The Sun.
London, England, 1856-08-07 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

Horatio Howard Brenton. ; A Naval Novel. By
Captain Sir Edward Belcher, R.N., C. 8.,
&c. 3 vols. Hurst and Blackett.
The name of the author of this work is not un-
known to fame in his own profession, and he has now
set out in quest of distinction in a very opposite
pursuit. If we are to credit the information given
in the preface, however, we are to regard him as a
biographer or family historian rather than as a
novel writer. The extraordinary and complicated
family history which forms the thread of the story
is stated to be true, though many difficulties have
attended its publication, and feigned names are
substituted. It appears strange that such a re-
markable story, in many of its incidents so painful
to the chief actors, should be voluntarily exposed
to the criticism of the public. The author, indeed,
has expressed this feeling, but it may perhaps be
explained by a passage at the close, which hints
that the chief actors are not living. The following
is an extract from the Preface, which contains the
statements alluded to :
" The reader of the following pages will find them filled
with details of the thoughts and feelings •f human lives,
which have really existed, and with the chief incidents in
the career of one whom some of the greatest men of the
past generation were proud to call their friend. The story
here submitted for perusal may be received, without hesi-
tation, as a genuine contribution to the history of huma-
nity. The scenes described in it are photographs, and not
pictures ; the conversations recorded in it actually fell
from lips which are bat just cold ; family documents, of
undeniable authentioity, and even the records of several
of the public offices, might be, and may be, if necessary,
produced to attest its truth."
The details of this remarkable story would require
an Italian politician to understand them thoroughly;
they are more like an ancient romance than a com-
paratively modern reality. They possess, moreover,
a quality highly commendable in a romance—the
reader is left in complete perplexity until the con-
.clusion. The most- expert and clear-sighted novel
reader would hardly decipher the conclusion until
he reached it. It must not, however, be imagined
that the work does not merit its title of "A Naval
Novel," the story filling but a secondary part, and
the nautical 'portion of the work occupying a large
space. All acquainted with naval matters, or in
any way interested in them, will doubtless be
greatly attracted by the descriptions of a sea life,
as it was some fifty years ago. The remarks on the
naval service, also coming from so competent an
authority, are entitled to respect, and will engage
attention. Through the speeches of his hero and
otherwise, the writer expresses some decided
opinions on the impropriety of sending boys to sea
who are not naturally qualified and educated for
the profession. The following speech, made by
the hero on this subject, explains his views :
" In proposing to send a boy into the navy, what you
are bound to observe is, what is the habit or disposition of
the boy. No iron-bound bully is wanted in the navy—no
physical strength. Nelson and Collingwood were not of
this breed. Put it to yourself first—How will this boy
push his way? Has he any talent to commend him ? Is
he chivalrously bent to devote himself, his life, and for-
tunes, without hope beyond advancement, to fight his
country's battles? Is his temper such that he can stand
reproof—unmerited reproof—with abiding patience until
his justification is worked out, and his martyrdom crowned
by the most generous confidence and support of his cap-
tain? Is he above provocation ? Can ho stand the close,
oppressive reasoning of an unprincipled superior, who de-
termines to rid himself of one who stands in the way of a
friend ? Can he eventually fall back on a competence, and
not become an intolerable _burthen to his family and to so-
ciety, should he dislike the profession ? If he is proof
against these, send him to take his chance of being food
for powder.'
" But, as I am speaking on'thie subject,:let me make one
other remark. Above all things, avoid sending a boy to
sea merely because you consider him ,fit for nothing else
because you think him a bully, and that the navy is the
only proper profession for such an one. Such was young
C., my old schoolfellow here. I remember well that his
wildness, ooarseness, and bullying disposition were espe-
cially insisted on as reasons for sending him into the navy.
He is dead ! Hear his short career, and think what you
and I, perhaps, in a remote degree, have to answer for.
We did not meet only to exchange stories, for I prevented
his joining the Cleopatra. He has left no friends—at this
day—to bewail him, and no one but the assembled com-
pany can know his name. I am therefore free to tell his
short career. He left the school some few weeks after me,
and entered the Busy. We met at Halifax, and he was so
unhappy that he would have joined anything to get out of
that ship. No one would have him ! I had heard his
whole tale from himself f—it was no secret—and I told him
he could not join us, or I would leave.' He confessed
all, and I shudder to think of the 'sailor boys' you send
us. He grossly insulted one of the crew—you all know
he would have been a bully here—but he had his masters,
on whom he fawned. Well, he used language that is not ,
permitted in any respectable vessel. The man—a captain
of the maintop —replied—` No more than you, sir.' He
complained that he had been insulted and struck by the
man, and, in self-defence, he had been compelled to strike
him—a fly kicking an elephant ! The first-lieutenant
hoard the man's defence ; he was very sorry, but he could
not doubt the word of an officer.' The captain was guided
by the report of the first-lieutenant. It was death by the
naval law ! -but they would then lose a good man. Yet
this good man's character did not help him ! He was or-
dered for punishment. Hear the character of the man.
He knew his innocence--he knew the value, as he fondly
imagined, of his character, and he was led to believe that
he could not be punished. The captain sent for Mr. C---
into the cabin—questioned him in private, and added—
"' Well, sir, you have now a chance of making your
character in this ship, by begging that man off before pu-
nishtr ent is actually inflicted. You have admitted enough,
in my mind, to satisfy me that some unaccountable quar-
rel, reducing you to his level, or possibly beneath him, is
at the bottom of this. My duty is very painful ; you
only can relieve me—be resolved. Tell the ti nth, sir. No
one will think more highly of you than myself. I shall de-
fer punishment until seven bells.'
"That man could have brought three witnesses to prove
his entire innocence, by word or deed. They were ready
to come forward at the proper moment. He disdained
their officious interposition—nothing but the word of this
officer could, in his estimation, purge him from so foul a
charge. The hands were turned up—the customary forms
gone through—C-- was silent !—the article of war was
read—and he was asked if ha had anything to say.
" With your permission, sir, one word—you all know
I am innocent. God help Mr. C-- !' and he sprang
overboard

