The Observer from London, Greater London, England • 6

THE OBSERVER, AUGUST 2, 1863. 6 the fete is appointed to take place there on Mondav 24th inst. THE QUEEN'S VIEWS ON DANGEROUS PERFORMANCES. respect to the cost of the work the report states: Looking to the money already expended, compnred with the work done, and considering the contingencies connected with the possibility of meeting with rock at the Ked Sea entrance, and that the deep dredging in the canal and at the Mediterranean entrance may cost more than the estimated amount, anil also looking to the contingencies incident to an undertaking of such magnitude as the ship canal, I should think it prudent for you to assume that, before it be fully finished and perfected, the expenditure, including the additional cost of the modifications I have suggested, together with the land purchases and cost of buildings, may reach 250,000,000 of francs, or ten millions sterling." The nlrnnilu i ri irrjifl DM DtiffinllPr. 186.

IS accessories, and the pomp and glory of the dresses and those who delighted in such things, enjoyed a rare visual feast. "Faust" was played some eight times. Among the best musical performances of the season, the Harbiere" of Kossini was the most conspicuous, and this gayest of comic operas, in which Mario, as Almaviva, was in an unusunllv genial mood, was repeated again and again. La azza Ladra" was performed three times, and would probably have commanded more, had the cast been equivalent to that of the Grisi, Tamburini, and Lablachc epoch, liellini was but scantily resorted to. There were but two representations of the Puritani," two of Norma," and one of the Sonnambula.

Donizetti fared better. "Don Pasquale," the Klisir," and the "Figlia del Keggimento" were revived especially for Mdlle. Patti, who in these operas was in her own proper domain, and gave pretty and sparkling versions of three of the most agreeable heroines of the lyric stage. Verdi was of course a visitant, though not quite so often as heretofore. His "Kigoletto," Traviata," and Trovatore" were each given, but only twice, if we are correct, each.

The "Marta" of Flotow was represented five tinics, and by a curious fatality had three different personators of the Lady Knrichetta Mdlle. Demi, Mdlle. Fiorctti, and Mdlle. Patti. Don Giovanni" was attractive, though not too strongly cast.

It was given six times. The orchestra exhibited all its prescriptive excellence throughout the season, and Mr. Costa laboured with his usual scdulousriess, and, it may be added, with his usual success, as the conductor of this important branch of the establishment. The chorus singers, also, were in a ripe state of discipline, though towards the end of the season, the necessity of singing almost every night of the week was beginning to tell its natural story of weariness and deterioration. The scenery remained, as before, in the charge of Mr.

William Beverly, to whose magic pencil the hahituis were specially indebted for the pictorial embellishments of "Faust." Among. the exceptional incidents of the season, the singing on the stage of Mdlle. Cnrlotta Patti, concert fashion may be recorded and also the state visit of the Prince and Princess of Wales on the 28tli of April. THE ROMAN AND VENETIAN IN SARDINIA. EXILES Wc extract the following on the treatment of the Italian emigrants from Rome and Venice, who have been by the Italian Government exiled to Sardinia, from a letter by Ippolito Pederzolli to a liberal Neapolitan paper, the J'opoli d' Italia.

Pederzolli had for a considerable time been him" self one of these sufferers, for no better reason than his having at a public meeting in Pavia, when a student at the university there, called on those assembled to cherish the memory of all such men as had sacrificed their lives for the good of their country The silence preserved by us on the fate of that portion of the great family of Italian exiles which lives banished in the island of Sardinia has weighed upon our minds like a remorse. We have long designed raising a part of the veil which conceals the sorrows and martyrdom of so many ardent youths, who, as if rejected from the banquet" of their brothers, lie thus abandoned in the midst of the The efforts which as private citizens have initiated, so as on our side to concur iu the holj work of tempering the ineffable sufferings of those remains of the national struggles, lias occasioned in us a reserve which we wished to preserve at any cost. These efforts having unhappily proved vain, and continued and distressingly urgent entreaties coming to us from Sardinia, we now think we should be wanting in our duty as liberal vi'riters if we did not break silence, and raise our voice high to denounce to the whole nation the parricide which is being consummated in Sardinia. "IS France has its Cayenne, Spain its Cuba, and Russia its Siberia with eternal snows, our statesmen knew not how to resist the idea of also bestowing on Italy a Lnm-bessa, and the island of Sardinia being the most remote from the continent was chosen for the deportation of the patriots of the most integrity, anil of the most worthy and venerated citizens of itoiiie. of Venice, and of Trent.

The proud and generous population of the island protested loudly and at various periods against this system of transforming their country into a place of deportation and of martyrdom and the demonstrations of sympathy which the victims of the arbitrariness of Government hare found among the Sards, have proved to Italy that it is not always the case that the sorrows of a people wandering through Italy in search of a country can be insulted with impunity. We do not pause to examine the special motives which made the Government determine to drag the emigrants from the continental cities to send them to the island. The country sufficiently knows these, and has shown this knowledge on various occasions by its actions. Wc limit ourselves to saying that the "greater proportion of those banished have fought the battles of liberty, that a great number are old captains and officers of Garibaldi and (hat honourable wounds furrow the breasts of many of these unhappy men. An ex-lieutenant of the Mille (Garibaldi's thousand who went with him to Sicily), Leonardo Gramaecim, of Komo.

arrested and put in chains at Hologna, for having raised the cry of 'Rome or now atones in Sardinia for his generous aspirations. Other four of the Mille were banished there, for having signed a protest against the threatened law to prevent the right of association four Venetian students at Parma, for being found entangled in the crowd which at the period of the proclamation of Finuzza made a demonstration of sympathy for the captain of the people; five Hungarians, three of them officers, deserters from the Austrian army, and lieutenants iu 1S60 in the army of Garibaldi, for having protested to the Ministry of War "against the arbitrary conduct of certain superior officers of the Foreign Legion in jiiexauoria. And how are the emigrants treated in Sardinia Divided into three barracks of St. Mauro, Santa Kosolia, and St. Francisco (a few excepted, who obtain permission to live in private bouses), they are constrained to sleep on putrefied straw.

Three delegates of public security, generally brutal and violent men, keep watch in.Cagliari over the order' of these barracks. A word escaped in a moment of anger suffices to cause an emigrant to be transferred to the tower of St. Pancnizio. If he attempts a justification not in perfect calmness they point a revolver against his throat. Wc can bear witness that a sub-delegate, when intoxicated, even threatened a woman with child.

According to whim they send these men to the more central villages, and with irons on their wrists, even to the near island of Carloforte. Wc succeeded even in discovering an agreement between two sub-delegates, in order to incarcerate mi fortniilil to frt night any six emigrants they might fix on, in' order to enjoy the subsidy granted to them by Government. Afterwards, by a ridiculous pretext, they took the subsidy from a married emigrant to make it serve for the maintenance of one V. a delegate. Many times it has happened that emigrants have disappeared suddenly from the island a few days after it has been known that they hud been called at night to the office of the questure, were taken, put on board a steamer, and deported to Africa.

The committee of emigration which we had the honour of founding, and which the trust reposed in ns by the emigrants led them to call on us to preside over, has been in every way impeded by most infamous means, even in its most innocent and noble projects. They appeal to it when threatened by a burst of anger that they dread, and calumniate and persecute it when the danger is past. The governing authorities use every effort to excite ardent nnd implacable hatred between the emigrants and the Sardinian citizens. They make use of the most wicked passions to succeed in this infernal object. It is thus that Cagliuri has beheld with horror the slaughter of St.

