The Sun.
London, England, 1860-02-28 00:00:00

NEW ADELPIII THEATRE.

A new and original comedy, by Mr. W. Phillips,
entitled " Paper IVings," was produced last night
at the Adelphi. The plot turns upon a simple-
minded baronet being led into monetary specula-
tions by an astute but not over scrupulous stock-
jobber, who manages to net a large portion of his
victim's capital, and to lead him to the very verge
of ruin, from which, however, he is rescued by the
sister of the wily man of business, and the piece
terminates happily, the comfort of the virtuous
characters being secured. The construction of the
comedy does not display any great amount of ori-
ginality ; one scene forcibly calls to mind the
" School for Scandal," while another is replete with
reminiscences of " Money." The dialogue, too, is
not always up to the standard ; there is plenty of
pretentious writing, and several attempts at spark-
ling wit ; but although a great deal will pass Inns-
' ter, there is much that will excite a laugh at rather
than with the author. The principal parts are
played by Mr. and Mrs. Wigan, Mr. David Fisher,
Biilington, Mr. Took, and Miss Henrietta
Simms. Mr. Wigan is especially excellent as the
speculative baronet, and in the last act is truly ad-
mirable. Mrs. Wigan is easy and natural, while
Mr. Toole extracts great fun from a part. which in
'itself affords but little scope for the display of the
humours of a low comedian. Mr. David Fisher
deserves special mention for his exceedingly effec-
tive acting. At the conclusion of the comedy the
principal actors and the Author were called for.

Advices from Aspinwall state that Captain Pyai,
of her Majesty's ship Gorgon, had made an examination cf
the San Juan River and Colorado branch, with the view of
ascertaining the practicability of the route for the transit of
the English and Australian mails, and that he was confi-
dent of success.

Imports—Trade dull, several cargoes having ar-
rived from England. Grey shirtings, catties,
1.95 to 2.2 taels. 1111 scarlet, long ells, 7.5 tads.
Lead, 5.4 taels per picul. Exports—Tea, to Great
Britain, 22,118,2051b5.; to the United States,
12,534,9941b5. ; prices as before. Silk, to Europe,
40,296 bales, prices 5 tails higher; No. 3 Tsatlee,
400 to 410 taels. Exchange on London, bank bills,
6s 41d; private bills, Gs old to 6s 6d. On India,
60 days, 313 to 305.

FRANCE AND AUSTRIA.
The following is the text of the despatch of M.
Thouvenel, Minister of Foreign Affairs, to the
Marquis de Moustier, French Ambassad'r at
Vienna, of which mention has been made in the
journals :

Paris, 31st January.
" Monsieur le Marquis—My preceding despatch
made known to you the propositions relative to
Italy of which the Government of her Britannic
Majesty took the initiative, and of the manner in
which, in conformity with the orders of the Em-
peror, I received them. We entertain the firm
hope that the Cabinet of Viemna will appreciate
the character of our replies, and the sentiments of
frankness and loyalty which have inspired them.
" In taking possession of my functions at the
present conjuncture, I find myself in presence of
a difficult situation, the prolongation of which
would present the gravest dangers to Europe, and
I have consequently had to occupy myself above
all with the means of putting an end to it. From
conversations I have had with my predecessor,
and from an attentive study of official documents

—a task to which I broughi a mind free from all
prejudice-1 have arrived at a conviction which it
was my duty not to disguise from the Emperor,
and his Majesty has authorised me to write to you
unreservedly respecting it.
" Without going further back, I take the facts
at the date of the signature of the preliminaries of
Villafranca.

