The Sun.
London, England, 1854-11-15 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

The Curate of Overton:

3 vols. Hurst and

Blackett.
This book is only suited to a particular class of
readers; it is of the controversial species. It is
seldom that such works can be rendered attractive;
and, in the one before us, there is too much bitter
personal feeling demonstrated for the carrying out
of a public object. It would have been more effec-
tive, for instance, if the curate had only carried on
his endeavours for the cause of his religion and in
the service of his Church, instead of being solely
actuated by jealousy and revenge. Whether or not
the readers approve of his views and doctrines
they would have more respect and confidence in a
person who was straightforward. Besides these
drawbacks, too many horrors are introduced, and
too many plots and conspiracies appear, to be alto-
gether natural or probable. If a more simple and
concise arrangement had been adopted the author
would have 'effected his object better, and have
more clearly explained his meaning. The parts
of the story which do not .bear affinity to iheolo
gical subjects are pleasing. Florence, the sister
of the heroine, is a graceful, unaffected being,
who imparts some degree of cheerfulness and viva-
city to the scene. A great deal of ingenuity is
displayed in the last part of the story, when Con-
stance and Isabel contrive to escape from the con-
vent. Constance was a very weak and vacillating
character ; she brought all her troubles on herself

by her in-decision arid want of self-control. The
same may be said of Edith, who died in a very
melancholy manner. If they had displayed any
consistency on either side they would not have been
molested, but no one could be expected to pay de...
ference to those who were led away so easily, and
then instantly repented of what they had done. It
is not such a proof of the powers of the class to
to which the curate of Overton belonged when the
only persons shown to be converted were two in-
experienced maidens, who had no stability of mind
or superiority of intellect. The danger, would
have been imminent if the learned, the influential,
or the mighty, had been perverted from their faith ;
but we are not told .that any such converts were
made. From a motive of private revenge the
work 'was begun and carried on. This work is very
likely to be read by many on account of its peculiar
style and purpose ; and those who are pleased by
the mysterious, and attracted by the terrible in
romance, will find in its pages ample scope for the
indulgence of their tastes and predilections.

