The Sun.
London, England, 1847-06-30 00:00:00

LITER. %TURE•

LONDON,

DR. CHALMERS ON THE EDUCA-

TIONAL QUESTION.

THE POACHER'S WIFE.
By Charlton Carew. 2 Vols.
This is, in many respects, a powerfully-written
work. The author is imbued with the most deter-
mined hostility to the game laws; his every energy
is directed to exposing the evils with which they are
pregnant, the frightful consequences that are too
often occasioned by their operation. In order to
effect this, his great object, he tells a simple tale of
woman's love, and woman's trials, commencing at the
point where novels generally terminate—" her mar-
riage." Dinah Mountford has loved not wisely, but
too well. She has given herself to the object of her
heart's young affections, Locksley, the son of a neigh-
bouring tradesman, who, having devoted himself to
agricultural pursuits, had formerly been a welcome
guest, but who, on the failure of his father,
the sale of the farm, and the reduction
of the family from comfort and comparative affluence
to little better than absolute beggary, had been re-
jected by her worldly-minded uncle, and forbidden
the house. She, however, remained faithful ; and,
although dependent on that uncle who could with-
hold the fortune bequeathed by her father if she
marrit, i without his consent, and who wished her to
receive the addresses of Snipe, head gamekeeper to
Sir Ralph Oldham, a wealthy landowner in the
county, she united her fortunes with those of the
penniless Locksley. The indignant uncle forbade her
his house, and vowed never again to see her ; but,
when dying, is induced by a true friend to relent,
and invite his niece to come to him. That friend
(Mr. Fellowes) undertakes to be the messenger, but
is unfortunately killed on the road, and the
niece, who by her uncle's death has become
entitled to 1,000/., remains ignorant of her
good fortune, and suffering under the most pinching
poverty. Three poachers are next introduced, drink-
ing at the village ale house, waiting for Locksley,
who driven by the pressure of his circumstances, has
reluctantly consented to join them on the night in
question. The poaching scene is most graphically
delineated ; their expedition has been very successful,
and they agree to return to the "Fox in Cover" by
different routes. Locksley, who is full of painful
reflections at his debfit in crime, is alarmed by a loud
outcry, and finds his quondam companions engaged
in rifling the carriage of Sir Ralph Oldham, the
Load of the Manor, on which they have just been
poaching. One of them has just prostrated Sir
Ralph's eldest son, and is about to murder
him, when Locksley interferes, and saves him
first from the would-be assassin, and subse-
quently from his savage dog, who was about
fastening his fangs in his throat. Scarcely, however,
has he achieved this rescue, when he is seized on by
his former rival and inveterate enemy Snipe, who, in
place of vindicating his character as he might have
done, and acquitting him from all the charges, so
arranges matters that the evidences of his guilt
appear quite conclusive. He is borne to gaol, and
while there is visited by a person who urges him to
effect his escape, and furnishes him with the means
of doing so. This is a Mr. Vaughan, the sub-editor
of a country newspaper, who having discovered that
Mrs. Locksley is entitled to so large a fortune, con-
ceives a plan of marrying her after getting rid of
Locksley. He thinks his guilt will be aggra-
vated by prison breaking. Hence he advises him to
do so, and the moment the escape is effected, he gives
information to the gaol authorities. Locksley re-
turns to his cottage, and while there, Snipe comes to
