The Sun.
London, England, 1868-10-31 00:00:00

7HE CITY SWORD FOR LORD NAPIEI?.

The sword for presentation by the Corporation
of London to Lord Napier of Altgdala has just been
completed, and it is a gift worthy of the first city
in the world. This magnificent example of British
art-workmanship has been executed by the eminent
firm of Howell, James, and Co., Regent-street, and
of all the splendid specimens of the goldsmith's art
which they have been called upon to furnish on
many public occasions they have never produced a
work more calculated to increase their reputation
than that now under notice. The work
is remarkable in many instances :--First, it is
the only " gold sword " ever manufactured ; then
the design is of the most exquisite description ;
the execution is perfection in every part ; and
the whole combined renders it a production of Bri-
tish skill that will create wonder and surprise in
the great and distant empire to which his lordship
is about to proceed. It will prove to the workers
in the precious metals in other countries that Bri-
tish art is still improving, and that on all occasions
when a piece of work of matchless beauty is required
the English workman is quite able to produce it,
unassisted either as to design or execution. The
scabbard of the sword is composed entirely of 18 carat
gold, the entire length of which is finely wrought
in repousse work, the ornamentation consisting of
renaissance scrolls of palm, laurel, military trophies,
and all the names of the principal military stations
through which his lordship and his army marched.
The arms of the City and those of his lordship aro
beautifully introduced in the most brilliantly painted
enamel, and the handle is formed of a piece of
carved ivory that rivals in perfection that pro-
duced by the Chinese. A splendidly executed
lion's head in gold surmounts a blade of the finest
steel, richly ornamented in Damascene work,
and bearing an inscription setting forth by
whom and for what it was presented to
his lordship. Messrs. Howell, James, and Co.
have received the expression of the highest satis-
faction from those who confided to them the work,
but that will be small praise compared to that
which they will receive when that brilliant speci-
men of English art is seen in the distant crap ire
to which his lordship is on the eve of his de-
parture.

ROMSTY PLOUGHING MATCH.--Thi3 match too
place on the Lee Farm on Wednesday last, and instead of the
prizes and competitors being divided into several classes, as is
generally the case, two handsome prizes of £lO and £5 respeC-
lively were offers I, to be competed for in one class by all corners
with any description of two-horse plough. Twenty four plough-
men entered the lists, using ploughs manefactured by Ransoms
and Sine's, Howard, Hornsby, Taskor, Pearce, and Woodbourne
After an exciting competition the first prize of £lO was won by
James Barker, plonghnpn to Messrs. Ransoms and Sims, and
the second prize of £5 to a ploughinln using one of Messrs.
Ti ?TANI ploughs,

The journals are all occupied with Baron Beust's speech,
or, rather, the substantial part of it—the announcement
that 800,000 must be the figure at which the war army of
the Austrian Empire is to be fixed for the present. The
total number actually available now is under 500,000, but
a war army of such dimensions will require a much larger
available force. in time of peace. Of course, if the
Austrian force on a war footing is to be fixed at 800,000
it cannot be kept at 300,000 on peace dimensions. It may,
therefore, be concluded that Austria will in future have
a standing force of not less than half a million, to be
largely increased in case of hostilities. The pessimists
make the worst of this determination. But it is difficult
to discover any very special significance in it. There is
the obnoxious article in the Journal de St. Petersbourg, cer-
tainly, but such articles have been written often before
without doing anybody harm. The St. Petersburg papers
say that in case Austria helps France, Russia will help
Prussia. These pen and ink theories have been drawn
out again and again to the utter weariness of the flesh.
Austria is doing nothing mote than any other Power;
it is the general situation, not any special action which
produces the evil.
The Gaulois is responsible for the statement that their
Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales and
Lord Stanley will be the Emperor's guests at Compibgne
early next month.

The difficulty with the Bey of Tunis is in a fair way or
settlement. It will be remembered that this dispute
arose originally out of the inability of the Bey
to reimburse his French creditors. As these
smell folk cannot repudiate their debts as their
more powerful neighbours, France interfered, and at last
the unhappy African " potentate" offered the produce of
certain taxes as payment of his debts. It was, however,
afterwards discovered that he appropriated part of these
taxes to his own use : hence the difficulty. It is officially
announced that it will be settled, but we are not told how.
Probably the Bey has promised to behave himself, and not
appropriate the taxes. The Etendard speaks in terms of
high praise of the spirit of conciliation which the English
Cabinet has not ceased to display throughout the settle-
ment of these difficult negotiations.
A heartless case of child desertion occurred here a night
or two ago. A little girl, apparently not more than two
years old, was found crying in the Rue Neuve, St. Augustin.
A paper, with the words " Her name is Mary Rupert,"
was attached to the waistband of her frock. The baker's
boy who found the child took her to the nearest police-office,
but had scarcely reached it when a boy, aged about 6, who
had been found wandering in the Passage Choiseul, was
brought in. He also had a paper pinned to his clothes,
with the name of John Pinter written on it. These two
proved to be brother and sister. The wretch who passed
as their father had brought them over from England the
previous day, had given them their supper, and had left
them each at a different place, saying that he would return
presently. The case is being inquired into.

Little hope of Rossini's recovery is held out.
A curious incident has happened at one of the newly.
authorised public meetings. M. Darimon ascended the
tribune with the intention of speaking„ but his appearance
was greeted by a tremendous tumult. He claimed the
freedom of opinion and of the tribune. A workman cried
out that all respected liberty and free expression of
opinion, but that M. Darimon's proper place was at the
Tuileries. The would-be orator gave way upon this
attack.

The sale of the Figaro in the open street has been pro.
hibited.

Two fine portraits have been found at Pompeii. They
are the first paintings of the kind that have been dis.
covered.

Wlocipbdes are coming into general use. In several of
the departments they are being used by the commission•
mares, or " general utility" men. They run errands,
carry messages, parcels, &c. With the aid of these
machines they are enabled to do as much work in one
hour as they could do in three without them. By extra
profits they can pay off the cost of the vdlocipede in a
month or two.

THE WEATHER TABLE.-THIS DAY.

METEOROLOGICAL REI'ORTS.

Extreme