The Sun.
London, England, 1853-10-03 00:00:00

TALLEYRAND.

"At a small private party in Paris, one evening, some
difficulty was found in making up a whist table for the
Prince de Tallyrand. A young diplomat present, who
was earnestly pressed by the hostess, excused himself on
the grounds of not knowing the game. 'Not know
how to play whist, sir ?' said the prince, with a sympa-
thising air, then, believe me, you are bringing yourself
up to be a miserable old man.'

'' PHILIDOR.

" Philidor, who preceded Grdtry as a popular com-
poser of comic operas, was better known as the finest
chess player in Europe. While occupied with a game
of chess, he was able to direct the moves of a second
game, the table being placed out of his sight, which
was at that period a great achievement. In his latter
years he was averse to undertaking this ; but the Count
d'Artois, afterwards Charles the Tenth, was so desirous
to witness the exploit, that he offered to stake a hundred
louis d'ors against Philidor's success. The incomparable
player still declined, assuring his Royal Highness that
he was certain to win. The Count, however, persisted,
and, baying previously determined to pay Philidor the
hundred louis, he proceeded to bribe the player under
Philidor's instructions not to follow exactly the orders
of his master. Accordingly, about the twentieth move,
his king was checkmated. Impossible ! said Philidor,
the knight takes the queen.' The knight is not
there. It is a bishop.' Philidor paused a moment to
recal the moves of the game. ' I see how it is,' said he,
at the fifth move you moved the bishop instead of the
knight as I desired,' which was precisely the case.
Convinced of his skill, the following day the Count
d'Artois sent him the forfeited stakes, in a gold box set
with diamonds."

OORBIERES.
" Monsieur de Corbieres, Minister of the Interior,
under the Restoration of the Bourbons, had risen from
the humbler ranks of life. The Breton lawyer was con-
sequently perpetually committing himself by lapses of
politeness which afforded much laughter to the King
and Court. But his ready wit never failed to get him
out of the scrape. One day, while submitting some im-
portant plans to Louis XVIII., so preoccupied was he
by the subject under discussion that he placed his snuff-
box on the table among the papers, and his handkerchief
by its side. ' You seem, to be emptying your pockets,
Monsieur de Corbires, remonstrated the King, with
offended dignity. A fault on the right side on the part
of a minister, Sire,' was the ready retort. ' I should be
far more sorry if your Majesty had accused me of filling
them !' "

Ainsworth's.—This magazine presents us with
the usual amount of romance and light literature.
The industrious author of " The Confederates" con-
tinues his two historical tales, and Mrs. Edward
Thomas commences a story, entitled "Is he a
Doctor?" which is apparently intended for the edi-
fication of the ladies who speak of what they do not
understand. The present instalment consists of a
rhapsody on the rights of women. " Adventures
in Bath "is a sketch of i*ferior merit. " The
Queen's Letter" presents us with a scene of vivid
interest, in which the Princess, being discovered,
but not recognised, is forced to denounce Marie
Antoinette and her family. " The Miseries of a
Cheap Neighbourhood " are sufficiently proved to
deter any one from moving their habitation from
Bayswater to Somerstown, like the unfortunate
hero of the story. A criticism on the poems of
Alexander Smith is a most favourable one, as it
asserts that " a new poet has risen up among us
sudden and beautiful as a rainbow in the firma-
ment of June." " The Carnival at Venice," by
Nicholas Michell, displays that elegance and supe-
riority which usually characterise this author's
verses. It is to be regretted that the serials have
not a few more such poets.

