The Sun.
London, England, 1856-05-07 00:00:00

COMMERCIAL

. .
The mo.ney.market at New. York was plentifully sup.
plied at 6 to. 7. per cent. on call. . .
Stocks were dull—Exchange on London, 104
The cotton market closed firm for middling uplands
at about 11d. Flour was dull, and prices for inferior
and common grades closed heavy in favour of purchasers.
The better high brands were without change of moment.
Pork was inactive for mess, and prime without change
in prices.
A fair business was done in freighti for Liverpool and
London, though in ROME) cases at rather eammer rates.

Important despatches for her Majesty's Government
reached Paris yesterday, on their way to London, from
Constantinople. It is supposed that the aff.kirs of Cir-
cassia demand the attention of the allies.
It is understood:, that Count Pralormo will represent
Sardinia at the Ccsnrt of St. Petersburg.
We read in the Moniteur de l' Armec—" Hitherto the
officers and soldiers who rec,ived the metal granted
by her Majesty the Queen of Engfaud, in commemo-
ration of the campaign in the East, possessed no title
to justify their right to wear the decoration. This
oversiglit will be sttortly obviated, when the military
men, decorated with. the Crimean medal, are to re-
ceive an official diph,ma, certifying its delivery."

ACCIDENT AT THE COMMERCIAL DOCKS.—A, heavy
set of the wind, aided, by the weight of the water within
these docks, produce 3 last night, at a few minutes after
12, a frightful accident, attended with loss of life. The
gates of the docks were buret open, and s.veral vessels
escaped into the river-way. The " Bell" bargs was
sunk, with, it is feared, several persons on board. Other
damage was sustained by craft in the river, the extent of
which, at that bite hour. i t was impossible to ascertain,

LITERATUF,E.

Leonora. By the Hon. Mrs, Maberley, Author of
the "Love :dawn." 3 vols. Smith and Eider.

