The Sun. — London, England, 1832-09-25 00:00:00

bility of Oporto falling br not, I can only say that, in my opinion, it is safe at present, unless heavier artillery, and. a much more determined army than has yet appeared, are brought against it. Our correspondent concludes by saying. a m well and safe, though the shells are falling about m e. Saturday, Sept. 15,12 o'clock. Col. Sorrell, having allowed, with due consideration for the mercantile interests of Oporto, a supplementary mail bag to be made up, I take advantage of it to add a few words to my letter of yesterday. I am sorry to Fay that Don Miguel's Generals are now actually showing their teeth ; and we had a quantity of shells thrown into the streets in the course of last night. The damage done is inconsiderable ; but if they increase the number of these missiles the peaceable inhabitants must be great sufferers. They have also erected a battery of three guns on the height above Villa Nova, with which they are trying to silence the battery of the Vittoria; ao that it will be evident tl at the houses of Oporto must feel the effects of the war, whilst the persons engaged in it are in comparative safety._ The increase of the fire compels me to go on board a vessel, which I do as well out of prudential reasons, as for the purpose of keeping my communication with you open. I understand that Santa Martha was at the head of the group of officers who received the messengers sent yes. terday with the Consul's memorial. He was NO in his threats against Oporto, and declared that it was the determination of his Government, if it continued to harbour Don Pedro, to burn it to the ground, and to can nonade it until not one stone was left upon another. He also said he would lave destroyed all the shipping in the river if he was not afraid of injuring British property. In other respects Santa Martha and his officers were very civil, made the gentlemen dine with him, and assured them ii. would do everything in his power to protect their goods. Ile denied that any wine had been sold, and asserted that more damage had been done by the cannonade - from this Bide than by hie troops, anti added that he was often de *lions of sending down officers to the wine-stores for the purpose of-seeing them respected, but that our people fired a cannon shot not only at every person who-appeared in the streets of Villa Nova, but even at:any head looking out of a window. I repeat it, that all this injury and annoyance done to that part of Oporto which borders on the river has no effect on the spirit or the means of Don Pedro's expedi tion. lie and his troops are, as it were, out of the fire. I think, however, he is confining himself ton much to the defensive, and that he might, by throwing a thousand men across the river near the bar, come on the rear of the enemy by surpri.e, and, with a well-directed silly from the Serra, break up his camp above Villa Nova, de stroying their batteries and fortresses, and relieve that side of the river altogether of his presence. Some of the British officers recommend this, but Don Pedro's coun cils are governed by prudence at present, having com mitted himself immediately after landing by two rash ex cursions. Monday Morning, Sept. 17, 8 o'clock. As the packet is only now coming off the bar from Lis bon, I hasten to send one line to say that the town is quiet, though they are firing away at both sides. The b itteries from this are of heavier metal than Don Miguel's, and they dismounted three of his guns on Saturday. There is no alarm in the town, though se veral persons, for safety, have gone on board ships in the river. There was a sharp struggle last night along the cen tre of the line, but nothing important was the result. SEPT. S. The greatest degree of anxiety prevails here for the re stilt of the grand attack on Oporto, from which place nothing has been heard for some days. Every soldier that could be spared, or they could find the means to send, has been marched from all quarters, and, but for the active and masterly movements of Admi ral Sartorius, a considerable body of troops from the south side of the Tagus would, ere this, have been fer on their way to Oporto. The Admiral, who has regularly blockaded this port ever since tl:e return of Don Miguel's squadron, some days ago went to St. Übe's with his squadron. A steamer approached the forts, and demanded possession of them in the name of Donna Maria. This and the appearance of the squadron threw the whole neighbourhood into a vio lent state of alarm, and the troops which were to hive been sent to Oporto received counter orders. These troops consisted of a battalion of the sth Foot, one ditto of the Bth, one ditto of the Royalists of Montaraz, two field pieces, &c. under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Pantalizo, ordered to march on Torres Vedras. The Bth landed at Belem at 3 o'clock in the morning, and the sth at the Praco do Commercio at 8, when they were suddenly ordered to return in the sameboits, owing to the alarm created by the judicious movements of the Admiral at St. Übe's. The same sort of alarm has been kept up afPeniche, at Figniera, and all the other ports, which effectually pre yenta the troops frem leaving these different stations to join in the grand attack on Oporto. All is hurry and bustle.at the arsenal to get the squa dron ready for sea. Yesterday. the 