The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1849-09-04 00:00:00

CIIAPTER V.

We shall not intrude upon the domestic circle which
received Mr. Mansel on his return, sorrow-stricken, and
almost overwhelmed by the new misfortune which his
house had sustained. Our duty will be briefly to explain
the nature of that misfortune, and to follow for a while
the steps of his son.
We referred in the last chapter to a successful financial
operation, effected on the preceding day with a friendly
capitalist, by which a considerable engagement, then
coming due, had been enabled to be discharged. To
effect this operation a considerable sum, in acceptances
not yet due, had, contrary to the general practice of capi-
talists at this period of universal alarm and distrust, been
discounted by the friend in question ; and, amongst the
largest of these, was one, which they had received by the
previous mail, from the very house which the letters re-
ceived on that morning announced as having been com-
pelled to suspend their payments. A hurried letter from
Messrs. Mansel's agents abroad, written at the last hour
before the departure of the mail, announced merely a
rumour of such an occurrence having taken place, or
being about to take place; and the first shock of the
communication thus made almost paralysed our mer-
chants. The natural hopefulness and elasticity of youth,
however, in a short while enabled William Mansel to
rally under the blow. It was mere rumour, after all, he
reflected. He remembered that, during the severe
pressure of the past few weeks, the most sinister re-
ports had been current respecting the most stable
commercial houses; and after a few arguments offered to
reassure the drooping spirits of his parent, he set out,
with the view of learning, if possible, the exact truth.
With a beating heart he passed through the few streets
leading from his counting-house to the Exchange; and,
in every face he saw, he imagined that he read confirma-
tion of the rumour. Once or twice he paused mechani-
cally, half resolving to return and wait for those tidings of
ill, which proverbially travel fast. A moment served to
render him ashamed of the pusillanimity of such a course;
and at length, though by a circuitous route, taken to
afford him time to calm his agitated manner, he arrived at
the place " where merchants most do congregate." It
was there, from the rude lips of one of that fraternity, whose
chief pursuit on 'Changs seems to be to chronicle the
misfortunes of their fellows, that he first learnt the reality
of the disaster.
The truth is ever, to the well-fortified mind, less hard
to bear than the suspicion of evil ; and perhaps it was
on this account that William Mansel was enabled to part
from his busy informant, without betraying any more
than ordinary interest in the intelligence communicated;
and to resolve at once upon the next steps to be pursued.
A few moments afterwards saw him proceeding towards
the counting-house of his friend, with whom he had, on
the preceding day, negotiated the bill, now certain to be
dishonoured by its acceptor.
It was with a calm demeanour, free however from any-
thing like immodest assumption of confidence, that he
passed the dreaded threshold of his creditor ; and, on being
announced, entered his private room. His face was un-
naturally pale, and its expression was that of one nerved
to endure unkindness and even reproach, without shrink-
ing. He expected to find sternness and anger from him,
who had, so benignantly and encouragingly, granted his
suit of the preceding day ; for Mr. was said to be as
severe to the unfortunate as he was occasionally kind, and
even generous, to those who sought his assistance. He
was received, he thought, with coldness ; and he felt
slightly unnerved, as Mr. handed to him for perusal
a circular from the suspended firm, intimating their
inability to meet their engagements. He read it mechani-
cally; and was about to enter upon an apologetic expla-
nation, when he was checked by the changed expression
of the countenance of his friend. There was nothing in
Mr. —'s look to indicate harshness. He read in his
features only deep concern and sympathy; and there was
a kindliness in his tone which affected him deeply, as he
addressed him—" You were about Mr. William, to take
blame to yourself for the unfortunate occurrence, which
makes you my debtor. Spare yourself, my dear sir. If
I, who have grown grey in commercial pursuits, and
imagined myself perfectly intimate with the ability of
this extensive House to meet its engagements, even in

