Monmouthshire Merlin

jCittritttm. The Virginians. By W. M. Thackeray. No. 1. Brad- bury and Evans. The first number of the long-promised new novel by author of Vanity Fair," is at length published, and the prospect of so pleasant a companion throughout the *'<nter months will be very gratifying to all who are ^uainted with Thackeray's works. There is very; le t° criticise in the number before us, and we shall pre.or presenting a few extracts from it, rather than offer an Y observations of our own. It is only necessary to pre- mise that the « Virginians" is partly a story of Amerian nnd the date of it is fixed in the reign of George the Second The author professes to haye drawn the mate- ria of his tale from old letters in the family of the Vir- ginians, and like "Esmond," the details of family hiS- in the present part require to be well mastered »y ti e reader. A descendant and connection of an old ^Uh family is introduoed to as in the following One summer morning in the year 1756. and in the reign of his Majesty King-George the Second, the Young f nohfcl, Virginian ship, Edward Franks, master, came up the Avon river, on her happy return from b«r animal Vjyagoto the Potomac. She proceeded to Bristol with thr aa9, and moored in the stream as near as> Tr .ii'fc wharf to which she was consigned. Mr* Aran, nor owner, who could survey his ship from Endows, straightway took boat The owner of tbe Young Raebel, a ^.fXand df m his wn hair, and of a demure aspect, g j to Captain Franks, who stood on his deck an^ the captain upon the apeedy aJ^fo.r^tn^ which he had made. And, remarking thatwe Mght to be thankful to Heaven for hlB^gla,tlre •eedod presently to business by asking particulars relativ to and passengers. « We J tanks was a pleasant man, who „h<vis fetch- have,' aayg he, «< but yonder ogly negro boy, who is fetch Uig tho trunks, and a passenger whohas the state cabin to Mn Trail looked as if he would have P^red more .»•*■•»«* from Heaven. 4 Confound, you, £ rfnf' vour lock The Duke William, which came in last wee*, brought fourteen, and she is not half of our to°?^e*dd And this passenger, who has the whole eabin don t Pay naiiung,' continued the captain.w^rh.nv°A"l'• will do yon good, Mr. Trail, indeed it Will- I have tried tfa<? :»?edicine.' « '"A »a*«mger take the whole cabin and not pay? vraca* mercy, are you a fool, Captain i) ranks I Ask the passenger himself, for here he comes.' And,. Uo*Tiad a cloak ana a ^T^Xh&fSTas dressed in deep mourning, T1 v n,it 'Gumbo, you idiot, why don't you fetch and cfuij. out nf the ckbin? Well, shipmate, ourjour- the outYoVwill see all the little folks to-night is enoed. 1t 0tAni nive my love to ,.over be done, and now I am almost wny over. That little berth in my cabin looks very com! afcle now I am going to leave it. uatj Mr. Trail fcowled at the young y8 paid no ii onev for his passage. He scarry Wk, tb. sL«eer, »!«« C.pUi« F^k'"d, heye gentleman is Mr. Trail, sir, whose name you It's'pretty well known in Bristol, air,' says Mr. Warrington Madam. rmgthn'R soa, of Castlewood,' continued tj»e 9»P haad The British merchant's hat was latently off h»gaa, and the owner of the beaver was makin^ a p ig .umbo, „t >w, mH ahonld bave lwen 80 prosperous! You must have my bo» to go on shore. Let nTcordlally and respectful^^ come you to England let me shake your ^rington> of my beneiactreBsandpatroness, Mrs. Change, I whos»5 nrsme is known and honoured on Bristol *& Wartanfc > :'1.1. Isn't it, Franks ? lost0 ThU Mr Henry Warrington bj» WJ» T Had pored over tbe take upon arriving at npon the course which tli y love tbo Qia country—and Home. All woman ef Anglo-Saxon race what geti^y-nartar^ faeanjed their English travels, 5KS:ttnp°hK|t Md out its glorious temples of St. i'dul s ana ot jt Hood, Tower, where the brave and .^y^j'li^arnSk, pitied from Wallace down to rnl ^i5oW 0f Whitehall, by gentle hearts bef°'? « iasned to kneel once more, VW tbe "j'H,yhW». I* and then ascend to Heaven, nleasure. and tall spire whidi rises by A t pantjri £ j aQd JSo'h: .Mi; ■ome young fellow, wno landlady from h«r look the more Sunffiowlsf ^d sto.t Sd'JabotXseJf Long waters, Ld glittering row^ ^.f Sw tons! looked kindly after the young genUaman as ««d'throuKh the inn-hall from his post-chawe,and the rfSberlain bowed him up-stairs to the obsequious The trim chambermaid dropped Bosei or the Dolpbin. an(t Gumbo, in the &n- hr ?? °h 8Ja townsfolk drank their mug qf ale by 4he fatchen.wheretbe townstoiK a 8piendid house in great fire, bragged of his yoong m whick he was Virginia, and of the immense traveller through the heir. The post-chaws whirled the u li^hted'on most delightful home-scenery his oy^ J1 America of the If English landscape i„ pleasant to the Amer present day, who must need* contrast >ho r^ q{ tbe glowing pastures, and picturesque ancient vlIla8 h 'i old M»iintrv with the rough aspect of his own, how mnon Z* WBfc Harry Warrington's course have been, »hn«fl^ournevs bad lain through- swat^p, and forest soli- one Virginian ordinary to aimtber log-bouse at, tudes fro7r0(1^.f route, and who now ltghted suddenly the end of the-da, » ro"a, 8ummer? npon tbe busy happy, year8 ag0 was ^ot that And the high r^d» present time. It was ahve with grass-grown desert of P tll<} country towns anfd fnns consUnt travel and traffi ■ # The ponderous waggon, •warmed with life and g 7 light post-coach ■With its bells and the White Hart, Salisbury, that achieved tbe journeyf | nnd on in two daysthe to the Swan with Two Necks, rJd ) my Btrings of pack-horses tbat.lia^th £ he outriders galloping lord's gilt post-chaise «d «»•. cb and heavy on a head the country squire Sf ,naricef or the Handera n^ros the farmers tro g Tjumoling, his parson jolting to the cathedral town^ o and wife behind on the pillion-all these crowang brisk people greetedI the off his hk and journey. Hodge, the farmer s Doy. chaise Pdw/tta milk-maid, bobtod » wMtr "Whirled over the pleasant village c^eeI^, headed children lifted their chu ,v ttage-gati* The chnrch-spi/es glistened with g^thecotwgegaji glared in sunshine, the great elxna mttttnurea or cast purple shadows ovei' tbe^B^^itI^^dgJscene"^ ton never had such a glonous y,^ with high heaith* delightful. To be nineteen years of^e,min ng high spirits, and a full Pu"e?. coantry in a post-chaise journey, and rollng: througl.the- makf at n\ne miles