The Sun.
London, England, 1847-01-11 00:00:00

COURT CIRCULAR.

The Queen and the Royal Family walked on Satur-
day morning in Claremont Park.
His Royal Highness Prince Albert, attended by some
of the Gentlemen of the Royal Suite, enjoyed the sport
of shooting on Saturday forenoon.
The Hon. and Rev. C. Leslie Courtenay arrived on
Saturday at Claremont, on a visit to her Majesty.
Yesterday :morning her Majesty and her Royal Con-
sort enjoyed their usual early walk.
The Royal Family walked out in the forenoon.
The Queen and Prince Albert and the Ladies and
Gentlemen of the Court attended Divine Service yester-
day at Claremont. The Hon. and &T. C. Leslie
Courtenay officiated.
Mr. Quiblier, from Montreal, had an interview with
Earl Grey at the Colonial-office on Saturday.
Mr. Perry had an interview with the Right Hon. Ed-
ward Strutt on Saturday, at the office of the Commis-
sioners of Railways, i❑ Great George-street. Mr. Row-
land Hill had also an interview with the Right Hon.
Gentleman on Saturday.
Mr. Walter Coulson had an interview with Sir George
Grey on Saturday, at the Home-office.
➢lr. Uniack had an interview on Saturday with Earl
Grey at the Colonial-office.

At the Chapel Royal, St. James's, yesterday, the
prayers were read by the Rey. Mr. Delmore, and the
lessons by the Rey. Mr. Haden. The sermon was
preached by the Rev. Dr. Irwin. Mr. Cooper presided
at the organ. The Marquis of Salisbury, the Bishop of
Ely, the Countess of Charlemont, Lords Sandwich, Clive,
Canterbury, and Dillon, were among the nobility pre-
sent.

Viscount Palmerston has left town for his seat, Broad
lands, Hants.

Sir John Yarde Buller, Bart., M.P., Lady and Miss
Yarde Buller, have left Farrance's Hotel for Tradbourne
Hall, near Derby.

MINISTERIAL MOVEMENTS.

Viscount Palmerston returned to Broadlands, Hants,
after the Cabinet Council on Friday last. The Noble
Viscount and Viscountess come to town to-morrow, from
their country scat, for the season.
The Lord Chancellor has arrived at his mansion in
Park-lane, from Brighton, for the remainder of the sea-
son. Lady Cottenham is not expected to return until
next month.

The Marquis of Clanricarde is expected to arrive
this evening at his residence on Carlton House-terrace,
from Portumna Castle, county Galway. The Mar-
chioness and Lady Emily De Burgh come to town at the
close of the week.

The Earl of Auckland leaves the Admiralty to-day,
accompanied by the Hon. Miss Eden, for Brocket Hall,
Herts, on a visit to Viscount Melbourne, and the Noble
Earl remains there till Wednesday, when he returns for
the Cabinet Council summoned for that day.
The Lord President of the Council (the Marquis of
Lansdowne) comes to town to-morrow evening, from
Bowood Park, Wilts, and will remain at Lansdowne
House for the season.

Viscount Morpeth is expected to arrive from the Earl
of Carlisle's seat, Castle Howard, Yorkshire, this even-
ing, or early to-morrow.
The Right Hon. Sir Charles Wood, the Chancellor of
the Exchequer, returns to town to-day, from Hickleton,
near Doncaster. Lady Mary Wood is convalescent.
The Right Hon. Henry Labouchere, tho Secretary for
Ireland, accompanied by Mrs. Labouchere, is to arrive at
his family residence to-morrow, from Dublin, in order to
be in town at the meeting of the Cabinet on Wednesday
next.

The other Members of the Cabinet—namely, Lord
John Russell, the Earl of Minto, the Earl of Clarendon,
the Earl Grey, Sir George Grey. Sir John Cam Hob-
house, Lord Campbell, and the Right Hon. T. B. Ma-
caulay, are in town.

SIR CHARLES NAPIER.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
SIR,—In your journal of the 6th instant I find a
vigorous and honourable defence of Sir Charles
Napier's government of Sinde, against the ill-
grounded attacks published in the Times ; for it is
evident you allude to the articles which have ap-
peared in that paper.

