The Sun.
London, England, 1845-12-30 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

.ELINOR WYLLYS. A Novel. Edited by J. F.
Cooper. 3 Vols.
This work possesses a twofold claim to our atten-
tion. It bears on its title-page the name of a well-
known author, while the preface informs us that it is
in reality the first work of " a 'prentice hand," pub-
lished under his auspices. The story is interesting
enough itself, and is written in an easy unaffected
style ; but it is chiefly valuable as a picture of
American life—a delineation of the national charac-
ter. After the confused and contradictory accounts
of English travellers, respecting the manners and
customs of our trans-Atlantic brethren, an American
novel by one of themselves will be both instructive
and interesting. The authoress of "Elinor Wyllys"
has given no partial or prejudiced account, she is
evidently not blind to the faults of her countrymen ;
perhaps her work was written no less for their benefit
than for our information. The family of the heroine,
assembled at Wyllys-roof, exhibits a picture of calm
domestic enjoyment, scarcely differing from an
English fire-side group, and contrasting strongly
with some of their " aristocratic" neighbours, whose
vain ambiticns, would-be-exclusive language, and
manners are described with great animation ani vigour.
The latter part of the story is chiefly occupied by
the details of a law-suit of rather extraordinary cha-
racter; it is described with a fidelity and minuteness
which render it extremely interesting, and the speeches
of the counsel are well worthy of their supposed
authors. These volumes will be found highly interest-
ing to the English, as tending to throw a light on do-
mestic life in America, while to the Americans them-
selves they will be far more beneficial than the
" English novels, all about lords and ladies," which
are apparently so gratifying to their aristocratic taste

KNIGHT'S WEEKLY VOLUME, for all Readers.
No. 74. Lord Brougham's Statesmen of George 111.
This, the first volume of the third series of this
standard work, which Mr. Knight is rebublishing in
his weekly volume, contains Lord Brougham's re-
marks on the French' revolution, with his precis of
the characters of Robespierre, Danton, Camille, Des-
moulins, St. Just, and Sieyes. Lord Brougham met
Sieyes at Brussels in 1817, and he relates some
curious anecdotes of the self-sufficiency of the cele-
brated Abb, who, however, was always regarded by
Carnot and by Talleyrand as a man of great merit,
and to whom is due the honour of having first sug-
gested the three great measures which secured to
France the blessings of constitutional Government,
namely, the joint verification of the powers at the
meeting of the States-General, the formation of the
National Guards, and the establishment of the
new system of provincial division and administration.
This volume alsocontains several interesting anecdotes
of Fouche, communicated by Earl Stanhope, who
was well acquainted with the ex-Minister of Police
during his sojourn at Dresden, after the fall of Na-
poleon, in 1815. At the conclusion of the remarks
on the French Revolution, the sketches of English
Statesmen continue, and we have a spirited vindica-
tion of the character of John fourth Duke of Bed-
ford from the calumnies of Junius, an elegant pane-
gyric on the life and labours of Earl Camden, and a
withering philippic against demagogues in general,
and John Wilkes in particular. Mr. Knight is
conferring a great benefit on society by thus placing
these historical sketches, by Lord Brougham, within
the reach of all classes of readers.

THE COMIC BLACKSTONE. By Gilbert
Abbott A'Beckett.

This is a reprint of the admirable series of papers
by Mr. A'Beckett, which have from time to time
appeared under the above title in Punch, and the
perusal of which most of our readers have no doubt
heartily enjoyed. They are here collected into a
small volume, beautifully printed, and altogether
very nicely "got up." The frontispiece, by George
Cruikshank, is one of those fanciful pieces of sati-
rical drollery that none but George Cruikshank
could imagine or design.

MRS. CAUDLE'S CURTAIN LECTURES;
Edited from the original M.S. by Douglas Jerrold.
Here we have that stream of wisdom which con-
tinually flowed from Mrs. Caudle's lips, and which bath
for nearly twelve months past delighted and instructed
the world, collected, as it were, into a reservoir.
Who has not enjoyed the cup of caudle provided
weekly by Punch? Behold, here is the caudle-howl—
an admirable Christmas present. Leech's illus-
tration of Mr. Caudle's return from the skylark, is
very rich.

