The Sun.
London, England, 1865-12-07 00:00:00

FRE SUN, LONDON, THERSDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 7, lEEE.

subjects. Admiral PAnEJA disposes of this by in-
timating
that no interests of neutrals can be allowed
to stand in the way of Spanish dignity, and he
adds that there will be no grievance to com-
plain of if the neutrals have warning to
remove their property from the edifices
likely to be attacked. He himself, he asserts, will
only carry out the instructions of his Government
:whatever they may be, and he plainly intimates his
opinion that these instructions will tend to the
bombardment of Chili. " The object of these
hostilities," he says, "is to inflict upon Chili the
greatest possible damage, in order to compel her to
satisfy the honour of Spain. It is therefore to be
feared that if the Government of her Catholic Ma-
jesty does not obtain this satisfaction by means of
the blockade, it may direct me to another class of
hostilities." Whether this is intended as a
threat to frighten the Chiilians and to urge
the diplomatic body to endeavour in the
interests of their own countrymen to induce the
Republic to submit, or whether it is actually indi-
cative of the Spanish intentions, may be questioned,
but the whole tone of the Admiral's letter is most
unsatisfactory. Ho concludes by declaring that
this reply to the British Minister's remonstrance is
intended to call the attention of those engaged in
foreign commerce to the state of affairs, that they
may guarantee themselves from all loss in the hosti-
lities between Spain and Chili, as if it were pos-
sible for any precautions to avert the damage occa-
sioned by a suspension of the ordinary traffic of
commerce. It is very evident that it will be a
troublesome matter to induce Spain to hear reason,
but it is a taskwhich we cannot possibly shrink from,
since the enforced submission of the gallant little
Republic would be not only a present disgrace, but
a dangerous precedent for the future. This is a
oaen in ...MA, r1.14.ir Av.". esn, +ba anmel Q;(10
so that there need be no weighing of arguments or
hesitation in the matter.

The City of Washington, from New York, brings
us news to the 25th of November. We learn with
satisfaction that the excitement about the Shenan-
doah is dying out, and the New York Times admits
that the Federal Government have no ground for
demanding the surrender of the crew, the American.
Consul's acceptance of the surrender of the vessel
as a war vessel precluding any complaint on the
part of the American authorities. So that we see in
this case, as it would no doubt be in most others,
that a simple, decided, and straightforward course
is the best calculated to appease any anger and to
encourage international amity. The vacillation
and hesitating uncertainty shown by our English
Ministers in too many instances was doubt;
less much to blame for the unwarrantable
nature of sonic of the American demands, and gave
rise, naturally enough, to the very irritation they
were anxious to avoid causing.

The news from the various States continues to be
indicative of the restoration of peace and order, at
least in a partial degree. President JOIINSON has
informed the Governor of Mississippi that the troops
will be withdrawn as soon as it is manifest that
order can be maintained without them. The Go-
vernor, in his Message to the Legislature, recom-
mends that negro testimony should be received in
the courts of justice, which is indeed almost the
most important part of their emancipation, since
without it they are at the mercy of fraud and vio-
lence to an almost limitless degree. The Mis-
sissippi Governor makes a good suggestion
respecting the vagrant blacks, which is that negrocs
should be taxed for their support, a measure which
is likely to diminish the number. The Governor of
Alabama has also urged upon his Legislature the
abolition of slavery and the protection of the negroes,
so that the cause of emancipation is prospering.
General FIsK has made a speech, where is not
stated, in which he repeated what he had learned
from the PRESIDENT respecting his views of the
negro question. Mr. JOHNSON, according to the
General, was fully resolved to see the freedom of the
negroes guaranteed, and to give them a fair chance,
though not very confident of their ability to profit
by it. The Freedman's Bureau would, he said, be
maintained until the Southern States resolved to deal
honestly and justly by freedmen. Notwithstanding
the PRESIDENT'S open advocacy of negro rights, he
does not escape the virulence of the Republicans,
who thus conclusively prove that their anxieties are
political and not humane, as they would fain have
us believe. A Radical Republican meeting has been
held, we are told, in Dr. CHEEVEII'S Church, New
York, of all places in the world to select for a fiery
political demonstration, at which speeches were
made denouncing President JOHNSON'S reconstruc-
tion policy, and declaring him to be the counsel for
the rebel States and the upholder of Secession doc-
trine We may learn from this some of the diffi-
culties against which an American statesman has to
contend when he endeavours to rise above the
trammels of party and to consult the general inte-
rests of the country at large.

LA TEST INTELLIGENCE.

(REtrEß's TELEGRAMS.)

PIUSSIA.

