The Sun.
London, England, 1868-04-29 00:00:00

THE PAPAL ZO UA VES.

Tie following is an extract from a letter from an
English officer enlisted as a private in the .Papal
Zouares-:—" 1 have l'een about two months in the
Zouaves and have found everything much better
than I expected, and though it was hard and trying
at first, I managed to struggle through pretty well.
To answer your questions relative to the messing
and pay, I consider that a private in the Zouaves
gets sufficient food to live on. The messing is not
so good with the depot as it is with the Com-
panies. I have lived on it myself for days, and
would do EO now, only that some of us have been
asked to mess with the officers of the company.
the first thing in the morning is coffee, which is
brought to the bedside of the soldier, and which he
generally takes while in bed. This is better than
anything of that description given to our men at
borne. I always take it myself. At ten o'clock
soup, generally very good, half a pound of meat,
vegetables, bread, all mixed up together, forming a
good and substantial mess. At two in the after-
noon what is called rutta, with sometimes bacon in
it, generally also good. This latter varies a good
deal. Rice, beans, potatoes, and, as I said, with
sometimes bacon in it. The rutta is very much
better with the companies than with the depot.
Besides this lie gets a sufficient quantity
of good wholesome bread. As regards the
pay, it is very little, and if something could be done
for the men in this respect it would be of
great service. This could only be done privately.
I mean it could not be done in connection with
their military pay. 2d. a day additional pay would
do a good deal, and enable the soldiers every now
and then to take a pint of wine, which is necessary.
It is impossible that any one can be made a non-
commissioned officer unless he possesses some
knowledge of the French language, and this can be
the only reason why some of the English have not
been promoted. As the whole service of the Zouaves
is carried on in French a non-commissioned officer
would be useless without this knowledge. Ido not
think that the authorities are willing to put the Eng-
lish by companies together, and, for my part, I think
they are right not to make companies exclusively
English, although it would be good always to have
a certain number of them together, as in this case
they can be of service to one another, and this 1
think they are trying to do. The Zouaves in com-
panies are all served out with a rifled carbine and
sword bayonet, good enough weapons, but useless
now-a-days. The 1,000 Remingtons will be very
acceptable. I have found Colonel de Charette very
obliging. Some say that he disliked the Irish who
were here—perhaps they grumbled a little too much.
I still hold the first rank in the army—private.
Rome very full. The Zouaves again beat the other
English strangers at cricket. They play in the
Berghese gardens.

On Monday in the Court of Queen's Bench a
rule was made absolute fur a mandamus to the Bishop of
London commanding him to read and examine certain
books published by the vicar of Frome, alleged to con-
tain heretical doctrines on the subject of " the real pre-
sence," &c., and then to exerise his discretion whether he
will issue a commission. This does not appear to be a
great result, but it is important as indica:ing that the
Coat Of Quivtio much has jurisdiction in l 3 lich u welter.

[and ; anal after a few words from another.gentlethan, the

company dispersed.

THE MAY MEETINGS.

INCORPORATED CHURCH BUILDING SOCIETY.—A public
meeting in celebration of this society's jubilee has been
held at Willis's Rooms, St. James's, his Grace the Arch-
bishop of Canterbury in the chair. During the fifty years
of its existence the society has received £755,168, viz.,
£257,969 .:.•from royal letter collections, and £497,199
from other sources.. With these funds at its com-
mand, it `as made grants to 5,303 places in England and
Wales (viz.; towards the erection of 1,461 new churches,
rebuilding 889, and enlarging • and restoring, &c.,
2,953, at an estimated cost on the part of the public
of £6,2'32,900), thus aiding in the provision of 1,402,587
a.dditionyl sittings, of which about four-fifths are free. A
general appeal has lately been circulated among the clergy
of England and Wales to give sermons with collections on
behalf of the society. The ordinary receipts of the year
j;st elapsed have been -28,422.115. 21 There has been a
large increase in the amount held by the society in trust
for the repa:rs of churches. The total amount of these
foods, is • £42,249, while in March 1867 it was
£38,524. • The : number of applications entertained
during the past year was 127, and the total amount
granted 26,705, and this sum will have supplemental,
fecaland other resources to the estimated amount
_ _

