The Sun.
London, England, 1864-08-17 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

Me Cruise of the Alabama and the Sumter. From
the Private Journals and other Papers of Com-
mander R. Semmes, C.S.N., and other Officers.
Two Vols. Saunders, Otley, and Co.
An authentic narrative of the gallant exploits of
Commander Semmes, the Cochrane of the Confedee
rate States, will be perused with eager interest by
all those, and their name is legion, who sympathise
with resolute courage and who are enthralled by
records of peril and adventure. As early as the spring
of 1861, President Davis, not content with gathering
together an army of heroic soldiers to defend the
newborn independence of the South, was anxious
to compete with the enemy at sea, The Federals
were at that time well provided with ships, while
the Confederates had neither ships nor seamen,
to say nothing of their seeming lack of
officers. Nothing daunted, the new President,
with that happy discrimination which is the best
gift of those who govern, at once selected " the
right man in the right place." Captain Semmes
being then at his residence at Washington, a C,,m-
mender in the Federal Navy, received, on the 14th
February, 18,91 (auspicious valentine !),a telegraphic
invitation from the South. Already the gallant
captain's Southern sympathies were well known.
I He had dectared gnat "his judgment, his incline.
, tions and 11 is affections were with the South." Oa
this t:tnt, therefore, he spoke : on the receipt of
(no telegraphic message, ho at once relinquished his
Federal command, and almost immediately taking
command of the Sumter, he entered upon thet ad-
venturous career with which his name has become
so conspicuouslyidentified. Another Rupert of Bo-
hemia, he combined the loyal discipline of the naval
officer with the reckless gallantry of the buccaneer.
Like "an eagle in a dovecote" the adventurous
Sumter, and afterwards the no less dauntless
Alabama "fluttered the Volsciane" of the Federal
navy till that once formidable armament was no-
where. Records of prize-taking abound in these
pages with almost monotonous continuance. Same.
times the enemy is captured after a breathless
chase and a fair resistance. At others, the Alabama
has only to "coma" and "conquer." In the case
of the Jos ph Parker, captured by the Sumter, the
aiatoas Were considerably entertained by finding an
entry in the log-book of the prize, written the
day after she had set sail—" We have a tight, fast
vessel, and we don't care for Jeff, Davis I" Wearied
at last with three years of continuous adventure
and excitement, Captain Semmes and his heroic
companions were beginning to desire a respite from
their exertions—when, on the fatal 19th of June, the
gallant Alabama met her doom. On her memorable
encounter with the Kearsage, "the Alabama," says
the authentic narrative here before us, " entered
the lists when she should have been lying in dock."
Perhaps the best specimen we can give of the style,
at once simple and vigorous, in which this adven-
turous narrative is related, will be an extract, from
the sad record of that disastrous day. The Kearsage
we are reminded, was "in first-rate condition."
The Alabama " fought waken exhausted frame" :
She had the her, ism to decide upon the conflict, without
the strength to choose the form of it. After some little
manoeuvring this became painfully evident to Captain
Semmes. The Kearsa;e selected her distance at a range of
500 yards, and being well protected she deliberately took
time and fired with sure effect.
Captain Semmes had great confidence in the power of his
Blakeley riihd gun, and we believe it is a confidence net
shaken by its failure to win the day for him. He wished to
get within easy range of his enemy, that he might try this
weapon effectively; but any attempt on his part to come to
closer quarters was eoustrued by the N.earsage as a design
to bring the engagement between the ships to a hand-to-
hand conflict between the men. Having the speed, she
chose her distance, and made all thought of boarding hope-
less.

