The Sun. — London, England, 1853-01-20 00:00:00

THE FRENCH EMPIRE. lo The Moniteur of this morning contains the fol of w ing :—" The Bureau of the Senate, the Bureau the Legislative Body, and the members of the State Council, w ill meet on Saturday, at noon, at the Tuile r i es , to receive a communication from the Emperor respecting his marriage." Rumour repre sents that, after a good deal of reflection on the . .inperor's part, the proposition for the hand of the Countess Teba was formally made on Sunday last, and accepted, and at a Council of Ministers , n , e ld on Monday, the announcement was made by e Emperor himself, who intimated, at the same time, that his mind was already made up on the Point, and that it was a marriage of affection. The Ministers are said to have been taken by surprise, and tme of them manifested decided signs of oppo 4itien, but finding the Emperor's mind fixed on the Point, desisted. Another vetsion is, that three of tile Ministers remonstrated, and said something of resigning. On the other hand, it is stated that - t hey agreed to the marriage, that it was announced B ° ol l after in due course to the members of the Diplomatic Corps, who offered no objection , and who h ave accepted the arrangement. It is even Stated that the civil marriage actually took place l On Tuesday night, that the reli g i o us solemnisation will be held on Saturday week ne xt, and that Prince Napoleon Jerume, the Emperor's cousin, will be married at the same time to the daughter of the Prince of Wagram, granddaughter of Mar shal Berthier. The marriage of Prince Napoleon Jerome, should .. it really take place, will not, it is said, prevent him from proceeding to his commana. as Lieutenant of th e Emperor in Africa. Africa will be divided into three military divisions. the principal seats of which Will be respectively Algiers, Oran, and Constantine. The Prince will have authority over the three mili tary governments, but that authority will be con trolled by the superior direction of the War-office at home, and of course of the Emperor himself. Many persons are of opinion that Prince Napoleon Jerome will not long remain in his Vice-Royalty of Algiers ; and that his return to France may be soon expected. - Marshal St. Arnaud is still spoken of as about to quit the War Department, and his successor is to be General Canrobert. Amongst the other rumours of the day is one with reference to the renewed at tempt at a fusion between the Count of Chambord and the Orleans Princes, and it is said—as it has been said many times—with every prospect of suc cess. It is added, that the Princes have some in tention of payino , a visit before long to their cousin the Count of Chambord. Pierre Bonaparte, brother of the present Prince of Canino, and once an ardent republican, is about to be named to the command of a regiment of Zouaves. An Imperial decree, dated the 3d, nominates Ge neral de Division Allouveau de Monbreal, Inspec tor-General of Infantry, to the command of the di -vision of occupation of Rome, in the room of Ge neral Gemeau, nominated Senator, and placed en "esPonsibilite. We read in the Patrie " The Portuguese Government, desirous of giving to 'ranee a proof of the good understanding which it Wishe s to see reign between the two Governments, has s uppressed a journal published at Lisbon, and which had Expressed hostility against the re-establishment of the _ A violent hurricane was experienced at Dieppe nMonday night, which caused considerable da ge. Amongst other casualties are mentioned - Is l Stranding of the English brig the Henry Coles , - `l‘len with coal from Newcastle. It is expected t hat She will be got off with the loss of her bowsprit and Kane damage to her hull. , The sa me n i g ht the Eleanor, of Sunderland, was totally wrecked within 4O yards of the western pier. The crew were all saved with great difficulty. The English galliot Ariel, of Truro, from New castle to Bristol, laden with coal, has likewise re ceived some injury. M. Genestal, major in the sth battalion 9f the ational Guard, gave a dinner on Monday to the officers of the battalion at the Trois-Freres-Proveu callx• After dinner Lieutenant Cote gave the toast " Conciliation," which he prefaced with t he followi ng speech " Gentlemen, —Napoleon 111. on ascending the throne inaugurated an era of conciliation. He rewarded " . ery act of devotedness, he assembled round him Without distinction of parties all the men of merit and goodwill proud of serving the greatest and noblest of all causes—that is, the cause of the nation. My party is nowhere, said he one day, but my cause 18 everywhere—under the tent of the soldier and in the workshop, in the palace as well as in the cottage. I • • t 'tt us mutate that example which comes to us from a high quarter. Let us distinguish ourselves likewise by ° ln' spirit of conciliation. Let all of us who desire the grandeur and prosperity of the country, above all things come together and shake hands." Those words were listened to in silence, and were interrupted at the conclusion with applause. The news of the disastrous fall on the Paris Bourse is accompaned by a variety of rumours. The principal of these is that another of the mem bers of the Government is among the speculators who are unable to meet their, losses. The Pays of this day notices the fall in the funds, and endeavours to show that there is nothing in the situation of the country, either financially or commercially, which ought to inspire the slightest degree of uneasiness. It attributes the depression of the funds to the check which was lately put upon wild' speculation at the Bourse, and anticipates that, when the re-action thus caused shall have re stored things to their proper level, the funds will be in harmony with what the Pays calls " the gene ral prosperity." It concludes its article as fol lows: " Once mora, we repeat, there is nothing in this state of things, of which we can here only sketch the most salient points, which can cause alarm to the most timid minds. Everything, on the contrary, breathes security, confidence, and laborious activity, united to faith in the future. It is only malevolence which could wish to misrepresent the peaceful and tranquilising character of it. It is only ignorance which can credit these preme ditated errors. Is it hoped by these absurd inventions to alarm foreign capitalists, and turn their capital from entering into our industrial movements ? We certainly do not feel much uneasiness at these efforts ; capitalists understand their interests better than party spirit ; they go wherever important revenues await them, as it would be easy for us to show that our great industrial under takings offer them advantages superior to those which they cou ld meet w i t h i n t h e most pro d uc ti ve na tions of Europe ; but, and we say it with some pride—France has never much run after foreign credit, and now, perhaps, less than at other periods. Her immediate resources are sufficient for the development of her activity. Under the Empire, when she was at war with the whole of Europe, she was able to create new and powerful manufactories, to satisfy all the wants of her home consumption, and to extend enormously the combined elements of the national riches. Since that period—and thanks to more than 30 years of peace—her material prosperity has only increased. Our paper currency is not o u t o f propor tion with the three milliards of cash which we possess. England certainly never had such an amount of coin at her disposal, when she was able for 20 years to feed her . commerce, her manufactures, and th e strugg l e o f Europe against our armies. We are, therefore, pos sessed of great an d p ower ful res ources , and there is nothing to prove that it is necessary for us to have re course to exotic credit. All the great undertakings. which have been organised for the last few years have been founded and maintained with French capital, and in the last few months the power and energy of national credit has been even more clearly proved. In these different poiits of view, we may boldly and fearlessly present our situation to the eyes of all nations as an ex ample of strength and progress. The blind passions of party spirit will not weaken the materiality of these ob servations, and let it be well understood that in the state 0 1 general peace of the different States, and