The Sun.
London, England, 1856-08-18 00:00:00

SPAIN.

The Madrid journals of the 12th are a good deal
occupied with the excessive dearness of food, and
it was reported that the government intended to
import 300,000 bushels of wheat by the ports of
Santander and Alicante, for sale in Madrid, so as
to force the holders of corn to sell, and to cause a
reduction of price. The quantity in question would
be sufficient for more than a month's consumption
of the capital. The Epoca gives a list of the jour-
nals of the principal provincial towns which have
declared in favour of the existing government.
The Marquis de Turgot, French ambassador, who
was about to leave for Paris, intended' to remain
absent until the month of October. The Duke de
la Victoria, accompanied only by a general, whose
name is not ascertained, and an aide-de-camp, had
arrived at Logrono. M. Montesinos, the Duke's
nephew, had resigned the post of director in the
department of public works. A letter coming from
a quarter favourable to the government says :
" M. Gonzalez de la Vega, M. Asensio, M. Sagasta,
progressists, and other gentlemen of their opinion,
are about to leave for Paris. It is said that a great
political junta is to be established in France, under
the presidency of M. Olozaga, to decide on the
policy to be followed by the vanquished parties.
The conduct of well-intentioned progressists is,
however, not doubtful to any one • the major part
of them think that if Marshal O'Donnell follows a
liberal line, opposing equally extreme parties, he
ought to be supported at every cost. Several pro-
gressists have been admitted to places in the Mini-
stry of the Interior—a proof of the conciliatory
tendencies of the Cabinet. The Cabinet does not
allow itself to be influenced by the moderados who
desire to see it do away with the National Guard
without waiting for a resolution of the Cortes, to
promulgate the Constitution of 1845, and in all
cases to adopt the plans of the moderados."

AMERICA.
ARRIVAL OF THE ERICSSON.

LIVERPOOL, AUG. 17.

The United States' mail steam-3liip Ericsson,
Captain Lowber, which left New York on the 2d
inst., has arrived. She has brought 20 passengers,
but no specie.
Her dates have been anticipated.

A letter from Galatz, in the Kronstadt Gazette,
says :—" The ex-Prince of Servia, Milosch Obreno-
witch, who arrived here from St. Petersburg, has
started for Bucharest. Iskender Pacha (Count
Illinski) has also arrived here, and will leave shortly
for Constantinople. The relations between Galatz,
Constantinople, and Odessa are very animated.
The Lloyd's steamers, the Messageries boats, and
Turkish steamers ply between Galatz and Constan-
tinople, whilst the Austrian steamer Metternich
runs between Galatz and Odessa."

The Zeit of Berlin contains the following :
" It has been already stated that the Empress-
Dowager of Russia has been named chief of the
Gth regiment of Cuirassiers. When the officers of
that regiment were presented to her Majesty on
the Bth at Sans-Souci, the Empress wora a cos-
tume which to a certain degree resembled the uni-
form of the regiment. With the exception of the
Queen no lady has ever received such a command
in Prussia."

The Journal de St. Petersbourg says :—" On
Sunday, the 20th July, Lieutenant-General Count
Broglia de Casalborgone, envoy extraordinary and
inini-tar plenipotentiary of the King of Sardinia to
the C )urt of Russia, was received by the Emperor
Alexander and presented his credentials. Count
Broglia was subsequently presented to the Em-
press and to the Grand Duke Nicholas"
The King of Prussia returned on the 13th to
Berlin from Stettin, whither he had accompanied
the Empress-Dowager of Russia.

