The Press. — London, England, 1854-02-04 00:00:00

THE PRESS. 114 L r 3. and 4. Neither of these novels, though their writers have talents, succeed in inte resting the reader. Mrs. Daniels has had more experience in literary composition than Mrs. Crawford, and is her superior in the art of constructing a story. On the other baud, Mrs. Crawford has wider attainments, and her taste is more refined. Neither of them creates characters ; both, in their respective ways, are too conventional in their modes of thinking, and their present works want the attraction of freshness of nature. " Lismore " is a historical tale, in which the action re volves round the beautiful castle of that name on the Blackwater, in the south of Ireland. The Boyles, and other historical charac ters of the seventeenth century, are made to appear before us, but the story wants the co lour of the time, and " Lismore " is more true in its topography than in its portraiture of manners. Mrs. Crawford's extensive reading qualifies her for the part of an essayist, and there are other departments of literature in which her pen might be distinguished. "Ruth Earnley" is an attempt at a religious novel, but Mrs. Daniels should have continued in her for mer class of subjects. No topic is more difficult to treat in a novel than religion. The aus tere and the sublime cannot easily be asso. elated with the transient fashions peculiar to " light literature ;" and the topic of eternity belongs to the Church, and not to the circu lating library. There is more danger of de grading religion than hope of arresting the unthinking when the novelist attempts to paint "the religious world." Besides, people take up novels to amuse them, to lighten the load of care, or dull the misery of pain. The execution of "Ruth Earnley" does not triumph over these difficulties. A play wright without passion can never be a drama tist; a novelist without fancy cannot be a suc cessful literary artist. Mrs. Daniels, with many talents, and excelling in the arrangement and laying out of her story, still wants subtlety of conception and vivifying power. Ou the whole we must say, that in their respective attempts the authoresses of " Lismore " and ' Ruth Earnley " have not in the present in stances realised dip expectations- whiek we had formed from their previous works: 5. We think that the author of "Ninfa" has proved in her second venture into fiction. The characters are more distinctly drawn, and an air of more reality is imparted to her narra tive. She has much cleverness in sketching types of society, and her plot exhibits much of a novelist's art in weaving incidents toge ther into a consistent story. She is yet, how ever, scarcely equal to the difficulty of joining together those double plots which are so ne cessary to a first-rate novel, and in her future efforts she also might endeavour to introduce comic effects, as contrasts to the serious por tions of her story. Clever, animated, and with good sense, she has many qualities that raise her above the herd of scribbling gentle women who seek to win the laurels given to the Edgewortlis and Austens ; but the san guine warmth of a poetical fancy is wanted in her fictions, as well as the comic felicity of delineation that makes the best works of those writers as agreeable as a comedy acted by the }'arrens and Glovers of other days. "Charles Stanly " (dedicated to the Coun tess of Mulgrave) may (with the drawbacks indicated) be recommended as a very readable novel. It is too conventional in its tone to satisfy us, but of the materials at the disposal of the writer the best use is made. Though many of our fair readers may not care to be on visiting terms with a Lady Ramsay, they need not object to make her acquaintance upon paper. Here is a glimpse of her : Just as Frank and his mother were about to leave the room, Lady Ramsay entered it, followed by Sir James. " I cm very sorry that we have kept you waiting," began Lady Ramsay, in her sweetest voice. " Sir James was a little faint, but he is all right again now. Take my mother in to dinner, dear Sir Janes," she proceeded, addressing the latter, who stood stnritig about him, uncertain what to say or do, " and you, Chivies, shall hal e the honour of taking me," she added, smiling. Charles was more den ever surprised at Lady Rarnsay's appearance. She certainly looked very handsome in her well-chosen demi-totette. The freshness of her mind threw a youthful coloiring over her person. It was diffi cult to believe her as ald as she really was. But the chat ni of her manlier astonished Charles even more than her ------- personal attractions. There was a striking contrast be tween the lustrous fire of her eyes and the extreme soft ness of her voice which gave her a piquancy singularly fas cinating. If she