The Sun.
London, England, 1861-11-26 00:00:00

The Valley of a Hundred Fires.

Hurst and

Blackett's Standard Library.

Wo are glad to see this charming story re-appear
in so convenient and attractive a form. Messrs.
Hurst and Blackott's Standard Library is selected
from the best works of history, fiction, and general
literature published by them, and the high character
and variety of the series has maintained its popu-
larity. The present volume can scarcely fail to
delight the subscribers. It is a record of domestic
life among the wild Welsh hills ; the history of a
family and a neighbourhood told in that easy,
genial style peculiar to the authoress of "Margaret
and her Bridesmaids." Emily Leslie, the heroine,
is a charming character. We are introduced to her
as a young wife and mother taking her journey
into Wales with her husband, who has just been
appointed to a moderate living in the Valley of a
Hundred Fires. Her sweet temper, loving heart,
and unfailing readiness of hand:soon turn the deso-
late house into a domestic paradise, defying the
smoke and dust, and making even the " cinder tip"
endurable. She is afterwards the happy mother of
a large family, whom she brings up to be worthy
of their parents, and though sickness and trouble
chequer the smooth course of their lives, Emily
never fails. When death snatches away their chief
treasure, resignation takes the place of con-
tentment ; when envy and uncharitableness
lift their voices she refuses to hear them. Her
husband, John Leslie, is also excellent in his way,
and his grave sense and sincere goodness render
him a worthy companion to his admirable wife.
The family of the Robartses are a strong contrast
to the Leslies, and we are shown how the different
training and different spirit of their homes led to
very opposite results. There are many other cha-
racters introduced, though none can rival Mrs.
Leslie in the reader's regard. The varying dispo-
sitions and qualities of her numerous family are
aptly described, and a degree of individuality
preserved, which is somewhat difficult among ten
daughters! The story appropriately closes with
the celebration of the Leslies' golden wedding-day,
when their children's children gather round them
and "rise up and call them blessed."

" John and Emily were so essentially the same John and
Emily who mounted the Bristol coach 48 years ago to
make a settlement in Wales, that it is needless to describe
them again. They had grown old in appearance, and, to
keep his head warm, John wore a wig, made of snow-white
hair, which, truth to say, was not always put on straight;
while Emily was the prettiest old woman ever seen—a close
full cap surrounding her pretty old face, beaming yet with
the spirit of as youthful a heart and buoyant a spirit as
when first introduced to the reader. The world had pro-
gressed amazingly fast, especially of late years, and their
children and grandchildren were swimming with the tide,
no whit behind anyone, yet when they came within the
charmed circle of our hero and heroine, they left their
worldlinesses, their luxuries, their daintinesses at the
garden gate. Life-Guardsmen, Crimean and Indian war-
riors, Arctic heroes, with courtly young damsels, and
graceful little queens of fashion and beauty, thronged round
grandpapa and grandmamma, with an affection and admira-
tion called forth by the genuine truth and beauty of their
characters. Had their feelings been analysed, it is probable
they regarded them as the dilettanti; regards antique gems.
Or, it might be that the boundless wealth of affection
possessed by Emily had diffused itself in all its purity
through her descendants; while tho fine heart, true faith,
and good sense possessed by John had imparted the testa
to value such affections as the best gift God bestows on
man."

On Food : being Lectures delivered at the South
Kensington Museum, by E. Lankester, M.D.,
F.R.S. Hardwicke, Piccadilly.
These admirable lectures, which present so much.
condensed information in so clear and available a
form, are now collected in one volume of a conveni-
ent size and moderate price. The substance of them
formed part of the author's course on Materic a Medics.
and Therapeutics at St. George's School of Medicine ,
and a course on the vegetable kingdom at the Royal
Institution. Subsequently, on Dr. Lankester's ap-
pointment to the scientific superintendence of the
food collection at the South Kensington Museum,
he obtained the permission of the Committee of
Council on Education to deliver lectures, in order
to convey some instruction to the public respecting
the department under his charge. The great success of
these lectures has already made them widely known;
but those who have heard them will probably be
very ready to add them to their libraries for future
reference, while those who have not been so fortu-
nate should not fail to take advantage of this
opportunity of so pleasantly extending the area of
their scientific knowledge. There are two courses
of lectures in this volume, each course containing
six. Only one series has as yet begin delivered at the
Museum, the others being written out from the
author's notes. The first six are—On Water, on
Salt, on Heat-giving Foods, on Oil, Butter, and
Fat, on Flesh-forming Food, and on Animal Food.
The other course contains lectures—On Alcohol,
on Wines, Spirits, and Beer, on Condiments and
Spices, on Tea, on Coffee and Chocolate, and on
Tobacco. It will be perceived that the subjects of
the two courses are of distinct characters ; the one
being, as Dr. Lankester observes, necessary to our
daily life, the other auxiliary to its maintenance.
The simplicity of the language and the clearness of
the style render the work intelligible and interest-
ing to the least scientific reader, and we may con-
fidently join in the hope expressed by their talented
author, that they may contribute " to advance the
study of those laws by which life and health are
secured, and without a knowledge of which man can
never realise the highest objects of his existence."

