The Sun.
London, England, 1836-04-23 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

THE PILGRIiW OF NATURE.
Saunders and Ottley.•
There is much sweetness of versification in this pu..m,
which is written in the Spenscrian form, the "most difficult
of all metres. • It is somewhat desultory in its character,
ranging abruptly from subject to subject, just as suits the
caprice of the writer, but it will be read with pleasure, for
it sbth ifeitii fertility of fancy, and ingenious management
of rhythm. The strsnect, is young, for some of
his notions are crude and irnol4ool/

FINE ARTS.

ENGRAVINGS FROM THE WORKS OF S

T. LAWRENCE. Part I.
Hodgson. London, 1836.
These engravings arc executed by some of the best ar-
tists of the day, viz., Cousins, Lucas, Lupton, Turner, and '
Ward, and are worthy of their reputation. Tue first
is a full-length portrait of his present Majesty, and
is remarkable for the ease and grace of the attitude.
Perhaps the likeness may be considered a little flatter-
ing, and somewhat too juvenile ; but when did courtly
painter—and if man was a courtier, Sir Thomas Lawrence
was—ever study to avoid defects like these ? Had the
late President of the Royal Academy adhered to literal
exactness in his portraits, he never would have been such
a favourite with the aristocracy as he was. Of the like-
ness of Donna Maria, Queen of Portugal, we cannot speak,
having never bad the good fortune to see the fair original ;
she forms, however, a very agreeable, not to say pretty
subject for a painting. The engraving is finished in very
superior stylt!. But dedidedly the best in the Number is
that entitled " Natur's?," which is the portrait of two as
lovely children as ever the sun shone upon. If the future
Numbers are executed in the same careful manner in which
this is, we can have no doubt of their popularity.
•

KING'S BENCH.-(THIS DAY.)

TILE CORPORATION OF LEICESTER V. THE LATE TOWN CLERK.

The ATTORNEI.GENRRAL said he had an application to
make on the part of the Mayor, bailiffs, and town council,
of the borough of Leicester. It was for a rule to show cause
why the late Town-Clerk of the Corporation of Leicester,
who was also solicitor to the old Corporation, should not de-
liver in his bill for business done for the old Corporation,
and an account current giving credit for monies he had re-
ceived, He (the Attorney-General) did not wish to throw
the slightett reflection upon him. or any other person ; but
it appeared that shortly before the election of the present
Town Council, sales of considerable property belonging to
the Corporation took place, and the money came into the
hands of the Town Clerk and solicitor, who had retained a sum
of 4,500/. to pay what he said he claimed against the old Cor-
poration for business done. The new Town Council had objected
to this, and wished to see his bill, and to have an account
of that money. No document of any kind was forthcoming,
and the Town Clerk refused to give any bill, or any account
whatever. The case had been heard on a summons before
Mr. Justice Williams, but on account of the novelty of the
case; he had thought fit to refer it to the full Court. On
that occasion, the solicitor against whom the present applica-
tion wa3 made, had put in an affidavit, setting forth in general
terms that he had delivered a bill, but not stating at what time,
or what was its purport. The new Town Council, therefore,
contended that they had a right to call for a bill, in order to
have it referred to taxation, and to know what monies were in
his hands. It might turn out that. the Town Clerk was entitled
to the sum he claimed, and that the whole was a perfectly
honourable, fair, and bona fide transaction.
Lord DeNmAN—When did the action for which the business
was done terminate ?
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL—He was attorney for the old
Corporation in a great number of suits—the sale of the property
took place just before the elections in December last, and he
alleges that he then retained this sum upon a settlement of
accounts with the Corporation, if I may so term it, going out.
When the case came before Mr. Justice Williams al difficulty
was started by him as to whether there was anything that
could connect the new with the old Corporation ; but I con-
tend, with great submission, that there is a complete identify
between the two Corporations, because it is the same as if a
new charter bad been granted, and there is no discontinuance
of functions.
Lord DENMAN—What is the object of your rule?
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL---That he should deliver in an
account of the business done by him, and the money received.
COURT—You may take a rule.