The Sun.
London, England, 1870-02-04 00:00:00

LONDON,

the existence of the Institution, though I regret to say
that the number of evening visitors to the museum is so
small that every one costs the country ss. On Tuesday I
had the pleasure of listening to a most admirable lecture
by Professor Ramsay, who showed how mountain lakes
had been hollowed out by the action of glaciers. Scien-
tific teaching is now being introducedinto our public schools.
Bishop Temple was one of the first, if not the first, to set the
example. At Harrow Mr. Farrar has taken the lead, and
he is now about to be assisted by Mr. Bowen and Mr.
Quick, the author of "Educational Reformers." Even at
conservative Eton a telescope has been erected, in order
that the boys may learn astronomy.

Visitors to the Royal Academy Exhibition of 1506 will
remember the very remarkable picture by Noel Paton,
entitled Mors Janua Thee. Thi spicture so highly pleased
the Queen'that she knighted the artist on the strength of
it. The artist himself prized it highly, for though a
comparatively small work, I should think not half the
size of "The Light of the World," he has refused
1,800 guineas for it. For some time past
the work has been in the bands of Mr.
Simmons, the well-known engraver, and he has so nearly
completed his task, that subscribers may look for their
copies during the coming summer. The engraving will be
worthy of the painting. The work is highly allegorical.
It represents a knight kneeling down before an old stone
cross tomb, overgrown with hemlock and other gloomy
flowers. An angel appears as the knight is kneeling,
and drawing back a black curtain, bids him
bo of good courage, because, having been faithful
unto death, he shall have a crown of life.
A butterfly hovers over the tomb, as a symbol of the
resurrection, and in the sky is a waning moon, to denote
the transitoriness of earthly things, and a bright star to
symbolise the steadfastness of heavenly things. The con-
ception is most admirable, and the rendering of it perfect.
Already forty proofs, at eight guineas each, have been
ordered, as devotional pictures for bedrooms by various
persons. The first proof is reserved for the Queen.
Sir John Lubbock has in the press the first volume of
his work on the " Origin of Civilisation and the Primitive
Condition of Man," which work treats of the moral and
social condition of savages. Mr. Stewart Rose has a his-
tory of "Ignatius Loyola and the Early Jesuits." Messrs.
Edmonston and Douglas are publishing Professor Berg-
mann's " Inquiry into the Origin and Signification of
the Romances of the Saint Graal." 'This fact, which reminds
me to say that a very able letter in the Spectator
of January 1, respecting Tennyson's new volume
does really explain what the Poet meant, and accurately
states that the poem is not only a narrative, but an alle-
gory, with a high moral and religious purpose. In fact,
Mr. Tennyson considers this the best criticism on
his poem which has yet appeared. Professor
Rogers (to whom Mr. Gladstone intimated his intention
of favouring a measure for relieving from their present
disabilities clergymen who have resigned their profession)
is bringing out a second series of Historical Sketches,
viz., of Wicklif, Laud, Wilkes, and Horne Tooke.
Mr. Clements Markham, who accompanied our army
to Abyssinia, has written a life of the great Lord Fairfax.
Miss Olney's story, "Estelle Russell," which has been
running for so many months in Macmillan's Magazine, is
concluded in the present number, and will appear shortly
in two vols. A Cornish writer, Mr. Nicholas Michell,
author of "Sybil of Cornwall," and " Ruins of many
Lands," is bringing out a new poem, entitled "The
Immortals, or Glimpses of Paradise," which will deal
with, :among other subjects, the question of a Central_
Sun.

In journalism and periodical literature I may mention
that the proprietors of the Graphic have seat out a special
artist to take sketches fur that paper of the country that
lies on the Atlantic and Pacific Railway, between New
York and San Francisco. The gentleman in question is Mr.
Houghton, whose picture " A.D. 1580," in last year's Royal
Academy, many persons will remember, and whose picture
"Night Charges" in the second number of the Graphic,
attracted much notice. ➢lr. Houghton has been supplied
with wood blocks, and will execute his drawings with his
own hand, and send them home to England, so that every
touch engraved will be the /cc imile of the draughtsman's
original production. Mr. tildes, whose picture, " The Casual
Ward," in another number of the Graphic was also much
praised, and excited the admiration of Mr. Dickens, has
been selected by that gentleman to illustrate his new
novel, whereof the first part is to appear on March 1.
Mr. James Greenwood and Mr. Edmund Yates are con-
tributing tales to the now cheap weekly paper, The Million.
The People's Magazine will, during the present year, have
articles by the Dean of Chester, Mr. Edward Spender, and
a series, entitled "Food and Physic," by eminent London
medical men, and the same magazine will contain a trans-
lation of Erckmann-Chatrian's tale, " Waterloo." The
author of the article in the last number of the Saturday
Review, on Professor Huxley and "a Devonshire man," was

