The Sun.
London, England, 1866-03-05 00:00:00

THE SUN,, LONDON, MONDAY T EVENING,- MARCH 5, 1866.

rate consideration by the people it shall receive the sanc-
tion cf an enlightened public judgment.
ANDREW Jonnox.

Washington, D.C., Feb. 19, 186 G.

The receipts for customs at the four principa
ports during the month of January were—New
York, £12,441,391.31 ; Boston, $1,014,632.46 ;
Philadelphia, $508,513.78; Baltimore, $184,770.64.
Total, $14,249,308.19. When all the ports are
heard from these numbers, it is believed, will be
swelled to upwards of sixteen millions.
These reports, together with the large daily re-
ceipts of internal revenue, do much towards main-
taining the prices of Government securities, and
make them preferred over any description of com-
mercial paper or other obligations. The short lia-
bilities of the Treasury are most in favour, the
general impression being that they will be rendered
convertible into long gold-bearing bonds at no dis-
tant day. It is certain that the national finances
are gradually but surely getting into better condi-
tion, from the simple though vital reasons that the Go-
vernment is no longer a borrower, and its income
is exceeding its expenses, and steadily gaining.
The Hall of the House of Representatives at
Washington was filled on the 11th ult. At seven
o'clock Speaker Colfax, who presided, took his
accustomed seat. Immediately in front of the
Clerk's desk were Lieutenant-General Grant, Chief
Justice Chase, Bishop Simpson, General Augur,
George H. Stuart, President of the Commission,
and Rev. Dr. Boynton, Chaplain of the House.
After a speech by Mr. Colfax, showing how much
good had been done in the Army and Navy by the
Commission, George H. Stuart, President of the
Commission, then made the final report of the
labours of the Commission :

Total cash receipts for 1865
Total since organisation
Total hospital stores for 1865 donation
Total since organisation 3,800,000
Total value of stores distributed since its or-
ganisation
Total value of publications distributed
Total value of stationery 65,930
Value of Chapels erected 148,000
Copies of Bibles and Testaments distributed
Copies of Hymn Books 137,000
Copies of Knapsack Books, styled by the Sol-
diers comforts
Number of Library Books
Number of Magazines
Number of Religious papers

pei, • .
Number of Envelopes distributed 7,067,000
Number of sheets of paper 7,067,000
Number of agents employed
Total value of the Commissions distributed ...6,264,607,68

Letters were read from Secretary Stanton, Gens.
Grant, Sherman, Ord, Butler, Admiral Farragut,
and others, expressing the warmest admiration for
the noble and efficient efforts of—the Commission.
Addresses were delivered by Hon. Mr. Demend,
Senator Doolittle, Bishop Simpson, Rev. Mr. Chid-
law, and other gentlemen.

CHASES.—We understand that Lord Aberdour, who broke
his collar-bone at late meeting, is progressing favourably
towards recovery.

CHERTSEY STEEPLECHASES.—Theso postponed chases
are fixed for Thursday and Friday next, the two days suc-
ceeding Liverpool meeting. A list of stakes, closing on
the evening before running, will be fouad elsewhere.
We are requested to state that the Telegraph Company
will not have their wires extended to Aintree during the
ensuing Liverpool meeting. The winners of the variou
races will therefore not be " wired" to town until late in
the day.
The assumed name of Mr. C. Fermin is registered.
Great Yarmouth races are fixed for Aug. 28 and 29.
Lucy Long is scratched for Liverpool engagements.
Grantham Steeplechases are arranged for April 5.
KNIGHTON RACES.—The principal stakes close on Tues-
day next.
THE BRISTLES CASE.—The amount of the stakes de-
posited in Mr. Marshall's hands at Windsor has been paid
over to Mr. Powell, the owner of Flyfisher.
THE EDINBURGH SPRING MEETING.— The attention of
owners and trainers is requested to the closing of entries,
on Wednesday next far the four handicaps of this semi-
hunt meeting.

Innellan was struck out of the Liverpool Grand National
Steeplechase at 4 32, on March 2 ; and Joker out of the
Liverpool Spring Cup at 1 45 p.m., March 1.

