The Sun.
London, England, 1862-10-08 00:00:00

GARIBALDI IN HIS ISLAND HOME OFITHE RIGHT HON.' TV. E. GLADSTON.
CAPRERA." IN NEWCASTLE.

PAINTED BY T. JONES BARKER.

Successful though kr. Jones Barker has often
before now been in the production of more elabo-
rate and ambitious paintings of a historical cha-
racter, we do not hesitate to pronounce this ex-
quisite portrait of the Hero Garibaldi as in many
respects his chef d'ceuvre. It is destined, we are
absolutely certain, to eclipse all his others in popu-
larity. It will be scanned by the people of after
times with more lively interest than any other of
the same artist's productions—singularly attractive
though these latter have almost every one
of them been in their subject and wonderfully in-
teresting though they have everyone of them been
without exception in their treatment. Nor can it
very much awaken surprise even among those who
may not yet have seen for themselves the remark-
able picture upon which we are commenting, when
it is borne in mind what is in truth the subject here
represented in glowing colours by Mr. Barker's
brush of skill and facination. Every one who has
looked upon the painting itself, everyone who has
glanced at the engraving from it now dis-
played in the shop-windows of so many of our
printsellers, will corroborate what we have already
remarked about the peculiar and really exceptional
charm in investing this the artist's latest master-
piece. Garibaldi is here represented as standing in
an easy, natural sailor-like attitude upon a rocky
eminence in his Island Home of Caprera. It is
early morning—the rusty boots worn by the Hero
telling of the tramp he has had across the dewy
herbage before reaching the elevated spot upon which
ha is standing—a spot well known at Caprera as a
favourite haunt of the Italian Liberator. Objection
has been made by some, among the more critical or
captious, to the attitude in which Garibaldi is here
pourtrayed—as one savouring rather of the theatri-
cal. Yet, here, again, the artist has deliberately
"selected" this attitude, and for a reason that all will
at once admit to be sufficient, and a reason none the
less acceptable to the artist surely, and none the
less readily to be allow€d him, because at the
same time it chances to be wonderfully pictu-
resque. This sufficient reason being, that it is a
frequent and favourite attitude of Garibaldi's—
particularly when rapt in thought ! Standing
" at ease," with his arms carelessly folded, his lion-
face directed full towards the spectator, his cavalier
bonnet of felt held negligently in his left hand, his
grey eyes full of animation, his noble broad and
lofty brow serene and bared to the cool breezes of
daybreak—Garibaldi stands before us in this beau-
tiful painting the beau ideal of a Hero ! One in
whose lineaments, and especially on his ample
forehead—

" Every God had seemed to set his seal
To give the world assurance of A Man 1"

The extraordinary effect produced by his per-
sonal aspect being, as a matter of course, very con-
siderably enhanced and heightened by the remem-
brance of his great deeds, by the recollection of
the very situation in which he is represented
(standing there in his island home, looking
towards the mainland of the Italian peninsula)
—heightened and enhanced even by the simple
grace of his marvellously picturesque cos-
tume ! The light grey or drab coloured sailor-
cat trousers—belted about the waist, fitting tightly
about the loins and hips, and flowing loosely down
to the feet, clad in the rusty dew-dulled boots of
leather already mentioned ! Completing the cos-
tume—the renowned and henceforth historical
Garibaldian Redshirt—a deep-blue handkerchief
tied negligently across the shoulders of the great
Condottiere, the ends of it hanging down his
breast. Far below in this picture—at the base of
the jutting and lofty eminence upon which he is
standing, the blue waves of the Mediterranean
dashing into spray against the rocky headlands.
In the foreground, close to Garibaldi's feet, two of
his tame goats nibbling the fresh green
leaves of the brambles and herbage—leaves
powdered over with glittering dewdrops.
Above in the growing light of the sky, still
scintillating radiantly above the hero's head the
" Star of Promise "—to Italy ! Altogether, so far
as our own observations have extended among the
numerous effigies of the Italian Hero that has been
published, Mr. Jones Barker's painting of him is
incomparably the very best that has been produced.
Those who know the General intimately, pronounce
it, without any hesitation to be among them all the
most faithful. The original painting will still
remain, we believe, for a brief while on view at the
German Gallery in Old Bond-street—prior to its
removal further to the east for exhibition at some
convenient gallery in the City of London. It is
worthy—at once as a historical work of art, and
as a life-like portrait—of the very highest com-
mendation.

