The Sun.
London, England, 1862-05-07 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, MAY 7, 180.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT

HOUSE OF LORDS—YESICtRbAY.
The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the woolsack
at five o'clock.

THE REVISED CODE.
Petitions against the Revised Code were presented by
the Earl of SHAFTESIVUILY and by Lord COLVILLE.

PRIVATE BUSINESS.
The Dartmouth and Torquay Railway Bill was read a
second time.

TilißD READINGS.

The Liynoi Valley Railway, the Norwich Corporation,
[he Ross Turnpike Trust, and the 13 erwiek .upon .T weed
[-Labour bills were road a third time and passsed.

TRA.NSFF,R OF STOCKS (IRELAND) BILL.

Lord ST. GERMANS moved the second reading of this
bill, which was to assimilate the law with respect to the
time of closing the Transfer Books of the Bank of Inland
with that of the Bank of England.
The motion was agreed to.
EXCHEQIIER BONDS (L 1,000,000) BILL.

This bill, on the motion of Earl GRANVILLE, was
read a third time and passed.
CHANCERY REGULATION BILL.

The committee on this bill was postponed until this
day week.
Their lordships then adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS—YESTERDAY.
The SrEmun took the chair at four o'clock.
PRIVATE BUSINESS.

The Scottish Northern Junction Railway Bill was reads
third time and passed.

PETITIONS.

A very large number of petitions were presented from
different parts:of England,Scotland, and Ireland against the
continuance of the grant to Maynooth College, and some of
these petitions were signed by Roman Catholics. Petitions
were also presented against the Revised Code; in favour of
a more equitable imposition of the Income-tax; the reduc-
tion of duty on Fire Insurances; the Public Houses (Scot-
land) Act, &c., &c.

THE BALLOT.
Mr. H. BERKELEY said that he had received various
applications on the subject of the ballot, and ho begged to
give notice that he would state on next Tuesday week, the
day on which he intended to bring the question forward.
SOCIAL CONDITION OF THE WORKING
CLASSES.
Mr. SLANEY gave notice that he would move for leave
to bring in a bill to improve the social condition of the
working classes in or near large towns.
EDUCATION (SCOTLAND) BILL.
Mr. BLACKBURN asked the Secretary of State for the
Home Department, whether it was intended to go on with
the Education (Scotland) Bill; and, if so, whether the
second reading would be proposed on Thursday next.
The LORD ADVOCATE said that he did not propose
to proceed with the second reading of the bill next Thurs-
day, but he would state the course the Government would

take with regard to it.
THE BOARD OF WORKS IN IRELAND.
Sir H. BRUCE asked the Secretary to the Treasury
whether it is the intention of her Majesty's Government to
introduce a bill into Parliament this session, to enable the
Board of Works in Ireland to extend their advances for the

purposes of draining and erecting farm buildings and la-

bowers' cottages.
Mr. PEEL replied in the affirmative, and said that the
measure would be only temporary.

VENTILATION OF HEII. MAJESTY'S SHIPS, &c.
Sir J. ELPHINSTONE asked the Secretary to the Ad-
miralty, if ho would lay on the table of the house the re-
port of the committee appointed by the Admiralty to consi-
der the ventilation of her Majesty's ships : whether her Ma-

jesty's ships and vessels destined for tropical climates since
the reception of that report had been fitted in conformity
with the opinion of that committee; and whether the offi-
cer commanding the Coquette, a gun vessel now preparing
to sail for China, had applied to have the ventilation of his
ship improved ; and, if so, what reply had been given to

his application ?
Lord C. PAGET said he would have no objection to lay

on the table the report alluded to, but it was a merely pre-
liminary one. The Admiralty were carrying out the recom-
mendation of the committee relative tl vessels intended for
voyages to tropical climates, and the Coquette had been
fitted up for her voyage to China.
THE ALLEGED ATTACK ON HERAT.
Mr. GRIFFITH asked the First Lord of the Treasury,

whether, with respect to events now occurring at Herat,
any proceeding or operation, diplomatic or military, had
been undertaken, either by the English or Indian Govern-
ment, which should have a tendency to pledge this
country to any act of hostility against Persia, or to any
step for or against any of the other Powers of Central Asia,
without the full knowledge and consent of Parliament and
the eraintry.
Lord PALMERSTON said that the only answer he
could give was that, neither:her Majesty's Government nor
the India Government had received any information to
show that any such operations as those in question had
taken place on the part of the Shah of Persia, and he was
disinclined to disbelieve the report to the contrary.
THE FORTS AT SPITHEAD._

Sir J. ELPHINSTONE asked the First Lord of the
Treasury when a discussion would be taken on the pro-
priety of proceeding with the erection of the three forts at
Spithead ?
Lord PALMERSTON said that the committee
of defence had not yet reported on the subject, and
as ho had stated before it would be necessary to come t
Parliament for a grant to carry on the works, and the
question would then be fully discussed. The house was
run away with in its views in consequence of the engage-
ments of the Merrimac and Monitor, and the consequence
was that the course which had been adopted with reference
to these works had been taken. Without any discourtesy
to the house, he begged to say that when hon. members
took administrative matters out of the hands of the execu-
tive it was attended with increased expense and diminished
efficiency. (Laughter.)

attempts to address the house, was met with a repetition of
the most discordant and uuiatural yells from members be-
low the gangways.