a5b°nr—0 happy y waa too eager to gi^7mow thkn ^passing glanw• fhe^h? strolls away again, and apd Bate on After his difiner. he went b^j a hicll the sun it looking towards the ^howe, *>m was descending as Toang 'fancy pictured to itself fiesta in the. el^rtr^of^wh6nf "his mother and grandsire many of the ancestors 0 d huntsmen crossing had told bim. "e Charles's days; m> Lord the ford fiMt husband, riding out Castlewood, his grandm reCollection of his daareBt lost with hawk and hound. The recoliewion theflo reyerieai brother came back to of> exce6(f;ng tenderness and and ismote bim the voung man hung bis head and longing, insomuch that t y g^ d ^njpamon feU bi«^w renewod ft>r toand ief8 had wUh whom, autA1^.1^ Ranged in his own thoughts been shared. AsJ»e, gwmechanicaI clinking of which were Lrd by, the noises of the evening, the bl»cksmifch s forge J calling of tbe birds round the talk-of the 0„ ^eback dashed over •bout-a ° £ th^? with an oath, called him a fool, the ^^t^ tokip ouWthe way-the other, who fan- and told him Pjed the foot-passenger, and possibly ded he might nave j parapet, pushed on more might have /the other side of the water, quickly when be r and the pair of young oaUed hkewisetoTom to c?meon^r gentlemen we £ ed himself from his surprise »t before Harry bM r^overM^im ^vionv. In a their appeawnce» a adTancej guard was followed by two minute or t horseback, who scowled a(t the young !iVP^w^tt teidge a^rue British welcome of Curse traveller on the g^ft6r these, in a miuute or two. y°?' 7^.niph-and-six a ponderous vehicle having need of the horses which drew it, and containing three ladiea. a couple of maids, and an armed man on a seat behind t £ e carnage. Three handsome pale faces looked out at Harry Warrington as the carriage passed over the bridge, and did DOtTBUKB ,tb= arms, he gave it. The gentleman. behinil the carriage ,r T\f»7Xl in comparison to thftt o Warrington. They told him not not know his name of w,»mngto^ 8te^aughter, AND HER DA«'GHT-. -7 ana theyemng^ gentleman in tie gray frock wasMr Williams and be with powder, on the ^tnut was my lord. It was the latter bad swornihe loudest, .and <Balled him a fool; and it was-the grey frock which had, neaily galloped Harry into the ditch." The ruling member of the family* Jtowevor, is the Baroness Bernstein, and she sends for the lad and tdkes a fanev to J11m:- Madame Bernstein was an early woman, restless, resf lute, extraordinarily active for her age. She u b before the languid Casttewood ladies (juatudith had their London routs and baits) had quitiodne pastry- beds, or iolly Will had slept off his varw-M < Sir,' nnn«h. hhe was uv» and paoing tbe greeB terracc. snarkled with the sweet morning dew, which lay twink- ling also on a flowery wilderness of trim parterres, and on the crisp walls of the dark box hedges, under which mar- ble fauns and dryads were cooling themselves, whilst a thousand birds Bang, the. fountains plashed antl glittered in the rosy morning sunshine, and the Tooks c^wed Jrom a freshness and charm for her ? Did it recal days of innocence and happiness, and did its calm beauty soothe or please, or awaken remorse in her heart?' Her manner was more than ordinarily affectionate and wntle, when presently, after pacing. the walks for a half-honr, the person for whom she was waiting came to her. This was »ur young Virginian, to whom she had -i an earlv billet by ope of the Lock wood»..The note ^as signed B. Bernftem, and informed Mt. Esmond Warrington that his relatives at Castlewood, and among them a dear friend Of his grandfather, were most anxious that he should come -to Colaiel Esmond?* twitse in Eng- £$" And now, accordingly, t^^mad^^ appearance passipgunder the -old GothiaL tiocirwgiy. trifping down the gteps Irorn one gartlen his slim figure fair bair blowing from, hisiflgjg modest looks, the clad m mourning:- The hanc.rom lad pleaBed the lady. comely face a°A]PJrbow) which would have done credit to He made her little hand ;to him, andjas Versailles. Sh^nwa^ lftid the oiher hftnd softly i?-Wr.Se Shi looked very kindly and affectionately S^the honest blushing face." •• la Jz „„t „n inm^ht into the American branch of ^h^Amllr and" find that they were related--to the same tL» £ Zce of which our Author has *o finely written Sbre! ^he fQUowing is'_ in Mr. Thackeray a best' ng manner:—■ « Kind friends, neighbours hospitale, cordial, e^n re- health, affectionate children, and, let us humbly »dd a aootlcook, cellar, andiibr^ry—ought netia person m the oossession of alt these tenets to to coniidered very da- oently happy ? Madam Esmond Warrington possess.ed) all these causes for Jiappiness,; she reminded herself!of them daily in*her morning and evening prayers. She waa Xflin her devotions, good to the poqr never r dirt anvbodv A wrong. Yonder 1 .fancy her enthroned in her principality of Castlewood, the ^ountry i^PISyt^^d^^h^tSy ill, thVsmiler benefits which are more sure than fate allots to most Sals' T don't think the little Princess Pocahontas, as ehe was called, was^o be envied in. thewidst ofherdo- Pinions. Wo Prinoess's' busbani, who was cut_off m early life, wai as well perhaps out of the way. Had he Bumved hip marriage V many years, they would haw auarrelied fiercely,'or he Would infallibly have been a henpecked husband, of which sort there were a-fe^*P«ci- mipfe still extant a hundred years ago. The truth is, little Madam Esmond never came near wan or woman, huts^ie tried to domineer over them. If obeyed, she ;wa* their very good Mend; lf.theyfeaist^l, she fought and fought until she or they gave lp. We ^miserable sinners: that's a fact we acknow- ledge ifi piiblii letery. Sunday-r-no one it in a todre clear refute voice than the little, lady. As a mortal, sbo may have been In Uie wrong, of • i .ha«verv seldom acknowledged the cir- ? f. ape used ta watch her freaks of despotism haughtiness, and stubbornness, and amuse himaelf with them. »be felt that his eye was upon her h»« bumour, of which quality sha possessed little herself, subdued and bewildei'ed her» B<»t, the gone, there Was n°b?dy S wCshe was disposed to obey,-and so I am rather lEd for T»y part that.I did not live a hundred years ago ft CasrteWbod, in WesttHoreland County, m Virginia. I £ £ y one SSld not have been too happy there Happy «ho^s hanoy f Was not there-a serpent m J*aradise itself, i Eve^iad been