The Sun.
London, England, 1846-06-08 00:00:00

TURLOGH O'BRIEN. No. 111.

We congratulate the author of this serial fiction upon
a certain degree of improvement in its composition ;
and his readers will doubtless congratulate themselves
upon the dramatic incidents which the plot is develop-
ing. The castle (in whose vicinity the occurrences of
the narrative have hitherto been laid) is subjected in
the present number to a siege from certain predatory
assailants ; but, as might have been predicated from
preceding circumstances, the defenders promise to keep
them at bay yet awhile, if not entirely to nullify their
machinations. Phiz's illustration to this point of the
story is a right spirited etching, the grouping of which
is artistic ; and the attitudes into which several of the
figures are thrown, though difficult in their extreme
peculiarity, are nevertheless elegantly and naturally pen-
cilled. We have observed that the number as a literary
composition is an improvement upon its predecessors,
and it is so inasmuch as there is less of that wordiness
which we have already particularised as most reprehen-
sible in the style of the writer. Our surprise at this
peculiar failing in his productions is somewhat height-
ened, we will confess, at discovering in him one of the
popular contributors to the Dublin University Magazine.
We should have imagined the pupilage which he had
undergone in lavishing his midnight oil upon that mis-
cellany would have diminished his reckless expenditure
of diction. However, as he appears to have acquired an
inkling of the blemish, we shall anticipate a modifica-
tion in his future use of abjectives. iVous verrons !

THE LA TV LEXICON; or, Dictionary of Jurispru •
dente. By .I. J. S. Wharton, Esq., S.C.L., of St.
Mary's College, Oxford. Part I.
If the subsequent parts of this very useful compilation
are equal to this; the first part, Mr. Wharton will have
c •flterred a very great obligation on the public, and on
the legal profession, by its publication. It is a work that
has' to ,g been wetted, for the existing law dictionaries
have, in consequence of the numerous recent alterations
in the law, become" almOst obsolete. Mr. Wharton pro-
tnises to give in this Law Lexicon an explanation of all
the technical words and phrases employed in the several
departments of English law, including the various legal
terms used in commercial transactions, together with an
explanatory as %Nell .as literal translation of the Latin
maxims contained in the writings of the ancient and mo-
dern commentators. The first part contains the whole
of the letter A, and he has, as far as he has gone, per-
formed his promise perfectly. As a specimen of the
manner in which he has executed his task, we give his
account of the rules to be observed in interpreting Acts
of Parliament.

" The principal rules for the interpretation of Acts of Par-
liament are the following:-1, That a statute begins to ope-
rate ..rom the time when it receives the royal assent, un-
less otherwise provided for. But where an Act expires
before a Bill continuing it has received the royal assent,
the latter Act takes effect from the expiration of the former,
unless otherwise provided, and except as to penalty. (48
Geo. 111, c. 106). 2- It is to be construed equitably, not
according to its mere letter, but the intent and object with
which it was made ; 3, that these points be considered—the
old law, the mischief, and the remedy ; 4, that a remedial
statute be more liberally, and a penal more strictly con-
strued ; 5, in construing a statute, all other such statutes
made in pan materid, ought to be taken into consideration ;
6, a statute which treats of things and persons of an inferior
rank, cannot by any general words be extended to those
of a superior ; 7, where the provision of a statute is general,
everything which is necessary to make such provision
effectual, is supplied by the common law ; 8, a subsequent
statute may repeal a prior one, not only expressly but by
implication, as when it is contrary thereto, i. e. so clearly
repugnant that it necessarily implies a negative. But if the
Acts can stand together, they shall have a concurrent effi-
cacy; 9, if a statute, that repeals another, is subsequently
repealed, the repealed statute revives without any formal
words ; and 10, Acts of Parliament derogatory from the
power of subsequent Parliaments do not bind."

