The Sun.
London, England, 1851-07-03 00:00:00

EVENING, JULY 3, 1851.

WHAT IS POETRY ?
(Fr,m Eliza Cook's Journal.)

A very short questiun may r% quire a verY long answer
to do justice to the subject which it opens up. What is
religion? What is truth? What is poetry? To answer
either of these queries satisfactory would require, act a
brief note only, nor au article, nor a year's articles; but
it would demand a life-time of articles, and even at the
end of that life-time it were just possible that we might
fail in answering c'early and satisfactorily either of these
questions. Wordsworth, Coleridge, Hunt, Jeffrey, El-
liott, and Southey, with many other great minds, have
occupied themselves with the solution of the questicn
" What is poetry?" We do not know that they have
succeeded. Perhaps poetry, like many other subtle
chirp, eludes definition. Who can define life—the com-
mon daily life we carry about with us. We live, and that
is all we know of the cause of life. Poetry is—we
feel it—how shall we define it? It is not a form but an
essence: it is not a substance, but a spirit—the spirit of
beauty. Its utterance is the utterance of passionate and
intense truth. Elliott says it is " philosophy in its es-
sence—the spirit of that ' bright consummate flower'
whose root is in our bosoms," Leigh Hunt says it is a
passion for truth, beauty, and power, embodying and
illustrating its impressions by the imagination, in order
that it may enjoy and impart the feelings of their truth
in its utmost conviction and affluence. In a word, it is
imaginative passion ; and " he who has thought, feeling,
expression, imagination, action, character, and con-
tinuity, all in the largest amount and highest degree, is
the greatest poet." Philip James Bally, in that grand
poem of his, " Festas," says—
Poets are all who love—who feel great truths,
And tell them ; and the truth of truths is love."

THE CHIFFONNIEI?S OF PARIS.
The fraternal association of rag-gatherers (chiffon
niers) gave a grand banquet in Paris on Saturday last.
It took place at a public-house called the Pot Tricolore,
near the Barriere de Fontainebleau, which is frequented
by the rag-gathering fraternity. In this house there
are three rooms, each of which is specially devoted
to the use of different classes of rag-gatherers:
one, the least dirty, is called the " Chamber
of Peers," and is occupied by the first class—that is,
those who possess a basket in a good state and a crook
ornamented with copper ; the second, called the
" Chamber of Deputies," belonging to the second class,
is much less comfortable, and those who attend it
have baskets and crooks—not of the first-rate
quality; the third room is in a dilapidated
condition, and is frequented by the lowest order of
gatherers, who have no basket or crook, and who place
what they find in the streets in a piece of sackcloth;
they call themselves the '` Reunion des Vrais Prol6
taires." The name of each room is written in chalk
above the door, and generally such strict etiquette is
observed among the rag-gatherers that no one goes
into the apartment not occupied by his own class.
At Saturday's banquet, however, all distinctions of
rank were set aside, and delegates of each class
united fraternally. The president was the oldest rag-
gatherer of Paris; his age is 88, and he is called the Em-
peror. The banquet consisted of a sort of ella podrida,
which the master of the establishment pompously called
a gibelotte, though of what animal it was mainly composed
it was impossible to say. It was served up in huge earthen
dishes, and before it was allowed to bo touched payment
was demanded and obtained. The other articles were
also paid for as soon as they were brought in, and a
deposit was exacted as security for the plater, knives,
and forks. The wine, or what did duty as such,
was contained in an earthen pot called the Petit Pero
Noir, and was filled from a gigantic vessel named Le
Moricaud. The dinner was concluded by each guest
taking a small glass of brandy. Business was then pro-
ceeded to. It consisted in the reading and adoption
of the statutes of the association, followed by the drink-
ing of numerous toasts to the president, to the prospe-
rity of rag-gathering, to the union of rag-gatherers, &c.
A collection, amounting to 6f. 75c,, was raised for sick
members of the fraternity. The guests then dispersed,
but several of them remained at the counter until they
had consumed in brandy the amount deposited as secu-
rity for the crockery, knives, and spoons.

