The Sun.
London, England, 1866-02-20 00:00:00

The Delay of the Royal Commission.

When the bill for suspending the Habeas Corpus
Act had passed the House of Lords a telegram was
sent to Earl Granville, who was at Osborne, an-
nouncing the result, upon the receipt of which het
Majesty's signature was affixed to the documents
authorising the commissioners to give the Queen's
assent to the bill. In order to allow time for bring-
ing these documents to London the sittings of the
house were suspended until eleven o'clock, by which
time it was calculated the special train would arriv6
in London. After the Cattle Disease Prevention
Bill had been read a first time, there was no further
business before the house. For upwards,of, an hour
the Lord Chancellor remained seated on the wool-
sack, wearing his peer's robes and full wig, and
forming a prominent feature in the centre of the
house. There was not a member on the benches on
either side, but still the Chancellor sat there in his
robes of scarlet and ermine, waiting with impatience
the arrival of his brother peers and the Royal Com-
mission, which was to empower them to give her
Majesty's assent to the bill. Frequently his lordship
sought relief from the monotony of his position by
beckoning to distant clerks, apparently Asking for
information as to the cause of the non-arrival of the
important document. Black Rod moved about ex-
cited, perturbed, and amazed at the delay, and
could afford no information to the solitary peer on
the woolsack. The Chancellor perused the "votes,"
now he dozed for a few minutes, and woke up anxi-
ously to inquire for the commission. Time rolled
on, the hour of midnight struck, a quarter-past, haJf-
past twelve, and then there entered a clerk bearing
a despatch-box, which the Chancellor opened, and
looked delighted on the long-delayed document.
Then came the Duke of Somerset and the Earl of
Bessborough bearing his wand of office, also wearing
their robes, and sat upon the Ministerial benches.
Another quarter of an hour passed, and then the clerk
entered, carrying the Royal Commission. The Lord
Chancellor addressed the two robed peers and two
others who had • strayed into the house and repre-
sented the Opposition, and informed them that her
Majesty had issued a commission under the Great
Seal, authorising certain lords therein named to give
her royal assent to a bill agreed to by both Houses
of Parliament. His lordship then directed the
Usher of the Black Rod to summon the Commons
to hear the Royal Assent given to the bill in ques-
tion, and shortly after the Speaker, accompanied by
about 50 members of the House of Commons, ap-
peared at the bar of the house. To them the Lord
Chancellor, now seated on a bench in front of the
Throne with the two other peers, made known the
commands of her Majesty, and the Clerk of the
House read the voluminous document, which autho-
rised the lords therein named to give openly and
publicly her Majesty's royal assent to the bill. When
the clerk read the names of the peers who were to
act as commissioners he made profound obseisance,
and each peer in his turn acknowledged the honour
by raising his cocked hat. The reading of the letters
patent completed, the clerk was directed to read the
title of the bill, and upon this, a Commissioner
uttered the old Norman words, " La Reine le veult,"
and at 20 minutes to one o'clock on the morning of
this day the bill became law, and the privileges con-
ferred by the Habeas Corpus Act were from that
moment suspended in Ireland.

The delay in the arrival of the special train was,
it was understood, caused by two heavy luggage
trains, which could not readily be got out of the
way.—Observer.

