The Sun.
London, England, 1863-07-03 00:00:00

SIGNOR VAILATI'S MORNING CONCERT,

This accomplished performer, whose misfortune gives
him so strong a claim on the sympathies of his audience,
gave his grand concert at Willis's Rooms on Tuesday last.
The instrument on which he performs is one not often
heard in our concert rooms, but he continues to display a
marvellous degree of skill. He has been surnamed the
Paganini of the Mandoline, and his ingenuity and execu-

tion are something wonderful. He has obtained great suc-
cess in Paris, and we do not doubt will find the results of
his English visit equally satisfactory. Prominent among
the singers was Madlle, Georgi, whose fine voice promises
to render her one of our best concert singers. Signor
Bianchi was the pianist, and delighted the audience with
his brilliant playing. The music was classic and well
selected, but there were considerable variations in the origi-
nal programme. However, the audience were perfectly
satisfied, and the concert has assisted in establishing the
reputation of Signor Vailati.

Dragon's Teeth.. By the Rev. James Pycroft, B.A.
Two vols. Booth.
As we sow, so must we reap. They who, like the
hero of the old fable, plant the teeth of dragons in
the earth will find an armed harvest the recompense
of their toil. Such is the theme of Mr. Pycroft's
new work—the dragon's teeth particularly alluded
to being the evil self-indulgent habits fostered in
early life by a bad education. The plan of the
story is very ingenious, and the first portion is ad-
mirable. Edward and Nathaniel Walford are the
twin eons of a widowed mother, and Edward, the
first-born, is the heir of Rickworth Manor. The
difference of one hour in the time of their birth is
the cause of an immeasurable difference in their
careers and fortunes. The advantage is apparently
with the eider, but is in reality with the younger,
brother. Flattered and followed by time-serving
favourites from his childhood upwards, consigned
to the pernicious influence of tutors who dispense
with all discipline from a dread of offending their
patron; poor Ned grows up weak and wilful and
wicked, full of his own importance, seeking only his
own pleasures, unhappy himself and the cause of
unhappiness to all connected with him. Meanwhile
Nat, the more fortunate younger brother, stimu•
lated and invigorated in mind and body by the
discipline of Eton, sets to work resolutely to earn
for himself friends and fortune and position, all
of which have been by the accident of
birth already lavishly bestowed upon his brother.
In describing the different effects of the education
of these two brothers, Mr. Pycroft strongly advo-
cates the advantages of public schools over private
ones, especially for the sons of wealthy men. In
the latter, he argues, the boy has no real training
or discipline, as the master, in many instances, fears
to irritate a spoilt child, and exasperate the parents,
who will probably withdraw the pupil and injure
the establishment. However this may be as a
general rule there can be little doubt that a few
years of Eton or Harrow would have been of
amazing benefit to Master Ned. The conclusion of
the tale is very inferior to the commencement. The
author seems to anticipate that the adventures of
Hannah Hen gan w ill be the subject of animadversion,
and no wonder. Her conduct, no less than the whole
concluding portions of the story, is unnatural, and
even ridiculous. A young timid girl, Alice Hengan,
has been deserted by her lover on the eve of an
attempted elopement. She pines away, heart-sick,
with hope deferred, and her elder sister, Hannah, a
strong-minded woman, burning to revenge her sis
ter's disappointment, matures aid carries out a
scheme of retribution the like of which we will
venture to say would never have entered into any
woman's head or heart to project or to perform.
Actually, Hannah Hengan personates a wealthy
heiress, and by way of revenging her sister she
marries the deceiving lover ! Immediately after
the. marriage, of course, the bride declares herself
assured,
be
and takes leave of her husband, who finds that he
has lost the expected fortune, and is deprived of all
liberty to seek for another heiress. Mr. Pycroft, in
self-defence, assures us that two or three women he
could mention have been actually married under
similarly false representations. We feeldifference
would
however, that on inquiry a
found in the actual circumstances of these cases and
that of Hannah Hengan. Motives of personal re-
venge or ambition for self-aggrandisement might
have been at work, but we cannot conceive such an
example of sisterly retribution to have had any
parallel in real life! The whole conclusion of the
story is greatly inferior to the commencement,which
is admirably well-planned. The lesson inculcated is
so excellent, and the moral reflections are 60 worthy
of general attention, that we very cordially wish
success to Mr. Pycroft's book, notwithstanding the
blunders we have mentioned.

