The Sun.
London, England, 1851-03-11 00:00:00

IMPROVEMENT OF TOWNS.
The Improvement of Towns (Ireland) Bill was read a
second time, and ordered to be referred to a Select Com-
mittee, after a few words from Sir R. FERGUSON.
APPOINTMENT OF A VICE- CHANCELLOR
(ANNUITY).
The House wont into Committee on the ann'iity for
the new Vice-Chancellor.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said the amount was
the same as had been paid before—viz., two-thirds of the
salary, and which was 5,0001. The vote, however, did
not pledge the House to the sum.
The vote was agreed to.
COMMONS' ENCLOSURE.
The Commons' Enclosure Bill was read a second time,
iind ordered to be committed.
RAILWAY AUDIT.
Mr. LOCKE moved for leave to bring in a Bill for the
audit of railway accounts. It was nearly identical with
thatintroduced by the Government and paned in the
House of Lords last year.
Mr. LABOUCHI.RE would not oppose the motion,
but would reserve his opinion until the Bill was printed.

Leave was given.
Colonel DUNNE moved for a message to the Lords,
for copies of the petitions of the shipowners of Liver-
pool and citialns of Dublin against the proposed asylum
harbour at Holyhead, ss hich were presented to the Hous©
of LureLe at the of the session of 1847, and subse-
quently referred to a Select Committee of their Lord-
ship3' House; snd a copy of the report of the said Com-
mittee, and the minutes of the evidence token before
them.
Ou the motion of Mr. JOHN O'CONNELL, it
was ordered that the papers presented in 1832 and 1834,
relating to Kiimainham Hospital, be reprinted.
Mr. TUFNELL moved an address for copy of the
memorial addressed to the Secretary of State for the
Colonies from the Cingalese Episcopalians respecting
Wolfendahl Church; also for copy of the memorial on
'the same subject from the Dutch Consistory; together
with copies ur extracts of any correspondence between
the Governor of Ceylon and the Secretary of State for
the Colonies relating thereto. The church in question
was the property of the Government. The Dutch Pres-
byterians were only tenants-at-will, but in 1847, when
the Episcopalians, who had the joint use of it, repaired
it, the Dutch Presbyterians signified that they could no
longer share it with them. He (Mr. Tufnell) therefore
complained that the Government bad not interfered to
prevent the Episcopalians from being ousted of their
slight under these circumstances.
Mr. HAWES did not think the case as stated would
jastify any interference on the part of the House, though
he had no objection to give the papers. The Cingalese
Episcopalians had certainly been dispossessed by the
Dutch Presbyterians, but it was in consequence of the
increase in the numbers of the Dutch Presbyterians.
They had, however, another place of worship set apart
for their use. The church actually belonged to the Go-
vernment, and he (Mr. Hawes) did not think there was
any practical hardship in this case.
The motion was agreed to.
The House adjourned at One o'clock.

THEATRE ROYAL, DRURY-LANE.
Lessee and Manager, Mr. James Anderson.
THIS EVENING
Will be presented by her Majesty's Ss: Twits
THE OLD LOVE AND THE NEW. Sir Algernon Courtonn,
Xr. Cooper; Major Stock, Mr. Emery; Captain Sidney Courtoun,
lir. J. Anderson ; Mr. Haythorn, Mr. Barrett ; Miss Trimmer, Mrs.
Ternan ; Camilla Haythorn, Mrs. Nisbett ; Cherry Bounce, Mrs.
Walter Lacy.
After which, a new grand Operatic Spectacle, entitled AZ kEL,
THE PRODIGAL. Reuben, Mr. Vandenhoff ; Azael, Mr. J. Ander-
son ; Amenophis, Mr. Emery ; Bucharis, Mr. Cooper ; Sethos, Mr.
Rafter; Jephtele, Miss F. Vining; Neite, Mrs. Walter Lacy; Lia,
tdlle. Victorine Legrain (Premier Sujet du Opera de Paris), who
has been expressly engaged for the occasion, and will make her
appearance every evening.
SYNOPSIS OF SCENERY, INCIDENTS, &c.
ACT I.
INTERIOR of REUBEN'S TENT,
Opening at the Back to the Distant Desert—Sunset.
The Travellers—the Evening Repast—the Gift—Departure of Azael
with the Caravan for Memphis.
Camels of the Desert.
ACT 11.
The GREAT SQUARE of MEMPHIS.
Arrival of Azael.
Sacred Procession of Apis. The Offerings.
Lia, and Troop of Aimee&
Grand Pas de Fascination by Madlle. Victorine Legrain.
ne ensemble by Madame Louise, Maddles. raiser, Julie, and

