The Sun.
London, England, 1856-03-06 00:00:00

LITE RATURE.

Prison Discipline._ By _ Captain Maconochi©,

R:N., K.H.- T. Harrison.

Captain Maconochie, as most of our readers are
aware, was formerly superintendent of our penal
settlement in Norfolk Island, and distinguished
himself in that capacity.by his humane efforts and
the exhibition of a more than ordinary capacity aid
enlightenment. They will also be aware that, with
the resignation of that office, his labours towards
the improvement of our convict population have
not ceased, but that to him the public are indebted
for the4develupment of the principle first enunciated
by Archbishop Wliately, viz., thattheconvictsbould
be detained until by industry and good conduct be
has earned his right to be free. They may further
be presumed to be acquainted with the fact that
he is by many looked up to as our high authority
on the matter of Reformatory Prison discipline, and
as such his works have been recommended for
thoughtful peruial by no less an authority.than the
learned and enlightened Recorder of -Birmingham.
In the pages before us will be found a summary Of
the suggestions of general application that he has at
various times offered on this important-subject, in-
tended and admirably calculated to facilitate the
study recommended by Mr. Sill. Among other
things worthy of notice is a desire expressed en
his part for a discussion on • the expediency
of legalising in criminal cases the imposition of
task sentences, with or without time sentences, es
may be deemed best ; and without insisting on the
reasons he adduces for this desire, powerful as they
may be, we think his past history, and the more or
less proven wisdom of his previous recommenda-
tions, should insure him the gratification of his
wish. The pamphlet cannot be recommended too
strongly to general consideration.

Journal of a Tour in Unsettled Parts of North,
America in 1796 and 1797. By the late Francis
F.R.S. With a Memoir of the Author.
Baily, Brothers.
The friends and admirers of the late distin-
guished,savant Will be gratified by the appearance
of this volume, accompanied as it is by the memoir
of Mr. Baily, drawn up by Sir John Horschell,
Bart., at the request of the Royal Astronomical
Society, of which Mr. Baily was president, and
read at a special meeting of the society held Nov
8, 1844—a memoir of universal interest. The
volume shows the author to .have possessed
considerable powers of observation quickened bY a
zest for scientific inquiry, and presents a picture,
however inn erfect, in striking contrast with the
present appearance and state of most of the pais
he visited. Among the suggestions thrown ont
by the deceased tourist is one in connection with
the luminosity of the Atlantic and other seas 11
night—the phosphorence to which it is owing la
all probability, he intimates, arising from the de-
composition of the finny tribe which have moved
and been resolved within their waters.

The Theory and Practice of Banking. By Henri
Dunning Macleod, Esq., Barrister-at-law.
The second and concluding volume of au'
mirable work, which is likely to take its place 0
a standard authority on the subjects on which
treats, contains an exposition of the theory and
practice of banking, and may be described as cow
taining all the information necessary for a clear
comprehension of the principles on which banking
ought to be conducted, and of the modes in which
banking business is transacted in this country. 111
addition to this will be found a hardly less mei'
torious exposition of the elementary principles
of CurrencyjPrices, Credit, and Exchanges, together
with a useful appendix—the whole constituting
.5
work which should be in the hands of every politi-
cian, merchant, broker, and capitalist in the kin-
dom, and that withont unnecessary delay.

The Journal of Agriculture.
The agricultural statistics of the past year un-
dergo review in the opening paper, and afford the
writer the opportunity to congratulate the farmers
of Scotland on the patriotic spirit they babe
evinced in voluntarily submitting a second tune
to the inspection of the public these raining
of the result of their skill, enterprise, and labour*
and which could not have been obtained with
equal accuracy by any other men. This he justlf
regards as evidencing the existence of as intelli•
gent and public-spirited a body of tenants as are to
be found in any country, a healthy tone of feeling
subsisting between landlord and tenant, and a
confidence in the honour of the Legislature. All
interesting paper on the " Culture of Carolina
Rice" is ellowed by a- timely article on our modern
Town Drainage System, in which the question Of
"Is it right or wrong ?" is considered with reference
to its connection with agriculture. The answer
returned may be gathered from the conclusion, in
which, after advising the inbabitants of cities at
once to set about conveying refuse matter from the
neighbourhood of their homes, so certainly and
economically that they will get some return at least
for it, the writer remarks " That this can be
done there seems no doubt, and that it can be done
more certainly, safely, and economically than b 1
the present system of drainage, not a few of our
eminent men incline to think." The use of chav
coal as a deodoriser is apparently much in favour.
Among the remaining contents of the number "The,
Farmer's Note-Book," and the "Transactions of
the Highland Society," are not likely to escape the
attention of practical men.

