The Sun.
London, England, 1846-09-16 00:00:00

MUSICAL GOSSIP.

PAUIS.—The pasticcio Rossini, to be called Robert
Bruce, is in rehearsal. Early in November it is ex-
pected the first representation will take place of a work
that may be called the plank of safety of the Academic
Royale de Musique. It is stated that Rossini, in the
handsomest manner, has presented Mons. Neidermeyer
with all pecuniary emolument. Mdlle. Giuseppina
Brambilla has arrived, and M. Colletti is expected this
week. Madame Persiaai and Ronconi.will be in Paris
about the 23d inst. Grisi and Mario will .arrive on the
30th. The Theatre Italitn will open with Lucia. On
the 10th or 15th of October will be produced the Due
Foscari, for the debut of Colletti, and shortly after-
wards the Fidanzata Corsa of Facial, likewise for Col-
letti. Sivori and Henri Herz leave Paris during the
present month for New York. Madame Rossi-Caecia
has appeared in the character of Alice„ in Robert le
Diable, at the Opera, and met with considerable suc
cess. Guillaume Tell, is to be produced for her, as also,
it is said, will the Siege of Corinth.
_ _ _

VIENNA.—Jenny, Lind is engaged here for three
months. She will make her appearance on the Ist of
October. Meyerbeer intends coming in person to super-
intend the mise en scene of the Camp de Silesie, to which
he will add some morceaux expressly for the fair canto,
trice. The celebrated prima donna is engaged fo
100,000 f., a benefit performance, and with the expreta
stipulation that she shall not sing more than three nights
a week. The Vienna Gazette speaks well of a new mass
composed by a lady, already known in the Imperial city
for her perseverance in composition, Mdlle. Nina
Stollevark.
HAMBURGH.—If we may judge from the terms paid to
artists in this city, we should be led to conclude that
music and dancing were more honourably estimated than
in any other part of Germany. Taglioni, Jenny Lind,
Fanny Elssler, and Cerito, have each received 1001. per
night.
STUTTGARD.—On the 20th of August last the Theatre
Royal, which has been closed a long time, in conse-
quence of its undergoing some extensive repairs, was re-
opened. It was attended by his Majesty the King and
all the members of the Royal Family. who were received
with great acclamations by a crowded house. On tbis
occasion the long-expected new opera by Lindpainter,
entitled, Lichtenstein, was produced. The libretto
from the pe'i of the poet Franz Dingelstedt, founded on
the story of Lichtenstein by Hauf.
MILAN.—The La Scala opened for the autumn
season, on the Ist instant, with Rossini's Mose in
Egitto, and the ballet Saidanapolos. The opera was
performed very indifferently, but the ballet was entirely
successful.
CESENA.—The prima donna, Teresa de Giuli-Borsi,
has made a tremendous stir in this city.
Dr. Mendelsohn and Staudigl took their departure
from London together, by the way of Dover, on Sun-
day last—the former to Leipsic, the latter to Vienna.
At a meeting of the General Committee of the Bir-
mingham Musical Festival, held at the News Rooms,
Aug. 29, the following resolution was unanimously
adopted :—" Resolved, That the thanks of this meeting
be given to I. Moscheles, Esq , for the zeal and ability
manifested in all his arrangements, preparatory to, and
during his conduction of the Festival."—Musical World.