persecute Mrs. Locksley with his odious addresses.
Locksley, of course, rescues his wife, and has dis-
armed Snipe of his gun, when the prison authorities,
who have come in pursuit, knock at the door. Locks-
ley
rushes out at the window, closely followed by
the party, and a close chase ensues. This is given
in the most spirited manner. We shall give a brief
extract
" Again he looked round ; his pursuer was within a
dozen yards of him, while the rest of the party were
heard shouting some way behind. Both men exerted
themselves to the utmost, and kept a straight onward
course, undismayed by the thorny bushes through which
they dashed, leaving many a sanguine trace thereon.
But still no advantage was gained by either ; the same
relative distance was preserved between them, till, as
they were rushing down a steep declivity, Locksley
slackened his pace, and catching hold of the branches
of some shrubs, suddenly stopped. His pursuer at-
tempted to do the same, but Locksley, turning quickly
upon him, tripped the man up, and sent him headlong
down the hill.
"At this minute, the moon was again momentarily ,
obscured by masses of clouds, which drove on, pile upon
pile, at one time looking like a huge black mountain
rearing its " monstrous heed" into the firmament, at the
next scattered far away by the fury of the wind. The
fsigitive paused and listened. No sound save that of the
wind broke upon his ear.
" I'm freed from the blood-bounds,' thought he,
'though for how long I know not. What course shall I
take ? I know not where I am, or which way to turn
to find a place of safety. Oh ! what is life worth to me!
Men hunt me and shoot at me as though I were a savage
beast. And lam a savage beast,' he cried aloud, with
fierce emphasis ; savage as the hungry tiger ; and I'll
tear into pieces my fellow beast if he dares lay his paw
on me. lam no longer a man ; I hate all men as all
men hate me. Curses on them all !'
" His uplifted arms and dilated eyes gave him the ap-
pearance of some prophet of old, thundering his anathe-
mas out upon the world. An instant after, and his
thoughts dwelt upon his wife and child. The fiend had
fled, and Locksley fell toweringly to the earth, while his
own unholy words rung in his ears.
" Ah! what sound is that? Up again, Locksley: you
are a man once more, and must not yield while you are
such. They're close upon you—dash down the hill—
stay not a moment—away
" The treacherous moon broke out again as Locksley
sprang forward, closely followed by three men. The
wind was with them, so the speed with which they went
down the hill was absolutely terrific. A narrow stream
ran at the bottom. None of the men knew the ground
they were traversing; but directly Locksley arrived at
its borders, he saw the smooth though rapid current, and
in an instant knew its great depth. He paused not,
however, but plunged into the chill water, and struggling
to the opposite bank, caught hold of some grass, and
tried to drag himself up. But the bank was steep and
slippery, and in his first attempt he failed, falling back
into the stream. He heard a cry and a heavy splash,
and the next instant he was seized by a strong hand, and
' drag"ed beneath the water.
" A desperate struggle now took place between the
two men; they sunk and rose again, entwined in a fierce
embrace, till Locksley, freeing one hand, caught his op-
ponent by the throat, and forced him to loose his hold.
Another tremendous effort, and he clambered up the
bank, barely a moment, however, before his adversary
had done the like. The rest of the party had crossed
the stream where it was less deep, and the pursuit
began afresh, with a more savage earnestness even than
before."

