The Sun.
London, England, 1868-04-11 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

Abyssinia and its Apostle. By Lady Herbert. One
Vol., pp. 200. Burns, Oates, and Co.

Several books having especial relation to the Abys-
sinians have already made their appearance from
the press in this country since the commencement
of the war between England and Abyssinia, but
not one amongst them all is in any way compar-
able to the present charming volume either in
sustained interest or in intrinsic importance.
Lady Herbert speaks of it in her Preface as a trans-
lation, without, however, affording any clue as to
either the original author of the work, or the lan-
guage from which it has been translated by her
fluent and indefatigable pen. Judging from the
title-page alone, we should have been led to regard
the volume as one of Lady Herbert's own produc-
tions. It matters little enough, however, to the
reader of it, whether the book be original
or translation—for, viewed in any light, for such
as it is, it is charming. Incidentally it affords a
vivid glimpse at once of the past history and of the
present condition of Abyssinia. Incidentally, also,
it describes—very opportunely—the origin, the
career, the rise, the power, the daring, the
cruelty, and the general character (all of
them extraordinary) of the remarkable Ad-
venturer now the ruler of the Abyssinians and
the foe of England. Although his career as a sol-
dier dates back now over fifteen years, he is still
only thirty-five years of age—having risen from
the position of a common soldier in the ranks to
the supreme power which he has for so many years
wielded over the whole of that immense country
with its vast population. Born the son of a poor
peasant, Cassa has by mingled audacity and in-
trigue assumed to himself the name, style, and title
of the Emperor Theodoros. He has changed his
sword into a sceptre. He has drawn over his sol-
dier's uniform the robes of sovereignty. What is
here said of him, however, is said of him, as we have
remarked, only incidentally. The real hero of Lady
Herbert's book is no mere worldly adventurer, like
Cassa, otherwise the Emperor Theodoros. It is
one no less worthy of the name of hero than the
Abouna Jacob, or, in other words, Monsignor
Justin de Jacobis, the Apostle of Abyssinia. Sixty
years of age when his noble career was completed,
Monsignor de Jacobis had given twenty years of his
life to his apostolate in Ethopia. As the Apostle
of Abyssinia he was the means, under God,
of bringing 25,000 souls to the knowledge of the
divine truths of Christianity. The beautiful record
here given of his earthly career—comprised within
the compass of nine enthralling chapters—re-
lates the whole of the more remarkable inci-
dents of that career from the date of his
birth, on the 10th of October, 1800, to that
of his death on the 31st of July, 1860.
The book should be read in its entirety. It is
worthy of perusal and preservation afterwards on
our book-shelves, not only as a contribution of con-
siderable ♦alue and importance to the history Of
Abyssinia, but, what is of far more import, as a
contribution also to modern hagiography. As hon-
ourable alike to the recipient of it, to the theme
of the book, and to the Translator, the Dedication
of the little volume is so charming of its kind,
that we are tempted to echo it here as an
excerpt—it running as follows :—" To the Very Rev.
Herbert Vaughan, D.D., founder of the Missionary
College at Mill-hill, this humble translation of the
life of one in whose footsteps he needs not the will
but only the opportunity to follow, is affectionately
and respectfully inscribed." Laying down the book,
now that we have read and reviewed it, we do so
—not for the first time—with a sense of obligation
to Lady Herbert.

MARKETS—(This Day.)
--40--

COLONIAL AND FOREIGN PRODUCE.

The public markets are closed for the Easter holidays,
but privately there is a good inquiry for several of the pri'
mary articles, and rates tend upwards for tea and sugar
whilst they are very firm for nearly every description of
produce.
NEWGATE AND LEADENHALL.

MEAL— S upplie s are moderate, and rates steady. The
lamb season bas opened rather slowly, owing to the
colder temperature of the weather. We quote beef
3s 2d to 4s 2d ; mutton, 3s 4d to 4s 4d ; veal, 4s 4d to
5s 4d ; pork, 3s 8d to 4s 8d ; lamb, 6s 8d per stone of 811
by the carcase. _ _

Poultry is in limited supply and firm in price, but the
trade is slow.

