The Sun.
London, England, 1851-10-30 00:00:00

A STRANGE EVENTFUL HISTORY.

A private letter, written by an English lady, who
has recently ♦isited the United States of America, to
a friend in this country, gives the following interest-
ing account of a lady whom she met with at an hotel
in Boston :

Mrs. de Kroyft was a bride, a widow, and blind—
in a month. Her history, as she related it to me, is
as follows :—When she was eighteen, she became
attached to a young man, without fortune, who was
studying the medical profession. Having no money
herself, his friends wished him to marry a young lady
of property, who was supposed to have a penchant
for him. This stimulated her ambition, and she re-
solved to make herself superior to her rival, mentally,
since she could not vie with her pecuniarily. Ac-
cordingly, she contrived to raise twenty dollars per
annum, to pay for studying at Lima College, where
she remained four years, carrying off the first prizes.
The next year they were to be married, on the 24th
of August. A short time before this, her intended
husband was seized with a spitting of blood. It
ceased for a time, and he was better. After a little, it
returned ; he was told he had but a short time to live.
On hearing this she went and lodged in the same
house, nursing him night and day. When their
wedding-day arrived, he said he should die happier, if
he could once call her his own. They were married,
and he died four days after. The necessity for
exertion which had hitherto supported her was gone;
she gave herself up to grief This added very much to
an inflammation that bad settled in her eyes, since
her night watchings. One morning she awoke, and
could not open them. The doctor told her she
would open them in a day or two. A week
elapsed ; still they remained the same. One
morning, the doctor forced them open, and ex-
claimed, "My God ! you are blind!" She thought
before nothing could exceed her misery, but this
terrible announcement seemed to absorb everything
else. She could not believe that she should never see
again. The endeavour to realise it seemed to be-
numb every feeling. She was roused from this state
of lethargy by the kindness of her college com-
panions, who, when they heard of her misfortune,
collected fifty dollars amongst themselves, and sent
one of their number to give her the money, and
nurse her for a fortnight.
At the expiration of this time she was well enough
to walk about, and to feel that if she could not find
some way of exercising her powers she should go
mad. She is one of those energetic spirits who
find it much easier to do than to suffer. Besides,
her father was not well off, and had nine
children younger than herself. Through the in-
fluence of Senator Badkus, she spent a year
at the New York Institution for the Blind, to try if
she could learn music sufficiently to teach it. In this
she failed. This disappointment, with her blighted
hopes and lost sight (for she says she could not ac-
custom herself to be blind), so preyed upon her spi-
rits, that she could neither sat nor sleep; and often
spent the greater part of the night in walking in the
gardens. She was a constant mourner between
two graves ; in one lay buried her affections and
hopes, in the other a world of light and beauty, in
which she might have found consolation. A friend
of hers, Dr. Nott, sent her to a water establishment,
where she remained six months, made many friends,
and recovered her health. Still she was no nearer
finding something to do, to secure herself an indepen-
dence, now become the great passion of her life.
During her stay at the above-named institution, she
had, by means of a grooved card, written a great
number of letters to her friends, in which she des-
cribed, with considerable eloquence, her feelings and
sufferings, and her sources of consolation. These she
was induced to publish by subscription. She waited
on the managers of the institution, who gave her
their influence, and set down their names for several
copies. From thence she went to the Oity- hall ; they
gave her the same encouragement there. She then
went on boldly, with her prospectus in her hand,
and a guide, and called on all the principal merchants
of the city, putting down their names, and receiving
their dollars in advance.

In a very short time she possessed a thousand dol-
lars, which was quite sufficient. She brought out the
first edition of 1,000 copies, September, 1849. These
she delivered herself to the subscribers, most of whom
never expected to see her again, but gave her a dollar
because she was blind. They were so pleased with
her or her book, or both, that they recommended
her to their friends. She brought out another
thousand, disposed of them quickly, then another.
Now she is selling the fourth thousand, and expects
by the end of the year to have disposed of them all,
and to he worth one thousand dollars towards the
four thousand that sbe thinks will secure her from
want. She secures all the profits by selling them
herself. She travels from one town to another, takes
a pretty girl as a guide, and a boy to carry her books.
Goes to all the stores, tells her tale, and solicits them
to buy her book ; and does it so handsomely, to use
her own expression, that very few decline to purchase.
When she sells 30 she returns, considering that a
day's sale. Sometimes she does this in an hour and
a half—sometime three hours. She sold 500 in
Washington in a fortnight.
She was introduced to President Taylor, Mr.
Clay, and the principal members of Congress, and
their wives, through Mrs. Bell, wife of the Secretary
of the War Department. This lady established an
institution for the blind in Tenessee, and conse-
quently took a great interest in her. She says she
went in style to sell her books in Washington,
Mrs. Bell, and, after her, many of the other ladies,
took her books and her in their carriage, went round
the city, sent the footman in with a book to every
house likely to buy it, left the book to be looked at,
and called for the money coming back. Very
few returned a book left under such favourable
auspices. These people gave her letters of in-
troduction to their friends in other places. She has a
very nice note from Henry Clay, another from Presi-
dent Taylor, with his signature outside, which is a
very important document. By showing this, she and
her attendants travel free of expense all over the States,
that is, in public conveyances.