The following paper, the last composition on an)
public matter which emanated from the pen of Dr
Chalmers, will be perused with deep interest by al,
our readers, both from the vast importance of thu
subject discussed, and the sad consideration that the
voice which could so wisely enunciate regarding this
and every other topic of practical bearing on the well-
being of man, will be heard among us no more for ever.
The paper originated in a conversation which took
place in London on the national education scheme,
between the lamented deceased and the Hon. Fox
Maule, when the latter, struck by the breadth and
general applicability of the Doctor's views, urged him
to commit them to writing. Dr. Chalmers did so
whilst at Whitfield, Gloucestershire, on his way
home ; and the following valuable document—emi-
nently practical in its nature, and suited, we should
think, in a country such as Scotland, to unite the
suffrages of the majority in all denominations—was
the result. For our own part, we regard it as a
legacy of sound, well-weighed advice to our Church
and country, to which both would do well to serve
themselves heir :

" It were the best state of things, that we had a
Parliament sufficiently theological to discriminate be-
tween the right and the wrong in religion, and to en-
courage or endow accordingly. But failing this, it
seems to us the next best thing, that, in any public
measure for helping on the education of the people,
Government were to abstain from introducing the
element of religion at all into their part of the
scheme, and this, not because they hold the matter to
he insignificant—the contrary might be strongly
impressed in the preamble of their Act; but on the
ground that, in the present divided state of the
Christian world, they would take no cognizance of
sect, because they would attempt no control over
the religion of applicants for aid—leaving this matter
entire to the parties who had to do with the erection
and management of the schools which they had
been called upon to assist. A grant by the State
upon this footing might be regarded as being appro-
priately and exclusively the expression of their value
for a good secular education.
" The confinement for the time being of any Go-
vernment measure for schools to this object we hold
to be an imputation, not so much on the present
state of our Legislature, as on the present state of
the Christian world, now broken up into sects and
parties innumerable, and seemingly incapable of any
effort for so healing these wretched divisions as to
present the rulers of our country with aught like such
a clear and unequivocal majority in favour of what is
good and true, as might at once determine them to
fix upon and to espouse it.
"It is this which has encompassed the Govern-
ment with difficulties, from which we can see no
other method of extrication than the one which we
have ventured to suggest. And as there seems no
reason why, because of these unresolved differences, a
public measure for the health of all—for the recrea-
tion of all—for the economic advancement of all—
should be held in abeyance, there seems as little rea-
son why, because of these differences, a public measure
for raising the general intelligence of all should be
held in abeyance. Let the men, therefore, of all
churches and all denominations alike, hail sucha mea-
sure, whether as carried into effect by a good educa-
tion in letters or in any of the sciences ; and, mean-
while, in these very seminaries, let that education in
religion which the Legislature abstains from pro-
viding for, be provided for as freely and amply as
they will by those who have undertaken the charge of
them.

" We should hope, as the result of such a scheme,
for a most wholesome rivalship on the part of many in
tne great aim of rearing, on the basis of their respec-
tive systems, a moral and Christian population, well
taught in the principles and doctrines of the Gospel,
along with being well taught in the lessons of ordi-
nary scholarship. Although no attempt should be
made to regulate or to enforce the lessons of religion
in the inner hall of legislation, this will not prevent,
but rather stimulate, to a greater earnestness in the
contest between truth and falsehood—between light
and darkness—in the outer field of society ; nor will
the result of such a contest in favour of what is right
and good be at all the more unlikely, that the families
of the land have been raised by the helping hand of
the State to a higher platform than before, whether
as respects their health, or their physical comfort, or
their economic condition, or, last of all, their place
in the scale of intelligence and learning.
" Religion would, under such a system, be the
immediate product, not of legislation, but of the
Christian and philanthropic zeal which prevailed
throughout society at large. But it is well when
what legislation does for the fulfilment of its object
tends not to the impediment, but rather, we appre-
hend, to the furtherance of those greater and higher
objects which are in the contemplation of those
whose desire are chiefly set on the immortal well-
being of man.
" On the basis of these general views, I have two
remarks to offer regarding the Government scheme of
education.

1. I should not require a certificate of satis-
faction with the religious progress of the scholars
from the managers of the schools, in order to their
receiving the Government aid. Such a certificate
from Unitarians or Catholics implies the direct sanc-
tion or countenance by Government to their re-
spective creeds, and the responsibility, not of allow-
ing, but, more than this, of requiring, that these
shall be taught to the children who attend. A bare
allowance is but a general toleration, but a require-
ment involves in it all the mischief, and, I would
add, the guilt, of an indiscriminate endowment for
truth and error.

" 2. I would suffer parents or natural guardians to
select what parts of the education they wanted for
their children. I would not force arithmetic upon
them, if all they wanted was writing and reading ;
and as little would I force the catechism, or any part
of the religious instruction that was given in the
school, if all they wanted was a secular education.
That the managers in the Church of England schools
shall have the power to impose their Catechism upon
the children of Dissenters, and, still more, to compel
their attendance on Church, I regard as among the
worst parts of the scheme.
" The above observations, it will be seen, meet any
questions which might be put in regard to the ap-
plicability of the scheme to Scotland, or in regard to
the use of the Douay version in Roman Catholic
schools.

