The Sun.
London, England, 1863-09-19 00:00:00

EGYPT.

-
A letter from Alexandria, dated September the
11th,. says the Viceroy has returned from his voyage
in Upper Egypt, much pleased it is said with the
recention given him, his subjects having everywhere
received him 'with acclamations. He went only as
far as Eineb, instead of to Assouan as reported.
His Highness is doing much to ameliorate the posi-
tion of the Fellahs, particularly in trying to lessen
the enormous amount of interest paid by the people
—3 and 4 per cent. a month i 5 no uncommon ob,arge.

The Arab has a curious character ; the same man
who is paying interest at the rate of 36 per cent, a
year will spend £2O or £4O on a gold bracelet or
coins for his wife. I have heard of a woman
wearing £l3O in gold coins, plaited in among her
hair. The truth is, they have no saving banks of
any sort, they don't care for better dwellings than
their mud huts, furniture they would not know
what to do with ; and the only thing they do care
for, and which would make them save, is land,
which they cannot hold (save by the will of their
master, who can turn them off it at any moment),
so that there is no inducement for them to expend
capital.
News from the Soudan reports that the Blue
Nile was at its full, the White Nile very high, and
that both, as well as the Karif, were rapidly rising,
while heavy rains were falling, and apprehension
was felt for the consequences in Middle and Lower
Egypt. The Government have, however, taken
every possible precaution ; banks have been
strenghened, dykes raised, and men stationed, day
and night, to watch. The Viceroy has stated that
he has no fear it the water does not pass 25 pikes;
this would allow a rise of four or five feet more.
For some days the river has been stationary, but
it may rise at any moment during the next 18 or
20 days. A correspondent of mine, writing from
Minieh, above Cairo, describes the river as magni-
ficent, but adds that it has already swept away
several villages.
The murrain, unfortunately, still continues, and
will cause an immense loss to the country; it is
already estimated at £1,000,000 sterling.
Cotton is at very high prices, and the rich pro-
prietors who have hitherto kept back their stock
are now bringing it forward. Small pickings of the
new crop have begun to appear, both from Lower
Egypt and the new fields in Upper Egypt; and it
is certain that with the stimuating effect of present
prices, every effort will be made to bring the crop
to market as soon as possible.
While up the Nile, the Viceroy received, two
petitions, numerously signed by the Fellabs, beg-
ging that they might have the same facilities of
transport for their produce as the people of Lower
Egypt, and asking for railways. His Highness is
now having surveys made. The line is not to run
close by the edge of the river, but at some distance
inland. The section from Cairo to the Favioum
and Beni-Soueff, about 60 miles, will, it is believed,
be the one first made, and then probably another
from Assouan to Berber, to shorten the great bend
which the river makes there, and also to connect
the chain of communication' between Cairo and the
Soudan, which is there broken by the rocky barriers
of the cataracts.

The line in the Delta from Tantah to Samanond
has just been prolonged as far as Talkha, a village
on the bank of the Damietta branch of the Nile,
opposite Mansourah, and the centre of a great cotton
growing district. This has been opened just in
time to facilitate the transport of cotton to Alex-
andria.

DEATH OF COUNT ALFRED DE VIGNY.

