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

THE PRESS.

114

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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

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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 - -
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