The Sun.
London, England, 1856-09-17 00:00:00

SPAIN.

The Madrid journals of the 12th contain no po-
litical news of importance ; but the Occidente and
Parlamento confirm what was said yesterday as
to the Government having refused to allow Mar-
shal Narvaez td return to Spain. The civil go-
vernor of ;Madrid had succeeded in arresting a
band engaged in forging notes of the San Fer-
nando Bank, and had seized the plates and a vast
quantity of paper they had provided. It is said
that none of the notes had been put in circulation.

The Koenigsberg Gazette says : " A letter from
the confines of Russia informs us that the harvest
is now going on everywhere in that country, and
is very satisfactory both with respect to quantity
and quality. Flax is in particular unusually abun-
dant, and that circumstance will give great activity
to trade. On tho other hand the stocks of cattle
have not increased this year in Russia."

The Parma Gazette of the 9th publishes a decree
already mentioned, raising the state of siege, and
referring the prosecutions still pending before the
Courts-martial to the ordinary tribunals.

The Giornale di Boma of the Ist says :—" His
Excellency Mr. Cass, minister of the United States
to the Holy See, has made distributions of large
quantities of provisions to the poor, and to those
visited by fever from the excessive heat of tho
season."

CRYSTAL PALACE.— ONE SHILLING DAY, Tuesday,
Sept. 16.—Admissions on payment. 8,253 ; ditto, by
s aeon tickets, 521 ; total visitors, 8,774.
The Peninsular and Oriental Company's steamers
Ava, Aden, and Rajah will be despatched to India on
the 30th inst.
VACATION MASTER IN THE EXCHEQUER.—The Va-
cation Master of the Court of Exchequer will attend on
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, until fur-
ther notice.
MADEMOISELLE ROSA BONHEIIIL—This celebrated ar-
tiste was on the tryst ground at Falkirk on Monday and
Tuesday, purchasing subjects of study. The talented
lady attracted a large flare of atteution.—Sptinian.

THE ROYAL BRITISH BASK.

The rumors with regard to the statement of
assets and liabilities to be presented on Saturday
to the shareholders of the Royal British Bank do
not encourage the slightest hope of a result less
disastrous than has hitherto been anticipated.
Neither do the various communications received
from shareholders and others in relation to the
general conduct of the directors from the date of
the formation of the establishment down to the
present time perulit an expectation that the prin-
cipal persons said to be compromised will be able to
exonerate themselves even so far as to show that
the deceptions and misappropriations Which have
taken place were the result rather of monatitry sa-
crifices to expediency than of any deliberate de-
parture from good faith. It is asserted that the
delinquencies which have ended in the ruin of the
Bank dated almost from its commencement, and
that if the provision of the charter, requiring its dis-
solution upon one-fourth of the capital being lost,
had been treated as worthy of the smallest attention,
the concern would scarcely have passed into a second
year of existence. Such losses, however, although
involving deep culpability, might have resulted
from inexperience. The hesitation to regard them
as irrecoverable, and thus immediately to submit
to a winding up, may also be palliated if it cannot
he excused, since the regulation for the forfeiture
of the charter, like all Government precautions of
a similar character, is vicious in itself, and holds
out a temptation to concealment. The worst part
of the affair will, it is feared, prove to consist of a
series of acts such as no persons could have adopted
except from a studied determination to make the
Bank the scapegoat of their own speculations and
necessities. Thus, the advances to individual di-
rectors as well as to the general manager, and the
securities taken against them, are Said to be of a
nature and to have carried on for periods which
can leave no doubt as to the aspect of the transac-
tions. One correspondent expresses suspicions
that even after the Bank had become embarrassed
by its connection with the coal and iron works in
Wales the chief -efforts employed were with an in
tention to extract some personal profits from them
instead of to retrieve, as far as possible, the inte-
rests of the shareholders. "It should be asked,"
he says, "at the approaching meeting, first,
whether two or more of the former directors did
not enter into an arrangement with the Bank for
carrying on the works on their own account ?
Secondly, whether the advances made by the
Bank to the said directors have been repaid, or
transferred, as the speculation failed, to the debit of
the Welsh property in the books of the Bank? And,
thirdly, whether in fact the position of affairs was
not pretty nearly to the effect, ' If the coal and iron
works thrive they belong to the said directors, but
if otherwise they revert to the Bank—advances and
all ?' " This may be a misapprehension, but the pre-
valence of such assertions shows the necessity not
only on behalf of the public, but also for the repu-
tation of all concerned, that every step in the history
of the establishment should be investigated with a
view to the confirmation or disproval of them.
Another correspondent has transmitted some docu-
ments with respect to which there cannot be much
mistake. They are dated within a week of the stop-
page of the Bank, and containan urgent invitation
to the person to whom they were addressed to join
the direction "consisting of gentlemen of undoubted
means and position," the manager being meanwhile
prepared to afford him " the fullest information."
Thus, from beginning to end every proceeding, as
far as it is possible to judge at present, appears to
have been discreditable. It is to be hoped that on
Saturday those among the present directors who
deny complicity in the misdeeds to be exposed will
give the best proof of their sincerity by unfolding
everything that may serve to bring forward the real
offenders, and to fix upon them the opprobrium
they deserve.—Times.