NEW YORK FIFTY YEARS SINCE.—The New York
Times publishes a curious contribution—a journey-
man printer's recollections of that city half a century ago.
" New York," ho writes, "was at that time a compact city.
Brooklyn was an inconsiderable village ; the only mode of
crossing was by row-boats. Jersey city was nowhere.'
There were no omnibus lines, no railways, and I believe no
hacks. We took our time in those days ; nobody was fast.
The City Hotel was the only first-class house in that lino of
business. Hotel fare was substantial, but plain. There was
a general prejudice against French cooking. Port and
brown sherry (pale sherry rarely seen) were good, and
Madeira delicious. Champagne was just coming in, and
comparatively little known ; it was warmed before drink-
ing! The customs and habits of New York were much
more simple than they are now ; there was infinitely less
wealth, less luxury, less cultivation, and loss refinement.
There wore comparatively few temptations. There were no
`hells,' no gin palaces, no saloons, no clubs. Men lived at
home. The Park Theatre and Scudder's Museum were the
only places of amusement. Contoit's Garden had just been
iceopened.m w
publicereaAasnew.
garden
Even
with
porter
seats,
a slemonade,
now
and
Consti-
tuted, were almost unknown. It was at a porter house at
the corner of Fulton-street that the first introduction of
newspapers for general reading took place. New York was
a more economically governed city than it is now ; there
was a much higber sense of official responsibility, and
municipal honours were conferred on men of high stand-
ing and character. The standard has been lowered by uni-
versal suffrage. It may interest tho craft' to know some-
thing of the condition of the press half a century ago. My
first employment here as a journeyman commenced in
May, 1815, with Van Winkle and Wiley, who printed Cob-
bett's Weekly Register. I contrived to take proof sheets to
that great English Radical, and got up a somewhat fami-
liar acquaintance with the grey-eyed and always grey-
dressed man, and learnt from him much about the leading
statesmen of England. 1 was afterwards with Jonathan
Seymour, and was employed on the then great enterprise
of publishing Scott's Family Bible ; on that work I had
James Harper Harper, now the senior of the great publish-
ing house, as my partner. Nothing was known in those
days of ten or eight hours' systems ; we worked 13 hours
a day. An incident will show the capacity of leading
i ad-
vance houses at that time. William Marcien, for whom I worked
in 1817, had an order to reprint with all haste " Lalla
Ila
vonocke by
h , 'o f which
a
ro a m
were manned night and day ; presses running constantly ;
ll
binders were reinforced, and for once, strong Methodist as
shipsingle London. copy
had
A was been
astir. cedn d-
The've cases'
be was, Mr. Mercien, ignored the Sabbath. And on the
tenth day 'Lana Rookh ' in boards made its appearance.
This was regarded as an achievement. The Harpers would
do it now in 21 hours. Wonderful changes have been
wrought in daily journals. There were then two morning
papers, the Gazette and the Mercantile. The Gazette rarely
contained more than a column and a half of reading matte;
and the Afercantile was not much better; both were stupid
and barren of all interest except for their ship news and
advertisements. The two evening papers, the Post and
Commercial, were edited with ability. The Columbian was
semi-weekly. The Mercantile had the largest circulation,
which I think was less than 2,500. There was not in the
whole city as much press power and capacity as is now
operating subterraneously beneath the side walk in front
of the Times-office, while thousands pass over it uncon-
scious of its whereabouts. Of all who were connected with
the daily press of that time I believe the only survivor is
Mr. Francis Hall, of tho Commercial, with half a dozen of
the then journeymen. For myself I always had good
situations, was habitually industrious, drank no beer, and
earned from $lO to $l2 a week, most of which, after pay-
ing board, went for tickets at the Park Theatre. Mecha-
nics, clerks, &c., paid $3 a week for board."
The New York Post says the report of the sailing
of a Fenian privateer from that portarose from the movements
of the steamship Fort Morgan, formerly a supply steamer
in the naval service. She was bought last September by
the well-known firm of Ward and Co., her name changed
to Cuba, and she made four trips to Havana, when she
was withdrawn and placed in dock for refitting. It was
I reported two weeks ago by a person who had opportunity
of being well informed, that she had been sold to the
Fenians. The Cuba, Captain Sundberg, cleared for Bal-
timore, and, it appears, sailed for that port. This is re-
garded as very singular. Vessels of her tonnage do not
usually ply between Now York and Baltimore, and when
vessels sail they generally advertise for freight and pas-
sengers. This the Culai did not do.

LIFEBOAT SERVICES.—During the storms
of the past year the National Lifeboat Institution, by
its life boats and other means, contributed to the saving of
707 persons from different wrecks on our coasts. The Insti-
tution also expended .£21,374 in the same period on its life-
boat es tabshmeats, in addition to granting' £4,950 forre-
wards for saving life and exercising the lifeboats.
The Committee of the Institution earnestly APPEAL to
the public for ASSISTANCE to enable them to meet the
continued heavy demands on the Institution's 150 lifeboat
*stations.
Contributions are received by the London and country
bankers ; and by the Secretary, Richard Lewis, Esq., at the
Institution, 14, John-street, Adelphi, London.

THE ATRE ROYAL, DRURY-LANE.-
Managers, Messrs. E. Falconer and F. B. Chatterton.
THIS EVENING, the Play of THE JEALOUS
WIVE. Mr. Phelps ; Messrs. H. Marston, Barrett, Warner,
G. Belmore, E. Phelps, Harcourt; Airs. Herman Vezin,
Mrs. Vandenhoff, Misses It. Leclercq. Seymour, Sml
After which, the Pantomime, LITTLE KING PIPPIN ;
or, Harlequin Fortunatus and the Magic Purse and Wishing
Cap,

Commence at 7.

THEATRE ROYAL, HAYMARKET.—
Sole Lessee and Mansger, Mr. Buckstone.
THIS EVENING, A ROMANTIC ATTACHMENT.
Mr. W. Farren, Mr. Compton ; Miss Ada Cavendish.
To be followed by BROTHER SAM Messrs. Sothern.
Buckstone, Compton; Mesdames Nelly Moore, Snowden,
&c.
After which, ORPIIEUS IN THE HAY3IARKET
Messrs. W. Farren, Fisher, Bartleman, \Veathersby, &c. ;
Mesdames Keeley, Snowden, Moore, Lindley, Wool
Howard, Wright, Coleman, Lovell, Prevot, &c. gar,
To conclude with A KISS IN THE DARK.

Commence at Seven.

