The Sun.
London, England, 1844-08-23 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, AUGUST 23 1 44.

ONO'. ..................

by Messrs. Bathe and Breach, the liberal proprietors of
the tavern. The stalls were amply furnished by the
benevolence of her_Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent,
the Duchess of Cambridge, Lady Charlotte Denison, the
lion. Miss Harley, Mrs. Evans, and other ladies, warm
supporters of the Institution. The total number of
children in the Society's two establishments (town and
c9untry) is 29', and since the establishment of the So-
placed coot try)
npwardsr of 1,000 boys and 600 girls have been
out or apprenticed.

COWES, ISLE OF WIGHT.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

OWES, XUGUST 22.
ROYAL YACHT SQUADRONC INTELLIGENCE.
ARRIVALS.
I)
ar
At
, ug. 18.—Dr4mm, cutter, G. Bentinck, Esq., from
mom, am: other ports.
4-krnbridge, and
o_2Cith•—Elizabetb, cutter, Hon. Augustus Moreton,
proceeded to Weymouth ; Romulus,
Cutter, Lord Wharncliffe, Southampton.
SAILINGS.
r Aug. 20.—kestrel, ketch, Commodore Lord Yarbo-
se°}llloo,
.fOr, Weymouth and other wes.tern. ports, ; Flirt,
ono-, Sir B. R. Graham, Bart., ditto , Owen Glen-
U 0 y, '
Joh el', cutter, N. Bernell, Esq., ditto ; Naiad, cutter,
Quantock, Esq., ditto ; Nymph, cutter, Sir John
aYley, Bart., ditto ; Corsair, cutter, John Congreve,
q.: ditto ; Medina, cutter, A. J. Hambrough, Esq.,
ditto.
ni2lat.—Palcon, yawl, John Beardmore, Lq., Ports-
mouth and coast of France •; Charlotte, cutter, Hon. W.
/Lod
/ekriad ges, Weymouth and other western ports ;
he; cutter, M. J. Iliggens, Esq., ditto ; Dream,
litvltter, G. I3entinck, Esq., 'din° ; Georgian, schooner,
„Lyon, Esq., ditto.
IP`2(l.—Zephyretta, schooner, Henry Hope, Esq , Wey-
-191 and other western ports ; Phantom, cutter, Sir
eckers,.
narn Curtis Bart , ditto ; Brilliant, schooner, G. H.
Esq., ditto ; Emerald, cutter, J. L. Symonds,
Esq' Plymouth.
seCanutters—
AT AND ABOUT THE STATION.
P Ann, Alarm, Hebe,
Pearl, Sparrow-hawk,
--(Yvv°r, Whim, Aurora, Ospre, Snake, and Romulus.
Schooners—Galatea, Xarifa, Haywk, Camilla, and Gem.
011 Saturday last the Queen's Cup of 100 Guineas
s't„as sailed for by the Alarm and Owen Glendower ; they
—rted at eleven A.M., and came in as follows :
Alarm 6h. 23m. 15sec, P.M.
s
°wen Glendower
'1 the a thng a brilliant display of fireworks
itts set off infreomevethe-following yachts :—Kestrel, Lord
4,..korougb ; Syren, Sir Thomas Wilson ; Brilliant,
• Ackers, Esq. ; Flirt, Sir B. R. Graham, Bart. ;
eaYretta, H. Hope, Esq. ; Sparrow-hawk, Thomas
Esq. ; Camilla, Thomas Hallifax, jun., Esq. ;
b wave, Marquis of Blaudford ; Medina, A. J. Ham-
r°ugh, Esq.
The castle of N. Damen, Esq., at East Cowes, was
ota.utilly illuminated with blue and red lights.
Plymouth,
of our noblemen and gentlemen have left us for
111731"util, Bce., and are not excted to return before
backn,'daY next. The Royale acht is not expected
season °ell-we that time. As usual at this period of the
andeo,"' " have many changes ; several families leaving,
and others arriving- for the bathing season (September
We ;t:)ber). The town is very far from full.
us the following visitors and their families with
sey, the Duelless of Montrose, the Marquis of Angle-
ford,slarchioness Wellesley, the Marquis of Bland-
Ja__:-40r Dillon, Lord Clonbrock, Lord Cadogan, Sir
Graham lue Graham, Sir William Montagu, Sir Bellingham
p,s , Sir 11. Webster, Lady Stradbroke, H. Hope,
Thomas Hallifax, Esq., Lady Fitzgerald, Lord
1,1 zhardin,_
asget, Lord Seatiam,
Sir C. Eerton, Lord E. Bruce, Lord A.
John Mills, Esq., Thomas Legh,
A. `Tc'hrl Congreve, Esq., Lord Lovain, A. Hill, Esq.,
"'aid, Esq., M.P., Spencer de Horsey, Esq., &c.

