The Sun.
London, England, 1863-03-02 00:00:00

ble in Ityde.:park the occasion will be more prou; '
able. It will furnish them with some experience
both of a winter's bivouac and of the rerils of noc-
turnal manoeuvring. If they do not get run oter
by the Royal carriages, they may expect to derive
many valuable lessons from the:mishaps of the day.
Sir G. Grey and the Lord Chamberlain appear to
divide between them the hor our of having contrived
these admirable arrangeiiietts for exhibiting the
Princess to her adopted people. Of the Lord Cham-
berlain's administrative powers the public have had
no opportunity of judging. Sir G. Grey's capacity
in thatrespect is sufficiently familiar to all who have
followed the controversy touching garotters and se-
condary punishments. It would not seem to be any
great achievement of administrative dexterity to
bring a Princess into a metropolis sufficiently early
to avoid the necessity of either exhibiting her in
the dark or converting her progress through the
streets into a race. If he could not manage such
an undertaking with more skill than he has shown,

he had better have renounced the idea of a metro.
-

politan progress altogether, and taken the PrincEss
to Windsor by the 'cross country lanes.
SPECTATOR.—The Americans are on the verge of
discovering a chemical test for ghosts, and have dis-
covered a chemical means of identifying them.
While Sir G. Grey is feebly explaining that he sees
no mode of making ticket-of-leave men known to
the county police, Mr. W. H. Mumler, of Boston,
U.S., with that sort of vigilant energy which will
but too soon discontent us with the dilatory charac-
ter of our English aristocracy, has discovered a
mode of photographing what, having regard to the
very unspiritual nature of their occupations, we
fear we ought to call the tickets-of•leave of the
other world. It is discovered that ghosts, under
certain supplementary magnetic conditions, affect
nitrate of silver, even when they are insensible to
the human eye. We have before us English pho-
tographic copies of these first products of Mr. Mum-
ler s spiritual art—the photographs of three ghosts,
and must proceed to acquaint our readers with the
antecedents of this very striking discovery. Mr.
Mumler is a powerful medium, being a rich reser-
voir of Od force. Late last year he was taking a
photograph of himself—a very good ore now be-
fore us—when, to his great astonishment, on deve-
loping the picture he perceived in the chair on which
his hand had been leaning another figure not visibly
with him before. He recognised her as a deceased
relative of his own, who died at about 12 or 14

years of age, which age she still appears to retain.
The picture is faiut and hazy, just like that of chil-
dren who move during the p. ocess, dressed in ordi-
nary English costume, the hair carefully parted and
well brushed, the left arm transparent, so that the
chair shows through, while a circular sort of halo
encompasses the ghost. When the news transpired
that a ghost had sat (gratuitously, of course) there
was a rush to Mr. Mumler. It is found that most

persons pourtrayed by this powerful medium had a
ghost at their side, generally of a deceased relative
or friend. One old gentleman now before us, Mr.
_ _