Colburn's New Monthly.—Colburn's first article
is on " The Military Resources of Russia." The
author is certainly a great admirer of the despotism
of the Czar. He takes the trouble of informing us
that the war now entered on between Russia and
Turkey is a war of religion---" the last crusade of
Christianity against barbarous Islamism"—and
quotes, in support of this theory, the conclusion of
the Russian proclamation, which asserts that
" Russia is called upon to annihilate Paganism."
Truly a very convenient inspiration ! If Chris-
tianity is-to make a " final" crusade by destroying
all Pagans, it will have enough to do in wholesale
murder. We must also deny the inference that
Great Britain and France would do wrong in un-

dertaking a war in favour of a " barbarous race and
an unenlightened faith against a young colossal
Christian power" We should like to see the
Russians display their Christian feelings other-
wise than in acts of aggression, before we look
on their " colossal power" with much respect. Few
will agree, moreover, that the two great nations
who have so long held the foremost part in the
history of the world, when allied to resist aggression
and maintain the rights of states, will be " totally
unequal to bring the struggle to a successful issue."
" An Event in the Life of Lord Byron" is asserted
to be a fact well known abroad. A small party of
pleasure went to spend the day on one of the umn-
habit94 isles of the Adriatic. Their gondola broke
loose and floated away, leaving the unfortunate
pleasure-seekers to perish, as they believed, with
famine. One of the gondoliers having found a
cask, ventured in it, and, having succeeded in his
perilous journey, brought assistance to the sufferers,
after they had been more than forty hours in the
open air without food. No. XII. of " Literary
Leaflets," by Sir Nathaniel, is devoted to Professor
Trench. " American Authoiship," by the same
writer, this month, gives a criticism on the first of
American poets, Professor Longfellow. A long
and complete " History of the Chinese Revolution"
gives us an account of the country. Su-chu-fu is
the " Venice of China." " Paradise," say the
Chinese, "is in heaven, but Su-chu-fu is on earth."
" The Pair who lost their way on the day of the
Duke's Funeral" is a sketch by the author of
Ramon and Catar, of no striking merit. " Chro-
nicles of a Country Town" is continued—the inte-
rest descending to the next generation, and the
hero of the tale makes his appearance. " A Day at
the Barricades" gives a not very enticing account
of a visit to Baden during an insurrection, which
concludes by the unfortunate spectator having to
walk a hundred miles without finances.

The Gentleman's. " Malchus, the Captive
Monk," is a very extraordinary legend. It consists
of the adventures of a monk and nun who escaped
from a tyrant who had enslaved them; and entered
the cave of a lioness. The master, attended by a
servant, followed them, and were both instantly
seized by the lioness. However, the fugitives
were concealed in a hollow, and contrived to
escape ; they were ever after pointed out as "blessed
saints" by the community they lived among.
" The original Ancient Mariner" contains some
curious assertions regarding that celebrated poem,
in which it is said that Coleridge did not invent
*he substance of the narrative, but that Pau-
linus, Bishop of Uola, was the originator. Se-
veral verses are given along with the letter to
show the similarity. This is, doubtless, new
to many readers, and is worthy of attention.
In " Memorials of the Author of the Seasons,
many anecdotes are given relating to Thom-
son. He was at first intended for the ministry,
and Mr. Riccaltoun did all he could to dissuade
him from the pursuit of literature. He thus
writes to a friend—" I discourage to the utmost
of my power indulging in that humour, where
it requires more judgment than everybody is
master of to keep imagination and fancy to their
own province." It is to be rejoiced at that the
poet did not follow the advice thus given by one
who wished him well., but who was not justified in
wishing him to neglect gifts not often conferred,
and never given for nothing. " The story.of
Corfe Castle" is here referred to, and it is said that
Sir John Bankes has not done justice to his sub-
ject ; but it is valuable because it contains several
important letters hitherto unpublished from
Strafford, Northumberland, Denzil, Holies, and
other prominent historical persons of the reign of
Charles the First. In the obituary several names
of importance appear who have recently departed
from this life—" The Duke of Saxe Altenberg,
Sir George Cockburn, Lieutenant- General Sir
Charles Napier, Lady Sale, etc." Memoirs are
given of these characters, which are of great in-
terest. " Some Account of Relics" informs us
that immense sums were gained through selling
the supposed wardrobe of the Virgin Mary • but
that is singular for Jews to trade with Christians
in such matters.