The Sun.
London, England, 1869-04-12 00:00:00

ART AND LITERARY GOSSIP.

For the Roxburglie Library, Mr. Hazlitt has in the
press a volume of curious tracts on the Stage and Players
of the Elizabethan and Jacobite Times.—A manuscript
of Tyndale's translation of Erasmus's " Enchiridion
Militis Christiani " has lately been found, but it
has not yet been compared with Wynkyn de
Worde's edition of 1853, or " The Handsome Weapon
of a Christian Knight in Englysshe," which, Lowndes
states, " is said to have been translated by Will. Tindal."—
It is said that Her Majesty's Theatre will in future be
dedicated to theatrical performances, and will no longer be
used as an opera-house.—As an example of the money
which artistes now-a-days are able to pocket, the Orchestra
states that Mdll-.... Artot is engaged to sing next winter at
Moscow for £4,400. In connection with the same
subject, a statement of the Athenceum may be mentioned.
Mr. Sims Reeves and M. Blondin, the rope-dancer,
each receive a hundred pounds, or guineas, for a
performance at the Crystal Palace. Mr. Charles Dickens
receives the same sum for each of his readings in London.
The Echo says that Mr. Joe Jefferson, of "Rip Van
Winkle" celebrity, has just concluded an engage.
ment for two seasons in America at a salary of
one thousand dollars (R 200) a week.—The Due
de Massa, who is to lead Mdlle. Nilsson to
the hymeneal altar, is described as accomplished, a mil-
lionaire, and possessing a passion for music.-An American
r apt, ues L Hap when Mdlle. Christine Nilsson
recently sang in London, she lost one of her hair-pins,
which one of the scene-shifters found. lle shewed it to
one of the young aristocrats who was behind the
scenes. " How much do you ask for it ?" said the lord.
" Twenty-five guineas," replied the scene-shifter. The
young lord actually paid him the twenty-five guineas, took
the hair-pin, and said be would preserve it as a precious
relic.—A wonderful horse, which rides through the flames
from the stage to the flies, with a young woman on its back,
is to be a forthcoming attraction at one of the metro-
politan theatres.

DELAY IN FILLING CLERICAL

VANCANCIES.

foe Pall Mall Gazette calls attention to the delay which
now so very frequently takes place in the filling up of
clerical vacancies. " Vacant secular offices are, as a rule,
filled without delay ; ecclesiastical appointments almost
always remain unappropriated too long. Bishoprics,
deaneries, canonries, and rectories alike are kept
open as if the search for intellect and administrative
ability in the Church were very difficult ; the true expla-
nation of the delay too often being that ecclesiastical
appointments are regarded as the spoil of political parti-
sans, that conflicting claims have to be nicely adjusted,
and sometimes that even family relationship enters as an
element into such appointments." Our contemporary
calls special attention to the neglect to appoint to the
vacant living of St. Mary's, Newington. It is
valued at £900; and the parish contains a population of
nearly 14,000 persons. Surely these have a right to
a rector without delay. Then, again, there is the deanery
of Lichfield. The Rev. W. W. Champneys, has been
installed as dean, has read himself in, and done everything
else necessary to the legal and moral possession of the post.
Yet because of some uncertainty as to whether he can
hold the deanery and the rectory of St. Pancras,
Lichfield is practically without a dean. The Pall Mall
Gazette holds it certain that by what he has done the
rev. gentleman has rendered ipso facto the rectory of
St. Pancras void, and that he cannot hold the deanery
and that rectory likewise. This also is certain, that Mr.
Champneys is not in residence at Lichfield as dean, and
that the parishioners of St. Pancras do not know who is to
be their future rector. The living of St. Pancras is
worth £1,025, with a rectory house ; it is in the gift of the
Dean and Chapter of St. Paul's, and involves the spiritual
oversight of more than 14,000 persons. Mr. Champneys
still holds St. Pancras, although he is really Dean of
Lichfield. The Pall Mall Gazette recurs to the delay
in filling up the bishopric of Lichfield. .Virhen. a "certain
noble lady" desired the post for a well•known theologian
and writer, Mr. Disraeli wanted to appoint another
clergyman, Bishop Selwyn being afterwards fixed upon as
a kind of compromise. The same delay took place in
filling up Peterborough ; and the two canonries, one
of St. Paul's, the other at Westminster, took Mr.
Disraeli a long time to fill up. Mr. Gladstone was much
more prompt the other day in making the Rev. J. B.
Mozley, of Old Shoreham, canon of Worcester Cathedral.
The rapidity with which that appointment was filled up
seemed altogether exceptional. " Cabinets are made up
in less than a fortnight ; surely a less time is required to
settle the appointment of a bishop, dean, canon, or
rector."