Those who are pleased with the complicated in
stories, and the details of the subtle and crafty,
will welcome the appearance of this novel. Tee
character of the heroine is fully describe' in the
motto, " I would not have such a heart in my
bosom for the dignity of the whole body." Leo-
nora Stratford is one calculated to draw attention,
and even interest of a peculiar sort, after her, by
her courage, her cleverness, and her self-control.
It is true that all these qualities were displayed
and exercised in the cause of wrong, but the skill
of the authoress has shown forth effectually the
difference between persistence in truth and false-
hood. Leonora's whole career set forward the
latter, and its close held out a solemn warning to
all votaries of deceit. The plot is dexterously
concocted, and the circumstances, if strange, are
not improbable, considering the persons concerned
in the transactions. Besides, many redeeming na-
tures are introduced, who form attractive and agree-
able distractions from the constant contemplation
of the wily ensnarer. It would not be to the purpose
to descant or dilate upon the exact occurrences of
the narrative ; it must be read to be understood ;
and those who object to any subterfuge being
made the turning point of a story had better not
attempt the perusal. Those, on the contrary,
who see artistic skill, and coustructive excellence,
in deep laid schemes, and manifold manoeuvres,
will be delighted with the records of the fitful
fever of Leonora's life. Among the most exciting,
of the scenes, is that in which the discovery of the
jewels is made by the rightful owner. It is in a
case like this that the real retribution of sin con-
sists, not in the upbraiding of conscience in lonely
hours, or the arguments of advisers, but in the
sudden enlightenment, the momentary disclosure.
If ever such a deceiver and heartless offender
could inspire pity, it would be then, caught in her
own snares, foiled when she thought herself secure,
and the crowning object of her ambition made the
climax of her ruin. It is also worthy of notice to
observe the curious dilemma in which Leonora
found herself with her three admirers. If any-
thing could have showed her character more fully
than another, it would be the fact of her seriously
contemplating the possibility of a union with either
of her two daily visitors, while she preferred the
third, who kept back, and while every real senti-
ment she possessed worthy of the name, wits buried
in the grave of her former lover. fe who slept
in his untimely tomb, cut off in the prime of life
by her caprice and folly, had left behind him an
avenging spirit. Leonora thought by leaving the
country of her crimes, she could leave their conse-
quences and their recollections. But very different
was the result. Likewise, in her project of a des-
perate remedy, to a desperate case, she failed ut.•
torly. In the hour of peril of discovery she closed
with the offer of Stuart Devereux. Cast off by
the man she respected, for her deceit, spurned by
the only one living she could have loved, in conse-
quence of his knowledge of her previous life, she
rushed off madly with one she neither loved, re-
spected, nor expected to derive much advantage
from. All this was done to blind her friends,
but she never failed more utterly. The con-
fusion and unseemly haste awakened suspicions,
and above all the shock of the deceit killed her
father, whose greatest fault was over-confidence in
her. Such an event gained her more odium among
primitive country neighbours than the most ingeL
!lions tale of misdoings in a foreign land, imper-
fectly known and confusedly stated, could have
occasioned a hundred times magnified. Further
on, when abroad, if she had kept quiet, as becomes
those surrounded by pitfalls of their own creation
to be, she might have done well in comparison ;
but no, she must have applause of some kind, and
_in the hour of her unworthy triumph, she laid her-
self open to the observation of her enemies. The
epitome of her existence may be summed up in a
remark in " Coningsby." " The altars of Ne-
mesis are beneath every outraged roof," for where-
ever she was, however situated, the same ghastly
spectre stood before her, not as a symbol, or an
allegory, iu the restless day, or the sleepless night,:
but in some tangible shape, some visible form, it
walked the earth beside her. Iu her sad end is
seen the moral—all had failed her on which she
had depended, fame, rank, riches, power. She
was despised by all, but most of all by herself. In
contradistinction to her, the sweet and innocent
Alice Percy is truly welcome. After such an in-
stance of treachery and wiles, as is evidenced by
Leonora, a heart that knew no guile, like Alice's,
appears the gilt that crowns all others in the human
character. In the various events that occur many
different persons engage attention, and the seekers
after the humorous will be gratified by the ludi-
crous adventures of Mrs. Percy Linklater and her
provoking husband. Sir Edward Devereux is a
fine, straightforward character, and what is seen
of him conduces to the adornment of the tale. On
the whole, " Leonora" is an inceniously con-
structed, artistically arranged, and ably executed
narrative. It cannot be called pleasing in its style,
but it is certainly powerful, and may be profitable
to those, who fancy the career of the evil-doer is
smooth and smiling for the preeent whatever.
future consequences ensue. They will see, naturally
'explained, amid truly represented, the let and
hindrance of the guilty mind. Friends were de-
ceived, enemies were circumvented, appearances
flattered, chance favoured ; but was this peace for
Leonora ? The worm that dieth not had its ever-
lasting vitality in her feat of discovery, while the
shame of such an ordeal, the disgrace of such a day,
was branded on her memory in characters of flame,
as the burning of a fire that can never be
quenched.