Luther Parks, of Boston, has at his side, but float-
ing in the air on a level with his shoulder, a wreath
of vapour, something resembling a female figure,
with a garland of flowers slightly raised above her
head. She stretches forth a vapoury arm towards
Mr. Lut her Parks ; but the curtain is visible through
her at every point, it is said, in the original; the
London copy makes the vapour more substantial. In
the portrait of Mr Alvin Adams, " the great express
agent of America," the figure by his side is a" good
likeness" of a nephew who died a few years ago.
The ghost is sitting not on a chair, but beside it—
probably not needing the support and sitting only
dramatically, he had missed his aim—and is reading
a book open in his hands. A lengthy communica-
tion from a very dull departed spirit in another
page of the Spiritual Magazine informs ns that he
has access to a library in the spiritual world, which
it must be very cheering to Messrs. Longman and
Murray to know ; unfortunately, he gives us no idea
of the catalogue. Of course, Mr. Mumler is be-
sieged not merely by sitters, but unfortunately also,
by " investigators." "Ever since I have commenced
taking these pictures," he writes, " I have been con-
stantly dogged forward and backward from my
camera to my closet by investigators, till I have be-
come sick of the name." He has, however, given a
few photographers leave to inquire carefully, and
we have a certain photographic artist, Mr. William
Guay, who was deputed to inquire by Messrs. Da-
vis, the proprietors of the Herald of Progress, and a
certain Dr. H. T. Child, of Philadelphia (evidently
a strong spiritualist originally), reporting strongly
in favour of the ghost portraits. The American
Photographic Society, meeting in New York, had
resolved, indeed, that " the spiritual likenesses are
a fraud and a gross deception," and the Evening
Post had expressed the same opinion—still, as this
was the opinion of prejudgment, not of inquiry, Dr.
Child and Mr. Quay attach no value to it, and be-
lieve. One of the ghosts thus protographed is the
statesman Daniel Webster, and bears " a close re-
semblance to portraits painted in the latter portion
of his lifetime, the sunken cheeks particularly. The
top of the head is bald, with the hair combed up
from each side—the expression of the features is
very grave and solemn. The dress is not distinct,
but so far as it can be perceived, is unlike any-
thing in the painted or engraved portraits, but
slightly resembles the costume on the Washington
statue in the State House." The sitters appear
sometimes to determine their own ghost, some-
times to be disappointed by getting one they
don't want. A gentleman from Illinois gave
a broad hint : he insisted on sitting with his
right hand held up as if holding some-
thing. Mr. Mumler expostulated at the awk-
wardness of the attitude. "No matter," he said,
" take it so." When the plate was developed a
child appeared sitting on the arm, with its head
against the sitter's shoulder. Finally, it is stated
that two other " Mediumistie " photographers have
developed the, same power,—one an orthodox Rox-
burgh artist, who, when he heard they were called
spirit-pictures, " refuted to have any more pictures
made that bore the second figure,"—which seems
to imply that the artist controls the ghosts, and
warns trespassers peremptorily off the nitrate of
silver. But a young man in his employ, who had
seen them made, appears curiously enough to
have had (or learned ?) the mediumistic secret,
and has photographed Dr. Child and Mr. Robert
Dale Owen on the sly, each with a ghost
to himself beside him. It is only necessary
to add that Miss Coggswell, five years ago,
" in the very room where Mr. Mumler now ope-
rates, had the following appear on her arm In
five years spirit pictures will be made in this
room."' Dr. Child says :—" My guardians told me
two years since, in a communication to Mr. Robert
Dale Owen, that spirit photographs would be taken
just as they are at this day. And by a large
number of mediums, far and near, the same thing
has been foretold. It is clear, therefore, that
spiritual prompters have paved the way for this
discovery. Mr. Mumler was bound to fulfil the
prophecy.
LONDON REVIEW.—FouI weather seems to be
gathering in the Continental sky. The French
nation gives
is
ves signs of awakened interest in the tra-
gedy which passing in Poland. A panic has
fallen on the Bourse; for, from the various Parisian
journals of the day, the loud but well-known roll
of the war-drum is beginning to be heard. M. de
La Guerroniere mutters about the mission of France
and the autonomy of Poland in a tone that reminds
us of his ill-boding cry four years ago when the
mission of France and the autonomy of Lombardy
were in question. Nor can we wonder at the
stir. A gallant, excitable, and overbearing people
might have brought themselves to hold their breath
so long as it was merely a matter of Russian abso-
lutism in Poland. It has been reserved for a sense-
less Prussian Ministry to revive before the eyes of
eager France the hateful recollections of a Holy
Alliance, and to kindle her indignation with the
sight of a monarchy, ridiculous at home, trampling
on the prostrate Polish race abroad. The name of
Prussia is a name which awakens no pleasant or
friendly feelings in the hearts of the French masses.
In stretching her arms towards the Rhine, the
French Empire would at any time have gratified
not merely an acquisitive instinct, but a national
and deepaseated animosity. The friendship between
England and Prussia has been till lately an
insuperable obstacle to a move in that direction.
The Prussian Premier has at last succeeded in
placing his country in the one position where
she can hope for no self restraint on the part
of the French nation, and no sympathy on the part
of England. Europe at this moment—the symptoms
are unmistakable—is drifting towards a aesperate
political complication. The resignation of M. Bis-
mark Schonhausen may mitigate, but it cannot
altogether undo the harm that that feeble and in-
efficient statesman has done. By this time a note
has doubtless been despatched to St. Petersburg,
which, whatever its courtesy and frankness, still
must wear, to a jealous northern eye, the semblance
if not of a menace, at least of an intervention. What
will be the result, it is impossible to say. But there
can be little doubt that the French Empire is act-
ing wisely in heading the movement of indignation
that agitates the whole of the Liberals of the Can -
tinent. To tear still further the treaties of 1815
to complete the restoration of oppreseed nationa-
lities which he has begun—to distract the minds of
the revolutionists of Europe from the Roman ques-
tion--to make France forget Mexico—to unite
compactly around him the Catholic and the Liberal
sections of the French people, and with all this to
gratify Ffeneh vanity with the wild hope of some
happy windfall on the frontier of the Rhine—is an
opportunity which falls to few but the Napoleons.
Were the Emperor ten years younger, he would
probably not hesitate a week. But hearts grow less
chivalrous as hairs grow grey. To push once more
into the maze of European revolution requires a cool

