The Sun.
London, England, 1857-05-25 00:00:00

rHE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, MA Y QS, 1857

ther in their palace at Westminster. At any rate
for that interval Ministers are well rid of the bore,
the worry, the bugbear, the nuisance, of Reform.
ARE they ? That—we fancy—rema'ins yet to be
seen !

For—while Ministers are " laying this flatter-
ing unction to their souls"—Have they not glar-
ing► upon them that horrible bug gaboo threat of
Mr. BERKELEY ?—The Ballot immediately after
Whitsuntide ! It is not, consequently, after all,
such perfectly smooth sailing for " The Pilot that
weathered the Storm" of the General Election so
triumphantly the other day--the gallant old
Skipper PALMERSTON now at the, helm of the good
ship Britannia ? Skipper and ship are both
getting fast into rather difficult navigation. The
vessel itself will comb through it, it is safe to come
through it, somehow. But—How about the Skip•
per ? That—we take it, is a very different ques-
tion. . . . Happily on board the Vessel of
the State, Persons are not requested Not to Speak
to the Man at the Wheel I Constitutionally, we
have not any such prohibition. And, therefore,
• the Member for Bristol, according to his annual
custom, is—going to put a very pertinent question
(perhaps some may deem it a very im-pertinent
question under the circumstances—seeing that
Reform generally has been with pretty general
consent given the go by for 1857—Mr. BERKELEY,
we say, is going to submit a very pertinent ques-
tion to the man at the wheel and his mates collec-
tively. The Ballot—" That is the Question."
And it is a question fast coming upon us—as soon
as possible, in fact, after Whitsuntide.
Now, there is no doubt whatever about This—
That the Newly-elected House of Commons is
essentially a Reforming House of Commons. It
is a House of Commons in which the liberal
Reformers have notoriously gained an immense
majority. More than this—it is a House in which
the Advocates of the Ballot have obtained a very
considerable increase numerically. Consequently
—lf Hon. Members are true to their Con-
stituents, there is a tolerably fair prospect of
Mr. BERKELEY'S motion having this time at its
back a rather large body of supporters ! Remem-
ber, however, that it is a promise dependent en-
tirely upon that one essential proviso. A highly
important, but at the same time an exceedingly
precarious condition iudeed—" If Hon. Members
are true to their Constituents !" Will they be
so ? A very few days will now clearly demon-
strate—to those constituencies. It will be seen
how far hustings promises may be relied on. It
will be seen, so that those who run may read it.
How, and where ? Simply, let us repeat
again, what we said as plainly as words
could say, anything in our impression of
Saturday evening. In the Division List upon
• Mr. BERKELEY'S motion soon after Whitsuntide !
In the "Votes" and in the "Pairs"—For and
Against. And (what will probably be still more
significant) in the list (very likely the long list)
of Non-Attendants ! Under any circumstances,
the Test will now be applied promptly and directly
to the New House of Commons, in regard to the
most important of all Reforms—the Ballot. And
that test having been so applied in 1857, we
shall know at once how we stand in regard to that
Question. We shall know how Lord PALMERSTON
regards it, how his Government regards it, how
the House regards it. And we hope the last
mentioned will then act accordingly-. If true to
itself—we do not think we are talking at random
when we say that we conceive the Ballot to be
already in its grasp. "If true to itself," observe.
In which event it will matter nothing to any
true Reformer (either in the House or out of the
House) under whose administration The Ballot
may be ultimately obtained. Supposing Lord PAL-
MERSTON to be still obdurately averse to it, the
New House of Commons, the Liberal and fte-

forming, and Pro-Ballot House of Commons may,
if it so pleases it, replace the Noble Viscount

with some more energetic and enlightened Admi-
nistrators.

The opinion of Parliament, as to the gross in-
justice of the mode of assessing and levying rates,
for the relief of the metropolitan poor will be for-
mally taken on Thursday next. The Honourable
Gentleman the Member for the Tower Hamlets
has given notice of motion, that he will on that
day move for the appointment of a Select Com-
mittee to inquire and report on that important
subject. Mr. AYRTON could scarcely have selected
a better topic whereon "to flesh his maiden
sword." The magnitude of the grievance is uni-
versally admitted, even by those who profit by
its continuance ! None can defend the social
But unfortunately there is by no
means equal unanimity as to the nature or extent
of the remedial measures that ought to be adopt-
ed. There can be but little doubt any change
that could receive the legislative sanction would
be an improvement. But it is exceedingly de-
sirable that just principles should be established
in the first instance. "Melius est petere fontes,
quam sectari rivulos." The quotation is hack-
neyed, but that merely proves its indisputable
truth and perfect accuracy. We may patch up
and mend, but the entire edifice requires recon-
struction, which sooner or later must be under-
taken, and therefore the sooner we grapple with
all the existing difficulties, the better for all parties
concerned.

nuisance.

