The Sun.
London, England, 1861-10-11 00:00:00

r years after, this child, who had fallen in .to the hands
or strolling players, is adopted by his own father,
who was then allowed to be at larg;e,. Kate, the
long-lost wife, is also traced by a series of happy
coincidences. But notwithstanding the extraordinary
good fortune which reunites father, mother, and
son after so long a separation, their joy is short
lived. It is in Paris, during the star my days of
Feb., 1848, that the scattered family are re-assem-
bled, and in crossing one of the barricades the
youth is killed by a stray shot, by the side of the
martyred Archbishop. The shock prov es too great
for his mother, who witnesses the sad catastrophe,
and it deprives her of reason. She does not long
survive, and the miserable Edward thut3 loses both
wife and son at the moment that he
believes them to be restored to him.
Mr. Elias Mathews, one of the chief persons in
the book, is a favourite character with novelists
andun h unhappily
dramatists.not enHueneboemloningosn to
one,a cell:
nassbininwhich is
g a
loud profession of religion with
cold-hearted sel-
fishness and grasping avarice. Hissolo,obadiah,
is very different from himself, is
and driven from
home by his father's tyranny. Hen ,7,.7 Mathews,
the brother of Elias, and leis spirited French
wife, the chivalrous Count I)'Avray an id the gentle
Lady Softworth, the frank and. generous
Justin Forbes and his eccentric ',parents, all
serve to entertain or to interest in
various degrees. The sketch of Mr. Samson
Shepherd, who labours so indefatigably among the
poor of Spitalfields, is a tribute to the cnergy and
self-devotion of our home missionaries. The writer's
theories on political economy bring him to wise
conclusions. More he thinks may be done by
training the yonng and quietly befriending the old
than by overthrows of the social system, or the
frantic proclamation of " liberty, equality, and fra-
ternity." Nevertheless, he is not insensible
to the difficulties of the working man, as is
proved by the following conversation. The two
youths, Justin and Obadiah, having just returned
from Paris, visit their old friend the weaver, and
aro shocked to find him with a wife and four chil-
dren, earning only 12s. or 14s. a week by 18 hours'
daily labour.

" Why do you stand it ?" whispered Obady.
" What would you have me to do ?" asked Bessonet.
" I have meditated upon these things, and see no help for
it. We are the necessary victims to a change wrought by
machinery. It is well that we are left something to glean,
for as we aro poor low-born creatures, sent into the world
to earn our bread by the sweat of our face, we are not en-
titled to claim compensation, like bishops and judges, and
Government men, when they can attend no longer to their
duties, or when offices are done away with by improved
machinery of another kind. You cannot pension all
us."

" They can give you a fair price for your work."
" So I said one day to the gentleman who writes on the
subject for the 'Cornucopian.' Well, let us reason this matter
out, my friend, says he. Labour, you see, is an element
which enters into your piece of silk, and like silk value rises
and falls according to the quantity m the market—if there
be too much, down you go ; or you carry your labour to
some place where it is craved and wanted ; so how could I
answer that ?"
" I answered him for you," said Marian, " but you
would not back me up, John. I told him we were better nor
bobbins and twist, for that bobbins and twist could not
think and feel, and had no children to provide for, and
were not responsible like us to God and. man for our
thoughts and actions."
"And you know how he answered—did he. not prove that
you confounded two things together which- had no neces-
sary connection ? You are mixing up, said he, morals with
machinery, and religion with the market, and conscience
with calculation, whereas the whole subject resolves itself
into simple supply and demand."
" Oh I I know he used very fine language, and it vexed
me to feel there was something wrong, and 1 could not find
words to show it ; and it made me cry to see you give in so
easily, John ; you who used to read books long ago—to be
sure you have no time now for reading, and if you had,
what would be the use of it for the likes of us—worth only
twopence a day to begin with, to rise to a couple of shillings
in our prime of life ; and when we grow old, Lord help us
when we have no more labour to carry to market."
" Is it not the duty of children to support their parents ?
and you are both so good, that I am sure yours will support
you," observed Just.
" Out of how much, Mr. Forbes ?—and they would not
be like their father and mother, brought up with knowledge
of reading and writing, for there is no time now for school."
" What did the gentleman say to that ?—asked Obady.
" Well, I'm not sure that we went into the question."
'• Stay, now," says Obady, " he said labour was ---"
" Twist and bobbins," cried Marian.
" Very good—now let me go on. Twist and bobbins ;
but twist does not become twist of itself, and bobbins are
made with hands and fashioned with skill—take twist first.
You cultivate the mulberry-tree, and you watch over the
young worms and feed them, or there never would be silk.
Now why should there not be mulberry-trees for the little
silk weavers as well as the worms F"
Marian laid down her iron, bubcoula only catch a glimpse
of meaning.
"I see what you are driving at, Mr. Obady," cried John
Bessonet ; " that if labour is to be on a par with the things,
without which they would be useless, why is it the labour
animal should not be cultivated?"
"Does not the owner of a horse, and a bird, and a dog,
try to develope all the qualities of his animals, and all the
qualities of his plants And the more these qualities are
developed the more valuable they become. Then why
should man be worse treated Why should not all his
qualities be developed—his mind, his soul, his heart?"
" Beeause," answered John, for the first time bitterly,
and yet more sadly than bitterly " his mind and soul are
not wanted in the labour market, only his hands and feet,
which machinery is beating out ; and then what is to be-
come of him?
" Thon he will have more time for the head and heart,"
concluded Just.

" Ah, if it would come to that I" sighed Bessonet.
" Just is right," said Obady ; " it must come to that, or
come to the ruin of the race."
The scenes in Paris are described with fervour and
vitality, and give some idea of the wild excitement
of that short-lived triumph. Madlle. Rachel's de-
clamation of the " Marseillaise" is introduced, and
the wonderful effect produced on the audience is
lividly described.

THIS DAY'S MARKETS.

CORN EXCHANGE.

The arrivals of English wheat fresh up to this morning's
market were very moderate. The demand for both red
and white qualities WAS rather inactive, nevertheless Mon-
day's advance in the quotations was quite supported.
In foreign wheat the business doing was somewhat re-
stricted. Generally speaking, however, the quotations
ruled firm.
Floating cargoes of grain were in fair request, at full
currencies.

Malting barley was dull, and prices had a drooping ten-
dency. In grinding and distilling sorts very little was

doing.
New malt moved off slowly, at late rates. For old there
was scarcely any demand.
There was a steady demand for oats, and their value was
well maintained.
The trade for beans and peas was steady, at full cur-
rencies.
In flour a fair business was transacted, on former terms.

ARRIVALS THIS WEEK.
Wheat. Barley. Malt Oats. Flour.
Eng1i5h........ 1,960 1,150 1,940 370 710
Irish
F0reign........ 7,720 4,280 17,860 sacks
8,440 brie.