The Sun.
London, England, 1858-10-07 00:00:00

the wisdom of the agricultural constituencies really
as five-and-thirty to one in their favour compared
with us unfortunates of the busy world ? It really
seems as if the vaunted superiority of Europeans to
Sepoys in India was as nothing to the superiority
of the denizens of country market towns over the
denizens of the great seats of industry and

commerce.

Yet, with these things notorious to us all, Sir
GEORGE CORNEWALL LEWIS seems utterly at a
loss to know why we want Parliamentary Reform.
The first of the Whig leaders who has spoken, he
at least has informed us that he is as well content
as Lord DERBY professed himself this spring, with
the present House of Commons, and demands that,
if the Conservatives insist on giving us a Re.
form Bill, they shall first announce definitely
what evils they mean to correct. He can see
nothing worth correcting in such an absurd dispro-
portion of representation as that to which the three
little boroughs invite attention. Grant him the
favourite " class constituencies" of his political sect,
absurd as the attempt must be for any statesman
to attempt an impartial classification ; yet, does he
see no evil, no unfairness, in such a preposterous
predominance conceded to the wiseacres of little
towns, which have only lately and by accident, as
it were, obtained the blessings of gas and rail-
ways ? The late Chancellor of the Exchequer is
himself returned by a constituency not above
half so wise as those of the three boroughs : one
Radnor man not being equal to more than eighteen
and a-half Londoners—if we reckon rightly. The
excellence of the choice made by the men of Rad-
nor and its satellite boroughs we do not for a
moment dispute, neither do we deny the excellent
use which the patrons of the boroughs have made
of their " influence ;" still, for it must come out, we
do not think that " influence" and electors, and Sir
G. C. LEWIS, all taken together, can make us be-
lieve that one man of Radnor ought to make
eighteen Londoners kick the beam in the balance
of Representation.

One thing at a time : we will not, therefore,
even touch on certain other evils which are almost
as obvious as that on which we have laid stress.
The word "influence" alone is quite enough for a
lecture, or even for an article in the Edinburgh. in
due time ; and we hope that the Radnorshire hope
of the Whigs will think it well over. There is an-
other word which pairs with influence as the appro-
priate remedy, in the opinion of the great majority
of Liberals. Sir GEORGE knows it well, but will,
we fear, be hard to persuade that the said influence
in an evil at all. He does not doubt the remedy,
but he thinks the disease the better thing. It is
a disease which interferes only with democratic
power, of the increase of which, under any pos-
sible Reform Bill, he so plaintively assures the
Tories. That, he evidently thinks, an evil far more
to be dreaded than influence or disproportionate
representation, or any other which retains power
in the hands of the Whigs, and, failing them, in
those of the Tories.

A deputation from the Board of Guardians of
the City of London Union, consisting of Mr. Abbis (chair-
man), Mr. Saunders, Mr. Fisher, Mr. Barber, and Mr.
Badger, together with Mr. Bowring (clerk), had an inter-
view yesterday with the Poor-law Board, at their office, in
Whitehall.
Despatches for the Governor of Gibraltar were
sent yesterday from the Colonial-office.
Their Highnesses the Prince and Princess Trou-
betzkoy and suite have left Claridge's Hotel for Paris, en
route to Russia.

His Highness the Prince Nicholas Troubetzkoy
has arrived at the Brunswick Hotel.

His Excellency the Austrian Minister is at pre-
sent iv. Hungary. The Countess de Apponyi is passing
the season at Milan.

His Excellency the Prussian Minister and the
Countess Bemstorff, who intended to come to town last
week, and then to make a tour of visits in the country, are,
we regret to learn, detained at Brighton by the serious in-
disposition of their infant son.

His Excellency the Danish Minister will return
to town on the 12th inst. from the Continent.

The Duke and Duchess of Wellington have
returned to Apsley House from their seat, Claremont, Nor-
folk.

The Earl and Countess of Wicklow are passing
the season at Edinburgh. His lordship is expected in town
in a few days.
The Countess of Sefton and the Earl of Sefton
are passing the season at Croxteth Hall, Lancashire.

The Countess Andre Schouvaloff and family have
arrived at Claridge's Hotel from Shanklin.