It was part of the plan of Captain Semmes to board, it
possible, at some period of the day, supposing that he could
not quickly decide the battle with artillery. It was evi-
dently Captain Winslow's determination to avoid the old-
fashioned form of a naval encounter, and to fight altogether
in the new style; his superior steam power gave him the
option. When the Alabama took her death wound she was
helpless. We must interpret the respectful distance main-
tained by the Kearsage up to the very last, and the persis-
tent plying of her guns while the side of the sinking ship
was visible, as a settled resolution on Captain Winslow's
part to trust to guns alone, and throughout, so that ei dan-
gerous proximity might be shunned. That much homage
was paid by him to the hostile crew, and that his manoeuvre
was creditably dkrect, few will deny.
The crew of the Alabama, seamen and officers, were in
high spirits throughout the engagement, though very early
the slaughter set in and the decks were covered with blood.
Their fire was rapid and admirable. It has been said in the
House of Lords by no less a person than the Duke of
Somerset, that her firing was positively bad; and that she
hit the Kearsage only three times during the action. By
Captain Winslow's own admission the Kearsage was hit
twenty ,eight times by shot and shell—or once to every
fifth discharge. No seaman knowing anything of an actual
engagement on the deep will object to the accuracy of such
an aim. Had the Kearsage shown the same blank tides as
the Alabama another tale might have been told. Captain
Semmes, however, perceived that his shell rebounded after
striking her, and exploded harmlessly. This led him to
rely upon solid shot. Tho Alabama not being thus or in
any way shielded, was pierced with shell, and soon showed
vast rents in her after.part. Her pivot-gun was a distinct
mark for the enemy, and a single shell exploded near it
killed and wounded half the men by whom it was worked.
Each ship fought her starboard broadsides, and steamed in a
circle to keep that side to the enemy. So, for an hour, this,
to a distant spectator, monotonous manoeuvre continued,
without perceptibly narrowing the range. Captain Semmes
was standing on the quarterdeck when the chief engineer
sent word to say that the ship was endangered by leakage.
The fiart lieutenant, Mr Kell, was sent below to inspect the
damage. He returned with word that the ship was sinking.
Captain Semmes at once ordered the ship to be put about
and steered towards shore. But the water was rising in
her ; the fires were speedily extinguished. The Alabama's
shot from slackening had new ceased.. It was evident to
all on board that she was doomed. To have continued
Bring would have been to indulge a stupid rancour, and to
act in such a manner is not in the nature of a seaman like
Captain Semmes. On the contrary, his thoughts were
directed towards saving the lives of his crew. He gave
command for the Confederate flag to be hauled down.
Well known as many of these incident already are,
their repetition in this more complete and compre-
hensive form will be right welcome, and the
romantic adventures of Captain Semmes and the
Alabama will for the time being absorb the atten.
tio❑ even of the readers of " sensational" romance

Mysterious Legends of Edmburgh, now for the
First Time Told in Print. By Alexander Leigh•
ton, author of " Carious Storied Traditions," &c,
Ono vol. Pp. 272. Nimmo.

Some niue or ten more or less enthralling legends,
with a few very spirited illustrations, are contained
in this volume. They will afford ample entertain-
ment for many an idle half hour, and will long linger,
we conjecture, in the memory of some readers.
",Deacon Macgilliroy's Disappearance," and " Lang
Sandy Woot:s Watch," are amusing perplexities
with very satisfactory results, Some others of the
tales have a more serious interest.

Our House and Garden; What too see and what we
do not see, in them. By Cuthbert W. Johnson,
F.B.S. One vol. Pp. 282. Ridgway.
A very interesting and valuable little book, with
much information, very pleasantly conveyed. " Our
Bedroom," " Our Breakfast Parlour," Our Dining-
table," " Our Garden," and ".Our Plants," are all
made the subjects of very interesting comments.
The tea, the coffee, the butter, the marmalade, &e.,
are each in turn taken into consideration. Those
young inquirers who are always seeking the ‘4 why
and because" of everything, should be referred to
Mr Cuthbert Johnson.

Vie Portent ; a Story of the Second Sight. By
G,:orge Macdonald, author of "'Within and
Without." Oue vol., pp. 290. Smith, Elder,

and Co.