perfectly happy beforehand, would the have listened to him?" It will be seen from these usages tbat oor graat novelist retains the beffuty and fre^ness of tns style 4n Undiminished perfection. The first number is, of course, introductory, but enough h enuble us to predict a wotk of extr^ordinacy interest and merit. The t<mj Tour-, of Two ldff Apprentices. Eduseliold Words, I' a g&rjej 0f five articles p.ub- {^r°Z the above title in Household Words, lished und^ d tfa attention of most of our readers, ddbtesf ^^Apprentices'' were bound, as the first Ihe "1 wo Wie I P 4> hi hl meritorious lady, named eh*pWr informs Uy t nQ .8t,cret that one ot themwas Literature,' and it 19 otber Mr Wilkie Colhns, Cbarles Dickens, Sccret, will be fresh in the whose.lMt work,-the D^d now address. The object recollection of many whom W » i(]ieness, in which of the tour waa eimply tbe pursuit o » the two apprentices do not seem to ha de8eryed nently successful as they expected, »nd P'Bffi P. to be. Nothing in the world, is *0 difficulty to do nothing, when a man tries to do it. It true men have a happy faculty, in this direcUon. but t generally natural one, or if acquired at all, u «nlv after a long course of persewance and stuay. i™ two Idle Apprentices of Household Words not haTWg gone through this preparatory process, it is not surpris- ing that they should have lamentably failed in their undertaking, and we conceive the result of their attempt will act as a warning to all who follow in their steps. We must do Mr. Thomas Idle and Mr. Francis Good- child (the disguises under which the apprentices exhibit themselves) the justice to say that their joint recolleo- tionsof the tour are precisely the kind of things we should expect from .very idle persons. They are as dull as anything a man could hope to -meet wiih, or an author dread to write. Mr. Wilkie Collins, alias Mr. Francis Goodcbild, tries to infuse a little interest into them by two of his mysterious and ghastly stories, but they are more than usually purposeless, and end nowhere and in nothing. The portions written by Mr. Dickens are de- faced by a tedious mannerism which seems to have be- come apart of the writer of the "Pickwick Papers. Not even in "Little Doi-rit"! have We ttlet with so many absiird and useless repetitions, or so mubh laboured writ- ing, combined with so little-humour. Mr. Dickens has carried hi# studies into children's storj hooks (of whioh he professes a great admiration) so far that h% seems to have hopelessly fallen idtoJ the style of them, and can write nothing but Words. This simplicity may be very charming-whetf administered in ^mall quantltieS but it is not quite BO good a thing that we can never have too much of 'it. Jack and the Beanstalk in twenty pages, may be positively enchanting; but if precisely the same incidents were elaborated into twenty monthly parts at a shilling, or even into five chapters of a periodical, a pro- found indifference would be felt towards both the bean- stalk and its hero. It is a melancholy task to complain of an author who has given the world so many immortal books; but it is a task from which no one can shrink who has read Mt. Dickens's last productions. Before we have closed this review we shall show that our censure is not undeserved, by producing a few extracts from the innumerable specimens which might be selected, even from the five chapters before us, of a style which no great writer was ever rash enough to venture upon before, and which no new author could assunote without ruining his reputation for ever. The two Apprentices set off on their lazy tour in the month of September, having no intention of going any- where in particular; they wanted to see nothing, they wanted to know nothing, they wanted to learn nothing, they wanted to do nothing." In this comprehensive tautology our adventurers describe the purpose of their trip. They ftrst reselve to adopt pedestrianism, but Mr. Thomas idle (-who appears to represent Mr. Dickens, and Writes the greater portion of the sketch) speedily disco- vers that this would be too -much for him, and conse- quently Urges upon his companion the superiority of tra- velling by railway, Goodehild, being a complaisant individual, adopt#9Qinp4>niQi& suggestion, and shortly afterwards we find them at Carlisle. If any of our readers have read the ohapterg complete, they will remember having to pass a dreary obstacle before they reached that, city, in the shape of. a description of the journey by express; but this we shall pass over, having plenty of material of the sort to, contend with by and bye. Moreover, as we have no wish to oppress our readers with the umelieved dullness of this U Lazy Tour" all >at orree, we only trouble them for the present wkk- the fallowing-description of Carlisle iit'or, •' Idle and Goodchild had got to Carlise. It cursor » ially and delightfully idle. Something in comes'befot'Co e amusement had happenetl last month, l Qih ;nof W was going to happen before Christmas u A ;wtiine there was a lecture on, India for those should .inf^icli Idle and Goodchild did not. Like- Wiov., L,N«-wtio nKed tnem, tnere were impressions to be bought of all the vapid prints, going and gone, and of nearly all the vapid books. For those who wanted to put anything in the missionary boxes, here were the boxes. For those who wanto4 the l^everen^ Mr. JPodgerg (artist's. 'thirty: ah ill; pga]f,' b«ro_ yaa fltr. P&Jgbra to Say e afiiTorthe vineyard, but opposed to Mr. Podgers, brotherly "tooth and nail. Here, were guide-books to the neighbour- ing antiquities, and eke the Lake country, in several dry and husky aorta; here, many physically and morally im- possible beads of both sexes, for young ladies to copy, in the exercise of the art of drawing; here, further, a large impression of Mr. Spurgeon. solid as to the flesh. but to say even something gross. The working young men of Car- lisle were drawn up, with their hands in their pockets, four and six abreast, and appeared (much to tbe satisfac- tion of Mr. Idle) to have nothing else to do. The working and growing young women of Carlisle, from the age of twelve upwards, promenaded the streets in the cool of the 'fev6ning, and rallied the said young men. Sometimes the young men rallied the young women, as in the case of a jgroup gathered round an accordion-player, from among whom a young