'INCENDIARY FIRES in FRANCE.
The departments'in the north and east of France still
continue to be affrighted by incendiary fires. The peo-
ple are exasperated, the peasants watch under arms,
night and day ; every one is suspected by them. In
many places the coaches are stopped by bands who
question the travellers, examine them, and will not allow
them to continue their journey, until they have verified
their passes and effects. We do not, however, know
that any spoliation ,has been exercised in consequence
of these visits. Everything is usually conducted with
order enough, and the travellers endeavour as much as
possible to calm the irritation of these poor people. An
insignificant circumstance, however, was lately very
near costing the life of a person who was travelling in
the coach from the Semur to Avallon. About half-past
four in the morning the vehicle 'was stopped by a band
of peasants near Toutry, and the usual examination
made, when a box of lucifers was found on the traveller
in question. He was immediately dragged from the
coach, amid cries of "It is he, it is the brigand ! Ile is
the incendiary." In vain did he attempt to justify him-
self. Such was the blind philosophy of these mmn that
they resisted all proof. He had passed through Toutry
a few days before, and a fire having broken out sherd v
after, that was considered sufficient proof of guilt, and
it was decided that he must be executed. The only dif-
ficulty was to decide on the manner of execution, so as
to make it as lingering and cruel as possible. The wo:
men, who were even more furious than the men, wished
to inflict upon him the punishment of Abelard, and
hang him afterwards. The motion was much approved
of, and was about to be put in force, when it was urged
that he would suffer more if he were flayed and quar-
tered. Finally, however, it was decided that he should
be burnt alive. All this discussion took place in the
presence of the prisoner, who was seated on a bench,
motionless, and his eyes fixed on the ground. lie was
repeatedly kicked and struck, and the women and chil-
dren spat in his face, but he did not dare to stir, for a
single movement would have led to instant death. For-
tunately, at this moment, some gendarmes arrived, and
released him from so critical a bituation,—Dekts.

,:.

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PROGRESS or FRENCH
INDUSTRY.
The Paris corre:pt)ndent of the gJournal gives
the f4a wing sketch or [he prof refs and present position
of the 1' ..erat iron trade :

A glance at the gradual growth of this monopoly cf
iron and iron monopoly, me e not be uninteresting. In
1781 the duty, on the ir• pertation of iron in bars was only
iwo francs the metrical quintal ; in 1806 it was raised to
four francs. No duty whatever was exacted on cast icon.
Up to 1814 this protection was found sufficient by the
ir• rl nesters of Fiance, although during netirly.all,khat
time, Belgium being part of the French emptre, they
h id to cont end against the overwhelming competition of
the Belgian irenmasters. On the_ establishment of peace
England and Sweden sent in ab;iit 6,000,000 kilo-
grammes of iron. This frightened the French so much
that notwithstanding Belgiumwas separated from their
country, they demanded the entire prohibition of foie4en
iron for two years, and the subsequeni 'adaption of such
duties as should enable their iron to be cold in compe-
tition with foreign. Accordingly a lag-;dated the 21st
of December, 1814, fixed at 2 francs 20 cents the 100
kilogrammes, the cast-iron and iron en gueu.s.es, and, at
16 francs 60 cents the iron in tiers. The law Was adepted
with great regret as a temPoraey measure. In 1822 the
duties on cast iron was raised to 8 francs 80 cents the
100 kilogrammes ; and on iron from coal to 27 francs
50 cents. At the current prices of the day of English
iron the 16 francs 60 cents duties were equivalent, to
from 751. to 80/. per cent, that is to say, the French
eonsumer paid 175/. to 180/. for what he could have re-
ceived from England for 100/. ; at the increased duties
of 1822 the increased tax upen the consumers was equal
to 150 per cent. By means of these duties not less than
31,000.000 francs annually were levied from tho con-
sumers. The iron masters, however, contended ;hat
they did not receive all that amount, but that the wood
sellers obtained the greatest part of it. Whatever truth
there was in that statement, an inquiry took place, and
the consequence was a reduction of one franc in the duty
on cast iron and one•fifth of the duty on iron. In Is34s
the Government caused a reduction of five francs per
100 kilogrammes to be made in the duty on iron from
coal, with the intention cf subsequently making still
greater reductions.. In 1835 a further reelection of one-
fifth of the duty on iron from coal, and of one franc on
cast iron, was carried into effect by royal ordinance, and
an intimation Was given that it was desirable to reduce
by one half the duty on foreign rails. In the subsequent
session an attempt was made to reduce the duty on iron
from coal 25 per cent. ; on iron from wood 20 per cent. ;
on cast iron 2 francs the 100 kilogrammes ; and to admit
foreign rails at 5 francs the 100 kilogramestes. These
sweeping seductions were, however, net accepted ; but
the mere proposition of them frightened the ironmestere
into promising that, before long, iron should be as elioaP
France as it ever had been in England—that it shouij
be so?d_at 120 francs (41, 165.) per ton. But time went
on, and no reduction took place. In 1841 the complaints
Of high. prices having become general, the Government
of Commerce, and asked
convoked the Con7:9lls General
interests of the ironmasters,
if, with Clue regard to 1::".!
some reduction could not be izetle in duties equal to
70 per cent. on cast iron, and 110 rev cent. on iron ?
" Not yet," replied the Council, in which , jronmos-
ters were in a majority. " When then?" asked ties! Go•
vernment. "In six years, perhaps,' replied the irolie
masters ; "but a duty must always be maintained, for
France will never be able to strutegle against the compe-
tition of neighbouring nations." " Cannot you." said
the Government, "make a temporary reduction in fa-
vour of railways, or let in foreign rails, &c., duty
free?" " Can't reduce a farthing," said the iron-
masters, "and as to admitting foreign rails, it is not
to be thought of." On second thoughts, however, they
very graciously pleased to promise to consent to a slight
xeduction, when iron rails in France should be 417 francs
the ton, and •in England only 200 francs. As to what
took place the last time the council was assembled, no-
thing was said about a-general reduction of these scan-
dalous duties on iron, and your readers will remember
that, even as regards the oppressed shipping interest, the
ironmasters proposed to withhold all relief. The ques-
tion now is, will the present Chamber allow the present
monstrous duties ? Will it permit railway companies
to pay 385 francs and 400 francs the ton for rails, when
they can be got in England for 230 francs and 250
francs ? Will they allow the entire population of the
kingdom to continua to be heavily taxed for the benefit
of a class which has already obtained millions ?

