The Sun.
London, England, 1859-01-18 00:00:00

Commence at Seven,

THEAT ILE-ROYAL, DRURY-LAN:E.
Lessee—Mr. E. T. Smith.
THIS EVEN LNG, LATEST FROM NEW YORK. I Y Er.
and Mrs. Bainey Williams.
To conclude with the new pantomime, ROBIN 11001);
or, Harlequin Friar Tuck and the Merry Men of Sherw, d
Forest.

ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE.
Undei • the Management of Mr. Charles Kean.
THE MEP;CHANT OF VENICE. Shylock, Mr. Charl es
Kean ; Port' a, Mrs. Charles Kean.
After which, a new grand Christmas Pantomime, entitb d
THE JUNO OF THE CASTLE; or, Harlequin Fria ce
Diamond an.d Princess Bri,ghteyes.

THEATRE-ROYAL, HAYMARKE'r.
Lessee, Mr. J. B. Buckstone.
THIS EVENING, THE SOLDIER'S DAUGHTH. R.
Widow Clkeerly, Mrs. W. C. Forbes.
After which, a new grand Comic Pantomime, entitit
UNDINE ; or, Harlequin and the Spirit of the Waters.
Commence at 7.

ROYAL LYCEUM THEATII3E.
Manager, Mr. Edmund Falconer. I ,E
THIS EVENING the new Drama, entitled MARION ,
I ORME ; or, The Cradle of Steam : Madame Celeste, lii _r.
V.andenhoff, Mr, Emery, Mr. Falconer, &c.
After which, will be produced the new Burlesque, written
expressly for the Lyceum Company by Robert B. Broug h,
and entitled THE SIEGE OF TROY. The princil ch
ratters by by Mrs. Keeley, Miss Julia St. George,-25_Irs_. estan,
Miss Portman, Miss Talbot, MISS Kate Saxon,
_ Miss E Rome r,
kc. ; Mr. Emery, Mr. Charles Young. Mr. Ellerton, Mr. .r.
Rogers, Mr. Barrett, &cc. ; Miss ROsina Wright, Miss M.
Charles, Miss Harriet Dalton, &C.
To conclude with the new Comic Pantomime, replete with
new tricks and mechanical Feteitle HARLEQUIN
TOY HORSE; or, The Cremorne Clown, Mr Charles
Mr. John Lauri ; Pantaloon, Mr. Henry
Lauri ; Harlequin.
Lauri ; Columbine, Miss Jenny Lauri.
Reduced Priees—Dress Boxes, 48. ; Upper Boxes, 3s. ; Pit,
2s. ; Stalls, 55. ; Gallery, ls.
Box-office open from 11 to 5 daily. Doors open at half-past
8, to commence at 7 every evening.

NEW THEATRE - ROYAL, ADELPHL
Sole Proprietor and Manager, Mr. Benj. Webster.'
THIS EVENING, THE BIRTHPLACE OF PODGIERS.
Mr. J. L. Toole, Mr. C. Selby, Mr. Billington ; Miss Kelly,
Mrs. Chatterley.
To be followed by TARTUFFE. Tartuffe, Mr. B. Webster;
Orgon, Mr. C. Selby ; Damius, Mrs. Bellington ; Elmire, Miss
lienrietts Simms; Dorine, Mrs. Mellon; Marconi, Miss
:Keeley.
To conclude with the grand Christmas Pantomime, entitled
31-OTHER REDor, Harlequ i n Johnny Gilpin'J. Ride
to Edmonton. Clown, Mr. Croueste Harlequin, Mr. ailde-
brsnd ; Columbine, Miss Hayman ; Pantaloon, Mr. Lutpino ;
Sprite, Mr. Le Barr.

ROYAL STRAND THEATRE.
Lessee and Directress, Miss Swanborough.
THIS EVENING. THE RULE OF THREE.
After which, the new Extravaganza, KENILWORTH; or
Tc Queene. ye Earle, and ye Maydenne.
And THE LITTLE SAVAGE.
Commence at 7 o'clock.

