The Sun.
London, England, 1862-01-11 00:00:00

LITB.RATUBB.

Memoirs of Queen Liortense, Mother of Napo-
leon 111. Compiled by Lascelles Wraxall and
Robert Wehrhan. Two Vols. Hurst and
Blackett.
Memoirs of this interesting and unfortunate lady
can hardly fail to be attractive, and those before
us have all the interest of a romance. It is true
there is not much in these volumes that the student
of history is not already acquainted with, but the
general reader will follow with attention the story
of a life whose details are probably unknown to
him. The Queen is represented throughout in the
most pleasing colours ; wise beyond her years,
moderate in prosperity, firm and colleeted in adver-
sity, a dutiful daughter, a devoted mother, a faith-
ful friend, and magnanimous foe. Certainly every-
thing is represented on its most favourable side,
for the authors are decided Bonapartists. But,
setting aside all partiality, Queen Hortense had no
ordinary career. The strange and startling vio;s-
situdes to which Fortune sometimes subjects those
who seem least to sourt her interference are
seldom more strikingly exemplified than in the ex-
traordinary changes of her lot. Beginning life as
one of the only links that bound together her un-
happy and ill-assorted parents, she was often the
means of checking recriminations and reconciling
feuds. Afterwards she was her mother's companion
during her residence at Martinique, and in her
hurried flight from the dangers of the sudden in-
surrection of the slaves. She shared her mother's
privations during the confiscation of her property,
and participated with her brother Eugene in the
kind protection of an old friend of Josephine's
during the. gloomy period of her mother's
imprisonmentand danger. At this time,
to avoid suspicion, the young Eugene was ap-
prenticed to a carpenter, and the future Vice-
roy of Italy might have been seen walking through
Paris in a workman's blouse with a plank upon
his shoulder. After her mother's marriage with
the young general, " who filled the world with
fame," Hortense passed some tranquil years in corn
pleting her education. A great sorrow was, however
soon in store for her—the disappointment of her
first love. She returned the affection of General
Duroc, Napoleon's aide-de camp, and the First Con-
sul would willingly have consented to the marriage,
Josephine, however, interfered, being anxious that
Hortense should marry one of Napoleon's brothers.
She persuaded the First Consul to subject General
Duroc to a severe test, under which his ambition
overcame his love, end Hortense's fate was fixed.
Her marriage was a most unhappy one, for Louis
was no less averse to it than his bride. After a
few years they agreed to separate amicably, which
they did. Hortense was the mother of three sons,
the first of whom, Napoleon Charles, died in infancy,
thereby causing the deepest grief to his grandmother
Josephine, who saw in him the long-desired heir to
the empire, who rendered unnecessary the dreaded
divorce. The second, Napoleon Louis, reached the age
of manhood and died in 1832, during an Italian in-
surrection. Thus the affectionate mother, who found
her only consolation in her maternal duties, was
doomed to experience two bitter losses. Had she a
prevision that the blind goddess would turn her
wheel once again, and that Louis Napo-
leon should fill the proud position she
had once anticipated for Napoleon Charles ?
Perhaps the vision of the future would scarcely
have consoled her after she had so bitter:y proved
that

" The glories of our birth and state
Are shadows, not substantial things."

Great as were the vicissitudes of her public career,
the troubles of the Queen of holland were perhaps
greater when she was surrounded by all the splen-
,dour of the empire, admired, honoured, and envied.
,Y,..ler unhappy marriage ill replaced the loss of her
love, while her mother's divorce must have
'teen a terrible grief and humiliation. Few need
have envied the Queen of Holland's rank and gor-
geous state as in accordance with the Emperor's
commands (who dared to disobey them ?) she as-
sisted in bearing the train of Marie Louise, on
the wedding-day, which invested her with the
rights and dignities of her beloved mother. She
must have learned long before the terrible years of
1814-15 how little real happiness there was in a
state and power that demanded such fearful sacri-
fices. But even after her fall Queen Hortense was
long before she found peace. She and her two
sons, alone and unfriended, bore a name which
struck terror into the hearts of Bourbons and
Orleanists. tier two sons, with the adventurous
spirit of youth, often caused her anxiety, and one
of them she was doomed to lose in the flower of his
years. The other she brought through the most
imminent peril, at great risk to herself, and had the
consolation of seeing him survive her. In the affec•
tion of her sons she found consolation for her mis-
fortunes as a daughter and unhappiness as a wife,
and if the Emperor Napoleon 111, till retains his
early love for his mother, he will read with plea-
sure these volumes, in which there is nothing that
does not do honour to Ler memory.

