The Sun.
London, England, 1845-03-25 00:00:00

ROYAL STAA !MAD.

This popular eastern theatre was filled last evening,
and well do the spirited managers deserve this sup-
port. For their Easter attraction they brought forward
another version of the/flood Royal; or, ,the Crown Jewels.
This was followed by the Gal Bird, and then came
the real attraction of the evening, bearing the start-
ling title of Mount Vesuvius, or the fiend of the
Volcano, and founded upon a tale which appeared some
years back in " Friendship's Offering." The scenery
was excellent, and the actors did all that was necessary
—pleased the audience. In furnishing this brief notice
of the entertainments of the evening, we must not
overlook the remarkable performances of Herr
Hengler on the tight rope, who performed several
daring and astonishing evolutions, which were loudly
applauded. A Miss Emma Short made her debut
on this occasion, in the character of Rachel Ryland,
in the Gaol Bird, and gave some promise of future
excellence.

EXHIBITIONS, &c.

ROYAL POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTION.

Crowded as was the attendance, and varied, novel,
and magnificent the objects of admiration and the vehicles
of instruction presented last evening at this centre of the
world's •wonders, it is yet a pleasant variety in our
holiday notices to have someiting to find fault with--
positive omission to complain of—in the Easter arrange-
ments of the Polytechnic Institution. We advise Young
England to raise one eager and irresistible demand for
the speedy repetition of Professor Bachhoffner'e Lectures
upon Astronomy, to ishich, and the bestriful transparent
series of orreries wish which they were illustrated, the
unprecedented pressure of Parliamentary business during
Lent prevented anything like justice being dime by the
preps. It is to be hoped that the call will be earnest
ail general, and that no access of novelty, however start-
ling or abundant, will prevent an early resumption of the
learned end eloquent lecturer's admirable discourses upon-
the most sublime of sciences. Under the cart a of popu
ler leeteires upon astronomy we never heard and thing
equal or approaching to Professor Bachlroffrier's, either
in the clearness and comprehensiveness of the instruc-
tion itselfe sr f in the 1- eauty of the dissolving pictures of
the heavens, by which each lecture was optically de-
monstrated. - There seems no sufficient reason for eon-
flab** such-attractive and exalting lessons to the one
season of Lent. Of perhaps greater importance, as re-
gards the immediate and practical effect upon the every-
day occurrences of human life, are the lectures of Dr.
Ryan upon Phillips's Fire Annihilator," the limita-
tion of which to one day of the week (Nloni3,ay) might
lead us to suppose that already almost every one in the
metropolis—the great storehouse of destructive con-
flagrations—had been as thoroughly consinced of the
prodiaious efficacy of the ntion, as those who had
the good fortune to hear i's powers explained, and to
see its operation exemplified by one of the fittest
men living for the noble task. But we
think it, - scarcely too much to say, that as
the apparatus has not been yet brought into
universal use, as the attention of the authorities
has not been awakened to a sense of their duty as re-
spects the "Fire Annihilator," it continues part of the
duty of the directors of the Polytechnic, and an un-
finished part of Dr. Ryan's mission, to exhibit daily to their
thousands of admiring visitors and pupils, that there
exist, ready prepared an I instantly accessible, the means
of extinguishing a fire in any building, however ex-
eensirce and of preventing the loss of a single life by fire,
even in London, where such calamities are so frequent
knd deplorable. There is one most interesting part of
Dr. Ryan's lectures upon this invention to which it is
always desirable to revert—the model apparatus used by
the learned doctor d: es not occupy more span than the
size of a-quart bottle, and in any bed room, provided
with it, the endangered sleeper, awaking amidst flames,
could, instantly and by the slightest effort, over come the
appalling enemy, and be placed in perfect safety.
We trust that t very one who has not yet witnessed the
convincing experiments of this inappreciable invention,
and who values the lives of his fellow- creatures, will re-
member that Dr. Ryan exhibits them still on Mondays.
111-natured and grumbling we may, however, be fairly
deemed by ti.e many hundreds, (the thousands two or
three)who ye-tcrday participated with us in cur surprise
at the Irish display of the institution's inexhaustible re-
sources, and the tmtirine ski.l and ingenuity of its pro-
fessors, artists, and contributors. Dr. Ryan commenced
a new course of lectures upon " The Chemistry of Do-
mestic Life" worthy of his reputation, and abounding
in those elegancies of diction and felicitous perspicuities
by which he makes the most abstruse subjects intel-
ligible and the dryeet attractive and interesting. Every
one who regards the comforts, economy, and security .of
" domestic" life should attend this course. Prof: even.
Bachhoffner in the course of the day gave several lectures
i
upon different branches of natural philosophy nad-
tearable style, and illustrated by varied and brilliant
experiments. The excellent inventions of Mr. Long-
bottom, the highly talented secretary, the Physioscope,
&c., were exhibited as usual, and the Dissolving views
are enriched with new attractions of extreme beauty.
A valuable little work, entitled " The Companion to the
Lecture Rooms th• do) al Polytechnic Institution," by
11. Ault, Esq., of Gloucester :louse, West Ham, was put
into our hands. It is a complete glossary of all the
chemical and other technical terms made use of in the
lecture rooms with their meaning, derivation, and appli-
cation, a ith an elphebetical and descriptive signification
of the principal terms which are applied to the arts and
science. A careful examination of the book convince;
us that it will be found a most useful companion, or book
reference, after a visit to the instil ution.

