The Sun.
London, England, 1852-07-03 00:00:00

THE SUN,

LITERATURE.
BREN TANG 1 ; or, Mercantile Mysteries, being
Confessions qf a Conlidentiol Clerk. Edited
by Ar4u.s Ly2D. Groombridse and Sons, l'oter-
noster- rote.
We have received Paris I and 11. of this tr,,iw
published monthly, price 61., and if the subsequent
numbers be eustawed by similar characters and
truthful. delineation, it stands a good chance of b -
coming popular. The author, whoever he may be, is
evidently acquainted with the subject he has taken
in hand, and in exposing what we conceive he means
by mercantile mysteries" will do real service to the
public at large. The information to be gleaned of
what is passing within the walls of the great estlb-
lishrnents which represent the commercial wealth of
this country must prove useful to all classes, and;
presented in the readable manner described, cannot
fail to be extensively circulated. Old and young are
likely to be interested in the progress of this publi-
cAion, since it not alone furnishes instructive lessons
for both, but also appears destined to inculcate
proper principles. One or two extracts at random
wilt show the style and mould of the writer. The
hero, Charles Brain, alluding to the receipt of his
first week's salary when brought into mercantile life,
says—.

CLOSURE COMPANY.

It has been our fortune to attend many convivial ex-
carsiens, but we do not remember ever to have been
pceselit.at a more agree:_ible and inttresang ceremony
thanithat which took place on Thursday last at South
B-veland, in Zealand, when the first sod of the
Netherlands Land Enclosure Company was turned by
Captain Melly, in the absence of the Dutch Diinieter of
the Interior, who was prevented by certain matters of
public importance from fulfilling the promise which he
had given to the company of officiating on the cceasion.
On the north-east side of the island of South Beve-
land, in Z aland, where -the land runs up in a narrow
point towards Brabant, there is a large tract of alluvial
apil,..overfii4ed by the Scheldt at high Water, but at
other times left dry, a slimy tract of semifluid mud,
while the eastern branch of the river contracts to a nar-
row channel, little more than a mud ditch, and which is
unnavigable even for small boats at low water. Through
this channel the difficult and precarious navigation of
the Eastern Scheldt is carried on, but is frequently
stopped altogether during winter. Tho embankment of
this land,, and its reclamation from the sea, has fre-
quently been matter of speculation; and it it said that a
society,:ferahe purpose-was about to be formed, under
the auspices of Napoleon himself, but was stopped, with
other projects of like -magnificence, by the fail of the
Empire. Since then the project, though ofien talked
of, has been allowed to remain in abeyance till in the
course of the last year- his Majesty the King of Hol-
land made a concession to Mr. Dronkers; of Middle-
burg, of the right of reclaiming this large tract of land,.

