The Sun.
London, England, 1865-01-10 00:00:00

GOOD WORDS.—The January part of " Good

Words" shows no falling off in its management.
Its contents are varied and interesting as ever, and
admirably adapted to the tastes of very diverse
readers. Charles Kingsley begins a new story in
this number, and Alexander Smith bears him company by
giving us the first chapters of a tale entitled " Alfred
Hagart's Household." Another interesting feature is the
commencement of a series of papers on Indian Empire by a
writer of such high qualifications as John William Kayo.
The Duke of Argyll contributes a thoughtful and able
essay on the reign of law, which is well worth attentive
reading. Dr. Playfair has a paper on the nature and com-
position of food, and the editor himself tells us of his
experiences in Malta and Alexandria, so that there is no
lack either of good subjects or able writers.
THE ALEXANDRA MAGAZINE.—This magazine has
an article on cheap clothing, by Miss Ellen Barlee,
the indefatigable manager of the Needlewomen's
Institution, who is thoroughly familiar with her
subject. It is full of sound practical knowledge, and should
be read not only by our ladies who buy cheap clothes, but
by those young girls who think that needlework or milli-
nery offer facilities for pleasure seeking and finery not com-
patible with domestic service. This paper will show both
parties their mistake. An account of Watchwork, consi-
dered as an employment for females, is interesting, and
there are other papers of merit.
THE ECLECTIC.—There are many things to at-
tract the reader who seeks something more than
mere passing amusement. We have papers on the
Mexican future, on the British Association, on Merivale's
" Conversion of the Roman Empire," and on Lord Derby's
" Homer," besides others of the same calibre. The account
of an ocean newspaper got up to beguile the tedium of a long
voyage is pleasantly given, and pourtrays " the perils of
the seas" in various aspects.
THE GALLERY OF GEOGRAPHY. Part XIX.
By the Rev. T. Milner, M.A. W. and R. Cham-
bers.—This excellent publication is now completed,
and will doubtless be issued in a collected form.
It is a perfect fund of information, and contains just those
particulars respecting the towns, cities, and countries of
other lands, which ordinary geographies never give, yet
which serve so much to make knowledge valuable
and interesting. The illustrations aro admirable
and are plentifully scattered throughout. The
part before us relates to Oceania and Australasia, giving an
account of the rise and progress of our great southern colo-
nies. It is a work which reflects honour alike on author
and publisher, and can scarcely fail to attain a standard
position.
ThCHAMBERS'S JOURNAL.—e new series of [
this
long-edablithed favourite ehows an increase of in-

terest withoutlany diminutionof value. There is
plenty of information to be gathered incidentally
from its pages, although it does not profess to be directly
instructive ; but there is also no lack of entertainment, as
this twelfth part of the fourth series will abundantly con-
vince the sceptical.
THE BOYS' OWN MAGAZINE AND THE BOYS'
MONTHLY. Beeton.—lt is very certain that an
illustrated journal of " fact, fiction, history, and
adventure" cannot fail to find favour with juvenile
readers, if it fulfil the promise of its title page, and, conse-
quently, Mr. Beeton's serial is not likely to lack admirers.
" The Boys' Monthly Magazine" is lower in price, and in-
tended for those who find " The Boys' Own Magazine"
too expensive. It has, among other entertaining papers,
an interesting account of Ants and Thermites.
THE ENGLISHWOMAN'S DOMESTIC MAGAZINE.—
This magazine, always a marvel of cheapness, out-
does itself in this part, and certainly its fair readers
have no right to censure the liberality or the variety
of the provision made for them. Fiction, poetry, fashions,
needlework, music, and unnumbered designs for' all kinds
of fancy work, new and old, are to be had with the first
number of this new and enlarged series, and no doubt the
number of subscribers will enlarge correspondingly.
THE YOUNG ENGLISHWOMAN. Part I. Beeton.

Here we have more wonders of fashion and fancy
work, together with several pages of music, and a
really charming coloured picture of a little maid
"Minding Baby." There are, besides, supplementary
sheets with patterns for cutting various articles of dress,
and all details as to fashion, illustrated by appropriate
figures. The ladies of England are especially favoured at
this juncture, and cannot certainly complain that they are
left out in our catalogue of serials.
-

THE SIXPENNY MAGAZINE.—" The Fate of
Thorsghyll " is continued with animation. The
mystery of Felix Thorsghyll's death is still unsolved,
as poor little Felicia, the only one who possesses a
clue, becomes half idiotic in consequence of the
shock of Mrs. Thorsghyll's abrupt revelations. Other
stories laid in the scene of the American War show us the
elements of romance in that tragedy. - Among the general
papers are an account of Paracelsus, the so-called magician,
and " Hints about Eyes," showing how best to care for
those useful organs.

