The Sun.
London, England, 1860-08-13 00:00:00

L ITE.RATURE.

Lectures on the History of England. I. and 11.,
pp. 153. By William Longman. Messrs. Long-
man and Company.
While one of our most popular publishers (Charles
Knight) is drawing to a close his ornate and
voluminous annals of our beloved mother-country
—another publisher, one of the members of the
foremost firm in the trade (William Longman),
one of the recognised chiefs of the Row, is in a less
conspicuous, but in a not one iota less admirable
manner throwing a flood of light, the light of a
clear and calm intelligence, over the earlier epochs
in the history of our glorious fatherland. Nothing
could well be more gracefully unpretentious than
the manner in which this latter good work is being
done—namely, by the delivery viva voce of "Lec-
tures on the History of England" to the working
classes associated together in the vicinity of
Watford, as members of what is now fast be-
coming favourably and more than locally well-
known as the Chorleywood Association. From the
deeply interesting address printed upon the cover
of the second of these lectures, we are informed
by the lecturer of one or two incidents illustrative
of the happy growth and development of this insti-
tution, in the highest degree encouraging alike to
its members and promoters. Referring, for example,
to the Rev. G. R. Gldig's lecture upon the Life
of George Stephenson, a lecture which Mr. Long-
man's generous modesty has designated " the most
popular of the season," the latter gentleman records
the following, as one among the many gratifying
results of the Army Chaplain's prelection upon the
great Engineer :
" Among the audience was the son of the village black-
smith. On his return home he turned over in his mind
what he had heard, and said he thought, that if Stephenson
could make a steam-engine of clay, he could make one of
tin, and so he set to work. His parents were surprised one
evening that he did not come home as usual ; he and his
family being most regular in their habits. At last, at nine
o'clock, the mother said, I shall go down to the shop to
see what can have become of John.' She went, and there
she found him hard at work. He was making his steam-
engine. He could read and write but imperfectly, and,
therefore, from books he could obtain little or no help. But
ho had seen steam thrashing-machines in the farm-yards,
and these he took as his model. At length he produced an
engine with safety-valves, governor, steam-whistle, and all
the parts complete, and the engine worked perfectly. It
was felt by some visitors in the neighbourhood that an ef-
fort should be made to enable him to follow out his natural
bent of mind, by finding him employment in some machine
factory, and I am happy to be able to state that this object
has been accomplished : Messrs. Ransomes, of Ipswich,
have most kindly interested themselves in his behalf, and
have taken him into their employment."
As to Mr. Longman's own lectures upon
the wider and grander theme of our na-
tional annals—they are in their way, to our
thinking, perfect masterpieces of lucid con-
densation. They are synthetic rather than
analytic in their character. They afford a
vivid conception almost at a glance of the periods
selected by the lecturer for particular delineation.
The first of the two already delivered at Chorley-
wood, and subsequently published by the Messrs.
Longman and Company, in a singularly cheap
form, admirably illustrated, brought its auditors
and readers down to the death of Kirg John,
shortly after the Barons had compelled
that monarch to affix his Royal signature to
the parchment of Magna Charta on the field
of Runnymede. The second lecture comprises
within it an account of the Feudal System and
of the Origin of our English Laws and Govern-
ment. An immense theme—yet one treated of
anything but superficially, rather copiously indeed
than superficially—within the surprisingly narrow
compass of little more than one hundred pages. It
presents to view in effect an admirably comprehen-
sive yet astonishingly. condensed summary of our
early English institutions. As we have said,
the whole Feudal System is here explained,
and with it, of course, by necessity also
the whole system of chivalry. The subsequent re-
marks upon the tenure of land and upon the divi-
sion of the nation into classes bring both hearer
and reader acquainted with the distinctions dis-
cernible between Thanes or Lords, Ceorls or churls,
and Phralls or Villeins. The building up of the
complex machinery of onr Government is then
recounted, together with a sufficiently detailed
record of the rise and establishment of our various
law courts, great and small, local and imperial,
the shire-motes or county courts, the burg-motes
or town-courts, the ecclesiastical courts, the Court
of Chancery, the Court of Queen's Bench, the Court
of Common Pleas, the Court of Exchequer. In
alluding, towards the close of his second lecture, to
the long agitated question as to the Codification of
the laws of England,-Mr. Longman has remarked
thus impressively—
" No man is permitted by our Courts of Justice to excuse
himself on the ground of ignorance of the laiv of his coun-
try, and it has therefore been contended by many persons
that our laws ought, after the practice of the ancient Romans,
and our Saxon ancestors, and most of the tnodem continental
' states, to be reduced within the compass of a code which
may be read and referred to by any one who wishes to know
what the laws are which he is bound to obey. Some steps
have been taken in recent legislation, which may be consi-
dered as preliminary to this desirable result, and several
Acts of Parliament have already been passed for consoli-
dating into one statute all former acts relating to the same
subject matter. This has been accomplished with much
' success with regard to the criminal law, which is almost
wholly composed of statutory enactments, and we may ex-
pect some day to see even our unwritten common law, and
our system of equitable jurisprudence dealt with in the
same manner, though the difficulties to be encountered
there will necessarily be far greater. The attention, how-
ever, of some of our most eminent lawyers and statesmen is
now directed to the task, and there can be no doubt that
efforts will be made to surmount all obstacles."
The lecturer closing his remarks with these elo-
quent words by way of peroration—
" It has been the destiny of the British nation to found
colonies in every quarter of the globe, and to spread its laws
and institutions over an empire on which the sun never sets.
To the inhabitants of those colones, no more munificent
boon could be given by the parent country, than a complete
compendium of its laws embodied in a code. It has been
said of Bonaparte that he will be known to posterity
by his Code Napoleon when his victories are for-
gotten. We may also, as Englishmen, express our hope,
that when the colonies which we have planted have become
great and independent states, they will have to reckon
among their obligations to England, not only their Anglo-
Saxon blood and lineage, and the noble language of Milton
and Shakspeare, but also a Code of Laws more complete in
its provisions, and more enlightened in its principles, than
any which the world has yet seen."
It is a lofty aspiration, very tersely and very finely
expressed, and one (we will hope also with Mr.
Longman) that may yet in a few years' time (in
spite of the evil auguries of this session of 1860) be
fully and happily realised.

