The Sun.
London, England, 1851-09-23 00:00:00

EVENING, SEPTEMBER 23, 1851.

FINE AMTS.

OUR LORD'S AGONY IN THE GARDEN.

An exquisite painting from the master-hand of Ary
Scheffer is now on view at Mr. Grundy's establish-
ment i❑ Regent-street. It is a cabinet picture, and
represents i❑ a manner indicative of the very highest
order of genitp, the bloody sweat in the Garden of
Gethsemane. Having ourselves examined this re-
markable work of art very attentively, we can speak
of it advisedly in terms of the very warmest admira-
tion. Those who are already familiar with the
"Mignon" of the same illustrious artist—that Mig-
non who was perhaps of all his creations the master-
piece of Goe,;he, and was certainly the loveliest figure
among all the lovely figures depicted in " Wilhelm
Meister"—will need no assurance of the delicate but
incomparable powers of Scheffer. Much less those
who have studied his scene from " Leonora," in
which he has caught the true inspiration from the
immortal ballad of Burger ; or yet more that divine
picture of " Christus Consolator," in which he re-
vealed so many sublime and bewitching capacities.
In the performance now exhibiting in London he
has been true to his reputation. The picture com-
prises only two figures, one of the Divine Redeemer,
the other of one of the angels who ministered to him
in his preternatural agony. Both are marvellous de-
lineations. The angelic visitant, with head depressed
as if in sympathetic mourning over the form of
Christ, is beautifully conceived, and in the shadow
cast over the countenance of the former, there is a
depth of poetic significance. The figure and counte-
nance of the Saviour, however, constitute the tri-
umph of this remarkable painting. They express
with a wonderful pathos the intensity of that divine
anguish which preceded the various and appalling
torments of the Passion. Possibly the most asto-
nishing portion of the whole work is the attitude i❑
which the painter seems to indicate that Christ is
almost fainting under the load of his calamities—the
blood oozing in thin streaks down his face and out
of the very pores of his hands—those beautiful hands
half raised in such feeble but persuasive supplicationl!
Over the visage is diffused an expression of languor
almost attaining the verge of insensibility. The
lovers of art will be gratified to learn that Mr.
Grundy has in preparation an engraving from this
latest of the masterly productions of Ary Scheffer.

COURT CIRCULAR.
BALMORAL, SUNDAY.

Her Majesty drove yesterday in an open carriage
to Glen Gain], accompanied by the Princess Royal
and the Princess Alice.

His Royal Highness Prince Albert went out deer
stalking.
The Right Hon. Fox Maule left Balmoral yes-
terday.

Ilis Excellency Musurus Bey, the Turkish Minis.
ter, has returned to town, after a visit of a few days
to Viscount Palmerston, at his seat, Broadlands,
Hants.

Dispatches were received yesterday at the Colonial-
office, from the Governor of Canada.

