The Sun.
London, England, 1849-06-07 00:00:00

COURT CIRCULAR.
W
Her Mtijesty had an evening party
WEDNESDAY.
yesterday at
tthe
Castle.
The following had the honour of receiving invitations:
—The Marquis and Marchioness of Ely, the Earl Gran-
ville, Viscount Canterbury, Lady Rachel Russell, Lord
and Lady Newport, Lord Hinton, Mr. and Lady Sophia
Des Vocutr, Colonel and the Misses Meyrick, Mr. and
Mrs. John Stanley, Mr. H. airing, the Dean of Wind-
sor and L;dy Charlotte Neville Grenvill&and the Misses
Neville. Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Neville, Mr. G. Bentinck,
Hon. Mr. Lawley, Hon. Mr. Frank Lawley, Mr. Sey-
mour Neville, Mr. Edward Neville, the Earl and Coun- 1

tess Talbot and Lady Victoria Talbot, Lord John Man-
ners, Lord and Lady Norreys, General and Lady
Isabella Wernyss, Mirt.s Wemyss, Mr. Birch, Colonel
Ferguson and Captain Williams.
The Queen's private band attended in the Castle dur-
ing the evenirg.
This morning his Royal Highness Prince Henry, of
the Netherhinds, to .k leave of her Majesty and Prince
Albert, and return, dto town. His Royal Highness was
attended by his Excellency Count Schiaunelpenuinck,
Vice-Admiral Lucas, Lieut.-Colonel Rigot, and Lieut.
Van Rapper J. The Prince and his suite quitq:d the
Cas le at twelve o'clock, in one of the Que. Al's carriages
and four, and proceeded to the Slough station of the
Great Western Thilway.
His Serene llLhne-s, Prince Edward of Saxe Weimar,
the Duchess of Norfolk. and Ludy Mary Fi<zalan How-
ard, the Duk.. of Rutland, the Marchioness of Breadat-
bane, the Marquis and Marchioness of Worcester, and
Col W)lde, also left the Castle this afternoon.

His Royal Highness Prince Leopold, Count of Syra-
cuse, arrived at the Castle, attenrkd by the Chevalier de
Colonna, at a quarter-past five o'clock this afternoon, en
a visit to her Majesty. His Royal Highness travelled
from town by the Great Western Railway.
Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of
Cambridge, and the Hereditary Grand Duke and Grand
Duchess of Mecklenburg Strelitz, afterwards arrived at
the Castle, from town, on a visit to the Queen. In wait-
ing on the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, were Baron
Knesebeck and Leidy Augusta Cadogan.
HU Royal Highness Prince George arrived this after-
noon, on a visit to her Majesty.
His Excellency General Prince Castelcicala, the Nea-
politan Minister, the Duke and Duchess of Buccleuch,
the Marchioness of Abercorn, the Countess Fortescue,
the Earl and Counters Spencer, the Earl of Bessborough,
and Lord George Lennox (Lord in waiting to Prince
Albert) also arrived this afternoon at the Castle.

The Countess of Desart arrived at the Castle to-day,
and has succeeded the Viscountess Canning, as the Lady
in waiting to the Queen. The Viscountess and Viscount
Canning left the Castle this morning.
The Queen and Prince Albert, walked this morning,
at their usual early hour, in the Home park.
The Royal Family took their accustomed pony and
walking exercise to-day.
Her Majesty had a dinner party this evening in the
Castle. The company invited included her Royal High-
ness the Duchess of Kent, their Royal Highnesses the
Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, His Royal Highness
Prince George, their Royal Highnesses the Hereditary
Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of Mecklenburg Stre-
litz, his Royal Highness Prince Leopold Count of Syra-
cuse, his Excellency Prince Castelcicala, the Duchess of
Sutherland, the Duke of Wellington, the Duke of Nor-
folk, the Duke and Duchess of Buccleuch, Lady Augusta
Bruce (in waiting on the Duchess of Kent), Lady Au-
gusta Cadogan (in waiting on the Duchess of Cam-
bridge), Baroness de Speth, the Marquis of Breadal-
bane, the Marquis and Marchioness of Abercorn, the
Earl and Countess Fortescue, the Earl and Countess
Spencer, the Earl of Besborough, Lady Emily de Burgh,
Lord George Lennox, Baron Knesebtck (in waiting on
his Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge), and the
Chevalier de Colonna (in waiting on his Royal Highness
the Count of Syracuse).
The Band of the 2d Regiment of Life Guards was in
attendance, and played a number of favourite pieces
during dinner.
Her Majesty's private band afterwards attended in the
Castle.

