The Sun.
London, England, 1858-03-09 00:00:00

PINE' ARTS.

_
Portrait of H. R. H. Victoria, Princess Royal,
Princess Frederick William of Prussia. En-
graved by S. Cousins R.A., from a picture
by the Chevalier F. Cousins,
London :
P. and D. Colnaghi and Co.
An exquisite souvenir of the young Princess
who has just left her royal home in England is
here provided by the Messrs. Paul and Dominic
Colnaghi for the loyal subjects of our beloved and
gracious Sovereign. As a work of art the lovely
print before us may be designated, without exagge-
ration, a perfect masterpiece. While it is the
most recent, it is also one of the most admirable
specimens of the skill and genius of Mr. Samuel
Cousins, incomparably one of the greatest en-
gravers England has ever possessed—one who by
reason of his skill and genius was not very long
ago enrolled among the restricted number of our
Royal Academicians. The inimitable touch of the
master hand of Mr. Cousins is everywhere appa-
rent in this charming portraiture of H. R. H.
Victoria, Princess Royal of Great Britain
and Ireland, now the Princess Frederick
William of Prussia, the Rose of England,
Albion's eldest daughter. The engraving
is au adroit and delicate mixture of
line and stipple. It is a faithful transcript from
the brilliant original taken in obedience to the
command of her Majesty by the great Court
Painter, the Chevalier F. Winterhalter. The
portrait is in every 'respect worthy of au artist
who is, to the age of Queen Victoria, what Rey-
nolds and Lawrence were to the times of the third
and fourth Georges, or what Vandyke and Lely
were to those of the first and second Charleses.
Winterhalter's truthful painting, as here repro-
duced by the faithful graver of Cousins, will be
surely welcomed by every one who has an eye of
admiration for a really sweet and bewitching
countenance.

Photograph of the Bridesmaids. By Signori
Caldesi and Montecehi. London :P. and D.
Colnaghi and Co.

A companion memorial of the late magnificent
marriage ceremonial. It represents with all the
accuracy and delicacy of a photograph manipulated
by adepts in that refined art no less cunning than
the Signori Caldesi and Montecchi—tho lovely
group of the eight patrician bridesmaids selected
for the train of the Princess Royal on the
memorable day when she entered the Chapel
Royal to meet her Prussian Bridegroom. Here
are kneeling together, themselves like Brides
Elect—the Lady Cecilia Lennox, the Lady Susan
Clinton, the Lady Katharine Hamilton, the Lady
Emma Stanley, the Lady Constance Villiers, the
Lady Susan Murray, the Lady Victoria Noel, and
the Lady Cecilia Molyneux—a cluster of bloom-
ing maidens, radiant rather by reason of their
youth and their beauty than through the splen-
dour of their bridal costumes—theirgossamer lace,
and superb jewels, and flowers in profusion.

