The Sun.
London, England, 1857-03-20 00:00:00

LONuON, FRIDAY, MARCH. 20, 16t7.

Grumbling, wo believe, is pretty generally,
am', for that matter, too, pretty accurately,
regarded among us as, of all, about the Na-
tional Characteristic. A witty epigrammatist
has led off a whole catalogue of similar definitions
by observing that—" An Englishman is never
Happy unless he is Miserable !" Candidly, let
us say at once, That is really after all to our mind
a very just definition. We are—there is no pos-
siblity of blinking the matter—unmistakeably and
undeniably a Nation of Grumblers. It is in some
respects about the sweetest privilege accruing to
us from our Constitutional Government—the pri-
vil-ge of Grumbling. And we Grumble, as a matter
of course, for this one, obvious, unanswerable,
and. all-sufficient reason, that we have incessant
eause_for Grumbling 1 it is the same whether in
reg trd to our Ciimato or in regard to our Politics.
The changes in each are in themselves so wanton,
so fitful, so perversely and provokingly unex-
pected, that it is really and truly, while noting
them, mat to impossible to preserve one's equa-
nimity. Look, in testimony of all this, to the
actual situation of affairs at the present moment
irntreliately prior to the dissolution of Parlia-
ment ! Look at the relative plight of the various
Candidates and of the various Constituencies ! Look
attire positiou of Parties—at the medley of Factions
—et the "confusion worse confounded" 'among
Tories and Whigs, Radicals and Retrogrades,
Reformers and Conservatives ! A confusion so
dire and bewildering that we have been every
now and then liable to have revealed to us per-
fectly novel and hitherto unheard-of combinations
—some startling and "fortuitous concurrence
of atoms," certainly never before " dreamt of in
our philosophy !" So uttorly indeed, of late, have
the heterogeneous Parties in the House of Com-
mons been jumbled together, jostling each other,
and distracting themselves in a perfect maze of
cross-purposes, that when at last the popular re-
presentatives are actually dismissed, they are
presented to view as trooping out, collectively,
for the purpose of Appealing to the Country, in a
strange pent of a wild Political Country-
dance ! Change partners, hands across, right
and left, down the middle and up again ! With
a result, in fact, all things considered, very nearly
identical with that facetiously described by Mr.
1)1"s in his Christmas Carol, at the close
of the grand Terpsichorean demonstration, on a
famous winter's night, at Old FEZZIWIG'S :--" Old
top couples always turning up in the wrong place;
new top couples starting off again as soon as they
had got there ; all top couples at last, and not a
bottom one to help them !"
IA is the actual posi-
tion just now of Pulitleal Pattlee—the veritable
state of thinza arrived at by the pre3out
merit.

Jr. become~, corriegitentl.r, relicf
nowadays to find a few at last among our
chief
select few of our priiacip
public characters-1
Politicians and leading St en
any rate in a light manner, whAt it is they
really do think upon most things itl generll,
and upon Horne things in part icJI rr—d'Ar.g
Cris either throneli written or through oral Ad
dreffles to their Constituent?. Yuterday, wbile
again enforcing our demand—our urgent and
reiterated demand—for a categorical explanation
of his opinions and principles from Lord PALMER-
STON, we took occasion to commend, as we eon'
ceivo we were in simple justice bound to do, the
very explicit Manifesto addressed to the cou:ltry ff
at large by Mr. DISIZAELI, through the moditaii I
of Lis own individu..l c'n,;tittrents., the Electors
the county of Backingilaw. We are tc-ehy

