The Sun.
London, England, 1847-08-26 00:00:00

AUG-UST 26, 1847.

The cargo of the Madrid consists of—almonds 150
boxes, lemons 287 boxes, grapes 996 boxes, melons
one case, saffron 2 cases, specie 5 parcels.
LISBON, A no. 19.—The mail going this day will
convey sorrowful tidings to at least one family in
England. About midnight on the 11th inst. a fire
broke out in a large house in the Bona Vista. Boats
crews from all the ships of the British squadron were
immediately dispatched to assist in extinguishing it,
ri n.
to I
her
but the flames raged so furiously that every effort to
get them under was unavailing, and in a few hours
the building
ma was grieve
A i
Majesty's
sstay,y shhaitp a
Jackal,
belonginga u
of the name of Wilson, and about seventeen years of
age, fell a victim to his own overdaring intrepidity.
When all others—Portuguese, French, and Spaniards,
as well as English, had retired, he and a seaman
alone remained behind, rashly perilling their lives
for the very inadequate object of saving
some property. They were repeatedly warned
of the danger of staying one moment
longer, but to no purpose. At last the floor on which
they stood gave way, and down they sank with it.
The seaman contrived to scramble out, and, though
sorely burnt, escaped with life ; but the unfortunate
Wilson fell to rise no more. His body was found
next day, and conveyed on board, whence, twenty-
four hours after, it was taken to the English cemetery
and interred. It may afford some poor consolation to
the bereaved parents to learn that every mark of
respect and deep regret was paid to their brave boy ;
that all the ships of war, foreign as well as English,
lowered their flags as his remains left his own vessel;
and that the funeral was attended by Vice-Admiral
Sir W. Parker, the British Minister, Sir Hamilton
Seymour ; the captains and other officers of the Eng-
lish squadron, and the other officers of the French
and Spanish ships of war in the port. It is worthy
of remark, that though it was in the endeavour to
save Portuguese property that the young man lost his
life, not one Portuguese officer was present at the
funeral. One of the King-Consort's aides-de-camp
suggested to his Majesty the propriety, and moreover
the good policy, of sending to Sir William Parker to
express his regret at the melancholy occurrence, and
at the same time to inquire whether there was any
service he could render to the family, such as recom-
mending another son for promotion: but the sugges-
tion was net adopted by his Majesty.
Shortly before the last mail went, the British,
French, and Spanish Ministers addressed a joint note
to the Portuguese Government, demanding the fulfil-
ment of the 4th article of the protocol relative to the
immediate formation of a new Cabinet. In a couple
of days after,_ they received a note in reply from the
Minister of Foreign Affairs, the substance of which
was, that as the protocol stipulated for nothing more
than had been demanded by Lord Palmerston in his
note of the sth of April to the Portuguese Envoy,
Baron Moncorvo, the dismissal of the Saldanha Mi-
nistry and appointment of the present one, which
took place on the 28th of April, ought to be consi-
dered as the fulfilment of the condition insisted upon
in that note, and only incidentally alluded to in the
protocol, and that moreover to change the Ministry
at all was an act of great condescension on the
part of her Majesty, the demand made in that
respect being an encroachment upon the indisputable
prerogative of the Crown to choose its own advisers.
A rejoinder soon followed from the three Ministers
to the effect that as the protocol was signed on the
21st of Mey it necessarily pointed to the then exist-
ing Cabinet, and not to that which had preceded it,
and that unless the condition in question were
promptly complied with, they would be under the
necessity of demanding their passports. This clincher,
together with the receipt of a communication from
Baron Moncorvo, stating that Lord Palmerston had
told him that the British Government was deter-
mined not to be trifled with, induced the Queen to
descend from her stilts, and yield to the pressure
from abroad. She at once sent severally for M.
Rodrigo da Fonseca, M. Silva Carvalho, and Count
Lavradio, and invited them to take office ; but as she
refused to commission any one of them, or any one
else, to form a Cabinet, in accordance with the usual
practice, but signified her intention to pick and choose
each individual Minister for herself, they declined
serving on such terms, and the negotiations for this
purpose are therefore at a stand-still.
