The Sun.
London, England, 1863-06-13 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

La Soreiere ; the Witch of the Middle Ages. From;
the French of J. Michelet. By L. J. Trotter.
One vol, Simpkin, Marshall, and Co.
It would not be in any way extravagant
to remark of the author of this book—not
of the translator, observe, but of the original
author of it—that his reputation stinks in
the nostrils of Europe. It is a name that
is nothing less than a brand upon a title page.
His offence, like Hamlet's stepfather's, is rank and
smells to heaven. The most notorious among all
his writings—a miserable, tainted, loathsome work
in itself and in its influences—the pitiable pro-
duction known under the title of " Priests, Women
and Families," has now for a long while past
rendered the name of Michelet in all parts of Chris-
tendom an object of abhorrence. That the man is
clever, that he is a scholar, that he has erudition,
that he has many of the more seductive gifts of a
master rhetorician, there can unhappily be but little
doubt. It is the fact that there are these pecu-
liarities about him that renders his influence
so pernicious, wherever his influence extends. Never
has there been a more odious perversion of intellec-
tual capacity, we believe, than has been witnessed
throughout his literary career. He is the Evil
Genius of French literature. His standish is
the can dron from which he draws the hell-
broth of his incantations. His pen is the
wand of malign power with which he exercises his
only magical influence over the minds of his disciples,
that wielded through the black magic of a profane
and salacious imagination. Here, in this horrible
work, entitled "La Sorciere," is the very
latest ebullition of that unhappy fancy
seething and boiling over the pages with a certain
hot, lava-like eloquence, bat scathing and blasting
and withering all around it as it flows. The notion
of the work is from first to last extravagant. It
throughout seems to be avowedly and flagrantly
maiific. Instead of calling to his aid the good angels
—the writer appears to be here bent upon summon-
ing to his assistance only swarms upon swarms of
diahlerie. Chapter after chapter, as we read, the
ground we traverse, is the reverse of the holy
ground of fairyland. It resembles more exactly
than any fairyful region we can recall
to mind the " blasted heath" where those " dark
and midnight hags," the three Witches, confronted.
Macbeth, the Thane of Glamis, the Thane of
Cawdor, the murderous King of the Hereafter.
Only that, instead of three Witches, we have legions
upon legions of them—till the ground is black
with them, the air is filled with them,
they swarm upon the scene, and pollute our imagi-
nation with the mere remembrance of them. It is for
all the world as if the hellish revelries of the Jung-
frau, all those riotous abominations of the Walpurgis,
that even the daring genius of Goethe veils over with
the densest shadows of midnight, were recounted and
minutely depicted in all their hideous abandon-
ment in the glare of noon-day by the brazen auda-
city of this horridly uncompromising Frenchman.
How even a Michelet could pen the book, in the
first instance, is scarcely comprehensible to
us. Much more is it matter of amazement that he
should with cool deliberation revise 'the original
manuscript, carefully correct the proof-sheets,
and phlegmatically commit the baneful volume,
not, as he ought to have done, to the flames,
but to the chance perusal of any one who
lists to read it. We regret very much that the
industry and skill devoted by Mr. Trotter to the
task of its translation, should have been expended
upon a work in itself so intrinsically worthless and
so utterly perishable. As a literary production we
cannot but look upon it, as we have before had
occasion to do upon the rest of its author's compo-
sitions, as another apt illustration of that
grizzly phantom floating by Coleridge's " Ancient
Mariner" far away upon the rotting sea—to wit,
" The Nightmare, Life in Death !" For if La Sor-
dere has not come into the world of letters still-born,
it has opened its purblind eyes to the light in
a condition (we cannot but exult to think) decidedly
moribund. Not a hand need be raised against it,
to destroy it. Exposure, simply exposure, will
prove quite sufficient to be the death of it.

SCOTCH MORALITY.—Two men, named Donald
Maclean and Kenneth Urquhart—the former an
elder of the Free Kirk—have been committed for trial at
Dingwall, Rom3•shire, for exhuming the body of a beggar,
named Ross. It is stated that Ross was afforded shelter
in
Maclean's house, and died there. The body was duly
buried, but Maclean having heard a good deal of the large
sums sometimes accumulated by beggars, made a compact
with his neighbour to have his bDdy dug up and searched.

