The Sun.
London, England, 1846-05-08 00:00:00

LITERATURE.
SKETCHES OF ENGLISH CHARACTER.
By Mrs. Gore.' 2 Vas.
The lover of painting, willing to avoid a laborious
tour of exhibitions and academies, can hardly find a
more amusing, or more instructive occupation than
turning over the leaves of some artist's portfolio—and
so, the lover of human portraiture, grown weary at the
ordinary three-tomed reutine, will find means of
whiling away an idle hour, pleasantly or even profitably,
in the contemplation of these sketches, whose piquancy
attracts, and whose length does not tire. Like the con-
tents of the portfolio, they are more or less correct
portraits and caricatures—vrai, vraisemblable, or absurd,
yet all, whether true or false, highly finished or ebaucht,
bear impress of the designer's skill, and evidence his
talent, if they do nothing more. In taking sketches of
English character, Mrs. Gore has very properly drawn
no invidious differences and distinctions. She has
looked abroad upon the public, and, irrespective of per-
sons, has limned down (faithfully or not) any con-
spicuous individual that may have passed ker. In the
dramatis personw of these volumes are arrayed together
a goodly company, who rarely band together on Serra
firma. A varying group of many gradations, from the
" lady patroness" to the " linkman." the " Cabinet
Ministress" to the "body coachman" and " Ladfg-
maid." To sum up the merits of these volumes, they
are brilliant and lively, vigorous, effective, and amusing.
But these merits are not without drawbacks ; one of the
most conspicuous of which, and one that greatly impedes
the ordinary vivacity of style, is a manifest aiming after
wit. Puns upon words and double entendres are intro-
duced in all directions, sometimes coming in a series,
following each other up, line after line, till the evident
effort becomes painful, and the constant repetition grows
wearisome. And this defeats its own object—amid
researches and endeavours the spirit of wit is lost. It is
the child of impulse, not the creature of effort. Another
and a yet graver fault in these otherwise attractive
volumes, and one springing from a similar source as the
i'o;-;)zoing, is the very frequent quotation of passages of
Holy Writ. In many cases this is done chiefly or solely
to illustrate softie witticism, or to furnish an opportunity
for a bon:inot, and in such cases it is not only unbecoming
but unpardonable.

THE RHETORICAL READER. By J. IL
Hindmarsh. Fourth Edition.
This work has a twofold merit and a twofold value.
It instructs by example and by precept. It furnishes a
concise summary of the laws of elocution and an
admirable compendium of the beauties of composition.
In the latter capacity it is invaluable. The selection is
comprehensive and well assorted. Varying from " grave
to gay, from lively to severe," it includes the chefs
d'oeuvres of our greatest authors—poets and historians,
orators and divines. Not the least interacting portion
consists of extracts from great Parliamentary debates.
Among others, we have an early speech of the first
Pitt, when full of the impetuous energy of youth, and
the immortal discourse of the aged Chatham, worn out
by the ravages of disease and time. Setting aside the
valuable instructions in the important art of oratory,
and the useful foot-notes which illustrate the text,
thiuvolume is peculiarly excellent as a compendium of
the British classics, and as such it should be in the
hands of every British youth.

THE HONEY STEW. A Fairy Tale. Translated
from the French of Dumas, by Mrs. Cooke Taylor.
A very elegant and attractive little volume, embel-
lished with coloured plates, and every page adorned
with a delicate border of gold, the " Honey Stew of the
Countess of Bertha " cannot fail to become a universal
favourite with the young. The story, written by
Alexander Dumas, and very felicitously translated by
Mrs. Taylor, has very little in common with ordinary
fairy tales ; which are for the most part of a character
very unsuitable for children. It inculcates the duty of
benevolence and fidelity in the fulfilment of a promise•
" The Honey Stew " is an annual feast, given by the
Countess Bertha to her humble tenants ; which feast
she enjoins her descendants to administer to theirs.
The various ways in which this promise is kept or
violated, and its violation visited upon the offender,
forms the chief portion of the tale. The work is " got
up" in the most elaborate style. The engravings are
all coloured ; the most striking perhaps is the one in
which tke fifty cooks appear heading fifty enormous
bowls of the " honey stew." Their large round coun-
tenances absolutely beam with good humour ; and the
chef marches first, holding the ladle, apparently quite
conscious of the dignity of his onerous and honourable
office.