.
,
'l4 'INRECK AND PIRACY NEAR TANGIERS.—The
nert and Ann, of Newcastle, William Venus, master,
7'1!"1(1 to Alexandria with coke and coals, was steering
of air course through the Gutt of Gibraltar, on the night
th the Ist instant, when the weather came on so thick
ogattbtehe crew could' hardly see from the head to the stern
ere vessel ; and having got into a strong current,
to. e driven on shore, at eleven o'clock, near Cape Spar-
boar The crew got a:kedge out, and for four hours la-
the ed unsuccessfully to haul her off. About this time
stir her began to clear up, when the crew, to their
e- Plse, discovered another vessel within pistol-shot,
to abeetly n
a similar situation to
.their own. She proved
b, ,the Syren, of Plymouth, William Turner, master,
e 0,141 frorn Swansea to Messena, and also laden with
Coals The two masters consulted together, and it was
be'ermined that two of the crew of each vessel should
Pulled of} to Tangiers to get assistance. The men
Cape el. off for that purpose, and just as they rounded
Heels was observed by her Majesty's steamer
Witha' which vessel was on her way to Tangiers
to Jispatches. The officer in command desired them
assistaurn t, their vessels, and he would send off
the b "ee immediately on his arrival at Tangiers. On
beroticiti_do!tti'lse crewre-annroachint: the stranded ships they
landafterwa•anrddcovered-' with Moors and Arabs• and
Bred at from the shore immediately pulled off the
made for Tangiers. About two hours
again
s theboat again felt in with the Hecla; which,
1,171 g, eliveredielahterthindedisipatches, was returning to adssoisnt
Heclanearin took the boat in tow; an
-oer • Robert and Ann, the Moo.rs made beach, and,
ing, as the en
greattr
egn:iut,
alhviltintell:rl:aolbtifb othdyntaifma_or_un,:tdetAdcompanions on the (
at least a thousand a
proceeded inland. on camels alndbandorbseeesn)
crews had 1. that both vessels
ea'6ptains and remainder of the
isaPpeared, the iiecla returne fund angiers,
where, to the satisfaction of all, it wasthat the
havincaPtaias and their men had previously arrived,_
tnle„-3. Pulled there in boats. They had been compelled
firi-"ve the vessels in consequenceofoneapatyrty on shore
g 0.11 them to cover another armed r who were
avradileedi gto board. The captains and "'crews were for-
th, T,, to Gibraltar, in the liccla, and were brought in
ort,':(ontrose mail-steamer to Southampton. The crew
ere,' Syren got re-shipped at that port ; and the other
th 4'svrere forwarded to LLondon by the local agent of
asesis-tbiPwrecked Mariners' Society, to receive further
e allee.—Kentish Mercury.
11u),""Eit'S INQUEST.—Yesterday afternoon an
'Ust was 110(1 before Mr. Higgs, at the Plough Tavern
,
IcreY-street, Lincoln's Inn-fields, on the body of Thomas
in K aged thirty-two, who died rather suddenly
evid„is,uolloge Hospital on Tuesday last. From the
road p.l"„e,it aPpeared that the deceased was a plumber
het,o7,4`er, and lived in Drury-court, Strand. lie had
hood work en Thursday se'nnight in the neighbor_-
tain. vinS to which he had get wet through with
feer, 'de ho and complained of sore throat and
a stir2e-0-4 11's wifemerocured a draught and gargle from
,„worse' ;inn in the neighbourhood. Ile gradually became
Monde Sunday, when he was quite delirious. On
' afternoon he was taken to the hospital, when he
1:9101n"ed
„; frantic throughout the night, and died the
-e.;lizts''ng Morning about half-past seven. The wife,
v,'„yeth Lucas,- was called, and deposed that about
; Irtlonths ago an execution was put in their. hhot!see,
both l'-x•Y article of furniture was sold, since whic
DtiT.
tress Witness and deceased had not slept in a bed.
the
,Itt,tef3 •8 College Hos, had caused deceased to drink
Danielsl's, of Ring's College llospital, stated
ithd fo-„"a41 made a post mortem examination of the body,
that fl:41111 an eifinion of blood outside the brain,. and
t )7, deceased's death had been caused by delirium,
byey-ielf. The jury said they were,satisfied, and returned
eri,‘"ii`re!' "I)ied 17 the visitation of God, brought on
tit lien tremens.'
!ixte,l,s,l°L AND EXETER RAILWAY.— _es.,e rday the
4eld -„T",half- yearly meeting of the above company was
Which the White Lion Hotel, Bristol. The report,
Prieto was read, commenced by congratulating the pro-
in ),I°l.B eh the opening of the line throughout to Exetert
Peri, last, thus anticipating by more than a yea' I t
W,,t`l stipulated in their engagements with the Grea
8110 -rn
Railway Company. The amount of rent and
Not: ,91. toll due to them by the Great Western Com-
groil,l"r the half-year was stated at 33,473/. 13s. 5d., the
tiati,'f. earnings being 59,160/. Os. 11d. ; which was most
;the rectory, considering the short period during which
gielt,l.,l7,lPis for the distance beyond Beambridge were
state The engineer's report also showed that the
traetoof the line was excellent. All accounts with con-
birei's and others were so nearly closed as to justify the
the f"ers in stating that the cost of the construction of
01.16;1 would not exceed the amount authorised by the
rewtd4`
°-• Act of incorporation. Part of the sums bor-
Paid , debentures at five per cent. interest had been
eent „' and new securities contracted for at foul. per
I)orti lenders paying for the stamp; the reomanung
5$
they° .per thduee debentures would be similarly provided for
tioue'ell . The report recommended them tohcon-
eqUal i°,l:the present the dividend of 11. Bs. per s are,
Year, tt," four per cent., free of income-tax, for the half-
Clar ulit looked forward shortly to be enabled to de-
to recd increased dividend. The report then went on
ceneinuatntnend the formation of various branches, and
b lecl hY stating that on the 30th of June there was
je Rae 4tlee of 127,3201. Os. 4d. in the banker's hands and
tm:rities bearing interest. A variety of resolutions
to thn3r,ing the various portions of the report, and one
t4ry formation of a committee to present the Secre-
-1)4444;1' J• Dadham, with a testimonial, were then
lt,„-,"flailiniously, and the meeting separated.
thuatZLITA:Y ACCIDENT.—An accident,which wasfor-
one _
sill unattended by serious consequences, occurred
atat' MaY on the Drogheda Railway, at the Lusk
14311- It
an tua appears that when the last train (which. was
the .14:skttally long one) from Drogheda had arrived at
of the station, the driver ran it several perches a-hesaed-
(Nene Platform erected at the station, and in con
se-
this he was obliged to back the engine so as
theln Passengers to alight, and others to get places.
back retrograde movement the train was pushedtoo for
to hr. and another movement in advance was then made
last
ingot to its proper place. At the moment that this
attached on took place, an engine, with some carriages
14 triotidn', came up, and the driver, seeing the first train
vnio supposed it was starting, and without slack-
fir •g the sPeed of his engine, pushed on, and just as the
eonstsetrain stopped it was struck by the after one. The
train cluenees were, that all the carriages in the first
aten..W. ere dashed violently against each other, the pas-
artitei,lr.,:rs:ouvir'eerde
to
oitched to and fro, and the utmost con-
en,,eZtion and confusion prevailed. Several persons
get out of the carriages, and for several
NvEv. ,t s terror and excitement prevailed, and nothing hol_uvard but screaming alarms. When this subsided,
al4e.her it was ascertained that few were hurt at all,
g‘rootsiiugh several were bruised, that none were clan-
enable/ injured. After a long delay the train was
derahl" to proceed, and reached town of course consi-
brok'.3: after it was due. None of the carriages were
tuatian; At an early hour yesterday, Mr. Eccersly, the
gatingguig director, left town for the purpose of investi
r‘ the matter:
erew OF A WIIALE.—On Friday, while the
°' one of the Dublin trawlers were fishing off
nmore
d
county of Waterford, they capture a whale,
hau.':inng thirty-six feet in length, and seven feet and a
thiclilless.

