The Sun.
London, England, 1850-03-18 00:00:00

MON DAY EVENING, MARCH 18, 1850

TIER MAJESTY'S THEATRE.

The Medea was rep:WA here on Saturday even-
ing, and Parodi produced.even a more striking effect
by her majestic delineation cf the character of the
illedea, and by her faultless execution of Meyer's
music, than she did on her first apirarance. She is,
par excellence, the qufen of lyric tragedy.. The new
ballet of the lißtamorpAosrs, with. its splendid
sceneryonagficent costliine.c, and perfect dancing
excited a perfect furore.- In addition to the delightful
espiegle versatile Carlotta Grisi es the sprite, we had
ou Saturday Marie Liglioni, who made her first ap-
pearance for the season, and who returns to us having
made great and decided progress in her act since last
year. She looked exceedingly well, and danced with
the most perfect and exquisite finish, and was much
and deservedly applauded. We observe that Signor
Lorenzo, the new bary tone, In.:lies h!s first appearance
tomorrow in the character of Nino, and that Mr.
Sims Itceves makes his &but on Thurzday as Ernani.
Toe house was crowded in everYlVit,t.

ROYAL ITALIAN OPERA,
COVENT GARDEN.

I The Royal Italian Opera opened for the season on
Saturday evening, on which occasion her M jesty,
Pi ince Albert, and their Royal ll;glsnesscs the Prince
cf Wales and the Princess Royal honoured the
theatre with their presence. The principal members
of the company are the lessees of the theatre, and
they have appointed Mr. Frederick Gye as their
manager. The opera chosen for the opening was the
Der Frischutz of, Weber, an opera admirably adapted
to . the peculiar resources of this theatre, as it brings
into full play the orchestra and the magnificent
churns. Costa, on taking his: seat in the orchestra,
was loudly applauded, and the overture, which was
splindidly performed, was enthusiastically encored.
The following was the cast :—Ugo (Ottcar), Signor
Luigi Mei ; Marzio (Kuno), Signor Rommi ;
Giulio (the Rodolph of the English version, the Max
of the original), Signor Enrico Maralti ; Gasparo (Cas-
par), Herr Formes, Chiliano (Killian), M. Mtssol,
Samiele (Zamiel), M. Deering; the Hermit, Signor
Gregorio ; Agata (Agnes), Madame Castellan ;
Annetta (Ann), Mille. Vera. The opening chorus
was magnificently given, and followed as it was im-
mediately by the admirable acting and singing
of Massol as Killian, it excited an enthusiasm
which was increased by the magnificent man-
ner in which Formes gave the drisiking song,
and the splendid finale to the first act: In the
incantation scene Formes was sublime, indeed
it may be said that his was the great part of the opera.
Never has the wild reckless character of the doomed
Caspar been more powerfully delineated,. never has•
the music of Weber be more effectively sung. Signor
Enrico Maralti is a new candidate for public favour,
his voice is a tenor of much ssveetnesa and consider.
able compass, and he sung the music of the part
with great care. his solo Piu B. eta ;Au i prati"
("Through the forest, through the meadows"), was
beautifully given, and was much applauded. Madame
Castellan would have made an almost perfect Agnes
had she bsen content to sing Weber's music as
Weber composed it, but she introduced sundry
ornaments of her own imagining into. the grand
-scene, which, however beautiful in themselves, were not
altogether in keeping with Weber's music. Madlle.
Vera, who was the Ann, has made immense progress
since she was last amongst us. Her manner of
singing "Vien un giovern" ("If a youth should
meet a maiden"), was full of archness, while
at the same time the music was accurately
and most gracefully rendered. She was deservedly
rewarded with a unanimous encore. Madlle. Cotti,
who was recently at the French Theatre, was the
first Bridesmaid, and she sang the solo verses of the
Bridesmaid's chorus with exquisite taste and effect.
The choruses were all perfectly rendered, and full
justice was done both by chorus and orchestra
to this the chef d'oeuvre of the most, dramatic of mo-
dern composers. The lluntsman s chorus was, as a
matter of course, encored. The scenery by Messrs.
Grieve and Telbin was magnificent; the Wolf's glen
has lost none of its traditional horrors in their hands.
Her Majesty remained until the conclusion of the
opera, immediately after which the National Anthem
was sung. Tne theatre was crowded.

