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pauses of the hurricane, sets his own life at | nought with the fierce desire to save the lives of the menaced ship's crew, is a free-agent, a simple volunteer obeying no other law or command than that of his own magnanimous and unselfish impulses, and as such under no stronger obligation to put his life in jeopardy than other spectators of the ship's peril, and the impending fate of those on board. Everyone remembering the small remuneration with which the Life-Boat Institution rewards their crews, must be convinced its amount has but little to do with the exertions of the men. Their own repeated battles as fishermen or sailors, with the fierce winds and wrathful sea, puts them upon their mettle, and sympathy with humanity in peril does the rest. The writer of the article we referred to, properly reminds his readers" that there is matter for congratulation and thankfulness that the failures of Life-Boats and their crews have been so unfrequent that the opportunity has rarely offered for excitable or mistaken persons to commit the indiscretion proclaiming their crews cowards, or their boats to be useless," because two or three cases have occurred in which ships with their crews have perished in the neighbourhood of a Life-Boat station, or within many miles of one. instead of dwelling on the criticisms of actions and circumstances of which inexperienced and inactive spectators are but little able to judge, we take up a paper of the past week and find in that short space the following cases to add to the thousands in which but for the venturous efforts of Life-Boatsmen many homes on shore would have been left desolate, and widows and orphans thrown penniless upon parish charity. On the coast of Cumberland, in a heavy gale from the S.S.W., the brig Robert Bruce, in attempting to run into Maryport, fell to leeward and struck the ground to the northward of the harbour. She drags her anchors and gets into the surf, where the sea made a clean breach over her, so that the crew fearing she would capsize, cut away her masts; there at the mercy of the dreadful sea, the question of her crew's fate would not have taken long to decide. But the Henry Nixon of the National LifeBoat Institution had, in the meantime, been launched and rowed towards her, but the surf was so heavy that the first time the vessel was grappled, the grapnal iron was straightened by the force with which it tore the boat away. But the brave rescuers were not to be driven from their act of mercy by one failure. Alas! the second time the rope which they threw on board the perishing vessel, broke from the same cause, but still they persevere; and the third time succeed in bringing off her crew of seven men, just as the upper part of the hull and deck are breaking up, and the Life-Boat herself is imperilled by the floating spars of the wreck. At Thorpeness, Suffolk, at one o'clock in the morning of the same day, a messenger arrived from the coast-guard station to say a ship was on shore near that place, and that they could not save her crew with the rocket apparatus. The

Life-Boats men then launched their boat, the Ipswich (belonging to the institution), and succeeded in saving eight lives from the ship, which immediately became a wreck, and the Life-Boat, in consequence of the gale and heavy sea, was obliged to run into Dunwich. Another Life-Boat had picked up and landed eight of the crew of the ill-fated ship, Calcutta, which foundered from collision with a coal laden brig in the Bay of Biscay, all of whose crew went down, as did also, it is feared, the majority of those on board the Calcutta. Thus twentythree lives, at all events, are added to the thousands already saved by the Life-Boats of the institution, and many more will have been saved in the course of the past stormy month. To keep them afloat and to increase their numbers, is the unceasing object of this most noble and useful charity, and for these purposes donations and annual subscriptions are earnestly solicited, and will be thankfully received by all bankers in town and country, and by the Secretary, Richard Lewis, Esq., at the office of the institution, 14, John-street, Adelphi.

NEW MUSIC.

HANOVER SQUARE: A Magazine of New Music. Edited by Lindsay Sloper. (London: Ashburn and Parry, Hanover Square.)-It is some months since we received a copy of this always welcome musical miscellany, but it is not the less welcome on that account. The interruption to its appearance on our table, left us better able to judge had there been any falling off in its merits; but the February number in 1869 is an excellent one, quite equal to any of its predecessors, and that is saying a great deal for it. Had the part contained only the two pianoforte pieces "Idylle," by Charles Neustedt, and "The Song of the Brook," by E. A. Sydenham, the purchaser would have had an admirable shilling's worth; but when in addition to these charming arrangements, we remember there are two songs-a very pretty setting of Moore's, "When Twilight Dews are falling fast," by Evelyn Hampton, and "Oh! to be a Sportive Fairy," the music by Hatton, a lively, graceful production, that will delight our lady vocalists-we think that it cannot be doubted, that the Hanover Square, in spite of its imitators, holds its own.

