The Sun.
London, England, 1851-11-28 00:00:00

HARRISON AINSWORTH'S NEW WORK.

MERVYN CLITHEROE. No. I. By Wit,
Harrison Ainsworth. Chapman and Hall.
Very acceptable to his admirers will be her com-
mencement of this new serial story by Harison
Ainsworth. Under any circumstances his appearance
could not but prove a source of pleasure to those
novel-readers who have hitherto delighted in the
creatures of his imagination—more peculiarly must
this be the case now that his advent startles us like a
resuscitation. Everyone at all acquainted with the
current literature is well aware that during several
years past our author has abstained from all labours
of the pen, saving such as were absolutely requisite
in the revision of his collected writings and in
the editing of two very popular periodicals. Since
the completion of the " Lancashire Witches," indeed,
we have looked in vain for any further evidence of
those powers as a romancist which had rapidly built
up Mr. Ainsworth's reputation. Those, therefore,
who had hitherto accustomed themselves to the in-
tellectual excitement produced by his enthralling
volumes of adventure, were compelled to content
themselves with a re-perusal of what had already be-
come familiar, allowing themselves to revert, as the
humour prompted them, to the hair-breadth escapes of
" Jack Sheppard," to the breathless chase of the high-
wayman in " Rookwood," to the extraordinary
achievements recounted in the history of " Crichton,
to the records cf a past century, comprised
in the tale of " The Miser's Daughter," or to
those curious narratives, part historical, part fanciful,
part topographical, which repeopled with beings sum-
moned from the grave the ancient fabrics of " 6t.
James's," of " St. Paul's," of" Windsor Castle," and
of " The Tower of London." After his protracted
silence, however, we have the satisfaction of again
listening to the voice of the romancer. " Mervyn
Clitheroe," as far as we can possibly judge from a
first number, gives promise of affording the admirers
of Harrison Ainsworth ample store of entertainment.
It is unlike anything he has ever before produced, and
this, not merely in the manner of its publication, but
in the very style in which it is penned throughout.
Like several of his distinguished contemporaries, our
author has resolved to show the world of novel-
readers how far he can succeed in the recounting of an
imaginary autobiographer. As Charles Dickens has
done in " Copperfield," and Bulwer Lytton in the
" Caxtons,"_ and Makepeace Thackeray in " Pen-
dennis," Harrison Ainsworth is now doing in
" Clitheroe." He is writing a fiction as if he were
himself the hero of the narrative ; and he is carrying
out his intentions already in a way eminently calcu-
lated to yield amusement. Four chapters alone, have
as yet, of course, made their appearance, but these
are given in a strain so peculiarly lively and agree-
able that we doubt not but that the majority will
eagerly watch for the continuation of these
same " Adventures." Already we have followed
the hero to three several localities as different
from each other in all respects as can well be ima-
gined. There is the residence, for example, of Mrs.
Mervyn—(" Mrs. Mervyn," says our author face-
tiously, " for though a spinster she had taken brevet
rank")—hight the Anchorite's. Then there is the
Free Grammar School of Cottonborough—a building,
by the way, with "so many windows that it looked
like a lantern"—Where we are introduced to a variety
of characters, such as poor Simpson and good Dr.
Lonadale, or as John Brideoake and the Rev. Abel
Cane. Then again the third of these localities, the
farm at Marston called Nethercrofts, where the
famous cheeses were made by a tippling old
blade of a great uncle, by name John Mobber-
ley. The evil genius of Mervyn has even in
the first number made his appearance in the person
of Malpas Sale, the Etonian. Not the least hu-
morous amongst the miscellaneous personages in-
troduced, moreover, is John Leigh, the hero of
Bunker's Hill. As a token of Mr. Ainsworth's newly
developed powers as a humorist, we must transfer to
our columns the following delightful passage—a
passage replete with a rollicking fun almost amount-
ing to the farsical. John, you must know, reader,
was the keeper of the cake shop frequented by the
schoolboys of Cottonborough :
" Some half-dozen of us were comfortably seated on
John's counter, munching away at a pound of maca-
roons before us, when we perceived Cane isuing from
the gate, evidently marching in the direction of the
shop. In an instant we all dissappeared ; some of us
diving under the counter, and others hiding where they
could. Shortly after, when Cane entered, no one was
to be seen except John, close beside whose bulky legs
I and two others were lying perdus.
"• I thought some of the boys were here, John ?'
said Mr. Cane, sharply, and glancing round the place.
" ' I see none on 'em, sir,' replied John, in a some-
what surlc.6y tone.
" Thui:s not a direct answer, John,' rejoined the
pedagogue, peremptorily. There are six of m
de,
y boys
out of echool—Latham, Hilton, Frog, Simpson, Hy
and Clitheroe. Has any one of them, or have all, beera
here ?'
" I never answers no questions about the youg gen-
tlemen as f qreuents my shop,' said John, doggedly.
Then I conclude they have beenhere, here, observed
Mr. Cane.
" Upon this, we pinched John's fat legs rather se-
verely, for we thought he might have done something'
better than this to get us out of the scrape. The pain
made him roar out lustily.
" What's the matter, John? asked Mr. Crane, who
was going out of the shop.
" A sudden seizure, sir, that's all,' returned John ;
but ycu musent go for to imaromen anything
I've said, that the young gentleman has agate, f
be.
It's my rule never to speak about 'em, and I should
have given you the same answer whether or no.'
" Equivocation, yon fancy, is not falsehood, I see,
John ; but give me leave to ob serve that your standard
of morality is rancher low. I shall draw my own con-
clusions,' said Mr. Cane, turning away, and muttering to
himself. ' I am sure they have been here.'
" Upon which we pinched John's great calves again,
and the veteran angrily ejaculated,
" Come, I shan't stand this any longer.'
"' Ha! What's that? Did I bear aright?' de-
manded Mr. Cane, stopping short. The man has been
drinking,' he muttered.
Be quiet, I say, or I'll bundle you out o' th' shop,
roared John.
" a You'll do Nu: LIT?' almost screamed Mr. Cane,
coming up to him, with a countenance full of fury, and
twirling his watch-chain as if he would fling it at John's
head. Did you address those disrespecttul—those im-
pertinent observations to me, man?'
"We were so delighted at this mistake, that we
nearly betrayed ourselves, and with difficulty stifled our
laughter,
They warn't addressed to you, sir,' returned John.
" a Then to whom were they eddressed?' pursued Mr.
Cane. ' You affirm no one else is here. .1 see no one.
John—John, I am afraid you are fuddled.'
" Fuddled--I fuddled. I'd have you to know, Mr.
Cane, that I never touches a drop in the morning; and
the young gentlemen will bear witness to my sobriety.'
a" What young gentlemen ?' demanded Cane.
6' Here we slightly admonished John again.
'rhe young rascals, I mean,' he roared, stamping
with rage and pain. I wish they were all at the devil
—and you at their back,' he added, to Mr. Cane, for-
getting himself in the blindness of his wrath.
." It is evident you are not yourself, John,' said the
preceptor; that is the only excuse I can make for you.
At some more fitting moment I shall endeavour to rea-
son you out of the sinful and pernicious course you are
pursuing. Drink in the morning. Faugh! John.'
" With this be departed, muttering to himself, and was
scarcely out of hearing than we jumped up, and saluted
John with a roar of laughter, worthy of Homer's heroes.
But the hero of Bunker a Hill did not join in the Ho-
meric merriment."
The incident on the ice is cleverly told, and brings
the number to a most interesting conclusion. " Phiz"
has added an attraction to the first instalment of
"Mervyn Clitheroe" by accompanying its initial
chapters with two very droll illustrations.

