The Sun.
London, England, 1865-07-29 00:00:00

POULTRY.

Geese, 5s Od to Gs Od each ; goslings, 4s 6d to 6s 6d ;
ducks, 2s Od to 3s 6d ; ducklings, 2s Od to 3s Od ; tame
rabbits, is 3d to 2s Od ; wild do., 18 to is 2d ; pigeons,
Os Gd to Os 8d ; leverets, 2s Od to 4s Od each ; Surrey
fowls, 9s Od to 13s Od ; do. chickens, 78 Od to 9s 6d ; barn
door fowls, 3s 6d to 6s Od por couple ; English eggs, 8s Gd
to 9s Od ; French do., 6s 6d to 7s 6d per 100 ; Ostend
fresh butter, is to is ld ; English, is ld to is 3d per lb.

NG, JULY 29, 1865,

LITERATURE,

Harrison Ainsworth's New Work.

The Spanish Match. By W. Harrison Ainsworth.
Three Vols. Chapman and Hall.

Mr. Ainsworth is peculiarly happy in the selection
of themes for his romances. He delights in depict-
ing History, but it is History in her most romantic
aspect, and in her most picturesque attire. Thus
the by-gone wonders of " Old London Bridge" and
" Old St. Paul's" flourish again in his pages, with
" Windsor Castle" and " The Tower of London"—
appropriate theatres for the romantic and chivalrous.
In a like spirit " The Lancashire Witches" have
cast their spells over him ; as have also the marvels
of " The Admirable Crichton"—nay, even the
Highwayman and the Housebreaker have in their
turn arrested hitPattention, when their true histories
were so much interwoven with the romantic, as in the
instances of Jack Sheppard and Dick Turpin. The
Romance of History is Mr. Ainsworth's forte, and
assuredly no historical episode offers more tempta-
tion to the novelist than the chivalrous and, at that
epoch, unparalleled, expedition of Charles 1., when
Prince of Wales, and the famous Duke of Bucking-
ham to the Court of Spain to arrange the marriage
of the Prince and the Infanta. The after
misfortunes of Charles, the tragic position
which he holds in English history, the
sad, serene countenance with which Art has made
us familiar, enhances, by the force of contrast, the
fascination of his early knight-errantry. To pic-
ture Charles I. " bright with the freshness of
youth," gay with the companionship of Bucking-
ham, throwing aside Court etiquette and the for-
malities of his station, to undertake in disguise an
enterprise so rash and hazardous that the wise and
prudent were dismayed, and even Folly was
alarmed—as witness the famous remark of the
j ester Archie when consulted by his Gossip—presents
indeed a startling contrast to the after tragedy of
Whitehall 1 This famous expedition has before
now attracted the pen of the fiction writer, but the
Prince's brief stay in Paris, where he first caught
a glimpse of his future Queen, the Princess Hen-
rietta Maria, and where Buckingham was fatally
fascinated by the young Queen, Anne of Austria,
has hitherto been the favourite point of considera-
tion. Mr. Ainsworth, however, has taken the
Spanish Court for the principal scene of his story.
We have a passing glimpse of King James, with
the all-powerful " Steenie" and " Baby Charles"
wresting from him an unwilling consent to their
departure upon their extraordinary expedition.
We glance briefly at the brilliant court of
Louis XIII., and make acquaintance with the
charming Queen and youthful Princess, and then,
on the wings of eager anticipation, our travel-
lers hasten to Madrid. The court of Spain is
very vividly described—the chivalrous Philip
IV., the wily Olivarez, the jealous Don Pompeo,
the gallant Don Christobal, and the Duke of
Cea, with the coquettish Donna Flor, and the
charming Donna Casilda, to say nothing of the
peerless Infanta and the treacherous tire-woman,
all these and their companion actors are grouped
together as skilfully and portrayed as power-
fully as might be anticipated from that con-
summate Court Portrait Painter—the happy
delineator of fair dame and gallant chevalier—
the author of " Crichton." The admirers of
that brilliant novel will delight in the scenes
of chivalry to which Mr. Ainsworth again intro-
duces his readers in this Spanish story. As a
specimen of the animated style of the naration, and
the characteristic descriptions with which the story
abounds, let us give this picture of the Bull-fight,
and imagine ourselves to be one of the group in
Burgess's famous painting :

" VIVA TORO."

"Again the trumpets sounded, and three cavaliers, each
armed with a lance, drove into the arena. These were the
Duke de Cea, Don Antonio Guino, and Sir Richard
Graham. They posted themselves on the right of the
toril, which faced the royal gallery, at intervals of twenty
yards from each other, tho young duke being nearest the
toril, and Graham farthest from it.
"While these dispositions were made, the vast assem-
blage became perfectly silent. Expectation was so highly
raised that scarcely a breath was drawn.
" Amid the silence, the alguacils rode towards the tribute
occupied by the corregidor, and, baring their heads, be-
sought permission to open the toril.
" In response, a large key, ornamented by ribands, was
flung to thorn by Don Juan do Castilla. It was caught in
a hat, and delivered to a varlet of the ring, who ran with
it towards the toril, while the alguacils galloped out of the
arena as fast as they could, amid the shouts and jeers of
the beholders.