man advanced behind a young woman fof whom he appeared to have a tenderness, and hinted to her than lie was there and playful, by giving her (he wore1 clogs)_'a kick." This t preposterous representation of an active and busy city is followed by an overdone description of an accent of Carrock, a mountain in Cumberland, in the course -of Which Mr. Idle sprains his ancle, and is crippled for thereat of the tour. This accident give rise to various pieces of writing which, if not totally incomprehensible,. are at least mysterious and extraordihdry. Take fdr instance the following scene, which takes place at Wig- ton," where Mr. Idle is compelled to lie down to reneve "his Mnole, and Mr. Francis Goodchild takes an observa- tion of the place from the window :->- Brother Francis, brother Francis' cried Thomas Idle. What do you see from the turret T «! I se^ said Brother Francis, 4 what I hope and be- lieve to he.one of the most) dismal scenes ever seen by eyesi Tape the houses with ptheir roofs of dull black, their stained fronts, apd their dark-rim moil windows, looking as if they were at! in mourning. As every little puff of 'wind comfs down the street, I see a perfect train of rain let off along the wooden stalls in the market place axid exploded agaiiw* mer see a very bilr gas-lamp in the centre, which I know, by a secret instinct, will not be lighted to-night. I see a putrip, with a trivet' underneath its spout whereon to stand the vessels that are brought to be filled with water. I see a man eome to pump, and he pumps very hard, but no water follows, and he strolls empty., away! V' Brother Francis, brother Francis,' cried Thomas Idle, what more do you see from tho turret, besides the man and the pnmp, and the trivet, and the houses all in mourning, and the rain r I see,' said Brother Francis, one, two/ three, four, five, linen-drapers' shops in front of me. I see a linen- draper's shop next door to the right—and there are five more iitfen-drapers' shops down the corner to the left. Eleven hbmicmal linen-drapers' shops within a short stoneVfcrbw, eaeh with its hand at the throats of all the rest 1 Over the small first-floor of one of these linen-dra- pert' shops appears the wond"rful inscription, BANK." Brother Francis, brother Francis,' cried Thomas tdle, -,what, more do you see from the turret, besides the eleven homicidal linen-drapers' «bops, and the wonderful inscription '.Bank' on the small first-floor, and the man and the pump and the trivet, and the houses aUin mourn- ing, and the rain ? 'I see,' said Brother Francis, the depository for Christian Knowledge, and through the dark vapour I think I again make out Mr. Spurgeon looming heavily. iter Majesty the Queen, God bless her, printed in colours, I am sure I see. 1 see the Illustrated London Aews of, several weeks ago, and I see a sweetmeat shop—which the prpprietor calls a Salt Warehouse'—with one small fe-, piale child in a cotton bonnet looking in on tip-toe, obli- vious of rain. And. I see a watchmaker's, with only three great pale watches of a dull metal hanging in his window, eaph in a separate pane.' Brother Francis, brother Francis,' cried Thomas Idle", 'what more do you see of Wigton, besides these objects, and the man and the pump and the trivet, and the houses all in mourning and the raia ?' « • I >«ee nothing more,' said Brother Francis, 'and there is nothing more to see, except the curlpaper bill of the theatre, which was opened and shut last week (the manager's family played all the parts), and the short, square, chinky omnibus that goes to the railway, and leads too rattling a life over the stones to hold together long. o yes J Now, I see two men with their hands in their pockets and their backs towards me.' "•Brother Francis, brother Francis,' cried Thomas Idle, what dotyQU make out from the turret, of the ex- pression of the two men with their hands in their pockets and their backs to wards you V They are mysterious men,' said Brother Francis, with inscrutable backs. They keep their backs towards me with persistency. If one turns an inch in any direc- tion, the other turns an inch in the same direction, and no pior'e. They turn very stiffly, on a very little pivot, in the middle of the market-place. Their appearance is partly, of a mining, partly of a ploughing, partly of a stable, cha- racter. They are looking at nothing—very hard. Their backs are slouched, and their legs are curved with much standiug about. Their pockets are empty and dog's-eared, on account of their hands being always in them. They stand to be rained upon, without any signs of impatience^ or dissatisfaction, and they keep. so close together that an elbo w of each jostles an elbow of the other, but tb^y never Bpeak. They spit at times, but speak not. I see it grow- ing darker and darker, and still I see them, sole visible population of the place, standing to be rained upon, with their backs towards me, and looking at nothing very hard,' 'Brother Francis, brother Francis,' cried "Thomas Idle, before you draw down the blind of the turret and come in to have your head scorched, see if you can. and impart to me, something of the expression of those two amazing men.' The murky shadows,' said Francis Goodchild, are gathering fast, and'the wings of evening, and the wings of coal are folding over Wigton. Still they look at nothing very hard, with their backs towards me. Ah! Now they turn, and I see—' Brother Francis, brother Francis,' cried Thomas Idle, tell me quickly what you see of the two men of Wigton!' I see,' said Francis Goodchild, 'that they have no expression at all. And now the town goes to sleep, Uft. dazzled by the large unlighted lamp in tbe market-place, and let no man wake it. Is there Any humour in »lt this ? Or is it anything better than' an example of yery silly and affected writing ? Sir Walter Scott, even when hid powers had declined considerably, never descended to such balderdash as the passage we have quoted. Nor is it a solitary specimen, for in the third chapter we are threatened with a recur. rence of the exhortations to Frane!s, at "Atlonby:"— Feanbia." said Thomas Idle, what do you think of this placet" I think," returned Mr. Goodchild, in a glowing way, it is everything we expected." "Hah said Thomas Idle. There is the sea," cried Mr. Goodchild, pointing out of window; and here," pointing to the lunch