Painting and Celebrated Painters. Edited by
Lady Jervis. 2 vols. Hurst and Blackett.
This work is not to be regarded as a criticism on
the various schools, or a comparison of different
epochs of art, or even a disquisition on the relative
merits. of the great masters. It is not intended for
the consideration of the connoisseur or the instruc-
tion: of the artist, but simply as a companion and
guide to the ignorant • and uninitiated, to afford
them some idea of the liVes and styles of the chief
masters. The absence of such a work having been
felt by the editress to be a great disadvantage in
visiting some of our numerous picture galleries
she was desirous of supplying the deficiency. What
she considered to be wanting was an account of our
picture galleries and numerous private collec-
tions introduced into a history of the progress
of painting, that the reader might be able to make
constant reference t o the list, and by this means
become acquainted with the extent of our pictorial;
possessions which she considers underrated. The
number and variety of the names in the index are
indeed surprising, and sufficiently answer the ac-
cusation that the English do not appreciate the
fine arts. At the conclusion of the life of each
painter a list is also given of his chief works in this
country. The work thus certainly attains what the
preface asserts to be its chief object. The somewhat
complicated nature of its authorship will be best
explained by the following passage :
" That something more was wanted—a book that should
be a popular history of the art, with a continual reference
to the works in England that so fully illustrate it—i felt
as much as any one who has entered any of our numerous
private galleries, with a limited knowledge of painting,
and an almost unlimited ignorance of painters. To write
such a work, I wanted both time and ability ; still, with
every fresh visit to a good collection, the necessity pre-
sented itself more urgently; and I could not resist an incli-
nation, created by the non-appearance of those better
qualified for the task, to attempt something, however un-
pretending, in this shape.
" While I was hesitating, a French work fell into my
hands, which, en the first glance, appeared likely to lighten
the labour of composition, the thought of which had kept
a powerful restraint on my zeal. A translation was decided
on, to which I merely intended to append brief notices of
the principal paintings in this country ; but as it proceeded,
so many sins of omission and commission presented them-
selves—errors even that Horace Walpole had corrected in
Felibien—that extensive alterations and additions became
inevitable. When completed, there could be no question
that M. Valentin would not acknowledge it as a transla-
tion, nor could I conscientiously put it forward as original.
All I could do, under the circumstances, was to mark by
brackets the more considerable additions—independently
of which, however, I think it necessary to state, that the
expressions have been frequently modified, and the text
otherwise altered, in accordance with what is believed to
be better authority."
The work commences with a sketch of antique art,
which, though necessarily its information cannot
be entirely depended on, furnishes us with many
interesting anecdotes of the early Greek
painters. The well-known story of the competi-
tion of Zeuxis and Parrhasius is here related.
The early progress of art was much dis-
couraged by the political revolutions and civil
wars. In the seventh century the ascendancy of
the Iconoclasts proved nearly f ttal to the fine arts.
From these early ages we come to the history of
the Florentine school, which includes the immorta
names of Cimabue, Giotto, Leonardo da Vinci, and
Michael Angelo. The Italian schools necessarily
occupy a position commensurate with their im-
portance. The work, it should be observed, is de-
voted solely to a review of the foreign schools, com-
mencing with the earliest demonstrations of ancient
art in Assyria, and concluding with the most recent
efforts of modern art in France. It is to be re-
gretted that our great English artists are not in-
cluded, as they would have rendered the work
complete. The following observation is evidently
correct, though its singularity is striking :
"One of the most remarkable peculiarities in the history
of painting is a fitness for long and tedious studies, in
art, often apparently inherited by several generations of
the same name. There is scarcely a school which does not
present at least one example of this. France can boast of
the Vernets, who have for more than a century been in
possession of the highest eminence in different styles ;
Venice, of the Bellini, whom we have already mentioned ;
and Bologna, of the Caracci, who have acquired a well-
merited celebrity from the immense influence the family
exercised over their epoch."
All who are ignorant of the history aid character
of the great artists will find these volumes afford
them a concise and succinct history of painting and
painters, and an extended knowledge of the works
of art at present in this country.

The Earl De Grey arrived in St. James's-square yes-
terday from Earl Cowper's, Wmgham Lodge, Ramsgate,
en route to Wrest Park, Bedfordshire.
The Earl and Countess of Derby are entertaining a
few select fu iends at Knowsley Hall, near Prescot, Lan-
cashire. The Duke and Duchess of Richmond, en route
from Gordon Castle, N. 8., to the south, are expected to
visit the noble ex-Premier at Knowsley, en route to
Goodwood for the winter.

The dollars brought by the last West India steamer
were sold yesterday at 60d. per ounce, this price being
the same as that obtained for the previous arrivals.
Bar silver has been disposed of at Glid., or an advance
of lid. upon the last price.
Dr. Logan (with the Maharajah Duleep Singh) was
presented to the Queen at an audience, and was knighted.
The Hon. Charles A. Murray left the Castle this
afternoon for London. _

Baron Brunnow has just passed through Berlin on his
way to St. Petersburg. whether he has been summoned
from Brussels. _ a

His Majesty the King of Prussia has conferred the
cross of the Red Eagle upon the editor of the Vienna
Soldaten Ft eund.