The Chinese and their Rebellions. By J. T.
Meadows. 1 vol. Smith and Elder.
The author of this work filled the important office
of interpreter in the Canton consulate for many
years. He has given the result of his experience,
and taken a review of the Chinese, their philosophy,
ethics, legislation, and administration, in a volume
commensurate with the celestial empire. He de-
voted some time to the study of the Chinese lan-
guage in Germany, with the intention of seeking a
place under our Government in China. Having
been successful in his endeavours, he reached that
country in time to see the copies of the treaty of
peace exchanged at Hong Kong. This treaty, as
is well known, was signed. in August, 1842, after
two years of active warfare, and by it the island of
Hong Kong was ceded to the British, and the five
ports of Canton, Amoy, Ningpo, Shanghai, and
Foochow opened to foreign trade. Among other
points was one of great urgency, that the corres-
pondence between the two Governments should be
conducted on terms of perfect equality, as the
Chineie had previously refused to regard the Bri-
tish as equals; indeed the present writer remarks
that the misapplication of the one word, barbarian,
would in time have been sufficient to tend to hosti-
lities.. The Chinese, having never met a people
equal to themselves in civilisation, have always
been remarkable for their exaggerated ideas of self-
importance, and have been in the habit of styling
all other nations barbarians. Thus, when the dis-
putes arose, the Imperial officers refused to com-
municate personally with the " barbarian head-
men,'! or to speak of them except as inferiors ; in
fact, they adopted the policy they usually followed
with savages. It .was arranged in the treaty that
British consuls were to reside at the five ports, and
watch over its due observance, and form courts
for criminal and civil cases. The consulate con-
sisted of five • permanent members, a consul, a
vice-consul, an ' interpreter and two assist-
ants.; . besides these there were many na-
tive employes. The chief business of the in-
terpreter was to conduct transactions between
the consul and the Chinese authorities, which re--
hated to a great variety of subjects. Besides filling
this' important post at Canton and Shanghae for
upwards of ten years the author was occasionally
seat on special missions, in which he obtained his
most interesting experience; and in one of these he
visited'the Loochoo Islam's. It will, therefore, be
seen that from the length of time he stayed in the I
country, and from the important post he occupied,
Mr. Meadows had ample opportunities of becoming
thoroughly conversant with the people; their insti-
tutions, and characteristics. His authority, there-
fore, on minor points connected with Chinese life
and manners is not to be questioned ; and as re-
gards dates and historical information, he informs
us that, he has been most careful in the selection
of his authoritieS. This, as indeed must always be
the case in any work which pretends to accuracy,
has been the chief labour of the work. Of course,
from his long residence in the country, the recent
events of Chinese history were quite familiar to
him ; but so great was' his desire to verify all his
statements on original works of acknowledged
authority, that liehrought home 300 volumes for
that • purpose. It is to be regretted that the ar-
rangement's at the Custom-hohse necessitate the
payment of a large sum by the importers of foreign
books of this kind ; whereas in China at every cus-
tom-house they are exempt from duty. • The most
interesting portion of the work to many will be
that relating to the rebels, or Tae Pings, as they
are called, who for the last five years have been
contending with the Manchoos, or Imperialists.
It is not perhaps generally known that the first
cause of the outbreak was of British origin. It is
remarked that wo have been the instruments of
ruin to the Manche° dynasty, for that even our
efforts to assist it have proved baneful. A British
squadron destroyed, in the autumn of 1849, no
less than fifty-eight vessels of a pirate fleet in one
day ; but their crews, escaping on shore, jcinei

