The Sun.
London, England, 1863-11-23 00:00:00

FRANCE.

BOURSE, Nov. 21.—The market 'has lost a little
of its firmness, and the business done shows a
slight decline. Threes, for the Account, are now at
67f. 30c. Mobilier has also slightly receded.
Railway Market quiet, but firm. The market
closed as follows :

41 per Cents .. 95 45
Do. end month....
3 per Cents
Do. end month 67 20
Credit Mobilier..„lo9s
Do. end month 1093 75
Bank Shares 3350
Credit Foncier 1285
Roman
RA IL'

Italian Loan 72 25
Do. end month 72 15
New ditto ..
Do. end mouth....
Russian
Austrian .. BO
Spanish Threes.„
[tome Debt
Deferred
vAlni.
Cash. Account.

Orleans
Northern

980 - .. 977 50

977 50 .. 980 -

New ditto — • •
Lyons and Mediterranean 951 25 .. 955
New ditto 9OO ----
Gen Ava —
Southern
Western

Eastern
Sardinian .. 4OB 75 407 50
Austrian
Lonbard
North of Spain
Saragossa..
Ditto to Barcelona

LITERATURE,

Longfellow's New Poems.

Tales of a Wayside inn, By Henry Wadsworth
Longfellow. One Vol. Pp. 2f4. Routledge.
Than many of the poems in this ingenious col-
lection, Professor Longfellow has written nothing
more beautiful. " King Robert of Sicily" would
of itself make the amende for a hundred abortive
" Golden Legends," and for a whole multitude of
jingling " Hiawathas." There is the ring of the
true metal in these melodious verses. As we listen
to the voice that now sings to us, we are delightedly
conscious of its being that of no other than the
author of " Evangeline." The collection here
linked together into a harmonious whole by a suc-
cession of graceful " interludes" we have advisedly
designated ingenious. For, besides being far more
than simply ingenious, it is, in the midst of a crowd
of other, and many of them much loftier, merits,
conspicuous in a remarkable degree for its inge-
nuity. The design of it is accurately enough ex-
plained upon the title-page. The time of the poem
is an autumn evening. A Wayside Inn "at Sud-
bury town"—" a kind of old Hobgoblin Hall"—is
the scene of the narrative, or rather is the spot
in which the several narratives are related. It is
one of those picturesque specimens of an " ancient
hostelry" of which The Maypole at Chigwell, in
Charles Dickens's tale of the Gordon Riots—that
enthralling, inimitable story of Barnaby Rudge—is
the very architype or delightful est of all possible
examplart. The trailing woodbines festooned from
the overhanging eaves, the very gleaming of the
ruddy firelight through the crimson curtains
at the lattice, these and various other minute par-
ticulars in regard to the Wayside Inn of Longfellow
recall vividly to our recollection the dear old May-
pole Tavern of Epping Forest, as pourtrayed by
the wonderfully realistic pencil of Dickens. Here,
in the American auberge, Professor Longfellow de-
scribes a cluster of strangely contrasting wayfarers,
at the outset of his little transatlantic Decameron.
And as motley a groupe they make, as even the im-
mortal train of Pilgrims pourtrayed by old Geoffrey
Chaucer, as setting out, several centuries back, on
the road from the Tabard, in Southwark, to the
shrine of the holy martyr St. Thomas a Becket, in
the Cathedral at Canterbury. The landlord of the
Wayside Inn, dubbed by reason of his gentle birth,
and in spite of his fallen fortunes, " The Squire"—
in this, something like our old friend " Barring-
ton" in Charles Lever's charming little fic-
tion so entitled—leads off the list of these
assembled interlocutors. Among his guests or
customers are—a young Sicilian, a Poet, a Theologian
of Cambridge, a Musician who delights them all
with his improvisations on his beloved instrument,
"An Angel with a violin !" as he is apostrophised
by his lyrical celebrant, one in whose warbling
notes the listeners hear by turns the Stromkarl
sing, the:cataract booming downwards, the scream of
seabirds on the wing—