Before this step was resorted to, and indeed imme-
diately on receipt of the last note from the three
Ministers, the whole of the Cabinet tendered their
resignations, which were of course accepted, and the
individuals composing it therefore only continue ex-
ereiaing their functions until the appointment of their
successors takes place. It is a curious Pact, yNtikh
may serve as a useful hint to others under similar
circumstances, that their last official act, prior to re-
signing, was to pay themselves in full the arrears of
their salaries.
Before the resignation took place, a decree was
issued for the Convocation of the Cortes on the 2d
of January next. According to this decree, the
elections, which are to be indirect (as affording
greater convenience for the acts of bribery, intimida-
tion, and solicitation), are to commence in the first
week of November. The qualification is regulated
as before, by the amount of direct taxes paid by each
individual, with the exception of the public employes
and pensioners, in whose case the receipt of 100
milreis per annum is to be a sufficient qualification—
a clause which will have the effnt of introducing to
the poll the whole swarm of hungry dependents upon
the Government.
Count Casal, who lately commanded the Queen's
troops in the province of Minho, has been appointed
Military Governor of Oporto. He has set out at once
by assuming arbitrary power, and in defiance of the
protocol and the convention of Gramido, and without
the least warrant from the law of the land, has or-
dered a great many of the officers who served under
the Junta to leave Oporto and proceed to different
parts of the kingdom to which he has best for them
banish them. The illyeirede-e-ed, within 24 hours, to
statesth
--galidestinations, to travel not less than five
leagues a day, and never to deviate more than half a
league from their prescribed route, and that, on ar-
riving at their places of exile, they are to present
themselves once a week to the chief military or civil
authority there, their omission to do which will not
fail to be severely punished. Among the officers thus
arbitrarily treated, I have heard the names of Colo-
nels Figueiredo, Vidigal, and Osorio, Major Pereira,
and Captain Botelho. Many of the officers have made
representations on the subject to the foreign consuls
at Oporto, calling upon them to claim the fulfilment
of the protocol and coavention' according to both of
which they ought to be left at liberty.
The popular party are making preparations to take
the field in the approaching elections. Unless the
appointment of a popular ministry should first take
place, they will have no chance of success; but, at all
events, by putting forth all their strength, they will
force the Government to have recourse to that system
of combined fraud and violenee which al one can en-
sure it the victory, and which will not fail to heap
additional odium upon it both at home and abroad.
The central electoral committee in this city is com-f
d of the following gentlemen :—Marquis o.
pose Messrs. Ottolini,
Loule, Don Jose d'Alencastre, and
Caldeira, and Sampaio, the last named of whom is
the
writer of the splendid leading articles in the Revolucao
de Setembro.
In this city everything is tolerably quiet, but the
state of the province, especially Algarve, is frightful,
and the daily papers teem with accounts of murders
and other acts of violence all over the country.
dThte
unfortunate partizans of the Junta f
arteh pmersiemcvueteemi.o
that degree, that vast numberrsefuo
e intoe the moun-
grated into Spain or fled for g
tain district. Parker will proceed to the
Vice-Admiral Sir W.
Mediterranean today with the greater part of the
mand, leaving th e Canopus,
squadron under his corn
84, the America, 50, and _
two
steamers in this port

app I‘,l. Rodrigo de Fonseca
Since writing the abovF I am informed that the
shall be removed from
Queen has agreed to a
to form a Ministry, but th.atsne has so fettered him
with conditions and restrictions, that he will not be
able to do anything• He has made overtures to
gthe army, a
several persons without effect,. as they all make it a
sinethe measure to
which the Queen will not consent. The fact is that
they have the salutary fear of the threatened Ca'bral-
qcuoamninoanndttt..l3efi.3ifn
ist outbreak before their. eyes, but are ashamed to
own that as their motive for refusing to take office.
P.S.—The squadron is now under sail.—Herald.
_-..•1.............••1•1•••

BURNING OF A SUGAR FACTORY IN WIIITECIIAPEL.
