The Sun.
London, England, 1857-03-19 00:00:00

TO THI IDITOR OF THE SUN.

DEAR SIR,--Will you kindly permit me, through
the medium of your columns, to say there is not
die slightest truth in the statement contained in
this morning's Post and Advertiser, that I had
given up my hope of obtaining a seat in the House
of Commons, for Bridport. On the contrary, my
canvass bas been most flattering and successful.-
-I am, dear sir, yours faithfully,
E. T. SMITH.

Her Majesty will hold a Privy Council on Friday
next at Buckingham Palace.
Yesterday was the birthday of her Royal Highness
the Princess Louisa. Her Royal Highness the Duchess
of Kent, accompanied by the Princess Amalie of Hohen-
lobe Schillingfurst, arrived at 2 o'clock in the afternoon
to pay a visit of congratulation to the Queen.
LIE PERSIAN ENVOY EXTRAORDINARY.—MB Excel-
lency Feruk Khan, the Envoy Extraordinary from
Persia, will arrive at Folkestone to-day from Paris, and
will remain some weeks in London. Captain Lynch, of
the East India Company's service, will attend on his
Excellency during Lis sojourn in England.
General Todtleben is travelling in Piedmont. He
lately visited Alessandria, and it is said offered some
suggestions with respect to the fortifications about to be
erected.

DE. VOGEL.—A letter from LApsic of the 11th con.
tradicta the statement of the death of Dr. Vogel in Africa
—no accounts having been received later than those
which mentioned hie safe arrival in the capital of the
Wadai.