Alfred Victor, Count de Vigny, whose death has
been telegraphed from Paris, was one of the most
conspicuous writers of his day, whether as novelist,
poet, dramatist, or feuilletonist. He was born at
Loches, March 27, 1799. His father distinguished
himself in the Seven Years' War, and his mother
was the daughter of Admiral the Marquis de Baran-
din, and cousin of the Baron de Bougainville, the
adventurous navigator, who went on the track of
the unfortunate La Peyrouse. One of his uncles,
Hilary de Vigny, a devoted Bourbonist, returned
to France with Louis XVIII., but, the lady to
whom he was engaged in marriage dying sud-
denly, he became a Trappist monk. His other uncle
was a great Chinese voyager, who assumed a man-
darin's habit and character. Young de Vigny was
sent from his mother's house in the Faubourg
St. Honore to the school of a M. Hix. Here he
caught the French infection of " glory," and he and
his schoolfellows were passionately enamoured of a
military career. M. His said that if he persevered
in his military ardour he would die a Marshal
of France. And these precious young stoics,
when they heard of the death of one of their
old schoolfellows in battle, used to say, "Weep
not ;he died on the field of honour"—a charming
but very ridiculous sentiment for schoolboys. Giro-
det Triosan, the painter, was De Vigny's drawing
master, and the Abbe Gaillard his private tutor.
His mother, a noble-minded woman, in vain tried
to wean him of his military passion by withdraw-
ing him from school. In 1816 he entered the ser-
vice in the regiment of the Red Musqueteers of the
royal household. During the 100 days he was with
Louis XVIII. at Ghent; he served in the Royal
Guard, and in a regiment of the line for some years.
In 1823. as captain of the 55th Regiment, he made
the Spanish campaign. In 1828 he resigned his
commission. From the age of;16 young De Vigny
aspired to the reputation of a poet. So far back as
1815 we find him indulging in a Theocritean strain
—in his " Dryade et Symeta." in 1822 he pub-
lished a volume of poems, including " Helena"
"La Sonnambula" " Jephtha's Daughter," "The
Woman taken in Adultery," &c. Between 1824
and 1826 he produced several poems on ancient and
modern subjects, as " The Deluge," "Moses," "The
Trappist," &c. In 1826 appeared Cinq Mars,"
which at once gained De Vigny a very high repu-
tation. It passed through four editions in three
years, and is now one of the most popular worksin
the whole range of French literature. " Otheilo'
was first acted in 1829, but its success was not un-
equivocal. In the following year appeared "La
Marechale d'Amore," which had hardly a "clear
stage," owing to the troubled nature of the times.
In 1832 De Vigny produced " Stella, or the Blue
Devils," and three years later he brought out
" Chatterton," originally a part of " Stello." " Chat-
terton" made a great noise in Parisian circles. Its
truthfulness and its morality were warmly disputed,.
but the eloquence of its style and the talent of
Madame d'Orval triumphed. " Chatterton" was
revived in 1857. In 1841 he wrote a letter on lite-
rary property, which made some stir. In 1843 he
published " Philosophical Poems," " Savage," " The
Death of Wolfe," &c. Many of his best poems ap
peared at this time in the Revue des Deux lliondes.
In 1845 Alfred de Vigny was received into the
Academy in the room of Etienne. In 1833 (May
1) he had received the decoration of the Legion of
Honour, and June 14, 1856, he was appointed an
officer of that order. The count had been ill for
a long time, and his death, though it has been heard
of by the Parisian li'terateurs with deep regret, has
been expected for months past.

SINGULAR MARRIAGE CEREMONY IN MALABAR.
—Their marriage ceremony is very simple, but it
is also employed by some of the other inferior tribes, at
certain times, although quite contrary to their rites. A
large round building is made of leaves, and inside this the
bride is ensconced. All the eligible young men of the vil-
lage then assemble, and form a ring around this hut. At
a short distance sits the girl's father, or nearest male rela-
tive, with a tom-tom in his bands, and a few more such
musical instruments complete the scene. Presently the
music begins, and a chant, which may be translated as foi-
lows, is sung by the father :
Take the stick my sweetest daughter,
Now seize the stick my dearest love.
Should you not capture the husband you wish for,
Remember 'tis fate decides whom you shall have.
The young men, each armed with a bamboo, commence
dancing round the hut, into which each of them thrusts his
stick. This continues about an hour, when the owner of
whichever bamboo she seizes becomes the fortunate hus-
band of the concealed bride. Amongst the Nicomars, the
bridegroom on his marriage invariably kills and eats a cat,
in which he is assisted by the bride.—Day's Land of the
_Permo?ds.
The Moniteur tie la Illeurthe states that a whole
family was poisoned at Ladres, near Nancy, two days since
by eating mushrooms which the father had gathered in a
wood. Antidotes were promptly administered, and all the
parties recovered after much suffering.

