The Sun.
London, England, 1840-10-22 00:00:00

THE FAMINE OF ISPAHAN.

The following account of the famine of Ispahan dur-
og-the-iivBu tho- AvTgbertssis--nsost.-oppallingt. -.ft it
From " The Chronicles of a Traveller," a curious book
translated from the Turkish :

" During the first three months of the siege, meat,
bread, and ether provisions, were abundant in all the
markets ; at the end of that period the flesh of camels,
horses, and asses, was vended. A horse for slaughter
was sold for twelve temans (301.), and some days after
twenty-five (621. 10s.), but the price was subsequently
increased. 4 n ass was valued at 6 (151.) These being
soon constawed, they began to eat the flesh of cats and
dogs till ne others were to be found in Ispahan.
One day, as I was going from the French to the Eng-
lish Ambador's palace, seeing a famished woman
holding a eat in her hand, which she was desirous
of killing, I helped her to slay it, though unwill-
ingly, as her. hands were lacerated by its claws, and
she was unable to master it. Four months after, they
began to sell and eat human flesh ; for instance, I
saw the heads of five butchers laid on a large stone
and pounded. They afterwards ate the intestines of
the corpses, with which the streets were full. Though
these things, in my opinion, happened by the Divine or-
dinance, yet I make no doubt that they were occasioned
by want of prudence, and the dissensions of the nobles and
people ; and it is astonishing that the inhabitants of
Ispahan bought every day only sufficient bread and
meat to last the four-and-twenty hours, as other per-
sons not placed in their trying situations would, and did
not lay in a stock of provisions in their own houses to
last two months. They also in this state admitted into
the city the neighbouring inhabitants, who were destitute
of sustenance, and, unconcerned about the siege, did not
look forward in time to their own stores of food ; for,
from the time when Farhabed was seized, until the
bridge of Abasabad was taken by the Affghans, the coun-
try was open to them for three months ; and yet they did
not send away the women and children,who were unfit for
war before theywere surrounded by the troops. The gates
which had hitherto been unclosed, they hoped would
continue so ; and, dancing and singing light-heartedly,
feared no unfavourable termination to the siege. The
French Ambassador, then resident in the city, one day,
while visiting the Etimad Dowlet, seized an oppor-
tunity that presented itself of advising him to provide
food, and send away the useless people, lest he might at
length repent of not having done so. But when the Am-
bassador would have awakened him to a sense of its ne ?es-
sity the Minister boastfully answered," Oh, we have suffi-
cient stores to last us for years ;" and easily believed
every one who expressed the same opinion as himself.
For some time they were destitute of wheat, barley,
rice, and every other kind of grain ; the leaves and bark
of trees were sold at an equal price for cinnamon ;
these dried in the air, and mixed with chaff, were then
worth 11 tomas the four ounces (1101. per 16 ounces).
They also prepared various herbs and roots, and
ate dried skins, and the soles of old shoes soaked
in water. These being expended, the people were
dispersed in the streets ; married and unmarried wo-
men, who had hitherto been secluded came out adorned
with gems and pearls, clamouring in vain for bread ; but
no one desired their jewels,or was able to give them food
in exchange for them, until they fell, at length, exhausted
to the earth, and expired. The bodies were
cast away unburied, and the river was every where full
to the .brink with them. The people, in this horrible
condition, were no longer themselves, and, with their
hearts immersed in the abyss of sorrow, were seized
with vertigo.
" A certain nobleman, seeing this distress, and
knowing mast certainly that his children, relations, and
servants were involved in the same calamity, invited them
all to supr., after having bought some pounds of meat
with the remaining portion of his wealth. With this
he mixed Kane Indian poison, saying, " This is the last
meal remaieing for you, and ye may be inevitably
involved is equal misery with others." He thus perished
with all his house. Tile stupendous power of Divine
Providence, by which a blind beggar was preserved
through the siege, is also deserving of notice ; this man
was known to me before its commencement, and I again
saw him after its conclusion."

