The Sun.
London, England, 1849-01-18 00:00:00

IRISH EQUITY COURTS.

(FROM A CORRESPONDENT.)
The observations in your journal of Satur-
day have excited much attention in " the Hail,'
and all persons agree with you in your stric-
tures on the state of the Equity Exchequer. But it
has been asked, why not abolish this jurisdiction
altogether ? It has been abolished in England,
why continue it in Ireland at this enormous expense ?
There are not more than ten or twelve hundred bills
filed in a year in the Court of Chancery, which
number is a bagatelle. - In the Exchequer, I dare say,
there is not one-sixth of that number ; so that if a
bill in equity be filed, as it may be filed for a matter
of 51 , it costs the public, if your calculation (14,0001.)
of the cost of the present equity establishment be
correct, on an average, to hear that .5/. cause (if it
ever come to a hearing), seventy pounds ! In the time
of Lord Manners, the public and the profession were
dissatisfied with the Irish Court of Chancery, and
they went to the Court of Exchequer, because then,
as now, the Exchequer was filled by able men.
Henceforward-it is not probable that incapable Chan-
cellors will be appointed to the Seals, and there is,
therefore, no necessity for persons going to a court
for equity, which court is already overwhelmed with
law. If it be necessary to have an auxiliary
Court of Chancery, have it by all means.
There is not a judge in the Court of Ex-
chequer whose abilities and integrity would
not do honour to the Chancery Bench, whether the
occupant of the new seat should be the able, pains-
taking, kindly, and courteous Chief Baron ; the
venerable, astute, and kind Pennefather; the quick,
comprehensive, and generous Richards ; or the sober,
cautious, and 'learned Lefroy—any or either would
make a good Vice-Chancellor. If, however, the Lord
Chancellor, who is about as " stout-built a special
Pleader" as has flourished since the first application
of that libellous description' to the conscience• keeper
of Majesty, be inclined to add a little to his work
(and he has capacity for that or anything else which
he may undertake), he will, I dare say, be equal to
the additional duty, if there be an additional Master
or two appointed, which it is very likely will prove
necessary by the Incumbered Estates Bill, when it
shall come into full operation. The profession,
however, leans to the establishment of a Vice-Chan-
cellor's Court, and this arrangement can be effected
with considerable saving. The adoption of this plan
will enable the Exchequer to discharge its peculiar
and exclusive jurisdiction all the better. The law
business, of which, owing to the efficiency of the
Court, and the high opinion entertained of it by the
legal profession, it has more than a fair proportion,
will be more speedily dispatched, and the revenue
jurisdiction, which 1 believe is very much exercised,
will give also its quota of employment in addition to
the contents of the enormous Nisi Prius list that
generally appears posted at the end of term, as well as
in the progress of it. At all events, it the equity juris-
diction be not abolished, you are right in say ing no
time should be lost in putting the present establish-
ment on a rational footing, and gettieg rid of the
eyesore of sinecures, which, as you truly say, set an
example for extravagant imitations.
Dublin, Jan. 16.

ACCIDENT TO THE MEDUSA.
Marseilles (on board the Medusa),
Jan. 12, Eleven o'clock, A.M.
The India Mail, which left London on the evening of
the Bth, only reached this place this morning at half-past
two o'clock. The mail was immediately put on board
the Medusa, Commander Bathurst. The wind blowing
strongly from the N.W., the steamer could not get under
weigh before nine A.m., the wind blowing almost a hurri-
cane. Trying to round the point of the harbour, the
wind caught the steamer on her bow, and prevented
her from answering her helm. Perceiving that she
could not weather the point, the commander, who is
one of our most energetic officers, ordered the engines
to be stopped and the anchors let go. Ou swinging to
the wind the steamer took the ground abaft. The
French vessels immediately sent their boats, and gave
every assistance in their power. I am happy to say,
owing to a soft mud ground, the Medusa has not sus-
tained the slightest injury, and was got off in less than
two hours.

The excellent manoeuvring of the commander and the
master, Kiddie, has been greatly praised by the French
naval officers.

The Medusa will not in all probability, owing to the
strong north-west wind, be able to leave the port to-day.
The Lieutenant of the port, Mr. Michil, gave the most
efficient assistance to the steamer.