The extreme fineness of the weather yesterday caused
the various exhibitions with which the metropolis
abounds to be crowded throughout the day by the holi-
dey- makers, who conducted themselves with the greatest
propriety and decorum. Ilineng the exhibitions:—
THE NATIONAL. GALLERY was crowded throughout
the day by a very orderly company, and by far more nu-
merous than on any previous occasion. In order, how-
ever, to prevent the rooms from being over crowded, the
number admitted at a time was limited to 300. Those
paintings which attracted the greatest notice were,
Hogarth's series of" Marriage A la Mode," which were
painted exactly a century since, the Falette under the
portrait of himself and dog bearing the name "
Hogarth, 1745 ;" and Wilkie's " Bib d Fiddler," and
" Village Festival."
WESTMINSTER, ABBET.—Since the reduction in the
price for view ing the various chapels and tombs in the
ancient Abbey of Westminster, the number of persons
anxious to see them has gradually increased, and on no
°evasion have there been so many visitors as yesterday.
Instead of-going round with three or four as formerly,
the verger who shows the tombs, &c., had a company of
from forty or fifty at a time during the day. The principal
points of attraction were Henry the Vll.'s chapel, with
Its beautiful roof, and the brass tomb of that monarch,
'the shrine of Edward the Confessor, and the coronation
chair, in which many pretty young girls sat during the
day, inquiring of their lovers, w ho g,ein rally accompanied
them, if they looked like queens. In Poet's Corner,
many persons during, the day had a gratuitous peep at
the monuments raisede' to the memory of England's poets.
THE CHINESE EXHIBITION.—Yesterday, the Feast of
Lanterns, with an addition of many hundreds of lanterns,
was reproduced at this unrivalled collection of all that
relates to the Celestial Empire, with great splendour.
The room in which the " feast" is held was well
attended, and every person appeared delighted with the
treat they had experienced.
THE BRITISH MUSEUM.—The number of visitors to
this national institution yesterday was 15,316, being a
decrease in the number, 1,3 compared with Easter
Monday last e ear, of 6,023, when the numb: r was 21,339.
MADAME TESSAUD.S.—The number of visitors who
attended this talented lady's admirable exhibition yester-
day, was far greater than has been known on any
previous occasion. From the hour the rooms were
opened to the public until their close last evening they
' continued densely crowded. The last new group, the
House of Brunswick at one view, was the most admired.
he figisree of the Bishop of Exeter, Mr. Cobden, and
Tom Thweb, were highly sp iken of by the visitors.
PANORAMA, LEICESTER•SQUARE.—The view of the
city and Bay of Naples, by moonlight, with the eruption
of-Mount Vesuvils, recently opened at this exhibition,
was visited by a large number of holiday folks yesterday.