FRENCH C RIME —A young man of Vendome,
named Fortin, aged IS, during a confinement in the prison
of Ithat town, formed an acquaintance with two villains,
who, finding in bim a disposition corresponding with their
own, enlisted him as an associate. All the three happened
to be discharged at the same time. Only two days after-
wards Fortin learnt that an elderly woman, named Bouzy,

living alone at Champigny, had just received 1,500 f., and
kept the sum in her house. This information Fortin
communicated to his new associates, who instigated him
to murder the poor woman, and seize her treasure, taking
good care themselves not to participate in the actual com-
mission of the deed. Fortin went alone, a few nights
since, to the woman Bouzy's residence, watched his op-
portunity, entered her dwelling, murdered her by blows of
a bludgeon, and was dragging her body towards a dung-
heap, with the intent of there concealing it, when he was
surprised by a miller, who lived near, and had heard the
cries of the poor woman. Fortin was secured and con-
ducted to prison, where, notwithstanding his youth, he
audaciously avowed his crime, expressing regret only that
the daughter of his victim bad escaped him
THE ELIZABETH RUFF.—The best known,
and most distinguishing characteristic of the costume of
Elizabeth's day was the ruff; which was worn of such
enormous size that a lady in full dress was obliged to feed
herself with a spoon two feet long. In the year 1580,
sumptuary laws were published by proclamation, and en-
forced with great exactness, by which the ruffs were re-
duced to legal dimensions. Extravagant prices were paid
for them, and they were made at first of fine holland, but
early in Elizabeth's reign they began to wear lawn and
cambric, which were brought to England in very small
quantities, and sold charily by the yard or half yard; for
there was then hardly one shopkeeper in fifty who dared to
speculate in a whole piece of either. So "strange and-
wonderful was this stuff," says Stowe, speaking of lawn,
" that thereupon rose a general scoff or byeword, that
shortly they would wear ruffs of a spider's web." —The
Art of Needlework, by the Countess of Wilton.
THE REGICIDE DARMES.—The Court of
Peers met on Monday, under the Presidency of Baron
Pasquier ; 113 members were present. The Attorney-
General having presented his requisitery, the Court de-
creed that proceedings should be immediately commenced
against the author of thel ate attempt on :the King's
life, and his accomplices. A committee was next no.
minated, vested with the same powers as the Comma
Chamber, which consisted of Count de St. Priest, Count
de Bondy, Count Philippe do Segur, Baron de Freville,
Viscount Pernetty, MM. Ricard, Humaan, De Cambis,
De Jessaint, Etienne, Viennet, and Serrurier. The Pre-
sident appointed the Duke 'tie Cazes, Count Bartard,
Baron Girod de l'Ain, and MM. Barthe, Merillsoe, and
Persil to assist him in the preliminary examination.
SHEMBLD TRADE,—We have heard, with
great pleasure, from various quarters, of an amendment
in the trade of the town, and we are happy to find it
confirmed by a gradual diminution in the weekly pay.
ments to the casual poor. In the week ending 18th of
September they amounted to 1651. ss. This week the
automat is 1871. ISs. 3d. But this diminished amount in.
dicates a fearful state of poverty.—lndependent.

------- - .
THE NEW HISTORICAL ROMANCE.—
Among the numerous works preparing by Mr. Colburn
for publication during the ensuing winter, we understand
are some historical romances of great interest. The first
which is to appear is entitled " The Siege of Florence."
This is the production of Daniel Macarthy, Esq., of
Florence, a gentleman well known for his varied acquire.
ments, and who has, doubtless, had ample scope for their
display in the present performance. It is, indeed, sur-
prising that we have hitherto had so few historical ro-
mances connected with the social and political annals of
Italy, whose history has been one long sentence from her
earliest existence as a nation to the present day—a ro-
mance more exciting in its incidents, move touching in
its details, and more instructive in its moral lessons, than
any other which the world has witnessed during all that
period.
SUDDEN DEATH.—Yesterday afternoon a
policeman of the T division, who was on duty in John-
street, Kensington, was observed to stagger and fall sud-
denly to the ground. Several persons present ran to his
assistance and conveyed him into the Camden Arms public-
house, where a medical gentleman was quickly in atten-
dance, who attempted to bleed him, and applied other
remedies, but unavailingly, as the unfortunate man expired
in about ten minutes after the time he was first observed
to fall. The deceased had been previously in good health,
aind was placed on his beat at seven o'clock in the morning.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

MANCHESTER, rUESDAY EVENING.
The room was crowded to-day, and business closed solo
rably brisk.

THE MOSTTN STAKES (this afternoon, appoin!el for
half-past three)-6 to 5 Eigst Epirus (taken), 51 to 1 apt
Prince Albert (taken), 51 to 1 agst Rhodanthe (t:lken),
8 to I apt Retriever (taken), 10 to I agst Chantilly (take
12 freelv), 12 to 1 acst Catherina (offered), 12 to 1 agst
Spring-heeled Jack.

CAiIBRIDGESIIIRE STAKES-4 to 1 agst Ruler (no layer)
5 to 1 cffered v. Dey of Algiers.
DERBY.—Offers to lay 8 or take 10 to 1 in fifties v,
Carnele)n.

