The Sun.
London, England, 1857-05-11 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

No. XVII.

By Chnits Dickens.

Arthur Clennam stil a prisoner for debt in the
old room in the old Marshalsea ! And this the last
monthly issue, but one, of Little Dorrit! For the
next number will, of course, be the doub!e number
bringing the story to its conclusion ! A Prisoner
in the Marshalsea, Arthur Clennam throughout
this seventeenth number, maybe described as hold-
ing a kind of levee,' in the course of which there
appear before him, either one by one, or occasion-
ally in motley groups, very many of the new
charaaets associated with that noble
heart, dhero of Mr. Dickens's last great composite
fiction. Mr. Chiveg tie Turnkey pokes his head
in at the door a very li the way " with one ear"
upon Arthur " instead of both eyes !" The histo-
rian of the Dorrits adding to this, by way of
explanation : " This was native delicacy in
Mr. Chivery—true politeness ; though his
exterior had very much of the Turnkey about it,
and not the least of a gentleman." Young John,
in regard to whom quoth that Paterfamilias Clo-
the-lock, " My sin has a art, and my son's art Is
in the rght place ; me and his mother knows where
to find it, and we find it sitiwated correct"--he
looks in several times, off and on, afterwards.
Then come excellent Mr. and Mrs. Flemish, arnt
in arm, upon a visit of condolence, eminently cba-
rac!eristie of them both throughout. Witness
the following record :

" Mr. Plornish amiably growled, in his philosophical
bat not lucid manner, that there was uns, you see, and
there wai downs. It was in wain to ask why ups, why
downs ; there they was, you know. He bad beard it
given for a truth that accordin' as the world went round,
which round it did rewolve undoubted, even the best of
gentlemen must take his turn of standing with his ed up-
side down and all his air a flying the vvreng way into
what you might call, Space. Wery well then. What
Mr. Plornish said was, wery well then. That gentle-
man's ed would come tip'ards when his turn come, that
gentleman's air would be a pleasure to look upon being
all smooth again, and wery well then !"

Mrs. Plorni,..h not a jot less delightful in her way,
chatters on quite as garrulously as ever about "Fa-
ther" (little old Mr. /randy), and in talking of Mr.
Baptist's exertions in Arthur's behest, winds up
her account of them " in the Italian manner" by
declaring "it really do, as I say to him Mooshat-
toniqm Padrona 1" Then, again, Ferdinand Bar-
nacle, the easy, gay, vivacious, light-in-hand,
touch-and-go—pays Arthur a no less'chara,cteristie
visit in his way I And afterwards Mr. Bugg,
another in his ! Later on, stream in upon the
saddened prisoner, all together—Rigaud, other-
wise Blandois, with the diabolical nose and mou-
stache, accompanied by Pancks, fresher than ever
from the coals, and his hair more " prongy” even
than of yore, and close upon their heels little
chirrupping Jean Baptiste Cavaletto, waiting upon
them, as he hiwselt expresses it, " patientistia-
mentally." Old Flintwinch (still screwing at
everybody with his neckcloth awry), having been
sent for to the House upon Crutches, drops in upon
this agreeable little parti carree not long afrer-
wards. When they have all at length taken their
departure, Somebody Else comes too ! Who ?
Who but—Little Dorrit Arthur has previously
had his eyes opened to the fact of her loving biro,
to his wonder and bewilderment, by honest-heartede
John Chivery. Yet in spite of this—in spite of
Little Dorrit herself being just for all the world the
same as she has been all throuvh the book (even to
her old dress, which she has donned for her
visit of grAtitude arid affection to Arthur in his nevi
abode in the old familiar Marshalsea)—in spite of
himself, of herself, of their mutual tenderness, their
fortunes are still, at the close of the number,
divided, though their hearts are not by any means
estranged. We are left to the very last quite du-
bious as to what may be the result of the plot with
ail marvellous complications. Will Little
Dorrit and her brother find themselves ruined by
the treacherous Merdle Quicksand ? Fanny and
and Sparkler, we already know, must have been
beggared by the suicide of the wholesale Speculator.
Will Doyce return, having made his fortune t°
release Arthur from the Marshalsea—and to pia?,
to the astonishment of the very scales and scoop
belonging to Mr. Merdle, that the mere child, i°,
matters of business, is no such child after all
How will it all end ? We close the seventeeth nurli"
ber on the tiptoe of expectation.

