The Sun.
London, England, 1841-12-04 00:00:00

I interfere with his benevolence. On the creation
of the Borough of Finsbury, the representation
was offered to him, and we have reason to know,
had he not declined the offer, that he would
have been triumphantly elected.
He was in the 66th year of his age ; had been
twice married, and has left behind him a wife
and five children—three sons and two daughters
—one by the first wife, and four by the second.
One of the remarkable traits in his character
was his great readiness to promote the success
of men whose inventions, however admirable,
were likely to fail for want of assistance. His
time and his services were ever at their com-
mand, and several of the most useful inventions
of the day were brought into notice by his exer-
tions. His literary labours, apart from his elo-
quent lectures, and inaugural discourses, at the
opening of a number of institutions, have not at-
tracted much notice ; but the translation of
Baron Dupin's Course of Mathematics was given
to the public under his auspices, and a noble
work " The Steam-Engine Theoretically and
Practically Displayed" begun, which commercial
convulsions and the great expense of the work
prevented from being completed.
Dr. Birkbeck was highly appreciated by a very
large circle of private friends, and was held in
the greatest esteem by the most etninent literary
and scientific men of the day. Few men have,
we believe, passed through a long and active life
who have had fewer enemies, and who have
brought it to a close, more honoured in public,
and more beloved in private.
Public meetings will, we believe, be held to
consider what tokens of respect should be shown
to his memory, and, were his funeral a public
one, thousands would follow him to the grave.
What may be adopted is not for us to say, but
there is one eminent nobleman, for many years
the friend and associate of Dr. Birkbeck while
carrying through many a good work, to whom
the public naturally turn for counsel and lea-
dership.

CHANTRE Y.
Va ! que nos villes remplies
De tes colosses radieux
Qu'a jamais to to multiplies
Dans un peuple de demi-dieux.

CHANTREY ! whose classic art and plastic hand,
With sculptured imageries adorned the land ;
Who graced our cities, dignified each shade,
With forms in lineaments of light arrayed ;
Forms shadowed forth with loftiness of thought
Sublime, as if by inspiration caught ;
Forms which old age would journey far to see,
Led by their beauty irresistibly.
But chiefly beauteous, most endeared to us,
Designed as if in love felicitous,
Rise up those snow-white Apparitions fair—
Thy forms of CHILDHOOD in the sunlit air !
Who can forget thy " Mother and her Child,"
That once drew tears from one lone woman mild?—
Thy infant Russell?—to her rose-soft breast,
Clasping her dove—young innocency's nest,
While Art's most sweet, perfectionating grace
Crowns her young form, her forehead, and her face.
Yet—unconfined to sweet or winning skill—
'Mid shapes sublime thy chisel statelier still!
How, girt with grandeurs, powers, and fascinations,
Colossal rise thy mighty men-creations :
How beams with magnanimity serene
Thy hero's face—all-glorious to be seen—
WASHINGTON !—filling now a throne intense
Remote amid God's golden firmaments
WORDSWORTH ! whose lips are hallowed with a spark
From seraph-altars—high Poesiarch !
Scorr ! whose fine brow, though long laid low in dust,
Still teems with thought, majestic in thy bust !
How nobly live—how eminently shine
These human wonders in thy works divine !
Well may old England proud and plumed be
Creative CHANTREY ! glorified by thee.

But ah ! while praise enchains the minstrel's string,
Dark ware the plumes, and deep the grave-bells ring ;
And poraps of funeral, with death's muffled tread
Bear thee amid the mansions of the dead.
As weeps the rose when dim with dewdrops pearled,
So weep for thee the bright-eyed of the world ;
Mourn for thy loss the poets, mourn the brave,
And star-crowned Science saddens o'er thy grave :
For thine the Chisel—thine the Skill alone—
Whose god-like art divinified the stone !
In whose proud marbles reigned the high decree
That dowered man with IMMORTALITY.

REGINA v. TRAVIS.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
SIR-I beg to inform you that I effected the
release of this ill-used party from Kirkdale yes-
terday.
This neighbourhood, and the whole of the
surrounding district who have been -made ac-
quainted with the case through the report con-
tained in your valuable paper, rejoice with me
on the occasion, and are equally glad to find that
the committing Magistrate, C. Royds, has failed
in his purpose.
No doubt is felt of his being acquitted when
tried at Liverpool.
If you think it worth your while to publish
the affidavits with the depositions they shall be
immediately furnished you.
Yours very respectfully,
JOHN HAMMERTON.
Ivy Cottage, Shaw, near Oldham, Dec. 1, 1811.
[lt would be better to defer publishing the
affidavits, or any part of them, till the trial
comes on.]