A most
DISCOVERY OF ANCIENT SILVER COIN. ....•
interesting circumstance in the nature of treasure"-
Jac iesonostr.
oc-
curred a few days ago on the domain cf the 4 trove I
able Viscount Maynard, in the parish of Ra It
fer. Four
occupied by Mr.
labourers employed in stubbing down an oldth:tiff clay bank,
near Rendysh-wood, on Bendysh-hall fabremr
'of British silver
W. S. Hustler, dislodged a large nuinn
coin, which in all probability bad bed concealed there p
box, 'fever confined,_,. in aun-y-,
II? pieces, tow in number,
wards of 200 years ; the bag, or
having mouldered into dust.
are all in most excellent preservatio.n., and consist of many
the rei us of
specimens of half-crownsandslrulllizinagbseuolf
James lg., and 1
Edward VI., Philip and Mary,
n 44, thereby causing the
Charles 1., but none later the
warl6 '
supposition that during the civil some royalist officer or
paymaster, being hard pressed, was obliged to
other army
hide then), and never returned to regain the cash; and this
,
idea is greatly strengthened by the sharp state of almost all
the insciptioni, as it is well known that Charles I. called
into active operation the services of his Mint whenever and
wherever his resources were exhausted. The weight of the
The whole are now in the possession of the Noble
viscount, who, with his wonted benevolence and continual
care for the welfare cf the poor, has generously directed, as
he has dune in other instances of finding old money, that
the entire original current value shall be divided amongst
the honest labourers who made the discovery.--Chelmsford
Chronicle.

