The Sun.
London, England, 1855-01-19 00:00:00

:b55.

L_f_X

. . --'!"-------7 , • - . •
Poetits. • By William StePheu Sal:ides. - T,ong,
lixii,-
i.
• These little.ppeins are abeve the average stand
of verses now offered to the public. Theydroswain
) elevated thoughts which arqsgraßefully exprt;gsed;
and in some instances, as in "Love and Sorrow,"
feeling and sentiment are embodied in the dekrip-
tions. "The Gleaner" possesses some spirited lines;
in which great truths are urged on the'a.ttention hi
a forcible sand vigorous manner. The following
4txamples will testify the high standard which is
fixed for the actions, and the lofty tone which
should influence the aspirations, of mankind :--..
"Fortune's frowns may daunt the feeble, hero hearts will
force her smiles,
:Enorgy will rise to conquer hesitation's baffled wiles.
' Who would shrink with craven spirit when the course is
clear to run ?
'Who would own -himself defeated ere the struggle has
begun ? ' •
Who that calls his heart a man's heart would not spurn
1 away the thought,
Chat the world around about him holds forhis achievement
nought ? '

"_Though ths.p.art,tdhey play be bumble, in the world they
were Still to labour and do something for the good of human
kind.
Though but little they bring forward, bearing witness to
their toil,
7 hough no virgin-barvests rising from a newly-ctiltur'd
soil, .
ITArk their triumphs and successes, if as gleaners poor and
weak,
i They but earnestly will labour, if with single heart they
seek
Well to find and turn whatever still remains upon the
plain •
Into food for human uses, they will not have lived in vain."

March Winds and April Showers. By " Acheta'

Lo ivell Reeve.

The former work of this author, " Episodes of
insect Life," will be remembered with pleasure by
:all its readers. The present volume is in much the
trAne style, displaying the same happy combination
(ce scientific lore with the graceful fancies of the
, writer. His love of nature is very great, and ho
:argues strongly on the pleasure lost by those who,
either from accident or ignorance, are prevented
from enjoying and appreciating country sights and
!sounds. His great aim is to awaken an interest in
the wonderful minutim of nature, to direct the at-
tention of the merely superficial observer to the
marvels contained in a withered leaf, or bidden by
a wayside hedge, or under a mossy stone. The work
rambles from the flowers of the sea, to the dor-
snaouse in its winter bed, and the wonderful con-
structions of the insects of air. It gives the reader
ain insight into geology also, in a chapter under the
title of a Rummage in the Stone Cabinet, and
traces the insect remains that have been discovered
rap to a surprisingly early period in the formation of
tho earth. The chapter headed " Late Awakings,"
ingeniously compares to a dormouse aroused from
hit; winter slumber the idle or apathetic mind
wl Lich is suddenly startled into recognising the op-
portunities it has lost. " The Two Elm Trees" is a
lit le village tale, which it is to be hoped-will deter
ill juvenile readers from the cruel excitement of
bir d's-nesting. The illustrations of this delightful
7iitt le volume harmonise completely with the
sul jects.

ECM ; or, the Double Error. By Marian James.
J. Hogg. _

°This very interesting and well-written tale is
_ _

I:ep.rinted from the pages of Hogg's Instructor,
vhere it appeared under the title " Love in Idle-
less." A. spirit of melancholy pervades it, but the
reader is charmed and interested by it. It is writ-
ten in a high and pure spirit, far removed from the
ordinary sentimentalism of love stories, and show-
, jug forcibly the wrong of " doing evil that good
should come," that dangerous and bewildering
doctrine which has enticed so many into the
crooked ways of deceit and falsehood. The au-
thoress displays much talent in the conversations,
and if the faults of a young author may be detected,
if some of the characters are not altogether natural,
it is easily fprgiven in the grace of the style, the
high moral tone and the pathos of the story. It
shows how a hard and self-confident nature, mis-
led by a false ambition aid devoted to the ex-
altation of self, is softened by tribulation, and
awakened to the sense of his mistakes under the
influence of a sudden and overwhelming affliction.
It also shows how she who suffered herself to act
against her conscience and her heart, misguided by
a short-sighted prudence and mortified affection,
was forced by the subduing touch of Death and
Time, to see how far she had also wandered from
the aightforward path of Right. This is the
Double Error, as exemplified in the careers of
selfish ambition and mistaken self-sacrifice. The
authoress gives much promise of future excellence
in the truly feminine and domestic style of writing,
and we trust her works will continue to possess the
I tame high-toned principle, unalloyed by exaggera-
tion. or aentintentality,• which they at present
pOSSeSS.

