The Sun.
London, England, 1844-01-20 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

CHRONICLES OF GRETNA GREEN. 2 lola,
Bentley, London, 1844.
The title of this work will be pretty sure to recom-
mend it to the favourable consideration of our readers
—especially those of the fair sex—for who is there
that does not feel an interest in Gretna Green—the
celebrated scene of so many run-away marriages,
where Lord Erskine figured in the disguise of an old
woman ; where the young and briefless John Scott,
afterwards the wealthy Earl of Eldon, received the
hand of a lady, against whose father he subsequently,
in his capacity as Lord Chancellor, signed an act Of
bankruptcy; and where, at a more recent period, -Mr.
Edward Gibbon Wakefield laid the foundation of a
three years' imprisonment within the very unsentimental
walls of Newgate ? The volumes before us giO rrrr
historical account of this celebrated border locality.
from the earliest times down to the present day ;
the " materials and anecdotes"—observes the author,
in his preface—" were collected in the parish of
Gretna Green itself; and that, too, from such sources
as may be held worthy of credit." Aluch of the
early history of the place is, of course, intimately
connected with the border skirmishes between Eng.
land and Scotland, wnich continued with more or less
violence for so many ages; and, accordingly, we have
many quaint and singular anecdotes respecting these
conflicts, and those who took part in them, which
serve to relieve and enliven what otherwise w.ould
have been a mere dry detail of facts. In the course
of his historical investigations the author devotes
chapter to what he calls. the " Raid of Solway
Moss,"—the term applied to a celebrated conflict that
took place, in the middle of the sixteenth century,
between the Scotch and English borderers; and in
another chapter he sketches the rise and progress of
the "Loves of Mary and Bothwell," which, however,
are far too well known to stand in need of repetition.
The volumes are amusing enough, though their
interest is not a little diminished by the quaint,
rugged, and frequently careless and flippant manner
in which they are written. The author's serious
moods are decidedly his best; when he attempts to
be facetious, he fails as signally as an elephant would
fail who should undertake to dance a gallopade. The
subjoined passage is a fair specimen of his style,; it
commences a chapter, entitled a " Visit to the Gretna
Priest" :

" Simon Laing, weaver and priest,' son and heir,
and so forth, to the most notable David the pedlar, is a
personage of much, and most especial respect, a person-
age whose interest is great, whose power is confessed,
whose influence is extensive, whose friendship is worth
obtaining, whose reputation is unbounded, &c. In his
custody are the most important volumes of marriage
register, come down to him through a long succession•
and by him hereafter to be transmitted to the latest pos-
terity. This register descended to its present possesS9r
from his father, who received it we know not whence. It
probably originated in him, when the plan of monepo'
using the trade began to be systematically established'
It has been the policy at Gretna Green, for the principal
merrier to associate unto himself some partner ip the
business; thus, old Paisley took into his confidence
David Laing, and when Paisley died, David convected
his son Simon with him as his partner; furthermore.
when the Angel of Death breathed upon David, and
was left alone, he, the said Simon, became associated, itt
partnership with one Robert Elliott,of honourable mention.
Now, this apostolic succession is not thus .crupulouslY
maintained without good reason, that is, ie so far as th!.l
themselves are concerned ; and, indeed, it was ;he din''
covery of certain advantages to be derived therefrom
that at first establish, d this consecutive dove
this concatenation—of priests. In the first place. !t
enables them, by the extreme exclusiveness of their
body, to secure to themselves the whole of the traffic,
and, above all, the emoluments arising therefrom ; in the
second place, it gives vast importance, consideration,
and notability to him that thus holds " the keys ;" and,
in the third, this concatenation tends to prevent the loss'
dispersion, or injury of the sacred books, so reverently
looked upon and so carefully guarded. In these voluTe6
are entered the names of all those whom the guardian
priest has united in holy bands ; and the custody of theta
gives to their possessor his chief ability to continue the
prevailing system of monopoly. Their importance,
therefore, is manifest. Hence, that they may not pits
into the hands of strangers, the necessity, of partnershlP
is acknowledged, so that, when the principal dies, the
other being heir by devise, succeeds to the inheritance'
By looking well to these things, they engross much cool'
merce and much lucre to themselves, of course not a
little to the envy and prejudice of their neighbours in the
parish, whom the destinies have-made less fortunate.'

