The Sun.
London, England, 1854-03-15 00:00:00

LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, MARCH 15, 1854.

GLENFIELD PATENT STARCH (used in
her Majesty's Laundry), and WOTHERSPOON'S Machine-
made CO •FECTIONERY, MARM ,LADE, JAMS, JELLIES, Re.,
(which gained the Prize Med,l of 1851), may be had of all Grocers;
Wholesale of Wotherspoon, Mackay, and Co., 66, Queen-street,
Cheapstde, London, and Robert Wotherspoon and Co., Glagow.

pURSSELL' S. —BALL SUPPERS and
WE .11a NG BREAKFASTS SUPPLIED in the first style;
public breakfasts, dinners, and promenade suppers supplied by con-
tract ; a large stock of bride cakes for immediate use, from one to
twenty guineas each; a handsome cake for five guioeas, packed and
sent to any part of the country ifrequired, and warranted to keep 12
months.—JOHN R. PuusszLL, 162, Regent-street, and 20, Ludgate-
bill, only.

pURSSELL'S BISCUITS, in Bags, 14 for is.,
or in Boxes, Is., 2s. 6d., as., and 10s. each—viz., Captains', or
German Cuddy Biscuits, have long been esteemed fer their delightful
flavour, and are adapted for coffee and tea ; Milk or Cheese Biscuits,
rrowroot Biscuits for invalids, and their nutritive quality makes
them adapted for children ; Abernethy Biscuits, Krown Digestive
Rye Biscuits; a large assortment of Mixed Biscuits, Is. OM. per
lb. ; Bartholiver's Wine Biscuits, Isle of Wight Cracknells ; Arrow-
root Biscuits, Coffee, ditto, thin Captains' and thin Rusks, for wine.
The Royal German Rusks, Tops and Bottoms for infants' food, sold
is bags or ss. boxes. Warranted to Keep Six Months.
JOHN R. PURSSELL, 162, Regent-street, and 20, Ludgate-hill,
only.

THE LATE MR. JUSTICE TALFOURD.

(Prom the Times.)

