The Sun.
London, England, 1849-11-20 00:00:00

EVENING, NOVEMBER 20, 1849,

LITERATURE.
TWENTY FIVE YEARS' SERVICE IN
THE HUDSON'S BdY TERRITORY. By
John .21PLean. 2 Vols.
Little do the dainty dames and damsels of Europe,
as they envelope their delicate throats and wrists in
their coverings of sable or chinchilla, dream of the
dangers and difficulties, the hazardous enterprises and
the artful devices of which those furs have been the
occasion. True, we all know whence such articles
proceed; wo all know that
Nature's children all divide her care,
The fur that warms a monarch warmed a bear;"
still we are unacquainted with the various details of
the pursuit of fur under difficulties, and with these
details Mr. M'Lean makes us pleasantly acquainted.
It might be ignorantly imagined that the danger
and the difficulty of the fur trade lay in the pur-
suit and capture of the fur-giving animals; when
once the glossy coat had been stripped from the
wild limbs on which it grew, we might suppose
that the task had been accomplished. Not so, how-
ever, as all who peruse these volumes will perceive.
The Indian hunter arrives with his precious
load of valiantly won furs at the traders'
settlement. If he enters into one abode he means to
dispose of all his wares to one customer, but if he
deposits his load at the entrance it is a sign that he
intends sharing it among competing purchasers.
What with occasional quarrels, even to bloodshed,
with these Indian hunters, and frequent civil wars
with rival buyers; what with the dangers incident to
the climate and the perils of exploration, with occa-
sional short commons, real or supposed grievances;
what with total alienation from all civilized comforts,
&c., the life of' the Hudson's Bay trader is, according
to Mr. M`Lean's showing, not very attractive. After
twenty-five years' service the author resigned his
situation, somewhat dissatisfied with the treatment
he had therein experienced. The Hudson's Bay
Company does not receive much eulogy at his hands.
Very possibly his observations are correct; monopoly,
whether vested in the hands of an individual or a'
company, is rarely productive of good fruits. Never-
theless, we are generally disposed to believe, cum
grano sails, any revelations of the secrets of the
prison-house. Adventures of various character
abound in these volumes. The mode of life which
they illustrate is one with which " books of travels"
very rarely make us acquainted. The following
anecdote is a specimen of the way in which com-
petition is carried on at the North Pole :
" A Canadian merchant in easy circumstances, who
dwelt opposite to the village, having learned the advan-
tageous terms obtrined by the petty traders from the
company, addressed a very polite note to Mr. Fisher,
stating his intention to try his fortune as a trader, but,
that he would have no,oijection to postpone the attempt
for five years, pKevided the company would allow him
150/. a year during that period. The proposal was sub-
mitted to Mr. Thane, vele4 laconically rept cl, Let
him do his worst.' Accordingly St. Julien immediately
cernwenced operations. He hired one end of sii Indian
house; which he fitted up as a trader's shop;' Fisher cot
the company) hired the other end. St. Julien then re-
moved to another Fisher occupied the other end .of
that house also.. St. Julien next rented a whole houie;
Fisher purchased a house, placed it upon rollers, and
wheeled it directly in front of that of hue rival, rear-
wards, scarcely leaving sufficient room for one person'-to'
pass between the premises. This caused great
amuse-
meat to the Indians; not so to St. Julien, who had not
anticipated' so excessive a desire on the part of any of
the Company's otiieers for so close an intimacy; and at
the end of six weeks he took hia departure without pay
or pension from the company."
Another 'anecdote, of :a ',different nature, 'further
illustrates the character of the imperturbable Fisher.
He had advanced a sum of money to an Iro-
quois, and—
" Seeing him pass his door the ensuing spring, after
the debt had been contracted, with his furs, which he
carried to our opponents, he watched his return, and,
calling him in, demanded payment ; an insolent reply
was the return for his kindness, which so much exaspe-
rated him that he kicked him out in presence of several
Indians. The insult was not forgotten. Soon after his
arrival this spring he sent for Mr. Fisher, who complied
with the invitation, expecting payment of his debt. The
moment he entered the house, however, he discovered
that he had been inveigled. The Indian stood before
him, his face painted, and a pistol in his hand, which
he presented. In an instant Mr. Fisher bared his
breast, and staring his enemy fiercely in the face, ex-
claimed, Fire, you black dogl What! did you imagine
you had sent for an old woman?'
" Mr. Fisher's knowledge of the Indian character
saved his life; had he betrayed the slightest symptom
of fear, ho was a deed man; but the undaunted attitude
he assumed staggered the resolution of the savage; a
new bias seemed to operate on his mind, probably
through a feeling of respect for the determined courage
di;plai ed by his intended victim. He could not brace
his nerves to a second effort; his hand dropped listlessly
by his side; his gaze was fixed on Mr. Fisher for a
moment; then dashing the pistol violently on the ground
he beckoned him to withdraw."
The following is an account of a singular pheno-
menon presented by the Great Slave Lake in the
winter season :
" The ice is never less than five feet in thickness,
frequently from eight to nine; yet the water under this
enormous crust not only feels the changes of the atmo-
sphere, but anticipates them. An approaching change of
wind or weather is known twenty-tour hours before it
occurs. For instance, while the weather is perfectly
calm, if a storm be at hand, the lake becomes violently
agitated the day before; when calm weather is to suc-
ceed, it is indicated in like manner by the previous still-
ness of the lake, even when the gale is still raging in
the air. In summer there is no perceptible current in
the lake; in winter, however, a current always sets in
the direction of the wind, and indicates a change of wind
by running in a different direction. These curious
points have been ascertained by the long observation of
our fishermen, who, in the beginning of winter, bore
holes in the ice for the purpose of setting their lines, and
visit them every day, both in order to keep them open,
and to take up what fish may be caught."
It is hardly necessary to speak of the outward ap-
pearance of any book issued under the auspices of
Mr. Bentley, but these volumes, and some others
lately issued, are marked by a very excellent mode of
adornment. The books being intended for the
shelves o t the library rather than for the drawing-room
table, the binding is plain on each side of the covers,
whereas the back is richly embellished with golden
figures, representing in this case the wild animals
which are the indirect object of the work.

