The Sun.
London, England, 1865-12-04 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 4, 1865.

Birmingham Cattle, Poultry, and Dog
Shows•

Christmas comes as usual; but never before were
the ministers to his pleasure less disposed to make
merry over their oxen and fatlings, honoured with
cups and prizes in the great spectacles of the season.
Smitten with dismay at the sinking of thousands of
animals in swift corruption before the pestilence, at
the mournful precautionary slaughter in many a
desolated foldyard, at vain measures of immunity
from the touch of an inscrutable enemy travelling
with horrible subtlety, it may be on the claw of a
wild bird, the sucker of a tiny insect, or the fatal
finger of the very guardian inspector of herds, our
agriculturists congregate in fear and trembling; and
only after solemn debate do they dare to hold even
an exhibition of cattle sent from healthy yard and
byre and destined to the posthumous glories of the
butcher's holly-decked stall.
The entries of horned stock for the Midland Show
number 16 fewer than last year, while no less than
38 of the animals entered have failed to make their
appearance in Bingley-hall ; and, as a wise precau-
tion, several pens of pigs have been denied admis-
sion on their arrival, because they had travelled in
cattle trucks, and might therefore bring contagion.
Indirectly, too, the plague has lowered the quality
of this year's show ; not only because some superior
beasts are detained at home, but because the usual
course of animals winning prizes here, and then com-
peting on the following week at Islington, has been
interrupted by a timid or prudent regulation of the
Smithfield Club.
About half as many Herefords as there were last
year present nothing like the general quality, though
Mr. Aldworth's first prize steer is unusually good,
with a rare deep frame and fine fore quarter, prime
beef and a good coat, fairly beating Col. Lindsay's
very good beast ; and Mr. Shirley's first and second
very handsome prize steers, the first winning the
extra prize as the best animal of the breed. The
heifers are so poor a lot that the second prize is with-
held, Mr. Pitt's very nicely fed heifer taking, how-
ever a first prize. The pride of this part of the show
is Mr. Baldwin's cow" Spangle the Second," which
takes the first prize in her class, and the gold medal
as the best female in all the cattle classes. Of mag-
nificent proportions with level back, rare meat-
covered ribs, a curly coat, and sweet head of the
true Hereford type, this noted prize-taker stands
unrivalled among the white-faces; and her portrait
figured a month ortwo ago among the models in the
Farmer's Magazine. Lord Bateman's second-prize
cow has also great merit, splendid quality of flesh,
and rumps better than those of the medal-winner.
The shorthorns number only about two-thirds as
many as last year. The heifers form an ordinary
class, with one good animal of Mr Aldworth's taking
a second prize, and Mr. Woodward's pretty heifer
taking the first prize. The cows are by no means
grand. Mr. Fletcher's first-prize cow has prime
flesh, and a good barrel and breast end, but an
arched back ; and Mr. Lynn's second-prize cow
Curious Cometbeats her in every point of symmetry
and beauty, though the judges did not like her qua-
lity of flesh and slight disfigurement with fat behind.
Nothing very wonderful appears in the steer class ;
even Mr. Allan Pollock's first-prize white steer being
far from first-rate. We find the gem of the show in
the older class. Here Mr. Rowland Wood's ox wins
the first prize in his class, the extra prize as the best
animal of the breed, a gold medal as the best male
in all the cattle classes, the Earl of Aylesford's
prize as the best shorthorn bred and fed by the ex-
hibitor, the Innkeepers' Plate and Mr. Ottley's
silver medal as the best animal in the cattle classes,
and the President's Cup as the best animal bred as
well as fed by the exhibitor—a heap of honours of
the pecuniary value of £129 Bs. The first prize at
tho Northamptonshire show and the first prize
and silver cup at Huntingdon were previously
won by this shorthorn of the season. But
grand in every point, excepting a slight defi-
ciency in rump ; of immense frame, with great
depth, wonderful fore-quarter, expanding chine, and
ribs outspringing with a capacity not often seen in
the breed, giving a girth of 91t. Gin. ; heavily-
