The Sun.
London, England, 1866-05-15 00:00:00

~%

N°. 23,061.

THE SUN, • LONDON, TU 6DA EVENING, MAY 15, 1866.

NEW NOVEL BY TIIE PRISON MATRON.
Now ready, in 2 vas., 21 s.,
PRISON CHARACTERS : drawn from Life.
By A. PRISON MATRON, Au;hor of "Female Life in
Pr i on, '
Hurst and Blaekett. 13, Great Marlborough -street.

TT J. AND D. NICOL.L,
• Tailors to the Queen, Royal Family, and the
Courts of Europe, 114, 116, 118, 120, REGENT-STREET,
and 22, CORNHILL, LONDON; 50, BOLD-STREET,
LIVERPOOL; and 10, MOSLEY-STREET, MAN-
CHESTER.

be devised than the simple plan advanced by the
Chancellor of the Exchequer. It cannot, however,
be pretended that these points offer insoluble diffi-
culties; it would be possible in a single afternoon,
much more in a fortnight, to arrive at a practical, if
not complete, solution of every one of them; and as
Mr. Disraeli declares that there is no difficulty in
legislating for want of time, there is sonic reason to
believe that the session of 1866 may see the termi-
nation of an agitation which has existel with vary-
ing fortunes for 15 years.
THE " SPECTATOR " ON THE BRITISH MUSEUM
READING-ROOM.—It is a rather curious story that
of the way in which the great book manufactory
known as the British Museum Reading-room came
to grow up in free-trading London. More than a
century ago, that model philanthropist, naturalist,
physician, architect, and antiquary, Sir Hans Sloane,
after having gathered some fifty thousand volumes
of books--without looking, probably, into a tenth
part of them—conceived the idea of leaving his
hoard to posterity, " for the manifestation of the
glory of God, the confutation of mankind." In his
last will and testament, Sir Hans ordered that his
fifty thousand books, together with an immense
store of "dried samples of plants, miniatures, draw-
ings, prints, medals, and the like," should become
public property, under the condition of the public
paying for them "at the rate of twenty thousand
pounds sterling of lawful money of Great Britain."
The testamentary proposition was duly laid before
the keepers of the public purse, and after a long de-
liberation, and much honestly expressed scepticism
as to the beneficial use of so many old books and
dried plants, it was decided-26th George 11. cap.
22, or, iu unparliamentary figures, April 5, 1753--
that the Sloane gatherings should be taken, if the
national mind would show sufficient interest in the
subject to raise the necessary money in a lottery.
The idea of thus combining the love of literature
and of gambling was very fine, and it had all the
success it deserved. Instead of only £20,000, as
expected, the lottery realised £95,194, which large
surplus was invested in the purchase of more books,
and of a mansion in Bloomsbury, called Montagu
House, to serve as a repository. The Government
at the same time appointed a committee of manage-
ment for this entirely novel description of national
property, the members of which held their first
meeting at the Cockpit on the 17th December,
1753. From these slow beginnings, with the
lottery at the bottom, arose that marvellous
oinnium gatherunz known to modern civilisation as
the British Museum. The committee at the Cockpit,
from the very commencement of their activity—
long before gorillas, stuffed parrots, mummies, Polar
bears, and Nineveh lions, had come to encroach upon
printed matter—felt a tender sympathy for book-
making creatures, and as early as the year 1750 a
solemn resolution was put on the minutes, " that
the corner room in the base story of Montagu
House be appropriated for the - reading-room, and
that a proper wainscot table, covered avith green
baize, be prepared for the same, with 20 chairs."
The kindness was deeply appreciated by the literary
world of England, and there came as many as half
a dozen readers and students of books to sit down
at the green baize table. Among the half a dozen
was one Samuel Johnson, who did little reading,
but a great deal of talking—and kindred souls
joining the conferences, the study with the 20 chairs
soon became a very agreeable place of gossip. Thus
it went on for a number of years, when new faces
made their appearance, which so much disturbed
the comfort of the older members that they insisted
upon a second room being set aside for their accom-
modation. As the old "readers" were mostly men of
note, and tremendous grumblers besides, their de-
mand had to be granted, and a few more chairs and
tables having been gottogether, the new two-roomed
establishment was thrown open in 1774. Fornearly
half a century it proved abundantly large, furnish-
ing a pleasant retreat, with its windows overlook-
ing the garden of Montagu House, tc many a toil-
ing bookwright, besides being of real service as a
library of reference. For this assistance to litera-

Now ready, in 1 vol., with Illustrationv, 355. bound,

TERNATIONAL

HORTICULTURAL
UTION.

SP OR T AND SPORTSMEN.
By CHARLES STRETTON, Esq.

SPRING FASHIONS, for Gentlemen's Overcoa
Morning Coats, Trousers, and Vests.