Mr. Freeman, the historian.
P.S.—The consecration of the Bishop of Nottingham
yesterday was in every way a remarkable event. Not only
was this the first of the revived order of Suffragan Bishops,
but there were during the day incidents of great interest.
Tho consecration sermon preached by Mr. Morse, the Vicar
of St. Mary's, was the Broadest of the Broad, yet gave
general satisfaction. The Greek Archbishop Lycurgus vas
present, and although the Bishop of Lincoln refused to
allow him to join in the act of consecration, he paid his
Grace a most delicate compliment. Evensong
was said at the Bishop's private chapel at
Riseholmo, and at the second lesson Bishop Wordsworth

(who is, perhaps, the best Greek scholar living) went up to
the lectern and read the whole chapter in modern Grce'c,
translating it from an English Bible as readily as though
he were a Greek himself. Out of consideration for the
same distinguished visitor the Nicene Creed was subsa-
tuted for the Apostles' Creed, and the " Filioque " clause
was omitted. This, indeed, was something more than a
compliment.
I have reason to believe that the Bishop of London will
apply almost immediately for a suffragan.
Convocation is to meet next week for business after all.
The notices had been sent out stating that it would be merely
a formal meeting, but all has been sacred at the last
moment, and work will commence at once. It has been
decided that Bishop Mackenzie shall sit in the Lower
House, not, of course, as bishop, but as Archdeacon of
Nottingham. At the Nottingham meeting yesterday, the
Bishop of Hereford, Dr. Atlay, made a very pronounced
Church and State speech'

_
blusling effrontery, was Contanied -Drum IN RI-10AM
Clonvention. The Earl of Clarendon has taken
the matter up, and has instructed her Ma-
jesty's Charg6 d'Affaires to protest strongly
against the robbery. He may protest. It is to
be presumed that if the Ecuadorians had any
lotion of giving up their swindle they would never
have incurred the disgrace of it. It is too profitable.
The confiscation reduces the bonds to the lowest
possible price, and then the Government begins to
buy them up.

FOREIGN NOTES.

THE CRISIS IN BAVARIA.

The crisis in Bavaria is assuming a threatening aspect.
Tho King, it is said, will neither receive the deputa-
tion with the address from the Chamber of Peers,
nor the address itself. He intends to dispose of
the latter by means of a special rescript. Prince
Hohenloho has endeavoured to induce the King to
accept it. So strong is his Majesty's feeling on the sub-
ject that he has invited the peers who voted with the
minority to his table, while severely reprimanding
those members of the Royal Family who opposed the
Ministry, and forbidding the Princes Otto, Louis, and
Leopold to present themselves at Court until fresh orders.
The language of the majority in the discussion of the ad-
dressmay perhaps have had something to do with the King's
irritation. Herr Creil said in his speech in the Upper Cham-
ber, "In all that concerns our internal policy we are obliged,
in the interest of the dynasty and of the people of Bava-
ria—in the interest of right and of the future of
Germany and Bavaria, to declare that the entry of
this country into the Confederation of the North
is not possible, and it is not even possible that Bavaria
should rest upon that Confederation. I would not live
in a palace cemented with the blood of brothers, fir the
blood of brothers is not a good cement. Neither vould I
support it from without, for the wall might fall
outside." The speaker added for the future in consequence
of the treaty of alliance with Prussia, Bavaria would no
longer enjoy complete independence, since the treaty
would prevent the diminution of the military
charges. Prince Hohenlohe upon this rose, and
without denying the latter statement, argued
that the maintenance of the existing system was neces-
sary for the interests of Bavaria. Whatever the result of
the crisis, it is believed that the schemes of uniting
Prussia and Bavaria must be for the time delayed.