" The day after that memorable event, the Em•
peror, still full, if. I may so speak, of the reminis-
cences of the interview with his august adversary
of the day before, characterised in a proclamation
addressed to his army the result which he believed
he had obtained without carrying the war further,
owing to the moderation of the two Sovereigns.
The bases of peace are settled with the Em-
peror of Austria,' said his Majesty on the 13th July
last. The principal object of the war is attained—
Italy is about to become for the first time a nation.
Venetia, it is true, is to remain under the sceptre of
Austria, but she will nevertheless be an Italian
province. The Governments which did not take
part in the movement, or which may be recalled to
their territories, will understand the necessity of
salutary reforms.
Italy,henceforth mistress of her destinies,will only
have herself to blame if she does not progress re-
gularly in order and in liberty !'
" In pronouncing these words, Monsieur le Mar-
quis, the Emperor entertained the hope that the new
organisation of Italy might be conciliated with the
restoration, under certain determined conditions, of
the old dynasties. His Majesty in particular took
pleasure in thinking that the chiefs of those dynas-
ties would themselves endeavour to remove the dif-
ficulties which they would have to overcome in
order to render the disposition of their subjects fa-
vourable to them, and that a precious time would
not be lost. But, on the contrary, what happened ?
The Governments which had remained in possession
of their States did not accomplish any of the reform
which the Emperor had in view. The Holy See,
though showing itself somewhat more di posed to
follow our counsels, thought right to adjourn inde-
finitely the realisation of its promises. The Austrian
Government maintained silence on the generous in-
tentions manifested by the Emperor with regard
to the Government of Venetia. The Duke of Mo-
dena
desired to return by force to his States, and
the Grand Duke of Tuscany, before adopting a re-
solution which the interests of his House pressed
him to adopt without delay, waited so long that
an Assembly met and proclaimed his deposition.
The general situation, in a word, was already
gravely compromised when negotiations for the
signature of the treaty of peace were opened at
Zurich.

" The Emperor's Goverament, nevertheless, faith-
ful to its promises, frankly admitted the reserve of
the dynastic rights in Tuscany, in Modena, and
even in Parma, although nothing was agreed to at
Villafranca in favour of Duke Robert.

" Whilst this pledge was given by the Emperor's
Government in the stipulations of Zurich, two en-
voys, first, Count de Iteiset, and a little later, Prince
Poniatowski, whose former relations in Tuscany
particularly qualified him for the mission, were
• charged to proceed to Central Italy to give counsels
and exhortations.. The impression which their lan-
guage and proceedings caused suffices assuredly to
demonstrate the sincerity of them. I appeal with-
out fear on this point to the information which the
Court of Vienma may have collected.
" Entertaining a strong desire not only to fulfil
its promises, but to labour effectively for the suc-
cess of an arrangement which appeared to it cal-
culated to assure the tranquillity and independence
of Italy, the Emperor's Government did not hesi-
tate to compromise its popularity. The language
which it employed at the same period at Turin was
equally firm. But all its efforts faired in presence
of the resistance of the populations.
" After having thus multiplied its measure's to
bring about a reconciliation between the Princes
and their peoples, his %lajesty's Government, in.
presence of the inefficaciousness of those measures,
and seeing the arrangement which it had pro-
mised to support opposed the more strongly the
more it was insisted on, thought that the autho
city of assembled Europe would realise the object
which it proposed. Desiring above all thing's to
fulfil its engAgements, but from the opposition ma-
nif,•sted in Central Italy despairing of success with-
out the cooperation of other Cabinets, it proposed
the meeting of a Congress. Better than any other
power, Austria knows the perseverance with which
we pursual that line of conduct. She knows also
how much we have regretted the objections which
the convocation of the plenipotentiaries gave birth
to when they were already on the point of meeting.
" The Emperor's Government, Monsieur le Mar-
quis, thus found itself in presence of the hypothesis
which the Court of Vienna long know that we
neither could nor would accept—that of the em-
ploytnent of force to impose solution.
" I will say nothing that can surprise Austria,
and still less would I allow a single word to escape
eAlculated to offend. But could that power have

