The Sun.
London, England, 1869-12-20 00:00:00

ART AND LITERARY GOSSIP.

The Orchestra deeply deplores to bear on what it con
siders good authority that Signor Mario has committed
suicide at St. Petersburg. He is said to have poisoned
himself with prussic acid. Grief for the loss of Madame
Grisi, and the dread of destitution are the reasons assigned
for this lamentable act.—lt is said that Mr. Hepworth
Dixon has registered the title of a journal to be called
Light.—Signor Graziani is reported to be dangerously ill.—
Mr. J. P. Crocker, one of the joint proprietors of the
Christy Minstrels, died on Friday. The cause of the
lamented gentleman's death was consumption, from which
he had been suffering for two years.—Cuthbert Bede, who
made a great success with " Verdant Green," has written a
new humorous story for the illustrated Midland
11 ezrs.—
Messrs. Fields and Osgood are to publish Mrs. Beecher
Stowe's " Vindication of Lady Byron," and a new work by
Emerson, beside a book on " Political Economy," from
the Protectionist side, by Horace Greeley, of the
Tribune. Mrs. Stowe's book will be ready this week.—
The Atlantic Monthly for January will contain a new
poem by Lowell, " The Cathedral ;" a paper called
" Nearing the Snow Line," by Dr. 0. "W. Holmes;
"The Autocrat," an essay by Coldwin Smith," and a
ballad by Whittier.—The re-edition of Shelley, on
which Mr. W. M. Rosetti has been earnestly
engaged, will probably be published within the
current month of December by Messrs. Moxon and Co.---
The library of the old Seraglio contains a large col-
lection of very valuable manuscripts, formerly belonging
to Matthew Corvinus, King of Hungary. On the occa-
sion of the recent visit of the Emperor of Austria, the
Sultan presented his Majesty with four of the most beauti-
ful of these archeological treasures, bearing the arms of
their original owner, and splendidly illuminated.—Mr.
Jefferson Davis is writing a history of his administration
as President of the Confederate States.—Mdlle.
Chamerovzow made her first appearance in London,
as a vocalist, on Thursday night, at the Hanover-
square Rooms.—Mr. Peter Austin Nuttall died recently
at his residence in Canonbury. Mr. Nuttall was the
compiler and editor of numerous educational and
classical works, amongst which was a scientific dictionary.—
The treasure just brought to light at Pompeii consists of
700 coins, Consular or Imperial, some of gold, with a quan-
tity of jewels, among which is a magnificent chain of plaited
gold wire, forming a very thick round cord not less than
Bft. in length.—Verdi has presented to the daughter of his
librettist, I'iave, the sum of Io,ooof. He has also requested
that the pension of GOOf. a year, attached to his chevalier's
Order of Civil Merit of Savoy, be paid to two poor pupils
of the school of Busseto, who have distinguished them-
selves by their talent and zeal.

The John Bull states that the University of Cambridge
have just obtained, through the trustees of the Fitzwilliam
Museum, a very fine work of Dlurillo. It is a large picture
representing St. John the Baptist preaching in the
wilderness. The Baptist is a Spanish peasant (as might
be assumed in a picture of Murillo), but more
nobly idealised than is always the case with this painter's
Scriptural works. The other three figures are delineated
with great power, and the colouring is magnificent. The
pedigree of the picture is interesting and well-traced.
An English gentleman was in Spain while the French
were pillaging the convents and churches of their art-
treasures. Ho bought this picture and two more from
the frightened inmates of a nunnery, and had only just
time to get safely away with them when the French
marauders arrived and made a dean sweep of all that re-
mained. The painting has ever since remained in the
purchaser's private collection at Newcastle, from which,
through the good offices of a neighbouring connoisseur, it
has been obtained as above stated.

A Cable telegram from New York reports that the
ship Energy, of Liverpool, has boon abandoned at sea.
It is stated, by Nature, that the Council of the
British Association for the Advancement of Science have
determined to ask the permission of the Lord President of
the Council to appear before him as a Deputation, to urge
upon the Government the need of a Royal Commission to
inquire into the Present State of Science in England.
Ain. GLADSTONE AND TILE EDUCATION LEAGUE.
—Mr. W. C. Bennett writes respecting Mr. Gladstone's
letter to the Greenwich Branch of the National Education
League, of which 1117. Bennett is honorary secretary :
" The letter only assures the committee that the Govern-
ment are considering with care the great question of
education, but adds that of course Mr. Gladstone cannot
PIik49IIAgt,tIL9O4CI.IOOIIAY.642II.RIOY

TRADE AND FINANCE.