ANECDOTES CONNECTED WITH

THE LATE LORD NELSON. • •
(Continued from Ihe Sun of Monday, Jan. 15.)
Our readers will observe that in the article above
alludel to Lord Nelson was in the Gulf of Feria, with
the fleet under his command, on the morning of the
discovery that the Island of Trinidad was still in pos-
session of the British forces, under the command of Sir
Thomas Hislop, the Governor.
The mortification of Lord Nelson on finding that he
was deceived in thelinformation he had had given to him,
and had lost much valuable time in his pursuit of the
French and Spanish fleet by his coming to Trinidad, and
not finding the above fleet at anchor there as ho ex-
pected, was extreme. He did ziot lose a moment, but was
instantly under weigh again, and before night was
through the Straits, called the Boceas, making all sail
towards the French %Vest India Islands, fully bent, no
doubt, on wreaking his vengeance on the enemy, who,
on hearing of his Lordship's being in full pursuit of
him, very wisely bent his course to wards Europe.
It may, however, be deemed a most fortunate circum-
stance that Lord Nelson did not meet with the enemy's
fleet in the West Indies. The latter, though the same
number in ships as the British fleet, was considerably
stronger in guns—and the difference was probably such
that the former might have been disabled, as, notwith-
standing the great disparity of force, there is no doubt but
that Lord Nelson would have attacked them, weak as his
force was in comparison to the enemy. The papers of
the day will give all the details of the pursuit, and,
which ended in Lon' Nelson being fairly baffled in his
exertions to overtake the enemy, who found his way to
the Spanish coast to suffer defeat by the glorious
victory of Trafalgar.
By a singular coincidence, the officer who commanded
the batteries at Ilislop's Advance, which might have
caused the destruction of Lord Nelson, was on his
passage from the West Indies to England, and passed
very near the fleet under the command of his Lordship,
landed in England about the same moment the battle
of Trafalgar was fought, was present at the funeral
ceremony of the gallant and lamented Nelson in St. Paul's,
and we have reason to believe is now in London.
We understand that he had lately in his possession an
unfinished letter of Lord Nelson's, written before he re-
ceived his death-wound as well as the identical pen with
which this letter was written.

By another singular coincidence this same officer was
at Gibraltar at the time when the British fleet under
Lord Nelson was in the bay of that fortress, and being
iu indifferent health in consequence of the fatigues at-
tendant on his professional duties, which bad been very
severe, he was desirous of taking a cruise in the Medi-
terranean in one of the line-of-battle ships of the fleet.
In communicating his wishes to Lord Nelson, his
Lordship remarked he was going on a most arduous ser-
vice which might render a cruise not at all favourable to
an invalid. In point of fact he was at that moment
planning the battle of the Nile, which there is no doubt
was all concocted in the Bay of Gibraltar; and with the
wonderful foresight of that extraordinary man, was
no doubt followed up by his finding the
French fleet in the Bay of Aboukir—exactly as he ex-
pected he should find all his arrangements being
made, he had nothing further to do than to let the sons
of England do their duty, which duty the battle of the
Nile showed to the world they most nobly did.
During the whole time the British fleet lay in the Bay
of Gibraltar, Lord Nelson is said never to have quitted
his cabinat all events, he never once set foot on shore,
his whole mind, no doubt, absorbed in the anticipation of
meeting the French fleet, and thwarting the designs of
the ambitious and restless Napoleon, who saw in the de-
struction of the L'Orient and the rest of the fleet scat-
tered here and there the overthow of all his hopes.

*,,,* In the last sentence but one of the former communi-
cation, " at the tomb" should have been printed "and the
tomb."

DISPENSARY for CONSUMPTION.
The first anniversary dinner in aid of the funds of this
excellent institution took place last night at the London
Tavern, Bishopsgate-street; Mr. Benjamin Bond Cabbell,
M.P., in the chair. There was a full attendance of the
friends and supporters of the dispensary, and ample
justice was done to a very sumptuous repast, which of
course embraced all the delicacies of the season.
After the cloth was removed the usual loyal and con-
stitutional toasts were given from the chair, and heartily
responded to.