EXPOSITION OF THE PRODUCTS
OF FRENCH INDUSTRY.

In anticipation of the grand exhibition of
the products and manufactures of the differ-
ent nations of the earth which, in ful-
filment of the scheme of his Royal Highness the
PrinceiConsort, will be opened some time in 1851 in
London, a very beautiful collection of the fabrics of
French art and the products of French ingenuity,
has just been submitted to public inspection at 13,
George-street, Hanover-square. The expositors are
none other than the principal living manufacturers
of France, and the entire display is under the di-
rection of M. Sallandrouze de Lamornaix, ex-
Deputy of the Acting Council of Manufac-
tures at Paris. Himself one of the most
distinguished among the manufacturers of his
country, M. de Lamornaix is about the most compe-
tent person to superintend any such efforts of industrial
competition ; and the taste evidenced by him on the
present occasion is a sufficient testimony of his
capacities. Authorised by the chief artificers in the
different departments of the Republican manufactories
to accumulate specimens of the national skill in all
descriptions of workmanship, and entrusted by them
with the responsibility of conveying the collection to
England, M. S. de Lamornaix has here submitted to
view the most brilliant gems of artistic adroitness
recently displayed at Paris in the National
Exposition. The collection, indeed, which we have
ourselves carefully examined, is perhaps the most
superb " show " of French ingenuity that could have
been brought together with so much rapidity, and
carried over to Great Britain as a token of the cordial
pleasure with which our neighbours anticipate the
grand international exhibition projected for 1851 by
the august Consort of Queen Victoria. Consequent
upon that reflection, it must have been peculiarly
gratifying to the originators of the display now opened
in George-street, ilanover-square, to witness the
attendance of his Royal Highness the Prince
Albert yesterday, and to receive from him
the assurance that our beloved Sovereign would also,
in all likelihood, honour the saloons with ter presence.
In saying that the exposition now submitted to the
regard of the inhabitants of this metropolis consists of
the " pickings " of the late National Exposition in
the capital of the French Republic, it must be ob-
served also that, beyond the " cream" of that noble
display, the rooms also contain many other beautiful
productions of the loom, the faatory; the workshop,
or the atelier never before laid open to'public inspec-
tion. In like manlier it should be borne in
mind by the thousands who will doubtless avail
themselves of the opportunity, that the articles of
virtu, of convenience, and of luxury, grouped toge
ther in the exhibition, are no less for purchase than
for exposition. The knowledge-of this. circumstance
we doubt not will induce many of the wealthier mems
hers of the community to turn the chance before
them to proper account by acquiring gems of art and
marvels of manufactures, such as, but for the present
display, would have been all but inaccessible. After
going through so much risk, labour, and expense to
meet the wishes of England in regard to the scheme
of general competition, we cannot but feel
most solicitous that the promoters of the
exhibition may, even if they do not
obtain due reward for their laudable exertions, receive
at least some moderate and reasonable compensation.
Having introduced tta popular intelligence the na-
ture of the intentions by which M. S. de Lamornaix
has been actuated in undertaking the conduct of the
