The Sun.
London, England, 1870-12-24 00:00:00

THE RELEASE OF THE FENIANS.

The satisfaction expressed on all hands on the first
announcement of the release of the Fenian prisoners is
now qualified by expressions of discontent at the " decree
of exile " accompanying the amnesty. The Cork Examiner
says that when writing first on the subject it was under
the impreSsion that only in exceptional cases was this
limitation to the release to be operative. It regrets to
find that it was mistaken, being of opinion that " the re-
servation mars to some extent the grace of the concession.
and the good effect that a display of entire confidence
would have wrought on our population. Halting, how-
ever, as it is, it will be a comfort to know that Christmas
Day will not see any of our countrymen occupying a felon's
cell for a political offence."
The Tipperary Free Press calls the amnesty " a blunder-
ing half measure, which consigns our countrymen to
perpetual banishment from the land of their affections—
from the homes in which they were loved so devotedly."
Funds are being collected for the relief of the prisoners on
their release. At Cork arrangements are being made for
a systematic canvass of the city. It is understood thst
the Amnesty Associationin Dublin has a considerable sum
in hand, and a Glasgow publisher has presented to the
Association about 700 copies of Mr. Butt's pamphlet ad-
vocating the amnesty, in the hope that that body will be
able to dispose of them for the benefit of the prisoners.

The Duke and Duchess of St. Albans are 011 a tour
in Italy, and do not intend to return home till the latter
end of next month, or early in February.
The New Cross Gazette states that a considerable
number of the Catholic students at HeideThera have
declared their secession from the Catholic Church.
We observe that the management of Durham
Cathedral is the subject of much correspondence in the
local papers. Dean, Precentor, and organist are alike
attacked.— The Bock,.
William Beals, of Boston, one ot the oldest news-
paper publishers in the United States, and n
that cit senior pro-
prietor of the Boston (U.S.) Post, bas died iy at
the age of 86.
THE LATE Ma. RITCHIE.—The Scotch papers
express general regret at the death, in his 93
of liet ear
chief of Mr.
J. Ritchie, who was for a long period one pro-
prietors of the Scotsman newspaper. It is said of him
that no man was ever more judiciously hospitable. Many
a genial and distinguished circle gathered from time to
time around his table, and never separated without a
feeling of love and reverence for the venerable nonoge-
narian whose pleasantries constituted no small part of
the evening's happiness. Mr. Ritchie had been for many
years a widower ; be was without family ; and his niece
and her children made up his household, he was long
familiarly and endearingly known " Uncle John," not
only among his immediate relatives, but among all his
more intimate aspociates. He was accustomed to say, in
late years, that "if he only lived to be old enough he
would die a rich man," and assuredly he did live to be
old enough to die rich, not only in a material sense, but
in the lasting esteem of the society in which he moved, and
of all who had ever the privilege of his acquaintance

THE DENH A M TRAGEDY.—The inhabitants of
Denham have shewn great sympathy for the victims of
the dreadful tragedy perpetrated last May in this secluded
village, by erecting a neat monument to their memory in
the village churchyard. It consists of a block of grey mar-
ble, standing on a large slab of Bath stone, and bearing the
following inscription :—" Beneath this stone lie the remains
of Emanuel Marshall, and Charlotte his wife ; also, Mary
Ann, his sister ; Mary, Thirza, and Gertrude, his chil-
dren ; who, together with his mother, Mary N:yrshall,
were all barbarously murdered on Sunday mornin f, May
22nd, 1870, by John Owens, a travelling blacksmith, who
was executed at the County Gaol, at Aylesbury, ..A.ngust
Bth, 1870. Mary, aged 8 years ; Thirza, aged 6 ;
• Emanuel, acted 35 • Charlotte, aged 34 ; Mary Anil, aged
32 ; Gertrude, aged 4." " And God shall wipe a way all
tears from their eyes, and there Alan he no more death,
neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any
more pain, for the former. things have passed away.
Revelations 21st. verse 4.

-1 T. JAMES'S THEATRE.—Lessee and
Manageress, Mrs. JOHN WOOD. LAST WEEK
FERNANDE. This Evening at 7.45 great play,
FERNANDE, Messrs. Farren, Leeson, Lin Rayne, Murray,
and L. Brough ; Mrs. Hermann Vezin, Miss Larkin, Miss Fannie
tirough, Miss Turner, and Mrs. John Wood.—Doors open at 6.30.
At 7, TO OBLIGE BENSON, by Tom Taylor, Esq. Messrs.
Harry Car, Grainger, Mervin ; Misses Marian Inch and H.
Everard. At 7.45, FERNANDE. At 10.30, CHRISTMAS EVE,
by C. S. Cheltnman, Esq. Messrs. Harry Cox, Dan Leeson, and
Lion,4 Brough. On Boxing Night the Great Burlesque, 803 -
BASTE'S FURIOSO,—Box-office 11 to 6. No fees.

OPERA. COMIQUE, 29) Strand.—Lessees 11.
Leslie, C. Steele, W. Nc.ton.—This most beautiful
Theatre in London will re-open for the English Dramatic Season
on Monday, December 26, at popular prices, from 6d. to 7s. 6d.

OPERA. COMIQUE.-Mr. G. F. ROWE will
make his re-appearance in London in a new and striking
Drama, founded on Charles Dickens's celebrated novel " Our
Mutual Friend."

OPERA COMIQUE.—FOUND DROWNED, or
ouit MUTUAL FRIEND. Supported by Messrs. s.
Emery, John Nelson, W. M'lntyre, Charles Warner (hy permis-
sion of W. 11. Liston, Esq.), Edwin Stanley, Granville, and
Bell ; Mesdames Ernstone, . Patti Josephs, Holston, Manders,
Tilly Earl, and Ali:43 Rose Lisle.

J*l
qjg ret,_
,B,

LONDON, SATURDAN, DECEMBER 24, 1870.

CHRISTMAS comes this year with- a more than
usual impressiveness. Even the caricaturists are
awed into a recognition of the fact, and with pencils
the every touch of which is bathetic rather than gro-
tesque, purtray the terrible contrasts presented to
view both out of doors and within doors, among the
beleaguered and investing belligerents. Among
ourselves we have happily been spared, during
1870, any direct participation in those horrors and
agon:ps of war which have devastated a