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

FRENCH LITERATURE,

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, when 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 legraml
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 ho 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. Ho expressed an exctatic delight, re-
peated the poem again and again, and recognising
the sympathetic chord that vibrated within his
bosom, ho felt that he too was a poet. 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
I3ocaccio and Ariosto. The young poet was fortu-
nate in obtaining the patronage of Fonquet, the
celebrated Superintendent of Finances under
Louis XIV.

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 lectarer profited by the circumstance
to make his poems serve as a history of the times.
He 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, Soarron
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 teat of the address pro
Bolted 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 grab
cious King and lord !—We, inhabitantsof the Duchy
of Schleswig, as representatives of the gentry, the
possessors of largo 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 Gcd 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 pretext 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. Oar 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 we 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 :!Majesty as our most heart-
felt conviction ;
"That the Sehleswigers declare it to be the right
of their country to form an independent state, in
unison with the twin country of Holstein, governed
by the male lice of Oldenburgh, 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 ding the more firmly to the right of our
duke, seeing therein the only means 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.
"Wo 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.
" Moat gracious King,—We should return to our
homes with joy, carrying inextinguishable grati-
tude in our hearts if we could bring to our country-
men the happy assuranos 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.
" You 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 he the decision upon the dynastic question
touched upon in your Address. The nature of the
circumstances shows that this decision cannot be
taken without negotiation with the Diet and the
European Powers, and I cannot anticipate the re-
sult by one-sided action in either direction.
"Yon 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 Duchies a
happy future?

-- -
WILLIAM HUNT, the Water Colourist (remarks
the Saturday Review very happily), has been unsurpassed
amongst our artists in ono of the noblest functions of art—
that of exalting lowliness and giving a greatness to WU°
thibgs,

LAW INTELLIGENCE.—(This Day.)

COURT OF DIVORCE,
(Before the Judge-Ordinary and a Common Jury.)
HALL V. HALT, AND HALL.

This was a suit instituted by the husband, an auc-
tioneer, residing at Banbury, against his wife, by reason
of her adultery with tho co-respondent, a nephew of the
petitioner.
The marriage took place in 1843, and they resided hap-
pily together at Banbury till 1863. Tho co-respondent, a
young farmer, residing at Stockton, near Banbury, was
on very intimate and visiting terms with his uncle, the
petitioner. Since that time he had sold off his stock and his
farm, having also a sum of £l,OOO which had been left him by
will, with the intention of proceeding to Australia, he
being a married man with three children. The petitioner
had no suspicion of the want of fidelity on the part
of his wife until the month of July last, when she expressed
a desire to visit her friends at Brighton during the painting
and repairing of their house, to which the petitioner
assented, and arrangements were accordingly made for
the journey. To his amazement he was afterwards in-
formed that his wife had been joined by his nephew
at the place where they occupied the same apartments in
the house of Mr. Lorimore from the 28th of June to the
'29th of July. On the respondent's returning home the pe-
titioner, having been informed of her infidelity, refused to
received her back when she wrote a very penitent letter
acknowledging her fault, and praying and imploring for-
giveness. The petitioner refused, and instituted the present
proceedings to dissolve the marriage of which I here was no
issue.
At the conclusion of the evidence,

The learned Judge said tho adultery had been clearly
proved, and the only question for the jury was the amount
of damages. _ _

The jury, after a short consultation, assessed the damages
at .£l5O.

Decreo for dissolution, with costs, against the co-
respondent,

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

This was an action to recover 53 3d for work done, and
defendant admitted owing Is 7d•
His Honour—So there is only a difference of Sd between
you ?
Defendant's witness—That is all.

Plaintiff, a young female, said she had taken some pieces
of work from defendant, and agreed to do them for 9d per
dozen, although lid was the usual price. After she had
finished them she look 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 bo 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 the work ?
Forewoman—Sunshades.
His Honour—What do they sell for ?
Forewoman—They have not been sold yet.
His Honour—You know what I mean. What is the
selling price ?
Forewoman—lls 6d each. _ _

His Honour—The sunshades sell for Ils Gd each, 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 ?
Forewoman—Yes, but we had. to pay 8d for altering, too.
Plaintiff—At first I was only offered 2s 3d.

Eis honour (to tho forewoman) —lt appears that you
have not paid her anything yet. I think the plaintiff in
fully entitled to recover the money, and I shall award her
the full sum claimed with costs, (Applause.)
Verdict for plaintiff.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE—This Day,

MARLBOROUGII-STREET.

A DAurso AND IMPUDENT TRIM—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 £3, the property of Mr.
Charles Ilarris, 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 get some shirts front the door of No. 30, but failing iu
doing so, he crossed over to No. 22 and untiod the fasten-
ing of some white shirts. Being interrupted, the prisoner
afterwards seized a bundle of coloured woollen shirts of
the value of 15, 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
Gusto y, and that the prisoner told' him that he had been
12 years in the army, and was not going to starve while
there wore plenty of things to bo had. Ile had seen the
' prisoner at the Clerkenwell Sessions, and believed he had
been convicted. lie had ascertained that the prisoner, who
had refused his address, had been lodging at a lodging-
house with a number of thieves in Church-street, St. Giles.
Mr. Knox remanded the prisoner.