The Sun.
London, England, 1858-08-18 00:00:00

SPAIN.

The Madrid journals of the 13th state that General
O'Donnell, President of the Council, has fallen ill,
and has been subjected by his physicians to a course
of treatment at the thermal baths of Las Caldas. It
is alleged by the ministerial organs that the exami-
nation of the electoral lists has led to the discovery
that no fewer than .30,000 names were improperly
inscribed in them, and that this accounts for
the pretended majorities which the last two
Cabinets obtained. Some of the journals assert that
the law authorities have racently discovered that the
disturbances which took place last year in Andalusia
were got up by French legitimists, who supplied
funds for the purpose ; but they give no proof of the
statement, and besides, it will be remembered that
these disturbances were of a republican and even a
socialist character. All the journals without ex-
ception of party treat as absurd the supposition,
emanating from the American press, that Spain can
ever think of ceding Cuba to the United States.
The Queen remained at Gijon, and the Duchess
d'Alba, sister of the Empress of the French, was in
attendance on her Majesty at that place. The
Discusion contains an article strongly recom-
mending the Government to make war on Mo-
rocco, in order to put down definitively the
pirates of the Riff, and to obtain a tract of territory
which shall enable it to found a large and fertile
colony. For some time past, journals of provincial
towns near the Mediterranean have been- recom-
mending the same thing. A report from a gentle-
man, who lately visited the African coast, is published
in one of the Madrid papers. It says that the
fertility of that coast is remarkable ; that the inha-
bitants are much higher in the social scale than is
generally supposed, and that there appears to be little
or no feeling of hostility amongst them to the Spa-
niards. It then goes on to assert that the conquest
of part of Morocco would be comparatively easy for
Spain, especially at the present time, when civil war
is raging in that country, and when the Emperor
finds it difficult to reduce to his sway the tribes that
have risen in insurrection.

THE STRIKE OF THE COLLIERS.—Another large
open-air meeting was held yesterday at West 13romwich,
Staffordshire. Joseph Linney presi 'ed. At the commence-
ment of the proceedings, which lasted two hours, during a
Leavy rain, about 800 personswere present, but subsequently
this number was increased to 1,200. The speakers com-
plained very much of the " oppressive tyranny" to which
they were exposed by the ba't'es when the men were at work
underground. This seemed to be the chief grievance on
which the speakers dilated. Strong contrasts were made
between the colliers in Yorkshire and those of South Staf-
fordshire, and of the unity and comfort of the men in the
former district and the disunion and oppression among
themselves. A resolution was until i non ly passed "to
stand out till the masters sent for them" and also to
refuse to go to work at a pit near the place of meeting if
the men there now should refuse to work half-days any
longer. Colonel Hoeg, the chief-constable, and Major
M'Knight, the deputy chief-constable of the county, were
present with a force in reserve of upwards of 80 men ; but
the tone of the men was pacific, and as a body they seemtd
to disapprove the strong language uttered on the vrelious
day, Alutlau mccting lAtv ,5t ;light At Wiptcp!

BIRTHDAY OF THE DUCHESS OF KENT.

The anniversary of the birthday of her Royal Highnes
the Duchess of Kent, who has attained her 72d year, wrs
celebrated at Windsor yesterday with a general irditia-.
The bells of the Chapel Royal of St. George and St. ;ohn>.
Church sent forth merry peals throughout the day. Roy-a:
salutes were fired in the Long Walk, by her Majesty; bom-
bardier, also at Fort Belvidere, and from the Royal Aiclaide
frigate on Virginia Water. For many years the trthday
of the royal duchess was celebrated by a revel ,n the
Bachelor's Acre, but on this occasion, in its stcad,t grand
fete was given in the beautiful grounds of St. Leonrds, the
seat of Mr. Roberts. Convenient vehicles were ercaged at
moderate prices for the conveyance of the holiday fik. At
the time the sports commenced 3,C00 personahad asembled.
The amusements consisted of cricket, dancicg, ,rchery,
football, quoits, trap and base ball, swinging, trowing
sticks for prizes, &c. The full band of the Colstream
Guards, Griffith's Quadrille Band, and the Abanian
Minstrels were also engaged. A triumphal arch, wih flags
and the motto of " Welcome," was erected at the entrince of
the grounds. Tents were arranged in various partsof the
park, where refreshments were provided.
Her Majesty forwarded to the committee £lolos. towards
the expenses, the Prince Consort £5 55., H.R.L. the
Duchess of Kent £5 55.; Mr. Grenfell, M.P., £5 55.; Mr.
W. Vansittart, M.P., £5 ss. Mr. Vansittart came expressly
from Scotland to be present at this interesting gathering.
In the evening the town was brilliantly illuminated.

