The Sun.
London, England, 1847-11-26 00:00:00

THE RECENT DISCOVERY OF
(ALLEGED) FRESCOES AT ETON COLLEGE.
The curious paintings which the recent im-
provements have lately brought to light, are now
pronounced, by competent judges, not to be frescoes,
but oil paintings. If such be the fact, of which there
appears to be no doubt, they are works of extraor•
dinary interest, from their great antiquity; for
there seems good reason to believe that they were
executed by Flemish artists, at a period not later than
the reign of Henry the Seventh. Van Eyck, it may
be mentioned, is supposed to have discovered the art
of painting in oil about the year 1410. These pic-
tures illustrate the miracles attributed to the Virgin
Mary, referred to in the " Speculum Historisile" of
Vincent of Beauvais, and the " Golden Legende" of
Vorrassine ; quotations from both of these works
being inscribed beneath the paintings. The Provost
and Fellows being desirous to preserve these rare
works of early art, "as far as is consistent with pro-
priety and the decorum of a place of worship," are
about to carry a plan into effect which will have
the desired result ; for, as it has been observed,
"to leave visible a lively representation of the
soldier selling his wife to the devil, or the empress
inveigling her incautious lover into the tower, is not
to be thought of." They will, therefore, be hidden
from public view by the canopies which are to be
erected at the backs, and over the stalls, on either
side of the chapel. The canopies in front of these
very remarkable works of art, will be constructed in
such a manner that they may be removed at pleasure,
so that the pictures may be exhibited to artists and
others, who may feel an interest in the examination ,
of these rare and singular productions of the olden ;
time.

There is now in Eton College an original portrait
of Jane Shore, who rendered great services to this
institution, for it so happened that the then provost
was Jane Shore's confessor. A great deal of the
college property was confiscated by Edward IV., and
more would have been taken away by that monarch,
had it not been for the influence possessed by " Mis-
tress Shore," Henry VI., the founder, being a Lan-
castrian, whereas Edward IV. was a Yorkist.
The upper school of this college has lately re-
ceived an important and splendid addition to its
gallery of busts of celebrated Etonians, one of Ad-
miral Lord Howe, who was educated at Eton. The
bust, which was presented by the present Earl, who
is also an Etonian, is one of the happiest and grandest
works of Mr. Behnes, simple in conception, and full
of energetic character.

DUTCH AND BELGIAN MAIL.
THE HAGUE, Nov. 22.—The aspect of the Bourse
in Spanish Funds was more favourable yesterday.
The shares of the commercial Company rose 1 per
cent. A good deal of business was likewise done
the Spanish Funds, at a higher rate. Portuguese
were also in demand.
Nov. 23.—Yesterday the Amsterdam Funds were
again up, but those of the Commercial Company had
a downward tendency. Spanish Funds were also so
much in demand, Coupons improving. Portuguese
are evidently rising. In the other foreign funds
there is no sensible change.
By a royal resolution of the Ist of this month the
Minister of Finance has declared that all persons
occupied in the distilling potatoes, mixed with flour
of wheat, may obtain power to sell their machines,
and of employing them provisionally, during the
space of one year, in the fabrication of brandy, pre-
pared exclusively from flour of wheat, conformable to
the law of August 26, 1822.
NETEIERLANDS COLONIES.--BATAVIA, SEPT. 29.—
The Governor- General has returned from his tour,
and has issued a public document relative to the
investigation of cases in the courts of justice in Java,
which have especial reference to the evidence of
Europeans.
A fire broke out in Augustus on the night of the
26th August, which laid waste an extent of 650 feet
in length and 100 feet in breadth. On the 28th
there was a fire at Dornay, in Samarang, which
caused great destruction of property, to the value of
above 40,0001. Several shipwrecks also have taken
place along the coast.

SAMARANG, SEPT: 29.—Money continues scarce,
and we may judge from appearances Java is not in
the best of circumstances. Want of rice, scarcity
of money, low prices of coffee, indigo, and sugar,
the foreign possessions of Java continue to go on
well, but the coasts are inundated with pirates, who
often cause great destruction. The Governor-Gene-
ral has returt ed, bit his health was in a very unsa-
tisfactory sta cows Dutch Papers.
COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.—BsumN, Nov. 20.--
The state of money at our Bourse continues very
satisfactory, and discount at sight is 4 per cent., at
prolongation, u per cent. Our railway shares improve
and are in demand.

