The Sun.
London, England, 1861-04-25 00:00:00

The Comprehensive History of England, Civil,
Military, Religious, Intellectual, and Social.
Parts 34, 35. Blackie and Son.
This valuable serial is fast nearing its comple-
tion, having with Part 35 reached the year 1850.
Part 34 opens with a sketch of the poets who
graced the beginning of the present century. The
author gives us his opinion of the writings of Scott,
Wordsworth, Moore, Southey, Byron, and Hannah
More. Of Lord Byron, like too many historians
and biographer's, the author takes a prejudiced
view. He cannot but admit that he was the first
poet of the day; but why condemn a man be-
cause he wrote straightforward and truthfully ?
It is true that he portrayed characters of
a reckless and desperate nature, but he ex-
poses their failing, and, as in " Lara and the
Gaiour," he shows that remorse and distrust must
accompany crime. What has brought so much
undeserved censure upon Byron is, that he wrote
undisguisedly, and scorned to hide his meaning
under an hypocritical garb of sanctity. Let any dis-
passionate critic examine the writings of some of
the eminent writers of the present day, and on a
close analysis he will find immorality and profli-
gacy of a deeper dye than is to be met with in any
of Byron's works, only in the one case the sin
is painted colour de
,rose to deceive the super-
ficial reader, rendering its effect the more
pernicious, while, on the other, the very
clearness with which crime is delineated
warns the most obtuse intellect of the danger.
Book 12 commences with the ascension of William
the Fourth to the throne, and again we enter
upon the affairs of France, with the expulsion of
Charles the Tenth, and the election of Louis
Philippe. The exciting period of the Duke of
Wellington's premiership and his failure as a
politician, occupy considerable space. It is un-
necessary to dwell at any length on the succeeding
chapters relating to our own time ; suffice it to re-
mark that all the leading characters, whether civil,
military, or scientific, are duly noticed, and por-
traits of many of them are furnished. Great pains
have been devoted to the detail of all matters which
are likely to be useful or interesting to the reader.

The Marchioness of Downshire's dancing parties
will take place this evening, and on Monday, the 29th inst.,
...fated yesterday.
The Earl and Countess of Munster have been
placed in mourning by the death of their youngest son, the
Hon. Arthur Fitzclarence, who died on the 20th inst. at
Edinburgh.
The Countess Dowager of Sandwich has arrived
at Grosvenor- square, from Hinchingbrook, Huntingdon.
Sir R. Peel, Bart., M.P., and Lady Emily Peel
had a dinner party last evening, at their residence in White-
hall -gardens. The guests included the Marquis and Mar-
chioness of Clanrioarde, Maria Marchioness of Aylesbury,
the Marquis of Hartington, the Earl Granville, the Earl
and Countess of Clarendon, the Earl of Malmesbury, the
Earl and Countess of Chesterfield and Lady Evelyn Stan-
hope, Sir Edwin Landseer, Mr. Alfred Montgomery, and
Mr. Delane.

A marriage is arranged to take place between
the Hon. Fanny Blanche Calthorpe, second daughter of
Lord and Lady Calthorpe, and the Rev. John Fielden,
chaplain to the Marquis of Cholmondeley, and son of Mr.
Fielden, of Witton Park, near Blackburn, Lancashire.
Married, on the 23d inst., at St. James's Church,
Piccadilly, by the Rev. Edward Wilts, assisted by the Rev.
Otto Ball, Mr. Cecil van Notten Pole, only son of Sir Peter
van Notten Pole, of Todenham House, county of Glou-
cester, and grandson of the late Earl of Limerick, to Frances
Anna, eldest daughter of the Rev. Henry Rice, and grand-
daughter of the Hon. and Very Rev. the Dean of Gloucester.
The Manchester papers mention the death of Mr.
John Leech, one of the largest and most wealthy cotton
spinners in that city.
The Hon. George Leslie Waldegrave has resigned
his appointment of secretary to the Speaker of the House
of Commons. Mr. Waldegrae's unwearied courtesy and
urbanity have gained for him the esteem of all with whom
he has been concerned during the six years he has offici ,ted
as secretary to Lord Eversley and to the present Speaker.
We understand that Mr. Alfred Denison, brother of the
Speaker, has been selected to fill the vacancy.
The Irish Roman Catholic prelates are now sit-
ting in solemn conclave, in Dublin. They met for the first
time on Tuesday, but the proceedings were strictly private.
The business before them, we are told, is "important."
The resumption for the season of the special tidal
service between London and Paris,. via Folkestone and
Boulogne, the short sea route, takes place on May Ist. The
journey will be performed by special express trains on both
the South-Eastern and Northern of France lines, in a few
minutes over 10 hours. The system of interpreting conduc-
tors, registration of baggage, with the other facilities
hitherto afforded by this service, is to be maintained in full

