years 1817 to 1824, in successive volumes, he poured forth such a fund of original research of philosophical, entertaining speculation, expressed in so lively and agreeable a style, that the work has always remained one of the chief favorites of our literature.

DEATH OF THE ELDER DISRAELI.-The pure and gentleman just deceased,-who certainly was learnhonorable career of this gentleman reached its close ed not only by courtesy,-appeared in 1791; but, on Wednesday last. He had attained the advanced after a few copies had been sold, he suppressed the age of eighty-two years; and a few weeks ago whole edition, his motive for which was not very was in the full possession of his usual health, and apparent, the literary merit of that production being in the complete enjoyment of his intellectual powers. beyond dispute. In his twenty-fourth year he gave The prevailing epidemic, however, suddenly assail- to the world a volume consisting of his common ing a constitution enfeebled by age, soon assumed place book, with critical remarks, under the title of an aggravated form, and at length this venerable" Curiosities of Literature." This single volume gentleman sank under the attack. He was born at attracted attention in an age when men of genius Enfield, in the month of May, 1766, and was the abounded. Yet it was then merely an elegant and only child of Benjamin Disraeli, a Venetian mer- critical compilation, though it eventually became chant, who had been many years settled in the the origin of that celebrated miscellany in which, country. He received some instruction at a school at a later period of his life, and especially from the near the place of his nativity, but, his father conceiving that his education could be more advantageously conducted in Holland, a considerable portion of his boyhood was spent in that country. Before his departure for the Continent, however he showed signs of a very peecocious intellect; for he began to write verses at the age of ten, and in his sixteenth year addressed a poetical epistle to Dr. Johnson. After passing some time at Amsterdam and Leyden, where he acquired a knowledge of several modern languages, and where he applied himself to classical studies with some attention, but with no very extraordinary success, he proceeded to the French metropolis. This visit to Paris took place in 1786, when the great revolution was impending, and when its doctrines seemed to have obtained entire possession of all men's minds; but Mr. Disraeli proved an exception. He was then, and remained throughout his long life, a purely speculative philosopher,-one who never mingled in political broils, or for a single moment knew what it was to be connected with political or religious parties. While in France, he imbibed that fondness for French literature which always clung to him, but which is more evident in his criticisms than in his style or sentiments, for he wrote his vernacular English tongue with great purity, and identified himself in all things with the land in which he lived. On his return to England, after a course of continental travel, he published several poems, among which it is believed that "Lines on the Abuse of Satire" was one; it appeared in the fifty-ninth volume of the Gentleman's Magazine, and was directed against Peter Pindar, who affected to believe that it was written by Hayley, and made it a pretext for his hostility to the author of "The Trials of Temper." But, whether he knew the real writer or not, there never was any hostility between Mr. Disraeli and Dr. Walcott, "The Defence of Poetry," by the learned

Mr. Disraeli's passion for literary history displayed itself at a very early period of life, and in his later years it never deserted him. We therefore have his "Quarrels of Authors," in three volumes, his "Calamities of Authors," in two volumes, and his "Illustrations of the Literary Character," in one volume. Being placed in a position of pecuniary independence, he was free to indulge the tastes, and exercise the talents, which have enabled him to build up a reputation that will not speedily be forgotten. His twelve volumes, illustrative of the literary character, constitute, in themselves, a goodly collection, and yet they are understood to have been only chapters in the great work which it was said he was always preparing, in the manner of Bayle. To the early numbers of the Quarterly Review Mr. Disraeli was a contributor. His review of "Spence's Anecdotes," in 1820, and a vindication both of the moral and poetical character of Pope, produced the famous Pope controversy, in which Mr. Bowles, Lord Byron and others took part. He was the first author who commenced research, on an extensive scale, amongst the manuscripts of the British Museum. In the year 1828, his attention was diverted from his history of English literature,-which he was always meditating-by the strong desire that he felt to publish his views respecting the all-important age of Charles I. These, comprised in five volumes, he gave to the world at intervals, in the course of seven years, under the title of "Commentaries on the Life and Reign of Charles I." It was in consequence of the success of this great historical effort, that the University of Oxford conferred on him the

Lippe, who is in the 61st year of his reign, including the years of his minority. Of the others, three have reigned upwards of 40 years, including the period of their minority; these are, the Princes of LippeDetmold and Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt, and the Duke of Saxe-Meiningen. Two have reigned between 30 and 40 years, six between 20 and 30, 22 between 10 and 20, and 15 (including the elector of Hesse and the Duke of Parma, who only assumed the reins of Government in 1847), have not yet reigned 10 years.

