The Sun.
London, England, 1862-02-01 00:00:00

LITE .7t A TTI1?11.

AINSWORTH'S NEW STORY.—Part IL, in

_ .
Bentley's Miscellany.
The second instalment of Mr. Ainswerth's new
serial romance of "The Lord Mayor of London,"
like the second drinking song in Othello, is even
"more excellent than Vot her !" Our Novelist's
hand is evidently in for the running of the race
upon which ho has here adventured. And when-
ever he is "i' the vein" we know by a delightful
experience enough at what a pace he can go ! Ex..
gr. his ever-famous " Ride to York" in " Rook-
wood," written off at a single sitting—night
and day —as fast as pen could fly over
paper. Here, in " The Lord Mayor of London"
—a story of which we have in this February
number of Bentley five additional chapters—Mr.
Ainsworth describes his scenes and personages of
a hundred years ago with a gusto. Beckford again
flits across the stage, in the midst of the pageantry.
The cleverest incident described in the instalment
before us is the interview between the two brothers
—the poor old scapegrace elder brother brought
out of his strange hiding-place of Little Ease in the
Old Guildhall, and the good-hearted, open-handed
younger brother, the Lord Mayor himself, Sir
Gresham Lorimer. Here, however, are twin forms
(arcades ambo!) from that same old Guildhall, more
familiar to us. We give the extract because every-
body will "be glad to know what the Author of
" The Tower of London" has to say about—
GOG AND MAGOG.
In opposite angles, at the west end, and upon octagonal
columns, stand the two guardian giants, yclept Go; And
Magog. Old Strype pretends that these rays' erious figures
represent an ancient Briton and a Saxon, and some believe
them to be of no greater antiquity than Charles the Second's
day ; but we reject these notions altogether. Their origin
is buried in obscurity. We suspect thy were fashioned by
Merlin, or some equally potent enchanter. If they were tried
by the Great Fire, they came out of it uninjured. Gog is
armed with a halberd, and Magog with a poleaxe, from which
hangs a ball set round with spikes. Their mighty limbs, gro-
tesque attire, bushy black beards, penthouse-like brows
overshadowing great protrudinc, eyes, which seem ever
disposed to wink at you, and wondrous lineaments in which
ferocity is so happily blended with joviality and merriment,
must be familiar to all. Familiar also is the veracious
legend connected with them. We all devoutly believe, that
at, dead of night, when the clock strikes one, these marvel-
lous images become suddenly instinct with life, and, leap-
ing down upon the pavement, look out for supper, regaling
themselves upon whatever eatables and drinkables they
may be lucky enough to meet with, searching for a terrified
apprentice in the Little Ease, and sometimes, when bard.
pressed, devouring a beadle, great- coat, three-cornered hat,
staff and all.
Later on in the present instalment of the story we
find this interesting account of—

THE LORD MAYOR'S STATE-COACH.
The gorgeous state-coach, in which our Lord Mayor
rode, still exists, and constitutes a principal feature in the
annual civic show. Since good Sir Gresham's day, a hun-
dred Lord Mayors have ridden in it, and we hope it may
servo to convey a hundred more to Westminster and back.
Though richly gilt and burnished, it is not gaudy, but has
a grand, imposing, courtly appearance, and seems fitted for
the City sovereign, or for any other sovereign. Indeed, It
formed the model for the royal state-coach—still likewise
in use—constructed for George 111. in 1762. Built about.
four or five years previous to the date of our story, in the
somewhat cumbrous but handsome style of the day, hung ,
very low, having large windows calculated to afford a full
view of those inside it, panels covered with exquisitely
painted emblematical designs, and elaborately carved wood-
work, representing Cupid sustaining the City arms, this
state-coach, by its antiquated air and splendour, carries
back the mind to another ago. The paintings on the panels,
replete with grace and eloquence, are by Cipriani; that on the
right door exhibits Fame presenting the Mayor to the genius
of the City ; while on the other door is depicted Britannia,
pointing with her spear to the shield of Henry Fitz-Alwin,
the first Mayor of London, who enjoyed his office for the
long term of 21 years—namely, from the first of Richard L
to the fifteenth of John. Until of late years the roof of
this magnificent carriage was surmounted by a carved
group of boys supporting baskets of fruit, but an accident
deprived it of this ornament. The original cost of the
coach was upwards of a thousand pounds, which will not
appear surprising, when its size and the splendour of itg
decorations and fittings are taken into account. The ex-
pense of keeping it in repair is by no means trifling, but
this is now borne by the Corporation, whose property the
coach has become.
The bulk of the February instalment of the -
romance consists of an elaborate description of
divers incidents in the Lord Mayor's show, par-
ticularly the procession. And in enditing that
gorgeous description, the romancist seems to have
dipped his pen less into a standish than into a
painter's colour-box.

PROSPECTS OF THE IMPORT
MARKETS.

