The Sun.
London, England, 1866-03-28 00:00:00

NEWPORT PAGNELL.

The half-yearly meeting was held yesterday at
the office, Westminster-chambers, Victoria-street ;
Mr. C. Magnay in the chair.

Mr. Bellamy, the secretary, read the report, which
stated that causes over which the directors had no
control had delayed the completion of the linelonger
than was anticipated. The arrangements with the
London and North-Western Company with refer-
ence to the junction at Wolverton were now nearly
completed, and the opening for public traffic would
takeplace very shortly. Arrangements were in course
of settlement with the contractor to provide the ne-
cessary rolling stock and staff, and to work the
traffic for a fixed percentage of the gross receipts.
The works of the extension to Olney were expected
to be opened in the course of the present year.
On the motion of the Chairman, the report was
adopted, and the retiring directors, Messrs. Heatley
and Tni-ht-km. and Afr lirnum thn rptiring auditor.
were re-elected.

The meeting was then made special, and the di-
rectors were authorised to raise on debentures
£26,000 for completing the works.

LONDON AND SOUTH-WESTERN AND THE
LUDGATE STATION.

The Government inspector has officially examined
and passed the new connecting line of railway be-
tween Clapham Junction and the Metropolitan Ex-
tension of the London, Chatham, and Dover Rail-
way. The inspection took place in the presence of the
principal officials of the South-Western and Chatham
and Dover Railways. By this new line a useful
route between the Ludgate-hill Station and Rich-
mond, Twickenham, Bushey -park , Kingston, Kew,
Hounslow, and the western and southern suburbs
of the metropolis has been effected. The new line
will be opened to the public on Tuesday next, the
3d of April, when the train service between Kings-
ton, Richmond, and Ludgate-hill, and vice versa,
will be commenced. All the trains are to have first,
second, and third class carriages on week days,
but during April there will be no Sunday service.
The first train is to leave Kingston (new station) at
8 a.m. on Tuesday, and arrive at Ludgate-hill at
9 5 a.m. ; the earliest down train is to start from
Ludgate Station at 9 10 and to reach Kingston at
10 29 a.m.

MUTUAL TONTINE (WESTMINSTERCHAMBERS).

The half-yearly meeting was held yesterday at
the office, Westminster-chambers, Victoria-street,
Mr. Sampson in the chair.
The report stated that the letting of the chambers
had fully realised all their anticipations, and the
tenants, who had mostly taken long leases, were all
of the highest class ; but, as in a large proportion
of cases the occupation did not commence until De-
cember last, the receipts on the present occasion
were not so large as they would be hereafter. The
profit, however, admitted of a dividend of 4 per
cent., and it was not expected that the dividend
would ever be less than 6 per cent. in future.
The CrwsMAN, in moving the adoption of the
report, congratulated the subscribers upon their
possessing a property equal in solidity to the funds
themselves. When the whole of the chambers were
let, they might reasonably look forward to a large
increase in the dividend.

The report was adopted, and the dividend of 4
per cent. declared.

RIO DE JANEIRO CITY IMPROVEMENTS.

The fourth annual meeting of this company was
held yesterday at the London Tavern ; Mr. R.
D. Mangles in the chair.

The CHAIRMAN congratulated the shareholders
upon the satisfactory condition of the company.
He was glad to be able to state that the latest ad-
vices received by the French mail from the financial
agents of the company at Rio bore still further tes-
timony to the flourishing state of their affairs. The
Brazilian Government had given them every possible
support. The works were being pushed on with the
greatest possible speed, and he trusted that they
might be completed before the end of the present
year. The Brazilian Governmente ie
shtardhteistht
ertome
all the claims upon them with th
punctu-
ality, and he had every reason to believe that they
would in future meet their obligations with the
notf
same fidelity and readiness. The shareholders might
congratulate themselves
upon the possession
claim upon the Brazilian Government arising, o
from a guarantee, as was the case with most
railways, but from a positive Act of Parliament.
of the
The works at Rio had answered their purpose so
well that they had proved a great source of attrac-
tion to engineers in other parts of the world, many
of whom had paid them official visits of inspection
with a view to the construction of similar works in
their own neighbourhoods.
After some observations by Mr. Parsons and Mr.
Wilson,
The CHAIRMAN stated that the debentures had
been offered only to the shareholders, and had not
been thrown upon the market. They were issued in
reality because money could be raised upon them on

