The late Duke of Wellington's Correspondence

Evening Post, Issue 97, 1 June 1865, Page 2

The late Duke of Wellington's Correspondence.

The right of Lord Robert Montagu to dispose of some private letters of the late Duke and Duchess of Wellington — a right which is disputed by the present duke — lias been brought before the Muster of the Rolls. Mr. Selwyn appeared on behalf of I Lord Robert, and strongly complained of the misrepresentations to which his client had been subjected in the matter. His lordship never intended to publiah the letters; he proposed to dispose of them to the British Museum as their most fitting depository* As the case was not ripe tor the discussion of the question on its merits, the Master of the Rolls continued his injunction against the publication. The excavations at Pompeii have just led to the discovery of a temple of Juno, on the flags of which were scattered more than two hundred skeletons. Tliey are thosp of women and children who. during the eruption of Versuvius, had hastened to the temple to seek refuge, and implore the protection of the goddess. What our Parlours Should Be.-— A modern writer says :—": — " Don't keep a solemn parlour, into which jou go but once a month, with your parson or sewing society. Hang around your walls pictures, which tell stories of mercy, hope, courage, faith, and charity. Make your living room the largest and most cheerful in the house. Let the place be such that when your boy has goDe to distant lands, or even when, perhaps, he clings to a single plank in the lone waters of the wide ocean, the thought of the still homestead may come across the desolation, bringing always light, hope, and love. Have no dungeons about your house, no room you never open, no blinds that are always shut." Large Eater.— lt is told with full detail, and every proof of veracity, that a young fellow made a heavy bet that he and his friend would eat 83 dozen of oysters. He warned them that his friend was a low, coarse fellow. Never mind, the spectators were willing to witness his performance and that of his friend. The layer of the bet ate a dozen, and then sent for his friend. He was introduced, well prepared for the feast, having been starved two days. The friend was an enormous pig, who made short work ef the oysters. The validity of the proceeding was discussed, and it was found that the sharp young man with the hoggish friend had gained his money. When an inexperienced sportsman goes into the field, his expectations fall to the ground and the birds don't. The Paris correspondent of a contemporary writes :—": — " A new feature of Parisian society is that, in the year of grace, 1865, the demimonde ladies issue invitations for a ball or fete exactly after the fashion of ladies of the court ; and there is nothing which is to be found at the hotels of these grandes dames which the * half-great lady ' does not imitate. The other evening at Mdle. C 's (the Aspasia of Paris life) ball all the prettiest actresses were present, and displayed jeweJe, lace, and costly finery such as are rarely seen even at court, and ceriainly bespoaks the wonderful liberality of European paymaster?. By these traviata ladies, who nevertheless in Paris lead the fashions, crinoline is now com-

!>it-ti''ln J&wed, Their ball dresses are made somewhat ik the style of the First Empire or iheEnjrlfsli fashion of 1811, with the skirt confined, and the body cut extremely low both in front and back, while the train is worn very long. The salons of Mdle. C « who did the honours- with clever imitative grace and elegance, were crowded with princes, dukes, nmrqiises, counts— in fact witli the same male company as one meets at the parties of the Princess MeMernich and Madame Drouyn de Lhuys. Some English peers and members of Parliament were present, and appeared to enjoy the animated and| dazzlingly improper scene. On the second floor the supper tables were loaded with every delicacy of the season. Choice Yquem, Johannisberg, Luffltte, Tokay, and champagne of the finest vintages, were served most lavishly throughout, the nigh. After supper dancing was resumed with increased animation, and the ball terminated with a chaine diaboiique and a cancan d'enfer at seven in the morning." Permission to Marrt.— lt may not be generally known that a mild and parental Government sometimes extends its care to the prohibition or granting of permission to marry. Such a one is Wurtemhurg, and it even delegates that power to the police. The people have at length mustered up couragp, and have petitioned for the abolition of this parental custom, The idea comes with full force if we imagine the area belles and the artizan beaux going up to Superintendent Britannia Helmet, asking permission to marry, and hoping he will not exercise his rights of seigniory. Consumption. — Though often hereditaryi it arises more frequently from causes which few medical writers have not noticed. The higher classes are more subject to ie than the lower, who have to labour for their support by exercising their arras, and thus keeping in activity the viscars of the stomach. The upper classes, on the other hand, generally exercise the lower limbs, which can never be done but at the sacrifice of the upper extremities and the chest. The wonderful development of the lower limbs of stage-dancers or urtat pedestrians has been frequently noticed. But consumption and premature death are but too often the results of their training. A contemporary supplies us with the fol- j lowing sketch of Mr. Roebuck's speech in the Irish debate, and the reply of Sir Hugh Cairns : — The lion, member for Sheffield's speech reminded us of an old nursery rhyme touching the conduct of a certain nurse to the children under her care :— She gave them some water, and gave them some bread, And whipped them all round, and then sent them to bed. Excluding the water and the bread this is j what Roebuck did to the Irish grumblers. His speech was, from begining to end, a scold. But how well it was done ! how terse and j Saxon was his language 1 how forcible and dramatic was his action ! Never in his life did Roebuck apeak with more force and effect. The House WAS carried away by his dramatic power and cheered the actor lustily. But there was nothing in his speech, no philosophy, no statesmanship, no searching analysis into the cauHe of Irish misery, no suggestion of remedies, except this—" You have all been quarrelling, you liishmen, and now take your whipping, and go and quarrel no more." Thirty years ago he would have treated the subject very differently. We should then have had at least a scathing denunciation of the Irish Church ; something, too, about former Irish nmgovernment as the cause of of present evils. But about the Irish Church he said not a word ; nor of the long, dark reign of tyranny and wrong under which Ireland suffered, and from the effects of which she has not yet recovered. Sir Hugh Cairns, on whom Mr. Roebuck had laid his lash heavily, would not go to bed, nor would he take his flogging submissively. On tlie contrary, <as soon as opportunity offered, he turned round upon his flagellant, and, in Falmerst mian phrase proceeded " to give him as good as he gave "— nay, better ; for the flogging which he administered to his assailant was far more severe than that which he had received. It was all the more severe in that it was administered, too, coolly and with studied de. liberation. But, severe is the punishment was, His questionable- whether Mr Roebuck f-'lt it grentty. He showed no suffering, but looked the while impassive Jas a post. If he is In no other way -i phil sophpr, ho is oup in this. He can bear punish <'c it with li roio fortitude. Bin, if Mr. Kocbnrk did ' not suff^ the Conservatives were delighted nnd *lv iv , ud their dtsligU; by lustily cheering I tho^sailant. j