Mauro, and the continued and reciprocal nightly assassinations it is thus that one of the Mille was wounded from behind by the bayonet of a soldier on that fatal occasion. This as respects the emigration in the capital of the island. At Sattari, to which two hundred of the emigrants are banished, the same violence, the same arbitrary treatment, the same sufferings are found. The accounts obtained on this subject by the committee of emigrants make us shudder. From the torments of martyrdom man comes forth an angel or a demon, in the image of Christ or of Satan, of Socrates or of Marius.

Great by the consciousness of their sufferings and of their virtues, the Italian exiles cross the sea, go to Sardinia, a fearless legion of martyrs. There cruelties, hunger, hatreds, divide them into two camps, and guilt makes its way even into the bosoms of men called by nature to great and magnanimous enterprises. It is then that may be observed the heroic and alarming spectacle of four Hungarians who try to escape in a frail bark who, opposed, throw into the sea and drown the boatman in the midst of a thousand perils reach Africa are arrested in Algiers, and taken back to Cngliari, and are condemned to twenty years of forced labour. "These are facts, and falsehood cannot stand against facts. We defy the Government to prove false the facts we have indicated, and we are ready, in case of need, to reveal names and disclose circumstances corroborative of our assertions.

G. Iproi-ITO PBmsitzoi.u." A Female Patriotic Association" at Milan has recently asked the Unitii. Italiana to publish a portion of a letter to them from the venerated exile, Guiseppe Mazzini. It is in answer to an address made to him by them on his birthday. In sending it the directing commission writes May the words of this indefatigable apostle of the unity of his country be engraven on the hearts of all the Italian sisters to remind them that they have a great mission of duty to perform.

With the highest consideration, "The DiitKCTiN'o Commission." (Part of Mazzini's Letter.) Adieu, sisters. I fear in my inmost heart that your good wishes, and those of our good friends, are not to be verified ns respects me I shall die in exile but. this docs not matter much. Think of Italy I am but one voice iu behalf of her greatness, in behalf of her destinies it matters little where that voice is extinguished. Follow it while you can and where you can.

Now my voice indicates to you Venice. Agitate for this collect money for this seek opportunities to work among the Venetian emigration speak of Venice to your friends, to your sons, to all. You arc few, even a smaller number than I believed, yet, being willing, you can accomplish much for good. Preserve always faith in the affections of your 15th July." "GuisBPrK Mazhm. Mp.thopoi.itan Ee-vei-it Societies Asylum.

An add tion to the usual large gatherings of friendly societies take place this year at the institution in the Hall's Pond-road Kingsland-gate. Between the Odd KIW' fto Crystal Palace, on the 4th of August, nd the Foresters', oil ithe 18th, the asylum committee, mainly oompose-d of members of both those bodies, have derm-mi brcrthven to another, fete on a smaller vrhiliA enjoying: theraselres, ifcey may see how the decayed nuu gwu Jiitrinwro are nrorftiefl lor. TLfitnrJnv TllPKH-i' 1A.I A IU'. i are npoiii inn iip aoc.itI nn-iv nn fair, and ball will held thVMffindoSSS of the asylum. Muuuiiin.aua0rounas THE ISTHMUS OF SUEZ CANAU It is now nearly nine years since M.

Ferdinand Lesseps proposed to the late Pasha of Egypt the project of cutting: a canal through the Isthmus of Suez, and in March, 1855, M. Linant Bey and Mougel Bey, engineers, who had been employed in the construction of various important hydraulic works in Egypt. established." to quote the words of the report. by calculations and data which may be verified by any one. that a maritime canal direct from Suez to elu-Bium.

30 leagues long, 100 metres wide, and metres deep, extending sufficiently far into the seas by means of jetties to obtain the depth necessary to enable ships to enter without difficulty, having an inland port in the natural basin oi Lake Timsah. and which should be completed six years, would cost at the most 100.000.000 francs (XMHW), or about half the amount expended on the Ureal Jw hrn Railway from London to York, or on that between 1 aris and Lyons." Such was the statement put forward by M. U-sseps, and in upon which the buez Canal Company was formed with the late 1 asha of Egypt as its largest shareholder. Of ie advantages to be gained by this piercing of the Isthmus of Sue? assuming it to be effectually carried out, there cannot be much room for doubt, though there are some persons who contend that the vovage to India round the (Jape by-sailing ships could be made as quickly as through the Mediterranean and the Med Sea. The voyage from the English Channel to Calcutta by way of the Cape is about 13,000 miles, by the Mediterranean there would be a saving, in point of distance, of 5,000 miles to Bombay by the Cape, the distance is 11,500 miles, by the Hed Sea route it would be but (5.

miles, being a gain of 5,300 miles. Against this saving in point of distance, are to be set the delays of the monsoons, and the difficult and dangerous navigation of the Ked Sea. On the whole, however, it may be fairly assumed that a great gain will have been established in the connection Hf Europe with India and China, and the East generally, if this maritime canal is constructed, and if we are to judge by the report submitted to the shareholders a few days since in Paris the time is not far distant when the work will be actually accomplished. The present Pasha of Egypt found on bis accession to the 1'ashalic that he had inherited with the honours enormous liabilities in connection with the carrying out of this great work, and when in England last year he availed himself of every ouDOrtunitv of looking into the pros- uects and urobabilities of i lie scheme, lie was aware that the late Robert Stephenson had reported most unfavourably upon the whole project, that it could not be made for anything like the sum mentioned, and that when constructed the canal and its approaches would be quickly choked up willisana, i lie I asha, therefore, appna to iiawK-shaw, the President of the Society of Civil Kngiueers, to nay a visit to Kgypt and examine the site of the proposed ship canai, and to report his opinion to the Uovernmentof Lgvpt Mr, llawkshaw accordingly visited the country, and with various trench and Egyptian engineers went carefully over the whole line. We have been favoured with a copy of the report, which is the result of those observations.

The opinion of Mr. Hawkshaw is, we may say at the outset, generally in opposition to that of the late Mr. Stephenson, and he enters very fully into the facts upon which this opinion is founded. The whole project includes the ship canal from the Ked Sea nt Suez to the Mediterranean at Fort Said and, in addition to this, the construction of a fresh water canal from the Nile near Cairo to Timsah, and thence to Suez. Along the whole line of the proposed ship canal there is no fresh water obtainable, and even Suez itself is supplied by water conveyed in iron tanks by train upon the railway; it is, therefore, of primary importance that this fresh water canal should be completed.

When completed it will convey water from Suez, near Timsah. to J'ort Said, and the stone to be used for the jetty for the ship canal at the latter place will also be conveyed along this canal. This fresh water canal is miles in length, and its cost was estimated at .140,000. The water lias, since the report was made, been let into the canal, but this part must be regarded only us one of the necessary means for carrying on the greater work. Of the ship canal itself Mr.

