The Sun.
London, England, 1847-06-09 00:00:00

severel selieitors had been appointed to the Judge-
e. ' ,';
`het? vIA it :'!, 1.; e,
in qu•-,tion ? He had give ti up an office which he held
for life, and also his private practice, --n the faith df the
representation of the ceminissieners. There was no
person more adapted to till the office of judge .thaP Mr.
Drew was. Unless come explanation were made of
which he was net aware, he must say that he was or opi•
nieti thee a more cruel cris, had net come under his notice
or the 11 tier of the llense. He begged, therd,.tve, to
move that as copy of a letter from the Secretary of k3teite
for the dome Departreetit, approving of the appointment
vr Mr. Drew to he the As,essor of the Southwarli and
Breven Court of Requests, under the Act 8 and 9 :Vie.,
c. 127, be laid upon the tube, 'douse.
Sir G. GREY had no objection t t the productiOn of
the letter in question. He must say that he was rather
'Surprised at the mode in which the Hon. MeMber
hid brought forward his motion. The pe!ition of: Mr.
Drew was one which he was also surprised to find the
Hon. and Learned Member supporting its allegations.
Mr. Drew, so far from having a right to the-situation
under the Bill, brought in by the Government, he was
by that Bill entirely precluded from holding the office of
judge of the county court, to be established under that
Act, as that Act expressly precluded any person from
holding office, under the Act, who had not held office
prior to let day of June, Mr. Drew having been ap-
I pointed to the office of assessor of the court in the month
of July. Ile utterly denied, also, that any pledge was
given by the House in the oouree of -the
discussion, that the holders of office, in these
courts, should be appointed under the new Act.
He thought he had, therefore, shown that Mr. Drew's
office gave him no shadow of a claim to be appointed to
the judgeship. Whether he was or was not competent
was a question which did not come within his province
but in that of the Lord Chancellor, and it should also
be borne in mind that he was simply clerk of a court
with a 51. jurisdiction, whereas the Bill extended the
jurisdiction to 201. There were two senior clerks' over
him, so that he was not so much entitled to the office as
the Learned Gentleman seemed to suppose.
Mr. GOULBURN asked, if the fact that, no reply
was returned to Mr. Drew's memorial, was not sufficient to
create the belief that he should be continued in the office
he hail held? At any rate, the discussion would have the
effect of clearing a gentleman of considerable experience
and respectability from the imputations which had been
cast upon him. It was an unfortunate case, and he
trusted that he might at some time be selected to some
other office.
Sir F. THESIGER complained that the Right Hon.
Gentleman bad not replied to that portion of his speech
on which he most relied, namely, that Mr. Drew had
held the office of Judge of the Court, on the 21st of
August, 1846. Surely the Right Hen. Gentleman would
not deny that ? and he (Sir F. Thesiger) contended,
that it was the intention of the Legislature, that the
Judges of the Old Courts should have a prior claim ito
the Judgeships of the New Courts. Mr. Drew was ap-
pointed to the office he had held but a short time
before the New Act was passed ; and when
the depuation waited upon the Lord lhancellor on the
subject ; he expressed his opinion that his case was a
hard one." He should, however, know from the
statement of the Right Hon. Gentleman what course he
should pursue in any future proceedings that might be
taken.

LITERATURE,

the page, and read an elaborate description of that
fr;nnlphnnt entry into London. and Porena-
io2
ceased to marvel at the extraordinary magnificence
which surrounded her, and the lofty pinnacle to
which she had ascended—in her turn, she calls for
our sympathy and sorrow, and we are almost in-
clined to weep over her appalling fate. Such transi-
tions are really amazing. Most assuredly, did any
writer of fiction presume to pourtray such scenes—
did he show to us such a husband as Henry VIII.—
did he tellus of such alternations of fortune as were con-
stantly witnessed in his reign ; above all, did he speak
of a powerful people who allowed such things to be,
most assuredly we should lay aside the volume, and
denounce its author as a gross libeller upon human
nature. And yet such things have been, and in this
our England, some few centuries back. The remem-
brance is humiliating; let us trust it may be benefi-
cial. Some such thought evidently occupied the
writer of these pages. Through his whole work we
find a continued strain of indignation against such
tyranny as he depicts, and an earnest love for such
liberty as his hero strives for. The great
religious struggle which took place during the period
of which he relates is in his pages made secondary to
the great struggle of some independent spirits, not so
much for religious as for civil liberty and " rights."
The controversy between " Catholics " and " Here-
tics," is of course alluded to, but briefly, and to a
certain degree impartially. For instance, though
Ralph Brandon, the hero, in one of his eloquent de-
clamations, reviles the conduct of the Church, in a man-
ner almost approaching to sacrilegious scurrility, yet
at a religious ceremony in Westminister Abbey—that
Abbey which the author very beautifully speaks of as
the poetry of the past—" its walls are blazoned
with our glory, and its pavement sepulchred with
our kings,' this very same Ralph is described as being
deeply moved by the beautiful solemnities of the
Catholic Church ; he felt that after all there is some-
thing more in religion than the outward form—he
stood amid the kneeling worshippers in a scene cal-
culated "to banish from the mind the sins of the
Church, and make the fiercest Reformer think upon
his own." It is unnecessary to enter further into the
merits of this work, we would rather commend it to
our readers, both for its own sake and its author's, and
whatever may be the individual opinions about some
portions of it, we are assured that all who read it
will, like ourselves, respond to the concluding lines of
the introductory preface, and " will close the volume
with a feeling of regret that no future pleasure can be
hoped from the pen that peurtrayed its vivid scenes."

