The Sun.
London, England, 1863-04-22 00:00:00

READINGS BY CHARLES DICKENS.

" David Copperfield," in Six Chapters ; and
" Bob Sawyer's Party," from " Pickwick."
At the Hanover-squareßooms again last evening
some seven or eight hundred people hung spell-
bound for a couple of hours consecutively upon
words falling from the lips of Charles Dickens—
words long since familiar as " household words, in
the mouths and hearts of the English people, and
yet words that, though thus familiar, never by any
chance pall by repetition ! Never, certainly, when
they are uttered by Mr. Dickens himself. As any-
one who lists may recognise upon any chance-
selected evening upon which one of these famous
Readings may be given by—him whom we still like
to speak of sometimes by his youthful sobri-
quet, as Boz. Constituting a rare intellectual treat
at all times, these Readings are especially re-
garded as such by the London (that we know for
a fact) and we believe also by the provin-
cial audiences no less, when they comprise
within them the Reading of Readings, viz.—these
wonderful six chapters from David Copperfield.
Those who have listened to Mr. Dickens reading the
Six Chapters, those who have watched him reading
them—for the play of his features no less than the
variation of his voice commands the attention of all
those gathered together, whenever he stands at his
reading desk upon the platform—those who
have themselves seen and heard Mr. Dickens
reading his Six Chapters from David Copper-
field will remember upon the instant with what
a perfect mastery he moves them at his
own whim at pleasure, now to laughter, now
to tears, Those who have not heard him, those who
have not seen him, can form no glimmering notion
at all, of what these readings are in any way like,
from any mere passing description of them. The
alternations from the ludicrous to the pathetic, from
the exquisitely ludicrous to the exquisitely pathetic,
are literally—at times—so instantaneous ! Never
more effectively pourtrayed than last Light, were
the grief of Mr. Peggottyfor his lost Em'iy—or the
pretty little comical loves of Dora and Doady—or
the whimsical grandiloquence of Mr. Micawber,
perpetually ahem! interrupted by a momentary cough
of courteous deprecation—or, through the wondrous
word painting of those closing descriptions, the
awful sights and sounds of the Great Storm at Yar-
mouth, ending with the simultaneous death of honest
Ham and of that bright-eyed evil genius of the
story, James Steerforth. It needed the ten minutes
pause which followed the close of this foreshortened
history of " David Copperfield" to enable the
audience, as it were, to get well out of that tempes-
tuous atmosphere upon the Yarmouth flats, before
stepping with Mr. Pickwick and his friends
across the threshold of Mr. Bob Sawyer's
cosy bachelor retreat at Lant-street, in the
Borough. oce there, however, even the
elegant audience, last night assembled in the
Hanover-square Rooms, were, as usual, fairly in for
it—meaning, for a succession of shouts of laughter.
Jack Hopkins's story of the bead necklace, his memo-
rable quarrel and eventual reconciliation afterwards
with the Young Gentleman with the Nice Sense of
Honour—Mra. Raddle's spiteful altercations with
her afflicted lodger—her aboriginal slavey, the
Orfling, with a severe cold in the head—not a
point, not a touch, not an intonation, or a glance of
the eye, but told last night to the very uttermost.
It seems almost ungrateful, however, to have even '
a passing thought thus to give to the remembrance
of Bob Sawyer's Party from "Pickwick"—bearing
in recollection, as we do, nevertheless, so much
more vividly, the far higher intellectual gratification
afforded to us by the genius of Mr. Dickens
through his marvellous declamation of those six
noble chapters from "David Copperfield."

A SMALL MAN (A PORTRAIT)—SKETCHED BY
MADAME DE GIRARDIN.—He was 35 years of age,
4 feet 8 inches in height. Well to do in the world, his only
grievance was that he was so small. Frem the time he had
left off growing, he had been uncomfortable. He had tried
all sorts of experiments, A high hat, high-heeled boots, he
was as upright as a giraffe, and he often raised himself on
the tip of his toes. Little men, who resign themselves to
their fate, are often very graceful. They possess some ad-
vantage in their make—such as suppleness, lightness,
activity—they may have a very genteel carriage, But

