The Sun.
London, England, 1845-01-17 00:00:00

,

THE GRAND DUCHESS OF MECKLENBURGII
STRELITZ.
The following account of the health of her Royal
Highness was issued yesterday :
" Cambridge House, January 16, 1845.
" Her Royal Highness the Hereditary Grand
Duchess of Mecklenburgh Strelitz continues to go
OA most favourably.
(Signed) " CHARLES LOCOCK,
Inquiry was made at Cambridge House 017 the
part of her Majesty the Queen Dowager. Her RaYst
Highness the Duchess of Kent sent from Froguore
House to learn the state of her Royal Highness.
In the afternoon the Duchess of Gloucester ar-
rived to make inquiry after her illustrious relative.
The following members of the diplomatic carps
called during the day :—the French Ambassador and
the Countess St. Aulaire ; the Austrian Ambaseader
and the Countess Dietrichstein, the Bavarian Minister'
and Baroness de Cetto, Count Pollon, the Belgic
Minister and Madame Van de Weyer, 11. Dedel,ll3
Danish Minister and Countess de Reventlow, the
Saxon Minister and Baroness Gersdorff, Mr. Col-
quhoan, :Agent for the Hanse Towns, Count (Is
Revel, M. Koudriaffsky, and Baron Brenner.
Among the nobility and gentry who left their
names yesterday were the Countess of Tankerville,
Dowager Countess of Westmoreland, Earl and Coun-
tess of Mexborough, Lord Monteagle, the Right Hon•
W. E. Gladstone, Hon. Charles A. Murray, Viscount
and Viscountess Combermere, Mr. and Mrs. Macleod
of Macleod, Hon. Sir Henry, Lady, and Miss Dy-
moke, Marquis of Douro, Mr. W. Fox Strangways,
Lord Gifford, Viscount and Viscountess Ilawarden,
Lieutenant- General Sir A. F. Barnard, Mr. and Miss
Newdigate, Viscount and Viscountess Jocelyn, Lord
and Lady Beresford, Mr. and the Ladies Gore, Sir IL
Mildmay, Lord and Laly Trimleston, Lord Camk.bell,
Earl and Countess of Ripon, Colonel and Mrs. Corn-
wall, 'Countess of Mount Norris, Miss F. Somerset.,
Marchioness of Westmeath, Mrs George Leigh, Ad-
miral Sir J. and Lady H. Whitshed, the Misses
Whitshed, the Duchess of Hamilton, Lady I3roueun
and Vaux, Lord Stanley, Earl and Countess Dela-
warr, Sir C. and Lady Egerton, Dowager Countess
of Listowel, the Marchioness and Lady L. Corn-
wallis, Sir Frederick Trench, Marquis and Mar-
chioness of Downshire, Marquis and Marchioness of
Conyngham, Lieut.-General Sir G., Lady, and Miss
Quentin, Earl of Clare, Marquis of Winchester, Lieut.-
Colonel Wylde, Earl and Countess of Clarendon, Mr.
Fred. Byng, Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence, and many
others of the nobility and gentry.
The Hereditary Grand Duchess was going on fa-
vourably last evening.

His Excelleney M. Dedel, the Netherlands Minister,
accompanied by Mademoiselle Dedel, his daughter,
returned to Wilton-crescent yesterday, from Paris.
The Health of Towns Commission had a meeting
yesterday at Gwydyr House, Whitehall. The Com-
missioners present were the Duke of Buccleuch, Mr.
Robert Aglionby Slaney, Mr. George Graham, Sir
Thomas de la Beche, Knight, Mr. J. R. Martin,
Dr. Lyon Playfair, Dr. David Boswell Reid, Mr.
Richard Owen, Hurrterian Professor of the College of
Surgeons, Mr. W. Thomas Denniston, and Mr. James
Smith of Deniston.

Signor G. Calvetti and Mr. P. Fairbairn had an
interview with the Right Hon. W. E. Gladstone
yesterday, at the office of the Board of Trade.
Mr. Wickham, Chairman of the Stamps and Taxes,
had an interview with the Chancellor of the Exche-
quer yesterday, at his official residence in Downing-
street.