If the homage of general regret can at all assuage the
severity of private and domestic affliction, the family and
friends of the late Mr. Justice Talfourd should feel that
the calamity which has fallen upon them is not without
alleviation. Few' men who have been so long before the
public; and who have occupied so prominent a station,
have ever succeeded in securing so large and so sincere
a measure of personal regard as the man to whose cha-
racter and attainments we are now endeavouring to offer
a tribute of respect. Personal amiability was undoubt-
edly the most marking feature in Sir T. N. Talfourd's
character. In saying this, we would not be understood
as endeavouring in the faintest degree to detract from
the well-earned reputation of the lawyer and judge, or
the more graceful triumphs of the poet and student. In
speaking of Mr. Justice Talfourd, we naturally refer,
first, to that which was his leading characteristic—not
only because it was so, but because, in our opinion, this
quality of personal amiability, when united with a vigor-
ous intellect, honesty of purpose, and manly industry, is
among the rarest and most valuable gifts bestowed by
Providence upon human beings. Men of ability are met
with at the corner of every street—men of great ability
are certainly no phenomena upon the stage of life. Any
man of reasonably clear head, of determined will, and
settled disregard for the feelings and fate of those around
him, may achieve a considerable measure of success, as
modern society is constituted. The success, however, will
be one which will not attract the good-will of his fellows
while living, nor obtain for him one word of commenda-
tion or regret when he is called away to another scene,
where those who have lived only for themselves here
below no doubt attain exactly the reward which they
have deserved. Far different was the case of the kindly,
warm-hearted man, whose sudden loss we have now to
deplore. It may be said with truth of Mr. Justice
Talfourd, that the only pang he ever caused to all who
had the happiness of his friendship was by his untimely
death. He was as singularly constant in his attachments
as he was ready to attach himself to all those whose
qualities of heart or intellect might seem to challenge
his consideration and regard. The union of the two
qualities is rare indeed, but it existed in him. It should
perhaps be added, before we pass on to other points in
his career, that, as a genial and classic companion in his
convivial hours, when the hard labours of the day were
at end, and the harder labours of the night had not yet
begun, few men at the English bar or in London society
could compare with him. A diligent student of litera-
ture, ancient and modern, he was ever ready with the
apt quotation or the graceful allusion—so much so that
it was a matter of surprise to all who knew him and
were aware of the unflinching industry with which he
applied himself to the labours of his profession, how he
could find time for acquiring and keeping up so exten-
sive a knowledge of literature. Even at such moments,
as in all others, the mirth of Talfourd vas that of a
gentle nature and a warm heart. He was not one of
those who take advantage of superior wit er readiness to
point an arrkaw which, although shot in seeming sport,
may long rankle in the breast of a stranger or a friend.
It seemed but right to speak first of this singular
kindliness of nature, which we take to lave been the
leading feature in the character of the deseased Judge.
If we pass on from this, we find that he made himself
known to his contemporaries on the stage of public life
in three distinct manners. He was a lawser—an orator
—a poet. There have been more astute .awyers, more
accomplished orators, and more transcendent poets cer-
tainly than Talfourd, but it is much to have earned dis-
tinctions so various in such different &his of action.
We question if any man in the records of the bar, who
lived so earnest a life of legal industry, over won so much
distinction in literature as the author of/on. To have
attained a puisne-judgeship is a succes3 in life, even
though a man has not a soul above a demurrer or a legal
point ; to have made half-a-dozen good Epeeches in Par-
liament would certainly put a man wen with the club
coteries and attract the attention of the Treasury bench;
to have written a successful tragedy las been accom-
plished by three or four men only since the Puritans
shut up the theatres. Talfourd did yll these things.
He was no Follett at the bar, and no Ylansfield on the
bench ; but in either post he was an irdustrious, clear-
headed, and pains-taking lawyer, certainly equal, and,
probably, above the average of those who have risen to
the distinctions of the profession. There are not, again,
many men, other than professed orators and statesmen,
who have addressed the Lower House of Parliament in
a more effective manner than was done by Talfourd
on the copyright question. With regard to that
dramatic work, as the author of which this eminent
man was chiefly known to the general public,
although we are not here writing a lierary criticism, it
is but fair to say that the play was eminently an original
one. Such as it was, it was the growth of his own mind.
The author had not copied from any contemporary or
immediate predecessor the trick of his diction, the turn
of his plot, the cast of his characters. Even unfavour-
able critics must admit that the play or poem of lon
contains many passages of singular grace and exquisite
feeling, and that it was constructed with a great know-
ledge of stage effect, attained, not by artifice or claptrap,
but by the natural development of a simple though
effective plot. If we are not mistaken, the lawyer and
judge will be remembered in English literature as the
author of a most chaste and classical drama, which will
be long read and admired. Speaking, then, of the intel-
lectual qualities of Talfourd, we are not disposed to place
him among the foremost men in any walk of active or
speculative life. Such pre-eminence is generally won by
the sacrifice of all the faculties and capacities save one,
to the immoderate cultivation of that one quality on
which the success 'of a life is staked. In Mr. Justice
Talfourd we note rather the singular blending and union
of so many intellectual properties, seemingly so diverse,
in one harmonious whole.
It remains to speak of his unflinching industry—of the
unsullied name which he has bequeathed to his children
as their best inheritance. In consequence, we believe,
of family reverses, Talfourd was thrown early upon
his own resources, and manfully prepared himself
for the struggle of life. From the humble but
honourable position of a reporter on this jour-
nal he advanced to the prosecution of his studies
at the bar, and these were carried on with a success
which in time brought practice. The practice was
moderate at first, but certain. Talfourd never faltered
in the career which he had commenced with a determi-
nation to succeed, and so year followed year, and time
brought with it honour, experience, and gain. It was
said at the time that the success of his tragedy brought
with it some discredit as a lawyer—not because he had
shown himself a bad lawyer, but because he was proved
to be a good poet. We know not how this may be, and
it boots not much to inquire. The fact remains that he
practised his profession with so much success that he
was in time thought worthy of the judge's ermine. Few
men can expect to be so much regretted, as few have
been so generally esteemed, as Thomas Noon Talfourd.

PREPARATIONS FOR WAR.

THE BALTIC FLEET.'
DEAL, MONDAY, 1 P.M.
The squadron under the orders of Vice-Admiral Sir
Charles Napier is lying at single anchor in the Downs,
awaiting final orders, and comprises the following ships :
—The Duke of Wellington, 131 (screw), with the flag of
the Commander-in-Chief at the fore ; Royal George, 121
(screw) ; St. Jean d'Acre, 101 (screw) ; Princess Royal,
91 (screw) ; Cressy, 80 (screw) ; Edinburgh, 58 (screw),
flag of Rear-Admiral Chads, C.B. ; Blenheim, 60 (screw);
Hogue, 60 (screw) ; Ajax, 58 (screw) ; Imptrieuse, 50
(screw) ; Arrogant, 46 (screw) ; Amphion, 34 (screw) ;
Tribune, 30 (screw) ; Valorous, 16 ; Leopard, 12, flag of
Rear-Admiral Plumridge ; and Dragon, 6, paddle fri-
gates, in all 16 sail, mounting in the aggregate 953 guns,
and with a total complement of 9,390 seamen, marines,
and marine artillery. The Ajax shifted her mizentopsail
in the forenoon, and exercised a rortion of her crew
at general quarters. The whole of the ships have their
fires banked up, so as to be ready to weigh at a mo-
ment's notice. The Hecla steamer, Mr. Peter Welling-
ton Master Commanding, having embarked the North
Sea pilots, &c., left yesterday at 8 p.m., for Spithead.
Hundreds of persons have been aficat to-day in steam-
vessels and shore • boats, to witness, ;he imposing spec-
tacle the Downs present. The Deal boatmen are reap-
ing a rich harvest, charging in many instances 10s. a
head for the conveyance of passengers! to and from the
shore.