" Meru:nom: of the forest trees,
The plunge of the implacable seas!"

these, with a Spanish Jew from Alicant, make up
the singular concourse in the inn house-room at
Sudbury, on the autumn evening when the Tales are
told. Seven tales they are in all, each told by
one of the personages above enumerated. To the
landlord) being a patriotic landlord) we owe the
opening tale of the series, entitled "Paul
Rel;ere's Ride," an incident of the old war,
relating to the lighting up of a beacon
and the rousing of whole country side by the
midnight gallop of a single horseman. Brief though
the story is, it is " full of fire and fury," and yet,
for once, "signifying" something! The Student's
tale is a charming version of that painful little
love-tale of Boccaccio's about " The Falcon
of Ser Federigo." Tenderly though it is here
related in these lovely verses of Longfellow, it
comes to us now, as painfully as ever. We grieve as
poignantly at the close of it, as ever we did of yore,
over the evil fate of the poor gerfalcon whose neck is
wrung by his master, and whose smoking
budy, stuffed with spice, is feasted upon
by the beautiful widow, the lost love
of old of Ser. Federigo, but who is won
back to him thus in his poverty and dejection by
this exquisitely painful evidence of hospitality
towards her under his cottage-roof! Monne Gio-
vanna is the youthful widow in this familiar
love story of Florence. Charmingly, when her
little boy is prattling to Ser Federigo, does the
poet sing—
" The voice was hers, and made strange echoes start
Through all the haunted chambers of his heart,
As an Eolian harp through gusty door!:
Of some old ruin its wild music pours."
Even, however, the bewitching poetic atmca-
phere here thrown around the tender
legend of " The Falcon
Of
of Ser Federigo''
fails to reconcile us to it.the Legend j

