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

T.TTFE 8,1-TTRE.

her while looking over a book of receipts, with the
Forrov..fo ! (1-,:irc?7,t
have you any r,cciot for a &iisAppoiilt,d
" Certainly," replied 'Lady Eddington, turning over
a few leaves of the old book, and stopping, as if she
had found the receipt in question, " Take 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 ilea with which they con-

BORGIA ; a a T-1; t,11,2.!
Author of " Whit/friars." 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 " .7cesar 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 atgtemptin
to depict the state of Italy at such a period as during
the pontificate of Alexander 'II., 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,
en 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 Caesar
Borgia—the apt pupil of his dangerous doctrines—the
true expounder of the Machiavellian policy. The
character of Caesar, 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 Leak 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 Feast 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 Borgia% to hear of the good depth 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 " Caesar 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 irnpro-

elude
" 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 heie 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."

VANITY FAIR. Pen and Pencil Sketches of English
.Society By W. M. Thackeray, author of the "Irish
Sketch Book," "James's Diary," " Snob Papers in

Punch,"
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. Johnson, 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 oyes 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 seised 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,
ss 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 Sedlev in Russell-square :
" Miss Sharp's father was an artis., and in that quality
hal 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 tor running into
debt, and a partiality for the tavern. When he was
drunk, he used to beat his wife and daughter ; and the
next morninz, with a headache, he used to rail at the
world for its neglect of his genius, and abuse, with a
good deal of clevernesh, 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 had 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.

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 Cesar, is represented as
a paragon of be auty 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
difficulty his doubts are at length dispersed, much of
his information being acquired by the unknightly
system of eaves-dropping. We 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 fbr 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

"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 he
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 agle 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
den had she talked to, and turned away from her fathers
doer ; 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 g've a scene between that young lady
and Miss Pinkerton, which led to the departure of
the former from the Chiswick establishment t--
" Her music she practised incessantly, and one day.
when the girls were nut, and she had remained at home,
she ~as 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.

is perfectly bewildering, and almost baffles compre-
hension. Again, we would pray him, in illustrating a
subject, to seek not only 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, fbr our severity, that having, in
this " 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 sacra-
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 exern.
plified. We transcribe, for the benefit of- too,e
whom it may concern, some excellent advice given
by an old lady to her niece, who interrupts

" The girl refused; and for the first time, and to the
astonishment of the majestic mistress of the school. I
am Isere 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, 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 was
aware she was speaking to Miss Pinkerton ? Rebecca
laughed in her face, with a horrid sarcastic demoniacal
laughter, that almost sent the schoolmistress into fits.
Give me a sum of money,' said the girl, and get rid of
me—or, if you like better, get me a good place as
governess in a nobleman's family—you can do so if you
dc
other,aul ee please.'a
btnyodAhlni
s ad
Mr.
father,
an
trhe their
Joseph
rd,
ready
to
Jos.)
further rg;o ,he
de t
edisputes she always re-
turned to this point, 'Get me a situation—we hate each
d
Arrived in Russell-square, Rebecca Sharp is intro-
duced
ey,ld(oerr
barsothher of
eisalwa3,s
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. Ile 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 Se,dley, 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.e Well may Mr. Thackeray design ate the el
nMo itr
s that
hPa
ti Pink rmt oen "
reint Minerva."tu rb
nu,c (la
ti
enri:st,y
darse
shse, rsis
and
address, all prove her Al+stic

NEW ZEALAND.
(ri-prn r.•,,•1 :rent t, ti-e New Zea/ander of Ang. 29,

ISi6.)
New Ztalandtr Office, Tue.iday, Sept. 1, 1846.
Her Majesty's ship Castor, having on board his Ex-
cellency the Lieutenant-Governor, arrived on Sunday
evening last, bringing the important intelligence of the
successive occupation of 11-mgihaeta's strongholds, the
camere of some, and the dispersion of the rest of hie
followers.

Th. troops from Sydney arrived at Wellington early
in August, and were immediately employ. d in coope-
rating with the troops already engaged. Rauparaha
has been taken into custody, on suspicion of secret con-
nivance with Rangihaeta. We are not in possession of
the particulars of his treachery, but we understand that
he will be detained as a hostage. We shall allude to
this subject hereafter. Eight of Rangihaeta's principal
men have been taken, besides several others of less note.
One of them, while on board the Calliope, attempted to
overpower the sentry, and nearly succeeded in drawingthe
bayonet from his side belt ; he was, however knocked
down, and since then these prisoners have been placed
in irons. Her Majesty's ship Castor arrived at Welling-
ton on the 4th of August. She had on board a new
funnel for the Driver. The troops and native allies were
scouring the bush, and it was expected that Rangihaeta
would be taken. The Driver was to leave for Auckland
on the 31st.; we may, therefore, hourly expect additional
intelligence.
We have ascertained from a private source that the
body of natives from Wanganui, intended to reinforce
Rangihaeta, consisted of 600 men, and that they pro-
bably were but the vanguard of s. still stronger force.
They came as far as Ohau, but the Ngatiraukawa natives
would not allow them to proceed. A large body of the
Ngatiawa, from Waikanae, had proceeded to Otaki in
support of their friends and allies, who will most likely.
be compromised by their opposition to the Wanganui
reinforcements. It is feared that a general war between
the Wanganui natives and Ngatiraukawa and Ngatiawa
may be the consequence.
We extract the following particulars from the Wel-
lington Independent, which throw additional light on the
narrative contained in the annexed interesting official
account :

