The Sun.
London, England, 1850-09-20 00:00:00

BLACK'S 1110 N HIGHWAY.

Like all the other similar publications of the
Messrs. Adam and Charles Black, of Edinburgh,
the present brochure is one of a value proportioned to
its authenticity. It furnishes an exact account of the
railway lines conducting from Londo❑ to Edinburgh
and Glasgow, passing through Birmingham, Staf-
ford, Preston, Lancaster, Carlisle, and Gretna, ac-
companied with charts, exhibiting the continuous
lines and their branches, as well as a large extent of
the adjacent country. Some of the hints to railway
travellers, prefixed to this descriptive guide-book, we
regard as so peculiarly excellent that we gladly
accord the following the benefit of our circulation :
"Pack up your luggage in such order that you can
readily carry with you the small matters you may want
on your journey, or immediately on your arrival ; let
the rest be put in such trunks, cases, boxes, or other
packages as will either effectually protect it, or show at
first sight that it must be handled carefully; remember-
ing that, at railway stations a great deal of business
must be done in a little time, and therefore lug-
gage, which seems able to bear it, sometimes gets rough
usage.

" Let your name and destination appear legibly on
your luggage ; and if you wish t.) be safa against all
chances of loss, put your name and address inside also
of each package. Picture to yourself your trunk lying
on the road, left in the corner of an office, or sent out to
a wrong direction, and imagine what you would then
wish should be on or in it, that it might be correctly
and speedily sent to you. What you would then wish
you had done, do before you start. Let the label be of
a strong material, and firmly attached to the package.
"Be at the station some minutes before the time; if
you du not resolve to be so, expect to see the train on
its way without you.
" Get your ticket (by paytng your fare), and be
careful to understand exactly how far that ticket frees
jou. On come railways you keep that ticket to the end
of your journey, on others you are called on for it at
starting. In either case be ready with it, remembering
that, if you cannot produce it, you may be cafled upon
to pay your fare again.
See where your luggage is placed on the carriage,
and prefer that it should be on that in which you are to
be seated, if prccticable ; see also that the company's
ticket or luggage number be affixed to each package, or
you may be called on to pay the carriage for it.
" Expect to pay for the carriage of all your luggage
above fifty-six pounds' weight.
" I%.ke the best care you can to prevent the necessity
of your leaving the carriage before you reach the re-
freshment station at the end of your journey.
"Take your sca:s as soon as you have made all
needful arrangements; you may have with you a carpet-
bag, hat-box, or other luggage, it it be not so bulky as
to annoy your fellow-passengers."
In all essential respects the work is little short of
being beyond the reach of improvement.
MU

RRAFS HAND-BOOKS for SCOTLAND.
Outlines of Scottish History. Part I.
Messrs. Alexander Murray and Co., of Edinburgh,
have commenced the publication of a series of hand-
books of Scotland, and, as introductory to them, we
have this the first part of Outlines of Scottish History.
It is a condensed but spirited narrative of the history
of Scotland from the time of the Romans down to the
death of David Bruce. As a favourable specimen of
the author's style we give the following account of the
slaughter of the Red Comyn :
" In their rapid progress northward, the party of
Bruce encountered a horseman, whom they recognised
as a retainer of the Red' Comyn, the rival of their
master. Tho emissary of Comyn way stopped, searched,
and slain. Papers were found upon his person which
confirmed the worst suspicions of Bruce, who pressed
forward to his castle at Lochmaben, met his brother Ed-
ward, and told him of the perils which threatened their
family. It was in the month. of February, 1305, when
Bruce thus hastily returned home; the assizes appointed
by Edward to be held at Dumfries were approaching,
and Bruce and Comyn, being both vassals of the crown,
met there, when waiting upon the justiciaries of England.
" Bruce sought a meeting with his rival, Comyn, sur-
named the Red,' from his complexion. The conference
took place at Dumfries, in the convent church of the
Minorite Friars, the sacred character of the place being
the supposed warrant of personal safety. Young Bruce
and young Comyn met in this church alone, their atten-
dants remaining without. What passed can only be
conjectured; but before these fierce rivals had reached
the high altar, their dispute became warm, and when
Comyn was taxed by Bruce with treachery, he gave him
the lie,' and instantly received in his bosom Bruce's
dagger. Bruce, hastening from the sanctuary, ordered
his attendants to horse; but Lindsay of Crawford, and
Kirkpatrick of Closeburn, observing the disorder of their
chief, and the blood reeking upon his weapon, eagerly
inquired the cause. I doubt,' said Bruce, ' I have slain
the Red Comyn." Do you trust that to doubt,' exclaimed
Kirkpatrick, I mak siccar (sure);' and rushing into the
church, Comyn was dispatched, and his uncle, Sir
Robert Comyn, who had hastened to his rescue, was also
slain. I mak siccar,' has, since this bloody deed, been
the motto upon the arms of the knights of Kirkpatrick
of Closeburn."

