The Sun.
London, England, 1867-02-16 00:00:00

COLCHESTER.

After a severe contest, victory declared itself
yesterday in favour of the Conservative candidate,
Mr. E. K. Karslake, Q.C. Dr. Brewer (Liberal)
headed the poll for the first two or three hours, but
afterwards ho was gradually left behind by Mr.
Karslake, who increased his majority every hour.
At five p.m. the mayor (Mr. P. 0. Papillon) offi-
cially declared the numbers as follows :
Karslake 675
Brewer
Majority for Karslake
The MAYOR accordingly declared Mr. Karslake
duly elected,

~ ....,,

Cora Cumbr.
wool •

HER MAJESTY, &c.

OSBORNE, Feb. 15.
The Queen went out yesterday afternoon, accom-
panied by Princess Louise and Princess Beatrice.
This morning her Majesty and all the royal
family walked and drove in the grounds.

The Marquis and Marchioness of Donegal have
arrived at their residence in Grosvenor-square, from Hamp-
stead Marshall, near Newbury.
The Earl of Lonsdale intends to leave town to-
day for the seaside. His lordship has considerably improved
in health of late.

The Countess of Caledon has arrived in town in
order to take her turn in waiting on her Majesty.
Lady Stanley of Alderley will have an evening
party to-night at the noble lord's residence in Dover-street,
Piccadilly.

Lord Seaton returned last week to town.

LITERATURE.

A New History of Scotland.

The History of Scotland, from .Agricola's Invasion
to the Revolution of 1688. By,] ohn Hill Burton.
Vols. 1., IL, 111., IV. William Blackwood and
Sons.
The history of Scotland is without doubt, among
all the nations of Europe, one most fraught with
the elements of the picturesque, the chivalrous, and
the romantic. The luxuriant beauty of no southern
clime has been capable of endearing itself to its
children with a tender affection in any way com-
parable to that which " the land of brown
heath and shaggy wood" possesses for its hardy
inhabitants. Rich and powerful lauds have again
and again become the prey of the spoiler, while the
barren hills and heaths of the mountaineer have
been defended with a resolute patriotism which has
proved itself irresistible. The history of Scotland,
so attractive in itself, has been rendered delight-
fully familiar to us all in those annals of the great
Sir Walter, which the memory of most of 11.3 may
recall as among the most delightful literature of our
youthful days—

"Beloved as Fable, and believed as Truth."
Such associations and such remembrances are con-
jured up by the appearance of a history of Scotland
as are likely to prove dangerous rivals in the way
of any new historian. It is not, therefore, a great
matter of surprise if the reader is at first somewhat
disappointed with this new history, complete and
comprehensive as it is. A closer examination does
more justice to the history and the historian. Mr.
Burton begins with the invasion of Agricola, in the
year 80 of the Christian era. The various warlike
operations of Julius Cas3ar he regards as acts of in-
vasion; and nothing more. The achievements of
Agricola, as he justly observes, "hold a greater place
in history than they would have reached had they
not been told by his son-in-law, Tacitus, the most
powerful of Roman historians. The light thus cast
on Scotland for a time is more remarkable for its
brightness than its clearness." Aided by this
transient glimpse, we gain a certain idea of
Northern Britain in those remote times, after
which are some chapters devoted to the " unrecorded
ages," and " the early races," until the dawn of
Christianity happily brings us to the beloved names
of Coltunba and lona. Here again Mr. Burton is
likely to suffer by a comparison with the eloquent
biography of St. Columba just given to us by the
hand of Montalembert. A little later on we come
to Macbeth, whom we find always spoken Of
as Macbeda, and the historian tells us in
afoot-note that, among the variations of spelling, he
has purposely selected fvlacbeda, instead of Mac-
beth, in order to " keep clear of a name summoning
a story so different from the meagre outline which the
general materials of history have preserved." In
alluding to the " Macbeth " of Shaksp3re Mr. Bur-
ton adds, " Shakespere followed the histories he had
before him, probably the chronicle of Holinshed•
No man of his age could have helped him to the
truth. Macbeth is no exception to his marvellous
power of seizing and giving life to the reality of his-
torical traditions. Bring it down 250 years, and it
takes us thoroughly into the life of the feudal court
of Scotland." Be that as it may, we find it difft-
cult to dislodge Macbeth and his terrible
wife from the place they have so long held
in our imagination, and to regard the actual
Macbeda and his lady Gruach as rather respect-
able individuals than otherwise. As Mawworra
exclaimed—" I like's to be despised," so in regard to
these old stories we must say we prefer to be
deceived ; but this we may be told is not the spirit
in which to read history. Let us pass on to a more
attractive theme, the beneficent reign of Malcolm
Canmore and St. Margaret. " The good queen
Margaret had an influence on the destinies of Scot-
land much greater than that of her husband," es
Mr. Burton admits, but his record of her life is 148
brief as possible. Malcolm Canmore, says Mr.
Burton, "comes forth as the first king of Scots
who has something like an individuality about him
—who is more than a name, and a pair of dates,
with a list of battles between them." In alluding
to Malcolm's vain but gallant efforts to servo the
cause of his wife's exiled brother, Mr. Burton re-
marks, with truth, it may be, but in a style toe
flippant and colloquial as it appears to us, for the
dignity of historical composition, " Maldolm seetco
to have found the cause of the Saxon line a hopelel,
game with such a card as Edgar the Atheling•
The second volume conducts us through the subse-
quent history of the monarchy, and the troublous
times of the war of succession, which are necessara
fall of interest, and its last pages leave us at the
battle of Bannockburn—that battle so decisive for
the fortunes of Scotland, so disastrous for Ei3g-
land—