Derby Spring Meeting has been postponed to March 19,
the day preceding Northampton.

North Wold Steeplechases will not be held during the
present year.

Rochester, the steeplechase horse, has been purchased
by Mr. J. Kendall, and is now trained at Hednesford.
The wife of George Fordham presented him with a
strapping boy on Friday morning, and both mother and
child are doing well.

ALBRIGHTON HUNT.—The Handicap Steeplechase at this
popular hunt meeting closes on Tuesday next.
The colours of Mr. C. Brewer are white, sky blue belt
and cap.

Loin LYON.—A big bet of eight "monkeys" was booked
about the above colt for the Derby during the past week
at the Victoria Club.

CROYDON GREAT METROPOLITAN STEEPLE CHASE, Nov-
-1865.—We are informed by the Clerk of the Course that a
majority of the stewards have decided this race in favour
of Cortolvin, the horse that came in second, whose owner
claimed the stakes on the ground that Old Oswestry was
in the Forfeit List,

WINDSOR STEEPLE CHASES.—The objection made by the
owner of Princess Dagmar against Banker, the winner of
the Borough Members' Plate, falls to the ground, as ell the
forfeits due from the nominator of the latter horso had been
paid at Messrs. Weatherby's before the horse was entered.
FANCY BETTING.-011 Thursday last, at the Victoria
Club, 250 to 50 was laid on the following twenty for the
Liverpool Steeplechase :—L'Africain, Effenberg, Alcibiade,
Cortolvin, Lightheart, Thomastown, Glencairn, Laura,
Ibex, Creole, Emma gelding, Mistake, Merrimac, Philoso-
pher, Garotter, Heurlys, King of Hearts, Real Jam, Hall
Court, and Innellan.

JACK-FISHING AT BROXBOURNE, HERTS.—The proprietor
of the above fishery begs to inform his subscribers and
others that he intends pitting his usual supply of jack into
the waters this day (Saturday), at half-past four o'clock,
on which occasion their attendance is requested.
THE THAMES.—The water continues very thick and
high, and the season for fishing is now closed—March,
April, and May being the fence months, according to the
rules and regulations of the fishery of the Thames. The
report which has been circulated, that the Board of the
Thames Conservancy will not grant deputations to the
present keepers employed by the Thames Angling Preser-
vation Society, is untrue. They have, on the contrary,
resolved to give the men these warrants, who, acting to-
gether with an increased staff appointed by the conser-
vators, the river will be most efficiently protected, the men
now appointed being wholly paid, and their services are
especially directed to night watching.—W. H. BROUGH,
Richmond.

THE TRENT.—This river has been in a very unfavour-
able state for angling, and the sudden change in the
weather, coupled with heavy falls of snow and sharp frosty
nights, has not been very inviting to the lovers of the rod;
in fact, but few have ventured out. Monday was the
finest day we have had this week, but the water was so
thick that the fish could not see to bite. The weather on
the two following days was so unpropitious for outdoor
sports that not only was angling put a stop to, but the
second day of our spring meeting had to be postponed. I
have just been down to the Trent, and although the water
is still a great height, it is what I should consider to be in
capital condition for bottom fishing. A few roach and
dace were caught with the worm, but nothing of account.
Next week, weather and water permitting, the fly-fisher
will commence operations. The best fly to start with will
be the waxend, and the fish to be angled for are grayling
and dace, both of which will be found in shallow streams
about two feet deep, or if the water should be very low,
three feet will be better. The angler must be careful how
he selects his water; he must not fish the most rapid
streams, but swims where the water runs moderately
quick. The best time of the day for fly-fishing during the
present month will be in the middle of the day, from ten
in the morning till two in the afternoon. If no sport can
be had up to this time, it is almost useless fishing any
longer. After the first week in March, angling for dace
and grayling should be discontinued, or the fish would
have barely a month allowed them before spawning. In
some rivers, however, they are fished for till the middle of
the month, but this only happens where the fish, in some
waters, spawn a week or two later than they do in the
Trent.—W. BAILEY, Nottingham, March 1.

