The Sun.
London, England, 1844-08-30 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

THE POPULAR MEMBER. 3 Vols.
Bentley, London, 1844.
Of the four tales of which these volumes consist,
because the most natural and affecting, is a short one
entitled " True Love," which details the rise and
progress of an unsophisticated girl's affections for a
man who, after winning her heart, deserts her in order
to marry a lady of rank with whom he is continually
unhappy ; and on her death, which does not take place
till years after their marriage, he is unexpectedly
thrown into contact with his first love, and finding
that, notwithstanding his neglect, she still preserves
her attachment for him, he makes her the only repara-
tion it is in his power to make—namely, an offer of
his hand, which she readily accepts, and both parties,
albeit in the autumn of their lives, are left at the close
of the story in a state of supreme felicity. This tale
exhibits more unaffected tenderness than Mrs. Gore
usually shows in her works of fiction : but it will
scarcely be so much liked by the novel-reading por-
tion of the community as the " Popular Member,"
which has far more bustle and variety of incident and
epigrammatic point of description. Of the second tale,
"Blanks and Prizes," we shall content ourselves with
observing that it has already appeared in the pages of
Taits Magazine.

JOHN AMNESTY. 2 Vols.
Mortimer, London, 1844.
This is a republication, in two small, lightly-printed
volumes, of a posthumous tale by the late Dr. Maginn,
which appeared in successive
numbers of Ainsworth's
Magazine. As we noticed it from time to time in
The Sun, we need
say nothing more on the present
occasion than that it is a very readable story, and con-
tains some clever sketches of religious fanatics and
hypocrites. The embellishments are from the pencil
of George Cruikshank.

THE PRINCE OF PRUSSIA.—His Royal Highness
the Prince of Prussia and suite arrived at the Swindon
station yesterday afternoon, about four o'clock, by a
special train, on their route from Paddington to Badmin-
ton, the seat of the Duke of Beaufort. His Royal High-
ness and suite alighted there, and partook of luncheon in
the refreshment rooms at the station, when he was pleased
to express his great admiration at the splendour of the
rooms, and his entire satisfaction at his reception, which
was quite unexpected.