covered ribs, grand flank and rounds, handsome
head, splendid touch, and pliant coat, of a beautiful
roan colour, this noble ox is more than the short-
horn of the season ; it is, probably, the best that has
been exhibited for several years, and it is a pity
that he must not appear as champion next week at
Islington. His pedigree unites Booth and Bate
blood. Mr. Foijambe's second-prize ox is a worthy!
competitor, a specially good shorthorn, a little plain
however in front of the shoulder, but level, with rib
and flank perfect, and grand underneath. lie is sold
for 100 guineas to a Sheffield butcher.
Only eight Devons are present, the best animals
of the year probably being reserved for Islington.
Mr. Wm. Smith's first-prize ox, which wins also the
extra prize as the best of the breed, has rare quality ;
Mr. Farthing's second-prize ox is large-framed and
heavily-fleshed ; Mr. Frampton and Mr. Smith take
the prizes in the steer class; Mr. Farthing gets the
prize for heifers, and Mr. W. Taylor, Mr. Farthing,
and Mr. Smith take honours with specially good cows
Mr. Burbery and Mr. Faulkner show a couple of
moderately good longhorns. In a small class of
• polled Scots, the first prize and extra prize for the
best Scots go to the Earl of Crawford and Balcarres'
extremely good beast ; Mr. M'Combie's big ox being
second. The West Highlanders are in considerable
force, Mr. Gray's first-prize ox and Mr. Mowbray's
second-prize ox being admirable specimens of the
shaggy dun-coated breed.
Not one really useful animal appears among the
few Welsh. In a good class of other pure-bred and
cross-bred cattle, the attraction is Mr. M'Combie's
immense polled ox, girthing 9ft. Bin., and weighing
perhaps 200 stone imperial. It is a shorthorn and
Aberdeen cross, and wins first prize. The second
prize goes to Mr. Allan Pollock's steer. Curiosi-
ties in the class are a little Brahmin marked
" dangerous," and Brahmin and Welsh cross, show-
ing in the Oriental hump and Welsh brindled coat,
both
exhibited by Mr. Lloyd of Yardley. In the
extra classes are a couple of huge, plain, heavy-
horned South Hams oxen, shown by Mr. Lythall,
and a good Cow exhibited by Mr. Charles Speede.
The judges were Messrs. J. E. Jones, Richard Strat-
ton, H. W. Keary, Owen Wallis,
Of sheep there are 14 entriesfewerand
thanA.
Govan.last
year.
The Leicesters are scarce, but of excellent character.
Mr. Boast's first-prize wethers win the second prize
offered by the woollen drapers for the bestwethen
in certain classes, and also Mr. Bromley's prize for
the best pen of long-woolled sheep. I‘lr. Herrick
takes second prize in the class, and Mr. Foljambe's
sheep were highly commended. The best in the
long-wool wether class are Mr. Kearsey's Cotswolds.
In the South Down classes Lord Walsingham has
not been permitted to walk over the course as usual ;
the first prize for shearing wethers (with the woollen
• drapers' first prize) was won by Lord Radnor, the
second and third prizes by Lord Walsingham ; the
first prize for older wethers (with the extra prize
for the best Down sheep) goes to Lord Radnor, the
second prize to Lord Walsingham ; and in the ewe
class the first goes to the Duke of Marlborough, the
second to Mr. William Hemming, and two high
commendations to Lord Walsingham. Consider-
able discussion will arise upon these awards. Lord
Radnor's wethers have good backs,great length, very
abundant wool (rather too cleverly trimmed), but
darker faces and more transparent ears than a
south-country breeder
approves. Lord Walsing-
ham's wethers have better legs of mutton, a consi-
derably larger girth, au absence of dark hair
trd-pri ze
be-
tween the ears, and truer Sussex-down
character.young
Probably, too, his Lordship's hi
wethers are better than his seem .
d-prize sheep in
the same class.
There is a grand show of Shropshires. In the
class of pens of five wethers Mr. Beach's first-prize
sheep won the Mayor's cup, and Mr. Henry Smith's
obtained the novel distinction of being " very',
highly commended. Looking, -however, at the
breadth of back, depth, and solidity of these latter
• sheep, it is a question whether they should not
have been placed before Mr. Beach's ; as it is, the
judges finally determined by the aid of a weighing-
machine, the winning animals being a few pounds
heavier than their rivals. In the class of pens of
three young Shropshire wethers, Lady Willoughby
de Broke, Mr. Beach, and Mr. Hand got the prizes.