The sixth annual assault at arms of this brigade
took place yesterday evening in the spacious Ro-
tunda of the Coal Exchange, St. Mary at Hill,
which was splendidly decorated with flags, banners,
and escutcheons, lighted up with jets of gas, for the
occasion. The proceedings were under the presi-
dency of Lieut.-Colonel Warde, Colonel I\l'Mrtrdo,
several members of the city corporation, the De-
puty Inspector of Volunteers, and many hundreds
of visitors, the greater number belonging to the
different metropolitan Volunteer corps, were pre-
sent. The programme embraced almost every de-
scription of combative art—foils, sabres, the old
English quarterstaff, the gloves, singlesticks,
bayonets, Indian clubs, sword feats, rapiers, swords
and bayonets, and sabres and bayonets. The com-
petitors were introduced by Sergeant-Major South-
gate, an old Crimean medallist. They were for the
most part very young men, and by the proficiency
they exhibited the schoolof arms, which the London
Rifle Brigade has exceptionally established, has
proved itself to be a most valuable adjunct to a
Volunteer corps. The contest between Corporal
Fletcher and Mr. Rhode at quarterstaff excited great
interest, not only from its associations with the
days of Robin Hood but by the grotesqueness of jai
mode of combat ; as did also the wonderful display
of muscular vigour by Mr. Cuthbert, in wielding
in various convolutions round his head, and then
suddenly holding aloft, two massive clubs weigh-
ing not less than twenty-five pounds each.
An encounter between Captain Chapman (late,
of her Majesty's Militia) and Mr. Latham,
with rapiers was a beautiful exhibition of skill in
fence and attack. The game of fists, though gloved,
was greeted with its usual warmth, many the fre-
quency of its occurrence during the evening the,
science of self-defence in the old English style swag
not yet to have fallen into desuetude. The bawl of
the brigade, under the direction of Mr. Poulter% per-
formed an overture and several valses and. other
pieces during the evening, and the whole arrange-
ments were admirably managed by Mr. Cross, colour-
sergeant and hon. secretary of the school of arms.

Non -Intervention the Cradle of Fenianism.