FASHIONS FOR JULY. ! BRITISH ASSOCIATION for the ADVANCE-
(From Le Follet.) , 11IENT of SCIENCE.
One of the bast methods ot informing our readers of Irnwicie, Wenet spev.—The annual meeting of
the actual "modes" is to cite come ensembles de toilettes this association ceennienced here this morning. This
worn by ladies whose good taste and elegance are in- 'is the 21st andiversary, and upon no occasion
disputable. We shall, therefore, at once proceed to . since its birth in 1830 up to its maturity, or " be-
describe a visiting dress :—The robe is of pearl ' coming of age,"
in 1851, have any of its meetings
gray taffetas shot with pink; plain skirt; body ;
, been attended with so much interest as the present.
1
open to the waist, with revers edged with narrow pink
i The attendance of the illustrious Prince who is
and grey braids placed alternately. The same trim-
earning for himself an imperishable name as the pro-
ming ornaments the cuffs, which turn back towards the
motet and patron of the arts and sciences, and to
elbow, and are very loose. The body is fini<bed with a
basquine, and is edged with a deep fringe -de. whom the country is indebted for the present extra-
scending half-way down the skirt ; this fringe, ordinary opportunity of witnessing their practical
which is a mixture of pink and grey silk, has a development in the palace of wonders in Hyde-park,
wide heading en re,ille guipure, forming festoons, the expectation that many of the numerous distin-
terminating with long tassels. The bonnet which ae• guished literary and scientific foreigners now in
companies this toilette is of bands of whalebone separa- England will be present at this meeting—these, togas
ted by
open straw, trimmed with bows of white Vier with the fact that there is a strong and in-
ribbon edged with fancy straw; small moss-roses and creasing' feeling pervading all classes of the commu-
sprigs of straws are intermixed with the ribbon and, .-
nit.). in unison with the objects of the association, will
also ornament the inside. An immense Cleantilly•lsee
shawl accompanies this toilette. Another was of dark- account for the more than usual interest attending
green and white glace taffetas; the flounce, deeply tool- this meeting.
loped were edged with an emroidered wreath in white The objects of the British Association are to give
silk. An echarpe mantelet of Brussels point, lined with a stronger impulse and more systematic direction to
dark green cape, the lace trimming reaching from scientific inquiry, to promote the intercourse of
the waist haft-way down the skirt. Open-work straw those who cultivate science in different parts of the
bonnet imitating lace, lined with pink crape, and British empire with one another and with foreign
trimmed on either side with a branch of pink haw- philosophers, to obtain more general attention to ob-
thorn, united by light wreaths of leaves, which pass all ;
iects of science, and the removal of any disadvantages
round the crown. The curtain and broad strings were of a public kind which impede its progress. Every
made of pink and white taffetas ribbon. The inside of
the bonnet was ornamented with bunches of-hawthorn,necessary arrangement to promote the comfort and
We must mention another toilette of a more sedate convenience of the members of the association and
character. The dress is of violet-coloured taffetas strangers visiting Ipswich has been adopted by the
d'ltalie, with three scolloped flounces, embroidered with local committee. The various institutions and other
black and violet silks, each flounce separated by three establishments, and everything worthy the notice
narrow ones of black lace. Black lace mantille. Black of the curious, have been thrown open for gratuitous
tulle bonnet edged with straw; a ruche of narrow black inspection.
blonde, embroidered with straw round the front; af
The following are some of the members and others
bouquet of black feathers mixed with light chains 0 who have signified their intention of being present,
straw rings, falling very low, is placed at each ear: most of whom have already arrived :—The Duke of
bouquets of straw flowers with long narrow leaves of Argyll,
black velvet inside. The strings of black taffetas ribbon • 11, Lord Sheffield, Lord Monteagle, Lord En-
ruskille_,n
embroidered with straw. Lord Rosso, Lord Rendlesham, Lord A.
Paget, Lord
Morning bonnets of coarse straw have open edges; Londesborough, Lord Stradbroke, the
of 0
Bishop
Hon. xford., Sir Charles Lemon, Lord Wrot-
they are lined with taffetas of the same colour as the
Sir E. Cast, Sir W. Jardine, Sir
trimming. Plaid ribbons are used, and the greater mul- tesleY,
tiplicity of colours the more I, la mode. The bows are W. F. Middleton, Sir Charles Lyell, Sir H. De
large, and form several coques, separated in the middle La L'eche, Sir J. IV. Hooker, Sir J. Boileau,
by a torsade of ribbon; small flowers and leaves are per- Lord Abercorn, Honourable Colonel Grey, Colonel
mitted as ornaments for the inside of negligee bonnets. Seymour, Mr. W. Cubitt, Captain Smith,
We have noticed a fancy bonnet, composed of chains Captain Brooke, Professor Faraday, Professor
of straw rings looped in each other. A pink taffetas Playfair, Professor Henslow, Dr. Bateman, Rev. W.
ribbon is passed through the rings at the edge, forming
R. Holmes, Professor Phillips, Dr. R. Bell, Rev. Dr.
small curls both inside and outside. The bonnet is lined
Whewell Professor Airy, Sir R. Murchison, Dr.
with pink taffetas. A simle branch of ivy crosses the Roger, '
head, and mixes with the c popes of pink ribbon at the Mr. W. B. Byng, F.R.A.S. Mr. R. Hunter,
ears. The same trimming inside. F.R.S., Mr. R. Roberts, Mr. L. Buchan, Mr. F. E
Feathers are much employed for rice, straw, and open Cottam, F.R.A.S., Mr. G. W. Ormerod, M.A., Rev.
whalebone bonnets, and have been brought to great per- J. C. Ebden, M.A.,F.R.A.5., Colonel Sabine, RA.,
faction this season both as to shades and form. We have Mr. C. W. Dilke, r. W. R. Grove, F.R.S., Mr.
some beautiful bonnets of white tulle worked in small Algernon Peckover, Mr. Joseph Hone, Dr. Lee,
spots with straw, so fine that they appear like gold spots; Professor Owen, Mr. IV. J. M. Rankine, F.R.S.E.,
a triple row of straw-coloured ribbon is slightly drawn Rev. W. Airy, Mr.
round the edge. A bouquet of marabouts ornaments oneW. D. Sault, F.G.S., C. Fox
Bunbury, F.G.S , &c.
aide; the ends have small lilies of the valley in straw,
Among the foreign visitors are—His Excellency
looking like drops of rain. Lillies and ribbons inside.
A charming bonnet, the front formed of boulonnees Chevalier Bunsen, his Excellency M. Van de Weyer,
of pink crape separated by ribbon, drawn like a ruche C. Bonaparte, Prince de Canino, Dr. Carl Bischoff,
across the crown; bouillonnees of crape edged with nar- Signor Bartolomeo Cinci, M. Dumas, M. D'Abaddie,
i row ribbon, forming a small funchon, the ends of which Dr. Hamel, Colonel Mari, Professor Wartmann, Dr.
are fastened on each side under tufts of small field Nordenskiold, Professor Scharling, Signor Osculati,
flowers, mixed with coques of ribbon and straw. A Professor Elton, D.D., United States, Professor
double curtain of crape edged with three narrow ribbons Shaf heutb, Dr. Beckie, Dr. J. B. Vrig, Mr. Whit-
matching the edge of the bonnet. The strings of broad nu, Messrs. Pierre end Plato Tchitchicheff, M. Van
pink taffetas ribbon, with a lace edge. Gallen, Professor Johnson, United States, &c.
Thin tarlataiee dresses have deeply cut flounces, The present officers of the association are—
trimmed round with three narrow gauze ribbons, drawn
president—Mr. George Biddle Airy, M.A F R S
at one edge. Ribbon-placed ea echelle, very closely to- Astronomer Royal.
gather, on the body. The short sleeves are entirely
Vice-Presidents—The Right Hon. Lord Ren-
covered with ribbon..
Many head-dresses for young ladies are composed of hem M.P., the
_Lord Bishop of Norwicb,
dles . ,
a single ribbon placed under the bandesux, and, passing the Rev. Professor Sedgwick, M.A., F.R.S,
behind, are fastened with a bow and long ends. Rev: Professor Henslow, M.A., F.L.S., Sir John
Many dresses have their trimming printed in the ma- Boileau, Bart., F.R.S., Sir William F. F. Middleton,
terial. Redingotes of plain or chine silk have a broad Bart., Mr. John Chevalier Cobbold, M.P., Mr.
satin stripe down the front, of the dominant shade of the Thomas Burch Western.
dress. Upon the dresses with flounces these stripes are General i Secretaries—Lieutenant-Colonel Sabine,
graduated in width, resembling narrow ribbons. Vice-President and Treasurer, R S., Woolwich; J.
We have seen a redingote of brown and pink taffetas
Forbes Ro3 le, M.D., F.R.S., Professor of Materia
in this style; a broad stripe of brown satin runs be-
tween two narrow tucks; the botton a the sleeve MedicA and 7
Therapeutics in King's College, London.
Assistait General Secretary—Mr. John Phillips,
matches; ribbon-bows aro placed down the front,
fixed with an amethyst butterfly mounted in
_gold. F.R.S., York.
The body is very open; half pagodas sleeves, disco- General Treasurer—Mr. John Taylor, F.R.S., 6,
vering the collerette Medicis, and sleeves of Valen- Queen-street-place, Upper Thames-street, London.
ciennes. A robe of green and brown chine, strewed Secretaries—Mr. Charles May, F.R.S.; Mr. Dill..
with bouquets of roses, with three flounces, each edged wyn Sims, Mr. George Arthur Biddell, Mr. George
with three stripes of shaded green. The body I Louis Ransome, F.L.S., F.Z.S.
XV., the front trimmed with an echelle of ribbon of the Treasurer—Mr. John Biddle Alexander.
same shades of green; between each a narrow flounce of
English lace imitating the guimpe, which is of lace. The The Rev. S. J. Rigaud, M.A., was elected as an
additional secretary at the meeting of the general
bottom of the sleeves are trimmed with green satin
ribbon, separated by English lace. committee this afternoon.
We must mention also some beautiful robes of plain The business of the day commenced by the meeting
grenadine, of different shades of gray; the flounces of the Council, at 10 o'clock, and of the general cora-
edged with three or four rows of gray satin, The same mittee at 1 o'clock, for the election of sectional
kind of stripes are round the sleeves and body. officers, the allocation of the various sections, and the
We have observed some robes of this style, called dispatch of business usually brought before these
bayed ares, having stripes of divers colours upon grena- bodies. The first general meeting is to be held. at 8
dines, and white mousseline de soie. o'clock this evening in the Corn Exchange, when the
Bonnets of whalebone are very fashionable: some are ex-President, Sir David Brewster, K. 11., will open
of black and white, trimmed on the side with bunches the business of the association, and resign the chair
of dark roses. The broad strings and the curtains are
to the President elect, Mr. George Biddell Airy,
of black and pink, or white and pink ribbon. Th©y are
M.A., F.R.S., Astronomer Royal, who will then
lined with pink tulle, the cap of tulle, and rosebuds.
Another bonnet of white whalebone trimmed with deliver an address on the objects and proceedings of
narrow ribbons forming banging-foliage; on each aide the association.
broad strings of ribbon to match. The sections are— Place of meeting.
The mantelet echarpe is decidedly the fashion. They A. Mathematics and
.physics Town-hall Council-chamber
are made in black taffetas trimmed with deep magnificent B. Chemistry, &c Old Assembly-rooms
lace, and enriched with ribbons or embroidery. C. Geology Temperance-hall
D. Natural history
Young ladies wear the same make of mantelet in pink
or green taffetas, trimmed with a double row of Brussels E. Geography and ethnology Mechanics'lnstitute (Theatre)
F. Statistics
or Aleneon lace. Some, more simple, are in taffetas of G. Mechanical science ..
all colours, trimmed with a deep plain tulle of the same
. The different sections will assemble for the read-
colour as the silk. Upon this tulle are placed narrow
ing and discussion of reports and other communica-
velvets in rows of threes. A broad velvet, which forms
the head to this trimming, is placed upon the silk all tions to-morrow, July 3 ; Friday, July 4; Monday,
round the mantelet. Sometimes, in place of the velvet, July 7 ; and Tuesday, July 8, at eleven A.M.
a bouillonne of tulle separated by three or four rows of each day. Saturday, July 5, being an excursion
narrow velvets. We must notice one, of white taffetas, day, the sections will meet or not on that day, Ro-
the mantelet itself being embroidered with silk en sou- cording to the decisions of their respective commit-
tache; the tulle which trims it has nine rows of passe- tees. To-morrow evening the Corn Exchange will
menterie in place of the velvets. This mantelet is fas-
be
thrown open for promenade and conversation. On
tened with magnificent buttons.
Independent of all the fancy mantelets, scarfs, and Friday evening Professor Owen will deliver a die-
shawls of black lace, embroidered muslin mantelets, each course on the distinction between plants and animals,
have become indispensable accessories to summertheir changes of form. On Monday evening the
and s
toilettes. President, Mr. G. B. Airy, will deliver a discourse on
Wedding dresses merit particular notice for their the total solar eclipse of July 28, 1851.
splendour. The greatest novelty is the skirt, with al- His Royal Highness Prince Albert is expected to
ternate flounces of embroidered muslin and Brussels lace. arrive here about a quarter to eleven o'clock to-mor-
A cannezout of lace, with a deep lace from the waist, row morning by special train.
meeting the first flounce on the skirt.
Another, less splendid, has the front breadth embroi-
dered apron-fashion; the rest of the skirt is embroidered
in three rows imitating flat flounces. The body is high,
embroidered over the cheat and sleeves; a narrow lace
is fulled in round the throat.

HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE.
Yesterday's rehearsal of the new opera, by M.
Thalberg, appeared to produce on all who were pre-
sent the impression which we ventured yesterday to
record as our own in regard to the musical character
of the work to be brought out to-night. A musician
who has deservedly acquired the hghest reputation,
not only with the world at large, but in circles be-
yond the influence of mere popular applause, was felt
to have thrown his full strength into his task—
" The first essay of arms untried before."
The artists engaged buckled to their duty with that
energy which is only called up when real music—
as distinct a thing as possible from the result of
musical cleverness—is in question, and went through
the rehearsal with an earnestness and a precision
which foreshadow well the " event" of to-night.
We are disinclined to say more in anticipation of
what it will, we trust, be our pleasant duty to say
to-morrow ; but we may be allowed to make the
agreeable announcement that Madlle. Cruvelli (whose
honourable exertions to do justice to M. Thalberg
had incapacitated her from appearing in Mon-
day's concert) has recovered her powers, and re-
hearsed the arduous part of Florinda with all
her natural vigour. There are some
admirable
"situations" in the drama, which M. Scribe has
furnished, and we much mistake if Cruvelh's acting,
as the outraged daughter of Count Julian, and the
victim of Roderic, the " Last of the Goths," wand ofill not
Fidelio
surpass her noble personations of
Norma, upon which the habitues are so enthusiastic.
The young vocalist is now fairly fitted with an origi-
nal part, and we do not fear to prophesy that she
will make it her own.—/Iforning Paper.