DESECRATION OF MILTON'S REMAINS.--Ac-
cording to Todd, the remains of Milton were
attended to the grave by all his learned and, great
friends in London, not without a friendly concourse of
the vulgar. He was bUried next his father, in the chancel
of St. Giles, Cripplegate. In the month of August, 1790, the
spot where his body had been deposited was opened, and s
corpse, hastily supposed to be his, exposed to public view..
There was a tradition in the parish that his remains were laid
under the spot where the clerk's desk had formerly stood in
the chancel; and curiosity being excited on the subject, the
vestry clerk, churchwardens, and others, opened the grave,
in which they found a leaden coffin, lying over a wooden
one, imagined to be that of Milton's father. The ground was
immediately closed, but opened again the next morning, the
overseers in the meantime having caroused over the dis-
covery, and resolved to turn it to account. Cutting open
the leaden coffin, they found a body in its shroud, and
believing it to be that of the poet, they extracted the,
teeth, cut off the hair, which was six inches long, combed'
and tied together, and then left the scattered remains to
the grave-diggers, who were permitted to exhibit them for
money to the public. Mr. Neve, of Furnival's-inn, svii°
published an account of the transaction, was satisfied that i
the body was that of Milton, while others contended that t
was a female corpse, relying in part as a proof of this on the
long hair; yet we know that Milton always wore his hair
long. Stevens particularly lamented the indignity sus:
tained by the venerable relics, though he doubted their
identity.—London Scenes and London People.
M. DU CHAILLU'S GORILLAS.—The valuable col-
lection of objects illustrative of natural history,
formed by M. du Chaillu during his travels in West Equa-
torial Africa, was sold yesterday by Mr. J. C. Stevens, at
his auction rooms, in King-street, Covent-garden As the
collection included the stuffed skins of several of those
gorillas respecting which such a lively controversy was
carried on a short time since, there is no wonder that the
saleroom was crowded during the day, and that the event
created great interest amongst students of natural history,
curators of museums, and private collectors. Besides the
gorillas there were sold some chimpanzees and other mon-
keys, and animals with their skeletons, and some beautiful
and rare bird skins ; but many of these were not collected
by M. du Chaillu. This gentleman's collection did not
number more than 100 lots, the principal of which were the
following, as described by the catalogue " Magnificent
series of gorillas, male, female, and young, in fine condition,
the two adults beautifully prepared by Mr. Wilson, the
eminent taxidermist, skeleton of male nearly complete,
skeleton of the female complete, and skeleton of young male
complete." They were bought by a private gentleman for
£IIG. Other lots sold as follow :—Skin and skeleton of
female gorilla, adult, £2O ; skin and skeleton of young
gorilla, £lO ; a complete adult skeleton of male gorilla, quite
perfect, articulated, £32; a do. female, £18; a do., £lB ; a
magnificent chimpanzee, the largest in Europe, with the
skeleton, complete, £18; skin and complete skeleton, of
baldheaded chimpanzee or ape, £10; do., young, Q ;
Xel 10s. Many of the skeletons were bought for the Co l-
iege of Surgeons. In the second collection offered the,
principal lot was a skin of the aye-aye, from Madagascar
(Chiromys Madagascariensis), containing the skull, nearly
perfect, and the bones of the limbs. This was described as
the first specimen of this extremely rare and curious animal
ever offered for public sale in this country. It realised
£l2 10s. Some beautiful specimens of skins of Indian
pheasants, used for adorning ladies' outdoor headdresses,
were sold at good prices, some commanding £2 each.
CHAMPIONSHIP OF THE THAMES.—Tbe final
deposit of £5O a-side, making the £2OO a-side for
the Championship of the Thames, between Robert Cham-
bers, of Newcastle-on-Tyne, Champion of the Thames and
Tyne, and Richard Green, of Port Jackson, Champion of
Australia, was made good on Thursday evening at Henry
Kelly's, the Bells, Putney, where Green is staying. Both
men were present, as well as Kel.y, H. Clasper, Winship,
Laidler, and many other celebrities.

