The Sun.
London, England, 1856-03-05 00:00:00

COURT CIRCULAR.

Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent visited the
Queen yesterday, at Buckinghara Palace.
His Royal Highness Prince Albert rode on horseback,
attended by Captain the Hon. Dudley de Roe.
Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, attended
by Lady Fanny Howard and Sir George Couper, ar-
rived in town yesterday morning, from her residence,
Frogmore, near Windsor. Her Royal Highness paid
a visit in the afternoon to the Duchess of Gloucester, at
Gloucester House, Piccadilly, and afterwards left her
residence, Clarence House, St. James's, on her return to
Frogmore.

A-deputation from the Beer Trade Society, consisting
of Mr. Bishop (Secretary), Mr. J. Bsswick, Mr. H.
Mason, and Mr. S. Dawes, had an interview with Sir
George Grey yesterday at the Home Office.
A deputation from inhabitants of Islington had an
interview yesterday with the Right Hon. W. Cowper,
M.P., President of the General Board of Health, at his
office, Whitehall. The deputation consisted of Messrs.
Geenes, G. S. S. Williams, Fred. D. Edwards, Madgin,
Atmell, and Layton.
A. deputation from Smethwiek also had an interview
with the President of the Gineral Board of Health
yesterday. The deputation consisted of Mr. Downing
and Mr. Chance.

VISIT OF TEE KING OF THE BELGIANS.

WINDson, Tuesday.—Her Majesty will entertain the
King of the Belgians during his stay in England at
Windsor Castle. The king, it is expected, will land in
this country on the 17th instant, at which time the
Court will arrive here from Buckingham Palace for the
Easter vacation.

Shortly after his Majesty's arrival the Princess Royal
will be confirmed in the Chapel Royal of St. George.
Apartments have been prepared for his Majesty on
the south side of the Castle,

It is said that Claremont will become one of the royal
residences attached to 'this Of nirt.

The King of the Belgians will remain at the Castle
until Monday, the 24th inst.

Her Royal Eighness the Duchess of Kent will con
tinue to re2i,le at Frogniore-lodge until the Court re
to rns to Windsor.

LIFE PEERAGES..

The following protest has been recorded :
DISSENTIENT,-
1. Because the order of reference not having directed
any inquiry whether a writ of summons would entitle
Lord Wensleydale to sit and vote in this Thine, the
report of the Committee for Privileges purports to decide
a question not submitted to them.
2. Because, according to the uniform opinions of the
highest legal authorities for above two centuries and a
half, the Crown has the prerogative of creating a peer
for life, with all the privileges of the hereditary peerage,
except that of transmitting bis honours to his descen-
dants.
3. Because the creation of a peerage for life with a
limitation in the patent to collateral relatives has been
common even in modern times, and no such patent
would have been valid if the prerogative contended for
did not exist.
4. Because any subject of the Crown who has received
a writ of summons to this house is entitled to take his
seat according to the exigency of bis writ, and there is
no principle or precedent warranting the house in refus-
ing to admit him.
CRANWORTR, C., HARROWBY,'
SUNDRIDGR, PANIIURIC,
GRANVILLE, GLENELG,
tiTIINLET OF ALDERLEY, BImADALBANE,
LANSDOWNE, SYDNEY,
Die Veneris; Feb. 22.

TIIE HEALTII OF ilfß. BRIGHT, M.P.

(Front the Manchester Times.)
We are glad to publish the following letter from Mr.
Bright, to the chairman of his election committee:

"Rochdale, March 3.
" My dear %Vi!son,—The writers of newspaper para-
graphs seem prone to exaggeration, and in that whi&
speaks of my health, or want of health, I am represented
as very much worse than I really am.
"The truth of the matter is this :—For fifteen years
I have worked chiefly in public afttirs, with very little
relaxation, and now I discover that the brain has had
too much exercise, and the body too little. I have been
to London twice since the opening of the session, but
have found myself quite unable to attend the House of
Commons. My medical advisers strongly urge me to
give up all attention to business for three months, and
to spend the time in seeking relief in a Continental
journey.

