The Sun.
London, England, 1851-05-13 00:00:00

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LITERATURE.
MIRIAM SEDLEY ; or, THE TARES AND
THE WHEAT. A Tale of Real Life. By
Lady Buiwer Lytton, 3 Vols. Shobcrl.
Lady Baivver Lytton, in a lively French dedica-
tion, presents these volumes to the Countess Hen-
riette D'Angeville, in which dedication her Ladyship's
rem..rkt on her own countrywomen are an} thing but
complimentary, e.g.:—" EG ce n'est point eminent,
vu que l'idolatrie du veau d'or snit notre mitre na-
tional, quelques belles et bonnes exceptions plea, la
femelle Britannique (animal sans cceur et sans te!e,
inedite par Buffon) est vraiment one uullite odieuse
et voila pourquoi le commerce social est une chose
incomprise chez nous ; car tandis que la Prance a
produit tent de femmes celebres et de grander dames.
I'Angleterre ne fait guer'e que mettre bas (et a bas)
des fernebes, des femmelettes, et des fine ladies. La
premiate ne sait rien, la seconde ne flit rien, et
la troisierne ne dit rien." The plot of "Miriam
Sedley" is slight, and possessed of little or no roman •
tic interest, it may rather be regarded as the connect-
ing link of a series of lively sketches and observations,
for the most part brilliant, occasionally truthful and
beautiful, hut more often sarcastic and even laid soil
pen spiteful ; as, for example, the above quoted re-
marks from the dedication. Among the most truth-
fal and sensible advice bestowed by Lady Buiwer
upon her fair readers are some excellent recommen-
dations to good housekeeping and the care of
invalids. Her remarks on the requisites for
a good attendant in a sick chamber are full
of practical utility, and her enumeration of
the excellences of good cookery and plain work
versus crochet and Berlin wool, would satisfy M.
Sayer or Mrs. Ellis... rve no toleration," says
"for a woman who cannot do every sort of
plain work, both neatly and expeditiously; tor there
is something unfeminine in this sort of incapacity,
and an unwomanly woman is always detestable.
Must of us take naturally to Berlin work and em-
broidery; they are a part of our organization, like
hysterics and fainting-tits; but what can be a greater
incarnation of discomfort and disgust than one of
your dawdling, desultory women, who neither do nor
know how to do anything about a house, but accu-
mulate disorder and privations for themselves and
every one about them." Good practical teach-
ing such as this is seldom put before the
novel reader, and such observations contrast
somewhat strangely with the flippant sarcasm and
not very gentle severity to be met with in other
chapters of " Miriam Sedley." Although "variety
is proverbially " charming," it should be, neverthe-
less, characterised by a certain amount of congruity,
quality in which Lady Bulwer's very " various
observations are strangely deficient. Fur example,
we are at one moment charmed with some beautiful

