The Sun.
London, England, 1858-11-22 00:00:00

.LITEBA TUBE.

LIVERPOOL, SUNDAY.
The Royal Mail steam ship Persia, Captain Jud
kin, which sailed from New York on the 13th inst.,
has arrived at this port, bringing 148 passengers,
and 79,792 dollars in specie on freight.
She brings no intelligence of the overdue steamer
Indian Empire. '
The steam ship Pacific sailed from New York for
Galway on the Bth inst. with 174 passengers, in-
cluding Lola Montes.
The steamer Vigo left New York on the 6th inst.
for this port.
The following steamers had arrived out :—The
Glasgow, from Glasgow, at New York on the 6th ;
the Circassian, from Galway, at St. John's, New-
foundland, on the same day ; the New York, from
Bremen, at New York, on the 7th; and the Kan-
garoo, hence, at New York, on the 9th inst.
A Washington telegram to the New York Herald
says :
" There seems to be a sort of apprehension that some
important but most secret movement is under way with
reference to the Central American question. The greatest
anxiety is manifested by, our own and foreign officials re-
gardin Nicaraguan affairs, and Lord Napier has been on
the qua vive all dfty.
" The movements of the European powers in the tropical
waters of this continent are beginning to excite a marked
degree of interest here. A large fleet of British and French
vessels now exists in the Carribean Sea and the Gulf of
Mexico, part of which acted together in the recent opera-
tions against Venezuela, and another part is detailed ap-
parently as a fleet of observation on our movements in
Nicaragua, and to help Mr. Ouseley and M. Belly.
" The British, however, will not presume to interfere
with Americans or American vessels on the high seas.
They have had enough of that ; and as to interfering on
the soil of Central America with Americans the Clayton-
Bulwer treaty, if it has no other good quality, does not
permit that.
"It is believed, however, that the true object of these
forces on the part of England and France is to protect Spain
against the contingencies to which her intended expedition
against Mexico might expose her at our hands. Spain will
not enter upon a war in this hemisphere without a secret
understanding with England and France to be protected in
her possession of Cuba. Some arrangement to this purport
is supposed to have been made as a recompense for her con-
tingent from Manilla to the expedition against Cochin
China. In view of a possible complication of affairs in the
Gulf of Mexico a new Cuban revolutionary junta has been
formed at New Orleans, and is preparing its plans in con-
junction with parties in Cuba. They will commence the
publication of a new paper at New Orleans devoted to the
cause of Cuban independence."
The New York Herald thus speaks of the late
State elections :
" In New York the Republicans have carried their State
ticket by probably 20,000 majority, elected 27 of the 33
members of the next Congress, and have returned a large
majority to the Assembly. Both branches of the next legis-
lature will thus be largely Republican. In the city, how-
ever, all the Democratic nominees for county offices have
been: elected, together with four of the six Congress men,
and lq of the 17inembers of Assembly. It is said that Mr.
Willihmson will contest the election of Mr. Sickles to Con-
gress from the third district.
" In New Jersey the Republicans have chosen a full
delegation to the next Congress.
" The Republicans have elected all their candidates for
State officers and Congress in Massachusetts, and the same
remark INC apply 4;0 Wisconsin.
" Reports from various quarters render it highly probable
that Judge Douglas has triumphed in Illinois. A despatch
from Chicago states that the Republicans there concede a
majority in each branch of the legislature favourable to Mr.
Douglas. Five Democratic members of Congress have been
,chosen.
"The returns from Michigan are meagre and unsatis-
factory, but, beyond doubt, the Republicans have main-
tamed their ascendancy."
It is stated that private letters, received in New
York from Central America, announce the arrival
there of a Mr. Thomas Manning, who was publicly
boasting that he had gone out for the special pur-
pose of meeting Mr. Gore Ouseley, who had in-
structions from his Government to take • possession
of Nicaragua under the plea of a protectorate, and
with a view to defend that republic from the
aggressions of Fillibusters.
" This Mr. Manning," says the New York Herald,.l" is
the party who, conjointly with Mr. Glenton, has a claim of
a quarter of a million of dollars against the Nicaraguan
Government, and who endeavoured to get possession of the
transit route as a security for his claim. Failing in that,
he has succeeded in getting the English Government to
back up his demands, and to enforce their liquidation in
money by vessels of war."
The steam yacht Petrel had burst her boilers in
New Yoak harbour, instantly killing three persons.
The ship Isaac Bell had arrived at New York,
having on board the captain, mate, and four sea- I
men, rescued from the British barque Claude, of
Shoreham, which was wrecked at sea. Eight lives
were lost on board the barque, including the cap-