The CHAIRMAN, in proposing the " Army and Navy,"
remarked that latterly a disposition had been shown in
some quarters to throw discredit on the services, but he
was happy to say that sentiment was shared but by a
very small portion of the community. Whatever might
be their feelings in reference to either a reduction of the
army or the navy, they ought never to forget the ser-
vices which the members of both professions had ren-
dered the country, and in proposing this. toast he had
much pleasure in uniting with it the names of Sir John
Campbell and Captain Powell, R.N.
Captain FOWELL, of the Cherokee, in returning
thanks on behalf of the navy, said, with regard to the
question of a reduction in either service, he
had no ob-
jection to it provided it did not interfere with the inte-
rests of the country; but he believed they, were met
there fora Christian purpose, and as a Christian he must
deprecate war. But although he deprecated war, he
hoped both the army and the navy would bo ever ready
to do their duty when the defence or maintenance of the
honour. of the country required it.
The CnAlnineri, in proposing the toast of the even-
ing, namely, " Prosperity to the Dispensary," said this
was the first meeting in respect of this institution, in
fact, it might be considered the inauguration of the
charity, for they had met to sanction and ratify the
proceedings of the gentlemen who had been instru-
Mental in its foundation. In establishing this institu-
tion those gentlemen disclaimed anything like rivalship
or opposition to the parent institution at Brompton, but
they did think the managers of that hospital were wrong
in removing its sphere of action so far from the metro-
polis. However many of the warmest supporters of the
hospital had assisted in establishing this dispensary, to
supply the deficiency which that removal had created, and
to prove what success had attended their efforts hemight

mention that the number of out-patients connected with
the institution was no less than 976. Every body must
feel interested in the success of an institution like this,
which had for its object the mitigation of the sufferings
of the poor, by affording them relief from a terrible and
always expensive disease, if he might use the expression,
and he was confident it would meet with the warm sup-
port of the public. '
The toast having been enthusiastically drunk.
Mi. HUDSON, the secretary, read the report, from
which it appeared that the number of patients entered on
the books since the commencement of the dispensary in
October, 1847, was 923, the number cured was 185,
while the number of deaths was 54.
Mr. NELSON, in responding to the toast, feelingly
dwelt upon the expediency of opening district dispen-
saries to alleviate the painful sufferings of pour persons
afflicted with consumption. The necessity for such in-
stitutions might be gathered from the fact, that of the
30,000 persons who died during the last three years, be-
tween
the ages of 15 and 60, more than a third of the
number, or 11,000, died of consumption.
The festivities of the evening were greatly enhanced
by the exertions of a corps of glee singers under the
direction of Mr. Bruton.
Mr. Higgs acted as toastmaster.

Before the meeting broke up several handsome sub•
seriptions were announced.

THE FIRST LORD OF THE
ADMIRALTY.
Sir Francis Baring, M.P. for Portsmouth, being ,
inca-
pacitated from sitting, by his new place of First Lord ()f
the Admiralty, until re-elected, has offered himself again
to his old constituents, as will be seen by the following
address, published on Monday in Portsmouth:—
" Gentlemen,—Her Majesty has been graciously
pleased to appoint me First Lord of the Admiralty, and
my seat is in consequence vacated.
" The public service has suffered a great loss by the
death of Lord Auckland, and I fear I shall ill supply
his place; but I have returned to office to gratify no per-
sonal inclinations, and I hope I have not forfeited your
good opinion by the step I have taken.
" I take the earliest opportunity of asking you to ex-
tend to me the same confidence that I have experienced
on former occasions.

" I am aware that some of my friends are accustomed
to look with jealousy at the representation of Ports-
mouth being held by any person officially connected with
the Admiralty, and I am not surprised at this feeling;
but as I do not owe my long connexion with you to
merely an official tic, but have been trusted by you for
twenty years, during many political changes, I trust
there is no just ground for any distrust in my case.
There are more, perhaps, who expect much advantage to
the local interests from my official connexion with the
Admiralty. I have heard this topic much used when it
told againbt me, but I cannot hold out any such expec-
tations. The duty of my office must not give way to my
own inclinations.