Tickets may be obtained
and at—

It the principal Nurserymen,

"Mr. Stretton has succeeded in producing a work iesorip-
tive or home scenery, charm:tern, a 'd spoits, which is full of
excitement, and will interest the reader as much as most de-
scriptions of foreign adventure. A charm this book un-
doubtedly has, and few who begin it, and care at all tor field
sporty, will lay it aside till it is finished."—Sunday Times.
Hurst and Bhickett, 13, Great Marlborough-street.

A ustiu's, St. James's Hall.
happen s, New Bond• street.
(;.ek, Add son, and Co.'s,
Regent-street
Keith and Prowse's, Cheap-
side.
Lac,n and 011'er's, New
liond-st-eet.
Mitchell's, Bond-street.

Letts and Sou's, Royal Ex-

BOYS' NEGLIGE, and other suits, HIGHLAND
DRESS, KNICKERBOCKERS, &e.

change.
011ivier's, New Bond-strekt.
Bstn's, St. .1 anu s's- street
Westerton's, St. George's-

LADIES' RIDING HABITS JACKETS OVE
COATS, CLOAKS, &c. , ,

place.
The Royal Horticultural Gar.
dens, lieusington.

and D. NICOLL'S GUINEA WATERPROOF
TWEED COATS for Gentlemen, and CLOAKS for
Ladies, are patronised by Travellers all over the world.

NEW NOVEL BY THE AUTHOR OF " UNCLE SILAS"
AND " GUY DEVERELL"
Just ready, in 2 vols.. post Bvo.,
ALL IN TIIE DARK.
By J. SHIMIDAN LE FANU.
Author of "Uncle Silas" and "Guy DeverelL"
Richard Bentley, New Burlington-street.

And at the Offices, 52, St. G,(;',

Irgc's-place, Albert-gate, S.W.

A Novel.

GREAT COMIC FESTIVAL,
ST. JAMES'S HALL.

H. J. and D. NICOLL, 114, 116, 118, 120, Regent
street ; 22, Cornhill, London ; 10, Mosley-street, Man
Chester ; and 50, Bold-street, Liverpool.

TO-NIGHT (TUESDAY), May 15. when the following
celebrated romeiians will perform all their most favourite
SONGS, BURLE-QUES. and SCENAS, in costume
and eharacter:—Mr. Arthur Lloyd. The Great Vance, Mr.
John Nash, Mr. Albert Steele, Mr. Fred. Ffench, Mr. W.
Randall, the Sisters Dashwood, and Mr. W. Lingard. Ac-
corn pan yi at, Herr Louis Lee.

•
TORN GOSNELL and CO.'S CHERRY
TOO fit PASTE is greatly superior to any tooth
powder; gives the teeth a pearl whiteness, protects the
enamel from decay, and imparts a pleasant fragrance to
the breath. Price Is. 6d.—Bed Bull Wharf, 93, Upper
Thames-street, London.

New Edition, now ready, price ls.,
ITOW TO GET FAT ; or, Leanness, its Causes
and Cure.
By JOHN HARVEY, M.D., F.A.S., L.S.A., London.
By the same Author, price 2e. 6d.; Cheap Edition. Is.
THE RENEWING OF LIFE. A Practical Guide for Self-
Preservation, embracing- the Treatment of nervousness,
Indigestion, and various Affections of the Nervous System.

Stalls, ss. Tickets, 35., 28., and la., to be had of Mr. An.tin,
at the Hall; Messrs. Chappell, New Bond-street; Mr. Mit-
chell, Old Bond-street ; and Messrs. Keith, Prowse, and Co.,
Cheapside.

London : Dean and Son, 65, Ludgate-hilt, J.C.

3/I[R. W. S. WOODIN'S BADEN-BA_DEN
and UP Iv Tam AIR, an entirely New Entertain-
ment, EVERY EVENING, at Eight (except Saturday);
Saturday Mornings at Three. POLYGRAPHIC HALL,
King William street, Charing-cross •
Luxurious sofa stalls, es. ; balcony stalls, 3s. ; area, 2s. ;
amphitheatre, 18.—A plan of stalls may be seen and seats
secured at the Hall from Eleven to Five.

Limp cloth. price Is.,
`SYSTEMATIC MEMORY ; or, How to Make
►,7 Bad Memory Good, and a Good Memory Better. By
T. MACLAUEN.

T HE X F O R D,
6, OXFORD-STREET, W.
The Oxford and Canterbury Hall Company (Limited.
EXTRA NOVELTIES for the DERBY WEEK. Operatic
Selections performed by Misses Russell. Barry, Fitz Henry ;
Messrs. A. St. Albyn, Hush, Bury, Dalton, and Tivoli, with
full band and chorus, canducted by Mr. F. JONGIIMANS.
Comedy, Burlesque. Gymnastic, and other performances,
by all the most talented Foreien and English artistes.
The great Negro Trio, Joe Brown (his first appearance),
and Messrs. Duriah and Davies.
Admission—Area, 6d. ; stalls and balcony, is ; private
boxes, with separate entrance, 10s. 6d.
Open every evening at 8.

