The Sun.
London, England, 1862-02-24 00:00:00

spiritual revelation regarding which has been made to
serve even such vile purposes as the suspension, in particu-
lar cases, of the tenth commandment. The eastern king who
declared he was the Holy Spirit, and, like Tien-wan, had fre-
quent prix ate intercourse with God the Father, upon one
occasion said he had been directed by Him to transfer some
particular wire or concubine (I forget which), from a
friend's harem to his own. Those who are determined to
discover good in these people aver that prostitution and
adultery are punished amongst them by death ; that I think
quite probable ; but as such a penalty is inflicted for the
most trivial offences. it does not prove that they consider
those sins as peculiarly heinous.
"Not long before our arrival two women, who were
heard to speak deprecatingly of the existing government,
and to make some comparison between the present misery
of their situation and their former lot—were beheaded at
once. Although 'the social evil' may have death for its
declared penalty, and although it may be to a certain extent
abolished after the manner in which many wise people in
England would wish to see a stop put to it—namely, by
making the offence criminal-3 et of this lam satisfied,
that it has not improved the morals of the brethren.' "
The work is replete with interest, and much curious
information is to be found in its pages.

The Literary Budget for England, India, China,
Australia, and the Colonies. Saunders and
Otley.
This publication is continued with
the same spi-
rit and energy which distinguished its outset. A
complete resume is given of the literary events of
the day, and the reader who peruses its pages
will be perfectly au fait with all of importance or
interest that has transpired during the month. It
is most probable that this periodical will meet with
considerable success on account of the peculiar ad-
vantages which it possesses. "The Philosophy of
Common Place" is a well-written article, that con-
tains much truth ; but it is, at the same time, too
severe in its strictures occasionally. The following
passage exemplifies some of the evils of the present
day—" There can hardly be a doubt that the constant
contemplation as it were in a looking-glass, of our
own poor, petty, sordid, daily lives, and our own
mean aspirations, gradually unfits us for the appre-
ciation of loftier things. It seems as if what has
been called "the grand air" is departing from our
character as well as from our manners. Nothing
is done now upon so great a scale as formerly.
Everything is little. In statzknanship we have
no Pitt. In literature we have neither a Johnson,
a Gibbon, a Byron, nor a Walter Scott. On the
stage we have no great actor. We have no great
historical
is an
We are not so absurd as to say
that this an age of mediocrity. On the contrary,
it is an age full of the highest excellence, but it is
an excellence content with lower ends than we could
wish to see. Why cannot people now sit out a
ve-act tragedy? Why cannot they appreciate the
classic elegance of style? Why is it that a man
"talking Blue Books for three hours" is hailed as a
great orator P The answer is that " we have grown
smug, sensuous, and commonplace." All who atten-
tively dwell upon this subject will acknowledge the
force of these observations, as it is a well known
fact that there has been much retrograde movement
in all elevation of sentiment, and the standard of
principle has sunk much lower of late days. All
tastes may be suited in these contents. They range
from grave to gay, from lively to severe. There are
reviews of long works, and notices of small ones, arti-
cles on publications of prominent interest, and an
immense variety of anecdotes on all topics that
are of immediate and remote connexion with litera-
ture. Among the incidents of interest in " Literary
Intelligence" is the mention that her Majesty so
higLly appreciated the tribute to the memory of the
late Prince Consort in Blackwood's Magazine that
she has ordered twelve copies to be struck off sepa-
rately and forwarded to her. Saunders and Otley's
Literary Budget is decidedly a success, alike from
the skill with which it is arranged, as from the
ability which distinguishes its writings.

Seven Answers to the Seven Essays and Reviews.
By S. Wash Griffin, M.A., of Trinity College,
Dublin. Longman.
These able essays were originally published in
special supplements to the London Review, and in
that form attracted some attention. They are now
re-issued in a collected form, with an introduction
by the Right Hon. Joseph Napier. late Lot d Chan-
cellor of Ireland. Those who are interested in the
questions raised by the recent controversy will do
well to possess themselves of this volume, which is
evidently the work of a man of study and reflec-
tion, who brings to the discussion of weighty sub-
jects the intelligence, cultivation, and temperance
of tone indispensable to their proper consideration.

Shakspere'a Seven Ages. Drawn by john Gilbert.
Engraved by Thomas Gilks. Published by Dean
and Son.
For sixpence, the epitome of human life, as de-
picted in immortal verse by William Shakspere !
Beautifully illustrated by the facile and graceful
pencil of John Gilbert. Admirably engraved and
most enterprisingly published. The publication of
so much at such a price requires the coining of a
word aptly to define its excellence as a dis-
play of mingled courage and munificence on
the part of Messrs. Dean and Son, of Lud-
gate-hill. The firm just mentioned has for a long
while past been securely assuming to itself aposition
analogous nowadays to that occupied long ago
—a whole century since—by Mr. Newbury, of St.
Paul's-churchyard. It has come to be a pleasant
sound in the ears of picture-loving childhood the
name of this popular house for story-book, parti-
cularly for picture-story-book, publishing. And
not the most agreeably will the name of Messrs.
Dean and Son be held in recollection by reason of
Gilbert's sixpenny version of the Seven Ages of
Shakspere.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.—(This Day.)

MARLBOROUGH-STREET.

STONE THROWING AT A CAPTAIN.—John Buckley, a
labouring man, was charged, before Mr. Tyrwhitt, with
throwing a stone at Captain Arthur Annesley, of the Gre-
nadier Guards, residing in Clarges-street, while in Hyde-
park the previous afternoon.
Captain Annesley said—l was walking in Hyde-park
yesterday afternoon when I felt a blow on the top of my
hat. I turned round promptly, and from the manner of
the prisoner, and the stone falling at my feet, I charged
the prisoner with throwing the stone. He denied it, and I
gave him in charge. As soon as I had done so some of
the prisoner's companions asked me, if the prisoner apolo-
gised, to forgive him. On the way to the station the pri-
soner said he had done it, but that it was not a stone. I
was only five yards from the prisoner when I felt the
blow.

Wm. Savage, SA, said—l saw the prisoner turn round
and throw the atone at the prosecutor, and strike him on
the hat. The prisoner, who at first denied it, afterwards
said it was only a lump of clay,

Mr. Tyrwhitt said it was a most intolerable and dan-
gerous practice,and if persons would indulge in it they must
pay for it. He should fine the prisoner 205., or a month.
"YOU'RE AN OLD WOMAN FROM THE COUNTRY, BUT
YOU HAVE GOT OVER ME."—Ann Stephens, a woman of
about 50, was charged with robbing a young man named
Samuel Merritt, a plasterer, of 11, Hay's-place, Session
Greve.

The young man said he fell in with the prisoner, passed
the night with her, and, when he left her in the morning,
politely wishing her " Good morning," he missed £5 10s.
from his pocket, in which he had £8 Ios.
Mr. Tyrwhitt asked when it took place.
The Young Man—Last Monday night, and I've been
looking for her ever since. I should know her from a
thousand others. (Laughter.)
Mr. Tyrwhitt remanded the prisoner.