THE WEATHER —The work of " rude Barea: " settled
into a beautiful frosty night. We have had a glorious day.

OPENING OF THE STATES GENE.

RAL OF HOLLAND.

THE HAGUE, OCT. 19.—T0-day, at one o'clock, his
Majesty. the King left his palace, and proceeded,
amidst the acclamations of an immense multitude, to
the Palace of the States General, where he opened the
Session, with the following Speech :
" Noble and Mighty Lords,—On occupying this
scat for the first time, after having assumed the reins of
Government, my thoughts turned to ray highly-vene-
rated and dearly-beloved father, who for so long a se-
ries of years was the ornament of the throne. Your
High Mightinesses are oequaint..l with the motives
whickinriureell him to deliver to me the Crown of tire-
Netherlands, and thus to hasten the moment when my
destiny would be more interminably united than ever
with that of the kingdom. We all respect his motives,
but we turn our eyes with emotion to a
decision destined to terminate a reign which will fill so
many glorious pages in the annals of our country. May
Providence reserve to the King, my father, the enjoy-
ment of that repose which he has sought. May he long
live to be a witness to the abundant harvest, the seeds
of which have been so profusely sown during his reign.
May the grateful love of the people of the Netherlands
always accompany him, and secure to him the most
grateful recompense of the constant care with which he
has watched for more than a quarter of a century,over
the happiness of the people. Strengthened by his ex-
ample I shall undertake to fulfil the task which has now
devolved upon me. At this very moment lam sensible
of its importance, but without shrinking from it I place
my reliance on the effectual succour of the Most High.
I reckon on the true attachment of a nation
which knows how to appreciate every effort clic-
tated by the public good, and I feel convinced
that I shall find support in your High Mightinesses, who
with me are guided by the same interests, and towards
the same object, that of augmenting and consolidating
the prosperity of the people, especially by the faithful
observance of the fundamental law of the kingdom.
With this prospect I esteem myself happy to be able to
open this Session of your High Mightinesses, previous
to the solemn day in the last fortnight of November, I
desire to assemble you around me in the Capitol, in
order to fulfil the constitutional forms of inauguration,
and then to confirm by oath that which I consider my-
self as immediately bound at the very beginning of my
reign. Your High Mightinesses will assuredly appre-
ciate the lively joy with which I now think on the
blessing showered on my family -by the birth of the
Prince, the son of my eldest son, the Prince of Orange.
It my ardeut wishes are heard, the descendants of the '
House of Orange will be to the country what his ances-
tors have been or hope to be.
" Our relations with Foreign Powers announce a reci-
procal desire to maintain the existing friendship which
it will be my constant endeavour to consolidate and to
confirm. The treaty of commerce with the Sublime
Porte concluded at Constantinople last summer has been
ratified by the two Governments. The negotiations
with France, Switzerland, and the republic of Texas for
the interest of commerce and navigation, promise like-
wise a satisfactory result. The measures rendered neces-
sary by the multiplications and additions lately made to
the fundamental law of the kingdom have just been
adopted, or are preparing to be so. It is agreeable to
me to see among you in consequence of these changes,
members of the Duchy of Lirnburg ; thus the bonds are
strengthened which unite in one brotherly whole the
interests of that province with those of the other parts
of the kingdom. The army and the navy are in a satis-
factory condition in proportion to the means granted.
An appearance of prosperity is generally remarked in
the several branches of manufactures and industry.
Public instruction continues to produce salutary results,
however my reign will direct its attention maturely to
consider the priadect ameliorations of which it may be
susceptible. Tne_ new legislation of the Netherlands
and the administration of justice proceed in their regular
course. The prosperity of our East India possessions
is a continual subject of gratitude.
In the island cf Sumatra, the forces by land
and sea continue to act in unison, in promoting
the glory and consolidating the power of the
Netherlands. If our finances have been sensibly
affected by the events of late years, by hopes
deceived, and by false calculations, we may at least
flatter ourselves that the progressive prosperity of the
principal branches of the public welfare, the durable
enjoyment of peace, the introduction of useful modifi-
cations in the laws and suitable economy will heal these
wounds. The most complete communications and expla-
nations respecting the state of the finances, including that
of the Syndicate, the suppression of which will be again
proposed to you, will be shortly laid before 'Sour High
Mightinesscs, in connection with the results of the
finances of the colonies. The necessary measures will
he proposed to you to fill up the deficits of past years,
with which these communications will acquaint you. At
the same time the budget of the expenditure will be
laid before your High Mightinesses. The hope that in
future the expenditure may be met without tew loans will
be realised. New taxes will not be required, but it will
be indispensable to re-establish the additional centimes
which have been suppressed. Necessary changes will
be immediately reproposed inthe law of excise on sugar,
in that for the encouragement of agriculture, and in the
tariff of import, export, and transit duties, which at a
future time will be entirely and systematically remo-
delled. The negotiations w:th Belgium respecting the
transfer of the part of the debt assigned to that kingdom,
and those relative to the financial objects, have not yet
been terminated, nevertheless, I feel confident that the
preliminaries towards a final arrangement have now
made so much progress that we may hope for a speedy
conclusion. Noble and Mighty Lords, the mportance
of the present session to the interests of the country is
manifest to all. Our enthusiasm roused by a sincere
love for our country, will animate your High Mighti-
nesses,accompanied,l am convinced, by a spirit of modera-
tion, prudence,and confidence, which are the indispensible
basis of that union which is the leading character of the
internal connection established by the fundamental law
between the Crown and the representatives of the na-
tion. Let us humbly confide the success of our efforts
to him in whose hands the destinies of Princes and na-
tions repose, and whose protection and aid have hitherto
never failed our country." . .