ASTLEY'S ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE,
Westminster-road.
Lessee and. Manager Mr. William Cooke.
Great and glorious Success of the gorgeously-appinted Pan-
tomime.—First appearance these two years of the celebrated
continental equestrians Mr. A. Brydges and Madame Brydges.
Dress Circle, 4s. ; Boxes, 3e. ; Pit, 2s, ; Gallery, ls. ; Upper
Gallery, 6d.
During the week, the great Eastern Spectacle of THE
REVOLT IN INDIA; or, The Fugitives and their Faith-
ful Steed.
After which SCENES IN THE CIRCLE by the Star
Riders of Europe.
Te conclude with the great Operatic and Burlesque Eques-
trian Pantomime, entitled HARLEQUIN BARON MUN-
CHAUSEN, AND HIS COMICAL CREAM COB
CRUISER. Baron Munchausen, Mr. W. Anson ; Harlequin,
Mr. H. Hemmings ; Pantaloon, Herr Cole; Clown, Mr. A.
F. Forrest; Columbine, Miss Julia Weston.
Stage Manager, Mr. R. Phillips.
A Morning Performance of the renowned Pantomime every
Saturday, at Two o'clock.
Carriages for day performances at half-past four, and for
night representation at half-past eleven,

CANTERBURY HALL, Westminster-road.--
Proprietor —C. MORTON.
The public is most respectfully informed that the FrNE
ARTS GALLERY, in connection with the above Hall, IS NOW
OPEN DAT AND NIGHT, from 11 o'clock a.m. until 12
o'clock p.m. The New Gallery contains an extensive Collec-
tion of Pictures, by Ancient and Modern Masters and is also
devoted to Art productions generally. The Proprietor feels
he may confidently assert that, viewed altogether, the exist-
ing Music Hall, the New Fine Arts Gallery, and the recently
added Ante-Hall, wilt present an attraction which, whether
as regards the architectural beauty of the structures them-
selves, or the varied and hitherto nnattempted combinations
within, will be found to be wholly without parallel in the
Itingdom.
The MUSICAL ENTERTAINMENT commences as usual at
Seven o'clock.

In addition to the usual entertainment, the SAUVLET
FAMILY, of Amsterdam, Eight in number, whose varied
instrumental performances have created so marked a sensa-
tion in the principal cities and towns of the Continent, will
perform every Evening at Nine and Eleven o'clock.

THE WEATHER.—Sus OFFICE, JAN. 18.

THERMOMETER, IN THE SHADE.

52—highest since noon yesterday.
52—lowest this morning and during the night.
54—this day at noon.

BAROMETEIt-29.80.
WIND, South Westerly; rather fresh, with dull mild
weather.

THE SUN.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 18, 1859.

