The Sun.
London, England, 1860-12-08 00:00:00

L ITE1?;IT

• Bentley's InceMany.
This magaz.tie contains an amusing story by
Dudley Costello, entitled " Uncle jasper's Ghost."
It is certainly original.' ' The " Outremanche
Correspondence " is continued. There is a paper
on the exploded humbug of " Table Turning and
Spirit-Rapping." It is certainly surprising that in
the nineteenth century, in a country claiming high
mental development, such a hoax as Spirit-
Rapping should ever have bt-en entertained :

"The witch of Ender has been declared to be a necro-
mancer, or one of those persons who, like Joseph Balsamo,
in almost our own times, pretended to call up the spirits of
the dead to converse with the living:
Mee cantu finditque solum, manesque sepulchris
Elicit, et tepido devocat osea rogo.
And it has been argued that the true witch, in the modern
acceptation of the idea, that is a female working through
the agency of Satan, cannot be traced higher than the
middle ages, and was probably derived from the wild and
gloomy mythology of the northern nations. Let this be
granted, although we should be'iceptical as to the justness
of any such conclusions, the mythology of the northern
nations being anterior to the middle ages, and itself derived
from the East—still it can only be said to be another mode
of manifestation of the same folly and weakness inherent
in our nature, and so on with every other strange and
seductive fancies which have pervaded the human mind,
and spread, as it wore, by contagion, till they have, in our
ewn, as well as in times long gone by, assumed all the im-
portance of a national demonstration.
"The spirits in the new world are as good as those in
the old, but they are no better, only that they are more
numerous, and their invasion of the United States has
positively presented all the characters of a vast moral epi-
demic. It was in 1846 that an inhabitant of Hydesville,
in Acadia, was first honoured by a spirit rapping at his
door. lie went to open it, and saw no one. Th opera-
tion was repeated. Determined not to be caught a third
time, he lay ix readiness, opened the door with prOdigious
force and celerity at the next rapping, and—broke his
nose. This was not all; the spirits took pleasure in dis-
turbing the peace of this' unfortunate man; they rocked
his furniture, moved his chairs, and made him so uncom-
fortable that he was glad to get away froth the liouse and
place altogether. Another party then came on the stage.
These were Mr. and Mrs. Fox and their two daughters,
Catherine and Margaret, who undertook to confront and
tame the spirits of Hydesville. Mr. Fox does not appear
to have taken a prominent part in the conflict—the ladies
were the heroines. At first they were rather terrified by
the spirits, which were always most importunate at the
time that they were going to bed. But after a few trials
they summoned up courage to address them. Who makes
that noise ?' Mrs. Fox ventured one night to inquire. No
answer. Is it made by a living person ?' Still no reply,
'lsit by one no longer of this world ?' A rap. Is it by
an unhappy spirit?' Another rap. Is he unhappy him-
self, or on account of family misfortunes ?' No reply.
' How old is my eldest daughter?' Fourteen raps. And
the youngest!' Twelve raps. The answers wore quite
correct, and Mrs. Fox went on with her interrogatory, but
the spirit vouchsafed no further replies."
"The House, Blaswick," is continued with its
usual ability. The biography of " Diana of
Poitiers'' will he read with interest by those who
take an interest in the history of the continent in
the middle ages. The history of this remarkable
woman is an exemplification of the won ierful
fascination which beauty even at an advanced period
of life holds over the minds of men. A review of
" German Almanacks of 1861 " gives a sketch of
principal productions in this line of the Father-
land ; and although the writer contrives to extract
some amusing passages, he winds up by declaring
that--

"Such, then, are the German alneanacks, an-institution
peculiar to the country, and which, we think, wouldfiourish
nowhere else. Evidently founded on the French alma-
necks, they are very interior to them in humour, though
superior in useful knowledge. As for the almanacks in-
tended to imitate the Almanach Comique' and the
'Almanach pour hire,' we have omitted any notice of them
out of kindness to our readers, for they are the most melan-
choly reading that can be conceived. When we state that
Glasbrennees Comic Almanack' is the best of a bad lot,
we have more than done our duty by them.
" As a curiosity, then, we deal with the German alma...
tacks, and if our readers will listen to a much-tired man,
they will be satisfied with the sample we have afforded
them, and not weary their patience by trying to road the
works themselves. We have sacrificed ourselves on beh ilf
of the community, and no one need be called upon tofollow
our awful example."

" The Stamp on the Paper," by Ouida, is a story in
this author's peer liar style, although the charac-
ters are by the way more original than usual.

