The Sun. — London, England, 1863-02-23 00:00:00

TV S. LINDSAY, Nl.P.—The Rising Genera tion—Our Prize Essays—Mrs. Grun d y' s Gossiping, &c., in FUN this week. One Penny. Of all Newsmen. R OYAL ENGLISH OPERA, COVENT GAR DEN. :lder the Management ot Miss Louisa Pyne and Mr. W. Harrison. Sole Lessees. THIS EVENING, Feb. 23, Balfe's New Opera of IHE ARMOURER OF NANTES • Miss Louisa Pyne, Mrs. A. Messrs. \V. H.Weiss, Santley, Cooke, and Miss Anna Hil es ; H. Corti, C. Lyall, Aynsley Cooke, and W. Harrison. I I Conductor—Mr. A. Mellon. After which, the Grand Comic Cnristmas Pantomime, en titled HARLEQUIN BEAUTY AN L) THE BEAST. Doors open at halt-past ( bmmence at 7. THEATR E-R OYA L, DRURY-LANE.- Lessee and Manager, Mr. Edmund Falconer. THIS EVENING, BONNIE DUNDEE; or, The Gather ing of the Clans. Mes , rs. Henry Lorraine, Edmund Phelps, Sinc'air, Chas. Selby, Henry Haigh; Mrs. D. P. Bowers, Mrs. Edmund Falconer, tc. After which, the Grand Pantomime of LITTLE GO DDY TWO SHOES. Commence at -. T riEATxE.'C iA; NAY AI AR K ET. Lessee Mr. J B. Ruckstone. • THIS EVENING, at Seven o'clock, will be performed 'UR AMERICAN COUSIN. Asa Trenchard, Mr. Buck i-tone ; Lord Dundrcary, Mr. Sothcni. •-•-- After which, a new and original Extravaganza, entitled RASSELAS, PRINCE 4)}' A BYsSINIA ; or, The Happy Valley. Rasselas, Miss Louise Keeley. Concluding with MIIS. WHITE. THEATRE -ROYAL LYCEUM OPEN, under the Sole Management of Mr. PECHTER. THIS EVENING, Feb. 23, to commence with an Orizinal Sketch, entitled A SUDDEN ATTACK. Messrs. Shore, Garden, H. Widdicomb, Miss Henrade, and Mrs. Lee. After which, at a Quarter to Eight, a New Romantic Drama, in Three Acts, and Pr 310,11 e, entitled THE DUKE'S MOTTO, by Paul Feval and John Brougham. The principal character will be sustained by Mr. Pechter, suoported by Messrs. G. Vining, J. Brougham, H. t , iddi combe, W. DPlntyre, F. Charles, Garden, Raymond, H. Butler, Dawson ; Misses Carlotta ,Leclercq, Kate Terry, B. Lavenue, and Elsworthy. Mr. Phelps and Mr. W. Montgomery are engaged, and will shortly appear. oors open at half-past Six, performance to commence at fleven. Private Boxes, £2 128. dd., and £2 2s. Places regictered. Stalls, 6s. 6d. ; Dress Circle, ss. 6d. ; Upper Circle, 4s. Od. Prices at doors—Stalls, 6s. ; Dress Circle, ss. ; Upper Circle, 4s. ; Pit, 28. ,• Gallery, Is. No half-price. Box office open daily from 11 till 5. The public are entreated to : - .ake notice that no charge is made to the occupants of boxes, pox places, or stalls, either for play bills or for the safe keep ing of hats and cloaks: and that the attendants in all parts of the house are forbidden to receive any gratuities whatever Stage-Manager, Mr. G. Vining. Acting-Manager, Mr. H. Barnett. ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE Lessee and Manager , Mr Undue. THIS EVENING, an entirely new and original romantic drama, in four acts, by Lewis Filmore, Esq., entitled THE WINNING SUIT. Messrs. Marston, Vezin, Stephens, Fitz james, ; Miss Amy Sedgwiek, Miss Murray, and Mrs. H. Marston. After which, the New Grand CHRISTMAS PANTOMIME, " RIQUET WITH THE TUFT ; or, Harlequin and Mother Shipton." Mr. G. Belmore, Mr. C. Scyton, Misses Gray and Hudspeth, Mr. Milano, Mr. R. Power, Miss A. Collinson, and Mr. Halford. NEW THI ATRE-R0 YAL, ADELPHI.- Sole Proprietor and Manager, Mr. B. Webster. THIS EVENING, the new comedietta, entitled A GREY MARE. Mr. J. L. Toole and Miss Marie Wilton. After which, A VALENTINE : Messrs. J. L. Toole, Paul Bedford, Miss Kate Kelly, and Miss Seaman. To be followed by "GEORGE DE BARNWELL : or, Harlequin Folly in the Realms of Fancy." Miss Woolgar, Miss K. Kelly, Miss Seaman ; Messrs. J. L. Toole, P. Bed ford, S sephenson, C. J. Smith. Harlequin, Mr. John Lauri; Lolunibine, Miss Caroline Adams ; CLown, Mr. W. Hildyard ; Cs ntaloon, Mr. J. Paulo. The celebrAted Arthur and Lertrand. Commence at 7. The Weather.—Sun Office, Feb. 22, 1863. THERMOMETER. Highest since Noon yesterday... 45 Lowest during the night This day at Noon. . Barometer-30.28. Wind—N.W. ; fresh and fine. Rain in the morning. FEB. 23. THERMOMETER. Highest since Noon yesterday..... Lowest during the night .. 30 This day at Noon Barometer-30.29. Wind—N.-Westerly; light, with fine weather. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. Txis DAY.—Morning, sh. 30m.—Afternoon, sh. 46w, To-monaow.-Morning, 6h. 4m.—Afternoon, 6h. 22m, THE WEDDING SUN. ON TUESDAY, 10TH MARCH, Will be published AN EXTRAORDINARY EDITION OF rite amt. SUPERBLY PRINTED IN COLOURS, With Illustrations by the First Artists. THE SUN OF MAT DAY, Altogether unprecedented in Newspaper Printing, Will form an appropriate MEMORIAL OF THE PRINCE'S MARRIAGE, Comprising within it MEMOIRS of the PRINCE and PRINCESS, IN DANISH AS WELL AS IN ENGLISH. WITH A Full Account of the Marriage Ceremony. Advertisements cannot be received after 10 P.m. on THURSDAY NEXT, the 26th inst. (Terms for Advertisements, One Shilling per Line.) Price of the Wedding Sun, 6d. Orders received by all Newsagents, and at THE SUN Office, 112, Strand, W.C. * e t, 4 1 , * 426' LoNDON,MaNDAY. FEB. 23, 1863. The prospects of Poland are brightening. The universal recognition of the extent and importance of the insurrection—the anxiety, whether dictated by sympathy or fear, with which all the Cabinets of Europe are watching its progress, testify to the general success of the insurgents, whatever their isolated losses. The moral support of England has not been wanting; the voice of her lead ing statesmen has given utterance to the feelings of the nation, while the press, with unhesitating unanimity, have throughout de nounced the conduct alike of Russian Emperor and Prussian King, and applauded the indomitable spirit of the brave and oppressed Poles. In France expressions of sympathy have not been wanting in the Chamber of Deputies or in the columns of the press. The organ of Prince NAPOLEON professed to believed that the ambiguous phrase, in the EM PEROR'S reply to the address, referred to Poland, but no word or sign gave grounds for such hopes. -Le Constitutionnel, on the contrary, frequently expressed its conviction that the insurrection was a mistake, and that it would be better for the true interests of the Poles to counsel them to await patiently the reforms promised by Russia than to incite them to revolt. Now, however, affairs have taken a new turn. Au article in the Constitutionnel is significant of coming intervention, for which an ample excuse is afforded in the rash and unjust conduct of the Prus sian KING. " The Polish insurrection," says this article, "might at its outbreak have been conside re d a matter of interior policy, but the intervention of Prussia has rendered it an European question." A false state of things has thus been produced between Russia and Prussia, which, it is declared may have grave consequences. Serious disquietude.is thus occasioned in Europe, and the conduct of Prussia is described as the more deserving of censure, as France has been doing violence to her earnest sym pathy for her ancient allies by refraining from the expression of her interest out of her respect for treaties. The strongest passage in the article in question, however, and one which no empty hopes or courteous phrases can neutralise, is the follow jag :--;. it may