The Sun.
London, England, 1846-10-02 00:00:00

LATEST CESAREWITCII

0 to 1 agst JonathanWild'(t) 120 to 1 agst Kesheng (t)
0 to 1 agst Tom Tullock 20 to 1 agst Terrier (t)
1 to 1 agst The Baron 25 to 1 agst Jenny Wren
5 to 1 agst Sir Tatton Sykes 25 to 1 agst Giantess
.8 to 1 agst Sting 50 to 1 agst Wolfilog (t)

been a thousand times described. She enters a field
which has already been traversed by a horde of
industrious gleaners. Notwithstanding all this, how-
ever, the volume before us is eminently successful.
By its production the authoress has enhanced the name
which she had previously acquired in litera-
ture; and has entitled herself to the gratitude
of her readers. The pages sparkle with a most
delightful animation, the narrative is peculiar
for its picturesque elegance, historical remi-
nicenses are introduced without effort and always to
the embellishment of the text, appropriate anecdotes
and sentiments are scattered through the chapters,
and the whole work bears the aspect of a panorama
skilfully arranged and delicately coloured. Miss
Costello's volume on Venice is, altogether, a charming
and clever performance.

THE WORKS OF G. Y. N. JAMES. Vol. IX

DARNLEY.
So remarkable is the popularity of this historical
romance about " The Field of the Cloth of Gold,"
and so generally are its excellencies appreciated, that
we need scarcely adventure upon any investigation
of its literary merits. The admirers of Mr. James will
rejoice at such a republication of one of his very best
productions, especially as the typography, the embel-
lishment, the binding, and the compactness of the
whole volume, are so excellent.

PAUL FITZ-HENRY. A Narrative. By Henry

John Thornton.

Three volumes octavo have come so much the
habitual dimensions of a fiction now-a-days, that we
are almost grateful to any one who has the audacity
to break through the general habit. Variety is
pleasing in literature as elsewhere, and hence it
is possible that we derive any satisfaction whatever
from so small an innovation. We recur, however to
the times when a tale in a single volume was not un-
fashionable; when "Rasselas" was not unacceptable,
when the " Vicar of Wakefield" was admitted into
society, whether hot-pressed or not, and when it
mattered little that " Robinson Crusoe" had no
twin volume. The present story is the con-
densation of what might have been extended
threefold without any marvellous diminution of
interest. Of its general character and scene
some more adequate conception may be formed
from its second title—" A few weeks in Paris." Al-
though the outline of the plot is not remarkable for
novelty, Mr. Thornton has yet arranged his mate-
rials so skilfully as to have written a very pleasant
and agreeable "Narrative."

KNIGHT'S WEEKLY VOLUME—Nos. CV!.
and C VII. BACON AND HIS WRITINGS—
Vol. 11. CABINET PORTRAIT GALLERY
—Vol. IX.

In publishing works of this solid and instructive
character in so portable a form, and at so moderate a
price, Mr. Charles Knight is increasing the debt of
gratitude already owing to him by the public. As a
caterer to the intellect of the people, no publisher has
evinced more sagacity in discrimination, or more en-
terprise in the development of his literary projects.
The little volumes of which the present form the con-
tinuation are a sufficient testimony of this fact.
Anything that can tend to the dissemination of the
knowledge of such a vast genius as that of Lord
Bacon among the multitude must be welcomed as a
boon to humanity. The wisdom of that great sage
is calculated so wonderfully to expand the mind of
its reader that it is lamentable to reflect upon
the circumstance that the writings of Bacon
are published only in such a costly manner
as to render them almost inaccessible to a large
proportion of the population. The volumes of
this series may be regarded as the first step towards
the supplying of this deficiency. Shakspere's dramas
are printed and vended at a price which is reasonable
to the most moderate incomes, and the speculation
is found to be remunerative. Why should not
some similar movement be made to popularise
our philosophers as well as our poets ?
Lord Poppington, in " The Trip to Scarborough,"
prized his library, like a true numskull, because of
its handsome bindings and elegant typography. The
humble classes, however, are ready to look more to
the oyster than to the shell: they would prize a
standard work, covered with brown paper, more than
a silly one in gilding and morocco. Publishers
should ponder these things. Among the biographies
contained in this number of the "Cabinet Portrait
Gallery" are many of eminence. Algernon Sidney,
the patriot, who inscribed himself, in an album at
Copenhagen, inimica tyrannis : Thomas Sydenham,
the most memorable of English physicians; Robert
Boyle, one of our noblest philosophers, both by birth
and intellect ; Henry Purcell, the most wonderful,
possibly, of all our native musicians, and others of
lesser greatness. The letter-press is illustrated by
characteristic engravings.

THE SQUIRE'S DAUGHTER. A Tragedy. By

Andrew Park.