GREAT FIRE AT WESTMINSTER.
Oa Saturday nigho', at a few minutes before eight
o'cleck, a fire broke out in the premises belonging to
Messrs. J. and C. Rigby, 23, Holy well-street, West-
minster. The first discovery was made by the private
watchman of the premises. An engine was taken to
the place and instantly set to work, but the contents
of the several buildings were of such an ignitable
nature that the limes spread furiously, enveloping
the steam-boiler house, the saw-mills, and about two-
thirds of the joiners' workshops, with the stores over,
and the drying-houses. In less than a quarter of an
hour from the time the fire was discovered the roof of
the joiners' shop fell in, and the flames rose high into
the air. The Abbey, the new Houses of Parliament,
and other buildings in the distance were brought out
in bold relief. The lurid glare of the atmosphere
Caused the intelligence to be speedily carried to the
engine stations, and nine engines of the London
brigade, oath those of the brew house belonging to
Messrs. Thorne, the parish, and West of E 'gland
Company, arrived at the scene. Fortunately there
was an abundant supply of water, but notwith-
standing the exertions of all present, the
devastation continued, and hour after hour
passed away before the flames could be subdued. The
following is the official report of the mischief done:—
About two-thirds of premises, 130 feet long and 51
feet widc', used as joiners' workshops on first fluor,
and store-houses on ground fhor, burned down. The
engine-house adjoining, together with machinery,
severely injured by fire and water ; the stock of deals
in open yard seriously damaged by fire. No. 10,
Esrl-street, Mr. John Mann, blacksmith—Contents
and buildings not insured ; the skylights and roof of
workshops damaged by breakage; furniture and
dwelling.house injured by breakage, water,. and re-
moval ; not insured. No. 36, Wilton-street, let out
in small tenements—Premises and contents damaged;
insurance unknown. No. 37, Wilton-street, occupied
by sundry persons—The contents broken by hasty
removal, and building much damaged. No. 38 in the
same street, belonging to Mr. jVrlliam Johnson, of
Grosvenor-wharf—Roof of premises severely damaged
and furniture broken by removal ; contents not in-
sured. No. 39, ditto—Similar damage. No. 40, ditto
—Great damage to furniture by hasty removal, and
premises damaged. No. 41, ditto— Similar damage
to furniture and building, No. 42, ditto Premises
damaged by breakage and furniture by hasty removal.
The occupants of the four latter houses were unin-
sured, and. the owner of them was understood to be
also uninsured.

THE EXPECTED GREAT COMET.

TO TILE EDITOR OF TRETIMES.
Sir,—Your astronomical readers will be aware that
the great comet which astonished the world in 1264,
and is supposed to have returned in 1556, has been
expected to re-appear about 1848, the period of revo-
lution round the sun averaging 292 years, or there-
abouts. It is highly
improbable that two successive
revolutions of a comet with so long a period should
be accomplished in exactly the same time ; and
though the addition
of 291 years—the interval be-
tween July, 1264, and April, 1.556—t0 the latter
epoch would bring us to February, 1848, as the time
of the comet's return, we are tolerably sure the
1
ar: cts of planetary perturbations must either expe-
dite or retard it,
perhaps several years; so that the
cornet may not yet have arrived in these parts of
space. Several astronomers provided with ii6Werful
telescopes, have, to my I:nowledge, kept a close
lot k-out upon its track for the last two years or
more, and it is not likely it can have passed its
perihelion, and escaped detection altogether. This,
in fact, could only
happen when it arrives at its least
distance from the sun, between December and Feb-
ruary, for,
under all other conditions, it must ap-
proach pretty near the earth, and become, doubtless,
a very conspicuous object in the heavens. The exact
calculation of the perturbations produced by the great
planets Jupiter and Saturn, between 1264 and the
present time is hardly practicable with our present
limited knowledge ; it would involve an almost incon-
ceivable mass of computations such as no one person
could be expected to perform. Any rough approxi-
mation, therefore, to the effects of these planets may
prove acceptable to the astronomical public, who have
been much interested in this comet's expected re-
turn ; and my object in writing this is to announce
one important conclusion, which has just been ob-
tained by Mr. J. T. Barber, of Etwull, near Uttoxe-
ter, relative to the disturbances due chiefly to Jupiter's
attraction during the last revolution.
At the expense ef an amount of time and labour which
those only who are conversant with these intricate
matters can properly appreciate, Mr. Barber finds
that between the years 1556 and 1592 the united at-
traction of Jupiter and Saturn would diminish the
period 263 days, but that between 1592 and 1806 it
would be increased by the action of Jupiter alone no
less than 751 days, so that a retardation of 488 days
must take place. How much longer Saturn, Uranus,
and Neptune may detain it beyond this time we do
not at present know, but the perturbations produced
by the former planet up to 1806 are now in course
of calculation by Mr. Barber, and, on their comple-
tion, we shall probably be further enlightened .in re-
spect to the delay which has occurred in the comet's
return. -In these computations the elements which I
deduced from the observations of Fabricius in 1556
have been employed. Now, if the major axis of the
orbit in that year—on which the period depends—
exactly corresponded to the interval between 1264
and 1556, the addition of 488 days to that interval
would give the Ist of July, 1849, for the next arrival
at perihelion ; but as this is not likely to have been
the case, and since, in our present ignorance of the
exact length of the major axis in 1556, we may as
fairly suppose it to have bsen longer as shorter than
that deduced as above, it appears very possible that

