The Sun.
London, England, 1850-09-03 00:00:00

DAVID CO PPERFIELD. No. XVII.

By Charles Dickens.
Two extraordinary incidents in the career of David
Copperfield are recorded in this portion of his auto-
biography. We allude to the explosion of the mine
under the feet of the villanons Uriah Heep, and the
premature death of poor little Dora. The former
occurrence is described with remarkable skill—every
circumstance by which it is introduced tending to
heighten the curiosity of all those who were interested
in the humane machinations of Mr. Micawber at
Canterbury. That gentleman " comes out" in
great strength on the occasion, and the partner of his
bosom reveals yet more conspicuously than ever
the exceeding sitnplicity, we might almost say im-
becile stupidity, of her character. Once, when she
replies to the inquiry of Aunt Betsey, if those around
her were all her family—" There are no more at
present ;" and again when, immediately there is a
prospect of Mr. Alicawber's proceeding to Australia,
she asks if in the new country there would be a
chance of his rising in the social scale—" I will not
say, at present," she observes, "might he aspire to be
Governor, or anything of that sort; but would there
be a reasonable opening for his talents to develope
themselves ?" Poor Mr. Dick's delight at Mr. Mi-
cawber's calling him "Mr. Dixon," is capital. "Mr.
Dixon," says David, " was so pleased with his new
name, and appeared to think it so very obliging in
Mr. Micawber to confer it upon him, that he shook
hands with him again, and laughed rather childishly."
The arrangements are that Mr. Peggotty will emi-
grate to Australia with Emily, leaving Ham in the old
country to bc taken care of by Mrs. B,rkis. One of the
most touching passages in the number is where Mrs.
Gummidge entreats to be taken out too with Emily
—her agony at the thoughts of being left behind is de-
scribed with a beautiful and natural eloquence. On
visiting Yarmouth with Mr. Peggotty for the purpose
of aiding hint in settling his affairs before sailing
from England, David calls in upon Mr. Omer, more
unwieldly and plethoric, but at the same time more
good humoured and humane than ever. On going
do=wn to Canterbury to assist in the explosion, Cop-
perfield observes his old enemy, the butcher, amongst
its inhabitants—by this "advanced to top. boots and a
baby"—what a notion the phrase gives of his having
attained the years of manhood ! Uriah Heep proves to
be a greater villain even than might have been conjec-
tured, but fortunately, with the aid of Mr. Micawber's
honesty and Traddles's unexpected coolness and intel-
ligence, all his damnable plans are frustrated. The
way in which he gets rapped violently over the
knuckles by the office-ruler wielded by Mr. Micawber
is quite delicious, the latter having previously worn
that instrument in his waistcoat with two or three
inches of it sticking out like a new description of
shirt frill. The way, moreover, in which "my aunt"
suddenly rushes upon Uriah Heep, and collars him
with both hands, accusing him of having got her
property, and calling upon Tret to "come and take
it from him," just as if for the moment she "supposed
that he kept her property in his neckerchief," is de-
lightful. Prior to the journey down to Canter-
bury there has been a most touching and
exquisite intimation given of the danger of
little Dora's illness. After using many argu-
ments to persuade Aunt Betsey and Doady to be true
to their appointment with Mr. Micawber, and to
never mind leaving her for a while, she exclaims,
" putting back her hair, and looking wonderingly at
my aunt and me, Besides, why shouldn't you both
go ? I am not very ill indeed ? Am I?' Why, what a
question !' cried my aunt. What a fancy said I."
l'he cheerful tone assumed by the two speakers,
coupled with the knowledge of the fact that their
hearts are almost breakiug with the thought, is in-
expressibly and in the highest degree pathetic. The
passage in which her death is direc.ly recorded, is no
less of an affecting character. David having uncon-
sciously pressed his last kiss to her lips, leaves Agnes
with her at night, descending by himself to the par-
lour of his little cottage :
" How the time wears, I know not; until I am re-
called by my child-wife's old companion. More restless
than he was, he crawls out of his house, and looks
at me, and wanders to the door, and whines to go
up-stairs.
" Not to-night, Jip! Not to-night!'
" He comes very slowly back to me, licks my hand, and
lifts his dim eyes to my face.
"' 0, Jip! It may be, never again!'
" He lies down at my feet, stretches himself out as if
to s!eep, and with a plaintive cry is dead.
" Agnes! Look, look, here!'
" —That face, so full of pity and of grief, that rain of
tears, that awful mute appeal to me, that solemn hand
upraised towards Heaven!
" Agnes?'
"It is over. Darkness comes before my eyes; and,
for a time, all things are blotted out of my remem-
brance."

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So ends the seventeenth number of " David Copper-
field."

THE PARLOUR LIBRARY.
Another volume of this cheap periodical contains a
reprint of Mr. G-. P. R. James's favourite historical
romance called " Darnley ; or, the Field of the Cloth
of Gold." From the wide popularity already ob-
tained by this splendid:fiction, we doubt not that in its
present accessible form of republication it will be
eagerly welcomed by the multitude.

CHAMBERS'S PAPERS for the PEOPLE.
A fourth volume of the Papers for the People
illustrates the continued capacity of the Messrs.
Chambers to cater for the public entertainment in
instructive literature. The present portion of the
weekly miscellany before us contains a tale called
the " Black Pocket Book," an autobiography called
" Lady, Margery St. Just," a biography of Fenelon,
and a biography of Sir Robert Peel, an article
on "The Every-day Life of the Greeks," and another
on " California," a charming paper on the " Science
of the Sunbeam," and a masterly historical summary
respecting the Bourbon family. Each of these con-
tributions is of very superior excellence.