The editor of the Times has been deceived by his
correspondent in all that relates to Sinde, and im-
posed upon by the false Parliamentary returns obtained
by Mr. Hume last year; and by the continued false-
hoods promulgated from Bombay, as to the expenses,
or as it is termed, the "DRAIN" of Sinde.

Permit me, Sir, to support your judicious obser-
vations on the value of the possession, by stating
certain facts, already sent to the editor of the Times,
but which cannot be too widely known, because they
cannot be disproved, though they may be denied by
the men who have so long assailed Sir Charles Napier
with every infamous calumny their despicable malice,
excited to frenzy by a sense of impotency, can
invent.

I. Not a soldier has been raised because of the con-
quest of Sinde except a Belooch battalion, and that
only from a fine policy, not from any want of force.
The occupation of Sukkur and Kurrachee, during
the Affghan war, may, for anything I know, have_
occasioned an augmentation of the Bombay ermy ; but
the conquest of Sinde has not. It has, on the con-
trary, given a better frontier to Bombay ; and that
presidency must have maintained a larger force to
watch Sinde, and occupy Sukkur and Kurrachee, if
the Ameers had remained masters of the country, than
it has done in consequence of the conquest of Sinde.
2. The returns laid before Parliament are false, for
the following reasons :
Firstly, they give Sir Charles Napier 17,368 men
in 1843, when he had only 11,231. In 1844 they
give him 21,405, when he had only 12,900. In 1845
they give him 21,336, when he had only 12,000. And
he voluntarily sent back 2,000 to Bombay that year.
Secondly, because the numbers in the first
column on the left hand differ from the numbers in
the lower or general total line. Both cannot be
true.

Thirdly, because the regiments are returned as if
they were all in Sinde at , one time, and at their full
strength! There are, indeed, in the column of
names of regiments the dates of their services in
Sinde, but so confusedly and obscurely set down,
that no person will take the trouble to analyse them,
and correct the general numbers, which are false.
3. It is now said " that the Governor-General
has at last determined to put a stop to the accumula-
tion of troops in Sinde," as if Sir Charles Napier
desired to have them so accumulated. I pray you
mark the fact.

For two years, Sir Charles Napier has been ear-
nestly urging the reduction of the troops in Sinde to
5,000 men! They are now to be reduced to 8,000
men ; that is to say, leaving him 3,000 more than he
desires ! And if a great body of men have been
quartered in Sinde this last year, it was for the Pun-
jaub war, and not for the protection of Sinde, which
has not therefore caused that "drain."
4. With regard to the expense, the statements
attempted to be palmed on the public are equally
fallacious.

Sir Charles Napier has paid all the expences of the
civil government, and the cost of many great public
works of a permanent nature, and a police of 2,400
men, 1,000 being cavalry, out of the revenues of
Sinde ; and he has besides paid into the general trea-
sury the following surplus :
For the financial year ending April, 1844, during
which war raged for eight months, 27,000/.

. ,
For the year ending April, 1845, nearly 200,0001•
I have not the exact sum at hand.

For the year ending April, 1846, 310,0001. And
it is confidently expected that for 1846-7 the surplus
will be 360,000/.,

Thus, Sir, in four years, during which war, pesti-
lence, and locusts, have successively visited Sinde, a
newly-conquered country►, Sir Charles Napier has
governed the people happily and to their great con-
tent ; paid all the civil expenses of his Government ;
executed immense works of permanent utility; and
he will in April, 1847, have paid into the general
treasury certainly not less than 800,0001., probably
nearly 1,000,000/. ! Each year the revenue in-
creases, so does cultivation, so does commerce, and
agricultural settlers arrive by thousands.

You have so forcibly exposed the futility of the
arguments against the retention of Sinde, that I need
not say more ; but I thank you for your voluntary
and able advocacy of the truth with respect to that
valuable country.
WM. NAPIER, Major-General.
Guernsey, Jan. 8, 1847.