'jam

ST. JAMES'S THEATRE.
Mr. Lambton, a member of the Royal College of
Surgeons, gave a Sbaksperian reading at this theatre
last evening, for the benefit of the Medical Benevo-
lent College. The play chosen .was Othello, and
never have we heard any amateur read Shakspere
nearly so well. Mr. Lambton's conception of each
character was just' and it was well carried out. His
voice is flexible and of good quality, and his manner
very agreeable. Should Mr. Lambton adopt the
giving of Shaksperian readings as a profession we
have little doubt of his success.

co'CULARov. 27.
CIR
unT
Her Majesty and his Royal Highness Prince Al-
OSBORNE, N.
Al-
bert walked yesterday in Park at Os.
also
the borne
The younger branches of the Royal Family
took their usual walks in the grounds.

The Judicial Committee of her
Majesty's Most
Honourable Privy Council sat yesterday at the
-----------
Council Chamber. The Lords present were—Lord
Cranworth, Sir
Prerogative Court, and Sir Ed ward Ryan. An appeal,
J. Knight Bruce, the Judge of the
t 4 Wilkinson V. Wilson" (the Buonaparte), was
Lunt V.
chided, and and judgment given. The appeal,
Burnett" (the Fanchon) was part heard.
Dispatches were received at the Colonial-office yes-
terday from the Governors of the West India Islands,
'.
and also from the Governor of South Australia.

THE DUCHESS OF GLOUCESTER.—Her Royal
Highness the Duchess of Gloucester returned to town 00
Wednesday from the Bedford Hotel, Brighton, where her
Royal Highness has been sojourning during the past month.
His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge, who Came to
Brighton on Tuesday last, on a visit to his august relative,
returned to London with her Royal Highness, and accompa-
nied the illustrious Princess to Gloucester House.

DETENTION OF TILE CITY OF PITTSBURGIEL—
LivEnrooL, Triuusnar.—This new screw steamship, the
sailing of which we announced yesterday, has been com-
pelled to remain in port for two days, in consequence of
being overladen. Upon quitting dock, at the moment of
her intended departure yesterday, it was found that she bad
considerably more cargo on board than her tonnage would
justify. Bleu were immediately set to work reduce the
freight by nearly Rye feet measurement. She is expected
to pail tgligum