The Sun.
London, England, 1836-10-08 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

THE CONFESSIONS OF AN ELDERLY
GENTLEMAN.
Longman, London, 1836.

We have been much amused by this volume, which
is penned in a lively, graceful spirit. It is the avowed
production of the Countess of Blessington ; and a great
compliment indeed, ought we, elderly gentlemen, to
consider it that her Ladyship has not thought us
wholly beneath her notice. Conceive youth and
beauty recording the worth of age and ugliness I But
no, you cannot ; therefore read this book, gentle
reader, and there you will see that silver-sprinkled
hairs are not quite so unattractive in the eyes of
woman, as hitherto you may have been tempted to
suppose. The Elderly Gentleman before us had not
less than half-a-dozen loves—he must have possessed
an extraordinary capacity for the sentimental I—and if
he was not successful with any one of these, it was
altogether his own fault, as will be found duly stated
in these lively pages. The truth is, he was all blush
where he should have been all brass—had he graduated
in the Emerald isle this would never have been the case—
vacillating, where he should have been decided ; and
always hinting at the " great question of questions,"
at the wrong time. His history is highly moral, and
eke edifying, being throughout a practical illustration
of the wholesome adage—that " faint heart never
won fair lady." On looking over the different por-
traits of the old gentleman's " sweet-hearts"—the
phrase is vulgar, perhaps, but an excellent one, never-
theless—we confess we are surprised, not so much at
his not marrying one, as at his not popping the ques-
tion to all six. How could he have resisted the fair
blonde " Louisa I" How have eschewed bigamy, in
the presence of the arch brunette " Maria I" What
was transportation for seven years, compared to the
possession of the irresistible " Lady Emily I" Were
not the bright eyes of " Caroline," a sufficient justifi-
cation of polygamy ; and could any jury have had the
heart to condemn a man for forgetting that he had
been once married, while basking in the smiles of
" Lady Elmscourt ?" Impossible ! Strange however to
say, our elderly hero not only did not espouse all these
unequalled specimens of womanhood, but he did not even
espouse one ! He seems, in truth, to have been but
a poor creature—a " man made after supper of a
cheese-paring"—one to have been " brained by a
lady's fan"—and, consequently, not even Lady Bles-
sington's genius can render his character interesting.
However, despite this defect, her book is a delightful
one, and may justly be called the " Book of Beauty."
The portrait of " Caroline," in particular, with her
Cleopatra brow and eyes, is a perfect gem ; and bears
a striking resemblance to a young lady to whom we
ourselves should have been married, forty-eight years
ago, had we not had a delicate split upon settlements—
accidents which, as the poet sweetly sings, will some-
times happen " in the best-regulated families."

SHIPPING.-(THIS DAY.)

(FROM LLOYD'S.)

DEAL, OcT. 7.—Wind S.W. to W.—Arrived from the
River, and remains, the, William Metcalfe, Phillipson, for
Hobart Town. Saveral vessels are just turning through the
Gulls, among which are reported the Milicent, for Jamaica ;
British Sovereign, for Sidney ; and the Elizabeth, Frith, for
New York.

PORTSMOUTH, OCT. 7.—Wild S. to S. S. E.—Arrived
from London, the Ontaria, Huddleston, for New York. No
sailings. A wooden stocked anchor of about 18 cwt. (for a
hemp cable), with about 30 feet of 14 inch chain, with a buoy
and buoy-rope, have been landed here by the pilot boat, No.
25—taken up off Chichester Harbour, said to belong to the
American ship Barclay, arrived some time since from Manilla.
PLYMOUTA, OCT. G.—Wind S. S. E.—Arrived his Ma-
jesty's ship Pembroke, from a cruise. Sailed none.
FALMOUTH, OCT. 6.—Wind E. S. E. to S. E.—Arrived the
Falcon, Falconer, from Rio Janeiro.—Sailed the Superb,
White, for Marseilles ; Amity, Christie, for Lisbon ; Ganson,
Sams, for Lisbon ; Gulp Raira, Willis, for Lisbon ; Iberia,
for Madeira, &c.

CHANNEL, OCT. 7.—Arrived the Anna, --, Batavia.
OFF THE WIGHT, OCT. 7.—Arrived the Mermaid, Neilson,
from Tobago.

THE FUNDS.-(THIS DAY.)

CITY, 7'WEL YE O'CLOCK.
Our arrivals this morning are the French and Hamburgh
mails, and ship letters from Rio Janeiro and Pernambuco.
The New York papers of the 12th Sept. give the following
passage regarding the funds :—" Saturday, Sept. 12 :—We
have at last the pleasure of recording an improvement in the
Stock Market. There is a large business done, and the
market stood out much better than was anticipated. The
United States Bank hopped up to 118 ; the Bull's faces began
to brighten a little. Bank Shares at New York on the 12th
Sept. 1171 ; Exchange, 74."

THE FUNDS.
The Consol Market is heavy this morning. Consols,-which
closed yesterday at 88i' for the Account, opened at 881
The cause of their decline is not exactly known ; but supposed
to be in respect to the Naval operations of this Government
and France in relation to Spain and Portugal. Exchequer
Bills, 2d., 8 6 prem. ; India Bonds, 9 7; Bank Stock, 2084 ;
India Stock, 2551.
Spanish Bonds closed at 254 zr.. at present 25'j i; Portu-
Three per Cents., :33'1.
HALP-PAST TIVELVE.
Consols
receded to 881 ; for November Account, 88i ;
Spanish:i ;
receded to 251- ;—the market has a very heavy ap-
15persansls
nc e . Money is again scarce, and we have reports that
Mendizabal's agent is coming to London " to raise the wind,"
as he cannot succeed at Paris.

lIALF-PAST ONE.
We have received Charleston papers to the 4th of Sept.
The following is an extract :

" THE CHOLERA AT CHARLESTOWN.
" Office Board of Health, Sept. 2.
" The Special Committee of the Board have to report for
these last 24 hours there have been seven cases of cholera,—
six under treatment, the other dead; one white; the remainder
black. Of the three cases reported yesterday as under treat-
ment, all have died. " By Order,

" THOMAS SIMONS."
Both the British and Foreign Funds continue heavy, owing
to a report that the bank is about to discontinue their accom-
modations to the public, in advancing monies on the various
securities, to which we do not attach credit.
Consols may be quoted at 884 1- for Money and Account ;
Exchequer Bills, 2 discount; 2cl ones, 3 prem. ; India Bonds,
5 prem. ; India Stock, 2551-; Bank Stock, 2081,
In the Foreign Market Spanish Active, very -heavy, at 25 ;
Passive, 7i.; Deferred, 11-1 ; Portuguese,
Cents., 331 ; Three per
; Columbian, 931 ; Dutch Two-and-a- Half per
1-,
Cents., 52
THREE O'CLOCK.
Consols for the Account, 88i