COURT CIRCULAR. 'see,
The Queen gave last evening a Concert, to which a
of between three and tour hundred, comprising the Ro
Family, and illustrious Foreign Visitors, the Diploma a,
Co-ps, and a numerous circle of. the principal nobility .n.
were invited.
Her Royal Highness the DucheFs of Kent arrived at
Buckiegharn Palace, accompanied by her Royal Highness
the Princess Mary of Cambridge, an i attended by Lady F.
Howard, Baroness de Spear', and Lord James P. Murray.
His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge was attended
by the Hon. Janice Macdonald.
His Royal Highness the Prince Henry of the Netherlands
arrived at half-past nine o'clock, attended by the Chevalier
Van Rippard and the Chevalier de Casembroot.
The general company were ushered on their arrival to the
Picture Gallery.
Shortie before ten o'clock the Queen and Prince Albert
were conducted by the Lord Chamberlain to the Grand
Saloon, which was fitted up for music. Her Majesty and
-his Royal Highness were accompanied by their 'Royal
Highnesses the Duchess of Kent, the Duke of Cambridge,
the Princess Mary, the Prince and Princess of Prussia,
Prince Frederick William of Prussia, Prince Henry of the
"Netherlande, and his Serene Highness Prince Edward of
Saxe Weimar. The ladies and gentlemen in waiting cn her
Majesty and Prince and their royal guests, attended the
august circle, and were followed into the saloon bv the as-
sembled company.
The concert then commenced. lir. Coats presided at the
pianoforte.
Refreshments were served to the company during the
evening, and at eleven o'clock supper was served in the
principal dining-room.
The following had the honour of receiving invitations:—
His Serene Highness Prince Edward of Saxe Weimar, the
Belgian Minister and Madame Van de Weyer, the Bavarian
Minister and Baroness de Cetto, the Argentine Minister, the
Russian Minister and Baroness de Brunnow, the Sicilian
Minister, the Hanoverian Minister, the Prussian Minister,
and Madame Bunsen, the Brazilian Minister and. Madame
Merritt-1s -Lieboa, the Danish Minister and Countess de Re-
ventiuw, the Netherlands Minister and Countess Scheme
melpenniuck, the Swedish and Norwegian Minister and
Baroness Rehausen, the Costa Rica Minister, the Bolivian
Minister, the lioited States Minister and Mrs. Lawrence, the
Sp Minister, the Sardinian Minister, the Greek Minis-
ter and Madame Tricoupi, the Nicaragua Minister,- the
Turkish Minister, the Austrian Chargé d'Affaires, the
French Charge d'Affaires, the Portuguese Charge d'Affaires,
the Mexican Charge d'Affaires, the Peruvian Charge
d'Affaires, the Tuscan Minister, the Countess A. de Hacke,
the Countess Louise Oriolla, Count Pukler, Major von
Boyen Count Gultz, Colonel Fischer, Lieutenant von Heinz,
the Chevalier van Rappard, the Chevalier de Casembroot,
Baroness de Speth, Count de Flahault, Prince
Monsier de Viebabm, Count Harrach, Monsieur Stein, Baron
C. Dupin, Prince Victor Bariatinsky, &c , &c.
The Queen and Prince Albert with the Prince of Wales
and Prince Alfred, ac ompanied'by the Prince and Princess
of Prussia, and Prince Frederick William of Prussia, paid an
early visit yesterday to the Exhibition of the Industry of all
Nations in Hyde•park. The Royal suites consisted of the
Countess A. de Hacke, the Hun. Eleanor Stanley, Colonel
the Hon. Charles Grey, and Lieutenant-Colonel Francis
Hugh Seymour.
i rince Albert afterwards went to the opening of the
Museum of Practical Ge, logy, in Jermyn-street. His Royal
Highness was attended by Lord George Lennox, Colonel the
Honourable Charles Grey, and Lieutenant-Colonel F. S.
Seymour.
The Prince was received at the Museum by Lord Seymour
Chief Commissioner of the Woods and Forests, and by the
fallowing officers of the Museum, viz.. Sir H. T De la Beebe,
Dr. Lyon Playfair, Professor Forbes, Professor Ramsay, Mr.
R. Hunt, and Mr. T. Reeks.
Prince Albert returned to Buckingham Palace shortly be-
fore two o'clock.
Prince Albert presided, at three o'clock in the afternoon,
'at a meeting of the Royal Commission for :he Exhibition of
the Works ef Industry of all Nations. His Royal Highness
arrived at the Exhibition building in Hyde-park, attended
by Lieut.-Colonel Hon. C. B. Phipps, and Lieut.-Colonel F.
H. Seymour.
The Commissioners present were the Earl of Roses, the
Right Hon. W. E. Gladstone, M.P., Sir Richard Westma-
cott, Sir Charles Lyell, Mr. Barry, Mr. Thomas Bazley,
Mr. Cobden, hI.P., Mr. Cubitt, Mr. T. F. Gibson, Mr. John
Gott, Mr. Philip Pusey, M.P. Mr. Robert Stephenson, M.P.,
Mr. John Shepherd, and Mr. Alderman Thompson, M.P.
Sir Stafford Northcote, Mr. Scott Russell, and Mr. Edgar
Bowring, Secretaries to the Royal Commissioners, were i
attendance.
Colonel Reid, Chairman of the Executive Committee; 1)r.
Lyon Playfair, and Colonel Lloyd, Special Commissionera,
were present.
The meeting broke up at a quarter before five o'clock.
Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent and her Royal
Highness the Princess of Prussia, went to Claremont yes-
terday, and visited the Duchess d'erleans and the Duchess
de Nemours.
The Prince of Prussia, Prince Frederic William, and the
Princess Louise of Prussia, attended by Countess A. de
Hacke, the Countess Oriolla, lion. Beatrice Byng, Lord
Waterpark, Major Von Boyen, Colonel Fischer, anthLieu-
tenant Von Heitz, left Buckingham Palace, at twelve
o'clock yesterday, travelled by the Great Western Railway
to Windsor, anti immediately proceeded to the Castle, where
luetheon was served.
In the afternoon the Royal party took a drive in three
open carriages and four, eau visited the gardens at Frog-
more.
At a quarter-past four o'clock 'he illustrious party returned
to Buckingham Palace, travelling to town by the Great
Western Railway.
Prince Arthur and the Princesses Helena and Louisa took
a drive esteralay, in an open carriage and four.
A deputation, on the suoject of bonding foreign goods in
Manchester, had an interview with the Chancellor of the
Exchequer yesterday, at his t fficial residence in Downing.
street. The deputatior censisted of Mr Thomas Agnew
(Mayor of Salturd), yli. 'i homes Bazley (Chairman of the
Chamber of Comm -ree, Manchester), Mr. James Aspival
Turner (Chairman of the Manchester Commercial Associa-
ion), Mr. Alderman walker (Manchester), Mr. Alderman
Kay (Salford), and Messrs. James Atherton, Wm. Gibb,
Tuoneas Benvoe, 1 ye. Mackie, John Hunter, and N.
Crompton (Manchester). The deputation was accompa-
nied by the Right lien. I'. Milner Gibson, M.P., Mr.
Bright, M.P., elr. W. T. Egerton, M.P., di r. J. Brother-
ton, M.P., Mr. J. Kershaw, Mr. Duncuft, M.P., Mr.
Brown, M.P., Mr. Alex Hem), M.P., and Mr. C. Hind-
ley, M.P.
Sir James Brooke had an interview yesterday with Lord
John Russell, ~t his official residence in Downing stre t.
Sir William Gibson Craig, Mr. J. R. Gardiner, Mr. Cheri-
tun Lane, Mr. 0. K. Davis, and Mr: Simpson, had an in-
terview
with Lord Seymour relative to the improvement of
Kenning on-common, at the office of her Majesty's Com-
missioners of Woods and Forests, in Whitehall-place, yes'
terday.
Mr.
try sMorris d
a (from had an interview with Earl
ee
Mr
atGreyye the
Canada)
Colonial
_o
Sir M. Barrington, Bart., and • Jeffers, had an :,inter-
view with the Commissioners of Railways yesterday at the
Baldwin
and of Trade. Mr. Thornely, M.P., and Messrs.
and Bew (of Bilston), had an interview on Saturday with
the Commissioners.
Mr. 'etlrymple had an interview yesterday with Lord
John Russell.
Lady John Russell's party, in Dow ning-street, for May
'4, is unavoidably postponed trzaJune 4.