WINNE.

Owner.

Lord Derby
Mr. Douglas
Lord Grosvenor
Lord Grosvenor
Lord Grosvenor
Mr. Burton
Lord Clermont
Sir F. Standish
Mr. Vernon
Lord Egremont
Lord Egremont
Duke of Bedford
Duke of Bedford
Lord Clermont
Duke of Bedford
Lord Derby
Lord Egremont
Sir F. Standish
Lord Grosvenor
Mr. Durand
Lord Grosvenor
Lord Egremont
Sir C. Bunbury
Mr. Waste]!

SirT.Gascoigne
Duke of Grafton
Lord Grosvenor
Mr. Craven..,
Gen. Grosvenor
Duke of Grafton
Gen. Gower
Sir W. Gerard
Duke of Rutland
Mr. Hewett

Duke of Grafton
Duke of Rutland
Duke of Grafton
Gen. Gower

Mr. Watson

Mr. Udny
Mr. Thornhill
Lord Egremont
Lord Exeter
Duke of Grafton
Duke of Grafton
Lord Jersey
Gen. Grosvenor
Mr. Forth
Dk. of Richmond
Duke of Grafton
Lord Exeter
Mr. Stonehewer
Duke of Grafton
Lord Exeter
Sir M. Wood
Mr. Cosby
Mr. Mostyn
Mr. Scott
Mr. Powlett
Lord Chesterfield
Mr. F. Craven
Lord G. Bentinck
Lord Westminster
Mr. G. Dawson
Mr. Ford
Col. Anson
Dk. of Richmond
Mr. Gully
Sir J. Hawley
Mr. H. Hill
Lord Chesterfield
Mr. Hobson

Lord Stanley
Mr.J.Scott

Mr. Wauchopo
Mr. Cookson

Mr: R. Read
Mr. IL Hill
M. W. I'Anson
Mr. Gratwicke „
Lord Londesboro'
Mr. Eastwood „.
Mr. Saxon

Mr. B. C. Naylor
Mr. T. Valentine
Count Lagrange
Mr. Graham

Rider.

Goodison

Chifney, sen.
Chifney, sen.
C. Hindley
J. Bird
J. Edwards
Fitzpatrick
Fitzpatrick
Chifney, sen.
Chifney, sen.
J. Singleton
C. Hindley
J. Singleton
S. Arnull
Fitzpatrick
J. Arnull
Buckle
Buckle
Buckle

Fitzpatrick
Saunders
Bucklo
Buckle

Clift
Buckle
W. Edwards
S. Chifuey
Clift

J. Moss
W. Pierse
Chifney
W. Pierse
Goodison
Barnard
T. Goodison
S. Chifney
Buckle
Buckle

S. Chifney
IL Edwards
J. Robinson
H. Edwards
Buckle

Robinson
S. Chifney
Lye

":Boyco

J. B. bay
Dockeray
G. Edwards
J. B. Day
Con°lly
Chappel

J. B. -Day
Lye

Scott

J. Holmes
Scott

J. B. Day
J. B. Day
Scott

Lye
F. Butler
F. Butler
H. Bell

S. Day
,Templeman
Templeman
F. Butler
F. Butler
F. Butler
F. Butler
'C. Marlow
Charlton

Temp]eman
A. Day

Charlton
Ashman

G. Fordham
J. Snowden
L. Snowden
Challoner
Aldcroft
A. Edwards
Norman

Athletic Sports at Oxford.

