The Sun.
London, England, 1863-04-08 00:00:00

We regret to hear that Sir A. Alison is ill.

A " POLYARTIST."---John Howell, the polyartist,
died at Edinburgh, on Saturday, in his 75th year.
After serving his apprenticeship to a bookbind r, John
commenced business on his own account as a bookbinder.
This he carried on with great success for some time, Sir
Walter Scutt, Lord Glenlee, M icvey Napier, and many
other of the leading men of the den pleased with his ori-
ginality and talent, having employed him. At this time
he invented "the plough," an instrument now in universal
use by bookbinders for cutting the leaves of books. But
John, longing "for fresh fields and pastures new," dropped
the bookbinding, and burst upon the world in the character
of a polyartist—the last phase of his chequered career.
Full of self-confidence, and strong in his own convictions,
the difficulties which to an ordinary mind appeared
insuperable were overlooked or despised by him. Hence
his eccentric attempts to rival the bird and fish in
flying and swimming. His debut in the flying line was
made in a park which now forms the West Princes-street
Gardens. At that time the ruins of an old tannery stood at
the bottom of the west bank of the Earthen Mound, from an
elevated point near which John took his soaring flight ; but
he was not long of coming precipitately to the ground
amidst a heap of old stones, by which he had one of his
legs broken, Nothing daunted, however, by his failure in
imitating the bird, he some time aferwards essayed to
rival the fish. Having constructed, at considerable ex-
pense, a large model of a fish, which was to be propelled
by the arms and legs of a person placed inside, a trial of
the machine was made in a deep pool on the Water of
Leith. On this occasion a brother of John's was present,
and so satisfied was John of the value of his invention, that
he gravely proposee to his brother that he should for the
nonce play the part of the fish, as in the event of any-
thing happening to him (John), he would be prevented
from perfecting his invention. The brother, however,
declined this proposal, and John accordingly entered the
belly of the fish himself, and was fairly launched into the
stream. We should have stated that the fish was pro.
vided with a keel, so as to give it a proper hold on the
water; but by some miscalculation of the centre of gravity,
scarcely had the fish entered the water when it cap-
sized, the keel turning upwards, and, as a consequence,
poor John was submerged. Sounds of an alarming kind
were heard to issue from the belly of the fish, and no time
w ls lost in dragging it to the bank, when the inventor was
liberated from his perilous position; but it took nearly half
an hour before "suspended animation" was fully resiored.
In plain English, John was nearly drowned. These eccen-
tricities, however, though characteristic of the man, were
mere specks on the sun—his pursuits as a polyartist hav-
ing generally been directed to much more useful and profit-
able results. He was held in high esteem by the late Lord
Murray, and for many year assisted his lordship in his
scientific and other pursuits. In repairing old china and
other antiquities of every kind, John's patience and neat.
handedness rendered him unrivalled. In the fabrication of
false teeth he equalled the best dentist. He was the first who
introduced themanufacture of Pompeian plates, at a great loss
to himself; and there was scarcely a common thing con-
nected with art manufactures on which he had not tried
his hand with success. Even in the curative art, John's
salve for ringworm was considered highly efficient. But
perhaps John's literary capacity formed h s chief merit.
His essay on the " War Galleys of the Ancients" is a
learned and excellent work. and his '• Journal of a Soldier
of the 71st," one of the most spirite.l and readable books or
the kind in our language. He also wrote the lives of John
tNhiecoolr,igthinealf mariner;"Robinson
Alexander Alexander, and A. Selkirk,
otibentertainingtruted
and well-written itpoubbinliscoantioCnrsu.we'H'; furtherailvery c
some of the best stories to " Tales- of the Bor-
ders ;" and having been one of the unfortunates who, on
the occasion of the late Lord Eldin's sale, sustained injuries
from the falling of the floor, he wrote and published a
graphic whichaccountofthoefactchiedencat,taloau. e isHaeppaenlsdoedsutpopltihede
large paper edition
Chambers' s Tout nal, some years ago, wi,ll a thrilling
story, whose title we forget, and for which be was libe-
rally remunerated by his old friend Robert Chambers
Scotsman.

