The Sun.
London, England, 1849-12-17 00:00:00

MARTIN CHUZZLE WIT. By Charles

Dickens.

After periodical appearance in weekly parts and
monthly numbers, the cheap republication of this
admirable fiction has very recently been completed in
tl:e form of a handsome and substantial volume.
Frank Stone has been anything but felicitous in hii
drawing of the frontispiece, and he would certainly
have di*played more discretion in leaving the work
altogether unillustrated. In his preface to the present
edition Mr. Dickens informs 'us of the principal
object he had in view when writing " Martin Chile-
zlewit," namely, to expose the hideous propagation of
selfishness—how well he succeeded in his purpose
may be readily recognised by:all familiar with the
career of the different fictitious characters introduced
into the narrative, more especially the characters of
young Martin and Mr. Pecksniff. In addition to this,
he explains the consistency of the ideal of -Jonas
Chuzzlewit ; and intimates that he had a project for
the advancement of sanitary improvements among the
poor, and for the rectification of the evils resulting from
the mercenary dispositions of hospital nurses in the
delineation of Betsey Prig and the immortal Mrs.
Gamp. We observe likewise, with pleasure, a declara-
tion on the part of the author that he had no intention
whatever of caricaturing the Americans in the parts
of the story relating to that eccentric people, but
that he selected for portraiture, as he had already
done amongst ourselves, the ludicrous side of the
national character. As far as our judgment was
concerned we needed no such disclaimer, but a
repudiation of the charge was advisable in reference
to others who could in no other manner be convinced
to the contrary. Now that the cheaper edition of
" Martin Chuzzlewit" is actually before the public,
we are sanguine that it will become more popular
even than heretofore, and that many a new home may
be gladdened by the presence of our chief favourite,
dear old Tom Pinch.

THE LAST OF THE BARONS. By Sir E.
Bawer Lytton, Bart.
Like his " illustrious contemporary," Charles
Dickens, Sir Edward Bulwer Lytton is superintend-
ing the re-publication of his versatile and already
widely-popular fictions in a form, the cheapness of
which must tend to their yet wider dissemination.
The volume just completed
,contains the magnificent
historical romance of the " Last of the Barons," in
which the voluptuous court- of Edward IV., and the
gigantic power of the king maker Warwick, and the
subtle and flexile genius of Richard, Duke of Glou-
cester, are delineated with such a masterly hand.
Without going so far as to assert with several critics
that this is the finest of all the prose compositions of
this most gifted and remarkable author, remembering
as we do the gorgeous and mystical " Zanoni," the
noble and symmetrical proportions of " Harold," and
the mingled grace,
,wisdom, and sweetness of the
" Caxtons," we are ready to assert that it is among
the finest of all the effusions of the genius
of Sir Bulwer Lytton. Hence, and as having
scarcely any moral alloy amalgamated with the pure
gold of romance, we are rejoiced to see the work in
its new shape adapted to the bookshelves of the
multitude. Sir Edward, from a sentence in his Preface
to the Cheap Edition, appears to regard the character
of Adam Warner as the best and most artistic he has
yet delineated with the exception, he says, alone of
inoni. We had almost said the same but for our
recollection of William Brandon the Judge in " Paul
Clifford." The volume is embellished by a graceful
frontispiece from the pf ncil of Hablot K. Browne, an
artist always happy in his sketches of horses. We
commend the book to the finer tastes and loftier
imaginations of the people.

COURT CIRCULAR.
OSBORNE, SATURDAY.

The inclemency of the weather this morning pre-
vented the Queen and Prince and the younger mem-
bers of the It Tal Family taking their usual morning
walk.

Lord John Russell and Sir James Clark arrived at
Osborne yesterday afternoon, and had the honour of
joining the royal dinner party.
Colonel the Hon. and Mrs. Phipps were also in-
cluded in the royal dinner party.
Lord John Russell left Osborne this forenoon, on
his return to Richmond Paik.

Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent (attended
by Lady Fanny Howard and Sir George Couper) is
expected at Osborne this day.

SUNDAY.