FINE ARTS.

THE NEW EXHIBITION OF PICTURES AND SCULPTURE, at the Corinthian Bazaar, Argylestreet, Regent-street.-Press of matter for our February number prevented our inserting a notice of this collection as we would otherwise have done. Are our readers aware that at this agreeable lounge (on dreary humid days such as those we have lately had a repetition of), a

spacious gallery has been erected for works of art, capable of containing upwards of 500 pictures? We observed that many of those exhibited were of real merit, some of them works of men of note, one would desire to possess, others by less known hands, but the greater portion of fair average excellence. The gallery is tastefully fitted up with abundance of settees, and is well illuminated by gas on dull days. We noticed some clever busts by W. Weekes, R.A.; and amongst many other painters of repute, who have contributed to this very pleasing collection, we observed that the veteran, Valentine Bartholomew, who though (jealous of his fame) has ceased to contribute so largely as formerly to the various London and provincial Exhibitions, still takes delight in the art in which he so long excelled, had some of his fadeless flowers on the walls. We are glad to be able to add that his activity as a teacher is vigorous as ever and that he continues to impart to others the skill he has so well used, filling his busy days with pupils.

It is arranged that in each year there shall be three exhibitions in this gallery. The next in April, of which our readers shall have proper notice in a future number.

SOCIETY OF FEMALE ARTISTS.GALLERY, 9, CONDUIT-STREET, REGENT STREET.

The first impression on entering this well-lit and well-filled gallery is, that the exhibition is a more than usually agreeable one, and as we look around more systematically this impression strengthens. It is all very well to suppose that pictures being given there is nothing easier than to hang them on the walls and exhibit them; but here commences the real difficulties of the executive. When the committee of taste, if we may so call the judges, have decided on the propriety of admitting a picture for exhibition, there is its size and effect to be considered; and where space is a consideration, the first is of material importance, while, were the latter overlooked, the brightness of one picture would probably destroy the effect of another, and hence it is not always the most meritorious works that obtain the most prominent places.

This year we are informed that nearly 300 pictures had to be returned, partly from want of room and others for want of fair average talent or probably any talent whatever. The space on the walls being purchasable, amateurs appear to think no other than the half-guinea claim necessary to entitle their works to a place on them; and quite overlook the proviso "if approved of by the committee," which appears on the prospectus. The great aim of the society is progress and the attainment of higher art, so that the pictures themselves may be sufficiently attractive to make the visitors' shillings pay the expenses of the gallery, and so obviate the