Tilr r 1
.4 Tare/ P,;
,ILluCt Bob 0./ ;;,ucheitzte, Dtillect.

There is something inexpressibly mournful in the
appearance of a posthumous work. It is impossible
to turn over pages traced by a hand now powerless—
to ponder over thoughts conceived by a brain now
inanimate—to respond to emotions which once in-
spired a heart that now can beat no more—it is im-
possible to dwell upon such themes without their
eliciting our warmest sympathies and e% cling sad,
yet not necessarily gloomy thoughts. Not necessa-
rily gloomy; for although, perhaps, the deaths of men
of genius strike us more forcibly than any
others, bringing, as they do, into more striking con-
trast the vitality of the mind and the mortality
of the body, yet, from that very reason, there is, or
there should be, less of gloom, though perhaps more
of sorrow connected with their departure. We may
lament that the ardent heart is cold, and the thought-
ful mind inactive, yet we can rejoice that the con-
ceptions of that mind, and the emotions of that heart,
are still before us, and will not readily pass away.
Then, indeed, do we perceive, with how great a re-
sponsibility, the possessor of great talents is invested,
it is his to exert influence for good or for evil, nol
only during his existence, but when he himself shall
have passed away, and he cannot, for the universe, re-
gal a sentence he has uttered.;Such thoughts are,natu-
rally suggested to us by the present work—the last
work of Mackenzie Daniel, a writer of great
talents and great promise; whose former writ-
ings—the " Scottish Heiress," the "Young Widow,"
and others had already acquired for him no incon-
siderable reputation, and had obtained for him, more-
over, the honourable and distinguishing soubriquet of
" The Scottish Boz,"—a title better calculated to give
a favourable impression of his talents than the most
elaborate commendation. The preface to this work
tends to enhance the melancholy impression which its
appearance cannot fail to inspire. We are here told
how the publication of the " Cardinal's Daughter"
was delayed for some time, in order that its author
might, by editing " The Poor Cousin," introduce his
wife to the notice of the public, perhaps under the
conviction "that in a short space she would be left to
obtain, by her own exertions for herself and children,
that livelihood which, though at most severe
sacrifiepq of mind and body, he had hitherto
supplied." Happily, her former work succeeded,
and we find another is now advertised by
the widow of Mackenzie Daniel; heartily do we
wish her success in her onerous position ; and that
success not only for her own sake, but from respect
to her husband's memory, we trust we are justified
in anticipating she will obtain. It is necessary, how-
ever, that we say somewhat regarding the "Cardinal's
Daughter " itself. It has given us no little satisfac-
tion to find that we may most truthfully commend it,
for in the present instance criticism would be an in-
vidious task. Nevertheless, we must own that it
was with conflicting opinions that we commenced the
perusal of the first volume—if the name of the au-
thor prejudiced us in favour of his work, the name
of the work itself produced a contrary effect. The
recollection of the maxim—De morturs nil nisi bonum
—disposed us to refrain from any criticism upon the
author so recently deceased, but the recollection
of the very same motto disposed us, also, to
protest against all calumnious imputations upon the
memory of one also protected by the sacred wgis of
the tomb, although centuries have passed over his
grave. It was, therefore, as we have said, with no
inconsiderable satisfaction, that we found our mis-
givings quite uncalled for, end the " Cardinal's
Daughter," entitled to an honest commendation.
The character of Cardinal Wolsey, the most promi-
nent and most interesting personage in these volumes,
is, always excepting the introduction of one incident,
which happily is but briefly alluded to—the
incident of course which gives its name
to the tale—is, perhaps, pourtrayed as favour-
ably as if the author had been his very sincere
admirer. Indeed it is evident that he was so, and it
is hardly possible to read these volumes without
..haring in his sentiments—it is hardly possible to read
without admiration his vivid portraiture of " that
glorious mind which had burst like prisoned flame
over difficulties which environed it and snapped the
iron chains which bound it to neglect—that lightening
energy of character which had rendered him
triumphant at tome and abroad—feared by those who
hated him, and respected by those who derided his
birth, and which had stamped upon the countenance
of Wolsey a character of greatness which no bearing
could disguise." Moreover, he tells us that "gene-
rous, vigorous, and lofty as his character was, tem-
pestuous and daring as his life had been, there
were still elements of the richest affection in
Wolsey's heart," and so far from joining with
those who have accused him of avarice, twice
he assures us that, on the contrary, his " nature was
bountiful as the day." The character of Wolsey,
then, inasmuch as he appears in these volumes, is
calculated to elicit not only admiration but sympathy
also, and also, to a certain extent, affection. And
we are glad to find it so. Such are the sentiments
with which we would willingly regard him; fore of
all the errors of which history may accuse him, and
all the faults which his enemies may impute to him,
are in our minds effaced by the recollection of his
terrible reverses, and the dignified humility with which
he bore them. To us he never appears as the powerful
Cardinal andimperious Chancellor. We recal him rather
in the last, the least pompous, but most imposing scenes
of his momentous life. We see him in his mournful
entry into the monastery of Leicester—another in-
stance of the mutability of fortune ; we listen by his
dyingconfirmation of the words of him, who, a
bed to another lesson on the duties of life—
another
Prince himself, yet bade us " Put not our trust in
otfhetrhee
os hna or ahe et
el pr in
mof
tphr
ei ers, , nor
With any childueh
associationsr
Wolsey, Mr. Mackenzie Daniel's portrait of him well
accords. The following is an extract from his survey
of his character :