Sir R. PEEL, in resisting the proposal, reminded the
house that the grant had received the sanction of both Mr.
Pitt and Sir R. Peel wit a view to conciliate all interests,
remove religious irritatiol, and unite in one common bond
all classes of her Majesty subjects. He admitted that the
pectations which had Um formed in this respect had not
been realised; still, as a matter of justice and policy, he
considered it would not )e well for the house to rescind the
arrangement of 1845.
Mr. NEWDEGATE thanked Sir R. Peel for his frank
and honest acknowledgment, that the object which his late
father had had in view filen he passed the act of 1815 had
been defeated. This w,s the result of the action of the
Ultramontane faction inthe Church of Rome, and the time
had now arrived when tle College at Maynooth ought to
be put in the position intvhich Mr. Pitt desired to place it,
and bo maintained by tiv Roman Catholics themselves.
On a division the moan was negatived by 193 to 111.
HARBOURS OF REFUGE.

Mr. LINDSAY movel,that in the opinion of the house
it was the duty of the. Wernment to adopt measures to
carry into effect the resoluion of the house of the 19th of
June, 1860, in regard t, harbours of refuge. The hon.
member pointed out at sone length the obvious advantages
of harbours of refuge to he mercantile and shipping inte-
rest, as a means of savinE both life and property; and for-
tifi

Led his proposal by reference to the recommendations of
the select committees and loyal commission who had in •
quired into and reported tpon the subject.
Admiral DUNCOMBEseconded the motion, but ex-
pressed a fear that in thepresent state of the finances the
Chancellor of the Excheq.er would not be able to spare the
money required to give it effect.
Mr. BAXTER opposedthe motion, and said that but
few vessels would receive sty benefit from the construction
of harbours of refuge A',AO points. indicated by the Royal
etitengeston.ers, &id Mniented upon the discrepancy in
their recommendations End those of the select committee ;
the latter suggesting that the expenditure should be de-
frayed out of the passilg tolls, and the former that the
greater portion of the akount should be paid out of the
general taxation of the ountry, whilst they also differed
with regard to the total outlay. He warned the house
against adopting a resoktion pledging them to embark
upon an expenditure witch would be far greater than any
advantage that was likell to be derived from it, whieh the
financial position of the !ountry did not warrant, and of
which, when once comp:Ll:iced, not a man living would see
the end.

Sir F. SMITH, as a nember of both select committees
and the Royal commissiot, said that the committees only
gave an opinion as to whit the cost would be, but that the
commissioners treated tht question from an engineering
point of view; and he venured to assert that their esti-
mates were sufficient to cart:i out the works, inasmuch as a
large margin was allowed fa. contingencies.
After some observations kora Lord A. VANE TEMPEST,
Mr. PEASE, and Mr. BLAxt,,
Mr. M. GIBSON oppose( the motion, and reminded the
house that a bill had recentlf been passed authorising the
public works loan commissioners to make advances of
money, repayable in fifty Years, at 3 per cent. interest, for
the enlargement and improvement of existing harbours ;
that numerous advancesnad been made during the present
year; and that several a.Eklitional plans were now being con-
sidered by the commissners. It was but fair, therefore, to
give a scheme of that kint time to work, and see how far it
would mitigate the evil cohplained of. With a view to saving
life and property at sea, n.tthing was so important as to im-
prove the access to the enting trading port ; because it was
at their entrances that vegsels chiefly congregated and that
the larger number of casutlties occurred; and ho believed
that if time were allowed to work that bill great advantage
would result therefrom. According to the commissioners
themselves, their recommindations could not be carried out
for less than £4,000,00 ; but he should be sorry
to take the responsibility A saying that the works could be
executed for less than $,00i),000; on the contrary, he
believed they could not 4 accomplished fully and com-
pletely under £8,000,000. Was the house, then, prepared
to pledge itself to the resolution ? If it were, it must not
trust to the illusions put brward by the commissioners re-
specting local assistance, but must provide the money by
Parliamentary grants to be amount required, and the re-
quisite ways and means to meet the expenditure. The
great loss of life and property through accidents at sea did
not take place in the neighbourhood of the proposed har-
hours of refuge. More could be done for the protection of
life by lifeboats and mortars and rockets stationed along
the coast, than by the erection of a few piers, constructed
at an enormous expense; and in the absence of represen-
tations from shipowners, or the expression of a readiness
on their part to bear any part of the expenditure, he hoped'
the house would not assent to the motion.