INSTITUTION OF CIVIL ENGI-
NEERS.
The annual general meeting of the Institution Wes
held on Tuesday evening, when the usual report of the
Council was read. It appeared that the progres°
of the Society was satisfactory, and the increase
of members was equal to that of preceding years'
but the amount of arrears of subscription was larger.
The members were pressed to transmit par"
for reading, for, as was justly stated, scientific societies
can only be supported by useful and interesting com-
munications, and by raising such discussions upon there
as are the distinguishing features of the meetings of the
Society of Engineers.
Memoirs of Professor Wallace, of Edinburgh ; of Mrci
ase
Buddle, of Newcastle, and of several other dece
members, were read.
Telford medals were presented to Messrs. F • W
Simms, W. Pole, and T. Oldham,. for communiesti°ll
presented by them to the Institution. Telford and
Walker premiums of books were also presented t 0
Messrs. D. Mackain, D. Bremner, D. S. Hope, R. Mallet,
W. J. M. Rankine, W. L. Baker, S. C. Homershatn,
J. 0. York, G. D. Bishopp, and G. B. W. Jackson, for
their papers and drawings, which had been read and
exhibited at the meetings during the past session.
Mr. J. WALKER, the President, addressed the meeting
upon the internal management of the Society, we
election of his Royal Highness Prince Albert
as an honorary member, the valuable additiea
to the library presented by the Duke of
cleuch, the course of study and practice most beneficial
for young engineers, and the opportunity afford'
by the institution for coining advantageously befor°
the world; he then, among other novel subjects eon;
netted with engineering, spoke of having lately visited
the atmospheric railway near Dublin, and said that,
without prognosticating as to the future, the expert:
ments he witnessed appeared more promising than thelT,
with locomotive engines at a corresponding ea%
period of their introduction upon railways. f
then gave a short notice of the connection °
Col. Stoddart with the institution, as its Honorary Seerel
tary in the years 1834.5, alluding to the exertions nee'
making by a committee of gentlemen, under the diree:,,
tion of Captain Grover, for ascertaining the fate, and,
possible, of obtaining the release of Colonel Stoddart
_
and Captain Conolly, who, there was every reason t°
believe, were really still alive, although detained in a set'
of captivity.
In confirmation of this, Lieut.-Colonel Humfrey stated
that Captaiu Grover had been informed by Lord Aberdeen
that authentic intelligence had been received from Con:
stantinople, and from the British Consul at Trezibond, to
the effect that some pilgrims recently arrived direct fron
Bokhara had seen both Col. Stoddart and Capt. Conolly
alive and at liberty, although strictly watched; that the/
were both employed in the military service of the Alneer'
and, that evidently they were restrained by some power"
ful reason from attempting to make their situaticnk
known, as it was not probable otherwise that two officer;
of such merit should allow themselves to be reported
dead, and their names to be struck off the Army Lat.
The favourable reception of Mr. Woolf at the varioaS
places he had hitherto passed through was noticed, and 11
spirited subscription to the Stoddart and Conolly Furl
a
was immediately commenced among the members Of ta
Institution, who all appeared anxious to aid in t
AP--
restoration to his native country of a gentleman who how ,
whilst connected with them, gained so many friends- ,
The ballot for the Council took place, when the 1`)
lowing gentlemen were elected ;—Messrs. J. Walker:
President ; W. Cubitt, B. Donkin, J. Field, and 1-1. i..,
Palmer, Vice-Presidents ; I'. Clark, F. Giles,
Lowe, J. Miller, W. C. Mylne, J. M. Rendel, G. Renniej.
R. Sibley, J. Simpson, J. Taylor, F. Braithwaite,l
W. Cubitt, other members and associates of Council.
The following papers were announced to be read at Lu".
;
next meeting, on the 6th of February, until which time
the meeting adjourned
No. 582. " Description of a Water Wheel, construe:by W. Fairbairn, Esq., and erected in Lombardy t"
S. B. Moody, Assoc. Inst. C.E.
No. 586. " Description of a new Chain-bucket Water'
wheel ;" by J. Wight.
No. 588. " Description of Whitelaw's Horizontsl
Water Wheel ;" by J. Whitelaw. r•
No. 613. " Description of a Water Meter ;" '
Carmichael.

A deputation of licensed proprietors of backneY
carriages, consisting of Mr. Thompson, Mr. FuicheTti
Mr. Bell, Mr. Powell, solicitor, and Mr J. 0. PhilPTi'
their secretary, had a long interview yesterday "4'l
Mr. Manners Sutton at tne Home-office.
RUMOURED RENEWAL OP TIIE BANK CHARTBO',
Bank Stock continues to rise, being up to l per cent,
and we may mention as a " great secret," that it is c°,„l
fidently believed the Corporation will obtain a rene,o
s,"
of its Charter, and that the present Ministry 11 ~,„
already intimated to the Governor and Deputy Gover7,.
at a recent interview, that it is the intention of Greve lit
inent to support the claim for it. The quid pro qtif'di-e
our information be correct, will be the assistance °1 at
Bank in any conversion plan, by a large advance to to.e_r
the demands of those who may dissent from a reductly.,
of the interest on their Stock. The matter,
kept so close, that very few are aware of the terms afer,epd
en ve iorve
DENSE FoG.—A remarkably dense fog
the town and neighbourhocd in darkness that might liter:lllo,Y
however, y.
felt, in the afternoon and night of Monday last. The Der" panie
which leaves Nottingham at half-past eight, or a quarter t°
in the evening, was upset whilst going down the Lento" Shestli
The coachman, a very carefitl driver, was unable to see the
, to
of his horses, and kept so much on the left side of the roe",
run the coach into the deep hollow adjoining Mr. Parsone'•
pap
breaking the springs and other parts of the coach. The pr•
sengers, the Dean of Lincoln, Mr. Richard Enfield, and a 18dy'Alr.
tunately escaped unhurt ; but one of three outside passengers'
rlble*
Dixon, of Sta,leford, was much bruised, and taken up to
.v
lie was conveyed to Nottingham, and his friends Catlie
oWOday
t
fetch him, but he was unable to bear a removal till the nea ught
The coachman was also slightly bruised. The coach was rb I.° dea
home in a very shatter€d condition, and the mail bags t
to Derby by the railway.—Nottingham Review.
13°.
BRITISH TRADE WITH (211 INA.—A Governrne-noipe
titleation, containing rules to be.observed in drawing
uP, tour
manifests to be presented at the British Consulate forth t; pa
'
and the other ports, has been forwarded to Lloyd's,
of
of Cb
rural of merchants, captains, and others in the trade