Narrative of a Residence at the Court of Meer Ali
.Moorad, with wild sports in the Valley of the
Indus. By E. A. Langley, late Captain, Madras
Cavalry. 2 vols. Hunt and Blackett.
The writer of these volumes accompanied Meer
Ali Moorad, an Indian prince, on his return to his
own dominions from Europe. Capt. Langley offi-
ciated as secretary to the Meer, having a good
knowledge of Oriental languages, and being well
qualified for such a position by many years' resi-
dence in India. Meer Ali Moorad, from the ac-
count here given of him, appears to be an ill-used
prince. He was the youngest child of his father, and
succeeded under his will to an immediate posses-
sion of considerable extent, and also to the reversion
of the sovereignty of Upper Sindh after the death of
his elder brothers. These brothers, however, treated
him with great injustice, and compelled him to
take arms in defence of his rights. He was victo-
rious, and matters were arranged by treaty. After
succeeding to the sovereignty, Meer Ali was recog-
nised by the British Government, to whom he has al-
ways been a staunch and faithfulally. At onetime he
supported Sir Charles Napier with 5,000 horse, and
rendered other services, whose value was acknow-
ledged by the Earl of Ellenborough when Governor-
General, who stated in a despatch in 1843 that
" Ali Moorad had been a faithful ally when his
sudden and unexpected enmity might have been
fatal to our army." Unfortunately his services
wereill rewarded, for owing to the fictitious evi-
dence of a treacherous servant, he was accused of
forgery, and the Marquis of Dalhousie took advan-
tage of the affair to pursue his favourite system of
annexation, and to deprive Ali Moorad of territory
worth nearly £BO,OOO a year. Having repeatedly
appealed in vain to the Indian:authorities for redress,
he determined to visit England to obtain justice.
Every possible obstacle was thrown in kis way, but
at length he succeeded in coming to this country,
leaving his eldest son as his representative. On
hearing of the mutiny he assured the President of
the Board of Control of Ms unshaken fidelity, and
at once sent orders to his son to place every man
and horse at the disposal of the Chief Commissioner
of Sindh. He soon after returned to his own coun-
try in the confident expectation of soon recovering
the confiscated territory. Unfortunately no com-
pensation or restitution has yet been made to him ;
and though he was at first sanguine, " as
month after month passed without the
.ar-
rival of the expected order, his hopes
tice began to droop, though his fidelity
of j
remained unshaken. " Such," continues the author,
" was the line of conduct pursued towards an 01. d
and much devoted ally—a line of.conduct quite
unworthy of a great Government and as impolitic
as unjust. More especially
impolitic, too, at a time
when fidelity in a native prince, under the vast
temptations that beset him during the insur-
rection in India, was a rare virtue, and certainly
entitled all those who were staunch, at that fearful
crisis to the highest consideration.: Meer Ali has
i
never, it seems, been n favour with the Calcutta
authorities. On a former occasion, Sir Charles
Napier complained that be had been trying for two
years to get an answer confirming or else abolish-
ing his treaty with the Prince, and still remained
without being even noticed. But such cases un-
happily have been only too common in British In-