On Friday last the Taita Militia, under the command
of Captain A. E. M'Donough and Mr. White, 13 of the
armed police under Sub-Inspector Strode, and a body of
150 friendly natives under 'E Puni and Captain Scott, of
that corps, accompanied by an officer of the 58th Regi-
ment, and Messrs. Ludlam and Stilling as volunteers,
started from the Hutt towards the position occupied by
the rebel chief Rangihaeta. The force took the route
traversed by the hostile natives in their marauding ex-
cursions into the Hutt Valley, and the movement was
made with such expedition and secrecy, that the rebels
do not appear to have received the slightest intimation
of it. The path leads over hills and through gullies, and
the late rains had rendered the roadway, bad at all times,
difficult beyond conception. Notwithstanding these
drawbacks, the united force pushed on with vigour, and
in the course of the day came up with and surprised
some of Rangihaeta's scouts, and succeeded in capturing
one, a chief belonging to Wanganui. So quick and
sudden was the approach of the British force, that Ran-
gihaeta, who. it appears, was in the neighbourhood, had
the greatest difficulty in avoiding their clutches.
On Saturday 'E Puni captured another of the rebels,
one of their principal men. The whole party are de,-
scribed as being in high spirits, and anxious to try their
strength with the enetny.\
It appears that Rangihaeta has deserted Pauhautanui,
and another small pah midway between that and the
Hutt. Many think he has retreated towards Manawatu,
but some few give a totally different direction. How-
ever, the men who have been despoiled of their pro-
perty, who have been driven from their homes, and who
have had their friends brutally and cruelly murdered,
are on his track, and we make no doubt that they will
ere long bring the monster and his murderous crew to a
reckoning.
A party of natives from Taranaki have come down
the coast for the purpose of joining 'E Puni against
the rebels.
Her Majesty's war-steamer Driver, Commander C. 0.
Hayes, left the harbour on Monday for Porirua, having
a large quantity of arms and ammunition on board.
On their march over to Pauhautanui, from the Hutt,
Tamati H tpinaana, a native of Pipitea pah, was a little
distance in advance of the main body, in the middle of
the wood, when he was suddenly surprised by the chief
above named, who struck at Tamed from behind a tree
on the roadside with a long-handled tomahawk; but
celebratedra m,it , Nv i tah the
mong s
t coolnessthe a
natives,
nd
warded dexterity for whichoff
h blow,
w,ereis.
ceiviag only a slight wound between his forefinger and
thumb. The prisoner instantly endeavoured to make
his escape by jumping into a rivulet, with a view of
being able to reach the opposite bank ; but Tamati,
fearing that he might gain an advantage over him by
doing so, followed him into the rivulet, and, after a stout
scuffle, seized him by the hair of the head, and took
him prisoner.
This native has a great reputation amongst his tribe
for taking prisoners.
Rangihaeta, after evacuating Pauhautanui, retired to
a fastness, situate on a range of mountains in the
I'ukerua district, which, from its strength, has been called
" Gibraltar." The following, from the Independent,
furnishes some clue to the cause of Rauparaha being
placed under restraint, though it does not give par-
ticulars :

