The Sun.
London, England, 1856-08-01 00:00:00

THE POSITION OP O'DONNELL.

The Paris correspondent of the Times (second
edition), in his letter dated yesterday, says :
" Statements and opinions from various quarters
now come thick in confirmation of the view I took
a few days ago of the position of Marshal O'Donnell,
of the difficulties he has to overcome, and the criti-
cal position in which he stands. It seems at first to
have been generally imagined that, having ousted
the Progresista chief, and shot down 'and disarmed
those who bad risen in his defence and in that of the
order of things introduced by the revolution of
1854, he had nothing to do but put himself at the
head of the Moderados, and that such was the
course he would naturally and immediately adopt.
But the Moderados, with whom must be included,
as far as present action goes, the Polacos and other
shades of reactionaries, by no means subscribe to
this arrangement, which, in truth, O'Donnell him-
self can scarcely ever have contemplated or deemed
practicable. The Moderado's are quite willing to
reap the fruits of Espartero's downfall and of the
disarming of the National Guard ; but they have
leaders of their own whom they will certainly not
set aside in favour of their quondam friend O'Don-
nell. They love the treason, but despise, or at
least distrust, the traitor."

HOSPITAL FOR DISEASES OF THE SKIN,

The anniversary dejeuner in aid of the funds of this
institution took place at the Crystal Palace on Tuesday
afternoon. In the absence of Lord John Russell, who
had promised to preside, the Hon. Arthur Kinnaird,
M.P., took the chair. The chairman remarked that the

noble lord, whose absence he regretted, had always
taken an active part in the affairs of the institution, and
proceeded to point out some of its principal merits.
From his statement, the following facts appeared :
The hospital, with its suite of baths was established
in 1841, after the model of the Hospital St. Louis in
Paris, for the free admission and medical treatment of

the poor of both sexes, for the purpese not only of
affording relief to them, but of forming a school for
the study of these complaints, and arriving at a more
successful mode of treatment than bad previously beea
adopted for their cure. Nearly 72,000 persons have been
relieved since the foundation. To extend still farther its
benefits, wards are opened for the reception of in-patients,
and the premises have been enlarged, the ratio of in-
crease in the number of patients being upwards of 2,000
annually. Of 10,654 cases treated during the past year
6,329 were cured, 4,313 relieved and still under treat.
meat, and 12 deaths ; the total number treated during
the past year being 10,654. The health of the medical
officers (Dr. Southwood Smith and Mr. James Startin)
was then proposed, the Chairman remarking that their
names were "household words," more especially amongst
the poor. In consideration of the great services and the
large contributions made by the Gurney family, and out
of respect to the late Samuel Gurney, who was mainly
instrumental in founding the institution, it was agreed
that it should in future bear the name of "The Gurney
Hospital for Diseases of the Skin."

QUEh'IES BY THE AUTHOR OF "IMAGI
NARY CONVERSATIONS."

The following letter has been addressed to a con
temporary:

Sir,- -I was about to propose a question to the editor
of that useful publication, Notes and Queries. But per.
haps there may be found among your readers some one
who can answer these inquiries.
First,--Whether the 'lonians, in their most degene-
rate and degraded condition, would have laid down their
fortunes and lives for Messalina ?

Secondly,—Whether such a mother and daughter ever
sat successively on any throne as the Spaniards have
tolerated upon theirs ?

Thirdly,—Whetber the Gauls, on their invasion of
Rome, acted with such perfidy as the Ruler of France
against that city ?

-Fourthly,—Whether the two women, when justice
was more popular, would not have been drawn at the
cart's tail, and the man have been accommodated with
an inside place ?

Fifthly,—Whether it is improbable that the English
Government, having countenanced the violation of our
late treaty by Russia in regard to Ismail and Kars, will
permit and sanction the partition, or isolation, of Pied-
.
mont ?

Sixthly,—Whether, if Tacitus were living, he could
write so favourably .De Moribus Gerinanoruni, ?

WALTER SAVAGE LANDOLL

LLOYD'S SHIPPING.--(This Day.)

LONDON. Aug. I.—Wind this day at noon, W.; ligh.
airs and sultry weather.

PORTSUOUTII, July Si —Wind variable.—Arrived—
H.M.S. Malacca, from Halifax; H.M.S. Himalaya. Con-
stantinople. Sailed—Ayrshire and Sir Charles Forbes
(tpt.'s), Woolwich.

• •- -
PLYMOUTH, July 31.—Wind W.—Arrived—Vimeria,
from London, for Sydney, N.S.W. ; H.M.S.'s Valorous,
Leopard, and James Watt, London. Sailed—Orwell, for
Melbourne Oriental, Quebec.