The Sun.
London, England, 1864-12-13 00:00:00

BIGAMY.

James Shanley, 44, butcher, pleaded guilty to an indict-
ment charging him with feloniously marrying Elizabeth
Chilton, his first wife, Ann Shanley, being then alive.
The prisoner said he had not seen his first wife fur seven
years. He told Chilton before he married her that he had
a wife alive.

The prosecutor denied this.
rho Recorder es:lntel:mod him to nino menthe' imptieon-
ment.

NEW COURT.
Nothing of the slightest importance transpired in this
Court during the morning.

SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE—This day.

LONDON, Dec. 13.—Wind this day at noon—South-
Easterly ; moderate breeze, and fine weather, but rather
cloudy.
FALMOUTH, Dec, 12.—Wind S.W.—Arrived—Sparkle,
from Calcutta.

TitooN, Dec. 12.--Wind W.—Arrived--.Morning Star,
from Old Calabar for Leith. Sailed—Mary and Louise,
for Buenos Ayres.
NEWPORT, Dec. 12.—Wind S.W.—Arrived—Pearl,
from Amsterdam for Jamaica. Sailed—Sparkling Dew,
for Pernambuco.

On, DARTMOUTH, Dec. 11.—Wind S.W.—Arrived—
Childers. from London for Melbourne.

PORTSMOUTH, Dec. 12.—Wind S.W.—Arrived—Maud,
from London for Natal, with loss of binnacle, and mainbow
carried away.
MILFORD, Dec. 11.—Wind W.—Arrived—Sarah, serew
steamer, from Liverpool for Jamaica.
QUEENSTOWN, Dec. 12.—Wind S.W.—Arrived--Ne•
vada, from Callao—Balclutha, from Cuba—Kent, from
Richibucto.

THE EARLIEST STRINGED INSTRUMENTS.—There
is, however, one stringed instrument which, among
some savage nations, is found at a very early stage of
musical progress, and before the invention of wind instru-
ments with finger holes, This is merely an elastic) stick,
bent with one or two strings, like a bow. Indeed, it is
very probable that the bow used in the chase and in war
suggested this instrument, which in its turn seems to have
led to the invention of several others, in which the shape
of the bow is more or less discernible. We may then
consider this primitive bow-shaped stringed instrument
as the great ancestor of the harp, lyre, and other
similarly constructed stringed instruments. In most in-
stances, however, those nations who are only acquainted
with one stringed instrument construct this by stretching
some strings over a hollow piece of wood or a calabash.
The strings, usually consisting of the fibre of some plant
or the hair of some animal, arc played upon either with
the hand or with a plectrum made of wood, bone. or
any other suitable substance. In a more perfect
condition an instrument of this description greatly re-
sembles our dulcimer. It may therefore be considered
the parent of the latter, from which again ulti-
mately have sprung the harpischord, epinnet, piano forte,
and all similar instruments. Important progress in the
development of instrumental music was made by the inven-
tion of the finger-board, or neck, by means of which a series
of different notes is obtainable on one string, merely by
shortening it more or less, as is the case with the guitar,
lute, tamboura, and others. Stringed instruments played
with a bow are the least universal. They are, however,
met with not only throughout Europe, but also among the
Chinese, Hindoos, Japanese, and other Asiatic nations.—
Music of the Most Ancient Aations, by C. Boyd.
GLASGOW, Dec. 10.—Cotton.—The market was
firm in the beginning of the week, and prices
advanced id. to Id. per lb. Towards the close prices gave
way, and are only;slightly above those of last'Friday,except
Surety, which are about id. per lb. higher. Goods and
Yarns.—The market for goods and yarns has been firm
during the week, and prices continue without change. Iron.
—Prices have scarcely varied during the week, and a fair
business has:been done from day to day about current quo-
tations. At close to-day there were buyers of warrants at
50s. Gd. cash, 50s. lOid, one month, and sellers lid. per ton
higher. No. 1 g.m.b. quoted 51s. Gd.; No. 3,50 s. 6d. ;
No. 1 Gartsherrie, 675. 6i, ; lioltness, 565. ; Eglinton,
51s Gd; Glengarnock, 54; Gd•
The Glaucur du Gard relates an instance of cool
intrepidity in a boy of ten years old, at Nismes, worthy, it
declares, of a Spartan. Notwithstanding the prohibition
of his parents, he frequently ascends to the summit of the
amphitheatre to take the nests of the bats by which the old
Roman edifice is peopled. The height of this building is
so great that to look down from the top is sufficient to render
the spectator giddy. Three days back the father perceived
his son at his favourite pursuit on the topmost crest of the
ruins, and hurrying up to the place, he seized the boy by
the leg, and holding him out in the open space, cried out,
" Will you promise me never to do it again ?" The posi-
tion of the boy was fearful, but he cooly replied, "Lower
me a little mere, father, I can see a whole brood of bats in
in a hole below ; let me take them this time, and I promise
you never to recommence."
The Grand Duke of Baden has conferred on the
King of Italy and on Prince Humbert the insignia of the
Supreme Order of Fidelity, which were lately delivered by
Baron de Schweitzer, the Grand Duke's Minister at the
Court of Turin. The King had already sent his Order of
the Aunonciado to the Sovereign of Baden.