passage like the following :—"But, in either instance,
whether our lot be evasion or execution, it teaches
that one great truth, that on God alone we must de-
pend, and that there is no appeal from man but to
Him ; and then, come what may, we shall still be-
lieve that whatever is, is right, however wrong the
means may appear that are employed to achieve it,
for everything leads one to suppose that that
strange and complicated tissue, called human
destinies, must be the tapestry of heaven,
which, like every other, is always worked on
the wrong side, showing us nothing but the cross-
grained shreds and nottings here, and which there
alone we shall behold as a beautiful and finished
whole. Laying down my load for the present,"
adds Miriam, " I knelt down and prayed. Oh
blessed boon of God to mortals, prayer is the electric
telegraph of heaven : it asks for mercy and the in-
stantaneous answer from above is peace." And then,
shortly afterwards, we are grieved to find a hand
that can pen graceful compliments as well as Chris-
tian truths condescending to set forth thoughts so un-
courteous and uncharitable as those contained
in a foot-note complimenting Thackeray—" the
only English novelist deserving that name." The
concluding sentences of this note will convey an idea
of the good taste and refinement of the whole passage :
" It is much to be regretted, for his own sake that Mr.
Thackeray should be splashed by the literary mud of
his present entourage; but as he appears to have the
feelings of a gentleman, and neither blows a black-
smith's bellows of self-praise, charged with hyper-
boreen German plagiarisms, or writes vulgar carica-
ture (!) of wsiiers eatirig up schooihoys' dinners, at
inns, or all sorts of fine sentiments against cruelty and
injustice, the better to toady and herd with all that
is most loathsome in moral depravity, it is to be
hoped he will soon emancipate himself." It
we filled twenty columns with a criticism
of " Miriam Sedley " we could hardly give
our readers a more just idea of its peculiarities,
both of style and sentiment, than the above brio
specimens: may suffice to convey. Recognizing the
talent inaeifested in this productionhwe feel assured
that Lady Bul weer Lytton might bestow upon us tar
more interesting and valuable works if she would
condescend to give her readers credit for good tastr
and kindly feeling, and if she would, moreover, re
nielnher that in order to be " brilliant" and " sar-
castic" it is not absolutely necessary to be un-
charitable or untrue.

