The Sun.
London, England, 1850-05-02 00:00:00

LONDON, THURSD AY EVENING, , MAY 2, 1850.

SUN,

THE MAGAZINES.
BLACKWOOD.

Little enough is there congenial to the merry
month of May in the pages of Blackwood, yet as ever,
in some sort, is Maga delectable. The most remark-
able contribution after that of dear old Christopher,
No. VII. of "Dies Boreale9," is the paper written by
Professor Gregory on " German Popular Prophecies ;"
wherein the Professor seems to intimate with a de-

lightful credulity that some such realisation of pro-
phecy as the following may be expected to take
place before the expiration of the present year :-
1, A great war concluded by a battle, in which the
East and the North shall be conquered by the South
and the West; 2, The appearance of a powerful
Prince, who shall arise as the conqueror, being
thereupon constituted the Emperor of Germany ;
3, A. terrible massacre of the priests ; 4, The
dethronement of the King of Prussia; 5, Absorption
of all the churches of Christendom into the one Ca-
tholic religion. Remembering how our venerable Ebony
was bewildered somewhile back by the Previsions
of Orval, afterwards proved to be fabrications,
we are not surprised to find that this strange and
all-believing article should be accompanied by the
name of its writer, Professor Gregory, thereby re-
moving the responsibility of its credulousness from
Blackwood. North and Talboys have a delightful
discussion between three and six o'clock A.M., while
Seward and Buller are still snoring—their
confab being only brought to a close by the
sounding of the b:eaktast gong ! Mingled with
the most bewitching facetiousness, their
dialogue is characterised by the most subtle analyses
in the way of poetical criticism, Christopher himself
growing unusually eloquent. Mr. " Alison's Political
Essays," collected recently from the pages of this
ernineet publication, are noticed in terms befitting the
magazine which has been illustrated by his genius
and industry. Dissenting as we do, of course, dia-
metrically from the commercial faith of Blackwood
we yet say that the paper entitled " Tenor of the
Trade Circulars" is deserving of a careful examina-
tion. Nor do we shrink from acknowledging the
amusement with which we have perused the hu-
morous lines headed " The Penitent Free-Trader."
Surely " Tuffnell" himself will laugh, an he have
any powers of risibility. " The History of a Regi-
ment during the Russian Campaign" is a genuine
Blackwood paper, nervous, eloquent, arresting, and
powerful. It affords another awful illustration of the
woes and calamities of that most wonderful enter-
prise when the modern Sesostris, with kings and
emperors as his satellites and lieutenants, penetrated

into the deserts of Russia, with the largest army
ever collected together by man, and took up his
abode in the castellated palace of the Kremlin. The
article has been suggested by Lieut.-General de
Ft zensac's recently published work descriptive of the
destiny which befell his own regiment. Part six of
" My Peninsular Medal" reveals yet more visibly the
boisterous hilarity of disposition peculiar to the con-
tributor, a liveliness and esprit that would have made
him welcome to the table of Major Monsoon, the
home of Captain Blake, or the stable of Lieutenant
Hinton. "Free Trade Finance" is a Protectionist
nut ‘s hich Sir Charles Wood will, of course, relish
amazingly ; and " Greece Again," being a diatribe
upon his Athenian policy, will be equally delightful
to Lard Palmerston. " Die Modern Argonauts" is
little better than the most ordinary of political pas-
quinade ; but the morceau from " Ovid's Spring-
time," rendered by Mr. Aytoun, the gifted author of
the "Lays of the Scottish Cavaliers," is deliciously
seasonable. Such are our pencilled annotations on
turning over the pages of the May number of Black-
wood.

ACCOUCI-lEMENT of her MAJESTY.

BIRTH OF A PRINCE.

(From the Court Circular.)
BUCKINGHAM PALACE, MAT 1.
This morning, at 17 minutes after 8 o'clock, the
Queen was safely delivered of a Prince.
In the room with her Msjesty were his Royal
Highness Prince Albert, Dr. Locock, and Mrs.
Lilly, the monthly nurse; and in the rooms adjoin-
ing were the other medical attendants—Sir James
Clark and Dr. Ferguson, and the Ministers and
Officers of State summoned on the occasion.

The Privy Councillors present were—The Most
Rev. Dr. Sumner, Archbishop of Canterbury ; the
Right Rev. Dr. Blomfield, Bishop of London ; the
Duke of Wellington, Commander•in•Chief; Lord
John Russell, First Lord of the Treasury ; Sir
George Grey, Secretary of State for the Horne De-
partment ; the Marquis of Breacialbane, Lord Cham-
berlain ; and the Duke of Norfolk, Master of the
Horse.

Shortly before nine o'clock yesterday morning her
Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent arrived at the
Palace.

At ten o'clock the Queen's physicians issued the
following bulletin :