the cornet roav yet be several months, if not one or
two years, be f.,re it makes its appearance, particularly
if the effects of. Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune, in the
aphelion vrtion of the orbit, tend to retard it, as I
believe they must Those of our readers, there-
fore, who are provided with suitable telescopes, would
render great service by in:met:lately 'commencing a
systematic search for the comet, continuing it at con-
venient intervals at least until the close of 1851. If
no comet have then appeared we shall, perhaps, have
good reason to doubt the i ;entity of the
famous bodies of 1264 and 1556; but it is a matter
of great importance in this department of astronomy
that the cornet should be recognised, if really periodi-
cal ; and I still adhere to the 'opinion I have ex-
presaeil in various English and continental publica-
tions, that it will appear shortly. It is more impor-
tant that it should not be missed, because we have
not yet :c-ohserved any one of these bodies certainly
kno xn to be revolving In a longer orbit than Halley's
came', the average period of which is about seventy-
six years. The revolution assigned to the grand
comet of 1680 by Halley (575 years), and copied
into nearly all our popular works on astronomy, can
hardly be correc, as the testimony of many his-
torians, unknown to that astronomer, has more re-
cently shown. In fact, after a strict search through
the history of comets in past times, there does not ap-
pear to be any one which affords decisive indications
of identity with that rendered celebrated by cur
countrymen Newton and Halley. It is tolerably
certain, that had Halley been acquainted with the
particulars brought to light within the last century,
he would not have supposed the comet cf 1680 to re-
volve round the sun in 575 years.
The expected comet is distant from the sun, at its
aphelion, more than 8,560,000,000 miles, or upwards
of three times the mean distance of the newly-disco-
vered planet Neptune, while in perihelion it ap-
proaches that luminary within the orbit of Venus.
The region of the heavens about the constellation
Hydra, where it should now be sought, on the sup-
position of its being four or five months from peri-
helion, is very well placed for examination in March
and April. To give some idea of the enormous mag-
nitude of this body, it may be stated that in 1264
both European and Chinese authorities assure us,
when the head, or bright nucleus, was just seen above
the eastern horizon the tail stretched past the zenith
towards the .west, or covered an aro of the heavens of
more than 90 degrees. The great comet of March,
1843,. which excited so much attention, was pro-
bably very far inferior in splendour to that of 1264.
I remain, Sir, your most obedient servant,
March 7. J. R. HIND.

MARRIAGE WITH A DECEASED

WIFE'S SISTER.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

Slll,—Elaving been for many years past your con-
stant reader-and admirer on almost all subjects, I now
address you upon this moth-agitated question. The
point I wish to direct your attention to is the ab-
surdity of Mr. Sbeies speech, wherein he states
that should the Bill, which passed the Commons on
Wednesday week, become the law of the land, the
wife's sister will have a contingent, or rather vested, re-
mainder in the pillow in which her sister's ch-ek may
soon be coldly and lifelessly laid, if she shall be taught
to associate her wedding garment with her sister's
shroud. Mr. Sheil adds, be is afraid the spirit of con-
jugal enterprise will be awakened. Now, Sir,*this may
or may not be true, but observe what this argu-
ment leads to. It will be the means
of preventing any married woman from not
merely having her sister with her during illness, or
indeed at any other time, but any other unmarried
woman who might supply her place after death.
Pray, has Mr. Shell never beard of married women
having other female friends with them besides their
own unmarried sister or sisters, as the case may be ?
We all know very well that many married women,
especially those women who are the wives of pro-
fessional men, whose husbands are during the whole
day engaged in their respective callings or vocations,
and consequently unable to give their attention to
their wives that a more idle man is well able to do,
have female friends continually with them upon
terms of close intimacy who are no relation to
them whatever. I think, indeed, society must
have come to a sad low ebb for the morality of the
land to be influenced by an Act of Parliament ;
whereas, if people are desirous of contracting the
marriages which, should the Bill which has
passed the second reading of the House of Com-
mons, pass the Upper House, it is hard that an
Act of Parliament should come in the way to prevent
them so doing. Mankind must indeed be bigamists
if they could form any attachment to other women,
whether those women be their wives' sisters or not,
during the lifetime of their wives ; and according
to the argument laid down by 11Ir. Shell, it is
a dangerous and hazardous thing fur married women
t 3 have (in intimacy at any rate) any young unmar-
ried female into their houses for fear their fancies.
should be stained with images of sin, gild in those
hours of ailment to which almost every woman is
condemned, they should be pursued and haunted by
many a dark and distracting surmise. I have not such
a low estimate of the morality of my countrymen
as Mr. Sheil and other people on that side the
question appear to have. I do not believe that
any man who has really tasted the bliss of
married life, and who is united to a woman he is fond
oe, would ever think or care of any other woman, in a
matrimonial point of view, until he found himself in
that position which would entitle him to do so ac-
cording to our ritual, " when death do them part ;"
as during his wife's last illness he would in all human
probability be in too great grief to think of any but
her whom he bas promised " to love and cherish in
'sickness, as well as in health, until death them do
part." But if mankind is so disposed to love their
wives' sisters during the lifetime of their own wives,
I am, Sir, well convinced that (which from the
knowledge of life and human nature that I daily gain
in my profession) no Act of Parliament or other legal
enactment will ever be the means of preventing their
so doing.—l am, Sir, &c.,

A LAWYER.