ItrADAME TUSSAUD'S EXHIBITION,
BAKER-STREET, EASTER HOLIDAYS.
NEW ADDITIONS.—SeveraI life-size Portrait Models
of the most distinguished Personages of the day (including
those of the late LORD PALMERSTON and GUS-
TAVUS V. BROOKE) have been added since the last
Holidays ; and in the Chamber of Horrors are Effigies,
taken from life, of SOUTHEY alias FORWOOD, and the
notorious CHARLOTTE WINSOR.

Open from 11 a.m. till 10 p.m.
Admittance, is. ; children, under ten, half price ; Extra
Rooms, 6d.

ARGYLL ROOMS, Great Windmill-street,
Piccadilly.
Selections from ail the favourite Operas will be performed
by the celebrated ARGYLL BAND every Evening.
Chef d'Orchestra, Signor L. CURTI.
M. LEVY, the Great Cornet Player, at Nine, Ten, and
Eleven o'clock.
Doors open at half-past Eight o'clock.
Admission, ls.

WHAT DO THE WILD WAVES SAY
NOW ? That the FIERY CROSS has arrived,
bringing some magnificent KAISOW CONGOUS of delicious
flavour, and which may now be had, at a mere commission on
the import price, of the FAST _INDIA. TICA CO At PAN y,
No. 5, Great St. Helen's Churchyard, Bishopsgate-street.

PHEASANT REARING for 1866.— JAMES
CHAMBERLIN'S (opposite Corn Exchange, Nor-
wich) is the only depot in the world for proper Fool) for
PHEASANT FEE DING. Between 200 and 300 testimonials
of last year's success. Treatise on Hatching and Rearing,
with other valuable hints, posted free on application. Land-
owners, pheasant rearers, and gamekeepers can raise any
number of birds by using his food. The aristocrat)), of the
kingdom constantly use it. Gentlemen requiring game-
keepers, or gamekeepers requiring situations, are requested
to apply to Mr. James Chamberlin, wine merchant and phea-
sant food dealer, opposite Corn Exchange, Norwich.

STARCH MANUFACTURERS
TO H. R. H. THE PRINCESS OF WALES.
GLENFIELD PATENT STARCH,
Used In the Royal Laundry,

DEFRIES and SONS beg to call the special
fa • attention of Merchant 3 and the Trade to their
NEW PATENT ASTRA BURNER.
With Circular Wick,
which for simplicity of construction, great brilliancy of 1101 t,
perfect combustion. and its entire freedom from heat, sur-
passes everything that has yet been introduced.

ASTRA LAMPS can be obtained from the
METROPOLITAN LIGHT COMPANY, 417, Strand,
and from all Ironmongers and Lamp Wart houses in Town
and Country; and the Patentee, 18 and 17, Commercial-
street, WhitechapeL

A STRA, PETROLEUM, and KEROSINE
11 LAMPS on SHOW. (New Designs.)

ASTRA (Patent) LAMP, for MINERAL
OIL.

AS TRA LAM P.—Five Hundred NEW
PATTERNS for the Season now on hhow.

TABLE GLASS. ENGRAVED AND CUT.
T DEFRIES and SONS,
0. 16 and 17, COMMERCIAL-STREET.

BURGLARS DEFIED.—JOHN TANN begs
to invite the public to inspe t his new PATEN FIRE
and WEDGE-RESISTING SAFES and IRON DOORS.
which an be seen al his Patent Lock and Safe Warehouse,
Walbrook. London.

SPANISH FLY is tho acting ingredient in
ALEX. ROSS'S CANTIIARIDES OIL. which speedily
produces whiskers and chickens hair, 3s. 6d, ; sent iree for
54 stosinps.— ALI4:X. ROSS, 248, nigh Holborn. London.
Essay on Hair, Id.

ALEX. ROSS'S BLOOM of ROSES, 3s. 6d.,
or 54 stamps.

-DIMPLE REMOVER.—AII diseases of the
skin are improved by one dose of ALEX. ROS•,'S
VE3ETA nu: SKIN PILLS. They remove redness, sal-
lowness, aro. 2s. 9d.; by peat for 4') stamps.—ALEX. ROSS,
243, High Holborn, London.

A LEX. ROSS'S FACE POWDER, is., or 14
IX stamps.

HAIR-CURLING FLUID, 248, High Holborn,
London.—ALEX. ROSS'S CURLING FLUID curia
Ladies' or Gentlemen's hair immediately it is applied. Sold
at Se. 6d.; sent free for Si stamps. Ross's Toilet Magazine,
Is. od.. or 20 stamps.

LIQUID ROUGE, is., or 18 stamps.

