The Sun.
London, England, 1859-08-08 00:00:00

1139 142

r

" r .:• r •

F ` ~

THIS DAY'S MARKETS.

-
is Ild ; handwashed, is 4d to is 8d ; lambs', is 3d to is
8d ; grease, 10d to is ld. New Zealand.—Clean sheeps,
Is 4d to 2s 2d ; scoured 2s to 2s 2d ; handwashed, ls lld to
2s ; lambs', is 9d to is 101 d; pieces, is 4d to is Bd. Last
weeks imports amounted to 667 bales from Port Philip, 792
from Sydney, 332 from Adelaide, 21 from the Cape, 482
from Launceston, and 292 from Natal.

CORN EXCHANGE.

The country markets held on Saturday were very in-
active for wheat, at about stationary prices. The few
samples of barley on show realised previous rates. In
spring corn, the receipts of which were limited, very little
was passing at full currencies.
Continental advices state that wheat has moved off
slowly, but that prices have baen supported. Most other
articles have met a fair inquiry. The American markets
come lower for both wheat and flour.

Only limited supplies of home-grown produce were re-
ceived up to our market last weep. From abroad the sup-
plies were 14,562 qrs. of wheat, 2,350 barley, 34,325 oats,
800 beans, 671 peas, 2,020 linseed,. 2,224 rapeseed, 110
sundry seeds, and 364 sacks of flour.
Fresh up to-day a full average supply of new English
wheat came to hand, in, for the most part, fair condition ;
but the arrival of old parcels was very limited. The attend-
ance of both town and country millers was by no means
numerous, and the demand for all kinds of wheat of home
produce ruled heavy, at barely last week's quotations. The
new wheats were disposed of at from 445. to 525. per qr.,
the latter quotation being for Talavera of good quality.
We were extensively supplied with all kinds of foreign
wheat. Even the finest samples were neglected. In
prices, however, no quotable change took place.
Floating cargoes of grain, off Falmouth, commanded
very little attention.
The show of barley was small, yet the trade was in a
sluggish state, at last week's currency.
Malt was very dull. In prices, however, no quotable
change took place.
The arrivals of foreign oats being large, the oat trade
ruled heavy, and prices were a shade lower than on Mon-
day last.

Beans were a dull sale, but not cheaper.
In peas very little was passing, on former terms.
Most kinds of flour were dull, at late rates.

CURRENCY PER IMPERIAL MEASURE.

•
Wheat—Essex and Kent, red, new 3Bs to 44s
Ditto, old
Ditto, white, new 4os 48s
Ditto, old --:8 —8
Norfolk and Lincoln, red, old —s —8
Ditto, new. 37s 45s
Rye—Old —s —8
New
Barley—Grinding...., 26s 29s
Malting . 37s 38s
Chevalier 3Bs 43s
Malt—Suffolk and Norfolk . s2s 66s
Brown
Kingston and Ware s2s 64s
Chevalier
Oats—Yorkshire and Lincolnsh., Feeding 22s 26e
Potato
Youghal and Cork, black .. 23s 26s
Cork, white
Scotch, Feeding 23s 32s
Beans—Tick
Pigeons 4ls 50s
Peas—Grey
Maple
White 4os 49s
Boilers
Flour—Town-made
Suffolk 32s 34s
Stockton and Norfolk

METROPOLITAN CATTLE MARKET.
The total imports of foreign stock into London last week
were 11,626 head. In the corresponding week in 1858 we
received 9,553; in 1857, 8,003; in 1856, 7,216; in 1855,
9,566; in 1854, 8,933 ;in 1853, ; and in 1852,
head.

'THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, AUGUST 8, 18b9.

LITBRATURE.

