The Sun.
London, England, 1868-03-10 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

understand. that a bill for the improve-
ment of medical science, which has been long post-
poned to make room for the great leviathan—the
new Reform Bill (which has safely reached the
ocean at last)—is about to be placed before the
House of Commons, whereby it is intended to abo-
lish, or at least to decrease, medical quackery, as it
is called—that is to say, medical practice not re-
cognised by the orthodox members of the British
medical profession.

I know nothing respecting the details of the pro-
posed enactment, but my opinion is that the persons
who profess to practise astrological science in Lon-
don and provincial places should be included in the
enactment, so as to prevent the system of imposi-
tion which prevails at present, and which has pre-
vailed for many years past, with respect to fortune-
tellers, as they are called.
In my petition to the House of Commons, pre-
sented last June by Mr. J. S. Mill, M.P., I suggested,
amongst other things, that some restriction should
be placed upon the calculating branch of astral
science, and that the medical part of it, shown in
what is known as horary astrology, should be
legalized.
I have reason to believe that some medical men
in the present day wisely avail themselves of this
branch of the science, which includes the knowledge
of critical days in illnesses, and that more medical men
would, in this respect, follow the example of Dr.
Good, Dr. Mead, and of other physicians,

if Parliament would sanction the act by
legalizing it so as to make it respectable.
Without affecting the dignity of martyrdom in the
cause, my petition before-mentioned and your
pages testify that I have incurred during the last 16
y ears considerable detriment and inconve-
nience in my hitherto unsuccessful attempt
to give the public the benefit to be derived from
a real knowledge of astrological science, as it was
taught by our forefathers, when medical persons
who did not understand it were deemed to be
"fools rather than physicians." As I have paid
much attention to this subject, I consider myself
justified in keeping it before public notice, especially
at the present time, for the above-mentioned reason.
If, as I believe, it is a natural fact that by taking'
a horary figure, a competent person can decide re-
specting the nature, length, and probable result of
any serious, painful, or difficult illness, or the
state of a missing person or of a ship at sea,
thi❑k that the time has arrived when, without
offending the public, this act may be properly and
wisely legalised and encouraged, instead of its
being snubbed and treated as a thing of mystery or
of darkness, which is at present the case in Britain.
—I am sir, yours obediently,

CIIR. COOKE.
London, 7th March, 1868.

A dramatic entertainment of a highly select and
fashionable character took place last Saturday evening at
the Gallery of Illustration, for the benefit of Mr. Sefton,
secretary and acting manager of Mr. Sothern ; and the best
proof of the appreciation in which the latter gentleman
holds Mr. Sefton's services is, that after playing David
Garrick at the Haymarket, he sustained tho part of Lord
Dundreary for him at the Gallery. Besides this a host of
artistes of the first position volunteered their service/
amongst others Messrs. Kendal, F. Charles, Easton Mur-
ray, Howe, Walter Gordon, dr,c. ; Mesdame Pauline Mark-
ham, Dalton, Sidney Wright, Madge Robertson, 310.
Chippendale. In addition to those names, well known t°
fame, a Miss Maude Stanley appeared for the first time in
two pieces, viz., " The Dowager " and " Dundreary Mar-
ried and Settled," This young lady has dramatic abilities
of a high order, and played with an ease and naturalness
that was quite charming. Her movements were Vol
graceful, and her costumes chef-d'ceuvres of taste and malr
nificence. Although the performance was not publicli
advertised the room was crowded with rank and fashion.
Amongst others wo noticed the Duke of Beaufort, Prince
Truabelskoi, Lord Courtenay, and many others of equal
note.
WINDING-UP CASES.—From an official document
just issued it appears that in the year ending the Ist of
November last there were in the Chancery Chambers 110
orders brought in for winding up companies, and the.
number pending at the close of the period mentioned
was 378. The amount of calls undor winding-up orders
made was £1,497,831, and the amount paid to creditors
£7,310,339.

THE MIDDLE LEVEL.—Further progress has been
made by the Middle Level Drainage Commissioners in ad,
justing the claims arising out of the failure of the outfit!,
sluice near Lynn in 1862, but the process is necessarily 14'
slow one, arising from various causes—viz., excessive cbr
mands, delay in delivering claims, the difficulty of arralig
mg days for negotiation suitable to the different partie4
and their agents, &c. Several fresh actions have recoil"
been commenced against the commissioners, and notices ft °
trial at the ensuing Norwich Assizes have been giv'el'hiv°
20 of them. The Commissioners have been advised
eminent counsel that two years formed the legal limit .")"
commencing actions. At present the Commissioners bag-
not raised the loan (except temporarily) authorised 1.1 Lb°
act of 1807.
So LITII KENSINGTON MUSEUM. —Visitors during
the week ending March 7.—On Monday, Tuesday, anct„
Saturday, free, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., 9,37 G ; pn 1-srdo
nesday, Thursday, and Friday (admssion Gd.), frost ,
a.m. till 5 p.m., 1,460; total, 10,836. Average of Co
ponding week in former years, 10,314. Total from Or:
opening of the museum, 7,230,864. Patent-office Ituseu
South Kensington.—Number of visitors for the sc°,,,
ending March 7, 3,291 ; total number since the opeunia°
of the museum free daily (12th of May, 1858), 1,256,88:"at
GBEAT HANDEL FESTIVAL.—The ticket offices to.,
the Crystal Palace and Exeter-hall were yesterday the
sieged by applicants for vouchers for tickets. On
opening of the doors at 10 o'clock there were ur"v3learly
70 applicants waiting at the Crystal Palace, andtit
200 at Exeter-hall, and the stream was continuous
the time of closing at 4 o'clock. The issue %
of link
was to be continued at each office at ten o'clucli
morning.