with the incessant communication between modern nations, coa litions are as impossible in the financial as in the political world." The Bourse of this day was the most disastrous that has been experienced by the speculators for a rise, since the coup d'etat of December. The Three Per Cents., opened at 78f. 50c., and closed at 77f. 90c. for the end of the month, being a fall of lf. 85e. as compared with the closing price of yester- Y ; the Four-and-a-Half per Cents. closed at -1 --, 133 f. 50c. ; Orleans Railway Shares, 975 f. ; nouen, 970 f. ; Havre, 490 f ; G r eat Northern, 8 05 f. ; Basle, 340 f. ; Paris and Strasburg, 730 f.; ?axis and Lyons, 835 f. ; Lyons and the Medi terranean, 695 f. ; Caen and Cherbourg, 580 f. ; Bor ,aux and Cette, 560 f.; Dijon to Besancon, 515 f.; Shares of the Bank of Credit Foncier (issued at 50 0 f.), 645 f. ITALY. demise. This false intelligence having been widely cir culated, we are authorised to contradict it. The state ment is unfounded. Everybody, on the other hand, knows that the persons confined in the prisons of the Grand Duchy are treated with kindness humanity, and philanthropy." The Genoa Mercantile Corriere of the 15th con tains the following : " The Pontifical Government, at whose request the de cree expelling the emigrants from Tuscany was issued has forwarded a list of them to the frontier authorities, with orders to arrest them, should they attempt to enter the Pontifical dominions. The circular was also sent to the Government of San Marino. As respects the latter, here is a less serious although curious fact. The Marquis Guartavillani, of Bologna, honorary captain in the army of the Most Serene Republic of San Marino, preserved the hat of the brother of Napoleon 111., killed at Forli, during the revolution of 1831. The Marquis resolved to set out for Paris with that relic, but in order to present himself to the Emperor with a more respect able character, he offered the Republic of San Marino to go and recognise the new Monarch in its name. The offer was accepted, and the Prince Regent of the Re public having written his letters of credence, M. Guar tavillani took his departure for Paris. The Grand Duke of Tuscany has definitively declined to accede to the Customs Union proposed by Austria. This course was suggested to him by the bad effect the very mention of the measure had produced in his dominions, and by advice coming from abroad." We read in the Roman Journal of the 10th inst..— "Twelve Roman ladies have executed with their own hands 12 carpets, intended to adorn the staircase leading from the Basilicon of the Vatican ally Confessione. On Christmas-day those carpets, which appeared for the first time, were much admired. They were woven by the fol lowing ladies : Princess Mary Aldobrandini, born d'Aremberg ; the Marchioness Claire Antici Mattei, born Altieri ; Princess Adele Borghese, born De la Roche foucauld ; Princess Theresa Borghese, born De la Rochefoucald ; Princess Josephina Lancelotti Ginetti, born Massimo; Princess Hyacinth Massimo, born Della Porta Radiani ; Countess Amelia, born Ruspoli ; the Duchess Theresa de Poli, born Chigi ; the Duchess Arabella Salviati, born de Fitz-James ; the Marchioness Virginia Spinola;born Patrizi; Princess Theresa, Torlonia, born Colonna : the Duchess Frances de Zagarolo, born De Nompere Oampagny. The 12 carpets are of equal dimensions. In the angles are the armorial bearings of the lady who executed the work, and those of her hus band." 1107 8j 65 i i 23 1 100 13 12i I 21 3944 77 7 1 L 91 1 81 2; 11i Si 103 i 4 i 1 I ,121 b 1 891 90 891 The Pope has conferred on the Bishop of Cahors the title of Attendant on the Pontifical Throne, and created him a Roman Count. SPAIN. The accounts from Madrid aro to the 15th inst. The Gazette publishes four Royal decrees, coun tersigned by Count d'Alcoy, depriving MM. Satur mno Calderon Collantes and Francisco de Paula Orlando of their seats in the Royal Council, and appointing to succeed them General Fermin Salcedo and M. Ventura Diaz, late Governor of the Pro vince of Madrid. M. Antonio Benavides, Minister of the Interior, had named M. Francisco de Cardonas Under-Secre tary of State of his department. It was rumoured that M. Joaquin Maria Perez was to be nominated Under-Secretary of State of the Ministry of Finance, and M. Amblard Director of Accounts in the same department. Count de Mirasol was indisposed and had not been able for some days to assist at the Cabinet Councils. Queen Maria Christina had returned to Madrid from her excursion to Tarancon. Donna Maria of Braganza, Marchioness de Louie, had left for Lisbon. The B eraldo announces that the King of Bavaria intended to visit Spain. The Three per Cents. were done at 42a ; the New Three per Cents. at 23 5-16 ; the Debt of the First Class, at 10i ; and that of the Second, at sg. 78 7i 8i I 2! 75 79 80 141 a 9a 69 9 12 554 6 11108. FOR: IIGN. Cluing prices Yesterday. 20 20 20 20 .51i 1 20 201 20 10 1104 2 The Municipal Conncil of Genoa voted, on the 15th, its budget of expenses, and allocated funds to maintain a suit against Cardinal Lambruschini, who claimed certain rights as Abbot of San Antonio de Prato. The Imperial and Royal Council of War, sitting at lUdina, pronounced judgment on the 31st ult. against eight individuals —among whom were two clergymen. ' Six were sentenced to from six months to two years' imprisonment, and two were acquitted for want of proof. They were all accused of having concealed arms, with the exception of one of the clergyman, who, being a parish priest, was charged with having omitted to sing the Ambrosian Hymn on the Emperor's birthday, of having celebrated on that day an office for the dead, and committed a disrespectful act towards the portrait of the Em peror of Austria. The Tuscan Monitor, of the 13th inst., inserts the following : " The journal Opinione published some time ago an article, copied in other papers, announcing the death of the prisoner Madiai, in the penitentiary establishment of Tuscany, and adding that his sufferings had caused his 20 20 33i 10 20 lot 1 2 13 14 d 21 d 5 —6 p 2i p lid d par —1 pxn —7i 5 14 10 8 -10 p 2 -2) - 8 84: 61 - 7f 33 - 33. 141 -14 i! all 10 all all all Business dodo this day. x iii x in x in a new 301 1 f 1 c.in 14 -144 p 38 -- 40 37 -- 39 30 --30ixa 4} -- 5 p 18 9 A -- 19A 9 P -- -- 2 a p t P 4A -- 5 d 5 par P 221 2 28i 8 6f si i THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, JANUARY 20, 1853. MINES. 1 all Agua Fria 10s all Anglo Californian p 1 10 2 Australasian 1 2 p 34 20 5 Australian 1 all Australian Cordillera p 1 all Australian Freehold d p 1 all Ave Maria 1 all Radian (Gd. Duchy of) par p 14 1 all British Austrin. Gold I p 14 20 13.5 BrLish Iron 9 —ll p 35 244 Brazilian Imp. (issued at .£5 pm.) 30 all Do. Cocaes & Cuiaba 20 15 Do. St. John Del Rey 29 —3O 1 all Carson's Creek.. par p 40 all Cobre Copper 4O —42 5 1 Colonial Gold 2l p 34 . . 14 Copirvo 6 7 St. all CopperMinersof Eng ... 25 all Do. Preference 64 —7# p 5 all English and Austin. Copper Smeltg. Co. 1 —ll d 34 20 all General — .. • 1 all Golden Mountain 2 all Great Nugget Vein 34 — 3 ; 0 A 3 all Great Polgooth l4 —l6 p 41 all Lake Bathurst l d— par 4 all Liberty a P 1 0 all Lond.&Californ.Gold Quartz Crush. Co — 1 d 4 0 1 all Mariquita 4d 41 3 10 9 Mexicali &S. Americ. 4 1 all New Granada g P 1a 1 all Nouveau Mondo 4— 1 p 2 1421 1 all Port Philip l— ll p 2 1 all Quartz Rock P 50 all R'iymney Iron 25. —26 15 Do. New 74 8 30 101 Santiago de Cuba 1 a ll South Australian 4 P 10 7 En Croft — 28 all United Mexican 7 8 8 1 all Waller 1 all West' Grar 'a — p 1 all Welt Mari il osa par p 1' all Yuba a --p 14 JOINT-STOCK BANKS. 40 all Australasia Bl 83 82 50 all British N. American ... 100 25 Colonial. — 16/ xd 100 20 Commercial of Lon don — 4 English Scottish and •.• Australian l4 l p 20 24 Lond. Chart. Bk. of Australia 34 —34 p 50 20 London and County 50 10 London Joint Stock 100 20 Lond. & Westminster 100 35 NationalProv.ofEng. 20 10 Do. New — 50 224 National of Ireland 25 all OrienA Bank of Corpopation..... 25 5 Do. New — 100 25 Provincial of Ireland ... 10 all Do. New — 5 1 Royal Australn.Bkg & Gold Importing Company. 25 25 South Australia . 45 48 25 all Union of Australia 72 73 721 2A Do. New 50 10 Union of London — 40 all Union of Madrid — • MISCELLANEOUS. 100 35 Australian Agricult 225 235 238 30 42 20 4 Austrlasn.Pcific.Mail 10 5 Australis. Royal Mail ... 