Coryphees.
The Gamester—False Dice—Azaers Prodigality—the Love Token
VIEW near MEMPHIS.
Reuben in search of his Son—the False Friend.
Interim* of the TEMPLE of ISIS.
Orgie.
Grand Pm de Poignards by the Coryphees.
Azad recovers the Stolen Scarf—the Secret Spring—Azael surprised
in the Sacred Temple—the " Human Victim."
The Doom of the Prodigal.
ACT 111.
TENT of NEMROUD, the Camel Driver.
Arrival of Travellers —Degradation of the Prodigal—the Slave—the
False Friend—the Gift Restored—Despair of the Prodigal.

The Dream.
The VALE of AZ GEL'S BIRTH.
The Harvest Festival—Azael mourned as Dead—Return of the

Prodigal.
Appearance of the Spirit of the Desert.

r t:AT ft& ROYAL, HAbMAitt F 1.
Mr. B. Webster, sole Lessee and Manager, Old Brampton.
THIS EVENING,
Will be performed OTHELLO. Othello, Mr. J, W. Wallack ;
Tags, Mr. James Waltack.; Desdemona, Miss Reynolds ; Emilia,
Miss Laura Addison.
To be followed by a new anu original conic drama, called GOOD
FOR NOTHING. Tom Dibbles, Mr. Enekstone ; Harry Collier,
Mr. Howe ; Young Mr. Simpson, Mr. Clark Nan, Mrs. Fitzwilliam.

Under the direction of Madame Celeste.
TUTS EVENING,
Will be performed an entirely new grand Drama, In 3 acts, entitled
BELPHEIGOR TILE 510UNTEBA.NE; or, The Pride of Birth.
Duke de Nfontbazon, Mr. Ilughes ; Count de St. Cyr, Mr. Boyce ;
the Chevalier de Boise, Mr. 0. Smith ; Guillaume, surnaiaed Bel-
phegor. Mr. B. Webster; Ajax, alias Mr. Merryman, Mr. Wright;
Captal.. Pafferes, Mr. Worrell; M.idellene, Madame Celeste ; NMI
Flora Aphrodite Stilz, Miss Woolgar.
Afterwhich a new wirce called TUE SCHOOL FOR. TIGERS ;
or, Tile Shilling Hap. Captain KiiMlyer, Mr. Boyce; Major Stiff,
Mr. Freeiiora Br. Panels, Mr. Wright; Alcx.ind,z Panels, Miss
Chaplin ; Mr. FirLinl, Mr. C. J. Smith ; Tom Crop, Miss Woolgar.

R01'..1.1., PRANCES:4'S THEA 'CRE, 01,701 W-STREET.
Under the Management of Mr. C. Kean and Mr. Keole.,.
THIS EVENING,
Will be performed a new and original Comedy entitled LOVE IN
A MAZE. Characters by Messrs. C. Kean, Keeley, Wigan, Harley,
Addison, Meadows ; Mrs. Keeley, Mrs. Winstanley, and Mrs. C.
Kean.
To conclude with TO PARENTS and GUARDIAN'S.

ROYAL LYCEUM THEATRE.
Under the Management of Madame Vestris.
Sole Lessee, Mr. Charles Mathew"...
THIS EVENING,
Will be performed

A ROMANTIC IDEA.
Alter which en entirely new and original Fairy Extravaganza,
to be called KING CHARMING, or, the Blue Bird ot Paradise.
Characters by Messrs. C Mathews, F. Matthews, Horncastle, Suter,
Bellingham, and Moaner; Mrs. Frank :,:atthews, Miss Ellis, Mrs.
C. Horn, Miss St. George, and Miss Martindale.