nonorary degree of D. C. L., as a testimony of their "The sovereign who, of all the rest, has reigned respect--to use the language of their public orator-the longest period, is the Prince of Schaumburg optimi regis optimo defensori. After the completion of his commentaries, he returned, with renewed zest, to his literary history, and, relying on his strong constitution, united with habits of unbroken study, he was sanguine enough, at the age of threescore and ten, to entertain a hope of completing this undertaking, which he had laid down on a scale of six volumes; but he was stricken with blindness in the year 1839, and, although he submitted to the operation of couching, he could obtain no relief from a calamity most grievous to an historical author. Nevertheless, he soon took heart, and, with the aid of his daughter, whose services he has eloquently referred to in his Preface, he gave the world some notices of the earlier period of our literary history, under the title of the "Amenities of Literature." It unfortunately happened that, in the progress of this work, he did not arrive at that period of our history in which lay Mr. Disraeli's great strength-the life of Pope. It has been pretty generally understood, that he long intended to write a life of Pope, his times, and his contemporaries.

The death of Mr. Disraeli took place at his country-seat, Bradenham-house, in Buckinghamshire. Besides the publications already referred to, and others which we have perhaps omitted to notice, Mr. Disraeli was the author, in his youth, of several works of fiction, some of which, published anonymously, obtained considerable reputation. Among these the more remarkable was "Mejnoun and Leila "the earliest Oriental story in our literature, which was composed with any reference to propriety of costume. The Rabelaisian romance of "Flim Flams," and the novel of "Vaurien," written in all the lurid blaze of French Conventions and Corresponding Societies, have both, we believe, with authority, been attributed to him. He died a widower, having lost his wife, to whom he had been united for more than forty years, in the spring of 1847. He has left one daughter and three sons, the eldest of whom is the Member for Buckinghamshire.Times.

CHRONOLOGY OF EUROPEAN SOVEREIGNS.

The Deutsche Allgemeine Zeitung, of Leipsic, published in its number of New Year's-day the following interesting statistical and chronological details respecting the sovereign houses of Europe :

"The number of the sovereigns or reigning princes of Europe has been lessened by two owing to the death of the Duke of Anhalt-Kothen, in which his line has become extinct, and the abdication of the Duke of Lucca and the renunciation of his son, who have transferred that duchy to Tuscany-an event which would have been brought about, independently of this circumstance, by the death of the Duchess of Parma; so that on the 1st of January, 1818, there were only 49 sovereigns in Europe, or 50, if we include the Emperor of Brazil.

Amongst these sovereigns there are only two who are above 70 years of age, viz., the venerable King of Hanover, the Nestor of the Princes of Europe, who is 76 and a half years of age, and the King of the French, who is 74 years and four months old.

"Amongst the others, 11 are between 60 and 70 years of age, 16 between 50 and 60, nine between 40 and 50, three between 30 and 40, and seven between 20 and 30; finally, there are two still under 20 years of age-the Queen of Spain, who is nearly 17 years and three months old, and the Prince of Waldeck, who is not quite 17.

"Six sovereigns are unmarried, or have never been married. These are, independently of the Pope, the Grand Duke of Mecklenburgh-Schwerin, the Duke of Brunswick and the Princes of ReussSchleitz, Reuss-Lobenstein-Eberdorff, and Waldeck.

"Six are widowers, viz., the King of Hanover, the Grand Dukes of Darmstardt and Oldenburgh, the Duke of Nassau, and the Princes of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen, and Hohenzollern-Hechingen. "One sovereign lives in a state of polygamy; another (the Elector of Hesse) married according to the morganatic mode, or with the left hand, 36 have espoused princesses of reigning houses; and amongst them one has married a third time, and eight a second time.

"The oldest of the wives of these 36 sovereigns (amongst whom there are three female crowned heads) is the Queen of France, who is 65 years and 8 months old; and the youngest is the Duchess of Modena, who is 24 years and 9 months old. The longest married is the Grand Duchess of Weimar, who has been a wife 43 years and 5 months. Of 44 sovereigns, married or widowers, 12 have no issue, or only by morganatic marriages. Of the other 32, those who have the largest number of children, after the Sultan, are the Prince of Lichtenstein, who has nine; the King of Bavaria and the Prince of Lippe, each of whom has eight; the Queen of Portugal and the Grand Duke of Baden, each of whom has seven.