OXFORD, Friday Evening.
The University sports commenced this afternoon on the
Christ Church Ground, in the presence of a largo number
of spectators, including a fair sprinkling of the representa-
tives of the sister University. The following gentlemen
officiated :—B. S. Darbyslire, Wadham College, hon. secre-
tary ; D. Pocklington, Bmsonose College, hon. treasurer ;
Earl of Jersey, Balliol College ; E. W. Tritton, Christ
Church ; and D. Morgan, Magdalen Hall.
The ground, from the recent severe frost and snow, and
the strength of the sun this morning, was rather heavy,
but perhaps better than night have been anticipated. The
first event of the day was the
Hundred, Yards Race, Heats.—First Heat.—Cobmore,
Brasenose, 1; B. Derbyshire, Wadham, 2 ; Currie, Wad-
ham, 0 ; Duna, University, 0 ; Hand, St. John's, 0 Ilaigh,

Queen's, 0. Darbyshire was the favourite, from having
won the Oxford University and Oxford and Cambridge
Hundred Yards Race in 1864. Mr. Cobmore will be re-
membered as winning his heat in the Oxford sports last
year, but did not get off in the final, and was not in the
first flight. Won, by two yards, in 10 sec. and 4-sths.
Second Heat.—E. Nolan, St. John's, 1; D. Morgan,
Magdalen Hall, 2 ; Knight, Magdalen, 3 ; Kettlewell, Oriel,
0 ; Murray, Wadham, 0. Mr. Morgan, who was second in
the Oxford 100 yard race last year, was the favourite ; but
Mr. Nolan, although he got a bad start, won by three yards
in 10 seconds and one-fifth.

Third Heat.—R. W. Vidal, St. John's, 1; Toswell,
Oriel, 2 ; Wight, Wadham, 0. Mr. Vidal got off badly,
but won an exciting race by half a yard. Time, 10 sec.
and three-fifths.

Throwing the Cricket Ball.—Croker, Trinity, 1, 109 yards
4 foot ; Michell, Balliol, 2, 104 yards 2 feet 8 inches ; Mat-
thews, Brasenose College, 3, 102 yards 10 inches ; Carter,
Worcester, 4, 101 yards 2 feet 10 inches. This event has
this year been expunged from the Oxford and Cambridge
programme.

Flat Race, Quarter of a Mile Heats.—First Heat.—B.
Darbyshire, Wadham, 1; C. Y. Fell, St. John's, 2 ; Bow-
man„University, 3 ; Everest, Merton, 0. Darbyshire, who
also won the quarter of a mile race in the Oxford and Cam-
brige and Oxford University contests in 1864, was in-
stalled the favourite, not only for the heat, but for the
final result, and Fell, who had recently run so well in Lon-
don, was somewhat fancied. The favourite made the run-
ning half the way round, when Bowman passed him, but
Darbyshire shook him off at the top of the hill, and ran in
an easy winner by seven yards, Fell gaining second
honours by a yard. Time, 56 2-3 seconds.

Second Heat.—E. Nolan, St. John's, 1; Knight, Mag-
dalen, 2 ; Feßowes, Brasenose, 3 ; Sewell, New, 0 ; Thomas,
Christ Church, 0. Nolan, who has won nearly everything
he has gone for, was the favourite against the field.
Knight made a gallant effort to overhaul Nolan, who con-
tinued his lead into the straight, and eventually won by
four yards. Time, 55 3-5 seconds.
The final heat will take place to-day.

Graduates' Race, 300 Yards.—E. B. Michell, Magdalen,
1; Hall, Pembroke, 2 ; Stanhope, Morton, 0 ; Martin,
Exeter, 0. Mr. Martin was the favourite. Mr. Michell
had the race all tho way, and won by several yards in 391
seconds.

Hurdle Race, 120 Yards, 10 Flights.—First Heat—King,
Merton, 1; Hilliard, Pembroke, 2 ; Corderoy, Lincoln, 0 ;
Jackson, Magdalen Hall, 0; Fell, St. John's, 0. Jackson,
the favourite, fell, and King took the lead, and won very
easily in 19 seconds.

Second Heat.—Morgan, Magdalen Hall, 1 ; Phillpott,
Magdalen, 2 ; Powell, Brasenose, 0 : Mr. Maitland, Christ
Church, entered, but did not come to the post. Morgan
landed this heat very easily, in accordance with anticipa-
tion. Time, 18 2-5 sec.