It is said that Dean Milano was asked what he
thought of Bishop Colenso's book on the Pentateuch : the
Dean replied that the Bishop of Natal appeared to be very
well up in Numbers, but that he did not seem to wider.
gaud Exodua

The Marquis Wielopoloski and the Prince
Napoleon.

TO THE EDITOR OF LA PRESSE.
Sir,—l have the honour to communicate to you
a copy of a letter addressed by me to his Imperial
Highness Prince Napoleon.
I hope, Sir, that you will not refuse to insert it in
your estimable journal.
Please to accept, Sir, the expresAon of my dis-
tinguished sentiment.
SIGISMOND COIINT WIELOPOLSKI.
Warsaw, April 3, 1863.

"TO HIS IMPERIAL HIGHNESS PRINCE NAPOLEON,

PALAIS ROYAL, PARIS.
" Monsiegneur,—ln your speech, delivered in
the Senate of France on the 17th instant, you ex-
pressed yourself in the most outrageous manner
towards my father.

" I come forward as a son to demand from your
Imperial Highness, for that gross offence, the satis-
faction that a man of honour never refuses.
"Nevertheless, Monseigneur, from your well-
known antecedents, I have no great hope of your
accepting the challenge.
" There is a courage that does not rise above the
kennel, and there are individuals who, like low-
bred fellows, when they commit an outrage, take a
cowardly shelter in the inviolability of a privileged
condition, on being called to account for their
conduct.

" Your Imperial Highness would wish to take
refuge behind those who hail with you from the
Palais Royal, and with the chiefs of the assassins in
their haunts at Warsaw.

" If, in my country, the good cause inaugurated
by our King Alexander 11., and to which my father
has for the last two years devoted his efforts, does
not finish by triumphing over the difficulties raised
by perverse or ill-advised persons, it will be princi-
pally to the sot-disant friends of our cause, such as
as you, Monseigneur, and your revolutionary com-
panions, that the failure will be owing.
"I shall wait until the 2d of April* next for
your reply and the designation of your second.
If you will not grant the satisfaction I demand, you
will suffix me, Monseigneur, to give publicity to
this letter.

"Receive, Monseigneur, the assurance of all the
sentiments which, on my part, are due to your Im-
perial Highness.

(Signed) " SIGISMOND COUNT WIELOPOLSKI.
"Palace of Bruhl, Warsaw, March 24, 1863."

• We would suggest that the Count Wielopolski ought to
have mentioned the day previously I

How a Female Freemason Saved her
Brother's Life in the American War.

A soldier in the Federal army, now in Arkansas,
writes to the editor of the Chicago Tribune a most.
extraordinary story. He says that some of the Con-
federate guerillas having burnt a house in which a
poor woman and her family were, one of them, a raw
youth about sixteen, with a strong Irish accent,
having been taken, the lad protested that he was
unwittingly drawn into the act by others, who told
him that they were going coney-hunting, and he
took no part in the outrage. Nevertheless, the
Federal officer commanded him to be shot.
Accordingly, about eight o'clock he was 'oratight
out to be conducted to the place of execution. Upon
seeing the soldiers drawn up to receive him, he com-
menced wringing his hands, crying, and calling to
the captain, saying, " Oh, captain, lam not guilty. Do not let them kill me. Don't, captain--you can
save me. I will give you my vwch. My sister
will give you money. Oh, God ! oh, holy Mother !
oh, captain, speak to them quick—they are taking
me away !" Vti ith a soldier upon each side of him,
he was now led by the arms towards the place of
execution, still calling upon the captain to save him.
When he discovered the coffin and grave that had
been prepared for him, he gave a wild frantic scream,
and then seemed to realise for the first time that in
a few minutes he would be no more among the
living ; for in a moment after he became calm, when,
turning to the officer of the guard, he requested him
to ask the captain if he would give him time to
write to his mother in Ireland.
At that moment there arose upon the stillness of
the scene, the wild piercing shriek of a female, as
she burst through the ranks of the soldiers, and
swept out upon the hollow square in the direction
of the prisoner. It was an Irish girl, apparently
about 18 years old, without bonnet or shoes, her
dress bespotted with mud, and her long, dark hair
streaming in the wind as she rushed forward with
a wild, heartrending scream, saying, " He is my
brother !" In a moment she had crossed the square,
and, clasping her brother in her arms, she continued,
with an agonising scream, " Oh, soldiers, oh, holy
Mother ! gentlemen, for the love of Jesus do not
kill him. He is innocent! He is my brother!"
The girl was ordered to be removed. When two
soldiers advanced and unloosened her grasp upon
her brother, her screams, her appeals to all for
mercy were terrible.

