The Sun.
London, England, 1846-03-19 00:00:00

FEleicil AND PART ENUS. 3 Vols.
By Mrs. Gore.
Among all descriptions of light literature, fashionable
novels are proverbially the most monotonous, the most
unanimated, and the most flimsy. For these very rea-
sons, it is something peculiarly worthy of commenda-
tion, when a fiction of this description, though bearing
about it all the general characteristics tf its class, car-
ries with it a prominence of conception, and force of
imagination, sufficient to form for itself a certain pro-
portion of individuality. To this commendation the
three volumes before us are fully entitled ; they consti
Lute a tale of no inconsiderable interest—they sparkle
with much vivacity of observation—they contais an
agreeable and ingenious diversity of character. In
awarding these laudatory expressions, however, to
" retrs and Parvenus," we are compelled to compro-
mise their full application. A perception of the clever-
ness which glitters over the surface of each chapter
cannot blind our eyes to the numerous blemishes, over-
sights, and discrepancies which militate very powerful].)
against the merits of an ctherwine excellent production.
In one particular (no unimportant one, be it observed)—
namely. in the diction with which Mrs. Gore has clothed
her imaginings—there is a most intolerable carelessness,
or a most egregious indifference to elegance ; a failing
not only derogatory to authoreraft, but liable to deterio-
rate the very idcas which the language embodies. Thus
the pages are swarming with such superfluous and un-
musical coinages as the following :—" Indispensability,"
. . . .

•
" inseparability,91
" justidability,11
" aggrandizatioii,"
" customerless,'. " irreproachability," " artificiality," ail
of which, though literary foibles only in themselves, are
surely better avoided. Occasionally, also, Mrs. Gore
employs expressions of singular coarseness, the more
singular, perhaps, from the usual refinement of her
imagery ; thus, for example (vol. iii p. 91), we hear of
" Herbert Davenpom hitting upon a new raw, through
which it was easy to iiitLet tortures upon his rival."
Turning, however, from these lesser tarnishes, let us
particularise the more successful features of the novel.
It has some piquant touches of sarcasm, as when Liar)
Ursula Waina right exclaims, " What man's consistency
is to be relied upon! The creatures have enough to do to
keep their word to their constituents." M.ny of the minor
personages in the semy are sketched, likewise, with ge.
!mine humour, ex. gr. the subjoin :-d mention of Peter
Parmenter :—" P. Y. was sitting at an ancient bureau,
covered with ragged, rusty, Wick leather, and cur
mounted by a rusty black teaboard, sipping small tea.
also purporting to be black, and dipping into it sippits
of bread and butter, purporting to be brown." Th.
pen-and-ink portrait of Sir Robert Dashwood is no less
happy :—" An exceedi gly narrative old gentleman,
who weeld lend his ears to the longest story, tohave the
satisfaction of rtp.,ating it in his turn. Circumstantial
as a legal utnveyanc,. as an auditor he was full of ques
rions as, when a narrator, of expletives." Or again, Sir
Robert's nephew :—" Young Dashwood was as rash
en ,l rapid as old Dashwood was deliberate. He had been
up in a balloon, down in a diving- bell, and was the on.
ginal deviser of the aerial earring". Everything he did,
said, wore, ate, or drank, was done, said, worn, eaten,
and drunk on the newest and most approved principle.
The most minute action of his life might have affordea
matter for a parent." Of main characters we can speak
in terms of still more decided praise : some of these are
admirably delineated. The Hillingdons—callous.
worldly, selfish, and unprincipled ; the Clutterbucks—
showy, ambitious, and extravagant upstarts ; the Cor-
bets, quiet and homely in their simplicity—are each re-
presentatives of a genus familiar to hundreds of readers.
Jervis Cleve, however, is the most delicately-conceived
and elaborately-drawn character in the work—Jervis
Cleve, in short, is the hero—Jervis Cleve, to
speak plainly, is an original and beautiful creation,
and in his fortunes is centred the principal charm
of the fiction. The child of a day-labourer, the protege
of a fine lady, the inmate of a charity-school, Jervis
gradually elevates himself by his genius and his fascina-
tion of form and manner, into the very beau ideal of a
hero of romance ; and, nevertheless, the gradation is
managed most artistically—nothing is strained in the
portraiture of his elevation. Of course there is, after
the approved fashion of novel and melo-dramatic writers,
a villain ; the one, in this instance, is a Colonel Cleve
land, the most improbable and ill-conceived personage
in the book. And as if to consummate the absurdity of
the character, this man, who is introduced to the reader
as a most elegant and accomplished roué, at the denoue-
ment changes abruptly into a swaggering, cut-and-thrust
bully, larding his conversation with cant phrases and
vulgar pronunciation. It is in the conclusion of this
novel that Mrs. Gore's chief failure consists ; the third
volume is miserably disproportioned to its predecessors.
Indeed the two first volumes are admirable, the last in-
excusably bad. Poetical justice is put entirely at de
fiance ; the wishes and expectations of the reader are
every way disappointed ; the vicious characters are
crowned with success, the virtuous or amiable consigned
to irreparable woe and despondency. Vol. 111. should
never have been published ; Mrs. Gore should have
burnt the manuscript, and re-written the termination of
her story as she could have written it in a moment of
better inspiration. We are thus decided in our con-
demnation from the pleasure we experienced in a perusal
of the first and second volumes, and the utter dissatis-
faction with which we closed their successor. " Peers
and Parvenus" eill, notwithstanding, become popular
for the many charming pictures which it contains—
descriptions of the creme de la creme in the Londoa
drawing-rooms ; of the alumni amongst the excavations
and eruptions of Vesuvius ; of the Parvenus in the
rustic haunts of England ; and the Peers amidst the
variable society of Naples.