The debate was continued by Mr. LIDDELL and Sir M.
PETO.

Sir 3_ PA 'V
what had rain. from the President of the Board of Trade,
who preferred to substitute his own unsupported conjec-
tures for the carefully-considered calculations of the Royal
commissioners. The right hon. gentleman's argument was
neither more nor less thanthis—let shipwrecks take place,
and then trust to lifeboats and mortar and rocket apparatus
stationed along the coast For saving of life. The value of
harbours of refuge could not be better illustrated than by
reference to Holyhead an! Portland, both of which in case
of heavy weather were dways crowded with merchant
shipping. With regard ways and means, the Govern-
ment knew in 1860 what vas the report of the committee
and of the commission, ant what was the opinion of the
House of Commons. Tie), knew the cost; yet in 1861
they recklessly wasted le resources of the country,
which they might now ha•e applied to this beneficent and
useful purpose.

Sir G. LEWIS opposedthe motion, and condemned the
taking any precipitate step n. the existing state of the pub-
lic finances.

Mr. BENTINCK appmed of the motion on the ground
of humanity and public po:cy, but thought that Mr. Lind-
say had put himself out of ourt by the couxse he had taken
in voting for the abolition ,f the paper duty and supporting
the recent financial meagres of the Government. He
hoped, therefore, the lion gentleman would not ask the
house to go to a division.
Mr. CROSSLEY suggsted that the ways and means
might be found by borrowing the required amount upon
terminable annuities of 30 Fears, or some other period.

Sir F. BARING expreied alarm at the facility with
which hon. members Wm of raising loans. It was a very

pleasant means, perhaps, o getting rid of a difficulty, but
he warned them that the moment they entered upon that
downward course they word find it extremely difficult t•
retrace their steps.

Sir S. NORTHCOTE blieyed that the house would be
acting rashly in adopting tb motion, and intimated that he
should vote against it.

A brief reply from Mr. ,INDSAY terminated the de-
bate, and on a division the motion was negatived by 115
to 77.

Captain JERVIS obtaitd the appointment of a select
committee to inquire intc the best means of preserving
Harwich Harbour as a harour of refuge.

Leave was given to Mr. d'MAHcolq to introduce a bill
to facilitate the obtaining o sites for places of religious wor-
ship in Ireland.
Mr. CItAUFURD mowl for certain returns relating to
the benchers of the several ms. of court. The motion led
to some discussion, and, upa a division; was negatived by
54 to 12.
The remaining business having been disposed of, the
house adjourned.

LITERATURE.

Ile North British. Review.
The first article on the list, termed "The Church
of Vngland—Resporkdent,'' discusses the contents of
two volumes recently produced in answer to " ts-
says and Reviews," the one being edited by the
Bishop of Gloucester and Bristol, the other by the
Bishop of Oxford. The views of the writer are, of
course, perfectly orthodox, but be admits that good
may come of the recent controversy. He says :
The Church of England has recently not merely given
decisive evidence of its firm adherence to the Christianity
which it professes, but has shown its ability to repel un-
belief in the mode of dispai-sionate and learned argumenta-
tion. The attempt lately made to gain a footing for the
German infidelity within its pale has signally failed. Nu
similar attempt, probably, will be thought of for some while
to come; nor ever again, if only a due improvement is made
of this recent agitation. What we mean by a duo im-
provement of it will consist in a more free development of
genuine biblical criticism. This criticise must be more
free than at present it is, in several senses. It mast be
free from the smouldering
*anxieties of those who, un-
fixed in their own belief, have doubted what might be the
issue of studies of this kind. Exempt also this criticism
must be from intimidations uttered by uninformed and in-
telligent good men, who would frighten their better in-
formed brethren bythe threat to denounce them as heretics.
Free also must biblical criticism be from those restraints
which in all ages have arisen from the disingenuous and
dishonest reluctance to admit any exposition of Scripture,
in single instances, from which opponents would be quick
to snatch an advantage. Take it now as certain that the
Scriptures are from God, in their own sense ; then, if so,
what are our fears ? What is it that we apprehend ?
Not that the claims of this book should after all be dis-
proved I Not that, when honestly interpreted, Scripture
itself will lead us astray I Not that the sense it gives us,
in any one instance, may be of dangerous tendency, and
that therefore it should be suppressed. or disguised I All
anxieties of this kind—all cautionary expedients or eva-
sions to which we may be tempted to give way in the
interpretation of the Scriptures, are, in truth, nothing
better than so many forms of our own inward sdstrstst of
them.