Lord Wharncliffe, Lord President of the Council,
left town yesterday for Welbeck, on a visit to the
Duke of Portland.

Dispatches were sent off last evening from the
Colonial-office for the Governors of the West India
Colonies.
Mr. Dean, Chairman of the Customs, had an intef-
view with Mr. Gladstone yesterday, at the Board of
Trade.

Mr. J. Strettell Brickwood, Public Works Loan-
office, Southsea House, had an interview with the
Chancellor of the Exchequer yesterday.
Lord Granville Somerset left town yesterday for
Brighton.
Dispatches from the Governor of Van Diemen's
Land and the Cape of Good Hope were received yes-
terday at the Colonial-office.
The Earl of Auckland and the Hon. Miss Eden
are staying at Woburn Abbey, on a ♦isit to the Duke
and Duchess of Bedford.

WHAT IS TO BE DONE FOR THE

NAVY?
TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES.

Sir,—Another year has passed away, and still the old
question remains unanswered—What is to be done for
the navy? No one seems to know. We must, therefore,
assume that the question is unanswerable; bet another
arises in its place—What is to be done for the country?
We have a war establishment of naval officers iu time of
peace, and we have not employment for one-twentieth
part of the number that are upon the list; every ono
seeking employment, and no employment to be fosead-
The navy has advocates enough, but the eountry has
none. The navy may say, " Why don't you reward no
for our services?" but the country has a right to say,
" Why don't you give us an active list—a set of men who
are young enough to do their duty, and able to face
every danger by night or by day—in a tropical climate,
or in the frozen regions, instead of encumbering the list
with men too old to serve, to the exclusion of the young
and active?" An officer who is not able to serve has no•
business to remain on the active list of the navy; and
age, generally speaking, is the fairest test of vigonr awl
activity in the naval profession. Now, Sir, what is the.
present state of our Navy List? We have 168 admiral*,
of all ranks, and not ten of the number are under 6d
years of age. We have 717 captains; take the first half
of them, or those taking rank down to the year 1826 in-
clusive; and there are not 50 of them under 50 years of
age. Take the next half, and there are more of them
over 50 years of age than under. The lists of com-
manders and lieutenants each bears the same proportion.
Is this justice to the country? Of what age was Nelson
when his most glorious actions were performed? Ha
died a vice-admiral at 48—the question needs no answer.
We are now at peace, but who can tell how soon we may
be plunged into a war ' • and can the old officers on the
list suppose they could endure or stand up under the
hardships they were exposed to during the last ware
They may flatter themselves that the fire of youth is
still unextinguished, but they will be disappointed v‘hest
they come to put it to the trial. No one can der,,,tre to
see those old officers on the captains' list set aside with-
out some consideration, for that list contains a host of aa
noble spirits as ever breathed ; but we cannot remain.
always young, and as we grow old we should be willing
to make way for the young and active, who can serest
their country better than we can. We should therefore
be willing, one and all, to sacrifice all personal interest
for the good of the country, and those who are too old to,
serve should acknowledge their inability, and voluntar34
retire. Where could there be a better commencer nt
than with the list of admirals, who are most of Vaens 7EI
years of age and upwards, many past the natural age of
man, three score years and ten? This is wor. thy of con-
sideration in a personal point of view 1 but what an
injury the country is sustaining by t.Y.e present /Ist of
the navy, from the lists being so cr'owded with the old!
We are keeping fine ambitious young fellows as lieute-
nants who ought to be commanders and captains, and
other fine young men for years as mates who oht to be
lieutenants and commanders. There is no denying that
these are the men we must trust to to fight our bodes in
the next war, and what is the consequence of the present
system? These young men are getting disgusted with
the service for want of due promotion. They are losing
their ambition, and numbers of them are leaving the
service. Now comes the question—What is to be done
for the country? What ought to be done maybe told in
a few words. The old officers ought to bend to the ne—
cessities of the country; they ought to volunteer a A.
tirement to make room for the young. There °utast to
be a retired list and an active list of every claseof mesa
in the service. Of the 168 admirals, let every one above
60 years of age retire; let as many as remain of that num-
ber under 60 years old be made full admirals ; give those
that retire 100/. a-year in addition to their present rot,
of pay. Take the captains on the list down to the year
1820 inclusive. Let those who are 55 years of age andt
upwards retire upon 2s. a-day, in addition to their p-
sent
rleet ara-laldna thirosealtibo
46
years old retire upon 2s. a-day, in addition try ve rot' thot
sent rate of half-pay ; let all the remainder, being
—I
th
be
em
oefdecavic tea
rsesmya•einardse
ro fo
fagthe,e
list
rate of half-pay ; the rest of the list will ' eprosent
Let the list
of co
active set of fellows, not young en°. h"roun4 a fine
heads against a post, nor too old
throughto work.
commanders
navy,nder Thuslieutenantssandwe
g
u to run their
and we shall have what is much to be desired—an active
list ofm
shouldo the same ordeal,
reduce the list of ad-
mirals to about 100; the list
of captains down to about
850; and commanders and lieutenants in the same ratio.
This suggestion may appear startling at first h
slg
t to
those officers whom
it immediately concerns, but they
will find wh t
a say to be pretty true—that an officer of
55 years of age is too old to command a ship for active.
service. Ponder on those words well, Sir, and let tya
have your comment upon them ; you have ever been a
staunch friend to the navy, take up the cause and show
us what you can make of it, but he fair to the country.
Jan. 14. AN OLD CAPTAIN.
An ,ndiare fire