THE LIFE OF COLUMBUS, By Horace

St. John.

The author of this admirable little work has com-
pressed into a very small compass a succinct narrative
of the life and adventures of the great discoverer of
America, and Ir.s defended, and successfully defended,
the character of his hero against the accusations
which the envy of contemporaries had brought against
him, and which the apathy of posterity had, in tou
many instances, left uninvestigated, and, consequently,
unrefuted. We know no work so admirably suited
a 3 a prize-book for schools as the " Life of Colum-
bus" by Horace St. John.

LONDON AND ITS VICINITY. Edited and
Published by John Weale.
A compact and comprehensive guided-book to the
metropolis has in this volume been produced at a
reasonable price, and at a time singularly opportune.
Besides containing an admirable map, the work is
embellished with 205 illustrations. It elucidates the
natural as well as the physical characteristics of
London, with an account of its antiquity and its
architecture. The portions of the letter-press relat-
ing to its arts, trades, manufactures and organization
will no doubt be peculiarly acceptable to the majority
of foreigners, while the more intelligent among them
will, of course, regard with no small amount of in-
terest the sketch given of its social, literary and
scientific institutions. Sight-seers, again, will turn
with no slight curiosity to the numerous galleries of
fine arts in the capital and its vicinity ; and these in-
quiries will be rewarded, moreover, by a large fund of
valuable and interesting information.

MAGAZINES, &c.—(CONTINUED

COLBURN'S UNITED SERVICE.