"-Buckingham Palace, Wednesday, May 1,
Ten o'clock, A.M.
" The Queen was safely delivered of a Prince at
seventeen minutes after eight o'clock this morning.
" Her Majesty and the infant Prince are well.
" JAMES CLARK, M.D.
" CHARLES LOCOCK, M.D.
" ROBERT FERGUSON, M.D."
His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge, at-
tended by Major Stephens, arrived at the Palace
yesterday forenoon to learn the state of her Majesty
and her Royal infant.
Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent returned
to the Palace in the afternoon, accompanied by his
Serene Highness the Prince of Leiniogen.
At 3 o'clock in the afternoon his Royal Highness
Prince Albert, attented by his Equerry in Waiting,
Lieutenant-Colonel the lion. Alexander Gordon,
left the Palace for the Council-office, where a Privy
Council was held, which was attended by his Royal
Highness Prince Albert, the Marquis of Lansdcwne
(Lord President), the Archbishop of Canterbury,
the Bishop of London, the Duke of Wellington
(Commander-in-Chief), Lord John Russell (First
Lord of the Treasury), Sir George Grey (Secretary
of State for the Home Department), Earl Grey
(Secretary of State for the Colonies), Sir Charles
Wood (Chancellor of the Exchequer), Sir John
Hobhouse (President of the Board of Control), the
Right Hon. Fox Maule (Secretary at War),
the Marquis of Breadalbane (Lord Chamberlain),
and the Duke of Norfolk (Master of the Horse).
At the Council the Archbishop of Canterbury
was ordered to prepare a form of prayer for the
Queen's recovery.
The Hon. William Bathurst was the Clerk of the
Council in Waiting.
Prince Albert after the Council returned to Buck-
ingham Palace.
About eight hundred of the nobility and gentry
called during the day yesterday at Buckingham
Palace to make their dutiful inquiries after the state
of her Majesty and the infant Prince.

From the London Gazette _Extraordinary, May 1.)

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, Ali!. 1.

This morning, at twenty minutes past eight o'clock,
the Queen was happily delivered of a Prince • his
Royal Highness Prince Albert, several Lords Of her
Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, and the
Ladies of her Majesty's Bedchamber being present.
This great and important news was made known to
the town by the firing of the Park and Tower guns ;
and the Privy Council being assembled as soon as
possible thereupon, at the Council Chamber, White-
hall, it was ordered that a Form of Thanksgiving for
the Queen's safe delivery of a Prince be prepared by
his Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury, to be used
in all churches and chapels throughout England and
Wales, add the town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, on
Sunday, the sth day of May, or the Sunday after, the
respective ministers shall receive the same.
Her Majesty and the infant Prince are, God be
praised, both doing well.
The Gazette Extraordinary also contains the usual
orders in Council for " Prayers and Thanksgivings"
in " that part of Great Britain called Scotland?'

HER MAJESTY'S HEALTH.
The following bulletin of the Queen's health was
issued this morning
" BUCKINGHAM PALACE, MAY 2, 1850,9 A.M.
"The Queen has passed an excellent night.
"Her Majesty and the infant Prince are going on
favourably.

"JAMES CLARK, M.D.
"CHARLES LOCOCK, M.D.
"ROBERT FERGUSON, M.D.''

DRURY-LANE THEATRE.

The version of the Antigone of Sophoelep, with Men-
delssohn's music, which was produced with such success
at Covent-garden some years ago, was very judi-
ciously performed last night on the occasion of Miss
Vandenhoff 's benefit, fur the character of the Greek
heroine is unquestionably the one in which . her talents
are displayed to the best advantage, while Creon is an
excellent character fn. Mr. Vandenhoff. The music was
sung by the chorus of the Royal Italian Opera. At the
conclusion Mr. and Miss Vandenhoff were both called
with enthusiasm.

FRENCH PLAYS.
A most attractive novelty was presented here last
evening, in the shape of a five-act comedy by Scribe,
called La Camaraderie; ou, la Courte L'ehelle: a piece
which was originally produced at the Tholtre Frarcais,
in Paris, in the year 1837. The choice of this play
shows great judgment on the part of Mr. Mitchell, inas.
much as it has enabled him to bring together all the
resources of his establishment in a manner which has
produced an ensemble such as the patrons of this theatre
have not often had an opportunity of witnessing. The
acting of four distinguished members of the Theatre
Franeais, viz., Mademoiselle Denain, Mademoiselle Na-
thalie, M. Sampson, and M. Regnier, in the same piece,
formed a combination of talent which could not be ex-
celled. It would be a eupt-rfluous task to enter into a
detailed account of the plot of La Camaraderie, or to at-
tempt to describe the various characters which form the
dramatis persona. The play has never before been per-
formed in this country, but nevertheless its merits are
6uflicieLtly known and appreciated by all lovers of the
school of the true French comedy. On the whole, the
piece w as admirably represented, and at the close of the
third act the four principal artistes were called for-
w•ard to receive the applause of the audience. After the
second act of the play the national anthem was sung by
Nliss Mes..ent and M. Drayton Dorrissa6—the whole of
the company joining in chorus.

SADLER'S WELLS ,THEATRE.
On the occasion of Mr. George Bennett's benefit his
daughter, Miss Jane Bennett, played the character of
Alice' in his excellent drama, Retribution. The young
lady bad previously acted in some of the private perfor-
mances at Miss Kelly's Theatre, but this was her first
appearance in public. To the difficulties naturally be-
longing to a debut were added the disadvantages of
sustaining, a character which had been familiarized to
her audience, illustrated with all the tragic intensity
of Miss Glyn. However, she passed through her pro-
bation ♦ery successfully. She is
very
young, and gives
instances of a careful training, while here and there
were touches of pathos which promise well fur her future
career.

PUNCH'S HANDBOOK TO HER

MAJESTY'S THEATRE.

