The Sun.
London, England, 1855-01-15 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

Oakleigh Maseott. By L. Howe. 2 vols. Hurst

and Blackett.

This is a pleasing and agreeable story, in which
the characters are varied and the style attractive.
The chief point of the tale consists in the some.
what improbable fact of a child, who had been
found by gipsies, and adopted by a neighbouring
country gentleman, subsequently proving to be a
wealthy heiress and the possessor of large estates.
The usurper of her possessions, Lord Grantham,
was her cousin ; and being fully aware of her real
parentage, and of the dangerous position in which
he stood, had vainly endeavoured to persuade her
to become his bride. Re was the unsuccessful
rival of her benefactor's nephew, who relates the
story. Owing to the machinations of Lord Grant-
ham many misunderstandings occur, during which
period Gabrielle's rights are discovered, and Lord
Grantham, after some difficulty, is forced to sur-
render his possessions. This does not amend the
hero's fortunes, however, for being too proud to
renew his acquaintance with Gabrielle he exchanges
into a regiment going to India, and leaves England
forthwith. The: lie meets with several adventures,
one of which is of a very romantic character, though
the straightforwardness and honesty of his conduct
may be very much questioned. After distinguishing
himself and obtaining promotion he returns to
England, where, after some further doubts and
all is happily concluded by his marriage
Gabrielle, while the evil genius, Lord Grant-
ham,with mistakes,
now Mr. Harcourt, after an unsuccessful
attempt at murder, departs, and leaves them in
peace. It will thus be seen that there is no lack of
incident or paucity of events in these two volumes.
Added to these there are many characters intro.
duced, which are skilfully drawn. Georgiana, the
lively cousin of the hero, fills a prominent place,
and the narrative of her sayings and doings forms
an amusing interlude. Az ancient legend is in-
troduced for the benefit of lovers of romance, who
cannot, indeed, fail to be gratified with the more
modern portion of the work.

History for Boys. By J. G. Edgar. Bogue.
This is an instructive and interesting volume,
which sets forth the chief outlines of the history of
European States in a manner likely to captivate the
youthful reader, and arouse his attention. The
aims and opinions of the waiter are shown in the
following extract from the preface :
"The object of the following pages is to exhibit, in a
manner attractive to juvenile readers, the most interest.
ing and important events in the history of modern
Europe. While the most striking and illustrative inci-
dents in the annals of each country have been selected
for narration, every circumstance essential to be known
in regard to the rise and progress of the different Euro-
pean States has been mentioned, if net fully related ;
and as narrating events which must necessarily excite
interest from their magnitude and importance, from
the light which they throw upon the period when
they occurred, and from the effects which they have
produced on succeeding ages, this volume will be found
to contain a brief but useful compendium of modern
history. The advantage of such a work will not be
lightly estimated by those who are impressed with the
importance of history as a branch of education, and
with the still greater importance for future enjoyment
and improvement of an early taste for historical infor-
mation. The great truths, it is true, which are pro-
claimed by the annals of nations, the views which they
unfold of the systems of government under which we
live, the guidance which they afford in politics and legis-
lation, the peculiarities, of human nature which they dis-
close, and the lessons which they enforce by examples
—the last and most precious fruits of this impor-
tant study—are scarcely the natural and proper objects
of the juvenile understanding. But to enter into the
spirit of stirring events—to form vivid conceptions of
character and incidents—to sympathise with the illus•
trious actors on the stage of the world, and to see with
the mind's eye the transactions which history has to
record constitute the appropriate exercise of youth and
the best preparation for a more profound and compre-
hensive knowledge."
The readers of this little volume will admit that
it has attained its object " of rendering historical
knowledge interesting without the smallest inac-
curacy. ' A sketck of every country in Europe is
given, and the work is adorned with several illus-
trations. The author is already favourably known
as an instructor for youth by some former volumes
of biography, and the present useful compendium
of information will increase his reputation as an,
instructor for the young.

Diary and Correspondence of Samuel Pepys,

F.I.S. Fifth edition. 4 viols. Colburn.