on the table, "are shrimps. Let us—" here Mr. Goodchild looked out of Window, as if in search of something, and looked in again—let us eat 'em." This profound observation, 41 There is the sea, and there are the shrimps; let us eat 'em," is repeated at regular intervals through out the chapter, as though it were a masterstroke of wit, and could not fail to move the reader to mirth. We must own that in ourselves it has had a contrary and lugubrious tendency. But besides the shrimps, we have a donkey Who is described to be always in the "act of bolting," and what is called an Episode of the Sprained Ancle," any extracts from which would render this Supplement altogether unread- able. We turn, therefore, tb a "Junction Station," where our travellers next resort, and which is thus depicted:— First, as to its contrasts. They were only two, but they were Lethargy and Madness. The Station was either totally unconscious, or wildly- raving. By day, in its uueonscious state, it looked as if no life could come to it, —as if it were all rust, dust, and ashes—as if the last train for ever, had gone without issuing any Return- Tickets— as,if the last Engine had uttered its last shriek and burst. One awkward ahave of the air from the wosden razor, and everything changed. Tight office-doors new open, panels yielded, books, newspapers, travelling- Caps, and wrappers, broke out "of brick walls, money chinked, conveyances oppressed by nightmares of luggage came careering into the yard, porters started up from secret places, ditto the much-injured women, the'shining; bell, who lived in a little tray on stilts by himself, -tiew into a man's hand and clamoured violently. The points- man aloft in the signal-box made the motions of drawing, with some difficulty, hogsheads of beer. Down Train More beer. Up Train! More beer. Cross Junction Train More beer. Cattle 'train! More Beer. Goods Train! Simmering, whistling, trembling, rumbling, thundering. Trains on the whole confusion of intersect- ing rails, crossing one another, bumping' one another, bisaing one another, backing to go forward, tearing into distance to come close. People frantic. Exiles seeking restoration to their native carriages, and banished to remoter climes. More beer and more bell, Then, in a minute, the Station relapsed into stupor as the stoker of Ttaili, tbe hut td'dftpwV weafc gliding out of' 4k.siBKfii^ A page like this, and the unhappy reader himself would inevitably make the transition from Lethargy" to Madness." He would be hopelessly lost in a maze of "more beer," "simmering, whistling, trembling, rumbling, thundering," and frantic people." The figure in the last sentence of the extract may simply be described as very nasty concerning the remainder of the. passage, we shall decline expressing any opinion. The last point of the tour to which we are introduced is Doncaster, during the race week. This chapter is perhaps the most absurd of the whole. The visitors to the races are invariably described as Lunatics, and the betting men their Keepers, and this intensely wi.tty image is repeated with a constancy little short of amazing, and nothing short-bf tediousness. It does not matter from what part we extract, for this hnmour of madness is everywhere :— I "Monday, mid-day. Races not to begin until to- morrow, but all tba-zaablasitict out, crowding the pavements of the one maiu street of pretty and pleasant Dpncaster. crowding the road, particularly crowding the outside of the Betting Rooms, whooping and shouting loudly after all passing vehicles. Frightened lunatic horses occasionally running kway, with infinite clatter. AH degrees bf men, from peers to paupers, betting inces- santly..Keepers very watchful1, and taking all good chances. Ah awful family likeness among the Keepers, to Mr. Palmer and Mr. Thurtell. With some knowledge of ^expression and some acquaintance with heads (thus writes Mr, Goodchffd), I never have seen anywhere, so many repetitions of one class of' countenance and one character of head (both evil) as in this street at this time. Can. ning, covetouaness, Secrecy, cold calculation, hard callous- ness, and. dire insensibility, are the uniform Keeper characteristics. Mr. Palmer passes menvetimesin 6ve minutes, and, as I go dotftt the street, the back of Mr. Thurtell's skull is always going on "before me. U At night, moie Lunatics out than last night-isud more Keepers. The latter very active at the Betting Rooms, the street in front of which is now impassable. Mr. Palmer as1 before. Mr. Thurtell as before. Roar and uproar as before. GVadhal subsidence as before. Unman- nerly drinking house'expectorates as before. (!) Drunken negro-melodists. Gong-donkey, and correct cards in the iiight. "On Wednesday morning, the morning of the great -St. Leger, ft becomes apparent that there has beta a gre^t influx since yesterday, both of Lunatics and Keepers. The families of the tradesman over the way are no longer within human ken; their places kn'ow them no more ten, fifteen, and twenty guinea-lodger* fill them. At the pastry Cook's fteobtid-flobr' Window; a 'Keeper is brushing Mr. ThurtelPs hair—thinking it his own. In the wax- chandler's attic, another Keeper is putting on Mr. Palmer's braces. In the gunsmith's tfhnery, a Lunatic is shaving himself, in the serious stationer's best aitting-robm, three'Ihinatics are taking a combination-breakfast, praising the cook's devil, and drinking neat brandy in an atmos- phere of last midnight's cigars." We dare not venture to trespdss oh the patience of th^ reader yith any more of this Lazy Tour." We nave quoted enough to justify our observations, and the mosp charitable wi^h we can express in conclusion is— that Mr. Dickens, for the sake of his fame, had made his tout; in the end what it was in the beginning, and not have set-himself to industriously write a record of it. Routtedgt's Shakespeare. Partly.—London: Routledge and Co. IN the November part of this splendid edition of Shakes. peaV-e, wo have the "Merry Wives of Windsor," iihia. trated with uncommon humour by 1\tr: Gilbert. The, excellent qualities of thfe publication con!ih^.