BERLIN, DEC. 7.

The SpenorscheZeitung of to-day contradicts the
statement of the Vienna Presse, that Count von
Bismarck has reently addressed letters treating of
political question: to the Emperor Napoleon and
M. Drouyn de

ROME.

ROME, DEC. 6.

A Pontifical decree has been published prohibit-
ing any premium 4eing charged upon the current
coin of the Romar States, under a penalty of one

month's imprisonment, and a fine of 50 crowns. A
repetition of the ofence will involve the closing of
the establishment and the seizure of the money,

BELGIUM.
TIIE KING OF THE BELGIANS.
BRUSSELS, DEC. 7.

The Moniteur 13?lge of this morning publishes
the following bulletin respecting the King's health

" Weakness cont,nues to be the prevalent symp-
tom in His Majesty's condition.
(Signed,) '4 WimmEß,

"DE ROUBAIX.

Palace of Laeken, Dec. 6."

SWEDEN.

STOCKHOLM, DEC. 7.

In the Chamber of Nobles up to the present there
have been 17 speakers in favour of, and 11 against,
the reform of the Constitution. It is evpected that
tho question will be put to the vote to-morrow.

.01161/UGIbLivaLL. Lull/t./WAX/ L 11134,7 ILL L.ao

the Government proposal should be rejected, the
Ministers would immediately bring in the same
measure in the form of a simple bill.

EGYPT.

CAIRO, DEC. 7.

The day before yesterday being the Viceroy's
birthday the Egyptian Minister for Foreign Affairs
gave a dinner to the corps diplomatique.
Yesterday his Highness reviewed the army, after
which a fete was given to the consuls and the Euro-
pean residents at Cairo.

FRANCE.

PARIS, DEC. 7.

An Imperial decree has been published to-day,
establishing a customs union and regulating certain
frontier questions between France and the Princi-
pality of Morocco.
The Rhone and the Durance have overflowed
their banks near Avignon.
BOURSE, Dec. 6.—Three o'Clock.—The market
has been weak since the opening, and prices in many
instances have receded. These unfavourable
symptoms are attributed to a fall of i per cent. in
Consols, telegraphed from London. Threes, for the
Account, are now quoted at 69f. 2ic. Italian Fives
have declined 71e. Credit Mobilier are at 887 f. 50c.,
showing an advance of 2f. 50c. The price a prime
is 897 f. 50c. In the Railway Department Northern
Shares show great firmness at 1,110 f., a rise of sf.
No noticeable variation in other shares. Three
o'clock.—After again falling to lower prices, the
market rallied for the close, which has taken place
at the following slightly inferior quotations :

41 per Cents
Do. end month
3 per Cents. 69
Do. end month 69
Credit Mobilier
Do. end month
Bank Shares —
Credit Foncior 1332 50
Italian Loan 64 95
Do. end month 65 12
UAILV

Roman
Ottoman Fives 43 90
Mexican Loan 49 75
Do. Bonds 332 50
Russian --
Austrian
Spanish Threes
Home Debt

Deferred

Orleans

'AY s.
Cash.

Acct.
831 '25
... 1111 25

Northern

Lyons and Mediterranean
Southern
Western
Eastern
Sardinian
Austrian
Lombard
North of Spain
Saragossa
Ditto to Barcelona
Roman

837 50

- - ... 570 -

- - .. . 518 75
- - .. . 216 25
- - . 431 '25

- - ... 425 -
- - ... 163 75
- - ... 197 50

SPAIN AND CHILI.

MADRID, Dec. 3

The following note, dated the 12th of October,
was addressed by Admiral Pareja to the British
Minister in Chili on the question of the bombard-
ment of Valparaiso :

" Frigate Villa de Madrid, Valparaiso,
October 12.
" Sir,—The official letter which your Excellency
has addressed to me bearing date the 7th inst.