Leaving for awhile the regions of royaltyove descend
for a moment to the fl•mr of the house, a floor which Mr.
John O'Connell, of moribund notoriety, might be ex-
cused for a desire to die upon. The floor ,to which we
allude is the parterre of her Majesty's Theatre—a par-
ferre abounding in flowere, some of which are of the
most exquisite beauty, some a little full-blown, some
rather faded, and a few that-might be weeded out with
advantage to the general appearance of the locality.
Among the flowers of the parterre there is a slignt
sprinkling of the Pinks of elegance; ra•large assortment
of the White Stocks, which give a sort of starched regu-
larity to the scene; a strip or two of London Pride;
and a goodly collection of those highly respectable
tenants of the soil, that, although neither forced in the
hot-beds of luxury, nor connected with the old roots of
venerable ancestral trees, are a very faveurable specimen
of the productions of the land in which they flourish.
There may be occasionally remarked in the parterre
the sudden appearance of au object surmounted with a
hat, an object which is always looked upon in the light
of a rearecrow among the surrounding flowers. Some-
times the pleasing aspect of the place is impaired by the
waddling in of a pair of ducks; but though ducks are
not positively prohibited from entering the parterre,
there is about them the awkward air of rarce eves, and
they are very seldom met with.
The visitors to the realms of Opera is the height of
the season include all the component parts of that vast
mass commonly termed Society, the analyeation ofwhich
would be a process almost too vast for the resources of
chemistry, even were we disposed to submit society to
all the various tests. Within the realms of Opera, how- '
ever, there are some wonderful combinations of various
qualities and properties, which amalgamate only here, as
if there was something in the solening and refining air
of the place which blends into harmony those matters,
which are antagonistic everywhere else.
We find, fur instance, in her Majesty's Theatre, the
laws of political chemistry suspended, as it were, in the
rigorous harshness of their operation, for we witness
the correction of Protectionist Acidity, the fusion of
Whig Oil with Radical Vinegar, and the easy mixture
of the Sublimate cf Aristocratic Alkali with the com-
mon Potash or the numerous essential extracts of which
Society is formed. It is difficult to account for this
phenomenon, when we remember that there is in the
social structure a chilly ingredient which seldom can be
got above freezing point, and our only solution is, that
in the genial sunshine of the realms of Opera, every
quality is held for' the time in solution by means of that
liquid harmony we have already spoken of, which could
melt the snow that caps the summit of that Mountain, in
his own opinion, and Molehill in other people's—an up-
start Lord.
Besides the neutralisation of political acids, the eva-
poration of aristocratic airs, the giving off cf vaieours
which are invariably dissipated at the Opera, and 'other
great chemical results of the delightful climate, all lead-
ing to the harmonious blending of a variety of naturally
repugnant parts, we may look upon many of the boxes
as little laboratories themselves, for the formation of
other unions of a still more delicate kind. 'Here
is carried on the great science of Maternal Alchemy, the
art of match-making, which consists in the happy com-
bination of objects possessing various properties, as die-
tinguished from the unhappy combination of objects pos-
sessing no property at all. The mysteries of Maternal
Alchemy are practised with immense success in
the regions of Opera, • where they can be car-
ried on with far more effect than in that most laboribus of
laboratories, a crowded drawing-room, where the fair
practitioner finds herself, after all, in the position of an
exhausted receiver, with no satisfactory result achieved.
In an Opera•box the best ingredients required for
match-making can be used to tee' best advantage, and
we might, without difficulty, furnish a manual of mater-
nal chemistry for the guide cf those desirous of!prace
tieing the art. For instance, we might suggest a pro-
cese like the following, which has often been adopted
with =mess. Having found the objects you ;wish to
bring into union, you must place them together in the
same box. Use a good quantity of the essential oil of
Macassar, for capillary attraction has been known to
exercise a very powerful influence, and, by the Means
of these oils, external properties have been made to sup-
ply the place of a vacuum within. With the materials
for combustion thus prepared, you must be careful to
prevent contact with ordinary sparks, lest spontaneous
combustion should take place in a quartet for
which you were not prepared. In making up
your mind as to the object you are about to introduce
for the purpose of union, you must take care that, in
selecting anybody, you select one that is—in chemical
language—a solvent, for if you should happen to bit' upon
an in-solvent, not only would your labour be thrown
away, but a terrible explosion might ensue, and, in any
union that should take place, both the objects would be
kept constantly in hot water through the inability Of one
of them to liquidate. The ascertaining e. body to' be a
solvent is a very delicate process, and it is sometimes
attempted by the application of a variety of tests, which,
however, are not always to be relied upon, for several
bodies have been known, when under the melting Opera-
tion, to give out a quantity of gold, of which there may
have been a little loose upon the surface, without
its being a fixed property of the object, which has
turned out to be anything but a solvent at last.
There are numerous properties favourable to the for-
mation of a matrimonial union, but care must be taken
that these iproperties are not ,neutralised by others.
of a different kind. The extract of roses in the corn-
' plexion has, for instance, been frequently known to fail,
in consequence of its being made up of some deleterious
compound when nature has failed to furnish the 'usual
supply; and the pearliest of teeth will go for nothing, if
the speech is sour, for vinegar will dissolve the finest
pearls. In matrimonial, as in other chemistry, the re-
tort is serviceable when used with discretion, but a re-
tort must on no account whatever be so negligently, ma-
naged as to lead to an explosion, or blow-up. , The
theory of refraction and reflection is also to be studied
by the match-making experimentalist, for, in giving out
rays of light or sunshine from the countenance, it is use-
less to give them out upon anybody of such d4nsity
that the rays do not penetrate; but when a refrction
takes place, and one object consequently become:s re-
fractory, the other object has a tendency to reflebtion,
and no union is formed. The maternal alchenais; has,
however, only to manage matters with care and; pru-
dence, for success to crown ber efforts, and, thouo the
machinery is rather expensive—consisting of the cost of
a box, to form what may be called " the plant"—t4e re-
sult is generally achieved in a single season, after ivhich
the laboratory may be given up for a repetitn of
similar experiments by other hands. Having carried
our remarkS on the chemistry of matrimonial combina-
tions to a considerable length, we will pause, left we
make the reader ft el as if his head were a mortar, and
every paragrriph we pour into it a fresh drug. In
ing of the physical aspects of our subjects, we ha'
for a time into a sort of 'Apothecaries' Hall, whi
hasten to get out of, and to return to Her Maj
Theatre, where we hope to be found again by the
next week.—Punch

treat-
-43 got
;II we
osty's
eader

POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTION.

