The Sun.
London, England, 1860-04-03 00:00:00

TEST

NEWS.

provinces should not be imposed upon you ; it is to
be the result of your free consent. Such is my
firm will ; such is also the intention of the Empe-
ror of the French.

The following telegrams have been received at
Mr. Reuter's office :

" That nothing may restrain the free manifesta-
tion of your wishes, 1 recall those among the chief
functionaries of the administration who do not be-
long to your country, and I replace them for the
moment by certain of your fellow-citizens who en-
joy general regard and consideration.
" In these solemn circumstances you will show
yourselves worthy of the reputation which you
have acquired. If you are to follow other destinies,
act in such a way that the French may welcome
you as brothers whom they have long learnt to ap-
preciate and esteem. Act so that your reunion to
France may be a bond the more between two na-
tions whose mission is to work together for the
development of civilisation."

CARLSRUHE, APRIL 2.

To-day, in an extraordinary sitting of the two
Chambers the Government announced to the mem-
bers that the ministers Meysenburg and Stengel
had been dismissed, and that MM. Stabel and
Lamery had been appointed their successors. This
has given great satisfaction to the Second Chamber
and to the public.
It is believed that the new Ministry will endea-
vour to bring about a liberal settlement of the rela-
tions between the Church and State by legislative

means.

PARIS, APRIL 3.

The Monteur publishes a decree giving a second
warning to the And de la Religion, for an article
of the Abbe Sisson, which contained a formal at-
tack against the concordat.
The Iklonileur also announces the presentation
of the Budget of 1861 to the Corps Legislatif. The
receipts are estimated at 1,845 millions, and the
expenses at 1,844 millions.

OPENING OF THE SARDINIAN
CHAMBERS.

TURIN, APRIL 2.

The Sardinian Chambers were opened to-day.
His Majesty entered the hall of the Senate amidst
indescribable applause, and delivered the following

speech :

" Signori Senatori, Signori Deputati,—
" The last time I opened Parliament, amidst the
troubles of Italy and the dangers of the State, faith
in Divine justice encouraged me to augur well of
our destiny.

" In a very short time an invasion was repulsed.
Lombardy was freed by glorious deeds of heroism,
and Central Italy became free by the marvellous
virtue of its inhabitants, and thus to-day the repre-
sentatives of the rights and the hopes of the nation
are assembled around me.
" For such a benefit we are indebted to a mag-
nanimous ally, to the valour of his and our soldiers
to the assistance of volunteers, and to the persever:
ing concord of the people. We ascribe the merit
of it to God, as without superhuman aid such
memorable enterprises cannot be accomplished.
" The gratitude of present and future generations
is due to France for the welfare of Italy, and for
consolidating the union of the two nations, who
have some community in origin, principle, and
destiny.

"It was necessary to make some sacrifice, and I
have made that which was dearest to my heart.
" Reserving tho vote of the people and the ap-
probation of Parliament, and reserving also in re-
gard to Switzerland the guarantee of her interna-
tional right, I have concluded a treaty for the re-
union of Savoy and the surrounding territory of
Nice with France.

" We have still many difficulties to overcome, but,
assisted by public opinion and the love of my
people, I shall never permit any one to offend or
forget any right or liberty.
" Firm, like my ancestors, in the Catholic religion,
and in the respect due to the Supreme Chief of that
religion, I shall (if the ecclesiastical authority makes
use of spiritual arms for temporal interests) in safe
conscience, and in the traditions of my 'A orthy an-
cestors, find strength to maintain entire the civil
liberty and authority for which I am only indebted
to God and to my people.
"The provinces of theiEmilia have been arranged
as in former times, but with Tuscany, who has her
own laws and her own rules, a special temporal pro-
vision was necessary.

" The short time since, and the rapidity of the
event, have impeded the preparation of the laws
which are necessary to assist and strengthen the
new estate. For the first period of legislation you
will only have to discuss the Most urgent measures,
and my Ministers will prepare, with due delibera-
tion, the project upon which you will have to deli-
berate for the second period.

" Based on the statute of the country, the politi-
cal, military, and financial unity, and the unifor:
mity of the civil and penal laws, the progressive
administrative liberty of the provinees and com-
munes will renew in the Italian people that splen-
did and vigorous existence which, at the time of
another form of civilisation, and of other territorial
arrangements of Europe, was the fruit of the muni-
cipal autonomy, which is to-day opposed to the
constitution of strong States and to the genius of
the nation.

" Signori Senatori, Signori Deputati,—
" In entering upon the new order of things, and
without regarding the old political parties in any
other way than rememl?ering the services rendered
to the common cause, we call for a noble co-opera-
tion, and the expression of every sincere opinion, in
order to obtain our principal object, the welfare of
the people and the greatness of the country, which
is no more the Italy of the Romans nor that of the
middle ages, it must np more be left a field open
for foreign ambition, bq it must, on the contrary,
be the Italy of the Italians."