acknowledges receipt from the commander of the
Mutine of a copy of my letter of the 2d inst., re-
plying to a previous communication from that
officer. Your Excellency proceeds to state that
you do not consider the forces under my command
are justified in bombarding Valparaiso, on account
of the greater part of the property in the city being
owned by foreigners, and mcst of the merchandise
stored in the Customs' warehouses belonging to
English subjects.
" I beg to state, in reply, that during the course of
hostilities between Spain and Chili the undersigned
will only execute what may be ordered by his Go-
vernment ; and, as the object of these hostilities is
to inflict upon Chili the greatest possible damage,
in order to compel her to satisfy the honour of
Spain, it is to be feared that if the Government of
her Catholic Majesty do not obtain this satisfac-
tion by means of the blockade, it may direct me to
proceed to another class of hostilities, which, as is
natural, will probably be directed against all that
appertains to the Government of the Republic,
agreeably to the right of war. None, as your Ex-
cellency is aware, can or ought to obstruct the
exercise of this right, always provided that the bel-
ligerents grant to neutrals a convenient time during
which, by withdrawing their property from the
edifices which may be attacked under that right,
they may suffer no detriment.
"I speak hypothetically, but the hypothesis is one
that may become a reality, since it falls within the
natural sphere of belligerent rights--rights which if,
on the one hand, they should not be exercised in
such a manner as to prejudice neutral interests,
neither can they, on the other, be waved, if neu-
trals, due notice having been previously given,
neglect to take the necessary measures to protect
themselves against loss, and thus embarrass the
action of the belligerents.
" I repeat that I speak hypothetically. My only
mission being to execute the orders of my Govern-
ment, it is possible, as I have said above, that later
these orders may direct me to commence hostilities
against all that belongs to Chili. Thus, your Ex-
cellency will perceive that, setting aside the possi-
bility of future arrangements, or those which may
naturally arise in the course of a war, it is in the
interest of all neutrals to take by precaution all
those measures that may protect their interests.
" From what I have said I trust your Excellency
will understand that the present reply to your offi-
cial communication of the 7th inst. is intended to
call the attention of foreign commerce, in order that
those engaged therein may in due time guarantee
themselves from all loss in the hostilities between
my ccuntry and Chili. I would further repeat to
your Excellency what I have mentioned on several
former occasions—that is, that these hostilities on
the part of my Government are intended to compel
Chili to give the satisfaction due to us, and that to
obtain this I shall carry out all that my Government
may deem necessary against all that appertains to
the Republic.—l take this opportunity, &c.,

" JOSE MANUEL PAREJA
" To her Britannic Majesty's Charge
d'Affaires."

LITERATURE.

Agnes Strickland's Novel.
How TViii it End? By Agnes Strickland. Three

Vols. Richard Bentley.
A novel in three volumes, by Agnes Strickland,
whose labours in the field of historical research have
been for some years past so unremitting and so suc-
cessful—a work of fiction by the Historian of the
Queens of England is very naturally a subject of
interest and curiosity. The admirers of Miss
Strickland, and her admirers are her readers, will
have no cause to be disappointed with her novel.
The subject is, of course, historical ; the time is dur-
ing the wars of the Cavaliers and Roundheads, and
the hero of Miss Strickland's selection is the clashing
and desperate Major Robert Phillipson, well known
to friend and foe by the surname of "Robin the
Devil." This gentleman, Miss Strickland tells us, is
ancestrally connected with her own family, and his
feud with his cousin, Colonel Briggs, and the
struggles of both for the possession of Calgarth Hall,
claimed by each as his lawful inheritance, are
matters of history, or at least of local tradition.
Colonel Briggs and his household, for example, are
during a considerable period persecuted and
alarmed by the continual and unaccountable
appearance of two skulls which no precaution can
keep away and which no destruction can annihilate.
In reference to which visitation we are informed—
The frequent appearance of skulls at Old Calgarth Hall
during the contest of the rival kinsmen, Colonel Briggs
and the Phillipsons, for its possession, is still among the
traditions of that mansion, and even recoried in the local
history of Windermere ; but how the imposition was
effected has never been thoroughly explained.
Miss Strickland has in her version of the appear-

ante suggested a very reasonable and most probable
explanation. The great historical events and con-
spicuous personages of that stormy period are not
introduced in these pages, but as a good actor per-
forms effectively any minor part, so do the various
characters here grouped together, even the most
subordinate, bear witness of the master-hand that
has set them in motion. They are men not of the
a 9., lm+ of thA gAvents.Pn+b non+nnv Tn
like manner every description, every scene, and
every incident is imbued with the spirit of the
age to which it belongs. That most appropriate
motto on the title-page of her most famous work—
" The treasures of antiquity laid up in old his-
toric stores I opened," has been again and again
most faithfully realised by Miss Agnes Strickland. It
is a matter of no surprise that the reader who yields
himself to her guidance should find himself actually
transported into another age, so truly is the
soul of the Past revived by the spell of this his-
torical enchantress. Before we approach the actual
story, the mystery of " How will it End ?" or de-
scribe the very charming Althea Woodville, the
heroine, let us take a glance at the condition of the
public press in the days of Charles 1., when the
daily papers rejoiced in the appropriate names of—
DIURNALS AND MERCURIES.
The dull monotony of Calgarth Hall was at length broken
by a dinner-party, consisting, however, of gentlemen only.
Colonel Briggs, when at home, was accustomed to invite
those who espoused the cause of the parliament to meet at
Calgarth Hall on that day of the week when he expected
his packet of diurnals and Mercuries from London. Many
of these gentlemen lived in places where there were no
posts, and yet possessed the keenest appetites for London
news.