Some few weeks since we had occasion to notice Dr.
Bachhuffuer's first lecture upon the Philosophy of scien-
tific Recreations; that gentleman has lately commenced
the second lecture of this series, and the subject-matter
is confined exclusively to " optics" and the laws govern-
ing the sensationof colour. The Doctor commenced by
rather a startling announcement—that he intended
proving, he hoped satisfactorily to all parties, that out
if the many accustomed certainties of every-thy life,
two, if not many more, were incorrect. These be istatei
as tollows:—'"That none of us see with our eyes," and
" that seeing is not believing." This bold and curious
assertion excited the attention of all, and anxiety was
evidently paramount to unravel these seeming anoma-
lies. The Doctor's course of experiments proved, how-
ever, the justness of his correction of " proverbs 'so old
and so: general" eventually, by illustration, satisfying
all, beyond a doubt, that our present system of reasoning
resulted merely from an imperfect tuition, and thatlmany
of the commonest operations connected with ourselves
are scarcely understood. We must own we' were
not so opinionated concerning the two pririciples
laid down as at first we had imagined, the Doctori facts
settling his assertions beyond a doubt. We strongly
recommend this lecture to our readers.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.
NEWMARKET FIRST -SPRING MEETING.
BETTING ON TUESDAY NIGHT.
DERBY.
20 to 1 agst Nutshell (t)
25 to 1 agst Penang
33 to 1. agst Knight of
Avenel
40 to 1 agst Blarney (t)
1000 to 15 agstDeicoon(t)
1000 to 10 agst Hardinge
(taken).

6 to 1 agst Bolingbroke (t)
6 to 1 agst Clincher
8 to 1 agst Mayors
11 to 1 agst Voltigeur (t)
13 to 1 ag?t The Nigger
16 to 1 agst Pitsfurd
18 to 1 agat Ghillie Callum
(taken)
20 to 1 agst Mildew

CIII7,STE:

a CUP.

15 to 2 to 3001., and 8 to 1 in hundreds taken about
Peep o'-day-Boy. No other change.
THE FARMERS' PLATE AT NORTHAMPTON. This
case was re-opened after the races this afternoon, when
the Stewards, after hearing the parties interested, de-
cided that the evidence was not sufficient to warrant any
alteration in the decision given by the stewards at
Northampton.
NEWMARKET SECOND SPRING MEETING.
The fallowing are the acceEtaaces for the Suffolk
Stakev.—

Yrs. st. lh. Yrs. st. lb
Backbiter
Sauter la Coupe, 58
7 Era
aiictoii ''''''''' '''''''''''
767 16
Herbert
(81b. extra) 4 ... 7 11 13ordeaux
Quasimodo ... 4 ... 7 6 Thistledown 3 ; 13
Quinine
The highest weight left in being 7st 101 b, it was raised
to Bst 71b, and the others in proportion.
WEDNESDAY'S RACES.
Sweepstakes cf 50. sovs.
R.M.each Subs.), h ft, for four years old.
(4
Mr. Rarnshott.)m's Beebee Bunneo, 7st 121 b (S. Mann) 1
Lord Glasgow's c by Inheritor or Jerryhorse, out of
Deerslayer's dam
Lord W. Powlett's Rearguard, Bst 71b ... (S. Rogers) 3
Betting-6 to 4 each agst Beebe° Bannoo, and Inheri-
tor colt, and 2 to 1 agst Rearguard.
Beebee 13unnoo made all the running, and won
cleverly by a length. Run in 1 min. 55 sec.
Sweepstakes of 50 sous. each, h ft ; colts, Bst 71b ; fillies,
Bst 31b ; those got by stallions or out of mares that
never bred a winner allowed 31b. D.M., (9 Subs.)
Lord 11. Lennox's Beehunter, Bst 71b (Flatman) 1
Mr. Howard's Chieftain, Bst 41b (A. Day) 2
Lord Exeter's Nuthatch, Bst 41b " (Norman) 3
Betting-8 to 1 on Bochunter, who trade all the run-
ning, and won in a canter by three lengths. Run in 1
min. 48 sec.
Plato of 50 80Y5.1 for three years old, 7dt 7lb ; four,

Bst 121 b; five and upwards, 9st 31b; mares and geld-
ings allowed 31b. The winner to be sold for 200
soya., if demanded, and allowances if t be sold for
less. D. M.
Mr. W.Edward's Whitstone, 5 yrs,Sst 1 Ilb (W. Nyco) 1
Col. Peel's Vasa, 4 yrs, 7st 11th ... (Fl9trnan)
Sir J. Gerard's Jest, 5 yrs, 7st 71b (G. Brown) ;3
Lord Bateman's Goodwood, 4 yrs, 7st 51b (Chapple) 4
Lord Exeter's Visite, 3 yrs, sst 1 11b...(W. Horlock) 5
Mr. Roger's f by the Earl of Richmond, dam by
Glaucus, 3 yrs, 6st I lib (Dockt ray) 6'
Betting-2 to 1 agst Vasa, sto 2 agst Jest, and 4to
1 agst Goodwood. Won by two lengths, Vasa beating
Jest by a length, the latter finishing nearly two lengths
before Goodwood. Run in 1 min. 47 sec.
Sweepstakes of 50 soya. each, h ft, for three yrs old;
colts, Bst 71b; fillies, Bst 31b; those got by stallions, or
out of mares that never bred a winner, allowed 3 b.