(Ju^(Ii-i minished in every respect—the biography being clear,; and the cuts beautifully finished. Mr. H. Staunton also! executes hia task with great ability, the whole of his. notea being-interesting and apposite. Jloutledge's Expeditioniothe Crimea. London: Routledge. —With this part isr published a splendid plan of the country round Sebasto{jol, showing the position of the cont'ehdiftg Armibs kfter the fall of the South side. The —With this part isr published a splendid plan of the country round Sebastopot, showing the position of the contending armies after the fall of the South side. The work now approaches completion, the coat of the whole being e lingly reasonable. Mortari* New farmer's Almanac, Jor 1858. London: Blackie and Son. To our agricultural friends we can strongly recommend this excellent Almanack, as being the most comprehen- sive and useful one to farmers issued. Information of every kind is afforded on subjects connected with the farm-yard, dairy, or garden, and some idea of the worth of the book may be gained from the following summary of its contents 36 pages are occupied by an agricul- tural history of .1857, 20 by a calendar of operations for for the farm and for the garden, 20 by an accountJ* the 1 reatment ot Live Stock under disease 14 greatly extended since last year, of the Farm's Scotland, Ireland, and Wales, five bv a hi/ of the New Parliament, 12 by a -Monthly an(* remainder by Answers to Contavoi*'0*? attrono" mieal information. Xhe prio* 18 M M it can possibly be, The Ladiee Treasury (London: Ward and Lock) continues one of the best miscellanies of the day for ladies, by whom we trust,it is liberally supported. The eighth part, for the present month, contains a good selec- tion of read able matter. CdsselTs Art Treasures Exhibition.—We cannot say much in praise of the illustrations to this work-—they are black, common, and ill-executed. The price is too cheap for the article to be good. Englishwoman's Domestic, and Boy's Own Magazine. London: S. 0. Bee,ton.-Both these deserve cordial ap- probation. With the first magazine a capital almanack is given, occupying 16 pages. The Boys' Magazine con- tains the usual well-selected mass of information and interesting light reading. The National Magazine. November part. London.— This new part commences a fresh volume, and exceeds rather than falls short of the merits which distinguished its predecessors. It is, on the whole, one of the very best magazines published, and includes some of our moat popular writers among its contributors,' • ,.k-1 The Illustrated Inventor. No. 1. London.—The "rnustrated Inventor" is a new publication, issued for' the purpose of forming an illustrated record of inventions, and as such will obviously be of immense value to per- sons desirous of taking out patents. The present part is embellished with several good engravings, and contains a large amount of useful information.

GENERAL INTELLIGENCE. THE "TIMES'" CRIMEAN CORRESPONDENT.MR. W. H. Russell finishes his course of provincial lectures on the Crimean War this week, and according to rumour- which we believe has good foundation—will in all proba- bility go out at once to India as Special Correspondent of the Times. This would be a boon to newspaper readers, j and one which they well deserve. No man in England; is so fitted for the position as Mr. Russell. Daring.his' provincial experience, he haajpade himself practically ac- quainted with the bearings of the enlistment question,: the result of which he has embodied in several letters to the Timet, signed with his initials, "W. H. It."—. Illustrated News. The new suspension bridge over the water in St., James's Park, was thrown open on Sunday last. AI more strange and hideous specimen of construction could hardly be devised. What is the benefit of Schools of Art being established, when Government itself sanctions so muea ugliMM, neglecting a marked opportunity of coin- hiding graceful forms with strictly utilitarian purposes? public convenience gains by this direct road from Queen- square, Westminster, to Marlborough House Court- yard; but its taSIS might" hWe been gratified also. .A.tkf1.tta. THE' ROYAI, BRITISH BANK.—The trial of Mr. Humphrey Brown, Mr. Cameron, and the other directors of the Royal British Bank, on the criminal information ,filed against them by the Attorney-General, is to take place in the Gonrt of Queen's Bench, and is expected to commence on the 18th of November. Several of the leading members of the bar have been engaged to defend the directors. The proceedings are expected to occupy upwards of a week. The assignees and official mtnager of the Bank have caKed a meeting of the shareholders for the 11th of November. It is stated that the share- holders have hitherto failed to respond in a proper man- ner to the proposal to raise 63. 6d. in the pound in addi- tion to the assets of the Bank) aDd that it heaitote Tdtfger av«! ttr'enMfeJVfes 6f that aVratigetnettt", measiiFes country or abroad, will extract from them every farthing of their available means. THE BERKELEY DISPUTES.—Mr. Grantley Berkeley has written to the papers an explanatory letter, in whioh he gives as a reason for his absence from Earl Fitz- hardinge's, that he was called into a room on the morn- ing of the funeral, and was angrily addressed, on family matters, by Sir Maurice Berkeley, in the presence of se- veral relations and other persons; that, outraged by such indecency, he retired to his private room, and that he there remained till the funeral was over. He also accuses "Thomas Moreton,* Earl of Berkeley, who does not choose to toll himself a peer," of having yielded to undue influence, and of having signed documents injuriously affecting the interests of him (Mr. Grantley Berkeley) and his sons. Some further correspondence of a recrimi- natory character has also been published, and amongst other documents, a letter from Mr. Boodle, the late E-rl Fitzhardinge'B attorney, who entirely denies the truth of Mr. Grantley Berkeley's account of what took place at his brother's funeral. It is stated that the title of Earl Fitzhardinge is likely to be revived in favour of Sir. Mauriee Berkeley, who has succeeded to the estates. STEEL MANUFACTURE.—CHALLENGE OF JBIOOO.