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= = . . - = lYtfhfr (£l t*tl7 < vi/ijv <-£ltm» .
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THE OPERAS .-MONT BLANC . Were we inclined to enlarge on the entertainments and exhibitions of the past week we should hav « no opportunity of doing so , for the very plain reason that there lias been no novelty . The musical world is gradually uttering its last note ; and the certain sign of it is that , areduction of price is announced at Her Majesty ' s Theatre , at the close of the regular season , on Saturday next . These supplementary nights will commence the week after next , and it is a gratifying sign of the growth of the metropolitan taste that these cheaper nights arefl highly popular . But two nights of the subscription remain to Her Majesty's Theatre , and one of these is devoted to Signor Giuglini's benefit . TJie Royal Italian Opera may linger on a little longer , and Drury Lanis Opera also ; and then . we shall subside into our ordinary state . Not , however , without music , for that has become a perpetual want . In September , the Pynb and Harbison company go to Dedby Lane ; and , doubtless , the Royal Itauan Opera will not remain entirely empty . Madame Ristori has "but two nights more at the Sr . James ' s . The chief artistic event of the week has been Mr . Albkrt Smith ' s farewell . On Tuesday his place was actually besieged by a multitude , and he could have filled one of our Opera Houses had he chosen to vary the seat of his performance ; but such is not his principle , and he would not indeed admit one person more than could l ) e comfortably housed . There was no alteration in the performance , which was uttered j * s fluently , told as well , and seemed as fresh as when seven
years ago he commenced a season which has lasted two thousand nights . All passed off as if it were to be repeated two thousand times more , but such was not the will of its creator ; and after a brief pause , and with the slightest possible tinge , we will no > t say of emotion , but alteration of manner , Mr . Smith came forward , and , after a moment or two , resuming a platform tone , said : — ^ " And now , Ladies and Gentlemen , as the Monarch of Mountains is unable to leave his throne of rocks at present , from the commencing pressure of tourists and excursionists , 1 am compelled to dissolve his Parliament , by deputy , myself : and I will therefore , according to established form , read my speech , * I hope ' in that clear and distinct voice' the reporters usually connect with that ceremony . " He then went on to say , that there was a probability that he might meet Mrs . Seymour at Suez , searching far her black box ; and the three Miss Simmons ' girls , going to India to realize their ideal of marital perfection . Brown he had arranged should meet him at Malta . This was addressed to the Lordly part of the house ; the Commons were assured they would have new cushions to their seats ; and as it is the province of the commoners to grumble , he told them every complaint as to extortion would be specially attended to . To the whole body he then declared the route he had selected to gather new facts and fancies for them ; and as calmly stated his points of transit and the days lie should reach them , talking of Southampton—Malta—Alexandria—Suez—Aden—Point de Galle , Ceylon—Hong Kong—China , with more certitude as" to the accomplishment of such places by a certain time than his great-grandfather could of Finchley Common—Barnet—Peterborough—Lincoln—York—Northallerton—Newcastle- on-Tyne—Uerwiek—Edinburgh . Indeed , looking at the perils of highwaymen , linch-pins , break-downs , and dram-drinking , we do not know but that Mr . Albert Smith could more safely predict he would go half round the world and back by December next , with more prospect of accomplishment than could the said great-grandfather . At the conclu sion of his address he was most cordially cheered , and on retiring was recalled to receive another demonstration , to which he replied with- a symbolical shake of all hands , and withdrew . Thus closed , and we may say fell , mighty " Mont Blanc , " which now grandly fades away to its sublime solitude . It has been an astonishing plaything , and seems , now we have lost it , to have "been a strange subject for the fancy of a fashionable exhibitor to play with . It certainly proves that it is the fancy of the artist , and not the subject , that is important ; and we can only hope that the land of lanterns and souchong may prove equally successful .