"For ne'er the leopards on her shield,
Retreated from so sad a field
Since Norman William came."
After the death of Robert Bruce the warlike am'
bition of King Edward 111. of England again
threatened the independence of Scotland until the
greater fascination of a French war drew the Euglie 13
„,
army across the Channel. By an oversight in t 11"
correction of the press we find (page 17, vol. ita
glaring typographical error, in which it is stated
that Isabel, the sister of Louis of France, was re3r.
ried to Edward 111. of England, meaning of coal
Edward 11. It was in right of his mother, se i
mentioned on the same page, that Edward In•
claim to the throne of France. To the educed
reader, of course, the error is instantly manifest, bre
it is one obviously requiring attention in a ftltiio
edition. The Scots had good cause to rejoice in
King Edward's French invasion, but Mr. Pito;
ton, in remarking on this subject, goes s° To
as to utter a doubt which we should never he
~,0
found in the pages of a thorough-going patriot 110
Sir Walter Scott. " Whether," he says, " tits
sole object of ambition to two such potent sP(I
as Edward 111. and the Black Prince, Seetillbt. •
could have held her own to the end may be detiter..
ful." As a happy exception to the somewhat 016" 00
of-fact manner in which this history is for the Int of
part written, we find a very interesting 04°3e0, to
the romantic battle of Otterburn. In alloch'
able
Froissart's admirable description of that naenlerlos
but unnecessary fight, Mr. Burton happilY°7t for
that the great Chronicler recognised in it "a 11&..r03-
fighting's sake—the greatest and bloodiest to
e' ia
ment that ho had to record." The third volt i story
which these episodes occur, recounts the 1 iv.,
of the house of Stuart to James V, and "7°ooer
0
the last volume yet issued, is devoted to % 1330
of the unhappy Mary Queen of Scots. IV icor
not time to dwell at length upon Mr. Mirtcllol°
of that remarkable history and that real, l'oci
heroine, whom we are somewhat surprised t° test
him designate "one of the subtlest and /,/ticon-
women ever born !" The death of Bothivalis yct
eludes this volume. The tragic fate of lgar):_ tbe
to come. Two other volumes will compit'ku
coy
we null ,d
history, bringing it down to 1688.
onlPlislll'
hgirsattuaslaktienllalrv.eßryucrotomnpolentehaavnidn
notwithstanding
writer of a new history of Scotland, be Q
faij to encounter. the many difficulties Nviurtil' d of
gsactoisffaarc satisfactory
.311-181311tebr'0

MONEY JIARKET

AND
C 0 M MERU fal INTELLIGENCE,

TWELVE O'CLOCK.

