Le magnificent castle and extensive estates of Sully. The General's ather, the Count de M'Mahon, who was an officer of high rank, a ver of France, a Grand Cross of the Order of St. Louis, and a personal -nd of Charles X., espoused a lady of the ducal house of Caraman, ad left four sons and four daughters. Of this numerous family, - youngest is the hero of the Malakoff. General M Mahon aving first entered the military service of France in 1825, as memr of the school of St. Cyr, was in 1830 sent to the Algerian wars; 1 in 1832, while acting as aide-de-camp to General Achard, took art in the expedition to Antwerp. He attained to the rank of ptain in 1833, and after holding the post of aide-de-camp to veral generals, and taking part in a severe African campaign, luring which, in 1837, he received a bullet-wound in the chest at Constantine, the gallant officer was, in 1840, nominated Major of

6th Battalion of Foot Chasseurs. Returning once more to sigmalise his valour in the Algerian wars, M'Mahon became, in 1842, Leutenant-Colonel of the Foreign Legion; in 1845, Colonel of the 43st of the Line; and in 1848, General of Brigade. For a while General M Mahon occupied the position of Governor of the proare of Oran, and afterwards in the division of Constantine; and length, in 1852, he was advanced to the rank of General of Division. Having stated enough to indicate that General M⭑Mahon had proved himself

"No carpet knight so trim, But in close fight a warrior grim, In camps a leader sage,'

tus hasten on to that splendid achievement which spread his fame throughout Christendom. When, in 1855, the amiable and chivalrous Canrobert left the Crimea, General M Mahon, being then in France, was selected by the Emperor Napoleon to succeed him in the command of a division; and when the chiefs of the allied armies resolved on assaulting Sebastopol on the 8th of September, they #gne i to General M⚫Mahon the honourable and perilous post of arrying the works of the Malakoff. Soldiers of the First Division of Zouaves of the Guard," said the gallant warrior, inspired with the prescience of victory, "you are at last about to quit your parallels to attack the enemy hand to hand. On this decisive day car General has confided to you that most important task, the taking of the Malakoff Redan-the key of Sebastopol. Soldiers, the entire army has its eyes upon you, and your colours planted pen the ramparts of that citadel will be the answer to the signal given for the general assault. Your bravery is a guarantee for the cess which will immortalise the numbers of your regiments. In few hours the Emperor will tell France what the soldiers of Alma and Inkerman can do. I will give the signal by the cry of 'Vive Empereur. Our rallying word shall be 'Honneur et Patrie.'" Eletrified with this spirit-stirring address, the soldiers sprang forward with that heroic bravery characteristic of their nation, and after unexampled difficulties, and a most exciting foot-to-foot comlat, succeeded in effecting a lodgment in the anterior part of the

522

M'NEILE, REV. HUGH-M'NEILL, SIR JOHN.

Malakoff. The enemy showered down a storm of projectiles of all kinds upon the assailants; but the brave Bosquet supported them with his Guards; and Pelissier, standing on the Mamelon, with his military reputation trembling in the balance, exercised all his characteristic energy in pushing forward the reserves; and, convinced that the fall of the Malakoff would be decisive of success, directed his whole attention to retaining possession of the grand prize. Matters were, indeed, somewhat critical; but resolution and courage overcame all difficulties. Bosquet was struck by the bursting of a shell. Another General took his command. A powder-magazine exploded; and the Russians, hoping to profit by this accident, immediately advanced in dense masses, and, disposed in three columns, simultaneously attacked the centre, the left, and the right of the Malakoff. But measures of defence had already been taken in the interior, and General M'Mahon opposed to the enemy bodies of troops whom nothing could intimidate. After the most desperate efforts the Russians were compelled to make a precipitate retreat; General M Mahon remained master of the Malakoff; and the tricolored flag waved in triumph from its battlements. An Imperial decree has since elevated him to the dignity of Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour.