7th, the steamer went down to Cachies. The Don John VI. has a large supply of coals on board for her, and also some large pieces of artillery for the attack on Oporto. The squadron is ready at Cachies, and expected to go out next tide. Admiral Sartorius has received a considerable rein forcement of nearly twenty vessels, a list of which I hope to get in time for this letter ; and, if he has any luck, must take or destroy some of them, notwithstanding the pre. sence of the seventy-four. Don Miguel has only eight besides the steamer. It is now beyond a doubt that Ge neral Sir John Campbell is with Don Miguel's army near Oporto, for one of his Aides-de-Camp wrote to his friend in Lisbon, a few days ago, to this effect :—" We are now preparing for a grand attack on Oporto. My next letter will, I hope, be dated from that city."—What presumption ! Don Miguel is evidently labouring under great depres. aloe( of spirits; he sometimes appears on the water, but without hoisting the Royal Standard. He is always at tended by the notorious Variseimo, who sleeps in an ante chamber adjoining that of the King. He has always been in fear of poison or assassination. There is no more talk of his going to the army of the North. When Admiral Sartorius made his appearance to re sume the blockade so quickly after the return of Don Al;guel's squadron, the old Minister, Conde de Basto, went to the arsenal and asked the superintendent, sneer ingly, where Don Pedro's Arsenal was, they being so soon refitted ? It was found thfficult to give an answer to such A question from so terrible a man. The measures of Reform already projected by Don P e d r o (viz., throwing open the monopoly of the Wine Company at Oporto, and the tobacco contract, taking off the weighty a nd disgraceful imposts on agricultural pro duce, and the heavy and vexatious tax of one-tenth of all fish caught, taken in kind, besides the hindrance of their sales by the pompons and insolent way in which it was levied, frtquently keeping the poor venders waiting in the mornings, and thereby obliging them to sell it in the h eat of the (lay) have given great satisfaction here; and no doubt, should the Almighty permit him to be the instru ment of his bounty in liberating this fine country from its present oppressive Government, many other blessings and comforts will follow. It is really dreadful to see the gee of poverty and distress into which thousands of poor fisher men are thrown by not being allowed to follow their avo cation., fearing they may take the friends of Don Pedro's cause to Sirtorius's squadron, or bring in the real state of affairs at Oporto. They have waited on Don Miguel in large bodies, but got no redress, except a few pence each man, not sufficient for one dinner. Tuesday, 11th. This morning, at seven o'clock, Don Miguel's squadron sailed. At the time of their departure none of Sartorius's squadron were in sight, but, as they had been seen daily, they could not be far off. On hoard the Princesa Real they took ten thirty-two pound guns, to be placed on the heights of Villa Nova. Perhaps they may find some difficulty in landing them. Letters continue to arrive from the at my near Oporto, and give a deplorable picture of their situation. The nights are cold for sleeping in the open air. They get little pay, the country is exhausted of provisions, and the poor villagers are in fear of starving ; a. the winter ap proaches robberies take place of everything eatable, for many leagues round, and the poor people areeafraid to complain. There is again some stir making with Spain. Couriers re frequently going from the Spanish Ambassador. We have had telegraphic accounts of fighting at Oporto since Sunday, the 9th, and of course various accounts of successes and reverses, but no exultation here. All is quiet, and Donna Maria's party, though full of confidence, are re strained by prudence, until a fair and reasonable opportunity offers for their liberation. Many robberies have lately taken place in Lisbon, to a large amount. This is attributed to what are called the Royalist corps, which contain all the worst people in Lis bon, liberated from the prisons for this service. All pro cesses for crimes and debts being suspended by Royal ordi nance during the time they remain in these corps, they have au opportunity of knowing where property is deposited, and it would be useless for a Portuguese to complain. Yesterday (13th) reports reached the city that the two squadrons were in sight of each other, and expected an action. At one o'clock a steamer from Sartorius arrived in sight, and sent a boat on board the British A linirars ship. To-day nothing has been heard. squadron the poor fi,Leririen Since the departure of.tte, N have got liberty to go out. Don lrguet has had a station'• h titted up near Cintra, from which he has an extensive view of the sea, and could witness any engagement many leagues distant. PRICES OF STOCKS THIS Yank Stock 3 per Cent. Red. 3 per Cent. Cons. 3 per Cent. Ditto Red shut tiew:3% per Cent. 3 per Cent. Ann. 17.26 - 4 per Cent. !RN Rank Long Ann. to expire Jan. 5, ISRP shut Oct. 10, 1950 ......... shut Jan. 5, 1860 ....... - Jan. 5, 1880 April 5, 1380 ......... - Jan. 5, 1870 PRICES OF FOREIGN FUNDS Austrian Bonds R9 Belgian Bonds 75 Ditto Account 75%}6 Brazilian Bonds Ditto Account Buenos Ayres Bonds 29. THIS DAY AT ONE O'CLOCK. Peruvian Bonds ...... ........ 