The Sun.
London, England, 1855-11-16 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

Familiar Words, as affecting the Conduct •
England in 1855. By David Urquhart. Second
Series. Trubuer and Co.

I The familiar words with which Mr. Urquhart
deals in the present part include Aristocracy,
Barbarism, Civilisation, Conscience, Democracy,
Diplomacy (suggestive word !), Faith, Independ-
ence, March of Intellect, Monarchy, . Organs of
Public Opinion, Progress, and Ministerial Respon.
sibility. The object of the writer is to prove " the
present English language a web of sophistries aid
the ideas to correspond therewith," and to point
out the almost hopeless state of confusion our bad
metaphysics have led us into. As the reader will
perceive, some of the words are sufficiently sugges•
tive to elicit assertions, arguments, and conclusions
eminently Urquhartish. What his notions are in
relation to public opinion and its organs may in
part‘ be gathered from the following quotations
‘. In treating of public opinion I have shown that
if men did not rely on it they would rely on them-
selves. But public opinion exists by its organs;
were they to disappear we might get men again.
' The nation,' said Channing, is the tomb of the
man.' Nation—No ! Press. As I have had to
watch day by day the effects of the papers on the
people, I stand perhaps alone in the position of
being able to hope great things from their removal;
that is, if false data were not to be administered,
false intellgence not communicated, and fallacious
reasons not supplied. With the Press nothing is
known. Who advises a measure, nobody knows.
Who carries it into effect, nobody knows. Who
writes an article, nobody knows. Everything is
secret ; the soul and the life of publicity is secrecy."
Again, "The Press is an invention for the develop.
ment of original sin." Possibly this may be deemed
sufficient ; it would, however, be unjust not to add
that the book contains grains of truth, an is not
without suggestive power.

T'ractical Proceedings for the Removal of Nui-
sances, &c. By Toulmin Smith, Esq. Henry
Sweet.

The great benefits derivable from the Nuisances
Removal Act render it a matter for congratulation
that so competent a hand as Mr. Toulmin Smith
should lend his aid to facilitate its application
In the present volume will not only be found
practical proceedings for the removal of nui-
sances, but also the execution of drainage
works, with numerous forms and complete instruc-
tions for the conduct of parish committees ; to
which is added the " Diseases Prevention Act." It
should not be forgotten, that to the suggestions of
Mr. Smith the characteristic and most important al-
terations in the Statute Law, made by the Nuisances
Removal Act, are mainly owing. An act which
it is no exaggeration to describe as " the first act
that in our time rests upon the constitutional prin-
ciple of recognising the right and duty of those
who are concerned to do, in every place, that
which the welfare of each place needs."

The Metropolitan Local Management Act, 1855.
By Toulmin Smith, Esq. Henry Sweet.

The vast and various interests involved, and the
important principle at stake in the administration
of this welcome thotigh imperfect act, render it a
matter of great moment that no information shall
be wanting likely to conduce to its satisfactory
working. To insure this result Mr. Toulmin
Smith—who, by the way, is entitled to regard the
act with a parental sort of feeling—has pointed
out the circumstances out of which it has grown,
those to which it applies, the practical bearings of
its various provisions, arid its more or less obvious
defects. These will be found in a very interesting
preface, and a number of notes in connection with
the various sections of the bill. In short, so com-
plete and so well-arranged is the information given
in relation to the Act, that the dullest ratepayer
may readily become acquainted with its spirit and
seope, and so be enabled to contribute his mite to
its success. More practically useful manuals than
this and the preceding—(Proceedings for the Re-
moval of Nuisances)—which should go together,
we do not remember to have seen.

MARKET NEWS.—(This Dar.