ROYAL ITALIAN OPERA.—Her Majesty the Queen
and his Royal highness Prince Albert honoured the per-
f)rmance at the Royal Italian Opera eith their presence
on Saturday. Her Majesty and the Prince were accom-
panied by their Royal Highnesses the Prince of Wales
and the Princess Royal. In attendance upon the Royal
party were the Viscountess JOcelyn, Lord Alfred Paget,
Lord Dufferin, and Colonel Bouverie. There were also
present—His Serene Highness the Duke of Brunswick,
the Marquis of Salisbury, the Marquis of Douro, the
Marchese Branca!eoni, the Earl of Durham, the Earl
Grosvenor, the Earl of Longford, the Earl of Lenes-
borough, the Earl of Darnley, Viscount Exmouth, Vis-
count Glentworth, the Countess of Essex and Miss John-
stone, Lord and Lady Foley and the Hon. Mies Foley,
Lady Wallscoutt, Lord Adolphus Vane, Lord Gerald
Fitzgerald, Lord Arthur Hay, the Right Hon. the Lord
Mayor and the Lady Mayoress, the Right Hon. Sir R.
Peel, Bart., Lady Peel, and Miss Peel, Hon. Augustus
Vernon, lion. G. Miles, Hon. A. Willoughby, Hon. J.
Fortescue, M.l'., Hon. 0, Byng, Hon. Fitzgerald Foley,
Hon. Sir Edward Butler, Bart , and Laity Butler, Sir
William Bathe, Bart., and Lady De Batt.e, Sir W. 13811,
Bart., Sir George Armytage, Bart., and Lady Armytage,
Sir John Campbell, K.C., Loeb, Campbell, and Miss
Campbell, Sir Charles Ihbitson, Bert., Sir Thomas Hare,
Mr. IL Baring, M.P., Mr. Ewart, Don Manuel Legardi
and Madame Legurdi, Madame Rallie, Mr. Hobhouse,
M.P., eel mel Briwnlow Keox, M.P, Mr. Montague
Gore, M.P., Major Mour.tjoy Martyn, Captain Tyr-
whit, Captain Dudley Carleton, Captain Dalrymple,
Captain Clinton, Mr. Augustus Lumley, Mr. Strutt,
Captain Durham, Captain Do Bathe, Mr. Dashwood,
Mr. Bulteel, Mr. and Mrs. Roberts and Miss Roberts,
Captain Bailey, Mr. Lloyd Clayton, Mr. Greville and
Miss Greville, Mr. Eentinck, Mrs. Horsman, Miss Ri-
chards, eze.,
ARTISTS' AMICABLE SOCIETY. The second
reunion of the Artists' Amicable Society took pities) on
Friday evening, at the George Hotel, Aldermaubury,
when about 60 geutlemea interested in the progress of
art sat down to an elegant though substantial repast.
Amongst the g•-ntlemen present were the brothers
Mayhew, E. Landelles, E,q , T. Miller, Esq., P. Egan,
Esq., G. F. Sargent, Esq., and F. Skill, &cf. After
the usual loyal toasts had been disposed of, " The Union
of Literature and Art" was proposed by Mr. Wagstaff
in appropriate terms, and responded to by Mr. Henry
Mayhew, who, in an eloquent speech, descanted upon the
power of beautiful as displayed in the sister arts of
painting and printing, and pointed out the beneficial in-
fluence which art generally exercised in elevating the
mind, improving the morals, and promoting the happi-
ness of the people. " Success to the Great Art Exhi-
bition of 1851 was proposed by Mr. G. F. Sargent, and
drunk with much enthusiasm. The proceedings of the
evening were not a lit:le enlivened by the exertions of
one or two members of the musical profession.
Conscience is a sleeping giant; we may lull him
into a longer or a shorter slumber; but his starts are
frightful, and terrible is the hour when ho awakes.—
Eliza Cook's Journal.
The Commissioners of Inquiry into the Market of
Smithfield and the other markets for the sale of live and
dead meat in the metropolis will make their report im-
mediately after the Easter recess. The plans for the
enlargement of Smithfield-market, and for its better ma-
management under an improved system, have been laid
before the Commissioners by the authorities of the City.
The report, however, will embrace the whole question in
all its details.

MELANCIIOLY SUICIDE.—About six months ago a
case was reported under the head cf Greenwich Police-
court, wherein it appeared that a publican residing at
Woolwich, in a large and respectable Ray of business,
together with his son, a promising young man, about
twenty-four years of age, wero charged with carting
and removing several cart-loads of bricks belonging to
the railway company, and depositing them on the pre-
mises 01 the father; and after an examination before
the magistrate, they were sentenced—the father to un
dergo an imprisonment, with hard labour, for eighteen
months, and the son to six months and hard labour.
The son's imprisonment expired on Friday last, where-
upon he immediately returned to the inn kept by his
f.ther, and resumed his avocation of waiting ou the cus-
tomers as usual, and whilst so doing on Tuesday last,

one of t7;cra incau'ioa:!" n c u e a'
c•How about the blici“," cr words to C!at cff, ut, which
;pi:eared to I.av3 such an tff.e: up•..,a tile miad of the
y °erg man that l.e immediately repai,vd shed at
the Lt.ek / art cf the buitilcg, az.tl fin.:seif by a
rope which he z7t:.ched to ere of the rafters of the out-
house, whet...? L.ngirg until his Canli3y,
missirg him, mad,-., a Eearch, when I e virios fount'. lie
immudiately cut down, and rue(icul wsistance
promptly procured, but !Se htd h,,cn txtmet for :tome
time. We urderi3tand the party who made u:c cf the
expression h.-.s btec compelled to quit the neig,hlJuurhood
in eenscqucxce of the feeling of the intu..bitu,ts.
EXTENSIVE ROBBERY OF JLIVILLEIIY.-13IIMING-