In " Geologic Changes in Scotland in Historic
Times," we find earthquakes enumerated among the
causes. One shock, which took place in 1608, ex-
cited such alarm at Aberdeen "that it was re-
garded as a document that God is angry
against the land, and against this city in
particular, for the manifold sons of the people !
From time immemorial it had been customary to
carry on the salmon fishing in the Dee on Sundays,
and the Kirk Session set ;this down as the proxi-
mate cause of the earthquake." There are three
articles on poetry, namely, " Recent Homeric
Critics and Translators," " Early Poetry of Eng-
land and Scotland," and "Last Poems of Mrs.
Browning," the latter of which is the best. We
cannot resist quoting one or two passages :

WOMAN AND LITERATURE.
In his Essay upon Joan of Arc, De Quincey thus ad-
dresses Woman, not as the general mother, but as the
general sister : " Woman, sister—there aro some things
which you do not execute as well as your brother, Man ; no
nor ever will. Pardon me, if I doubt whether you will
ever produce a great poet from your choirs, or a Mozart, or
a Phidias, or a Michael Angelo, or a great philosopher, or
a great scholar." With perfect fairness might our sister
retort that there are many things which she can execute
better than her brother. She might also urge something
more to the point, in the fact that woman has done very
great things both in art and literature since De Quincey's
words were written—the greatest things probably she has
ever done. She has not yet produced her Shakspeare, her
Newton, her Bacon, her Handel; and most likely never
will. But what she has done during the last twenty years
is quite sufficient to make man look down on her from his
intellectual throne with less of the smile of superiority. In
more than one department of literature she has run almost
abreast of her brother in the race. It is very doubtful if
the highest and richest nature of woman can ever be un-
folded in its home life and wedded relationships, and yet at
the same time blossom and bear fruit in art or literature
with a similar fulness. What we mean is, that there is so
great a draft made upon woman by other creative works, as
to make the chance very small that the general energy
shall culminate in the greatest musician, for example. The
nature of woman demands that to perfect it in life which
must half lame it for art. A mother's heart, at its richest,
is not likely to get adequate expression in notes and bars, if
it wero only for the fact that she must be absorbed by other
music. That which makes the mother wealthiest, will at
the same time hinder the artist by at least one-half. Thus
a woman-Shakspeare would really have to be doubly as
great as the man Shakspeare, for he had not to bear a family
with all its precious burdens ; nor does it appear that he paid
very much attention to his family when it had been borne
for him. So that, if woman should never btand
on an equality with her brother at his noblest height, she
may fairly plead inequality at starting, and more hin-
drances by the way. Great writers are the exception
amongst men, and they must be still more so amongst
women. Women, who are happy in all home-ties, and
who amply fill the sphere of their love and life, must, in
the very nature of things, very seldom become writers.
For most women, the whole of life is uttered in the one
word " love," the whole world compressed in the one word
"home." They live the reality in such fulness, that there
is no imperative need to seek refuge in an ideal world. And
then, where is the incentive to sing or write ? Perfect joy
does not ofte.n set nanny IV tin cr
scions thing than sorrow. he reason why sorrow has in-
spired so many singers, is because it appeals so much more
to the consci.opness. It turns the eyes more within. And
then it baiffies,.is more communicative, an'd4fo -tti ease
the heart of its burdens by telling its troubles.Y4lt is also
lessened by being shared. Woman will seldom be able to
"catch up the whole of life, and utter it ;" it will generally
be only the half of life, and because it is only the half will
she often strive to utter it. Nevertheless, where the nature
of woman is drawn or driven to seek expression in art or
literature, by all means let her have warm welcome and
brotherly cheer. She has many a tender and vivid reve-
lation to make which is sealed to man. But her deeper
intuitions demand an alliance with the most massive
powers, ero the great books will be written of which her
nature affords an index.

THE POETESS.