ALISON'S HISTORY OF EUROPE.
More than the advantages we have already observed
in the new edition of this splendid composition, now
in course of publication, becomes apparent. Enter-
prise has not paused in consequence of the deserved
eulogiums of the press. Everything that could ren-
der the work alike honourable to the author and pub-
lisher, besides being a graceful offering to the multi-
tude, is being done. With the issue of the sixth
volume lying before us, appears also the first number of
illustrative maps—maps " constructed and arranged,"
so says the advertisement, under the direction of Mr.
Alison, and executed by Alexander Keith Johnston,
F.R.G.S. The portion of the atlas that has come under
our inspection is inimitable. The battles of Jemap-
pes, and of Neerwinden, the city of Paris, the
Netherlands, and the Siege of Toulon ; nothing could
be more appropriate. It only requires now the pub-
lication of a series of engraved portraits of the many
extraordinary personages whose lives are comprised
in this European history to render the edition perfect.

The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said no pledge was
given that the Judges of the Old Courts should be pre-
ferred ; it was simply stated that their cases would be
considered ; and when the Bill was before the House,
he expressly pointed out that but sixty Judges wool
be appointed, and that the whole of the eighty Judges
of the Old Courts could not expect to be re-appointed.
Sir R THESIGER denied that he had ever said that
the of I Judges possessed a vested right to be re-ap-
pointed.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said the whole founda
tion of Mr. Drew's claim was this, that he was deputy
clerk of the Southwark Court. and that he was ap-
pointed an assessor when the Bill was introduced into
the House. Applications of this kind were expressly
considered when the Bill was before the House, and the
measure altered to obviate it ; but if they had said that
all persons who, on the first of June, held office were to
be appointed, he might have had a right. But if the
Act had been passed in its original form, Mr. Drew would
have had no claim whatever, and his case had been con-
sidered, but he had not been appointed. Attorneys had
been appointed to the judgeship at Brighton, 1.-lalifax,
and other places, but there was no reason because a per-
son was-an assessor that he aheuld appointed. - The
Lord Chancellor had hundre 's of applications for offices,
sod it was frequently the case for him to return no
answer until the offices sought for were filled up ; and
there were persons quite as high as Mr. Drew, and of
undoubted talent and honour, who had received no reply
from the Lord ChancellOr. He did not think that he
should have departed from his ordinary course for the
purpose of obliging Mr. Drew, it might be a
hard case for Mr. Drew, but he must be permitted
to say that it was an extraordinary case. He had given
up the offiee of clerk because it would unqualify him,
but it was a lucrative office, as the emoluments were
from 5001. to 600/. a year. He had chosen to resign
that office, and had brought his misfortune upon himself;
but he had no claim whatever to the office of judge.
Mr. NE WDEGATE said the Right Hon. Gentleman
the Attorney-General had informed him, in reply to a
question, that the old Judges might take offices under
the Bill if they chose, but as only sixty woald be re-
quired, twenty must, as a matter of course, be disap-
pointed. Then Mr. Clive had not filled the office of
judge—he was not one of the eighty, and Mr. Drew
and Mr. Guest, of Birmingham, were equally unfortu-
nate.

COURT CIRCULAR.
The Queen and Prince Albert, accompanied by his
Serene Highness the Prince of Leiningen, and attended
by Lord Alfred Paget, left Buckingham Palace soon
after eight o'clock yesterday morning, for Clarence
House, St. James's, to take leave of her Royal Highness
the Duchess of Kent on her departure for the Continent.
Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent left
Clarence House at half-past eight o'clock, accompanied
by his Serene Highness the Prince of Leiningen in a
carriage and four for Woolwich. Her Royal Highness
was attended by Lady Anna Maria Dawson, Sir George
Couper, and Lord James P. Murray.
Her Majesty and her Royal Consort returned to
Buckingham Palace.
Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent embarked
at Woolwich, on board the Garland, steam-packet, for
Ostend, en route to Brussels.
His Royal Highness Prince Albert presided yesterday
afternoon at a meeting of the Commission for Promoting
and Encouraging the Fine Arts, in the rebuilding the
Palace of Westminster.

His Royal Highness arrived at the New Palace at a
quarter before three o'clock, attended by his Equerry in
Waiting, Colonel Bouverie.

The 'Commissioners present were Lord Ashburton,
Lord Colborne, Viscount Mahon, the Right Hon. Sir
Robert Peel, Sir Robert H. Inglis, Mr. Wyse, Mr. Hal.,
lum, and Mr. Vivian.