be doubted whether, in the haste of Prussia to aid Russia, Europe rut : - not see under the present arrangement of the man , the old name of Poland, and instead of an insurrection of subjects against their Government see a reclaiming of nationality." If anything can startle the autocratic Czar and the " right divine" King into wisdom and clemency, we should think it would be these ominous words. We heartily f hope that it may be too late; that the Emperor NAPOLEON may indeed act with vigour and promp titude upon " an idea" which all liberal Europe shares with him, and which would give to his reign a splendour and a prominence which might be a worthy ambition. The warm feelings and bright swords of the French would be readily enlisted in such a cause—he would meet with none of the opposition felt even more than expressed in regard to the Mexican expedition. Why should he sfek laurels in the New World when the Old offers a far worthier opportunity of signalising the prowess of people. His astute and far-sighted policy must readily apprehend the immense advantage to Europe generally, and to France in particlar, of the erection of a natural boundary against Russian ambition, and a counterbalance to the fatal " slope to the East," which so many successive statesmen have had cause to deplore. The Poles, by religion, by tradition, by kindred sentiments, ever the allies of France, would be slow to quarrel with their restorers, while, as a French journal of to-day observes, they would offer a protection against the encroachments of Germanism on the one hand, and fanatacism on the other. We do not anticipate seeing the crowns of France and Poland again worn on one head, as in the days of HENRY union even then found impossible; but we see no reason why an independent and cordial alliance between the nations should not guarantee the separate existence of Poland, and protect France against those encroachments on her power which England can never desire to see suc cessful. For ourselves we cannot wish our country to be behind in the good work. " The conscience of generations," as La Constitutionnel has it, has pro tested against that iniquitous partition which English statesmen stood by and witnessed. The heart of England has stirred at every fresh tale of Russian tyranny and oppression, at every new outrage offered to suffering patriotism. Were the struggle of KOSCIUSKO against the tyrant to be repeated in these days, public opinion would scarcely suffer our statesmen to listen quietly to " Films Poloniae," it would scarcely tolerate the application of the principle of non-intervention in sight of such heroic resistance on the one hand, such cruel tyranny on the other. If the Emperor of the FRENCH proposes to address a remonstrance to the Cabinet of St. Petersburg, let Lord RUSSELL take heed how he says that "the time has not come," for Parliament and people will assuredly demand an account. With regard to the other actor in this mournful and thrilling drama, the Prussian deputies have fulfilled our expectations. The animated debate in the Chambers on the 18th redeems them from all charges of supineness or indifference in a matter of such moment, and it terminated by a resolution declaring that the interests of Prussia required an absolute neutrality, a resolutionjwhich will no doubt be carried by a large majority. The speech f Herr VON BISMARK was no more than might have been expected from him, while the honest in dignation of the Prussian people found vent in the vehement language of Herr WALDECK, who de nounced the treaty as nothing better than an agree ment to supply so many policemen to a state which has been long propped up by the gaoler and the gendarme, "It has come to this," he indig nantly exclaimed, " that Prussian soldiers will be obliged to die in order that absolutism may be preserved in Russia." In con clusion, the speaker declared that if Herr von Bis- MARK persisted in his refusal to give up the terms of the treaty they would have to pass judgment on his unconstitutional conduct; while in wait ing it was necessary for them to condemn and to stigmatise, as contrary to the interests of their country, a treaty which he considered unprecedented in the history of the world. This language was not too strong if we remember the intelligence and freedom of Prussia, and her position as a constitutional monarchy possessing a free press, a free Parliament, and a free people. That the Deputies are not to be trifled with is proved by the resolution they have lately passed rendering the Minis ters personally responsible for their unconstitu tional expenditure last year. The position of the Prussian people is a painful one. 'Their Cabinet, as a French journal remarks, appears to be struck with deafness and blindness ; it refuses to hear the voice of indignant protestation addressed to it by other nations. But the Prussian people, says the journal referred to, hears and sees, and is indig nant at being attached to this right divine Govern ment as to a corpse ; it makes Europe hear its protestations, and applauds with enthusiasm the energetic opposition of the Chambers. The aspect of affairs is most critical, and it would be difficult for th© wisest prophet to fortel the result. We cannot, however, help gathering hope for that unhappy nation for whom our sym pathies have always been warmly expressed, from the very malevolence of its enemies, as well as from the increased activity of its friends. The Europe of to-day will scarcely tolerate a renewal of the crimes of its forefathers, or if it again looks on and tamely witness the enslavement and sub jugation of Poland, let France no longer profess to advance the interests of civilisation—let England no longer declare her sympathies with justice and freedom. It is much to be regretted that Lord RAYNTIAM'S excellent measure for the better protection of women and children should have been thrown out of the house. It was a remedy that would most and, at a ll events, there pro bably have been efficacious, was no valid argument adduced against its trial. The Attorney-General's speech was a complete failure in its endeavour to make the worse appear the better cause. His remarks as to the advan tage of magistrates having the power to inflict fines were quite absurd. No punishment is ever more insufficient than fines. They are only an incen tive to some persons to commit an offence since they console themselves by thinking that if dis covered no very great inconvenience will follow on detection and conviction. It is really lamentable that our legislators persist in ig noring the spread of crime, and throw all sorts of obstacles in the way of improvement until the dan ger becomes threatening, and, then, perforce, they proceed to summ ar y arrangements, and make some stringent laws in a hurry which do not answer the purpose, and irritate by their extreme of severity after the previous unwise leniency. Besides, they do not relieve the many who have suffered wrong and experienced in jury (erred to in thi s bill t - in waiting for their ad vent . The propos a l of subjecting the c l ass of ruffians r(J -o corp ora l pun i s h ment would be a penalty th a t would bring their crime, h o me to them at once, a n d they would dread this infliction ten times more that; t h e mild