The Act of ELIZABETH, which first gave the
poverty of the nation a legal claim for relief on
its property, provided that the charge should be
a burden on cell; that every man should con-
tribute according to his ability; and there was
no legislative distinction between real and per-
sonal estate. There was, however, but little
personal property in those days, and as that
which existed was easily concealed, and the
attempt to compel it to contribute its due quota
gave rise to many fraudulent evasions and much
discreditable and costly litigation, it was gradually
abandoned, but merely as a matter of convenience,
not of right. In the leading case of REX v.
MAST (6 T. It., 156), the then Chief Justice,
Lord KENYON, clearly and distinctly laid down
the law. He said " That the assessment for the
relief of the poor ought to be so contrived that
each inhabitant should contribute in proportion to
his ability, which is to be ascertained by his pos-
sessions in the parish. Every inhabitant ought
to be rated according to the present value of his
estate, whether it continue of the same value as
when he purchased it, or whether the estate
be rendered more valuable by the improvements
which he has made upon it. If a person choose
to keep his property in money, and the fact
of his possessing it be clearly proved, he is
rateable for that ; but if he prefer using it in
the melioration of an estate or other property,
he is rateable for the same in another shape."
This rule has never been impeached by the de-
cision of a Court of Justice. It, in fact, re-
ceives legislative recognition every session by
the passing of the annual "Stock in Trade
Exemption Act," which, like the Mutiny Act, has
become a formal standing dish with Parliament.
An organised opposition to this bill would enforce
speedy attention, and the passing of a bill framed
in a large and comprehensive spirit.
We would earnestly invite the attention of those
desirous of arriving at a fair and unprejudiced

decision on the subject, to an able brochure of
Mr. G. L. HumuNsorr, who has clearly and dis-
tinctly explained the injustice and impolisy of the
existing system. That gentleman's cogent rea-
soning has never been and never can be answered.
He shows the nature and extent of the prevailing
evils, and also the suitable remedies. If adopted,
there would be a considerable saving of expense
to the entire nation. The enormous costs occa-
sioned by parochial litigation, and the heavy ex-
penses attendant on removals, would be efficiently
relieved, while there would be fewer demands, as
every " shuttlecock pauper" could carry his labour
to the beat market, where the supply and demand
were better proportioned. But there is one great
impediment to obtaining these great desiderata.
There are wealthy and inflential parties interested
in keeping up the inequitable and unwise prac-
tice. Great landlords, who, holding entire parishes
or districts in their own hands, can prevent the
labourers, whose services they require, from ob-
taining position within the charmed circle. It
is obvious, however, that the same number of
perscns must still be relieved, and in the most
costly and expensive form. And we simply
ask why should wealthy and influential parties be
enabled to transfer the burdens from their own
shoulders to those less able to sustain them 7
why should the poorest rate-payers be compelled
pay the highest rates 7—which is almost in-
variably the case.
The first attention therefore should be to
equalise the rates, not merely for the metropolis,
but for the entire kingdom. It would practically
amount to the same point, so far as metropolitan pay-
ments were concerned. With judicious administra-
tion and the complete abolition of the iniquitous law
of Settlement, we believe that little more than is.
in the pound would be required throughout the
entire country, and that would be reduced to 6d.
if personal property was made liable for its fair
proportion. Much required sanitary ameliorations
might then be carried out, without obstructions
that at present are frequently insurmountable, and
St. George's, Hanover-square, and St. James's,
Westminster, might be improved without any
addition to the already overwhelming burdens of
Bermondsey or Bethnal-green.
We believe that no opposition will be offered
to the stringent investigation now demanded. Let
it, however, not be limited to a single district,
but general in its operation, and thus will effectual
relief be obtained for the entire kingdom, and a
serious reproach be removed from the national
escutcheon.

