The Sun.
London, England, 1855-04-28 00:00:00

LITERATURE

New and Comprehensive Dictioiattr# Of the Englid:
Language, as ,Spoken and Weitten. By
Clarke, &c. John Weale.
The public is greatly indebted to Mr. Weale, and
still more to the author, for this important acquisi.
tion to its philological stores. The Dictionary is
preceded by an r.,xcellent English Grammar, in
which the autlaor has "thought it right to look ra-
ther to the spoken than the written tongue, and to
seek his standard among that body of southern
English, among .whom our greatest writers and
speakers have arisen." A noticeable feature of the
Grammar is the author's careful abstinence from Ls,-
tinisms, order that he may be the more readily
understood by children and working men. Of the
Dictionary itself we feel no hesitation in speaking ie
the most laudatory terms. To self-teachers it will
especially valuable, while we are ignorant of an'
class which will not it a serviceable hand-book.
Unlike abridgments which only give words which
everybody knows, and standard dictionaries which
omit spoken words which everybody wants t,.
know, it is a dictionary of the English language,
as spoken and written, and, by an ingenious ar-
rangement, contains, in remarkably small space,. at
least sixty thousand more words than any other
dictionary yet published. , The meanings, of which
there are 10,000 additional for old words, are given
by words of English or Anglo-Saxon root, in order
to their being more readily understood.

The Woild and its Beautiful Lights and Sympa-
thies. By James Waymouth, author of the
" Crucifixion," and other poems. James Black-

wood.

The purchasers of Mr. Waymouth's preceding
poems will doubtless recognise fresh claims to their
admiration in the, present volume. It is charac-
terised by an elevated moral purpose and feeling,
and considerable facility of expression. Exigent
critics may object to some of the author's numerous
compound epithets, and take exception to the
quality and arrangement of some of his metaphors ;
while others will discern passages which do him
credit, and which will be perused with pleasure.

The Netv Quarterly Review. Hookham and Sons.
The April number of this useful review and di-
gest of current literature is hardly inferior to its
predecessors in variety and interest. In its resume
of French literature we are informed that "in
Paris there are, on a moderate computation, one
hundred autobiographies in course of publication ! "
If this be so our Parisian friends are to be pitied.
Among several meritorious papers one on the
" Clubs of London" is, perhaps, the most notice-
able.

The Screw Propeller. A Letter to Captain G. T.
Scobell, R.N., M.P. By Captain E. J. Car-
penter, R.N. , Seeley.
Many of our readers are aware that a sum of
twenty thousand pounds' remunerative compensa-
tion was voted by the House of Commons to the
inventor or inventors of the screw. To set forth
the author's claim to the title, and to show how
the money has been misapplied, are the objects of
this pamphlet. To all appearance Capt. Carpenter
is an ill-used man.

Professor Johnston's Instructions for the Analysis of
Soils, &c. Blackwood.

A third edition of this valuable little work, in
which limestones, clays, ironstones, manures, and
natural waters have been,included among the sub-
stances to be analysed. A copious, index also has
been added, and the result is a help to practical
and economical analysis, of which tyros in chemis-
try will find it to their •profit to avail themselves.
Few instructors are so lucid and generally intel-
ligible as Professor Johnston.

My Wanderings. Being Travels in the Fast in
1846-7, 1850-1, 1852-53. By John Gadsby,
formerly of Manchester. With map and numer-
ous engravings on wood. John Gadsby.
One of those works which possess the elements
of success, being noticeable for observation, good
sense, and a great variety of useful information,
conveyed in a popular style. Reference is fre-
quently made to Scripture, and the author
seems to have taken pleasure in throwing light on
Such of its dark passages as owe their obscurity to
our ignorance of Eastern customs.

The Journal of Psychological Medicine and Mental
Pathology. Edited by Forbes Win slow, M.D.,
D.C.L. John Churchiil.

The April number of this ably-conducted journal
contains papers of general, as well as professional,
interest. Among these are an article on the
"Pathology of Intemperance," " Critical Remarks
on the Plea of Insanity," and a paper on " The
Responsibility of the Insane."

A Digest of County Court Cases decided in the
Superior Courts on Motion or.on, Appeal. By
Sir George Stephen, of Gray's-inn, barrister-at-
law. John Crockford.
A useful compilation, in a somewhat novel form,
of cases, involving (mainly) the practice of the
County Courts on points of law peculiar to their
jurisdiction.