(From the Circular of ilfessrs. Joseph Travers and Sons.)
The probability that the consumption of articles of food
and luxury throughout the present year will be far more
satisfactory than was generally supposed a few months
back, continues to be strengthened, The accounts from
Manchester confirm the best hopes that have been expressed
from time to time, and at a great meeting at that city on
Thursday one of the leading speakers expressed his convic-
tion that " the distress resulting from the pi esent want of eot.-
ton had been greatly exaggerated by the press." In London,
the same day, another experienced merchant (Mr. Schuster)
avowed that " in his opinion the want of raw material in the
cotton trade had not been felt at all." Most persons, in-
fact, seem to be agreed that, although the operatives in
Lancashire are suffering from restricted employment, the
evil is less than they would have to endure if the enormous
rise in the price of cotton had not prevented the revulsion
that would otherwise have occurred from the over-ship-
ments of manufactured goods to the East and elsewhere
during the past two or three years. Another important
and gratifying consideration presents itself in the results
of the French Treaty. The increased trade with France
has already been on a scale to compensate for two-
thirds of the loss of our foreign trade with the
United States ; and there can be little doubt that
if M. Fould should succeed in his determination to
place the finances of France in a sound position, the confi-
dence thus to be engendered will be followed by a further
development of this traffic to a much more remarkable ex-
tent. At the same time, every account from India increases
the cheerful view of the financial situation, and of the capa-
bilities of the East with regard to cotton and other staple
products, The products of the home revenue, and of the pro-
bable character of next budget, as likewise are good as could
have been expected, notwithstanding the expenses forced:
upon us by the conduct of the Washington Government.
Estimating these things together, with the statements Of
the remunerative character of the business in the woollen
districts, and the certainty of the life and traffic that will
be witnessed throughout the whole country on the opening'
of the International Exhibition, there is solid ground for
trusting that, in the face of all contingencies, the employ-
ment of our population will be such as to enable them to
enjoy a full average of the articles of food and luxury to
which, under tho effects of free trade, they have become
accustomed. A fine harvest seems alone essential to secure
this consummation, and thus far in every respect the signs
in the agricultural districts are of good promise.

NARROW ESCAPE OF TEDDINGTON, THE WINNER
OF THE DERBY IN lBsl.—Tho Elberfeld Gazette says :---
" On Monday week the Belgian steamer Baron Osy arrived
at Antwerp from London, having on board two very valu-
able horses, which had been purchased in England for the
Emperor of Austria, and were then on their way to Vienna,
under the care of an English jockey. Ono of these horses
was the renowned Tcddingtbn, winner of the Derby in
1851, for which the Emperor had paid the enormous sum
of £1,700. In Antwerp harbour preparations were made
to land the horses. Whilst the Custom-house officers were
engaged in inspecting the effects of the passengers, a loud
cry and a splash were suddenly heard, Teddington had
fallen into the water. The steam-boat people had placed a
board without railings from the vessel to .the quay for the
horse to walk ashore upon; but the fiery animal, feeling
the insecurity and weakness of tho board, made a backward
plunge, and fell from a height of 25 or 30 feet into the
Scheldt. The horse sank to the bottom, but fortunately
rose again to the surface, when he was seized by the beady
and after a struggle of about half-an-hour's duration was
brought to land. Though apparently uninjured, ho must
have suffered by his involuntary bath in such cold weather."
MARRIAGE LAW DEFENCE ASSOCIATION.—This
ecclesiastical league, organised to oppose the bill for making
lawful marriage with a de-ceased wife's sister, has ceased to
have a public existence. The committee have discharged
their officials, sold their desks and inkstands, ano let the r
offices, No. 26, Parliament- street, London, to Messrs. R.
Morrison and Co., engineers and founders, of Newcastle-
upon-Tyne. The reason alleged is, that they could not
afford the expense attendant on the position they had as-
sumed. The public did not support them. The signatures
to petitions in favour of legalising ouch marriages have
been 1,095,814; those against, 142,137.
JENNY LlND.—During her concerts at Bath this
week, Madame Lind has stayed most of her time at Clifton.
We hoar that she will not complete her tour in the provinces
without giving the Bristolians a second concert. On her
last visit it will be remembered she was too ill to go
through the programme, her efforts to do so being quite
painful to the audience, who fully appreciated her gene-
rosity in giving the proceeds of the entertainment to the
Hospital and Infirmary.—Era.
THE WAGES QUESTION IN THE NAIL TRADE.--
On Monday and Tuesday meetings of the nail forgers of
the Lye district were again held at that place, and were
very numerously attended. It was resolved at the former
meting that there should be a general strike, unless the
20s. rate was paid by the masters. In order, however, to
show their desire of conciliation, the men resolved first to
visit the masters, and ask if they would consent to paY
the ordinary rate of wages. This was done, and at the
meeting on Tuesday it was announced that the masters
had expressed their willingness to pay the 20s. rate,
thus putting aside the probability of a strike. There were
some four or five dissentients among the roasters, and
the hands in their employ were accordingly put on strike.
It was also resolved to take measures to put down the
truck system. In those quarter's where this system pre-
vails, the men being put on strike, it is resolved to solicit
contributions from the shopkeepers, as they also would
gladly see the system put an end to.—Birmingham IMO
.Post,