101 i Ditto Account Portuguese Bonds Ditto Account 7— Regency Scrip! dis. Ditto Account Prussian Bonds 99 Ditto Kccount Chillan Bonds ... l6 Ditto Account 'Columbian Bond; 114 Ditto Account Ditto Bonds, 189.4 ...... Ditto Account — Danish Bonds 7O Ditto Account Greek Bonds. Vito Bonds, 1525 28% • , _ Ditto Account Mexican Bonds, 5 per cent 92% Ditto Account Ditto, (t per cent Ditto Account 0 714 Sreapolittin Ditto Account -- Ditto Bonds, 1822 100 Russian Bonds, 1822 Ditto Account 994_ s 4 New Loan — 9l ' Spanish Bonds,•1821 I I ,N Ditto Account 14114! Ditto Bonds, 15 Ditto Account. 13 1:3 French Renter, sp. C. —f. —c. Exchange —f —c. —3 per cent. --c. --- Exchange —f —C. Dutch Scrip 42% Ditto Account 42j, IF:2nch Scrip 2pm. PRICES OF SHARES THIS DAY AT ONE O'CLOCK. Paid. Per Share. Anglo Mex. Min. Co. (iss. at 5/. pm.) £lOO 8% Bolanos Mining Company £l5O 1!".0 Brazilian Imp. Min. Co. (iss. at 5/. pin.) £2O Ditto St. John I)el Rey British Iron Mining Company Columbian Mining Co. (iss. at 51. pm.) 48% English. 'Mining Company 12% General Mining Association ll Real dcl Monte Mining Co. ...,.... United Mex. Min. Co. (iss. at 2/. pm.) 40 Ditto New Scrip 2 Alliance Fire 1 nsuranco Comp ... 10 Protector Insurance Comp. Australian Co. Canada Company l7 General Steam Navigation Co. l3 Provincial Bank of Ireland 25 64 20% 24 4!( 3 #146 7 CHEAP AND UNIFORM EDITION OF COOPER'S NOVELS. On the let of October will be published, in small Bvo., neatly bound and embellished, price 65., complete in 1 vol., with a New Introduction by the Author, LIONEL LINCOLN; Or, the LEAGUER of BOSTON. By the Author of " The Spy," &c. Forming the Twentieth Volume of the STANDARD NOVELS. Richard Bentley, New Burlington-street. (Late Colburn and Bentley.) Of whom may be had by the same Author, each Story complete in I vol., price 6... The SPY The PIONEERS, or the Sources The PILOT of the Susquehanna LAST of the MOHICANS The PRAIRIE. FOR EDINBURGH. THE Splendid New STEAM-SHIPS, the ROYAL ADELAIDE, Captain MILL, and ROYAL WILLIAM, Captain CH &PLIN, each 200 horse power, will start from St. Katharine Dock Steam-wharf, near the Tower, as follow : ROYAL WILLIAM, on Wednesday Evening, Sept. 26, at Ten. ROYAL ADELAIDE, on Saturday Evening, Sept. 29, at Ten. ROYAL WILLIAM, on Saturday Evening, Oct. 6, at Ten. ROYAL ADELAIDE, on Wednesday Evening, Oct. 10, atTen. These Vessels will be found of the very first class in point of speed and accommodations, and are the only ones that afford to passengers the advantage of embarking at the commodious Steam-wharf, London, and landing in the Harbour at Leith. Horses and carriages cm thus he shipped and landed with the greatest ease and safety. Fares, including provisions, Chief Cabin, 41. 4s. ; Second Cabin, 2/. 10s. The accommodations in the Second Ca bins are very superior, with separate apartments for females. Information obtained, berths secured, and goods re ceived for shipment, at Leith and Glasgow Wharf. Also, by T. Robertson, 164, Strand ; H. Underwood, 56, Haymarket ; .M. Sanderson, Boar and Castle Inn, Ox ford-street ; Mr. Slarke, Old White Horse Cellar, Pic cadilly; and Mr. Gilbert, Blossoms Inn, Lawrence lane, Cheapside, where light goods are received, and for warded to the Wharf till Five o'clock on the days of starting. JOSEPH ADAMS, Agent, Leith and Glasgow Wharf. A Spacious Sail Loft to Let. , 0 a tt •440 LONDON, 'TUESDAY EVENING, SEPTEMBER 25, 1832. " A great Judge hath this day departed out of Israel." The sun that so long gladdened huma nity is eclipsed ; the darkness of the night, which knows no morning, hangs about it ;—in a word, Sir WALTER SCOTT is dead ! What a theme for sad, solemn contemplation is this event ! We record it with a strange fluttering at the heart, as though we had just bid a last adieu to an old and valued friend. For Sir WALTER was, indeed, the friend of all mankind. His laurels were unstained by the widow's or the orphan's blood ; they were bestowed neither by this faction nor by that ; secured by no under hand means,—by no illustrious patronage ; but boldly striven for, and honourably won in the broad, open fields of intellect. When, some months since, this illustrious man left us in quest of health for a foreign clime, we thought of his predecessors, Smollett and Fielding, and were not without our misgivings ; but fortunately the pilgrim was permitted to return home, and full of honours, though scarcely of years, to lay his bones in the land where he first drew breath. His death will be felt through out Europe as another blow struck at human grandeur. For whose name was ever more widely blown ; who was ever the object of more profound or universal homage ? " There are moments," says Hawkesworth, " when even the most thoughtless of men are smitten with a sudden, acute sense of their mortality." The present is one of these. Sir WALTER SCOTT had been so long among us, his name was so familiar to our ears, and he himself so con stantly before our mind's eye, that the tidings of his decease stuns us like some domestic calamity, and compels us, even in self-despite, to feel the full force of the truism, that glory is a phantom which deludes us through life, only to shorten our brief span, and mock us on the bed of death. But two short years ago, and Sir WALTER had every prospect of a protracted existence before him ! He had even projected works that would have furnished