The Secretary, Mr. Eastlake, was in attendance.
The Prince and the Commissioners left the committee-
room at four o'clock, and went to Westminster-hall to
inspect the oil paintings sent in for competition.
His Royal Highness and-the Commissioners left the
Hall at half-past five o'clock.
Their Royal Highnesses the Prince of Wales, Prince
Alfred, the Princess Royal, the Princess Alice, and the
Princess Helena, took their accustomed walking and
riding exercise yesterday.
His Imperial Highness the Grand Duke Constantine
of Russia, Vice-Admiral de Lutke, and Lieut.-Colonel
the Hon. Charles Grey, dined with the Queen yesterday
at Buckingham Palace.
At nine o'clock her Majesty and Prince Albert, ac-
companied by his Imperial Highness the Grand Duke
Constantine, left the Palace for her Majesty's Theatre,
to honour the performance with their presence. The
royal suite consisted of the Viscountess Jocelyn, Lady
Caroline Cocks, Hon. Miss Paget, Lord Camoys, Vice-
Admiral de Lutke (in attendance on the Grand Duke
Constantine), Lord Alfred Paget, Colonel Bouverie, and
Lieutenant-Colonel the Hon. Charles Grey (in attend-
ance on the Grand Duke Constantine).
His Imperial Highness the Grand Duke Constantine
of Russia, attended by his Excellency Baron de Brun-
now, Vice-Admiral de Lutke, Lieutenant-Colonel the
Hon. Charles Grey, Baron Freedericksz and Mr. de Berg,
her Royal Highness the Duchess of Gloucester, their
Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge
(attended by Lady Augusta Cadogan and Mr. Edmond
Mildmay), their Royal Highnesses: the Hereditary
Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of Saxe Weimar, and
his Royal Highness Prince George, went to Chiswick
yesterday afternoon, and honoured the Duke of Devon-
shire with their company.
Mr. Glyn and Sir Charles Douglas had an interview
with the Right Hon. Edward Strutt yesterday, at the
office of the Commissioners of RailwaysinGreat George-
street.

The motion was then agreed to.
REPEAL OF THE DISCRIMINATING DUTIES
ON UNREFINED SUGAR.
Mr. MOFFAT rose to bring in a Bill for the repeal
of the (discriminating duties on unrefined sugar. He de-
sired, also, that the further privilege should be accorded
to the distillers of rectifying spirits in bond.
An HON. MEMBER moved that the House be counted,
when there were only twenty-nine members present,
and the House accordingly adjourned.

"He was the last of the priests—the noblest and the
best of them. Eloquent, learned, vigorous, and proud,
he ruled the kingdom with honour to himself and glory
to the brutal monarch who delegated him the power.
Learning flourished, order reigned, and justice was ad-
ministered between man and man. He united the nations
of Europe by a treaty which influences their independ •
ence, even at the present day. He reformed abuses at
home and gave a Magna Charter to Christendom. He
was the first statesman which England ever had, and
Wolsey, in spite of his courtier's guise and his cardinal's
gown, was a thorough Englishman. Haughty, fearless,
and jealous of the honour of his country, he treated the
sovereigns of Europe as his equals, if not, indeed, in
something of the same spirit in which the proud English
barons in former days treated the Gascon lords. He
curbed the power even of the Pope, and took out its
sting as far as it affected England. He held his own
land to be the noblest in the world, and loved it with the
fondness of a patriot. His attachment to his country
prevented him obtaining the papal throne; the sovereigns
of Europe dreaded the influence which his elevation
would give to England, for Wolsey after all was more of
an Englishman than a monk.
" His splendour, his pomp, and arrogant state, have
been chronicled as sins against him. But these were so
united with munificence and hospitality, that they
almost ceased to be such; his tastes were magnificent,
and his bounty that of a prince. H., was the generous
patron of learning and the arts, a lover of honour and
justice, and although a courtier and a cardinal, an
honest man. He died in the sincerity of the faith which
he upheld—in the language of Shakspeare, he died
fearing God.'
" His character was superior to craft; he ruled by the
force of his genius, and influenced the minds of men by
a dignified exterior, a commanding eloquence, and a
conduct uniformly great. The errors of his youth wero
many; they were such as were unfitting a priest, but his
qualities of heart, his impetuous fervour, the warmth and
generosity of his feelings must palliate them in the eyes
of the severity which is just.

The Rev. Daniel Wilson had an interview with Sir
George Grey yesterday. Sir Charles Lemon had also
an interview with the Right Hon. Baronet at the Home-
office.

A Deputation, consisting of Mr. Alderman Johnson,
the City Remembrancer, Mr. Edward Harrison, Mr.
Richard Lambert Jones, and Mr. John Wood, had an
interview with Lord John Russell yesterday.
The Duke of Boxburghe and Mr. E. B. Roche, had
interviews yesterday, with the Earl of Clarendon.
Mr. C. K. Murray had an interview with the Chan-
cellar of the Exchequer yesterday, at his official resi-
dence in Downin ),—street.

The Ecclesiastical Commissioners for England, had
a Committee meeting yesterday.

HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE.—The Queen and his
Royal Highness Prince Albert, accompanied by his
Imperial Highness the Grand Duke Constantine,
honoured the performances of her Majesty's Theatre,
yesterd,ty evening, with their presence. The Royal
suite comprised the Viscountess Jocelyn, Lady Caro-
line Cocks, Honourable Miss Matilda Paget, Admiral
Lutke, Lord Camoys, Lord Alfred Paget, Colonel
Bouverie, and Hon. Colonel Grey. Their Royal High-
nesses the Duke and. Duchess of Cambridge, and his
Royal Highness Prince George, attended by the Vis-
countess Mahon. Baron Knesebeck, and Mr.
E. Saint John Mildmay were also present. In
her Majesty, the Queen Dowager's box, were his Serene
Highness Prince William of Hesse, the Earl and Coun-
tess Brownlow, Baron Zigesar, Hon. Miss Seymour, and
the Rev. Mr. Hudson. Tnere were also present Prince
Louis Napoleon, the Duke of Wellington, the Duke of
Leeds, the Duke rand Duchess of Montrose. the Duke
Olga de Lech-
and
A;arciuDuchessisof Worcester,
of Cleveland, the
the
he Marqis of Clanricarde,
Marquis
and Mar-
chioness of Abercorn, the Marchioness of Douro,
the Marquis of Donegal, the Marquis of Kildare,
Itihe.
Baronesser
His
Excellencyß r ti n andnow,
tthe
Sardinian
tg, a nd Miss Somerset,
Excellency the Hanoverian Minister, Baron, Ni.
colai, the Earl of Munster, the Earl of Falmouth,
the Earl of Lansdale, the Earl and Countess
Grenville, the Earl and Countess of Lincoln, the Earl
Viscount Canterbury, Lord and Lady C. Wellesley,
ofan:
riCdh
ae Countessnstde rLfid
aedl
ySpower,. the Earl of Liverpool, the Earl
, Ft hi et z Earloy
so fC
ea
rr
sdeian, Viscount Clifden,
Lord Sandys, Lord H o
niarry Vane, Lord and Lady
Southampton, Lord Cosmo Russell, Lord and Lady Paget,
'
Lord A. Fitzclarence Sir W.. and Lady Freemantle,
General Sir A. Barnard, Sir Josiah Copley, th© Right
Hon. the Lord Mayor, Hon. Captain J. Macdonald,
Hon. R. Curzon, Col. Wildman, Hon. General Upton,
Col. Alden, Mr. Collin Smith, Mr. Norman Macdonald,
Mr. S. L. Fox, Mr, Painther, Captain Reynolds, Mr.
Packe, M.P., Mrs. Packe, Redding, Mr. Montgomery,
Mr. and Lady Caroline Sandford, Mr. and Mrs. M.
Martin, Mr. Stanley, Mr. and Mrs. Bagot, Mrs. Lane.
Hon. G. Byng, Sir W. W. M. Stanley, sir G. Womb
well, Bart.
VVicx, JUNE 2, 1847.—The local destitution com-
mittee, the Chamber of Commerce, and the town council
of this place have each agreed separately to memorialise
Government to send a cargo of meal, which is in course
of being subscribed for by fish-curers and others, to
meet the demand during the fishing. The meal dealers
usually supplied the town, but this year they have no
stock, and there is now very little in the county of meal
or grain of any kind to sell, so that it is found to be
necessary to make application to Government before the
herring fishing (which commences about the middle of
July), when the number of stringers will be from six to
eight thousand, who must be provided for besides the
ordinary population. Fishermen are engaged at 9s. the 1
cran, and 101.. of bounty. The crops are looking ex -
ceedingly well since the late rain.—Ross-shire Advertiser.

" lie was hated and honoured by all classes in Eng-
land. The nobles feared him for his vast talents, the
power he wielded, and the influence he possessed at
home and abroad; the clergy complained of his repeated
reformation of clerical abuses, yet looked up to him as
their champion and their stay; and the people mur-
mured at his exactions, yet flew to him for justice when
their private rights were invaded, nay the very rabble
that fell before him in the mire, and in the days
of scarcity thronged his palace gates to receive his
bounty, spoke with rancour of the arrogant state of
the imperious and magnificent priest. And Wolsey
knew all this well—no man, as has been before observed,
ever held public clamour in greater contempt than he.
The Pope and the Princes of Europe he also despised,
and made himself their arbitrator. The only man whose
power he respected, was the tyrant who destroyed him."
Many of the descriptions in these volumes are very
effective, those especially which depict the appear-
ance of London in the days of Henry VIII. are
peculiarly interesting, as showing how many changes
time has made. It is strange, indeed, to wander in
imagination along the fields, skirting the "Strand'
of the river Thames, to pay a visit to a " convent"
whose " garden" is now our market. Associations
such as these render these pages very attractive, and
the attraction is in nowise decreased by the author's
manner of relating them. His style is most ani-
mated, and frequently most eloquent. The fictitious
tale which, of course, is the ostensible object
of the book, is in reality, and very natu-
rally, but a secondary consideration. The interest
attaches itself to the historical events, and the his-
torical character, and these are necessarily most en-
thralling. Perhaps it were impossible to find any
epoch which furnishes so many marvellous events,
and such astounding changes, crowded into so short a
space as those here detailed to us. Many dioramas
pass before our eyes, each marvel is eclipsed by the
succeeding one; for instance, near the beginning of
the third volume, we find a heartrending picture of a
public execution, namely, that of a young girl sur-
named the " Maid of Kent, a religious enthusiast,
indeed, in many respects, another Joan of Arc, who,
like her, too, is tried as a witch. While we are yet
lamenting her fate, and sympathising with the indig-
nation of her friends, who now sought
for the intercession of Anna Boleyn, and
sought for it in vain, we turn over