TIIE PAIRS AT GREENWICH, STEPNEY AND
THE TUNNEL, THE RIVER, &c.
Two years ago Stepney fair, which had laid under the
magisterial interdict tor twenty-five year-, was revired
with groat success. This year it has be, n laid out on a
most extensive scale, and deserv:s the first notice. Two
large fields have been npprepriated to the fair, which
me separated from each o; her by Charles-street. In the
first, called Manor I it Id, behind the Prince of Wal,s
Tavern, facing the Thames Police-court, is a splendidly-
decorated both called the Crown and A nelmr, beloefT,ing
to Mr. Stevens, the celebrated Ess. x r. It is just
350 feet in length, and 50 feet in bra- ndth, and after
sunset Wai illuminated with variegated lamps and de-
vice.; ; and in the evening-, when the Poll.a was Leing
danc,d by more than 200 couples, with great v!goar,
and the place vs as liE,hted up, the effect was very brilliant.
The band is a most excellent one. To do justice to the
.cissiesrs, if they die( not dance the folks with all the ele-
gance of. an taasembly at A knack's, they wore more indus-
trious, and often had recourse to the haul and beef and the
bottled gout, to recruit their exhausted strength. The

" Polka at Stepney Fair," then, must be a new dance for
the Court after this. There are other booths for dancing
and refreshments, neatly fitted up, belonging to young
Stevens, the Essex phenomenon ; and Beckett and
Hicks, of the Cricketers, in London-street. They were
all filled to overflowing. Price's equestrian and gym-
nastic company. and the veteran Clarke, well known at
Bartholomew Fair, have each pitched a large tent in this
field, and the performances were witnessed by adesiring
thousands during the day. The scenes in the circle, the
horsemanship, and evolutions of the Acrobats, tight-
rope dancers and others, at both places, were uncom-
monly well dune. The rivalry between Price and
Clarke was carried on noisily ; but with the greatest
1 good humour. Leaving this field and its amusements for
the adjoining one, the scene baffles description. A
space, as large as Lincoln's Inn-fields has been laid out
with great taste by Messrs. Peterson and Johnson, whose
theatrical establishments—the Covent-garden and Drury-
lane of the place—arc the principal attractions.
On the opposite is Hylton's large menagerie of
wild beasts, with the wonderful performing elephant,
an animal of colossal size. This sagacious creature,
which appeared to be a great favourite with the
visitors, had its patience severely tested. It exhibited
great fondness for its keepers. Hylton's menagerie is
the best thing at Stepney. Exhibitions of wax work,
national curiosities, works of art, legerdemain, learned
pigs, swings, ups-and-downs, puppet-shows, and posture-
masters, were to be seen in profusion in this field, and the
noise of many bands of music playing against each oth( r,
the sounding of gongs, the shouts of the people, and the
bawling of showmen, was quite deafening. The scene was
a most animated one. At night the fair was lighted by a
jet of gas from the main of the Commercial Company's
works, towering high above the people, and rendering
every object distinctly visible. This light, projected by
Mr. Peterson, contributed much to the safety and conve-
nience of the people. The number of persons who visited
Stepney Fair during the (lay was not less than 200,000, and
at nine o'clock there were at least 40,000 in and about the
fair. The gambling tables were broken up in the morn-
ing by the police, and the owners dispersed. Two of
them then retreated to a street near the London Hospital
with their " over seven, under seven" tables. They were
again routed, taken before Mr. Broderip, and committed
to the I louse of Correction. The police of the IC division,
under the direction of Mr. Maynard, the superintendent,
and Inspectors Butt, Home, and Julian, performed their
arduous duties to the satisfaction of every one.
GREENWICIt FAIR.—The park, the town, and the
hospital were as usual crowdcd with the holiday folks.
Each place in turn was successively visited by the Lon-
doners, who went down in the steamers and per rail-
way, to forget toil and trouble amidst the amusements
and attractions of the place. The park, owing to the
recent heavy rains, was very damp, and did not boast of
so many promenaders as usual ; but the fair was filled
to overflow ; and Richardson'a Theatre, conducted by
Nelson Lee and Johnson, performed an excellent melo-
drama and a pantomime twelve or thirteen times during
the day, much to the satisfaction of the visitors. Alger's
great Crown and Anchor booth, which exceeds in di-
mensions one of the same name at Stepney, was as
usual the main attraction of the place. The trains of
the Greenwich Railway were in requisition from an early
hour, and took down upwards of 12,000 persons
(luring the day. At night, when the people began to
return, the station at the Greenwich terminus was
thronged with people. The steamers also came in for a
share of the harvest. The %Vatermun's Company, with
eleven vessels running, carried the extraordinary number
if 30,000 persons between the ‘Vatermen's,..issehl.phi
Pier, Strand, and the Floating Pier at Garden stairs
during the day. The old compAnies, with their nume-
rous steam-vessels, carried as many to and from the
various piers. We did not hear of a single material
accident.