frage io condemn absolutely ? In this perilous
game, the nioaarchical idea which have never
ceased to characterise the Italian movement would
soon give way to ideas of another kind. The popu-
lations would at last get accustomed to a mode
of Government which only wants its real name—a.
Government which would find its basis in the an-
cient traditions, whose i:race is not yet obliterated
in certain portions of Italy.
" I do not suppose that these considerations have
never presented themselves to the mind of the Em-
peror Francis Joseph, and they could not have
escaped the notice of theamperor Napoleon.
" When the employment of foreign force is ex-
cluded from all these combinations, how is the dif-
ficulty to be surmounted It is the profound con-
viction of the Emperor's Government that the last
of the four English propositions may serve to indi-
cate the means. It well knows that, even supposing
this conviction to be shared by the Court of Vienna,
that Court could not make such an announcement.
What we hope from its wisdom is, that if the dif-
ference of principles may and sometimes must lead
to different conclusions, there is no necessity that
there should result, when the honour of both parties
is safe, disastrous conflicts, which are far from the
intentions of both France and Austria.
"Let us for a moment waive the minor inci-
dents, and come straight to the point of fact which
is the key of the situation. Italy, for centuries past,
has been a field open to the struggle between French
and Austrian influence—it mist be so no longer.
If ono of the two powers formerly rivals made a
sacrifice which should be directly to the advantage
of the other—if the supremacy in Italy, only chang-
ing hands, was again to be ours for a time, the ques-
tion would appear under an aspect rendering all
discussion idle and fruitless. But the question is
not so propounded. France does not seek to sub-
stitute herself for Austria in Italy ; the matter is
to constitute Italy herself as an intermediate party
—as a kind of neutral ground, henceforth inacces-
sible to the action, alternately predominating and
always precarious, of one or other of the two powers.
" Elsewhere than in such a solution—which, I
do not hesitate to confess, is not, if not as regards
its spirit, at least as regards its form, that which
was anticipated at Villafranca and Zurich—l vainly
look for any other not containing the elements of
future troubles. Let this solution, however, be
realised, I do not say with the support of the Ca-
binet of Vienna, which the Emperor's Government,
does not seek to obtain, but without its formal op-
position, and the most penetrating glance cannot
thenceforth discover a cause of conflict between
Franco and Austria ; there w ill not remain, in
fact, a single interest of importance in Europe on
which they can have any difficulty in coming to
an understanding. To this identity of interests, I
am authorised by the Emperor to state that there
would be superadded on his part the sentiment of
private esteem for the Sovereign and Government
who, in circumstances equally delicate and mo-
mentous, should show towards him a friendly
feeling which his Majesty would ever appreciate.
I need not add that if the Austrian Government
adhered to the combination proposed by the Go-
vernment of her Britannic Majesty, the Emperor's
Gove,ai cent would feel bound to surround the
execution with all desirable guarantees of sincerity,
and that if any chance of a restoration remained
for the dispossessed dynasties, we should take the
most scrupulous care that it might not be lost.
" You will observe, Monsieur le Marquis, that
I have said nothing here of the situation of Ro-
magna, simply because that question has not been
the object, like the duchies, of express stipulations
between France and Austria. I shall treat that
subject in any early despatch. I dot not, however,
hesitate to say, even now, that if, with reference
to international acts, to which the court of Vienna
has been a party on the same footing as ourselves,
the Emperor's Government cannot consider the
possession of the Legations by the Holy See in any
but a temporal point of view, it none the less
deeply deplores that the court of Rome, deaf to its
counsels, and it may even be said, with more rea-
son, indifferent to the unanimous counsels of Europe
ever since 1831, as well as to the teaching of events,
has let things come to their present pass, and that
we are still ready to lend our support, on the sole
condition that the principle of non-intervention on
the part of foreign Powers is maintained to all the
compromises and combinations which may be
thought calculated to bring about a solution less
radical than dismemberment.
" You will please to read this despatch to Count
de Rechberg, and give him a copy, if he desires it.
Acc-pt, &c., " THOUVENEL:'