THE CHILD WITH Two MOTHERS.—A strange dispute
(" requiring the judgment of a Solomon") as to the ma-
ternity of a child is related by the Durham Chronicle.
A. young woman came before the magistrates to make a
complaint. Her counsel stated that she had formerly
been an unfortunate girl, and in the month of Decem-
ber, 1352, she became enceinte. She entered the Sun-
derland workhouse to be confined, where she gave
birth to a fine, healthy female child. Mrs. Davison,
who was acquninted with her, called to see her at
the workhouse. Mrs. Davison then appeared as if
in a state of pregnancy, caused, as it afterwards
turned out, by pillows and padding having been placed
about her person. Mrs. Davison then stated to the young
girl that she lived unhappily with her husband, owing
to her not having any children, and he frequently beat
her fur no other reason. She asked the girl if she would
ler her have the child, which was then about a week old,
and she would bring it carefully up, and also make her
husband believe that she had been delivered of it in his
absenc". She would consider it a particular favour, as
it would cause her to live more comfortably with her
husband. The child, she said, could be seen by the
mrt'ser whenever she thought proper to visit it. To
this proposition the girl agreed, and gage Mrs. Davison
the child. Mr. Davison returned home, and was quite
drl ghted with the "little stranger." For a time
all went smoothly on ; the mother frequently saw
the child, which was treated with every kindness.
Ultimately, however, the young mother got married to
a shipwright (Fenwick), who, when he learnt the story,
expressed a great desire to have the child brought home.
Mrs. Davison, after the mother's marriage, refused to
allow her to see the child, and, therefore, on Friday
last Mrs. Fenwick went to Mrs. Davison's house,
and during her temporary absence ran off with the
child. When Mrs. Davison returned she was greatly
alarmed at her loss, and went to Mrs. Fenwick's house
and took away the child. The mother, being deter-
mined not to be outdone, went again to the other
woman's house and stole the child a second time. She
was afterwards followed by Mrs. Davison and her bus
band, who claimed the child but this time the mother
had the child safe. From violent words they came to
blows ; Mr. Davison gave Mrs. Fenwick a severe beat-
ing ; the parties had several battles during the day about
this mysterious child, and at length the police were
called in, and both parties were taken to the police sta-
tion. Mrs. Fenwick who had the child in her arms, stoutly
maintained that she gave birth to it in 1853. Mrs.
Davidson as stoutly asserted that she gave birth to
the child in 1852, and that the child was now four
years of age. Mrs. Fenwick declared that this state-
ment was entirely false. The ladies looked daggers at
each other, and exchanged strange compliments. The
child had a strong resemblance to Mrs. Fenwick, was
respectably dressed, and had a healthy appearance. The
magistrates raid that it was quite impossible to decide
who was the mother of the child, and therefore they
advised Mrs. Davison to allow Mrs. Fenwick to keep
the child, and not to interfere with her in future. This
singular case was then dismissed, and Mrs. Fenwick
walked of in triumph with the child.
BANQUET TO THE HON. BARRINGTON PELLEW.—The
Honourable Captain Pellew, of the second battalion of
Rifles, having returned from the Crimea to the resi-
dence of his mother, the Dowager Lady Exmouth, at
Canonheign, Devonshire, the inhabitants gave him a
hearty welcome, and invited him t ) a banquet, which
was held on Thursday last. Mr. Laurerce V. Pa'k,
M.P., presided, aed, in proposing the health of the
gallant captain, alluded to the achievements of
his grandfather, Lord Exmouth, who, when told
to attack stone walls, thought not of his ships,
and who, when be was ordered to attack cne of the
greatest arsenals of the world, placed his wooden ships
against stone walls, and there nailed his colours to the
utast. His name was Pellew, and not Napier. (Cheere.)
They were met there to day to congratulate another
Pellew on his safe return, and to hail him as ono of
the heroes of the Crimean war. The toast was drunk
with enthusiasm. The gallant captain briefly re-
sponded, expressing the pleasure he felt at having been
mercifully spared to return to his friends and neighbaure,
after a somewhat tedious and dangerous absence.
In alluding to the attack on the Redan, in which he took
part, the gallant Captain said that in that uufertun,.te
but glorious attack he had seen very old soldiers—vete-
rans who bad boen through tie whole Crimean cam■
paign, and who had never swerved under the most trying
emergencies of war--return from the attack with tears
in their eyes, and their invariable question was, " What
will they say in England ?" Many of them, however,
had lived to hear how generously and fairly the people
of England had estimated their conduct. (Cheers.)

LITERATURE.