In the older class, Mr. Henry Smith's superb
wethers gain the first prize, with Mr. Newdegate's
plate for the best Shropshires. These sheep took
the first prize and a prize medal at Birmingham and
at Islington last year. The second prize goes to
Mr. Beilby Lawley. In the single wether class
Messrs. Mapplebeck and Lowe's cup is won by Mr.
Henry Smith. The high character of the winning
Shropshire is testified by their thorough beating of
Lord Wenlock's and some other almost invariably
successful pens. In the cross-bred class Mr. John
Overman wins first prize, and Mr. Stilgoe second
prize. In the ewe classes the gems are Mr. Thomas
B. Marshall's splendid Lincoln ewe, the Duke of
Marlborough's Oxfordshire Down ewe, and Mr.
Beilby Lawley's Shropshire ewe. The judges of
sheep were Messrs. Henry Fookes, Edward Gough,
and George Cureton.
Of pigs there are 20 less entries than at last show;
the pens of three fat pigs were hardly as well up as
usual ; the cup is won by Mr. Steam. The judges
recommend that in future all pigs painted with
grease and lampblack shall be disqualified. In the
other good classes of fat pigs Major-General
Hood, Mr. Mangles, Mr. Crisp, Mr. Steam, and
Mr. William Smith win the prizes. The breeding
classes are magnificent, Mr. Joseph Smith's silver
cup Berkshires being considered the most perfect
ever seen. A magnificent pen of pigs shown by Mr.
Allender has (like several otheis) been disqualified
by Professor Gamgee, on the ground that the state
of dentition proves the animals to be older than
certified in the entry. The exhibitor protests that
not only his character but also his exact system of
managementforbid thepossibility of any discrepancy
1 of the sort; while, on the other hand, the professor
does not admit that science has made another mis-
take, although the mouths of pigs at the particular
age in question (between three and six months) are
less to be depended on than at any other time. The
judges of pigs were Messrs. John Moon and James
B. Spearing.
There is a remarkably fine show of roots. Messrs
Sutton's six long mangolds weigh 21211 b. ; Mr.
Stevens' six globe mangolds weigh 2441 b. ; Mr. Pol-
lok's six swedes weigh 100 lb. The kohl rabic are
much finer than usual. The carrots form the most
meritorious feature, and the potatoes the most infe-
rior item in the display, Mangolds and turnips are
of marvellous size and quality, telling evidently of a
fine season and of deep cultivation. The judges of
roots and corn were Messrs. J. Matthews and E.
Davenport.
Bingley-hall cannot afford space for much agricul-
tural machinery, but Ransomes and Sims, Clayton
and Shuttleworth, Olmies and Barford, Ashby and
Jeffery, Hornsby, Boby, Turner, Maynard, Bentall,
Mapplebeck and Lowe, and other of our first-class
manufacturers have stands of the special tools or
mechanism for which they are famous. In the mis-
cellaneous department Proctor and Ryland, Griffin
and Morris, &c., show samples of manure, with
specimens of produce raised by these handy ferti-
lizers ; and Sutton and Sons have an extensive stall
in the end gallery, crowded with fine roots, seeds,
and cereal specimens.
We come now to the feathered division of the
show, a department likely to attract greater atten-
tion from agriculturists, as well as to draw larger
crowds than ever of admiring fanciers.
Some inquisitive individual has made out that a
man, woman, girl, boy, or baby in France cats on
an average a hundred eggs in a year. Of these
luxuries our neighbours consume 4,000,000,000
annually, and manage also to spare 300,000,000 for
the " A nglais ;" that is, nearly a million eggs a day
if we exclude Sundays. If each hen lay a hundred
eggs, France must own 43,000,000 hens, worth,
at least, £5,000,000 sterling ; but then the serving-
up of penile/ and volaille in all sorts of savoury and
piquant dishes being a far weightier matter than the
cracking of eggs into infinite and complex cookeries,
the actual numbers of feathered stock in Francewill
far exceed any such feeble estimate. Now, might
not John Bull add poultry farming to the fashions
imported from over the Channel? We do raise more
fowls than we did, and, thanks to our ardent fanciers
of big birds and rare sorts, our country markets
show full-breasted couples weighing a fourth or a
third heavier, of whiter and finer grained flesh, of
