The Sun.
London, England, 1859-01-28 00:00:00

THE OCEAN MAIL. SERVICE.

SounamrTmc, Jan. 27.--The Peninsular and
Oriental Company's steamship Ripon, Captain
Munro, sailed hence to-day for Gibraltar, Malta,
and Alexandria, with the Bombay mails, 291 boxes
containing £76,195 in specie and £559 in jewelry, a
full cargo, and 53 first and 35 second-class passen-
gers. Among the passengers who embarked are
Lieutenants Bartholomew and C. J. Plaughten, and
among those who proceeded via Marseilles are Lord
Rendlesham, Capt._ I. IL. Sladen, Capt. arid Mrs.
Hawkins,-and Capt. and Mrs. Miller. The above-
named company also despatched their steamer
Alhambra, Capt. J. D. Steward, to-day with the
mails for Vigo, Oporto, and Lisbon. She has nine
passengers, including Baroness Vati Aerness and
Lieut. de Kautzon, and 2,000 sovereigns for Lisbon.
The Union Screw Company's steamer Phoebe, Capt.
Clark, arrived here early this morning from the
Cape of Good Hope, last from Plymouth. She
biings 30 passengers, and a cargo comprising 46
casks and cases, 25 pipes and 50 hhds. of wine, 92
baleS of wool, 2,000 horns, 1,995 bags and 25 tons
of copper ore, 5 cases of ivory tusks, 4 cases of
ostrich feathers, 15 cases of fibre,"B packages of
sundries, and £B2O in specie. On the 29th of
December , the Phoebe spoke the Dutch ship
Schoonerbond, bound from Batavia for Amster-
dam ; same day the English ship Timandra, from
Manilla for London, 89 days out. At 4.30 p.m. on
the 4th inst. the Phogbe hove to, and a boat came
alongside from her Majesty's steamer Industry for
a supply of coal, which Captain Clark was not able
to spare ; the Industry was bound to Ascension.
We see by the. Cape papers that tile Union Com-
pany has submitted proposals to the Cape Govern-
ment for the extension of mail communication with
the Mauritius by the establishment of branch
steamers touching at Port Elizabeth and Natal. The
estimated guarantee is said to be £22,ooo—one-half
to be defrayed by the home Government. The mer-
chants of Graham's Town and Port Elizbeth pre.
sented Captain Clark, of the Phoebe, with a check
for £75, in acknowledgment of 'the valuable
services he had rendered to the mercantile com-
munity of the eastern province in having performed
two voyages in time to enable people to reply to
their letters by the homeward vessel. The Athens,
Captain Strutt, arrived in Table Bay on the 14th
of December, with the English mails, four days
before her time. The next mails for jhe West In-
dies, &c., are due at Southampton on the Ist Feb.,
per Parana, Captain Bevis ; from Gibraltar, Cadiz,
Lisbon, Oporto,•and Vigo, by the Sultan ; Captain
Cook, on the 3d; from India and China, by the.
Ceylon, Capt. Evans, due on the 4th, but expected
to arrive about Sunday week ; from the Brazils and
River Plate, by the Avon, Captain Revitt, on the
sth ; from Australia and New Zealand, by the
Thames, Capt. Lewis, n the 6th ; and from Bom-
bay, by the Orissa, daptain Joy, on the 12th. The
Indus, Captain Evans, leaves with the East India
and hina mails on the 4th Feb. ; the Tagus, Capt.
Hall, with the Peninsular mails, on the 7th ; the
Tyne, Captain Sawyer, with the Brazilian mails, oz
the 9th ; and the Fulton, Captain Wotton, with the
French and English mails for New York, on the 9th.

MEETING 'OF THE PROPRIETORS OF
DRURY-LANE THEATRE.