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Anniversary of American Independence . —The eignty-second anniversary of the declaration of the independence of the United States was celebrated on Monday night by a banquet at the London Tavern , attended by about a hundred and fifty American gentlemen resident in the metropolis . ' The dinner took place under the auspices of the American Association , and was presided over by General Robert B . Campbell , United States consul at London , on whose right sat Mr . Dallas , the American Minister . The room was decorated with the American and English ensigns , and oVer the chief table hung portraits of General and Mrs . "Washington and of the Queen , the last-named being lent by her Majesty for the occasion . Among the
English gentlemen presen t at the dinner were Dr . Charles Mackay and Mr . Thornton Hunt . The utmost international enthusiasm was exhibited , and the toast of " The Queen" was responded to by our republican cousins with touching warmth and fervour . The chief speech of the evening was that of Mr . Dallas , who made some excellent remarks on what he called "the militia diplomacy" of the United States , and who announced , amidst tremendous clieering , that the claim , on the part of England , to visit and search American vessels on the high seas in time of peace , is frankly and finally ended . Mr . Dallas acknowledged the spirit of honourable candour and fair dealing which had characterized the English , Government in tliis affair . '
The Irremovable Poor . —The Select Committee of the House of Commons report as follows , viz .: — " That , considering that the state of public business before the House renders it improbable that there will be sufficient time , before the close of the session , to bring to a conclusion the subject submitted to your committee , or even any portion of it , and that it is unadvisable to enter upon any such subject without the prospect of being able to receive evidence both for and against any proposition that may be made , your committeo do report the evidence already received , and recommend to the House to reappoint the committee at the commencement of the next session . " The evidence includes that of Mr . W . G . Lumley , recorded at some length , and his views are further set forth in a letter to the Into President of the Poor Law Board , dated October the 4 th , 1850 . Prustly Bigotry . —A Mr . Samuel Courtauld has
brought under the notice of the members of the Halstcd Literary and Scientific Institute at their half-yearly meeting , an instance of gross bigotry in connexion witli the society . He had presented to the members a copy of HarwootTs Lectures on Strauss ' a Life of Christ ; but it was burmt two years ago , and the matter had been huBhed up . The Rev . C . Burnev , tho vicar ,, confessed that the volume was destroyed by himself . Mr . Courtaiild proposed that the book should bo restored to tho library . Mr . Burnoy moved as an amendment that it be not . This amendment was rejected by 68 to 32 , and Mr . Courtauld ' s motion was adopted by 8 fi to 19 . It was then moved by Mr . Burney that tho boolt , being unfit for the library of tho institute , bo withdrawn ; which was carried by 85 against 13 .
Tim Roman Catholic Pickracjic . —Tho Catholic peerage has rocoived two accessions during tho past week in tho persons of Mr . Constable Maxwell , of Everingham , in the county of York , who bus substantiated his claim to tho ancient barony of Herriea , and Sir Henry Beddinfield , who also proved hia title to tho viecountcy ol Grandisou .
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Liberations from Prison . —Mr . Humphrey Brown and Mr . Edward Auchmuty Glover have been released from prison . Deputations . —A deputation , consisting of the representatives of several influential public bodies , and accompanied by a large number of members of Parliament , had an interview with Lord Derby on Tuesday , to advocate the abolition of the Hudson ' s Bay Company's monopoly , and the opening of the whole of their territories to colonization . Mr . Christy and Mr . Roebuck
stated the case of the deputation , and the Premier held forth a hope that he would carry out the views that had been unfolded to . him . —On the same day , a deputation of tradesmen and others had an interview with the Marquis of Salisbury , the Lord President of the Council , to urge upon the Government the opening of public libraries and museums on Sundays , after the hours of Divine service . The Marquis listened with some favour to the appeals of the deputation , but stated as an objection that the opening of pnWic institutions on the Sabbath would deprive the persons in attendance of their day of rest .
The Ritv . Mr . Spurgeon preaclied in the open air at Old Saruin last week , and . stated that he should no longer preach in the Music Hall of the Surrey Gardens . He also said that , if , he failed in getting funds for his new tabernacle , it was probable that he should leave this country for America or Australia . Mr . W . H . Barber ' s Case . —The committeo have adopted tho following report : — " That your committee have inquired carefully into the allegations contained in the petition of Mr . W . H . Barber , and find the same to be substantially proved . Your committee have not entered upon the consideration of the question whether ,
in the present or like cases , pecuniary compensation should be granted , the rules and practice of tho House precluding them from making any grant of public money . Your committee cannot , however , forbear to state that the facts presented to their notice in respect to the conviction of Mr . Barber , to the sufferings he endured during tho time his sentence -was being carried out in Norfolk Island , and to hid subsequent exculpation from the charge on which he was convicted , are so peculiar as to render hia case exceptional , and your committee desire to express their opinion that Mr . Barber has strong claims on the favourable ) consideration of tho Crown . "
Tim West Cohnwau , Election . —Mr . J . St . Aubyn has beou elected member for West Cornwall without a contest . Hia principles are very Liberal . Tin - East India Company . —A mooting of Kast India proprietors was held on Wednesday when tho pensions granted to Sir Colin Campbell and Sir James Outram at tho previous court were confirmed ; and Dr . IJcattie ' s motion that Sir James ' s pension should bo continued to his son , was also adopted . The Chairman stated that counsel ' s opin ion was about to bo taken as to what would bo tho company's exact position after the India Hill becomes law .