BOX AND COX

To conclude with

ROYAL OLYMPIC THEATRE.
Lessee and Mana_rer, Mr. W. Farren.
THIS EVENING,

Will be performed THE RED CAP.
After which ALL THAT GLITTERS IS NOT GOLD.
To conclude with a new Ballet, called TIIE WHITE STATUE,
1n which Madlle. Adele, )(Hsi Lees, and Tom Mathews will appear.

.»-TLF.Y'S ROYAL A„SIPHITHEATRE.
Under the Patronage of her Majesty and his Royal Ilighnell
Prince Albert.
Proprietor and Manager, Mr, W. Batty.
Esta*rdinary series of attractive novelties.
THIS EVENIN
The Grand new Spectacle of JOAN OF ARE ; or the Mall of Or.

with new and costly costumes_
Together with Batty's splendid scenes of the Circle.
To concluaa with JONATHAN; or, The Jan of Two Masters.

Box-ortice open from Eleven till Foyr.
Stage Manager, Mr. T. Thompson.

alua WATER Al LON-DON BRIDGE

THIS ')OT —Morning 58 Mill. ate? 6 j Evening 2S min. after 7
To-Mspii3o,—,,lorning 59 min. atter 7 Evening 42 min. after 8

THE WEATHER.—SuN OrricE, Baiter' 11,
THERMOMETER, IN THE SHADS.
38—highest lince noon yesterday.
30 —lowest this morning and during the night.
43—this day, at noon.
BAROMETE2, 29.97.
WIND N.N.E.—cloudy, with occasional sunshine.

DAILY WEATHER TABLE.
State of the Wind and Weather at each of the following
places at Nine o'clock yesterday morning.—The stations
are arranged in order of latitude.
iiINGSTOWN (DutraN)—Wind W.N.W., strong breeze—

overcast.
PLvmotrr H—Wind N., strong breeze—partially cloudy.
BRIGHTON—Wind S.W., gentle breeze—rain.
HAsTotos—Wind W., fresh breezealn.
Sot yrxsairTos— Wiwi S.W., strong, r
breeze—rain.
FOLEF..STONE—Wind S., gentle breeze —rain.
linsiNasToKu —Wind N.W., strong breeze—overcast.
GREENWICH—Wind N.W., strong breeze—rain.
SWINDON—Wind N.W., gentle breeze—rain.
OXFORD—Wind N.W., hard wind—overcast.
LEIGHTON—Wind W., strong breeze—rain.
COLCHESTER—Wind S.W., strong breeze—rain.
ponurroxam—Wind W., gentle breeze—rain.
trritaßoxouon—Wind S. %V., gentle breeze—rain.
2.,_ 4ot:ill—Wind S., gentle breeze—overcast.
~-.Y___ ---E Wind S., gentle breeze—rain.
`7wAy W_llid N.W., strong breeze—overcast.
HOLIM NV ind N.N.W., gentle breeze—partially cloudy.
Liv,,pEori—wWind N.W., strong breeze—partially cloudy.
N.W.,
S.W., gentle breeze—overcast.
Toxic—Wind
LAlicasTax—Wl.nV" gentle breeze—snow.
WHITBY—Wind dS.W., gentle breeze—overcast.
i-nagntle breeze—rain, fog.
DARLINGTON
CA ItusLE —Wind N.w., strong breeze—sleet.
Nmi, gentle breeze—foggy.
BEATTOCK—Wind
gear
it;le breeze—partially cloudy.
BERwicK—Wind N.,
wleeze—rain.
The returns from the following h 5 places indicate the state of
the wind and weather ° oaturday morning at nine
o'clock :
POOLE—Wind E. gentle overcast.breeze—
Pos.tsmoUTH—Wind N.W., gentle br2„„,sCOLCHESTER--WH'LN..........W., gentle breeze—overcast.
.........,_ _ •

,
4i.,1-
(04.14,,,,,....7,41..: "-;',.,--.• ... .
),,,,,•dri,...
7
ma.-4. ~f 1.1.--",,„ . ;:; %,.. 6,,' . ,',,, 0 -.• . IMO ,1 ,
• . ' .:4-' Eif,;77Als? ~ , ..,,,,,_:-.....