PARLIAMENTARY BUSINESS.
From the Votes and Proceedings of the House of Commoxs.)

WEDNWSDAY, MARCH 18.
The fellowing Petitions for Railways were reported, and the Bills
ordered to be brought in by the undernatued Hon. Members:—
Shrewsbury and Birmingham—Mr. W. 0. Gore, Mr. Clive, Mr. R.

Scott, and Mr. Collins.
Midland (Erect-ash Valley Extension)—Mr. Hudson aid Mr. Mundy.
_North of _Norfolk—Marquis of Douro and Mr B. Smith.
Midland (Lrewash Valley Branches)—Mr. Hudson and Mr. Mundy.
Bristol and Birmingham and Midland Railways--Mr. Hudson and
Mr. Bann w.

THE OREGON TERRITORY.—Knight's Weekly
Volume. Ao. LXXXIX.
A clear, candid, and comprehensive description of
those territories on the western coast of North America
known by the geographical name of Oregon, was very
greatly wanted, both on account of their growing im-
portance and in consequ-nce of the friendship at pre-
sent subsisting between Great Britain and the United
States being just now at jeopardy solely on the score of
that segment of the Western Hemisphere. This de-
sired description is fully realised in the little volume
before us, for it possesses a title to those very requisites,
perspicuity, candour, and comprehensiveness. We re
turn our acknowledgments to the Rev. Mr. Nicolay for
having satisfied a justifiable curiosity ; he has treated
the subject in a manner precisely suitable, and without
any loftier pretensions than that of stating facts with as
much terseness as is compatible with clearness. And
while we can never cease to deprecate that atrocious
spirit of avarice which would plunge nations into war-
fare for the mere purpose of individual agrandisement,
we cannot, especially atter a perusal of this book, but
acknowledge that a country so fertile in its resources
and so advantageously situated for the interests of its
possessors, is no very contemptible or valuless tempta-
tion. To no kingdom, however, could this plea form a
sufficient palliation fur the commencement of a gigantic
and sanguinary contest ; and how much the more doe.
this observation apply to nations so blended together in
all their social, political, and moral relations as England
and America I No language can be strong enough to
reprobate those who would embroil such countries in
Rucli a struggle for such unprincipled and mercenary
motives ! It would be a spectacle of civil war upon a
grand scale ; it would be an antagonism of the same
tongue, of the same religion, of the same political sym-
pathies. Before hostilities, however, are further dreamt
of, let all brawlers for national honour pause and medi-
tate ; there is a moral to be drawn even from the fable
of the two peasants who fought for the mule while a
neighbour availed himself of the opportunity to appro-
priate the animal to his own uses. It appears that the
natural productions of Oregon are various—an abund-
ance of turs, profitable whale fisheries, wool, hides, tim-
ber, tallow, and cattle of different descriptions ; to
which must be added wheat, barley, Indian corn, apples,
and minerals, such as iron, lead, tin, and copper. The
herds of wild horses alone might be rendered a source
of extraordinary wealth, scattered over the plains in
bands of from 3,000 to 4,000. For the exportation of
these the ports are most advantageously situated ; and,
altogether the Oregon territories, though no El Dorado,
may in future times become the seat of vast commercial
enterprise.

ROYAL roLYTECHNTC INST

TUTION.