necessity of the present tax on exhibitors. At present the undertaking will not afford this, and the principal funds for the current expenses of the society are obtained from the payments for space on the walls; but we hope the time is not far distant when all this will be altered, and there really is no reason why it should not be if the industry and progress that we perceive in certain cases, were the rule. One of the first pictures in the catalogue (No. 2) "A Study in Westminster-Abbey" (Miss Thine), gives evidence of careful drawing and attention to detail. Lady Duckett's "Departure of the Swallows" (16) is a difficult subject poetically treated. The birds are charmingly depicted, and the heather-bells and fading bramble leaves suggest the latter days of Autumn. "An Aucient Mariner" (34), by Julia Pocock, is an expressive picture full of force. The earnest expression of the faded eyes and the action of the uplifted hands, make us feel that the old man is recalling some awesome experience of the past. Miss Adelaide Burgess's" Little Nell" (38) is a sweet picture, well composed and pure in tone, but the shadow on the white tippet is too heavy and ends too abruptly. The "Boulogne Fish girls" (48), by the same lady, shows her power as a colourist, and is characteristic. Miss Emily Utterson's "Rocks at Tenby, South Wales" (83), are faithfully drawn, and their surfaces and colouring admirable. Miss Rayner's "Blackfriars Wynd, Edinborough" (85), shows some of the best points of this clever artiste. Mrs. Stewart Smith's "Cardinal Beaton's house from High School, Wynd" (93), exhibits talent in the same direction. This Lady's "Head of the West Bow Lawnmarket, by moonlight" (102), is an effective picture; we like also Miss C. H. L. Watson's "At Trêves" (112), and Mrs. Collin's "Old Norman Doorway, Chester Cathedral" (117). Miss E. Utterson's "At Tenby, South Wales" (118), is a pleasant little picture. Adele Mathews" Cup of Coffee" (111), a bit of brilliant colouring, but rather stagey in treatment; Miss Valance's "Purple Plums" (119), "the delicious fruit that hangs in air," are conscientiously painted. Within a doorway, and in a bad light which cannot however take from its merit, hangs a charming little picture by Elish Le Monte (151). "The Sea-pink," the half length of a girl with a sprig of statice, or seathrift, in her hand, a gracefully imagined picture carefully drawn and delicately coloured, the face expressive and full of sweetness. This lady has two other pictures on one of the screens, both of which are deserving of notice. We see a marked improvement in Miss Maria Gastincan's manipulation: "On the road from Langdale, Westmoreland" (172), in spite of rather a patchy sky, is a pleasant picture, while "In Borrowdale" (181) fully bears out our praise. Miss Charlotte Jame's "White Grapes and Roses" (197), and "Black Grapes and Roses" (198), are deliciously treated, they are subjects, (as we overheard a gentleman remark), women seem to take to;" but that they take to things the very opposite to them occasionally,

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and enter as earnestly into the doings of ruin and decay, grey antiquity, and crumbling stone, witness Miss Rayner's views of Chester; the list of which occupies more than half a page of the catalogue, and the paintings themselves a third of the end wall of the gallery. They are marvels of time-worn sandstone, and elaborate ornamentation, minutely and faithfully pourtrayed: see "The Derby Palace" (205), for instance, and "The West Gateway, Chester Cathedral" (213). The old city offered congenial subjects for the Proutish pencil of this lady, and she has revelled in its quaint nooks and unique architecture. The screens are in possession of some very pretty things; we notice "Berries and Butterfly" (221), by Emma Cooper, a carefully drawn branch of the wayfaring tree, with its orange and scarlet fruit in effective contrast with a little blue underwing butterfly. "Arundel Castle, Sunset" (246), by Miss E. D. James, has merit. Lady Duckett's "Companions in life and death" (236), a dead finch among the tall heads of the larger cottongrass, the whiteness of which is relieved by a spray of berries, moss, &c., is carefully drawn and prettily conceived. Miss Adelaide Claxton's "These were his Toys" (253) tells its own tale. The young mother's anguish is touchingly represented, and yet we wish the toys had been fewer and less incongruous. Miss Ellen Partridge's "Young Salt" (268), is characteristic; Mrs. Collin's "Ridal Lake" (268), a charming little picture. Mrs. Marrable exhibits several works of more than ordinary merit. "Early Spring in our Garden" (285), a fair transcript of budding trees and tender revealings of leafage. This lady almost monopolizes the second screen

with the contents of her fairly filled portfolio in the Engadine, Switzerland. These pictures demand attention and deserve it; they are almost too numerous to particularize, but 331, 335, and 340 will repay for the study of them. Miss Katie Dunnage is happy in her "Lanberris Lake, North Wales (299). Amongst the oilpaintings are several noticeable pictures: a frame containing four subjects by Mrs. J. W. Brown, painted with great delicacy and truthfulness, are among the first to attract us. Harriette Seymour's "Head of an old Woman" (386), is cleverly rendered, and "A Study of Trees" (426), by the same, is noticeable; nor must we overlook No. 390, a bird's nest à la W. Hunt amongst moss, wood, sorrel, and ivy, by Mrs. Blackney, carefully drawn and charmingly coloured.

