The Sun.
London, England, 1851-08-04 00:00:00

THE QUARTERLIES.

THE BRITISH QUARTERLY No. XXVII.
Intelligence and variety have all along proved
themselvts perhaps the most prominent characteris-
tics of this now firmly established periodical. Its
reputation in regard to these merits cannot be in any
degree diminished by the current number just issued
from the press, a number which displays a singular
diversity in the materials selected for criticism, and
an equally noticeable ability in the style of the prin-
cipal contributions. In the opening article the
reader is instructed as to certain remarkable theories
in reference to the cause of " Human Progression,"
and the reviewer takes occasion to explain from
these the nature of the development of civilization.
After this brilliant paper comes a delightful criticism
on "Dramatic Poetry in the Age of Elizabeth," a
chapter very curious of its kind, having
reference to such writers as George Peele,
as Robert Greene, as Christopher Marlow,
as Philip Henslowe, and as John Lyley, with
especial allusion also to such plays as " Ferrex
and Porrox," as "Appins and Virginia," as "Gammer
Gurton's Needle," as " Tancred and Gismunda," or
as " Alexander, Campaspe, and Diogenes." From
the subsequent attempts of Thomson and Sheridan
Knowles two of these dramas possess a peculiar in-
terest for the reviewers of English literature.
" Thoughts on the Labour Question" is the indefinite
but suggestive title of the next contribution, and this
again is followed by a very readable review of "
Ilauff" and the German Romancists. Besides
these papers the British Quarterly contains others of
various tendency, some of them marked by very nar-
row views and prejudices, others conspicuous for
their evidences of enlightenment. Possibly the most
interesting of these to the philosophic inquirer will
be the one on "The Correlation of the Physical
Forces," and to the provincial reader the one relating
to the condition of the great shires of York and Lan-
caster.

LITERATURE.
MELB URN : a Vision. Hope and Co.
Happily for the writer of this little volume it has
come forth anonymously. It cannot, consequently,
reflect upon herself personally the ridicule which
would be inevitable on the part of that jolter-headed
critic, the public. We say " herself " advisedly, be-
cause the effusion is evidently from a mind by no
means whatever masculine. We speak of the public
(and we include ourself amongst the number) thus
disparagingly, because, on the part of the authoress,
we are indignant that nowhere can be discerned the
genius she evidently fancied would be, at little more
than a glance, recognised. On the contrary, it must
be confessed by the majority of those who find cou-
rage enough to read a dozen or so of these closely-
printed pages, that they would more reasonably ex-
pect to find the Preface dated from the vicinity
of Bedlam than from the precincts of Par-
nassus. " Melburn" is called " a Vision," and
yet more boldly, a little lower down on
the title-page, "a poem." If it does not begin like
" The Doetor " at the seventh chapter, it commences
with the conclusion, for the—a-hem--" poem " be-
fore us is announced at its very outset to be the sequel
to a larger work, of which it is the avowed precursor.
It reminds us of Mrs. Malaprop's direction to David
in the last act of The Rivals, —" You lead the way,
and we'll precede !" Fancy, at the very opening of
the book a description of the northern regions of frost,
where certain outlandish trees are said to-
-6 6

Bend 'neath the weight of icicles and snow,
Thro' which prismatic lamps of lightning glow;
Where lucent ice drops in long crystals clear,
Droop all aroaud a lustrous chandelier!"
Why, Martinus Scribblerus never gave a more dia-
bolical example of bathos than this. A "chandelier"
at the North Pole—and " lamps" of lightning—and
lightning that " glows;" it smells of midnight oil,
and goosequills poddened in ink, and not one jot, we
can assure the writer of genius or of inspiration. Then
imagine anyone presuming to aim at poetry, with such
a worse than cockney, with such an absolutely cruel
and excruciating rhyme as this, in the third page--
" All thickly laden with bright silvery crust,
Like gems embedded, seem with light to burst."
The sound of it sets our teeth on edge like the
sharpening of a rusty saw. Poetry ! Pshaw, the
book is rather the saddest outpouring of the most me-
lancholy evidence of delirium.

SUDDEN DEATH.—On Saturday night an inquest
was held at the Red Lion, Strand, on the body of Thomas
Gill, whose real name is Edsforth, machinist at the Strand
Theatre, now known as Punch's Playhouse. The deceased
was thirty-nine years of age, and was well known by country
managers as an ingenious and clever machinist. He was
found dead in his bed. Evidence was given to show that he
had died of a disease of the heart, and the jury returned a
verdict of "Natural Death."

THE CONVICT SARAH BARBER.—A petition, which
in the course of three days has obtained 5,088 signatures,
was forwarded on Saturday from Nottingham to the Home-
office for presentation to her Majesty, praying for a commu-
tation of the sentence of death passed at the last assizes upon
the wretched woman Sarah Barber, whose execution is an-
nounced to take place on Wednesday next.
VISIT OF PRINCE ALBERT TO SOUTHAMPTON...-.
His Royal Highness Prince Albert, accompanied by Colonel
Phipps, landed on Friday afternoon in the Southampton
Docks, en route to Bishopstoke station, on a visit to the Rev.
Dr. Gamier, Dean of Winchester, and to inspect the beautiful
gardens and grounds attached to the dwelling of the Deanery.
The Prince returned to the Docks shortly after six, the Royal
yacht Fairy, under charge of Commander Crispin, R.N., en-
tering the tidal basin at the same moment with her Majesty
and the Royal children on board. While waiting a few mi-
nutes before embarking, his Royal Highness entered into con-
versation with Captain Peacock, the Superintendent of the
Docks, as to the size and capabilities of the new West India
mail steam-ship Parana, and other matters connected with
the docks. The Fairy left the docks for Osborne Bay amid
loud and hearty cheers from a great number of persons who
had been attracted thither by the news of a visit from the
Queen and Prince Albert.

