The Sun.
London, England, 1862-08-18 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENS, G, AUGUST 18, 1862,

BANK OF ENGLAND NOTES.—XI
,500
REWARD.—WHEREAS the Directors of the BANK
OF ENGLAND have recently discovered that some of the
Paper manufactured for their Notes has been feloniously
near Whitchurch, in Hampshire, and that such
taken from the mills of Mcsrs. Portal and Co., at Laverstoke,
been used in the fabrication of ForgedNotes,Notice is hereby
given, that a REWARD of £5OO will be paid to any one who
shall give such information as will lead to the apprehensipe
and conviction of any person concerned in the stealing I ul
ci.) I be
paper ; and a FURTHER REWARD OF £l'o
00
w.llead
to to any one who shall give such information as will
to the apprehension and conviction of any person concerned
in the fabrication of Forged Notes by means of such paper.
paper has
Information to be given to Mr. Superintendent Hodgson,
Police-office, Old Jewry, London ; or to Messrs. Freshfields
and Newman, 5, Bank-buildings, London.
By order of the Directors,
E. WELSH, Assistant Secretary.
Bank of England, 16th August, 1862.

CAUTION.—BANK of ENGLAND NOTES.—
The Directors of the Bank of England hereby give
Notice, that it has recently come to their knowledge that
some of the Paper manufactured for their Notes has been
feloniously taken from the Mills ; and they desire to caution
all Bankers, Money-changers, and other persons, in taking
payment by Bank of England Notes, not to depend upon the
apparent genuineness of the Paper alone, but to examine
with increased care the PRINTING also ; and in all cases, for
their own protection, to obtain and preserve the Names of
the persons from whom the Notes are received.
By order of the Directors,
E. WELSH, Assistant Secretary.
Bank of England, 16th August, 1862.

LITERATURE.

