The Sun.
London, England, 1847-01-27 00:00:00

MUSICAL GOSSIP.
It is positively stated that M. Dion Pillet has been ,
officially informed that he will be relieved of th.ei
(sin\pedrs:-
intendence of the Grand Opera at the expirtion of his y
present term, which, however, does not termitAffeliiforfr
sixteen months from the present date.
Some of the musical journals report that Mdllo.Jersny
Lind is likely shortly to appear, for a certain number of
nights, at the Italian Opera in Paris.
Duprez leaves Paris for Germany early in March,
where he is to appear in the chefs-ceceuvre of the French
opera in the German language, being the only artist
who can sing in all the leading languages of Europe.
M. Berlioz is about to visit St. Petersburg and Mos-
cow, upon, it is said, an invitation of the Emperor, for
the purpose of producing his principal compositions be-
fore the Imperial Court, and the public of the inorthern
capitals.
M. Servais, who has obtained the title of the Taganini
of the violoncello, has had the honour to play at the
Court concerts in Paris, where his magnificent playing
obtained the repeated compliments of his Majesty and
the brilliant auditory.
Mdlle. Nissen, who sung at the Italian Opera, Paris,
some three years ago, is now the prima donna at Leg-
horn, where she is a prodigious favourite.
A new opera has been produced at Venice, the first
work of a young composer named Malipiero. called
" Alberigo da :lot-nano." Without much originality, the
music is described as graceful and replete with elegant
melody. Terretti was the tenor, and is favonrably men-
tioned; but Mdlle. Hayez is described as the real support
in the opera. Ella e veramente (says the Gazette of
Venice) in regina dello spettacole

At I'arma,•La Barbieri has obtained great success in
the operas of" Ernani" and " Atila," both of which have
bees received with enthusiasm. Verdi has completed hie
" Macbeth," and is now solely occupied with his work for
her Majesty's Theatre in London, the production of which
he is to superintend in person during the ensuing season.
It is stated that the Italian Opera in St. Petersburg
has this year sensibly declined in public favour, and that
it is no longer followed as formerly—in a word, it is no
longer the fashion
TuEonoaz Pmts.--A number of artistes and con-
noisseurs assembled a few evenings since, at the saloons
of M. Pape, to hear a young violinist, nephew to Pixis,
the celebrated pianist end composer, make what may be
called his first debut in public. His efforts were received
with well-merited favour, for the young essayist pro.
mises to add another first•rate name to a family already
largely distinguished in the•- musical world. He per-
formed a fantasia on " Ernani," a duet with Mr. Osborne,
and a burlesque on the well-known " Carnaval de Venise,"
in a style which elicited the most flattering applause,
the various celibrites in the room crowding round him at
the close of each morceau, and congratulating him on his
brilliant execution. The characteristics of his playing
are a full round tone, staccato rapid and firm, intona-
tion pure, difficultieraisposed of with effortless ease, his
harmonics clear as bells, and, above all, an entire ab-
sence of whining quarter tones and all other trickeries of
the art, but now too much the fashion on this monarch
of instruments. Among the warmest appleaders was M.
Berlois, who seemed greatly pleased with the young
virtuoso, whom we unhesitatingly recommend to those of
our readers whose concerts and soirees enable them to
patronise rising talent in a manner the most effectual.