Hawkshaw reports that between Suez and the northern end of Lake Timsah nothing has been done, while between the northern end of Lake Timsah and 1'ort Said about 7,000,000 cubic yards of earth have been removed, the total quantity to be moved in this section being 34, 000,000 of cubic ya'rds. The work of the ship canal consists in the excavation of earth for the bed of the canal, and carrying it to the sides dredging in the bed of the canal and in the lied Sea and Mediterranean entrances the construction of stone jetties at I'ort Said, and the protection of portions of the sides of the canal. Mr. Hawkshaw approves the abandonment of the proposed jetties, and the dredging of a channel at the entrance of sufficient capacity for ships, the depth of the channel to be I 1G feet. J'assing from the upper end of this dredged Channel to the Bitter Lakes the distance is 12 miles, and here the canal will be wholly an excavation varying from 29A to 55j feet in depth.

The canal then passes through the Bitter Lakes for 2oj miles. These lakes arc about 25 miles long and live miles broad, and Mr. Hawkshaw recommends that the canal should be embanked in and through these lakes, as, without the embankment, there would be some difficulty in confining ships to the narrow channel. Between the Hitter Lakes and Lake Timsah the canal will be an excavation for eight miles, the cutting varying in depth from 29 to 62 feet. The canal then enters and passes through the Lake Timsah for 2 miles, the excavation averaging about 20 feet.

At a spot called Kl Uuisv, lying between Lake Timsah and another called Lake Ballah, is the highest ground which the canal passes through, and here for 11 miles the excavation will vary from 29A to 85 feet. For another stretch of 11 miles, between the Lakes lihllah and Menzaleh, the excavation will average 2 feet. The canal then passes through Lake Menzaleh the bed of which is below the level of the sea and for a further distance of 20 miles to I'ort Said, on the Mediterranean, the depth of excavation for this latter portion being feet. At this port will be constructed a basin, nearly half a mile (375 yards) square, an eastern jetty en-tending into the sea over two miles (3,009 yards), and a western jetty about amile anda half in yards), the roadstead between the two being 437 yards wide. This, artificially protected space, is to be dredged to an average depth of 11 feet below its present surface.

As originally proposed, there would be required to be removed over 00 millions of cubic yards of dry earthwork more than 05 millions Of earthwork under water and 050,000 cubic yards of stone pitchings would be required, and the estimated cost of this was about 3.500.000. The fresh water canal is sut down at 300,000, the harbour of Said in the Ked Sea 842,000, the harbour of Timsah 03,500, the harbour of Sue. miscellaneous works 03.400. making the toud cost of constructing the canals 5, 120,000. To this is added for accessory works 031,000, expenses of administration 143,000, contingencies, 10 552,000, provision for payment Of 5 per cent, on capital during execution of works 1,520.000, bringing up the total to 8,000.000 sterling.

Various alterations are suggested by Mr. Hawkshaw the result, however, adds 2,000,000 to this estimate. He proposes to reduce the width of the canal from 100 to SO metres in some portions of the line, and this will save 32 millions of cubic yards of excavation. On the other hand, he thinks that the proposed slope of thushipeanal below sea level is not sufficient that instead of being 2 to 1 it should be at least 3 to 1, and that the "benching," instead of being 2. should be 5 metres, or 10J feet wide this would reduce the saving of earthwork to 1.3 millions of cubic yards, equivalent a money saving of 160.

U00. The cost of protecting the canal through the Hitler Lakes, already referred to, will be C280.0i.jy. The banks of the canal from the llud Sea to the Hitter Lakes will require to be pitched, and this will cost 500,000. As to the cost of the deep dredging, he has no means of giving any opinion on that point. The time required for the dredging will, he estimates, be five and a half years.

The cost" will be considerably increased if rock should be met with. Mr. Hawkshaw appears to uiuiK it nigmy pruoauie mat rocK will ue met with in the dredging for he says he perceived evident signs of the rocky roots" of the mountain of Crenelle extending eastward beneath the covering of sand owards the anal. The dredging at I'ort Said will, he thinks, be the measure of the time of the completion of the canal, and this lie sets down at 5 years, supposing that no rock should be met with. The dry excavation is merely a question of the number of men to be employed, and lie calculates that if 43,000 cubic yards are removed each day, the work may be completed in five years, and as to the jetties at I'ort Said, they may be built up in three years, at the rate of 144 cubic yards per day.

Mr. Hawkshaw next proceeds to deal with the questions affecting the maintenance of the canal when complete, and discusses the objections which have been urged on this point, viz. 1. 1 hat the canal will become a stagnant ditch. 2.

That the canal will sill up, or that the uivviii of the desert will till it lln. sands 3. i ii uie imier i.aices through which the canal is to pass will he tilled up with salt. 4. i of the Ked Sea is dangerous and That shipping will not approach Port Said because of the difficulties that will be met with, and the danger of that imrt on a hi.

6. That it will be difficult, if not impracticable, to keep open the MI trmncn Under the first head Mr. Hawkshawrcp.es, hat far a. absence of current is concerned, the Suez Ca.al is no more lUte to become a stagnant diteb than any canal in En "and "0t the Wll be blown into the canal in sufficient quantities to interfere with its narration or itshould be found to be greater quantity than he anticipates it may easily be removed by dredge The sand will not deposit in large quantities in the Bitter Lakes, and if it does there is a remedy in the dre.hrin.r As to the objections founded on the difficulty and danger of navigation in the Ked Sea he offers no opinion further than that sailing vessels, unless assisted by steam power, would meet with some delays while to steamers 'bv which the canal would mostly be used, the objection would have no weight He does not think that there would he difficulty in ships approaching I'ort Said. On the point of keeping open the Mediterranean entrance, Mr.

Hawkshaw lias bestowed considerable care he enters into the question very fully, and the result of his investigation is that there is no cause for apprehension on this point. The conclusions at which Mr. llawkshaw arrives on a review of the whole subject is "that, as regards the engineering' constructon, there are no works in the canal presenting on their face any unusual difficulty of execution, and there are no contingencies that I can conceive likely to arise, that would introduce difficulties insurmountable by engineering skill and with respect to the maintenance of the lie says, 1 of opinion that do obstacles would be met witn that would prevent the work, when completed, being maintained with ease mid efficiency, and without the necessity of any extraordinary or unusual yearly expenditure," th wj me canal. ROYAL ITALIAN OPERA. With the Becond performance, last night, of the "Figlia del Reggimcnto," followed by the National Anthem, the season came to an end.

It has by no means been a re. markable one, for the company, as a whole, has been mani festly inferior to what formerly was the rule, while the promises as to the production of operas, specially named in tne prospectus, nave oeen more than usually disregarded. Neither the Forza del Dcstino of Verdi, nor the Fra Diavelo orAubcr, nor. the Stradella" of Flotow, nor the "Orfeo "Kuridice" of (iluck, nor the Otello of Uussttit, nor the Etoile du Nord of Meyerbeer, were produced, notwithstanding the pledges of the management to the contrary. In the Forza del Dcstino we feel no particular interest, but Verdi is greatly in the ascendant in this country, and, therefore, whatever its merits or demerits, a hearing of it would probably have been welcomed by the subscribers.

