The Sun.
London, England, 1858-12-20 00:00:00

11."(\;
'kL El GLISII OPERA, COVENT suspended works upon the different railways had
,111. DEN, ui tder the sole Manag•eiment of Miss Louisa been resumed," adding, " that it was fair to con-
!a..trurcisoetit;in'ttivitztr•ceaw,reiclespstvii,tri.la-;
Fyne and 31r.. W. I
elude they would now be pushed forward
formed that this nest
_!_.
for the first ENGLIE
,H
presented an en'tire'ly new and originstl -
with vigour" under the auspices of the re or-
20, when wi,lll-)A p
o:4lfZselnititled SATANELLA ; or, TIM
Opera. by 3tr. NS . 7A
ganised Government. Speaking of the :railways
POWER OF 01
Lc° 2., Itt.ctor—Mr. Alfred Mellon.
After which the 14
ational Anthem. i &e., now advancing towards completion in the
Commence at Seven,
Southern Hemisphere, the Report gives the most
satisfactory particulars of the progress made in the
engineering works latterly constructed in the
Colony of Victoria. There, it says, " undertakings
of considerable magnitude had been designed, some
were in progress, and a few were completed. The
most prominent of these were macadamised roads,
railways, water-works, shipping wharfs, piers, and
slips for heaving ships out of the water. The rail-
way from Yarra Yarra Bridge to Sandhurst, with
a deep water pier in Hobson's Bay, for ships of 500
tons burden, was completed, and in full activity ;
although as costly, mile for mile, as the London
and Greenwich railway, it yielded a profit on
the capital of 10 per cent. per annum. From this
line a branch had been opened to St. Kilda,
which was found to be of great convenience to the
suburban and residential traffic, and a prolongation
was about to be made to the Sandhurst railway.
The Geelong railway had been opened to Williams-
town, and had only been delayed from reaching
Melbourne by the non-completion of the Govern-
ment line to Williamstown. The Government
lines, required to maintain the intercourse with the
distant parts of the colony, were in progress, large
contracts having already been let. The Yan Yean
' waterworks, for supplying the town of Melbourne,
were finished ; the water was collected in artificial
reservoirs, and was conveyed through a system of
pipes, 40 miles in length, to the town. As the
town was not subdrained, the disposal of the waste
water was even now a serious question, there being
only four feet tide in the Yarra-Yarra River, which
drained into Hobson's Bay, an almost tideless lake.
At some future, and probably not very dis-
tant period, this would render the question of
dealing with the sewerage as difficult as that of
London. The deep water piers and slips at Wil-
liamstown were in an advanced state of completion
and would be useful auxiliaries to the commercial
marine resorting to Hobsons Bay. The system of
macadamised roads, leading to Maryborough,
Sandhurst, Castlemaine, B allarat, and other impor-
tant places, had been completed, in many cases
under very difficult circumstances, but were now so
efficient, that travelling was almost as rapid and
as convenient as on the English roads before the
introduction of railways." So much for engineer-
, ing enterprises at our antipodes. Now for one at
least of immediate interest to the metropolis—the
Victoria Station, Grosvenor Basin. Pimlico ! The
engineering works connected with this, including
among them a railway bridge across the river
Thames, a bridge consisting of four arched
spans of wrought iron, of 175 feet each, are an-
nounced by the report as "now in progress," and
the site selected for the terminus is especially com-
mended as one in various ways combining a variety
of peculiar advantages.
Due reference is of course made by the Report to
the magnificent but unfortunate enterprise of the
Sub-Atlantic Cable—the history of its marvellous
success and lamentable failure constituting the
most remarkable item of that important section of
the report relating to the engineering labours of
1858 in communication with the extension of elec-
tric telegraphs. One most encouraging fact re-
corded in this section, however, we would
here especially particularise, namely, the suc-
cessful " fishing up" of no less than 228 miles
of cable laid down between Candia and Alexandria.
It should be borne in mind, moreover, that this is
no solitary incident of that kind—the cable lost in
1845, and a fragment of that lost in 1856 off Cape
Ry.."4.:,..nin. Sr—l'-'" linv;n" 1"" " I."'n recovered 1
Altogether this remarkable engineering report for
1858 is one of the most inspiriting and memorable
ever submitted:to the Institution of Civil Engineers.
It affords a brilliant illustration of the mercantile
enterprise and mechanical genius of Englishmen, in
an age the scientific chiefs of which include among
them a BRUNEL, a LOCKE, a STEPHENSON, and a ,
WHEATSTONE—and the scientific achievements of
which comprise the twin systems of railroads and 1
electric telegraphs.

ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE,
Under th e Management of Mr. Charles Kean.
TIIIS HVENIN a will be presented Shakspere's Tragedy of
MACBETH.
Macbeth, Mr , C. Kean ; Lady Macbeth, Mrs. C. Kean.

Preceded by a new Farce, in one act, entitled
THIRTY-171111El: NEXT BIRTHDAY.

THEATF.,E-ROYAL, HAYMARKET.
Lessee, Mr. J. B. Buekstone.
EVEYING will be performed a new Comedy,
T 'IF. TIDE. OF TIME. Messrs. Buekstone, Chippendale
&e. ; Mesdaracss Reynolds and Poynter.
A new Spanish Ballet, THE INFLUENCE OF GRACE.
in which 1-r ea Nena will appear.
THE TODDLES. Sir Wm. Don, Bart.
And A DAZGHTER TO MARRY.
Commence at 7.

ItOYA L LYCEUM THEATRE.I
nager, Mr. Edmund Falconer,
Will be Opened fa" the season on CHRISTMAS EVE, Fri-
day, Dec. 21, wheu yin be produced a new Burlesque, written
expressly for the Lyceum Company by Robert B. Brough,
and entitled THE SJEGE OF TROY. The new and gor-
geous scenery by Mr, William Callcott. The principal cha-
racters by Mrs. Keele,y, Miss Julia St. George, Mrs. Weston,
Miss Portman, Miss T. ilbot, Miss Kate Saxon, Miss E. Romer,
Sze. ; Mr. Emery, Mr. Charles Young, Mr. Ellerton, Mr. .1.
Rogsrs, Mr. Barrett, .&,c. ; Miss Rosana Wright, Miss M.
Charles, Miss Harriet Dalton, and a numerous Corps de Bal-
let also appear.
After the Burlesque a new Comic Pantomime, replete with
new tricks and mechanical devices, entitled HARLEQUIN
TOY HORSE ; or, The Cremorne Fete. Clown, Mr Charles
Lauri ; Itarlaquin, Mr. John Lauri • Pantaloon, Mr. Henry
Lauri ' • Columbine, Miss Jenny Limit
The Performanees will commence on Friday, Monday, and
Tuesday with the Comedietta of TOO MUCH FOR GOOD
NA.TU RE.
A Morning Performance of the Burlesque and Pantomime
on iroxing-day, to commence at two o'elocky precisel ; doors
open ~at half-past one.
Recta ced Prices—Dress Boxes, 4s. ; Upper. Boxes, 3s. ; Pit,
2s. ; Sta. Us, 55.% Gallery,, ls.
Box-cA%ce open from Di to 5 daily. Doors open at half-past
6, to cox imence at 7 every evening.

ROY AL STRAND THEATRE.
L essee and Directress, Miss Swanborough.
THIS Ei 'ENISG, THE RULE OF THREE.

After which THE MAID AND THE MAGPIE.
THE LII'I'LE SAVAGE.
And THE ..00NNIE FISII WIFE.
Commence at 7 o'clock.

ASTLEY'S ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE,
Westminster-road.

Solo LessCe Mr. William Cooke.
THIS EVENING, and four following nights, the great
Eastern Spectacle of THE REVOLT IN INDIA ; or, The
Fugitives and their Polthful Steed.

After which SCENES IN THE ARENA, introducing Mr.
W. Cooke, and his beautiful horses, Mr. Runnels, Madame
Blanche, Miss Emily Cooke, Madame Fleurette, and the finest
troupe of equestrians in the kingdom.
To conclude With the Farce of SHOOTING THE MOON.
A famous, magnificent, and matchless Christmas Panto-
mime on Boxing-night, entitled HARLEQUIN BARON
MUNCHAUSEN ; or, The Xing of the Pumpkins, unprece-
dented for comicality and splendour.
Dress Circle, 3s. ; Boxes, 2s. ; Pit, is, ; Galleries, 6d.
Stage Manager, Mr. R. Phillips.

