The Sun.
London, England, 1859-08-12 00:00:00

LITERATURE

The Dennes of Danndelyonn. By Mrs. Charles J.
Proby. 3 vols. Smith and Elder.
This is a story of domestic life, and, on the whole,
it is a very readable novel. The tale is told by one
of a family of orphans, who are left to the care of
some relations—the three sisters being taken ky
their uncle to his country house. Without any-
thing remarkable occurring, the book is full of
events • and towards the conclusion there are some
powerful descriptions given of the many troubles
that befall the two families who were united as
one. The uncle of the heroine, Sophie, is over-
whelmed with misfortune, and the effects that are
thus produced seem more striking among his adopted
than his real family. Angelica, the eldest, keides
on making a rich marriage. Sir Brutus Bouverie
was sincerely attached to her, but it was not in his
power to make her life contented, still less happy.
There was a sad end to poor Angelica's brilliant
prospects, and her sudden death cast a gloom over
the circle before she had been able to put into prac-
tice any of her schemes for their benefit. Florence,
the second sister, was attached to a poor curate,
.which caused great annoyance to her aunt Barbara;
but when affairs grew so bad, her uncle Denne
allowed her to fulfil her engagement; and a small
living havinc, been procured, it was hoped that one
out of the afflicted circle was satisfactorily settled.
But through bad management Florence's home was
as uncomfortable as coud well be imagined.. The
picture drawn of its disarrangements and miseries,
on the occasion of a visit from Sophie, is very well
done, and the prototype of " Whirlingham" may be
found in many a distracted household. The au-
thoress appears to advantage in her details of
domestic infelicity ; as " Freshfield, the mansion of
Sir Brutus, discloses an equally graphic sketch of
gilded misery ; and the wretched Angelica fur-
nishes a striking warning to those who marry for
gold, from whatever motive they may be ittduced
to do so. The most pleasing of the characters are
Sophie and her cousin Eric. The latter is superior
to the rest of his family, being gifted with a
talent for painting, which he turns to account
in the dark days that come upon Danndelyonn.
Sophie is a charming girl, full of consideration for
others, and endowed with a spirit to resist minor
troubles, and an energy to endure great trials. She
was the hope of all, ever appealed to in perplexity,
and relied on in danger. Her career was singularly
trying from the period of her entering into society
till the conclusion of these records it was one series
of pecuniary embarrassments, home troubles, and
other calamities, she was better fitted than eihter
of her sisters to struggle in the battle of life, for
instead of sinking under the pressure as they did,
she rose to meet the emergency with a courage that
would not quail, and with a trust in better times,
that enabled her to come out of the contest more
than conqueror. The story is told in a genuine
manner, and the various incidents are recorded with
skill and exactitude. The misfortunes of the master
of Danndelyonn, in being driven from his old in-
heritance, are touchingly narrated, and although
such a calamity as this is " the tale, the truth of
every day," the agony of such a farewell, and the
desolation of such a departure seem to strike the
reader as forcibly as if related for the first time.
The book contains some passages which are rather
exaggerated, on the subject of clairvoyance, as
Sophie several times sees the forms of her relations
who appear mysteriously before her, and some days
after she hears of their death. Tnis will please
some wonder-seeking readers, but the subject is too
often introduced. It is not likely that this novel
will be otherwise than attractive, as without being
anything extraordinary, it contains some scenes of
exciting interest, and has passages that are written
with power. If it is a first work it is a very suc-
cessful endeavour, and, at any rate, it is an agree-
able addition to the world of fiction.

The Story of Cawnpore. By Captain Mowbray
Thomson, one of the" only two survivors from
the Cawnpore garrison. Bentley.

