The Sun.
London, England, 1869-04-02 00:00:00

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METROPOLITAN GOSSlP.—lhursday.

Of pure politics I have little to tell to-clay. The goes-
tion, What will the Lords do? is still asked on all hands,
and still unanswered. It is, perhaps, not too much to
say that the Lords themselves cannot answer it.
They wait to see what will turn up in the Commons.
There the only immediate prospect of serious opposition
i is on the Maynooth clause, which the ultra-Protestant
I party will do their utmost to defeat. As I have said
before, Mr. Spofforth is very eager to exploiter• this oppo.
sition to the advantage of the Conservative party ; but he
finds resistance among some of the High Churchmen, who
have an intense repugnance to be dragged through the dirt
at the heels of Mr. Aytoun. One member for an astern
constituency, who won a seat from the Liberals at
the last election, and whose brother is in Roman. orders, has
protested against any such manoeuvre. The Nonconformist
journals generally are silent on this point, and, apparently,
have not yet made up their minds. But Lord Oranmore's
appeal to them not to suffer the Church funds to go to
hospitals and asylums, because those institutions are
denominational," has been received with sarcastic

derision
Lord Stanley is the political syhynx of the day. Every-
body is trying to read the riddle of his creed, and cannot
do so. It was noticed that be was absent from the House
during the whole of the debates on the Irish
Church, except for about an hour. That hour was spent
in listening, not to his leader's paradoxes or to Mr.
Hardy's bold defiance, but to Sir Roundell Palmer's
very able and subtle criticisms on the Government mea-
sure. Of course all the world knows that Lord Stanley
does not believe in the Irish Church ; but then he does
not mean to follow his convictions to their logical conclu-
sion, because he means to succeed his father not on'sy
in the earldom, but in the leadership of the Conservative
party.
The deficit in the revenue is not quite so great as was
at one time expected. The amount is under two millions,
and there will, therefore, be no need of any rigorous
financial measures. A continuance of the income tax: at
6d. will, thanks to the extensive economies effected lig the
Government, probably meet the case.
Next week will be the great week for private views of
the various artists' studios before their works are sent to
the Academy. On Monday Mr. and Mrs. Ward chew their
pictures at Kent Villa, Kensington ; on the same and
the following day, Mr. Sydney Hodges shews his at Ber-
ners-street. The latter gentleman has a group in hand
of the Princess Mary of Teck and her children, which will
not, however, he finished in time for this year's exhibition.
He will, I believe, send his full length portrait of
the Archbishop of Canterbury. This is quito the best
work he has yet painted, and represents the Archbishop
standing in front of St. Augustine's Chair in Canterbury
Cathedral, and wearing the robes and black satin train
used at the recent enthronement. Everybody will soon
be talking of Mr. Leighton's diploma picture of
" St. Jerome in the Desert with his Lion." The beast,
though obedient to the Saint, is rough and shaggy as in
the natural state, not of the sleek type which visitors to
the Zoological Gardens know best. Mr. Weigall (who
lately made so distinguished a marriage) is sending to the
Academy an interesting group of the Smith-Barry family.
The private view of the Society of British Artists is on
Monday.
The literary world is shewing signs of fresh life, after a
rather prolonged hybernation. This week Mr. Lecky's
new work appears. The miscellaneous poems of the late
Mr. Keble are out; so are Mr. Reginald Palgrave's Lec-
tures on the House of Commons, and Sermons by the Rev.
J. Llewellyn Davies, on the Gospel and Modern Life,
with a preface on the theology of the Pall Mall
Gazette, which will have a special interest for Mr.
Davies's own congregation for reasons which I will not
mention here. Among the books promised is a "Handbook
of Contemporary Biography," by Mr. Frederick Martin,
compiler of the " Statesman's Year Book." I trust
the new work will be more accurate than " Men of
the Time." Mr. Rotten is publishing a subscription
edition of Daniel Defoe's life and uncollected works, com-
prising several hundred important essays, pamphlets,
and other writings now brought to light for the first time
by Mr. William Lee. Mr. Bertrand Payne, who was for
many years " Moxon and C 0.," having retired from the
firm, his successor, young Mr. Moxon, is shewing conside-
rable vigour, and is bringing out, in shilling volumes, the
poems of Thomas Hood. Mr. Charles Reade's new novel,
" Put Yourself in His Place," is appearing simultaneously
in the Cornhill and in the Galaxy, an American
magazine. Mrs. Stowe's new novel, " Old Town
Folks," will be published in London on May
15. The author of " Doubles and Quits,"
in Blackwood, is Captain Lawrence Lockhart ;
the article in the North British Review on the
Reorganisation of Germany, is, I believe, by Mr. Grant
D uff,Under-Seeretary of State for India. The extravagantly
eulogistic article on Robert Browning, in the last number
of the Athena um, is said to be by Mr. Robert Buchanan.
It is not often that one poet praises another thus. In the
next number of Macmillan, a new story, " A
Brave Lady," will be commenced by the authoress
of " John Halifax." Another fact, partly literary,
partly political, is that in all probability Mr. Reverdy
Johnson will be succeeded (assuming that he is recalled)
by Mr. Motley, the historian. Finally, I may mention
that the purchasers of Lamartine's works, who bought
them some time ago for the benefit of the poet, find them-
selves by the poet's death in possession of a valuable pro-
perty, and that a meeting is to be held in Paris on April
18, to consider what is the best way of dealing with the
copyright.
In theatrical matters the most noticeable event is the
opening of the Opera on Tuesday. The piece chosen was
" Norma," and Mongini, Tietjens, Sinico, and other great
stars appeared. "Fidelio " will be produced on Saturday.
Paul Bedford, who hasretired from the stage, had a benefit
at the Holborn last night, when the " Wandering Thes-
pians" came out. Mr. Robertson's new play is unfavourably
criticised.