NORTH POLAR EXPEDITION.—The following letter
has been addressed by Sir John Ross to the President of the
Astronomical Society :—" Sir,—l beg leave to submit the
following plan and proposal to the President and Council of
the Royal Astronomical Society for their consideration :
The measurement of an arc of the meridian has long been a
great desideratum ; and the failure of every attempt that has
been made at Spitzbergen for this desirable object, as well
as the attempt made to reach the North Pole, has been, be-
cause the summer has been selected for that purpose ;
whereas, the spring should have been the season chosen.
namely, the months of April and May, for both services,
but which could not be put in execution by the means hi-
therto adopted. I have now' to Worm the president and.
council of the Royal Astronomical Society, that I have
submitted a plan to the Admiralty for carrying into exe-
cution these double and desirable objects, by wintering
at Spitzbergen, and employing my officers and crew under
the direction of the talented son of the celebrated Professor
Schumacher, whom I have engaged for this purpose; while,
at the proper season, it is my intention to attempt to reach
the North Pole on sledges drawn by Swedish horses, being a
modification of the plan proposed first by Dr. s-coresby, and
of which that highly- talented and well-informed individual
has given his most unqualified approbation. And, from the
year's experience I have had in Sweden in that mode of tra-
velling, I can safely assert that there is no other officer in the
navy that possesses these advantages so necessary to com-
plete success, of which neither Dr. Scoresby nor myself have
the smallest doubt. I have made this statement in the hope
that, when duly considered by the President and Council of
the Royal Astronomical Society, they will be pleased to signify
to me their opinion on the importance of the objects in ques-
tion, and such a recommendation for its being put into exe-
cution as they may think fit."
ST. MARYLETIONE AND THE NEW POOR REMOVAL
Acr.—On Monday, at the meeting of the board of directors
and guardians of the poor of St. Marylebone (George Spencer
Smith, Esq., in the chair), Mr. Thorne, the secretary, read
the following communication from the Poor-law Commis-
sioners :—" Poor-law Commission-office, Somerset-house,
Jan. 18.—Sir, I am directed by the Poor-law Commissioners
to advert to the observations contained in their circular letters
of the 20th of October and the 4th of December last, with
reference to the distinction of relief to poor persons settled in
the parishes where they are relieved, and to other poor per-
sons, who have been rendered irremovable from the parishes
in which they reside by the operation of the late statute on
the subject of the removal of the poor. I am to inquire
whether the guardians have made any such distinction in
their administration of relief since the passing of the statute ;
and if so, in what manner that distinction has been made. I
am also to request that, if the hoard of guardians have passed
any resolution on the subject of the statute, or of the relief
of-the poor affected thereby, you will transmit a copy of
every su'h resolution. The "Commissioners request that this
information may be supplied to them with as little delay as
circumstances will permit.—l am, Sir, your obedient servant,
W. G. LUMLEY, Assistant-Secretary.' Some slight discus-
sion ensued, and the Secretary was ordered to furnish the
information required.
DREADFUL ACCIDENT TO A NEWSPAPER MES.•
sit:scum—As a mounted messenger was on Saturday er so.
ing riding at a furious pace with a large parcel of newspapers
r the Post-office, St. Martin's- le-Grand, his horse slipped at
Temple-bar, and he fell with fearful violence to the ground.
When raised up he was quite insensible, and blood flowed
profusely from injuries which ho had sustained about the.
head. His wounds having been bound up in an adjoining
surgeon's, and the requisite stimulants administered, he was
conveyed to his home in a state of the most intense suffering.
AMERICAN ONIONS AND GOURDS.—A large parcel
of onions, consisting of 500 barrels, has been recived by
Messrs. Keeling and Hunt, and are intended for the use of
the poorer classes as a substitute for potatoes, which have
now attained a most extravagant price. The onions are per-
fectly free from the disease which has been ro extensively
prevalent in this country. The onions, although small,
are equal in quality to many of the common sorts sold in
the London markets, whilst by cultivatien here there is no
doubt the difference of soil and climate will produce a sort
in many ways desirable for home consumption. The gourds
are merely sent as samples to test their use in this country.
They are extensively consumed abroad for soups and pad-
dings, and if their use is appreciated here, will become an
economical and nutritious substitute for the potato and other
common vegetables.
VERDICT OF MANSLAUGHTER AGAINST AN Ell•
OINK-DAWES —LEEDS, Jam 23.—Yesterday a coroner's in-
quest was held at the Court-house, touching the death of
David Anderson, a farmer's labourer, who was killed on the
Leeds and Bradford Railway, under the following circum-
stances :—On the morning of the 15th inst., between five and
six o'clock, five carts, each drawn by one horse, were dis-
patched from Eawdon to Gilderstone, for coals. They had
to pass over the Leeds and Bradford Railway at Calverly,
which at that part crosses the public road on a level. The
gat( son each side of the line were open, and no parties
were in attendance to watch them. The morning was ex-
ceedingly dark and foggy, and the usual signals were not
exhibited. Four of the carts passed over the line in safety,
and on the last one, which was in charge of the deceased,
getting on the crossing, an engine and train was seen ap-
proaching, and ere the vehicle could be got over, the engine
struck the horse, killed it on the spot, drove the cart some
distance, and frightfully injured the deceased, who was on
the ton of it. He survived the occurrence but a few hours.
After hearing evidence, the jury found a verdict of " Man-
slaughter against the engine-driver, James Gee," accom-
panying it with au expression of opinion that the company
had shown great carelessness in the management of the
crossing at the Calverly-bridge station. On the previous
day an inquest was held on a labourer who was killed on the
same line, in the Thackley tunnel.
ANECDOTE OF THE DUKE ...During the rerun*
of the Peel Administration an important situation in Ireland
became vacant, to which an Irish relative of the Duke's
wished to be appointed. He, therefore, wrote to his Grace,
athnesd,eawftoerrds—hav, Onei,ngstawteodrdh
from o am'is3h.o,ucr Grace
eelill
dvhisbelseutffiterciewnitt.t
The Duke sent the following laconic and characteristic
reply : " Dear --, Not one word—trom yrs. say.
Wellington."
How MANY WARNINGS ARE WANTED ?--013
Friday last the son of widow Tazewell, of Walton, near
Glastonbury, having been shooting small birds, brought
home his gun loaded, and hung it up in its usual place,
first taking off the cap. He then went out, and another
son, a boy about 10 years of age, in the absence of his
mother, having taken down the gun, and placed anotheram
cap upon it, on his mother's return, said, " Mpther,
immedietelarnic,rtreau.
g hg to pop the candle out," and
The whole of the charge lodged in the body of
a utteredto depre the loss
and died, leaving eight orphan chit
nate parent, just below the breast;
rsete
beloved mother. Somerset County
of an affectionate and °onus moan
Gazed&
following extract frtrt
publishes the Baptist • •
the Rev. J. Clark,mussiolary,
from
Hesusse SACRIFICES AT CALABaAelto.m—junhiecatiPoGinrrieOf
ceived last week
Western Africa, and dated Clarence, Fernando Po, October
27th, 1840:—" At Calabar there has been a fearful sacrifice
of more thaljmby, o
than one hundred
palmredpnei wine,rgsont. storta s
i in son n
supposedol
nf r tghe e lat ohe kingquantities,
was
The poor creature had been dancing cobs. all the day, and
drinking
when he died the same night.
poisoned. This may be the case, or it may not ;we cannot
tell. The aged mother cried out in African frames*
that she had lost her last child, and now had none
to whom to leave her property ; and therefore plenty of
slaves must be sacrificed. Those at market, and al 1
who heard in time, tied into the bush, and will remain con-
cealed, or out of the way, until the sacrifices cease, which
is sometimes more than a whole year. The aged mother
spoke not in vain ; many were the willing slaves to execute
her will. The sacrifice took place, nor was it bloodless.
Three holes were (11 - in a house. The corpse was put into