laughed a little too often, her laugh was so musical that the most fastidious critic could not have wished her more serious. Her conversation, it is true, never rose above the ordinary chit-chat of the day ; her narratives were often trifling, but her mode of narrating was always exquisite. Her anecdotes, though pointed and clever, were never ill-natured, and stopped just short of in decorum. She had a slight Irish accent, and a vast fund of Irish humour. None knew better than she when to talk, and when to listen ; and, above all, she knew that the grand art of pleasing is to be or seem pleased. Lady Ramsay is decidedly the best charac ter in the book. It required considerable skill in the authoress to avoid coarseness in painting a subject such as Bali-ac was fond of choosing, for the purpose of displaying his subtle art of describing unpleasant things and people, without becoming disagreeable. Why Go to War with Russia f Edinburgh : Kerr. THE writer of this pamphlet has made the discovery that a war must be paid for, which is of course a con clusive argument against it. He also assures us that the press finds its advantage in writing up war, which to that interest would be "a richer blessing " than the gold discovery was to free trade ;" t this oracular dictum is left unexplained. It is odd that the peace apostles should always quarrel: this present author falls foul of Mr. Cobden in a vehe ment way, saying of him that he got 80,000/. for tel ling 80,000 lies, and would be ready to do the same again. His argument, for the rest, is not very new : he declaims against the barbarism of Turkey, Maim metan persecution of Christianity, and the impiety of fighting in defence of a heathen power. Russia, he says, is deceitful and aggressive, but so are we. Ireland and India are worse treated than Poland. (Patriotic pamphleteer!) Eulogies of the Czar, and hinted suspicions of France, make up the rest of this delectable treatise. Why was not the publication deferred until the Ist of April.? T Handbook for Travellers in Greece. London: . Murray. WHOEVER first suggested the idea which Mr. Murray has adopted and so successfully carried out in his handbooks is a benefactor of the human race. Accurately as they direct ,tweller, to every object of art or nature he Sy'wish to find, that, though their immediate purpose, is not their greatest merit. They are a repertory of history, learning, anecdote, criticism, and poetry, following each other in such pleasing and diversified succession that a reader at home may content himself with one of these well-known " red-books," a volume of which is generally his sole, and always his in separable, friend and companion abroad. Though the handbook for Greece is not new, yet this edition is almost entirely rewritten. It contains plans and woodcuts illustrative of temples and other places of note. The maps, we observe, are on paper. One, at least, should be on linen. But there is an improvement in the binding, which is flexible, and therefore the book is more easily carried in the pocket. Greece is divided into four sections. The first'includes the lonian Islands,the second the kingdom of Greece, the third the islands of the .Egeati Sea, and the fourth comprises Albania, Thessaly, and Macedonia. In the first the once famous names of Cervi and Sapienza attract the eye. Those rocky islets, in habited by a few shepherds only, are now occupied by Greeks. The summer droughts of King Otho's dominions are attributed to the destruction of the forests. It is curious to read that the route to Mara thon is likely to become common, as there is good accommodation on the road, many visitors being attracted by the excellent woodcock-shooting in the neighbourhood. Distance in Greece is measured by time. A Few Practical Suggestions on Electoral Reform and the Ballot. By One of the Middle Class. London : Tweedie. WITHOUT expressing our opinion on the author's suggestions generally, we rnay add that this pamphlet is well written, and the arguments against the ballot are strongly and neatly put. Assuming that the franchise is a trust " de!egated to the few for the " benefit of the many," the author saTs : " This wholesome theory has received a very remarkable illustration lately in the proceedings before the Cork election committee, and from the mouth of a gentleman who is known as a zealous Reformer. It was given in evidence that Mr. Sergeant Murphy, in some of his speeches preparatory to the election, addressed himself specially to the non•electors, and told them that the right of voting was a trust to be exercised for their benefit, as well as that of others, and that, as they were fully entitled to know how that trust was fulfilled, he recommended them to watch narrowly how every vote was given." SATURDAY, Mortimer, a