"The Dukes of Saxe Altenburg having only daughters, it follows that only 31 sovereigns possess presumptive heirs qualified to succeed them; and amongst these the King of the French, has as his successor, a grandson; the Emperor of Brazil, a daughter; and all the rest, sons.

"Fourteen sovereigns have only collateral relatives as their successors; 12 have brothers; the Queen of Spain, her sister; and the Elector of Hesse, a cousin.

"Five sovereigns are without any certain successors in their line, viz., (besides the Pope), the Duke of Brunswick (whose brother has been declared incapable of reigning), the Duke of Anhalt-Bernburg and the Princes of Hohenzollern-Hechingen and Reuss Lobenstein-Ebersdorff.

"Amongst the 45 princes who are either hereditary or presumptive heirs (of whom the Prince of Electoral Hesse, 60 years of age, is the oldest, and the Imperial Princess of Brazil, only 1 year and 5 months old, is the youngest), 23 are married to princesses of equal birth; but one of them, the Crown Prince of Denmark, has already been divorced a second time: 18 of these princes have children, amongst them the Prince John of Saxony, who has eight, is the possessor of the largest number. "The following changes took place in 1847 amongst the members of the sovereign families:

"The number of deaths was 14, including, as in 1846, three reigning princes, viz., the Elector of Hesse, the Duke of Anhalt-Kothen, and the Duchess

of Parma; besides these, the wives of two sove- | of him, being a King, at his age, and having no reigns, viz., the princesses of Hohenzollern-Hechin- knowledge of his affairs. As soon we arrived, gen and Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen; two presump- dinner was served up. He ate no ortolans, but tive heirs, the Imperial Prince of Brazil and the flung himself upon a piece of beef and a shoulder Prince Frederick Francis Anthony of Hohenzollern- of mutton, as if there had been nothing else at table. Hechingen, aged, the first two years and three After dinner the Queen amused herself, and left months, and the second, 57 years; three Archdukes him with me. He was a quarter of an hour without of Austria, viz., Joseph, aged 71; Charles, aged 76 saying a single word, but I am willing to believe (both uncles of the Emperor); and Frederick, son that his silence was the result of respect rather than of the Archduke Charles, aged 26. So that the Im- of any want of passion: though on this occasion I perial family, lost, in the course of last year, four of frankly confess I could have wished it to have been its members; and the Emperor two uncles, one somewhat less plainly exhibited. As his supinesister (the ex-Empress of France), and one cousin. ness began to weary me, I called Madame de ĈomFinally, there are included in this list of deceased, minges to my side, that she might endeavor to make one French Prince, the Duke of Guise, son of the him talk, in which she fortunately succeeded. When Duke d'Aumale, a month old: Prince Ernest of the Queen rose, I approached the King of England, Saxony, son of Prince John, aged 16; the Duke and, in order to make him talk, I inquired for some Adam of Wurtemberg, brother of the Queen, aged persons whom I had seen in his suite, but he an55; and Princess Charlotte of Wurtemberg, wife of swered my questions without the slightest gallantry. the Duke Paul (brother of the King Regnant and When the hour for his departure arrived, we got into sister of the Duke of Saxe-Altenburg), aged 60; to our carriages, and bore him company to the middle whom must be added Madame Adelaide of Orleans, of the forest, where every one alighted, as they had the old King's sister, who expired on the 31st ult. done on their arrival. He took leave of the King, "In the family of the Bonapartes, three died besides and thus approached me, accompanied by Lord Gerhis widow, the Duchess of Parma, viz., Jerome the main, saying, "I believe my Lord Germain, who eldest son of his brother Jerome, Count de Montfort, speaks better French than I do, has explained to you aged 42; the eldest daughter of his brother Lucien, my sentiments and intention; I am your very obeDonna Christinna Egypta, afterwards Lady Dudley dient servant." I answered that I was equally his Stuart, aged 49; the eldest son of his sister Caroline, obedient servant. Germain paid me a great many Louis Napoleon Achille Murat, formerly Duke of compliments; after they were over the King bowed Cleves and Crown Prince of Naples, aged 46. and departed.-Memoires de Mademoiselle, quoted in Miss Pardoe's Louis XIV.

"The births were 13 in number, including eight princes, the sons of the Queen of Portugal, the Grand Duke of Tuscany, the Hereditary Grand Duke of Russia, the Archduke Albert of Austria, the Duke d'Aumale of France (since dead), the Neapolitan Prince Count Louis d'Aquila, the Duke Max of Leuchtenberg, and the Count Henry II. of Reuss-Kosteritz; and five princesses, daughters of the Emperor of Brazil, the Crown Prince of Sardinia, the Hereditary Prince of Lucca (now Parma), ne Duke Max of Bavaria, and the Prince Christian . Holstein-Glucksberg.