TAVERN AND HOTEL GLASS.
Newest Patterns, Correct Measure.
JDEFRIES and SONS,
• 16 and 17, COMMERCIAL-STREET.

faREY HAIR.-248, High Holborn, London.—
ALEX. ROSS'S lIAIR DYE produces a perfect colour
immediately it is used. It is permanent, and perfectly na-
tural in effect. Price 3s. ed. ; sent by post for 54 stamps.

ALEXANDRA DINNER SERVICES,
For 12 Persons, £t 18s. 6d.
BREAKFAST and TEA SERVICES
in great variety, 41 is.
DEFRIES and SONS,
tx• 16 and 17, COMMERCIAL-6TBEET.

r ADIES HAIR DYED, from 1 guinea; Gentle-
-IL 4 men's, from 10s. 6d.

IMAGIC PHOTOGRAPHS.—" Any child can
asnish the famil."—Standard. Every one is able
to produce to a
Photograph is Picture at home with a few drops
of water only. One shilling the packet. with printed instruc-
tions, or post free for 13 stamps, from the Manufacturers and
Patentees, ANGERERS, SON FRUWIRTH, and CO., 146
Cheapside, E.C.

CRYSTAL CHANDELIERS,
New designs, for the Drawing-room. either for Gas or Candle.
JDEFRIES and SONS,
• 18 and 17, COMMERCIAL-STREET.

MAGIC PORTRAITURE.--To be Enabled to
produce your OWNIPORTRAIT by Magic Photo-
graphy with a few drops of wa'er only, causing. endless fun
and amusement. Send your carte de visite and 30 stamps to
Messrs. ANGERERS, SON, FRUIN IRTII. and CO, 148.
Cheapside, E.C. One dozen with materials and printed
direction for instantaneous production will b..- returned with
the original within seven days.

CRYSTAL CHANDELIERS,
In the Grecian and Venetian Designs.
JDEFRIES and SONS,
• 16 and 17, COMMERCIAL-STREET.

BRONZXD AND ORMOLU CHANDELIERS,
New designs, for the Dining-room.
T DEFRIES and S ONS,
• 16 and 37, COMMERCIAL-STREET.

LADIES MORE BEAUTIFUL THAN
EVER.—Dr. CULVERWELL'S LADIES' TUR-
KISH BATHS, Tuesdays. Gentlemen other dave.-3, Great
Ihrlborough-street, W. he. Aiso the Post Office Turkish
Baths, 19, St Martin's-le-Grand,
le. 6d. Saturdays and
Sundays, is. ; at both establishments, ls. Greatest purifier
.
of the blood and beautifier of the skin.

-no you wish to SING, or have a beautiful and
-Mpowerful VOICE? If so, the " REGISTERED
pHONIC NOTES " are truly wonderful in their action,
and are unanimously pronounced the "Marvel of Science."
They are invalual le to all, and are guaranteed as a protective
agent in all weathers. No Singer or Speaktr should be
without them. (Sec opinion of the press and testimonials.)
The Euphonic Note, post free 14 stamps, in boxes 26 stamps,
direct from the sole inventor, SEAGRAVE ALGEN, 1,
Dorcas-terrace, Hammersmith-road, London, W.

I ÜBSCRIPTION TESTIMONIAL
/ TO
GEORGE CRUIKSHANK.
PRESIDENT,
JOHN RUSKIN, Esq., 31. A.
VICE-PRESIDENT.
Sir W. C. TREVELYAN, Bart.
TREASURER.
Louis Huth, Esq,
BANKERS.
Messrs. Glyn, Mills, and Co., 67, Lombard-street, B.C.

AND AWARDED THE PRIZE MEDAL, 186*
Sold by all Grocers, Chandlers, dm Aro.

ELIO-SCENE.—This very Handsome SUN-
BLIND is more effectual in keeping out the sun than
any other, for the otvious reason that the hoods overlap ea h
other, so as to plane a double layer of cloth between the sun
and window glare ; also the wide, open space between each
hood insures copious ventilation and the gnat advant4ge of
a clear view.—R. LOWTHER and Co., 31, Regent-street,
near Piccadilly. All kinds of blinds made and repaired.

POPULAR DWELLINGS in POPULOUS
and SUBURBAN DISTRICTS

" Befpre the century was actually in its teens. we believe
tha? George Cruisthank was amusing the public. Is there
no way in which the country could acknowledge the long
services and brave career of such a friend and benefactor ?"
THACKERAY.

The public in general is invited to co-operate in this move-
ment. Subscriptions receivable as above, or by the under-
signed as bonot ary secretary,
CHARLES A. HOWELL.

3, York-villas, Brixton, S.