MARSHAL BUGEAUD'S DIS-
PATCHES.
The Illessager of Tuesday night announces that the
French Government has received dispatches from Mar-
Yhal dated the 11th and 13th inst., viz., three
days before and the evening preceding the battle of Isly.
On the 11th the Marshal writes :
"I received this morning, at half-cast six, by Djemma
Ghazaouat, a dispatch from his Royal Highness the
Prince de Joinville, dated the 6th. It informs me that
in the morning of that day his Royal Highness, after
having become acquainted with the result of the mission
of Mr. Hay, attacked Tangiers ; that his fire was an-
swered by eighty-four pieces of cannon, and that in an
hour the tire of the enemy was silenced, the batteries
dismantled, and the guns dismounted ; and that we had
a dozen men killed or wounded. His Royal Highness
was prep iring to go and attack Mogadore. This deter-
mination of his Royal Highness does him much henour.
All Europe will recognise our right to punish the Moors
for their perfidious conduct, and their attacks and re-
peated outrages. From a si,gnal•station which I have
stablish«l on an elevated spot at the west of Lulla Ma-
grania, we perceive the Morocco camp, which appears to
be on the hills of the right bank of the Isly, two leagues
from Ouchda. It indicates a considerable numerical force.
Yesterday a thousand of their cavalry came towards us
to reconnoitre ; they presumed, perhaps, that we had
quitted the environs of Lalla Magrania, because four
days before I had removed my camp to the junction of
the Ouedel-Abbess and the Ouardefoa, in a wood, where
my troops were sheltered from the great heat of the sun.
The enemy's horse crossed the encampment which I had
quitted, and exchanged shots for halt' an hour with fifty
chasseurs who observed them. It was they who com-
menced the fire, and their first shot wounded a trumpeter.
I thought they had a design on the convoy which was
coining from Nedroma, and, to protect it, caused three
battalions to advance on the hills on my right. The
convoy arrived in the evening without having been at-
tacked. Oa their return the enemy set fire to our houses
between Ouchda and Lalla-Magrania. There can be no
doubt, therefore, that the Moors seriously intend war ;
they have assembled numerous troops near Ouchda, and
are expecting others. Under these circumstances, and
in the expectation of a great affair, I have thought it
right to send for General Bedeau, and I expect that he
will be here the day after to-morrow, on the evening of
which day I shall move forward. I have the honour to
address to you a sketch representing the order of march
and battle which I have resolved to adopt against the
Morocco troops, whose great strength is in cavalry. It
was in this way that I fought on the 3d of July."
On the 13th, the Marshal writes :
" For several days past I had beer: informed by the
subjected Arabs of the Sahel of Ne . oma and the Upper
Tafna, that the camp of the Ern/xi-el.'s son was being daily
reinforced. The absence of all communication with our
friends of Ouchda, the salvos of artillery and musketry
which we hear night and morning in the enemy's camp,
and the spirit of bravado and presumption which we
know reigns in that camp, announce to as hostile projects
on a large scale. It is not, as you may suppose, to
make us evacuate our post of Leila Magrania, that all
the preparations are making ; nothing less is proposed,
according to what is said in the camp, than to take from
us the greater part of Algeria ; it is not even supposed
that we could resist for a single instant. This morning
a spahi has arrived, who has gone through all the
camps. They are, according to him, nine in number, and
extended on the Isly from Djerf-el-Akhdar to Condiat-
sidi-Abderrahman, a space of two leagues. Four of these
camps are said to be composed of troops of Morocco or
Makhezen ; a fifth contains the household of the son of
the Emperor, his concubines, baggage, horses, &c. &c.
This camp is said to be nearly as large as ours ; the
four other camps are composed of the contingents of
tribes. Other Arabs, who have seen the camps on the
hills, say that there are only five, but that others are
daily arriving. The number of men is estimated at 40,000
The Spahis say that they have nine pieces of-cannon,
six of which are mountain guns, and there are also two
mortars. Another camp is expected, commanded by the
Emperor's second son. I have judged that we cannot
remain much longer on the defensive without incurring
great danger, the least of which is the enemy being con-
stantly reinforced, but the most to fear is that he may
send detachments by my flanks, and raise the country
in my rear. It is also to be apprehended that a longer
suspense may wear out the good-will of the tribes who
form my convoys from Tlemcen and Djemma Ghazaouat.
Having yesterday been joined by General Bedeau, I de-
termined upon moving forward this evening. I
shall march three leagues on the plain, thus
passing the time till the night, as if I was only
foraging. I shall there halt in marching order, give
my columns time to sleep for severaihours, and to-mor-
row, at the first break of day, I shall arrive at the Isly,
two leagues from the head of the enemy's camps. I
shall make a halt there for an hour, if we do not meet
with an enemy, in order to allow our men and cattle to
drink. I shall then move on and make my attack, if the
enemy is still in the same place. If he has fallen back,
it is probable I may stop at Djerf-el_Akhdar till the heat
of the day is passed, and attack in the evening, or at
latest the next day. I have about 8,500 infantry, 1,400
regular cavalry, 400 irregular horse, and sixteen pieces
of artillery, four of which are field guns. It is with this
small numerical force we are about to attack this multi..
tude, which, according to every account, reckons 30,000
horse, 10,000 foot, and eleven guns. But my army is
full of confidence and ardour, and relies, as well as its
General upon gaining the victory. If we obtain it, it
will be a new example that success does not always
belong to the greater battalions, and it will be no longer
allowable to say that war is nothing but a game of
chance. I shall have the honour of writing again as
soon as the battle is over, relating precisely the result,
whatever it may be."