' of £261,680 towards works providing increased church
secomnio,lation for 25,913 persons, inclusive of 4,075 chil-
lren. The total number of inhabitants in the 123 places
aided was 319,075, which, being divided, skews, of the
manufacturing, mining, and town classes, 239,891, and
agricultural, 79,184. In respect of snot ; made in former
years, the sum of £6,365 has been paid since the 31st
March, 1867 ; and of outstanding grants there now remains
to be paid £22,472, as soon as the works are completed.
Looking at the length of time the society has been in ex-
istence, its national character; and the extent of its opera-
tions, the committee considers the support which it
receives from the public is miserably small, and quite
inadequate to meet the opportunities of usefulness which
are presented to it. Although it assists in five-sevenths of
the total amount of church extension in the kingdom, its
average annual income from subscriptions, donations,
legacies, and collections is less than £7,ooo.—The Bishop
of Ely moved a resolution of congratulation on the fact
that the society had attained its fiftieth year, and sub-
mitted that its past usefulness in aiding the cause of
church extension entitled it to the confidence and liberal
support of, all true-Churchmen. Addresses in support of
the claims of the society were then delivered by Arch-
deacon Wordsworth, Mr. Beresford. Hope, M.P., Mr.
Hubbard, M.P., &c., and the proceedings terminated with
the Archbishop pronouncing the benediction.

BELICIOUS Ttticp SOCIETY.—The sixtyninth annual
meeting has been • held in Exeter Hall, under the
presidency of Mr. Duncan M`Laren, M.P. Dr.—Davis
gave a rCetrni, of the report, from which it appears that
during the pact year the society published over 100
new tracts and handbills, 15 books for adults, 19 for the
young, and a large variety of small books for children.
The society's sphere of action extends almost to every
quarter of the earth, and the number of publications it
issued within the year amounted to 40,991,763, being an
increase of 2,271,272 over last year. If to these be added
the numbc.r of probable foreign issues, the amount would
be about 46,991,763, and the proximate circulation from
the formation of the society, 1,238,990,000. The money
grant to England and Wales amounted to £6,943 Gs. 3d.;
to Scotland, 2714 is. 10d.; and to Ireland, £348 3s. sd.
The total receipts were £113,092, being an increase of
£2,317 over 1866. The total expenditure was £112,323,
and the grants amounted to £13,467, which was £2,333 in
excess of the subscriptions, donations, and collections.

THE CLEREENWELL EXPLOSION.—Perhaps the
subjoined summary will convey some idea of the deadly
effects of this atrocity :—Six persons were killed " out-
right ;" six more died from its effects, according to the
coroner's inquests ; five, in addition:, owe their deaths indi-
rectly to this means ; one young woman is in a madhouse ;
forty mothers were prematurely confined, and twenty of
their babes died from the effects of the explosion on the
women ; others of the children are dwarfed and unhealthy.
One mother is now a raving maniac ; 120 persons were
wounded ; fifty went into St. Bartholomew's, Gray's-inn-
lane, and King's College Hospitals ; fifteen are perma-
nently injured, with loss of eyes, legs, arms, &c. ; besides
£20,000 worth of damage to person and property. Such
was the horrifying and pitiable devastation caused by
that one barrel of gunpowder.

THE SMALL PARCELS QUESTION. —A deputation,
consisting of gentlemen from the chief centres of com-
merce, was received by the President of the Board of
Trade, on Tuesday, on the subject of the 15th clause of the
Regulation of Railways Bill. The deputation included
the following members of Parliament : -Sir F. Crossley,
Lord F. Cavendish, Lord Ainherley, Mr. R. W. Crawford,
Mr..G. Goschen, Mr. T. B. Headlam, Mr. M. T. Bass, Mr.
M. A. Bass, Mr. Thompson, Mr. Cowen, Mr. Dixon, Mr.
G. Melly, Mr. Alderman Lawrence, Mr. Baxley, Mr. Hen-
derson, Mr. W. E. Forster, Mr. Beaumont, Mr. A. Smith,
Mr. B. A. Leatham, Mr. J. Cheetham, and Mr. Dalglish.
Mr. James Hughes, of the firm of Messrs. Copestake,
Moore, and Co., stated the facts and opinions of the Lou.
don committee, to the effect that the insertion of Clause
15 would interfere most seriously with the facilities
hitherto enjoyed by the public and by trades through.
out the whole country. Mr. W. E. Forster, M.P., stated
that the view of the clause taken by the public was that
put upon it by the railway companies themselves ; and
various speakers representing thirty chambers of corn.
merce expressed their decided and unanimous opinion
that the clause should be entirely expunged, and that, in
been
fact, the railways had at present all the powers necessary
for their own protection. The Duke of Richmond ob.
enclosureLi r
a thato f small parcels, but that tvietahaaisi,n
served that the clause was not intended to prevent the
gbebee
. .