rraer.—On Thursday night last, er early on Fiiday
nsorring, the premises of Mr. °Aurae, tearal.octuring
jeweller, Lichfie:d-street, Birmingham, were broken
open, and gold, silver, and plated geode, consi.tc gof
brooches, guard:, per:encases, seals, rings, studs, pins,
snuff boxt s, &ea., anacunting in value to beta', ea 500/.
and 6001., stolen the rerroan In contequeece of ptcvious
refaberies tie doers and wine° • -sbuttsta were ire'',
plated and deemed Lep:, garble. The pre miss v ere
locked up by the pt rte: anon aft, r ten e'elseln The
thieves succ,eded in entering the bock part of the ware-
house by breaking a hole in the wall, and having thus
obtained ingress, by chat t f great labour and the use of
crowbars, they oke per: the interior doors and found
access to the most valuable pee Cons of the seek. No
fewer than six crowbar; wore discovered in the ware-
house next morning when tl e wo:kmen came to their
employment. A reward of 100 guineas has been offered
for the apprehension c f she d, pres'aeTe
DEATH OF MR. RAMSAY ('F BA TINTON.—We regrc t
to :rumour C' '(..f this genii man, a lo,h Laic
pl ace yetter. tee f 'wen at 13 .t at on House near Edit:-
burgh. He d:e iofan a tack f p'e iriey, from hic'o he
had suffsred only a ft-w days. Mr. Ramsay war pes-
'sessel ef estate: in Nlici-L thian and Ste:dings:hire, to an
extent popularly conferring on him (whether correctly
or not we do riot soy) the distictAton of " the richest
commoner in Scotland." He was widely knoen on the
turf f,r a considerable number (.f years. and some of the
horses reared and trained under his inspection carried
away many of the principal cups and stakes at the dif-
ferent racing meetings throughout the country. For
the last few years Mr. Ramsay has ceased to take
much interest in racing maters ; and, some months
ago, the greater portion of the Barnton stn.] v, as dis-
posed of by public auction. In 1831, shortly after
he attained his majority, Mr. Ramsay was elected
Member for Stirlingshire by the time f Amed constitu-
ency of that county, in oppoition to Admiral Fleming,
and went to Parliament pledged to oppose the Reoren
Bill. He did not offer himself to the new constituency, •
and did not again make his appearance in political mat-
ters till the general eliction in 1841, when, owing to tho
retirement cf Mr. W. Gibson-Craig, he came forward
as a candidate for Mid-Lothian, and was returned with-
out opposition, owing t o the Tory party having, by the
manefecture of fictitious rote; the representation of the
county entirely in their own hands. He resigned, with-
out asigning any reason, in 1845, alien Sir John Ilepe,
ihe present Member, was returned as his successor. Mr.
Ramsay was the eldest and only son of the late Mr.
George Ramsay, of Barnton, and of the Hon. Jean,
sister of the late Lord Belhaven. Ile was born in the
year 1809, and was consequently 41 years e f age at the
period of his death. lie was married in the year 1828
to the Hon. Mary, daughter cf Lord Torphichen, by
whom he has left one son (an infant), who will heir
the estates of Barnton and Stuckie.—Scotsman of Sa•
turday.
BENEVOLENT SOCIETY OF ST. PATRICK.— S :.turday
being the sixty-seventh anniversary of the establishment
of this excellent charity, the whole of the children edu-
cated and clothed by the society (upwards of 1,500 in
number) had a holiday. The anniversary festival was,
for the second year, abandoned. Last year, notwith-
standing the absence of the festival, the funds suffered
no material depreciation, and it is to be hoped that on
the present occasion the claims of the charity may be
equally responded to.
OPENING OF THE BRITANNIA TUBULAR BRIDGE.—
Daring the last few days Captain Simmons, the Govern-
ment inspector of railways, has been aqively engaged in
inspecting this gigantic structure prior to the sanction of
the Commissioners being given fur its being opened to
the public. It is expected that the opening will take
place on an early day in April, and that his Royal High-
ness Prince Albert, accompanied by the Prince of Wales,
will be present at the ceremony.
'We, too often, make our happiness depend upon
things that we desire, whilst others would tied it in a
single one of those we possess.—Eliza Cook's Journal.
Lord Langdale is appointed one of the Deputy
Speakers of the House of Lerds, to preside in the ab-
sence of the Lord Chancellor, in addition to Lords Den-
man and Campbell. This appointment is rendere3
necessary by the continued illness of Lord Denman, and
the necessary absence of Lord Campbell on circuit.
These arrangements aro not attended with any addi-
tional expense.
Viscount and Viscountess Palmerston entertained
at dinner, on Saturday evening, at their mansion, in
Carlton-gardens, his Excelleacy the French Ambassa-
dor and Madame Drouyn De L'iluys, his Excellency the
Danish Minister and the Countess Reventlow, the Mar-
quis and Marchioness of Clanricarde, Lord and Lady
Eddisbury, Lady Georgiana Gtey, Lady Malet, Lord
Harry Vane, Hon. Spencer Ponsouby, Mr. W. Welles-
ley. and Mr. Sullivan.