A SWELL DESCRIBED IN ALEXAVRINES :
Airlie descended the last, effulgent as god of Olympus,
Blue, half-doubtfully blue, was the coat that had white silk

facings,
Waistcoat blue, coral-buttoned, tbo white tie finely adjusted,
Coral moreover the studs on a shirt as a crochet of women ;
When the tourwhcel for ten minutes already had stood at
the gateway,
He, like a god, came leaving his ample Olympian chamber.
—Vide "Mr. Clough's Poems : "
A Tobacco, Cigat, and Snuff' Company (Limited)
is talked of ; capital, £lOO,OOO, in 20,000 shares at £5 each.
A new military prison is about to be erected in
Southwark upon the site of the old Queen's 13sligh, Prison,

„, ( rob
z-
)max c

THE PRINCE OF WALES:

We are requested to contiadiet, on authority, the rumour
that has been some time in circulation relative to the pre-
sumed partnership of his Royal Highness the Prince of
-Wales in the stud of the Duke of St. Alban's. His Grace
has no confederate or partner whatever in his racing or
breeding establishment.—Spot' tznq Gazette.

ILLNESS OF THE KING OF WIIRTEMBURG.--TllO
venerable King of Wurtemburg, who is now in hiS
821 year, has been seriously ill for some days. Tho official
journal of Stuttgart has published the following balletins
respecting the condition of the King His Majesty was
attacked with a catarrhal fever some days since, in conse-
quence of a cold. Although tho attack of fever was slight
from the first, and at present is only periodically apparent,
there is
.yet a bad cough, attended with copious expectora-
tion, -which prevents that rest at night which is 50
portant for the restoration of strength. His Majesty there'
fore keeps his bed during a greater portion of the dal.
—Stuttgart, Sept. 3.----The King's cough was not so crow
blesome in the night, and he therefore enjoyed better rest ;
consequently the condition of his Majesty is more satisfse"
tory in proportion this morning.—Sept. 14."
A rumour is current (says the Italie) that Ktpg
Victor Emmanuel intends to visit Naples in the early Part
of December.

