The Sun.
London, England, 1863-10-01 00:00:00

ARMY CONTRACTS.

TENDERS will be received at this Office until
12 o'clock noon on the 3d of October, from persons who
may be willing to enter into Contracts to supply
FORAGE AND PAILLASSE STRAW,
In such quantities as may be required, for the use of Tier
Majesty's Land Forces stationed In the following places,
from Ist November, 1863, to 31st October, 1864 :

FORAGE.
1. Hycle-pa,k, Kensington, Regent's-park, and Horse
Guards.
2. Hounslow and Kneller Hall.
3. Hampton Court.
4. Windsor.
5. Brighton.
6. Sandhurst.
7. Enfield.

PAILLASSE STRAW.
I. Brompton House, Hyde-park, and Kensington.
2. Regent's-park, St. John's-wood, and Portman-stree
Barracks.
3. New Barracks, Chelsea.
4. Wellington and St. George's Barracks.
5. The Tower.
6. Ithimslow and Tineller Hall
7. ITam r,ton Court
S. WindA,,r.

9. Brighton, with Coast Forts from Newhaven to Shore-
ham.
10. Croydon.
Separate Tenders must be made for Forage and for Pail-
asse Straw for each of the above-mentioned Stations or Bar-
racks as groupei and numbered.
Forms of Tender and Conditions of Contract may be ob-
tained on application at this office, by letter or in person,
between the hours of 10 and. 4 o'clock.
Tenders on she printed forms must be properly filled up
and slimed, and no Tender will be noticed unless delivered
at the under-mentioned Office, under closed envelope (marked
on the outside " Tender for ommtssariat Supplies "), before
12 o'clock noon on the 3d October next.
(Signed) W. T. POWER,
Commissary-G eneral.
Deputy Commissary.-General's Office,
5. New-street, 'spring-gardens,
London, S.W., 10th Sept., 1863.

MAGAZINE DAY,

BLACKWOOD.—A new tale is commenced in this
number, called " Tony Butler." It promises to illus-
trate some peculiar shades of character with great
nicety and exactness. We have a variety of diffe-

rent personages introduced. There is, first of all,
the widow Butler, who is rather a stern dame, for
all her seclusion and apparent unwillingness to obtrude on
the society of her then superiors in society. Tony, the hero,
is nothing very wonderful as yet ; but he at least appears
conscious of his defects, for he often bitterly laments his
ignorance and the inability he feels to repair his want of
knowledge and cultivation. There is " a very fine gentle-
man, indeed," who comes down to overwhelm the rustics

with his town impertinence and insufferable assumption,
and his infatuated adorer, a younger son of the
_great house
he visits, who copies his airs at second-hand, and com-
mences On poor Tony, who wisely beats a retreat. This
narrative will probably introduce us to some curious
sketches of life and manners in its continuous course.
" Caxtoniana" is concluded in this month's instalment. It

has now been going on for some time, and has furnished in
its course ample opportunity for the speculation of the philo-

gophic mind in its abstruse subjects, while its lighter pic-
tures have represented society under many brilliant aspects.
Altogether, this series of essays will doubtless prove a popu-
lar one, and be taken up t' beguile the leisure hour, or to
occupy the studious moments of the general reader, who
wishes to have something between deep reading and ro•