" I shall have to enforce economy of the establish-
ments of the yards. I know how painful he task of re-
duction always is, and how heavily it presses on personal
interests, but when done it must be done fairly, and I
cannot exempt Portsmouth on personal grounds.
" Lord Auckland issued regulations respecting pro-
motion in the dockyard; I concur in the principle of
those regulations, namely, that when once in the dock-
yard a man should rise by his conduct, and not by
favouritism or political interest. I will endeavour to
give effect to the principle as fully at Portsmouth as
elsewhere.
" Much patronage in a gallant profession will be en-
trusted to me. I will not consent to use it merely to
grAti:y my own personal feelings of friendship, much
less to injure those who may not have served me, though
they have served their country.
" Official duties will prevent my coming among you
as soon as I could wish. I must trust to your indul-
gence. My absence will arise from no want of respect.
" I owe you much for kindness during a long con-
nexion; and if I am really anxious for a political dis-
tinction, it is for the honour of continuing your repre-
sentative.
" I am, Gentlemen, yours very gratefully,
" London, Jan. 15, 1849." " F. BARING.

TUE LATE ROBBERY ON THE GREAT WESTERN

RAILWAY.—The following extraordinary statement ap-
pears in Trewrnan's Flying Post:—". We are in a posi-
tion to assert an extraordinary fact connected with these
Jack Sheppard-like achievements:—The plan of the late
robbery of the down train was communicated to two i
highly respectable persons n Taunton (one of whom
we have the pleasure of knowing) some four or five
months since. The detail was so accurate as to give
the man's name (who is now actually in custody), the
description of disguise, and the manner in which the
robbery was to be accomplished, the whole of which
has been perpetrated to the very letter. The
information was given to the. respected parties
above alluded to by the wife of the supposed
accomplices in this and many other railway
schemes. The parties immediately communicated
this to the railway authorities, and we trust that it may
lead to the capture of as formidable a gang of ruffians
as ever infested any community. The persons to whom
the information here referred to was given are of the
highest respectability—Mr. Eales White, proprietor of
the East Reach brewery, and AIL James Dyer, surgeon,
Taunton." Upon this the Taunton Courier comments
as follows .—" The correctness of the above statement
we can fully confirm. The communication was made
most circumstantially to the persons named as to the
mode in which the late robbery was to be effected, and
the description of the disguise to be used was minutely
described, even to the moustaches' found in the rail-
way carriage occupied by the prisoners. Why the di-
rectors, to whom the above particulars were communi-
cated, did not timely adopt some investigation as to their
accuracy, may seem to render them vulnerable to cen-
sure; but it should be known, and is not among the
incidents of the disclosures narrated in the above state-
ment, that the communication was made by the wife of
the man said to be implicated in the robbery while in
a paroxysm of anger arising from the ill usage she had
experienced. He had, consistent with his accustomed
brutality, turned her out of his house, and it was while
consulting those to whom she had appealed for advice
that the various and long• continued enormities of her
husband had been disclosed. The directors, therefore,
possibly considered that the allegations were unworthy
of attention; but it is not improbable that their conduct
may be charged upon them as an indefensible supine-
ness by those who may seek legal redress for the losses
they have sustained."
CLEAR SPACE FOR ST. PAUL'S.—It has always
been regretted that London's greatest architectural orna-
ment should be so barred from an adequate view. The
enormous value of house property here has hitherto ren-
dered any expansion of space a serious question of ex-
penditure. The house of Messrs. Butler at the north-
east corner, and that of Messrs. Goodyear, the corner o
Watling-street, appear built purposely to create impedi-
ments. An angular slice from the fronts of Messrs.
Hitchcock and Allan, on the north side, would restore
much of an evenness of line there, and these removals
would be of comparatively small cost. But how much
greater would be the advantages of display if the ugly
iron railing were demolished, and the entire area paved
and made open, like Irafalgar-square, or the space
opposite the Royal Exchange I Ample room would
be obtained for the traffic by enlarging the roadway
on the south side, and the two cab-stands would be-
come no inconvenience if provided for on the south-
eastern space. The majestic portico would rise into
due consequence, as well as the beautiful semicircular
ones of the transepts. Between the steps of the northern
poitico and the railing 20 feet more of width would be
added to the thoroughfare. What is now redolent of
many evils would become a great improvement and or-
nament of the metropolis, a source of enjoyment to the
cultivated class of inhabitants and visitors, as well as
causing the abolition of a constricted circulation in its
present impure and nasty state. The open areas re-
cently added at Trafalgar-square and the Royal Ex-
change afford delightful breathing-room to enjoy the
scenes around, a kind of refuge from the sweeping tor-
rent of the multitude in the incessant pursuit of mun-
dane matters.
There is no apprehension of the steps of
the portico being infested by improper persons, as may
be already evidenced at St. Martin's Church and the
Royal Exchange. The presence of a single policeman
would always ensure due propriety and decency.—The
Builder.

