The Sun.
London, England, 1851-12-17 00:00:00

LITERATURE.
THE SCOTTISH DRAUGhT-PLAYER.

Second Edition. By John Drummond.
The game of draughts, which is more popular in
Scotland than in England, proceeds upon the most
simple elements, but it involves the really scientific
player in configurations of great complexity and
difficulty. In some respects, indeed, it may be
considered by the more enthusiastic class of players
as superior even to chess. The design is generally
more concealed, and only becomes developed after a
considerable number of moves, so that the vanquished
player is often quite ignorant of the real source of
his defeat. To pursue the game of draughts success-
fully between scientific competitors, therefore, re-
quires, to a certain extent, a calculation of a more
abstract kind than that of chess. The Scotch have
long been almost universally devoted to draughts as
their favourite game of calculation, and they are
continually effecting improvements upon previously
established modes of play. ilence their undoubted
superiority over English players. Mr. Drummond
is the acknowledged systematiser of the game in
Scotland, and the new edition of his excellent work
embodies all the known improvements up to the pre-
sent time, besides several new games, such as the
" Provost, Joe's, Kelso, Stirling, Cross, Odd, and
Mindozie" games, which are intersected by a vast
number of critical positions and brilliant variations.
The principle of what is called the "move" is also
treated mathematically, and useful rules are deduced
for the calculation of its changes under every com-
bination of cuts. The investigation of these rules is
a very original discovery, and is a most important
addition to the fundamental science of the game.
The most expeditious and satisfactory way for an
amateur to acquire a sound knowledge of the game
is to play through such a work as the present, care-
fully committing to memory the leading moves,
noticing every ingenious artifice or expedient,
and endeavouring as much as possible to
assign a reason for each particular move.
By proceeding deliberately in this way, and occa-
sionally sharpening his perceptions by actual play,
he will, if he possess but moderate ability, soon find
himself to be superior to what may be called a
mere "sight player," though of far greater experi-
ence ; and this superiority will be chiefly due to a
sound knowledge of the strong openings of the game.
The game of draughts ought to be more encouraged
in this country. It is a most inexpensive, innocent,
and rational amusement, and particularly calculated
to cultivate habits of caution and forethought ; and
Mr. Drummond's talented work is now immeasur-
ably superior to every other treatise on the subject.

REPRESENTATION OF GREENWICH.—Last evening
a meeting of the electors of the borough of Greenwich was
held at the Literary Institution, Woolwich, for the pur-
pose of hearing from Mr. Montagu Chambers an exposition
of his political views as a candidate for the representation of
the borough. After expressing himself, as at Greenwich on
the preceding day, in favour of household suffrage, the
ballot, triennial Parliaments, the abolition of the property
qualification for members, more equal electoral districts, and
the removal of Jewish disabilities, he said that as he was
the first in the field he should certainly go to the poll, and
lee was satisfied that neither himself nor his gallant oppo-
nent, Admiral Stewart, would resort to any but the most
honourable means to secure the election. At the conclu-
sion a vote of confidence in Mr. Chambers was unanimously
passed.
Mr. Augustus Hill Bradshaw, late Accountant-
General at the Army Pay-office, died on Saturday last at an
advanced ago. This event effects a saving of two large pen-
sions to the public.
EARTHQUAKE IN THE EAST.—The Impartial de
Smyrne, in its correspondence from Salonica, has melancholy
accounts of an earthquake at Berat. We learn that a part of
the forte ess had been thrown down, and four hundred soldiers
buried in the ruins. Some days after the catastrophe, and
after great exertions, their lifeless bodies were withdrawn
frog the ruins, and their numbers ascertained. About three
hundred houses, two mosques, and a church suffered consi-
derably, and many are no longer habitable. The Governor
of Yanina sent tents and assistance to the remainder of the
soldiers in garrison there. Among Christians and Mussul-
mans eight hundred persons are missing, but it is as yet un-
known how many among those have been lost, or how many
have sought safety in flight. Near to Berat the top of a
mountain was detachei from its base, and thrown to a con-
siderable distance. In the centre a crater has been formed,
from which dense volumes of black smoke, stones, and lava
are emitted. Fetid sulphurous exhalations escape and cor-
rupt the air. The villages and environs of Berat have set
fered great damage.
GREAT RUNNING MATCH.--TWENTY MILES UNDER
ONE HOUR ,FIFTY-EIGHT MIN. THIRTY SEC.—This unpre-
cedented effort came off yesterday at Copenhagen-grounds;
more than 2,000 spectators were present. Manks made his
start at apparently a very easy pace to himself, going over
the first mile in 5 min. 56 sec., and completing his 10 miles
in 56 min. 56 sec. At the commencement of the 20th or
last mile Manks had just six minutes and three seconds to go
over it to win the match, or to perform 20 miles in less time
than Maxfield did the same distance on the Staines turnpike
road in 1844. This Minks succeeded in accomplishing,
having just 42 seconds to spare. At the finish Manks ran or
rather fell into the arms of his backer, evidently considerably
exhausted from his doing this great and never-equalled feat.
Betting before starting was 6 to 4 on Old Father 'Time; con-
siderable sums were taken at those odds.
M. AND MADAME TIIIERS.--M. and Madame
Thiers, with their family, may in a day or two be expected
in London, where we understand it is their intention to re-
main until they see what turn matters may take in France.
Thiers arrived in Brussels on Saturday, on his way to
London, where he was to await the arrival of Madame Thiers.
It was thought they would stay a few days in Belgium, with
the mother-in-law and brother-in-law of the author of "1 he
Consulate." It is a curious coincidence that Louis Blanc— a
man of entirely opposite opinions to these of Thiers, but also
an exile— should have been in Belgium at the time 'fliers
arrived. Louis Blanc has since then returned to England.—
Advertiser.