—Mr. R. Mushet challenges Captain Ucbatius, or his agents, for the sum of JBoOO, to product, under his patent, sound, serviceable cast-steel from British coke pig-iron direct; and when they have tried and failed to do this, he will accept their challenge for £ 1000 to produce sound, ser- viceable cast-steel from British eoke pig-iron, on tbe atomic plan, and without any mixture of clay, oxide of manganese, or other pot-destroying ingredients. TMa is' Certainly bringing the question to a point, and the issue mult prove beneficial to the iron trade generally, as all will know, even though both processes fail, which sys- tein they must henceforth look forward to as calculated ultimately to revolutionise the manufacture of steel. MINES.—The aspect of commercial affairs continues rather gloomy, although within the last day or two money appears to have been easier and more abundant. The mining market this week has partaken of the general dulness to a greater extent than we had noticed before, and when sales have been pressed, prices have given way and lower quotations given and for this reason, with two or three exceptions, quoted prices have been difficult to obtain. The settling, also, at the end of this week, was rather heavy, particularly in Sortridge Consols and Alfred, and interfered slightly with business. Wheal Mary Ann, Wheal Uny, Wheal Sydney, and Grambler and St. Aubyn, form some of the exceptions to the gene- ral market, and have been in demand at advanced prices. Among speculative shs-res all sorts of quotations hate been given, and it is difficult to get at actual prices where no business has been done. The fall of JEM per ton in tin has made, shares in tin mines more freely offered, and in consequence less firm in price. The standard for cop- per also seems declining* but not to any great extent it present.—Mining Journal. PRODUCING WROUGHT IMS DIRECT FROM "RICH ORES."—There have been several patents taken out for methods of puddling rich iron ores into wrought-iron at m* operatioo, amongst which stands, first and best, one by the late Mr. David Mushet, of Coleford, Gloucester- shire. Now, several imitators of Mr. MUahetTs inven- tion for producing wrought-iron from" rich ores," and with the addition of good grey iron," have come before the public, under the protection of the Patent Laws; but they have all failed in the object professed to be accom- plished, not from want of energy in the several projec- tors, or want of patronage from ironmasters, but entirely from a deficient or erroneous knowledge of, theohamical affinities requisite to be put in actios to effectually sepa- rate from, the iron, in the process in question, the earthy residuujns of the' Ores and fuel made use of; for al- though those impurities in the rich hematite ore are comparatively small in amount (which, in fact n,w= ♦ the difficulty of-thWr separation), Vet thev arJ junction with the iwAe* of the fuel proposed t'n K °°^d along with them, quite sufficient to vitiate thu thereby materially prevent its reduction to t^pPtaHic state. Now, this difficulty would be by puddling, as Mr. Mushet said Qoq4^ron" with a portion of rich iron ore, and the an(l 6ar' bonaeeons matte} s, as above reco*™ or even with a much larger proportion of «^.rovidB,d tbe quantity of earthy matters to be I ved from the ores and fuel operated upon • the 8t.ron8 ieseent affinities existing betwee# ox^e *ron and the several ele- ments of impurities of the ore be overcome bv the bf 8tronS divellent affinities, the reduction ofwi" be incomplete, and the quality of that rJpT may happen to be revived will be of a very imper- |^t and uncertain nature.—Rogers's Treatise on Iron Metallurgy. A SOLICITOR TBANSPORTED.—J. Berry, solicitor, Cop- thall-court, Throgmorton-street, has been convicted of feloniously uttering a forged acceptance to a bill of ex- change for £ 67 10s., with intent to defraud George Wel- lington Bracher, knowing it to be forged, and waa sen- tenced to six years' lransportation: THE MUHDER AT ISLINGTON.—Robert Thomas 1)*^ 40 years of age, a journeyman carpenter, was indicted at the Central Criminal Court, for the wilful murder of Martha Davis, his wife, by cutting her throat with 1 a razor. The prisoner and his wife lived in Dorset-suSi Bali a Pond, Islington. On the night of the 6th Jf* the prisoner, somewhat intoxicate^, commenced abuj^ the deceased, and accused her of infidelity. ThuihS denied, when he locked the door and cut her throat wftk a.razor, from the effects of whioh she died in aSr minutes.-The jury found the prisoner guHtyj—fte Chief Baron then passed sentence of death, and told the prsioner that he need not expect the least clemency and that the sentence of the lav would be carried out. .1 SACRIFICING TO BACCHUS.—At the Marlhorouirh- street Pohce-ccurt, on Saturday last, M- Henry LattMnt. of Warwick-street, musician,, and Maria, his wife, both fashionably attired, and the latter in a, high state bf ball- room elegance, were placed before Mr. Bii^ham «i>a charge of being drunk and disorderly the overnifcht in Rupert-street. As they lefjt, a fine of 5s. eaph having been inflicted, they turned aside their heads, apparently desirous as soon as possible of avoiding observation, and Mr. Bingham tol l them that with *11 their -finery thev might well be ashamed of themselves, and he hoped they would never appear in such a position again, MERCANTILE SUSPENSIONS.—Messrs. John HalyVod Co., or rhilpot-lane, merchants engaged in the AtaapiQAn trade, have found themselves under the necessity, of issuing a circular announcing a suspension of payment Their embarrassments have arisen from the failure ofre mittances from the United States. It is stated, however as the result of an examination by Mr., Quilter, that^a considerable surplus will ultimately remain after the liquidation of all liabilities. The amount involved is stated to be about £60,000, Messrs. J. Jaffray and of Great St. Helen's, ship and insurance brpkeri, haiie likewise suspended from similar causes.—The letters few Liverpool mention that several failures have ooew^d through the dosing of the doors of the Liverpool Borough Bank. Among the names of theaatahliahm^ xeported to have suspended arc Messrs.; Morrow. • «nd Grfrbutt, Messrs. J. S. De Woolf and G»„ jyv? Messrs. Gould and Davis. It is feared that other ters of a similar nature are impending. th» A ^NFR diffioultiee, with general causes, co-operating to, produee .prenur&Che fE&i' ure of Mr. Chafe, ironfouoder, of firm of Disan, Chafe, and Co., of Devonport, »a Announced.. Fivn DEAD Bopres FOUND.