SPORTING NO TES.
No. CXXXI.
THE MANCHESTER AUTUMN MEETING, &o,

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

SIR,—Tho autumn meeting at Manchester this year,
for strength of entries and anticipated amount of sport.
will completely surpass all its predecessors; in fact, I
think it may be considered on a par with the spring
gathering. It commences on Thursday, and extends
over a couple of days. The first item ou the bill of fare
is, as usual, the Champagne Handicap for two years old,
which on this occasion actually sports twenty-five sub-
scribers, being considerably above the average. The
entry includes the names of Merry Bird, Prince Patrick,
High Sheriff, LadyAmyott, Sir Charles Napier,Banshee,
Captain Flash, and Liberty; and if but a moiety of these
come to the post a capital race will be the consequence.
Merry Bird and Prince Patrick at Bst 71b I consider
overweighted; High Sheriff at Bst 41b has a much
better chance considering the distance to be traversed is
a mile ; some doubts have, however, been expressed as
to his starting, in which event the light weight
Liberty, at 7st 71b might successfully represent their
interests. Lady Amyott will have to succomb to
Sir Charles Napier, at the difference of hlta in-
cluding the 31b for sex. Captain Flash is the only other
that requires any notice; at the long distance he has
given symptoms of staying successfully. The race,
although a large field may start, will be confined to this
lot; and should the IliGn SHERIFF figure among the
starters, I shall take him as the absolute winner ; Sir
Charles Napier and Captain Flash well up, Merry Bird
and Lady Amyott in the next places. For a Gentle-
man's race the Autumn Welter .Handicap stands forth
with the unusual number of nine teen subscribers to it ;
if but half of these go to the postea good sporting race for
the aristocracy will ensue, as all the leading gentleman
jocks of the day, it is expected,will be up. It is a desperate
task to attempt the selection of a winner in a race like
this, but if I look into the obscurity I think I can per-
ceive it will be in favour of Mr. Carew's animals ; should
these, however, miss it, Sister to Clothworker or Harp
must do the needful. The Selling Stakes of 3 sovs. each
with 40 added, one mile 240 yards, closes and names
to-morrow by six o'clock in the evening. The Great
Autumn Handicap, over the two-mile course, has no less
than thirty-four acceptances, of which the following, in
all probability, will go to the post :—Woolwich, 5 yrs,
Bst 71b ; Alp, 5 yrs, 7st 71b • Herbert, 5 yrs, 7st 51b
(d); Lady Hilda, aged, 7st 3113 ; The Cocktail, 5 yrs,
6st 121 b ; Abbess of Jervaux, 4 yrs, Est 81b ,• Duxburg,
4 yrs, 65t 21b ; The Ebor, 4 yrs, 6st 21b ; Trickstrees,
3 yrs, sst Blb ; Unity, 3 yrs, sst 81b ; Paquetta, 3 yrs,
sst Blb ; acd Stafford, 3 yrs, 4st 121 b. One or two
others may also run, which fact, should it be
one, I will communicate to-morrow. Woolwich
over this course is, I fancy, burthened with too much
weight. Alp and Herbert are in uncommonly well, but
if I mistake not they stand but little chance of catching
the judge's eye first; I should however take Alp for
choice of these two. Cocktail, with only 6st 121 b up,
will, I opine, run into some of his usual places—second,
third, or fourth. The Abbess of Jervaux is nicely
weighted, and may possibly reverse her last performance
in public when she succumbed very unexpectedly in a
rather easy manner. Trickstress, Unity, and Paquetta
figure each at sst 81b; the first-named of course the best
of the trio. Stafford will I believe bo the feather on this
occasion. After a careful consideration of the Handicap,
and bearing well in mind which way the money is
going, I have come to the conclusion that the three
years old division will be the one to carry off this stake
—TRICKSTRESS and STAFFORD for choice; Paquetta
close up. The second day's card is headed with the
Two Years Old Selling Stakes of 5 sovs. each, with
30 added, six furlongs; this, with the Grand Stand
Plate of 50 soya. for all ages, one mile; the Selling
Stakes of 3 sovs. each, with 40 added, one mile and a
quarter; and the Beaten Handicap of 3 soya. each, with
30 added, one mile and a quarter, have yet to close and
name. The Chesterfield Handicap, over the mile and a
quarter course, will very possibly be contested by a very
large field, the entries being numerous, the handicap
good. At the present moment, in the face of the general
support awarded to Trickstress, I should select the re-
presentative of Wadlow's stabIe—WORCESTER, in all
probability, as the winner of this race; Ribaldry and the
Nan Darrell filly to fill the second and third places.
More of this race, however, anon. A curious announce-
ment was made yesterday at " the Corner" by Mr.
Nichols, who declared it to be dubious whether New-
minster would go to the post for the Cesarewitch; if this
is a bona fide declaration, and not a turf ruse, it does
Mr. Nichols great credit, and is worthy of being more
generally followed; as in all probability in the course of
a few days au immense amount of cash would have been
invested on this horse's chance by the public.
I am, Sir, yours, &c.,
THE SPIRIT OF THE TURF.
Sept. 23, 1851.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.
TATTERSALL'S—iESTERDAL
The town settling on the Doncaster events occupied
too great a portion of the afternoon to admit of much
business on future events; our quotations, therefore, will
be brief.

CESAREWITCH STAKES.
8 to 1 agst Lord H. Lennox's Mokanna
8 to 1 agst Mr. A. Nichol's Newminster
100 to 6 agst Mr. Herbert's Grand Duke
20 to 1 agst Mr. H. Robinson's Confidence—taken
20 to 1 agst Mr. Harrison's Trickstress
30 to 1 agst Lord Strathmore's Garforth—taken
Confidence fluctuated from 16 to 1 to 25 to 1, and
closed at 20 to 1.
The owner of Newminster has declared that his start-
ing is uncertain.
CAMBRIDGESHIRE STAKES.
25 to 1 agst Mr. Halford's Deceitful
30 to 1 agst Mr. Martinson's Nancy—taken
DERBY.
8 to 1 agst Mr. Merry's Hobble Noble—taken
20 to 1 agst Lord Zetland's Augur—taken
20 to 1 agst Mr. Harrison's King of Trumps—taken
25 to 1 agst Mr. IL Stebbing's Alfred the Great—t
40 to 1 eget Colonel Anson's Greyleg—taken
50 to 1 eget Mr. Milner's Golden Age—taken
50 to 1 egst Mr. A. Nichol's Norham—taken
THE DONCASTER CUP.
The objection made against The Ban at the time of
weighing not having been represented to the stewards,
the Cup, we aro informed, has been handed over to Sir
Joseph Hawley, and bets have in most instances been
paid on the race. The Black Doctor party, however,
intend to proceed with the matter, and decline handing
over a large sum laid by them against The Ban and
" the lot" until it is decided.