PLANS OF THE NEW OFFICES.—The designs for. 08
new Government offices have now been visited by thou'
sands during the week, and it is universally admitted
that of its kind it is the most extraordinary collection
that has for many years been brought before the public.
Now that the public have had an opportunity to vie°
the designs, the names of the commissioners selected tO
act as judges are given, and it will be generally admit'
ted that a netter or a fairer selection could not save'
been made. The judges are—The Duke of Buccleuch
Mr. Stirling, M.P. for Perthshire; Lord Eversley, late
Speaker of the House of Commons ; Earl Stanhope,
president f the Royal Society of Architects ; Mr. D'
Roberts, R.A., Mr. Burn, R.A., and Mr. Brunel, the
eminent engineer. The Duke of Buccleuch is reckooect
among the best judges of architecture in the kingdono
He will represent the House of Lords. Mr. Stirling,
the selected of the House of Commons, is well knoval
for his proficiency in all that appertains to architoc"
ture. Lord Eversley has been chosen from his 101 l
official knowledge, which will enable him to judge
what are the principal requisites for Government office''
Earl Stanhope, as president of the Royal College of M
cbitects, should be considered as being one of the Vs"
qualified to give a sound opinion. Mr. David Robert
jean artist -of great eminence. Mr. Burn is a scrota'
architect of high standing, and a member of the laad"
tute of Architects ; and Mr. Brunel is well known ag
being one of the first civil engineers of any country""
Observer.

NOT USING THE LEAD.—LIVERPOOL, May 8.—A1301
a fortnight since an inquiry, instituted by the Board
Trade was held in St. George's-hall before Mr. J.
Mansfield, the etipendary magistrate, and Capt. Walkers
R.N., into the circumstances attending the total loss °f
the barque Emperor, Cant. Mitchell, and the grounding
of the snip Lady Ebrington, Capt. Hillman, on the 20
March, on the Blackwater Bank, on the coast of Ire-
land. In neither case had the lead been used betweea
the time the vessels left Liverpool, on the 28th Marco'
and a few minutes before they struck on the bask'
Capt. M.-Orman, however, succeeded in getting his Oil;
off the bank with the next tide, while the barque wast;
total wreck. At the termination of the inquiries the
masters' were withdrawn from Capt. flubloll
and Capt. Mitchell, for the purpose of being forwarded
to the Board of Trade. To-day, at the police-court, Alf;
Mansfield, addressing Mr. Clarke Aepinall, the solicit...
for Capt. Hulinan, said their Lordships the Cow
sioners of the Board of Trade, considering the successitia
efforts made by Capt. Hulman to save his ship, 0,4
thought that the justice of the case had been met by
temporary withdrawal of his certificate which was 11°"
returned. AR to the-case of the Lady Ebrington,.l3oP
ever, he said (addressing Mr. Bremner, the solicitor Ord
Capt. Mitchell) their lorctships felt compelled to swipe°
the c,rtificate for six months.