The Countess (Dowager) of Chichester has left
her residence in Grosvenor-place for Brighton.
Viscount Eversley and the Hon. Misses Shaw
Lefevre have returned to Heckfield-place, Hants, from a
tour of visits.

Count and Countess Persigny on leaving Count
and Countess Flahault's seat, in the Highlands, proceeded
on a visit to the Earl and Countess of Malmesbury, at the
noble Earl's shooting-box near Fort William.

Lord and Lady Willoughby de Eresby will
shortly leave Drummond Castle for Torquay, Devon

The Lord Chancellor and Lady Chelmsford
arrived in town on Tuesday, and left yesterday on a visit to
Sir John and Lady Pakington, at Westwood Park, near
Droitwich.

Lord Edward Cecil has arrived. in Grosvenor.
square from St. Leonard's-on-Sea.

CANADIAN AND AMERICAN MAILS.—The steam-
ship Anglo-Saxon sailed from Liverpool yesterday for
Quebec with the Canadian mail and 120 passengers. On
Saturday next, the Cunard steamer (Europa) sails for Bos-
ton with the mails and passengers. Letters received at the
Liverpool post-office until 7.30 a.m., late fees till 8.30, on
the landing-stage till 9.30. Telegraphic despatches for-
warded if received within a few minutes of the vessel's sail-
ing, and on the Exchange.

IRISH LEGAL APPOINTMENT.—The tide of legal
patronage is fast flowing in. The Hon. Mr. Plunket (a son
of the late celebrated Lord) is about to resign the chairman-
ship of the county of Meath, and the place, it is said, has
been offered to Mr. Molyneux, Q.C. a stanch adherent of
the Derby Government. Mr. Plunket's health, it is but
right to mention, has long been in a failing state.

PROVINCIAL THEATRICALS.—The drama seems to
be in a very flourishing condition in the provinces, for, at
Manchester, Bristol, and Liverpool, the theatres are nightly
crowded. At Southampton, the manager has good cause
to be in high spirits, for the engagement of Mr. and Mrs.
Hermann Vezin has turned out a great success. The local
papers speak in the highest terms of praise of the ability of
these artistes. In noticing the performances at the theatre
on the occasion of the benefit of Mr. and Mrs. Vezin, the
Hampshire Advertiser says : " The play was Sir E.
Bulwer Lytton's " Money, ' a piece eminently calculated to
develope and sustain the high order of talent possessed by
these artistes. The character of the noble Evelyn was
pourtrayed in a manner which excited the intense admira-
tion of every person of dramatic taste present in the house ;
and Clara found a most chaste and feeling representative in
Mrs. Vezin. Both were frequently and deservedly ap-
plauded during the progress of the play, and at its close
were rewarded with a perfect volley of cheers." Such
unqualified praise creates a regret that no metropolitan
manager has yet secured these artistes for a series of per-
formances in London ; for it cannot be said we have such a
superabundance of tragic talent on the boards at the pre-
sent time, that there is no need of novelty.
POLYGRAPHIC HALL, KING WILLIAM-STREET._
Professor Frikell, the incomprehensible, on Monday even-
ing—the occasion being the 300th representation in Lon-
don—introduced a number of new tricks to his audience,
which were hailed with the greatest applause. Great as
have been all the tricks performed by this "king of con-
jurors," his new delusions add fresh leaves to his well won
wreath of fame. Amongst the most extraordinary of his
novelties, that which occasioned the greatest wonderment
and surprise was the facility with which he transferred
the heads of two pigeons—one black and the other white—
to the necks of each other, and then sent the birds flying
amongst the audience. Then, again, as if to heap surprise
on surprise, he coolly finds a missing sixpence neatly sewn
up in a button on a gentleman's coat, which, of course, he
cuts off, and then in a most remarkable manner reattaches
the button to the garment in so neat a manner that the
most minute examination fails to discover by what means
the operation could have heen performed. The applause
elicited by this trick was most enthusiastic, and it was some
minutes before the professor could proceed with his per-
formance. Not content with making the " eyes the fools
of the other senses," he solicits the loan of a lady's brace-
let, and, succeeding in his request, the splendid article of
female adornment, as soon as it fairly comes into his pos-
session, falls into innumerable pieces, and is again reunited
in an instant. Half-crowns are sent from different parts of
the house with a rapidity that rivals the spark of the elec-
tric telegraph ; and the entertainment concludes with a
perfect shower of cards, sweetmeats, and fireworks from, to
all appearance, an empty hat. At one time the feats of the
conjuror used to be estimated by the magnificence of his
mechanical contrivances ; but Frikell depends solely on his
own exquisite manipulations, and the result is that for two
hours he alone commands the sole attention of his audience
by his mystic art. We take this opportunity of reminding
those who have not yet paid the Professor a visit that his
performances in London are drawing rapidly to a close, and
those who allow him to depart without devoting two hours
to his wonderful performances will debar themselves of one
of the most delightful entertainments that it is possible to
imagine,

LOSS OF THE DIANA.