exposition, we will proceed at once to describe within
rational limits some of the principal matters grouped
together in the collection. How various the display
is altogether may be conjectured when we remark
that it comprises articles ranging from the most
exquisite statuettes to waxen dolls and pasteboard
polichinelli ; that it consists alike of the most delicate
paintings upon papiere maehee, or upon porcelain,
and of the most dainty specimens of bijouterie ; that
it reveals in one direction furniture, fauteuils, prie-
dieux, altars, chairs, tables, and the other deco-
rations of a dwelling-house or a sanctuary ;
while in another it discloses some such
eccentric production as a wonderful goat (artificial
of course) which on being duly " wound up" bleats
"to the life"—so that we are half disposed to sing
with Mr. Punch, "0, Nanny, wilt thou gang
me I° Here we turned over the latest effusions of
the pencil of the inimitable Granville—fantastic em-
bodiments of the stars and of the blossoms. Here
again we bent over a superb case containing a choco-
late service, emblazoned with the portraits of Du-
guesclin and his contemporaries. In one
apartment we paused before the bronze
statuette of Shakspeare, from the design
of M. Emile Thomas—his doublet fitting as
charmingly as that of any petit maitre visible in the
height of the season on the most fashionable of the
boulevards, bis stockings delicately " clocked," his
hair trimmed, and his features chiselled into the form
of a true Parisian physiognomy ! On one of the
mantel-pieces we recognised a noble bust of the his-
torian of the Consulate, the Empire, and the Revolu-
tion—Adolphe Thiers. Along the different walls
were hanging the gorgeously embroidered tapes
try of the Gobelins ; about the tables were
scattered the superb cups, figures, chalices,
dishes, and vases brought forth from the miraculous
furnaces of Sevres. On one side were fabrications,
strings, necklaces, bracelets, and all sorts of delightful
devices in pearls—seed-pearls, and pearls larger than
the magnum bonum of pearls dangling from the turban
of the Shah of Persia; on another ware heaped toge-
ther a profusion of laces as delicate as gossamer and
as intricate as the Cretan labyrinth. One of the upper
chambers was hung exclusively with shawls of all
descriptions, and hues, and patterns, enough ,
to gratify the most fastidious taste ; while
one of the lower apartments was festooned from floor
to ceiling with the sumptuous carpets of Aubusson.
Lyons had contributed her silks, her satins, and her
velvets, while from the different other departments of
French manufactures had poured in jewellery of the
daintiest minuteness, boots of a novel and
elegant construction, bronzes, book binding, china
clocks, scientific instruments, and a multipli-
city of other exquisite fabrications. Altogether
the entire collection is comprised in seven different
apartments connected with each other by stair-
cases and passages—even these staircases and
passages being laden on either side with the over-
flowings of the Exposition.
Room 1, being the vestibule or entrance chamber,
holds almost exclusively merely bronzes and jewellery
—one article of another kind, however, attracting
particular attention. We mean the magnificent mis-
sal, bound, emblazoned, and decorated for her Ma-
jesty the Queen of Spain—the cover being purple
velvet inlaid with gold and precious stones.
Room 2 contains an immense variety of cabinet
work and ornamental furniture, several of the chairs
being carved and gilded with so much of gorgeous
elaboration as to be suited rather to an Oriental than
to a European residence.