There was a fancy fair and barter in the Thames
Tunnel yesterday, which is to be continued during the
week. The stalls were neatly arranged with fancy
goods, works of art, and decorated with flags, banne..s,
and Chinese lanthorns. The shafts were also brilliantly
illuminated with gas, and dressed out with the Hags of
all nations. The cosmoraina and salo6n of arts in the
Rotherhithe shaft, the temple of magic in the Wapping
,haft, the electrifying apparatus. and various exhibitions,
afforded much delight to the v'trious promenaders under
water. Fifteen th,usand passengers went through the
Tunnel during the day.
The Tower was visited by the curious in great num-
bers, and the armouries, or at least what remains of
them, and the Crown jewels, are as attractive as ever.
More than 8,000 passengers availed themselves of the
cheap excursion trains to Dover and Brighton. The
holiday was a general one among the working clams.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.
TATTERSALL'S.—YESTERDAY.
NORTHAMPT( N HANDICAP.
4 to I agst Colonel Anson's Napier
6 to 1 agst Mr. Dawson's Lord Saltoun
7 to I agst Lord G. I3entinck's Discord
7 to 1 agst Mr. Berrington's Father Mathew
8 to 1 agst Mr. Hook's Bastion
10 to 1 agst Mr. W. Sadler's Sparsholt
Even between the first four and the field.
Two THOUSAND GUINEAS STAKES.
5 to 2 laid, to a small sum, against Idas, and 20 to 1 against
his winning this and the Derby.
CHF.STER CUP.
8 to 1 agst the Irish lot
11 to 1 agst Mr. Jaques's Semiseria
12 to 1 agst Mr. W. Scott's Cataract
13 to 1 agst Mr. Johnstone's The Era
35 to 1 agst Mr. Irwin's Ould Ireland
40 to 1 agst Mr. J. Day's Portrait—taken
40 to 1 agst Mr. Hesseltine's Fitzallen—taken.
50 to I agst Mr. Irwin's Patriot
3000 to 36 agst Mr. Armstong's Extravaganza—taken.
1000 to 10 agst Mr. Lintott's Cabin boy—t. and aft. Oil.
DERBY.
12 to 1 agst Forth's lot
14 to 1 agst Lord Stradbroke's Idas
16 to 1 agst Mr. Ferguson's Clear-the-way—taken
40 to 1 agst Mr. Coleman's Young Eclipse—taken
50 to 1 agst Mr. Ford's Fuzbos—taken
50 to 1 agst Mr. Gratwicke's Titmouse—taken
1000 to 10 agst Mr. D. Cooke's Yellow Boy—taken
1000 to 8 agst Lord Warwick's Roebuck—taken
500 even on the field agst Alarm, Idas, hedger, Pam,
Clear-the-way, Miss Whip c, Newsmonger, Pantasa, Doleful,
and Titmouse. Offers to take 1,000 to 45 about Cobweb
colt, and 40 to 1 about the Laird-o'Cockpen.
The attendance was thin, and business so flat, omitting
many of the principal favourites altogether, as scarcely to
deserve the quotations we have given.
We are authorised to state that there will be no races at
Ho° this year.