SOUTHAMPTON, THURSDAY MORNING.

The Diana, of Hartlepool, from Marseilles, was
wrecked near Gibraltar. Crew and master saved ;
the latter came home by the Salsette.
Spoke steamship Taurus on the 30th of Sept., in
lat. 37 20 N., long. 4 13 E.

THE BOYN-HILL COMMISSION.—In the Guardian
of last night Mr. West offers his sincere thanks to many
friends who have congratulated him on the result of the
recent inquiry, and particularly to those who have been so
good as to tender pecuniary aid towards defraying the ex-
pense. As the proceedings have terminated with the preli-
minary inquiry, the expenses, though considerable, have not
been so great as to require that he should avail himself of
the kind assistance of his friends. In declining their
generous aid he thanks them most heartily for their good-
will.

THE OATLANDS-PARK HOTEL.—An extraordi-
nary meeting of the shareholders was held at the hotel on
Thursday, when a report was made showing the net profits
to be progressing at a rate equivalent to a dividerid of 12
per cent. ; that the buildings are already inadequate for the
increased number of visitors, who continue to be of the
highest respectability ; that the non-fulfiment of the con-
tract as to time requires serious notice ; and that for the
extension of the works it is desirable to issue 1,000 of the.
reserved £.5 shares at ss. premium per share. Resolutions
in accordance were unanimously passed, as also a vote of
thanks to the directors.
MR. ANSTEY SUSPENDED.—The China Mail, of
August 10, mentions the suspension, from the office of
Attorney-General, of Mr. Chisholm Anstey, " who," it
says, " has acted towards the Governor and other officials
in a manner which necessitated the step. Mr. Anstey's
character and failings are so well known in England that
his suspension will not cause any surprise, however the
necessity of it may be regretted there, as it certainly is here
by all who have observed his honesty of purpose, and his
skill in dealing with Chinese witnesses. Mr. Day, the
senior counsel in the colony after Dr. Bridges, who still
acts as Colonial Secretary, will take his place in the interim
as Attorney-General."
NAPOLEON'S FUNERAL CAR.—In consequence of
the absence of the French Emperor from Paris, the order
for forwarding the funeral car of Napoleon I. from Wool-
' wich Arsenal has been suspended until a communication
hasbeen received from the French Government with regard
to the arrangements for its reception, which it is stated
will be on a grand scale, and will be carried out under the
direction of the Emperor and the Duke of Malakoff. The
car, which is now carefully packed for removal, was in-
spected a few days since by Sir John Burgoyne, K.C.8.,
Inspector-General of Fortifications, who, accompanied by
his daughter, visited the Royal Arsenal for that purpose.
The officer named has been selected by the War-office to
present the car to the French nation.
SCOTTISH HOSPITAL.—A quarterly court of this
corporation was held yesterday at the institution in Crane-
court, Fleet-street, City. The chair was taken by Dr. J.
Webster, F.R.S. The minutes of the last court and those
of the committees were read and confirmed. The accounts
stated that the balance last visiting day was £39015. 9d. ;
the receipts of the Caledonian ball, £204 18s. 6d. ; donations
received £476 125.; annual subscriptions, £327 18s. 3d.;
rent, &c., £1,356 175. Bd. ; making a total of £2,755 17s.
Bd. The expenses of the charity had been £1,731 45. 2d. ;
the passages, £8; salaries, £278 17s. 6d. ; other expenses,
£5Ol 7s. 3d. • making a total of £2,519 Bs. 11d.—thereby
leaving a balance in the Bank of England of £236 Bs. 9d.
The death of The Chisholm? the treasurer of the corpora-
tion, was announced in feehng terms, and a committee of
three was appointed to select and recommend a fit and
proper person as his successor to the annual court, to be held
on St. Andrew's-day. A vote of thanks was then voted to
the chairman, and the proceedings terminated.
THE GUILDHALL OF LONDON.--Although it may
be that only a small number of foreigners take the trouble
to go to the Guildhall, it is certain that few visitors from
the provinces for the first time leave the metropolis without
looking, if possible, at the interior of this place, so famous
in connection with City festivals and other events. Con-
sidering the importance which is attached to this "town-
hall" of the greatest City in the world, it is vexatious to
glance at its architectural imperfections. The front is of
the Strawberry-hill Gothic, which cannot be looked upon
with pleasure in this age of improved taste. The
interior, with its incongruous ceiling, is also objec-
bectionable, and altogether this important national
uilding contrasts strangely with the Hotel de Ville
of Paris, and other similar buildings on the
Continent. Those who constantly see the hall have pro-
bably become so much accustomed to the eyesores that they
do not observe them, but to strangers the want of improve-
ment is evident. We commend the subject to the excel-
lent and able Lord Mayor elect—Mr. Alderman Wire.--
The Builder.
CENTRAL BUCKS AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION.
AYLESBURY, Wednesday.—The annual meeting of the
Chiltern Hills, Vale of Aylesbury, and Central Bucks Agri-
cultural Association, was held in this town to-day, and was
numerously attended by the gentry and :agriculturists of the
district. In the afternoon a dinner was held in a marquee
erected on the grounds of Mr. Fowler, of the White Hart
Hotel? and was very numerously attended. Mr. P. Dauncy
occupied the chair, and Mr. T. T. Bernard (one of the
borough members), Sir A. Rothschild, and other gentlemen
were present. The Right Hon. B. Disraeli, the Chancellor
of the Exchequer, had been expected to attend ; but on
Monday the secretary of the association received a note
from the right hon. gentleman, dated Saturday, in which
he said :—" I have been unable to reply to yours before to-
day. I had hoped to have the gratification of attending your
meeting, but having been summoned to London onMonday,
I find I shall be detained there for some days at least. I
beg leave, however, to enclose a donation of £lO for the funds
of the society." The usual loyal and patriotic toasts hav-
ing been given, the health of the members for the county
and for the boroughs of Aylesbury and Buckingham were
drunk, after which the chairman proposed " Prosperity to
the Central Bucks Agricultural Society and the 'Royal
Agricultural Society of England." Various other toasts
were given, and the prizes to ploughmen and shepherds
were distributed.