earlier maturity, and more thrifty of food than the
undersized, slowgrowing, leggy birds of perhaps a
dozen years ago. But in the present state and pro-
spects of our meat supply we might be far more busi-
nesslike than we are in this branch of production.
Large farmers have the greatest facilities for grazing
and feeding poultry stock. By proper system they
may cut down the costliness of labour and attention
without glazing over stable-yards or transforming
whole paddocks into wired poultry homes.
The entries of poultry at the present show number
1,676, or one more than last year, and of pigeons
331, or 31 more than last year. As to their quality
we can only give general indications, seeing that the
poultry judges, Messrs. John Baily, R. Pulleine, G.
J. Andrews, J. H. Smith, and James Hindson, did
not end their laborious duties till late on Saturday
evening, and the press being rigidly excluded until
that time only a comparatively few minutes were
available in which to review and criticize a couple
of thousand cages of first-class birds. Admiral
Hornby is again the great winner, with magnificent
coloured Dorkings, with Lady Holmesdale and Mrs.
Arkwright following suit. Mr. Lane is great with
Spanish. Mr. Stretch, Mr. Nelson, and Captain
Heaton are winners with Cochins. Mr. Statter and
Mr. Pares take honours with Brahmas. Mr. Blink-
horn and Mrs. Hurt win with that singular and
valuable breed the Crcve-Cceur. This fowl is well
known to frequenters of exhibitions by its crest of
feathers, with a duplicate horned comb in front, its
black plumage and dark blue legs, and is recom-
mended as a prolific laying breed, good also for the
table, the pullets said to outweigh the cockerels, and
attaining great dimensions at a wonderfully early
age. The hens do not sit. The Hamburgh classes
are very fine. In silver Polish the chief prizes are
carried off as usual by Mr. G. C. Adkins. The game
classes are wonderful for equality of excellence, Mr.
Scrimminger, Mr. Gamon, Mr. Billing, Sir H. G.
Gore, &c., being chief winners. In the class of "any
other distinct variety," the National Poultry Com-
pany wins with a pen of the La Fleche breed.
The La Fleche resembles the Spanish fowl, in
having jet black plumage, white faces, and lead
coloured legs; the comb is a peculiarly fantastic
ornament, two horns bending forward, with a third
horn on the beak, said to liken the bird to a rhino-
ceros. They are the largest of French breeds, the
weight attained by fat chickens being 8 to 10 lbs. ;
the skin is particularly white and transparent, and
the flesh of exquisite flavour. However, they can-
notboaiintome of very early maturity, they lay an abun-
dance of eggs, but are bad sitters. The company also
shows
breed, by
which
specimens of the celebrated Houdan
it is a the French henwives make money ;
full-bodied,
short-legged fowl, five-clawed
like a Dorking,
its plumage a spangled black and
white, the face bearded and whiskered in droll style,
a topping of speckled feathers bending backward,
with a curious comb before it of triple form ; the
two outer spikes opening like a book ; showing a
a the beak. ; "
It
strawberry or nut-shag,
grows above
bove between them a
detached spike, like a
is a magnificent sort for the table and for egg-laying
too, fattened chickens weighing 71b. or 81b., but the
hens are poor !Webers.
The game bantams made wonderful classes, and
some most superb gold-laced Sebrights are shown.
The ducks are astonishing this year, Mrs. Seamons'
Aylesburys weighing 301 b. the three birds, that is,
31b. over the heaviest of last year—a result never
before attained. -
Mr. Statter's Rovers weigh 261 b. Mrs. Seamons
wins the first prize for a white goose and gander
weighing 581 b., and Mr. F. K. Fowler takes first
prize for a white goose and gander of 1865 weighing
361 b. Mr. Fergusson Blair's grey goose and gander
weigh 561 b. ; Mr. Fo 'vier's, 521 b. ; Mr. F. Blair's
prize turkey cock and hen weigh 471 b. ; Mr. Wright's
two turkeys of 1865 weigh 401 b.
Mr. Harrison Weir and Mr. F. J. Cottle, the pigeon
judges, declare the show to be of unparalleled ex-
cellence in almost every class ; the heaviest pair of
runts weighs within an ounce of 51b., the greatest
weight yet known.
The show of dogs is larger and better than ever,
numbering about 1,000 specimens, now established
in the new Curzon-hall—a very spacious and hand-