Colburn's United Service Magazine.
The United Service commences with a chapter on
Our Military Reforms," and enquires what they
have done for ns ? While admitting that reform
has not as yet made the progress at the Horse
Guards which is to be desired, we cannot agree
with the following passage. There is quite enough
roundabout work carried on there already, which
we do not think would be less were military men
employed in places quite out of their province :
" If the War Department and the Horse Guards were
weeded of civilians, gabbling about matters which are not
in their province, and which they do not understand, besides
being the cause of half the blunders that take place, and
officers,_ nom-corinnissioned officers, and deserving soldiers
from the army, as the situations might requise, substituted
for them, as would be the case if common sense ruled our
measures, there would be sonieth ;ng to look tor in the pros-
pects of a soldier's life,• which even the well-to-do middle
classes might not contemn. The field of our recruiting
would be greatly extended, and a great deal connected with
it, and which ne country, least of all England, ought to tole-
rate, would be get rid of. There would be no occasion for
a money bounty then ; for the best of all bounties would be
offered—that of hope. This last, and a fair and reasonable
day's wages, which would be real, and not deceptive and
fallacious as at present, should be the basis of our military
system. At present, a soldier's prospects are the merest
pittance, and no hope whatever ; none, at least, that can
take any possible hold on the mete respectable classes in
the community. There is nothing in connection with our
military system, as far as the soldier is concerned, that
would bring a reflecting man into the army."
" The Naval Discipline Act" is carefully examined
and criticised, and while agreeing with many of the
rules of the service, desires to have several altera-
tions made. The following cases do not seem to
be very just to our notions on shore, whatever they
may be to the captains afloat :
" Clause 17 gives the penalty for disobedience of the
lawful command or using threatening language to his supe-
rior officer.' We should be very glad if the Admiralty
could make out a list of what are the lawful commands'
allowed to be issued by a superior officer. We suppose the
task is impossible ; but it would be a great boon to the
navy if some fuller explanation was published regarding the
term •lawful command." Some captains consider all their
orders to be lawful commands,' whilst the subordinate offi-
cers are always carping at and disagreeing as to the com-
mands of their superior officer being lawful. Perhaps some
of our readers may recollect the court-martial on a lieu-
tenantof the Vulcan for refusing to obey his commander,
who ordered him to go and call his successor en the watch,
who was a mate, and consequently his junior officer. The
lieutenant declined to call the mete, stating that it would
degrade the rank he held if he did so. The court-martial
reprimanded the lieutenant for not obeying the orders of his
commander. It was a most unjust sentence, and much
sympathy was expressed at the time for the unfortunate
lieutenant. A worse case has lately occurred on board the
steam sloop Alert, and if the reports in the naval papers
aro correct, a more ungrateful abuse of power has not been
pieblished for many years. Yellow fever breaks out on
board the Alert to an alarming extent, the surgeon is ill,
and the assistant-surgeon of the Vixen volunteers to take
medical charge of the ship. He comes on board the Alert,
and finds the commander ill of the fever, attends upon him
and gets him well, and after a while the fever leaves the
ship. The commander, apparently walleyed at being under
obligation to the surgeon taunts him before the crew, and
orders him to cut his whiskers closer. The doctor declines
to obey this strange order, and being no longer urgently
needed, is put under arrest. He is brought before a court •
martial on this trivial charge by the commander, whose
life he has already saved, and sentenced to be reprimanded
and to lose a year of his time. Thus for an act of courage
and benevolence, he is to be punished instead of reaping
the reward of promotion. Is there not much more courage
required to go on board a ship infected with yellow fever,
and to witness death all around you in the most hideous
form, than to go into action with an enemy? Surely the
case of the assistant• surgeon is very similar to that recorded
of Dr. M'Willitim and the ill-fated Eclair. Both the Alert
and the Eclair were infested with yellow fever, but the one
is stationed far away in the Pacific, whilst the other returned
home from the coast of Africa. Dr. M`William was praised
and given a post of emolument, while Mr. Carroll, is repri-
manded and his promotion denied him. If the Duke of
Somerset earnestly wishes to put down tyranny in the
navy, he could not do better than appoint another comman-
der to the Alert, and try the present one by a court-martial
for abuse of power."
We have three consecutive articles of three de-
parted gallant admirals ; the first is a review of,
the lately published " Memorials of Lord Gambier,'
in which a brief sketch et his life is recorded. The'!
follows " The Life of the Earl of Dundonatlod,';uri
v e rd,
which the gallant Cochrane is done jusrticheowe,
his misfortunes lamented ; the
venter,
and hasty
considers that his impatience
last, and we are
late Sir Charles Napier
is
in the Baltic is treated
temper had a good deal to dothwoofitchothe matter. The
happy to see that his career is
that, now that the
in a fair and manly r_
ailspitelarless reformer of naval
,justice is accorded to the victim
gallantoa bf issoeaommanore .
tion.
ached thatart of Sir Charles' life which
"We have now been exposed to so m
"ustly been much obloquy and
has most tine
snesineapable administration.
abuse. his brill'
It was, doubtless, owing to taut services in the
Mediterranean
that he was selected, in preference to seve-
hdt
ral other distinguis e admiral s, o the command of the
Baltic fleet during the late Russian war. We all recollect
the dinner given to him at the Reform Club in anticipation
of the wonderful deeds he was to perform. This
was a bad sign to begin with. It showed a foolish,
premature enthusiasm, a superstitious confidence, which
would almost have disgraced school-boys. Had such an
ovation greeted Napier after the capture of the Miguelite
fleet; it would have been perfectly right and rational, but
whilst for that his name was struck out of the Navy list,
BREAD. for mere visionary exploits, in posse, not in esse, he was, at
lie are from •
The prices of wheaten bread in the ifietroPo- this very doubtful moment, exalted to the sk es. This be •
lb loaf.
81d to 91d, ®f household do., 6d to 8d pe: 4 trayed that sanguine kind of fluster of the spirits which
arises often fromunpreparedness, which one de-
HIDES AND SKINS- a sense of •
721 b 3d to Dies to which one wilfully shuts one's eyes when there
is
Market bides 561 b to 641 b, 2id to 3d ; 641 b to • •
this
ewe
31-d 3id to 31.31;
; 721 b to 80 , -801 b to 881 b, 31d to
Hose not vigour enough to remedy it. That so it was inwen
4 961 to 1041 b, 4d to 4.‘td• is proved by the irritation of Sir James Grab e
sell et and
881 b to 961 b, 31cl to 4d :condition obhp e
hides, 8s Od to lOs Od; calf skins, light 2s Od to 4s Od; do. full, Napier pointed out the ineffective
offered, y ,ch
, instead of
7s 6d to Os Od , polled sheep, 7s 6d to Os Od; hale: breds, proposed that a bounty should be
ea en
6s Od to 7s Od ; Downs, 5s Od to 6s 9d; lambs, Os Lld to ships might have been manned by
able. ssuitiegly sneered
by a draft of inexperienced hands. lie d 6 signS of dis-
Os Od; shearlings, Os Od to Os Od.
at the Admiral for hoisting what he cal:
h applause lie re-
HAY MARKETS. tress ' and thought, no doubt, that
the chief resource
SMITHPIELD.-111eadow hay, £2 Os to £55,1 Od ; clover Jeivell at the Reform Club dinne,iiiiN,
Baine absurd Min:l-
-da., £3 Os to £5 103; and straw, £1 108 to £1145 per load. for victory. •
,ehould rely upon . prestige pervaded tke
Trade dull. aces iliffleulties, and reliance