PROVIDENCE ROW NIGHT REFUGE,
FOR
HOMELESS WOMEN AND CHILDREN,
14A, Providence-row, Finsbury, E.C.
Sixty Thousand Nights' Lodgings, with Suppers and
Breakfasts, have boon given in this Institution to the
destitute, who otherwise would have had to pass the
nights in the bleak streets or under railway arches.
At present nearly 500 Nights' Lodgings, with Suppers and
Breakfasts, are given gratuitously every week. The poor
from all parts are admitted, the only condition being that
they are homeless and starving. The Manager, &c.,
receives no remuneration whatever. Notwithstand-
ing the provision made by the Poor Houses, each
night numbers of young women, children, and orphans
are, for want accommodation, refused admittance, and have
to spend night after night in the cold, wet, and sleet. To
meet this evil, and to provide more ample accommoda-
tion, £2,000 has been raised, but to accomplish the
work a sum of at least £l,OOO more will be required.
Besides providing shelter for the homeless, this year it
is proposed, as far as the donations obtained for the pur-
pose will allow, to give bread and coals to poor families
in want. Will you, in your charity, help to carry on and
accomplish what has been begun ? Will you help to give
shelter to the really homeless, and food to the really
starving ? The smallest donation will be most welcome,
and, night and morning, the prayers of the destitute will
be offered in your behalf.
SUBSCRIPTIONS are earnestly requested, and will bo
Fratefully received by the Bey. D. GILBERT Da, lid. 22,
insbury-circus 8.0.

Mr. JAMES fitOKTIMEP invites at tention io his patented
Plans for Improved Separate Dwellings for all classes, which
embrace an increase of street paving for each storey, public
staircases, promenades, gardens, schools, reading, lecture,
dining, and warerooms, baths, &c.; also workshops, with or
without steam power, and perfect separation of tenants, to
realise upwards of It per cent —Further information of Mr.
J. Mortimer, SS, Queen's•road, I►alston, N.E.; or of Mr. J.
Dunbar, 4, Westminster-chambers, Victoria-street, West-
minster, S.W.

MEETH AND PAINLESS DENTISTRY.-
R. The fear of pain and dread of operation inherent to all
debt* very many to whom A ItTI FiCIAL TEETH are of
vital importance from availing themselves of the services of
a dentist. In a practice founded in 1830, and now ex ending
over greater part of the kingdom, an experience unequalled
has been obtained, enabling us to offer even the most sensi-
tive sufferer a i-ystem of dentistry perfect in Its absolute
freedom from pain, a speciabt6 i ertaining only to our prac-
tice. and for which her Majesty has granted her royal letters
patent. This system ernb: aces the non-interference with all
stumps, however decayed, the support ng instead of extrac-
tion of loose teeth until ►hey become firm and useful in mas-
tication, and the utter absence of all and every operation, an
that the most nervous person can be supplied without fear of
pain or inconvenience. These teeth are cheaper, more dur-
able, natural, and comfortable than any yet produced.
Consultation tree. Teeth from ss. Sets from 5 to 25 ga.,
warranted.

For the efficacy, utility, and success of this system, vide
"Lancet."

Messrs. LEWIN and SIMEON MOSELY and SONS,
30, Berners-street, Oxford-street, and 448, Strand,
Opposite Charing-cross Railway Station.

Daily attendance at 15, Whitefriargate, Hull; 10, Norfolk-
street, Sheffield ; 4, East-parade, Leeda ; 14, St. Nicholas-
street, Scarbro' ; and 33, Coney-street, York.
_ . - -- - -

Established 1830. No connection with any one of the same
name.

ture the English nation paid at the rate of £9OO a
year, including " coals, candles, and other inciden-
tal charges"—set down at £2O. At present that
is, for the financial year 1866-67, the British Mu-
seum cost £102,744, or more than a hundred times
as much. However, the " readers" have increased
at a much higher than the hundredfold rate. Ac-
cording to the poet Gray, the number of students
at the British Museum Library on the 23d of July,
1759, amounted to five, he himself being one of the
company. In the year of grace 1865, as stated in
the official returns, the number of readers was
100,271, averaging 349 a day. Who can doubt,
looking at these figures, the progress of
English literature ? The growth of the im-
mense book-store, the foundation of which
was laid by the Sloane lottery, was very rapid.
Gray's five readers had about 80,000 volumes to
look at ; but Samuel Johnson, who came a few years
later,found already nearly 100,000, and thenceforth
the mass of books increased in much faster propor-
tion than the population of Great Britain. The
Cotton and Harley collections were the first to be I