38A Brit. Americn. Land - 321 Canada — 5 5 Crystal. Palace — 4 2 Crystil Pal. of France 20 1 Eastern St - am 1 1 Electric. Toleg. of Ir 15 14 Gen. St Nim Navigat 100 50 General Screw Steam 20 26 Irish B • etroot Su7: • 10 3 Netherlands Laud._ - 20 24 Nrth. of Europe Steam •• • 50 all Peninsular &Oriental Si 2 100 60 Royal Mail Steam.. . • 25 25 South Austral. Land 4S 53 52 50 5 2 Submar. Telegraph 1 1 Universal Emigration and Colonisation 100 284 Van Diemen's Land l 7 19 17 ter—with one who had been accustomed to call her mother—is most unsatisfactory and repugnant. Esmond and his wife retire to some Auierican estate belonging to the family, and there the ColOnel pens this history of his early days. One or two passages we must quote as specimens of Colo nel Esmond's style. The first speaks of his visit when abroad to the grave, in a convent cemetery, of Sister Marie Madeleine, the deserted wife of Lord Castlewood : " MY MOTHER'S RESTING-PLACE. " Esmond came to this spot in one sunny evening of spring, and saw, amidst a thousand black crosses, cast ing their shadows across the grassy mound, that particu lar one which marked his mother's resting-place. Many more of those poor creatures that lay there had adopted that same name, with which sor row h a d re-baptised her, and which fondly seemed to hint their individual story of love and grief. He fancied her, in tears and darkness, kneeling at the foot of her cross, under which her cares were buried. Surely he knelt down and said his own prayer there, not in sorrow so much as in awe (for even his memory had no recollection of her), and in pity for the pangs which the gentle soul in life had been made to suffer. To this cross she brought them ; for this hea venly bridegroom she exchanged the husband who had wooed her, the traitor who had left her. A thousand such hillocks lay round about, the gentle daisies springing out of the grass over them, and each bearing its cross and i'equiescat. A nun, veiled in black, was kneeling hard by, at a sleeping sister's bedside (so fresh made that the spring had scarce had time to spin a coverlid for it) ; beyond the cemetery walls you had glimpses of life and the world, and the spires and gables of the city. A bird came down from a roof opposite, and lit first on a cross and then on the grass below it, whence it flew away presently with a leaf in its mouth ; then came a sound as of chanting from the chapel of the sisters hard by ; others had long since filled the place, which poor Marie Madeleine once had there, were kneel ing at the same stall, and hearing the same hymns and prayers in which her stricken heart had found consola tion. Might she sleep in peace !—might she sleep in peace ! and we, too, when our struggles and pains are over. But the earth is the Lord's, as the heaven is ;we are alike his creatures, here and yonder. I took a little flower off the hillock, and kissed it, and went my way, like the bird that had just lighted on the cross by me, back into the world again. Silent receptacle of death ! —tranquil depth of calm, out of reach of tempest and trouble ! I felt as one who had been walking below the sea, and treading amidst the bones of shipwrecks." The next is of a very dissimilar character, and gives a sketch of some of the foibles and virtues of Sir Richard Steele "The gentlemen ushers had a table at Kensington, and the guard a very splendid dinner daily at St. James's, at either of which Esmond was free to dine. Dick Steele liked the guard-table better than his own at the gentlemen ushers', where there was less wine and more ceremony, and Esmond had many a jolly afternoon in company of his friend, and a hundred times, at least, saw Dick into his chair. If there is verity in wine, according to the old adage, what an amiable-natured character Dick's must have been ! In proportion as he _ _ took in wine, he overflowed with kindness. His talk was not witty so much as charming. He never said a word that could anger anybody, and only became the more benevolent the more tipsy he grew. Many of the wags derided the poor fellow in his cups, and chose him as a butt for their satire ; but there was a kindness about him, and a sweet playful fancy, that seemed to Esmond far more charming than the pointed talk of the brightest wits, with their elaborate repartees and affected severities. I think Steele shone rather than sparkled. Those famous beaux-esprits of the coffee houses (Mr. William Congreve, for instance, when • his gout and his grandeur permitted him to come among us) would make very brilliant hits—half-a-dozen in a night, sometimes—but, like sharp-shooters, when they had fired their shot, they were obliged to retire under cover, till their pieces were loaded again, and wait till they got another chance at their enemy ; whereas Dick never thought that his bottle companion was a butt to aim at—only a friend to shake by the hand." Here, again, is a specimen of power displayed in a portrait of Marlborough " Our chief, whom England and all Europe, saving only the Frenchmen, worshipped almost, had this of the godlike in him, that he was impassable before victory, before danger, before defeat. Before the greatest ob stacle or the most trivial ceremony ; before a hundred thousand men drawn in battalia, or a peasant slaugh tered at the door of his burning hovel ; before a carouse of drunken German lords, or a monarch's Court, or a cottage table where his plans were laid ; or an enemy's battery, vomiting flame and death, and strewing corpses round about him—he was always cold, calm, resolute, like fate. He performed a treason or a court bow, he told a falsehood as black as Styx, as easily as he paid a compliment or spoke about the weather. He took a mistress, and left her ; he betrayed his benefactor, and supported him, or would have murdered him, with the same calm”ess always, and having no more remorse than Clotho when she weaves the thread, or Lachesis when she cuts it. In the hour of battle I have heard the Prince of Savoy's officers say, the Prince became pos sessed with a sort of warlike fury ; his eyes liglited up ; he rushed hither and thither, raging ; he shrieked curses and encouragement, yellin6 and hooting his bloody war dogs on and himself always at the first of the hunt. Our Duke was as calm at the mouth of the cannon as at the door of a drawing-room. Perhaps he could not have been the great man he was had he had a heart either for love or hatred, or pity or fear, or regret or re morse. He achieved the highest deed of daring, or _ _ deepest calculation of thought, as he performed the very meanest action of which a man is capable ; told a lie, or cheated a fond woman, or robbed a poor beggar of a halfpenny with a like awful serenity and equal capacity of the highe.t and lowest acts of our nature. " His qualities were pretty well known in the army, where there wee parties of all politics, and plenty of shrewdness and wit ; but there existed such a perfect confidence in him, as the first captain of the world, and such a faith and admiration in his prodigious genius and fortune, that the`dry men whom he notoriously cheated of their pay, the chiefs whom he used and injured (for he used all men, great and mall, that came near him as his in struments alike, andtook something of theirs, either some quality or some property—the blood of a soldier It might be, or a jewelled hat, or a hundred thousand crowns from a king, or a portion out of a starving sentinel's three farthings—or (when he was young) a kiss from a woLian, and the gold chain off her neck ; taking all he could from woman or man, and having, as I have said, this of the godlike in him that he could see a hero perish or a sparrow fall with the same amount of sympathy for either. Not that he had no tears—he could always order up this reserve at the proper moment to battle ; he could draw upon tears or smiles alike ; and whenever need was for using this cheap coin, he would cringe to a shoeblack, as he would flatter a minister or a monarch ; be haughty, be humble, threaten, repent, weep, grasp your hand, or stab you whenever ho saw occasion ; but yet those of the army who knew him best, and had suffered most from him, admired him most of all ; and as he rode along the lines to battle, or galloped up in the nick of time to a battalion reeling from before the enemy's charge or shot, the faint ing men and officers got new courage as they saw the splendid calm of his face, and felt that his will made them irresistible." Notwithstanding such evidences of undoubted ability we must confess that we have perused Colonel Esmond's revelations vithout pleasure ; and we are afraid, we must add, without profit also. A similar feeling, we are confident, will be expressed by the majority of those who, like ourselves, have turned eagerly to the book on account of the double authorship. We are confident they will exclaim with us--" Hold ! enough. No more of Colo nel Esmond ! But as much as he pleases of Wil liam Makepeace Thackeray." The First Lieutenant's Story. By Lady Catharine Long, author of " Sir Roland Ashton." 