The Sun.
London, England, 1867-03-07 00:00:00

SIR BROOK FOSSBROOKE.

The man who now joined the group was a tall, gaunt
figure, with a high narrow head, from which the hair was
brushed rigidly back to fall behind in something like an
old-fashioned queue. His eyes wore black, and sur-
mounted with massive and much-arched eyebrows; a
strongly-marked mouth, stern, determined, and, except in
speaking, almost cruel in expression, and a thin-pointed
projecting chin, gave an air of severity and strong will to
features which, when ho conversed, displayed a look of
courteous deference, and that peculiar desire to please that
we associate with a bygone school of breading. He was
one of those men, and very distinctive are they, with
whom even the least cautious take no liberties, nor ven-
ture upon any familiarity. The eccentricities of deter-
mined men are very often indications of some deep spirit
beneath, and not, as in weaker natures, mere emanations
cf vanity or off-springs of self-indulgence.
If he was, beyond question, a gentleman, there were also
signs about him of narrow fortune : his scrupulously white
shirt was not fine, and the seams of his well-brushed coat
shOwed both care and wear.

" There goes one of the strangest fellows in Christen-
dom," said the Colonel, as the other left the room. "He
has already gone through three fortunes; he dissipated the
first—speculated and lost the second—and the third he, I
might say, gave away in acts of benevolence and kindness
—leaving himself so ill-off, that I actually heard the other
day that some friend had asked for the place of barrack-
master at Athlone for him ; but on coming over to see the
place, he found a poor follow with a wife and five children
a candidate for it ; so he retired in his favour, and is con-
tent, as you see, to go out on the world, and take his chance
with it."

Innumerable questions pressed on ,the Colonel to tell
more of his strange friend; he had, however, little beyond
hearsay to give them. Of his own eiperiences, he could
only say that when first he met him it was at Ceylon,
where he had come in a yacht like a sloop of war to hunt
elephants—the splendour of his retinue and magnificence
of his suite giving him the air of a royal personage—and
indeed the gorgeous profusion of his pres3uts to the King
and the chief personages of the court went far to impress
this notion. "I never met him sine)," said the Colonel,
" till this morning, when ho walked into my room, dusty
and travel-stained, to say, I just heard your name, and
thought I'd ask you to give rue my dinner to-day.' I owe
him a great many—not to say innumerable other atten-
tions ; and his last act on leaving Trincomalee was to pre-
sent mo with an Arab charger, the most perfect animal I
ever mounted. It is therefore a real pleasure to me to re-
ceive him. Ho is a thoroughly fine-hearted fellow, and,
with all his eccentricities, one of the noblest natures I ever
met. The only flaw in his frankness is as to his age; no-
body has been able to get it from him. You hear him talk
of your fathers—he might talk of your grandfathers; and
ho would too, if we hal only the opportunity to lead him
on to it. I know of my own knowledge that he lived in
the Carlton House coterie, not a man of which except him-
self survives; and I have heard him give imitations of
Burke, Sheridan, Gavin Hamilton, and Pitt, that none but
one who had seen them could have accomplished."

But even more delightful than Sir Brook Fossbrooke

is Sir William Lendrick, the Chief Baron, high in the
opinions of other men, but highest of all in his own
sublime self-esteem, who when we first encounter
him has been struck with paralysis, and who proves
to be perhaps the most untractable patient that

it ever fell to the lot of Physician to administer to.
As good Dr. Beattie calls for his morning visit, he
meets at the door the Solicitor-General, and while
he exchanges greetings with him the Chief Baron
observes him from the window. The ensuing scene
will best describe the man :
A DIFFICULT PATIENT.

In thc, rh Uf drawino•-rouni, in a deep recess of a. window,

sat the Chief Baron, dressed as if to go out, with an over-
coat, and even his gloves on. "Come and drive with me,
Beattie," cried he, in a feeble but harsh voice. "If I take
my man Leonard they'll say it was a keeper. You know
that the Post has it this morning that it is my mind which
has given way. They say they've seen me breaking for
years back. Good heavens! can it be possible, think you,
that the mites in a cheese speculate over the nature of the
man that eats them ? You stopped to talk with Pemberton,
I saw ; what did he say to you ?"
" Nothing particular—a mere greeting, I think."
"No, sir, it was not; he was asking you how many
hours there lay between him and the Attorney-General-
ship. They've divided the carcass already. The lion has
to assist at his autopsy—rather hard, isn't it ? How it im-
bitters death to think of the fellows who aro to re-
place us!" •

"Let me feel your pulse."
"Don't trust it, Beattie; that little dialogue of yours
on the grass plot has sent it up thirty beats; how many
is it ?"

"Rapidvery rapid; you need rest—tranquillity."
"And you can't give me either, sir; neither you nor
your craft. ' You are the Augurs of modern civlisation,
and we cling to your predictions just as our forefathers
lid, though we never believe you.",
" This is not flattery," said Beattie, with a slight smile.
The old mau closed his eyes and passed his hand slowly
over his forehead. "I suppose 1 was dreaming, Beattie,
just before you came up; but I thought I saw them all in
the Hall, talking and laughing over my death. Burrowes

was telling how old I must be, because I moved the amend-
ment to Flood in tho Irish Parliament in '97 ; and Eames
mentioned that I was Curran's junior in the great Bagenal
record; and old Tysdal set thorn all in a roar by saying he
had a vision of me standing at the gate of heaven, and in-
stead of going in, as St. Peter invited rue, stoutly refusing,
and declaring I would more for a new trial! How like the
rascals !"