LITERAT URE.
REVELATIONS OF RUSSIA. 2 Vols.
Colburn, London, 1844.
A portion of this work has already made its appear-
ance in the pages of the New Monthly and United
Service Magazines, where it attracted no ordinary at-
tention, from the circumstantial character of its de-
tails, as well as from their freedom and boldness. In
consequence, no doubt, of this success, the author was
induced to continue it, and we now have it in its com-
pleted form. Some of the " Revelations"—provided
that their accuracy may be relied on—are not a little
curious and interesting, especially those which relate
to the Russian navy, of whose efficiency a very indif-
ferent opinion is expressed. In the event of a war
with England, we are told that the fleet of Nicholas
would offer no more effective resistance to any-
thing like an equal British force, than the
Chinese junks have done. Of the public character
of the Emperor, the author expresses himself in terms
decidedly unfavourable, though at the same time he
does justice to his sterling qualities as a man; but
speaking of him in his imperial capacity, he tells us
that, without being either better or worse than the
average of his predecessors, he bids fair to do more
injury to mankind than all of them put together; and
adds that, though during the nineteen years of his
reign, only seven men have been condemned to death,
yet probably more than in all the preceding reigns
have in reality perished by the hands of the executioner.
"Whole companies of Polish prisoners have been flogged
to death ; the knout, which tears away in strips the
muscles from the bone, has been inflicted on
thousands and .thousands for political offences;
and, on the lowest computation, two hundred
and fifty thousand unhappy wretches have been
sent on their weary journey to Siberia!" Yet
the man who could be guilty of these atrocities
is the same who, but the other day, was eagerly
courted by our aristocracy, and received as a welcome
guest within the regal halls of Windsor Castle ! How
readily the world forgives the most heinous acts when
perpetrated by a crowned head ! Wholesale murder
—a crime of so flagrant a die when committed by
ordinary humanity—is, it seems, a mere venial trans-
gression if a monarch be the transgressor ! How true
are the words of Shakspeare !—" That in the Cap-
tain's but a choleric word, which in the soldier is
flat blasphemy." We close our brief and hasty notice
with some statistics respecting the Russian army :
" The regular cavalry of the Russian empire consists
of forty-eight regiments of the line, twelve of the guards,
and twelve of the grenadier corps ; one of Caucasian
dragoons, and one model regiment, of nine squadrons of
160 men each, of which eight take the field : it thus
amounts, on paper, to upwards of 94,000 men who take
the field, and to 103,000, inclusive of those in depot—
in reality, probably, to 85,000 men. The irregular ca-
valry amounts to about 135,000 men, and is composed of
the Cossacks of the Ural, the Don, and Black Sea, the
Kirguise, the Tartars, the Bashkirs, and other tribes.
Of these about 90,000 are as well disciplined as the line.
The Russian cavalry of the line is decidedly inferior to
its infantry—especially all that part of it which is purely
Muscovite, or composed of the natives of Old Russia.
The passive qualities which render the Russian formid-
able as an infantry soldier do not so advantageously ap-
ply to the horseman ; in whom an active and fiery va-
lour is as necessary an element of excellence as obedience
and discipline. The Russian peasant is also by habit
no rider ; though horses everywhere abound in his
country, he drives, but seldom mounts them. It is
true that a portion of the Russian regular cavalry is re-
cruited from the Ukraine, and other populations, Cos-
sack, or of Cossack origin ; and so far it is good, for the
Cossack is brave, warlike, hardy, and thoroughly accus-
tomed to the horse, which he backs from his earliest
childhOod. But as this is only partially the case, on the
whole the regular cavalry of the Russian army may be
considered as a very inefficient force ; and such it un-
questionably proved itself in almost every engagement
of the late Polish war, when opposed to that of the Poles.
" In general the whole army of the line presents a
very wretched appearance ; the dirty brownish-grey
great-coats, the usual dusky and shabby habilaments
of the soldiers, their sallow complexions, their half-
starved meagre frames, and the mean appearance of
their officers, are far from offering an imposing spec-
tacle. With the imperial guards the case is different :
it is seen for the first time at a review, they strike the
beholder almost with awe ; for though he may have
seen many finer regiments than any which pass before
him, nowhere in the world can he have seen so large a
body of fine-looking troops together. The imperial
guard, which has always been the hobby of the Russian
sovereigns, and is so peculiarly of the present Emperor
Nicholas and of his brother Michael, consists of 41,000
infantry and artillery, and of 15,000 cavalry, and, with
addition of the regiments of the young guard, or grena-
dier corps, does not fall short of 120,000 men. This
force is stationed in the government of St. Petersburgh,
principally in and about the capital, and is under the
command of the Grand Duke Michael.
The guards, the picked men from the whole army,
are all either five feet eleven inches in height, or
ex-
ceeding that stature. On the first view an observer is
struck to find them all dark, and bearing to each other
as remarkable a similitude as tha sheep of a flock.
When his eye wanders over thousands of faces, lie can-
not readily point out one man who might not pass for
brother of the one most dissimilar to him ; they seem
as if nature had moulded them all by ukase, according
to a given pattern ; and the precision and uniformity
of their attitude and equipment, make one man look the
reflection of the one beside him. This similitude of per-
sonal appearance he afterwards finds to be much owing
to their general dusky and sallow complexions (proba-
bly produced by the excessive warmth of the artificial
atmosphere in which they live, and the abuse of the
steam-bath), as well as to the black moustache, of ex-
actly the same cut and trim, and which, whatever its
original colour, receives the same dark gloss by being
anointed and plastered with an unctuous compound,
something similar to our English cart-grease. This is
applied by order. An " ukase " also fixes the length of
a soldier's or an officer's hair at a finger's width, and de-
termines on which side it must be brushed, and how low
the whiskers may be allowed to invade the cheek.
These orders are the same for the general as for the
drummer.
As long as we see these soldiers of the guards em-
bodied, they are very imposing. High of stature—of
martial, though, rigidly stiff carriage—they are clad in
tasteful uniforms, of which the materials, though
coarse, have been fashioned with all the skill of art,
and fitted to each man individually ; they are worthy
of having come from the bands of the late King of
Prussia, of whom the Emperor Alexander said that
Fortune had spoiled an admirable master-tailor in giving
him his crown. There is one effect, however, strikingly
ludicrous, in the attempt to improve the figures of both
soldiers and officers :—their trousers are tightened so
much by a band at the waist, that the stomach protrudes
most ungracefully, particularly in the soldier, who eats
enormous quantities of his black bread. When we come
to examine the soldier after the review, without his
" making up," we are surprised to find how miserable
a creature he is—how meagre, narrow-chested, and ill-
shaped—what a want of muscle, sinew, and elasticity to
animate that great body, which reminds one of an over-
grown schoolboy—how different from the healthy cheek,
the athletic form, and the symmetrical figure of our own
life-guardsman. There is scarcely in these regiments,
which are considered as the pride of the imperial army,
one man in ten whose shape is not glaringly defective,