FOREIGN COURTS.

PARIS, AuG.IG.

The following letter from Vannes, dated yesterda3, de-
scribes the progress of their Imperial Majesties through
Brittany, and dwells particularly on their visit to the sUrine
of Ste. Anne d'Auray :
" The Emperor and Empress left Lorient at 8 o'clock this
morning amidst the same acclamations as hailed theta on
their arrival. At Candan they were received by the mayor,
the cure, and the municipal councillors under a triumphal
arch erected at the entrance of the town. At Hennebon,
the chief town of the canton, the mayor, in the name of his
fellow-citizens, delivered a complimentary address, in
which, after expre4sing the gratitude of the inhabitants
at what the Emperor had already done for their town,
he expressed a hope that the railway with which
the town was to be favoured would be finished as
soon as possible, and that his Majesty would kindly take the
restoration of their church under his protection. The
Emperor replied that those subjects should occupy his
attention as soon as he returned to Paris. The cortege
next stopped at the Church of Notre-Dame-des-Vceux,
where the cure addressed his Majesty and received a similar
assurance. At the limit of the territory of the commune
their Majesties passed under a triumphal arch erected with
remarkable taste. The imperial cortege arrived at Auray
at half-past 11, and were received at the entrance of the
town by the mayor and the authorities. On leaving the
town their Majesties passed under a triumphal arch erected
on the bridge by the workmen of the port, and surmounted
by emblems and tools of their different trades. A little further
on the cortege met the pupils of the Ecoles Chretiennes on their
way to the mass which was about to be celebrated at the church
of Ste. Anne d'Auray. On seeing their Majesties the chil-
dren ranged themselves along the road and sang the
Domine salvum fac Imperatorem.' The Emperor stopped
and addressed a few kind word words to the children. On
approaching Ste. Anne the imperial cortege passed under a
triumphal arch bearing the inscriptions, 415th August,
1858—Rome and the Crimea—Fiat menus tua super virum
dexteree tom.' Their Majesties arrived at the chapel at
noon, when they were received by the Bishop of Vannes,
surrounded by his grand vicars and the clergy. The
bishop delivered an address, in which he called down
blessings on their Majesties and the Prince Imperial.
The Emperor replied Monsigneur, lam deeply affected
by the words you have addressed to me. There are days on
which Sovereigns should give the example; there are also
days on which they should follow the example of others.
It is for this purpose that, following the ancient custom
of the country, I have come here on my fete day to
pray God to grant the object of all my efforts, of all
my hopes, namely, the happiness of the nation He has
appointed me to govern. I am happy to be received
by so revered a prelate, and I trust your prayers will
draw the Divine blessing upon me.' Their Majesties
then took their places under the canopy, and went pro-
cessionally, preceded by the clergy and followed by all their
household, across the court which stands in front of
the chapel. Their Majesties knelt before the altar on which
the relics of St. Anne are carefully preserved, and the clergy
chanted the Domine salvum fac.' Their Majesties next
proceeded to take their place under a handsome tent erected
for the occasion, and heard mass, which was performed in
the open air at the altar of the pilgrims. At the conclusion
of Divine service the bishop blessed the medals which the
Daperor had caused to be ,trnel; in ern-rimer-Int alma of their
Majesties' visit, and which were afterwards distributed to
all present. The Empress presented the bishop with a rich
banner for the chapel, and at the same time delivered
to him a valuable relic which the Pope had sent to her
for that purpose. The children of the school after-
wards presented to the Empress a chaplet for the Prince
Imperial. The Emperor, on taking leave of the bishop,
who is advanced in years, expressed a hope that his health
would not suffer from the fatigues of the day. The cortege
then left, and arrived at Vannes at three o'clock. Their
Majesties were received at the entrance of the town by the
prefect, the general commanding the subdivision, and the
mayor, who presented the keys of the town to the Emperor,
and delivered a complimentary address, to which his Majesty
courteously replied. Their Majesties were received at the
door of the church by the grand vicar, surrounded by the
clergy. The prelate delivered an address, in which he stated
that the clergy venerated the Emperor as the Sovereign whom
God, in his mercy, had raised up to reassure and consoli-
date the church, to preserve France from dire evils, and
to restore her to her rank amongst nations. He spoke
of the Empress as a new and pious Esther,' and added
that, like her, her Majesty was seated on the most splendid
throne of the universe, took pleasure in spreading her
benefits amongst the people, and by her august example
encouraged the practice of virtue.' The Emperor answered
in the following terms I thank you for the wishes you
express for our happiness and for that of our son. I could
not doubt the sentiments of the clergy of Vannes, for I am
still under the influence of the words, full of devoted-
ness and affection, which tire worthy bishop who is
at your head has addressed to me.' After the Domine
salvum fac,' the cortege proceeded to the prefec-
ture, where a deputation of young ladies of Vannes pre-
sented a basket of flowers to her Majesty. At five o'clock,
a reception of the authorities took place, after which M. de
Sivry, Senator and President of tie Council-General, ad-
dressed his Majesty in the name of the Council-General.
Af cr stating in fervent terms gratitude for what the Em-
peror has done for France, and thanks to God for having
given France an Imperial Prince, he expressed the hope that
his Majesty's visit to Brittany would have the effect Of
putting an end to the neglect under which the province
has laboured for nearly half a century, and that it
like the rest of the country would have its canals
and railways completed, and its commerce and agri-
tulture encouraged. The Emperor returned the fol-
lowing reply I should indeed he happy were
an era of greater prosperity for Brittany to date
from the day of my passage through the country. It
is with a view to study more closely and on the spot the
wants of this part of France that I have undertaken my
journey. I sincerely rely on the councils-general and on
their unceasing zeal to second me in the realisation of the
projects I shall cause to be prepared for so desirable an end.'
A display of fireworks will take place this evening in pre-
sence of their Majesties."
The Emperor, on the occasion of his fete, has granted
1,241 pardons or commutations of punishment, to 1,020
persons condemned for crimes and 221 condemned for
offences. At Brest, also, the Emperor, on the prayer of
the Empress, granted a complete pardon to five prisoners,
one of them the mother of five children.