There are some fruit pictures in this collection that are quite Lance-like in drawing and colouring, specially 385, by E. H. Stannard, and Miss Ellen Childes "Going to the Banquet" 375), "Summer" (441), by the former lady, a leaf of the freshest ripest strawberries, and a spray of full-blown honeysuckle, real enough almost to gather. "Autumn" too (445), by the saine, is a branch of green-chesnut leaves, and bursting-nuts, blackberries, grapes, &c., all absolute transcripts of nature. Miss Jessie Landseer's "Dear Vic" (466) also claims favourable notice.

These are a few of very many deserving pictures which our space will not allow us to distinguish. We must call attention to Mrs. Bodichon's works, and Miss Fitzjames's fruit and flower pieces.

OUR PARIS CORRESPONDENT. MY DEAR C.

Everything must have an end, and another Carnival is past and gone, and we are again doing penitence for the folly of the last year, though that as gently as possible-a little more fish than usual for the corporal punishment, and a sermon now and then for the benefit of the soul. The extra rigid only appear in the "soirées" in high dresses; that, I imagine, is to do penitence for the men, who seem to count on the ladies for their accounts with heaven. Though do not fancy that Lent has diminished in the least the number of dinners and balls. Oh no! for, as a journalist said the other day, In olden times Lent prevented dancing, but now it is dancing that does not prevent Lent." The Opera Balls alone have ceased until MidLent; their saturnalian madness is deemed too flagrant, I suppose. There has been adventure after adventure related of them this season, but the one that has the most interested us was killed in embryo by the conscience of one of the proposed chief actors in the scene; a lady of the "demimonde," Madame Belval. This lady had made

the acquaintance of a young polish Count named Kzidniakowski, who offered to give her twenty thousand francs if she would go to the next opera-ball and present some "bonbons" that he would give her, to a certain gentleman that he would point out to her. Of course the lady naturally wished to know why the Count desired to offer "bonbons" to this gentleman. He at first pretended that it was merely a Carnival farce. The lady insisted until the Count confessed that the "bonbons" would contain poison, and that the individual was a rival he must get rid of. That a young medical student had promised to poison the "bonbons" for him. The lady would run no risk, as provided with a second domino, she could change her costume immediately after giving the "bonbons." Madame Belval accepted, and it was agreed that the Count would write a letter to the future victim, giving him a rendezvous at the ball, and that the Count would also go and fetch Madame Belval at ten to conduct her to the ball. The lady, however, far from accepting an assassin's part, immediately informed

the police, so that two officers went and apprehended the two gentlemen, the student and the Count, both Poles, in Madame Belval's drawing-room, while they were waiting for her in their ball disguise. Both had a packet of "bonbons" on them when ransacked, but without poison in them. One of the officers thought he heard something drop while examining the student, and on searching, two other "bonbons" were found of a different aspect to the other sweetmeats. The Count made a full confession of the crime he premeditated, and declared that it was the Duke of Bauffremont he intended to poison, to be able to marry the Duchess, with whom he was madly in love, and who had long been his mistress. Of course the two culprits were conducted to prison. The Duke of Bauffremont, who is a gay man of more than fifty, was in the meanwhile laughing and jest ing with the multitude at the ball, little dreaming how near he had been to the brink of eternity. The duke and duchess have been separated for sixteen years, their only child died eight years ago, and the duchess is still only thirty-six years of age, and perfectly innocent of the intended crime. She is described as a most eccentric woman, as one may infer from the cause of her separation from her husband. It was after a ball, the duchess had returned home accompanied by several gentlemen, who, finding the duke from home and his cook also, put on the cook's apron, and did nothing less than dress and serve a supper, at which they drank too much wine, and finished by throwing the plates and dishes out of the window on the heads of the passers by. The duke learning what had happened did not relish such proceedings, and a quarrel ensued, which ended in the lady's running home to her mother, and then a separation. She entered a convent of Carmelites, where she remained in great devotion for some time, but appeared again in the world accompanied by a Capuchin friar, who said mass for her on an altar that she took about with her, in her travels, enclosed in a huge case. The friar was dismissed, and she adopted four children, and for the last eighteen months has fixed her residence in the Champs Elysées, dressing in the most strange style, and driving four-in-hand in the Bois de Boulogne, the talk of her quarter. However, what was the surprise of the public, after all these details in the papers, to hear that the two culprits were set at liberty, as there was no proof against them! That no poison was found in the bon-bons when analyzed, only a kind of gum and ink! It seems that the family de Bauffremont, fearing more scandal, applied to the Emperor to have the affair hushed, and have succeeded. Madame Belval has not even received a thank from the man whose life she has saved, but is left exposed to the vengeance of those she had accused. Her only consolation is that her photograph is in every window.

