The Sun.
London, England, 1849-12-10 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

ALISON'S 111 STORY OF EUROPE. Vu,
I.K. Illustrated Edition.

Another volume of this splendid republication
gives us three beautifully engraved portraits from
original paintings—representing his late Majesty
King George 111., the celebrated diplomatist and
statesman Castlereagh, and the good and amiable
Josephine, the first Empress of Napoleon. Each of
these embellishments is singularly expressive of the
personage represented, the King, the Statesman, and
the Empress. Meanwhile, the narrative of the elo-
quent historian deepens more and more in interest on
every additional perusal, especially in this division of
his great work, where events are crowding rapidly on
one another towards the last tremendous catastrophe
of the imperial fortunes of Napoleon. Year by year,
as we advance in his luminous pages towards the final
scene in this memorable and miraculous career—this
career of pomp and victory—we observe the
auguries of misfortune thickening round Napo-
leon even at the moment when his destinies
reached their apogee of success—misfortunes arising
from the jealousies of his lieutenants, the treachery of
those in whom his magnanimous nature reposed the
fullest confidence, and the ingratitude of those
wretched time-servers upon whom he had squandered
so many titles, rewards, and benefactions. At the
very period when his away extended from ." the
fishermen on the Baltic to the shepherds on the
Italian Alps," from the shores of the German Ocean
to those of the Adriatic; when his colossal system
appeired to have become consolidated on a broad and
unassailable basis ; when his greatest captains were
installed as the Ducal Governors of the principal
feofs of his empire ; when thirteen diadems had been
secured either to himself or to his representatives;
when, seated himself upon the imperial throne of
France, and on the regal throne of Italy, Protector
of the . Rhine, and Mediator of Switzerland,
he had awarded the sceptres of Spain to
Joseph, of llolland to Louis, of Westphalia to
Jerome, of Naples to Joachim, besides elevating
divers electorates into kingdoms, appointing Junot
the ruler of Portugal, nominating Eugene to the
"Viceroyalty of Lombardy, and permitting Berna-
dotte to assume the crown of Sweden : at the very
time when, espoused to a princess of the ancient
dynasty of Hapsburgh, he witnessed the birth of an
heir to all his gigantic possessions, and with a pride
expressive of his arrogance as the Lord of Europe,
christened him by the name of the King of Rome, a
title which had not been assumed since the days of
the Superb Tarquin • at the very time when his in-
fluence had acquired Lis predominance it is impossible
not to recognise the portents of his approaching
downfal. Those portents, as the student of history
proceeds, very soon become visible in the adverse
consequences of the peninsular campaigns, in
the conflagration of Moscow, and the terrific
retreat of the grand army from Russia.
Ultimately the story closes with the last and most
wonderful of all the campaigns of Napoleon, prior to
his departure from Fontainbleau, the campaign of
1814, when inch by inch he defended France from the
allied forces of the invaders, multiplying his army by
the rapidity of his movements, and falling at last only
because et the desertion of his Marshals. As re-
counted by Alison the story, at all times enthralling,
acquires a new fascination, and hence, although we
may be familiar with his noble narrative, we antici-
pate its continuation in its present form with unabated
curiosity.

PRESCOTT'S HISTORICAL WORKS.

Vol. .111.

In pursuance of the arrangements sketched out in
his recent prospectus, Mr. Bentley is here continuing
in a monthly volume an admirable republication of
the noble historical writings of William H. Prescott.
Being the fifth edition of his famous " History of the
Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella," the third volume
now before us, completing that splendid composition,
is enabled to be reproduced in a state of singular
completeness—namely, Kith the latest annotations
and the most copious catalogue. It was thesaying of
a czlebrated critic, that some of the best books ever
written) have) failed to secure for thertivelvLs a
popularity otherwise inevitable, from the circumstance
of their being devoid of a good index or
catalogue of particulars. And assuredly a mo-
ment's consideration will be sufficient to assure us that,
as a good index strikingly facilitates reference, a book
of any merit possessing one may secure a more fre-
quent quotation. Hence the addition of the present
admirable index to the masterpiece of the American
annalist cannot fail, in a large degree, to enhance
his already widely-known reputation. The table of
contents will enable other writers to adduce him more
repeatedly as an authority. Further acquaintance
with the re-issue here adventured upon by Mr.
Bentley, the enterprisingpublisher, only satisfies us the
more that the work is, in its present form, eminently
deserving the attention of the reading public. Coin-
pact, complete, and substantial, the volumes would
prove an invaluable addition even to the most fas-
tidiously-selected library, and we doubt not will aid
the English, to a large extent, in becoming more
intimately acquainted with the age of the great Isa
bella. Our own military glories are too intimately
associated with the Spanish peninsula to render any
portion of its history a matter of comparative indiffe-
rence, more especially a portion fraught with so
many moving and memorable vicissitudes. We cor-
dially commend the volumes to every student of
either Spanish or European history.