THE VICTORY. 3 Vols. Colburn, London,
.1844,

We have here a collection of stories purporting to
be told from time to time by the members of the
ward-room mess of the Victory, by way of beguiling
the long dark winter evenings. The tales have all
more or less of a naval character about them, and are
told with spirit, though not always with good taste.
The author, who signs himself " The Old Sailor," not
unfrequently mistakes mere coarseness for broad hu-
mour, and evidently conceives that he is writing with
force and energy when he is simply indulging in exag-
geration. Some of his characters—especially that of
Mr. Openhawse, the veteran master—are skilfully
and consistently pourtrayed, and others possess neither
mark nor likelihood. In his tale entitled "Le
Blanche Nef," which refers to the period of the reign
of Henry the Second, we find one or two pleasing
snatches of poetry, which show the author to have an
ear for the music of rhythm.

THE PIGS AND THE GRENADIER GUARDS.—The
following occurrence caused a considerable deal of amuse-
ment to a number of her Majesty's lieges, on Monday
evening last. A company of the Grenadier Guards was
proceeding along Gloucester-place, Portman-square, to-
wards their barracks, on return from drill in Hyde Park,
when they suddenly came in contact with a drove of
pigs, of which a genuine Hibernian had the care. At
the same moment the band struck up " When we went
a gipsying, a long time ago," and the pigs, taking fright
at the music, ran amongst the soldiers, three of whom
were completely " floored." One of the swinish multi-
tude scampered into the hall of a gentleman's house,
where he ran against and nearly knocked down the foot-
man. Inspector Tedman, of the D divison, opportunely
arrived at the spot, and while endeavouring to assist the
bravo Guards, he was himself laid prostrate by one of
the sturdiest grunters then and there assembled. The
ranks were thrown into complete disorder, as were also
Paddy's pigs, but after a time the military and the swine
were got together, and the soldiery resumed their march.
Paddy, the pig-driver, swore vengeance against all musi-
cians, and asserted that Captain Warner himself could
not, by his " infernal machine," have caused greater
confusion than that which he had witnessed.
SUICIDE or AN OCTOGBNARIAN.—On Wednesday
afternoon Charles Hurst, aged eighty-two years, who
lived by himself, in a cottage in Dog and Fox-court,
Wimbledon, was found hanging from the bannisters, stiff
and cold. No reason can at present be assigned for the
act. Information of the circumstance has been sent to
Mr. Chater, the coroner.
INSECT REVENGE.—At Leintwardine, last week,
a swarm of bees, which had been brushed off the mouth
of the hive where they had clustered, became so irri-
tated, that they set upon everything in their way, and
stung to death twenty-six chickens and young ducks.
The old poultry got out of their road, or they would
probably have shared the same fate. After sundry gyra-
tions, and other onslaughts upon man and beast, the
night approaching, they returned quietly to the hive.—
Scotsman.
ROME, AUG. B.—The wife of Prince Don I'ros-
pero Sciarra Colonna, born Princess Donna Maria Pig-
natelli di Monte Leone, in Sicily, died here suddenly, in
her 42d year. This distinguished lady was the last
branch of the celebrated Cortes family, to which Fer-
dinand Cortes, the conqueror of Mexico, belonged.—
' a Allgemeine Zeitung,