"I need not tell you how unwilling I am to abandon,
even for a short time, the performance of my duties in
Parliament ; but necessity has no law, and so I submit
to what I cannot avoid. My constituents, who, for
nearly nine years past, have been so tolerant of my
short-comings, will, I trust, believe that I have not
quitted my post without a sufficient cause. I hone, when
peace is made, and men's minds return tri matters of
home interest, I may yet be able to ':"ensler some slight
service to the public. I.f I canni!A undertake to sustain,
by force of arms, the indepel:,;ence of the Sultan and
thel '..loaY work is a humbler sphere
t()lib
er:ies and. promote the welfare of my
strengthenliberties
the Europe,
own countrgyme9l

" Yours ♦cry sincerely,
"JOFIN BRIGHT.
"To Geo. Wileor, WI., Manchester."

Count Orloff, encountering Marshal Baraguay
liars in the salons of the Tuileries, is said to have ob.
served smilingly, "Ah g. Marshal it is you, I think,
who lately visited our country." "Yes, Count,"
replied the Marshal, "itis I who had the pleasure of
icavina a card at Bernarsund."-
EASTERN COUNTIES,—rhe numbers polled for the
respective candidates for the directorship will be officially
decided tomorrow, but in the meantime we have the
beat authority for communicatieg to the public the fact
that the result of this contest, which has been carried
on with extraordinary zeal on both sides, is a majority
in favour of Messrs. Waddington, Packe, and Goodson ;
the " shareholders"' candidates, Messrs. Helps, Orr,
and Walters being left in a minority.
THE MAILS.—LIVERPOOL, March 4.—The Quaker
City, which arrived here on Sunday in place of the
Pacific, the non-arrival of which at New York continues
to be the cause of serious alarm, will take her departure
hence for New York to-morrow morning, letters and
papers being received at the landing stage up to 7 a.m.
The next Australian mail will be taken hence on Fri.
day by Messrs. Baines and Co.'s fire vessel the
Chanspien of the Seas, letters and papers being received
up tQ F.! a.m,
THE Mans.—SouTßAmtlort, March 4.—The Penin-
sular and Oriental Company'', steam-ship Ruxine, Cap.
taro Joy, sailed this afternoon for Gibraltar, Malta, and
Alexandria, with the eerni-monthly India, Chiefs, and
Mediterranean mails, 70 pamAengehl, 47 ,4161. in specie,
471,6051. of which ie for thdiai slid the remainder for
Alexandria, and a htit general cargo: Among the pas-
sengers see the Hon. P. North* Captain Champion,
Lieutenant Walithem • Captain Anson, Admiral Sir
Michael Seyindur, and Lieutenant G. C. Fowler: The
Aaa., Captain Field, with the home*ard portion of the
India, China, and Medlterfithaall mails, is expected
about the 6th inst, The Tagus, Captain Wicks, will con-
vey the malls to Vigo, Oporto, Lisbon, Cad* and Gib.
raltar, on the 7th last, the Captain Raabe, with
the homeward mails from these ports, is expected to-
morrow. The Royal Mail Company's steamer. Paratia,
Capt. Baynton, which was due at this pot with the West
India, Mexican, anal Pacific mails on the Ist inst. is nut
expected for a day or two, in consequenca of the delay
she experienced on the outward voyage by heirg coin•
pelled from heavy Weather to put into Madeira for coals,
which place she did not leave for St. Thomas until the
28th ult., being 11 days from SoiithattiptOn.
RUTLAND ELECT/oN.—The lion. G. H, Heathcote,
son of the retiring member) now a peer, was yesterday
elected at Oalibitro, Without opposition, to represent the
county of Rutland. He was nominated by Mr.Eagletou,
and seconded by Mr, C, 0. Eaton, The new member,
in returning thanks, said he was anxious to promote
moderate reforms and retrenchment in the public expen-
diture. He was a friend to nopular education. As to
the ballot, he should oppn3e it, because Le believed it I
to be nu-English in its character. He should always take
an interest in the prosperity of agriculture. Mr. Heath-
cote
added that be desired peace, but, considering the
magnitude of our preparations for war, be thought wa
should be foolish to conclude a peace which might not
be real and lasting. supposing peace to be delayed, he
should not wish to see too great a reduction of our army,
and especially of the Artillery, which could not be trained
in a day. He wai of opinion that the army had been
ton much relueed befoie the war. Although he was not
so straightlaced as to object to innocent recreation on
the Sabbath, yet he was opposed to the opening of
museums and other exhibitions on that day, Three
cheers were givcr, for the new member at the ca4cluEipP
of his spoeoh.