SEIZURE OF ILLICIT SPlRlTS.—Yesterday Mr.
George George, an officer of Customs, accompanied by
Messrs. Sargent and Mack, officers' of Excise, from in*.
formation received, proceeded to the house ,of a man
named George Knight, Ague-place, ,St. Pancras, to
search for an illicit still, supposed to be at work there.
On their arrival the door was opened by a female, who
stoutly denied that anything of a contraband nature was
on the premises. The officers, however, were not to be
put off with such an answer, but determined on satisfy-
ing themselves. They accordingly made a search of the
house, and found three large carboys, each containing 16
pleon to glean any h
gallons of illicit spirits 30 over proof, besides several
other vessels used in illicit distillation. The woman in
the house showed very considerable tact in avoiding
seidpionsgas.
all
sqiuoenstoifontshceaseleaurlatitceldes,toanthdriotwwaans imylight ub
information from her. No still was found in the house;
but the officers had good reason to believe that it was at
work in some neighbouring premises, but their search-
warrant being confined to the house they entered, they
were unable safely to go beyond that authority. The
seizure was then conveyed to Broad-street warehouses.
PUBLIC MONEL—By the Act passed last session,
in regard to penal proceedings, gaolers are required, im-
mediately on receiving penalties and costs paid to them
by prisoners in order to entitle their release, to pay
thea
thatmou he may,ntove in thertothe usual course, clerk, in
order
apply
the money
conformable to law. This is a very proper requirement
of gaolers.

PURCHASE OP HORSES FOE THE FRENCH REPUBLIC.
—We understand that the Government of France has a
number of agents in this country purchasing horses
suitable for troopers. One agent has bought several in
the neighbourhood of Ipswich, and forwarded them for
inspection with all possible -opeed.—.l3tiry and Suffolk
Herald.
The Government surveyors were engaged yester-
day in surveying the Excise establishment in Broad-
street, to ascertain how far those premises are available
for the whole business of the joint department of the
Excise and Stamps and Taxes. The belief gains ground
that Somerset-house, as far as the Stamps and Taxes
Office is concerned, will be altogether abandoned.
THE NATIONAL SOCIETY.—The Rev. John G.
Lonsdale, son of the Bishop of Lichfield, has been ap-
pointed Secretary of the National Society, rendered
vacant by the resignation of the Rev. W. J. Kenedy, who
is now one of the Goverpment Inspectors of Schools.
Sir Robert and Lady. Peel have returned to
Drayton Manor, Staffordshire, from town. Captain W.
Peel, R.N., left town yesterday, to join the family circle
assembled at the above seat.

ALTERATION. OF IRISH POOR-

LAWS.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

SlR,—Since t last addressed you, Mr. Tuite, late
M.P. for Westmeath, has publicly avowed the end
sought for by those who propose to limit the area of
Poor-law taxation to individual estates; he desires
to put " the screw upon all properties in the possession
of the indolent and hard-hearted landlord and tenant,
the absentee, and, worst class than all, the estates in
Chancery."
What a specimen of injustice! of confusion of
ideas ! of short•sighted policy !
Of injustice, because Mr. Tuite proposes to put
" the screw" on the orphan and the widow who are
under the protection of the Court of Chancery. Of
con usion of ideas, because the hard-hearted landlord
is not the man, hether absentee or otherwi,e, who
indolently refuses to evict from their homes the
wretched peasantry. Of short-sighted policy, because
it Mr. Tuite's proposal became the law, most assuredly
its calamitous results would recoil most fearfully upon
himself.

The support that such a proposal has received
from the Morning Chronicle—the organ of Sir Ro-
bert Peel's party—gives to it an importance it would
nut otherwise possess, and renders it useful to examine
the true character of Mr. Tuite's proposal to put
"the screw" on his helpless neighbour. Oh no, not
helpless, for Mr. Tuite informs us, " that the legal
functionaries and managers under the Court of Chan-
cery are willing to co-operate, but that the law will
not permit them."
Thank God ! the law will not permit legal func-
tionaries or managers of an estate in Chancery to
turn farmers or improvers at their client's risk, at
the bidding of an interested neighbour ; and states-
men will not commit the injustice of putting " the
screw" upon such property merely to afford a tem-
porary benefit to Mr. Tuite; for temporary, indeed,
would be the benefit.