3 vols. Hurst and Blackett (successors to Colburn). The motto of this work is taken from " Prover bial Philosophy :" " Take care that the standard of thy soul wave from the loftiest battlements." The object of the authoress is to carry out this sentiment in her story, and she succeeds : the high est principles are laid down and the best feelings inculcated. Yet there is this objection to be made : there are too many.solemn discussions and gloomy reveries described. The character of Captain Normanton is, it is to be trusted, unnatural ; for a greater wretch could scarcely be imagined. Melan choly is the pervading spirit of the tale. After all enemies are defeated and all troubles apparently ended, the principal actors retire to Italy, the birt li -1 place of the heroine. But peace is not to be their I portion, nor can they find repose. The resistless enemy appears, and sweeps away the mother and child from the long-sought, dearly- valued home. The hero, Wilfred St. Clair, returns to the duties of his profession—" his marc h was o'er the moun tain wave, his home was on the deep." M any years subsequent to these tragic events, he is sup posed to relate his story to a young friend in the silent watches of the night. It was a fitting hour for the recital of such sufferings ; the ocean rolling around was a true reflex, in its rage and restless ness, of the troublous scenes he had passed thro ug h ; while the starry firmament above imaged, in its majestic serenity and repose, the calm which reli gion had shed over his spirit. The subjoined con versation exemplifies St. Clair in his most favour able moment : "The pang that shot through me, as a suspicion of The truth all of a sudd en fl as h ed on ny mind, I cannot describe. If there was a being in the world I loved, next to Mary, it was Bruce—if there was one in the way of whose happiness I would not for worlds have stood, it was he. Yet here all of a sudden I found myself, as I thought, between him and his best wishes—him and his love ! I stood looking at him in consternation for a minute. Th en, incapable of saying another word, I left the berth. " I sat down at the foot of the companion, and tried to arrange my thoughts. I was always rather given to day dreams—things which, if often of dangerous ten dency, are not always without their use—at least I have found it so. In my reveries I had often liked to fancy myself in such and such situations, and to think what would be my feelings and course of action under the. Amongst other things I had tried to fancy wh at I shou ld . do if ever I found Mary liking any one better th h a t n m m o e , re or if I saw any one liking her whom I though 1 worthy of her ; and in both cases I bad imagined myself COAST OF AFRICA. The Prometheus, 6, steam-sloop, Commander Foote, arrived at Spithead yesterday afternoon, from the coast of Africa. She left Sierra Leone on the 27th of December, called at Teneriffe on the 7th inst., and left again with mails on the 11th. By this arrival, we are informed of the Abbra kontans being engaged with an army of 20,000 men in the storming of Addo, a town to the north of Badagay. They were, however, expected to be attacked daily by the King of Dahomey, who had threatened to lead a large army against them, and to the defence of the people of Addo. Commander Foote of the Prometheus, with Dr. Irving, of the same ship, had returned to Sierra Leone just be fore she sailed for this port, from a mission to the people of Abrakontah, whose town is about thirty miles to the north, the object of which was to open up friendly relations with them. This mis sion was perfectly successful—the people in. question, through those of their chiefs not engaged in the war with Addo, receiving them with the greatest kindness, and showing a particular desire to main tain the best friendship with Europeans. They had abolished the slave trade, had received the mis sions from the coast with friendly manifestations, and were endeavouring to further the productive resources of their country, which is described as a very fine one, capable of producing large quantities of cotton, gum, indigo, &c. Of the• merits of the war with Addo, we have not sufficient information to speak. The British had been engaged in some hostilities on the Shebau ; the boats of the Poly phemus, 6, steam-sloop, Commander Philips, having landed some men there, who had burned down se veral buildings, reported to be for slave purposes. The Prometheus reports the following men-of war at Sierra Leone when she left :—Centaur with the flag of Rear-Admiral Bruce ; Firefly, Polyphe mus, Blood-hound, Ferret, Pluto—all well. The mail steamer Propontis had called on the 26th of December, in the evening, to coal, having put in to Teneriffe on the 23d. She reported the Ferret, sloop, having put in there, after experiencing bad weather. The following were in the Bights :—Britomart (senior officer), Cygnet, and Alecto ; on the south coast, Harlequin, Waterwitch, Volcano, and Spy. There was no slave trade going on at all. The Pro metheus brings home a small freight of gold dust, ivory, &c., with invalids, among whom is Lieute nant Towsey, from the Firefly. BOW-STREET-(THIS DAY). _ DARING ROBBERT.—James Cooper was brought up, before Mr. Hall, charged with stealing from the person of Jane Moss a purse, containing a half a sovereign Land one shilling. Last night, about seven •'clock the prosecutrix was proceeding along High -street, Bloomsbury, having at the time her purse — containing the sum named in the charge —in her hand, when the prisoner came up to her and snatched it from her, and ran away. She pursued him, calling out " Stop thief," when he threw away the purse, and, just as he was about making off, a constable came up and took him in charge. The purse was subsequently found in the road. The prisoner denied the charge, and said he was play ing with some other boys, when the constable came up and took him into custody. The prosecutrix said she could swear prisoner was the thief, as she had a distinct view of his face under the gas lamp. Mr. Hall committed the prisoner for trial. ELECTION INTELLIGENCE. OXFORD UNIVERSITY. FOURTEENTH DAY. OXFORD, WEDNESDAY.---The result of the day's poll ing has reduced Mr. Gladstone's majority from 124 to 119. The number of votes recorded was 39, of which 17 were for Mr. Gladstone, and 22 for Mr. Perceval. STATE OF THE POLL AT FIVE O'CLOCK. Gladstone 1004 Perceval BB5 Majority for Gladstone -119 CAR LOW. The polling took place at Carlow yesterday. At half-past one, the numbers were— Alexander 95 Sadleir Thirteen remained unpolled. Alexander's return was considered certain. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. SIR,--The Bank of England may be quite right in raising the rate of discount ; but would not capital be kept in this country more effectually, if Government relaxed our absurd law of partnership ? A man having a little spare cash, rather than incur the risk of being ruined under the Joint-Stock Act, invests it in foreign loans and schemes which do not involve any personal liability. Australia, California, and Free-trade have so far averted the panic now due ; but two or three foreign loans with a deficient harvest would soon change our prospects.—l am, Sir, your obedient servant, A FREE-TRADER. COMMUNICATION WITH FRANCE.