Room i is chiefly adorned with the carpets of
Aubusson and the tapestries of the Gobelins—one of
the latter being n splendid representation of Steuben's
famous picture of Peter the Great, when a stripling,
being saved at the shrine from the assassination
intended by Strelitz's conspiracy. Among the less
conspicuous, but still exquisitely beautiful adornments
of this the principal apartment of the Exposition, are
the jewelled chalices and other specimens of the
costly paraphernalia employed in the ceremonies of the
Catholic religion. Erard, Sax, Faulain, and
Kriegelstein, have contributed also to the large
chamber some of the more novel among their musical
contrivances, as, for example, the new piano, where
the performer sits with his back to the instrument I

.Room 4 contains, among other curiosities,
examples of the machinery produced by French
manufacturers ; and assuredly in this department of
industry the English have no cause to be nervous at
the prospect of competition.

R.
oom 5 is remarkable for its display of
optical instruments, especially for an enormous
object glass, perhaps the largest and clearest yet ma-
nufactured. It is also decorated with the richest
silks, satins, and velvets, from the looms of Lyons ;
the most charming paper-hangings, from the es-
tablishment of the celebrated Zubec, as well as with
elegant volumes, lately published at the houses of
Plou, Matthias, and Paguerre.
Rooms G and 7 are of somewhat smaller dimen-
sions, yet are filled with sumptuous laces, Cashmere
shawls, and jewellery : the last apartment of the Ex-
position being devoted exclusively to the products of
the manufactories of M. Sallsndrouze de Lamornaix,
himself, carpets almost equal to those of Aubusson,
and tapestry scarcely inferior to that of the Gobelins.
From the above rapid and inadequate descrip-
tion of the French Exposition at 13, George-
street, Hanover.square, it will surely be
sufficiently manifest that the display is eminently
worthy of public Attention. Approved of, as it has
been, by his Royal Highness the Prince Consort,
we are satisfied it will elicit the praises
and admiration of every subsequent visitor;
and we are sanguine that the adventure of
M. S. de Lamornaix may be found to tend very ma-
terially to forward the scheme of the grand Interna-
tional Exposition for 1851, while it will secure more
than ever a cordial understanding between the two
nations, between the people of France and the people
of England.

The weather during the. week has been unaettled,
wet, and gloomy, and at tittles sharp frosts have set in,
Yesterday the atmosphere was rather more genial in the
early portion of tin, afternoon; but subsequently a heavy
and continuous rain commenced to fall.—Liverpool Albion
of yesterday. . •

NA VAL INTELLIGENCE.

APPOINTMENTS.
Surgeon—Dr. William H. B. Jones, to be superin-
tendent of the Bangalore, convict-ship.
Assistant Surgeon—William Sproul Love, acting,
to the Impregnable, flag-ship at Devon port.
Naval Cadets—George J. Purcell, to the Superb,
80, at Queenstown ; Francis R. Blackburne, to the
Fisgard, flag-ship at Woolwich.
The Sidon steam-frigate, has been removed from the
steam-basin at Portsmouth alongside the yard. The
riggers are busy, and her equipment will be forwarded
as much as possible. She has been a long time in
hand.

The Stromboli, 6, steam-sloop, Commander Lord
A. Beauclerk, arrived at Portsmouth yesterday morn-
ing from Sheerness, having on board some supernu-
merary seamen for the Indefatigable, 50, at Devon-
port, which were transferred to the Scourge, 6,
steam-sloop, Commander Lord H. Kerr, and the latter
proeeeded with them. After putting the men on
board the frigate at Devonport the Scourge will pro-
ceed on to Lisbon.
The Lucifer, 2, steam-vessel, Lieutenant Com-
mander Edward A. T. Lloyd, arrived at Devonport
on Friday night, from Cork. She will be taken into
dock and have her defects made good.
In anticipation of the removal of the Court to Os-
borne on Wednesday, the Fairy yacht, Master-Com-
mander Welsh, with Captain Crispin on board, went
to Osborne yesterday to see that the Fairy's engine,
&c., was all in order.
The Bloodhound, steam-vessel, will be paid over
by Mr. Hay before she is taken out of dock at Ports-
mouth.
The Serpent, 12, Commander Barker, sailed from
Plymouth Sound on Sunday morning for the East
India station.
SUPERANNUATIONS AT DEVONPORT.—John Clark,
leading man of painters, 34/. ; Cies:Popham, single-
stationed shipwright, 301.; Charles Seldon, ship-
wright, 24/. ; Benjamin Radcliffe, smith, 221. per
annum.