—On. Sunday D information was received at the Metropolitan Poti* office, that during the day had been found in the river Thames, off Deptfbrd, the body of a man about So years old, 5 feet 8 inches high, with dark hair. ft pelted that he had destroyed himself. A niaiT nadie is at present unknown was found in thB p&ri^h' Dagenham, in Essex, quite dead.' He VHS' years of age, 5 feet 9 inches high, with dark hkir:v frf. formation was also received that on Saturday a rnJmSn" natae unknown, about 55 years pf age, 5* feet him droped down dead in Cleveland-street, Fit/roy-^nird She is described as being fiir, and dressed In a faist4 straw bonnet, a red ahd gray worsted plaid sbawl. a litfc cotton gown, gray stockings, and leather 'slippers In- telligence was likewise reeeivedithat on"Saturday ilt#. noon arespectabte dressed young woman wa4 Observed by some boys to pass along the towing path Of-tKe Regent's Canal, and precipitate herself into the t#A" Information of the occurrence w^s sent to the b'otlce- station, but the body could not be recovered untu "'life waa qaite extinct. The body of a gentleman WM alao found in the Bittgønt's Canal, at Limehouse. NEULY STARVED TO DEATH.—The men. in I .of a flat-bottomed boat in which a quantity #h piled to on# of tto docks at Maraoiltea, were giwtiy cries were repeated again and Agtati," length the men proceeded to remove the timber; thfey then1 dis- covered to their astonishmenta man in the holdu who toL 11,4" appeared in the last stage of starvation. He begged of them to give him a glass of rum, and when they had done so, he related that three days before he had ito quite drunk by dripkibg wine from the casks ^hich htid been piled up on the quay, that he had then staggered to the hold of the vessel to sleep himself sober, and that while he was there the timber had, unperceiVed by hi& been piled above him. He says that he slept for severii hours, 8nd that on awaking he was horror struck at finding hitnself imprisoned in a hole without means of escape. Be shouted and made all the nofee he coutiL but in vain. His suffering^ from hunger were, he statajL terrible.—Galignani's Messenger. v' BRUTAL ILL-TREATMENT* OF A SEAMAN.—A ibbit painful sensation has been created throughout tbe whofe of the eastern part of London, by the irfaterhent ofV seaman named William Williams, whose deposition w& received by Mr. Selfe, a few days since, on board t& Dreadnought Hospital ship, off Greenwich", when "ft* stated that he had been violently assaulted early orf ttfe tnorhing of Saturday, the 24th ult., hv two polioe odd- stables of the H division, in Redclifire-highway.' The man appeara to be sinking fast. No steps-hairi bb*a taken to bring to justice the two police-constables, 60 and 186 of the S division, who have been identified by WiUiatna as the persons who assaulted --hid.' "I It- IB believed that his statement can be corroborated in several material particulars by Mrs. Bond, his landlady,- and 'by a woman of the'town named Mary Ann Pofrelt,"wW It is rumoured, -was with the sailor when he Was illutod ahd, on remonstrating with Brown, 186, watl tafceii tntb custody by him and locked upon a charge ö.f'be'i'rig-dtš. orderiy. She was brought before Mr. Selfe, on Satutday1 the 24th ult. and on the oath of Bro^rn only waa jen'. tenced to 10 days' imprisonment and hard labour;fbr b< ing disorderly. Iler term of imprisonment expired Monday morning, and her evidence,14f she h«rt anfto give, could be made available. A great number of per- sons have been anxiously^ inquiring of the officers there would be a public investigation" of the charge against the two policemen, or whether the matter was to be hushed ul" The reply, of course, was-" We knpW Nothing about the affair.. There are no policenien m custody, and we are not aware that any investigaifoh win ever takb place." The publice are much dissatisfy with the course that has been taken in this casfe.-4-TVmto. A MOST BLOODY DUEL.—A duel came Off at tm eat-fy hour on Tuesday morning, a lew miles from this citf between Mr. C. M. Blair, and Colonel Casey, both of Merced County. A bitter animosity has for io- Qbie past existed between the parties; growing out of atftanY in the,effort to obtain the hand'of a Miss L— v8mr lady of prepossessing personal appearance and plishments, at present residing with her Stanislaus. Mr. Blair and Colonel Casey met irr the rootn of the Webber-house, on Monday mominr Ail* accompanied by friends, where a conversation eaBdW bi- tween them, at first apparently in friendly marni«T but Blair, becomming vexed at the indifference his rival assumed, made some Severe charees denounced as false, and at the Barae time/ raS^ his seat, struck Blair a severe blow with hiaS^wwy drew his revolver, but was prevented !>«**» present. Blair, being unarmed, stan**™ck» but-yM pursued by Casey, who dealt hW™otber »«verB-blow upon the face. The friendssk*8P«tiea, howerer, stie. ceeded in preventing and ^tdrin^-oEdief, Shortly after which a^ri,ents Were made for Went of the diffio^ other means- Yesterday mdic- ing was fix^ the uPa at a place mHes front «*»«> clt7> where the parties met at ahont dM. liaht, by a few spectators. The gt^nvd £ L»ared, a distance of ten paces, and, the word bdftfe ^5ven, shots were exchanged. On the first tt&i party missed aim. The second shot tookeaectatten Casey, causing a flesh wound. Upon attemptihg «e third shot, the cylinder, upon Casey's pistol refused to revolve, in consequence of an exploded cap lodging upon the tube. Firing was then discontinued for about ten minutes, during which time the weapons (CDlei six shooters) were reloaded in every chamber, and firine- was again resumed. Each party exchanged six shots in quick succession without the word,' three of which took effect upon Casey, while Blair escaped" without in- jury. The most dangerous wound received by Casev was a shot which entered the" peritoneum or abdominal lining, A ball also passed through the abdominal mus- cles. Notwithstanding the wounds received by Colonfel Casey. it is said that he exhibited an apparent-unconcern throughout the firing. He was brought into the efty by his friends, and is at present at the Magnolia-housfe. Blair, as might have been expected, has made his escape probably to await the result of Casey's wounds. The duel was, undoubtedly, one of the most despertfte On re- cord, and we only regret the necessity that cotnpfclHd the resort to such hazarAous meana nf ndlmrtm# aofial mQ\atj^Stoc%ton Ar9M,- J