The resolution on the subject of Poland which
Mr. Hennessy intends to move in the house of Com-
mons on Monday week is as follows :--" That an humble
address be presented to her Majesty, thanking her for the
communication of the Correspondence on the Affairs of
Poland,' expressing the regret of the house at learning from
that correspondence that the Emperor of Russia has vio-
lated the treaty of Vienna, and set up a claim to
sovereignty
in Poland directly at variance with that treaty, and earnestly
praying her Majesty, while refusing to recognise that claim,
and solemnly protesting aglinst it, to adopt such measur?s,
in concert with other power, as may combine the pres!i:va-,
tion of the legitimate rights of Poland with the conditions
of a durable peace."

lION-ty MARKET

AND
COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

CITY, TWELVE O'CLOCK.

The demand for money has exceeded the Satur-
,y average, and the market is expected to con-
tinue active until after the impending liquidatio❑
of accounts at the Stock Exchange. Very little
accommodation has been obtainable to-day under
the Bank minimum of 4 per cent:
About £BB,OOO in gold was taken into the Bank
yesterday.
Since Monday last the imports of specie have
°nIY amounted to £427,500, while the exports have
reached £1,058,000.

In the foreign exchanges yesterday afternoon
there as a slight upward tendency.

Two o'CLocx.

At Paris this morning, according to Mr. Reuter's
telegram, the French 3 per Cent. Rentes were
69f. 50c., 95f. 45c.—heavy.
Business in the English Stock market continues
'dull, but the dealings to-day have exercised a bene-
ficial influence in prices, which have slightly tended
upwards. Consols are 921 for money, and 921,- for
the 9th proximo—beings per cent, higher. The
New Threes and Reduced are 912- 4 ; India Five
per Cents., 108 1; and Exchequer Bills 3s. dis.
to par.

In the Foreign Market Mexican have maintained
their advance, and have closed at a further im-
provement, viz., at 378 Z. Greek have also con-
tinued buoyint, and have risen to 381 39, and to
181 19 for the Coupons; Spanish Passive have been
dealt in at 33i 34k for money and at
34k for the account; the Certificates are
anarked 114 12; Turkish 6 per Cents., 1854, 93;
'do., 1858, 70-7,- ; do., 1862, 711 a ; the New Loan, 1
prem.; and the Consolides have been as high as
at 51. More firmness has been apparent in Vene-
zuelan, the 3 per Cents. being 251 ; the 6 per Cents.,
38 59; and the New Loan, tll prem. The Canfe•
derate Loan is 3 to 2 dis.
Business in the Railway Share Market has
continued very dull, and prices have exhibited
little variation of importance. Great Western and
Lancashire and Yorkshire have improved 55., and
South Eastern, 10s. ; while Great Eastern and
Midland have declined about ss.

The Foreign and Colonial lines remain dull, at
previous rates.

Joint Stock Bank and Miscellaneous Shares con-
tinue without any material change in prices.
English, Scottish, and Australian Chartered realise
23/ ; London and South African, 26/ ; Crystal
Palace Stock, 371 ; and South Australian Land,
35i. International Finance shares are quoted 68
6/ prem.; London Finance, 2 to 2/ prem.; and
General Credit ditto, Vg. 2 prem.

BRITISH FUNDS—CLOSING PRICES.
4 per Cent. Reduced Annuities
a per Cent. Consols Annuities
In
New 3 per Cent. Annuities
dia Stock
Ditto 5 per Cent
Ditto Debentures, 4 per Ct., Oct., 1863
..., Ditto ditto April, 1864 100}
1-1,,t, Bonds £l,000
~‘ consols for Account. July 9
4izeheciuer Bills, £l,OOO 21 per Cent par 3 die
Ditto £500

