The Sun.
London, England, 1856-04-17 00:00:00

MARKET NEWS.—(This Day.)

CORN EXCHANGE.
GENERAL AVERAGE PRICES OF BRITISII CORN
For the week ended April 17,1856, made up from the Returns o; the
Inspectors in the different Cißes and Towns In England and Walt s
per Imperial Quarter.
WEIEAT. EARLEY. i OATS. ITS. BEAMS. I PEA,
I 681 71 393 O 1 23s Sd 423 4d 41s 41 37s 10d

LITERATURE.

Rank and Beauty ; or, th Young Baroness. 3
vols.- Hurst and Blackett.

This story contains the adventures of a young
lady who was at the summit of the social scale.
-ler numerous gifts of fortune and endowments of
aature, however, did not shield her from danger ;
m the contrary, she was exposed to all sorts of
umoyances and vexatious. Her father was a kind
mud devoted parent, but he had not sufficient
judgment to enable him to be of much service to
its daughter. Considering the perilous position
in which she was placed, the Baroness Umfraville
vas singularly fortunate in her general fate, al-
:hough in some particular instances, when her
name was circulated abroad with ridiculous ru-
mours attached to it, she might have exclaimed,
" Then, happy low, lie down." Many different
characters appear in the several scenes of social life
to which we are introduced, and some of them are
described with great vigour. Sir Luttrell Wycher-
ley is a most disagreeable person—one particularly
suited to poison the atmosphere of the circle in
which he moved ; his talents were considerable
enough to give him an advantage, of which ho
availed himself unscrupulously to tyrannise over
others. He was mean and selfish to an inordi-
nate excess; and vain to an extravagant degree.
Ete was the bane of Lady Umfraville's existence ;
she fouu I him alike incapable of taking hints or
receiving refusals ; nothing daunted him, and when
it last she repulsed him decidedly, he plotted un-
ceasingly to annoy her and avenge himself. His
final discomfiture and disgrace aro pleasing illus-
trations of retributive justice. He whose slander
had desolated so many homes was himself homeless ;
and he who had caused so many hearts to ache,
was himself a prey to tormenting reminiscences
and gnawing remorse. It is with pleasure that the
reader turns from him to the contemplation of the
character of the noble-minded Lord Rupert
Conway. 119 does not appear very frequently on
the scene, but whatever is known of him is of that
genuine nature that stamps its possessor as a hero
of the highest order. He was worthy of being the
ideal of Lady Umfraville's thoughts amid the reali
ties she met with. The description of the tour-
nament is very exciting and interesting, and pre-
sents a decided novelty to the romance-reading
community. Lady Barnstaple is a very admirable
sketch of a fine lady, with her airs and graces.
Evelyn Umfraville appears to advantage in the
striking contrast she presented to the vain woman
of the world, who asserted her claim to honours she
should have relinquished to those younger and
fairer than herself. Lady Umfraville gracefully gave
up her right, and acted as attendant where she
should have reigned as queen. Not that she was
the loser, as all appreciated her forbearance and
amiability, while they recognised her rival's as-
sumption and_vanity. The book is entirely de-
dicated to-The chronicles of high life, and there are
many gay and sparkling scenes pictured before us,
enlivened by amusing conversations, and diversified
by romantic adventures. Lady Umfraville cared
for other things besides those brilliant reunions
inseparable from her station ; she valued rank at
its true estimate, and prized beauty at its real
worth. She Was an instance of how the highest
rank can be made subservient to the benefit of the
lowest who were connected with her, and an ex-
ample of the brightest beauty preferring to grace
the retirement of home, than to enter the'Yfascina-
tions of the charmed circle who eagerly welcomed
her with their homage and applause. It is satis-
factory to find at the termination that Lady
Umfraville was united to Lord Rupert Conway, one
who was likely to lead her mind upwards—from
the glitter and glamour that surrounded her state,
to the consideration of the intellectual, the noble,
and the exalted concerns that engrossed his
thoughts for ever. Although there are not many
events recorded in these pages, those who take an
interest in the study of character, and are pleased
with conversational novels, will find ample enter-
tainment for their fancy, and exercise for their
thoughts, in the perusal of the records of " Rank
and Beauty."