"Fra Uiavolo, too, would have been an extremely agreeable revival; and so also Gluck's Orfeo," notwithstanding the contemplated substitution of Madame Nantier Didiee for Malic. Csillag. the htoile du -Nord was to have been the great event of the season, and this opera would probably have been brought out. had not the success of Gounod's "Faust" at the other house, induced the management to also get it up, and oppose it, bo far as it could be done, by splendid scenery and lavish appointments. In other respects, it was hardly worth while to have gone to the cost of playing it, seeing that the vocal em hodimcnl oi the principal parts, with but an exception or tvro, was greatly inferior to that at Her Majesty's neatre.

i ne management, we apprehend, had better have expended its resources upon the promised litoile du Nord," which would hare been an important addition to the great Meyerbeer gallery, and have spared itself the necessity of trying conclusions with, individually, a much stronger company. Stage decoration and elaborate embellishment are right things in the right place, but they do not altogether supersede good singers, who surely are the first needs of an opera house, which assumes to "stand entirely pre-eminent among the lyrical establishments of Kurupe." That the manager rested his hopes chiefly upon Mdlle. Adelina Patti, was seen in the opening programme, a large portion of which was devoted to her praises how she had been received at Herlin and lenna, and what, most particularly, had been her fortune upon the Parisian stage. The possession of the Kuropeau idol was, therefore, held to be sufficient, and most of the operas which were produced, were those in which the services of this clever little lady could be brought into play. As in lfli2, the burden of the season was upon her youthful shoulders.

She appeared on the 7th of May in the Sonnamlmla," and then in the Haibicre," Don Gio vanni," "Martn," the "Trovntore," "La Gazza Ladra," Don Pasquale," L'Klisir d'Amore," and La Figlia del Ileggimento." In the parts which come within the domain of what is called the Persiaui school, Mdlle. Patti is upon her own legitimate ground, and she is entitled to all the panegyric thai facile and voluble singing, and skill in the arts of florid ornamentation, can fairly challenge, but to impose the weight of such a character the heroine of the Trovatore" upon her, was a mistake and so it proved, for this opera, popular as it is, was only performed twice. Nor was her Ninelta, in the Gazza Ladra," a much more satisfactory attempt. Here again she came in competition with recollections, still vivid, of Grisi, and with no other result than might have been expected by those who did not over-estimate her physique, and powers of dealing with the gravest tragic emotions. Mdlle.

Patti, however, was the virtual prima-donna of the season, but it was in the lighter Italian operas she was most at home, and in which she charmed all ears by her airy and adroit delivery while the partial abandonment of certain tricks of effect which characterised her vocalism last year, added to her value as an artist. Among the iiflmtate.i was a Mdlle. Fiorelti, who first appeared in the Puritani," nnd who at once made friends by her neat and finished execution. She presently sang in Kigoletto" and Maria," and with equal success but, upon being called upon to play the Princess Isabella in Hubert il Uiavolo," disappeared without hint or warning, and left her employer to get on as best he could without her. Whether her next appearance will be in a court of law remains to be seen.

To represent the higher tragic parts, Mdlle. Antoinetta Fricci was re-engaged. This lady made her rinlne in Norma," appearing afterwards as Donna Anna, in Don Giovanni." Mdlle. Fricci is clever and dramatic. Her personations are not unfaithful reflexes of those of Grisi, whom she is not unlike in person, and whose manner she closely imitates but she has serious defects as a vocalist, insecurity of intonation being among them while her style is disfigured by the tremulousness and unsteadiness which modern artists are so prone we know not why to cultivate.

Madame Miolan-t'arvalho was not visible until the season bad far advanced, and then only in Gounod's "Faust," due emphasis being laid upon the fact that the part of Marguerite had been written expressly for her. She sang the music dextrously, though unequally, while her acting was gentle and unaffected, and realised, to a certain extent the Gretchen of Cioethe, which she further helped by the compact, close-fitting, German costume, done after Seheffer. Nor was it until the eleventh hour that Mdlle. Pauline Lucca arrived likewise to appear only in one character, that of Valentine, in the Huguenots." This lady will probably be in request next. year.

Although her singing betrays at present marks of imperfect linish, and a lurking hardness of tone, she made an honest impression upon her three audiences, which we shall be mistaken if she does not strengthen when further opportunity is given her. Though short in stature, and endowed with none of the magnificent personal attributes of Grisi or Titiens, she is extremely prepossessing. Mdlle Lucca, in fact, made a very successful debut, and had she been tried earlier in the season, would have been greatly serviceable iu a department which was essentially, weak. Of Mdlle. Marie Kattu and Mdlle.

Dottiui, is is hardly necessary to speak. Upon both were levied responsibilities which they were hardly qualilied to discharge that is, "in a groat lyrical establishment conducted upon truly artistic principles," if we may again use the manager's own words. As for a Mdlle. Kh ira Demi, who sang once, as Marta, the wonder is how so poor and incompetent a singer could have been engaged at all. Madame Kudersdorll, though announced, did not.

that we remember, appear neither did we see a Mdlle. Maurcnsi, lior a Madame de Mallei, both of whom figured in the preliminary syllabus of engagements among the "new candidates for public favour." The contralto parts fell into the hands, as heretofore, of Madame Nantier Didiee, who sang with her usual discreet nnd experienced taste in Kigoletto," the Ga.za Ladra," Faust," and the Huguenots." In the Prophetc" she was strikingly out of place. Mario was present during the greater part of the season. This fine tenor, though uncertain, was in belter voice upon the whole than might have been looked for. He sang in "Kigoletto," the "Traviata," the Harbiere," Marta," the Trovatore," and the Huguenots," and in ciich of these operas he exhibited much of llic old vocal charm, in spite of the perceptible decay of the organ, and its equally perceptible worn and wearied volume.

Tamberlik appeared in three operas, namely, "Don Giovanni," the Prophetc," and Faust," but was scarcely himself, compared with former seasons. In the Piojihete" he produced but little of the ancient effect, while his Faust, as regards the tenderer details of the character, was. if the truth be spoken, an unqualified failure. Ncri-Haraldi and Naudin were assistant tenors, and were useful. The latter was chiefly valuable in which his vigorous style was in appropriate keeping.

He also appeared in "Don and the "Klisir." A Signor Callieri, obtained, we believe, from one of the German watering places, was tried in the course of the season, as Arnoldo in Guillaiime Tell," but with no success upon which either lie or the manager could he congratulated. Signor Fercncsi, who was to have debuted in Lucia di Lammermoor," came not. M. Faure, as the season progressed, still further conciliated the good opinion which he suggested when he first visited this country. A more elegant and polished barytone the Koyal Italian Opera never possessed, and his merits have not been over-valued.

As Pietro in Masauiello," the libertine Don Giovanni," Fernando in Ladra," Mepbistophiles in Faust," andSt.iiris in the" Huguenots'various as were thedramatic complexionsof these several personages, SI. Faure was signally happy in each, and challenged uniform approbation as it was proper he should do, if graceful singing, and still more graceful acting, count for anything. Graziani, upon the strength of his smooth and harmonious voice, was an adjunct to the company of importance. He sang in "Maria," the "Trovatore," and "Faust" though in the last-mentioned opera, he did not spoil the fame of his RngliBh contemporary in the same part at Her Majesty's Theatre, inasmuch as he represented the histrionic side of it with infinitely less force and spirit. Konconi came early in the season, and, as far as unrivalled acting could win applause whether as Georgio in the Puritani." the icsterin" Kigo letto," Figaro in the Iiarbicrc," Masetto in Don Gio vanni, uie pocieura in me iiazxa Maiatcsta in Don or the quack doctor in the "Klisir," this versatile artist nobly sustained his former reputation.