The attention of the representative branch of the
Legislature was on Friday evening very properly
directed to a serious outlay incurred, not only
without the sanction of Parliament, but even
without its opinion being in any degree asked on
the subject. "The German Legionaries," who
never saw a shot fired in anger, were indeed highly
favoured, having been treated with far greater
liberality and generosity than our own gallant
countrymen who had borne the brunt of the war
and freely sustained heavy labours, and incurred
formidable risks, for the safety, honour, and wel-
fare of our Sovereign Lady the QtrEEN and her
dominions. But, unfortunately, neither JACK,
SANDY, nor PAT had friends at Court, they had no
backstairs influence working in their favour. It is
true that they had, or with due encouragement
might have had, English, Scotch, or Irish wives
or sweethearts, willing to share their fortunes in
the distant laad of promise, and to keep up the
remembrance of Fair Albion, Green Erin, or
Bonnie Scotland in their border homes, aye,
and their allegiance to the savanztax of the
United Kingdom. In place of that, a body were
selected who participated in the wide-spread doc-
trine of Germanism, that "England was only to
be valued for her money," who would greedily
take what they could get, and give as little
as possible in return. But German hus-
bands for high and low was the prevailing
mania ; and why should not our own dear lassies
follow in the fashion, about to be set by " the
daughter of England ? "
It was originally intended that the whole Legion,
some 8,000 in number, should profit by the offer. '
The expense thus undertaken without the sanc-
tion of Parliament would therefore have amounted,
at an average of 1001. for each military emigrant
—a by no means extravagant estimate —to
800,0001. sterling, and on this the quasi guar-
dians of the national purse were not allowed
to say a single word. There was the sic vo/o
sic jubeo of the secret and irresponsible
Premier's War Secretary and Chancellor of the
Exchequer, and the nominal holders of these im-
portant offices were only to carry out the orders
they received, and to tell the House and the
Country that it was their duty to vote, and to
pay the sums which princely liberality had be-
stowed on German recipients..

As to the notion that these Germans will act
as an efficient protection against Caffre aggression,
we must be permitted to retain the doubts to which
we long since, on the first mention of the project,
gave expression—" Quis custodiet ipso eustodes?"
Who shall guard against these very guards them-
selves? It seems to us that they will be far more
likely to fraternise with the discontented boers, and
should they again take into their heads to rise
against British supremacy, they would be more
likely to obtain effectual assistance than serious
opposition from those very dear legionaries, who
have cost 100/. per man to send to the spot.
As to the Caffres, we believe, that the Germans
even if well disposed would be by no means
so efficient. We should far rather rely on
the mingled dash and prudence of our own
countrymen. The Caffres are a restless body,
and they should be met with their own weapons.
If they steal the cattle of the colonists • there
should be ample reprisals. For each head stolen
there should be two at least taken in return, and
the suggestion that a Caffre corps should be
formed, which fell from Colonel SYKES, is well
wortby of consideration. The colony should learn
to defend itself, and with suitable means. Proper
reprisals would be the best mode, and let not any
spurious philanthropy interfere therewith. We
believe that the Cape authorities, if taught that
they should set their own shoulders to the wheel,
in place ~)f praying to the British Hercules, would
take better care of their own interests, that there
would be far less suffering, while we would be
spared. the periodical demands for some two or
three •millions every two or three years, to be
levied, from the already over-taxed inhabitants of
the United Kingdom. At all events, what
has been done with respect to the German
Legion was not the best or most constitutional
mode of remedying the evil. And the British
Parliament should unequivocally resist every
similar invasion of its unquestionable prerogative,
which may suit German notions, but are by no
means calculated for the meridian of the Imperial
Palace at Westminster.

"M. Auguste Thurneyssen, director of the Cr6dit
Mobilier, and his sons," says the Ddbats, "are in no
way counected in the affairs of M. Charles Thurneyssen,
except as creditors for a very important amount."—The
bankrupt, it is believed, has left for America, and taken
with him two of his children, leaving the other two with
his wife at Paris. His extradition is to be demanded.
His flight continues t 5 create an immense sensation at
the Bourse.

LATEST NEWS.