discipline they experience within the prison walls. The idea of getting up sentirnen calism abcut such characters is too ridiculous ; owl why i. 2 r u th.,.. magistrates end their subordinates to be so tender to those who are brought before them THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING. FEBRUARY 23, 1863. charged with outraging the better feelings of humanity, and who have exerted their strength for the cruel object of crushing the weak and helpless that the laws of GOD and man alike call upon them to protect Really there never will be any check to crime while such extraordinary notions prevail in regard to criminals as abound nowadays, and exercise such a pernicious influence on men from whose sense and good feeling we should have ex pected better things. It would be well if the Attorney- General and those who followed him in op. posing this measure had looked from the immediate object to the ultimate consequences, and have turned their attention from the prisons, where the offenders were to be treated with such leniency, to the homes where the injured wife and cruelly treated child were languishing. How encouraging for the con victed was it to know that Parliament will not in cress the punishment for their offences however aggravated they may be, how sad for the victim, to be told that care and consideration can only in fluence law-makers so far as they appertain to the treatment of evil doers. Nothing could have been more temperate than the means suggested by Lord RivNilAm. After expressing his regret that his numerous efforts to amend the law had not as yet succeeded, he urged the desirability of giving to magistrates the power of inflicting cor poral punishment on persons convicted of aggravated assaults on women and children. In consideration of the many adverse opinions en this subject, how ever, both in the house, and out of doors, his lord hhip only proposed that the extreme penalty should be inflicted on those who were convicted for the third time. Mr. BENTINCIE, in supporting the measure, made a very sensible speech, and the smartness of his repartees must have been any thing but pleasant to the Attorney-General. He advised the hon. and learned member who ob jected so strongly to the reintroduction of any bill into the House to turn his attention to the members below the gangway, who were con stantly in the habit of bringing in the bills that had been rejected. The remarks of the hon. and learned member might be applied also to a new Reform Bill. Mr. BENTINCY considered that " there were people who could only be taught the enormity of their conduct, and the necessity of reforming by physical suffering." Although again unsuccessful in his laudable efforts, it must be a satisfaction to Lord RAYNHAM to have entered anew his protest against such unseemly violence on one hand, and such insufficient means of checking it on the other. Many other questions of more importance than this one, estimable as are its ends, have had to be fought for, again and again, until the good sense of the communi , y at last has insured their success. So it will doubtless prove in this instance, but in the meantime great merit is due to Lord RAYNHAM for his praiseworthy per sistence in these endeavours to succour the feeble and oppressed. To help those who cannot help themselves, and to use every effort to rescue the tyrannised over and trampled upon is a worthy motive for exertion, and one with which Englishmen have ever been ready to sym pathise. It is the lasting honour and abiding merit of Lord SHAFTESBURY that ht! devoted so much time and ldbJur for the protect ion of females and children, and his efforts, though slighted and op posed at first, were at last successful, and have proved of great benefit to those concerned. Lord RAYNHAM may beencouraged by his example to pro ceed in a like worthy course, and we trust that the day may not be far distant when the voice of reason shall prevail to make justice more efficient in put ting down cruelty, which is one of the most revolt ing crimes that can disgrace humanity, and for which those most prone to make excuses for criminals can find no excuse, and urge no extenuating cir cumstances. It is stated that Mr. Charles Kean purposes shortly to visit Australia ; and at the approach of the coo season to extend his trip to India, where he proposes to give a series of Shaksperian readings. A French version of "Macbeth," by M. Jules Lacroix, has just been produced at the Odeon Theatre, in Paris. Its success is said to have been decided. "Romeo and Juliet," translated by Alexander Dumas, is also about to be brought out shortly at the Theatre Francais. THE ACTON MURDER.—At the Hammersmith Police -court, on Saturday, the two brothers, Joseph and Isaac Brooks, charged with the murder of a policeman at Acton, and Jane Lake, charged as an accessory after the fact, were finally examined before Mr, Dayman. The prisoners were committed for trial, and conveyed to New gate. TRIAL OF A NEW TRACTION ENGINE.—On Satur day afternoon a number of eminent engineers and scientific men assembled at Rochester for the purpose of witnessing some experiments made with a new traction en gine, manufactured by the firm of Messrs. Aveling and Por ter, of Rochester, the patentees. The engine selected for the trial was one of several which are now t eing mar ufac tured for the Yudanamutana Cop?er and Mining Company, Australia. Shorly after one o'clock the engine started ft om the factory at Strood with four heavy waggons attached, each laden with baulks of timber, the total weight of each waggon, with its freight, being close upon five tons. With this load the engine traversed the narrow streets of Strood, turning the sharp angle at the turnpike and ascending a long incline of about 1 in 12, for upwards of a mile, at a speed of five miles an hour. The engine was then turned towards a hill with a rise of 1 in 8--the steepest of the kind in the neighbourhood—and, notwithstanding the exceed ingly soft, sloppy state of the road, ascended to the top with the train of waggons at the rate of about three miles an hour. After travelling some distance at speeds varying from three to six miles an hour, the engine and train de scended the long inclines, and again reached the turnpike roads, where two more heavily laden waggons were at tached, swelling the weight, with the engine, to upwards of 40 tons. Once more the engine was started, and, without the least apparent difficulty, it dragged its load over every variety of ground and through the streets, arriving at the factory at about five o'clock, after an absence of about three hours. The engine experimented upon was one of nominally 10 horse power, and was the first traction engine which ever ascended a gradient of the steepness of that passed over oa Saturctly with such a heavy weight. Jt is the intention of the company to send out 20 similar engines to Australia for the purpose of transporting the copper from their mines to the port, a distance of 120 miles, over an unbeaten tract of land. The cost of carriage is now £lO per ton, but by the use of these engines it will be reduced to £2 per ton. The trials on Saturday were considered very satisfactory by those pre sent, several of the most eminent engineers, pronouncing the new traction engine in every respect the best yet con struct ed. TICKETS OF LEAVE.