—Compl a i n ts t are re; ceived of the discontinuance by the French NorthernZ Railway Company of the tidal trains in correspondence hours, with the Folkestone steamers. If a direct servi ce lx3- tween London and Paris only occupying 12 ac complished by day, and varied in the time o f d eparture so as always to insure a favourable tide; is in every case a great convenience to travellers, it is most of all so at this season. The mail service, conducted by night, and at fixed hours, cannot replace it, and is not only open to frequent irregularities, but, being arranged specially for the transmission of letters, and rightly treating everything else as a secondary importance, it exposes passengers to many discomforts and inconveniences in cold and stormy weather, from which a tidal service exempts them. EMIGRATION.—The Emigration Commissioners have given notice that they will be, prepared to receive tenders on the 22d inst. for three vessels to take out emigrants to Western Australia, New South Wales, and Victoria. They are to be ready to receive the passengers for Perth and Sydney on the 28th of February, and for Melbourne on the 2d of March next. THE SHARE MARKETS. BRITISH RAILWAYS. Closing Prices I Liminess done Yesterday. this day, tr. I Paid. rten.wAYs. 100 8 Aberdeen l Arnbg. Nottng. Bost, Eastn. Birmg. Wolverh. & L 4 I all a I 28 r7 t il all 2 I_l§4 it. 100 it. 100 50 all 50 all 50 45 25 all 5 I all ;5 I all !O all 5 all 5 84; 5 all e i t. 100 i 0 all It. 1100 LO L. 14 t. 100 t. 100 ft. 100 ft. 100 ft. 100 ft. 100 Stour Valley Birkenhd. Lanesh. & Cheshire I Do. Chesh. & Birk., £5O and £25 Cons, Do., £2O Bristol and Exeter , Caledonian Chester & Holyhead. Cork and Bandon' Dublin&Belfast June Dundee Perth&Aber deen Junction Do. New all 63.113 ,t: 100 - D 15 .4 11.1 East Anglian (£25 L. and E. & L. & D.) Eastern Counties..... Eastern Union, Class A. (late E. U. Sh.) Do., do i 0 4n , 5 176 !.. )0 all - It. 100 6 3 5 14 50 7 . ) ,0 all t.lOO 5 I all Po., B. and C.. ! C t i ,6 13 LG 6i 8 all 8 5 :0 17i ;0 all [0 10 It 100 It. 100 It. 100 It. 100 It. 100 _0 8 ;6i all East Lancashire East & West Ind. Dk. & Binning. June Edinburgh & Glasgow Edin. and Peebles Edin. Prth. &Dundee Glasgow & S. Western Great Northern Stk Do., A. Stock Do., B. Stock Great Southern and Western (Ireland) Great Western Irish South-Eastern Lancaster & Carlisle Do., Thirds Lancash. & Yorkshire Do., Fifths Do., Wst. Riding Un Leeds Northern AI all !O all !O 63 i 0 all ft. 100 >0 all !O 15 !O 5 161 Liv. Crsby. &Southpt. London & Blackwall Lond. Tilb. & Sthend. Lond. Brigt. & S. Cst. London & N. Western Do., Fifths Do. ,LlO Sh.M. &B. C London & S. Western Do., £5O Do., £4O Londerry. &Coleraine Lndndrry. & Enuisk. Manch. Shef. &Lincln Do., Man. & Lin. Un 'Midland 20 17 20 all 50 all 20 13 I 0 1/.l s 10 1 - it. 100 25 20 25 10 - St. 100 16; 20 5 2 Do.Birming. &Derby Midland G. West. (Ir.) Do. Shares Newcastle & Carlisle Newmarket Do. Bury Extension Newp. Aberg.&llftd Newry & Enniskillen Newry, Warrenpoint, and Restrevor Norfolk Do., New Northn. Counties Un North British North Devon, No. 1 Do., No. 2 Do., A A Deferred Do., B Guaranteed North Staffordshire North Western N. & S. Westrn. June. Oxford, Worcester, & Wolverhampton Scottish Central ... Scot Ash Midland Shrewsbury & Birmg. Do., L. & N. Westn. duaranteed Stock. Shrewsby. &Hereford Shrewsby. & Chester (Nor. W. Min.)._ Do. Halves, do Do. Oswestry Lh u ro th ps p hi e r v e o ll i nion South Eastern South Wales S. Yorksh. River Dun. Do. _ _ Stockton & Hartlepl. Thames Haven Dock and Railway: Vale of Neath Waterfd. & Kilkenny Waterford& Limerick West Cornwall Wimbledon&Croydn Woodford York NewctL&Berw 1 Do. Extensions Do. G. N. E. Purchase York & N. Midland.. all all 8i 100 100 1061 Aberdeen . Do., No. 2, 7 p. c.... Bristol & Exeter 4 p cent. Stock . Do. 4 p. c. Shares .. 29 - 30 6i 10 10/, —61 d, 21 22 3 2i d 107 109 641 65 23 17 18 3 2id 51 - 5 1 1 121- 13 9 - 10 73 - 75 55 - 60 1 74 - 76 idp -26 - 0 60 - 62 77h _ 78A 39 - 41 Ll 9 -121 90 —11.1 p —81 i 3i d 21 d -14 104 A! 121 ~3 * -34p - 1 p 89 90 6 5d 5 4d 11 12 19i —20 i 284 —29 t 34 77A 7 8 45 47 51 -- 52 3 -- 3A 21 --2 d 8f -- 8i 53 -- 55 7A -- 8 2i -- 2i d 35 -- 36 6i -- 61 d 2A -- 21 -- d -- 3k d 81 -- 81 3. -- 4A p 49i -- 50? 95 -- 97 63 -- 65 67 -- 69 70 - 80 19 20 9i 10 14 15 cl 22 2 23 78i 79 38 384 13 134 4 L 3 - 14 = 9 -- 9 Wi -- 27 PBi -- 9 68i -- 69 8 -- 7 21 :3 55 56 16 i PREFERENCE SHARES. • ."-* - 109 1105 - 107 19 20 Par 4 P 6 -- 3i - 34 - g - -14 p -- 1 p 14d -- 141 18 - 18 3 - 3i 1126 - 128 1112 - 114 - 9 1 - 1i p .08A -109 A P - P L5O - 152 3i- 4p 8 - 83 131 -13 i 9 -- 104 -- 11} g P 1 - ••• ..... 150 - 152 - 0 P 221 - 23 5. - 6 2 -2, LOI - 103 25} - 26 ... - ... 2 - 2i p I 1 - 11 17,f —17 i i 1 p 16 17 par 4 1, 26 - 26. 19 - 20 I a 103 - 105 5i - !Caledonian £lO Chester & Holyhead Guar. 5i 'per cent. Cark &Bandon 5i P.C. Dundee, Perth, and Aberdeen Junction East Anglianl(£3 108)1 6 per cent Do. (£5), 7 per cent Do. (£7l7s), 7. p et Eastern Counties Ex tension, 5 p. c. No.l Do., No. 2 Do., New 6 p. c. St Eastern Union Scrip Guar. 6 per cent East Lancash. 6 p. cts Edinb. Prth. & Dund Glasgow &S. Western ) Guar. 5 per cent 1 Great Northn. 5 p. c. Do. 5 p. c., Redeem. at 10 p. c. prem Gt.S outhn. & Westn (Ireland) Eights... Gt. Westn. (Berks Hants Ex. 5 p. c.) Great Western, fixed 44 per cent _ Lancash. & Yorksh. F. £2O Do., 6 p. c., Stock London and Brighton Guaranteed 5 p. c , Do. Pref. 5 p. c., St Do. Convertible, 5 p c., 1852 Do. New Guar. 6 p. c London &S. Western Con. Thirds.. Londonderry &Coler. A Shares . Londndry. & Ennisk A Shares ..... blanch. , Shef. ,& Lin., Shares, No. 1 Do., New, £lO ..... Do., £6 & Carl. 4 p. c Do. 4A per cent Do Mid. Consol. 6 p.c . St Do. Consol. Bristol & Birm. 6 per cent Do. Pref. 4. percent Norfolk Extension Do. Guar. 5A per ct. Do. Waveney Valley 5 per cent North British , North Staffordshire ' Oxford, Worcester, & Wolverh. £15,6 p. c. Do. Shrewsbury & Birm. New Guaranteed Shrewsby. do Chester Nor. W. (Min), 3 p. c. Do. 5 per cent. South Devon Do. New S. Eastern (Reading Ann.) f£l Os. Gd. S.Yorksh. 4p. c. Guar. Waterfd. &Kilk. Cp. c. York, Newcastle, and Berwick, 4 p. c. Pref. Do York & N. Midland, H. & S. Purchase... RAILWAYS. Belgian Eastu. Junet. Charleroi & Erquelin Dijon and Besangon Dutch Rhenish East Indian ......... Gt. Indian Peninsula Gd. Junet. of France Gt. Westn. of Canada Shares Luxembourg.. Do. (Railway)... Ipo. (Canal) .... ... . Lyons & Meditoman. 'Madras Maria Antonia Do. New. Namur & Liege (with) interest Do. (ex interest) Northern of France Do. 201. 313. c. Eds (finy. B. & Anis Shs. Norwegian Truk. Pref Paris and Lyons Paris and Orleans Paris and Rouen Paris and Strasbourg Paris Caen &Cherbrg. Quebec & Richmond Rouen and Havre Sambre and Meuse Southern of France Upper India Scrip West Flanders Do. 5i per e. Pref Western of France LINES LEASED Closing. Prices Business hr. Paid RAILWAYS. YeStr eday. this day. 50 all Bedford and London & Bletchley. .. N. West 304 Birm. & Oxf . d. guarantee.... Gt.Westn 30 31 30.} all Do. withoutgr Do 29i —30 i 303 all Birm. Wolv. & Dudley guar. Do 3O 31 304 all. Do.wtht guar. Do 29 30 St. 100 Buckghamsh. 14.&N.W. 109 111 50 all. Clydesdale Jc. Caledon 53 55 53i St. 100 E. Lincoln gr. 6 per cent. Gt.Nrthn. 148 150 25 all Glstr.& Dn. Fr .Gt. Westn 32 33A 100 all Hrtlpl. Dk. & Yk. New. Railway & Berw. 50 all Hull & Selby Y. &N Md 113 115 25 all Do. i Shares. Do 56. 571 121 all Do. 4 Shares. Do— 27 5i 261 13i all Lon.&Greenw S. Eastern 2 14 11 20 all Do. Preference Do 20 all Lowestoft gr. 4 per cent. Norfolk 19.1 20 20 all Do. 6 per ct. Do 23 25 51 all Manch. Bxtn. L.& N. W and Matlock & Midld 3 31 3L 50 all Middlesbro' & Stekton & Redcar Darlingt. ••••, 100 all Midld.Bradfd Midland.. 108 109 50 all Nort'iern and Easternsp.c. E. Count. 64 66 50 all Do. 6 per ct. Do 50 all Do. Fixeds pc Do — 25 all Prest. & Wyre L. &N. W. &Ln&Yk 12} 1.1. Do. Shares. Do St. 100 - Boystn.& Hit. Gt Northa 152 154 St. 100 Do.Shepth.St. D 0... 152 154 25 18g Shef.Roth.and Lancash & Goole g. 5 p.c. Yorksh. 12 NS. Staffordsh. M.MClean 50 all Wear Valloygr Stockt. & 6 per cent... Darlingt. . . 25 all Do Do . .. . ... 31 32 St. 100 Wilts&Somrst GtWestn. 103 104 MARKET NEWS-(THIS DAY.) GENERAL AVERAGE PRICES OF BRITISH CORE For the Week ended Jan. 20, 1853, made up from the Returns of the Inspectors in the different Cities and Towns in England and Wales per imperial Quarter. wHEAT. 'BARLEY. I 1 OATS. RYE. I BEANS. I PEAS• .. 4ss 10d 29s 10d 18s 7d I 308 8d 34s 8d 30s 7d DUTIES ON FOREIGN CORN. WHEAT. BARLEY. OATS. I RYE. I BEANS. MS. Is Od Is Od is Od I s Od Is Od is Od QUANTITIES OF GRAIN SOLD LAST WEEK. Wheat, 111,555 ; Barley, 92,318 ; Oats, 24,972; 443,189 ; Bears, 5,984 ; Peas, 2,476 quarters. HAY MARKETS. SMITHFIELD.