tain's wife.
Yellow fever had ceased at New Orleans, but was
prevailing with great virulence at Galveston,
Texas.
A " killing frost" is reported to have occurred at
Mobile and other parts of the south.
The grand jury of New York had found true bills
against 61 members of the Common Council for
misdemeanour in violating the city charter, and, as
is alleged, conspiring to defraud the public trea-
sury.
'the steamer Quaker City had arrived at New
Orleans from Minattlan, and reported the Tehuan-
tepec route across the Isthmus as- clear of all ob-
struceions.
California advices to the 11th of :October had
been received by the overland route. The news
was unimportant. The rainy season had just com-
menced, and its usual effects upon business were
experienced. The first overland mail to San Fran-
cisco had arrived there in 24 days. The emigration
to the Fraser River gold fields had almost entirely

ceased.
A fire at Jamestown, California, had destroyed
27 buildings, involving a loss of a quarter of a mil-
lion dollars.
The dates from Havannah are to the 30th of Oc-
tober. The Spanish frigate Benguela had returned
to Havannah from Tampico, to which port she had
been dispatched, to interfere for the protection
Spanish merchants, who had been pillaged by the
Mexican commander Garzo, but nothing respect-
ing the result of her visit had been made publiie.
The Havannah sugar market was rather more
active, at a slight decline in prices, holders desiring
to realise.
The weekly money circular of Messrs. De Coppet
and Co., of New York, remarks :
" Our stock market has been quite active since the Ist
inst., but the general tendency of prices has been downward .
Quotations for State Stocks, however,:have but little varied,
and the decline, on the whole, had been quite insignificant,
except on the shares of some of the western railroads, the
receipts of which have decreased more than was expected.
In State Stocks, Missouri Sixes have advanced f, with
large sales; Tennessee Sixes have declined and California
Sevens, per cent. Sales of Indiana Fives at 92 ; Indiana
Two-and-a-Half per Cent. Bonds at 61, and Ohio Sixes of
1875 at 106. The new Government Loan is not as firmly
held as it was last week. In City and Countyßonds trans-
actions have been unimportant. We note sales of Louisville
Railroad Sixes at an advance, of ChicagoWaterLoan Sixes
at 841 and interest,
.and of Brooklyn Sixes, San Francisco
Tens, and St. Louis County Sevens without change in
price. Some. Milwaukee City Sevens, issued for railroad
purposes, have been sold at 50, past-due coupons included."
COTTON.—The report of T. B. Sands and Co., dated New
York, Nov. 9, says : The unfavourable advicesfromLivser-
pool, and heavy receipts at the south, continue to exercise a
depressing influence upon ourmarket, which closes very ir-
regular at a decline of fully Ic. during the week, with a
downward tendency. The sales of the week amount to 7500
bales on the spot, nominally at our quotations, and 5000'
bales in transitu, on the basis of llic. for middling Or-
leans with id. freight. Our stock is 20,000 bales. Freight
to Liverpool, 3-46 d. ; to Havre, Ic. per pound.
" Southern Markets—Receipts are again heavy, and
prices have given way in all the markets. In New Orleans
the sales for the week ending sth instant, add up 40,000
bales, the market closing in favour of buyers at 141 c. to
llc. for middling. In Mobile the sales for the week are
16,500 bales, at for middling. The Charleston and
Savannah markets have been depressed , and prices con-
tinue to have a downward tendency. Freight—New Or-
leans to Liverpool, 15-32 d. ; to Havre, 19.
" By mail the receipts of the week amount to 119,000
bales, against 43,000 same time last year, making a total
since Ist September, to latest dates of 675,000 bales, against
291,000 last year, showing an increase in receipts this year
of 384,000 bales. By telegraph, the receipts at New Or-
leans for the week ending sth instant reach 66,000 bales,
and at Mobile 23,000.
"The exports for the week amount to 61,000 bales, of
which 33,000 are to Great Britain, and 20,500 to France.
Total exports to Great Britain since Sept. 1, 133,000 bales,
against 98,000 bales last yeer, , and to France,
.76000 bales,
against 25,000 last year.
" The weather at the south, and throughout the cotton
districts, continues fine and open. General opinion appears
to have fixed upon 3,000,000 bales as the probable extent of
the present crop, and at the moment we see no reason to
think it will be less. .
" The following are to hand by telegraph :
" NEw ORLEANS, Nov. s.—The America's advices have
caused a decline in the prices of cotton of kio ; sales
to-day, 9,500 bales, at llac. for middling. The sales of the
week add up 40,000 bales ; the receipts 66,000 and the ex
r,-
po, 44,000. Receipts at this port ;ahead of last yea
rts
149,000 bales ; ditto, at the Southern ports, 387,500 bales ;
stock, 213,500 bales, against 141,500 last year.
" MOBILE, Nov. s.—The sales of cotton
the eek foot
up to 16,500 bales, and the receipts of the week 23,000
bales, against 4,700 in the same week of last year. The re-
ceipts at this port are 79,000 bales a-head of the same
time
last year. Stock in port, 86,500 bales.
" OBILE, Nov. 6.—Cotton—Sales to-day 2 500 bales at
M
to lac. for middling—the turn in favour,of buyers.
4411IoniLE, Nov. B.—Cotton—Sales to-day 2,000 bales, at
llic. to 1 lic. for middling.
cotton to day
-
" CHARLESTON, NOV. 5 —The of
ard
te d
were 3,800 bales, at prices showing a dowesnw n ency.
" CHARLESTON, Nov. 6.-- Cotton unchanged. Sales te-
day 700 bales.
44 EXCHANGE dull and irregular, sterling Id. to Id. per
We quote 60 days on London, bankers' bills,
cent. lower.
1091 to 1091; and produce, 1071 to 108 t.