The present number of Colburn opens with the
introductory paper of .what promises to be a valuable
series "The History of the British Conquests in
India," by Horace St. John. The object of the
'writer is to prove how utterly unfounded are the
charges of unprincipled aggression which have been
brought against the East India Company. The
paper is well written, and displays great research,
the writer quoting his authority for every statement
made and every assertion advanced, and we rout
confess that, as far as he has gone, he has coniplete!y
made out his case. Another most valuable article lan
this number is the paper of the designs of Aus ,
in
in which the writer proves that the imeutes
Tuscany and other parts of Italy were..the work of
Austrian emissaries, in order to give the
upgation of
red Emperor an excuse for the military
aggression in
the Duchy, and that the recent I?
Austrian manceuvre, as
our own country was also an
a proof of which it may beto mentioned that Cardinal
almost
the
eord John Russell from
Wiseman dated his letter
only persons in this
Vienna, and that
country who have
Cardinal
to eulogise the monster
Wiseman and Mr. John
Haynau have been
O'Connell. The author of " Singleton Fontenoy"
brings to a close his amusing. account of "
Naval Career," and Captain Bellew continues his
"Narrative of the Campaign in Arracan." The
other articles in this number are all above the usual
average.

TEE CO3IIC HISTORY OF RomE. By
the Author of the Conde History of England.
Illustrated by John Leech. Part 1.
Right glad are we to meet Messrs. A'Beckett and
Leech once again in the field. A right merrie his-
tory doth this of Rome promise to be, and veracious
and impartial—a matter to which it would have been
better that historians of greater pretensions, the
wordy Alison for example, should have attended. The
illustrations are glorious. The illustration on the
cover is alone worth all the money charged for the
part.

SCHOOL SERIES. Edited by the Rev. G. A•
Gleig, M." • Third Book of .History.—British
India.
This is an excellent number of the valuable school
series publishing by Messrs. Longman. We have
here in the small compass of 126 pages a resume of
the history of the provinces constituting British
India from the earliest ages, down to the conclusion of
the second Punjaub war under the Governor-General-
ship of the Marquis of Dalhousie.