FOREIGN FUNDS—CLOSING PRICES.
'cluador New Consolidated, 1 per Cent
~, Ditto, Provisonal Land Warrant. 94
vreek 5 per Cent., 1824-5, ex-Coupons 371 81
Ditto Account 3Bl 8 i
, Ditto Coupons
•Itlexican 3 per Cent
„,„Dit to Account 371 I
New Granada l6k 15; .1
Ditto 2 per Cent .. 324
Ditto Deferred
Ditto Land Warrants (Hectares) 7i
Portuguese 3 per Cent., 1853
Ditto 3 per Cent., 1856, '7, '9, '6O, 62 49}
Russian 5 per Cent., 1822, £ St 94}
Ditto 6 per Cent., 1862
Spanish 3 per Cent
Ditto Passive
Ditto Account 34k f
Spanish Cert. of Coup not funded
Turkish 6 per Cent. 1854 93
Ditto 6 per Cent. 1858
Ditto 6 per Cent. 1862
Ditto 1863, £3 19s 41 pd 1 pm
Venezuela, 3 per Cent
Ditto 6 per Cent., 1862
Dividends on the above payable in London.
Italian, 5 per Cent., 1861, Ex. 25 francs 721
Consols Mone TWO O'CLOCK.
y
.Ditto Account 921

13.14.

Bir., Wol., and Str. Val,
istythe and Tyne: ..:•,
Bost., S 1 eat..and Mid.k.lo
Bristol antl'Exc ter
Caledonian
Cork and Bandon
L'orn Wail
Do A A L:(..ts no diN
Do. B till llp c.p ah.ha,
fiv4 tt
inu.Dublintxu
erS tbrgethßbe n,:kliAaasbi td.
Glasgow, Jjt
uuonnieC
1
Ulasg. and S. Western
Great Eastern, Ord, Stk
Ditto A ttock
Ditto East Anglian st
IGreatNOrthof Scotland
Great Northern
Do A stock
Do B do
Gt. S. an I W. of Ireland
Great Western
Do Str Val gua. stool
Lancashite & Yorkshire
London and Blackwal
Lon., Bright.,& S. Coast
Lon., Chat., and Dover
Lou.l & North Western
Lon. & Scr.th Western
Man., Shef., & Lincoln.
IMaryport and Carlisle.
I Do t shares
Metropolitan
Midland
Do New
Do Binning. & Derby
Mid. Gt. W. of Ireland

Do. 4 shares
Mid Kent

Do Cray Line
North British
Edin., Perth, & Dundee
Nth. Eastern—Berwick
Do, G.N.E. purchase
Do Lecds
Do York
Do Carlisle
North London

'9414'

Do New
North Staffordshire
N. and S. W. Junction
Scottish Central

8 81

1 81
85 87
1171 118

6 7

40 91
14 15
91 93
108 110
52 113
48 50
24& 25j

Scot N. E., Aber. stock
Do Scot. Mid, stock
Shrews. and Welchpool
Shropshire Union
South Devon
South Eastern

1281 1291
131 132
134 136
101 103
66i (7

1101 Mil
75 77
116 118
43. 45
102 102&,
1044 1051
151 464

llf
128
14 It)
j 7 99

51 52
24i 251 k
1021 1021

58i 59 ti
89f 901

12.10

South. Wales
S. York. and River Dun
Staines,Wok.,andWok
Stockton & Darlington
Do
Do New, 186 G
Taff Vale..
Do B
Do C
Ulster
Do
' Do
Vale of Neath
Victoria sta. and Pins
Waterford & Kilkenny
West Cornwall
W. Hartlepool Handal
West Midland Oxford
Do Newport
Do Hereford

115 117
1;p
108 !FB
11t lei
119 121
96a 47i
98 100

50 62
82 33
91/
69 71
100 102
87i 7/
39
7/ 81
153 156
5/ 6/
3 8i pi

66 ii
110/ Ilk 11
76 5i

77 80
155 157

101/ 2
1051

97i P

102
68}
89*

91; 2} 1;

