The Sun.
London, England, 1837-11-14 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

By the TBE A BENCH AND THE BAR.
~~thor of " Random Recollections of the House of
The Great Metropolis," ti-c. In 2 vols.
London, Colburn, 1837.
voiult"t of the biographical sketches of which these
a,mes are composed having recently appeared in the
coirs of the Metropolitan Magazine, and having in the
arse of their first publication obtained the 'need of
thure cordial commendation, nothing now remains but
expression of the pleasure with which we hail
o'ect appearance in a connected form. In these goodly
pai,74) as in a mirror, the general reader can catch
peof`inPse of all the leading members of the Legal
terrri-essi" ; for though few of the portraits are at-
corr,,Pted to be given at full length, enough is done to
'eY a tolerably correct impression of the personal
appearance,lir and mental calibre, of all our most eminent
ing Lawyers. The task is one of such overwhelm-
btrgt 4iffienity—is surrounded by so
inii many obstacles all
,
to insurmountable—that not utterly to fail in its ac-
teiisbment, is to arrive at a tolerable degree of sue•
of'' This our author has more than attained in most
his Sketches ; and where he falls short of it, the
paP,e,rfeetien arises from his desire to be strictly im-
to.l--or rather to present the subjects of his pencil
tir the world in too favourable a light. His constant
lee4l of being supposed too favourable to the leading
4841 Reformers, has led him to attach undue import-
ri ee to the second and third-rate talents, and the poli-
t:al honesty, of the Ultra Tory Lawyers. We do
tof greatly blame him for this. On the part of an annest Reformer, who proposes to estimate the talents
it ,professional gentlemen opposed to him in politics,
is an error on the right side ; but as it is an error,
hathink it calls fur some notice. Several of the
etches that are here given—those of Lords Broug-
ni
Eldon, Abinger, and Lyndhurst, Sir Frederick
eileick, and Sergeants Talfourd and Wilde, for
44:11,1P1e--have likewise appeared in the " Sketches"
1,0;17e Two Houses of Parliament. Nevertheless the
gii,T 13 highly interesting, and will circulate exten-
ere:Y amour, readers of every class. The anecdotes
foVvely, characteristic, and happily introduced. The
°Wing one of Lord Eldon is perhaps the best ever
,
A of that distinguished legal functionary ;
Po; tn„Ci n g his greatest personal friends was George thed
bigi r`u• That sovereign, it will be remembered, f made
;hi 4.inagnificent present as a proof of his private rie
Chr.' immediately after the Noble Earl ceased to be Lord
Cvetuacellor through a change of Ministry. He used, how-
at.r. when Prince Regent, to have many harmless jokes
his
._ Lordship's expense. One of the best of these—at-
ta)t,' rate, the best of several which have been commu.ni
to ;1:1 rne—was played off on him soon after eth
pre e Chancellorship. That was in the early Mart tef
iifesent century, when the Prince was in the
.n o
4,nd Passionately fond of fun and frolic. Having pre-
wersZY instructed all the subordinates in the parts they
1,.° Play, the Prince and Sheridan one evening engagedi
ow ".e'neY-coach, and went down to the House of Lolls. to
1.443 the rising of their Lordships. The House having
I) en' the Prince desired one of his- servants, whom he had
%11;°ght with him for the purpose, to intimate to his Lord-
i° Ph'. as he quitted his robing-room, that he was waiting
tia is carriage opposite Westminster Abbey for him.. Lord
1.11 having informed the servant that he would be with
waerti:nee presene.y, hurried down stairs immediately after-
hi was with him nearly as soon as the servant
tvse'f• The night was unusually dark, and the streets
adde then but imperfectly lighted. These circumstances,
40ed to that of having just left
,the brilliantly lighted.
4S.e of Lords, very naturally account for his Lordship
1313,1ng into the vehicle without discovering that instead
tne Prince's own carriage, it was only a hackney-coach.
hu ingetting inside, Lord Eldon found Sheridan with the
wae"3"en• The latter mentioned to his Lordship that he
anxious to get his opinion and advice on some
-"atter of personal importance to himself, and that for
rea-pons which he mentioned, they would go to
10."neighbouring hotel instead of to the palace, to talk
l'er the matter.