—Meadow h a y, 2/ 15s to 41 2 s; c l over ditto, 3/ 15s to 5/ Os ; and straw, 1/ 5s to 1/ 12s per load. Supply tolerably good, and trade rather dull. CUMBERLAND.—Meadow hay, 2/ Hs to 41 4s ; clover ditto, 3/ 15s to 4/ 15s ; and st raw , 1/ Gs to 1 / 12s per load. A moderate supply, and a sluggish demand. WHITECHAPEL. —Meadow hay, 2/ 15s to 41 2s ; clover ditto, 3/ 15s to 5/ Os ; and straw, 1/ 5s to 11 13s per load. Supply good, and trade dull. MEAT MARKETS. NEWGATE AND LEADENHALL.—The general demand ruled less active to-day, yet prices were supported. Beef, 2s 4d to 38 6d ; Mutton, 38 4d to 4s 4d; Veal, 28'10d to 4s 4d ; Pork, 2s &I to 4s per 81bs, by the carcase. SOUTHALL, JAN. 19.—The supply of stock here to-day being on the increase, the demand was Sluggish, at barely stationary prices. Beef, 2s 6d to 4s Od ; Mutton, 38 6d.to 48 10d ; Veal, 38 4d to 48 Od ; Pork 3s Od to 3s 10d per 81bs, to sink the offal. ROMFORD, JAN. 19.—Prime beasts and sheep moved off steadily, at full prices ; otherwise the demand was dull. Beef, from 2s 8d to 48 Od ; Mutton, 3s 6d to 5s Od ; Veal, 3s Od to 4s 4d ; Pork, 3s Od to 3s 10d per 81bs. Quarter old Store Pigs, 20s to 23s each. LEWES, JAN. lB.—OnlyOnly a moderate b us i ness d one, as follows :—Beef, from 3s 4 d to 482 d ; Mutton, 4s to 5s 2d ; Veal, 3s 4d to 4s Od ; Pork, 3s Od. to 3 8 8d Der 81bs. LLOYD'S SHIPPING-(THIS DAT.) Vengeance,pm aacrYket, W.S.W. Arrived—Ne ptune, light breeze, Brandy lc A u rri tta v ; ed Miz N a n ew . LONDON Jan. 20.—Wind at Neon, W., and cloudy. DEAL, Jan. 19.—Wind, Sydney, New South Wales; Sunmer, M an il a . N iagara, Puna, Shanghae ; Lancastrian, China ; Clarendon, i au bi : from G° Sef i de ° . A f r ion ° t. t n o h d e s a 'R . I C v i River , er , and s ai le d i 12 - b i Bowes que , of She a t Valparaiso.ham , Pe Arrivednng ; Calypso, for Jamaica. no of West, Liverpo ol, Buenos Eva, m _ a n Caroline aa e nr w iollii:nme;a,At Orlea ns i(iibdoys: ; ,; MMD Apalachicola. rs PORTSMOUTH, vaarEe LIVERPOOL, I t t 'e , rjPar° Calcutta njm anjelta:hn;:e79uS.l7se— Wind, —rnndW Coast i n Queen n s W : h d i ' Africa i,3 . o W gh W ;o ;: af eS Hne T tg W e . p n .h,b ewi3 :ddod A r r i s.ot ;0. n Arriv ed — H. al — es ad ; New Orleans ; Anne Armstrong, Pernambuco ; Bess Grant, Gonaives ; ACay Charles rleedse;u Saile d— Caledonia, , SirCooper,sau Henry do . p; Franciscoo t B t e i n ll g c a r nr .o; r , patam ; Indies, Valparaiso ; L B a a i li c l u a n ; yr A n g ,. ne j s e , h T u ii H n e i n d r a y d , Mero Castle, do. ; do. Westmoreland, do. ; Judah Tours, do. ; R. B. Tours WAilienr 0: , c d l do. ; Apalachicolalndustry, American ; Harriet, Ch P arleston ; Di c ky, Sam, and Australia. The Jane Massachusetts, Peter Rolt, do. ; Eastern Queen, Philadelphia ; Phoenix, do. ; Julia Howard, New York ; Glonburn, Boston. do ; Scotia, USNniaevwoan ß n'niC al a(o t lh im ork.; ; ore ; Watson, Sydney, C. 8., to Dublin, which was abandoned Off Port—Cora, on the Bth of January, was passed on the 14th, in lat. 49 N., long. 13 W. with loss of bowsprit and f oremas t. The Daniel Web ster has put back with loss of bowsprit, &c., from contact with the Alert, for Waterford—the latter lost main topmast, &c., and was cut down to the plank sboar.—Off p or t--(this day, Jan. 20)—Atlantic (s), New York. OFF TORBAY, Jan. 19.—Charlotte, Portland Bay. DARTMOUTH, Jan. 19.—Arrived— Cuba, Havannah, for Hamby. S a iled—Jane, Portland Bay. PLYMOUTH, Jan. 19.—Wind, S.W. Arrived 7 H.M.S. Swift, Valparaiso, and sailed for Portsmouth. -1" 19.—Wind, S W moderate. Ar- FALMOUTH, ..311. . ~ rived —George, Rio Grand ; Diego D'Leon, Havannah. BEAUMA RIS, Jan. 19.—Sailed.—Manjosten, Bombay. WATERFORD, Jan. 18.—Wind, N.W. Sailed—Estelle, Rio Janeiro ; Gazelle, Havannah. .Cong, Jan. 18 . —Wind, S.W. Sailed—Thomas Ed ward, Barbadoes. LITERATURE, THACKERAY'S NEW WORK. The History of Henry Esmond, Esq., a Colonel the Reign of her Majesty Queen Anne. Written by himself. Printed by Smith and Elder, over against St. Peter's Church, in Cornhill. 3 vols. The readers of " Pendennis," the lovers of Vanity Fair," have been grievously disappointed. this season. o new novel from their favourite author ! No pleasant hours passed in the com panionship of William Makepeace Thackeray I Somewhile since they were beguiled with a delusive hope that such a pleasure was in store for them. They looked forward to some new satire on the faults and follies of Vanity Fair, redeemed, perhaps, with more softening touches than were visible in the former exposition. They anticipated —but no matter what they anticipated ; they have met with, as we have said, a grievous disappoint ment. In the place of their old familiar friend, with his easy style and lively sarcasm, they find themselves suddenly face to face with a stranger, habited in unusual garb, addressing them in unaccustomed speech. The effect is similar to that which we have most of us experienced when the servant, throwing open the door, pronounces some familiar name : we rise, hasten forward to welcome some dear friend, and, lo and behold ! an unknown visitor presents himself ! The air of empresseinent changes into constraint, cold formal bows take the place of more cordial salutations, and, do what we will, embarrassment is perceptible on both sides. Mentally we feel wroth with the innocent cause of the mistake, and heartily wish that Colonel Esmond had sent up his own card instead of substituting that of our old friend Thackeray ! Regrets are useless now, however ; the introduction is effected, the acquaintance has commenced, and we must make the best we can of our new visitor. In the ars celare artery!, Mr. Thackeray has here assuredly proved himself a proficient. This is not a disguise, but an absolute transformation. In saying this, however, we intend only a very quali fied compliment. There are disguises, habitual among authors, which sit gracefully and lightly as his lady's scarf round the knight's accoutrements, which adorn, but do not encumber the wearer. Not so with the livery of Queen Anne, as assumed by Mr. Thackeray. In that grim attire, every natural grace is lost. But why are we speaking of Mr. Thackeray ? He is not in this hemisphere ; he is now beyond the Atlantic, and his spirit is not in this book • it is the production of Colonel Esmond. With Colonel Esmond, then, we have to deal, and let us deal with him accordingly. Henry Esmond is by right the Lord Viscount Castlewood, but the world is suffered to remain in ignorance of this fact. The marriage of his parents had been at first known only to a few, and when Henry becomes aware that such an event had taken place, he re fuses, from an exaggerated generosity, to deprive his benefactors of their imagined rights. In his youth, after his father's death, he had been kindly festered by the then Lord Castlewood, a cousin of his father's ; he had been the playfellow and tutor of his lordship's children, Francis and Beatrix; and when Lord Castlewood is killed in a duel, and Henry be comes aware of his own rights, he has not the heart to dispossess the children of his patrons. He suffers Francis to lord it as Viscount Castlewood, and only aspires, himself, as the crowning ambition of his life, to win favour in the eyes of Beatrix, the object of his unavailing adoration. The history which oc cupies the three volumes, gives, in the first place, a detailed account of the author's childhood and youth, hinting at secret intrigues, having the restoration of James 11. for their object, in which Esmond's father and his second wife are implicated ; then, on the death of Esmond's parent and the succession of his cousin, an attractive picture is given of the domestic life at Cas tlewood under the new rule. The attractive portions of the picture, however, soon fade away ; some pages follow which will chill the hearts of the sentimental unless they meet the author's asser tions with an emphatic denial in the outset. This is one of the occasional instances in which the censor of " Vanity Fair" appears to guide the pen of Colonel Esmond, as he gives with a masterly hand, an undoubtedly clever and cold-blooded analysis of the gradual decay and death of Love—a history of the decline and fall of the idol from its shrine—in fact, an elaborate illustration of that sad and beautiful thought of Mrs. Hemans : " to make idols, and to find them