A Cabinet Council was held yesterday afternoon, at
the Foreign-Office; Downing-street, which was attended
by Lord John Russell, Sir George Grey, Earl Grey, the
Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Marquis of Lans-
.lowne, Sir Francis Baring, Mr. Lahouchere. the Earl of
Carlisle, the Earl of Mir►to, and Lord Campbell. The
Ministers assembled at three o'clock, and remained in
deliberation till a quarter to five o'clock.
Mr. Philip Edmond Wodehouse had an interview with
&in Grey yesterday, at the Colonial-office.
Lord John Russell left town yesterday evening for
Richmond. _ _

The School of Design had a meeting at the Board of
Trade yesterday.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
take the liberty of asking you to have the good-
ness to state in 7 he Sun to-morrow, if there be yet time to
do so, or, if not, the next day, that I have been suffering
under very severe illness for several days, which utterly
precluded the possibility of my attendance in Parlia-
ment, and deprived me of the power of joining my vote
with that of the minority on Mr. Hume's motion for a
further Reform of Parliament—a motion in every
word of which, as last night laid before the House, I
heartily and eagerly concurred, and which it is a great
disappointment to me to have been disabled from Toting
in favour of.

By being good enough to give early insertion to this,
you will much oblige, sir, your obedient servant,

NUGENT.

Wind3or, June 6, 1849.

HOW GREAT NATIONS HONOUR GREAT
MEN.
AN OLD FARCE REVIVED.
And so, Alphonse de Lamartine,
Your statue is erected,
As greatest meu's have ever been
Amid the great neglected;
From Gascony to fair Lorraine,
From Northern sea to middle main,
Disowned, despised, rejected!
Not one department, not e'en one,
To save all France's honour,
Could recollect the glorious sun
That freedom shed upon her;
Could call to mind the gifts he gave,
Not one refused the shame to brave,
Of scoffing at their donor.
And arts thou fallen ?—fallen —No !
By heaven, thou art risen
Or, let us say, art fallen as low
As Socrates in prison;
As Aristides when he wrote
• Upon the oyster shell, the vote,
Hate's triumph to bedizen.
Let meaner spirits fill the space
- Thy presence once made glorious,
Let abject scribes thy fame deface,
In scoffings base, censorious,
The future will thy crown accord,
And—bitter jest I—the self-reward
Of virtue, is notorious!

The Puppet Show.