disastrous times like the present, have been deceived, I '
cannot expect greater foresight from a young man like
yourself. My only grief is that my own involvements
with them, as a large holder of their bills, will preclude
me from affording to von, and your worthy father, any
other aid than forbearance to press my claim upon you,
until you have had time to meet it without undue sacri-
fice. This I trust you will be enabled to do, by the
exercise of your well-known energy." William Mansel
endeavoured to reply ; but his heart was too full. He
could only press the hand that was offered him ; and
make his way, voiceless, to the busy street.
With a lightened heart, but with a deep consciousness
of the arduous duty that was before him, the young man
retraced his steps to his own counting-house, where lie
found his father and his confidential clerk deep in the mys-
teries of cash book and ledger. The sad news of the
morning had outstripped him, its bearer being the princi-
pal of a petty house, whose fortunes the Messrs. Manse!
had materially aided during their career of prosperity ; and
who now importunately demanded payment of a petty
debt, which was yet scarcely due. It was a happy circum-
stance ; for the insolence and ingratitude of the dun
roused Mr. Mansel from his prostration of spirit, for a
time sufficient to enable him to receive the more detailed
communication of his son, and to communicate with him,
with all his accustomed clearness of mind, as to the course
to be adopted for their extrication from the present new
difficulty. It was with delight that William saw revive
in his father the mental vigour and perspicacity of earlier
days • that he heard him dictate sacrifices to be made,
which he himself would have shrunk from advising. There
was an elastic vigour in the old man's very bearing, and a
proud consciousness of honesty in his brightened eyes and
features, which bespoke a frame of mind which misfor-
tune, when undeserved, could not depress. For many
hours that day he devoted, with his son, the energies of
almost early manhood to the task of preparing to breast
and overcome the wave of misfortune which had burst
upon his head ; but that task being performed, worn na-
ture gave way. He could have met fearlessly, and, con-
fident in the probity of every action of his commercial life,
defied an insulting and a sneering world ; but his firmness
shrunk beneath the thought of meeting the beloved of his
own household, with the knowledge of their fallen fortunes
gnawing at his heart.
William Mansel, we have said, dal not return to his
home that evening. The midnight hour saw him the
sole occupant of the gloomy counting-house of the firm,
engaged in diligently calculating their precise position,
and endeavouring to form an estimate of the means left
them to maintain an unblemished character in the com-
mercial world. It was with a heart sick with the thought
of sufferings to be heaped upon the unconscious victims in
his lately happy home, yet full of the pride of conscious
rectitude of intention and ability to meet the last demand
which could be made upon him, that he at length closed
his weary labours and sought a few hours of rest in a
neighbouring hotel.

VARIETIES.

A farmer at Holton le Clay, near Grimsby, has in one
of his bean fields a plant, on the stem of which are grow-
ing 116 pods, all healthy, and likely to be very productive.

. .
FEROCITY OF WAsrs:—ln a small outhouse at Baled-
garno, used for holding broom and firewood, a colony of
wasps had planted their paper palace several months ago.
The house cat had taken possession of part of the same
premises, and was rearing three thriving kittens among
the brushwood. One day last week, one of the kittens
seeing the wasps' nest suspended from a twig, drew it
down with one of her paws to examine it, when she was
instantly assailed by hundreds of the ferocious inmates.
Her screams brought the old cat to the rescue, but being
met by a dozen or two of the enraged wasps, she was glad
to escape, and the kitten was stung to death in a few mi-
nutes. The other kittens, singularly enough, remained
unscathed, not a single wasp touching either of them.—
Dundee Courier.

CURIOUS HOAX.—Not very long since, a small farmer
in a little village in Somersetshire, who prided himself on
his cheeses, in a fit of unwonted generosity, for he was a
penurious man—sent to her Majesty Queen Victoria a
prime cheese. A person given to practical jokes knowing
this, bought an eighteenpenny gilt chain, and sent it in a
letter, purporting to be from her Majesty, appointing him
her " well beloved" mayor of the village, in the document
exalted into a corporate town, but whereof he, the said
mayor, formed the sole body and whole authority. The
ignorant poor man swallowed the bait, and called the vil-
lage together; gave an ox to be roasted whole, and walked
at the head of the invited procession, wearing his chain of
office, and for several weeks exhibited the insignia of royal
favour—the chain and royal autograph—at church and at
markets. It is a doubt if he be yet undeceived, and
lowered from his imaginary brief authority.—Blackwood.

CURIOUS CIRCUMSTANCE.—On the 231 d inst.. Messrs.
C ink's celebrated equestrian troupe paid a visit to Cha-
pel-in-Weardale, where they bad a bumper house. On
the following day they proceeded on the road to Alston ;
all went smoothly until they came to Kilhope Head—the
highest hill in Wcardale—when it appears the horses at-
tached to the vans by no means liking the idea of making
so formidable an ascent, became restive at the foot of the
hill, and notwithstAnding abundant threats and persua-
sions, uttered in the choicest style of stable literature, ab-
solutely refused to advance one inch. In this dilemma,
after mature consideration, Mr. Cook ordered the horses
to be unharnessed, taken to the top of the hill, and
allowed for some time to view the level country on the
other side, after which they were again harnessed, when
they ascended the hill at full trot, amidst the cheers of the
multitude.—Durham Advertiser.