ADDITIONAL MAILS TO CHlNA.—Arrangements have
been made by the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Na-
vigation Company for establishing packet communica-
tion with China, in connection with the Overland India
Mail leaving London, via Southampton, on the 20di,
and via Marseilles on the 26th of each month. Mails for
China will accordingly be made up on those days, com-
mencing an the 20th inst. The branch packets con-
veying these mails will [depart from Point de Galle, and
will call at Penang and Singapore. This despatch of
mails will be additional to that now taking place on the
4th and 10th of each month.—By command of the Post-
master-General, RoWLAND HILL, Secretary.—General
Post-office, March 18, 1857.
MAILS FOR SWEDIIN. —The mail steam packets under
e•ntraot with the Swedish Govetnment being about to
recommence their voyages between Grimsby and Got-
tenburg, mails for conveyance by those packets will be
made up at this office on the evening of Friday, the 20th
lest., and on the evening of every subsequent Friday,
until further notice. Al. letters and newspapers ad-
dressed to Uddewalla, will be forwarded bythese packets,
unless directed to be otherwise sent ; but letters and
newspapers for other parts of Sweden, intended to he
transmitted by these packets, must be specially addressed
" Via Grimsby "or "By Swedish packet."—By com-
mand of the Postmaster-General, ROWLAND HILL, Se-
cretary.—General Post-office, March 17, 1857.
INJUNCTION AGAINST SIR WILLIAM DON.--On Tues-
day Sir William Don and Mr. Emery, the lessee of the
Marylebone Theatre were served with a copy of an in-
junction, issued by Vice-Chaaeellor Wood, on the ap-
plication of Mr. Buckstane of the Haymarket, and of
Mr. Bernard, the author of the piece called "Tao Evil
Genius," in which Sir Wm. Don has been performing at
the Marylebone Theatre. The application was made by
Mr. Lewis (Lewis and Lewis), the solicitor to the Dra-
matic Authors' Society, and forthwith issued, and was
served by that gentleman on both parties the same after-
noon. The parties will of course have an opp eitunity to
move the court on the next seal day to dissolve the in-
junction obtained on the ex-parte application.
EXTRAORDINARY NARRATIVE. —Oa Sunday last,
whilst the ship Switzerland, Captain Conway, from New
York, was beating up the Channel towards the Mersey,
one of the crew, James Smith, fell overboard when off
the Great Ormahead. The sea was running wild and
high, and some time necessarily elapsed before the boat
was launched for the almost hopeless task of rescue. Tne
man was known, however, as an athletic fellow and a
good swimmer. As the boat neared the unfortunate man
they were horrified to see him deliberately take out his
penknife and cut his throat. They hailed him, but the
noise of the storm seemed to proveut any recegnition,
and he alternately rose and descended with the waves.
Ultimately they succeeded in rescuing him and bringing
him on board, with blood flowing from his neck. When
interrogated as to his singular conduct, he said he en-
tertained not the slightest hope of being saved, and
rather than undergo the horrid and tedious death of
drowning amid the storm, he thought of hastening his
end by cutting hie' throat. The poor fellow now lies in
a fair way of recovery on board the ship in the river.
FATAL GUN ACCIDENT.--On Saturday last, about 11
o'clock forenoon, Wm. Ferguson, spirit dealer, Garnock
e-
oottae, near Kilbirnie Railway station, met with his
death in a very sudden manner. He, along with others,
was enjoying a day's sport in shooting rabbits, in the
bank contiguous to the farm of Boag. Duncan John-
son, ono of the party, had his gun on full cock, and in
the act of passing through a clump of bramble, the trig-
disengaged it, and caused the contents
ger seems to have come in contact with one of the twigs,
which probably
of the barrel to be discharged, ar tof which settled in
the body of poor Ferguson, who was within a short dis-
tance iu front of Johnson. The melancholy occurrence
was entirely fortuitous, and the distraction of Johnson
can wily be imagined when he beheld the comrade of his
youth prostrated a bleeding corpse before him. Dr.
Walker, of Kilbirnie, was shortly in attendance, but his
professional skill was of no avail. He, however, exa-
mined the body, and found marks of hailehot on the
chest, arms, and face, some of which appear to have
penetrated the lungs, and other vital parts, and caused
death to be almost instantaneous. Dec,ased has left
a wife and five children to lament his loss. We under-
stand that Johann is in custody. —Ayr Express.
MELANCEIOLY AND FATAL OCCURRENOE.—An accident
of a most heartrending nature occurred at the residence
of Mr. W. Robson, of Paradise, near Newcastle, on the
evening of Wednesday last, which unhappily ended in
the death of Mrs. Rubson. It appears that on the
evening in questiou the lamented deceased and her hus-
band wore alone in a small breakfast-room in the lower
part of the house, and, as Mr. It ibson was reading at
the fire, Mrs. Robson, who was attired in a white muslin
dress, passed between him and the fireplace for the purr
pose of ringing the bell for one of the servants. After
ringing the bell, and while standing with her back to
the fire, the housemaid entered the apartment, and per-
ceiving her mistress's dress to be on fire behind, uttered
a loud shriek. Mr. Robson, whose attention was im-
mediately directed to the flumes rising up behind, in-
stantly attempted to throw her down, and wrap her up
in a rug, but owing to the excitement of the unfortunate
lady his efforts proved ineffectual. After the flames had
to some extent been got under the unfortunate lady was
found to be burnt to death.—Newcastle Journal.
SOOTOU PRISONS.—The 18th Report of the General
Board of Directors of Prisons in Scotland has just been
issued. At the close of the year 1855 there were 543
prisoners in custody in all departments of the General
Prison—viz., 303 males and 240 females. The total
number confined in this prison during. the year included
584 males and 414 females. 'At the close of 1856 there
were 616 persons in custody. The total net cost of the
prisoners was 161. ls. 21 per head, being 21. 9a. 2d. less
than in 1855. Tne number of criminal prisoners re•
ceived at the various prisons in the year ended the 30th
of June, 1856, was 20,931, making a total of 112,235
for five years ending in 1856, and a yearly average of
22,447. Of the prisoners 1,787 were under 16 years of
age, 1,213 under 18, 2,843 under 21, 12,824 between
21 and 50, and 1,232 of 50 years and above. The net
number of commitments in the year was 19,015. There
were 264 sentences to transportation and penal servitude
and 2to death. The great majority of offenders expiated
their crimes by imprisonment. The report does not
present any remarkably salient points.
The LATE COLLIERY EXPLOSION.—The Rev. Dr.
Bicleersteth, the newly-appointed Bi,leop of Ripon, has
expressed his deep sympathy for the widows and children
of the men now lying dead at the bottom of the Lundhill
Colliery. He has visited the site of the catastrophe, and
expressed his delire to render any service in his official
capacity :which may be the means of aiding the subscrip-
tion set on foot for the relief of the distressed ; and on
Monday evening the right rev. prelate preached an elo-
quent sermon to a large congregation in Barnsley Church,
having especial reference to the late awful explosion.
Many colliers, as well as the leading inhabitants of the
town, were present. The collection at the close of the
sermon in aid of the " Lundbiill Colliery Relief Fund"
amounted to 28/'
BURLINGTON HOUSE —The new meeting-room and
library for the Royal Society, which have been formed
under the direction of the Office of Works, Whitehall, in
the western wing of Burlington-house, are now ready for
the decorator. The meeting-room is an apartment of
large size, 77 feet long, 42 feet wide, and about 30 feet
high. Here the collection of portraits belonging to
the society will be open to the public at stated times. It
will be heated by hot water. The library is a room of
good size, but comparatively low. Mr. Myers and Mr.
Smith, of Pimlico, have executed the principal works.
—ne .Buitclo:

HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE.

SEASON 1857.

aurouncing tLp: arrang,3roes
the director of her Majesty's Theatre caunot but refer,

with sincere gratitude, t the success which attended his
efforts, under very trying circumstances, in the season
of 185 G.

Dramatic opera, which in every Foreign State is foss
tered by Government aid, is, in this country, denied the
support which is extended to other departments of Art;
and it is to the patronage of the upper claseee, who have
rallied round the establishment, that the country owes
the prosperity of a noble lyrical institution, which no
❑neupported individual efforts could maintain in a man-
ner worthy of its old renown.
In acknowledging the munificent assistance which
enabled him to conquer the unprecedented difficulties
of last year, the director cannot sufficiently express
his, grateful appreciation of the delicacy with which
it was bestowed ;—support was freely and nobly ac-
corded for the sole purpose of insuring the prosperity
of the institution, and the counsel which added to
its value was never accompanied by a word to shackle
the discretion or impair the authority of the direction.
To this the success of the past season is greatly owing ;
and from the generous confidence with which the sub-
scribers have renewed their subscriptions for the present
year, without awaiting the publication of the annual
programme, the director derives the assurance that he
bas not altogether disappointed the patrons of the theatre,
and that)e may rely on the continuance of the cordial
encouragement by which be has been hithertolipheld,
and under which it is hoped still higher triumphs may
be achieved than were immediately attainable on the
restoration of the establishment.

The enthusiasm which a elcomed the re•opening of her
Majesty's Theatre was not confined to the subscribers.
The hearty interest and genuine appreciation displayed
by the audiences who thronged the house from the first
night to the closing farewell demand the warmest thanks
of the director, which he will endeavour practically to
Express by renewed efforts in the service of the public.
The director is most anxious to acknowledge how
much he is indebted to Madlle. Piccolomini and all the
artistes whose talents contributed to the success of last
year, not merely for those efforts of genius which won
the sympathy and admiration of the subscribers and the
public, but for that high artistic feeling and honourable
fidelity which secured the audience from disappointment,
and enabled the direction to produce the entertainments
promised for each evening without a single change of
performance—a fac',i without precedent in operatic
history.

