The Sun.
London, England, 1845-12-04 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

nothing of our art, and can ( mly wonder where, how, and
by whom it can easily, be surpassed.

REVIEW OF THE CORN TRADE.

POMFRET ; or PUBLIC OPINION and PRI.
V ATE JUDGMEAT. By Kenry F. Chorley.

BRITISH.

3 V ols.

THE CHALNBEA_RER . By J. F. Cooper, 3 Vols.
This is another of Ci'oop er's American tales—a con-
tinuation of the " Littl, wag e Manuscripts," to which we
were first introduced si mu months back in " Satanstoe."
The hero and heroine of that novel give place to their
son, who plays the fir st rule in this. A few years are
supposed to have inter vend, but they are years that
performed the work of. —a mighty revolution had
taken place. " Satanstoo' was a tale of the Colonies;
the events of the " Chaii ibearer" occur in the St dm
These volumes are net rein. arkable for the stirring inci-
dents and animated descripi ions to be: found in the pre.
ceding work, but, en revolt( .he, we 'nave highly-finished
portraits and masterly tikett •hes fo...cibly illustrating the
different characters. 11.ords unt Littlepage is the osten-
sible here, the preux the railer of the romance ; but there
is another, and a very im p2rtant personage, who gives his
tame to the cork And ries Co.eje mans (Quecta2ns) is a
Dutchman, a captain in th American army. having lost
his fortune, he becomes a surveyor, but, we are told, "he
had no head for mathen iatic', and after making one or
two notable blunders in t he 'way of his new profession,
he quietly sunk to the st aflon of a chainbearer, in which
capacity he was known to all the leading men of his craft."
Old Andries seems to be favourite with the author.
His character is described with considerable force and
even minuteness. He is re presented as a compound of
pride and humility ; ignore: at, yet shrewd; sagacious, but
simple ; • warm-hearted, ho nest, and honourable. The
chief incidents of the plot are occasioned by the disputes
of the landlords and the " squatters, the former
anxious to maintain possession of the soil which the
latter unceremoniously approrgiated to themselves.
This gives rise to some ;intereAting discussions regard-
ing land and landlords. The description of Aaron
Thousand Acres, the chi. Ar• of a family of " squatters," is
one of the most powerful in thebook. He is independent,
stern, even cruel ; convin zed of his rights and resolved to
maintain them ; his mot ;o, nem° 711 C impune lacessit ; his
anger easily kindled, an d his revenge terrible. These
stern scenes are pleasi ugly contrasted by occasional
glimpses of the Littleplge family. We there find our
old friends Cornelius and. Anneke surrounded by their
happy children, passing .their lives in tranquillity and
peace. The romance of the story is occasioned by the
loves of Mordaunt Littlopage and Ursula Malbone,
the niece of the chainbe arer. The whole narrative is
related in the first person. It is told in the easy style of
familiar conversation, which soon places the author on
friendly terms with his readers,

We have nothing new to communicate in regard to
the potato failure ; the accounts from some quarters
are less alarming this week than previously, whilst in
other localities, where it was before supposed little or no
mischief had been:done, the disorder is spoken of as being
very serious. That a good deal of uncertainty, and
some exaggeration, prevail on this subject, is very pro-
bable ; but it is beyond doubt that an immense propor-
tion of the growth of this useful root has been exten-
sively damaged. Proofs that such is the case are too
numerous to be for a moment disputed ; indeed, we have
not heard of a single instance, where parties have taken
the trouble to examine the state of the potatoes grown
in their own neighbourhood, or the condition in which
the supplies of the article have coma to the different
markets, in which it has not been admitted that the mis-
chief is serious.

In the present state of literature we should hardly be
surprised at any form which a work of fiction might as-
sume. Novels are now not merely love stories, as of old—
history, religion, politics, all the topics of the day, are
freely discussed in three volumes in the form of a
romance. Yet, notwithstanding this, " Pomfret" is,
even now, a 'work of rather extraordinary character.
Its object is evidently to promote a spirit of toleration.
Such an intention is praiseworthy, and it is to be hoped
will not be without effect. This is, indeed, an intolerant
age, at least with regard to religion ; for in this instance
Church and State are at variance ; political feuds are
comparatively at an end ; opinions have modified ; op-
posite sides have combined, and party spirit for a time
has been subdued ; while in religious affairs, feuds and
quarrels between those of different persuasions have
continued with unabated vigour. The Maynooth ques-
tion sufficiently illustrates both cases. The story of
" Pomfret" is intended to soften the rigour of " public opis
nion," and to claim a tolerant recognition of " private
judgment." It is entirely free from religious contro-
versy ; we are not asked to decide between different per-
suasions, but simply to acknowledge the right of indi-
vidual liberty of conscience. For this purpose, Mr.
Chorley has supposed an extreme case. Charles Pom-
fret is a clergyman of the Church of England, greatly
beloved by his flock, but from certain considerations
with which we are not made entirely acquainted, he
finds that his conscience cannot permit him to continue to
officiate. In spite of the sorrow of his family, the regret
of his parishioners—above all, in defiance of " public
opinion," he resolves to follow his " private judgment;"
he gives up his ministry, and secedes
,from the Church.
We are not told the sect that he joini; we are not re. '
quired to investigate his reasons; the object is, to decide
whether a clergyman, feeling his conscience at variance
with the rules of the Church, should continue in his
office, or voluntarily withdraw, and if so. how he should
be weighed in the balance public opinion. In the
case of Mr. Pomfret conscience " is its own reward ;"
he finds no other ; he is universally condemned ; he for-
feits at once his position in i,ociety and the countenance
and approval of his friends ; he is compelled to seek a
foreign country, and to endure the greatest mental suf-
fering. This, as we have said, is an extreme case; men
are naturally disposed to think lightly of those who
change; it is evident they have been wrong once, they
may be so again. We feel more respect for one who
firmly maintains an opinion at variance with our own, than
we should do were he to yield to our persuasions and come
over to our views. Public opinion admires consistency;
but what is so inconsistent as itself ? Private judgment
is a surer guide; in following it, a man is liable to err—
he is almost certain to be misunderstood ; but, at least,
he will not be hypocritical and dishonest, as are too
many of those whose only aim is to bask in the sun-
shine of " popular favour." Such is the moral of this
tale. In spite of its serious import, it contains much to
amuse the general reader. The character of Grace
Pomfret, the heroine, is a beautiful creation, combining
deep feeling and strong self-control—ardent love and
voluntary self-sacrifice ; her story alone would render
the work interesting. The letters of her wandering
lover, Walter Carew, contain many descriptions of Italy
likely to amuse those on travelling thoughts intent, and
the introduction of Peter Gray (the supposed author),
and his well-meaning, free-spoken sister Harriet, gives
an air of reality to the whole, which greatly increases its
attraction. The style is free and animated—effective
because it does not strive after effect; and the story will
interest and amuse, even should it fail to make many
converts to the right of " private judgment."