upon it,

ake And Duchess of e
rots company at Stafford House ontquesdil evStin ti
g, to
meet Dr. Guthrie, of Scotland, and Dr. Revel, of Florence,
lo consider the subject of the missions of the Walden-
fiian Church. The Bishop of London had been invited,
but was unable to be present, but a letter was read from
him, expressing the great interest which he felt in the
Church of the Vaudois. The company was also disap-
pointed of the presence of Dr. Revel, who had unfor-
tunately been compelled to return to his duties in the
Waldensian Theological College, at Florence. It fell, there-
fore, to Dr. Guthrie alone to explain the object in view,
atcl though Dr. Revel might have furnished some into-
reing information, nothing could have been added to the
peztuasiveness of Dr. Guthrie's
,eloquent address. The
object was to obtain support for the efforts of the Walden-
sian clergy to spread the knowledge of the Scriptures and
the primitive faith throughout Italy. Dr. Guthrie com-
menced by saying that the country for which he asked this
spiritual benefit had conferred on us some of the greatest
Loons of civilisation. We are indebted to the genius of
Galileo for the telescope, to Torricelli • for the barometer,
to Galvani for • the electric telegraph, and to Columbus
fur the New World. With a pleasant apology to the
better informed part of his audience, he gave a slight
sketch of the Vaudois Church. Its origin is probably as
early as the second or third century ; and ever since that
time the Waldenses have maintained a pure Scriptural
faith and a primitive discipline. They have endtired,
trials more prolonged and more severe than have been
seffered by any other Church in:Christendom. Centuries
of persecution by their own Dukes of Savoy, at the
instigation of the Popes, neither shook their faith nor
destroyed their loyalty to the reigning House. When
persecution ceased, they were still subjected to the most
vexatious civil disqualifications, from which they have
only lately been relieved. At last, however, they share in.
the general freedom of Italy, and as the Piedmootese have
conquered the peninsula by the sword, so the Vaudois,
have iauied from their valleys in the hope of bringing the"
hearts of their countrymen into obedience to their own
iinple faith. Twenty-90 ministers and other agents are
already dispersed over Italy from Palermo to Courmayeur ;
their theological college has been removed from La Tour
in the valleys to FlOrence, with the view of affording
the students a more effectual education ; and the old
Palace of Cardinal Sal viati, where the students are lodged,
contains also the eh-tut:jail Press, from which issue bibles,
tracts, and religious books by tens of thousands, which
are dispersed by colporteurs and book depots throughout.
Italy. The preachers have, of course, to encounter the
fierce opposition of the priests, but the civil power
affords them an impartial protection. The Vaudois,
however, are but 22,000 in number, and are very poor,
their • ministers being content with £5O a year,
and they cannot prosecute the work on which they
have entered without foreign support. Dr. Guthrie
showed the great advantages possessed by the Waldensian
ministers in meeting this antagonism as compared with
foreign Protestant agents. When the priest can denounce
a preacher as a foreigner or as a Protestant, his chance of a
hearing is gone. Even Gavazzi, in addressing his country-
men, proclaims that he is not a ProteStant. But the
Vaudois are Italians, and they can truly say they are not "
Protestants, for their Church existed before Popery itself.
They are the oldest representatives in Italy of primitive
Christianity. Dr. Guthrie urged in conclusion that in
sowing the seed of God's word among the Italians lay the
only hope of really regenerating the nation. The only
true foundations of liberty are pure morality and sound
religion, and these. are nowhere to be learnt but from the
Bible. -Dr. Cumming then spoke shortly in support of .
the same object, and expressed the thanks which were due
toDr.' Guthrie and to .the Duke and Duchess of Suther-

COUNTER CLOTHS FOR LICENCED
VICTUALLERS.

