Literary Extracts.

A ( 3-KEAT PKErABATonr ESTABLISHMENT . —Ifc was a school for all ages and for both sexes . The latter were kept apart , and the former were partitioned off into square assortments . But , all the place was pervaded by a grimly ludicrous pretence that every pupil was childish and innocent . This pretence , much favoured by the

lady-visitors , led to the ghastliest absurdities . Young women , old in the vices of the commonest and worst life , were expected to confess themselves enthralled by the good child ' s book , the " Adventures of Little Margery , " who resided in the village cottage by the mill ; severely reproved and morally squashed the miller , when she was

five and he was fifty ; dividing her porridge with singing birds ; denied herself a new nankeen bonnet , on tho ground that the turnips did not wear nankeen bonnets , neither did tho sheep who ate them ; who plaited straw , aud delivered the dreariest orations to all comers , at all sorts of unseasonable times . So , unwieldy young dredgers and hulking mudlarks were referred to the experiences of Thomas Twopence , who , having resolved

not to rob ( under circumst-auces of uncommon atrocity ) his particular friend and benefactor , of eighteenpence , presently came into possession of throe and sixpence , aud lived in shining light ever afterwards . ( Note , that the benefactor came to no good . ) Several swaggering sinners had written their own biographies in the same

strain ; it always appearing from the lessons of those very boastful persons , that you were to do good , not because it was good , but because you were to make a good thing of it . Contrariwise , the adult pupils were taught to read ( if they could learn ) out of the New Testament ; and by dint of stumbling over the sj'llablos

and keeping their bewildered eyes on tho particular syllables coming round to their turn were as absolutely ignorant of tho sublime history , as if they had never seen or hoard of it . Au exceedingly and confoundingly perplexing jumble of a school , in fact , whore black spirits and grey , red spirits and white , jumbled , jumbled , jumbled , jumbled every night . —Our Mutual Friend , by Charles Dickens .

A vEitr interesting little tract of some thirty pages containing a few letters of Thackeray ' s , written to the Hon . W . B . Reed , an intimate friend of the deceased humourist , has just been printed for private circulation in America . It is said that there are some beautiful passages in the letters , aud the writer occasionally gives

the reader a new fact about himself . Eor instance , we did not know before that Thackeray once asked Lord Clarendon for the secretaryship to tho British Legation at Washington . He was answered , first , that the place was filled up ; and secondly , that ifc would not be fair to give ifc out of the service .

MB . Muno ' s edition of " Lucretius" is about to be issued from tho Cambridge University Press . MESSRS . HUBST AND BLACKETT announce tho following among their works in preparation -. —' - ' My Life and Recollections , " by the Hon .. Grantley E . Berkeley ; " The Queen of the County , " a novel , by the author of

"Margaret and her Bridesmaids ; " " Blount Tempest , " by the Rev . J . C . M . Bollew ; "The Life of Josiah Wedgwood , " from his private correspondence and family papers , by

Literary Extracts.

Eliza Meteyard , with portrait and numerous illustrations ; "Brigands and Brigandage iu Southern Italy , " by Count Maffei ; and new works of fiction by the author of " John Halifax , " Mrs . Oliphant , Miss Kavanagh , the author of " Barbara ' s History , " the author of " Grandmother ' s Money , " the author of " John and I , " Mr . George M'Donald , Mr . W . G . Wills , & c .

Public Amusements.

PUBLIC AMUSEMENTS .

DRTJRY-LASTE THEATRE . The managerial campaign which indicated at its commencement such a determined effort on behalf of the legitimate drama , so long unjustly thrust aside from the position it had a right to occupy , is being vigorously carried ou , according to the plan originally laid down . Steadily becoming fulfilled are the

promises of that prospectus , which so agreeably revived the sinking hopes of those who had almost despaired of ever seeing again the works of our natioual dramatist associated with the stage of our national theatre . On Saturday last "Othello" was performed , in a manner worthy iu every way of an establishment which has a distinctive character to maintain ; and that a

Shakspearian play represented with befitting dignity would still exert a controlling power over the minds of the multitude , was strikingly exhibited in tho eager attention bestowed by an audience filling every portion of this magnificent structure , and manifesting intelligent appreciation by applause which , frequently expressed , was never wrongly applied . Although there was

nothing new to those who have from time to time watched the care with which our most reputed performers have illustrated the development of passions so glowingly depicted in a play which has been pronounced the greatest works of our grandest poet , the general excellence of the cast gave a completeness to the representation which it has not lately been

within the power of the playgoer to enjoy . The Othello of Mr . Phelps is a carefully conceived and thoughtfully elaborated performance , from which the student of the text may derive

something more than mere elocutionary instruction . This was the part in which the now popular actor made h ' 13 first strong impression on the town , and it has ever since been included among the more highly finished of his impersonations . The many merits of an embodiment already so well known , or with which those desirous may so easily become acquainted , need not

here bo traced through the various scones where they are progressively displayed . From the famous speech to the Senate to the last utterance at the bed-side of the hapless Desdemona , Mr . Phelps held the auditory enchained by the spell of the potent enchanter he so ably served , and the enduring- sway of the great dramatist over tbe hearts of the multitude was never more

triumphantly asserted . Mr . Creswick is well known as an lago who , restraining his malignity within the boundary of discretion , so veils his villany from those who are intended to become his victims , that the spectators are not called upon to wonder at tho Moor's want of penetration . With the knowledge of Mr . Henry Marston ' s being a member of the company , the

appearance of Mr . Q . 1 " ' . Neville as Cassio might have excited some surprise ; but a compliment is duo to this youthful ' actor for the care with which he sustained a part requiring something more than juvenility of face and figure for its complete illustration . Mr . Walter Lacy rendered Poderigo with becoming vivacity , tempered with an evident remembrance of his

designation as a Venetian gentleman ; and the propriety of Mr . A . Kayner ' s Brabanlio claimed equally commendable recognition . Mrs . Herman Vezin made her first appearance this season as .