One of the promised measures of Reform has at
last been duly ventilated. Mr. BRIGHT has lifted
the veil, and it will require a tolerably high
bidding to run ahead of the honourable gentleman
in the race for Reform. As might. naturally be
expected, he gives the Ballot. The freedom of
representative institutions entirely depend on the
power of excluding every undue influence—of
banishing bribery and intimidation, and enabling
every elector to give his vote in favour of the can-
didate whom he believes to be most competent to
represent his wants and wishes in the popular
branch of the Legislature.
The Ballot is indeed the chief, the all-important
feature of Parliamentary Reform. With it, almost
any measure would be acceptable; without, the
best in all other respects would be regarded as a
mockery and delusion, and the addition to the
franchise would be regarded as an injury rather
than a benefit. The Ballot is absolutely essential
to enable every trading and working man to exercise
the suffrage in accordance with his conscientious
opinionFi. We believe that the voice of public
opinion will sustain the honourable gentleman
on this most interesting point, and that none of
the rival schemes will be acceptable to the
community unless the Ballot is one of its
leading features. We know that both Lord PAL-
MERSTON and Lord JoHN RUSSELL are committed
on the other side, and it is from the Ministerial
benches that we hope to find an acceptance of the
proposition of the member for Birmingham, so far
as secret voting is concerned.
There is, of course, to be a large extension of the
franchise—a considerable addition to the number of
electors. Many will be removed from the class of
political cyphers, and enabled to have, through their
chosen representatives, a voice in the national legis-
lation, and a control over the national expenditure.
According to the constitutional theory, there can
be no taxation without representation ; and as
every man not in the receipt of parochial relief
must indirectly contribute to the public treasury,
there ought to be something nearly approximating
to universal suffrage. Mr. BRIGHT, however, does
not go to this extent. Although he does not ex-
press any direct disapproval, he feels that it would
be perfectly useless to propose it, inasmuch as it
would never receive the legislative sanction.
Mr. BRIGHT does not approve of what he terms
fancy franchises," although we think they might
very properly be included in the bill. A barrister,
or a doctor, or any man assessed to the Income-tax
ought, ex delecto justitice, to be entitled to exercise
the suffrage in any district wherever he resided,
and in which he is registered. There are many
parties who would be the best class of voters who
arc now altogether excluded. It is not long since
that we met a gentleman who had been a graduate
in honours at one of the old universities, a barrister
contributor to the
Of nearly 20 Yea standing

Income-tax, and a well-known public writer, who
was without a vote, because he occupied a house in
the county of Middlesex, the rent whereof did not
amount to £5O per annum.

Mr. BRIGHT'S plan will increase the electors in
the proportion of five to two of those already
existing. In place of one million there will be
nearly two and a half millions of electors, or about
one-half instead of one-fifth of the adult male popu-
lation of the country. We need not say that this
would be a vast improvement, although we shall
await the elaborate discussion that must take place
before we pronounce a decided opinion on the
plan.

The most elaborate and well-considered portion
of the scheme is that respecting the new distri-
bution of electoral districts. A number of boroughs
are to be disfranchised ; others are to be deprived
of one of their representatives, and the members
that are cut off are to be given to some of the most
populous districts—cities, boroughs, and counties.
Although we are bound to confess that the hon.
gentleman leans considerably to the municipal
population, we gladly hail the proposition. It is a
step in the right direction ; and although some of
the details may be objected to, it will serve as a
precedent to guide others who have hitherto suffered
no inkling of their promised measures to ooze forth.
Lord PALMERSTON will know what is expected at his
hands, and will either relinquish the task or give
something that may be accepted as a genuine
measure. The competitors for the Premiership have
received a valuable lesson, and Mr. BRIGHT has
entitled himself to the thanks and gratitude of the
country, although some of the details he has put
forward may be altered before the measure becomes
part and parcel of the statute law of the land.

It is satisfactory to note, from the last report re-
cently issued in the form of a blue book, in reference
to the Military Prisons, by the indefatigable In-
spector-General, Col. JEBB, continued evidence of
steady, and, in some particulars, of considerable
improvement, in army discipline, and in the general
organisation of her MAJESTY'S Forces. The nature
of the peculiar system of discipline est.blished in
those places of punishment, Col. JEBB has already
frequently explained in previous specimens of this
regular annual publication. His present blue book
report consequently comprises no more than the
requisite mass of illustrative statistics in reference
to the working of that system in 1857. According
to these irrefragable statistics it appears that the
proportion of prisoners admitted into the military
prisons had been reduced in 1857 to 5.62 per cent.
upon the whole force of the army; whereas in 1856
the total number of prisoners amounted to 6,376
in 1857 they amounted to 5,572. Of these cul-
prits-438 were Scotch, 1,712 were Irish, 3,422
were Englishmen : 95 acquired bad, 124 in-
different, and 5,353 good characters while in con-
finement. As to the offences committed--277 were
for disgraceful conduct, 619 were for drunkenness,
1,038 for miscellaneous crimes, 1,734 were for ab-
sence without leave, and 1,888 were for desertion.
As to the particular kind of punishments-49 days
constituting the average length of sentences—five
(would that we could say none !) endured the igno-
miny of the lash, twelve were consigned to solitary,
and three to separate, confinement. In regard to
the ages of the culprits, it is satisfactory to remark
how few were past middle-life—namely, 22 being
above 40, 488 being between 30 and 40, 723 being
under 20, and 4,339 between 20 and 30. It is re-
markable that the health of the prisoners has im-
proved notwithstanding—it may be, in some mea-
sure, because—of the reduced scale of diet adopted
since 1850: the ordinary reduced scale, now in
operation, including Boz. of oatmeal at breakfast,
9oz. of Indian meal at dinner, and Boz. of
bread at supper, with half-a-pint of milk to each
meal. It is especially deserving of notice that the
whole character of the army is being raised at the
same time that the discipline carried out in the
Military Prisons, under the direction of Colonel
JEBB, is effecting so much in the way of progressive
improvement among the refractory.