Yesterday afternoon the annual general meeting
of the proprietors and renters of Drurv-lane Theatre
was held in the salOOfl a the establislment.
Mr. B. B. CABBELL, M.P., F.R.S., was called to
the chair ;. and amongt the proprietors and renters
present we observed Lord Tenterden, Lord G. Len-
nox, Sir Wm. De Bathe, Captain Painther, Mr. G.
B. Allen, Mr. Arden, J.P., Mr. Ibbetson, Mr. Raw-
linson, Mr. T. M. Nelson; the architect, Mr. E. T.
Smith; the lessee, &c.
The CHAIRMAN, having explained the object of
the assembly, called upon the Secretary to read the
report of the managing committee.
The `report stated that the committee had great
pleasure in stating to the proprietors that they had
at length received the award from Mr. Lockyer,
the arbiter, as to the long-pending question between
them and the proprietors in respect of the repairs
of the theatre, and it would. be their duty to sec the
directions contained in the award duly complied
with. The receipts of the year, adding the balance
of £217 lls. 7d. of the previous year, amount to
£4,858 6s. 11d., the payments to £4,480 19s. id.,
leaving a cash balance of £337 7s. 10d. The receipts
comprise the sum of £4,000 for the year's rent paid
by the lessee, and a further sum of £155 paid by
him for 31 extra performances. The payments com-
prise the sum of £1,639 ls. lid., for five quarters'
rent, paid to the Duke of Bedford on account of the
arrears due to his grace, and the sum of £1,050
paid to the trustees of the new renters. The rates
and taxes and all other accounts, with the exception
of items under £lOO, had been paid up to Christmas.
The committee were again enabled to conclue their
report by adverting with satisfaction to the success
which had attended the commencement of the pre-
sent season.
This report having been received and adopted,
Mr. T. M. NELSON, the architect to the proprie-
tors of the theatre, was then called upon to present
his report as to the state of the building, which stated
that the reinstatement of the large skylights over the
property room and a portion of the other extensive
repairs referred to in his former report, have been
satisfactorily executed. An important addition has
been made to the new water supply and fire-main,
by which a constant supply is afforded to the cis-
terns on both sides of the house, and the water for
scenic effects is also furnished without diminishing
the supply required in case of fire. The frequent
inspections at the Theatre Royal Drury-lane have
tended much to the greater security of the building
and the safety of the public. In conclusion, the
report stated that, although the theatre has been
erected upwards of fifty years, it is (with the ex•
ception of a few matters which are capable of im-
provement) unsurpassed in this country, not only
on account of its architectural proportions, and its
adaptation for dramatic performances, but for this
no less important reason, viz., the perfect security
that every person may feel, whether in pit, boxes,
or galleries, in case of any sudden alarmor panic.
The architect's report was received, and directed
to be entered upon the minutes.
A long discussion then took place on the subject
of a •reconstruction of the managing committee.
Lord'G. Lennox, Mr. Thompson, Mr. Pyefinch, Mr.
Scal, Mr. G. Baugh Allen, and several other pro-
prietors and renters, took part therein, and it was
contended that the introduction of new blood into
the committee was necessary, •in order to obtain
better terms from the lessee of the theatre than a
rental of £4,000 per annum.
A RENTER warmly contended that £4,000 per
annum was a most inadequate sum, seeing that in
the time of Elliston the rental produced by the
theatre was £lO,OOO per annum. Formerly the
average rent to each renter, taken over a period of
thirteen years, was £l3 on each £5OO share; but since
that period the rental, had only averaged £2 14s.
6d. per share, which, setting down the value of the
theatre at £lOO,OOO, was not equivalent to 1 per
cent. lie thought with care a larger amount of
interest might be obtained for their outlay. (Hear.)
Mr. SHARP moved that the committee be reor-
ganised, and consist of the following gentlemen :
viz., Lord G. Lennox, Mr. C. Dance, Mr. G. Pons-
ford, Capt. Painther, and Mr. Thompson.
Mr. THOMPSON was understood to second the
motion.
Mr. ARDEN, J.P., thought any attempt to disturb
the unanimity which existed in the present manage-
ment would be a most unwise step. It had already
resulted in giving them a larger dividend than usual,
and if allowed to remain might tend still further to
increase it.
Mr. SEALE said such a proposal, in the face of the
very satisfactory report they had heard read was not
at all justifiable. (Hear, hear.) The renters, he con-
sidered, had very little to complain of, when it was
recollected that the proprietors paid the Duke of
Bedford as ground landlord, as well as increasing
their dividend.
Lord GEORGE LENNOX was sure the present
managing committee had been guided by one
motive, and that was to do the best they could for
the property intrusted to their care. The object of
the committee ought not to be to jump at the
highest offer they might receive from a proposed
lessee. That had not always been found the most
satisfactory course. It was their desire to do the
best they could for the concern.
The proposition on being put was negatived, and
the existing committee re-appointed.
The CHAIRMAN observed before theyseparated that
he was sure the proprietors and renters would agree
with him that they should fail in their duty if they
did not tender to the present lessee, Mr. E. T.
Smith, their cordial thanks for his management and
punctuality.
The motion having been put and carried,
Mr. E. T. SMITH briefly responded.
A similar compliment having been awarded to
the chairman, the-proceedings closed.

