The Sun.
London, England, 1864-08-08 00:00:00

A LITTLE TOO MUCH.

Though by no means a conceited dog, there was nothing
he loved better than having his likeness taken ; and directly
after breakfast he always assumed the most becoming atti-
tude, and watched intently for the appearance of the pencil.
With his massive head a little on .one side, and his dark
brown eyes full of dignified interest, and his great ears curv-
ing down through russet tufts, like tawny cascades in
autumn, he seemed fit study for a real artist, who should
quicken as well as copy him. However, he was too much
of a gentleman to sneer at my weak efforts, for he saw that
I did my best. Oftentimes he would gaze steadfastly at the
portrait and then at me, and hobble up, and nudge me, and
whine a little, and then sigh in self-abasement at his want
of speech. Whenever he did this, I knew that he wished
to have something altered; but it was long before I could
discover what that something was. I tried every change
of line or colour that I could think of—all to no purpose.
At length it struck me that as he criticised more with nose
than eyes, the defect must must be in the smell. Happy
idea I I satisfied my Giudice at last, and did it thus. After
shading around the nose and mouth, before laying on the
colour, I took a clean dry brush, and passed it lightly round
the hollows of his own sweet saltish nostrils, carefully avoid-
ing the cut; then one turn of the brush, not on the palette,
but on a dry square of colour, and with that I expressed the
dear dog's nose so well that he would have spoiled it in a
sniffing ecstacy, if I had not pulled it away. His portrait
now possessed the life which he required.

Can anything be at the same time more iidiculons
and revolting. With such blemishes and with
many an extravagance the story of Clara Vaughan
will continue, we doubt not, to interest and en-
thrall many readers not yet sated with the sensa-
tion banquets of the day.

Mr Christopher Katydid (of Casconia). A Tale,
Edited by Mark Heywood. Two vols. Saunders,
Utley and Co.

This story is introduced by a very elaborate
and, what 18 more, a wholly inappropriate
introduction. " I veritably believe," says the
editor, " the following story was written by
an English emigrant, who undoubtedly visited
what is now called North America for the
purpose of writing a book, but who became so
pleased with the people and country that his satire
softened into panegyric, and what was intended for
traveller's diary grew into a romance. The tales
related by Mr Christopher Katydid seem to have
been made up of the odds and ends of observations
copied from a journal, personal experiences in mar-
ried life, historical sketches of Casconia, and pic-
tures of its society. Like all historians of true
genius and large views of men and things, his °ha
ject appears to have been to give his friends in
Europe a narrative of life in the Southern States,
and a true and faithful account of the rise and pros
gress of ancient Casconia, sprinkling his pages with
anecdotes of his own invention, and the celebrated
sayings of the worthies of that wonderful little re•
public ; and weaving the whole in a series of
grand philosophical stories, with facts and
scenes sufficiently coloured not to fatigue
the most experienced lovers of sensation."
So much for the introduction, which, written in a
lively vein, is intended, of course, to be received
cum grano salis. The narrative consists of a series of
acts of treachery and intrigue on the part of a certain
Count Ballet and the loves and cross-purposes of
Harry Harebrain and Jack Dashwood, with their
fair cousins, Lily Dashwood and Nelly Katydid.
The last scene, in which the denouement takes place,
is more theatrical and improbable than any upon
which stage curtain ever fell. The intrigues of
Count Ballot have succeeded, and ho is to be mar-
ried to the lady-love of Harry Harebrain, when, as
the clergyman is about to begin the ceremony,
enter Harry with the real wife of the
Count. It is in vain for the bridegroom to
deny the charge, seeing that the clergyman recog-
nises the lady—it is he who has united her
to her husband. Another disturbance ensues, when
the Count is arrested for conspiracy, but his part
being played, he opportunely falls down dead.
Notwithstanding this catastrophe, one or two
matrimonial engagements are arranged, there and
then, between the bystanders; and, as the crown-
ing' improbability of all, the clergyman who had
just borne witness to the legal marriage of the
Count and his deserted wife, now proposes to the
Widow, himself ! She, " faintly smiling," tells him
she can only give her hand, her heart " still dreams
of a beautiful mirage ;" but—pointing to her hus-
band's body—she admits that she is indeed alone,
and will try to be a dutiful wife, &e. An incident

so wholly out of the range of probability assuredly
requires no comment.

•••• •••••1
Cardinal Pole ; or, the Days of Philip and Nary.
An Historical Romance. By W. Harrison Ains-
worth. One vol. Pp. 400. Chapman and Hall.
The new volume of Chapman and Hall's Stan-
dard Edition of Popular Authors contains Harri-
son Ainsworth's historical romance of Cardinal
Pole, in which the principal parts are played by
Queen Mary and Philip of Spain, Having noticed
this work on its first publication, we need only
now briefly allude to its appearance in this popu-
lar form.

A Pamphlet on Land .Registration, Bvo. PP' 36.

Effingham Wilson.
Under the title of " A Few Plain
Landowners, Mr. Howard Reed (F.S.S.),
has here addressed to that important class of 010
community several observations especially demand-
ing, as when they come to be read they will
found also eminently well to deserve, their (tbehe
landowners') serious consideration. Words to

The Clearing Bankers' Collection of CheVost
Bills, 4.c., throughout London (4to, pp. 5, -water-
low and Sons) has here suggested to Mr. Edward
Jarvis (of the City) one or two rather novel.—some
of them useful—notions in the way of improve'
went.
_------_f*:--"'''

Czurt''''lmgar'"-Cirsaft

laR MAJESTY,

OSBORNE, August 6'l a
The Queen, accompanied by the Princess of We•ej
and Princess Louis of Hesse, drove out yeaterdil
afternoon in an open carriage and four, attended bi
Lieut.-Colonel Da Plat. na
Their Royal Highnesses the Prince of Wales a
Prince Louis of Hesse, attended by Major Teo°le,
and Captain von Westerwaller, embarked on bear"
the Royal yacht Victoria and Albert yesterday
morning for a cruise. aid
The Hon, Florence Seymour has arrived as 15
of honour in waiting.
Alla 7.
' W'r
Her Majesty the Queen, accompanied by thil.
Royal Highnesses Princess Beatrice, Prince ked
Liam of Prussia, and Princess Leiningen, bar d
in the royal yacht Fairy yesterday afternoon, an
cruised .owards Spithead. eck•
The Hon. Florence Seymour, Baroness Deb° na
Lieut.-Gen. the Hon. C. Grey, and Lieut.-C°l'
Plat were in attendaxce.

Her Majesty returned at eight o'clock.
Their Royal Highnesses the Princess of .Wales
• Princess Louis of Hesse cruised in the Lapis
Hesfe • met the Prince of Wales and Prince
Hesfe on their return from Torquay, in the royal
yacht Victoria and Albert. dined
Her Royal Highness Princess Leiningen
with the Qaeeu on Friday.
Yesterday was the anniversary
Royal Highness Prince Alfred. gt
The Right Hon. T. Milner Gibson arrived Ye-"c
day, and had an audience of the Queen. roe
Divine service was performed to-day at 03b° r
by the Rev. G. Prothero in the presence of 11.e_
Majesty the Queen, their Royal Highnesses to,c;
Prince and Princess of Wales, and Prince Ile
Princess Louis of Hesse, of the birth ()flip'
Mr Edward Tayler has had the honour
ht dorirejf
the past fortnig of having several sittings for
min portraits from their Royal Highness
the Princess of Wales and Prince
Wales, Prince and Princess Louis of Hesse, Princes
s
Victoria of Hesse, Princess Beatrice, Bud Princess
Alberta of Leiningen. Albert Victor 00