efficiency. •
It is stated that, at the request of the Turkish
Government, one of the Commissioners of the Board of
Trade, accompanied by an official conversant with accounts,
has been authorised to proceed to Constantinople to assist in
an investigation of the finances of the Empire, with a view
to their adjustment upon some defined ba.is. Frpneh offi-
eiale aro said already to have reached Constantinople on a
similar errand.
THE ATTEMPTED MURDER IN ISLINGTON.—
Since the brutal attempt at murder on the unfortunate
young woman, Mary Ann Redkison, in Chapel-street,
Islington, the police have been on the alert, and in the
course of their investigation they have been successful in
apprehending another of the party who was engaged in
this murderous outrage and burglary, and he is now in
custody. He is the son of a butcher residing in Chapel
street. He has given information of a third party, and
also the cabman who took away the chest. It is therefore
probable that by this time all the parties concerned are in
custody.
COLLISION ON THE EASTERN COUNTIES RAIL-
WAY.—The Essex Herald of Tuesday reports a serious
collision on the Eastern Counties Railway, at the Bishops's
Stortford station. It seems that a goods train had been
shuated to allow of a mail train passing, and before the
first train could recover its original position, another of a
similar character came up in an opposite direction at the
rate of about 1.5 miles an hour. The engines of the two
trains struck each other with great violence, and both were
much injured. Four or five trucks were smashed, and the
property in them—beer barrels, sacks of corn, &c.—strewn
about the line, which was blocked for a short time ; but no
life was lost, although one man received a severe blow on
the right side of his head, and also several bruises on other
parts of his person.

THE POST-OFFICE.—The estimate of the expenses
of the Post-office for the current years is a strange contrast
to such an estimate 30 years since. The conveyance of
mails by railways in 1861 will cost £643,400, while mail
coaches, of which our fathers were so proud, get a vote
(which is declining every year) of only £13,870. 193 sorters
and clerks are required for the travelling post-office. The
mere apparatus for exchanging bags on the railways causes
an outlay of nearly £2,000 a year, and the supply and repair
of mail-bags above £ll,OOO. The poundage allowed for the
sale of postage labels at the post. offices is described as ex-
ceeding £21,000 a year. The letter-carriers, sorters, and
messengers now constitute a little army of above 11,000
men, and their year's pay exceeds £520,000.
CROWN LANDS IN CANADA.— The sales of Crown
lands in Lower Canada during 1860 amounted to 290,026
acres, being more than double the amount sold in 1859.
The free grants on the colonisation roads amounted to
19,421 acres, being an increase of 1,429. But we have still
an almost inexhaustible supply of lands for intending pur-
chasers, there being no less than 5,397,191 acres surveyed
and as yet not granted, and a great deal more which the
surveyors have not yet visited. Of what are called " Clergy
Lands" there were 44,545 acres sold in 1860, or more than
10 times as much as in 1859. In Upper Canada there were
sold, in 1860, 126,413 acres of Crown lands; 26,300 acres
were located as free grants. Of clergy lands 62,522 acres
were sold, and about 10,000 acres of school lands. There
are still for sale surveyed Crown lands amounting to
1,853,121 ; clergy lands to 198,974; and school lands to
76,000 acres.—Canadian _News

ALLEGED TORTURE IN THE MAZAS PRISON.--
A correspondent of the Nation Suisse, a Geneva paper,
writes :—" I have just received from Paris a letter relating
unheard of cruelties exercised in the Mazas prison. My in-
formant is a man of strict veracity, and, I believe, incapable
even of exaggeration. Here is his statement A witness
called before the Juge d'lnstruction to give evidence in
Auguste Blanqui's affair, saw him enter the cabinet with
unmistakeable marks of recent violence on his person. His
clothes, including his shirt, were torn, and his hat was
crushed, as if it had been trampled on. The witness, shocked
at the sight, could scarcely help expressing his indignation,
when Blanqui, addressing the judge, said, ' It is atrocious
and useless to drag me out of my cell and assault me, for
you may kill me, but you shall never force a word out of my
lips.' On this the gaolers rushed in and removed him with
violence from the cabinet.' " Another letter appears to
confirm the above extraordinary statement.
THE SCOTCH PIG IRON TRADE.—There has been
a great revival in the Scotch pig iron trade since an
amelioration was first observable in the commercial pros-
pects of the country. Thus the shipments have expanded
as follows :

1861. 1860.
Tons. Tons.
Week ending March 9 7,117 11,114
1, 16 7,982 .. 9,6:56
23 8,206 .. 10,037
30 10,169 .. 8,215
'April 6 14,992 12,275
13 14,419 11,673
Considering the depression under which this important
trade has long laboured, the hopes induced by these figures
are extreluely gratifying, .