LIVERPOOL, SUNDAY NIGHT.
The Vigo has arrived. She left New York on
the 7th inst., and brings 185 passengers and a smal
amount of specie. Her news has been anticipated.

Henry the Third, King of France, his Court and
Times. By Martha Walker Freer, author of
" The Life of Marguerite D'Angoulcme," &c.
3 vols. Hurst and Blackett.
Miss Freer has before now honourably distin-
guished herself in that department of litera-
ture which feminine writers seem of late to
have especially appropriated. Miss Strickland's
labours have obtained for her a lasting reputa-
tion, while her example has been worthily fol-
lowed by Miss Pardoe, Mrs. Everett Green, and
other fair writers of historical biography. Miss
Freer has devoted herself to the royal histories
of our continental neighbours, and has selected
the eventful sixteenth century for the time
chronicled. She commenced her series some time
back, with the life of Marguerite D'Angouleme,
Queen of Navarre, the beautiful and virtuous sister
of the chivalrous Francis I. Her affection for her
brother, her cultivated tastes, and the encourage-
ment she secretly afforded to the:reformed doctrines,
were described by Miss Freer with great success.
The memoir of her heroic daughter, Jeanne
D'Albret, also Queen of Navarre, followed, and
told of more troubled times and sterner characters.
The authoress then stepped aside from the direct
course of French history to give us the memoirs of
Elizabeth de Valois, eldest daughter of Henry 11.,
who was the third wife of the cruel and bigoted
Philip 11. of Spain. All historians agree in de-
scribing her as a fair and gentle princess, but she
does not appear to have possessed much character.
It was at the tournament held in honour of her
marriage that Henry 11. received his death-blow.
Miss Freer has now returned to French soil, and
in this, her longest and most ambitious work, she
has given us a history of the life and times of
Henry the Third, the earlier part of whose career
includes that of his brother, Charles IX. The reign
of Henry, as Miss Freer observes, was " one of the
most effete and inglorious in French history." Never-
theless the times were rife with great characters.
and stirring events. It would afford scope to the
powers of the ablest historian, the most skilful
analyser of the motives and passions of mankind, to
describe the gradual decline of the royal power, the
rise of the Guises, the indolent and effeminate, yet
vindictive, character of the king, the influence of
the temporising policy of the queen•mother, the
formation of the League, and its struggles with
Henry of Navarre. All these varying elements of
strife and discord, and their influence upon society
and the masses of the people ; the country torn by
faction and convulsed by civil war, with the fiercest
religious intolerance raging on both sides, might
afford ample opportunity to the philosopher or the
moralist, to marvel at the shortsightedness and
weakness of human nature, or to deplore the
lengths to which it is carried by its ambition, its
intolerance, and its evil passions. Miss Freer does
not attempt to deduce a moral of this kind. She
contents herself with narrating with straightfor-
ward simplicity the events of the time ; with paint-
ing the varying characters more by their actions
than by words, though she shows some skill in
tracing the effects of their different dispositions.
Her volumes evidence the labour she has under-
gone in study and research. The notes are nume-
rous, and. the constant references to her authority
testify the authenticity of her work. The history
is compiled " from numerous unpublished sources,
including MS. documents in the Bibliotheque Im-
periale and the archives of France and Italy." The
pains which she has taken to trace the parentage
and relationship of the chief characters also deserve
commendation. She possesses, too, the chief re-
quisite of an historian, a; strict impartiality, and
the fact of her indulging little in reflection or com-
ment helps her to preserve her freedom from bias.
Her remarks,when they are incidentally introduced,
are generally sensible and comprehensive in spirit.
Her present work is more ambitious in its aim than
any of her former ones, both from its greater
length and the more troubled times it chro-
nicles, and also from the . subject of the
biography being a king and not a queen, the prin-
ciples of his government, and the political aspects
of his reign having to be discussed. The first volume
is chiefly occupied with the narrative of the closin
years of Charles the Ninth's reign and Henry's
brief and inglorious rule in Poland. The second is
full of the details of the intrigues and factions, the
extravagant luxury of the court, and the strife and
turmoil in the Southern provinces. The third volume
narrates the increasing power of the Duke de Guise,
the tyranny of the League, the barricades of Paris,
the subsequent event the tragedy at Blois, and
terminates with the knife of the assassin, who so
soon avenged the murder of the Guises. It new
remains to Miss Freer to trace the story of the
troubled times that followed, and the career of that
good and great Henri Quatre, who was also destined,
like so many of the good and great of those days,
to perish by the hand of a murderer. The picture
of the frivolous and dissipated court, swayed by the
cabals of favourites, and disturbed by their animo-
sities, is sketched with skill and vigour. We must
not omit to mention that three fine portraits are
affixed to the volumes, Henry the Third, Catherine
de Medicis, and Louise of Lorraine, Henry's queen.
The countenance of the king shows the compound
of weakness and ferocity which formed his charac-
ter, while the calm smooth features of his mother
have a treacherous and cunning look, which accords
with the mind that could plan and execute the
tragedy of St.-I Bartholomew. The portrait of
Queen Louise is mild and, melancholy, but does not
evidence much intellect or character. We con-
gratulate Miss Freer on having successfully accom-
plished a very arduous task. Her powers are well
adapted to render good and efficient service to his,
torical literature, by her faithful and searching in-
vestigation of those minor portions which great
historians are apt to slight or hasten over ; as of
old the pupils of the great painters would carefully
finish the subordinate yet indispensable figuies,
leaving the central groups to be sketched by the
master's hand.
of I • .