THE only article really suitable for that purpose,
ss. 6d. per dozen, hemmed, ready for use. Address
►O5, Fleet-street, and 5, The Pavement, Clapham.

GLASS CLOTHS SUITABLE FOR MCENCED
VICTUALLERS, 7s. 9d. PER DOZEN.
\VILMA-NI HOLDICH and CO., No. 105,
V Fleet-street, foot of Ludgate hill ; and No. 5,
The Pavement, Clapham-common.

4-rIBLE CLOTHS, in every Width and Length,
expressly for Licencod Victuallers. Damask Napkins
for Tray Cloths, Drills for Bar Aprons and Towellings of
every description. Patterns gratis and post free.

CARDIGAN JACKETS made expressly for Bar
use, Warm and Elastic, from ss. 6d. each, for
Ladies' and Gentlemen's use. WILLIAM lIOLDICII
and Co., LICENSED VICTUALLERS' DRAPERS' 105, Fleet-
treet, City, and No. 5, The Pavement, Clapham-common.

WILLIAM HOLDICII and Co., LICENSED
VICTUALLERS' DRAPERS, Established 1842, at 105,
Fleet-street, City ; Southern Branch—No. 5, The Pave-
ment, Clapham-common. Patterns gratis and post free,
'vith Price List.

TO LICENCED VICTUALLERS.
ESTABLISHED 1842.

WILLIANI 11OLDICII and CO.,
LICENCED VICTUALLERS' DRAPERS, No.
105, Fleet-street, corner of Farringdon-streot ; and at No.
5, The Pavement, Clapham-common (Southern Branch).

HER MAJESTY'S OPERA.
(THEATRE-ROYAL, DaURY-LANE).

Mdlle. TITIENS.
Grand Extra Night
TO-MORROW (THURSDAY), April 30, Mozart's Opera,
LE NOZZE DI FIGARO.
II Conte d'Alms,viva, Mr. Santley; Figaro, Signor Gassier;
Bartolo, Signor Zoboli ; Basilio, Mr. Lyall ; Don Curzio. Signor
Agretti ; Antonio, Signor Casaboni; Cherubinn, Mdme. Trebelli-
Bettini; Marcellina, Mdlle. Ccrsi; Susanna, Mdlle. Sinico; and
La Contessa, Mdlle. Titiens.
Conductor—Signor A raft!.
Doors open at Eight o'clock; commence at half-past Eight.
Stalls, One Guinea; kmphitheatre Stalls, 7s, and 55.; Reserved
Box Seats, les. ed; Gallery, 2s. 6d.
Boxes, stalls. and places may be obtained at the new Box-
office of Her Majesty's Theatre, under the Colonnade (second
door from Pall-mall), open daily from 10 till 5, under the super-
intendence of Mr Nugent; also at the Box-office. Theatre Royal,
Drury-lane (under the portico in Brydges-street), open from 10
till 8.

THEATRE ROYAL, H A YMARKET.
Sole Lessee, Mr. Buekstono.

THIS EVENING. A CO-OPERATIVE MOVEMENT.
Messrs Compton and Kendal; Mesdames Chippendale, Dalton,

Lewin.

To be followed by A HERO OF ROMANCE. Characters
by Messrs. Sothern, Buckstone, Compton, Chippendale, Rogers,
Clark, &e.; Mesdames Robertson, Fitzwilliam, Chippendale,
Dalton, Laws, and Daubigny. _ - - - - -

Concluding with INTRIGUE. Mr. Howe, Mr. Kendal, Mr.
Clark, and Miss Burke.

Commence at seven.

TIIEATRE ROYAL, ADELPIII.
Sole Proprietor and Manager, Mr. B. WEBSTER.

Directress, Mrs. Alfred Mellon.

THIS EVENING., GO TO PUTNEY: A Tale of the Boat
'Race. Messrs. G. Belmore, G. J. Taylor, Miss Harris, aad Miss
Emily Pitt.

After which, at 8, NO THOROUGHFARE. Mr. Fechter (his
108th appearance here), Mr. Billington, Mr. H. Neville, Mr. R.
Phillips, Mr. G. Belmore, Mr. C. J. Smith, and Mr. Benjamin
Webster; Miss Carlotta Leclercq (her 108th appearance), Mrs.
Alfred Mellon, Mrs. Billington, Mrs. H. Lewis, &c.