The Sun.
London, England, 1855-05-09 00:00:00

' cumstance the memoirs acquire increased interest.
We had almost forgotten to notice a curious paper
on agricultural matters, and a letter in which refer-
ence is made to the poet Campbell, then in needy
circumstances. The letter is at once honourable
to its author, Mr. T. Grenville, and the poet.
But we must conclude our notice, and cannot
do so better than by congratulating the noble
author on the successful, if somewhat abrupt, termi-
nation of his task. The illustrations of vols. 111.
and IV, are portraits of the Right Hon. Mr. T.
Grenville, first Lord of the Admiralty, and of the
celebrated For.

Lights and Shadows of English Life. By the Au-
thoress of " Clara Cameron." 3 vols. Skeet.
The tale before us is one of domestic life and its
interest consists, as the title implies in the
chequered events in the lives of the fair young
heroines. The story commences by presentinif
them to us when they are on the eve of leaving
their instructress_one to return to her country
parsonage, the other to meet comparative strangers
in her parents, who have just arrived fromroslpme
Agnes Churchill and Maude Lascelles are as dif
ferent in their dispositions as in their prospects.
Agnes, though of a gayer and more lively temper
than her friend, possesses more strength of mind
and determination of character than Maude,
who sacrifices the happiness of her life from a mis-
taken sense of duty. Maude is not, however, as
conscientious in trifles as in greater matters, and a
little more straightforwardness and candour would.
have preserved her from much suffering. Added
to which, her imprudence and want of dignity, in
so quickly forming an attachment to an entire
stranger, cannot be overlooked. We will leave the
reader to unravel for himself the intricacies of the
plot, merely saying that, after being disappointed
in her first affection, Maude is induced, under the
threat of her father's ruin, to marry Lord Swindon,
who is half an idiot. Misled by the fatal illusion
which has drawn so many from the right path, of
"doing evil that good may come," she yields her ,
consent, and becomes Lady Swindon. The moral
in this tale is properly carried out. It shows that
such a serious error of judgment once cemmitted,
such a departure from the undeviating rule of right
and wrong once followed, though from the most
plausible motives, nothing but wretchedness and
wrong can follow. Those who, perplexed by its
seeming expediency and safety follow this delusive
principle, may depend on it, that however smoothly
it may promise at first it will but lead them further
and further from the straight road, which at first
they never thought of quitting. On the other
hand, a firm adherence to the broad principles of
right, though it may appear to be the most unpro-
mising and difficult course, will in the end prove
the clue that shall extricate us from the most intri-
cate labyrinth of doubts, perplexities, and cares.
If this result does not always appear in works of
fiction where the adjustment of affairs is under the
control of the writer's fancy, it need never be
doubted in real life, where an overruling Provi-
dence guides and governs all. In the present in-
stance, however, the sequel is in accordance with
this doctrine ; for, had poor Maude stood firm, and
not suffered herself to be blinded with hopes of
saving others from misfortune and effecting good,
she would soon have discovered that the risk of her
father's fortune was but nominal, and that the
sacrifice which was demanded of her was as unne-
cessary as it was unprincipled and cruel. The
career of her friend Agnes showed a happier teach-
ing, and it was fortunate for her that she had been
educated in self-government and dispretion. Had
Maude been in her place she would certainly have
involved herself in lasting misery, instead of merely
suffering a transient sorrow. The authoress does
not shine in her heroes. Mr. Leslie is almost toogood,
too equable to be interesting, and of Sir George
Fortescue very little is said until the conclusion.
Colonel Dudley is certainly intended neither for
au author's nor a reader's favourite. His con-
duct cannot be too strongly reprobated, too un-
hesitatingly condemned. The illusion respecting
Lord Dublin is very skilfully preserved. Neither
of the fair heroines appear to possess much discern-
ment in regarding him with esteem and admiration
on one side, and such passionate attachment on the
other. It does not say much for the perceptive
faculties of those who were so constantly associated
with him, if they did not discover some lucking ,
trace of the selfishness, the deceit and inconstancy
that were his characteristics. The reader hardly
pities him his tragical fate. The lives of these two
interesting heroines seem to have divided the sun-
shine and storm. Maude's path, though it might
be partly of her own choosing, certainly led her
among the shadows of life ; while that of Agnes,
though for a time darkened by her treacherous
lover and unhappy friend, brought her at last to
the unclouded sunshine that she so well deserved.
The plot is skilfully arranged, and the style agreeable.
A few of the quotations, however, might be
omitted with advantage. The interest through-
out is well sustained, and though, for a time, it is of
a painful nature, and, though some of the incidents
cannot be called pleasing, it may be regarded as
a very attractive and well-written tale.