We regret to find the following paragraph in the
Prussian State Gazette :
" The Princess, daughter of his Royal Highness
Prince Albert of Prussia, who was born at Kamenzir,
Silesia, on the 27th of August this year, and who was
baptized by the name of Elizabeth, died on the 9th of
October, to the great grief of her Royal parents."

DUTCH FUNDS.—AMSTERDAM, Om 19.
Money. Bins.
tctual Debt, ‘23i per Cent
,)itto, ditto 5 per teat.
Amert Svndic,4}i per cent...... ............
15itto, ditto,_ 3y4 per cent CB4 68a4
Commercial Company, 4' per cent 155 1551 i
Ditto (1835 and 1837) 5 per cent.
Loan 1837, 5 per cent. 99% 9036
Exchange on London, One month ll 95
Two months
Dutch Papers, Oct. 19.

THE DUKE OF SUSSEX.—The medical report,
yesterday, was that his Royal Highness was not so well as
on the day preceding. Dr. Holland visited the Duke
yesterday afternoon, and will repeat his visit to-day. His
Royal Highness bad been invited by Lord and Lady Di
norben to meet them at Kinmel Parks on their return from
Baden Baden, but it is not expected that his Royal High-
ness, from his ill state of health, will be able to proceed cn
his annual visiting tour at present.
THE NEW PUBLICATIONS.—The following
interesting new works have recently been published by Mr.-
Colburn, of Great Marlborough-street. 1. Captain Ha, 1
lock's Narrative of the late War in Affghs e-
sos.f6dA. Agnes Strickland's
nistan, 2 vole.
post Bvo., with a complete Map of the Seat of War, 215.•
bound.-2. Mr. Longworth's Year's Residence among the
Cireassians, 2 vols. post Bvo., with illustrations, 21s.
NhVohnittide:_sbound, with illus-
e British Turf, from the
bound.-3. The Third Volume
tLraivtieosnosf.—th4e.QTuheeensHoisftoErnygolifinetlh,
Esq., two large vols.
Hboont.intihe The Art of Ne. clic-
svo., Earliestwith
Period,illustrations,
Countess of Wilton,
vii ovr
oki. edited
post
Bbvoy.,tholollig6hl.
Norton's " Dream," and other p —6 The Hon. Mrs.
fine Portrait of the Author, by Poems, 1 vol. Bvo., with
bound.-7. Roomer's Italy an E.
Landseer, R. A., 12s.
Bvo., 21s. bound.-8.
Queen
Victoria the Italians, 2 vols. post
her Bridal, 2 vols. post Bvo, from her Birth to
9. Trollope's Summer _ with Portraits, 21s. bound.—
in Brittany,
numerous illustrations, 325. 2 vole. Bvo., with
sted's Travels to the bound.—m. Lieutenant Well-
City of the Caliphs,
illustrations, 253, bound.--11. 2 vols. Bvo., with
her Master, 2 yous, Lady Morgan's Woman and
and Shades of F post Bvo., 21s. bound.—l 2. Lights
General Sir C. Napieror2w vole. ols i ) :)oStaBkt:O.,a
n2dl I; . b
Sweden, 2
vols. Bvo., with illustrationsy, 'oSz.'roLtrud. Also just pub-
lished, a new and cheaper edition of Mr. Bremner's Russia,
in 2 vole, post Bvo., with Portraits, 218. bound.