THE IN7E.RVI.EW WITH GENERAL

GABIBALDI.

We extract the following from a letter written
by an Englishman, dated Spezzia, Oct. 3:—

For the first eight or ten days after Garibaldi's
arrival two large frigates and four gunboats were
moored opposite Varignano, and a perfect fleet of
armed boats circulated about the harbour. Now,
as I write, there is but one, a small despatch-boat,
remaining. The rigid orders against landing are
withdrawn, and I stepped on shore at the stairs, and
wended my way up to the fortress, unopposed and
unquestioned. A letter to the colonel-commandant,
Santa Rosa (tho son, by the way, of the Gen. Santa
Rosa who was killed in Lord Byron's expedition to
Greece), from the Minister of War procured me a very
gruff and not over conciliatory interview wit h a busby
whiskered, very coarse-looking man, of about forty,
who curtly told me the General was wearied, he
had seen so many people, and that I had better
leave him in quiet. After briefly assuring my
courteous informant that my visit would be of the
briefest, he gave ICI e permission to proceed, and I
mounted a wide and dirty stair to a corridor as
wide, as dirty, and in many ways as disagreeable.
Two gendarmes were stationed at a small door in
this passage, entering which I found myself in a
room with some seven or eight persons dressed in
scarlet shirts, and seated at dinner.

They received zaz e with much politeness, and one,
a tall, dark-complexioned young man, of about
eight-and-twenty, Menotti, at onee offered to con-
duct me to his father. On a small truckle bed,
scrupulously clean, but of the humblest kind, lay
the wounded man, with his arms folded, and his
head a little bent forward, so deep in thought that
we were beside him before he noticed us. He gave me
his hand and addressed me at once in English, but
speedily added, " You must talk Freneh to me, for
my English has rather rusted lately." He knew my
name, as the bearer of a letter from an old and
valued friend; but added again, " Talk to me freely,
but don't be displeased if I can say little in return.
Tell me everything about C—; where he is, how
he is, and what he is doing." I tried to obey him ;
though far more eager to learn tidings of himself,
and learn if there was anything which the solici-
tude of his English friends could do to lighten
his solitude and his suffering. " No,"
said he, "I believe I want nothing. I have had
sympathy enough for a thousand men. Your great
is greater in nothing than in its generosity."
was no time, nor had I the presumption, to
naltito n
advert to late events; and so we talked only of his
wound and the time it would take to restore him.
" Patience," said he, with a smile, "is not said to
be my characteristic, but they shall see that I can
exert it."

With a permission to be admitted to see him soon
again, I withdrew ; and, after a few moments of
civil intercourse with the doctors, Rapari, Basile,
and Altaneso, whose dinner I had already disturbed,
I came away.
As I rowed back to Spezzio. I had time to think
over my late interview, and was astonished to own
to myself how powerfully the magic of that great
man's simple and gentle manner had worked upon