THE CAPE OF GOOD Hor.E.—The Castor, 35,
Commodore WTyvill, commander-in-chief, was lying
in Simon's Bay, Sept. 21, with the Orestes, 14, Com-
mander Hawker; the Geyser, 7, steam-sloop, Com-
mander Bros n ; the Dee, 4, steam transport, Master
Commander Filiner ; and the Seringapatam depot,
Master Commander Russell. The Orestes arrived
from the Mozambique Sept. 14.
PORTSMOUTH, Nov. 19. The Termagant, 24,
screw-frigate, by White, of CoweF, built in Deptford
Dockyard, 1,556 tons, 620 horse-power, by Seaward,
was again tried to7day_attlift ineasure4 mile in Stokes
Bay, -with light airs and a smooth sea,, to exdpayour to
obtain a more creditable result than on the former oc-
casion. Captain Horatio Austen, C. 8., of the
Blenheim, commanded that-ship on this. occasion. Mr.
White, her designer; was on board ; as also. Rear-
Admirals Prescott, C. 8., and Sir Charles Napier,
with. Mr. Murray,. the, chief engineer ,
Of the dockyard, and a host of - naval officers
from, the College and elsewhere ashore, -the'
trial haying attracted much attention in the service.
She went out, of harbour A-bont ll:o'plock, trimmed to
a,draught.ofl,7 feet 10 aft,and,,i6. feet 1 forward, her
midship portsill .being. then 6. feet 9 inches from the
water. Her former draught was 16. feet 9 inches
forward, and, 17, feet' 3 inches abaft. She was consi-
dered, at her load draught for sea service,, being all
complete for officers and men,.topgallant masts struck,
and yards an end and pointed, all her guns and shot
on board. The following is the result of each run
at the measured mile :

Knots:
First run
Second .., .. . 8'551 i Giving a men
Third .... . 8 612 speed of 8.544
Fourth .. 8'295 ,t knots perhour.
Fifth
Sixth
Revolutions (mean), 32; mean revolutions of pro-
peller, 64; pressure of steam, 121 b.; thermometer in
engine-room, 85 deg ; stokehole, 108 deg.; tempera-
ture on the upper deck, 62 deg.; mean barometer,
271 inches. She turnel a whole circle to port, with
the engines in full play, in 6 min. 9 sec., in a space
the mean of which was about four times the ship's
length. This result is certainly more respectable
than that obtained on her trial a few days since, with
rough wind and weather; but is, after all, but a
beggarly account of service to be expected in return
for an expenditure of 70,0001., especially when placed
in comparison with the performances ot the Arrogant
screw-frigate, which achieves, under all circum-
stances, more speed, althoughl3o6.tons more burden,
with 260 horse power less. Mr. Grant's galley was
in operation on the trial to-day, and, as before, an-
swered admirably.
Extract of a letter from Rio, Oct. 9.—" The
Southampton, 50, bearing Rear-Admiral Reynolds,
to supersede Commodore Sir Thomas Herbert, on
this station, arrived to day from the Gape of Good
Hope. Sir Thomas is at Monte Video, in the
Raleigh, 50. The Raceira tender was sold at Buenos
Ayres on the 12th ult. The vessels of war at Buenos
Ayres are the Tweed (English), and Astrolabe
(French barque). At Montevideo, the Raleigh,
several French and Brazilian men-of-war, and the
Italian brig Evidano, Captain Paraldo. Mr. J. W.
East, midshipman, is appointed from the Raleigh to
the Hydra. The Harpy left Rio for the River Plate
immediately on the arrival of the Express with the
Commodore's dispatches. At this port are the Con-
stance, 50, from the Pacific, for England, with a
freight of 1,500,000 dollars, on merchants' account,
with 'which she will sail on the 12th; the Hydra
steam sloop, the Kestrel and Express packets, and the
Crescent receiving-ship, the United States ship
Brandywine, 50, Commodore Storer,
_and St. Louis,
16, Captain Le Cocq ; the Portuguese line-of-battle
ship Vasco de Gama, 74, and the Iris, 18, and several
Brazilians. The Spider packet is on her passage to
Montevideo and Buenos Ayres ; the Griffon brigan-
tine is at the northern ports; the Rifleman, steam-
schooner, is at Santos ; all well.