. ince: .y fire occurred on Tuesday, on nr.
J. Weed's farm, Ford-house, Newent, GloucesterF:aire,
by which four wheat ricks, containing each 300 h}ashels,
and a large barn, containing 80 bushels of barb/ and a
quantity of wheat, were burnt to the ground. A. stuck of
hay, which had ignited, was preserved by tho exertions.
of the labourers, who flocked to the seene in great
numbers, and manfully assisted in extinguishing tha
flames.—Shrewsbury Chronicle.
POUCH WAR AGAINST THE APPLE-STALLS.—OIL
Wednesday evening a police order for the removal of 47.
the fruit•stalls in the Strand, and at the streets ej,d
courts leading thereto, was carried into effect by pe:dee.
men specially appointed for the duty. No reason has
been assigned for the order; which is, howeverei,astified
by the Police Act, and can be enforced at the covprice
anT inspector or other pawls=

OMIT CIRCULAR.
THURSDAY.—Their Royal High&-ss) 4
Wales and the Princess Royal walked
ice of the Castle this morning. Her Royal .• '
Princess Alice was also taken an airs
m.

~~ _

A

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TO NEWSPAPEI PROPRIETORS. _
AGENTLEMAN connected with the Metropoli•
tan Daily Press, ani who has for some years edited a Country
, . .-,aper with great succus..._is an En,agement to
.7. • Artides for a Provincial 2ap:r of
sr.• •-• rate tenni.
J. i. ii., Mrs.

THEATRE, ROY A L. ORU RY-LAN E.
'FIDS EVENING
WUI be repeated a G: and Optra Seria, called THE DAUG HT FR
OF ST. MARK. Lusigtraiw. Mr. Burdici ; Andrea Cornara, M..
fiornmi • Moncenigor Mr. Weiss ;.Adolphe de Conley, Mr. W.
Haarrisor; ;ttarina Omar°, Mida -Pante
fu Oft eltuie with a GrJoil Comic Christmas Harlequin site, calk.il
PUCK'S PANTOMDII,_:; or. HARLEQUIN AND hOBINS(IN
CRUSOE. Robinson Crook,: Mr. W Payue; Harlequin. Mr.
'Wieland ; Clown Mr. 'l'. Matthews ; Pantaloon, Mr. Howell ;
Columbine, Miss
the Wu-office is open ally. from Ten in the Morning until Six
m the Evening, whcrQ Private and Family Roves, Stalls Places,
mad Tieketa may be had on application to Mr. John Pardon;