Hktoric Notes on the Books of the Old and New
Testaments. By Samuel Sharpe. Smith and

Elder.

This is the second edition of this work, which
testifies the public approval. The author states in
his preface that its object is neither theological nor
devotional, but is an attempt to explain by means
of the history, the circumstances under which the
several books and portions of books were written,
and the times when the writers lived. Such know-
ledge must always be useful and acceptable to
readers of Scripture, enabling them to understand
and appreciate much that would otherwise be diffi-
cult and obscure.

NEW POEMS.
Poems. By Henry Cecil. Smith and Elder.
lonica. Smith and Elder.
Poems. By. Ada Trey anion. Smith and Elder.
Verse. By Charles Boner. Chapman and Hall.
An Hour Ago—.A Mystery. By S. F. Cockran

Longman.
It is universally admitted, we believe, by the
*rifles of the
.present day, that the poets of our
time are fair inferior to their predecessors. The
volumes before us, whatever their recommendations,
will not, we fear, reverse this decision. Some of
them, however, show traces of poetic feeling, and
we are glad to see less of that mysticism and in-
version of phrase which render many of the new
school so formidable to read, much more to compre-
hend. "Poems," by Henry Cecil, have some pleas-
ing and flowing verses, and some graceful passages,
but the resemblance to the writings of the laureate
often strikes the reader. Subject and style so often
correspond to some of Tennyson's earlier pieces that
one is inclined to question whether Mr. Cecil would
have written poems had he not read Tennyson.
We occasionally meet also with a strong resem-
blance to the ballads of Professor Aytoun, which
is the more to be regretted as the author can cer-
tainly write pleasing and flowing verses, if not
capable of reaching any lofty altitude of the poetic
art. He . should carefully avoid this similarity
whether intentional or accidental, and concentrate
his powers on simple
descriptive pieces, where he
may attain greater success than in his present
endeavour.
" loniea" has more originality, and the verse
runs smoothly and flowingly. The thoughts, how-
ever, are not so good as the expression of them,
and there is neither sufficient depth of philosophical
thought or sympathetic feeling to constitute the
writer a poet.
„ Poems," by Ada Trevanion, are graceful and
tender in feeling, and unexceptionable in moral
froamppMarre.nTt.ennyrseohni. atnhde
purpose, but the copying
Mrs. Hemans is painfully
former especially, the unacknowledged borrowing
must strike every reader of the Laureate. Indeed,
it is only wonderful how the authoress herself
could have passed it over. For instance, we have
" Spring and its Return," two scenes from a young
girl's deathbed, in which she says—
" NC oo tmyee tf
Tollad the tones of
gr
een,
This merriment,rel,
This May they'll give no thought to me,
But choose another Queen."

And again—
" Not yet—al aged pastor kneels,
And strives with holy words
To rouse the light of faith and touch
' My wayward's spirits' chords."
If the words are not identical, the idea is pre-
cisely the same as in Tennyson's popular " May
Queen." In another part of the book the likeness
to a few lines of the same poem is still stronger,