The Sun.
London, England, 1859-12-22 00:00:00

SPAIN.

The Madrid journals of the 17th have reached
us. A royal decree reorganises the Council of Agri-
culture and Manufactures. The Gazette publishes
a list of promotions and rewards (generally crosses
in the Spanish orders) accorded to officers and men
who had distinguished themselves against the
Moors. It also states that the troops in Africa have
cleared completely the road for a distance of two
leagues, so as to allow the artillery and cavalry to
advance in safety. Beyond these two leagues lies a
vast plain leading to Tetuan.

According to letters which reach Paris, the Hun-
garian movement is assuming wider proportions
daily. The political agitation is neither purely
Protestant nor revolutionary; it is an effort to pro-
claim the nationality of Hungary, and restore her
old privileges and rights.

THE PENINSULAR MAILS.

SOUTHAMPTON, ThURSDAY MORNING.

The Sultan steamer, Captain Vincent, from Lis-
bon, December 17th, and Vigo 19th, has arrived.
No communication with Oporto.
She brings £3,630 in specie, 2,462 chests oranges
and general cargo.
The Hon. Mr. Howard, late British Minister at
Lisbon, and family, are passengers by the Sultan.
Lisbon exchanges, at three months, on London,
531 to a ; Paris, nominal, 531 ; Amsterdam, 44 ;
Hamburg, 471.
The electoral contest on New Year's-day absorbs
the attention of political circles at Lisbon.

CENTRAL AMERICA.

GREY TowN, MOSQUITO, Nov. 2.

The intelligence that Walker had left the United
States for Nicaragua was brought here by the
American Commodore in the Roanoke, from Colon.
Her Majesty's ship Valorous, Capt. Aldham, C. 8.,
immediately started up the coast, calling at Blew-
fields, Corn Islands, Omoa, and returned with-
out having seen the general's expedition. The
United States ship Sabine was left to guard the
port, the St. Louis was sent to the mouth of the
Colorado River, and the Commodore departed for
Colon.

There is no news from Nicargua, or of the French
Canal Company.
In Costa Rica the coffee crop is being gathered ;
it will probably amount to 200,000 quintals, and is
in excellent condition.

The election for president will take place about
the end of November. Mariano and Francisco
Montealegre (brothers of the provisional president)
are candidates, also Yglesias and perhaps General
Castro.

The Provisional Government is not yet firmly
established, and there is a great chance of another
revolution within the two next months, the object
of which will be the recall of the exiled president
Mora. Some 20 of the prominent citizens of San
Jose have been arrested on a charge of conspiracy
to overthrow the present state of affairs.

IRON SCREW COLLIER COMPANY.—A meeting of
this company took place yesterday, to confirm or otherwise
a proposil ion for selling their fleet of 12 vessels for £60,000,
which, allowing a deduction on account of certain charges,
would leave about £47,000 clear. After sonic discussion a
show of hands was taken, but a ballot was eventually de-
termined upon. It was mentioned that the profits of the
past half-year have been about £9,000 or £lO,OOO, but this
result is considered exceptionally favourable. There is
about £23,000 in hand, subject to be reduced by £B,OOO, or
possibly twice that amount, for a claim decided against the
company in a court of law. The original capital of the ppll-
- was £126,000, in £2:5 shares, of which £44,000, or £9
per share, bas been returned to the proprietors, leaving the
present capital at £BO,OOO.

;144431

LEIGH HUNT.-A REMONSTRANCE.

(From All the Year Round.)

" The sense of beauty and gentleness, of moral
beauty and faithful gentleness, grew upon him as
the clear evening closed in. When he went to visit
his relative at Putney, he still carried with him his
work, and the books he more immediately wanted.
Although his bodily powers had been giving way,
his most conspicuous qualities, his memory for books
and his affection, remained ; and when his hair was
white, when his ample chest had grown slender, when
the very proportion of his height had visibly lessened,
his step was still ready, and his dark eyes brightened
at every happy expression, and at every thought of
kindness. His death was simply exhaustion : he
broke off his work to lie down and repose. So gentle
was the final approach, that he scarcely recognised
it till the very last, and then it came without
terrors. His physical suffering had not been severe ;
at the latest hour he said that his only uneasiness
was failing breath. And that failing breath was
used to express his sense of the inexhaustible kind-
ness he had received from the family who had been
so unexpectedly made his nurses—to draw from
one of his sons, by minute, eager, and searching
questions, all that he could learn about the latest
vicissitudes and growing hopes of Italy—to ask the
friends and children around him for news of those
whom he loved—and to send love and messages to
the absent who loved him."

