The Sun.
London, England, 1856-03-06 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING. MARCH 6, 1856

faith of the Squires, and the faith of all besides,
:.re as different cn this point as that of the
Mahonamedans of Turkey and their subjected
Christian rayahs.

New, we take it for granted that these bloody
conflicts must be prevented. Society is not to go
on having now a poacher, now a gamekeeper, and
once in a while the gamekeeper's master killed, to
the end of the story. What shall be done ? In
some counties the squires have saddled their game-
less neighbours with the expense of a county
police, chiefly to watch the poachers ; and Sir
GEORGE GREY would help them to generalise the
system. Yet even in those counties which adopt
the police, so rooted is the evil that they have
not yet got rid of it, and are not likely to do so.
There has been no lack of zeal on the part of
magistrates—especially those of the clerical
order. With evidence—against evidence—on no
evidence—poachers are convicted, fined, and
imprisoned without mercy. The poacher must
be convicted—that is settled ; and on eno
occasion, when the evidence would in no way per-
mit it, a poacher was actually convicted and
punished in reality for poaching, nominally for
neglecting his parish Church ! Thanks to Lord
BROUGHAM, the abuse in this case has brought
the remedy. Poachers, however, like the
Israelites in Egypt, seem to multiply and grow
under all their oppressions. The worst is, that
under the unholy inspirations of their calling,
they sometimes kill the Egyptians who harass
them. What with the original injustice of the
Game Laws, and the unrelenting harshness of
the Squires in their administration of th.nn, the
peasant poacher lives in a state of constant
exacerbation with the proprietors and protectors
of game.

It is painfully true that the poacher is generally
about the worst character in the parish. So
was the smuggler under high protective duties.
The obvious reason in both cases being
that something felt as a wrong by the com-
munity generally was defended by force of
arms. Hence the practical impugner of the wrong
was driven to become a desperado, yet neither by
himself nor his neighbours was he classed with
acknowledged felons. A. keg of moonshine and a
pheasant were not regarded by the generality of
the receivers as stolen goo ls. The men were
made bad by the course necessarily adopted to
obtain what few shrunk from receiving, provided
they felt themselves safe in so doing. It is thus
that frequently from comparatively innocent be-
ginnings the village lad is induced to violate law,
but not, as he believes, to violate right ; and thus
by degrees he is trained to a measure of cunning
and boldness in outwitting and facing his enemit s
to which, but for such influences, he would have
remained a stranger.

The particular case of the THURGOODS and the
unfortunate victim is but the worst form of an
evil fostering in every game preserving neigh-
bourhood. They are manufactories of murderers,
and still more abundantly of lesser rural crimi-
nals. Crimes in the rural districts would be rare
indeed but for the training furnished by those
badges of the Norman Conquest, the Game Laws.
And for what do they exist ? To preserve to
landed gentry in a populous and cultivated county
the amusements of the jungle, the prairie, and
the moor. We admit the right of every man to
use his land as he pleases ; but if he be a member
of civilised society his pleasure must have the
limit of his neighbours' well-being and pleasure.
If a man choose to breed rats let him do so, but
let him not complain that his neighbours do
not care so much for the rats and " the dog
Billy," as to give him' special laws for protecting
his rats. Yet we have known men, and men of
fortune too. who fancied rat hunting more than
following the hounds. Tue remedy we believe to
be a simple one ; to abolish totally the GanaeLaw s.
To enforce the Trespass Laws—but to rely for the
preservation of game to those who wish for it, on
the moral relations between man and man. A fair
and honourable landlord would find no difficulty
in preserving on his estate whatever he wished.
His tenants are but too ready to gratify him ;
and if he had not game preservers in the vast ma-
jority of the working men, the fault would be 1-I:.s
own. Be this as it may, we cannot afford the
landlords game at the cost of monthly murders.