themselves with the bandit rebels or followers of
Hung-sew-tseuen, the chief of the Tae Pings. The
junction of two thousand of these pirates with
the religious rebels increased their number to a
formidable extent. About a year after the de-
struction of the pirate fleet the rebellion commenced,
which has been struggling ever since to subvert
the Manchoo dynasty, and establish that of Tao
Ping, or Universal Peace. As regards the question
of ultimate success, the writer does not feel capa-
ble of uttering a decided opinion. He has enu-
merated the chief elements of success on either side
—their respective adherents and opponents, but
he considers, no doubt justly, that the best-informed
cannot form a reliable conclusion from the present
state of things, but that the struggle will certainly
be a hard one ; and more, he does not believe that
either party feels assured of ultimate success, however
confident may be their language. He draws a com-
parison between Hung-sew-tseuen and Nl:thorned,
and also between the Tae Pings and the Puritans.
There are, however, important points of difference
in both these cases; indeed the author himself does
not carry the analogy further than one or two spe-
cial points. In the first instance, Hung-sew-tseuen
has adopted the Christian Scriptures and cede of
morality, though with some peculiarities, which at
once places him far above the Prophet of Mecca ;
and the Puritans, as the author himself remarks,
only fought for liberty of conscience, whereas Hung-
sew-tseuen 'endeavours to make converts, and to
exterminate the reigning dynasty. The account of
their rise, and a full description of their proceed-
ings, military and political, from the first outbreak
of rebellion up to the present time, is given
for the benefit of the curious. It is, perhaps, the
first distinct history of the Tao Pings and their
Heavenly Prince, as he is called by them, that has
appeared in a work of this character. The chief
part of the details respecting the origin aad early
movements of this party was obtained from a book
compiled by the late Protestant missionary at
Hong Kong, who procured the information from
Hung Jin, a relative of the founder of the sect. It
furnishes an interesting narrative of an event of
great political importance. On this subject we
may remark that the writer devotes some pages to
the consideration of the danger of a Russian ag-
gression in China. If allowed to conquer it, he
says, she will be Mistress of the World, as the sub-
jugation of America may speedily follow. Oue of
the chief features of the work is a very interesting
and useful outline of the philosophy, morality, and
polity of the Chinese, and the religion of the go-P
verning class. This chapter occupies a large por-
tion of the volume, and the author himself in-
forms us that he considers it as the most-, valuable
part. At the close of the volume is an essay on
civilisation, in which the writer enters at some
length into a consideration of the definition of
civilisation, and its relation to religion, science,
and art, with miscellaneous illustrations from
. Christian and Confucian civilisatiuns. This essay
will b 3 less interesting to the general reader than
the other portions of the work, though to the
lovers of political economy and the students of the
principles of gevernment it may afford subjects for
reflection. We must not omit to mention one
point in this volume which is worthy of the atten-
tive consideration of Administrative Reformers.
It is the conclusion of the preface or introduction,
in which the author advances his opinions on the
subject of competitive examinations for Civil Ser-
vice. It is remarkable that the experiment has
really been made by him when at Canton.
Having discovered three of the permanent clerks
engaged in nefarious practices, be obtained permis-
sion of the Consul, and posted an official notice
through Canton, inviting educated men acquainted
with public native business to appear as competi-
tors for the vacant posts. Forty or fifty candidates
appeared. The first test to which he put them
,was to place before them an imperial preface to one
of the sacred books, which he desired them to ex-
plain sentence by sentence. As these prefaces, it
appears, touch historically and descriptively on
the books themselves, the ignorant and presump-
tuous competitors were soon displayed—they had
not anticipated so severe a test. After selecting
the best, he subjected them to two or three more
examinations, and finally appointed three total
strangers to the vacant situations. We are happy
to add that this daring and unusual proceeding
met with perfect success. The author appends a
distinct and carefully-prepared plan for the exami-
tion of candidates for Government appointments.
Whether practically available for the purposes in-
tended, or the best calculated for proposed im-
provements or not, it has high claims on the con-
sideration of all those interested in this important
movement, as the production of one who has bad
ample opportunity of observing the conduct of
officials, and has been one of the fortunate few who
possess the experience of a practical experiment.
come future time he promises, if his health
allows hits, to give the public another work on this
subject, to which he has devoted much time and
thought. The writer's opinion of the Chinese
j nation is on the whole a favourable one ; lie de-
' nounces in strong terms the impolicy as well as in
justice of those writers who, without care or expe-
rience, publish statements derogatory to the whole
character of a nation, and denounce the inhabitants
in general terms, when perhaps their grounds of
censure are untenable on a severe examination.
Such conduct is unjustifiable. A book on the
character of a foreign nation should be written
in the same spirit of impartial criticism as
a history; where personal feeling should never be
permitted to enter, or hasty judgments formed.
It will be perceived that the pres,ist volume is a
work of a standard character. It is not intended
as a mere record of the author's personal experi-
ence during a long residence in a foreign country,
nor as a description of the present state of affairs
by an eye-witness. It is rather a supplement to
the histories of China that have been hitherto pub-
lished, comprising, at the same time, a complete
outline of their religion and philosophy from the
time of Confucius to the Tae Pings. The recent
agitations in Europe have been sufficient to distract
the minds of the public from the struggle in the
'Celestial Empire, but it is no doubt a subject of
much importance, and the full and detailed history
here given of the founder of the sect and his fol-
lowers is not the least attractive feature in the
book. It certainly possesses the merit of taking a
complete view of an empire and a people
of which little is known by the general' reader,
who, perhaps, is not aware that the Chinese are said
to have invented paper 170 years Ex., thus proving
that their claims to respect are not altogether un-
founded. To all anxious to become thoroughly
acquainted with institutions of •the Chinese, and
with those doctrines and beliefs upon which their
Government is founded, as well as to acquire a
knowledge of the events of the last five years, we
commend this volume for the completeness of its
details and the amount of its information.