In how far the extra breadth planted—and we believe
there was a greater breadth of ground under this crop
than usual, as well on this side of the Channel as in
Ireland—may compensate for the damage done, we have
no means of judging ; but however much inclined we
may be to hope for the best, we certainly feel some
uneasiness, and, without subscribing to the deplorable
case made out by a portion of the press as to the proba-
bility of extreme scarcity, we still think prices of
agricultural produce will be much higher during the
ensuing year, than has been the case at any period
since 1842, when the existing corn-laws came into
operation.
The trade in wheat has since our last maintained a
very firm tone, and the value of the article has further
advanced Is. to 2s. per quarter at several of the principal
markets in the agricultural districts. At the leading
shipping ports along the eastern coast, from whence
London and the other chief consuming towns derive so
important a proportion of their supplies, the rise has
been greater than at those places which depend in a
great measure on the fertile counties of Lincoln, Cam-
bridge, Norfolk, &c.— a state of things rather unusual,
and one which implies that the growers of wheat have
not a very high opinion of the result of the harvest.
From Scotland and Ireland the reports of the potato
crop are as various and contradictory as those from the
counties where this article is most extensively grown in
England ; the alarm is, however, in some degree abat-
ing, and the different remedies recommended to be em-
ployed to preserve that portion of the crop not destroyed,
are now being very generally employed.
The arrivals of wheat coastwise into London have
been moderate, only 4,785 quarters having been re-
ported up to this (Saturday) evening. The quantity
exhibited at Mark-lane by land-carriage samples from
the neighbouring counties, has also been small ; indeed,
with the exception of a run or two from Essex, the
stands were nearly bare of wheat, as well on Wednesday
as on Friday. The mild damp weather which has been
experienced during the greater part of the week has had
a deteriorating effect on the condition of the samples ;
notwithstanding this circumstance, the late advance has
been well maintained, and really good qualities, had any
appeared, would probably have brought rather more
money at the close than in the beginning of the week.
As it is impossible to manufacture good flour from the
wheat of this year's produce without a considerable mix-
ture of old, and as the supplies of the latter of home
growth have for some time past been inadequate for that
purpose, good free foreign wheat has been taken pretty
extensively at comparatively high rates. The stocks in
granary have, therefore, been reduced into a very narrow
compass ; and so difficult has it become to obtain
parcels of suitable quality, that some of the principal
millers have been under the necessity of buying bonded,
and paying the existing high rate of duty. Beyond,
however, what may be released in this way, there is no
chance of much of the late supply from abroad being en-
tered for home consumption ; importers, notwithstand-
ing the present position of the averages, feeling as con-
fident as ever, that sooner or later the duty must fall
materially.
The principal obstacle has hitherto been the very in-
ferior quality of the new English wheat. If only such as
is suitable for the manufacture of flour were returned,
we should at the present time, probably have an aggre-
gate average of 635. per quarter. A large quantity is
being used by the starch makers, and for other purposes,
and as the inferior varieties are selling at 50s. and under,
the averages are kept down.
The last general weekly return for the kingdom was
only 575. 11d. per quarter though good red wheat has not,
at any period during the last two months, been sold
below 655., whilst fine qualities of white are worth 70s.
per quarter in many parts of the country, and still more
at Mark-lane.

LA SOUBRETTE; or THE ADVENTURES
AND RECOLLECTIONS OF THERESA
DORNAY. 3 Vol":.