The River and the Firth of Clyde; with the Loch;
Towns, and Sea• Bathing Resorts, the Island of
Arran and Ailsa Craig, the Falls of Clyde and
Clydesdale.
This admirable little hsnd book gives a condensed
account of the history and topography of Glasgow
and its vicinity, and of Clydesdale and the shores and
islands of the Firth, and is illustrated by two neatly-
engraved maps. The description of Ailsa Craig will
be found most interesting by the naturalist, while the
antiquarian will turn with delight to the account of
the fur-famed Bothwell Brig.
The D,

'eeside Highlands, With the Royal Castle and
Deer Forest of Balmoral.
Every tourist about to travel in the Deeside High-
Lands, every loyal subject anxious to learn the topo•
graphy of her Majesty's " Highland home," should
peruse this little work. It is the best account of
Balmoral and its neighbourhood that has yet been
publish 6 d.

Lochlmnond, Benlomond, Glenfalloch, Strathfillan,

King's [louse, Glencoe.
This most useful little work is a complete guide to
Lochlomond and the Highlands of Argyleshire, and
is illustrated by a well-engraved map. The melan-
choly history of the Glencoe
.atrocity is admirably
narrated.

COUNTY COURTS AND THE BAR.—The Chester
Courant announces that the County Courts in that neigh-
bourhood will be regularly r.tt(nded by the bar in fuli cos-
tume, as our contemporary expre,,ses it, " candidates for bu-
siness." It is added, that the bar,will.not" claim exclusive
audience; and the cost of the barrister's' tee 'n•ill only, be
allowed as taxation when the barrister is instructed by an
attorney. As both branches of the profession will be entitled
to fees, we have no doubt they will work comfortably to-
gether."

The Priory Park, Chichester, concerning which
the people of Chichester have so long felt a desire, will shortly
become the property of the worthy citizens for a term of
years. The Duke of Richmond has consented to let it on
lease, and a committee has been appointed to act 911 behalf Of
the city, with power to raise eubecriptione.