The world in general has got its first glimpse of Elizabeth
Barrett through Miss Mitford's kind old eyes, that dwelt so
lovingly on the young Greek-student girl, living her lonely
London life with books for companions, instead of women
and men. We have seen an early poem of hers on "Mind,"
or some such title, printed earlier than the classical period
of her studies. It showed the brain at work before the
heart had sent up its inspirations. It revealed a young
poet of such parts, that she needed all that we sum up in
the word " life," to ripen her nature, and do justice to her
great gifts. Every shoot put forth by- her expanding ex-
istence ought to have came into contact with such kinds of
food as would have assimilated healthily. These should
have been—grasping the human world, and the world of
flowers and leaves, beasts and birds. The sea, it seems,
should have sent its salt freshness, the old grey mountains
have contributed strength, the green country its sweetnesses,
the spring wind should have given her blood a brighter
bloom, the blue heaven and golden sunshine have made her
spirits dance within her; and these should have led out
with ruddy cheek, happy light heart, and ready hand, into
the companionship of live human beings, all of which might
have enriched her nature by giving or receiving. Instead of
this, we hear of the early doom indoors, the dim life in the
sick-room, the mentallifo kindled and burning at the expense
of the physical, the long train of many sufferings, the way of
life sad and shadowy to be walked wearily in ill health, and
the vista marked across at the end with an early grave. Such
was the life and prospect which have been sketched for the
young poetess in her early years. We doubt whether in
this case, as in others, the lot was really so bad as our ima-
ginations are apt to colour it, especially when it has been
drawn by the imaginations of others. We have met with
people who have assured us that the sisters Brenta by so
means lived the dismal life that we had realised; and that,
amidst all the loneliness and misery. they often managed
to extract a good deal of pleasure from life. Still there was
enough shutting up, in the case of Elizabeth Barrett, to set
her mind growing in the world of books when it ought to
have been expanding in a world warm with life ; the mind
was growing, as it were, in a dark cellar, when it should
have been shooting and striking root out of doors under the
breathing influence of spring.
The whole tendency of this life was to grow apart from
that material which is the very.clay in which the poet
works. At any time, the strong imagination has difficulty
enough to get fleshed, as we may phrase it, so as to dwell
in common human forms, walk in common human foot-
steps, and speak our common human language. It is no
easy matter to catch Pegasus, and put him into harness.
But when the outer world is mainly closed, and the inner
world of consciousness unhealthily quickened and stimu-
lated, the difficulty of bringing the imagination to bear for
working purposes is many times greater. Ordinary men
and women grow up naturally in the ordinary forms.
They are moulded to the ordinary condition of things,
while the consciousness is awaking gradually. They sel-
dom. feel lost with surprise at the state of matters in. which
they have grown up. They do not feel eager to use
stride of a disembodied spirit; and so step forth ovoe_r
world's boundaries. They take kindly to the 1a7,3
vitation. They are fitly fleshed, and don't hero. m
food and
ef the spheres, but are quite content to tread
day track. f strongly moved by
find room to palpitate within the senses,
afulr over the heights
earrecetoivhinagve dropt on
e fethneot htth souleto etryseeecrvealr
trying to flap its wings without, andso.
_waver,
that hem it round. There are spir, •a°
not to grow up in this naturpre.,..waappY,
g the scars and rents of
that is heard •
growth through the senses. 7ije ri go wailing round our
the planet ready made. They p ;
so they dwell apart, all
world, and seek in vain to ge
eyes for the sorrows and high
leasure—low for very h • -
high above the music misery
is shrill. They happiness
humanity; all ears for the crY pain,
s foldman mournfulness,... because feeling so
see all the
—because the voice
the empty cup when
YULaTrhtehree wriansgisnogmoefthig of this in Mrs.
more of life'
at fills so many a life to the brim of fell-
little of its joy,
city. They mil IL'
ane found many doors into life closed to her
it is dashed down•
dßurriowanig years. This will account for her endea-
of
make a world her own, not being native to ours,
yours to im
with an intrepidity
which she did
than man's deliberate valour, or rather with the courage of
a child that not tall enough to apprehend the obstacles
titse achy
which are visible to a loftier vision.
The work of Sir G. C. Lewis on " The Astronomy
of the
Ancients," is reviewed, and the remaining
articles touch on " Our Colonies," "Lunacy Legis-
lation," " Present Movements among the French
Clergy," and "The Commemoration of 1662."

Frazer's Magazine.

q our colonial possessions are now attracting
consider able attention, the question of their ex-
penditure
,:nd defence are here discussed under the
head of ig The Colonies." Aby no means favour-
able picture of Ity;:,ne during the Carnival le drawn

PRICE ..... - ..4d.
STAMPED ....sd.

aalve sketchesp of
by Miss Francesc.Pt Power er Cobbe in her article on
‘cs
eTnhteuryEf,tweernh
tiroanasEladtiiotonrssofatondanitire;
newspaper aper Writers of the Last
Sir Xas
a VT.he review of the recent
article on " Indigo PlantingY in
ita Nuova". is interesting.
. i‘isloin_e of the noteworthy
.
The claims of theeinrg oatmsoanrge
men of that time—
tphuet Infuo;ithpri oumtihneent.
Bengal, and the Breaeh..of-Contract Bill." " The
natives," says the writer," see perfectly well that' if
we are to govern them, we are bound to govern them
on our own principles; that what are law and jus-
tice in England, ought in !Ike manner to be law and
justice in India." An amusing account of ajourney
across the Atlas is given in "Notes from Nuwidia."
You cross, it seems, in a diligence,." not one of the
ordinary French diligences, weighing three or four i
tons, and as big as a house, but a lithe, compact,
wiry little vehicle, made chiefly of sheet iron," for
roads are unknown, " vague tracks" supply their
place, and are varied occasionally by beds of water-
courses. The tales now in progress are " Thalatta!
Thalatta 1" and "Barren Honour."