II bt ,C",261'7411t.
kAt 14 11 '4 t4,,kt 14,mb
LONDON, TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 1851.

In the Ho
nigtt,
°4l4levilaMt°l;.-4,-,„ GREY, the Passengers' Act
3, ''Vt . •
Am ' .r.....
ff-ITT-,--7;)--.7.1eksecond time.
• ;(*ng. t D'eAgtif,V.'
lc -, • , . ~,4teesion Bill was referred to
a :._-cfAiret;-74t.77:
.s. ,tEliti • :sRLltiLliAti dUCEd a Bill to regulate
illk - -, • which.
the ,1 .... , effnia, . . , read a first time.
2: riTk # • - # 'pa theztAdfouraed.
la th •viturionl4 '-'",
Mr. x4ateicx.su ototed that it 'wall not hia ihttatiort

to introduce during the present session any measure for
consolidating the laws relating to merchant seamen, but
that he should introduce a Bill to amend the Mercantile
Marine Act of last session.

Mr. HENRY DRUMMOND announced his intention of
opposing the mutilation of the Ecclesiastical Titles Bill.
Lord JOHN RUSSELL gave notice that he should bring
forward the question of the Jewish disabilities on Thurs-
day.
In the course of a conversation on the Kafir War Lord
JOHN RUSSELL stated that the present amount of force
at the disposal of the Governor of the Cape Colony was
3,699 men, but that it would be speedily increased.
In reply to Mr. BAILLIE COCHRANE,
Mr. LABOUCHERE promised that an inquiry should be
made into the case of ANN CONNELL, whose child died in
her arms on the deck of an Irish steamer from exposure
to the weather, and announced his intention of intro-
ducing a Bill for the regulation of steam-ships generally.
On the motion for the House going into Committee of
Supply, . .

- -
Mr. W. WILLIA3IB moved that no Supplies Should be
voted until the amended Budget should be before the
House, but subsequently declined to divide, at that
period, on the motion, and the House went into Com-
mittee of Supply.

Sir F. BARING laid the Navy Estimates upon the
table, and moved a first rote of 1,435,7231. for wages to
39,000 seamen and marines, the corresponding vote for
last year having been 1,344,070, and the proposed increase
this year being, therefore, 91,653/. He also went through
the o►her items in these estimates, offering detailed ex-
planations under each head, and stating that the total
amount required for the effective service was 4,223,8711,,
being a decrease of 253,3221. upon the sum of 4,384,0151.,
the corresponding vote of last year; that the total re-
quired for the whole naval service was 5,584,0591., being
a decrease of 281,7711. upon the sum of 5,772,6521., the
corresponding vote of last year, and that the sum re-
quired for the Army and Ordnance Department, as re-
garded the conveyance of troops, was 143,2001., being an
increase of 7,5001. upon the sum of 135,700/., the corre-
sponding vote of last year. The grand total to be asked
was 5,727,2591., showing a not decrease of 171,3211. upon
the corresponding grand total vote of last year.
Mr. HUME moved, as an amendment, that the number
of men should be reduced to 30,000. The Hon. Gentle-
man, in the course of his speech, particularly dwelt
upon the needless expenditure incurred by keeping up
the African squadron, and upon the large amount of
money squandered in building new ships, which were
left to rot on their slips.

Mr. MACGREGOR commented on the extravagance of the
management of our dockyards, and thought that several
of them might be advantageously done away with.
Mr. COBDEN hoped that France and England would
unite to effect a disarmament, with a view of diminishing
the absurd outlay which each nation justified by the
example of the other.
Lord JOHN RUSSELL declared that the administration
of the dockyards had been greatly improved of late
years, and contended that the smallness of our army
and the nonexistence of a militia force rendered it ab-
solutely necessary to maintain our naval defences in a
state of efficiency. He trusted that the African squa-
dron would be maintained.

