The Sun.
London, England, 1846-06-29 00:00:00

AFFAIRS of the RIVER PLATE,

(Per the Delphine, arrived off the coast from Antwerp.)
MONTE VIDEO, APRIL 21.—Her Majesty's ship Phi-
lemel sailed from this yesterday direct for England,
having on board Mr. Turner, and M. Chevalier, attache
to the Baron Deffaudis, sent home for fresh instruc-
tions. The latter, it is said, has stated to his Govern-
ment, that they have only two courses to choose from
for the settlement of this question—viz., the sending out
a powerful expedition. or the abandonment of the ques-
tion altogether ; in either case his services might be dis-
pensed with, as, in the first, the commander-in-chief
would be sufficient ; and, in the second, a new minister
would be requisite ; he therefore requests his recall.
This can be depended upon, and the result of the deli-
berations of the two Cabinets, on this vessel's arrival
home, will consequently be most important. Ex-
change, 47d.
From Buenos Ayres we have dates to the 15th. Every-
thing was perfectly quiet, and no foreigner was molested,
nor was it even anticipated that any would be, whatever
might occur. Exchange, about 21d.

MEMORANDUM OF OCCURRENCES AT MONTE
VIDEO, FROM MARCH 14 TO MARCH 31, IN-
CLUSIVE.

14th. Arrived her Majesty's steamer Alecto, bringing
dates from Corrientes to sth March, and having on board
two ministers from Paraguay, said to be accredited to
this government and the mediating ministers.
The commercial accounts received are most deplorable,
as may be gleaned from the following extracts from a
letter from a most intelligent person at Corrientes :
"With respect to the state of the province in relation
to business, I am sorry to have to draw a very unfa-
vourable picture ; the war, which, as you know, has
continued since the year 1839, had impoverished the
people generally, insomuch that the goods which arrived
here in the year 1844, although a great part of them
were sent OA to Paraguay, remain unsold, at least one-
half of them. If such was the state of the province
during the last two years, how much worse must it be at
present, when two armies are ravaging it from one
extremity to the other. It is thought by the most in-
telligent people that the invasion of Urquiza will cost
at least 100,000 head of cattle, all of which will
be entirely lost ; for neither army can think of hides,
&c. Add to all this, the people of the country,
upon whom their families depend for subsistence, are out
with the army ; the latter have not wherewithal to
buy the common necessaries of life, much less to
purchase clothing. Under such circumstances the car-
goes of three or four small vessels would have stocked
this place for a year, so that if only one-half of the sixty
vessels that are coming up bring cargoes, they will not
dispose of them in ten years (for it will take Corrientes
ten years of peace to recover the same degree of pros-
perity which it enjoyed before the year 1839); the
wisest course that most of them could take, would be to
return with their cargoes to Monte Video, though they
had to wait five years the opening of Buenos Ayres.
Salt is offering on board at 1 dol. per fanga—what will it
be when large quantities arrive ? The Government, on
the news of the convoy having entered the river,
doubled the duties upon imports and exports ; in short,
the state of this province cannot be worse for busi-
ness than it is at present ; there is much poverty, much
misery, and not a little discontent.