A mournful interest is attached to this work, and
it possesses a claim on the attention from the fact
of its author having been an eye-witness of the
fearful scenes he describes. The lapse of time
since the awful events that are here recorded took
place may have subdued in some degree the first
frenzied excitement that the recital awakened, but
it can never efface the recollections that are aroused
by the mention of the very name of the place
which witnessed one of the most frightful scenes
that the malice of mortal cruelty ever devised.
Captain Thompson observes, in the preface, that so
many conflicting statements have been made con-
cerning the events that took place, that he feels it
incumbent upon him to present the public with his
own recollections. He also desires to refute the
false charges that were made in some obscure jour-
nals in India, of a want of courage in the defenders
of the garrison. The other survivor has not been
able to render any assistance to his friend in the
task of compiling these records, and therefore this
work is described by the author as from first to
last "an effort of memory." It is eminently to his
credit that he should have acquitted himself of this
'task in so admirable a manner. There are many
who will feel deeply indebted to Capt. Thomson
for thus affording them the opportunity of perusing
an authentic account of so important an occurrence.
The descriptions of the escape of the fortunate few
—four in number at first, but two have since died
—is very exciting. Assailed by a mob of sepoys,
they took refuge in a temple, which the mob sur-
rounded, and having piled up faggots at the en-
trance, they cut off their retreat. The following
passage records one of the most striking escapes
that has ever occurred in the annals of warfare :
" When the pile of faggots had reached the doorway, or
nearly so, they set them on fire, expecting to suffocate us ;
but a strong breeze kindly sent the great body of the smoke
away from the' interior of the temple. Fearing that the
suffocating sultry atmosphere would be soon insupportable,
I proposed to the men to sell their lives as dearly as possi-
ble ; but we stood until the wood had sunk down into a
pile of embers, and we began to hope that we might brave
out, their torture till night (apparently the only friend left
us) would let us get out for food and attempted escape. But
their next expedient compelled an evacuation; for they
brought bags of gunpowder, and threw them upon the red-
hot ashes. Delay would have been certain suffocation—so
out we rushed. The burning wood terribly marred our
ban-, feet, but it was no time to think of trifles. Jumping
the parapet, we were in the thick of the rabble in an in-
stant; we fired a volley, and ran a-muck with the bayonet.
Seven of our number succeeded in reaching the bank of the
river, and we first threw in our guns and then ourselves.
The weight of ammunition we had in: our pouches carried
us under the water ; while we were thus submerged, we
escaped the first volley that they fired. We slipped off the
belts, rose again, and swam ; and by the time they had
loaded a second time, there were only heads for
them to aim at. I turned round, and saw the banks of the
river thronged with the black multitude, yelling, howling,
and firing at us ;. while others of their party rifled the
bodies of the six poor fellows we left behind. Presently
two more were shot in the head ; and one private, Ryan,
almost sinking from exhaustion, swam into a sandbank and
was knocked on the head by two or three ruffians waiting
to receive him. These villians had first promised Lieu-
tenant Delafosse and private Murphy that if they would
come to the shore they should be protected, and have food
given to them. They were so much inclined to yield that
they made towards the bank, but suddenly and wisely
altered their determination. Infuriated with disappoint-
ment, one of them threw his club at Delafosse ; but in the
height of his energy lost his balance and fell into deep
water ; the other aimed at Murphy, and struck him on the
head. For two or three hours we continued swimming ;
often changing our position, and the current helping our
progress. At length our pursuers gave up the chase ; a
sower on horseback was the last we saw of them."

To Cuba and Back. By R. N. Dana, jun., author
of " Two Years before the Mist," &c. Smith

and Elder.

This account of a vacation voyage by the author
of " Two Years before the Mast," is likely to
attract many readers. He gives a clear and well
written account of his residence in the island, and
of his impressions of the people and system of go-
vernment. In the first chapter some of his old
recollections of a naval life are evident.
By night, I walk deck for a couple of hours with the
young captain. After due inquiries about his family in
Georgia, and due remembrance of those of his mother s
lino whom we loved, and the public honoured, before the
grave or the sea closed over them, the fascinating topic
of the navy, the frigates and the line-of-battle ships and
little sloops, the storms, and wrecks, and sea-fights fill up
the time. He loves the navy still, and has left it with re-
gret ; but the navy does not love her sons as they love her.
On the quarter-deck at 15, the first in rank of his year,
favoured by his commanders, with service in the best ves-
sels, making the great fleet cruise under Morris, taking
part in the actions of the Naval Brigade on shore in Cali-
fornia, serving on the Coast Survey, a man of science as
well as a sailor,—yet what is there before him, or those
like him, in our navy ? Tho best must continue a subal-
tern, a lieutenant, until he is grey. At fifty, he may be
entitled to his first command, and that of a class below a
frigate ; and if he survives the African fevers and the Isth-
mus fevers, and the perils of the sea, he may totter on the
quarter-deck of a line-of-battle ship when his skill is out
of date, and his capacity for further command problemati-
cal. And whatever may be the gallantry of the merihtliomf
his service, though he may cut off his right hand or pluck
out his eye' for the country's honour, the navy can give
no promotion, not even a barren title of brevet, ner a badge
of recognition of merit, though it be but a star, or
a half
yard of blue ribbon. The most meritorious officers receive
large offers from civil life; and then, it is home, family,
society, education of children, and pecuniary
theecun navy,iarycolmespseteanndcyleosns
the one side, and on the other, only
attractive as middle life draws on.