The Moniteur de la Flotte announces that the
East India Company have taken possession of the
island of Perim, at the entrance of the Red Sea,
and which is in the middle of the Strait of Babel-
mandel. The British flag was hoisted there on the
14th of February by the Company's troops, and
the occupation is definitive. The following is the
cause assigned :—Two years since an English ship,
which was shipwrecked on the coast of Berbera,
was pillaged by the natives. The East India Com-
pany having applied to the chiefs of the Saumalis
for satisfaction, they showed every disposition to do
so, but all their efforts were unavailing. They
were summoned to Aden to discuss the matter with
the Resident, and, as it was proved that they were
unable to defend ships from pirates, a treaty was
concluded, containing a clause by which it is stated
that the Company will occupy the island of Perim,
and place a garrisor. there to protect ships navi-
gating that sea. The island of Perim, which
was first occupied in 1784, is situated between
Arabia and Africa, on the very point at which the
Red Sea commences, and it divides the strait into
two channels. The passage to the east, on the side
of Arabia, is only 3 miles wide; that to the west, on
the African side, is sbout 10 or 12. On the south-
west, towards the widest entrance to the straits,
the island forms one of the finest ports imaginable.
It is a mile in length and half a mile in breadth,
and the depth varies from 7to 25 fathoms. The
anchorage is excellent, the entrance is perfectly
sheltered, and it is no exaggeration to say that 40
ships of the line might easily anchor there in smooth
water 100 yards from the shore. A few ships of war
stationed there will be sufficient hermetically to close
the entrance to the Red Sea. Aden is placed in a
position much less favourable, for that port is 100
miles from the strait, and the reason it was chosen,
20 years since, was that, although it possesses few
resources, it has more than the island of Perim.
There is water to be had at Aden by means of cis-
terns, and there are seasons of the year when the
aqueducts can receive the torrents which flow from
the neighbouring hills. The island of Perim, on
the contrary, is absolutely devoid of everything ; it
has not a drop of water ; its sandy and volcanic
soil produces only some stunted and dusty briars.
It is uninhabited, and everything must be brought
from without. It would appear from a first view to
be a position little desirable, but, on consideration,
it is easy to understand why the Company has made
this acquisition, and why the British Government
attaches so much importance to it. It is now clear,
when the Isthmus of Suez is about to be opened,
that the Red Sea cannot fail to become the great
commercial road between Europe and Asia. It is
not necessary to erect any fortifications on the
island of Perim. Aden is sufficiently near to
supply all that may be required. But Aden, strong
as it is, does not absolutely command the strait, and
the largest fleets might pass without danger be-
tween Aden and the coast of Africa. On the other
hand, nothing can pass the island of Perim without
the permission of those who are its masters. A
detachment of artillery of the Indian army has
been stationed there provisionally. A temporar y
arsenal and fortifications have been erected, and
supplies of all description have been brought from
Aden for the garrison which is to occupy that de-
solate station.

FRANCE.
PARIS, SUNDAY EVENING.
The Grand Duke Constantino has definitively bid
farewell to Paris, and Prince Napoleon has re-
turned. The Moniteur of to-day informs the
public of the latter fact. Whether the Prince
feels regret at not havingshared in the "humours"
of Villeneuve l'Etang or the festivities of Fon-
tainebleau is more than I know. What is certain
is, that soon after the Grand Duke left the Prince
returned.

The Journal des Debats announces that the rati-
fication of the treaty of peace between Great
Britain and Persia has arrive" at Constantinople,
and contrary to the assertion of the ord, of
Brussels, it contains no reservation.
All the visitors at the Palace of Fontainebleau
took leave of the Emperor and Empress yesterday.
Their Majesties received, during the afternoon,
the different public bodies of the town of Fontaine-
bleau, together with the officers of the garrison.
The Emperor and Empress will arrive at the
Tuileries this afternoon.

The great bodies of the State, together with the
functionaries presente I at previous receptions, will
be received by the Emperor at 9 o'clock to-morrow
afternoon.

BounsE, May 23.—The market rallied towards
the close, when the following were the last quo-
tations

Cash. fr. C. End of Month.
44 per Cents
3 per Cents 6B 85 91 80
Bank Shares 4 475
,

.
ailliitMobilier 1,250 Roman
Do. Account 1,260 Austrian
Belgian 14
Piedmontese (5) 9O 25 Home Debt
RAILWAYS—FOB, CAB&
fr. c. tr c.
Orleans 1,465 --Western
Northern
Lyons 1,4774 New Ditto
Mediterranean 1,800 Grand Central
Geneva
Midi

THE ROYAL ACADEMY.

FOURTH NOTICE.

