The Sun.
London, England, 1855-12-18 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EV ENiki ev, DECEMBER 18 1855

banished from mechanics' institutions. But all would •
admit that it was very essential, especially in a country 1
like this, that every man should, as far as his opportuni-
ties allowed, make himself acquainted with those things
and measures which were advantageous for the country;
so that if at a public meeting or elsewhere he had to ex-
press an opinion or to exercise an influence, to give a
vote, or even to express an opinion to a neighbour—for
that was actually to influence the conduct of Govern-
ment—he should be able to throw all his influence into
the scale of that which was truly best for the country.
He was afraid that in this country we were in this un-
happy transition state ; we were in a state of twi-
light ; not absolutely dark upon political affairs, but
a long way off full daylight. In a country where
one man ruled, such as Russia or France, it did not
very much matter, as to the direction taken by the
Government, what the people happened to know or
what course they took. Ono man did everything ; and
all went right or wrong, just as he was a good or a
bad ruler. But in this country it was not the mo-
narch—notwithstanding that the monarch must neces-
sarily have great influence—who decided the course
Government should take ; but the people themselves,
partly through their representatives, partly through pub-
lic meetings, and partly through the influence of the
press, which reflected to a great extent the opinions pre-
valent amongst the people. Therefore, although a
people like that of England could never have any selfish
interest in going wrong—as a monarch or a Prime Mi-
nister might have occasionally—they might still go
wrong, and did, quite as much as a monarch or a minis-
ter ; but if they found out that they were wrong, they
kad no interest to prevent their turning back, checking
their course, and reversing their policy. In this country
it was more important than in any other, except the
United States, that we should as far as possible make our-
selves acquainted with public affairs • and so bring them
up to some true and just standard, and there decide upon
them. He knew of no standard with regard to public affairs
—the principles of law and the principles of policy—except
that true standard of Christian morality which a man ap-
plied, or ought to apply, to his own conduct. He did not
in the least believe in grand schemes of policy advanced
by kings, queens, or cabinets, which flew in the facs of
all the most ordinary rules of Christian morality, as ap-
plied to our own conduct ; and there was no greater evil
that came from the state of twilight to which he had al-
luded, than that we were always getting into a state of
panic. A man wholly ignorant or half informed, was
not only the most ignorant of real danger, but he was
the most likely to be alarmed where no danger existed.
Such was very often the condition of this country.
Every three or four years we had a panic, at which four
or five yearn afterwards all the world laughed. About
1350 there was immense alarm about a gentleman re-
puted to wear red stockings. He did not mean to say
that that gentleman was not a vary alarming personage
—perhaps he was even a man whom many people
would have been afraid to meet in the dark
(laughter)—though he (Mr. Bright) did not know
that he should. (Hear, hear.) But people did not
in the least comprehend what they were alarmed about ;
and they held meetings, got into a fever, and stirred
up strife and religious discord which one hoped had
gone to sleep for ever. Then Parliament passed a little
hill, not worth a single straw, and which was laughed at
by everybody who had anything to do with passing it ;
and so ended that great panic. A year afterwards, there
was a great panic about the French. Lord Aberdeen,
who was then Prime Minister, talking to a friend of his
(Mr. Bright's) said, "You know that such is the state of
public feeling, that if we chose to go down to the House
of Commons, and ask for a vote for 20,0001. more men
for the army, and all the thousands of pounds consequent
thereupon, the house would pass it without a division,
and unanimously ;" although he (Mr. Bright) believed
that there was not a single man in the House of
Commons who had the slightest idea that there was
any danger. But Brighton and the whole southern
coast were alarmed; the present Prime Minister hinted
that 60,000 men might be landed on our shores in a
night; the newspapers talked about the alarming
rate at which the French navy was increasing, about
rail ways being laid to Boulogne and other points on
the coast, by which vast bodies of troops could be
brought down by express trains and shipped on board
vessels that did not exist, and that so this country would
be invaded. Why did the people believe all this ? Be
cause of the twilight in which they were. If they had
known (what he knew) that those men in London
who were making much noise were also making a profit
by the panic—that there was not only no increase in the
French fleet, but that a smaller sum had been voted for
it yearly, from 1843 up to that time, than had been voted
in any year during the reign of the peaceable Louis Phi-
lippe ; if they had known that Louis Napoleon was most
anxious to make an alliance with this country upon any
terms, and at any cost—which he had now made, at the
cost of a war into which he did not want to go, and which
he was now said to be most anxious to get out of—if the
people had known these things they would never have
gone into a panic about a French invasion. But what
was the result ? The Government re-established the
militia—increased the regular forces—added a million
and a half to the expenditure of the country, which
must be raised by taxes ; and all on account of this
foolish and ridiculous notion, which had no founda-
tion whatever. Then there was another panic about
Russia—a most alarming one, that was. He wished he
had a map of Europe there, just to point out a few things.
There were 3,000 miles of country and 50 or GO millions
of people between Russia and this country. There was
the Black Sea at the top, and the Baltic at the bottom ;
and Russia abutted upon them. She had a fleet in each
