The Sun.
London, England, 1851-07-17 00:00:00

TIIE SU N,

Sydney, New South Wales; Undine, Hobart Town;
Syria, Ntelbournt, south Australia; Beujamin
Adelaide, South Australia; Vixen, Mauritius; Everitta,
Bahia; Elms, Vulture, Nu *ountiland; and-
the rest of the outward bound.
PLYMOUTH, JULY 16. i'ne Joo AntlA.soFt was lost
in the littatol Caannel 1301 instant; two of tha crew
Saved.

YARMOUTH.—The Lady Mary Ann, of Kirkaldy,
sprung a leak off Cromer 14tH and vault; crew
saved.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.
STAIIFORt) RACES—WEDNESDAY.
SwerTatakes of 10 Bova. eftch, 5 11, ftilti 25 wided, for

three yrs old. Once round and a dis. (3 Subs.)
Plr. G. Htggins's Theseus
Sweepstakes of 15 sovs. each, 5 ft, and 25 added, for
2 yrs old, colts Bst 7(h, and fillies 8,4, 31b, winners of
2001. 3lbs, of 3001 Sibs extra. T.Y.C. (9 Subs.)
Mr. Payne's Freedom .
Mr. Watson's France (Bar(holotnew) 2
Capt. Lowther na tby Annandale—Cal) p., (Rogers) 3
Lord Clitd,n's fby Bay Middleton—H.R H (Pail) 4
Lord Burghley na Lens (Norman) 5
Betting—Even on France, 5 to 2 agst Freedom, 5 to 1
agat Calypso filly, and 6 to 1 each agst the others. Won
cleverly by half a length; two lengths between second
and third.
The Gold Cup of 100 sovs. by Subs. of 10 sovs. each
and 20 added; three yrs old, 6st 71b; four. B,t; five,
Sat 131 b; six, 96t 51b; ir(d aged, 9st 71b. Mares and
geldings allowed 3lbs. Thrice round. (11 Subs.)
Mr. Stephenson's Nimp., 4 yrs (Fla.(mar,) 1
Lord Burghley's Phlegethron, 3 yrs (Eiarlock) 2
Captain Lowther's King Charming, 3 yrs (Hammond) 3
Betting-7 to 4on Ninus, 7to 4 agat Phlegethon, 3
to 1 agst King Charming. Won by a length; a good
lace for second place, which was obtained by a head
only.
Handicap of 5 sovs. each, with 20 added. One mile.
(2 Subs.)
Mr. Rogers's Pulcherinn (Rogers) 1
Lord Exeter's Visite (Harlock)

Won by a head.
GOODWOOD, 1851.
handicap for the Cnesteifield Cup. Craven Course.
Yrs at lb Yra at lb
Glance 5 8 12 Dulcet a 7 2
Landgrave
'Vatican .......... 5 8 12 Champion .... .... 5 7 0
Turnus . .. •
5 8 7 Eva
Nutshell .............. 4 8 4 Humphrey
Strongbox, ....... 5 8 4 6 10
3 6 7
2,Cornelies
yPinclischgratz .., 4 8 0 Glenhawk
ogLittleaiteek :boJintaseer k .... 4 7 11' Barcelona
6 7 9' Na.utch Girl
•••••
...
4 7 91 Aristocrat
William the Con- ICroupier ....
queror .
Mae Ann • 5 7 7; Hurry Scurry 3 5 13
loadatone
Montague - 3 5 10
Woodlark...
3-flower...
The Heriot 5 7 4!1) fby Irish Bird-
Gill
3 7 41 Wadastra
handicap for the Nursery Snakes of 15 movs. each, for
two yrs old. One rage.
Rerschell, Bst 71b—The Brahmin, Bst 71b—b cby
Cotherstone, out of Wryneck, Bst 71b—Burndale, 8,..4
71b-1., h
'' e by Sir Hercules, out of Odessa, Bsl 71b—Ma-
.1ant, 83t 71b—Grey Tommy, Bst 71b—bf by Laneroost,
4:2,11t of Cytherea, Bst 41b—Constantine, Bst 31b—Jullien,
'at 121b—Hambletonian, 7st 121b—Frantic, 7st 101 b
Ethelvvolf, 7st Sib—Greengage. 7st 71b—b cby Touch-
stone, out of Fugl-mao's dam, 7st 7lb —Lens, 7st 71b—
lresine, 7st 51b—Urbanity, let 3!b—Joe Miller, 7st 3!b
--Sir Charles Napier, 7st 21b—Benita, 7st 11b—Maria,
!Ile—Hirsute, 7st—The Sphinx, 6st 121 b—M. Houdin,
,14'a 121b—Lenorits, Est 121b—Lila, 6st 121b—Lady
"hulas, Est 101b—Koh-i-noor, Est 101b—Plumstead, Est
101b--f by St. Martin, out of Toga, 6st 71b.