—yesterday afternoon, about half-past three o'clock, the
parish of Whitechapel was alarmed by a report that the
premises of Messrs. Craven and Lucas, sugar refiners,
were on fire. Unfortunately: the report turned out to be
correct, and before information could be communicated
to the engine stations flames were rushing through the
top windows and root. All hands were immediately
summoned, and an attempt Was made by the men em-
ployed on the premises to extinguish the fire, but with-
out the least avail. At
.first the total destruction of the
factory and all it contained appeared certain. Fortu-
nately there v'as an immediate supply of water furnished
by the East London Company, and the engines of the
parish, of the Lo don brigade, and of the West of Eng-
land arrived. It was not, however, until halt.past five
o'clock that the firemen obtained the mastery over the
flames, and not before the contents of the upper floor
were nearly consumed, and the whole of the lower floors
s severely damaged by "ter*

•••,

HER. MAJESTY'S THEATRE.
REVIEW OF THE SEASON.
In noticing the close of the Opera for the season
on Saturday night, we said that it was the longest,
the most remarkable, and the most successful season
ever recorded in the annals of Her Majesty's Theatre.
It commenced in February, and continued until the
middle of August; and it is certainly the most re-
markable for more causes than one. It is remark-
able as an instance of triumphant success, achieved
in the face of what, until surmounted, were fondly
hoped by the enemies of-the management to be in--
surmountable difficulties, It is remarkable as the
first season of a new orchestra, a new chorus, and,
with the exception of the- Lablaches and Castellan, a
new troupe. Above all, it is remarkable as the Jenny
Lind season, a name by which it will long be
remembered in the annals of the musical drama in
England. Deserted by .his orchestra, his chorus-
singers, and, with the above-named honourable ex-
ceptions, by his artistes, who, not content with
leaving him, established an opposition opera in his
immediate neighbourhood, Mr. Lumley had to re-
organize entirely his operatic establishment for the
commencement of the season. Re had, however, been
fortunate enough to secure the services of Balfe, one
of the best musicians, and perhaps the best musical
instructor of the day, as his conductor, and to retain
those of his two leaders, Tolbecque and Nadaud.
Erwagements were immediately made with all the
most celebrated instrumentalists on the Continent, a
new band of chorus- singers was organized, and, con-
sidering the short time in which they were collected
together, the performances, both of chorus- singers and
orchestra, was marvellous, and reflects the very highest
credit on the power of Belle as an instructor and a con-
ductor. We will venture to say that never before
has there been an orchestra which, in so short a
space .of time, performed so well together. The
performance of the chorus-singers, too, has been
admirable; and, in- one respect, has been a great
improvement on that of their predecessors. They
are actors as well *is singers, and notwithstanding
the persevering efforts that have been made by
a clique to depreciate them, both chorus-singers
and orchestra have stood their ground admirably.
The season opened with Donizetti's opera of La
Favorite, in which we were introduced, for the first
time, to Gardoni. It was impossible to hear him
without congratulating:Mr. Lumley on the secession
of Mario. He had Jost a clever amateur, and gained
an accomplished artiste—one who will, ere long, by
the unanimous suffrages of the whole musical world,
be hailed as the successor of Rubini. Witness his
subsequent performances of Elvino, of Arturo, and of
Nemerino. Superchi and. Bouche appeared in the
same opera, and it was evident that as far as tenors,
and baritones, and bassos :were concerned, Mr.