The Right Hon. the Speaker of the louse of
Commons gave his sixth full-dress Par Earner t iry ban-
quet this session on Saturday evening, at his temporary
official residence, in Eaton-square, when the following
noblemen and gentlemen were among the gu. ste of the
Right Honourable Geatlernae:—The Marquis ( f Wor-
cester, Viscount Somerton. Viscount Newry and borne,
Viscount Gala ay, Lord Ossulton, Lord Wm. Powlei t,
Lord Guernsey, the Hon. Arthur Cole, the Hon. E. H.
Stanley, &c.
MORE DISCORD IN THE DIOCESE OF ExETER.—
The Exeter Gazette gives an account of a quarrel be-
tween the perpetual curate of Plymstock, the Rev. E.
F. Cooke, and Colonel Harris, and ether parishioners,
the immediate cause of which does rot appear. The
Bishop was applied to f,r a commission of inquiry into
the Rev. Gentleman's c)nduct, which the fermer offered
to grant on the expen.es being guarar.teed by the
parishioners, who, however, appeared to think the ex-
penses ought to be paid by the Bishop. His Lordship
urged on both parties mutual forbearance, and an en-
deavour to live in peace—advice that appears to have
been followed out by the curate shutting up the organ,
and dismissing the choir, and the parishioners meeting,
and agreeing to petition the House of Lords, praying
their Lordships, in cons:•queneo of this last act—'• To
make such a revision of the rubric and canons, or to grant
such summary power to the Bishops of the diocese to
check these misdoinge, which at present tend to eneanger
the safety of the national church."
AlAnLnonoucu-HOUSE.—This London residence of
her late Majesty the Queen Dowager, will shortly be
given up to the custody of the Crown by her late Ma-
jesty's representatives. The remainder of the effects
will be removed in the course of the present week, and
possession of the mansion will then to rendered to the
Commissioners of her Majesty's Woods and Forests.
THE OWENS COLLEGE, IN MANCIIESTEIL—In 1846
the late Mr. John Owens left a sp'eodid bequest, amount-
ing to about 100,000/., for the purpose of founding a
college in Mancheiter, and the trustees have now pub-
lished a report, containing a detailed account of the ge-
neral character and plan of the institution, in pursuance
of the directions of the testator. It is recommended that
the subjects of instruction should include classical lite-
rature, mathematics, natural philosophy, logic, moral
and mental philosophy, history of political philosophy,
and the English language and literature; with the addi-
tion, as needed, of chemistry, various branches of r atural
history, physiology, and (with a special view to commer-
cial education) book-keeping, the geography of commer-
cial products, the history and progress ( f arts and ma-
nufactures, and the general principle of commercial
jurisprudence. The six more important branches of
knowledge are to be confined to as many professors,
while the modern languages, book-kee ping, and other
commercial studies, may be entrusted to occasional
teachers and lecturers. The salaries of the professors,
it is proposed, should not at first exceed two,-thirds of
the expected annual income of the trust fund (3,0000,
or 1,7002, exclusive a 200/. additional to one of the
professors, as principal, and of the remuneration of occa-
sional teachers. The committee think it desirable that
the Owens College should be pieced in connexion with
the University of London; but at the same time they
invi'e attention to the important subject of the establish-
ment in Manchester of a university, conferring its own
degrees without resort to the metropolitan university.
L cesis Mercury.
ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS.—The following
gentlemen having undergone the necessary examinations
for the diploma were admitted members of the college at
the meeting of the Court of Examiners on the 15th ale.:
—Messrs. Thomas Watkins Hooper, New Peckham;
Henry Anthony, Dungsrvon, county of Waterford;
Edwin Henry Bolton, K.nrington; Joseph Edmund
Kooystra Nadin, Manchester; Daniel Rossiter, Frome,
Somerset; William Jeynes, Colford, near Frome, Sourer •
set; George Pain, army; Thomas henry Pierpoint,
Lindfield, near Cuckfield, Sussex; Thomas Roberts,
Pylheli, North Wales; and Thomas James Duthoit,
Hoe ton-square.

DECORATIONS TO THE MEDICAL WAR OFFICERS.—
We understand that the civil Order of the Bath, but not
the military, is to be extended to the distinguished offi-
cers cf the medical der artments of both services.
PIRATES' HEAD MoNEY.----The total amount of
head money fur pirates captured since the passing
of the
Act in 1825, for enenuraging the capture or destruction
of piratical vessels, is shown by a recent return called
for by Mr. Ilume to be 57,255/.
SIR R. PEEL ON FRENCH POLITICS.—The Patrie
says:—" One of our friends received a few days ago a
letter from Sir IL Peel. I: contains the following pas-
sage:—' I have no hesitationirnanßiving
the present state of things in
France. FrmaLey
is opinion
a on
dili-
gence full of honest people, stopped on the road by bri-
gands,
d and which is waiting for the gendarmes.' "
MR. BEA.OFor'S DONATION TO THE CORPORATION
of LazipoN —The cabinet of old coins presented last
week to the corporation by Mr. Beaufoy, whose public
munificence is so celebrated, has txeited the greatest
curiosity. It is the result of many years' labour and ex-
pense, and contains a series of nearly 1,000 pieces or
coins, bearing date between Vie years 1648 and 1675.
They were issued by various tralers of the city of Lon-
don, partly to supply the want of small change, the Go-
vernment haling put forth no small copper moneys before
about the year 1672, and partly, doubtless, by way of
advertisement, the name, residence, and sign of the house
being generally to be found upon each token. They
consist of various metals—of iron, lead, tin, brass and
copper, and a few even cf leather, and, independently of
their value as curiosities cf two centuries back,
will furnish, when the index now being compiled
shall have been completed, an impoitent record of
the typography and history cf the city of London
at that period, as well as a key to the streets and loca-