him with employment for the best half of a generation, as though the measure of his renown were not already sufficiently filled up. Alas, what a dream was this ambition ! Scarcely had he set about his task, when he was smitten with that cruel, lingering disease which has at length brought him to the grave. Henceforth, " six paces of the vilest earth are room enough" for that man whose mind could span the universe In all the relations of public and private life, SirWALTER'S character was irreproachable. He was a good husband, a good father, a good citi zen. He was without an enemy, and Europe was his friend, as she is now his mourner. In politics he was a Tory, though this, we suspect, more from the effect of poetic associations, than fold, calculating, worldly interests. Toryism was in his mind a vague, showy something, in separably mixed up with the chivalrous glories of the feudal system. It was a dream of ro mance—a tale of the times of the cavaliers — a romantic principle of loyalty made holy by the blood of heroes and chieftains of past ages— a brilliant light reflected from the days of old baronial magnificence. It was in this sense Sir WALTER was a Tory, that is to say, a reve rencer of power for the sake of the hold it took on his fancy. In this sense, it was with him a fixed, infallible creed. But it is not the politician, but the author that must immortalize the name of SCOTT, and it is in this light only that we shall view him. The task, we are aware, is a trite one, neverthe less a fitter season could not have been selected for it, for criticism, seldom unbiassed when applied t o the living, can scarcely be otherwise than impar tial *hen pronouncing its verdict on the dead. Mr. Hazlitt has somewhere observed, " the temple of fame stands upon the grave." Truer words were never yet spoken. For fame has little i❑ common with the notoriety which at taches to the liVing ; with the homage paid to their persons ; with the bookseller's puff, the critic's cant, or the stare of moon-struck fashion —Fame knows nothing of all this : it is of a far nobler, purer essence ; it is the sanction by pos terity of mind's appeal to mind ; the spirit which survives the man when he himself is dust ; when all factitious interests are at an end respecting him ; when flattery can no longer win his smiles, or censure call forth his frowns. Can Sir WALTER SCOTT put in his claim to this inhe ritance—to this mighty power, which rules the world from the grave ? Unhesitatingly, we reply, he can. It is not, however, by his poetry that Sir WALTER SCOTT will descend to posterity. Here, he has written for the day, not for all time. His verse is of the improvisatori class, easy, flowing, picturesque, but deficient in depth of sentiment and vigour of character. It leaves no distinct impression on the mind. What is done, is done well ; the only question is, was it worth the doing ? Assuredly not, had it cost time or trouble ; but—we here speak of him only as a poet—Sir WALTER never fatigued himself with digging for the rich ore of mind ; he availed himself only of those materials that lay on the surface, and were most readily available. If a pleasing image or a striking thought came in his way, he turned it instantly to account ; if not, he took the best that offered. His first poem is his finest, and his most brilliant passage the battle scene in " ?Vlarmion." Still even here there is more show than substance, more descrip tion than passion, as if the strife at Flodden were rather a passage at arms, than a stern, vin dictive, deadly feud. " iVlarmion" falls not like Hector or Patroclus, but gracefully, and with an eye to effect, like an actor in a melo-drame, or a carpet knight at a tournament. We have no warrant for his death in our own feelings ; we take it on the author's ipse dixit. It was once the fashion to compare SCOTT'S poetic battles with Homer's. Nothing can be more absurd. The fights in the " Iliad" are serious matters, to feel, not talk about ; those in " Marmion" and " Lady of the Lake," mere pie. turesque make-believes. The former breathe the true, earnest, tragic spirit of battle, the breathless suspense, the startling shock, the sudden, over whelming catastrophe ; the latter are filled merely with the " pride, pomp, and circumstance of glorious war," the tramp of the steed, the bray of the trumpet, the sunny gleam of the spear, the triumphant wave of the banner. Livy is the only writer we know of, whose battles at all re mind us of SCOTT. His details of the struggle between the Horatii and Curatii, though assum ing the form and style of history, bear a striking resemblance in their showy, picturesque charac ter, to some of the best passages, in the last Canto of " IVlarmion." But if as a poet Sir WALTER SCOTT have made few sterling additions to the literature of his age, as a novelist, it is far otherwise. In this department of mind, he stands without a supe rior, without an equal. With less homely, matter-of-fact knowledge of the world than Fielding ; with less broad, caustic humour than Smollett ; he surpasses them both in all the loftier requisites of the art. He is the Shakspeare of prose romance, possessing, in nearly an equal degree with our great dramatist, the singular power of wholly abstracting his mind from the present, of sinking it into some by-gone age, and identifying himself with the thoughts, feel