A new field for patriotic munificence has now,
under the happiest auspices, been opened to the
possessors of art treasures in the United Kingdom.
We have seen the nation enriched within a compa-
ratively recent period by the VERNON Gallery,
the SHEEPSHANK Gallery, and the TURNER Col-
lection. Other magnificent gifts of a like kind may
follow in gorgeous succession. To this there is,
happily, no impediment. But apart from these
superb wholesale donations of entire galleries and
collections of pictures, there is afforded to many
thousands, in another and totally different direc-
tion, an admirable opportunity for the display of
the generous civism of individuals. Under the
chairmanship of Lord STANIIOPE, the National
Portrait Gallery has at length been regularly
organised, and, we may add, formally inaugurated.
Immediately before the close of last week, we had
the gratification of attending the Private View of
the nucleus of this deeply-interesting collection—
at the temporary gallery in No. 29, Great George-
street, Westminster.

Altogether, there are as yet no more
than fifty-seven Portraits, constituting the
entire of the existing collection. But these
fifty-seven pictures make a superb commencement.
Thirty-six of the aggregate have been purchased
by the trustees of the gallery—the remaining one-
and-twenty have been presented by the munifi-
cence of various contributors. Conspicuous among
these, the only authentic and satisfactory portrai-
ture there is of the greatest of all Englishmen—the
famous CHANDOS portrait of our immortal SIIAK-
SPERE. A statesman like HARLEY Earl of OXFORD
—a navigator like Coo K—a great churchman like
Cardinal WOLSEY-a musician like HANDEL-a
sculptor like NOLLEKENS-a painter like REYNOLDS

—an actor like KEMBLE—a scholar like Dr. PARR—
a poet like DRY DEN—a warrior like Lord OLIVE

—a wit like THEODORE HooK—a beauty like
NELL GwyNNE—contribute already to the attrac-
tion of the national collection. Miss BURDETT
COUTTS has generously presented to the nation
PHILLIPS' admirable portrait of her father Sir F.
BURDETT—Lord LANSDOWNE that of his father the
first Marquess, by Sir JOSHUA—the Chairman of
the Board of Trustees that of his ancestor, JAMES,
the first Earl STANHOPE. There is one Royal
donor among the contributors—his Majesty the
King of the BELGIANS—who has presented to the
English nation the portrait of General W
OLFE,
the captor of Quebec. There is certainly not one
reader of Mr. THACKERAY'S "Virginians" who may
visit the gallery but will turn with intense interest
to scan the features of the gallant young hero, who
died in the arms of victory at the early age of
thirty-three. It is curious to note the red-haired
effigy with the retreating chin—and to observe
that there is not merely not one line of beauty,
but not one spark of genius anywhere visible in
the countenance. Wonderfully different is the
portrait of another hero, marked No. I. in the
catalogue--Sir WALTER RALEIGH—With a visage
1
as perfectly handsome as it is eminently intel-
lectnal. The Gallery is already what it will, of
coarse, become more and more, the haunt of tb.e
hipper.

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