DRURY-LANE THEATRE —St. George and the
Dragon (the new pantomime here) is drawing all the
town, the house being crowded nightly. On the return
of the Court, the Prince of Wales is to go and see it, the
first time of his Royal Highness being in a theatre.
ADELPHI TIKEATRE.—DISTRESSED HIGHLANDERS.
—The penny subscription list, which is now going the
round of the Strand and its adjacent parishes, for the
purpose of mitigating the distress at present existing in
the Highlands of Scotland, was augmented by the efforts
of the ladies and gentlemen of the Adelphi Theatre,
who, in the course of five minutes, and in pence alone,
added not less than 16s. to the amount already collected.
It is to be hoped that other establishments will imitate
the benevolent example thus set them.
JACK OF ALL TRADES.—The following was taken
from a sign at Misterton :—" C—, brazier, and grinder
Clocks, and Silver Plate, Jewellery and all kinds of
Agricultural Implements, neatly repared and Horses
carefully shod. Umbrellas and Parasols, covered, &c."
—Somerset County Gazette.

LITERATURE.
CIE SAR BORGIA; an Historical Romance. By the
Author of " Whitefriars." 3 Vols.
The author of " Whitefriars " and " Whitehall,"
after having., in those productions, endeavoured to
pourtray the glittering and dissolute Court of the
second Charles, and the stirring events incident on
the downfall of his predecessor, has now, grown
confident by past success, adventured on a more
arduous, because more comprehensive, theme,
and turned to an epoch as eventful, though
less interesting. A recent historical novel, the
" Roman Traitor," described to us Rome in the old
days of the republic ; in "iemsar Borgia," we are again
introduced to the eternal city, but under very dif-
ferent auspices. Here we behold the Rome of the
middle ages her pontifical magnificence almost
equalling her ancient glories—no longer by force of
arms the boasted mistress of the world, but avowedly
the supreme ruler of all Christendom. In attempting
to depict the state of Italy at such a period as during
the pontificate of Alexander 'FL, and in endeavouring
to narrate the fortunes of such a hero as Caesar
Borgia, the author of these volumes has chosen a
theme fraught with abundant materials for the
romancist, but also, from that very cause, most com-
plicated and most difficult. He tells us of a sove-
reign, who in virtue of his religious office was
regarded with awe and reverence even by his
enemies, but who was at the same time from his
great abilities, inordinate ambition, and many crimes,
an object of fear and hate even to his (so-called)
friends. He reveals to us a court uniting all the
gorgeous magnificence which wealth could furnish
and the varied allurements which luxury could de-
vise, with the polished refinements of art, and the fas-
cinations of beauty, and wit, and genius. In the
bright circle which surrounded Lucretia Borgia in-
numerable varieties of character were combined—
the poetic compliments of Bembo mingling
with the pregnant brevities of Machiavelli.
Of this last personage, however, we have
not enough in these volumes; he is intro-
duced it is true, but is only interesting from the
prestige of his name—not from any words or actions
there chronicled. He appears only in a secondary
character, as the confidant of the plans of Cmsar
Borgia—the apt pupil of his dangerous doctrines—the
true expounder of the Machiavellian policy. The
character of Cmsar, as depicted in the work which
bears his name, presents a compound of extraordinary
vices and extraordinary abilities—one of those which
history happily but rarely presents to us, in which an
almost superhuman intellect is combined with an
almost superhuman depravity—the deficiency of
heart rendered more conspicuous by the superabun-
dance of brain. Yet the adventures of such a man
are full of interest. We turn with disgust from the
records of those slaves of passion, who plunge into
all excesses and all crimes in following its dictates,
but with very different feelings, with an
anxious and curious eagerness, we follow de-
tails of plots and counterplots, daring expedients
and marvellous combinations, crafty intrigues and
subtle treacheries—such as make up the history of
Caesar Borgia. We are interested, we are perforce
interested,- not from the merits of the cause but the
ability with which it is sustained; we look on with
the rapt attention of some spectator of a game of
skill, who, ignorant of the value of the stake, and in-
