The Sun.
London, England, 1863-09-25 00:00:00

Funny French Notions of English Life!

" Le Secret de Miss Aurore," the dramatic ver-
sion of " Aurora Floyd" at the Theatre du Chatelet
at Paris, ends, says a humorous correspondent of
the Spectator, with a perfect carnival of ghosts for
a denouement. British spirits appear to have paid
a high duty in this case, for no less than £BOO is
said to have been paid for the secret of the magical
invocation. I witnessed a representation of this
French sensation drama the other day, and cannot
deny that, ludicrous as many of the misconceptions
of English manners and customs are, there is a cer-
tain skill in theatrical effects which few of our
English adaptations possessed. Whether as a sup-
posed picture of ordinary English life, or on account
of the ghost scene, it certainly fills the vast theatre
to the roof every evening. The story departs pretty
freely from the original, and there are several new
characters introduced, which, as might be expected,
are either purely French under English names, or
strange combinations of English eccentricities and
French natures. The scene of the first act is laid at
Felden Woods, and is chiefly remarkable for the
constant drinking of tea by all the characters, the
enthusiastic declaration of John Mellish that he
had never eaten " puddings mieux arroses,"—a well
basted pudding being thus supposed to be the
English ne plus ultra of cookery—and a curious at-
tempt at a representation of an English Christmas
tree and juvenile party which suddenly terminates
in a poetical rhapsody, apropos of the season, uttered
by Aurora kneeling. A good deal of the second act
is taken up with stable scenes at Mellish-Park, and
the French attempts at English low-life comedy
form most decidedly the most amusing portion of
the play. Jockeys, grooms, trainers, and horses
are all present on the stage in crowds, and an
attempt is made to represent " le sport" in full per-
fection. There is a great deal of what is meant for
English "chaff," but the authors are certainly too
complimentary to our lower classes in representing
them as possessed of quite so refined a style of wit.
After one or two ineffectual attempts at a genuine
" hurrah!" the crowd indicates its English charac-
ter by a song and chorus, of which the following
verse is a specimen :
_ _

Le plus fin jockey d'Anglete
C'etait Toby....fluet et sec.
Tous.
Ahl all
DANIEL.
Mais sa Mil' devint moins
legere,
Grace au porter, grace au
bifteck I

Aoh I
179 a c'quo c'est
D'aimer trop lea pommes de
terra.
Pauvre' jockey.
Aoh 1
c'que c'est,
Aoki
V'la c'que c'est,
Dig, dig, dig, all right.

Tots.
All ahl
DANIEL.
Aob 1 soh! aoh I soh!
Pauvre, jockey.

REriusE generale dans un
chour formidable.
Aoh I aoh I aoh I aoh I
Pauvre' jockey !
Aoh 1 &c.

After this ebullition of truly British character,
the story goes on, amidst continual drinking of tea,
eating of pudding and " Chester" (cheese ?), and
persevering attempts at the never to be attained
"hurrah !" much the same as in the novel, until
the introduction of a grand harvest home, with con-
sequent ballet. There is another song, of which
the following is the most notable verse:--
Le buveur qui perd la raison,
Noyee au fond de sou grand verre,
Dit au polic'man mins severe :
"C'etait la fete du houblon I "
followed by a chorus in praise of " la biere blonde,"
which, it is to be presumed, means pale ale—a
beverage certainly little known among harvest men.
The zest of the play is a good deal spun out, pos
sibly in order to gain time for the preparations for
the ghost tableaux, in which Hargrave, while
escaping at night through the wood, is confronted
by the phantom of Conyers rising on ail sides, and
finally swoons with terror.

THE EMPEROR NAPOLEON'S YACHT, according
to the Courrier de is Gironde, is now at Bordeaux, await-
ing, it is said, the arrival of the Frincess Clotilde, who is to
ilubark there for I)sibon, where her Imperial Hip.hese, at;
already slated, is going to stand godmother to the infant of
the Queen cf Vortugal.

' .5,, -04
.„
tiollll ,st E. r tnlat

THE QUEEN IN SCOTLAND.

BALMORAL, Sept. 23.
The Queen, accompanied by the Princess Helena,
drove out yesterday afternoon.
Prince Alfred dined with the Prince and Princess
of Wales at Abergeldie Castle, attended by Captain
Westerweller.

The Prince and Princess of Wales in the
Highlands.

