The Sun.
London, England, 1839-09-27 00:00:00

A WEDDING AT SEA.

A correspondent of the Arm England Review gives
the following sketch of an interesting scene which oc-
curred on board the ship in which he sailed from
America :—" A novel circumstance took place, while
on our passage, which I must relate. There was a
Mr. H. on board, who was formerly a merchant in
Nlassachussetts, since in Connecticut, and late of New
York. He was a kind, open-hearted fellow, full of
fun, and withal very intelligent as well as handsome.
His age was 27. He came on board an entire stranger
to us all, but as we made it a point to have but one
family on board, and as we soon discovered his amiable
qualities, he very soon made a welcome member. On
our sixth day he came to me, and inquired the name and
circumstances of an elderly gentleman passenger, who was
accompanied by his daughter, with whom Mr. H. seemed
deeply smitten. For my own part, I could see nothing
exceedingly attractive about Miss J. save that she was
very agreeable in her manners and highly intelligent. I
informed him, and at his request, gave him a formal intro-
duction, which terminated in the following manner:—Soon
after the introduction it became evident that a mutual liking
and affection existed between Mr. H. and Miss J., who,
from their open expressions of fondness, began to at-
traction the attention of all, and the admiration of many
of the passengers. They were frequently observed
in their close conversations, and a game of whist was
scarcely ever played in which they were not part-
ners. On the second Sunday of our passage, we soli-
cited the Rev. Mr. G., who was on his way to Italy,
to preach a sermon. By the politeness of Captain N.,
a large awning was spread above us, seats were pre-
pared, and a congregation of seventy-six persons,
including the steerage passengers and sailors, were
collected to participate in the religious exercises. A
small desk was formed into a pulpit, and a choir was
formed by " going into a Committee of the whole."
The text was read and the sermon delivered, of
which I need not speak. At the conclusion of the
sermon, our minister rose and read the following card,
which lay on the desk William Bentley H--,
Esq., of New York, intends marriage with Miss Marta
Louisa J--.' We were more surprised at the
novelty of the thing than at the fact itself, and, indeed,
such was the feeling created by the sudden and unex-
pected announcement made that we all forgot the
serious impressions made on our minds by the Minis-
ter, in our hearty and vociferous congratulations of
the happy pair. But it did not end here. A pro-
position was made to the parties to have the affair
consummated that evening, which was cheerfully
acceded to by them, to the great pleasure of all on
board. Accordingly, things were arranged in order,
the best state room was given up to them, and every
one felt gay and happy as the hour approached which
shuuld witness the consummation of their nuptial
vows. The evening was calm and delightful ; not a
sail fluttered in the breeze ; not a voice was heard ; not
the least stir or bustle about the deck, and the moon
looked down in loveliness on that tranquil scene. At
noon, every soul on board gathered to the temple which
had been erected for religious worship, and in less than
15 minutes the marriage ceremony was performed by our
worthy minister, who made a few remarks, and closed
with prayer. The scene was truly as sublime as romantic.
The fair bride came out, dressed in a robe of pure white
satin, leaning on the arm of her lover, round to the altar,
and heard her marriage vow pronounced where, only an
hour or two before, she had uttered ner vows to God.
Many a tear of joy stole down the cheeks of those who
looked on, and not a care cast the shadow of its wing
across that scene of triumph, love, and bliss. The no-
velty of this affair had thrown us all into an excitement,
and nothing was to be talked of but weddings, wedding
parties, marriages at sea, love, honeymoon, &c. &c.,
and I was half tempted to make a similar proposition
myself to the Queen—like Miss C., if for nothing else
but the purpose of having the joke pass round."

BRUSSELS, SEPT. 22.—A letter from Eccloo
says—Though our market was well supplied to-day,
corn had such a tendency to rise, that we really cannot
tell where it will stop. The following are the prices at
which the corn was bought up in a very short time :
Wheat per sack, of 108 litrons, 25f. 45c. ; Rye, 13f.
60c. ; Barley, 24f. ; Buck Wheat, 12f. 72c. ; Potatoes,
2f. to 2f. 25c. The rise during the last week, added to
that of to-day, makes an advance of more than 2f. on
wheat, and If. 50c. on rye. Barley is very much in
demand.