The Marquis of Ornioode and family left London
on Sunday last, by the Baron Osy steamer, Captain Jackson.
THE EARL OF ARUNDEL.—We are happy to hear
that the Earl of Arundel and Surrey, DI.P. for Limerick, is
perfectly recovered from his recent illness, and proposes
Visiting his constituents in the course of a few days. His
Lordship will probably remain during his sojourn at Tervoe
House. the hospitable residence of William Monsell, Esq.,
.News.
Letters from Rouen mention that business was
tolerably active in manufactures, buyers having come for-
ward with better orders. The operations were chiefly for
export.

The reports from the Continental bourses allude to
the heaviness of the various classes of public securities,
caused by the disinclination of the speculators to enter into
extensive business during the present position of European
plitica.

ADELPHI THEATRE.
MADAME CELESTE'S BENEFIT.

Crowded houses have for many a year been the
order of the night at the Adelphi Theatre, hut last
evening the dimensions of the building proved far
; too restricted for the eager throng who pressed to
pay the homage of admiration and respect to the
charming manageress on the occasion of her benefit
and last appearance for the season. The pieces
chosen for the occasion were the recently produced
drama of The Queen's Secret, Flying Colours, and
the second act of the immortal Green Bushes. To
notice in detail the admirable performance of Celeste
in her several parts would be but "gilding the re-
fined gold," suffice it to say that,she never looked or
acted better. The enthusiasal with which she was
greeted was what might be expected from the visitors
of a theatre with which her connexion has long been
so intimate and brilliant, and where her absence will
he keenly felt during her visit to the shores of the
New World. We feel convinced that there is not
an individual who participated in the furore of
last night hut entertains a genuine sentiment
of anxious hope for her safety and success in her
distant trip, or would hail her return with an equal
fervour to the boards she so incomparably adorns.
The gifted beneficiure surpassed herself on the oc-
casion ; she seemed resolved to more than merit the
plaudits that were so liberally and rapturously be-
stowed on every point in her varied performances.
The entertainments were admirably selected to elicit
her powers. There was the deep pathos of the
" Brother of the King of France," condemned to
eternal misery, to forfeit all that renders life daar, on
account of his high birth—his only offence—to have
even his very features for ever sealed to his fellow-
men, by the hideous " iron mask," which was never
more to be removed. There was also the intense
comicality of her efforts as Helen de l\lontereau—to
assume the part of the dashing captain, Sans Souci,
while the gallant officer was masquerading as the
fugitive boarder of the convent. It is almost
unnecessary to say that the audience were kept
in an incessant scream while "crossing the frontier,"
and that each and every one of their retainers came off
with " flying colours" on the occasion. The second
act of The Green Bushes, in which Celeste had ac-
quired an European reputation by her graceful acting
of the ardent-loving, but unhappily jealous and re-
vengeful Indian girl, concluded the entertainments.
It would be a mockery to speak of that which is fami-
liar to every playgoer who has ever visited the Bri-
tish metropolis. There is, however, a rich treat for
our Transatlantic brethren, for what must be the de-
light of a person capable of appreciating the perfec-
tion of melodrame. Xerxes offered a reward for the
invention of a new pleasure to gratify his " jaded"
tastes. The Americans will certainly have the ad-
vantage of the mighty monarch, for they can have a
rich enjoyment utterly unknown before at a very
moderate price. It is but justice to say that the
talented lady was; most ably seconded ; that
IVebster, Paul Bedford, Honey, Miss Woolgar, and
Kathleen Fitzwilliam, spared no exertions to do
honour to their departing friend. The most interest-
ing part of the evening was, however, the farewell
address of Madame Celeste, which was delivered with
the deepest feeling in the following words :
" Ladies and Gentlemen—my good, kind, and indul-
gent patrons, it is with feelings of gratitude beyond
my powers of expression that I appear before you, to
bid you, for a time, adieu. To this country—so gene-
rous in its sympathies for the stranger, wherever born
—I owe my present proud position; for you gave a
value by your golden opinions to that little talent my
warm-hearted American friends discovered and encou-
raged. My direction of this theatre, through the
liberality of the manager and the affectionate zeal of a
talented company, has been a labour of love; and if you
approve—as the crowded houses nightly evidence—l
feel lam repaid beyond my deserts. No occasion ought
I to omit, especially such a one as this, with their flat-
tering eulogiums, newly locked in my memory, to thank
the press collectively and individually; without them
the actors' calling would cease to be an art. Nothing,
ladies and gentlemen, would take me from you but a
duty of gratitude I hold sacred to those in the New
World, who first took me by the hand, and I should not
think I had done that duty if I did not visit them again
and take a long and lasting leave.