TOTAL DESTRUCTION OF COVENT-
GARDEN THEATRE BY FIRE.
(This Norning.)

One of the most destruAive and extensive fires that
has happened in the metropolis for some years past oc•
curred this morning at Covent-Garden Theatre, and
which has resulted in the total destruction of this na-
tional place of amusement. Since Christmas this esta-
blishment has keen in the hands of Professor Anderson,
who has spared neither time nor expense iu producing a
series of entertainments alike worthy of the reputation
of this place of amusement, and commensurate with the
patronage which he has been favoured with by the public.
On Monday last the Professor's great carnival bene-
fit commenced, which was to embrace dramatic and
other representations, and to extend, with slight intervals
between, from that
,day to Tuesday night; when the
long list of opera°, melodramas, and farces which bad
begun the festival was to be cr mned with a " ball
masque," on a scale of great magnificence. At the ap-
pointed hour last night for the commencement of the
bal there was a considerable assemblage in the sae.
The cavaliers and nymphs who "dressed" for the occa-
sion resorted to the usual diversities of ooetume, those
of a " fancy" character prevailing over the " historical."
The whole passed off satisfactorily till about five o'clock
this morning, when the company were preparing to de-
part, and whilst the last stanza of the National Anthem
was being performed, the first intimation occurred of
that dreadful calamity, which, in a coruparatAvely short
space of time, enveloped the building in flames, and
ended in its entire destruction.

Whilst the maskers were grouped about on the stage,
and presenting a most incongruous scene of costume and
character, congratulating each other on the saisfactory
result of the entertainment, a large burning beam fr:11
from the ceiling on to the stave, striking a gentleman
on the foot, and scattering the embers about in every
direction amongst the company.
The greatest consternation ensued from this unmis-
takeable evidence of the building being on fire. The
ladies commenced shrieking and rushing about
in wild confusion, and gentlemen were to be
seen endeavouring to find their partners, which
from the great similarity of many of the ladies
costumes made it a task of great difficulty, in order to
frrnake a safe retreat. However, after a short delay the
company rushed to the doors and made their escape, and
fled into the neighbouring streets for means of conveyance
to their respective residences, the grotesqueness of their
dresses:contrasiing strangely with the scene which the
neighbourhood presented ffimn so fearful a calamity on•
curring at that hour of the morning.
In a very short time after the alarm was given every
person employed on the premises endeavoured to save
some part of the property, but owing to the immense
quantity in the building a small portion only, compara-
tively speaking, was preserved. _

Mr. Hingston, the Wizard's secretary, was engaged
in the treasury when the alarm of fire was given, and
rendered great service in saving life and property. He
was the last person to leave the theatre, after having
ascertained that the whole of the visitors and persons
employed had made their escape.
A large number of fire-engines from the various
stations were very speedily in attendance, and water
from the numerous mains around the theatre hav-
ing been obtained, the firemen, with the aid of an im-
mense body of assistants, set to work under the superin-
tendence of Mr. Braidwood. After a very short time it
was discovered that all attempts to save the theatre
would prove fruitless, and accordingly the exertions of
the fire-brigade were directed to the preservation of the
surrounding property. The houses extending from the cor-
ner of Hart-street in Bow-street, to James•street, Covent.
garden, from their close proximity to the burning building
stood in the most immediate danger from a slight breeze
wafting the immense sheets of flame towards them, and
it was with the greatest difficulty their total destruction
was prevented. The Feathers public-house, notwith-
standing the immense body of water that was being
poured upon it repeatedly, caught fire, and fortunately
for the occupant the house was eventually preserved
from sharing the fate of the theatre. The houses ad-
joining the Feathers, for the length of the street we have
mentioned, have suffered severely.
In Bow-street the scene presented by the tremendous
conflagration was extr torclinary, and the same precau-
tion had to be taken of the houses facing the grand en-
trance of the theatre, as in Hart-street. Duriug the time
the engines were throwing water upon the wijacent
property the fire seemed every moment to increase in

intensity, and the flames rose to an immense height and
spread so vivid a refleiqicn upon all around that the
Surrey hills could plainly be di corned by any person
standing at the top of row-street and looking in that
direction.