ilia year in the Royal
Tilt Portraits exhibited
Academy Collection, without being, as we have
said, in any instance very remarkable, are gene-
rally speaking, more than usually meritorious. We
have scarcely anything left now of the etceteras of
that abominable " Gentleman" who has smirked '
at the public so long, season after season, under
the shade of an almost impossible Pillar (consider-
ing that be was obviously either Styles or Stokes,
certainly not by any means either Cesar or Napo-
leon) and that highly improbable Red Curtain—that
looked as much out of place as Red Curtains would
look "flopping and snapping" in the raw air between
the columns of the Portico of St. Martin's-in-the-
Fields ! Photography—there is no mistake about
it—has given the portrait painters a step in ad-
vance as to the probabilities, and therefore as to
the vraisemblance ; this step in advance being
principally observable among the mediocrities. Not
by any means a mediocrity is the gifted French
Painter, E. Boutibonne, who, last season, won the
admiration of the discerning by his exquisite
miniature equestrian portraits of the Emperor Na-
poleon 111. and the Empress Eugenie—Pictures
announced as " the property of her Majesty the
Queen" in the 1856 Catalogue. Here in
Nos. 15 and 24 are two admirable companion
paintings from the same hand, of the same size, in
the name style : miniature equestrian portraits of
"Her Majesty the Queen" and " H.R.H. Prince
Albert." The last-mentioned very recently the sub-
ject in Punch of a cruel little caricature—" H'm,
a Field-Marshal evidently ! Wonder in what ter-
rible engagement ?" Notwithstanding the horribly
ridiculous appropriateness of the sarcasm—a charm-
ing work of art, nevertheless. An admirable like-
ness of a handsome face—the whole picture full of
animation. The portrait of the Queen, too, is ex-
quisite. One of the most agreeable we have
ever yet witnessed. In No. 51 will be at once
recognised by the thousands who know his
features familiarly by this time one of the first and
foremost among all living geologists, " Sir Roderick
Impey Murchison." Grant's life-like portraiture
of " The Marquis of Lansdowne" (No. 70) will be
perused with interest by the numerous admirers of
that Nestor of his Party. Close beside this is
Hart's representation of (No. 71) " The Rev. Dr.
Adler, the Chief Rabbi"—our only marvel on
glancing at which is that a Chief Rabbi, and parti-
cularly one with a visage so smugly and smouchely
Hebraic, should ever dream of shaving. Knight's
portrait of " Sir Charles Eastlake," No. SO, would
be a more satisfactory memento of the President (the
catalogue mentions thatit is "presented tothe Royal
Academy" by the artist) did it not give one a very
strong notion indeed that Sir Charles Eastlake had
been crying bitterly before he gave Mr. Knight a
sitting. Sir J. W. Gordon's magic brush has de-
picted in No. 137, "George Combe, author of
The Constitution of Man' "—a head worthy of
containing the brains of a Great Phrenologist !
Another amirable pertrait from the same master-
hand is that of " John Blackwood," No. 546
—with a copy of dear old Maga at his
elbow. A very young looking embodiment
truly of every one's ideal of Blackwood. Yet
—wonderful though it may seem to the
uninitiated—the wielder, nevertheless, of that staff
of Might and sceptre of Power, the crutch of King
Christopher ! Yonder, again, in No. 159, by Eddis,
is the mild, wise, benignant, patriarchal head of
" His Excellency George Dallas, the American Am-1
bassador "—resembling somewhat a blending of the
visage of Mr. Fox, late M.P. for Oldham, and Old
Benjamin Franklin. Yonder, in No. 179, by Mrs.
Carpenter, " Sir Henry Ellis," the predecessor of
Mr. Panizzi, as the British Museum Librarian.
There, in No. 224, by Richmond, is " Vice-Chan-
cellor Kindersley," in full fig, and looking grandly
judicial and yet, somehow, at the same time,
waggishly handsome too. Grant has several fine
portraits according to annual wont in the collec-
tion • among them, this year, No. 452, " Sir James
Scarlett," the heroic leader of the heavy Cavalry
Charge at Balaklava : the brave-hearted knight to
to whom Lord Raglan sent as his greeting after the
charge those simple thrilling words—" Well Done!"
Horsely, in No. 576, depiets "J. K. Brunnel,"
the Great Engineer. Pickersgill, m No. 585.
" Dr. Lyon Playfair," a sort of a philosophic Mr.
Ledbury—plump, smiling, and spectacled. In No.
625, E. E. Tuson has portrayed a face familiar to
us all, that of Major-General Sir William Fenwick
Williams of Kars ---a kind of Professor Anderson,
or Wizard of the North ala militaire. In the
miniature room we come upon a wonderfully cha-
racteristic crayon drawing of the poet-head of " Syd •
ney Dobell," author of the `"The Roman," and
" Balder," or as it is oddly enough misprinted in
the Academy Catalogue, Bolder ! Various other
notabilities are here delineated—but those we have
already enumerated may be taken, in both senses
of the term, by way of illustration.

MR. RUSSELL'S LECTURES ON THE WAR,
AT WILLIS'S BOOMS.

