The Sun.
London, England, 1859-02-18 00:00:00

THE PUBLIC READINGS SOCIETY.

Last evening this society gave another of its popular en-
tertainments. According to announcement the Readings
took place in the school-room of St. George-the-Martyr,
Theobsdd's-road, a numerous audience being there col-
lected together, and evidencing, by their frequent laughter
and applause, their genuine satisfaction with the proceed-
ings. The readings yesterday were more than usually
miscellaneous. Mr. Edward W. Cox, one of the two
originators of the society, read with admirable ability
Hood's "Dream of Eugene Aram," and, later in the even-
ing, a long descriptive piece by Wordsworth. Mr. G.
Harris delivered a brief lecture uporlthe Ancient Britons,
his remarks being illustrated by a series of diagrams affixed
to the walls of the schoolroom. Mr. E. Powell, by his
extremely humorous reading of a chapter from the
immortal " Pickwick," convulsed his audience with
laughter : the chapter selected was the one descriptive
of Sam Weller's composition of a valentine at the
George and Blue Boar, and of old Mr. Weller's criticisms
thereupon. Mr. Powell concluded the proceedings last night
by his graceful delivery of the Poet Laureate's Lady Clive
—Mr. W. C. Kent having previously read Leigh's descrip-
tion of the " Inside of an Omnibus," and Alfred Tenny-
son's " Charge of the Light Cavalry Brigade" at Bala
klava. The reading announced for to-night is to take
place at Wylde's Reading Rooms in Leicester-square.

We understand that the appointment of Master
in Lunacy vacated by the resignation of Mr. Higgins has
been offered to Mr. Samuel Warren, Q.C., hut upon condi-
tion of his resigning his seat in Parliament.

We understand that Lord Malmesbury has ap-
pointed Captain Francis Howard Vyse, late of the Royal
Horse Guards Blue, to be Consul at Jeddo, in Japan.

EAST INDIA HOUSE.—The Right Hon. the Secre-
tary of State for India in Council has sanctioned the ap-
pointment of Mr. Clifford Craufurd, of the Cashiers' De-
partment in the India-office, as Secretary to the Court of
Directors of the East India Company, during the continu-
ance of the existing arrangements between the Council of
India and the Court of Directors.

We understand that the arrangements conse-
quent upon the resignation of Mr. Higgins, have been thus
settled :—Mr. Higgins returns to his former post of registrar
in bankruptcy, Mr. Scott to his office of principal secretary
to the Lord Chancellor, and Mr. Phillips loses the appoint-
ment, which he has held for a week, of principal secretary.
—Horning Post.
DEFENCE OF THE TAY.—We understand that the
fortification of the Tay is contemplated by the Government,
and that batteries will be placed both at Broughty Ferry
and on the other side of the river, so as effectually to pro-
tect the channel.—Dundee Advertiser•.

The Government have resolved to issue a com-
mission to inquire into and report on the recruiting system
of the army.

THE MAIL SERVICE.—SOUTIIAMPTON, Thurs-
day.—The steamship Parana left this day with the West
India and Pacific mail and 109 passengers, among whom
were the Bishop of Martinique, Count Berton, Major Ar-
met, the Rev. W. Pemberton, Dr. Hamilton, the Rev. Mr.
East, Surgeon Yessington, Assistant-Surgeon Kearny,
Lieut. Pinder, and Ensigns Gillespie and Russell ; also a
full cargo, specie value £3BO, and jewellery, value £5,600.
The Sultan left this day with the usual Peninsular mail and
14 passengers. The homeward Peninsular mail will be
brought by the Tagus, and may be looked for on Sunday
next.

The Theatre du Cirque at St. Petersburg has been
destroyed by fire. Nothing remains of this splendid build-
ing but the.bare walls. The theatre was originally intended
for equestrian performances, but soon became devoted to the
Russian opera and to German comedies. There had been a
bal masque in the building, as on the occasion of the fire at
Covent Garden, but when the masqueraders left at four
o'clock in the morning, no signs of fire or smoke were visi-
ble. An hour afterwards the roof fell in—one body of flame.
All the costumes, the scores of the operas, and the instru-
ments of the musicians were destroyed.
THE PROJECTED EXTENSION OF THE GREAT
HARBOUR AT MALTA.—Mr. Wm. T. Mainprise, R.N., the
indefatigable master-attendant of Malta Dockyard, took his
departure on Saturday last, in the French steamer Borys-
thene, for Marseilles, en route to England, under orders, it
is reported, from the Lords of the Admiralty, to afford in-
formation and give his valuable counsel in regard to the
projected scheme for extending the accommodation in the
Great Harbour for her Majesty's ships and stores, by ap-
propriating for Crown purposes the present Merchants' or
French Creek behind Senglea; and dredging the upper part
of the harbour, and excavating the land for some distance
beyond, is form an exclusive port for merchant shipping,
in connection with which project, Capt. Brett, private secre-
tary and aide-de-camp to the governor, left for England a
few weeks ago. It is also currently rumoured that it is in
contemplation to appoint Mr Mainprise a member of the
Malta Ccuncil of Government, in order that it may have
the benefit of his practical knowledge during the discussions
of the project, but that he will not be entitled to register
his vote.—Malta Times, Feb. 8. _ _