The title of this book, of course, leads us to expect
a thrilling and enthralling narrative, and in this we
are not disappointed, although we think the author
might have made more of a theme of such very
weird romance. The principal feature in the story
is the clattering of a horse's hoofs with the clanking
sound of one loose ehoe. This is the Portent : it
resounds throughout the pages, and reechoes in
our ears when the volume is closed.

Corpulence, its Diminution and Cure, without In,
jury to Health. Fourth Edition.
Notes of Fifteen Cases of Disease Dependent upon
Corpulence, with the Result of 7reathnent. By
John Harvey, MI), John Smith and Co., Long.
acre,
So rapid has been the demand for this little tree-

ttse on the subject of corpulence and its attendant
train of maladies, that a fourth (and revised) edition
has been called for by the faculty and the public.
It is this which is now being published. Of the
merits of the work we have already borne testimony,
having done so, moreover, when the practical
results of Dr Harvey's most philosophical system had not
been fairly tested. With this new edition of his vierk the
learned author has issued a small companion volume, in
which he gives in detail the favourable result of his new
method of treatment in several serious cases of disease,
which are contingent upon embonpoint. Amongst others,
in cases of dyspepsia, bronchitis, asthma, diseases of the
heart, deafness, &o. &c., all cf which proceeded from obesity,
each succumbed under his treatment and directions. Hence,
doubtless, the attention which is now being brought to bear
upon this matter of corpu'ence, by the faculty and the public,
as the source of many diseases which have hitherto been
attributed to other causes, will induce many stout persons
suMring from the several ills the, too much flash is heir to,
and which have set the ordinary remedies at defiance, to
seek for relief, or cure, under the regimen and hygienic
rules which arc laid down so lucidly in the above works by
Dr Harvey.

THE AUTOGRAPHIC MIRROR has no 7v reached
its thirteenth bimonthly number ; and, judging
from the variety and interest of this, its latest in-
stalment, it gives promise of a long and flourishing
existence. The current number, in fact is, in its
way, as profoundly interesting as any one out of
the round dezcn preceding it. There is in it a letter
(in Russian) from Peter the First, otherwise Peter
the Great, the most remarkable of all the Autocrats.
There is a fac-simile from a pencilled note or mem.
(dated April 2, 1864) Nr7itten by the hand of
the Emperor Napoleon 111, ono apparently having
reference to his Majesty's studies in connection with
his forthcoming "Life of Cre3ar." There are auto•
graphs here also of " Old'A be," otherwise Abraham
Lincoln, President of the (extremely) U-nited
States—of his Minister of State, William Henry
Seward—and cf his Ambassador .to the Court of St.
James's, Charles Francis Adams. Among the rest
of the autographic memorabilia in No, XVIII. are
some from the hands of Lord Raglan (when Fitzroy
Somerset), of Lord Clyde (when Colin Campbell),
of Sainte Beuve and Raoul R►ochette, of Klopstcck,
and Lady Hester Stanhope. There are two lightly
sketched profile likenesses of Schiller, showing him
(eupposiug them to be correct) to have been rather
low-browed and exceedingly lackadaisyc" al; As the
tail-piece to this excellent number of the Autogra-
phc Review there is a facsimile of the portrait of a
dog, sketched in pencil by Sir David Wilkie.