—A Parliamentary paper just issued upon this subject gives the number of prisoners released on tickets of leave in Great Britain dur • ing the last three years, and the number of " licence holders" subsequently re -convicted. In 1860 the number of convicts released on licence was 1,047, and 109 licence holders were re-convicted, of whom 32 had been released during the year. in 1861 there were 2,069 convicts re leased on licence, and 183 re-convicted, of which number 141 were released in 1860 and 1861. In 1862 2,297 con victs were released on license ; 285 were re-convicted, and of that number 2:53 were released during the years 1860, 8 1 0 8 n 6 e 1, rß an r cl el l e B a 6 se 2 The d. ontic r k e e t t ur o n f g l i e v a e v s e al i s n o I th re e la n n u d m d be u r rin of g p t r h i e -. three 'years ending June 30, 1862, to have been—males, 505; and females, 219 ; total, 724. The number re -con victed during that period was 51 males and 20 females, giving a total of 71._ - Si. THOMAS'S HOSPITAL. --The a i d ta j l ou h rn l ed meet ingrs of Alderman Copeland io p in the cehdai°rE Fri day,That the 'lwas t res olved after a very warm disoussion—.“ o t f h t e heg 20th o v in e r s n t propo sition for purchasing Bethlehem Hospital by St. Thomas's Hospital should be entertained." It is Stated that the Government have agreed to bring in a bill to legalise a holiday for Saturday, the 7th of March, the day for the arrival of the Princess Alexandra. There appear at present in Paris no less than 576 journals and periodicals; among them 50 Moniteurs. There is a Aloniteur de la Coiffure, a Moniteur de la tor donderte, &c. There is also a Joural des Commissaires de Police, and a Journal de la Gendarmerie. _ _ THE FRENCH RHADAMAN TH US. —My great k.,,randmother, said an old royalist, my grandmother, and my great aunt were guillotined on the same day. My great grandmother was 90 years old. When interrogated she begged them to speak louder, as she was deaf. Ecrivuz," said Fouquier Tinville, " quo la citoyenne Noailles a conspire 60 urderaeut contra la Republique LATEST INTELLIGENCE. [REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.] MEDITERRANEAN and BOMBAY MAILS. SOUTHAMPTON, FEB. 23. The Peninsular and Oriental Company's steamer Delta, Captain Cook, with the heavy portion of the above mails, has arrived. She has 31 passengers' amongst whom are Lieut.-Col. M'Caskill, Major Sandwith, Major Robinson, from Bombay; and Colonel Somerset, from Gibraltar. The Delta has on freight three packages specie, value £386; also 492 bales silk, 21 boxes valuables, 40 cases Indian shawls, 228 cases oranges, 10 casks wine, 560 boxes dates, 32 packages sundries, and 1,400 bales damaged silk saved from the wrecked steamer Colombo. The Delta experienced to Malta fine weather thence to Gibraltar strong easterly winds and high seas. At the latter port she was detained 12 hours, in consequence of a heavy gale. Thence to South ampton light breezes and fine. His Imperial Majesty's transport Perdrix was still at Alexandria. Her Majesty's ship Marl borough and Alacrity, and the Peninsular and Oriental Company's steamer Ceylon wsre at Malta ; and at Gibraltar, the Redpole, Virago, Procris, and transport Supply. The Etlora, with the outward mails of the 12th, arrived at Gibraltar on the even ing of the 16th, and sailed for the eastward on the 17th inst. The Spanish journals contain accounts of the African settlement of Melilla. The disputes be tween the frontier Moors and the garrison had entirely coased. The Moorish work called the " Lena," which had formerly been a source of serious annoyance, had been destroyed under the direction of the Spanish engineers, and many of the Moors had been taken into Spanish pay and employed in the new Spanish fortifications. The American steamship Chippewa arrived at Cadiz on the 12th inst. The members of the Caipe Hunt, at Gibraltar, gave a farewell dinner to Col. Paulett Somerset on the 13th inst. Amongst the company present were his Excellency the Governor and Major-Gen. Sir Robert Walpole, K.C.B. The British steamer Thessalia, eight days from Liverpool, the steamer Thames, nine days from Middlesboro', the s t e amer Dom Pedro, 16 days from Glasgow, her Mdesty's storeship Supply, seven days from Plymouth, the brig Robertson, 35 days from Newcastle, the steamer Christina, •even days from Liverpool, steamer Neptune, 11 days from Aliddlesboro', the steamer Alabama, seven days from Liverpool, had severally arrived out at Gibraltar since last advices. Gibraltar exchanges were quoted :—On London, 90 days' date, 50s 8d; Paris, 5f 31c; Brussels, 5t 31c; Marseilles, 5f 30c; Genoa, 5f 31c; Madrid, 8 days' sight, t- prem. ; Cadiz, 4 die.; Seville, dis.; Malaga, par; Barcelona, i prem. ; Almeira, par.; Valencia, I prem.; Alicante, y dis. Premium on five-franc pieces, I per cent. in demand. Freights without change. BERNE, SUNDAY. It is asserted that a portio❑ of the Polish re fugees intend to offer to Count Walewski the throne of Poland should the kingdom be recon stituted. FRANCE. PARIS, FEB. 23. The Constitutionnel of to-day, in an article signed by its secretary, M. Boniface, says—" One cannot but be astonished at the excitement which has been produced on the Bourse of Paris by the news of the conclusion of a treaty between Prussia and Russia. The comments of the press on this subject have given rise to exaggerated fears. Up to the present time the French Government has done nothing beyond entering into communication with the Cabinet of London in order to agree upon the course that should be followed in this matter." The French press are unanimous in condemning the conduct of the Prussian King, and in express ing sympathy with Polaul. The article in the semi-official journal Zs Constitutionnel, which seems to indicate the approaching interven - tion of France in the Polish question, has created much excitement. It is, says L' Opinion Nationale, a sign whose import it is impossible to mistake. An official journal, but lately so hostile to the in surgents, declares that the aspect of affairs is changed, and that the policy of the Berlin Cabinet has made the outbreak a European question. The same journal (L' Opinion Natzonale), which is supposed to represent the views of Prince Napo- leon, writes strongly in favour of the re-establish ment of Poland, which, it avers, will conduce to the best interests of France, of Europe, and of civilisa tion. Between the two Powers of a united Ger many, now in course of formation, and of Russia, whose Asiatic hordes may one day pour down upon the West, it is necessary that there should be an independent Poland, a great Poland, that is to say, Poland re-established within her ancient limits. All able politicians, says E 'pinion, must readily understand the necessity of this act of justice fir securing the equilibrium of European Powers. In dependent Poland protects us from Germanism,while putting no obstacle to its legitimate development, and preserves us at the same time from panslavism— the vision of the Muscovite Czars—and of oriental fanaticism, which menaces, even to the banks of the Danube and the Bosphorus, the nations of Western Europe. Now, an independent Poland of the ancient extent