" Ladies and gentlemeii, my heart is too full to say
more than, with all my heart I thank you—with all my
heart I bid you adieu—et Dieu vows bonisse."

At the conclusion wreaths of laurels and roses, and
rich bouquets, were showered upon the fair lady, who
could scarcely restrain her emotions at bidding a long
farewell to the familiar faces with which she was
surrounded. A still more pleasing compliment was
paid to the fair artiste after the departure of the au-
dience, whe❑ Paul Bedford, in the name of the com-
pany, who had for eight years been under her ma-
nagement, and conduced to the unceasing triumphs of
the Adelphi during that period, presented a very valu-
able bracelet as a testimonial of the high sense enter-
tained not only of her judgment and efficiency, but of
her kindliness and amiability of disposition.

SPIRIT of the PUBLIC JOURNALS.
FROM TIIE MORNING PAPERS OF THIS DAY.
TIMES.—The spectacle just witnessed at Ha-
vannah is one that mutt win some compassion from
the just as well as sympathy from the interested or
the weak. A number of men, who had fought with
courage in the open field, and many of whom had
since wandered for days wounded and famished, have
been publicly executed as pirates, that is as robbers
and murderers, declaring with their last breath that
they believed they were assisting an oppressed and
indignant population in the work of their deliver-
ance. Such a spectacle is rare among civilized
nations and in civilized times, for the simple
reason that society is then too strong for buccaneers
and marauders to ply their trade with any hope of
success. When, then, such an incident does
actually occur the heroes of the tragedy gain some-
thing from the strange and incredible nature of
their crime. It is difficult to regard them as
enemies of the human race, for that is the
definition of pirates, simply because the class
cannot be said to exist, and it is found more
easy to believe them something more familiar and
creditable—patriots, deliverers, Quixotic enthusiasts,
knights errant, or something of that kind. In this
instance the crime, for such it undoubtedly is, derives
some colour from the well-known character of all
Spanish government. It is a common belief that en
island rescued from the yoke of Spain and annexed
to the great American federation must be the better
for the change, and emerges, in fact, from darkness
to light, and from slavery to freedom. We may
charitably hope that a tinge of political romance
gilded the dreams of these unhappy adventurers, and
that they really imagined they were seeking a crown
of glory, as well as houses and lands, sugar mills,
live stock, negroes, and other valuable commodities.
But when the flimsy veil of political romance
has been withdrawn from the crime, it is evident
that our compassion, if we cannot withhold it, is due
rather to the folly than to the fate of the criminals.
Compassion is much more justly due to the unfor-
tunate authorities who have been driven to a rigour
from which in the first instance they had recoiled ;
who were made to suffer the penalty of their former
forbearance in the return of the very men they had
pardoned and released; who are kept on the tenter-
hooks of a fearful expectation, in the presence of a
vast and aggressive Power teeming with marauders
and sympathisers ; who are compelled to maintain a
large naval and military force against unseen foes in
a time of peace; and who, having tried in vain the
alternative of mercy, were driven to the other alter-
native of justice, and so forced to endure the stigma
of apparent but unavoidable cruelty. What could
the Cuban authorities do ? What line of conduct
can the Americans themselves suggest to a State
condemned to suffer a periodical invasion by lawless
bands in a time of peace ? If the Governor of Cuba
and the Cuban authorities had no other interest to at-
tend to than the pleasure of the Americans, of course
they would disband the Royal forces, and leave the
island, with all its valuable property, to be shared
among the first body of American citizens that could
establish itself at Havannab. Or if this were
too manifest a treason, or too tame a surrender,
they might retain the island for awhile, just
as an arena fur the display of American
valour, allowing a few hundred loyal soldiers to be
shot off at each successive landing of the invaders,
and invariably allowing the latter to retire unmo-
lested and recruit for another landing. It certainly
would appear that some of the American sympa-
thisers think themselves entitled to such treatment,
for their sympathy with invaders is partly founded
on the fact, that owing to their superior skill in sharp-
shooting or mancauvring they achieved a fearful
slaughter of the Spanish forces. But it is evident
that the Cuban authorities had other duties to per-
form than complaisance to the sentiments of the
American public ; they had the island to keep for
their Queen, not to speak of the other interests at
stake ; and this paramount duty unfortunately in-
volved the necessity of making an example of the
invaders. Even in this extremity they seem to
have tempered justice, not to say the claims of self-
preservation, with mercy. The first batch taken,
while the great body of the invaders was still in arms,
they put to death. When the invasion was extin-
guished, and the danger was over for the present,
they assigned to Lopez the ignominious death of a
pirate ; they shot the principal officers under him, and
spared the lives of the remaining 150, not, however,
setting them at large to renew the attempt next
spring. The American journals, now that the expe-
dition has so signally failed, and the hostility, or at
least the indifference, of the Cuban population has
been so plainly demonstrated, condemn Lopez and his
