The Sun.
London, England, 1857-01-15 00:00:00

LITERATI HE.

A Genealogical and Heraldic Dictionary of the
Landed Uentry of Great Thitain and Ireland.
By Sir Bernard Burke. Hurst and Blackett.
What Sir Bernard Burke (Uister King of Arms)
has so admirably done fur the Peerage and the
Baronetage of the three kingdoms, he is now doing,
and to the full as admirably, for the Lauded
Gentry. So that, as his Dictionary of the Peerage
and Baronetage is the standard authority on all
matters of lineage, personal history, family con-
nections, and heraldic rights in relation to the titled
aristocracy, the present work, when completed,
will be the standard authority on .all such matters in
relation to the untitled aristocracy of the three king-
doms. Higher praise than thisit would be difficult to
bestow. To understand, however, more perfectly
the value of the work when completed, it should
be remembered that for long and unblemished
descent the landed gentry as a body are inferior
neither to the Peerage nor Baronetage ; that they
are more numerous than either, and exercise a vast
amount of p litical and social influence. What,
therefore with the research, fidelity, and excellent
arrangements of the author, and the certainty of
nearly every individual member of so important a
body hating his name, lineage, &c., inserted in it, a
greater amount of popularity even may be antici-
pated for the present work and companion volume
than was met with by its predecessor, great as that
was. Part 111., we see, is to be issued in February
and part IV. about Easter next.

The Family Mirror. Part I. Published No. 9,
Johnson's-court, Fleet •street.
A new and promising aspirant to popular favour
added to the list of our cheap illustrated serials.
The proprietary profess a highly moral aim, and in
their endeavour to instruct and elevate the mind
do not lose sight of the fact they may at the same
time afford it pleasurable entertainment.

Map of London. Coloured to show the New
Postal Districts. Edward Stanford.
This valuable production supplies, and most satis-
factorily, an admitted want. The development of
the new postal scheme called for the appearance of
a map so prepared and coloured as to show what
each district embraces at a glance, and that such
map should he produced under such auspices that it
could bo depended on. Tue map before us, designed
and engraved by the Society for the Diffusion of
Useful Knowledge, fulfils every condition that
could reasonably be insisted on. It is equal, if not
superior, to any map of the metropolis of its size
extant—is sufficiently largo and well coloured to
make the work of reference exceedingly easy—and,
in addition to the auspices of the above society,
may be said to appear under the couratenance
of the Postmaster-General. In point of fact
it is Mr. Stanford's admirable map prepared for
use in the London and Provincial Post-offices, by
cotn ofmaitlfidsizo and coloured thePoustri
Postmaster-General—only
with a specific aster-General—only re-
ducedobject.
ll ;E. to Blacl-
Highbury-place ; S., to Camberwell
W., it extends to Kensinwon-gravel- pits; N., to
wail station. n addition to Abe. map there is the
Post-office List of the ptincipal. stre,ts and places
in London and its environs, as civith:d into postal
districts. The whole forming a most useful and
portable companion either for the pocket or the
desk.

The ship Challenger, Captain hillock, arrived in the
Downs yesterday from Shanghai, with 224,6581b5. of
tea, and 5,831 bales of silk on freight. This cargo, it is
stated, is one of the most valuable ever brought to this
countryßuYsoiati,Nl Gib:dLynnpuett Ervs:Sl:lll.s4:i o,l'UtleD
cN(OniTISitMe,TiNE 13yeE,Dy.
nearly
r young
iliontagt
her life two or three wetks zi,o in the house of her
father, the Governor of `t 'se ,w, by a very singular
accident. It is statcd in La Patric, that the Countes4
rad Oeee indulging as usual au the habit of -irioking, and
at the same time reading in bed. The double nare,tic
very soon set her a4leep. She awoke presently in terror
to find her bed on fire, the linen shee's had been ignited
by tne end of her cigarette. She jumped out of bed,
fortunately without being burnt, and rushed to the
door. It had been bolted, and in her fright she could
not open it. Then she broke the window, and called
loudly lor help. The seiiii:.o! on duty at the gate below
instantly gave the alarm ; the lady 's chamber door was
forced opened, and the fire was extingukii,d. Sire was
not hurt, hut only frightened.
PHOTOGRAPHY.--Mr.Mayall's new patent is intended
to produce portraits on a substitute Er ivory. It is
composed of sulphate of barytes, mixed with albumen,
and the supposed advantages to be derived from it are
—The avoidance of the glare of the metallic plate, and
the ab..orbent properties of paper. In this process a
flat surface, p,rfecly white, is first obtained ; the
portrait from the sitter is then transferred to it by the
photographic apparatus, and in that state it is handed
to the artist, who passes a wash of transparent eJleour
over the face, accordii,g to the complexion required
rd .
the dress aid background are treated in the
man-
ner ; and, lastly, the lights are scraped out.
obtained by this new method, having the appearance of
and in
miniatures, are executed at a much reduced
cost,There are several
a proportionately brief space of time. 891m):r traits
perfection to which this
which give ample proof of the per _
speciwtos in the rooms of Mr. MaYall! in Regent-street,
photography has been
4—rotuhegliztniost recent—discovery in