Mr. MILNER GIBSON opposed, and
Mr. CARDWELL supported tho maintenance of the
African squadron. _ _

Admiral BERKELEY impressed upon the Committee
the necessity of keeping up a service of men trained to
gunnery. _ ... . .

Mr. PLIIMPTRE, Mr. S. CRAWFORD, and Colon&
THOMPSON having briefly spoken, the Committee di•
vided, when the numbers were—

For the vote ...
For Mr. HUME'S amendment
Majority for the vote

... 169
61
... -108

On a subscquentvote of 138,625 L for the Admiralty-
office, a division took place on an amendment moved by
Colonel SIBTITORP, who wished to reduce the salaries of
the Lords of the Admiralty by 4,6001.
The numbers were—
For the vote ... 193
For Colonel SIBTHORP'S amendment 34

Majority for the ♦ote

... -159

After the division, the Gallant Mover of the amend-
ment, loudly denouncing his own party as quite as un-
worthy of confidence as the Ministerialists, walked out
of the House, amid roars of laughter and cheering.
Sev2ral subsequent items were then taken, after which
the House resumed, and th© other orders were dis-
posed of.

After exciting discussions producing, or relating
to, the Ministerial crisis, Parliament last night re-
turned to the common place, but very necessary duty
of arrranging the naval estimates for the coming
year. Although one of the most important subjects
that can come under the consideration of the legisla-
tive body, it is, we regret to say, generally speaking,
totally neglected by the great majority of the repre-
sentatives of the people. It would seem as if the
honourable absentees regarded it as a matter of the
most profound indifference whether, on the
one aide, the public money is to be wasted in
wanton extravagance and reckless profusion, or,
on the other band, the most important branch of the
national service is to be reduced to a state of ineffi-
ciency by the summary dismissal of the gallant sea-
men, whom it would be very easy to send adrift, but
very difficult to collect again, and bring back to a
state of discipline. The proportion of speakers in
still more attenuated—some seven or eight person,,
at the outside, take part in the debate. Three or four
insist on economy and retrenchment, and are opposed
by an equal number of officials. The First Lord of
the Admiralty, aided and assisted by the First Lord
of the Treasury, fought the battle, and succeeded in
every point. There was a small and compact band of
financial reformers, while on the other side there was
a quantum sufficit of Ministerial, followers kept in the
neighbourhood ready to be " whipped in" on any divi-
sion, leave of absence being given to the remainder.
The House was last night occupied in voting some
of the items relating to the effective branch of the
service. On these points there may not be so many
differences of opinion as on others that will hereafter
arise. For instance, although as desirous as any
persons can possibly be of reducing the
enormous burdens that paralyse the national
industry, we know that there is "a penny wise and
pound foolish economy," which it would be most un-
wise to sanction. We have so often inculcated the
accuracy and propriety of the aphorism, Si vis
pacem, pare bellum, that it is unnecessary to recapi-
tulate our former arguments. But everything on that
point applies with far greater force to the navy than
to any other branch of the service. We may have all
the materiel—gallant ships, fully provided with all ne-
cessary armaments ; but what use would they be
without the hardy seamen to man—to become
the spirits animating the inert masses ? It is
notorious that it takes a much greater time to bring a
ship's company into good working order, to be able
to perform their duty without any unnecessary ex-
penditure of labour, than it does to enable the differ-
ent companies of a regiment to co-operate tcgether.
And yet we never think of disbanding a regi-
ment, the skeleton is still kept together, ready
to start into life and vigour at almost any moment.
The Executive know well that a soldier is a machine
that requires considerable polishing before he becomes
really valuable—that each trained man has cost so
many pounds, shillings, and pence to the country,
and represents a certain pecuniary value, which it
would be as ridiculous to lose as it would be for a
person to cast his money into the sea, because he had
no immediate want. If this principle be true with
respect to the army, it applies a fortiori to the navy,
and yet we recklessly discharge well-disciplined crews
when they have reached the very highest point of
efficiency, well knowing that it would be impossible
in case of emergency to replace the priceless gems we
were disregarding.
On the first vote, then, the number of men to be
employed during the coming year, our views are
altogether in favour of the Government, and we find
ourselves opposed to many valued friends. We could
not assent to a reduction of 9,000 men, or nearly 2.5 per
cent. of those employed, nor do we object to the in-
crease of pay and allowances, and improved arrange-
ments with regard to the victualling department, or
to the liberal commutation for grog, &c. ; the addi-
tional sums expended in these matters are of trivial
classes
believe
in ve
the thatc w
importance in comparison to the good effected, end
speak the
reasonablefeelinghe of all
ounetry: that no outlay
should be spared, which could add to the comforts,
or promote the happiness of our sailors.
We, there-
' fore, fully approve of the votes
given as to the
number of men to be l
emp oyed, the wages,
and the victualling of these men. It must,
however, be borne in mind that these
I various demands amount altogether to but
1,936,365/. out of the 5,727,259/. demanded, and
there is 119 MIKA Pfliy we should not Rot with übt.