I afforded the opportunity of directing popular at-
tention in a very particular manner to the no less
explicitly enunciated views of two others
among our more conspicuous Members of Par-
liament. Mr. COBDEN and my Lord JOHN
RUSSELL. The Premier that was and that
may be—the Tribune that has been, and that
never will be again ! The veteran Chief of the
Reformers, and the successful Champion of the Free-
Trade Principles. The Noble Lord and the Hon-
ourable Gentleman were yesterday speaking at
different parts of the country, almost simultane-
ously—Lord Joasr in the City of London, plead-
ing in his own cause before his old constituents ;
Mr. COBDEN advocating the interests of an invalid
and absent friend in the hearing of sundry
of the " free and independent " Electors of the
city of Manchester. Be it here observed at once,
that to our thinking nothing could well have been
more noble or more generous in its way, hardly
anything, to our mind, could be more instantane-
ously entitled to the utmost possible degree of
respect and consideration, than the earnest and ob-
viously heart-born tribute of affection and admira-
tion offered by Mr. COBDEN to the genius of
JOHN BRIGHT in the hearing of the mon
of Manchester 1 Allowance must here at
least, we conceive, be made for any vitupe-
rative epithets accidentally wrung from the speaker
by the very intensity of his emotions
while uttering an indignant denunciation of the
depreciators of his distinguished political associate.
" I feel humiliated," exclaimed Mr. ConoEsr, at
that point, in a generous outburst of enthusiasm,
the unaffected sincerity of which cannot fail t
command the respectful attention of the whole
community, "I feel humiliated—l feel disgusted
to see the daily personal attacks—the diatribes
that are made aga..inst this man, with his health
impaired for the moment—his health impaired,
too, ix that organ which excites feelings of awe,
and of the utmost commiseration for him on
the part of all right-minded men. Yes,
while this man is not able to use those
great intellectual powers with which GOD has
gifted him, while their full activity is suspended
for the day, the vermin of your Manchester press
—the ghouls of the Guardian—the ghouls of the
Guardian are preying upon this splendid being,
and trying to make a martyr of him i❑ the midst
of his sufferings." Apart, however, from such
impassioned allusions to his absent friend—Mr.
COBDEN'S speech of yesterday at Manchester, we
cannot but think, " pales its ineffectual fires" lie-
fore the manly and, in many respects, luminous
oration delivered about the same time in the City
of London by Lord JOHN RUSSELL. •
Recollect, Lord JOHN spoke as a Reformer
with a prestige and an authority certainly not
second to that of the treat Free-Trade Champion.
If Mr. COBDEN addresses himself, if Mr. COBDEN
CAII never fail to address himself to any audi-
ence otherwise than in the light of his al-
ready historical character as the Destroyer
(par excellonce) of Monopoly—Lord JOHN never
speaks before any English audience whatever, save
is the much loftier and nobler capacity of one of •
the -very First and Foremost among the living
Champions of Civil and Religious Liberty. In
this respect he stands before us upon the elevation
of no ordinary rostrum—he talks in reference to
great national questions from a tribune of no
common material or elevation—he speaks as from a
political tripod of his own construction : as the
introducer into the House of Commons of the
Parliamentary Reform Bill, as the author of the
Test and Corporation Act, and as one of the most
energetic and high-minded promoters of that other
grand palladium of our religious liberties, the
ruemoratile Act of Catholic Emancipation. And
in this eminent capacity, as the Leader of a Great
Party, as a Yeteran Reformer, as one who for
tive years held in his own grasp the reins of
supreme Government—bow is it that Lord Joss(
has spoken I What (precisely, briefly, and to
the point) may have been the gist of Lard JOHN'S
views as to the present Situation ? Re said yesterday
in the City of London, distinctly and deliberately,
that it appears to him, The vary First Question
now put to the Country is—" Whether Lord PAL-
MERSTON'S Government should be supported, or
whether it should bo replaced by any other Go-
vernment." That Lord JOHN maintains candidly is
THE Question just now put to the Country. And
in explicit reply to that question, he immediately
adds—" My candid opinion is that Lord PALMERS-
TON'S Government ought to be supported ; and if
had to choose between Lord PALMERSTON at the
head of the Liberal party, and Lord DERBY at the
head of the Conservative party, I should think it
my duty to give my adhesion to the former."
Now this, to our thinking, is true patriotism—it
is true consistency. It is civisin. It is mag-
nanimity•. Very different, indeed, the statesman-
like view thus taken of the existing Crisis by Lord
J. RUSSELL—very different, indeed, from the
poor, miserable, little, contracted, peddling, hux-
tering, mean-spirited, narrow-minded view taken
of the self-same Crisis by King Calico
Why, look at the two Speeches--compare them
—contrast Mr. COBDEN'S speech with the speech
of Lord JOIN RUSSELL. The Noble Lord's speech
is the speech of a Statesman, and, let us repeat it
again to his honour, the speech of a Patriotic and
of a Consistent Statesman. That of Mr. COBDEN
—is precisely for all the world what we might
only iu reason have expected to hear from the