CANTERBURY HALL, Westminster-road.—
Proprietor -C. MORTON.
The public is most respectfully informed that the Fort
ARTS GALwasy, in connection with the above Hall, IS NOW
OPEN DAT AND NIGHT, from 11 o'clock a.m. until 12
o'clock p.m. The New Gallery contains an extensive Collec-
tion of Pietism's, by Ancient and Modern Masters -and is also
devoted to Art productions generally. The Proprietor feels
he may confidently assert that, viewed altogether, the exist-
ing Music Hall, the New Fine Arts Gallery, and the recently
added Ante-Hall, will present an attraction which, whether
as regards the arChitectural beauty of the structures them-
selves, or the varied and hitherto unattempted combinations
within, will be found to be wholly without parallel in. the
Kingdom.
The MUSICAL E7,I9'ERTAINMENT commences as usual at
Seven o'clock.

In addition to the lima' entertainment, the SAUVLET
FAMILY, of Amsterdam, Eight in number, whose varied
instrumental performances have created so marked a sensa-
tion in the principal cities and towns of the Continent, will
perform every Evening at :Nine and Eleven o'clock.

THE WEATHER.-SUN OFFICE, DEC. 19.

THERMOMETER, IN THE SHADE.

52—highest since noon yesterday.
49—lowest this morning and during the night.
49—this day at noon.

BAROMETER-29.50.
Wilzß, S.W. ; light, with fine sunshiny weather—rain in
the evening. Heavy rain in the night.

Dec. 20.

51- --highest since noon yesterday.
41-1 owest this morning and during the night.
46—ads day at noon.

BAROMETER-29.66---rising.
•tt'.~sn Sm,th-Wpatorly • 1;04,+

" The Franchise, what shall we do with it?"
is the title of a small pamphlet of rather consider-
, able pretensions, just published by Mr. RIDGWAY.
The subject is a taking one, and heartily glad would
all the parties practically occupied in manufacturing
Reform Bills be, could any one point out to them a
solution of the proposed problem. " What to do
with the Franchise," in general terms, every one
knows. All grades of politicans reply, "It must
be extended." The only question is, " How to
extend it?" That question has hitherto received
but a very partial answer. The Conservatives are
necessarily silent. They are in office and cannot
speak till her MAJESTY has spoken; and doubtless
they are very thankful for such a constitutional
excuse for taciturnity. Tho Whigs arc out of office ;
but they are doubly fettered : they want to get into
office, and they dare not make a bidding, which
their clever antagonists would be sure to outbid;
while they are also deterred by their own disincli-
nation to hazard one inch more than the interests
of Whiggism imperatively require. Indeed, at
present, the Whigs are the most silent of all the
parties. We have heard nothing from them, un-
less we must suppose the standstill programme of
Mr. LOWE and the Times, with the Conservative
warnings of the Whig Lord Chief Justice, to be
Whig deliverances. The Birmingham Reform Bill
maker is the only one who has approached to any-
thing definite—and his rate-book suffrage may
be a thoroughly democratic one, or one not seri
ously in advance of Lord JOHN RUSSELL'S last
rating suffrages, according to the plan on which
the rate-book is made up.
When we turn to the painphlet adverted to, from
which we had expected some special help on the
question—how we are to extend the suffrage--we
find, on the contrary, an answer only to the ques-
tion—How shall we divide those who possess the
franchise ?—that le, in what kind of constituencies
shall they be arranged.- Our author prefers the
more liberal view of every question. Manhood
suffrage and the ballot will, he thinks, be more
satisfactory ; but his plan will apply, he says, to
any suffrage, provided it be, as he assumes that it
must, made equal for all kinds of constituencies.
If so, why, he asks, retain any longer the useless
division of borough and county electors ; since the
vote of a man possessing the same franchise is as
geed in the county as in the borough ? We should
say better. The ten-pound householder in the
county is, as the rule, a decidedly superior man to
the possessor of the same franchise in the borough.
His chief proposals are two—first, having abo-
lished the distinction between boroughs and coun-
ties, to take the counties as the basis of rearrange-
ment, and to divide and arrange them so that each
member shall represent about forty thousand of the
population, and that each constituency should
return not more than six or se'Ven members. This
would require that Lancashire should have tea
such divisips, Middlesex and York, nine, returning
five or sii anembers each ; while Northampton and
Rutland, Cumberland and Westmoreland, must be