Tine Statb ok tiiio Tiiamks . —Dr . Letheby has presented his Quarterly Keport to the City Commissioners of Sewers . It alludes to the offonsivo condition of tho river , but nsnorts thai the health of tho population under tho Doctor ' . s supervision haa been little affected by the Alth contained in tho water . —Tho Committee of the Housa of Commons on this qu « Htion is still Hitting , and him received during tho present week a largo amount of additional scientific testimony .
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Illegitimacy in Scotland . —The returns of the KegistraivGeneral of Scotland show that the counties in his list in which the proportion of illegitimate births is greatest are not those which are rapidly advancing in population , or which contain our largest cities , with their overcrowded inhabitants , but are rather those which are more . purely agricultural . Thus , in Scotlandj the counties of . Renfrew and Lanark , with their teeming population , show only 6 * 1 and 6 * 7 per cent , respectively of illegitimate births ; Linlithgow 6 ' 7 per cent ., and Edinburgh 8 ' 7 per cent . ; while the proportion of illegitimate births rises to 11 * 1 per . cent , in Peebles , to 11 * 6 per cent , in Roxburgh , to 12 - 5 percent , in Selkirk , to 131 per cent . in . Kincardine , to 14 per cent , in
Kirkcudbright , to 15 v percent , in Dumfries , to 16-2 per cent , in Aberdeen , to 17 * 1 per cent , in Banff , and to the enormous proportion of 17-5 per cent , of the births in Nairn . The general comparison of the social condition of Scotland in this respect with other nations around . us does not afford as favourable a result to tho land of John Knox as might have been expected , especially when the facilities afforded by Gretna-green are remembered . It appears that in Sweden only about 6 * 5 per cent , of the births are illegitimate ; in Norway , 6-6 per cent . ; in England , G * 7 per cent . ; in Belgium , 6-7 per cent . ; in Prance , 7 * 1 per cont ; in Prussia , 7 ' 1 per cent . ; in Denmark , 9-3 per cent . ; in Hanover , 9-8 per cent . ; while in Austria 11-3 per cent , of the births are illegitimate . —Lancet .
Bequest to the Countv of Somerset .. —Lord Portman , Lord Lieutenant of Somersetshire , announced at the recent Midsummer quarter sessions that the late Mr . John Hugh Smyth Pigott , of Weston-super-Mare , had bequeathed to the county a collection of about 1200 drawings of the most interesting 1 churches , monuments , and specimens of ancient domestic architecture with which the icounty of Somerset abounds . They are beautifully executed by the Messrs . Buckler , who have been employed in the illustration of many important
topographical works . The drawings are executed in aepia or Indian ink , and occupied the artists from 1813 to 1847 . The bequest also comprises a volume of drawings from impressions of seals belonging to monasteries in various parts of England to the number of 266 . An arrangement has boon made with tho trustees under Mr . Pigott ' a will , whereby this valuable collection has been committed to tho custody of tlio Somersetshire Archaeological Society , and it has accordingly been , deposited in the museum of the society at Taunton .
A Kklic ov Munoo Pamc . —Lieutenant Glover , one of the officers under the command of Captain Baikie , of tho West Const Expedition , Africa , has fallen in with an old man , near tho scone of Mungo Park ' s death , who showed him a volume of logarithms , with the celebrated traveller ' ^ name in it , as well as his autographic notea and memoranda . The possessor naked in exchange for this relic tUo excessive sum of 200 , 000 cowries ; but ultimately ho consented to baiter it for the very humble acquisition of a clasp-knife . Pkinck LiKopold or Saxonv , brother to tho Quopn of Portugal , who is travelling under the title of Count llohenfchlt , arrived with his suite nt tiiliraltnr on tho evening of the 2 Cth ult ., in tho Ligcro steamer from Cadiz , and put up at tho Club-house- Hotel .
Tine Bishop ok London gnvo an entertainment lasl Saturduy to a largo l > ody of bis clurgy at Fulham Puluce .
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" But I have no stockings on , aunt . " " Never mind , no one will see you . " While thus busied in the active exercise of high life proprieties—beautiful bust , rounded arms , delicate feet and ankles , all exposed—enter " a sallowlooking old man of military bearing , " the raw-head-and-blooily-bones of the story , who , with eyes flashing fire , teeth firmly clenched , and ieet stamping , sturdily , says For further particulars see the original . The fancywork department we dare not touch . The illustrations are no doubt perfect loves , but the explanations , we confess , are to us heathen Greek .
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No . 433 , Jtoy 10 , 1858 . ] ^ T ELJE 1 KAD E R . 669
= = . . - = Lytfhfr (£L T*Tl7 ≪ Vi/Ijv ≪-£Ltm» .
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Leader (1850-1860), July 10, 1858, page 669, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2250/page/21/
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