OPENING OF THE BRUSSELS INTERNA
TIONAL PILILANTBROPIO CONGRESS.

BRUSSELS, SEPTEMBER 15.
The International Congress de Bienfaisance was
opened this morning at the Salle des Academies au
Musee, under circumstances of great éclat. The
hall was crowded in every part by gentlemen repre-
senting almost every civilised country on the face
of the globe. Indeed it was found impossible to
accommodate all that sought for admission. At the
head of the room, and surrounding the table at
which sat the members of the committee of ma-
nagement, there were several distinguished ladies,
many of whom, influenced by the most benevolent
feelings to ameliorate the condition of their poorer
brethren, came from distant countries to afford
their valuable assistance to the proceedings of Con-
gress. At elekrAn o'clock the chair was taken amid
Applause by ill. bighlv popu-
lar member of the Belgian Chambers.
M. Ducpetiaux, the celebrated Belgian philan-
thropist, undertook the duties of secretary, and
read the programme of the proceedings of the Con-
gress, proposed by the committee, subject of course
to the approval of the members themselves.
The CHAIRMAN then- commenced the business of
the day in an address characterised by much
simple beauty and eloquence. It bespoke the
kindliest feelings and the tenderest solicitude for
his less favoured brethren. The speech was occa-
sionally interrupted by the most rapturous applause
from the host of its approving hearers, and the
greatest enthusiasm was manifested in 'behalf of
the cause which had brought them together. M.
Rogier commenced by expressing the pride he felt
at the honourable position he occupied on that
occasion in presiding over so large a body of dis-
tinguished ladies and gentlemen, who had tra-
velled there from all parts of the world with the
hope of being able to improve the condition of
their suffering fellow creatures. The Congress
had been called together to consider the most
interesting and important subject that could
occupy the mind of man; namely, how or in what
way they could elevate the condition of the indus-
trious classes, not only in a moral, but in a physical
sense. The speaker then proceeded to descant upon
the many wants of their poorer brethren, and to show
that misery and poverty naturally begot vice of
every description, and that all governments and
societies, even if actuated by no higher motive than
self-interest, owed it to themselves to try and pre-
vent the latter evil by mitigating as far as possible
the former. After an address of about half an
hour's duration, the president resumed his seat
amid the most deafening applause.
M. Ducpetiaux then announced the names of the
delegates and representatives of the different coun-
tries and governments that had forwarded their
adhesions to the Congress. England was re-
presented by the Hon. Mr. Cowper, the President
of the British Board of Health ; Mr. Chadwick,
the former Secretary to the Board ; Mr. W. E wart,
M.P., and some other gentlemen. The mention
of those names drew forth cheers from the mem-
bers generally, which were again and again re-
peated, when those gentlemen (on the invitation
of the chairman) walked up the room and took the
seats appropriated to them on the left-hand side of
the president.
The members of the Congress, preparatory to the
general discussion, will be divided into three sec-
tions, respectively charged with the consideration
of one of the following questions, to report upon
same, and to state their opinion as to the solution
of it.