" With respect to the republic of Paraguay, I cannot
give you much information. In the month of November I
last a treaty offensive and defensive was concluded with
the Government of Corrientes against Rosas, by which
the Paraguay Government bound themselves to place
under the orders of Paz 10,000 men, with as many more
hereafter should they be required ; 14,000 were accord-
ingly sent down, which arrived in the Rincon de Soto, near
Goya, a few days before the invasion of Urquiza, well ,
armed, but in a miserable state of discipline. It was to
gain time to drill these new allies that Paz retreated be-
fore the former ; 5,000 men more are ready at
present between Nembuco and Villa Franca, and
vessels are gone to bring them. Of the state of
business in Paraguay, I can only inform you that
(facturas) invoices that have gone from this in the
latter end of the year 1844 are still unsold. Amongst
them, the greater part of the goods of Parlane M'Ales-
tar and Co. It is a miserable business; the government
will not give licence to yerba or tobacco to Nembuco
whilst any remains unsold there; so that you must
either take rotten yerba and tobacco, or remain with
your goods unsold. Special licences are sometimes
given (very few) to go to Ascension, but even there
Kerr has been four or five months without doing any-
thing, as they all wait the arrival of the convoy. By a
late decree the government has taken the yerba into its
own hands, so that no private person can deal in yerba,
timber, or hides. In short Paraguay will be worth
nothing for business until the government is more li-
beral and the people more enlightened."
Captain Hotham writes that in his opinion nothing
will be done by the contending armies until next Sep-
tember ;or October, and it is very evident all parties
engaged in the expedition, both naval and commercial,
are becoming most heartily sick of it.
18th.—Arrived General Rivera from Rio de Janeiro,
in the Spanish brig Fomento. He was immediately con-
veyed on board her Majesty's ship Vernon, in a boat
belonging to that ship. On the 19th he was released,
and again placed on board the Fomento, where he re-
ceived visits from the town, but was not allowed to land.
He subsequently repaired on board the Spanish frigate
Perla. This Government are determined not to let him
land, and appears to have the support of the Ministers
in this measure, which is much exasperating his partisans.
24th. Arrived her Majesty's ship Resistance, from
England, for the purpose, it is understood, of convey-
ing the 45th Regiment to their original destination,
which tends to damp the spirits of those parties who
confidently expected an overpowering expedition in
support of their views.
26th. To-day the January packet from England has
arrived, but nothing has transpired respecting the ad-
vices she may bring relative to this question, if we ex-
cept that it is generally stated that Mr. Ouseley has
been nominated special minister to this republic. The
object of this is not known here.
'2Bth. This morning several arrests have taken place,
amongst them several persons of note, understood to
have been tampering with the troops in order to raise a
revolution in town in Rivera's favour; to-day (the 29th)
the city has, by public proclamation, been placed under
martial law, and by a decree of the same date Rivera is
ordered to retire to some foreign country, where he is to
receive a pension of 5,000 dollars per annum. Had it
not been for the presence of the two British regiments in
the garrison some serious outbreak would have taken
place, which would have rendered the situation
of foreigners very precarious. It is now generally
stated that the 45th Regiment will not at any rate leave
this for the Cape until after the arrival of the February
packet from England, now daily looked for.
31st.—Nothing further new. General Rivera still re-
mains on board the Spanish frigate, and affairs in town
appear tolerably quiet. No later dates from the Parana
or Uruguay.

MINISTERIAL MOVEMENTS.
The occurrence of another Ministerial interregnum within
the short space of little more than six months will naturally
excite intense interest in the public mind, and until some
definitive arrangement with regard to a future Ministry be-
comes known, details in reference to the movements of the
leading members of each of the great political parties (if
parties can still be considered to exist), will naturally be
looked for with avidity.
A very general impression prevailed on Friday evening,
owing probably to the absence of the Right Hon. Baronet
from the House of Commons, that Sir Robert Peel had left
town for the Isle of Wight, with the intention of tendering
the resignation of himself and his colleagues to her Majesty
This impression, however, turns out to be incorrect. Sir
Robert only left town on Saturday morning, travelling by
express train on the South-Western Railway en route for her
Majesty's marine residence.
Prior to leaving town Sir Robert had an audience with
Earl Brownlow, and also with several of his colleagues.
The Right Hon. Sir James Graham arrived at the Home-
office shortly before four o'clock yesterday afternoon, and im-
mediately communicated with several of his colleagues, who
shortly afterwards joined the Right Hon. Baronet. The Earl
of Lincoln, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and the Right
Hon. W. E. Gladstone were among the members of the Ca;
binet who arrived at the Home-office.
Sir George Clerk and the Right Hon. Sidney Herbert
called at the residence of Sir Robert Peel yesterday.
The Earl of Ellenborough has adopted the necessary ar-
rangements for removing frod his official residence at a day's
notice.
A very general impression prevailed at the west-end of
the town last evening, to the effect that her Majesty had re-
fused to accept Sir Robert Peel's resignation, but the ru-
mour could not be traced to any authentic source.
An absurd statement has appeared in some papers to the
effect that Lady Peel had passed through Paris en route for
Italy last week, and this has been quoted as a proof of Sir
Robert Peel's determination to resign. Lady Jane Peel
passed through the French capital a few days since on her
way to Switzerland. Lady Peel is staying at Sir Robert's
mansion hi Whitehall-gardens'
The leaders of the Liberal party are up to the present
time perfectly quiescent.
Earl Grey left town on Saturday on a visit to the Right
Hon. W. B. Baring, at Addiscornbe farm, near Croydon. The
Noble Earl returns to town to-day.

