The Sun.
London, England, 1836-10-28 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28, 1836.

LITERATURE.

WINDSOR.--THURSDAY.

HEATH'S PICTURESQUE ANNUAL.
Longman, London, 1836.
_

This work, though professedly an Annual, must not
be confounded with the majority of its showy brethren.
It has far superior claims on public attention ; the
Editor (Mr. Leitch Ritchie) being not merely, like
Dr. Syntax, a traveller in search of the picturesque,
but one who gives a faithful and impartial and minute

account of the manners, customs, national peculiarities,
&c., of the various countries through which he passes.
He does not content himself with describing what ap-
pears on the surface of things, but goes deep into his
subject ; enquires and thinks for himself, and gives
reasons for the faith that is in him. His present jour-

nal of a tour through Ireland, is every way worthy of
his reputation as a cautious and observant traveller ; he
belongs, he tells us, to no party; swears neither by
Orangeman nor Papist ; but furnishes us with the re-
sults of his personal experience in a spirit anxious
to screen the defects of neither party, but to do justice
to both. After an attentive perusal of his volume we
have come to this conclusion, that Ireland must have
Poor Laws. This is the " moral" that " points" his
lucubrations. He found, he says, less political feeling
in the sister-country than he was prepared to expect :
but every where proofs of squalid misery and destitution,
such as is without parallel in any State in Europe.
These are his own words, and they are too remarkable
to be forgotten I am of opinion that there is less
political feeling in Ireland than in almost any other
European country, and that there is a great deal less
than there ought to be. I met only with religious
dissensions caused by the circumstance of there
being a State religion in the country, which is
not the religion of the mass of the inhabitants,
and embittered by the intolerance and bigotry of
both parties ; but especially of the Catholics ; I met
with feuds of names and families, such as cannot by
possibility exist in any country where the laws are
good and well-executed. I met with agrarian disturb-
ances, with bloody revenges, with petty pilferings of
food, though few robberies for money, but above all
things, I met with hunger—hunger I The Irish want
no revolution ; they want merely food, clothing, and
lodging ; they demand that the labourers of a country
which annually exports millions worth of produce,
shall have wherewithal to live by their labour." In
another part of his work, when describing his arrival
at Dunleary, he says, " On stepping upon the pier, I
was made aware in an instant that I had entered a
country totally different in character and manners from
any other part of the British dominions. The
stranger is welcomed to Ireland by the beggars
Here they take a distinct and prominent part in the
scene." What a cutting sarcasm is this on the long
misgovernment of the Tories I Beggary—squalid,
hopeless beggary, was the first thing that struck Mr.
Ritchie's attention on entering Ireland. Wherever he
went, still the same wretchedness was perceptible.
He met with it at Dublin—he met with it at Cork ;
it was the most characteristic feature of the island.
But to turn to a more agreeable subject, Mr. Ritchie
was highly delighted, not to say surprised, with the
various scenic beauties and commercial capabilities of
Ireland. The scenery, in particular, of the far-famed
vale of Ovoca, and the equally famous " meeting of
the waters" realized all his expectations ; and equally
gratified was he with the " picturesqueness" of the
bog of Allen. Lovely country, whose very " bogs"—
unlike the degenerate ones in the north of England--
attract the eye of taste and discernment ! Our author
is exceedingly happy in his sketches of native Irish
character ; nothing can be more justly discriminated
than his portraits of the " Irish Gentleman" and the
" Irish Jontleman," the former of which characters he
praises in the warmest terms, while the latter is the
object of his marked contempt and reprobation. His
volume :is penned in a lively, graphic, though some-
what loose and desultory, manner, and is enlivened by
anecdotes and legends, each of which is full of " mark
and likelihood." But decidedly the most attractive
features of the book are its embellishments. These
must have been got up at prodigious expenSe, and
arc the productions of the first engravers of the day.
If w• say that they are finer and more elaborately
finished than any'; have yet seen in an Annual, since
the first appearance of these elegant miscellanies, we
shall not be praising them beyond their de-
serts. The view of Sackville-street, Dublin, with
its long perspective of showy houses ; the ma-
jestic pillar in the intermediate distance ; and the
gay groups of horsemen and pedestrians that enliven
it, may be equalled, but cannot be excelled. This gem
is by Wallis, from a design by Creswick, and is re-
markable for the exquisite finish of its details. The
" Light-house at Howth" is another chef-dceuvre, and
with its stern, rugged, solitary rock ; vast expanse of
sea roughened by a quick breeze ; and frowning clouds
ominous of tempest, forms a truly picturesque and im-
pressive scene. " Powerscourt Waterfall" is the sub-
ject of another striking view ; " Enniskerry" admirable
for the way in which a difficult perspective is handled ;
and " Lismore Castle," the seat of the Duke of Devon-
shire, in the county of Waterford, exhibits a magnificent
display of hanging woods with a castellated edifice
towering up above them ; and a rustic bridge in the
foreground, below which some cattle are standing
ankle-deep in water. But perhaps the most exquisitely-
wrought engraving is that of the " Meeting of the
Waters," which appears to us to carry the art of en-
graving as high as it can go. From the nature of its
subject, we have no doubt that the present volume of
the " Picturesque Annual " will be more popular than
any of its predecessors. It is unquestionably the chief
of its tribe.

BRIGHTON-THURSDAY.