His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge
who arrived at Gloucester House late on Thursday nigh
from Rumpenheim, the Duchess of Cambridge's seat in the
vicinity of Frankfort, attended at the Horse Guards yea'.
terday afternoon, and was engaged there until nearly Jul"-
past six o'clock.
The Duke and Duchess de Chartres, who Oil
now in Germany, lately visited Dresden. Their Royal
Highnesses dined with the King John and the RoYe/
family at Pillnitz.
His Excellency Baron Gros is not expected to
arrive at the French Embassy before Monday next.
The Duke of Montrose is to leave Buchanan
Castle, near Stirling, to-day, for the south, The ducheo
and Lady Violet Graham are making a series of visits.
The Duchess of Buccleuch and Lady Victoria
Scott are expected home the week after next from a tour in
Germany.
His E xcellency the Spanish Minister and Madatne
Comyn have left town for St. Leonards-on-Sea, to pass the
autumn.
The Marquis and Marchioness of Waterford,
after passing several weeks at Hamburg, left town on Taco"
day last for Curraghmore, county Waterford, Ireland.
The Earl Granville arrived at his house ill
Bruton-street, last night, from Doncaster.
The Earl of Portsmouth, the Hon. Charles "
Fitzwilliam, the Hon. George W. Fitzwilliam, and a selec
party have been staying on a visit to Mr. J. Brow°, t't
Rossington Hall, during the race meeting at Doncaster.
The Earl of Coventry, owing to the death of bill
relative, the Earl Beauchamp, did not attend the races at
Doncaster, although he was the senior steward. In copse'
quence of this event his lordship also gave orders that none
of his horses should be sent to Doncaster.
The Earl of Sefton, after leaving Drummond
Castle, Perthshire, where he was on a visit to Lord an
Lady Willoughby de Eresby, joined the circle visiting thB
Earl and Countess Craven, at Coombe Abbey, pea
Coventry. His lordship has since arrived at Crortatil
Park, near Liverpool. The countess and Lady Cecilia
Molyneux are also staying at Croxteth.
The Earl and Countess of Erne have a select
party at Crom Castle, invited to meet his Excellency the,
Earl of Carlisle, the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. The Ear.
of Carlisle will leave to-day.
The Earl and Countess of Mayo and Lady
Bourke, who have bean on a tour in Germany, paw'
through town on Tuesday for the family seat in Ireland.
Viscount Sudley has arrived at the Earl n'
Arran's seat in Ireland from a tour of visits.
LORD BROUGHAM.—To-day, Lord Broughanl
completes his 85th year, The noble and learned lord 0
now staying at Brougham Hall, but leaves that seat the
week after next for Edinburgh to preside at the gatheriog
of the Social Science Congress.
Lady Brougham, who has been detained in NO
by illness, leaves Grafton-street, at the beginning of nest
week for St. Leonards-on-Sea.
Miss Burdett Coutts and Mrs. Brown have left
London for the Continent.
Mr. Troplong, who has been dangerously ill, i°
now considered out of danger.
DEATH OF THE RIGHT HON. EDWARD ELLIaI
M.P.—This gentleman was found dead in his bed
on Thursday morning at Ardochy, one of the residences on
his Highland estate at Glengarry and Glenquoich. lle had
retired to rest in apparent good health on the previous night;
so that even on those nearest to him the blow has descended
without warning. The right hon, gentleman wasp Me
77th year, and with ono brief interval had sat in 4rlia.
meat for Coventry since 1818. He was formerly a oell,
chant in London. In November, 1830, he was appointe"
joint Secretary to the Treasury in Earl Grey's Adrnihis;
tration, and held that office till August, 1832; and Vla,
Secretary at War from April, 1833, till December, I.B'
He was twice married. First, to Lady Hannah Althea,
sister of the late Earl Grey and widow of Capt. Bettesworthf
R.N , and afterwards to the Dowager Countess of Leicester)
who died in 1844. The deceased gentleman was a Liberea
in politics, and took a leading part in the preparation ae
carrying of the Reform Bill.
DEATH OF THE MARQUIS OF HUNTLY.---Yester
day, at noon, the Marquis of Huntly expired at 10
residence, Orton Hall, near Peterborough, in the 72d It
of his age. When in London during the past season, t""
marquis felt his health began to fail him, and on the ecee;
sion of his daughter's marriage with the Hon. Gilbe,,°
Heathcote he was not able to be present. After a time, hero
ever, the Marquis rallied, and a manth ago he returned
Orton, where he remained under the care of his local yeedl;
cal attendant, Dr. Paley. On Sunday last the marrini°
0111
at church, but on Tuesday and Wednesday it was aPlci,
to those who knew him best that a change was at hf 0
Lord Lewis Aboyne, the marquis's second son, Wile::
away with the Channel Fleet, was telegraphed for, art.„%er.
rived the same night. Lady Evelyn Heathcote and the .IT-0;
Gilbert Heathcote were also sent for. Up to almost the Ito
day the venerable marquis was able to take a drive i_ hen
rn
grounds of the hall. He only took to his bed to die Iba
-
the sod end occurred all his family were present ill ;it,
house. Charles Gordon, Marquis of Huntly, Earl of go% rci
Enzie, and Aboyne, Viscount of Melvin and Aboyne, iimr•
of Gordon and Badenock, Baron Aboyne, and Baron ge
don of Strathavon, Glenlivet and Inverness, in the 10e
of Scotland; and Baron Meldrum of Morven, oozing kr'cr.
deen, in that part of the United Kingdom; Premier 1"'" 0
quis of Scotland and a baronet of Nova Scotia, was 130113°3,
the 4th of January, 1792. succeeded on the 17th June, Ig°tb
married, first on the Ist of March, 1826, Lady Eliiso:
Henrietta Conyngham, eldest daughter of Henry? first
Marquis Conyngham, born the 20th February, 17997 :eoi
the 24th of August, 1839; and secondly, on the 9b"
April, 1814, Mary Antoinetta, only surviving deragiater t°l,
the Rev. William Pegus, by Charlotte Susanna Elizabe4
Countess Dowager of Lindsey, The Marquis of gun
tie
leaves a family of 11 children. He is succeeded in his t"
and estates by his son Charles, Earl of Aboyne, who
born on the sth of March, 1847, and is now consetrell'
in his 17th year.
THE LATE SIR FREDERICK SLADE„--The Para
graph which has been going the round, 15tat'ill.
the when
that the descent of t would of Sir F. Slade and
ance of his property be disputed, is said to have lie
foundation. The late Sir Frederick Slade was married ooera
and only once, to his wife Barbara, only sister o,f
Vaux of Harrowden, at St. George's,
openly and publicly. Sir Alfred Slade. Bart„ has $ll
cecded to his estate and title.—Court Journal.