A letter from Potsdam of the 17th says :
" The Queen of England and the Prince Consort, accom-
panied by the Prince of Prussia and Prince Frederick Wil-
liam, arrived here last evening at 10 o'clock. The Princess
Frederick William went to the station of Wildpark to meet her
august parents, and also accompanied them to the station.
The Princess of Prussia, the Prince and Princess Charles,
and the Princes Albert and Adalbert of Prussia, also Prince
Augustus of Wurtemberg, Prince William of Baden, and
other royal personages were in waiting at the station to re-
ceive the Queen. 'the saloons of the station were tastefully
decorated with flowers and brilliantly lighted with gas. A
guard of honour of the Ist Regiment of the Guard, with the
band, was assembled, and the band played God save the
Queen !' A vast crowd, collected outside, greeted her
Majesty with enthusiastic hurrahs. After a short stay at
the station the Queen and the rest of the illustrious per-
sonages proceeded, to the Palace of Babelsberg."
The New Prussian Gazette announces that the Em-
peror of Russia has invited the Prince of Prussia to witness
tbe great manceuvres which are to take place in the neigh-
bourhood of Warsaw towards the end of September.

DEATH SENTENCE IN .
—lt will be recol-
lected that at the last Criminal
SirSEeTssions held at Darling-
burst, Joseph Wilkes
veaasth convicted of the murder of his
son, and sentenced to l June Ist was appointed as
the day for his execution. From the hour of his convic-
tion to that time be bad continued to assert his innocence
both to the gaol officials, Archdeacon Avli`sliEnecdrohei,manvdetr'yatfhre
enter
Sheehy. The latter two -
q ly, with a view to prepare him for his impending
fate. All the necessary arrangements were made in order
that the execution might take place on the morning ap-
pointed. For some time previous to that hour the pri-
soner was attended by his spiritual advisers. Shortly
before nine the colonial :secretary, the sheriff, Mr. Dailey,
the governor of the gaol, and Mr. J. It. Brenan, entered
the cell, and the prisoner continued to assert his innocence.
The hangman shortly afterwards arrived, and prisoner was
pinioned. He shook hands with Mr. Dailey, thanking him
for defending him, and stated that he bore no to any
one who had sworn against him. They were mistaken, for
Lynch was the murderer. He then took the Bible and
swore upon it that he was innocent of this crime, whatever
others he might have committed. He appeared much
humbled, fully sensible of his awfnl position, and expressed
his willingness to die. The sheriff then announced to him
that a reprieve of his sentence had just arrived, and that it
was commuted from death to imprisonment for life. Wilkes
then expressed his willingness to die. He said he was far
better prepared now than he might probably be hereafter,
he therefore requested that the original sentence should be
carried out, that be might meet his wife and murdered
children in another world. The prisoner during the few
days prior to the day fixed for the execution sunk to a very
low state. He Is 64 years of age, but has now apparently
recovered from the shock, and is doing well.—Sydney
Empire.

The first pocket of new hops reached the Boro'
yesterday morning, the growth or Mr. Wm. Mi i twaring, of
Ya‘ding, Keut ; consigned to Mr. E. Beeman, and sold by
him to Messrs. Kitchen and Thornton qt £8 Bs. per cwt.
§Ample, hcAlthy Rd ling.

LITERATURE.