What can be more certain, than that the adoption
of Mr. Tuite's " screw," would chiefly benefit the
hard-hearted landlord, who has already banished
from their hearths, and fired the houses of his wretched
peasantry, and those who with Mr. Tuite's " screw"
as a premium would lose
,no time in adopting similar
measures?

Does not every man of tolerably sound judgment
know that Mr. Tuite's "screw." like all others of a
similar character, from drawing the teeth of a wealthy
Israelite to this new invention, must have an end; and
what then—after his "screw" had thrown out of cul-
tivation the land of the orphaditind the widow—after
excessive poor-rates had reduced their estate to the
condition of the whole parish of Chorlesbury, swarm-
ing with poor, and without rent ? What next ?
Upon whom then would Mr. Tuite put the " screw"
—upon himself or the British nation ? I pause for a
reply without promising to accept the answer, which
may be given as that of the real intention of the
parties.
But suppose Mr. Tuite to say, and to be sincere in
saying, " Oh, then you may give me a turn of the
screw, and by a rate in aid I will contribute to the
support of the poor on such a property." What then
will Mr. Tuite have gained by ruining his neighbour ?
Gained, indeed !! ! Why just what such men
deserve to gain who wish to " put the screw" on the
unprotected. A demoralized pauper population on the
adjoining estate, anxious, after they had eaten up
the unfortunate ward in Chancery, for their next prey,
would very speedily teach such legislators " that
i
honesty was the best policy."
The Legislature can no more prevent Mr. Tuite
can
his
All
whicht iv a
afflictedte his
withplarnodp ,0
stt
the
dea
—l3
v z.,having it
the
can on e
idle
d ow
neighbourih
is that
t
hawast
having an idle neighbour, who will not properly
preventcholera.cul-
reaping the whole benefit arising from the industry
and capital of a more fortunate proprietor.
That a stupendous evil exists is unfortunately too
true, and in this, as well as other instances in our
legislative annals, " One-eyed men," by preventing
Government from adopting the earliest remedy which
was proposed, have increased the cry for legislation
to a tearful extent beyond what was requisite to meet
the real evil.

And the organ of Sir Robert Peel's party has
openly supported the proposal! What, is the battle
of faction again to be fought on Irish ground—for-
getful or heedless of the misery such conduct has
created? Strange, indeed, if Sir Robert Peel, who
began his political career by fomenting the evil pre-
judices of the bigoted Orangemen, should close it by
pandering to the fancied interests of a landed oligarchy.
I am, Sir, y our very obedient servant,
RIGBY WAS ON.
Corwar, Jan. 14, 1849.

COURT CIRCUL
:WINDSOR, WEDNESDAY.

Mademoiselle Jenny Lind, Mrs. Anderson, and
Signor Belletti, had the honour of performing at
W incisor Castle on Tuesday evening. The following
is the programme :
Overture—" Promethee" Beethoven.
Cavatina—" Di Placer," Mdlle. Jenny
Lind (La Gazza Ladra) Rossini.
Allegro (Trio, E flat), pianoforte, Mrs
Anderson ; violin, Mr. Sainton; and
violoncello, Mr. IL Chipp . Beethoven.
Lieder—"Suleika," Madlle. Jenny Lind Mendelssohn.
Aria—"Ecco it pegno," Sig. Belletti Donizetti.
Lieder—" " 0 Jugend 0 Schone Ro-
senzeit," " Das erste Veilchen,"
Madlle. Jenny Lind . Mendelssohn.
Adagio (Trio, E flat), pianoforte, Mrs.
Anderson ; violin, Mr. Sainton ; and
violoncello, Mr. IL Chipp Beethoven.
Duetto—" Per piacere " Mdlle. Jenny
Lind and Signor Belletti (II Turco) Rossini.
Lieder—" Am Meer," Schubert," Ich

muss nun einmal singen," Madlle.
Jenny Lind Taubert.
Marien Walzer
Mrs. Anderson presided at the pianoforte.
Her Majesty walked this morning in the pleasure-
grounds around the Castle.
The Royal Family took their accustomed airings.
Prince Albert went out shooting this forenoon, ac-
companied by the Duke of Bedford, the Marquis of
Abercorn, and Earl Spencer, and attended by his
Royal Highness's Equerry in Waiting, Captain the
Hon. A. Gordon.

