The Sun.
London, England, 1850-01-31 00:00:00

A ROMANCE OF REAL LIFE.

The following brief narrative we present to our
readers as literally true, and we only wait for the
legal denouement to give the names of the parties as
well as their abode :—ln a town within an hour's ride
of Reading resides a lady, the second wife of a pro-
fessional gentleman, but who by a first marriage has
several children, now arrived at years of maturity.
One of them, a daughter, by some means became ac-
quainted with a young man, holding a respectable
office under Government at one cf our seaports, and
an attachment ensued, which, when known, was
strongly disapproved of by the family, who thought
the lover, the son of an humble tradesman, an un-
suitable match for the young lady. It is not neces-
sary here to relate any passages of that " true love,"
which, according to the dictum of the most profound and
the most tender of poets, "never yet ran smooth," nor
will we say anything about the mental trials, which
the poor young lady must have undergone—suffice it
to say that her constitution gave way, and a few days
ago she died. Her remains were duly conveyed to
the family vault, some six miles from her late home ;
the funeral obsequies were celebrated, the lover him-
self attending, an uninvited mourner, but, doubtless a
most sincere one. Late in the evening he returned
to the town where the lady had lived, in what con-
fusion of mind and utter misery the sequel will show.
As midnight approached he retraces his steps to
where the remains of her he loved were de-
posited. He could not nor would not believe that
she was really dead. He forced open the church-
door, and, soon arriving at the entrance of the
vault, he entered. Amongst the coffins there
deposited he could not identify that of his
departed, and therefore he opened more than one,
until he satisfied himself that he had laboured under
a delusion. He returned again to the town already
indicated. The next morning the persons connected
with the church were horrified by finding the sacred
edifice had been desecrated, and the abode of the
dead violated. Excitement and conjecture were at
their height ; and upon its being known, many went
to see what had occurred. Suspicion had fallen upon
the unhappy lover, and his sudden appearance among
the spectators induced the authorities to take him into
custody for thus violating the law. At the time we
are writing, a judicial investigation is being held
before the magistrates, and next week we doubt not
we shall be enabled to communicate the result. We
do not pretend in this hasty sketch to verify every
minute detail, but the main points are so literally
true that we have perhaps been unnecessarily scrupu-
lous in withholding the names, which some may think
calculated to render this " over true tale" less credi-
ble.—Berkshire Chronicle.

HIGH TIDE IN THE MEDWAT.—On Tuesday the
tide rose in the Medway to an extraordinary height,
and for more than en hour previous to the time of high
water the river in many parts overflowed its banks, the
weight of water breaking down the land-walls whereby
it is usually kept within its limits. The various wharfs
in the neighbourhood were flooded, and in the High-
street of Strood a boat plied for the convenience of pas..
sengers, many houses being inundated to the depth of
several feet. Anticipating a return of the visitation at
night, various precautions were taken to exclude the
intruder, but fortunately without cause, as the water
then only attained the height of an ordinary spring tide.
" A TALE or BEEF TEA."—A Scotch minister,
who tarel about no sublunary things (except now and
then a visior ary tale of bawbees might cross his mind),
on one occasion being taken seriously ill, called in the
doctor, and admonishing him first " not to draw a lang
bill, for he couldna afford it," asked him the nature of
his complaint After feeling the parson's pulse, looking
at his tongue, tapping his chest, &c., the doctor declared
that he was starving himself. "Lord, doctor," said the
ahay pickle of
e
minister, " ye're a witch; for Jeannie (his housekeeper)
geed away twa days sine, andla'av,eyne o
maun had
brose since!" " Why minister, na
beef tee." " Lord, doctor, I hue nae tea in the house,some
nor beef either; ye maun be a feul to think o' finding
ony here." '« Weal, weal, minister, I'll sen' ye some beef
tea done." Na na, doctor, yell' i put it in the bill."
"
charge, minister, I'll send it doon free o' and mind Ye
tak it." The doctor sent down the beef tea, and next
day called to see how his patient was getting on.
Wee!, minister, how are ye the day?'
I'te awfu' ;(f a' the pheesick I ever teli‘k ilieng' man!life,mha.
the beef tea beats a'.' Why, man, it widna stay we
me ava :it made me worse than ony mittick." "Why,
minister, I'll try the tea mysel." So putting some in a
skillet, he a armed it, tasted it, and told th eminister it
was excellent. " Mae," says the minister, "is that the
way ye sup it?" What ither way should it bo suppit?
It's excellent, I say "It may be gude that
way, doctor, but try it the cream and sugar, man!
try it wt' that, and then see how ye like it?" It is
needless to say how the doctor laughed at the simple
minister fancying that all tt a should be taken wsth tea
and sugar.
The Earl of Malmesbury has been for some days
confined to his bed by rheumatic fever, and will be un-
able to attend his Parliamentary duties at the meeting of
the session.
ROYAL MILITARY ACADEMY.--WOOLWICII, JAN,
30.—The whole of the gentlemen cadets arrived ies-
terday at the Academy, on Woolwich-common, and this
morning atteudeci their %risme chums tit that iublituti9u.