Dublin University Magazine.
One of the most amusing articles in the present
number is that on " Bygone Manners and Cus-
toms." What verdict posterity will pass on our
own age with its "pretty horsebreakers" or crinoline
we may imagine, though we need not say ; at any
rate w e can laugh or be ivirtuously horrified at
our ancestors. One thing is pretty clear—outward
coarseness has to an extent disappeared. Drunken-
ness, instead of being fashionable, is now disgrace-
ful. Ladies no longer "snuff" or rap • out those
peculiar little oaths with which the 18th century
comedies are so liberally besprinkled. There is
a change, let us hope, for the better. Still theta is
plenty of room for improvement, though the world
is not likely to be perfected in our tirr. . „ ,01-
lowing will give some idea of the kind 3f entLoain-
ment in vogue during the last century
TIIE RANELAGH or THE OLDEN TIMES.
Ranelagh, not long before that event, was the scene of
one of the most splendid entertainments ever given in this
country by a foreigner. The French ambassador
gave an entertainment there to Queen Charlotte
and the Princesses, in which great cost was incurred
for trifles. It was very characteristic of French taste
in such displays. A host of opera girls were dressed out
as shepherds and shepherdesses, with cornucopias in their
hands, singing pastoral ditties to a lady who looked like
anything but the goddess so honoured. Sprawling angels,
genii, and allegorical transparencies, eked out the show of
heathen deities and London opera dancers ; but, then, who
could question the taste of the age of le grand monarque !
The Spanish ambassador, not to be outdone, transformed
all Ranelagh into a Spanish camp filled with tents, and at
the entrance of every tent a page in full uniform. The cele-
brated gallery was converted into a temple of Flora, and the
orchestra into a pavilion, lined with white satin, having a
heavy gold fringe. Within the pavilion a table of eighteen
covers was laid for the Queen and Royal family. In front
of the pavilion was a stage for the Spanish dancers, with
their castanets. There were lotteries open with trinkets for
priz€s, such as jewellery and watches. Women waiters at-
tended, habited as shepherdesses, with garlands of flowers;
and they, not very consistently, handed round tea and
coffee, according to modern notions of Arcadian times. One
hundred valets de chantbre, in scarlet, the seams of their
coats decorated with gold lace, and lined with blue, and
also waistcoats of blue and gold, attended upon the com-
pany. Upon these valets in scarlet, a hundred footmen, in
blue and silver coats and waistcoats, attended, Fireworks,
pastorellas, dryads, and nymphs, attended, on all sides, to
simulate Elysium, amid the murky atmosphere of London.
Between three and four in the morning splendid suppers
were served up, that at the Royal table on a service of pure
gold; the table-cloth alone cost a hundred guineas. An
ode of more than laureate doggrcl was sung, and the ex-
pensive and tasteless entertainment concluded.
The scene of these revels, the once renowned Ranelagh,
had in the centre a rotunda ono hundred and fifty feet in
diameter, and neither devoid of elegance or novelty. It held
numerous boxes for the company. There was a promenade
round the circular orchestra in the centre. Tea, coffee, and
refreshments were served during the concerts. Public
breakfasts were often given there; and masquerades neither
remarkable for good taste nor morality.
No expenses were spared in purchasing whatever could
be acquired for the entertainment. At the Knights' Gala,
one of the latest given, 2,500 persons of the first class
shared the hospitality of the house. A guinea the pound
was paid for cherries, and 14s. a quart for green peas. The
entertainment cost £7,000. Court dresses were worn upon
the occasion.
We are thus more minute regarding Ranelagh since its
sun has so long set, and its sweet singers are among the
dusty dead. Even its site is so changed, that it is difficult
to imagine the spot, oven in the present century, to have
been one of the gayest resorts of fashionable life.
A biographical sketch of the great Greek scholar,
Porson, containing specimens of his annotations,
follows ; which shows how little he accomplished,
despite his marvellous gifts, in consequence of his
drunkenness and debauchery. The greater portion
of his late life was devoted to ribald talk
and recitations, especially when heated with
his favourite liquors. " Devil Dick was
his soubriquet amongst his intimates—a weak,
impure, wretched being—a scoffer at religion, and
a trampler on the decencies of society." In "The
Latter Days of William Pitt" we have a notice of
Earl Stanhope's recent work. " Marriage in the
Nineteenth Century" discusses the " Three Hundred
a-Year" problem. Mrs. S. C. Hall's last work,
" Can Wrong be Right," is favourably criticised, and
the two tales, " The House by the Churchyard" and
"Mildrington the Barrister,' are continued.