" Anglo-Irish" writes as follows to the Herald :
—" The Fenian conspiracy was born on that day
on which the Emperor of the French, the most far-
seeing, the wisest of all modern Sovereigns, and
England's truest friend, invited Lords Palmerston
and Russell, nay, urged on them the advisability of
France and England recognising the independence
of the Southern States of North America. Lords
Palmerston and Russell refused the wise counsel of
the French Emperor, and on that day combined
Irish America gave birth to Fenianism. I say
" combined," for that short-sighted policy, " a
policy emanating from the Manchester School, and
that portion of the community who feared a pre-
sent disturbance of their trade," made the Southern
equally with the Northern States our deadly foes.
The hackneyed cry of " expediency," so long
reigning over our destinies, has given way of
late years to the cry of " non-intervention"—
a system commendable in the abstract, but
destructive in general application ; for in Lord
Russell's hands it has lowered our position amongst
nations, and where we were formerly feared and re-
spected we are now derided and despised. Honour,
gallantry, and humanity are discouraged, as in the
case of Capt. Wake and the Bulldog ; whilst such
bloodthirsty and heart-sickening atrocities as were
committed in Jamaica, if they are not approved of,
will, in all probability, receive but a dubious rebuke
at the hands of thosewho rule over us. Baneful, in-
deed, are the effects ol this modern policy of non-in-
tervention. It has dismembered Denmark, for notwith-
standing the boastful threat that a " Great Power"
was oen3nct, reaay to derwia a...464a*. of eLn* un
happy country, that " Great Power" never showed ;
it was found in nubibus when " fighting reality"
commenced. Rapacious Prussia has taken the spoil
to herself, and a German war is not unlikely to rise
out of the embers of a " Whig non-intervention
policy." That policy has reconstructed the Ameri-
can Union, and made those States the most stupendous,
the most aggressive power in the world; it will ere
long in all probability lose us our North American
provinces, and, worst of all, it has aroused the spirit
of disaffection in Ireland which it may take
years to subdue. Had the counsel of the French
Emperor been met with just appreciation and com-
pliance the States army would now be what it then
was—an army of raw recruits, without experienced
officers, without the common knowledge or appli-
ances of warfare ; and their fleet, now said to be
superior to our own, at that time blockading the
Southern coasts, would have been swept from the
face of the ocean. Her dockyards being annihilated
could never have given existence to the formidable
naval armaments with which she can now cover the
ocean ; and three separate and " harmless" na-
tionalities would " then" have been formed from a
territory which " now" " in one," threatens to be
the terror of the world. But no ; the peace at all
hazards, the £ s. d. policy of the then rulers of Eng-
land prevailed : " a present calm" was preferred
for themselves, the " future tempest" wan
left for others. Foreign agencies are now
ranged in the ranks with Ireland's treasured,
wrongs in urging on and fomenting • a rebellion
which threatens to destroy that country's dearest
interests. I will now ask, what within the last
five years, until the election was over, have the
Government done to arrest the course of this
torrent of disaffection, this torrent of their own
creation ? Until the polling-boths were closed
they never even divulged the dread secret ; they
turned a deaf ear to every advice and proposal for
fortifying and securing the vulnerable portions of
the Irish coasts; they dismantled existing forts; they
withdrew the armaments from others ; they repu-
diated the advice of the military authorities to change
the regiments quartered in Ireland, and the loyal
people of that country are now about to gather in
the harvest of their folly. Unarmed and undefended
in itself, save by a corrupt police and an organised
rebel militia, Ireland will have to curse
the day
which gave birth in
to add another
non-
intervention, which promises so soon .
brought
those
i not no
blot to the mistaken and ruinous policy of Palmer_America to the offspring of
the whirlwind—England has
only she must reap
'f she now has to la 3
insctionwaorf
only herself to
blame 1e in civilpour out
ston and Russell. But England has sown the wind
she has. confided. the task of turning
through the se
the wheel of her destinies."
her blood and hmershtrneessasurand
whose hands