D.M. (14 Subs.)
Duke of Bedford's Bordeaux, Sst 71b (F. Butler) 1
Mr. Combe's Necklace, Bst (R. Cotton) 2
Lord Exeter's Nutcracker, Bst 4lb (Flatman) 3
Betting-2 to 1 on Bordeaux. A very hollow race
from first to last, the favourite waiting into the cords,
and winning in a canter by two lengths. Run in 1 min.
50 aces.

Sweepstakes of 50 sovs,each, for four yrs old and up-

wards. T.Y.C. (3 Subs.)
Mr. Payne's Crucible, 4 yrs, 7st Sib (Flatman)
Lord Clifden's Rathminos, 6 yrs, Bst 71b (Pearl)
Ld Glasgow's fby Lanercost, 4 yrs, 7st 41b (Pettit) 3
Betting-2 to 1 on Crucible, who led from end to
end, and won easily by half a length. Bun in 1 min.
16 secs.

Handicap Sweepstakes of 20 toys. each, and only 5 if
&elated, &c., for three yrs old and upwards. A.F.
(6 Subs., three of whom pay S sous ft.)
Mr. Ba•nes's Sotterley, 5 yrs. Bst 121 b (Flatman) 1
Mr. C. Marson na Pius IX., 5 yrt, 7st 91b ...(Pettit)
Lord W. Powlett's Give and Take, 3 yrs. 6st 121 b... 3
Betting-5 to 4 ag6t Give and Take, 6to 4 agst Sot-
terley, and 7to 2 agst Pius IX. Won cleverly by three
parts of a length, Pius IX. beating Give and Take by
half a lengt'c. Run in 2 min. 22 secs.
Sweepstakes of 50 sovs. each, for three yrs old colts, Bst
71b; fillies, Bst 21b, not enga,,,,-,ed in the 2,000 Guineas
or 1,000 Guineas Stakes; 41bs allowed, &c.
(5 Subs.)
Duke of Rutland's Ondine, ist 121 b (Boyce) 1
Mr. Combes The Trump, Bst 31b (R. Cotton) 2
Mr. Ford's Satire, 7st 121 b
Betting-5 to 4 each agst Ondine and Satire, and sto
4 agst The Trump.
Satire cut out the work at a moderate pace to the
bushes, where it was taken up by Online, who maintained
it to the end, and won very cleverly by a length. Run
in 2 min. 25 sec.

Handicap Plate of 501. ; for four yrs old and upwards.
Ccsarewitch Course.

Duke of Rutland's Fire-eater, 4 yrs, 7st 81b (Chapple) 1
Capt. Lowther's Watchdog, 6 yrs, 7st 11b (Duckeray) 2
Betting-7 to 2on Fire-eater. The favourite made
all the running from the ditch, and won cleverly by a
length; the horses having only trotted for the first mile,
it would be absurd to give the time in which the race
was run.

BETTING ON WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON.
ONE THOUSAND-GUINEAS STAKES.
6to 5 agst Exotic filly Isto 1 igst California
2 to 1 agst Tiff

o to 1 agst Exotic filly
0 to 1 agst Tiff

OA EIS.
115 to 1 agst_Probity

DERBY.
Cars to take 15 to 1 about Ghillie Callum.
NEWMARKET, WEDNESDAY.
ENTRIES FOR THURSDAY.
Queen's Plate. R.C.

Sir Peter Laurie, 6 yrs—Sotterley, 5 yrs—Dover, 5
yrs—Fernhill, 5 yrs—Fire-ea.er, 4 yrs—Retail, 4 yrs.
Sweepstake fur two years old. T.Y.C.
Beaufort—eh f by Slane, out of Reeoipt—Lady Stuart
—Nineveh.
Sweepstakes for three years old. T.Y.C. Winner to
be sold for 150 sove.

Falcon—br c by the Nub cut of H4rmony—c by Gla-
diator, out c f Revival—Rose Pompon—Nuthatch.
Sweepstakes for three years old. First half of Ab. M.
Winner to be sold for SO SON'S.

Falcon—b fby Nutwith, out of Agnes—Visite—Paul
-Bullfinch—Dolly's Brao—Diligence.
LATEST BETTING.
(BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.)
ONE THOUSAND GUINEA STALES.

5 to 4 agst Exotic filly 8 to 1 agst California
2 to 1 apt Till'

CHESTER CUP.
Bto 1 rigft Peep-o'-day Boy 16 to 1 agst Ellerdale
0 to 1 agst Essedarius 16 to 1 agst Chantrey
2 to 1 agst Miss Ann 30 to 1 sgst John Cosser
4 to 1 agtt Glauca 160 to 1 agst Colliugwood
4 to 1 egst Fuglernan

DERBY.
6to I agst Bolingbroke Il4to 1 ngst The Nigger
3 to 1 agst Ghillie Callum I 17 to 1 agst 6lildew (t)

OAKS.
to I agst Tiff I 15 to 1 apt Probity.
Bto 1 agst Exotic filly I

CRICKET.

ELEVEN OF ENGLAND V. TWENTY-TWO OF CARLISLE

AND DISTRICT.

This match was commenced at Carlisle on Tuesday. It
is the first grand match of the season. The following is the
score of the first day's play :

ENGLAND I N NI:CO S.

Adams, b Lawrence
Clarke, b Wright

Parr, run out •
Box, b Thompson

5S

Chatterton, bAnderson

N. Felix, Esq., b Thompson
A. Mynn, Esq., b Anderson 4
Guy, b Wright
Martingell, not out
Wisden, not out

llillyer
Byes, 7; wide, 7 ; no ball, 4

Total 147

TO THE EDITOR OE THE SUN.