The Sporting Gazette states that M. Nanquette refused
2,000 guineas for Nuage, four years old, after his easy vic-
tory in the French Grand National, at Vincennes, last
Sunday. Nuage is by Marignan, and ran twice in England
last season—at York and Doncaster—and at the sale of M.
Lunel',4 horses, in Paris, in the autumn, was bought by
Ide prei!ent owner for 75 guineas.—Ndlusko broke down
at exercise on Saturday last.--The members of the York
and lAinsty Hunt have subscribed 1,000 guineas for the
family of Orvis, their late huntsman, in addition to a
further sum of 400 guineas for the Warreners.

The Nottingham Express states that the Lo,-liea of
the unfortunate men who were no doubt drowned by
the inundation of the Molyneux pit in that county,
still lio entombed in the mine ; and, owing to the im-
mense quantity of water which has yet to be pumped
up, it is not expected that they can be recovered
before Sunday or Monday next. All hopes that the poor
fellows may, by having rt ached the higher working; be still
alive, have now disappeared. Another engine has been got
to work to assist in pumping up the water from the pit.
At present it is estimated that there is a depth of seven or
eight yards to be removed, and it occupies nearly twelve
hours to lower the water one yard. The new engine pumps
klairatund A aiati.rt...

THE -,LIVERPOOL BANQUET WO MR.
CHARLES. DICKENS.
The banquet to Mr. Charles Dickens, given on Satur-
day evening, seems to have been a most successful affair.
The Mayor presided. Ladies as well as gentlemen were
present, the number of those who sat down being upwards
of GOO. Among those present, invited guests, in addition
to the guests of the evening, were the Right Hon. Lord
Dufferin, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster; M.
Alphonse Esquiros, Lord Houghton, Mr. C. H. Dudley,
United States' Consul at Liverpool; Mr. W. Hepworth
Dixon, Mr. G. A. Sala, Mr. Anthony Trollope, Mr.
Andrew Halliday, Mr. H. F. Chorley, Mr. G. Dalbv‘
and Mr. C. Dickens, jun.
The usual loyal and patriotic toasts were given. That
of " The Houses ofParliament " was responded to by Lord
HOUGHTON. Speaking more particularly of the House to
which he belonged, his lordship said : I may say it has
struck the members of that assembly which I represent
with occasional pain and regret that amidst the life-like
and admirable portraitures of the class of society in Mr.
Dickens's works, the members of the House of Lords
appear in a not very frequent or flattering character. In
faCt, ladies and gentlemen, I can hardly speak aloud the
designation which Mr. Dickens has bestowed upon us.
(Mr. Dickens: " Oh, do.") I do not know—in fact,
I will not attempt to interpret the secret of litera-
ture which has iof permitted this class of society
to appear in a more agreeable phase. My friend, Mr.
DiJkens, has shown little or no interest in the matter of
our political life. If he had chosen, or, perhaps, conde-
scended so far, he might have acceded to the honours of
Lord Macaulay and Lord Lytton. It may seem sr,me.
what ungenerous to say that any one man who has done
5.) much could have been w-lied to do anything more ;
tlieeefore I feel we have here -to express but the deepest
gratitude which we owe to Mr. Dickens. Gratitude
is the genius of this meeting, and to it I give my entire
In proposing the toast of the evening, Lord
Di FFEBIN passed a very high enlogium upon the
eminent novelist. Ire had intensified the love of the
mother to the child and entered into the feelings of both.
" Mr. Dickens has shown us how the alchemy of genius
can convert the commonest paths of life, the most common.
place and vulgar regions of society, into a perfect kingdom
of romance. Under his large-hearted leadership we have
come to regard the love affairs of Mr. Sniveller and his
Marchioness with greater interest than any elevated
ideals of high life. and to look upon the round
little figure of Mr. Pickwick with the same
loving reverence which we are accustomed to
bestow upon the most chivalrous paladin of antiquity.
Not only so, but Mr. Dickens has conferred a
still further benefit upon us. Ile has tanght rich and
poor, the educated and the simple, to recognise their com-
mon humanity not merely by the characteristics of their
physical nature, but by their mutual susceptibility to
thoac idgrier and purer influences which constitute the
poetry of life. Our children may become our rivals, and
perhaps our enemies ; but whatever maybe the convulsion
which our dominion may be destined to undergo, there is
one empire which will never suffer disruption ; there is
one alle,gianee which will never be abjured ; there is one
despotism which will never provoke revolt, and that is
the sway and the supremacy which Mr. Dickens's