The celebrated " Times' Correspondent," Mr. William
Russell, of the Crimea, of St. Petersburg, and of we
don't know where else besides, began on Saturday
afternoon a repetition of his Three Lectures on the War.
Beginning, of course, as the saying is, with the be-
ginning. Willis's-rooms, King-street, St. James's, as
upon the previous occasion, formed the scene of his pre-
lection. The audience there assembled together being,
as formerly, at once numerous and fashionable. The
first lecture closed, equally, as a matter of course, with
a description of the First Victory. And although the
delivery of this instalment of the narrative occupied the
principal portion of two hours—between 3 and 5 p.m.—
Mr. Russell contrived, nevertheless, to keep his hearers
amused throughout—frequently moved to laughter by
his quaint waggeries, occasionally enthralled into almost
breathless interest by the nervous rush of his energetic
and impassioned declamation. He described succes-
sively, in a few terse but sufficiently explanatory sen-
tences, the dawdling of the allied armies at Va-
letta during the whole of the month of April,
1854 (an April the showers of which " were thunder-
storms")—at Gallipoli, during May—at Varna and
Devna during the three or four months following !
Observing rather wittily in regard to the immense cor-
respondence from the camp—[Lord Raglan writing home
reams of pc.per never yet brought to tight, Marshal St.
Arnaud industriously scribbling to the Emperor, to the
Minister of War, to his wife, and it would be difficult to
say to how many more, the pen of the Lecturer himself
not being altogether idle at the same time, as he slyly
and parenthetically intimated]—that an army led by
stationery runs a very great risk of turning out to be a
stationary army ! Admirably characteristic was the
phrase mentioned as having fallen from the lips of Gene-
ral (now Marshal) Bosquet, when first he witnessed the
English forces maneeuvring— Vous, vows, etes troupes de
position, Nous, ROW, sommes troupes d'activite" I That,
indeed, was the precise difference to a nicety. Altoge-
ther, we cannot bat think, however, that the Lecturer
is revealing in these public discourses of his upon the late
War a truculence of tone when speaking of ourgallant allies
and a subs- rviency of manner when addressing a Willis's
Rooms audience about Ourselves—such as few could
ever have anticipated from Mr. Russell, judging him by
his own frank, manly, plain spoken, ever memorable
Correspondence. The allusion made to the personal
appearance of the heroic and chivalrous Canrobert
as though that could have anything to do with either
his merits or demerits as a soldier—seemed to us as
paltry as it was indecorous, we had almost said as mean
as it was indecent. The frequent sneers levelled at the
dauntless Hero of the Alma, Marshal St. Arnaud—who
fought that great battle while he was dying—appeared
even more reprehensible. It was very "small" too—
particularly " small" on the part of Mr. Russell—re-
peating again and again (be seemed to be never tired of
the spiteful repetition) that the French right attack of
the Alma was "supported by the allied ships of war !"
Better than those ungenerous portions of his narrative,
were those (simply because of their coming more
obviously within the range of Good Taste) in which hn
illustrated the prowess of the English according to the
testimony of his own experience of it, as an actual eye
witness, and sometimes as earwitness. Capital was that
voice from the Ranks, that called out (evidently with a
brogue)—When Marshal St. Arnaud pausing in front of
the British Army, before the battle of the Alma com-
menced, said " English, I hope you will fight well to-
day !" Capital, we say, was that Voice from the Ranks
that called out almost indignantly—" Sure you know
we will!" It was quite 'as characteristic of his own
country when the Lecturer spoke of thesoldiery as "de-
voured by thirst," by the time they arrived at the little
stream of the Bulganak. Several of his word-pictures
were really wonderful. Wonderful either for their
humourous extravagance—as when he described his
Italian servant Angelo, as a person endowed with the
extraordinary capacity of becoming invisible whenever
he was wanted ! Or wonderful, for the vivid-
ness of the descriptive power they displayed. This
being evidenced even in mere casual phrases—as when
he spoke of the dump of the cannon-ball into the ground,
of the scream of the shell, or of the shrill shout of the
rocket ! Happiest, however, of all his descriptions, the
most eloquent, the most impassioned, the most inspirit-
ing, was his spoken record of that grand struggle up the
heights of the Alma—first of the gallant Light Division,
and afterwards of the glorious Guards and Highlanders.
The memorable Feat of Arms was described by Mr.
Russell, in every sense of the term, to admiration !

GEORGE CRIIIKSHANK has just Cut a " Slice of
Bread and Butter " which anybody who likes to do so
may at once have the pleasure of devouring. We our-
selves have found it very relishing, taken just with the
least little pinch of salt, or, in other worth, cum, grano
sails. It is—to be plain—in 16 pages with 3 very
Cruikshankian woodcut illustrations—" The Sab4ance
of a Speech delivered at a public meeting, held for
the benefit of the Jews and the General Literary and
Mechanics' Institution." An argument full of earnest
home truths, and of the kindliest feeling for the unfor-
tunate. It is a plea at once for the temperance system,
for the ragged schools, and for the reformatories.
SEAMEN'S HOSPITAL SHIP DREADNOUGHT. .Number
of admisbions last week, 33 ; out-patients ditto, 26.—
Total, 64.

LITERATURE.

A Visa to Salt Lake. By William Chandless.