CLOSE OF THE OPERA SEASON.
On Tuesday evening her Majesty's Theatre closed
for the season—a season, to the full, as brilliant and
as successful as that of 1843, and one which reflects
even greater credit ,on the managerial talents of Mr.
Lumley. No accidents occurred during the course
of the season of 1843 to interfere with the arrange-
ments which had been announced at its commence-
ment; but in 1844, from the very first night of the
season, a series of events, which no human foresight
could have provided against, occurred to interfere
with the previously-announced arrangements, and
occurred, too, at exactly those periods which rendered
it of all things the most difficult to provide against
their consequences. Such, however, was the tact of
Mr. Lumley, that he turned his very difficulties into
sources of triumph, and neither the illness of Forna-
sari, at the commencement of the season, nor the
accidents which occurred to Perrot and Montassu
during its progress, were sufficient to damp his
energies, or to stop him in his onward course.
The season commenced on the 9th of March,
not with a second-rate company, as was the case
during the time that Laporte swayed the destinies of
this theatre, but with Persiani as prima donna, with
Carlotta Grisi as premiere danseuse. Signor Corelli
the first of second tenors, and who will ere long rank
as a first tenor, made his debfit on that evening, and
laid the foundation of that fame with the English
public, which has increased, is increasing, and which,
with ordinary care on his part, will continue to in-
crease. The beautiful ballet of Esmeralda was
also produced on this occasion, and repeated, we be-
lieve, every evening during the stay of Carlotta Grisi.
The next noticeable event was the debut of Favanti in
La Cenerentola, and notwithstanding the disparaging
observations of a certain clique who have chosen to
make a dead set at this young lady, we adhere to the
opinions which we first formed of her talents and
powers, and presage for her, if she gives herself fair
play, a brilliant future. Nature has done everything
for her—her voice is one of the most powerful, and
at the same time most perfect, voices ever heard, but
as a race-horse requires more training than a hack,
so does a brilliant voice require more constant drill-
ing than the voice of ordinary powers. 'Chat she is
willing to undergo the drudgery which every great
singer must undergo in order to become great, we
hope and believe, for on Tuesday night we
observed a marked improvement in her style.
Her Pippo, too, one of her latest perform-
ances, was most art;stical; and neither in Pippo,
nor in her performance of Tuesday, was that defec-
tive intonation perceptible of which so much has been
attempted to be made. Her occasional defective in-
tonation is, we believe, mainly to be attributed to nervous
timidity, for we have frequently observed, that when
she has received the encouragement of applause, that
defect has entirely disappeared, and whenever she has
been encouraged by an encore, she has invariably re-
peated the air in a more perfect manner than she
performed it at first. When, therefore, she shall
have acquired that confidence in herself in which
every debutante must be necessarily deficient, she will
take rank among the very first of her profession.
After Easter we had Grisi, Lablache, Fornasari, and
Mario, added to the corps. The first novelty pro-
duced was Zampa, which, notwithstanding the mag-
nificent acting and singing of Fornasari as the pirate
chief, had not a very long run. This was to be attri-
buted to a variety of causes—first, to the unfortunate
fiasco of Felice in this character at the commence-
ment of the season; secondly, to the fact that the plot
of the piece bears too close a resemblance to that of
Don Giovanni; and lastly, to the circumstance that
the music was originally composed, not to
Italian, but to French words. The attempt,
however, to vary the repertory of the theatre by
naturalising a celebrated foreign opera, was most
laudable. Shortly after Easter, Carlotta Grisi left
us, and Cerito came. Ondine and Alma were revived
in their pristine splendour, and the beautiful diver-
tissement of La Vivandiere was produced. Then
came the operatic novelty, par excellence, of the season,
Costa's opera of Don Carlos, the run of which was in-
terrupted by the arrival of Moriani, the first tenor of
Europe, and for securing whose services Mr. Lumley
is worthy of all praise. At this period, too, the
ballet department was reinforced by the engagement
of Fanny Ellsler, who, with Fanny Cerito, has ap-
peared every night of the season up to its close. We
have heard it made a matter of complaint by those
who are determined not to be pleased with anything
as it is, that so few new operas have been produced ;
but when we can see the old operas supported as they
have been during the present season, we must confess
that we have no great desire for new ones, and the
public seem to be of this opinion likewise, for every
night the house has been crowded to the ceiling.
Besides, the fault is not with the manager—where
was he to go for novelty ? Donizzetti has ceased
even to plagiarise effectively, and since Don Pasquale
he has produced nothing of note. Rossini has ceased
to write ; and as to Ricci, the success of his
Corrado d'Altamurra holds out no inducement
to the management to repeat the experiment of in-
troducing his operas to the British public. It was
announced at one time that Persiani's Fantasma was
in preparation, but judging from the report of those
who have seen that opera in Paris, we think Mr.
Lumley exercised a judicious discretion in not pro-
ducing it, as long as he found the old and favourite
operas filled his house every evening. The fact is,
there is no great maestro of the present day, nor is
there any young composer who exhibits any promise,
if we except Verdi, whose operas—l Lombardi and
Hernaui—have, it is said, recently produced a furore
in Italy. Perhaps, during the course of the ensuing
season, Mr. Lumley may afford us an opportunity of
judging for ourselves of the merits of Signor Verdi.
In the meanwhile, we thank him for having produced
the masterpieces of Cimarosa, of Mozart, of Rossini,
and of Bellini, in the manner in which he has pro-
duced them ; and while he gives us the laatrimonio
Segretto, the Don Giovanni, the Barbiere, the Semi-
ramide, the Cenerentola, the Gazza Ladra, the
Norma, and the Sonnambula, supported by Grisi,
Persiani, Favanti, Fornasari, Lablache, and Mario,
we shall not quarrel with him because he does not
produce La Fantasma, nor should we have complained
even if he had left Corrado d'Altamurra alone in
his glory. Nothing can exceed the liberality and
spirit with which the management has been conducted
during the past season—neither pains nor expense
have been spared to make her Majesty's Theatre the
first lyrical theatre in Europe. The orchestra, under
the able direction of Costa, numbers among its mem-
bers the elite of the instrumentalists in this country—
never has it been so strong, and, at the same time,
never so select. The choruses have been most efficient,
and most admirably disciplined ; while the ballet has
been certainly superior to any other ballet in Europe.
The scenery has exhibited a series of the most beauti-
ful and magnificent creations from the pencils of the
Grieves, and the general business of the stage has
been attended to in a manner which contrasts most
favourably with the slovenly way in which such mat-
ters were managed in days of yore. Neither has the
audience-part of the house been neglected; every ar-
rangement possible has been made to secure the com-
fort of the visitors to the theatre, and great as has
been Mr. Lumley's success during the past season, it
has not been one jot greater than his untiring efforts
to secure the greatest possible amount of amusement
and comfort for his subscribers, deserves.

THE NEW INSOLVENT DEBTORS ACT.—KINGS-
GATE-STREET COURT OF REQUESTS.—At the time the
above Act received the royal assent, there were twenty-
one debtors who had been confined in Whitecross-street
prison, having been sent there from Kingsgate-street
Court of Requests. The day following the attachment
of the royal signature to the Act, the whole of them
prepared petitions, which were presented to Mr. Com-
missioner Heath, the Judge of that Court, who received
them on the Monday. They were on that and the
subsequent day taken into his consideration, when, on
the Wednesday, separate orders were signed by the
Learned Commissioner for their discharge. The powers
of 'the Act which constitutes this Court extends to debt
under 21., and the term of imprisonment to twenty days.
No special meeting has been held by the Commissioners
on the new Act. Westminster Court of Requests.—
This Court is governed by a Local Act, which received
the signature of his late Majesty King William, on the
19th of August, 1836. When the last Act was passed,
there was no application to the Commissioner by any
debtor for his discharge from prison, from which it is
supposed that there was no person cqnnected with the
authority of that Court who was incarcerated. The
powers of the Westminster Court of Requests reach to
debts under 51. The Commissioners had no power to
imprison beyond seven days, and which included the day
imprisonment commenced, and that when it ended. At the
time the Act was passing the Legislature, there was then
a very prevalent disposition to abolish imprisonment for
debt, on which account the length of imprisonment was
limited in the clause of the Act to seven days.

