A s few evenings ago, the opera of Faust was performed at
the Theatre of I anover. At Mephistopheles' song, which in Anster's English translation runs- " Once on a time there was a King. A lovely Queen had he:
Hat dearer far than Queen or sou We loved a big black flea I "-
the pit instantly thought of King Ernest and Scheele, shouting "Scheele, Escheele ! " and the police could not interfere, it being no treason to liken a Prime Minister to a flea.—Letter in the Chronicle.
A letter from St. Petersburg mentions the destruction of the Impe- rial Winter Palace by fire, on the night of the 29th of December. How the tire originated is not known. The mercury in Fahrenheit's ther- mometer was 28 degrees below zero ; so that it was impossible to pump water on the flames. The value of the property was enormous. The Emperor, who was absent at the time, but sent for, is said to have shed tears at the sad sight of ruined magnificence.
The St. Petersburg journal L'Abeille du Nord of the 3d instant, officially announces that thirteen individuals had lost their lives in the fire. Among:them were two non-commissioned officers and several soldiers, who fell victims to their devotedness and courage on that occasion. The precious collection of Vandyke's pictures had become a prey to the flames.
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