Most certainly, your Highness ; wherever your High-
ness pleases," said his Lordship, with that thorough devo.
ir to Royalty for which the Noble Lord ever was through
and still is, distirguished.
riaA" ‘'iliat the coachmen call a three or four minutes'
Ment nrd Eldon found the coach stop, and in a few mo-
? Ida: afterwards he was conducted by the Prince and She-
The /°;to a handsome apartment up one pair of stairs.
qUest• ea, in the first place, asked a few conimoa-place
}feu 1"s of the Chancellor, as to the proceedings in the
of general
eethat evening, and then introduced some other topics
dew, conversation. " Eldon," said the Prince, sod-
fsbu 40Pping short in the midst of a rather lively co.n-
thinulti°n Eldon, I'm sure you'll excuse me for a few
es,
0, most certainly, your Highness."
aIY about ten minutes, however, had elapsed, when
toso Lordship, notwithstanding the wit of Sheridan, began
."Press a longing. for home. " 1 wish," said he, " the
rtnn
of ‘-e were returned, as I have some matters to attend to
Pressing emergency at home."
Perhaps I had better go out and see whether I can
hearn auytbing of him."
tit: I should feel particularly obliged to you if you would,
Sheridan " answered his Lordship.
up his
Sheridan took hat and quitted the apartment.
tiot''l4's Lordship was now left alone in his glory, but was
kasubffered to remain long in his solitary state. A re-
eptrit IY ugly-looking female, about forty years of age,
lettered the room about half a minute after Sheridan had
lo it, and advancing towards his Lordship, inquired, with
em,„ning between a grin and a 'smile, how he did.
tis:'",ow do you do ?'' growled his Lordship, looking the
at
e—set in the face, with a most marked expression of
iinness and astonishment.
kilt Your friends have left you, dear," said the nymph,
hi„,l.ng herself on a chair beside his Lordship, and looking
"ila her most coaxing manner in the face.
iq suddenly pushed back his chair, and without utter-
a",, a word, stared at her as hard as if lie had meant to
Who are you ?"
of "rhaps you'll accept of my company instead of that
,44our friends who have left you,"e. observed the female,
%if:enlY seating herself on his kne
' Get out, get out, you hussey," exclaimed his Lord-
icireibly jerking her off his knee and starting to his
44° He rang the bell that instant with tremendous vio-
410_°t. The waiter made his appearance, but manifested the
provoking coolness.
otti9et me a coach this moment, Sir, that I may get out
ti ceots, 118 Ouse immediately," said his Lordship, in indignant
4.
no n 111 eB/ Sir," said the waiter, with the same provoking
Sipe crionce as before. " Yes, Sir ; only, you are aware,
too4,3:°stlirb.,,ave to pay, in the first place, for the use of the
feulitler the what ?" said his Lordship, evidently as con-
.. '0 as he was enraged.
With r the use of the room, Sir," answered the waiter,
hid ;undiminished coolness, and putting a towel he held in
,right hand under his left' arm.
I have not used the room," said his Lordship, sternly.
Pave :hat is your own fault," observed the other ; " you
-.Oeen in it, and that's all the same to us."
for
41 ~Was brought here, and have only been in the room
minutes."
114,"° matter to us : you cannot lr-ve the room till you
/13aid for it," said the waiter, adjusting his collar.
tgrab,,° You know who I am ?" said his Lordship, losing all
delCr_,at what he conceived the combined injustice of the
It and the consummate effrontery of the fellow.
kali makes nothing to us, Sir, though you were the Lord
same oancellor of England," answered the waiter, at the
4. /tune snuffing one of the candles.
an& the Lord Chancellor, Sir."
The„v "7 well : you are the same to us as any other man.
who live in Rome must do as Rome does."
Le; d Well,
Si*, and what is your demand?" inquired his
4tir a 8 s
;'. seeing there was no chance of being suffered to
~uot until he had paid it.
%PiiPint"' -guinea, if you please, Sir," answered. the waiter,
dust off the back of one of the chairs.
oe, hell here it is, Sir," said his lordship, tossing down
Ate pound note and a shilling on the table ; " re-
" w Sir, you shall hear further about this matter.
411,,rxil}:! bteafkoereo.ur chance of that," observed the waiter,
" y Sir, will you call a coach ?"
4.lOrryi°ll° shall have one in a moment," answered the iv
aiter,
4 a felB' out of the room for the purpose of bringing it.
at the (iv:cm-Ids he returned, saving a coach was waiting
1,, or for his Lordship.
Pro Particular coachman had been engaged before, and
aftdiri bYydtr,ielle%l into the part he was to perform in the
t Lorni Prince. and Sheridan.
take I • usluP entered the coach, and ordered the driver
at: L°4l"in Russell-square. On arriving at
eeessiosu'lo's residence the coachman alighted, and gave a
of totremendous rat-tat-tats.
Stop !" exclaimed his Lordship, putting his head