28 30

95 (6
38 40
101 103

BRITISH POSSESSIONS.
Closite,
dal iwayk Paid. Price. Business don.
100 it tantie &Ft Lawrence all 55 57
stk Bom.,Baroda&.Cent In, to, 109 110•
Gu. 5 per cent.
20 Do. New . ...... 5 1 14 p
20 Do. E. Shares..
04 Buffalo anti Laae Huron al, 54 64 54
1 Do. Preference 74 8
too ttuffalo,Brant,&Godria to _
o p. et. bds. Aug. 1, 1872
100 Do. do. July 1, 18;4 too
100 )0. do. Jun,. 1, IN s 100
et ,ileutta.&S.Eastn.,l,.. ) 100 108 109
at '7aperfol,vn & Dock Seri' 100 It 94 1104
stock ltastn. Bengal gu. sp. c 100 111 1 2
stock bast Indian. gm. sp. e. 1.0( 1094 11 110 91
20 Do. do. G Ext lO 14 14p
20 Do. do. 11 do.
stock Grand Trunk of Canada tut. 194 'O4
100 Do. Ist Pret. Bonds all 72 74
100 Do. no. deterred all 52 55
100 [to. 2d Pret. Bonds all 58 60
100 Do. do drier ed all 45 60
100 Do. 3d P ef. stock
100 Do. do. deferred.— all 34 36
100 Do. 4th Pref. s,o lc— all 26 28 26
100 Do. do. deferred all 23 25 23
stock Gt.lnchaPentn.,rbua.sp.c lOO 1104 1104 1104
20 Do. New gua. sp. c l2 1 2 1
20 Do. January, 1862 8 1 14;
stock Gt. South.of India (Lim;
guaranteed 5 per cent. 100 1084 1094
204 Gt. W. of Canada Shares all 1 t 114 114
204 Do. New ....... 94 9t,
100 Do. 6 p.c. '73 with't opt. all 97 100
100 Do. 54 p. c. do. '77-8.. . all 89 02
10 Indian Branch Limited 2 1 P
stock Madras guar., sp. o.
stock Do. 44 p. c. Extension 100 102 103
stock De. Ss d 0.... _. lOO 19 101
20 Do. Fifth Extension 2
stock Nlelb.C.orp, ob p. o. Bud ion -
50 Mello. & Hobson's Bay. ali 50 53
100 Do. 7p. c. nortg. Bds. alt
20 Newßrunswicit & Cand,,
Class A alai B all 3 5
N. Rl.C'da6 pa Ist pi bds 100 84 86
stock Scinde ..
st Do. De1hi.:......
4. 100 108 119
( Do. do
,c! E., 2 1 fp
20 Do. Punjaub c 15 14 141)
st Do, Do, 6
•• •• , 1074 ICBI 107
+lock Do. Indus. St. Flo.) 10( 105 107
t;OLON 1 A L ii() V Kith t I I I it.
Lau.tioy. 6pcJ a. &J ul,
••
1877-84
Do. 6p. p. Feb. & Ant; 100 it 5 107
- Do. p. c.Mar.& Sept 100 105 107
, Do.o p. c. Jan.&July. 100 974 084 98
Do. 5 Inscribed stock 100 96 98
,CapeG.Hope, 6p 0,187 Z, 100 108 110
Do.Ap & Oct. 188 U 100 112 114
Do. 1818 100 113 115
I Do, Jan. & July, 1891.. 100 115 117
,Ceylon, N0v.1878, dp c 100 113 115
Maui Bins 6 per cent .. [OO 109 111
Natal Gov. 6 per cent.. 100 109 111
lOU 1(8 1e.9
Do. 6p. c.Ap. & Oct. 100
N. S. V. G ov. 5 p 18, , 100 1024 1034
Do. sp. c.,18,1 to 1•.,1 100 103 104
Do. d0.,1888 &upwds 100 1034 1044
New Zealand 6 p cent. 100 112 112
Nova Scotia Gov. 6p. c.
I sterling, 1875 lOO 108 109
Queensland Gcv. 6p. c lOO tl3 115
S. Aus G6p.c.1878.& up lOO 113 115
6 p.c. Ja.&Jul) 100 110 112
Do. io p.c. An.eliOnt... 100 1114 1114 1114