little men who revolt at the stinginess of nature towards
them, and fight foolishly with her, never can be graceful or
gentlemanly. When any one says of a man who displeases
him that he has a good opinion of himself, " Well," say I,
" I know something worse than that—a man who looks
discontented with himself. You cannot please him any
way. You ask him to dinner—' No, thank you, to be just
to myself, lam too awkward for a convivc.' You ask him
to a recitation or to music- No, thank you, lam too ob-
scure a person to make part of such a brilliant assembly.'
A party in the country—' No, thank you, one wants gaiety
on these occasions. Invite lively people ; they will be
better suited to you than I am." This man enjoys no-
thing, is fit for nothing. He is an imaginary leper, who
flies his kind. Happily this is a rare malady here in France.
In a salon, the little man we describe was pursued by one
idea—how he might place himself advantageously. He
vobecause near them he appeared at his
samaildleed large
smallest.
He
menavoided beautiful women, because their ma-
jesty humiliated him; but what he most of all disliked was
to moat with (what was rare) a man as small as himself.
Oh, then, indeed, he suffered martyrdom ell, all this
was nothing ; there was torment more horrible than all his
other torments--a curse which pursued him—a fatality
which set the seal to all his misfortunes, and that was his
name I What do you think it was ? This little man's
name was M. Legrand."
The cuckoo was heard at Romsey, in Hants, on
Saturday last—nearly a week earlier than in ordinary sea-
sons. At Woolstone, in the same county, a famous glace
for
of February, English song birds, thrushes_ commenced singing at the
beginning
song. and,the blackbirds are now in full

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

(REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.)

ACCEPTANCE OF THE CROWN OF
GREECE FOR PRINCE WILLIAM.
COPENHAGAN, APRIL 22.

The Lerlingske Tidencle of to-day officially an-
nounces that Prince Christian has had a long inter-
view with Sir A. Paget, the British Minister, at
which his Royal Highness declared that the only ob-
stacles which had hitharto opposed the acueptance
of the Crown of Greece, namely, the abdication of
King Otho, and the finances of Greece, having now
been fully removed, he definitely accepted it for his
son Prince William.

TEE POLISH INSURRECTION,
THORN, APRIL 22.

On Sunday last two serious engagements took
place betwee❑ the insurgents and Russian troops
in the forest of Kampinos, siz German miles from
Warsaw and Pultuesk. The latter place was
burnt by the Russians daring the engagement.

ROME.
ROME, APRIL 21, Evening.

The Osservatore Romano of to-day publishes a
semi-official article stating that although some of
the documents in the case of Signor Venanzi have
been purloined, the evidence against the prisoner is
not weakened thereby, and the judicial inquiry is
far from being stopped. The Court of Justice en-
tru3ted with this affair has discovered that conspi-
racies have been organised at Turin against the
Pontifical Government, and the culpability of the
accused is placed beyond a doubt.

The article adds that the documents which re.
main in possession of the authorities are fully suffi.
cient for the condemnation of the guilty parties.

THE BRAZILS.

RIO DE JANEIRO, MARCH 25.
(per Navarre,)

The anticipated solution cf the Anglo• Brazilian
question does not satisfy the Liberal party, who
expected satisfaction to be given by England to
Brazil for the seizure of the five ships by Admiral
Warren.

M. de Saint Georges, the French Minister here,
leaves by this mail. He has received six months
leave of absence, but it is donbtful whether he will
return to his post.

PORTUGAL.
SOUTHAMPTON, APRIL 22.

The Tartar, from Lisbon, on the 17th inst., has
arrived here with 20 passengers, £3,235 in specie,
4 bags of mails, and 1,832 packages of cargo.
She experienced light easterly winds across the
Bay of Biscay, and north-westerly winds, with fine
weather, up the Channel. There is no news of im-
portance from Lisbon.

LISBON, APRIL 21.

The Chamber of Peers has approved of the
abolition of majorats (landed property descending
with the title to an heir) by 63 against 26 votes.

FRANCE.
WARNINGS OF THErARPI EASPS.
R
IL 22.

The .Tournal des Debats has received a second

warning.
The Journal des Villes et Campagnes has received

a first warning.
The Princess Murat has been delivered of a

daughter.
Le Pays—no doubt with an ironical sense at
I heart of the exceeding importance of its announce-
ment !—intimates to-day, es its latest fragment of
intelligence, the fact that the Bavarian Government
has just remitted to the Protecting Powers, a formal
Protest on its part against the last events that have
taken place in Greece, that is, of course, against the
now well-known incidents bearing date the 12th of
this present month of April.
L'Opinion Nationale describes to-day the grand
review which took place yesterday at Longchamps
before his Majesty the Emperor—a review of ail the
troops of the guard now in garrison in Paris and
its environs. His Majesty arrived on the ground
at three o'clock in the afternoon accompanied by
Marshal Magnan, and attended by a brilliant staff.
BOURSE, April 21.—The market shows a strong
contrast to the tone it exhibited yesterday. Buoy-
ancy has taken the place of dulness. Threes, for
the Account, are now firm at 69f. 60c. The Rail-
way Share Market has also improved. The market
closed as follows :

4i per Cents 96 50
Do. end month
3 per Cents .. 69 30
Do. end month 69 50
Credit Mobilier 1411 25
Do. end month 1415
Bank Shares rSO
Credit Foncier

Italian Loan 7l 70
Do. end month —
NI e w ditto
Do. end month -
Russian
Austrian
§_pardh Threes 62 50
Home Debt
,WAYS.