The advantages peculiar to her Majesty's Theatre,—
its central position, and associations, now more than a
century old—give to it a natural pre-eminence of
which •no ococasional circumstances can ever per-
manently deprive it. These advantages will be turned
to account by a company combining the prestige of
acknowledged genius, with the attraction of new
candidatei for the highest rank of their profession.
Those who last year won favour at the hands of
strangers will reappear to claim the cordial recognition
which an English audience never refuses to established
favourites ; and the direction has been further
strengthened by an accession of new aspirants
of the highest order, whose merits are already
acknowledged on the stages of Italy, and who only
await the verdict of the subscribers and frequenters
of her Majesty's Theatre to confirm their fame.
Although in an establishment especially devoted to
Italian Opera the compositions of Italy will naturally
predominate, the gems of other schools will not be
neglected.
Ballet will continue to bo supported by the most fa-
mous of established artistes and the most promising of
those who are ambitious of the same distinction.

It is hoped that the organisation of every department
will prove complttely worthy of that state of renewed
prosperity to which her Majesty's Theatre has now
attained.

The following are the arrangements already com
pletcd

OPERA.

Madame Allooni.—Madlle. Maria Spezia, of La Scala,
Milan; La Fenice, Venice; San Carlos, Lisbon ' - &c., her
first appearance.—Madlle. Angiola Ortolani, of La Scala,
Milan; L'Oriento, Madrid ; &c., hor first appef.rance.—
Madlle. Baillou, Madams Franchi, Madlle. Berti, Madlle.
Treneta Ramos, of the Toatro Regio, Turin.
Her first appearance.—Madlle. Piccolomini.
Sig. Antonio Giuglini, of La Scala, Milan ; Carlo Felice,
Genoa ; San Carlos, &c. His first appearance. Sig.
Jacopi, Sig. Mercuriali, and Sig. Luigi Bottsrdi, of the
Carlo Felice, Getoa, &c. His first appearance.—Sig. Bel-
lotti, Sig. Beneventano, Sig. Napoleons Rossi, Sig. Gio-
vanni Corsi, of La Scala, Milan ; and Italian Opera,
Paris; &c. His first appearance. —Sig. Baillou, Si,. 13.
Soros, Sig. Gariboldi, and Sig. Filoppo Vialetti, of La
Scala, Milan; La Fenice, Venice; L'Oriente, Madrid;
&c.—His first appearance.
Director of the Music and Conductor, gig. Bonotti.
Sous Directeur and Maitre du Chant, Sig. Vaschetti,
Suggeritore, Sig. Fontana.
BILLET.

Madlle. Carolina Pocehini, of the Karnther Thor,
Vienna ; La Scabs, Milan ; San Carlo; Naples ; Carlo
Felice, Genoa, &c., her first appearance ; Madlle. Marie
Taglioni ; Madlle. Boschetti • Madlle. Katrina ; Madlle.
Teresa Rolla, of La Fenice, Venice, her first appearance ;
Luigia Brunetti, of the Carlo Felice, Genoa, her
first appearance; Madlle. Elias Salvione, of La Scala,
Milan, her first appearance ; Madlle. Giuseppina. Morlacchi,
of the Teatro Rogio, Turin, her first appearance ; Madlle.
Isabella Karliski, of tt e Academie Imperiale, Paris, her
first appearance ; Madlle. Carolina Pasquali, of the Impe-
rial Theatres of Vienna and Milan, her first appearance;
and Madame Rosati.

M. Paul Taglioni, Signor Ronzani, Mr. Charles, M.
Pierre Massot (of the Oriente, Madrid, his first appear-
ance); Signor Filipo Baratti, his first appearance; Signor
Cesare Checchetti, his first appearance ; Signori Rairaelle
Gambardolla, Luigi Varini, Luigi Turbino, and Pietro
Buzzio; (of the Teatro Regio, Turin; and Carlo Felice
Genoa), their first appearance.
Maitres do Ballet—M. Paul Taglioni, Signor Ronzani,
M. Massot. Regissour de la Danse—M. Petit. Master of
the School of lustruction—M. Mascot.

Marine. Piccolourini will arrive early in April ; and, in
addition to the characters which last season she made her
own, will appear in a varied and attractive repertoire..
Madlle. Spezia will have the honour to appear for the first
time at the opening of the season in Donizettes opera of
La Favotita.