The Parsees : Their History, Manners, Customs, and
Religion. By Dosabhoy Pramjee. Smith and
Elder.

This is a wry interesting little volume. It is
written by a native, though that fact can hardly be
detected, so fluently and ably does he express himself.
It is well worthy of attention to notice the charac-
teristics of this peculiar people, in whom change of
country and the lapse of time have not obliterated
their national feelings, nor shaken their belief in
the faith of their fathers. It is distinctly asserted in
these pages that the Parsees are not fire-worshippers
in the strict sense of the term, but that they regard
the sun, or fire, as the " most proper symbols of the
Almighty." The same idea is suggested in the lines
of " Lalla Rookh"—
" The slaves of fire, who, morn and even,
Hall their Creator's dwelling-place,
Among the living lights of heaven."
Several extracts are met with, citing the opinions
expressed by competent authorities on the subject,
to prove that the Persians are not idolators. Some
sensible remarks are made at the conclusion of this
work, in reference to the progressmade by this people,
from being fugitives ,and outcasts, to their present
distinguished position. The author lays great stress
on their well-known fidelity to the cause of British
rule in India, and dilates on the great advantages
they have received from the protection of our Go-
vernment. It is said that they, of all the natives of
the East, the nearest approximate to Europeans.
After perusing the records of this race, their many
vicissitudes and startling changes, and after witness-
ing the indomitable energy. and unflinching spirit
with which they have withstood their perils and
surmounted their dangers, the reader cannot fail to
desire that time may justify the conviction of the
author in "claiming a bright future for the Parsees
of Western India."

Deerbrook: A Tale of English Country Life. By
Harriet Martineau. New Edition. Smith and

Elder.

This is one of the admirable cheap series of stan-
dard copyright works which these publishers are
now issuing. The story of Deerbrook is a very pleas-
ing one. There is much to attract notice in the
skilful manner in which Miss Martineau has sketched
her characters and detailed the events. The scene
is laid in a country village, but the course of exist-
ence in the cool sequestered vale of life was anything
but smooth or satisfactory. There is something
heroic in the life led by the Hopes and Margaret in
the midst Gf this world's heaviest trials, and one
enters into the spirit which animated and sustained
them, till, the conflict over, they could rejoice in
victory. Some of the leading persons in the village
coteries are described with remarkable ability.

A Treatise on Coins, Currency, and Banking. By H.
Nicholas Sealy, Esq. Longman.
This work contains a series of reflections on the
various systems of metallic currency, and on the
rival merits of paper money. The writer has founded
his opinions on those of Adam Smith, and is evidently
deeply interested in the subject. He adds some re-
flections on the Bank Act of 1844, and on the Re-
ports of the Committees of both Houses of Parlia-
liament on the Bank Acts. He also quotes the opi-
nions and systems of all the leading financial autho-
rities of the day, and gives the substance of several ,
Acts of Parliament in the Appendix. Like most
persons who have devoted any time or thought to
the study of the Currency Question, he strongly
opposes the renewal of the Bank Charter in its pre-
sent form. The work is written in a somewhat un-
equal style, but the writer is evidently sincere and
earnest in his opinions, and as such, however they
may differ from others, deserves to have them re-
spected. Those concerned in this important question
may find some suggestive passages in its arguments
and illustrations.

Eight Months' Campaign against the Bengal Sepoy
Army. By Colonel G. Bourchier, C. 8., Bengal
horse Artillery. Smith and Elder.
Personal Adventures, during the Indian Rebellion, in
Rohile,und, Futteghur, and Oude. By W. Edwards,
8.C.5., Judge of Benares. Smith and Elder.
These two volumes, though both on the same sub-
ject, are strikingly different in character. They are
both full of interest in their varying ways, and bring
forcibly before the reader's mind the a mount of suf-
fering and endurance which has been caused by the
Indian rebellion. The two authors were both per-
sonally engaged in the events they record, at the im-
minent peril of their lives ; but one was employed in
the excitement of a campaign among his fellow-soldiers,
with the triumph of baffling the enemy and establish-
ing his own reputation. The other, in a hasty and
dangerous flight, barely escaped with his life, and for
weary months wandered in disguise among cruel and
desperate foes, escaping almost by a miracle. Each
narrative is interesting, and each possesses some degree
of novelty. Colonel Bourchier's work will be espe-
cially calculated to attract military men, from its
clear and simple record of the movements and ma-
noeuvres of the army. Its animated style and inci-
dental anecdotes will please all readers. The narra-
tive of Mr. Edwards reads more like a romance than
a tale of ordinary life, and the fearful risks he and
his friends encountered, and their many days and
nights of anxiety and suffering, commend it to the
sympathetic and cordial attention of his more fortu-
nate countrymen.