The Sun.
London, England, 1850-06-20 00:00:00

BELLE ASSEMBLEE.

The Belle Assemblie, as usual, happily combines
" the grave and gay, the lively and severe." As
specimens of which different characteristics, we may
cite a very excellent article upon Southey, a sketch
of the history of music, a beautiful story entitled
" Trials," which effectively inculcates a most valuable
lesson ; various tales and sketches, and an amusing
account of the perplexities of an editor. Among the
poems is one from the accomplished editress, Mrs.
Crosland, "The Heart's Friend," which very beau-
tifully enumerates the various qualities desirable in
such a relationship, and then mentions, as the price
requisite for obtaining such a treasure, " the struggle
to deserve it."

THE HISTORY OF PENDENNIS. By W.
M. Thackeray. No. XTIL
The present number relates the recovery of Pen-
dennis, not only from his fever, but from his penchant
for poor Fanny Bolton, who has caught the fever
from her assiduous attendance on Pen. Warrington,
who has returned to his chambers during Pen's con-
valescence, is introduced to Laura, and they fall vio-
lently in love with each other. The whole party, in-
cluding Warrington and the Major, and Helen and
Laura, but excluding poor Fanny Bolton, who is
regarded by Helen and Laura as a monster of vice,
are about to set out for a tour on the continent for
the completion of the recovery of Mr. Pen's health.

THE TOWN AND COUNTRY MISCEL-
LANY. Edited by Albert Smith.
An excellent sixpennyworth of fun. " Mr. Doo-
lan's Visit to the Waxworks " is a regular screamer,
and the Ripky family are the most promising persons
to whom we have been introduced for many a long
day. We take a great interest in the lodging-house
speculation, and long to know the conclusion of the
adventure of " the young man who likes the beer."
Mr. Ripky is the very Sir Charles Wood of domestic
financiers.

LEILA. By Sir Edward Bulwer Lytton. Parts

V. and Vi.

An engraving from Stephanoff, another from Mac-
cline, a third from Herbert, and a fourth from Cor -
bould, embellish the two latest numbers of the pre-
sent charming republication. If one of the crudest
of all the stories penned by the master-hand of our
poet-novelist, "Leila" is also one of the most brilliant
in colouring. In its animation and glow we may
trace the germs of that fruitful fancy which
has since added so many inestimable treasures
to our romantic literature. In Almamen, for
example, we have the outline of Arbaces ; in
Amine the faint sketch of Irene ; in Ferdinand
the more perfect historical painting of such monarchs
as Harold, the Saxon, and William the Conqueror.
Book the Fourth is completed, and Book the Fifth
commenced in these instalments of the narrative now
in course of re-appearance. The cupidity of Ximen is
prompting him to betray his master to assassination.
Almamen, on the other hand, prompted by his anxiety
respecting his daughter Leila, has sought her even in
the private chambers of Isabella, and to effect his
escape thence causes the conflagration of the camp of
the Spaniards. The last page here represented closes
as the army of Ferdinand and the army of Boabdil
meet under the walls of Granada, to fight for the rise
or the fall of th• religion of Christendom.