NEWS BY THE MAIL.

Evening Star, Volume VII, Issue 2035, 12 November 1869, Page 2

NEWS BY THE MAIL.

Mr Boncicault deserves the gratitude of the newspapers at this “off” season, for having supplied them with matter for apparently endless discussion. “Formosa” is the title of a play which has recently been produced at Drury Lane, and which is no-

thing more or less than the life of a cocotte, dramatised in an “attractive” form. The papers have been full of letters denouncing the immorality and bad taste of the piece ; while the theatre is crowded nightly, and boxes must bo secured a month beforehand. The manager, in a letter to the Times, answers a charge of “immorality” and “ indelicacy,” brought against the piece by a correspondent, by pointing to his boxes and stalls, where “ ladies, the highest and most respectable in London, are to be seen nightly in a large majority,” and he asks “Would this overwhelming majority of ladles be found in the audience if the play were as indelicate a picture as it is represented to be ?” This argument ought to be conclusive, and so we fear it is—though hot as the manager intended it. In fact, the “ naughtier ” the play, the more people, including the highest and most respectable in London, will flock to see it. The heavy, respectab'e, classical dramas will not go down ; “Shakspeare spells ruin, and Byron bankruptcy,” while more money is taken in a single day before the doors open, for securing stalls and private boxes to see “Formosa,” than the gross contents of the theatre amounted to when “ Macbeth” was played, with Lock’s music and in the best style. The late sessions ef the Wesleyan Conference attracted some attention, because they were occupied with cases of ministerial discipline. A minister named Eansom had avowed that he had changed his views about the Sabbath, which he no longer held to be of Jewish obligation. It was, he said, only a Christian ordinance, and the Fonfth Commandment was not now of any force. For this he was compelled to resign his ministry among the Wed cyans. Another minister, named Hughes, had written a pamphlet, suggesting that under the altered conditions of society, the class-meeting had better bs given up. It is notorious that the wealthy Weslryans are forsaking class. Mr Hughes was suspended from his superintendency for a year. This is fiercely assailed by some as despotism and tyranny, and by others as honestly defended as necessary deference to the standards of Wesleyanism. In the case of Benjamin Higgs, a private meeting was held in the Bankruptcy Court on the 21at of August, when it was resolved to continue the allowance of L 5 per week to his family. It is thought there null bo a good estate. The Duke of Edinburgh is to visit Ceylon, and a sum of 1,24,000 has been voted for his reception. -ill the extraordinary proceedings of the many fanatical soots whose rapid increase has excited so much anxiety in Russia, are thrown into tire shade by a terrible act of self-immolation which is reported from the Covcrmnent of Saratow. A few months ago the prophets of a new religion made their appearance in that part of the empire, preaching self-destruction by fire as the only sure road to salvation ; and so readily was their dreadful doctrine received by the ignorant and superstitious peasantry, that in one large village no less than 1.700 persons assembled in some wooden houses, arid, having barricaded the windows and doors, set the building on fire, and perished in the flames. The authorities are doing all they can to stay the progress of this new madpess, but their tank is obviously g dilhchft f'ue. The punishments which the law can inflict must have little terror for enthusiasts who choose a death so horrible as the true road to heaven.

Adelina Patti has entered into an engage* ment with her brother-in-law Maurice Sra* koach, for a tour in America for eight months, from September 1, 1871. Patti is to sing either at concerts, in opera, or in oratorio, 100 times, receiving for each performance L4OO, or L 40.000 for eight months, exclusive of all the travelling expenses of her husband

and suite, to be paid by Strakosch, who is to deposit with the Eothchilds m Pans L2O 000 as a guarantee. This is without exception the most expensive engagement on record, beating even the fabulous terms of Catalan!, Sontag, and Lind ; but looking at what Strakosch has achieved, there is no reason to believe he will be a loser. The central committee of the League of Peace and Liberty has published the programme of the annual congress to be held at Lausanne next month. The Russian and French Communists have left the association, and the programme is less extravagant than last year. The league proposes to create a confederate republic among the peoples of Europe, in imitation of America, and they propose now to attain this end by legal and orderly means, by public discussion, congresses, and so forth. The league wishes to abolish standing armies, to separate Church and State, to give women civil and political equality, and to develop the rights of labour All these subjects arc to be discussed at the ensuing meeting. _ , . A new paper in Boise City, Idaho, introduces itself to the public in the following brief but emphatic terms Salutatory. We have started a paper. Name— Capital Chronicle; principles—Democratic, to the hilt; object—to make a living ; office—on Mainstreet, about 300 yards below the Overland Hospital, opposite an old oyster-can in the road ; and we’ll run it, or ' bust 1’ ”

Mining is going on steadily at Tuapeka. The Chinamen are prospecting in every hole and comer, and the many leases taken up for agricultural pursuits are giving John some trouble, as—before he can enter—-he must apply in the mode prescribed, which occasions delay, and truly disgusts John. They could, as they themselves say, g«t plenty of gold but for the obstacles placed in their way. This will no doubt have the effect of causing many to leave the district. Advertisements received too late for Classification.

Stafford street, Dvmed^n