The Prussian war-steamers Nix and Salamander have
coaled at Elsinore, on their way to the naval station
lately purchased from Hanover, where a civil administra-
tion is to be immediately established.
DEPARTURE OF THE GUARDS.—It is now understood
that the detachments of the Grenadier and Fusilier
Guards, under orders for the Crimea, will embark on
board the Adalaide, at Portsmouth, on Saturday.
PROVISIONS AND STORES FOR THE ARMY IN THE
CRlMEA.—Yesterday, the Lords Commissioners of the
Admiralty took up vessels for the conveyance forth-
with of ],500 tons of provisions to the army in the
Crimea and at Constantinople ; 900 tons of provisions
for the royal navy are to be sent to Malta, and 120 tons
to Gibraltar ; as also, 19 heavy pieces of ordnance, and
25 tons of ordnance stores. Their lordships also took
up a number of fast steamers for the conveyance of
stores and ammunition to the army in the Crimea.
THEATRICAL ENGAGEMENTS IN FRANTIC—It has fre-
quently been decided by the French courts that a mar-
ried woman cannot contract a theatrical engagement
without the express or tacit authorisation of her husband.
On Saturday the question was raised before the Presi-
dent of the Civil Tribunal, sitting is chambers, whether
or not a married woman can become a dramatic author
without such consent. Madame Roger de Beauvoir,
formerly Mdlle. Deze, of the Theatre Francais, is sepa-
rated from her husband. Some time ago she wrote a
piece in ono act, called " Entre Deux Airs," which was
accepted by the Theatre des Varietes. Recently it was
put in rehearsal. Thereupon M. Roger de Beauvoir
gave a formal notice that he would not allow the rehear-
sals to continue. Mme. Boger de Beauvoir accordingly
on Saturday applied to a judge in chambers for autho-
risation to continue the rehearsals in spite of her 'hus-
band's opposition. M. Roger de Beauvoir, on the
contrary, demanded that they should be positively for-
bidden until a full court should decide whether or not
he had the power to prevent his wife from becoming a
dramatic author. The president decided that, as re-
hearsals are not the same thing as a performance, they
may be continued, until the opinion of the court can be
obtained on the main question.—Owlignoni.

MONEY MARKET

AND
COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

CITY, Two o'CLOCK.
*Thr.
The sales of cotton at Liverpool yesterday were
estimated at from 6,000 to 7,000 bales, including
500 American taken for export. The market closed St
flatly, with prices of all kinds tending downwards. 3
The sales comprised 130 Pernam and Marauham 50
at 6d. to 6id., 600 Egyptian at 5/d. to 8,1 d., 800
Surat at 3,id. to 4d., and the remainder American.
Railway Shares continuo very depressed. 31
The public sales of wool have closed, and the 27
prices are above those of August by about 5 per
cent. There have been 50,471 bales of all sorts 22