Thus, with a manly simplicity and filial affection,
writes the eldest son of Leigh Hunt in recording his
father's death. These are the closing words of a new
edition of the "Autobiography of Leigh Hunt," pub-
lished by Messrs. Smith and Elder, of Cornhill,
revised by that son, and enriched with an introduc-
tory chapter of remarkable beauty and tenderness.
The son's first presentation of his father to the
reader, " rather tall, straight as an arrow, looking
slenderer than he really was ' • his hair black and
shining, and slightly inclined to wave ; his head
high, his forehead straight and white, his eyes
black and sparkling, his general complexion dark;
in his whole carriage and manner an extraordinary
degree of life," completes the picture. It is the pic-
ture of the flourishing and fading away of man that
is born of a woman and hath bat a short time to live.
In his presentation of his father's moral nature
and intellectual qualities, Mr. Hunt is no less faith-
ful and no less touching. Those who knew Leigh
Hunt will see the bright face and hear the musi-
cal voice again, when he is recalled to them in
thiS passage :—" Even at seasons of the greatest de-
pression in his fortunes he always attracted many
visitors, but still not so much for any repute that
attended him as for his personal qualities. Few
men were more attractive in society, whether in a
large company or over the fireside. His manners
were peculiarly animated ; his conversation, varied,
ranging over a great field of subjects, was moved
and called forth by the response of his companion,
be that companion philosopher or student, sage or
boy, man or woman ; and he was equally ready for
the most lively topics or for the gravest reflections
—his expression easily adapting itself to the tone
of his companion's mind. With much freedom of
manners, he combined a spontaneous courtesy that
never failed, and a considerateness derived from a
ceaseless kindness of heart that invariably fasci-
nated eveji strangers." Or in this :—" His
animation, his sympathy with what was gay and
pleasurable, his avowed doctrine of cultivating
cheerfulness, were manifest on the surface, and could
be appreciated by those who knew him in society,
most probably even exaggerated as salient traits, on
which he himself insisted with a sort of gay and
ostentatious wi?fulness."
The last words describe one of the most captivat-
ing peculiarities of a most original and engaging
man, better than any other words could. The
reader is besought to observe them, for a reason
that shall presently be given. Lastly—" The
anxiety to recognise the rights of others, the ten-
dency to ' refine,' which was noted by an early
school companion, and the propensity to elaborate
every thought, made him, along with the direct
argument by which he sustained his own convic-
tion, recognise and almost admit all that might be
said on the opposite side." For these reasons, and
for others suggested with equal felicity, and with
equal fidelity, the son writes of the father, "It is
most desirable that his qualities should be known
as they were, for such deficiencies as he had
are the honest explanations of his mistakes, while
as the reader may see from his writings and his
conduct, they are not, as the faults of which he was
accused would be, incompatible with the noblest
faculties both of head and heart. To know Leigh
Hunt as he was, was to hold him in reverence and
love."

Them quotations are made here, with a special
object. It is not, that the personal testimony of
one who knew Leigh Hunt well may be borne
to their truthfulness. It is not, that it may be
recorded in these pages, as in his son's intro-
ductory chapter, that his life was Of the most
amiable and domestic kind, that his wants
were few, that his way of life was frugal, that
he was a man of small expenses, no osten-
tation, a diligent labourer, and a secluded
man of letters. It is not that the inconsiderate
and forgetful may be reminded of his wrongs and
sufferings in the days of the Regency and of the
national disgrace of his imprisonment. It is not
that their forbearance may be entreated for his
grave, in right of his graceful fancy or his political
labours and endurances, though
Not only we, the latest seed of Time,
New men, that in the flying of a wheel
Cry down the past, not only we, that prato,
Of rights and wrongs, have loved the people well.
It is, that a duty may be done in the most direct
way possible. An act of plain clear duty.
Four or five years ago the writer of these lines
was much pained by accidentally encountering a
printed statement " that Mr. Leigh Hunt was
the original of Harold Skimpole in Bleak House."
The writer of these lines is the author of that book.
The statement came from America. It is no dis-
repect to that country, in which the writer has,
perhaps, as many friends and as true an interest as
any man that lives, good-humouredly to state the
fact, that he has, now and then, been the subject
of paragraphs in Transatlantic newspapers more
surprisingly destitute of all foundation in truth
than the wildest delusions of the wildest lunatics.
For reasons born of this experience, he let the
thing go by.
But, since Mr. Leigh Hunt's death, the state.
ment has been revived in England. The delicacy
and generosity evinced in its revival, are for the
rather late consideration of its revivers. The fact
is this :
Exactly those graces and charms of manner
which arc remembered iu the words we have
quoted, were remembered by the author of the
work of fiction in question, when he drew the
character in question. Above all other things,
that " sort of gay and ostentatious wilfulness"
in the humouring of a subject, which had
many a time delighted him, and impressed
him as being unspeakably whimsical and
attractive was the airy quality he wanted for
the man he invented. Partly for this reason,
and partly (he has since often grieved to think)
for the pleasure it afforded him to find that de-
lightful manner reproducing itself under his hand,
he yielded to the temptation of too often making
the character speak like his old friend. He no
more thought, God forgive him ! that the admired
original would ever be charged with the imaginary
vices of the fictitious creature, than he has himself
ever thought of charging the blood of Desde-
mona and Othello, on the innocent Aca-
demy model who sat for lago's leg in the picture.
Even as to the mere occasional manner, he meant
to be so cautious and conscientious, that he privately
referred the proof sheets of the first number of
that book to two intimate literary friends of Leigh
Iluat (both still living), and altered the whole of
that part of the text on their discovering too strong
a resemblance to his " way."
Ile cannot see the son lay this wreath on the
father's tomb, and leave him to the possibility of
ever thinking that the present words might have
righted the father's memory, and were left un-
written.
He cannot know that his own son may
have to explain his father when folly or malice'
cau wound his heart no more, and leave this task
undone.