NAILERS' STRIKE.-A FACT-TOR THE MONOPO-
ersTs.—During the agitation for the repeal of the corn-
'aws, it was frequently charged upon the advocates of
repeal that they were influenced by selfish motives
only ; that, being of opinion that a reduction in the
pried of food would necessitate a reduction in the
wages of labour, they advocated repeal to obtain the
reduction. In vain did the Leaguers declare they were
influenced by no such motives ; that wages did not de-
pend upon the price of food so much as on the relative pro-
portion the supply bore to the demand ; and that, as far
as experience could be applied to the solution of the
question, it proved that instead of high priced food and
blab rates of wages going hand in hand together, the
reverse was the fact. We believe we are correct in
stating that. at no former period has the general
rate of wages in all the branches of the iron trade
been higher. This remark also applies to colliers
and others employed in , mining operations ; and
considering the price of all the necessaries of life, the
condition of these classes must be materially improved,
or rather would be, if temperance mere generally
prevailed. If we take any district of the kingdom, and
classify the varying rates of wages of the different
employments, and inquire into the fluctuations which
have taken place, we shall find that portion of the com-
munity, of any given locality, which is worst paid, is
the last to obtain an advance of wages, arid the first
compelled :to submit to a reduction. Such is the case
of the nailors—tbe worst paid of all artizans in the
locality in which they dwell. During periods of de-
pression the nailors invariably suffer to an extent un-
known in other trades of the district, and through the late
one, which began in 1539, a reduction amounting to2o per
cent. on the list of prices by which their work was
reckoned took place. During the past two years they
have been gradually reducing the rate of discount,,
which has bean abandoned some months, and now the
men have sent to the masters a new list qf prices, and given
a fortnight's notice that they will not work unless these
prices are given. The notice expires on Saturday next.
:The new list . will advance the Irate of wages
from 10 to 20 per cent. Whether the men will obtain
this advance a very short time will show. We think
they will; for though great numbers of nailors will now-
be returning from harvt st work, which will increase the,
supply of labour, yet the demand for men in the iron
works and mines is so great, that should they fail to

obtain their demand at once, many of them will be en-
abled to obtain other employment, and to wait till their
request is acceded to.— Worcestershire Chronicle.
THE SHREWSBURY PROTECTION ASSOCIATION.—