The scene presented at the moment the roof fell nearly
defies description. In a moment, and only for a nn-
ment, the flames that had been pouring from every
window of the theatre seemed to be in some degree
extinguished, and large clouds of black and dark brown
smoke took their place. Millions and millions of bril-
liant sparks fell upon all around, and then again rose
theflames with redoubled intensity, and the late of every
part of the building was from that moment sealed.
Still the firemen kept steadily at work, and as the
flames which appeared to have strong hold in cer-
tain parts of • the theatre were extinguished, a
loud cheer arose from the thousands of per
ions who stood gazing at the scene. At short intervals
loud report; continually occurred, and many were the
conjectures hazarded as the cause, but the true one was
that they arose from
,the falling of the walls in different
parts of the house.
ToWaris nine o'clock the fire seemed to have con-
sumed everything except the extensive walls of the
theatre, but the engines continued throwing an immense
body of water upon the burning ruins.
At half. past ten o'clock the scene of destruction was
painfully interesting. In Bow-street could be seen,
through the window openings, a portion of the interior
of what was, till this morning, one of the most splendid
theatres in Europe. Large rafters could be distinguished
resting against the walls which bad so short a time ago
formed a portion of tiie roof. The doors and windows
of the grand eetranae hating been destroyed the vesti-
bule presented a complete scene d rule, rind the only
things that remained standing were the eight Doric
columes, what from their charred state presented the
appearance of whibe marble, and forned a strong can-
tract to the blackened and ernoktng mass that sur-
rounded each of them. The four large columns and
the architrave ara all that is left of the grand portico.
In viewing the remains of the theatre from Hart-street,
and looking towards the south, an idea can be formed of
the immense extent of the conflagration. There is
nothing but a few pieces of projecting wall to impede a
view completely through the theatre, and the window
that, it will be recollected, were at the back of the amphi.
theatre, can be plainly seen from the point we have men-
tioned. This fact will.be quite sufficient to convey an
idea of how total has been the destruction of the building.
With respect to the properties of the theatre, very
little, if any, has been saved, and owing to the confusion
at present prevailing, we have beau unable to ascertain
whether Mr. Gye is (which we hope is the case) insured.
Mr. Anderson, we underetend, is insured in the Sun
Office to theextent of 2,0001., hnt this will not near cover
his loss. - I

We understand that no lives were lost. This is en
tirely owing to the admirable management of the police
in keeping back the curi9us crowd, who, after the alarm
had been given, would have rushed into the theatre to
the Imminent risk of their own destruction.

The loss of property by this calamity cannot be less
.ban 250,000/.

The theatre which preceded the one burnt down this
morning was opened by Rich about 1732, but after
undergoing seferal alterations was destroyed by fir,:
Sept, 20, 1803. The first stone of the structure just
destroyed. was laid by the Dijke of Sussex, Dec 31,
1808, and it was opened on the 18th of Sept., 1800,
with "Macbeth."

At the time we write, half-pat two o'clock, the en-
gines are still playing upon the smoking debris.

THE GREAT FIRE .AT COVENT. GARDEN THEATRE.—The
L'Empereur, powerful prize fire•engine, belonging to
Mr. Merryweather, lately exhibited in the Paris Exhibi-
tion, was brought into play by upwards of thirty men,
and rendered great servo° in the preservation of the
houses in Bow•street.

The BishDp of London has not bad a relapse, as erro-
noously stated. The right rev. prelate is, if anything,
better, being able to tike occasional carriage airings.
It is feared that his lord-hip will be unable again to
attend to the active duties of his episcopate.
MACAULAY BURNT IN EFFIGY.—The North, British,
Daily Mail says :—The Highlanders of Glenmore, in
Inverness-shire, feeling aggrieved and indignant at the
slanderous charges brought by Mr. Macaulay against
their predecessors,ln his last volume of the " History
of England," assembled together, and, headed by a
piper playing the "Rogue's March," proceeded to the
Black Rock, near Gleumore House, arid there burnt
in effigy the distinguished historian. The assembled
crowd gave three shouts of execration as the effigy
was consuming. Macaulay, When in the Highlands,
resided 1 r a considcratle tiraa at Glenmore House, -