" I had now discovered the true worth of industrious
habits. The emolument I derived was not large, but
it was suffieient to prove the value of a principle. I
was in a great degree independent of the world—
working for my own bread. Never shall I forget the
impression produced by the receipt of my first week's
wages. No monareh's heart ever swelled wOh greater
triumph at the achievement of his best victories, than did
mine on the occasion of obtaining a few shillings, the
produce of my own individual labour. I fancied as it
were that a new current of life had passed through my
frame. There was money staring me in the face, the
result of active industry. Unacquainted as I was with
the course of worldly affairs or their manifold intrica-
cies, the glittering silver in my hand was solid proof
that I had at length solved one of the great problems
in life. My feelings on the occasion can be more readily
imagined than described. Multitudinous as they were,
I remember my great concern was to rush into the pre-
sence of my mother to acquaint her with my success, and
after running home at the top of my speed, my first ex-
clamation, before I had scarcely passed the threshold,
was, Mother, mother, here is the money—my wages l'
while before she could recover herself from her asto
nishment at my eagerness to give her the amount, I
threw it exultingly into her apron."
Who, again, can help recognising in the following
sketch the " unadorned" history of one of,those levia-
than firms which, after reaching the pinnacle of
fortune, ultimately topple down, and find a last
resting-place in the dark recesses of the courts •of
Basinghall-street ?
"The house of Crimple, Tadlow, and Crimple was, at
the date at which I write, a mercantile firm of the
highest repute. There was no gainsaying this fact, for
its name was universally patent to the public in the
majority of transactions connected with trade, Crimple
Tadlow, and Crimple, from the nature of the pre-
mises where they carried on business, might be supposed
to be almost antediluvian, the dark and dingy appear-
ance of their counting-house and warehouse greatly fa
vouring this opinion; and many persons who so judged
were not far wrong in their conjecture. The his-
tory of the establishment was the history of many
similar firms engaged in the ramified branches
of our commerce, which reckon in their growth
the lapse of nearly a century. The elder Crimple,
througn whose exertions, and by whose industrious and
penurious habits, the foundation of the house was securely
laid, used, it was dimly hinted, to feel a pride in recount-
ing the vicissitudes and struggles by which he had been
enabled to realize his exaltation; but his name and credit
having been fully established before his demise, those
idle stories were now buried deeply in the breast of his
family, and were seldom, if ever, adverted to. Having
passed to his grave ripe in years, leaving considerable
wealth to his successors, Mr. Christopher lbrimple—the
establishment,
lld anepnbt o
1!
yefe ntweTaxhpi
aplohdaaemitnirnoudi Ilelwyhnc,
eelshallCeaenrrndckidem. t
toplUnder
eetn attreat—wasdiknee dr Crimple,ttthe
introductioncie avn
management
revised
oedgdfeermme der
designation
otT oab
fda
Tadlow
hnwe-
er firm having
continuedpr e
moveni prosperously forward until, in ordinary course
otr
olf.oCa Crimple,
Mr. Tadlow having also paid theothdeebbufitsof nature, Mr.
Christopher Crimple became its solerepresentative.
was not then deemed expedient t
omake
a n
alteration
era
i
in the title of the house, and Crimple Ttnaodl-t
low, and Crimple remained, so far as the, world
was concerned, the same firm as ever, the
change in reality being confined to the death of Tadlow,
the payment out of his relatives, and the promotion of
Mr. Crimple's eldest son. The wheel of fortune" was
still in motion, the name of Crimple was highly eulo-
gizsd, and the success of their operations received ge-
neral recognition. Christopher Crimple, though be
could not legitimately aspire to the distinction of being
one of the merchant princes of London—his special
trade, that of produce- broker, preventing its assump-
tion—he, nevertheless, ranked in the first circles of the
magnates with whom ho co-operated, and was treated
with proportionate consideration. This was not in the
least surprising, because the position of his resources,
independently of his connexions, which through his
marriage had been rendered aristocratic, was extremely
serviceable in assisting many of these individuals in ad-
ventures which their own capital could not support, and
he accordingly secured supreme deference—a question
of no mean importance to a man of his natural vanity.
Now that he had attained the summit of his ambition,
a union with a baronet's daughter, a family rising into
notice, and almost unimaginable riches, ho was within
himself a power, he imagined, little less than a demi-
god. The intervening years had not, however, roller
by without leaving traces of their progre a.
The bleached hair, the grey whisker, and deeply in-
dented cheek told that the path of the tall sedate gen-
tleman, who, with erect and measured gait, trod confi-
dently the walks on 'Change, and the other principal
places of mercantile resort, bad not been unattended by
care and anxiety. In the midst of the wearing process
of fortune-making, agreeable if accomplished, but dis
tasteful when accompanied by difficulties, he had ex-
perienced numerous trials, which, although they never
compromised his purse or person, were of a description
unyielding spirit. Notwithstanding
to create vexation, and occasionally curb the domination
of his proud and
these drawbacks, which mainly related to his family ar
rangements, he was to the world the same inflexible
haughty man that had
partially ruled the destinies of
trade for years, and wherever he went, or whatever he
was engaged in, his sincerity was doubted and his mo-
tives were constantly impugned. The analysis of his
character by those well acquainted with him showee
that his plebeian birth was a rankling wound in his
composition, which, despite his marriage and his
studious inclination to cultivate closer ties within
the circle of his wife's acquaintances, could not
be subdued, the knowledge of his father having
risen from the humblest rank in life perpetually haunts
ing him, and stepping in to mar the pleasure derived
from his numerous projects for self-aggrandisement ane
popularity. With the exception of his eldest son, whi
constituted with himself the firm of Ciimple, Tadlow and
Crimple, and who evinced an aptitude for his positiot,
much in advance of his years, his children, wasteful and
purseproud, possessed nothing to recommend thema sue
were alone sought for their presumed wealth and the
mercantile status enjoyed by their proe genitors. To have
placed before them, in bold relief, the outline of their
grand pere in his leathern:smalls, muffin cap, and platee
sired to admit; but
badge, would have been the indication of an ancestry
which would have brought the colour to their cheeks.
and which they would not have, in all probability, de-
i:epute, and one which
d. that such was a well tact was beyond authenticated-ooa ld
readily,
with a baronet's daugehntet"h
if necessary, have
established. Even the alliance
not toned down this dis-
paragement of birth; for although the sin was not in
the actual circumstance, but rather in the wish to re-
pudiate it, the marriage, it was said, had been consum-
mated chiefly on the ground of the reputed wealth of the
Crimples, and the advantages to be derived from the
match by the poorer branches of the baronetage. In
this latter respsct, however, the
relatives had been
grievously disappointed, and discovering their unfortu-
nateri mistake in anticipating
that .Mr• Ch •
atophar
to their own
sly endeavoured to bring
into contempt the aristocracy of riches, when compared
Crimple was to be moulded according pre-
conceived notions, they sedulously
Enthralled in this dis-
agreeable manner, the great firm with the aristocracy of birth.
of Crimple, Tadlow,
and Crimple, as represented by Mr. Christopher Crim-
ple,
went on its way rejoicing—his external bearing that
of the millionaire with unclouded prospects, while in-
ternally prevailed the canker that was slowly but surely
"ling away his heart."

