The Sun.
London, England, 1856-04-01 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

Contemporary Memoirs of Russia, from, the Year
1727 to 1744. By General Christopher Her-
mann V. Maustein. Longman, Brown, Green,
and Longmans.
A contribution towards the history of Russia,
and of the rations with which she had dealings iu
the above eventful period, by a Russian officer of
distinction - deemed of sufficient importance to be
edited in English by David Hume, in his time,
and after being re-edited, collated with the original
French, and illustrated with brief notes, to be
again presented to the English public by a Hert-
fordshire Incumbent. In short, a valuable aid to
the historical student ; and far from ill-timed,
even at the present hour, when a check having been
administered to Russian aggression, peace is
all but proclaimed with that country. The
next thing to be looked for is an attempt by Rus-
sian partisans at home to show that nothing was
ever to be seriously apprehended from Muscovite
ambition, and that the war was a costly combat
with a chimaera of our own imagination. The
reader has but to peruse these pages to be tho-
roughly armed against any such insidious and
traitorous attempt. He will then discover in the
revelation made by the writer of the hideous self-
fishness and reckless immorality of the Russian
Court and the policy which it pursued towards
Turkey, Persia, Poland, and Sweden a century
ago, a reason for regret that peace was concluded
so early and. on such easy terms, rather than occa-
sion for surprise that hostilities were ever entered.
on. That so far from combating a Conservative
power the Allies in waging war with Russia eon.*
fronted the aggressive march of the most frightful
barbarism that ever menaced the liberties and civili-
sation of Europe.

The Mormons al Home. By Mrs. B. G. Ferris.:
New York : Dix and Edwards. London: Samp.
son Low, Son, and Co.
Just the sort of work we have been anxious to
see—a brief, clear, and unexaggerated revelation
of the domestic workings of the Mormon system, of
which polygamy is now avowedly, though long de-
nied, an important item. The writer accompanied
her husband, newly appointed to the United States
Secretaryship for Utah, to the Mormon capital,
where they resided during the winter, and she had
abundant opportunity of lifting up the veil which
conceals the inevitable consequences of the spiritual
wife system from the gaze of passing observers ;
and most painful are her revelations. All honest
womanhood is described as crushed beneath a load
of wretchedness and misery, and such of the male
population as are not mere dupes, only fit for the
meridian of Norfolk Island.' A society of fanatics
controlled by a gang of licentious villains." "The
effect of the Mormon creed is evidently to
gather together a low class of villains, and a
still lower class of dupes, and it follows that the
latter are easily governed. The only disturbing
element is that the villains may quarrel among
themselves, and so far as I can learn this has hap-
pened on more than one occasion." " One scarcely
knows whether to be amazed most at the profane
profligacy of the leaders or the superstitious credu-
lity of the dupes." Such are the comments of the
author, an American lady, on the exhibition of
Mormonism '6 at home." Besides penetrating the
mysteries of the harems of Utah, Mrs. Ferris availed
herself of the opportunity afforded by the position
of her husband to give us life-like portraits of some
of the principal Mormon leaders, including the
arch-rascal Brigham Young, with whom they were
brought in contact in the transaction of business.
The chief characteristic of the book is the evident
truthfulness and honesty of purpose of the writer ;
and her revelations, being transmitted in letters to
her friends at home, have all the vividness of first
impressions. In addition to the details of her ex-
periences iu Utah, the reader is presented with a
graphic narrative of some incidents of travel in
her journey from Missouri to Utah, and from
thence to California. Altogether the book is roue
which will well repay perusal, and cannot be too
extensively circulated among those classes more
especially open to the arts of the rascally Mormon
missionaries in this country.

The Mercantile and Maritime Guide. By Graham
Willnaore, Esq. , M.A., and Edwin Bsdell, E 5.
W. Mackenzie.

A clear and compendious treatise, or series

treatises, setting forth the rights and obligations of
the mercantile and maritime communities in a
popular and reliable form. A work which, it is not
too much to say, it will be to the interest of the
members of both to have by them for consultation
in order to the satisfactory prosecution of business.
Iu it will be found a lucid exposition of the law
of ectingthem arising from the custom of merchants,
the decisions of Courts, and the enactments of the
Legislature ; together with the orders and regula-
tions bearing upon shipping, upon foreign and
home trade, issued by Government boards, and
other competent authorities ; and a fund of practi-
cal information upon miscellaneous matters offact.
Nothing, in short, appears to be wanting which it
is essentially necessary to the welfare of merchants,
shipowners, masters, mates; seamen, agents, and
brokers, in their respective business capacities and
relations to know. When, therefore, it is remem-
bered how multifarious, and otherwise difficult of
access such kno N ledge is, and what will arise from
the want of it, the value pf a manual so compen-
dious and so carefully elaborated, and easily to be
comprehended as this is, becomes obvious, and
enough has been done to secure aready and general.
acceptance of the "Mercantile and Maritime
Guide."

Wine Duties. By W. Bosville James. Longman,
Brown, Green, and Longmans.
An able reply to Sir James Emerson Tennant on
" Wine : Its Taxation and Uses." The author
discusses the question both on financial and social
grounds, and succeeds in showing, among other
things, that Government, by the perpetuation of
the prohibitory duties on French wines, shuts out
from our manufacturers a most promising field of
commerce, numbers of our operatives from remu-
nerative employment, insures bad wino for home
consumption, and confines the population to bever-
ages the use of which is more or less injurious to
health and morals, and, consequently, to the wel-
fare of society. The wine duties are coming daily
into more prominence ; and those, more particu-
larly, who are desirous of acquiring a competent
knowledge of the subject to enable them to form
an opinion and take a course of action thereon,
will do well to purchase this work and master its
contents.