The Oxonian, in Norway; or, 14-kg of Excursions
in that Country in 1854-55. gy the Rev.
Prederisk 11V -)tealfe, M.A. Two Vols. Hurst
and Blacketf.
The author avers in the 13fertve that " profound
disquisitions and logical trains of atgnment were
quite beside his purpose." His object was to con-
vey a notion of the manners and customs of the
people of Norway from the publication of these
notes, which were originally intended rather for
private than public perusal. In this endeavour he
has succeeded, as they present an amusing subject
of study to those who are desirous of gleaning in-
formation concerning foreign lands. The igno-
rance of some of the inhabitants is astonishing. An
Englishman was fly-fishing in a stream near Ber-
gen, the novelty of the proceeding attracted uni-
versal attention, and actually arrested the progress
of a funeral procession, the mourners batting to
behold the singular sport. It is remarked that
there are hardly any architectural remains in Nor-
way ; this fact is to be accounted for from the pre •
valence of wood as the material employed in build-
ing. The ancient Norskmen preferred it from its
cheapness and adaptability, and their descendants
preserve the custom. As may be supposed their
labours do not long survive, and nothing is left to
"set agoing the fancies of the poet, or whet the ap-
petite of the antiquary." A custom prevails which
is ;inconvenient to travellers, of abstaining from
meat during the summer months, which they con-
sider only suitable for winter consumption. The
grandest scenery in Norway is in Gudvangen. The
Keelfoss is a fall of two thousand feet ; yet it is
observed few came to visit here—" where one John
Bull is seen in these parts, their name is legion on
the Rhine." On one occasion the travellers met
with a ludicrous adventure. They beheld what
they supposed must be the sea-serpent of famous
memory, but on minutely examining it with a
telescope the writer of these pages proved it to be
" half-a-dozen porpoises close to each other, whose
resplendent backs, as they went up and down, I had
mistaken for the connected whole of one tremen-
dous snake." There is nothing more peculiar than
the way in which those of the State Church bury
their dead, it being considered unnecessary for the
clergyman to officiate beyond saying a few words,
" Dust thou art, and unto dust thou shalt return."
If he is not near at the time of interment the
friends conduct the ceremony themselves, leaving
an aperture in the grave into which, when the
priest returns, he may pour some mould, which is
supposed always to reach the coffin. There is an
extraordinary deficiency in the science of Natural
History in Norway. Every species of flat fish goes by
the name of " flynder," every species of birel with
a long bill is called " schneppe." Even when other
words exist in their dictionary, the well-educated
are ignorant of their applicability.
In the course of their wanderings the travellers
were invited to join in some marriage feast that
was being celebrated as they passed. A description
is given of the various ceremonies that took place
great attention is paid to the food on these oc-
casions, yet it is observed the result produced
nothing palatable. An account of a 'Norwegian
Church going is interesting, detailing the difference
that subsisted between the congregation, some
being Norwegian bonders, and others Laps or Fins.
The blue eyes and fair hair of the descendants of
the Vikings contrasted strangely with the inferior
race with their deep set orbs and elf locks. A
great variety of information is afforded of the dif-
ferent modes of life observable in this country, to-
gether with a vast store of anecdote, tradition,
and events, which combine to render attractive
the record here presented to notice of Norwegian
travels.
It forms an agreeable addition to the works of
the class that have previously appeared, and which
will always be welcomed so long es interest is ex-
cited regarding other countries.

The Political Life of the Right Hon. Sir Robert
Peel. By Thomas Doubleday, author of the
"Financial History of England," 4Tc. 2 vols.
Smith and Elder. _

The author has called this work "an analytical
biography," because not contenting himself with
recounting events as they appeared on the surface,
he has endeavoured to examine and to analyse the
causes which produced them. The calm and tem-
perate tone of his preface, in which he declares
himself to have reached a period whenhe has ceased
to entertain the feelings of a partisan for any par-
ticular line of policy, prepossesses the reader at the
outset. No quality is at once so rare and so in-
valuable in the biographer of a great public cha-
racter as a strict impartiality, and this quality is
the more difficult to find, and the more highly to
be praised when the subject of the memoirs has so
recently gone from among us, and when the
shadow of his power and his influence has hardly
passed away. The temperate and impartial man-
ner in which these volumes are written may there-
fore be considered as their first merit, while their
completeness as a political biography render them
exceedingly useful as a work of reference. They
extend from 1809, when the future Premier en-
tered the House of Commons, to the day of
his lamented death. The work has a se-
vere ordeal to undergo in the almost simul-
taneous publication of the great statesman's
own memoirs ; but they are so entirely different
that those who have perused the more important
work may still find the other of service. It will be
seen, therefore,. that it is not a mere chronological
catalogue of facts, but an earnest and straightfor-
ward inquiry into the chief social questions of the
last fifty years. The author is one not unskilled in
political literature, having already produced works
on Population, Finance, and Moral Govern-
ment. The arduous and responsible task he has
now undertaken demands, however, a greater de-
gree of penetration and right judgment, and of
this he seems to be conscious. To errors in judg-
ment, he himself says, all writers must be liable ;
but from those of prejudice the cold touch of time
should free us. From this class of errors he appears
to be entirely free ; and this, we think, most
readers will readily allow, even while differing, as
many must do, from his political opinions. On
these we shall not enter, but commend the volumes
to the public as a careful and impartial narrative
of those great political events that are still fresh in
the memory of the present day.