The Ferns of Great Britain and Ireland. 131

Thomas Moore, F.L.S.
This splendid work progresses admirably under
the skilful editorship of Professor Lindley, with
i
the aid of Mr. Bradbury and his new process
" Nature Printing." The part before us, No. Xi•P
is illustrated by a specimen of the " Athyriura
Felix-fcemina ovatunr,' a beautiful variety of the
Lady Fern—another of the " Atbyrium
multifidum," the most beautifully symmetrical--
yet monstrous—and graceful permanent varieti,
.
yet discovered, "The would
Fern with the tuft" oll'
best describe it. A third of the " AtbyrlU
Fel ix-foemina crispum," resembling tufts of palid/
—a fourth of the ""Felix-fwriaina depauperatual,
arid a fifth of the " Felix-famina dissectum ;" the
last three are ferns, " with a difference" well C&1
culated to puzzle an amateur. A clear and coneiS°
description is given of' each in the letterpress.

The Literary Gazette, of Saturday, contains
couple of well-executed wood engravings, " Dv°
and False Griffins," one from a drawing by Mt.
Ruskin, and another from a lithograph. Altoge
ther, the appearance of our contemporary is /snail
improved, and this improvement is by no mee►ns
purchased by a loss of 'critical acumen or vigour
en the contrary, the matter before us is quite equivl
if not superior to that of its predecessor.

Willis's Price Current for March contains some
curious archaeological matter, and presents a large
and superior catalogue of rare and choice, as Gall
as general and useful works, at apparently reason'
able prices, together with current notes of the
month.

Pewton's London Journal of Arts and Sciences-
Contains a useful paper on " The Manufacture,
of Alloys or Combinations of Metals," notices °`
"Recent Patents" with illustrations as applied to
the arts, and other contributions of a scientific
nature.

MARKET NEWS.—(This Day.)
CORN. EXCHANGE.
GENERAL AVERAGE PRICES OF BRITISH CORN
For the week ended March 6,1856, made up from the Returns of 030
.
Inspectors in the differegteities and Towns in England and -or
:ale
per Imperial Quarter.
WHEAT. 1 BAILEY. OATS. I EYE. I SHAHS. IrgA46,,di
69i 72 35s 62 23s 92 47s 22 41s 51 391 -
THE SIX WEEKS' AvERAGE.
WHEAT. EARLEY. 1 OATS. , 1 EIE. BEAM ?"1.64
72e 9i 375 Od 1 243 bd / 505 4d 43s Id I 41$
QUANTITIES OF GRAIN SOLD LAST WEEK.
Wheat, 112,949 ; Rarfey, 82,391; Oats, 16,607 ; Rye, 154 ; Beal'
6,453; Peas: 1.668, Quarter&

MEAT MARKETS.
NEWGATE AND LEADENHALL.—The trade ruled tolerabi/
firm, as follows :—Beef, from 2e Ed to 4s Od ; Mutton. 41
Od to 4s 2d ; Veal, 4s Gd to 48,10 d; Pork, 3s 4d to 4,5 ?
per Ellis, by the carcase.
SOUTHALL, March s.—The supply of fat stock in to-an_AY'S
market was but moderate ; nevertheless the gene"—
demand ruled heavy, and prices had a downward ten-
decoy. Beef, from 3s 2d to 4e 4d ; Mutton, 3s 4d to 45102
Veal, 4s Od to 5s Oc.; Pork, 3s 4d to .5 8d per Blbe, to eins•
the offal.
RoMFORD, March s.—The trade was heavy, as follows :
Beef. from lis 4d to 4s 6d ; Mutton, 3s 4d to 4s 10d; Veen
4s Od to 5s Od ; Pcrk. 3s 4d to 45 8d per Elbe. Quarter-osi*
Store Pigs, 21a to 27s each.

HAY MARKETS.
SMITHFIELD.—Meadow hay, 414 s to 51 15s; clover
41 10s to 61 15s; and straw, 11 4s to 11 9s per load.
Trade steady.
CUMBERLAND.—Meadow hay, 41 4s to Si 15s ; clover doz
41 8s to 6t 12s • and straw, 1/ 5s to 11 10s per loa
A. moderate supply, and a sluggish demand.
WHITECHAPEL.—Meadow hay, 414 s to 51 158; ,doper
do., 41 6s to 6/ 158; and straw, 1/ 4s to 11 9s per load
A fair demand.

DEATH OF BUSUBT, THS CItICKETER.—We
regret to
announce the death of this excellent. cricketer, which
took place last Friday, at his residence at Renfield*
His health had been declining for a long time ; and two
or three months ago, whilst shooting over the Cheatham
preserves, Bushby being gamekeeper to Mrs. Wood, his
gun exploded, and dreadfully shattered his hand ; amfl
we understand that the shock he sustained by the'
and
dent was so great that he gradually sank under it, end
there seem little doubt that it accelerated his d
eath.