NORTH AND SOUTH-WESTERN, AND DOVER AND
BRIGHTON JUNCTION RAILWAY.--This new line, intended to
answer a purpose similar to that of the railway round Paris,
is proposed to encircle the metropolis by a circuit of six miles,
uniting the termini of the London railways, besides accom-
modating Tooting, Streatham, Mitcham, Wandsworth, Mer-
ton, Morden, Malden, and Cheam.
►SHOCKING DISCOVERY.---A clerk, in Bristol, who
is accustomed to make himself a cup of tea in the afternoon,
was horrified on Friday week on discovering that he had
been living on stewed mouse all the week. He had noticed
an obstruction in the spout of the kettle for the last few
days, and on making a close investigation on Friday, he
drew forth, amid the laughter of his fellew-clerks, the body of
a 11191140 Wiled EllEoOt t() a jelly.

Leasing Business
Railways' Companies. Paid' Nominal Prim' done to-day.
---
Bcdf. & Bletch-
ley • Lon. & N.W. all —.•
Binning: & Ox-
ford Juncion,
guarantecil • • Gt. Western all 28 —3O
Do., without a
guarantee .. De .. • • all 28 —29
ilirm., Wolver.,
& Dudley, gua-
rantee d •• Do .. .. all 8 —lO p
Do., without a
guarantee •• Do .. • • all 7 p
Buckinghamsh. Lon. &N. W. all 17% 18%
Clydesdale June Caledonian all 41 —43
E. Lin., Guar. 6
car Cent. •• G. Northern all 3234 —33
Gloucester and
Dean Forest Gt. Western 20 134 —2% p
II artlepl Dock r Yrk, New.ll
and Railway L and Der.
Hull and Selby Yk. &N. M. all 104 106
Do. 54 Shares Do .. all 513( 5234
Do. % Shares Do .• .. all 2434 9554
Leeds and Bra/. Midland .. all 10034 10134
Lon. and Green. S. Eastern .• all 11% 123( 11%
Do., Pref. .. Do .. all 24 —25
Lowestoft, Gd.
per Cent. • • Norfolk •• all 14 —l5
De., 6 per cent De .. • • all .. ••
Mi.idlesbro' and
Redcar, 6p. ct Stockt.& Dar all • •
N. & East, 6
per Cent. • • &Counties . all • • —• •
Do., 5 per cent. Do. .. .. all 54 —5B
Do. New .. Do ..•
43 4 6 p
Preston and L. &N. W. all 45
Wyre • • .. & La.& Y. 3
Do. % SharesA Do .. • • 11 534 —53 y
Read., Guild.,
and Reigate .. S. Eastern all 21 21%
Roy. & Hitchin G. Northern all 7% 834 636
la. Shep. Ex.. Do .. • • 5% 2 p.
Shef., Roth. and
Goole, 5 per ct. Lane. & York 18 11 6
South Stafford!. Mr. M'Clean 934 23( %dig.
Wear Val. 6 per
Cent. gua. Stock.& Dar. all •• —••
Do. do. •• Do .. •• 25 28 29
Do. do. •• Do • • • • 25 • •
Wilts &Somers. Qt. Western 100 92 —93