clay, And to bewail that worship." Lady Castlewood, on her first introduction to us, is young, considerably younger than her husband, beautiful, and gifted in no common degree. Lord Castlewood is a kind-hearted man, indulgent to others, but most indulgent to himself, and far in ferior in abilities to his wife, who regards him, notwithstanding, with a passionate devotion. Gradually, however, Lord Castlewood wearies of his lady's society, the chase and the wine-cup are his delights ; and as, in his indul gence of the latter, he sinks lower yet beneath her level, Lady Castlewood sadly awakes from her de lusion. Her disappointed heart turns for conso lation 'towards Esmond, her youthful protege. This affection is however a profound secret to all, and is only made apparent to the astute reader by the most covert hints. One passage, indeed, exhibits the author's power ; it reveals no mean knowledge of the depths of the human heart, and considerable adroitness in their delineation. We allude to that passage when, on her husband's death, Lady Castlewood visits Henry in prison, where he is confined for having been one of Lord Castlewood's seconds, in the duel which cost him his life. Esmond, full of sorrow for the death of his friend, full of gratitude and sympathy for his lady, and knowing, in his own heart, that he has just sacrificed his right ful inheritance in order to benefit the children of his patron,—Henry, feeling all this, is grieved and amazed when the widow, weeping for her husband, overwhelms him with indignant re proaches for having taken part in the fatal duel. In the vehemence of her sorrow and anger Esmond only sees unjust displeasure; but in every word the reader perceives the wrestling of a heart divided against itself. The old love for her husband, aroused by his sudden death, and her dawning affection for Henry, filling her with remorse, she gives vent to her self-reproaches in reproaching him ; but every word of anger is an unconscious avowal of love. Estranged for a while from his old friends, Henry Esmond enters the army, and takes part in the celebrated victories of Marlborough. These campaigns and the incidents relating to them are detailed with almost weari some particularity, varied by occasional visits to England, where Esmond resumes his in tercourse with the Castlewood family, and assays to obtain a victory, more difficult than any of Marborough's, over the unconquerable heart of Beatrix. No two characters could be more dissimilar than those of the mother and daughter. Lady Castlewood is gentle and submissive, and overflowing with tenderness ; B ea t r i x i s proud and ambitious, her heart is a stranger to love, and her hope is to surmount her beautiful face with a coronet. How can the nameless Esmond affect her ? In vain he wins distinction in the army in vain for years he alternately pursues her with perseverance or retires in despair. At length a bold scheme suggests itself to the Colonel. All the Castlewood family are Jacobites at heart, and Bea trix is the most zealous of the number. As the death of Queen Anne draws near, the Legitimists grow doubly anxious for the succession of the old line, and Esmond proposes to bring over secretly the exiled Prince, the son of James 11., and the brother of Queen Anne. Young Lord Castlewood is abroad, and has been gained over by the exiles ; in his com pany, using his passports, the Prince travels to England. The old servants have been dismissed from the London residence of Lady Castle wood, and no one remains who remembers the features of the young lord. The strangers arrive, the Prince passes for Lord Castlewood, remain ing at home on account of ill health, and receiving visits only from those who are in the secret. Es mond and Lord Castlewood attend on the royal guest, and great is the indignation, and cruel are the tortures of the brother and lover, as they witness the undisguised admiration of the Prince for the fair Beatrix. The lady is sent home to Castlewood ; the Prince has had an interview with Queen Anne, the plot of the conspirators progresses, the day of the grand attempt ar rives— all is ready for the coup de main which shall transfer the Crown to the brows of the " rightful" King, when the principal personage is found wanting! The Prince has disappeared. He has followed Beatrix to Castlewood. Her brother and Esmond pursue him, the latter breaks his sword in the royal presence, and renounces his allegiance, and reads the Prince such a lesson on the laws of honour, as for the time impresses and converts him. The trio return to London, and as they enter, they hear, for the first time, that announcement which has since become so strangely proverbial, " Queen Anne is dead !" From their carriages they listen to the proclamation of King George I. The disap pointed " Pretender" retires from the kingdom. Beatrix follows him ; her fate Esmond scorns to tell, but his love—the love of so many years' dura . tion—has perished. It ceased to exist the mo ment when Esmond discovered that she gave direct encouragement to the advances of the royal lover. The sequel of the'story jars upon the feelings of the • romance reader. Esmond, taught by experience to , value the abiding affection of his " dear mistr ess, ,, makes her his wife! Although Lady Castlewood's gen - tleness and self-abnegation ha ve won th e reader's sym pathy, her marriage with the lover of her own Baugh, TT iv i I acting the most magnanimous part, and sacrificing m happiness to promote theirs. " And now I really found myself in such a case. had not the smallest doubt but that Bruce had fallen in ../ _ love with her ; and no presumption of self-complacency `: - -; ; :,k..111 - 1 could make me but acknowlecle that he was infinitely my superior in many ways, and infinitely more worthy "•:-.4c.i Vcl S j Lei. of her affection. What, then, should Ido ? Should I conceal his love from her ? Or should I tell her of it, and offer to give up my own claim if she thought she could like him best ? " But how could I give her up ? How even bear to run the chance of doing so ? The thought seemed to drive me mad ! Yet, where then was all the splendid generosity with which I had always determined to act ? Was the first trial to overthrow it ? I could not endure that thought ; and in a transport of self-devotion, I rushed back to the berth where I had left Bruce, deter mined to ascertain whether my suspicions were, or were not, correct ; and, if they were, instantly to inform Mary and give her perfect freedom. " Had I allowed myself a moment's pause I do not think I could have done it ; and perhaps there was after all more of chivalry than of sound sense in it altogether. But be that as it may, in I went and foulid Bruce sitting exactly as I had left him. _ ~:~ " You know, and none but you,' I began, that Miss Sydney is engaged to me ; conditionally only, in deed, as far as formality goes, though an engagement of the heart I fully believe, it to be on both sides now. But I was hasty in speaking to her ; and she is young, and hasn't seen many people, and before the time comes for our being ready for everything to be settled, she might you know perhaps see somebody she might like better than me—who might deserve her better, and who might like her not better, but as well as I do ; and I only wish to say,' and I hurried on as if I feared dying before I could get it out, that if it ever were so, I should not wish to stand in their way—l should wish her to be happy in her own way.' " And why do you wish to tell me this, in par ticular ?' said Bruce, without altering his attitude, though his voice trembled as he spoke. "'Because you are the only person in the world that I know of, who, if he did love her, could love her, I think, as well as I do, and deserve her better ; and because I think you do love her.' And I felt as if I must have`dropped dqad when I ceased speaking. " I once read of a man,' said Bruce, still leaning down, 'in some review it was—whose horrid hatred to another was so great, that, though he meant to kill him, he would not do so till he saw him in the act of com mitting a murder, which he himself had worked him up to, in order that he might be at the acme of his enor mities at the moment that his soul was hurled into per dition. Now, being your friend, St. Clair, if I had in tended to murder you, I would have waited till you had uttered the words you have just spoken—the brightest and best that ever fell from mortal lips ! ' " SPORTING INTELLIGENCE. EPSOM JANUARY STEEPLECHASES. WEDNESDAY. Free Handicap Steeplechase of 10 sovs. each, 5 ft, with 60 added, over the usual steeplechase course ; the winner to pty 10 sovs. towards expenses. Twice round and a distance—about 4 miles. Mr. C. Higgin's Forest Lad, aged, 9st 81b (Weaver) 1 Mr. Sait's Sam Hood, 6 yrs, 9st 12 (Owner) 2 Mr. T. Barnard's Quickstep, aged, lOst 41b (C. Boyce) 3 Mr. Hilton's br g, by the Cardinal, 5 yrs, 9st 41b (J. Holman) 4 Mr. Barclay ns The Brewer, aged, lOst 41b...