CRICKET.
THE NORTH AGAINST THE SOUTH.
This finely contested match was brought to a conclusion
Yesterday, when the score stood as follows:
NORTH.

First Innings. Second Innings.
GItY, c. Wisden, b. Hillyer 9 b. `Virden ...... _. 4l
Grundy, b. Hillyer ...-Box, b. Wtsden
16
llur, b. Hillyer ... ... ... 1 c. Day, b. Wisden
kr. 11. Vernon, b. Wisden 4 b. Wisden .45
kr. It. T. King, b. Hillyer 1 b. Wisden . ..........•... 12
Anderson,' b. Hillyer . ... 11 c. Caesar, b. Day .......-- I
Chatterton, b. Hillyer _.... 33 b W isden ... .. •• 7
Nixon st. Box, b. Hillyer 3 b Wisden ...
Dahill, btt isden ... - 29 run out
ClLord Guernsey, b. Ifillyer ob. Wisden .. ••• -
arke, not out 0 not out ... .- ...... ......
..............
b. , 6 l2
L. b. ........... ... . 9 B 6- L. ....... - Yes, 1

95
SUUTU•

First Innings. Second Innings.
Adams b Clarke ... 4c. Clarke, b. Nixon l2
Ctesar, c. Nixon, b. G.r.un- dy" 39 c. and b. Grundy
!sir. Haygarth, b. Grundy 0 b. Grundy
flyn, b. Grundy
0 b. Grundy ...
&lettingen, b. Grundy..... oc. Grundy b. Clarke 4
toz, b. Grundy
tir• N. Felix, b. Grundy 1 b. Grundy ...........11
Nvea,ll, v. Grundy .. .... ..... 2 c. Vernon, b. Clarke . ... 4
RV °, b. Grundy...—. .. 11 c. Chat, erton, b. Grundy 52
~, er not out 0 c. Grundy, b. Clarke ... 8
Day' b. N'
gout xon I not out ....
'''', 2 l N. b.,1. ........3 8., 2 ; L. b., 2

61
And so the " North" were the victors by 12 runs.

-E-KAER.
A letter from CABD
the onstantiL nople D
of the 25th tilt., in
Augsburg Gazette, states that the Ottoman
,orte.has not accepted the proposition of the French
(vovernment to take charge of ABD-EL-KADER, and
Prevent him from escaping, in the event of his being
allowed to leave France.
_ F.