111 E SUN, LONDON,_ WEDNESD'AY E'VENING, JUNE 9, 1847.

DINNER TO M. SOYER.
Last even'ng,. a dinner was given to M. Sover, at the
Lii:sn atiea. by ids frie,us and
admirers, to commemorate his philanthropic and disin
terested exertions for the relief of the poor in Ireland,
and likewise for the amelioration of the condition of the
destitute in every other civilised country.
At seven o'clock, about no gentlemen sat down to
dinner, E. Smith, Esq., in the chair ; Captain White and
11. Powell, Esq., acted as vice eh:drawn. On the right
of the Chairman sat the honoured guest, M. Soyer.
Among those present we observed, T. De la Rue, Esq., W.
Palmer, Esq., E. Moss, Esq., illison, Esq., Nicoll,
Esq., Dr. Wats )n, W. Absolon, Esq., C. Dutton, Esq., G.
Atkins, Esq., Williamson, Esq., &c. &c. The tables
were richly set out with a magnificent service of gold
and silver plate, and table ornaments, which were gra-
tuitously furnished for the occasion by Messrs. Hunt
and Roskell. The gold candelabras and epergnes
were superb, and the effect they produced was grand in
the extreme. The musical department was combined in
Messrs. Jolly, Genge, F. smith, and Moody.
The toastmaster was Mr. Higgs. The dinner
was of the most recherche description, in
fact Messrs. Bathe and Reecho seemed to
have made it a point of honour to, if possible, surpass
themselves. They knew they were in the presence of the
greatest artiste in the world ; they were determined to
maintain their ancient reputation, and they not only
did so, but they added to it.
In proposing the health of " the Queen," the CHAIR-
MAN explained that he had been called upon to occupy
the chair at a very short notice from Sir Andrew Leith
Hay, who was to have occupied the chair. A letter had
been received at a late hour, expressing the kindest senti-
ments towards M. Soyer, and the deep regret of the writer
that it would be utterly out of his power to join them on
that occasion. Under these circumstances, he (the
Chairman) had taken upon himself the onerous duties of
presiding over their festivities, and he trusted to their
support to enable him to conduct :the proceedings of the
evening.—(Cheers.) He concluded by proposing the
" Health of the Queen."—Drunk with three times three,
and one cheer more.
Air—" God save the Queen."
The other loyal and national toasts having been drunk,
The CHAIRMAN rose to propose the toast of the even-
ing, " The health of M. Soyer."—(Cheers.) It was
with the utmost diffidence that he ventured to
address the assembly. He never until that moment so
completely felt his his own inefficiency, never had he more
ardently wished that some person of high rank, of great
eloquence, had filled the chair.—(Cheers.) Still he
thought there could be no mistake as to the object of
their meeting.—(Cheers.) They were met together to
do honour to one who had deserved well of the country
—(Cheers)—who had devoted his time and talents to
the alleviation of the sufferings of his fellow creatures.
—(Cheers.) Their friend had been opposed in his be-
nevolent exertions, but he had persevered and succeeded.
—(Cheers.) He had read of the misery which
the destitute were suffering he thought he could
alleviate that misery, and with untiring energy in spite
of opposition, in spite of sneers, he had carried out his
plans, and had alleviated that misery.—(Cheers.) It
should, moreover, be remembered that all that
that gentleman had done had been done at his own
expence.—(Loud cheers.) He had read of the misery
which the Irish people were suffering, he thought he
could relieve that misery, and set his talents to work.
He drew his own purse-strings, and out of his own re-
sources alleviated it. Whatever he had done hitherto,
had been done at his own expense.—(Cheers.) Up to
this moment M. Sover had not received the fraction
of a coin for anything he had done.—(Loud cheers.)
lie said not this as a reproach to any public bodies. M.
Sayer had received the most kind support from the Go-
vernment of the country. and whoever -would have been
in power, he believed he would have received the same
support ; because, in a case of this sort, the Government
would always act irrespectively of politics, and he be
lieved that, eventually, they would repay M. Soyei
his expenses, so that he should not be a loser
pecuniarily speaking by his exertions for the relief of
his suffering fellow-creatures. He begged to propose
the health of M. Soyer.
Drunk with three times three, and one cheer more.
M. SOYER then rose and spoke as follows.—
Gentlemen,—lt is with the most grateful feeling that
I rise on this occasion to return my sincere thanks to
you for the high honour you have conferred on me this
day, and specially for the warm and hearty expression
hich has been delivered in your name by your much
esteemed and worthy chairman. Relative to my mis-
sion in Ireland, the duty I had to perform in Dublin
was only following the laws of nature, which is to re-
lieve the sufferings of our fellow creatures, whilst it is
in our power. On this important subject lam delighted
gentlemen, to inform you that, my economical principle
of producing cheap food for the poor, has far surpassed
my first anticipations; and though, at the present time,
from 20,000 to 25,000 poor are daily relieved without
the slightest confusion from the central kitchen,
in Dublin, all the city depot being supplied with various
kinds of wholesome and nutritious food before ten o'clock
in the morning, bread included, and that with a saving
of above one penny a head per day, compared with the
old system of preparing food in the unions. I beg to
observe, gentlemen, that this economical plan is still in
its infancy, the above being performed in my small
model kitchen—small, I say, comparatively speaking,
when I consider to what extent I could carry it out with
a trifling more expense of machinery, hands, and fuel.
To give an idea, gentlemen, of the simplicity of mit
system, in making and delivering cheap food foi,
the millions of poor, I shall do myself the
pleasure in a few minutes to present to every gentlemai
round this cheerful board, a correct drawing of my, model
kitchen, as it is now in full operation in the capital of
Ireland, adding to it the little pamphlet of my oharitabl
cookery, which will correctlyexplani its details, and alsl
remove the erroneous ideas now existing amongst a fey
of the multitude. My economical receipts were publishk
for the poor and labouring classes of society, and not foi
the wealthy; but merely as a medium by which they
might assist the destitute in their struggles,
having written for the latter a large book of
gastronomy at one guinea, and for the former
a small one at sixpence ; and I cannot better
illustrate my meanings than by quoting from the last
work the following lines :—" Economy with the affluent
in time of distress is a crime, whilst doing good with
little is a virtue." And at the end of my receipts is as
follow :—" More meat may be added by those who can
afford it, as I am a great advocate that every trade
should flourish, and that wealth should always support
luxury." My model kitchen, gentlemen, having within
these few days been removed from the Royal Barrack's
esplanade (where it was temporarily placed) for its trial
to the most populous district, will enable me not only to
supply a larger number of poor, but to add ovens
to bake bread of my composition of an ex-
cellent quality, and at a very cheap rate, and
for any number of people it may be required. This
bread may be composed of any farinaceous sub
stances, and has been already submitted to numerous
noblemen, gentlemen, and relief committees, and espe-
cially to several doctors and chemists, who have all
approved of the taste, natural composition, and powerful
content of substantial nutriment, which has been baked,
and tasted round this board. I have also made experi-
ment of a very important nature, and may venture to
affirm, that I have succeeded in preserving any quantiti
of fish, which will keep for six months at least, without
deteriorating the nutritive and gelatinous substances
of that wholesome food, which I must say, with
pleasure, is now, and was much approved of by the poor
whilst I was in Dublin, being dressed according to the
several receipts I published there. Consequently the
use of fish on a large scale will not only encourage
fishery, all through reland, but must give employment
to a vast number of people who are willing to work,
and must have the effect of keeping up the spirit of in-
dependence of the people, by giving them an oppor-
tunity of purchasing the food at cost price only, and
thereby support gratuitously the infirm and destitute
poor that Providence has afflicted the most ; dying
for want of food when in possession of a fer-
tile soil, and surrounded by a rich and magnificent
ocean teeming with life which is given as food to man,
is a sin to our Creator. Gentleman, my return to
Dublin having been unavoidably postponed for a short
time through my heavy duties at the Reform Club, I
am happy, however to say, that with the patronage of
the Government, and the spirited benevolence of the
Dublin Relief' Committee, my ideas will be carried im-
mediately into operation. You will be gratified also to
hear that I have had application to erect a similar
kitchen in Vienna and Hamburgh for the same purpose.
Allow me again to express the gratitude I feel for the
honour that you, gentlemen, have conferred upon me on
the present occasion ; it will for ever make me, if pos -
sible, more zealous in this important cause. With the
greatest sincerity, I most cordially beg to return you
my most heartfelt thanks for having so kindly invited
me to this magnificent, hospitable, and festive board,
which is, and ever will be, deeply engraved on my
memory.
Various other toasts were then drank, and shortly
after eleven the Chairman left; and Capt. White, the
vice-president, was then voted into the chair, and the
festivities were kept up to a late hour.
During the evening some bread manufactured accord-
ing to M. Soyer's receipt was handed round the room.
It had been made for fourteen days, and was as moist
and sweet as though it had been made only one. The
cost of making bread upon M. Soyer's plan is thirty per
cent. cheaper than by the ordinary method.