brain and a confident hand. Ten years ago there
mig~4 have been something to gain. To-day the em-
y
° beetst?ilosescehouwrethkantow Francethereis
pf:iffreitsetoemwsin:,
1.-yeserve an Imperial attitude
n obtehsitn, gk
oe fwt
that the empire must
it it wishes to be entirely ~.cure. It will be difficult
for Louis Napoleon to pretetnd to be indifferent
to the dying groans of Poland; Besides all
this, there is another reason Why Louis
Napoleon is less likely than most me o of
his f
his years and station to shut his ears ags:
that sound. It is that with all his cold resew-e,
with all his saturinne and ironical silence, with ski
his diplomatic and Imperial airs of mystery, the
French Emperor is at times a generous man and six
enthusiast. It is curious and instructive to observe
how, upon the mass of contemporary history, the
like caused produce the like effects. A political_
position, which is caused by a permanent evil, re-
produces and repeats itself. A little cycle of sum-
mers passes by, and we have once more the same
groups of figures in the same attitude and in the
same inextricable difficulty. Only the actors
change, or, rather, they do not change—they merely
change places. Russia to-day stands where Ails-.
trill stood yesterday, and Austria crosses over to
her rival's piece. It is the same problem, but those
who have to work it out are different. The Polish
nation of 1863 excites the same admiration and
sympathy as the Italy of 1858 and 1859. Prussia
and Russia in Warsaw and in Posen are what Aus-
tria was at Milan and upon the Po. France again
assumes the dazzling form of an avenging angel,
destined, perhaps, to set the weary free from their
oppressor. N-or is the position of this country dis-
similar to its positron at that time. England is per-
fectly aware of the :njustice of many of the ar-
rangements made at the: great Congress, and the
chronic dangers to which is gives rise in Europe.
Yet she has a material interest ,:;n seeing that France
does not swamp altogether the Co:lservative Powers
of the Continent.
L.kW TlMES.—Having had an opcortunity of
seeing the answer of Mrs. Roupell and tie exami-
nation of Harwood, the attesting witness, to the
disputed deed, we are enabled to give a more emu'
rate version of the story than that on which we com-
mented last week. The deed in question relates
only to the Roupell-park estate, and the circuni'
stances are different from those that affect the other
properties. It is a deed of gift from the father and
mother cf Wm. Roupell, acknowledged by her and
attested by one Alfred Douglas Harwood, a clerk of
Mr. Rees, who was the solicitor to the elder Rou-
pell, and in whose office Win. Roupell was articled.
This deed was drawn by counsel on Wm. Roupell'S
instructions, engrossed at Waterlow's, and alleged
by the attesting witness to have been executed by
Mr. and Mrs. Roupell at their house in his presence.
Wm. Roupell asserts that the signature of his
father was forged by him ; Mrs. Roupell in her
answer admits that she executed the deeds, but
states her belief that the signature of her husband
is a forgery. Harwood swears that both were
genuine ; that the signatures both of husband and
wife were affixed to the deed in his presence and in
the presence of one another. Thus we have the ex'
traordinary conflict of testimony ; one of the
parties dead ; another of the parties admit-
ting that her signature is genuine, but declaring
her belief that the signature of the dead Man
is a forgery, and being joined in this by the
son in whose favour the deed was made, who de-
clares that he had himself forged the signature of
his father to the deed, and that the attesting witness
did not see the signature by the donor. The quese
tion is, of course, which is to be believed ? On the
one side there is a convict accusing himself of
atrocious crimes, and this mother, who has the
strongest motive for invalidating the deed ; on the
other there is the attesting witness, and who seems
to have no motive for being a party to such a trans-
action. It appears that Harwood did not, as we
had supposed, lie by during the first litigation, but
that he has from the first protested the validity of
the signature and his own integrity as attesting
witness. It had also seemed strange that he had
knot been produced before. But the facts are, that
the mortgagees of the Roupell-park estate, who
claim under this deed, are in possession; their title
has not yet been litigated, and therefore no oppor-
iunity has been given to them to adduce the testi-
mony they have possessed from the beginning ie
support of their deed. The matter has been pub-
lished now in consequence of their having, for self-
protection, instituted a suit for the perpetuation of
the testimony of the witness Harwood. He has been
subjected to the severest cross-examination et
several sittings; the official report of it is before ues
and we cannot find the slightest appearance of his
evidence having been shaken upon any of the cir-
cumstances attending the transaction in questioek
altlniugh some doubts are thrown over his general
character. It is said that, in addition to this, it
will be proved that the elder Roupell withdrew this
estate from his accounts immediately after the
period of the alleged execution of the deed, and
that William Roupell dealt with it as his own, with
the knowledge and consent of his father. The oaf°
is, indeed, another instance of the saying that
" truth is stranger than fiction."