rality and generosity in that respect, while we closely
scrutinize the other items, and cut off every unneces-
sary demand.

Nov, we confess that our dockyard expenditure,
the sums required for keeping our ships in repair,
and building the new vessels, which it is said should
be.launched every year, seems to be very enormous.
2,011,3071. is unquestionably a heavy charge, and it
appears strange that the demand for the vessels should
exceed that for the men engaged en board the fleet by
nearly 75,0001. sterling. We are satisfied that, with due
care and attention, very considerable savings might
be effected in these branches. There is still too much
jobbery sanctioned, and we call on the representatives
of the people to show a greater degree of interest
on these matters than they have hitherto done, if
they desire to retain the confidence of their respec-
tive constituencies, and to be re-elected to the
honourable positions in which they are now placed,
but which they must recollect carry with them
duties—arduous and important duties—as well as
honours and privileges.

But it is to the non-effective branch of the service
that we would especially invite attention. The claim
on that account for the present year is no less than
1;3E0,1881., or, in other words, rather better than
two-thirds of that for the men in actual em-
ployment. Now it may be impossible to
reduce that outlay at a moment's notice, but some
pledge should be ON en for its gradual diminution.
What, we ask, do we want of 150 flag -officers of
various denominations, when 15 are all that are
required under even the most pressing cir-
cumstances ? This list, we contend, might, and, we
will add, should be reduced to 90 in the first instance,
and eventually to 60. Could it be said that 9 admi-
rals, 21 vice-admirals, and 45 rear-admirals would
not be amply sufficient for all purposes, and
leave a sufficient margin fur all difficulties
that may occur ? That is the number to which
we would eventually reduce the list ; while, in the
first instance, we would allow 00 to remain, or 15
admirals, 30 vice-admirals, and 45 rear-admi-
rals. It may be said that there would be a
breach of faith to those who are anxiously
expecting the reward of their past services.
Although we do not fully assent to this proposition,
we would yet be willing to compromise the matter,
and we offer this suggestion on the point:—Let the
present promotion go on until the list of post-captains
comes down to the year 1830; after that, let only
one promotion take place for two vacancies until the
list comes down to that of 1840 ; and after that but
one appointment for every three deaths until the
number of admirals, &c., be reduced to sixty, as
above mentioned. This proposition would, if carried
out, meet the justice of the, case and be received with
general approbation throughout the entire country.