added to the stock, which was soon after largely
swelled by 30,000 political tracts presented by
George 11. Besides these great streams of printed
matter, driblets kept flowing in from all directions.
Speaker Onslow bequeathed a large selection of
Bibles ; Sir Joseph Banks gave Icelandic works on
theology ; the Rev. William Cole presented genea-
logical manuscripts : and even a Jew broker of Am-
sterdam sent, gratis, " a choice lot" of Hebrew
books. But the two largest accessions to the Mu-
seum store were obtained in the present century,
the first being the library of George 111., number-
ing about 70,000 volumes, and the second the mag-
nificent collection of 'Thomas Grenville, containing
more than 20,000 books, some of them exceedingly
valuable. Both these libraries are still kept, to
some extent, distinct from the rest, in special rooms
and with separate catalogues. To accommodate the
books of George 111., or " the King's library," a
large building had to be erected in the rear of
Montagu House ; but notwithstanding this exten-
sion of ground, the old mansion was soon stuffed
with books, to such a degree that it became nigh
impossible to get at them. The most valuable works
were bidden in dark nooks and corners, the shelves
were filled two and three deep, and classification
became all but impossible. Still the flood kept
pouring in—a very Niagara of print tumbling into
the old mansion at Bloomsbury. In 1838 the books
were counted, one by one, as they stood on the
shelves, and found to number 235,000 ; at the pre-
sent moment they are believed to be near upon
900,000. The actual increase now is at the rate of
between 75,000 and 76,000 per annum. During
the year 1865 the department of printed books
was augmented by 75,565 numbers, of which
28,644 were complete works; 19,335 werepurchased,
915 presented, and 8,394 acquired under the copy-
right laws. The latter figure, it is to be surmised,
represents 'the result of the book manufacture of
Great Britain in the course of this one year : and a
very considerable portion of it Must be fruit of the
_ _

SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS.

TIMES. —We know not whether the House of
Commons was satiated with Reform by the number-
less, speeches on the Franchise Bill, or whether
Foreign Affairs or the Panic in the City have dis-
tractedits attention, but it is somewhat remarkable
that the debate on the Bill for the Redistribution of
Seats should have collapsed during the dinner-hour
on the very first night of the discussion. Mr. Dis-
raeli began yesterday with an elaborate speech on
the distribution of political power in our represen-
tative system as proposed to be affected by the Go-
vernment Bills. Mr. Cardwell followed him, and
there it may be said that the debate ended. The
announcement made by the Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer, in reply to Sir Stafford Northcote, that
the Ministry had resolved upon accepting Mr.
Bouverie's suggestion for fusing the Seats Bill and
the Franchise Bill in Committee, effectually allayed
the faint curiosity which up to that time held the
house together, and directly it was made the sub-
ject was dropped. On Monday week, the 28th, the
House of Commons will go into committee upon
both bills, and members have until that time to
make up their minds what they will support and
what they will oppose, the points on which they are
willing to accept a compromise and those which they
deem so essential that they cannot be modified.
Mr. Disraeli's verdict on our 'present position is
plain, if idiomatic. We are all in a " scrape" on
this Reform question. The phrase is classical, ac-
cording to Mr. Disraeli, for Dean Swift often used
it, and it is the only phrase which expresses the posi-
tion of all parties. This Reform problem, which
every one has talked about and Ministry after
Ministry has attacked, is still not understood ; it is
not understood by the country, it is not understood
by the House of Commons, and it is not understood
by her Majesty's Government. The Ministers of
the Crown are, indeed, particularly backward, for
they are ignorant of their ignorance, although it is
an ignorance of facts as well as of principles. The
only thing to be done is for the Chancellor of the
Exchequer to withdraw the bills he has laid upon
the table, and to begin the study of the prin-
ciples of Reform. He may then, if he is dili-
Session.
Ignorance, Mr. Disraeli declares—and the agnendt,
wbeell,nbolnesidteoredmeasure introduce comprehensive
a next
state-
ment commands our assent—never settles any ques-
tion; but it must be added there are qualities with-
out which knowledge seems equally powerless. Mr.
Disraeli avoided the errors of Mr. Gladstone's
speech of 1858, and the arguments he advanced in
defence of small boroughs were sound and just, and
free from the suspicion of partisanship. He was
equally forcible in showing the anomalies created by
the principle of grouping when applied only to
boroughs already represented. On the other hand,
his arguments against increasing the political power
of the largest counties and towns by increasing the
number of their members were fanciful, and in pro-
posing to group unrepresented boroughs alone he
would introduce anomalies compared to which those
incident to the Government plan are trifles. Criti-
cism is no doubt the proper function of an Opposi-
tion, and in criticism Mr. Disraeli was strong ;
but as soon as he came to practical suggestions he
was powerless. Fortunately, however, the position
of the question is well understood. The Reform
Ac
at
Act
Statute-book, will if by
wandl
b bye a it
as we hope, in
the appears,
compromise,
the leading
features of which are now known, and all that re-
mains is to settle its details. The. worst that can be
said of the proposed act is that it is a sop ; but even
a sop has its uses. If the Opposition. be wise, they
will offer all possible assistance.. in disposing of the
question. Some debate and. division may reasonably
be expected on the particular figure of the county
andperhaps of the borough qualification; the borough
leaseholders must certainly be withdrawn, leaving
the borough freeholders in the possession of their
present anomalous privileges; and a more satisfac-
tory settlement of the question of boundaries must