mance. "Sheridan Knowles"li the title of a paper that
presents us with a very fair sketch of the peculiarities of
that well-known dramatic writer. It is truly stated that
not the partiality of a friend, or the partisanship of a bio-
grapher, can induce one to represent the "dramatic works
of Sheridan Knowles as having any title to a permanent
place in the literature of England." This is very correct
criticism, and so also is the judgment presently expressed
regarding the plays, which at all events have made his
name famous in this generation. A plain, unvarnished
testimony to a man's merits is of more worth and weight
than a whole tissue of fulsome adulation, that disgusts
friends, and makes foes doubly intolerant. Amongst
his good qualities are ranked Sheridan Knowles's
industry and perseverance; and most fittingly does
his critic take leave of him in these words:—
"Peace be with him ; earnestly, vigorously, not altogether
unsuccessfully did our dramatist work at his calling. If we
cannot crown him with immortal laurel, we part from him
with kindly thoughts and honest respect for his memory."
" The Perpetual Curate," is not so interesting as usual in
this number, the fortunes of Frank are dropped for the
time to take up the course of the brilliant but erratic Gerald.
On the principle that one trouble drives another out of our
heads, this precipitate journey of the Curate may be of ser-
vice to him, for he finds his brother's household even more
perplexed and unhappy than his own solitary existence had
of late become. One of the most interesting articles is that
entitled •' Harrow School." It is a most interesting
paper, and may furnish information to many readers, with
which they were doubtless before unacquainted. John
Lyon, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, sat up a grammar
school in his native parish. The intentions of this honest
yeoman were that a liberal education should be imparted
to the scholars of his institution, but it is said here his most
sanguine hop es could hardly have foreshadowed the day when
it should be thronged by the young aristocracy of England.
Then follows a long account of the changes that have taken
place in the school as to size and arrangements since those
early days when it was first planned. The account winds
up with the just remark that if a boy is not happy at Har-
row it must be his own fault. A very impressive pas-
sage refers to the erection of the "Crimean Aisle as the
tribute of old schoolfellows and friends, to the memory of
those who fell in the Russian war." The six stained win-
dows bear underneath the names and rank of those 22 Har-
row men, who fought their last fight there. Of them it
was said in Dr. Vaughan's address, when the first stone
was laid by Sir F. Williams, of Kars, "Their bodies are
buried in a far land, but their names live in their old school
for evermore." We meet with some verses on the sugges7

tive subject of "Amen, in the Cathedral, St. Andrews."
They are appropriately written, and breathe throughout a
spirit of melancholy and an earnest faith that are fitted to
the subject. A long article on "Gold, and Social Politics,"
concludes this number. It enters at length into the ques-
tion in its various bearings, and expresses a conviction that
the " Gold Discoveries" have conferred a boon upon the
world, and specially mitigated the effects of the cotton
famine.

FRASER.—The existing relations between Eng-
land and America are the subject of a lengthened
and thoughtful paper. The writer goes thoroughly
into the merits of the case, and examines the argu-
ments brought forward on behalf of each side,
arriving at last at the conclusion that we 'should
" be perfectly neutral, be civil to each party, and sympa-
thise fully with neither." To this state of mind he appears
to have brought himself, and there is much truth and sense
in what he says, though we cannot coincide in all his opi-
nions. For instance, he says, that if we admit the prin-
ciple that whenever a large body of men chose to withdraw
themselves from the control of a given Government they
have a right to do so, we not only give the South a right to
repudiate the North, but we give New York city a right to
secede from the State of New York, or Westminster from
London. The cases are entirely distinct, and the United
States by their very name are a band of equal Confederates
not governed and governors. It is certainly consistent
with reason and justice that an association so formed can
be disbanded at the will of the contracting parties. The
North, he says, stands on solid ground when fighting for
the enforcement of the Constitution, and there is an end of
all transactions between man and man if express agreements
are not to be enforced. On such reasoning we might as
well say that every proposal to dissolve a civil partnership
should be resisted by law I The case is more truly stated
in a sentence quoted by the writer himself from a speech
made by a member of the American Senate 20 years ago
—" The Constitution is a contract in which the States
appeared as sovereigns, Now, whenever a contract is made
between parties who have no common superior, each re-
tains the right of deciding for itself on the extent of its
obligations." Nevertheless, the author, although decidedly
not Southern in his sympathies, points out very clearly
. the errors and mistakes of the Fedora's, and he certainly
aims at impartiality and equity in this essay. The inte-
resting story of " Late Laurels" is continued, and shows
us ;the romance of the honeymoon swiftly waning. The
young bride's most noticeable qualities are a love of ad-
miration and a passion for dress, and, as her husband has
never reached that stage of devotion in which love is

blind, his disenchantment is painfully rapid. An article
on " England and her Colonies,",follows almost too closely
upon the essay on " England and America," but it is

worth reading, although scarcely doing justice to the
loyalty of our Canadian kinsmen to the mother country.