FRNCB PLAYS.
ST. JAMES'S.
Adrienne Lecourreur was again
characterperf oromfeAddartietneeSits.
James's last evening. The
the most perfect of Mademoiselle Rachel's impersona-
f
polfaytheitniseolfderien htheeroineo a modern play, and
most
thet ion
3 perfect of its sort.
Beautiful
exceedingly
sarcasmseveni vg of the '
character was
o her impersonation
t were
her great predecessor,
lheras
Her intensely
delivery
of
the
impas-
sioned agony
hear trending.
Le classic tragedies was magnificent,
erencdithaetiton
sni
concludingfT° scene was replete with exquisite
hgereue:ee d
was with
pathos. At the conclusion she was called on, and
the most enthusiastic applause. The
well and fashionably att'nded.

Dur Mow GAMMON OF BACON.—After the lapse
of 100 years this gammon of bacon has been claimed by a
couple in good circumstances, as farmers, at Felsted, Essex,
named Hurrah, but, failing to obtain it from the lord of the
manor, the inhabitants of Dunmow have procured one by
subscription, which will be presented to them, instead of the
lord's, on their taking the usual oaths, at Broombills, near
Dunmow, on Wednesday, the 16th of July. The couple
will drive on to the ground (escorted by a band of music) in
their own carriage and horses. A large number of persona
are expected to congregate to witness the ceremony.
A Roman Catholic priest has been tried at New
York, and cast in 1,600 dolls. damages, for seduction. The
affair caused great scandal among all religious denominations.
'The Ecclesiastical Titles Assumption Bill, as
amended by the Committee, and on consideration of the
Bill as amended, has been printed by order of the House of
Commons.
The Rev. Hinton C. Smith, minister of Trinity
Church, Plymouth, has siged his intention to resign his
incumbency on account ot his health.
The Rev. W. Norval, late incumbent of St. James,
Bermondsey, has been presented to the rectory of Ickleford,
Herts, vacated by the Dogen Brown. Patron,
Ralph Lindsay, Esq., F.S.A.