" I cannot conclude without expressing my despair
of any great or general good being effected in the
way of Christianizing our population, but through the
medium of a Government themselves Christian, and
endowing the true religion, which I hold to be their
imperative duty, not because it is the religion of the
many, but because it is true.
" The scheme on which I have now ventured to
offer these few observations I should like to be adopted,
not because it is absolutely the best, but only the best
in existing circumstances.
" The endowment of the Catholic religion by the
State I should deprecate, as being ruintohursoutgoh
the
country in all its interests. Still, Ido not look for
the general Christianity of the people but
medium of the Christianity of their rulers. This is
a lesson taught historically in scripture by what we
read there of the influence which the personal cha-
racter of the Jewish monarchs had on the moral and
religious state of their subjects—it is taught experi-
mentally by the impotence, now fully established, of
the voluntary principle—and last, and most decisive
of all, it is taught prophetically in the book of Reve-
lation, when told that then will the kingdoms of the
earth—(Basileiai, or governing powers)—become the
kingdoms of our Lord Jesus Christ; or the Govern-
ments of the earth become Christian Governments.
(Signed) "THOMAS CHALMERS."

Eventually he gets away from his pursuers, after
a hundred " hair-breadth 'scapes." Snipe, however,
has been shot during the pursuit by Vaughan, who
supposed him to be Locksley, but the murder is uni-
versally ascribed to the latter, for whose apprehension
a large reward is offered.
ea re 1 and destitute.ess,
Mrs. Locksley, after the
housescape of her husband, is
driven from her cottage,tes
t who
fallssufferingsand
gh
test thereto, privations
iaid
along with her child,victimsi
even the most benevolent refusing the
when they hear that she is connected with Locksley,
the poacher, prison breaker, and murderer. Ulti-
mately she is restored to affluence and comfort, her
husband's character vindicated from the unjust impu-
tations that had been levelled against it. Vaughan,
who is arrested for large embezzlement, commits
suicide, first making a clean breast of it, and
leaving a written confession of his crimes, and all
ends happily. Locksley becomes assistant to the
land steward of Sir Arthur Oldham, who has suc-
ceeded to his father's title and estate on his being shot
during a battue by Lord Plaistic.
There are very many powerfully written scenes in
these volumes, and the author manifestly possesses
great enthusiasm and ability, from which the most
favourable results may be augured when he possesses
a little more experience ; his faults are those of a
young writer, and such as will be corrected by time,
while his more favourable points, his originality, his
vivid powers of delineation, will be ripened and
matured by the same influence. should he devote
the necessary care to his future productions, and
coolly and dispassionately examine and repress the
luxuriance of his fancy, we doubt not that he will
attain a high position amongst the most popular
authors of the

The Observer, of Sunday,. June 27, contain
nearly two folio columns of particulars of the opening
of the Trent Valley Railway> ou the afternoon of Satur-
day, at Tamwarth, speech of Sir Robert Peel, &c. The
Observer also contained near three columns of a report
of the proceedings of the Commissioners of the National
Exhibition of Works of Art at Westminster-hall, with a
short critique on 46 of the splendid pictures, the pre-
miums, and to whom awarded—war in China, three
columns—fracas at the Opera, Hon. G. De Grey and E.
Frith, Esq., a folio column—a column and a half of the
funds and railways—a column and a half of births, mar-
riages, and deaths—aboat 100 miscellaneous
,advertise-
ments, including a column of public amusements for the
coming
domestic,. chiefly original. Price of the Observer 6d.
week, and 23 folio columns of news, foreign and
There is scarcely a club-house, institution, library, or.
news-room in all England, Scotland, Ireland, the. Cont-
inent, East. and West Indies or America, in which the.
Observer. is not taken in, and in many instances dupli-
cate copies. The extensive publication of the Observer
commences at six, and concludes at ten on Sunday morn-
ings, at No. 170, Strand. A Monday edition of the
Observer, best adapted for the country and abroad, is
regularly published at four o'clock on Monday afternoon.
CONSECRATION OF THE NEW COLONIAL BISHOPS.
—Yesterday the four new Bishops of Melbourne, Ade-
laide, Cape Town, and Newcastle were publicly conse-
crated in Westminster Abbey, previous to their depar-
ture for their respective dioceses, in the presence of a
numerous assemblage of persons.
FUNERAL or D. LTNcii.—At one o'clock yester-
day the remains of this gentleman were deposited in
their last resting place, in the Cemetery, Lower Nor-
wood. The funeral was strictly private.