REE TRADE IN PRUSSIA.—The Government of
A?an tzic has brought an action against all the public func-
tionaries who attended the Free-trade Congress. The Com-
munal Council of Elbing has received a Government rescript,
!lating that the nomination of delegates to the Free-trade
Congress is illegal, inasmuch as the discussion of the interests
?!.free trade is not within the province of a communal coun-
-5 which is merely charged with civil matters. Any breach
sinister
rescript will be followed by deprivation of office. The
for Inland Affairs has imposed a pecuniary fine on
chief burgomaster and two senators for having attended
the said council.
A.1074.v
--nil IN THE EXCHEQUER.—According to an
nwint published yesterday, the amount of moneys remain-
1. to be raised to comp ete the grants for 1848, 1849, and
was, on the sth of July, 1851, 1,765,204/. t4s.:.A.
MoriEr MARKET.—The quotation of gold at Paris
n about 4 per mille discount (according to the
Br tariff), which, at the English Mint price of
th. 1.7- 100. per ounce for standard gold, gives an ex-
aCnge of 25 07 ; and the exchange at Paris on London at
d art being 25.02 i, it follows that gold is 0.18 per cent.
I),,eater in Paris than in London. By advices from Ham-
the price of gold is 4261 per mark, which, at the Eng-
r"". Mint price of 31. 17s. 100. per ounce for standard gold,
es an exchange of 13.ni ; and the exchange at Ham -
I:irlig„h,on London at short being 13.51, it follows that gold
The nurse
per cent. dearer in London than in Hamburgh.
vA)urse of exchange at New York on London for bills a-
bbe days, sight is 110 i per cent., and the par of exchange
etween England and America being 109 23-40 per cent.,
fa,,follows that the exchange is nominally 0.92 per cent. in
st- our of England; and after making allowance for differ-
of interest and charges of transport, the present rate
sime,
States. a profit on the importation of gold from the United

—Power is given by
t PUNISHMENT FOR ASSAULTS
14°I'd Campbell's new Act to criminal courts to sentence per-
'Las convicted of aggravated assaults to three years'
rimpri-
aonraent (instead ot two), with or without hard labou .
Tit& 15TH REGIMENT IN CEPLON.—As a proof
the
theetitimoaftsio: in which the 15th Regiment was held by the
hahabitants of Kandy, both European and native, and in ro-
tationatements which have been made 'n this country,
a 8 to their conduct in Ceylon, on the departure of the regi-
Ment from Randy in the early part of the present year, an
address was presented to Lieutenant- Colonel Drought, bear-
ing the signatures of 80 of tne most respectable Europeans
and 32 natives, expressive of their regret, and testifying to
aid honourable conduct of
the high character and estimable
the whole of the officers and privates forming the corps.
The address was accompanied by a piece of plate for the use
of the mess, on which was engraved an inscription conform-
able to the address. Lieutenant-Colonel Drought acknow-
ledged the compliment, and ordered the address to be en-
tered in the regimental records.
APPREHENSION or OFFENDERS.There is a clause
in the new Act for the better Prevention of Offences (14 and
15 Victoria, cap. 11)
which persons are enabled to apprehend offenders
which should be generally known,withoutbs,
the presence of a constable. The wards of the 11th section
declare—,4 And whereas doubts have been entertained as to the
table
authority to apprehend persons found committing indictable
it
offences in the night, in remedy thereof, be it enacted that shalle lawful for any person whatsoever to apprehend any
P erson who shall be found committing any indictable offence
in the night, and to convey him or deliver him to some con-
stable or other peace officer in order to his being conveyed,
43 soon as conveniently may be, before a justice of the peace,
to be dealt with according to law."
THE GIPSY KING AND HIS DOMINIONS.—The cere-
''ionY of riding the common, to preserve the right of the
lieges of Kirk-Yetholm, was gone through on Friday, the
27th ult., by the Gipsy King, and a respectable band of his
aubjects. About 3 P.M., the royal procession emerged from
jthe Village, and proceeded towards the common. His Ma-
esty wore his royal robes, bore in his hand a stout oaken
cudgel for a sceptre, and was mounted on a spirited charger,
Which was led by two grooms. In returning, an adventurous
youth dared to annoy the charger of his Majesty, to the groat
,danger of the King, whereupon Charles called on no subject
to apprehend and punish the offender, but dismounted, and
was about to administer chastisement in person, when some
Of his advisers interfered. His Majesty disdains on all oc-
casions to fight by proxy. He is the hero of a undsed fights, and although well stricken in years, he has still vigour
and courage to avenge his wrongs by an appeal to the fists.
----Ca/edonian Mercury.
VICTORIA PARK.—The Bill brought into the
tfouse'of Commons by Lord Seymour and Mr. C. Lewis, to
amend the Acts enabling the Commissioners of Woods to
purchase lands to form Victoria Park, has been printed.
The object of the Bill, as stated in the preamble, is that
definedortions of the park which may be leased should be
,
sell or and that the Commissioners should have power to
exchange such portions of it in the like manner as
hey have Power to sell or exchange any parts or parcels
of the hereditary land revenues . f the Crown not being royal
forests, parks, or chases in England. The Act will also in-
...4enirlify the trustees of copyhold lauds held in trust for her
Majesty.
hapLOUCESTERSHIRE. -- The majority of farmers
, by this time, completed their haymaking operations,
and the producerdce of grass lids been, in most cases, on the
laoyee.ariaitgie
ea the wheat is suffering from smut. but we do not
13,,.eve tha`.. th-t malwiv i,... - L. .if .“ lie
general stock, for in as many others it is flue and lull in the
°. • Beans and peas are in a most flourishing condition,
end Potatoes are of better than an average quality.— Glou-
cener •Toarnal.