Immediately after, Macllle. Ortolani will make her first
appearance as Elvira, in Banjul's opera of " I Puritani."
Elvira, Madlle. Ortolani ; Arturo, Signor Giuglini.
Madame Alboni will arrive before the Ist of May, and
will make her first appearance this season as Azucena, in
Verdi's opera of " IL Travatora."
The union of three of these distinguished prime donne,
Madlle. Spezia, Madlie. Ortolani, and Madlle. Piccolomini,
will be effected in Mozart's opera of " Il Dm- Giovanni,"
which will be produced with the perfection of ensemble
and details necessary to realise the intentions of 'its great
author. All the artistes of the establishment will join in
aiding the efforts of the director to do honour to the noble
work of the Shakspere of music.
Signor Giuglini. This charming tenor will have the
honour of inaugurating the opening of the theatre, and will
make his first appearance as Fernando-, in the opera of
" La Favorite."

The distinguished basso profondo, Signor Vialetti,
also make his first appearance at the opening of the theatre,
Tho admired tenor, Signor Botardi, will snake his first
appearance early in the season.
Besides the principal executants of last year, the arches.
tra has been .strengthened by the engagements of, amongst
others. Sig. Pezzs, first violoncello of La Scala ; and Sig,
Giraldoni, first contrabass° of Bergamo, La Scala, &c.
The chorus will be numerous and effective.

In addition to the union of operatic talent at the
opening of the season, the inauguration of the ballet
portion will be made by the fascinating artiste, Madlle.
Pocchini. The most successful ballot of "La Esmeralda,"
will be 'revived expressly for her debut.
Early in the season Madlle. Boschetti and Madlle. Ka-
trine will appear.
Madlle. Marie Taglioni will arrive early in May, and
will shortly after wards appear in a New Ballet, composed
expressly for her by M. Paul Taglioni.
Madame Rosati will appear in a Ballet Divertissement
from Auber and Scribe's new ballet of "Marco Spada,"
now preparing for her at the Academie Imperiale, Paris.
Principal artiste to the establishment, Mr. C. Marshall.
The costume department will be directed by M. Laureys,
under the superintendence of Madame Copere. Principal
Machinist, Mr. D. Sloman; Head of the Property Depart-
ment, Mr. Bradwell.
The subscription will consist of thirty nights, and the
taring will be as follow : —Pit Boxes, 150 guineas ; Grand
Tier, 200 guineas ' • One pair, 150 guineas ; Two-pair, 100
guineas ; Pit Stalls, 25 guineas.
The theatre will open on Tuesday, 14th April, when will
be presented Donizetti's opera of " La Favorite." Leonora,
Madlle. Spezia; Baldassare, Sigr. Vialetti ; Fernando,
Sigr. Giuglini.
To be followed (first time these ten years) by the favourite
ballet of "La Esmeralda," founded on Victor Hugo
" Notre Dame de Paris." La Esmeralda, Madlle. Pocchini s
Claude Frollo, Sigr. Ronzzni ; PierreGringoire, M. Mascot;

ADILPHI THEATRE.—Her Majesty and his Royal
Highness the Prince, with the Princess Louisa, Prince
Arthur, and the Princess Helena, honoured the Adelphi
Theatre with their presence last evening. The Royal
suite consisted of the Countess of Desart, Lord Byron,
Lord Charles Fitzroy, and Captain the Hon. D. de Rog.
Madame Ristori is expected in Paris on March 25,
and it is said that she will positively appear in the cha-
racter of Lady Macbeth.

CELESTE AT EDINBURGH.—On Monday night
Madame Celeste commenced a short engagement at the
Theatre Royal in her original part of Miami, in the
drama of "The Green Bushes." The character is well
adapted for the display of that expressive pontomimic
power in which she is without an equal • and we need
scarcely add that her acting, in point of picturesque
effect, was quite worthy of her established reputation.
At the Queen's Theatre, Mr. Vandenhoff is performing
some of his finest parts. This evening he is to appear,
for the first time in this quarter, in the character of Sir
Pertinax Mace-yeophaqt—Edinburgit Courant.
A Paris letter in the Independance of Brussels atat'
that a play, written by Alexandre Dumas in 24 hours,
is about to be performed at the residence of M. de Gir-
ardin, and that M. Dumas, who boasts of being the best
cook in France, is to superintend the preparation of the
dinner which le to precede the performance.

