The Sun.
London, England, 1857-07-23 00:00:00

THE LATE MR. DOUNLAS JERROLD.

Yesterday evening Mr. Thacketay delivered a
lecture on "Week-eay Preachers," at St. Martin's-
, hall, for the benefit of the " Jerrold Fund."
The numerous audience who attended on the oc-
casion cheered the lecturer as he as,Tuded the plat-
form with an enthusiasm that showed a strong de-
sire to administer consolation for the result of the
Oxf.)rd elec' ion on Tueaday last. - Even if they had
b. en less cordially disposed, they would have btaen
forced int) applause by the opening words of the
disc arse, uttered with a comical s9lemnity of
which Mr. Tnackeray alone is capita,. " Walking
yesterday in the High-street of a certain ancient
the lecturer, and was interrupted
by a storm of laughter that deferred fur sums ml
rents the completion of the sentent”. Every one

that heard that roar must have felt convinced at
once that the orator had secured the sympathies of
his; hearers on the very threshold.
When he resumed the thread of h7s rarrative he
explained that in the course of his walk he saw a
MS. sermon in a bookseller's shop,
which had led
him to reflect that the clergyman who might chance
to buy this valuable arti;.ile and make u,te of it for
the pulpit would probably neglect to inform his ad
miring congregation that he had purchased it as one
of a lot, at the rate of 15s. pee cl,zen. Indeed, he
greatly doubted whither any clot gyman, on deliver-
ing any one of his discourses to several successive con-
gregations, would inform the last of these the number
of times that the same benefit had been conferred
on similar assemblages. However, his own candour
would not a'low him to- conceal the fact that the
greater portion of yesterday evening's discourse had
been already delivered not only in America, but on
two occesons in London. On one of these occa-
sions he had spoken for the benefit of a Jewish cha-
rity, on the other he had contribu'el towards the
assistance of a I;terary gentleman whess misfortunes
were much commiserated in this metropolis about
two years ago.
The lecture, in fact, was mainly the same as an
oration on "'Humour and Chari•y" that was deli-
vere I some time ago at the Marylebone Institution,
and comprised most of the ell'iments previously
expressed in the four celebrated lectures on the
" British Humorists," with additions connecting
the theme with the wri-uts of modern times. .So
much being pren.ised it is scarcely nece,sary to
state that he spoke of Addison with unquallai
love and admiration, referred to "Dick Steel,"
as one would refer to a favourite but somewhat
naughty child ; gave a few kindly words to Field-
ing ; scowled somewhat severely at Lawrence
Sterne, and alluded to Goldsmith as a general t ene-
factor. The " Week day preachers" of yesterday
evening were, in fact, the "humorists" of Lis for-
mer leetural.

With Steele and Addison, he said, began that se-
t which d;stin-
gl eueistdc: ft
hseugte cvtes farnoding°arylpnraordYul tfro us of modern
literature from the stlted tragedies and heartless
comedies of earl er days. Modern writers have felt
themselves called upon to address the symp ith lei of
the people; and these are gen.era'ly- on the side of
right and adverse to oppression: Burns and Beran-
ger were cited as examples of popular a)ng • writers ;
and to illustrate his-. theory by a reference to the
stage Mr. Thackera3 pointed not only to the Black-
Eyed Susan of Mr. Douglas Jerrold, but likewise
to two plays Ferformed at a penny "gatf," iu which
wicked aristocrats and virtuous plebeians were the
leading personages,
Charles Lamb, Thomas Hood, and Punch elm
give a specimen of our factious contempo-
came in for his eulogy as so many kindly teachers,
an d, to
rary, he read an atticle, entitled the " Cura•e's
Walk," known to be a contribution from his own
pen. This article is a masterpiece of humour and
inohtrusive pathos, and served the lecturer as a
staring point in the delicate task of drawing a com-
parison b .4.,veen himself and Mr. Dickens, who was
preseet in the hall, and was one of the most en-
thusiastic of the listeners. He confessed that his
view of nature was not so pleasant as tho view
taken by Mr. Dickens, that he had found critics in
his own children, who wished that he could write
something like "Nicholas Nickleby ;" he pane-
gyrized his friendly cr,rapetitor as a bring " corn-
m'ssioned by Divine Benevolence," and spoke of
the "Christmas Carol" as the best of chirity ser-
mons. But, as far as concerned himself, he de-
clared that he could only pa;nt life as he saw it,
and must stand excused by the honesty of his in-
tentions.