THE BOURSE, Feb. 27.—The market has been
somewhat depressed by a fall in the English Con-
sols, and by the arrangements consequent on the
approaching liquidation. Threes, which opened at
671 65c, declined to 67f 50, and are now at 67160 c ;
Nlobilier varied from 732 f 50c to 741 f 25c ; Lyons,
880 f to 883 f 75c; Orleans, 1,360 f to 1,365 f ; Northern,
907 f 50c to 9101; Austrian, 497 f 50c to 501 f 25c;
Lombard, 541 f 25c to 543 f 75c. The following are
the last quotations :-
14 per Cents. 97 45
Do. end month —
3 per Cents 67 801
Do. end month 67 75
Bank Shares 2BOO

Credit ➢iobilior .. 741 25
Do. Account .....

Credit Foncier 740
Bchrian 4} . —
Piedmontese (5) BO 50
Roman BO
Austrian —
Spanish Times
Home Debt 43

RAILWAYS.

Cash. Account.
Orleans
Northern
New ditto B3) .. 825
,Lyons and Mciditerranean BB5 .. 888 75
G,..m.eva 490 .. 485
Southern
Western 582 50 .. 582 50
Ea,:tern
Sardinian 390 .. 305
Austrian
Lombard ..
Exchange on London, at sight, paper, 25.1. 111 c. ; money,
251. 10c. ; three months, paper, 241.90 c. ; money, M. 871 c,

AN EMIGRANT SIIIP WRECKED.—The reported
catastrophe to the 41.merican ship Luna, outward bound to
New Orleans, with a loss of upwards of 100 lives, on the
ocks oil Bai fleur, near Cherbourg, last Sunday, is unhappily
confirmed. The loss took place about mid day. For hours
previously the ill-fated ship was seen off the coast, baffling
wit!' a 0-ale of wind from the N. AV., till at length she ap-
pmred to become unmanageable, and was driven on to the
rock- about 200 fathoms from the shore, where she speedily
became a total wreck. Her perilous position was observed
by the people on shore long before she struck, but, owing
to the terrible sea rolling in, it was utterly impossible to
launch a boat through the surf to go to the assistance of
the ship and her living freight, the whole of whom, num-
bering 107 persons, perished. Two only reached the shore
alive; one of them died almost immediately afterwards.
The survivor, en Italian, named Clement, was unable to
give any satisfactory details of the loss of the ship for two
or three days afterwards, owing to his greatly exhausted
condition. Ile stated that the ship sailed from Havre-on
the previous day (Friday), and that there were on board 75
passengers, of whom 47 were men, 27 women, and one
child. The crew mustered 26 hands, besides a French conk
for the passengers. Her cargo was of a general descrip-
tion. The captain saw his imminent dznger when off Bar-
flour, and attempted to beach the ship on a sandbank
situate between Barlleur Church and the lighthouse where
there might be a chance of saving the passengers, but in run-
ning for it the violence of the gale and heavy sea drove her
on the rock, where her destruction followed. The coast is
strewn with the wreck. Many bodies have been washed
up.