His Royal Highness Prince George is expected to
arrive at the Castle this evening.
The royal dinner party this evening will include
her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, his Royal
Highness Prince George, her Serene Highness the
Princess Amelie of Hohenlohe Schillingsfurst, ber
Serene Highness the Princess Elise of Hohenlohe
Schillingsfurst, the Duchess of Sutherland and Lady
C. Leveson Gower, Lady Fanny Howard, Baroness
de Speth, the Duke and Duchess of Bedford, the
Marquis and Marchioness of Abercorn, the Earl of
Aberdeen, the Earl Spencer, and Colonel Wylde.
The band of the 2d Life Guards will attend during
dinner. The Queen's private band will afterwards
attend in the Castle.

Mr. H. Maclean had an interview with Earl Grey
yesterday, Sir C. F. Smith and Sir John Pelly had
also interviews with the Noble Earl yesterday, at the
Colonial-office.

A deputation, consisting of Mr. Pattison, M.P.,
Mr. Masterman, M.P., Mr. John Wood, Mr. De-
puty Harrison, Mr, John Dixon, Mr. Loot, Mr. T.
H. Hall, and Mr. R. Taylor, had a conference with
Lord John Russell, the Earl of Carlisle, and the
Hon. Charles Gore yesterday, at the official residence
of the Noble Lord in Downing-street.
The Marquis of Lansdowne, Lord President of
the Council, has issued invitations to the Cabinet
Ministers and the Great Officers of State of the
Queen's Household to a grand dinner on the 3d of
February, at Lansdowne-house to settle the roll of
Sheriffs for the present year.
Mr. Locke King had an interview with Sir George
Grey yesterday. Sir Benjamin Brodie had also an
interview yesterday with the Right Hon. Baronet, at
the Home-office. _

Mr. John Wood had an interview with the Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer yesterday, at his official resi-
dence in Downing-street.

The Right Hon. Sir Francis Baring attended at
the Admiralty on Tuesday.

THE WESTMINSTER IMPROVEMENTS.—Yesterday
the Commissioners for carrying out the proposed im-
provements in Westminster obtained possession of the
whole of the houses between Pye-street, Pear-street, and
the Broadway and Artillery-row, Strutton-ground, West-
minster, the whole of which are now evacuated, and will
be pulled down forthwith for the formation of the new
opening to Pimlico to be called Victoria-street. The
Commissioners have already removed the Westminster
School of Medicine and the Royal Maternity Hospital,
in Dean-street, and a great many houses in Tothill-
street, to make the proposed line of street through
Queen-square into St. James's-park, to facilitate the
royal progress between Buckingham Palace and the New
Palace at Westminster.

PHILANTHROPIC SOClETY.—Yesterday a meeting
of the friends of this society was held at the London Ta-
vern, for the purpose of receiving the report of the
committee appointed to carry out the arrangements
with regard to the model farm at Red Hill, and to take
same steps for the removal of the society from London.
W. Gladstone, Esq., in the chair. The secretary read
the report. It stated that some time since the com-
mittee selected u hat they considered a suitable spot for
the erection of the model farm, but a gentleman, a friend
of the society, objecting to it, offering the very large do-
nation of 1,0001. if the site were changed for one more
eligible, the committee bad concluded arrangements for
the lease of a farm at Raetd Hill
seal .
to the Nothing now remaiand
ned
but to affix the corpore
consult his Roy agreement,
al Highness Prince Albert as to the time
when he would lay the first stone of the new buildings
and chapel; and that would at once be done on the
,•)11,-0,13 of the Court being given to the report which
hau been read.
.The report was then adopted, and votes
of thanks being given to the donor of 1,0001. and to the
chairman, the Court adjourned.

LITERATURE.