DEATH OF ALEXANDER BLACKWOOD, ESQ.— We
deeply regret to state that Mr. Alexander Blackwood
died yesterday, at his house in Great Stuart-street. This
event will be learnt with sincere sorrow by a numerous
circle of truly attached friends, to whom the deceased
was endeared by the manly sincerity, the warm cor-
diality, and genuine worth of his character. Much might
he t roperly said of the excellent qualities and taleacs of
Mr. Blackwood ; but we shall now simply observe that,
as a member of the eminent house of IVilliam Blackwood
and Sons, in %%Inch capacity he was known to the public,
he tuliformly maintained the high position acquired by the
habitual sagac'ty, enterprise, and integrity of his late
distinguished father. We had hoped that a long career
of use!ulness ael honour lay open,to him in conjunction
with those who, tills ! can now only deplore the great
loss they have sustaned in his early removal from
amongst us.—Edinbu-gh Evening Pest.

Mn. WALLACE, 111-. P.—We regret to learn that the
Honourable Member for Greenock became seriously un-
well last week, in Lond,ln, w hile attending his Parlia-
mentary duties, and that he has returned home to Kelly
House. We hope the fresh air of that beautiful locality
will soen restore him to his wonted health and vigour.
We are afraid Mr. 'Wallace has been over-working him-
self in the House too early this session ; and certainly
he has undergone more drudgery and fatigue than any
of our ether Scotch Members.—SeteglVormers' Gazette.

CO3MMITTEE-110031, STOCK EXCHANGE, MAnctt 19,
1845.—At a Meeting of the Committee fur General Pur-
poses, held this day, it was Resolved, " That the hours
of business in the Stock Exchange be from -k-past ten to
1-past 3 o'clock, with the exception of Saturday, when
the House will close at 2 o'clock ; and that the Com-
mittee will recognise no bargains that may not be done
within those hours. The above to commence on the
26th inst."

TIIE WILL OF THE EARL OF MORNINGTON.—
Limited probate of the will, as far as relates to the pro-
perty in England and Wales, of the Right Hon. William
Wellesley, Baron Maryborough, of the Unitea King-
dom of Gr. at Rritain and Ireland, and Earl of Morning-
ton in in Ireland, was granted on the 20th inst. to the
Right Hon. Lord Fitzroy James Henry Somerset,
K.C.8., and John Parkinson, of Lincoln's lan-fields,
Esq., two of the executors. A power is reserved to the
Right lion. Catherine Elizabeth Dowager Lady Mary-
borough, Countess of Mornington, to prove the will
hereafter. His Lordship died on the 22d of February
last, was formerly of Saville-row, and late of Grosvenor-
spare. The will is short, dated 23d April, 1844, signed,
" Mornington." Personal estate within the province of
Canterbury sworn under 100,0004 Directs that 2,0001.
shall be immediately paid to the Countess, and leaves
her all the plate and household furniture absolutely.
Bequeaths several annuities to be paid out of the perso-
nal estate. Devises and bequeaths his freehold, copy-
hold, and leasehold estates, and the residue of his per-
sonal estate to trustees, Lord F. Somerset and Thomas
Parkinson, to convert into money, and invest the same
in funded securities ; the dividends and interest to be
paid to the Countess for her life, and gives her a power
of appointment over the principal to his three daughters,
the Countess of Westmoreland, Lady Mary Charlotte
Anne Bigot, aid Lady Fitzroy Somerset, in default of
such appointment in trust fur his daughters.
SCARCITY OF VEGETABLES.—WitiIin the last three
weeks there his been experienced a greater accrcity of
vegetables in the London markets, than has been known
to have been the case for the last nine years past. This
circumstance has arisen from the severe trusts, which,
until within the last three days, has continued for up-
ward of three weeks. Parsnips which were being re-
tailed at this season last year, at from one penny to
three halfpence a piece, are now selling at from twopence
to fourpcnce. Carrots are proportionably dear, whilst
turnips scarcely fit for use, are being told at sixpence a
bui.ch. Greens of al! kinds are excessivdv scarce, and
very indifferent samples are selling at high prices.
Savoys, which at Christmas might be obtains d at one
penny tech, are now fetching fourpenee, whilst brocoli
sprouts and other coleys-oils are completely dried up by
the late frosts.
EXTENSIVE EMBEZZLEMENT AT LIVERPOOL.—At
the Liverpool Police-office, on Wednesday last, a young
man named William T. Munro, an apprentice to the ex-
tensive establishment of Sandbach, 'Fiume and Co., was
brought up on a charge of having embtzzled various
stuns of money to the amount of between 3001. and 4001.
On being taken into custody the prisoner confessed to
laying never accounted for the money, but stated that
be had been robbed of it at the bat.k, And had never
dared to confess it. He was fully committed for trial.