The curious old buildings and narrow streets and
the strange vehicles which greet him on his arrival,
are described. The stately Spanish titles over the
little shops por mayor y menor give him, he tells
us, a Gil-Blas-Don•Quixote feeling. The Cubans
have a taste for grandiloquent names. They name
the shops after the sun, moon, and stars, after gods'
and goddesses, fruits and flowers. The wards of
jails and hospitals are each known by some desig-
nation, and even the twelve guns in the Mons are
called after the Apostles. Every town has the
name of some saint or sacred subject. Tho full
title of Havana in honour of Columbus
is San
Cristabal de la Habana. It is curious that the

island itself which has received the successive de-
signations of Juana, Ferdinand, Santiago, and Ave
Maria from its rulers, should still preserve its
Indian name of Cuba. On arriving at an hotel in
company with some other passengers the author
complains of the feeling of discouragement which a
traveller unaccustomed to the tropics experiences
from the indifference and want of attention of
every one about. At length he learns from a
Spanish lad in charge of one part of the establish-
ment, that " things which we cannot do without
we must go out of the house to find, and those which
we can do without.we must dispense with." On
this hint the travellers act, and uniting their scraps
of information contrive as best they can. While in
Havana he sees a melancholy sight—
Saturday, February 19.—There are streaks of a clear
dawn; it is nearly six o'clock, the cocks are crowing, and
the drums and trumpets sounding. We have been told of
sea-baths, cut in the rock, near the Punta; at the foot of out
Pasco. I walk down, under trees, towards the Presidio.
What is this clanking sound ? Can it he cavalry marching
on foot, their sabres rattling on the pavement ? No ; it
comes from that crowd of poor-looking creatures who are
forming in files in front of the Presidio. It is the chain-
gang Poor wretches ! I come nearer to them, and wait
until they are formed and numbered Ad marched off.
Each man has an iron band rivetted round his ankle,
and another round his waist ; and the chain is fastened,
one end into each of these bands, and dangles be-
tween them, clanking with every movement. This leaves
the wearers free to use their arms, and, indeed, their whole
body, it being only a weight and a badge and a note for
discovery, from which they cannot rid themselves. It is
kept on them day and night—working, eating, or sleeping.
In some cases, two are chained together. They have passed
their night in the Presi do (the great prison and garrison),
and are marshalled for their day's toil in the public streets
and 'on the public works, in the; heat of the sun. They
look thoroughly wretched. Can any of these be political
offenders ? It is said that Carlists, from Old Spain, worked
in this gang. Sentence to the Chain-gang in summer, in
the case of a foreigner, must be nearly certain death.