The number of marriages was four, viz., that of the Infante John Charles of Spain (son of Don Carlos), to Mary of Modena; that of the Infante Henry of Spain (son of Infante Don Francisco de Paula), to Dona Elena of Castella y Skelly Fernanda de Cordova; that of the Infanta Louisa Theresa of Spain (daughter of Don Francisco), to Don Jose Osorio de Moscow y Carbajal, Count of Trastamara, Duke of Sessa; and that of Prince Ferdinand of Modena to the Archduchess Elizabeth of Austria."

THE EXTRAORDINARY FATALITY OF THE HOUSE OF STUART.-The royal line of the Stuarts is among the most unfortunate in the records of history. Their destiny followed them during the long period of four hundred years. Robert III., king of Scotland, died of a broken heart, occasioned by his eldest son, Robert, having been starved to death; and his youngest son, James I., was taken prisoner by the English, and remained in confinement eighteen years. On his return to Scotland, after having beheaded three of his kindred, he was assassinated by his own relatives as a punishment. James II. was killed by a cannon-shot at the siege of Roxburgh. James III. succeeded his father, James II. He put to death his brother John, and would have destroyed his brother Alexander, but he escaped, and levied war against him. James was defeated in battle, and having fallen from his horse, took refuge in a mill, where he was discovered and put to death. James IV. was slain in the fatal battle of Flodden Field. James V. died of grief for the loss of CHARLES THE SECOND'S COURTSHIP OF MADEMOI- his army at Solway Moss. He left his dominions SELLE (DE MONTPENSIER).-We went forward a to his only daughter, Mary Stuart (better known as league to meet him. When he appeared every one the unfortunate Mary Queen of Scots), who, after alighted; he first saluted their Majesties and then suffering eighteen years' imprisonment, was beheadmyself. I thought him very good-looking, much ed at Fotheringay Castle, Northamptonshire, on more so than when he left France; and, if his intel- the 8th of February, 1587. Henry Stuart, Earl of lect had appeared to me to equal his person, per- Darnley, the husband of Mary Queen of Scots, died haps he might have pleased me on that occasion. the victim of revenge. His house in Edinburgh When he was in the carriage, the King questioned was blown up in the night by gunpowder, and the him about dogs, horses, the Prince of Orange, and unfortunate monarch's body was found next day in the sport in that country; to all which he answered the garden adjoining. James I. of England (and in French. The Queen wished to have some par- sixth of Scotland), the son of Henry Earl of Darnticulars of his political position but he did not re-ley, died in 1625, not without suspicion of being ply to her inquiries; and, when he was asked at different times to explain several very serious facts which were of considerable importance to his personal interests, he excused himself from answering by saying he could not speak our language. I own that, from that moment, I resolved not to conclude the marriage, for I conceived a very poor opinion

poisoned by Villiers Duke of Buckingham. Charles I., his son, was beheaded at Whitehall. Charles II., lived an exile and a fugitive during the twelve years of the Commonwealth. After his restoration to the throne, he lived a life of licentiousness, and died of apoplexy. James II., his brother, abdicated his throne, and died in exile.

SWISS LOVE OF TITLES.-The number of opulent | Lord Rosse stepped forward, and said he thought he families whose sons are eager to become officers could make it work. No sooner said than done. causes an overwhelming superfluity of colonels, He put his hand to the work, discovered by an inmajors, and captains. I have already described how stant's look where the machinery was out of order, we meet presidents at every turn in Switzerland; and made a few turns, put all to rights, and then who have, however, according to our notions, no- the machine, to the admiration of the company, thing president-like about them. In the same way worked beautifully. Lord Oxmantown (for that was communal-councillors, circuit-councillors, and men then his only title) was dressed rather roughly, and of the strangest, most varied and high-sounding de- not in drawing room habiliments, so that he might nominations, abound in every corner. Even these, be mistaken for what he was not-a poor mechanic. however, seem not to be considered enough; for all He had already, however, proved himself to be a who have at any time of their lives filled official first rate one. Led by his rather rude appearance stations continue to bear about with them their for- to suppose that he was a workman who would be mer title, prefixing, however, an ex. Hence the glad of a job, a gentleman accosted him, and sayenormous number of ex-state-councillors, ex-burgo- ing he was in want of a man of talent like him, masters, ex-commune-presidents, and ex-communal- offered to employ him at a liberal salary. Lord councillors, &c.; though the rage for titles is as se- Rosse of course politely declined the offer, which, verely satirized in Switzerland as similar follies however, was perhaps as honorable to him who among ourselves. It remains, however, unabated, made it, as to him to whom it was made. especially among the ladies, who appear resolutely determined that their husbands should be betitled, somehow or other. I heard in Zurich of a "Mrs. Vice-Inspector of Fire-engines" (Frau Vice-Sprüzen Meisterin); and such instances are not exceptions: let the title be what it will, so it be but a title, it is welcome to a Swiss.