writings are destined to exercise over every English-
speaking community, whether they be inhabitants of an
American republic, of an African or Indian colony, or of
a future Australasian empire."
Mr. DICKENS in reply to the toast, which was enthusias-
tically drunk, after dwelling upon the honour that was
done him, and the pleasure it gave him, went on to say :
" Let me assure you that whatever you have accepted
with pleasure, either by word of pen or by word of mouth,
from me, you have greatly improved in the acceptance.
As the gold is said to be doubly and trebly refined which
has seven times passed the furnace, so a fancy may be
said to become more and more refined each time it passes
through the human heart. You have, and you
know you have, brought to the consideration of
me that quality in yourselves without which I should but
have beaten the air. Your earnestness has stimulated
mine, your laughter has made me laugh, and your tears
have overflowed my eyes. All that I can claim for myself
in establishing the relations which exist between us is con-
stant fidelity to hard work. My literary fellows about me,
of whom I am so proud to see so many, know very well
how true it is in all art that what seems the easiest
done is oftentimes the most difficult to do, and
that the smallest truth may come of the greatest
pains—much as it occurred to me at Manchester
the other clay the sensitive touch of Mr. Whit-
worth's measuring machine comes at last, of Heaven,
and Manchester, and its mayor only knows how much
hammering. My companions in arms know thoroughly
well, and I think it only right the public should know too,
that in our careful toil and trouble, and in our steady
striving for excellence—not in any little gifts, misused by
fits and starts—lies our highest duty, at once to our
calling, to one another, to ourselves, and to you. Ladies
and gentlemen, before sitting down I find that I have to
Clear myself of two very unexpected accusations. The first
is a charge preferred against me by my old friend Lord
Hongliton. that I have been somewhat unconscious of the
merits of the House of Lords. Now, ladies and gentlemen,
seeing that I. have had some few not altogether obscure or
unknown personal friends in the assembly, seeing that I
had some little association with, and knowledge of, a
certain obscure peer lately known in England by the
same of Lord Brougham, seeing that I regard with
some admiration and affection another obscure peer
wholly unknown in literary circles, called Lord Lytton,
seeing also that I have had for some years some
slight admiration of the exraordinary judicial properties
and amazingly acute mind of a certain Lord Chief Justice
Popularly known by the name of Cockburn, and also
seeing that there is no man in England whom I respect
more in his public capacity. whom I love more in his
private capacity, or from whom I have received more
remarkable proofs of his honour and love of literature than
another obscure nobleman called Lord Russell ; taking
these circumstances into consideration. I was rather amazed
by my noble friend's accusation. When I asked him,
on his sitting clown, what amazing devil possessed him to
make this charge, lie replied that lie had never forgotten
the days of Lord Verisoplit. Then, ladies and gentle-
men. I understood it all. Because it is a remarkable fact
that in the days when that depreciative and profoundly
min:Aural character was invented there was no Lord
Troutzhton in the ITouseof Lords, and therewas in therfouse
of Commons a rather indifferent member called Richard
ir,ltipmell to ennehitit.,
I close will' the other charge of my nol.le friend, and here
I am more serious, and I may be allowed, perhaps. to
express my seriousness in half-a-dozen plain words. When
I first took literature as my profession in Englaml, I
calmly resolved within myself that. whether I succeeded
or whether I failed, literature should be my sole profes-
sion. It appeared to me at that time that it was not so well
understood in England as it was in other co entries that
literature was a dignified profession, by which any man
might stand or fall. I made a compact with myself that
in my person literature should stand, and by itself, of
itself, and for itself ; and there is no consideration on
earth which would induce me to break that bargain.
Ladies and gentlemen,.finally allow me to thank you for
your great kindness, and for the touching earnestness with
which you have drunk my health. I should have thanked
you with all my heart if it had not so unfortunately
hap-
pened that, for many sufficient reasons, I lost my heart at
between half-past six and half-past seven to-night."
Mr. Sala and others afterwards spoke. Mr. Dickens
himself proposed " The Ladies."