Within these few days there has been an addition to
the ordinary features of this establishment. This attrac-
tion is some opaque microscopic portraits of a number of
the most distinguished leaders of the Seikhs, all but one
of whom were opposed to our troops in the late battles of
the Sutlej. The portraits have been selected from the
work of a lady of eminent artistical talent, who was
resident in the Punjaub a number of years, and her
portraits are considered to be striking likenesses. Those
men appear favoured by nature, being well formed and
athletic, and do not indicate, either by the peculiar
construction of the face, or by the expression of the
eye, that great feeling of ferocity and cruelty which is
stated to be a leading characteristic amongst them.
On the contrary, the majority had handsome features,
no scowl or overhanging brow, but presenting a clear
openness of countenance. and beautifully formed features.
The instrument by which these interesting pictures are
exhibited is the well-known opaque microscope, in-
vented by Mr. Longbottom, and brought before the
public with great success at the Pols technic Ingitution.
It is intended, we understand, that there shall be given
a series of portraits of all the public characters engaged
in the present struggle—our own brave countryman the
late Sir Robert Sale, Lady Sale. Sir Henry Hardinge,
Sir Hugh Gough, and other distinguished individuals.
The directors, for the spirited way with which this
splendid institution is conducted, well merit the public
approbation and support.

THZ Assizes.—Considerahle inconvonience has been
felt, and in many instances grievous injury inflicted upon
suiters and witnesses, by reason of the short time allowed by
the judges for the transaction of public business in the dif-
ferent assize towns--betweenthe closing ef the Courts in one
bailiwick aid the opening of them in another. It is abso-
lutely and legally neces.ary, when once the days
are named, and the precepts sealed, that the commission for
the county, city, or town, should be opened on the very day
stated, without any reference to the quantity of business—
crown or civil—undisposed of at the previous place of sit-
ting. This is an evil of such magnitude, that it is to be
hoped means will be taken to prevent its recurrence kers-
after. —D ahlin Evening Mail.—[The same evil has for
years past prevailed in England. It is to be hoped that the
executive will provide a speedy remedy for it in both coun-
tries.—ED. Sum'.
STATE OF THE GAS Kans.—There are hundreds of
service pipes that are completely decayed, and from which
more gas escapes than is used in the houses they supply, and
which, working its way into the sewers, finds vent at the
gratings, and produces the annoying smell so common in
the streets of London, whilst no trace ef it is discovered
(until the ground be opened) where it actually escapes.
The joints of the cast-iron pipes are generally defective, and
instances have been known of the ends of the pipe and out-
lets being left open.—L7orrexpondent of the Builder.
Sir George Hastings, Viscount Stratballan and son,
arrived In t,wn eY IfenelaY afternoon, passengers by the
General Steam Navigation Oonapany's staava-ahip Clarence,
trent Edinburgh.

THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY _EVEN ENG, MARCH 19, 1846.

of this society.---(Cheers.) The class of individuals to
which he alluded had given their best exertions to bene-
fit society, and it was the duty of society to relieve them
in their distress, and that relief would be afforded as far
as their funds would admit by this society. Unfor-
tunately the society had been subject to great, fluctuations.
At one period they had had as many as .500 pensioners
on their books. At present they had 52 on their list.
Of these 22 were above eighty years of age, 15 were
upwards of seventy, and 15 were upwards of sixty.
Relief was afforded to all, as far as the funds wouldAo,
without distinction of religion or country. Wherwer
they found distress there they held out the
relieving hand, and this charity was what all charities
ought to be, universal.—(Cheers.)
The toast was then drank with three time three, after
which Mr. Bruton sang an admirable original comic
song, which being encored, he, after the manner of comic
vocalists, sung another song equally good with the first.
On the health of the Secretary, Mr. H. F. Richard •
son, being drank, that gentleman gave a detailed history
of the society from its first formation in 1818 up to the
present time, and read a list of the subscriptions, which
amounted in the whole to upwards of 9001., and various
other toasts were drunk and responded to, and the com-
pany separated at about half-past eleven o'clock.