ings, habits, characters, and even the prejudices of such age. The enchanter waves his wand, and lo ! the wheels of time move back; the clouds that overhung the past, disperse ; the grave gives back her dead; and a thousand gorgeous visions of romance and chivalry pass in swift succession, with all the force and vividness of reality, before our eyes. For Sir WALTER'S historical per sonages are not mere " modern antiques." They speak—act—fight—makel ove—intrigue— gossip, just as they might have been supposed to do when alive. But it is not one intellectual qualification only that we admire in the Scotch novels ; it is the development of many. One leading excellence does not, " like Aaron's ser pent, swallow up the rest," but judgment and fancy, pathos and humour, passion and descrip tion, are all fused together in just and harmo nious proportions. Perhaps, however, it is his bonhommie and quick social feeling, as exemplified in such characters as Dandie Dinmont, Baillie Jarvey, Baron of Bradwardine, Justice In glewood, and Dugald Dalgetty, that most distinguish the author of Waverley. No man ever possessed a more intense love of humanity. There are scenes in the Scotch novels which absolutely give a fillup to the spi rits like a glass of generous Burgundy. Of such a sort are Friar Tuck's and King Richard's midnight carousals in St. D unstan ' s cave, where the dry peas and the cold spring water give way to the venison pasty and the rich wine, while the old forest rings with the laughter of the ghostly father ; the scene between Louis XI. and Quentin Durward ; where the for vier, laying aside for once his satanic gloom, chuckles with heart-felt pleasure at the sight of his protege's prodigious appetite for breakfast ; and, above all, that matchless interview in the Abbot, between the two young folks, Cathe rine Seyton and Roland Grwme, who, while sitting gossipping together, wholly lose sight of the sentiment of their situation, in an irre sistible desire to " have thdr laugh out" at the two old guardians, who are stiffly and solemnly pacing up and down the castle terrace. Pas sages like these (and Sir WALTER abounds in them) have the same witching effect on the spi rits, as Mrs. Jordan's far-famed laugh, and could only have been conceived by one, the qualities of whose heart were on a par with those of his head. It is a mistake, though a very common one, to suppose that a happy, social temper is not a first-rate auxiliary to genius. Cheerfulness leads to far nobler intellectual results than me lancholy, though Lord Byron has striven hard to prove otherwise. Three of the greatest writers in modern times have been also three of the most good-natured. We allude to Rabe lais, Shakspeare, and Cervantes.* Even Swift's most readable work is his most social, for no one who has once perused it, ever forgets the " Jour nal to Stella," one of the archest, most amiable, most fascinating bits of gossip in this or any language. Another peculiarity in the Waverley Novels is the utter absence of egotism that pervades them. The author never thrusts himself for ward, never stands between you and his subject. His dramatis persona speak and act for them selves, on their own responsibility as it were ; he is merely their chronicler, their Froissart. In this respect he presents a striking contrast to Lord Byron, whose Harolds, and Conrads, and Alps, and Laras, and Manfreds, are but so many tedious reiterations of self. But, indeed, in every instance the poet and the novelist are wide as the poles asunder. Never yet did two eminent writers differ more in temper, habit, and opinion. The one was all despair ; the other all confidence. The one laboured to depress ; the other to uphold and encourage humanity. The one dipped his pencil " in the gloom of earth quake and eclipse ;" the other in the sunny tints of the rainbow. The one composed early in the morning, while the pure breeze, the enlivening sunshine, the glistening dew, and the merry music of birds, communicated their healthful impulses to his mind ; the other at still, deep midnight, with a brain fevered and half bewil dered by unnatural excitement. The one trusted confidently to the force, fertility, and fine natural play of his fancy ; the other lashed himself into an artificial rage, and spurred his Pegasus as Burger's wild huntsman spurred his fiend steed. Their are no monsters, no Frankensteins, in the Scotch Novels. Gleams of redeeming ten derness and virtue illumine even their blackest characters. Who forgets the exquisite touch of remorse in the reckless, brutal old smuggler, Nanty Ewart, who, oftentimes, in the midst of his coarsest revels, heard the " sweet voice of his deceased wife in his ear, and her light footstep, on the staircase (—the reply of the dogged mur derer Hatteraick, who, when the magistrate told him he had closed a career " unredeemed by a single virtue," said " Virtue, indeed! donner and blitzen, I was always faithful to my ship-owners, always accounted for cargo to the last stiver ;" or the sudden, electrical burst of reason in the maniac Madge Wildfire's appeal to the depraved old hag her mother, when the clock striking the hour at which she used to go to bed, brings back all the recollections of childhood,—" Mammie, hear me say my prayers before I go to bed, and say, God bless my bonnie face, as ye used to do tang syne ?" But perhaps the most exquisite