LITERATURE,

Rscollectio)ts of West-end Life. By Major
Cham bre, late 17th Lancers. 2 vols. Hurst and
Blackett.
These are two volumes of light and pleasant
reading; adapted to beguile a leisure hour by
anecdotes and impressions of a distant epoch. The
writer haiing mixed in good society and visited
various localities, finding himself unexpectedly in
pOssession of unoccupied time, in consequence of the
disbandment of the militia, thought he would give
to the world the benefit of his experience. Those
who anticipate court anecdotes or political sketches
of that day will be disappointed, and it is scarcely
correct to call the book " West-end Recollec-
tions." Tho recollections often refer to an ex-
treme west, the Island .of Jamaica, which is rather
beyond the immediate circle of the Prince Regent.
Nevertheless the book is full of pleasant anecdotes
and agreeable gossip, and though it does not contain
much originality, and indeed might easily have
been compiled by cne not au fait in fashion-
able circles, it will serve to amuse and gratify
many non-critical readers, though it can scarcely
pretend to anything higher.
We subjoin a few extracts as giving a fair view
of the general contents of the work, and the enter-
tainment to be occasionally derived from its retro-
spections. Here is a description of the gorgeous
coronation ceremonial of George IV.
I found all the world talking. of the approaching
coronation of George the Fourth ; and it happened
very fortunately that my old Colonel was in town. By
virtue of hie rank, be was entitled to have a page to
attend hint.; and on my expressing a wish to be present
he very- kindly appointed me to the office. As few now
remember thatgemarkable,ceremony, I will state what
I myself witnessed of it.
At four in the morning of the 19th of July, 1821, I
went to- breakfast at the Earl of Blessingtou'e in St.
James's-square, where a large party was assembled.
I was dressed, as were all the other pages, in a scarlet-
and-gold tunic, with a lieht blue-and-gold sash, a ruff
round my neck, white knee-breeches and silk stocking,
wish scarlet rosettes at the knee and on my shoes. The
Peers of course wore their robes, and such as were in
the army, their uniform under thee*. Amongst the
company at breakfast was Mr. Charles Mathews, and be
and I went together to Westminster Hall, numbers of ,
people being there already, although we arrived before 6
o'clock. The appearance of the hall was very impo,ing.
On the east and west sides were tso rows of galleries—
one above the other, for those who hal obtained tickets,
and they were filling first. The laclieshad oslrichfeathers
and diamonds in their hair; and the gentlemen, Court
dresses or uniform. To the south was the King's
throne, which was very splendid ; over the entrance a
gallery fur the musicians, who were numerous ; and
Irene the dour in Palace-yard, a c veered way extended
is a semicircle all around, till it reached the Abbey. The
canopy, to be borne over the King by 16 Barons of the
Cinque Ports, was in readiness in Westminster-hall ;it
was of geld' brocade with a deep gold fringe, and the
cornice was composed of the four orders of knighthood
on a silver ground. Marshals were very busy arranging
the procession, ani it was about ten o'clock when the
King entered. As I was determined to see everything,'
I made my way out of the crowd, and regardless of ap-
pearances, climbed up the lamp-post at the door of the
Hall in Palace-yard ; by this means I had an excellent
view of every one who camp out. It would be out of my
power to describe al! those who figured in the proces-
sion. The first that made their appearance were
Miss Feilowee the king's herbwoman, and her six as-
sistants--she with a scarlet mantle and her gold badge
of office; the others in white drenses. These ladies strewed
rimers on the platform as they advanced. I par 'Lieu-
larly observed that the King, who was dressed in the
costume of the Order of the Garter, with all his decora-
tions in diamonds and was very well got up, particularly
his wig, which was quite a chef-d'osavre in its way,
turned quite pale as soon as he male his exit from the
building. The Qeeen had been down an hoar before,
and as the officer on guard refused het-admittance, it
had created a great sensation outside. He doubtless
feared that his subjects' would not receive him favour-
ably; however, the cheers that burst forth seemed to
reassure him. I thought the meet remarkable-looking
personage in the procession was the Marquis of Len-
donderry. Onca during the march round the ppectators
hissed him. He stopped, turned towards them, and
by his majestic demeanour converted the hisses into loud
plaudits. So soon as they bad all passed in review
before me, I. made the best of my way to the Abbey,
and by virtue of my office easily obtained admittance.
The ceremonies lasted so long that I got tired, and
with a brother page, went back to see what was going
en in Westminster Hall. In the rooms belonging to
the House of iserds we found dinners spread, and as
none of the attendants could tell us for whom they
were intended, we very quietly sat down to a table laid
for sixty people, and ordered them to serve us. Alter
iadulgieg in all the good things that were brought, we
got back in time to see the procession return. The King
locked well. He were a purple velvet dress, and the
Royal crown. In his right band he bore St. E iward's
sceptre, and in his left the orb with the cross. As
seen as he reached Westminster Hall, he retired to
his apartments behind the throne to repose hims2ll, the
ipectators within all rising and cheering an he passed.
The dinners were now served to the Peers and' the
blouse of 'Commons. At a little before five the King
again entered, and seated himself on the throne under
the great canopy and his appearance was quite daizling.
The crown of State had been exehanged for one of
diamonds, and be had on all hie numerous decorations
set in precious stones. He certainly looked every inch
a king. Right and left of him were placed the six
members of the Royal family. The doors at the north
end of the ball opened, and the Duke of Wellington,
Lord Howard of Effingham, and the Marquis of Angle-
sea rode in on horseback, followed by pages and mar-
shals, and twenty gentlemen pensioners in curious, old
fashioned dresses, each bearing a gold dish, which they
placed on the Royal table. The three peers then backed
their horses out again, and Lord Auglesea being a very
good burseman, his riding was much remarked. The
next ceremony was the challenge. The champion came
into the ball from the north door, his arrival being
announced by a flourish of trumpets. He was dressed in
armour, his helmet and horse's head decorated with
ostrich feathers. Tne trappheo of his charger were
splendid, and he bad four attendant rages, besides mar-
shale and others, Three times he challenged all the
King's enemies, each time throwing down his gauntlet
in defiance, the 'rumpets sounding as before. After he
had done so for the last time, the King rose and drank
his health in a golden goblet, which he sent to the
champion, who retained it as his perquisite of office.
Then turning his head towards the spectators, the latter
cried with a loud voice, " Long life to his Majesty,"
which was responded to as because the occasion from the
body of the hall and the galleries. Numerous other
formalities, too long to enumerate, were gone through,
when George the Fourth evidently fatigued with the
length of the ceremonial, retired. After he was gone,
the ladies and others in the seats above, who were ball
famished from the length of time they had been there,
begged us pages to give them of the abundance that was
spread before their eyes on the tables below. We told
them to tie their handkerchiefs together, and by this
means they hoisted up cold fowls, pater, bottles of
champagne, glasses, and everything we could lay our
hands on, much to their gratification and our amuse-
ment. The crowd was so great on going away, that
I did not get home till one o'clock the following
morning..
stairs of theso arse s
o fatigued House of Fordo w
thate re
they
covered with
were
slatrieiethished manyofwhom were
out on them, fast asleep. I stood for at hest
an hour close to the Austrian Ambassador, Prince
Esterhazy, who was an object of attraction, as he wore
his splendid Hungarian dress, embroidered with fine
pearls. In his cap was an aigrette of large diamonds,
and his pelisse was slung by a chain of brilliants. The
whole of the arrangements were on a magnificent scale,
and the feasting was worthy of the occasion. Eight hundred
and twenty dozen of various wines, besides one hundred
gallons of iced punch, were consumed on the different
tables. Nothing so magnificent as this coronation had
ever been seen in England, and probably will never be
witnessed again. It was the last expiring remnant of
feudalism, and must havecost as immense sum of money
to the nation.