dia, where, as the author observes, almost all the
native princes have been estranged from us by our
own arrogance and oppression. While on this sub-
ject he quotes the words of the late lamented Duke
of Wellington, who said on one occasion, "I would
sacrifice Gwalior, or any frontier, ten times over to
preserve our character for scrupulous good faith?'
On the subject of annexation, Captain Langley
speaks strongly, and supports his views by a
reference to the opinions of Sir Charles Napier
and many other great Indian statesmen.
When questioned by Mr. Layard, of Nineveh cele-
brity as to what he attributed the insurrection, the
Meer replied that he considered it had been partly
caused by the system of annexation pursued of late
years, and partly by the disrespect shown to native
princes by Anglo-Indians of high station. It is
true this may be a partial view of the case, but the
honest opinion of a native well-wisher is worth
consideration. There are persons of high position
in London circles, says our author, who never think
their parties complete unless an Indian gentleman
be present, who, if they held office in India, would
perhaps scarcely offer him a chair. The natives
are surprised on visiting this country at the cour-
tesy with which they are treated after the neglect
and disrespect they encounter in India. While on
this subject we may mention that Captain Lang-
ley translated to the Meer Lord Ellenborough's
famous despatch, which was the signal for so fac-
tious an attack on the then existing Ministry. Ali.
Moored was delighted with the missive, and said
that "If even the English rule in India should
ever be brought to a close, the noble sentiments ex-
pressed in that despatch would always remain
monument to the honour of one Englishman." Of
the late Sir Charles Napier, whose name is indis-
solubly connected with our Indian possessions, the
author speaks with earnest admiration. The fol-
lowing interesting anecdote testifies that his pri-
vate character was no less estimable than his
public
"Never man, indeed, possessed a more liberal heart than
Sir Charles Napier, though so secretly were his bounties
bestowed, that scarcely did his left hand know what his
right hand gave. Of this a noble instance came to my
knowledge a few years ago. Sir Charles Napier, when
Commander-in-Chief in India, had confirmed the sentence
of a court-martial on a young officer of her Majesty's 5,A,;
foot. He was the son of a widow who had experienced
great reverses. This lady, in her distress at learning that
such sentence had been fatal to her son's commission, wrote
a most affecting letter to his Excellency, stating that her
son had from his scanty pay contributed to her own sup-
port, that he was the most affectionate and devoted of sons,
and that his dismissal would entail ruin on the whole
family ; she therefore entreated Sir Charles to exercise
clemency, but ere her letter reached the Commander-in-
Chief the confirmed proceeding of the court-martial had
been forwarded to England. By return of post, however,
that unhappy lady received a reply from Sir Charles, ex-
prassing his deep sympathy in her case, and requesting her
acceptance of the draft which he enclosed for the price of
her son's commission. Silence was enjoined, and the lady
maintained silence until the death of her generous bene-
factor, when, in the overflowing of her grateful heart, she
made linown to myself this noble act of liberality."
Of some of his achievements in Sindh we have the
knowing account
Kurrachee is a native town of some pretension, but
situated on the margin of,a vast swamp which at low water
can hardly be healthful. This swamp is crossed by a fin®
causeway of cut stone, three thousand yards in length,'
which was projected by the conqueror of Sinde, of whieh,.
he completed 983 yards during his stay in the province, !Alb
the Government then thought fit to stop this noble work- ,
Its value being, however, apparent to Sir Bartle Frere, the
late Chief Commissioner, he, after much difficulty, obtained
the sanction of Government for its completion. To give
an idea of the difficulties encountered in its construction
I need but say that in order to form a basis for the structure
the swamp was crossed by filling date bags made of coarse
grass with stiff mud, and throwing them in at low water.