Itained

ZENON, BY THE REV. R. COBBOLD.—The author
of this work is already favourably known to the public,
by the Histories of Margaret Catchpole and Mary
Anne Wellington. These works have become exceed-
ingly popular, and have earned for their writer a well-
deserved reputation. He now appears before the public
as the author of an historical narrative, selected from an
era and a class of people whose manners and customs are
less known than those of modern nations. The scene of
his story is Rome, and the age, that of Domitian. His
leading object is to pourtray the sufferings of the early
Christians under the persecutions of the Roman Em-
perors. His secondary purpose is to describe the man-
ners and picturesque early life of the Romans. In his
double capacity of a clergyman and a scholar, he appears
to possess the necessary talents and information to ac-
complish both these ends in a manner very pleasing and
satisfactory to the general reader. The incidents of the
work are at once various and striking, and moral and
religious truths of great importance are both simply and
' powerfully expressed. The work has afforded us so
much pleasure that we can sincerely recommend it to
our readers.—Messenger.

NOBLE CONDUCT.—The Adventurers in Wheal Ruby
Mine have ordered their workmen to be supplied with
best bag flour, to the amount of 251. per week, at a dis-
count of 25 per cent. on the cost price. The adventurers
have also agreed to take payment for the flour at such
times as the earnings of their work people will permit.—
D evonport Independent.

The Faubourg St. Germain has been thrown into
consternation by the resolve of the young and beautiful
Princess La Tremouille to appear on the stage ! Every
effort has been used to dissuade her—but in vain. She
persists in her determination to make a debut at the
Theatre Francais, in one of Rachel's parts, on the day
that she becomes of age ; and if, through the influence
of her family, the doors of the Francais should be
el,ssed against her, she has declared her intention to ap•
pear at the French Theatre in Loudon or St. Peters-
Aftonblad, a Stockholm paper,
burjgE.—Nsßyy iyillitNonD.G—aTzehttee.
contains a letter purporting to be from the Swedish
Nightingale, and contradicting the statement made by
some of the Scandinavian journals, that she is to re-
ceive bank-notes to the tune of 12,0001. in exchange for
the silvery notes she warbles forth during the present
season. The real amount is given in the letter as 2,0001.

WEONESDAY EVEI,4IN'G, JUNE so, 1847„

REPRESENTATION OF THE CITY

OF LONDON.

A very numerous met ting was held yesterday after-
noon, at the London Tavern, to decide on the choice of
four Liberal candidates fir the representation of the
city of London at the neat general election. Sir Geo.
Larpent, Bart., and Baron Rothschild, the two new can-
didates, were present.
MATTHEW FORSTER, Esq., M.P., who presided, in
opening the proceedings, said that the meeting had been
called together by the Business Committee of the Libe-
ral Registration Association, who had drawn up a state-
ment, which he should call upon the Hon. Secretary to
read to the meeting.
The Secretary then read the statement,which proposed
Lord John Russell, Mr. Pattison, Sir George Larpent,
and Baron Lionel Rothschild.

It was then moved and agreed to, that the statement
be received.

THomsoN HANREY, jun., Esq., then proposed, and
P. A. TAYLOR, Esq., seconded a resolution, approving
of the four candidates named.