Sin,—A paragraph appears in your journal of last
evening, signed "11. Dempster," professing to give the
results of the author's inquiries on the subject of who and
what are the Fishmongers' Company. I have neither
time or inclination to enter into a controversy with one
who has made such vague and superficial inquiries on
the subject. But I think Mr. Dempster will find on in-
quiry that the Fishmongers' Company appoint two free•
men, who act as the company's meters to prevent the
lauding and sale of unwholesome fish within the juris-
diction of London and its suburbs, the salaries of whom
are paid by the company. Tte other ts. tatements of this
astute a-d painstaking inquirer are equally void of
truth, and are gross perversions of the actual facts of the
Case, and I would recommend him before he again trou-
bles the public press on such a subject to consult "Her-
bert's History of the Twelve Livery Companies," where
he will get all the informatinn he requires, and thus gave
both his time and credit.—Yours, obediently.
April 25, 1850. VERAX.

SPOONER AND ROGERS' SEVEN MILE MATCH FOR
THIRTY SOVEREIGNS.—This interesting affair came off yes-
terday at the Flora Gardens, Bayswater. Young Spooner,
whose name has recently been so much before the public
from his defeat of Ferguson, and his twenty mile match in
three hours for 100!., was pitted against Rogers, a well-tried
fast one of the old school, giving him half a minute start. In
this half minute Rogers managed to get over about 140 yards.
The style of his going seeming to be, as Lady Macbeth says,
stand not on the order of your going—but, go I" And so
he did, and as he was not turned by the referee, we chari-
tably suppose he was walking. The consequence of this, and
Spooner feeling even too much confidence was, that Rogers
at three miles and a half actually cleared 240 yards, or a
clear less of the ground, and came alongside Spooner. The
betting now changed, and slight odds could be had that
Rogers won. At four miles Spooner let go in fearful earnest.
He walked clean away from the " ould un" at a terrific bat,
and in a mile had made up eighty or ninety yards; at five
miles he was about the same distance in front; in the sixth he
made it safe by coming within thirty or forty yards of Rogers,
having made up the turn deficient previously. In the sevasth
mile he walked by his man ad lib., and won by a sovereign a
yard of the distance between them.
MR. LEIGH MURRAY.—This popular and talented
light comedian, who so ably fills the situation and discharges
the duties of stage-manager of the Strand Theatre, has an-
nounced his benefit for Friday night. Few actors of
the day
have so rapidly acquired the favourable ear of the play-
going part of the public as this gentleman, whose versatile
histrionic ability may be equalled, but
hcnesritnaciansl.y is not sur-
passed by any actor in the same l The bill of
calculated to
fare he has provided for tbe occasionnu is highly
merous;,,admirers, and will
please the palates of his
of itself be sufficient to secure him a bumper. The
comedy of London Assurance, strongly cast, stands first, then
comes a recitation by
the venerable though never fading Mrs.
Glover. This will be followed by the Eton Boy, and the en-
tertainment will close with an introduction to that droll
fellow, Compton, as Friend Waggles. There it only one
reason to apprehend disappointment. It is quite clear the
little house in the Strand trill turn out to be too small to ac-
commodate all who will be aaxious to be present
EAST INDIA HOUSE.—ELECTION OF A DIRECTOR.
--Yesterday a general Court of the East India Company was
held at their house in Leadenhall-street for the election of a
director, in the room of Major-General Sir A. Galloway,
K.C.8., deceased. The only candidates were Major J. A.
Moore and Mr. IL T. Prinsep. The poll commenced at 9
o'clock and closed at 6. The result was made known
shortly after 10 o'clock, when the scrutineers, accompanied
by several of the directors and the candidates, entered the
Court-room. - The chair was then taken by Captain East-
wick, and the numbers were announced as follows :—For
Major J. A. Moore, 1,096 ; for Mr. 11. T. Prinsep, 1,026;
majority 70. Major J. A. Moore was thereupon declared
duly elected a director, and the Court then adjourned.
CONTINENTAL TRAFFIC.—The South-Eastern and
Continental. Company's steam-ship the Prince Ernest sailed
from Folkestone harbour for Boulogne at noon yestaday,
with 47 passengers ' • and the Princess Mary arrived from
Boulogne, bringing 80 passengers, amongst whom were Lady
Chesterfield, the Earls of Aylesbury, Wilton, and Sandwich,
the Count Avigdor, Mr. Lambton, &c., with several car-
riages and horses.
THE ARCTIC EXPEDlTlON.—lntelligence has just
been received of the arrival of Mr. Roe and Commander
Pullen, of the Plover, at the Mackenzie; thus establishing
the fact that Sir John Franklin's party had not reached any
part of the coast between Behring's Strait and the Copper
Mine, whilst the check which Mr. Roe appearsn% tends to
have re-
. ctived in his course to the north of the Copper li
give increased importance to the quarter eastward of that
position.
GRAY'S INN, MAY I.—At a Pension of the Hon-
, ouraWe Society of Gray's Jnn, bolden
this e m dab,r ahniceenrr Yi
then
Vincent, Esq., her Majesty
Court of Exchequer, was called to the degree of I3arriste: at

Law.
INcoNtc-TAx IN _IRELAND. n a return which
has just appeared the amount of property assessed under
schedule I), arising from securities and possessions in Ireland
in the 3-ear ending April, 1849, is stated to have bee❑
734,352/. The amount of dividends ander schedule Cin the
public funds was 106,3091., and the ataOuLt a salaries AB-
-sessed under schedule E VIM 8217321.