THEATRE ROYAL, HAYMARKET.
Lessee, Mr. B. WEBSTER.
! HIS EVENING

Will be perform-d a Nee and Original Comedy, in live Acts,
caked OLD HEADS AND YOUNG HEA RTS. Colonel Rocket
Ir. S;rickland ; Littleton Coke, Mr. Charles Mathe,,s ; Tom Coke
Mr. Webster ; Bob, Mr Buckstone; Jesse Rural, Mr. W. Farren ;
The Count.sa of t" -pion, Mrs. W. Clifford ; Lady Alice Hawthori.,
Madame Voitris; Mi.:3 Rocket, Miss Julia ~ennett.
Atter which, a New Grand Musical Fairy Extravaganza,
entitled GRACIOSA AND. PERCINET. Ring Uxorious Mr. J
Bland ; Princes Gra:iosa, Miss Julia Bennett ; Percinet, ',Liss P.
Horton ; Duchess Grognon, Mrs. Stanley.
To conclude wi.h a Gran, MOVING DIORAMA; or, PIC.
TORIA L TOURINs WITZERLAND.
Private Boxes, Two Guineas and Una Guinea and a.Half each,
T t keta and Places to be had of Mr. I. T. Ar cher, at the Box-office,
*ow Fen till Five o'Clock.

THEATRE ROYAL, HAYMARKET.
Fif ieth Night of the New Comedy of OLD HEADS AND
YOUNG HE. RE'i, with GRACIOSA AND PERCINET, and
PHILLIPS'S DIOR AM 1 of SWITZERLAND.
The Public it respectfully advised to m ke early application fir
places. I. T. ARCHER, Box Book-kesper.
Jan '7,184.5.
N.B. To prevent c,:n "uslon, carriages must draw up with the
horses' heads towards Pall-mall.

THEATRE ROYAL, ADELPHI.
Under the Direction of Madame CELESTE.
THIS EVENING
Will be repeated (by special permission of Charles Dickens, Esq.)
a New Drama, entitled THE CHIMES. A Goblin Story of Some
Bells that Rang an Old Year Out and a New Year In. Toby Veck,
Mr. 0. Smith; Alderman Cute, Mr. Wright; Tugby, Mr. Wilkin-
son ; Sr Joseph Bowley. Bart , Mr. Paul Redford ; Will Fern, Mi.
Hudson ; Richard, Mr. Selby; Mrggy Vetk, Miss Fortescue; Mrs.
Chickenstalknr, Mn.s Frank MA:thews.
After which, NORMA, in which Miss Woolgar, Mr. Paul Bed-
ford, Mr. Wright, and 3liisto Reynolds will perform.
To conclude with a New Grand Military and Comic Clyistmas
Pantomime, called CAT'S CASTLE; or, Harlequin and the RI g
of the Rats. Harlequin, Mr. T Ireland; Columbine, Miss Lons-
dale ; Clown, fdr C. J. Smith; Pantaloon, Mr. Salvers.
Prompter, Mr. (}allot ; Principal Paintqr, sir Pitt • ' Leader of the
Band, Mr. Mellon.—Box-ortice open from Eleven till Four. Private
Boxer to be had at the Theatre. and at all the principal Libraries.