The e'rown Lands of Australia. Being an Expo-
sition of the Land Regulations, and of the Claims
and Grievances of the Crown Tenants, d✓c. By
• William. Campbell. John Smith and Son, Glas-
gow.
In addition to a clear and temperate expression
of the grievances of the squatters or Crown Tenants
of Australia, in connection with the land regula-
tions, backed by documentary evidence, the reader
will find a few practical hints upon emigration and
the gold fields. ' The author, lately a member of
the Legislative Council of Victoria, appears to be
" well up" to his task.

Parisian Etiquette. A Guide to the Manners of
French Society in Poo is. John T. Shaw.
A little handbook, translated from the French,
and likely to be of service to such of our readers as
intend to visit Paris during the approaching
Exhibition.

Russia and her Czars. Illustrated by Engravings
of the Kremlin and the Church of Saint Basil,
Moscow, from Original ,Views. By E. J. Bra-
bazon author of " Outlines of the History of
Ireland," &o. Robert Theobald.
An acceptable contribution' to the general stock
of historical literature. The history of " Russia
and her Czars" is brought down from the earliest
period to the present time, and but little of its ro-
mantic interest is lost in the narration. The work
contains a large amount of information, and is well
adapted both for young readers and old.

The Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland has commuted the
sentence of death passed at the last Tipperary assizes on
Michael Hogan and Timothy Ryan, for the murder of
Denis Molony, into transportation for life.
STAMP ON BANKERS' CHEQUES.—Objections continue
to be urged against the proposed penny stamp on cheques,
from th effect it would have in causing coin to be used
in place of cheques in all small transactions. It seems
generally admitted, however, that a suggestion made
by Mr. J. A. Franklin, and alluded to on Thursday, that
cheques should be allowed to be drawn without a starnp,
but that a stamp should be required to be affixed to
them before they could be paid, would obviate this dif-
ficulty entirely, since, as the tax would then fall on the
receiver, the payer would have no inducement to incur
the risk and inconvenience of using coin.
CIVIL SERVICE APPOINTMENTS.—The Master-General
of the Ordnance has been pleased to nominate W. B. Le
Geyt, Esq., son of Lieut.-Colonel Le Geyt, Royal Jersey
Militia, of Fonthill, St. Heliers, Isle of Jersey, to a
clerkship in the Ordnance storekeeper's department,
Gun-wharf, Portsmouth.. Acting Assistant-Surgeon R.
Webb has been appointed assistant-surgeon, vice Fasson,
promoted, in the Ordnance medical department. Mr.
Edwin J. Jelley, clerk in the Royal Engineer Office at
Woolwich, .has been removed to the Royal Engineers'
Office 'at Manchester, vice Mr. J. J. Holmes, deceased.
There is a vacancy in the Comptroller's Account Legal,
Quays, London, caused by the death of Mr. George St.
Quintin.-- Civil Service Gazette.
THE WIDOWS AND ORPHANS OF THE POLICE WHO
VOLUNTEERED TO GO TO THE CRIMEA.—It will be re-
collected that the distressing case of Mrs. Pocock, the
widow of Sergeant Pocock, of the P division of police,
who was one of several members of the Metropolitan
Police force who had volunteered to go out to the
Crimea as deputy st re-keepers, has more than once
been btoughtimder the notice of the Hon. G. C. Nor-
ton; and that he had not only expressed a strong opinion
of tae manner in which her claims for assistance from
the Patriotic Fund had been met, but kindly afforded
temporary relief for herself and her five helpless chil-
dren. Mrs. Pocock is now receiving assistance from the
fund, and will continue to do so in common with all
other widows of the service.
GROSS BRUTALITY TO A WIFE IN HER CONFINEMENT.
—Charles Canton, a dentist, residing at 41. Myddleton-
street, Clisrkeowell, was charged before Mr. Tyrwhitt
with ill-treating his wife. Elizabeth Cant in, a care-
woi n looking woman, who carried an infant in her arms,
said, the defendant is illy husband to my sorrow.
days since I was colifined of this baby, and daily since
that he has been knocking me about in the bed until I
could bdar it no longer. On Thursday, the eighth day,
his conduct was so brutal to me that I was obliged to
get out of bed, and take the baby with me, and go out
of the house. A poor woman who nursed the com-
plainant, said that since her confinement the defendant
duly slapped her face in bed, and threw things at her ;
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