THE GREAT EXIIIIIITION.—Yesterday it rained
heavily during the afternoon, and so unfavourable was the
state of the weather that we expected to find the Crystal
Palace half deserted. Public curiosity has, however, great
perseverance when once fairly excited, and, notwithstanding
so formidable a drawback, 1,600/. was taken in ss. payments
at the door. The sale of season tickets also experienced a
decline, but not so great as might have been expected for
nearly 750/. was collected in this way, the average
ehajoimng.,
for seine days past considerably exceeded 500/.
Com-
mission have, after lengthenei consideration, settled
jurors
specifically than hitherto the
thenrunds upon c„
weihriaeliberations
shall make their awards, bat results ofth
be kept private.
with reference to this subject will, it is said,
WooLsvicir.
VISIT OF THE DUKE OF CAM ,ib
more
liDnqinLTugn°adrrreisssonunai7oeratm-,
—NAY 12.—The whole of the trofpl:
bled at half-past nine o'clock A.. t_o_ day
and proceeded to the common
Be. 11; the 17th Lancers,
ileiiinter o'clock—tbe Horse Ar-
tillery, under Lieutenant
under Lieutenant-Cdlone
i ht under Lieutenant-Colouel
LG°Awrenson the Foot Artillery,
in three battalions, the
was attached Captain Harri-
s' n ers dismounted, and
wi gu n
son's 12-pounder
po der battery, with gunners dia.
Williams, the centre
ter
Captain Freer 's
Le:lilt-Colonel Stowe, the left battalion
ITh eV k
under mounted) u
LieutenantnderLColone horn dike, e, and the three batta-
lions under Colonel Cruttenden ; the Royal Marines, under
Lieutenant-Colonel e
u nant-Colonel Pratt; and the light field batteries of
Artillery, under Lieutenant-Colonel Anderson. On the line
being formed on the common it extended to such a length
from the south edge of the barrack-field that the Horse
Artillery on the extreme right were out of sight of the posi-
tion at the flag staff, the entire line extending, although
formed at an angle, across the common to near the Shooter's-
hill-road. Lieutenant-General Sir Thomas Downman, C. 8.,
LC H., accompanied by his staff, arrived shortly before
eleven o'clock, and joined his Royal Highness the
Duke of Cambridge, who had
His Royal Highness, just arrived in plain clothes.
accompanied by Sir Thomas Down-
man, then proceeded to the part of the common where the
17th Lancers were drawn up in line, the Duke of Cam-
bridge being Colonel of that gallant corps, and Lieutenant-
Colonel Lawrenson rode forward to meet his Royal Highness.
The troops afterwards broke into open columns and marched
past at slow time, each band playing their respective corps
past the Lieutenant-General. The Royal Horse Artillery
and the 17th Lancers changed their fronts, and returned at
a canter. The troops were again drawn up on the hill, tour
troops of the Lancers on the extreme right, and tweo.ti:..ern
on the extreme left, and his Royal Highness insprema w
arched
in that position. At the conclusion, the troops ughala
past at quick time, and proceeded to their barr.atc . _
after twelve o'clock his Royal Highness let t"
t to visit the
cSomhomrtolya
with Lieutenant-Colonel Lawrenson, and wen
barracks of his regiment in the West-square.
......adr. Beard, of
DAGUERREOTYPE PORTRAITS. .
hgeuenirraeon!
improvements he has succeeded
eans of which it is not liable
X i n g - W illia m- at ree t, has recently
yme
mina deednketidncgaonniosnti
siatthesreotiDo
ata
mode of '
_ypv re
mon
be washed like an oil paint-
: ype process. The latest improvement
. namelling the silver plate,
a be tarnished, and it may .
any injury advantage does not
ing without sustaining
under this improved process the
' and depth of tone hitherto un-
attainable,eoloare acquire a brilliancy_ .
stop here, however, for
f i t bear comparison
and some of the specimens now exhibited in Mr.
rLa‘guv..-erreotype portraits appear so harsh and
.with the best miniatures.
TSheaerde'asrgliaelrle
crude in contrast with those now produced, that it is difficult
to persuade oneself they are results of the same process.
--Times.
W e are happy to inform the public that many
valuable specimens of natural history have been this week
sdded to the Hon. East India Company's museum, Leaden-
tall-street, among which the following are worthy of no-
tice :—Ovis Ammon, male and female, from Thibet; Otis
111ahura, male and female, from Thibet; Ovis Yignei, inale
Ovis Yignei, domestic sheep of Thibet; Capra. domestic.ang,
goat; Capra Ibex, domestic goat of Kumaon ;
Captain
wild ass of Thibet ; Tetrcerus Quadricornis, the
by
s-horned
antelope. The whole of them have been presented.s J____,_ ,„.
R. Strachey, to whom the natural historiani
by Mr. 43. .
debted ; and beautifully stuffed and arranged
and to the British
B-ker, animal preserver to the Comp
n in Europe.
to be the most successful animal preserver
Museum, who is admitted by scientific naturalists generally
number of the Illustrated
have now before us the second
THE DALTON S. No. lII]. By Charles Lever. TUE FRENCH ILLUSTRATED LONDON NEWS.—We
London News in French. It is admirablyhenwe consider the "
Amusingly, as after the wont of Mr. Lever's pure French (no small praise
Strat-
fictions, the three roads of life are traversed—the in-rinted, and the illustrations are
cidents and accidents encountered suggesting, as ford by the
is carefully
earndderooorfreacrt y
Bowe" stylei ofm wuch of our newspaper French),
art. psVe congratulate the spirited pro-
hitherto, comical etchings to Phil. Without marring of. h
the interest of the story, it may be tliiserved that the of journalism.
prietorsgon the complete success of au experiment wholly
unique in the history
narrative has so far advance] that Frank has at length
visited his uncle, and that Mrs. Rick m
ett's "at hoe " LEAMINGTON ARCIIERY MEETING.---ThiS meeting
will take place at Leamington on the 25th sad 26th
_Jost:
bas' at length been disturbed. Wi th the number just instead of the 26th and 27th, as Atated in our paper of yea
issued the second volume has been .cuamenceci. tvrclily.

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