Third Heat.—R. W. Vidal, St. John's 1; Price, Oriel, 2;
Wight, Wadham, 0; Wilmot, University, 0. Vidal was
the favourite, and won a good race by half a yard. Time,
181 secs.

Final Heat—Morgan, 1 ; Price, 2 ; King, 3 ; Vidal, 0;
Hilliard, 0 ; Phillpott, 0. Morgan was the favourite, but
Vidal was also backed freely. Morgan held the lead for
the greater portion of the distance, when Vidal wrested it
from him, and got over the last hurdle half a yard in ad-
vance. The race seemed completely at his mercy, as he
was increasing his lead on the flat run in when he slipped
and sprawled in before any of his opponents, but not hav-
ing breasted the tape he was disqualified, with the above
result. It is hoped he will be allowed to represent the
" dark blue " next week, a's Oxford can hardly afford to
lose so good a man, and Mr. Price has on previous occa-
sions succumbed to him.

High Jump—Stuart, Merton, 1, 5 feet 3 inches ; Parsons,
Magdalen, 2, 5 feet 21 inches; De Montmorency, Wad-
ham, 0 ; Haggard, Magdalen, 0 ; Kennedy, Brasenose, 0 ;
Walton, Magdalen, 0. The first and second will have the
honour of representing Oxford against Cambrilge, unless
Mr. Maitland, of Christ Church, who has gone down,
should put in an appearance.
Flat Race (One Mile)—J. W. Laing, Christ Church, 1;
Bowman, University, 2. Also ran, Butter, Balliol ; Cox,
Magdalen ; Fletcher, Pembroke ; Hilton, St. Alban Hall ;
Kemble, New; Moore, Wadham : Rawnsley, Corpus ;
Sandbach, S. Alban Hall ; Smith, Worcester; and Wight,
Wadham. The Earl of Jersey and Mr. Darbyshire, who
had entered, were absentees.
Laing, from his New College and Christ Church mile
performances, was the favourite at 6t04 on him. Moore,
who was second to Lord Jersey last year, was also backed ;
and Mr. Bowman, the winner of the University College
mile, was backed to get a place. Wight went off with the
lead, which he kept for the first lap, but by the second
Rawnsley went to the fore, Wight second, Butter third.
Rawnsloy kept his position until the third quarter, when the
favourite gained the front, Fletcher being next. Laing
increased his lead considerably in the last lap, and ran in
an easy winner by 20 yards. A good race for second place,
Bowman defeating Fletcher and Moore, who were third
and fourth respectively. Time 4 min. 55 sec. The time,
considering the ground, must bs regarded in a favourable
light, as it is short of that of Mr. Lewes in 1864, which
was 4 min. 56 sec. The winner had plenty left in him at
the finish, and can no doubt improve his time several
seconds. He is in for the two mile race this day, and
will doubtless make h good struggle with Mr. Johnson, of
Exeter, who ran second to Mr. Webster at Cambridge last
year.
Throwing the Hammer.—D. Morgan, Magdalen Hal],
1,91 ft. 21in. ; Croker, Trinity, 2,78 ft. Bin. ; Moffat, Christ
Church, 3,78 ft. 42in. _

Mr. Morgan won last year, when he only threw 86ft.
7in. We hear he has in practice thrown over 100 ft.

SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS.