The Lord Mayor of London ; or, City Life in the
Last Century. By Wm. Harrison Ainsworth.
3 vols. Chapman and Hall.
That this novel of Mr. Ainsworth was suggested
in a measure by Hogarth's delineations of the re-
sults of idleness and industry is tolerably evident
from certain indications at the commencement of
the first volume, still they merely give him as it
were a starting-point, and in no way assisted him
to fill up the details of his portrait of " a worthy
Lord Mayor." This portrait, although assigned to
a particular date, 1761, is, he states, an ideal one.
Differing in opinion with those novelist and comic
writers who have made Aldermen and Common
Councilmen a standing jest, and believing munici-
pal authorities "to be generally men of sterling
character, of high intelligence and capacity, zealous
in the discharge of their public dillies, and energe-
tic in the maintenance of the rights and privileges
of the great City they represent," he has painted
them as such, and he has, moreover, de-
scribed the City pageants as they existed
in all their glory a hundred years ago. Many
celebrities of the time, such as George 111., the Earl
of Bute, Pitt, Wilkes, and Alderman Beckford, are
brought on the scene, and thus the political as well
as the social aspect of the time is placed before the
reader. The action of the tale is necessarily com-
prised within the space of the Mayoralty, or rather
within a portion of it, inasmuch as it commences on
the memorable ninth of November, and terminates
with the Easter feast of the ensuing year. The
principal character in it is, as Mr. Ainsworth states,
imaginary, and he has endeavoured to render it a
type of those business men who, from small
beginnings have, by industry and integrity, raised
themselves to the highest position the city can
bestow. " Born at Bucklersbury, about sixty years
before the present important epoch in his history,
Gresham was the third son of a drysalter, in a very
small way of business, who had got into difficulties
and never recovered from them, but who was able
to give his son a good education by placing him at
the Merchant Tailors' School, where the last re-
mained until his father's death, when he was
apprenticed to Mr. Tradescant, a prosperous draper
in Cheapside, who knew the family and had taken
a fancy to the youth." Of this start in life Gresham
makes the most. He becomes Mr. Tradescant's
right hand, is made head clerk, taken into partner-
ship, and ends by marrying his master's only
daughter and succeeding to the business. Increas-
ing in worldly wealth he becomes Sheriff, is
knighted, is then elected Alderman, and at last
succeeds in the object of his ambition, that of
becoming Lord Mayor. In his domestic relations
Sir Gresham Lorimer can scarcely be considered so
fortunate, inasmuch as his wife and two eldest
daughters are essentially worldly, and his only son
Tradescant is, at the beginning of the tale, on the
road to ruin. Of the Lady Mayoress we have the
following picture :
" The Lady Mayoress, it has been intimated, was a few
years younger than her husband, and being still in remark-
ably good preservation, might be termed a fine woman.
Her person was rather on a large scale, it is true, her fea-
tures fat and rounded, and her once dimpling chin doubled,.
but her teeth and eyes were goal, and she had an agreeable
smile, and a generally pleasing expression of countenance.
" Her size, however, was vastly exaggerated by the out-
rageous dimensions of the hoops sustaining her pink satin
gown, which was decorated to profusion with large bows of
ribbon, cords, tassels, and wreaths of flowers, and festooned
with great bands of parti-coloured silks ; while her stature
was increased in the same ratio by a surprisingly lofty
head-dress, which was full three feet above her brow, and
might have overbalanced a less substantially-built frame.
" This monstrous 'head,' the interior of which (if wo
may venture to reveal the secrets of the toilet) was formed
of tow, rose up smooth and straight as a wall in front, being
stiffened with powder and pomatum, while the sides and
back were covered with ranges of enormous curls, likewise
plentifully besprinkled with powder. Some of these curls
descended on her ladyship's ample shoulders.
" But we have not yet done. The towering head-dress
in question, which reminds one of Queen Huncamunca's,
was hung over with ropes of pearls and other jewels, deco-
rated with ribbons in bobs and ties, and surmounted with a
plume of ostrich feathers.
" There seems little danger of such a mode as this being
'revived, but it may be as well to remark, by way of caution,
that independently of the time occupied in its construction,
the shape, which was calculated to last for a fortnight,
could only be preserved by the wearer sleeping in a chair
the whole of the time. Such, ladies, was a Lady Mayoress
in the time of your great-grandmothers."
Now it so happens that Sir Gresham had two bro-
thers,Godfrey and Lawrence, who left London when
young to push their fortune in the country, and of
neither of whom from that time had he heard.
Just, however, as the Lord Mayor is about to join
his procession two young persons, dressed in rustic
garb, are announced, and introduce themselves to
him as his brother Godfrey's children, Herbert and
Prue ; state that their father is dead, and that they
are come to claim their uncle's protection. Though
he had never before seen or heard of them Sir
Gresham at once recognises them from their family
likeness, and gives them a cordial welcome, Not
so his wife and family. They, ashamed of their
father's low origin, wish to turn their backs upon
his poor relations, but he thus rebukes them—" I
wish everybody to know I am not ashamed of my
origin. I have an honest pride in referring to it.
'Tie one of the greatest privileges of the high office
I now hold, that its qualifications are not exalted
birth, or interest, but the good opinion and esteem
of one's fellow-citizens. These I have won, or I
should not wear these robes to-day. But I should be
unworthy my
office if I could forget my former
position—if I could look coldly on my brother's
children. I bid them heartily welcome. All who
love me, and respect me, will follow my
example.'
And he not only gives them kind words, but places
Herbert in the shop, offers him the management of
it, and promises that, if diligent, he will, on the
next Lord Mayor's Day, take him into partnership.
But another surprise is in store for Sir Gresham.
Whilst he is showing the Duchess of Richmond,
Lady Kildare, and Lady Pembroke,who are termed
the three Court beauties, the Guildhall and the
city giants, and while they were contemplating
Gresham's
droll version of the popular
legend coendlroessspal figures, and listening to Sir
respecting them,
from the
m,astrange
interiorhello of h
hollow sound,te
i ,b n g aprolonged and dismal groan, was
heard, issuing, apparently,
w appropratelycalled Little Ease,
issues
sbferhominda
cellthe i
figure of Ma
and the prisoner emerging at Sir Gresham's orderog,
gog- This sound
turns out to be his long lost brother Laurenae, who
had been there confined for being drunk and dis-
orderly. " Many a one might have hesitated to
acknowledge a near relative under such circum-
stances,
,and could scarcely be blamed for his eeluc-
tan ce. Sir Gresham, however, was not a person of
this stamp. He resolved to adopt the proper and
the manly courfm, let the world think what it
might of him." So be at once acknowledges him,

