The Sun.
London, England, 1864-02-04 00:00:00

THE SUN LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 4, 1864.

LITERATURE,

A Young Artist's Life. One Vol., pp. 214.

Hurst and Blaekett.

This very charming story is a perfect poem in
prose. Lovingly and tenderly are the character and
early career of the young artist, Leonard Holme,
depicted by one who apparently knew and appre-
ciated him well ; for the hero, we are told, is taken
from the life. Many will recognise in the biogra-
pher a writer who has on more than one occasion
found favour with the general public, and won
golden opinions from the appreciative few ; but
never has he written more freshly, more charmingly
than in the pages of this brief and pathetic romance
of real life. As a justification of our remarks let
us select, almost at random, some of the bright
thoughts and pleasant fancies scattered in profusion
over these pages. Here, at the commencement, is
a word of—

truth which is after all the one only renovator of
poor human nature, whether in " saint, in savage,
or in sage."

Pure Saddle Horses. By Edward Curr. Wilson

and M'Kennon.

Although Mr. Carr writes more particularly for
the benefit of the Australian colonies, his bock may
be read with much profit by the breeders of horses
in these countries. His views are those of a man
who has had great practical experience of the'
animal he treats about in various countries, Euro-
pean, Asiatic, and African ; and the result of his
observation is given to us in a very agreeable and
well'written narrative. There can be no doubt that
Mr. Curr's estimate of the British saddle horse is a
very correct one. 'rho breed has, unquestionably,
deteriorated of late years; and this deterioration he
attributes, with perfect justice, to the descrip-
tion of sires employed to propagate them ;
the early age at which our thorough-bred
horses are put to work ; and the severity of the
training they undergo. Besides all which, the
fact, that speed for the short distances run is the
object sought to be attained, without reference to
the power of staying, is, perhaps, the main cause
why the stallions appropriated to the getting of our
saddle horses are mere weeds, worn out even at an
early age by the discipline they have undergone in
the hope of enabling them to struggle successfully
for the great prizes which can only be contested by
horses of under, or not exceeding, three years old.
IVhen a racehorse has distinguished himself in his
early performances, and has figure and form to re •
commend him, he, as a matter of coarse, is destined
to breed racers; and this piece of service alone
effectually prevents his being otherwise employed,
for it would be preposterous to suppose that any
man would pay fifty or a hundred guineas for a
sire, when the utmost price he could expect
to realise for the produce, when a' maturity,
would little, if at all, exceed that sum.
There was formerly in Ireland a race of horses bred
to run two and three mile heats, or races of four
miles, carrying much heavier weights than are now
carried over flat courses. The blood of those horses
was pure, and although they were certainly not as
fast for a short distance as the racer of the present
day, they were by far stouter. And the stakes
which they could win being bat of small amount they
were generally put to stud when they made a cha-
racter, the price of these services, though seldom
exceeding five guineas, being found to he more re-
munerative than the sum of their winnings, and by
them was produced the Irish hunter, a horse un-
matched in any other country for shape, siz action,
and durability. But the mania for light weights,
and short distances, has quite annihilated the race
of sires which produced the Irish hunter of former
days. And the consequence is, that that justly cele-
brated animal has almost ceased to exist. The
saddle horse is of far more importance in our Aus-
tralian colonies than he is at home. There, men
travelling over the prairie, or through the forest,
require animals of strength and vigour to carry
them. They cannot use carriages, while with us no
man dreams of making a journey of any length in
the saddle. A ride to cover is the longest taken by
our sporting men, and those who have distant visits
to pay, or business to transact, have recourse to
railways, or to post horses where railways do
not exist. It is therefore not to be wondered at
that the colonists take a far deeper interest in
the breed of their saddle horses than we do, when it
is remembered that their grass-fed animals are
expected to carry men of all weights from 80 to
100 miles for many days consecutively. That Mr.
Curr is right in demanding the infusion of Arab
blood in the breeding of Australian horses does not
admit of a doubt. The climate of his country is
peculiarly adapted for the propagation of that
noble species of his race; and the food generally
procurable is that on which the Arab horse alone
can live and labour. We sincerely trust, therefore,
that his countrymen will profit by the advice of a
traveller wbo has seen and tested the qualities of
the horse in so many different climes, and whose
hook evinces a thorough knowledge of the topic he
writes upon, although the subject of which he treats
is not of such importance to us as to his fellow-
colonists. Mr. Curr's volume will amuse and in-
struct its readers ; his style is clear, and his descrip-
tion of trapping wild horses is worthy of being
transcribed. A hunter had succeeded in bagging
two lots, numbering 120; but, not content with his
good luck, he coveted another Hock which appeared

dilate—and Minerva again walks the earth I.°
This fair lady is beloved, (and no wonder !) by
a clerk in her father's employ. This gentleman,
with honourable discretion, retires from his post,
and as he is taking a sad farewell of the picture of
his lady-love the damsel herself enters the room.
A scene which loses much of its effect from its
reminding us of that matchless " situation" between
Fanny Trevanion and Pisistratus Caxton, a scene
never to be forgotton by all who have read "The
Cartons." With blemishes such as we have referred
to, Mr. Alfred Gladstone has given us a very ani-
mated and interesting romance.