Hats of silk shag, laid upon felt, linen, or other material.
Iron and steel, wrought or manufactured, viz.: machi-
nery, wrought castings, tools, cutlery, and other manufac-
tures of iron or steel not enumerated.
Do., fancy ornamental articles of iron or steel.
Do., manufactures of, ooated with brass or copper by any
galvanic procoss.
Jewels, emeralds, and other precious stones, set.
Lace and articles thereof, as denominated in the tariff.
Lead, manufactures of, not otherwise enumerated.
Leather manufactures (except gloves), as denominated
in the tariff.
Do. gloves, after the let February, 1861.
Linen, or linen and cotton manufactures, as denominated
in the tariff.
Lucifers of wood.
Do. of wax.
Medlars.
Morphia and its salts.
Musical instruments, as denominated in the tariff.
Oil of almonds.
Do. bays.
Do., chemical, essential, or perfumed, as denominated in
the tariff.
Opera glasses, single or double.
Pears, raw.
Percussion caps.
Perfumery, not otherwise enumerated.
Quinces.
Quinine, sulphate of.
Silk, millinery, or manufactures of silk, or of silk and
any other material, as denominated in the tariff.
Stays and corsets, of linen or of cotton, or of linen and
cotton mixed.
Sulphuric acid.
Toys, viz.: marbles.
All other toys.
Turnery.
Watches, as denominated in the tariff.
Woollens, viz.: manufactures of wool, or wool mixed
with cotton, as denominated in the tariff.
Goods, being either in part or wholly manufactured, and
not being enumerated or described, nor otherwise charged
with duty, and not prohibited to be imported into or used
in great Britain or Ireland ; but if any such goods shall be
composed of any article liable to duty, as a part or ingre-
dient thereof, then such goods shall be chargeable with
the full duty payable on such article, or if com-
posed of more than one article liable to duty,
then with the full duty payable on the article charged
with the highest rate of duty.
5. Resolution reducing the duty on corks, hats, and
gloves (under treaty).
Resolved,

That in lieu of the duties of Customs now chargeable on
the undermentioned articles on their importation into Great
Britain and Ireland, the following duties shall be charged
until the days hereinafter mentioned, and that from and
after those days the duties shall cease and determine, viz. :
Until the 31st day of March, 1862, inclusive.
s. d.
Corks, viz.—Ready made the lb. 0 3
Squared for rounding the cwt. 4 0
Hats or bonnets, viz.—
Until the 31st day of March, 1861, inclusive.
Of chip ..the lb, 1 3
Of bast, cane, or horsehair.... the lb. 1 3
Of straw the lb. 1 3
Until the Ist day of February, 1861, inclusive.
Leather manufactures, viz.—
Gloves of leather.
Habit mitts the dozen pairs 1 2
Do, gloves
Men's gloves
Women's gloves or mitts
sa. Paper Hangings to be reduced (under treaty).

Resolved,
That, in lieu of the duties of Customs now chargeable on
the undermentioned articles on their importation into
Great Britain and Ireland, the following duties shall be
charged until the 15th day of August, 1860, inclusive ; and
that from and after that date the duties shall be the same
as the Excise Duties for the time being on paper of British
manufacture.
Paper, viz. s. d.
Printed, painted, or stained paper hangings, or
flock paper the cwt 14 9
Pasteboard

His Royal Highness Prince Alfred landed from
the Euryalus at Portsmouth this morning, and arrived in
London at two p.m.

His Excellency the Ambassador of France and
the Countess de Persigny left Albeit-gate House yester-
day on a visit to Baron and Baroness Meyer do Rothschild
at Mentmore, Buckinghamshire.

His Excellency the Minister for the Netherlands
has left town to join his Royal Highness the Prince of
Orange in his excursion through England.
The Marquis and Marchioness of Normanby
have left the St. George's Hotel for Brighton for a few
days.

Lord and Lady Tredegar have left Grantham for
Tredegar Park, Monmouthshire.
Lady Lyndhurst and the Hon. Miss Copley left
town yesterday on a visit to Baron and Baroness Meyer de
Rothschild, at Mentruore, Buckinghamshire.
Yesterday's hloniteur publishes an exceedingly
long report from M. Rouher to the Emperor, on the best
means of laying out in public improvements the sum re.•
mailing from the last loan, which his Majesty had inti-
mated he should propose to the Legislative Body to apply
in that manner. M. Rouher suggests that 100,000,000
francs should be expended as follows :—Roads and bridges,
15,000,000; internal navigation, 42,000,000; harbours and
lighthouses, 35,000,000 ; agricultural improvement,
8,000,000. The consideration of railways M. Rouher re-
serves for a future report.

ROYAL ENGLISH OPERAI COVENT-GARDEN.—
Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cambridge, her Royal
Highness the Princess Mary, attended by Colonel Home
Purvis; the Austrian Minister, Countess d'Apponyi, and
the Countess Baumgarten, honoured the performance of
the new opera of " Lurline" and the pantomime with their
presence last evening.