but the old man, ashamed of his plight, refuses to
admit his identity, and assumes the name of Can-
dish. Still the Lord Mayor believes his conviction
to be true, appoints him to a situation iq his house-
hold, and finds him by no means ungrateful. But
iis
his
son T ile .company,ng man,hasinlhihwedit a tas
te
fofror ex-
travagant
play,
the great source of uneasiness to the Lord Mayor
to
and falling into the hands of sharpers, shows every
ofsympttoomhis
going
father'sruin.
knowledge, On this
he
threatens conduct com-
ing
to
disown him, and it is only in consequence of the
entreaties of his old and attached servant Crutchet,
that he gives him a further trial. But T dra escant,
once in the path of reform, set to work in earnest,
and is fortified in his good resolve by his pretty
cousin Prue. He takes to the business ; it prospers
under his management; he forsakes his dissolute
companions, and the credit of the house of
Lorimer is at length safe in his hands. Herbert
now, the rustic cousin, strange to say, gives
eause for anxiety. In proportion as Tradescant at-
tends to business, he neglects it, nor are remon-
strances of any avail in changing his course. The
enigma is, however, at length solved by the arrival
of an old gentleman from Yorkshire named Winter,
who is a large landed proprietor, and M.P. for the
East Riding, and who explains that he is the long
lost brother Godfrey who had married a Yorkshire
heiress and taken her name, and that his children
had imposed on their uncle by a fictitious story in
order to test his generosity. We scarcely need say
that this at once puts matters straight. Trade-
scant is made happy with his cousin Prue, and
Herbert weds Millicent, Sir Gresham's youngest
daughter, who, differing from her mother and elder
sisters, is a pattern of all that is amiable. So well
known is Mr. Ainsworth's talent for the description
of gorgeous ceremonial, that we can only say he
has found on this occasion an ample field on which
to exercise it, and that the accounts of the Lord
Mayor's procession, banquet, and water pageant,
as they existed a hundred years ago, will be read
with interest by all who delight in events of such
a character.

Ingannati ; the Deceived. A Comedy per-
formed at Siena in 1531, and Aelia Laclia Crispis.

By T. L. Peacock. Chapman and Hall.

In this old Italian comedy, the greater portion of
which is here translated, Mr. Peacock believes he
has discovered the original of Shakspere's" Twelfth
Night," and the correctness of his inference we see
no reason to doubt. The date of Shakspere's comedy
is fixed at about 1600 ; the earliest edition of " Gl'
Ingannati," of which Mr. Peacock has found a re-
cord, is 1537 ; and although most of the details of
the two plays are wholly different--although in the
Italian we find no trace of the wonderful imagina-

tive power or subtle humour of Shakspere—there
is, nevertheless, a certain coincidence of event be-
tween them which leads to the conclusion that
Shakspere may have made the same use of it there
he did of Italian tales and English chronicles. Thus
in both plays " A girl assumes male apparel, and
enters as a page into the service of a man with
whom she either previously is, or subsequently be-
comes, in love. He employs her as a messenger to a
lady, who will not listen to his suit. The lady falls
in love with the supposed page, and, under the in-
fluence of a mistake, marries the girl's twin brother.
The lover transfers his affection to the damsel who
had served him in disguise." And this is, in reality,
all for which Shakspere is indebted. This skeleton
it is which ho has clothed with immortality. That
he should have converted such meagre material into
so exquisite a creation is one of the most convincing
proofs of his power ; and the Shaksperian world
should be grateful to Mr. Peacock for bringing it
to their knowledge. The explanation he gives at
the end of the volume of the famed " Aelia Laclia
Crispin" is ingenious, and will afford matter for dis-
cussion to those curious in such inquiries.

The Royal English. and Foreign Confectioner. By
Charles Elme Francatelli. Chapman and Hall.
We can scarcely describe the contents of this
handsome volume better than in the words of the
author's preface :—" Herein will be found minutely
and correctly detailed, instructions giving the most
approved methods for the preservation of fruits, in
sugar or spirits ; the preparation of all kinds of.
syrups; English, foreign, and national fancy beve-
rages; ices, graniti, bon-bons, candies, comfits,
compotes, dessert cakes, plain and fancy bread-
making ; spirituous essences, liqueurs, cordials; orna-
mental confectionary, the dishing up of fruits, and
the general economy and arrangement of desserts."
We have only to add that there are numerous illus-
trations in chromolithography of artistically-
contrived dishes, and it will at once be evident that
the volume contains every requisite aid to ensure
success in the confectioners indispensable calling.