the paraphernalia which accompanies one of these SCENE AT TH,E Tv NEMOUTH
vast assemblages is minutely depicted ; also a map ELECTION.
of the independent states of Assam and Bhotan, ;
and of Rajpootana, Guzerat, &c., &c. 1

TYNENIOUTH, WED*NrSDAY.
Yesterday this borough was kept in a most elc"
cited state, through the warm contest that was
going on for the election of a representative ill
place of Mr. Taylor, who had retired ; and as the
non-electors took a warm interest in the re-
turn of Mr. Otway, the Liberal candidate, on the
ground that he was a thorough-going Reformer,
large crowds were assembled in front of the Town
Hall all day. The agents of the Duke of North-
umberland, who had taken a very conspicuous
part in bringing up his Grace's tenants to vets
for Mr. Hodgson, the Tory candidate, were
mobbed, and they, with Mr. Hodgson, were pelted
with rotten eggs and apples; and notwithstanding
a large police force was brought in from neighbour,'
ing boroughs to help those of the town, Hodgson!
cabs and more obnoxious supporters were hooted and
pelted with garbage.
Shortly after 4 o'clock the declaration of the POl,l
took place amid the confusion and uproar which bad
characterised the previous proceedings. On the
appearance of the candidates the noise only became
more intense, Mr. Otway being greeted with vshe4
ment cheers, while Mr. Hodgson was met with a,
the opposite demonstrations. A few stones were also
aimed at the side of the hustings occupied by the
member elect; but, fortunately, a stop was readily
put to that dangerous game. The Mayor preside
and appealed to the sense of the assemblage by fool/
waving his hand, and addressing to them some
observations, which, to the nearest listeners, were
almost inaudible. After a few minutes, however,
a partial silence was obtained.
The MAYOR, again essaying to speak, said'
Unless yes be quiet I will order you into court.
Gentlemen, order. (Interruption.) Will you be
silent?—("Yes," and uproar.) I have now to
declare to you the state of the poll. Will you
hear P—(" No," loud cheers, and hisses.) Yesterday
was our thinking day, and to-day is our working
day. But, then, working men have their times to
be quiet, and hear the result of their good work'
Let us have quietness. The state of the poll
425 for Mr. Hodgson, and 376 for Mr. Otwaye--
(Cheers, hisses, and great uproar.) I therefore
declare Richard Hodgson, Esq., to be elected.
(Cheers, hisse-s, and continued uproar, in which the
concluding words of the sentence were drowned.)
Mr. HODOSON, on putting himself in a speaking
attitude, was assailed with a storm of hisses and
other disapproving sounds. Knowing that it was
impossible to make himself heard by the large as-
semblage, the hon. gentleman turned round to, and
briefly addressed, the occupants of the hustings.
To the general body of the reporters present, how-
ever, his remarks were totally inaudible; and amid
a continuance of the uproar, Mr. Hodgson with-
drew.
Mr. OTWAY, in an earnest speech, urged peace
and quietness upon the people. But shortly after
the declaration one of the most extraordinary scenes
ever witnessed in Shields occurred. Mr. Hodgson
had, with his committee, escaped from the hustings
and got to his rooms in Howard-street, and a feW
minutes before five o'clock, a body of about 60
North and South Shields policemen were marched
down to the building, and formed into a square,
amid the most fearful shouts from a crowd of at
least two thousand men and lads. Mr. Hodgson
and his friends then came out of the house and took
their place in the square formed by the police. His
committee made up the rear, and proceeded to
the North Shields Railway station, by way of
Saville-street, the mob pelting them with rotten
apples, rotten eggs, onions, and, we regret to say,
stones,, and shouting and yelling in the most awful
manner. Mr. Alderman Mayson, in his endeaa
yours to protect the newly-elected from violence,
had his hat knocked over his ears several times
with stones. His committee also, more or less,
felt the effects of those salutes on their heads or
ribs. Inspector Pattison got an ugly rap on
the back part of the head, and it is feared has
some of his ribs broken ; and Mr. Hodg-
son received an ugly cut on the left side of the
temple from a stone. The police had to charge the
mob several times with their staves before the
extraordinary—and it must be admitted, sadly
frightened procession—reached the railway station,
into which Mr. Hodgson and his friends rushed
pell-mell, and amid the most awful shouts and yells
of derision ever heard in Shields from a mob, and
the cheers of his committee, Mr. Hodgson left for
Tynemouth by the 4.50 express train from Nevi-
castle. The police were pelted with stones on their
way to the police station, but no further mischief
occurred.