____-

The Historical Works of Giraldus Cambrensis.
Bohn's Antiquarian Library.
This is a v orthy addition to Bohn's very valu-
able library. The works contained in this volume
arc "The Topography of Ireland" and " The His-
tory of the Conquest, of Ireland," translated by
Thomas Forester, M.A., and " The Itinerary
through Wales" and " The Description of -W ales,"
translated by Sir Richard Colt Hoare, from the
original manuscripts of Giraldus Cambrensis.
Giraldus was a native of Wales, hence his denomi-
nation of Cdmbrensis. He was born about the year
1146. He was at one time preceptor to Prince
(afterwards King) John, and accompanied him to
Ireland as Secretary. As the compiler of the pre-
sent edition of the old chronicler's masterpiece
observes in the Preface :
Giraldus was evidently a zealous, if a rather credulous,
observer and collector of facts. It was during this visit to
Ireland that he occupied himself diligently in collecting
materials for a description of that country, and remained
there for that purpose some time after the departure of
Prince John. The result was his "Topography of Ire-
land," which he began to compose soon after his return to
Wales, a little after the Easter of 1186, and completed in
1187. Its completion gave occasion for a remarkable dis-
playchi eteeciaolhlf tsahbbe
by
owater'sthe
e whicht hn fa
vanityewsh as divided into three parts, which
and love of ostentation. He re-
cited
term of distinctions, before
a public audience of the University of Oxford on three
successive days ; and, to give more effect to this proceeding,
he gave on each day a sumptuous feast. The poor people
of the town were entertained on the first day; the doctors
and students of greatest distinction on the second ; and on
the third the other scholars and the burghers and soldiers.
Giraldus was evidently very proud of the sensation he had
made on these occasions; for in one of his books (that Do
Gestis Suis, lib. ii. c. 16), he declares that it was worthy of
the classic ages of the poets of antiquity, and that nothing
like it had ever been seen in England. Its effect appears to
have been to increase its celebrity.
Giraldus appears to have been equally remark-
able for his diligence in collecting facts and for his
skill in arranging them. Into the especial merit s
of his works we do not now propose to enter. We
have said enough already, in these few werds, to
show the lovers of history and antiquity what a
treasure Mr. Bohn has here laid before them.

►,('FIE NOCTES AMBROSIANA.—Part 11. of the
cheap popular edition of the Noctes appears with
the July magazines, bat this time without any en-
graved portrait by way of illustration.

SUICIDE Ii( HIGHGATE PONDS.—Dr. Lankester
held an inquest yesterday afternoon on the body of
Mr. Joseph Rawlins, a decorator, residing at 10, Breck-
nock-crescent, Camden-town, who was found drowned in
one of the Highgate ponds. The deceased left his home on
Wednesday morning week to go to his place of business as
usual, and kissed his children, as was his custom, before he
went out. He was not heard of till Wednesday evening,
when some boys who were fishing caught their hooks in the
hair of the deceased's head, and brought his body to the
surface. It was got out and conveyed to St. Pancras dead
house. Some lines of poetry were found in his pocket
headed " CrEedy the Neal" (the latter being his wife's
maiden name), in which from their tenour he was evidently
under a delusion that his wife hated him and did all she
could to destroy his prospects in life. It was stated they
did not live very happily together. Verdict " Temporary
Insanity,"
NEW OIL WELL.—The editor of the Oil Cety
Register has recently paid a visit to the wonderfal flowing
oil well in that neighbourhood, which throws every vein
yet struck entirely into the shade. He says:—" While
there the parties owning it were making preparations to
put on a stop-cock, so as to control it. The first joint of
tubing was taken off, and the oil spouted up to a height of
50 feet, with a roar like a hurricane. The stream from the
pipe was 21 inches, and was incessant, and we looked at the
scene for an hour or more, and finally had to leave before
the stop-cock could be put on. We could form no definite
estimate of the capacity of the well; some estimate it as
high as 2,000 barrels, some 1,000. But we are satisfied
that it was flowing at the rate when we saw it of 1,200 to
1,500 per day. The depth of the well is about 450 feet.
A despatch from Oil City to the Cleveland Ptain Dealer
states that the market is unsettled in consequence of the
new well.
FATIIEII THAMES A LITTLE CLEANER.--Tne
high and middle-level sewers of the main drainage
of the metropolis are announced to be partly in operation
in two or three months' time, when Father Thames will be
relieved of at least one-hall the refuse which he is now
obliged to carry.
ANOTHER SUICIDE ON A RAILWAY.—Another
very shocking case of suicide occurred yesterday
morning on the Midland Railway. About one o'clock on
the above named morning the mail train from London was
passing the Thfumpton-road crossing, between Kegworth
and Trent Stations Notts, when the engineer saw by the
moonlight a man comingdown the bank side and walk in
front of the train. He was instantly knocked down, run
over, and killed on the spot. The body, which was fri,,ht-
fully mutilated, was afterwards conveyed to the Kegworth
Station, and an inquest will be held this evening. The de-
ceased was well dressed in black, but no money was found
upon him. Ms name at present is unknown.