CORONER'S INQUEST.
SUICIDE.-At a few minutes after six o'clock on Wed-
nesday morning, a shipwright, in proceeding to his work
at the Deptford Dockyard, had his attention drawn to
two women walking along the towing path of the Grand
Surrey Canal, near Deptford-bridge. Their appearance
at such an early hour, and in a loaality not much fre-
quented, even during the day, excited his suspicions,
and induced him to watch their movements. Scarcely
had five minutes elapsed before they stopped, and
clasping each other's hands, precipitated themselves into
the centre of the canal. He instantly shouted for help,
andvvith all speed hastened to the spot, but by the time
he had gained it they had both disappeared. Without
waiting to divest him: elf of any of his clothes, he plunged
into that part where he had seen them go down, and
succeeded in grasping one of the unfortunate creatures,
and after much exertion managed to swim ashore with
her. Having placed her on the bank, he again dived
under the water, with the hope of regaining the other
unfortunate woman, but after many attempts he failed
in discovering her body. By this time several persons
had come to his assistance, and by their united efforts
effected the resuscitation of the one preserved. The un-
happy girl would have again attempted her life, had not
the police secured her, and for her better protection she
was removed to the Rotherhithe station, where she
stated her name to be Mary Ann Kendall, agel 20,
residing at Deptford, and that her unfortunate com-
panion, who had accomplished her destruction, was her
sister Eliza, 19 years of age. The body of her unhappy
sister was found in the course of the morning, and at one
o'clock yesterday an inquest on the body was held at the
Trinity Arms public-house, Deptford, when the following
evidence was adduced :

Richard Edwards, a lighterman, deposed, that on
Wednesday morning, at about twenty minutes past six
o'clock, hearing an alarm that two young women had
thrown themselves into the canal, he jumped into a
boat and rowed to the spot with the drags. On arriving
he found that one had been got out, and was standing
on the bank, held by two men. He then used the drags
and found the body in the course of two hours after-
wards.
Jane Kendall said—l am the sister of the deceased,
and live with my father, at Deptford. I am the eldest
of four girls, and am twenty-four years of age. Eliza
(the deceased) would have been nineteen next month,
and Mary Ann, pointing to her sister, is twenty. My
mother has been dead five years. My father is a ship-
soraper, but has been out of work for some time. The
deceased was a single woman, and the last time I saw
her alive was on Tuesday afternoon, about two o'clock,
when I left her with Diary Ann at home to go for some
work. On my return at four o'clock they had gone out,
leaving word that they had both gone up High-street,
and would soon return. Hours passing by without re-
turning, I began to fear that something had happened
to them, and I went out for the purpose of making in-
quiry about them, and after searching for them till nine
o'clock without finding them, I went home, and being
much fatigued soon went to bed. On rising the next
morning at half-past six o'clock, I learned that they had
come home in the course of the night, but had gone out
again—a neighbour having seen them leave the house at
about half-past five o'clock. I still feared something
would happen to them, and shortly afterwards a little
girl came running into the house and told me that two
women had jumped into the canal, and from the descrip-
tion she gave me of their dress I was positive they were
my sisters.:l never knew my sisters to stop out all night
before.

The CORONER.—Do you know any motive that could
have induced them to make away with themselves ?
The witness merely hung down her head, and replied

do not.

A Juror—lf, as you say, your father was out of work,
how were you all supported ? Witness—We all worked
at home, Sir, when we could get anything to do. At best
it was but scanty.
THE CORONER—Pray, what kind of work was it ?
Witness—Slops—slop shirts, Sir. On them we totally
depended for subsistence, my father and all.
A Juror—Then how much were you paid for them ?
Witness—Five farthings a piece, Sir ; but sometimes we
got threepenny ones, which required the best work, out
of which amount we had to purchase the trimmings.
The same Juror—How many of the five-farthing ones
could you make in a day ? Witness—lf we all worked
hard, Sir,:we could make eight each, but it was very rare
that we could get enough to do.
The CORONER—Then, what is the utmost you can
make a-week at shirt-making ? Witness—lf I stuck to
it, and had as much as I could do, I might earn four
shillings, but I should have to work very hard.
A Juror—Then, how did you manage when you had
not sufficient work ? Witness—What there was was
divided between my sister Mary Ann and myself. The
deceased had not worked fur the last week. _ _

The same Juror—Were you in want, then, if the de-
ceased had nothing to do ? Witness—Not in particular
want, Sir ; there was victuals in the house, but I have
known the deceased of late to fast several days.
The CORONER—Had your sisters anything to eat on
the Tuesday before they went out ? Witness—Yes,
Sir, a breakfast.
The CORONER—Any dinner ? Witness—No, Sir ; it
was not a usual thing for them to have dinners, as they
could not afford it.. All we had was two meals a day,
—breakfast at eight o'clock, and a meal, which we
called supper, at six o'clock in the evening.
A Juror—What rent had you to pay ? Witness-ss.
a week, Sir.
The CORONER—What has been the state of the de-
ceased's mind of late ? Witness—We have all observed
her as being very melancholy. Formerly she was very
cheerful and had an overflow of spirits, but the toil and
privation she had recently undergone had worked a
complete change.
A Juror here mentioned to the Coroner that he had
heard that the deceased girl had been taken to a police
court a few weeks ago, and had been fined. He wished
to know if such was the fact ? The witness said such
was the case. She had had a quarrel with another
woman and was fined 35., the amount of costs ;
but the magistrate, hearing of her distressed condi-
tion, gave her a fortnight to pay it in. She was not
able to raise the sum, being out of work the whole week,
and on last Wednesday-week a policeman called and
told her that if she did not pay the money by the fol-
..

lowing Wednesday, she would go to prison.
The juryman who put the question then declared his
opinion that the above threat was the cause of her de-
stroying herself.
The witness remarked that she did not think it was
the threat, but another unfortunate affair. She had
borrowed a trifle from the rent-money, and, being
unable to make it up, she pawned some of the shirts in-
trusted to them to make, or their chattels would have
been seized.

The CORONER adjourned the inquest, in order to
procure other important evidence respecting this dis-
tressing affair.