Most gracefully was the lecture brought to a con-
clusion by a reference to its immediate object.
Within the space of a twelvemonth the weekly din-
mr shared by the staff of "Punch" has been im-
paired by two heavy losses and Mr. Thackeray ex-
pressed the grief he felt through m;s,ing Messrs.
A'Beclatt and Jerrold at the "kindly board.*
Expatiating on the wit of Mr. Jerrold, he dwelt
still more on that intrinsic benevolence of his char-
acter which was ignored by those who saw in the
brilliant utterer of repartee the severe satirist only.
To i!lustra.te this part of his subject Mr. Thackeray
read an apologue by Mr. Jerrold which shows how
a fruit merchant who had dealt in lemons during
t'--e greater peat of his life found an insupeiab`e
difficulty iu making the world believe that he had
abandonel his old trade and taken to the sale of
sweet oranges. The editor of " Punch," who has
held the office from its commencement, came in for
his share of eulogy.
The lectute was loudly applauded at all
" points ;" and Mr. Thackeray, after he had quit-
ted the patform, was recalled by the unanimous
voice of the audience.

E,CINDE RAILWAY CO3IPANY•

The following correspoudence has been handed
to us for publication :
deittoa -street, 18, 1857.irwadY-setreemP, sn
GreshamHorse,"Seet Old
" Sir,—l have the honour to enclose herewith an es-
frac: from a 1, tter from the agent of this company, No.
145, of 1857, dated Karro,chee, 19th May, having refer.
ence to the facilities for the entrance of vessels into the
harbour, which may be interesting at the present time
to the honourable court.---I have, AC.,
(Signed) "W.p. A NIMBI!, Chairman.

" Sir Jaiie; C. 8., &c•
" Extract from a letter from the agent of the Scinde
Railwav Company t.. the secretary, dated at Kurra-

chec, 19th May, 1857.
`• has been with some satisfaction that I have
heard that, when the troops were being embarked here
recently, Commander Bennie (now commander in the
Persian Gulf) was very often iu and out of the harbour,
and that, in consequence of his repeated observations,
he reported to Government his conviction that there was
more watt-r upon the bar than the register showed, thee
ful:y confirming the repeated assertions to that effect
which I made last year on the authority of native boat-
men and the captains of Ileglish shipi. There has been
a great deal of sea lately, yet the Bussorah Merchant
was brought in by the port officer, drawing 20 feet 6
inches, while the depth signalled was only 21 feet. It
ii gratifying to perceive that, on all occasions, the pre-
cent port officer, Lieutenant Giles, does his utmost for
the convenience of every one using the port.'"

MARKET NEWS.—(This Day.)

CORN EXCHANGE.

GENERAL AVERAGE PRICES OF BRITISH CORN
For the week ended July 23, 1857, made up from the Re-
turns of the Inspectors in the different Cities and Towns in
England and Wales, per Imperial Quarter.

WHEAT
63s 81

, -
BARLEY I OATS I I
RYB I ELM ram
37s 9d 278 9d 42s 7d 45s ild 44s 4d
THE SIX WEEKS' AVERAGES,

WITEAT I BARLEY OATS. I Rini BEANS PEAS
62s Id 38s 3d 12752 d 40s 10d , 45s 3d 43s 8d
ENGLISH GRAIN SOLD LAST WEEK.

Wheat, 81,704; barley, 1,038; oats, 6,102; rye, 76;
beans 2,693 ; peas, 261 quarters.

MEAT MARKETS.

0d to 4.3 6d per 81bs, by tb.
6d; Lamb, 53 06 to 5a 10d;
-/"'NEWGA.TN AND LEADENHALL.--Thera vras a moderate
business doing here today, as follows :—Beef, from 3s Od
Veal, 3s
321:10;d
• %MOM.
1:01:711,1g4t:t

SOUTHALL, July 22,—The supplies of stock here to-day
°Balbtso,6ts to the offal.
were moderate, and the trade ruled somewhat firmer than
last week, as follows :—Beef, from 3;sv.a
2(eltlo, 453 66(a1;t0M4ustt6oz
1, ,
3s 4d
dt3o34BsdB4tlo; Lamb,4s6d p
5s Od
ROMFORD, July 22.—The trade morally ruled steady,
at our quotations :—Beef, from 38 4d to 4s 6d ; Mutton,
3s 4d to 4s 10d; Lamb, 58 Od to 6s 2d; Veal, 3s 8d to
4s 61 •, Pcrk, 3s 8d to 4s 6d per Blbs ; Mulch Cows,
161. to 211. each.