rea. About 1834, there was a panic lest the Russian
fleet should appear in the Thames on some fine day ; and
our fleet was increased upon that ground. There was
no foundation for the belief, but the increase of the fleet,
and the c ilsequent taxation, remained. At that meet-
ing was neither the time nor the place to go into any
question about the origin or principle of the unhappy
war in which we were now engaged. But there were
two or three facts which were so important, that if they
could be fixed in the minds of the people, he believed
there would soon be more interest taken in matters of
foreign policy. Look at the United States. Their in-
habitants were the same people as ourselves ; the popula-
tion war about equal ours—at the next census it would
probably be a little more. They had large manufac-
tories, although not so large as ours—they had a greater
tonnage of merchant ships, he believed, than we had—
twice, or perhaps three times, as many newspapers—and
representative institutions more complete. They had
vastly more miles of railway—theirrivers were traversed
by gigantic steam boats—and the country presented alto-
gether a pictere of life, activity, and energy, such as had
never before been witnessed on the face of the earth.
America had at this moment certainly not more than
one, if any, line-of-battle sh;p afloat ; she had two or
three frigates ; and there were 10,000 or 12,000 soldiers
in the country as the nucleus of an army. These were her
materials for offence and defence. Yet nobody ever
thought of insulting the United States. Aa American
was as free from violence anywhere abroad as an English-
man; and it was by no means certain that ho was not
much the more sure of redress if insult or violence was
used. There were no people to whom greaterattention was
paid anywhere in Europe than was paid to Americans.
But the policy of the United States was one of never med-
dling with any of the wars or quarrels of Europe. It was a
legacy of their great and illustrious chief, that they should
keep themselves free from all the entanglements of foreign
policy in that respect ; and, almost entirely, they had
done so. We had taken exactly the opposite course. Look
at the condition of the two countries. America had no
national debt whatever; we had an enormous one. People
could not count it; and if anybody pronounced the amount
nobody could understand it. It was called 800 millions
sterling; and no one could tell or conceive what those
words represented. But at any rate we knew this it would
take nearly 100 years' rental of all the land, houses, and
buildings, of every description of valuable property, in
Lancashire and Yorkshire, to make that sum. If every-
thing paid as rent, or valuable as rent, in those two coun-
ties, with 34 millions of population, were absorbed for 100
years, it would about pay off the national debt. In
the United States they had so much money this yearfram
their revenue, that they did not know what do do with
it, and were likely to quarrel because they could not
agree what tax should he taken off next. Their national
debt was about half paid off—it was never large ; ours
was not only not being paid off, but was was rapidly in-
creasing. Each state had its own taxation for its own
government expenses ; and then there was the general
taxation for the expenses of the general government.
Taking all these together, he supposed they would not
amount to more than 12 millions a-year • but say, 15
millions. This year, in this country, with' no more po•
pulation than theirs—our being not nearly so well off,
and they not having a tenth part of our pauperism, ig-
norance, and crime ; he would shut out from considera-
tion that unfortunate and horrible blot upon their system
—not npon their system, for it was rather an accident of
the past—slavery : but with this comparative state of
things, they had raised not more than 12 or 15 millions
sterling, and this country would expend, in all probable
lity, nearly 100 millions. There would be the 56 or 54
millions for ordinary expenditure, and adding the expen-
diture for the war, he had not the smallest doubt that
this country would actually expend this year 80 millions
sterling over the sum which the people of the United
States would expend. They knew the process of
weighing before a race, and what chance a man had in
running with another, if he hadtotakea sack of flour
difference upon his back. A very little in the weight
made a wonderful difference in the endurance of the man
or the horse. He would ask any rational man, let his
sentiments be what they might about the Russian and
the Turk, "Is it possible that these two countriescan go
on—one burdened with this enormous and incredible
ithe
ex-
penditure, and the other almost free from it—and a
wnthd that
n
this country should keep equal in the
United States ?" If we could conceive going on for ten
years, it would exhaust a sum that would appear equal
to reducing this country, to a great extent, to actual
beggary ; while America was continually ascending in
the scale of prosperity. And yet people told us that the
interests of England were concerned in the East !
Why our interests, as far as regarded supremacy, whether
on the sea or in manafactures and commerce were a
thousand fold more engaged in what was now taking
place in the West, to which our statesmen and people
did not seem at all to turn their attention. (Hear.)
Therea,, was no writing it out or taiking it away. Born-
toticeulacdrutriairelyleeas,,feainvtehneeewspapers, the speeches of men anxi-
ous
men r
farmers,
with
who
nconstituents,
he because
e tathought
oeue
eh et r onar
bw-owauh o
it
the shoutingwasst thehigh, nora
-
ter—all could never wipe off this greatg and destroyingm
fact : that 80 millions sterling were paid by the people
of this country—either from their own pockets, or from
capital lent to the government which was never got back
—over and above what was paid by their rivals in the
no
with witcherythe uonf
ts
et ad t esctraat fete,
UnitedgiSvetaeteusr;paeenpdlenoa pcohwaneere,
we that that state of things lasted. It was said to be a
very low consideration to talk about pound; shillings,
arid pence ; but they were the foundation of everything.
What could a man do without food, home, or clothing 1

