The Sun.
London, England, 1855-04-26 00:00:00

HAY MARKETS.

SuTrinrinD.—Meadow hay, 2/ 15s to 5l Os Od ; clover
ditto, 3/ 01 to 6' Os ; and straw, 1/ 4s to 1/ 10s per load.
A moderato supply and a steady trade.
CUMBERLAND. Meadow hay, 3/ Oa to 51 Os ; elovei
ditto, 3/ Os to 6/ Os ; and straw. 1/ 5s to 1/ lis per load.
Supply tolerably good, and trade firm.
NV HITECHAPEL.—Meadow hay, 3/ Os to 5! Os; clown
ditto, 3/ 5s to 61 Os; and straw, 11 4s to 1/ 103 per load.
Trade steady.

- -
THE GREAT FLORAL EXHIBITION AT GORE HOUSE.
—The preparations at this place for the great floral ex-
hibitio❑ of the Horticultural Society, on the 16th of
May, are in a state of much activity. The Royal com-
missioners are throwing down walls, removing un-
sightly objects, and getting the turf into good order; so
that the grounds of Grove Rouse and Gore House now
form one beautiful lawn, interspersed with noble trees,
and admirably adapted to the purpcses of a horticultural
promenade. The contractors for the new roads to Brom' -
ton are proceeding with all possible despatch, and every-
thing that cut render the approaches more commodious
is in course of rapid execution. The Horticultural
Society, on its part, has begun to pitch its enormous
tents, and to make its other arrangements. The band-
masters of the military bands that are engaged have sur-
veyed the ground which they are to occupy ; and every,
thing promises that the ensuing floral exhibition will be
one of the moat attractive that has yet been held, even
in the neighbourhood of London.

Ethel takes the recommendation literally; where-
fore, when we close the number before us, leaving
the gentle-hearted Laura Pendennis fairly weep-
ing, in the presence of Ethel, over the sudden news
of Clive's approaching marriage with Rosa Mac-
kenzie—hinc ilice lachrijmer. It must be obvious
from all this that, as ever, the story breaks olfeven
now most tantalisingly-. Happiest among all the
life-sketches thrown in during the progress of the
narrative episodically, so to speak, or as by way
of a species of marginal illumination, there must
be especially mentioned as conspicuous in the num-
bers before us, the delightfully callotypic portraits
of two or three horridly natural specimens of the
genus toad-eater. For example, the florid toady,
Frank Henchman, whose " pompous flatteries and
ebullient fidelity" have so often called forth the
laughter of the late lamented Major Pendennis.
And with Captain Henchman, Jack Todhunter,
and with,that brace of worthies, Bowman the valet,
of whom we are not surprised to hear it said that
he was on familiar, not to say "contemptuous,
terms with the two other gentlemen." Altogether,
this latest fragment of " Lie it ewcomes" is not
unworthy of the hand from which it emanates—
another sparkling bead strung on the thread of the
story which in style, at least, may b 3 already re-
garded as Mr. Thacicera.y'e masterpiece.

The Secret Marriage. By Miss' F. Williams.
• 3 vols. Hurst and Black-at.

The readers of this novel will be, considerably
perplexed to discover from what it draws its title.
It would naturally have been imagined that the
tale would have related the antecedents and conse-
quences of a secret marriage, but the nearest ap-
pr*tch to the subject is the discovery of a certifi-
cate of marriage which makes the hero the possessor
of large estates. The story commences with vigour
and effect. Lady Lisle and her friend are watching
for the return of her husband from a voyage, when
they become the horror-stricken spectators of a
shipwreck, in which he loses his life in saving that
of an orphan child wgom he is bringing home from
Italy. This child, Ormond Greville, is adopted
by Lady Lisle, and brought up with her only
daughter, Alice, who becomes much attached to
him. This affection he scarcely returns ; but at
length they are engaged. Ormond then goes to
Italy for a few months, where ho finds a new
attraction in a relation of his Italian mother,
Rosina Gonsalvi. He offers to give up every -
thing for her sake, but she rejects him, and he
returns to England, where, after some time,
Alice becomes acquainted with his secret, and,
though nearly broken-hearted, insists on breaking
off the engagement, and he is married to Rosina.
Affairs are still further complicated, however, by
the discovery of the secret marriage of Ormond 's
grandfather, who was a Lisle, and his consequent
right to the estates, which had been considered the
property of Alice, whom he thus deprives of her
fortune and her hopes at the same time. She con-
soles herself in the end with the long-tried affection
of an early friend ; so every one is left contented.
It must not be imagined, however, that this is the
whole of the plot, as several episodes are inter-
woven at the commencement, which are quite
separate stories. The ' history of Mary Graham
and George Alvanley is full of interest, and the
career of her gloomy and ill-fated husband is not
less striking. His affection for Lady Lisle exer-
cised a baneful influence over his life, and though
so many virtues were to be found in his
wife's character, he found too late that in his
hasty and inconsiderate marriage he had
marred the happiness of another without
making his own. The story of Lady Woodash is
neither very pleasing nor profitable, and the Count
Mattolino could be very well dispensed with.
Alice herself is a sweet and gentle character, but
a little more reserve and self-control would add
greatly to her attractions. Her openly-confessed
affection for Ormond and tha exigance of her
anxiety fail to arouse the reader's sympathy, and
the reader is prepared for the inconstancy of
Ormond by a feeling ,that the attachment is on
the wrong side, and that the fair Alice all through
the transactions is sadly wanting in self-respect
and feminine pride. It is scarcely natural, although
the book is from a lady's pen, that Alice should at
the end so readily admit her feeling of regret to
Eustace Graham, however long or well she may
have known him. We • confess we should have
admired her more if she had, at least, professed to
have attained indifference and forgetfulness more
quickly. The style is good, though it might be more
connected and condensed ; the events of the last
half-volume' being disproportionate to the preceding
part. There is no lack, it will be seen, of variety
and incident, and we may
_ezpect better things
from this author.

We have to announce the death of Lord Lifford, in his
73d year, which took place a day or two ago at Brighton.
He is succeeded by his son, the Hon. James Hewitt,
born in 1811.

According to a statement just published regarding the
various harbours of refuge respectively in course of con-
struction at Dover, Harwich, Alderney, Jersey, and
Portland, the total estimate of their cost is 3,368,959/.
Of this amount 1,491,0001. has already been voted, and
234,0001. will be required to be voted for the present
year. The total outlay on each work from its commence-
ment to its completion, will be 650,0001. for Dover;
125,0001. .for Harwich ; 1,300,0001. for Alderney ;
700,0001. for Jersey ; and 588,9591. for Portland.
ST. MARK'S NATIONAL AND INFANT SCHOOnLs,
aid
dboT•
JOHN-STREET ROAD, ISLINGToN.—A concert.e on Tuesday
1
the funds of the above charity took place
evening, in the School-rooms, Rawsto
rne-stretet.bbaTchhe
artietes who kindly assisted-were— s
Misses a •
,Fanny Haddad, Laura Raster, Lizzie Dyer, Bignall,
Mascall, Palmer, andm6.edladtazeks,uocfhtetecßhoayma!
Opera, Drury Lane,; Messrs. wan
pion, George Tedder, Frank Force, Walter Bolton,
R.A.u., and 5 A idington Wallwortb. Instrumentalists:
Pi - foite : Messrs. Francesco. Berger, Force, and F.
•IC— nao
i-ngshury ; violin, Mr. Viotti Collins. The programme
was of a varied and populat nature, and the concert
passed off successfully. The room was very full, and the
object of the eenutultee war d_o_ubtle_es aerved_