The Sun.
London, England, 1830-04-17 00:00:00

VIII.

CONSIDERATIONS ON LOTS : In which is dis-
cussed the Unlawfulness of Games of Chance. Extracted
from an American Journal. With Introductory Remarks,
Preface, and an Appendix, by WILLIAM SYMINGTON,
Stranraer. Second Edition, price One Shilling.
" There is much powerful writing and reasoning in• this
pamphlet, and the whole of it will repay an attentive pe-
rusal. We think the public are indebted to Mr. Syming-
ton for. bringing the subject before them."—Christian
Herald.

" We recommend it particularly to the young, whose
minds, if surrendered to the convincing reasoning which
is to be found in every page, may at once be fortified
against all the evils of Games of Chance, and be taught
to aspire after a higher and more consolatory species of
enjoyment."--Scots Times.

ANATOMISTS and RESURRECTIONISTS. Price
One Shilling.

REFLECTIONS suggested by the Murders recently
committed in Edinburgh, &c. ; addressed as an Epistle to
the Right Hon. Robert Peel, M.P., one of his Majesty's
Principal Secretaries of State ; in which Burke's Iniqui-
tous Practices are traced to their Real Source, and an At-
tempt made to Vindicate Measut es whereby the recurrence
of Similar Enormities may be for ever prevented. By a
Medical Officer in the Royal Navy.
X.
THE CONFESSIONS OF AN UNEXECUTED
FENIICIDE. Third Edition, price Sixpence.
" Under this title a most extraordinary work has been
recently published by Mr. APPhun, bookseller, of Glasgow.
As many of our readers, after perusal, may be apt, to con=
elude, as we at first did, that The Confessions of a Fenai-
cide' is a work of pure fiction, it is incumbent on us to ex-
plain the reasons which have induced us to arrive at a
different conclusion. Mr. M'Phun is a gentleman of great
respectability, and we felt convinced thrt he would not de-
liberately palm upon the public, as true, a horrid and ap-
palling story, which had no foundation in fact. There
would have been no excuse for such conduct, as he possessed
the means of detecting the imposture, by ascertaining
whether any murder had taken place in Scotland, twenty
years ago, under the extraordinary circumstances described
in Mr. M‘Phun's narrative. He might also, with very
little trouble, have traced out the register of the alleged
trial. These were the reasons that led us to conclude that
the story, shockieg and unnatural as it is, could not wholly
be destitute of foundation in fact. We also thought, that
if the story had been entirely a romance, the author would
not have ventured to make its character so thorough-paced
a villain ; for, however strange the assertion airy appear,
it is a melancholy truth, that more unnatural crimes have
been perpetrated in reality than any writer of fiction has
had the hardihood to introduce into romance. If any
author were to fond a story upon the circumstance of a
father cutting off b;s own head, his readers would
turn with (Fsgust from so gratuitous an outrage upon feel-
ing and probability. &Ken, however, did in reality cut
off the heed of his own child ; and did that act, too, in a
sane state of mind, =r we may so conclude from the Judge
suffet:rse; him, after b:s attempt, to go at large.
" In conclusion, we assure our readers, that the main
incident related in the confessions is true. Motives of deli-
oacy have induced the writer to substitute Stirling in place
cf Glasgow, and to take some other liberties with the
narrative ; but the murder was committed ; the murderer
was tried, and he escaped, as related, by his servants
swearing an alibi."—Liverpool Mercury.

MARY, QUEEN OF SCOTS; her Persecution,
Sufferings, and Trials, from her Birth till her Death.
With a full exposure of the Intrigues of Queen Elizabeth ;
the Conspiracies and Perfidy of the Protestant Lords ; the
Forgeries of Buchanan, Maitland, and Walsingham ; and
the Calumries, Misrepresentations, and Mistakes of Knox,
Bindolph, Robertson, Laing, M'Crie, and Miss Benger.
In a neat 12mo. 'Volt.-me, with a beautiful Engraving,
price Is. 6d.
‘' The style of this book is easy and elegant. An air of
singular truth runs through it, and the old letters and dia-
logues which are introduced give it the graphic interest of
a novel, without any of its fiction."—Edinburgh Evening
Courant.