Of all that " gorgeous temple " of art—the

Covent-garden of imperishable, histrionic, operatic,

and scenic renown, c3Asecrated by the awful whis-
per of a &up°Nsl immortalised by the transcen-

dent genius of a KERN and a KEMBLE, festooned
and revivified by the classic taste and dramatic
power of a MACREADY, hung with the airy webs
of enchantment by a TELBIN and a GRIEVE,
hushed with the waving light and shadow of a
CERITO, stirred to its foundation by the resonant
organ and vis cornice of a LABLACRE, and fl )oded
as with the music of the spheres by the entrancing
notes of a Gil's', a GARCIA, and a PEaSIANI—
of all that scene of artistic triumph, with which
are associated a myriad of most pleasing reminis-
cences, nothing is left but the bare walls. From the
remotest extremity of the structure the spectatcr
looks over the smoking debris within to the blue
sky beyond the towering windows of the amphi-
theatre. Rarely has the work of destruction been
accomplished by the " devouring element" more
rapidly and completely.

The inspiring strains of the National Anthem
had just begun to reverberate through the migh y
building, and the gaily-attired groups of ma s•
queraders reminded by the sound to turn their
thoughts homeward, and anticipate in repose the
renovation of their jaded energies, when without
a moment's warning down came a burning rafter
crash on the stage. Hardly more appalling was
the appearance of the hand in whose tracery was
recorded the fate of the Assyrian King. " Fire !
fire !" exclaimed the temporary lessee in a voice
of thunder ; aid " Fire ! fire !" was whispered
by a thousand tongues, and might be read in the
blanched cheeks of the endangered revellers.
Then was seen the triumph of self-possession and
order over senseless terror and selfish anxiety. A
frightful rush was made towards the doors, and
hundreds might have been trampled to death,
maimed, or left a prey to the devouring flames,
but for the interposition of the police. Promptly
taking their stand at the doors, the members of
the force present withstood the frantic rush, and
by their aspect of resolution, well-timed directions,
and steady assurances, restored the thickening
crowd to reason, and enabled them to issue in
rapid succession and in safety into the streets.
It was high time, for the conflagration stole on
with remorseless speed. To tony,ues of fire,
darting forward and licking the emblazoned pro-
scenium, succeeded volumes of dense and varie-
gated smoke and showeis of sparkling embers.
In all that vast amphitheatre, and over and
under all that vast extent of stage, no human
being might now remain and live. Presently the
external roof shot forth a stream of fire, and in

the radiations of ono mighty blaze the heights
of Islington and the hills of Surrey
were alike illuminated. Vainly did the
active and courageous firemen ply their
engines with untiring zeal under the skilful
superintendence of their head—out, in every
direction, burst the imprisoned demon at once

from roof and windows, a fiery throat, with a
hundred tongues of flame, threatening all around

with destruction. The glorious structure was
doomed, and all that remained was to confine
the flames to their devoted prey. This, it is
gratifying to know, was effected, the blackened
and shrivelled fronts of several houses in
the narrow adjoining streets testifying to the
danger in which they stood. Crash suc•
ceeded crash, and in a few hours the
interior presented nothing more tangible than
hissing embers and curling smoke, while from the
hot, blackened, and shrivelled walls protruded
tongues of fire, licking in insatiate enjoyment the
embedded wood of the window sills. The spec-
tacle was one that will not readily be forgotten,
and that must deeply have impressed a visitor
from the provinces. Even Londoners, to whom
the associations of the place were powerless, were
startled for a short period by it, and that is
something ; for to show how enured the metro-
politan population is to destruction by fire, and
how confident in the skill of the firemen, we may
state, on reliable authority, that individuals were
to be seen in an adjacent court lighting their
pipes with the floating embers !
" Covent-garden," the beautiful and the
sacred, is destroy ed. We mourn over it, and a
host of our countrymen, both at home and abroad,
will participate in our regret as over a national loss.
So long as the skill of the architect and the re-
sources of the builder are forthcoming, temples
or palaces as splendid may be built, but amid the
splendours of another Covent-garden,::wito may
resuscitate recollections which warm the chill
of age and lend youthful vigour to the