For the time of year, our market is well supplied with
fruit, and the show of vegetables continues extensive.
Generally speaking, the trade rules slow, as fellows :

FRUIT.
8. d. s. d. 0. d. s. d
Pine apples, perlb 4 oto 8 0 Cherries, per lb 0 oto 0 0
Colonial do., each 1 oto 1 6 Filberts, per lb 1 oto 1 6
Grapes,per 1b.... 30to 6 01 Cobnuts, per lb 1 oto 1;
Foreign do. 1 oto 1 61 Almonds, per bus 0 oto 0 0
Blelons, each .... 2 oto 4 0 1 Walnuts, per 100 1 oto 2 0
Peaches, perdoz.. 60to 12 0 Figs, per doz 2oto 4 6
Nectarines, per dz 2 oto 6 0 j Strawberries potl. 0 0 to 0 0
Apples, per hf. sv. 1 6to 3 0) Gooseberries lit sv 0 oto 0 0
Pears, per do .... 2 oto 5 0 Currants, per do. 0 oto 0 0
Oranges, per doz. 4 otolo 0 Plums, per do.
Lemons, per 100.. 4 oto 8 0 Greengages, pr do. 0 oto 0 0
Apricots. per doz 2 oto 4 0 Raspberries,prptlo oto 0 0