Life for a Life. By the author of "!r7ohn Hali-
fax, Gentleman," "A Woman's The. tights About
Women," &c. 3 vols. Hurst and 131ackett.
It will be a satisfaction to many tri meet with a
new work by the able authoress of " John Halifax"
and " The Head of the Family ;" awl it is impossible
to peruse any of her writings without being im-
pressed with their superiority. hlowever, on the
present occasion there are many-, draWbacks to the
pleasure derived from the study— -for the subject of
"A Life for a Life" is in every v fay an undesirable
one. There is something painful in the idea
suggested, and something still, more jarring to the
feelings in the carrying out of the idea. Dr.
Urquhart, the chief character , is one of those un-
happy beings whose career !ear been overcast in
early youth by a dark shade„ and whose life is.ren-
dered a burden by the cons't-ant pressure of the fatal
secret. It is evidently the intention of the autho-
ress to depict Max Urqulaart as an, estimable char-
acter, but she has not entirely succeeded in fulfilling
her design. If he haa.t earnestly desired to atone
for his unhappy error in early life, he should have
avoided seeking Thet.vlora's acquaintance altogether,
when once he had discovered the fatal connection
that existed between her family and that of his
victim. Again, it is to be regretted' that, amidst
much high-toned morality, and the expression of
elevated sentiments, there should appear some very
dangerous doctrines as to the principles of action.
Dr. Urquhart, after the passionate struggle which
terminated fatally, comes to the resolve of dedi-
cating his existence to atone for his crime. This
idea of a life being giYen for a life is a most morbid
one, and can never be taken from the sound views
of duty which can allow no compromise on awful
subjects ' • and still less does it agree with a higher
standard of action that a man can efface his sins by
a course of existence hOwever blameless, It is
certain that Urquhart should have e.odessed at
once his error, or the I
crime, or whatever impulse
was that resulted in such a calam.ltY, and not have
taken the law into his own harap,, by presuming to
suppose that he should live long enough to carry
out his extraordinary idea. The only thing that
could atone for his dark, deed was repentance; and
if he felt that, he was jrastified at the time as far as
he ever could be, and If not, the added years of trial
in the service of others did not make him any the
less reprehensiMe for the evil committed. " I re-
solved to gill' a life—my own—for the life which I
had taken., to devote it wholly to the saving of
other byes, and at its close, when I had built up a
good name, and shown.openly that after any crime
a man might recover himself, repent, and atone. I
meant to pay the full price of the sin of my youth,
and openly acknowledge it before the world." This
is as dangerous a notion, and as sophistical an argu-
ment as any one can entertain on. a vital question
of morality, and the sequel of the, story itself dis-
plays one consequence that could never have" oc-
curred had all been revealed. There would have
been no danger had the truth been known, of an
attachment springing up between the sister and the
man who had destroyed the brother. Theodora
Johnstone is a vehement character, and although
great allowance is to be made for her situation, she
pursued a course that was not to he justified, in
persisting, at the last, in her determination to
marry Urquhart. Had she. possessed right feeling
on the subject she would have relinquished the en-
gagement, as nothing justified Urquhart from not
ascertaining whether or not hers was the fatal
family before he made any proposals to Theodora.
Some of the other personages, in the story are
agreeable as Lisabel, and Captain Treherne, and their
very mediocrity of attainments, and simplicity of
style, arc a relief after the. sombre reflections in
which Urquhart's life is engaged, and the melan-
choly tinge which envelopes the existence of Theo-
dora. It is to be trusted that in another work of
this gifted authoress, we may meet with something
more approximate in interest to her earlier crea-
tions of fiction. Those who have been impressed With
the power, and fascinated with the charm of "The
Head of the Family," whose sympathies have been
aroused by the deep pathos and exquisite descrip-
tions in " Agatha's Husband," and who have recog-
nised and appreciated the talent which so bril-
liantly distinguished " Sohn Halifax," will earnestly
hope that they may meet with many more of a
similar character. It is not always an advantage
to an author to be well-known, as comparisons are
invariably instituted between past and present pro-
ductions, and the fancies and prejudices of a criti-
cising circle may influence them quite as much as
skill in discernment and clearness in judgment. In
the present case, however, the objections that may
be made to this book, do not in any way refer to
deterioration of merit in design or execution, but
to the tone of the work as regards the facts before
alluded to. Many may admire it as a powerful
representation of trying scenes, and a vivil illus-
tration of momentous occurrences, but others will
believe that so much talent could have drawn an

equally effective picture of events, without intro-
ducing such painful passages.

