The Sun.
London, England, 1841-04-03 00:00:00

COURT CIRCULAR.

The Queen and Prince Albert visited the National
Gallery yesterday afternoon. The Royal Suite con-
sisted of the Hon. Miss Pitt, Hon. Miss Devereux,
Marqu:s of Headfort, Sir Robert Otway, Lord Alfred
Paget, and Colonel Bouverie.
Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent attended
by Lady Anne Maria Dawson, visited the Queen- yes-
terday, and remained to lunch with her Majesty and
Prince Albert.

Viscount Melbourne had an audience yesterday of
the Queen.

His Royal Highness Prince George of Cambridge
visited Prince Albert. yesterday.
Her Majesty had a Dinner Party last evening at
Buckingham Palace. The company consisted of ber
Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, Lady Cotten-
ham, Earl of Erroll, Earl of Uxbridge, Earl of Surrey,
Eirl of Dunmore, Lord Foley, Lord De Lisle, the
Right Hon. Sir Robert and Lady Peel, Baron Stock-
mar, Countess of Charlemont, Lady Anne Maria Daw-
son, Hon. Miss Pitt, Hon. Miss Devereux, Baroness
Lehzen, Marquis of Headfort, Colonel Couper, Hon.
C. A. Murray, Sir Robert Otway, Lord Alfred Paget,
Colonel Bouverie, and Dr. Preetorius.

The baud of the 2d Regiment of Life Guards were
in attendance at the Palace during the dinner.
Her Majesty honourci Mr. W. C. Ross, A.R.A.,
with a third sitting yesterday for a portrait at Bucking-
ham Pahce.

His Royal Highness Prince Albert, attended by
Lord George Lennox, S.r George Anson, and Colonel
Bouverie, attended a meeting of the Royal Society in
Somerset-house on Thursday evening.

His Royal Highness Prince George of Cambridge
arrived in town at seven o'clock on Thursday evening
from Dublin. His Royal Highness paid visits yester-
day to her Majesty the Queen Dowager et Marlbo-
rough House, and to the Duchess of Kent at Gloucester
House.

The Duchess of Gloucester and the Duke of Cam-
bridge visited her Majesty the Queen Dowager yester-
day.
The Duke of Cambridge had an interview with Vis-
count Melbourne yesterday at his official residence in
Downing-street.
Mr. Sergeant Stock, and Mr. John O'Connell had
an interview yesterday at the Home-office.
A Deputation from the Anti-Slavery Society, con-
sisting of Messrs. Samuel Gurney, Josiah Forster, Geo.
Bennett, John Beaumont, Edmund Gurney, John
O'Connell, M.P., E. N. Buxton, and Henry Sterry,
had an interview with Viscount Melbourne, yesterday,
in Downing-street.
Mr. Greg and the Mayor of Manchester bad an in-
terview, yesterday, with the Marquis of Normanby at
the Horne-office.
Messrs. Hamilton and Monteith had an interview
with Lord John Russell 3 esterday at the Colonial-office.
Despatches from the Governors of New South Wales,
South Australia, and West Australia, were received
yesterday at the Colonial-office.
Mr. B. Wilbraham had an interview with the Mar-
quis of Normanby yesterday at the Home•cifice.
Mr. Thornely, M.P., had an interview with Lord J.
Russell at the Colonial-office yesterday.

LITERATURE.

SCHMIDT'S SYNOPTICAL GERMAN
GRAMMAR.

This is a single sheet, in which the essentials
of a German Grammar are compressed and ar-
ranged on a novel plan. It gives a bird's-eye
view of the whole, and will be extremely useful
to seamen. It is dedicated to Dr. Hawtrey, the
Head Master of Eton College, and has, therefore,
we presume, the approval of that distinguished
scholar.

THE FREEMASON'S QUARTERLY RE.
YIEW.—No. XXIX.

THE FREEMASON'S MAGAZINZ—No.
The truth of the sacred announcement, so jar-
ring upon the ear of the perpetrator of dark
deeds in dark places, " There is nothing secret
which shall not be made known—nothing hid
which shall not be revealed," is true in our day-
with respect to what our fathers regarded as
the most impenetrable mysteries. Masonry,
which, from the days of King Solomon till
the days of George 111. (no way in head
akin to Solomon, by the bye) had no tongue
whereby to address the uninitiated, has now two
and such tell-tales ! How many spouses
of the masonic fraternity throughout the dark
ages, would have been saved from dying with
curiosity to obtain one glimpse of the mysteries
of the craft, had the " Freemasons' Quarterly
Review," or its more unpretending companion in
the revelation of mystery, then made a periodical
appearance And yet a lifting of the cover of
the veil does not tend greatly to edify us. The
brothers in masonry, and dearer to each other in
songs and toasts than brothers in the flesh—these
periodicals let us into the secret that masons are
still men—that they are not exempt from
human infirmities—that they do quarrel and
abuse one another sometimes, like mortals less
interested in fixing the exact locality of
the rock from which Moses drew water
to quench the thirst of the perishing
Israelites ! They do inform us that even within
this sacred camp disquietude is exhibited, and
rebellion not unknown. This ought to teach the
word, and those who govern it, an useful lesson.
No institution which abridges human thought—
which restricts the communication of knowledge
capable ofmaking men better than they are, can
satisfy the mind of any truly good man. Now,
according to the testimony of the contributors to
these periodicals, the great object of the Masonic
Institution is to inculcate truths, many of which
do make men wiser and better both as mem-
bers of society as being responsible to God
for their actions. ‘• If one society of hu-
man origin," says one writer, " more than