SATURDAY ETTINING

The wheat trade has remained in the same dull, inani-
mate state which has characterised it for some time past,
yet the circumstances attending the trade are not altogether
discouraging. The stocks on hand are very large, but it must
be borne in mind that millers and bakers are literally bare of
wh eat, owing, to the hand-to-mouth purchases they have made
for some time past. A large portion of the surplus grain in
the granaries may, therefore, be reasonably regarded as so
much produce misplaced, or, rather, temporarily delayed
in transit. On the other hand, there is a large quantity of
grain afloat for the United Kingdom, and our wants for
some time to come are most amply provided for, and in
the face of these large supplies it is impossible that any
reaction can take place in the tharket. At the same time
it may be noted that several cargoes have lately been taken
off the coast for the near Continental ports, a fact which
justifies the hope that prices cannot recede much
further.

The principle feature in the money market has been the
introduction of the Imperial Ottoman Loan for £12,000,000
effective. Many lame attempts have been made to bring
this loan forward, which have, for obvious reasons, failed,
and even now the prospectus is far from satisfactory. It
was understood, in the first instance, that a large propor-
tion of the loan was to be taken firm, but we are unable
to gather from the official announcement that
this is the case, in fact, we strongly suspect
it to be far otherwise, and it is difficult
to say what is the additional obligation which the new
loan will add to the already pressing debt of Turkey. The
operation has attracted but little attention in this market,
for which three millions only have, it is understood, been
reserved; but there is no doubt that the whole,
or nearly the whole of the money required will be
forthcoming. It is unneccssaay to warn our readers of the
danger attending an operation like this; those who deal
in it will do so with their eyes open, and will pre-
pare for all eventualities by setting aside a portion of the
interest in redemption of the capital.

Mr. Gladstone is much better, and has resumed his
attention to public business.
Prince Arthur is having a ball-room built in con-
nection with his residence at Montreal, and will give a
series of balls during the winter.
The Broad Arrow " hears" that the troops at
Chatham were recently left three weeks without a change of
bedding. What can the Controllers have been about ?
It is stated that Lord Napier of Magdala is to be
allowed a full year to recruit his health, and that then he
will succeed to the Indian command.
The letter in the 7inzes upon " The Mother
Country and the Colonies," by Sir Henry Drummond Wolff,
has 13.2 en publitled in the form of a pamphlet by Effingham
Wilson.
The Board of Trade has made arrangements re-
specting the survey of ships' lights, by which the delay at-
tending such surveys will bo obviated.

The Queen, who is patroness of the Crathie Agri-

cultural Club (says the Dundee Advertiser) intends this sea-
son to present to the club a handsome silver cup to bo corn-
petal for by ploughmen.

A new detective department is being organised in
connection with the Irish constabulary force, and an Irish
paper states that Sub-Inspector Harvey, of Belfast, is to be
brought to Dublin and placed at the head of it.

The whole sum of £1,960, appropriated by David
Dewar, clerk in the Lancashire Insurance Company's Office
(the Glasgow Citizen states), was on Friday afternoon re-
covered. Tho young man had never left the city.

It is understood that the War Department has
resolved on doing away with the Upnor Gunpowder Maga-
zines. For a long time past the stores of powder have
been steadily diminished, and latterly very large quantities
have Loin removed by lighters to the magazines at Purfleet.
The metropolitan correspondent of the • Leeds
Mircury states that the orders for new copies of Mr. Tenny-
Eon's new work aie still pouring in upon the publishers, and
it is expected that 40,000 copies will have been printed before
the end of the year.

At the Liverpool Assizes on Friday a jury awarded
£5O as compensation to the widow and child of a poor street
sweeper who had been run over and fatally injured by a
horse and cart driven at a high rate of speed in a thronged
thoroughfare.

Mr. Justice Blackburn on Friday, charging the
grand jury of Nottingham, said he had long been convinced
that flogging should be administered to criminals convicted
of incendiaristn, and he speedily directed the attention of
tLose grand jurymen who wero members of the Legislature
to the subject.

