The Sun.
London, England, 1855-11-30 00:00:00

RAILWA YEI-POR C Ali 11.

___. --fr. c. ___
C.
Or!wins
Northern
Lyons —... 1151 25 New Ditf ~o 762 50
Mediterranean 1270 Grand Q rtral 585
Loons Geneva 675 Teste. ..
Cette 7lO Austrian C0rn....... 716 25

" Some uneasiness han for .some, days prevailed
in Paris," says the Debats, "on tl le subject of the
health of Queen Marie-Amelie, who, it is known,
has been for some short time HA at Nervi, near
Genoa, where her Majesty recoi ved a visit from
the King of Sardinia, previously to his departure
for France. A despatch arrived last evening,
which, although not announcing the full recovery
of the Queen, leads to the hope ti'lat that event is
not far distant. According to this despatch, the
Queen has not had any fever since Monday ; her
state has not become more serious, and is com-
paratively satisfactory. The inap ression produced
on the illustrious patient by the unexpected arrival
of her two sons, the Prince do Joinville and the
Duke d'Aumalo, was excellent. The Duke de
Nemours was with the Queen, as: were the Duchess
and her children. The Queen is. 'under the medical
cure of Dr. Gueneau de Mussy, :her ordinary phy-
sician, and Dr. Chomel was expected."
The Moniteur of yesterday says :
" Their Majesties the Emperor and the King of Sar-
dinia were present at the ball given by the Municipal
Council to his Piedroontese Majesty in the name of the
city of Paris.
"His Majesty the King of Sardinia repaired, at half-
past two o'clock, to the Imperial h0t.31 of the Invalides.
His Majesty visited in succession tb e tomb of the Em-
peror Napoleon I. in the rooms of hich are displayed
the plans, in relief, w
of the chief fortifie d towns of France,
the wards of the invalid soldierN and the council-hall,
where the portraits of the governors are placed.
"During this visit a very touching episode deeply
affected all who witnessed it. An old Sardinian soldier,
who had deserted from the service of his country and
entered the foreign legion, having been seriously
wounded, and had his arm amputated, was admitted
into the hotel of the Invalides. At -the sight of his law-
ful sovereign, the remembrance of his native country
awoke more vividly in his heart, :incl he threw himself
at the feet of the King imploring pardon, which wag at
once graciously accorded him. The; poor soldier will,
therefore, be able to return into the bosom of his family,
see again the paternal hearth, unless he prefers to enjoy
still longer the hospitality he has found in his adoptive
country
"This evening-there has been a grand dinner at the
Palace of the Tuileries.
"His Imperial Highness the Prince Jerome Napo-
leon, accompanied 1.3, the officers of his household, paid

a visit to his Majesty the King of Sardinia, at the
.y, at four o'clock.
" J A.l.FjeAy the King of Sardinia has conferred on
his Imperial Highness Prince Napoleon the collar of
the order of the Annunciado. The collars of this order
are limited to the number of 24- 12 for born Sardinians
and 12 for foreigners."
The Moniteur says that the King of Sardinia
will probably return through Paris to his do-
minions.
Marshal Prince Jerome has recovered from his
slight indisposition, and yesterday evening he paid
a visit to the King of Sardinia in the Tuileries.
The prosecution against M. Alex. Dumas has
been withdrawn ; whether as the result of condi-
tions made with him or not is not known, but the
fact is, he declared to-day to some literary men that
he would not write any more in the Mousquetaire,
that he intends to remain in Paris but a very short
time, in order to bring out two dramas (one at the
Vaudeville and the other at the Porte St. Martin),
and to superintend the publication of a new edition
of all his works in 300 volumes, and then to travel
for several years, visiting China before he comes
home.