LITERATURE.

CURRAN AND HIS CONTEMPORARIES.
By Charles Phillips, Esq., A.B , 4c. Fourth
_Edition. Blackwood and Son.
Another edition—the fourth—testifies the excel-
lence as well as the popularity of this brilliant and
enthralling biography. It may be remembered how
very recently we had occasion to announce the ap-
pearance of its predecessor, and yet already a reprint
has been demanded. That circumstance alone is a
sufficient panegyric on the work as a literary per-
formance, To the biographer himself it must seem
yet in:.re precious as a sort of national approval of
his eloquent and earnest tribute to the shadow of a
departed friendship. Those who have obtained any-
thing like an intimate acquaintance with the volume
as it was, even at the period of its original publica-
tion, will comprehend how sincerely and deeply felt
must be the pleasure with which the author must
regard the dissemination of his encomiums upon
Curran among the masses of his fellow- country-
men. The knowledge that he is thus multiplying
the admirers of that great and remarkable man
must be to h:m a source of exquisite consolation
whenever he laments the calamity of his disappear-
ance. It must console him for the extinguishing of a

light so illustrious to consider that its reflection upon
his own admiration is being continually repeated
upon the admiration of every reader of the biogra-
phy. With reierence to the public at large, more-
over, it must be matter of exceeding. satisfaction to
be able to turn to any such well-authenticated parti-
culars as those which are here furnished by Mr.
Charles Phillips, in regard to a person of such extra-
ordinary powers and world-wide celebrity as Curran
(p. 433)—" The unique, the wondrous, the inimit-
able Curran"—that famous Curran of whom Dr.
Birkbeck said that within the space of every five
consecutive minutes (p. 434), he would nuke him
" both laugh and cry"—that wondertul genius of
whom Lord Byron remarked—" He beats every body ;
his imagination is beyond human ; and his humour
perfect ; he has fifty faces, and twice as many
voices when he mimics ; I never met, his equal,"
adding, at another time, " Curran ! Curran's the
man who struck me most : the riches of his Irish ima-
gination were exhaustless ; I have heard that man
speak more poetry than I have ever seen written,
though I saw him seldom and but occasionally."
Such is the surprisingly gifted genius selected by Mr.
Phillips as the subject of his biography and the ob-
ject of his eulogiums. Entering upon the fulfilment
of his duties as the memorialist or celebrant of the
career of John Philpot Curran, the author bas in the
noble volume before us contributed an estimable
offering to the literature of the United Kingdom.
Aware of the merits of the work in its improved form,
it is gratifying nevertheless to find its excellence yet
further increased by the addition of several very in •
teresting and hitherto unpublished particulars. The
mass of anecdotes scattered through the chapters, en-
livening almost every alternate page, and intermingling
the charm of wit, and humour, and pun, and re-
partee—
" Quips, and cranks, and wanton wiles,"
with the more sober materials of the biography, has
been in the present edition here and there increased.
Added to which we may notice more especially the
introduction of an entirely new chapter on the Duke
of Wellington as one of Curran's contemporaries.
From this interpolated addition we take the sub-
joined quotations :

" WELLINGTON.

