The Sun.
London, England, 1842-07-22 00:00:00

SHUGBOROUGH HALL.

As the princely property of this noble mansion is
within the next fortnight to be subm;ged to the hammer,
some account of its valuable contents unin-
teresting nct be unin-
terestin to the public, especially as upon azi examina-
tion of catalogue now published by Mr. George
Robins, we discover an infinity of works of„art 01." the
highest class, and therefore recommend a visit to Shug-
borough Hall at this lovely,. though somewhat dull sea-
son, believing it will amply repay the ccnuoisseur for the
trouble of the journey.
The hall has long been the abode of the Anson family.
It is seated in a rich fertile valley, and was always re-
nowned for its hospitality. The Noble Earl, for several
years, whilst he hunted the count,, afforded accommo-
dation to an endless number of guests, and the sleeping
apartments of Shugborough Hall, which appear inter-
minable, were then in great requisition. The reception
rooms are extremely spacious, and are adorned with some
of the finest works of art in this country, the galleries
and corridors containing a matchless collection of
antique statues and busts, with some of modern
date. Many of the latter were purchase d in Italy
by the first Lord Anson, the celebrated Admiral and cir-
cumnavigator, who spared neither labs ur nor expense in
forming the gallery, which was materially increased
during the lifetime of the late Viscount, and aided by
the skill and talent of Nollekens, who was frequ,ntly a
visitor at Shugborough, the present extraordinary as-
semblage of antique and modern sculpture was brought
to its present complete state. It is rarely so many life-
size statues of the ancient sculptors are found emigre-
gated together, and no finer specimens can be conceived
than those which adorn Shugborough Hall. The most
remarkable are Neptune with the Dolphins, the Young
Bacchus with a Sate r, Paris with the Apple, the Venus
de Medicis, Mercury, a Roman Youth, and the compa-
nion, a Female representing Comedy, the Venus Ac-
croupie, with an endless number of busts. Several finely
sculptured Roman altars and pedestals, whilst the modern
statues and busts are by Roubilliar and Nollekens, the
latter having worked expressly for his patron t his cluf
d ceuvre of Castor and Pollux is a group of extraordinary
power and conception, and will serve as a lasting memo-
rial of this artist's wondrous talent.