His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales went
out deer-stalking in Invercauld Forest on Saturday
week. He was accompanied by Colonel Keppel
and Mr. Wood, and attended by Mr. John Grant,
keeper, and a numerous staff of ghillies. The royal
party were conducted to the top of Craigliegach by
Colonel F. Farquharson. To this place a herd of
300 noble stags had been driven by the Inver'
cauld gamekeepers and ghillies, but unfortunately
the wind suddenly shifted, and the whole herd
passed at a rapid pace beyond the range of the rale.
The prince was gratified with the rare and splendid
sight of so numerous a herd, but doubtless he must
have keenly felt a sportsman's longing to be among
them. When the whole of the deer had disappeared
beyond the crest of the neighbouring mountain, the
royal party descended Craigliegach to the carriage"
drive, where, by appointment, they met the prin-
cess, who was accompanied by the Hon. Mrs. Bruce,
lady waitirg to her royal highness. 112,ViOrp
selected a beautiful spot on the skirts of the wood,
commanding a full view of the extensive forest Of
Ballochbui, with Lochnagar right in front, a cloth
was spread on the purple heather, on which
luncheon was served to their Royal Highnesses by
the worthy host, Colonel R. Farquharson,assisted by
his brother, Captain F. Farquharson, of the 60th
Rifles. After luncheon, a deer-drive from Cluny was
proposed. The Princess of Wales, staff in hand,
ascended the hill with a light and elastic step, and
appeared thoroughly to enjoy the exhiiarating
scene. On reaching the mountain pass, she sat
down on the heath to admire tha magnificent
scenery and to watch the sport, and after the lapse
of about a quarter of an hour, "bounding o'er the
purple heath the antlered monarchs came," some of
them passing within 20 yards of the spot where her
royal highness was sitting. Bang went the rifle
right and left, and two fine stags fell to the well.,
directed aim of her royal husband. The princess
rose to look at the deer as they tumbled down the
face of tha hill, this being the first time she has
witnessed deer killed on the Scottish mountains.
Their royal highnesses were afterwards conducted
round to the Falls of the Garrawalt, where the
carriages awaited them. They then drove home t°
Abergeldie, both highly delighted with the day's
enjoyment, and much gratified at the kind enter-
tainment they bad received from Col. R. Farquhar'
son.—Aberdeen Journal.

The Duke and Duchess of Sutherland have a
select party visiting them at Dunrobin Castle, Sutherland-
shire.

The Duke and Duchess of Richmond and family
leave Gordon Castle next month for Goodwood Park, Stir
sex, for the winter.

The Duke of Somerset returns to his official re-
sidence at the Admiralty on Monday, from his seat ill
Wiltshire.

The Duke of Leinster will leave Carlton House"
terrace to-morrow, OR a tour of visits, before he goes to
Carton House, Maynooth, for the winter.
The Marquis and Marchioness of Ailesbury, ac-
companied by the Count Danneskiold and thA Countesses
Henrietta and Amy Danneskiold, arrived in town yester-
day from Jerveaux Abbey, Yorkshire. The Earl of Straf-
ford, Lord and Lady Charles Bruce, aLd the Hon, Colonel
Byng have been among the recent visitors of the marquis
and Marchioness.

The Marquis of Hastings has left Long's Hotel.
The Earl and Countoss of Yarborough arrived
at Brocklesby, a few days ago,. from visiting the Earl land
Countess of Eglinton at Eglinton. Castle, Ayrshire.

The Earl of Lonsdale is expected to leave town
on Tuesday next for Lowther Castle.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer has left Pen-
menmaur for Balmoral.

SIR GASPARD LE MARCHANT, it is reported, will
retain his post, as Governor of Malta, for the present, and
that Major-General Sir H. K Storks, who was named as
his successor, will be appointed Governor of Jersey, vacant
by the appointment of Major-General Sir R. P. Douglas,
Bart., to the command of a division at the Cape of Good
Hope.
THE GREAT EASTERN.—It is stated upon good
authority that there is no foundation—at any rate, at pre-
sent—for the rumour now in circulation that the Great
Eastern is to be sold by auction. On the other hand, it is
correct that the directors have determined not to send her
to sea again this year. Nothing as regards the future duty
and destination of the vessel will be done or decided upon
until the shareholders are called together at an early day,
when a full statement of affairs will be laid before them.