On Friday, pursuant to notice, Blackfriars-bridge
was closed to carriages of all descriptions. The work of re-
moving the heavy granite stones hitherto resting on the
faulty arches has already commenced, a light wooden path-
way having been provided for pedestrians. The thick bed
of earth at present forming the bed of the road is to be taken
away, preparatory to the contemplated repairs. During the
closing of the bridge, omnibus travellers will have to remem-
ber that the Kennington " busses," as well from Islington as
King's-cross, pass over Waterloo-bridge.
DOWNING• STREET GOSSIP.—Mr. Lewis Charles
Tennyson D'Eyncourt, of the Inner Temple, is appointed a
police magistrate for the district of the metropolis, in the
room of Mr. Burrell, of the Westminster Court, whose re-
signation will date from Thursday next, the 7th of August.
Mr. Fletcher Conyers Norton has been transferred as Attaché
from her Majesty's mission at Brussels to the mission at
Naples. Mr. Joseph Cufle is appointed Registrar of the
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horse. Though his Lordship did not appear much hurt it
was thought desirable to postpone a meeting of the Com-
mittee of the Privy Council of Education appointed to be
held yesterday at the Council-office. The oble Marquis
has, however, sufficiently recovered front his fall to be able
to resume his official duties, though he is obliged to carry
his arm in a sling. Sir George Grey recovers but very
slowly from his severe indisposition, the Right Hon. Baaronet
being still too unwell to transact business. The Chncellor
of the Exchequer and the First Lord of the Admiralty are
expected to return from their trip to the Channel Islands on
Monday.—Sunday Paper.
ACCIDENT TO THE MAYOR OF COLCHESTER,--BiS
Worship was riding over East Bridge, about three o'clock on
Thursday afternoon, when his horse shied pt a tilted cart,
and, in a desperate plunge on to the side pavement, threw
his rider with much force against the pallisades of the
bridge. Mr. H. S. Goody, with his family, were passing at
the time, on their way to the rural fete at Wivenhoe ; but,
on witnessing the accident, their cab was at onco vacated,
and his Worship, being assisted into it by Mr. Goody and
Mr. Warmington (who was also passing in the same direc-
tion) was accompanied to his residence by those gentlemen.
He was shortly afterwards visited by his medical attendant,
Mr. G. B. Clark, who found him much bruised about the
body, and cut on the elbow, but the principal injury con-
sisted in a very severe bruise on the right thigh, which is in
a degree agravated by the fact that the same limb was
similarly hurt in an accident a few years back. Mr. Clark
has no apprehension that anything more than a temporary
confinement will result from the unfortunate occurrence.—
Essex Standard.

e regret to learn that Dr. G. C. Holland has sus-
tained a painful and severe accident, by which he has lost
the sight of one eye. While amusing his children in the gar-
den he received an accidental blow on the right eye, which
penetrated the eye and immediately destroyed its vision.—
Sheffield Independent.
CLEOPATRA'S NEEDLE AT ALEXANDRIA.—ID a
long memoir in the Builder of the 2d inst., on Egyptian obe-
lisks, with proposals in detail for bringing to England that
called Cleopatra's Needle, Mr. Nathaniel Gould, the writer,
says :--" I feel persuaded that the removal and transport of
this large mass to London is both practicable and compara-
tively easy, and to be accomplished within one-fourth of the
time expended on the same operation by the French, which
was three years and a half from the sailing of the vessel to
the erection of the column in Paris, and about four years and
a half from the commencement of building the Lusquor ; and
lam prepared with a plan for its execution, and to enter
into contract, either on my own account or conjointly, for
performing the same within nearly one-fourth of the time,
and at nearly one-fourth of the actual cost of the removal of
that of Luxor by the French, which could not have been
less than from 35,0001. to 90,000/." In a note the editor re-
marks that " the writer urges, with justice, that the feeling
manifested with respect to the Great Exhibition shows that
the public would now appreciate the erection in London
pof e
utnhiea r
ya nscui ecne
et s
so hoef ik
the
s Exhibition belonging too them,ffers andth e
nae a
ntlisa t
of the
pecuniary success of the Exhibition offers the means of in-
dulging the public taste, without calling on the Chancellor
of the Exchequer."

M. Freyberg, director of the Italian Theatre at
Berlin, brought an action some time ago before the Tribunal
of Commerce against Mme. Florentina Jennings, the singer,
to recover from her 80,000 f. as damages for having broken
the engagement into which she entered with him in October,
is i 9, to sing at his theatre for a certain stipulated period ;
and he brought another action against Mr. Lumley, director
of the Italian Theatre, to recover damages for having en-
gaged time. Florentina Jennings for his theatre at Paris
and Loudon, though he knew she was under an engagement
to him. The Tribunal held that it could not interfere with
respect to the arranganeut between M. Freyberg and the
lady, as they were both foreigners; and as to Mr. Lumley,
who, in his capacity of director of the Italian Theatrd at
Paris, was subject to the French tribunals, it held that he
had done nothing which entitled the plaintiff to demand da-
' mages. Against these decisions M. Freyberg appealed to
the Court of Appeal ; but the Court, after hearing length-
ened arguments, confirmed both of them.
REVAL, JULY 25.—The Emanuel Gubel, from Stock-
holm to this port, has got aground at the entrance of
this harbour.