(From a Correspondent.)—The agricultural proice-
tiunists of Shropshire have just had a gathering at;
Shrewsbury, which only served to illustrate the weak-
ness of the party, and to strengthen the hands of the
An ti- m onop °lib ts. The meeting was held at the Raven
and Bell Inn, Shrewsbury, and notwithstanding the
efforts made to induce a full attendance, and,the
Atblication of placards and advertisements, there
:Tere scarcely more than fifty persons present.
An attempt had been made wry industriously to per-
.uade the tradesmen of the city that their interests were
with the protectionists, and a sort of threat was held
out that unless they supported that intf-r.- st the farmers
would net deal with them, but the ruse had not. its
desired effect, there not being more than half-a.dozen
present at the meeting. It shotill be observed tooTlat
this, the annual meeting of tne Shropshire Prot ction
" .

&sEoeiation, was appointed to bir :holden an,,ut U.

month since, but the attendance on the day' appoirited
being excessively meagre, it was deemed Hdvisuble ;to
adjourn the meeting tier a time, and to make a move-
ment in the interim, with the view of getting up a de-
monstration. That this object has signal!), failed the
protectionists themselves are most reluctantly hound to
acknowledge. The species delivered i n this oxa,ion
were full of miserable croakings and anticipations of
imaginary evil 4.
A SING ULAIL AFFAIR.—In a village not 100
miles from Breadsall there lived a certain fair one, who
seemed to have no desire to enter into anything like a
matrimonial alliance. Offers had been made to her, but
she refused them all with the air of a Diana. Not one
would , she accept, though several told their love With.
" moving tropes ;" and she seemed determined to
live and die a life of " single blessedness." But these
are, indeed, remarkable times—all things are so va-
riabler-and ore fine morning this summer a " change
came over the spirit" of our heroine's dream. She actually
fell in love with a lucky swain of aboat half her age.
There are two proverbs : one is, "it is impossible to
love and be wise," the other is, " a woman cannot keip a
secret ;'' both these are fallacious, as the sequel will
show. So prudent was she with her love, that not a
soul knew of it but herself ; and so well did• she keep
the secret of her marriage, that not one person
in her own house had formed the wildest conjecture
when it would take place, till the happy evert was
consummated. The bridecake, ring, dresses, licence,
and eterything were bought, but neither relative nor
the field, a "the trier
friend kneW her intention. Ilowevfir, While her bro-
ther was at woilt
and on itiktA /he rot nd kis
ears from the church and met his
sister was wedded. Away 14 ran with •he rapidity of
lightning to his home, and instead o,`,loining in the festive
scene, he took up a horsewhip, end comni:•need thrashing
all and sundry that came in his way. His cot:; duct was so
extremely violent that serious consequences were antici-
pated, and mischief would have been done had not. the
neighbours interposed. A large crowd of persons as•••
sembled to witness so novel a sight. It turned out after,
that the lady had been banker in the house where she
resided, and it was feared she might appropriate more
money to her share than was due.—.2K;ttinghanz Journal.
SUPPOSED MURDER.—On Thursday last, as a
keeper was passing through the forest of Tournehant
(Pas de Calais), his attention was attracted by a teeticl
odour exhaling from a spot where the earth appeared to
have been recently disturbed. He removed part of the
earth with his stick, when a corpse, attired only in s
shirt, met his view. lie thought a crime had been
commit! ed, and gave notice to the officers of justice, who
immediate'y betook themselves to the place, where they
made a scrupulous examination of the remains • a rope,
such as is used for binding fagots, was round the neck,
which bore evident marks of strangulation, while a
post mortem examination showed that that the corpse
had been buried about a month. The suspicion of a
crime having been committed seemed more justified ;
and it was thought that it might have taken place at the
period of the fair of Tourneham, held on the 21st of July.
The corpse, however, was that of a stranger, totally .un-
known in the place. The officers of justice have made
active search to- discover the authors of this- supposed
crithe, for such it. must be since the body was. stripped,
and has seemingly been interred to hide all traces of
the murder. Two itenerant venders of needles and other
light articles were apprehended on auspleico, at Argues,