out at the coach-window ; " you'll alarm the house—you'll
break the door."

Jehu knocked still louder than before.

" Let me out, let me out, you fellow What do you
mean, Sir ?" shouted his Lordship, half suffocated with rage.
Another series of knocks, of the most violent kind, was
the only answer.
By this time Lady Eldon, preceded by a troop of ser-
vants, hurried down stairs in breathless haste, with a candle
in each hand, exclaiming, " What's the matter? what's the
matter ?"

The driver now opened the door of the coach, and down
stepped his Lordship. " There's your fare, you unman-
nerly fellow," said he, putting eighteen-pence into the
coachman's hand.

" Eighteen-pence ! only eighteen-pence !" exclaimed the
driver, holding out the one-and-sixpence in his hand, and
looking at it with an affected air of supreme contempt.
" Vell, who ever heard of such a thing? Only eighteen-
pence for driving the Lord High Chancellor of England
from the --- - in Chandos-street to Russell-square ?"
It was now that the fact of where he had been flashed
across his Lordship's mind ; and hearing the coachman
still singing out the name of the place coupled with his own
name, be put a one-pound note into his band, saying,
" There, there, Sir, take this, and say no more about it."
Jarvey put his hand to his hat, pocketed the pound note,
mounted his dickey, and giving a sharp smack to his horses,
drove away as mute as the adjoining statue of the Duke of
Bedford, which he had to pass on quitting his Lordship's
rc sidence.

THE LONDON AND EDINBURGH PHILO-
SOPHICAL MAGAZINE.

" The London and Edinburgh Philosophical Maga-
zine" of this month is enriched with many articles of
great excellence. Among the names of the contribu-
tors, we find those of Mr. Lubbock, Professors Lindley
and Megan, the late highly accomplished W. G. Hor-
ner, Esq., and Mr. Silvester. Mr. Reade continues
his very curious and interesting researches into the
chemical composition of vegetable membrane and fibre.
Mr. E. Solly, jun., has a paper on the pal° de vaca, or
cow-tree, of South America, which, when pierced
through the bark, yields a copious supply of excellent
milk. It is twenty feet in circumference at five feet
from the ground, and grows to the height of more than
a hundred feet.

THE CHRISTIAN REFORMER.
Sherwood and Co.

" Letters from Boston, U. S." are written in a lively
gossiping manner. The capital of New Englat.'l, in

its various aspects, physical, literary, and religious, is
described, and seems to have made a highly favourable
impression on the writer's mind. The account given
of Harvard University, the first seminary of learning
raised by the pilgrim fathers, who sought and found a
refuge from Church of England persecution in the
wilds of America, is extremely interesting. The anni-
versary of the foundation, which took place in 1636,
was celebrated during the author's visit, and seems to
have passed off with great eclat. Of the other articles
we were most pleased with " Herder's Seventh Letter
relating to the Study of Theology ;" " Considerations
respecting the Reception and Propagation of Chris-
tianity ;" and " German Universities."