We regret to learn that the accounts from Italy re-
specting the health of Lord William Russell are very unfa-
vourable.
A TIPPERARY MAN A NEW ZEALAND CHIEF.—It
is stated that Ileki, the New Zealand Chief who has given
such opposition to the British authority in that colony, is a
native of the county of Tipperary; his real name is Hickey.
He emigated from Ireland some years ago, and was ship-
wrecked on the coast of New Zealand, and taken into the in-
terior of the island by a hunting party of the natives, and sold
as a slave to one of the chiefs, who adopted him as his son,
got him tattooed, and gave him his daughter in marriage.
On the death of the old chief, his Irish son-in-law was chosen
as his successor, on account of his skill in war. Previous to
his elevation to the high rank he now holds, he changed his
name from Hickey to Heki, the latter 'harmonizing better
with the laegurige of the aborigines.—Tipperary Free Press.

SPORTING.
TO !A"ITE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

SlR,—Last week I gave a list of the St. Leger illustrious
obscures—to-day I will proceed to the analyzation of the
" third -rates," First on the list stands Mr. Bowes's fillies
3fowerina and Ukraine, both good animals, went well for the
Oaks, opeci.sll).v the former, who finished fifth, her owner
expecting to w with her; but as she could not manage
that, I cannot think' sbe stands any chance of being A 1 for
the St. Leger; in fact, am inclined to believe that neither
of Mr. Bowes's fillies will .start for that race.
Arkwright—His understa:lttiugs too bad for anything above
a plate race.
Free Lance—This colt possesses t;voc!d blood, and now and
then, when least expected, wins, provilig that there is some-
thing in him, but not much.
Colt by Don John, out of Game Lass—A to,.,Terable nag, but
not in regular training.
Sotades—An incorrigible brute, who will onlyge when he
pleases.
Ignis Fatuus—A deceptive light, leading to no good.
Titchfield—Splendid blood circulates in this animal, but
to no purpose.
The Druid—A goodly-looking nag to the eye, and with a
light weight on his back may do something, but cannot pass
muster as a St. Legerite ; he will probably help to swell the
field.
Danceaway—An Irish filly by liarkaway ;
will not do at
any price.
Fair Helen—Half-sister to Alice Hawthorn ; is a disgrace
to her parentage.
Tom Tullock—The 2,000 guineas and Derby crack has
gone off like a squib, with great noise and little profit.
Cuckoo—Will never pipe a " triumphant march" over the
St. Leger course; neither will she start.
Malt—May go, but if she does, it will not be as the pro-
perty of William Scott.

- Kynton—At one time was in considerable force as an out-
sider for the Derby, but his pretensions on the Downs were
soon disposed of; his Doncaster pretensions may be sent to
the " right-about" in the same manner.