dupes in unmeasured terms. They admit what every-
body knows, that a similar set of dasperedoes would
meet with very little mercy from the President of
the United States if they fell into his hands when
engaged on a similar errand. We wish we could
persuade ourselves, however, that the principal
crime of these men, in the eyes of the Americans, is
not their failure. It is admitted to be piracy, simply
because like treason, it has not prospered. In the midst
of the grave censures which are pronounced on the
unfortunate scheme we find every now and then
some very suspicious prophecies of the fate of Cuba,
which it is said will be hastened by the late severities.
The Governor is told, not that he has exceeded the
law of the case, but that he has been injudicious,
though in the same articles it is said that the libera-
tion of Cuba is to proceed, not from without, but
from within. In the island itself these severities seem
to have been taken as a matter of course ; and they
could only hasten the doom of the Spanish dominion
by their effect on the irascible temper of the American
public. Perhaps after the fact of two large expeditions
having sailed from American ports for the conquest
of Cuba, with the scarcely concealed connivance of
the authorities, the second on so large a scale that
though only a part of it sailed it was able to keep the
field more than a week, the Americans would do well
to abstain from superfluous criticism on the conduct
of the Spanish authorities. If Cuba really is to be
American—if the pear must one day ripen and drop
into that capacious and fortunate lap, then there is no
necessity to hurry the day, either by invading Cuba
in a time of peace, or by abusing its authorities
when they are clearly in the right.
HERALD.—The latest news received from the
United States is such as the previous accounts had led
us to anticipate. The Lopez expedition has not only
signally failed, but its chief commander has been
taken, and has paid the penalty of his rashness with
his life. A loud outcry was made by one or two
journals here as to the sanguinary manner in which
the former prisoners were summarily shot by the
Spanish authorities of the island ; but it would not be
difficult to prove that in acting thus the Spanish Go-
vernment only followed the practice of far more
civilised and infinitely less sanguinary nations. It
should not be forgotten, in considering the bearings
of this question, that this is the second attempt on
the island within sixteen months, and that Spanish
commanders, never distinguished for forbearance
and humanity, have been rendered more than ever
indifferent to human life by the long prevalence of
civil warfare on their own parent soil. It is not
from a Christino or a Carlist general of modern times
that enemies, invaders, or pirates, taken with arms in
their hands, are to look for any tenderness or hu-
manity, or the least particle of indulgence. We
doubt, however, that any commander, be he never so
humane, could have spared the lives of the adventu-
rers who, fur the second time within sixteen months,
landed in Cuba, or, that supposing it possible to have
done so, that such mistaken clemency would have
been, under the circumstances, wise or politic. By
the New Orleanists, who put the machinery of in-
vasion in action, it would have been received as a
confession of both internal and external weakness, and
far from appeasing the lust of acquisition, it would
only have whetted the American appetite to annex
and to incorporate by any and by every means. In-
dependently of these considerations the Spanish Go-
vernment is bound to show an example of energy
and decision to native proprietors—to many of
those Creoles supposed to have held out flattering
hopes to Lopez, and to those _Mulattoes and Mestizoes
believed to be desirous of a change of masters. It is
also to be considered that at the period of the former
executions Lopez had not been taken—that he was
supposed to be sheltered up the country in some of
the plantations, and that it was under these circum-
stances flirectly imperative to make an example.
Add to this that the adventurers and buccaneers came
prepared neither to give nor to take quarter. In their
first encounter with the Spanish troops they exhibited
not merely courage but desperation, and that ener-
getic will which seems to be communicated to any
body of men with whom the Anglo-Saxon race are
largely intermixed. These are qualities not likely
to conciliate an opponent. The brave manner, too, in
which the first victims of their own recklessness met
the fate reserved for them produced no impression on
the Spanish authorities. The attempt was felt on
both sides to be a determined and a terrible one, and
terrible also was the retribution. Under these cir-
cumstances it is idle to declaim against the san-
guinary inhumanity of the Spanish Government.
The humanest Government the world has yet seen
would act apart not very widely different, and would
find warrant for so doing in all the recognised inter-
national jurists and authorities, and even by the latest
modern practice. At all events America is estoppel
from all complaints on this head by the acts of her
own President, Jackson, in reference to Florida, a
very few years ago. It may be urged that the first
example having been made in the case of Crittenden
and his companions, there was no need for such seve-
rity in the case of Lopez. To this view we cannot
accede. Lopez, a native-born Spaniard, had lived
for years in the invaded island, and had possessed a
plantation in right of his wife, a Creole of Cuba.
Such w as the man who placed himself at the head of
the marauding or buccaneering force, for we can
call it nothing else, opinst an island which had