THE MANUAL OF HERALDRY; being a con-
cise Descritfon of ;he several Terms used, and cot:Min-
ing a Dictionary of every Designation in the Science.
This is a most elegant, and, at the same time, very
useful little book. The taste for mcedieval architec-
ture, and for moedieval decorations in our buildings,
public and private, is now reviving, and we would
recommend all those employed in the decorative art to
procure this little manual, and make- it their rade
mecum. It will prevent the commission of many a
blunder. It is copiously illustrated with woodcuts
(there are upwards of 400 illustrations), and in its
pages will be found "all the varied figures invented
by the College of Heralds, and bestowed from the
day of the conquest till the reign of Elizabeth, upon
the nobility and gentry, as marks of merit for services
rendered in the cabinet or in the field," and which
constituted the chief ornaments of the halls, palaces,
and churches of England, up to the close of the six-
teenth century.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

TATTERSALL'S-YESTERDAY.

Business so miserably dull that we shall make no apo.
logy for confining our report to a list of the actual trans.
actions.

CHESTER cur.

1,800 to 20 agst ➢ir. Plummer's Alice Hawthorn—taken
1,000 to 15 agst Lord G. Bentinck's My Mary—taken

DERBY.

6to 1 agst Lord E. Russell's Sting—taken to 1001.
15 1 agst Gen. Shubrick's Brocardo—take 16 to 1
35 to 1 agst Mr. Meiklam's Fancy Boy—take 40 to 1
2,000 to 50 agst Sir J. Hawley's Humdrum—taken
1,000 to 20 agst Mr. Wreford's West Countryman—taken
2,000 to 30 agst Mr. Stephenson's Sheraton—taken

OAKS.
9to 1 sgst Forth's lot.

LAMBOURNE COURSING MEETING.
DEC. 23 and 24.

The Cup for 16 dogs was divided between Mr. Cottrell's
Smolensko, and Mr. Bowles's Bank of Elegance.

The Plough Stakes, for 16 dogs, were divided between
Mr. Skurry s Wrinkle, and Mr. Burnett's Batson.
The Craven All-aged Stakes, were divided between
Mr. Bowles's Birthday Queen, and Mr. Lawrence's The
Libel.
The Ashdown Park Dog Puppy Stakes, were divided
between Mr. Pyke's Pewsey, and Mr. Ferris's Traveller.
The Craven Bitch Puppy Stakes, were divided be-
tween Mr. Pyke's Pauline, snd Mr. Bowles's Bronze Star.
The Lambourn All-aged Stakes, were divided between
Mr. Lawrence's Lothario, and Mr. Jenner's Fop.

THE LATE ACCIDENT ON THE NORFOLK RAILWAY,
NEAR nterlioltb.--On Friday Mr. R. E. Clarke, coroner for
the borough of Thetford, held an inquest at that place for
the investigation of the circumstances attending the death of
Richard Pickering, the engine-driver, and William Hedger,
the firemen, who were killed on Wednesday afternoon by
the accident which occurred at KilversLone, when the train
ran off the road. Several witnesses were examined, but there
was no distinct proof as to the cause of the train going off
the rails. As the guards with the train were too much
injured to attend, the inquest was adjourned mail such time
as they shall be well enough to be present. The body of
Hedger was shockingly bruised. One of his legs was torn
from it, and broken in three places. The poor fellow died in
great agony, begging the persons around him to deprive bins
of life in order to terminate his sufferings.
CAERLEON.—AUDACIOUS FRAUD•—A flagrant im-
position has been tried upon the benevolent in this neigh-
bourhood, which there is every reason to suppose has been
successful in some instances. An artful dodger has brought
round a petition, purporting to be for the admission of the
bearer into the Blind Asylum, Bristol. The paper has several
forged signatures attached, as well as the names of some
charitable gentlemen, who were induced to subscribe in con .
sequence of the knave presenting falsen
esti recommendatory ,
letters,l bearing the forged signature of avine
who feels deeply hurt that so base a use should be made of 1
his name. A similar swindle was tried about three months 1,
ago, upon other pretences, and there is every reason to be- ',
It
is by the same parties. The police are on the alert, and
it is probable the swindlers may be compelled to spend a
portion of their Christmas holidays on the wheel.—Nrm- •
riovthshire Merlin.

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