They had dragged her but a short distance frog
him, when looking back and seeing a black hand-
kerchief already tied over his eyes with one wild,
fr,intic scream she flung the soldiers from her, and,
bounding back to her brother, she tore the covering
from his eyes, and again enfolded him in her arms.
As the soldiers were again removing hbr, the coat-
sleeves of one of them was torn during her
struggles, and her eyes tell upon a breast pin that
be had fastened upon his shirt-sleeve, perhaps for
concealment and safety.
In an instant all her physical powers were re'
laxed. In a calm, subdued, and confident voice, she
observed, as she pointed to the pin, " Soldiers, let
us make one effort for my brother." The soldiers,
started at the strangeness of her manner, un-
loored their grasp upon her, and in a moment
she bounded away to her brother, shielding his body'
again with her person at the very moment that the
guns were descending to receive the word " fire."
Turning her back to her brother, and facing the file
of soldiers, she stood forth a stately woman. There
was no scream, no tear, no agonising expressions
but, calm and erect, she swept the field with her
eye, and then advancing three steps, she gave the
grand hailing s'gnal of the Master Mason, None
but Maeons amongst those soldiers observed it, and
there were many of them in that command who nog
stood mute with astonishment at the strange and
mysterious spectacle before them. There was a car
tain who came forward, and in a loud voila said,
" That owing to the distress and interference of the
young woman, the execution would be postponed
until nine o'clock the next day." The guard wail
then ordered to be doubled, and a strict watch kept
over the prisoner during the night.
Notwithstanding this precaution, it was disco-
vered in the morning that both the boy and his six'
ter had made their escape. In what way they 80-
complished it has been a mystery with the company
from that time to this. During the early part of
the evening there was a meeting of the Masonic
members of the company at the captain's headquar-
ters, when the girl was examined, and found to have
passed all the degrees in masonry, to that of a master
mason.

Where or how she acquired these degrees she de-
clined to say. She and her brother had been in the
U❑ited States about 10 weeks, having come from
Ireland for the purpose of purchasing a farm, in:
tending, when they had done so, to send for their
mother arid a younger brother. The boy did not
k❑ow that his sister was a Mason, and only kite°
that his father, when living, was master of a lodge
in their native town ita Ireland.

WATERLOO Rooms—MR. W. S. WOODIN's a CA-
BIN ET CF CURIOSITIES."—Mr. W. S. Wood
whose " Carpet Bag" and "Olio of Oddities," presented
before Edinburgh audiences in former years, secured for
him the reputation of being one of the beat Miturtie per
formers who have visited Edinburgh fer a long time, re:
appeared in the Waterloo Rooms last night to disclose ht
" Cabinet of Curiosities." The entertainment was similar
to those of Mr. Woodin's which have previously proved 00
tglecessful with Edinburgh audiences. The performer al
peared in about thirty different characters—male and fenteltl
—and the wonderful rapidity of his change of costume, c°l32-
big ed with his clever personification of the different chase'
sera which be represented, deservedly called forth the
warmest applause.—Scotsman,
There is an on clit that the Prince Napoleon it/
going to Egypt,

MONEY MARKET
oe

AND

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

CITY, TWELVE O'CLOCK.

The money market still presents a quiet and easy
appearance, the best bills being readily negotiated
at 31 per cent.

The Foreign exchanges yesterday afternoon ex-
hibited no material change.