The writer wan fortunate enough while in Rome
to make the acquaintance of the Princesse Bor-
ghese

There were many whom the French would call nota-
bilities, who had come to see the ceremonies of the Holy
Week. Amongst others, Prince Leopold, besides a host
of celebrities of every country in Europe. The Princesse
Borghese, sister of the first Napoleon, opened her saloonai
occasionally, and I was so fortunate as to be a constant
visitor on these occasions. She still showed the remains
of great beauty ; and I observed that she was veryfond of
display'ag her small feet upon a red velvet cushion, which
had the effect of vetting them off to greater advantage.
Knowing that I had so recently been at St. Helena, she '
often beckoned me out of the circle which was formed
round the room, and talked to me of the Emperor, ask-
ing every imaginable question respecting the island, the
climate, and the authorities who bad been there at the
time of death. When it became time to withdraw, a
dame d'honiteur accompanied some one on the harp, and
played on the piano the " March of the Imperial Guard,"
This was the usel signal for the party to break up. She
was a fascinating person, and I considered myself for-
tunate in the honour of her acquaintance.
An amusing anecdote is told of the smuggling
trade between Geneva and France :
I returned to my old quarters in Geneva, and amongst
other places went to visit Monsieur Beautte's jewellery
rooms, which have gained a European celebrity. There
is a great deal of contraband trade carried on from the
canton generally into France, notwithstanding the num-
ber of Donaniers who are stationed in tbe.Tura mountains
to prevent it. A story is often told in Geneva to prove
the impossibility of putting a stop to smuggling, vv- rhoeree
prohibitive laws render it a profitable occupation. When
M. de St. Criq was at the head of that department in
Paris, he heard of such quantities of gold watches and
jewsllo
lf to S witzE being brought acsroess.fthe could not make some
the frontier, that he went
himselland to e
firraitulid;lent entry of goods put an entire atop to the
arrangements that would
which inflicted considerable
esutte's, and after fl,;,.peciicncgordingly, he called at M.
on French tradp
that they shouldvb"
a large am- a variety of articles, se-
lectedwhich he purchased on condition
be sent to and reach Paris at the same
time as he did. This M. Beautte agreed to, on his
paying the usual premium of five per cent. on the
total amount. M. de St. Criq started, and as there
are three lines of Custom-house officers, he gave.the
most stringent orders to the aide of each station to be