sheltered him and given him bread. Nov, if ever it
were necessary to make an example of any man
under peculiar circumstances, these were the circum-
stances, and this was the man, to call for severity.
By way of warning to military adventu: .ers, and
to Creole proprietors, punishment was ca: 'led for,
and punishment was awarded. Irrespective of these
considerations, there was Spanish blood to b: atoned
for and appeased. The most gallant and vent tiresome
soldier of Spain—the second in command to the Cap-
tain General Concha—Enna, had fallen with many
others of less note; and was the prime mover and
concocter of an expedition costing such :in expendi-
ture of life and effort to escape all p uoishment ?
This cannot be contended by any cane id or dispas-
sionate man. Though, therefore, no one properly in-
formed can take just exception to the exocution and
capture of Lopez, yet the mode of his c apture and
the manner of his death reflect no credit on Spanish
humanity. It should be considered tha4, though a
buccaneer, Lopez was a soldier; that l,e had exhi-
bited bravery and humanity, and had sent a flag
of truce with Enne's body to the Spanish
' authorities. To make such a man undergo the de-
grading and infamous punishment of the garotte
was an unnecessary aggravation of his sufferings.
As to the running Lopez down with bl,oodhounds—
however inhuman it may appear to British ears, and
however much we may disapprove of such a prac-
tice, it should also be remembered that such a plan of
capture of marauders, murderers, and fef ons, had long
ago been introduced into the Spanish colonies from
the mother country, and that, according to Bryan
Edwards, the practice was followed by the Govern-
ment and Assembly of one of our °vela West India
islands against the Maroons in 1738. Every barracks,
says Edwards, in his "llistory of the West Indies,"
was also furnished by a pack of dogs provided by the
churchwardens of the respective parishes, it being
foreseen that these animals would prove extremely
serviceable not only in guarding agains t surprises in
the night, but in tracking the enemy. Again, in
July, 1795, when the Maroons broke cut into open
revolt and waged a successful war against the Govern-
ment forces, one hundred bloodhounds were sent for to
Cuba, together with forty chasseurs or people of colour.
The wild and formidable appearance of :nen and dogs
spread terror through the negroes. The Maroons at
once submitted, and were expatriated to Halifax, in
North America. A Spanish Governor in Cuba
would conceive Lopez as much out of the pale of the
law as a British Governor some GO years ago conceived a
Maroon. Let us not forget, too, that in former times
these bloodhounds, called by the Scotch sleuth-
hounds, were kept in great numbers on the borders,
and fugitive kings and moss-troopers were obliged to
study how to evade them. Warfare agaic st an enemy
is not more civilised in a Spanish dependency or in
Spain itself', now, than it was in Scotland in the
days of Bruce and Wallace. We are prepared
for a great outcry in Louisiana, and more
especially in New Orleans, against the inhu-
manity of the Spanish Government ; but we
believe that in the northern states, generally, public
opinion is against these piratical undertakings. At
all events, the New York Herald, Courier and En-
quirer, Tribune, and Republican, as well as the Wash-
ington Reporter, have pronounced against them.
Generals Lane and 3lacalla, indeed cry out against
the American consul at Cuba, and proclaim that
much American blood has been shed. In read-
ing over the names of the victims, however, we per-
ceive that the sufferers have been chiefly Germ ans,
Hungarians, Poles, and men of Spanish or Irish
descent. The character of the crime, whatever the
nationality of the criminals, remains unaltered.
The Government of America must prevent bands of
adventurers from prostituting her flag to piracy,
or must accept the consequences of her criminal
apathy.

