The Sun.
London, England, 1869-04-30 00:00:00

211'LL'AirS GALLIMY, 11'1E11

The gems of art which at present adorn the
splendid gallery of pictures now on view at Mr.
M‘Lean's, in the Haymarket," has been rendered
still more rich by the addition of Mr. Church's last
grand picture, entitled " Damascus." As a work
it is perhaps one of the most extraordinary
efforts ever accomplished by any artist, and
an inspection of it will certainly delight
and enchant every true lover of painting.
The spectator, with his back to the setting sun,
stands upon the rocky slope of a spur of Anti
Lebanon. At the left is a gorge in which—but
not visible—lies the Diligence road to Damas-
cus from Beyrout. Through the same ravine
flows the river Barada—the ancient Abana—
also invisible—although just I. efore the gorge opens
into the valley, a portion of the water of the river
may be seen diverted into an artificial channel for
the purposes of irrigation. This canal perforates
the rocky slope of the left hand mountain, flowing
through a tunnel of ancient construction. On the
sunlit portion of this mountain stands a wely
or tomb, which is the celebrated stand-point
chosen by travellers for viewing the valley and city.
The mountains sweep down to the valley, their
barren flacks contrasting strongly with the rich
verdure of the plan, which is bountifully watered
by thousands of little canals, distributing the waters
of the Barada in all directions. The city lies in the
midst of this verdure, and catches the last rays of
the setting sun. It would be superfluous to add
another word in praise in aid of the great work,
beyond saying how deeply indebted the public are
to Mr. M'Lean for his exertions in procuring for
their delight and pleasurable inspection the
most celebrated pictures ever painted by
the hand of man. There is another very in-
teresting addition, viz., the perfected chromo
copies of Bierstadt's extraordinary pictures, " The
Rocky Mountains" and " The Storm in the Reeky
Mountains," which we must pronounce as the finest
specimens of colour printing yet produced. The
announcement that these splendid chromos are
ready for delivery to subscribers will be received
with great pleasure by a very large number of
persons.

LI FE PEERS.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

the year 1830, a pamphlet upon this
subject was printed for private circulation, bearing
the title of a " Letter to the Duke of Wellington,
on the Propriety and Legality of Creating Peers
for Life, with Precedi.nts." A copy of it was for-
warded to the Editor of the Gentleman's Magazine,
who reviewed it at length. See vol. 100, part 2,
p.p. 100-112. The anonymous author argued in
favour of the propriety and legality of the measure,
in order " that the House of Lords may profit by
individual talent, and in particular be supplied
with those various deßcriptians of legal talents and
acquirements which it so much requires." The edi-
tor high'y favoured the proposition, and observed
that " the commencement of a new reign is a proper
era for its adoption ;" but it seems to have been re-
served for Earl Russell in the evening of his useful
life to be the chief instrument in actually causing
this desirable improvement in the Upper Chamber
to be adopted.
I am, Sir, yours obediently,
CIIR. COOKE.
London, April 00, 180.

.STATE OF TRADE.

-

MANCHESTEn, Thursday, April 29.—Beyond the
fact that buyers have rather more choice in both
cloth and yarn than they had a few days since, no
alteration in the market has taken place since Tues-
day. A few inquiries have been made for India
and China skirtings, but in order to sell producers
have had to submit to prices which they declined a
week since.

BIRMINGHAM, Thursday.—The reports brought
to Birmingham to-day from the various ironworks
were even less satisfactory than those of last week.
On most hands the proprietors of mills and forges
are getting short of orders in nearly every depart-
ment. The foreign trade has not yet revived, and
sales on home account are for small lots. Masters are
rca.ly to accept orders at prices lower than they have
quoted for many years, but makers will not be s im -
ulated. In the pig iron department, where old
contracts have run out, .vendors experience diffi-
culty in inducing consumers to give fresh orders.
There were some very trifling saks to-day. Alike
at the ironworks and the collieries there is a supe: -
abundance of labour. Hardwares arc unchanged.
Most of the railway works have enough to di, and
some of the tin-plate workers and jai. antlers are
fairly off ; but at the great foundries, and at the
bridge and girder making establishments, there is
hardly anything doing, except in the machinery
departments, which are moderately engaged.
BRADFORD, Thursday.—The wool market con-
tinues very quiet. The purchases made are mostly
in the better classes of lustre wool, for which
staplers are able to command full rates. The busi-
ness done in middle and inferior sorts is about as
meagre as it has been forsometimepast, and it is only
where a concession in price is yielded that sales can
be effected. Ihe present genial weather promising to
accelerate the time of clip bas also the effect in some
measure of creating apathy on the part of con-
sumers. There is little change in yarns. A steady
business continues to be done on home account.
The foreign trade remains stagnant. The change
in fashion on the continent, and the introduc-
tion there of yarns spun from German wool
have greatly interfered with the bulk of the
trade hitherto done for that quarter in this mar-
ket, and especially in 30's single. The business
now doing in twofold yarns is very unimportant.
Genappe yarns are also exceedingly quiet, and
carded yarns are not in much request. Stocks in
the bands of some spinners are on the increase,
especially in middle sorts and 30's single. In the
piece market, several foreign buyers have been pre-
sent, and have occasionally placed orders for the
autumn trade. The home merchants are satis-
fying their requirements by picking up from
stock odd lots of light fancy and plain
goods suitable for the season, but they
do not place any important orders for the autumn
trade. The continental business continues small.
Few orders are placed for America. On the whole,
a better feeling prevails, and manufacturers might
in many cases get orders, if they were in a position
to accept the low offers made by merchants. Busi-
ness, though only small, is healthy. Prices iu both
yarns and pieces are not much changed.