A PHILOSOPHER MISTAKEN.—It appears by the fol-
lowing that Dr. Buckland , who has boldly pronounced upon
the physical state of our globe millions years before, ac-
cording to the Mosaic account, it leas created, cannot at
this day tell the quality of the clay under his feet. Hereis the
proof:—THE LONDON CLAY : BORING D. BUCRLAND.—It
will be recollected that at the first court held, on the pro-
posed tunnel of Mr. Phillips, Dr. Buckland asserted une-
quivocally, that there was not an atom of London clay
between Rotherhithe tunnel and thebaseof Shooter's-hill,'
and that "it glanced off at the north-east cdrner of St.
Paul's." Since that time, evidence of the most satisfac-
tory nature, and from unquestionable authority, has been
obtained, that it does exist, and in large quantities, in
places altogether denied in the speech of Dr. Buckland,
as will be found in the following statement :—At Green-
wich Marshes, cpposite Blackwell, 55 feet of London
clay; near the London Dock and St. Katharine Dock, 55
feet ; at Bermondsey, 55 feet ; near London Bridge,.
130 feet; and, extending upwards, it was found at Lam-
beth 160 feet ; at Westminster. 170 feet; at Kensington
170 feet ; and at Brompton, 237 feet ; and for a consi-
derable distance above London bridge the bed of the river
is cut in the blue clay."—The Builder.
POPULAR CRITICISMS OF THE QUEEN IN SCOTLAND.--
The humbler classes of our citizens were prodigiously
pleased with the plainness of her Majesty's dress, and the
homely simplicity of her deportment towards her children.
They were delighted to find the Queen, to use thdr own
phrase, "so much like other folk." A group of the poor
aborigines of the north quarter were overheard expatiating
on these themes while her Majesty was in the cathedral.
A shrewd weaver was loud in his praises of the Queen's
economy of dress. " Monv a braw leddy that walks the
streets in silks and satins micht follow the example of her
Majesty, and no be less a leddy after a'." " Deed many
a shopkeeper's wife dresses better than the Queen, and
can ill afford it," remarked a second. " The puirest
amang us micht tack a lesson frae the Queen," rejoined a
third of the party. And a fine gash old matron added,
authoritatively, and withal in a tone of enthusiasm that
it did one's heart good to hear, " She's just a rale decent
woman at hame, and looks after her ain weans." " When
I saw her sittin' beside them," said a motherly body, " my
heart gaed to my mouth, and I could have ta'en her in
my arms !" 'How true is it that " one touch of nature
makes the whole world kin."—Scottish Guardian..
THE COUNTESS DE Rossi.—Revisiting the scenes of
her early lyric triumphs : On the first news of the losses
experienced by Madame de Rossi, knowing how perfectly
she had preserved her voice, the direction of Her Majesty's
Theatre Made, in the most delicate manner that could be
devised, ample offers to the unfortunate lady, in case she
should deem it necessary to return to the scene of her
former triumphs. The Count and Countess Rossi did
not contemplate then the necessity of so great a sacrifice.
Later offers of unlimited temptation were made by other
parties, and emissaries sent to Berlin secretly to treat
with the great vocalist of the golden age of the opera.
But they were at once refused. As events assumed a
darker complexion, Madame de Rossi, the most affec-
tionate of mothers, grew more and more anxious for bar
children, and used every endeavour to pre-sail on her noble
husband to sacrifice the privileges and prejudices of rank
and the sweets of high office to the future welfare of their
children. An artist a European fame, who not only
commands admiration by his talents, his conversational
powers, his elegant and amiable manners, and his noble
and elevated character—M. Thalbovg—happened some
months since to be ih Berlin, and he is said to have
seconded Madame de Rossi's eforts to persuade her hus-
band. Communieations were resumed with the direction
of Her Majesty's Theatre, although still in a problematical
and conditional form, and the Count Rossi repaired to
Turin to endeavour to release himself from his duties.
After some delay the Count obtained permissn from his
sovereign to retire for a time from his career. When it
was known later at Turin what was the cause of his re-
tirement, and that it was definitive, letters were written,
by order of the sovereign, in the highest degree cordial
and flattering, both to M. and Madame de Rossi. From
Turin the Count returned to Berlin. There Mr. Lumley
had suddenly arrived—every arrangement was made, and
a week after he had left Berlin, the Count and Countess
Rossi arrived in London in a manner totally unforeseen.
In a week mere she appeared on the stage; and although,
unlike other great singers, she had not, owing to the ne-
cessity of secrecy, been preceded by those announcements
which, habitually long beforehand herald forth a prima
donna, and work upon public expectation, her reception
was one never surpassed in enthusiasm.—Madame Son-
lea's Memoirs.
THE HAIR.—Of the numerous compounds constantly
announced for promoting the giowth or reproduction of
the human hair, few survive, even in name, beyond a very
limited period ; whilst ROWLANDS' MACASSAR OIL, With
a reputation unparalleled, is still on the increase in public
estimation. The unprecedented success of this discovery,
either in preserving the Hair in its original strength and
beauty, or restoring it when lost, is universally known and
appreciated ; and it is recorded by testimonials most nu.
merous in themselves, and certified by the highest autho-
rities. It has obtained the exclusive patronage of
Royalty, not only as regards our own Court, but those of
the whole of Europe. From its exquisite purity and de-
licacy, it is admirably adapted for the hair of children, even
of the most tender age, and is constantly employed for
this purpose in the Nursery of Royalty, and by the fami-
lies of the nobility and aristocracy. It is alike suited for
either sex, and whether employed to embellish the tresses
of female beauty, or to add to the attractions of manly
grace and aspect, will be found an indispensable auxiliary
to the toilet both of ladies and gentlemen.—See advt.