A deputation from the departments of the Meuse
and the Vosges waited lately on the Prince Imperial to
offer him bonbons and comfits, for which those departments
are, famoll9. The pergr,ll-- „'h,) tret:Oat
oletedingiy \Atli iee..:ivtd by the Prime, and they ventured
to ask what they should say respecting the sweetmeats to
the parties represented. "Tell them," said the Prince,
4, that I am forbidden to eat any."

THE TUSCABO_RA AND NABIIVILLE.

SOUTHAMPTON, FRIDAY.

No attempt has yet been made by the Nash vill
to " run the blockade" established in our waters for
her special behalf by the Federal war steamer Tus-
carora. Symptoms were manifested this morning
of an attempt to do so, but people who were antici-
pating some " fun," as they called it, were disap-
pointed of their sport, About 10 o'clock masses of
smoke pouring out from the- Nashville's funnel
clearly betokened that her fires were lighted and
steam getting up, and the Tuscarora, which, as
stated yesterday, is moored in the stream, imme-
diately had full steam on, which was blowing off
from her steam pipe in volumes. A boat left the
latter vessel about 10 o'clock, and made her way
towards the dock entrance, as if reconnoitring,.
and then hoisted sail and put back to the ship as
fast as possible. Whatever may be the reason of the
fires being lighted in the Nashville, certain it is
that as the morning advanced the smoke gradually
disappeared, no attempt was made to move her
from her berth, and at this time (6 p.m.) all things
remain as they were as regards the relative posi-
tions of the two vessels. Capt. Craven still remains
on board his ship, and has not yet come ashore.
It is reported that the celebrated Sumter, which
is stated to be armed with 12 guns and manned by
a crew of between 100 and 200 men, has left Cadiz
for this port.
A curious circumstance occurred in the docks
yesterday evening in reference to the two vessels
now watching each other's movements with anxious
eyes. It is stated by Mr. Philip Hedger, the dock-
master, that he had occasion to visit the graving.
docks close to which the Nashville is lying, about
eight o'clock last evening, and on leaving them he
saw several persons standing on the pier between
the west and middle docks. He accosted them
and demanded to know to what ship they be-
longed. One of the party, who was an officer, said
to him, " Step on one side, and I will tell you."
Mr. Hedger did so, and he said, " We belong to
the Tuscarora, and are here on duty." He asked
by whose permission and authority, and the reply
was, "My captain's." The party consisted of two
officers and three men. The officer in question said,
" We are here to watch the Nashville, and if she
attempts to get under way to signal the Tuscarora."
The dockmaster immediately desired them to leave
the Dock Company's premises, and said, " I con-
sider it most unofficer-like for you to come here with -
out permission, and I will not allow you to remain."
He then walked with them up to the entrance-gate
and desired the three men to go outside, where, at
the request of the officers, he held some further con-
versation with them, and told them he had full au-
thority to prevent their being there for non-com-
mercial purposes. He said further that the Docks
were the private property of individuals, and that
he, as their agent, must prevent the premises being
used for such a purpose. He said, " You are at
liberty to land from your ship, and embark in the
Docks, but I will not allow you to be stationed on.
the Dock premises for the purpose of watching any
vessel." Mr. Hedger told the officers he would wait
in the Docks half an hour if they wished to comma-
nicate with the American Consul. Captain Britton
was communicated with, and came, down to hi,s
office, where he was met by Mr. Hedger, who re-
peated to him that he would not allow the officers
and men to remain upon the Dock premises at night.
In the conversation which followed he told the
officers and the Consul that they bad no right to
be on the premises without permission, and sr►id
that the Consul had an opportunity of consulti.ng
him in this respect when he was in his office betwe en
5 and 6 o'clock that evening. He also informed
them that the Nashville would not attempt to leave
the dock that night, as if she did he would have to
stop her himself, for the Dock Company's purposes.
He had a long conversation with Captain Britton,
who emphatically expressed his opinion that the
Tuscarora people had a right to be on the Dock
premises as long as they behaved themselves. The
dockmaster disputed this, and repeated his deter-•
mination to prevent a repetition of this conduct on
the part of the Tuscarora's crew. Mr. Hedger
states that on leaving the Consul's office he said to
theofficers, "If I have been warm in expressing
myself to you, and have in any way offended you.
by my expressions, I am sorry for it," and then,
shaking hands with them, took his leave. Mr.
Hedger says that the officer with whom he mostly
conversed had side arms on, and that the men had
a dark lark lantern with them.

Subsequently to the transaction above narrated—
viz., about half-past 9 o'clock, the policeman on
duty saw a man go down the jetty on the south
side of the dock, and stop under the crane. On
interrogating him he said, after some hesitation,
that he was watching the Nashville, and employed
by the American Consul. The policeman took him
back to the gate and saw him but of the dock. He
was afterwards brought back by a messenger from
the consul's office, who said that the man was em-
ployed by the Consul to watch the ship. The police-
man told him that this was contrary to his orders,
anel would not let him go into the dock. About
half-past ten the two officers and three men above
referred to, with the messenger and two boatmen,
came into the dockyard and were allowed to em-
bark, and the boat was watched out of the dock and
well down the river.