2.30 P.N.—The signal "Prepare for Sea" has'just klen
made, and the various ships are about to weigh anchor.
MONDAY, 7 P.M.—Shortly after two-o'clock this after-
noon the fleet got under weigh, and proceeded in regular
order, the Duke of Wellington being the last to start.
By five o'clock the ships were all out of sight. Not-
withstanding the immense concourse of persons assem-
bled, and the natural excitement everywhere prevailed,
not a single casualty occurred to mar the imposing gran-
deur of the scene, which stands unprecedented in modern
times, and as such will be handed down to posterity.
May the achievements of our fleet be equally as brilliant
and successful !—Kentish Gazette.

SOUTHAMPTON, MARCH 14.
Intelligence has reached this port to-day of the arrival
at Gibraltar, on the 3d inst., of the Peninsular and
Oriental Company's steam-ship Himalaya. She made
the run from Plymouth in three days 12 hours, the
quickest voyage across the Bay of Biscay ever accom-
plished. The troops were in excellent health and spirits.
The Himalaya, it will be recollected, left Plymouth on
the 28th of February, five days after the departure of
the Orinoco, Ripon, and Manilla from Southampton.

PORTSMOUTH, MARCH 14.
The Neptune, 120, Captain Hutton, flag of Rear-
Admiral Corry ; the Boscawen, 70, Captain Glanville ;
and the Bulldog, 6, paddle frigate, Captain W. K. Hall,
are under orders to leave Spithead to-morrow, to join
the fleet of Sir Charles Napier in Wingo Sound. The
Neptune's complement of 370 is fully made up, and such
is the estimation in which her Admiral and Captain are
held that she might have been far more extensively
manned had it been necessary, 30 volunteers having pre-
sented themselves only yesterday. Her newly-entered
men have been paid an advance to-day, and she has re-
ceived all supernumeraries and packages for the Baltic
fleet, and is perfectly ready to sail, but is detained for
the Boscawen to make up her crew, to enable her to do
which 89 Coastguardmen are being brought in, either
by the steam-frigates Magicienne or Vulture, or by
railway, and are hourly expected. The Neptune's
extra number was made up entirely while in harbour
by -volunteers from other ports. The, whole of her
crew had leave before going to Spithead, and all
have punctually returned, except two or three, whose
room will be far more desirable than their company.
The Bulldog got up steam, and cruised about Spit-
head for a couple of hours this forenoon, to try her
boilers. These three ships are to proceed direct
to Wingo Sound. The Odin, 16, paddle-wheel frigate,
Captain Francis Scott, will follow on Saturday- She is
refitting her boilers, &c., with night and day despatch,
and will steam direct fromthe basin to sea. This will be
the first chance offering to relatives and friends to com-
municate with the fleets ; and Capt. Scott has been be-
sieged with letters, soliciting the conveyance of articles
for officers and men in the various ships now on their
way to the Baltic, in answer to which he requests us to
state that everything for the fleet of Sir Charles Napier,
from persons having friends serving therein, which may
be put on board her Majesty's ship Odin before Saturday
next, the 18th inst., shall be carefully secured and for-
warded to the address upon each article.
The Cmsar, 91, screw, Captain Robb, steamed out to
Spithead to-day. She has large gangs of artificers still in
her employed upon her internal fitments, and has ne-
guns, btft they arrived for her last night, and she wilrshli
them forthwith. The alacrity with which this ship has
been got to Spithead, almost ready to sail, reflects the
highest credit upon every department employed.
The St. Vincent, 101, flush deck three-decker, Captain
E. H. Scott, has been brought down the harbour to-day,
and placed alongside the dockyard to be expedited in
her fittings as a sea-going ship.
The Gladiator, paddle-frigate, and Scourge and
Sphynx, paddle-sloops, are being expedited for commis-
sion. The pendants are expected to be hoisted daily.
The troop and store-slip Resistance, Master-Com-
mander Bradshaw, in dock, has received new lower
rigging, and is nearly ratted. She is wanted for ser-
vice without delay.
The Prince Regent, 90; Captain H. Smith, C. 8., is
refitting her rigging at Snithead. She has been exer-
cising her ship's company at great gunnery to-day. She
will be some time manning if she is not supplied by
draughts. _ _

The British and Irish steam-packet Company's ship
Foyle arrived to-day from Dublin with 133 volunteers
from the 92d Regiment to the 42d and 79th High-
landers, both in this garrison, and under orders for fo-
reign service.
Twenty volunteers have been selected from the Royal
Artillery at this station, and proceeded to Woolwich
yesterday to join Captain Swinburn's company, ordered
for foreign service.