Hut this was all. His singing, if false and unhinged before, was still more so now, and he was listened to with civility, though, we fear, sometimes with resentment also. Herr I'ormes appeared in his old rile of Marcel, in The Huguenots," and once as Hcrtramo in Roberto il Diavolo." M. Obin, a bass of some renown in the French capital, sang also in As regarded this gentleman, expectations ran high, but only to be disap pointed, ne came, sang twice, ana vanished. I lie inevi table Tagliafico was in most or the operas that were given, and his respectable cleverness was no less remarkable than his Kottom-hke readiness to play many parts.

The buffo vein of Signor Ciampi was chiefly illustrated in the Harbiere" and the "Figlia del Hegg'imento." The remaining members of the company call for no remark. The general repertoire of the house was variously drawn upon as the season advanced. The great spectacular operas, for the production of which the establishment has reaped its best fame, were often given. They were Masanicllo," "GuiUaume Toll," the ProphMe," "ltoberto il Diavtlo," and the "Huguenots." The (splendid manner in which these operas are mounted here, tnd the SDeislr.v tho thea tre has attained in consequence, is well knoirn Tho em bodiment, however, of the principal characters, we have already alluded to as being but too often greatlr inferior tu what it has been intiines gone by. If the house is to maintain its vaunted "entire European ore-eminence." thetv mnf greater enterprise in the selection of artists, or better luck in finding them.

Of the above operas of the French school Masamello was performed the most frenuontlv tb I number of representations having been seven. Gounod's laust, for which, as we have intimated, the mf lnhn. rate preparation was made, was not brought out until the hausted at the other house. Jlut ijothing could exceed the magtuficence of tho. scenery, the profusion of the iiumii.

vunumi-y nt me vperu nau ueen an but ex- the Ifh-ii Middlesex! The annual dinner of this 'en took place at the Whittington Club, on Monday even It was presided over by Lieut. -Col. Bathunrt. attended by CoL Erskine, Inspector of Volunteers who i the course of his remarks, expressed his opinion volunteer rifle corps generally were in a flourishing Jr dition and as the movement had- now lasted years, he thought they might fairly congratulate themselrl? that it had taken such deep root as to form an integral of the institutions of the country. Lieut -Colonel Bathi.

in proposing "Prosperity to the Corps," said, although 10th had had manv disadvantages to rnntemi were now working well together. "The Health. The IfeaWi.c Major Hughes," and other toasts were Dir. and the company separated at a late hour. Cmi.

Sbuvice IUflbs. This corps commence iK. prize shooting for battalion prizes to-morrow Monday aS the competition will continue throughout the week mencing with that for the Ladies' Challenge Cup' Prince of. Wales' Challenge Cup, value 100 guineas' od! to the whole regiment will, however, not be shot fortlii after the vacation. EQUITY COURTS.

Saturday, August 1 Before the Loum can eta Tim Attorney General v. The Pobtukevb, Aldeb. hex, and Burgesses ok Avojt. This was an appeal from a decision of the Master of the Kolls under these eircntn stances: The information was originally filed in Matck 1301, at the relation of Edward Jones against the then cor poration of Avon, otherwise Aberavon, in Glamorganshire and Griffith Williams, their common attorney, and-Jobn Jones, to restrain the corporation from granting to John Jones a lease of stallage rents and tolls vested in the cor. poration.

The town was not brought under the operation of the Municipal Corporation Act until July, 1801, the (ueen in council, having been, in 1850, petitioned by the inhabitants, granted them a charter, and the new corporation were made defendants, and the amended information askedi declaration that the property belonging to the old corporation at the time of the granting of the charter was vested in the new corporation, for the purposes of the Municipal Corporation Act, subject to any incumbrances affecting it and for delivery of possession and payment, and arrang. ing what such property consisted of. The first defend, ants had been, from time immemorial, a corporation called "The portreeve, aldermen, and burgesses of Avon," an4 were entitled to large freehold estates, including a tomi hall, under three ancient charters. The infoi ination allege that this property was held by. them on certain trusts for the benefit ot the town, borough, burgesses, and inhabitants and that, from time immemorial, every burgess on his admission, wus under an oath to preserve the property for their benefit, and not to consent to any alienation' prejndi.

cial to them, and that the burgesses and inhabitants hd I right to pasturage for. cattle on the marsh and mountain lands of thecorporatiou. By the Aberavon Market Act powers were given to erect a market place, and for holding fain on a site conveyed to them by indenture, dated the 3d of August, 1848, and to provide slaughter-houses, and receive' stallage rents, tolls, 4c. the moneys to be applied in maintaining the market, and Uie residue as the corporation should think fit. The act also gave power to borrow money on stallage rents to the extent of 3,000, or any, other of their property, but there was no power to sell a act incorporated the Lands Clauses Consolidation Act and other acts relating to markets, fairs, 6lc The application for this charter being made, as above, in 1859, in January 1561, notice was given of the intention of the Crown A grant one, but in 1860, pending the application, thewbols of tht property of the corporation, except the town halL market, and premises, were sold by them or their incum-brancere, and in February, 1861, the town hall itself was sold byauction.

Theinformation alleged that those sales were nude to prevent the property vesting in this new corporation, ud the defendants were desirous of disposing of the market and other property, but, considering that there were legal diffi-culties, conceived the scheme of leasing it to John- Jones for 50 years, in consideration of 600, at a nominal rent. The new charter recited the 7th of William IV. and c. 78, whereby Her Majesty as well by her royal prero-gative, as under the acts, granted that the inhabitant, within certain limits, should be a body corporate, called the mayor, aldermen, and burgesses of Aberavon," the second section of the Municipal Corporation Act, and all acts relating thereto. Also it gave power to the corptK ration to acquire lands in and out of the borough to a.

certain value, besides real estates to which they were and there were provisions as to the officers, ic. Tht bill charged that the officers of the old corporation1 had 'large sums in their, hands derived from toe' sales, mortgages, and tolls, and an injunction having been' obtained to restrain the granting the lease, a morion to' dissolve it stood over till the hearing. The Master of the1 Rolls held that the old and new corporations, although! regulated differently, were the same body, and that the pro-j pcrty belonging to the former at the date of that chsrtirj thereupon became vested in the latter, and that any alienation of the corporate property after notice of the intention to grant the charter, was liable to be impeached under the 97th section of the 7th William IV. and 1st Vic, '78, and his honour directed various enquiries. Lord Justice Turner now referred at length to the above facts, and said on the affidavits his conclusion was that the new charter was accepted by the inhabitants, and that the defendants sold the property, with a view to prevent its falling into the hands of the new corporation.