A new line for a railroad from Exeter to Ply-
mouth has been surveyed by Mr. Kendel, which is within
forty-one miles. This line passes through the valleys of
the Plym and Teign, and crosses Dartmoor, which it is
proposed to ascend and descend by means of fixed engines.
A pier, with a landing-place for large steamers, in Mill
Bay, is also in contemplation, with a view, doubtless, to its
becoming the packet station.—Penzance Gazette.
SONG-WRITERS.—Burns, who of all men that
ever lived appears to have possessed the greatest natural
capabilities for song-writing, declares the art to be a
difficult one, and desires those who think otherwise
" to sit down and try their hand at it," when the truth
of the matter is likely to dawn upon them. Such an
opinion, coming from so high an authority, is entitled
to great weight ; and it is corroborated by the unde-
niable fact, that few persons have ever attained to real
excellence in the practice of composing songs. The
total number of first-rate songsters who have adorned
literature since its origin to the present day, may be
counted upon one's ten fingers, and not a tip be touched
twice. Men of the highest poetical genius have attempted
this department of composition in vain, and of the truth
of this assertion we have many living evidences, Has
either Wordsworth or Southey produced, in the long
roll of their multifarious works, one single verse which
is familiarly sung in tho homes of their country, be
they rich or be they poor ? Not one ; and this is
not because the endeavour has never been made,
but because these great poets have failed utterly in the
instances where they have attempted the composition
of songs. Byron, too, though his want of success was 1
less decided, has left behind him, upon the whole, not
one song that has been or ever will be popular among
his countrymen. While it is thus obvious that the
possession of the highest poetical genius does not ensure
success in song writing, we find, on the other hand, that
many of our best and most popular songs have
been produced by persons who never, excepting in
these individual instances, evinced the possession of
any poetical talent whatever. In the annals of Scot-
tish song, in particular, numerous cases occur where
lasting reputations have been won by the composi-
tion of one single song. " The Flowers of the Forest,"
" Auld Robin Gray," and " Lucy's Flitting," will rise
to the recollection of every one as having made famous
the names of Miss Elliott, Lady Anne Lindsay, and
William Laidlaw. The list might be largely extended,
and would inc:ude the fine songs of " The Boatie Rows,"
Roslin Castle," " Were na my heart light, I wad
die," and " The Broom o' the Cowdenknowes." The art
of song writing seems, in the one point of view, an art of
surprising difficulty ; while, on the other hand, we might be
tempted to think the very reverse, from its being excelled
in by persons who never displayed poetical genius other-
wise. The explanation is to be sought for in the peculiar
nature of the song, its construction, and its uses.—Cham-
bers' Journal.

DUALITY IN WOOING.—The Greeks had,
and may have still under King Otho, a dual number— a
part of speech which has a wider range of application than
most people imagine. Ergo, there is nothing inconsistent
in a distinguee of this or that Ilk courting ladye fair and
constituency gallant at the same time : and for this, among
other cogent reasons, tgat duality in such a case is gal-
lantry plurified. Wooing matrimonial and wooing political
have many points in common; the contract in either case
is for better or for worse, and dissolution is brought about
by much the same means, baiting the mighty difference be-
tween the grim King of Terrors and Majesty enshrined in
the person of a lovely woman. Successful candidates on the
hustings actually marry and are married in turn ; and it
is sad when Cambridge Election Committeemen bring in
vexatious Bills of Divorcement, putting asunder what the
" money power" had firmly united. This, however, is re.
fining over much, or rather quidefying somewhat idly, and
as we happen to have a wee bit of a story to tell, the sooner
it oozes out the better. Well ; a candidate for Parlia.
mentary honours, and eke a wooer in a different sense, who
has been going his rounds very diligently for months,
called lately on a farmer-elector, and in the course of a
protracted conversation strove hard to obtain his vote.
But earnest and urgent as the canvasser was, the farmer
seemed shy in rising at bait, concealing, as he deemed, a
Tory book • and when the aspirant civilly bade him good
morning, whilei wending to a tender point of the compass,
he not only returned the compliment, but added, " I hope
you'll be more successful in your canvass up bye than you've
been down here."—Dumfries Courier.

FIRE.—On Wednesday, about half past seven
o'clock, a fire broke out on the premisesof Mr. S. Willins-
gale, Providence-row, dyer, at the back of Finsbury-square,
and was not extinguished until considerable damage and
destruction of property had taken place. It appeared to
have been occasioned through the negligence of some
plumbers, who had in the course of the day been employed
in repairing the roof, and had left work without putting out
the fire which they had been using.
WADSLEY AND LANGSET ROAD.—The tolls
of this road were let last week at an advance of 3601. on
the previous letting. The sum at which they were let
only thirteen years ago was but 1501., they now produce
1,4051. This circumstance affords valuable proof of the
great increase of late years in the traffic between Sheffield
and Manchester; arid it is the more remarkable, when it
is remembered that there are two other roads which cont.
pete with this, the tolls on which hwe also increased,
though not in the saw proportion.
In the y ears 1799 and 1800, when wheat was
from its scarcity so unprLeedentedly dear, the more opu-
lent (and it was general throughout the kingdom) entered
into a compact to abstain from pastry, and as much as
possible to substitute potatoes and rice for flour ; and that
the poor might also cheerfully submit to this visitation of
Providence, subscriptions were entered into to supply
them with abundance of wholesome soup during the
winter, at Id. per quart.
FRANKFORT ON THE MAINE.—The Nawab
Eckbalee Dowlah, Prince of Oude, passed through this
place a few days since on his way to Vienna, and received
every possible attention from the authorities. His High-
ness, after having paid short visits at the Courts of Louis
Philippe and the King of the Netherlands, was about to
visit the Emperor of Austria; thence he goes to Berlin,
and will probably visit the Emperor of Russia at St.
Pctersburgh, if he can do so, and get back to this country
in time for the next Session of Parliament, when Lord
Brougham has promised to hring his case and claims to
the notice of the country. All he asks from the British
natioti is an inquiry into his claims and those of his family.