MARSHAL PELISSIER.

(Front the Examiner.)

eV, .

Was there not seen a great increase of pauperism and '
beggary all over the country. Look at the assizes—the
brutality, the crime, the severity of the punismenta.
Look at the efforts made to get up reformatory insti-
tutions in different parts. All this only showed that
there was a world of work for our benevolent men, our
Government, and our statesmen to do in this country,
which never could be done so long as from 50 to 80 mil-
lions a year shouli be abstracted from the industry of
the country, more than would be necessary if we pursued
a different policy. He was certainly of opinion that every
1001. taken from the people in taxes, more than was ne-
oessary for the honest and faithful good management of
the affairs of the country, provided fur the country a
pauper or a criminal ; and until we could keep more
within ourselves the vast products of our industry, and
apply them to our own advantage, he saw no sort of re-
sult that could come—or at least no considerable result
—from all the efforts made to improve the condition of
tbe country. We sometimes spoke harshly of our fore-
fathers, and thought that if we had lived in their days
we 'should have been wiser than they were—that we
should never have stoned the prophets—and that we
should have at least avoided burdening our posterity to
a degree from which they never could extricate them-
selves. But we appeared to be following the same
course, burdening our posterity, looking after every de-
scription of vague and visionary advantage, and actually
protesting, almost becoming violent with, anybody who
thought it his duty to call in question this policy, and
asked the people to be moderate. At this very moment
there was not the smallest doubt that every power in
Europe, except England, would wish now, after two
years of war, to restore tranquillity to Europe. It was a
fact which he stated, he was sure, from information that
could not be mistaken, that if there should be now a
great probability of the war being carried on for another
campaign or longer, it was owing to the zealous, and al-
most violent, advocacy of further war by the press and by
a portion of the people. Every nation concerned, but Eng-
land, would be in favour of making peace ; but somehow
or other we were so very pugnacious. We were like a
horse that " can't stand corn"—we had had too much
corn for some years, but there was little enough now
—we had grown fat—we had kicked, we had thrown
all the lessons of prudence to the winds ; and while
at this moment he supposed that in France there
was hardly to be found a man who would lift up his
hand in favour of a continuance of the war, yet in
this country, he would not say the majority, but a very
large number no doubt, would be very much disgusted
if it should cease. He thought that one of the objects of
a mechanics' institution should be, not only to teach men,
women, and children all that which was very useful to
them in their own homes—however beautiful and excel-
lent that might be—bat to enable all those who bad
stronger heads and some leisure, to go further into the
examination of questions which affected their interests.
For all the follies of statesmen came home to the hearths
of the labouring classes : and every man, let him talk as
he would of glory, and reputation, and empire, if he all-
stracted the money of those classes, and spent it on ob-
jects which were not moral in themselves, and which
were not essential to the safety of the country, whatever
he called himself, it might be depended upon that be was
a much greater enemy to the comfort of the labouring
classes, and to the prosperity of their children, than the
Russian, the French, the American, or any foreigner
whatsoever. He (Mr. Bright) thought therefore that
whenever working men read in the newsroom or
library of their mechanics' institutions, they
' should study, as far as they were able, these
public questions, and especially such as referred to what
might be called national wealth ; for the waste of na-
tional wealth was the pauperisation of a nation. The
description of literature which treated on those subjects
would be found very advantageous to guide the people
r when amongst rocks and shoals, as at present. They
must beware of this—that newspapers as a rule were not
I guides absolutely to be followed ; because the majority
of newspapers were matters of business, and the editors
and proprietors, of course, wanted to offer to their read-
ers that which they thought their readers would like to
purchase. But putting aside any supposition that editors
and newspaper writers were any worse than other people,
it was quite clear that they had the temptation alluded
to ; and therefore it was far better for people to take
the facts of a newspaper and reason from them for them-
selves, or if they read the reasoning of an editor, they
should never for an instant take it for gospel truth, un-
less they had themselves worked out the question and
made it clear to their own minds. He would men-
tion one point as an illustration. There had been
nothing more common these two years than for the news-
papers to speak of Russia as " a barbaric empire"—as
" that colossal barbarian of the north"—of " those
savages coming from the north to overrun Europe," and
so on. Would it be believed that in the city of St.
Petersburg—a city built in modern times—there was a
library—a public library which had in it 10,000 volumes
more than were in the British Museum (Hear.) He
gave this on the authority of a work he read not long
since—that this library in St. Petersburg was the third
largest in Europe. Take the port of Odessa, which some
queer sort of Christians had been begging the Govern-
ment to destroy—a city only founded 60 years ago. In
1348 that city sent to this country more than five mil-
lion bushels of wheat ; but the country, if it produced
all that, could not be barbarous, could not be savage.
It would be much better, if nations did get to war
with each other, that at any rate those who wrote
and spoke upon the matter should not exaggerate with
malice the shortcomings of their opponents, or at least
should not excite the animosity of their own fel-
low-citizens by statements which were absolutely devoid
of truth. That had been the case to a very great ex-
tent ; but if the working-classes would make themselves
acquainted with the real facts connected wit h Russia,
they would see, probably, that the alarm about Russia
was just as woll founded as those about France and tho
Pope. Those who lived 20 years longer would probably
find the young fellows of that day pushing them in the
ribs and saying, " Why, you were excessively foolish
20 years ago. You went into a war quite as bad as
that French war ; and you added 200 millions to the
national debt. We shouldn't have done that."—(Hear,
hear.) Let us, at any rate, bring up our children so
that they should read and think ; and that, if they ever
got into a war, they should know its definite object,
cost, probable result, and • whether the things to be ob-
tained would at all pay for the charges of blood and trea-
sure that would have to be incurred. (Applause.) Many
present might say that be had no business to go into
this question at all ; but if you had to talk to people, it
was no use talking about what they thought they under-
stood as well as yourself; or about things in which they
felt no interest. He was a politician, unfortunately, and
was obliged to pay attention to this subject as mueh as
the surgeon to anatomy, or the physician to medicine
and that which he bad examined and thought he under-
stood, and in which his audience had a deep interest
could hardly be a question that he could be blamed for
touching upon at some length. If they did not consider
the facts he had stated as to America, it would be found
in a generation or two that a prolongation of this kind
of thing might leave the country in a state of anarchy
and chaos, such as he should not like his children or
grandchildren to be partakers of. (Applause.)
The meeting was afterwards addressed by Capt. Har-
rison and other gentlemen ; and votes of thanks to Mr.
Bright and the chairman were passed.

The French of all parties appear to take greatly to
heart an article in which the Times lately reproached
Marshal Pelissier with haring failed to take due advan-
tage of the capture of Sebastopol. But certainly the
general feeling, after that triumph, was a foreboding
that the Russians would be allowed to escape from the
Crimea ; and when these fears proved more true, the
Russians continuing to hold their position oa the heights
without even an attempt to dislodge them, this impa-
tience became naturally very great, and found expres-
sion in the remarks of our contemporary.
The Journal des Debats publishes a formal answer. It
begins by recapitulating the results of the campaign,
which ate undoubtedly good and satisfactory. It then
undertakes to show that it would have been nothing
short of madness in the allies to attack the forts north
of Sebastopol, either by the mouth of the Belbek, or by
escalading the heights in front of Mackenzie's Farm.
Now, to this it can only be said that no one knows
what would have been the result of an attack on the
Mackenzie heights immediately after the evacuation
of Sebastopol by the Russians, and when they were
demoralised by defeat. We certainly cannot assume
that such an operation must have been success-
ful ; but as little can the Debats declare the cer-
tainty of its failure. The arguments by which the
French writer supports his view, we are obliged to say,
are not of much truth or value. Napoleon, he says,
attacked Mont St. Jean because the approach of the
Prussians did not allow him leisure to turn that
position, and he consequently failed. This is the con-
trary of the fact. Napoleon did in the first instance try
to turn the position of Mont St. Jean ; and it was only
when he failed in turning it that he made the attack in
front, the Prussians not arriving till long after the latter
attempt had been made and repulsed.
The Debats says that strong positions should never
be attacked in front, unless it be impossible to turn
there. Well- the result of the two months' manoeuvres
after the fall of Sebastopol was the discovery that the
Russian position could not be turned. Therefore, and
on the specific ground of the reasoning of the Debate,
this was a position that should have been stormed, and
sooner or later will have to be stormed.
The Times argued that Napoleon did not find the 2d
of December too late in the season to fight the battle of
Austerlitz. The Debate replies that the Russians were the
attacking parties on that occasion. But the whole
campaign of Austerlitz tells for the Times. Mack
surrendered at Ulm on the 19th of October, when a
muchvictoriotouos mi gt
oh t
uhnadveer t
as akied
uh
ratth
et hr e
but Napoleon was not the man to put forward such an
hseciastsiolnitiwesas;
excuse, and he forthwith marched upon Vienna. Nay,
from Vienna he advanced, late in November, into
Moravia. The result was Austerlitz. Had he delayed,
he would have had Prussians as well as Austrians and
Russians to fight, and one battle in the ensuing spring
would not have subjugated and pacified the continent.
It is, however, no reproach to Pelissier that he is not
Napoleon.
The Debuts recounts the efforts made to turn the po-
sition of the Russians in the present instance. Strong
reconnaissances isvre pushed on from Baidar to try the
possibility of turning the Mackenzie lines by the valley
of the Belbek ; but it was soon seen that in advancing
by this route
the army would have had to carry a series
of strong positions, one behind the other, on the road
to Bakshi-Sergi ;
• and in order to turn the second line it
would have been necessary to penetrate into the moun-
tains, as far as the sources of the Katcha, an eccentric
and difficult movement, and of doubtful success.
f MarshalPelissier's The true reason, however, o
re-
solve not to force his way by the Belbek or the Katcha,