(P001e) 0 Mr. C. Higgin's Simple Peter, 6 yrs, lOst (J. Maker) 0 Mr. Hill's The Brave Buck, aged, 9st 121 b (Burrows) 0 Mr. Mundy ns Robin Hood, 6 yrs, 9st 81b (W. Griffiths) 0 Mr. B. Land's The Screw, aged, 9st 61b kW. H. Treen) 0 Betting-5 to 2 agst Quickstep, 7to 2 agst Cardinal gelding, 5 to 1 agst Simple Peter, 6 to 1 agst Forest Lad, and 6 to 1 agst The Screw. Won by six lengths ; the same between the second and third. ' SELLING STEEPLECHASE of 5 sovs. each, with 30 added, for all horses, 12st each ; the winner to be sold for 100 sovs., if demanded, &c., and allowances if to be sold f'or less. Three miles. Mr. Barnard's Young Lottery, aged, lOst (201.) . (C. Boyce) 1 Mr. H. May's Susan, 'aged, lOst (20/.)...(Donaldson) 2 Mr. Holland's Ottoman, aged, lOst (201.) ....(Taylor) 3 Mr. J. Brown's Bullfincher, lOst 71b (301.)...(Ab1ett) 0 Mr. Allibone's Cashier, 6 yrs, lOst (201.) ...(Planner) 0 Mr. Searle's Harlequin, aged, lOst (20/.)...(Hackett) 0 Mr. Smith's Harkover, 10st (Poole) 0 Betting-6 to 4 agst Young Lottery, 4to 1 agst Bull fincher, and 5 to 1 each agst Ottoman and Susan. Won by several hundred yards, a fine race between the second and third, which was won by a head. Winner sold for 110 guineas. FREE HANDICAP HURDLE RACE, Of 5 sovs. each, with 30 added, over six flights of hurdles. About two miles. Mr. Price's Tom Gurney, 4 yrs, 9st 101 b (Owner) 1 Mr. B. Land's Odiham, 4 yrs, lOst 6lb (W. H. Traen) 2 Mr. Saxon's Caurire, lOst 81b (Hopwood) 0 Mr. Sait's Simon the Cellarer, lOst 41b (Owner) 0 Mr. Heaven's Gulnare, 5 yrs, lOst 21b (Higgins) 0 Mr. Barling's Harriott, 6 yrs, 9st 101 b (Eatwell) 0 Mr. C. B. Durston's Lady Babina, 6 yrs, 9st Sib (Rodney) a l Betting.-2 to 1 agst Caurire, and 3to 1 agst Odiham. Won easily by three lengths. The little interest the above events had excited was neutralised by the weather, which was gloomy and un inviting in the extreme ; and it is almost needless to add that the course was in anything but a fit state for racing, or that the attendance was thin, speculation dull, and the meeting, as a pecuniary speculation, a failure. GITANO.—The Governor of the Falkland Islands has just sent home despatches announcing that Guano has been discovered in large quantities in those islands. The climate there being less dry than at Lobos, tha guano is not of equal value to the Peruvian product ; but there seems to be no doubt that this discovery in the Falkland Islands will prove to be one of great value, both in a trading and an agricultural sense. THE BICESTER RAILWAY CATASTROPHE OF 1851. Another of the actions against the London and North- Western Company, arising out of the Bicester catas trophe, has recently been settled. Mr. Neville, one of the sufferers who sustained injuries, and who in conse quence lay at Bicester for some time, brought an action against the company to recover compensation for the in jury done him. Ultimately it was arranged that the subject should be decided by arbitration. Under the award Mr. Neville has, we understand, been adjudged 300 guineas. We are informed that the company at one time offered him 2,000/. to settle the action, and. that Mr. Neville required 3,0001. rslypsidttaetieersr2rtale2tao:wiazwd occupiedon: tnt l he ah t deo e rt MIGRATION FROM SOUTHIMPTON.—The emigrant' barque Caucasian, 600 tons, the first vessel chartered. by her Majesty's Emigration Commissioners for convey t va n h lernwe g wila e oaa E vaeletetsekeht Thames, hiuwefe r having f h r oams recently. beent l i this p dyi o ebtube, ro. p b anrrs a eA r Tom k nhdi ee a s T ule s asnis, Railwayeed o swe o pd, n :y e e v a d a rr il b i e v y d e . d th e y T e h u s e te nf o r a d v a a o u y u c ra a fr s t ian m l e D rcaSeeyaopoi emigrant m s u aaai rtligplinAv arriving g in nl h sy e i o g r au u bcnto t y a dh m m n a : s i p i l s o : lep t :t a itr d t he n : de spatch. .number of emigrants by the railway, amount'. ing in all to nearly 450, who are waiting for embarks.-- tion by the several ships which have been taken up by the commissioners. The arrangements at the depot for the convenience and comfort of the emig ran ts, althou not yet quite completed, are very excelent, and hay° apparently given general satisfaction. Most of the emi grants who have arrived apparently consist of the under class of farmers, and of farm labourers and mechanics, with their wives and innumerable children. There are many single men and plenty of young and unmarried women, the whole being in high spirits for the commence ment of their long and promising voyage. The dietary scale adopted in the depot has been found most ample, and on conversing with the emigrants there appeared to be nothing they wished for to augment the com forts provided by the Government commissioners during their temporary sojourn in Southampton. Proper male and female officers are in charge of the depot, ,who exer cise a rigid supervision over the emigrants, and presesve most satisfactory order and regularity. The building is lighted throughout with gas, warmed with hot water, and the cooking and other appliances are of the best character, while the classification of the dormitories and sleeping apartments of the married couples, single men, and single women respectively, is properly adapted for preventing confusion and immorality. The Caucasian will be fellowed by the Calliope, Harriet, Ramillies, and Bolton, all to sail from Southampton this month for the Australian ports, the first-named ship being hourly ,ex pected at Southampton to embark emigrants for Mel bourne and Port Philip. SHOCKING DEATH OF A CHILD ON THE SOITTHDOWNEL I —A painful sensation has been created in the town of Lewes from the death of a boy, named George, Peters. the son of a labouring man, residing in the Cliffe, who, having l os t hi s way on Tuesday afternoon on the between Glynde and Lewes, was exposed during t he/ whole of a t empes t uous night to the weather. It ap-. pears that the boy, who was between eight and nine. years of age, was of a very timid nature, and was known. to be particularly frightened at. thunder and lightning. On the afternoon of Tuesday he was induced to acctorn pany a boy of the name of Holmes to the residence of Lord Dacre's gamekeeper, at Glynde, after which th eT separated, the boy Holmes taking his way to Ring::: and the deceased the footpath across the hill t o Le on which he was seen by a shepherd in the employ of, Mr. Riley. He was then (about four in the aftkr"m ursued. in the true direction for the town, and had he t y day _ a straight course might have arrived at home he got out light. There can be no doubt, however, that asvery b,oiste. of the right track ; and as the evening was noticed rous, and constant flashes of lightning his faculties ti theb direction of the hills, it is believedhm completely came so far paralysed as to remy . i to that circumstancte sible, and it is most probably owing art who went ill. that he was not discovered by oht p s y • • At the inquiry' search of him on the hills with li„, . before F. G. Gel!, Esq., a respectable jury, on_ and finding of the body having, Thursday last, evide nce of the been , George Hother, surgeon, depnsed given Mr. Th ere was a mark o n the left cheek, and a few sigh scratches on the face. There was nothing sufficiela; to. cause death. Both hands were clenched, and had gr in them. The pupils of the eyes were much dilated, tLI3 , mouth partially open. The hair appeared to have beelt raised on his head as if by fright. His clothes werei quite wet through. My opinion is that he died from a. convulsive fit brought on by great fright. The jury' found a verdict to the effect, " That deceased died in a. convulsive fit produced by fright, combined with expo sure to the weather during the tempestuous night on the; Downs."—Brighton Guardian.