THE BALTIC.
HAMBURG, Nov. 28.—The English line-of-battle
ships Royal George, 120, Captain Codringtoia ;
Nile, 91, Captain Mundy ; and Colossus, 80, Cap-
tain Robinson, left Kiel yesterday on their return
home ; as also the French ships of the line Tour-
vine and Duquesne for France. The remaining
British ships of the line are the Duke of Welling-
ton, bearing the Rear-Admiral's flag as commander-
in-chief, the James Watt, Majestic, and Orion,
with three steam corvettes.
The acoounts from Riga mention that the frost
had been succeeded by a temporary thaw, the wind
changing to the south-west again. This may in-
duce the blockading ships to remain a little longer
in the Gulf of Finland and the Baltic, to catch any
stray ships with cargoes.
It is very certain that a great many small
coasting vessels, with valuable cargoes, are wait-
ing in Mecklenburg and Prussian harbours ready
for a start for some of the Russian ports, so
soon as they can possibly effect their purpose, free
from the risk of being taken by our cruisers, who
will, therefore, evidently remain on the look-out
until driven away by the frost, and when they find
no likelihood of these adventuring craft attaining
the end they may have in view by eluding their
vigilance in time to secure the advantage of reach-
ing the destined ports.
It is even said that some of these small craft
have already been taken by the Gorgon steam
sloop, and conveyed into Memel • in consequence
of which, and the Prussian authoritiesi requiring
explanations which the commanding officer refused
to give, some warm altercations ensued. At any
rate a good look out is what will effect all the ends
required, and amply recompense the officers and
crews of the British blockading vessels for their
trouble. Yesterday we had a thaw here, and 4
deg. of warmth ; to-day, however, the frost ha
returned severely again, with 3 deg. of cold.

THE WESTMINSTER PH9TOGRAPHIG
GALLERY.

Every observer must have noticed the great
disparity in excellence between the representa-
tions of "still life" and the "human face divine"
i by the photographic process. In one, all appears
truth ; in the other, inaccuracy is the rule, accu-
racyE t the exception. The definition, the brilliancy
) of detail, the charm of light and shade, the rigid
fidelity which constitute the perfection of photo-
graphs from inanimate objects, are absent ; and
in their place we have distorted, imperfect, and
unpleasant transcripts of humanity. The reason,
, though not obvious, is perfectly natural. Portrait
photography is an art ; landscape photography is
I not. Many men are photographers ; few men
are artists. For the landscapist the arrangements
are beyond his controul; they demand neither care
nor skill at his hands. Such light and shade,
such grace or grandeur of outline, as the scene or
circumstances admit, are before him. He arc-
coeds in delineating them a merveille. In por-
traiture, on the contrary, the best view of the
sitter's face has to be chosen, a favourable dispo-
sition of light and shade effected, together with
such an arrangement of the figure, drapery, and
accessories as will most eminently conduce to the
truth and verisimilitude of the likeness.
These remarks have been suggested by a visit
to the Westminster Photographic Gallery, 34,
Parliament-street, for the purpose of inspecting a
portrait of Mr. Robert Stephenson, M.P., in-
eluded among a collection of photographic like-
nesses produced by Mr. John Watkins, who has
recently become proprietor of that establishment,
which he has conducted for several years as the
representative of Mr. Beard, the original patentee.
The qualities that have made Mr. Stephenson
what he is in public reputation and honour are
in this portrait most admirably preserved. Iron
energy, force of character, and gentleness of dis-
position are alike truthfully conveyed. This picture,
and the majority of those with which it is exhi-
bited, has been taken by the new Calotype pro-
cess, on paper—the objectionable glare of the
metal plate being thus got rid of,---and greatly as-
sisted by a style of embellishment peculiar to Mr.
Watkins, who, an artist by education, possesses
in an eminent degree the qualifications to which re-
ference has been made. Some of these works are
highly finished in oil, "and others in water colours,
the latter having all the brilliance and delicacy of
miniatures on ivory. Several, indeed, of ladies,
will bear comparison with the best productions of
this class, and in all the likeness is infallible.
Among those who have honoured Mr. Wat-
kins with sittings, and whose " effigies" are
on view at his establishment, are the Arch-
bishop of Canterbury, Cardinal Wiseman, the
Duke of Leeds ; Lords Brougham], Mont-
eagle, and Malmesbury ; Sir S. M. Peto,
and a host of artists, including Gibson,
Macdo well, Foley, Weekes, Dyce, Ross, Frith,
Ward, Knight, and Goodall. Many others of
world-wide reputation have " given their counte-
nance" to this interesting collection, and all who
desire to see the faces of those who have " made
the age to come their own," will find it not only
agreeable to spend an hour in looking round " The
Westminster Photographic Gallery," but perso-
nally advantageous to follow the precedent esta-
blished by such acknowledged authorities.