We proceed now to particularise some of the princi-
pal pictures, gems of the highest class of the Italian,
Dutch, and Flemish schools, believing that few collec-
tions possess so many originals free from doubt or ques-
tion. A pair of grand gallery pictures by Guido, of the
Angel appearing to St. Peter, and Susannah and the
Elders, are incomparable specimens of this splendid mas-
ter ; also Christ in the Garden attended by Angels,
from the pencil of Carlo Maratti, does honour to the
Italian school of painting ; a landscape by the side of a
river, by Claude Lorraine, presents all the rich glowing
effect of this highly-valued painter ; a mountainous
landscape and a woody scene, by G. Poussin, are painted
with great freedom of pencil; an Italian landscape, by
Swanneveldt, is very rich in effect ; an upright moun-
tainous landscape, with a waterfall in the distance, and
travellers going. along a pass, from the joint pencils of
Both and Berghem, is a treasure of the highest class ; a
warm glowing effect pervades,the whole scene, and it pre-
sents a rich combination of the talents of these highly emi-
nent masters; the Whale Fishery, with bears upon the ice,
by Stork, is a fine specimen ; a small clear picture,
by Cuyp, is a cabinet gem of the first order, the
subject a View near Dordt, with a woman milking a cow
on the banks of a river, a distant view of a village with
Dutch boats sailing along, forming one of the most
charming compositions that can be conceived, with an
effect of light that illumines the whole, producing a
scene completely true to nature. Perhaps no collection
in the world can boast of so many or such splendid paint-
ings by William Vandevelde. There is one of very
large size, representing a calm.with men-of war at anchor,
and its companicn by L. Backhuysen, a fresh breeze,
with numerous vessels and Dutch boats, and a man-of-
war at anchor. in the offing, may both be pronounced,
without fear of contradiction, as the most capital produc-
tions in existence of these incomparable masters ; also a
pair of smaller pictures by William Vandevelde, replete
with interest and subject, finished in the most powerful
and yet clear silvery manner, are pictures of the first
quality, with a pair of smaller sized pictures by the same
artist, are equally choice spcciments. An upright land-
scape, by Gainsborough, presents a beautiful bit of Eng-
lish scenery. A landscape, with sheep and a cow, by
du Jardin, is a fine specimen of this rare and much-
esteemed master. An upright landscape, with. the
Chateau of Teniers, is a pleasing picture by D. Teniers.
There are, likewise, numberless charming works by mas-
ters of the highest rank.
The extens".e library is also entitled to a brief men-
tion, embracing as it does many must valuable standard
books, with a complete series of County Histories, the
works of J. B. Piranesi, and a variety of splendidly illus-.
trated volumes. This portion of the property com-
mences the sale, and occupies the three first nays, being
followed by the cellars of wines, ve hich for extent and
variety, may challenge competition with any in the
county. There are many rare wines, for which the
Noble owner was most justly celebrated, particularly in
the variety and excellence of his Clarets and Cham-
pagnes, a hich are of the highest character. There are
also several bins denominated Cabinet Wine, which it
appears are of the supernaculuni order, being exported
expressly for Ministers, and will no doubt produce great
prices. This portion of the sale will bring together the
Lon vicuna' of Staffordshire, and the surrounding counties.
It forms the fourth and fifth days of sale, and includes
same rare liqueurs, spirits, strong ales, &c. The furni-
ture of the mansion is divided into seven days, and em-
braces the numerous bed-chambers, the state-bed-
chamber and dressing-rooms, which were recently fur-
nished in the most splendid and gorgeous style upon
the occasion of a Royal visit. The reception-rooms are
all in good taste, adorned by an infinity of objects of
interest and value, some porcelain and alabaster, which
'by the catalogue appears to be most excellently arranged
and lotted.

—The railroad-station is within five miles, and, coin •
municating as it does to all parts of England, the utmost
facility for visiting Shugborough Hall, during the view
and sale is insured.

The private view commences on Monday next.

MONEY MARKET and CI T Y NEWS.
TIMES. —A report prevails that there is an intention on the
part of the West India Steam packet Company to apply to Go.
vernment for leave to run one packet only in each month, and
retain the terms originally settled of 240,0001. per annum ; or,
If they continue to run two packets monthly, to increase the re-
muneratiett to 400,0001. per annum. So grand an experiment
in steam navigation is certainly entitled to every indulgence,
looking at the prospective benefits anticipated, but the signal
failure of all the early arrangements has spread universal dis-
content among tit,: merchants, traders, and others connected
either with the West ialies or the adjoining continents, and if
the old cost of the sailing-pi.clots on that line did sot exceed,
as is stated, 70,0001., the inanag,,:rs of this undertaking will
have great difficulty in setting themsekyes right both with the
public and the Government, and in proviii: that they give an
adequate return for so large an additional outlai.