will become on our continent a first class power, having one large outlet on the Baltic and another on the Black Sea, with a population of 30 millions, which would even become 40 or 42 millions, if the Poles succeeded in regaining their ancient territories annexed to Russia, Austria, and Prussia. Such is the ally which we would have on the banks of the Vistula and Dniester. It is pro bable that Russia, already rebelled against in Poland, will soon have to encounter an outbreak in the neighbouring provinces, which contain 25 millions, and there is little doubt that the Polish movement will hasten the explosion of a no less formidable insurrection among the emancipated serfs. Le Pays declares that Prussia has forfeited her neutrality, and asserts that public opinion in Prussia is strongly opposed to the convention. The Journal de Posen has the substance of the declaration of a general association, composed of the great German landowners of that province, which formally censures the treaty with Russia. From all parts of Europe the voice of opposition is heard. Nothing, says Le Pays, imposes upon Prussia • the necessity of leaguing with the Czar. It is true that she was an accomplice in the partition of Poland, bat that does not oblige her to take part also in the oppression. In leaving Russia and Poland alone face to face the result would be attained that the insurrection would be appeased, and the voice of friendly powers be heard at St. Petersburg. Without the vexatious conscription, Poland would have waited calmly, and the Emperor Alexander must remember that the pledges given in 1815 have never been fulfilled. The debates in the English Parliament appear to have given satisfaction in Paris. The debates in the Prussian Chambers are also commented on. l'he sitting at which M. Bismark endeavoured to defend the conve n ti on t erm i nate d, sa ys L'Opinion National e , w i t h two i mportant acts. Th e f i st was a motion, supported by 134 d e puties, opposing any intervention, direct or indirect, in Polis h affairs which has s i nce b een almost. unan imously cur ried. The s econ d motion, carr i e d b y 274 aga in s t 45, iitcla.red the Ministers civily responsible for ex pen,es they had incurred unconstitutionally. Le Pays quotes from L'Europe of Frankfort a despatch addressed by Cardinal Antonelli to Mgr. Chigi, which contradicts Lord Russell's account of Mr. Odo Russell's interview with the Pope, and in con sideration of the undue publicity given to that gentleman's despatches in the English Parliament, declares that his Holiness feels himself obliged to suspend all relations with Mr. Odoßussell. BOURSE, Feb. 21.—The rumours which were cur rent yesterday of the retirement of M. Fould, and others equally improbable, but which nevertheless had a depressing effect on quotations, having been proved to be unfounded, the market at the com mencement of business remained firm at yesterday's closing rates. Forced sales for the delivery of Stock having afterwards taken place, prices again slightly receded, and Threes, for the Account, are now at 69f. 50c. Only a moderate amount of busi ness going in Railway Shares. The market re covered the slight decline before the close, and left off as follows : 41 per Cents .. 98 60 Do, end month.... 3 per Cents Do. end month 69 60 New 3 per Cents Do. end month — Credit. Mobilier 115 i Do. end month 1162 50 RAIL' Bank Shares 3365 Credit k oncier 1436 Piedmontese Fives Italian Loan 69 70 Russian Austrian Spanish Threes — Home Debt 'AYS. Cash. Account. Orleans llOO .. 1112 50 Northern New ditto Lyons and Mediterranean 1170 .. 1171 25 Geneva 397 50 .. Southern 7BO .. 781 25 Western Eastern .... Sardinian .. Austrian 1 .tnr bard North of Spain Saragossa 672 50 .. 670 Ditto to Barcelona HER MAJESTY. WINDSOR CASTLE, Feb, 21. The Queen, accompanied by the Princess Louis of Hes3e, drove in the grounds this morning. The Viscount and Viscountess Sydney arrived at the Castle yesterday and returned to London to-day. The Queen, accompanied by the Princess Louis of Hesse, drove cut in a carriage and four in the after noon, attended by the Dowager Countess of Mount Edgcumbe, the Hon. Mrs. Bruce, and Lord Alfred Paget. Prince Louis of Hesse rode on horseback. Prince Arthur, attended by Major Elphinstone, arrived at the Castle in the evening from the Ran ger's lodge, Greenwich-park. SUNDAY. Her Majesty, and Prince and Princess Louis of Hesse, Princess Helena, Princess Louise, Prince Arthur, and Prince Leopold, and the Ladies and Gentlemen of the Court, attended Divine service in the private chapel this morning. The service was performed by the Hon. and Very Rev. the, Dean of Windsor. The Earl of St. Germans and Viscount and Via countess Palmerston arrived at the Ca,tle yester day. Lord St. Germans and Lord Palmerston had audiences of the Queen. THE PRINCE OF WALES' VISIT TO ALTHORP PARK.—ALTHORP, Feb. 21.—His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales arrived at Althorp, on a visit to the Earl and Countess Spencer, yesterday afternoon, at five o'clock, accompanied by Ueneral Knollys and Major Tees dale. Preparations were made at the Brampton station to give his royal highness a loyal reception. Triumphal arches were erected at the church and chapel, Brampton, consisting of laurels, rosettes, and flags. The flags bore the words "Long live the Prince," and "God bless the Princess Alexandra." A very large number of persons from Northampton and the surrounding villages were as sembled at Brampton station, and most cordially cheered the Prince as he left. The following distinguished com pany are now staying at Althorp :—His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, the Earl and Countess of Bessborough, Earl Granville, Earl Grosvenor and Lady Constance Gros venor, the Earl of Listowel, Earl Cowper, the Countess of Sefton and Lady Cecilia Molyneux, Viscount and Vis countess Clifden, Lord and Lady Charles Bruce, Lord R. Grosvenor, General Knollys, Major Teesdale, &c. A ball took place in the evening. THE CROWN PRINCESS OF PRUSSIA.—Her Royal Highness the Crown Princess of Prussia, who left Berlin on Friday last with her eldest son, Prince William, on her way to Windsor, arrived at Brussels on Saturday It was expected that her Royal Highness would resume her journey after a short visit to the Belgian royal family, in order to arrive in England to-day. The Crown Princess will probably remain in England abow three weeks. HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS PRINCE ALFRED.—Yes terday a telegram from Malta was received, dated at 10.:i0 a.m , which announced, through Major Cowell, that Dr, Armstrong represented that his Royal Highness was still progressing very favourably. The Duke of New. castle has had the several telegrams transmitted without the least delay to the Queen and royal family at Windsor Castle. Their Royal Highnesses Prince Arthnr and Prince Leopold and suite honoured the performances at the Adelphi Theatre with their presence on Saturday evening. THE PRINCESS ALEXANDRA.