The Life and Theatrical Times of Charles Lean,

By T. W. Cole. 2 vols. Bentley.
It has become the custom of late years, as soon as
any eminent person has passed off the stage of life,
to publish his memoirs, and to narrate the circum-
stances of his history, and endorse the verdict of his
contemporaries. On the present occasion the
volumes before us have anticipated the close of
their subject's professional career in a somewhat
unusual manner. Many years of private friendship
and professional association have qualified the author
for his task by furnishing him with materials for in-
formation " which no other person possesses to the
same extent." He commences his memoirs with an
account of the late Edmund Kean, and narrates the
circumstances which induced his son to adopt the same
profession. He traces the career of the latter from his
early difficulties and drawbacks, through his gra-
dual rise in public favour, to the honour and profit
which have crowned him of late years. He gives
a detailed account of his management of the Prin-
cess's Theatre, an analysis of his chief characters,
and a well-merited tribute to the wonderful scenic
arrangements which have recalled the mediveval
ages, and brought before us the temples of Greece
and the palaces of Venice, resuscitating the buried
glories of the Assyrian capital, and transporting
the spectator to' the magic sports of fairyland.
The banquet lately given to Mr. Charles Kean by
his brother Etonians, is, of course, duly chronicled,
and the conspicuous part taken by him in the
establishment of the proposed dramatic college, is
necessarily spoken of. The high character and
eminent attainments of his wife are frequently
alluded to in terms of warm. encomium, and the
volumes are interspersed with accounts of the chief
actors on the English stage during the last fifty
years. We demur, however, to the inti o-
cluction of those differences and disputes
in which most persons holding the difficult
position of theatrical manager naturally become
involved. We cannot admire the taste -which
publishes the numerous letters passing between
Mr. Kean and Mr. Jerrold in reference to their
business transactions. Such communications arc
best left in the obscurity into which they would
naturally fall after the lapse of some years ; and
though the other side has been indiscreet enough
to thrust the question on the notice of the public,
we are sorry to see Mr Kean's partisan bring it
prominently forward in a work like the present.
Some of the allusions to Mr. Kean's father might
have been more gracefully omitted in a work pub-
_ _

lished during the- lifetime of his son ; but one inevi-
table drawback to this class of works is, that they
can scarcely avoid trespassing on the privacy of
domestic life. The book would have been better
condensed, as, however great Mr. Bean's merits as
an actor, and however high may be the public re-
spect he has obtained by his correct and honourable
management, there is nothing in his theatrical
career to authorise such voluminous and minute
records. The glimpses into a manager's life ob-
tained from'the letters introduced will probably
gratify the curious; and the numerous testimonials
from eminent persons are very flattering to Mr.
Kean. The writer somewhat over-estimate -s the

_ramatic abilities of Mr. and Mrs. Kean, ranking
the Lady Macbeth of the latter high above Madame
Ristori's impersonation of the character. The
work is written with care, and the author is evi-
dently animated by a sincere admiration and cor-
dial friendship for the subject of his memoirs. Mr.
Kean's admirers will be glad to perceive his bio-
grapher holds out the expectation that he will not
immediately quit the' stage on abandoning his
managerial functions. While they will be glad to
learn that Mr. Kean does not contemplate
leaving his profession, they will perhaps be sur-
prised that his Life and Times are thus written of
while his theatrical career is still incomplete.
Those who are interested in the annals of the Bri-
tish stage will, however, be doubtless pleased to
meet in these records with many of their old
favourites ; while the popularity of Mr. Charles
Kean and the approaching termination of his ma-
nagerial labours will probably secure for it a large
circulation.

Madame Goldschmidt is about to resume concert
singing ; and to take a tour in Ireland, accompanied by
Herr Joachim.
The Era says that immediately after his mar-
riage, Mr. Albert Smith conveyed his happy bride to his
"mountain home" at Chamouni, where, beneath the sug-
gestive shadow of the mighty Mont Blanc, they will pass
the honeymoon.
The Norfolk Neivs states that Sir Morton Peto
has received such information from Norwich as will in-
duce him to move that the writ for that city should be sus-
pended.