These simple-minded squires were so little aware of
the science of newscraft, by which each party retained and
paid its own journal to invent and distort public intelli-
gence to suit their political interests, that they devoutly
received for facts all statements put forth in the diurnals
of their way of thinking, for absolute truth. If the incon-
sistencies of any story derived from such a source were re-
presented to them by persons better informed, or less cre-
dulous, the invariable reply would be, " I ken nowt about'n,
it were printed in t' Mercury free Lunnon, so it canna be

fause."

Colonel Briggs's mail was always placed, at its arrival,
on his writing-table in the justice-room, the apartment
where he transacted the business connected with his office

as a magistrate.
Thither he and his company adjourned after dinner, to
see him unfold his despatches, both public and private, and
open his gazettes—operations that were looked upon with
the greatest awe and curiosity by his guests, to most of
whom the arrival of a letter once in two years was regarded
as an event extraordinary, and the composition of ono was
considered a feat only iit for a conjuror or a counsellor.
Colonel Briggs seldom published any portion of his letters,
but on this occasion he handed the Perfect Diurnal to
Squire Newbiggen, of New Place, who, as the largest land-
owner present, occupied the place of honour at his right
hand, and requested him to open the readings, and take
especial care not to let one word fall to the ground, " Latin
gibberish, of course, excepted, being a Popish vanity," said
the squire.
The soldiers and domestics were considerately sum-
moned to attend this political banquet, nor were even the
ladies excused, in order, as Colonel Briggs observed, "that
not a single crumb of comfort should fall idly, and without
its use. For," continued he, "it i■ my prayer that wher-
ever these precious diurnals abound, ears may be found to
hear them."
Squire Newbiggen succeeded in reading the Perfect
Diurnal with great credit to himself, as he skipped very
few of the hard words, and spelt none ; at least not
audibly.
"By my fay, thou halt done wonders, Master Newbiggen,
and hast read the diurnal specially," cried Squire
Thistlethwaite, of Crossbank, who sat nearest in the circle,
and expected to be complimented with the next turn of

reading.
Squire Thistlethwaite, of Crossbank, was a sturdy elderly
gentleman, with a remarkable thick head and neck, and
stout, square body ; one of those persons whom the most
common observer would pronounce to be inordinately ob-
stinate, only from a view of his person —while every fea-
ture in his bluff face told the fact that when once the Squire
had made up his mind to do anything, neither force,
fraud, nor persuasion could divert him from his way,
Country gossips said he had lived a batchelor life for
the sake of Miss Kezia Briggs, who had been cruel to him
from her youth upwards, and that for love of her he visited
at Colgarth, though his principles were suspected of being
the very reverse of puritanical.
To this humourist did Colonel Briggs, prompted by his
evil destiny, consign the next diurnal, and with a toler-
ably good accent Squire Thistlethwaie proceeded very
fluently to read its contents.
The news which was contained in the first page of this
journal was of a character to make the assembly first stare,
and then utter a variety of groans, for it appeared to be a
direct contradiction to all the crowning mercies detailed
with so much exultation in the Perfect Diurnal; and
Master Thistlethwaite was civilly requested to pass over
such melancholy buffetings in silence, which , could only
have found their way into the journal in consequence of
some blameworthy stumbling of the diurnal maker.
" Peradventure he was disguised in strong drink when
making up this sheet or he would not have put forth such
untoward intelligence. Prythee cast it from thee, neigh-
bour, and betake thee to another containing more accept-
able things," said Briggs.
But Master Thistlethwaite Sturdily replied " That if the
parliament had been buffeted, ho saw no reason for salv-
ing their sores with lies and dissimulation, and as he had
begun to read that diurnal, he should continue it to the
end. Besides," he added, "the next article is news
from the Lancaster and Lake country, and sure we all crave
to know what Lunnon folks ha heard of us."
Althea is compelled to accompany Colonel Briggs
to the chapel, and to witness the peculiarities of

times to find even his audacity compelled to give
way to the determined spirit of the dignified Althea.
On her mother's death Althea is left in the guar-
dianship of Colonel Briggs, who determines, by a
closer guardianship, to obtain possession of the
fortune of the heiress. On one occasion, while
she is wandering in the grounds of Calgarth, by the
river side, Althea protests that she will die rather
than marry Colonel Briggs, when she is startled
by a sudden apparition at her side.