The British. Quarterly.

The first and most important article in this quar-
terly is on " The Literature of the Italian Revival."
It is written with care and ability, and contains
many striking and affecting criticisms on the groat
masters of Italian Literature. It is observed that
Italy may be said to have created music and paint-
ing, as the fritgments of the sister arts transmitted
from the ancient world were barely sufficient to I
give to the artists the rudest idea. In literature,
it is observed that in many departments Italy has
equalled, if not surpassed, her masters : "In pas- '
toral Sanazzaro, Tasso, and Guarini may compete
with Bion and Theocritus, or with any of their
Roman imitators. If the comedies of Ariosto and
Cecchi have not the moral of Aristophanes, they
partake, in a greater degree than the plays of that
writer, of the sprightly vivacity of Moliere. In
lyrics Italy has produced a host of writers, who
combine the sweetness of Anacreon with the
sublimity of Pindar, with an exuberance of imagi-
nation and a diversity of feeling to which Anacreon
and Pindar were unequal. With respect to the
greatest production which requires the highest
combination of talents to execute, Homer and
Virgil might deem it no indignity to be contrasted
with Ariosto and his Ferrarese successor, and to own
in many points their inferiority of burlesque poetry
the Greeks may be said to know nothinv. It is
the Italian's own creation, and in this field he yet
stands unrivalled." In political and natural
science, the distinction which Italian discoverers
and philosophers attained is also clearly shown, and
the writer places this epoch above any other before
or since. An interesting notice of the " Life and
Letters of James Watt," recently published, gives
a sketch of his history, and of the progress of his
great mechanical inventions. It is happily re-
marked that he did for the steam-engine what
Augustus did for Rome. He found it " a clumsy,
imperfect, intermitting machine, fit for little else
but to serve as a drawer of water ; he left it a com-
plex elegant engine, governing itself with extraor-
dinary precision, and capable of employing its
powers iu al most any task that might be prescribed."
A paper on " Our New Religions " treats with de-
served ridicule the founders of those speculative
theories, who, in the presumption of ignorance,
attacking subjects above their comprehension, lose
themselves and their followers in a hopeless laby-
rinth, from which they escape by taking refuge in
imaginations so fantastic, and expressions so ab-
struse that few can challenge or refute them ; their
best weapon being their utter unintelligibility. A
notice of Giustinian's " Court of Henry VIII.,"
and the "Memoirs of James Montgomery," are
among the most attractive of the remaining papers.

The North British Review.

This Review opens with an eloquently-written
article on " Sir Walter Raleigh and his Time," by
an enthusiastic admirer of Queen Elizabeth. It is
somewhat rare to meet with so devoted a partisan
of that celebrated queen ; for though her era has
always been one of the most famous in English
history, and though one of our greatest sovereigns,
she is not generally regarded with much of the
affectionate reverence with which she seems to haveh
inspired this author, and her vanities and selfish-
ness ness as a woman somewhat mar the effectle of
on
renown as a queen. The second
" Scottish University Reform," which
rd symbol of
conclusion that money, as the o
ut:vlthe one thing
external encouragement,
is
Writer considers the
article
to the
i needful at resent;p and the
lebawndd easily dealt with
ri gde A very inte-
tchasaento b
thate
omfuochxfomrodroersicatapri.l
" The Life an Inventions of
resting paper on
the host
remarkable sketch of
James Watt" gives a
remarkable events in his history. An article en-
titled "Literary Coteries" is a review of "Lady Bles_
sing ton's Life and Correspondence." It is written
in a fair and impartial spirit, and expresses just
and sensible views. A paper on the 1 •
aneholv
11
subject of " melancholy
Our Military Disasters a d w
Causes" concludes the number. their

Gout and Rheumatism, and the Cul ative Effects of
Ga/vAanism,. By Richard Moore Lawrance,
M.., M.P. Henry Renshaw.
A valuable handbook for the general practi-
tioner, and an invaluable boon to those who are
afflicted with gout and rheumatism. The work is
divided into two parts. In the first we are pre-
sented with a graphic outline of the general history,
nature, and powers of electricity, more especially
in relation to the human frame. In the second the
author discourses learnedly on the above painful
des, uti timig widows forms, sad points out the