NAVAL COURTS-MARTIAL.
(From the Portsmouth Times and Naval Gazette.)

levee were asked, what, in our opinion, is the most
inscrutable, unintelligible, perplexing thing upon earth;
we should he inclined to answer, a naval court-martial,
for its doings baffle all calculation, and are past finding
out. We defy the man who is best versed in the law of
courts-martial, and the recognised rules of the service, to
predict the effect which evidence will produce upon the
judges of such courts upon any par:icuiar occasion, or
even to make a tolerable guess as to what decision they
will come. In several recent cases these courts have, upon
precisely a similar state of facts, pronounced diametrically
opposite decisions : one officer has been acquitted, while
another, to all men's eyes but the court's, far less blame-
able, has been condemned, and this, with a reckless dis-
regard of both private sufferings and public opinion, as
if the Honourable Court was solely bent upo❑ furnish-
ing a naval illustration of the old adage, " One may
steal a horse, while another is hanged for only looking
over the hedge."
The case of Commander Michell, just dismissed from
the command of her Majesty's sloop Sappho, by sentence
of a court-martial held last month, on board of her Ma-
jesty's ship Imaum, Commodore Bennett (President of the
Crsurt), the chief proceedings of which will be found re-
ported in another column of our paper, justifies us, is
our estimation, for the reflections we have cast upon
judgment afloat.
The salient points of Commander Michell's case
are succinctly as follow : Sappho, through the
ob-
stinacy of a second-master, lent her by lmaum, her
own master being laid up dangerously ill in hospital,
and the negligence or conceit of a young lieutenant,
who, in spite of the express command of his
captain, written in his night order, would not keep
the lea going, ran upon one of the innumerable reefs
in the bay of Honduras, on the Gth of December last,
the weather having been thick and rainy for several
previous days. We need not do more than remind
our nautical readers of the rapidity as well as inca'-
culable variability of the currents in the Gulf of
Mexico and its adjacent bays, its fogs and atmospheric
perturbations—rain, hail, snow, and vapours—in dreary
December, and they will properly appreciate the difficul-
ties with which Commander Mitchell was surrounded.
He appears ti have been unremitting in his personal care
to provide against casualties, he took the best obser-
vations hecould in the weather which prevailed, and again
and again told the master lent him from the flog-ship,
that he thought he was wrong in his reckoning as to the
ship's position. The master persisted in his own opi-
nion, and the commander, as the rules of the service
require, yielded up his own judgment. After taking
the utmost care that his anchors, cables, beats,
&c., were fit for instant service on the occurrence of
any emergency, ;and leaving strict written orders
that the lead should be kept constantly going,
Commander Michell went below to snatch some
short repoo. Sappho ran aground during his brief eh-
scence from the deck, upon the Seal Cays upon
which her Majesty's ship Spitfire was wrecked a few
years ago, where she left her bones, and everything be-
longing to her, except her crew, who barely saved their
liver. The same was the case with twelve other
merchant vessels lost upon the same reef about the
same time with Sappho's disaster. Spitfire's com-
mander and crew were brought to trial for her loss, and
honourably acquitted. But Sappho, with all her sticks,
guns, anchors, and stores, v. as rescued from the yawning
and hungry deep by the admirable skill and indefatiga-
ble perseverance of her commander and gallant crew,
who declared at his trial, with emphatic and affecting
simplicity, that his conduct had uniformly been " good,
nothing but good." But let us note en peasant, that by
recent rules, as the complaints of a ship's company do not
damage an oppressive officer—" Discipline must be en-
forced, sir"—so the favourable testimony of his crew
does not avail their commander on his day of trial—" Ho
is too indulgent, sir; under such officers the service would
go to the devil!"
After a torturing suspense of three months' duration,
Commander Mitchell was brought to a trial, which
was protracted through three tedious days. He
was then sentenced to be dismissed his ship,
the Court, at the same time, pronouncing their
opinion that the testimony of all the witnesses
against the prisoner, except that of the surgeon, whose
evidence was on a collateral point unconnected with the
loss of Sappho, was frivolous and malicious."
We will not attempt to describe the puzzled astonish-
ment which, we are informed directly from Port Royal,
was produced by this amazing verdict, but will pause to
ask in what a position do the officers commanding her
Majesty's ships now wand? If a captain differs in
opinion from his master as to a ship's proper course,
and explains his reasons for differing (Commander
Michell's case), and that master does not formally re-
linquish charge, the rules of the service require the
captain to defer to the master's judgment. He may, to
be sure, call upon the master to give up charge, and
plsce him under arrest if lie refuses, but if a mishap
afterwards occurs, what is the captain's tate? Certain
dismissal from his ship, and probable dismissal from the
service altogether!

Again, supposing the captain, after patiently enfold-
ing his own views, yields to the master, and the ship is
lost, what then? Commander Michell's case shows that
ha is still dismissed his ship. The Court pronounced
Commander Michell guilty of " great negligence in
steering and conducting" his ship, for the proper super-
intendence of which he had a master sent him from the
flag. ship, to whose judgment the rules of the service
constrain him to defer: the Court with the same breath
stigmatizing the said master's evidence as " frivolous and
malicious," yet concluding thus: " therefore, this Court
adjudges Commander Michell to be dismissed his ship."
Oh, fie! on such a " therefore." Is not its logical se-
quence from such premises tantamount to the reasoning
of some solemn wiseacre who should syllogise thus: the
angles of an equilateral triangle are equal to two right
angles, therefore mustard is a good accompaniment to
pork chops.
We are almost sorry for having entertained a ludi-
crous idea while discussing a case so provocative of in-
dignation, so truly alarming to every naval officer who
cannot, if in trouble, evoke the most sweet voices of
Greenwich electors to his rescue, but the absurdity of
this court-martial is irresistibly comic as well as cruel.
We have by no means said our say upon it, but we can
only to-day notice a fact cr two without comment for
the present. Three of the six officers composing the
court belonged to the Admiral's flag-ship, and the day
after Commander Mtchell's dismissal Flag-Lieutenant
the Honourable Arthur Cochrane, the Admiral's son, was
appointed to her. We make no unkind comments upon
this paternal act, we impute no unworthy motives, but
will others be equally forbearing?