POTATOES.
Trade is quiet, with good supplies. Quotations remairi
without variation.

TALLOW.

There is a moderate inquiry, and prices are Miller:
Y.C., on the spot, 44s to 45s ; June, 45s to 45s 3d ; 10'
three months, 45s 3d to 45s 6d.

SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE—This Dal•

(Br TELEGRAPH.)
GRAVESESD, Saturday Morning'
Arrived, April 10.—Germania, steamer, from Hamburg,'
Lady Flora, steamer, from Antwerp ; Lord John Russob'
steamer, from Dunkirk ; Eider, steamer, from Geefte°
munde ; Prince Alfred, from Port Natal; Asterope, froril
Wellington; Florence Nightingale, from Rangoon; Southey
Cross, from Macao; Morse, from Singapore; llaabet, fr°l3l
Laurvig ; Racer, from Bangkok; Julie Tatham, from
Algoa Bay.

Arrived, April 11.—Actma, from Port Natal ; Maria'
from Hamburg; Susan Bally, from Lagos; Resolution
from Terceira ; Primus, from Gottenburg ; Little Gem
from St. Michael's ; John Sophia, from Stralsund ;
steamer, from Brussels; Lion, steamer, from G'eesteinunue'
Dolphin, steamer, from Antwerp ; Adler, steamer, from
Bremen ; Siam, from Auckland ; Lady Derby, steal:o°l
from Smyrna.
Sailed—Triton, steamer, from Ostend ; Seine, steal:ol'l
for Boulogne.

DEAL, Saturday Morning-
Passed—Aretas, from London, for Simon's Bay; INl3'
gara, from London, for Quebec; Decio, from London, f°',
Swansea.

...... ______
Anchored—Stanley, from New York, for London ; Irere!
from Jamaica, for London ; Wave Queen, from Demerara'
for London; Masonic of London, from Africa, for London
Jessie, brig, Caller-Ou, ship, and Carthagena, schooner'
from the west, for London.

Owing to the large number of troops who 1151:
recently been withlrawn from the various corps 5'
Chatham—numbering about 1,200 men of all rank°
—most of whom have embarked for foreign 0e1"
vice, the strength of the garrison has been consider-
ably reduced, while but few recruits have recently
arrived to join the various regiments. The corPa°
for which recruiting remains open are the Ist an
2d Royals, the Bth and 82d Regiments. With the
exception of skilled workmen and mechanics of eeri
taro trades no recruits are taken for the ROsi
Engineers, while recruiting for the Royal Marines
are entirely suspended.
vo
The Boston and Albany Railroad Company ."5
purchased $300,000 worth of real estate lying °:
their road bed in Boston, for the purpose of enlarb
ing and improving it.
WRECKS IN THE BRISTOL CIIANNEL.—The Nes!:
port (Monmouthshire) magistrates have decided au t-,
portant case in reference to the ownership of vir°e;,(l
Seven men were summoned at the instance of the 13e3,...
of Trade for finding and taking into their possession Cet
taro wreck in the Bristol Channel without giving noticemcl°
the Receiver of the district. Mr. Cumberland support
the information, and explained that it was the dut?r,-1.
parties discovering wrecks to give notice to the Rece'%:,
for the district, upon which they would be entitled to out°
third of the value of the same. Witnesses were call°d;,,
prove that the defendants took a quantity of ship 0
ging from a wreck in the Channel, which they sold °LIN;
marine store dealer. The magistrates fined the defo'cl:4o,
Is. each and costs, and they wore ordered to pay £2'
being double the value of the wreck they disposed °f° jio
During a quarter of a century Horniman's Teas hal.°
an immense sale, and as they are now 8d per pound
in consequence of the Reduced Duty, the demand fa
doubtless be mu further extended. Sold, secured,l,,
Packets; genuine are signed llorniman and Co., 1.000