This is the most hazardous adventure ever under-
taken by Mr. Park. Hitherto he had contented himself
with the production of an opera, " Ihe Mariners ;" a
didactic poem, " Blindness ;" and a variety of
lyrical and fugitive pieces. In this he has boldly
attempted a five. act tragedy, than which, as he
well observes in his preface, " there is not anything
in literature so difficult of accomplishment." We
cannot think that the endeavour has proved trium-
phant. There are, undoubtedly, passages of consi-
derable energy, and others of no little elegance • but,
on the whole, there is a want of that sustained dignity
sad pathos which can alone constitute a successful
tragedy. Many low characters and mean sentiments
are introduced, which entirely mar the effect of the
plot, and jar in upon the interest. Whenever Shak-
apere interpolates a comic character or incident in his
tragedies, he does so with such consummate art that
the grandeur of the principal characters and incidents
is actually enhanced thereby. The gravediggers in
Bamlet render the mournfulness of the Danish
Prince's meditations in the churchyard still more
affecting by contrast. Osric, again, elicits a new
phase of the mind of Hamlet. The jests of the fool
in Lear impart a more solemn air of desolation to the
miseries of that " old, mad king." This, however,
results from a peculiar genius for the drama, which
genius Mr. Park does not possess.

HINTS ON ANGLING. By Palmer Hackle, Esq.
Piscator will revel over a book so thoroughly
worthy of " the gentle craft" as this, by Palmer
Hackle, Esq. It condenses a whole library of in-
formation into the compass of 339 pages, and this
without being superficial upon any one given topic.
The author has evidently entered upon his labours
with a gusto; nevertheless, with all his enthusiasm,
he never forgets that Ms principal office is to be
practical. His work will prove as useful as it is de-
lightful, as fraught with wholesome advice as with
agreeable reflections. Those who love the craft of
angling will find a singular fund of information in
the lucubrations of Palmer Hackle ; those who love
to sit with Izaak Walton under a woodbine hedge
while a shower is passing over, will delight in many
passages from the pen of the said Palmer Hackle.
Charles Cotton would have listened to his voice with
pleasure, and, seeing that there are hundreds of
Charles Cottons in existence, our author is tolerably
secure of becoming a general favourite.

NOTES ON THE EPIDEMIC CHOLERA.
By R. Hartley Kennedy, M.D., late Physician-Genera
and President of the Medical Board, Bombay. Second
Edition.
The first edition of this work, published in 1826,
has long since been considered a medical classic. It
is the authority on the subject on which it treats, and
Dr. Kennedy has conferred an obligation on the
public and the professsion by the publication of this
reprint of it.

REWARDS FOR STARVATION.—The Dunmow Agri-
cultural Society have been giving away what they call
" rewards for virtue." We think them rewards for the
peacefulness of hunger. For instance:--" To the widow
of a labourer in husbandry who had brought up the
largest family with the least parochial relief, was de-
voted a scarlet cloak; and to the second in degree was
presented a wash-tub and clothes-basket." Thus it is
something to see, through the vista of long years of po-
verty and privation, the promised glory of a scarlet
cloak! A capital plan, too, on the part of the society, to
servo hunger like a whale, and throw a tub" to it.
" To the married couple, the labourer and wife, who had
brought up the greatest number of children with little or
no parochial relief, was given, not a flitch of bacon, as
was formerly the case, but a gammon thereof." We think
the " gammon" peculiarly significant. It offers, too, a
delicious illustration of the charity of the Dunmow So-
ciety, for truly these rewards are gammon-411 gammon
—and nothing but gammon.—Punch.
LONDON MECHANICS' INSTITUTE, SOUTHAMPTON..
BUILDINOS.—Last evening a special general meeting of
numbers was held in the Theatre of the Mechanics' In-
stitute, to receive the report of the building committee
respecting the late alterations that have been made in
the building. Mr. Vallentine having been called to the
chair, Mr. Wood read the report, which stated that au
enlarged reading-room had been constructed. The
library,committee, and apparatus rooms had been re-
moved, and the several departments mentioned had been
finished, and furnished for 3821. 13s. Bd., which left of
the building fund raised a balance of 94 Amongs the
snbscribers were Lord Brougham, 25/. ; Lord Dudley
Coutts Stuart, 54 ; Lord Kinnaird, 5/. ; Lord Clarendon,
51. ; Christopher Davy, Esq., 10/.los. ; Richard Taylor,
Esq., 54 ; and Thomas Birkbeck, Esq., Si. Upon the
motion of Mr. Smythe the report was adopted, after
which and votes of thanks to the building committee, the
subscribers, and the chairman, the meeting separated.
TROOPS FOR IRELAND.--PORTSMOUTH, OCT.
The Government having determined on increasing the
military force in Ireland, the Admiralty have received
instructions to send a battalion of marines thither. Two
hundred men will be sent from each of the four divisions,
with a lieutenant colonel to command them. The Dee,
Rhadamanthus, and other steam transports will be em-
ployed in conveying the troops. Captains Evans and
Elliott, with four subalterns, are to accompauy the de-
taohment from the Portsmouth division.

THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 2, 1846.