BERNE, APRIL 2.

In reply to the request addressed by Switzerland
to the Powers who signed the treaty of Vienna,
Russia, England, Austria, and Prussia have pro-
nounced themselves in favour of the immediate
assembling of a Congress.
To avoid discussion, all the members of the com-
mission of the Federal Assembly have adopted the
proposals of the Federal Council.

MARSEILLES, APRIL 2.
The Mediterranean squadron left Tgulon on the
31st March, en route for Italy.
A fanatical cherif, named Satif, with 3,500 Arabs,
had revolted against the French. The insurgents
were beaten and dispersed by General Desmarets.

IRE` 2SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING' APRIL 3, 1860.

advanced to 251 d., at which a small amount was
negotiated. The total transactions since the last
mail amount to £200,000 sterling, the greater part
of which was effected at 25!d., at which the market
closed firm.
Discounts.—The Bank rate has advanced from
10 to 11 per cent. per annum for four months' bills,
money scarce throughout the month, and much
higher rates have been paid out of doors for longer
periods.

RIO DE JANEIRO, MARCH 8.

Exchange opened on the 23d ult. at 241 d., 90
days, with the exception of £50,000 passed 241 d.,
the former has been the ruling rate for all subse-
quent business, which amounts in all to £600,000 ;
on France upwards of 3,000,000 f. have been nego-
tiated chiefly at 386 rs. ; bills on Hamburg to
moderate extent, at 735 rs. Coffee quoted at pre-
vious rates. Sales from 7th to close of last month
amount to 50,000 bags, of which 22,000 were for
the United States ; in some few instances a slight
difference in price in favour of purchaser. Total
sales from 7th ult. to date, 112,700 bags ; stocks,
120,000 bags.
Exchange.--About £30,000 have been negotiated
this morning at 241; market closing very irm.

ROYAL GENERAL THEATRICAL FUND.

The 15th anniversary of this excellent charity
was celebrated at theFreemasons' Tavern yesterday
evening—Mr. Tom Taylor presiding, supported by
Mr. Justice Haliburton, M.P., Mr. J. Buckstone,
Mr. Benjamin Webster, Col. Lindsay, and about
150 other gentlemen.
The CHAIRMAN, in proposing " The health of the
Queen," stated that her Majesty had been pleased,
for the 13th occasion, to send a donation of 100
guineas to the fund.
The CHAIRMAN, in giving "The health of his
Royal Highness the Prince of Wales," associated
therewith the colonies of England. The heir of
the British Crown was about to be introduced to
the heir-apparent of the British kingdom, and to
learn, from studying this young but puissant na-
tion, how man could battle with wild and untamed
nature. As one of the distinguished sons of British
North America was present, a man who was up to
the time of day, not only here but everywhere, and
who had earned for himself a European reputation
under the name of "Sam Slick," he begged to
couple Mr. Justice Haliburton with the Prince of
Wales and the British Colonies.

Mr, HALIBIJRTON, M.P., in replying, said—The
Chairman tells you that I am up to the time of
day. Well, I think I have been lost sight
of. There is a clock at Westminster—it does not
go, and I would wish it to go. (Laughter.)
I thought I might have been appointed the chair-
man of the committee to regulate that clock.
Something about it is at fault, which is a great
misfortune; for it would, if regulated, teach
the members of the house the value of time,
and that there was something to be done besides
talking. (Loud laughter.) Whoever suggested to
his Royal Highness to visit America deserves
credit. He will there see a colony one-ninth of the
habitable globe—a country larger than all Europe
—one of whose provinces is of greater extent than
France. lam delighted that these people will
have an opportunity of testifying that loyalty which
they have ever professed to the British Crown.
The CHAIRMAN, in giving the toast of the even-
ing—" Prosperity to the General Theatrical Fund"
—alluded to the difficult position in which he was
placed in being compelled to occupy a chair which
had been so ably filled by a Macready, a Phelps,
and a Bulwer Lytton. He begged to associate with
the toast the name of Mr. J. B. Buckstone.