another tends to soften men's manners,
and, as it were, harmonize the mind, that so-
ciety is masonry. I have now been a member of
it more than twenty years; and having, during
that period, followed it up with the utmost zeal,
I ought to have some experience on the subject.
From what I have seen and known of it, then, I
would fearlessly assert that in it exist all the
germs of honour, truth, and virtue, By it we
are taught the noblest attributes of the human
mind; its precepts inculcate the purest morality;
and its tendency generally is to make honest,
just, and good." An Institution whose ten-
dency is to effect such a pure moral revolution
should not have two tongues, but a thou-
sand. Its voice should be for ever heard in
our streets. And yet, strange as it may ap-
pear, both these periodicals publish resolu-
tions of the Grand Lodge, with the Duke of
Sussex at its head, repudiating all such disclo-
sures as are here made. But the attempt to im-
pose silence comes too late. Such writers as Dr.
Crucifix, and Mr. Lee Stevens, and the Rev.
Dr. Oliver, are not to be deterred from perform-
ing what they regard to be a sacred duty, by the
I superstitious fears of those masonic owls who
delight in darkness. For ourselves, we belong,
not to the craft, nevertheless we take an inte-
rest in its proceedings. The
.Freemason's Quar-
terly Review, in particular, is conducted with
spirit, and deserves the support of the masonic
body.

FINE ARTS.
CORONATION PORTRAIT OF THE
- Q UEEN.
Sir William Newton's portrait of her Majesty,
with a private view of which we were favoured
yesterday, is one of the most striking likenesses
we have yet seen, and though sufficiently courtly
in its character, is by no means too lavish of its
flattery. This highly finished picture is painted
on ivory—a circumstance which will take every
one by surprise who witnesses its dimensions.
Her Majesty is represented sitting in her chair
of state, and the moment selected by the artist
is when she is receiving the heart-felt homage
of the Duke of Sussex, who is kneeling before
her, and looking up in her face, with an
earnest expression, in which respect for the
Queen is blended with affection for the
niece. Her. Majesty, whose head is gently
bent forward, regards her august relative with
evident feelings of interest and kindliness, as
though aware that his act of homage was dic-
tated by the heart, and was not a mere matter of
cold Court ceremony. The Duke's profile is
brought out with consummate skill, nor can any
thing be more truly graceful and easy than his
attitude. But it is on the Queen's countenance
and figure that the artist has lavished all his
powers, and the result is such as must satisfy his
most sanguine expectations. In the back-ground
of the picture appear the Marquis of Conyngham,
Lord Melbourne, the Duke of Cambridge, the
Bishop of London, the Duke of Wellington, and
several others who, at the period selected, were
in immediate attendance on the Queen's per-
son. Lord Melbourne's countenance may be
recognized at a glance. It is the correctest
and most spirited portrait of his Lordship ever
painted, and we are astonished, on beholdinc, it,
to find how much vigorous expression has been
given to ivory painting, which we have always
considered as a very inanimate affair. The Duke
of Wellington is a less fortunate resemblance.
Ten years at least have been subtracted from
his age. As regards the general richness of the
colouring of this fine picture, we may say with
perfect justice that, with all the advantages given
them by space and other auxiliaries, not one of
the numerous painters of the Coronation have
approached within many degreeS of Sir William
ew ton.

COMMERCIAL TREATIES

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

Sin,—Permit me to draw your attention to some obser-
vations made by Lord Melbourne, when discussing the
Corr-laws on Lora Fitzwilliam's motion, during the last
Seasion.

In opposition to the expectation of the Repealers, that
the continental nations would modify their tariffs on our
doing the same on their produce, his Lordship seemed to
triumph in the exclamation, " Where is-your assurance of
this ?" and proceeded to deny that such was to be expected.
Shortly it is to be hoped that a similar discussion will
take place, and the Premier will probably again assure the
country that it is not only problematical but unlikely that
the members of the Prussian League, or even Russia, will
consent to such an arrangement as shall enable this coun-
try to find in them markets for its produce.
Now on whom ought the solution of this doubt, if it be
one, to rest? Unquestionably the Government should
have ascertained ere this whether the doubts of Lord Mel-
bourne or the expectation of \lr. Villiers be correct. What
culpab!e negligence is indicated by our Government being
yet ignorant of %cleat effective negotiation on this impor-
tant subket would produce I
True, Dr. Bowring was semi-officially deputed to obtain
the truth upou this question ; and although his Report was
a complete affirmative, yet we find the head of the Mi-
nistry, whose agent he ostensibly was, expressly contradict-
ing what had in reality been aseetvined.
ft is to be presumed that his Lordship supposes Dr.
Bowring's prepossessions have completely perverted his
judgment. _ _

Thus, &so, Lord Ashburton, the other day, speaks of
APGrcgor, J. D. flume, Porter, and l3ewring, as theoretic
men, and attempts with this ob..icrvation, at once Of lie
could), to invalidate their evidence.