A new company of musicians has been started lately—
" the Gillespie Band, or Inter-University Comic Band."
The band includes Mr. Gillespie, Mr. Gatty, Mr. Clarke,
Mr. Hamilton, and other gentlemen. Their first concert
takes place to-night at the Hanover-square Rooms, and
the proceeds will be devoted to the improvement of the
Cam, so that the Oxonians are generously assisting
their antagonists in the endeavour to beat them at the
University Boat Race.
A new society, called the " Excelsior Public-house
Association," has just been started. Its object is to pro-
mote the establishment ot public-houses without intoxicating
drinks. Each club will contain a refreshment-room, a
lecture room, and a room for clubs and classes, available
for public use. Among the promoters are General Sir
George Laurence, Dr. Gladstone (the unsuccessful candi-
date at York), and Mr. Maguire, vicar of Clerkenwell.
One of the finest old mansions in London, Fife House,
has just disappeared. It was situated on the bank of the
Thames at Whitehall, and was remarkable for one cir-
cumstance connected with its history. The late Earl of
Fife—the friend of Sir Walter Scott—being resolved that
even when in London he would always walk on Scottish
soil, sent the gravel and loam for the garden at Fife
House by barges up from Scotland at a cost, it is said,
of nearly £20,000.

DuNviLLE and Cc., Belfast, are the largest
holders of Whisky in the world. Their Old Irish Whisky is re-
commended by the medical profession in preference to French
Brandy. Supplied in casks and cases for home use or eXporta
tion. Quotations on application 'to .Messrs. Dunville and Co.,
Belfast; er 4, Beaufort-buildings, Strand, London, W.O -.—[Ad-
vs rtisement.

Judge Hoar is the third Attorney-General from
Massachusetts. Levi Lincoln (father of the Governor)
served in Jefferson's Cabinet during his first term, and
Caleb Cushing was Attorney-General through the Presi-
dency of Franklin Pierc3. Theophilus Parsons was in-
vited to the position by John Adams, but declined.

Among the applicants for Postmaster at Wash-
ington City is Mrs. Josephine S. Griffing, a prominent ad-
vocate of female suffrage, and a petition is circulating for
signatures with a view to secure the appointment.
Shakspeare is full of anachronisms of literature
and art. In the Comedy of Errors ho alludes to ducats,
marks, and guilders, and also to the striking of a clock
in the ancient city of Ephesus. In King John and
Macbeth he speaks of cannon. lie makes Coriolanus
a cotemporary with Alexander the Great, Cato, and
Galen, all of whom lived centuries afterwards. Cassius,
in Julius Caesar, also speaks of a clock striking the
hours. Beaumont and Fletcher make a man dis-
tchheargCehri n asti
`llia mustpain t e
rhsavdeo lnivoetd
behave]ong
mbeforeueh
better. In one of Albert Durer's pictures representing St.
A Dutch • painter,
back-ground smoking a tobacco pra-o,
Isaac, makes Abraham
Peter denying the Saviour, there is
.a Roman soldier in the
in the painting of the Sacrifice of I
obedience. Tintoret paints the Israelites gathering manna
point a blunderbuss at his son's head as an argument. aka;
in the wilderness as carrying guns. Another master, in a
picture of Adam and Eve, places a German student in the
back-ground shooting ducks.
SCIENCE ANO ART.—A striking instance of the immense
value a small piece of steel may acquire by the great power of
skilled mechanical labour is the balance-spring of a watch. From
its extreme tinene,s and delicacy 4,000 weigh not more than one
ounce, and exceed in value 11,000. A most interesting little
work, describing the rise and progress of watchmakin has
been published by J. W. Benson, 25, Old Bond-street, and the
City. Steam Factory, 53 and GO, Ludgate-hill. The book, which
is profusely illustrated, gives a full description of the various
kinds of watches and clocks, with their prices Mr. Benson (who
holds the appointment to the Prince of Wales) has also published
a pamphlet on Artistic GoldJevcollery, illustrated with the most
beautiful designs of Bracelets, Brooches, Earrings, Lockets, &c.,
&c., suitable for Wedding, Birthday, and other presents. These
pamphlets are sent post free for two stamps each, and they can-
not bo too strongly recommended to those contemplating a pur-
chase, especially to residents in the country or abroad, who are
thus enabled to select any article they may require and have it
tstrinrcloci wits perfect eitetY.