LIST OP SCOTTISH COMPANIES' PRICES
Dividend Amount
Name of Company, per of Paid. Price.
Annum. Share.
£ e. d. .£ s. d.
Bank of Scotland
ltoyal Bank of Scotland Gl. per cent. 100 0 0 168%
British Linen Company 81* per cent. 100 0 0 2263
Commercial Bank •• • • 6/. per cent. 100 0 0 167%
National Bank...
Union Bank of Scotland 7%1. pr cent. 50 0 0 95
Western Bank.... •• • • 61. per cent. 50 0 0 76%
North of Scotland Bank 61. per cent. 5 0 0 7
Clydesdale Bank.. •• • • 6/. per cent. 10 0 0 14%
Eastern Bank..." •• • 3/. per cent. 15 0 0 11%
Caledonian Bank
Edinb.& Glasgow Bank i 51. per cent. 50 0 7N
City of Glasgow Bank . • 51. per cent. 815 0 13%
Scottish Union Ins. Co. 51. per cent. 20 0 0 1 0 0 1%
Hercules Insurance Ce. 71. p(r cent. 100 0 0 10 0 0 141,4
Motu. Co. of Scotind. • Si. per cent. 10 0 0 All paid. 10
North British Justin • • 'JI. per cent. !200 0 0 10 0 0 27
Caledonian Fire Insur. 10!. per cent.A 00 0 0 10 0 0 24
Edinburgh Life- Incur. 6/. per cent. 100 0 0 10 0 0 18%,
Edin. &Glasg. Railway 4%1. percent. 50 0 0 50 0 0 65%
Ditto, )4 Shares 436/.perc.ent. 12 10 0 All paid. 1614
Etlin., Leith, & Grantn 20 0 0 20 0 0 15
lllasgw & Ayrshir nail. 4%/. per cent. 50 0 0 All paid. 653
Glasgw&Greenck Rail. 1 2/. per cont. 25 0 0 All paid. 15
Gisgw & Garnkirk Rail. 5/. pot cent. 25 0 0 All paid. 28
Dundee & Arbroth Ball. 51. per cent. 25 0 0 All paid. 1 323%