fAkevEttneEmENT.]—Consumptton, and all n
stomach, and liver complaints, in
gTavateJ and accelerated by drugs of stage' are only
baUcr;
permeily curable by Du Barry's healthevery description. t
Arabic& Food, as proved by thousands restoring net
ver bad
throats, diphtheria, been considered hopeless; B of
cases
drhspepsia),
....consumption, habitual 1:?onfild8P,
such as indigestion (
cough, asthma, - -ervous, bilious'
bees, all gastric derangements, liver
hysteria, neuralgia, irritability,
com-
plaints, flatulency, n t,ernents, bosnrorurshoes., atin diarr-
fevers, sore
nervousness, s 11
riah,eucraataatrir,hms, colds,
d binfluenza, noises in the
head and ears, impurities, eruptions,
sleeplessness, acidity, pal.
pttation, heartburn, headache, debility, dropsy, cramps,
spasms, nausea and sickness even in pregnancy or at sea,
and en shoulders
sinking fits, bronchitis, scrofula, tightness of the chest,
pains in the pit of the stomach
O. We quote a few.—Cure, No.
46,270betwe the
. Mr. James Roberts,
,
timber merchant, of Friznley Surrey, of shirt years' diseased
deaf-
lungs, spittingof blood, liver deEralnizgaebine t, and partial deaf -
eth Jacobs of extr
No. 47,121. 31,99 .
ness.—Cure,
dwestion, gatherings, low spirits, end nervous
nervousness, in ~, •
tenant of Waterford, of many years' dyspepsia.—No.4kl,B32,
fancies.—Cure, Na 1,77 i. Lord Stuart de Decies, Lord-Lieu-
tenant
patisu, flatulency, spasms, sickness, and
Fifty years' indescribable agony from dyspepsia, nervousness,
vomiting
asthma,
'cough,
Jolly.- Cure No. 54,816. The Rev. James 'l'.
Campbell, Fakenham, Norfolk, of indigestion and torpidity
of the liver, which /tad resisted all medical treatment
In tins, 11b, 2s 9d; 21b, 4s 61; 51b, lls ; 121 b, 225; 211 b,
ea.—Barry Du Barry and Co., No. 77, Regent-street, London ;
also Phillips, tea dealers, 8, King William-street ; likewise
at 61, Gracechurch-street; 4, Cheapside ; 49, Bishopsgate-
street Within ; 63, 150, and 228, Oxford-street ; 330, Strand ,
54, Upper Baker-street ; 103, Tottenham-court-road ; 90,.
Upper-street, Islington, N. ; Harvey, NOttill2-hill; Clos
bill ile le
it 10's
c;
it
se r
andr ce , St.
hn
jßoroth,-wesrs,o6osd,
, onllLighd-sotnre;eatn;daanidi
rSetsupbebesta,
che-
mists.—Beware of spurious imitations.

---
LONDON, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28; 1866.

Mr. BRIGHT yesterday attended a meeting at
Manchester ; it was not very complimentary to
Birmingham that he should not have gone there,
but it would be difficult for the hon. member to do
all that he seems inclined to do in the furtherance
of the Government Reform Bill. Were it as com-
plete as the most zealous could desire, it could
hardly be more praised than it is by Mr. BRIGHT.
Perhaps it is because the Ministry have partly fol-
lowed his advice, and perhaps it is still more because
the idea of opposition has raised his natural taste
for disunion and disputes. On the whole, the tone
of this speech was quieter than is usually the case
with the hon. member for Birmingham, but doubtless
lie suited himself to his audience, and he showed his
discretion in so doing, for the fierce vituperations
and vehement objurgations that may pass muster at
miscellaneous gatherings would hardly have been
tolerated in Manchester. We differ from Mr.
BRIGHT in thinking that, though we have before
this had numerous Reform Bills, " we have not had
one proposed since the great Reform Bill of 1832
under the same circumstances of distinctness, in
the measure itself, and of earnestness on the part
of the Government by which it has been pro-
posed." In the first place, there seems to be
a good deal of misunderstanding about the
working of the measure even in the frag-
mentary part introduced into the House,
and in the next, until they were driven on by force
of circumstances, the Ministers were strangely
apathetic about it. It was observed that Mr.
GLADSTONE did not exhibit the eagerness which
had been anticipated from his previous efforts in
that direction. Mr. BRIGHT thinks the Govern-
ment will stand or fall by the question, and there-
fore that it is likely to meet with more direct atten-
tion, which is very suitable in his opinion. It is not
always, however, that hon. members are the most
straightforward or disinterested in their actions I
when it is made known that the Government are
re'3l"rsd to abide by the issue of the division, and
sometimes
we may take the result of the debate as
significant
there is no particular desire for a
change more thau that the proposal, whatever it
be, is regarded
with universal approbation.
The diversity of
°=•uon that exists upon the
Ministerial side of the hoxlso w
thea occasion s never more pro-
minently displayed than upon
ion of the
recent debates, and Mr. BRlGHTlaOiedg,eat stress
upon it in the course of his speech.
Re said—
Youldaresay, some
with
" have read, of you i
curiosity, some of you with amazement, and
some
of you with disgust, speeches that have been made
from the benches of the Liberal side of the house."
It is quite unusual for Mr. BRIGHT to do
justice to those opposed to him, and therefore
many will be surprised to find the terms in which
he speaks of Lord GRosVENOR. lie stated very
truly that the noble lord had made a proposition
against the measure, but he had not " ventured
upon any language which was contemptuous of the
people." Mr. BRIGHT fell into his old style of
exaggeration when he said that some of those who
made speeches in the house against the bill con-
sidered that the great majority of the people " were
destined to be henceforth but hewers of wood and
drawers of water, for there were those in high position,
of high titles, and great wealth, who seem to think