THE NEW ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY.-The Bishop of Chester has been appointed to the archiepiscopal see of Canterbury, vacant by the death of the late Dr. Howley :-" Our estimable and revered diocesan, the Lord Bishop of Chester," says the Chester Courant of Wednesday, "is appointed to succeed the late Dr. Howley as Archbishop of Canterbury. This promotion of the pious and learned Dr. Sumner to the primacy will be hailed with lively satisfaction by numerous and influential parties in 'the Church. The right rev. prelate left Chester for London last evening (Tuesday), in compliance with a royal message requiring his attendance in the metropolis." Dr. John Bird Sumner, a canon of Durham, was consecrated Bishop of Chester in 1828.

"REMINISCENCES OF PRINCE TALLEYRAND."-We are requested to state that this work is edited from the papers of M. Colmache, the Prince's private secretary. This announcement confirms our conjecture that the work had a foundation in truths, though fiction was so mixed up with fact in its composition that it was impossible to know what portions were to be depended on. Throughout, the work purports to be written, not by the Prince's secretary but by a distinguished English Diplomatist, and many pages of the book are expressly written to give color to the fable. However meagre the papers of M. Colmache might be, they would, if edited with veracity and judgment, have had a value the book cannot now pretend to. We express our opinion the more freely, as we fear that original papers of real importance are often cruelly mangled by the incompetency of the "editor" to whose care they are committed. Any work pretending to a biographical character must needs be worthless if we cannot repose confidence in its genuineness and authenticity.

LORD ROSSE A MECHANIC.-On one occasion when he was but a youth, he went to an exhibition at the Adelaide Gallery, where some kind of London steam engine was being exhibited. By some means or other the exhibitor could not set his engine going; all his efforts to effect it were in vain, and he was about to give it up in despair, when

AN AUTHOR IN DIFFICULTIES.-In a series of papers, entitled the Autobiography of a Working Man, at present in the course of publication in the Manchester Examiner, we find the following curious statement:-The writer had returned from Spain in 1837, after fighting the battles of Queen Christina, with no other reward in his pocket than a certificate for six months' arrears of pay, which he offered first for £1, then for 10s., then 5s., and lastly for a quire of paper, on which to commence a Narrative of the British Legion in Spain. He says: "I got a suit of clothes made to appear in on landing in Scotland; but was robbed of clothes and every farthing of money before I got on board the ship. I might have found friends and have got assistance in Glasgow. I would not, in the dirty regimentals I was clothed in, go to any person who had before known me. The person to whom I offered my certificate of six months' gratuity for a quire of writing paper and pen and ink to begin to write my narrative of the Legion, would give nothing for the worthless certificate, but made me a present of several quires of writing paper. I walked out of Glasgow, three or four miles up the Clyde, got into a field of beans nearly ripe, crept out of sight to the middle of the field, there lay three days and nights, writing the first chapters of my narrative, and living on the beans. I sent the farmer a copy of the work afterwards as a payment for what I had eaten." It is pleasant to learn that the work thus commenced sold extensively, and produced to the author a clear profit of £100.

KING HUDSON AND HER MAJESTY'S ENGLISH.We have received a lithographic circular letter this week, in which the Lord Mayor of York has perpetrated a most atrocious and cruel assault upon her Majesty's English. The first, second, and third persons dance and mingle throughout the circular in all the mazes of a "dinner" confusion. "The Lord Mayor presents his compliments" to Mr. A. B., and "would be glad if he" would "avail themselves" of a train "which leaves the station at ten o'clock." The Lord Mayor requests an "early answer so as to know by what train you propose to come." But the happiest announcement is, that "the Lord Mayor is sorry he is unable to offer a bed to all the members of the corporation." Oh! Mr. Hudson, what a flogging your schoolmaster deserves!-Yorkshireman.