MESMERISM.
The following letter, which appeared in the DubHs
Evening Mail, will be read with interest by all, whether
believers or unbelievers, who have paid any attention to
the subject of Mesmerism :
MESMERISM—THE 1001. NOTE.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE DUBLIN EVENING MAIL.
Sir,—l have little doubt that many of your readers,
(believers as well as unbelievers in mesmerism), are
curious to learn what has become of the 1001 note which
1
.was deposited for six months in the bank of Messis. Ball
and Co., which was (according to the terms of the adver
tisement in the public papers) " to become the proper!!
of any person, who, without opening the envelope
which it was contained, should describe every particula,.
respecting the note—such as its number, its date, thl
bank at which it was payable, &c., and who should read
three English words, plainly written on a slip of paper,;which was contained in the same envelope with the notes
The six months expired on the 31st of March, but th
time watt extended to the April 18, to meet the conve"
nience of a lady, a professor of mesmerism, and the
authoress of an ingenious book on the subject, who sr-
rivtd from London in the beginning of the month, and
who expressed a wish to have some time longer to pre-
pare her clairvoyante for the test.
Six months and seventeen days having expired, and
no person having appeared at the bank to examine the
envelope, it was opened on the 18th instant, in the pre"
Bence of Messrs. Ball and Doyne, and one or two other
persons connected with the establishment. The WI
proved to be a printed cheque (No. 1,) issued by tll,O
house of Messrs. Ball and Co., for 100/. payable ,14.
Edipus, or bearer, and dated the Ist of October, 18*,
The English words (written on a separate slip of pelorL
were, "To cEdipus alone"—a translation from the Ore;
of the celebrated oracle delivered at Delphos, vible ,
committed to cEdipus the difficult and somewhat de,
gerous task of solving the Sphinx's riddle, on the till
solittion of which depended the safety of his countri,
and his own life.
The result is well bnown; cEdipus solved the rids--'11e0;
the Sphinx in despair flung herself (or itself) fro.
rock into the sea, and Thebes was saved.
rerhaps I should add that although no person apP
at the bank to inspect the envelope containing then °of
I received a few communications from different perts,i)
England, and one from America (but none from IrelacKv",
containing mesmeric revelations respecting:the nuibe.
of the note ; and one letter (from Plymouth) inclosed
picture or (intended) fac simile of it. It is unnecessary
to add, that these mesmerically-inspired persons vie.`",
mistaken in every particular. All the mesmeric gue`"
shall appear in a future communication.
I remain, Sir, your obliged servant,
SCRUTATOR.
It appears rather extraordinary, that with the relic
placed in the powers of mesmerism, and the worlde! '5
exhibition made in public of the miraculous effects 0.14
capable of producing—that no person should condesceL
to claim the paltry hundred pounds alluded to 10
foregoing letter.