Lumley had gained rather than lost by the secession
of his former troupe. Coletti shortly afterwards ap-
peared, and it was at once acknowledged that he was
the first baritone of the day; and the injustice of
1840 was amply atoned for by the enthusiasm with
which he was received in 18417. Fraschini, the great
tenor of Italy, was also introduced to the English
public, and by his intensity and power created a
great sensation, although justice was scarcely done
to his great powers as a musician. The fact is,
strong tenors are not favourites with the English
musical public. Donzelli himself was admired
rather then liked, and soon gave way to Rubini, and
since his time no "strong tenor" has created the
least sensation. Sanchioli was the prima donna, at
the commencement of the season, and she was
shortly after succeeded by Castellan. Lablache, in
every sense of the word, the greatest basso in the
world, appeared before Easter, and, as usual, was
hailed with the greatest enthusiasm. About this
time the opera of I Due Foscari was produced under
very
,peculiar circumstances. In consequence of
a severe cold the debiit of Lablache was obliged to
be postponed, and instead of presenting his sub-
scribers with a worn-out opera, Mr. Lumley antici-
pated by a week theyroduction of 1 Due Foscari, the
success of which was complete. Madame Montenegro
appeared as the heroine, and Coletti, by his magnifi-
cent acting as the Doge, at once secured his position
as one of the greatest artistes of the day. But these,
which would have in former times been considered
great triumphs, were all eclipsed—nay, even the very
remembrance of them has been nearly obliterated by
the great event of the season, the debia of Jenny
Lind. On the 4th of Mai the Swedish Nightingale
made her first appearance. Well has she been named
the Nightingale, and in describing the wonders she
performs we cannot do 'better than borrow the lan-
guage of old Izaak Walton in describing her proto-
type. " But the nightingale breathes such sweet,
loud music out of her little instrumental throat that
it might make mankind to think miracles are not
ceased. He that at midnight should hear, as I have
very often, the clear airs, the sweet descants, the na-
tural rising and falling, the doubling and redoubling
of her voice, might well be lifted above earth." With
her came Staudigl, but even he was scarcely noted,
so completely was the attention of all engrossed by
Jenny Lind. Alice in Roberto it Diavolo, Amine,
the Piglia del Rpggimento. Norma, were a succession
of triumphs, and then came I Masniederi, an
opera comp,,sed expressly for Her Majesty's
Theatre by Verdi, and conducted by the maestro in
person. Most fortunate was. Verdi in having his
opera supported by Jenny Lind, Lablache, Coletti,
Gardoni, and Bouche. In no other lyrical establish-
ment in Europe could he have had such a cast, and
great credit is due to Mr. Lumley for having gone to
the expense of the production of this new opera, when
Jenny Lind would have filled his house to suffocation
every remaining night of the season from her own re-
pertoire. A short • additional season followed, during
the course of which the Nozze di Figaro was pro-
duced, with Jenny Lind as Susannah, and which we
have noticed so recently that it is unnecessary further
to allude to it. The ballet has during the season
been as attractive as ever. First of all we had the
deb& of Carolina Rosati, who now takes her station
as of right among the deesses, and on the same night
that of young Marie Taglioni, who bids fair to rival
the fame of her celebrated relative and namesake.
They' appeared together in one of the most beant;f.-1
ballets of the season, Thea. Then .injestic as
Grahn in the Ar.nazot,—..... illness prevented her
ever = 1-ee euwards the end of the season.
Cerito, and her husband St. Leon, came after
Easter, and were speedily followed by Carlotta Grisi
and by the Taglioni—when the " Pas de Quatre" and
the " Pas des Deesses" were revived, and created quite
as great a furore as ever. In addition to this, " Les
Elemens," a new pas, was produced, in which the
deesses appeared alsd together.' The great triumph
of the season, however, was the appearance of Jenny
Lind, in coinparisein with which everything else
appears small. Never has such enthusiasm been
excited as she has excited—never have such crowds
assembled, night after night, as have been assembled
to Witness her performances—never has so much
money been received, and never has so much money
been sent away from any theatre as has been
received at, and sent away, from her Majesty's Theatre
on the Jenny Lind nights. Truly this may be
called the Jenny Lind season.

AR RIVAL OF THE QUEEN
DOWAGER AT RYDE.
PORTSMOUTH, WEDNESDAY.—Her Majesty the
Queen Dowager, with a small suite, arrived at the
South-Western terminus, in the Royal Clarence-
yard, at ten minutes before three o'clock this after-
noon. Previous preparation had been made, and on
her alighting from the train she was received by
Rear-Admiral Hyde Parker (doing the duty, in the
absence of Sir Charles Ogle, of fort Admiral), Cap-
tain Sir Edward Parry, Captain Chads, the officers of
the Clarence-yard, and by a guard of honour fur-
nished by the Rifle corps. The state barge, with the
Hon. Mr. Spencer, flag-lieutenant, was at the land-
ing place, in which her Majesty and suite were con-
veyed to the Fire Queen, Lieutenant Commander
Johnson. After receiving Admiral Parker and the
several captains in attendance on the deck of that
vessel, the Fire Queen proceeded out of harbour to
Ryde. On the royal standard being hoisted in the
steamer, the customary salutes were fired by the
Victory and the Platform battery, the Victory and the
Apollo manning yards and cheering as the Fire
Queen passed them. On the steamer passing the
Agincourt, at Spithead, that vessel also manned yards
and saluted.