HOW TO SPEAK AND WRITE FRENCH
CORRECTLY. By D. AL Aird.
We recently took occasion to recommend Mr. Aird's
" Self-Instructing Grammar" to the notice of all stu-
dents in the French language, and we mentioned it as
a really successful and meritorious undertaking. Many
obstacles which had blemished the works of previous
French grammarians were in that little volume re-
moved, or brought so nearly to a level with the under-
standing of youth, as to facilitate his progress in the
acquisition of that knowledge very remarkably. In the
present book we conceive that the author has attempted
something yet more difficult—he has had more obstruc-
tions to subvert in its composition; he has had to tax
his ingenuity and to simplify his explanations to an ex-
tent which we should imagine would have allayed his
enthusiasm in the cause—but that the product of that
enthusiasm is now lying upon our escritoire.
Mr. Aird has evidently laboured, upon the
principle that pronunciation can be taught through
black and white, and he endeavours to prove the
accuracy of that principle by publishing this volume.
Now for our own part we aro sceptical, we snust acknow-
,leJge, as to the possibility of learning the right pro-
nunciation of an idiom through anything but oral
tuition. If we were all of us Mezzofantes, the im-
pediment would be merely nominal, but being as we
are, and looking, for example, at some of those guttural
combinations o consonants in the German, we are
(again we say it) sceptical. Howbeit, if the pronuncia-
tion of the French language can be taught " by the
book," we would hazard the opinion that Mr. Aird's
book will do so. That it will enable any one with
ordinary capacity to write the language correctly we
are satisfied, and that too in a remarkably short l eriod.
The author will not accuse us of pedantry if we object
to the publication in the first page of
such an aphorism
as—

(, La terre tourne, mais non le soleil."
It is an oversight which might impress the mind of
childhood with a wrong image. The work, however, is
good, and practically good.

SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING AN
AMENDMENT IN THE LAW.
On Saturday a general meeting of the members and
friends of the above society took place in their rooms,
21, Regent-street. The meeting was very numerously
attendedby
withnoblementhe
anda,nd gentlemen, particularly those
connected
law,amongst those present were
the Dukes of Rutland, Cleveland, and Richmond, the
Marquises of Normanby and Clanricarde, Earl Radnor,
Lords Monteagle, Beaumont, Denman, and Brougham,
Sir John Stoddart, Mr. Sergeant D'Oyly, Mr. Commis-
sioner Fane, Mr. Commissioner Evans, &c., k°-
Lord BROUGHAM was unanimously
chair, and observed that they had met to
of considerth law—
subject of the promotion of the amendment
called to
the
ee
fourteen motnhs
arvdiewit
views It
It was within the last twelve or .
a subject which required the most important considera-
that the time the
on'
esta-
blished on sound principles and
during was
that the society had been establirsahteid
highly gratifying
to state,
society had been in
first
operation,
it had
made
°consi-
derable progress. They had formed themselves
"
into committees divided into the respective subjects of
the criminal and equity law, as also the law affect-
ing real property, who had severally made reports,
and it was at length thought time to call this general
meeting to have the subjects explained. The subject
was one in which he had long felt the deepest interest,
and although he was aware that the public had been
long doomed to disappointment, yet he thought the time
of disappointment was past, and that the time for
hope had arrived. He (Lord Brougham) had last ses-
sions introduced nine Bills to Parliament, four of
which had become the law of the land, which were
Acts for the extinction of terms, the promotion of cheap
conveyance, and those of debtor and creditor, abolishing
the imprisonment for debt ; the law of mesne
process having been previously abolished. Im-
prisonment for debt bad now ceased to exist in
this country, only as far as regarded punishment for
crime. It had been found that arrest in execution
was of no earthlx use whatever, the steps to which were
twelve, as stated by Mr. Commissioner Fane, all causing
considerable expense to thecreditor. Any man could now
apply for protection to the Court of Bankruptcy, and un-

less guilty of gross fraud or extravagance, that protection
would be granted. As regarded what might be deemed
extravagance, he would cite that of a man being pos-
sessed only of ss. going into Storr and Mortimer's and
ordering goods to the amount of 100/.---(Hear, hear)—
and then cheating them of their money. There was
great difference of opinion as to the abolition of the
imprisonment for debt, and the general opinion
was that the Legislature had gone a little too far in
the favour of the debtor, but they could not return. They
could not stop, and therefore they ought to give every
aid to the creditor. A case had occured in the Bank-
ruptcy Court, where a man had by defrauding his
creditors got 7001. in his possession, with vvhWh he
again set up in business, in the very town where he had
cheated his creditors. With a view of correcting such
a state of things, he intended to submit a Bill next
sessions. It was important to punishes man for fraud
and extravagance, but the Act for Abolishing Imprison-
ment for Small Debt had been passed in conse-
quence of the representation of such unspeakable horrors
as were endured by those imprisoned for small debts, nho
it was shown, suffered more than those imprisoned for
crimes ; and that, too, probably for debts rot exceed-
ing 405., mom, than would be endured for a debt of 4001.
___(Hear, hear.) It was, however, found that the
A fter
and alluding
criminal
to
inai
ma-
jority of debts were under 201., and now most men took
carethe annootmtaol
ieexsce
of the law,
edl9i.o
bothrl9 civil
191.
jurisdiction, his Lordship said that as every stihjoct was
boun 1 to obey the law. t, ey were entitled to know what
were the law, they had to obey, particularly as to the
criminal law, of whit h they ought to have a code they
could d and Hi Lordilip concluded by ca'ling on
L r I MON TEAGLE, who
proposed a resolution to the
Pl,,
'effect. " h 4 administering the law
t th pres nt mode of _
in tl e Court of Chancery was one of the greatest evils of
the country.
The r,solution was seconded by Mr Sergeant D'Oyly,
and carried.