'ABLER.
Shallots, per lb .. 0 6 to 0 8
Horseradish, pbn 1 6 to 2 6
Parsley, per ditto 0 2 to 0 0
Celery, per ditto 0 8 to 1 6
Beet, per doz. .. 1 6 to 2 0
Parsnips, per do. 0 0 to 0 0
Small salad, p. pn, 0 2 to 0 0
Mushrooms,p pun 2 0 to 3 0
Artichokes, pr dz 4 o to 6 0
Cabbage lett,score 1 0 Si 2 0
Endive, per score 1 0 to 2 0
Radishes, dz hnds 0 6 to 0 0
Tomatoes, hf sve 4 0 to 6 0
Walnuts, per 100 0 0 to 0 0
Chillies, per ditto 0 0 to 0 0
Capsicums, per do 0 0 to 0 0
Rhubarb, per bun 0 4 to 0 0
Asparagus, pr do. 2 0 to 4 0
Seakale, per pun: 0 0 to 0 •

VEGET.
Greens, dz bunch 2 oto 3 01
Cabbages, pr doz. 0 9to 1 3
Savoy do., pr do. 010 to 1 4
Cauliflowers, pdz 1 oto 3 0
Brocoli, per dz 0 oto 0 0
Potatoes, per ton 100 to 150 0
New ditto, per lb. 0 oto 0 0
Peas, per sieve 1 6to 1 9
Turnips, dz bunch 1 Gto 2 6
Carrots, pr do 4 6to 5 6
Cucumbers
Garlic, per lb
Sorrel, per sieve 0 oto 0 0
Spinach, hf. -sv 0 6to 0 8
Brus. sprouts,h.s 1 6to 2 0
Old onions, hf. sv. 0 oto 0 0
Do., dz bun
French beans, 100 t 9to 2 0
Leeks, per bunch 0 oto 0 0

NEWGATE AND LEADENHALL.

Turkeys, 4s Od to 10a Od ; poults, 4s Od•to 7s Od each ;
geese, 3s Gd to 7s Od; goslings, 4s Od to 7s Od; ducklings,
is 9d to 2s 9d ; rabbits, is Od to is 9d each ; wild do., 8d
to is 2d ; pigeons, 5d to Os 8d each ; large Surrey fowls,
5s Od to lOs Od; chickens, 4s Od to 5s Od; barn-door fowls,
Od to 5s 6d ; capons, 4s Od ; hares, 2s 6d to 3s Od ;
grouse, is Gd to 2s Od each; pheasants, 3s Od to 4s Od;
ptarmigan, Os toOs Od ; woodcocks, 2s 6d to 35 Od; snipes, Os
8d to is Od; teal, Os 9d to is Od ; wild ducks, 2s Nto 2s 6d;
widgeons, is Od to is 6d ; plovers, Os 6d to is Od each ;
guinea fowls, Os Od to Os Od ; roasting pigs, 4s Od to 9s Od
each ,•• • Ostend fresh butter, is Od to is 2d ; English, is ld
to is b,4 per lb ; English eggs, 12s Od to 15s Od ; French do.,
lOs Od to 1.2 s Od per 120 ; leverets, is 6d to 2s Od each.
NEWPORT.
Beef, from 29 4d to 4s 2d ; mutton, 35 Od to 4s 4d ;
lamb, Os Od to Os 06. ; veal, 3s 8d to 45 2d ; and pork, 3a
8d to 4s 8d per 81bs.
wafTECHAPEL.
Beef, 2s 4d to 45 2d ; mu tton, 3s Od to 45 4d ; veal, 35 8d
to 4s 2d ; pork, 3a 8d to 4a sqd per 81bs. by the carcase.
BILLING „SGATE.
Salmon, Os Od to Os Od ; trout, Os Od to Os •, eels, 8d to is ;
prawns, 4sod to Os; pike, skate, sturgeon, and halibut, 6d pei
lb. Turbots, 2s Gd to 20s • cod, 2s Od to lOs Od ; brills, ls Od
to lOs Od ; doreys, is Od 'to 7s Od ; tuullets, Os 6d to is 6d ;
lobsters, 6d to 2s 6d ; crabs, 6d to 2s 6d ; plaice and garnets,
4d to is Od each; soles, 3d to 2s Od per pair; conmosn.
oysters, 12s to 16s ; natives, 448 to —s per bushel ; whiff ;
2s Od to lOs Od ; haddocks, 4s to 12s Od ; smelts,_
.3
froedh
s
flounders, ls 6d to 2s 6d per dozen; mackerel, 60
herrings, ss; bloaters, Ss to Os per 100; carp and 'tench,
ls Od to 3s per brace.