Dashwood Priory. By E. J. May. Routledge.
This little book is meant for the young, and may
prove of use to those engaged in school and college
pursuits. It may occur to some that it would have
been better to have omitted the disputes and dif-
ferences of Trevanion and his sect at the end of the
book, as they can be of no good to the young to
hear of, and may tend to bewilder their minds.
With this exception the story is well done. It
belongs to the profitable rather than to the pleas-
in. The account of Vernon is very sad, but also
very natural. So many go on like he did, putting
away all thoughts of the future till too late for
preparation,

"And to the mercies of a moment leave
The vast concerns of an eternal scene."
Louis Mortimer is a very amiable character—rather
too weak and vacillating ; but he rectified that
fault in some degree as he pursued his course.
From the simple style in which it is written, much
may be gleaned from the perusal of this story for
the use of the young in every-day life.

Webster's Royal Red Book.
This useful little volume has now appeared for
the present year. It is a miniature directory, con-
taining, besides the street guide, the list of the
Houses of Parliament, the bankers, the Govern-
ment offices, the law courts, the post-office, the
hackney carriage fares, the income-tax tables, aul
all such kinds of information, for the low price of
3s. 6d. It is a highly-useful work of reference,
while its long-established and well-known character
insures its authenticity.

HORRIBLE .MASS ACRE AND BURNING

OF A BJITISH SHIP.

Information has been received of a tragical occurrence
on board the British [ship Berenice, the master of which
(Capt. Cundy), with his wife, chief mate, and others have
been massacred by the crew, who afterwards set fire to
the ship and destroyed her, to prevent detection. The
Berenice sailed from Shanghai on the 15th of July,
1852, with a cargo of tea for Sydney. Her crew,
shipped at Singapore, consisted almost entirely.of men
from different parts of Netherland India. During the
voyage two of the sailors, believing there was gold to
a large amount on board, spoke of it to their com-
rades, and a plan was forthwith concocted for taking
possession of the vessel (then near Anger) and as-
sassinating the Europeans who were on board. The
ringleaders, as far as could be proves), were the Serang,
or boatsman's mate, known as " Alio," and seven
of his tribe. Mr. Robarts, the mate, was enticed to the
fore part of the ship by Alio, where he was instantly
murdered. Capt. Cundy, the commander, who ran to
his assistance, met with a similar fate, as also did three
seamen, who interfered to save the captain's life. Mrs.
Cundy was taken from between decks, whither she had
flown for refuge, and thrown overboard. A French pas-
senger, name unknown, who had joined at Shanghai,
was not found on board, neither were three Bengaloes
and Amboyna mea who were among the crew. They
must either have thrown themselves into the sea, or have
been thrown overboard by others. This tragical scene
completed, the murderers threw the bodies overboard,
washed away all traces of blood, and then commenced
searching for the gold supped to be on board. All the
money on board, however, consisted of about 100 florins
and 40 Spanish dollars. The plunder was equally divided
by Alie, and it was agreed among them to set sail for
Tauban, there to abandon the vessel, after having set fire
toit.by The
ship gaining
his
Tagal, which was takenfor Tau-
ban Alie party, she was set on fire, and they
took to the boats. Several were left behind, and were
buried in the vessel. Finding their mistake on gaining
the heights of Tagal, they were compelled to get rid of
most of the plunder by throwing it overboard. They, how-
ever, iby their plausible story deceive he authorities of
the place, who showed them every feeling of compassion,
and provided them with means. Afterwards the disco-
very of the wreck of the burnt ship, and the bodies of
some of the crew, excited suspicion ; and after a search-
ing investigation before the magisterial officers of the
place, the whole of the diabolical affair was elicited
by some of the suspected confessing to the charges
brought against them. The ringleaders, nine in number,
were brought to trial in September last, when the entire
of them were found guilty. Five of the prisoners were
sentenced to 20 years' banishment, and the others were
executed on the 13th of last October, in the public
square in the principal part of Tagal. The things which
during the trial helped to convict the prisoners, were
a gold watch and chain, and some ornaments and
clothing belonging to the late captain and his wife.

REFUSAL OF BANK OF ENGLAND NOTES.—When the
crew of the Nile, 91, was paid off can Monday, it was
with great difficulty that some of them could be per-
suaded that Bank of England paper was a legal tender,
and there was a decided objection to accept a 5/. note
as the value of five sovereigns. Many of them first took
the bank note to be a ticket of leave, of which they are
granted 14 days. Litranger still, these men were from
the "far north,"

