The Sun.
London, England, 1860-12-10 00:00:00

the stern task of duty, and revel in the enchanted
land of romance, will do well to peruse these tales
of legendary lore, which have been treasured up as
precious stores of wisdom, and handed down from
generation to generation, by that romantic race
who inhabit the land " of the mountain and flood."
The Gaelic version of the tales is here given, and
thus an unusual opportunity is afforded to the
antiquarian and student to compare notes and
acquaint themselves with the relative facts con-
cerning the subjects referred to. It is to be hoped
that so much research and such spirit as have been
exhibited by the author of these volumes will not
be unappreciated, but that he will find many to
acknowledge that they have derived amusement
for their leisure hours in its rich stores of fancy,
and some to declare that its curious information
has interested them ; while to the young it may
be considered a delightful recreation as they dwell
upon the marvellous and mystic pages which hays
yet some foundation in reality.

Tire's Dictionary of Arts, .Manufactures, and
Mines. Edited by Robert Rant, F.R.S., F.S.S.
Although Dr. Andrew Ure's Dictionary has been
well known to the public for many years, the pre-
sent work must not be considered as a reprint; it
is, in fact, although bearing the name of the ori-
ginal production, much enlarged and extended; the
present edition contains every information not
only upon the subjects of which it professes to
treat, but it is. a dictionary of reference upon
scientific subjects in general. Mr. Hunt has spared
no pains to collect all the required information. In
fact the names of many of the most eminent scien-
tific men of the age will be found amongst the con-
tributors to this valuable publication. The work
needs, however, no commendation at our hands,
its own intrinsic merit are its surest claims to suc-
cess, the fifteenth and concluding part is now
published, and as a book of reference or study the
present edition claims a place on every engineer's
book shelf.

MISCELLANEOUS.

The Welcome Guest contains its usual amount
of general information and light literature, among
the most interesting of which are the " Recollec-
tions of a Relieving Officer." The illustrations in
The Ladies' Treasury are well executed, and
some of the descriptions of cities carefully pre-
pared. The " Fashions for the Month" are of course
appended, together with other matters peculiarly
interesting to ladies. Newton's London Journal of
Arts and Sciences contains an article on the pro-
longation of patents in English and American
courts, as likewise a list of patents lately granted,
also several scientific papers on late improvements
in machinery both at home and abroad. Part 22
of Boutledge's Natural Bistory, which promises to be
as extended as it is beautifully illustrated and well
got up, is this month devoted to the feathered tribe:
The minuteness with which the Rev. S. G. Wood
enters into his descriptions, and the care with which
he selects his authorities, deserves the success which
this work, when completed, must justly command.
The British Workman, part No. 6, is executed in
the same able manner as heretofore, both in letter-
press and illustrations. The low price at which it
is published is well suited to those for whose benefit
it is intended, Bit although we highly approve
of the style in which part of the work is written,
we cannot but think that those who endeavour to
inculcate religious feelings into the working classes
are often carried too far by their over zeal. Now
the operative who purchases this book expects to
obtain amusement; and although it is all very well
to intersperse a few practical examples of the ad-
vantages of temperance and piety, he does not wish
on every page to be reminded of the fact, and we
opine that many would cast it aside, saying, " Why,
I'm -- if this ain't a picture tract !" We trust
that the proprietors will consider the subject.
Cassell's illustrated History of England having
reached the momentous period of 1791, is of course
devoted more to the history of the French Revolu-
tion than to that of England. There are several
well-executed portraits of the men of the moment,
such as Robespierre, Marat, Mirabeau, &e., toge-
ther with illustrations of the ill-fated Royal family.
We find, also, sketches of Hindoo life and charac-
ter. Cassell's Family Bible illustrates the Second
Book of Chronicles. Solomon in all his glory is
represented, as also other remarkable Scripture
episodes. In Cassell's Illustrated Family Paper
the tales of " Miss Sarah Jack, of Spanish Town,
Jamaica," and " Who is to Win," together with
other tales, are continued. The arbour of Hong
Kong and other ports and cities are illustrated, as
well as the portraits of several celebrated indivi-
duals. Cassell's Natural History is this month all
about horned cattle, and furnishes many curious
anecdotes, among which is one of a boy being
rescued from the jaws of a tiger by the courage and
affection of a favourite buffalo.

