The Sun.
London, England, 1864-03-05 00:00:00

STATE OF TRADE,

MANCHESTER, March 4.—The market for export
yarns is again depressed, with very little business
offering for any quarter. Offers at low prices have
been made, but spinners cannot be brought to make
up their minds to accept them. This branch of the
market closes very flat, with a tendency to lower
prices. In home trade yarns we have also had a
very flat market, and prices show a tendency to a
further decline. The immediate cause is said to be
the feeling of uneasiness arising out of the present
state of European politics; but at the same time it

may be mentioned that a telegram from Bombay to

the 13th ult. reports that cotton had undergone- a
considerable decline. The import
but without any noticeable charge in prices. The
fear of impending difficulties in connexion with
market was dull,
continental affairs has affected the cloth market quite
as unfavourably as the yarn market. The cases are
few and solitary in which any offers to purchase
have been made, and these only under circumstances
which would necessitate a concession on current and
foreign account, seems to incline them against en-
tering into any operations of magnitude, and the
business of the day has been of the most trivial cha-
racter. As there is no pressure of stock, manufac-
turers are not disposed to force their goods on the
market, and we have consequently the same nomi-
nal quotations as on Tuesday, th)ugh to effect sales
lower prices would have to be taken. Where there
is any pressure to sell (and there are always parties
more or less influenced by a desire to realise) both
spinners and manufacturers have to take rather
lower rates than they
would have accepted last
week.

BRADFORD, 3d.—Some little tone was given to the
market to•day by the accounts received from the
Bristol fair, the quotations at which are usually re-
garded as an index at this season of their generill
character between this and the time of the clip.
Private messages received report wool as command-
ing high prim. Many Bradford woolstaplers are
absent from that market. Very little long wool was
at prices in advance of those obtained here. Down
offering, and such as there was Was readily bought
wether wools are rather more plentiful in this
market. There was a fair business done in all kinds
of wool, end prices were rather harder than last
week. The yarn branch did not participate in the
improvementseekinga
triflei nxgp eardi evnacnecdo tmo cvvo°veir. Spinners were
the higher rates
, With slight ex-
ceptions, ef,orthtehebruaywer
emeautledrialdo;
fbuulity
as
well as last
week. The single yarn trade was rather slazker
twhearne i tp
placed
db
;e en.
but
was extremely
40'a for Russia
St
hoem e3orderstra
cifoer
quiet. The demand for twofolds was still active,
and there was considerable inquiry for corded yarns.
In pieces, fancy manufacturers were generally
busy ; but plain goods makers were slack. Prices
were firm.

CARDIFF, 3d.—There is a large business doing in
steam coal, the merchants being full of orders, and
quotations well maintained. Considerable difficulty
is still experienced with the men, and the irregu-
larity with which they work causes many vessels to
be on demurrage. House coal is in active demand,
and the collieries are well employed. The iron-
masters have not received many orders of late, and
prices are hardly so firm as was the case a month
ago. There has been no actual decline in quota-
tions, but unless the spring requirements should be
large it would not be surprising if a fall of from 2s.
6d. to ss. per ton took place. Preparations are
being mada for laying down several iron ships at
the local shipbuilding yards, and this branch of
trade is likely to become an important one before
long,

NOTTINGUAM, 4th.—There was a fair attendance
of merchants and manufacturers at this Exchange-
hall to-day. A moderato business was done in lac•
yarns, and late rates were well supported. The
inquiry for hosiery yarns was slow at late prices.
Silks maintain their value. The demand for brown
nets was limited at unaltered rates.

THE DUKE OF ARGYLE is said to have written
the article on Ronan's "Vie do J6sus" in tho ,North
British Review,

On Thursday evening last Monsieur Bourgeois
delivered, at the Ladies' College, Kensington-square,
Kensington, the first of a series of lectures on French
literature. The lecturer chose for his subject the
works of La Fontaine. He was induced to make
this choice, he said, because of all the French
writers, La Fontaine was the best known to the
English student of French, and amongst his own
countrymen he was one of the most popular
authors. "In France," said M. Bourgeois, "La
Fontaine is the milk of our infancy, the bread of our
manhood, and the last substantial food of our old
age. As children we lisp his fables, and, whe❑ we
become fathers, we delight in teaching our children
to recite them too." La Fontaine was born in the
beginning of the 17th century, and belongs to that
period of French history known as iegrand
His father was Commissioner of Woods and Forests,
which post he resigned in favour of his son, when
at the age of 26, the young La Fontaine married.
His was not a precocius genius, for ho was past
twenty before he became conscious of possessing
any poetical talent. It was hearing Malherbe's
ode on the death of Henry IV. read that seemed to
kindle up the latent fire of genius that smouldered
within him. He expressed an exctatic delight, re-
peated the poem again and again, and recognising
the sympathetic chord that vibrated within his
bosom, he felt that he too was a-poct. He immedi-
ately commenced to study, and, happily for himself,
rejecting the false taste that regarded versified wit
as the expression of true poetic genius, ho turned
to the study of the philosophers and poets of Greece
and Rome. He studied Virgil and Horace assi-
duously, and in the works of Plato he found much
of that practical philosophy which he afterwards
embodied in his fables. The versatile spirit of the
poet-student required variety, and he alternated
these serious studies with the lighter strains of
Bocaccio and Ariosto. The young poet was fortu-
nate in obtaining the patronage of Foaquet, the
celebrated Superintendent of Finances under
Louis AIV.