Elements of Geography. For Schools and Families.

By A. F. Foster. Chapman and Hall.
We have here a clear and concise account of the
principal physical features of the world we inhabit,
and so much of the social and political condition of
each country as every fairly-educated person ought
to know. Thus the area and population of each
country are given, the natural features and chief
products described, the government, religion, and
condition of the people commented on, and at the
end is a very useful etymological and pronouncing
index of the terms and names common to geography
as made use of in the work.

THE LOSS OF THE BRIG COMMODORE.

The following is the official report on the inquiry into
the loss of this vessel :

"My Lords,—l have, in accordance with your inetrue.

tions, and in conjunction with Captains Harris and Feat,
as nautical assessors, held an inquiry into the loss of the
brig Commodore, which was wrecked on the Horse Bank,
off the mouth of the River Ribble on the 19th of July last.
The Commodore was a vessel built of wood, of 221 tons
burthen, owned by Mr. James Bloomer, of South Shields,
and commanded by Mr. William Johnston, who held a cer-
tificate of competency, which was lost in the vessel, and had
a crew of nine persons, all told. The Commodore left
Trieste en her homeward voyage laden with wheat, and put
iato Falmouth for orders. She sailed thence for Fleetwood
on the 15th of July, and about one p.m. on the 19th she
struck on the Hoese Bank, at the mouth of the Ribble.
The only evidence which could be brought before the
court was that of George Berwick, the carpenter of the
vessel, the mate having sailed on another voyage; and
the crew having dispersed in various quarters, none of them
could be found for the purposes of this inquiry at the time
when instructions to hold it were issued. The evidence of
the witness Borwick undoubtedly produced an impression
on the minds of the court that there was an absence of pru-
dence on the part of the master in neglecting to use the lead
when approaching a low and dangerous coast, as, so far as
he could say, he heard no orders given for the use of the

lead till within ten minutes before the ship struck ' • nor, to
his knowledge, could he say that the lead was ever used at
all, Looking at the size of the vessel,
ds
iaenadcmonanseqwuoenintdlyhcaovne-
sidering the facility with which the
been beard, there would seem to be little doubt that the
sailing master neglected to use the lead in sufficient time to prevent
theaccident,been ali t,y referring to the chart he would appearng for many miles in very shallow sound-
to have
sound-
ings. On the other hand; the master is said by the witness
scarcely to have quitted the deck since leaving Falmouth,
and had been frequently aloft during the morning for the
purpose of making the land. The master, by the advice of
his solicitor, declined to make any statement, and the
testimony of the carpenter alone remained to guide the
court to a conclusion. Under these circumstances, a very
grave question presented itself to my mind, as to how far,
on the unsupported evidence of one witness, and that
witness not a seaman, I should be justified in condemning
the master to the heavy penalty With which he might
justly have been visited had other corroborative testi-
raol3l been laid before the court. While, morally speaking,
the evidence of the single witness who could be called,
coupled with all the probabilities of the case and the ex-
perience of the nautical assessors, strongly impel me to a
conclusion unfavourable to the master, I cannot say that I
feel myself justified in stating that there is that satisfactory
legal proof which would call upon me to prcnounec the
master in default. I have, therefore, in giving judgment
under the provisions of the amendment Merchant Shipping
Act, 1862, now for the first time brought into operation, in-
formed the master of the Commodore, that while I do not

pronounce him guilty of a default, whereby he would have
rendered himself liable to a suspension of his certificate, I
do feel it requisite to admonish him to be more careful for
the future, should he hereafter obtain another command,---
I have, &c.,

" T. S. RAFFLES, Police Magistrate.
" Liverpool, August 13.
" We concur in the above report.
HY. HARRIS, 1
Nautical Assessors.
ROBT. SCOTT, j
" The Secretary, Marine Department, Board of Trade."