The Sun.
London, England, 1869-02-15 00:00:00

RLIIIIIEL'S FALEN7INES.

Under the auspices of good St. Valentine,
Eugene Rimtnel has this year endeavoured to
eclipse all his former achievements in the world of
grace andofancy. As specimens of art in its daintiest
and most pelicate form, as curiosities of literature
in its most curious and fantastic guise, these valen-
t. nes for 1869 may take their rank with the best of
their predecessors. Baskets of tiny flowers that
might have been culled by the hands of Titania
herself—Cupid's Barometer, in which the varying
emotions of the human heart may be estimated
with mathematical precision—portraits of Shake_
spere's heroines, Unrivalled as types of love and
loveliness, are among the chief attractions of the
group of Valentines before us. In addition to these
the names of fair ladies and fair qualities, loving
aspirations and humorous comicalities, flowers of
speech, and flowers of the field, brimming over
with most delicate perfumes, vie with each other
in graceful rivalry, and hard to please must
the fair lady be who does not acknowledge the
charm of spells so potent and irresistible.

EXETER HALL.—" Elijah" will be performed by
the National Choral Society on Wednesday next. Miss
Arabolla Smyth (the new soprano), and Mr. Joseph
Lander (the new bass) will each make their second ap-
pearance on this occasion. Miss Lucy Franklin, Mr.
George Perren, and other eminent artistes will take part
in the programme. Conductor, Mr G. W. Martin.

TILE FLOODS.—An immense quantity of rain has
fallon during the past week, more particularly yesterday,
and the floods are again very high in the Thames Valley.
The Rennet and Avon Canal between Devizes and Rea,l-
ing is flooded, and there is now more laud under water
than has been known for years.

A FORTUNATE RECOVERY.—About six months ago
Mr. C. Newcome, a young artist of Liverpool, while cross-
ing the mountains at Capel Carig, having lost his purse
containing 20 sovereigns, made fruitless efforts to trace it.
A few daysago, however, he received a letter from Bettws-
y-coed, requesting his attendance there, and on his pre-
senting himself he was agreeably surprised to find that his
long lost purse and its contents had been picked up by an
honest farmer in the vicinity of the mountain, from whom
he received it intact. With a generosity which does bim
credit Mr Newcome immediately presented the lucky finder
with five pounds of the amount.
FALL OF A CHIMNEY STALK.—EarIy on Sunday
morning a chimney stalk, 100 feet high, connected with
the paper mills a.tWest end, Glasgow, fell during the gale.
Near the Lase of the stalk were a row of cottages, the
roofs of two of which were crushed in, and tho sleeping
inmates buried in the ruins. Seven persons were killed
on the spot, and another died in the course of the after-
noon.

Captain Brown, of the Uni'ed States Navy, who
took to Jap In the iron-dal ram Stonewall purchased by
the Japam.se Governmetit, has telegraphed from San
Fraticisuo that In will d.:liver t!.e ram to the Dlikado
Government at once. Captain Brown, on his arrival in
Japan, found a civil war raging, and both parties claimed
the vessel, but he refused to deliver her to either. The
Mikado having been successful, and as he promises to pay
all expenses, is to receive the Stonewall.

DUNVILLE and Co., Belfast, are the largefit
holders of Whisky in the world. Their Old Irish Whisky is re-
commended by the medical profession in preference to French
Brandy. Supplied in casks and cases for home use or exporta
tion. Quotations on application to Messrs. Dunville and Co.,
Belfast; or 4, Beaufort-bulltnga, strand, London W.C.--[Ad
Tort4avrnent.]