LE FOLLET.—AII the vagaries of the goddess
Fashion are faithfully chronicled in these magic
pages, whose charming illustrations continue to invest
every costume with an air of Parisian grace.
MR. ROMFORD'S HOUNDS. Part IX.—This num-
ber is very amusing ; the adventures of the " Fat
Boy of Pickering Hall" are skilfully narrated,
and the circumstance of the forcible invasion of Miss
Bircle's establishment by the " Benicea Boy" is very enter-
taining. More plots and manoeuvres are on the Lapis, and
one would think Mr. Romford was a millionaire or an
Adonis, so great are the efforts that are made to captivate
him by the would-be aristocracy.

Luttrell of Arran. By Charles Lever. No. XIV.
The story proceeds somewhat slowly in this part.
Young Ladarelle's villany has not brought him
much profit, for he has contrived to get into the
hands of the French police for fraudulent card-
playing. Old Sir Within Wardle is becoming a
confirmed invalid, and of Kate nothing is heard. Harry
Luttrell and the Pyners re-appear in this number, and
Mr. Grenfell and Mainlay take a prominent place in it.
We shall probably find the next chapters more eventful.
ALMANACS.—Mr. Clayton's Royal Almanac of
England is a very excellent one, and so well
arranged that, for many purposes, it will altogether
supersede the use of a Court Guide. The Railway, Bank-
ing, and Insurance Almanac will be exceedingly useful to
the commercial community; and Barton and Co.'s Sheet
Almanac will be of great utility either in the office or
counting-house.

A ROTHBURY MAN HANGED FOR DESERTING
THE FEDERAL ARMY.—The following is a copy of
a letter received from a young man formerly belonging to
Rothbury, who has been serving in the Federal army:—
" Before Petersburg, Saturday, 17th December, 1864.
" Dear Edward Pape,—l take the last opportunity I will
have in this world, as I am condemned to die to-day at
twelve o'clock, for the crime of desertion. In my last
moments I send my love and best respects to you and all
my friends and relations in the world. I forgive all my
enemies, as I hope to be forgiven in the next world. God
forgive me my sins. I am condemned to be hung on this
day at noon.—l remain, truly in Christ, yours ROBERT
SNOWDON. To Mr. Edward Pape, Morpeth, Northumber-
land, England."
SOUTHERN TORPEDOES.—About 11 o'clock on
Wednesday night, the 7th ult., the United States
steamship Narcissus, Captain G. Jones commanding, was
dostroyed by a torpedo in Mobile Bay. The particulars
are as follows :—About dusk the Narcissus took her posi-
tion in front of the obstructions in Mobile Bay, for the
purpose of keeping watch upon the movements of the
enemy's gunboats beyond. Anchoring in eight feet of
water, within 300 yards of the obstructions, and within
sight of the rebel vessels, she remained there until half-
past 10 o'clock, when the wind blew a gale. Fearing that
the vessel would be driven aground, Captain Jones ordered

her into deep water. This was accomplished by steam-
ing down the bay about three quarters of a mile,

when she again came to anchor in about nine feet of
water. The moon shone full and clears so that the rebel

fleet was easily seen at this distance. The vessel had been
at anchor but a short time, the gale in the meantime
increasing, when suddenly an explosion of a torpedo took
place amidships, which lifted her out of the water, broke
her steam and connection pipes, broke her machinery, and
filled her with escaping steam. In addition to this she
began to fill rapidly. Signals of distress were immediately
given, and in a short time the United States steamers Oc-
torara and Cowslip came to her assistance. The fires in
the meantime had been extinguished, and the mon set to
work at the pumps to prevent further disaster. The Octo-
rara drew too much water to approach near enough to the
Narcissus to render material assistance, so that everything
depended upon the efforts of the officers and crew of
the Cowslip, which came alongside as quickly as possible.
When she arrived the Narcissus had settled to the bottom.
The work of removing the officers and crew of the ill-fated
vessel on board the Cowslip, and the transfer of all the
guns, powder, provisions, &c., was effectually accomplished
without a hostile movement on the part of the enemy's
vessels. As the water increased in the hold the gallant
fellows worked bravely to save all that was 'possible,
while others were busily engaged in stopping the leaks.
Captain Jones and those of his crew who escaped injury
remained on the Narcissus to the last, and preparations
were made t 3 fire the vessel in case the enemy made an
attack, which was momentarily expected. The vessel can
be raised without much trouble. Strange to relate but
three persons were scalded and none killed. The firemen
were fortunately nearly all on deck when the torpedo ex-
ploded, or there must have been a serious loss of life. The
executive officer, Mr. Marple, was in his room at the time,
and, being unable to open the door, escaped by the win-
dow. The quarter gunner, Samuel Keelan, and George
Casey, seaman, was seriously scalded. Another person,
also a seaman, was scalded very slightly.
THE SHEFFIELD INUNDATION COMMISSION.—The
clablis for loss of life and bodily injury were com-
menced at the sitting of the court on Saturday morning,
andsome curious exposures took place. An old Irishwoman,
named Mrs. Hannah Cooke, claimed 5001. for the loss of her
husband. The story she told was this : The deceased lived
in a street that was inundated, and where they were awoke
by the flood entering the house, the deceased ran down
stairs and sought to save the furniture. In so doing he
was nearly immersed in the waters, and came up stairs,
" cramped and shivering with the cold." He was taken ill
with symptoms of ague and fever, and although he was
able to work for a few days, he took to his bed on the Sa-
turday night following the flood, and never left it again.