Colburn's New Monthly.
"Obelisks" form the topic of the opening article
in this number, the recent discussion concerning the
memorial to Prince Albert having invested them
with interest. They " were set up by the Egyp-
tians of old, first as solitary or single monuments,
and afterwards in pairs before the great temples.
The original idea attached to them has been the
matter of much needless discussion, as in Zoega's
work 'De Origin et Use. Obeliscorum ;' as they
seem to have been originally simply commemora-
tive monuments, like the upright stones that were
raised in all countries in memory of a person or
event ; but in this case first brought to a higher de-
gree of perfection, greater magnitude and impor-
tance, and within certain canons, or rules, of pro-
portion and form. The most poetical idea asso-
ciated with them has been that they represented a
flame of fire, which again was emblematic, like the
cypress tree, of the soul ascending to heaven." Of
all European cities Rome is richest in these monu-
ments, no less than forty-eight of different sizes
having been carried there from Egypt by the Em-
perors from Augustus to Constantine, the largest
among them being still standing. " Mithridates,
King of Pontus," the strongest man, the first rider,
the first archer, the first drinker, and the first poly-
gamist of the East," is the subject of Sir Nathaniel's
article. In that on " The Empire of Brazil" we
have anything but a pleasant description ofbe the
climate. "To live there the European
ac-
climatised;" and the happy individualstrengtla is
described—" He has a pale face, mnts thus
diminished, his appetite fails
his blood is thinner."
gone a general change, andblood
has under-
ape pulmonary com-
Even then he does not
aints, and " only from twye,chs-ce to sixteen per thou-
sand The tales consist of
live to die of old age.
" The Shadow of Ashlydyat," now in. its eighth
17th, and
part,Granville do Vigne, in its
there are numerous minor articles.
Bentley's Miscellany.
" The Lord Mayor of London" having passed
triumphantly through the ordeals of the inaugura-
banquet, is new assailed by
tion and accompanying
family troubles. His son and son-in-law have
the
fallen inthands of sharpers. The former re-
o
quires but but has no objection to double that
sum; the latter will modestly
content himself with
a fifth. The Lord Mayor is disgusted and dis-
tressed, and Mr. Candish comes to the rescue. In
A Day with the Alligators" the pains and plea-
sures of stalking those reptiles a redescribed. Under
the head of The Di
Aborigines," we et and Dainties of Australian
have an account of the native bill
of fare at the Antipodes. There, it seems, cooking
is at a discount. The Australian palate is by
no means nice. Quantity not quality is the
requisite, and every living thing is devoured, from
an alligator to a caterpillar. Dudley Costello's
" Crooked Usage," is now concluded. There is a
tale called " The Irish Widow," and an article on
" The Convict System in the Colonies," by Captain
E. T. Du Cane, R.E.

lemple Bar. .
" The Strange Adventures of Captain Dan-
gerous" are of undiminished interest. The youth
having been sold to the worshipful Sir Basil Hop-
wood, Knight and Alderman of London, is shipped
off to Jamaica, and the cabin boy dying on the
passage ho is promoted to the post. Being able to
take his own part, and thriving upon kicks and
cuffs, he gains the skipper's favour, and is by him
consigned to his relation, a " mulotter" washer-
woman, to whom he becomes bookkeeper, and has
an opportunity of studying slavery under its good
old Jamaica aspect, and some of his statements are
calculated to afford muchpleasuro to the admirers of
that" Institution." " The Battle of the Ethnolo-
gists" is a very amusing paper on one of the vexed
" Ac-
questions of the day, the ongin of species.
cording to the developmentalists who have got rid
of all necessity for a creation, and have by conse-
quence no use for a Creator, the various races of
men, as well as all other animals, grow or gradually
developed themselves in the progress 0. f ages, from
lower forms of
:animal life, beginning with the

-.....
cf cir Tfinialculao, which seems but ,i' • , ~, .
1
._ n
existence." " Where grass isiiiip . ,
__.'q' ~....,
would naturally become buftlige4:- -t, :es ‘i ._
wander off into the forests vifeipliqf`:l3,'.•i:;r-ti
and they are obliged to browse,:iiii34:„Oj*o3l#43"7•
i!st
trees, reaching higher and hig..6egzit
_,..
legs gradually :.lengthen, and the eP --11'
.., I buffalo stretches up into the stah;ly -g rafreP
" Coward)y-spirited animals develop good legs
for running, as the elk or the antelope
while the fierce And brave get to themselves
savage claws and teCll, and, despising herbage
and fruits, adopt an exeiz2sively carnivorous diet."
" Aurora Floyd" is cleverly S'ustained. Lucy has
married Bulstrode, and the threatened storm seems
about to break on Aurora's head. The writer on
" Iron War Ships and Heavy Ordnance" does net
approve unconditionally the Armstrong gun ; and
he states one or two awkward facts in connection
with it. There is an article on the Internati:mal
Exhibition ; and the remaining matter is of the ave-
rage merit,