Having thus obtained a solid footing the mole or causewel,.
was constructed. It extends from the landing-place at
Reameree Bunder to the entrance into the town of Burrs'
thee. Sir Charles Napier, whose administrative abilities
were fully equal to his eminent military talents, had been
but a short time in Sinde ere he discovered the great natural
capabilities of the country, and projected means for deve-
loping its resources, more especially for availing himself of
its geographical position, as the only outlet for the produce
of Upper India, the Punjaub, Cachemeer, and that brought
by the Cafillas to Shikapore, which has ever been a great
tradinc, city, having extensive dealings even so far distant
as Bokhara, so that the port of Kurrachee may now be
looked on as the commercial gate of Central Asia." •
Of Jacobabad he gives the subjoined description—'
"Twenty-five miles beyond Shikarpoor, on the frontier
of the desert, towards the Bolan Pass, is Jacobabad, for-
merly Khangur, which a dozen years ago was a small
villa with a single well and three insignificant shops'
protected by a small square fort, with round towers at the
angles, and lancet-shaped crevilles to shelter matchlock'
armed defenders. Here the late Brigadier-General Jacob
established himself with the head-quarters of the famous
Sindh horse, On the same spot is now a flourishing town
of 17,000 inhabitants, exclusive of the troops there stn'
tioned. Jacobabad is the head-quarters of the north-viat
frontier, and by the admirable management of the lea
Political Superintendent the country, which a few yeall
back was a desert waste, has been changed into a sheet of
luxuriant cultivation, producing a return that is annual
increasing, the revenue of the district now amounting
upwards of 70,000 rupees annually. This has been aceelo-
plished by opening a canal from the Tudno, for some a
miles into the heart of the desert. In the tract of lan
watered by this canal, the plundering tribes of the border
have settled down, as was projected by the great chief wh°
subdued them, and are now peaceful cultivators of land a
which have been granted to them on liberal terms, with
secure title. So rapidly have the revenues of the frontier
district increased that it may be confidently expected the
will yield a land revenue of two lakhs of rupees, whin-T
might be increased to eight were the project of the Great
Desert Canal to be carried into efiect."
The author frequently takes occasion to quote from
official reports. From that on the Census of Sindh
he selects some interesting particulars. "Land in
Sindh is, perhaps, more fertile than the soil of the
Punjaub. The Indus, which waters it, is capable
of conveying its produce, at all seasons, to the 01
face, whence it can be exported to various remune-
rative markets. Not so the Punjaub, whose rivers
are uncertain and often unnavigable, and which
has no surrounding markets to purchase the or'
plus fruit of its industry. The distance from the
sea face, too, is great, and the means of reaching
it, for the most part, tedious and uncertain. 111
every respect, then, Sindh has the advantage of the
Punjaub, in position, soil, facility of transit, leading
to remunerative markets--evervthing, in fact,
which tends to give wealth to nations. Yet Sindh
if we include her military, is not a self supporting
country, but annually draws upon the general re-
venue of the State." On another occasion, speak:
ing of the almost inestimable value railways would
prove to India, the author quotes the following Te"
marks from an official report :—" Sinde in itself is a
crying proof of this prevailing want. There, on
account of the scarcity of a coined medium, a great
portion of the Government revenue is annually
paid in kind; and I have heard, upon good autho-
rity, that it is not uncommon, in seasons more than
usually abundant, to see masses of grain, which,:
n a distant
ght possibly
part, the
horrors en
edne
thoet hmeeran
sofm circumstances,itigatn g :ni
horrors of famine, lying rotting on the ground.'
We have no space to allude to the various anec-
dotes relating to the chase which are interspersed
throughout the volumes, but the reader will fin"'
many such incidents alluded to. The volumes are
handsomely bound and illustrated, and we Or
mend them to the attention of all who are inte-
rested in the prospects and civilisation of Upper
India.

