The Sun.
London, England, 1851-04-19 00:00:00

trothed to a young peasant with deb feebi,Ael oke, ar
Annette being asked w hether she did note)°W44-iiiit,,:'''-yz
Wilhelm had not club feet, she ans a'ere • o'ealsrelefee,ec
then he would not be Wilhelm ; and it a *igt „ Wejate,..l
whom I love." Love always makes Oa iv (WisL,„..
beautiful whatever his form and colour. 110'4*; .ar ‘N,F/eea
thought the swarthy hue of Othello the beau i11ei,494'.1
beauty; and as it is with persons, so it is with qUiNglik.,
ties—we gild those whom we like the best. If we •A)
were as illogical as lovers we should call plainness
beautiful ; that would be such a paradox as a lover
might well deal in ; but we take a more consistent
course, and only call plainness lovable.
No doubt our opinion will be disputed by those who
pin their faith upon works of fiction, the authors of
which seem to be under a sort of prescriptive obliga-
tion, imposed upon them by custom from time imme-
morial, to mould their heroes upon the model of the
Apollo, and to compoued their heroines out of a mix-
ture of the Venus and the Madonna : and, in addition
to their corporal perfections, to endow them plentifully
with all the genius and all the virtues of humanity ;
but we place no great reliance on such authorities,
potent as they unquestionably are ; we regard their
personages generally as very pretty paintings of what
men and women ought to be, rather than what they
re, or even may be. They are something like card-
board models of impossible edifices, which hold to-
gether by reason of the lightness and flimsiness of
their material, but which, in granite, would prove
the power of the law of gravitation, by falling down ;
and we should as soon expect to see the remains of
Grecian art start from their venerable repose,
and walking about in all their majesty, proving
themselves gods and demigods in reality, as to
meet mere mortals exhibiting all that beauty and
virtue so liberally bestowed on fictitious person-
ages. It is strange, too, to notice how inconsistency
will peep out, and, as a natural consequence, how
authors, compelled to conform to natural laws, are
obliged to introduce into their tales some plain people
who, if men, exhibit more intellect and firmness than
the first hero, and, if women, show more self-devotion
and patience than the nominal prima donna, and
who, whether men or women, perform almost all
the greatand noble actions which give interest to the
tale and create its pathos.
Novel readers might do worse than notice this, and
diminish their admiration of beauty and exalt their
notion of plainness, by observing how, in the well-
wrought fable as well as the drama of real life, plain
people really play the most important parts.
In short, we are quite in love with plainness, which
if it cannot boast of beauty often has a charm which
mere beauty can never give. Those who have seen
homely countenances lighted up by intellect or
softened by affection and sympathy, or warmed into
life by heartfelt mirth, will comprehend the beauty
which the mind sheds upon the plainest face, just as
the rich sunset makes the most sterile landscape en-
chanting. And they will understand too, that mere per-
fection of form is not half so attractive as modest
plainness beaming with purity and goodness. There
is a great deal of truth in that vulgar and ungram-
matical old saying " handsome is as handsome does,*
which at once illustrates our meaning and points out
to our plain friends the true way of becoming as
handsome as they please.

COWES, ISLE OF WIGHT.
(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

18w500.
t.
ARRIVED.—The FranklinCsOtWeaEms, sAhiPpa,lL lB,
Captain
ton, in twelve days and a half, from New York, with 103
passengers. The Queen steamer took, of them, out of
her twenty one to land at Southampton. She proceeded
with the rest at 4.15 P. 31., for Havre. Wind S.W., fine
summer weather.

FASHIONABLE INTELLIGENCE. - The Marquis of
Lansdowne and suite arrived here on Thursday; after
going over Harnet-lodge and some of the other principal
houses here, his Lordship took carriages to the back of
the island. There has been more inquiries for houses
here for the coming season than there has been for
many before, and houses aro let from much earlier
periods._

- THE GREAT EXHIBITION.—Some enemies of this un-
dertaking have, for the last few days, been circulating
very industriously a report that a quantity of gunpowder
had been found in some maple and other foreign goods
sent over for exhibition; that the intention of those who
sent the beautiful ornamental work in which it was con-
cealed was to destroy the Queen! It is wonderful what
swallows some people have, there seems to be nothing
too ridiculous for them. How could the refugees now
in London possibly benefit their position by destroying
our liberal Queen and our liberal institutions? This is
now the refuge for the destitute, and such a one as they
cannot find in any other country; then what interest
can they have to destroy it? And, then, the absurdity of
hiding a pound or two of gunpowder in looking-glass
frames and French bedsteads, when it can be openly pur-
chased any w here any day. These noodles deserve
whipping.

IRELAND.
LONGFORD ELECTION.
DUBLIN, FRIDAY.—The shun contest for this county
has virtually terminate], although, in confonnity with
the Ac: of Parliament, the hieths must be Lev open
until Szturday mornin4. At the close of the poll yes-
turday the g,ress number stood as follows:
O'Ferrall .•• ... 622
Slevor 29
SALES OF ENCUMBERED ESTATES.