meeting of the IP6IE.—RA I/E1 ASSOCIATION.eL. wA- e eNk I I.
) Dottier, MARcRuE
Associa-
tion was held this clay; Mr. Mitchell in the chair.
The CHAIRMAN having briefly addressed the meeting, the
Secretary read the following letter from Arr. O'Connell?'
" London, March 14, 1846.
"My dear Ray,—l have been so hurried to-day, that I had
not time to send a commentary upon the remaining clauses
of the coercion ukase. I regret it the more as there mixes
with the horrors of some of its enactments something exceed-
ingly ludicrous and provokingly absurd. There is one thing
very peculiar; namely, that it is the first enactment against
tee-totallers, and places on the same footing the beastly
drinkers of whisky with the virtuous and abstemious friends
of tee-totalism. In fact, under this Act, a man may be
transported seven years for presuming to drink a ;cup of
coffee in any house but his own. But I shall reserve for the
next day of meeting further commentary.
" My great object in writing this hurried line is to conjure
the independent Members of Parliament to come to London
as speedily as possible. The presence of every Irish Member
friendly to constitutional liberty is essentially required by
the exigence of the times.
"There is one consolation—that the atrocious and ludicrous
Coercion Bill carries with it a most unanswerable argument
in favour of the protection of a domestic Parliament.
" Believe me to be faithfully yours,
" T. M. Ray, Esq." " DANIEL O'CONNELL.
Mr. GRATTAN, M.P., having moved the insertion of the
letter in the minutes, expressed his determination of pro-
ceeding immediately to London for the purpose of opposing
the Coercion Bill. It had been his determination not to
enter the House of Commons so long as the Irish Arms Act
remained on the statute-book, but the urgent necessity of re-
sisting the proposed despotic enactment obliged him to alter
his resolution. In conclusion, the Hon. Gentleman handed
in 100/. from the Repealers of New York.
Several gentlemen having addressed the meeting, a resolu-
tion (moved by Mr. Grattan) directing the committee of the
Association to prepare a report on the extent of crime in Ire•
land against the next day of meeting, was adopted.
The rent for the week was then announced to be 2401.95. 2d.
The meeting then adjourned.
ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE.—CIonind,March 13.
SOUTH TIPPERARY.

Thomas Fenessy, for-themiirder of his servant, Patrick
Crotty, was put on his trial yesterday, and the case has oc-
cupied the greater part of two days.
Judge BALI. left it to the jury to say whether the homi-
cide amounted to deliberate murder, or presented the more
mitigated character of manslaughter.
The jury returned a verdict of not guilty of murder, but
guilty of manslaughter.
COUNTY OF KILDARE.—SATURDAY.

TRIAL FOR THE MURDER OF DONNELLY, THE CRIPPLE.
—This case, which excited so much attention throughout this
county, was called on at the sitting of the Court.
The prisoner, James Quigley, a low, smooth-faced, rather
ill-looking young man, was put to the bar, and indicted in
the usual form for the wilful murder of Patrick Donnelly, at
Caragh, on the 24th of September last.
The principal evidence for the Crown was that of an ap-
prover, named Francis Reilly, who deposed that on the night
of the murder, he and the prisoner were going to rob a
Scotchman, who was travelling in a gig, when the cripple
and two women came up to where they were standing, near
a gravel pit ; a scuffle ensued, when the prisoner drew a
pistol and shot the cripple dead.
On cross-examination this witness stated that he could not
form the remotest idea of the number of outrages, robberies,
and crimes he had been engaged in. Could not go within
twenty of the number.
Mr. GonmAN—Tell me within five times of how often you
were tried.-oh, I was seldom caught, you know ; I generally
pat in another in my place, and that was my business to the
castle; my conscience smote me when the man was mur-
dered, and I went out and committed a highway robbery
next night. I was afraid I would be hanged, and then my
conscience smote me, so I said I would save it and my neck
together. I thought as much of my neck, if not more, than

I aid of my conscience.
Mr. GORMAN—On your oath, do you think there is as
great a villian as yourself breathing the breath of life at this
moment ? Witness—l don't think there is.
After the examination of other witnesses, the jury re-
turned a verdict of not guilty.
CRIEF JUSTICE—Is there any other charge against this
man ?

Gaoler—Yes, my Lord, he is under sentence of fifteen
years' transportation for the robbery at Blanchardstown.
CHIEF JUSTICE—I am very much delighted to hear it,
as it will prevent him from troubling this country for that
time.