7 Fureidis. By Maria Cummins, author of "Ile
Lamplighter," &c. Two vols. Sampson Lois'
and Sons.

Miss Cummins, whose widely circulated story I
" The Lamplighter," at once rendered her one
the most popular of American authoresses, has dee. e
much to preserve and consolidate her reputation 01,
the work before us. The scene is laid in that el'
eastern land, hallowed by sacred associations,
about which there still lingers the dignity of a,
state which has been overthrown, the reflection of
a glory which has passed away. There could
scarcely be a more striking contrast than that ex-
isting between the romantic Orient and the fresh
and vigorous civilisation of the West; between
the elaborate courtesy and symbolic language
of the Syrian and the Bedouin, and the
rough matter-of-fact conversation of our trans-
atlantic friends. Perhaps the very differ-
ence had a charm for the vivid imagination
of the young authoress. A long course of study of
the best authorities had rendered her familiar with
happily interwoven her knowledge into her tale.
and she has
the peculiarities of Oriental daily life;
She pays her numerous English admirers the col"
p liment of selecting an Englishman for her hero,
and represents him as a singularly attractive chit'
racter. He is richly gifted by nature and fortune,
though, when we first meet him, he is listless and
unsatisfied from the want of some great purpose,
some elevating principle' to guide his career. It is
reserved for Havilah, the charming daughter of an
American merchant, long resident in Syria, to sb°,l4r
him how to gain happiness by a consecration of his
gifts and powers to the Giver of them all, and to
his fellow man.
of disappointment and sorrow. This she d
her own example,aided by es
the softenin influences
of
b3r
Themethpe
reserved stranger proves of inestimable service to
the little Syrian community of El Fureidis, and hi
his
generous assistance restores their village, whichA
had been desolated by a convulsion of nature, an'
rofuodreesnef.
rescues them from the grasp of a Jew money lender,
who had sought to take advantage of their misfer"
tunes. Abdoul is a vivid embodiment of the fiery
Arab race, and Mr. Trefoil, the father of Havilah,
notwithstanding his improvidence, is a favourable
specimen of the modern trader. The events of the
story are full of interest, and the style is always good,
and occasionally eloquent. Some of the lengthened
descriptions are tedious, but these the reader may
easily pass over if he choose, to find himself in the
company of Havilah and her rival suitors. Troubles
of many kinds shadow the paths of the chief cha-
racters, but the romance ends happily ,as the actorso.
in it deserve. We commend all the admirers
Miss Cummins'former works speedily to procur •

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these agreeable volumes, and transport themselves
into the pleasant company of the inhabitants and
visitors of "El Fnreidis."

The History and Properties of the Different
Varieties of Natural Guanos.
It is to be regretted that any author should
make, as in this case, the last page of his pamphlet,
not of the cover, an advertisement of his own fees
for doing what his book recommends. The author
also surely forgets that, if as reviewers we recom-
mend his pamphlet, he makes us the instrument of
circulating what ought to appear in the advertising
columns of a newspaper.

IfIONZI 131,11?.KET A .ar:D CilY YEWS.

CITY, Two o'CLocK.

During the past week the general state of busi-
ness in the manfacturing districts has not materially
altered.

The woollen trade at Leeds has been dull, the
Operations in the Cloth Halls only being for imme-
di ate home requirements. _ _

At Manchester there has been a slight improve-
ment in the inquiry for India, but at lower quota-
tions. Wools and yarns at Bradford have been in-
active, but the transactions in piece goods have
shown a more active inquiry for the home markets.
At Leicester there has been a partial improve-
ment, owing to the receipt of considerable orders
for Canada. The iron trade of South Staffordshire
has continued dull, but a moderate amount of busi-
ness has been entered into in the various trades
carried on at Birmingham, Sheffield, and Wolver-
hampton.
There is a brisk demand for discount accommo-
dation, the supply of bills having increased during
the last few days, and the rates exhibit rather an
upward tendency, very little accommodation being
obtainable under 3y per cent. The inquiry is still
stimulated by the subscriptions made to new joint-
stock projects, which continue to be brought for-
ward with great rapidity ; and in most instances
they meet with a favourable reception at the hands
of the investing public. On the Stock Exchange
advances cannot be obtained under 3 or 31 per cent.