This is a very lively, entertaining narrative, full of
variety. It is said to be founded on facts, and very pos-
sibly the main incidents are not wholly without foun-
dation. Theresa Dornay, the heroine, is left at an early
age without friends or fortune. Having enjoyed the ad-
vantages of an excellent education, she assumes the ar-
duous duties of a nursery governess. In this situation
she endures many trials ; she is treated with neglect,
sometimes with unkindness, dismissed on the most
trifling pretences ; at each engagement hoping for better
fortune, yet each time doomed to disappointment. She
perceives the different treatment experienced by the
lady's-maid, and yielding to the persuasions of some
humble friends, she resolves to change her situation.
She is told " that it is not more humbling to wait on the
mistress of the family than to be in constant attendance
upon the children ; that she will be better paid, more
kindly treated, and have much more liberty as lady's-
maid than as governess." She accordingly commences
the life of a Soubrette, and finds no cause to
repent the change. At first sight it appears
extraordinary and improba!ole that one occupy-
ing the inferior position, of lady's-maid should
be preferred before a person of education and refine-
ment, to whom is entrusted, the intruction of the young.
But the reason is obvious. A governess is poor, but in
other respects she is the equal, if not the superior, of her
mistress. All persons of narrow views and ignorant
minds (and it is only these who can ill-treat the in-
structors of their children), all such persons will feel
humbled by their riwn inferior abilities, and, conscious
that they are superior in wealth, will avail themselves of
this advantage to humble those whose talents they envy,
but whose position they affect to despise. The lady's-
maid, on 'the contrary, does not pretend to be an equal ;
she is regarded as a servant, but often, by abilities which
render her necessary, or flattery, which makes her
agreeable,. she becomes the favourite companion, if not
friend, of her mistress. Whatever the cause, Theresa
Dornay experienced the advantages of the change. Yet
her course is not smooth even here. From some pretext
or other she is constantly changing situations ; but this
only renders her adventures more interesting. She gives
an amusing sketch of every family she knows. Being
behind the scenes, she can furnish full details, and this
she does in the most lively and sparkling manner. It is
one continued round of whimsical adventures, tragical
histories, piquant anecdotes, misunderstandings and re-
conciliations, plots and counterplots. If " variety is
charming," thee this is a most charming book. At all
events, it is arriusing. and if not calculated to afford much
instructions will make many an hour pass pleasantly.
We wouta observe, en passant, that it must not be taken
as a cor rert picture of modern life. If the scenes are
any of them probable, they can only relate to extreme
cases, the general tone of society is of a far higher
ch'Aracter.

STRUGGLES FOR FAME. A Novel. 3 Vols

By Eliza Mdeyard.

No ordinary mind produced this work. It is unequal,
but never weak. The plot is over-intricate for our taste
—sometimes it appears confused—but there is no deny-
ing that the principal characters are marked by strong
individuality, that the dialogue is natural, and that (to
borrow a phrase more usually applied to the drama)
" the situations are admirable."

The story is that of a poor girl, brought up amid the
trying scenes of sins and poverty, yet ever keeping her
soul unsullied: striving, through difficulties which would
crush a less noble spirit, to obtain that fame which is
won by the successful prosecution of letters ; and work-
ing her way, from the depths of obscurity, to a high re-
putation as an author. From the very first we feel
interested in this poor child of genius, Barbara Leaf-
dale. It would appear as if in drawing her, Miss Mete-
yard had resolved to show " how divine a thing a
Woman may be made." And, because they are linked
with her fortunes we are interested, too, in Adam, the
kind old bookseller, in the idiot Jock, in the benevolent
Mr. South, in kind-hearted Justice Tender, in Tom
Pnrland, and his violin, Captain Dogget, and his " great
Tom," and Mr. Brascord, the blind organist. So true is
it that
"One touch of Nature makes the whole world kin."

The probability that some time must elapse before a
material fall takes place in the duty, has tended to check
the disposition to enter into speculative purchases of
bonded wheat; and business has been further interfered
with by the high pretensions of holders. Beyond the
small sales to the millers, to which we have already al-
luded, little has therefore been done in lock wheat.
Moderately good high mixed Dantzic has been held at
58s. to 605., and for a parcel of very fine quality over
60s. per quarter is reported to have been paid in bond.
In the early part of the month the metropolitan bakers
manifested a decided aversion to increasing their stocks;
but within the last week or two the demand for flour has
decidedly improved, and no difficulty has been expe-
rienced in making sales at the current quotations.
The arrivals of barley have been rather large. Only
a very small proportion of the supply has, however,
consisted of really fine melting quality; and whilst the
general runs have been almost unsaleable, though offered
at the abatement of Monday, choice samples have been
sought after at fully previous prices. In foreign barley
there has been little passing ; the receipts from abroad
are mostly being stored in bond, in expectation of a
further fall in the duty.
The very finest descriptions of malt have commanded
a ready sale at former terms; but inferior kinds, of
which the greater part offered for sale las consisted,
have hung heavily on hand.
The arrivals of oats have, as compared with the
supplies of the preceding week, fallen off; still a large
quantity has come forward, viz. 6,982 qrs. from our
own coast, 2,501 qrs. from Scotland, 26,568 qrs. from
Ireland, and 5,774 qrs. from abroad. The improvement
in the trade, noticed on Monday, has nevertheless been
well maintained. The principal dealers appear to be of
opinion that they are not likely to have such another
opportunity of replenishing their stocks for some time
to come, and they have, consequently, purchased freely.
'This has restored confidence to factors; and good corn
could scarcely be bought on as easy terms on Friday as
in the commencement of the week.

Less to our taste, we confess, are the loves of Mr.
Crumpsure and Miss Snig, and the hates of sundry other
unworthies. We are even grieved that much clevernras
should have been expended on these characters. still,
the skill must be admired, and others, perhaps, may
better like the Tenier's mode of writing. If intended
as a contrast to the more gentle scenes and persons of
the novel, it has succeeded.

THE MAGAZINES.
AINSWORTH.