::ties lerg lost to Cie present eo7.ere.tion.— The following
cur:ous matter is selected from the p:efsce to the cats-
logue:—" Amongst other'euxiem; coin; will Ire found one
which was struck by a person named Farr, who kept the
Rainbow Coffee-house, Fleet-street-, which house is still
existing in its ori'Ausal state, having ezcaped the gte.st
fire in 1666. Farr vas presented by the ward inquest
to be prosecuted for selling the ' deleterious liquor called
coffee. There are also coins struck by a person who
kept the Turk's He-ail, in 'Change-alley, who assisted in
malting the use off coffee mere known to his fellow-
citizens. There is also the coin issued by the person
then the occupant of the celebrated Boar's Head Tavern
in Eastcheap, which though long passed away with the
things that were, will, while Shakspere and the English
language exist, he ever in the recollection of readers as
the rcrultayous of,Prinee llal and his merry associates."
The cabin. t was on Saturday deposited in the Museum
of the library in the presence of Mr. Blades, the chair-
man of the committee, w-lio first introduced the subject to
the corporation in an admirable speech.
THE LATE RCEBERY AT PiailllTll STATION,--It
will be remembered that, about three weeks ago, a
leather bag, containirg 1181 in gold and liver, was stolen
out of the effica of the Looc; department of this railway
rt ition in a must mysterious manner. In the meantime
every effort has 'been made to find out the thicf. how-
ever, on Saturday evening last James Spedding, the
goods delivery clerk, who had resigned his situetica,
rind was about to leave it t'Att evening, %nisi taken into
custode, when a considerable sum of money was found
upon
him. On Sunday morning he was sent to prisoe,
and on Monday atter:loon eas brought up before the
m agistratts. The ends of justice require thst what
transpired should at t he made public. He was remanded
ti!lMonday I:ext.—Car/Ide Patriot.

RESTORATIONS AT NOTRE DAME CATHEDRAL,
PARlS.—Crossing the river, our attei.tion is attracted by
the almost complete restoration if Notre Dame. The
groucd in front has 13en lo Tvered, and insteai of descend-
ing int ) the cathedral, we now have to ascend three or
four s:eps into it—in early times there were eleven steps
—an improvement of no small importance after all. The
towers and the beautiful front are almost entirely reno-
vated, and in approaching them, we are now infinit ly
more struck with their grandeur and beauty; the richly
ornamented portals look higher and nobler since the
levelling of the ground. To the south of the cathedral,
on the spot where the Archbishop's Palace formerly
stood, has btea built a beautiful sacristy, according, in
Gothic character, with the edifice; and in front of it is
a noble quay leading to the public promenade, once the
Archbishop's garden, and at present covered with tem-
porary barracks for soldiers. At no time has this inte-
resting building been more complete, or presented an
appearance more thoroughly in accordance with its reli-
gious character. It is the moat curious, as it is the most
ancient Gothic edifice in Paris.—Builder.
Six Jourc FRANKLIN.—Oa Saturday Mr. Green,
the aeronaut, forwarded nine balloons to the expedition
about to sail in search of Sir John Franklin. Lady
Franklin had previously been in communication with
Mr. Green on the sulj ct. On Monday an experiment
was made in the presence of her Ladyship, Mr. Holland,
M.P., and others, at the house of Mr. Green, with a bal-
loon containing thirty-two packets, consisting of 3,0u0
slips of silk and paper, which were to be detached at the
rate of one every five minutes. The balloon was be-
tween five or six feet in diameter, and was filled witla
hydrogen gas. After the balloon had proceeded a short
distance the packets began to be liberated at short in-
tervals. It took a south-western direction, and some of
the packets were picked up at Chichester. The balloon
then proceeded towards the Channel. Mr. Green has
forwarded to the commanders some apparatus for gene-
rating tl e gas.
THE Ray. PROFESSOR PUSET.—We learn that the
pamphlet advertised by the Rev. Dr. l'usey against the
royal supremacy—n reinforcement of the arguments of
the Rev. Messrs. Kob!e, Mlskell, Fe ell, and others—
has been suppressed. The antecedent of the reverend
author, aided to the recently-announced fact of a go.
verness in his family having joined the Church of Rome,
end another lady who has hitherto followed his direction
being on the point of joining the Romish schism. may
have suggested this prudential step.--Church and State
Gazette.