When the Leander sailed from Spithead, on Satur-
day, she had in fife months' provisions for 500 men,
230 tons of water, and twelve months' stores ; 28
tons of coal; ballast, 67 tons; provisions, 48 tons;
armament, 159 tons; powder, 15 tons; shot, 71 tons;
shell, 11 tons. Total weight on board, 1,150 tons;
when her draught of water was, forward, 20 feet 3;
aft, 21 feet 6; height of ports from the water, 10 feet
7 ;rnitiship, 9 feet 2 ; aft, 9 feet 11.

'1 he Scourge, steam-sloop, Commander Lord F. 11.
Kerr, left this afternoon for Plymouth with the men
fur the ships there brought by the Stromboli, Com-
mander Lord A. W. Beauclerk, from the river ports.
The Scourge will accompany the Leander to Lisbon,
to join the evolutionary squadron.
Wind N.N.W.; light airs and cloudy weather.
WooLwicii, Nov. 19.—The Retribution was
taken into the same dock to-day from which the
Terrible steam frigate was taken out on Saturday.
Captain Alexander Milne, one of the Lords of the
Admiralty, visited this dockyard on Saturday last,
and, with Commodore Superintendent Henry Eden,
went on board the Vulcan steam-frigate in the basin.
A large spare screw-propeller, furnished by Messrs.
George and Sir John Rennie, was landed to day to
be put on board the vessel. It is 14 feet in diameter
and 5i tons in weight, and being made of the best
brass, or mixture nearly approaching to gun metal, is
calculated to be worth 1,2001.
It has hitherto been usual to fit screw-propellers in
the rough shape in which they are cast, simply filing
and smoothing the narrow edge of the blade ; but one
of the machines in the factory has been fitted in such
a manner as to plane the whole of one side of the
blades, and on its being tried in the factory to-day
or the first time on a screw-propeller :9 feet in dia-
meter, cast of brass, for the Archer, it appears to per-
form the work in great perfection. The difficulty of
obtaining a motion which would suit itself to the
curve of the blade of a screw-propeller must be
evident to every one who has witnessed its form,
and yet it has been perfectly accomplished in this
instance.

PLYMOUTH, Nov. 17.—0 n Tuesday, the 13th inst.,
her Majesty's steam-sloop Conflict, 8, of 400-horse
power, Commander T. G. Drake, made an experi-
mental trip to the Eddystone, to test the power of her
screw. The Conflict started from abreast of the
Breakwater Lighthouse at 71 minutes to two o'clock
r.m., and reached the Eddystone Lighthouse, a
distance of rather more than 10 miles, by 10 minutes
to 4 o'clock, having thus taken an hour and 57:1
minutes to cover the ground, being an amount of
time for such a distance which per se is not satis-
factory. However, there was a very strong head-
wind from S.W. and S.S.W., a short chopping sea
which pitched her about, and the tide dead against
her ; it is also stated that a very large portion of the
effective power of the steam was cancelled during
the early part of the experiment, before the masses li
of machinery metal got thoroughly warm, and before
the machinery itself got into perfect working order.
The revolutions of the screw were gradually in-
creased from 62 to 70 per minute. On the return
she reached the breaKwater from the lighthouse at
five minutes past five o'clock. tier canvass was not
used during the trial ; on the next trip it was intended
to work the steam expansively. Although nearly as
large as one of the old 46 gun frigates, the Conflict
takes a complement of only 160 men. She has three
masts, and her main yard is 74 feet long; the petty
officers complain that to manoeuvre such a ship with
her present, number of hands will be very heavy
work. The artillery of the steamer is powerful, her
guns having a bore of ten inches.
On Thursday, the 15th instant, the Conflict made
a second experimental trip. She started at ten in the
morning, and went under steam only right acroi.s
Whitesand-bay, as far as the coast off Looe and Pol-
perro, and returned at half-past two in the afternoon ;
she had a strong' wind from N.W. Her crew will be
paid
,wages 'On Monday, and she mill probably sail the
next day (Tuesday) for the Tagil's.
Her Majesty's frigate Indefatigable, sp, was taken
out of dock.:to-day., 'Captain Smart joined her on