TBE EMPEROR NAPOLIION AND

FRANCIS IL

The Emperor Napoleon has, we understand,
lately addressed communications to the ex-King of
Naples, pointing out to him the expediency of his
withdrawing from Gaeta, and advising him to take
that course. If Francis 11. refuses to follow this
advice, it is of course obvious that the Emperor
will be liberated from his promise to keep open a
retreat for the King, and that the French fleet will
quit the waters of Gaeta and leave the fortress to
the attack of Admiral de Persano.

The Emperor, there is evAy reason to believe,
was impelled to his original act by motives of pure
humanity. The King of Naples had been driven to
the last extremity. He appealed, personally, in sup-
liant terms to the Emperor to assure his retreat, and
to protect his family. At that moment it appeared
as if Gaeta, which held only a fugitive King, his
mother, wife, and children, and a disorganised gar-
rison, was about to be surrounded and bombarded.
It was, on the one hand, painful to see a Royal
House, to which every State in Europe had but yes-
terday accredited Ministers, hiding themselves from
shells, and in hourly danger of their lives ; on the
other hand, a surrender would have created new and
awkward difficulties for the Sardinians, who would
have been immensely embarrassed by their prisoner.
Seeing this, the Emperor, under the impression, too,
which then universally prevailed, that the King
would fly again, as he had fled before, held the door
open for him by sea. The King of Naples and his
advisers have, however, chosen to turn this chari-
table action to their political advantage ; and the
Emperor, therefore, now withdraws from them a
limited protection which was beginning to threaten
very dangerous consequences.

THE CA MB.RIDUE SPINNING .HOUSE CASES

Independent) have been favoured
by
with a copy of the excep-
tions Wthee(C1atn
plaintiffs'bri daettorneys
to the ruling of the Lord Chief Justice in
these cases, as handed in by Mr. Edwin James, on
Monday morning, which we subjoin. The plain-
tiffs are to be at liberty to raise these points, if it
should become necessary, either by motion before
the full Court of Common Pleas, with liberty to
appeal therefrom to the Court of Exchequer Chain"
ber, or by bill of exceptions. This will, however,
depend on the course taken by the defendant;
if no proceedings are taken by him the verdict of
the jury will remain undisturbed. Grounds for
bill of exceptions :
1. That the proper construction of the words in the
charter of Elizabeth, "personae de male auspeetas," is that
the parties must be suspected on reasonable ground of son°
crime known to the law of England, or some definite inter
tion to do evil.
2. That the charter as pleaded affords no defence in point of
law to this action.
3. That the commitment to prison without a warrant 10
writing was illegal.
4. That the hearing and examination by the vice'
Chancellor under the provisions of the charter must be
accordance with the common law of England, viz. :—Tll$
witnesses in support of the charge should have been eiv
mined on oath, in the presence of the accused, and that the
defendant had no power to examine the plaintiff, being the
party charged, in the manner in which she was examined
5. That the defendant had no right at law to commit 0
the prison described as the Spinning House, but oulY t°
some prison known as some common gaol.
6. That the Vice-Chancellor must be satisfied before II
commits to prison by evidence taken by him, in the Fatal
manner as any ordinary justice of the peace, on a charge °`
crime within his jurisdiction. of
7. That there was no evidence for the jury in support
either of the pleas. at
8. That if there was evidence of any written warrant
the time of the commitment, that warrant ought to WI
been produced, or its non-production accounted for, sr,
that no verbal evidence of the cause and reason for Ow
commitment was admissible.
voted
9. That the substituted warrant was illegal and
for the purpose of supporting the defendant's pleas. ~f
The parties to appeal, or move, or proceed by Bill
Exceptions, as may best raise the points.
(Signed) W. ERLE.

A YORKSIIIREMAN'S NOTION OF " STRIKES.”---b"
hardhanded Yorkshireman recently met an old comrade ill
London, when the question was put to him, " What do /on
think of strikes, Jack?" " I'll tell you, Tom, what I
think : they are plagaey bad things for masters, but tall
times worse for the men." " Then how is it that they 00
often happen ?" " Why in nine cases out of ton they never
would happen but for ' The Cuckoos,' those travelling'
about-talking chaps, who are too idle to build their osill
nests, and go about spoiling the nests of other folks. Is'
little common sense, and good temper, between masters
and men, such as the carpet-weavers have so wisely showl;
would in my humble opinion, prevent strikes altogether.
—British Workman,