BAIL'

Cash. Account.
Orleans.... lO2O .. 1020
Northern
New ditto
Lyons and Mediterranean 117 u .. 1175
Ciene.va ..
Southern
Western
Eastern .. ......... ~ • 533 75 .. 535
Sardinian 448 75 .. 452 50
Austrian
Lorebard
North of Spain
Saragossa
Ditto to Barcelona .. • -

The Commercial Navigation Company of India is
an undertaking recently formed, and of consider-
able importance, as it is about to enter upon a field
.of enterprise the success of which is not altogether
untried. Its object is to supply the rivers of India,
with an efficient transport service for the convey-
ance of merchandise, &c. Provisiosal arrange-
ments have been made by the directors for the
purchase of the vessels, one steamer and two
barges, belonging to the East India Steam Na-
vigation Company, at a cost of £15,000 in cash
and £43,000 in stock, which is not to be en•
titled to possess an interest in the dividends
until 10 per cent, in one year shall have been
paid upon the ordinary shares. Operations are
to be restricted in the first instance to the
Ganges, and it is stated that the boats at present
on that river, excepting the one now the property
of the new company, are incapable of carrying the
traffic to Allahabad during the dry season, in con-
sequence of their excessive draught of water. The
directors are encouraged to hope for a great improve-
ment to the general trade of India from the desire
manifested by the English Government and manu-
facturers to foster the growth and development of
cotton. The dividends paid by similar institutions,
particularly those by the India General Steam Na-
vigation Company, are cited as affording abundant
evidence of the soundness and remunerative charac-
ter of the enterprise. The nominal capital of the
company is at £300,000, one half of which, in £5O
shares, is to comprise the first issue. Notice has been
given by the directors that the share list will be
closed on Thursday, the 30th inst.
The Chattillonnais states that a quantity of
ancient arms and numerous Gallic coins, bearing
the names of native chiefs in their own language, have just
been found at Alise-St. 'Reim, (Cote d'Or), the Alesia of
the Romans, which was destroyed by Julius Caesar. These
coins were evidently struck before the Conquest, as on those
subsequent to that event the Gallic names are all Latinised•
The Polish young men residing in Paris having
forwarded an address to the youth of Sweden, thanking
them for their sympathy for the Polish cause, the students
of the University of Upsal have now forwarded one in
reply.

SOUTH KENSINGTON MUSEUM. —During the
week ending April 18 the visitors have been as follows :
On Monday, Tuesday, and Saturday, free days, open from
10 a.m, to 10
tstudents'
landays
3,807,414.
a.m, to 6 p.m., 11,914; total, 39,055; from the opening of
i,B2s
i70,1114t40; t
hf reo mp
ulblliecd6scie.s)d, aoyp
etno
from Friday,
10

efir ur O
t
-4.; • rtil
410

HER MAJESTY.

WINDSOR CASTLE, April 21.

The Queen, accompanied by their Royal High-
nesses the Princess of Wales and Princess Beatrice,
attended by the Marchioness of Ely, drove out
yesterday afternoon in a carriage and four.
Colonel the Hon. A. Hardinge attended on horse-
back.

His Royal Highness Prince Leopold drove in the
grounds.
His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales returned
from London at seven o'clock.
Their Royal Highnesses Princess Helena and
Princess Louise, attended by Lady Caroline Bar-
rington, Lady Augusta Bruce, the Hon. Flora
Macdonald, and Sir W. Hoste, went to Buckingham
Palace yesterday evening, and honoured the Phil-
harmonic Concert with their presence.
His Royal Highness Prince Alfred was also
present.

The royal party returned to Windsor at night.
His Serene Highness the Prince Leiningen le
the Castle yesterday.

Visit of Her Majesty and the Princess of
Wales to the Windsor Infirmary.