13.3 of the Political Bagman. Common sense gone
fiean mad. Sophistry affecting sincerity. Disin-
genuousness affecting candour. An oration worthy
of the man who had the effrontery the other day
in the House of Commons to talk of giving over
the destinies of the country into the hands of the
Tories for the sake of a dirty 2,000,000/.1 Look
at the Speech ! See how ingenuous it is ! Observe
how this noble-hearted Politician raises a laugh
of ridicule against Lord PALNIERSTON—for What?
For being seventy-three years of age ! Mark the
convincing logic as well as the captivating decency
of his arguments 1 He reject; one opinion as the
result of " downright quackery." lie repudiates
another as "insulting chiliishness." He finds a
view different from his own—and ho tells you
"It is all moonshine." Fellow-citizens in the
same free state dissent from his own infallible
judgment in the estimate of a particular
Minister, and he brands them at once as
" toadies." Ho goes far beyond this, however,
in the bespatteriug about him or his coarse and
vulgar seurrilitins—Speaking of Lord PALMER-
ETON'S claim just now upon popular consideration,
he asks : " Wel, what other title does he present
to our confidence that the people of this country
should be called upon by the impudence of time or
four metropolitan journals, which for reasons
best known, to themselves, which I hope will be ca-
nosed some day, are calling upon the English people
to lie down upon their bellies in the dust before this
man I" Au insinuated, but sufficiently apparent
calumny, which we, for one, should scarcely have
eigialtiorthleowil,argdouoldo,odbad
or indifferent, wo
to
thought any public man,
high
cast from him in these days of ours, even in a
moment of the most extreme exae.,rbation.
Yet one which Mr. COBDEN blushes not
fling from him with an idle and careless
band, and in a tone of ind,cent flippancy.
We have now done with Mt COBDEN. Wu

have done with him as a politician entitled to
anything more than a merely curious considera-
tion. We have done with him as a man of fla-
grant inconsistency : an inconsistency sufficiently
visible in that speech of yesterday, where we find
him—quite oblivious apparently of what he kad
already said so elegantly about the folly of ex-
pecting people t• " lie on their bellies"
before Lord PALMERSTON—cooIIy insisting that
4,000 of the electors of Manchester in a lump
should put their Votes (and with them, of course,
their Reason and their Conscience) into the pocket
of Mr. BRIGHT. Vide the Speech itself towards
its close —a Speech in which the BOANERGES of
the Peace• Mania cries out with stentorian energy
against " the newspapers who are bawling for
War." Observe : those who differ from him in
opinion bawl—he himself argues! It matters nothing
in the literal fact of the thing that the newspapers
that have the audacity to think differently from
Mr. COBDEN, print—while he speaks. They
"bawl"—and he "argues." And so we leave
Mr. CO DEN to console himself for the egregious
exhibition made by himself ix to-day's newspapers
through the reprint of his very singular harangue
—we leave him to console himself with the recol-
lection of the clacqueurs who cheered his vulgari-
ties to the echo yesterday at Manchester.