Eastern _Hospitals and English Nurses. By a
Lady Volunteer. 2 vols. Hurst and Blackett.
The 'subject of these volumes is one of almost
universal interest,- and the fact of the writer having
been for twelve months a witness and. partaker of
the scenes and labours she describes, will at once
arouse the attention and excite the sympathy of
the reader. She was oue of the earliest bands of
nurses, one of those who went through all the
worst time of suffering, who was au attendant in
the hospital through those terrible months when
confusion and mismanagement reigns 1 pre-emi-
nent. The public are already acquainted with the
main facts of this part of the narrative, how rou-
tine and regulations served only to add to the dif-
ficulties, how things that were wanted were not
obtainable, how some mysterious obstacle generally
presented itself to convert abundance into scarcity,
how bales of goods containing necessaries most ear-
nestly desired were lost on their way, and all the
thousand methods in which the criminal neglect
and mismanagement of officials at home and abroad,
affected the comfort of the sick and suffering. To
those who wish to obtain a more accurate know-
ledge of what the little band of nurses effected, the
difficulties they had to contend with, and the pri-
vations and fatigues they had to undergo, and more
especially to the friends of those engaged in that
truly charitable work, these volumes will be highly
interesting. Notwithstanding all drawbacks, want
of experience, or strength sufficient for tho fatigue,
want of sufficient assistance or authority, it is
fearful to think what would have been the condi-
tion of the hospitals, what the amount of neglected
suffering, without the presence of that self-devoted
band. The universal feeling of gratitude and
affection throughout the army towards them suffi-
ciently testifies to the success of their exertions.
The writer constantly alludes to the difficul-
ties occasioned by the misconduct of the hired
nurses, half of their number having to be
sent home in disgrace. The best of the re-
mainder, with one exception, required constant
watching, and could never be trusted to perform
any important service
,without the supervision of
one of the lady volunteers, or a Sister of Mercy. •
Of these &ears de la Charlie, as the French call
them, the author speaks most highly, rendering
the strongest testimony to their uutiriug patience,
energy, and devotion to their patients. To the
patience and endurance of the sufferers also the
writer awards the highest praise :
" People have often spoken of the patience, courage, and
endurance of the sick in English hospitals, bat they have
only pain to endure, and doctors are busy to alleviate this,
and careful to give them all necessary comforts. It was in
the Eastern hospitals that the true heroism of patient
courage was pro-eminently displayed. We have attended
many hundreds of the sick of the British army suffering
under every form of disease—the weary wasting of low
typhus fever or dysentry, or the agony of frostbite—and
they were surrounded by every aczurnulation of misery.
For the fevered lips was there no cooling drink ; for the
sinking frame no strengthening food ; for the sore limb no
soft pillow; for Many no watchful hands to help; but
never did we hear a murmur pass those lips. We have
seen the brave and strong man laid low; have seen him
watch death coining, and meet it calmly, for he-died in.
doing his duty. Oh ! that they who speak harshly of the
British soldier had been with those whose privilege it was
to nurse him—had witnessed that wonderful spectacle of
the woe of the winter of 1854 and '55--had seen the
obedience to orders, the respectful gratitude, the noble
qualities there displayed !"

" Sickness is sad at all times—sad is it to languish and
suffer on our soft English beds, with skilful physicians full
of anxiety, with tender nurses and loving friends, with
evely comfort earth can give ; but only those who saw can
enter into the dreariness of those sick beds. It was so sad
to see them die ono after another—we learned to love them
so—ever ringing in our ears seemed the anxious hopes and
prayers of the fond hearts in England. The mother's only
stay was there, or the loved husband or brother, and they
were dying, not in the glory of the battle-geld, but in these
dreary corridors. They who had fought so bravely suf-
fered so nobly; they who, if they had lived, would have
been honoured by a nation's gratitude—they were passing
away by hundreds—no name would mark their graves, and
they would, save in the loving hearts of home, be son
forgotten.
No, not forgotten either. Surely when
the tale of
srelibinlEs' ng
t o;
p how they
.
that memorable winter shall be told, when fatuorheagr eneerata-
d
tions shall hear how they stormed
at A
13,,laklava, and held their ground at Io
bn ke
resolutely waited before the walls f
o wl,
la sod
shed to e
theirr db u till
blood
ss
length the gallantly defended city
foes—England will not forgot those
for her sake, though no
glory hovered round their death-
bed, save a ray from His glory who first taught us to be
' obedient unto death.
Many are the interesting incidents and anecdotes
recorded, the little details of the laborious daily
lives of the attendants at the hopitals. It was at
Koulali that the chief part of the writer's duties
were performed. She, however, met and conversed
with Miss Nightingale, of whom she speaks in the
usual terms of respect and admiration. Some of the
Sisters of Mercy, and some of the lady nurses fell
victims to the severity of their labours and the in-
salubrity of the climate. Very touching is it to
read the record of the last hours of those, dying
far away from home and friends, with only stran-
gers near them, and of their hurried interment the
next day in that distant country—