trait of nature in the Scotch Novels is that where Morton, after the death of the callous desperado, Bothwell, finds, on searching his pocket-book, the letters of his first love Alice, which for six teen years, even amid scenes of the most aban doned licentiousness, and long after the whole man had undergone a complete change, he had constantly kept, as a talisman, next his heart. It is this fine, subtle tact, this unerring apprehen sion of humanity, which shed such a rich,golden light on the Waverley Tales. Whatever he may be as a politician, as a novelist Sir WALTER is of no party. He is here a cosmopolite, " born," like Burke, "for the universe." Man meets with fair play in his pages. He neither extenuates nor sets down aught in malice. His portraits of the Covenan ters have, we know, been alleged as proofs to the contrary ; but these were mere sacrifices to the necessities of his tale. It was his express object to give a vivid, historical sketch of Claverhouse —the truest and the most consistently main tained character in the whole range of modern fiction—and this could only be accomplished by placin g him in bold relief to the fanatics. In the conception and development of his female portraits, Sir WALTER is second only to Shakspeate. His women are neither sylphs nor n neither paragons of beauty nor of virtue, real beings of flesh and blood, with warm butliegeis' a r tsbeating in their bosoms, and inheriting the defects as well as the excellencies of huma nity. Their variety, too, is extraordinary. Think only of Diana Vernon—Mause Headrigg— Flora Maclvor—Rose Bradwardine—Meg Me rilies—Lucy Ashton—Lady Margaret Bellen den, with her eternal story about his Majesty Ki ng Charles the Second and the venison pasty --Queens Elizabeth and Mary—Jeanie Deans— Rebecca —sweet Amy Robsart —and that strange, forlorn scriptural figure, who sat alone at mid night by the way-side to warn Burley that " the a venger of blood was behind him ;"—think on ly of the striking contrast that these various magical creations present, and then bear in mind that they are the offspring of one and the same mind! But, Sir WALTER, as we hinted before, is heir of universal humanity. His genius is at home equally in the court or the camp ; in * Throughout" Don Quixote" we see a perpetual struggle going forward between the author's caustic sense of the ridi. culous, and the kindly, social turn of his disposition. Though he Makes his hero the very Coryphmus of absurdity and ex travagance, yet he takes care to throw into the character such qualifying properties, as extort our utmost respect. We laugh, it is true, at the knight of La Mancha, still, he never loses hold on our esteem, and ? wq may add, our affection, the palace of the peer or the hut of the peasant ; among the crowded haunts of commerce, or by the solitary ruin, or the still depths of the wizard glen. Nature has gifted him with an eye to see, a heart to feel, an understanding to com prehend her mysteries. She has, like the sub missive slave of the lamp, laid all her vast stores at his feet, and bid him pick and choose freely. In his landscapes Sir WALTER SCOTT com• bines the glowing, picturesque beauty of Claude with the force, truth, and even literalness of the Flemish school. You feel nature, not read about her, in his descriptions. Nothing is vague, nothing ideal ; all is heart-felt and drawn from the life. Whether it be a frosty walk across a moor, a lone ramble by the hill side, a storm on the coast, a sudden change from the stifling atmosphere of a Highland change-house, such as that at the pass of Aberfoyle, to the fresh, keen breeze on the mountains,—no matter what be the description, still it is equally vivid in its reality. The Scotch novels are by far the best and truest guide-books we know of for the tourist. But, besides this, it is their author's pre-eminent merit to have made the land of his first and last affections holy and enchanted ground ; to have shed a light on them that shall never become dim ; to have peopled their glens, lakes, and mountains with beings that shall never pass away. For ever shall Meg Merrilies haunt the wooded heights of Ellangowan, and the country of the Red Macgregor ring at still gloamin with his pibroch. As a humourist, Sir WALTER is easy, simple, unforced. He colours highly at times, but never caricatures (save perhaps in the instance of the Executioners in " Quentin Durward"), or goes out of his way to produce a striking effect.— His portraits of Edie Ochiltree, Monk barns, and Cuddle Headrigg, are delight ful samples of arch, quaint, natural humour; nor is there a richer scene in all Shakspeare than that where her legacy-hunting relatives as semble to hear Mrs. Margaret Singlesides's Will read, among whom sits the frank, bluff, border yeoman, Dandie Dinmont, who, when he finds that, notwithstanding all his civi lities to the old lady, not a sixpence has been left him, gulps down his disappointment with the magnanimous declaration, " Weel, weel, bluid's thicker than water, she's welcome to the hams and cheeses just the same." As regards historical fidelity, Sir WALTER has few or no scruples. Here he seems to think himself justified in sacrificing truth to expe diency. He tells white lies with the most amusing assurance possible. Thus (to say no thing of other more marked anachronisms), he has quoted the romance of the " Squire of low