of t--h
Bee last nightnjaniinlV euster
:
announcesADELP Ilhils
aln'linuEaAlTbßeEne.—fit,Mran.d.
th
season, for Saturday, Sept. 26. Amongst other a WOO;
items the programme comprises the Comedy of "
r 1 rji~
and Faces," with Mrs. Stirling as Peg Woflangton, and
Webster as Triplet.
FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE.--"I well re)zonbet
her (writes Dr Hall, in his " Days in DerhsBlllre.„t
in days gone by,
visiting the cottages of the poor viliette.-(1
illness was there, and doing all she could to soothe II;t
bless the sufferers. There is one cottage by the road-81d
and overlooking a good part of the Hurst and the ecel/430,
beyond, where, long before she became known to t he vi°: i
a poor old relative of mine, a chronic invalid, deli ghte%j
nothing so much as talking of the way she visited and apd
inquiries about her without fuss or unwelcome freed on ;01
when any of the poor neighbours got hurt in the Oult:1001
or mines, she was always one of the first to offs r

genuine help and solace."
A GERMAN CLAIMANT TO THE GLORY OF P°i:t
COVERING THE ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.—A "1:1:of
street in Frankfort son-the. Maine has received the nerft,,:
SUmmeting-street, from Samuel Thomas von SOmmerw:
born 1755 at Thorn, and, after 1805, Member of the to
demy at Munich, where he exclusively devoted his 00110
anatomical and physiological studies, and died 1830. j'ir,
left a diary, from which his son, Court-Councillor Dr. ity
Sommering, now endeavours to prove the electric telegr",
to be "a German invention"—more
especially the 101
tion of S. Th. SOmmering. On the 28th of August, IS°n;
SOmmering, it is said, road a paper before the Acaderei
Munich, in which he developed the theory of his juveatiellt:
and in 1811 he handed over to the States-Councillor thel36
von Causta Schilling ll a complete apparatus, which
el/
latter took to St. Petersburg, and with which experira
were made before the Emperor Alexander.
,„,n A
SCRATCII A YANKEE, AND YOU WILL Fl,-1, #
RED INDIAN," is a phrase which some Northeru
Inca recently applying to 4/.1 own me,

ithn

the rumour
,o the pre-
) Prince of
His Grace

racing or

B.G.—The

'ow i❑ his
The official
Lg balletins
[ajesty was
in eonse"
was slight
y apparent,
expectora-
b. is so ler
jesty there-
)f the del.
iot so crou-
etter rest;
re satisfae-

;hat Sing
3 early Part

ll:abridge
Bday nigh
seat in ill°
aards ye
~B**
,early litiir

who are
heir Royal
the ROI'

:pectea to
ext.

Buchanan
'he duches6
r visits. r
victoria
)m a tour in

dMadato°
to pass the

Vaterford,
rn on Toes'

'eland.
house 111

harles
and a select
Brown, at
mcaster•
ath of pi.
the racesst

e.
In Cons
s that AO'

nd
Irumnio
Lord and
visiting tile
bbey, near
st Cro2ctetu
ady Cecilia

'e a select
3elleney til
. The l'°'

Lady 31
any, pioed
i Ireland'
Earl 01

3roughanl.
tied lord 10
at seat the
e gathering

d in torn
ing of 33e/

have left

usly ill) i°

D ELLial
in his bed
,sidences co
ch. Ile had
'
..ous night'
sidescended
was i3.13:15

in Parlia
erly a mer-
e appointed
s Ado
2. and wl
caber, 1834'
Lah Althea,
ettesworilit
)f Leieeater!
8 a Liberal;
aration and

The pare"
stating
the inherit'
Dave 11°
srrierd ocea
er o,f Lor
ver-;
has 1311 c

webOte!
igL,t of
a ttractll
of igia‘
Da, al3d"t.

bet
re/ Pc"- pi
b 5 8 hirefet
r 'whelle ad
nth°
3 road-8
erg
the see d
) t he vOrlit:
te
eli Skid de
datic°6cl
al)
.eed ow' •
eA
) ofc
r

. or Did
—A 119
o
he WO g,
;Omraer'Pro,
)1 the 1"-tg
his 0000
1830.
for Dr.
:c telegr",
tho 113/e
is-f
gust,
of
Leadeta
invention
;illor 136;:e

D 1*
EJ FIS 0
A 111ic 136