CmusTY's MnstsrßELs.—These celebrated sable
choristers recommenced a farewell season at the Polygraphic
Hall, King Williatu•street, Strand, last night, under the
management of Mr. Rayner, and went through the three
portions of their entertainment with great eclat. Mr. J.
W. Rapier sang a new song, composed expressly for him
by Mr. Balfe, the words by Mr. Wenford, and was cordially
greeted in it. The (lancing awl singing are unrivalled in
their way, and well deserve all the patronage they rective ;
and these also who have not seen them should take advan-
tage of this short farewell season to do so.
DEATH OF AN EMINENT POLISH EXILE, MR.
CHARLES SIENKIEWICZ.—The Polish emigration and Po-
land have just sustained a very painful loss. Mr. Charles
Sienkiewiez, a distinguished Polish poet and historian, died
suddenly in Paris on the 7th instant, in the 68th year of his
age. When young his name had already acquired a renown
for his beautiful poems, and particularly for his splendid
translation, in rhyme, of Sir Walter Scott's " Lady of the
Lake." In Poland hinee Adam Czartoryski had confided
to him the direction of the celebrated and rich library,
as well as the national collections in his country palace,
Pulawy. In the emigration he was, as it were, the soul of
the Polish Historical Society, established by the late J. U.
Nienicewiez, the labours of which have brought about
the foundation of the Polish Public Library, situated
at No. 6, Quai d'Orleans, Paris. The enlightened and pa-
triotic activity of Mr. Sienkiewicz during the 30 years of
his exile was chiefly signalised by his publication of the
Polish journals, the Chronicle, the Historical Review, and
the Historical Trtasury, in the last of which newly found
historical documents have been enshrined with a rare intel-
ligence. Among many enterp:ises undertaken by him, we
may mention the perpetual funeral service at Montmorency
for the repose of the souls of the patriotic Poles in exile, the
medallions struck in honour of General Lafayette, Prince
Adam Czartoryski, and Lord Dudley Stuart. The esteem
in which he was held, and the regret at the loss of 8o good
a Pole were illustrated by a large number of his country-
men, including the venerable Prince Czartoryski and his
sons, who accompanied his remains to their last resting,
place. The deceased left a widow and three sons, one of
whom is an officer in the Sardinian army, and the two
others are pursuing no less honourable literary careers.

Our Greenland whalers are starting for their ex-
citing work amongst the ice. On "Wednesday last the St,
Andrews, Capt. Coultrey, jun., left the Aberdeen harbsur,
and on Saturday the Lady Franklin, wider her well-known
commander, Capt. Penny, accompanied by the Capt.
Coultrey, departed on their mission