was not, we believe, the strength of the enemy's works,
but the dangeriefi extending or dividing the army
in any such operations, during which the Russian
General might have passed down into the valley of
the Tchernaya, cutting through the allied centre,
and exposing that portion of the force which still kept
the heights above Sebastopol to an unequal contest.
Marshal Pelissier declined to move, in short, until
he could do so with his whole army—that is till
the plateau of Sebastopol was cleared of its artillery
and stores ; till Yamiesh was fortified, and the cap-
tured town itself left in such a state as to afford no
advantage in its reoccupation. Sir George Brown
had predicted that its capture would set 90,000 allied
soldiers free. Sir George was utterly wrong. It has
kept 90,000 still occupied, busied, and encumbered
arouni it. By the fault of whom, or whether by the
fault of any, it is now idle to inquire.
The only strong portion of the defence of the Debats, .
therefore, is where describes the Allied army as
not in a state to permit of its entering upon a campaign
immediately after the fall of the town. Great and
laborious tasks chained it for the most part to the camp
during the rest of the autamn. After being kept un-
moved for more than a year in the same place, it
had need of reorganisation to pass from the sta-
tionary to the moveable condition. It had not even
sufficient transport. The siege batteries had to be dis-
mounted, and 700 large guns brought back to Bamiesh
or Balaklava ; 4,000 Russian guns, with immense stores
and ammunition, had also to be removed ; and, finally,
the fortifications of Sebastopol, as well as its dooks, had
effectually to be destroyed, on the resolution being taken
not to keep the place. Two months were insufficient for
such tasks, and when the two months elapsed the armies
were in full winter.
We have recapitulated the chief points in the defence
of the French military writer, and we must hold it, with
this one exception, to be inadequate and unsatisfactory
in its reasoning.

amount of casualties, and therefore a very consi-
derable amount of promotion. The modest and
reasonable demand of the Guards is that they, the
gentlemen of England who live at home at ease,
who avoid all those dangers from climate and bat-
tle which decimate the Line even in times of peace,
shall have the rules of preferment so managed that
their officers shall be promoted at least as rapidly
as men whose lives are constantly jeopardised—not
only in great battles and sieges, such as Chillian-
wallah and Mooltan, but in a service which is per-
petually, though silently, carrying off its victims.
A regiment in the West Indies is fortunate which
does not lose as many men by climate as a crack
corps in the Crimea, and the moderate and reason-
able request of the Guards is, that the influences of
a tropical climate shall be counterbalanced by a
system of favouritism which shall equalise the pro-
motion in London with the promotion in Jamaica.
Let the Guards take their turn in the Antilles, in
India, in Ceylon, and they will probably find that
a Mounted Officer is no longer two years more in
obtaining his rank than a Lieutenant-Colonel in
the Line, and that the slowness of promotion, of
which Prince Albert and the Duke of Cambridge
so pathetically complain, and of which they are
such melancholy instances, has been effectually if
not agreeably remedied.

( From the Times of this day.)
Three Eastern regions are from time to time
spoken of as " the seat of war." In one a disastrous
drama has been just enacted. Amid the bleak
heights of the Armenian mountains an heroic strug-
gle is now concluded. For nearly five months the
defenders of Kars resisted the cannon of a vastly
superior force. Twice they repelled the onset of
the enemy. No event of the war has displayed
more courage and stubborn fortitude ; none has
more called forth the interest and admiration of
the world. But famine has done its work, and
brave men have yielded when honour and their
country's fame were fully satisfied. Kars is now a
Russian position. The earthworks which our gal-
lant countrymen constructed will now shelter de-
termined foes, emulous of the resistance of Sebas-1
topol, and anxious to preserve what they must feel
to be their only conquest. Gumri is now no longer
the advanced post of the Czar ; his armies, though
weakened by their long and dreary bivouac, now
hold a fortress and a district 8,000 feet above the
sea, in a country difficult to approach, and guarded
by the long range of the Soghanly-Dagh from the
attempt of any but a powerful and resolute foe.
These mountains look down on Erzeroum, which
is now the frontier city of the Turks. There is
probably little fear that it will be attacked at such
a season, should a relieving army have had time to
concentrate itself behind the works which were the
especial care of our gallant General Williams. But
it is evident that we know too little of the armies
in these parts to make any conclusion weighty.
Nineteen days have elapsed before the surrender
of Kars has been fully confirmed ; in that time much
may have happened, and of Yelp Paella and his
forces we know almost nothing. On the inland
Asiatic, seat of war we are thus certain but of one
thing—that the Turks have lost an important post,
and that another may be perhaps in danger. Turn-
ing now to the eastern coast of the Euxine, we come
to the head-quarters of the chief Ottoman-General.
His small, ill-fed, ill-clothed army, straggles for 20
miles along the banks of the Ingour. A few ca-
valry in advance, but the General knows that any
movement is impossible with his present force.
The Russians, on the other hand, are said to
be not idle. The fords and passes are held by
an army by no means contemptible, and it can
hardly be doubted that science will be applied to
the strenthening of these positions. Every day
that passes makes Kutais more defensible, and re-
turning spring may find Russian generals firmly
established on more than one line of works, while
new levies may enable them to operate freely i❑ the
province they have conquered, whilst they hold
with pertinacity the roada.which traverse their own
territory.
_