Sharston—A two-year-old flyer; but as a three-year-old,
worse than Arkwright.
Traveller, by Sambo—May start, but will never win.
Froth, a colt of Mr. Preston's by Ishmael—A very myste-
rious nag, which I know but little about; it is at present in
Ireland, but may probably start for the great northern event;
about it I am unable to advise, being in the dark myself.
With this animal closes the batch of third-rates. I think
anybody may satisfactorily assert that the winner is not
among them. The second class I will bring under my con-
sideration next week.
The racing at Newcastle has let out nothing whatever; the
ground was in such a wretched condition after the storm on
Monday, that fair racing was entirely out of the question.
Fancy boy would have won the North Derby Stakes had he
not fell twice. Many good judges on the course, immediately
preceding the race, confidently asserted that it was an im-
possibility for Sir Tatton to lose. Many think so sta. but I
am not of the number. I verily believe that if Fancy Boy
had not fell a second time, he would, in spite of his first fall,
have gone in an easy winner.
My fancy nag for the Northumberland Plate was a very
good third, and had he not kept so long in the rear might
have won ; for when he did leave his horses he came out well
enough, but too late. Dolo winning this race, as well as the
North Derby, made him third favourite in the betting for the
St. Leger. Grimst on's running for the Lottery Stakes nearly
raised him to a level with Dolo; but his backers were not so
confident. The St. Leger bids fair to be a profitable race for
the book-makers, there being no less than a dozen nags in
the betting, at the present moment, under 20 to 1 ; and,
moreover, it is a very open race, much more so than the
Derby.
The Carlisle meeting has three days of moderate sport.
On Wednesday the Peri colt and Cranbrook will between
them win the Claret Stakes. On Thursday the Maid of
Motherwell or Susannah will win the Corby castle Stakes,
Belted
a\NV,
eil s
obme ien gh
al nearf-d theze n
smark.tart r
sT The
with Telemachus Cumberland o
Plate
willr
Glossy for winner, Dolo, I presume, no't starting.
On Friday
the Lottery Stakes to the Peri colt or Philip.
The Winchester meeting commences on Wednesday, with
the Great Produce Stakes, which Mr. Wreford will most
assuredly win with Wilderness or Wits-end, whichever he
may please to start. The Original Hampshire Stakes will
probably have Petitioner or Leaconfield for winner.
On Thursday the Foal Stakes will go to Mr. Gully with
Pyrrhus ; the Two-year-old Stakes to the Phoebe colt,
So-Nice, or Cobweb filly, and the Winchester Stakes to
Adela colt or Rosa —I am, Sir, &c.,
THE SPIRIT OF THE TURF.

THE PORTARLINGTON AND GAL-
WAY LINE.
(From the Railway Times.)
The Portarlington and Galway line, rejected by a Com-
mittee of the House of Commons, is another verification of
our judgment in Irish railways. From the first day that pro-
ject was ushered into existence, in 1844, we hesitated not to
express our conviction that it was a scheme undeserving
either of public support or legislative sanction. The chapter
of accidents was, however, completely in its favour. Repu-
diated by most of the leading men who were announced as
its promoters, it still found folks simple enough to enrol
themselves as shareholders. Thrown out by the Standing
Orders' Committee of the House of Commons, dexterous ma-
nagement succeeded in obtaining leave from the House to
proceed. A temporary and timely truce with its rival saved
it from opposition in Committee, secured the passing of its
preamble and entrance to the Upper House; once there, its
demerits met more just appreciation, and the Bill was thrown
out. Thus ended the session of 1845.