Song Birds and How to Keep Them. By E. A.
Maling, author of " Indoor Plants, and How to
Grow Them," &c. Smith, Elder, and Co.

The keeping of pet birds is such a favourite
amusement with all ages, that directions as to how
their health, comfort, and powers of song can be
best maintained are by no means unnecessary. The
writer of this little work has already given us a
very useful manual of instructions regarding the
care of indoor plants, and having devot3d much
time and attention to her feathered favourites,
she has wisely published this companion volume,
which will be found of great service I-, who keep
birds. An intimate acquaintance wilh the habits,
requirements, and likings of the ti ibes of air has
qualified her to speak with confide _lce and authority
as to their wants and wishes. The directions are
all of a very practical nature, and we contmendthis
treatise to all who are interested in the welfare of
these little songsters.

THIS' DAY'S MARKETS.

HAY MARKETS.

SMITIIPIELD.—Meadow hay, £2 to £5 ; clover, £3 10s
to £6 Os Od ; and straw, £1 8s to £1 16s Od per load.
A slow trade.

CUMBERLAND.--Meadow hay, £2 Os to £5 Os; clover
do., £3 10s to £6 Os; and straw, £1 8s to £1 16s per load.
Both hay and straw were in slow request, at our quotations.

WHITECHAPEL.—Meadow hay, £2 Os to £5 Os; clover,
£3 10s to £6 Os Od ; and straw, £1 8s to 15s per load.
Trade slow.

COLONIAL.

Tai.—The dealings have been very limited, owing to
the near approach of the public sales, which commence this
day.
SUGAR.--Only a limited business has been transacted,
and prices have experienced no change of importance. In
the refined market dried goods have remained at steady
prices.
COFFEE.—The market has continued quiet, without any
material change to note in values. The stocks on hand,
compared with those of the same period of last year, show
an increase of about 1,600 tons.
RlCE.—Only a limited amount of business has been done
for home consumption, but for export there has been a fair
enquiry, and late rates have been well maintained.
SALTPETRE.—A rather large business has been done in
the better qualities, at slightly enhanced rates.
TALLOW.—The market has continued inactive, and prices
have shown a slight depression. P.Y.C. on the spot is
quoted 51s ; all the year, Ms 6d to 50s Od ; and spring de-
livery, 51s 6d to 52s per cwt.

STREET HAWKING OF NEWSPAPERS.—yesterday
afteinoon a deputation of some of the leading wholesale and
retail newsvenders of the metropolis waited on Sir Richard
Mayne, her Majesty's Chief Commissioner of Police, at the
office in Whitehall-place, for the purpose,of calling his at-
tention to the increase in the system of hawking newspa-
pers in the streets, more particularly on Sunday, as a
public nuisance and obstruction, as injurious to the system
of the trade in general, who have to keep shops and to pay
rent and taxes, and requesting him to put in motion the in-
tervention of the police for its suppression. Mr. Chapman,
of Foley-street, having stated the objects of the deputation,
called the attention of the Chief Commissioner to the act of
Parliament passed last session in relation to street hawking,
and which he contended gave the Commissioner of Police
power to interfere in the matter. Mr. Hederwick, solicitor,
to the Stamps and Taxes, had given it as his opinion that
the police authorities had the power to interfere, on the
hawkers or boys being given in custody. The Chief Com-
missioner, after referring to the act which defines that per-
sons seeking for orders for goods at other men's houses.e theg about
act;
shall bo deemed hawkers, said he could not, from inht e
read-
ingwithofnanewysopfaptheressefcotrionssa,lesewe
ethreathaanwyhperearsounndr go
neither did he see any provision in it that empowered the.
police to interfere summarily.'
th the
apdal :coot couldbeeud
found not
veryem -
the streets was a public nuisance lift hawking
mu st b e made indictable newspapersill
atl lawd.
under
dseurmt
the
summons m. i gThht
ebyem triedight
prbeforeo.c e
proceed
un er magistrate.the s
1172 o_
pwaosyeclearly of
day Trading Act,
effective.
Nothing has yet transpired regarding the insti-
opibnuiotnththatatact
tution of any criminal proceedings in relation to thre affairs
of the Deposit Bank. A petition in bankruptcy, Lowever,
was presented yesterday by Messrs. Linklater 8./.ld Hack
wood against Peter Morrison, the managing director, by
which means a full investigation into the affairs. of that con-
cern will, it is holed, be secured. It is repelled that Mr.
Morrison is still 44 London.