" The Busy went to sea, and was never heard of—it was
supposed foundered. Seamen are superstitions ; the name
of Busy will ever thrill the nerves of all who knew that
boy and her fate. lam superstitious enough to imagine
that her fate is interwoven with his. Was it a just retri-
bution even for blinded judgment ? I was told that it was
❑ot the intention to flog that man, but to refer it to a
court-martial and disgrace the officer. Fate decreed other-

The accounts of the different voyages, engage-
ments, and adventures of our hero will be chiefly
interesting to those engaged in similar pursuits,
being, of course, told in true nautical style and
seaman's language. In the other parts of the book,
however, it may be regretted that the author has
not been a little careful of his style, as sentences
occasionally slip into each other, or break off
abruptly, in a very perplexing manner. There
are plenty of materials in the book, notwith-
standing, to attract and interest many classes of
readers ; the lovers of romance, especially, will
prize the excitement and mystery of the story.
Being said to bo founded on fact, it is invidious to
criticise the actors or their actions ; but the chief
feature of the conclusion—the marriage of the
hero—is not likely to meet general approval. The
marriage of Captain Lofty, also, is not very satis-
factory to those interested in his career. The
sketches of naval life and discipline are strik-
ing, and, of course, characteristic, the por-
traits drawn, with a few exceptions, by one
so well qualified to judge, fully maintaining
the character of the British " hearts of oak." A
very high tone of morals is kept up all through the
work, such as we fear it would be difficult to main-
tain with ordinary individuals under ordinary
circumstances. It is, however, one of the writer's
chief requirements, in a boy dedicated to this pro-
fession, that he should be truthful and obedient in
the highest degree, and that his discretion and
powers of silence should 'be cultivated as well as
his courage. It will thus .be 'perceived that the
present work is one of no common class, and
that it possesses the recommendations of originality
and mystery in a very high degree.
No doubt its
success will be commensurate with its double
qualifications ; and if some may be disposed to
cavil at the labyrinths through which they are led,
and to which the clues are scarcely less compli-
cated, or the mystery that shrouds the hero, or
the want of connection in the narrative, there will
be many others to regard all these objections as
advantages, and to claim for the writer a full share
of the honours awaiting the title of a successful
naval novelist.

The Young Commander. A Novel. By the
Author of " The Two Midshipmen," " The
Warhawk," drc. 3 vols. Newby.
This novel has for subject the adventures of a
lost heir, yet, although in this sense it belongs to
a class, whose name is legion, it possesses some
novelty in its delineation and intrinsic interest of
its own. The hero is a spirited character, well
calculated to form the centre of attraction to a
series of dashing exploits and dangerous events.