pat up.
Three or four large firms at Bergen, in Norway,
have suspended payment.
Still the condition of the corn trade excites at-
tention and solicitude, nor need we feel surprised
at this when we look at the high prices current.
The prospects of a supply from the United States
are undoubtedly more satisfactory, although it is
positively affirmed at the same time that the grain,
having to come from the interior, will only be
brought forward under the stimulus of high prices.
The Bankers' Circular, in an article upon this sub-
ject, has the following remarks :
"It has been sail that large purchases have been made 20
abroad for future delivery ; but we very much doubt St.
whether any considerable quantity can reach the English
markets before the early part of the coming spring. If we St.
had been at peace with Russia, we should probably have 25
received as much from that quarter as in 1853 ; but the St.
war, in addition to the consumption of old stocks on hand, st.
and the diminished supplies from other countries which 10
have hitherto 'supplied us with considerable quantities, St.
constitutes the principal obstacle to any material retitle- 10
tion in the price of wheat on this side of Christmas. St
Calculations have been made by persons who have gone St.
so far as to state that large quantities will be exported to St,
this country from France and Belgium ; but such estimates St.
appear to be wholly destitute of any accurate knowledge St.
of the result of the last harvest in those countries. There St.
is, however, one fact by no means of an insignificant cha-
racter, which may be deduced from the contradictory esti-
mates which appear in print upon this vital subject, that 12
we are still without the statistical information necessary to 50
come to any accurate conclusion about the agricultural pro- 10i
duce of the country. The following extract from the circu 163
-
hr of Messrs. Sturge, of Birmingham, of November, shows St.
that their opinions upon supplies and prices are almost 19i
identical with those which we hare expressed since the 14
termination of harvest :-- 20
" `Since the commencement of last month we have had 11. A
a further advance of from 16s. to 18s. per quarter on wheat St.
making fully 265. per quarter upon the lowest price since St.
harvest. This has occurred not only with an almost entire 20
absence of speculation on the part of every one connected 10
with the trade, but with a larger delivery than nsual from 1.2.
the growers. It is very natural that such high prices, im- St.
mediately after a very fine and productive harvest, should 50
create surprise and even discontent in the minds of those 40
who do not examine closely cause and effect. 25
" `The average price of wheat in 1849, 50, 51, and 52 25
was 41s. ld. per quarter, and had not the deficient harveet St.
of 1853 exhausted the old stocks, the crop of this year 512 s
would, supposing peace had continued, have justified an St.
expectation of a return to these prices, but ao little old St.
wheat remained in any of the consuming countries of 50
Europe, that, under any circumstances, the trice would 25
probably not have ranged below 50s. during the easuing 100
whiter. The war with Russia has, however, placed us 6?
in an entirely new position with regard to the supplies 2r
of foreign wheat. If France and the United States had SA
as much to spare this year as in some former seasons, this 20
might net have so soon been felt by the people of England ;
but as the stocks in these countries were quite as much St.
exhausted as our own, and their crops not so abundant, 50
the former has imported from this country, and the latter St.
will not send us even a limited supply, except at high 16
prices. The sudden cessation of all imports from our chief 16
source of supply has therefore rendered us at once almost 8
entirely dependent upon our home growth.' " 8
It should be stated in qualification of any uneasi- St.
ness that may be felt, that the estimate of high E.
authorities leads to more favourable conclusions 50
than would have otherwise been entertained. Mr. St.
Caird estimates our wheat crop at 16,Z)50,000 qrs., 50
and the annual consumption of the United Kingdom 10
being only 18,000,000 qrs., there is no great quan- 1.0
tity needed. The bareness of old stocks, he never- 20
theless thinks, will cause prices to rule compara- 20
tively high, although the country is in a much 10
safer position in regard to its supply than at this 10
time last year. qt.
The Committee of Spanish American Bondholders
received this morning letters from Mr. Giro, their 20
special commissioner at Buenos Ayres, dated Sept. St.
30th, and Oct. 3d, from which it appears that no sit•o
answer had then been given to the letter of the 6)
British Consul on the subject of the Foreign Debt.
The Bank of Buenos Ayres is to have a new orga-
nisation, so as to make its action and operation in- r 49.
dependent of the Government, in discussing which, ;i0
in the Legislative Chamber, the Finance Minister 20
incidentally alluded to the Foreign Debt, stating 20
that he would soon lay before the chamber the 20
correspondence that had taken place on this matter, 25
and that it would become necessary to think St.
about it. 10
This is "pay day" in the English Stock Market, St.
and the quotations are affected still by the settle- 25
ment, being very depressed. The account appears
to have been decidedly bullish, and the absence of ..221
real buyers, with an increased demand for money 56
among the speculators and dealers, has, in conjunc- 20
tion with the suspense concerning our position at
Sebastopol, had temporarily a greater effect than
might have beenoth er wise the case. Consols have been 212
92± to 92.1 for transfer, and 92/ to 92?,- for account,
the present rates being about 92 The " con-
____
tango" is about per cent. Generally the dif-
ferences are being well met. The New Three per 1.0
Cents. have been 90;:t to 9111, Exchequer Bills are 20
3s to 75., and India Bonds Us. to 12s. premium. 20
In foreign securities the transactions have been
mostly at lower values. Grenada have been at 15, ...
Equador at 3/, Mexican at 21, and Peruvian at IV,
65 to 66 for the Four-and-a-Half per Cents., and 20
at 47 for the Three per Cents ; Spanish New De- t)
ferred Stock has realised 181 ; Turkish Scrip has 20
been at 4to 48 discount for money, and at 3/ to 20
4 discount for account ; Dutch Four per Cents. 20
have been 901. 100
The following are the nominal prices of foreign
100
stoclu,:—Grenada Deferred Bonds, 5t to 5i ; 20
can, 21-i to 21i ; Peruvian, 65 to 67 ; ditto, 25
3 per Cents., 46 to 48 ; Portuguese 4 per Cents., 25
40 to 42 ; Russian 5 per Cents., 95 to 97 ; ditto, 25
4i per Cents., 84 to 86 ; Spanish Now Deferred, 100
18i to 18t -; ditto, 3 per Cents., 37± to 38 ; ditto,
Certificates 51 to 51 ; ditto, Passive, 4± to 5. 100
The Raifwav Share Market has been flatter, the 20
account being in course of adjustment. Shares 5
have been carried over either without charge or at
a small rate of interest. The North Western have
declined about per cent., and the Midland, 100
South-Eastern, and ono or two others in the same
Proportion. Caledonian are higher, and Great 100
Northern very good. The Foreign lines have been 100
dull at barely previous rates. 100
Mines are lower, especially Waller, the Joint 20,
Stock Banks are in favour of buyers, and also the 100'
Land and Crystal Palace Shares. 20