THE SULTAN ABDUL MEDSCHID'S WATCH
Messrs. Hart and Son, of Cornhill, have just completed
for the Sultan Abdul Medschid, a most splendid watch,
one of two watches for which an order was given to
them through the Turkish Embassy, about sixteen
months ago. The other watch is nearly completed, but
not yet in a state sufficiently perfe,:t to be sent with the
one first mentioned to Constantinople immediately.
This watch is of the diameter of five inches, according
to the order transmitted to the makers. It is in a double
gold case, the gold being of the standard of twenty-two
carats ; te back external ease is beautifully enamelled
with flowers, with a border of arabesque scrolling. This
part of the workmanship is very exquisite ; the bril-
liancy of the colours and the delicacy of the pencilling
being superior to anything of the sort ever produced in
this country, and surpassing anything we have seen of
the kind in foreign manufacture. The dial is white
opaque enamelled on copper, similar to English watches
in general, but the figures are Turkish characters. The
hands are of blue steel set with diamonds. The one
hand represents a dart, the other a shorter dart or arrow
with the crescent at one end. The movement is duplex,
with a chronometer balance, and jewelled in ten ruby
holes. The watch strikes the hours and quarters by
itself, as the time represents, which striking is repeated,
together with the minutes, by pushing upwards a small
gold slide. The inner bottom Is of crystal, in order :4)
show the repeating mechanism ; through the crystal are
two holes to wind up the striking part and the move-
ment. Wires, instead of the old method by a bell, are
used, and the sound is most harmonious and powerful,
and as near the tone of a collegiate or cathedral clock as
can be imagined. The pendant, or handle, is formed by
five scrolls, beautifully engraved, and shaped pyramidt-
cally. The watch, as a whole, is perhaps the most costly
and elaborate piece of mechanism to measure time yet
produced by English workmen, and does great credit to
the makers. It was shown on Wednesday morning last
to her Majesty the Queen and to his Royal highness
Prince Albert, both of whom expressed their high ad•
miration at its elegance and the good taste which was dis-
played in the enamelling, &c. The price of the pair is
1,200 guineas. It will leave this country in a few da3s
for Constantinople, where it will, no doubt, form an ob-
ject of surprise and astonishment to the inmates of the
Palace of the Sultan.

PURCELL COMMEMORATION.—The annual comme-
moration of Henry Purcell took place yesterday in West-
minster Abbey. These celebrations afford the opportu-
nity of hearing, at least once a year, church music sung
as it ought to be ; for the members of the Purcell Club
volunteer to give effect to the works of the eminent com-
poser. The performance of Purcell's fine compositions
within the edifice where they first became appreciated
also serves to give additional effect to the commemora-
tions. The usual vocal strength of the Abley choristers
was yesterday increased nearly twofold, and the cathe-
dral service was performed by them in a manner that
showed they fully comprehended the compositions of
their master. The effect was more impressive than those
who hear the service as ordinarily chanted can conceive.
The anthem was sung with much feeling, and with it
concluded the commemoration. All the seats in the
Abbey were occupied, and the aisles were crowded.
EXTENSIVE FIRE ON THE DOVER AND CROYDON
RAILWAT.—This morning, a few minutes before one
o'clock, a very rapid and destructive fire broke out upon
the premises belonging to the London, Croydon, Dover,
and Brighton Railway, situate near the terminus at
New Cross. The premises were about 200 feet long,
by near 70 feet wide, and were used as carriage-sheds.
At the time of the outbreak there were several carriages
in the building. Owing to the rapidity with which the
fire spread there was not sufficient time to rescue much
of the property contained therein. In a short space of
time the flames burst through l every part of the build'irif
and illuminated the neighbourhood
for miles round. The
County-office nes of the Brigade, under the superintendence
of Mr. Braidwood, with the West of England and
c ouy engines, with Messrs. Connerton and
Garwood, were with all speed at the scene, but by the
time they arrived the entire range of premises presented
one immense sheet of flame. None of the engines could
be
got to work in consequence of a scarcity of water.
One machine belonging to the Railway Company was
supplied by means of buckets of water from a agent
pond, but the flames were too strong to be conquered by
so small a quantity of water. Towards two oclock the
fire was nearly out. The wrecks of the several carriages
could be seen amidst the ruins ; the number, however,
destroyed, could not be exactly ascertained. The whole
of the men's working-tools appears to have been con-
sumed, as as well as nearly every article in the place be-
longing to the Company. The superintendent of the
line was sent for, but owing to the lateness of the hour
lie was not able to institute an inquiry into the cause ;
was that
no or
one
et
wast he
npreeitmhiesrescoliu,elrdehienstuerlledw. ithllisceorptaiiiinkti);
in the sheds when the fire broke out.

DEATII OF LADY ANNABELLA MACLEOD.--We re.
gret to announce the death of Lady Annabella Macleod,
which took place at the baths of Lucca, on the 14th
instant. Her Ladyship was daughter of Arth:Lroyr
n it t first
laen-
Earl of Mountnorris and eight Viscount Valentia, and
tLoune.y,HdaeurghLatedrysohfipthmearcreileedbraintedlBGoe2orgeLoni General
Macleod, C. 13., by whom (who died in 1$31) aim 45 left
a numerous family.

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