Smith and Elder.
This book will be attractive to the curious, as it
gives the description of the Mormon settlements by
an eye-witness. The author, who appears to pos-
sess courage and enterprise rare among travellers,
being desirous of crossing the plains to Salt Lake,
started off with a waggon train, as' a teamster, en-
joying the idea of his novel ios lion, and the newand
miscellaneous company he should mix with. His
narrative gives us an entertaining description of his
journey, but the chief interest for most readers will
be found in his description of the Mormons.
The manner of his arrival quire disarmed toe sus-
picions of a people who have been so much written
against that they would most probably regard any
casual traveller as a spy. They gave the author a
good reception, and appear to have left a favour-
able impression on his mind. . He asserts that,
previous to his visit, they were to him but mere
shadows, and that neither bef ire nor since his
return has he read any books on the sub-
ject, being desirous of giving a true and un-
prejudiced account of what he saw there. Many of
them appear to have been sensible intelligent men
according to his description, though how such
should have beeoma converts to Mormonism is
difficult to understand. One man became a mem-
ber for the sage reason that a clergyman in Eng-
land refused to bury a relative without a fee. He,
therefore, as many wiser have done before, thought
that a cause must be in the wrong because its
advocates did not please him, and tried numerous
sects of Dissenters in the hope of finding one con-
ducted without charges. He beard that the ser-
vices of the Mormons were performed gratis, so off
he set without further inquiry. It is amusing to
find that this discontented individual, while declar
ing Mormon doctrine to be right, said that Mor-
mon wages were all wrong. He was a miner and
refused to work for low wages, so lingered on half
supported by charity and half by occasional indus-
try. In Utah wages are scarcely ever paid in money,
and the recipient has to pay a heavy discount be-
fore he can obtain what he requires, for his wages.
A mechanic on a Saturday afternoon receiver, per-
haps, 15 dollars in notes. Money has always been
scarce, and is becoming still more so. The des-
criptions of the domestic life of the Mormons,
though divested of many of the horrors before told of
them, are not very different from former narratives.
The writer, though not, of course, countenancing
their doctrines, seems to intimate that their morals
and customs have been represented as much worse
than they are, and that there is sush a thing as do-
mestic happiness among. them. If any can find
happiness in such circumstances, it is a sufficient
evidence of their degradation. It is humili 'tin to
human nature to see this great body of people,
yearly increasing in number, believing the most
contemptible doctrines, practising the most frightful
principles with apparent moderation and content.
And this large settlement of people, calculated in
1855 to include nearly 15,000 inhabitants, is-not
drawn from remote or savage nations, but from
Europeans and Americans, those who would not be
supposed so readily to abandon the purity of their
faith, the morality of their lives, and the rationality
of their understandings. It is a lesson for the self-
sufficiency of the enlightenel nineteenth century.
The author, on quitting Utah, travelled to Cali-
fornia, and gives us a sketch of the troubled scenes
in San Francisco.

Stories and Sketches. By James Paiii. Smith

and Elder.

This is an entertaining volume with the con-
tents of which many readers of serial literature
have already made acquaintance. The papers, with
two exceptions, have appeared in the pages of
"Household Words" and " Chamberss' Journal."
The stories are interesting and the sketches lively
and numerous. The readers of " Household Words"
will remember the entertaining papers, such as "Ego
et Balbus," which have formed part of its contents,
and will be pleased to meet many of them in this
v.,luine. The writer, though not displaying any
great or ununsal amount of Went, proves himself
to be an intelligent and agreeable writer.

Mind your Stops.
French in a Fortnight.

Five Hundred French Phrases.

Coutteney's Dictionary of Abbreviations.
Reading tSpeaking, and Action.

Holt to Cut and Contrive Children's Clothes.

The Embroidery and Alphabet Sampler Book.
Groombridge and Sons, Paternoster-row.
The above works are a few among a series which
is really remarkable, and which is calculated to be
of more practical utility than many more ambitious
works. Many writer., animated by the laudable
desire of instructing the uneducated of the middling
cles-es, have published works on different blanches
of information, but very frequently they are either
too elaborate for ready comprehension, too expen-
sive for limited means, or, above all, from their
size and pretensions they terrify the indolent and
unstudious reader. These objections cannot be
raised against Mr. Groombridge's little books.
They are so simply written that few would be
puzzled. They are offered at a price that most
persons could afford, and the most idle or ignorant
reader, for idleness and ignorance are very fre-
quently united, need not be dismayed at the time
or trouble demanded for their perusal. The num-
bers mentioned above in small square paper pam-
phlets for sixpence and fourpence each, serve to
give a good general acquaintance with Punctua-
tion, French, Conversation, and Elocution, while
the industrious mother„ of limited means, will
derive the most valuable hints and assistance from
the little book on children's clothes. The dic-
tionary of Abbreviations, too, is likely to be a
useful companion, and the embroidery sampler
b-dok offers extraordinary attractions to busy little
fingers. The juvenile workwoman, besides the
introduction to the old-fashioned marking letters.•
will find pictures and patterns of all kinds and
sizes, with a list'of names for embroidery. It is
quite a fairy gift for little people, and will serve
to employ many a pleasant hour. There are many
other numbers of varying prices, but few of them
out of the reach of persons of moderate means.
Mr. Groombridge deserves to meet with success
and encouragement in his laudable attempt to
extend a correct knowledge of these simple branches
of education, which are in every day requisition,
yet seldom properly known.