A rather large business was recorded in the
Cotton Market at Liverpool on Saturday, and
prices were very firm. The sales amounted to
12,000 bales. _ _

No bullion operations of importance were re-
ported at the Bank of England on Saturday.
At the forthcoming meeting of the Southampton
Dock Company a dividend, for the half-year, will
be proposed at the rate of 4 per cent. per annum.
The arrivals of specie this morning have been
rather important, comprising £84,200 by the
Africa from New York, £162,455 by the Seine from
the West Indies, and £3,290 by the. Tagus from
Lisbon.

The transactions in the market for Public
Securities today have been limited, and very little
fluctuation has taken place. A heavy tone still
prevails, and prices have tended downwards,
although no actual movement has occurred, Con-
sols being 931 4 for money, and 931 for the
account. The New 3 per Cents. and the Reduced
are steady, at 931 1; the New 2 per Cents. are
78; and Exchequer Bills, 6s. prem. India Loan
is heavy at 1034, but ditto 5 per Cent. Enfaced
Paper is firm at 971.
A moderate amount of business is recorded in
Foreign Securities, and prices are tolerably steady.
Turkish 6 per Cents. are 751 to 76 ; ditto New,
3eq, to 61k. Mexican remain at 21 1, ; Peruvian
3 per Cents. are flat at 73 ; Brazilian 5 per Cents.
are firm at 99f to 1001 ; and Portuguese are steady
at 444. Spanish Certificates have risen to 54 ft.
The Ocean Marine Insurance Shares are 21 •i 7-
prem. ; the Thames and Mersey, ft 4 prem. ; and the
Universal, 1 t prem.
In the Railway Share Market the dealings have
been very. limited ; a slight upward movement,
however, has prevailed in values. Edinburgh,
Perth, and Dundee, Lancashire, and Yorkshire,
North-Western, North-Eastern (Berwick), and
South-Eastern have improved ss. ; Great Northern,
and Midland, 10s. ; and Bristol and Exeter, £l.
The Foreign and Colonial lines are flat. Lom-
bardo-Venetian have receded to 11 111 ; Dutch
_Rhenish are steady at 11-1,,- ; and Bahia and San
Francisco at 71- -Z- ; Grand Trunk of Canada have
declined to 304 31; Great Western of Canada are
firm at 12i ; East Indian at 991 4 ; and Great
Indian Peninsula at

Joint Stock Bank and Miscellaneous Shares are
dull, no change of importance being apparent in
prices.

BRITISH FUNDS—ONE O'CLOCK.
3 per Cent. Reduced Annuities
3 per Cent. Consols Annuities
New 3 per Cent. Annuities
New 2l per Cent. Annuities 7B
India Stock
Ditto 5 per Cant 103!
Ditto Enfaced Paper, 4 per Cent. —
Ditto 5 per Cent.
Ditto Debentures, 1858 96f
Ditto, 1859
Ditto Bonds £l,OOO 4 d
i)itto under £l,OOO •
Consols for Account, 6th Sept. 931
India Stook for Account
Ditto 5 per Ceitt . • lO3l
Exchequer Bills, £l,OOO, 11d
D tto £5OO 6 pm
Ditto Small
FOREIGN FUNDS—ONE O'CLOCK.
Brasilian 5 per Cent
Ditto 41 per Cent. 1858 B7l
Buenos Ayres, 6 per Cent BB
Mexioan 3 per Cent
Ditto Account
Peruvian 4/ per Cent
Ditto 3 per Cent. Account 73
Portuguese 3 per Cent., 1853. •
Ditto Account ............
Spanish Com. Cert. of Coup. not funded 5l ft
Turkish 6 per Cent .. —4
Ditto Account
Ditto New Loan
Ditto Account
Dividends on the above payable in London.
TWO O'CLOCK.
Consols, Money
Ditto Account, September