Contrary to expectation, the Commissioners sat yes-
terday for the purpose of selling some small estates in
the counties of Kilkenny, Carlow, Meath, Kildare, and
Tipperary, together with some house property in the
city of Dublin, the latter consisting of a profit rent of
031. 15s. a year, which produced 5051., or about ten
years' purchase. An estate in the county of Carlow was
set up in two lots, ono of which, yielding a profit rental
of 631. per annum, sold for 7001. The sale of the
second lot was adjourned. A yearly profit rent of 621.,
arising out of lands situate in the county of Kildare,
realized 820/. The Meath estate of Mr. Arthur Coates,
the gross yearly rental of which was estimated at
4451. 15s. 6d., but which, deducting head rent and other
charges, reduced the net profit to 2781. 10s. 4d., was
knocked down at 3,6251. A net profit rent of 108/. a
year, arising out of lands in the county of Tipperary,
was bought in trust for the petitioner in the cause for
2001., or less than two years purchase. There was no
very clear reason assigned for this apparent sacrifice,
but it was generally understood by those conversant
with the nature of the property that it was disposed of
at its full value. The Kilkenny estate of Mr. Edward
Walpole, yielding an annual profit rental of 2301., pro-
duced 2,310/.

DANGER OF LENDING BOATS TO Boys.—Yester-
day afternoon, a small sailing boat, containing fouryout.h youths,
was capsized off Coor's-road, Lambeth, arising from theira
youths being unskilled in the management,aan d
the suture
hiintelf by swimming ; and the fourth, Jo
ed.
His
party were immersed. Two were rescued, third third saved
Corringham•body
living in Princes-road, Lambeth, was drown
was not recovered.
VISITORS TO GRAVESEND.—Yesterday (Good Fri-
day) the morning railway
trains
dsconveniently convey, not-
withstanding brought down as many
visitors to this town as they.
three classes. The steam-boats
. s
are, however,
Star Company's boats
tttnhreaeinnonconsisted of nearly a treble
nwnimthnstearnndfinngarrtihaagteseaecfh
companies. The
of them i eing also ills
were equally well filled,eam
however, more numerous
Diamond Company. it may be remarked
ic,rnetans end
for
ryt
the raster
holiday
were a considerable number of
that amongst
evidently
different continental countries, but
than those of
the
foreigners,,oi f
was
of visitors are being
in favour of the French.
Great preparations
.. amusement
e ran cesulf'uni sir tteohrrssea lly
but more especially at the
ier Gardens.
Terrace-p
mthaedreireaPt°tnhe Bos erville Gardens,
MONSTER EXCURSION TRAINS.—Yesterday excur-
sion trains, at reduced fares, were run on all the railways.
A monster train left the Paddington station for Oxford, an-
other the South-Western for Winthor ; and on the Eastern
Counties, for Cambridge; the Brighton excursion train,
however, conveyed the greatest number, between 800 and 900
individuals going by it. More than 4,000 persons left the
metropolis yesterday by these excursion trains; the rate of
travelling averaging three miles for one penny.
A. HIGH SHERIFF IN DIFFICULTIES.—Some days
since, Calcraft, the hangman, received an intimation from
the gaol authorities that his services would be required on,
Wednesday morning next, at Ipswich, for the purpose of
carrying into execution the last sentence of the law upon
Maria Clarke, but on Tuesday morning last a note waSonre,
ceived from that functionary, stating that his prefeassvri si
engagements elsewhere would prevent his presence atelP_sersht
on Wednesday, as required. Immediately after tls Ipswich
of Calcraft's note, a messenger was dispatched from_Sis'srv"i''w"
to London, for the purpose of having as er that his
with Calcraft, who was informed by the messenger
next, for
presence was necessary at Ipswich on Wednesday that he WU
the purpose already stated, when he replied
fors like purpose on
already engaged to proceed to Tauntoen
execution at Ipswich,
personalel"lle Wednesday, the day appointed forer ttai
has caused no lea-
craft to corns down to
bound to see that the P
Finding that it was impossible f
find a sulistit
appointed. Unless the daylpswich, he was asked if he could
re-
plied he could not. This announcemente
e whtoueraltrered, or a substitute found in
exe-
cutionthesurabletafkeeeslinpglasnteoatthos
named for the execution be
tion we think, can envy,will have, in accordance to
the plate of Calcraft, the
ton no one, , law, to perform a duty
arteP-uthegnila
ands of majesty'sner subject& We believe
on:
et:
the feelings of thous
the present state of tht: m
that an application
d fo
same r the execution of Maria Clarke
office for the day ,
e
but
to be altered; V'understand that the application was
not entertained.
W rerejoice to be able to inform our readers that
the Protectionist banquet, which is to take place in Edinburgh,
on Tuesday, the Ss 21-
Asst., promises to be most successful.
The Music Hall in that city, one of the handsomest rooms in
the kingdom, can accommodate 650 at dinner. The tickets,
which were limited to this number, were all purchased soon
after they were issued, and there is not one now to be had.
Such is the enthusiasm that prevails that, we are informd,
three or four times the number of tickets issued could
easily have been disposed of.—Herald.
A ounts have
MANSLAUGHTER OF AN OFFICER.--...CC,,__t
officer,
been received of the melancholy death of a it The
Captain George Symes, late of the Madraise Artillery.
i 14th instant he
details are as follows :—On the night of
oft two men outside
was disturbed by the violent conduct
his house, which closely abutted upon the road (a public
_Axminster and Lyme
one leading between the town of
and civillreuested
Regis), and at lengh went to thßounce he was immediately
them to " move on." On his app
I set upon by the ruffians, one
of
whom (by name Garland)
threw him down, knelt on his chest, and beat.: him fearfully
with a stick about the head.
From the effects of these in-
juries he never recovered,
remained insensible till death
released him from his but
Sufferings in four or five hours after.
He was about 56 years 0
lament their f ase, and has left a wife 'and only
daughter to
? loss. WO rejoice to add, the
ruffians are in custody