that he world was made for them., Rd not for the
great people of this kingdom." Allowing,
for the sake of argument, that any one
of average intelligence, could entertain such a no-
tion, the meaning of it is quite preposterous, and
much as a good and comprehensive measure of Re-
form may be needed, and would be appreciated, we
need no change whatever to prove the thorough in-
dependence of our working classes, nor to show
that they are capable of trust. In the discussion of
a great question it is always safest and wisest to
keep as much as possible to the main issue, and not
to dwell on probabilities, or to suggest chances,
for by so doing we lose sight of the vital interests
at stake in the excitement of dismissing matters
which really have little relation to the objects
which should be the chief concern.

The more we consider the statements of authentic
observers in Jamaica, the more we may adhere to
the opinion that there has been throughout great
exaggeration among the witnesses. The notion
that unfortunately obtained as to the probability
of restitution being awarded by the Commissioners
no doubt did great harm, and we may fairly con-
clude that many were glad to foster the idea in
order to keep up the excitement, and obtain cre-
dence for the extreme accounts they had previously
put forth. The Commissioners have, however,
taken great pains to sift the statements as far as
they possibly could, and no doubt when
they cannot exactly define the nature of
the evidence they will compare the proba-
bilities of the case with the accounts given
in order to arrive at a just conclusion. A notable
instance of sheer falsehood was given by a black
woman, who came to the Commissioners with har-
rowing tales of cruelty. She was found out, how-
ever, and made to convict herself, for the Commis-
sioners happened to be going in the direction which
she had pointed out as the scene of the dreadful
tale. She had the effrontery to show them a wrong
house, and after minute investigation all her stories
were shown to be false. As she declared that her
husband and son had been hung, she perhaps
thought that she might get some allowance made
to her. It must have been mere love of mis-
chief, however, that prompted her to go to such
length in the continuation of her details. We may
infer from this striking instance of prevarication,
contradiction, and falsehood how much dependence
is to be placed on apparently credible stories.
Another point worthy of attention is that the con-
dition of the negroes in Jamaica really left them
nothing to complain of, and with one thing and
another they were, indeed, very well off. We find,
now that we have more minute details of their con-
dition, that they were better off than was at all
imagined by many in this country before
the outbreak rendered them unfortunately
familiar with the circumstances of the
race declared to be so unhappy and persecuted by
those who apologise for the insurgents, and seem to
be indignant that any attempt was made to put
them down. As is correctly stated by the Special
Correspondent of the Times, "An English peasant
would have thought himself thrice blessed with one-
half of those worldly possessions." The cottages
of some of these insurrectionists show plainly
enough that want and distress did not drive them
to desperation. In point of fact, they could not have
been more prosperous, when we remember the luxu-
riant soil around them, and the work which they
could always have if they choose to do it. It is not
always those who are the worst off who exhibit the
most restlessness, and show that they are impatient
of all necessary restraint.

