The Sun.
London, England, 1866-08-09 00:00:00

The Trial of the Fenian Prisoners in Canada.

BENTLEY'S MISCELLANY.—The editor's historical
romance of the Constable de Bourbon, though long
since issued in the customary form for the benefit
of the regular novel reader, continues to entertain
the readers of Bentley. The seventh book records
the horrors of the attack on Rome, and of that
first shot which, according to historic legend, laid the
ambitious constable low. The romancist accepts the
tradition which tells that Benevenuto Cellini was the
hand that fired the fatal-shot. " About things being to
us as we think them" is a curious and discursive paper.
Switzerland is pleasantly sketched by a traveller, and we
have also notes of a ride from Petra to Hebron. There
are also several tales of varying interest, none of which aro
ofa very high order.
LONDON SOCIETY.*" Going out of Town" is a
lugubrious sketch of the miseries people endure who
try to be too comfortable. " Bathing with an
Emperor" contains an agreeable description of
Biarritz, that makes one long to pay it a flying visit.
The scene in the bay, it is said, "any fine autumn
afternoon is ono of great beauty, especially when the rays
of the setting sun lend their glory to it, reddening the fine
woods, lighting up the picturesquely grouped houses, and
crimsoning the rocks." "The Trentham's Summer Trip,
and what came of it," is a well-described tale, that does
not, however, present a very pleasing study to ?on:.
' templstion. "Oxford and tho Grand C. ommemorntton '
gives us an animated account of tho doings there m the
grand days of the classic old city. " Mansi.on-house ll.os-
pitalities" presents the reader with a curious comrartson
between the affairs of to-day and times long gone by in
the City. " Who wins 11iss Burton" is concluded, and
satisfactorily, though wo are assured not very probably.
It would be well if many distressed damsels could,
like Agatha, escape at the eleventh hour from
a hateful marriage, and _ avoid . the life-long
misery of an ill-assorted union. "Up and Down the Lon-
don Streets" contains its. usual amount of striking infor-

notice.