There wai no foundation for the allegation that there was an original trust for the benefit of the inhabitants, and, assuming that I to be so, he could not, with all deference to the Master oil the Rolls, see his way to his conclusion. There was ho right I in the Attorney-General to institute this suit in respect of I any property except this market, and the Market Act did not alter the" law or practice of the court, which wai I that you could not found any relief by supplemental bill upon a title acquired since the tiling of the original bill, as I to any part of the property, the supplemental bill not being-1 the commencement of the suit; and assuming a trust, purely adverse, parties could not be required to execute that 1 trust, the case of Talbot v. Lord Radnor, the only authority 1 for such a proposition, had been disapproved of and never followed. A further objection rested on the 7th Will. IV.

and 1st Vict, c. ,78, which either gave a tittle or not, if not, there was no foundation for the information, if it did no declaration of the court was necessary, it: not being the province of a court of equity to declare the effect of an act of Parliament If the case made was well 1 founded the Market Act created a trust which the Attorney-General had a right to enforce, but, assuming be was so entitled, it did not enable a demise on payment of fines. The result was that the decree must.be reversed there must be a decree restraining the defendant from granting a lease on payment of fines, and the rest of the information must be dismissed without prejudice, and no order as to costs and no costs of the appeal. Lord Justice Knight Bruce said that, although he considered the whole information should be dismissed without costs, and thus differed with his learned brother to some extent, he should agree to the decree he proposed. Vlce-Chancellor Kindesslet.

Moss v. Syers. It will be remembered that in this case, on the 29th inst, his honour granted an injunction to restrain the Directors of the Strand Music Hall Company Limited) from issuing preference shares until the hearing, or until further order. When the next step was to be taken, it was discovered that the Clerk of Kecords and Suits had under the fourth rule of the 9lh Consolidated Order taken the written bill off the file, the fourteen days having expired within which a printed bill should have been filed, and which printed bill had not been filed, and he accordingly mentioned the matter to his honour, who directed a printed bill to be filed. The' terms of the order were then brought to his attention, which in such a case gave the defendants all the costs of the suit, and therefore he directed matters to be kept in statu quo.

An ex parte application was then made by the plaintiff to set that right, but his honour thought that it should be mentioned to the Lord Chancellor! which was done, and his lordship considered that notice should be given to the defendants. The motion was now renewed on notice, and an affidavit was read of the solicitor's clerk, stating that, on the day when, it was his duty to tile the -printed bill, he was suddenly called away on business of his employer into the country, and forgot to file such print, or to mention to his employer that he had not done so. Meantime, there being no but on tne uie at all, the motion was heard, and the injunction granted nnd the question now was, whether the court could now order the print to be filed nunc pro time, and, if so, on what terms. It appeared that the plaintiffs solicitor had written a letter, offering to pay all expenses if the application was consented to, but not if it was not. The Vice-Chancellor said that it appeared to him the same slip had been made here, in effect, as was made in the case of Ferrand v.

the Corporation of Bradford, and be should therefore make the same order as in that case, that the written bill be restored to the file, and a' printed copy received and filed, and to be dated the 28th of July, the defendants paying the costs of this application. He did not enter into the question whether or not the order for the injunction was a nullity or not, ns had been argued. THE SOLE SISTER OF A HERO. "What is the end of fame? Tis but to fill A certain portion ot unoertain paper. Borne liken it to climbing up a hill; Whose summit like all bills, ia clothed in vapour; For this man preach, pray, speak, and writ, snd kill.

And bards burn what they call the midnight taper. There is, we are told, now hying in abject penury, a woman aged eighty years who is described as the sister and only surviving relative of a man whose name.and whose' deeds were on every one's lips in the early part of this century. The woman is a lady. She is in beggary, subsisting on casual charity, and so saved from dying in the pauper'a ward of the workhouse. There are doubtless manjr ladies living in indigence, but the sister and sole surviving relative of "Sidney Smith, the hero of Acre" aBritiuj admiral, a Grand Cross of the Bath has surely some special claims on the consideration of those who are able to her the last degradation from which 'the-.

Government sn" the country are apparently unable to rescue the fewre-maining hours of life. General and Lady Mary Fox Captain Kitchen, R.N. Commander Wright R.N. the truth of the lady's condition and claims. The cbanttie and generous may send in subscriptions to General Fox, Coutts's; all the Navy Agents will receive any aid from public for the same purpose and we shall be happy Jjo tae-charge of any sums intended for the relief of the lady addressed to Mr.

Marchant, Army and JV'y Gazette omc-" Sidney Smith." Army and Gazette. Polahd. A monster meeting is to be held at Blnekhc' this afternoon, to express sympathy with Poland in(ncr endeavours to obtain freedom and political institutions, Her Majesty the Queen, although she is entitled Queen of Great Britain, is more emphatically the-Queen of her people. The loyalty and respect which is implanted so strongly in the hearts of her subjects is yet exceeded by the almost personal affection which every one feels for her. Since her accession to the throne she has shown herself equally alive to the sorrows as well as the joys of the nation.

Notwithstanding her exalted position, nothing seems to escape her notice from the highest to the lowest in the land, all are equal subjects of her thougbtffilness. If a colliery accident occurs, the Queen is the first to render aid and consolation to the sufferers and survivors, and the effect is now remembered of Her Majesty's touching letters to the widows and orphans of those who perished in the Hartley colliery accident. Hut it is not great calamities that alone attract her consideration, as the correspondence which we publish elsewhere demonstrates. It is certainly a very unusual thing for a Queen to descend from her high position to remonstrate, much less to blame, but the course which Her Majesty in her kindliness of heart has deemed it right to take, is one that will endear her yet further, if possible, to the hearts of iier people. We have already called attention more than once to the disgusting exhibitions of acrobats, and to the evil tendency of those performances as encouraging vitiated tastes.

Rut at the same time we expressed our fears, unless the Legislature interfered, that as long as people would pay money to witness persons risking their lives, there would always be found caterers for public amusement ready to find victims. Sir George Grey, during the last days of the session, stated that he had no power to prevent exhibitions of this character. All he could do was to warn the proprietors of public places of amusement of the risk to life they were encouraging, and to tell them that he should hold them responsible if any accident occured. In some few instances this had had the desired effect, but, unfortunately, the majority of these performances take place before the Home Secretary would know they were intended, and then any power which he might have would be valueless. The police authorities cannot interfere.

It is in this emergency that Her Majesty has interfered and we have so high an opinion of the loyalty and affection of the people that we would fain hope that Her Majesty's desire will have more weight that any act of Parliament which the Legislature might pass. Who cannot but concur fully with Her Majesty's sentiments, when she says. Her Majesty cannot refrain from making known through you her personal feelings of horror that one of her subjects a female should have been sacrificed to the gratification of a demoralising taste unfortunately prevalent for exhibitions attended with the greatest danger to performers." This is strong and unmistakable language, but not one iota too stringent under the circumstances. The death of Madame Gc-nieve" was in very truth a "sacrifice," and a sacrifice of the worst kind. Here was a woman, eight months gone in pregnancy, hourly expecting her continement if the testimony of the surgeon who examined her after death is to be credited allowed to perform most hazardous and laborious feats, which terminated in her falling dead at her husband's feet.

Why, even in slave countries, where the utmost is got out of the poor negroes, a negreBS in such a position would not have been alloned to work but here we have a man, in a Christian and enlightened land, so lost to all feeling as to allow his wife to rush almost to certain death for a paltry sum of 8, as th" remaining amount he was to receive would be swal lowed up in expenses. We would fain hope that the com mittee oi roresters who engaged this poor woman were unaware of her position, although it was said at the inquest that they did know, just before the perform ance, that she was enreinte. No word could more fully ex press the nature of the affair than the term sacrifice." But Her Majesty goes yet further, and gives satisfactory reasons wny sticti exinnitions are demoralising, as she has com manded Sir C. Phipps to state, Were any proof wanting that such exhibitions are demoralising, I am commanded to remarn mat it would at once oe (ound in the decision arrived at to continue the festivities, the hilarity, and the sports of the occasion after an event so melancholy." The public were intensely shocked at the catastrophe itself, but they were more pained ana astounded when it was announced that the committee decided that the sports should go on as it nothing nau occurred. we envy not the un-Knglish feeling of those parties who so determined, or of those who could have had the heart to remain.