The facts of the case have been reported by Mr.
Hedger to day in the following letter, addressed to
Capt. Patey, R.N., the Admiralty superintendent
at this port :

" Dock-house, Southampton, Jan. 10.
" Sir,—l beg to state, for your information, that at about
8 p.m. yesterday, on my visiting the south side of the docks,
I discovered several persons under the graving dock fence
on the pier, between our west and middle docks, who ap-
peared to be strangers. I demanded to know to what ship
they belonged, when one of the party, an officer, replied,
' Tuscarora.' I demanded to know their right or authority
for being on the premises at night, and in reply was in-
formed that they were stationed there by the captain's
orders to watch the steamer Nashville, and if she attempted
to get under way they were to make a signal to their ship
lying in the stream. I immediately informed him that
they had no right to be on these premises for such a pur-
pose, and they instantly removed. I then walked with them
to the gates, and put them off the premises.
"The party consisted of three men and two officers. One
of the officers had his side-arms on, and the men had a dark
lan tern.

" I afterwards saw Captain Britton, the United States'
Consul, and informed him that, although I should afford
every facility during the day to the officers of the Tus-
carora to land and embark in the Docks, still I would not
allow any of the officers or men to be stationed here for the
purpose of watching the Nashville. I further stated that
these were commercial Docks, and that I should not admit
of the premises being used for other purposes by the Tusca-
rora. At 10 30 p.m. the officers and men applied at the
gates for admission to embark in a waterman's boat for
their ships, which was immediately allowed. I am, sir,
your obedient servant,

"PHILIP HEDGER, Superintendent.
" Captain Patey, R.N., Admiralty-
office, Southampton."

IRISH SECRET SOCIETIES.—From various sources
we learn that agents, employed for the purpose, aro going
through the country, swearing in young men in a brother-
hood for some political and illegal object. One correspon:.
dent says,— " The oaths are of a desperate and treasonable
character." His Grace the most Rev. Dr. Cullen has re-
peatedly and recently denounced all such societies; and the
Catholic hierarchy and clergy are constantly warning the
people against any connection with them. It is stated that
the authorities are now in possession of the names of some
of the personslwho had the folly and criminality to become
members of a secret confederacy, and the fact ought to ope-
rate as a timely warning to innocent people who might be
entrapped in ignorance of the consequences.—Lublin Even-
ing lost.

The following is extracted from a letter dated
Nice, Jan, 7 :—" We have quite a spring here compared to
Paris or London. Everything is green, and thousands of
orange trees are covered with fruit; the roses, violettes de
Panne, and other flowers are in full bloom; not omitting
that we have green peas growing in all the gardens. Even
now at the commencement of January many persons bathe
in the sea, and among others Prince Oscar of Sweden. In
the public gardens there is music three times a week, where
you see sitting hundreds of all nations, English, Russians,
Swedes, &c., a veritable Babylonia "

In a wealthy family of Vienna the husband made
his wife a new year's gift of a dozen pairs of gloves. In-
-7„.11,7,j. al. such. Ftin,'.4.ine, the 1:1,1y. scon her Hus-
band's back was turned, flung the gloves into the fire.
Explanations ensued at table, and what was the irascible
lady's astonishment on learning that each pair of gloves
was wrapt up in a bank note for 100 florins.

....n•••,,,,

WIMSHURST'S PATENT METAL FOIL
AND SHEET METAL COMPANY (LIMITED).
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, That the ANNUAL
GENERAL MEETING of the Shareholders of Wimshurst's
Patent Metal Foil and Sheet Metal Company Limited, will be
held at the Company's Offic,, No. 20, Cannon-street, London,
on TUESDAY, the 21st day of January next, at One o'clock
in the afternoon precisely.
By order of the Directors,
ARTHUR KINDER, Secretary.
.10, Cannon-street, London, Dec. 31, 18M.

THIRD EDITION.

SE r OFFICE, Seven o'clock.

.111.ANCHESTER RACES—(TMs Day.)

(BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.)
HANDICAP HURDLE RACE.

Yorkrihire Miss
North Lancashire 2
Nosegay
Seven ran.
TRIAL HANDICAP.

Rhosiou.s
Lady Bird
Ellen
Eight ran.
CITY STEEPLECHASE.

Wee Nell 1
Heads. or Tails
Eight ran.

MCI NET MARKET AND CITY NEWS.

CITY, Two O'CLOCK.