M'NEILE, THE REV. HUGH, Minister of St. Jude's, Liverpool, Canon of Chester, was born in 1795, at Ballycastle, in the neighbour hood of Belfast. He was originally intended for the law, but he re solved to devote himself to the church, and studied divinity at Trinity College, Dublin, where he took his degree of M.A. In 1822 he mar ried the daughter of the late Archbishop of Dublin, Dr. Magee, in whose family he had been tutor: this gave him a position; and his intense hatred, as an Orangeman, of the Roman Catholics, made him an eager and vehement speaker at the Rotunda. He afterwards spent a few years of his life in London, where, however, he failed to produce the effect he anticipated. About twenty years later he became the Rector of St. Jude's, Liverpool, where he has acquired immense influence, and has become virtually the spiritual dictator of a very considerable circle of admirers. He has pub lished several sermons and controversial pamphlets. One of his most popular sermons was that delivered on the occasion of Prince Albert's visit to Liverpool. His eloquence is of a highly energetir and declamatory character, and he is gifted with a commanding presence and a sonorous voice. Whilst in London, Mr. M.Neile preached at the Charlotte Street Chapel, Fitzroy Square; but failed to make an impression upon the religious classes, Irving at that time being in full possession of the field.

M'NEILL, SIR JOHN, G.C.B. and F.R.S.E., third son of John M'Neill, Esq., of Colonsay, Argyleshire, and brother of the Right Hon. Duncan M'Neill, Lord Justice-General of Scotland, was born in 1795, and in 1831 was appointed Assistant-Envoy at the court of Persia. In 1834 he became Secretary of the Embassy, and

in 1836 Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to that court. In 1834 he received the Persian order of the Lion and Sun, and in 1839 was created a Civil Knight Grand Cross of the Bath. In 1844 he returned home. During the time that he passed in the East he became thoroughly acquainted with the habits, policy, and resources of the Asiatic nations; and the signal ability with which he even at that period pointed out the aggressive designs of Russia, was acknowledged even by those who were unble to participate in all his apprehensions of danger. Soon after s return from Teheran he was placed at the head of the board sppointed to superintend the working of the new Scottish PoorLaw Act of 1845, and in 1851 conducted a special inquiry into the ndition of the Western Highlands and Islands. In February, 135, he was chosen by the Government of Lord Palmerston to preside over the Commission of Inquiry into the Administration of the Commissariat of the army in the Crimea.

MACREADY, WILLIAM CHARLES, Tragedian, was born in London, March 3d, 1793. His father was the manager of a proncial company, and lessee of several theatres; but, desiring a sfferent profession for his son, sent the future actor to Rugby. At this celebrated school he acquired considerable reputation by As classical attainments, and gave promise of future celebrity at tae bar, for which he was at that time destined by his parents. In has seventeenth year, whilst expecting to proceed to the University of Oxford, his father's affairs became deeply embarrassed. It is stated that offers of assistance, such as would have enabled the yunger Macready to continue his academical career irrespective of the family misfortunes, were at this time made by friends, but that they were declined. Be this as it may, the son now resolved to aid his father with those talents which the latter had made sacrifices to improve. He exchanged the quiet of the school for the excitement of the theatre, and in June, 1810, made his first appearance at Birmingham in the character of Romeo. Having industry as well as talents, he was soon recognised as a valuable actor, and saw his exertions in behalf of his father crowned with access. Till Christmas, 1814, Mr. Macready remained with his father's company as a leading actor and stage-director; performing with great applause at many of the chief towns of the midland and northern counties. In the two following years he visited the capitals of Ireland and Scotland; increasing his reputation, which was now thought sufficient to warrant him in making his appearace on the London stage. Accordingly, on the 16th of September, 1816, he came before a Covent Garden audience as Orestes in the "Distressed Mother." His début caused much excitement in the theatrical world, and Kean, among other eminent actors, witnessed and applauded his performance. At the conclusion of the tragedy of the "Distressed Mother," the announcement of Macready's reappearance was hailed with three rounds of applause. Notwithstanding this favourable début, Macready had a hard battle to fight

