The Sun.
London, England, 1859-05-30 00:00:00

preparing to pursue the Austrians, who are re•
treating towards Mariano.

The Moniteur also says that up to the present
the French Government has not regarded coals as
contraband of war, but pending the present war
they will be regarded in that light.

General Garibaldi, on entering Lombardy, pub-
lished the following proclamation :
Lombards !—You are called to new life, and
you must respond to its appeal as your fathers
did at Ponsida and at Legnano. The enemy is
still the same—atrocious assassins, pitiless, and
pillaging. Your brethren in all the provinces
have sworn to conquer or to die with you. It is
for us to avenge the insults, the outrages, and the
servitude of 20 generations ; it is for us to
leave to our children a patrimony, pure from the
contamination of foreign domination. Victor Em-
manuel, whom the national will has chosen for our
supreme head, sends .me amongst you to organise
you in patriotic battles. lam deeply moved at the
sacred mission confided to me, and feel proud to
command you. To arms, then ! for servitude must
cease. He who can lay hold of a weapon, and does
not do so is a traitor ! Italy, with her children
united, and free from foreign domination, will
know how to reconquer the rank which Providence
has assigned to her among nations."

FRANCE.

PARIS, SUNDAY.

BOURSE, May 28.—The opening of the market
has been dull to-day, but prices have not materi-
ally varied. Threes have been done at 61f. 45c.
and are now at 61f. 60c. ; Mobilier varied from
5821. 50c. to 590 f. ; Orleans, 1,177 f. 50c. to 1,1801.;
Lyons,',7B2f. 50c. to 785 f.; Northern, 881 f. 25c. to
883 f. 75c.; Southern 597 f. 50c. to 600 f. ; Sonthern
442 f. 50c, to 4451.

The last prices were somewhat former, but very
little business was transacted. The following are
the last quotations :-
41 per Cents. B9 75 I
Do. end month
3 per Cents
Do. end month 6l 65
Bank Shares
Credit Mobilier
Do. Account 590

Credit Foncier 625
Belgian 41 B9
Piedmontese (5)
Roman Bl 50

Austrian
Spanish Threes 39
Home Debt —

RAILWAYS.

Cash. Account.
Orleans
Northern
New ditto — .. 750

Lyons and Mediterranean 787 ,50 .. 787 50

Geneva —
Southern
Western 5OO

.. 465 -
.. 445 -
.. 49.5 -

Eastern
Sardinian ' .. 345

Austrian

363 75 .. 365 -

Exchange on London, at sight, paper, 25f. sc: • money,
25f. ; three months, paper, 24f. 85c. ; money, 24f. 8710..

LITERATURE.