of Rabbi Ben Levi, the tale related by the Spanish
Jew, we think nothing whatever. We pass it by
with indifference. It is literally as nothing when
brought into comparison with a similar legend
told years and years ago by our lamented
Leigh Hunt. As for the Theologian's Tale of
Torquemada, it is, from first to last, simply
hideous and utterly loathsome. The incident
it recounts, is, in effect, one too fearful of its
kind to have been selected as a subject for the
imagination to dwell upon. We pass it by with a
shudder of abhorrence. Curiously apropos to the
discussions about "Small Bird Murder," which have
been of late maintained in the public journals in
this country, and probably also on the other side of
the Atlantic, is the tale, prettily told here, at the
close of this series of poems—told, too, by the Poet,
meaning the poet who is described as among the guests
in the Wayside Inn at Sudbury—a wonderfully
logical, and, to our mind, entirely convincing little
apologue, about " The Birds of Klling worth," birds
that were certainly not worth killing ! Five
out of the seven stories told in the Wayside Inn
have now been briefly particularised—namely, those
of the Landlord, the Poet, the Student, the
Spanish Jew, and the Theologian. Two others,
as representing, the one, the chief merit, the other,
the chief demerit of the book, have yet to
be specified. One of them it is trite has already
been casually glanced at as, to our mind, the
principal beauty and glory of the collection. The
other, is by far the longest poem in the book, sub-
divided as it is into as many as two-and-twenty
minor poems, making up the whole tale told
by the incoherent Musician. He it is who
sings to us through upwards of 100 out of
the 244 pages—sacred here only to "The Way-
side Inn," and " Birds of Passage"—sings to
us joltingly, confusedly, unmusically, unsatisfac-
torically in every imaginable wayr—" The Saga of
King Olaf." Coming to us, as this, the chief poem
of the book does at the very centre of it, it is only
comparable, according to our fancy, to a very
dry, choking, husk, as the. core' of some delicious
blooming, nectarious, ambrosial fruit dropped
ripely into our hands, a fruit that we
are other wise disposed to luxuriate over with a
sort of rapture. Drinking in the whole flavour
and succulence of it with unmarred delight, bat
for this same unwelcomed husk of " The Sage of
King Olaf," we can make nothing of that—at
least, we certainly cannot swallow it ! It is a
husky core and a very large one in proportion
to the dimensions of the fruit itself, that we
should dearly like to cut out of it altogether and
throw aside as valueless, as worse than valueless,
as entirely intolerable. How Professor Longfellow
could ever have taken the trouble to write it, how
any one among his most infatuated admirers could
ever affect, as some, we observe, are actually doing,
to take even the smallest modicum of pleasure
in reading it, alike passes our comprehension. To
our palate it is, just in one plain word, unendurable.
By way of compensation, hoetever, we have the
poet's lovely version of that beautiful old legend
about " King Robert of Sicily," here already
spoken of by us in terms of unrestricted
and now deliberately reiterated admiration. A
legend it is that Leigh Hunt some years ago told
very gracefully in prose in his elegant Christmas
volume entitled, deliciously, "A Jar of Honey from
Mount Hybla," Never yet, however, by poet old
or young, English or Italian, has the bewitching
tale been told so exquisitely as it has been here
told by Professor Longfellow. As told by him,
it will take its place henceforth amongst the
cherished gems of American literature. From
first to last we fail to detect a flaw in it. Very
recently though the book has been published,
in which it is contained—a very opal in a setting of
gold—we have read it again and yet again. [t is too
long for quotation by us entire, and it would be
a cruelty to tear it up piecemeal, as fragmentary
quotations. The incident will probably be remem-
bered by many as being the ordeal imposed by
Heaven in punishment, according to the lovely old
Sicilian legend, upon King Robert of Sicily, the
brother of the reigning Pontiff Pope Urbane and
of the German Emperor Valmond—in punish-
ment to King Robert of Sicily, for his
impious pride in scouting as treasonous to himself
the chaunt by the priests, one evening at Vespers, of
the awful words, "deposuit potentes de sede et ex-
ultavit hundies," words so familiar to us as a portion
of the beautiful IVlagnificat ! How the ordeal is
passed through by King Robert, and with what
effect, let Longfellow's new poem be turned to by
the reader in order to learn. Having said which—
let us pass on to the seven minor poems clustered
together at the close of the volume, under the title of
" Birds of Passage—Flight the Second !" Recalling
to mind thereby—on reading that mention of flight
the second—the minor poems at the close of " Miles
Standish," among which appeared Longfellow's
lovely verses upon Children, verses which have since
then been dear to our very heart's remembrance. A
companion to that beautiful little Poem on Children
we here give, as, altogether, about the choicest
jewel of the present collection. It is entitled—

THE CHILDREN'S HOUR.
Between the dark and the daylight,
When the Eight is beginning to lower,
Comes a pause in the day's occupations,
That is known as the Children's Hour.
I hear in the chamber above me
The patter of little feet,
The sound of a door that is Dpened,
And voices soft and sweet.
From my study I see in the lamplight,
Descending the broad hall-stair,
Grave Alice, and laughing Allegra,
And Edith with golden hair.
A whisper, and then a silence :
Yet I know by their merry eyes
They are plotting and planning together
•
To take me by surprise.
A sudden rush from the stairway,
A sudden raid from the hall :
By three doors lett unguarded
They enter my castle wall!
They climb up into my turret
O'er the arms and back of my chair;
If I try to escape they surround me;
They seem to be everywhere.
They almost devour me with kisses,
Their arms about me entwine,
Till I think of the Bishop of Bingen
In his Mouse -Tower on the Rhine I
Do you think, 0 blue-eyed banditti,
Because you have scaled the wall,
Such an old moustache as I am
Is not a match for you all !
I have you fast in my fortress,
And will not let you depart,
But put you down into the dungeon
In the round-toirer of my heart.
And there will I keep you forever,
Yes, forever and a day,
Till the walls shall crumble to ruin,
And moulder in dust away 1
Of the " old moustache" who sings these delicious
verses—verses filled full of that home tenderness
which has already made the name of Henry
Longfellow " familiar as household words" on so
many hearths here in Old England—the charming
little volume now under notice presents to us as its
frontispiece a delightful portraiture. It is evi-
dently from a photograph. It represents the
author as he is now—bearded, " moustache" and
all—precisely the very countenance we should have
wished to recognise as that of the poet Longfellow.