THE REPORTED Loss OF THE GREAT BRITAIN.
—The story of the foundering of the steamship Great Bri-
tain off the Western Islands, which took its rise from the
finding of a canister at the mouth of the Mersey, contain-
ing a paper that she had foundered, is now looked upon as
a hoax. Indeed, Messrs. Gibbs, Bright, and Co the agents
of the lino to which she belongs, have placarded the town
with bills offering a reward of £lOO to any person or per-
sons who will prosecute to conviction the perpetrator or
perpetrators ; and there is a universal desire and hope
that he or they may be discovered, and severely punished.
ALARMING ACCIDENT.—On Monday evening
shortly before six o'clock, the smack St. Laurence, from
Greenock, was coming towards the quay, and, when oppo-
site the ferry steps at the Queen's Island, was seen by a
number of Mr. Ilarlin's workmen who wore leaving the
island in two large boats, to be bearing closely upon them.
There were between 60 and 70 individuals in the two boats,
and it is stated that N,hen sighting the smack and seeing
their danger, they shouted t , those in charge of the vessel
to bear off, which was not done. However, the smack van
into one of the boats, which contain: el between 30 and 40
men and boys, and almost cut her in two, nearly the whole
of those in the boat having boon thrown into the water. A
number of the parties swam ashore, and, with the assistance
of two or lane boats, all were, happily, rescued. Two men,
however, are, wo understand, very seriously injured, one
man, named Thomas Magee, having sustained a compound
fracture of the leg by the collision. The captain of the St.
Laurence, whq will be brought up at the police court on
Tuesclßy morning, states that he wa,s stee:ing his vessel
close to the island to keep cleat GI a sheet of ice—that, he
did not hear the calls of tlio people in the boats, and that ,
the collision wrA purely accidental,—Ve/A0 211114"
Whig. • .._

BURNING OF TILE AMERICAN SHIP

MASTIFF.

The following is an extract from the log of the
British ship Achilles, Hart, on her voyage from
San Francisco for Sydney (N.S.W.), stating the
loss of the American clipper ship Mastiff by fire,
and the saving of 208 lives—viz., Captain Johnson
and lady, five gentlemen (cabin passengers), the
ship's crew (27 in number), and 174 Chinese—and
100,000 dols. in treasure.