THE OPENING

OF

PARLIAMENT.

HER MAJESTY'S
SPEECH.

Parliament was opened this day by Commission.
The- House of Commons having been summoned, the
Spe Aker, accompanied by several of the Members,
app eared at the Bar of the House of Lords, when
the Lord Chancellor read the Royal Speech as
foilows

"Mr LORDS AND GENTLEMEN,
" We are commanded by her Majesty to assure
you that her Majesty has great satisfaction in again
having recourse to the advice and assistance of
her Parliament.

" The decease of her Majesty Queen
Adelaide has caused her Alajesty deep
affliction. The extensive charity and exem-
plary virtues of her late Majesty will always render
her memory dear to the nation.

" Her Majesty happily continues in peace and
amity with Foreign Powers.

" In the course of the autumn, differences of a
serious character arose between the Governments
of Austria and Russia on the one hand, aad the
Sublime Porte on the
,other, in regard to the treat-
ment of a considerable number of persons who, after
the termination of the civil war in Hungary, had
taken refuge in the Turkish Territory.
" Explanations which took place between the
Turkish and Imperial Governments have fortunately
removed any danger to the Peace of Europe which
might hare arisen out of these differences.

" Her Majesty having been appealed to on
this occasion by the Sultan, united her efforts
with those of the Government of France, to which
a similar appeal had been made, in order to assist
by the employment of her good offices in effecting
an amicable settlement of those differences, in a
manner consistent with the dignity and indepen-
dence of the Porte.

" Her Majesty has been engaged in communica-
tions with Foreign States, upon the measures which
might be rendered necessary by the relaxation of the
restrictions formerly imposed by the navigation laws
of this country.
"The Governments of the United States of
America and of Sweden have promptly taken steps
to secure to British ships in the ports of their re-
spective countries, advantages similar to those which
their own ships now enjoy in British ports.
"With regard to those Foreign States whose
navigation laws have hitherto been of a restrictive
character, her Majesty has received from nearly all of
them assurances which induce her to hope that our
example will speedily lead to a great and general dimi-
nution of those obstacles which previously existed
to a free intercourse by sea between the nations
of the world.

"In the summer and autumn of the past year
the United Kingdom was again visited by the ravages
of the Cholera, but Almighty God, in His mercy,
was pleased to arrest the progress of mortality,
and to stay this fearful pestilence. Her Ma-

jesty is persuaded that we shall best evince
our gratitude, by vigilant precautions against the
more obvious causes of sickness, and an enlightened
consideration for those who are most exposed to its
attacks.

"Her Majesty in her late visit to Ireland de-
rived the highast gratification from the loyalty and
attachment manifested by all classes of her subjects.
Although the effects of former years of scarcity are
painfully felt in that part of the United Kingdom,
they are mitigated by the present abundance of food,
and the tranquillity which prevails.
"Her Majesty has great satisfaction in con-
gratulating you on the improved condition cf corn-
;tierce and manufactures. It is with regret that
her Majesty has observed the complaints which
in many parts of the kingdom have proceeded from
the owners and occupiers of land. Her
Majesty greatly laments that any portion of her sub-

jects should be suffering distress. But it is a

source of sincere gratification to her Majesty
to witness the increased enjoyment of the necessa-
ries and comforts of life, which cheapness and plenty
hare bestowed upon the great body of her people.
" GENTLEMEN OF THE ,H0173E Of COMMONS,

"Her Majesty has directed the Estimates for
the year to be laid before you. Tney hare been
framed with a strict regard to Economy,
while the efficiency of the various branches of the
Public Service has not been neglected.