According to the intelligence brought by the Uity
of New York a large body of troops is expected at
~lalifax from England, to be marched from thence
to New Brunswick. The rumour goes that 10,000
men are to be sent, but this is most likely an over-
statement. The measure, as we have said on pre-
vious occasions, is a wise and prudent one, and is
by no means uncalled for under present circum-
stances. The active organisation of the Fenians is
scarcely likely to break up without the leaders at-
tempting some movement, and Canada offers
them every facility, though they will probably
meet with a very warm reception. What our Go-
vernment should now do would be to send out gun-
boats ; a dozen of these would protect the Canadian
shores, and keep the Fenian Naval Brigade in order.
They are lying idle at home, and our mortar boats
are being converted into scavengers, so that a little
profitable employment might easily be found for
them. A Canadian, writing to a contemporary on
this subject, says, after referring to the vigorous
efforts made by the colonists in self-defence, " We
have soldiers, and we have shown that we
are prepared to use them, but we have no
gunboats, and will England, who can easily
and without expense, supply us ? The presence
of five armed vessels in the St. Lawrence would be
worth 5,000 men, and would relieve us from the
necessity of keeping that number of troops under
arms." Ile therefore says that sonic gunboats
should be sent to the St. Lawrence without delay,
so as to be there when the navigation opens, to
guard the frontier from Lake Ontario to Montreal.
The Fenian attack was, according to the last re-
ports, to have been before the breaking up of the
ice, but there is no certainty as to their movements.
At any rate, in the present unsettled and disturbed
condition of affairs, it would be a safeguard
to have these vessels protecting the coasts.
The Canadians have shown so great a willingness to
protect themselves, and to do their own part with-
out looking to the mother country for everything,
that it is only fair and reasonable that England
should make some effort to assist them. It is very
well for us to smile at Fenianism, and to read the
accounts of the Dublin trials with more pity for the
criminals than alarm at the design, but we must
remember that in Canada it is a very different
thing. With all the appliances of warfare,
with a restless and excitable population
around them, with plentiful supplies of
money and every facility for recruiting, with
experienced military commanders and plenty of
vulnerable points to attack, the Fenians in
America present a formidable front to a thinly-
peopled colony—formidable, that is to say, so
far, as thg temporary necessity for action and
the possible result of negligence or hesitation are
concerned, though not really dangerous to a brave
and united people. Within 24 hours, says the
Canadian correspondent referred to, an army of
10,000 men was turned out, well officered, well
armed, and fairly drilled. What with regular
troop,,
0
re ready
volunteers, and militia, there are now about
for action, and these supplemented
arriving from England, and assisted by
blthey 0 0e a
the gunboatse
upon the lakes, would very soon dipose
of
ItF eisnipa
possible that the Brotherhood may do the
colonists good service by impressingupon them the
desirability of carrying out the Confederation
scheme. New Brunswick, it will be remembered,
was the malcontent who frustrated the plan, and it
was the Irish element which occasioned the opposi-
tion. No doubt the great proportion of the anti-
unionists were Fenians in disguise, and the rest
of the community may now see what their
patriotism is forth,
New Brunswick, as the nearest

point, is the fir st to be threatened by the invader,
and may learn, a useful lesson from the alarm.
Union is strength, and there can be no doubt that
a concentration of the Governments and a
federation of the Provinces would be the
best security against invasion. When the emer-
gency arises the colonies are ready enough to act in
concert ; but. it is evident that a much more vigor-
ous and united action could bo secured by one su-
preme Executive and Legislature. The Governor
of New Brunswick, in his address to the Parliament,
stated that he was directed to express the strong and
deliberate desire of her MAJESTY'S Government for
the union of the Provinces, and we hope that the
expression of this desire will afford the opportunity
of ro-opening the question, now that the New
Bruiiswickers have had actual evidence of the dan-
gers of an isolated policy.
In the States themselves matters are proceeding
quietly, though the Republicans have gained a vic-
tory, which few will rejoice over. They have carried
the New Hampshire election, thus winning an im-
portant step ; but the general tenour of events
still indicates that the country prefers a Democratic
policy. A meeting of Republican members of Con-
gress has been held in support of the PRESIDENT'S
policy, and have resolved to petition Mr. JOHNSON
for the removal of Messrs. STANTON and HARLAN.
The Indiana Democratic convention have also en-
dorsed Mr. JOIINSON'S policy, and there is evidently
a strong feeling in its favour. The PRESIDENT
himself is reported to have said that Congress had
been three months in session without accomplishing
anything towards the restoration of the South, and
that while they continued to oppose his plan they
failed to introduce one of their own. The manner
in which the Radicals propose to deal with the
matter has just received another illustration.
Mr. STEWART has introduced resolutions in the
Senate prescribing conditions for the admission of
the Southern representatives. These include negro
suffrage, full civil and political equality for blacks
and whites, the repudiation of the rebel debt, and
no compensation for emancipated slaves. Such
terms are not very easy for the South to
subscribe to, and the repudiation of the Con-
federate debt is especially' an unfair demand to
make of honourable and high-spirited men.
The Northerners seem to forget, in their de-
sire to humiliate their former adversaries ; that
they are really degrading the American character
and damaging their credit as a nation. It is one of
those cases in which magnanimity and generous
forbearance are " twiceblessed," and since there is a
considerable party in the Northern States capable
of appreciating this truth, we can only hope that
they will not suffer themselves to be overridden
by turbulent and vindictive professors of the much-
abused doctrines of Liberty, Fraternity, and
Equality. ;