Ist section. Subsistences in connection with agri•
culture.

, 2d section. Subsistence in connection with poli-
tical and charitable economy.
3d section. Subsistences considered in connection
with science and industry. Machinery and inven-
tions calculated to facilitate manual labour, to
improve the sanitary condition of trades and.
professions, and to prevent accidents. The ame-
lioration of the workmen's habitations, of their
furniture, and their clothing.
Independently of the solution of the above ques-
tions, the members of the Assembly are invited to
consider the best means of extending and consoli-
dating the works of the Congress, and especially
the following questions :-
Ist. The definitive organisation of the interna-
tional correspondence, the principle of which had
been laid down at the International Charity Union
of Paris.
2d. The publication of a periodical bulletin of
works, reports, documents, dm., of different coun-
tries connected with charitable economy.
3d. The organisation in every country of a per-
manent economical museum.
4th. The place and time the most convenient
generally for the future meetings of the Congress
de Bienfaisance. The Congress will be further in-
vited to discuss the best means of diminishing and
of preventing the abuse of strong drinks, consi-
dered in the twofold point of view, namely, the
loss of the nutritious subsistences employed in
their manufacture, and their influence upon the
iwiith and morality of the working classes.
Several other questions growing out of the above
will also occupy the attention of e Congress.
Several privileges are attached to the osition of
membership. It entitles the parties to enter the
principal establishments in Brussels, to visit the
public monuments, the Government buildings, the
museums, the libraries, the hospi`als, the public
schools, the picture gallery of the Duke d'Aremberg,
the new barracks, the baths anal washhouses, the
prisons, &C.

The dollars brought by the Mexican packet have been
dispused of at 61d. per dollar, showing a decline of Id. ;
but as the amount was very large this price is as good
as was expected.

LITE:RARY GOSSIP.

SEPTEMBER, 1856.
There is a pleasant half-promise floating about
just now in the shape of a literary rumour that
upon the Ist of December there will appear "with
the magagines" No. I. of a new serial story by Mr.
Thackeray. Weloome tidings, these, to the read-
ers of The Newcomes—yielding a cheerful prospect
enough that there 111 ay come fluttering down to us,
among the last ropings of the autun foliae,
two more yellow ldeave es than we could havem count
upon very recently t None the less welcome now.
that we have
got half way through Little Dorrit--
so that the two green leaves budding out so re-
by month upon the bay-garland
freshingly month
of Boz, are fast app.'oa
ching the term of their perio-
dical appearance. C.€ lourse Richard Doyle "will
be " the illustrator o f Thackeray, as llablot
Browne "is" of Dickent), They are the privileged
esquires bearing the hell. ny the lance, and the
'scutcheon of those knights of literature. As yet
new fiction has not
the title of Mr. Thackeray'S

transpired.
Another rumour rejoices the t;earts of the ad-
miring disciples of Mr. Thomas 08rlyle with the
assurance that his Life of Frederick the Great Will
in all likelihood appear at last somewhere ab.out