It it understood that her Majesty the Queen
Dowager will sojourn at Ryde until she takes her
departure for Madiera. Admiral Parker has ordered
the Hon. Mr. Spencer, his flag-lieutenant, to attend
till further orders on her Majesty, at Ryde, in the
Fanny tender.

DEATH Or COL. SIR HENRY GEORGE Nisa.non.
K.H.—We have to record the demise of the above
Gallant Officer, who expired on Friday last, at his resi-
dence near Windsor, after a comparatively short illness.
Sir Henry entered the army in 1807, and saw consider-
able service with his regiment, the 35th Foot, up to the
great victory at Waterloo.
On the Corn-Exchange yesterday there was again
further depression, and the failure of Messrs. Alexander
Dickson and Co., of Belturbet, near Belfast, increased
on
in
a very strong degree the general gloom. Mr. Dicks
was a large distiller, and has latterly been a miller and
dealer in grain, and the liabilities of the firm are stated
at 200,000/. Score of the most prudent of the London
core-factors are creditors to a
large amount, as are
several of the houses in Liverpool. This failure, more-
over, has already brought down three or four smaller
houses in Ire Times.
HISTORICAL FACT.—It may not be unworthy of
mention at this time that Banquo, tbe Thane of Locha-
ber, and who resided in tbe castle of Inverlochy, was tile
progenitor of the Stuart family, of whom many of the
crowned heads of Europe are descended. So that it is
no wonder that our 'gracious Queen should select Fort
William, the capitiFof-LOchaber, for her landing-place
On her visit to this part of her ancient king,lom of Scot-
-11u2a.--Norilt Priti*lda4

THE MURDER OF THE DUCHESS
DE PR A SLIN.
A postscript t 9 our Paris letter of Tuesday, written
at post hour, states that the last sacrament had been
administered to the Duke de Praslin. The ceremony
took place in the presence of the Chancellor and other
personages. It was not thought thatthe Duke would
survive the night.
The following are the latest particulars relating to
this dreadful crime that have transpired :---
great four hours,
lucidity
te
Mdlle. de Luzy was interrogated on Monday for
which
various tqiumeestiosnhae
preurtieodhewr wish
the Chancellor and the members of the Committee of
Inquiry. - • . .
The matter discharged from the t hofth
e
Duke stomach
Duke de Praslin after the attempt t poisoning was
analysed by M. Chevalier,' and fo:n
cl.
1t . a
considerable quantity of arsenic. M.
,L contain
Louis, who
usual was in attendance on the. Duke as his u
physi-
cian, has been replaced by M. Aud I b
ra , y the orders
of the Chancellor. • • -
On Tuesday the Duke was too weak to support an
examination, and the Chancellor and the committee
agreed to postpone it until the next day.
(From the Gazette des Tribunaux of Tuesday.)