PRINCESS'S THEATRE.—Last evening Mr. Charles
Braham took his first theatrical benefit at this theatre,
which was crowded. The performance commenced with
the opera of the Devil's Bt idge, composed by Braham
the elder, and which, some twenty years ago, was stilt a
favourite with the playgoing public. Mr. Charles Bra-
ham sustained the character of Count Belino, which was
formerly played by his father, and sang the music in a
style 4o call up frequent reminiscences. One of his most
successful efforts was the well-known air "Is there a
heart that never loved." Ili a miscellaneous concert
which followed the opera, comprising the chief vocal
strength of the company, the elder Braham delighted
the audience by his " Ray of Biscay." Of course he
was enthusiastically encored. The evening's entertain-
ment concluded with the first act of Love in a Village, in
which Mr. Charles Braham was the Hawthorn.
THE LATE MR. Jou& FIELDEs.--The remains of
this earnest and consistent-advocate of the rights of the
factory operative were consigned to the tomb on Mon-
day last, in his own chapel-yard, Honey-hole, Todmor-
den. The funeral procession moved from Centre-vale
about 12 o'clock, headed by the minister, Mr. Taylor,
and the Rev. J. Wilkinson, of Rochdale, followed by
the gentlemen of the neighbourhood and the principal
managers of the firm of Messrs. Fielder,. Then came
the hearse, attended on each side by six mourners, fol.
lowed by two mourning coaches, one of which con-
tained the sons and brothers of the deceased. Four
other coaches followed, containing relatives and friends,
among whom were Mr. Charles Hindley, M.P. for
Ashton (who had come down from London to pay the
last tribute of respect to his late friend), and Messrs.
John and James Cobbett. Great numbers of gentlemen
and operatives from Oldham, Bolton, and Manchester,
who had come unsolicited to pay a mark of respect to
their friend and benefactor, the deceased, followed
in
procession. The, road was lined with spec.
tators, and thousands were gathered on the hill
sides and on the tops of houses, to witness
the mournful scene. The principal shops and public-
houses were closed during the progress of the proces-
sion. On arriving at the foot of the hill the coffin was
taken from the hearse and born to the chapel brten
men, and thence to the vault. The crowd, eager to gaze
on the coffin, thronged round the place in large num-
bers. On the ceremony being completed, the strangers
from Oldham, Bolton, and Manchester, returned to the
Queen's Hotel, where, having taken refreshment, they
assembled in the large room to hold a meeting. Mr. C.
Elindley presided, and the secretary of the Manchester
Short Time Committee read an address of condolence,
which was submitted for the meeting's sanction, before
presentation to the bereaved widow and eons of the de-
ceased. It was ultimately agreed that it be referred to
a committee of five of the Manchester Short Time Com-
mittee, who should determine the time and persons to
present the address. It was also proposed that a monu-
ment should be erected to the memory of Mr. Fialden,
in Westminster Abbey, and that Lord Ashley and Mr.
C. Hindley be appointed to seply to the proper autho-
rities for the requisite permission. It was also resolved
that Lord Ashley, Mr. C. Ilindley, and all other friends
of the Ten Hours Bill be requested to redouble their
efforts in doing sway with the relay system, and in
carrying out the original intention of the Bill.
The booming of heavy guns was distinctly heard on
Thursday afternoon within the precincts of Canterbury.
It was supposed to be the reverberation of the experi-
mental firing of Captain Fitzmaurice's invention at Wool-
wich Arsenal.—Kentidi Gazette.

greatwhat man has done, we learn what
legacies, and work -with
wondrous Great deedsusur). arßey
man can do, and gauge the power and prospects of our
race. A great career, though baulked of its end, is still
a landmark of human energy.—Eliza Cook's Journal