ALEXANDRIA, Jan. 18.—After a long interval of
silence, uninterrupted ever since the departure, of
Mr. Wale from Cairo some six weeks ago, a steamer
has at length arrived from Jeddah, bringing us
some slight addition to the information you already
possess touching the proceedings there of the three
Imperial Commissioners. Particulars are as yet
unknown. The operations of the Commission have
been conducted with strict secrecy, and very little
has transpired to the general public beyond the
fact that the first portion of its labours—that re-
lating to what may be termed the criminal ques-
tion—had been brought to a close, and that the
Commissioners were_ entering upon the discussion
of the next point, that of inquiring into the claims
for indemnities and establishing the amounts
due to the sufferers in the late disturbances.
The meshes of the conspiracy which resulted in the
massacre of last year have been fully unravelled,
and, when all details become known, it is said they
will'be found to afford a new and striking illustra-
tion in support of the 'oft repeated adage, that the
most elaborate fictions can seldom attain the dra-
matic strangeness of simple truth.
Few of your readers will feel much surprised at
hearing that the men who suffered death last year
to stay the stern demands of outraged Christenclom
consisted of merely a small number of the bumbler
instruments of others more powerful, but no less
cowardly and treacherous. Indeed, lam informed
that the greater number of those who composed the
tribunal by which they were condemned are found
theMselves to have been among the chief instigators
of the massacre, their own hands imbued with the
very blood in expiation of which they consigned
their wretched accomplices to a miserable death.
And 'yet justice is again delayed. Scyid Pasha,
the Ottoman Commissioner, declares that he has no
powers from the Porte beyond that of joining in
the inquiries of his guropean colleagues.
This really seems the strangest part of all, and
the question must necessarily rise to every lip,
What does it mean ? Can it be that the intrigues
of a few miserable fanatics are even in this instance
allowed to prevail, and that the Turks are willing
tolforfeit the goodwill of every honest man, and to
suffer themselves to be held up before the world as
devoid of every sense either of justice or of shame ?
The analogy of other cases of a similar nature,
though of less notoriety, might lead us to fear that
it really is so, that the enemies of Turkey are right,
and that dementation is indeed preparing the way
for utter destruction; but the information before the
public is still defective, and it may therefore be
necessary to suspend our judgement. It may be
that Seyid Pasha will still receive the authority he
was believed to hold, or at all events that the Borte
will be able to explain the delays there have been
in the fulfilment of the pledges it openly gave to
the civilised world, though even then the Govern-
ment of the Sultan will not be exonerated from
the blame of having so repeatedly allowed appear-
ances to weigh heavily both against its officials,
and through them against itself. According to our
latest intelligence, the two European Commission-
ers, unless Seyid Pasha during the interim should
receive fuller powers, would return from Jeddah
immediately on coming to a conclusion on the
question of the indemnities.
A few days ago all Alexandria was alive with
expectation, looking for the 'arrival of the Euryalus
with Prince Alfred. A premature report had got
abroad that the frigate had left Malta on her way
to Egypt, and preparations were made to follow
the example set at other places visited by his Royal
Highness-, and to 'give the Royal midshipman, if
possible, is brilliant a reception as that with which
lie has been greeted in her Majesty's dominions,
It is still hoped that he will visit Alexandria to-
wards the end of next month, and in that case the
arrangements previously made will probably be
adhered to. According to the preconcerted pro-
gramme, when the Euryalus is reported in sight,
one of the Viceroy's steamers will put off to sea to
meet her with our consul and some of the leading
members of the Egyptian Government. The moment
she drops her anchor in the harbour a Royal salute
will be thundered forth from the forts and Egyptian
war vessels, to be again repeated when the young
Prince sets his foot on shore. There then will be
public receptions and a grand ball, which the Vice-
roy has signified his intention of attending, accom-
panied by the heads of the several departments of
his Government. Our diplomatic body will, of
course, also be present, at the /del, the persons
of the consular officials. A visit this winter from
the Grand Duke Constantine of Russia is likewise
spoken of.
The adoption of the reformed system of currency
has been deferred to the 15th of February, so as to
allow full time for a complete and careful revision of
the Government tariff valuations of foreign coins.
For this purpose a special council has been formed
at Cairo, and we learn that they are about to apply
to the principal European Governments for official
statements of the precise assay
fineness and weight
of their respective coinages. In addition to the
revised tariff we have the promise of a good supply
of small coin from the Cairo Mint, which of itself
will constitute a great and undoubted boon ; but it
is very generally felt that the only real and thorough
remedy for the sad state of confusion at which we
have arrived consists in furnishing the country with
an ample and continued supply of native coinage,
and of adopting one single metal at a fixed standard
as the legal tender of the country. But this course
it is feared would be attended with almost insuper-
able difficulties. The revenues of Egypt have of late
years been burdened with heavy expenses, and
would at present be ill able to bear the additioual
charges which the execution of that plan would
necessitate. We know by former experience that
the native coinage would at once be seized upon by
hoarders at even any sacrifice, and that none of the
new money would come into circulation until the
foreign coins now lying hidden throughout the
country had been displaced to the very last. This
alone would involve a considerable outlay, from
which the country would in reality not derive an
atom of benefit. We must therefore of necessity
content ourselves with the present measures, which
after all will constitute a decided improvement,and
we may trust to the future for a more favourable
combination of circumstances to admit of the appli-
cation of a more thorough remedy.
Mr. Brunel has left Cairo on a trip to the upper
country, and Lord Dufferin has also sailed for the
latitudes of Southern Egypt and Nubia. Mr. Brunel,
on his return to Cairo, will probably visit Suez, in
accordance with a request made to him by the
Viceroy, who is desirous of having his opinion as
to putting into execution the long talked of
project of transferring the port of Suez to the
Bay of Ataka, some 10 miles south of the
present landing place. The great inducement for
effecting this change consists in the depth of water
on this part of the coast. It would admit of the
largest steamers being discharged close in shore,
instead of lying, as at present, at a distance of
some five miles from the landing place. But a
breakwater would be necessary to protect the
shipping from the prevalent north-east winds. Mr.
Robert Stephenson paid a cursory visit to tha spot,
prior to his departure by last mail for Marseilles,
and his opinion seems generally favourable to Suez,
with the impression that the expense of construct-
ing the jetty would far exceed what was generally
supposed, and that the cost might even attain the
sum of £500,000 sterling.