The scientific reader will be attracted by a paper by Pro-
fessor William King on certain phenomena of the Atlantic,

and his instructions are not without a practical end, as he
especially considers the proposed telegraphic communica-
tion betweengreland and Newfoundland. The " Sketcher
in the Ardennes and Moselle land" is the title of a plea-
sant paper describing the wanderings of a party of tourists

in the forest consecrated to poetic memories. The London
Recluse continues his " recreations," or rather reflections,
and while an essay on the second part of " Goethe's Faust"
supplies the wants of the literary reader, an essay on the
present state of Russia addresses itself to the politician,
who has certainly the lion's share in the current number of
Fraser.

TILE UNITED SERVICE.—In the United Service
we have an interesting account of the meeting of
the British Association which was recently held at

Newcastle-on-Tyne. Of course this report is only
an outline of the proceedings, but great care and
discrimination have been exercised in selecting the

chief topics discussed. Foremost among these may he con-
sidered Sir William Armstrong's exposure of the trade
frauds (for such they really are) of the coal owners, who,

he avers, cause millions of tons of small coal to be burned

annually at the pit's mouth, in order to keep up the price of
screened coals. Due attention is—paid. to his remarks on
gunnery and projectiles, but on this subject the public have
already heard much, and are likely to hear much more.
Mr. Palmer's remarks on the progress of iron ship .building
on the Tyne and Tees from 1842, show how rapidly the
science of iron shipbuilding has advanced, and prove, in spite
of evil prognostications, that water carriage can still com-
pete successfully with railroads in the conveyance of coals
from the north to London. Since the first introduction of

steam colliers great improvements have taken place in their
construction. The screw collier James Dixon frequently
receives 1,200 tons of coals in four hours, makes her passage
to London in 32 hours—there, by means of the hydraulic
machinery, she discharges her cargo in 10 hours, returns
in 32 hours, and thus completes ber voyage in 73 hours.

This screw collier made 57 voyages to London in one year,
and in that year delivered 62,842 tons of coal, with a crew
of only 21 persons. To accomplish this work on the old
system, with sailing colliers, would have required 16 ships
and 144 hands to man them." Mr. Seott Russell

very sensibly deprecates anything like a feeling
of rivalry between the Admiralty and private
yards. He maintains that the private yards and the Ad-
miralty dockyards ought alike to be considered the property
of the country, and that, therefore, Government should
keep all the private yards employed to a small but regular
extent, so that, in cases of emergency, they would possess
an enormous shipbuilding power. The extracts from Mr.
Glaisher's and Captain Grant's papers are highly interest-
ing. In the first part of a memoir of General Wolfe, we
are carried back to a period in the history of our army,
which, for the credit of the service, we would gladly have
buried in oblivion. We refer to the atrocities of the Duke
of Cumberland at Culloden ; and the fact that the hero of
Quebec participated in these butcheries, or at least was pre-
sent at them, detracts much from the romance with which
his name has always been clothed. But the state of the
British army during the reign of the first and second
Georges was most deplorable; and Chevalier Wogen charac-