DEATH OF THE COUNTESS OF
BLESSINGTON.
The inteligence of the death of the Countess of Wes.*
sington will have been received with very sincere re-
gret, not merely by that eery large circle of persons
distirguished in the literary and political world with
whom she had lived on terms of intimate acquaintance,
but also by that much larger portion of the public who
took delight in her contributions to literature. She
must not pass thus suddenly away, without a brief no-
tice of some of the leading points of her character and
career.
Lady Blessington was one of the " celebrities" of her
time. Her society was courted by men of talent in al-
most all departments. Her name is to be found, accom-
panied by honourable mention of her talents and social
fascinations, in the published levers of the most
illustrious of her deceased contemporaries. Her cele-
brity, and vogue among men of talent, arose primarily
frow h, r beauty, wit, conversation powers, and highly
cultivated mind. But had she passe •sed no rcrional at-
tractions, had she not enjoyed the factiti us aid of rank
arid wealth, her published works alone would have at-
tracted aimirurs around her, and would haze established
her claim to be ranked with the most note• worthy of her
contempurari, s.
Lady Bh,s,ington was the daughter of Mr. Edmund
Power, of Curreigheen in the county of Waterford. In
1818 she e,ntract-d marriage with the la'e Earl of
liles.ii,gton, who died in the year 1829, leaving her in
the possession of wealth sufficient to enable her to
indulge her literary tastes and her love for that
society of which she was so well fitted to be the °ma-
inent. We do not know the precise age of Lady Mess-
ingten at her death. During the life of the Earl of
Blessington they resided chiefly a❑ the Continent, tra-
velling much, resting much, but always a csntre of at-
traction whet ever they went—such were Lady Blessing-
ton's talents and fascinations. The readers of Lord
Byron's Diaries and Letters will of course remember
the many occasions on which he pays tribute
to her intellectual and personal gifts; and his
collected poems contain more than one gay effusion
addressed to her. Lady Blessington herself commu-
nicated the substance of her intellectual intercourse with
Lord Byron, in her "Conversations"—one of her most
elarming works. Her " Idler in France" and her
"Idler in Italy" contain many details with respect to
her Continental life; and it is well known that her
society was courted abroad by the most distinguished
persons, especially by the members of the Napoleon
family, with many of whom she was on terms of inti-
macy. Lady Blessington, while abroad, enjoyed the ac-
quaintance not only of Byron. but also of Shelley and
Moore, besides a host of less illustrious writers.
Lady Blessington had become a contributor to lite-
rature, nearly if not quite a quarter of a century
ago. Her first published work, we believe, was
entitled " The Magic Lantern, or Scenes in the
Metropolis." It was published by Longman and Co.
somewhere about that period. Another work—like the
last mentioned, a small single volume of very modest
pretensions—was also published by them, entitled " A
Tour in the Netherlands." A work by her, but little
known, " Desultory Thoughts and Reflections," deserves
to be remembered for the philosophical yet feminine spirit
in which it is conceived. It is in the style of the
maxims of La Rochefoucauld, but presenting
a much more cheering view of human na-
ture. It will suffice to enumerate the other works
of Lady Blessington to show her industry
as an author. They were " The Confession of an El-
derly Lady;" " The Confessions of an Elderly Gentle-
man;" " The Governess," a novel; " Grace Cas-
sidy, or the Repeaters," a novel; 'The Two Friends;"
" The Victims of Society ;" " Meredith;" " The Lottery
of Life;" " The Memoirs of a Femme de Chambre;"
" The Belle of a Season;" " Strathern;" and other no-
vels; " Sketches and Fragments," and innumerable ma
gazine articles. If we add to these that Lady Blessington
was the editor of illustrated works on a large and expensive
scale, we shall see evidences enough of her industry. The
talent displayed in these works is unquestionable. Her
novels are more distinguished by delicacy of sentiment
and reflection than by development of plots; but of all
her writings it may truly be said that they were emi-
nently dictated by right feeling, and her novels always
presented a highly refined idea of female character.
The reader will not 'have forgotten that a short time
since Lady Blessington left Gore House, and retired to
Paris, where, as here, she was always an object of at,
traction.

DESTRUCTIVE CONFLAGRA-
TIONS AND LOSS OF LIFE.

This morning, !between the -hours of twelve and one,
the metropolis was visited with the outbreak of two
dreadful fires, which in the course of a few minutes laid
in ruins property of considerable value, besides being
attended with a loss of lite. The first outbreak happened
at No. 7, St. James's•place, Hackney-road, in the occu-
pation of Mr. Duncan, a solicitor. The flames, when
first perceived, were raging in the first floor back, used
as a bed-room, and in which a child of Mr. Duncan's
was in bed asleep. The mother of the infant, in going
to the apartment, found the whole of the bed-furniture
in a general blaz•3 ; and so fiercely did the fire progress,
that neither she nor any one else could enter the room
to rescue the unfortunate child. The door of the room,
during the fright of the parties having been left open,
caused the flames to spread almost with the swiftness of
lightning, so that before the inmates of the upper rooms
became sensible of the outbreak the fire had extended to
the stairs, thereby making it extremely difficult for them
to effect an escape from the blazing property. The fire
continued its ravages until every room in the premises
was burned out, the costly furniture and wearing apparel
of the owners and'sei-rante reduced to ashes. The total
loss must be considerable, and unfortunately Mr. Dun-
can was not insured. At two o'cl,,ck this morning,
when this report was written, the body of Mr. Duncan's
child had not been discovered, but from the state of
the premises there is no doubt that it has been burned
to a cinder.

Whilst the above fire was raging an alarm was given
that another outbreak had occurred near the Britannia
Saloon, Hoxton Old Town. To that point Mr. Super-
intendent Braidwood started, with numerous brigade en-
gines, and also Mr. Connorton with the West of Eng-
land one. The firemen then found the premises of Mr.
Summers, boot manufacturer, in the High-street, a few
doors from the Saloon, in flames, Plenty of water hav-
ing been procured, the engines were all set to work, and
the hose was conveyed round and into the building, by
which means the flames were completely encompassed on
every point, and the houses on either side were saved
from devastation. The premises of Mr. Summers, how-
ever, continued to burn with the greatest vehemence
until past two o'clock; and it was not until almost every
part of fhe building was destroyed, the valuable stock in
trade reduced to ruins, and the furniture of the various
occupiers burned, that the conflagration could be extin-
guished. How the outbreak commenced is at the present
time wrapped in mystery. Mr. Summers is partially in-
sured in the Sun Fire-office.