" Her Majesty has seen with satisfaction the
present state of the Revenue.
" Mr LORDS AND GENTLEMEN,

" Some of the measures which were postponed
at the end of the last session, for want of time for
their consideration, will be again laid before you.
Among the most important of these is one for the
better Government of the Australian Colonies.
" Her Majesty has directed various measures to
be prepared for the improvement of the condition of
Ireland. The mischief's arising from party processions;
the defects of the laws regulating the relations of
landlord and tenant ; the imperfect state of the Grand
Jury Acts; and the diminished number of elec-
tors for Members to serve in Parliament ;
will, together with other matters of serious conse-
quence, form the subjects of measures to be sub-
mitted fur your consideration.

" Her Majesty has learnt with satisfaction, that
the measures which have been already passed for the
promotion of the public health are in a course of
gradual adoption ; and her Majesty trusts that
both in the metropolis and in various parts of the
United Kingdom, you will be enabled to make
further progress in the removal of evils which afftct
the health and well-being of her subjects.
"The favour of Divine Providence has hitherto

preserved this kingdom from the wars and convulsions
which during the last two years have shaken so many
of the States of the Continent of Europe. It is her

Majesty's hope and belief that by combining liberty

with order, by preserving what is valuable, and
amending what is defective, you will sustain the
fabric of our institution', as the abode and the shelter
of a free and happy people."
Their Lordships adjourned during pleasure.

The Inverness Courier gives the history of a pair
of bagpipes which have been played in that town during
the Christmas holidays. They were manufactured
about 100 veers ago for the Duke of Gordor, and have
been since in 32 military engagements in Canada, Egypt,
and the Continent.
THE EXPERIMENTAL BALLOON.—An experimental
message balloon, as suggest.d by Mr. Geo. Shepherd,
C.E., for communicating information with Sir John
Franklin in the Arctic Regions, will be disra*ched from
London in the course of af w days. The messages will
be printed on coloured 1 aper as follows; many thou-
sands of which will be circulate:lt—Experimental bal-
loon. Notice. London, Jan. 30, 1850. Any Fersfin
who may pia( up this slip of paper, is respectfully re-
quested to forward it immediately (per post) to the Sc-
cietary at the Admiralty, I.ondor, stating the time and
whore fonnd.—Found at on 1850.

It having been reported that some of the Midland
officials have been bearing" the stock to the extent
of 40,0001., we understand the shareholders have called
fur an investigation. Mr. Ellis has been written to on
the subject.—Herapath's Journal.
CHESTER AND HOLYHEAD RAILWAY.—Trafi:c for
the week ended Jan. 27, 1850:—C. and 11. Main Line,
9984 Ss. 3d.; Mold, 71/. 6s. Id.; steam-boats, 69/.
161, 91—Total, 1,139/, es. Id.