We have, for the moment, a collection of strange "great ladies," There is the law-suit

now pending of the Princess de Beausau, who was declared out of her mind, a little while ago, and ineapable of managing her household affairs. At thirty years of age this lady retired into her château de Saint Ouen, an historical domain near Paris, receiving no one but a certain German baron and baroness, devotees to spiritualism. In vain her mother tried to gain admission. It was after a visit to her that her brother, the Prince de Beauvau, accidentally killed himself last summer. It was hoped that that catastrophe would have had some effect upon her; but no, it seems that she lives in a continual state of hallucination, excited by the occult science professed by the Baron Gulden Stubbé, who has the faculty of procuring the autograph of whom he will on a piece of paper in a bag locked and sealed, by evoking the right spirit in his ecstasies. What good the thing can do him, Goodness knows! And to go into ecstasies for it, too! Now, if he could persuade a spirit to put into the bag a few banknotes, I could understand his ecstasies and would be tempted to try with him. Or the pretty new fashioned manteau abbé, formed with four plaits of China crape ornamented with lace (Louis the Fifteenth style) that a fair lady may wear in her drawing-room, or in the street; or an Indian shawl, that are now becoming the fashion again. Madame de Metternich wore one the other day, and caused quite a sensation. All that would be worth troubling a spirit for; but an autograph!-Nonsense!

We are not pleased with the Belgians, who imagine that they have a right to judge of their own affairs, and who in the railroad question never consulted us before acting. Several papers were for annexing that country immediately, without further ado; Government thought differently, and only asked for an explanation, which the King sent, and the Belgian question is again lulled for a time.

M. Rangabé, the Greek representative in Paris during the Conference, has been quite the lion of the day, with dinners and soirées in every direction for him. His wife is an English lady, of great literary distinction.

We have lost M. de Moustiers, our Minister of Foreign Affairs; and the Court is in mourning for the Emperor's cousin, the Princess Bacciocchi, who is said to have left her property to the Prince Imperial.

Fuad Pacha, who was wont to boast that he always represented the Sublime Porte near a lady, having been Ambassador in London, Madrid, and Lisbon, died at Nice the other day.

The Queen of Spain is soon to take possession of her own hotel, which they say is splendid, and contains three hundred thousand francs' worth of furniture. A gentleman who visited it the other day, told his cabman that he had just seen some chairs that cost five hundred francs each. "Five hundred francs !" exclaimed Cabby, "why how many, then, may sit on one at a time?"

Our Corps Legislatif is soon to discuss the Loan of the Ville de Paris. The Opposition is

preparing all its weapons to attack M. Hauss- | man. This latter gentleman has written several letters in the papers, to protest against the accusation of the Parisians that their Préfet has made an immense fortune out of the public money. M. Thiers is expected to make a long speech on the loan: the Ville de Paris is too fond of borrowing.

M. Baroche does not like the right of citizens, or rather Parisians, to hold meetings; the coming elections frighten him. The members of the Corps Legislatifs are getting uneasy in their minds. Many of them require the air of the places they represent, and to mix on terms of equality with their good electors. A pipe with the fireman of a small town is a very agreeable thing, particularly when one hates smoking at any time; but a fireman is an important personage in Universal Suffrage, and his good will may procure you many votes, so a deputy was seen the other day smoking with one. Everyone to his taste!

