The Sun.
London, England, 1845-09-17 00:00:00

GEORGE CRUIKSHANK'S TABLE-BOOK.

This is a capital Number, whether considered in a
pictorial or a literary point of view. The illustrations of
the " Mouthful of Fresh Air," are rich, and the letter-
press is redolent of fun. The subject is excellent—a steam-
voyage to Margate. Who can illustrate such a subject
like George Cruikshank and Gilbert A'Beckett ?
" The Enthusiast in Anatomy" is a very quaint talc,
quaintly told and as quaintly illustrated. The following
article is illustrated by the figure of a stout Hall Porter
seated iu his beehive chair in a marble hall, making an
effort to be vocal. The manner in which he seems to
squeeze his voice up from his chest is admirable.
It is a remarkable trait in the English character that a gen-
tleman or lady with a voice, and even without one, can adopt
immediately the various feelings under which sentimental songs
are supposed to have been written. Thus an individual with a
good low G is seized with a desire to bid " Farewell to the
Mountain," and he makes the further discovery that It is 'stoo
lovely for him ;" though he has never particularly considered
what amount of loveliness in the way of " sunlighted vales,"
and other overwhelming beauties of nature, he has hitherto
found himself proof against. Every one is supposed to feel
what he sings, and when a gentleman therefore strikes up
" Oh, give me but my Arab steed," he is supposed to be ad-
vertising, through the medium of song, for an animal war-
ranted to go quiet in the " battle-field," and not to shy at the
sound of trumpets. If we are to judge by the difference of the
sentiment in songs for different voices, high tenors appear to be
always desperately in love, baritones extremely ill-used and out
of spirits, while bases are wrapt up in such a cloud of gloom that
they are on terms of intimacy with King Death, whom they fa-
miliarly allude to as " a rare old fellow."
Young ladies with little voices want to be butterflies, and
the whole musical population of the female sex has for thlanast,
year been dreaming it has •' dwelt in marble halls a sre
that the porter at the Reform Club. as well as.
Though we are awarehundreds of other
porters, may every day
of
fhat thetheirlife see reahsed
sentiments of songs cannot b e
adapted to the peculiar
situations of all the individuals who
sing them, we are of opinion that ballads might at least be
written to suit particular
classes,
and we conclude this paper by
an adaptation of the celebrated " Marble Halls," as a " Song
from the Chair, to be sung in every large hall by the porter,
I dreamt that I dwelt in marble halls,
With tradesmen and duns outside,
And a large assembly of morning Wilt,
In carriage pomp and pride.
There were crowds too great to count, and most
For bills unsettled came ;
But I also dreamt that at my post
I sat dosing all the same,
I dreamt that footmen raised their hand,
And kneeled to a high degree,
With a noise few porters' ears could withstand,
But they wasted it all on me.
I dreamt that one of the noisy host
Came forth and hawl'd my name ;
But I also dreamt that fast as a post
I slept there all the same.

THE POTATO BLIGHT.—We find thai the distemper
amongst the potatoes prevails to great extent in the south
of England, but it has scarcely reached the midland counties,
and that in the north of England it is almost unknown, The
same complaint is said to extend to field cuonibers, and
acres of girlsins 'Ave goUQ y
Quardina
4' t:nar way.—Lancoster