some structure, erected at a cost of £B,OOO, upon
ground which cost £B,OOO more.
But for variety of taste in the choice of liobbies,
and division of labour in the culture of fancy things,
a visitor might be equally au fait among the cattle,
the birds, the produce, the machines, or the dogs.
Mankind, however, having divided themselves into
groups giving their lives to specialities, you need a
handbook at every new show you enter, whereby
otherwise imperceptible excellencies may reveal
themselves it may be in roses or melons, in silk-
worms or white mice. You admire the intermin-
able ranks of handsome, lively bits of intelligence
and faithfulness ; the graceful, sturdy, alert, pom-
pous, or comic creatures that growl, whine, and
bark their own in Curzon-hall; but you don't under-
stand a dog, and are perhaps unaware that one side
of your newspaper might be filled with the points of
perfection and demerit in the numerous breeds and
their subdivided strains. Look then at the picturesque,
warm your heart with the affection of these playful
pets, feel physically powerful in the company of
those noble hounds. Perhaps some compassionate
critic may lead you round by the elbow and discourse
technically of minute differences in build, carriage,
and colour of the animalsbefore you, till you wonder
whether canine study is not an encyclopaedic science.
For instance, here is Class 1. The simple-minded
answer to the catechism-question, " What is the
chief end of man '?" " His head, Sir !" does apply
to a pointer ; for this shell of the brain is the seat
of that marvellous smelling faculty that forms his
main qualification. His jaw is not narrow like that
of a hog, his long soft ears hang close to his cheeks,
and his throat is devoid of a hairy dewlap. Strength