THE " SATURDAY REVIEW " ON THE INCAPACITY
OF LORD RUSSELL AS PREMIER.—The blunder made
by the Times iu announcing the resignation of Lord
Russell was very unfair and very prejudicial to the
Ministry, but its exposure has also been so humili-
ating to those who made it that there is no need to
comment on it. That the rumour should have been
at once received with a wide belief, and that the
public should have thought the resignation of Lord
Russell the most natural thing in the world, is some-
thing much more important. If there had not been
strange symptoms of weakness in the Government
apparent to every one, it would have seemed very
extraordinary that a Premier should resign with a
large majority in the Commons still unbroken ; and
still more extraordinary that Lord Russell should
have been able to see that he was not fitted to carry
on the Government. But, the rumour was believed
because the Government has obviously so many
difficulties to contend against, and because a large
portion of these difficulties have been created
by Lord Russell himself. In the firstplace,:Lord
Russell has chosen to accept office without hav-
ing physical- force and nerve enough to fill a
high place as it ought to be filled. If the Premier
is in the House of Lords, it may at least be sup-
posed that the great disadvantages which this
entails will be compensated by some advantages of
a special kind. The Premier ought to be able to
give the debates of the Lords more importance than
they ordinarily possess. He ought to impart a surer
and firmer tone to the announcements of Govern-
ment, to make his party in the house seem better
organised, more compact, and coherent than it
otherwise would be. Here. Lord Russell has utterly
broken down. He can scarcely go through the
exertion of a speech. He can give no information,
nor can he speak with authority on any subject.
Those who are members of his own Cabinet intimate
their disapproval
i of measures which he introduces.
There is no one in the Lords who can answer ques-
tions as to the intentions of the Government, even
in minor matters. For, with the Premier in the
Lords, no other Peer feels it to be his duty to con-
duct the daily business of the Government there ;
and so the Government is even more imperfectly
represented in the Upper House than it usually is
when the Premier is in the Commons. All that
Lord Russell retains of his former self seems to be
his ancient ardour in jobbing for his friends, and his
old ‘impulsive rashness in taking unfortunate but
important steps without consulting his colleagues.
kile is still capable of making Lord Romilly a Peer,
and he is still capable of importing a young and
untried member into the Cabinet, without letting
his colleagues know what he intended to do. But
there his capacity for the Premiership ends. That
the Premiership should have been offered to him
was perfectly right. His high position, the respect
due to his better qualities, the prominent part he
has so long played in the eyes of the country, made
it quite natural that he should have the refusal of
the place which the death of Lord Palmerston
made vacant. In an evil hour for his own happi-
ness and for his future fame he accepted the offer,
and the consequence is the melancholy position in
which he now finds himself. Lord Russell, more-
over, has to overcome difficulties greater than
usually beset the path of a Premier. He is at the
head of a party which leans in two different direc-
tions, and the divisions of his Cabinet. Of course
eves y party in some measure leans in different direc-
tions, for it has its extremes as well as its centre.
There is a very wide divergence between the Con-
servatism of Mr. Newdegate and the Conservatism
of Mr. Disraeli. But there is no difference of the
kind that embarrasses the leader of a party. Lord
Derby can reckon on the votes and adherence of the
Conservative party as confidently as Count Walew-
ski can reckon on the support of a majority of the
French Chamber. But the Liberal party is split up by
a divergence of opinion that enters too deeply into
every department of thought to be easily overridden
by the pressure of party ties. One section of the
Liberals is quite satisfied with the present machinery
of government, and the present constitution of the
governing classes. It confines its attention solely
to measures, and is content with the position of a
Liberal Ministry which watches with languid indif-
ference while private members carry liberal mea-
sures through the House of Commons, and send
them up to be decisively and instantaneously rejected