SEABORNE MAILS.
[PI signifies that the mails are sent from the General.Poßt-office
by the night—and Si by the morning—dispatch.]

When made up is From what
PLACES. GenerLaolnPdn
o:t:oflicel poperttch.dis-ed When
due.
America (by Brit. pkt.)N Oct. 31 .. .. Liverpool • • Nov. 4
America (by U.S. pkt.) N Nov. 11 .. .. Liverpool . • Nev. 1
America (by U.S. pkt.) 31 Nov. 5 .. .. iiioutharamt.
Africa (West coast).. N 14th of the month !Plyraosth Nov. 3
Alexandria* ........ N 19th & 30th of mo. Dover .. Nov. 18
Belgium .. .. .. N,Daily .. .. .. Dover .. Daily
Brazil .. . .. Ml9th of thetemonth nt
month
sSoouthhaammpptt:
Nov. 16
16
Buenos Ayres • • .. Ml6thof the
Callfornia(viaChagres)3L2d & 17th of month Southampt. Nov. 5
Plymouth.... Oct. Nov 3 30
71m4thi
7otfhlotntith over
ofmo D
Central America .. 311 d & 17th of mon. Southampt. Nov. 5
Constantinople'C ap e of
od
I 1
o .p. e• . N 141
Channel Isles .. .. NiMon., Wed., &Fri. Southampt. Ta. Tla. Sat
Chili .. .. .. . 31117th of the month Southampt. Nov. 20
France .. .. M &N;Twice daily .. Dover .. Twicedaily
Greece* .. .. .. Ni 7th 17th 27th of mo Dover • • Oct. 30
Hamburgh .. .. N; Tuesday & Friday London .. Tues. Sat.
Holland ~ • • .. 31; Vfednes. & Satur.!Londen .. Mon. Thur.
Honduras .. .. . ,17th of the moahiSouthampt. Nov. 20
Mm4sleid,altllrsictittnrezrrrarritiarnia:i
Ireland .. .. M& N Twice daily .. .. !Holyhead .• Twicedally
India (via Southamp.) M 20th of the month:Southanapt. Nov. 23
Indla(viaMarsellles) Nethik 24th of saonth.Dover • • Nov. 2
Mediterranean
a nun )
...
.7avt..: 11131
11210td
ht
oh&f o2tf4httehh
ri
ieo f
otmonthnnott.h.
spSoootuv: het: aa :pp t.t ...
NNNOOO
v:
...
5223
. .. iti 75thili,1157tthh,19thh,27th 1
Naples.
.. . .... :,98,,th3o0fththie,fmmoonntthh Southampt. Nov. 16
N sth 15th 25th oftno
Malta.
II 7th 17th 27th •• g.
Papal States*
:: Mll7th 01 the Dover
Oct. 30
2
3111-;sl7ththlsotfhtfetnil
I,'oeronins.ul.ar:: ...
000:iff:mn a,
n:000 1
Southampt.
nsDooouyvteeehrrr
Southampt,a ti.,
p. .t.'
. NNNN Nov.ti
00000 vvvvy ..... 22262
00
Tuscany* .. ..
..
WWlleeassVttalnninntaireS: Nassau)(e.leep. Ml2d of the month .. Sonthampt. Nov. 5
from California, via the United States
* The malls to those countries thug marked (*) are conveyed by
every American pack,.
are lr rce nA cL
notei
,packet
t.
c_v !h
3.te.
idMa
auansrdst eodi llua
bye,:sd.