The present is an excellent number of Ainsworth, and
is distinguished by that which should be the distin-
guishing characteristic of every literary magazine—
variety. That reader must indeed be difficult to please
who cannot find matter of amusement here. Is he a
lover of romance, he will be delighted with the opening
paper, " The Count of Monte Christo," a continuation
of Alexander Dumas' tale of the " Prisoner of If ;"
eschewing fiction, he is one of those who patronises
useful knowledge (though Heaven knows more than
one-half of that which by a strange misnomer is termed
useful knowledge is the most useless lumber with which
man ever encumbered his brain), Mr. W. Francis Ains-
worth and the Hon. C. Stuart Savile are there ready to
administer to his amusement—the former by an account
of his adventures among the Muntifik Arabs, the latter
by a graphic description of the City of Ispahan ; does
he like the dreaming misty haze of German poetry and
metaphysics, Oxenford and Boyd will introduce him to
Richter and Heinrich Heine ; or should he prefer to
revel in horrors, Charles Oilier will make his flesh tingle
as he relates to him the sensations of " Osborne North•
brooke," who, in a fit of catalepsy, was placed in his
coffin, possessing his consciousness the whole time, and
was on the point of being buried alive. The sportsman
will find some most amusing reminiscences of Nimrod,
by the author of " Handley Cross." Persons about
to marry will derive both amusement and instruction
from the perusal of Mrs. White's admirably-told tale,
" The Separate Purse." We are delighted to meet with
an old friend in the present number of Ainsworth—Cor-
nelius Webbe, the English pen and ink Teniers, who, in
" The Lonely Man of Lambeth," gives us some most
highly-finished pictures of London low life, as distin-
guished from Cockney vulgar life. His picture of the
lonely man eating his breakfast of fried dabs, and at-
tended on by honest John Dards, that admirable speci-
men of Thames fisherman, is one of the most finished
interiors that the pencil of an artist ever produced ; and
albeit Cornelius Webbe paints in words only, yet is he
an artist of the very highest order. Dudley Costello
contributes an amusing " Dissertation on English Do-
mestic Cookery," in which he proves himself to be the
most learned and painstaking of culinary bibliogra-
phers ; and L. Mariotti gives us a sketch of town life
in Italy, entitled " The Fiasco." The following de-
scription of an Anglo-Italian grand cosmopolite rout,
although perhaps somewhat too sarcastic, is in its main
features correct ; and the concluding observations,
coming as they do from an Italian pen, are valuable, as
showing the estimation in which the Anglo-Italians are
really held by those amongst whom they choose to pass
their time :

The first volume unquestionably exhibits most power.
Curiously enough, like Dickens with " Oliver Twist,"
the writer of this work has succeeded better in the
early than the later part. The delineation of Oliver's
sufferings as a " parochial" orphan is not superior to
Miss Meteyard's narrative of the sayings and doings of
the Kite family, illustrative of the old system of hiring
out youthful parish incumbrances to be starved and
beaten, dragged and knocked about at so much per week.
The power and the truth of these scenes are very great.
Life in the metropolis is not so well drawn as adven-
tures in the country, because the darker phases are ex-
hibited. Indeed, we think that Miss Meteyard's forte
lies in the description of country life. Her glances at
rural scenery, by the way, are excellent. If Cuyp had
used a pen instead of a pencil, he would have described
even as this author does. If, as we judge from internal
evidence, this be Miss Meteyard's first published work,
we rejoice in the promise it exhibits. She has the
" faculty divine," out of which come those good works
which " the world will not willingly let die."

The duty on oats fell to 3s. per quarter on Thursday,
below which point there is little prospect of its receding.
Very few English beans have been exhibited since
Monday, and the rates then current have been firmly in.
sisted on.

Peas of all kinds have also sold at quite previous prices.

FOREIGN.

Up to a late hour this (Saturday) evening no intelli;
gence has been received of the Hamburgh steam-boaf
due yesterday.
The most recent advices from the Baltic are not of
much interest, business in grain having been checked by
the dull accounts from hence. Holders of wheat ap-
pear to have refused to make anything like the conces-
sion expected by buyers, and very few: bargains had,
consequently, been closed.
At Dantzic scarcely anything seems to have been done
for about a week or ten days preceding the date of our
letters, and quotations had become almost nominal.
Choice parcels of old having become very scarce, had
been offered at 545. to 555. per quarter free on board,
being a decline from former rates.
From the Lower Baltic ports the accounts are of a still
more depressed character, and rather an important abate-
ment had taken place in the value of wheat at some of
the principal markets.
At Stettin fine qualities of red wheat might have been
bought at 48s. to 495. per quarter, free on board ; but
even at these comparatively low rates (prices having at
one time been quite ss. per quarter higher) but few
purchasers had appeared. Barley had sold, for local
consumption, at equal to 255. 6d. per quarter. Vessels
were scarce, and 6s. per quarter had been paid to load
wheat for the east coast of Great Britain.

POEMS.HoImes. By Oliver Wendell 1 Vol.
. .