" The usual half-yearly Court- of Proprietors of
Bank Stock was held yesterday in the Bank Par-
lour !" This stereotyped article of intelligence,
which requires only a change of date to answer
t wice in every year, which maybe calculated on with
as much certainty as a lunar eclipse, or a planet's
transit, has just made its appearance. We are
told, in addition, that the Meeting "was net
numerously attended," and that the Court sepa-
rated, the proceedings having occupied but a very
short time." They, however, contrived to de-
clare a dividend of 4i per cent, for the half year,
free of Income Tax—and, in answer to some not
very convenient inquiries, it appeared that no
less than 64,9701. was carried over, which was
but 8,0001. short of a 5 per cent. dividend. It
might possibly have been made up under different
circumstances—but at present it is the Old Lady's
game not to show too large profits, a considerable
portion whereof may be regarded as a gratuitous
donation by the national Exchequer. Had it
been declared subject to Income Tax the desired
5 per cent. might easily have been granted, and
there would still have remained a surplus of
nearly 40,0001. carried over, or the additional
quarter per cent, might have been given free from
Income Tax with nearly 33,000/. carried over.
There is, however, an amiable weakness, which
prohibits the division of mere quarters. Nothing
under a half per cent. san be tendered to the pro-
prietors, and there must be no drawback of any
kind, nothing that can allay the satisfaction of
the fortunate individuals I They " take the
goods the gods provide them," with unexception-
able grace, and are quite contented that a con.
siderable surplus remain to fructify in the hands
of the Directors.
If the Bank could be considered in the light of
a private establishment of course nothing could
be said against the exercise of a " proper disore.
tion," as it may be termed. But it has a quasi
national position—a virtual monopoly that takes
far more from the community at large than finds
its way to the pockets of the proprietors. For
every shilling they receive, not one, but many,
pounds are abstracted from the resources of the
trading population of the country. " Unrestricted
competition," or, to use the Saxon appellative—
" Free Trade," is no less required in currency
than in corn. Indeed we believe that far greater
injury has been occasioned by the restriction on
money than on bread, and that a reform of the
monetary code is no less required than on that
relating to cereals, which was happily carried in
1846 I

We do not wish to deprive the proprie-
tors of any legitimate profits. As we
have repeatedly pointed out, they might, with
judicious management realise even larger
dividends than those which have recently
been distributed. If we look to the re•
turns of any of the great Joint-Stock Banks now in
operation, we shall find that, notwithstanding the
disadvantages to which they are subjected, they
show even larger gains in proportion to their
means than "the Old Lady" herself. They are
enabled to allow interest on deposits, and to give
their customers a decided interest in their pros.
parity ; and consequently we find one at least of
these establishments pressing closely in the amount
of " private deposits " on the Leviathan itself
—and others promise to achieve a similar position.
A comparatively private station would be more
beneficial for the Bank itself, and greatly so for
the community at large ; and the sooner it can be
brought to that condition the better for all par-
ties concerned ; that is to say, for the British
people of all glasses, from the Peer to the
Peasant

It is the undoubted prerogative of the Sam
REIGN to issue money, or what shall be received
as the measure and representative thereof. Bat
that great and very profitable privilege haebeen
delegated to a considerable extent to a trading
corporation. The Bank of England now issues
notes to the nominal value of 14,475,000/.
against public securities. In other words, it re-
ceives the interest on that large amount--which,
taken at only 3 per cent., amounts to 446,000/.
per annum, while it has the profits on its paper
issues, declared to be legal tenders everywhere
but at the offices of the Bank, which may
be set down at least at an equal amount.
A. really National Bank, issuing really na-
tional notes, secured on all the accumula-
tive wealth and industry of the nation,
would save nearly half a million sterling per an-
num in the matter of interest alone, to say nothing
of the different sums paid for deficiency
when the Chancellor of the Exchequer is com-
pelled to apply for temporary assistance at
Leadenhall-street. There aro also the payments
for the management of the National Debt, a large
portion whereof might be saved by the creation
of a National Bank of Issue under the exclusive
control and direction of a department responsible
to Parliameni. But at this moment, unless
the unaccountable apathy that has so
Long prevailed Le shaken off, a re-
newal of the charter for a further term
of ten years will be granted. Five millions at
least will be abstracted from the National Exche-
quer, and more than one hundred million., of
damage inflicted on the manufacturing, and com-
mercial, and industrial interests. This exceeds
the costs of the RuFsian War, and should not
lightly be sacrificed. A decided demonstration
may avert the impending evil. But if the people
are silent, if the golden opportunity be neglected
or misapplied, they will only have themselves to
thank for the misery that must inevitably arise.
Even five millions would be worth saving, and
that can be effected by a tinkly exhibition of pub-
lic feeling.

