The Sun.
London, England, 1858-02-13 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF TFIE TIMES,

Sir,—ln your report of the debate on the
motion of thanks to the Indian army,
Lord Panmure is stated to have said,
" that Mr. Frere as Commissioner of Scinde had
reconciled the people of that province to British
rule, and by his prudence and firmness confirmed
the conquest of the gallant Napier."
This I qualify as a foul attempt to detract from
Sir Charles Napier's reputation. The people of
Ssinde ware entirely reconciled to British rule—
not only reconciled, but entirely attached to it
under Sir Charles Napier's government, and by
his "wisdom and prudence," long Mars before Mr.
Frere had anything to do with the province.
Mr. Frere is not the man to deny
this, though Lord Panmure does so, and
most foully, by implication. But how should
Lord Panmure know anything about reconciling
people by wisdom and prudence ?
Wm. NAPIER, Lieut.-General.
February 9, 1858.

ROYAL VISIT TO THE ADELNII
THEATRE.

Last night, her Majesty, accompanied by the Prince
of Wales, the Princess Alice, and attended by the
Duchess of Wellington, the Hon. Eleanor Stanley, Lord
Byron, and Major• General Buckley, honoured the
Adelphi Theatre with her presence. The pieces selected
for the occasion were, " The Drapery Question," " The
Poor Strollers," and the " Spitalfields Weaver." The
royal visitors arrived just priorito the commencement of
the second piece. The splendid acting of it Webster
and Madame Celeste frequently drew from the royal box
unmistakeable marks of admiration, and the oomicalities
of Wright, of course highly pleased the Prince and
Princess. H?r Majesty, on quitting the theatre, ex-
pressed herself highly pleased witb the evening's enter.
Lainment.

ROYAL POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTION.

Mr. Pepper's new lecture on the " Great Solar
Eclipses of 1858," is the last very notable addition to
the manifold attractions of the Polytechnic Institution.
It is one of the most remarkable evidences of ability
yet afforded, moreover, by this accomplished caterer for
;sublic instruction and entertainment. The Lecturer,
after explaining the principle of solar eclipse, in a manner
the most lucid imaginable, because the most familiar
and conversational, by means of visible representatives
of Sun, and Earth, and Moon, aff.)rds his auditors
ocular demonstration of the fact that an eclipse of
this kind is produced by the passage of our satellite in a
right line between the globe and the great central lumi-
nary. Mr. Pepper next gives the clearest definition of the
differences between partial, total, and annular eclipses,
illustrating this portion of his discourse by some ex-
quisite representations of the glory of light, or corona,
displayed after the disc of the sun has disappeared.
In elucidation of the phenomena of the rose-coloured
protuberances apparent round the edge of the eclipsed
disc, reference is then made to the injurious hypothesis
of M. Faye, according to whose theory, those mar-
vellous appearances are nothing more than optical
illusions analogous to those producing the mirage and
the fats mergana. And, hereupon, no sooner is
mention thus incidentally made of the mirage of the
wilderness, than there appears before the audience a
magnificent panoramic dissolving-view of the Arabian
Desert, wit's the spectral islands, irrigated by imagi-
nary water—of which mention is made by every
oriental traveller from remote times down to the
" Eothen" of Kinglake, and the "Crescent and the
Cross" of Eliot Warburton. Finally, there is, towards
the close of this really admirable Lecture, a superb
delineation of the Norwegian coast, as witnessed
during the Total Eclipse of the Sun in 1851, by the
Astronomer Royal of Scotland—the whole et those
splendid pictorial illastrations being effected by means of
the same beautiful dissolving scenery so long familiar to
the frequenters of the Polytechnic. This astronomical
Lecture by blr. Pepper, is to be repeated, we are
heartily glad to observe, twice every week during the
ensuing season—namely, on Wednesdays and Fridays.
Cordially do we commend it to the general public in
words of unaifected and unstinted admiration. It
cannot fail to enhance Mr. Pepper's individual repu-
tation ; and, while doing this, it reflects a new lustre
upon the fame and popularity of the Polytechnic
Institution.

His Serene Highness the Prince of Leiningen arrived
at Clarence House, St. James's, the residence of her
Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, yesterday, from
Portsmouth.

- His Serene Highness Prince Victor of Hohenlohe has
left Howckin's Hotel, St. James's-street, fir Ports.
month.