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IEER MAJESTY.

WINDSOR CASTLE, Nov. 21.

The Queen, accompanied by her Royal Highness
Princess Helena, walked and drove in the grounds
this morning.

His Royal Highness► Prince Arthur, attended by
.Major Elphinstone, arrived at the Castle lust night.
Their Royal Highnesses the Crown Prince and
Princess of Prussia, Princess Louise, and Prince
Arthur, went to-day to be present at the ceremony
of the laying the first stone of the new church about
to be erected at Windsor, which ceremony was per'
formed by. her Royal Highness the Crown Princess
(Princess Royal).
The royal party was received on arriving at the
spot by the Rev. H. Ellison, Vicar of Windsor, ae"
companied by the Bishop of Oxford, the Dean of
Windsor, and a numerous body of the clergy.
After a prayer had been said the Princess laid
the first stone with the usual formalities.

The suite in attendance consisted of Connteso
Hohenthal, Baroness Dobeneck, Lady C. Barring'
ton, the Hon. Horatis Stopford, the Hon. Harriett
Phipps, Miss Hildyard, Count Furstenstein, Major
Von Schweinitz, Major-General the Hon. A. Hood►
and Colonel H. Ponsonby.
Their Royal Highnesses the Crown Prince and
Princess of Prussia, Princess Helena, Princeso
Louise, and Prince Leopold, honoured the Windsor
Theatre with their presence yesterday afternoon to
witness " The Ghost Illusions" as exhibited 14
Professor Pepper at the Polytechnic Institution.

Their royal highnesses were attended by the
Countess of Caledon, Count Furstenstein, Lord
Cremorne, Colonel H. Ponsonby, Colonel the Hoa•
A. Hood, and Mr. Buff.

Nov. 22.

The Queen, their Royal Highnesses the Crown
Prince and Princess of Prussia, Princess Helene►
Princess Louise, Prince Arthur, and Prince Lto-
pold, her Serene Highness Princess Hohenlohe, and
the Ladies and Gentlemen in Waiting, attended
Divine service in the private chapel this morning.
The Rev. Dr. Stanley preached the sermon.
The Right Hon. Sir George Grey and Dr. Stan.
ley arrived at the Castle yesterday.
The Queen honoured Mr. Frith with a fourth
sitting on Saturday for his picture of the Prince
of Wales's marriage. During the past week he has
also been honoured with sittings by the Crowe
Prince and Princess of Prussia, the Princesses
Helena, Louise, and Beatrice, and the Crown Prince
of Denmark.

The Prince and Princess of Wales.
SANDRINGHAM, Nov, 21.

His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, senora'
panied by Major Teesdale and Mr. H. Villebois, the
master of the West Norfolk hounds, left Sandring'
ham shortly after nine o'clock on Friday morning
and drove to Burnham, for the purpose of hunting
with the West Norfolk. Several foxes Were
" found," but unfortunately could not be got awaP
Saturday was the last " day out" with the hounds
during the Prince's present visit to Sandringbauh
and there was consequently assembled such a "field"
as has probably never before been witnessed in
Norfolk. At about eleven o'clock the field Was
joined by the Prince of Wales, Lieut.-General
Knollys, Major Teesdale, and Mr. Fisher. Her
Royal Highness the Princess of Wales, accompanied
by the Hon. Mrs. F. Stonor, drove a pair of greys
The worthy master, with his huntsman, Tom Tip
ton, at once commenced the " draw" of the home,
the Brick-kiln, and the Babingley covers, but though
several foxes were started they managed to get " to
earth," and obstinately refused to " break avail.
This was the more regretted, as on the previous
occasion when the meet was at Sandringham lC
turned out a blank day.