Although the supply at market of various sorts of
corn was but very moderate there was not much in-
clination to buy, less so ixdeed than hitherto. This
was owing in a great measure to the determination
of the bakers, who have resolved not to purchase till
there is a sensible reduction in the prices; white
wheat was sold at 84 to 94f. ; rye, 56 to 67if.; barley,
Ito 60f. ; oats, 30 to 32f.—this article went rapidly,
though the supply was small. Spirits are scarcely in
demand, and the price is falling considerably.
HAMBURGH, Nov. 19.—As the season is now so
far advanced that our autumnal business has almost
ceased, and there are but few holders in the market
for spring deliveries, there has been of late a great
stagnation in our corn market. We have had a few
small orders for delivery from England.
VIENNA, Nov. 18.—The aspect of our money
market has improved, but everywhere there is a ma-
nifest lack of the spirit for speculation. Advices
from abroad have a very marked influence. Me-
tallies and Northern Railway shares had a
decidedly favourable upward
tendency at
the Bourse yesterday, and it was affirmed that
the disturbances in Switzerland would be quelled by
the intervention of the foreign Powers. We cannot
report much more favourably respecting the state of
our corn. market than hitherto, and no essential
change was made on the 16th in the tax on bread.
The Universal Prussian Gazette contains a Cabi-
net order, dated November 18, and addressed to the
authorities of Neufchatel. In this order the King
ratifies the declaration of neutrality adopted by the
legislative body of Neufchatel in its sitting of the
29th October, and maintains that neutrality through..
out the period of the armistice of the civil war.—
Belgian Nail, Nov. 23.
DUTCH FUNDS.—AMSTERDAM. "NOV. 22.
3loney.
Actual Debt, 2% per Cent ••••••• • • • • 54 54Pills
Ditto, 3 per Cent •••••••• •• " • • " " 65% 66
Ditto, 4 per Cent.• •••••••• • • • • • " • • 84 84%
Amort Syndic, 3
per Cent...—.
Commercial Company, 4% per Cent • • 161 163 N
East India Loan, 4 per Cent ••••• • • • • •
Exchnnle on London, ftt sight •••• • • • • 12 12
TA .Auttal.3. ••• • • • • ......
92
On Hamburg!), at sight • • 35 25
Two months.• •••• • • • .• 31 62
On Paris ••••••••• • • • • • • • SG 62
TWO121011thli• ••••••• • • • • • •• 56 12

FINE ARTS.
SCOTLAND DELINEATED.
Another portion of this superb publication only
confirms us the more in our opinion that it will,
when completed, form the most remarkable illustra-
tion, as yet produced, of the mountainous scenery
and antique architecture of Caledonia. The large
scale upon which it is carried out, the clearness of the
letter-press, and the peculiar nicety with which the
lithographic plates have been prepared, render the
into
the in a piecemeal form, vvorthyof being slipped
the most fastidiously furnished of all portfolios, and,
when brought to a conclusion, suited for binding in
emblazoned parchment or purple morocco. The first
embellishment in the part just issued is from the
water-colour of Creswick, representing a structure
long since rendered familiar to the readers of English
literature by the notes to "Marmion," we mean
Crichton Castle," now the property of Mr.
Callender, of Preston-hall. The second and third
are from the original sketches of Cattermole, being
portraitures of bowie's Tavern (once jestingly termed
the College of Douay, but now known as I3urns'sTa-
vern) in Lybberton Wynd ; and of Fleshmarket
Close, in which may be recognised the house in which
the first Lord Melville resided immediately after his
being called to the bar of Scotland. Another draw-
ing, by Cattermole, affords us the " counterfeit pre-
sentment" of Dunblane Cathedral, one of the most
notable structures in the vicinity of Stirling. Besides
these, Mr. Leitch gives a delineation of St. Ber-
nard's Well, and another of Dumbarton—the former
being a beautiful Doric temple, and the latter one of
the most famous of the towns and castles situated in
the neighbourhood of the Clyde. In every essential
particular this periodical is entitled to the encourage-
ment of all who love the glories of Scottish nature
and Scottish history, and who can appreciate the
artistic excellences evinced both by draughtsman and
engraver.

TEE CHRISTIAN 1A" PALESTINE. Parts
XIIL—XX. Illustrated by W. H. Bartlett. Written
by Henry Stebbing, D.D.
This elegant compendium to Holy Writ, and
illustration of the Holy Land, is here brought most
successfully to a conclusion. It contains upwards
of seventy engravings, copied from sketches
taken on the spot by W. H. Bartlett, and nearly 300
pages of letter-press written by Dr. Henry Stebbing.
As a companion to the Scriptures it must form a per-
petual source of interest, and be invaluable to all classes
of Christians. The views represent the most striking
features in the most extraordinary land on the face of
the globe, but principally those 'localities which are
rendered memorable by the miracles of our Saviour.
Of these august spots what can be said sufficiently
emphatic to express their importance ? In reference
to them, all language becomes powerless, but the pencil
may do what pen could never attempt; and the pencil
of Bartlett has here afforded us a variety of beauti-
ful delineations. To no one class of our country.
men can the Christian in Palestine be unattractive or
indifferent.