he Mexican War,
illustrated by some of the cleverest artists of France, will soon be
published here and in London.

* * * * *

Mrs. FANNY KEMBLE has left this country for England, on account of the
sudden illness of her father, Charles Kemble, of whose low state of
health we have been apprised by almost every arrival for a year.

* * * * *

M. BALZAC's recent marriage, at his rather advanced period of life,
finds him, for the first time, an invalid, and serious fears are now
entertained for him, by friends and physicians.

* * * * *

ORESTES A. BROWNSON has received the degree of LL.D. from the R.C.
College, Fordham.

* * * * *

RECENT DEATHS.

* * * * *

SARGENT S. PRENTISS, one of the most distinguished popular orators of
the age, died at Natchez, Mississippi, on the 3d inst. He was a native
of Maine, and after being admitted to the bar he emigrated to the
Southwest, where his great natural genius, with his energy and
perseverance, soon gained for him a well-deserved reputation as one
of the most successful advocates at the bar, and as one of the most
brilliant and effective speakers in all that part of the country,
where "stumping" is the almost universal practice among political
aspirants.

He was once elected to the House of Representatives from his adopted
State, and was excluded from his seat by the casting vote of James K.
Polk, at that time Speaker of the House. The facts in regard to the
affair, according to the _Tribune_, are substantially as follows:
In 1837, the President, Mr. Van Buren, called an Extra Session
of Congress to assemble in September of that year. The laws of
Mississippi required that the election for Congressmen for that State
for the twenty-fifth Congress should be held in November, and in
order that the State should be represented in the Extra Session, the
Governor ordered an election to be held in July for the choice of
two Congressmen "to fill the vacancy until superseded by the members
to be elected at the next regular election, on the first Monday, and
the day following, in November next." The election was held under
the authority of the Governor's proclamation, and the Democratic
candidates, Claiborne and Gholson, were elected by default. They took
their seats in the House, in which there was a decided Democratic
majo