Mr. D. W. WIRE suggested that the candidates should
be nominated seriatim, not jointly, for there might be
an objection to some that did not apply to others.
The CHAIRMAN observed, that the electors would not
be bound by the resolution, and he should, therefore, put
it in the form in which it was proposed.
The resolution having passed,
Sir GEORGE LARPENT came forward amidst loud
cheers. After expressing his firm adherence to the
principles of free trade and reform, he went on to say,—
Some gentlemen had asked what he thought of the Go-
vernment education scheme. He had no desire to con-
ceal his sentiments upon that or any other subject.
Now, with respect to the religious part of the
educational scheme, he freely confessed that it
appeared to him to be only just that all who con-
tributed to the national taxation should share in
all the advantages resulting from a national grant.—
(Cheers.) He did not conceive that he was bound to
give specific pledges, but he was desirous to express his
opinions generally. Then, as to the endowment of the
Roman Catholic priesthood, which was another point
upon which he was expected to state his views, he
should say that if the state of Ireland was such as to
call for an improved system of education for the Catholic
priesthood, means to that end should be provided, but,
in that case, he conceived that the funds should be taken
out of the Irish Church property, and not from the Con-
solidated Fund.—(llear, hear, and cheers.) These were
his opinions. In conclusion, he trusted that the Liberal
party would not fail to support a Government which
had done so much for the advancement of Liberal prin-
ciples.
Baron ROTHSCHILD next presented himself, and was
received with vehement applause. He commenced by
observing that, from his habits of life, his political
opinions were not so well known as those of the Hon.
Gentleman who preceded him. He had, however, passed
the greater part of his life in the city of London, and
was not unmindful of its interests. He was favourable
to Liberal principles in every respect. In 1839 he had
given his signature to the petition for free trade, and he
would freely cooperate with those who sought to develop
and carry out that system, being well assured that in the
end it would be found eminently advantageous to this
country. Of course, no one could have foreseen the ca-
lamity which impeded its progress, but the effects of free
trade were already perceptible in our increased revenue,
and should there be an abundant harvest, we should
see better times. In the position he held it must na-
turally be supposed that he was an advocate for liberty
of conscience. That liberty which he claimed for him-
self he would impart to others. With respect to educa-
tion, he was of opinion that it could not be too widely
diffused, without distinction of creed. If the Liberal
party only pulled together, the issue could not be
doubtful.—(Cheers.)
After a long and somewhat desultory discussion, it
was resolved that the Registration Association resolve
itself into a general election committee, to take such
steps as may secure the joint return of the four Liberal
candidates named in the resolution.