Jaufry the Knight, and the fair Brunissende.
A Tale of the Times of King Arthur. Translated
from the French version of Mary Lafon, by
Alfred Elwes. Addey and Co., Henrietta-
street. _ _ _

The original romance from which this is taken
is a poem, and although before it meets our view
in its present form it has been twice subjected to
a prose translation, it has certainly much vigour
and freshness still pervading it. In the preface,
to the French version, it is observed that this poem
is a fair criterion of what the troubadours of the
twelfth and thirteenth century could produce
"Feudal society revives therein entire, and such is
the interest of the tale that we allow ourselves to
be carried away by it with as much pleasure as our
ancestors must have felt, when it was told to the
sounds of the minstrel's viol in the great castle-
hall, or beneath the shadow of the tent." This ro-
mance, though it is styled a flower of French genius,
and first composed in the Provencal tongue, is Eng-
lish in its heroes, scenery, and events. The town o f
Carlisle is the general rendezvous, where King
Arthur holds his court, and to which place the
knights of matchless valour, whose deeds of high
emprise are here celebrated, send the trophies of
his success, and the spoils of his hard-won victories.
Romance has never owned a brighter star to en-
hance its lustre than this monarch of early Britain,
whose records, though lost in the twilight of fable,
outshine by far the fame of those who have a fixed
and decided clue to their history. Jaufry, the
hero of this tale, was a worthy example to chroni-
cle, of that band of mighty men whose renown hag
been vouched for, in tradition, legend, tale, and
song, wherever troubadours have been welcomed, or
poets found a hearing. Sir Walter Scott, in the
" Bridal of Triermain," has devoted himself to
their laudation, and in the account of their forma-
tion he says—
_

so Oh, minstrels ! when the table round
Arose with all its warriors crowned,
There was a theme for bards to sound
In triumph to their string,"
It is not likely that any of this charmed circle at-
tained better success than he who is here made
mention of. All the attributes of romance are
round his path and attend his steps—giants,
dwarfs, tortures, enchanted castles, and fair
maidens of transcendent loveliness. He rescued
the oppressed, attacked the strongest, penetrated
to the most dangerous places, and attempted the
most difficult tasks. His ventures, though hazard-
ous, were always crowned with triumph ; and
those who would recall their early days of marvel-
lous stories, or renew their acquaintance with the
mystical and romantic, cannot do better than
peruse this record of the wonders of the olden
time. The engravings which illustrate the pro.
greys of the knight render the events more intelli-
gible, and add to the general effect produced.

Moore's Poems. Longman.
Three exquisite little volumes are here presented
to the public—one containing " Songs, Ballads,
and Sacred Songs " another " Lalla Rookh," and
the third "Irish Melodies." It must be agreeable
to many to be able thus to obtain in so concise a
form any portion of the works of so favourite a
poet. From the small size of the volumes they
cau be easily =mod about in travelliugl 4;0,3 pr

taken up for perusal when a vcork in a larger form
might not be convenient. From the elegance of
their appearance they are peculiarly ,adapted for
presents, and rendered eligible to forme an orna-
ment to a drawing-room or library. It would be
well if similar editions of other poets were brought
out in a corresponding manner.

Nichol's Series of the Poets. J. Nichoi; Edinburgh.
The works which have recently been issued hi_
this excellent series are calculated to add gre%tly
to their reputation and success. Those who can
obtain the poems of Pope aed Burns in a library
edition of large size and unusually clear type for
three and sixpence a volume tuay esteem them--
selves fortunate. The works of _Pope are already-
completed ; those of Burns will occupy three vo-
lumes. The yearly subscription is a guinea, for
which the subscriber receives six volumes. Among-
those already published are Thomson, Butler, Gold-
smith, Beattie, and many others. Some of
equal celebrity are promised. To many readers
the introductory life by Gilfillan will not always
be a recommendation, owing to his peculiar
opinions; but at least it furnishes the uninitiated
with an outline of the poet's career, and in gene's/
it occupies but a small part of the volume. Great
praise is due to Mr. Nichol for the 3udicious and
efficient manner in which he has conducted the
series.