His Excellency the Ambassador of France left Albert.
gate House, yesterday morning, for Paris.
The Marquis and Marcbionese of Exeter left town
yesterday, for Burghley Hall, Stamford.
The Countess of Desart has left town for Desart
House, county Kilkenny.
The Earl and Countess of Warwick have arrived at
Howchin's Hotel.

The Viscount Cheverie has arrived at the Brunswick
Hotel, St. James's, from Paria.

Lord Claude Hamilton arrived in town last evening,
from Aldershot.

Sir Clifford and Lady Constable and Miss Chichester
have left Claridge's Hotel, for Burton Constable, York-
shire.

Mr. and Mrs. Marshall Luca have arrived at the
Queen's Hotel, -Upper Norwood.

INDIA MAIL";-The following notices were issued
from the General Post-office yesterday, viz. :—The next
mail from Calcutta direct, Penang, Singapore, and China,
eia Marseilles, is due in London on the 13th inst. The
next mail from India via Bombay and Marseilles is due
in London on the 19th inst. Mails for the Mediter.
ranean, Egypt, India, and Mauritius, via Mareeille4, will
be despatched on the evening of the 17th inst. No
United States mail packet will leave Liverpool until the
3d proximo.
DEATH OF WOMBWELL'S ELEPHANT " CHUBBY."—
HARTLEPOOL, Thursday.—Wombwell's No. 1 Colltc,
tion arrived here yesterday for exhibition, and its arrival
was unfortunately attended with a very serious loss to
the proprietor by the death of the elephant commonly
called "Chubby." About three months ago a large
tumour weighing 41b. was remcv d from his right side by
Mr. Hyde, of Hull. The wound appears to have healed
prematurely, for since that time the animal has never
been well, and continued to lose flesh almost daily.
When at Sunderland last week his right fore leg was
fomented by a veterinary surgeon. Yesterday the
collez.tion travelled from Essington-lane to Hartlepool, a
distance of about 15 miles ; " Chubby" and his fellow.
onnpanion travelled under a covered van, and, as they
were entering the town " Chubby" fell to the ground
from exlaustion. Great efforts were made to raise him,
and large quantities of stimulants were given him. But
all was of no avail, and after about two hours poor
"Chubby' breathed his last. His companion was taken
out of the van, and walked tLeough the streets to the
market place. He was then raised from the ground on
to the false floor of the van, and dragged into the town.
He was about 20 years old, and weighed between 4 and
5 tons.
ROSSINI AND THE ORGAN GRINDER.—The Courier
de Paris contains the following :—" On the 27th of last
month as Italian organ grinder stationed himself in the
court-yard of the house occupied by Rossini, at the
corner formed by the Boulevard and the Chauseth.
d'Antin, and began playing several airs from the repor-
toire of the great composer. He had played the serenade
from the " Barbiere," and was about to repeat it when
Rossini, accompanied by a friend, passed through the
court-yard.;The maestro felt in Lie pocket for a few sous,
and while doing so he inquired of the man if was aware
whose music he was playing. 'Of course, I do,' replied
the man, 'it is from our great Rossini,' `And the air
you played before.' `Also from Rossini,' said
the man, ' I should not think of playing anything
but Rossini in the senerade which I am now
offering rfto him.' You offer a serenade to Ros-
sini ! and why ? ' inquired the composer. ' Be.
cause to-lay is his birth day,' replied the man. Rossini,
on hearing this reply, was deeply touched, and he
turned to his companien and said, ' This poor fellow is
the only person that has remembered the date ; all my
friends have forgotten it ; even I myself had done so.
Believe me, when I say that the greatest triumphs of my
career have not moved me more than the attention of
of this poor man.' And the mxi.'ro drew from his purse
hundredaturn eturned
i ,is francbak piece, and presented it to the organ
Pelainygeraf::rihe
rs
e. t
ri:
ohs, 1
nglrie,a test astonishment at his
Zyconuepwsithyi.sp't itsia,
ert Rossinifriend,. .
when
twhohe hascall sppoeskerenhatdo
his cloak, and exclaimed,
not money that yonirlameve
I shall preserve al my lifegi'vl7n me
.1
cried the Italian, and run•
ingduczeitro, he kissed the hem of
'.Thanks, mtestro I but it is
it is a medal which