CENTRAL GAS CoNSIIMERS' COMPAISIT.—The first
half-yearly meeting of the proprietors was held on Tuesday
afternoon at the London Tavern; Mr. Thomas Dakin in the
chair. The secretary read the report of the directors as to
the state of the company up to the present time. After de-
tailing matters which have already been before the public,
the report stated that the directors had entered into con-
tracts to supply the inhabitants along the line from Bow-
common to the City with gas as soon as the mains were laid
down ; and they had also agreed to supply the inhabitants
of Mile-end Old Town, and other places near it, within twelve
months after they had commenced supplying the city of
London. The receipts, up to the 30th of April, 1850, were
32,0091. 198. Id., and the directors wished that the third
call should be paid up, es they were anxious to have the
amount of 75,0001. at command before commencing laying
down their pipes. The works at Bow-common were pro-
ceeding rapidly, and the wharf at Limehouse had been com-
pleted. The retort-house and station-meter-house were
rapidly proceeding, and the excavations for the punfying-
house and for the tanks-for the two large gasometers were
finished and ready for the construction of the brickwork. In
the event of the trustees of the Essex-roads continuing to
refuse the company permission to lay down their mains, the
cost of diverging from them would not exceed 5001., a cost
which it might be judged better to incur than the delay
until the passing of the Bill. The cost of the mains to !title-
, end Old Town and Whitechapel would not exceed 10,0001.,
as no great lengths of pipe-were required. This report was
received and adopted, and the meeting (which was a very
full one) separated, after a vote of thanks to the chairman.
ImpitoVEMENT OF THE NATIONAL GALLERY.
In the event of the Royal Academy giving up their rooms to
bpt I3rl,aede
otNii
enaagtbi
away
enatol
make
h rot3i,
eelupv
rnoeiufsloedrnmti teannntdor tacnobcneonttehoc
ttbeb
dee
bdb
tea
irs desirable
,oand
it,
letting the troops pass under an archway at the level of the
basement, and from thence come out into Trafalgn
ar-square by
anch inclined Church
mightp b
plane? nee
don?e' farthestheaway
with
alt entranceoget
h enr
considering
Ss
itd.gt
Martin'she
little use it is of to the public.—Builder.

FATALEXPLOSION AT MENAI-BRIDG E.—On Thurs-
day evening last Mr. John Thomas, one of the firm of Messrs.
R. and J. Thomas, druggists, met with his death in the fol.
lowing sudden and awful manner : —lt seems he was very
fond of reading chemical works, and of trying chemical ex-
periments. On the above evening he was making some de-
tonating powder (probably for the first time), and having
had the inwedients properly dried proceeded to mix them
together in a Wedgwood mortar, when the friction of the
pestle caused the powder to explode. The explosion, which
was attended with a very loud and strange report, shivered
the mortar, bottles, jars, window, &c., to atoms. Mr. Thomas
immediately ran through the back door to the house of a
neighbour opposite, where he immediately fell, and weltering
in his own blood almost instantly expired. Mr. Charier,
surgeon, of Bangor, who had just left the bridge, was imme-
diately sent for, and having been found at Gorphwysfa, was
on the spot in a few minutes, but too late to be of any help to
the young man. It turned out that a portion of the mortar,
or some other broken fragment, had entered the groin, and
penetrated the main artery, the great and rapid, loss of blood
from which caused almost instant death. lue thumb of the
left hand was almost completely severed at the joint which
attaches it to the wrist, a narrow piece of skin on the outside
alone keeping up the connexion. Numerous small pieces of
glass had also penetrated the flesh about the face and head.
The apprentice was the only person in the shop at the time.
lie was looking out at the window, having his back turned
towards Mr. Thomas at the moment of the explosion. Two
pieces,
of the entire thickness of the mortar, about an inch
square, lodged in his arm. Air. Charley dressed the wounds.
and we understand he is likely to do well. An inquest was
held on Friday morning on the body of Mr. Thomas. when
a verdict of " Accidental death" was returned. The de-
ceased was a very amiable and steady young roan.—Chester
Courant.

FATAL EIPLOSION,---PLYMOUTIT, APRIL 30.—The
Lestwithiel powder-works, at Herod's Foot, five miles west o
Liskeard, exploded at nine o'clock on Friday night, the 26th
inst. There were in store three or four tons of gunpowder,
which went off in three different explosions. The premises
were blown to pieces, and the bodies of the two watchers,
Pengelly and Truscott, shockingly mutilated. Cottages, a
quarter of a mile distant, are said to have been unroofed and
the walls damaged.

The Honourable Artillery Company gave a splen-
did ball at their Artillery-ground on Tuesday evening last,
the 30th ultimo, which was attended by upwards of 300 per-
sons. The company began to arrive at nine o'clock, and
shortly after dancing commenced to Adams's fashionable
band, which performed a new selection of quadrilles, polkas,
waltzes, schottisches, &c., which were greatly admired. At
)ne o'clock an elegant supper was provided ; after which
lancing was resumed with reanimated spirit, a-id continued
until dawn, when the company separated, highly delighted
with the night's entertainment. Amongst the company we
noticed the Lord and Lady Mayereo, Sheriff Nicoll, Sze.