MYSTERIOUS CASE OF POISONING.—An extraordina{
case of poisoning, wnich placed in jeopardy the litres iet
six persons, took place in Cornwall a few days ago.
appears that a servant in the employ of Mr. Fra- cis L 5
sen., cabinetmaker, of Penzance, named Catherle"
Richards, purchased 8:b. of fl our of Mrs. King, and su°l
yeast of Ann Brower, who had procured it at Treaver'''
brewery. The flour and yeast were put into a pantrls
and shortly afterwards the servant converted it int4:l
loaves of bread. Mr. Lugg and a female assistant name
Trevelyan, ate a small portion of the bread for dinner'
and were immediately afterwardsaaken ill, but not seri-
ously. For tea, Mr. Lugg, his son, Mr. Francis Lugg'
Miss Trevelyan, and the servant, Catherine Richard;
ate a large quantity of the bread, and soon atterwaru.
all four of them were seized with violent pains in the',
stomach, followed by vomiting. A medical man wild
?al!ed in and medicines were administered, which b°,o
the desired effect. Some of the bread was submitted '0
Dr. Montgomery, who analysed it. In the meant
a workman in the employ of Mr. Lugg, and one of il2.
f'o
apprentices tasted the bread, and suffered severely
of
their temerity. Dr. Montgomery found the whole eci
the bread highly charged with arsenic, but it ,apPearl
that the largeness of the dese caused a speedy v°Wiv;
and trims raved the six lives which might otherwise 135,t
been sacrific2d. Flour from the same sack and Yelio
from the same vessel were sold to other customers. Wry
used it without any inconvenience or injury.
ac' exertion has been used to find a clue to this dreadful
cident or crime, but without effect.
°.
FIRES YESTERDAY AND SATURDAY. —Yesterday flierja
ing, between two and three o'clock, a fire took p131,L.
the premises belonging to Mr. C. Sparrow, shell ro,
monger, and fruiterer, No. 10, Middle row, 1101b°
forming the corner house of Staples-inn-building'
,of
police officer first discovered tlle fire, which had ale The
cut off all means of egress by the regular way.
~„b0
Royal Society's escape attended, and the inmates, "oict
had previously wrapped up a child only seven months 00
in a shawl, and had attempted to put it down the canoe•
bagging of the escape, by some unfortunate circugotaci it
dropped the poor child at the side of the escape, en 50
fell upon the stone flags beneath, a distance of nearly lost
feet, by which it received such injuries that not the , be
hope can be entertained of its recovery. The rest °' fire
ititnatee were safely brought down the escape. Thie, de'
could not be subdued until the premises were near /gr.
strayed and the contents consumed. The premises 0,,1e
G. Dry, lacenian, N. 11, have also received d 351,9,7,500
7.ter end smoke. Mr. Sparrow was insured in the the
Fire-office, but Mr. Day was uninsured. Asci °tell
or giu of the fire, nothing that could be dePende teedal
could be learned.— Another fire took place Yes ifid,
in the premises of Mr. J. Smith, leather cutter'io the
Bethnal-green-toad. The disaster commenced the be as-
second floor front, but from what cause could n
,t, pre'
certained. Considerable damage was done to 'sufferer
mises and their contents by fire and water. The ,ved
was insured in the Sun Fire-office.—A fire halWa`tion of
Saturday evening in the premises in the ocoPs„. /8,
Mr. A. Longley, a hosier and shirt maker,
_,O nee, 11E1
cn"
High-street, Borough. It was caused from
se light
lighting the gas, dropping a spark amongst _th
hop an
fabrics in the shop windows. The stock in the
ufferer Was
windows was considerably damaged. The
insured.

1

I

Dic!:Cn°.

ft in tllo
the last

For the

number

Prisrincr

roughout
I as hold-
ich there

occasion -

the now
at it ble
;01hpoiite
hi, head

one ear-
I he ilis+o-
r way of

.icar,7 ill
ugh Lis
about it,
g John,
[plias On-
n's art lS
ws where
Teet"—he
fterwardr.
.itish, arm
cha-
tness this,

ilosophical
)u see, and
y ups, why
id heard it
rent round,
the beat of
his ed up-
g way into
en. What
hat gentle•
eqrue, that
upon being

i her way,
)out " Fa-
ing of Mr.
wilicis up
anner" by
. Mooshat-
land Bar-
t-in-hand,
Lracteristic
fr. Rugg,
Upon the
ud, other-
and mon-
than ever

ongy" even
beefs little
,iting upon
iatientist;a-
rewing at
aving been
ps in upon
Long afer-
aken their
! Who
previously
ovina biro/
est-hearted
in spite of
world the
)k (even to
'd for her
in his new',
-in spite of
miless, their
a number,
any means
t quite du-
e plot with
Vill Little

ruined 1.1.1
Fanny and
have beer-
F•peculator•
fortune t°
1 to pioVet
I and scoop
T child, In,
after alt
teeth nunr

gns for the
ed by thou'
ly admitted
y collectioo
the public•
Oily' to vieo
selected to
Tally admit-
Ed not baie
Buccleuch;
rersley, late

Staidope•
ts ; Mr. P'
Brunel, the
is reckoned
e kingdoni,
r. Stirling/
well knoval
;o architec"
m his long
to judge
nent offices'
liege of Ar'
of the best
rid Roberts
is a Soot
f the losti•

known
country.--

B.—Abuot
ie Board „,°`
Mr. J.
pt. Walker',
total loss 0'
grounding
on the 29t'
ast of jre'
'd betweell
Bth IVlarubt
the bank.'
[ng his 814
irque was!
lquiries tbo
pt. HulalArl
forward°
-court, Mr'
,he solicitor
3e Corur
successfu.
3 ship, bad
met by tbe
h was uOO
gton, hove"
solicitor for
to suspend

raordinsl
he litres °
s ago.
Cl 9 Dig 3
Catheris°
and some
Treaverl4
) a pantrif
ed it ist":l
ant nan'e
or dinner!
it not sec'
)cis Rugg
Richard",
titer war!s
as in o°l4
man I°A
which
mated t°
meavtie
one 0f I',or
verely
whole' °,l
appeal;
1;
wise' bsyst
and ye
here,
erg
r. Ec
eadful oc"