He visited many plantations, and acquired much
information respecting them. On one large sugar
plantation he conversed with the engineer, who
told hint that the crop this year was a favourable
one, which would yield in well-managed planta-
tions a net interest of from 15 to 25 per cent. on
the investment ; but the risks are great, as the
cane-fields are liable to fires which spread with
great rapidity and are difficult to extinguish. Last
year Mr. C-, the owner of this plantation, lost
7,000 dols. in a few hours by fire, and 12,000 dols.
in a few days by cholera among the negroes. Mr.
Dana gives an interesting description of the sugar
culture and cane crushing. Labour is so valuable
in Cuba that a citizen will give four hundred dol-
lars for the chance of enforcing eight years labour
from a Coolie, who is bound for that period, and
to whom he is obliged to pay four dollars a month,
though the Coolies hold suicide to be a virtue, and
if subjected to corporal punishment frequently
escape from their troubles in that fashion. Mr.
Dana gives a fearful picture of the Grand Camel of
Havana. He says that no man whose notions are
derived from an 'English or American penitentiary
of the last fifty years, can form an idea of the great
Cuban prison. It would, of course, be impossible
to write of Cuba without treating of the slave
trade, and consequently Mr. Dana gives us full
particulars of the general management. He advises
the visitor to trust neither to anecdotes or general
statements, for he says there is no end to both
statement and anecdote on each side. If he can-
not get a full and lengthened personal experience,
he had better trust to reasonable deductions from
established facts. The established facts are that
one race, having all povier in its hands, holds an
inferior race in slavery; that this bondage exists
in cities, in populous neighbourhoods, an in re-
mote districts; that the owners are human beings
of tropical races, that the slaves are human beings
just emerging from barbarism, and that no small
part of this power is exercised by a low-lived and
low-minded class of intermediate agents. What
is likely to be the effect on all the parties to this
system, judging from all we know of human
nature ?" The descriptions of the scenery, the
voyage, and all the little incidents of travel, are
written with force and spirit. We commend this
volume to the notice of those who wish to acquaint
themselves with the mysteries of sugar plantations
and life in the tropics.

MAJOR RHODES' CU.RVILINEAR
TENTS.

(From the United Service gazette).

Two of these tents have been pitched'in front of
the Garrison Hospital at Chatham, for the purpose
of testing their durability and adaptation to mili-
tary uses; one is called the hospital, and the other
a field tent. .The hospital tent is 30 feet long, 15
wide, and 10 high, and can conveniently.accommo-
date twenty patients. It has the form of a long
oval, and when the patients lie down on each side
of the tent, there is sufficient space left in the
middle for a passage ; it is occupied by invalids and
they speak very highly of it. The atmosphere is
pure and wholesome, and although the heat has been
excessive, the tent has been cool and comfortable.
The tents differ essentially in their construction
from the Line-encampment tents ; the principal
support does not consist in the tent poles, but in
ribs, the upper parts of which are flexible, thus
forming a vaulted frame, over which the covering
is placed. The manner of pitching is this : a ground
line is laid down, giving the bare plan of the tent.
It is provided with eyes or openings, through
which the bottom ends of the ribs are passed on
being fixed into the earth—the upper parts of the
ribs are then inserted into the hollows of a head-
piece bent towards each other, and being thus
secured, the frame-work of the tent is ready. After
fastening of the storm lines, the entire tent is com-
plete; since the tent has been up, it has been well
tried by three storms, violent in their character, the
wind blowing strong gales. The tent has withstood
the blasts admirably, and the inmates felt no
effects from the rain or lightning and thunder. The
interior of the tent has been perfectly dry, and as
the tent has a vaulted roof there is no lodgment for
any water. Major-General Eyre, and other officers
belonging to the garrison have visited the tents,
and Dr. Andrew Maclean, Surgeon Major Ist Depot
Battalion, who has paid much attention to them,
has reported very favourably of their merits to the
Inspector-General of Hospitals, J. R. Taylor, C.B.
There is another advantage in these tents ; they
contain an arm-rack, composed of two short ropes
(each about six inches in length), having a loop and
wooden toggel or pin at alternate ends ; these ropes
aro fixed to the canvas sides of the tent at about
three feet off the ground, but at the juncture of that
part of the canvas which touches the ribs, so that
by placing the butt-end of two muskets on the inside
curtain at, or close against the butt-end of the rib
which has been forced into the ground, and by cir-
culating round the top end of the barrels the two
short ropes, and then fastening the latter, the mus-
kets are securely and handily placed upright
against the sides of the tent. The accoutrements
can be hung over the ropes, between the canvas of
the tents and the barrels of the muskets. The out-
side covering of these tents is of unbleached cotton.
There is another canvas covering inside, blue and
white striped, the ingress of heat and cold is by
these means very muc moderated. 7n the upper
atnhderecloasreedveanttiplaletasinugre;holes,
b y
means the atmosphere of the tent can be kept can part bet. opened ne d ark
per-
fectly pure ; indeed, the tents are spoken very highly
of on every ground, and have particularly elicited
the encomiums of officers conversant with camping
of troops. Owing to the large expanse of the inte-
rior and head room, soldiers can stand upright in
the Rhodes' tents, which is more than can be done
in any others. We are glad to see that the highly
respectable houses of S. W. Silver and Co., Corn-
hill, and Isaac, Canipbell, and Co., the army
clothiers, have taken upon themselves the wholesale
manufacture of these tents, and there can be no doubt
that they will soon supersede all other kinds.
It is the intention of the authorities to practise
the whole of the troops in Dublin in camp life and
field drill as much as possible during thteoprreemseainnt
season. The 2d battalion of the Scots
Guards Fusilier
nt
intmarchedo the
e country, from thewh
where
r rtahge hy
were Cam p on Mon-
day
in the new (French style of) tents d'abri for three
days, and afterwards return to camp. A second
regiment will adopt the same plan next Monday,
and so on until all are practised.