POEMS OF FELICIA HEMAAYS. A New

Edition. pp. 652.
Uniform with the beautiful editions in one volume
of Byron, of Southey, of Moore, of Crabbe, and of
others of our most celebrated poets, we have now from
the eminent establishment of the Messrs. Black wood
a new and complete edition of the poetical writings
of Felicia Hemans. We are grateful for this publi-
cation. For Mrs. Hemans has long since risen into a
classic. She requires no, eulogium. Her composi-
tions constitute her truest panegyric. Her popu-
larity is her crown of bay leaves. She stands fore-
most amongst those graceful Queens of English litera-
ture, amidst the noblest of whom must be ranked
Letitia Landon and Elizabethßarrett Browning. Any
criticism upon the works of Mrs. Hemans at this
period in the customary reviews of a journalist would
be miserably out of date : to carp at any blemishes
in the poems would be ungracious now that we have
obtained for the first time a correct collection of these
renowned productions : to utter a series of com-
mendations upon their merits would, to say the least
of it, be a matter of supererogation. How deeply
we ought to prize the elusions of an intellect like that
of this woman, of exquisite susceptibility, may be felt
by those who have rightly read her most charming
poem of the " Diver." There it is that, speaking of the
dangers and agonies of those who seek the sub-
marine jewels in that perilous calling, she exclaims—
" Woe for the wealth thus dearly bought ;
And are not those like thee,
Who win fer earth the gems of thought?
0, wrestler with the sea!
Down to the gulfs of the soul they go,
Where the passion fountains burn;
Gathering the jewels far below
From many a buried urn.
Wringing from lava-veins the fire,
That o'er bright words is poured;
Learning deep sounds to make the lyre
A spirit in each chord.
And who will think, when the strain is sung,
Till a thousand hearts are stirr'd,
What life-drops, from the minstrel wrung,
How gush'd with every word?
None, nonel—his treasures live like thine,
He strives and dies like thee;
Thou that hast been to the pearl's dark shrine,
0, wrestler with the sea!
Such treasures are crowded together in the casket of
this volume. There are the Welsh Melodies, the
Songs of the Cid, the Greek Songs, the Lays of
Many Lands, the Domestic Affections, the Juvenile
Poems, the Tales and Historic Scenes, the Songs of
the Affections, the Records of Woman, the Hymns
for Childhood, the Lyrics, the Scenes and Hymns of
Life, the Sonnets, the Vespers of Palermo, the
Siege of Valencia, the Crusaders or de Chatillon,
the Forest Sanctuary, the Sceptic, Superstition, and
Revelation, Dartmoor, Sebastian of Portugal, Mo-
dern Greece, the translations from Camoens and from
Horace, and a multitude of other pieces of a miscel-
laneous character. The following will be perused
with peculiar interest, and may be aptly transcribed
into our columns as a specimen of the completeness of
the present remarkable volume :

CHRONOLOGY OF MRS. HEMANS' LIFE AND WORKS.

1793.

Felicia Dorothea Browne, born at Liverpool, Sept. 25,
1800 (mt. 7).

Removes with family iron; Liverpool to Gwrych, near
Abergele, Denbighshire—Shortly afterwards composes
Linea on her Mother's Birthday.
1804 (11).
Spends winter in London—Writes thence letter in
rhyme to Brother and Sister in Wales.

1808 (15).
Colleftion of poems printed in 4to.—England and Spain
written—Becomes acquainted with Captain Hemans.
1809 (16).
Family remove to Bronwylta in Flintshire—Pursues
her studies in French, Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese
—Acquires the elements of German; and shows a taste
for drawing and music.

1812 (19).
Domestic Affections and other poems published—
Marries Captain Hemans—Takes up residence at Da.
ventry, Northamptonshire.
1813 (20).
Son Arthur born—Returns to Bronwylfa.
1816 (23). _ _

Publishes Restoration of the Works of Art to Italy
also Modern Greece. _

1818 (25).
Makes Translations from Camoens and others—Pub-
lishes Stanzas on the Death of Princess Charlotte
(Blackwood's Magazine, April).
1819 (26).
Tales and Historic Scenes published—Gains prin for
best poem on the Meeting of Wallace and Bruce—Cap.
tain Hemans takes up residence in Italy—Family con-
sists of five sons.

1820 (27).
Publishes poem of Sceptic—Becomes acquainted with
Bishop Heber and his brother Richard—Corresponds
with Mr. Gifford—Contributes papers en Foreign Li-
terature to Edinburgh Magazine—Publishes Stanzas to
tine Memory ot. George the Third—Visits Wavertree
Lodge, near Liverpool (October).

IS2I (28).
Poem of Dartmoor obtains prize offered by Royal So-
ciety of Literature—Corresponds with Rev. Mr. Milman
and Dr. Croly—Writes Vespers of Palermo—Extends
her German studies—Writes Welsh Melodies.