different as to who obtains it, yet watches the game
with absorbing interest on account of the talent
therein displayed. The novel of " Caesar Borgia" is
peculiarly valuable at the present time, evidencing
as it does the great power vested in the head of the
Catholic Church, and furnishing as it does an ex-
ample, in the history of Alexander VI., of the crimes
which may desecrate the sacred office, and the
tyranny and ambition which may render its power
most pernicious ; it enables us most satisfactorily to
compare the past with the present, and the better
to estimate the acts of the present Reformer of
Rome. It is salutary now-a-days, in this improving
age, to look back on the annals of ancient tyranny ;
it is pleasing to be recalled from the iniquitous
doings of the Borgias to hear of the good deeds of
Pius. It is well to read the history of Alexan-
der VI. at the present time, when his successor
in the chair of St. Peter, by acting in a manner
diametrically opposed to his, is doing far more
to increase the true glory of the Pontificate,
and extend the real power of the Church,
than did ever the all ambitious Borgias
by force of arms or intellect, however potent the one
or marvellous the other. In an historical point of
view " Cmsar Borgia" is more valuable than as a novel.
The characters are well discriminated and well drawn,
the language is animated, the descriptions full of in-
terest, yet, as a novel, it is certainly not without
faults. In the first place, it is too long, and is
rendered so by a constant succession of impro-
bable adventures—the historical events which it
chronicles are certainly marvellous enough to render
the addition of fictitious wonders unnecessary. Lu-
cretia Borgia, the sister of Caesar, is represented as
a paragon of beauty and talents. The story of her
wooing and wedding is sufficiently interesting. The
adventures of her lover, Alfonso of Ferrara, perhaps
equal those of any knight-errant upon record. Hav-
ing heard many calumnious reports respecting his
future bride, he comes to Rome in disguise, in order
to discover their truth or falsehood, and after much
I difficulty his doubts are at length dispersed, much of
his information being acquired by the unknightly
system of eaves-dropping. %Ve are candid in stating
our objections to Caesar Borgia," and for two
reasons: in the first place, admitting the evident
abilities of its author, we are anxious he should in
future abstain from errors which greatly diminish
their effect; and in the second place, we have no fear
of wounding the feelings of a young author, for the
writer of these volumes has apparently no small con-
fidence in his own talents—we say apparently,
for doubtless the whole " preface dedicatory" was
only intended pour rire. Nevertheless, it in-
clines us to believe that the author of "Whitefriars,"
in consequence of the general approbation bestowed
on that, his first production, deems himself secure of
public favour and future fame. If this be the case
we beg respectfully to assure him that his future fate
must depend on his future exertions—if he has
done well he must do better. On this present
work he has evidently bestowed much labour
and much research, it was a great and
arduous undertaking, and he has performed
it with much care, but we would advise him for the
future to bestow more care and more attention on
details, not taking such delight in the marvellous and
improbable. There is one description in one of these
volumes of a sort of firework or illumination, which
is perfectly bewildering, and almost baffles compre-
hension. Again, we would pray him, in illustrating a
subject, to seek notonly for forcible but for elegant, or
at least appropriate, comparisons; for instance, speak-
ing of the great alarm felt by a monk lest some accident
had befallen his superior, to whom he was much at-
tached, the author of " Caesar Borgia," pathetically
observes, " he trembled all over like a man in an
ague fit, or rather like a jelly on a shaking sideboard."
Lest our author deem us too severe, let us inform
him, en revanche, for our severity, that having, in
his " preface dedicatory," apportioned the different
parts of his book to various classes, inscribing to the
critics " all they find good," we, in virtue of this
arrangement, notwithstanding our exceptions, con-
sider the greater portion dedicated to ourselves.

TALES EXPLANATORY OF THE SACRA-
MENTS. By the Authoress of " Geraldine, a Tale
of Conscience. In 2 Vols.