On Tuesday Mdlle. Guarducei was married at
the church of the Immaculate Conception, Dublin, to the
eldest son of the Duke de Cirella of Naples, and the same
evening took the leading part in 64 La Favorite " at the
Theatre Royal. Mdlle. Titiens was the principal brides-
maid at the marriage.
THE MAIL' SERVlCE.—According to a Post-office
notice issued yesterday, mails for Australia, New Zealand,
Mauritius Bombay, America, Newfoundland, and Bermuda,
will be made up in the General Post-office to-day ;actor,
Canada, on Tuesday; for the West Indies, PactirfieTia,liel w
Portugal, and America, on Wednesday; for 8_
and Newfoundland next Friday ; and i
Zealand, Mauritius, and Bombay, on TlTrsdaAy Australia,
h inst. Mails from the
Alexandria, and Malta, on the 20tt
the Calcutta,l° rA
meriChina,ca
General Post-office
Pacific and West Indies are due at
Ame-
rica, China, 'Calcutta, Alex
on Tuesday • from Canada,
Alexandria,an and Malta on Friday.
day ; and from Bombay,ned;r:Waenddnemsdeart&fornomThm.s-yeranicadtAheusUtraniltieand States
mail and the
Indian is to take out the C ana-
mail of this evening ,
instant;
and the Ariel the United
dian mail of the 16th
h.
oTfhtehißs impoonrthisntog, take ohuetetteheemßeormAbma
Ship mails arc to be made up on
the steamer
board for New York mail
of
the
Ik7tan'd Boston, to be sent
• for New York, to be sent by the steamer
City of Washington
on the 17th inst., and by the steamer
• for Gibraltar, by
Bavaria,
on thA 18th inst. , the steamer
ES ttantaesto_niorrow ,
Gibraltar, on the 20th instant; for Gibraltar, Genoa, and
Leghorn, by the steamer Boetia to-day ; for Lisbon, by the
steamer Minho, on the 17th inst. ; for Lisbon, Cadiz, Moga-
' dor, and Canary Islands, by the steamer Amazon, Sept. 1;
for Malta and Constantinople, by the steamer African,, on
the 17th inst. ; and by the steamer Damascus, on the 27th
inst., and for Melbourne and New Zealand by the steamer
Royal Bride, on the 25th inst.

LAW INTELLIGENCE.-(THIS DAY.)

SECONDARIES' COURT.
(Before Mr. Potter and a jury.)

SINGULAR STREET ACCLDENT-ABRAHAMS V. APPLEBY.

This was a writ of inquiry to assess the damages (laid at
£100) sustained by plaintiff, a dressmaker, under the fol-
lowing circumstances.
Mrs. Abrahams said that on the Bth December last she
was walking in Great Cromer-street. When passing de-
fendant's house witness stepped upon the round coal shoot.
The shoot sprang up went some yards into the street, and
witness's leg was so much injured that she was confined to
her bed for ten weeks, suffering much agony. During the
whole of those ten weeks witness (whose average earnings
are 255. per week) could not follow her ordinary occupation,
and was a severe sufferer in a pecuniary point of view.
Witness was much shaken by the shock, and her mind
slightly affected. Defendant keeps an oil shop.
The surgeon who attended plaintiff deposed that Mrs.
Abraham's leg was very much injured and the shin bone
exposed. She suffered from inflammatory fever for one
fortnight. Witness attended her for four months.

Defendant suffered judgment to go by default, and Mr.
Langford for plaintiff contended that these coal shoots
were illegal though connived at and tolerated. If parties would
-have them they were bound to keep them secure, and if
through neglect parties were injured the owners of the
shoots must pay. In addition to plaintiff's personal loss
the cl actor's bill was £l6 is.