"Trumpets were then blown, the red gates of the toril
were thrown wide open, and quick as lightning a bull
rushed forth. At the moment of his entrance a little flag
was planted in his shoulder, bearing the device of the
Duke de Cea. Ho was a spleiidid animal brought from
Andalusia, where the best bulls are bred, and soon gave
proof of courage and activity. His colour was a shining
black; his horns sharp and crescent-shaped; his eyes fierce
and wild in'expression. For a moment he seemed bewil-
dered by the shouts that greeted his appearance, and the
thousands of faces that met his gaze, but after a short
hesitation, during which he bellowed savagely, and lashed
his aides with his tail, he precipitated himself on De Cda,
who, lance in hand, awaited his attack.
"At a bull-fight of the present day, the horse of the
picador, generally a wretched animal destined to the
knacker if he should survive the conflict, has a thick ban-
dage over the eyes to prevent him from perceiving the
onset of the bull. Moreover, the picador's legs are sheathed
in iron greaves covered with leather. But at the period of
which we write, when nobles and cavaliers were picadors,
no such precautions were taken, and as good horses were
used in the bull-ring as in the tilt-yard.
" Thus De Cea'■ noble steed, though conscious of his
danger, remained motionless until the bull was close upon
him, when, obedient to the will of his rider, he turned
slightly aside, and the furious brute, missing his mark,
rushed on, not, however, unscathed, for he received the
point of De Clues lance deep in his shoulder. The shaft
of the lance was broken by the blow, but another weapon
was instantly handed by a chub to the duke, who ex-
pected the bull to renew the attack.
" Instead of wheeling round, however, the beast west
on, and, again couching his head, made a dash at Don
Antonio Gitlin°. This time batter success attended the
charge than had done that on the young duke. Shivering
the lance with which Don Antonio struck him, the furious
brute gored the horse deeply in the chest, rendering the
animal unmanageable, and while he was struggling with
Don Antonio, the bull returned to the attack, and this time
plunging his horns into the horse's body near the girths,
lifted him and his rider completely front the ground.
" This feat was greatly applauded by the spectators, and
cries resounded on all sides of ' Bravo toro ! buen toro !
gentil tore !'
" Amid those shouts, Don Antonio disengaged himself
from his steed, from whom the blood poured forth in
torrents, and vaulted over the barriers. At the same
time, the chubs advanced towards the bull and fluttered
their mantles before hint to distract his attention
from the fallen steed, on whom he was still venting his
rage. His attention being thus diverted, the bull turned
to his new opponents, who, having succeeded in drawing
him towards the., centre of the ring, took to flight, and made
for the barriers.

"All escaped but one, who slipped and fell, and his fate
seemed certain. A thrill of horror pervaded the assem-
blage as the bull, who had rushed past him, turned and
lowered his blood-stained horns. But deliverance was at
hand. Ere the vengeful monster could transfix him, his
own aide was pierced by the lance of Graham, who had
dashed to the assistance of the prostrate chulo. Bellowing
savagely, the bull turned turned upon his new foe, but
Graham avoided the attack, and, profiting by the oppor-
tunity, the chulo sprang to his feet and cleared the barrier.•
"Meanwhile the bull wheeled round and again assaulted
Graham, but he had now met with an antagonist whom it
seemed impossible to touch. Rapid as were the monster's
movements, frequently and furiously as ho charged, he did
not once succeed in touching Graham, so admirably did the
young man mancouvre" his steed.
" In this manner the bull was conducted to that part of
the arena which was nearest to the royal gallery, when the
animal, fatigued by his ineffectual attempts, desisted from
further attack, and stood still, staring in angry wonder-
ment at his opponent.

" Charmed by tho remarkable skill displayed by the
young man, the spectators applauded loudly, and a thou-
sand voices called out, Viva el Cabaloro Ingles ! viva
Don Ricardo ! viva !'

" Apparently indifferent to the bull, Graham bowed in
reply to these acclamations. But ho had scarcely made the
movement, when the bull, who had been stealthily watch-
ing him, again made a charge. This time the horns of the
brute slightly grazed the side of the horse, who snorted
with pain, but remained perfectly under his rider's control.
" Thinking the conflict had endured long enough,
Graham resolved to put an and to it. With this design
ho flung away his lance, and drew his sword. Allowing'
the bull to make two more charges, ho avoided them dex-,
termisly, but on the next assault ho plunged his rapier up
to the hilt between the animal's shoulders.
" Pierced to the heart, with the sword still sticking in
his body, and Wood mingled with foam gushing from his
mouth and nostrils, the bull dropped on his knees before
his conqueror.

" The whole amphitheatre rung with plaudits, and

shouts again resounded on every side of ' Viva el Cabal-
lero Ingles !'"

Another example, of a different character, we will
take from the more historical portion of the tale.
The , arrogance of Buckingham is peculiarly dis-
tasteful to the Spanish nobility, and even to the
King, who, at the instigation of Olivarez, invites the
Prince to a meeting of the Council without
inviting his companion and attendant the Duke of
Buckingham. '_L'he Duke insists upon accompanying
the Prince, and does so with the following result :