ANOTHER DESTRUCTIVE FlRE.—Between the
hours of twelve and one o'clock this morning another de-
structive fire broke out in a house occupied by a Mr. Cum-
mins, situated in Hanover-square, Rotherhithe, and such
was the rapidity of the flames that before they were extin-
guished, although the engines from the various engine
stations of the metropolis were quickly on the spot, and a
good supply of water obtained, the above premises. and two
others adjoining, were totally destroyed, and several others
greatly damaged. How it originated no person can tell,
but is supposed the timbers of the building took fire.
Unfortunately none of the parties are insured. One of the
fire brigade, of the name of Fenn, belonging to Southwark
Bridge Station, was severely injured by the falling of a
party wall. He was removed to St. Thomas's Hospital,
in a dangerous state.
THE BOOK OF GEMS FOR 1837.—The new and
concluding volume of this splendid work is now ready.
It contains upwards of fifty beautiful engravings, all from
original pictures. A more desirable present-book could
not have been devised. Its contents are " not for a year,
for an age, but for all time." It is a book by itself. We
believe that the combined talents of fifty-three artists were
never before brought to the illustration of one volume.
The dinner to the Liberal members of the Town
Council of Bristol must have afforded to the Tories any
thing but a flattering prospect of the forthcoming elections.
There have been some disturbances among the coal
miners at Mons, in consequence of an attempt on the part
of the owners of the mines to lower the rate of wages. It
was found necessary to send four companies of infantry to
the spot, whose presence immediately restored tranquillity.
A fine Woodcock was shot by Mr. Turner, near
his lawn, at Staplegrove, Taunton, on Monday, which
weighed eleven ounces. Mr. Waldron, of Wiveliscomb,
also killed a brace on Wednesday last, and several have been
shot on the domain of the Right Hon. H. Labouchere,
M.P., at Overstowey.—Bath Chronicle.

The last accounts from St. Petersburg speak of the
heavy loss sustained by a highly respectable house, in con-
sequence of the misconduct of one of its confidential ser-
vants. The delinquent, who had previously borne the high-
est character, committed forgeries to an immense amount.
The most active steps were taken to discover his retreat,
but those as yet have unfortunately been attended with no
success. The house alluded to suffers to the extent of
4,000 rubles.

The King, accompanied by Sir Herbert Taylor, returned
to the Castle from St. James's Palace at half-past nine
o'clock last night.

Their Majesties have not left the Castle to-day.
To-morrow morning, at half-past ten o'clock, their Ma-
jesties will take their departure for Brighton for the usual
season. The Royal suite, including the following persona-
ges, will accompany their Majesties :—Prince Ernest of
Philippsthall, Sir Herbert and Lady Taylor, Miss, Des.
bro we, Lady De Lisle, Miss Eden, who arrived this after.
noon ; Miss Mitchell, Colonel Bowater, Rev. Mr. Wood,
Mr. Davies, Captain Curzon, and Mr. Hudson. The
route will be through Hampton Court, Kingston, Reigate,
Crawley, and Hickstead. Their Majesties do not lunch
on their journey.
Lady Wellesley and Sir William Houston will leave in
the morning for town.
Sir Andrew Barnard, Lord De Lisle, and Sir C. Thorn-
ton left on Monday.
The Marquis of Wellesley took his departure yesterday.
Sir Wathen Waller left this morning.

Lady Taylor and Miss Disbrowe arrived at the Castlo
yesterday afternoon.

Their Majesties, with their Royal relatives and suite,
will arrive at the Palace to-morrow to dinner. Some of
the domestics are already here, and workmen have for a
considerable time been employed night and day in complet-
ing the various improvements which have been going on
during the absence of the Court. Considerable alterations
have been made in the interior.

The Earl Of Errol has taken 29, Brunswick-terrace, and
is expected shortly after the arrival of the Court.
_

The Earl and Countess Brownlow have arrived at
Brownlow House, London, from Belton Hall. The Coun.
tess will attend her Majesty to Brighton as Lady in Waiting.
Lord Dudley Stuart is expected at the Bedford in the
course of a few days.
The Marchioness of Abercorn and family quitted Ma-
rine-square on Monday for Baron's Court, the seat of the
Marquis in Ireland. His Lordship is at present in the
Highlands of Scotland.
The Earl and Countess of Munster and family quitted
Brighton on Friday, for the Earl of Egremont's seat at
Petworth, where they were to remain a few days, and then
proceed to Hampstead.
The Marquis and Marchioness Conyngham have taken
33, Brunswick-terrace, where they are shortly expected.
The Dowager Countess of Galloway, with the following
branches of her family, arrived on Thursday at the Norfolk
Hotel, from Hampstead, and have since removed to No. 3,
Brunswick-square :--Lady Caroline Stewart and the Hon.
Mr. Stewart, Lady Caroline Capel (sister to the Countess)
and her two daughters.
The Countess of Rothes and Lady Mary Leslie are pro-
longing their stay at the Norfolk.
Sir Richard and Lady King arrived last week at the
Norfolk, and have since removed to No. 1, Brunswick-
terrace.

Mr. Justice Littledale and Lady Littledale, arrived on
Thursday at the Bedford Hotel.
Lord Colchester has returned to his seat, Kidbrook, in
this county, from Cheltenham.
Dr. Daykin, Grenadier Guards, has arrived.—Brighton
Gazette of yesterday.