terised it as a body " where the least pretensions to learn-
ing, to piety, or to common morals, would endanger the
owner of being cashiered." Under the head of " Curiosities
of Naval Literature," we have a sketch of English charac-
ter in ancient times, the origin of the broad arrow to desig-
nate Government property, and other antiquarian
matters. A chapter on our " Active Admirals" fur-
nishes a history of the British navy from the early
days of Queen Bess down to the present iron
age. In a paper on the proposed American fortifications
and their influence on our colonies in North America, the
forts already erected, and about to be constructed on the
northern boundary of the United States, are duly described.
After showing how they will bear upon Canada, the writer
concludes with a piece of advice which is too sound to be
acted upon by a Whig Administration or to be heeded by
our present Foreign Secretary. Ho urges that before winter
sets in we should send out all the gunboats that can be
spared, so that they may be ready to occupy the lakes at
the breaking up of the ics next spring, for it is well known
that whoever has command of the lakes commands Canada.
This is perfectly correct, bat our Government is breaking
up gunboats which, would do well enough to protect the
lakes until others could replace them. " Greenwich Cha-
racters" are continued in the usual style, and the first in.•
stalment of a paper on "Gambia Colony and the Civil
War" and another on "The Polish, Question" conclude
the number.
Coßrtilin.--If The Small House at Allington" is
more exciting than usual in this number. First of
all, Crosbie's lugubrious wedding is about to come
off, and he is proportionately wretched. Lily Dale
is already avenged in the position of her wretched
suitor. Lily's bedside is 4.. prophetic picture of
happier days for the unfortunasa little household. Mrs
Lupex creates another disturbance in Burton-crescent, and
of course Cradell is as ridiculous as ever. " Sea Fights,
Ancient and Modern," is a very appropriate article at this
present juncture. Its object is to "give a popular account
of the chief forms that fighting at sea has assumed amongst
the most important nations of the world." Tho writer
gives us a consolatory idea that change has always existed
in naval things, "but that the genius of the sea races has
never been affected by it." Thia is very true, but the
intelligence thus imparted is rendered doubly welcome from
the fact that it is often the fashion to decry the prowess of
• our country at the present day, and to augur sinister
events as likely to occur if war is declared. This is the
right way of treating the question. "Is steam a more
potent source in nature than genius, or iron harder than
the pluck of the British tar." " The House of Commons
from the Ladies' Gallery" is an amassing sketch. The
etiect of the narration is a little marred by the extravagant
style of some of the remarks. Mr. Gladstone, who was the
hero of the night's debate, is extolled to the echo, and
indeed, when he was heard, it appeared to the listeners
that no one else should speak after him. Apart from this
extraordinary style of encomium, the rest of the sketch is
amusing and will please many. " Out of the World" con-
cludes in a most melancholy manner. The story furnishes a
moral to those who, like Horatia, make misery by their
wretched conduct. Too late she finds out the irreme-
diable mistake that she has made, but mortals may not
undo the past or condone with Providence for the sins they