PRINTERS' ATHENJEUM.

A public meeting was held yesterday evening at
Anderton's Hotel, Fleet-street, for the purpose of
promoting the formation of an institution to be called
the Printers' Athermum combining the advantages
of a club with those incidental to a literary and sci-
entific institution. The handbill which was circulated
to the meeting stated that " all trades in connexion
with the printing profession are eligible to become
members; and the public at large, if proposed by
a member," and gave the following extract from the
rules :
" That persons following the business of letter-press
and copper-plate printers, bookbinders, type-founder?,
stereotypers, engravers, lithographers, printers' ink-
makers, printers' joiners, and such like trades indi-
rectly attached to the printing profession, be com-
petent to become ticket-holders, and subsequently
members of this society ; and individuals not so con-
nected, desirous of joining the institution, shall be
permitted to do so upon their being proposed by a
ticket-holder or member."
The subscription proposed is 3d. per week. Mem-
bers' names enrolled on the payment of 6d. Annual
subscription las. if paid prior to the close of 1851.
Charles Knight, Esq., took the chair. The
room was crowded to excess, and several ladies were
present.
The CHAIRMAN congratulated the meeting on the
presence of ladies, whose good influence had been
practically shown in the institution of the Whit-
tington Club. He held in his hand letters of apology,
regretting their unavoidable absence, from gentlemen
who were intimately connected with the literature of
the country, and some of them most distinguished
characters, He must confess it had appeared to him
that this meeting was held a little too early ; for after
the unprecedented excitement of the last six or seven
months, all who had the opportunity were glad to
keep out of town. Among the letters he had re-
ceived was one from Dr. Halliwell, who, expressing
his approval of the object of the meeting, enclosed
copies of his own works as a donation towards the
proposed library. Letters of apology, and commend-
ing the object of the meeting, were also read by the
chairman from Mr. Angus Reach, Douglas Jerrold,
Gilbert A'Beckett, Charles Dickens, John Forster,
William Howitt, Mark Lemon, Dr. Cumming, Dr.
Camps, &c.
The CHAIRMAN, in opening the business of the
evening, trusted that all present would feel that
they were met on this occasion for a great and im-
portant object. The object of this institution was to
elevate the class of persons to which " we,"
said the chairman, " belong" :—by better edu-
cating the youthful members of the trade,
and for facilitating social communication one
with another. There was indeed a feeling
among many that those persons who were engaged
in the business o'f printing required no such institu-
tion as this; and this opinion might be true to a
certain extent, but he must say only to a limited ex-
tent. He had known cases of men who were com-
positors who had, distinguished themselves by reach-
ing an amount of knowledge which would have placed
them at a comparatively early age in a high position
at any of our universities. Such men he was proud
to call his friends and fellow-labourers.—(Cheers.)
But it was a lamentable fact that there were a great
many men in the: trade who were not intelligent men
—who did not possess that amount of acquirements
which the publics were accustomed to expect from all
departments of the trade. He found it stated in a
document which he held in his hand that a large
number of youths, who had been introduced to the
trade during the last 20 years, had been found when
apprenticed lamentably deficient in the simplest
elements of their own language. Now this was a
strong fact to go, forth to the world; but the fault
was with those -who took such apprentices, and per-
haps the fault was in the state of society in which
we were placed,. In former times, when there were
guilds, the max tiers were bound to instruct their
apprentices in reading and writing, and in their
particular art or mystery, and to communicate
to them a knowledge of general literature,
and of their own language. That time had passed,
and they were now in a commercially competitive
state of society.. Need he say more to show the ne-
cessity of young men being imbued with a knowledge
of their own language and other languages, in order
to meet the cutnmon instances that arose every day
before them IA Need he urge a stronger reason for
founding this, athenaeum ? Let them take the young
man from thss daily drudgery of his case, and from
the imposing stone. Take him from his nightly
rambles, and bring him to a place, where he can be
amused and. instructed. Let such young man become
acquaintel's with the newspapers and the general pe-
riodical literature of the day. He would thus become
a skilful workman, and be competent to deal with all
the subjects that might come before him. He thought
that while this reproach was just as regarded some
in the trade, some reproach rested with authors and
literary men, whose writing was too frequently ille-
gible, as he himself' had that evening experienced in
reading some of the letters of apology. But be must