ROYAL ITALIAN OPERA.—On Tuesday evening
her Majesty's box was occupied by the Earl and Countess of
Shelburne, the Countess of Mount-Edgcumbe and Miss Field-
ing. There were also present the Duke of Devonshire, Duke
and Duchess of Beaufort and Lady Blanche Somerset. Duke
of Rutland, the Marquis of Douro, Marquis and Marchioness
of Ailesbury, Marquis of Granby, Earl of Malmesbury, Earl
and Countess of Egmont, Countess of Chesterfield, Earl
Bruce, Earl and Countess of Granville, Earl and Countess
of Wilton, Countess of Tankerville, Earl of Winterton,
Countess Dowager of Essex, Count Potocki, Count Louis de
Noailles, Viscountess Newport, Viscount Dupplin, Viscount
Templetown, Viscount Cantaltipe, Lord Elphinstone, Lord
Carington, Lord Foley, Lord and Lady Sondes, Lord G.
Manners, Lord H. Lennox, M.P., Lord A. Lennox, Lord E.
Bruce, Lady W. Powlett. Mr. and Lady Charlotte Denison,
Mr. and Lady Caroline Masse, Lady Suffield, Hon. J. For-
tescue, Hon. D. Astley, Hon. Captain Vyvyan, Hon. Eliot.
Yorke, M.P., Captain the Hon. James Macdonald, Captain
the Hon. St. George Foley, Lady Palmer and Miss Palmer,
Lady Scott, Lady Jodrell, Sir James B. East, M.P., Sir
Bellingham and Lady Graham, Sir William de Bathe, Sir
Henry Webbe, Sir Robert Blosse, Sir Michael Shaw Stewart,
Captain Osborne, M.P., Mr. H. G. R. Yorke, M.P., and
Mrs. Yorke, Mr. E. D. Protheroe, M.P., Major and Mrs.
Mountjoy Martyrs, Mr. Henry Baring, M.P., Mr. Charles
Greville, Mr. J. Lloyd Clayton, &c.
IMPROVEMENTS OF GREENWICH HOSPlTAL.—Yes-
terday workmen were
.employed, by order of the commis-
sioners of Greenwich Hospital, in the demolition of the Ship
Tavern, the Lord Ligonier's Head, and other buildings in
Fisber-lane, Greenwich, to form improvements in the line
of, atkd in addition to, the river frontage of Greenwich
Hospital.