NAIL Fon Lim CA.ra.--The Post-office authorities
have given notice that they will make up a mail for the
Cape of €l-oodlope on the evening of the 24th for de-
epa.t...eli by her Vaj,sty's steamer Ttannit, to bail an the
25th ins:t., for China, o. Ling at the_Cape.

Tne Archduke Albert, the Vienna journals state, sent
in on the 13th to the Emperor of Austria a long report
on the situation of Hungary, particularly as regards the
finances. They add that the propositions which his
Imperial Highness has made, based on the results of the
conferences of the five Vice-Presidents of the Govern•
meats of Hungary, are expected to obtain the Imperial
sanction,

The Princess Luitpold of Bavaria has been indisposed
for some days. The last bulletin says :—" Her Royal
Highness passed an agitated night ; the cough has been
less tormenting than during the day, and towards even-
ing the fever diminished." A letter from Dresden, of
the 14th, states that a grand dinner, which was to have
been given at court on that day, was postponed in non-
sequence of the intelligence of the illness of the princess,
who is a niece of his Saxon Majesty.

A Cabinet Council was held yesterday afternoon at
the official residence of the First Lord of the Treasury
in Downing-street. Tho Ministers present were :
Viscount PalmAiston, the Lord Chancellor, Earl Gran-
ville, the Marquis of Lansdowne, the Earl of Harrowby,
Sir George Grey, the Earl of Clarendon, Lord Panmure,
the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sir Charles Wood, the
Right Hon. R. Vernon Smith, Lord Stanley of Alderley,
the Duke of Argyll, and the Right Hon. M. T. Baines.
Despatches were Fent from the Colonial-office yester-
day to the Governors of Hong Kong and Ceylon.
ARRIVAL OF TLIE PERSIAN ENVOY.—His Excellency
Feruk Khan, Envoy Extraordinary from the Shah of
Persia, attended by a numerous retinue, arri►ed in town
last evening from Dover. His Excellency proceeded direct
from the London bridge railway station to Claridge's
Hotel, in Brook street, the state apartments of which
magnificent establishment had been prepared for his re-
,ception.

Her Royal Highness the Princess Mary of Cambridge
visited the Duchess of Kent, yesterday, at Clarence
House, St. James's.
The Countess of Clarendon has issued cards for an as-
sembly to-morrow evening.
The Earl of Donoughruore has arrived at Claridge's
Hotel, from Ireland.
The Count Zabielo (Attacbd to the Legation of Russia)
has arrived at the Brunswick Hotel, Jermyn-street, from
St. Petersburg.
The Hon. Julian Fane arrived in town, a few days
since, from Russia.
Sir Brook and Lady Bridges and Miss Charlotte
Knight have left the Clarendon for Goodnestone Park,
Kent.