TRANSPORTATION AND PRISON DISCIPLINE.—Th 9
third and last meeting at the Mansion-house, to di,.cuss
these subjects, will be held to-morrow, at one o'clock.
EMIGRATION TO AUSTRALIA.— LIVERPOOL, Saturday.
—The clipper ship Titan, Captain Sears, of the White
Star line of Australian packets, sailed this morning for
Melbourne, with 650 passengers, and about 2,000 tons
of cargo of valuable merchandise on boord. The 8,111
Nevis, of the same line, will sail on the 27th inst. with
above 300 emigrants and a full cargo.
THE AMERICAN MAILS —LIVERPOOL, Saturday.— The
British and North American Royal mail steamship
America, Capt. W. J. C. Lang, sailed from the Mersey
this forenoon for Boston and Halifax, with the usual
weekly mails for the United States and British North
American provinces, 113 passengers, and a full cargo of
merchandise on freight. T,..e Africa Royal mail steamer,
of the same line, with advices from New York to the
13th ult., will likely arrive to-morrow afternoon.
CHIIROH RATES —A. vestry meeting was held at
Beccles, Suffolk, on ThurAday, for the purpose of con-
sidering the propriety of making a church rate. It
appeared that a rate of 24d. in the pound was required
to raise 901., but the mayor moved an amendment, that
as it was probable that a bill on the fiubj‘ ct would be
introduced during the present session, the consideration
of a rate had better be postponed. The amendment was,
after some discussion, carried.

• EXETER HALL.—Last night the first of a series of
Sunday evening sermons, under the sanction of the
Bishop of London, was preached by the Bishop of Car-
lisle, in the large room of Exeter-hall, which was
densely crowded. Oa the front row of the .01-ttform
were the Earl of Shaftesbury, the Hon. A. Kinnairti,
Robert Baxter, Esq., M.P., and a number of other
gentlemen. The special service commenced by the
reading of the Litany and the singing of hymns selected
for the occasion, copies of which were printed and cir-
culated by the direction of thelspecial service committee.
The Bishop of Carlisle took his text from Romans iv. 3,
" What saith the scriptures ?" and addressed the au-
dience for nearly an hour. The service concluded with
a hymn and the usual benediction.
Tan DARTSIOOR PRISON.—A. convict at Dartmoor
prison, named Charles M`Carthy, has just; been com-
mitted to the Devon county gaol, at Ex •ter, on the
charge of assaulting and wounding, with initent to mur-
der, a warder of the Dartmoor convict prison. It appears
that the prisoner had grossly inisc,nducted himself since
he had been lodged at Dartmoor prison, and bad ma e
three attempts to escape. A. few days ago he made an
attempt to escape by running away from the separate
cells when let out to wash himself, and hu also took a
leading part in an act of insubordination in which eight
other convicts were concerned. The prisonor, it appears,
assaulted the warder in question in a barbarous manner,
and afterwards, with eight others, made his way out of
the working shed with the intention of effecting his
escape.
ST. JAMES'S PARK.—The water, such as it is, supplied
by the water companies to the parks has hitherto cost
Government 1,6001. a year ; but a discovery has been
made during the recent alterations, which, it is supposed,
will effect a saving of one-half this sum. In that island,
surrounded by the ornamental, waters of St. James's
Park, which the " Merry Monarch" namod Duck Island,
and of which he once apptinted St. Evremont Governor,
there was found to exist a powerful spring, yielding
pure water in sufficient abundance to supply the whole
lake, and perhaps to prove available for other purposes.
From a well of 10 feet wide, sunk to a depth of 25 feet,
5,000 gallons of water a minute are now obtained ; and
it is anticipated that a still larger supply will be attain.
able. The water evidently comes from the Thames,
being filtered en its passage through a bed of sand two.
thirds of a mile in thickness.—ObServon