The Portarlington and Galway scheme was not, however,
thus easily to be defeated. The Great Southern and Western
(Cashel) Company coveted a monopoly of traffic from the
province of Connaught equally as from their own proper dis-
trict. The Portarlington line, if carried out to the exclusion
of a line from Mullingar to Athlone, would have secured
that monopoly. True, the country from Portarlington
to Athlone was a barren bog; a line by that route would
have increased the distance of Galway from Dublin by eight
miles, as compared with a line by Mullingar; the traffic was
utterly insufficient to support a railway ; even that traffic,
insignificant as it was, would have been shared with the
Grand Canal, closely parallel with which the line proposed
to run ; altogether the prospect of remuneration to the share-
holders was most hopeless. What mattered all this to the
Cashel directors! They were determined that the com-
munication between Dublin and the western counties should
be solely carried on over their line. The Portarlington
scheme (if successful) would accomplish for them this ob-
ject, and therefore it continued to be pressed forward under
their auspices and with their support.
The Portarlington and Galway line, too, in the session of
1846, seemed on the high road to success. A Committee of
the House of Lords declared its preamble proved. True,
there was the drawback of the line from Mullingar to Ath-
lone being also granted, thereby cutting off all hope of traffic
from the portion lying between Athlone and Portarlington.
Still they had their line from Portarlington to Galway, and
the promoters were highly elated. Not so the shareholders.
They had learned something of how matters really stood—
they had found out the bleak prospect of remuneration for
them—they had discovered that the scheme was projected
and persevered in merely in the hope of bolstering up the
monopoly sought to be established by the Cashel Company,
and they very naturally said, " If the Cashel shareholders
are to derive all the benefit from the construction of this
line, they, not we, should bear the risk." They propose, as
the fair course, that the Cashel Company should lease the
line. The directors of that Company decline the proffer of a
lease, but profess their readiness to buy and repay the ori-
ginal deposit to the shareholders, without any deduction for
expenses, on an Act being obtained. The promoters accept
those terms, agree to the introduction of a clause into their
Bill authorising this sale and purchase, but singularly enough
proposing to enact, that on the bargain being completed,
the Portarlington Company should be dissolved, and the
shareholders released from all further liability, thus leaving
the Cashel purchasers without a subscription contract from
which to derive funds for the formatien of the line. This
clause, if enacted by Parliament, would have rendered the
making of a railway to Galway rather a difficult task. The
difficulty, however, has been overcome in a way the parties
least wished for. The line went before a Committee of the
House of Commons, had full and patient investigation on
the merits, and was most justly thrown out.
The Portarlington and Galway line having thus ceased to
live, we should not have once alluded to its past existence,
did we not understand that active endeavours are being made
to induce the House, on the bringing up the report on the
Midland Great Western (Mullingar) line, on Tuesday, to re-
verse the decision of the Committee. Those efforts, we feel
satisfied, must prove futile. Members before voting should
acquaint themselves with the evidence given before the
Committee. They should know that the Mullingar is an
established trunk line, the natural extension of which is
westward to Athlone and Galway; that it would be unjust to
invertinga d sendt h e
it westernoa of traffictr
way
wbicb
nover
the southern trunk line. They should know, too, that this
impoverish
tural wouldt this
flowli line
e obvye it,
Cashel Company, which with such unsatiable cupidity seeks
to get the whole country into its own hands, has already, in
two former sessions, obtained powers to make 240 miles of
railway, not one mile of which is yet opened ; that they
have already more on their hands than they can reasonably
be expected to accomplish for years. Having acquainted
themselves with these facts, they must bo convinced that the
true way to do justice in this case—the speedy way. to secure
for Galway railway communication with Dublin—is by con-
firming the decision of the Committee, and giving the western
traffic to the Mullingar line.

ERRATUM.—In our leading article of Saturday evening,
" the protectionist party" should have been " the proliberaliat
party under the Marquis of Lansdowne."
BRIDGWATER, JUNE 27. On the information being
received that the royal assent had been given to the Corn
Bill, the cannons were immediately prepared, and firing was
kept up on the quay during the day, the vessels hoisted their
colours, the church bells rang merry peals, and there was
general rejoicing that the people's voice had triumphed, and
that the great principle of free-trade had been confirmed by
the Legislature. An idea prevails that it would be well to
celebrate the event by a general holiday. Nothing could be
p rdoapyo
si
int i
o then
wouldearly
be
ea part
do
a of
patewde
more appropriate at this season of the year. Let the Council
ienk ,
mostand
w of
fet havehthe
League
opurbo se a
the
towns.
Yesterday was the eighth anniversary of her Majesty's
coronation. In honour of the day the
hoisted in the usual places, and at one o'clock salutes were
fired from the Park and Tower guns, at Woolwich, Tilbury
Fort, &e. The vessels in the gaily dressed
river were also
in colours.