After three weeks a surgeon was called in, and found him
suffering from acute bronchitis, and he died on the llthJune.
The old woman was very loquacious, and described her late
husband as being "as wholesome as any fish that swam in
the sea." The manner in which she gave her evidence excited
general commiseration, which she increased by judiciously
swooning as she was leaving the box. Commissioner
Smith said she had given her evidence with an appearance
of truthfulness that impressed him very much. Mr. Pick-
ering, Q.C., called, on the part of the Water Company,the
employer of the deceased, who showed beyond dispute
that he was in full work, and even working over-
time, up to within a fortnight of his death, in June. The
claim was at once dismissed, as being fxaudulent. The son
and daughter of a man named Mills, who, with his wife,
was drowned at the village of Owlerton, sought to re2csov6edr.
2001. upon the ground that the deceased had allowed
only
a
a week towards their support, although ho wasi oi
working millwright, and that he had occasionally
previously
recovered main-
tained one of the children. The claimant
ofh the deceased,
recovered 501. for the furniture and e
received 401. for bodily injury, andeloleee
of her husband,
and this claim was rejected. An anvilfrosere.tfisothr nthaemleodsWs
of
ishoins
wife. A widow claimed 501. h
silversmithosave
his named
funi.
and
Howarde consented
claimede d to acceptsool. lsl.l2Adf
arwvtoorutigg
bona fide, and the claimant was
paralysis. The claim
th:•lnassheock and the exposure brought
will probably adjourn for a week
tore he got wet, and.
time for the company to ingestigate
gRCiv:EISSION SNOWBALLED.—A dis-
afaawhtdearrsdteoFet-dtmle2o4criwnis:th.ope
A
occurred oTnhethfuenefirarsltprSoucnesdsaiyonionftaheyonithews
ymgreaaancrenfnuealamr7dlineaSlwdaotewr, in walking from Twelveheads to
chacewater, was set upon by a gang of ruffians, and snow-
balled during the greater part of the route by a number of
unknown men and boys, the hats of the followers being
knocked off, and their clothing covered with snow. No
policemen appeared to check the outrage, and the fun of
the snowballers reached its height as the procession en-
tered the churchyard.

THIRD EDIVON.

SUN OFFICE, 7 o'CLocx.

AMERICA.

NEW YORK, DEC. 31, Evening.
Cincinatti despatches reiterate the statement
that the Federal gunboat prevented Hood from
crossing the Tennessee rlver.
The Consul at Bahia will be dismissed, and the
Brazilian flag will receive from the Federal navy
the honour customary in intercourse between
friendly maritime nations.
The crew of the Florida will be set at liberty.
Mr. Seward remarks that the ascription of belli-
gerent character to the Southern insurgents by
Brazil is an act of intervention in derogation of the
law of nations, and wrong and injurious to the
United States. .It does not belong, however, to
individual commanders to redress the wrongs of a
country.
The City of Manchester has arrived out.
The Kangaroo takes out $470,000 in specie.
COMMERCIAL.
Money easy. Gold, 224 ; firmer. New York
Centrals, 113 i. Illinois, 1251. Erie, 841. United
States $5-20 Bonds, 104. Cotton dull. Middling
Upland, 118. Flour dull. Wheat firmer. Coffee
quiet. Sugar steady. Molasses dull. Petroleum—
crude 51, refined 72.