CORRESPONDENCE FROM PARIS.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
PARIS, Tuesday Evening.

The news in regard to Germany to-day is more
pacific than for some time past. The Austrian
Gazette announces, it may be supposed officially,
that Austria is not arming. " Should she be forced
to take arms, it would not be to assume a position
in spite of treaties, but to maintain those treaties.
Never has Austria refused to give to Prussia what
belonged to her, but she will guard everywhere, and
at all times, for Germany what belongs to Germany.
In Schleswig Holstein she undertook from the be-
ginning up to the present hour to preserve the inte-
rests and the rights of Germany. Beyond that she
asks for nothing, and asks for nothing for himself."
The death of the Landgrave Ferdinand of Hesse
Homburg may have an important influence upon
the affaija of Qcrivau3^at thin crinin of caLt angement
between Austria and Prussia, for the succession of
the State returns to the Grand Duchy of Hesse
Darmstadt. The Landgrave was the oldest sove-
reign of Europe, having been born on the 26th of
April, 1783. The oldest prince is now Henri the
18th of Reuss-Schleiz, who is 76. The Langraviat
is a small territory of 27,000 inhabitants. The late
Landgrave succeeded his brother on the Bth of
September, 1848. His political sympathies were in
favour of absolutism. The Langraviat branch is now
only represented by two princesses—the grand-
mother of the present Grand Duke of Mecklenburg
Schwerin, and the widow of Prince Henri the 20th
of Reuss-Greiz, the former sister, the latter niece of
the lale Landgrave.
Although the works at the New Opera do not
proceed very rapidiy, they are carried on surely ;
and some idea may now be formed of the beauty
and magnitude of the building. Some months ago
the Emperor, actuated by the most noble feeling,
ordered that the work should proceed simultane-
ously with the new hospital, with the idea that a
mere place of amusement should not be finished be-
fore an establishment for the succour of the sick and
necessitous. This Opera House will be the most
magnificent in Europe. Its length will be 150
metres by 100 in width; total extent, 15,000 metres.
The opera house next to it in extent is the Oriente,
at Madrid, the extent of which is 7,950 metres.
The existing Opera House in Paris has an extent of
6,820 metres. The Theatre Royal, Covent-garden,
London, is only 2,774 metres; the Opera Comique
at Paris, 1,500 metres. The Opera House, which
ranks third in regard to extent, is the Theatre de
Charles Felix at Genoa, 4,750 metres.
It seems, from a note read at the Academy of
Sciences by M. Duchemin, that there is a contagious
malady among insects as well as among animals.
Some honeycombs have been received from the town
of Valence (France), which contain a large number
of dead bees. From microscopic observation it is
found to contain an acarus which is often found in
the sugar cane, and which inflicts painful and dan-
gerous wounds on the arms and hands of those em-
ployed in the manufacture of sugar. M. Duchemin
ascribes the death.of the bees to this cause.