The learned Secondary said the party did not wilfully
leave the shoot open, but it was left open and he was
answerable. The jury would say the amount of damage to
be awarded.

The jury found for plaintiff,:damages, £3310s ; being £l6
the doctor's bill, and £5 for plaintiff's suffering, £l2 10s
loss of time and money.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.-(THIS DAY.

MARLBOROUGH-STREET.

SINGULAR APPLICATION FOR PROTECTION.—A tall,
middle-aged man, stepping into the witness-box, said he
wanted his worship's advice. He said—Five days after I
was married, your worship, my wife bit me through the

Mr. Bingham —That is a strange way of showing
affection.

Applicant—lt was not affection, but because 1 made an
admission to her that I had a little family of three—the
youngest being about twelve.

Mr. Bingham—You should have told her before you were
married.

Applicant—My dear, affectionate, and ancient friend—
(laughter)—l took the first favourable opportunity, but
she at once pitched into me, and, my dear sir, only just
look here—l'm bruised here, there, and everywhere, be-
hind and before, top and bottom. (Laughter.) I'm not
a " snob" or a tailor, that sits at his work all day, and can
hide his marks, but I'm a pen••dealer, and go into respec •
table shops ; and (in a very appealing way), my dear sir,
look at me, see how disfigured I am. She has also de-
spatched one of my girls.
Mr. Bingham—What, killed her ? (Laughter.)
Applicant—Oh no, sent her away. She's caused my son
to enlist and made him lead another away.
Mr. Bingham—Sometimes these attacks are marks of
endearment, but I think not in this case, and I will protect
you from your Amazonian rib. You can have a summons—
Applicant (interrupting)—Oh dear, it must be done at
once, my dear friend. I can't go back.
Mr. Bingham—Then you can have a warrant.

Applicant (leaving the court)—Thank you, my dear
friend.

THAMES.

NARROW ESCAPE PROM DROWNING.—Anna Gegen, a
woman of the town, was changed with attempting to com-
mit suicide in the London Dock.

Mr. Stephen Warren Devereux, a master baker carrying
on business in High-sireet, Shadwell, stated that he was
passing over the new Gravel-lane-bridge, Shadwell, and
saw the prisoner, who was in a very excited and drunken
condition, jump over the railings close to him. He caught
her by her clothes as she was going over, pulled her back
and remonstrated with her. She then commenced beating
her companion, a female who was with her. He was
leaving the bridge not suspecting she would make another
attempt, when she sprung to the railings a second time,
and before she could be prevented plunged into the lock,
the waters of which are upwards of 22 feet in depth. He
raised an alarm, but before any assistance could be ren-
dered she sunk. The water was very dark and dirty, and
the dock watchman, who had a long hitcher or pole with a
hook at the end of it, could not see the prisoner. He
directed the watchman to the spot where the prisoner had
disappeared, and he put down the hitcher and brought her
up. She was quite insensible, and on being brought on
shore it was some time before she could be resuscitated.
The prisoner was very much intoxicated when she threw
herself into the water.

A police constable said that many women of the class
called unfortunate had thrown themselves into the water
at the same place, and several had been drowned.

_ .
The prisoner, who was much dejected, was remanded
until Wednesday next.

Tills DAY'S MARKETS.

CORN EXCHANGE.

To-day's market was very scantily supplied with all
kinds of English wheat, the general quality of which was
tolerably good. The attendance of millers was limited, yet
on the whole the trade ruled firm, and Monday's Prices
were fully supported.
The show of foreign wheat was extensive. Good and
fine samples sold steadily, other kinds slowly, on former
terms.

The inquiry for floating cargoes of grain off Falmouth
was trifling.
There was very little doing in the barley trade, at late
quotations.

Malt changed hands slowly. In prices, however, we
have no alteration to report.

Considering the heavy importations from abroad, the oat
trade ruled steady.

Beans, peas, and flour sold at Monday's currency.

ARRIVALS THIS }SEEK
Wheat. Barley Malt. Oats. Flour.
Irish
—— i
Fereign 9,010 r I 2
1,590 1 ; 35,560 i B6O sks
1 1 bls