The Heirs of Blaekridgc Manor. By Diana
Butler. 3 vols. Chapman and Hall.
It must be admitted that this novel is striking
and uncommon in its plot, its style, and its cha-
racters. We cannot, however, afford it further
commendation. In the first place the chief- feature
in the story, the point upon which the plot turns,
is one quite unfitted for the foundation of an ordi-
nary novel. It is more calculated to form the
subject of those gloomy romances so popular on the
continent, where love and hate, crime and revenge
figure in admired confusion. We must not do it
the injustice to say that it partakes of their false
and sentimental views of duty and principle ; it is
rather a fearful warning, a stern lesson that teaches
the misery resulting to many from the sins of ode, the sufferings of the innocent for the guilty.
It shows the evil of vice rather than the loveliness
of virtue, and though such lessons may sometimes
be salutary, though it may' be necessary to warn
from the precipice as well as show the safe road,
still such truths are better taught elsewhere. Nor
can we imagine that the author set before her only
the object of moral instruction. The rest of the
work partakes too much of this tone and manner.
There is scarcely one well-conducted person in the
book, if we except one or two elderly ladies, living
in country retirement, with curious ways and
.-opinions. The most extraordinary thing in the
hook is the sight of a lady's name on the title-page.
How any lady can have penned such a work
we are at a loss to imagine. Setting aside
the main point of the story, which, to say the
least of it, is hardly one that an authoress
would be supposed to choose, there are countless
words and phrases in the book that would render
such an idea preposterous were it not for the name
of Diana Butler on the title-page. Without sup-
posing that a lady writer must restrict herself to
the use of domestic phrases, or that she can.por-
tray the varied scenes and actors of the busy world
without any allusion to their crimes and follies, we
should advise the authoress, when publishing a
similar work, to do so anonymously. She need
not fear to render her style tame and insipid by
refining it. No such accusation can be brought
against the works of Mrs. Marsh, Miss Mulock,
'Mrs. Gaskell, and many others who have yet por-
trayed some of the darkest features of social exist-
ence—who have shown us sin and suffering, re-
venge and wrong, while their scenes of pathos and
sentiment are as far superior to hers in interest as
their style in purity of thought and delicacy of
no doubt, like the story,
expression. Many will,
and be amused by the social pictures of the dissi-
pated old lord, of the grim owner of Blackridg, '
Manor, of the retired scholar, of the vulgar old
heiress, of the brilliant politician and his blighted
existence, of the stern Calvinistic maiden 'aunt, of
the gentle Annora Lewis, of the vehement arid
passionate Dorothy. All these changing cluirac-
tera.may draw and attract the reader, wearied of

conventional commonplaces, of the usual routine o
meetings at ball-rooms, and disappointments in
love. But if Diana Butler should give us another
romance, let her, if she would.,have us accept her
tale as a solemn warning to those trembling on the
verge of crimes, tell us the story with its proper
characters of sadness and melancholy; not giving
us a gloomy masquerade of a tragedy, showing
bitter and blighted life, wrongs, mistakes, remorse,
with all the lightness befitting a description of so'
cial frivolity, or a general caricature. It jars upon
the reader as though one were trying a dance to
the sound of a dirge. We have not spoken of
minor faults, but one of the most prominent is a
want of connection. The characters are so nuine'
roux, the names so similar, and the relationships
so entangled, that the reader becomes quite per'
plexed, at intervals, as to their kindreds and idio-
syncrasies. None of these faults are irremediable,
however, and as it bears the: impress of a first
work, we must hope for better things from tha
authoress of "Blackridge Manor."

The Naval.and Military Interpreter, with Dia'
logues and Vocabulary. By Thomas Bryon.

Had this adrnitably-compiled little volume er
geared during the progress of the recent war 3
would have been found in every off.cer's tent in
the Crimea. As it is, it deserves to be largely
patronised by the military and naval professions, as
affording a large amount of elementary knowledge
in connection with those localities, and tle
guage of their inhabitants, where the nation /1 at'
tention was so strongly fixed during the late etrlg-
gle on the coasts of the Euxine Sea. From I'3
pages knowledge may he acquired'of the Russian,
Turkish, Arabic, and Tartar alphabets, and dia-
logues and vocabulary in those languages, as well
as in Persian and Circassian, are furnished for the
'English and French student. There is also a CO'
siderable quantity of topographical information on
the Crimea given. As a useful and interesting
summary, comprehending, within little more than
a hundred pages, the rudiments of much valuable
information, •Mr. Bryon's compilation may safely
be commended to the notice of both military an
civil members of the community.

TRADE WITS RUSSIA.--The sailings from Liverpool
yesterday included a considerable number of vesselli
for the Russian ports and the Danubian Principalities,
The shipments of gold on account of the Turkish LI
are still understood to be at the rate of 200,0001. a.-wee
but they will probably cease in the course of about
fortnight. There will then be an improved prospect of
the long-expected amelioration in the state of the Woe'
market.