for many years. Kean, Kemble, and Young were the great favourites of the town; and the monopoly which limited the presentation of Shakspeare's dramas to the two patent theatres narrowed the arena of competition. Clubs were formed, the bond of which was an engagement to prevent the intrusion of new-comers upon what was considered the domain of established favourites. Under these circumstances, he was compelled to refrain from assuming a number of Shakspearian characters in which he has since become a favourite with the public. His Virginius, Mirandola, and Rob Roy, were pronounced very masterly personations. After his triumph in the first, he speedily took his place as a Shakspearian actor. On removing from Covent Garden to Drury Lane, he became the orginal representative of the respective heroes of Mr. Sheridan Knowles's Caius Gracchus and William Tell. He reappeared at Drury Lane in 1826, and from that time to the present moment has continued to hold that high rank in public estimation which he has never forfeited. Mr. Macready had undertaken in turn the management of the two patent theatres, and sustained considerable pecuniary injury in his endeavour to elevate the character of dramatic amusements. In 1826 he went to America, and in 1828 visited Paris, where he was enthusiastically received. In 1849 he paid a second visit to New York, where the jealousy of Forrest, the American actor, led to a riot, in which the Astor Opera-house, in which Macready was performing, was attacked by the mob, and the English actor only escaped with his life. The military were called out to suppress the disturb ances, and having fired, killed twenty-two men on the spot, besides wounding thirty others, some of whom subsequently died of their wounds. Mr. Macready returned to England shortly afterwards, where he was warmly welcomed by his friends. He commenced his final engagement at the Theatre Royal, Haymarket, in the autumn of 1849 (Oet. S), of which he was obliged to relinquish the completion, when about half fulfilled, on account of ill health; he resumed it in the autumn of the following year (October 28, 1850), and brought it to a conclusion on Feb. 3, 1851. His benefit took place at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, February 26, 1851, and the Macready Banquet was celebrated almost immediately afterwards.

MADOZ, M., Minister of Finances in the Espartero-O'Donnel Cabinet of the Queen of Spain, was President of the Constituent Cortes when chosen for his present post, having been elected by a large majority after the resignation of Marshal Espartero. He is one of the most influential men in Spain, and a leader of the Progressista party. He is an avocat and a literary man, and has been several times elected deputy to the Cortes, where he has always opposed abuses, and demanded reforms in the finances and in the government. Before being elected President of the Cortes he was named civil Governor of Barcelona. He pacified the province in a few days, and put an end to the strike of the workmen. It was he who obtained permission from the Government to rase the walls of Barcelona, and who ordered their demolition. The

Last and most complete "Geographical Dictionary of Spain" is from the pen of M. Madoz. Upon acceding to office, he found the public finances in a state of complete disorganisation; the revoluton having at once enormously enhanced expenses and diminished venue. As a bold expedient, he has proposed that the Government should assume and realise the property of the Church,―a measure which has created immense excitement in Spain.

MAGNÉ, M. French Minister of Finance, is one of the many statesmen of the new régime of whom the European public know very little. He was a member of an obscure family in Périgord, and was introduced to public life in Paris by Marshal Bugeaud, a native of the same part of the country. Originally appointed a rk in the Treasury, he rose to become Secretary of Finance. His great administrative ability was remarked by M. Fould, who is mmonly said to have been the founder of his political fortunes. As a member of the Constituent and Legislative Assemblies, M. Magné occupied no leading position as a debater. Occasionally, wever, he made practical speeches, which were always listened to with attention. His ministry of Public Works, which he held for a nsiderable time, is generally admitted to have been very successul. It has been his lot to conclude many most important treaties wh the great railway companies, and during his career of office he has personally inspected not only all the principal lines of France, lat also those of other countries, to enable him to avail himself of provements. His known talents augur well for the new administration of finance, but it is objected by members of a certain party in the state that he is likely to be too much under the influences of M. Fould. He received his present appointment in January, 1855.

MAHONY, FRANCIS, Journalist and Author, one of the Editors of the Globe," born in Ireland about 1805, left at an early age for Jesuit Colleges in France and the University of Rome. Returning a clerical orders from Italy, a short experience of their Irish exerase seems to have decided him to resume literature as his ment. Uniting in an eminent degree ripe scholarship, wit, a ready pen, and a racy style, he was, under the nom de plume of Father Prout," gladly enrolled amongst the band of able men who me years ago-in the hey-day of Dr. Maginn - contributed to "Fraser's Magazine." He spent some years in travel through Huncary, Asia Minor, Greece, and Egypt, and has written several books; but his chief literary labours have been devoted to, and his chief fluence has been exerted in, the columns of newspapers. He originated the Roman correspondence of the "Daily News;" contributing to the columns of that journal a series of articles full of good feeling, sparkling wit, and zeal for the cause of Italy, in the advocacy of which he has not spared anointed wrong-doers. He as examined by the Parliamentary Committee on the Mortmain Laws in 1851, principally as it regarded their effect in the Roman

States.