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

CANADIAN SCENERY.-PART XIII.

This Part contains not less than four engrav-
ings, representing some of the most picturesque
scenes in our Canadian colonies, together with
prose descriptions from the pen of Mr. Willis,
which seldom or never rise above common-place.
The embellishments, however, will be very likely
to sell the work, for the majority are executed
in a superior style of art.

ENGLISH JOURNAL.
A cheap, weekly Miscellany, got up with skill
and judgment, and furnishing its readers, from
time to time, with short, entertaining papers from
the pens of some of the most popular periodical
writers of the day. The best article in this Part
is a traveller's adventure, entitled the " Gover-
nor's Soiree," which is the production of Mr. St.
John.

HISTORY OF NAPOLEON.
With this Part,—the Twenty-seventh,—Mr.
Moir Bussey closes his Life of Napoleon, which
deserves the extensive circulation it has met
with, inasmuch as it maintains throughout a
tone of rigid impartiality, and is remarkably
accurate in its details. The illustrative wood-
cuts, which are numerous, are very spirited and
characteristic.

BRITISH MUSEUM AND NA-

TIONAL GALLERY.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
Sir,—The spirited and liberal feeling with
which you have advocated the right of the poor
to have access to the national property, induces
me to trouble you with this, and should you
deem it worth a notice in your Journal, it may
possibly lead some one more qualified than my-
self to strive to abolish the unjust treatment
which I and others have experienced.
Being desirous of affording my children a►,
opportunity (if possible) of seeing the British
Museum, I went there during the last Christmas
holidays, but was told by the porter at the en-
trance-gate in Great Russell-street, that I could
not be admitted with my two children, one a
boy, and his sister. My wife, with an infant in
her arms; was in the court-yard, waiting in case
of a refusal to admit my daughter, being the
youngest ; she would take charge of her whilst I
entered with my son. On presenting myself at
the hall, I was peremptorily told by the at-
tendants, of whom one was a police (beardless)
officer, that I could not enter (to view the
people's property). I demanded to know the
reason, and was told it was in consequence of
the children not being admissible. I further re-
quested to know why ? The reply was they had
not acquired sufficient age. I then requested to
know what limit was specified for the age for en-
tering? and was told eight. I then said that
my son was of the required age,* but was told
in a peculiar haughty sneer by the man in blue
regimentals, that my son did not appear so, and
therefore could not be admitted. During this
brief period my wife was peremptorily ordered
to quit the outer court (by the gate porter) be-
cause her infant, then at the breast, became uneasy
and cried. She was told to quit, as such a dis-
turbance would not .be allowed. I have been
thus minute in order to contrast it with the re-
ception I experienced at the National Gallery,
to which I straightway directed my way, and at
which, after a fatiguing journey for my little
ones, we arrived: I had the most agreeable
access; not the slightest objection or even notice
being made. Why this difference should be
created and permitted to exist, appears to me in-
explicable, but I entertain an opinion that it
cannot be too soon abolished. As far as the ex-
clusion is acted on, I shall feel gratified if this
narrative should prevent others being vexatiously
disappointed like myself.
I have had an opportunity of visiting many
public institutions in Paris with children equally
young in years, but never witnessed officious
insult spontaneously given, so as to induce a
feeling of disgust, as I experienced at the British
Museum.
I am, Sir, your constant reader,
ONE OF THE DISAPPOINTED.
April 8, 1841.
* I offered to certify my son's age on oath.