A call of V per share has been made by the
directors of the Anglo-Portuguese Bank, payable
on or before the 25th inst.

The ninth annual meeting of the proprietors of
the Chartered Bank of India, Australia, and China,
was held to-day—Mr. Mitchell presiding. The
report stated that the general balance sheet for the
year ending the 31st December last, exhibited a
profit of £70,792 ss. 4d. The shareholders had been
informed by circular, on 29th Aug. last, of the los
which this bank,in common with others,b ad sustained
by the extensive opium frauds perpetrated at Hong
Kong, and which precluded the directors from re-
commending a half-yearly interim dividend in
October last. They regretted to state that not-
withstanding every effort, the hopes which were at
first held out to them of recovering a portion of the
loss thus incurred had not been realised; and the
deficiency, amounting to £50,323 13s. 10d., must
now be regarded as a total loss. Under
these circumstances the directors had de-
cided to write off that amount from the profits
of the year; and out of the remaining balance of
£20,468 lls. 6d., they now recommended that a
dividend for the half-year ended 31st December
last be declared, at the rate of five per cent. per
annum, free of income tax, leaving £4,368 lls. 6d.
of undivided profits to be carried to new account.
Apart from the loss above noticed, the Directors
were able to report that the general business of the
bank throughout the year had been very satisfactory.
The Chairman, in moving the adoption of the re-
port, reviewed the principal features of the report,
and stated that the past year's operations exhibited
both an increase of profit and business, and that the
directors contemplated opening new branches in
India at places which they believed were destined
to become extensive seats of trade. The Board
als,) trusted at a future meeting to be able to re-
commend that a considerable addition be made to
the Reserve Fund. In reply to several questions,
the Chairman stated that the manager and Guaran-
tee Society were held liable for part of the losses
sustained through the frauds perpetrated at Hong
Kong. The report, after a short debate, was unani-
mously adopted.

1

Two O'CLOCK.
At the Paris Bourse this day, accotding to Mr.
Reuter's telegram, the 3 per Cent. Rentes were
69f. 75c.—Quiet.

The transactions in the English Stock Market con-
tinue limited, the settlement having occupied prin-
cipal attention. A few purchases, however, during
the morning resulted in an advance of per cent.,
and Consols are now quoted 92: I for money, and
921 for the May account. The New Three per
Cents. are firm at 911, the Reduced at 91/ ; Exche-
quer Bills remain at sa. to 2s. die. ; India 5 per Cent.
Loan is 108/, 109 k.
There has been less buoyancy in the Foreign
Market to-day, and the transactions have not been
so extensive. Greek Bonds have receded to 21;
the Coupons are 121 13i ; Mexican Stock is 331 8 ;
Peruvian New Loan, 88 ; Portuguese, 48 ; Russian,
961; Spanish Passive have improved to 29 I; the
Cortifieso.es, 10 4 ; Turkish 6 per Cents., 1854, 90 ;
do., 1858, 68i; do., 1862, 69 ; and the Consolides
48f, 49 ; Italian, 71: 4 ; and Venezuelan New Loan,
60 4. The Confederate Loan is 1 4 die.
In the Railway Share Market business has been
very dull, but in one or two instances prices have
shown rather more firmness. Great Easterns
and Midlands have improved ss. ; Caledonians,
108. ; and Metropolitans, 15s. ; South-Easterns,
however, have declined ss.

The Foreign and Colonial undertakings con-
tinue in limited favour at about previous quota-
tions.

Joint-Stock Bank and Miscellaneous Shares main-
tain about former prices. London and Brazilian
realize 411 42 ; Chartered of India, Australia, and
China, 25 to 25; ; Bank of Egypt, 311 311; and
Peninsular and Onental Steam, 77-a.
The shares of the Westminster and Southwark
Bank have been dealt in at Ito 1 prem.
The shares of the New Theatre Company have
been dealt in at 1 to If prem.