THE ST. JAMES'S MAGAZINE.—The most conspi-
cuous feature in this number of the St. James's is,
of course, the continuation of Miss Braddon's novel
of " The Lady's Mile," now rapidly approaching its
conclusion. The chapters before us are very excit-
ing, coming, as they do, to the crisis of Lady Cecil's
life. The sudden and unlooked-for appearance of her
husband before the scene, when she and Major Gordon
are planning their wicked flight, is very forcibly told ; and
Mr. O'Boyneville, not too romantic a character, appears to
unusual advantage in the passage where he tells his own
and his wife's story in disguise. Cecil's history may be
now said to be ended, but the fortunes of Florence Cran-
ford remain to be told in the next number. " Out of
Charity" is continued. It is an original and singular
story, turning upon the unknown parentage of a young
lady, and the perplexities and annoyances that result
therefrom. " Concerning Beds and Bedsteads" is a paper
made up of old curiosities and anecdotes relating to won-
derful or ingenious beds and bedsteads. "Blind Authors"
takes a page from one of the most pathetic chapters of
literary story, and there are other papers of varying
interest.
MACMILLAN'S MAGAZINE.—" The Campaign in
Italy" supplies the subject of the first article, and
being written in Italy itself will be read with some
interest. Henry Kingsley's genial and extravagant
but original story of " Silcote of Silcotes " proceeds
to the ninth chapter, leaving the reader none the
less perplexed by the number and the eccentricities of the
dramatis persona, that he has several explanatory chapters
doled out to him. The other story " Cradock Nowell" is
much of the seine kindred in extravagance of style and
originality of design. It is brought to a sudden termina-
tion, in which the stain of' fratricide is altogether removed
from Cradock's name, and justice is meted out, though
somewhat imperfectly, among the remaining actors. An
essay on George Eliot's novels pays due honour to the
marvellous ability of the writer of Adam Bede, and the
critic very happily, in conclusion, points out the difference
between a natural and an artificial style. " I have only
to notice one thing more, and that is how thoroughly these
novels show to people who write, that style is not the result
of reading, but of thinking. It is not the assiduous culti-
vation of a style as such, but the cultivation of the intel-
lect and feelings which produces good writing. Style
comes of brooding over ideas, not over words." This is a
truth which authors would do well to remember.
THE VICTORIA MAGAZINE.—The question of the
extension of the franchise to the female sex is one
which we might naturally expect to find discussed
in this magazine, and, accordingly, the first article
which meets us is on the " Conflicting Opinions on the
franchise for women." "The civil and political status of
tho female sex" is continued, and brings down the narra-
tive to the fourth part of the feudal epoch—giving us an
account of the law of inheritance and mai ring() in
the countries which continued to use the Roman law. The
story of " Colonel Rannoch" proceeds, and there aro papers
on Magyar rural life and the neighbourhodd of Worthing.
'An essay on the nature and treatment of cholera will at-
tract attention just now from the importance of the sub-
ject, and the prospects of the Female Medical Society are
considered at length.
THE ARGOSY.—Charles Reade's story of " Grif-
fith Gaunt" continues more dramatically than
agreeably, and chronicles some terrible and startling
events. Miss Parkes contributes a pleasant paper on "An
Old French City," which is nicely illustrated. The author
of " Shirley Hall" shows us in his usual vigorous fashion
how a stroke of good fortune may sometimes be the ruin of
a man. Arminius Vaubeiy conducts us from Teheran to
Trebizond, and Mr. Haweis tells us the never wearisome
story of Garibaldi's eventful career. Some graceful verses
are among the remaining contents.
THE ECLECTIC.—SeveraI interesting books are
discussed in this number, chief among them being
Mr. Baker's Nile journey and Miss Itossetti's poems.
The life of Sir Thomas Browne, of famous renown, affords
also the subject of a well written paper, though we are
sorry to learn from it that this learned and honoured
author appeared as a witness against two miserable old
women burnt as witches in 1665.
THE SUNDAY MAGAZINE.—Many interesting
papers are in this number, which, like its prede-
cessors, is boldly and unmistakeably religious in its
scope and character. There is one paper which,
however, may very well be read with profit by those,
who would refuse to bo guided by direct advice : it is en-
titled, "Found among the Papers of a Young Man," and
records very simply how the writer turned over the memo-
randa of a wealthy young man with whose affairs he had
been concerned. He remembered several instances in
which the young man had refused to relieve persons suf-
fering from a heavy calamity, to assist the son of an old
dependant in entering business, to help the education of a
deserving young connexion, &c. On turning to his papers
for those dates, he found the refusals explained by tobac-
conists' and wine merchants' bills, and loans to worthless
boon companions. "Bear and Forbear, a pair of Buffers
for Universal Use," is, as may be guessed from its title, a
shrewd and sensible article. "A Visit to Mario, a French
Heroine," gives us an interesting account of what one
poor French girl was able to achieve in the course of a
chequered life. Many other papers and sketches will at-
tract and instruct the reader.
THE DAY OF REST.—" The Path of Thorns" is
continued, and a dreary sketch is given of the poor
heroine's adventures. Her wedding was a most
rough affair, and all shows the dangers and diffi-
culties into which people plunge themselves when
they enter upon a course of deceit. " Night
Nursing in a Lunatic Asylum" reveals a dreadful
picture of the miseries to which those aro subjected who
wait upon those afflicted with the worst of the thousand
ills to which flesh is heir. The full extent of the respon-
sibility and exertion cannot be comprehended until the
reader realises the fact that the care and attention cannot
be relaxed by night any more than by day. " Pencillings
in Suburban Cemeteries" contains a description of High-
gat3 Cemetery, which is very interesting. "A Gar-
land of Poetry and Flowers" is a pleasing sketch, and
it is remarked that " a love of flowers is natural to all ;
the Almighty in his infinite wisdom has ordained man for
the cultivation of the earth, and thus it is that wo aro in a
manner born gardeners, and our earliest inclinations load
us to the culture of flowers." " Old Izaak Walton" is an
an instructive sketch, and a variety of other matters in
prose and verse contribute to the filling up of the contents
of this little serial.
GOOD WORDS.—The attractions of Good Words
for readers of all classes continue undiminished,
and the number before us has several excellent
papers. "How can wo best relieve our Deserving Poor ?" is
a question which each of us may well put to himself in
these days of sickness and its accompanying distress.
" More about Shetland and the Shetlanders" contains
interesting reading, and the same may be said of a paper
on " Curious Forms of Fruits," by the curator of the Royal
Museum at Kew. Mrs. Oliphant's story of domestic life
Tcontinuos, and " Ligbt in the Desert" is a very a,
,1 loe
sc
sketch, teaching an immortal truth by illustration.,..e" d
or three pleasant and thoughtful verses are
• tt
through the number.
THE SIXPENNY MAGAZINE. to
bill of faro for the reader in this part,oaaing.
the tastes of these who seek for lightT
lIE BOY'S MONTHLY
TIIE BOY'S OWN MAGAZ
IN'tirle serials continue in
—Therdeireteaapclheinefltyiful
MAGAZINE.—These two it d
with all the array of P".
o venile miscellany.
their usual strain, full of
7azdiNe'esll tllro,hi
charades,sturayn,
da no
irgommaasn
icne
separable from an attractiv j
TILE TRUE HISTORY OF A LITTLE RAGAMUFFIN.—
The little ragamuffin's troubled life proceeds
through direful vicissitudes. He has a narrow escape of
death from fever, succeeds in eluding the vigilance of the
workhouse authorities, and contrives to survive meeting
his infuriated father in a publichouse. Those who smile
over his troubles may pause when they lay down the story
to think how many little lives there are whose facts are
even darker than this picture.
THE INTELLECTUAL OBSERVER.—The fifty-fifth
number has for its frontispiece a beautiful coloured
plate of a scene in Algeria illustrating a paper on
Algeria as a winter residence. The contents are,
as usual, full of scientific discussions and curious informa-
tion, and the various topics to which the attention of the
learned world has been recently directed receive due