COURT OF COMMON COUNCIL,—A special court
was held yesterday, at which a deputation from the inhabi-
tants of Farringdon Without attended to present a petition
in favour of the establishment of a meat and poultry market
in-Smithfield. Sir J. Duke moved that the petition be re-
ferred to the Markets Improvement Committee. Mr. Deputy
Obbard seconded the motion, which, after some discussion,
in which Mr. Anderton, Mr. H. L. Taylor, Mr. Ross, Mr.
Lawley, and Mr. Scammell took part, was adopted. Mr.
W. Connell moved the third reading of a bill for repealing
the Act of Common Council of May 29, 1845, for regulating
the appropriation of the rents, and profits of the Finsbury
estate. Several members of the council spoke upon the
question, which was ultimately carried by a large majority.
Mr. Abraham brought forward a motion, which was se-
conded by Mr. Barkley, the effect of which was to reduce
the allowances for dining, &c., to the various committees.
Air. De Jersey moved, by way of amendment, that the mat-
ter be referred to the Coal and Corn and Finance Commit-
tee. Deputy Pew tress seconded the amendment, which after
some discussion, was carried by a considerable majority.
LOSS OF THE SHII),• ADELLA.—FORTUNATE
ESCAPE OF THE CREW.—Yesterday morning 32 seamen
arrived at the Sailors' Home, some of them in a very wea-
ther-worn and broken-down condition. They came from
Carrickfergus, where they had been landed on the previous
evening by the schooner Esther, of Bristol. It appears that
the vessel to which they had belonged—the Adella, of which
Mr. Watt, of Irvine, was owner, and Captain Walter Gibb,
commander—sailed from Greenock on the 12th ult., laden
with railway carriages, railway castings, and machinery for
Bombay. She met with very rough weather, was wind-
bound, and was knocked about for a number of days in the
North Channel. Some of her spars got adrift about the
deck and started the after- hatch. The cargo shifted; and,
on Tuesday, the Ist inst., her maintopmast and mizenmast
were carried away. Her bulwarks were afterwards washed
off; and on Tuesday se'nnight it was discovered she had
sprung a leak. The crew worked hard at the pumps, and
exerted themselves to their utmost to save the vessel. Their
toil was unavailing ; and, in despair, on last Friday, they
determined to leave the ship to her fate. The men wore
just ready to cast themselves into the open boats when the
schooner Esther appeared in sight. They were all taken
on board and safely landed, as above stated, at Carrick-
ferwas. No other sail appeared "on the wide waste of
waters ;" and, had not the schooner been herself windbonnd
for some days, sire would not have bean the fortunate means -
of saving soniany lives. The leak was discovered when the
vessel was 100 rniles.west of Tory Island,- off Donegal, and
the captain was making an abortive effort to reach the
Island of Barra, in the Highlands, when himself and crew
were happily rescued from their perilous position. Only an
hour and a half after they had got on board the sehoerier
the Adella sunk. The captain and some of the men have
suffered severely from their feet being so long immersed in
water. Every possible care was taken of them by the ex-
cellent manager of our Sailors' Home, who obtained for
them a passage to Glasgow, whether they sailed last night.
—Northern Whig.
SIR ARTHUR BULLER.—At the farewell dinner
given last Tuesday, by the members of the Calcutta bar to
Sir Arthur Buller, the advocate-general, in a speech of
much feeling, expressed the good-will entertained to-
wards the departing judge by those to whom his uni-
' form courtesy and patience have much endeared him ;
at the same time, the speaker alluded to the loss which
the council of India and the public in general would
sustain in one whose practical
good sense has
often made itself felt in debates which his wit without
malice has adorned. The guest of the evening made an
eloquent reply. Sir Arthur will leave. Calcutta, early next
month, and will take with him the cordial good wishes of a
community of which he has been a useful as well as a highly
popular member.—llterkaric, Dec. 24.