The excuse put forth was that the committee were afraid of the "roughs" getting up a row if they did not have their full amount of amusement for their money. They may know the people of Birmingham better than we do, but we so firmly believe in the inherent kindness of heart of the Knglish people, and wc consider that if notice were immediately given after the accident that the fete would be closed, the people would have dispersed at once with a resolve never to come to sie an exhibition of kind again. The Mayor of Birmingham endeavours to get out of the unpleasant position' in which he is placed by stating that neither he nor Lord Leigh and the several members of Parliament, whose names were published as patrons of the festival, were aware that there was to be a dangerous exhibition, that the.7f was for a charity, and therefore he gave the use of his name. But, with all due deference to the mayor, we incline to the opinion that he ought to have known the character of the entertainment before he gave the use of his name. And, considering how widely the programme of the entertainment was published, it is surprising, especially as he had once before prevented an exhibition of this kind, that he should not have known that a female Blondin was to perform.

We are bound, however, to take his word, and readily believe that for the future he will do all in his power to prevent similar exhibitions. Her Majesty, we repeat, by this gracious act has done more to put a stop to these performances than anything else. Those who have any respect for themselves will not for the future lend their countenance and support to acrobatic feats where there is danger, and they will soon be among the things that have been. VOLUNTEER RIFLE CORPS INTELLIGENCE. FETE OF THE QUEEN'S (WESTMINSTER) AT THE CRYSTAL PALACE.

Yesterday afternoon the annual fete of the Queen's (West minster) Rifle Volunteers took place at the Crystal Palace" Amongst the company there assembled was Earl Grosvenor and Lady Constance Grosvcnor, Lieu. -Col. Lord Gerald Fitzgerald, and a large number of the arifto-cracy. In addition to the usual attractions of the Saturday entertainments at the Crystal Palace, including a concert by the Crystal Palace band, amateur theatrical performances, consisting of a new sensation drama, were performed at intervals and field sports of various descriptions, arranged under the direction of Captain Morris, the adjutant of the regiment The whole of the sports were contested with great spirit, and afforded much amusement to the spectators but the great and most interesting event was the -balloon ascent, which took place after several preliminary and restricted ascents shortly after five o'clock. Another feature was the regimental dinner, which was appointed to take place in the terrace dining-room at six o'clock.

Shortly after that hour several hundred members of the corps sat down to this most substantial part of the entertainment, under the presidency of Earl Grosvenor as supported by Lord Gerald Fitzgerald, Major Russell, and most of the other officers of the regiment. After the usual loyal and patriotic toasts, the noble chairman briefly addressed the members on the proud position the Queen's held in the volunteer service. A variety of other toasts followed and the comnanv ad journed to the terraces, where dancing, to the music of the regimental band, was kept up with great spirit till a late hour of the evening. Inspection of the London Irish Rifles. Last evening, the London Irish, to the number of six strong companies, or about 350 of all ranks, were inspected by Col.

Erskine, Inspector of Volunteers, in Hyde Park. The regiment, under the command of its the Marquis of Donegal, assisted by Major Verner and Captain and Adjutant Daubeney, mustered at Somerset House, and marched into the park, headed by its excellent band, under the direction of Mr. Cowans, and having been formed into line, awaited the arrival of the inspecting officer in review order. Col. Erskine was received by the corps presenting arms and the band playing, nnd having inspected their arms and accoutrements, the men marched past, and were put through a large number of the most difficult battalion movements, which they performed with great precision and remarkable efficiency, considering the large number of new recruits there were in the ranks.

At the conclusion, the inspecting officer congratulated the and other officers and men on the creditable manner in which they had performed the various evolutions, and promised a favourable report to the War Office. 37th MmnLF.sEX Rifi.es. The annual inspection dinner of this corps took place on Friday evening at the Freemasons' Tavern. Lieut-Col. Corrie presided, and Colonel M'Murdo, Inspector-General of Volunteers; Sir Morton Peto, P.

Bigge, of the 20th Middlesex; Penton, 39th Middlesex Captain Macgregor, London Scottish and most of the officers of the corps were present. Colonel M'Murdo, in responding to the toast of his health, in reference to a remark of the chairman that the volunteer force had ns yet done nothing, said he could not agree with that statement. He wished to know if it were nothing that in the course of three years 170,000 men should have been armed, trained, and organised into battalions. Out of 170,000 volunteers there were 370 batteries of artillery, manned by no fewer than 30,000 excellent artillerymen. Indeed, the Artillery InspectingOfficers could not help reporting that the volunteer artillery was in the highest state of efficiency hear.

This' fact at once showed how they would be able to man the fortifications in time of need hear, hear. Major Martin Ware proposed the "Houses of Lords and Commons;" and Sir Morton Peto, in reply, said over since the volunteer movementhad been established he had felt the greatest interest in its prosperity, and he could not give them a better proof of the fact than by stating that he had in his employ 700 or 800 volunteers, of whom about 250, all skilled mechanics, were artillerymen. North Middlesex. Last evening this corps assembled at Albany Barracks, for its final commanding officer's parade, previous to inspection, which is appointed to take place in the Ttegent's Park, jn Wednesday evening next A fete, which had been arranged to take place on Tuesday, at the "Retreat" at Kentish Town, in aid of the funds of the corps, has been suddenly postponed, in conse-quenceof legal proceedings taken againsti.Mr. Weston, the proprietor, prohibiting him from permitting music or ahyother entertainments, for which he is not at present licensed, in his grounds.

In the emergency, Mr. Donald Nicoll, chairman, and the directors of the Suburban Hotel Company placed the beautiful grounds and adjoining land attached to the hotel at he gratuitous service of the regiment, and francs, or 1,984,000, or about one-lifth of the whole cost us estimated by Mr. llawkshaw. INFANTICIDE. Maternal affection, especially in regard to the new-born, seems the expression of so strong an instinct, that we never think of accounting it a virtue.

We have been accustomed to louk upon an unreasoning love as the invariable concomitant of motherhood, and perhaps scarcely did justice to the woman-mother, when wo saw what risks the lower animals are capable of incurring for love of their young. The savage tigress and ferocious she-wolf become more fierce when they have a couple of whelps lying in their lair and even the gentle dove pecks fiercely at the hand that dares approach her nurslings. Maternal love has been held up as the type of all that is tendcrcst and most self-sncrilicing in human affection. Kven the sacred penman asks can the mother forget the infant she has borne, as if it were impossible and against all natural law that she should. Hut the hideous revelations made now-a-days, expose a state of dislocation in the moral world as great as that portrayed by the poet in the physical, when he described the rivers as turning back to their source, instead of seeking the ocean.