honowthe lookoutjefodr
.whatOn
arriving
coming,
ingathis haoatdeltionapsacreirstaihisa
valet brought up hie
to contain all his Gefinlegvgaagpe,uanrchdaasetst. R
hesae hmetad imehaimbsoesif
which he placed on the table. It was opened, and found
smuggled the very articles he had gone to prevent being
brought into France. It was stone in this manner
Beautte had recognised his cestornerjwithout the latter
being aware of it, and he Waited till the post-horses were
put to ; then, handing the package to the valet, the
latter, as a matter of course, seeing it was something for
his master, put it with his other effects, and from the
official character of the traveller, no one noticed it at the
frontier.
The admirers of crinoline will be proud to learn
that the invention of balloons is owing to a similar
contrivance.
The French give a curious anecdote of a simple 00.
currenca which led the inventor of such machines, .
Montgolder, to turn his attention to the subject. It is
to this effect :—A. washerwoman of the Rue aux Jails,
in the Marais, placed a petticoat on a basket-work frame,
over a stove, to dry. In order to concentrate all the heat,
and to prevent its escaping by theapertureatthetop, she
drew the strings closely together, which are used to tie it
round the waist. By degrees the stuff dried, became
lighter, and the stove continuing to heat and rarefy the
air concentrated under the frame-work, the petticoat
began to move, and at last rose in the air. The washer.
woman was so astonished that she ran out to call her
neighbours to witness.a miracle; and they, seeing it
suspended in the air, were' amazed and etupified. One
individual, however, a simple paper-makerfrom Annuity,
named Mongolfier, as much astonished but more sensible
than the others, who considered it the work of the denies,
returned home, and, without loss of time, studied the
work of Priestley on different kinds of *triumphers&
The result was, the discovery of the:first balloons, called
Mongolfiers, of which he was the inventor. 44 the
nautilus probably gave the idea of a sailing-vessel, so also
do very simple causes often produce great iaucl Unexpected
I results.
A considerable portion of the second volume is
oc ;ivied with descriptions of the colony and people
of Jamaica. The writer expresses himself forcibly
on the horrors of the slave trade, especially on
board the fearful slave-ships. He gives us .also
some more agreeable pictures of peculiar' sportri,
customs, &c., of the .negroes in more favourable _
circumstances. Here is an account of one of their.
festivities
Christmas-time is a great season for .nierry-making
amongst the negroes. We were fortunate in witnessing
a ceremony or procession, called the. "Reds and 'the
Blues." The origin of it is not known correctly i but it
most probably arose from some fete given by anA.dmi-
ral of the Blue or the Red on that station becoming, in
process of time, a national holiday-e-sometimee also,
going by the name of "Johnny Canoeing." On the
nonh aide of the island it is a splendid affair, but on the
south side it is just the reverse. In the latter instance,
the negroes dress themselves in bull's hides, with horns
on, into which they are sewn, and go bellowing:al:meat
the streets, butting all the people they meet. This is
the remnant, moat probably, of some superstitious
A.fr'cain ceremony.
At Alenteeo Bay,. Lucea, and Falmouth, the rival fac-
tions of Reds and Blues represent all the great personages
id the day, and their attendants. The ladies lend their
jewels to be worn by the negro women who figure in the
procession, and subscriptions are made by the resident.
to assist in purchasieg the paraphernalia and dreesee,
which are really magnificent. King William IV., Queen
Adtlaide, the Duke of Wellington, the irchhishop of
Canterbury, Earl Grey, the Earl of Derby (then Lord
Stanle3), Lords Melbourne, Brougham, and Nelson,
Sir R. Peel, Meszro. Wilberforce, Daniel O'Connell,
and Joseph Busse, besides many other well-known per-
sonages, figured amongst them. Queen Victoria had
not then been crowned ; her crown was therefore car-
ried before her, on a vevet cushion, by a handsomely-
dressed negres-r, who personated the Mistress of the
Robe,. The Duchess of Kent followed behind her Ma-
jesty in the procession. Wearing a blue uniform, I re-
ceived very gracious bows and curtsies from the party
of Bluee, who no doubt thought I had put it on ie com-
pliment to them. Each set had a champion on their
masters' horses, who made a great show, in armour that
fitted close to his body, and was composed of gilt livery,
or basket buttons, sawn closely together. Both being
armed with lances and swords, they became so much
excited that the two pugnacious heroes defied cacti other
to single combat in the sheet, and the affray might have
ended fatally to one of the parties, if the police had not
interfered.
At the conclusion of the work the author ex-
presses some just and sensible views on the sum-
mary dismissal of the militia :
In ordinary life, if a servant does his duty faithfully
to his employers, the latter would not think of dismissing
him without notice. If however, circumstances obliged
him to do so, he would be bound to give him a month's
wages in advance. If he:acted otherwise, the servant
would have his remedy and could enforce his claim in
the County Court. The diserobo2ied militiamen got a
week's notice only, that their services were no longer
squired, and they were paid up to the day on which
they were sent to their homes inclusive.
The consequence of this was that those who had been
employed in factories, and wished to re-.:nter them, had
no means of purch:l-ing clothing to appear before their
fervour ineetnis—oud they went away in threadbare
shell jackets and trousers—the average piy handed over
to cad, private not amounting to 133. The men cone-
' plained loudly of this, and expressed themselves strongly
on the treatment they experienced.. I cannot but think
that it was a very impolitic measure, because their friends
and acquaintances amongst -those classes from which re-
cruits for the army are obtained, seeing the unceremo-
nious way in which they were deprived of an occupation
and placed in a worse position than before they entered
the militia, naturally felt disinclined to come forward
and enrol themselves in its ranks.
It is to that constitutional force that we must look
for keeping up a regular supply of strong, able-bodied
men for the regular army, in the event of any great
emergency ; and therefore everything should be done to
make it a desirable occupation.