SF 14OT.TS AFFRAY WITH POACHERS.—On Tuesday,
at Daresbury, near Warrington, five men, named Joseph
Will, Charles Wild, William Hargreaves, Thomas Carter,
and John Travis, all .notorious poachers, and natives of
Warrington, were brought before the magistrates, charged
with unlawfully wounding some keepers in the employ of
Thos. Lyon, Esq., of Appleton Hall, Cheshire. John Hunt,
the head keeper, stated that he was watching, on Friday
night, with assistants, and saw a body of poachers pass a
field in which he and his assistants were. After giving them
time to set their nets, the keepers sprang out of the cover.
They were seen by the poachers, and a desperate conflict en-
sued, in which bludgeons and stones were freely used. The
poachers retreated in a body, pursued by the keepers, and
some of the poachers were captured. At this time another
body of poachers came into the field, and seeing how matters
were going with their companions, in their turn ran after
the keepers, and coming up with those who had their cap-
tives on the ground, seriously maltreated them. The cries
of their comrades brought the keepers to their rescue, and
the result was a general flight of the poachers, leaving two of
their number in the keepers' hands. The other three pri-
soners having been identified, they were apprehended.—
The magistrates, after fully investigating the case, decided
on committin the prisoners to the next quarter sessions at
Knutsford.—Jfanckester Guardian.