CANALS.
•
. ~.. ,
Names of i E,
,Dividend„ Nam,. of El Dividend!
„
Companies. 1.2 1 per `'''''... ' Companica. d
per i Price.
,m, Annum. s A Annum.
o
£ . £
Ashtn& 014 h, 97 51.55. pc 72 Monmouthsh 10,: 81. 160
Ashby-d-la-Z 113 4/. 70 Mntgornrysh 100, H. 98
Barnsley.. ll6O 121. 180 Macclesfield . 100! - I- 15
Basingstoke :100, - 5 Neath .. .. • • 100 201. 365
Brkuk&Abrg'lso; 5/. ' 85 Nottingham. 150 121. 260
CrointOrd .. • .1100, 18/. , 164 Peak Forest .78 N. 40
Dudley 'lOO 4/. 1.0 Regent's .. .. 33 11. 24
Derby ••• • • • 'lOO 81. , 103 Rochdale ... • 85 41. 55
Ellsnire&Chs 133. 41. 58 Shropshire • • 125 8/. 120
Erewash •• . 100 321. 440 Somrset Coal 150 71. 10s. 123
Forth & Clyd 100 4/. 10/. Do.LkFd at 12 61. p. c. 11
Grand.lttnetn 100 7!. 120 SHIM &Wore 140 281. 480
brand (Tnion'loo H. 105. 25 Shrewsbury.. 125 151. 230
Glamorgnsh . 172, 1 5%1. 210 :tourbridge.. 145 201. 360
Glstr & Wkly. 00 - 8 Strttl-don Av 19 11. 10s. 30
,lrantham - 1 150 12/. 100 Severn and]
26 11. Bs. 30
Huddersfield. 57 - 23 Wye Rail.
Kennt & Avn 39, 7s. 64. 10 Trrtt &Mr-1 ,50 30/. 460 1
1
Lancaster .• • ' 47. 1/. to. 40 sey, 14 sh. I 1
LeediSt Livrp 100; 341. ' 570 Thams &Med I It, - 1 JO
Leicester ....1140 101. 110 Worestr & 1
78 41. BO
Leicst r tec NU) 831 41. 70 Birming.
Loughborogh,l42! 70/. 10.50 ins & Mks 67 11. 4s.

SPIRIT of the PUBLIC JOURNALS

FROM THE EVENING PAPERS OF THIS DAI.