THE CONVICT ANN MERRITT.—The authorities
had the pa efal duty, on Saturday , r f communicating to
thi. unhappy woman that her execution will take place
on Monday, the Ist of April next (Easter Monday). It
will be recollected that the convict was found guilty of
pub'. ring her husband, James Merritt, a turncock, in
the employ e f the East London Waterworks. Almost
from the moment of her return to the cell, after her
condemnation, she has been absorbed in grief. When
visited by the Rev. Mr. Davis, the ordinary, or the go-
vernor, she has exhibited the most painful distress; and
often has reiterated her perfect innocence of the crime
for which she had been condemned. On Friday Lady
Pire, and other ladies forming the committee of ladies,
who hare much interested themselves on behalf of un-
furter! ate creatures who had been confined in the metre-
politan prisons, saw the miserable woman in her cell;
and her grief, while in their presence, was most excels-
.ive. From the violent manner she welt, and other cir-
cumstances, some of the ladies entertain the impression
that she is enceinte. Although she did not urge that
state, when sentenced, it is not improbable that she may
really be so, and that a jury of matrons would be directed
by the Secretary of State to examine into her condition.
Her three children, the eldest of which is about eight
years of age, are in the Homerton workhouse, and the
guardians have very wisely prevented their becoming
objects cf any morbid curiosity.
THE AYLESBURY SAVINGS BANK.—As there is not
the reo:a remote chance of any funds, under the bank-
, uptcy cf Stratton, being forthcoming to liquidate the
claims of the depositors in the savings- bank to the ex-
tent of between 900 L and 1,000/., arrangements have
been made to give full compensation to the poor people
who have been plunc:ered by the fugitive bankrupt, and
to restore the money of which they have been defrauded.
The whole affair having been laid befrre the Commis-
sioners for the reduction of the National Debt, they
have just signified Li eir consent to the sum of 500 L
being taken from the surplus fund of the bank, and ap-
propriated towards making good the claims of those he
had robbed. The remainder of the deficiency of Strat-
ton will be made up by Mr. James, the secretary to the
savings bank, in whose employ the defaulter held the
situation of clerk at the time the defalcations took place.
By these satisfactory arrangements not one farthing
will be lost to the depositors whose claims hate been
allowed by Mr. Tidd Pratt. It is expected there will
be about 2s. 63. in the pound under the fiat for the pri-
vate creditors of the bankrupt. Steps will now,
stated, be immediately taken to cause the apprehension
of Strstton in America, and bring him back to England.
I Vechly Dispatch.
DIABOLICAL ATTEMPT AT VIOLATION AND MURDER.
—SWINDON, FRlDAY.—Yesterday a man named Abra-
ham Hicks, a carter to Mr. Weston, who resides at
Batty-hill, near this town, was brought before the ma-
gistrates, the Earl of Radnor, James Cowley, J. E.
Prower, and S. C. Saddler, Esqs., on a charge of
attempting to violate and murder a married female
named Elizabeth Denley. From the evidence it appeared
that the prosecutrix (*lac) is at present so injured as to
be unable to leave her bed) was a dea'er in berm, and
frequently visited Cirencester. On the preceding Friday
she was proceeding along the high road leading from
Ashton Keynes, when she met the prisoner, who was
driving a horse and cart. Having frequently seen tl e
prisoner before, and knowing that he was going her way,
she asked him to give her a lift in his vehicle. He imme-
diately consented, but as the cart w as proceeding through
Siddington loud cries of murder were heard in the
cart. A man named Smith instantly went up to the
cart and tried to stop the horse, for the purpose of
learning what was the matter. The prisoner thereupon
threatened if he interfered that he would murder him.
Feeling apprehensive for his own safety, he allowed the
fellow to proceed, who, on get tug some distance fur-
ther, threw the female out, aed left her for dead. She
was found at ;even o'clock by Mr. Broad, a baker, quite
insensible, in the turnpike-road. Her face was literally
smashed; her eyes, nose, and mouth were frightfully mu-
tilated, her jaw bone bra ken. and her teeth, with part of
the jaw bone, were picked in the public road. The
wounds appear to have been inflicted by kicks and the
handle of a whip; the latter was covered with blood, and
there was a d.at of blood in the bottom of the cart.
From the depositions taken at the poor creature's bed-
side , it seems that because she refused improper overtures
made by the prisoner, he attempted by force, and even
tried to murch r her. He was fully committed to take
trial at the next assiz ss.

The common mind may maintain its place under
common circumstances; the truly great alone overcome
the trials of prosperity or adverse) ; showing a humble
thankfulness in one, a generous sympathy, not har-
dened by its can suffering, in the other;
themselves on the first, not env in in the last.—Eliza
y
Cook's Journal. not priding

The Countess Grey had an assembly on Saturday
evening, at the family mansion, on Carlton House-ter-
race. his Grace the Duke of Wellington honoured her
Ladyship with his presence on the occasion, and among
the company we observed Lord and Lady John Russell
and the Hon. Miss Lister, his Excellency and the Turk-
ish Ambassador, his Excellency the French Ambassador
and Madame Drouyn de L'Huys, his Excellency the
American Minister and Mrs. Lawrence and Miss Law-
rence, the Duchess of Sutherland, the Duke and Duchess
of Argyle, the Marchioness of Clanricarde and the
Ladies De Burgh, the Marchioness of Ailesbury, the
Earl and Countess Granville, the Countess of Minto and
Lady Charlotte Elliott, the Earl of Powis, the Countess
Dowager of Morley, the Earl and Countess of Listowell
and Lady Augusta Hare, the Earl and Countess of
Arundel and Surrey, the Earl and Countess of St.
Germans, &c.
The Queen has bestowed a pension of 1001. a
erfiartin state of
on Mrs. Bessy Moore, aife of the celebrated pear
Thomas Moore. The pension,
in consideration
id
infirm
as the warrant sets
forth,merits
ofis hgerrahnutesdban"
and co
Athencrunt. otfhheeallitethr;Ly

The Duchess of Sutherland, and the Duke and
Duchess cf Argyle and party, honoured the Diorama
with a visit on Friday last.

A KEEN SPOITSM&N.—A Nottinglim paper
states that during the height of a gale a few days ago a
poacher was seen with his gun watching the river side, about
six o'clock in the evening, on' the Scaftworth side of the
river, opposite Scroobv. Presently he was observed by a
person ou the look-out to shoot at a wild duck as IL'was
flying past. The shot took effect, but the bird unforWnVely
fell into the river Idle on the opposite side. The man seeing
delay was dangerous, immediately stripped, and. in a very
his gun, and be
r
short time swam across and succeeded in gaining possession
of his prize. He then took to the river again, with the
duel: in
the
es
ompopuotshit,efobranhkiswitlhothseasfetay. The watcher, notnd
being an expert swimmer, durst not follow, and the man got
clear off with his booty.
Mr. Baron Platt, on Thursday, ordered sentence
of death to be recorded, at Stafford, against John Riley, for
breaking open the house of Mr. Renshaw, and brutally ill-
treating that gentleman, and stealing much yelueblo proPurtY•