" We have already said that- the existence of seve-
ral wounds on the person of the'Duke of Praslin was
proved. Independently of those remarked on his
hands, and which seem .as if caused by bites, two
others have been discovered, one on the side and the
other on the leg. When called on to explain how
those wounds had been occasioned, the Duke, after
having at first refused to do so, replied, it is said, that
it was the buckle of his trousers which had rubbed
his side, and that he gave himself a violent blow on
the leg the evening before when getting into one of
the railway carriages. When asked if he had men-
tioned these injuries to any one, he replied in the
negative, but afterwards said that he had spoken of
them to a person of. his household. It is also known
that after having found in the fireplace the remains of
clothing, almost entirely consumed, and on which
traces of blood were perceptible, it was discovered
that the dressing gown which the Duke wore was
also stained with blood, and that it had been recently
washed. The Duke, it is said, admitted this latter
fact, but attributed the 'blood to his having come
in contact with the body of the Duchess when he
found her expiring ; the cause of his washing out the
stains of blood was, he said, to spare his children the
sight of it. Several versions have circulated relative
to the circumstances of the horrible drama which
took place on the night of the. XBth inst. It may be
comprehended how-difficult it is at present to make
on this point probable conjectures, if the precise posi-
tion of the rooms of the apartment at the moment
when the crime was discovered, and the nature as
well as the direction of the wounds be not known in
an exact manner. We do not, think it right to re-
peat these several versions, particularly as they do not
accord completely with the contents of the proves
verbaux and the observations of the medical men. In
tact, if the bloody stains marked on the door, and on
the hangings of the chamber, proving the desperate
efforts of the victim to escape from the murderer, be
taken into consideration, the conclusion must be come
to, that the unfortunate Duchess was first struck in
her bed, and that then, escaping from her murderer,
she must, whilst overturning the furniture and
whilst she still was receiving blows, have struck
with her mutilated and bleeding hands at every
door, and then, at last, must have fallen exhausted
into the arm-chair, near the chimney. There, bent
double, still uttering cries which her assailant
endeavoured to prevent •by pressing her mouth, she
received from behind on the head and neck repeated
blows, one of which opened an artery and produced
death. According to these indications, it appears
probable that the pull at the bell which roused the
persons belonging to the household was not given
during the struggle,' but that the Duchess recovering
for a moment her senses, after having been left for
dead, found sufficient strength to seize the bell-rope
which was at the side of •the causeuse on which she
had fallen, and where she was found expiring."
The Patric of yesterday evening says:—
" The Chancellof and the Commission of the Court
of Peers went this morning to the prison in which
the Duke of Praslin is confined. They found him in
bed and still suffering from violent spasms. It ap-
pears that the antidotes administered after his at-
tempt to poison himself have not yet destroyed
the effect of the laudanum. The sufferings which
ensued have produced such ravages on the sys-
tem, that a Peer of France who saw him, has
declared to us that he is only the shadow of what
he was. The Duke is said to have replied at first
with great difficulty to the questions of the Chan-
cellor, who repeadly exhorted him to compose him-
self and then to reply without reserve. The Duke
is reported to have wept frequently during this exa-
mination, respecting which the commission preserves
the most profound secresy. This morning M. Brous-
sais and a ccmmissary of police made, we are assured,
another search at the Hotel Sebastiani, and at th-
places of residence of the two mistresses of the Puke,
who were both governesses in his family. 31cIlle. de
Luzy i 3 no longer in secret confincment. The cor-
respondence seized at her residence has been examined
by the commission of the Court of Peers, by which
she is to be interrogated. She is very calm, and does
not appear to have the least dread of the result of the
examinations as far as she is concerned. She acknow-
ledges having replied sometimes with vivacity to the
Duchess of Praslin, whose jealousy and violent lan-
guage she dreaded. We have spoken of the alterca-
tions between the Duke and Duchess, of which she
was the cause. The Duchess suspected her rela-
tions with the Duke, and frequently complained
of them. 'What contributed much to irritate her
was a journey which the Duke made two years ago
to Corsica with Mademoiselle de Luzy. The Duke
took with Mdlle. de Luzy his two eldest unmarried
daughters. It was only a month since that"-
Duchess was able to obtain the renk
n„..,...,titte, with-
Luzy. We have alreadT sw..teu dile, de Luzy
out informing the val, having with him two of
on the Duchess,shaving been apprised of
sacs visit of the children, expressed her dissatisfaction
in very warm terms."
The National Contains the following remarkable
paragraph relative to the Duke of Praslin :
"It is by no means probable that the Duke of
Praslin, Peer of France, Gentleman of the Bed-
chamber to the Duchess of Orleans, and at the same
time accused of murder, will appear before the court
instituted to try him. We are informed that his
health is hourly declining. The weakness of his
organs is so great that he cannot endure an interro-
gatory for any length of time, and it is with the
greatest difficulty that an intelligible reply can be
obtained from him."