This volume of 'Poems has much disappointed us. Dr.
Holmes is an American, and we have repeatedly been
told that he was " a second Tom Head." We have read
this volume of his poems, collected by a London pub-
lisher, and find that although it contains many humour-
ous poems, by far the best are those gravely written
upon serious subjects. We looked for a mere humourist,
—a man who could be funny, and play upon words—a
writer who carried on a Pun-ic war against gravity,
and, lo! we find that, though he does all this (and does
it well., too), he does far better things. In fact, with the
exception of Bryant, Longfellow, and Mrs. Sigourney, we
fin d that America has not a better poet than this
Oliver Wendell Holmes. He has much disappointed us
—very agreeably.
We have done very little more, as yet, than glance
through the book. Poetry, to be fully enjoyed, must be
read again and again, to bring out the hidden meaning,
to show the music of the rhythm, to develope the balanced
adaptation of the words to the expression of the thought.
The first perusal of fine poetry, such as fills the volume
before us, is unsatisfying: it fills us with pleasure, but it
disarms criticism. Nor when we have drank in the
beauties when the heart expands with the noble
thoughts which Genius has poured out upon the page—
can we coolly sit down to weigh the charm in the nicely-
adjusted balances of Criticism ; but, even if we did sub-
ject these poems to such a trial, few faults could be
detected. Dr. Holmes is a writer of whom America has
every reason to be proud.
The first and longest piece, entitled " Poetry," was
written, we believe, before its author had reached the
age of three-and-twenty. Thus, in that piece, does Dr.
Holmes tell us how general is the power which he at
once possesses and illustrates:—
" There breathes no being but has some pretence
To that fine instinct called poetic sense :
The rudest savage, roaming through the wild;
The simplest rustic, bending o'er his child;
The infant, list'ning to the warbling bird,
The mother, smiling at its half-formed word;
The boy uncaged, who tracks the fields at large;
The girl, turned matron to her babe-like charge;
The freeman, casting with unpurchased hand
The vote that shakes the turrets of the land;
The slave, who, slumbering on his rusted chain,
Dreams of the palm-trees, on his burning plain ;
The hot checked reveller, tossing down the wine,
To join the chorus pealing ' Auld lang sync;'
The gentle maid, whose azure eye grows dim,
While Heaven is listening to her evening hymn;
The jewell'd beauty, when her steps draw near
The circling dance and dazzling chandelier;
E'en trembling age, when spring's renewing air
Waves the thin ringlets of his silver'd hair;—
All, all are glowing with the inward flame,
Whose wider halo wreathes the poet's name,
While, unembalmed, the silent dreamer dies,
His memory passing with his smiles and sighs.
If glorious visions, born for all mankind,
The bright auroras of our twilight mind;
If fancies, varying as the shapes that lie
Stained on the windows of the sunset sky;
If hopes, that beckon with delusive gleams,
Till the eye danCes in the void of dreams ;
If passions, following with the winds that urge
Earth's wildest wanderer to her farthest verge;
If these on all some transient hours bestow
Of rapture tingling with its hectic glow,
Then all are poets; and if earth had rolled
Her myriad centuries, and her doom were told,
Each moaning billow of her shoreless wave,
Would wail its requiem o'er a poet's grave!
If to embody a breathing word
Tones that the spirit trembled when it heard;
To fix the image all unveiled and warm,
And carve in language its ethereal form,
So pure, so perfect, that the lines express
No meagre shrinking, no unlaced excess;
To feel that :.rt, in living truth, has taught
Ourselves, reflected in the seulptur'd thought ;
If this alone bestows the right to claim
The deathless garland and the sacred name,
Then none are poets, save the saints on high,
Whose harps can murmur all that words deny."
If this be not poetry, and of a high order, we know

" Lady Phillimore had, on this occasion, been extremely
particular in her invitations—that is, she had drained
Florence of its motley population. The guests were from the
four corners of the globe. The accomplished and the wealthy,
the great and the learned of many regions, were blended in
a crowd. There were long-haired professors, and bewigged
Danish savans, bare-necked German artists, and lorgnetted
French attaches, and amongst a few of a better class, many
of that vulgar breed, whom gold enables to haunt the idle
towns of the Continent, the two varieties most prevalent in
the European menagerie--the Russian bears and the English
bores. Conspicuous among the latter, and distinguished by
their colossal turbans, and by their air of familiarity with
the lady of the house, were two female dabblers in literature,
a Mrs. Brattle, a notorious novelist, who had, as she ex-
pressed it, walked half the Courts of Europe ; and a Lady
Enamelina Bruton, a person of whom her best friends said
she had all bumps in her head save that of adhesiveness—a
ma/-maritate, who dipped her pen in gall, and emptied her
quiver at all man-kind, with a hope that some random shaft
might find its way to her ill-wedded lord. The rest of the
company was made up of dowager countesses and consump-
tive spinsters ; a lord bishop, with a swarm of his daughters,
and the squires and lordlings licensed to flirt with the said
bishop's daughters—besides sundry lean and lank poets,
magazine editors, wits, rakes, sharpers, and missionaries.
The native were few; and there would have been none
but for the circumstance that one of their number was to be
exhibited as the hero or the victim—the lion of the night.
They shrunk hack and clustered togethcr in a corner, awed
and abashed by a consciousness of their own insignificance.
All good understanding between the Italians and their foreign
visitors, especially the English, is for ever at an end. Tourists
may have their neat hotels in the best quarter of the town.
The grand duke—that inn-keeper on a large scale—may
throw open his drawing-rooms, his galleries to them. But
Italians who respect themselves never appear at Court. The
English may buy the pure sky, the climate, the country;
they may feel at home in the Vatican, or the Palazzo Pitti ;
but, from that very reason, the heart of the soundest part of
the nation is closed against them."
_

Letters from Rostock state that the deliveries of grain
from the growers had but slightly increased, farmers
having been busily employed preparing the land for the
reception of the seed. With little wheat effering and
few orders to execute, the transactions had been very
trifling. The nominal price was then 50s. per quarter.
At Hamburgh business in corn was exceedingly dull
on the 21st, but we expect the next reports will inform
us of confidence having been restored, owing to the
somewhat firmer tone of the British markets. Good
red Upland wheat had been sold there at 445. to 50s.
per quarter, free on board; and prices of barley and
oats had declined at least 2s. per quarter.
By the most recent accounts from the Mediterranean,
we learn that the dull reports from hence had also
had somo influence on prices in that quarter. At the
same time sellers had been extremely reluctant to ac-
cept less money, an opinion prevailing that the stocks
of wheat would be sure to be all required. The late
purchases made at Leghorn on British account had been
2,500 quarters Marianople, at 455. 10d., and 1,500 quar-
ters Polish Odessa, at 465. 7d. per quarter, free on board.
A letter from Genoa, of the 19th Nov., informs us
that the inclination which had for some time prevailed
there to speculate in wheat, had undergone a marked
abatement, owing to the more subdued tone of the
English advices. Fine Polish was, nevertheless, then
still held there at 465. to 50s. per quarter free on board.
The latest accounts from Odessa, dated 14th inst., state
that very large purchases of wheat had been made there,
and that as much as 365. to 38s. per quarter free on
board, had been paid for the best qualities.
Hamburgh letters of Tuesday have come to hand since
the above was written. A material improvement had
taken place in the grain trade since the preceding post
day, and several thousand quarters of wheat had
changed hands at enhanced rates.—Mark-lane Express.

How much better would it be for these persons to re-
turn to their native land, where they would find that,
provided they behaved with only common decency, the
heart of the soundest part of the nation would not be
closed against there.