mature ? We grieve for so immense a
loss of property, and th© hardships which
the burning of the theatre will occasion to indus-
trious thousands. On the other band it is with
the deepest satisfaction we record that, so far as
has yet been ascertained, there has been no logs cif
life, and that the conflagration occurred in a place
of assembly so well provided with doors, as to be
evacuated in a few minutes. Had this not been
the case, and had not the police done their duty
as they did, we shudder to think how many
homes would this day have been filled with
lamentation and woe, and how many bud-
of promise might have been blasted. Surely
this event ought to operate as a warning,
and in all places of public resort where the means
of egress are inadequate provision should immedi-
ately be made against so dire a c-alamity. if it
not, heavy will be the responsibility of the de-
faulters. There is something horrible beyond ex-
pression in the notion of a moiety of an audience
being within a few minutes suffocated' and re-
duced to ashes ! How the firs broke out is still a
mystery, so far as the absence of specific informa-
tion makes it so. The interpretation, however,
is not difficult, and may be comprised in the words,
" want of care." A conflagration ought rarely to
be regarded as involving no blame, and only in
cases where the default has been in the past and
beyond the ken of the present. The matter, how-
ever, will be inquired into, and it will probably
be shown, to the satisfaction of the veriest
bigot, that the destruction of Covent-Garden
Theatre was not, as bigots would fain give
out, a judgment on profanity and licence, but
a judgment on neglect by some petty and un-
trustworthy official. Again we must revert to
those blackened walls, which in the dim moon-
light seemed to ned frowningly on the august
shades of our great tragedians, and answer with
a mournful echo the plaint of KEMBLE as the
ill-starred Hamlet—the groans of KEAN as the
" sooty moor," " who loved not wisely but too
well"—and the heart-wrung sigh of StnuaNs as
her whose pitiless promptings needed to be,
clothed with the " duunest pall of hell"—and

so reverting exclaim—
" We shall never look on thy like again."

CANAL ON THE DANUBE.

The bases of the finnan for the construction of a
canal from Czernavoda on the Danube to Kostandje
on the Black Sea,, are :-
1. The concession is made to a company composed of
Rifaat Pasha for Turkey ; Mr. Thomas Wilson, of 20,
Glocester-square, London, for England ; Count de
Moray, for France ; and Count Breda, for Austria.
2. The company is to be constituted under the appel-
lation of the Imperial Ottoman Company of the Abdul-
Medjid Canal.

3. Tire concession is for 99 years. The Imperial Go-
vernment will never cease to be the proprietor of the sod
ceded to the company, but during the 99 years the latter
will hold possession of it without paying any other tax
or impost than the tribute mentioned in the 12th article.

The Imperial Government gratuitously cedes to the
company all the territory requird for the canal, whic'
is to follow the course that may seem most advantageous
to the engineers of the company. By " territory required
for the canal" is understood—the ground for the canal
it,elf, for carrying off the superfluous water, for towing,-
paths, guard-houses, magazines, and warehouseQ, bridges,
and docks, and houses for the emplo y6s.
6. The concession of 99 years dates from the day on
which the canal is onened, and when the period for
which the grant is made is at an end the canal, bridgeF,
quays, docks, basins, sluices, stations, &c,, revert to the
Porte, which will have no indemnification to pay.
7. At each extremity of the canal there will be
magaz'nes and depots fur corn and merchandise which
the Porte, when the concession is at an end, will have to
purchase of the company at a price to be settled by ar-
bitration.

It is, however, stipulated that the Porte shall,
under no circumstances, pay more than 3,000,000/.
sterling.

COURT CIRCULAR.

Hie Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge visited
the Queen yesterday at Buckingham Palace. The Duke
and Duchess d'Aumale also paid a visit to her Majesty.
His Royal Highness Prince Albert rode on horseback
with the Prince of Wales and Prince Alfred, attended
by Captain the Hon. D. De Ros and Mr. Gibbs.
Prince Arthur and the Princesses Alice and Helena
took a drive in an open carriage and four.
His Royal Highness Prince Albert, attended by. Vi-
scount Torrington and Captaid the Hon. D. De Roe,
went in the evening to the Society of Arts, Adelphi.
Her Majesty, accompanied by the Princess Royal and
the Princess Alice, honoured the Haymarket Theatre
with her presence in the evening. In attendance were
Lady Churchill, Lord Witte-park, and Major-General
Buckley.