" It has been asked cf me, why, in enumerating the
contemporaries of Curran, the ornaments of our common
country, I have omitted, immeasurably the greatest of
them all—Arthur, Duke of Wellington, an Irishman
by birch, an associate of Curran in the Irish House of
Commons in 1793, a high official afterwards in that
country. Ireland justly claims him as her own, and,
not unreasonably, complains of the omission. Though
the complaint is just the emission was int‘..ntional. In

dilatation, duty, Cove of my native laud, all imperatively
pre cubed a task which, nevertheless, conscious incom-
petency admonished me to decline. Deeply did I feel it
was not mine to fix the flashing; of the diamond, or gaze,
with eye undimmed, on morn than half a century of
glery. True, indeed, it is that, with a patriot, end
therefore, perhaps, an excusable ambition, I had ven-
tured to delineate the wits, the orators, and statesmen of
my country. But, then, it was because in the contrasts
and varieties of their career I 'bought myself furnished
with the tintings which might guide me.
'` The eloquent lamented voice is scarcely hushed
which mourned Ireland as the difficulty' of his Govern-
ment—a melancholy. and, in my mind, from a British
statesman, a humiliating admission! Why aheuld this
be so? and so, in the seventh century of England's
sway ? It is, indeed, to every thinking man's astonish•
ment, a diffiettey,' and it is more than a difficulty—it
is a reproach—or, it may be, a peril. How easy it is to
fold the arms, and cast the bl•me on Ireland ! Nothing
more easy than for the libellers alike of man and Pro-
vidence insanely to insist that there is something in her
nature so dogged and incorrigible, or in her intellect so
dull, or in her instincts so indocile, as to tender culture
vein and statesmanship abortive; and this of the land
which gave the empire (but one of many bounties) all
that was eloquent, profound, philosophic, sagacious,
almost inspired, in Burke; and which, even in this our
own day, gives to the slanders an illustrious and living
refutation! Yes, had libelled Irelaad been all, or more
than all, her libellers assert, she has given a compensa-
tion to the nation, which be saved, in Arthur, Duke of
Wellington. Grateful England feels it, and his poor
country, prostrate, forlorn, and desolate as she lies, still
half forgets her misery, as she heats the generous min-
strel of the north—
' Hark! from yon stately ranks what laughter rings,
Mingling wild mirth with war's stern minstrelsy,
His jests, while each blithe comrade round him flings,
And moves to death with military glee.
Boast, Erin, boast then. tameless, frank, and free,
In kindness warm, and fierce in dangers known,
Rough nature's children, humorous as she.
And He—yon chieftain—strike the proudest tone
Of thy bold harp, green isle— the hero is thine own !'