havb committed, "In the Land of the Eisteddfodd "is a
curious kind of sketch thatdescribes very smartly the mixture
of comic and pathetic that took place during that imposing
ceremony. " Eveleen O'Connor" is a very awful tale, that
is painful to peruse, from being an apt representation of the
sad effects of furious rage and extreme imprudonce com-
bined. Eveleen's fate was happier than if her reason had
survived, and therefore her fate was not so tragic as it
seemed. "The Miseries of a Dramatic Author" is a very
entertaining and instructive paper. It should be perused
by young and inexperienced writers, who little imagine
what is before them, if they aim at writing for the stage.
The real troubles begin, it is said, after the play is accepted.
Every imaginable annoyance, every conceivable misfortune
seems to assail the hapless Wight who aspires to become the
successful author of a piece. The manager coolly tells him
his best points are all impracticable, the actors do not like
their parts—perhaps refuse to act at all—end thus cause
great confusion, and sometimes stop the piece altogether.
Of minor troubles there are myriads. Some people will
have "exit speeches," and expect some to be specially in-
troduced to please them. A manager once asked an author
to give "B" an exit speech, adding that his position de-
manded it. The other replied that his position in the play
did not admit of one. The manager retorted, " Why not a
curse; B's position in the theatre demands a curse." This
seems a strange mode of settling differences, and would
hardly suit all tastes. A ludicrous story [quoted in
The Sun a few days since] is told of a writer for
the stage once venturing on a tragedy. His manager
advised him to " cut out all the poetry, and send it to
Astley's." He did so, and it ran a hundred nights. If
authors oftener followed scch unpalatable advice, the re-
sults might be as profitable. The sketch winds up by stat-
ing that a novelist, on the day of publication, feels as if
drawing cheques on the Bank of Fame; but a dramatist has
terrible misgivings to encounter, as his success depends
principally upon others, who aro often indifferent.
TEMPLE BAR.—" John Alarchmont's Legacy" is
continued at some length, and some eventful cir-
cumstances occur. Belinda Lawford speaks her
mind about Edward Arundel's conduct in chastising
Mr. Paul Marclimont, but is overheard by tho'
worthy man, and he seizes the opportunity of
mystifying her. Edward Arundel returns home from
Brittany, and finds Belinda at his mother's house on a visit.
After a short time he proposes to her, and the time is fixed
for the wedding. 111-omened d mbts assail the mind of the
young man as the day draws near, and he is evidently
under the apprehension of some unfortunate event occur-
ring. In all probability one of those startling occurrences
will take place which have so often appeared in this
authoress's works. " The Trials of the Tralgolds " is
proceeded with, but does not make very much progress in
this number. Herbert Gifford and Lizzie Moyle still keep
up their engagement in a clandestine form, which will soon
cause fresh disturbances. Clement Buckburst attempts to
retrieve his fallen fortunes by proposing for Clare Gifford,
but fails in his object. Noel Bryan is progressing steadily
with his work, and promises to become famous. "DeMortuis's
is an article that contains a sort of melancholy interest.
The obituary record is now of one gone to the tomb in that
city of eternal change and revolution, which, in its whirl
of shifting movements, has scarcely time to ask where are
the old symbols—where even the cherished realities. The
Fabourg of St. German is the quarter alluded to, and
certainly its annals are stored with recollections of ancient
grandeur and departed power. Lord Strangford, in his lines
on the Aristocracy of France, has paid a tribute to their
constancy and devotion to the old cause, to which they clung
with chivalric enthusiasm :
But though their state is fallen, all Europe cannot show
Such glory as was theirs of old, such glory as is now.
For they themselves have conquered, themselves they have
forgone ;
And they their own relinquished, till the king shall have
his own.
This serial seems to be prone to undertake retrospective
subjects this month, for we find a paper headed "Fifty
Years Ago." It alludes to the ISth of this month
as the great anniversary for the Germans, since it
celebrates the battle of "Leipzig." After an elaborate ac-
count of the conflict the writer seeks to read a lecture to the
present generation. He very wisely bids the Germans re•
member that all the armies then combined had been pre-
viously defeated separately. Hence it is aptly sag gested
that the course now taken by Prussia is a very dangerous
one, and that the fable of the Bungle of Sticks may now be
verified. "It wee dualism that lei to the loss of Lombardy,
and the same feeling may cause Rhenish Prussia also to be
I lopped off the Germanic Confederation." "My Travelling
Companion" is concluded, and it would seem that, after all,
the disappointed lover and the deluded victim was nothing
else than a dexterous sharder and an expert thief. his
adroitness in abstracting the loss of valuables about equalled
his skill in devising a thrilling tale of horror, and suggest-
ing the striking but unpleasant denouement of trying his
poniard on his companion to test its efficacy in ridding him
of his enemy. Though not over probable, the story is pos-
sible, and very ingeniously put altogether. " Winter
Prospects of the North of Enghmd" affords the opportu-
nity of suggesting some valuable hints regarding that com-
plicated question, It is truly said that typhus is greatly to
be dreaded, and that this is not only a poor man's question.
" Fever is erratic and unscrupulous; although bred on the
cold hearthstone of Lazarus, it will stalk unbidden to the
drawing room or bed chamber of a neighbouring Dives."
MACMILLAN.--ilfacinillan is this month more in-
teresting than usual, the subjects being varied and
the articles generally well written. The fifth letter
from the " Competition Wallah" dilates enthusi-
astically on the advantages of the Indian Civil
Service, end expatiates on its superiority over the
heart. sickness of briefs deferred, and the hopeless struggle
against the sons of attorneys, and the nephews of railway
directors. "Is it not better," he asks indignantly, " than
grinding year after year at the school with teaching the
young idea how to turn good English verses into bad
Latin ? Is it not better than hanging wearily on at college,

