The Sun.
London, England, 1854-06-21 00:00:00

Oakfield ; or, Fellowship in the East. By W. D.
Arnold, Lieutenant. Second Edition. 2 vols.
Longman.

A great deal may be gathered from this work
on Indian life and customs, and hence it is interest-
ing, although it is not very pleasing. The hero goes
out to India in high spirits, and expects to find in
the excitement and engrossments of foreign service
an agreeable change from the uncongenial pursuits
of an academical life. He is doomed to disappoint-
ment from the outset. The gorgeous splendour of
au oriental career is soon discovered to be vanity
and vexation. Oakfield had besides some peculiar
notions of his own, which did not accord very well
with the free and unconstrained ideas of a military
existence. He was consistent and honourable
throughout, however strange and erroneous might
be his opinions. He did not meet with the respect
which was undoubtedly his due. He was once
summoned before a court-martial, the accounts of
which are given in the course of the story, and.
are very interesting, affording an insight into the
way such matters are arranged abroad. The hero
came off victorious, but ho did not get on more
satisfactorily notwithstanding. The very circum-
stance of his having triumphed against their
opinions only urged on his opponents to more
violent demonstrations of and hatred.
Hardly any one would speak to him for some
months. It was not till after a fierce battle had
taken place, in which Oakfield rescued the colours
of his regiment as the enemy was on the point of
carrying them off. After the courage so unde-
niably manifested on this occasion, the associates
of Oakfield were compelled to retract their former
opinion. But the fatigues and annoyances to which
he had been subject had made fearful inroads on his
health, and he was obliged to return home. There
in the society of his dearly cherished relations, he
departed from the world he had found so hard and
cold. " The last words of that young warrior, a
word which his countenance, as it settled into the
sleep of death, confirmed, that word was Peace,"
saying which, he passed away."

TUE MUSICAL UNION.—The sixth concert
tion of the music and the'
at Willie's rooms.
Much praise is due to Mr. Ella ay
renders this society of th•
Musical Union was held yesterday
erffoorrintehr es
ej
nu
gd
t i
,sehliscot;
y one of the first musical socie les n
Europe. The programme comprised the highest talent
—Mdlle. Wilhelmina Clangs, Ernest, Piatu, Goffrie,
and Hill. The announcement that Mdlle. Clause was to
perform in Mozart's Quartet in G minor drew an un-
usually large audience. The performance was, in every
respect, perfect. Beethoven's quartet in C (No. 9, Op.
59) is one of the finest compositions of that great
genius. We do not hesitate to say that it is one of the
best compositions we have heard, and the manner in
which this most difficult music was executed elicited the
enthusiastic applause of an appreciating audience. The
concert concluded by Mdlle. Clangs performing Men-
deh.sohn's " Lieder ohne Worte." with the exception
of Mendelssohn himself, it has been acknowledged that
there never was an interpreter of his music equal to this
gifted perrer. Mdlle. Clauss's grand annual concert
takes placefo atm Willis's rooms on Saturday next, the 24th
instant.
THE PRESTON STRlKE.—Another balance sheet was
last week issues by the Amalgamated Committee. It
shows an income for the two weeks of 571. Os, 11 jd. ; of
which sum 191. ss. 6d. has been paid over to wearers°
191. 19s. 11d. to spinners, 51. 4s. to distressed families,
31. to the secretary and treasurer, 6/. for printing and
for other expenses, the amount of the balance, minus
4s. 100., still in the treasurer's hands. The address is
a brief one, and is principally taken up with lamenting
that the masters are not disposed to forego the prosecu-
tion of the " conspirators." It is stated that 280 indi-
viduals connected with the various branches of !factory
labour are yet out of employment.—Preston Chronicle.
RUSSIAN PRISONERS.--TllO P PCS 3 of Vienna says
that nine Russian officers, who have been made prisoners,
have been sent from Varna to London, on boa-rd sn
Pnglisb transport.