" This truly great man encountered, in his commence-
ment, the destined fate of greatness. Detraction, as
usual, muttered its presage of ill omen, the presage of
a moment. It was but beard and hushed. Soon loftily
above it rang the trumpet of Assaye; Europe caught
up the tone—it woke the frozen echoes of the north,
called Spain and Portugal again to life, startled the fal-
con amid the silence of the Pyrenees, bade prostrate
France arise, and, at last, from Waterloo resounded
through the world. The path to' fame's fair temple' lay
indeed be!ore him; but it was steep, and it was rugged.
Dangers, privations, jealousy, vicissitude, and difficulties
of every kind beset, but sought in vain to baffle him. In
fact, they only proved his genius. That course which,
in another, would have indicated defeat, was in him the
result of science and design. His retreat always pre-
luded a triumph—his pause was merely a preparative
to progress; and when, at last, amid the doubts, and
to the dismay of those who could not comprehend him.
he rested amid that marvel of his strategy, the lines of
Torres Vedras, it was to give breathless victory a brief
repose—it was that Fabius might complete the wreath, to
which every hero had previously contributed. If, how-
ever, his career was at times exposed and perilous so, on
the other hand, it was not without its felicities. Amongst
the latter may be counted both the foe he had to combat
and the theatre of the contest. Amid the mingled
scenes of Moorish romance and Andalusian chivalry,
every rock awoke some noble ction—t visions of
gl,,ry tired the aching sight.' The mighty gpirit of the
Cid himself seemed to arise, in recognition of a kindred
heroism. Nor were the hostile ranks unworthy their an•
tegonista No barbaric horde, an easy prey to disci-
pline, no conscript levy, to whom war was novel; but
iron legions, inured to danger, familiar with victory,
and ignorant of tear. And the chiefs who led them—
honour to their memories !—honour to the
brave, although they were our enemies!—well
were such leaders worthy of such followers.
No ancestral shields or herald's artifice made
pedigree supply the place of merit. Nature's own
nobility, their cradle was the ranks, their achievements
their only title-deeds to distinction; heroes, indeed, who
with their own bright swords carved their armorial bear-
ings; veterans of the bivouac, the battle, and the siege—
now bronzed beheath the sun of Egypt, now nerved amid
the Alpine snows—their names familiar as the fields ou
which they fought, and their exotic garlands culled from
the varieties or the climes in which they conquered. No
wonder that their eagle had soared, from Rome to Mos-
cow, over every capital in Europe. No great marvel
that prostrate dynasiies indicated its course, and rising
kingdoms mai ked its resting-place!
" There were occasions on which he (Wellington)
stto9ed, and stood alone, against the concentrated energies
of
France. In one single month, and in one single pro-
vince—that of Estrarnedura—six of their ablest generals,
Soult, Ney, Monier, Killerman, Victor, and Sabastiani,
were in the field against him. At another period, though
separated, there were in force in the Peninsula—Mortier
at Leon; Soult, at Zamora; Killerman, at Valladolid;
Socket, at Zaragoza; and St. Cyr, at the blockade cf
Genore.
a From the first rifle-shot at the village of Obidoa to
the last teem which boomed at Toulouse, over an empire's
grave; from the day on which he resigned his desk in
Dublin to that on which (having received twelve times
the thanks of Parliament) he took his seat among the
Peers of England, Baron, Viscount, Earl, Marquis, Duke
e his path was a plane of continued eleva-
), in right a (ahlir
aoturo'snfcoeu,ntain being quite exhausted
tions.'
"And yet—Wellington, having disposed of armies,
had to encounter criticism. Rome-bred Hannibals and
civic Scipios now denounced his inactivity, now depre-
cated his rashness. Even London's train-bands, redo-
lent of Finchley, shot their goose-quill arrows at the
warrior's reputation. With a pen furnished by the shat-
tered eagle, Wellington rebuked them with a scornful word
—a single word :—that word was—Victory. How it chafes
the blood to think of dolts like these avenging their surfeits
on a national benefactor! who fasted for them while they
were feasting, and fought for them confederating against
him—who, while they tweed upon their couch of down,
was on his midnight watch, waiting the thunder-clap
which was to wake to battle. But, both obeyed their
mission—the one misusing time, the other intent on im-
mortality. Difficult, indeed, is it at this day to credit, as
it must at all times have been disheartening to contem-
plate, the discouragements through which he struggled
to his renown, From the hour or his disembarkation at
Mondego Bay, to that on which, from the summit of the
Pyrenees, he looked on the lovely land lie had emanci-
pa d, 'a sword (to use his own expression) hung over
head.' IA Lite lac Ltd' at burns guy fur Its
victim, a foreign coulederacy was at work to furnish it.
The impediments ho had to combat meet us in every
Page—sometimes, as just Batter of complaint—