for work demands a broad muscular loin and limbs
with strong bone ; a speed requires a well-set
shoulder ; his round, cat-like feet have natural shoe-
soles of horny pad, and his " stern," that warning
index to the sportsman, is long and sharpened to a
point. That you may readily espy him in a leafy crop
his coat shines white, with lemon or liver-coloured
patches adorning it. You learn that the breeding of
these dogs is a difficult art, the great aim being to
combine the graceful elastic frame of the smaller
strains with a more stalwart size for working among
tall growing green crops and busy heather. The
judges value the symmetry and constitution of the
dog, but of his stanchness, courage, action, and sen-
sitive nose they can tell little without shooting over
him.

You should like a setter's head lighter than a
pointer's, though -without a snipe nose ; his ears
round-ended, not pointed like a vine-leaf ; his body
marked more by depth than breadth ; his feet stand-
ing straight ; and you are to notice the arching of
the toes with the tufts of hair between. The stern
curves upward, with a depending silky " feather,"
thinning off at the tip ; but the fine coat must not
curl, though beautifully fringing the profile of the
body.
If you are well up in your Field, you will under-
stand the great point of colour in the Irish setter—
the coat being deep blood-red and rich chesnut or
mahogany, not golden yellow, fallow, nor fawn, so
unmixed with black that when tested in a strong
light there must be no black waves or shadows, much
less a black fringe to the ears or the profile of the
frame. Aud you will doubly admire the setter of
true Gordon blood when you know that he is ac-
cording to rule in being raven black, with a blue or
plum bloom on the bright lights, in having his "tan',
a rich red or burnt sienna colour, with brilliant red
on cheeks, lips, throat, and feet, a spot of tan over
each eye, an allowable " white 'shirt frill," and a
stern like a sting—the greatest trouble to breeders
being the long " teapot tail" with a curl at the end.
His virtues consist in going longer without water
than other setters, and displaying more variety of
attitude " on the point."
The pointers and setters in the present show sur-
pass in numbers and merit the display of former
years. The foxhounds make a very fine show, in-
cluding some of the most famous sires from the best
kennels. The greyhounds are inferior ; the retrievers
excellent ; the spaniels remarkably meritorious.
There is a splendid show of bulls and bull-terriers,
of Newfoundlands, St. Bernards, and toy-terriers.
A peculiar feature this year is the provision of
classes for dogs of small size and for puppies of
every breed. The show is altogether by far the best
we have ever seen.

The Cattle Plague.

BRADFORD.

The cattle disease is seriously on the increase in
this district, especially in the magisterial division of
East Morley. Mr. Collins, one of the inspectors of
the division, reports that during the past week he
has examined no fewer than 26 new cases of cattle
disease, and that in 17 of these cases the cows had
died. The owners of the beasts resided in Allerton,
Thornton, Rodley, and Baildon. Mr. Carter, in-
spector of one-half of the division, also reports that
dnring the past week the disease has appeared for
the first time on seven different farms in Wyke and
Hortishead, causing the death or slaughter of no
fewer than 12 cows. In the Keighley district Messrs.
Emmott and Holmes, the inspectors, report that at
Wilsdon one stirk has died during the week, and
that two cows and another stirk are so ill that they
are not likely to recover.

by the destruction of all herds where the disease
broke out, to prevent the spread of the distemper ?
If they relied on Government stamping it out, they
would have to wait till every beast they had was de-
stroyed and buried. If, then, they had no hope of
relief from the Government, it only remained for the
whole county to view this as a county question. He
believed the only chance left was to raise subscrip-
tions in the county, so that they might tell every
owner of stock that if the moment the inspector
found the disease in his herd he would destroy every
one the public would compensate him. If the pub-
lic would not make up their minds to this, the far-
mers must make up their minds to be ruined to a
man. Sir Robert afterwards submitted a series of
resolutions giving effect to his suggestions by open-
ing parochial subscription lists to a fund to compen-
sate farmers for the destruction of their herds when
the rinderpest breaks out among them.
Mr. FAwcErr, of Scaleby Castle, expressed regret
that the Order in Council giving arbitrary powers
to inspectors to destroy cattle had been revoked.
Mr. JoHN IRVINE, of Carlisle, opposed the pro-
posal of Sir R. Brisco as one calculated to encou-
rage speculation to buy cattle in infected districts,
and thus make matters worse. Some of those who
had suffered in this locality deserved the sympathy
of the whole country ; the disease came upon them
by accident. To that extent the resolutions would
apply very judiciously ; butto say that relief should
be given to all persons indiscriminately who had
been the means of spreading the disease, through a
greedy desire to buy cattle much below their value
—(cheers)—would be very improper.

Other speakers having expressed views unfavour-
able to the scheme, the resolutions proposed were
abandoned.

Sir R. BRISCOE said he was sorry that the feeling
of the meeting was adverse to his proposal. If the
landed interest of that county choseto have its stock
devastated, he must suffer as well as the rest, and
they might now go quietly home and have their
stock devastated.
The meeting then broke up.

jury to this country to weaken, for the sake of the few
millions of dollars involved in the claims of our citizens,
the prospective value of the precedents thus set by the
British Government.