GLOBE.—" Pitt's Friends"—for that is the original
title from which is derived the Apostolic succession of
ortl:odox Conservative Ministerialism—Pitt's Friends,
since Pitt's death, have' described the vi hole circle
of opinions with regard to Irish Roman Catholicism,
and now appear just arriving at the very point from
which their leader first was prevented from starting.
It seldom, however, happens that nearly a half cen-
tury can elapse—the intermediate space having (by
Pitt's Friends) ' been filled with the bitterest contro-
versy)—and that the same course can be smoothly re-
entered, which might have smoothly been taken at first.
When Pitt went out in 1801, because George the Third
(the royal ear having secretly been pre-occupied by
some lay and • some clerical alarmists) refused his
sanction to the Roman Catholic measures he laid before
him, as the implied promises, and essential con-iple-
meats of the union with Ireland—no political Pro-
testant party existed amongst English politicians. That
was an Irish growth ; and even such a• champion of
things established as Burke had become latterly, was
to the last adverse to the political Protestant pretexts of
the Irish local Oligarchy. George the Third had the
equivocal honour of creasing out of nothing (at least,
salt of political nonentities) a party which assumed Pro•
testantism as its w tell word )—and such became the party
of" Pitt's Friends." It is curious and amusing to read, in
the Diary of Lord Malmsbury, the expressions of indig-
' nation of that '• Pitt's Friend," when Pitt first re
signed, and to contrast that indignation at the closet-ear•
wiggings which alarmed the royal mind, with his own
subsequent eagerness to renew precisely the same sytem
of intrigue, and work on prccisly the same royal weakness
in 1807. The only difference a as, that Pitt was in-
' trigurd out of c thee in 1801—and with him " Pitt's
Friends;" whereas, in 1807, the point was to intrigue
out of office the surviving members of the Fox and Gren-
ville Ministry—whereby " Pitt's Friends" would return
to power. Apostolic succession is everything to political
Protestantism. This doctrine sufficiently vindicates tie
same party, in all its changing phases. For the point
is not mere notional consistency—mere matter of
opinion. The point is, whose opinions have the stamp
of (*Beira orthodoxy—who can trace the unbroken
links of succession from Pitt. • And of course these are
" Pitt's Friends." While there was a " good old King,"
who fancied his crown in question, " Pitt's Friends"
stood by him with devoted loyalty—loyalty devoted to
places and pensions, a hich l'ercevals,, Westtnorelands,
Vansit tarts, could scarcely havemerited otherwise. When
an elderly Monarch succeeded, not so good, and not quite
so obAinate, the junior partners of " Pitt's Friends"
saw the expediency of forcing his hand a little. Times
have gone en, still changing ; and " I'itt's Friends"
have gone on, changing likewise. They have changed
everything—except their claim to apostolic succession
and Conservatise orthodoxy. A doubt may intrude on
minds not theremghly imbued with political reli-
gion,. whether the course of this party, since the
eanmencement of this century, has not been
rather selfish and mischievous, as regards Irish Roman
Cathoiciem. Whether politicians are quite at
liberty to take God's reline in vain, whenever affectation
of the highest motives can compass the lowest objects.
And finally, whether diving into John Bull's p •ckets
for, the endowment of a faith which John Bull thinks
(justly in our- mind) deeply tinged with superstitions
—is the aneende most decent and effectual to the holders
of that faith for all the injustice which the personal in-
terests of " Pitt's Friends" inflicted on them civilly and
politically.
STAN DARD.—" We ought not to halloo before we
are out of the wood," says the proverb ; but keeping the
sage maxim still in view, we must at present anticipate
a short, as the Ministers hitherto have had an easy,
session of Parliament. The circumstances that ren-
dered. necessary an early consideration of financial
questions, concurring with an unusually early Easter,
have caused an anticipation of what has hitherto
been not merely the dead weight of the Parlia-
mentary year's work, but also the means of
inviting a multitude of other tedious discussions. In
fact, looking back to former years, we find nearly the
first half of every session consumed in debates upon
the most trumpery questions, apparently because the
House of Commons had nothing useful to do, and it must
do something. Another cause of the probable dispatch
of business in the present session is the universal consci-
ousness that the crambe recocta of anti-corn-law speeches,
and the like, will no longer go down. The country
is sick of such stuff, and moreover the country is
prosperous and contented. The more prudent of the
Whig party are well aware of this, and therefore they
prudently court an obscurity which protects their mea-
sures from a contrast with the measures of the present
Government. On the side of Government, we know of
no measure that it has in contemplation which is likely
to meet even a slight opposition, except the plan for
the Irish colleges, and the enlargement of the Maynooth
grant, 'and to these scarcely a formidable opposition
can be anticipated. It is true that some of the men (Dis-
senters), most active in promoting the grant of power to
the Irish Roman Catholics, are now clamorous against
the adoption of the only means by which that power
can be diverted from implacable hostility to Protestant
institutions. But the very fact that these bitter enemies
of the Established Church are foremost in the cry
against the enlargement of the Maynooth grant will at
least cause Churchmen to pause, and listen to the reasons
which the Minister has to offer, before condemning the
measure. As to principle, the principle of that measure
has been for fifty years recognised, by the grant of nine
thousand pounds a year. And let us add, a much worse
principle has been introduced more recently in the ap-
pointment of Roman Catholic chaplains to prisons and
work-houses. The battle, therefore, cannot be fought on
the ground of principle ; and upon a question
of mere expediency it is vain to pretend high grounds of
objection. They. who think that the Irish Roman
Catholic priests will be more obstinately bigotted, more
bitterly hostile to England, if better educated, will do
well to oppose the augmentationntation of the grant. They
who hold the opposite opinion in both re'pects, to which
number we confess ourselves to belong, will look with com-
placency upon an experiment, the worst effect of which
will be, merely to throw away some money; for worse than
it is the system of education among the Roman Catholic
clergy cannot be ; while the accompanying establish-
ment of open colleges, of which the enlsrged grant to
Maynooth is, perhaps, a necessary auxiliary, can pro-
duce nothing but unmixed good. This is a subject,
however, to which we must again refer. Upon a fair
view of
mfthay o
the prospects
terminatespeetsofthF session, • there is no reason
why it in
July
or even in June; and
this though many useful measures of legislature be com-
pleted in the interval—a most useful return to ancient
practice.