LONDON,

oftener, as the necessary record of occurrences. It is
not too much to say that they would have broken the
heart of any other man in the kingdom. Here he had to
propitiate the jealousy of a grandee, there, to counteract
the perverseness of a junta—leagued with allies, brave
but impracticable—untaught by defeat and intolerant of I
council—at the mercy of Governments dogged in their
decrepitude—now neutralised by the imbecility of Spain,
now thwarted by the ingratitude of Por ugal, now ha-
rassed by their rational auimositee sometimes slandered,
often neglected, always envied—still faithful to the
mighty trust reposed in him—still mindful of the crisis
he saw gathering round his country—unaided, self•sus-
tained, self-relying, he never sheathed the sword, till,
amid Europe's homage, he gave Europe peace.
" Almost every man imagines that he knows the Duke
Wellington, because of those exploits which have be-
come as household words amongst us. But no man can
be said to know him truly who has not pored and pon-
dered over these dispatches. They must ever remain,
at once, the army's manual, and, of their gifted author,
the most enduring monument. The records of his
glory, they are also the revelation of tho qualities which
insured it. Here aro unfolded to us the several and as-
sociated talents, rare in themselves, but still rarer in
their combination, which constitute the hero. Bold, yet
prudent—gifted, yet laborious—ardent, but circumspect
—leaving nothing to chance which calculation could sup-
ply—he was prepared for adverse or prosperous vicissi-
tude, and made of his reverses, as of his victories, so
many avenues to renown. Such are the disclosures of
these invaluable volumes."
Another contemporary figure has thus been intro-
duced by Mr. Phillips in the group with which he
has ingeniously surrounded the principal figure on his
canvas. Among these personages it will be remem-
bered by those acquainted with the volume that
several men of particular celebrity are recognisable
—their personal aspect being sketched with a pencil
at once faithful and luminous. Witness his outline
of Grattan—with his short stature and unprepossess-
ing appearance ; his arms disproportionately long; his
walk like a stride ; his person swaying like a
pendulum ; his air abstracted ; apparently always in
thought, and each thought provoking an attendant
gesticulation. Witness his silouhette of Plunket—
his square built form, his look solitary and ascetical,
his habit of walking to and fro with his hands behind
his back, to all appearance perfectly self-absorbed—
" the observed of all, and yet the companion of none !"
Above all, witness his keenly marked and genially
coloured likeness of the greatest of all Irishmen,
Daniel O'Connell, the Liberator. " I knew him
well," says he, " long and intimately. He was the
beau ideal of an Irish agitator. His every movement
was racy of the soil.' Face, figure, accent, gait,
and above all, the rollicking, self-assured independence
of his manner, were all so many proclamations of his
country. As the leader of a multitude, especially of
an Irish multitude, he never had a rival. For
there was in him a union of qualities rarely
found is any individual There
he stood—bland and burly, sincerity itself—
a real son of the sod—speaking their own tongue—
kindred in tastes, in habits, and by birth—and,
dearer than all, a 11°m/ or like themselves !" How
characteristic is that ludicrous anecdote told of the
Liberator (p. 318), when, at the Clare election, Dan
came forward on the hustings, immediately after the
flight of the other candidate, a lord in embryo, Vesey
Fitzgerald, and exclaimed to his auditors, " Boys,
where's Vusy Vigarald ? Och hone, Vasy, but it's
me that'a dull without ye. Righi, mavourneera righi
(U on, darling! run), and send the bell about for him.
Here's the cry for you—
Stolen or strayed,
Lost or mislaid,
The President of the Boar d of Trade.' "
Equally characteristic are the other anecdotes plenti-
fully squandered through the volume under considera-
tion, anecdotes now of Judge Norbury, now of Sir
Boyle Roche, now of a Dublin applewoman, and now
of a London statesman, not to mention a multiplicity
of inimitable bon mots and incidents, relating espe-
cially to Curran himself. Under every point of view
the book will be found singularly interesting, and in
several chapters even supremely enthralling. Agree-
able, however, as these peculiarities of the production
incontestably are, they constitute to our thinking its
least noticeable excellence. What invests the
biography with its prominent and paramount claim
upon our attention is the fact of its unimpeachable
authenticity—the author simply and touchingly re-
cording the fact, " He was my friend," upon a fly-
leaf at the commencement. Hence it is that we are
induced to regard as the masterpiece of Charles
Phillips his work upon Curran and his Contempo-
raries.