The Sun.
London, England, 1836-12-02 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

A PEDESTRIAN TOUR OF 1,347 MILES
THROUGH WALES AND ENGLAND.
By Pedestres, and Sir Clavilero Woodenpeg, Knight of
Snowdon. In 2 Vols.
Sanders and Otley, London, 1836.

"My book is published.—l wrote not for fame—
neither for fortune :—I will not say I have either—
no matter. lam selfish enough to avow that I have
written for my own amusement, and not with the
studied intention of amusing others." We quote
from the Preface of the work before us. If the author be
sincere in his disregard of fame and fortune, we are
heartily glad of it for his own sake. To hope for
nothing is a sure way to escape the pangs of disap-
pointment. With respect to the book being written
for the persmaal amusement of the author, it appears
to us that there is a great deal more of brazen effron-
tery than of selfishness in such an avowal. We have
had the misfortune to meet with many books written by
authors for their own amusement ; and we can answer
for it that the world would have been no loser, had
they kept such a mode of killing time a secret to pos-
terity. Those authors who write to amuse themselves
are very apt to prove tiresome to others, and we regret
that Pedestres cannot be classed among the few ex-
ceptions. Society does not interfere with the amuse-
ments of any class of persons ; but surely its passive-
ness in the affair is not a sufficient pretext for robbing
it of its time, by compelling it to take cognizance of
such silly trifles as a fiftieth rate imitation of Tristram
Shandy, without a shadow of Sterne's humour, erudi-
dition, pathos, or sentiment ? Pedestres has read the
works of Rabelais, of Cervantes, and of Sterne, to little
advantage, if he mistake the mere distortion of lan-
guage for wit—random remarks, and the jumbling of
ideas for humour—and the whine of a boarding-school
Miss for sentiment. To draw such characters as Gran-
gousier, Gargantua, the good Pantagruel, Panurge, and
Friar John—as Don Quixote, Sancho Panza, the Curate
and the Barber—as Yorick, My Uncle Toby, Corporal
Trim, Doctor Slop, and the Widow Wadman—an au-
thor must have both genius, and a determination to do
more than write merely for his own amusement. We
are, however, willing to admit that the " Pedestrian
Tour" has here and there passages of considerable
merit:; and that there is more than an ordinary show of
antiquarian research in the description of the old ruins
throughout England and Wales.

It is said that the United States Government intend
to furnish a substitute for their copper coins now in use. It

is thought that the new coins will be composed of that mix-
ture of copper and silver common in many countries of the
Continent of Europe, and which long use has demonstrated
to answer perfectly well the purposes required. Besides
the cent, which will be of the very convenient size of the
silver dime, half cents and pieces of the value of two cents
and a half will be of the same metallic composition.—
Montreal Paper.
A temporary cessation in the working of the coal-
mines in this neighbourhood has taken place, in consequence
of the coal-masters having found it necessary to make a
slight reduction in the rate of wages. It will be recollected
that a rise took place a few months ago, and it is not ex-
pected that the reduction will be resisted beyond a day or
two.— Wolverhampton Chronicle.
About half-past ten o'clock on Wednesday night
a fire broke out on the premises of Mr. Hind, brush-
maker, No. 47, Rosoman-street, Clerkenwell, ;which burnt
part of the roof off the workshops, and greatly damaged
the stock. The property is insured.
In the year 1833, during harvest, there was an ave-
rage of twenty-five men employed on the roads by the
parish. It is now with difficulty the Surveyor can obtain
hands to break the stone !—Lincoln Gazette.

BRIGHTON.-THURSDA

The King, in consequences a slight attack of gout I
one of his feet, has not taken his accustomed airing to-day.
The Queen continues in the enjoyment of excellent health
but her Majesty has not been seen in public this day.
The Princess Augusta, accompanied by Miss WYnYarn'
took a carriage airing this morning. and
The preceptor of Prince Edward of Saxe-Weimar,
the Rev. Mr. Wood, returned to Brighton to-anied
day frog!
Sutherland Hill, near Reading, where they had accomp
the young Prince.
The Hon. Miss Mitchell, Maid of Honour to the Queen,
quitted the Palace this morning for Hampton Court Palace,
and the Hon. Miss Eden, for London.
Sir George Hamilton called and paid his respects to their
Majesties this morning on leaving Brighton.
The Lord Chancellor and Lord Denman also called at
the Palace this morning prior to their departure.
Their Majesties' dinner guests yesterday evening, by-
in
vitation, in addition to the members of the Council, com-
prised—the Countess and Lady Georgiana Bathurst, Hon.
Mr. and Mrs. Ashley, Lord and Lady Erroll, Lord Hill,
Sir J. Reynett, the Recorder, Sir H. Hamilton, and Sir W.
Fremantle.
Immediately after the breaking up of the Council, which
sat about half an hour, Lord Minto took his departure for
town. All the Cabinet Ministers left this morning, with
the exception of Lord Palmerston, who will dine at the Pa-
lace this evening, and take his departure to-morrow.
This morning the Earl and Countess Brownlow quitted
the Palace for town, on their way to Belton House. The
Countess is succeeded as Lady in Waiting by the Countess
of Sheffield.