This curious and valuable work has reached an-
other edition, which contains all the improvements
made in the fourth, with the Life and Notes by
Lord Braybrooke. In the preface an account is
given of the adventures of the Diurnall of Thomas
Rugge, so often quoted in the notes. Ruggo was
a contemporary of Pepys, and they frequently de-
scribe the same events. " The original M.S. be-
longed, in 1693, to Thomas Grey, second Earl of
Stamford. It has his autograph at the commence-
ment, and on tho sides are his arms in gold. In
1619 it was sold by auction in London, as part of
the collection of Thomas Lloyd, Esq., and was
then bought by Thomas Thorpe, bookseller. Whilst
Mr. Lloyd was the possessor, the M.S. was lent to
Dr. Lingard, whose note of thanks to Mr. Lloyd
is preserved in the volume. From*Thorpe it ap-
pears to have passed to Mr. Heber, at the sale of
whose MSS., in February, 1636, by Mr. Evans of
Pall-mall, it was purchased by the British Museum
for 8/. Sr." This very singular and interesting.
work is now presented in a very complete and com-
modious form. The general reader will find much
entertainment in its pages, while its value as a
standard and historical work renders it indispens-
able to every library. •

The Poetical Works of William, Cowper. Edited
by the Rev. R. Aris - Wilmott. 1 vol. Rout-
ledge.
The present volume of Routledge's series of the
British poets contains 'all the original poems of
Cowper except the " Olney Hymns." It has been
revised with care, and all the author's emendations
preserved. A brief sketch of his life at the com-
mencement, and some explanatory notes through
the volume, aro all the additions made by the
editor, who has acquitted himself with credit. The
volume is elegantly bound, and illustrated by
Birket Foster, with a portrait of the poet as a fron-
tispiece.

The Crescent and the Cross. By Eliot Warburton.

Eleventh edition. Oolburn.

The eleventh edition of this admirable and cele-
brated work has now appeared. It is too well
known and too highly appreciated to require cri-
ticism. It is adorned with some beautiful engrav-
ings, and the volume is altogether deserving of the
highest commendation.

The Journal of Psychological Medicine and Mental

Pathology. Edited by Forbes Winslow.
"British Asylums for the Insane" is a subject
taken under consideration in this volume. A great
deal of information is afforded by the statistics here
presented to the readers. It is proposed to con-
tinue the analyses of several more asylums on a
future occasion. An article is met with on Epi-
lepsy, in which descriptions are given in detail of
that extraordinary disease, its character, symptoms,
and subsequent effects on the sufferer. The last
lecture on " Medico-Legal Evidence in cases of
Insanity" is also found in this number. In the
course of these remarks several curious anecdotes
are given regarding trials for lunacy and the evi-
dence adduced, &c. One of the most singular nar-
ratives is that of Dr. Haslam. When questioned
as to whether Miss Bagster was of sound mind, he
replied, " I never saw any human being who was
of sound mind., : In conclusion, the lecturer ob-
serves that he is unwilling to appear deficient in
respect for the great and learned men of former
times, but that it is allowable to ask if no improve-
ments have been made since the days of Lord
Coke, Judge Blackstone, Lord Chancellor Erskine,
&c.—" whether we have made no progress in the
important truths of medical psychology, have ob-
tained no clearer insight into the phenomena of the
human mind, are not more intimately acquainted
with its diseases, and do not entertain more bene-
volent, just, philosophical, and enlightened views
of the great subject of crime and of the principles
of civil and constitutional law t"

The Chung,. of England Quarterly.

This quarterly, which is chiefly devoted to the
consideration of theological topics, opens with a
paper on Archdeacon's Denison's doctrine. It is
followed by a subject more generally interesting—
namely, " Female Education in India," which
enters into consideration of the promise and oppor-
tunity afforded by the 'Endo° race of enlighten-
ment and education. An account of " Flemish
Language and Literature" gives some very inter-
cstino. sketches and extracts of some recent FletuiLl
works. They appear to possess much merit. A.
paper ou " Tho Sabbath Question," now unfortu-
tunately so much under discussion, takes a very
decided view of the subject, and seems to imply
that the opening of the Crystal Palace on Sunday
would destroy all religious feeling and public mo-
rality in this country. It is unhappily too much
the custom to rush into extremes on such topics,
and the disputants, while attaching unlimited im-
portance to a mere matter of form, forget to consi-
der if their recriminations and accusations are alto-
gether consistent with the highest of Christian vir-
tues—charity. An article on " Ethnology and
Topography" contains some curious considerations
on the construction of the classic languages.
" The Quarterly Journal of Facts and Progress,"
and a notice of the " Literature of the Quarter,",
Maude the au Aber.