The Duke and Duchess of Hamilton and family, who
are residing at Nice, do not intend to return to this
country until the close of the ensuing month. His
grace's spacious mansion in Arlington-street (formerly
Beaufort-house) is rapidly approaching completion.
The Duke of Devonshire is still at Kemp Town, in
improved health. Sir Joseph P.aston visited his grace
last Saturday, returning to town on Monday.
The Duke of Euccleuch, who came to town to attend
the recent debates in the House of Lords, has left Mon-
tagu House for Dalkeith Palace, near Edinburgh. The
Earl of Dalkeith, M.P., has also left Montagu House
for a tour of visits.

The Marquis and Marchioness of Cholmondeley.have
arrived in town for the season, from the family seat,
Choltnondeley-castle, Cheshire.
Sir Robert Peel, Bart., M.P. and Lady Jane Peel
have left town on a continental tour until after the
Easter holidays.
Lady Graham and Miss Graham have arrived in town
from Netberby Park, Cumberland.
The First Lord of the Admiralty and Lady M. Wood
entertained at dinner, at his official residence, la 4 even-
ing, the Lord Chancellor and Lady Cranworth, his Ex-
cellency the Danish Minister and Madame d'Oxholm,
the Earl and Countess Grey, Lord and Lady Lovaine,
Hon. Arthur Kinnaird, Hon. W. Cowper, M.P., and
Mrs. Cowper, and Capt. Eden, R.N.
The Earl of Derby entertained at dinner, yesterday,
at his mansion in St. James's-square, the following
members of the Flou-e of Commons :—Sir John Walsh,
Sir William Jolliffe, Sir Joseph Bailey, Str FreJerielt
Thesiger, Colonel Harcourt, Colonel North, Colonel
Somerset, Colonel Boldero, Colonel Dunne, Captain
Bateson, Mr. Liddell, Mr. Bankes, Mr. Henley, Mr.
Cole, Mr. Evelyn, Mr. Bane Mr. Du Pre, Mr. Whit-
more, Mr. Horsfall, Mr. Maline, Mr. Vansittart, Mr.
Cubitt, and Mr. Eliot Yorke.
The Right Hon. B. Disraeli entertained at dinner yes-
terday, at his residence, Grosvenor-gate, the following
members of the House of Commons :—Lord H. Gordon
Lennox, Lord C. Clinton, General the Hon. H. Arbuth-
not, M. Joliffe, Mr. Farrer Mr. K. King, Mr. Moody,
Mr. F. Hume, Mr. Whiteside, Mr. Rust, Mr. Goddard,
Mr. Gwyn., Mt. Peacoc/6,•Mr. G. Hardy, Mr. Robert-
son, and Mr. 17, Dayics.

LATEST NEWS.

PARIS, THURSDAY, MARCH 6, 8 A.M.

The Moniteur says that Marshal Pelissier has
informed the Minister of War that the resolution
passed by the Plenipotentiaries on the 25th of
February last, relative to the armistice, which is
to extend to the 314 of March, was known in

the Crinea on the 28th of February.
On the 29th of February, at a conference held
at the Traktir-bridge, between the Chiefs of the
Staff of the allied armies and General Tutchimeff,
delegated by the Commander-in-Chief of the Rus-
sian army, it was decided that there should be a
complete suspension of hostilities.

BERLIN, MA,ECH 5.

The Konigsberger Zcitung reports from the
Crimea, that on the 29th of February delegates
from the two belligerent armies met on the so-
called Stone-bridge to concert measures for carry-
ing out the armistice, conformably to the resolu-
tion of the Paris conferences.

TRIESTE, MARCH 5.