Anniversary of the Prince Consort's Birthday

-mss---

By command of her Majesty, the Council of the Royal
Horticultural Society have directed that the gardens shall
be opened freely to the public on August 26, 1861, the an-
niversary of the birthday of his Royal Highness the Prince
Censrt, the founder of the gardens. The council have issued
the following statement for the guidance of the public :
" There wiii be entrances to the gardens at the east in
Exhibition-road, west in Prince Albert'o-road, and south
in the Exhibition road. The entrances will be opened at 10
and closed at 6 o'clock, There are about 36 acres of ground
and ample epace for all visitors. No tickets will be issued.
The police will instruct visitors as to the several exits from
the ground. The conservatory, orchard houses, the arcades,
and the maze will all be opened. The cascades and Minton's
fountain will play. The Old Hundredth Psalm, a hymn
composed by the Prince Consort, and' God save the Queen'
will be sang by the visitors. The singing will take place
on the north or upper terrace in front of the conservatory.
God save the Queen' will be sung at 6 o'clock, Bands will
be stationed in several p:rts of the gardens, and will per-
form at intervals during the day. Omnibuses pass the
gardens. steamers land passengers at Cadogan pier, Chel-
sea, and there is a railway station in the Fulham•road,
both places being about a mile from the gardens. Clubs,
schools, &c,, may be accompanied by the banners and
bands. Refreshments will be sold at moderato rates, or
visitors may bring their own. The south arcades at the
lower end of the garden, as in the Exhibition of 1862, and
either of the annexes, may be used for the refreshments
but visitors are requested not to use the flower garden as a
place for refreshments."

Frightful Accident on the North London

Railway.

A. fearful accident, causing the utmost excitement and
alarm in Camden Town, occurred to an express train, at
the Camden-road Station of the North London Railway,
which has been attended with the loss of life in at least one
case. The escape of a large number of passengers who were
in the train was almost miraculous. The following are the
particulars of the occierrence as gathered upon the spot:—
That portion of the railway which crosses Randolph-street,
and over which the platform of the Camden-road Station
extends, is supported on iron pillars, with wooden girders,
and it is about this point that the up-trains to the City
usually bring up their engines. The morning express,
which stops at the Camden-road station on its way to the
City, left Chalk Farm at its usual time (half-past nine),
and arrived at Camden-road a few minutes after. The ex-
press train was brought to a stand, with the engine just
on the eastern side of the bridge referred to. The passen-
gers at the station had entered the carriages, and the
moment the driver, named John Ellis, turned on his steam,
he was startled by hearing a report in his firebox, like
that of A retort or fog signal, and he instantly jumped
off. Before the unfortunate stoker, William Davis, had
time to follow his example, the fire-box exploded with a
loud report. The engine was blown upward and forward
high into the air, and descended, carrying with it a large
portion of the stone coping and buttress of the brickwork
of the bridge into Randolph-street below—the greater por-
tion, however, resting on the enclosed ground belonging to
the North London Company. But for the coupling chain
which secured the train to the engine snapping asunder
when the latter bounded from the line, the carriages muet
inevitably have been dragged over the bridge into the road
beneath. In its descent the engine had turned completely
round, and when it alighted on the ground it was found
that it had embedded its near side driving-wheel completely
in the earth. The alarm of the passengers, who rushed
frantically from the carriages, may be better imagined than
described. They were seen running in eveey direction, and
a great amount of confusion prevailed. The nest object of
the station-master was to see if any one was iejebeed ; and
fortunately, owing to the direction the explosion had taken,
none of the passengers were in the slightest degree Wirt,
nor was any carriage damaged. The poor stoker, Davie,
was, however, found lying iu the six-foot space, frightfully
mutilated and scalded. He was at once conveyed to Uni-
versity College Hospital, and it is not at all likely that
he will recover. As soon as the confusion occasioned by
the catas'rephe had somewhat subsided, Mr Adams, the
chief of the locomotive department, was on the spot, with
Mr Anderson, locomotive foreman at Camden station of
the North-Western, Mr Mansell, the secretary, and other
authorities; and it was then discovered that the concus-
sion had somewhat shattered the wooden girders sup-
porting the bridge, tut that the rails had been but little
if in any degree displaced. The force of the shock had
broken the coupling between the engine and the first
carriage short off at the buffer plank. The chimney was
smashed and knocked over; one of the massive iron aide ,
plates, bearing the number of the engine, and the words
"North London Railway," was knocked off, and the whole
of the left side of the fire box was blown out, Hero would
appear to have been the seat of explosion and cause of the
disaster. As a proof that the engine mounted high into the
air and turned completely round in her descent, it may be
mentioned that the telegraph wires of the station, which
are some 10 or 15 feet above the line, were broken down,
and communication on that particular side of the line
stopped. Fortunately, there was no one passing under the
bridge at the time of the explosion, otherwise the result
would have been fatal. Only a minute previously, how-
ever, a horse and cart was driven by. The weight of the
engine is estimated at about 28 tons, from which some idea
may be formed of the force with which it fell. Cue of the
North-Western Company's servants was on the platform,
and he also was much scalded. Beyond the cases we have
named no one appears to have been injured. It is needless
to say that for a time the traffic was checked, but tha rails
were soon repaired, and the trains ran in the order set down
in the table. The height of the bridge from which the en-
gine fell is about 25 feet. The engine, which was made in
1854 at Bristol, now lies covered in the roadway, a perfect
wreck. It may be added that the fragments of the machi-
nery were hurled in ell direcaons, the fits-bars flying about
like so many sticks of wood, The knowledge of the occur-
rence spread so rapidly that, in a few minutes hundreds were
on the spot, and it required the aid of a strong force of the ,
S division of police to keep the crowds oft the engine whilst
it was yet steriirgaway after it came over the railway. '1

