The Sun.
London, England, 1864-06-24 00:00:00

MR. RUPERT SMITH.

A smiling, fastidious, playful dandy—the youngest
member of that last school of dandyism which, in 1846,
was a protest against the ludicrous vulgarities of the
"gents," and the offensive coarseness of the "fast men,"
and which died out soon after the extinction of its founder
and brightest ornament, Court d'Orsay—Rupert was
always well and expensively apparelled; and as he now
sat in his friend's easy chair, he was dressed in a style
which would have made any Mayfair tailor glad to point
him out as a customer. Every detail of his costume was
in keeping with its principal ingredients. In his long,
blue frock-coat—a garment which no young man of 1864
would think of wearing except at his wedding—light
waistcoat, shirt front of finest linen and spotless
wkiteness, lavender trousers, natty boots, glossy silk
tat, filmy kid gloves, and slender cane, there was no
fault of shortcoming or exaggeration on which the keenest
critic of such important matters could have fixed. But
notwithstanding the elaborateness and finish of Mr. Rupert's
dandyism, he did not strike the observer as one who ex-
pended care on personal decoration, because he had no
powers which could have been exercised with effect in other
directions. At a glance it was manifest that the words
" mere coxcomb" could not be justly applied to him. There
was power expressed in his well-shaped, closely-trimmed
head; brightness of intellect in his merry, restless blue
eyes; mirth in his thin, flexible lips, betwixt which the
smooth, white teeth were rather too conspicuous; and im
perturbable good humour in the smile which played over
his comely face, of which the scented whiskers were periodi-
cally pointed and curled by the most accomplished artist
in Trudit's establishment.

We will not give a fragment of the portrait of the
M.P., that must be studied at full length in the
pages of this truthful narrative. In the closir.f.;
volume readers will be surprised to find, in the
fracas in Cecil-street, a repetition of the famous
encounter which actually took place in Northum-
berland-street some short time back—one of those
romantic incidents of real life which seem to justify
the extravagance of the sensationalist. But Mr.
Jeaffreson, although he is inclining towards that
style, is more than a mere sensation writer. There
is thought, and power, and feeling in his writings,
and his style is very natural and very delightful.
With all its imperfections, "Not Dcad Yet" will be
read and remembered with interest, and will in no
insignificant degree enhance the reputation already
attained by its author.

THE HAY AND TURNIP CROPS IN YORICSIIIRE.
The hay harvest is just commencing in this county,
and on the whole promises to be excellent. The late showers
have prevented a general start being made, but have greatly
benefited the undergrowth, which will add much to the
general yield. With fine weather the scythe will be fully
employed next week. The turnip crop has failed in many
districts, owing to the attacks of the fly, and upon the most
sheltered situations farmers have been obliged to sow a
second crop. The great failure has been among the early
sown Swedes, which had been replaced by a secod sowingy
of white fleshed kinds. All corn crops look remarkably
well, and the wheat is now shot into full ear, promising a
good and very early harvest.

LOSS OF FIFTY LIVES THROUGH THE BURNING
OF It STEAMER.—lntelligence was received in Liver-
pool yesterday, by the Canadian mail steamer, of the de-
struction by fire of the splendid Now York river steamer
Berkshire. The intelligence comes via Now York, and is
dated June 9, The despatch says :—" The steamer Berk-
e was burned on Esops Island, eight miles below Rou •
dout. The fire originated in the lamp room, caused by the
explosion of a lamp. The steamer had about 150 passengers.
A strong south wind blew the flames aft, preventing many
of the passengers from going forward. She was grounded
with only four feet cf water at the beam. Forty or fifty
passe gers are suppes,d to be lost, The boat was :Atilt only
six wcelis ago. Sl,.e was Mt nisti diu splendid style. Tue
hull was burned to the water's edges The boat WU valued
at 100,000 dvls. Fully iusurcd,