THE PRESTON NTRIKE.—The latest news from
Preston shows that the strike there continues, and that
there appears to be little chance of any satisfactory
arrangement being made between masters and men. The
emigration movement continues, and several men who
have won a passage out by balloting will leave England
this week. It is said that at present the men on
strike receive considerable support from the surrounding
districts.

THE SOUTH WALES IRON TRADE.—At the pre-
sent time the total number of furnaces in blast in Mon-
mouthshire and South Wales is 111, and some of these
furnaces produce over 200 tons per week of pig iron ; but it
is only where the latest improvements in smelting have
been adopted that this large weekly yield is secured. The
average make of each furnace is calculated at 7,000 tons
per annum, or about 140 tons per week; consequently,
the aggregate make of the district reaches a total of
over 700,000 tons. The furnaces in blast are as annexed :
Abernaut, Aberdare Iron Company, 5 ; Abersychan,
Ebbw Vale Company, 4 ; Beaufort, J. and C. Bailey, 6 ;
Blaenavon, Blaenavon Company, 8 ; Cwrnavon, Governor
and Company of Copper Miners, 3 ; Cyfartwfa, R. T.
Crawshay, 10; Cwmbran, R. S. Roper and Co., 2; Dow-
lais, Dowlais Iron Company, 16 ; Ebbw Vale, Ebbw Vale
Company, 3 ; Gadlys, Wayne and Co., 2 ; Llynvi, Llynvi
Vale Iron Company, 4 ; Nantyglo, J. and C. Bailey, 6 ;
Pentyrch, Booker and Co., 2; Pontypool, Ebbw Vale
Company, 1 ; Plymouth, Plymouth Iron Company, 6 ;
Rhymney, Rhymney Iron Company, 9 ; Sirhowy,
Ebbw Vale Company, 3 ; Tondu, Brogden and Sons, 2 ;
Tredegar, Tredegar Iron Company, 7 ; Victoria, Ebbw
Vale Company, 3 ; and Ystalyfera, Budd and Co., 0 ;
The Blaina and Cwmcelyn works are likely to be soon
started again, the negotiations for a sale to some Lanca-
shire capitalists being nearly completed. At Peny-
darren, also, there is a probability of some of the furnaces
being shortly re-lit. The position of the Welsh iron trade
generally is considered to be far more promising than at
the commencement of either last year or the year be-
fore; and before the close of the year 1869 it is believed
that there will be a substantial advance in prices.

The names of Mr. Baillie Cochrane, Lord Claud
Hamilton, and the Hon. Mr. Plunkett are among those men-
tioned as the probable choice of the Conservative electors of
Brecon as the successor of Mr. Gwyn, who has been un-
seated by Baron Martin.

The Irish bishops are losing 110 time in filling up
the livings that fall into their gift. It is announced that
the Bishop of Kilmore has given the living of Kiltoghert to
the Bev. S. Lewis ; and the Bishop of Derry has conferred
that of Drumachose upon the Rev. P. Hearne, A.M. Kil-
toghert is worth £6OO a year. and Drumachose, .Dl5O.
Much anxiety was caused last Reek by an un-
favourable account of the Bishop of Carlisle's health. From
a report. just received, however, it appears that his rcpt at
night has improved, and other symptoms aro less serious
His lordship remains at Paris, being unable to proceed fur-,
ther. Prayers are now general in the churches of his
diocese, on his behalf.

The subscriptions to the Gladstone Testimonial
Fund (which was suggested and has been carried out by the
prop ieior of the Lirerpool Mercury) are now announced as
to close at the end of the present month. About £9OO has
been collected, mostly in pence, and it is hoped to raise the
fund to over a thousand pounds before the subscriptions are
stopped.

The Corporation of Manchester were defendants
in an action for damages, tried at Chester Assizes on Friday,
in which a manufacturer having a mill on the bank of
the river Ether° w sued for damages sustained through the
failure of the defendants to send down the river the supl)ly
of water contracted for by Act of Parliament. After the
case had been partly opened, it was agreed, upon the sug-
gestion of the judge, to take a verdict for the plaintiff, sub-
ject to a reference.

MR. LOWE'S BUDGET SPEECH.