A COE FOR BAD LEGo,—Blocnneriam.--Punch,

CANALS.
1
Names of t,) Dividend,l , Names of Dividend
r
Companies. 1 per Price'"Companies. . Annpeum. Price.
Z Annum. m
-... ,
___ -- -- --
£ X \
Ashtn& Oldh 98 71. 140 Macclesfield. 100, 21. 10s. 80
Barnsley— •• 160 Neatk —— • • 1001 181.
Brknk&Abrg 150 51. 85 Oxford.... • • 100 i 131. 135
Birmingham 40 41. 98% Peak Forest. 78 181. 18s. 70
Coventry.. • • 100 251. 200 Regent's ... • 331 11. 3s. 19%
Derby ••• • • 100, 61. 63 Rochdalo.... 85 , 21, 42
Ellsmre&Chs 69 2% p. et. 35% Souarset Coal 150
GrandJunctn 100 31 pr.ct. 52 Do.Lk Fa St 12
Do., 6 pr.Ct.i 10 61. pr. ct. 11 Stffri &Wore 140 281. 405
Grand Surrey, 100 21. Os. 32% Shrewsbury..
125
.rand Unloa 100 I/. 10s. 24 Stonrbridge..
~.,
145
201. 290
'
Kenai& Avn 39 4s. 04. 6 Severe and Lancaster . 100 Wye Rail. i 1 26 21. Os. 24
Leeds& Livrp 100 201. 405 Warwick&
Leicester.... 100 Si. 66 Birming. 3 100 41. 40
Leicstr&Nth 83 41. 44% Warwick&
Loughborogh 142 701. 510 Napton. • 1 100 31. 28
Monmouthsh 100 —•-•• Worcstr
in SG} ..,81 81. 33
Mntgorysh 100 —• Birming. ' Meltnlkiwbry 100 --- Wilts & Brks --r, lls. 6d. 71A

GAS-LIGHT AND COKE COMPANIES:
Dividend Amount
Name of Company. per of Paid. Price.
Annum. Share.
-- -
,
British •••••••• • • •• • • 11. iL.a.d. Z. s. d. 40 0 0 18 0 0 11%
Ditto Provincial.• •• 11. Bs. 20 0 0 20 0 0 18%
Brighton • • • • .. • • • • •• ............Si. -
City of London .. •• • • 61. 190 0 0 -
leo 0 0 150 0 0 120
1 ContinentalConsolidat. 50s. 75 0 0 31 5 0 39%
Equitable.. -•••• • • • • 508. 150 0 0 50 0 0 25%
Imperial • • .... ••• • • • 31. '5O 0 0 50 0 0 70
Independent ....... • • 6/. 40 0 0 40 0 0 46
- 80 0 0 50 9 0 -
- 50 0 0 50 0 0 -
Do., Parl. Preference 61, 25 0 0 710 0 -
Phcenix . ............ 41. 50 0 0 49 9 0 2734
Ratcliff ..... ........ 51. 100 0 0 90 0 0 -
United General ••.• • • 11. 50 0 0 50 0 0 16
Westminster Chartered 3/. 50 0 0 - 45
Ditto, New .... ... MI. 50 0 0 10 0 0 9
MIST OP SCOTTISH COMPANIES' PRICES
Dividend Amount
Name of Company. per of Paid. Price.
Annum. Share.
----- --_-__ _
Bank of Scotland ..... 71. per .£ a. d. Z s. d
cent. 100 0 0 100 0 0 IRO
British Linen Company 81. Per cent. 100 0 0 100 0 0 200
;aledonian Bank •• .• • Pl. per tent. 10 0 0 210 0 31.10 s
City of Glasgow Bank 61. per cent. 10 9 0 10 0 0 11%
Clydesdale Bank .....• 6% per cent. 20 0 0 10 0 0 12%
Commercial Bank •• •• 71. per cent. 500 0 0 100 0 0 175
Eastern Bank .. ••• • • • 61. per cent. 25 0 0 10 0 0 10
Edinb.kGlasgow Bank 61. per cent. 50 0 b 0 0 3A
••.•• 634 per cent. 50 0 0 10 0 0 15% d.... 51.pereent. 20 0 0 210 0 27," .
Exehangeßnk of Scot.. 41. per cent. 100 0 0 42 0 0 8
North National Bc
oatni
akn.
Royal Bank of Scotland 51. per cent. 100 0 0 100 0 0 135
Union Bank of Scotland 81. per cent. 100 0 0 50 0 0 91
Western Bank .. ••- • • 71. per cent. 50 0 0 50 0 0 703(
Alliance Fire and Life rl%/.pr cent. 10 0 0 10 • 0 2134
British Guarantee .. • • 41. per cent. 10 0 0 1 0 0 199 Od
Caledonian Fire Insur. 101. per cent. 100 0 0 10 0 0 2234
City of Glasgow LllO.. 61. Per cent. 25 0 0 2 0 0 31. 15s
Colonial Life ... •••• 5/. per cent. 50 0 0 1 0 0 21. 2s.
Edinburgh Life Insur. 61. percent. 100 0 0 15 0 0 21%
Eng.& Scot, Law Life 51. per cent. 50 0 0 217 6 3%
Life Assoc. of Scotland Si. per cent. 10 0 0 110 OU. 15s
National Fire and Life 51. per cent. 10 0 0 1 0 0 255. Od
North British Insnr. •• 61. per cent. 200 0 0 20 0 0 27
.. 51. per cent. 50 0 0 7 0 0 1234
Scottish Union Insrace. 6%1. pr cent. 20 0 0 1 0 0 255.6 d
ce 51. per cent. 10 0 0 1 0 0 'l7s Od
StandarddarDd
eLpi.fAe;;u-ra.n.
----•-
IESCELLANEOUS.
Dividend Amount
Name of Compel'''. per of Paid. Price.
Annum. Share.
L. a. d. L. a. d.
Assam Tea • • - 20 0 0 20 0 0 9
&action Mart.. ...• • • 21. ss. 2634
kustrallan Agricriltarl IL 100 0 0 30 0 0 15
Australian Trust .• • • 6/. per cent. - 35 0 0 20%
knglo-Mexican Mint.. 11. 10e. 10 0 0 10 0 0 23%
Ditto. Half Shares.. - - 210 0 -
British American Land - 3 B 3B 10 0 -
Canada ....... •••• • • 61. per cent. 100 0 0 32 10 0 473,
Do. S per cent Bonds - - - -
Ditto, 6or ct. Bonds 61. percent. - - 109
City Navigation Bonds 31 per cent. - - 9334
Gen. Revers. & Invest. sp. c.& be, 21 100 0 0 100 0 0 95
Equitable Reversioary 5 p.c.& bs.sf 100 0 0 100 0 0 108%
Ditto New .. .... - 50 0 0 5 0 0 -
Gen. Steam Navigation 10 p.ct. 15 0 0 14 0 0 2734
Hudson's Bay ...... .. - Stock. - 206
Hungerford .......... 21. ss. - 100 0 0 47
London Institution .• . - 7 B 7B 15 0 7
New Zealand Company - 25 0 0 25 0 0 -
Ditto, New ........ - 25 0 0 12 10 0
Rassell Institution.... - - 26 5 0
Peninslr&Orient.Stm. 81. per cent. 50 0 0' 50 0 0 67
RoyalsßeverionarySoc. 4341. pr cent. 100 0 0 1
00 0 0 101%
Mail Steam- p. share. 100 0 0; 60 0 0 78 i
South Australian..... 11. per share. 25 0 0I 25 0 0 233
Van Dieman's Land.. - 100 0 0 129 0 0 1 4