feeling your early trio 4nphs turn into bitterness, doubting
whether to class yourself with old or young? An able
energetic man, fur whom active life has charms, well de-
light in such an exchange as is offered him by an Indian
career, but an enthusiast is forced to admit that the attrac-
tions of domestic life are not equal to those of public service.
The lack of employment or interest in "up country life" is
severely felt by the ladies, and when it comes to sending
their little ones home without them the trial is very great.
Yet, with all drawbacks, the picture which the writer gives
of the Civil Service is an inspiring one. "There is no career,"
he says, "which holds out such certain and splendid pro-
spects to honourable ambition. But better far than this, then)
islno career which so surely inspires men with the desire
to do something useful in their generation—to leave their
mark upon the world for good and not for evil." The story
of " Vincenzo" is continued, and the fortunes of the luck-
less hero take a sudden turn for the better. Sorrow and
anxiety have softened Rose, and the long and dangerous
illness of her husband following closely on the death of her

father, reawakens all her dormant affection. She devotes
herself to him with unceasing tenderness, and at length
sees him restored to life and to the service of his country
from which she had so long withheld him. Dr. Anstie con-
tributes a paper on " Physical Pain," and inclines to the
theory that pain in the nerve is the result of a low degree
of vitality, and supports his views by ingenious argument
and illustration. 46 Geld, its Chemistry and Mineralogy,"

is the subject of an interesting paper. It is mentioned, as
a curious fact, that it is not unusual to find in the sand of
the river Seine, which is used for glass making, small
grains of gold, and that this gold by some means makes its
its way into the vegetation on the banks. A French che-
mist, in order to demonstrate this with certainty, burnt some
of , the vines growing there, and from their ashes ho ex-
tracted enough gold to coin three Napoleons. As each
piece of 20 francs value cost the experimenter 120 francs to
procure, the result was not encouraging in the way of profit,
but it was highly successful by way of scientific experi-
ment. "A Little French City" is the title of a pleasant
gossiping:paper about the good people and quiet town of
Sens, written by an artist who gives such a glowing de-
scription of the beauty surrounding his painting-tent that
it is enough to tempt any reader, with means and leisure,
to cross the Channel forthwith.
ST. JAMES'S.—The story of " Aubrey Marston"
continues to unravel its mysteries at a slow and
uncertain pace. It is followed by an article onthe
various discomforts and ingenious tendencies of
railway travelling. The writer, however, does not
consider these drawbacks to be inseparable from
the popular system of locomotion. " It is," he says, "a
glorious mode of progression, and great is the pity that
everything that tcuds to diminish its risk, whether imme-
diate or future, is not adopted without delay." The " Seemts
of my Office istcentinued, and uutolds another of those dark
pages of human life which the writer seems to delight in.
Sir Lascolles Wraxall gives us a Frenchman's account of
an Englishman's aeronautic enterprises. " Straws in the
Stream" have reached their fifth part, and this month float
over to Bottlef_ne-sur-INler. The story of Madeleine Graham
is continued Is ith spirit, but it is very questionable taste to
introduce the incidents of a criminal trial, whose rainfui,
details are fresh in most of our memories, into a story of
this kind. It is a new feature in our sensation fiction, and
certainly not one to be commended. There are several other
papers, the best of them being " Death on the High Seas,
and "As far as the Rigi."
THE NATIONAL MAGAZINE.--The most noticeable
feature in this magazine is Captain Mayne Reid's
story of " The White Gauntlet," which is, like all
its author's works, tall of life and adventure. Queen
• Elizabeth's troubles are diecuased at length, and it is curi-
ous to compare the dangers and trials of her early days with
her subsequent grandeur end prosperity, The series of

—.—
Firstly, we are informed by the highest chemical autho-
rities, that pure water so rapidly acts upon lead, that in w
very short space of time it becomes impregnated with this
metal in a soluble form. Nor are we to escape by the com-
forting assurance that the water is impure. Water that
contains carbonic acid (and what water does not in a greater
or less degree ?) equally appropriates to itself a portion of
the metallic medium through which it passes ; these aro
facts from which we have no appeal. 'lt is true that water
may contain certain constituents that will act on the lead
in a manner more favourable to a hygienic state of things;
but do we take the trouble to ascertain if such a quality
exists in our water? We think not. The result is, there-
fore, that in the case of all new lead pipes, colic, next to'
poisoning, is the result upon all who use it; and in all
cases, unless specially protected, poison, in the form of salts
of lead, is administered, whether in homoeopathic doses or
after the more liberal allopathic system, and a deleterious
effect is produced on the system and health of all who par-
take of the liquid. The effect of sulphuric acid as a cor-
rective, in the exceptional cases of which wo have already
spoken, is caused by the internal surface of the lead being
changed from the metallic state into a sulphide of the metal
which is insoluble inwater. This reaction may be artificially
produced by a simple yet scientific process, the discovery of
Dr. Schwarz, of Breslau. This savant proposes the passing
through lead pipes of a solution of sulphide of potassium,
at a temperature of 212 degrees, which changes the metallic
lead into a sulphide of lead, and, thus transmuted, the
water passing through it is perfectly free from the risk of
contamination by any poisonous salt from the lead. It re-
mains for the public themselves to decide from our state-
ments of facts, whether or not they will continue to tolerate
even the skeleton of an evil that may be so easily exercised.