__.,~.

rrul
The London correspondent of the Manchester Nal"
says that, as a speech, Mr. Lowe's budget effusion was t'.w
worst he has ever delivered. It was indescribably roll',
and spoilt, says the writer, "By the vaistar'
ascribable to his defective sight. The reports
the morning papers give no idea of the extent t°
which the details of his varied calculations were Or:
meted as ho wont along by the interjaculations of
attentive audience. I can liken it to nothing but the readil
of an uncommonly bad proof, which entails the necessitY°
endless emendations as you go on. There is something
ineffably painful and pitiable in the spectacle of an off°rl
marred by the consequences of mere physical impotency
People go about saying that the ideas of the plan irer6,,
supplied by Dir. Gladstone ; and mine words that f°'
from Mr. Lowe in the course of his peroration seem to l'Or'
rant the belief that ho did not until very late in the day 01
how anything effective or popular could be done. We shalj
probably not soon, if we ever, know the real history of t'
plan. Tho question is of more interest in a party sense than°
a national one. If the Budget which already pay o'l
treated as a great success, should really bo the resuft
Mr. Lowe's individual powers of invention, there would al
urea be established a third alternative for the office °I
Finance Minister. Whereas, since the death of Sir Georg°
Cornowall Lewis there were but two, ono eminent Whig,
and one eminent Tory. In any case the prestige of &Inn,'
cial ability now acquired by Mr. Lowe must be regardou
as a new quantity in the gam of power, and he is 0
the man to suffer the fact to bo forgotten. So little 1,14
the eventful and striking character of the present Budget
anticipated, that, contrary to all precedent on occasions °t
the kind, many scats in the Speaker's gallery were unclaimed
during the evening; and there was not the slightest sysq
tom of excitement in the lobby and the avenues leading t°
the house, beyond that which takes place whenever an ial"
portant debate is anticipated."

PARLIAMENTARY BUSINESS.

The first order for the day this evening is the considers'
tion, in committee, of Mr. Lowe's Budget; after 1010'
if there is time, Mr. Cardwell will try to get some votel
granted for the army. When the House reaches this point
Mr. Banbury Tracey, Lord Elcho, Captain F. Beaumont.'
Sir James Elphinstone, Sir Michael Hicks Beach, Sif,
Henry Hoare, Mr. J. D. Lewis, and Mr. O'Reilly Mu
each bring forward some special grievance of their owl!
concerning the modus operandi by which the army ie
governed. Mr. J. B. Smith intends to ask the First Lora
of the Treasury whether there is any prospect of the
metric system of weights and measures coming into opera'
tion ; and Sir Massey Lopes will inquire of Mr. Gladstone
whether his attention has been drawn to the expediencY
of making some adequate provision for the retirement of
bishops who have attained an advanced age.
The adjourned debate on the Libel Bill will be resumed
to-morrow evening, and, curiously enough, the adjourned
debate on the motion to reduce the fire-insurance duty tO,
6d. is also fixed to come on. Of course, after the proposal
of Mr. Lowe to repeal the duty altogether, the motion of
Mr. Sheridan will be withdrawn. Mr. P. A. Taylor
will call the attention of the Home Secretari
to the case of three children being convicted
for stealing rape greens at Salisbury. Mr. TO'
velyan has given notice to bring in a bill to mak°
better provision respecting Greenwich Hospital ; and 3-11.'
Goldney intends to introduce a bill Co amend the las/
relating to the appointment of county coroners.
Two bills which are down for second reading on Wed'
nesday are likely to be stoutly opposed. The Married
Women's Property Bill will meet with the strenuota'
opposition of Mr. Lopes, the member for Launceston, wile
will move that it he read a second time on that day 51
months. Mr. Raikes will try to shelve the Burial°
Regulation Bill by moving a similar amendment. INlr'
Thomas Hughes's Sunday Trading Bill is fixed for cola'
mittee, but Mr. Brady intends to suggest that it shall not
go so far as that stage, and will propose a motion to 4.1i3t
effect,

The Irish Church Bill comes on for consideration on
Thursday, when Mr. Gladstone will move that it be cony
mitted. Mr. Newdegate has an adverse amendment oa
the paper, but it is doubtful whether the hon. member
for North Warwickshire will persist in dividing the
House on the question. Mr. Sinclair Aytoun's " instrue'
tion " is likely to give rise to a short debate, and probabli
a division. When the House gets into committee, several
amendments will be moved by Sir George Jenkinson,
Charley and others.
The most important " order " for Friday, is the second
reading of the Trades Union Bill, and the Valuation et
Property Bill is also fixed for that stage. Sir George
Jenkinson has given notice that on this evening he will
ask the First Lord of the Treasury a question relating to
local taxation.