LITERATURE.
THE 'PETREL ; or Love on the Ocean• A
3 vols.
lii
of the Sea. By a Naval Officer.
ovel are divided into almost innumerable classes,
each has its especial and its general admirers.
lAmong them all the naval novel holds a prorainen!
acein the estimation of the general reader, Spa
numbers a large multitude of peculiar admiral,:
takes There
is something fascinating in the the Whicu
us awhile from the narrow circuit of ordinall
associations to lead us " o'er the glad waters of
dark the
blue sea." There is something in the very
ganization of the little world on board ship wand
possesses a charm for the most unsailorlike lan
liber. Even he "whose soul would sicker'
d o'er the bounding wave," if actually ono'
emned to voyage thereon, delights in imaginationt
wander " far as the breeze can bear the
billows foam," and in fancy to dare the perils of the
hurricane,wh or face the boarders of the enenli,: a
o are desirous of such adventures have "e;kB
iglorious opportunity for encountering them. "its
stormy
namesake, the Petrel of this narrative pursUes _ A
rmy
way undaunted by elemental strife !!,"07
defiant of mortal foes. At the opening of the fir°
these“Tbthree volumes, we learn that—
e little Petrel had been suddenly
the Commodore an O.
Ocean, of a cruizing squadron in the
search the Mozambique Channel, and
vague
Archi
[ °lag° to the northward of it, for pirates, la fdilel;ed
rumourand having reached that officer of vessels pion,. die.
believing the report, he felt it his duty to consider „at
dispetckeddibla
our Outward-bound East Indiamen frequently volt 1:;11
route, which circumstance being generallY„k3ttle
offered a powerful temptation to marauders. vellini-soy
Petrel, therefore, towards the close of cruise °L —O3
old e
months' duration, was hastily completed with
provisions and stale remainder biscuit from the t
5..1,.61.ga0d
ships of the squadron, it being presumed that we"' eat
fresh
provisionti, of both of which she Wed rher
need, might be readily procured in many Parts °
extensive route." Wilst
Thus provided the Petrel sets out on her 11°-rie tale
perilous- enterprise. She is commanded by u,,aPr his
Daunton, a man eminently well qualified and
responsible position. His nobility of sPir,wa jOO5l
kindliness of heart are manifested on many°" rof
on. none more beautifully than in the closing bgtrel,
hcareer. Herbert, the first lieutenant of the pole
is.s the hero of the story, and the gentle Norah, its
is the heroine. Of their history, which gatiat its
second title to the novel, we shall only sayt ented
sentimental interest is not diminished, but angudrion-
by the very natural and in nowise exaggerate .
mother,
ner in which the various feelings of the father, which
and daughter are described. The scene irivoralis
the trembling Mrs. Darcie confides in
secret to her father does not read like an
ord
el:l°r, life.
novel ;it rather resembles an event in inadotion,
And to say this is to express no mean cenifueDod by
The
various perils encountered by the Petrel; work,
the other vessels incidentally mentioned thisffectife
are described in a very interesting and !dot tp
manner ; and necessarily so, for it will be et? which
all who turn over these pages that the hrsinthereia
planned the intricacies of the nautical man cenvre lass
.described has before now executed similar po the
in imagination bat in reality. Such a surntise erect,
part of the readers of the " Petrel will be ed
t°
for we believe that the " Naval Officer" alludneded
the title-page is Admiral Fisher, who comma" to tbs
the blockade of Alexandria in 1840. In additi°lles tb.
peculiar interest attached to the nautical shed,13
,ket._terest
various characters described are happilY
although the story is not one of very intensediuseries
it is a pleasing narrative, agreeably told, and we hoc'
well to introduce a variety of sea adventuree..,ing the
marked some passages for extract, one deaert
ti.'e:t
too,
striking of the ship upon a coral reef, with
exception, perhaps, of a severe earthquake, the [a be
all
arming and perplexing sensation that 'fill cle•
imagined ;" and another, containing a P°Wedriog
scription of a narrow escape from an f sPace
tastrophe (Vol. 111 , page 214), but went of tba
compels us to omit them. The stratagem eof a
pirates in luring their enemy within rang t wbea
heavy gun concealed on the shore, at a mom° t
retreat was impossible, and the subsequePot ere
lantry of Herbert and death a voorhough!
admirably narrated. Many truthful oicP
are to be found in the pages of the
will repay the reader for the time spent in, I„efirfieticsi,
for them. There is one which is full et ro. gt"
wisdom ; alluding to a man who, "Nag
points, felt even luxury a bore," it is observe- 0300 s
" The cup of true enjoyment is but ef 11! more
capacity, and he who tries to force rainthereitltel
than it is calculated to hold, because his 'otts
„reel
blindness sees not its limits,
only wastes t"
fluid." ,4 petrel"
roil