The third and most striking picture is that of
200,000 men encamped on the heights which over-
look a conquered city, watching an enemy which
sullenly throws now and then a shell to break the
stillness which has for three months overspread the
most gigantic battle-field of modern times. Their
labours are suspended ; preparations for comfort
or amusement occupy all, from the general to the
private ; the daily historian of the war announces
that he has little to tell. We will not discuss the
generalship of the commanders, or compare a cam-
paign of our own times with Austerlitz and Eylau,
and the other deeds of the giants who are gone.
We will accept the doctrine that prudence is the
chief of military virtues, and that those who have
gained laurels have a right to rest on them for a
season. We will presume that in April much may
be easy, which was impossible in September. The
campaign in the Crimea has closed, and it is
useless to regret the past. But we cuinot think of
those vast armies, those miles of tents which cover
valley and plateau, those thousands of mules and
horses, those tons of corn and meat and hay, those
piles of ammunition, those fleets of mighty trans-
ports, without comparing all this plenty with the
destitute condition of the poor Ottoman army, to
which, as in mockery, has been committed the safety
of half the Sultan's empire. There are the right
men and the right materials for war, but are they
in the right place ? Surely, of the inactive thou-
sands before Sebastopol a few might be spared for
service on another field. For the fall of Kars there
are statesmen and generals who owe a strict account.
A strong position is in the hands of the enemy, a
Bash-
kir. ovini‘cleainsy a bravooverrui bmyantheraCaoyssbaeckdaenstdintehde
tBo afsahll-
before the abandoned city be wrested from the in-
vader. The name of Mouravieff is probably now
repeated with awe by the Persian and Affghan ;
the moral lesson of Sebastopol must again be sternly
taught. But there will be a still greater responsi-
bility if after such a warning the Czar be allowed
to confirm and extend his triumph. Omer Pasha
has landed on the Abasian coast to enforce the
enemy's retreat by a march on his own territory.
The policy of the measure may be doubted, but
it is an accomplished fact, and nothing remains
but to persevere in what has been begun. It
is proved that the General is without means
it is proved that the Seraskier and his col-
leagues are unable to supply their only com-
mander with the first necessaries of a campaign.
The Turkish army is small, it is without resources,
on an inhospitable coast, and winter has set in.
The histories of the Danube and Balaklava may be
repeated in a third winter. The Ottoman is hardy
and patient, he requires little, and submits uncom-
plainingly where European troops would lose heart
and discipline. Bub no strength or devotion can
resist accumulated trials. Unless the Turkish
General receive assistance he may not only be un-
able to vanquish the enemy's army, but ho may
lose his own. In spite of the successes of their
allies, the Turks have suffered greatly in the pre-
seat war. We hardly darn estimate the numbers
who have disappeared in the two years' contest.
Omer Pasha now commands the last body of the
Sultan's troops which can be depended on for active
warfare. Though bravo and obedient, these must
be dejected by the calamities of their race, and
especially by the news which has just reached them.
It is a dangerous and even a guilty policy to leave
them alone and unsupported even for a season.
There can be but one conclusion from the facts
we have stated. A force from the allied camp
should be at once sent to join in the Asiatic war.
The importance of a Christian corps in these
regions has been often urged. The inhabitants
may dislike the Russians, but they most certainly
dread the Mussulmax. It is not to be doubted
that politically the presence of a British or French
division would have most beneficial re ults. But
even these ulterior advantages are small compared
with the importance of succouring the neglected
Turks, carrying out the long looked for advance,
and by a bold inroad rousing the enemy from a
dream of conquest to the hasty and unready de-
fence of their most valued province. Those regi-
ments which suffered most in the late contest may
well remain to recruit their exhausted ranks ; but
there are surely troops enough in the East to fur-
nish 10,000 men for an Asiatic campaign. There
are also Generals of Division in the two armies
who might wisely be trusted with an independent
command, and military genius might be called
forth which has been hidden during the dreary
routine of an eleven months' cannonade. The
time has came for such a course, and it may soon
be past. If we leave the enemy to enjoy andim-
prove his triumph, the labours of the future may
bo long and its success incomplete.

THE WESTMINSTER PLAY.—The third and last repre-
sentation of the Phormio was given last night by the
alumni of Westminster. There was the same full
audience as on the former nights, and the same disposi-
tion to enjoy the salient points of the play. The young
histrios also read more into the comic spirit of the situa-
tions and language with each repetition. The company
last night included M. Musurus, the Turkish Ambassa
dor, and Madame Musurus, the Earl of Devon, the Bev.
Dean Milman, Dr. Colquhoun, Mr. Darby, &c.
[ADYERTISEMENT.]—HoIIoway's Pills admirablyadapt•
ed for Curing Diseases Incidental to Females.—At
different periods of lite women are subject to complaints
which require a peculiar medicine, and it is now an in-
di,putable fact that there is none so suitable for com-
plaints of this nature as Holloway's Pills, Their puri-
fying qualities render them invaluable to females at all
ages. They are searching and cleansing, and yet invi-
gorating; a few doses will speedily remove every species
of irregularity in the system, and thereby establish health
on a sound and firm basis. As a family medicine these
pills are the most valuable aperient ever composed.—
Sold by all medicine vendors, and at Professor Hollo-
way's establishments, 244, Strand, Temple-bar ; sad 30,
Madela-lane, New York
A

BANK RETURNS. i Sporting Intelligence.

An Account, pursuant to the Act seventh and eighth
Victoria, cap. 32, of the Ayerage Amount of Bank
Notes of the several Bank■ of Issue in England and
Wales, in Circulation during the Week ending Satur-
day, tho Ist day of December, 1855 :
PRIVATE BANKS.
Andover Bank, Andover—Heath and Co.
Ashford Bank, Ashford—Jemmitt and Pomfret
Aylsham Bank, Aylsham—G. and T. Copeman
Aylesbury Old Bank, Aylesbury—Z. D. Hunt
Baldock Bank and Baldock and Biggleswade
Bank, Baldock—Wells, Hogge, and Co
Barnstaple Bank, Barnstaple—Marshall and Co
Basingstoke and Odiham Bank, Basingstoke—.
Seymour, Lamb, and Co.
3edford Bank, Bedford—T. Barnard and Sons
Bewdley Bank, Bewdloy Nichols, Baker,
and Co
Bicester and Oxfordshire Bank and Oxford
Bank, Bicester—H. M. and G. Tubb
Birmingham Bank, Birmingham - -Attwoods,
Spooner, and Co
Birmingham and Warwickshire Bank, Bir-
mingham—J. L. Moilliet and Sons
Blandford Bank, Blandford—Oak and Co.
Boston Bank, Boston—Garfit and Co
Boston Bank, Boston—H. and T. Gee and Co
Bridgwater Bank, Bridgwater—J. and J. L
Sealey
Bristol Bank, Bristol—Miles, Miles, and C 0...
Broseley and Bridgnorth and Bridgnorth anel
Broseley Bank, Broseley—Pritchards, Boy-
cott, and Co
Buckingham Bank, Buckingham—Bartlett, Par-
rott, and Co.
Bury and Suffolk Bank, Sudbury Bank, and
Stowmarket Bank, Bury St. Edmunds—
Oakes, Bevan, and Co.
Banbury Bank, Banbury Gillet, Tawney,
and Co.
Banbury Old Bank, Banbury—Cobb and Son
Bath City Bank, Bath- -G. Moger and Son
Bedfordshire Leighton Buzzard Bank, Leighton
Buzzard—Bassett, Grant, and Co
Birmingham Bank, Birmingham—Taylor and
Lloyds
Bradford Old Bank, Bradford, Yorkshire—H
A. and W. M. Harris and Co.
Brecon Old Bank, Brecon—Wilkins and Co
Brighton Union Bank, Brighton-2UI, West,
and Barrer
Burlington and Driffield Bank, Burlington—
Hardmg, Smith, and Co
Bury St. Edmunds Bank, Bury St. Edmunds—
J. Worlledge
Cambridge Bank, Cambridge—Mortlock & Co
Cambridge and Cambridgeshire Bank, Cam-
bridge—Messrs. Fosters
Canterbury Bank, Canterbury—Hammond and
Co
Carmarthen Bank, Carmarthen—David Morris