Within the last two or three days there has been
a considerable increase in the demand for discount
accommodation, owing to the settlement of the
account in foreign bonds and shares of all kinds.
Moreover, money has been sent to the country
for the protection of banks, so thit they may
be prepared for any contingency that may arise
from Fenianism, but every confidence being reposed
In the Government no material change in the
Money Market is likely to take place from these
influences. Though the rates out of doors are now
ahnost equal to the minimum of the Bank, the de-
mand after all is comparatively insignificant com-
pared with the available resources of bankers and
bill-brokers.

The Cuba has brought about ..V2,000 in specie
from New York.
There were no gold operations yesterday at the
Bank of England.
Notice has been given by the liquidators of the
Imperial Mercantile Credit Association that a
second dividend of 2s. Gd. in the pound will be paid
on 'Wednesday next the 20th instant, or any subse-
quent Wednesday.
The share list of the English and French Steam
_Transit Company will be closed on the 20th inst.
for London, and on the 22d for country applica-
tions.

It has been notified by Messrs. Freehling and
Goschen that the Coupons of the Egyptian Go-
vernment Loan, 1862, due the Ist March, will be
Paid at their office on any Monday, Tuesday, Thurs-
daY, or Friday, on and after that date.
The movements of the precious metals during the
Past week have been on a very restricted scale. The
imports Have diminished to about £140,466, includ-
ing £l,OOO from New York by the Asia, £8,700
by the City of Boston, £64,898 by the Germania,
and £2,000 by the Cuba. The Nyanza, from
Alexandria, has brought £45,240; £12,028 in gold
has been received from Portugal, and £6,800 in
silver from the Continent. The exports have been
£731600 in gold to the Brazils, and there have been
remittances to the Continent through private
sources estimated at £102,132 —the totar amount-
ing to £175,732.

Two O'CLOCK.
According to Reuter's telegram from Paris to-
day, the French Rentes were 69f. 42c. Few securi-
ties quoted. Bourse agitated.
On the whole the markets for stocks and shares
have not closed unfavourably. There are instances
of buoyancy—instances, also, of depression ; but
iu the main the tendency is encouraging, especially
on account of the energetic and successful policy
Pursued by the Government in dealing with the Fe-
nialan and other disaffected persons. Consols closed
at 904 91 for money, and at 91 for the account.
The,., New Threes are 90 and Reduced Annuities
Egl, New 24 per Cents. 724, Annuities, 1885, 13 ;
-rixehequer Bills 13s. to 17s. prem. ; Bank of Eng-
land Stock, 252 2534 ; India Stock, 216 ; ditto 5
Per Cent., 107 ditto Enfaced 5 per Cents., 1024 ;
and ditto Bonds, 325. prem.
The Foreign Stock Market, in several instances,
shows an improvement, though the amount of busi-
ness transacted has been very much curtailed, as
on a Saturday. Greek have advanced 4, to
44 15 ; and Spanish Passive 4, to 221 I ; but
Italian have declined 4, to 531 4 ; Turkish 5 per
SierLta., 4, 31 ; and Chilian Loan 4, to prem. ;
a.Panish Certificates are firm at 141 ; and Ru.s-
-44 Scrip, at 24 1 prem.
,1
very moderate amount of business has been
:a° gritish Railway Shares, but in a few in-
stances prices are a shade firmer. Caledonian,
reat Western, North Western, and South Eastern
have each improved 4, South Western 4, and
Metropolitan a ; while Brighton have declined 4.
:Very little business has been transacted in
American Securities, but Erie shares have declined
-,[3, to 371 30.4- ;
and United States 5-20 Bonds 4,
7 to
; while Illinois remain at 78 4, ex dividend.
Miscellaneous and Finance shares exhibit little
'variation of importance. Anglo-American Tele-
graph are dealt in at 151 ; Credit Foncier. of Eng-
land at 31 9-16ths ; General Credit and Discount
aPeninsular
6 54 Hudson's Bay Company at 16 ; and
and Oriental Steam, 664.
The Foreign and Colonial lines remain very in-
active, without any material change as regards
'values.
, Bank Shares continue dull ; Bank of Australia,
Il_olorever, have improved to 671 ; London and
C)titlty, tO 644 654 ; and Union of London remain
steady at 451.