They beg you to remember that, judging of the future
by the past, the time cannot bo far distant when the
British Government will be a belligerent, and that
whether against Russia, France, or Brazil, or against its
Indian subjects, the heroic Sepoys, or its oppressed Irish
provinces, its next war, when we are at peace, will give
us the same opportunity in principle, and a hundred
times greater in degree, which her merchants, mechanics
and shipbuilders have had to profit by our misfortunes.
'While her commerce equals ours in tonnage, the value
of her merchandise afloat is always infinitely greater than
ours, many of our ships being usually loaded by the help
of British capital.
Where she built one Alabama or blockade runner we
can build a hundred, provided her precedents are allowed
to remain. While she has by destruction and alarm
driven about one-tenth of our commerce from the ocean,
we can at the next opportunity, following in her footsteps,
utterly drive the British merchant flag from the ocean,
except when conveyed by a steam frigate. They have
made the most of their opportunity ; their machine shops
and ship-yards have enjoyed a prosperity never before
equalled. Their shipowners and merchants have fat-
tened upon our distresses. They can well afford to pay
out of their profits the petty losses which are claimed, and
still have millions of wealth wrung from us remaining.
Our harvest will soon come, but wo shall better their
instruction a hundredfold, until not a vestige of British
merchant navigation will remain upon the ocean in rivalry
with ours.

We pray you, therefore, to retain the vantage she has
given us by making no further demands in compensation
for our claims, but rather to use your influence with our
own Government to obtain payment from them for the
losses thus incurred by our own citizens, and to retain in
full force the precedent set by Great Britain, as infinitely
more valuable than those claims.

Gen. M'Dowell, in command at California has
issued, under instructions from the War Department, an
order instructing his subordinate officers to take the
necessary measures to preserve the neutrality of the United
States with respect to the parties engaged in the existing
war in Mexico, and to suffer no armed parties to pass the

frontier from the United States, or suffer any arms or muni-
tions of war to bo sent over the frontier to either belli-
gerent. This is not to prevent individuals from passing
with arms for their personal protection.

Diana of Poitiers in the Glory of her

Youth.

The following animated description of an inter-
view between Francis the First and the lovely
Diana of Poitiers we extract from the last instal-
ment of Mr. Ainsworth's new historical romance
of " The Constable de Bourbon," in the December
number of Bentley's Miscellany:--
At this moment a side-door was opened, and a
young dame, richly attired, and of surpassing
beauty, entered the chamber.
On seeing the king, she would have instantly
retreated, but he commanded her to stay.
" Do not let my presence alarm you, fair lady,"
he said. " And do not suppose you interrupt me,
for I have finished my conference with the Lord
Constable."

The young dame, who seemed much embarrassed,
made a profound obeisance, but did not advance.
As we have said, she was exquisitely beautiful. Her
features might have been modelled by Praxiteles,
and her figure was tall and admirably proportioned.
She was attired in green velvet, embroidered with
flowers of damask, gold, and pearls, with the
sleeves puffed and quilted, and her head-dress,
which was becomingly fashioned, was ornamented
with pearls and ether precious stones.
" I am trying to recal your features, fair lady,"
said the king, approaching her, and regarding her
with undisguised admiration, " but I do not think I
can have seen you before. Such a lovely face as
yours—such lustrous eyes—and such a formmust
have made a lasting impression upon me. Yet you
must have been at court."
" No, sire, my father, the Comte de Saint-
_
alher, never took me to court," she replied.
" How ?" exclaimed Francois, surprised. " Are
you the charming Diane de Poitiers, who, by be-
stowing your hand upon the Comte de Maulevrier,
have made him the most enviable of mortals ?"
" It is my misfortune, sire, to be the wife of the
Comte de Maulevrier," she replied.
" Your misfortune ! ha !" exclaimed the king.
" Are you aware that your husband is here?"
" Here, sire !" exclaimed Diane, uneasily.
" Nay, be not alarmed," replied Francois, smiling.
" He has not come for the purpose of taking you
back to the Château de Breze. He brought me
some important intelligence from Normandy."
" "Tis Maulevrier, then, who has revealed the
plot," mentally ejaculated Bourbon.
" I should not return with him, if he desired it,"
said Diane. " Your Majesty must understand that
the Comte and I have quarrelled."
" Quarrelled! ah !" exclaimed Francois. " And
so you took refuge, from the husband you hate with
; the Duke de Bourbon—eh?" _ _