Thanks having been voted to the chairman, the meeting
separated.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.
WINCIIESTER RACES—TUESDAY.
The Great Produce Stakes, of 50 sovs. each, h ft. New mile.
Mr. Gully's Tantivy, Bst 91b (A. Day) 1
Sir J. Hawley's Miami, Bst 101 b 2
6t04 on Miami. Won by half a length.
The Original llampshire Stakes of 25 sovs. each, 15 ft, and
5 only if declared. Two miles and a dis.
Sir R. Pigot na Miss Elia, 5 yrs, Bst 91b .........(A. Day) 1
Mr. Etwall's Buscot Buck, 6 yrs, 7st 71b 2
Mr. Isaac Day's Kismet, 4 yrs, 7st 51b
Mr. R. King na Ferney, 4 yrs, 6st 111 b ... 4
Won easy by two lengths.
The Sweepstakes of 5 sovs. each, and 25 added, gentlemen
riders, one mile, were won, in five heats, by Mr. Osbaldeston's
f by Lanercost, out of Mountain Sylph's dam, 3 yrs, 7st 131 b
(S. Mann), beating Mr. Sadler's Antagonist, 3 yrs, 7st 131 b,
and several others.
The Queeen's Plate of 100 guineas. Heats, two miles.
Mr. John Day's The Hero, 4 yrs, 9st llb ... (A. Day) 1 1
Mr. Elwes's Bourton, 4 yrs, 9st Ilb
Captain Delme's Silver Eel, 3 yrs, ist 51b
10 to lon Hero. Won in a canter.
INTELLIGENCE EXTRA.
NEWMARKET FIRST OCTOBER MEETING, 1847.
WEDNESDAY.
Duke of Bedford's Villiers, Bst 81b, agst Colonel Peel's
Isis, 7st 71b ; last half of AU. M. 200 ; h ft.
NEWMARKET SECOND OCTOBER MEETING, 1847.
MONDAY.
Lord Orford's Craftsman (Angelina colt) agst Mr. Gre-
ville's Mirmillo, ist 111 b ; D.M. ; 240, h ft.
WEDNESDAY.
Lord Orford's Craftsman, Bst 51h, agst Lord Chesterfield's
Lady Lurewell, 7st 51b; D.M.; 100, h ft.
Mr. Marson's The Cardinal's Niece, Bst 71b, agst the Duke
of 'Bedford's Fistiana, Bst 21b ; first half of Ab. M. ; 100, h ft.
BETTING AT MANCHESTER.—TUESDAY.
GOODWOOD STAKES.-8 to lagst Stultz— 11 to 1 agst
Vampyre— 20 to 1 agst Burgundy (t)-20 to 1 agst Miss
Ells (t)-25 to 1 agst Martext (t).
GOODWOOD CUP.-2 to 1 agst The Hero (t)-8 to 1 agst
Eryx (t)-11 to 1 agst Fitz-Emilius-12 to 1 agst Wolfdog
—l6 to 1 agst Burgundy.
LIVERPOOL CUP.-100 to 7 agst Conyngham (take 16 to
1)-20 to 1 agst Mr. Martin (t).
DONCASTER ST. LEGER.-5 to 2 agst Cossack-11 to 2
agst Van Tromp-11 to 1 agst Mr. Martin-11 to 1 agst
Foreclosure-12 to 1 agst Red Hart-2S to 1 agst Eryx.

HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE.—The Queen and his
Royal Highness Prince Albert, accompanied by her
Majesty the Queen of the Belgians, honoured the per-
formances at Her Majesty's Theatre yesterday evening
with their presence. The royal suite comprised the
Countess of Desart, the Countess Vilain XIV., Lady
Caroline Cocks, Lord Byron, Lord Alfred Paget, Colonel
Bouverie, and Major the Baron Moerkerke. Her
Majesty the Queen Dowager's box was occupied by
Lord and Lady Curzon and Mr. Stuart. There were
also present his Royal Highness Prince George, his
Imperial Highness the Prince of Oldenburg and suite,
his Royal Highness Don Miguel and suite, the Duke of
Wellington, the Prince Louis Napoleon, the Princess
Tuka Gagarin, the Prince Troubetskoi, the Prince
Dubesque, the Duke and Duchess of Bedford, the Mar-
chioness of Westmeath, the Marquis of Huntley, the
Countess of Camperdown and Lady Elizabeth Duncombe,
the Chevalier Corra Dasa, the Earl of Falmouth, the
Earl of Munster, Baron Nicolay, Viscount Somerton,
the Count de Barka, the Hanoverian Minister, M. C. De
Koudriaffsky, Lady Colborne, Lady and Miss Canning,
Lady C. Sandford, Lady Woodford, Lord Adolphus
Fitzclarence, Sir George and Lady Palmer, Miss Fitzroy
Somerset, Lady Willoughby d'Eroaby, the Hon. Mr.
Arbuthnot, Captain the Hon. James Macdonald, the
Hon. R. Curzon, Mr. Herbert de Burgh, Mr. C. W.
Packe, M.P., Mr. and Mrs. Montgomery, &c.
ROYAL ITALIAN OPERA, COVENT-GAJTEN. —Their
Royal Highnesses the _Duchess of Cambridge and the
Princess mary, attended by the Baroness Hammerstein
and Mr. Mildmay,
.honoured the Royal Italian Opera
yesterday evening with their presence. There were
also present the Danish Minister and the Countess
Reventlow, the Duke and Duchess of Beaufort, the
Duchess Dowager of Bedford and Lady Rachel Russell,
the Marquis and Marchioness of Ailesbury, Marquis of
Donegal, Marquis of Kildare, Countess Cornwallis,
Countess of Chesterfield, Earl and Countess of Wilton,
Earl of Cadogan and the Ladies Cadogan, Count Louis
de Noailles, Countess of Lovelace, Earl Grosvenor, Earl
Grenville, Earl Bruce, Viscount and Viscountess Castle-
reagh and Lady Dalmeny, Viscount Cantalupe, Viscount
Clifden, Viscount Dillon, Viscount and Viscountess
Newport, Lord and Lady Ernest Bruce, Lord Forester,
Lord Foley, the Hon. Miss Foley, and the Hon.
Mr. Foley, Lord Otho Fitzgerald, Lord and Lady
Carington, :Lord Henry Lennox, Lord Yarborough,
Lord and Lady William Powlett, Mr. and Lady Caroline
Maxse, Lady Wilmot Horton, Hon. Arthur Upton, Hon.
C. Neville, Hon. H. Neville, Hon. John Fortescue, Sir
John and Lady Pollen, Sir H. Webb, Sir William do
Bathe, Sir John Campbell, K.C.T.S., and Lady Camp-
bell, Sir Frederick Trench, Sir Alexander and Lady
Spearman, Sir Samuel and Lady Scott, Sir Bellingham
and Lady Graham, Sir Richard Paul and Lady Jodrell,
Sir William Ball, Hon. C. C. Cavendish and the Hon.
Misses Cavendish, Lieutenant-General Sir John Buchan,
Hon. Mrs. Vaughan, Hon. Mr. and Miss Tollemache,
Mr. and the Hon. Mrs. Anson, Sir Michael Shaw Stuart,
Sir Ralph Howard and Lady Howard, lion. Cecil
Forester, M.P., Lady Douglas, Lady Goldsmid, Sir
George and Lady Houlton, Sir Charles Marshall, Lady
Bulkeley, Sir Jasper and Lady Atkinson, Lady Domvile,
Sir Richard and Lady Gill, Lady Maclean, Colonel Mure,
M.P., Mr. Henry Baring, M.P., Mr. Thomas Baring,
M.P., Mr. Wilshire, M.P., Mr. E. Davis Protheroe,
M.P., Mr. C. P. Leslie, M.P., the Ladies Walpole,
Colonel Thomas Wood, M.P., Mr. Charles Baring Wall,
M.P., Mr. Standish, Mr. Frank Mills, &c.
DESTRUCTIVE FIRE IN HORSEMONGER-LANE.—
Last evening, about five o'clock, a rapidly destructive
fire broke out in the carpenters' workshops belonging to
Messrs. Walker and Soper, situate at No. 1, Union-
square, Horsemonger-lane. The flames when first per-
ceived were raging in the lower floor amongst a large
quantity of cut timber. The foreman, the only person
on the spot, made an attempt to subdue the fire by
pouring buckets of water on it ; but such a powerful
ascendancy had the destructive element already obtained
that it defied his utmost exertions, and in the space of a
few minutes the building became fired from bottom to
top, the flames from which speedily communicated to the
timber-yard at the back, The Brigade and West of
England engines promptly attended, and no time being
lost in setting them to work, the firemen laboured with-
out intermission until half-past six o'clock, when they
got the fire entirely extinguished. By that period
the building was gutted, and the valuable stock of timber
in the yard was partially consumed. The total damage
is considerable, for at the time of the outbreak there
was a 2,0001. contract on the premises, and 11 workmen
have lost the whole of their tools. Messrs. Walker and
Soper were insured in the Phoenix Fire-office.
The wheat looks very well, and the ear is just
beginning to flower. The potato crop is magnificent, and
free from disease—Jersey Timcs.