This being a strictly Roman Catholic work, we
shall briefly speak of its purport for the benefit of our
Roman Catholic readers, without investigating the
theological subjects of which it treats. It is, in our
opinion, incumbent on a newspaper, while enforcing
the practical duties of religion, to abstain from
all doctrinal discussions it were well, in-
deed, were such a course pursued not only
in newspapers, but universally. The volumes in
question contain seven tales, explanatory of the seven
sacraments of the Catholic Church. The design of
these tales, the authoress tells us, is to enable the sacs a-
ments " to be approached by the young Catholic with
awe, with gratitude, and with a full comprehension
of the specific nature and value of each
sacrament: In order to effect this, she
has wisely attempted to teach by example,
rather than by precept, and these tales,
which exhibit the various emotions and religious in -
fluences experienced by others, are calculated to pro-
duce far more effect on the youthful readers, than the
most forcible sermon, or homily addressed to them-
selves. Abstaining from all enquiry into the hidden
mysteries of religion—at all times a bad study for
youth—she endeavours only to describe the prepa-
ration necessary for and the practical benefits to be
derived from a participation in its sacred rites.
The tales are of various kinds, calculated to attract
the young readers for whom they were designed ;
but they are manifestly objects of but secondary con-
sideration, the whole interest of the book being very
adroitly concentrated upon the Sacraments them-
selves. Their object is very forcibly demon-
strated, the outline of the ceremonies given, in-
cluding also many of the prayers. We have said the
account of these ceremonies is interesting, and so
indeed it is, even to Protestants. These volumes
may elicit their interest and admiration, without in
the least endangering their belief, for their interest
and admiration will be excited, not for the tenets of
the church of Rome, but for the glorious doctrines of
our common Christianity. The perusal of these
volumes only strengthens our desire that the day may
not be far distant when the unhappy disputes of Ca-
tholics and Protestants may give way to the universal
concord of Christians. The last tale in these volumes,
entitled " The Spousal Cross," is calculated to be of
practical utility. The duties of a wife, as regarded
in a religious point of view, are very forcibly exem-
plified. We transcribe, for the benefit of those
whom it may concern, some excellent advice given
by an old lady to her niece, who interrupts

her while looking over a book of receipts, with th•
sorrowful exclamation of "Ah I ray dearest aunt,
have you any receipt for a disappointed wife ?"
" Certainly," replied Lady Eddington, turning over
a few leaves of the old book, and stopping, as if she
had found the receipt in question, "'lake equal por-
tions of humility, patience, charity, and hope; mix
them well together, and then divide into daily por-
tions." In the history of the priest of Northumbria
the account of his first mass is full of interest, and
the proud feelings of the mother on beholding her
son for the first time performing the sacred functions
are beautifully described. We transcribe the fol-
lowing lines, prefixed to one of the chapters, on
account of the beautiful idea with which they con-
chide :
" The love of happiness—alas, how strong!
All feel this instinct of their heavenly birth,
Rushing to gain this prize, or right or wrong,
In rank, or intellect, or giddy mirth.
But this which is a madness and a cheat
A love—of what this world can ne'er bestow,
Has yet a stronger rival—calm and sweet
This secret can be purchased here below.
Love on—love more—instead of less ! • Choosing thine object from thy home above,
Then wilt thou find the love of happiness.
Exceeded by the happiness of love."