"But we cannot lament, their blessing is sure,
Who fought the good fight of the feeble and poor."
The writer's opinions on the question of hospital
nursing, both military and general, possess some
claims to attention. In the first place, she has
the important qualification of experience ; and
secondly, there is much truth and sense in her ob-
servations, which the reader will readily per-
ceive :

" Attention has been drawn towards the class of women
whose task it is to nurse the sick of England. These pages
will in some degree show how unfitted they are for that
responsible office. For though a military hospital was the
worst imninablo position in 'which to One thew, yet

those who were unable to resist its temptations are car.
tainly unfitted for their present occupation.
"Regarding the ladiei who went out various opinions
have been entertained. Perhaps iu this case their own
view of their position may be the best, as they learnt thei
knowledge by experience, and most of them agreed that
though in the great emergency that had called them forth
their efforts had been blessed to the relief of much suffer-
ing, the system was based on no permanent footing. Te
raise the occupation of a nurse to a higher standard, to
form a body who will both nurse in our home hospitals as
well as be ready to attend the sick in the army and navy,
other means are required."
":luny who will read these pages have perhaps never
passed within hospital walls, many more, if they have
done so, have paid their visit at appointed times when all
looked its best. But others as well as myself have learnt
our experience of hospital work from more authentic
sources. We hays lived in hospital wards, going there for
the purpose of preparing ourselves—first, to undertake the
nursing of the poor at home, and again when about to pro-
ceed to the East.
" We placed ourselves under the hospital nurses, receiv-
ing our instructions from them, and, thus being possesse4
of no authority over them, wore admitted behind the
scenes of hospital life ; and what we saw there—of dis-
obedience to medical orders and cruelty to patients—would
till pages, and make them wko read them shudder ! shud.
der as we often have done when we saw some little innocent
child, who from some terrible accident had boon brought
into the hospital, exposed to that atmosphere of evil.
More evil was heard in one hour in a London hospital tkan
would meet one's ears during months passed in a military
one.

" One word must be said for the nurses. Their work is
no light one. The founder of the Sisters of Charity deemed
t'u4 the attendance on all the loathsome diseases of man-
kind should exempt his daughters from practising any of
those austerities which are enforced on religious commu-
nities. It is no easy task to bear with patience the end-
less fretfulness of hundreds of sick, to listen to long corn.
plaints with real sympathy, and speak soothing words when
body and mind are alike worn. To stand by the sufferer
when about to undergo some fearful operation, to maintain
a cheerful spirit when the familiar sounds are those of
moans, of sufferings, or sharp cries of agony, while the
very atmosphere is impregnated with disease. To bs firm
in carrying out the doctor's commands when they are a
torture to the patients, and yet gentle and self-sacrificing
in all that concerns themselves. While watchful care
must be taken that familiarity with the eight and sound
of suffering does not bring that hardening to it which is
apt to creep over even a naturally tender nature, and which
is ono great cause of the cruelty and neglect practised by
hospital nurses. No, a good nurse must receive every new
case of affliction as though it were her first. Yet all this
and far more would, be the portion of an hospital nurse.
Can any believe that the love of gain or more kindliness
of heart can accomplish this ? Generous impulses, enthu-
siasm, and benevolence, were called forth by stirring ac-
counts of the sufferings of our country's heroes, and bore
many forth to struggle through a time which, like that of
all passing distress, was one of great excitement; but the
spirit that can relinquish the fair things of this world to
attend upon the grievously afflicted —must be the one of
love springing from the sole desire to follow His steps, who
came ' not to be ministered unto, but to minister."'

We earnestly trust that this important cotestion
will meet with speedy and careful consideration.
Meanwhile, to those who desire a simple and
plainly written record of what some of the Eng-
lish nurses saw and accomplished in the Eastern
hospitals, we commend these volumes, certain that
they will excite interest and afford gratification,
less from their style than their subject, less from
the importance of the events narrated than from
their showing that the heroism of the battle-field
is not forgotten on the bed of suffering, and that
England has also her Sisters of Charity, in spirit,
if not in name.

Bechstein's Handbook of Chamber and Cage Birds.
Edited by H. G. Adams. Ward and Loch.
To all those who keep feathered prisoners, this
little volume is an indispensable auxiliary. It is
edited by the author of many works on birds and
flowers, and is translated from the German of
Bechstein, " the greatest of authorities upon the
Natural History and Treatment of Cage Birds."
Every variety of songster appears to find a place in
these pages, which include those which are kept in
aviaries ; also parrots, macaws, and cockatoos.
Useful practical directions are given for their food
and treatment, and the owners of feathered favou-
rites cannot provide themselves with a more con-
venient and elegant manual.