f:EWPAT'EIt
-.FRENCH- AND ENG
4
The success which has atkillikertitrttelliii%liT(P-ee"
rations of the trench GovefiliDent innek ceeulletond
presentg =eh- -contrast to the confusion and loss. which
have marked the monetary &bblines of our own Chan-
celtenteCthe Exchequer, that'Nve trust Mr. Gladstone will
have the perception to apprehend the phenornera which
he cannot avoid seeing, and will have the good sense to
take a leaf out of a book which contains SO lunch that is
useful and practical. We do not ask him to read a, re-
cantation of .1% past ixolicy. Parliament and the-conntry,
we are sure, will give him credit for the best intentions
and- motives—although, unfortunately, they'have
_Placed
hiin so constantly in the worst positions ;—they will
spare him the disagreeable task, and magnanimously re=
train from reminding him of the pavement for which in-
tentions are destined to be used, on condition that bee
on his side, will refrain from eiperimentelising, lay his
ambition on the shelf, and forego the gratification of
playing_ the pant of a great financial innovator.
assure him, with the Most friendly feeling, that the part
will not get a run upon the public stage jut now
and, if he persists in trying it, his farce of the "Bud-
get " will inevitably be damned. lie will not vfry.
likely take the advice which we have tendered him,,
and may pooh-pooh the arguments which we have ad-
vanced in some lite articles, wit 4 a view of showieg
assay, that we have a large and undoubted claim to place
upon the shoulders of posterity a considerable share of
the burden inevitably to he borne by somebody, in con
sequence of the great enterprise which this country has
undertaken ; and secondly, that none of the classes of
the community upon whom taxation can be directed are
at this moment capable, without great detriment to the •
continued development of the resources of the kingdom,
of hearing any farther abstraction from their means than
that to which they are already liable ; that the landed
interest cannot bear any enhancement of the cost of pro-
duction, without the infliction of serious suffering upon
the working Classes ; and that the mercantile and ma-
nufacturing cannot stand any additional tithing of 'Pro-
fits, without materiady-endangening their command- of
not only foreign but domestic markets. Mr. Gladstone
may pooh-pooh these arguments. He may put them aside
as views derived from a long entertainment of a policy
abrogated by a great national movement, and he may re-
fer with a satisfaction not unreasonable to the admiration
With which a great portion of the country received the
able and well-arranged speech in which, on his accession
to office, he exposed his financial notions, and to the ease
With which, in the formal shape of legislative enactments,
he passed them through the House of Commons. In
short, though we do not in the least pretend to any in-
formation with regard to his intentions, we shall not he
in the least surprised to find that immoveable faith in
himself, and in the ascendancy of the Peelite star, in-
duce Mr. Gladstone-to produce to Parliament in 1855 a
continued adherence to the financial ideas of 1853 and,
1854.

Now, as although in the event of its appearing neces-
sary for the due conduct of public affairs, after the dis-
cussion which must necessarily take place es the meet-
ing of Parliament, that there should be a change of Ad-
ministration, we would by no means advise the country
to shrink from the prospect of any temporary inconve-
nience which• might be occasioned by it ; yet, as we have
no desire to see such an event forced by gratuitous blun-
dering, we would strongly recommend Mr. Gladstone,
before he presumes upon the successes of the past afford-
ing a safe criterion of the prospects of the future, to con-
sider the vast difference between that past, the actual
present, and that probable future which the lapse of
no more than two or three months will make a pre-
sent. In the period which has intervened between the
acceptation of Mr. Gladstone's financial notions
and the present time, a very wide and remarkable
difference has been created, both in the commercial
circumstances and position of this country, and in
the feeling and opinions of her people. When those
notions were propounded and found favour, our produc-
ing classes were driving a largo and increasing business,
and our consumers were buying at low rates. We had
large custom abroad—moderate cost of living—and good
wages at home ; and we believed that, with the income
tax and abolition of Customs duties, we had bought a
commercial and fiscal system, by the aid of which our
Chancellors of the Exchequer would be able to regulate ,
prices, and secure for the public that El Dorado of poli-
tical economists—the cheapest markets to buy in, and
the dearest to sell in. These are not the circumstances
which characterise the beginning of the year 1855. The
trade that looked so large, and promised such further
increase, has collapsed into something less than its real
proportions ; profits are small and hardly earned, while
cheap markets have vanished altogether. There is no
such thing as a cheap market for the English consumer
in the civilised world, whether it be for the articles
which he must have to keep body and soul together,
or for those accidents-and contingencies of life which
social progress has converted from luxuries into neces-
saries. Feelings and opinions have undergone no less
a change than circumstances. People see the folly of
having accepted a financial scheme, the success of
which was absolutely dependent upon events over which
its author could have no control, and upon the condition
and prospects not only of this kingdom, but of all the
countries with which it is connected remaining undis-
turbed by war or other accidents during the seven years
required to work it out. The people are aware, too,
that although we have given tree ports and free naviga-
tion, we have failed in obtaining free trade. They have
gauged at considerable loss the consuming power of the
United States, and of our growing colonies, and our
commercial nen are now aware that there is no longer
any prospect of either this Government, or of the system
upon which it has taken its stand, opening any new
channels of trade. Above all, the masses of the people
have become awake to the great fact, that the true
policy of a nation is to produce as much as possible of
the requirements of her population within her own,
boundaries, and with this conviction we cannot doubt
that we will demand of the Government that all classes
shall be enabled to produce, at the least possible cost,
and under the least possible pressure. We would
strongly urge the Chancellor of the Exchequer and his
colleagues well to weigh these changes in circumstances
and in opinion before they determine upon the financial
measures of 1855.—Morning Post.