Museum tree. That books beget books is an old

truth, and there is not in the world another place
where the process of generation and incubation is
encouraged as it is in that temple of concentrated
leßrning known as the new Reading-room of the
British Museum. The substitution of this magnifi-

cent rotunda for the plain two old rooms at the back
of Montague-house came to mark an important era
in the history of the British Museum library. We
well remember the two rooms, with all their homely
simplicity of furniture and shelves; and remember
with particular pleasure the number of well-known
faces that used to assemble there to consult rare and

important books, to read, to study, and to take
occasional notes. All this came to an end in 1857,

when the new temple of literature—" second to one
only, in point of size, of the cupola buildings which
have been erected by the genius of man," as the
enthusiastic compiler of the " Handbook for Readers"
has it—was given to the public. The visitors and
students of the old library transferred themselves
with some misgivings to the " magnificent salon"—
to quote the " Handbook" again—and sat down
under the big dome " the ceiling of which is coloured
in azure, with gilded mouldings." A few of the

younger students at first thought the azure dome
might possibly be inspiring; but they soon found
out their mistake when they saw an army of com-
pilers, copyists, schoolboys, and clerks out of work
take possession of the " magnificent salon," engross
every one of the 300 bolstered chairs, and lay hold
of all the cyclorcedias, gazetteers, dictionaries, and
picture-books on the shelves. The frequenters of
the two old room! now perceived that their quiet
studies had come to an end, and, like discreet men,
they retired from the field, leaving it to the com-
pilers.

ANCLO-AMERICAN TIMES.—To the impatient,
who delight in penetrating at once to the marrow of
an argument, it is no pleasure to wade through a
long diplomatic correspondence in order to arrive at
the main points of a controversy. The fashions of
diplomacy are peculiar. Watchful care must be
taken to notice every matter of importance, so
that nothing worthy of notice shall be passed
over. Hence there is in each clause of au offi-
cial despatch : considerable repetition. Not only
the representations of the party to whom reply

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is made must be noticed, but quotations must
be given of the exact language which is referred
to, and in reply frequently counter quotations
must be made from previous epistles. These
things make diplomatic papers tedious, and
those who skim over them do not always mark
the precise features of the discussion. The cor-
respondence upon the Mexican question, between
Mr. Seward and M. l)rouyn de- l'l:itys, M. de
extremelyAinti olon,
so Mr. Bigelow, and Mr. Motley, is
important, not much • h
dation of the views .of the United ISn t—tateesrGe-oe:eurnn--
ment and those of France, as in the conclusions
which are arrived at. The; first despatch of Mr.
Seward to 111
.INrontliolon,of February 9th, is an
elaborate argument
which precedd it, in upon all the correspondence
reference
u.
to theni
tUnited
sFrenchtates oli policy
in Mexico and the views of
there-
on. The tone of the despatches of M. de l'lfuys
is defensive rather than emphatic. Ile desires to
establish that the Frenchoitntervention was for
n
French interests only, and
with
of
the
the designe
aon
f
interferenceMexicanewithavers
ne
ratsthi
oe
thainstitutionst
a to
xi
be a
(
asncdho thatsen
by
y people.the
th
ue ruler,
la
in order to obtain satisfaction for French claims it
was necessary to support him. Mr. SEWARD
is of
opinion that the Austrian was never fairly called
to the throne by the Mexican people, and points
out that it was impossible to obtain an expression
of the natural will in the presence of the French
army, which overawed the free expression of opinion.
The arguments, traced through the affirmations
and counter reasonings of both parties, approach
finally the delicate point, how NAPOLEON can get
out of the scrape without seeming to compromise
French litinciur. The great point of anxiety with the
French Emperor has been to know whether the
United States would intervene upon the withdrawal
of the French troops, to drive MAXIMILIAN from
Mexico by force of arms. He desires a formal
guaranty that nothing of the kind will be attempted.
To this request Mr. SEWARD says that the United
States would not consent to make a treaty guaran-
teeingnon- intervention, because that would authorise
an inference that they intended-to act dishonestly in
the affair. This idea is not sanctioned, but Mr.
SEWARD says—and this is the great point in the
despatch of February 9—that France need not for
a moment delay her promised withdrawal of mili-
tary forces from Mexico, and her putting the prin-
ciples of non-intervention into full and complete
practice in regard to Mexico, through any appre-
hension that the United States will prove unfaithful
to the principles and policy in that respect which
it has been the duty of the Secretary to maintain
throughout the entire correspondence. This is really
the important part of the despatch. It is a promise
that if the French withdraw from Mexico, the people
of that country will be left to settle the question
with MAXIMILIAN according to their own desires,
and that no interference by the United States in any
fair expression of their sentiments, whether they elect
to retain the usurper or to expel him from the coun-
try, will take place. This is really all that France
could ask. The reply of M. DE L'HUYS, of the sth of
April, comes, therefore, " to Hecuba," avoiding, as
far as possible, those points in the argument which
may be considered as of no importance in view
of the final understanding. He finds in the lan-
guage of Mr. SEWARD a sufficient guaranty to
authorise the adoption of definite measures for
the withdrawal of the French troops ; and he an-
nounces that the first detachment will be withdrawn
in the ensuing month of November, the second in
May next, and the third in the ensuing November.
Upon this determination no reply has yet been
made by Mr. SEWARD further than to acknowledge
reception of the information. But we imagine that
it will be thought best to acquiesce in it, although
the delay is not pleasant to bear. It will be seven
months before the first detachment is withdrawn,
but if the troops then withdrawn should be one-
third of the whole, the question will be practically
settled, so that MAXIMILIAN will have to write home
to have his castle prepared for his reception in 1867.
A most important part of the correspondence is
that which brings Austria upon the scene. Whe-
ther the Convention which, it is said, pledges Aus-
tria to supply MAXI3IILIAN with ten thousand sol-
diers, has been secretly made by an understanding
with NAPOLEON, or whether it is an independent
proposition of FRANCIS JOSEPH, the effect will be,
unless the movement is stopped, to render the French
withdrawal of no effect. It would be " change for
change, a black dog for a monkey," and subject
the Mexican people merely to a substitution of Aus-
trian for French tyrants. Against this project Mr.
r MOTLEY is instructed to emphatically protest at
Vienna, and Austria is to be at once notified
that such "an intervention cannot be regarded
otherwise than as a matter of serious concern
by the United States," and that, if the intention
is carried out," the United States will feel themselves
at liberty to regard those hostilities as constituting
a state of war by Austria against the Republic of
Mexico, and in regard to such war waged at this
time, and under existing circumstances, the United
States could not engage to remain as silent or
neutral spectators." This will be an intimation