Degree " as familiar to the English long before it was written ; and in his tale of the " Be trothed," raised Gloster into a bishopric, at least three centuries before the authentic era. In point of style, his tales are unequal, as might be expected from their number. Generally speak ing, however, the language is easy, flowing, and transparent, though it is at times defaced by gross grammatical inaccuracies. Its chief merit is, that, whether Scotch or English, it is the real vernacular, and utterly devoid of affectation. It has been objected to the Scotch Novels that they do not instruct ; they only amuse. True, they point no particular moral ; they neither sound the depths of the heart like Anastasius, nor institute curious metaphysical researches into the mysteries of mind like Caleb Williams and St. Leon ; still they are instructive, and after the best fashion, inasmuch as they teach us to rely on our own resources ; to do our duty to ourselves and to society, and trust confidently to time and circumstance for the result. Happiness is the best philosophy. He, who by multiplying the sources of innocent enjoyment, makes his readers happier than he found them, assuredly makes them wiser too. In this sense, therefore, the au thor of "Waverley " may be regarded as one of the most instructive writers of the day. Some grave scholars, however, and profound metaphysicians, will, we know, scout this assertion as mere hyperbole. But let these wondrous lu minaries reflect but an instant on the vas variety of mind that has been lavished on the Waverley tales ;—let them consider the power of invention—the knowledge of character— the vigour of fancy,—the graceful learning, with the unrivalled facility of applying it—the pa thos—the judgment—the graphic energy—the fertile humour that they exhibit ;—and then learn to rate, at their fitting worth, those faculties which art, education, and study can give, and which they do give to thousands ; and those which Nature only can supply, and which, like a niggard mistress, she bestows but on one or two chosen favourites, at the utmost, during the long lapse of centuries. We have among us, and always have had, and probably always shall have, whole shoals of lawyers, statesmen, he roes, essayists, critics, divines, philosophers, phi lologists, and so forth, but universal Europe can boast of but one Cervantes, one Le Sage, one Fielding, one SCOTT. And the last and most illustrious of these has but just now departed from among us ► The home that knew him shall henceforth know him no more ;—the world that was " witched with his glamourie," shall derive no more (or at least no fresh) enjoyment from its display ; for Pros pero's wand is broken—his magic book is buried —and the great enchanter himself is now nothing but a name. Yet what a name ! How full of glory ! How pregnant with inspiration ! While Tweed rolls on to ocean—while Ben Lomond lifts his stern forehead to the sky—while the breeze whistles round the bleak crags where dwelt the last of the Ravenswoods,—thy name, first and best of Scotchmen, shall be imperishable ! In frets durn fluvii current, durn montibus umbrae Luatrabunt convexa, polus dum sidera paqcet, Scalper honos, nomenque tuutn, laudeique manebunt. French Papers contain no fresh news of mo ment, nor can any thing decisive be resolved on, so far as the English Cabinet is concerned, till the arrival of Ministers in town. If the Dutch KING resolves on pushing matters to an extre mity, the Holy Alliance are in some degree pledged to support him ; we are not, however, without hopes that affairs may yet be satisfac torily adjusted. In another part of The Sun will be found ample particulars, on both sides of the question, of the late skirmishes between the forces of Don MIGUEL and Don PEDRO, at Villa Nova, in the neighbourhood of Oporto. By these it will be seen, that there is a report of one of Don MIGUEL'S steamers having foundered, with 190 men on board, all of whom perished. Letters and Papers have been received this morning from Oporto, brought by the African steamer to Falmouth. They state that on the Bth the army of Don MIGUEL made an attack upon the fortifications of Oporto on both sides of the river Douro. As soon as the information reached the Emperor Don PEDRO, he immedi ately proceeded from his palace to the points most vigorously assailed, and commanded the artillery of the batteries in person, from 9 o'clock in the morning until 6 in the af ternoon. During this attempt on the part of the Usurper the greatest enthusiasm was manifested not only by the troops of Don PEDRO, but by the inhabitants of Oporto. They appeared on the tops of their houses, pre pared with missiles of every description, in case the enemy should succeed in carrying the out works and entering the city. The fire between the defenders and assailants was kept up with great spirit on both sides. The troops of the Usurper were, however, obliged to retreat. In this affair, it is to be regretted, that the Go vernor of Oporto, B. SA, received a wound in the arm, which rendered amputation necessary. The principal object of the enemy's attack— the post of Searra—was most heroically defended by only two companies of the line and a battalion of volunteers, who saw fire for the first time on that occasion, and had to contend against the best of the Mi guelite troops, who exerted every effort to ob tain