OPZ/f AIR PREACHING.—The Rev. W.
cumbent of St. Andrew's, Birmingham, commenced a
course of open-air sermons in one of the most denselYl
populated districts of his parish on Sunday last, an
notwithstanding the unseasonable severity of the sea'
the; the preacher, wns listened to by rather
a.ss'ar.nbly of the working classes, and with marked
tertion.

The weekly reviews from the Amsterdam and Rdtte„:
dam produce-markets state that, although business viv-0
not active, prices were fairly supported. The operatio
in coffee were moderate, but in some cases there was
or
slight tendency to improvernert. There was a gre°t"s-s
demand for refined sugar, and holders required bigl-
terms. The letters from Rouen speak of less sa iil ss
in the market for manufa%tures, but quotations had °-
experienced material alteration.
Mr. Fletcher Wilson, the Danish Consul-General
London, has been authorised by his Government to eet;
cute, on behalf of the Russian Government (until Rligels„s
consulate agents are regularly installed), all acts recle,.%
for the proper clearance of vessels bound to and ir,.°l,
the ports of Russia, according to the forms usually ler
-lowed by the consular agents of that country. A°
L
ception to these acts is' the affixing of the " plenwss9;
goods intended for the ports of the Black Sea, respect
which further instructions are expected.
A large meeting of the leading factors and merclig7.ol
was held on Wednesday last, at the Coal Exchanges to
the purpose of presenting a memorial of their respect 0,
John Hill, Esq., one of the principal factors, on bee 9
tirement from business. The testimonial consisted °f b,
very magnificent silver vase, cover, and pedestal, weigo,
ing 320 ounces. Mr. Hill' appeared highly gratified
i;1
receiving such a mark of esteem from a large cononeerctbo
body, with Whom he had been closely connected for
to
last 35 years, during which period the inscription On of
' vase testifies to his having invariably conducted bin°
as an upright and honourable man of business.' 0,
LAYING THE FOUNDATION STONE OF °Ns-LW COri,4
BROMPTON. —Yesterday the foulidaliiin stone of Ons
Chaps!, Queen's Elms, Brompton, was laid by the Jr%
A. Kinnaird, M.P., in the presence of a large asserob sg:
of ladies and gentlemen. The edifice (
le,
n
which is erected
fro.rd,s,
by, the 'Baptists) will be in the Gothic sty
Lieddi
design by Mr. W. Mumford, architect, of 21, ,
inn-tields, and constructed by Mr. Thos. RUdkin) ,s
builder, of Little Torrington-street, Torrington-War
It will aff rd accommodation for nearly 800, and satedy
for 200, at a cost of about 2,500/. Of this amount net
more than half has been sabscrihed.
" ACCIDENT AT WooLwfml.—A sad accident °carrel
yesterday evening at 8 o'clock in one of the corrugste'
iron sheds in Woolwich Arsenal, by which 12 men an
l
boys were severely injured, three of whom it is fear%
are in a hopeless condition. In preparing the tour
lon rocket aitind of lathe or wheel is used for drilling;
hole to adjust the fuse. The metal became overbente
under the process, and occasioned_ the ignition of the
matter and bursting of th'e rocket: The sufferet4 ..9
promptly attended by the' medical, gentlemen on yr,
spot, and subsequently conveyed to-the Ordnance iv
mary. • , ;sets
e Scofien FislainrEs EoanD.—A Treasury Ln-
was issued on the• 25th nit. in regard to the Board
Fisheries, in Scotland. After considering the pi•OPe°64
abolition of the board, and the arguments adduce
against such a step, my Lords came to the conclugi°o
to propose to Parliament to continue the
to
for al3,
other-year, and to appoint a commissioner to visit Scot,
0
laud for the purpose of examining on the spot int,
the quest;oas relating to the grant, and.. rep9rt
thereon, in order that their lordship's, before andL fair
for may be able to determine what fee would be J°ir
for the Government brand (if,the system should be c°a,
tinned), and in what nianeer the other duties of '-
board shall be discharged. .
THE LATE NEGOTIATIONS WITH JAPAN.—'--lesterdo);
appeared an official copy of correspondence relating,'
the late negotiations with the Court of Japan. ,
eludes letters between the Admiralty, Mr. Hamito,ll,„,f'
of the Foreign-office, and Sir James Stirling, extenc""
from the 19th of December, 1854, to the 21st of Jae''
1856. It will be' remembered that a Convention reel`'
tivo -to the opening of certain ports' in Japan W:7-9
arranged by Sir James Stirling ; and it appears that tn_
tact and judgment displayed by that gallant officer IP
this matter have been pronounced very sattsfact°ll'
and deserving of the entire approbation of tha‘Gover"„;
ment. An official communication of this agreeable fae
has been duly made to Sir James Stirling, to whom tb".
success of the negotiations with Japan may be, and 114
considered mainly due. • -
SERIOUS ACCIDENT IN CLEMENT'S:INN•PASSAGg'''
Yesterday afternoon three men, named Uriali Parsons,
-Henry Redden, and Wm. Roberts, who had been repair•
ing the roof of the premises belonging to Mr. Green,:
butcher, of No. 13, Clement's-inn-passage, were descend
ing by a ladder, when the ladder broke. Win. Robe°
In falling, was caught in the thigh by the buichei-
,
hooks, where -he hung until he was extricated "by fir'
Phillips, the late street-keeper, and' others.- The poor
fellow was forthwith rernOved to King's College Boor
tal, where he at present remains in-a state of great sd,
fering. The other two. men were also severely injured,
and were at once removed' to the hospital.
DEATH OF MR. MAYNARD, THE BARRISTER.—Ye°;
terday afternoon considerable regret was occasional'
amongst the members of, the bar, and the professiod
generally, in Westminater-hall and the Temple, on itA
being stated that Mr. James Alleyne Maynard, of the
Western Circuit, had that day expired, about about ball'
past 12 o'clock, at his chambers in Mitre-court-building°,
Inner Temple, after a short illness._ It appears, that,
about 3 -weeks ago, the deceased called to one of the
constables of the inn, and requested him to fetch hie
servant and send for medical
,advice, as he felt very ill'
His wishes were promptly complied with, and Dr. Farr
and another medical gentleman attended, and found bin'
labouring under disease of the liver. The learned gen'
tleman rallied for sonic time, but graduaPy got worse,
and expired, as stated, yesterday, at half-past 12 in the
afternoon