DEATH IN TILE QUEEN'S PRlSON.—Yesterday an
inquest was held before Mr. W. Payne, in the Queen's
Prison, on the body of Mr. William Dormer Gilbert,
aged 63, the well-known optician, formerly of Leaden-
hall-street. Mr. Thomas Morton, of Woburn-place, the
surgeon to the prison, stated that the deceased was
brought to the prison on the 23d of July; and witness
saw him the following morning. Lie was suffering from
cancer of the bowels, under which he said he had been
labouring for many years. His stomach was in such a
state that he rejected all food, and he was quite worn
out. The case was an entirely hopeless one. He died
about one on Tuesday last, from the effects of the disease
His death arose entirely from natural causes. Mr.
Welch, the deceased's solicitor, said he had received the
kindest treatment in the prison, and was allowed to re-
main in the receivint, ward. He had lately got involved,
and that preyed on his mind, as he feared he could not
be released, except through the Insolvent Court, and he
could not for some time get a creditor to arrest him.
He at last did ; but witness had his discharge six
weeks ago. Deceased, however, would not leave, saying
he was so kindly treated that he hoped soon to be able
to go before the court. Verdict, " Died from cancer of
the bowels."

TIIE CAM ERONIANS.—This gallant and distin-
guished corps being under orders for their removal from
Edinburgh Castle to Newcastle-upon. Tyne, the 4th, 6th,
and 7th companies, under Major Hogarth, embarked at
Granton yesterday for that place. A further detach-
ment will embark on Monday next, and the remainder,
including head-quarters, on Thursday week. The re-
giment has now been a twelvemonth in our barracks,
during which period the most friendly relations have
subsisted between the entire corps and the inhabi-
tants ; the officers having been forward in promoting and
countenancing every occasion of public interest and en-
joyment, whilst the men have been remarkable for their
correct and conciliatory deportment. Accordingly, the de-
parture of the first detachment yesterday was signalised
by the presence of a dense crowd of the inhabitants, who
seemed to evince a high degree of interest and regretful
feeling on the occasion. The vicissitudes which have marked
the services of this corps, from its first enrolment to the
present day, form one of the most remarkable chapters
in the history of the British army. During the opera-
tions in China, the latest service in which the corps was
engaged, they landed at Chusan 950 strong ; and in
about six months were reduced, through sickness and
death, to only about 300 effective men. A general en-
listment of natives of all parts of the United Kingdom
consequently took place, but since their arrival in this
country Scotchmen only have been enlisted, agricultu-
rists being preferred. Seventy young men have re-
cently been advertised for, and of this number, we un-
derstand, upwards of twenty have already been obtained.
The Cameronians are to be replaced here by the 87th,
from Glasgow, a portion of which regiment was ex-
pected to arrive last night.—Edinburgh Observer of
Tuesday.
FATAL ACCIDENT ON THE THAMES.—At an early
hour yesterday morning a lamentable occurrence took
place near Wilford Hatchard. Four gentlemen, Messrs.
John and Thomas Hayes, of West Wilford, Mr. J.
Staines, of Sutton, and Mr. William Peters, of the Ryde
Farm, proceeded to angle in the Thames. The two latter
gentlemen occupied a punt, Mr. Peters fishing with
ground tackle, whilst Mr. Staines commenced trolling.
The gentlemen were stationed at each end of the punt,
Mr. Peters being seated on a campstool. Whilst in the
act of throwing his line, Mr. Staines, who is somewhat
bulky, caused the punt to incline suddenly, and the action
threw Mr. Peters from his seat into the water, and he
sunk immediately. The tide was running rapidly at the
time, and when the unfortunate gentleman appeared at
the surface, he had been carried a considerable distance
down the river. Both punts were propelled with every
possible expedition in the direction of Mr. Peters, who
unhappily could not swim, but before they reached the
spot Mr. Peters had again disappeared. Several boats
put off, and were rapidly rowed in the direction where it
was supposed the body of that gentleman might again
appear on the surface, but the body of the unfortunate
gentlemanthe
mbwoa adds:, nothwaidt
with
drags,ogta
bi again e
ns eadeni nsdc ;o vearn ed a
every
d uo Ipt thhteoor usgiaxhv
o'clock
cl everylaocb
available
yesterday evening.

PUBLIC WORKS AT AND NEAR
LIVERPOOL.
(From the Manchester Guardian.)
Probably there are no plaCes in the kingdom, not
even excepting the metropolis, where a larger amount
of money is in process of expenditure in the con-
struction of public works than there is at this
moment in Liverpool and Birkenhead. Almost in
every direction, on both banks of the Mersey, huge
preparations m the eye; and without entering into
at
details, which could necessarily occupy much space,
some idea of their extent may be gathered from an
outline of the expenditure. In some of the follow-
ing items the estimates include the cost of land. In
Liverpool there are the following works new in pro-
gress :—Assize Courts (corporation), cost 800,0001.;
New Gaol (corporation), cost 100,000/. ; Albert
Dock and Warehouses (dock committee), 600,0001.;
New North Dock Works, including land and
junction with Leeds Canal (dock committee),
1,500,0001.; reservoirs, Green-lane, and correspond-
ing works (highway commissioners), 50,000/. ; Indus
trial Schools at Kirkdale (select vestry), 30,0001.; Gas
Extension (New Gas Company),l4o,ooo/. ; Shaw-street
Park (private shareholders), 2,500/. ; making a gross
total 0f2,500,000/. All this is, of course, independentc of
many other works, some in progress and others in
contemplation, with prospects of almost immediate
commencement. Amongst those in progress may be
reckoned Prince's Park, now forming by Mr. Richard
Vaughan Yates, at the south end of the town ; the
new Presbyterian Church in Myrtle-street; the
Female Orphan Asylum; the Catholic Female Orphan
Asylum ; the New Northern Hospital (towards
which Mr. Brown recently contributed 1,000/.) ;
St. Martin's Schools, the Catholic Magdalen
Asylum at Much Woolton, and St. Mary's Catholic
Church, in Edmund-street. Besides other works
in contemplation, we may mention the Daily Courts,
on the site of Islington market (now discontinued);
the intended additional railway tunnel to the north
end of the town, by the Liverpool and Manchester
Railway Company ; an additional merchandise station
for the Grand Junction Railway Company ; the
enlargement of the Lime-street terminus ; and some
improvements on the Bridgewater preperty. These
various works altogether will probably absorb not less
than another million. So that, in the whole, between
three and four millions of money will have to
be raised and expended before the various present
designs for the promotion of charity, the convenience
of commerce, and the improvement of the town, are
completed. But, if much is going on in Liverpool
in this way, more, in proportion to population and
means, is doing on the Cheshire side of the water,
at Birkenhead. Here, indeed, a town is rapidly
rising, which will not be excelled in useful or
ornamental elements by any place in the kingdom; and
the progress of which, in buildings, as well as inhabi-
tants, during the last four or five years, has been un-
precedented. The magnitude of the public works in pro-
gress at Birkenhead may be inferred from the follow-
ing abstract, which is taken from the estimates :
New Market (commissioners), 20,000/. ; Town-hall
(commissioners), 10,000/. ; Park (commissioners),
25,0001.; Docks in Wallasea Pool (commissioners, as
trustees), 400,000/. ; Dock Warehouses on the mar-
gin of Wallasea Pool (private company), 600,000/. ;
Tunnel from Monk's Ferry to Grange-lane (Chester
and Birkenhead Railway), 20,000/. ; makir.g a gross
total of 1,075,0001.; and, further, a proposal has been
made, which is now under the consideration
of the Finance Committee of the Liverpool cor-
poration, to buy the freehold of all their Wal-
lasea estate, and pay for it in ready money !
Besides the works named as being in pro-
gress, a cemetery and infirmary are contemplated, to
which may be added a design for the erection of one
or more churches. On the two former, we believe,
it is intended to expend about 15,0001. In these