In reply to inquiries made at the University College Hos-
pital last night it was stated that the stoker was dead.

It appears that Mr and Mrs Charles Kean, to-
gether with Miss Chapman and Mr Everett, de-
parted from Melbourne for Sydney on the 224 of June, per
steamer, en route for the Sandwich Islands and. California.
Their departure had been delayed for several weeks by the
long and severe illness of Mrs Kean, from
which she had
only juat recovered sufficiently to permit her to travel.
A Turin letter states that Prince Amadeus, Duke
gone to visit the works for piercing
of Aosta, has
Mont Cenis. His royal nighness was to visit the
camp of St. Maurice on the 14th to take the COM.
wand of the Ist Regiment of Infantry. Tno young
prince will remain there a month doing duty as
colonel, and taking part in all the mance:Ayres of the
camp, which conei3ts of a whole corp
under the commend of Gin.: ittxxelli.

tirinkr
tr,unn, _

HER MAJESTY,

OSBORNE, August 16.
Her Mjesty, their Royal Highnesses Prices and
Princess Louis of Hesse, Princess Holens, and
Princess Leiningen drove to ti hippingham
yester4
day afternoon.
Her Royal Highness Princess Leiningen OCCOVI"
panicd the Quen to Netley Hospital on Saturdsy.

The Duke of Wellington and the Hon. Henry
Wellesley visited Lord Brougham at his lord:.-hip's scat on
their way to Scotland.
Duchess (Emily) of Beaufort leaves town la
a day or two for Scotland, en a tour of visits.
The Duchess of St. Albans and Lady Diana
Beauclerk have left Princes's-gate for North Berwick.
The Earl and Countess Russell and Lidf
Georgiana Russell and fariily left Pembroke Lodge yester-
day afternoon for Woburn Abbey, Bede, which
has been
placed at the noble earl's disposal by the Duke of Bedford.
The noble earl and family Latent' to reside there for several
weeks.
sir
A marriage is arranged to take place betwee.n
Edward Robert, the son and heir of the Right Hon.
Edward Bulwer Lytton, of Knebworth Park, Herts, nal
Miss Edith -Villiers, niece of the Earl of Clarendon,li.O.
The Earl and Countess Jzrmyn have left toWn
for the noble earl's shooting box in Scotland.
The Earl and Countess of Caithness have arrivea
at Barrogill Castle, N. 8., with the intaution of residing
there for the winter.
The Countess of Liston; el has left the Clarendon
Hotel for Convamore, Ireland.
The Countess (Frances) Waldegrave and the
Right Hon. Chichester Fortescue arrived at Strawberry-
hill, Twickenham, on Monday, from Brighton, where they
have been passing several weeks.
Viscount and Viscountess Palmerston leave
Cambridge House next week to pass a month or six we
at Weidner
Vi Castle. last
Falkland left London on Satura:4
for Aix-la-Chapelle.
Viscountess Jocelyn, who returned to town °II
Monday from attendance en her Majesty, is about to lea
"
t ,wn oa a continental tear with her daughters.
The Lord Bishop of London is expected to leave
Fulham Palace about the 23d inst. for the north of England
and Argyleshire.
Lord Eicho left town on Saturday last for An,33:1!:,
field, Haddington, to join her ladyship and family lit
intend to remain at the Earl of Weroyss's seat during the