RYDE.
(From the Hampshire Independent.)
The specimen of clerical intolerance, which we pub-
lish below from our correspondent, is one of those cases
which bring disgrace, instead of credit, upon the
" Church by law established"—the Church, which is so
fond of calling itself the Church of all the people, when
all the people are called upon to contribute to its
luxuries; but which invariably proves itself to be only a
sect, when sectarian purposes are to be served. The
present case is one, too, in which all the natural, as well
as social, feelings are outraged. Such exhibitions are
as unwise as they are intolerant and unjust, and are only
calculated to cover with contempt and obloquy a system
which would vainly call itself national, whilst it is, in
fact, the reflection of every petty obloquy and every local
abuse. The Church ought to be relieved by its rulers
and superiors from such suicidal wrong.
REFUSAL OF A CLERGYMAN TO INTER THE BODY
OF A DISSENTING MINISTER.—The following particu-
lars of one of the most atrocious specimens of clerical
intolerance that have recently occurred, are supplied by
a correspondent, of whose entire accuracy we &reassured:
—The late Rev. T. S. Guyer, as a minister of the
Gospel, laboured faithfully in this town for store than
28 years. About twelve years since the late Mr. Guyer
chose Binsteed as the place of interment for an infant
daughter that died, and she was buried there. About
four years since another daughter died; she was twelve
years old. She was buried by the present Minister at
Binsteed without objedion. Accordingly Mr. Guyer long
since fixed on Binstead the place where he and his
family should be buried. Those who attended his
ministry know that he has often spoken most touchingly
of the spot where the babe and the daughter rest, expect-
ing his dust would mingle with theirs. A few days before
he died he " gave commandment concerning his bones,"
and requested to be buried at Binsteed. Arrangements
were made accordingly, and notice was given to that
effect on Sabbath evening last. On Monday, the an •
r en
dertaker, who is a deacon of the Independent Church at
ltfy
interment,de applied
nayth fore a
leaves
o
that the late Mr. Guyer was a Dissenting Minister, and
of
butto was Mr.
refused, Hewett
assigning usual
s
that he had preached against the Church of England ;
assuring the applicant that no consideration (for many
were urged) would induce him to alter his decision.
That if the family wished, he would raise no obstacle to
their moving the ashes of the children, to facilitate
which the Reverend Gentleman offered to forego his
his fees. At the request of the widow and family it
was then arranged that the remains of our beloved
Minister should be interred in a vault to be prepared in
the chapel where he had so long laboured. These are
the facts and circumstances. I leave the Successor of
the Apostles in the hands of the friends of the Church
as by Law Established. _ _ _

(yesterday) the remains of the Rev. gentleman, amid a
Test concourse of spectators, were borne to their rest-
ingi f a
w mourners,hvi ac uh 1 f
oirn
2gBr prepared
eyaeta
rnfsou
hrmetbhheeramsd,
abteeP p c
footthee
assembled at ten o'clock, wearing flowing hatbands,
and proceeded at eleven o'clock to meet the corpse,
which they followed in procession. The ministers of
Independent Chapels supported the pall, and after the
family followed the ministers of the county, next the
members, congregation, and other friends. Tickets
had been preciously issued to the occupiers of seats in
E
the chapel, without which no one was admitted till
n-uhE
eeR ,o"rnaonfa Odit
depositedhe
e nTti
Ti REV.phi T . S . GUYER. —On Fri day
after the procession had entered. The Rev. T. Cousins,
of Portsea, officiated at the interment, and the Rev. T.
Biriney, of London, pronounced the funeral oration,
which, by its powerful and effective eloquence, created
an intense and thrilling sensation. The Rev. T.
Adkins, of Southampton, preached the funeral ser-
mon in the evening. The shops were generally closed,
and every demonstration of love and respect for the
memory of the departed was evinced by. every class
and denomination. It had been the dying request
of the reverend gentleman that he should be buried
alongside his children in the ground at Binsteed ;
but the rector, the Rev. Philip Hewett, on the
ground that Mr. Guyer was a minister and teacher
of dissent, peremptorily refused his permission for the
interment there, but would offer no impediment nor
claim his fees for the removal in due form of the re-
mains of the children, should it be desired by the fa-
mily. A deep feeling of regret pervades the whole
town (and more especially among the members of the
Established Church), that such an uncalled-for attempt
to taint the memory of such a man as the deceased,
should emanate from a minister of the Church of Eng-
land. It has created a generous expression of sympathy
for the widow and family, whose feelings have been so
unnecessarily outraged. The following letter of condo-
lence has been numerously signed by members of the
Established Church :
" The undersigned members of the Protestant Church
of England, having long known the exemplary deport-
ment of the late Rev. Thomas S. Guyer, as a minister of
the gospel, feel ourselves more especially called upon,
under present circumstances, to unite in testifying our
deep respect for his memory, and our sincere sympathy
with his bereaved family.
I `•Ryde, March 11, 1846."
'he

DEATH OF JOHN LINGAN.—On Tuesday Mr. John
Langan, more familiarly styled and better known as " Jack Langan,"
the pugilist, breathed his last at the house of Mrs. Lewis, Five-lane-
ends, near Neston, Cherhlre. His death will be lamented by a larger
d
mends,u acquaintances, and admirers, than many moving in
the te sof life can boast of possessing. Jack passed through
rd
heige r
many vicissitudes of fortune, and at length realised for himself a
very handsome Independence. Though he was never fortunate
;attc ***MGT In gay sonteet of note, ye, be stood for many
etlY 10 one Le the 4118.—iiveryoe/ Osirier.
A large quantity of potatoes are being sent from
Coitus to