The Belle of the Ball. A Novel. By William
Pickerel ill, author of " Waehington Grange."
Two Vols. Newby.

It is somewhat surprising that this title has not
been already adopted by some novel-writer, the fair
belle of a ball-room being so frequently the heroine
of a three-volumed novel. As it is, Mr. Pickersgill
has the merit of the selection, and a very charming
belle he has depicted in Melita Hastings. How at
this ball, which occurs in the first volume, the hero
and heroine first encounter each other, and how,
according to the famous and always appropriate
quotation on the title-page, " Love took up the
glass of Timo and turned it in his glowing hands,"
we will not here further relate. Suffice it to say,
that the hero, who is rejected by a proud family as
being of the Arab tribe of actors, proves, by a strange
combination of chances, to be the head of the very
family that disdains him. A supposed murder, re-
sembling in some of i's features the notorious Road
tragedy, is introduced, with, we cannot but think,
an absence of good taste and discretion.

A " COURT REGISTER OF THE HOUSE OF COM-
MONS" has just now bean commenced under the
supervision of Mr. J. C. Whimper. The first of the
four monthly parts within which it will be com-
pleted has been issued opportunely upon this very
morning of the opening of Parliament by the
Messrs. Tx obner of Paternoster-row. It contains, as
each of the three subsequent instalments will also
contain, upwards of 170 woodcut illustrations—these
illustrations being simply the armorial bearings of
the honourable members. The absence of any
armorial bearing, however, in some instances, as for
example in those of Mr. Bright, of Mr. Mitchell,
and Mr. Hodgson (probably, like sensible men, they
will care nothing for it, however), appear somehow
to render the publication slightly invidious. So far
as it goes, however, it is likely to be acceptable to
the generality: though we should certainly our-
selves have suggested the publication of the work
not in a quarto size but in a size more compact and
portable—even if it had, after the manner of the
thumb-bible, dwindled down to a very miniature or
mannikin of a duodecimo for the waistcoat pocket.

Ma. BEETON'S PUBLICATIONS still shine forth
conspicuously among the popular periodicals of the
day. They increase and multiply, moreover : for,
while the old favourites continue to flourish, newer
ones are, every now and then, making their appear-
ance from his establishment. Here blooming before
us, for example, is that merry puzzling Christmas
Book (reprinted and clad now in a glowing cover of
blue and red) ycleped The Kiddie-a-TVink, and
penned or edited by Francis Derwick, ono who can
write not only readably but most amusingly. Again
as—a companion bit of fun and frolic, with a
merry fool's cap and bells emblazoned on
its cover—have we not here Beeton's Book
of Anecdote, Wit, and Humour ? Every page
of it, tickling the reader into laughter, or tempting
him at least to a dimpling smile_ Here, too, is the
The Boy's Own Magazine, an old favourite, now in
its tenth year I Illustrated plentifully always, and
crammed fall, month after month, with fact, fiction,
history, and adventure. Besides which, in a cheaper
form, we have The Boy's Monthly Magazine and
The Englishwoman's Domestic Magazine.

CASSELL'S PENNY SHAKSPERE gives every in di-
cation of proving an immense success. It is true
that, as yet, we have enjoyed but a nibble of the
the feast, but with the flavour of that we are more
than satisfied. The illustrations are elegant and
imaginative. The paper, the printing, all the little
et ceteras of publication appear to have been sedu.
lously cared for by this most enterprising house of
publishers. In their new undertaking we heartily
wish them success—we feel:eure,they will deserve it
—and we rest confident also that it will be their's.

CHAMBERS'S JOURNAL, now in its fourth and
best series, has evidently taken, in common parlance,
a new lease of life. Part I. of this Fourth Series
reflects the highest honour upon the great Edin-
burgh firm from which it emanates. It is in all
essential respects pretty nearly as good as can
be, as a very model of a cheap periodical. Its
contents are as usual singularly varied. The con•
tributors show, still, that they can instruct as well
as amuse. The principal serial in the journal, as
the public well know by this time, is the clever tale of
" Lost Sir Massingberd." But the marvel of the
publication in its new form, the peculiarity o f it, at
least, chiefly arresting our attention in respect to
Part I. of the new series, is—the "getting" of it all
" up." In this particular Chambers's Journal is
more than ever attractive.

