The Sun.
London, England, 1849-05-11 00:00:00

improper Sundiy trading, in the metropolis. It was,
however, surrounded with many difficulties, which re•
quired the in ist seri:uis and careful consideration.
L' rd 11. SIT ART bore testimony to the anxiety
which existed that trading on Sundays in the metropolis
should be put on a proper footing. He admitted it was
surrounded with difficulties, but they could be surmounted
by careful consideration.
Leave was then given to bring in the Bill.
THE MARRIAGES BILL.

Oa the order of the day being read for the adjourned
debate cn the second reading of this Bill, _

Mr. S. WORTLEY said, that in consequence of the
lateness of the hour—(Cries of " Go on, go on; Divide,
divide")—he could not proceed with the dicussion. his
Hon. suci L2arurd Friend the Member for the University
of Dublin inured the adjournment of the debate, and in-
tended to speak upon it; but the hour was then too late.

After a iew words from Mr. GOULBURN and Mr.
NAPIER,

The debate was further adjourned to the next day.
Colonel SIB'FHOUP again called the attention of the
House to the words tietl by the Hon. Member for Shef-
field (Mr. Roebuck), whom he regretted to see not then
in his place. His character was dear to him, and he
wished to have a satisfactory explanation of the meaning
of the expression " buffoonery."
The SPEAKER informed the Hon. and Gallant Offi-
cer that, in hi% opinion, the lion, and Learned Member
for Sheffiold did Lot apply that expression personally
to him.

Colonel SIBTEORP—Then, Sir, I am satisfied.
PUBLIC HEALTH (SCOTLAND) BILL.
On the order of the day being put for the sec3nd read.
ingof this Biii,

Viscount iniIMIL AN RIG protested against its being
brought forward at that late hour, and moved that the
House do adjourn.
The gallery was then cleared for a division, when
there appeared—

For the adjournment . . ... 33
Against it ... 96
Majority against the adjournment... —63
The LORD ADVOCATE, on our return to the gal-
lery, was explaining to the House that the intention of
this Bill was to apply to Scotland the provisions of tho
measure which last year was enacted with respect to
England and Irelans!, and the operation of which had
hiterto been attended with considerable success. Every
provision of the English Bill was here re-enacted, to-
gether with certain others, peculiarly fitting for Scotland,
the introduction of which was sufficient alone to entitle
the Bill to a second reading. Amongst these new pro-
visions were some for the general supervision of the
English Board, the appointment of a resident Scotch
secretary, and one to enable all inquiries to take place
under its authority, should be conducted under the super-
intendence of the Sheriff of the county.
Mr. F. MACKENZIE complained of the lateness of
the hour at which the Learned Lord Advocate had in-
troduced this Bill, and said that if he had only made his
statement in the first instance, it would not have been
opposed.
After a few words from Lord DRUMLANRIG to the
Caine effect,

Mr. FOX MAULE said that the principles of the Bill
were so obviously judicious that he was somewhat sur-
prised at the objection rah: el to its progress. He hoped
they would not be allowed to interfere with it to any
undue extent, as they might be examined most con-
veniently if concentrated.
Mr. CUMMING BRUCE admitted the utility and
general principles of the Bill, but he objected to the
system of centralization upon which its provisions were
founded, and also to that of inquiries before the Sheriff.
Mr. OSWALD said the expense of this Bill ought to
be clearly stated to the House, and that it was his duty,
that not being the case, to make the circumstance known,
with a view to its being provided for. After consider-
ing the Bill attentively, he greatly feared that it was
premature, though ho thought its principle to be gene-
rally comet.

rater a few words from Mr. SLANEY in support of
the Bill, it was read a second time, and ordered to be
committed.

The House then ad ourned at a Quarter before One

LITERATURE.

MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE OF VICE-
ADMIRAL LORD VISCOUNT NELSON,
KB., DUKE OF BRONTE, 6-c. By Thomas
Joseph Pettigrew, F.R.S., F.S.A., Doctor of Phi-
losophy of the University of Gottingen, 6-c. 6-c. 6-c.
The name of Thomas Joseph Pettigrew is no
stranger in the literary world. Eminent as a phy-
sician, profound as a scholar, a learned antiquarian,
an eloquent lecturer, he has already found time from
his professional and scientific labours to give to the
public more than one work of solid and enduring ex-
cellence. Formerly librarian to a Royal Duke, he
had opportunities for mental discipline and culture
few could cammand--few commanding could so well
employ. But great literary talents are not Mr.
Pettigrew's only qualifications to compose a life of
Nelson. The son, as he informs us, of one who, as
surgeon on board the Barfleur, had " done the State
some service"—thrown from early years into the so-
ciety of naval men—livin-, on terms of intimacy with
some of Nelson's chosen band—listening to the often-
told exploits of a Rodney, a Howe, a St. Vincent;
to his deep and general information he added a per-
sonal enthusiasm, and was gratifying an old passion,
and recalling unforgotten friendships, when he be-
came a naval biographer. Remembering the many:dis-
tinguished writers who have preceded him, from
Clarke to Southey, Mr.: Pettigrew would not, he
tells us, have undertaken these memoirs but, for a
remarkable event, which supplied him with new and
invaluable materials to illustrate the life and character
of Nelson, as well as of others with whom the hero's
fortunes were, happily for his country, unhappily for
his memory, too closely associated—we mean the
discovery of his private correspondence, ex-
tending from 1798 to the period of his death.
A great man's letters are sometimes the best index of
a great man's mind—a biography of Nelson incorpo-
rating an autobiography was a wise thought,.und an
acceptable gift to the nation. One loves to trace the
growth of such a character; through what progres-
sive stages his young ambition passed till it conceived
and accomplished—heroism ! Nelson's letters display,
too, that emotion of heart, that religious and high
enthusiasm which so largely contributed to his suc-
cesses, which gave persuasive powers to " his blue
thoughtful eye," and filled his weak body with an in-
domitable spirit! There is, no doubt, to be found in
these letters that which a good man may condemn,
and which a moralist cannot strictly excuse ; but, says
Pil.r.Pettigrew, and we think the remark a just one,—"lf
it were possible, consistently with what is due to jus-
tice, to have given publicity to the private opinions
of Lord Nelson on the passing events of his
time, and of the transactions in which he
was concerned, without unveiling the foibles
and weaknesss of his nature, the task would have been
more refreshing than it has proved to be ; but when
imperfect and prejudiced statements are put forth
under sanction which gives great weight to the nar-
rative, the demands of truth are imperative, and the
publication of that which certainly was never intended
for the public eye or the general gaze becomes justi-
fied." Without detracting from the of the
biographer, and few will deny the elegance of his
style or the judicious selection of his subject-matter,
this private correspondence forms the principal and
most novel charm of his admirable book. Other
authors may tell us how Nelson's great battles were
fought, the disposition and • number of his ships,
what was the strength of his antagonist, and
where lay the glory of his triumph ; but
in these pages, for the first time, we learn
how the man Nelson felt on the morning of the
Nile, or on the eve of Trafalgar ! The mysterious
influence of Emma Lady Hamilton—an influence she
exerted much to her own shame—much also to her
country's weal—an influence which infatuated to
vice, yet inspired to what was great and noble—an
influence which made Nelson captive to her charms,
but cheered him on to the conquest of his enemies—
seems always to pervade these letters ; and as we
read, we lament that so much evil was united with so
much good—that the weakness of the woman dimmed

the virtues of the heroine ! It has been too much the
fashion to censure the conduct of Nelson in re-
gard to the trial and execution of the celebrated
Caracciolo, and his supposed repudiation of the treaty
on the faith of which the Castles of Uovo and Nuoro
consented to surrender. Mr. Pettigrew's narrative
of this transaction, and his able vindication of Nelson,
will be read with profound interest. Placing before
his readers a graphic sketch of the unhappy condition
of the King of Naples—plots and rebellions thickening
around him, the defeat of his troops, his precipitate
flight to Palermo--our attention is called to Caracciolo,
a noble and a military officer, possessing the confi-
dence of his sovereign, sharing in his temporary
exile, then quitting him to save his own property,
deserting his royal 'master in his hour of necessity,
despising repeated warnings, insensible to duty as a
subject, to honour as a soldier, enrolling himself
among the armed enemies f his king, an
avowed rebel and an open traitor " May
not," says Mr. Pettigrew, " the execution
of Caracciolo be looked upon rather as a necessary
measure to discountenance rebellion, and suppress
anarchy—as a rigorous act of justice requisite under
the circumstances ?'"rhat Nelson had authority to
order his trial, and to set up the judgment-seat in a
British vessel, is, we:think, satisfactorily shown,:while
several charges urged against Nelson, in connexion
with this transaction, are clearly and completely
refuted. The letters of Lady Hamilton and the
Queen of Naples will go far to remove the scandal
which has been so illiberally uttered against them.
There is indignation for manifest guilt—pity for
merited suffering—but no vindictiveness in act or
expression. The delicacy required in treating of
these and other passages in the hero's life, where the
name
of Lady Hamilton has been con-
nected with the transaction, has been fully appreciated
by Mr.se Pettigrew, and we cannot but commend that
high sense of justice
which has prompted him never
to lo
occasion of impartially wiping away any
stain which has
unfairly attached to the memory of
that beautiful, unht-TPY lady—alas
! too beautiful and
t -
'" ' 'PPv r.mi a lucid and elegantnarrative,
it',
suitable occasion, when they form a luminous con-
fi,ei'ngi'introriuced just at the
narrative, the lesitt'elit:s'