TIARDIVICKE'S *SC lENCE GOSSIP.—This is another
scientific publication of a much slighter and less

The following is the text of Mr. Seward's letter to
the Hon. Mr. Bruce, concerning the trial of the
Fenian prisoners in Canada :
" Department of State, Washington, June 11, 1866.
" Sir,—The Secretary of War has laid before the
President several despatches, which were received
yesterday and to-day from Major-General Meade,
who is commanding the United States forces on the
Canadian frontier. These communications warrant
the President in believing that the so-called Fenian
expedition is now entirely at an end, and that order
and tranquillity may be expected to prevail hence-
forth upon that border. I regret, however, that I
am obliged to connect with this gratifying informa-
tion the further statements that reports have reached
Major-General Meade to the effect that some of the
Canadian or British troops have crossed the line and
entered within the territory and jurisdiction of the
United States. It is even said that this entry took
place after the disturbers of the peace, under the
command of the leader Spear, had relinquished their
I forbidden enterprise, and withdrawn within the
boundary line of the United States. The reports go
so far as to say that prisoners have been taken on
the soil of the United States and conveyed to Ca-
nada, and that the Canadian agents have threatened
that these prisoners, together with such stragg;ersas
may now be found within the Canadian lines, will
be executed without trial. It is believed these reports
are exaggerated. Care has been taken by Major-
Gen. Meade to have them promptly investigated.
" In the meantime I am instructed by the Presi-
dent to represent to you, and through you to the
British and Canadian authorities, that this Govern-
ment would not look without serious concern upon
the practice of any unnecessary severity, especially
on the exercise of retaliation or other illegal pro-
ceedings upon the persons of such of the offeudersas
have fallen or shall hereafter fall into the hands of
the Canadian authorities. I respectfully invite
your attention to the subject, with the confident
expectation that no proceedings that are not autho-
rised and in conformity with law will be taken
against persons of that class, and in the hope that
even the customary administration of the law will
be tempered with special forbearance and clemency.
In view of the effective proceedings which this
Government has adopted in regard to the dis-
turbances on the frontier, now so fortunately
ended, these representations would have been
made by me without waiting to be moved from any
other quarter. They are now made, however, with
the approval of Major-General Meade, and I believe
that they will receive the concurrence of the Con-
gress and the people of the United States. —I have
the honour to be, sir, your obedient servant,
6' WILLIAM 11. SEWARD.
" The Hon. Frederick W. A. Bruce."

DEAUVILLE RACES.—Disappointment was felt
at the non-appearance of any of the English horses engaged
at this meeting. An accident occurred in the two-year-

old race by the falling of Ouvereuso and Bountiful. Tho
jockeys Musgrove and William Carter were both seriously
hurt, the latter having his arm broken in two places. In
the Prix de De-any:lle Marino was left at the post, and Fleur
des Bois and Tancrede came in first and second. Tho start
having been declared a bad one, the race was run over
again, and Marion won easily, Fleur des Bois and Tan-
credo now finishing second and third. Subjoined is a
summary of the running :—First Day : "Prix Special,"
M. de Montgomery's Ceramique first, Castagnetto second;
" Prix du Chemin do Fer," M. Lunel's Coresia first,

Satellite second ; " Prix do Morny," for two-year-
olds, M. Fould's Petit-Capooral first, Montgoub!rt
second ; " Prix de Deauville," M. Fould's Marino
first, Fleur des Baia second ; "2d Prix do la

