The Sun.
London, England, 1871-02-06 00:00:00

FIRE AT SHEFFIELD.

THE LATE MR. T. W. ROBERTSON,
Mr. Thomas William Robertson was only forty-two
years of age, having been born on the 9th of January,
1829. He was educated at Spalding in Lincolnshire, and
in Holland. He wrote a number of dramas for the minor
theatres, but none of them brought him much reputa-
tion. His first great success was achieved at
the Prince of Wales's Theatre, where he pro-
duced " Society" in November, 1865. This piece was fol-
lowed.by " Ours," which was brought out at the same
house in September, 1866. In 1867 " Caste " was pro-
duced at the Prince of Wales's, " For Love" at the
Holborn, and "Shadow Three Shaft" at the Princess's.
The latter, however, was a failure. Since then Mr.
Robertson has written a series of dramas, including
" Progress," " School," "Dreams," and "M. P." His
last piece, " War," was produced at St. James's, about
three weeks ago, and met [with doubtful success. Mr.
Robertson was a contributor to Fun- and other -comic
periodicals, and also contributed articles to several of the
leading daily and weekly journals.

Her Majesty the Queen will hold a Council at
Windsor Castle on Wednesday next.
We are authorised to state that the Queen will hold
a Court at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday, the 21st of
February, to receive the Corps Diplomatique, her Ma-
jesty's Ministers, and other official personages, with the
ladies of their families, who will receive notifications
of her Majesty's gracious intention through the Lord
Chamberlain. The Queen will hold Drawing Rooms at
Buckingham Palace on Thursday, the 23rd of February,
and on Tuesday, the 28th of March, under the usual
regulations.
Sir Roderick Murchison, we regret to state, re-
mains in a delicate condition, but little improvement
having taken place during the last week.
Among the horses sold at Tattersall's during Lord
Henry Bentinck's sale last week was an Irish colt, which
was purchased by an American for £650.
The Echo du Parlement publishes a telegram from
Versailles, stating that General Garibaldi is said to have
demanded to be included in the armistice.
Miss Rose Cullen, one of the most ladylike
actresses of the day, and who is employed at the Strand
Theatre, is seriously ill. She fainted twice on the stage
the other night.
We understand Colonel Bowyer, the respected
Worshipful Grand Master of the Oxfordshire Lodge of
Freemasons, lies dangerously ill at his seat, at Steeple
Aston, Oxon.
The Lord Chancellor entertained a party of her
Majesty's judges and counsel, with other distinguished
guests, at dinner on Thursday, at his residence in Great
George-street.
Lord Granville, as Leader of the Government in
the House of Lords, has issued cards of invitation for a
full-dress dinner on Wednesday next at his residence in
Bruton-street, Berkeley-square.
CRYSTAL PALA C E.—Half-a-Crown Day.—Satur-
day, February 4, 1871.—The admissions by season tickets
were 5,075 ; ditto on payment, 760 ; total visitors,
5,835.

•" The Oxford Undergrad," a new serio-comic song,
the words of which are by the son of the late Mr. Plow-
man, reporter, of Oxford, and the music by J. Batchel-
der, has made its appearance and bids fair for a share of
popularity.

A meeting was held in Dublin on Thursday to
take steps for establishing a branch of the Irish National
Education League. Resolutions expressing approval
of united and unsectarian education were adopted, and a
committee was appointed to prosecute the movement.
There is very little business in Westminster Hall,
both Q.C.'s and stuff gownsmen are complaining of the
paucity of work. To compensate for this, however, there
is more than the usual amount of business before Parlia-
mentary Committees.

We are informed that there is no foundation
for the telegraphic reports that General Fleury and M.
Conti have been on a special mission to England. It is
also untrue that the Empress has left Chislehurst for the
Continent.

After his return home, General Sheridan can lay
fair claim to be one of the best travelled of all his country-
men. It is estimated that he has already passed over
25,000.mi1es in his European tour, which is now drawing
to an end.—American Register.

Professor Joseph Winlock, of Harvard University,
and Professor J. R. Eastmore, of the Naval Observatory
at Washington, both of whom belonged to the eclipse
expedition, are at present in London, but will sail for
home in the course of a few days.

An underwriter has written a long letter to the

Times advocating the employment of professional " aver-
age adjusters." He thinks that the committee of Lloyd's
should appoint an examiner of claims, to whom all dis-
puted cases might be referred for his report.
THE LATE LORD HENRY BENTINCIL—Mr. G.
Cavendish Bentinck, the residuary legatee under the will
of the late Lord H. Bentinck, will receive about £200,000.
The late nobleman made no prov;sion for his servants, but
Mr. Bentinck has settled a pension on Lord Henry's
oldest grooms ; he has also made the valet of the deceased
a present of £lOO.

TxE
CHußca 00IgGIVESS OF 1871.—The Church
Congress of the present year is to be held at Nottingham,
and meetings of the general committee, with Bishop Mac-
kenzie at its head, are being held. They have agreed
"that reporters be excluded, and that the secretaries be
requested to communicate the results of the various meet-
ings to the papers ;" " that no one shall be invited to
take part in the proceedings of the Congress who has been
finally condemned by the law."

THE DEFENCES OF LONDON.—We believe that
active measures are about to be taken for strengthening
the defensive positions round LondOn, and others lying
between the metropolis and the coast. For so me years
past an item has regularly appeared in the Army Esti-
mates for expenses incurred in surveying and planning
these positions, but the work has been carried on in a
sluggish and apathetic manner. The recent events on the
Continent, however, have caused the authorities to turn
their attention more closely to this important question,
and Major-General Sir F. Chapman, the Inspector-
General of Fortifications, has been instructed to submit,
without delay, plans for a complete defence of the ap-
proaches to London.—United Service Gazette.

A serious fire broke out on Saturday morning at the
works of Messrs. H. and C. Chester, horn merchants,
West-street, Sheffield. One portion of the works was
entirely gutted, and the workmen's tools and stock are
destroyed. The damage is roughly estimated at
£2,000 to £3,000.

THE LEICESTER CHAMBER OF
AGRICULTURE.
A meeting of the Leicestershire Chamber of
Agriculture was held in Leicester on Saturday
under the presidency of Mr. W. U. Heygate,
M.P. It was resolved, after considerable dis-
cussion, on the question of weights ,and measures, that
this Chamber expresses its agreement generally with the
resolutions recommended by the joint committee of the
Central Chamber of Agriculture and the International
Decimal Association, which reported last July on th e
subject of weights and measures, with the exception that
the cental of 1001bs, be substituted for the kilogramme.
It was also decided to request the Central Chamber to
continue its efforts for the repeal of the malt tax; while
it expressed the opinion that in any future remission of
taxation the malt tax should be the first to be considered
by the Government.