me.
My boatmen, who knew where T had been, and
who certainly were not restrained from questioning
me by any modest deference, never asked me how
he was or how he looked. They told with com-
placency how much employment they had had in
conveying strangers across to see " II Generale;"
that there were Italians and English and Swiss
every day.
Rather piqued at last I said, "The General is
going on well." "'Panto meglio"—" So much the
better"—was the response, and no more passed be-
tween as.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer arrived in this
district yesterday. He came from Brougham Hall
in the afternoon to Blaydon, where he alighted,
and drove to Gibside, the residence of the Right
Hon. Wm. Hutt, MY. To-day he came to New-
castle, and after visiting the church of St. Nicholas,
the High Level Bridge, the monument recently
erected to the memory of George Stephenson, and
other places in the town, he attended a banquet in
his honour in the new Town-ha 1.
All the tickets for the dinner had been sold
several days ago, and there was a number of per-
sons from all parts of the country who were anxious
to be present, but who could not get admission for
want of room. After dinner the side elevations and
galleries were filled with ladies, who gave the hall
a lively appearance.
The Right Worshipful the Mayor of Newcastle
(Joseph Armstrong) occupied the chair.
After the cloth was removed, the usual loyal
toasts were proposed by the Chairman.

In reply to the toast of " The Army and Navy
and Volunteers,"

Sir JOHN FIFE, responded, and said that the Tyne-
side had reason to be proud of the part it had taken
in improving the efficiency of the army and the
navy in the famous gun of Sir W. Armstrong, and
the iron-clad frigates of the Messrs. Palmer. (Loud
cheers.) The number of the resignations in the
ranks of the volunteers were more than made up by
the new enrolments.

The Rev. R. W. GOODENOUGH responded to the
toast of " the Bishop, Clergy, and the Ministers of
all other Christian denominations," and took occa-
sion to declare his adhesion to the new project of
reform for the Durham University. (Applause.)
The CHAIRMAN proposed the health of Mr. Glad-
stone in highly eulogistic terms, referring especially
to his repeal of the paper duty, and the furtherance
of commercial treaties with other nations, from
which this district had reaped so much benefit.
The toast was drank amidst loud applause, and
Mr. Gladstone, on rising to respond, was received
with great and protracted cheering.

The Right Hon. W. E. GLADSTONE acknowledged
the warm compliment paid him. He contrasted the
labours of a public career, its toil and. responsibility;
but its reward, though not always in the present, lay
in the future, and to the future it was most whole-
some that a public man should look ; and in England
it had a generous reward. Though a member of the
Government, he had freedom to speak of public af-
fairs. Asa member of the Government, he would take
credit for his own services in promoting the French
Treaty; yet to the Emperor of the French and Mr.
Cobden it was mainly due. They were two distin-
guished men, whose position on the one hand, saga-
city and ability on the other, had accomplished it. His
noble colleague and Earl Russell were next in order
entitled to the honour of the meeting on account of
the treaty. It had been a success beyond all expecta-
tions. The commercial experience of the public knew
it as surely as official documents showed it. The
right hon. speaker gave numerical facts as to the
state of trade with France for 12 months past. The
trade foreign and colonial of England, which was
before the treaty of the value of 9 millions, was, 12
months after, 21 millions. The increase of export of
British produce was no less satisfactory. On the
average of two years before the treaty, the value of
trade in metals and tissues was two millions, now it
was six millions. The particular commerce of New-
castle had benefited 300 per cent. The exports of
America had fallen off in 12 months 9 millions. The
treaty of commerce had supplied this calamitous de-
ficiency. The hon. speaker gave the increase of ton-
nage by sea resulting from the treaty. Every io or
12 millions of increased trade gave us an increase of
a million of duties arising from tax-paying commo-
dities imported. The treaty had compensated for
all the nation's sacrifice on account of the treaty ;
besides, the moral effect of the treaty was greater
than its pecuniary result. France, then, took its
stand on free trade; it added its influence to Eng-
, land's, and new treaties elsewhere had arisen, and
its effect upon the future peace of the world was
very significant and influential. When Parliamen t
met, it would be its duty to retrench, as far as pos-
sible, its expenditure. Not wishing to occupy the
meeting with official considerations alone, he would
notice that the paper duty, hop duties, and an in-
come tax, once 10d. now 9d., were no longer col-
lected. These facts had to be taken into account ill
estimating the improved revenue of the country.
Considering that the great industry of the country
had been smitten by a blight, it was a matter of
great satisfaction that the revenue had increased to
the amount of X 600,000. The Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer must compliment the workmen of the north
thrown out of employ. He doubted if any class of
the community would have borne similar calamity
with equal fortitude and self-denial. He defended
the manufacturers generally, but condemned those
who made wealth the object of worship and ne-
glected its wise use—the manufacturer who sold his
cotton clandestinely, as abusing the rights of pro-
perty, as much as any condemned aristocrats. Be-
lief ought to be given to the workmen without hu-
miliation. The men were innocent as children, but
had borne their sufferings like heroes. He hoped
that no man would be deprived of the franchise be-
cause he accepted parish relief. When Parliament
again considered the franchise the conduct of the
men of Lancashire would be taken into account,
He referred to the war in America. The slaves