For once the wise lawyer is correct in his estimate
of his own untractable nature, ever on the alert to
take offence. As the physician leaves him he ex-

claims—

" There is another thing.; not that it much matters ; but
it might perhaps be as well to send a few lines to the morn
ing papers, to say the accounts of the Chief Baron are more
favourable to-day ; he passed a tranquil night, and so on.
Pemberton won't like it ; nor Hayes ; but it will calm the
fears of a very attached friend who calls here twice daily.
You'd never guess him. He is the agent of the Globe
office, where I am insured. Ah, Doctor, it was a bright
thought of Philanthropy to establish an industrial enter-
prise that is bound, under heavy recognisances, to be
.grieved at our death."
Very charming is Lucy Lendrick, the grand-
'ilatighter. of the old Judge, and her-frank, bright
nature is very vividly portrayed. Very skilful,
also, is the portrait of the other Lucy, the un-
happy wife of the worthless Captain Sewell.
The story is very interesting, and will amply repay
perusal, while some of the characters to which it
introduces us will long linger pleasantly in the
memory of the reader.

ROYAL GENERAL THEATRICAL FUND. ---- The
annual meeting of the members of the Royal General
Theatrical Fund was held yesterday in the saloon of the
Theatre Royal, Lyceum, and ras numerously attended.
Mr. Cullenford, secretary, said he had received a letter from
Mr. Buckstone, their respected treasurer, containing the
painful intelligence of the death of his youngest son, and
as that day was appointed for the funeral he would be un-
able to preside at their meeting as. chairman. Upon this
Mr. Swinbourne, of the Theatre Royal, Drury-lane, was
asked to take the chair, which he assented to. Mr. Cullen-
ford, secretary, then made his financial statement for the
past year ending Feb. 28, and from this it appeared the
admission fees produced £l3 55., the members' subscrip-
tions £731 ls. 10d., being an increase of £4O over last year;
interest on stock, £397 6s. 101.; freehold ground rent,
£5 18s.; profit on a cricket match between theatres and
music halls, £45 ls., which was got up and carried out by
Mr. G.Murray, to whom great credit was due. The annual
dinner produced £B9l Bs., which was also an increase on
the former year; arrears, £9 95.; and the reserved fund,
£306 15s. 41d.; making a total of £1,900 ss. 9d. The
funded property last year was £12,972 13s. 91(1., but this
year there was added to it £506 4s. 91d., making a capital
of £13,478 18s. 7d. The expenditure for the year had been
£1,400, leaving a balance of £5OO in favour of the fuud for
the year. The report was then received and adopted. Thu
several officers and members of the committee were re-
appoi►.ted, and thanks were voted to them for their past
services. A vote of thanks was passed to Mr. Buckstone
for his services as treasurer, and condolence expressed to-
wards him in the hour of his affliction. Thanks were
voted to the press for the advocacy of the interests of the
institution, and a similar compliment having been passed
to Mr. Swinbourne for presiding, he acknowledged the
same, and the proceedings terminated,

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HER MAJESTY, &c•

WINDSOR CASTLE, March 6.

The Queen, accompanied by Princess Christian,
drove out yesterday afternoon in a carriage and four,
attended by the Duchess of Roxburghe.
Prince Leopold also drove out.
BUCKINGHAM PALA.cI4I, March'6.

ller Majesty the Queen left Windsor Castle at
half-past 3 o'clock this afternoon for London, ac-
companied by their Royal HighneLses Princess
Christian, Princess Louise, Prince Leopold, Princess
Beatrice, and Prince Henry of Prussia, and attended
by the Duchess of Roxburghe, Lady Susan Melville,
Lidy Caroline Barrington, the Hon. Flora Mac-
donald, the Hon. Florence Seymour, Lieut.-General
lion. C. Grey, Alajor-General Hon. A. N. hood,
Colonel Hon. A. Hardinge, Mr. Legg, Capt. voa
Schroetter, and Mr. Sa,hl.
The Royal party left Windsor by a special train
of the Great Western Railway.
Her Majesty, accompanied by her Royal High-
ness Princess Louise, and escorted by a detachment
of the 14th Hussars, drove from Paddington to
Marlborough House, and visited the Prince and
Princess of Wales.

Her Majesty and Princess Louise afterwards drove
to Buckingham Palace, attended by the Duchess of
Roxburghe, Major-General the Hon. A. N. Hood,
and Colonia the Hon. A. Hardinge.
The Hon. Caroline Cavendish has succeeded
the Hon. Flora Macdonald as Maid of Honour in
Waiting.

The Queen, accompanied by Princess Louise,
visited the Prince and Princess of Wales yesterday
afternoon.

Mr. Dickenson, of New Bond-street, had the
honour to submit yesterday to his Royal Highness
the Prince of Wales the enamel of the Queen which
has been just completed by Mr. Tilt.

The Earl of Zetland arrived at his residence in
Arlington-street, Piccadilly, on Tuesday, from his seat in
Yorkshire.
The Countess Percy will have assemblies at
Northumberland House on Tuesday, the 12th and 19th
instant.
The Countess of Mahnesbury continues in the
same precarious state at Heron Court, near Christchurch,
Hants.
The Countess Cowper had a small and early
party last evening at her residence in St. James's-square.
Frances Countess Waldegrave and the Right
Hon. Chichester Fortescue, M.P., entertained a select party
last evening at dinner at their residence in Carlton-gardens.