Mons. Bourgeois divided La Fontaine's poetical
career into two parts—the first closing with the dis-
grace of Fouquet, the second extending from that
event to the end of his life. La Fontaine's muse
having found inspiration in all the great events of
the period, the lecturer profited by the circumstance
to make his poeras serve as a history of the times.
Ho sung the charms of the Chateau do Vaux, the
delightful residence embellished by Fouquet at the
expense of a million and a half sterling. The
peace of the Pyrenees, the marriage of Louis XIV.
with Maria Theresa of Spain, the nuptials of the
King's brother with Henrietta of England—all
these events, not forgetting the mournful disgrace
of Fouquet, served to bring forward the great per-
sonages of the day—Mazarin, Colbert, Scarron
and his wife, and the artists and literary men who
formed the brightest ornaments of the reign of
Louis XIV.

The Schleswig Deputation to the King of
Prussia,---Reply of the King,

BERLIN, 'Wednesday.
The following is the full test of the address pro
seated by the Schleswig deputation to the King of
Prussia on the 23d ult., together with his Majesty's
reply :
" Most illustrious and mighty King ! Most gra.
cious King and lord !—We, iuhabitantsof thel)uchy
of Schleswig, as representatives of the gentry, the
possessors of large estates, the small landholders,
and the towns, respectfully approach your Majesty
to testify at the foot of the throne to the thankful
feelings animating the inhabitants of that Duchy
towards the protector of their rights.
"A long period of severe trials lies behind us. A
foreign people attempted to violate our right, to
deprive us of the language and customs of our fore-
fathers, even to misuse the Church for destructive
political aims.
"By the will of Almighty God the hour of re-
lease has sounded. Every tie which hitherto bound
us to Denmark is severed by the death of the last
Prince of the elder line of our ruling house; every
rightful pretest for the foreign dominion attempted
to be imposed upon us has therewith disappeared.
"But at this important moment we had nu further
arms than the consciousness of our good right an d
reliance upon the assistance which the Princes of
' Germany would not refuse. Our hope has not been
in vain. In conjunction with the forces of his Ma-
jesty the Emperor of Austria your Majesty's re-
nowned army has already shed much blood for the
freedom of the Duchy of Schleswig. In accom-
plishing this task it has had to contend with great
obstacles arising from the season, and has endured
severe hardships with constancy and valour, which
fill us with admiration. Our country blesses the
resolution, ripened into fact by your Majesty's
powerful will, namely, the delivery now in pro-
gress of the Duchy of Schleswig from Danish
oppression; and that wo will pray to God that he
will permit victory and fame still to attend your
arms.

"Most gracious King!—We are now compelled
frankly to inform your Majerty as our most heart-

Pelt conviction ;

"That the Schleswigers declare it to be the right
of their country tcy form an independent state, in
unison with the twin country of Holstein, governed
by the male line of Oluenburgh, according to
priority of birth. Acting hereupon, we can only
recognise Duke Frederick, of the House of Schles-
wig-Holstein Sonderburg-Augustenberg as our sole
rightful sovereign, as in fact has been already
unanimously pronounced by the popular voice in
all parts of the country.

"We cling the more firmly to tho right of our
duke, seeing therein the only moans of at once and
completely freeing ourselves from connection with
Denmark, and thereby alone preventing all further
interruptions to peace. We can assure your Ma-
jesty !hat in these expressions we clearly represent
the feelings of the quiet and well disposed popula-
tion of the country, as far- removed from anarchical
and violent attempts as penetrated with a sense of
their good right.
4, We trust firmly in the wisdom of your allied
Majesties not to allow the successes achieved by the
deaths of so many brave soldiers, with those yet to
be attained, to go down to history without obtain-
ing the above result—the only result, indeed, com-
patible with the right of the country.
"Most gracious King,—Wo should return to our
homes with joy, carrying inextinguishable grati-
tude in our hearts if we could bring to our country-
men the happy assurance that your Majesty will in
this manner protect the rights of our country, and
thereby establish her independence."
(The signatures follow.)