PRINCESS'S THEATRE, OXFORD-STREET.
LESSEE, Mr. J. M. MADDOX.
THIS EVENING

Will be repeated a New Drama, entitled MONSEIGNEUR; or,
PARIS IN 1720. Monseigneur, Mr. Wallack; Germaine, Mr.
Oxberry; Rosaline, Mists Emma Stanley; Annette, Miss Marshall.
To be succeeded by a New Comedietta, entitled THE WIDOW
BEWITCHED. Mr. Clement Furnival, Mr. Walter Lacy; Mrs.
Lorimer, Mrs. Stirling. •
To be followed by a new Divertissem.nt, called LE 4ALON
DE BAL Principal characters by Mdlle. Caroline Rousset, Miss
Marshall, Mdtie. leresine, M. J. Rou,set, Mr. Marshall, and Mr.
Gilbert.
After which will be repeated a New Grand Romantic, and rather
eratie Burlesque Extravaginza, called JOE MILLER AND HIS
MEN. Giindoff. Mr Compton ; Lothair, Mr. Oxberry; Kelmar,
Mr. Granby; fiber, Mr. Corri , Golots, Mr. Walton; Claudine,
Miss E. Stanley ; Ravine, Mrs. Fosbroke.
Stage Manager, Mr. H. L Wallack. Stage Director, Mr. Emdeu,
Machinist, Mr. Edmund Bradwell.
Dress Circle, ss. ; Boxes, 4a. ; Pit, 25.; Gallo Is. Half-price at
Nine a'clock—Dress Circle, 2s. 6d. ; Boxes, 2s. ; Pit, Is.; Gallery, 64.
Private Boxes Two Guineas and One Guinea and a-Half ; Prosce.
'rum Boxes, Two Guineas and a-Halt: Doors to be opened at Half-
past S x , and the Performances to commence at Seven o'clock.
lhe Box-otlice, under the direction of Mr. W. Masaingham.
Private ;loxes and Free Admissions for the Season to be had at the
Tneatre.

IHE ~IRE ROYAL LYCEUM, LATE ENGLISH OPERA-
HOUSE.

Under the Managewient of Mrs. KEELEY.
THIS EVENING
Will be repeated! THE CHIMES; A Goblin Story. Principal
Characters by Messrs. F. Vining, Meadows, Diddear, F. Matthews,
Collier, Emery, Turner, and Keeley ; Mies Walcott, Miss Arden,
piing Grove, and Mrs: Keeley.
- After which, a New Farce, called TO PERSONS ABOUT TO
MARRY. Supported by Messrs. F. Matthews, Meadows, and Stoker,
Miss Arden, and Mrs. Wigan.
To conclude with a New Grand Operatic, Histories], Romantic
Pantomimical, Burlesque Extravaganza, entitled VALENTINE
AND ORSON. Principal Characters by Messrs. F. Matthews;
Meadows, Wigan, Collier. Turner, Kinloch. Yarnold, and Keeley ,
Mrs. Wigan, Miss Arden, Miss Fairbrother, Miss Grove, Mrs
Usher, Mfrs James, Miss Turner, and Mrs. Keeley.
PRICES OF ADMISSION.—Raicouy noxes. 44.. Upper
Razes, Se.; Pit, 23.; Gallery, ed. Second Price—Balcony Boxes, 2e. ;
i..tpr Boxes, Is. tid.; Pit, Is. Private Boxes on the iiiiicony Tier
ii,okiing eight persons), Two Guineas. Private Boxes on the Second
tier (holding eight persons), One Guinea and a-Half. Private
Boze4 en the Pit Tier (holding six persons), One Gulrea.
The Box.oaicei s open from Ten to Four o'Clock, under the direc-
tion of Mr. Grogan, late of Covent-garden Theatre.

Nightly Overflows t the Grand Christmas Holiday Novelties, and
"I reble Rotation of Entertainments at
ABTLEY'S ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE OF ARTS.
Proprietor and Manager, Mr. W. BATTY.
Brilliant Success of the New Pantomime.
THIS EVENING
Will be repeated a New Spectacle, entitled THE ROYAL FOX
HUNT; or, The Race-Hone and Life's Course of Man and Steed ;
introducing unequalled National Fetes. Real Fox-chase on the Stage
and in the Circle by living For and real Pack of Hounds, purchased
by Mr. Ratty of Mr. Tattersall, to realise this novel production.
tpsoto Races and other Sporting Features.
New Scenes of the Circle, and entire change in the Feats of Horse-
niansh p.
To conclude with a Grand Comic Christmas Equestrian Pantomime,
o lied HARLEQUIN ANDJOHNNY GILPIN'S RIDE; or, the
Bleck Witch of Edmonton. Harlequin, Mr. H. Lewis ; Columbine,
Mrs. J. W. Colyer ; Clown, Hr. T. Barr 7; Pantaloon, Mr. Bradbury ,
• ohnny Gilpin, Mr. Wells.
Acting vivid stage-manager, Mr. W. D. Broadfoot.
Box-office open from Eleven till Five. Lessons in the Art e Riding
by Mr. U. Smith daily.