An Englishwoman of the present generation has
unhappily surpassed by her atrocities the almost in-
conceivable crimes narrated of Madame LArreaGE
and the Marchioness BRINVILLIERS. Our heart
sickens at the record of those diabolical acts which
are reported of the two latter assassins. Yet, unut.
terable as is the depth of their criminality, it has
been in every way eclipsed by the devilish deeds at
last brought home to SARAn CUESHAM. The narra-
tive of the dark and sinister career of this hellkite
is such, in truth, as almost to exceed the limits of
credibility. Reason shrinks from believing in full the
horrors attributed to her. Human nature is re-
luctant to admit the possibility of such sys-
tematic guilt—guilt so gratuitous, so objectless,
save for the gratification of a lust of murder, so
opposed to all the laws of affection and to all the in-
fluences of propinquity. In this woman, or rather
we should say in this fiend, we find not only a
Poisoner, but a schoolmistress of Poisoners. We find
her slowly taking away the life of her husband—and,
not content with the unearthly satisfaction experi•
enced by her in the secret superintendence of this
domestic tragedy, inciting others nearly as depraved
as herself to employ the same dastardly implements
of destruction. She is not merely a practitioner, but
a professor of poisoning—using the deleterious drugs
herself, and instructing others to act in like manner.
She gloats over the decaying strength of her uncon-
scious partner, whom she had pledged herself, according
to the language of the marriage service, to " love,
honour, and obey." She does more than this—she
slays by the same hidden means her own offspring,
the children she had borne in her womb and nou-
rished at her bosom. Her passions inflamed with
this worst of all species of infanticide, that perpe-
trated by the mother herself, she discovers a method
of slaking her thirst of blood, and of appeasing her
appetite for assassination, by tempting the little chil-
dren of the village to eat loz.mges charged with
minute particles of arsenic. Under an appearance
of kindness she hides a ferocity only com-
parable to that of a ghoul or a vampire.
Her deadly assiduity is always on the watch. She
watches her victims fell one after another. She re-
vels in the horror of her detestable secret. Regarded
at length with suspicion, she is twice dragged up for
trial, and twice acquitted—her hideous propensity
for poisoning becoming in the end confirmed by its
impunity. Fortunately for those around her, the
murderess is at last convicted, and the wretch was
finally sentenced to death by the Lord Chief Justice
CAMPBELL on the occasion of the late aSSiZ2S at
Chelmsford.

Looking with as much calmness as is possible under
the circumstances at the history of the life of this mon-
ster, it is impossible not to discover in it reasons for
lamenting those things which too frequently tend to
retard the approach of justice. The liberty which
has been permitted for so lengthened a period to
SARAH CHESHAII, a liberty enabling her to carry out
her very awful schemes of devastation, is the fruit,
unhappily, of that remissness in the laws of the land
which the conscientious reformer of the criminal
code has again and again reprobated. Often as the
necessity for the comprehensive revision of this code
has been insisted upon, and more especially of late
years, it has seldom been placed so glaringly before
the common sense of the Legislature as by the
facts brought to light by the trial of the
criminal here mentioned as having been formally
convicted and sentenced to death at ChelmslOrd.
From these particulars it must be sufficiently appa-
rent that, with all our elaborate precautions against
assassination by poison, we are, nevertheless, very far
indeed from having afforded adequate protection to
human lives. Efforts are still making to prevent a
too ready access to poisonous drugs and acids of a
destructive character. As yet, however, those subtle
agents of the murderer are within his reach at a cost
altogether insignificant. The continuance of this
system must be prevented. The sale of
these dangerous liquids and powders must be
restricted to specified cases, and even then, under
the heaviest penalties for any infringement of the
law, they must be only purchaseable upon certain
stringent conditions. True, there is a sort of dis-
cretionary power of this kind exercised at present,
but it is assuredly very necessary to assert that this
power, as at present regulated, is every way inadequate.
What renders the case of SARAH CHESHAM a yet
greater source of horror to us, is the circumstance
that the medical evidence given upon the occasion
of her former trials and acquittals, actually appears
to have suggested to her novel methods of carrying
into effect subsequent schemes of poisoning. After
acquiring the knowledge of thi., we may presume
that henceforth at least the guardians of the law will
exercise, in the prevention and punishment of crime,
a more awakened and comprehensive vigilance.

It is impossible, wholly and entirely impossible, we
should opine, that the sticklers for the remission of
capital punishment in all cases as a penalty for crime,
should persist in requiring the unconditional
acceptance of their doctrines. BECCARIA him-
self would hesitate, we should conceive, from
demanding any more lenient indiction in regard to
the author of such preternatural atrocities. We have
seen very recently how the most noted of all the ad-
vocates of Communism and Socialism, M. PROUDHON,
moderated his language when he took unto himself a
wife who happened to be possessed of property. We
gaveconspicuous observed,
ago, how one of the most
m spirants for substi-
ccseurscla, mon notg longne
substi-
tution of arbitration for bloodshed (Viscomte
VICTOR HUGO) incited his own son to fight
a duel in vindication of his honour as a gen-
tleman ; and how another equally noted agitator
in the same movement (Mr. IticllAan Conning)
flung defiance not many months ago in the teeth of
the AUTOCIIAT, and, on the part of England, threatened