items we have said nothing about the sums being ex-
pended in sewerage and laying mains for water and
gas; they are very large, and in this present year
they will exceed any of the past. After these state-
ments, it will be admitted, we think, that there arc
very few, if any, places where the progression in
works of a public nature is greater than in Liverpool
and Birkenhead ; and that, if there is any rivalry be
tween them, it should only be as to which shall best
accommodate the public.

ECCLESIASTICAL COMMISSION.
The following circular has been issued to the
several bishops by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners
for England :
" Resolved—That, until further public notice, the
published resolutions of the Commissioners, relating
to grants out of their funds, be suspended ; except in
the case of local claims upon tithes, &c., and except
also as hereinafter mentioned.
" That application for grants in augmentation of
income be entertained in the case of new churches
already built, or in course of building, or the whole
means of building which shall have been provided on
or before the Ist day of August instant, in expecta-
tion of aid from the Commissioners ; and that all such
applications, if made before the Ist of October next,
be. respectively taken into consideration as early as
the state of the funds will allow.
" That a copy of these resolutions be transmitted to
each bishop, with a request for the earliest informa-
tion in his power as to the probable number of such
applications in his diocese."
The reason for this is apparent by the latter part of
the following paper, recently laid before the House of
Lords by the Commissioners, in compliance with an
order, on the motion of Lord Clanricarde, for a return
of all sums in their hands not appropriated to any par-
ticular purpose :
" The Ecclesiastical Commissioners for England
are unable, for the following reasons, to return any
sums now under their control, as not appropriated to
any particular purpose, in respect either of the epis-
copal fund, or of the fund applicable to the augmenta-
tiox of small livings :
" 1. The episcopal fund is formed by fixed contri-
butions from the larger bishoprics, out of which fixed
annual payments are made, in augmentation of the
incomes of the smaller.
" An annual surplus of about 6,0001., which, ac-
cording to the calculation made at the date of the
Episcopal Act in 1836, is estimated as likely to
arise, when the debtor and creditor sides of the ac-
count shall both be in full operation, by vacancies
having occurred in all the Flying and all the re-
ceiving sees, is liable to be varied in amount, either
by increase or diminution, upon septennial revision
of the episcopal payments and receipts ; the first of
which revisions is now about to take pla-:e, upon new
returns of income made this year.
" The contribution from larger sees already vacated
having hitherto exceeded in amount the augmenta-
tions required for smaller secs, there has been, and
still is, an annual surplus, amounting, at present, to
about the same sum of 6,0001.
" This surplus has, from time to time, been nearly
exhausted in providing episcopal houses of residence;
and the present actual balance consists of a sum in
Exchequer-bills, and certain moneys due from one of
the contributing bishops, amounting together to about
12,0001.
"But neither this balance, not the existing surplus
annual income, can be said to be unappropriated, be•
cause, by further vacancies among the receiving sees
occurring before other contributing sees fall vacant,
not only may the annual surplus at any time be ab-
sorbed, but the whole annual receipts may become
insufficient to meet the' increased claims thus arising
upon the fund ; and this contingency alone renders it
impossible yet to consider any sum in hand as unap-
propriated.
"As to the common fund, applicable to the aug-
mentation of poor livings, the circumstances of this
being his primary object would, in the present condi-
tion of the church, prevent the Commissioners from
feeling themselves at liberty to return any sum as un-
appropriated ; even had the whole revenues prospec-
tively placed at their disposal by the Cathedral Acts,
become already available.
" But these revenues being dependent upon the
falling in of cathedral preferments, &c., the annual
income increases only gradually; and it has been the
invariable policy of the Commissioners to afford the
greatest amount of relief in their power to the exist-
ing spiritual destitution, by, pledging this growing
income, in perpetuity, from time to time as it accrues.
"The extent to which this principle has been car-
ried appears from the list of 562 benefices and churches
already augmented by the Commissioners, which has
recently been printed ; and it results from their hav-
ing done so much that a necessity will arise in the
current year for supplying the other demands upon
the fund, including the augmentations of archd eao
ries out of their stock; the remainder of which may
be considered as pledged to meet benefactions towards
providing houses of residence for the poor clergy.
" The Commissioners are, therefore, also unable to
return any unappropriated surplus in respect of this
fund.
By order of the Board,
"CHARLES KNIGHT MURRAY,
" Treasurer and Secretary.
1844."
" Whitehall-place, July 30,

WOOLWICH DOCKYARD, AUG. 22. An order was
received and promulgated yesterday afternoon, announc-
ing that a number of able seamen are wanted, who will
be-borne on the books as extra riggers for dockyard and
gmeral service. The men entered are to be paid at the
rate of 2s. 6d. a day for the number of days they ate
employed, and will be expected to go to sea at a mo-
ment's notice when required. Nine stokers are also re-
quired for the Royal Victoria and Albert yacht, and
about twenty others for various steam-vessels. About 100
seamen will be engaged immediately as extra riggers at
the Woolwich dockyard, and it is probable this plan will
be adopted in future, to secure the services of able men
at this dockyard and the other dockyards belonging to
her Majesty.
APPOINTMENT OF A DEPUTY CORONER.—Mr. W.
Baker, jun., solicitor, and eldest son of Wm. Baker, Esq,
coroner for the Eastern Division of Middlesex, has just
been appointed deputy coroner, to act for his father. He
commenced his official duties yesterday.