amounting to 35,000 acres, for the term of ninety-nine
years. The only, or at least the must important, condi..
don attached to the concession was, that as the reelatna-

lion could only be accomplished by throwing a barrier
across the channel at its narrowest part, and thus
'lamming up the navigation, which, precarious as it is,
is now almost the only mode of communication between
the towns on the eastern branch of the Scheldt and Ant-
,
worp, &compensation should be given by constructing a
canal across the island of South Beveland that should
afford the means of navigation at all times of the tide.
Armed with these powers, the concessionary imme-
diately set to work, and a company has been formed,
consisting of English, Dutch, and Belgian shareholders
and directors, who have undertaken to carry out the
works necessary to accomplish the undertaking.
Undertakings of this nature are by no means rare
either in Holland or in this country. The important
draining operations now going on in the neighbour-
hood of the Wash are the most recent instances; and
as for Holland, the whole island of Beveland, to
whose area the present works, when completed, will
form So' large an addition, seems to have been almost
wholly reclaimed, at one time or other, from the ra-
vages of the sea. The land is gradually rising all
round the shores of the island; and of the portion which
the company has undertaken to reclaim, it is stated that
7.000 acres are even now wholly dry, except at spring
tides, and that a low sea-wall, or barrier, to protect it
from these incursions, is all that is necessary to bring
the soil into immediate operation. The cost of the
whole works, including the construction of the barrier
on one side and the canal on the other, is estimated at
201. per acre, and contractors have engaged to complete
the works on that estimate. Of course a high profit is
contemplated upon this expense, and it is sanguinely an-
ticipated that the land, when reclaimed, will sell for the
sum of 501. or 601. per acre. With such encouraging
prospects the company have determined to commence
operations at once; but owing to the advanced period of
the year they have, under the advice of their engineer,
Sir John Rennie, determined only to enclose 4,000 acres
for the present season, the embankment for which they
expect to run up and to have the enclosed land under
cultivation within a month from the present time. Ac-
cording to the terms of the concession, however, it was
necessary that the canal, which is looked upon as a work
of great public importance, should be commenced si-
multaneously with those other works that may be re-
garded as more especially for the private gain of the
company, and the first sod of this canal was turned on
Thursday.
The ceremony, in which after considerable persuasion
many of the ladies who were present assisted, was con-
eluded.
The company now adjourned to the tent, where
luncheon was prepared for them, to which about 140
sat down. Captain Polly occupied the chair, supported
by M. Van de Butte, M. Van de Lek de Clereq, M.
Blusse, &c.; and of Englishmen—Sir John Rennie, Mr.
George Rennie, Mr. James Hutton, accountant, Mr.
Nicholls, secretary to the company, ase. Somewhat to
the scandal of the English portion of the company, no
place had been provided for the clergyman, or " dominie,"
as he is called, of the parish, who wandered about the
atnhseter intosomeinquiries s apparently much out of his
on the subject
but!,olewmerentp;artof
we in
it was stated that it was not the fashion to invite clergy-
men 'on such occasions, and that altogether a clergyman
was far from being held in such high respect in Hol-
land as a gentleman occupying the seine position would
no in England. The clergyman, it must be added,
was accompanied by a great portion of his flock, for
the tent being quite open at one end the peasantry
bad gathered round in large numbers, and stood re-
spectfully looking on, while the more favoured guests
were consuming the viands. Their cleanly appear-
ance, ,respectful manners, and quiet orderly conduct,
gained for them much favour in the eyes of the English
tuests, some of whom wore afterwards at pains to con-
trast their behaviour with what might be expected from
an English crowd under similar circumstances, though it
seemed to be forgotten that no English crowd, on a like
occasion, would have a party of military drawn up in
rent of them to enforce the order as well as to enhance
the pomp of the ceremony, ex was the case with the good
peasantry or Kruningee. Tho feast being uver, Lulu Lee
wine beginning freely to circulate (or which a liberal
supply was handed by the Englishmen to their peasant
friends standing round), several toasts were proposed.
rho first of these was " his Majesty the King of Hol-
land," proposed by the Chairman, which was responded