THE GALLERY OF GEOGRAPHY, Part IV., is
another of the valuable serials now being issued in
a monthly form from the house of the Messrs. W.
and R. Clambers. It brings the work on, now, to
upwards of two:hundred pages—pages still, like the
preceding ones, beautifully, and hero and there pro-
fusely, embellished. A map of Africa is this month
the principal illustration—the letterpress carrying
us far on into the description of our own " loved
native isle."

MARKETS--This Day

MARK-LANE.

IMPERIAL WEEKLY AVERAGES.—Wheat, 40s 8d ;
barley, 32s Id ; oats, 18s lld ; rye, 31s 8d ; beans, 33s 3d ;
and peas, 32s 10d.
THE Six WEEKS' AVERAGES. —• Wheat, 40s 6d;
barley, 31s lld ; oats, 18s 10d; rye,3os ld ; beans, 33s 9d;
peas, 33a ld.
ENGLISH GRAIN SOLD LAST WEEK.—Wheat, 98,917 i
barley, 97,305 ; oats, 18,456 ; rye, 23 ; beans, 7,183 ; peas,
2,071 quarters.
METROPOLITAN CATTLE.
Our market to-day was but moderately supplied, and
prices were the same as on Monday.:
Per 81bs. to sink the offal.
s. d. s. d. - a. d. s. d.
Crse. &inf. beasts 3 8 4 0 Primecrs-wool d 0.5 4 5 8
Second quality do. 4 2 4 6 Pme. S'thdowndo.s 10 6 0
Prime :large oxen 4 8 4 10 Large crse. calves 5 0 5 6
Prime Scots, ac. 5 0 5 2 Prime small do 5 8 6 0
Crse. ez inf. sheep 4 0 4 6 'Large hogs 3 6 4 0
Second quality do. 4 8 5 2 I Small porkers ..., 4 2 4 6
Suckling calves, 20s to 30s ; and quarter-old store pigs,
20s to 26s each.
TOTAL SUPPLY. FOREIGN SUPPLY.
Beasts ....
Cows llO Sheep and lambs ..., 700
Sheep .. 4,100 Calves
Calves lO5 )Pigs
Pigs 290 I
ME AT MARKETS.

NEWGATR AND LEADENHALL.—A moderate supply,of
meat is on sale here this day, and the trade is inactive.
at the annexed currency :—Beef, from 3s 4d to 48 4dl;
mutton, 4s Od to 5s Od ; veal, 48 10d to os 4d ; and pork, 3s
6d to 4s 8d per 81bs by the carcase.
SOUTHALL, Feb. 3.—Supply moderate and trade steady, as
follows :—Beet, from 3s 8d to 5s tid ' • mutton, 4s 4d to 6s
Od ; veal, 5s Od to 5s Gd ; lamb, Os Od to Os Od ; and pork,
3s 10d to 4s 6d per 81bs, to sink the offal.
ROMFORD, Feb. 3.—Prime stock changed hands freely,
at full prices; otherwise, trade was inactive, as follows :
Beef, from 3s 6d to 5s Od ; mutton, 4s 6d to 6s Od ; veal,
4s 8d to 5s 6d ; and pork, 38 8d to 4s Gd per Blbs suckling
calves, 165.t0 225; quarter-old store pigs, 20s to 260; and
milch cows, £l4 to £lB Os each.
HAY MARKETS.
SMITHFIELD.—Meadow hay, £3 Os to £4 10s Od ; clover,
£4 Os to £5 10s Od; and straw,:Ll 2s to £1 10s per load.
A fair demand.
CUMBERLAND.—Meadow hay, £3 Os to £4los Od ; clover,
£4 Os to £5 lOs Od ; and straw, 4s to £1 108 per load.
Supply moderate.
WHITECHAPEL —Meadow hay, £3 Os to £4los Od; clover,
£4 Os to £5 lOs Od ; and straw, £1 2s to £1 lOs per load.
A fair average supply.
COAL MARKET.
iltoes of.,Coal per Ton at the close of the market.
s. d.
Buddle'sWest Hartley 14 9
Byass's Bebside West
Hartley ....14 9
Lambert's West Hart-;14 6
ley
Walker Primrose 13 0
Cowpen Hartley 14 9
Hastings Hartley l4 9
West Hartley 14 9
Davison's West Hart-
ley.. ..15 0
Ships at marke

H. d.
Carr's Hartley ....... 14 9

Wells End.
Hough Hall .......... 19 0
Kelloe ............... 18 9
Hartlepool .........•19 6
East Hartlepool ...... 19 9
Trirridon Hartlepeol...l9 6
Riddell ......... .....17 9
Cassop ...............18
;t, 97; sold, 22.