VA NI TY FA IR.
A-------7,777;:eil Sketches of English
Society. By W. M. Thackeray, author of the ":Irish
Sketch Book," "Jeames's Diary
Punch," Vic, ," Snob Papers in
A serial by Michael Angelo Titmarsh, and why
have we not had a serial from the pen of Michael
Angelo Titmarsh ere this ? It boots not to inquire.
We are rejoiced to find that at length Mr. Thackeray
has undertaken to give us that which, of all living
writers, he is the most competent to execute, " Pen
and Pencil Sketches of English Society "—not cari-
catures a la Dickens, nor monstrosities a la Bulwer,
but sketches of every day life, and of every day cha-
racter, such as of old we were wont to have (as far
at least as the pen is concerned) from Hook. The
opening chapter introduces us to Miss Pinkerton's aca-
demy at Chiswick Mall, and to Miss Pinkerton herself,
a Minerva of a woman, who having been once honoured
with a visit from Dr. Johnfien, ever after fancied
herself a aecond Johnson in petticoats, to her sister
Jemima the quiet drudge of the establishment, and
to two young ladies, Amelia Sedley and Rebecca
Sharp, who are about to quit the establishment.
Amelia Sedley is the daughter of a rich stock-
broker, residing in Russell-square :
" But as we are to see a great deal of Amelia, there is
no harm in saying at the outset of our acquaintance,
that she was one of the best and dearest creatures that
ever lived; and a great mercy it is, both in life and in
novels, which (and the latter especially) abound in
villains of the most -sombre sort, that we are to have for
a, constant companion, so guileless and good natured a
person. As she is not a heroine, there is no need to
describe her person; indeed, I am afraid that her nose
was rather short than otherwise, and her cheeks a great
deal too round and red for a heroine; but her face blushed
with rosy health, and her lips with the freshest of smiles,
and she had a pair of eyes which sparkled with the
brightest and honestest good humour, except indeed
when they filled with tears, and that was a great deal
too often; for the silly thing would cry over a dead canary
bird, or over a mouse, that a cat haply had seized upon,
or over the end of a novel, were it ever so stupid; and
as for saying an unkind word to her, were any one hard
hearted enough to do so—why, so much the worse for
them. Even Miss Pinkerton, that austere and god-like
woman, ceased scolding her after the first time, and
though she no more comprehended sensibility than she
did algebra, gave all masters and teachers particular
orders to treat Miss Sedley with the utmost gentleness,
as harsh treatment was injurious to her."
Rebecca Sharp is an orphan, and an articled pupil of
Miss Pinkerton's, who has procured for her a situa-
tion as governess in the family of Sir Pitt Crawley.
Before, however, she 'goes to Sir Pitt Crawley's, it
has been arranged that she shall spend a week with
Amelia Sedley in Russell-square :
" Miss Sharp's father was an artist, and in that quality
had given lessons of drawing at Miss Pinkerton's school.
He was a clever man ; a pleasant companion ; a care-
less student; had a great propensity for running into
debt, and a partiality for the tavern. When he was
drunk, he used to beat his wife and daughter ; and the
next morning, with a headache, he used to rail at the
world for its neglect of his genius, and abuse, with a
good deal of cleverness, and sometimes with perfect rea-
son, the fools, his brother painters. As it was with the
utmost difficulty that he could keep himself, and as he
owed money for a mile round Soho, where he lived, he
thought to better his circumstances by marrying a
young woman of the French nation, who was by profes-
sion an opera girl. The humble calling of her female
parent, Miss Sharp never alluded to, but used to state
subsequently that the Entrechats were a noble family of
Gascony, and took great pride in her descent from them.
And curious it is, that as she advanced in life this young
lady's ancestors increased in rank and splendour.
" Rebecca's mother had bad some education some-
where, and her daughter spoke French with purity and
a Parisian accent. It was in those days rather a rare
accomplishment, and led to her engagement with the or-
thodox Miss Pinkerton. For her mother being dead,
and her father finding himself not likely to recover,
after his third attack of delirium tremens, wrote a manly
and pathetic letter to Miss Pinkerton, recommending the
orphan child to her protection, and so descended to the
grave, after two bailiffs had quarrelled over his corpse.
Rebecca was seventeen when she came to Chiswick, and
was bound over as an articled pupil, her duties being to
talk French, as we have seen, and her privileges to live
cost free ; and, with a few guineas a year, to gather
scraps of knowledge from the professors who attended
the school.