The directors of our theatres are very unfortunate. There have been five or six bankruptcies within a very short time, owing to the enormous expenses they are at. The one that most excites complaint is the tax they are obliged to pay to the poor, after every representation-ten per cent. I think, on the sum they have received before any of the expenses are paid. They all demand a reform, and the Emperor has expressed his desire to have the question examined. Apropos of theatres; a very awkward thing happened at the opera the other night in the representation of the "Huguenots,' in which Madame Sass is now reaping wellearned laurels. Faure being indisposed, Castelmary, Madame Sass's husband, from whom she has lately been separated, replaced him as Nevers, and was obliged to address his wife thus: "Noble dame, venez près d'un époux dont l'amour vous réclame." The situation was "piquante." It seems the poor man was very "ému."

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Good news for the admirers of Madame

Alboni ! The great "artiste" has promised, for the author's sake, to sing in the famous mass which Rossini left to M. Strakosch's care, and which is to be performed in Paris and London on the same day. Gustave Doré has also painted two pictures representing Rossini-one Death (his corpse), the other the Genius of Music weeping. His friends want him to exhibit them in the "foyer" of the theatre during the mass. These paintings are for the next" salon" or exhibition of paintings.

Before leaving the theatre, a little anecdote on Marie Antoinette during her happy days. All know how the young queen loved to forget ceremony and State in the charming little Trianon at Versailles. One day she appeared on the stage of the little theatre there, as Rosine in the "Barbier de Seville." Brilliant with youth and beauty, her appearance excited a burst of applause from the Court spectators; at the same moment a long-continued shrill whistle was heard. The Queen took fright, fell

down, and fainted. The enraged courtiers arosé to see who had thus dared insult the Queen of France. A guard pointed to an individual wrapped in a cloak, with his head and visage almost concealed in a broad-brimmed hat. Another guard approached to seize him; but he started back with respect-it was the King!

A curious coincidence! The new Princess de la Moskowa, late Madame Labédoyère, has married two husbands, sons of two soldiers shot at the Restoration. A ship with three masts has just arrived at Paris. The Parisians are delighted; many never saw such a thing before, as it is the first real ship that has ever approached our quays.

The baron who last year gave a ball and received his guests disguised as a lady, intends giving another this year, where all the men invited must also appear in female attire-fancy what a pretty scene of huge ugly shoulders and arms! I imagine they will wear false wigs. although false hair is, they say, decidedly going out of fashion; but what will become of the beard and moustaches? The "Révue des deux Mondes" publishes an essay on the kingdom of Camboja, by a young sailor, M. de Carné. Norodom, the king, he says, comprehends all the products of civilization, but he cannot admit that a king ought not to be absolute. When some one requested him to give orders for a road to be repaired: "It is useless," he answered, "I never pass there." A Chinese traveller relates that when a Cambojian goes out on a journey, he always finds a substitute in the house on his return. Quoi!" says the lady, "je ne suis pas un démon. Comment dormir seul!" But that may be slander. "Excuse me, your worship," said Jean Hiroun, "first of all I wish to say that I challenge all my judges." "You object to one of the jurymen, I suppose you mean." "No, no, your worship, my judges-all my judges, as being my personal enemies." "How is that?" "Why, they have already condemned me five times!"

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As a proof of how difficult it is to distinguish gentlemen from some servants when dressed in black, with white cravat, a gentleman thus dressed, with a small packet under his arm, presented himself before a celebrated modiste's concierge: "Madame Henriette, if you please?" The concierge eyed him from top to toe. premier, up the back staircase." The gentleman protested, the concierge insisted, astonished at the man's impudence to want to go up a front staircase, carrying a parcel. The gentleman made his entry then by the kitchen. "Madame Henriette?" said he, taking out a magnificent diamond head-dress, "Madame Bonher requests a few flowers here and there: she could not come herself, and as it is for to-night, I have brought it." He then laughingly complimented Madame Henriette on the way her house was guarded, and how he had been obliged to enter by the kitchen." Imagine the modiste's annoyance, the gentleman was his Excellence the Minister of State himself. Au revoir,

S. A.

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