co by the meeting, the band of the regiment playing the
national air, " Wien Neerdlandsche bloed."
M. VAN DE BUTTE then proposed " the Queen of
England," in a speech of some length, and dilated on the
long connexion that had existed between England and
Holland, the alliance between the two countries having
more than once changed the state of affairs in Europe.
Tnis toast was also received with great enthusiasm, the
band playing the English national anthem.
" The King of the Belgians" was similarly proposed
by M. VAN DE LEK DE CLERcQ•
The CHAIRMAN then proposed "The Minister of the
Interior, the States General, and the authorities of the
province of Zsaland."
Mons. Bnusse here read a letter from the Minister,
expressing the deepest regret that an unforeseen call
had, at the last moment, prevented his attendance at the
ceremony, and stating the great interest he felt in the
works undertaken by the compaoh and his readiness to
afford them every assistance in his power.
Mons. BACHENE, a member of the Upper Chamber of
Holland, then replied on behalf of the States General.
Referring to the undertaking which had brought them
together, he said it was a gigantic enterprise, and pecu-
liarly appropriate to Holland. That country might be
.aid to have been altogether conquered from the sea,
ins] the object of the company was to add 35,000 acres
more to these conquests; The scheme had been ex-
,mined and approved of by engineers whose reputation
was European; and he might truly say that the autho
of Sir John Rennie and the other engineers who
sad been employed in the survey, gave the convie•
ion of a completely successful result to the labours of
he company. The States General, he might mention,
regarded the progress of these operations with the
greatest interest, as tending to develop the national re-
sources—a task to which they were themselves zealously
levoted. He concluded by proposing the development
if industry generally, and the success of this undertak-
ing in particular.
Mr. VAN DE BUTTE proposed " The Health of Sir
John Rennie.and the other Engineers of the Company..
Sir Jonrt RENNIE said—l beg leave to return m,
nost grateful thanks for the honour you have done Elise
in drinking my good peach, We are met here today
to celebrate the commencement of a work which for its
magnitude and.the important benefits which will neees.
sarily result from it; has perhaps never been surpassed,
it equalled, even in Holland, where so many works of a
similar nature have been executed. The completion of
the canal will 'render the navigation between the
east
and west branches of the Scheldt secure, and certain at
all times for the largest class of mercantile vessels, as
well as for frigitteS, while it is now so precarious and
dangerous, and, under -the most favourable circum-
stances, only practicable at half-tide for small vessels.
The barrier, which will connect the fertile island
Beveland with the continent, and thus of
rend
safe and easy the communication which is now
:° render
certain, and at times impracticable, and the
em-
bankment and reclamation of 35,000 acres of
most fertile land, will add most materially to the the
resources of the province, as well as prove of natural
benefit to .the company. Thus, in every Point of great
view,
this great undertaking will form an important ep h
°C
-the hietory of this interesting country.
we con
sider the small surface of Holland, and its great
wealth"
in comparison with other countries of the
same extent,
we are not a little surprised; but when we examine
into
the cause we soon find that this is . due to the extreme
fertility of the soil and the unceasing industry of its
people. During the . last two centuries ?!tething like
from
200,000 acres have been reclaimed the waters
by pumping
partly from the sea, and partly . and drain•
much remains to be done;
age..
_Still, however, and I
have no hesitation in saying,that by the proper Per applica-
of modern
twin of the scientific principles next tw 11 engineering
more will be effected during t
last ee"tY-ave years
than has 'been done during the etury,
and the
*se now comma y, ,
c irapletion of the enterpri.. a
stimulus to
such favourable au3pices willgive to im-
provement which has
proyment in this department so long been
wanting;
,and I, have no tee th
doubt but thate
the Govern-
ment of Holland, when they are energy and
fait;' with which this companyresolved to carry
goou to tnem
into effect the task consiniteed
-.rive them every possible encouragement
grantbeing more/
o them
English capital taro 1-I,lland, ani e more a elate fresh
concessions for that object; for to e enn°ll-
- whether native or
rages the employment of
~
foreign, to develep ins resources, the oe n *Y
will [weeper, and the happiness of the pe more
pl th
im ree count
, case.
I beg I,mve once more to return Ins Y own
s associated with
"inn, and, in that of the other engineer