The London correspondent of the Birmingham
Gazette mentions a rumour that " the enterprising proprietors
of a certain excellent little paper, which appeals to the sup-
port of the million, at a wonderfully low price, are dissatis-
fied with the result of their speculation and have determined
to al andon it."

The editor of the Morning Advertiser has received
a communication from Colonel Henderson about the prohi-
bition of skittles, from which he gathers —first, that it is not
illegal to play at skittles if it bo not for money or beer, but
simply amusement; ard, secondly, that playing at bowls
is not even mentioned, and, therefore, not declared illegal.
A betting man, named Robert liampson, recovered
£75 from the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Company,
on Friday, as compensation for injuries received through
a collision on defendants' line. Plaintiff received a "blow
upon the back" and a "shock to the system," which laid him
up for six weeks, preventing him winning money at some
race meetings.

The renewed impulse given to the movement in
favour of the ballot by the political evictions in Wales has
by no means spent its forco. Two public meetings will be
held next week, at Liverpool and Manchester respectively,
each having tho same object in view—first, to express sym-
pathy with the evicted tenants; second, to support the
ballot, as the only efficient means whereby the tenant can be
saved from the application of the "screw."

A circular has been issued by the Lords Commis-
sioners of the Admiralty directing that in all cases of officers
and men suffering from fever or other contagious diseases
on board her Majesty's ships, their effects are to be destroyed
to prevent the risk of contagion. The value of such effects
are to be appraised, and to be added to, in the case of death,
the assets of the deceased, and payable to their legal repre-
sentatives. In caso of recovery, it is to be paid to the officer
or man.

Party politics appear to reach a very great height
in Warrington. Air. Laverock, draper, a member of the
Town Council, who is a tradesman of good standing in the
town, was on Friday charged with inducing his servant to
personate a voter at the municipal elections for that
borough. The court was crowded to excess, groat interest
being felt iu the case, which was eventually dismissed, the
Mayor remarking that the affair was disgraceful to both
Sides, and everybody implicated ought to bo ashamed of
themselves.

A Conservative banquet took place on Friday at
Harrogate, and was attended by upwards of 200 gentlemen.
The members for the Division, Messrs. Denison and Fiolden,
were present, and spoke on the work of last session. Both
of them argued that the Irish Church Act was a failure,
Mr. Fielder' maintained that neither that nor any thing
that could be done in dealing with the land difficulty, or
with education, would remove the disaffection in that coun-
try, which he attributed exclusively to Fenianism, which
could only be grappled with by a calng.'ATO firm 00Verri-

morkt•

the acdounts froni the manufacturing districts this week
are scarcely so favourable as they have been for some time
past; nevertheless the mills appear to be fairly employed
for the time of year.. Nearly all departments of the hard-
ware trade are actively engaged, and prices are consequently
well supported. Iron has ruled steacly,and the quotations have
tended upwards, while a large business has been done in
steam coals. The coal trade is likely to be influenced by
the opening of the Suez Canal, which will probably cause
a large increase in the tonnage of steam shipping trading
between England and the East. Messrs. Mosses and
Mitchell, the transit agents for the Canal on this
side, have given notice that the navigation is
open to vessels drawing 24 feet G inches of water,

and should the passage bo open to vessels of that draught
there is no doubt that advantage will be taken of it and a
large trade created. Colliery owners are accordingly
making preparations to supply the anticipated demand.
In the Lancashire market there has only been a moderate
amount of business passing. Cotton goods have
changed hands to a fair extent for export, but the demand
for home consumption has been unusually limited. Some
difficulty is found in arriving at a fair estimate of the
probable out turn of the American cotton crop. Very little
reliance is to be placed upon the figures of the Statistical
Lareau, which vary from month to month, but we notice
a disposition to increase the estimate at first put forth,
until it is now placed at 2,750.000 bales. We
see no reason to alter our original estimate
of 3,000,000 bales, which will probably be near
the truth, and in which most of the leading authorities in
the United States now agree. Looking at the bare stocks
of cotton on hand, and the comparatively small quantities
of cotton goods in stock in the various foreign markets,
there is no reason to anticipate any serious reduction in
present prices, but with the large increase now taking
place in the visible supply of cotton, the tendency of the
quotations must certainly be downwards.