DEATH BY CHOKING.—On Monday afternoon a
young woman, of an unfortunate class, named Margaret
Stevenson or Calcott, residing in Anderson's-close, Cow-
gate, met her death under the following circumstances :
, About three o'clock, the landlady of the house where she
lodged awoke her, and then returned to the kitchen, leavin'
her eating her dinner, consisting of beef and broth, in bed.
In a few minutes she came staggering to the kitchen door,
pointing to her throat, and unable to speak. The landlady
perceiving that a piece of beef had stuck in her lodger's
throat, tried to relieve her, but on finding her efforts to do so
ineffectual, she despatched a girl for the assistance of Dr.
Meldrum, Grassmarket. The messenger returned in a few
minutes, stating that the doctor was not at home • upon
which the landlady hurried her off to the Royal Infirmary
for aid. In the meantime, every effort was made to relieve
the sufferer, but in vain ; and by the time that four medical
men from the Infirmary reached the house she had expired.
—Edinburgh Express.
BURNING A CANDLE IN BED.---On Thursday
night, about half-past 12 o'clock, a family, near Lynn, were
disturbed by the cries of the maid-servants, and on going to
their room found the bed in flames from top to bottom.
They instantly procured water and extinguished the fire,
with no other damage than the loss of the bed furniture,
the rather severe burning of one of the fingers of one of the
servants, and the alarm of the family. But the escape
was most providential, as it appears that the servants fell
asleep with the candle on the pillow, and were awakened by
a spark falling on the hand of one of them. Had it fallen
on her dress or on the bed-clothes, in all probability they
would have lost their lives and the house been burnt to the
ground.—Zynn Advertiser.
SUICIDE IN FETTER-LANE.—Yesterday morning
between the hours of seven and eight o'clock, a determined
suicide was committed by Mrs. Pettinger, wife of Mr. G.
Pettinger, of the White Hart Tavern, Fetter-lane, Hol-
2born. It appears that the unfortunate woman has been
lately in a very low and desponding state of mind, and had
been placed in a lunatic asylum, but recovered, and it was
not apprehended that she would attempt self-destruction.
Yesterday morning, however, on her husband going down
stairs, she got a rope and attached it to her pocket -hand-
kerchief, threw the rope over the rail of the bedstead, tied
the handkerchief round her throat, and jumped off. When
she was discovered in this state life was extinct.

SUICIDE OF A SURGEON.—Mr. Wakley, the
coroner for West Middlesex, held an inquest yesterday after-
noon touching the death of Mr. John Skinner, aged 31
years, a medical gentleman residing at No. 6, Leighton-
grove, Kentish-town, who put a period to his existence by
poison on Monday last the 4th inst. Mrs. Emily Skinner,
only 21 years of age, stated that she was the wife of the de-
ceased, Mr. Skinner. She found him dead in bed on Mon-
day last, about 20minutes to one o'clock in the afternoon. She
immediately sent to Mr. Miller, the chemist from whom her
husband purchased his drugs, and also to Mr. Rawlins, sur-
geon. They both came without loss of time. On the
top of the broom drawers she subsequently found
a small blue phial, labelled—" Hydrocyanic acid," quite
empty ; her husband had obtained it from the shop
of Mr. Miller on the 13th of September last. Mr. Miller
had informed her that such was the case. She asked her
husband for it, but he refused to state where it was. She
consequently searched for it, but could not find it ; her hus-
band had never before attempted suicide, although he had
threatened to destroy himself before ho obtained the poison.
He was a man of very intemperate habits, and his violence
of temper was extreme. A large wound on her forehead had
been caused by the deceased striking her with a three-quart
jug in the month of July last. When he began life about
ten years ago he came to a good practice, and was then a
man of property. His father left him £lO,OOO, which he
obtained on arriving at the ago of 21. She was his second
wife, and there were four children in all,. namely, three by
the first wife, and she (witness) had borne him one. • He
had gone through all his property, and had also disposed of
the furniture of the house by a bill of sale a short time be-
fore he committed suicide. In reply to some question by the
jury the witness was understood to say that the reason why
she went up stairs was that she heard her husband exclaim
" I've done it, I've done it." Mr. R. A. Rawlins, surgeon,
of Francis-place, Kentish-town, stated that on arriving in
the room he ascertained that Mr. Skinner was quite dead.
There was a strong smell of prussic acid pervading the place
which he traced to the deceased. The post mortem exami-
nation left no doubt on the point. Mr. Miller, the chemist,
of Gloucester-place, deposed to having supplied Mr. Skinner
with the prussic acid, and said that the deceased told him it
was for an experiment. The label explained the nature of
the medicine. The jury returned a verdict to tha effect
that death was caused by prussic acid, administered by him-
self when in au =mud state of mind,