" I do not hate my husband, sire, though he has
compelled me to leave him. I came to the Chateau
de Moulins with my father."
" And you expected to find your father with the
Constable, when you entered so suddenly just now,
eh ?" remarked the king, dryly.
" I did, sire. I came to inform them of your
arrival at the chateau—little expecting to find your
Majesty here. I trust I may infer from your gra-
cious and kindly aspect that the Constable is re-
stored to favour ?"
"He is fully restored," replied the king. " You
will be pleased, I am sure, to learn that I have just
promised him the command of half my Italian
army."
" You have done well, sire," she rejoined. "With
Bourbon in joint command with your majesty, vic-
tory will be assured. You will accompany the
king ?" she added to the Constable, with evident
anxiety.
" I hope to do so," he replied. "At all events,
I will follow as soon as my strength will permit
me." _ .

"Nay, I must have you with me," said the king.
" Right, sire—do not leave him behind," she
whispered.
" I know the way to enforce obedience on the
Constable's part," said the king. " I shall take you
with me to Lyons, fair Diane. He will follow
quickly then."
" Sire !" exclaimed Bourbon, with ill-concealed
vexation, " the countess is here with her father !"
" What of that ? I shall not ask his consent,"

replied the king. " The only person who has any
right to object is Maulevrier, and he is not likely
to interfere. The Comtesse de Chateaubriand and
a large party of court dames are in my train," he
added to Diane. " You shall accompany them."
He then continued in a low voice : " I cannot doubt
the great influence you possess over Bourbon.
What you say to him he will obey. Charge him,
therefore, to join me a week hence at Lyons."
And he moved towards the other side of the
chamber, as if to examine the portrait of the beau-
tiful Clara de Gonzaga.
Diane instantly took advantage of the opportu-
nity, and, approaching Bourbon, said, in a low
voice
" -You have accepted the king's offer? You will
break with the Emperor and Henry VIII., will
you not?"
" It is too late," replied the constable, in the same
tone. " I have signed the compact."
" But consider that the king has promised to
share the command of the army with you ?" she
urged.
" Promises made by princes under such circum-
stances are rarely kept," replied Bourbon. " I can
never be really restored to the king's favour."
" You wrong him," she said. "He is the soul
of loyalty and honour."
" He loyal !" echoed Bourbon. " He is perfidious
as his mother. I will not trust him."
" a hat is your determination ?"
" My fixed determination," he rejoined.
" Then we shall never meet again—never, Char-
les," she said.
Bourbon made no reply, and his head sank upon
his breast. At this moment the king turned round.
" Have you prevailed upon him, fair Diane?" he
asked.
" Yes, yes, he will come, sire," she answered
hastily. " You will?" she added to Bourbon, with
an entreating look that ought to have been irresist-

ible.
" You have said it," he rejoined.
" That is well, observed the king.
could not resist her persuasion."l
Just then the door opened, and Jean de l'Hopital
entered the room.
"I crave your majesty's pardon for this interrup-
tion," he said, " but I am compelled to attend to my
illustrious patient. It is necessary that his highness
should take the draught prepared for him."
" I applaud your zeal, sir," replied Francois,
" and I enjoin you to use all your art to restore the
prince your master to health as quickly as may be.
Think you he will be able to set out for Lyons in
three days ?"
"I will not answer for it, sire," replied Jean de
l'Hopital, cosulting Bourbon by a look.
" In a week, then?" demanded the king.
" Perchance in a week, sire," replied the physi-
cian. "But he must travel slowly, for even then he
will be very feeble."
" Come hither, sir," said the king, taking Jean
de l'Hopital aside. " Answer me truly, as you value
your life. What ails the Constable ?"
" His highness is labouring uncla a severe quoti-

" I knew you