General Vivian is preparing a grand reconnais-
sance from Kertch, in the direction of Arabat,

where the Ruasians have been concentrating a

large force.

FRANCE.

PARIS, WEDNESDAY EVENING.

From a despatch forwarded by General Pelissier
we learn that the fact of the intended armistice
was known in the Crimea on the 25th ult.
The ,Iloniteur contains the official announce-
ment of the appointment of the widow of Admiral
Bruat to the pest of " Guuvernante des enfants de
France."

The following is the exposé des motifs of the
budget of 1857, presentvd to the Legislative Body
yesterday :

"Gentlemen,—The Emperor has desired that the
budget for the year 1857 should be presented to you
at the beginning of your session. We in conse-
quence submit to your, examination the estimate
of receipts and expenses for that year. As you
know, gentlemen, the year 1855, which has just
terminated, shows a ' large incrkase in the indirect
taxes and r3venues. Tires, in spice of three insuf-
ficient harvests, and in the very midst of the sacri-
fices of a distant war, France ha,, not in;errupted for an
instant the fecund activity of her lab..urs nor the in-
crease of her internal prosperity. Cairn at home, glorious
.broad, henceforth assured of her allia9ces, after being
so long isolated in Europe, and confiding in the wisdi.m
of the sovereign, she even now gathers the fruit of a
policy at once firm and losal, gen,rous and prudent. As
a great nati.m which, after the terrible trials and pro
longed c,mfiicts Of a revolution, has at last found her
path, she has seen the sympathies of the world return to
ner, and enjoying under the national dynasty of Napo-
leon 111. the real arlvantages of the new order
she has conquered, she has at the same time
resumed without an effort the rank which belongs to
,er amongst the nations of Europe. However, it is to
,trong governments and prudent financiers that it be-
longs net to estimate too highly the hopes of the future.
You will remark, gentlemen, that the estimate of the
receipts for the new year has been made with prudent
reserve in the law which we now submit to your appro.
elation."

The Constitutionnel says :—" The plenipoten-
tiaries of Russia had hitherto only appeared at the
Tuileries in plain clothes, for the special reason
t►aat, besides the state of war, the accession of
Alexander 11. has not yet been notified to the
Western Powers. Their presence at the Imperial
sitting of Monday in uniform has been generally
interpreted in the diplomatic world as a certain in-
dication of a speedy renewal of official relations be-
tween the Court of St. Petersburg and those of
France and England, and consequently as a mani-
fest proof of the favourable turn the conferences of
Paris are taking."
" Another batch of Russian cannon," says the
Semaphore •f Marseilles, " have just been landed
at the Quai de la Joliette, where they have been
the object of great curiosity. Some of the guns
which belonged to the Russian vessels are of un-
usually large calibre. Most of them bear the
louble-headed eagle of the Czars, and many show
the marks of the balls of the allies.

BOURSE, March s.—The following were the last
quotations:—

Cub. fr. e. End of Month.
4i per Cents 96 50 —f. —c.
3per Cents 72 10
72 85

New Loan

73 -

Bank Shares 3,450 Roman
Iredit fitobilien- 1,58.) Austrian

Belgian Fivcv 9l Spanish Threes
Piedmontesc (5) t 0 Home Debt

RAI LWA YS-TOB CASH.

•
tr. c. fr. 0
CrMane 1,277 50 Western BB2 50
`forthern - Strasbufg
Lyons. ...... ........ 1,260 Now Ditto B2O --
.loditorranean 1,560 Grand Central 645
Lyons Geneva 765 Toste
'lotto

The Akhbar of Algiers speaks of a project which
would consist in despatching to Algiers, after the
conclusion of peace,, three or four divisions of the
army of the Crimea. These troops, which would
ncrease the strength of the army of occupation,
would be kept up in the colony, ready for every
+vent, until the complete solution of the Eastern
question. Until that time, they would be quartered
►n various points of Algeria, not only to complete
the task of pacification, but to make roads, princi-
pally in Kahylia. These divisions would occupy
ECabylia by means of several camps, destined to be
the nuclei of so many towns.