wo.•••• •
would be better off if the States were separated, as
on the basis of union, the laws against the slave
were enforced by the whole power of the Federal
united Government. Our neutrality had been more
against the South than the North. We ought t°
judge tenderly the North. It had never drunk the
cup of bitterness, and it exaggerated its feelings'
Let us bear with them, let us forget the receptioll,
they gave the Prince of Wales—it was a proof of
the settled goodwill of America to England. There
could be no doubt that Jefferson Davis had made fi
nation of the South. Mr. Gladstone treated the
South as a successful cause. (The announcement
..
caused great sensation.) Lord Palmerston had been
one of the earliest in this country to recognise 01
condition of Italy. Lord Russell had no less faith-
fully represented the sentiments of the peop._in, of
England. The conduct of the people of Italy gape
them new cl liras to public confidence. They would
not follow the man they best loved into error, for
the sake of peace in Europe. He hoped that the
question of Italy would early roach its final stage;
Mr. Gladstone ended by proposing
the Mayor, on account of his connection with the
Press," which he praised as the friend of the
check upon MI"
people,
the safeguard of liberty, and the The health of
nisters.

The other toasts proposed and responded to were:
—" Her Majesty's Ministers," " The Members Of
Newcastle, and for the other boroughs, and Nun'
ties of Northumberland and Durham," The Con-
sular Representatives of. Foreign States."

TERRIFIC GAS EXPLOSION IN A FACTORY. Oa
Monday last a violent explosion of gas occurred at the fO.
tory of Messrs. Harris and Sons, Braunstone-gate, Leicesi
ter. It appears that on the above evening the front part °-
the building was about to be lighted with gas for the °•ll,t,
time this season, and the meter was turned on about fio
o'clock by Mr. Broughton, the timekeeper,
who ,hortu
with
t eafterwards discovered a strong smell of gas in his office
communicated thea factthe tom ae t
erw
mechanica was
t
nheecitmedmwedihthely establishment
diately turned off. A person named E. Shuttlewood the°
applied a light towards the ceiling, when a terrific „pie.;
sion took place. The report was heard at a considerable
distance, and the houses on the opposite side of the strcfe,
were much shaken. Mr. D. Shuttlewood, overlooker of the
mechanics' department, was seriously injured, one side al9.
his face being much burnt and completely distigur!ro
Messrs. Broughton, E. Shuttle-vood, and J. English
also badly shaken, and the latter was burnt seriously 0,19°_,,,
the neck and hand. In the room were the explosion r'is
curred the plaster was stripped from the ceiling alaaaiso
wrapper set on fire, a portion of the floor above Waso,."
sprung. Had not the precaution been taken to shut
ralr;t
gas previous to testing the pipe, the consequencesia
tulle
have been most disatrous both to life and propertY• the
bar of the Earl Howe's Arms, about 30 yards fronlled
scene of the explosion, the reflecticn of the light reser'sb_ith,
a strong flash of lightning, and many were impressed I'
that idea until the facts became knuwn.
Importing Tea without colour on the leaf Pre-
in
vents the Chinese passing off inferior leaves as
usual kinds. Horniman's Tea is uncoloured, tiler
always goycl alike. Sold in packets by 2,280 "eiltj'