MISS CLARA SEYTON'S ENTERTAINMENT ON TUE
MINSTRELSY OF HUNGARY.—This entertainment had
been originally fixed tor Tuesday, at the Western Lite-
rary Institution, Leicester-square. In consequence of
the announcement that Tuesday had been fixed for the
funeral of the Queen Dowsgt r, the entertainment was
postponed to Wednesday ; but as the funeral will not
take place until Thursday, we understand that Miss
Clara Scyton intends giving her entertainment en
Tuesday, as originally fixed, and on Wednesday alsl,
an arrangement rendered necessary in consequence of the
very great demand for tickets.
Beware of hating men for their opinions, or of
adopting their doctrines because you love and venerate
their v►rtues.—Eliza Cook's Journal.

THE ROCHDALE SAVINGS BANK DEFALCATIONS.—
Great excitement prevails in Rochdale in consequence of
the increased amount of defalcation which the close in-
vestigation of the last few days has brought to light.
The deficiencies now extend to 50,0001. John Tidd
Pratt, Esq., arrived in the town on Thursday night, and
on the following dsy gave such advice to the trustees
and managers as the nature of the care requ!red. Ile
recommends the appointment of a committee, formed
jointly of depositors and trustees, to continue the exa-
mination of the accounts until the whole deficiencies
can be fairly estimated; and until this time all pro-
ceedings of a legal nature will be postponed. At the
meeting of depositors, called by Mr. Hunt, solicitor, of
Rochdale, and held on Saturday morning, the recommen-
dations of Mr. Pratt being stated, the meeting acqui-
esced in the propriety of the step, and a resblution %as
passed to adjourn for a month.
ARRIVALS or SPECIE.—The following, arrivals of
specie have just taken place from the ports nientioned :
The vessel Free Trade, from Oporto, has brought 3 cases
of bullion, addressed, and 2 cases of bullion, consigned
to order; the Blue Bell, from Port Elizabeth, 2 cases of
specie, addressed; the line of packet ship Independence,
from New York, 3 packages of specie, consigned to a
firm in the metropolis; the Thomas Snook, from Cape-
coast Castle, 2 pack ages of copper coin, similarly con-
signed; the Niagara, from Valparaiso, 156 bars of
copper, consigned in a similar manner; the Mountain
Maid, from Port Beaufort, 20 packages of copper, con-
signed; the Caledonia, from llamburgh, 3 'casks of
copper, addressed; the Isabella, from Bombay, 7 boxes
of silver, consigned to order; the Dryad, from Valpa•
raiso, 973 bars of copper, consigned to a firm in the me-
tropolis; the Fortitude, from Whampoa, has brought 2
boxes of treasure, consigned to order, and also 29 boxes
of treasure, addressed to the Oriental Bank; the Killoe,
from Cronstadt, 1,078 ingots of copper; and the Captain,
from the same pert, 1,800 ingots of copper, consigned;
the Phoenix, from St. Petersburgh, 2,810 ingots of cop-
per, consgned; the Flower of Ugie, from St. Peters-
burgh, 1,213 ingots of copper, to order; and the vessel
Queen, from Callao, 18 packages of specie, consigned to
a firm of eminence in the metropolis.
PRIVATE BILLS.—A return obtained by Mr. Greene,
M.P., shows that the total number of private Bills intro-
duced in 1349, amounted to 146, of which 34 were
brought down from the Lords. The number which
received the Royal assent amounted to 132.
OFFICIAL APPOINTMENTS.—Sir Christopher Raw-
linson is appointed Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
of Madras, in the room of Sir James E. Gambier, who
retires, after a very long service on the bench in India.
William Jeffcott, Esq., succeeds Sir Christopher Raw-
linson as Recorder of Polo Penang and Chief Judge in
the High Court of Criminal Judicature for that hland,
and Singapore. Jams K. O'llowd, Eq., is appointed
Solicitor-General for the island of Tobago. Mr. Francis
Ellis is appointed a stipendiary magistrate at the Baha-
mas. Mr. John Lawless is appointed her Britannic
Majesty's Consul for the island of Martinique.