St. James's agazine.
" Time and Space"is the subject of the first article,
being a cont Donation cf one that appeared in the last,
number. To give bOlllO idea of the distances of the
heavenly bodies the writer says—" The Poic-star,
which is probably well known to most of our readers,
is more than 30 million miles n:larer to us in De-
cember than it is in June ; and it seems no
closer to the stars in its immediate neighbourhood
at the former than at the latter period. Thus 30
million miles is not much when compared to the
distance of the Pole-star. To select two stars close
to each other, and to observe that no changes take
place in their relative positions, although we may
approach them by more than 30 million miles:
shows us that our distance from the sun, great as
lit is, is still but an atom compared to that which
separates us from the Pole-star." " Mediums" and
their dupes find little favour in the sight of tho
writer of " Modern Mysticism and Modern Science."
In " The True Founder of Virginia" we have the
story of Captain John Smith, whose life was saved
by the beauteous and gentle Princess Pocahontas,.
A review of " Les Miserables" of Victor Hugo op-.
pears under the head of " A Sensation Novel."
There is a notice of the Liternational Exhibition.
"The Herdsman of La Camargue" is finished, the
hero having made his tortur - and gained his bride.
A tale of Aresie'm liie and i.dvc:-;_:,,n-t, The
Disinherited," is commeme, ; Pon-
blanque, jun.'s," Tangled Skein" is still in progress.
Illustrated Dublin 'Journal.
This is, as usual, plentifully illustrated. The
articles are varied in subject, and the principal talc
is Gerald Griffin's Still Dhuv, the Coiner.
Le Folkt.
This serial still maintains its reputation as an e3'-
ponent of the fashions, Four coloured and two' ala
engravings give laws for the month.

THE INTERNATIONAL BX.HIBITION.

The attendance at the Exhibition yesterday was
perceptibly influenced by the races at Newmarket,
which no doubt had drawn away a large portion of
the fashionable world. There were still, however,
vast numbers of persons present, who seemed prin-
cipally to patronise the picture galleries and the
raised platforms at the east and west ends of the
building. Both these latter have great capabilities,
and a very little expense would make them favourite
resorts of the company. On the centre platform,
the debris of the great orchestra is being rapidly
cleared away, and the Majolica fountain is slowly
rising into shape amid the ruins. Unmindful ot
the dust, the company gather round it, and watch
its progress with considerable curiosity. With
respect to the actual number of visitors attending
since the opening, it does not appear that as yet any
daily total is published, but, on inquiry yesterday
at the proper office, we were informed that the com-
parative numbers which have been published as
between 1851 and 1862 are erroneous, and that the
success of this Exhibition surpasses the last in every
particular. The total number of visitors on Mon-
, day was 15,568, but at five o'clock we could not
obtain yesterday's numbers. Judging from appear-
ances they would be considerably less. it
is hoped
that the numbers will be officially published daily,
as was the case in 1851. The galleries appear to
be making very slow progress, and very few visi-
tors venture near them, the majority seeming to
be deterred by the desolate and unfinished aspect
which they present when looked et from below.
The slight brush which had taken place between
M. Leplay and the Commissioners on the night
previous to the opening, was, as might have been
expected, the subject of animated discussion in the
French court, but the explanations we have heard,
mitigate a good deal the serious aspect which it at
first assumed. It appatts that the French commis-
sioner and his friends had snugly ensconced them-
selves in his bureau, intending to spend a pleasant
evening, but after every one had been cleared out,
and the police had been set for the night, the
hilarity of the party at once surprised and
alarmed the constable on duty, one of the
new X's, who immediately stormed the happy
garrison, and summarily cleared them out of the
building. At that hour there was no official to
appeal to, and the policeman would listen to
nothing but his positive instructions. In the morn-
ing, of course, the commissioners had no difficulty
in setting the matter right. There is in the French
court a confident expectation that the Empress will
be an early visitor, and possibly the Emperor, but
the general belief is that the Empress will come

first.
Some interest, apart from its artistic or ind
in
merits, is attached to the department Wh the
energetic Americans improvised literally n
Her;lmUensdears
eleventh hour, close to the south-east tr.
the enterprising direction ofr. M .
as seereLary, they
commissioner, and INlr. Seavy,
Jol
fe severalta collectiontisT newe w York,
ai
nn
have got together a versyp
ereeismPl leeOhtsa,
eluding a fine painting by Ke g
pianofortes, numerous
important article of commerce, petroleum, and a
whole regiment of sewing machines, warranted to
overcome all the difficulties of the needle. As a
pendant to this may be mentioned the American
bar, where sherry cobblers, mint juleps, and the
whole long catalogue of American " drinks" can bo
bad prepared according to the latest New York
method. Here also the Catawba wine may be tasted,
but as it is uncommonly like Hock, and cannot be
sold under Ss. a bottle, it is not likely in the face of
the new tariff to get into very general consume.
tion. The bar is very extensively patronised, and
as it looks into the Horticultural Gardens, is an
exceedingly pleasant place for rest and refresh-
ment.
A good deal of company is beginning to bo
attracted into the Zollverein, principally to listen
to the music of the orchestrion, a gigantic musical
box, which plays the most elaborate overtures with
very brilliant effect. 'We noticed also here a taste-
fully arranged case of penknives, but as they re-
sembled very closely in pattern two which we
bought not long since on the Luther Platz, in
Konigsberg, we trust that the jurors will subject
them to a very strict examination before they award
them a medal. The refreshment departments, both
French and English, are at present working. ye*:
well, but it is the opinion of persons experienee.a
L in such matters, that neither in space nor attepd
l ante ill they be equal to the rush of the shilling
days.