tht aittrupulio.

Some time since, the Directors of the Crystal Palace Company sent Mr. Owen Jones and Mr. Digby Wyatt with a roving commission to the Continent for the purpose of acquiring casts of what is great and rare in art. Information from these gentlemen had been received to the 9th in- stant; when they had reached Rome, after visiting Paris and Naples. They had obtained permission to take casts of several of the finest works in those capitals; including the great Nimroud from Egypt, colossal sta- tues by Jean Goujon, casts of the Ghiberti Gates, figures by Michael An- gelo from the Medici chapel at Florence, cinquecento monuments by Donatello, and studies from Pompeii.

The prospectus of a new company, designated as "Her Majesty's Theatre Association, has been issued, with the names of the Duke of Leinster, the Marquis of Clanricarde, Frederic Mildred, Esq., and B. Oliviera, Esq., M.P., as trustees ; and the Marquis of Clanricarde, the Earl of Harring- ton, Major-General the Honourable II. F. C. Cavendish, Sir John Bay- ley, Bart., and C. Barry Baldwin, Esq., as committeemen. It is said a large proportion of the shares have already been subscribed. Our chance of any opera at Pall Mall next season seems to rest on the success of this novel speculation. The prospectus says-

" A contract has been entered into for the purchase of the lease of Her Majesty's Theatre from the present proprietor; and the Association will have the benefit of this agreement, the purchase-money being represented by 20,000 paid-up shares. In this purchase is included the lessee's interest in the sum of 12,526/. 12s. 9d. Three per Cent Reduced Annuities, invested as an accumulating guarantee-fund. This fund will be increased from time to time so as to form a sinking-fund, and place the Association on the firmesebasis. The properties are to be taken at a valuation, which in no case is to exceed 25,000/. The Association to have the benefit of any surplus be- yond that sum. The property of the Association will consist of the lease of the theatre and concert-room, which has nearly forty years to run, estimated at 100,0001.; the properties greatly exceed in value 30,0001., but the amount to be paid by the Association is not to exceed 25,0001,; the effective capital 75,0001.; total, 200,000/. The affairs of the Association will be conducted by a managing director appointed by the committee ; and previously to the commencement of each season the personal privileges to be reserved to the shareholders will be defined by the committee."

The Female Emigration Society continues its beneficent labours. On Thursday, the twenty-seventh contingent, of forty female emigrants, em- barked in the Carnatic, bound for Sydney. They were attended from Hungerford Pier to the ship at Gravesend by the benevolent persons who form the active portion of the Society,—the Honourable Arthur Kinnaird, the Honourable William Cowper and Mrs. Cowper, and others. Mr. Sinnaird and two clergymen addressed the emigrants, in the presence of Captain Lean and Dr. Sparke, the emigration-officers ; and a luncheon, over which Mr. Greene the shipowner presided, was enjoyed with the more zest that the party had been favoured with a beautiful day.

At length the "pauper emigrants" of St. Martin's in the Fields are on their way to South Australia. The Guardians completed yester- day the task they began some months ago. The steamer Topaz, char- tered for the purpose, started from the Adelphi Pier early in the morn:. ing ; and a parting dinner of roast beef and porter was partaken on the way. Mr. Cobbett was at the head of the table, and of course spokesman for the Guardians ; of course Mr. A. F. Ridgway, the prime mover, was present and active ; and on the part of the emigrants, a young man named Adam Yonge responded. When the party were embarked on board the Calcutta, at Blackwell, other addresses were delivered to them ; and as

the steamer cast off, three hearty cheers were given. Thus the penny rate has shown what may be done with surplus pauper labourers.

At the Middlesex Sessions, on Monday, Charles Coughlan was tried for stealing Charles Paul's watch. This was the case where the criminal nearly added murder to robbery, by twisting a handkerchief and a brace round the neck of his victim ; who was found by a passer-by quite helpless from strangulation. The evidence was conclusive, and the Jury at once convicted. The ruffian was sentenced to be transported for fifteen years. The prosecu- tor interceded for him, on account of his aged parents; but Mr. Witham, the Chairman, said he could not listen to the appeal in so bad a case.

At the Surrey Sessions, Thomas Russell, formerly a solicitor at Hammer- smith, who brought the " qui tam" actions against Lord George lientinck and others some years ago, has been convicted of obtaining money from Mr. Barnard, proprietor of a stand at Epsom race-course, on the false pretence that he was instructed to claim compensation bya person who had been hurt by the fall of the stand. He was sentenced to six months' hard labour.

When Madame Poitevin enacted the part of Europa by ascending from Cremorne Gardens on the back of an animal attached to a balloon, the animal, which puzzled the reporters and spectators, was not a bull, but a heifer. When the "bull" descended at Ilford, the creature was suffering so much from exhaustion that it was found necessary to kill it. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals took up the matter, and summoned Mr. Simpson and M. Poitevin and his wife before the Ilford Magistrates on a charge of cruelty. The case was heard at the Petty-Sessions on Saturday. The accused pleaded guilty, technically, though it was alleged for them that there really was no intentional cruelty : the heifer was diseased, but M. Poitevin when he bought it and when it ascended was not aware of that fact. His counsel also urged that the horses which had been suspended to balloons had never suffered from their voyages, nor had the " bulls ' which had taken aerial trips in France. It was argued that-Madame Poitevin ought not to be punished, as she acted under the direction of her husband. The Magistrates, who con- sidered the case of great importance, retired to consult together. On their re- turn they inflicted a fine of 51. on each of the three defendants; refusing, when urged by counsel, to remit the fine on Madame Poitevin. Mr. Simpson ad- dressed the Bench, earnestly declaring that he never would have sanctioned any exhibition in which cruelty was inflicted on animals ; and he announced that he would give 51, to the Society which had' prosecuted him. No more ascents with animals are to be made from Cremorne.