possession of that important and command ing position. The attack was made with a force of 500 of the best troops Don MiGum. could send into the field. The commanding officer, a Lieutenant-Colonel, was killed, and their loss besides was considerable. The inhabitants of Villa Nova, to the number of 300, came forward and asked the Governor of Oporto for arms, that they might join in the defence of that city. Simul. taneous attacks were made along the whole of the Constitutional line. CoI.HODGES, at the head of a small part ofthe force under his command, attacked the Miguelites on the flank, on the north side of the Douro, and completely routed them. During the affair of the Bth the EMPEROR narrowly escaped being killed by a cannon shot, which struck the wall where he was standing directing the fire of the guns of the fortifications, a few inches above his head. When the circumstance became known, the officers of the staff ad dressed his MAJESTY on the subject, re questing him to desist from exposing him self in the manner in which he was in the habit of doing, as on his life rested the fate of the cause of constitutional freedom in Portu gal. The enemy repeated their attacks on Searra on the 9th and 10th, with no better suc cess, on both of which occasions the confidence of Don PEDRO'S troops was so great that it was with the greatest difficulty their ardour was re strained. Not the slightest confusion, however, occurred. On the 11th, at 10 o'clock at night, the enemy made another attempt on Searra, in which his loss was severe, not only in killed and wounded, but in desertions, for, under cover of the darkness, many of his troops went over to PEDRO. A similar and equally unsuccessful attack was made on the 12th, at 3 o'clock in the morn ing, since which time nothing of importance has taken place. There was a little skirmishing on the 13th and 14th. The enemy, finding all at tempts vain to carry the works at Searra, the most important of all the points of defence, proceeded to the neighbourhood of Villa Nova, where they burned the churches and houses, and destroyed property to a considerable amount. It should have been stated, that on the 10th several hun dreds of the inhabitants of Oporto crossed to the south side of the river, attacked the enemy them selves, and obliged him to retreat. Genera GASPAR TEIXEIRA commanded several shells to be thrown into Oporto on the 10th, the two first of which, it is said, fell into the house of his daughter. On Saturday last the Rev. THOMAS ilia' Lowr, Clerk, M.A., was installed Precentor, and Prebee' dary of the Cathedral Church of Exeter. The bells of the Cathedral rung merrily on the occasion—the first time , we believe, since the awful visitation of the cholera. T he emoluments connected with the office are said to b e 2,0001. a year.— Western Times. The Marquis of CLANRICARDE performed great equestrian feat a few days ago. He rode from 1 3 (" 1 " logne to Paris in eighteen hours, resting two 4annriff th e course of the journey, purposely to participate in a gra n d dinner given by Lord GRAlrvim.x, the British Ambai"; dor. ROTHSCHILD'S estafette, with all the appoint,'" change of horses, is never less than sixteen hours in go i "g over the same ground. Lord CLANRICARDE and the g at ' chioness are now at Dover, Miss MORDAUNT'S engagement at Drury' Lane is occasioned by the hesitation of the trustees tint her marriage settlement to pay the limited in c ome ofgOo t a year, granted to her by her husband. Miss MoarlAU S receives from Captain Porattra., the lessee, the hie,hest lary of the theatre. This lady's sister is likewise eneg at Drury-Lane. Lady EDWARD TIIYNNE has kindly contr r e Doted five pounds in aid of the starving family of r ° JACK PALMER. Three of the daughters of this once 0 /, pular actor were a short tim e a go stretched on one I with only one blanket to cover them. In the mornin6 one of them was fou n d s t arve ,l t o d eat h. Th e ge ntlee l : who has undertak en t o rece i ve c h ar i ta bl e d onat i ons for t; relief of the survivors, has, during his whole life, been ardent and liberal friend to decayed actors. O e f The jocul ar cus t om o f c l a i m i ng a flitch bacon at Dunwow Priory is shortly to be revived. 1 4°Iic i Was given in d ue f orm , on T ues d a y l as t, th a t the hilf ve couple who will be prepared to swear that, for O re months and a day, they have never made nuptial transgre sion—off en d e d eac h o th er i n wor d or d ee d— ne ver 0 4i l i o themselves unmarried again, but h.tve continued tr ue ve , thought and desire—will, as soon as qualified by which will occur next month, attend, and demand reward. —Essex Standard. c , 01 1 EFFECTS OF COLD.—" Sir, I shall line for not wearing a white cravat with your academic dr e.6 o ' o said a strict disciplinarian to an unfortunate freshman' ° 0 , a raw morning in Jsnuary. " Fine me ! I assar e li l .l Sir, my cravat is white."—" How can you say sat , i ite Do I not see that it is blue."—" Oh, Sir, it wassv when I nut it on this morning, but it looks blue from g" cold." DAY AT ONE O'CLOCK. New 5 per Cent. India Stock 4 Ditto Bonds 8 9 pm. South Sea Stock 934 Old Annuities...... ......... shut New Ditto 3 per Cent. Ann. 1751 Ex. Bills, £l,OOO l6 17 pm. Ditto 500 l6 l 8 pm. Ditto Small itto Commercial pm. Ditto Advertised Bank for Account ... India for Account. Cons. far Oct. 1 9 341,14 ► 3