M. Pontiloff (Conseiller to the Emperor of Russia),
accompanied by his family and suite, have left the Bruns-
wick Hotel, Jerrnyn•street, for Paris.
Lady Molesworth received at dinner, on Wednesday
evening, the Marquis of Breadalbane, the Earl and
Countess of Stanhope, his Excellency the Sardinian
Minister, the Earl and Countess Grey, Viscount Tor-
rington, Viscount and Viscountess Sydney, Sir Anthony
and Lady de Rothschild, Baroness Lionel de Rothschild,
the Right Hon. R. Vernon Smith, M.P., and Mrs.
Vernon Smith, and Mr. Delane.
The Earl of Burlington has been appointed Lord
Lieutenant of Lancashire, in room of the late Earl of
Ellesmere.
PAPER MILLS AND Pam DUTY.—In 1856 there were
393 paper mills, and the duty in the year ended March
was 1,047,4301.
The Dublin papers announce the death of Mr. Kew-
mis, Q.O , who for several years has filled the office of
c‘iairman at Kilmainham. The deceased was called to
the bar in Easter Term, 1795, and must have been con-
siderably over fourscore years. The chairmanship is
worth 1,2001. a-year.
ACCIDENT AT A. PUBLIC MEETING.—IIIIDDRESTIELD,
Thursday.—Mr. Cobden having addressed an audience
of two thousand persons, in the theatre, in exposition of
his political views, was interrupted by a tremendous
crash. The side gallery 'gave way, precipitating forty
persons into the pit; several of them were injured, and
the meeting was abruptly terminated.
THE RECTORSHIP OP KING'S COLLEGE.—The Aberdeen
Journal say. : —The graduates, it will be seen, are called
to a meeting to be bald within the college on Wednes-
day, April 15, to nominate a rector to succeed the Earl
of Ellesmere. The meeting has been fixed for the above
day, we have remora to believe, in order to accommodate
members of the synods. We have not, as yet, heard
any name mentionei as likely to be brought forward.]
NEWLY DescovnuEn Beam—Capt. D. Moore, of the
Russell-Ellice, arrivad at the Falkland Islands, reports
having found soundings in 45 fathoms water in let. 30.50
S. long. 35.50 W., by chronometer, or 36 W. by lunar
observation. Hie attention had been directed to it by
the change in the appearance of the water, but the wea-
ther and a heavy sea prevented his lowering a boat and
taking soundings around it carefully as he was disposed
to do.
EMIGRATION TO A.USTRALIA.—LITERPOOL, Thursday.
—The celebrated clipper ship Red Jacket, Capt. M. H.
belonging
to Messrs. H. T. Wilson and
Star line of Australian packets, will
Chambers,
White belnS
sail from the Mersey for Melbourne at noon to-morrow,
the 20th instant (the appointed day of this line). She
will carry out 420 passengers, her full complement, every
berth having been engaged a number of days ago,
and a very large and valuable cargo of merchandise on
freight.
It has transpired that Russia has taken more active
steps than England to establish telegraphic communica-
tion with India. According to private and reliable ad-
vices just received, she made a contract previously to
the termination of the late war for a line from Nicolaieff
via the Caspian Sea to Ispaban and Herat. It has
since been in progress, and although, under the secrecy
enforced in that country, no conjecture can be formed
as to the probable period of its completion, the contin-
gency is not impossible of our finding before long that
she is in regular receipt of news from our possessions
weeks previously to its arrival in London.
According to some impressions, the recent treaty
between Mexico and the United States is not likely
to come into effect. At the last advises the session
of Congress at Washington was within a few hours
of its termination, and the treaty had not been sub-
mitted. Mr. Buchanan, the new President, will
immediately, upon assuming office, call together the
Senate, which, as an executive branch of the Govern.
went, must act upon all his appointments, and to which
be could submit for ratification a treaty strictly so called.
But, as that said to have been concluded with
Mexico contemplates a loan of money, it seems
doubtful whether under the constitution it would
be valid without the sanction of Congress. The
latter body unlace they are specially called
together, will not meet until December next, and the
prospect, therefore, with regard to the adjustment of the
question is uncertain. The treaty was negotiated with-
out instructions, and from the hesitation of the expiring
Cabinet to bring it forward for completion an assump-
tion is entertained that it is regarded by them with die
satisfaction.