" Hair-breadth scapes, and hair-breadth snares,
Hair-brained perils, ventures, cares,"
might have served him for motto, for his career
was a catalogue of chances and changes that befall
few. There are many evil natures in the story, and
they are, for the most part, accurately described.
It might be suggested that it is hardly probable
that James Tregannon would have kept the paper
on which his life depended in so careless a manner;
the most natural supposition would be that he de-
stroyed it altogether as soon as he got to a place of
safety after his perilous escape from the House of
Tregannon. It is true, however, that the wicked
do overreach themselves in many cases, and for
want of trivial attention to trifles neglect the
structure of their laborious efforts in large designs.
A new source of interest is added to the story in
the passage which relates the adventures in France.
Claude Tregannon is made a prisoner, and released
1)y Le. RogbeisciwgoiDs ass prima of esteem for'lis

Yesterday were issued the annual accounts of the
Chamberlain of the City of London relating to duties. and payments, surpluses, Blackfriars-bridge, Bridge
House estate, navigation of the River Thames, mooring.
chains in the River Thames, police, ward expenses,
sewers, sale of coals, duty on coals, and the Clerkonwell. Improvement Commission. The amount realised last
year, under the first head, was 153,6851. 15s. 11d., and
the expenditure in respect thereof was 21,9231. 169.
6d., leaving a surplus of 131,7611. 19s. 5d., which had
been handed over to her Majesty's Commissioners
of Parks, Palaces, &c., for effecting Public Works
and Improvements in the Metropolis. The receipts in
the Thames navigation account amount to 41,5281.
19s. 2id., and the expenditure (for improvements west.. ward of London-bridge) to 26,2121. 9s. Bid., leaving a
balance of 15,3161. Pa. 60. The receipts last year in
respect to the City police amounted to 48,1751. 7s. 5d.,
which, added to the balance of the former year, made a
total of 56,5051. ss. 11d., while the police expenditure
of the year amounted to 45,3261. 12s. 10d., leaving
11,178/. 13s. id. to be carried forward to this years'
account. The payments of the year to the Police Super-
annuation Fund amounted to 2,2891. Os. 11d., of which
32/. Sc. was derived from fines for assaults on the police,
and 1,1521.25. from deductions from the pay of the force
for misconduct, sickness, and in respect of the fund
itself. The pensions paid during the year amounted to
471/. 175., and the balance of 1,8171. 3s. 11d. has been
applied to the purchase of 1,9201. 88. 4d. new $l. per
Cent. Annuities. The coal market last year produced
11,306/. ls. 7d., while the expenditure of the year, in,
respect of the market, was 10,1251. ss. 4d., which in-
cludes an over-paid balance of 5,4171. 18s. 9d., and the
coal market surplus in hand amounts to 1,180/. 16s. 3d.
The coal duty realised last year 16,922/. 2s. 4d. • the
cost of collection was only 601. 25., and the drawbacks,
1,346/. 7s. Bd., leaving a balance of 15,515/. 12s. Bd.,
which is included in the surpluses paid to the Commis-
sioners of Parks, Palaces, &c., as before mentioned.
The Clerkenwell Improvement Commissioners last year
expended 44,6161. 16s. 6d., and their accounts exhibit A
balance in hand of 8,6791. 16s. ld.

MARKET NEWS.—(This Day)

CORN EXCHANGE.
GIVEITAL AVERAGE PRICES OF BRITISH CORN
For the week ended Aug. 7,1856, made up from the Returns of the
Inspectors in the different Cities and Towns In England and Wale s
per Imperial Quarter.
'MEAT. EARLEY. OATS. ETE. MUMS.
77i 101 42s 71 27s 91 433 4d 4S Is 71 43s 8d
TIIE SIX WEEKS' AVERAGE..
waskr. I BARLEY. I OATS. ME. ( BEANS. PEAS.
74s 73 39s lid I 26s Od f 483 91 413 9d f 435 Od
QUANTITIES OF GRAIN SOLD LAST WEEK.
Wheat, 81,072; Barley, 1,$88; Oats, 5,360; Rye, 66 ; Beane,
2,483; Yeas, 629 quarters.

MEAT MARKETS.
NEWGATE AND LEADENHALL. The trade generally
ruled heavy, as follows ;—Beef, from 3s Od to 4s 2d ;
Mutton, 3s 2d to 4s 61 ; Lamb, 4s Od to 5s Od ; Veal.
4s 0(1 to 4s 4d ; Pork, 3s 8d to 4a Gd per 81bs, by the car.
ClLse.

SOUTHALL, August 6.—We w•re fairly supplied with
each kind of fat stock, and the trade ruled heavy, at droop.
ing prices. Beef, from 3s Od to 4s 6d; Mutton, 3s 6d to
5s O. 1; lamb, 4s 8d to 5s 6d ; Veal, 3s 6d to 4s 6d; Pork,
3s 4d to 4s 6d per 81bs, to sink the offal.
ROMFORD, August 6.—The trade was very dull, as fol.
lows :—Beef, from 3s 2d to 4s 8d ; Mutton, 3s 8d to bs 2d ;
Lamb, 4s 8d to 5s 8d; Veal, 3s 4d to 4s 6d; Pcrk, 3s 2d to
4s 8d per Blbs.