The Sun.
London, England, 1863-05-20 00:00:00

THE LEGITIMATE NOVEL.

The legitimate work of fiction began in one of
two ways; either by stating all the preliminary
matter which it was needful for the reader to know
—and sometimes a great deal more—in the first few
chapters, dedicating them entirely to pedigrees, to
biographies of the grandfathers and grandmothers
of the characters ; or else to pander to the import-
ance of the student by plunging at ence into the
middle of an interesting scene or conversation, with-
out any preliminary explanation. At first sight
this last mode of operating would seem to be the
more delightful; but what was the use of beginning
in this gay and sprightly manner in Chapter 1., i
the wretched reader caught sight of these awful
opening words of the second chapter, " It is now
needful that we should explain something of the
history of the characters whom we have thus un-
ceremoniously introduced to the readers ?" And
there was another little trial. "W e must now re-
turn to Lenora." Or, " the exigencies of our
story now require that we should return to Lenora:,
What moments were chosen by the author for that
return to Lenora! We were dragged back to that
young woman just when we were bent on bearing
the termination of that terrific adventure, in which
the 'nero was involved. It was a breathless moment
in the youth's fate. The sword was hanging over
his head, the poison-cup was at his lips, the chal-
lenge was received, the dice were oscillating in the
8.16 when we must now return to Lenora. And
we didn't want to return to Lenora. And when
we had returned to Lenora, and had got over the
disgust of that blessed restoration, and had disci-
plined our minds to that degree that they were con-
tent to follow her fortunes instead of those of our
fancy's hero—were we allowed to do so ? No. We
must then return to Edgar, and we were dragged
away from her as we had previously been from him,
and were whisked off again to some uncongenial
region, where all was ice and desolation. And the
worst of it was that many of these tremendous ad•
ventures thus rudely arrested were never finished ;
the hero of the situation being taken in hand again
long afterwards in some altogether different part of
his caeeer, and, perhaps, merely alluding to the
termination of that adventure in which you were
Once so madly interested, in a few cursory remarks
addressed to his bosom friend, as the two "lounged
together on the shores of Capri." Edgar having no
business at Capri, observe, and no business to take
you, there, and not in the least accounting for him-
sett even as to that inane passage of his existence.
—Lichens's " Ad the Year .Round."

THE WORKS AND COLLECTION OF A. L. FG
ILA.—The remaining works of that justlyesteemed
artist, Augustus L. Erg, R.A., de"eased, including several
fiubihecl pictures, numerous sketches and studies in oils
and chalks, also a few splendid works by other distinguished
artists of the English school, costumes, and painting ma.
terials, were disposed of on Monday at Christie's rooms
The attendance on the occasion was very large, the
great room being crawded to excess. The prices realised
were extremely high. Among the more interesting and
important examples were the subjoined :—Cartoons.--Lots
26 and 27. " Lance and his Dog ;" " Frederick the
Great and Catherine "—£4o 15s. (Vokins). Sketches in
Oils,-59. "Head of a Lady ;" very brilliant—ill (Ander-
don). 86 and 93. "A Mother and Child," and "Fortune
Telling "--47 guineas (Cox). 87, 97, and 99. Heads of a
Negro, an Algerine, and Negro Barber; all very powerfully
painted--a 2 10s. (Creswick). 100 and 103. "Raising the
standard," a composition of many figures, and " The Bed-
room at Knowle "---.53 guineas ( White). 104.6. " The
-Voluo teer," a finished sketch for the celebrated picture,
"'Maria," from Twelfth Night, and " Leicester and Amy
Rohabsart ;" all fine finished sketches —B2i guineas (Gilbert).
Fa
.ayidahe Pictures, by A, L. Egg, R.A.-117. "The Toilet,"
seated at her toilet-table and her maid ; candlelight
•
( 00gluneas (Gilbert), 113. "A Girl Writing''-52 guineas
Cox). 119.
guineas (W. H. Willasn). Peasants seated in a Portico 41
work-23 guineas (Plate 120.
" The Siesta," a small cabinet
lady and gentleman seated, in 121. " The Leisure Hour," a
Lesasolaneiscape-40 guineas (Gil-
bert). 122. "The Crochet
Tu,'' circle, painted so late as
862-94 guineas (Cox). 123.
a first-class railway carriage; laurelling Couipanions" in
seen through the
window, and one of the last the laarecaepnepterd artist painted—
the ee15.330 guineas (Cox). 124. " Past and
bra ted work, comprising three pictures, mountedsent;"
frame, exhibited at the Royal Academy 1858inia3nadsinalgalue
last year at the Great International Exhibition—
(Agnew). 125. "An Algerine Girl playing the Guitar46ltolB:le.
artist's last work-80 guineas (Cox). Pictures byother:
ar-
tists.-141. J. Philip, R.A.—" Teaching the Scotch Cate-
chism," a small finished sketch for the celebrated picture
exhibited at the Royal Academy-27 guineas (Platen). 142.
IVENS Mntrie.—A flower piece, comprising azaleas and gera-
niums, small cabinet size--55 guineas (Grundy). ;143, IV.
P. Frith, R. A.—Scene from " Le Bourgeois Gentlehomme,"
a sketch for the celebrated picture-50 guineas (Cox). 144.
W. P. Frith, R.A.—" Coming of Age in the Olden Time,"
a beautifully finished study for the original picture-
-185 guineas (White). 145. P. R. Morris,—" Voices from
the Sea," exhibited at the International Exhibition last
year—Slos (Gilbert). 146. 11. Wallis.—" The Death of
Chattercon," the celebrated picture exhibited at the Royal
Academy in 1853, and since engraved-775 guineas
(Agnew). 147. W. H. Hunt.—" Claudio and Isabella,',
scene taken from Shakspeare's " Measure for Measure"—
" Claudio—Death is a fearful thing.
Isabella—And shamed life a hateful !"
The original picture exhibited at the Royal Academy in
1853--610 guineas (Agnew). The whole realised upwards
of £4,000

HEUTI3 OF GARIBALDL—Writing from
CaPrt.ra on the 14th of this month to Mr. Negretti, Gene-
ral Garibaldi ray!,_" My health is going on very satis-
faCtorily."

THE DUKE'S MOTTO,
TIIE HUNDREDTH AND FIFTH NIGHT.

THEATRE-ROYALLYCEUMOPEN, under
the Sole Management of Mr. FECHTER.
THIS EVENING, at 7, to commence with R n Original
Sketch, entitled A SUDDEN ATTACK. Messrs. Shore,
Garden, H. Widdicomb, Mass Henrade, and Mrs. Lee.
After which, at a Quarter to Eight, a New Romantic
Drama, in Three Acts, and Pr3log-ue, entitled THE
DUKE'S MOTTO, by Paul Feval and John Brougham.
the principal character will be sustained by Mr. Fechter,
supported by Messrs. J. G. Shore, G Jordan, J. Broug, am,
H. vl iddiombe, F. Charles, Garden, Raymond, Dawson;
Misses Carlotta Leclercq, Kate Terry, E. Lavenue, and
Elaworthy.