The Sun.
London, England, 1870-06-17 00:00:00

THE PEERS AND THE LAND BILL.

The Daily News says that the peers often complain that
they have nothing to do, yet when business of importance
is entrusted to them they sometimes seem unable to deal
with it satisfactorily. Last night the adjourned debate
on the Irish :Land Bill was postponed for an hour,
in order that a Railway Bill should be discussed and
a division taken. Railway bills certainly merit careful
consideration ; but there is a time, as well as a place,
for everything ; and the discussion night might as well
have been postponed to a more convenient season. They
manage these matters far better in fhe House of Commons.
The entire speech of Lord Cairns was vitiated by his de-
termination to pick holes in the speeches of his opponents►
and to point at minute flaws in their scheme.
The speeches of Lord Derby and the Duke of Argyll,
however, raised the debate to a higher level than that on
which Lord Cairns and Lord Grey had placed it. We
only realise the extent of the revolution which has been
brought about during the past few years when such a
measure as the Irish Land Bill is practically accepted
with little more than verbal protests by the House of
Lords.

E-1-1
d anal CA., DIE, Cirmlar.

HER MAJESTY.

BALMOELAL CASTLE, June 14.
The Queen, with Princess Louise, went out yesterday
morning.

In the afternoon her, Majesty drove to the Glassalt Shiel
attended by the Duchess Dowager of Athole and Miss Mac-
gregor.
The Princesses went out riding.

FASHIONABLE ARRANGEMENTS TO-DAY.
Lady Carew's Concert, at 28, Belgrave-square.
Mrs. Edward Scott's first dance, at 27, Grosvenor-square.
Mr. Charles Halle's Beethoven recital, at three o'clock,
in St. James's Hall, at which Herr Stockhausen will
appear.

Mr. Charles Fowler's (of Torquay) eighth annual con-
cert, under the patronage of her Royal Highness the
Duchess of Cambridge, her Royal Highness the Princess
Mary of Teck, &c., at 1, Stratton-street, Piccadilly (by
the kind permission of Miss Burdett Coutts), at three
o'clock.

Mr. Brinley Richards's evening concert, at the Hanover-
square Rooms, at eight o'clock.

SCIENTIFIC MEETINGS TO-DAY.

The Philological Society, at 8.30 p.m., when Dr. Wer
mouth will read a paper on " Old English and Angl°.
Saxon Pronunciation."

MR. CHARLES DICKENS.
_ (From the Athennum.)

Mr. Charles Kent has kindly consented to our printing
what is in all probability the last letter that Mr. Dickens
wrote. On Thursday, when Mr. Kent went to keep the
appointment, Mr. Dickens was lying unconscious, and Was
within a very few hours of his death. The " opal enjoy'
ments " refer to the tints of the sky.
" Gad's-hill-place, Higham-by-Rochester, Kent,
Wednesday, the Eighth of June, 1870.

" My dear Kent—To-morrow is a very bad day for me
to make a call, as, in addition to my usual office business'
I have a mass of accounts to settle. But I hope I may be
ready for you at three o'clock. If I can't be—NOV'
then I shan't be.

" You must really get rid of those opal enjoyments.
They are too overpowering :
' These violent delights have violent ends.'
I think it was a father of your Church who made the vase
remark to a young gentleman who got up early (or stayed
out late) at Verona—Ever affectionately,
" To Charles Kent, Esq.," " CHARLES DICKENS.
The pictures and other objects of art which belonged to
Mr. Dickens are to be sold by auction by Messrs. Christie
and Manson. His library he has left to his eldest son.
His manuscripts and papers are at present in the bands of
his executors, Mr. Forster and Miss Hogarth.

It is thought that Mr. Fillett, the advanced Libe-
ral candidate for Norwich, will be returned by a large
majority.
An explosion took place yesterday at the Royal
Gunpowder Factory, Waltham Abbey. Two men were
killed and nine seriously injured.
Yesterday evening rain fell in London, and a slight
thunderstorm occurred. The wind changed to a southerly
direction with a cooler atmosphere.
We regret that owing to indisposition Air'
Childers has been advised to seek a temporary relaxation.
We believe that the First Lord is about to leave the Ads'
ralty for a short sojourn on the Continent.
The great Liverpool Will Case has been decided
in the Court of Probate. Yesterday, Lord Penzance de-
cided that the plaintiff, Bishop Goss, had failed to'satisq
the Court that the testator was in full possession of his
senses at the time of making the will, and the Court must
therefore pronounce against the will. The question cf
costs was reserved. _

vV
A disastrous accident occurred yesterday on the
road from Marlow to Ascot. A horse in Sir W. Clayton's
trap took fright and galloped off. The coachman l'ia9
thrown out and his leg broken. His wife was thrown out
and much hurt. The trap dashed against another traP
and overthrew the horse, killing it on the spot. The
runaway horse was at last stopped after doing mite"
damage.
Soon after the discovery of the recent plot to as"
sassinate the Emperor Napoleon, an address of sympathX
was forwarded to his Imperial Majesty by the Mayor all°
Corporation of Southampton. The Emperor, in reply,
sees in this address "a fresh proof of the ties of friendsblP
which unite France to England." He adds, "I trust most
heartily they may ever continue so, for modern society, jlas
to depend for its progress upon our union and efforts.
Mr. Gladstone has received a copy of a memorial
from the Council of the Church Association prayint- that
no action may be taken on the third report of the
Commissioners, and that no alterations may be made lit
the Book of Common Prayer until such time as the Com-
missioners have performed the duties enjoined upon them.
and reported upon such changes as to them may seet,ta_
expedient, with a view of explaining and amending
rubrics, orders, and directions, so as to secure uniforautf
of practice in such matters as may be deemed essential.
The memorial has been sent to the Home Secretary, wil°
presented it to the Queen.