RAILWAY DEODA.NDS.
Our readers will recollect the late fatal catastrophe on the
Eastern Counties Railway, when tour lives were lost. On
that occasion the Coroner's inquisition which sat on the
bodies imposed a deodand of 1251. in esob ease, amounting
to 5001.
The Railway Company petitioned the Lords of her Majesty's
Treasury, that the levying of the deodands might be delayed
until the Company had an opportunity of testing the validity
and legality of the verdicts. The Lords of the Treasury granted
this request as a matter of course, and last Term the question
wv.- brousht before the Court of Exchequer, in the shape of a
motion that the Company might be at liberty to pay the amount
of one deodand, and be discharged from the payment of the
other three, on the ground that as the accidental deaths of all
the parties occurred simultaneously, and by the same cause
(viz., the engine), that there could not legally be but one drm-
dand enforced, for the value of the article nioving to the death of
the unfortunate parties could not have four values, and conse-
quently four deodands could not be enforced. In the course of the
examination before the Coroner, it however appears that that gen-
tleman (Mr. Lewis) examined witnesses as to the value of the
engine, who agreed in stating it to be worth 1,5001., and with
this information the Jury ( which were the same in ail four
cases) imosed the deodands,, and assessed them at 1251 each,
making a total, as before stated, of 5001. The Court of Ex-
chequer were of opinion thit the verdii t was right, and decided
that the deodands must be paid. A question has since arisen
whether the Jury, with such evidence as to the value of the
engine before them, ought not to have returned a verdict for
the full amount, viz., 1,5001. ; but if they had done so, another
question arises, whether that verdict would not have been set
aside by application to the Court of Queen's Bench. This,
however, was not the point that the Company wished to moot,
and we understand they have since paid the amount of the
deodands into the hands of the Sheriff of Middlesex, in order
to meet the Queen's writ, which will issue on Friday next.
Thus, justice to the public, so far as it can by these limns be
obtained, will be effected, and it may accomplish the object so
much desired, of making the officers of railroad companies more
careful of the lives and safety of her Majesty's subjects than
it would seem, from the numerous accidents that have oc-
curred, they have hitherto been.

14. The ,
the Estates of the Kingdom was adjourned to-day jade-
AnitelY.—FArsen Halle, July-16.. .

THE KING -OF PRUSSIA AT
POSEN.

Letters received from" Posen and Berlin mention particulars
of some interest relative to the King of Prussia, then on his
way to visit St. Petersburgh. The Polish Nobles of the Grand
Duchy of Posen gave a ball of the moat splendid description to
his Majesty, with every demonstration of loyalty. The King
seemed in the highest degree gratified with the reception hg ,
met from his Polish subjects, and behaved with the greatest,
courtesy and kindness. Being, however, on his journey to the
Court of Russia, he was very guarded in his expressions, and
confined himself to commonplace phrases. This was very na-
tural in the position in which ho was placed, but it was 40
natural that the Poles were somewhat disappointed at not hear-
ing any remarks of a political nature. On the day of the
King's departure, the nobles and principal inhabitants of Posen
assembled an the palace. The King was still in his closet, and ex-
pecting to be overwhelmed wi' h petitions, he had already made up
his mindto submit to it as an unavoida/e annoyance, when Prince,
Bogaslew Radziwill was announced. When the Prince entered
the King said to him, laughing, " Draw them out, mon en-
facet," meaning the petitions; but the Prince, to his great
surprise and gratification, said, that his ceuntry men had no pe-
titions to present to their Monarch, hut only one favour to re-
quest from him, which was, to intercede with the Emperor of
Russia in behalf of their unfortunate brethren in Siberia. The
King promised to do so at the first favourable opportunity, and
left Posen highly gratified. with the delicacy of the Poles la
totally abstaining from' asking any special or individual
favour. A circumstance occurred at the ball given on
this occasion. which, although trifling in itself, could not
but produce a painful impression on the Poles. Among;
the officers of the Ro3 al suite there was one decorated
with the Russian medal for the capture of Warsaw in I b3l, but
this occurrence ,eems to have been entirely an oversight, as the
character of the King removes from him all idea or being ca-
pable of inflicting that or any other wilful outrage on the feel.T.,
ings of his Polish subjects. The King of Prussia, it is added,
received on his journey many manifestations of hatred towards
Russia, but when some went so fares to implore his AlajestY
not to proceed, as he would be exposed to personal danger, he
answered, " 1 am in the hands of God." Such fears are treated
es absurd and without foundation, bet they give an idea of the
feelings entertained in that part of the Prussian dominions.