by the House of Lords. It aims at keeping the
general body of Liberals in decently good humour,
and of appealing for public support by providing a
competent body of men to carry on the business of
the country. The other section of the Liberals looks
at things in quite a different way. It aims at a change
in the system of government, and a change in the
composition of the governing classes. It is compara-
tively careless of the fate of particular measures, and
careless even to irreverence of the claims of old
public servants on the confidence of the nation. Its
main desire is to infuse into Parliament that
sympathy with the masses, that harmony with
the wishes of the lower classes, which it calls
liberal, and which its enemies call revolutionary.
For a time both sections may go on well together,
for each is reluctant to lose the countenance and
support of the other ; and there is a large number
of men who do not clearly know to which section they
belong, and who are prudently waiting to find out
which is the stronger, and then to declare that it is
to this stronger section that they have always be-
longed. But no one can doubt that this divergence
of Liberal opinion might easily show itself any day
in a disruption of the Cabinet. No one believes
that Lord Clarendon, or the Duke of Somerset, or
Lord Stanley of Alderley would wish to see a Re-
form Bill carried if they did not think a Reform of
some sort inevitable. The Cabinet appears to be
agreed upon the Reform Bill that is to be proposed.
But the real battle that is to be fought will be
fought when the details of the bill furnish the field
of conflict. Modifications will be proposed, and
then, if the Government shows itself inclined to the
side of the safe-going Whigs, it will alienate the
more decided Liberals, and make them indisposed
to fight as hard for the bill as its supporters must
fight if it is to be carried. If, on the other hand,
the Government lets it be seen that its sympathies
are with the extreme Liberals, all the more timid
members of their party will take the first opportunity
to make the passing of the bill impossible. At such
a crisis, the first condition of success, and even of
safety, is that the Premier should have those mental
and social gifts, that commanding influence, and
that power of reconciling men of discordant opinions
which enable a leader to keep his Cabinet in har-
mony, and his party at his command. Of these
gifts, and this power, Lord Russell is perhaps more
destitute than any Prime Minister who has held
office for century. The resignation of Lord Rus-
sell is therefore only a matter of time, and probably
of a very short time. Whether the Reform Bill
suceeds or fails, Lord Russell's Premiership must
come to an end.