A letter vas read from the Earl of Devon, apologising
for his absence.
posed acreSr)lu
The
law as res ti7oci;f CreLcAoNa.RmlC.?AndßDinEg, aai
mbprrieofv
espmeeencht
in
nprthe
-
peeted the transfer, &c., of real property, which
was seconded by
, ]
Mr. BETHELL, Q. C of t
Lord IF3EAumoivr and carried.
Chancery Bar, stated
many hardships to which suitors were subjected in the
Court of Chancery, and stated
de
latter,ehtaeen cottages,
from eighteen
a charity, the
funds of which were derived
had found it necessary to sell therrnd an order
was obtained for the purpose. The cotta
g.
1,600/., but the trustees had to pay casts asmolod
ufotr
ing to 1,400/.. thus rendering a manifest injury touti;
poor persons for whose benefit the charity had
been established. He was of opinion that there
should be a court of mediatiom, a judge at
chambers as in common-law. Take for example a maa
having a legacy of 1001. ; it would be all absorbed by the
present mode of procedure in the Court of Chancery, but
might be cheaply arranged by an appeal to a judge at
chambers.

Lord BROUGHAM said, that the latter suggestion was
entitled to the highest consideration.
[Here Lord Denman entered the room, and was re-
ceived with hearty cheers].
Mr. Commissioner PANE said that although there
were not less than 1,000 dishonest to one honest debtor,
yet he thought that the laws did not yet sufficiently
protect an honest debtor, while they were not stringent
enough for a dishonest debtor, or considerate to a
creditor. The Learned Commissioner concluded by
moving a resolution for the improvement of the law in
the above respect, which was seconded by
T. ELLIOTT, Esq., and carried unanimously.
The Duke of RICHMOND said that in his magisterial
capacity he was frequently called upon to administer
laws which were a disgrace to the statute-book. Chil-
dren of nine, ten, and eleven years of age, at the
sessions found guilty of minor charges of felony,
and being branded with felony, it was dif-
ficult afterwards to get them to pursue an hunest
course, and under all circumstances he should be de-
sirous to get rid of such an evil. The Noble Duke
concluded by moving a resolution for the amendment of
the criminal law.

The motion was seconded by the Marquis of NOR•
MANBY. and carried unanimously.
After thanks to the Noble Chairman, the meeting
broke up.

VISIT OF PRINCE ALBERT AND
THE ROYAL CHILDREN TO THE SURREY

ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS:
On Saturday his Royal Highness Prince Albert,
accompanied by the Prince of Wales, the Princess
Royal, and the Princess Alice, and attended by Colonel
Bouverie and the Dowager Lady Lyttelton, paid a
visit to the Surrey Zoological Gardens.
At ten o'clock it was announced to Mr. Tyler, the
proprietor of the g•irdens, that his. Reval ..Highness
Prince Albert and the royal children had just drawn
up to the New-street entrance to the gardens. That
gentleinan, who up to that moment was q&te uncon-
scious of the honour of a royal visit, hurried to the gate,
and was in time to receive his royal and distinguished
visitors. The Prince, nceotopanied by the childrer,
and attended, as above stated, by Lady Lyttelton and
Colonel•Bouverie„ perambulated the gardens fur nearly
an hour, and attentively viewed the varied scenes and
objects there. The antelopes recently presented by her
Gracious Majesty to the proprietor of the gardens were
viewed by the royal party, as were also the wild ani-
mals; but the view of Mount Vesuvius, painted by
Danson on about a couple of acres of canvas, seemed to
attract the particular attention, not only of the royal
parent, but of his Royal Highness's beautiful and inte-
resting children.
The royal party left the gardens by the entrance in
Manor-place, but before doing so Prince Albert ex-
pressed to Mr. Tyler his gratification at the arrange-
ments of the entire establishment under his ma-
nagement.