111r. Arnold, the Westminster Magistrate, gave judgment on Monday no the charges of cruelty to the ponies that were taken into the air. While condemning such exhibitions, and stating his opinion that it was really, though not legally, cruel to place animals in a potation where they were help- less if a mishap occurred, he dismissed the summonses : it had not been proved that the ponies had been cruelly treated by the defendants—that the animals had suffered either pain or fear.

De Gaeton, the Frenchman accused of stealing shares of the " Franco-Angli- co Californian Gold-mining Company," after several examinations, has been finally liberated by Alderman Lawrence ; who did not consider that the charge of felony was made out. De Gaeton declared that he was not a mere agent of the French company—he was "the company" in Landon.

Mr. Robert Lawrence Walker, a farmer and landowner in Cambridgeshire, has been held to bail by the Bow Street Magistrate to keep the peace towards Mr. David Mathews, a Magistrate of Canterbury. Both gentlemen were in love with the same lady; she preferred Mr. Mathews, and the marriage WSB to have taken place last Saturday ; but on that morning, Mr. Mathews re- cdved a letter from Mr. Walker challenging him to fight a duel,—naming a second, and specifying the " instruments " of combat. The marriage was postponed ; the belligerent farmer was arrested, and taken before the Ma- gistrate on Monday. He pleaded guilty to the accusation, and did not enter into any particulars of the cause of his proceeding to such lengths; and Mr. Jardine declined to hear the complainant recite the particulars of the quarrel.

After chimnies have beeu built, it is necessary that the interior should be cleared of projecting mortar, bits of bricks, and other impediments—this is called "curing." Instead of adopting means to obviate the necessity of sending a person up the chimney to cure it, some builders employ sweeps,— a cruel and dangerous practice. This week, John Renshaw, a foreman chimney-sweeper, has been fined 51. by the Westminster Magistrate for allow- ing ahoy, the son of hie master, to ascend a chimney to "cure" it. The conviction was obtained through the activity of a gentleman who exerts himself to protect little climbing-boys.

Mr. Joseph Griffith, a chemist of Park Street, Regent's Park, has been ex- posed to the violence of the "garotte" by thieves. Mr. Griffith was returning home early in the morning ; he was fool enough to treat a cabman with gin at a pnbliethouse in Munster Street; soon afterwards he left the house, and turned up the New Road by himself; but when he had reached the bridge at the top of Albany Street, he was struck on the left side of his head, and something was pressed closely round his throat by a person from behind ; he was thrown violently on his 'back, and completely stunned. Two men at- tempted to take Ins watch ; he resisted, shouted " Police !" and they ran away. The cabman who was treated with gin, and another cabman, believed by Mr. Griffith to be the men who attacked him, are in custody.

Mr. Idarquard, a Superintendent of the K diviSion of Police, recently in- valided, has been killed by a mistake—he swallowed a glass of embrocation instead of the proper medicine.

Mr. John Parcels, expositor of Burford's Panorama, has met with a fright- ful and instant death. He was proceeding to his residence, Haverstock Hill, after the close of the exhibition on Tuesday night, when the shaft of a brew- er's dray struck him on the head, knocking him down, and the wheels passed over his head, smashing it to a jelly. It is said that the fatal occurrence is attributable to the drayman's riding on the shaft while the horse proceeded at a quick rate.

Part of that river of abominations the Fleet Ditch yet remains uncovered in the region of Saffron Hill, though only recently exposed to public view by the demolition of houses that hitherto masked it. The authorities have put a paling round it. On Saturday, a little boy climbed over the fence; a girl clutched at his clothes, and both fell into the stream—a very rapid one here. The girl was rescued alive, but the little boy was swept away. Some large warehouses in London Wall, ocen .ied by a number of persona, and filled with valuable property, including 4111 gallons of varnish, were partially burnt early on Sunday morning. The fire originated in a floor occupied by drysalters, and spread to otherparts ; but the Fire Brigade made an effectual "stop" and the main body of the place was saved.

There was a fatal fire in Somers Town on the afternoon of the same day, at Mr. White's, a linendraper. A servant was sent into the shop with a lighted candle, when some drapery appears to have caught fire. The flames rushed up the stairs of the house, and a number of persons had to escape by running along the leads over the shop-fronts, or by leaping from the windows. Unfortunately, a little boy, son of a lodger, perished in the flames.

The Imperieuse screw steam-frigate, to carry fifty guns, was launched at Deptford an Weds;esday.

• An iuunense balloon ascended from Cremorne Gardens on Monday, with a ear attached containing the unusual number of twenty-five persons, while Madame Poitevin dangled below in a parachute. Both the lady and the large party made successful descents.