PBOBABLE "ATTENTIONS •OF .RUSSIA.

(From the Constitutionnel.)

On the one hand, the Czar demands the opening of
conferences, which, however, cannot commence until
after the nomination and arrival of an Ottoman envoy ;
on the other, he concentrates several armiea on the
Austrian frontiers, and Cossacks have already returned
to the Turkish territory. Are we to believe in the diplo-
matist who solicits peace, or in the general who recom-
mences war I There is, however, no doubt Its to the offen-

ye return attempted by the Russian troops. The news has
arrived from so many agents, placed on different points,
that any hesitation on the subject would be a denial of evi-
dence. Now, we ask, is it seriously possible to place faith
in the pacific assurances of a power which has itself
taken care to warn Europe against the sincerity of its
eventual concessions, and which, by menacing anew the
Ottoman territory, whilst the preliminaries of a peace
which it solicits are pending, has very nearly provoked
an extension and aggravation of the war, by forcing the
Austrian troops stationed in the principalities to take
pait in it ? In virtue of the treaty of the 14th June last
with the Porte, Austria having caused her troops to
occupy the principalities of Moldavia and 'Wallachia, has
undertaken to defend their frontiers against any return
of the Russian forces. Russia, then, by returning anew
to the Turkish territory, would herself create the even-
tuality which must render Austria a belligerent power.
It is evident that it would be puerile to pretend to make
a subtle distinction as regards -the new aggression of
the Russians by saying, that to re-enter tho Debrudscha
is not to invade the principalities. The integrity
of the Ottoman Empire is the primitive object of all
the treaties between the Porte and its allies, and to in-
vade the Turkish territory, properly so called, is not a
less grave fact than to invade the principalities. Com-
mon sense says so, and all the allies of the Porte, with-
,out exception, think so. On the other, supposing the
movement of Russian troops not to place in question,
the political loyalty of Austria it would evidently do rip
with its military prudence. If the Russian armies
which are stationed on the Pruth ware, after baring
crossed the Lower Danube, to advance and menace.
Bulgaria, it would evidently be impossible for the Aus-
trian troops to remain inactive in the midst of such me-
nacing positions, and to allow themselves is be
surrounded without firing a shot. If the security
of the Ottoman empire were not at stake, th. 3 safety
of the Austrian army would be etnperilled, and if
General Coronini were not so resolved as he is to
defend the Sultan, he would be obliged to defend
himself. This, we may be sure, will be, infallibly
true if the movement of the Russians, which bad
been in turns announced, denied, and confirmed, be
anything else than an inconsiderable affair of advanced
posts. It. could not have suited either the Porte, or'
France, or England to have left the line'of the Danube.,
and that of the Balkans without troops, in order to be
more free in the Crimea, if those lines were not seri-
ously protected by the 00-operation of the Austrian
forces stationed in the Principalities. No one, then,
will be surprised to learn that, whilst this opinion was
formed at London and Constantinople, it was at the
same time and spontaneously formed at Vienna. The
aggressive movement of the Russians was everywhere
judged at the same time in the same way ; and if it be
renewed, if it becomes anything else than an insult of no
consequence, it will be promptly and energetically re-
pressed by the Austrian troops. Here, then, we have a
new complication excited by Russia at the very moment
at which she accepts the bases of pacification, and de-
mands the opening of conferences for re-establish ing
European accord.

LICENSED VICITUALtERS' ASYLlTM.—Yesterday even-
ing the usual annual ball in aid of tb.e endowment fund
of this institution was held at the London Tavern,
Bishopsgate-street. The large room was most tastefully
decorated and brilliantly illuminated especially for the
occasion, and no precaution was neglected by the corn•
mittee that could possibly add in any way to the éclat
with which this popular ball usually passes off. The re-
freshmen; arrangements were conducted on a far more
liberal scale than usual, and nothing was wanting that
could in any way conduce to the comfort of the visitor ;
notwithstanding the extremely unfavourable state of the
weather, we seldom witnessed assembled in these rooms
a larger or more respectable and at the same time a gayer
company. The dancing commenced at an early hour is
the evening, and was continued with as much spirit as
the crowded state of the room would admit, until an ad.
vanced hour this morning. Adams's quadrille band was
in attendance, and played, during the evening, all the
best and most fashionable dance music of the season.
Mr, F. Frampton officiated as master of the ceremonies