Average
Amount.
10,011
9,465
3,947
33,542

35,503
9,553

21,595
30,729

10,627

13,945

23,033

8,649
7,080
74,120
14,869

7,390
35,823

17,512

25,273

68,526

35,462
28,272
2,159

TATTE RSA LL'S-MONDAT.

Country Markets.

CHELMSFORD-Dn. 14.

86,222

Barley
Chevalier
Grinding
Malt

Chevalier._

31,875

12,615
64,744

16,295

Oats,
Peas,

•:,I•
12 ---'

4

12,5E7

2,895
16,514

Colchester .
Harwich
Leigh
Mallon

1220' 120 640
627 365 i 719
785 149;, -
2188' 14(Y -

49,131

COLCHESTER- DEC. 15.

34,518

and Sons
Chertsey Bank, Chertsey—La Costa and Son
Colchester Bank, Colchester—Round & Green
Colchester and Essex Bank, and Witham and
Essex Bank, and Hadleigh, Suffolk, Bank,
Colchester—Mills, Bawtree, and Co
Cornish Bank, Truro—Tweedy and Co
Coventry Bank, Coventry—Little & Woodcock
City Bank, Exeter—Milford and Co
Craven Bank, Settle—Alcocks, Birkbecks, and
Co
Cardiff Bank, Cardiff—Towgood and Co
Chepstow Old Bank, Chepstow Bank, Mon-
mouth Old Bank, Monmouth Bank, Brecon
Bank, and Ross and Herefordshire Bank,
Chepstow—Bromage, Snead, and Co
Derby Bank, Derby—W. and S. Evans & Co
Derby Bank, Derby—Samuel Smith and Co
Derby Old Bank and Scarsdale and High Peak
Bank, Derby—Crompton, Newton, and Co
Devizes and Wiltshire Bank, Devizes—Locke
and Co
Dies Bank, Diss—Oakes, Fincham, and Co
Doncaster Bank and Retford Bank, Doncaster
—Cocks and Co
Darlington Bank, Durham Bank, and Stockton
on-Tees Bank, Darlington—Backhouse & Co
Devonport Bank, Devonport— Hodge and Ca
Dorchester Old Bank and Dorsetshire Bank,
Dorchester—R. and H. Williams
East Cornwall Bank, Liskeard—Robins, Fos-
ter, and Co
East Riding Bank, Beverley—Bower and Co
Essex Bank and Bishop's Stortford Bank
Chelmsford—Sparrow Round, and Co
Exeter Bank, Exeter—Sanders and Co
Fakenham Bank, Fakenham—Gurneys, Birk
beck, and Co
Farringdon Bank and Bank of Wantage, Far-
ringdon—Barnes, Medley, and Co
Farnham Bank, Farnham - Messrs Knight
Faversham Bank, Faversham—Hilton and Co
Godalming Bank, Godalming—Mellersh and
Keen
Guildford Bank, Guildford—Messrs. Haydon
Grantham Bank, Grantham—Hardy and Co
Hastings Old Bank, Hastings—Smith, Hilder,
and Co.
Hereford City and County Bank, Hereford--
Matthews and Co.
Hertford and Ware Bank, Hertford—S. Adams
and Co.
Hull Bank and Kingston-upon-Hull Bank,
Hull, Smith, Brothers, and Co.
Huntingdon Town and County Bank, Hunting-
don—Rust and Veaseys
Harwichlßank, Harwich—Cox, Cobbold, and
Co.
Hemel Hempstead Bank, Hemel Hempstead
—Smith and Whittingstall
Hertfordshire, Hitchin Bank, Hitchin
Sharpies, and Co.
Hereford, Ross and Archenfield Bank, and
Ross and Archenfield Bank. Hereford—
Morgan and Co
Ipswich Bank, Ipswich—Bacon and Co.
Ipswich and Needham Market Bank, Suffolk,
Hadleigh Bank, Manningtree and Mistley
Bank, and Woodbridge Bank, Ipswich—
Alexamiers and Co.
Kentish Bank, Maidstone—Mercer, Randall,
and Co.
Kington and Radnorshire Bank, Kington—
Davies and Co.
Knighton Bank, Knighton—Davies and Co
Knaresborough Old Bank and Ripon Old Bank,
Knaresborough—Harrison and Co
Kendal Bank, Kendal—Wakefield, Crewdeon,
and Co.
Kettering Bank, Kettering—J. C. Gotch and
Sons
Lane End Staffordshire Bank, Lane End—C
Harvey and Son
Leeds Bank, Leeds—Beckett and Co.
Leeds Union Bank, Leeds—W. Williams,
Brown and Co.
Leicester Bank, Leicester—Pagets and Kirby,
Lewes Old Bank, Lewes—Molineux and C 0...
Lichfield Bank, Lichfield—Palmer and Greene
Lincoln Bank, Lincoln—Smith, Ellison, and Co.
Llandovery Bank, Lampeter Bank, and Llan-
dilo Bank, Llandovery—D. Jones and C 0...
Loughborough Bank, Loughborough—Middle-
ton and Cradock
Lymington Bank, Lymington—St. Barb, and
Co. ....................................................
Lynn Regis and Lincolnshire Bank, Lynn
Regis—Gurneys and Co
Lynn Regis and Norfolk Bank, Lynn Regis—
Jarvis and Co
Macclesfield Bank, Macclesfield—Brocklehurst
and Co.
Manningtree Bank, Manningtree—Nunn and
Co.
Marlborough Bank, Marlborough and Wilts
Old Bank, Marlborough Old Bank, Marl-
borough Old Bank and Hungerford Bank,
and Hungerford Bank, Marlborough—Tan-
ner and Co
Merionethshire Bank, Dolgelly—Williams and
Son
Miners' Bank, Truro—Willyams and Co
Monmouthshire Agricultural and Commercial
Bank, Abergavenny—Bailey and Co
Monmouth Cld Bank, Monmouth Bank, Bre-
con Bank, Chepstow Bank, Chepstow Old
Bank, and Ross and Herefordshire Bank,
Monmouth—Bromage, Snead, and Co 15,632
Newark Bank, Newark—Godfrey and Riddell 26,2511
Newark and Sleaford Bank, and Sleaford and
Newark Bank, Sleaford—Handley, Peacock,
and C 0...