The police at each of the above fires rendered essential
service to the neighbours by keeping the many thousand
spectators out of the way of the firemen.

DARING BURGLARY.

About ',:midnight, on Friday the dwelling of Mr. Au-
gustus Munyard, at Milliker Farm, Meapharn, near
Gravesend, was burglariously entered by a party of des-
peradoes, who ransacked the house of all the most
portable valuables, consisting of a quanity of plate, two
watches, six brooches, twelve rings and other articles.
Mr. Munyard, on awaking, was alarmed at the strong
glare of light outside the house, and at the moment con-
eluded that his house was on fire. He immediately
jumped out of bed, and hastening towards the window,
saw six or seven men close by, each carrying a lighted
candle in his hand. Instantly the bed room window
was demolished, through which two of the party obtained
au entrance, whom he immediately seized, and a fearful
struggle ensued, in which Mr. Munyard might, perhaps,
have proved successful, but being dragged by his assail-
ants into the passage, they were there met by two others
of the gang, who struck him a violent blow on the head
with a crow bar, and also severely injured his arm. The
whole of the burglars were dressed in white frocks, with
white stockings drawn over their boots. Three of them
wore masquerade caps, and the fourth had his face
blackened and wore a domino. They then told Mr.
Munyard to go and lie down quietly, saying they would
not hurt him, "money they wanted, and money they
would have." From ,the loss of blood, finding him-
self' prostrate in strength, Mr. Munyard retired to his
bed-room. The burglars followed him, and then insisted
on Mrs. Munyard getting up and showing them over the
house, to which, through fear, she at once consented,
whilst one remained as a guard over her husband.
Having thus made themselves acquainted with the pre-
mises, Mrs. Munyard was allowed to return to her hus•
band, when two of the fellows stood by the bed with
lighted candles, and threatened "by G—, if you don't
give us money we will burn the bed;" to which Mrs.
Munyard replied, "If she had a thousand pounds—she
would give it to them if they would not hurt her husband
or her child." They then compelled them to get out of
bed, in order that they might turn it over, and see
whether any money had been concealed there, and after-
wards went below to regale themselves. Having done
so, they put the clock back an hour and twenty minutes,
and made off with their booty. Suspicion fell upon a
labouring man, living at Perry-street, near Gravesend,
who, on the previous day, was seen in company with
other men in the vicinity of Milliker Farm, making ii.-
quiries respecting the number of inmates in Mr. Men-
yard's house. He was accordingly taken lute custody,
and on Monday was brought to the county magistrate's
office at Rocht ster. He admitted having been at Meophsm
on the day previous to the burglary, with parties who
were suspected; but, for himself, he denied all know-
ledge of it.

Mr. Munyard hesitated to swear to the prisoner, but
still he had no doubt that he was one of the gang.
The prisoner was rprrymrled for one week.

ST. HELENA GrARD,NS, ItoTHERHITHE.—These
pleasing gardens, which have been closed for some
months, have at length been re opened, under the ma-
nagement of Mr. Richard Preece, after undergoing
many alterations and improvements. The gardens in
extent are about equ.l to Cremorne, and as the enter-
tainm,,nts put forward are of a similar character, em-
bracing music, concerts, fireworks, dancing, and other
miscellaneous amusements, it may be judged that many
thousands of individuals, favoured by the recent excel-
lent weather, have bent their steps thither during the
holidays. The attendance of visitors on Monday num-
bered nearly 2,000.
THAMES REGATTA.—The days originally fixed by
the committee of management were the 26th and 27th of
June, but, in consequence of the want of funds, the 10th
and 11th July were afterwards substituted. This ar-
rangement, however, being very inconvenient to the
members of the Oxford University Boat Club, who were
anxious to row at this regatta, that at Henley being held
during the Oxford Term, the committee have determined
that the days originally fixed shall be adhered to, and in
doing so they have trusted to the liberality of the public
to place the necessary funds at their disposal.