One hundred volunteers are expected from the 72d
Regiment, to complete the 79th ordered on foreign
service.

The Fairy, steam-yacht, Captain the Hon. Joseph
Denman, is ordered to convey her Majesty and the
Court from Osborne to Gosport, en route to London, on
Friday morning.
Vice-Admiral Sir Thomas Cochrane, K.C.8., Port
Admiral, having gone on leave until Friday, the duties
of Commander-in-Chief are being carried on pro tem. by
Rear-Admiral Corry.

PLYMOUTH, MARCH 14.
The screw steam-ship Golden Fleece. Commander
Stewart, sailed to-day for Malta. On leaving the Sound
the soldiers of the 4th were cheered most heartily by
the St. George, 121, Captain Eynes, lying inside the
Breakwater.
A letter, written by an officer of one of the 60-gun
the great gratifica-
tion fleet, and dated
ist
°hi
tnphs we belonginghD icohwtnhseoyntao Si
l lS
expresses
uenxrdpCaeyhriaernlecse d at the condescension of
her Majesty in accompanying them as far as the Nab
Light, and at the manifest interest of the spectators,
who dotted every headland ashore. They were also
heartily greeted by every merchant-vessel, whether col-
lier or clipper, which they passed in going to the
Downs.
The expected harbour for rendezvous was Wingo
Sound.

WOOLWICH, MARCH l4.
APPOINTMENTS.
Master George Biddlecombe (1835),
recently serving
in the St. George, 121, rchen guard-ship of ordinary at
Devonport, and subsequently transferred to the Royal
William, is appointed to be master of the Baltic fleet.
He was second officer in an East India Company trans-
port during the Burmese war, in 1825, and second mas-
ter of the Etna, surveying the west coast of Africa. He
was employed at the siege of Oporto, in 1832 ; master
of the Talbot, and rendered important service in sur-
veying the shoals of S. Jean d'Acre, previously to
the bombardment in 184 f. Surveyed Keith's Reef and
examined the shores the Black Sea ; and was pre-
sented with a chronometer by the merchants of Jamaica
for services rendered at ~hat island,
Alexander M'Kechnie, M.D., recently promoted to
be Inspector of Hospitals, is appointed to the Belleisle
hospital-ship, in attendance on the Baltic fleet.
Surgeons—Robert Bah, M.D. (1852), from the
Vulture paddle-wheel seam-frigate to the Belleisle ;
James J. Martin,
M.D., (1853), to the Belleisle ; Ed-
ward Groves (1846), to tae Gorgon paddle-wheel steam-
sloop, at Portsmouth.
Chaplain Joseph M. Clark (1854), to the Valorous,
16, paddle-wheel steam-frigate, of the Baltic fleet.
Assistant Surgeons.—William L. Gordon, M.D., of
-
the Woolwich division of the Royal Marines, to the
Majestic, 81, screw steamship, at Sheerness ; John C.
Messer (1852), to the Arrogant, 47, screw steam-frigate,
of the Baltic fleet.
Acting Assistant-Surgeons.—John Fisher (1854), to
the St. George, 121 ; John L. Thornhill (1854), to
Haslar Hospital, at Portsmouth.
Acting Naval Instructor.—Joseph W. Jeans (1854),
to the Csar, 91, screw steam-ship, at Portsmouth.
Clerk.—Francis Braddon (1854), to the Imps egnable,
flag-ship, at Devonport.
PROMOTION.

Arthur A. W. On slew, late acting-mate of the Volcano,
who passed at the Royal Naval College on the 9th inst.,
is promoted to the rank of Lieutenant.
The Lightning steam-vessel, Capt. Sulivan, was taken
out of the basin to-day, and is to leave Woolwich on
Thursday, on surveying-service with the Baltic fleet.
Two additional horse transport-ships, No. 3, Her
Majesty, and No. 5, the Resolute, arrived at Woolwich
to-day, from Deptford, and were immediately taken into
the basin.

THE ROYAL EXCHANGE CLOCK.—For some time past
the clock in the tower of the Royal Exchange has been
undergoing repairs, for which purpose the hands were
removed. The necessary repairs having been effected,
the hands have been replaced, and the clock rendered
of the ordinary service to the public at this important
part of the City.