PROSPECTS OF THE COTTON TRADE.
(From the Manchester Examiner.)
The quietness which has characterised our market
during the last four weeks, the light stock of cotton,
its comparatively high price, and the uncertain and
conflicting accounts which are received of the Ame-
rican crop of this year, combine to produce no small
amount of forecast and anxiety.
The comparative amount of stock in the hands of
the trade at the present time and at the correspond-
ing period of last year cannot be told with any
degree of accuracy. On this point there has been
considerable diversity of opinion, but any difference
which may be in favour on either side cannot materially
affect our observations. The stocks in the various
ports of Great Britain, on the 31st of August, were
226,800 bales less than at the same period of 1849 ; and
supposing the amount of imports and the rate of con-
sumption to the 31st of December to be the same
as last year, there would not be more than 300000
bales in stock at Christmas, or before the arrival of the
first of this year's crop; but, as late shipments from
America have been heavier this year than they were
last, and as the high prices prevailing here will have
the
.natural effect of drawing larger supplies from
India, and other producing countries than have been
sent in former years, it is probable the stock in this
country on the 31st of December will not be less than
400,000 bales. Yet this amount of stock would be
far from satisfactory, and it is to be feared would be
insufficient to prevent an advance in price, if not
counteracted by the hope of an average crop for this
year, and of a larger amount than that ventured to be
given in present estimates.
The accounts of the growing crop, although rather
more favourable than at an earlier period of the
season, are by no means encouraging. There can
scarcely be a doubt that more land is this year under
cultivation than has been the case in any former year,
but the reports of the condition of the plant and its
progress towards maturity are not equally favourable.
The recent fine weather, however, and the con-
tinually improving intelligence received by each
steamer, encourage the hope of a fair 3 ield, and that
the picking season will not be later than in previous
years. The latest estimates of the crop have advanced
to 2,250,000, and it is possible that with a conti-
nuance of propitious weather and a late frost—as
happened for the last four years—they may shortly
rise to 2,300,000, or even 2,400,000. This is cer-
tainly a much more favourable view than has yet been
generally entertained, but it can scarcely be deemed
extravagant, if there be taken into consideration the
steady improvement in the tenor of late advices.
It will be asked what effects would a crop of this
amount have on the state of our market ?
With a stock of 400,000 hales on December 31, as
we have supposed, it is doubtful if a crop of the above-
mentioned extent would be more than sufficient to
supply the demand for next year ; and to confirm this
remark we have only to refer to the stock left on De-
cember 31, 1849, after the receipt of the largest supply
ever received into this country.
In the home market the cheapness of food has led
to an enlarged consumption of manufactured goods
among the working classes, and the satisfactory ac-
counts which reach us of the results of this year's
harvest will have the same tendency. Indeed, we
are already told of the great activity which has for
some time pervaded this branch of our trade. From
the continent of Europe and the United States of
America, the favourable accounts of the operations of
harvest lead to the expectation that, for the supply
cf these markets, there will be increased demands for
our manufactures, and there is little reason to fear
that in India, South America, and other foreign mar-
kets, there is any large accumulation of stock to meet
their necessary and continuous consumption.
It may not be out of place to remark here that,
though the amounts of yarns and goods exported
during the first six months of this year were nearly
the same as in the first six months of last, there was
a falling off in the exports to the ports on the Medt-
teranean of about 6,000,0001 b. of yarn, and of about
45,000,000 yards of goods ; or ten per cent. of the
whole exports of yarn, and seven per cent. of that of
goods. This falling off was doubtless owing to the heavy
stocks held there, and which had accumulated during
the early part of last year, and for some time before.
Now that these markets are getting cleared, should
there Le an increase of trade to that quarter, it will
be in a heavy class of goods, and therefore lead to the
manufacture of coarse fabrics, and the use t f a con-
sequently larger quantity of the raw material.
It would be premature, and perhaps out of place, to
offer any opinion respecting the future state of our
market. No one can be ignorant of the tendency of
high prices, such as those now prevailing, to weaken
the confidence of the merchant, to limit his operations,
to lessen the means of the consumer, and therefore
to restrict the trade of the district ; but, on the •
other hand, the favourable results of the home and
foreign harvest, the prospect of peace prevailing
abroad, and, above all, the happy results of free trade,
evidently now beginning to be fully felt, favour an in-
crease of consumption and of export much beyond
that of any former year. While, therefore, uncer•
' tainty with respect to the supply of cotton for next
year may lead to buyers withholding the execution of
their orders, to a pause in the operation of our market,
and a consequent decline, yet it is probable that—
orders accumulating, and the home as well as foreign
demand steady, if not increasing—the tone of the
market will improve, prices in general advance, and in
a short time the reaction be quite proportionate to the
immediate depression.
It may he hazarding no very extreme opinion to
remark, that it is quite possible the effects of free
trade, under average circumstances, will lead to an
extension of our trade beyond precedent; but it may
be questioned if the supply of cotton from America
will be in the same ratio. If not, it will at once be
seen that the profits arising from a large trade and a
steady demand will be mainly absorbed by the cotton-
growers. If, then, one circumstance connected with
the trade of this district more than another demands
the serious consideration of those interested in its suc-
cess, it is the devising and supporting of all reasonable
schemes to promote the cultivation of cotton in other
countries, to procure a steady and increasing supply
for our own use, and to that extent to lessen our de-
pendence on the fluctuating crops of the United States
of America.

CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY ELECTION.
CAMBRIDGE, SEPT. 19.—The only Foint worthy
of note here to-day is the adhesion of the following
gentlemen to Mr. Wigram's committee, viz , the Rev.
the Master of Caius College (Dr. Chapman); Dr.
Paget and Dr. Drosier (Senior Fellows), of Caius
College ; Mr. Burdaliin (Fellow and Tutor), of Care
Hall ; and Mr. Swainson (Fellow and Tutor), of
Christ College. Mr. Wigram's friends retort upon
their opponents the charge of disturbing the peace of
the University, and they avow that from the first
they have merely desired to secure the services of the
hest men that can be found to represent the Univer-
sity, and that they have simply that object in view
now.

The harvest, not merely in this locality, but
throughout the Lowlands of Scotland, may be considered
finished, and is generally admitted to be fully an average.
Wheat, of which only;a small quantity has yet been thrashes',
is turning out remarkably well ; and barley is a full crop.
The reports as to oats are more contradictory. Potatoes
continue sound, and are considered safe for the season. The
yield, however, will not be great ; and turnips will not be
above half a crop. The continued dry weather has given to
turnip-fields an appearance of maturity quite unusual at this
period of the season. Since the above was in type, we have
received the following very unfavourable account of the po-
tato crop from a farmer a few miles west of Edinburgh :
" I am sorry to say that the potato disease has appeared on
my farm very virulently, many of the shaws not having
one sound potato at them. On the farm of a neighbour the
disease has likewise appeared. This is the more wonderful,
as till very lately rot one vestige of its presence could be no-
ticed in this quarter."—Scoinnan.
AN ECCENTRIC CHARACTER.—The owner of con-
siderable
property, as well as a resident in the parish of
West Ham, has a peculiar monomania for empty houses, and
he has a great number which have not been occupied for
years, the rents of which, if let, would amount to several
hu❑dred pounds per annum, and yet, strange to say, the
owner's habits are of the most penurious kind. A person
applying to him for one of his houses must have the follow-
ing qualifications, and comply with the following rules:—
Have a wife and a large family, never smoke, or keep birds,
or place flower-pots on the window-sills; and should any
person by misrepresentation obtain possession of any house
legal proceedings are immediately taken to eject the occu-
pant. It is said that his lawyers' and builders' bills are two
items in his expenses which he pays most liberally. He has
the carpet fur each of his sitting-rooms in his own dwelling,
but they are invariably kept folded up, as he says to preserve
them.—Esser Herald.

ANOTHER SHAKSPERE PORTRAIT. A painting
was submitted to us last week which, if not a genuine
portrait of our immortal Shakspere, an assertion we would
not venture to make, is, at all events, an interesting picture.
It is well painted ; has a fine expression of countenance, with
a beard and moustache, as in the Chandos and the Jansen
portraits, and rings in the ears. The canvass, unquestionably
old, has not been lined. On the top of the picture appear in
raised letters, rudely formed with the pallet-knife and a com-
position of some sort, Gulletno (sic) &halespere, painted over
with the field of the picture. Below the name, on the left-
hand side of the head, is tEt. 47 ; and on the right-hand
side, A.D. 1611. The picture belongs to Dr. Parkes, of
Great Marlborough-street, in whose possession it has been
for some years unregarded, until a few days ago.—Builder.
Some Belgian savants were engaged the day before-
yesterday in making meteorological observations on the
heights of Belleville. Having raised to a certain height some
kites furnished with pointed nee lies, they drew from tl,e
clouds, although the weather was perfectly serene at the
time, flashes of electricity similar to those of lightning in a
storm. Suddenly one of the gentlemen, says the Patric, was
struck by a flash, and thrown to the ground in a state of in-
sensibility. He had, it appeared, neglected to hold by the
glass handle, which served as a non-conductor, and the fluid,
descending by the cord, struck Lim. He was soon after re-
stored vo animation, but his right arm remains paralysed,
and there is a doubt whether he will ever recover the perfect
use of it.

The Bishop of London has licensed the Rev. G. F.
De Gex, M.A., to the curacy of St. Paul's, Knightsbridge.
The Bishop of Norwich has instituted the Rev. B.
J. Armstrong, M.A., to the vicarage of East Dereham.

A new church was consecrated at R,omford yester.
day by 048144 pi Apcheiter,