to crumple up the Russian empire as easily as a
bit of paper. Now, with just as much consistency
could M. PROUDHON insist anew upon the blessings
of Socialism or Communism, and Viscomte VICTOR
Iluco declaim once mere against bloodshed, and
Mr. RICHARD Conntst re-asert the advantages of
arbitration,—with just as much consistency as
this, we say, could the advocates of the
total r.bolition of capital punishment rede-
mend the remission of that penalty in the face of
such a stupendous criminal as this terrible SARAH
CIIESHAM. Humanity demands that the most horrid
and the most certain expiation of guilt should hang
before the eyes of those who dream of perpetrating,
either by wholesale or by retail, any similar atroci-
ties. Unless we would have society desolated through
the instrumentality of these female poisoners, we must
show the law to he prompt and inexorable in the vin-
dication of its outraged majesty.

THE FEEiNCH REPUBLIC.

rr~ ,;~

We have received the Paris journals. 'of yesterday.
The decree of the PRESIDENT, removing 21 Pre-
fects of Departments, and appointing others in their
place, has given great offence to the Legititnatists.
It is thus spoken of h. 7 the Opinion Publique:—
" The decree formed the subject of the most animsted
( xplauations between the Minister of the Interior and
the greater number of the ministerial Jarty. The Mi-
nister did not seem much at his ease while besieged
with interpellations, which, although from friends, were
by no means amicable. It is quite true that impetuous
zAil has fiund more favour than old services, and the
new prefects have been chosen rather for their devoted-
ness end their ardour than for their intelligence or wisdom.
M. Pietri is a Corsican, which implies all that reed be
said. France belongs at this moment to the Corsicans,
who are all heirs, more or less direct, of the Emperor.
M. de Vincent is rccunmended by his manners, which
are rather military than civil. M. Bart, on the
other hand, a man of incontestable capacity, has
been removed from Tarn, as it is said,
because he did not display sufficient ardour for the
Ely: e. M. de blaups9, on the contrary, owes his ap-
pointment to the impetuous zeal which he had manifested
as Sub-Prefect. M. de Lengle does not pass fur an able
administrator, but he is what is better—a devoted parti-
zan. M. de Charnailles is nephew, by marriage, to Ge-
neral Baraguay d'Hilliers, and is not this the era of
nephews ? M. do Romans was a Legitimatist until be
became an Orleanist, and is of course an Elysean. It
was also remarked at the Assembly that M. Waisse had
given up his own prefecture, from which it was concluded
that he hopes to remain Minister."
The negotations for the formation of a permanent
and Parliamentary Ministry still continue. The
new combination will include MM. ODILON BARROT,
13ARCCHE, ACHILLE FOULD, and WAISSE, the present
Minister of the Interior. M. DUFAURE was at one
time spoken of as likely to have a portfolio in the
new Ministry, but his appointment is considered very
doubtful.

The Five per Cent:. opened at 941. 25c., and closed at
94f. 20e.; the Three per Cents. closed at 57f. 80c.; Or-
leans Railroad Shares, 8861. 25c.; Rouen, 647 f. 50c.;
Havre, 276 f. 25c.; Great Northern. 476 f. 25c.; Avignon,
192 f. 50c.; VierzJn, 421 f. 25c.; Bade, 155 f.; Bordeaux,
395 f. ; Paris and Strasburg, 3681. 75e.; Tours and
Nantes, 256 f. 25c.
BUSINESS DUNE IN FOREIGN RAILWAYS AT THE

LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE, MARCH 10.
Boulogne and Arnim, 9%—Dutch Rhenish, 31/4—East
Indian, 15%—Maria Anlonia, 6%—Ditto, New, VA—Namur
and Liege, 81/4—Northern of France, 151—Sambre and
Meuse, 3%—Tours and Nantes, 5%.