LATEST
LI 1,1

It wo:. ,ulembered, says the .Nord of Brut-
Bois, that long before we published the Austro-
Sardinian notes, our correspondent at Vienna led
tis to expect the cessation of diplomatic relations
between Austria and Piedmont. The Austrian
Gtazette appears now to confirm this news, but it
states that the recall of Count Paar from Turin
would only be a satisfaction which Austria owes
to herself, and would be attended with no other
consequences than the cessation of diplomatic re-
lations between the two countries. We must de-
clare with all those who wish to see future com-
plications prevented that when two powers are
geographically and politically placed one against
the other, as are Austria and Sardinia, such a
rupture is always dangerous and consequently to
be regretted.

FRANOE.

PARIS, WEDNESDAY EVMING.

M. F. de Lesseps has arrived in Paris from
Egypt. At his departure from the East, the pre-
liminary works of the canal through the Isthmus of
Suez were urged on with activity.
The question of a modification of the French
Cabinet is, after a long interval, once more
among the rumours of the day. The cause
to which rumours owe their origin is as fol-
lows :—A. short time since M. Mocquard, the
Chef du Cabinet of the Emperor, was attacked
by a severe malady, which confined him for some
time to his bed, and which at one time occa-
sioned serious alarm to his friends. The offico
of Chef du Cabinet is of the most important kind,
and of an entirely confidential nature. The
person who holds a post so near the Emperor's
person must be, of all others, not only politically
but personally devoted to his master. In case of
dismissal, resignation, or any other casualty, it
would be difficult to nd a successor, at least one
who combines alI the qualities which, according to
general belief, are found in the present occupant
of the post. During M. Mocquard's illness it was
represented to the Emperor that, in case of its
teminating fatally (which is not the case, as
that gentleman is completely re-established, and has
for some days past resumed his duties), it would be
necessary to ineorporatethe Cabinet of the Emperor
with the department of State and the Imperial.
household, as the Cabinet ought in point of fact to
be a branch of that department; that the Minister
of State is the principal member of the Cabinet ;
that, as atpresent situate, he is so merely in theory
and not in practice, and that serious inconvenience
would result unless the incorporatign took place.
This view of the case is by some persons believed to
be correct ; and the person who is at the head of
the Cabinet,' according to them, ought to be under
the immediate control of the Minister of State.
The recovery of M. Mocquard rendered the change
which was contemplated unnecessary or inoppor-
tune, but it is thought that the reasons alicg,Al
for it were rather favourably received by the Em-
peror, who,. it is said, communicated them to his
chef de cabinet and confidential secretary. Whether
the plan of incorporation which was so near taking
place has been merely 'postponed, or abandoned
altogether, is not known, but it affords the only
grounds for the rumours of the Ministerial modifi-
cations alluded to. One of these rumours was, that
M. de Persiguy would probably be recalled from
the London Embassy, and appointed to a high and
confidential place in the Cabinet.
Bouusz, March 18.—The following were the last
quotations

- Cash. fr. C.
4 per Cents -

End of Month.
-fr. ----3.
71 15

3Per Cents 7O 85
New Loan

Bank Shares 4,175 Roman
Crgdit Mobilier 1,470 Austrian
Belgian Fives .. Spanish Threes
Piedmontese (5) 9l 25 Home Debt

RAILWAYS-FOR CASS.

89/
90
41
333

fr. c. fr c
Orleans 1,480 Western
Northern 987 50 Strasburg
Lyons 1,530 -- New Ditto
Mediterranean 9,010 Grand Central
Lyons Geneva
Cette B6O Austrian Cum. ...... 787 50