Lady Dover and family intend to winter at
Rome.

STRIKE OF THE CARMARTHEN WEAVERS.—
During the last weak the flannel weavers of Carmarthen,
Amounting to a considerable number, struck for wages. We
understand that it has hitherto been the custom of some
master weavers to give but a small pittance in money to the
journeymen, at the same time compelling them to board in
the master's house. The men finding trade in an unusual
state of briskness, and learning that hands were scarce, took
the opportunity of insisting upon being paid in money, and
also of having an advance of Id. per yard. To this demand
the masters demurred, and a strike was the consequence.
During the week groups of discontented weavers have been
seen at the corners of the principal streets in deep and
earnest conversation, and we learn that already three masters
have complied with the demands of their workmen.—
Cambrian.

RENCONTRE BETWEEN THE PEOPLE AND THE PO-
LICE IN IRELAND.—On Friday last some policemen on their
way from the Petty Sessions at Ardfinnan went into a public,
house at Mooncrea, and drank there with some men of OA
name of Brobstin, and two brothers named Fennessy, one, of
whom was inebriated. After leaving the public-house dis-
pute arose between these men and the police, and blm:rs were
struck ; the policemen, it is said, struck down their opponents
with the butt ends of their guns, when another party of
countrymen came up and took the arms from the police. The
Fennessys and Brobstins were arrested and sent into Clonmel
gaol; but the arms were left at the hall door of Neddins,
with a letter addressed to Charles Mulcahy; Esq., in which it
was stated that the party who took the :'.:ms from the police
were teetotallers, whose sole object was to prevent any ill
use being made of them. Mr. Mulcahy immediately had the
arms brought to Richard Butler Lose, Esq., D.L., and both
gentlemen had an interview on. the subject with Lord Glen-
gall, after which the Fennessye aud Brobstinswere admitted
W I)4l—Tipperary Free Pref.

RISE IN THE PRICE or COAES.—The coalmasters of
Wigan have agreed to advance the price of coal one shilling
per ton. The reason given is, the high rate of wages, and the
diminished amount of labour by which it has been followed
—Liverpool Courier.

THE SUN, LO-NDON, THURSDAY MORNING, DECEMBER 4, 1845

THE LATE JUDGE STORY.

The Honourable Joseph Story, recently deceased, one
of the Justices of the United States Supreme Judicial
Court, and Dane Professor in the law school of Harvard

University, in Massachusetts, possessed a European re-
putation, and all that relates to so eminent a lawyer and
jurist must be deeply interesting to the British bar and
legal profession generally. We have, therefore, collected
from American sources the following particulars of his
professional life and publications :
Judge Story was born in Marblehead, Massachusetts,
Sept. 18, 1782, and graduated at Harvard College, in
1798. His father, Dr. Elisha Story, served in the army
during the revolutionary war. His son studied law
under the direction of Judge Putnam, and established
himself in the practice of it in Essex county. He soon en-
tered into political life, beingchosen a Member of the Mas-
sachusetts Legislature in 1805, and he was afterwards,
while yet young, elected Speaker of the House. At
this time he was connected with the Democratic party,
and was, in fact, their leader in Massachusetts. In 1809
he was chosen a representative to Congress, to fill a
vacancy in Essex, south district. He served in this body
with much distinction, but declined a re-election. In
1811 he was appointed by President Madison a judge of
the Supreme Court of the United States, and then
severed himself from all political connexion. " His
judicial life was prolonged to a period almost unex-
ampled in the annals of the common law. The wisdom
of the election was immediately indicated by the distin-
guished ability which he displayed, and each succeeding
year added to the splendour and extent of his judicial
fame. He moved with familiar steps over every province
and department of jurisprudence. All branches of the
law have been illustrated and enlarged by his learning,
acuteness, and sagacity, and of some he has been the
creator. His immortal judgments contain copious stores
of ripe and sound learning, which will be of inestimable
value in all future times, alike to the judge, the practi-
tioner, and the student."
In 1830 he was appointed Dane Professor in the law
school of Harvard University, on the munificent foun-
dation of his friend Mr. Nathan Dane, of Beverley, and
he continued to discharge the duties of his office with re-
markable ability and success till the day of his death.
His reputation drew together a great number of students
from all parts of the Union, and the unprecedented
success of the school is to be attributed almost entirely
to his exertions. " As a teacher of jurisprudence, he
brought to the important duties of the professor's chair
the most exuberant learning, the most unwearied pa-
tience, a native delight in the great subjects which he
expounded, a copious and persuasive eloquence, and a
contagious enthusiasm, which filled his pupils with love
for the law, and for the master who taught it so well.
All his teachings were illumined by the loftiest mora-
lity, and never failed to show that whosoever aspired to
the fame of a great lawyer, must be also a good man."
He began his career as an author early in life, by the
publication of an excellent edition of Abbott on the
" Law of Shipping." Soon after his appointment to
the Dane Professorship, he published his " Commen-
taries on the Constitution of the United States," in
three vols. Bvo. These were followed by a succession
of treatises on different branches of the law, too nume-
rous to be mentioned here, the extent and excellence of
which, with the vast amount of legal learning displayed
in them, leave it a matter of astonishment that they
could be prepared within the short space of about
twelve years, by a man who was all the while discharg-
ing, with great assiduity, the onerous duties of a judge
of the Supreme Court of the United States, and
a professor in the law school of the University.
Among them were commentaries on the " Law
of Bailments ;" on the " Conflict of Laws ;" " Equity
Jurisprudence," " Equity Pleadings," " Bills of Ex-
change," and " Promissory Notes." "In regarding the
deceased as an author, jurisprudence mourns ono of her
greatest sons—one of the greatest, not only among those
of his own age, but in the long succession of ages—
whose fame has become a familiar word in all lands
where the law is taught as a science ; whose works have
been translated and commented on in several of the
languages of the European continent ; and have been
revered as authorities throughout the civilised world.
It was his rare lot, while yet alive, to receive, as from a
distant posterity, the tribute of foreign nations to his
exalted merit as a jurist." In his devotion to the
science of law, he did not forget the claims of literature
and general scholarship, and his addresses on public oc-
casions, his contributions to the North American Review,
and other miscellaneous writings, show a mind imbued
with sound learning, and capable of grasping almost
every subject that has ever taxed the human intellect.
As a man, and a member of society, be was remark-
able for his domestic virtues, his warm affections and
generous temper, the purity, elevation, and simplicity of
his life and conversation, and the spontaneous sympathy,
which gave so cordial a charm to his looks, his tones,
and his greetings. The approach of age never chilled
the impulses of his heart, nor deadened his interest in
life. The members of the Suffolk bar, in their resolu-