—His Royal High ness the Prince Christian of Denmark (says the Dagbladat) gave on Friday, the 13th, a grand ball to which all the beau monde of the capital were invited. Politics, diplomacy, literature, and the arts were represented. The grace with which the Prince and the Princess did the honours to their guests added a charm to this brilliant 2B union. It was, soto speak. a fete given to afford her Royal Highness the opportunity of taking leave of a circle of which she has hitherto gained the affectionate attachment, and in which her departure will leave profound regrets. The bridesmaids of the Princess Alexandra are Lady VLctoria Scott, Lady Elma Bruce, daughter of Lord Elgin; Lady Victoria Hare, sister of Lord Lis towel ; Lady Georgiana Susan Hamilton, daughter of the Marquis of Abercorn ; Lady Agneta Yorke. daughter of Lord Hardwicke ; Lady Constance Villiers, daughter of Lord Clarendon ; Lady Victoria Campbell, Lady Theodora Grosvenor, Lady Ernestine Mount•Edgcumbe, and Lady Feodorowna Wellesley. 711 E HOUSEHOLD OF THE PRINCESS OF WALES. —Chamberlain, Lord Harris ; Ladies of the Bedchamber, the Countess of Morton, the Countess of Macclesfield, the Counte s De Grey, and the Countess of Carnarvon ; Women of the Bedchamber, the Hon. Mrs. Bruce, the Hun. Mrs. W. Grey, the Hon. Mrs. E. Coke, and the Hun. Mrs. F. Stonor. tHE PRINCESS.—It is pleasing to hear that iht Queen has taken a great liking to the Prncess Alexandra, who is natural and affectionate, and not at all awed by th.• presence of the Sovereign—saying everything that occurs to her most naively.—Court Journal. THE PRINCE.— rite change in the appearauce o' the Prince of Wales within a short time is very remarkable. He is getting quite stout and manly, and now thoroughly looks his age,—court eTournae. Although the Court is to go out of mourning upo the tomsion of the marriage of his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, it is to be renewed after that august cere mony has taken place. The Duchess de Brabant and th.- Comte dr Flandre will taken their departure for England during the first days of March, in order to be present at the Prince of Wales's marriage. The Duke Regnaut of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha is likewise expected here for the ceremony. The Duke and Duchess of Setherli.nd, with thi youthful Marquis of Stafford, have returned to Naples in his grace's steam yacht from Alexandria and Malta The Marquis and Marchioness at Salisbury en• tertained his Excellency the Austrian Ambassa dor and the Countess d'Apponyi, his Excellency the Saxon Minister, the Earl of Malmesbury, the Marquis and Mar chioness de Caderouse, the Countess (Dowager) of West moreland, Lord and Lady Elcho, Lord West, Mr. W.Peel, and a select party at dinner on Saturday evening, at the family house in Arlington-street. The Earl Granville, after the Cabinet Council on Saturday, left town for Althorp Hall, near Northampton, having been invited by the Earl and Countess Spencer to join the circle assembled to meet the Prince of Wales dur ing the visit of his royal highness at Althorp. The Earl and Countess Spencer are expected to arrive at Spencer House, St. James's, to-morrow, from Al thorp Hall for the season. The Countess of Caledon will leave town to morrow for Windsor Castle in order to enter on attendance on the Queen as one of the Ladies in Waiting. The 4th Hussars used to bear, and has the right still to bear, what will now be a proud title—namely, the Princess of Denmark's Dragoons. The Presse tells us that Mme. Emile de Girardin wore £40,000 worth of jewellery at the Countess Walewska's fancy ball—a fact which is only piquant from the circum stance of the _Presse being M. Girardin's paper, and the lady being Mme. Emile, M. Girardin's wife. It is not correct, as recently asserted, that the Lyceum is to be called the Prince of Wales's Theatre, by permission of his Royal Highness. Gen. Sandtord has arrived at the Clarendon Hotel. The Right Hon. the Speaker gave his second Par liamentary full-dress dinner on Saturday evening. The following were present:--The Right Hon. B. Disraeli, Lord Henry Lennox, the Right Hon. Lord John ,anners, the Right Hon. Lord Stanley, the Right Hon. Lord Naas, the Right Hon. Lord Claud Hamilton, &o. MR. CHARL ES D ICKENS IN P ARIS .—Mr. Charl es Dickens's readings for the benefit of the E.tglish poor in Paris and the Lancashire operatives were so sue,. cessful as to excite emulation among the French. Several gentlemen of high standing in the literary world conceived that the project of giving public readings and lectures would give the means for increasing the tunds now collect ing for the unemployed of the Seine Inferieure. It was necessary in the first instance to ask for permission from the authorities, and M. Ferdinand de Lasteyrie was re quested by them to apply for that permission. He ad dressed a letter to the Prefect of Police, enclosing the names of the persons who were to give these readings, and the subjects they were to treat. M. Charten was to read an account of his travels ; M. Laboulaye, a member of the French Institute, an essay on the popular education in the United States of America ; M. de t.asteyrie, of the Insti tute, his reminiscences of a tour in America; M. Legouve, of the Institute, essays on modern society, and fragments of a drama in verse; M. Littre, of the Institute, philoso phical fragments; M. Henri Martin, the historian, was to lecture on a Gaulish bard; M. Ronan, of the Ins itute, ,rofessor of Hebrew at the Sorbonne, was to give an ec c.unt of his journey to the Lake of Tiberias; M. Reybaud, uf the Institute, a few chapters of an unpublis hed novel ; M. Sampson, of the Theatre Francais, an anal y sis of the principal scenes of Moliere's play of the ")iisanthrope, tnd M. de Trequiti, a u essay on the artistic education of the working classes. Capt. Winn, of the Grcnadier Guards, who was arrested on his return from Richmond by the Federal autho rities some two months, on a charge of carrying despatches from the Confederate Government, effected his escape a tew lays since, and arrive , ' in this city yesterday.—. Montreal Gazette, Feb, 6. GREECE. ATHENS, Feb. 22. M. Canires tendered his resignation the day be fore yesterday. A new Ministry was thereupon formed by MM. Bulgaris and Ruphos, and was sanctioned by the National Assembly. It was composed as follows: Foreign Affairs Interior . Finance War M. Artemis. Justice ... Popular demonstrations having, however, been made yesterday against the Provisional Govern ment of MM. Bulgaria and Ruphos and their Cabinet, both the former and the latter resigned. There will in future be no Provisional Govern ment, and the Ministry will be formed by the National Assembly itself. Meetings of Learned Societies this Week. MONDAY, Feb. 23. ARCHITECTS—At 8 p.m. "On Artificial Stone, and the Principles of its Production." By Mr. R. Kerr. GEOGRAPHICAL-At 8± p.m. I. "On the Discharge of Water from the Interior of Greenland through Springs Underneath the Ice." By Dr. H. Rink, of Greenland. 2. "On Rupert Land." By Captain H. Synge, R.E. ACTUARIES-At 7 p.m. MEDICAL-At 8f p.m. "On the Diseases of the Osseous System, and on Tumours, &e." By Mr. Thos. Bryant. TUESDAY, Feb. 24. CITIL ENGINEERS—At 8 p.m. 1. "On American Timber Bridges." By J. R. Morse, C.E. 2. "On the Recon- struction of the Dinting and Mottram Viaducts." By W. Fairbairn, C.E. ROYAL INSTITUTION—At 3 p.m. Professor Marshall, " On Animal Mechanics." ANTHROPOLOGICAL-At 7i p.m. Inaugural Address, "On the Study of Anthropology." By the President, Dr. James Hunt. MEDICAL AND C HIRTJEGICAL—At 8 pm. 1. "On Two Cases of Kelis." By Deputy Inspector-Gen. Langmore. 