The Sun.
London, England, 1855-10-29 00:00:00

MR. DISRAELI ON AGED GENERALS.

Under this not very apposite heading, a small
critic in a contemporary has given the following
extract from Mr. Disraeli's admirable novel " Co-
ningsby," to show, probably, that he approves of
the abuse daily bestowed upon our Veteran Com-
manders in the Crimea :
Do not suppose that I hold youth is genius ; all that
I say is that genius, when young, is divine. Why, the
greatest captains of ancient and modern times both con-
quered Italy at 25 ! Youth, extreme youth, overthrew
the Persian empire. Don John of Austria won Lepanto
at 25—the greatest battle of modern time ; had it not
been for the jealousy of Philip, the next year he would
have been Emperor of Mauritania. Gastcn de Foix was
only 22 when he stood a victor on the plain of Ravenna.
Everyone remembers Conde and Rocroy at the same age.
Gustavus Adolphus died at 38. Look at his captains—
that wonderful Puke of Weinier, only 36 when he died.
Bauer himself, after all his miracles, died at 45. Cortes
was little more than 30 when he gazed upon the golden
cupolas of Mexico. When Maurice of Saxony died at
32, all Europe acknowledged the loss of the greatest
captain and the profoundest statesman of the age. Then
there is Nelson, Clive—but these are warriors, and per-
haps ycu may think there are greater things than war.
Ido not ; I wor-hip the Lord of Hosts. Bat take the
most illustrious achievements of civil prudence. Inn°
cent 111., the greatest of the popes, was the despot of
Christendom at 37. John de Medici was a cardinal at
15, and, Guicciardini tells us, baffled with his craft Fer-
dinand of Arragon himself. He was Pope, as Leo X.,
at 37. Luther robbed even him of his richest province
at 35. Take Ignatius Loyola and John Wesley—they
worked with young brains. Ignatius was only 30 when
he made his pilgrimage and wrote the " Spiritual Exer-
cises." Pascal wrote a great work at 16, the greatest of
Frenchmen, and died at 37. Ah ! that fatal 37, which
reminds me of Byron, greater even as a man than a
writer. Was it experience that guided the pencil of
Raphael when be painted the palaces of Rome ? He died
at 37. Richelieu was Secretary of State at 31. Well,
then, there are Bolingbroke and Pitt, both ministers
before other men leave off cricket. Grotius was in prac-
tice at 17, and Attorney-General at 24. And Acqua-
viva—Acquaviva was General of the Jesuits, ruled every
Cabinet in Europe, and colonised America before he was
37. What a career—the secret sway of Europe ! But it
is needless to multiply instances. The history of heroes
is the history of youth.—Morning Paper.

STATE OF TRADE.

AcFcrnsti Es o tThEeR M,
Oct.anch 26.
Manchester
statedGaardilisi ofi
nour
Saturday.)
last
r
that, although the downward course of prices haePodrret-
ceived no check, indications of a slightly improved tone
of feeling were not unobservable. Since then the direc-
tors of the Bank of England have held their weekly
meeting, at which no further alteration in the rate of
discount was made. It appears, therefore, that a some-
what easier state of the currency is now experienced.
This was showing itself in the earlier part of the week, and
has become more apparent each succeeding day. For some
time back mercantile men have been narrowing their lia-
bilities, and gathering their resources under their hands
as much as possible. The benefit of this cautious pro-
cedurea nd
a s haste rbaeteeneffe
interest
taesr
etshtehdarsai
risen,n of goldand is
has e
rpyr opcaelede,
to everybody at the present moment. The entire pa
to
of the country has remained sound and underanged,
no other exception than the fall in prices. Our own dis-
trict has exhibited a remarkable case in regard to means,
and so also have most of the other great centres of indus-
try and commerce, while scarcely any abridgment of em-
ployment for manufacturing operatives has taken place.
But a conviction that the uncertainty of our position ren-
wit
dere continued caution indispensable to safety, seems to
have rooted itself deeply in the minds of merchants and
dealers, spinners and manufacturers. They h.vo o<•en
'Dry attikiub iuntaoce of the power of pohbic4l causes to
effect a most serious financial disturbance, which does not
shake our trade, only because that trade is, on the
whole, upon a solid footing ; and, with this fresh in their
memories, they are not likely to be thrown off their
guard by appearances which are so manifestly liable to
pass away. So that, although the prices of yarns and
goods have now declined to very low ranges, the differ-
ent classes of buyers are still holding back from business
in a very decided way, and the market at large remains
flat. But people are less gloomy, and are inclined to think
that we have perhaps seen the worst ; though a slight
shadow is cast upon us from the United States. We
find that there has been more inquiry to-day for cloth
of some descriptions on the part of home houses ; and
purchases of goods for India and China have been
made, for delivery within a short time, on account of the
sailing of, a certain vessel. In the same way, 16s. to
245. water twist has been taken for China. But the ope-
rations we speak of are few and exceptional, and do not
materially affect a general estimate of the market. They
are, however, valuable as barometers. The parties to
these transactions are persons possessing ample resources,
and not given to ill-considered ventures ; it is, therefore,
a fact to be noted when they venture to act under cir-
cumstances such as now exist.
NOTTINGHAM, Oct. 25.—Since our last report of the
condition of business in this town, nothing worthy of re-
mark has occurred, and both the hosiery and lace trades
are in a more healthy state than might naturally be ex-
pected. Although the action of the Bank of England
has not affected us seriously just yet, still it must, if
continued, have the effect of crippling trade here as well
as elsewhere.
HALIFAX, Oct. 26.—Things have been flat during the
week, and prices of wools are barely maintained.

A ROMANTIO STORY.—Miss Clara Haskins was found
dead iu her bridal dress and chamber near Natchez,
Mississippi, on the 2d ult. After being dressed by her
bridesmaids she requested them to retire for a short time,
and when they returned they found her lying lifeless
upon her couch with an empty phial, which hail con-
tained prussic acid, still clasped in her hand. She had
adopted the desperate alternative of self-destruction
rather than marry a man, in obedience to parental au-
thority, she could not love,—Wasli,ilvtom IntMiGencQrs