" On the 12th day of September, 1859, the ship
Achilles, Captain Henry T. Hart, sailed from the
Golden Gate, San Francisco, for Sydney, New
South Wales. The pilot left the ship at 7 a.m.
Sunday; the wind being southerly, the captain
shaped a course to clear the Farrallones and passed
clear of them at 1.30 p.m., the wind then from the
southward. At 8 p.m. wind hauled mere westerly;
tacked ship to the southward, with a moderate
breeze. At daylight on the morning of the 13th
saw a large ship bearing N.W. ; exchanged signals,
and found her to be the Amercan clipper ship Mas-
tiff, that had sailed from San Francisco 18 hours be-
fore us, both ships steering to the southward, with
a light breeze from the westward. At daylight
of the 14th, wind westward, the Mastiff in sight
about 10 miles astern, steering the same course. On
the 15th, at daylight, the Mastiff in sight, about the
same distance astern. At noon our latitude obser-
vation was 30.30 N., and long, by chronometer
128.20 W., the Mastiff off our weather quarter ; the
wind hauled more westerly; took in topmast and
topgallant studding sails, and hauled the ship close
to the wind, intending to speak the Mastiff, but
she passing ahead, did not do so.
" At 4.15 p.m. the said ship was about two miles
ahead; Mr. Harley, the second officer, reported to
the captain that the Mastiff had her colours up in
distress, and that she was on fire. He immediately
went forward and found the report true, and that
smoke was coming out of her stern ports and the
after part of the ship. The captain called all hands
on deck, and took in all the small sails, made the
ship snug, sailed for the burning vessel, and lay-to
close to windward, sent the quarterboat, second offi-
cer, and four men to assist in saving life. At about
4.30 p.m. the gig belonging to the Mastiff came along-
side, with the captain's lady, five gentlemen (cabin
passengers), and three Chinamen. It Was only after
their coming on board that the position of all on board
began to be realised. To witness the prostrate and
bleeding forms of the three Chinamen told the
means that had to be resorted to to keep them from
crowding and swamping the boats. By this time
they succeeded in launching three small boats (they
having failed to get their longboat over the side),
which, together with our being so close to the burn-
ing ship, seemed to restore some degree of quiet
amongst the Chinese, who could be seen in the
sea hanging by ropes to the ship's side. The five
gentlemen, cabin passengers, who were saved were :
—R. H. Dana, Esq., C. C. Harris, George Clifford,
T. H. C. Richmond, and M. Schonbrun. As soon
as all the Chinese, 174 in number, were got on
board, Captain Hart sent instructions to save pro-
visions, but so rapid did the flames spread that it
was found impossible to save a particle. We then
received the crew, 27 in number, seven boxes of
treasure valued at about 100,000 dols., one iron
chest, two chronometers, a small quantity of cloth-
ing, a mahogany chest, marked ship Mastiff,' in
gilt letters, and a few fowls and pigs. At 6.30
p.m. the ship was in flames, and at 7 p.m. the main
and mizenmasts fell over the side. We then hoisted
on board two boats, and let two go adrift, having
so little room on deck, and the ship being full of
cargo. By this time the ship was in flames fore and
aft, and only now indeed could be realised the awful
doom that awaited all on board that ill-fated ship,
had not an all-wise and merciful Providence made
us the instruments of their preservation. After
consultation with Captain Johnson as to which
way it was best to proceed it was agreed that
we should sail for the Sandwich Islands, and
land them at Honolulu. We then made sail
with a light breeze from the N.W. Mr. Dana,
one of the cabin passengers by the Mastiff, read
prayers, and all joined in returning thanks for the
miraculous deliverance of so many human beings.
The following morning muster was made, and the
Chinamen counted, when one was found missing.
On inquiry amongst them, it was ascertained that
after the general rush at the first alarm of fire, one
of their number, the head of a company amongst
them, returned between decks to save a large
amount of money, and was instantly suffocated. It
is understood that the Chinese lost a large amount
of treasure. We then took account of stores and
water on board, put every one on five pints, and
served out to the Chinese one biscuit per day, and
some rice and boiled wheat, and continued on, with
a steady breeze from the eastward, until we. arrived
at Honolulu, on the 27th, all well.
" The Mastiff was a first-class cliliper, of 1,035
tons burthen, built in Boston in 1856, and fitted
with all the modern improvements ; cost about
90,000 dols., and was insured, i 1 is stated, in ten
Boston offices for 80,000 dols."
Captain Hart has reP:eived letters of gratitude
from the five gentleme-,, passengers above-mentioned
from the United States Consul at Honolulu, and
from the Chinese who were on board. The latter
is as follow

" Dear Sir,— " Honolulu, Sept: 28.
We , a committee of our countrymen,
in all 174 souls rescued by you from the burning
ship :Mastiff, at sea, on the 15th day of this present
month of September, desire to convey to you our
most earnest acknowledgments for the humanity
which dictated to you the reception of so
many suffering strangers on board your ship,
and the constant kind treatment they experienced
at your hands during the time they remained your
guests. We beg your acceptance of the accompa-
nying flag, which we present with the hope that
whenever you look upon it your benevolent heart
may experience the throb of gratification which
the consciousness of having performed a good action
never fails to produce. Should you, amid the
storms of life, be threatened with shipwreck of for-
tune, or any other disaster to which humanity is
liable, may you in your hour of need or danger
meet with as true a friend and deliver as you ,under
Providence, have proved to us. We remain, dear
Sir, with sentiments of the deepest gratitude, ever
yours,

SING Pou, X
X Committee of
LING HE, 147 Chinese.
Go Qui, X
" To Capt. Henry T. Hart,
British ship Achilles."