A few days onger will terminate the present
visit of their Royal Highnesses to their Norfolk
seat, and immediately upon their departure 08
building of an addition to the present hall and
stabling wig be commenced, and the Norwich gates
will be temporarily fixed on the site of the present
gates at the principal entrance of the park. It is
not intended to fix them permanently,
templated after a few years to extend the park • The
park has been prepared for deer, with which it Will
be stocked in a few days. as it is con

The Marquis and Marchioness of Lothian and
Lady Alice Kerr are staying on a visit to the Earl and
Countess of Shrewsbury and Talbot at lugestre Hall, Staf-
fordshire.
The Earl and Countess of Ilsrdwicke and Lo'
Agneta Yorke leave Wimpole Hall, Cambridgeshire, call
in the ensuing week, to visit the Marquis and Alarchional
of Salisbury at Hatfield House, Herts.
The Earl and Countess of Mountcharles returned
to town on Saturday from visiting Lord and Lady Egerton
of Tatton, at Tatton Park, Cheshire.

Proposed Cavalry Barracks at Chelsea,

On Saturday a numerous deputation from the
inhabitants of Chelsea waited upon the Earl clO
Grey and Ripon, Secretary of State for War, at the
War-office, Pall-mall, to protest against the adoption
by the Government of a proposed site for nell:
cavalry barracks in that district. Earl de Grey and
Ripon received the deputation at the War-office at
12 o clock. Mr. Tite, M.P., introduced them, and
read a memorial issued by the vestry of Chelsea,
from which it appeared that the Govern'
nient intend to pull down the barracks i 4
Knightsbridge, and erect others on a plot of lurid
called " Quail's field," situated on the south side of
Sloane-street. The memorial pointed out the in'
jury the erection of the proposed barracks would de
to the valuable house property in the neighbour
hood, and suggested that it would impede improve'
meats now contemplated, and that a better sit°
might be found on the Surrey side ,of the Chelsea
suspension-bridge. Mr. Tite said he concurred with
these views. The Rev. Mr. Burgess,, rector ef
Upper Chelsea, and the Rev. Mr. Neven took a sirol-
lar view of the effects to be produced by theereetioll
of the proposed barracks, and remarked that they
would be injurious to the rating of the parish. Earl
de Grey said there could be but little doubt that
whatever locality might be chosen similar cons'
plaints would arise. lie would admit that barrackS
not desirable, but he had
in any district were
to deal with the exigencies of the service, There
wasupon which there was complete cer
aint n
the cavalry barracks 35
Knightsbridge were most uncomfortable and in
convenient, and
toy, one
pnodin thatt was that
that the sooner they were puller-
down the better. Although he had inspected bele:
ral sites, that at Chelsea was, on the whole, tn;
best that could be found. The deputation lit";
made a great point as to the non-payment
of . rates by these military estabiisbraeW'
That was a question which he thought might
fairly be consid,..led by the Treasury. 1111-
deputation had, in their observations, eng.'
Bested that there was a site which might be apPr°
priated to
the purpose on the opposite side of t. 13!
river. But, taking ie,o consideration the position
of the Houses of Parlion.'ent, the Royal palace-,'
and public buildings, he felt that it would be.
fats! objection in a militar) point of view,
aGbs
they should have the river 1, etween the
bsrr
and those places. Mr. Simo,
as said there n
to this
another site, which wee no:: liable
fautrY
objection, between the new C,'ielsea In sr.
Barracks and the river. nue Rev: to
Burgess said ho had another 51.,ggeatlownenso
offer, and that was that a portion of the °-
grounds of the Royal hospital might b.! allich
priated for this purpose. Out of the 66 ac, e5....w..0 20
the hospital and grounds occupied, he .was thia
acres and upwards might be appropriated owfar
purpose. Earl de Grey said he did not bee bl,
us
tie should be justified in making such a propo:
_ar'io,
that just suggested, but that the 1-whole he
7 i depu-
should have nis mature consideration.
tation then withdrew.