MAE:KING ACCIDENT To THE EXPRESS TRAIN ON
THE BRISTOL AND BIRII OHM/ RAILWAY. BRISTOL,
JUNE 28.—Information was received in this city last night,
that an accident of an alarming kind, but which, I am happy
to state, Was not attended with lass of life, had oFcuiriraemd to
t
t3hoemeixaparteseasptaaratinfowurhirch.mle. ftTt
The
eis
oecffc a
while o ed
theby
accidentstation for Buirrrmedmag.t a
few
own'as.ant4hrwowasn
miles beyond the Wickwar, station
banraiknejuaryt
oneto tehnedeonfgtbinee,aoxnre:)fantbe princip. al wheels of which
gat full speed. So violent was the shock
train was
by the train, that the engine is said literally to
rasvt:iinedped a distance of twenty yards, doing great injury
to itself and tender, and breaking the first carriage almost to
pieces. The other carriages were injured, but not to the
same extent. . The wheel, on coming off, ran across to the
down rail, which it struck with such force as to cut its way
into the embankment to the depth of more than a foot. The
engine-driver and stoker were thrown off, but luckily not
with such force as to kill them. One of them received a
severe cut on the left leg, and both were much bruised.
Some of the passengers were also bruised, by being thrown
violently into collision with each other, and all were terribly
alarmed. As soon as intelligence could be conveyed to the
company's superintendent at Bristol, that officer sent off a
special train to carry on the passengers. The up-rail was
got clear as soon as possible, and as it is now being used both
ways, but little delay is occasioned in the working of the
trains.

ADDRESS TO SIR ROBERT PEEL—We understand
that a preliminary meeting of some of our merchants and
principal manufacturers was held immediately on the receipt
of the intelligence announcing the divisions on Thursday
evening, when the propriety of addressing Sir Robert Peel,
calling upon him to retain office until the reform of our corn-
mercial code is completed, was discussed and agreed upon.—
JianchaterAxamiser.