Yesterday (Tuesday) afternoon, at five o'clock,
her Majesty, accompanied by her Royal Highness
the Princess of Wales, and attended by the Mar-
chioness of Ely and Major-General the Hon. A. N.
Hood, drove in a pony phaeton and four, with out-
riders, to the Windsor Royal Infirmary, to which
institution her Majesty is a very liberal subscriber.
The royal party were met at the infirmary by
Major-General Seymour, the Rev. H. S. Ellison,
vicar of Windsor, and Mr. Blair, the house surgeon.
who conducted her Majesty and the Princess of
Wales through the different wards, Mr. Blair ex-
plaining many of the cases, which were minutely
inquired into by her Majesty, who seemed deeply
to feel the position of the unfortunate sufferers,
several of whom the Queen spoke to in the kindest
manner. On leaving the infirmary, her Majesty
and the Princess drove to the new buildings in
Victoria-street, calculated to accommodate 34 re-
duced tradespeople of Windsor and Cie wer, which
building is just completed, but not yet occupied.
It has been built for the purpose of amalgamating
the charitable institutions which are situated in
various parts of the town. Her Majesty and the
Princess were met at the entrance gate by the Vicar
and Mr. Alderman Blunt, to whom the Queen ex-
pressed her admiration of the building, which is
from a design by Mr. Edgington, which has been
well carried out by the builder, Mr. Snowball.
The royal party afterwards returned to the Castle
by William-street and Peascod-street.

The Hereditary Prince of Sase-Weitnar, son of
the Grand Duke has just arrived at Heidelberg to enter the
university of that place. He will remain there a year, and
afterwards complete his studies at Bonn and Leipsic.
%Ve hear that the Prince of Wales will take pos-
session of Marlborough House to-day.

His RJyal Highness Prince Arthur, attended by
Major Elphinstone and Colonel Da Plat, visited the Royal
Italian Opera House on Monday evening.

The Duke of Cleveland and Lady Augusta Pow-
lett have arrived in Faris from England.
The Marchioness Townshend's dance, which
was to have taken place on Friday, the 24th inst,, is un.
avoidably postponed to Friday, May 8.
Adelaide Countess of Yarborough has returned
to her residence in Portman-square from Hastings.

Lord and Lady Lilford have left l'arrance'a
Hotel for Lyningtou House, Isle of Wight.

Lord Palmerston will, on Thursday, move a vote
towards the memorial to the late Prince Consort.

Sir Boyle Roche's Blunders.

Many of these are happily preserved. " Sir, I would give
up half—nay, the whole of the constitution, to preserve the
remainder." This, however, was Parlimentary. Hearing
that Admiral Howe was in quest of the Frebch,he remarked
somewhat pleasantly that the admiral would "sweep the
French fleet off the face of the earth." By-and-by came
dangerous times of disaffection, and honest men's lives were
insecure. Sir Boyle writes from the country to a friend in
the capital this sad view of his position :—" You may
judge," he says," of our state, when I tell you that I write
this with a sword in one hand and a pistol in the other."
On another occasion, when the famous letters to the Public
Advertiser were attracting universal attention, Str Boyle
was heard to complain bitterly of the attacks "of a certain
anonymous writer, called Junius." He it was who re-
counted that marvellous performance in gymnastio., when,
in a tumult of loyalty, he " stood prostrate at the feet of his
sovereign." He it was who denounced in withering language
the apostate politician, who " turned his back upon him-
self."-* He it was who introduced to public notice the ingenious
yet partially confused metaphor of the rat. " Sir," he said,
addressing the Speaker of the Irish House, " I smell a rat
I see him floating in the air—but mark me, I shall yec nip
him in the bud," There was the famous speech which
confounded generations. " I don't see, Mr. Speaker, why
we should put ourselves out of the way to servo posterity.
What has evefposterity done for us?" He was a little discon-
certed by the burst of laughter that followed, and proceeded
to explain his meaning. "By posterity, sir, Ido not mean
our ancestors, but those who are to come immediately
atter them." His invitation to the gentleman on his
travels was hospitable and well meant—but equivocal.
"I hope my lord, if ever you come within a mile of my house,
you'll stay there all night." He it was who stood for the
proper dimensions of the wine-bottle, and proposed to Parlia-
ment that it should be made compulsory that " every quart
bottle should contain a quart." Very pleasant, and yet per-
fectly intelligible was his meaning—though it unhappily
took the fatal bovine shape—was his rebuke to the shoe
maker when getting shoes for his gouty limbs—" I told
you to make one larger than the other, and instead of that,
you have made one smaller than the other; the very oppo-
site,—Dickens's " All the Year Round."

[The writer makes a slight error here in fathering this
Bull upon Sir Boyle Roche—the veritable perpetrator of
it having been no other than the famous Lord Castlereagh,
vide Lord Brougham's " Statesmen."]—ED. Sti.N.