ROYAL LYCEUM THEATRE.—
Under the eole Management of Mr. Pechter.
THIS EVENING, THE ILLUSTRIOUS STRANGER.
Mr. 11. Widdicomb.
Alter 'which, THE MASTER OF RAVENSWOOD.
Mr. Fechter ; Messrs. Jordan, Emery, Widdicomb, Vezin,
J. H. Fitzpatrick, D. Evans ; Mesdames Ternan, Eisworthy,
Lavenu, and C. Leclercq.

Box Office open daily from Eleven till Five.

INTEW THEATRE-ROYAL ADELPHI,
Sole Proprietor 'lnd Manager, Mr. B. Webster.
TIIIS EVENING, at 7, a new farce called PIPKIN'S
RUSTIC RETREAT. Messrs. J. L. Toole and P. Bedford.
After which, at 8, RIP VAN WINKLE. Rip (his 144th
appearance), Mr. Jefferson, sunported by Messrs. Billington,
4'. Bedford, R Phillips, Yelix Rogcrs, Ashley, liburne, C. J.
Smith; Mrs. Biliin; tor, &c.
To conc;ude with .IEBIND TIME. Messrs. J. L. Toole, R.
Phillips. Eburne, C. J. Smith ; Miss A. Seaman, &c.

OYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE.
Sole Lessee and Manager, Mr. Geo. Vining.
THIS EVENING, QUIET LODGINGS.
After whi,h, at a quarter to Eight, IT IS NEVER TOO
LATE TO MEND. Characters by Messrs. Vining, T. Mel-
ville, T. Mead, D. Murray, 8. Caihaem, F. Villiers, J. G.
Shore, G. Murray, 11. Mellon, C. Sey ton, It. Cathcart; Miss
L. Moore and Miss Katherine Rodgers.

RROYAL STRAND THEATRE,
Sole Lessee and Manageress, Mrs. Swanborough.
OYAL

THIS EVENING, at Seven (13th time), a new and origt
flat Comedy, THE FLY AND THE WEB. Messrs. Par-
Belle and Price ; Misses Swanborough and Raynham.
After which will be pi oduced a new Opera Burlesque,
L'AFRICAINE ; or, The Queen of the Cannibal Islanos,
Messrs. Stoyle, James, Thorne ; Mesdames Swanborough,
Raynham, uohnstone, &c.

To coneDide w'th LENDING A lIAND. Messis. Belford
and Turner; Misses Simpson and _Hughes.

ATIS AND POST FREE.
E. MOSES and SONS' FAL.I.IIONABLE ALMANAC
for 1865, List of Prices, with-Fashion-card for the present
season.

MOSES AND SO N
E• respectfaliy call attention to their large and well-
assorted stuck or JUVENILE CLOTHING. The newest
taorics are cornl).nect with the latest and most fashionable
designs, mid the best workmanship. E. MOSES and SON
give particulo, attention to .his important branch of their
business, and they can with confidence affirm that the prices
An, such as must satisfy the most economical. Tnis depart-
ment la in a iiistinct pa•rt of the premises, which will be tound
a great convenience for ladies and children.

MOSES AND SON
• respectfully invite public attention to their large and
well-assorted

WINTER STOCK.

MOSES AND SON'S
•"SANDRINGHAM" and "DANISH" WRAPPER
(latroduced oy the,a) is the newest and roost tashionib:e
style of Overcoats for the season.

E-4 MOSES AND SON'S
• READY-MATE and BESPOKE CLOTIILNLi for
all classes and all ages.

MOSES AND SON'S
• CELEBRATED "INDISPENSABLE" SUIT.
from 30s.

LI MOSES AND SON'S
r:d• HOSIERY and DRAPERY,
for all classes and all ages.

MOSES AND SON'S
• DATS AND CAPS,
fvr all classes and all ages.

MOSES AND SON'S
• BOOTS and SHOES,
for all classes and all ages.

1:41 MOSES AND SON'S
Lu• OUTFI I'6,
for all classes, all ages, and all climates.

E• MOSES AND SON'S
LONDON HOUSES,
154, 155, 156, 157, 31Ino les ; 83, 81, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, Aldgate ;
506, 507, 508, New Oxford--street; 1,2, 3, Hart-street;
137, 138, Tottenham-court-road ; 28S, Euston-road.
Also, Bradford, Yorkshire.

MOSES AND SON'S
• Establishments are closed every Friday evening at
sunset until Saturday evening at sunset, when business is re-
sumed until 11 o'clock.

All articles aremarlieu the lowest prices In plain figures.
Any article nut approved of will be exchanged, or the money
returned.

List of Prices with Rules for Self-measurement, Fashion
Card, and our new pamphlet, "The Philosophy of Dress,"
gratis and post tree.

411 IE LAST EDITION OF " TIIE SUN,"
Containing the Latest SPOIr.r LNG- INT EL LlCiEZies.
can be had Every Evening of
G. 11, GLtNIE, NEWB AGENT,
No. 4. COnnaught-terrace, Hyde-park.

THE LATEST EDITION of " THE SUN "
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