The inquiries for discount accommodation con-
tinue limited, and owing to the abundant supplies
of raoney the rates still rule as low as 21 per cent.
About £40,000, in gold was taken into the Bank
of England yesterday.
A. large amount of specie will be taken out to-
naor.vow by the Ellora for Bombay, viz., £306,850,
chi,efty in silver.
'The Foreign Exchanges, yesterday afternoon,
were again rather lower.
13y the latest advices from Australia we are ad-
Ti.sed of the departure of the following gold ships
fo:r England, viz., the Moravian, with £190,792 ;
the In demnity, with £49,788 ; the Monarch, with
£170,,;=10; the Clutha, with £90,610; and the
Light ning, with £96,160.
Since Monday last the imports of specie have
been about £567,280, and the exports £333,250.
TI-,e half-yearly meeting of the Electric and In-
tern,ational Telegraph Companies will take place
on the 6th proximo. Meetings have been convened
ef 'the English, Scottish, and Australian Chartered
Bank, and of the North British Australasian Corn-
parry for the declaration of dividends.

A dividend of 7 per cant. for the past half-year
b: as been announced by the directors of the Union
P•ank of Australia.
At the meeting of the East and West India
Dock Company the report was adopted, and a divi
dend at the rate of 6 per cent. per annum declared.
There was less excitement in the Liverpool
CottOn Market yesterday, but a fair amount of busi-
ness was transacted at full rates. The sales were
12,000 bales.
There: has been a quiet market for Public Securi-
ties to-day, and the tendency of prices has been
rather unfavourable, although the actual variation
has been unimportant, Consols being 931 .7„ for
I:ol3'eY, and the 6th proximo. The New Threes and
the Reduced are steady at 931 ; Exchequer Bills,
3.une, have risen to 21s. and 245. prem. ; Bank
Stock remain at 238 and 240; and India 5 per
Cent. is 105 k, 1061.
A fair amount of business has taken place in the
Foreign Market, and no material alteration has
Occurred in prices. Turkish 6 per Cents, are 81
to 811 ; ditto, 1858, 711 72 ; Mexican are steady at
.281 ; Italian at 631; and Venezuelan at 231.
Sardinian have receded to 78. Spanish are firmer
at 511.1 8 ; and the Deferred remain at 42.
Tn the Railway Share Market a further slight
decline has prevailed in prices, owing to a prepon-
derance of sales. Midlands and South Easterns
save declined ss. ; Great Northern, Lancashire
and Yorkshire, and North Eastern (Berwick) 10s.;
and Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincoln, XI. Great
Western, however, have improved 55., South
Westerns 10s., and North British 15s.
The Foreign and Colonial undertakings have
remained inactive, without any material change in
'values. Sambre and Meuse realise 711 6 ; Bahia
and San Francisco, 158 8 ; Grand Trunk of Canada
have declined to 201 ; East Indian have advanced
to 131/ ; and Scindes, to 1011.
Joint Stock Bank and Miscellaneous Shares have
been in limited favour. Oriental Bank improved
4'.; Canada Land, £1; and Royal Mail Steam, £l.

Bank BRITISH FUNDS—CLOSING PRICES.
Stock
,per Cent. Consols Annuities
N ?"7 3 per Cent. Annuities 935 3
Z di a 25 per Cent. Annuities 77s
nclia Stock
Ditto 5 per Cent.
Ditto Enfaced Paper, 4 per Cent —
Ditto 5 per Cent 99k 100
Ditto 55 per Cent ,E lO6 '
_ I) ', . Bonds £l,000
uonsols for Account, Feb. 6
India Stock for Account, 5 per Cent
march. 1
21 24 Jun 9.
2c-chequer Bills, £l,OOO 2d....
Ditto £SOO
Ditto Small _ 23 pm
FOREIGN FUNDS—CLOSING PRICES.
Brazilian 5 er Cent
1) qto Account
Ditto 44 per Cent, 1860
llexican, 3 per Cent
Ditto Acco-nt 2B i
Portuguese 3 . .
5 per •Cent., 1853. . •
Ditto 3 per Cent., 1856, '7, '9, and '60..
Ditto A ecount
.. 465
tiodinian 5 per Cent
Ditto Account
Spanish 3 per Cent
Ditto Account
Ditto New Deferred
Ditto Account
Turkish 6 per Cent. —
Ditto Account
Ditto New Loan '''''''''' •
Ditto Account
Ditto £lOO Bonds' 74
.
'Venezuelan 3 per Cent..... ..
Ditto Account ....... 235 3
...............
Dividends on the above
paable i n London.
Italian, 5 per Cent., 1861 ... y
635 45
TWO O'CLOCK.
Consols Money
Ditto Account ............. 935 a