The Sun.
London, England, 1842-06-02 00:00:00

METROPOLITAN MAGAZINE.

We are glad to meet with another of that intelli-
gent series of biographical and critical papers, the
" Note-Book of an Irish Barrister," which form by
far the most attractive features of this somewhat
monotonous Magazine. The-subject of the present
sketch is the Right Hon. David Pigot, one of the
most eminent Irish lawyers of the day, of whose
forensic oratory we are told, " the attributes of his
style are eminently graceful. It has a winning har-
mony, a fascinating attractiveness, and now and then
a spirit-stirring energy, but even then the trumpet
has a silver sound, and the temporary excitement is
not allowed to disturb the soft lineaments that are
characteristic of his manner. We have, heard him
address Juries with great effect. He always selects
what is most fit to be urged, and by grouping it into
such forms as may catch the attention, or impress
them with peculiar force, and scattering over the
whale such trains of argument,, or sarcasm, or rea-
sonings, as every one must feel to be natural, and own
to be powerful, his success is great." " Savinclroog"
is a tale written by one who is • evidently familiar
with Oriental manners and localities, and who de-
scribes occasionally with infinite minuteness and
energy. It is the cleverest tale in the Number.
" Hymn to Venus" is a translation of one of Metas-
tasio's best lyrics. We subjoin a portion of it :
Propitious in splendour
Descend from above,
O Venus delectable
Mother of Love !
O beautiful Venus,
Whose smiles have been given
For bliss upon earth,
And for rapture in heaven
Thou whose eyes dancing,
With light airy motion,
Make joyous and fertile
The land and the ocean !
Earth with the human race
For thee is teeming,
Under Sol's fruitful ray
Fervidly beaming.
Near to the laughing stars,
Placidly shining,
The clouds are all scatter'd,
The winds are declining.
The green sunny meadows •
Around thee are flowering,
Thou stillest the waves
When the tempest is lowering.
For thee the tremulous
Splendours of heaven
Shine forth, and. the curtain
Of darkness is riven ;
While o'er the firmament
Wantonly straying,
The light airy Zephyrs
Of Spring time are playing.
Inflamed by thine ardours
The feather'd creation
Pour forth in thy temple
Their pure adoration.
The dove and the maiden,
Tho' timid, ne'er falter,
. But brave ev'ry danger
To rush to thine altar.

THE ROYAL NAVAL SCHOOL DINNER.—Monday
evening, the Anniversary Festival of the Royal Naval School
was celebrated at the London Tavern. The Earl of Badding-
ton, First Lord of the Admiralty. presided, and was supported
by the Earl of Devon, Lord Prudhoe, Admiral the Right Hon.
Sir R. Stopford, Admiral Sir E. Codrington, Admiral Sir
Charles Ogle, Admiral Sir E. T. Troubridge, Admiral Sir C.
Malcolm, the Bishop of Chichester, &c. &c. About 200
gentlemen belonging to the naval service sat down to dinner.
The usual loyal toasts haying been disposed of, the Chairman gave
" The Royal Naval School, and prosperity to it." This excel-
nt institution had been established twenty years ago by
a Gallant Officer of the navy holding the rank of Captain, and
it now numbered 200 pupils, the entire amount which the pre-
sent building was capable of containing. lie had learned that
there were many objects of distress in the naval service still
improvided for, and the present building being found wholly
inadequate to the wants, it was contemplated to extend its
operations. 550 boys, sons of naval officers and mariners who
had fought, bled. and died for their country, had received edu-
cation in the Royal Naval Schools, and it is an institution
peculiarly deserving of suppsrt.—(Cheers.) The toast having
been drank with great applause, Admiral Sir Charles Ogle,
the President, returned thanks. The Noble Chairman then
communicated to the meeting the attack made on her Ma•
jesty. "In the early part of the evening," said his Lord-
ship, " I proposed the health of the Queen.—( Hear, hear. )
Little, however, did I think that her Majesty's health had been
placed in imminent danger from the hand of the assassin (the
greatest consternation here pervaded the whole assembly).
tier Majesty hail been shot at on her return from a ride in the
park, but I ant happy to say had escaped unhurt."—(Enthu•
siastic cheering, and cries of " God save the Queen" resounded
from all parts of the ream.) The National Anthem was again
sung by the vocalists, and on Mr. Hobbs introducing the lines,
" Front every latent foe—From the assassin's blow—God save
the Queen," the whole company rose en masse, and cheered
vociferously. The Noble Chairman left to attend a Cabinet
Council, and the Earl of Devon filled his place until a late hour.
New Ilortsies OF PA R LTA-Ail:N.Y.—The progress of
this truly splendid pile of building has been very active, con-
sidering its immense length, since the panic caused by the
late disagreements and misunderstandings among some of
the mitded operatives. It is now arrived at the first tier
of apartments, and the corbels for many of the windows
alreapy display numbers of heater-shaped shields, charged
with the Royal arms of England before and after the con-
quest, together with those of the Royal continental houses
with which the present reigning family is intimately allied.
Other sections of the edifice are also enriched with innu•
rnerable escoeheons bearing the heraldic ensigns of illus..
trious ancestors who had fought in Palestine, bled on the
fields of Arragon, or who once had aided the sturdy Barons
who compelled John to sign our ever-memorable Charter.
These exterior embellishments will sustain painted windows,
" casting a dim religious light—alight as not of day,” over the
interior of a finer structure, and one every way more conveni-
ent, considered as the two Houses of Parliament, or one more
becoming the dignity of the nation, can scarcely be conceived.
A remarkable passage in " the minutes of evidence (952) be-
fore the Select. Committee of the House of Commons," on the
—•
subject of Member's accommodation, runs thus ; The near
approach to the library and a convenient smoking-room are now
of inure importance than ever; in old times uch accommoda-
tions were It ss necessary, alembers carne and sat a few hours
in their seats, heard the debates, voted, and went away in
reasonable time, but now a Member of Parlariarnent who at-
tends his duty closely spends twelve hours a day in the Meuse,
to say nothing of Committees. It, therefore, becomes im-
portant that he should have the convenience of a library, and
what is called a smoking-room."
BRA circular has been
issued from the Horse Guards, recommending that the mark-
jig of deserters shall hereafter be conducted on an uniform
system throughout the army, and directing attention to an in-
strument recently invented. This instrument, which is of
brass, is shaped at the end into the form of the latter D, from
the outline of which is protruded, by means of a spring, a series
of needle points, which are regulated by a screw at
the end, and by turning which their length may be increased
Or diminished. By palling back this nut, nfier the points
are regulated, they recede into the box, when the iristru-
went nosy be considered charged. A slight pressure on
a small brass lever delivers the needle points,
inflicting,;Le a punc-
ture on the skin the exact shape of the instrument. These
punctures, on being rubbed whh a marking fluid composed of
a quarter of a pound of pulverised indigo, two sticks of Indian
ink, arid enough water to render it liquid, leave
an indelible D
upon the arm or hand of the deserter. This punishment is
only to be administered on parade in the presence of the men
iii the cavalry by the trumpet-major, and in the infantry by
the bugle-major, who are to be instructed by the medical offi-
cer how to apply the instrument. It is, moreover, only to he
indicted in the presence of the surgeon. If marking deserters
is considered ininspensable, there is no possibly mews by which
it. can be accomplished with less pain aLcl more cerointv.—
Uniifed Sutwice Gaza;rc.