In the House of Commons, a few evenings since.ii member who has given much attention to the increasing prevalence of the crime of infanticide, informed the house that the number of children under two years of age, who during the last eighteen months had met with untimely deaths in England and Wales, amounted to 5,547. It appears scarcely credible live thousand live hundred and forty-seven of the infnnt popu'ation of these two countries destroyed within eighteen mouths And most terrible of all, the belief, sustained by proof in some cases, and justified by presumptive evidence in others, that the life-destroyers were the mothers of these hapless infants. It is monstrous that in a Christian country, in a civilised land, such things can be. It is a subject crying aloud for legislative interference, but the differences of opinion as to the causes of this monstrous crime, and the modes of prevention, may possibly retard the application of a remedy. our own part we hold that a people can never be legislated into morality, and we fully agree with Sir George Cirey that the best means of preventing the crime or infanticide is to improve the morals of the people.

This is striking at the root of the evil it is striking not alone at the root of infanticide, but of every other crime. lint how is this tc be done? How are we to proceed in this great work of moral improvement Who is to make the first step, and what are the means to be employed It evidently cannot be done by legislative enactments, parliament cannot frame a code of morals, and compel a nation to adopt it in practice. Human law is only potent to punish crime, but it may do something to prevent it, or at least contract its evil consequences. It has been asserted that the infants so inhumanly destroyed are for the most part the children of shame, and that the mothers seek to hide their disgrace by adding the crime of murder to their previous guilt. Some medical men, inllncneed in a great degree by their faith in the force of the maternal instinct, hold it as a doctrine that the woman who kills her new-born baby must be insane at the time.

This inference is drawn merely in reference to the specific act, and is not intended to apply to the general conduct of the individual. Juries often adopt this principle, and return a verdict of "temporary insanity," where it has been proved that the mother destroyed the child. This is a merciful interpretation of an act which otherwise seems so monstrous an outrage upon the common instincts of our nature. Hut this hypothesis of insanity will not apply in cases where a mother murders a child of one or perhaps two years old. Mr.

Cox says that mothers brought before the magistrates under these circumstances have acknowledged their crime, and pleaded as an excuse that the 2s. Od. a week which the law compels the father of an illegitimate child to pay for its support is not sufficient for its maintenance, and so rather than see the child die of starvation the mother kills it. These facts present a more horrible phase of the crime of infanticide than murdering the newly-born. Can it be that a mother's brain can conceive the design.

and a mother's tongue avow that she has crushed the young life that sprung from Had not those months oi mysterious nurture where the mother blood was converted into food for the child, transformed the ties of instinct into bonds of affection Ought not the child of twelve months old in whom intelligence has com menced to dawn, be dearer to the mother's heart than the babe just born? And if the crushing sense of shame be sufficient to shake the reason of a wretched being, weakened by the recent pangs of motherhood, can such plea be put forward for one who during twelve months or more lias allowed her child to live We can nnke every allowance for the temptations of poverty, for the hardness of heart consequent on extreme want hut we must believe immorality to be very deep-rooted where women Bre so denaturalised. We are disposed to be merciful. We know that the world and the world's law are opposed to these wretched Hagars, and when they are driven forth into the wilderness with their hapless Ishmaels, they meet no angel to guide them to a refreshing fount. An inexorable board of guardians refuses to help the child of shame, and the murder of infants has become a chronic crime. ENGLISH LITERATURE IX RUSSIA.

The English are universally allowed to be an enterprising race, the greatest colonizers of modern times. No spot of the earth so remote that Knglish merchants would not be found to venture there, even long before steam had enabled our ships to skim over the water, provided there was a prospect of establishing a trade with the natives. An Kng-iishman does not regard any obstacle as invincible that stands between him and commercial gain. If he wish to open a trade with countries where, through religious or social prejudicies, all intercourse with strangers is prohibited, he still perseveres and contrives by persuasion, often backed by force, to obtain a footing on the soil. It is only permission to erect a shelter for the clerks that are to transact bis business, to whom his goods are to be consigned and with whom the natives are to barter their commodities, and these pleas being admitted, he soon becomes a fixture in the land.

It was after this fashion that Knglish factories were established at a very early period in Japan, in China, anil other Eastern nations. Hut let an Englishman go where he will, he never becomes naturalised on a foreign soil. Kngland is the only country worth living in." This is the condensation of an Englishman's social creed. Hut hen it is sometimes worth his while to live in another laud than Britain, it is astonishing how he contrives to anglicise everything about him. Well, it is only natural that a man should love his country and cherish a reminiscent affection for the scenes amid which he has passed hi youth, but there is a pertinacity in the regret of an Englishman living abroad for all he has left behind there is, so to speak, a piignaciousncss in his sorrow that will not brook contradiction, and his foreign acquaintance, first awed into silence, are at length subdued into the belief that an Knglishman vegetates elsewhere, but lives only in Hri-laiu.

And so the Knglishman is committed to his Tcgrets, and as ha cannot return to Kngland, he brings as much of England around him as he can. 1 1 is owing, perhaps, to a want of pliability in his nature that lie cannot easily assimilate his habits to those of the people amongst whom circumstances compel him to take up a temporary abode, or it is more probably the result of an inflexibility of purpose, based on a conviction of the excellence of what he seeks, that will not allow him to brook defeat in the pursuit of his object, be it apparently little or undeniably great. Be this as it may, we return to our original proposition, that an Knglishman will be always Knglish, and will be happy only in proportion as everything about him is Knglish too. We have just been pleasingly reminded of this by the sight of an Knglish magazine printed at St. Petersburg.

An English factory has been established for more than a century in the Russian capital, and the members of this company have not only sustained unsullied the character of the Hritish merchant, but they have formed an oasis in the dreary North where the Knglish traveller may forget for a while that he has approached nearly eight degrees nearer to the North Pole since he left Loudon. Here he finds his countrymen enjoying the national sports of cricket, boat racing, and hunting, trammelled. niavhaD. bv some climatic tages. but still pursued with the best dispositions in the norm, jii ttie June number of the Amsku Maaazine we mm in a charming article, A Trin to the Ladoga." a scription of how our countrymen in Russia contrive in English-built boats to pull emulously through the islands that stud the Gulf of Finland.

The writer's enjoyment of id fjusmng arounu is tempered oy regretful recollec- kiviin ui uouie scenes. A trip up the Neva," he says, is not like a trip up the I hames. There is no Putnev. with its nrert.tr inn joyous shouts proclaim each spring the victory of Cam or Isis. Aor is there that solemn episcopal palace which fills Trio iin.i..

Richmond with its classical hill, where whiiom dwelt that ui uie wtrri mi'iimn I tia.n a juiiiig muy wnose beauty is embalmed in song. There is no oiar anu uarter, alas! nor is there a Castle Tavern, both oi whitebait and cold punch, for th both nh unA i i 1 oe nau as periocc as at mackwall or tiraresend, but without that visual feast of the Isle of Dogs in nun nlnfa tK inn.i.: 13 ouuiiiiijg expanse oi mini in tne other, there are no velvet lawns sloping to the river's brink.no bright parterres of tlowcrs. no graceful villas like that at iwiokenham. which is a shrine for pilgrim poets; nor OI Hampton, tilled with art treasury, mere are no wavmn- iiinn.l,,,..,, i i bosom nf ol tr6eS rr crystal oosom of the river, isles fringed with weening willows whose brancho. trail in the ripples, and theTndine" ogling laugh of been in diffusing a merchant8 ha! the widespread dissemination of that I-.