MONEY MARKET.—The quotation of gold at
Paris is about at par (according to the new tariff), which,
at the English Mint price of 31. 17s. 101 d. per ounce for
standard gold, gives an exchange of 25.17 ; and the ex-
change at Paris on London at short being 25.27 k, it follows
that gold is about 0.41 per cent. dearer in London than in
Paris. By advices from Hamburgh the price of gold
is 430 per mark, which, at the English Mint price of
31. 17s. 103fd. per ounce for standard gold, gives an exchange
of 13.7 f ; and the exchange at Hamborgh on London at
short being 13.81, it follows that gold is 0.41 per cant.
dearer in London than in Hamburgh. The course of ex-
change at New York on London for bills at 60 days'
sight is
1l per cent., and the par of exchange between England
and America being 109 23-40 per cent., it follows that the
exchange is nominally 0.42 per cent. in favour of England;
but, after making allowance for difference of interest and
charges of transport, the present rate leaves no profit on the
importation of gold from the United States.
ADULTERATION AND DEFICIENT WEIGHT OF
BREAD.—The sanitary commissioners of the Lancet, in their
last report, have given the result of their examination of 28
samples of bread, 25 of which were purchased of different
bakers in the metropolis, and three from a company who
have numerous establishments for the sale of their bread, and
who in their advertisement declare that alum is not used by
them, and in every instance were the samples found to be
adulterated with alum—a substance calculated to exercise a
very prejudicial influence upon the digestive system, :and
consequently upon the health of those who partake of it.
Having directed attention to the weight of the bread sup-
plied to houses, it was found, in 43 instances out of 46, to be
deficient in weight up to four ounces in the quartern, and 24
ounces in the half-quartern—a double fraud being thus
practised upon the public, of the bread supplied, being not
only adulterated but deficient iu weight.