The mortal remains of the late respected Right
Hon. Edward Ellice, M.P., were deposited in the church
of Ardochy, in Inverness-shire, on Wednesday last. The
funeral was conducted in a very private menner, Mr. Ed'
ward Ellice, M.P., being the chief mourner.

REPRESENTATION OF 13AENSTAPLE.—The repre-
sentation of Barnstaple has become vacant by the
death of Mr. George Potts, who has sat for the borough
since 1859. At the election in that year Mr. Potts, who
was a Conservative, was second on the poll, the numbers
being—Lieut.-Col. J. D. Jerguson Davie, 348; Mr. Foto,
266 ; Col. Sir G. Stucley, 210 ; Sir Vim. A. Fraser, 199.
Neither of the two candidates who were defeated on that
occasion can offer himself for the present vacancy, Sir G•
Stucley being at present High Sheriff of the county, and
Sir W. Fraser having been recently elected for the borough
of Ludlow.

THE RESCUE FROM DROWNING AT PENZANCS.".
It gives us much pleasure to state that the friends
of Miss Cock and Miss Quick have presented Mr. .1.
Drew with a handsomely-chased silver salver, bearing the
following inscription :—•' Presented to Mr. J. E. Drew, bi
Susan Cock and Emma Quick, in grateful remembrance of
his noble conduct in saving them from a watery grave,
the risk of his own life, on Sept. 8, 1863." It also gives uS
pleasure to state that Mr. Drew's conduct has been brought
before the Royal Humane Society, and that the requisite
inquiries into the merits of the case are almost completed.
Western, Morning Amis.
DEERSTALRING IN THE HIGHLANDS.—Last week
Mr. H. Snowie, gunmaker, Inverness, received the
following heads for preservation. From the Right Hon.
Earl of Dudley, Black Mount, a beautiful stag's head, span
25 inches, length of horn 32 inches, girth 5 inches, 13 tines,
being one tine more than royal. Mr. J. G. Leigh, Streit-
conon, two stags' heads, one of them royal, and the stag
weighmg clean 19 stone ; the other ten tines, weight 18
stone. Col. Baker, Loch More, one stag's head. Mr. J'
F. Basset, Kinlochewe, two fine stags' heads, one of than
royal. Col. the Hon. F. G. Freke, a fine roe head, 011°
t
with a rifle ball. Col. Fraser, a fine roe head. The Right
Hon. Lord March, a fine roe head, Gordon Castle. The
Right Hon. Lord Brecknock, Gordon Castle, a roe head,
the finest sent this year ; length of horn 9 inches, span 6
inches, girth 31 inches.—Scotsman.

A NEW KIND OF MINIATURE, possessing apps'
rent Solidity by means of a Combination of Prisms•
is thus described by Mr. H. Swan.—By this invention is
obtained a miniature ,representation of the human farm Or
other objects possessing the appearance of perfect solidity,
the image being apparently imbedded in the thickness of
small inclosed block of glass or crystal, thereby defining
form and expression with a degree of accuracy unattainable
in a flat portrait. This is effected by a new application of
the principles of binocular vision employed in the ordinal.
stereoscope. A pair of transparent pictures (taken at on
angle suitable for the ,effect intended) are produced by the
ordinary photcgraphic means. To effect the combination
of these, the block of glass or quadrangular prism, in the
interior of which the solid image is to appear, is composed
of two rectangular prisms ground to an angle of about is 9
deg. or 40 deg. These are placed together so as to.forul one
solid quadrangular prism, divided lengthwise by a thin
film of air. Ir one of the pictures be now placed at the
back of this combination, and the other picture at the side,
on attempting to look through the combination the two
images will be superposed on each other (forming one solid
image, apparently imbedded in the crystal), all the rays
which fall on one side of a line perpendicular to the surface
of the prism next the eye suffering total reflexion at the
inner oblique surface of that prism, while nearly all those
rays which fall on the other side of this line will be trans-
mitted, unaltered in direction, through the body of the com-
bination. Thus one of the eyes only perceives the olject at
the back of the prisms, while to"the other eye the picture at
the side is alone visible, and that lying apparently at the
back also, producing the perfect appearance of solidity. It
is evident that, to produce these results, care must be taken
not only that the pictures are nor misplaced so as to pro•
duce the pseudo-pcopic effect, but also that the picture
which suffers It flexion shall be reverted to compensate
fir
the reversion occasioned in refaxiun,