Mr. BUCKSTONE, in acknowledging the toast,
said--Gentlemen, " the right man in the right
place" is now not only a well-known saying, but
the wish to catch such person, and put him where
he ought to be, is often ardently expressed by many
political and social bodies, although I am sorry to
hear it is a wish that very few bodies can get grati-
fied ; but this evening, gentlemen, I am happy to
say that our fund has been lucky enough to secure
that important and much-coveted individual; for
as our chairman of to-night is the most successful,
as well as the most prolific, dramatist of the day—
(cheers)—as his name is now associated with
every metropolitan theatre, and, indeed, with every
theatre in the kingdom—or, perhaps I ought to
say queendom—(laughter)—and as this is a festival
for the good of the workers in all theatres,
both in town and country, where could we have
found a better man to preside over us this even-
ing than Mr. Tom Taylor, and to whom could be
applied with greater propriety the snying with
which I commenced my aaaress to you—that he is,
indeed, on such an occasion as this, nothing else
but the very right man in the right place ?
(Cheers.) As a dramatist, gentlemen, I am in a
position to know his talent—(hear, hear)—and his
value ; for at the Haymarket Theatre, indepen-
dently of his many plays produced at other houses,
I can name four comedies, which, as lessee of that
theatre, it has been my good fortune to place before
the public—comedies showing the very " age and
body of the time," and which will bear comparison

with any in our language—comedies, too, so tho-
roughly English that there is no occasion to assure
you that they have not been done from the French ;
and when I name " Victims," " An Unequal Match,"
" The Contestod Election," and, though last notleast,
" The Overland Route"—(cheers) —I am sure you
will acknowledge that the summit of originality and
success has been nobly attained by our chairman ;
added to which, he is such an author-of-all-work
that he has written, pantomimes, farces, dramas,
melodramas—(laughter)—an equestrian drama, and
he has even threatened me with a ballet, Now,
gentlemen, if such a writer employs actors, pan-
tomimists, dancers, and—l am obliged to admit,
on the first night of some of his plays—the
prompter ; and, as our fund is for the maintenance
of all those artists when overtaken by age, accident,
or infirmity—who shall say that he is not to-night
the right man in the right place ? (Cheers.)
Gentlemen, I find that this is the 15th anniversary
festival of our fund; and it is now 15 years ago
since I first publicly addressed you in its behalf;
and though some thoughtful feelings must come
over me at the retrospect of so many departed years,
yet those feelings are greatly cheered when I think
of the steady progress and ultimate establishment
of our institution, and the many friends that we
have from time to time, and from dinner to dinner,

gathered around us ; and when I tell you that out:
capital to-night will amount to about £12,000, you
will form some idea of what has been done by the
members of the fund and its supporters. (Cheers.)
During the past year we have paid eleven annui-
ties, ranging from £3O to £9O per annum, we have
discharged the funeral expenses of three deceased
members, have given a sum of £5O, with smaller
amounts, to claimants, and have also (and this an-
nouncement I make with pride and pleasure) voted
£250 to build a house for the Dramatic College.
(Loud cheers.) Yet, with all this outlay, I am
happy to say, we are nearly £5OO better off than
we were twelve months ago. (Hear, hear.) We
have 168 subscribing members contributing to this
success, and which will prove to you what can be
accomplished by unity, and well illustrates the
ancient fable of what may be done by—though,
perhaps, as this union is composed of actors, I ought
not to pursue the metaphor ; never mind, I'll risk
it—of what can be done by a bundle of sticks.
(Loud cheers.) And although this is a theatrical
fund, and for a purpose that we are often told is " a
stench in the nose of piety," yet we can not only
show our accounts with proper pride, but no one
can say that either our secretary or the trea-
surer have ever absconded with any of the
money, which is perhaps more than some
of your religious and charitable societies
can say. (Laughter.) We can show all corners
what we do with our funds, and to the uttermost
farthing. Our main capital is in the Bank of
England, our surplus in the London and West-
minster, and, though we are not acrobats or jug-
glers, we 'can honestly balance our books. (Cheers.)
I assert thus much because we are often attacked
by the fanatical and intolerant; and notwithstand-
ing that many excellent and sensible members of
the Church are our friends, yet how frequently do
we hear of some fierce onslaught against the
theatres, and by those who really know nothing of
them, or of us. Yet, gentlemen, the actors 'are a
grateful and an honest class. We do not pretend
to perfection ; for where is that to be found in
human nature ? (Hear.) But no one amongst us,
however humble his position, has ever been con-
victed of any great crime. We may murder an
author or two now and then ; but that's nothing.
No actor who has had it in his power to help or
cheer a poor friend has ever been known to with-
hold his mite or his consolation, or refuse to assist
in a good cause. In an account of Benjamin
Thompson—not the author of "The Seasons" but
the translater of the play of " The Stranger"
—(laughter)—it is stated that in his prosperity he
so warmly. patronised the provincial members of
the histr;onic art that he was known throughout
the profession as the actor's friend. Misfortunes
came upon him, and in his hour of adversity he expe-
rienced much unkindness from persons of his own
rank and connection, but his Thespian friends re-
membered him and helped him to the last. No,
gentlemen, ingratitude is not amongst our
vices. But I must not continue in this strain,
or you will suppose that I have taken to
preaching; although, with such examples as are
exhibited everywhere of that propensity, it would
not be surprising if some of us did not take to the