2. " On the Extent to which Human Life has been Pro- longed or Abridged by 0 variotomy." By Dr. Robt. Lee. ZOOLOGICAL—At 9 p.m. 1. "On a New Musk Rat from British Columbia." By Mr. Lord. 2. "On a New American Bat." By Mr. R. T. Tomes. 3. "On Hatch ing and Rearing Salmon and Trout by Artificial Means." By Mr. Frank Buckland. WEDNESDA.T, Feb. 25. ARCHJEOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION—At 8 p.m. 1. "On the Recent Di covery of Ancient British Remains in the Isle of Wight." By Rev. E. Kell. 2, "On Ancient Nielli." By Mr. Syer uming. ROYAL LITERATURE—At 4i p.m. LONDON INSTITUTION—At 7 p.m. " Warm-Blooded VC! , tebrata." By C. Carter Blake, Esq. SOCIETY or ARTS-At 8 p.m. "On the Best Means for Promoting the Growth and Improving the Quality of Cotton." By Mr. John Cheetham. THURSDAY, Feb. 26. ROYAL SOCIETY-At 8i p.m. 1. "On the Effect of Tem perature on the Secretion of Urea." By Dr. Beecher. 2. "On Clinant Geometry." By Mr. A. J. Ellis. 3. "On the Spectra of the Stara." By Mr. Huggins and Dr. Miller. ANTIQUARIES-At 8} p.m. ROYAL INSTITUTION-At 3 p.m. Dr. Frankland, "On Chemical Affinity." ARTISTS AND AMATEURS-At 8 p.m. FRIDAY, Feb. 27. ROYAL INSTITUTION—At 8 p.m. "On the Ancient Lake Habitations of Switzerland." By John Lubbock, Esq., F.R.S. LONDON INSTITUTION—At 7 p.m. "Non-Metallic Ele ments." By Professor Field. SATURDAY, Feb. 28. BOTANIC—At 3 p.m. ROYAL INSTITUTION—At 3 p.m. Professor Max Muller, " On Languages." Epigrammatic Epitaph ! " This corpse Is Tommy Thorpe's. (First idea)." Revised edition. " Thorpe's Corpse," qA. de Lamartime has commenced in La _France a feuzlleton, which he entitles " Fior d'Aliza." M. Gounod's "Faust" is " running" for a second time in Paris. There is a rumour that Mr. Panizzi, of the British Museum, intends to resign. The Paris house Didier is about to produce a translation of the works of the late Prince Consort. " Les Troyene"—the Homeric opera of M. Ber lioz—will possibly be given at the Theatre Lyrique, at Paris. Mr. Benedict's "Rose of Erin" (in Germany), at home " The Lily of Killarney," has been produced at Brunswick. It is stated that an account of the battle of IWaterloo has been found in the Duke of Wellington's handwriting, and is to be published. THE SO-CALLED dark ages of former days should no longer continue to receive that appellation Their importance in the history of the best portion of the human race is now universally acknowledged. Much has been done to illustrate them, and the elucidation which they have received at the hands of modern writers has been of the greatest historical importance. Many institutions en essential use in a state of transition and preparation may have afterwards lost their value and significance, but were not the less needed as organs in the obscure and gradual progress of change, which led through various stages from the rudiments of European civilisation to an advanced con dition of social maturity. Chief among these were the mon astic orders and the Papal power—the one securing the special education of the clergy; while the temporary sove reignty of the Popes protected their independence among the secular dominions by which they were surrounded. The writer the least prejudiced by any religious convictions has done the amplest justice to the supreme importance of the mission of Catholicism in the Middle Ages. It is Auguste Comte who has indicated the Church as the cradle of mo dern civilised lite ; who has shown how favourable its prin ciple., were to human development; and who has acknow ledged with gratitude 'bat the source of social science is to be found in the remote ages of history to which the desig nation of "dark" has been so constantly but so inappro priately applied.—London, Review. 4 4 Pompeii," says a Neapolitan correspondent of the Athenceum, "has awakened a greater interest than usual by a very important discov er y recently made, workmen a few days since were exacavating about 10 feet beneath the soil in a little street behing the Postribolo' ately brought to light, when sudd only they came on a mass of coins and jewels. Orders were given to continue the operation with the greatest precaution, and after two hours' work the perfect form of a man was discovered petrified, in the ashes stretched at full length. The flesh was dried up but the skeleton was entire. Fearful of accident in taking up these remains, Signor Fiorelli, the d.rector, ordered the form of thi squondam citizen of Pompeii to he taken in plas ter; and the operation sw_ceeded completely, with the ex ception of two fragments of the arm and the leg, against which lapilli, instead of ashes had come in contact. The impression has been taken with remarkable precision,—the hair, the moustaches, the folds of the garment, and even the dress of the legs and feet, being perfect. It is a dis covery of the greatest importance in archmology, and great merit is due to Signor Fiorelli for his vigilance and atten tion, t C. t i fal '4l I Fl - litular. LITERATURE. The Last Decade of a Glorious Reign F Mart r Freer, Au , 1.0, of " 1 or Ltie ot M :roe rite D'Angouleme," "Jeanne I) Albret," &c. 2 vols. Hurst and Blackett. Miss Freer has now arrived at the conclusion of her arduous undertaking, by presenting us with the two last volumes of her History of Henri Quatre. A history extending through six goody sized tomes is not often undertaken by a feminine hand, and the attempt appears the bolder when we call to mind that the reign she so chronicles was one of the most important as well as one of the most warlike in mo dern French history_ The troubled state of France when Henry of Navarre inherited the throne; the dark and disgraceful reigns that had preceded him, when a wily and cruel woman influenced the weak and savage minds of her sons till their de. de of blood had made history shudder—the war of the League, and the still powerful faction of the Guises —the fierce animosities between the rival creeds--- all these discordant elements combine to render the opening of Henry the Fourth's career one of the most stirring on record. Then came the long struggle with the League, the victories of Argues, Contras, and Ivry ; the siege of Paris, when the generous heart of Henry could nut endure the self inflicted sufferings of his people, but frequently sup plied the women and children with bread in secret; the thousand difficulties that beset his path, from the intrigues of Spain to the unwilling adherence of his own great Catholic lieges; the triumphal entry into Paris ; the change of faith. and Henry's final establishment on the throne and in the hearts of his subjects. He had conquered France as well as inherited her, and reigned, as Voltaire says, by a double right— "Et par droit de conquete et par droit de naissance." Then followed the long and brilliant reign, when the influence of Henry's ability was felt in every Cabinet in Europe, when his dreaded sword made the enemies of France shrink from contention, and his wise toleration secured her internal peace. That reign was chequered, indeed, by the plots and treachery which seemed fated to pursue a p r ince whose generosity and frankness deserved them se little ; and it was