BRITISH FUNDS THIS DAY AT ONE O'CLOW
(Fro, the Official List.)

Tlti‘ Imes done
3 per Cent. Reduced Annuities 9O?,
3 per Cent Consols Annuities 92 ,11
New 3 per Cent. Annuities
Long Annuities, Expire sth Jan., 1860 41 5-16
India Bonds, £lOOO
Ditto, under £lOOO
Consols for Account
Exchequer Bills, 24d.
1:1000
2500

933 i i

Small
PRICE OF FOREIGN FUNDS AT ONE O'CLOCK
Equador Bonds
Grenada Bonds, per Cent
Mexican 3 per Cent.
Peruvian Bonds, 41 per Cent. 65 6
Ditto 3 per Cent.
Spanish Belida, 3 per Cent
Ditto Now Deferred, 3 per Cent lBi
Turkish Scrip 6 per cent
Ditto for tho Account
Dividends on the above payable in London.
Dutch Exchange, per Cent. 12 Guil
Ditto 4 per Cent. Cortifieates
LIALP-PAST TWO.
92i1
........ 92

Consols
Ditto, Accent

FRENCH CAVALRY LEAVING ROME CIVITA. VECCHIA, 230
NOV. 10.—Vessels are expected daily port to 20
take away all the French cavalry now in
for the
is 8
supposed that this force will immediately leavmee.
seat of war. The Couamaader-in-Chief of the Frenchthe 10
army at Rome had received important despatches from 20
France by a special courier. 20
l PRICE OF GOLD.—The quotation of gold at Paris • 6
about 1 per mule discount (according to the last tariff),
20
which, at the English Mint price of 3/. 17s. 101 d. per
ounce for standard gold, gives an exchange of 25.141 •
and, the exchange at Paris on London at short being 40
25.07 L,, it follows that gold is about 0.23 per cent. 40
dearer in Paris than in London. By advices from 'lam- 50
burg, the price of gold is 4241 per mark, which, at the 25
English Mint price of 3/. 17s. 101 d. per ounce for stan- 20
dard gold, gives an excha,nga of 13.-n ; and, the ex-
change at Hamburg on London at short being 13.82, it 100
follows that gold is 0.59 per cent. dearer in Hamburg 100
20
than in London.
THE SEAMEN'S HOSPITAL SOCIETY.—We have been 20
much gratified at learning that the Emperor of Austria,
in consideration of the services rendered to Austrian 50
seamen by the Seamen's Hospital for all Nations, has 50
been pleased to present to the society, through the 100
Consul-General in London, a donation of one hundred 110 J
Pounds. This assistance is described as being peculiarly
acceptable at the present time, as the greatly enhanced
50
cost of proviions, 20
the large increase in the average
number of patients, and the expense of maintaining a 25
eparate ship for cholera patients, have caused a heavy
excess of expenditure over income. The recent altera- 100
.Lions in the Mercantile Marine Law having ,deprived this 10
invaluable institution already of no less than 1,1501. per 5
annum, and provided for an additional loss of 550/. per
annum after 1857, the committee are obliged to seek for 25
more
extended support from the public to enable them 25
to carry on the benevolent dpigus of the charity,
ett