"She was small and slight in person ; pale, sandy-
haired, and with eyes habitually cast down: when they
looked up they were very large, odd, and attractive ; so
attractive, that the Reverend Mr. Crisp, fresh from Ox-
ford, and curate to the Vicar of Chiswick, the Reverend
Mr. Flowerdew, fell in love with Miss Sharp ; being
shot dead by a glance of her eyes which was fired all
the way across Chiswick Church from the school-pew to
the reading-desk. This infatuated young man used
sometimes to take tea with Miss Pinkerton, to whom ho
had been presented by his mamma, and actually pro-
posed something like marriage in an intercepted note,
' which the one-eyed applewoman was charged to deliver.
Mrs. Crisp was summoned from Buxton, and abruptly
carried off her darling boy ; but the idea, even, of such
an eagle in the Chiswick dovecot caused a great flutter
in the breast of Miss Pinkerton, who would have sent
away Miss Sharp, but that she was bound to her under
a forfeit, and who never could thoroughly believe the
young lady's protestations that she had never exchanged
a single word with Mr. Crisp, except under her own
eyes on the two occasions when she had met him at tea.
" By the side of many tall and bouncing young ladies
in the establishment, Rebecca Sharp looked like a child.
But she had the dismal precocity of poverty. Many a
dun had she talked to, and turned away from her fathers
door ; many a tradesman had she coaxed and wheedled
into good humour, and into the granting of one meal
more. She sate commonly with her father, who was
very proud of her wit, and heard the talk of many of
his wild companions—often, but ill suited for a girl to
hear. But she never had been a girl, she said ; she had
been a woman since she was eight years old."
As a still further illustration of the character of Re-
becca, we will give a scene between that young lady
and Miss Pinkerton, which led to the departure of
the former from the Chiswick establishment :
" ller music she practised incessantly, and one day,
when the girls were out, and she had remained at home,
she was overheard to play a piece so well, that Minerva
thought wisely, she could spare herself the expense of a
master for the juniors, and intimated to Miss Sharp that
she was to instruct them in music for the future.
" The girl refused; and for the first time, and to the
astonishment of the majestic mistress of the school. ' I
am here to speak French with the children,' Rebecca
said abruptly, not to teach them music, and:save money
for you. Give me money, and I will teach them.'
" Minerva was obliged to yield, and, of course, dis-
liked her from that day. 'For five-and-thirty years,'
she said, and with great justice, I never have seen the
individual who has dared in my own house to question
my authority. I have nourished a viper in my bosom.'
" A viper—a fiddlestick,' said Miss Sharp to the old
lady, almost fainting with astonishment. You took me
because I was useful. There is no question of gratitude
between us. I hate this place, and want to leave it. I
will do nothing here, but what I am obliged to do.'
" It was in vain that the old lady asked her if she Wei
aware she was speaking to Miss Pinkerton ? Rebecca
laughed in her face, with a horrid sarcastic demoniacal
laughter, l
laughter, that almost sent the schoolmistress
o l
Give me a sum of money,' said the girl, andd giarcied
as
me—or, if you like better, get me a g p
f
governess in a nobleman's family—you can do so if you, o
please.' And in their further
disputes she always re-
turned situation—we hate each
other,
andto this i
as
tap point,ready
'G
to
go."'
Arrived in Russell-square, Rebecca Sharp is intro-
duced to Mr. Joseph Sedley, (or as he is always
called by his father, Jos.) the elder brother of Ame-
lia. Joseph is a fat, gormandizing hypochondriac,
high in the civil service of the East India Company,
who has returned to England for the benefit of his
health. He is rich, shy, and single, and Rebecca
determines, if possible, to catch him. The scenes
between Rebecca and Jos. are most graphically de-
scribed, and in the concluding chapter we find Mr.
Joseph Sedley, of the East India Company's service
so far entangled, that he is actually sitting tete-a-tete
with Rebecca, looking at her with the most killing
expression; his arms stretched out before her
in an imploring attitude, and his hands bound
in a web of green silk, which she was un-
winding. The sketching illustrating this scene is
admirable. All the pencil sketches, indeed, and they
are numerous, with which the work is illustrated, are
full of character ; but the best-of all—better even than
Mr. Joseph entangled—is the sketch of the Misses Pin-
kerton. Well may Mr. Thackeray designate the elder
Miss Pinkerton " Minerva." Such dignity as hers is
not that of mere mortal--turban, feathers, dress, and
address, all prove her Majestic divinity.

Sir Robert Peel disclaims, we understand, the cir-
cular addressed to certain members of the House of
Commons belonging to the party of which the ex-Pre•
mier was the head, by his late Secretary of the Trea-
sury, Mr. John Young, in conjunction with other sub-
ordinates of the late Government The Right Hod.
Baronet further desires it to be distinctly understoood,
that he does not wish to be considered as the leader of
any political party iu this country.—ObJerver.