22,671
0,229
16,405

33,637
45,881
6,571
18,207

72,140

9.953
10,291
37,322

25,793

8,185
10,295

t;osforth

77,535

85,420
7,853

IRA BORN 1( (WA

43,578

87,553
52,160

49,520
23,472

6,475
13,697
6,244

4,545
13,894
28,445

35,625

19,405

21,355

20,670

55,405

5,215

24,830

56,64

24,439
21,62,

68,700

17,183

25,801

21,615

40,745

9,052

5,194
62,710

87,026
30,366
30,549
8,474
94,264

25,847

7,317

3,985

36,579

11,992

12,180

8,02

0,172
16,602

25,593

48,294

Newbury Bank, Newbury—Bunny & Slocock 18,56
Newmarklt Bank, Newmarket—Eaton, Ham-
mond, and Co ,O
Norwich Crown Bank and Norfolk and Suffolk
Bank, Norwich—Harveys and Hudsons 10,168
Norwich and Norfolk Bank, Norwich—Gur-
neys and Birkbeck
$7,745
Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Bank, Not-
tingham, Hart, Fellows, and C 0..., 10,300
Nuneaton Bank, Nuneaton—Craddock and Co 2,911
Naval Bank, Plymouth, Plymouth—Harris
and Co. .
New Sarum Bank, Sarum—Everett and Cs._ 10,543
Nottingham Bank, Nottingham—Samuel Smith
and Co.
Oswestry Bank and Oswestry Old Bank, Os-
westry—Croxon and Co
Oxford Old Bank, Oxford—Robinson, Parsons,
and Co.
81,000
Old Bank, Tonbridge, Tonbridge and Ton-
bridge Wells Old Bank, Tonbridge and Ton-
bridge Wells and Sevenoaks Bank, Ten-
bridge--T. H. and S. Beeching
Oxfordshire Witney Bank, Witney—J. W
Clinch and Co.
?ease's Old Bank, Hull, the Hull Old Bank
and Beverley Bank, Hull—Pease and Co 47,851
Penzance Bank, Penzance—Batten and Co. 10,13 e
Peterborough Bank, and Ounelle Bank, Peter-
borough--D. Yorke and Co.
Pembrokeshire Bank, Haverfordwest—J. and
W. Walters 12,020
Reading Bank, Reading—Simonds and Co..— 11,40
Reading Bank, Reading—Stephens, Blandy,
and Co.
Richmond Bank, Richmond—Raper and Co 11,586
Rochdale Bank Roal—Clement, Royels,
and C 0.................................................
Rochester, Chatham, and Strood Bank, Rohes-
ter—Day and Nicholson .. 7,665
Royston Bank, Roysten—Fordham and lens 14,281
Rugby Basic, Rugby—A. Butlin sail gam...... 8591
Rye lank, fte-1011. r rasa* and S ..... ,10 ri2
1

20,356

28,982

10,240

11,47.!

3,395

4,360

The room was thinly attended, many of the members
having left town for the Wolverhampton race meeting.
The early part of the afternoon was chiefly occupied
in discussing the painful subject of the death of Mr. J.
P. Cooke, better known on the turf as Mr. Pell, the
owner of Pole Star. A very strong sensation was ex-
cited by the coroner's inquest having resulted in a ver-
dict that "the decessed came by his death in conse-
quence of poison wilfully administered to him byWilliana
Palmer," a person who has for several years been well
known in sporting circles.
During the remainder of the afternoon little disposition
Was manifested to transact business on coming events.
The quotations at the close were as follows :
CHESTER CUP.
1000 to 30 agst Coroner (taken)
THE Two THOUSAND.
7to 2 agat Fly-by-Night (taken to 251.)
DEBBY.
Bto 1 en The Field (offered)
10 to 1 agat Ellington (taken to 1001.)
14 to 1 aget Yellow Jack (taken to 251.)
17 to 1 agat Rogerthorpe (taken to 251.)
20 to 1 agst Artillery (offered)
20 to 1 aget Porto Rico (offered)
33 to 1 aget Sugar Plum (offered)

A large supply of all kinds of grain. Wheat met a dull
sale at a reduction of from 2s to 38 per qr. ; a similar re-
duction was submitted to on barley ; and peas, beans, and
oath were worth is per qr. less than last week.
Wheat, white, old, per s. s.
qr. 72 84
new 71 83
old 65 83
new 63 78
31 39
33 42
23 35
72 76
76 80

per qr
Partridge
White

Boiling

Dun — 4 O 4O
Beans, Tick 42
Harrow ticks 45
Mazagan 40
Ditto, new 41

Official Statement of the Quantities of Corn, &a
in the port of London, from the following p
the lOtk to the 15th Dec., both inclusive.

15
64 24
- - 59
134

, received
)rte, from

A fair supply of wheat ; the best samples realised last
week's prices, and middling is to 2s per qr. cheaper. The
supply of barley was good, and all but the finest qualities
were 2s lower. Beaus and peas is cheaper.
Prices to-daywere as follow ;—Wheat, white, 84s to Us;
red, 80s to 84s ; barley, 38s to 44s ; oats, 28s to 344 ; beans
litazagan, 46s to 483 ; middle and small, 50s to 565; pens,
white, 56s to 58s ; grey, 46s to 489.