The King gave the following reply :
"I willingly receive at your hands the expression
of the feeling with which the inhabitants of the
Duchy of Schleswig have greeted my troops and
their brave Austrian companions in arms. Thanks
for the rapid successes which they have achieved
belong to the Almighty God of Battles.
. .

" Yon are right to perceive in the resolution
taken by me, in conjunction with the Emperor of
Austria, the proof of our warm sympathy for the
fate of the Duchies narrowly connected by such
various ties. It is our firm determination to gain
guarantees by which the rights and interests of the
Duchies shall be for the future secured. We hope
to attain the object of our" endeavours, whatever
may be the decision upon the dynastic question
touched upon in your Address. The nature of the
circumstances shows that this decision cannot be
taken without negociation with the Diet and the
European Powers, and I cannot anticipate the re-
sult by one-sided action in either direction.
" You may be firmly convinced that the trials of
which you complain shall not return, if God still
continues to bless our councils and our arms.
Retain this conviction, and by a quiet and conside-
rate attitude render easier to myself and my like-
minded ally the attainment of the object which,
with God's help, shall secure to the Dallies a
happy future."

WILLTAM HUNT, the Water Colourist (remarks
the Saturday Review very happily), has been unsurpassed
amongst our artists in one of the noblest functions of art—•
that of exalting lowliness and giving a greatness to little
thingE,

SHERIFFS' COURT.
(Before Mr. Sergeant Wheeler.)
FIELD V. BISHOP.

This was an action to recover Gs 3d for work done, and
defendant admitted owing 4s 7d.
His Honour—So there is only a differenoo of 8d bolween
you
Defendant's witness—That is all.

Plaintiff, a young fewala, said sho had taken some pieces
of work from defendant, and agreed to do them Cur ad per
dozen, although lld was the usual price. After she had
finished them she took them home, and then complaints
were made.

His Honour—What were those complaints ?
Plaintiff—That the work was badly done. It is customary
to complain of work. I offered to alter the work if I was
paid a better price, but defendant refused to allow me to
do so, saying she should give them to another hand, and
charge me with the expense. The work was accepted.
Thiendant's witness said that the work was so badly done
that it could not be put in stock. She had a pattern from
which to work. The forewoman stated that plaintiff had
agreed to do the work for 9s per dozen. When she brought
it home, it could not be passed. Plaintiff thereupon refused
to alter it unless she was paid the extra 2s per dozen.

His Honour—What was tho work ?
Forewoman—Sunshades.
Ills Honour—What do they sell for?
Forewoman—They have not been sold yet.
Honour—You know what I mean. What is the
selling price ?
Forewoman-11s Gd each.

His Honour—The sunshades sell for lls 6,1 oach, and you
give 9d each for making. Why, it is almost as bad as mak-
ing shirts at ono penny each. You have put them in stock F
Forewoman—Yes, but wa had to pay 8d for altering, too.
Plaintiff—At first I was only offered 2s 3d.
His Honour (to the forewoman) —lt appears that you
have not paid her anything yet. I think the plaintiff is
fully outitled to recover the money, and I shall award her
the full sum claimed with costs. (Applause.)
Verdict for plaintiff.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE—This Day.

MARLBOROUGH-STREET.

A DARINO AND IMPUDENT TILIEF.—John Dillon, a tall
shabbily-dressed man, was charged before Mr. Knox with
stealing at 22, Old Compton-street, a number of coloured
woollen shirts of the value of £5, the property of Mr.
Charles Harris, hosier,
Mr. Harris has two shops in Old Compton-street, exactly
opposite each other, numbered 22 and 30. He attends to
No. 22, and an assistant named Wall to the other. About
8 o'clock in the evening Wall saw the prisoner endeavouring
to got some shirts from the door of No. 30, but failing in
doing so, ho crossed over to No. 22 and untied the fasten-
ing of some white shirts. Being interrupted, the prisoner
afterwards seized a bundle of coloured woollen shirts of
the value of I:3, and then made off, but was pursued by
Wall and taken back the shop with the shirts under his
arm, and then given into custody.
Sergeant Gordon, 9 C, proved taking the prisoner into
custody, and that the prisoner told him that he had been
12 years in the army, and was not going to starve while
there were plenty of things to be had. Ho had seen the
prisoner at the Clerkenwell Sessions, and believed ho had
been convicted. He had ascertained that the prisoner, who
had refused his address, had boon lodging at a lodging-
house with a number of thieves in Church-street, St. Giles.
Mr. Knox remanded the prisoner.