---
BRITISH FUNDS—CLOSING PRICES.
3 per Cent. Reduced Annuities 913 1 3
3 per Cent. Consols Annuities 921 3
„New 3 per Cent. Annuities
k 'amities, 30 yrs, expire 6th Jan., 1880 —
Ditto (Red Sea Telegraph), Aug. 1908 2l 7-16
India Stock —
Ditto 5 per Cent
Ditto Enfaoed Paper, 4 per Cent 97
DAto 5 per Cent
Ditto 63 per Cent.
Ditto Debentures, 4 per Ct., Oct., 1863 100
Ditto ditto April, 1864 100 3
D ',, bonds £l.uoo ...
Consols for Account, May 7 94 3
Exchequer Bills, £l.OOO 21 per Cent.... 5 2
Ditto £5OO
Ditto Small
2 5
FOREIGN FUNDS—CLOSING PRICES.
Brazilian 5 per Cent
Ditto 4} per Cent., 1852-68-60
Buenos Ayres 6 per Cent —
Ditto Account
93
c Whim 6 per Cent. lOl
Ditto 41 per Cent
Danish 4 per Cent., 1825
Ditto 1863
Ditto Scrip, £4O paid I pm
Egyptian 7 pet Cent 971
Ditto, Second Issue ........
Greek 5 per Cent., 1824-5, ex-Coup ms —
Ditto Account.. 27} i7l 6i i
71
Ditto Coupons l2l 133 14 13
Itatian 5 per Cent. (Maremmana Railway) 731 23
Mexican 3 per Cent
Ditto Account .. 333 3
t i
New Granada l5 i
Ditto 2 per Cent . 33
Par 3
Ditto Deferred
8
Pavian 41 per Cent.
Ditto 1862
Ditto Account...... ......
Portuguese 3 per Cent., 1853 _
Ditto 1862
Russian 5 per Cent., 1822, £ it
Ditto 3 per Cent., 1859.
Ditto 5 per Cent~ 1862
Ditto Scrip, £75 4s. paid
Spanish 3 per Cent
Ditto Passive
Spanish Cert. of Coup not funded
Turkish 6 per Cent. 1854 —
Ditto Account
Ditto 6 per Cent. 1858
Ditto Account 683
Ditto 6 per Cent. 1852
Ditto Account
Venezuela, 3 per Cent
Ditto Account
24k 3
Ditto 6 per Cent., 1852
Dividends on the above payable in London.
Dutch 23 per Cent., .Ex. 12 Guil ...... .
. Ditto 4 per Cent. Certificates
..
Italian, 5 per Cent., 1861, Ex. •25
Ditto Account ......... francs —
713 3
E O'
Consols, Money ......... . THRE
923 CLOCK.
Ditto Account 921, 3

MARKETS—This Day.

MARK-LANE.

A very small supply of Envlish wheat was received fresh
up to this morning's market. Selected parcels were in lair
demand, and prices ruled firm : otherwise, the tr-de was
devoid of animation

The supply of r anaried samples of foreign wheat wag
large, end sales progressed slowly in all descriptions, but
thout leading to any quotable change in the currency.
Floating Cargoes of grain were in limited request, on
former teIITM

Fin-. making barley was t lerably firm, but other de-
. cliptions sold heavily, at previ us quotations.
Malt changed hands 'lowly on former occasions.
The supply of oats was only moderate, yet the demand
ruled by no means active.
neanB and peas, the supplies of which were small,
steadily supported previous quotations.
I (fur was but little inquired after, but prices ruled
steadily.

ARRIVALS THIS WEEK.
Wheat. Barley. Malt. Oats. Flour.
EmOish•••••• 120 400 1610 I 480
Irish•_
oreign•,, •• •• 6,450 I 2,190 5,420 50 sks
6,970 brie.

BOROUGH HOP.
The business doing in onr market is very moderate, yet
prices rule stationary.

HITECIIAPEL.
The supply of meat is moderate, and the demand rules
inactive, as follows :
Beef, from 2s Gd to 3s ; mutton, 2s 10d to 44 2d; lamb,
6s Od to 6s Od ; veal, 3s 10d to 4s 4d ; and pork, as 4d to
4s 43 per Bibs by the carom