Ilints to Horsemen. By Harry Hieov..lr. T. C.
Newby.
A valuable handbook, which ought to be in the
possession of all parties engaged or interested in the
breeding, training, or selection of horses for sale,
or having horses to buy or sell, showing as it does
how money may be made of horses, besides giving
useful general information respecting these animals,
and on equestrian matters generally. What sorts
to buy, what sorts to breed from, what to look for,
what to avoid, when to sell, and bow to sell to ad-
vantage—on these and other heads the reader will
find a good deal of trustworthy information. It
is scarce:y necessary to remark that " Harry Hie-
over" is considered an authority in such matters,
having already supplied a number of valuable and
popular contributions to our sporting literature.

ROYAL INSTITUTE OF BRITISH ARCHITECTS.—Last
night, at a general meeting of the members of this
society, held at their house in Grosvenor-street, Earl de
Grey presiding, the Royal gold medal of the institute
for 1855 was presented by the chairman in a complimen-
tary speech to Mr. Tite, the member for Bath, and a
Fellow of the Institute. Mr. Donaldson afterwards read
an interesting paper on' the triumphal arches of Rome.
Silver medals were also presented to Messrs. T. A. Brit-
ton, L. R. Roberto, and T. C. Sorby, and a prize in
books to Mr. C. N. Beazley. Mr. F. Marrable was
elected a Fellow, and Messrs J.K. Colling,, J. C. Scoles,
and T. P. Smith. Associate of the Institutes.
THE LATE SEVERE GALE IN THE BLACK SEA.— CON-
STANTINOPLE, March 20.—The British barques Attale,
of Gloucester, Captain Wetlieran, and General Chasse,
of Bristol, both laden with hay for the British Govern-
ment, at Bristol for this port, were driven on shore on
the point of Koumbournou, coast of Troy, opposite
Tenedos, on the morning of the 7th March, during a
heavy gale at south, and soon after bilged, and filled ;
they have both been surveyed, and condemned as wrecks.
The loss of a British vessel at Eupatoria, but not her
name, is reported here. several disasters are F aid to
have occurred on the coasts of the Black Sea, from
Sulina downwards. Assistance is being sent off as far
as Iniada. The weather has been very boisterous and
bad for more than a week.
DEATH OF A MISER.—On Saturday, Thomas Harri-
son, who was reputed to be in the most abject poverty,
expired in an obscure lodging on Great Saffron-hill,,
During an occupation extending over a quarter of a
century, he never associated with any of the neighbours
—he went out every morning at 8 o'clock, and return d
in the evening, and it was considered that he touted for
employment as a porter. About ten days since he was
, taken alarmingly ill, when he called for the assistance
of a neighbour, who advised that a medical gentle-
man should be sent for, and also that his friends
should be made acquainted with his case ; both of
which were attended to, and some relatives—who are
in easy circumstances—in St. George's-in-the East, at-
tended, and had the old man, who is nearly 70 years of
age, made comfortable, and supplied his wants. Shortly
before his death, he added a codicil to his will, which he
bad deposited in a secure place. It was ascertained that
he bequeathed upwards of 7,0001. in Consols to his rela-
tions, not one of whom he had seen for 30 years,
and to the kind neighbour who attended bits be left
201.

lIVIPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

KO USE 0 COI 0 NS. —CfrisTßADsri)

- -
The SPBAKER took the chair at a quarter before four.

NEW MEMBERS.
Mr. WYNN took the oaths and his seat for Sligo.
Mr. HEATIICOTE took the oaths and his seat for Rnt-
land ehire.
Mr. MASTERS presented several petitions in favour
of medical reform.
Dr. MICHELL presented petitions from various
places against the Vaccination Bill, and also a petition
from Dorking, signed by eighteen persons suffering from
small-pox, six of whom have since died, and of those re-
maiming nine are now sufferingfrom various diseases aris-
ingfrom vaccination, also against the Vaccination Bill.
Mr. E. LOCKHART presented a petition in favour
of an alteration of the Factory Act.
Mr. T. DUNCOMBE presented several petitions
against the Vaccination Act.
Mr. EGERTON presented petitions from Congleton,
with a similar prayer.
Mr. WICKHAM presented petitions from the Chair-
num and Secretary of the Managers and Overlookers of the
Friendly Societies of Bradford, against the Factory Bill ;
also a petition from Messrs. W. Hargreave, John Black-
burn, genry Butler, John Williams and James Craven,
J. M. Garnett and Co., and James Dally, all of Brad-
ford, in Yorkshire, in favour of the Factory Bill.
Sir G. GREY presented petitions in favour of the
Police Bill.

THE OTTOMAN LOAN.
Mr. OLIVEIRA. asked the Chancellor of the Exche-
quer whether the Government would sanction (in such
cases as may be desired by the holders) a registration of
the bonds of the Imperial Ottoman Loan of 5,000,0001.,
1855, ander the joint guarantee of England and France.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said
the subject was one over which the Government had no
control. The matter would ba settled by the Turkish
.Government and the Bank of England. There was more
difficulty attending the subject than the hon. gentleman
might be aware of.
MALT DUTY.

Mr. SPOONER, in the absence of Mr. Mullings, asked
the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in the event
of the additional duty imposed upon malt in 1854 ceas-
ing on the sth dAy of July next, the Government would
give an assurance that a corresponding drawback would
:be made on stocks of malt then in hand ?
The tciIiiA.NCELLOR of the EXC REQUER said the
usual csourse would be followed this year with respect
to the malt duty. The war duty would cease in July
next, and the drawback would be allowed on the stocks
in hand.