to the House of llapsburg by no means agree-
able, but which must have its effect. Austria
has probably as much to do in Germany as she
can attend to, and now that France, by the
mere pressure of remonstrance from the United

States, deems it advisable to withdraw from an

experiment which has cost dearly in lives and money,
it will scarcely be prudent for Austria to attempt to
involve herself in the expensive failure in which a
much stronger nation has been involved. The best

• ••• ••• ••• ry• './..1 % 0
thing that FRANCIS JOSEPH can dp is to sing fondly
the gentle ballad, " Brother, come home."

Royal United Service Institution.

Mr. N. J. Holmes delivered an important lecture
last evening, Admiral Codrington presiding, " On
the Construction and Management of the Electric
Torpedo." The details were mainly novel, having
been the result of the private experiments of himself
and Captain Maury. The electro torpedo was a
weapon of defence again`st which both rifled guns
or iron-clad ships were powerless, and it could be
used alike for mines or submarine purposes. But
to be effective it must be certain in its explosion at.
the very instant desired. General Grant had
planned to use it in his attack on Petersburgh, but
the explosion was not effected at the right time, and
the plan miscarried. The Confederates used the
torpedo with great success on the James River,
giving cause for the making of the Dutch gap canal,
and delaying for a week the progress of the Federal
fleet. At Wilmington where the Federals captured
210 guns, the only iron-clad vessels destroyed were
by the torpedoes. In 1854 the Russians; laid down
torpedoes, which were to be exploded by the
mechanical fracturing of a tube containing
sulphuric acid, which then inflamed chlorate of
potash and fired the torpedo. In 1859 the Aus-
trians laid down electric torpedoes in the Bay of
Venice, and by registering the sites where they were
moored on a view of the bay thrown down on a
table by a fixed camera obscura the passage of a
vessel over any of them could be seen by the ob-
server and the torpedo fired. In those the Abel fuses
were used, but the torpedoes could not be tested, as
the passage of even a faint current of electricity would
explode the weapon. This difficulty was completely
surmounted by Mr. Holmes and Captain Maury,
by the application of a bridge of platinum wire over
the fuse. Through this bridge the current from a
Wheatstone exploder and other magneto-electric
instruments of strong power could be harmlessly
sent, and telegraph messages transmitted through
_
the torpedo itself from one fort to another. But if
a shock of frictional electricity was
would not pass by the bridge, and the fire dit.
the torpedo
station to station, the proper.order transmitted,fusewas
charae of them, and
By this means of transmitting commoufnication from
was manifested to the officer
their action at the crittiheea
be relied upon, wl.idiledown
on the table of a horizon..
in
moment
o f
roeucltdi certainly
of th e
torpedoes being la,.
tal telescope, the mom
enemy's vessel came in
coincidence with then
fine
et wires au
crossing the field of
the telescope of the
observer at one station, he could
ascertain by the telegraphic message when she was
in line with the wire of another telescope at the
corresponding observing station, and then at the
very period of the intersection of the directional
lines, at the exact instant the vessel was over the
torpedo, it could be unerringly exploded by the fric-
tional electricity of the firing apparatus, by the ob-
server himself merely pressing down a key attached
to his telescope, which brought the exploding elec-
tricity into play. If the wires were cut by dredg-
ing boats or vessels an alarm-bell was rung by the