NAVAL AND MILITARY INTELLIGENCE.

The following circular memorandum relative to
be augmentation of colonial corps was issued from
,he Horse Guards yesterday :
" The General Commanding-in-Chief having, in
concurrence with the Secretary of State for War,
aim roved of a measure for augmenting and recruit-
ing the Royal Canadian Rifle Regiment from the
married soldiers of the army, I have it in command
that you will make known throughout the regi-
ment under your command the following terms
under which soldiers of the class above mentioned
wilt be permitted to extend their services to the
corps in question, viz. :—married soldiers of the
regular army desirous of joining the Royal Cana-
dian Rifle Regiment must be enlisted for life, have
completed 12 years' service, and be of fair average
charac'er, whether with or without distinguishing
marks and good conduct pay. Previously to join-
ing they will be required to undergo a strict
medical examination, and to be re-attested,
without bounty, to complete a period of 21.
or 25 years' service. Those who re-engage for
the latter period will receive additional pay at
the rate of ld. per day, and former service will
in all cases reckon the same as if they bad re-
mained in the line. They will continue entitled to
additional pay for length of service and for good
conduct according to existing warrants, and after
completing their engagements will be entitled to
their discharge, with pension, according to existing
regulations, upon condition of being obliged to
serve, if called upon, in a veteran battalion, or as
militia. The wives and legitimate children trans-
ferred to the Canadian corps under the provisions
of this order will receive a free passage to Canada,
and o
ongranted
andth e
rationsusn a l
barrackon li
se
usual terms, provided they received them in their
and
accommodation will
when be
available,
former corps. Sergeants and corporals will be
eligible for this regiment, but only 5 per cent. of
non-commissioned officers will be accepted, and
the selection will depend entirely upon their char-
acter and qualifications as certified by their corn-
mauling officers. lam to request that you will
transmit to this department on the 15th March
l anddue course
nominal and descriptive returns of any men of the
regiment under your command who may wish to
join the Canadian regiment on the terms above
9bPe
furtherh deir r e
rc
et
eo
nus iswtmillenint
assem-
bling for einbarcation.
" G. A. WETIIEnALL,
be given r andeg ar
Adjutant•Gcur a/.
" To officers commanding regiments of
• depots of infantry at home."
Yesterday Lieut.-Col. C. E. F • airtclough, com-
manding the 3d battalion of infantry at Chatham,
received an order directing 350 men of the depot of
the 10th Regiment under his command to proceed
this day to Exeter, for the purpose of forming the
2d battalion of that corps, which is now being raised.
One captain, two lieutenants, and four non-com-
missioned officers will proceed from Chatham to
Exeter in charge of the troops.
The reinforcements whichhave been for some time
held in readiness to embark on board the
Antelope
steamer at Gravesend, to proceed to Kurrachee,
received orders yesterday to proceed from Chatham
this morning, and embark at Gravesend on board
that steamer. The
• •following are the regiments fur-
nishing detachments Royal Fusileers, Ist
battalion, 61 men • 52d Light Infantry. E • C
Ensign C.
M. Prendergast and' 16 men ; 61st Regiment, En-
ei.J.; M. Murphy and 29 men ; 70th Regiment, 13
men ; 81st Regiment, Lieut. E. Swift and 10 men ;
94th Regiment, 17 men ; 98th Regiment, Ensign
P. 11. Dobbs and 30 men.

WARRLNT FOR THE APPREHENSION OF GORDON
CuMMINU, THE LION H u imis a —0 a Saturdhsaaiymirw,feaegratranondntyes
were sent all over the metrcpllii _and provinces for the
apprehension of Mr. Gordon Comn2eiaborrgso,wotlnhde, well-known
lion bunter, who is charged with baying acted indecently
towards several respectable females at' Saudymount,
inchw hie k Dublin.icnr sh, I:hi height,
high-crowned -, cbresottw: nue et
nd
made,
4130ata dodysa:rrkyo oa t , one side black,
the other white, &e. An Irish mutable arrived in
London on Saturday.