The Queen and Prince, her Royal Highness
the Princess Royal, and the ladies and gentlemen of
the royal household, attended Divine service this
morning at Whippingham church. The service was
performed and sermon preached by the Rev. T.
Protherol.

ller Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, attended
by Lady Fanny Howard and Colonel Sir G. Couper,
arrived at Osborne about four o'clock yesterday
afternoon.

The Royal dinner party yesterday included Sir
James Clark and Dr. Robertson.

Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent arrived
in town on Friday from her residence, Frogmore
House, Windsor. Her Royal Highness visited the
Duchess of Gloucester, at Gloucester House. On
Saturday morning her Royal Highness, attended by
Lady Fanny Howard and Sir Ge•rge Couper, left
Clarence House, St. James's, for the Waterloo ter-
minus of the South •Western Railway, and proceeded
to Osborne Isle of Wight.
Their Osborne,
Highnesses the Duchess and the
Princesses Anne and Amelie of Saxe Weimar, arrived
at Marlborough House on Friday, from a visit to her
Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, at Frogmore
House. Their Serene Highnesses went to the Priory
at Stanmore.

Colonel Maberly had an interview with the Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer on Saturday, at his official
residence in Downing-street.
A deputation, on the subject of the Gold Coast,
consisting of Sir Robert Inglis, Rev. H. Venn, Mr.
W. Hutton, and Sir Edward Buxton, had an inter-
vier; with Earl Grey on Saturday, at the Colonial.
office. The deputation introduced to the Noble Earl
the Rev. Mr. Gellmer, a missionary from Bedagry.
Lord J. Russell returned to Pembroke Lodge,
Richmond Park, on Saturday, from Osborne, Isle of
Wight.

'the Earl of Carlisle left town on Saturday after-
noon for Panshanger, the seat of Earl Cowper.
Dispatches were sent off for the Governors of the
West India colonies on Saturday evening from the
Colonial-office.

THE CuuacH.—The Lord Chancellor has appointed
the following clergymen to benefices in his gift :—The
Rev. John Burdon, M.A., Rector of English Bicknor, '
Glocestershire, to the rectory of Welsh Bicknor, Mon-
mouthshire, rendered vacant by the death of the Rev.
John Seeger, M.A.; the Rev. Edmund Bridgeman,
M.A., aerate of Wigan, Lancashire, to the rectory of
Kinnerley, Salop, rendered vacant by the cession of the
Rev. Turner Edwards; the Rev. John Birkett, M.A., to
the rectory of St. James's, Colchester, rendered vacant
by the promotion of the Rev. Dr. Seaman; the Rev.
George Willeock, M.A., incumbent of Salcombe, near
Kingsbridge, Devon, to the rectory of St. Martin's,
Colehest, r, rendered vacant by the cession of the Rev.
Murray, M.A.; the Rev. J. B. Roberts, M.A.,
to the v"caruge of Shilbottlo, Northumberland, rendered
vncant by the promotion of the Rev. W. G. Smythirs.—
IferAly Chronicle.
1 /OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT.—The vacancy in the
office of Factory Inspector, cans( d by the death of Mr.
Tames Stewart, has ruabled the Government to effect a
saving of 7001. a year in that department. The Fe.ctory
Act rfquires the appointment of four inspectors. Mr.
Stewart was inspector for Scotland and the manufactur-
ing- portio❑ of Ireland at Dublin sod Belfast. Captai❑
Nairne, who is Inspector of Prisons for Scotland, is ap-
pointed inspector, and takes that district. In additi,,n
to his present salary as Prison Inspector he is to receive
200/. a year. The Irish division will be taken by Mr.
Howell, one of the other three inspectors, who will re-
ceive WO/. a-year in addition to his present salary,
which is considered as an equivalent only for the addi-
tional expenses of travelling, &c., to which he will be put
by the arrangement. In this way the saving of 700/. a-
year will be efft:cted by substituting 3001. fur 1,000/. a-
, year. Mr. Garcia is appointed Solicitor-General at
Triniciad..—§undcritPaper.