-tions upon the occasion of his death, from which we have
'already largely quoted, rightly declare, That the death
of one so great as a judge, as an author, as a teacher, and
so good as a man, is a loss which is irreparable to the
bar, to the country, and to mankind."
On the day of the funeral of Mr. Justice Story, on the
12th of September last, at a meeting of the Suffolk bar,
held in the Circuit Court-room at Boston (Chief Justice
Shaw in the chair), Mr. Webster pronounced the follow-
ing just and eloquent eulogium on the deceased judge:—
" Your solemn announcement, Mr. Chief Justice, has
confirmed the sad intelligence, which had already reached
us through the public channels of information, and deoply
afflicted us all,

" Joseph Story, one of the associate justices of the
Supreme Court of the United States, and for many years
the presiding judge of this circuit, died on Wednesday
evening last, at his own house in Cambridge, wanting
only a few days for the completion of the sixty-sixth
year of his age.
" This most mournful and lamentable event has
called together the whole bar of Suffolk, and all con-
nected with the courts of law, or the profession. It
has brought you, Mr. Chief Justice, and your asso-
ciates of the bench of the Supreme Court of Massa-
chussets, into the midst of us ; and you have done us
the honour, out of respect to the occasion, to consent
to preside ever us, while we deliberate on what is due,
as well to our own afflicted and smitten feelings, as
to the exalted character and eminent distinction of the
deceased judge. The occasion has drawn from his re-
tirement, also, that venerable man, whom we all
so much respect and honour, (Judge Davis), and
who was for thirty years the associate of the deceased
upon the same bench. It has called hither another judi-
cial personage, now in retirement (Judge Putman), but
long an ornament of that bench of which you are now
the head, and whose marked good fortune it is to have
been the professional teacher of Joseph Story, and the
director of his early studies. He is here also to whom
this blow comes near—l mean the learned judge (Judge
Sprague) immediately from whose side it has struck
away a friend, and a highly .venerated official associate.
The members of the school, to which the deceased was
SO much attached, and who returned that attachment
with all the ingenuousness and enthusiasm of educated
and ardent youthful minds, are here also, to manifest
their sense of their own severe deprivation, as well as
their admiration of the bright and shining professional
example, which they have so loved to contemplate ; an
example—let me say to them, and let me say to all, as a
solace, in the midst of their sorrows—which death hath
not touched, and which time cannot obscure.
"Mr. Chief Justice, one sentiment pervades us all.
It is that of the most profound and penetrating grief,
mixed, nevertheless, with an assured conviction that the
great man whom we deplore is yet with us, and in the
midst of us. He hath not wholly died. He lives in the
affections of friends and kindred, and in the high regard
of the community. He lives in our remembrance of his
social virtues, his warm and steady friendships, and the
vivacity of his conversation. He lives, and will live still
more permanently by his words of written wisdom, by
the results of his vast researches and attainments, by his
imperishable legal judgments, and by those juridicial
disquisitions, which have stamped his name, all over the
civilised world, with the character of a commanding
authority. Vivit, enim, vivetque semper ; atque etiam
latius in memoria hominuni et sermone versabitur, post-
quam ab oculis recessit.'
" Mr. Chief Justice, there are consolations which
arise to mitigate our loss, and shed the influence of re-
signation over unfeigned and heartfelt sorrow. We are
all penetrated with gratitude to God, that the deceased
lived so long ; that be did so much for himself, his
friends, the country, and the world ' • that his lamp went
out at last, without unsteadiness or flickering. He con-
tinued to exercise every power of his mind, without
dimness or obscuration, and every affection of his heart,
with no abatement of energy or warmth, till death drew
an impenetrable veil between us and him. Indeed, he
seems to us now, as in truth he is, not extinguished, or
ceasing, to be, but only withdrawn ; as the clear sun
goes down It its setting, not darkened, but only no
longer seen.
" This calamity, Mr. Chief Justice, is not Caufined to
the bar, or the courts, of this commonwealth. it will be
felt by every bar throughout the land, by every court,
and, indeed, by every intelligent and well-informed ma;
in or out of the profession. It will be felt still more
widely, for his reputation had a still wider range. In the
High Court of Parliament, in every tribunal in West-
minster Hall, in the Judicatories of Paris and Berlin,