Part if
ELIZA COOK'S JOURNAL. Doe:
Another instalment of this clever an"„:ropre;
periodical serves to confirm our favourable
sion of its merits, while it tends also to deve:°: of
more strikingly than heretofore the capabilit'e;pritei
gifted editor for the conduct of such an efte„s en
Eliza Cook is manifestly sustained in the ie"°:nr
aitb
responsibilities devolving upon her, in connePlythi
the management of her weekly miscellany' o des
reflection that her success has been ahead!' -60
far
anguished and that her work is alreadY cioo6.
advanced. Asa journalist she evidences ti COl/5a 016
ness of being no longer a novice : her 1111°051
into the movements of its new exercise within tgee
facility ; her having entered upon a second I°,oe°
manifested quite as distinctly by the wore rod i°
Q
tone of the different effusion, as it i 5 Pl.°Ctefileifit(l
SO many words by the mere effusions
afiver'W
At the close of each number, too, we are grbse volo
observe that she still continues giving tedinllo-
column of "Diamond Dust"—thereby n i
ed
each part a kind of fringe or tassel °` collefith
Several of the sententious sentences iete
under that appropriate heading are "Pat "ei
aworld of meaning, and others are fran,ter thAtt
the ineffable graces of poetry. Alterd'ißog.
evidence a large and most appreciative,restig oclevet.
her rhythmical contributions the editor:iss.,e ebt
tigable ; and, needless to say, her verses .solodrhigof
marked by an incontestable ability. Gen' Danchor
agreeable are her verses on "Receiving sr,a OP to
Heather, Gorse, and Fern ;__" consoling arPoilllty
rating are those entitled, " There's a Sjuiveesded• Oat
Every Cloud ;" felicitous are the lines "adore. • nor
Again"—being rhymes for young re sto tbisre
sweetest and best of all her contributilit least ere!
tion of her journal—to our thinki
the stanzas addressed to C. C. in the v- .0
1%.1
ng'A enericateLye.
commemorative of " Our Rambles 'Jments, thet,
Besides her own charming poetic fr3gt, with °ive
Cook graces the pages of her miscells9.7_st cone` ore
of various merit from the pens of differvt, but 11 end
tors. Some of these are really exeellen origin es'
scarcely comparable to the prose papers
lie, fOO
selected. Among the latter we recoslool'6
ample, our old favourite, poor Ton A other Woe'
Peck's Pudding." StorieF, essays, and the tbe
laneous articles alternate througn' notice-ort °-
which are sprinkled also with criticisl that oil
cative of considerable taste and Acuson °9carne.oloalill
the reviewer. The work altogether n'nntioesli-poe,
to impart as much instruction to it 11. olenilided
affords entertainment. Under the adrnlr cr°vi Ole°.
ment of its celebrated editor, it is still stallse
hitherto with materials for information
AO

HAND-BOOKmr.TBIIOEIBvery
most part, present us with new and cheat' before,,
already popular works. The vohlu'eforsl/,00
" librarj'-'eaitl°- 0,49
exceient OF To
which forms part of the " Scientific "'work '001°(
however, not only to some extent a nevi to etl-0 °'
is almost unique of its kind. It professe.sg,
" the most complete directions for lob Polgipea6
skill and science yet presented to the PitertitatilP
Its great predecessor, Hoyle," says the 9re OtiPi re
‘‘ for more than half a century the enrvfect ;$00,6
has now become obsolete or je'Pe; °vac.;
'Ted to several of the prina- i - tick
andT more likely to mislead On
ti Ito
The want of a comprehensive, ilanueatild irt°
manual of this description having lifejertee I, IT:,
pressed on the publisher, be deter DO' wit'',
undertake it, and confided the task ,;begiaew
Carleton." The " Hand-book of Games.Aed tfltbe be
consideration of Whist, which is of
parts. Three of these are revised editiraileo. Ole
rections of Hoyle, Matthews, and Des,euffjfetos'osii:
fourth is an original treatise by Mr. I red • Ofir;
article on whist fills nearly two bon,;to
printed pages ; hence the minuteness °',4ole, Pcoiig„
may be easily surmised. Piquet, Quit.,ootis Of'
Vingt-un,Rouge-et-noir, and more than.'olofitellef
games are described with interesting WI, nip $11!
also Backgammon, Draughts, 0111-1
and American Bowls. Chess is 110 t COl3OOO en
list. It is hardly necessary to do Were, aaale.ejle°„
rate the contents of the " Hand-book '3'A° e%c
cannot fail to find a welcome wherever 1." 0101'
tierP s
effect of games of skill and science in 0.- 've
intellect and giving exercise to the rellecetissureloll
ties is duly appreciated. The
in the advertisement, that the various ee"tent Joutifil
been submitted to numerous ccoP Os o°o
and he further adds, that this volume the prttorlf,
nearly two years in passing through,, of I°o cal;
has occasioned a very considerable out."l:vben 1100 10
circumstance by no means surprising erob
inateritiosolee
sider the abundant and valuable
contains, and when we bear in mind the cufftoe'
ft , 0 J,
references, examinations, cogitaticll°' resem,itte
publishe„%ectiot!.se
tions required to bring it to Hs leire sahPforef!:
The chapters on Whist, we are told, iv, whist IV,pc'e
while at press, to several distinguisheci. _ 02,030,/
ted
and many notes have been appended oltorsbip
Mr. Bohn claims for himself the saWtigh OP; 0
article on Billiards, which be say* alth° beer °coo°
bO9 be 01°
from Mr. White's celebrated work, .„ baye.„ co a
tensively altered and corrected as ‘e-ifed,:,3loP„i
almost a new treatise. ne has disll°sol4"
piling it, the assistance of severaton, po e
players, and AlBO of Tblul