WORTHING. DISTRESSING OCCURRENCE. bOred
two a.m., yesterday (Tuesday) morning a Ire was discofB 10
in the house of Capt. Tinting, 4, York-tei race. It was,Pait
perceived by one of the family, who immediately ga‘feecl
alarm ; and on examination it was discovered to PrNfr.
from the bed-room in front of the house, occupied Vivo
Thomas Coxhead, Capt. Tinting's son-in-law. Capt. Tin ape
went into the room and found Mr. Coxhead lying in the
corner in his shirt, quite stupified. He got him out of 01
room and then sent to the Town Hall for assistance tocrto
out the fire. Harris, the officer, immediately proceedeo of
the house. When he arrived there the room was so
smoke that no one could enter it. In a short OL-Ap
however, he effected an entrance and found the lto
clothes burning; and the fire had communicate be
the floor, which was blazing. Water was procured, All tba
succeeded in extinguishing the flames, but not befell the
bed-clothes and curtains were entirely consumed, trod
bed and mattresses much burned. In the meantime 10e ~,e6
assistance had been sent for, and Mr. Harris bad sollittO
and prescribed the proper remedies for Mr. Coxhead,
,_
was put to bed, and at that time was thought not 11'40
seriously
in theslyh morningurt. He.dielvd,hhenowHevarerri,s afitrsttwwenentyt
imntinnuthteesl:l:l;
.. ow
he found a silver candlestick, with the handle melted ohne,dA
the side of the bed, as if it had dropped from Mr. Cos
hand ; and a book, the corner of which was burnt, was °tot
amongst the bed-clothes ; from which it would appear
andftohree ut
hhn feaotr
died,tti
hnea tcel
sottstated
tese d catgentlemanuhgaht
ha
ea fire.w aslreadingnrdeeaeidnt
glbed,irina c
on
bed
exfdehlelaanadrAse:
we
was
could
aboutcdasntn t l
aet
ahrignr tlyoothmayteahrse of age,
aen, anndhilhdasrli,brritio:
asleep.
s
EIEH SAMARITAN.
utliwe
_Ameotivger
thethe toeyffiwne.e--:l,' ;
cwohnMajesty'sonescu thesde
subsequently
with
lFootyhdii
se
dsw,e vwoeuarnse
dl
mpworo.oursn_dfeeldl
fellow,
TherewF ehrioc zhe s
wife,occurrencebs Guardian.
n
as I believe it to be, is quite romantic. He was 111%
in the leg on the evening of the 21st, and will'"00.
on the ground alone his regiment having gone„ f3'" '4
the attack, a Seikh came up to him and said,
my people are killing all the wounded, and if youlitr
here you will be killed too ; but come with me AT:, yo
save you." S--- replied, " How can I come vliwo 011_,
my leg is broken, and I cannot even stand." ._.ch
said the man " I will take you on my back," e
direS,:e
accordingly done; and off he set with him in tP,4O
tion of Ferozepore. After going for a considernoool?'
tance, when they were quite out of reach of the, trielig
he stopped to rest and wait for daylight, pa7!l37harleio,
attention that circumstances would admit of to 015 s
comfort. As the day broke, a party of our cavalrYZer
on their way from Ferozepore to the field, and the ':',00107;•
them stopped to see if he could do anything for h 0
giving him some brandy and water, asked him 10 Fi;to
tended doing; to which he replied, "I shall mouriZoticeql,ter
Samaritan again, and go in to Ferozepore." The Salk'', th 11`ce,
took him on his back, and carried him till they fell in W the to
for the sick, into which he got, and was taken. t'f.ot ea d,
rozepore hospital. His friend, however, wouP:
then leave him, but walked by the litter all Or v'iais
after they bad reached the hospital, remained Pp,of
bpf
side in close attendance upon him until the earl .de
death. It is also said that the story reached tieatii Or:00
the Governor-General, who after poor u.h.
the man a liberal present, and took him into "`" h.
service. ftern°°l3ollll°
SINKING OF A STEAMER.---012 Tuesday
Flora, an old steamer belonging to the Woolwich Cenr the
going down the river with passengers, and on lea '9l,,,!tyeirs.Tl-o.l_
Temple Bar pier, struck upon the edge of the Temple t'`,. tlis,
the stumps of the piles were forced through the bottom
which immediately began to fill, to the no small constf`ater 611w,„ipe.
passengers. The vessel grounded, but there was not v,were
near the spot to cover the decks. The passengers
until another vessel, the Syren, came up and took them
Flora was subsequently floated into a safe berth neaer_t, pate
Stairs. The holes were stopped tip, and yesterday
taken to Woolwich for repairs,