The Sun.
London, England, 1852-12-30 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

The Fortunes of Francis Croft ; an Autobio-
graphy. 3 vols. Chapman and Hall.
This tale is in no sense of the word an ordinary
or common-place production ; both its merits and.
its defects are remarkable. The author has evi-
dently great powers of observation, a fine command
of language, and a lively imagination ; but, on the
other hand, the characters are not all life-like, the
events are sometimes too startling for every day
occurrence, and the descriptions of literary miseries
are certainly exaggerated. If so much wretched-
ness exists, some blame must attach to the indi-
viduals—all cannot be laid to the public charge.
However, where great abilities are shown, much
may be expected, and it is to be hoped that the
writer of these volumes will again be met with.
The reader will be sufficiently interested in their
perusal to desire more, and if greater caution and
judgment are exercised in the composition, it is
doubtless that something far superior to the work
in question may be produced. A flippancy of ex-
pression, and a hastiness of manner, are among the
chief faults in the book ; they are o be regretted,
as they mar the effect of an otherwise able and
vigorous style.

The Game of Brag. By Owen Maddyn, author
of Wynville. 2 vols. Skeet.

This author has already gained some reputation
from the publication of a very able work last year,
and the present attempt does not fall short of its
predecessor in point of ability. All may not find
the subject so entertaining. It is a description, or
rather a caricature,'of the proceedings of some of
the celebrities of the present day in the political
and fashionable circles. Several of the characters
are very well drawn, and evidently taken from life.
It may be objected that ridicule is attached to Ire-
land and the Irish, but the author manifestly is
satirising not the nature of the people, but the
follies that degrade it,, and it would be well if many
took jest for earnest, and endeavourad to do away
with the reproach that such extravagancies of con-
duct cast upon the nation so worthy to be ho-
noured in its inhabitants.

Adventures of the Connaught Rangers.
Series. • By William Grattan, Esq.
Colburn.

Second
2 vols.

These volumes contain a variety of details re-
specting the adventures of the Connaught Rangers
in peace and war. Descriptions of the battles of
Talavera, Orthes, and Toulouse find a place, and
there are very interesting accounts of the attack oa.
Buenos Ayres in 1807, and the siege and assault of
Ciudad Rodrigo. The second volume is chiefly
devoted to sketches of the state of France, and the
history of Simon Fairfield, a captain of the Con-
naught Rangers. Some amusing details of the
battles are given. The following occurred at
Talavera :

" Ten thousand Spaniards who were posted on the
right were menaced by a small body of French troops ;
the entire ten thousand discharged a volley from every
musket they carried, and having done so without the
least effect, took to their heels as if frightened by their
own fire. One of Lord Wellington's staff rode up to
him and said, My lord, do you see that ?" do,' re-
plied his lordship, and I have seen many curious things
during my sojourn in this world, but it is the first time
I e'fer saw ten thousand men running a race together.' "

Besides much military information, the conclusion
contains a great number of lively sayings and
sketches of society. The first series was published
in 1847, and, beinc, very favourably received, the
author has continued them ; and the 'admirers of
the first part will doubtless be equally gratified by
the second.

BARRON

HARROW, WEDNESDAY

This morning, at ten o'clock, Mr. Wakley, coroner
for the western division of Middlesex, and the jury em-
pannelled on Friday last on the body of John Barth°lo-
anew, the guard killed by the late accident to the Liver-
Pool and Manchester express train, re-assembled at the
Queen's Arms Inn, further to prosecute their investiga-
tion.

Mr. Hayes, of the firm of Parker, Hayes, Barns, and
Twisden, attended on the part of the North-Western
Company. Captain Wynne, Government inspector of
railways, Captain Huish, general manager, Captain
•Bruyeres, general superintendent of the line, and Mr.
7K‘Connell, chief of the locomotive department, were
also present.

Previous Ito the inquiry being proceeded with, the
jury, accompanied by the coroner, Captain Wynne, Mr.
31`Connell, Mr. Sharp (the head of the firm of Sharp,
Ettart, and Co., of Manchester, the makers of the en-
gine), Mr. Edwin Clarke, and other officials, pro-
ceeded to examine the tire of the engine, which, in
accordance with the directions given by the coroner
en Friday last, was placed on a groove by the side
Of the rails, in order that its strength might be tested.
In order to accomplish this effectually, the tire was
Placed on end, and a monkey, weighing 18 cwt., was
raised by means of a triangle to the height of seven feet,
each foot. being equal to one ton, in addition to the
'weight of the piece of iron. The weight was then, by
means of a pulley, dropped suddenly down upon the
tire. The effect was to close the aperture (measuring
two feet six inches) five inches. The same weight was
raised a second time, but at an elevation of twenty feet,
as far as the triangle would admit, and dropped as be-
fore, the only effect being to reduce the opening 74
inches more. The weight of the tire is about 7 cwt.
In order to afford the jury the opportunity Of judging of
the quality of the metal, the tire was severed by means
of nicking ; the metal presented a fibrous bright appear-
ance. At the suggestion of the foreman, the iron was
then removed, in order that it might be broken close to
where it was originally snapped.
On the return of the jury to the inquest room,
George Grace and Henry Perfect, the drivers of the
engines of the express and goods trains, were examined.
Their account, however, was substantially the same as
that which has already appeared.
At this stage of the proceedings the tire, which had,
by order of the coroner and jury, been again "nicked,"
to test the quality of the metal, within an inch of the
spot where the breakage of the tire took place, was
again brought into court. The metal was pronounced
excellent, but the welding defective.
Mr. Thomas Beatt Sharp, of the firm of Sharp, Stuart,
and Co., of Manchester, makers of the engine—No. 289
was made by the firm. The tires were supplied, not
manufactured, by them. They supplied the company by
contract. The present engine was one of a lot of ten to
be supplied at a certain price. In this case they did not
put in a tender. The price of the engine was not calcu-
lated by horse-power, but by the heating surface. The
value of engine and tender was 2,450/. Had charged
a much higher price for an engine and tender ; four
years since the price would have been 5001. more. The
reduction is caused by a reduction in the price of mate-
rials and improved mechanism. Were bound to supply
the best of materials, and were bound to supply the tires
manufactured by the Patent Shaft and Axletree Com-
pany, of Wednesbury, near Birmingham. Had examined
the quality of the iron of the tire, and found it to be
good. Doubted if he had seen better iron. The weight
of the tire was about 7 cwt. The welding was entrusted
to the foreman of the smiths in the establishment, Mr.
Beyer.