inst., the fiftieth anniversary of his first appearance
before the London public.

Mr. Thackeray delivered his first lecture at New
York on the 19th of November, to a crowded audience.

Dr. Joel Parker, of New York, has commenced an
action against the authoress of "Uncle Tom's Cabin,"
for defamation; damages laid at 20,000 dollars. It is
stated that Dr. Joel Parker, on hearing the mention
Mrs. Stowe had made of his name as the author of an
atrocious sentiment, wrote to her, offering proof that
she had been misinformed, and that he was not the
author of that sentiment. Mrs. Stowe made no reply
until a third letter elicited from her the assertion that
she had documentary evidence of the truth of her
statement. Hereupon Dr. Parker commenced his action.

Obituary of Notable Persons.

MISS BERRY, the last surviving friend of Horace Walpole,
died at her house in Curzon-street, on the 20th ult., in her
ninetieth year. She sank gradually, without suffering, and
without disease, into what appeared but a placid sleep. She
was sensible to the last, and had retained all her faculties
unimpaired.

ADA, COUNTESS OF LOVELACE, died on the 27th ult., in her
37th year, after an illness of above a year's duration. She was
the only daughter of Lord Byron. In 1835, she was married to
Lord King, now Earl of Lovelace, a union whereby the lineage
of Locke was blended with that of Byron. Lady Lovelace was
distinguished for strength of intellect, as well as for elegant
accomplishments and amiable qualities.

REAR ADMIRAL OF THE RED, CHARLES JOHN AUSTEN, C.B.,
the commander-in-chief of the East India station, died on the
8th of October, in his 74th year, in the expedition to Prome.

LIEUTENANT-GENERAL WEMYSS died on the 30th ult., at
Cumberland Lodge, in Windsor Great Park, where he had
resided for the last eleven years, as Clerk-Marshal to Prince
Albert. He was in the 63rd year of his age.

PROFESSOR WILLIAM EMPSON of Hayleybury College, died
there on the 10th inst. He was the son-in-law of Francis
Jeffrey, and editor of the "Edinburgh Review."

ADMIRAL SIR THOMAS BRIGGS, G.C.M.G., the commander-in-
chief at Portsmouth, died on Thursday morning, in his 72nd
year.

MR. BALLANTINE, who was for twenty-seven years one of the
magistrates of the Thames Police-court, died at his residence in
Cadogan-place, Chelsea, on the 15th inst., in his 74th year.

LORD WILLOUGHBY DE BROKE died suddenly at his seat,
Compton Verney, in Warwickshire, on the 16th inst., in his
80th year.

MR. PETER BORTHWICK, formerly Member for Evesham, died
on the 18th inst., after a long and painful illness.

COLONIES AND DEPENDENCIES.

THE accounts by the last India Mail report no
progress in the Burmese war. It was said that
General Godwin had been recalled, but the rumour
required confirmation. The health of the troops was
excellent. The north-west frontier was in disorder,
and a force had been despatched to the disturbed
districts.

The intelligence from the Cape of Good Hope, is to
the 6th of November. The news of the Caffre war is of
the usual complexion; that the war had not ended, but
that by repeated and vigorous attacks the Caffres and
rebel Hottentots had been driven to the greatest straits
and much dispersed. The laager of Uithaalder had been
burnt, and the rebels driven off. Macomo and Sandilli
and their forces had been forced to shelter themselves in
forests skirting the Amatolas. Lieutenant Whitmore, of
the Cape Mounted Rifles, had nearly captured Sandilli.
With a small force he attacked a body of Caffres who
fled at his onset: the bulk of the party went one way,
while a horseman dashed off in another; Lieutenant
Whitmore rode after the latter at full speed, firing as he
dashed along—it was Sandilli. The pursuer's horses
were exhausted, and the chief entered the bush. Capt.
Hearns had been cut off and killed while conveying
cattle.

General Cathcart had had an interview with the
T'Slambiechiefs at Fort Murray: shortly afterwards Seolo
surrendered. Little is known of the military position
of the troops at the seat of war, as General Cathcart is
chary of publishing his general orders.

At Cape Town there was great discontent with the
conduct of the home government in regard to the constitution.
On the 4th November, a despatch from Sir John Pakington,
postponing the ratification of the promised constitution,
was read in the Cape Town Legislative Assembly. Next
day the Commissioners for the Cape Town Municipality
held a special meeting, and passed a set of resolutions
expressing "indignation and surprise" at the
"indefinite postponement" of the constitution contemplated
by the government. That course they consider
"extremely injudicious," "and pregnant with most
serious consequences;" calculated to create general
discontent, excitement, and alarm. They also
denounce any further attempt on the part of the
nominee Legislative Council to interfere with the
rights, liberties, and privileges of the Colonial Parliament,
granted by the letters patent of 1850; they
protest against the same, and hold the ministers responsible
for consequences.

Advices have been received from Melbourne, to the 7th
of September. The reports of the new discoveries of
gold in South Australia and New South Wales are
confirmed. There is now a gold-field within eighteen miles
of Adelaide; another at Bingara; another at Daisy
Hill. It is now proved by actual events, that a vast belt
of highly-auriferous land extends across the Australian
continent, from the Victoria gold-fields to those at
Bathurst and its neighbourhood, and thence to the banks
of the Hunter and the back of Morton Bay. At the
same time, the old diggings are almost as productive as
ever, and deserted holes have yielded largely to new
comers. It is calculated that no less than 2,532,422
ounces have been yielded by the Victoria gold-fields, from
October, 1851, to August, 1852. The worth of the
exports was estimated at £8,863,477.

In the first week in September, 4283 emigrants had
arrived in Victoria: but the demand for labour was
greater than the supply, and wages did not decline. The
state of society is said to be deplorable; robbery and
murder being quite common, and the government
unable to check it.

The last West India mail brings melancholy accounts
of the prevalence of yellow fever, particularly at
Barbadoes and St. Thomas's, among the shipping. Her
Majesty's ship Dauntless had lost the first and third
lieutenants, two mates, the second master, the chief and
three other engineers, and twenty-five men. The
master, chaplain, marine officer, two midshipmen, the
only remaining engineer, and thirty-eight men, were in
the hospital. Some of the Royal Mail Company's inter-
colonial steam-ship had also had yellow fever on board
to a considerable extent, and among the deaths reported
are those of Mr. Vincent, second officer of the Esk (the
midshipman who distinguished himself in connection
with the loss of the Amazon). Mr. Vincent died at the
Bahamas on the 9th of November. The deaths from
fever at Barbadoes amongst the Europeans and natives
have been most alarming. Commissary-General Neil
and his family have been swept away by it. The Jamaica
House of Assembly was still in session; but it was
expected that the most important business would be
delayed till it became known what measures of relief for
the colony would be passed by the Imperial Parliament.