The monthly Conversazione of the members of
the Hertford Literary Institution, was held at the
Town Hall on Tuesday evening. There was a very
numerous attendance. The Mayor (H. Gilbertson,
Esq.), presided.
Robert Dimsdale, Esq., read a paper on " the
Italian Campaigns of Napoleon I." The subject was
introduced as one which, although purely military,
was specially interesting at this moment, owing to
the fact that public attention was prominently
directed to the means by which the country might
be best defended from a foreign enemy. Napoleon
had laid it down as a rule that war could be effec-
tively studied, only by meditating upon tne cam-
paigns of great commanders, and it was this ex-
ample Mr. Dimsdale desired to follow in bringing
a military subject under the notice of his auditory.
The paper treated of the Italian campaigns of 1796
and 1797, when Napoleon first assumed an inde-
pendent command, and the war of 1801, with the
passage of the Alps, and the battle of Marengo ;
and, therefore, embraced only the beginnings of
a remarkable career, but prec!sely that portion
of it which enables us best to comprehend the mili-
tary genius of Napoleon, because showing what he
was able to do with smaller means than were at
his disposal in the subsequent portion of his
career. The paper was an able one, clear, con-
centrative, and forcible. The early successes of
Napoleon as a soldier of the republic were briefly
glanced at; his first great campaign in which
by his readiness and energy, he defeated the Aus-
trians and Sardinians, and detached the Sardinians
from the coalition, graphically described ; and the
moment when a great ambition first arose in his
mind, after the daring passage of arms at Lodi,
pointed out. The obstacles thrown in the way of
the successful general by the Directory, and the
appeals, argumentative and pecuniary, addressed to
Barras, were next adverted to. The subsequent
exploits of the conqueror, his contests with Italian
insurgency his difficulties in the famous quadrila-
teral which Napoleon 111. never entered, the attack
upon the Papacy, the treaty with the republic of
Venice, the invasion of Tuscany, the artifice by
which Napoleon escaped capture when reposing at
Lonato, the passage of the Bridge of Arcola, the
capitulation of Mantua, the spoliation of the Roman
States, the closing portion of the campaign, and
the negotiations which terminated in the treaty of
Campo Formio, which gave to France all the con-
quests of Bonaparte, and freed from Austrian rule
all Northern Italy, except Vtoetis, were clearly and
sententiously chronicled. The paper concluded as
follows :

" It is, in fact, upon the laurels gained in these
campaigns that Bonaparte's fame as a general
must mainly repose. In his later wars, when at
the head of a powerful empire, and wielding at
will almost boundless resources, his forces
were, for the most part, so stupendous as to
bear down all opposition ; but has we have seen
him he struggled alike against superior power
and the incompetency of the Home Government,
which frequently withheld from him the necessary
reinforcements, and constantly thwarted his boldest
aspirations, through a mean-spirited jealousy,
coupled with a short-sighted parsimony.
" And now one word about the beautiful country
which was at once the scene of his labours and the
theatre of his triumphs. From the days of Charle-
magne, when the temporal power of the Pope was
first established, down to the presen moment, when
it appears to be tottering to its fall, Italy has ever
been the prize for which rival potentates have con-
tended; never, reliant upon her own energies, has
she succeeded in achieving her national independ-
ence. Blessed by Heaven, she has been cursed by
man—on her fair brow is " sorrow ploughed by
shame;" but, amidst the deep lowering clouds
which shroud her, of despotism and misrule, faint
streaks of returning sunshine may be traced on her
horison.

" Yet upon Italia's sky
Stars are scattered pure and high,
Yet her wasted gardens bear
Autumn violets, sweet and rare—
Relics of a spring time clear—
Earnests of a bright new year 1"
"To Sardinia all eyes are turned; upon her and
upon Florence all hopes are centred, while the gal-
lant protest of Central Italy against the Villafranea
arrangement opens out a brilliant prospect of dawn.
ing liberty. With confidence we may look forward
to the day in which Italy shall arise from the tomb
in which centuries of oppression have enshrined
her, and claim for herself a place in our European
system, worthy of her heroes and her martyrs, her
country and her name !"
The paper was illustrated by a large coloured
map of Italy, the various places referred to being
pointed out, as the reading proceeded, by Mr.
Pearson, a friend of Mr. Dimsdale. Upon the table
werenumerous interesting objects, gatherings from
the places through which Napoleon had passed in
the course of his wonderful career, a splendid en.
graved portrait of the conqueror, photographic
views, coloured drawings, &:c., and amongst other
things, a quaint looking French tobacca-box picked
up on the field of Waterloo. At the close of the
reading, the company passed some time in inspect-
ing these relics. Tea and coffee were then served,
after which, there was some interesting conversa-
tion, in which Mr. Pearson, who had been over all
the Napoleonic battle fields, took part.
The thanks of the 'meeting were unanimously
voted to Mr. Dimsdale, on the motion of the Rev.
H. F. Skritnshire, seconded by Mr. S. Hatchard ;
and a vota of thanks having also been given to the
Mayor, the proceedings terminated.—Hertford
Mercury.