THE WILDERSPIN TESTIMONIAL
On Monday Ignt a select party of Mr. Wilderspin',
met 01 JirtittUil street, Pu.Thdilly, for the pug
pose of presenting to him a time-piece, purchased by the
Teachers and Children's Penny Tribute Fund. It
was the workmanship of Mr. J. Bennett, Cheapside,
a simple and extremely handsome article, with a group
of children at study on the top. The inscriptions
were—
" The Teachers' and Children's Gift to Samuel Wilderspin.
Juventutis Amator et Amor. June 7, 1847."
" For thee, kind trainer of the infant mind,
Teachers and taught, in grateful love combined,
Would bid this votive dial's silvery bell
Record the hours by thee employed so well,
And friendly memories o'er thy future shed,
Whose life's long-past in love's best work has sped."
The gift was presented by Mr. DANIEL GASKELL.
Ile said—Mr. Wilderspin had been engaged more than
a quarter of a century in promoting the improvement of
infant education, and in the laborious occupation of
opening infant schools. In this cause he had made
a great sacrifice both of health and property; and
having been so eminently successful in the art of
teaching, and having introduced a system so be-
neficial in its results, it did appear to ns that in his ad-
vanced age he was fairly entitled to some valuable proof
of national gratitude. Under this impression a sub-
scription was entered into. Mr. Wilderspin had been no
sectarian in his views—lie had opened schools for all
without distinction of sect or party; and on the list of
subscribers will be found the names of persons of almost
every phase of political and religious opinion—many of
the highest rank, both in Church and State, and many
amongst the humbler classes of society. The subscrip-
tions received up to this time amount to nearly 1,8004
a small sum if regarded as a compensation for the labours
and services of Mr. Wilderspin; but, coupled with the
pension of 1001. a year which her Majesty has graciously
conferred upon him, it will be sufficient to relieve him
from much present anxiety, and prove a great con2foz t
in his declining years. In presenting this offering to
you, sir, I know you will not estimate it according to its
pecuniary value, but that in your estimation it will de-
rive its chief value from the source whence it proceeds.
Teachers and taught have long been the object of your
peculiar care, and this tribute of affection and respect
from them will often recal to your mind the sweetest
recollections. I hope it may descend to your children's
children, and may prove a stimulus to them to employ
their talents (as you have employed yours) in promoting
the improvement of mankind.
Mr. WILDERSPIN replied in terms of affectionate gra-
titude to the donors, and giving a slight but most inte-
resting sketch of the progress of his early career—how
he had suffered from the persecution which so frequently
attends those who stand aloof from party, who hold all
in the wide embrace of Catholic humanity. He alluded
to the result of his labours. He saw on the roll before
him, inscribed with the autograph or name of 1,000
children, the sympathy of the Church of England, the
Wesleyan, the Independent, the Catholic, the Unitarian,
the Jews (who in one poor school had subscribed 160
farthings), and the Friends. He hailed the prospect of
an old age, not of poverty nor yet of affluence, but of
ease and comfort, and he thanked the Source of Every
Good for the prospect.
Mr. MONCKTON MILNES, though all he felt had been
so ably and clearly expressed by Mr. Gaskell and Mr.
Wilderspin, could not withhold the sympathy he had in
the object of the meeting. Mr. Wilderspin was a man
of genius, and he had devoted it to the highest object
—the cultivation of the human race from its earliest
youth. Every day added conviction of the importance
of his mission, and every day unhappily added a sense of
its difficulty: obstacles to any plan of general education
seemed to increase with the knowledge of its necessity,
the persecuted were becoming the persecutorif; but he
would not despair, for on looking around him, and find
ing the subject was becoming one of universal interes
and perpetual discussion, hope brightened the horizon o
the future.

Mr. CHARLES DICKENS regretted that a severe cold
and hoarseness would prevent him saying half he felt.
(le was grateful for the information he had received, not
being before aware of the extent of Mr. Wilderspin's
labours and services. He rejoiced that a subject so con-
nected with the wants of infancy, and the threatened des-
titution of a public benefactor, was brought forward by a
woman, and with the expression of his cordial satisfac-
don he united his hopes that Mr. Wilderspin might long
live to enjoy his well-merited honours.
Mr. THORNTON HUNT briefly, but most heartily, con-
gratulated Mr. Wilderspin's friends on the success of
their persevering labours and untiring exertions; after
which the party separated.