Tliii CAMP AT COLOHESTER.—The wretched condition
of the soldiers' wives at the Colchester camp has led to
some correspondence between the War Department
and Major-General Gascoigne, which was published
yesterday. It appears that in the middle of last
month the scenes of destitution as to the wives and
children of soldiers in Colchester, from causes connected
with the army regulations and the dearness of food, were
truly deplorable, and " there were not so few as 2ro
wives and 350 children next to houseleas." The
wives of soldi re married without the command-
ing officer's leave, and who had no children, re-
ceived 2d., and many only a penny a day to live
on, and it was feared tbat they would fall into habits of
prostitution. The Secretary of State for War wrote to
Major-Gen. Gascoigne on the 2d inst. to the effect that he
(Lord Panmure) could not sanction the application to the
cases of women who had married soldiers without the con-
sent of the commanding officer of the C►rcular, No. 1,235
(July 15, 1856), inasmuch as it contemplated the cases of
women who had been lift behind at the stations at which
their hush:lnds wt re serving previous to their removal to a
camp, and not to women above the regulated number who
belong to corps eituattd as the depots of Colcheeter are.
Lord Panmure, how ye?, agreed to grant free pasi.ages or
travell'ng expended back to their parishes to the wives
and families of soldiers who had married without consent,
and whose wives were in excess of the regulated numbers,
rrovlcled they were willing to return. Lord Panmure
at the same time expreseed his surprise that soldiers who
had married without consent, and whose wives and
families had bee❑ allowed to accompany them from Ire-
land to Colchester, had been placed under stoppages of
pay to refund the expense of transit, and his Lordship
gave orders that such stoppages should hi for the future I
discontinued.—Times.

A SERIOUS Joicr.--The 'ol'owing is an ixtract from a
private letter dated Hong Kong, the 29th of January :
" A capital tale is told c f—'s campradore. On the
morning the breal was poisontd boy ran into his
room, telling him not to eat any, as it was poisoned.
rang for the rampradoro to a,.k him about it, and
the roan promised to investigate the matter. Half an
hour elapsed, and the eameradore did not return. His
master walked down stairs, and asked him if ho had dis-
c ivered any trace of Yes,' was the reply.
'lndeed ! and how did ycu find it out ?' Oh, I have
given one half loaf to the small boy, and another half to
that coolie." And why have you done that ?" Oh,
that small boy has no father, mother, sistsr, or wife. If
be do die, what matter ? Coolie all the Rattle.'

A concert, under the direction of M. Jullien,
was given at these gardens last night, in aid of the
funds of ths Early Closing Association. The con-
cert, as regarded both its selection and performance,
might have been given to the most polished and
fastidious audience in London. It included Weber's
overture to " Euryanthe ;" the presto movements
of Beethoven's seventh syMphony ; A.lenclolssohn's
pianoforte concerto in G minor, played by Miss
Arabella Goddard ; the whole of Mendelssokn's
symphony in A (the Italian symphony) ; the allegro
and storm movements from the Pastoral symphony
of Beethoven ; and Thalberg's fantasia from "Mose
in Egitto," performed by Miss Goddard. For
vocal music—Miss Dolby sang Mendelssohu's
" First Violet," Balfe's "Green Trees," and a
pretty Scottish ballad ; and Miss Louisa Vinning
sang the Pages song in " Figaro," " Voi the
sapete," and "Verdi's cavatina, "Tacea la Notte."
The orchestra was complete and powerful, and the
various performances were admirable in every re-
spect.. We were particularly struck with the re-
markable acoustical properties of the hall. Not-
withstanding its, vast dimensions, every note of the
music was as well heard as it could have been even
in a private drawing-room ; better, indeed, for the
sounds were softened and freed from everything
like noise or_ harshness by the vast space through
which they" ere diffused. The sounds of the voices,
and ttle tones of every instrument were clear, full,
and resonant ; and, in particular, Miss Arabella
Goddard's splendid execution of Mendelssohn's Con-
certo was probably never heard to greater advantage.
Throughout the evening the audience were loud
and enthusiastic in their applause ; and there was
even something grand in the bursts which rever-
berated through the building like prolonged peals
of thunder. In addition to the pieces which we
have mentioned, some specimens of Jullien's bril-
liant dance-music were introduced between the first
and second parts of the concert. From the ap-
pearance of the hall we trust it will be found that
the 'concert has been of substantial benefit to the
excellent association in whose aid it was given.