught forward, in the shape of an
amendment directed to alter that portion of the Bill
which directs that poor-rate shall not be levied from
tenants holding to the yearly amount of less than 41.,
but shall be levied from the landlord. There was
undeniably a good deal to be said on both sides;
for the ground on which the amendment was
supported vk as, that laying the poor-rate on the
landlord tends to the ejection of the tenant. It cer-
tainly may act as a premium on having no tenants
under 4/. ; and in that way lead to a certain
quantity of ejections. But on the whole, there may
be reason to think that the evil of trying to levy the
rate from all the small tenants, would amount to
more than that of the ejectiofis to arise. And so the
House probably thought, when it decided against
the amendment by a majority of 55 against 25.
The same evening concluded the debate on the
State of the Nation. The Right Hon. Member for
Tarn worth came forward boldly with what were no-
velties in the House, but were in fact only the hic,
hrc, hoc of the LEague seven years ago ; so that to
old Leaguers his declarations sounded like the thaw-
ing of the not€s which had frozen in the postboy's
horn. The reply of the mover aimed at nothing, and
accomplished its aim. The most remarkable point
about the whole, was the pertinacity with which the
motion was declared to be one that was to remove
the Government, and change the policy of nations.
The wordy display ended in a majority on the side
of the Government, of 296 against 156.
I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
AN OLD REFORMER.
London, July 9, 1849.