Now, have Lords Melbourne and Ashburton no preju-
dices ? Have the pro-Core-law men no interests where-
upon to build theories? Are the sportsmen of Bucking-
hamshire and of Suffolk and the declaimers at agricul-
tural dinners as inherently versed in fiscal policy as some
of them arc presumed to be in legislatorial skill ?
In truth the country must be easily led if sound and ex-
perienced offic;al characters arc thus to be stigmatized as
" blind leaders of the blind."
" Who is so blind as those who will not see ?" was a
sage observation of one of olden time. And certainly
the wilful ignorance of Lord Melbourne as to the inten-
tions of our continental neighbours indicates indisposition
to ell interests but those of his own prejudices.
Moreover this subject is more prominently before the
county on account of the recent decided expression of the
House of Commons upon the free exportation of ma-
chinery.
Such a step would he regarded as a most decided ad-
vance on the part of England in free trade, and many abo-
litioni,ta would grant an unrestricted trade in our me-
chanical skill and ingenuity, without any equivalent.
On this point we are not about now to enter, but that
the subject affords a most de,irable opportunity fur opening
negotiations with other nations, cannot be denied.
That man who stands at the head of affairs in this
kingdom, and neglects the interests of our commerce,
though nominally a Reformer, sill prove but a poor guar-
dian of our interests. Theoretic reform may suit tenure
of office ; practical reform only will benefit the nation. If
our trade be discouraged our revenues will be diminished,
our treasury will be exhausted, new debts be entailed upon
our already overburdened country, and England will fur-
nish an evidence of the impossibility of maintaining its
supremacy without manufactures and trade. Let the
names of Whig and Tory be lost in the promulgation of
the principles of free trade. Let the Reformers of 1830
be linked with their opponents of that era, to procure the
abolition of our antiquated fiscal regulations ; and if Lord
Melbourne continue to oppose them, England can find
another and a better man to be its Premier.
I am, respectfully,
City, March 29, 1841. MERCURIUS.

The Hon. Mrs. Gage has been seriously indis-
posed at her father's, Sir Charles Knightly, in Northamp-
tonshire.

The Duke of Rutland will leave Belvoir Castle
the end of this week for the year, it being now the close
of the hunting season.
Viscount Duncannon is recovered from the in-
fluenza, and teas overlooking his works in the Parks on
Thursday.
CANADIAN COMMERCE.—The number of
vessels cleared from the poi t 3 of Montreal and Quebec to
Great Britain, during the year 1840, was I,o79—tonnage
399,449, giving employment to 15,227 men. The prin-
cipal articles tf export were pct and pearl ash, 24,107
brls. ; flour, 298,761 bils. ; wheat, 141,931 roinots, and
lumber in great quantities.
NEGLECT IN A STATION-HOUSE.—A length-
ened inquiry took place on Thursday evening at St. Bar-
tholomew's Hospital, before Mr. Payne, concerning the
death of James lnskip, aged fifty, a cab-driver, of No. 4,
Baker's-court, Holborn, some particulars of which ap-
peared in The Sun on Wednesday. It appeared by the
evidence that on Wednesday morning last, about half-past
one, the deceased, whilst (hiving his cab from Newgate-
street towards the Post-office, fell from his seat into the
road. He arose without assistance, but as the police con-
stable, William Bowyer, 291, thought him to be intoxi-
cated, he was taken to the station-house, where be
was placed in the cell allotted to drunken persons.
He was found shortly after lying on his back,
retching violently, and as he had not spoken since
his admission, but appeared perfectly insensible, when the_c
_
inspector arrived he was taken to the above hospital. He
was dead upon his arrival. Several of the policemen
were examined at much length, their statement agreeing
that the deceased appeared to be drunk, or he wousdur
eo
instantly received medical assistance. The house- g n
but wbe-
said that the deceased had died from
apop.exy,h t
ther it occurred immediately before or after the a
.he
could not say. Ho did not think that, be
.a been in.
toxicated, as he did not detect any me!. cf liquor. The
deceased's friends said that be was of remarkably tempe_
rate habits, and was observed to be quite sober up to a late
hour tl.c previous night. The Jury, after some delibera_
tim, returned ap
rverdict tnh
opiniona t th e d
thateee deceased dciaeudtioonf ;:a
had not
Apo-
plexy," and ex
in this instance been observed. They also suggested that
some alteration should be made in the cells for the recep-
tion of drunken characters.
It is a curious circumstance connected with the
attempted murder of Alt:. Mackreill by Misters, whose
execution was fixed for teis day, that the name of the in-
tended victim was Ludlow, tl.at of the counsel for the
prosecution Ludlow, and the scene of the dreadful oc-
currence

Her 'Majesty's Stag hounds will meet on Mon-
day, at Btaeossfielcl.

MORNIN G EDITIO