•
• MR.' WHITWORTH'S Al TILLEAY.—The new brass can'
non, with hexagonal bore; invented by Mr. Whitworth'
of Manchester, was tried on the north shore, Liverpool'
yesterday, under the superintendence of Col. Griffin,
commander of the Royal Artillery Militia throughout
the northern and .ruidland.riistricts. • Several shots were
fired ranging from 24 to 48 - pounders. The first shot
was with a 241 b. ball, with 11b. of powder, and the el'
treme distance obtained was 2,800 yards, the elevation
of the cannon being eight degrees. The experiments
were not carried to a test of the maximum, capacity of the
gun, owing to the rapid rising•of the tide. The average
distance to which a 481 b. shot was fired was 3,000 yards
but a.inuch greater distance is expected to be obtained.
Further experiments are to he made son a future dal
with hemispherical, round, and oblong shot, the; latter
being pointed at both ends.
THE CELEBRATION OF PEACE.—Preparations for the
display of fireworks on the 29th inst., to commemorate
the treaty of peace having been carried on at Woolwich
with great-energy, although on'arale of unprecedented
magnitude, are. nearly brought to a close. Upwards of
3,000 men and boys have been engaged in the works
night and day, and about 90 carpenters from the car-
riage factory hate been employed in getting up the frara
work and airanginv the waggons necessary for conveying
the materials to London. Twenty-five ambulance wag'
guns have been covered aid about 80 pairs of Pit
Gorses hired for the purpose. .A num br rof novel dosigne,
have been brought out, and tested satisfactorily, some 01
which are of u,susual dimensions, and consequently require
a peculiar kind of transport. Some representations of
'Roman fountains, of 100 feet in height, will probably be
considered the most attractive. TWo of these are in-
tended to be erected in eaeh of the Parks, and one on
Primrose-hill. There will be likewise some huge designs
of revolving stars, 28 feet across or 14 feet each wai
from the centre, besides the rewlyinvented Boxer star
shells of various colours, together with innumerable
wheels and myriads of improved 'roekets, &c. As it is
expected that some considerable quantity of the pre-
pared rnater:als will remain unused in London, the rem-
nant will be reserved for a second display on Woolwich•
Common.