really defend the literary profession from the odium
which was cast upon it by those who had drawn up
a statement, who stated, "So much is left to the
judgment and knowledge of the compositor, the
result of bad writing and false orthogra-
phy, &c." Now he must stand up and
deny that sufth would be the case with any
persons having any legitimate claim to a connexion
with literature. At the same time he had no doubt
that there were many who aspired to be public
teachers who put forth not only bad orthography but
bad principles .—(Hear.) Now he took those unhappy
persons to be in the same position as those who had
not attained a knowledge of their own language—
as unskilled workmen. He ranked the unskilled au-
thors with unskilled workmen. When they came to a
system of spurious cheap publications, they must
have bad authors and writers, who must also be
badly paid. Such a system must prove a great evil
to every branch of the trade. He was an enemy to
unwholesome cheapness by unskilled workmen, either
in :the higher departments of literature or in the
mechanical branches. The prospectus termed this
" a lit erary and social institution for printers, book-
binders, typefounders, and the trades connected there-
with, as also for the working classes generally ;" and
it was proposed to combine the social advan-
tages of a club with the mental improvement of a:
literary and scientific institution, and to adapt theml
to the position and circumstances of the working
classes. It was proposed in the room to be set
apart for the purpose, to provide refreshments from
eight A.M. to eleven ism., at cost prices; to provide
members with tea and coffee at all times, and, at a
stated hour, dinner, or with the requisites for dining.
Now this latter point he would not press on the at-
tention of the meeting, because it mast depend on the
proper organization of the committee. The promoters
of the plan set out with the principle, " To fit up, in
a respectable way, a capacious reading-room, with
smaller rooms for the use of those studying, and to
place before the occupants three or four of the daily
and weekly papers, with certain of the weekly,
monthly, and quarterly publications ; to build up a
library of the best books, ancient and modern, suitable
for instructive and general reading, for home use as
well as at the institution ; and to ask the attendance
of the members at least once a month to hear a lec-
ture delivered by the most proficient literary and
scientific men of the country (i. e., those who are to
be engaged for this purpose), are the leading features of
the proposal; but it is further intended, by the esta-
blishment of an evening class, to instruct the male
children (above 12 years of age) of the members in the
English language; by the formation of classes for the
attainment of foreign languages, &c., under compe-
tent teachers; by the practice of music; and by hold-
ing monthly assemblies for singing and dancing—
thus to provide a versatility of instruction and en-
tertainment that will endear the institution to its sup-
porters, and so make it of a lasting character." He
hoped they would achieve all these things, but in the
meantime let them do what they could for the in-
struction of the younger members. All this was to
be done for threepence a week. He had looked into
the history of Bowyer's gift—Bowyer, the great
printer ! That gift was given annually to the one
compositor who should have a knowledge of Greek.
There were many compositors now who had a know-
ledge of Greek ; many of them a critical knowledge
of Greek too. But they must look to the state of so-
ciety when Bowyer made this gift, and they must
bear in mind the difference between the press as it
then was and what it was in our own age. Bow-
yer lived at a period when very large ponderous
I bdoks were published for the use of the rich, when
cheap books were withdrawn, and when a newspaper
occupied a folio of four pages, which Cowper called
a happy work. A happy work it was then, because
there was no night work.--(Hear, hear.) He hoped
that, in forming this institution, the committee would
take care to surround their large room with cheap
casts from the antique, good prints, and all those
things which had a distinct and decided influence on
the taste, and which elevated the mind of man. He
hoped that the printers' readers would come forward
to raise the standard of this institution. There was
one of that body who had received from the editor of
the Edinburgh Quarterly Review the warmest ac-
knowledgments—namely, Mr. C. Webb. The editor
stated that he had received suggestions from Mr.
Webb, which he had always been happy to acknow-
ledge, and which in many cases be bad adopted, to
the manifest advantage of the publication. The Hon.
Gentleman concluded by recommending this under-
taking to the cordial support of the trade generally.
Mr. ROBERT HARTWBLL (compositor) pro-
posed the first resolution :—" That in the opi-
nion of this meeting the proposal to establish for
the printing and bookbinding trades, and the
callings in connexion therewith, a literary and
social institution, under the general name of The
Printers Atheemuna,' is a movement calculated to
confer many estimable advantagea upon, and be cop-