There is at length something like a settlement of
the differences among the Literary Society (Gens de
Lettres). At their last meeting two members were
chosen to complete the committee—Messrs. Alta-
roche and Paul Lacroix. With respect to the Tresor
Litteraire, the apple of discord, it was decidedly
160 notes out of 179, that a consultative committee
of 10 members should be added to the general com-
mittee, with a view to make such modifications in
the work as they may consider necessary. These
members are—Messrs. Paul de Musset, Paul Feval,
Legouve, Henri Martin, George Bell, Caraguel, A.
Challamel, Mornaud, A. Achard, E. de Laledolliere.
Pra-Bat-SomdBtch-Para-Pen-Klon, second King
of Siam, whose death I mentioned, has left a large
family and a large fortune. He leaves 30 children
and 120 wives. The eldest of his sons, now 27,
will take the princely honorary title of Second King
when he shall have attained the age of 30. His
uncle, the first King, has just decided that his
nephew shall take a voyage to Europe to complete
his education, and he will be present at the Paris
Exhibition, at which there will be an extensive
collection of the industrial products of Siam.
The spring season of the Sailing Club of Paris
commenced on Sunday on the basin of Argenteuil.
There was a strong wind from the W.N.W., and the
Ariel was driven ashore. The 'first prize was won
by M. Carpentier's Temps (time, 2h. 28m. 30sec.)
2d prize, Marie Gabrielle (h. 34m. 30sec.) 3d
prize, Verveine (2h. 35m.) 4th prize, Petrel (2h.
35m. 20sec.) The next match will take place on
the Bth of April.
A man named Jean Barne, living in the town of
Tulle, has murdered his wife and two young children
without any apparent motive. The assassin con-
fessed his crime to the magistrates. He narrowly
escaped summary punishment by the crowd on his
way to prison.
It is said that one half of the world does not know
how the other half lives. The widow Clauss for a
long period has managed to live comfortably with-
out paying
either for board or lodging, but Ole was

compelled to disclose the secret of doing so by the
Tribunal of Correctional Police yeterday. It ap-
pears that some months ago a geitleman met the
lady in the Garden of Plants, and he found her so
agreeable and so respectable that he thought there
would be no harm in asking hei to his house to
dinner. The lady said she was till(' of living alone,
and she should like to go and bowl with some re-
spectable people. On being qufstioned delicately
about her means and her fortune she said that in
1848, having saved the lives of th 3 Duke de Monte-
bello and M. Guizot, by coucealin; them in her bed,
the Duchess de Montebello, on dying, left her a
sum of 200 f. a year in stock, a gaidwill of an esta-
blishment worth 40,0001., and L6,000f. in ready
money. Besides this her uncle, the Marquis de
Marius, had left her a villa at llontrouge, which
was worth from 15,000 f. to 18,000 f. It was ar-
ranged that the lady should boaid and lodge with
the gentleman and his wife. Three months
elapsed and no money wis forthcoming.
Upon the strength of similar or more flourishing
accounts of her fortune the lady had lived gratis
for weeks with several other inlividuals who ap-
peared as complainants. The answer of the accused
to the charge was that she had aways paid for her
board and lodging by the work sle did. The court
pronounced a sentence which world enable the lady
to live for nothing for two years more, but perhaps
not so luxuriously, as it condemned her to imprison-
ment for that period. Such lady swindlers are
generally described as handsome elegant, and ac-
complished. The widow Clause is an exception, for
the report says she " is neither rica, elegant, accom •
plikhed, nor plausible of tongue,' but yet in three
houses she had been received, and lodged and
boarded for nothing.
London and Dublin papers have published sensa-
tion paragraphs and telegrams announcing that
Stephens was in Paris and intends to embark at
Havre for New York. This is a case inwhich there
is necessarily secrecy, and I may not be in the
secret, but I have made inquiries in what is called
the proper quarter, and without wishing to be
responsible for a contradiction of the report, let me
inform your readers in perfect confidence that I do
not believe Stephens to be in Paris. Perhaps to-
morrow I may confirm or contradict the report.