The Sun.
London, England, 1863-12-24 00:00:00

THIRD EDITION

SUN OFFICE, SEVEN O'CLOCK.

Evacuation of Altona by the Danish Troops.

Entry of the Federal Troops into Holstein,

[REUTER'S TELEGRAM.]
ALTONA, DEC. 21.

At 8 o'clock this morning the Saxon regiment
of Kronpring Infantry entered the town.
The Danee did not leave Altona until the Federal

troops appeared.

As soon as the Danes had passed out of one
street it was instantly decorated by the people
with the German and Schleswig-Holsiein flags
amidst`great acclamations.

The Federal civil commissioners are said to have
alighted at the Town Hall, from the balcony of
which is suspended a large German flag,
The proclamation of the civil commissioners is
affixed at the corner of all the streets, with pla-
cards of " Long live Duke Frederick of Schleswig
Holstein."

An appeal has also been issued to the people by
the deputies of Altona, inviting the citizens and in-
habitants to assemble in public meeting at noon to-
day in front of the railway station.

DEATH OF Ittn, THACKERAY—This Day.

With more than ordinary feelings of regret we have to
announce the death of this distinguished contributor
to the literature of the country. The learned gentleman
has for some days complained of indisposition, but not
of that nature to give his friends any uneasiness. Mr.
Thackeray retired last night manifesting no symptoms cal-
culated to occasion the least apprehension, but was found
dead in his bed this morning.

William Makepeace Thackeray was born in; India in
1811. He was of good family, and originally intended for
the bar, to which he was called in 1848. He kept
seven or eight terms at Cambridge, but left tho Univer-
sity without taking a degree, for the purpose of be-
coming an artist. After about three years' desultory prac-
tice he devoted himself to literature, abandoning the de-
sign of making a position as a painter, and only employed
his pictorial talents in illuatration of his own writings.
For a short time he conducted a literary and artistic
review, similar in plan to the Atheneum ; but the new
journal, although characterised by great ability, perished in
competition with established rivals. He also, with the
assistance of Dr. Maginn, started a newspaper; but this was
unsuccessful. His first distinction was won as a writer in
Fraser's Magazine, Lunch., and other periodicals of charac-
ter. In the latter amusing periodical: appeared his
"Jeames's Diary," a clever satire on the follies of the rail-
way mania, exposing the hollow foundation upon which
railway fortunes and reputations were made. His
" Snob Papers," published in the same manner,
have since been collected and reprinted with
great success. His satire is as keen as that of
Fielding. His " Paris Sketchbook" appeared in
1840. His "Irish Sketch.book," with numerous en-
gravings drawn by the author, was published in
1845. In the next year appeared his " Notes of a Jour-
ney from Cornhill to Grand Cairo;" and in 1847 the first
numbers of " Vanity Fair" appeared, in the proper name
of their author. This, Thackeray's first fully-developed
novel, was followed by " Arthur Pendennis," which was
completed in 1851.

Thackerary's greatest literary achievements will long be
treasured among the masterpieces of English literature—
foremost among them being "Vanity Fair," " The New•
comes," " Esmond," " Pendennis," " The Virginians,"
" The Lectures on the English Huruourists," " The Lec-
tures on the Georges," "The Snob Papers," and a multi-
tude of other works of a minor and very miscellaneous
character.