Societe d'Encouragement," M. Delamarre's Collet-Monte
first, Montmirail secoud.—Second Day : " Prix Impo
Hal," M. Dolamar:e's Vertugadin first, La Reines Bertha
second ; " Prix de la Societe des Courses," M. Lunel's
Coresia. first, Gaulois second ;" Ist Prix do la Societe d'En-
couragement," M. Delamarro's Vertugadin first, Fleur dos
Bois second ; " Prix du Conseil-Genera]," Mr. Gibson's
Prince Regent first, Collet Monte second ; " Prix do l'Em-
perour," Count de Lehndorff's Said first, Le Mag:cion
second; "Steeplechase," Baron• Finot's Valentino
first, Regalia second.—Third Day : " Prix de la Plage," M.
Delamarre's Castagnotto first, Chantilly second ; " Prix do

la Toucques," Count de Lag,range's Montgoubert first,
Peretto second; "Deauville Cup," M. Lunel's Affidavit

first, Fidelite second, La Reine-terthe third ; " Free Han-
dicap," Mr. Gibson's Princonegent first, Duc do Bourgogne
second ; "Prim do Consolation," Major Fridolin's Balisaire

first, Juliette second.
THE WAGES MOVEMENT.—Though in most
branches of labour an increase of wages or a diminu-
tion of working hours has been latterly obtained, some
trade disputes still exist, and two or three of them have
been of long duration. The joiners and carpenters of
Preston struck work on the sth of May, and have there-
fore been "out" just three calendar months. Their de-
mands are more wages, less work, and fewer apprentices.
As the master builders, after negotiating with the opera-
tives until their patience was exhausted, have obtained
from other places as many hands as they want at
present, nothing now remains for the men but increased
loss and disappointment, in proportion to the prolongation
of the struggle. They are now the only sufferers, whatever
loss and annoyance they may have caused to the employers
during the first few weeks of the strike. The men receive
14s. per week, the funds being supplied by other branches
of the union, who, we should fancy, are by this time tired
which
have growsboebeen
fainter
their
af
nt
e r share
every
day.in the
Manyurs u
the of of a pmeel n t phantom
however,
compelled to leave their homes in search of employment
elsewhere ; and no doubt the strike will quietly die out, an
utter failure, and a somewhat remarkable illustration of the
inability of labour to cope with capital when trying conclu-
sions with it in this way. On the Ist of May the masons of
Blackburn, numbering 270, struck work for a reduction of
six hours from the weekly number of 55. They allege that 49
is the number of hours worked per week at Bradford, Oldham,
Todmorden, Rochdale, Halifax, and other towns. Some of
the masters, not members of the Builders' Association, and
employing between 50 and GO men, at once conceded the de-
mand; and others, from the pressure of contracts and the
public exigencies, afterwards gave way. But few of the men
are now out of work. The daggers and slaters of Preston
have been on strike a considerable time, and there is no
present prospect of the termination of the dispute. It is
feared that the general advance which is taking place in
wages will cause a stagnation in the building trade, as the
increased cost of building is causing capitalists to seek other
and more profitable investments. Cottage rents have been
increased from 10 to 15 per cent., in consequence of the high
t
price of labour and materials for building, and the heavy
axes and other charges upon property, one of which is an
increased percentage demanded from the owners by rent
collectors. In the cotton trade at Blackburn a strike for an
advance of wages has been going on for three months
among the twisters and drawers-in, and some of them are
still out. An emigration scheme was mooted at one of their
the factory
ebutpewas
zivegive up.era
nreGenerally Ki
speang, nowever,
now qui et these' districts, but
ear
eg oeond
tahuet hfiorreitt y
favourable that it s their
opportunity.determination
T he
twoeashkavfor m
block-printers (calico) of Accrington have obtained an
advance of wages,
and the tailors of llaslingden and the
neighbourhood have had a rise of from 15 to 20 per cont.
Notwithstanding the heavy imports of cotton into
Liverpool during the past few days the quantity of
cotton at sea en route for the Slersey and the Thames
is still very large. From Bombay alone there are
336,734 bales afloat en route to Liverpool ; from
Madras there are 14,615 bales; from Conconada,
5,988 bales; from Rangoon, 1,180 bales ; front
Kurrachee, 8,567 bales; from Calcutta, 124,997
bales ; from Taticorin, 2,575 bales ; from Shan-
ghae, 12,036 bales; from New Orleans, 8,924 bales;
from Mobile, 3,795 ; from Galveston, 1,780 bales ;
but there are six vessels afloat, the cargoes of which
have not as yet been reported, and there are also
eleven vessels afloat from New York, Pensacola,
Charleston, Apalachicola, and Savannah, the car-
goes of which will no doubt consist partly of cot-
ton, although up to last Monday their manifests
had not reached Liverpool. To London there are
afloat from Madras, 22,866 bales ; Calcutta, 31,223
bales; Bimlipatam, 369 bales; China, Cochin, and
Taticorin, 20,280 bales ; Bombay, 11,360 bales ;
and from Japan, 310 bales.