the present
lateM IGrl 1,,,i,Tr It OoNt
the
Emigration DURING Tn E PRESENT
Commissioners,
appearsrom
the
that 103,
yiepaert persons emigrated
the
twelve
principalin th e fi first fourports
ot
the monthsun
it
eodf
GALLANT
Kingdom.
CoesczourrceTspoonFdinAgsperEiordcriof IBBsolyt.—heAnumfebwer
was 103,554. n
gentleman, about 20 years of age, a visitor
days ago a you,
single rowingae near Boveney-locks, on the river
to Windsor, leasg
eight.oulling outrigger, and, in getting -out
Thames, in a
pace, ailed boat, which was rowing down
of the way of an
ainiltv,urned round too suddenly, and
street at a rapid
unable to swim, ha went down,
the boat capsized.
ihnoeyv,i t awbhl yo have
fortunatelyo
part in the middle of the river;
and rose in a rather sßhe
goicr him to remain there, and
but the stream was too stro
las legs, and got into deep
he was immediately taken'
been drowned had it not
was passing at the
water,been e and
nadnir,i'..utostn
time. Seeing the danger of the
he could not swim, the Etonian, Ywiutz gentleman, and that
any of his clothes, jumped into the riverttt waiting to strip off
out, placed him on the bank, and,
looking
and brought him
as a simple occurrence, molly walked go:Pon the matter
clothes, and thought nothing more of di changed hie
no doubt, this gallant act would never have been matter ; at,d,
afterwards bad it nut been by the young gentleman mentioned
thus been saved. The name of the Etonian awna who had
11.
Bowden, about 17 years of age, a pupil under the 11 G.
,everend
Edward Balston.
POSTAGE STAMP-S.—A Parliamentary blue-book
was printed on Thursday, coithining the report and evidence'
given before the Select Committee of the House of Commons
on postage labels. The Committee recommended that the
machine of Mr. Archer should be purchased for the benefit
of toe puldie.
RESIGNATION OF Da. CONnLLY,—SOMO surprise
has beta excited amongst the magistracy of the county o'
Middlesex, on the receipt of the formal resignation of Dr.
Couolly of the office of head physician to the Hanwell Lu-
nate Asylum, which appointment he has held since June,
18.39.