autumn.
The Right Hon. Sir Robert Peel, M.P., and L'a,/
Emily Feel, left their residence in Whitehall-garcies' Y".
terday, for Drayton Manor, Staffordshire.
Trio Right Hon. Thomas Milner Gibson, MP"
left Cowes towards the close of the past week for DiepPela
his yacht, and will be absent some weeks cruising off t
western coast of Franca.

They do these Things Better in France'

TO THE EDITOR OF " THE SUN."
Silt,--It is very noticeable in the feees at present In PAri6
Wil°
that the Emperor is not slow to decorate good men.
does not feel glad to find the decoration of the Legion o
Honour given t* Hector BerliFz, whose exquisite writings
in the De'bats and elsewhere, are the charm of our eveq
day musical literature. Let us fancy, if we can, Mr Hull 3:
or the late "Mr Cb.ackeray, or the late Nr Turner, the
shipper of Beethoven, as Mr Ruskin was
painter, or Mr Faraday, made Baronets.
Turner ; but it is only our General Boyles we build statues
to, or make says Victor Hugo. I find no statue
of Shakespeare ; but who is General Doyle, asks
with curious irony. His is the greatest statue 1 411'
room
Even Jenner is moved from Trafalgar-square to make
for a gas lamp. Such is the light of modern civilisation
in civilised Albion. The opera in Paris partly supports to
hospitals and Bethnal-greens by a penny tan
is a wo of
tax. on the
worshipper
tickets; a system of compensation is observed, and if there
be vice it helps the hospitals. Hector Berlioz is the,
champion of the opera; and so in decorating him the En'-
peror assists both the opera and the charities of Paris. -"re'
on the contrary, would rather give a peerage or a pens:ou tc°
a legion of old-fashioned generals. Place Jenner alongsids
the horse ponds covered with chick-weed, in the park, od
let men like Bishop or Hullah follow Jenner into oblivion.
Chrcriva7i laughs at us, but it is probable such neglect Of
our truly great men does much mischief.—Yours,
August. A PllYsici.trr•
Funeral of the late. Mr. Robson.

This morning the mortal remains of this well-
known actor were committed to their last resting'
piece in the cemetery, at Norwood, being borne t°
the grave amidst the heartfelt regrets cf a large
number of those with whom for so many years be
had been on the closest terms of professional and
social intercourse.
It was thought that, GS far as the proceedings in
London were concerned, they should be of the meet
unostentatious character, Few, therefore, and those
only of the most intimate friends of the deceased,
were invited to join the procession, which started
from his residence in Ampthill-square, Hampstead'
road, at half-past eleven o'clock.
It was at Norwood, however, that the moot marked
respect was paid to the memory of the deceased.
There, numbers, not only of his own corps aria'
matique, but of the profession generally, bad
asserub!ed long before the arrival of the funeral
cortege.
The ceremony was deeply impressive, and, after
the body had been lowered into the grave, the
assembled visitors took a last look at the coffin of
their deceased friend, and then gradually dispersed.
Amongst the mourners who proceeded from
Ampthili-equare to the ground at Norwood were
Mrs..Robson,sen., the mother of the deceased. MO'
Robson, his wife ; Mr. Itelo,;on, his son ; Miss Rob°
son, his daughter; with Dr. Brooke, of the
miaster-road, and Mr. Snell, of Lincoln's-inn-gold's,
his executors.
We understand that the theatre ie to
this evening. be closed