Our news from Poriru is important. The rebel chief
Rangihaeta has thrown himself into a strong pah situated
on the range of mountains in the Pukerua, where he has
been followed by the British forces under the command of
Major Last. The position is described as one of exceeding
strength, both in its natural as well as artificial defences.
Instead of having rows of palisades, as is usually the case
in fortified pahs, the savage, but no less acute, chief, has
surrounded his position with logs laid lengthways, thus
rendering rendering the defences still more formidable. The
nature of the country is such as almost to preclude the
conveyance of artillery. But nothing seems impossible
to British soldiers and sailors, and we feel confident that
by some means or other artillery will before long be
belching forth on this stronghold of the rebels, And
here we cannot refrain from making a few observations.
When Rangihaeta evacuated Pauhautanui it was gene
rally believed that he had no other pah to fall back upon
Indeed, up to three o'clock of Thursday afternoon, the
colonists were in ignorance of the fact. Now, some of
the natives must have been acquainted with its exist-
ence, for a pah of its strength could not have been
erected without many of the Maories being aware of the
circumstance. We believe that Rauparana, who was
apprehended with the proofs of his treachery about him,
was the chief who p'anned and superintended its erec-
tion. Lieutenant Blackburn, who has met such an un-
timely end, was engaged during the war in the north, in
which he greatly distinguished himself. We have heard
the conduct of Majoi Last, the officer in command, and
that of the entire forge under his command, spoken of
in the highest terms of praise.
On Monday and Tuesday last the friendly natives
were thrown out from the encampment at Paramatta as
scouts. They returned and reported to his Excellency
that Rangihaeta had evacuated a position recently occu-
pied, and retreated further into the country. At his
last resting place the fires were still burning, and a quan-
tity of potatoes left cooking, tending to the supposition
that on the approach of the scouts he had made a pre-
cipitate retreat.
On Wednesday a force of more than 300 men, con-
sisting of military, blue jackets,
and civilians, under the
command of Major Last, started off in pursuit, his Ex-
cellency Captain Grey accompanying the pa
witrty . RangOi-
'Thursday afternoon the forces came uP
haeta's scouts, and a skirmish immediately ensued. The
firing commenced at three o'clock, and lasted till eight,
when both parties suspended operations till morning.
We regret to say that Lieut. Blackburn, of the 99th
Regiment, and three men, were killed and several
wounded.
Major Last had a narrow escapee a spent ball .
We
striking
him on the forehead, and travelling round his cap
are happy to say that he received no injury from
it.
The native who shot Lieut. Blackburn was imme-
diately shot by one of the Artillerymen, and two of the
enemy who attempted to carry off the body were like-
wise shot.
The loss of the enemy i 3 variously reported, one ac-
count making it five and the other eight killed, and
several wounded.
The enemy were scattered in the bush in every direc-
tion, and many of them were bidden in the branches of

,Pboesiitnigonnn the range
rwTmi
thheairee,:tbye,lB. chiefship
trees.
of hills to the right of the
is admirably chosen for defence. It is
gives a larger number.
huapsttloirtohwenprh2,ismensetlftiinintfeoorawapsahn,tthekneoxwisnt:
Ttiohnes
esintßeuealtoneigdilhivnaheiaetahmost difficult country. military opera-
tions,
pah. The ground is thickly covered with
is supposed to have about 25 .
still him in the
Paho:l
young trees, intermixedftohrwecietbhooafkotsallroeowwfeahr.es
Calliope and her Majestys war-steamer Driver were
employed conveying guns and ammunition from the ships
Thursdaythen at native
nightol tc
to the shore.
We are informed that Major Last, and the whole force
under his command, officers and men, behaved in the
most gallant and daring manner. The conduct of Major
Last was what we always expected, and it must be
gratifying to him to know that the great bulk of the
community appreciated his. gallant conduct, notwith-
standing the attempt made by the Spectztor to injure
his reputation.
A body of men have been set to work to clear a way
to the position occupied by the rebels. which is six mules
inland from Porirua.
" GimtaLTArt."—The united forces were busily em-
p!oyed cutting roads up to Rangihaeta's pah, ~ Gibral-
tar," and felling the bush. The only practical approach
to the pah on the front side is by a narrow ravine
, slant;
which only one or two men can advance at a time
; and
a considerable detour will have to be made through a
ver difficult country, to get at it in the rear. Two howit-
zers had been conveyed, with extreme *
labour to the
camp, and 10 shells thrown into the pah with,
ceptible result. We are informed that the no per-
rebels have
dug warres 7 feet under ground, and h EMI otherwise pre
pared for a determined reistanee.

OFFICIAL D I SPATe HEs.
dispatches pleasureatc it
hes from
dirom-
rilt uivvuincgh
ro,eTtihneg Lthieeuptennbaliunat-Governor
the h
M;ijor Last, 99th Regiment, commandingp the troops,
southern district, th-tailing the nature of the recent ope-
raions against the rebels, by which they have been
/ driven from the strongholds they previously occupied
ILLNESS OF THE EARL OF J tRsEY.--We regret
in this portion of New Zealand, and have been com-
to laarn that the Earl and Countess of jersey and Lady pulled to retreat after losing some, and leaving in capti-
Clemewina Villiers have been detained sortie weeks at vity severil, of the disaffected chiefs.
/
Fraekto; t 0;1 the-Maine by the very dangerous illness of 1 He will take care to • represent, in the strong terms
tile noble Earl. On the 25 h and 26 h nit he was con- which they merit, the gallantry which has been
,i:'eved to be in a very pr, carious eoadittean, and tears , evinecd by Major List, and the c;flicers and men of the
Were ~ri:eTtained for his ultimate recovery. A favour- cona iined naval and -military forte which was engaged
able change, however, took place; and from the last . in tc,ese op,-rations the privations and fatigues neces-
letters we are happy to say his Lordship was mending, i sarily attendant upon the conduct of 'which, in so unfa-
although slowly. vourable a season of the year, were supported in a