L I TARA T TIRE.
LEONTI IV E ; or the COURT of LOUIS XV.
A Novel. 3 Vols. By Mrs. Maberly.
Occurring between the g'Orgeous sovereignty of the,
grand monargue, and the melanscholy downfall of his un-
fortunate descendant, the reign of Loi;is XV., is not de-
void of interest ; and its character c,nrresponda well
with its situation, combining many of the features both
of the preceding and the following reign, it sbared in
the faults of the one, and contributed to the misfo.,-tunes
of the other. It is hardly possible for the unprejuL cited
spectator, looking back upon those scenes, after the
lapse of years, to restrain his surprise and indignati ont
that such things ever were. Let no one speak of th Nvs
horrors of the revolution without first analysing the"'
epoch which preceded it—he will there find excuse for
its excess, perhaps palliation of its enormities. It is of
this epoch, its kintg, its court, and its customs, that the
volumes of "Leoctine" furnish a picture. We are
initiated into all the , mysteries of those corrupted circles,
where sin and shame rsTigned supreme ; where pleasure
alone was sought by 111'1, and happiness found by none.
And yet, amid all their gaLqy and tnaruciance, the shadow
of coming evils was felt cven by the reckless—it was
only the shadow, and they cared not. The prophetic
exclamation of Madame de Pompadotir was apparently
the conviction of all—" Apres nous, le deluge." Apart
from the interest attached to the atarraifive,. a tale of
French life, of that period, and consequent]} • not very
attractive, save as regards the heroine--the gel, lee meek
and noble-hearted Leontine—devoted in love, and self-
sacrificizkg in devotion—apart from the interest a ttached
to the nerative itself, these volumes will be reb Tarded
with attentiort, from their historical bearing. The cli‘s-
racters of the Xing tif_kd Queen are very vividly ,',ors-
' trayed ; the sorrow of Louis on the death of his m ie.-
tress, the beautiful Duchess of Chateauroux, is described',
with great force and great feeling. The fortunes of the
celebrated Marquise de Pompadour, so conspicuous in
history, occupy a considerable portion of these volumes.
She appears before us in her innocent ,girllfood ; as a.
neglected wife, longing for gaity and acuuira•tion ; and
then as the sovereign of a court, mistress of t he King,
and real ruler of the country. The following is a • sketch
of h at the time of her elevation :
" In er
a word everything and nothing in the same mot bent:
Imagine the lightness of a butterfly, with the depth of a s, Ige ,:
the dignity of a queen, with the playfulness of a child; . qte'
grace of Terpsichore, with the stern wildness of Medea ; t,Ne,
softness of a woman, with the decision of a man ; imagine an.l.-
two things, or twenty gs ,wanl
have diwenatyproetthtyerseldeiaar idmetearico;
ally opposite, and turn them, and mix them together in
every direction, and then you will
the character of the new Marquise de'Pompadour, while she
will retain the advantage of appearing in all her disguiSes.
equally fascinating."
The real hero of the tale is the famous Richelieu—not
the Cardinal, but the Duke, " the glass of fashion, and
the mould of form," the favourite of the Kills and Court;
A description of him will be interesting of itself, and is '
serves as a :rpe of the men and manners of the times.
" One of the ruling passions of Richelieu was an inordinate:
love of money. Although possessed of ample means, he wax
continually in distress, for in order to support his taste for
effect, the most lavish expenditure was necessary. Popu-
larity and a reputation for generosity were also among hits
cherished desires, and as he well knew this was not to be
effected without some means more tangible than words or
smiles, be had never failed to draw largebT upon those re-
sources which his official position enabled hi= to command.
During the time of his embassy to Vienna, the Duke de Ri-
chelieu had squandered sums of unheard-of ma: finitude. Ha
entry into that city had fixed by its magnificence the atten-
tion of all Ectrope. Thirty-six carriages, whose • 'elvet panels
blazed with go.lll and precious stones, followed in his train ;
I but as a proof that he desired others to share in his advau.
1 tages, he had caused all his horses to be shod with shoes of
solid silver, affixed to their hoofs by only a single nail, and,
of course, in a vershort time not one retained its original
position, and the spoilp being abandoned to the populace, the
name of Richelieu was izuded to the skis*. The rest of his
equipments fully corresponJ with this display; ;but so great
were the advantages to be prz)duced by the negotiation with
which he had been entrusted, ti: at the Goveroment of France
hastened to comply with every- extravagance of demand
which he thought proper to make. The success of his under-
taking, and the splendour of the talents which he, had maxi..
fested, encircled him with such a halo of intellectcrality and
renown, that the murmurs of the more prudent were' hushed',
and as long as his position could warrant it he contimaed hits
career of profligate expenditure. When his mission wire con-
cluded, and he returned to his comparatively private place "
at Court, his habits lost nothing of their former magnift._
cence; but his fortune, though large,. could by no means
withstand the inroads made upoir it by constant dissipation.
Nothing daunted, however, he persZveredinhisprof to
ion,
but the time had arrived when the want \,f money began
be felt at court. The public revenues a
vere continually
drained by the expenses of the war, and thka habits of the
nobles were such as to insure sooner or later th,a ruin of their
class. Even in the article of dress, the etiqu,ltte of court
exacted enormous sacrifices. Many thousands of p, lands were
expended upon a single suit, and no one with sub' preten-
sions to fashion could present himself more than oncta in time
same costume. It often happened that the whole prOPert,
of which a man was possessed might be found upon his Per-
son, and but too many thus situated hastened to supply; abta
deficiencies of fortune by means the most dishonourable, an&
which ill accorded with the high tone and courtly manners
by which society was then distinguished. In these practices
Richelieu by no means suffered himself to be outdone by his
friends, and his wonderful powers of fascination, and great
position in the world of fashion, afforded him opportunities of
enriching himselfof which he never scrupled to take advantage.
Many of the lesser nobles deemed themselves honoured by
the fact of being numbered amongst the creditors of Riche-
lieu, who thought them amply repaid by an i iivitation to
supper, or a word of friendship or good fellowshilo scattered
amongst them in public. Untrammelled by any principle or
feeling save that of his interest or will, he continuod to re-
volve in his brilliant orbit, the envy and admiratima of tba
whole court."