harassed, too, by those pitiful jealousies and quarrels between the Queen and her rivals, that so greatly embittered Henry's peace, but which were the natural reward of his own follies. Still in spite of domestic discord, long and prosperous years seemed to stretch out before the King and the people, who were enjoying the last wise and beneficent reign which France should see for many dreary years, when the nagger of Reraillac cut shot t all expectations, and lett the country to a long minority umier the wcak hand of Marie de Medicis, tollowed by the iron rule of Richelieu. All the histories of these eventful times Miss Freer has studied with care, and the continual marginal references to the workS of the day evi dence the time and labour she has bestowed upon her task. The reign of Henry IV. is rich in con temporary illustration—the memoirs of Sully alone forming a most valuable guide to the historian. Nevertheless, though our authoress has brought to the work assiduous labour, unquestionable ability, end considerable historical knowledge, we prefer her works of feminine biography as it affected his tory, to her histories themselves. Thirty years line the years discussed in these memoirs need, to be rightly chronicled, the grasp of a vigorous and ori ginal mind, the views of one familiar with politics aed statecraft. Though thoroughly trustworthy and carefully written, Miss Freer's work is rattier a narrative than a history, rather a faithful chroni cle than a luminous survey of the age and its men• She is occupied chiefly with details. We hear little of the internal adminiatration of the country ; we are simply tad that Sully was alt-power tut as Minister, but one of the volumes before usis nearly full of the disgraceful transactions with Madame de Verneuil. Uuntortunatety for the great Henry's memory, similar prominence has to be given in the second volume to his pursuit of the Princess de Conde, for whose sake he was ready to plunge France into war, when the hand of the assassin ar rested his projec - s. Miss Freer has divided her work into three parts, us her readers will easily re call. She had eireaoy sketched the early days of the young Prince of Navarre in her life of his =Auer, Jeanne D'Albret, and in her re' cord of the short and disgraceful reign of his predecessor, Henry 111. Tne close of that history ,ett Henry IV. standing by the bedside of the victim of Jacqu.s Clement, little knowing that his owb end strouid cone }ears alter by the same means. The first ten years of the reign now terms' ilatbd entonieleo the wars ot the League, crowned ny the entry into Parrs; the second narrated the events that fulloweu upon Henry's settlement On tie throne, ending with the treason and death of Bizon ; the third and concluding portion is noW before us, leaving the Regency just established. Su 13 deprived of his long authority, and mourn ing for his hero, aid France plunged into sorrow for the loss t her valiant king. It is very probs' nie that Miss Freer will follow up her labours by the htatoty of the regency of Marie de Medici—a task all ency tried by an Bullion-..4i 01 experience and ability, Miss Purdue. btle is Attila' to the delineation of character, end the pouring& of +[loBe weaknesses which SO otten mar the t fftcl ° f great capacities and aTrung deterwination,and therefore find ample scope for her powers in the picture of the influence gained over Queen Mari ° by her unworthy favour yes, the Cuuclui. ltiltse Freer deserves great praise for the asSiduity an d completeness of her labours, and her work will be a valuable and trustworthy reference fur the studen t or the historical writer. The work is handsomely illukrated with portraits of the two ladies whos e charms produced so much commotion—Henriett a de Buiz,c and Cnariotte de Montmorency. Tb e style is, as is usual with this writer, entirely devoid ut affectation or pretence of any kind, and the work, in addition to its standard value, wilt afford some interesting reading to those who like to step aside awhile from the pages o• fiction to the record of the vivid and dramatic incidents of an earlie r and more stirring age. Mr. MORLEY .PUDISHON is better educated 'Le ° Mr. Spurgeon, never a bt.ffoon, never vulgar, much less familiar, more ornate, holds the reins tighter, tees hie own way clearer, and calculates his points with a diamet er knowledge of the perspective of his subject. But in ttylu" pathies and intellectual range he is scarcely at all more the superior of his audience Wan Mr. Spurgeon ; and, t hough in a homely and vulgar fashion, Mr. Spurgeon seems I° have more reality of conscience than Mr Puusnon. Thee . is the artificial burnish of a divinity academy still visible Mr. Punshon's mind, though it must be long since he le° it; he bandits religious truths with a gloved hand, whil e ' as an able writer says, Mr. Spurgeon handles religious truths as a grazier handles an ox—i.s.,we suppose coarsely, almost grossly as regards the motive, but with a direct sense of hard and son, bone and outline, which divinity lecturers generady succeed in spoiling. Mr. PunshovS strength is clearly greatest where he is not touching relfr gious truths or formula at all. He has a large cabal° sense of humour—a suppressed irony of manner which, at his best, half reminds us of Mr. Bright ; as when he said of itotnaine, that re "was actually guilty of the eesrso crime of oveicrowchi,g St. George's, H a nover-square, and persuading patricians that they hadsuuls;:ft io o t rw w he N n e, b: remarked that " Wesley a as abruptly warned gate, lest he should make luau wicked, and from liedlartit lest he should drive men mad." Mr. Puustien'n fao o and whole manner express this kind of res rained humour' With a face that is caricatured, in the common print pre sented to you at the door of Exeter-hall, into a kind 0 ' compound between Sykes and Chadband—greasy sensuou s ness dominated by unsotupulous ferocity.—there is really e basis of mush fundamental human breadth u der artificisl and apparently sacerdotal control—the eyes tar back in th e bead, en d not wide open, givii , g an expr,ssi .n of nariv w conceutrateo put pose and atoll osi:y of will--,he deep round the heavy rbou , h ant thud c riyina a h a li•quik.z ie a g effect, that sometimes siutmsetoi nntap:tcalreseocesr,wosgrisfi vlbvdi t yaoh a ri conn k oatagb t ini : i odmeittk.p t eoht h tl:}lT e n:i uunhidhvi renr i cerrog i ,pti ,s a o c.rit ille:esztaibi perception rxna . s a pm, juo e l ooo : dtnu a i trl veel yderinabsveraregehsanni—ti instruments manner s s n: bi: b a ehi u n g o witm u ,s, a their u.d to central axis. But he utterly tails in the celesflat ate' f When that strong and heavy face was cast up to tbo of Exete r -h a ll i n a would- b e serap hi c extac) —an exta c Y v °o set purpose —the undimmed glasses through which ov, watched him presented to us a spectacle anything bu t ra v er ing• The gas light lay upon as opaque a face as in strove in vain tor iof a Stephen ; neithff,,l; vision nor in reality was that solid roof opent.d above b vilY ir, was as if Mr. Frederick Peel should Decome Ilea has press over a Treasury minute. Mr. Puu shon can bo press much; but let us warn him, aa -a friend wh o _O , watched him closely, not to try again the angelic t,. parency line,--,Spectator. 04./