COIJNTRY MARKETS.

,

NORTHAMPTON—SATURDAY.
New wheat, 43s to 50s ; old, 48s to 555. Barley, 28t/
to 42s per qr. New oats quoted at 22s to 27s ; old, 280
to 35s per 24 stone. Beans, old, 39s to 425; new, 328 to
365. Peas, 34s to 40s per qr.

NORWICH—SATURDAY.
There was a fair supply of wheat to-day, but the de"
mand was still limited, and prices were in favour of the
buyer. Barley in moderate show, and brought high rates.
White wheat. 4's to 50- Red wheat 42s to 46
Malting barley ... 37s to 408 I Chevalier barley 3245 s to 360
Distilling d 0..... 32s to 34s I Oats.. s to 280
Flour, 34s Od to Od per sack from the miller.

NOTTINGHAM—SATURDAY.
White wheat, from 44s to 62s ; red wheat, 44s to 5411'
Barley—malting, 34s to 43s ; grinding, 28s to 30s. Oita
old, at 25s to 31s Od ; new, 22s to 275. Beans sold at 326
to 458 per qr. Flour, 33s to 435.

YORK-- SATURDAY.
At to-day's corn market the supply of farmers' wheat Wall
moderate, with a fair trade, at the prices of last week.
Wheat, red 42s to 46s i Oats.... 2OB. to 24e
White do .508 to 52s i Beans 36s to 4211
Barley .28s to 35s I Peas ....—s to —,,,g
Malt, 64s to 66s per qr.; rye, 34s per qr ; flour,- 3i3
to 39s per sack.

LEICESTER—SATURDAY.
Old white wheat, 52s to 60s ; new, 48s to 500 per 36
stone. Old red, 52s to 54s per 36 stone. Barley, malting,
new, 34s to 38s per qr.; grinding, 27s to 30s; old oats,
27s to 30s; new oats, 21s to 25s per 24 stone. Be $41150
new, —s to —s ; old, 42s to 44s per 38 stone.