Memoirs of Robert .Houdin. Written by himself.
Two vols. Chapman and Hall.
The memoirs of an "ambassador, author, and
conjuror," as the subject of these memoirs is desig-
nated in the title page, are sufficiently remarkable
to attract the attention of a large class of readers.
It is but fair, however, to the lively autobiographer
to say that these high sounding appellations are
not of his own selection, but are bestowed upon
him by his translator. All visitors to his enchanted
regions will bear a vivid remembrance of the
astonishing magician, and will most probably feel
desirous of renewing his acquaintance in another
form. Their agreeable anticipations will not be
disappointed. The book is animated, varied, and
interesting ; thoroughly French in style, with all
the pathetic sentiment befitting an heroic career,
and all the solemn sense of his high calling to be
expected from a great artist. M. Houdin 's sense
of the serious importance of his profession and his
comfortable conviction of his own talents and suc-
cess may cause the reader to smile, but they will
not shake his opinion of his real ability. His
natural capacities are evidenced by his abilities as
a mechanician, in which science we will hope he is
yet destined to render his countrymen substantial
benefits. His lively and pleasant memoirs will
afford much entertainment to his readers, as they
abound with anecdote, incident, and description.
A few extracts will give the reader the best idea
of his style. Here is the account of his first per-
formance when he was but a youth and an amateur.
It was undertaken for the benefit of an invalid
friend who had taught him the necromantic art.
An accident that happened durine, the performance sin-
gularly lessened the joy I felt in my triumph. I had bor-
rowed a hat to make an omelette in. Those who have seen
this trick are aware that it is chiefly intended to produce a
laugh, and that the object borrowed runs no risk. I had
got through the first part excellently, consisting in breaking
the eggs, beating them, throwing in the salt and pepper,
and pouring it all into the hat. After this, I had to feign
the frying of the omelette ; I placed a candle on the ground,
then, holding the hat sufficiently high above it to
escape the flame, I began turning it gently round, while
making some of the stereotyped jokes adapted to the trick.
The public laughed so heartily and loudly that I could
scarce hear myself speak, but I could not suspect the cause
of their hilarity. Unfortunately, I detected it only too
soon. A strong scent of burning made me turn my eyes
on the candle ; it had gone out. I then looked at the hat ;
the crown was quite burned and stained. I had kept on
turning the hat round unsuspectingly, until I at length
put it on the top of the candle, and covered it with grease.
Quite dazed by this sight, I stopped, not knowing how
to escape. Fortunately for me, my alarm, though so truth-
ful, was regarded as a well-played farce ; it was supposed
this was only a heightened effect, and this confidence in
my skill was an additional torture, for my supernatural
power could not repair a hat. My only chance was to gain
time : so I continued the trick, with a tolerably easy air,
and produced to the public a splendidly cooked omelette,
which I had enough courage left to season with a few jokes.
Still, that quarter of an hour of which Rabelais speaks
had arrived. I must restore the hat, and publicly con-
fess myself a clumsy blockhead. I had resigned myself
to this, and was going to do so with all the dignity. I could
muster, when I heard Antonio call me from the side. His
voice restored my courage, for I felt assured he had pre-
pared some way tor my escape. I went up to him, and
found hint standing with a hat in his hand.
" Look here," be said, exchanging it for the one I held,
"it's yours; but no matter, keep a good face : rub it as if
you were removing the stains, and,. on handing it to the
owner, ask him, gently, to read what is at the bottom."
I did as he told me; and the owner of the burnt hat, after
receiving mine; was going to betray me, when I pointed to
the note fastened in the crown, It ran as follows :
"An act of carelessness caused ne to commit a fault,
which I will repair. To-morrow I will do myself the
honour of asking your hatter's address ; in the meanwhile,
be kind enough to act as my accomplice."
My request was granted, for my secret was' honestly
kept, and my professional honour saved. The success of this
performance induced me to give several others : the re-
ceipts were excellent, and we realised a very fair sum.
Here is an account of an interview with Comte, a
rival performer :
The celebrated ventriloquist paid me a visit at the Palais
Royal, and I accompanied him to the foot of the stairs on
his departure. Comte walked down before me, still talking,
so that the pockets of his coat were at my mercy. The op-
portunity was too good to neglect the chance of playing a
trick on my talented coitfrere, so I filched his handkerchief
and a handsome gold snuff-box ; and I took care to turn
the pocket inside out, as a proof that my performance had
been properly executed.
I was laughing at the comic result my trick must have
when I returned Comte his property ; but it was " diamond
cut diamond ;" for, while I was thus violating the laws of
hospitality, Comte was scheming against me. I had scarce
concealed the handkerchief and box, when I heard a strange
voice ou the first floor landing.
4, Monsieur Robert-Houdin, will you be kind enough to
step up to the box-office ; I wish to speak to you."
My readers will guess that the ventriloquist had played
me a trick ; indeed, on reaching the office, I only found the
clerk, who could not understand what I was talking about.
I perceived, too late, that I. was victimised, and I heard
Comte celebrating his victory by shouts of laughter. For
a moment, ',confess I felt vexed at having been taken in,
but I soon regained my equanimity on thinking I might
have the best of it yet, So I went doWn stairs very calmly.
" What did that person want ?" Comte asked with ill-
repressed delight.
" Can't you guess ?"
" I ?—no.",
"It was a penitent thief, who begged me to return you
the articles he had filched from you. Here they are, inY
master !"
ci I prefer it to end so!" Comte said, returning his pocket
to its place. "We are now quits,
always be good friends." and I hope we shall
His account of the tricks
musing. On
played by
a Comte on
unsuspecting strangers is very
made a
pig
one occasion the ventriloquist
thehorror and
which was being driven
it . to market protest
against the price put on The incidental
amazement of the bystanders.
narratives, scattered through the Volumes, afford a
pleasant variety. Thus we have a detailed account
of the automaton chess player an
dd:theadventures of
Woronsky. Houdin also gives escriptions of
the performances of M. Philippe a nd his other rivals,
though with a slight tinge of lofty superiority.
His visit to' this country he speaks of with enthu-
siasm. Everything appears to have been couleur
de rose. no pays a well-merited tribute to Mr.
'itchell's courtesy and managerial ability. The
following incident, which occurred at the St. James's
Theatre, testifies our conjuror's presence of mind:—
Thus, ono day, I happened to break the glass of a watch
lent me for a trick. My position was awkward, for it is a
very clumsy termination to a trick to return an object lent
you in any way injured.
I quietly walked up to the gentleman who had lent me
the watch, and offered it to him, while being very careful
to keep the face downwards; but, at the moment he was
going to take it, I drew it back.
"This is your watch ?" I said, confidently.
Yes, sir, it is."
"Well, I merely wished to prove the fact; will you, sir,"