COAL MARKS
Prins of Coal per ton at t
e. d.!
Byass's West Hartley lB 31 41. (I•
Chester Main 13 0!Belmont 20 6
Holywcll lB 31 Framwellgate 2O 0
Howard's West Hartley Lam bton 22 6
Netherton 18 0 Cassop 20 9
Tanfield Nfoor l7 3 Hartlepool 22 3
Tanfield Moor Butes 17 3 Heugh Hall 2O 6
West Felton l7 0 Kelloe 2l 6
South Hartlepool 2l 6
WANOIId, &e. Tees 22 6
Acorn Close 2O 0 Whitworth lB 6
Eden
.21 6 Evenwood ... .18 6

:T.—Dso. 17.
;be close at the market.

.20 0 Carr's 'Korth- ,23 6

nyr•.
Flm.ton
fledley .. l9 9'South Hatton 22 w
Bell 20 61

Ships at market._ 95 I Sold .... .4.

• N 41grunee Met Lae mall. arty aent cram the General Post odr•
the night—and M by the rnernma-4eapatch.)

liay
11,11.1,110, From witillen
JOU.NTRIkt. in General Poe Port du in,
Office, London." Ofspatehc lane•
amerlca(bylirit.pack)N Eve7ytrida, ----Liverpool Dec, 17
..merice.kby United Ste.
packet) ..........N •• • Liverpool Dee. 14
• morica (by U States
packet) .......... N `• •• •• .••• • •18041thamptii. Dee. 18
Australia (via South-
ampton) , -•" • • • • Southanspto!,
.dtto (via Marseilles) Ni
litto (via Cape of Good
Mee) I •• UncerIAIS
title* (Welt Coast) of the mouth •• Plymouth .. Dee. fi
„Nih, 9, 24, &30of II . Dover „
& 20th of mon. Southampton
Bahamas of the month Southampton
delgium ......... .. NI • • ••••• • • • • Dover ...... Daily
Brazil of the month Southampt el, Jan. IS
Buenos Ayres i9th of the month , Soncluilm• ton Jai. IS
Cape of Good Dope N I Various port. Una rtSlll
Cape of Good Dope ..NI
:•iare de Verde 9th of the month southarnpton Jan. lb
Ceylon (see India)
Ceylon
Channel 151e5.... ...N., Mon.,Wed.,&Frld• Southampton Tu.Th.SII
Chili.. . .......... „rid I3d & 17th of montl.lsouthamptot.
China I Once a month.... Jan. 4
Constantinople
.8,13,18,28,&28 of ni Dover ......
Constantinople ith & 20th of mon. Southampton
Cont. of Europe M & N Twice daily ...... Dover ...... Twieedall
Egypt (see India)
France ........ M & NiTvrice daily .• • • Dover ...... Twleedgin
Gibraltar T.D. 20, 27 ..,fm Southampton
Greece (see India)
Greytown ........ „Id i2nd & 17th of mon. Southampton
itamburgh & Friday London .....
a„,nnah
..........m!2nd of the month Sou thampten,Dec. 16.
Holland • • • • • • • • • • • . D0ver....... Gaily
Honduras 117 t ,the month. /Southampton IfithohnOn
India (viaSouthampt.)mkth c 20th of mon. Plymouth .. Dcc. 20
India (via Marseilles)M 9th&2sth of Month Dover ......
1
lonian tales (see India) 7.7, & 27 of mon D0ver......
Ireland ........M !Twice daily Holy head ... Twieedan
Lisbon kll7, 0. 17. & 27 of ui. Southampton Jan. 15
Madeira of the month Southampton
Madeira „ s 23d of month • . Liverpool ...
Malta (see India)
Malta 8, 18, &28 of mon. Dove ...... Dec. 10
Mauritius (see India)
Nfauritio, 14th of the month
Mexico 2nd of the montt.,'Soathampten Dem 16
Naples •
........N,sthlbth2bthamon. Dover ......
?cow Granadaa ml2l & 17th of month Southampton
New Zealand By Private sl Ip Various port. Hacertfill
Papal States - Isthlsth2sthonnon. Dover ......
Peninsula •fthl7th27thofinon. soutoimiphr
Pori, M 111 & 27th of mon. southamptcr.
Port Natal .▪
.........N •ily private ship...lVarious ports UnClertia
NiSthlSth2sthofmon,iDover
Tuscany i9th2sthofmon. Dover ......
ienezuele 2d & 17th ofmonth,iouthainptor, 1 &lemon
'Jan Diemen's Land (see
kustralia)
We,i Indies •.•••_MV,* t7tho, moot,' 'Southampton)! &16 mOO

SouthauripteD

I &111 mOO

When any of these dates fall on a Sunday, tho malls will ne de'
patched on the following day, with the exception of the milt, CO
iouthampton), and the Malta, both .f which will be despatrh•d tl
preceding day

THE HOUSE OF ELmoto : A FAMILY HiaroßY.---
There is great origivrtlity in this novel, as well as great
power. "The House of Elmore" is a thoroughly sue'
ceseful work. Our admiration is extorted by the strong
feeling of the book, by the familiarity it displays with
the subtleties and depths of hum' n nature, by its wealth
of incident, the point and spirit of its dialogue, the
graphic matter thrown in the back ground of every
scene. A few of the situations are certainly melo-drama'
tic, but not more melo-dramatic than many in the work
or our moat favoured novelists. But the strongest
Praise we can give to "The House of Elmore" is to se I
that from the first chanter to the last it excites a pro-
found interest."—Sunday Times.
RACHEL GHAT. BY JULIA KAYANAGH. 1 VOL.."'
This new t.le from the charming pen of Miss Kavanagh
will be heartily welcomed by readers of all classes as nne
of the most attractive books of the Christmas awn"'
Some of the characters of the story are new to the world
of fiction, but all of them as old as human nature. The
narrative moves on with a quiet resistless force, which
acts as a spell upon the reader, and fills us with a desire,
as in a dream, to rise to take our part in the draw*
which is being acted around us. Rachel Gray herself,
her terrible father, little Mary and her papa, and the
wonderful Frenchwoman who fills an under-ground
cellar with the atmosphere of Parisian gaiety, are a fest
of the personages who live in these pages and call forth
smiles and tears from young and old. "Rachel Gray"
is a sweet tale of human life, as full of bright lights and
rich shadows as a fire-lit room at Christmas-tide.