THE " SPECTATOR" ON MR. JOHN PARRY'S WED-
DING BREAKFAST.—That curious power of Mr. John
Parry's over the lines of expression of his own face,
by which he makes us believe, directly his enter-
tainment is over, that, though we have really seen
only him, and him in a gentleman's ordinary even-
ing dress, we have nevertheless seen all sorts of
different people as well—young ladies flirting, elderly
ladies doing the polite, the respectable butler, the
spoiled child, the vain, empty-headed coxcomb, and
various other personages—is enough to startle the
most uuspeculative of British spectatorsinto momen-
tary metaphysics. Is it that Mr. Parry has enough
of Colonel and Mrs. Roseleaf, and Mrs. Jene (née
(Gushington), and Mr. Olympus, and the butler,
&c., in himself, to become a precisely similar charac-
ter by voluntarily accenting, as it were, some little
drift of tendency in his own character ; or is it that
all these numberless expressions of face represent
merely the most superficial mannerisms of social
convention—a variety of masks which almost any
one could assume under a little' social pressure,
without ceasing to be their own individual selves ?
The latter can scarcely be the case, because Mr.
Parry goes a good deal deeper than the mere ripple
of conventional affectations. His face expresses
almost every variety of self-love and amiability,
from Mr. Jend's muddy and selfish vanity about
his own songs and singing, to Mrs. Roseleaf's really
amiable affectation of a hostess's flattery and rail-
lery. Yet there is something much more extraordi-
nary than mere acting in what Mr. Parry achieves.
An actor who takes a set part has all the advantage
of concentrating his mind on that part, as well as
the advantage of appropriate dress and incident to
remind him of the attitude of feeling he is expected,
as far as he can, to assume. But Mr. Parry works
with no help of this kind, and yet passes through as
many transformations as Indus in the course of half
an hour without putting off his swallow-tail coat,
by the mere moulding power of his fancy over the
lines of his own face. Of course the limits within
which he works are narrow; he does not attempt to
migrate into any character out of the world of ordi-
nary drawing-room experience. He does not change
from comedy to tragedy. He always wears some va-
riety of the company face. But within these limits
the changes he produces upon his own face are asto-
nishing, and, as we have said, go quite beyond the
changes of conventional manner, covering changes
of real individual temper and character. Mr. Jene,
and Mr. Olympus, and Colonel Roseleaf are all
quite different men, not merely men with a different
crust of social manner upon them. Perhaps indeed
his most delicate touches are touches indicating the
different effect of conventional position on the
character. Take, for instance, his hired musician
in Mrs. Roseleaf's Evening Party, and his respectful
butler who announces breakfast in the Wedding
Breakfast. The same man, assuming the countenance
of two characters so near each other in social position,
might be supposed to be in danger of confusing the
two. But in fact they are as different as Colonel
• Roseleaf and his own butler. The hired musician,
though working for hire, has a perfectly indepen-
dent air about him. He is all mechanical obedience
to his superior, but there is no touch of obsequious-
ness in his face. What he expresses is the feeling
of a professional drudge, for whom the music has lost
all meaning. He is a monotony, a fatigued mono-
tony, producing a monotonous variety of sounds.
He yawns freely as the evening goes on. He exe-
cutes his orders punctually like an operative, not
with deference like a personal attendant. His ex-
pression is almost that of a prisoner turning a crank,
except that there is also the energy of a man earn-
ing his bread. The butler, on the contrary, is all
reverence and self-respect. As he enters the room
his eyes are fixed on his master, and slightly turned
up to express ceremonious waiting. Yet even here,
where the main difference is due to a variety of
social function, you will scarcely be able to conceive
that the same man might, under different circum-
stances, have filled the two situations. There is too
deference—the essence of the body-servant in the
butler. You feel that in.undress he would probably
be insolent, riotous, intemperate, and vulgar. The
hired musician is, on the contrary, a respectable and
trustworthy, though, of course uneducated, sort of
person, who, though he can relish his glass of wine
after fatiguing playing, and thinks a little of his sup-
per, yet has nothing riotous about him. Then with
what wonderful delicacy Mr. Parry expresses the
various phases of the same person's mind under
different circumstances. In the " Evening Party"
Mr. Jene was all muddy, dissatisfied vanity. He
sang his little song—" words and music both my
own"—in a sulky, eiacting mood, darting furious
glances at the door as each new guest's announce-
ment interrupted the attention of the company.
He grumbled morosely to himself when it was over.
His face was all suffused with the secretion of his
irritated self-love, and his clumsiness exaggerated
by the ungainlineAs of his enormous voracity for
applause. As bridegroom he is still " like his ordi-
nary self,—like, but oh how different !" He is still
a shade sulky at first, and asks Colonel Roseleaf
how long they will be kept in the drawing-room
before breakfast is ready, almost with his old rude
moroseness. But there is a perceptible flutter of
gratified vanity about him, and the bilious expres-
sion of face gradually gives way to a sort of moony
and half-doubtful consciousness of success. In-
stead of glowering, there is a haze of smile strug-
gling for development on his reluctant countenance,
like a doubtful sun behind a mist. He supposes " a
man must do this sort of thing once in his life,
though it's deuced awkward." His speech at the
breakfast is a marvel of art. There oozes from
him a sort of thick dreggy sentiment, such as you
would expect from the author of " Would You Love
Me, if You Knew Me?" in a state of half-satiated va-
nity. "There are some situations in life," he says, "to
which a man feels himself wholly inadequate, and I
am sure that if ever in my life I was in that situa-
tion it is this situation." What a vapid, infinitely
clumsy egotism Mr. Parry gives to this beautiful
sentence ! Mr. Jend's eyeglass is stuck awkwardly
into his eye, and the brow contracted to keep it in,
and yet the muddy face is thawing a little beneath
the cheers of the guests and the sense of his own
importance. Then he goes on to say that " When I
feel myself the happy possessor of so much grace
and beauty"—great cheering, amidst which the face
of Mrs. Jene (nee Gushington) is suddenly seen
from behind the wedding cake beaming with affected
coyness, and the bouquet is thrust out with playful
menace, and a gratified " Don't, you naughty man,"
towards the place in which her husband was the
moment before standing—" when I feel myself, I
say, the happy possessor of so much grace and
beauty—I really am so much confused I scarcely
know what I am saying and think that we
are to brush on together through life,"—a sob from
Mrs. Jend and the ladies—" I own that I am deeply
moved. I know that there is many a cup between
the slip and the lip, I mean many a lip between the
cup and the slip—and really I am so confused that
I will only thank you very heartily for the.
kind way
in which you have drunk the
health of my dear wife "—sobs—" my darling
wife"—more sobs—" and myself—and conclude
in the words of the poet—indeed I quite forget the
exact words to which I referred"—here Mr. Jae
sits down amidst rapturous cheering, looking almost
got quite
sunny for him, as if a very watery sun had