Tale of the Times of Owen Glendower. By William Gayer Starbuck. London : Saunders and Otley. WE looked into this work with some curiosity, to see in what manner Messrs. Saunders and Otley, under their new arrangements, publish the works of ama teurs. We cannot say anything in favour of this specimen. The paper is not good, and errors of the press are numerous. The matter is verse faintly echoing our best-known poets, Byron, Slott, I.7c.,—an observation we should not have made if the author had not, with an ostentation of candour, after using the expression "remounts the sky," subjoined in a note that he believed the words were Pope's. Even his local knowledge of the scene in which his work is laid is defective. Jacob and Israel ; Ephraim and Judah. By the Rev. Arthur Isham, M.A. London : Seeleys. THE author of this tract (rector of West Turville, Bucks) attempts to discriminate accurately between the use of the titles Jacob and Israel, Ephraim and Judah, with reference to the temporal and spiritual destiny of the Jews. His analysis of the scnptural language is very acute, and he has the talents requi site for critical discrimination, in all that relates to grammatical construction. It would have been an advantage, however, if he bad compared his own views with those of other divines. The Law of Horses. By G. H. Hewit Oliphant, Esq. London : Sweet. THIS is the second edition of a work which appeared in P 447. Besides its chief subject, which the title indicates, it contains much information on the laws that regulate racing, wagers, gaming, and "the bar gain and sale of chattels." The author's advice to the buyers and sellers of horses is practical and sensible; indeed we are of opinion that it would have been judicious to have d•vided the work into two parts, one designed for the lawyer, the other for the unprofes sional reader. Mr. Oliphant, in his preface, says, "Great care has been taken to keep out all matter " which might tend to encumber the book." In the " unreported cases," now printed in the appendix, exci sion might be resorted to with advantage. It does not increase our legal knowledge to learn that a motion for a new trial was made "on the ground " that the verdict was against evidence," and that Lord Chief Justice Denman said, "We will see the " learned judge ow ,thai.subject." Nor is it very satisfactory, after a diligapt perusal of a case** find, *here we expect au , exposition of the law, these words The case, however, was settled without " any formal decision on the subject." The work includes the act for the suppression of betting•houses. The indices, analytical and alphabetical, are copious; and the result of Mr. : loliplutiat's industry is dedicated to Lord Cranworth. The Ballad of Babe Christabel; with other Lyrical Poems. By Gerald Massey. London : Bogue. A SMALL volume containing many poems in which we have noticed some pretty expressions, but the ble mishes a e grave and serious. In page 08 there is a song the last verse of which we suppose must be considered erased ; therefore on it we will not com ment. But the general ides of this poem has been embodied by Anacreon, by Cowley In imitation of Anacreon, and by Shelley in a little poem called "Love's Philosophy." In the last Mr. Massey may see how it can be treated without impurity. Allu sions to holy events and persons of Scripture are often introduced in a manner that is highly to be deprecated. The simile in the last line of the third verse, p. bit, is blasphemous and absurd. Railway Loans. A Few Words to the Chancellor of the Exchequer on this Subject as a Point of Finance. By Charles Hill, Esq., F.S.A. London: Mann Nephews. Mot:Ev is certainly the root of much evil in many ways. We used to have Mr. Muntz and a deputation from Birmingham every three or four years declaring that no money is so good as paper, until they were puzzled by Sir Robert Peel's question, "What is a pound? You can no more form an abstract idea of a pound than you can of a lord mayor." There were two of our contemporaries, a few weeks since, when the premises, consisting of simple facts, were admit ted, disputing as to whether tie effect of them was to bring fifteen or thirty millions int , circulation ; as Addison said, whenever a man could not pay his milk score he infallibly began to devise schemes for paying off the national debt. The pam hlet before us possesses one merit. The author makes his meaning clear and plain :—" The railway comranies have loans en their mortgage—bonds offering a first charge on the lines, and presenting an undoubted security to about, in round numbers, 80,000,0001." These bonds are incessantly becoming due, and are paid off with borrowed money. These f . o her manner astomaned charges even more an ner I inem to watt's, uguay.", - 7 - - - 1 '