Christmas.
Mr. Macaulay is oxpe,lted, immediately upon.
his return from his holiday excursion upon they
Continent, to take in ham)
with all due despatch
and industry vols. V. and IU. of his History off
England—rendering classic by' their composition
his new house on Campden-hill,' as he has already
done those chambers in the Albany, henceforth
sacred to sight-seers as so long- the abode of the

great Whig annalist.
in whether
People are beginning to wonder aga
any fresh marvel is to be expected soon. fro: the
most accomplished Author of the Day, at enc•e the
Proteus ,and the Crichton among living me n-of-
letters. Is Sir Bulwer Lytton " resting upon his
laurels," as the phrase is, and as he has long F Plete
well earned the right to do, down in tht 83'..tven
retreat of his own beautiful Knebworth ? .Or LS he
preparing for us-7.-where perhaps least expa,cted---
some new astonishment ? At an rate whe never
he may essay once more to "'witch the world"
with his pen of fascination—he will find eag •er
listeners among us all : though auditors it must ibe
remembered whose measure of his genius he hi. 0"
self has rendered somewhat exacting, hearers wht )0e
judgment in his regard the latest of his many €
quisite masterpieces have charmed into all bi lt
overweening fastidiousness. How high thrs staL
dard marked out, for example, in prose fict ion 11. r
My Novel, in the poetic by _king Arthur, in the
dramatic by Money or Richelieu, in the c iratori'
by the famous oration delivered at Edin burgh,
Yet nearly everybody, who knows anythin gat2w.
about it, has long since come to be little le is tr-T,`",,,
all-believing in regard to the scope and c tiPaC"l
of Sir Edward's daring and flexile in telleot.
We can't for the life of us, guess wl let 14
may do next, but of this we are trig
sure that he will do it well: that w hate%;
he attempts now in the full ripeness of his Pon"
he will accomplish to very general adm it,ll
Knowing which, we are, on that account, lone ""t
less curious of course as to what may be I lie 11:1-,Ire
literary enterprise—a play or a poem, an " 11:i re
and perfect chrysolite" in the substantial fi °or
new novel all at once in three volumes oc tay°9,he
a " lengthened sweetness long drawn out" 1;,1, "4.
shape of another Caxtonian serial-tale in PA"
wood. tching
Mr. Tennyson contents himself with w er
Maud into another "slow" edition—"with
imperfections on her head." Mr. Warren egin],
ing the leisure snatched in rare intervals b et weed
the occupancy of the Recorder's bench in H afor
his seat in the House of Commons as IVI • his
Midhurst, by laboriously revising for re-i Ball°O es
luminous and compacted version of Bleu ;M
Commentaries.. • late
Very few, indeed, are the book successes r .to
requiring any notification—the cheap - rePrile
monopolising public attention and floods ng,"a d
market with much that is very good, vex Y .:
and very indifferent. The Poem of the Sea: ion
of course, Professor W. E. Aytoun's Sc :c ott-lik
border-ballad in six parts, about Bothwell '. 2711e
Novel of the Season being (or we are mu OW m's.
taken) Mr. Charles Reade's Never too Late t a Are,"
The Biography of the Season still remain T2LSe
H. G. Lewes's Life and Times of Goethe. u"
about the " gracefullest" little Love-talc of the
Season is, to our thinking, that one penile( L by the
charming and indefatigable authoress of o'
Mary
Powell," all about Tasso and Leonora as viewea
through the eyes of one of Ser Pantaleone I'
Not a little expectation is awakened by i ;he way
in literary circles by the announcement o No. 1.
(price 2d.) and Part I. (price 10d.) of a new weekly--
mon Ibly-illustratecl. periodical, to be cal led the
National Magazine, now about to make its appear-
ance under the joint editorship of Mr. Joh, a Saun-
ders, once upon a time Editor of " The People's
Journal," and Mr. Westland Marston the accow-
plished playwright, author as such of " The Pa-
trician's Daughter." A publication—comp rising
in
a single twopenny number (as the initial, number
premises to do) a tale of mystery by Wilkie Colltnat
an engraved portrait of the Poet Laureate, and an
essay by Sir David Brewster himself, descriptiv°
of his latest and, almost we had said, his greateab
discovery "The Stereoscope"—promises, we ca11n.e,.6
but think, to command success. May it deserve Pt
and, deserving, win it.

Icett•
°ugh
otYle
Ose's
;le o
more
rya
hate
Mrs'