me.
toasts were then proposed, and other speeches
made,, much eloquence being expended both in Dutch
and English, on the health at the ladies. The chairman
8000 atter withdrew, and- the English part of the ccm..
pan returned 'on board the steamer, which
weighed
anchor, end proceeded about ten miles further up the
river, to the fortification of Bola, on the extreme east-
ern angle of tho island, and to the north-west of which
the land-..iimunediately under the reclamation of the cum_
pany is aithated.
..,...rter - .-;.time short time spent in View.
iDg thli the 3tea
- --;m9r—turne4 _ clown the river, and after

TEE PorE —Letters from ROMA state that the
Pope is threatened with dropsy, and that the state of hi.;
health:gives great uneasiness to his physicans.
„, II ARDEN R.—PE ch, the proportion of.
dibs• td one gallon of tar, boiled together, will make the tg
Oft gtlisl 44(1 qtlick.-41414147*

LONDON, SATURDAY

THE NET HERLANDS LAND EN- r another pleasant run across the Channel arrived at
Blackwell yesterday forenoon.
-. In conclusion we Ing to thank the directors for the
courtesy and attentio❑ which was experienced by all on
hoard, be:h from the officers of the vessel and the liberal
sty!' in which the cotntLisseriat department Was attended
to by the steward.

couttly unteuLAß,
The Countess de Neuilly, the Duke and Duchess de
Nemours, Prince and Princess de Joinville, and the
Duke end Duchess de Montpcnsier, visited her Majesty
yesterday at Buckingham Palace. The Countess de
Neuilly and their Royal Highnesses afterwards paid a
visit to her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, at her
residence, Clarence-fieue, St, James's.
His Royal Highness Prince Albert rode out on horse-
back yesterday, attended by Colonel Bouverie.
His Royal Highness the *Prince of Wales, attended by
Mr. Gibbs, took an airing in an open carriage yesterday•
Their Royal Highnesses the Princess Royal and the
Princess Alice took a carriage drive yesterday morning.
Colonel the Hon. Charles Grey hAs relieved klajor-
General Buckley in his duties as Equerry in Waiting to
the Queen.
A deputation, including the Marquis of Westminster,
Earl de Grey, Lord Dyto•vor, and Colonel Wood, had an
interview with the Earl of Derby yesterday, at his
official residence in Downing-street.
The Duk! of Cleveland had an interview with Mr.
Secretary Walpole yesterday, at the Home-office. Mr.
Eceas Mac Donnell bad also an interview with the Right
Hon. Secretary.
The Commissioners for the Reduction of the National
Debt had a quarterly meeting yesterday, at the cfficial
residence of The Chancellor of the Exchequer, in Down-
irig-street. There were present the Chancellor of the
Exchequer, the Accountant-General of the Court of
Chancery, the Governor of the Bank of Englund, and
the Deputy Governor. The Secretary and Comptroller-
General to the Commissioners,Bir Alexander Spearman,
attended.

The Cambridge University Commission had a meeting
yesterday, at the official residence of the First Lord of
the Treasury, in Downing•street. Present, the Bishop
of Chester, the Doan of Ely, Sir John Herschel, Profes-
sor Sedgwick, and the Rev. W. H. Bateson (Secretary).
Earl Jermyn had an interview with Mr. Secretary
Walpole yesterday.
Earl de Grey transacted business at the Home-office
yesterday,
Sir Charles Barry had an interview with the Earl of
Derby yesterday, at his official residence in Downing-
street.

RAILWAY RETURNS