Stockholm and St. Petersburg, in the learned univer-
sities of Germany, Italy, and Spain, by every eminent
jurist in the civilised world, it will be acknowledged that
a great luminary has fallen from the firmament of public
jurisprudence.
" Sir, there is no purer pride of country, than that in
which We may Indulge, when we see America paying
back the great debt of civilisation, learning, and science
to Europe. In this high return of light for light, and
mind, for mind, in this august reckoning and accounting
between the intellects of nations, Joseph Story was
destined by Providence to act, and did act, an important
part. Acknowledging, as we all acknowledge, our
obligations to the original sources of English law,
as well as of civil liberty, we have seen, in our
generation, copious and salutary streams turning and
running backward, replenishing their original foun-
tains, and giving a fresher and a brighter green to the
fields of English jurisprudence. By a sort of reversed
hereditary transmission, the mother, without envy
or humiliation, acknowledges that she has received a
valuable and cherished inheritance from the daughter.
English justice admits, with frankness and candour, and
with no feeling but that of respect and admiration, that
he, whose voice we have so recently heard within these
walls, but shall now hear no more, was of all men who
have yet appeared most fitted, by the comprehensive-
ness of his mind, and the vast extent and accuracy of
his attainments, to compare the codes of nations, to trace
their diff'erences to difference of origin, climate, or reli-
gious or political institutions, and to exhibit, neverthe-
less, their concurrence in those great principles, upon
which the system of human civilisation rests.
" Justice, sir, is the great interest of man on earth.
It is the ligament which holds civilised beings and civi-
lised nations together. Wherever her temple Stands,

and so long as it is duly honoured, there is a foundation
for social security, general happiness, and the improve-
ment and progress of our race. And whoever labours
on this edifice, with usefulness and distinction, whoever
clears its foundations, strengthens its pillars, adorns its
entablatures, or contributes to raise its august dome still
higher in the skies, connects himself, in name and fame
and character, with that which is and must be as durable
as the frame of human society.
" All know, Mr. Chief Justice, the pure love of coun-
try which animated the deceased, and the zeal, as well
as the talent with which he explained and defended her
institutions. His work on the Constitution of the United
States is one of his most eminently successful labours.
But all his writings, and ali his judgments, all his opi-
nions, and the whole influence of his character, public
and private, leaned strongly and always in the support
of sound principles, to the restraint of illegal power.
and to the discouragement and rebuke of licentious and
disorganising sentiments. Ad rempublicam firmandam,
et ad stabiliendas vires, et sanandum populum, omnis
ejus pergehat institutio.'

" But this is not the occasion, sir, nor is it for me to
consider and discuss at length the character and merits
of Mr. Justice Story, as a writer or a judge. The per-
formance of that duty, with which this bar will, no
doubt, charge itself, must be deferred to another oppor-
tunity, and will be committed to abler hands. But, in
the homage paid to his memory, one part may come with
peculiar propriety and emphasis from ourselves. We have
known him in private life. We have seen him descend
from the bench, and mingle in our friendly circles. We
have known his manner of life, from his youth up. We can
bear witness to the strict uprightness and purity of his
character ; his simplicity and unostentatious habits ; the
ease and affability of his intercourse ; his remarkable vi-
vacity amidst severe labours ; the cheerful and animating
tones of his conversation, and his fast fidelity to friends.
Some of us, also, can testify to his large and liberal cha-
rities—not ostentatious or casual, but systematic and
silent ; dispensed almost without showing the hand, and
falling and distilling comfort and happiness like the dews
of heaven. But we can testify also, that in all his pur-
suits and employments, in all his recreations, in all his
commerce with the world, and in his intercourse with
the circle of his friends, the predominance of his
judicial character was manifest. He never forgot the
ermine which he wore. The judge, the judge, the use-
ful and distinguished judge, was the great picture which
he kept constantly before his eyes, and to a resem-
blance to which all his efforts, all his thoughts, all his
life, were devoted. We may go the world over, with-
out finding a man who shall present a more striking
realisation of the beautiful conception of D'Aguesseau,
C'est vain que l'on cherche a distinguer en lui la per-
sonne prii LI et la personne publique ; un mc.ne esprit
les anime, un 'name objet les riunit ; l'homme, le pore
de famine, le citoyen, tout est en lui consacre a la gloire
du magistrat.

" Mr. Chief Justice, one may live as a conqueror, a
king, or a magistrate ; but he must die as a man. The
bed of death brings every human being to his pure indi-
viduality—to the intense contemplation of that deepest
and most solemn of all relations—the relation between the
creature and his Creator. Here it is that fame and re-
nown cannot assist us; that all external things must fail to
aid us; that even friends, affection, and human love and
devotedness cannot succour iis. This relation, the true
foundation of all duty, a relation perceived and felt by
conscience, and confirmed by revelation, our illustrious
friend, now deceased, always acknowledged. He reve-
renced the scriptures of truth, honoured the pure mo-
rality which they teach, and seized hold on the hopes of
future life, which they impart. He saw enough in na-
ture, in himself, and in all that can be known of things
seen, to feel assured that there is a Supreme. Power,
without whose providence not a sparrow falleth to the
ground. To this gracious Being he trusted himself, for
time and for eternity ; and the last words of his lips,
ever heard by mortal ears, were a fervent supplication to
his Maker to take him to himself."

At the request of the Suffolk bar this address was pub-
lished by Mr. Webster, with the following dedication to
the surviving mother of Judge Story :
" Boston, Sept. 15, 1845.
" Venerable Madam,—l pray you to allow me to
present to you the brief remarks which I made before
the Suffolk bar, on the 12th instant, at a meeting occa-
sioned by the sudden and afflicting death of your distin-
guished son. I trust, dear Madam, that as you enjoyed
through his whole life constant proofs of his profound
respect, and ardent filial affection, so you may yet live
long to• enjoy the remembrance of his virtues and his
exalted reputation.—l am, with very great regard, your
obedient servant, " DANIEL WEBSTER.

" To Madam Story."
We rejoice to learn that a committee is forming of
members of the bar and eminent solicitors in the Law
Institution, for the purpose of setting on foot a public
subscription in honour of Mr. Justice Story. We be-
lieve that it is intended to offer to the benchers of Lin-
coln's Inn a marble statue of this eminent transatlantic
judge, as a tribute of respect due to an accomplished
lawyer, whose immortal works are equally estimated in
the " mother country" and in the American United
States.